Experiencing Ecuador

Yes it has been quite a while since my last post. I have had very limited access to internet over the past three months, as here is what I have been up to:

I had been feeling called to Ecuador for several months, and was not sure why, yet I knew i needed to be here, so I journeyed here in January 2011 with a loose plan. I dabbled in a Spanish language study program, lived with an Ecuadorian family for a month, bathed on a beach, immersed myself in the culture, and did a two week study of biodynamic farming and Earth based spirituality. Yet only once I was here for six weeks did my higher purpose in coming to Ecuador become clear.

In a truly divine way I was invited to participate in what has evolved into a three month intensive study of mind consciousness, the nature of personal reality, with a gifted hypnotherapist, educator and life coach. Not only have i been given the opportunity for personal healing, but I have also been given powerful tools and concepts to work with in helping people create change within themselves and in turn others.

Each day I am learning more and more and over the next couple months I will be continuing to integrate and incorporate these new learnings into my life school.

Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh!!

I am committed to sharing my experiences and learnings with all who wish to receive them. I firmly believe that understanding one´s mind and the fundamentals of how our reality is created are key aspects of creating happiness and peace within the self and everyone and everything around you.

In the meantime, I am wishing you all an abundance of love and joy on your path.

The Premiere of my Homemade Pie!

Last Sunday for my dad's birthday brunch I decided to bake my first pie. I am known for making scrumptious cookies, though making a pie is quite a different venture. The most difficult part of making a pie, as I discovered first hand, is the crust. I chose to try a millet and mushroom pie, and though it looked a bit sloppy and was difficult to serve, it tasted delicious!

Not only was it delicious, but it was nutritious! That is the beauty of home cooking and baking. It takes time and effort, but you can use organic ingredients and make modifications if you so desire. I used a recipe from Jae Steele's cookbook, "Get it Ripe", which contains many unique and fun recipes that usually get my lips smacking in delight!

When I bring over my creations to a family gathering, I am usually asked about them because my food often looks a bit different, as I do not use eggs, meat, dairy or wheat flours, and often incorporate grains and lentils. Having said that, I always get praise for the taste! I think it really comes down to using the purest ingredients (organic), putting love into whatever you are making, and having fun in the process. :0)

The Genie in your Genes

A friend of mine recently gave me a book to read called, "Genie In Your Genes", and after reading it I felt compelled to write about it. The author, Dawson Church, examines the changing paradigm of health care in the 21st century. He asserts that we are moving into an age in which people are taking a more conscious role in their well-being. It is packed with scientific research studies that highlight the healing potential of one of these conscious means - energy medicine - specifically epigenetics.

The dictionary definition of epigenetics states it is the study of heritable changes that occur without a change in the DNA sequence. In a nutshell, Dawson states that genes can be turned on and off by our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. He suggests we can actually influence the genes we were born with through conscious intention and things such as prayer, faith, beliefs, visions, and energy. So all the talk about explaining ailments away by saying, "it's in the genes", is not entirely truthful.

I have to admit the research is there; people suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) to carpel tunnel syndrome to depression showed remarkable recovery from using energy medicine techniques. The modality in focus is EFT(emotional freedom techniques). The book suggests that the health care industry has not wanted to give credence to this kind of medicine, as it will not make the pharma companies any money, though people are beginning to see its inherently powerful capabilities.

I think one of my favourite parts of the book is its focus on holistic remedies as a means to healthy healing and prevention versus solely taking a pill for the symptoms and hoping for the best. It examines how Western medicine can be coupled with energy medicine to cut health care costs and create healthier and more conscious human beings. It challenges people to take a more proactive approach and look within for answers. It is a revolutionary book, and for that I give it two thumbs up!

Magnificent Miron Bottles

About a month ago, I purchased a Miron glass bottle to store my water. These beautiful violet coloured bottles come from Switzerland, and I cannot say enough good things about them!

Here is the nitty gritty: Miron glass blocks the complete spectrum of visible light with the exception of the violet part. At the same time they allow a certain part to be permeable for radiation in the spectral range of UV-A and infra red light. This unique combination offers optimal protection against the aging processes that are released by visible light, thus lengthening durability and potency of products.

This may sound complicated, though the significance here is that whatever you put in the bottles stays good for a LONG time.

I have been storing purified water in my bottle, and every time I drink from it my cells leap with joy. Even after a few days the water tastes amazing. There is no metal or plastic taste like you get with most other water bottles. The only downside is that they are heavier than most other containers. In my opinion, they are worth their weight in gold!

Check out http://www.miron-glas.com/ for more information on them.

Creativity is in the Cards

Along with reading tarot cards, I also derive piles of joy from making homemade cards. I never really enjoyed buying cards at the store, I found them cliche and impersonal, so 10 years ago I decided to start making my own.





In my opinion, homemade anything is better than store-bought. As a young child I had a stash of crafty goods, such as popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, cardboard and string, and I would whip up these kooky crafts. I wish I took photos of them; they were truly creative works of art!

There are a number of ways in which we can utilize our own creativity, and it is a great way to re-connect with that playful self many of us buried in the process of growing up. For me, making cards is one of my ways. For my mom, creating zany cakes is one of her ways (see photo of her cake from our summer bbq). We ALL have a creative side within, even if we have not accessed it in a while, so what is your way?

Remedy to the Rescue!

I have been finding myself talking a lot about herbs lately, and wanted to share some of my knowledge, so I decided to write a little blurb about one of my favourite herbal flower remedies, Rescue Remedy. I often tell my clients about it if they are going through a stressful situation or event in life.

Rescue Remedy helps people face difficult situations with a better frame of mind, and helps to reduce fear and nervousness.

It is a combination of the following five flower remedies:

1) Impatiens - aids to calm

2) Star of Bethleham - promotes ability to recover from trauma, whether past or present

3) Cherry Plum - restores balance

4) Rock Rose - helps with situations of shock or terror

5) Clematis - brings clarity and focus to present moment

It can be taken as often as you feel necessary, and will help provide comfort and reassurance. I always make sure to have it on hand, and over the past couple weeks I was really glad I had it!

Tapping into the Tarot

I have been quite tardy these past few weeks in posting a blog. I could list some excuses, such as, i was working, i was away at cottages, it was my birthday, though what good would that do?! So, I will simply acknowledge it has been a while and here is a new post:

I took a tarot card reading course last spring, and since then I have been dabbling with it both with myself and with others.

Tarot is a divination system which aids a person in getting in touch with hidden knowledge. I do not completely understand how it works, though I think some of the best things out there cannot be understood by the rational mind.

According to dictionary.com, tarot comes from the old Italian word "tarocco". The deck was first used in Italy, in the 14th century, as playing cards as well as for fortune-telling. The tarots, strictly speaking, are the 22 figured cards added to the 56-card suits pack.

I am not sure I would call it fortune-telling, but if you are struggling with a decision, a tarot reading can certainly provide you with insight and information to help make an informed decision.

In doing a tarot card reading, my teacher suggested that the tarot can be thought of as consulting an oracle, one's higher self, or one's subconscious. From my experience in doing readings thus far,I will say this: it is definitely helping me get in touch with my intuition, and it has also provided me with wonderful guidance on a few occasions. I am fairly science-based and rational, though in my short time with tarot, I have been amazed at how accurate and helpful it has been for people.

A reading takes about an hour, though depends on the situation, and you can come with a specific question or a request to receive a general overview of what is going on in your world.

Here is an image of the Lovers card, my soul card, from the Thoth deck. Your soul card is calculated using your birth date.

Feel free to get in touch with any questions you have regarding the tarot.