The Dharma Of Sound Healing with Himalayan Bowls

~posted on December 28th, 2007

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By Diáne Mandle

Music has always been recognized as having a powerful effect on human consciousness. But in the past few years, there has been more research into the science of sound, and how it can be used to improve our lives. We are learning why different kinds of music and sounds have the effects that they do on the body, emotions, mind, and spirit.

Science tells us that all life is energy in one form or another. Further, this energy is eternal, changing and morphing from one shape or form to another. Each ‘energy shape’ has its own particular pattern of frequencies, or vibrations. When one form experiences a matching frequency in the form of a musical note, the form will begin to vibrate in sympathy with the note in sympathetic resonance. A strong enough vibration can even cause a form to restructure itself, as has been noted with cancer cells, crystal glasses, water crystals etc. With the Himalayan bowls,(also known as Tibetan Singing Bowls) every note creates sympathetic resonance with every other note producing harmonic overtones that commence the healing process.

Let us, for a moment, look at the difference between healing and curing: Curing is an end product or finite result. Dictionary definitions define it as “the complete biological resolution of a diseased state” or “ the elimination of disease, distress, evil”.

Healing is a Process and infinite in nature. Some definitions include: “the making or becoming whole, the mending of a breach”, “to free from grief, troubles, evil”, “ restoring to health or soundness”; and my personal favorite by Jeanne Acheerberg, “an intuitive perception of the universe and all its inhabitants as being of one fabric.”

Healing is a movement from disharmony to harmony, from duality to non-duality or Divine Awareness. The journey of healing then is a spiritual awakening with consequences on our physical well being. As we awaken, our perspective shifts. As our perspective shifts, our vibration shifts. As our vibration shifts, our cellular make up shifts. The shifts can not occur as separate entities- they affect the whole of who we are and extend infinitely. This link between body and spirit has been much ignored by the medical profession but the link is quite clear.

Healing is a process where we are released from an ego centered finite perspective of ourselves in the world and move into our essence where our vibratory energy is connected with the universe. Healing can lead to being cured. But if one is simply cured on a physical level, without sufficient healing, the core issue that caused the condition in the first place is likely to manifest again. A vital step in the healing process is that of establishing resonance with the condition in question. Most people resist their condition. You cannot release that which you do not own. Sound is the train that helps us get to healing.

How? We now know that different pulses stimulate different brainwave centers. We also know that we can create brainwave entrainment through a process of sympathetic resonance and that we normally entrain or fall into vibrational step to the strongest vibrations in our immediate environment. Our body is a perfect transmitter of vibration, being 80% water Further, nerve bundles in our spine transmit vibrational sensory data to brain stem and limbic system (our emotional processing center). Placing Himalayan (Tibetan) bowls directly on the body significantly increases their effectiveness. The bowls vibrate at the frequency of perfection, otherwise known as the Sanskrit mantra ‘AUM’. They create harmonic overtones in which each note contains all other notes and none is a separate entity on its own. These bowls are made of seven metals which were collected, smelted and pounded into shape and sound in a ceremonial manner, with monks imbibing them with prayers and mantras. The intention of healing and consciousness transformation still resides in the sacred instruments and is transferred to the listener.

Their sound entrains us into health by entraining our energetic system to resonate with them in their perfection. In the universe dissonant chords tend toward becoming harmonic. It is the nature of energy to harmonize. The harmonic resonance of the bowls literally pulls us back into a more universal energetic flow. They effectively transmit their soothing and peaceful vibrations through our water body in a way that affects our entire nervous and immune system. The sound waves initiate the relaxation response bringing us into a Theta brainwave state (waking dream state that is home to creativity, inspiration, intuition and where we can let go of our ego boundaries, of our consciousness of our physical state and connect with the non-physical, non dualistic.) The sound vibrations of the Sacred bowls balance our right and left brain and with repetition in conjunction with visualization can hold us in the Theta state for longer and longer periods of time. The vibrational sound from the Himalayan bowls initializes our parasympathetic nervous system and helps to raise the disease fighting immune cells while also reducing our stress response and creating cardio respiratory synchrony (the synchronized flow of our brain, respiratory and heart rate waves). Our capacity to heal from any illness is predicated on our body’s ability to achieve cardio-respiratory synchrony and this is exactly what is achieved by listening to the bowls. When they are placed directly on your body, as in a private session, then the healing potential is greatly increased because you are receiving the vibrations in your muscles and organs in addition to hearing them. In other words Vibrational Sound creates the optimum physical/spiritual container needed for healing.

