Finding My Balance After Being Ill.

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 I lost my balance. Being a pretty balanced person in most aspects of my life it was scary to loose it for so long. A mixture of life responsibilities and spending a long period of time stressed tipped me over an edge and i got quite ill. It feels like i need to write about this before i can start writing creative posts again.

Yesterday was the first day in almost three weeks that i didn't feel pressured to do something and was actually motivated. It felt like a kind of bliss that had been lacking for such a long while. Today i made the decision to consciously find my balance again. This for me is taking time to look at my life from a perspective that isn't so much involved in the day to day drama of everything but rather an observation of whats going on just now and a delicate aim for solutions. Solutions are something i struggle with when im swimming in the drama. What i became really aware of in recent years was that to function as any sort of supportive person (for friends or as a job) i HAVE to take care of myself first. Simple but sometimes difficult. Taking care of myself, i've come to realize, means:

• making sure im eating healthily; whenever i get distracted and eat junk i tend to feel really low and get ill easily.
• making sure i've slept enough; i can go through periods in my life when i don't sleep much at all but i have to level that out with a few days rest after to recover.
• paying attention to my menstrual cycle; whenever i ignore where my cycle i feel disoriented in my body.
• keeping the nest organised; i enjoy organisation and always feel so much more grounded when i am.
• keeping my body clean; in and out. Whenever i illiminate toxins from my body i feel renewed and fresh. To do this i have really hot steamy baths, saunas, do enemas and drink loooooads of water.
• keeping a good rapor with friends and family; whenever there is tension between friends or family i feel emotionally distressed. Resolving issues and keeping peace is far more soul nourishing.
• nourishing my soul; this involves being in tune with what my soul is saying to me (something i get better at each menstrual cycle) this varies massively but usually involves some body movement and/or using my creativity.
• connecting with nature; i find nature relaxing, fascinating, beautiful and like a strong validating mothering force.
• doing something towards a better society and earth; i am a big believer that the world can be a better place if we be kinder to each other and the environment.

It's easy to forget that these wonderful things balance and ground me and it's even easier to forget that without doing most of them i will be a little all over the place. My mind/body/soul connection needs them to feel in good flow with the world. Have you ever wondered what your little personal needs are so that you feel balanced?

This week is a week of introducing those activities slowly so that i am at my best. As i have been ill i am also giving my immune system a big boost with Echinacea, Vitamin C, lots of raw Garlic and Spirilina. I have almost completely cut out sugar and caffeine (which suppress the immune system) and whenever i feel stress bubbling beneath the surface i walk away to cool off or have a quiet cry to release the emotion.

Hoping to feel more creative soon and share inspiring stories with the world

Healthy energy and creative blessings

A xxx

ORGASMS and HEALING

Hold your breathe people this might get juicey. Lately all things sexuality have been a big part of my life. Ive been researching a bit about birth as a sexual act and looking into Tantra. In an earlier post i discussed how having an orgasm can help you heal faster when your ill, well that's still true and id like to talk about why. Id also like to explore why sexual sensations in the birth room aren't as welcome as I would like them to be and how we could improve our lives through conscious sexuality.

The orgasms, pleasure and healing

I wish we had sex education about stuff like this. The 'system' thinks that will only promote sexual activity at a younger age meaning more teen pregnancies and STI's. I think really educating about sexuality at an early age in depth will help youngsters take control of their sexuality and be a lot more conscious of the decisions they make.  

Ok on with a little about the orgasm. After enough stimulation a man, woman or any gender in between could have the ability to climax. Most of you probably know what physically happens to your bits but did you know you have a sudden release in hormones that create the sensations of an orgasm. Amongst them are Dopamine and Oxytocin. Splendid!

So Dopamine is connected to the pleasure part of the brain. It makes us feel good, satisfied and happy when released. We release it when we are thinking about a good experience yet to come, while it is happening and after. An orgasm is the highest level of Dopamine me can achieve legally. Oxytocin is a little different. It's the bonding hormone and associated with a lot of different things as well as orgasm.....birth, breastfeeding, eating, love and healing. Orgasms can promote healing and wellbeing. Oxytocin can also counteract any stress hormones we may be releasing. Our savior! Ill do a post soon on the effects of stress hormones on our body. Oxytocin has only recently been discovered and has sent excitement sweeping through many systems including the medical (however you know Orthodox Medicine and its need to make a synthetic version of hormones which actually creates pretty bad reactions) Those of us who are more into the natural way of doing things here is what happens when we release Oxytocin NATURALLY. When a high enough level (not very high at all infact) is released of this hormone it stimulates and regulates the immune system. Stimulation means that it encourages the activity making it work fast and strong. You might all think that your immune system is well regulated....well most often not. Today we are exposed so much unhealthy food, addictive substances, pollution and stress that our immune system is in a constant struggle to work at its average rate. Day after day our body battles with bacteria and virus's (just to name a few) in a dampened state from the junk in out atmosphere and society.  It's not all bad here are some lovely ways you can release Oxytocin:

• Massage
• Touch
• Petting animals
• Any sexual contact
• Orgasms
• Hugs
• Giving selflessly
• Meditaion
• Yoga
• Exercise
• Having close friendships
• Working in a community environment

Some more benefits of Oxytocin are:

• Feeling calm and connected
• Increased curiosity
• Lessens cravings and addictions
• Increase in sexual desire
• Feeling positive
• Facilitates learning
• Diminishes pain
• Aids sleep
• lowers blood pressure
• Makes us feel worthy and loved
• Bonds us

Oxytocin is a very unique neurochemical; the more oxytocin we make, the stronger our body and mind respond to it. Our nerve cells actually sprout more oxytocin receptors, making them more sensitive to its effects. It grows easier and easier to be loving. Oxytocin is the neurochemical basis for the adage, “The more you give, the more you get.”

