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Pisces Month and Mental Health
February 20, 2016
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Pisces
The sun has just entered Pisces for a month. I am working on clearing my desk and finishing my tax preparation, which always happens this time of year. I am particularly interested in clearing my space as well as my body and mind of the past this month. Cleaning up and getting rid of useless garbage always brings me great joy and a feeling of moving forward with everything. This year I am giving the Pisces month full attention because I see a metaphor for better health through karmic cleansing of beliefs. In my own natal chart I have three planets in Pisces, most significantly my north node is the twelfth house. I am a relative amateur in astrology but am learning more as I investigate and read. I follow a few good astrologers all the time. One of my favorites is Dr. Loretta Stanley who also created my most recent chart. She has urged karmic cleansing of the past during the Pisces month in preparation for a new life this spring. Physical and mental as well as belief cleaning is what she recommends during this time. Sounds reasonable to me. I am sure I hold at least a few beliefs that no longer serve my best interests.
My own needs coincide with karmic cleansing and attention to the mystical, magical powers of Pisces for several reasons. Pisces rules the feet, and I am slowly recovering from a nagging chronic foot pain that has plagued me now for a couple of years. It is definitely on the mend, but still causes a bit of pain. I have acupuncture once a week which is very effective in reducing the swelling and discomfort. I am back on the walking path and functioning well, but I have a feeling the injury/chronic issue has an emotional component. Everything always does. There is a powerful metaphor about stepping forward without pain that I believe is soon to be opening a happy new pathway in my life.
Pisces rules the 12th house of karma or self-undoing. It is a very emotional, mystical, spiritual and intuitive sign. The 12th house is the end of the line for astrology, the last house. It represents the unconscious, and therefore transformation. Our unconscious minds are powerful guides that process the unknown and unseen parts of our lives. The symbolism of the 12th house is the deep understanding, both spiritual and physical, that will decide how we move forward. I have applied many remedies and treatments to my foot disorder to find a cure. It makes sense to take this month to take a deeper look at what my gait is trying to say to me. The little limp on the left represents a deeper issue, I think. I plan to use this month to meditate, clear, clean, and simplify my spiritual practices. I believe (the motto of Pisces) the answer will be found deep in my subconscious.
No Place Like Home Wellness Plan
September 23, 2015
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pure intention
My recent odyssey was perfect for my taste as well as my health. Winding up the last three days and nights in Desert Hot Springs gave me every chance to relax, release and renew in the water. The drinking water there is also excellent, so I came home hydrated and healthy. Taking a mineral water cure is always my favorite way to retreat to center and focus. Leaving home is a great way to assess which best and healthy practices to nurture, and which habits to eliminate. I was very lenient with my diet on holiday but did not suffer ill effects from a few days of extra alcohol and taste treats. We did not go overboard very much on the trip, and a little splurge is good for the attitude.
The first day of fall beckons to holiday celebrants to begin planning, singing, and collecting recipes. The Pumpkin Spice lifestyle is propagated everywhere, and obligatory holiday consumerism is praised as virtue. I am not opposed to merriment, gifting, or parties, but think it can all be done with less waste, more true spirit of giving, and some refined restraint. I plan to use this season of harvest and thanksgiving to clean up my act, my house, and my lifestyle choices. I am the only one who can give myself these gifts.
Now that I am home I have the chance to create positive new change:
- This fall I will limit myself to 3 alcoholic drinks a week
- I will go through my books and office to reduce clutter/clear space
- I will try at least 3 classes a week at the Racquet Club
- I will have acupuncture or body work every week
- I will write poetry and mine my dreams for self-expression
When the winter solstice arrives in December I want to feel happier, lighter, and more free. Three months of concentration on my wellbeing is an investment that will pay big dividends long into the future. This holiday present I am giving to myself is more valuable than anything I could be given by another person.
shadow selfie
Chi Nei Tsang, Ancient Healing Art
July 13, 2014
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I am lucky to have found, right in my neighborhood, a Chi Nei Tsang practitioner of great talent and ability. Her name is Desiree Maultsby and her practice is at Rooted Massage Therapy in Tucson. I wanted to address inflammation in my organs that was discovered at my thermography session. Obviously my lifestyle and diet are under my own control and can be improved. To help me better understand and improve the chi flow in my internal organs I wanted to use Chi Nei Tsang because I know it is effective.
Taoist practices are simple, yet complicated. There is order, but there is a great deal of mystery as well. Chi, universal energy, moves through the body and around it. The way we direct chi, and allow it to flow will determine the state of our health and our mood. The most basic way to think about chi in the abdomen is to bring to mind the proverbial knot in the stomach. Stress, improper habits and diet, and other factors can constrict and block the flow of energy and circulation in the internal organs. Deep breathing is the best way to relieve these constrictions and restore good function to all the organs. With the help of a practitioner a chi nei tsang session can bring dramatic and instant results in healing congestion in the abdomen. There are simple practices of self massage and breathing techniques that can be done between sessions to greatly enhance the results. This is, for practical purposes, a meditation technique. Your awareness will grow from this practice, of both the power of your breath, and the importance of freeing up energy in the organs.