Dr. Mitch Gaynor, Director of Oncology at the Cornel Cancer Prevention Center states: “‘Sound can redress imbalances on every level of physiologic functioning and can play a positive role in the treatment of virtually any medical disorder.

Himalayan Bowls are teachers: Let’s not reduce the healing that takes place only to science. We have already seen that healing is predicated on spiritual awakening. The bowls can be seen as great teachers. They carry the Buddhist Voidness teachings which purport that nothing exists independently of anything else. Each note from these sacred instruments contains all other notes and herein lies their magic. Although possessing a variety of harmonics, the fundamental vibration of each bowl is rooted in the Sanskrit mantra OM. This is the vibration that our brains entrained with. This primordial sound is the perfection of the universe. The ensuing sympathetic resonance between brain and bowls reawakens the intrinsic blissful self in us.

Our attitudes, beliefs and behaviors will either engage with or sabotage the healing potential as well. Positive thinking can strengthen your immune system and change your life. The combination of the sound vibration of the bowls with positive visualization and affirmations will greatly enhance the healing experience. Thus, sound is a type of energy medicine that creates the sacred space in which people can heal from stress disorders, pain, depression, the emotional roller coaster and more. It also creates the perfect state for deep meditation, creative thinking and intuitive messages. The healing process is initiated by entraining our brainwaves and creating sympathetic resonance with the perfect vibrations of the Himalayan singing bowls.
Diáne Mandle is an author, teacher, healer and recording artist based in Southern California. She is Certified in Tibetan Bowl Sound Healing and Polarity therapy. Diane maintains a private practice offering an integrated system for healing which includes Sound and Polarity Therapy, Toning and Visualization. Diane conducts educational programs, keynotes and Harmonic Sound Healing concerts nationally and presents frequently at the Deepak Chopra Center. She has produced the first comprehensive multimedia home study course in Sound Healing using Himalayan instruments (Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese bowls, tingshas, gantas and dorjes) ‘Ancient Sounds for a New Age’, an E-Book/DVD/ CD set available on her website http://www.soundenergyhealing.com

 

Sound Healing for People and the Animals They Love

~posted on December 28th, 2007

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By Diáne Mandle

Sound healing has achieved recognition internationally as an effective healing modality for stress, reduction, pain relief and the healing process for many life threatening illnesses in humans. San Diego based Tibetan bowl sound healer, author and recording artist, Diáne Mandle has also been working with animals and teaching pet owners how to use sound to reduce stress and increase well being in their animals.

On October 15, 2006, twenty-five people gathered under a covered arena in Phoenix with their forty-two dogs. People and their dogs greeted one another in a friendly and social manner as they put out their chairs and blankets for the first known event of its kind. The dogs of course continued to jump, pull, sniff and bark happily long after their owners had settled down.

Mandle placed her bowls on a table and began to play. After about ten minutes she looked up because she noticed that the arena had become totally quiet. Pet owners had closed eyes and slowed breath; dogs were lieing down quietly with a far away look on their faces. They were transfixed by the sounds and the energy in the room had completely shifted into a peaceful, quiet mood.

The afternoon event entitled Sound Healing for People and the Animals they Love, was a concert and lecture jointly presented by Ms. Mandle and Phoenix based Dr. Anne Smith, VMD, OMD who has been practicing alternative veterinary medicine since 1975.

Mandle discussed the history of the ancient instruments and science behind their healing potential. She explained that the Singing Bowls, produce the primordial sound of ‘AUM’; the fundamental utterance of energy metamorphosing into matter. They alter space, mind and time; awakening cellular memory and healing the energy body. The act of listening to their captivating overtones stops one’s internal dialog and transports the listener into a space of tranquility and balance. Through a process of sympathetic resonance our brainwaves literally take on a matching frequency with the bowls initiating the relaxation response and inhibiting the stress response.

Animals are extremely sound sensitive and can hear more layers of sound and more notes than humans. They respond well to bowls with lower tones that are played in a soothing manner. This was demonstrated by a recent workshop this year with Diane where a dog, recovering from surgery and in a leg brace was invited in to the room for the sound meditation. He was very close to the instruments and appeared restless during much of the concert. At one point, Mandle selected a grounding bowl, picked it up and walked toward the dog singing the instrument very softly. His eyes met hers and as she continued to play, he backed down onto his haunches, keeping eye contact, put his head on his paws and didn’t move for the rest of the workshop. Clearly, the stimulation from several bowls, some of which were higher in pitch was too much for him. However, he immediately responded to the one low pitched bowl when the energy was also clearly directed at him vs at the group.

