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The New Paradigm: Integrative Hypnotherapies

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” – Alan Kay

Take a deep breath and for a moment, as you read this, let go of what you have agreed in your mind to believe about what is true about reality. Let go of what you believe you ‘know’ about yourself. Suspend your judgments about what can or cannot be the truth. For this moment, allow yourself to be open to the possibility that what you have come to understand about your own life has actually been a series of decisions you have made, partially on an unconscious level. Allow yourself to be open to the possibility that your perspective can shift in a way that releases you from the limitations of your past thinking – giving you the opportunity to see life in a way that brings you everything you have ever desired.

We are complex beings living in a complex universe. The knowledge and understanding we have of what is truly going on inside and around us is still full of holes that we call mysteries. What we do know is that we are vast and interconnected beings. We are multi-dimensional people living in a multi-dimensional universe. Our lives are affected by so many variables: our thoughts, our bodies, our dreams, the energies inside and around us, the vibrations of the earth, the collective unconscious and what is happening in our societies, our families, and our personal lives. We are influenced by the stars and the astrology of each moment compounded by the astrological elements we were born into (in other words – our charts). We have the genetic blueprints that have been passed down to us and whatever information is written in our DNA. We have the patterns that our ancestors passed down to us and cycles that have repeated through the generations. We have the karma from our past lives and the issues we have not let go of from those lives also affecting us. With all this at work in and around us (and so much more than I have even touched on here), how do we know where to begin when we want to create change and healing in our lives?

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” – Anais Nin

Have you ever tried to think your way out of your feelings? Have you wasted time asking ‘why is this happening to me?’ Have you blamed yourself or felt like you were being punished when something went wrong in your life?

Our minds fall into these familiar traps because it is the ego’s way of keeping us stuck in our old negative beliefs. The ego likes to validate the old stories you tell yourself – stories like, ‘things like this always happens to me’ and ‘I did something to deserve this’.

These stories point to underlying core beliefs. These beliefs reside in the unconscious and operate like programs that our thinking runs on. When a particular program that no longer serves us is running in our unconscious mind, it is creating outcomes in our lives that are based on that old programming. The good news is that all of this can be shifted and cleared using Integrative Hypnotherapy!

The old paradigm of undergoing years and years of psychoanalysis on our issues is no longer necessary. Traditional “talk therapy” brings realizations through awareness and connections in the conscious mind and can be very useful. But we can also choose to shift and clear traumas and beliefs that no longer serve us without having to consciously re-live past feelings. Without suffering, we can release ourselves from these issues by making shifts on core and cellular levels by working with the unconscious mind and the energetic body.

Integrative Hypnotherapy, which incorporates Energy Psychology and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) into Hypnosis sessions, removes traumas that are stored as blocks or stuck energy. These modalities allow us to eliminate the emotional charge that is attached to situations that are affecting us and clear them from the body. Integrative Hypnotherapy combines a variety of advanced techniques that bring about change to a person’s unconscious belief system that automatically rearranges their experience of the world and their life. As old traumas, core beliefs, and stuck energies are released, a person transforms their well-being on all levels. They are free to manifest an unlimited increase in their health and happiness… and to make their dreams come true.

“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” – Charles DuBois

We begin by being willing to open our minds to the truth, which is: we truly can have anything in this life that we desire. We take an honest look at what is holding us back and take responsibility for our thinking, even whatever is going on that we are not conscious of. These issues can be easily revealed to us and healed through Integrative Hypnotherapies. Remember, this is your life and… “You are as happy as you have decided to be.” – Ingrid Coffin

Choosing Positive Thought Amidst Unstable Sociopolitical Landscapes

“Uplift everybody and uplift yourself.” Words of advice I got from a recent tea bag. At first glance I thought: how trite, how one-dimensional. But then the word ‘uplift’, probably since it was repeated twice, rang out to me. The word implies movement, both physically and emotionally. This was definitely an excuse to visit one of my favorite websites, dictionary.com (yes, I read tea bag sayings and the dictionary), which provided more insight on the verb ‘uplift’: “to exalt emotionally or spiritually.”

In a time when most of the information that comes at us via the media suggests we should be in fear (of terrorism, nuclear weapons, rising gas prices, a recession, global warming, etc.), how do we uplift ourselves and others? How do we do the opposite of what is being done to us; how do we replace fear with positivity?