Physical issues that bring pain to the abdomen may very well be related to trauma held in the gut. Breathing techniques and sound vibrations have healing effects on the specific organs. Your practitioner will guide you by giving you meditative instruction as well as reminders about breath. By working very closely together in this way deep psychic wounds you don’t even know you have can be healed. The treatment is not at all like a Swedish massage, which I really like for the pleasurable feeling at the time. This is a full on transformational pursuit. If you want to chat or stay on the surface, then chi nei tsang is not for you. You remain clothed and the treatment takes place on a mat on the floor, to make the best use of gravity. I am very impressed with the progress my body has made in just three sessions with Desiree. I recommend her work to anyone interested in making profound changes. She provides plenty of supplemental information for those who want to do their homework.
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- chi nei tsang
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- chi nei tsang
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- chi nei tsang
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- handouts
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- Desiree gives homework
Healing Presence, Transforming Daily Living
May 20, 2014
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Do you know places, people, or even things that have a healthy, restorative feeling for you? Some spots have been used as healing centers for centuries, acquiring a reputation and a following. Sometimes a professional office space or treatment room can resonate with peace and calm. Waterfalls are typical places that we imagine when we are seeking a retreat from stress and pain in daily life. Some of us reserve space in our homes dedicated to meditation, contemplation, or exercise. Altars at home are reminders of practice, devotion, and connections to spiritual beliefs. I have always been a big fan of visiting hot mineral springs to center my attention on nature and soul. Submersion is both literal and symbolic in healing waters.
I have gone to great lengths and spent a pretty penny to be in healing waters, treated by gifted therapists, relaxing in spectacular places in nature. The concept of healing travel, or wellness retreat must involve a capture of that serenity or wholeness to bring back to the daily practice. Perhaps in calm circumstances one can master a new meditation technique or discover new ways to practice. Maybe while the agenda is clean and clear one can let go of emotional and physical clutter that has daily life fully jammed. Travel to a different location does not guarantee a retreat or a lifestyle change. It is possible, and maybe even preferable, to turn normal living into a health reforming adventure. Finding calm, creating depth, and mastering the art of stress reduction can be practices we include in our routine.
To enter a new lifestyle, a healthier diet plan, a new willingness to live happily, we need to feel confidence. What are ways you establish a meditative, healthy, confident mood? Here are some ways I have tried that work for me:
- Set practice time and place for contemplation/meditation
- Move the body to stay flexible and strong
- Chalenge the coordination in new ways
- Find activities that bring personal satisfaction without need for pubic praise
- Spend some time enriching the community in which you live
- Look beyond the obvious
- Find symbols, synchronicity, and soul by tuning into them
Don’t wait for your vacation days to move into your personal health retreat mansion. Pick up the keys and live in your own healing presence. Build your confidence while you enhance your surroundings for a healthier, happier outlook.
Flowers Speak Louder than Bombs
April 16, 2013
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- Prickly pear
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- wild tobacco
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- iris
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- dwarf pomegranate
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- foxglove
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- iris
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- rose
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- iris
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- cactus
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- rose
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- rose
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- Columbine
Powerful voice of reason, the garden
The calming fleeting beauty of flowers and trees
Brushstrokes of genius, music of color and urgency
Soothe the mind and heal the body
Wellness Account
April 3, 2013
Paying attention is the first step to wellness. Our individual health is like a bank account. We deposit good constitution and healthy habits such as whole fresh food and solid rest. When things go wrong it is impossible to tell which check has overdrawn the account. If you take out more than you put in this will always be the result. Rather that be too crazy about diagnosis and specific remedies, a good overview can help sort out the most crucial from the unimportant. How and why do you use your own resources to damage your health?
Our bodies consist of an advanced bundle of cells and energy connected to create this network of life, feeling and emotion. We are a conduit to something fantastic and sometimes unimaginable; a Responsive Universe…. Our bodies are our best friends. We need to listen to our bodies signals – wellness is the only true focus. Are you listening?
Please check out my latest article published at MindBodyGreen which focuses on listening to our bodies and how we can positively respond to those signals…
Do You Listen To Your Body’s Signals?