Mandle gets emails regularly from clients she has worked with who use the instruments on their pets. Here is one such letter about a sick cat:
I brought my three bowls over to where Flash was lying pretty peacefully. I started playing them at random at first and then found one that he appeared to respond to a little more. I then concentrated on that one with occasional strikes on the other two. Diane, it was remarkable! He went into a profound contentment/relaxation mode. I could tell because he had a couple of deep yawns, then a huge long stretch, followed by lying down on his side with another stretch. Amazingly, he then started to vocalize along with the bowls! This was not just a loud purr. These sounds came from someplace else in his nose and throat and were definitely different from a purr. It’s hard to describe but was something like a cross between a moan and a hum.
I took Flash back to our regular vet on Friday. His feeding tube was removed because he was doing so well. It had been in for a total of exactly seven weeks. He’s now completely on his own in terms of food and water and is no longer on any meds. From Friday until today he has already gained back 6 ounces. We’ve bonded so closely through his long ordeal that he’s with me most of the time now, is a little purring machine, is “talking” again and is playing again. It’s a real joy to watch him be a normal, happy kitty once more.

These instruments are used to:
- reduce stress and pain
- balance energy
- create vitality and spontaneous healing.
- effectively alter consciousness into a peaceful and expansive meditative state. (trance induction)
- deepen meditation ( in humans)

At the Phoenix event Dr. Smith explained that in animals foci or ’spots’ in the brain or DNA material, inflammatory in nature are triggers. In the world of animals, ‘triggers’ can be set off by sight, sound or smells depending on the brain location of the ‘triggers’. In general all ‘reflexive’ behavior is a result of these ’spots’ in the brain. Aggression, for instance, is reflexive behavior, ‘triggered’ by sight, sound or smell. When triggered, the aggressive dog ‘goes off’ into serious attack mode to do the job, leaving the former current context altogether. It often takes some considerable time for the aggressive dog to come back, calm down and rejoin the owner.

Says Smith , “ I have a friend that is a dog owner that has a pit-bull, lab cross with these aggressive bouts. He is 3 years old and she has been working 3 years to modify, mitigate his aggression. The net success frankly was insignificant - until the singing bowls. After 3 sessions with the singing bowls, the outbursts were less frequent and the time to return to present very much shorter.”

Dr.Smith is using some other tools as well, but the inroad to modifying the bouts of aggression were the singing bowls. The potential for healing of all sorts in the context of these ‘triggers’ is very large.

Both Mandle and Smith feel strongly that the level of stress and behavior of a pet owner strongly impacts the behavior of the pet. This is why they recommend that both the owner and the pet receive sound healing treatments which will help them individually and as a team. For more information or to contact Diáne go to www.soundenergyhealing.com

 

WHAT IS DIABETES TYPE II

~posted on November 30th, 2007

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Diabetes is not a new disease. It has been around for thousands of years but in the last 20 years it has become a worldwide epidemic in adults and in children. The number of diabetes in the United States has increased to an alarming rate in the last 20- 30 years claiming younger innocent victims each year. (1) What are we doing wrong to bring this onset of a silent killer? Can it be prevented or reversed and how?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body fails to produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a protein hormone secreted by the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It helps the body use carbohydrates, which are the starches and sugars found in the food we eat. Type II diabetes can quietly wreak havoc inside a person’s body long before symptoms become serious.(2)

The first step to diabetes is insulin resistance which is characterized by high blood pressure, abdominal fat, high blood fats, low HDL or “good” cholesterol, obesity and high uric acid associated with increased heart attack. Insulin resistance syndrome is also called metabolic syndrome or syndrome X. Insulin resistance can be corrected with weight loss and exercise,(3) although, it’s primary factor is being overweight.

When a person overeats the cells are continuously bathed in large amounts of insulin which causes the cells to multiply in order to store the extra glucose. Weight control and exercise is a vital weapon against diabetes. (4)

Since junk food, pop sodas, chips and processed meats are plentiful in the US, they have become a daily dietary means for many adults and children. They are easily accessible and very affordable for the unsuspecting public. These foods and drinks are high in calories and very low in nutritional value. The basic Western diet characterized by higher consumption of red meat, processed meat, French fries, high fat dairy products, refined grains and desserts combined with low physical activity contribute to the onset of diabetes type 2 in most people.