We have to begin with ourselves. In taking responsibility for our own mentalities and shifting away from fear-based thinking, we can affect change in others and in the world around us. There are many methods of working with the mind to release negative thinking and one of the most powerful tools is Integrative Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy increases our choices by releasing limited thinking, as well as core beliefs and traumas. New techniques in the field of Energy Psychology allow us to remove the emotional charge from the body and energy system that is attached to a situation or trauma, instantly shifting how we feel. Suddenly we are able to see the situation that was previously disturbing us in a logical way (without being trapped in emotional upheaval) which allows us to take in the lessons and let go easily and effortlessly. This is why at the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy, we incorporate various modalities into our training and classes to benefit people on a broader, more holistic level. As you learn to apply the skills we teach to your own life and reprogram your unconscious mind for positivity, you are then able to improve your career, relationships, finances, and health on all levels.

Everyday we have a choice. We are able to choose how we feel and how we think, no matter what is going on around us. We can choose to uplift ourselves and those around us, or we can choose to bring more negativity into the world. Anne Frank is a perfect example of this. Even while she lived in confinement, a child hiding from the Nazis who eventually murdered her, she wrote in her diary, “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death…I don’t think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains.”

Take a moment to think about how you feel most of the time and what kind of energy you spread to others. There is no reason why you should not get to wake up excited about your life and your day. If upon this reflection you find that there are things you wish to change and improve within yourself, congratulations! You have just recognized that you are stuck in a pattern of thinking (most likely unconscious) that no longer serves you.

In her book, Heal Your Body A-Z, Louise L. Hay says, “Be willing to change your words and thoughts and watch your life change. The way to control your life is to control your choice of words and thoughts. No one thinks in your mind but you.” Willingness is all that is necessary to begin to improve your life.

With the cutting-edge therapies that are available now, you can quickly and easily implement change and growth. The key is finding the right approach that will work on all levels; addressing the body-mind connection through the mental, emotional, physical, and energetic pathways. At the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy, we combine basic Ericksonian and Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapy with complimentary modalities that stem from Body Mind Theory to create Integrative Hypnotherapy; a combination of Hypnotherapy, Energy Psychology, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). These techniques are proven to manifest major permanent shifts in the unconscious mind, which re-programs the way we think and see the world.

Energy Psychology: Pivotal Tools For Health Care Practitioners, Therapists, and Healers

“Energy psychology is applicable to a wide range of areas including psychotherapy, counseling, education, vocational guidance, physical health, pain management, sports and peak performance.” – Fred P. Gallo, PhD.

While traditional psychotherapy is wonderful for bringing us awareness about our behaviors, emotions, and our thinking, sometimes it falls short in actually releasing us from a pattern we are stuck in. Sometimes becoming aware of our issue and where it originated is enough to shift us out of it, yet with other issues we can become aware but still feel and act the same. This is because there is a connection between the energy systems of the body and our behaviors, emotions, and our thinking.

Our bodies and brains contain complex electrical activities and operate electromagnetically, which can be seen in the study of our hearts, nervous systems, and brains, as well as in the anatomy of the energetic body that consists of meridians, chakras, biofields, and much more. We can become cognizant of why we are acting or feeling a certain way, but unless we actually clear the emotional charge from the energy system of the body, it remains as a blockage, keeping us stuck in the same pattern.

For example: A client is addressing her over-eating issues with her therapist. She comes to discover that she is an emotional eater and comforts herself with food. She digs deeper to discover this is related to a feeling of not getting enough love and not being “seen” in her family. She realizes that as she eats, she becomes larger – and, literally, she is being seen more because there is more of her to see. And on a core level, she even comes to see that it is a feeling of anxiety about not being loved and seen that drives her to this behavior. She has made all these fabulous connections and has even learned some other tools to self-soothe without food. However, the anxiety still surfaces when something triggers her childhood feelings. Is there a way to disconnect her emotional charge around feeling unloved and unseen, thereby eliminating the anxiety?

Yes. With the techniques available to us through the field of Energy Psychology, we can facilitate clients to clear the emotional charge connected with a memory or trauma. There are many modalities within the field of Energy Psychology (also known as Energy Therapies). Many can work well together and certain ones seem to be more effective in specific areas than others. To give you a basic generalized overview of how many of these modalities function, let me break down the basic parts of Energy Psychology. Most modalities begin by an assessment of the issue (many include Applied Kinesiology, or Muscle Testing) to determine either the actual core issue or a measurement of the level of distress the issue is causing, or both. Once that is established, the protocol of that particular modality is followed until the subject has cleared the issue. The subject is then re-assessed and tested to see if the body has completely cleared the issue from the energy system. Sometimes this is followed with the instillation of a new and positive belief into the energy system.

“Quantum physics has found that there is no empty space in the human cell, but it is a teeming, electric-magnetic field of possibility or potential.” – Dr. Deepak Chopra

One of the benefits of working with Energy Psychology is that a practitioner can help clear the emotional charge and suffering that a client is experiencing without having to even know the reason for the client’s issue. In other words, the client does not necessary need to relive their trauma or put it into words. They do not need to spend years processing ‘what happened’, they can instead simply release the energetic block that is keeping them locked in the trauma. Although sometimes many beneficial realizations and self-awareness can be gained through self exploration of our past, it is also in other cases not beneficial and in such cases (like patients who do not have the ego strength to handle it) then Energy Psychology can be the perfect tool.