Yummy hey? Next time you have an orgasm and your swimming in the sea of bliss remind yourself of all the amazing things happening to you at that moment.

Enjoy your bliss

xxx

Home High Immune Boosters

keeping the balance

 In my last post i mentioned the immune system and that there was a way to boost it through our diet. It's very easy. So why should we boost our immune system? The reason we should aim for higher immunity is because it's our immune system that helps us fight off bad bacteria. If our immune system doesn't have enough little fighters to get rid of the bad bacteria the the bad stuff multiplies and we get sick. Not eating the right things, stress, the cold, alcohol and sugar amongst other things all suppress our immune system. We can also be born with a low immune system but that doesn't mean we can't boost it and make it stronger. My reason for writing this post today is that i have a scratchy throat and for me that means i got some bad bacteria attempting to take control. There are a few things that you might already have in your house will help you do some boosting. I'm doing these today so lets explore some of them...

keeps the vampires away

GARLIC. Raw garlic especially stimulates your white blood cells (the little fighters) and increases the efficiency of your antibodies. I find that garlic is beneficial before i get sick or whilst im sick to help me get well quicker. Here is a garlic recipe i usually use: Homemade Hot Garlic Bread...i get two slices of bread and lightly toast them. I get two cloves of garlic, grate, and mix with a little butter. When the toast is done i spread all the garlicy mixture on the toast and eat. It blows your mouth away a little and the next day there are some garlicy breathe issues but the effect  you will feel on your body is worth it. Eating garlic cooked in meals still releases some goodness so don't be put off thinking you only have to eat it raw.

ginger tea

 GINGER. Again the rawer the better. Now this is yummy and spicy. Ginger is known for so many good things. If you know anyone who is into herbs you can soon find out the range of benefits it has. Here are a few technically bits; ginger is an antimicrobial which means it kills bad bacteria. It contains two natural antibiotics and it also has loads many vitamins. Recently i went to a health food stand was offered a ginger shot. The guy juiced a raw piece of ginger (a piece the size of 2/3 of my thumb) and poured into a little shot glass. I shot it in two and my insides nearly exploded. The after feeling was so uplifting though i would happily do it again. A more subtle way to have ginger is to cut, a piece the size of two cubes of chocolate on top of each other, into smaller pieces and drinking it in hot water preferably with lemon which helps cleanse the bad bacteria out of the body. If you like baking then put ginger in a cake or cookies and if you like cooking soup ginger is a great addition to a blended mixed veg soup.

orange yumminess

VITAMIN C. Yep what your grandmother told you was right. But this is a bit of a more extreme version. It would be very hard to eat oranges in the quantity we need them when we are sick so i take a supplement instead. The is in fact the only supplement i take and i only usually do when ive been in the rain and got chilly or when my throat is scratchy. The daily recommended does is said to be 60mg but we think that when your sick its better to up the dose. So the tablets we take are 1000mg and we take one a day. Boy do they work like a charm. Fingers crossed im not too far gone for them to kick away illness this time. Vitamin C helps form new healthy tissue and as another beautiful antioxidant.

All the above usually does the trick for me but only if i keep the rest of my lifestyle healthy as well. That means eating only fresh food, sleeping enough, not stressing my body out, allowing myself to detox and cleanse (sauna, hot bath, shower) and of course not consuming immune suppressors. Before i sign off and wish you happy healthiness there is one more major thing that helps you heal and boost your immune system....PLEASURE!

pleasured yoni

PLEASURE can be gained through massage, being warm, eating, drinking warm tea, being stroked, creative practices, relaxation and not to forget sexual play/orgasm. Note you can probably think of more that are personal to you. Through doing these things we release oxytocin (my favorite hormone). Its the love, pleasure, bonding and healing hormone. As a Doula i come across the benefits of oxytocin all the time. Don't deny yourself these pleasures that will ultimately make you a happier, less stressed, healthier and more round human being.

Ill say more on oxytocin in a post soon.

Warm tingly lushes pleasurable feelings.

Chocolate Monkey

Today i called my partner a chocolate monkey and that's what has inspired today's post. Chocolate is known for its delicious taste and feel good loveliness so i'd like to take a moment to talk about chocolates qualities. The goodness is really in the Cacao (pronounced co-cow), most of you will know a modified version called cocoa or coco (short for chocolate) which usually has a proportion of the cacoa bean and other things mixed in to make it less bitter. Cacao beans look a little like a coffee bean and when ground become cocoa powder (notice the slight name change there).

So what makes cacao so good? Well let me share with you some delicious details. Cacao is partly made up of flavonoids which act as an antioxidant (there are many different types of antioxidants). Antioxidants counteract damaged cells which can lead to diseases like cancer and heart disease. Another amazing quality is that cacao also affects your mood; it contains phenylethylamines which sort of arouse you happy hormones and put you in a brilliant state of bliss. Talking of arousing, cacao also can stimulate your sex hormones. Don't you just love the gifts that nature gives us. The darker the chocolate the more of these amazing things it contains. In fact those of you who are brave enough to eat 100% cocoa (powder) or cacao (bean/nibs) will be in happy land for a pleasant amount of time. Do beware of commercial chocolate though, which can have a minimal amount of cacao/cocoa in it and instead is loaded full of sugar or other additives (which definitely aren't good for you). If your wondering about the effect of refined sugar i will post something about that soon. If your near Edinburgh Scotland don't forget to pay a wee visit to our local chocolateers The Chocolate Tree...Peace and happy feelings.

Chocolate Tree Website