There are four key factors that promote obesity and type 2 diabetes:
1. Eating more calories than are used by the body.
2. Eating refined carbohydrates instead of high-fiber sources.
3. Eating the wrong type of fats.
4. Eating an insufficient intake of antioxidant nutrients. (5).

For many years, people with type 2 diabetes believed they had been inflicted with a disease that was permanent and degenerative. The best that they figured they could hope for was good management. This would include a daunting diet, and special diabetic foods.

Today, reports of dramatic improvements, and even reversal of type 2 diabetes are giving new hope to people with this disease. (6)

IMPROVING AND REVERSING DIABETES

Along with natural supplements a colon cleanse followed by a liver cleanse diet for 8 weeks is ideal to remove toxins and improve the function of the liver. Scientist have examined pollution levels in humans, and research proves our bodies are not capable of eliminating all of the toxins so they accumulate in our fat cells, tissues, blood and our organs indefinitely until we take some action and assist the body in eliminating them. Everyone can benefit from the Liver-Cleansing Diet as it is designed to improve overall health and immune function. Those who are in greatest need of this diet are persons with 1) excessive body weight, 2) gall bladder disease, 3) many chronic diseases 4) hypoglycemia or unstable blood sugar levels, 5) chronic fatigue syndrome, 6) headaches and migraines, 7) depression, 8) allergies, 9) high blood pressure and /or fluid retention, 10) liver disease.

The Chinese call the liver the “General of the army of the body”, in charge of body strategy and harmony. They say that although the heart stores the spirit, it is the liver that can unbalance the spirit. (7)

THE LIVER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

1. Regulates carbohydrate metabolism – it turns glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver. Live glycogen can release glucose into the blood to maintain normal blood sugar levels if needed. If the body is low in carbohydrates, the liver can manufacture more carbohydrates from fat or proteins.
2. Stores glycogen, vitamins A & D, iron, and copper and many of the B complex vitamins.
3. It manufactures many body proteins such as albumin and blood clotting factors such as prothrombin and fibrinogen that cause the blood to clod when needed.
4. Detoxifies many toxic substances either by the Kupffer cells or by adding a chemical substance to a toxin for its elimination or deactivation. It metabolizes or bio-transforms drugs, steroid hormones, and waste products.(8)

Now that the liver’s function has been explained in detail let’s examine a healthy diet to improve the liver function according to Dr. Sandra Cabot.

Although Dr. Cabot does not include a colon cleanse as part of her protocol, it is very important the toxins leaving the body have an easy and quick elimination. You can find a colon cleanse of your choice on the internet or your local health food store and follow their instructions. You should consult your physician before you begin the cleanse and the diet.

Essential Fatty Acids ( Omega 6 and Omega 3) should be included in your diet on a daily basis. Other beneficial mono-unsaturated fatty acids can be obtained from avocados, fresh unshelled peanuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, pecan nuts, and cold pressed virgin olive oil.

LIVER CLEANSE DIET:
Session I – Follow for two weeks:
First thing in the morning drink two glasses of purified water with the juice of a fresh lemon, lime or orange to cleanse the liver followed by a raw vegetable juice made with carrots, cabbage, beet, celery, apple, ginger root, spinach etc.
Not allowed: white bread, sugar, diet drinks, red meat, alcohol, all dairy products, butter, fried foods and margarine.

Allowed: organic eggs and chicken, cold water fish, whole grain breads, legumes, soups, brown rice, muesli, cooked rolled oats, honey, lots of fruits and fresh vegetables, always have a salad with your main meal. Make your own salad dressing with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice or organic apple cider vinegar. 40% of your diet should consist of raw vegetables and fruits.

Each day add 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds, sunflower seeds and almonds to your meal. Follow these instructions:
3 cups of organic flaxseed
2 cups of organic sunflower seeds
1 cup of raw almonds.
Use a coffe grinder to process the above in a powder form that’s easily absorbed by the body.

Chicken and fish may be broiled, poached or baked. Not fried. Stews are great so are soups.

Session II – 4 weeks
Begin the day with the lemon water as described and the raw vegetable juices.