There are many modalities in the field of Energy Psychology such as: Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT), Seemorg Matrix, etc. The Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy is the only school nationwide to offer a 60 Hour Certification in The Healing Art of Energy Therapies. This course gives students training in a wide range of these modalities and prepares them to being applying them immediately into their practice and in their own lives.

Upcoming Training in San Diego
The Healing Art of Energy Therapies
60 Hour Certification
at the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy
www.SDHypnosisTraining.com

Friday through Saturday: November 7, 8, & 9
Friday through Saturday: November 14, 15, & 16
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. all days

The Philosophy of Holistic Health

“Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos – the trees, the clouds, everything.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Holistic health is the idea that our health is more than just a physical state. It encompasses more than what is going on in the body, on a physical or material level, and includes what is also happening energetically, emotionally, and spiritually in order to address the whole being.

Though some people would like to classify this approach as ‘new age’, this is not a new concept. In fact, it incorporates many ancient traditions of healing. What is actually more recent is the scientific idea that the body is an organism that operates like a machine and responds only to physical interventions. In holistic health care, we can see the body as an expression of ourselves and everything that is going on in our lives. What the body brings to our attention is always an opportunity for growth.

Illness is not a sign of something being broken that needs to be fixed. To understand holistic health, we need to shift our perspective of dis-ease as something to ‘get rid of’. Perhaps it is a gift. Perhaps it comes into our lives, regardless of what created it or why, to teach us something.

One might ask, “But don’t we all want to feel our best and be healthy?” Yes, many of us do and that allows for a lot of growth. And some people may not truly want to be healthy. They may have a belief, likely an unconscious one, that they do not deserve to be healthy. They may not be able to visualize themselves as healthy. They may be holding onto the idea of being ill if it is creating a secondary gain in their life – such as getting the attention or love they are lacking. It is easy to assume everyone wants health, but this is not the case. From a holistic standpoint, we look at these thoughts and know that they impact the being on all levels, including the body. As quantum physics has proven, thoughts create reality. Looking at unconscious beliefs can be very rewarding and help open up new levels of health for the being. These may be beliefs that were passed down from parental figures, or created due to traumas, or even brought in from other lifetimes. It does not matter how they arrived, they are opportunities for expanding your self-awareness and understanding. Beliefs that are no longer serving you can easily be removed from your being or, in other words, cleared.

This is not to suggest that we are at fault for our dis-ease because of our thinking, or to say if we were ‘enlightened’ we would be free of illness or suffering. Our thoughts are one factor, but there are other factors that influence our health, some beyond our current understanding – our minds, karma, God, the Universe, or whatever else you may call it. In holistic health, we are not interested in blaming something or someone for causing the situation, so we are not focused on the cause in that way. What we are looking for are ways to heal ourselves, ways to grow.

The reason for this is that it actually does not matter why we are sick or why we are healthy. When we focus on the ‘why’ we are lost. Knowing why will not lead us to a solution, but rather take us further away from the present moment and the opportunities that are right in front of us. We can move forward into healing when we can accept that wherever we are in the present moment and state of health is perfect, whether we understand why or not. This is a type of faith that has a powerful healing effect.

Maybe you are wondering, “well, isn’t it important for science to understand what causes certain illnesses so we can prevent them?” Yes, it is. This is different from an individual wondering, “why is this happening to me?” – which is not the best use of one’s energy. Look at what your situation offers you and what thoughts (like that one) come up. If you find a way, such as hypnosis, to allow your unconscious mind to answer those questions for you, you can gain insight and self-realization.

As we shift our perspective on health, we can realize that there does not need to be a ‘war’ on cancer or AIDS or any other disease. We do not need to evaluate these experiences as battles that are being lost or won, though that is often how it is presented to us. This is influenced by our relationship with the concept of death. If death is something to be feared and avoided, staying alive becomes a fight against death. Perhaps we can shift this thinking as well. Perhaps in time we will be able to understand even death as a form of healing and transformation.

In holistic health, we are not separate from our bodies and we honor our bodies. This is how we are manifesting on this planet and what allows us to experience life through our senses. The idea of healing expands from simply curing disease to include anything that can support someone and increase well-being. Though there are some practicioners in holistic health care that get into the dogma of certain diets, rules, and restrictions, this is not truly in alignment with this philosophy. Instead, each individual should be seen as unique and whole and what is healing to that person is whatever expands their health on all levels. Francois de La Rochefoucauld summarized this idea in the 1600’s, writing, “Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady.”