John C. Bader
About the Book: www.responsiveuniverse.com
Now Available: Amazon Barnes & Noble
Jessica Breton, L.Ac
February 18, 2013
— 5 Comments
Jessica Breton, L Ac
Last week I had a treatment from Jessica Breton at my hospital/spa. She does acupuncture at the Supportive Care for Healing at U of A Cancer Center. I recently overcame my fear of needles to try acupuncture and am now a huge fan. It has had a very salubrious effect on me. I expect when one is very ill it might be super curative. Jessica is like the other practitioners I have met at the hospital, extremely competent. She has additional skills that she uses in her private practice that are not employed at the hospital. As my treatment progressed I already felt good, but when she commenced to to cranial sacral work while I wore my needles I just loved it. It was noticeable to me that this was only my third acupuncture treatment and I was relaxed and looking forward to the boost of euphoria that I now associate with it. I had a big fear of needles that had existed since early childhood. I still do not want anyone to give me a shot or take my blood, but these needles are really super friendly.
Jessica has a low key style that made me feel very relaxed. In fact, at one point I asked if the needles were still in because I had no sensation of them. The resulting effects were not subtle. I noticed a freeing and balanced feeling that I am starting to know comes from acupuncture. In her private practice she does cupping and moxa as well as Tui Na. These modalities are similar in that they diagnose by reading pulses and your tongue. They address the balance of chi in the meridians. Tui Na works on the ligaments to restore balance and order. Each can be powerful alone, but combined they make an effective treatment more beneficial for the body.
To reach Jessica for an appointment at Zylla Acupuncture in Tucson you can call 520-221-6559 or reach her at zhenpoints@gmail.com. She is punctual, polite and professional.
Water, the Emotional Element
January 2, 2013
Water is the element that is designed to soothe emotional ailments. Hot springs have been regarded as healing and medicine power centers by many different cultures. The belief that sacred rivers and springs can act as oracles, healers, and powerful symbolic medicine is widespread. Ponce de Leon and his crew were seeking that ultimate liquid cure in Florida when they discovered Miami Beach. Water, and the flow of water, is the essence of life.
When water on earth is redirected by man sometimes disaster follows. Levees break and floods devastate. The body can only tolerate so much redirection or misuse of the water element before debilitating consequences occur. We were not created to drink only beer and diet soda, just as the Colorado River was not created to irrigate all of the southwestern US. The result is about the same in the body as in the CAP aqueduct that evaporates the Colorado River water in an open trough while it travels all the way across Arizona to Tucson. Once the kidneys have been compromised in the human body, and the adrenals shot to hell by stress, years of chronic dehydration cannot be reversed. Confusion rules.
Water also has the effect of reversing gravity, which may be the strongest reason it is emotional medicine. Floating is highly underrated. When the world has you down, notice it is just gravity, and the remedy is at hand…….cool clear water. Drink some, immerse yourself in some, even if only in a bath. Hydrate your emotional life and your dreams with pure clean water. Santé!
Yaqui Man of Knowledge, Cachora
October 25, 2012
— 6 Comments
The first time I saw Cachora he was sitting in the shade using a needle and thread to thread tiny seed beads. He was about 85 years old, wearing no glasses. The sight of him actually able to do this made me laugh hard out loud. He commented without looking up, in Spanish, saying he was just another Indian doing handicrafts. I had been told that he was Don Juan. He spreads this rumor himself, but it is not hard to figure out that he isn’t.
Cachora at the bead table
I asked him if he was a shaman, to which he responded negatively. He said he was a man of knowledge. He then began to tell me his entire cosmology. He began with his birthday and place, then his parents birthdays and place. He and his father were born in Rio Yaqui, Sonora, like Don Juan. Cachora’s mother was from Oaxaca. His parents had met while collecting plants for medicine. He told me his parents had never used pesos in their lives, but had traded medicinal plants for all they needed. This was their craft and way of life. The vest he shows here belonged to his father, and was worn for healing ceremonies. That is the case, if Cachora is telling the truth about this vest. He is what is known in the world of medicine as a coyote. He lies a lot, misleading and amusing himself with the confusion of others. So I took the birthday information and went to a book store to buy and reread A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda. The first fact given about Don Juan is this birthday, many years before Cachora’s.
symbols on the healing vest
This man of knowledge became my friend. I called him on the Don Juan thing on my second visit. I also remembered to bring him what he wanted rather than money. This practice made me a favorite. His first requests were for some specific stone beads, some hummingbird feeders, and some reading glasses. I returned with his wish list items about three months after we had met. I used to hang out and joke with him, learning a little about plants. He told me that I am a siren.
Cachora and the healing vest
I spoke with a friend in Tijuana last year and learned that he was still alive and kicking. His much younger wife, Josefina, had died, but he was in the company of a young girlfriend from Spain. He is not Don Juan, but, as he puts it, there is some of him in all those books. South of Tecate, in the valley of the sorcerer, a Yaqui hombre de conocimiento named salamander (that is the translation of Cachora) is still in the business of knowledge.
beaded vest
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