Not Allowed:
Same as session I but no egg yolks and no chicken.

Session III- 2 weeks
First thing in the morning drink the lemon water as instructed.
Not Allowed: Same as session one.
Allowed: Same as session one. Eggs and chicken are allowed.
Although the diet ends in 8 weeks you can continue with a sensible diet indefinitely. (9) You can add organic red meat on occasion.

The famous physician Thomas Willis attributed the onset of diabetes to a problem with the nerves. We know that the hypothalamus controls most metabolic functions. Hormones released from the hypothalamus control appetite, metabolic rate, fat storage and blood sugar. These hormones also control stress. By controlling your responses to stress, you can help regulate your metabolic control. (10)

By learning relaxation methods you can significantly influence blood sugar control. This is very important because in a “fight or flight” response the hypothalamus sends messages to the pituitary gland, which sends messages to the adrenal gland to release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, among others. During fight or flight, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension and blood flow to the muscles all increase. Intestinal activity slows, and blood sugar is released from the liver and muscle stores, getting the body ready to fend off an attacker. For people with diabetes, this creates a potential problem because of their inability to produce enough insulin or use the insulin they have, their blood sugar goes up and does not come down. (11)

In conclusion, diabetes may be reversed by following a good nutritional diet, drinking lots of water, exercise daily, and by supplementing with good quality whole food supplements. Just as the brain can set off the flight response, it can also reverse the effect. Part of the hypothalamus controls the parasympathetic system which can counter the fight or flight response by producing the opposite effect. (12) If one learns how to master relaxation and give the body what it needs, the body will heal itself. How incredible!

In 400 B.C., Hippocrates, the “father of Western medicine”, recognized the relationship between health and food. He said, “Let thy food by thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food”. In recent decades, research has proven the truth of his words, raising nutrition science to a level equal with medicine. (13)

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Eleni Michael received a BA in Sociology, has experience as a social worker, entrepreneur and retirement accounts manager. Her interest in Holistic Medicine began when she watched three of her loved ones sent home to die when conventional medicine failed. Devastated, angry and determined she set out to find natural ways to heal the body and help those that want to be helped. Presently she is working on her certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner.

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Bibliography:

1. Defeating Diabetes by Davis RD, Brenda & Barnard, MD, Tom
Healthy Living Publications – Summertown, TN, 2003
2. How To Prevent Treat Diabetes With Natural Medicine by Michael T. Murray, Michael R. Lyon – Riverhead Books, NY, 2003
3. Defeating Diabetes by Davis RD, Brenda & Barnard, MD, Tom
Healthy Living Publications – Summertown, TN, 2003
4. Defeating Diabetes by Davis RD, Brenda & Barnard, MD, Tom
Healthy Living Publications – Summertown, TN, 2003
5. How To Prevent Treat Diabetes With Natural Medicine by Michael T. Murray, Michael R. Lyon – Riverhead Books, NY, 2003
6. Defeating Diabetes by Davis RD, Brenda & Barnard MD, Tom
Healthy Living Publications – Summertown, TN, 2003
7. The Liver Cleansing Diet by Sandra Cabot
S.C.B. International, Inc. Glendale, AZ 1997
8. The Liver Cleansing Diet by Sandra Cabot
S.C.B. International, Inc. Glendale, AZ 1997
9. The Liver Cleansing Diet by Sandra Cabot
S.C.B. International, Inc. Glendale, AZ 1997
10. How To Prevent Treat Diabetes With Natural Medicine by Michael T. Murray, Michael R. Lyon – Riverhead Books, NY, 2003
11. The Mind Body Diabetes Revolution by Surwit, Ph.D., Richard with Bauman, Alisa
Free Press, NY, 2003
12. The Mind Body Diabetes Revolution by Surwit, Ph.D., Richard with Bauman, Alisa
Free Press, NY, 2003
13. http://pbi-ibp-nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/media/advance3.htm
http://pbi-ibp.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/media/advance3.htm (let thy food be thy medicine)

 

What You Should Know About Manuka Honey

~posted on October 12th, 2007

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Gaining increasing exposure around the world, Manuka
Honey from New Zealand is becoming famous for its
natural healing and antibacterial properties, and
usefulness as a natural remedy for a variety of ills.

However much of the publicity and coverage of it in
the media has been generalist and omitting of
important points. There are a few key facts and points
that you should know.