What heals in holistic health care is what feels right for your self. It may be the ocean, love, a good meal, the proper medication, herbs, affirmations, surgery, a dream, light, energy work, a new diet, a change in career, yoga, a new food, an animal, anything that adds to your health. There are choices beyond what allopathic medicine has to offer and choices that can support traditional types of treatments. We are all self-healing and always healing. What is amazing about the holistic concept is that there are so many ways to nourish your happiness, your health, your joy, your experience of life.

Physical Pain As A Spiritual Teacher

PHYSICAL PAIN AS A SPIRITUAL TEACHER

“If we could learn to learn from pain
even as it grasps us…”
– Adrienne Rich

I was getting dressed to go out the other night and standing in front of the mirror in a short dress, I asked my girlfriend, “Do my knees look fat in this dress?” We both started laughing. My knees were swollen and full of fluid. Needless to say, I didn’t wear the dress and I definitely wasn’t dancing that night.

For the last eight years I have been dealing with some kind of autoimmune disease that causes my joints to swell up and my body to become stiff and full of pain. For some reason, no doctor (and trust me, I have been to A LOT of them) can tell me exactly which disease I have and I’ve been diagnosed with several different things over the years. Apparently there is a lot of mystery around autoimmune disorders. The medical world is not sure what causes them, though they seem to be brought on after something traumatic happens to the immune system. The tests that determine your diagnosis cannot always pinpoint which disease you have – like in my case I show markers that conclude I have an autoimmune disorder, but my symptoms don’t match up exactly with the disease I was diagnosed with. I find it puzzling that despite how many people are suffering from autoimmune diseases (according to The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, approximately 50 million Americans, 20 percent of the population or one in five people), there is not more information or treatment available.

“I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.” – Maya Angelou

Physical pain is something most people dread, myself included. However, since I have been struggling with the presence of pain in my body for so long, I have developed a relationship with it. It is something you cannot ignore when it comes into your life – it demands your attention. It forces you to stop what you are doing and pay attention to yourself. We may be able to ignore spiritual, emotional, and mental pains to some degree, but when the pain manifests on a physical level, it must be addressed.

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” – Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

I will never forget the first time I realized the power of physical pain and how it could move me into another level of consciousness. Lying in my bed, unable to move, the intensity of my pain rose to a level that was beyond my comprehension. It overtook my body and I began to see lights instead of my room around me. Tears came down my face, but there was also a feeling of transcendence. I felt as if I was crossing a threshold, maybe the veil between this world and the other side, and the light became brighter and I was mesmerized by it. All I could do was surrender to it. I felt safe and knew I was with the Divine (what I call the Goddess, or others call God / Spirit / etc.). And though I am not a Christian, in that moment I thought of Job.

Here is my understanding of the bible story of Job… The devil made a bet with God. He said that God’s most faithful human, a man named Job, was faithful only because God had given him a beautiful, prosperous life. The devil claimed that Job would turn away from God if his perfect life was destroyed. God felt that Job’s faith was strong and told the devil to do whatever he wanted to Job, but do not kill him. The devil then attacked Job’s life – his loved ones died, his farm collapsed, his animals became diseased, and his body became covered in painful sores. No matter what happened, Job still praised God. In the end, God returned Job’s fortune to him.

“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” – Jean-Paul Sartre

The Book of Job is one of the most analyzed books of the bible. For me, the message is that it is easy to be spiritual and have faith when things are good in our lives… but faith that is real and strong sustains when we are suffering. Do we curse the Divine or say ‘if there is a God, why do bad things happen’? My experience has taught me to move beyond these limited views. Begin to see a bigger picture. Take responsibility for how you may have created your situation – what beliefs you may have that need to be changed.

“You will not grow if you sit in a beautiful flower garden, but you will grow if you are sick, if you are in pain, if you experience losses, and if you do not put your head in the sand, but take the pain and learn to accept it, not as a curse or punishment but as a gift to you with a very, very specific purpose.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

We may dislike suffering, but can we also believe that it has a purpose? It is a fact that suffering exists on Earth. Entertain the idea that perhaps we chose to experience this and that is why we are here. Maybe it is something we planned to go through in this lifetime that is bringing growth to us on a soul level. Pain is humbling. Pain shows you what you believe and who you are. In the end, you can choose to hate it or you can accept it and grow from it. There is no reason to live in a state of constant suffering – even as we suffer, we can find joy, we can find something spiritual, and then we can move on.

