Love. Energy. Consumption.

Put love and positive energy into everything that you consume. There is energy behind everything in life and so give all of it love. Even when you have something “naughty” to eat, give it love. Always have positive intentions behind what it is you do, say and consume, and I can guarantee the experience of it all will be that much greater. 

The Beauty of Breath.

One of the most beautiful gifts we have in life is the ability to breathe. Without breath, there is no life. There is just about nothing more beautiful than ones own breath. Connect with it and honour it. It’s yours. It’s you. It’s your life. 

Sit On Some Grass.

To clear the mind, sometimes all it takes is to sit on some grass. Kick the heels off, take a picnic, book, camera or a notepad and pen. Relax and let nature help you unwind. 

Honey and Cinnamon.

My friend sent me a great article on the benefits of honey and cinnamon...

Drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon: 

It is found that a mix of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also note honey as very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects which is also a plus. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, put it on toast instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol and could potentially save one from heart attack. Also, even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people so treated) practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain -- and within a month, most all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis now started walking without pain. 

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder....who knew? 

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses, and it's delicious too!

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers from its root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT: When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

Everything Happens for a Reason.

In September of 2012, I got a parasite in Nepal called Blastocystis Hominis. I’ve heard of people embarking upon third world travel, only to return with either worms, bacteria or parasites in their system, however, naively, I never thought this would happen to me.

In the past 6 months, I’ve experienced intense symptoms of chronic fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, lack of concentration, dizziness and I hate to admit it, but feelings of depression as a result. It’s the first time in my life I’ve had to truly relinquish control over my health, many aspects of my life, and realise the value of good health - good health I had always taken for granted. 

We always say that we appreciate how lucky we are, but it wasn’t until I was personally knocked down for 6 months that I could truly understand the value and sheer importance of looking after yourself. It’s not as though I asked for a parasite or intended on attracting one (or extremely high quantities in my case) into my life, but it happened and I’ve had to step up and grow rapidly as a human being in my process of healing. 

No words could describe how “off” I felt most of the time. Friends couldn’t comprehend that I was still sick, day after day, week after week. People didn’t want to understand why I was doing my best to avoid alcohol, sugar, yeast, wheat and dairy or getting skinnier and skinnier. 99% of people had no concept of a parasite being able to have this affect on someone, but it can. Suddenly, the usual fun, free, open and spontaneous “me” felt deeply trapped in a cage with no escape, still no answers and boring explanations as to my sudden “dark change”. I wouldn’t wish this experience upon anyone. 

The parasite essentially infiltrates your emotional nervous system by living in your intestines and gut. It consumes all goodness you put into your body. It scrambles your brain, confuses every aspect of your digestive system and basically screws up your emotional nervous system. You can’t think straight, process information well and you constantly feel as though there is something inside of every part of you, negatively controlling all aspects of your being. The symptoms have different degrees of affect on different people. 

The thing that “saved” me was trialling a procedure in an “antibiotic infusion” through the Centre of Digestive Diseases in Sydney, Australia. Google it. I had to wait 6 weeks post this procedure in order to do more results to see if I’d managed to get rid of it. These 6 weeks were also grueling. I firstly felt pretty shitty post the procedure, but then a couple of weeks later I felt amazing. A few more weeks after that, I suddenly felt extreme waves of nausea, some days had extreme bloating, then nothing; and others, strange symptoms. The doctors described this as “antibiotic euphoria”. 

But what I also embarked upon were healing’s of a different kind. I’ve committed to meditation, reiki, naturopathy, emotional freedom therapy, psychotherapy, integrated body healing (inner child work), spiritual healing and neurological emotional therapy / kinesiology. I’ve wanted to explore it all - as much as I could. The past 6 months has been as good a time as any to do this type of exploring into the realms of good health and healing.

And here is why everything happens for a reason. If I hadn’t visited my sister in Nepal, I would have never got the parasite. If I had never got the parasite, I wouldn’t have invested all the time, effort and money into self development and improved health - mentally, physically and emotionally. Through this whole experience, my perspective has changed; not only towards myself, but towards the experiences I’ve endured in life, my family, friends and the world around me. I’ve also learned who my true friends are and that at the end of the day, family is who you can truly rely on, even if the family picture “ain’t ideal”. 

I have more gratitude in my heart, deeper self love, appreciation and self-acceptance; I’ve worked hard in recognising ego driven behaviour and thinking, versus heart based thinking and feeling, and I can see exactly why I’ve arrived at the point I have today.

And so, directly from Nepal... “Namaste” to you and most importantly, to myself.