Firstly, and maybe most importantly, NOT ALL manuka
honey is the same, and certainly not all of it
contains the levels of healing properties that have
made it so famous. This is simply as it naturally is
produced. Some of it is only the equivalent of
standard honey but with the manuka taste (which is
quite unique and flavoursome), and some of it only has
small amounts of the extra healing properties. That
leaves only a portion of the manuka honey produced in
New Zealand each year that actually contains the same
levels of extra antibacterial and healing properties
as that used in the research studies.

So how can you tell which is the genuine active manuka
honey?

The following criteria come from the New Zealand
Active Manuka Honey Association:
1. It has the name UMF clearly stated on the front
label.

2. It is packed into jars and labelled in New Zealand.

3. It is from a New Zealand company licensed to use
the name UMF.

4. It has the UMF licensee’s name on the front label.

5. It has a rating of UMF10 or more.

The term ‘UMF’ stands for Unique Manuka Factor, which
represents the extra antibacterial properties found in
some manuka honey over and above the hydrogen peroxide
that is common to all honey. Unfortunately the UMF
term is now frequently misused in advertising, so you
should look for it on the actual jar if manuka honey
for therapeutic use is what you are seeking.

Important Note: Honey, that is any / all honey, should
not be given to infants under two years old. This is
simply as their digestive systems are still
developing, and aren’t necessarily able to process
honey yet. Actually there is some debate whether it
should be a minimum of one or two years old before
honey is given, so we have gone cautious and said two
here. Discuss with your medical professional if you
have any concerns over this.

For those very minor cuts and scrapes that children
tend to get – where you would normally simply wash the
area and cover with a sticky plaster – use whichever
honey you have in the house and add a bit over the cut
after it has been washed, and also some to the sticky
plaster before putting that on. This will just help
the healing process, and one of the benefits of using
honey is the layer it leaves over a wound acts as a
barrier to prevent infection from entering.

For more major wounds, the unique natural antiseptic
and antibiotic properties of proper active manuka
honey aid with healing, and have a growing amount of
research to support its use.

What are the common uses for active manuka honey?

The most common, and where the most research has been
done, is for wound care / treatment. Not only can it
fight any existing infection in a wound, by creating a
‘honey barrier’ over the wound area further bacteria
are prevented from entering.

The range of amino acids, vitamins and trace elements
and easily assimilable sugars found in it have a
beneficial nutrient effect on new tissue growth.
Equally important for the new tissue growth occurring,
is dressing changes. A layer of honey prevents direct
contact between the dressing and new tissue, thereby
reducing damage or disturbance in the change process.

Due to similarities with its benefits in wound care,
two further common uses of manuka honey are the
related areas of burns, and leg ulcers.

On the internal use side, the two most common uses
would be for digestive problems, and coughs. A good
UMF factor honey can help with stomach or peptic
ulcers, bacterial infections in the digestive system,
and is even quite useful for diarrhea.

Honey has been used since ancient Greek and Egyptian
times for its healing properties. Now some modern
research and clinical trials are able to offer
supporting evidence for this very natural remedy.

By Robert Lewis. Robert helps promote genuine manuka
honey in the UK together with Manuka
Honey supplier The New Zealand Honey Shop. Their
website also contains further information and
research.

 

The Importance of Honouring Your Own Timing

~posted on May 15th, 2007

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One of the great things about working with so many clients at the moment, both in group and 1:2:1 situations is that common themes, patterns and problems become even more obvious than usual.

This week there have been many themes coming through over and over again, but the main one that I’m going to pull out of the mix is the importance of timing.

It is only too common that I come across people who want to go raw “overnight” or “now!” or “in the next month” or at least some time really soon. Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having that kind of passion and excitement about something; in fact I wish there were more of it in this world! However, as I learned myself and as I see time and time again, sometimes these transitions take a fair bit longer than we hope, think or expect.

For my own part it took me five years to go and stay raw, which I did for the next 5½ years, with no effort at all – but only because I was then fully ready.

I share this with you firstly to put some perspective on things (yes, five years of yo-yoing for me, that’s a long time!) and second of all to bring up the importance of honouring your OWN timing.

As with all things in life, whether they be moving home, changing jobs, leaving or starting relationships, generally speaking we do this, if circumstances permit, in “our own time”. And sometimes this can be a fast process and other times more lengthy.