“You don’t have to suffer continual chaos in order to grow.” – John C. Lilly

Some important information from The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (www.aarda.org):

Autoimmunity is a result of a misdirected immune system that causes one’s own immune system to attack the self. There are over eighty known autoimmune diseases; and unlike the many forms of cancer which are recognized as being part of the general term “cancer,” autoimmune diseases are recognized singularly rather than in the overall category of autoimmunity. The public in general is unaware of the autoimmune nature of these diseases. When most people hear one of these diseases referred to as an autoimmune disease, they incorrectly confuse the term autoimmune with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); or they think it is a form of cancer.

This lack of knowledge and collaborative effort results in untold suffering for persons with autoimmune diseases due to misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis which may result in damage to vital organs. The need to bring a national focus to autoimmunity as the common factor in all autoimmune diseases is vital in order to bring a collaborative effort to research, funding, early detection, and eventually, prevention and cure for all autoimmune diseases.

Some of the over 80 autoimmune diseases are lupus, type I diabetes, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, chronic active hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, myasthenia gravis, myositis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), Sjogren’s syndrome, uveitis, polymyositis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and demyelinating neuropathies.

10 Simple Things You Can Do To Feel Better

How we feel is a result of how we take care of ourselves. We have to make the choice each day to take responsibility for how we feel and how well we are living our lives. Here are some simple things that I remind myself to do in order to feel centered. May you be inspired to create your own daily rituals for peace and wellness.

1. CREATE YOUR SPACE: Make your home, or even just a part of your home, a sanctuary where you feel surrounded by beauty. This will lead to you doing creative and healthy activities in your home. Clean out clutter and decorate your space with things that you love. Make sure you create the ambiance you want with lighting, whether that means lots of natural light or candlelight or a beautiful lamp. Use scents to enhance the room. Treat yourself to fresh flowers or plants. Make your space one that brings you into a tranquil mindset.

2. JOURNAL: Begin keeping a daily journal. Take a few moments to write down your thoughts, feelings, goals, and dreams. Write down things you are grateful for. Write down memories or wishes. This process of journaling will give you a chance to check in with yourself each day. If you do not like to write, try other creative outlets like art, poetry, or music.

3. MEDITATE: Meditation is a simple way to bring your energy back to a healthy state, as well as find peace of mind. To begin a daily meditation practice, find a quiet time to turn off your phone and electronics, and just sit still with your eyes closed. Focus on your breathing. Just notice your thoughts and practice not attaching to any of them, but rather allow them to float in and out of your mind until you are able to detach from all the thinking your brain wants to do. This will take time and practice to quiet your mind. As you begin to enjoy the benefits of meditation, you may want to find a class or a teacher to learn more advanced techniques.

4. CONNECT WITH NATURE: Go outside someplace that resonates with you. Look at the stars, the ocean, or the green trees – whatever you like. Take in the “prana” or life-force energy that is present in nature and breathe it into your body. Stretch your body, take a walk. The power of nature can restore you on many levels: mentally, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually.

5. DO SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR YOUR BODY: Make yourself a favorite meal, or even something as simple as a perfect cup of tea or cut up a fruit that you love. Take a bubble bath or a nap. Put a masque of honey on your face or take a class that you’ve been wanting to take. Doing little things to take care of yourself on a daily basis will create more space for you in your own life. It will also give you more stamina to take care of others because you will feel full and nourished and have more to give.

6. MAKE A LIST: Making lists is a way to de-clutter your mind and also it can be fun and help your organize your ideas. Make a list to things you want to do. Make a list of people you want to connect with or dreams/goals you would like to start working on. Make a list of things you are grateful for or people you want to thank. You can even make a list of things you want to get out of your head and put aside to create room for new and more positive thoughts. A list can give you a place to start and can be the first step in moving towards accomplishing your goals.

7. WRITE A LOVE LETTER: This does not necessary have to be a romantic love letter, though those are wonderful too. You can write a letter to anyone you love. Let the people in your life know how you feel about them. Take time to say the things you want to say and let them know you appreciate them. We never know how many chances we will really have to express our love to those around us before they, or we, are gone. It is important to allow your love to flow openly and you will feel better sharing this energy from your heart chakra in a healthy way.

8. GIVE SELFLESSLY: Find some volunteer work or just choose a simple way to give back in some way. Give away something to someone who needs it more than you. If you feel you have no possessions or money to give, you can always give your time or your energy. You can even give a listening ear to a friend. Or surprise someone with a meal or a gift or a visit. Do something nice for someone else, your community, the environment, or animals. Acting selflessly means doing this without expecting anything in return – however one thing that is proven is that doing so will make you feel better. This is because human nature is about being connected to others and the whole and getting outside of ourselves to help others is a way to reconnect.

9. LAUGH: Do you know the last time you cracked up with laughter? When life gets too serious, it is time to find some comedy and amusement. In fact, it will improve your health if you laugh on a daily basis. Surround yourself with funny people who entertain you. Watch a movie or stand-up comedy show that makes you giggle. And, even though it is hard sometimes, learn to laugh at yourself.

10. TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW: There is an old saying that we teach best what we most want to learn. We all have something we are good at. When you take the time to teach others what you know, you increase your own knowledge and develop expertise on a subject. Teaching requires you to take your own skills to the next level. It can be rewarding to teach someone a valuable skill, trade, hobby, or subject. You can teach someone how to read, bake a cake, or plant a garden – anything that you already love to do. Just invite them to join you and teach by example and by doing. They may even end up helping you! And when you teach, you truly always end up learning too.

Top Ways to Increase Focus & Concentration

There are many ways to improve your focus and concentration. I was recently asked if Hypnotherapy would benefit these brain functions and the answer is: yes. Hypnotherapy will boost focus and even uncover unconscious blocks that could be inhibiting your concentration or affecting the clarity of your thinking.

As we age, many people tend to feel a mental fog settling in. This may be an indication that we need to look within. Meditation is a great tool for clearing the mind as are practices such as Yoga or Tai Chi. There are also supplements, herbs, and aromatherapy cures that can assist us. Here are my top 3 recommendations:

FISH OIL: Taking fish oil as a daily supplement can have many health benefits for the entire body due to the high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA are two fatty acids contained in fish oil that affect the development of the brain and how the nervous system functions. I will focus here only on the benefits for the brain, which include improvement in memory, reasoning, and focus. Research also shows that fish oil supplements help alleviate depression, many symptoms of various mental illnesses, and mood disorders. It has been confirmed to aid children with ADD and ADHD. It is recommended to take during pregnancy to help brain development for the baby and reduce risks of postpartum depression for the mom. Generally fish oil is most easily taken in capsule form and must be stored in the refrigerator. Eating fresh fish is also helpful, but can be unsafe to eat in the necessary quantities due to heavy metals. The dosages vary depending on the reason for taking this supplement. You can buy 1000 mg (1000 mg = 1 g) capsules and begin by taking one capsule three times per day. The dosage for depression can be as much as 6 grams per day and it is a good idea to check with your doctor if you are unsure how much is best for you. Look for brands that are free of mercury. I personally like Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Liquid to add to smoothies or Spectrum softgels.

ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL: An aromatherapy cure for memory and focus is rosemary because it is a cerebral vasodilator, which means it increases blood flow to the brain. If you are studying or wanting to focus, smell fresh rosemary or use a few drops of rosemary essential oil. Another nice combination to create is rosemary and peppermint essential oil blended together. You can put some drops on a tissue and breathe it in periodically or put your mixture into a base oil (like sweet almond oil or apricot seed) and apply to your skin by massage. Another trick is to buy a spray bottle (preferably a glass one which you can find online) and fill with a combination of distilled water and your essential oil blend to make a spritz that you can use to spray yourself or around your environment. It may be best to avoid rosemary essential oil during pregnancy. Consult an Aromatherapist if you have concerns. Buy organic essential oils from a good source. I recommend Original Swiss Aromatics or Oshadi or buying directly from a Certified Aromatherapist.

GINGKO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT: Gingko Leaf is the herb that has been proven to enhance memory and recall, as well as blood circulation. This herb positively affects cognitive functions, as do most antioxidants, which Gingko is rich in. It helps facilitate oxygen flow to the brain and improves mircro-vascular system circulation. This herb is being studied as a treatment or possibly prevention for Alzheimer’s Disease. I recommend taking an organic liquid extract (either alcohol based or alcohol free). My favorite brands are Gaia Herbs or Herb Pharm. Do not take if you are pregnant or breastfeeeding. Consult a doctor if you are taking other medications or look up contraindications as you would before taking any herbs.

The Mayo Clinic has information about this herb here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginkgo-biloba/NS_patient-ginkgo

A thorough article on Gingko research from the University of Maryland Medical Center can be accessed here:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginkgo-biloba-000247.htm

Ascension Symptoms

I came across this information after researching and reading about ascension symptoms due to my own frustration with myself. I found this particular resource to really cover what a lot of us are experiencing lately. This comes (with much appreciation) from whatsuponplanetearth.com:

Know that although our evolutionary process is rapidly accelerating, along with the New higher energies, we are all experiencing these changes in our own way and in our own time, according to who we are and according to our coding and plan before birth.

In addition, generally speaking, our ascension process relates to how we each run our own individual energy, and what our beliefs and experiences are. In other words, how we are wired and how we vibrate.

These things can be changed and will also change automatically as we clear and embody more light within ourselves.

For me, all of my interesting and ‘strange’ symptoms disappeared after I completely ‘arrived’ in a higher realm; and they will for you as well. These symptoms seem to occur while we are going through the transition, or what I liken to the ‘tunnel’.