Along your raw food journey you will encounter challenges that you never knew were possible. You will come face to face with things you have been burying for years (usually using food), you will realise things about yourself that both amaze you and sometimes sadden you. You will be able to sense a potential that before you had no concept of, and while one part of you will want to reach out and grab that with both hands, another part of you will cower away at what that might mean.

All of these things and more can mess around with our mind as we try to figure out what one earth it is we really want. “To be raw or not to be raw?” That is the question!

Add to this the most common derailer and demotivator of all – fear (and fear comes lurking up at every corner) – and it’s no wonder that the “overnight”, “now” and “within the next month” can stretch on to become months away or even, as in my case, years.

I have a belief that goes something like this:

“The greater your fear, the larger your potential.”

Ponder this for a moment in relation to your own experiences on your raw food journey so far, and see if it doesn’t bring up some deeper sense of knowing for you…

One of my biggest and most constantly pressing observations is that for those of us who choose to live life “in the raw” the world is not really that brilliantly set up for us. And this can be why it feels like it’s hard to play “big” or full out as the person we truly are or know we can be.

And no I don’t just mean food-wise, I mean in all ways.

Indeed, the further I go on my own journey (and right now the whole thing for me has speeded right up – more later), the more I realise how incredibly important, nay imperative, it is that I only do things I love, only surround myself with likeminded people, only make choices that work for me and everyone else (and not just everyone else!), and that I am true to myself on a moment-by-moment basis.

Now, getting to this place can take time. And sometimes “time” means a long time. For me this has been 14 years and only now am I operating consistently in the way that I have aspired to for probably every single one of those 14 years.

Walking this path has been riveting, amazing, fascinating, challenging, turbulent and even gruelling at times, but not once have I ever felt it wasn’t worth it; even though I may have sometimes wished I could have gone back!

Indeed, no other path has brought me so wonderfully and so consistently back to myself and to a place of peace that is unparalleled. There is no price that is too high to pay to feel this level of peace.

And yet, to get to this peace, we do have to struggle through the swamp sometimes. And that swamp, if you haven’t already figured it out yet, is largley, if not completely, self-created. It’s the world, the life that we have created through choices we made days, weeks, month and years ago and it’s the canvas that we have chosen to paint, whether that be consciously or unconsciously.

Rewriting your life script takes time and energy, no doubt about it. And, although I am normally a “shades of grey” person, typically seeing subtleties in life and gradients in most things, when it comes to being “in the raw” or not, as far as I can see it, there is either a sense of moving forward with things or a sense of going back – never standing still, as life is always moving alongside us as we move forward with it, or past us, which leaves us feeling “behind” even if we thought we were standing still.

So as far as timing goes, sometimes on our journey, when things seem to be going a little fast, it is exactly the right time to pause, or to stop. Sometimes we DO need to let life pass us by a little so that we can feel cocooned from whatever growth was feeling intimidating to us. Some of us will choose a hefty chunk of bread or tub of Ben and Jerry’s to work this magic, others alcohol, others some other form of “less-than-supportive” behaviour which may or may not be of the edible variety. It’s all just detail, but the essence remains the same: We need to pace ourselves.

Learning when to stop, when to go, when to pause and when to leap forward is all part of the intuitive journey. Only YOU know what feels good and when. And often there is no external rhyme nor reason to this, it just feels right.

And then sometimes it can feel very wrong!

All these feelings, the good and the not-so-good, are simply signs to us as to what we should really be doing. And this can mean upping the ante in our diet, or stepping it back for a day or more, in order to recalibrate before moving on – when it feels right.

As far as words of wisdom go, if there’s one thing I want to leave you with you this week, it’s that giving yourself permission to be real with yourself in this way, to hear whether your whole person is giving you the green, amber or red light is to take a huge step forward in your evolution even when the outside appearance might appear to dictate otherwise.

Awareness is everything.

It’s what you do with it and how you approach that “what” that really counts.

Growth is not always linear and it’s not always what we think it is.

When you got at your own pace, you are only ever really moving forward, even if you choose to believe otherwise!

When you relax into this knowing, conversely, the whole journey can seem, in its own sweet and irony-laden way, to suddenly speed up and us with it! But when it’s on your terms and only yours, then speed never equals “too fast”, it can only ever truly be present moment perfection when you honour your own timing, precisely because it is your OWN timing.

This is where you will find your peace waiting for you too.

© 2007 Karen Knowler

Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes “Successfully Raw” - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you’re ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com.

 

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