Know that there is an end, and an incredibly beautiful, peaceful and loved filled reality awaiting you. May your evolutionary process be joyous, peaceful and filled with light and wonder.

1. Feeling as though you are in a pressure cooker or in intense energy; feeling stress. Remember, you are adjusting to a higher vibration and you will eventually adjust. Old patterns, behaviours and beliefs are also being pushed to the surface. There is a lot going on inside of you.

2. A feeling of disorientation; not knowing where you are; a loss of a sense of place. You are not in 3D anymore, as you have moved or in the process of moving into the higher realms.

3. Unusual aches and pains throughout different parts of your body. You are purifying and releasing blocked energy vibrating at 3D, while you are vibrating in a higher dimension.

4. Waking at night between 2 and 4 a.m. Much is going on in your dream state. You can’t be there for long lengths of time and need a break. This is also the ‘cleansing and releasing’ hour.

5. Memory loss. A great abundance of short term memory loss and only vague remembrances of your past. You are in more than one dimension at a time, and going back and forth as part of the transition, you are experiencing a ‘disconnect’. Also, your past is part of the Old, and the Old is forever gone. Being in the Now is the way of the New World.

6. ‘Seeing’ and ‘hearing’ things. You are experiencing different dimensions as you transition, all according to how sensitive you are and how you are wired.

7. Loss of identity. You try to access the Old you, but it is no longer there. You may not know who you are looking at in the mirror. You have cleared much of your old patterns and are now embodying much more light and a simpler, more purified divine you. All is in order, You are okay.

8. Feeling ‘out of body’. You may feel as though someone is talking, but it is not you. This is our natural defence mechanism of survival when we are under acute stress or feeling traumatized or out of control. Your body is going through a lot and you may not want to be in it. My ascension guide told me that this was a way of easing the transition process, and that I did not need to experience what my body was going through. This only lasted a short time. It passes.

9. Periods of deep sleeping. You are resting from all the acclimating and are integrating, as well as building up for the next phase.

10. Heightened sensitivities to your surroundings. Crowds, noise, foods, TV, other human voices and various other stimulations are barely tolerable. You also overwhelm very easily and become easily overstimulated. You are tuning up. Know that this will eventually pass.

11. You don’t feel like doing anything. You are in a rest period, ‘rebooting’. Your body knows what it needs. In addition, when you begin reaching the higher realms, ‘doing’ and ‘making things happen’ becomes obsolete as the New energies support the feminine of basking, receiving, creating, self-care and nurturing. Ask the Universe to ‘bring’ you what you want while you are enjoying yourself and having fun.

12. An intolerance for lower vibrational things of the 3D, reflected in conversations, attitudes, societal structures, healing modalities, etc. They literally make you feel ’sick’ inside. You are in a higher vibration and your energies are no longer in alignment. You are being ‘pushed, to move forward; to ‘be’ and create the New.

13. A loss of desire for food. Your body is adjusting to a new, higher state of being. Also, part of you does not want to be here anymore in the Old.

14. A sudden disappearance of friends, activities, habits, jobs and residences. You are evolving beyond what you used to be, and these people and surroundings no longer match your vibration. The New will soon arrive and feel so-o-o-o much better.

15. You absolutely cannot do certain things anymore. When you try to do your usual routine and activities, it feels downright awful. You are evolving beyond what you used to be, and these people and surroundings no longer match your vibration. The New will soon arrive and feel so-o-o-o much better.

16. Days of extreme fatigue. Your body is losing density and going through intense restructuring.

17. A need to eat often along with what feels like attacks of low blood sugar. Weight gain, especially in the abdominal area. A craving for protein. You are requiring an enormous amount of fuel for this ascension process. Weight gain with an inability to loose it no matter what you do is one of the most typical experiences. Trust that your body knows what it is doing.

18. Experiencing emotional ups and downs; weeping. Our emotions are our outlet for release, and we are releasing a lot.

19. A wanting to go Home, as if everything is over and you don’t belong here anymore. We are returning to Source. Everything is over, but many of us are staying to experience and create the New World. Also, our old plans for coming have been completed.

20. Feeling you are going insane, or must be developing a mental illness of some sort. You are rapidly experiencing several dimensions and greatly opening. Much is available to you now. You are just not used to it. Your awareness has been heightened and your barriers are gone. This will pass and you will eventually feel very at Home like you have never felt before, as Home is now here.

21. Anxiety and panic. Your ego is losing much of itself and is afraid. Your system is also on overload. Things are happening to you that you may not understand. You are also losing behaviour patterns of a lower vibration that you developed for survival in 3D. This may make you feel vulnerable and powerless. These patterns and behaviours you are losing are not needed in the higher realms. This will pass and you will eventually feel so much love, safety and unity. Just wait.

22. Depression. The outer world may not be in alignment with the New, higher vibrational you. It doesn’t feel so good out there. You are also releasing lower, darker energies and you are ’seeing’ through them. Hang in there.

23. Vivid, wild and sometimes violent dreams. You are releasing many, many lifetimes of lower vibrational energy. Many are now reporting that they are experiencing beautiful dreams. Your dream state will eventually improve and you will enjoy it again. Some experience this releasing while awake. My mother commented one day that she believed I was having nightmares in the daytime.

24. Night sweats and hot flashes. Your body is ‘heating’ up as it burns off residue.

25. Your plans suddenly change in mid-stream and go in a completely different direction. Your soul is balancing out your energy. It usually feels great in this new direction, as your soul knows more than you do. It is breaking your ‘rut’ choices and vibration.

26. You have created a situation that seems like your worst nightmare, with many ‘worst nightmare’ aspects to it. Your soul is guiding you into ’stretching’ into aspects of yourself where you were lacking, or into ‘toning down’ aspects where you had an overabundance. Your energy is just balancing itself. Finding your way to peace through this situation is the test you have set up for yourself. This is your journey, and your soul would not have set it up if you weren’t ready. You are the one who finds your way out and you will. Looking back, you will have gratitude for the experience and be a different person.

5 Natural Remedies That Really Work

Here are 5 easy, inexpensive natural remedies for common health challenges:

1. COLD SORES: Apply Propolis 5 times per day. Propolis is a resin that bees collect from trees (sap), buds, barks, etc. and use it to line areas of the hive. It is an antiseptic and is used to create a sterilized environment for the Queen Bee to lay her eggs. I have suffered from cold sores and tried every product. Propolis is the best thing for this! My favorite product is called: Honey Gardens Apitherapy Propolis Spray with Purple Loosestrife & Usnea. I spray it in my palm and then dab it on a cold sore 5 x per day. You will be amazed.

2. HEARTBURN: Try drinking raw, organic apple cider vinegar (2 tbsps) in a glass of water after a meal. You may add raw honey or stevia to sweeten. This is a cure to heartburn because it contains ash and therefore creates an alkaline environment in your body and normalizes your PH balance. It also has many other benefits! Try it! And none of the side effects of heartburn medications.

3. SORE THROAT: The best thing for a sore throat is Osha Root (Ligusticum porterii) tincture. Yes, it smells herbal, yes it tastes a little strong if you are not used to taking herbs. However, it is antibacterial, antiviral, and decongestant, among other things and will take down inflammation of the throat and kill infections. Take one dropperful and squirt it directly down your throat – be sure to get it on the walls of your throat so it can work. Leave it on your throat for a bit before you take a drink of anything if you can. I do this three times a day beginning at the first sign of a sore throat and it goes away fast! My favorite product is: Herb Pharm Osha Root tincture.

4. BURNS: For first degree burns or sunburns, apply Lavender essential oil directly to the burn. It will take away sting and heal the skin tissues. You may mix it will Aloe Vera gel if you like or fresh aloe squeezed from a plant, which is best. If you burn yourself in the kitchen, immerse your burn in cold water with a Lavender essential oil added to it. Then apply more Lavender once you have dried the area.

5. YEAST INFECTION: An hour before breakfast and dinner, try taking 2 capsules of Acidophilus orally. I love Solaray non-dairy Acidophilus. Taking this daily is great for your health in many ways and will help regulate the balance of yeast or candida in the digestive and reproductive tracks. You can also get the effects by eating yogurt or drinking kefir daily. You can also insert a capsule vaginally (some people recommend using yogurt, but it is too messy in my opinion) once or twice a day. Usually this will clear up the problem, however if it does not, you should see a doctor because sometimes people think they have a yeast infection and it is a different type of infection that needs different treatment.

The Lady’s Prayer

Here is a beautiful prayer that conveys a positive message and is not fear-based. More information can be found on: ReligiousTolerance.org.

This is a Wiccan prayer patterned after the Shepherd Psalm. The latter is found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) at Psalms 23:1. The author is unknown.

THE LADY’S PRAYER

The Earth is my Mother.
I shall not want.
Her hand brings forth the green pastures.
She tarries within the still waters.
She leads me in fields of fruitfulness for my Glory.
Yea, as I walk through the summer of life unto death,
I will not be afraid, for You are with me.
Your womb in the earth will enfold me.
You prepare a harvest before me and bless my home with children.
You fill me with milk and honey.
My cup overflows.
Surely, goodness and beauty will nurture me all the days of my life,
and I will become part of the earth forever.