Raw Vegan Coconut Cashew Cream

In the world of proper food combining, fruits and nuts are not an ideal combination for digestion. That said, I find this digests fine for me, especially if I take the time to soak the nuts first. If you decide to make this without soaking the nuts (this process releases the enzyme inhibitors and starts the sprouting process), just be aware that the cream will become twice as thick the next day (if you have some left in the frig) as the nuts absorb the liquid.

Ingredients:

2 cups raw cashews

1 tbsp coconut oil

a squeeze of lemon juice (or orange juice)

a pinch of salt (I use the Himalayan Pink Salt)

1/4 cup coconut sugar (if you don’t have this, use maple syrup) – adjust to your own preferred level of sweetness. 1/4 cup of coconut sugar makes it very sweet in my opinion.

a dash of vanilla extract (french vanilla stevia drops work also) or some vanilla bean

8 oz coconut water (you can use regular water instead if you don’t have coconut) – use less or more water depending on if you want it thicker or thinner

HOW TO MAKE IT

Step 1: Soak 2 cups of raw cashews in cool water in your refrigerator for 4 hours or even overnight. When that is done, drain off the water and rinse. I use a mason jar, but any bowl is fine.

Step 2: Put the cashews into the blender. Add in all the other ingredients and blend.

Step 3: Refrigerate – the cream tastes best when it is cold. Alternately, you can add ice cubes when you blend in place of some of the water/coconut water to have it cold right away.

Step 4: Layer with your favorite fresh, ripe fruits and enjoy!

Herbs & Oils for Common Issues ~ Part One

Knowing what herbs and oils to have on hand, or be able to find, when you or a family member gets sick makes life less stressful. Nature is amazing in that it has provided for us everything we need to live and be healthy. Medicinal plants do not only produce the chemicals in their bodies that they need to survive (like our bodies do), but they also produce whole other sets of chemicals and compounds that work as medicines for humans and animals. This is their gift to us.

There are various ways to use herbs: eating them fresh, water extractions like teas and infusions, vinegar extractions that can be used as tinctures or in food, alcohol and glycerin tinctures that extract the alkaloids from the plants. You may want to learn about the different methods of using herbs, or consult an herbalist, to know you are taking the best form possible for your condition. As an herbalist, I very rarely recommend taking herbs in capsules. It is generally useless. There are some exceptions to this rule – Cayenne being one of them. I also like to use herbs that grow as weeds near us or herbs that are available as foods in grocery stores, versus expensive, imported, and rare herbs. I do not recommend using herbs that are endangered unless they are farm grown.

COLDS & FLUS: Some easy to acquire and safe herbs to use when a cold or flu virus hits you are: Garlic, Thyme, Sage, and Ginger. All of these are easily found in grocery stores and buying organic* is always best.

GARLIC: Allium sativum

Garlic has been shown to increase immune function, lower blood pressure, fight bacterial infections, and reduce the risk of many types of cancer.

Raw Garlic: To reap the powerful anti-viral properties of Garlic, you must eat it raw. As soon as you cut into any food or herb with antioxidant qualities, it begins to oxidize. So cutting your garlic and eating it as soon as possible after cutting it is key. Heating garlic destroys many of these qualities.

Garlic Toast: One of the tricks I picked up from Herbalist Susun Weed, who trained me in herbal medicine, was to chop up garlic, mix it into some olive oil, and then put it on top of toast – it is actually very yummy.

Garlic Shot: Another option is to mince up raw garlic and drop it into a shot glass with a dropper full of Echinacea tincture (I prefer Herb Pharm Super Echinacea) and fresh squeezed orange juice… and drink it like a shot.

Garlic Honey: Another herbal trick is to peel the garlic cloves and submerge them in raw, local honey. You let them sit in the honey for at least 4 weeks, but the honey can even preserve them for a year (maybe more) before it begins to crystallize. Then you can eat the honey garlic gloves or use the garlic infused honey as a syrup. Take it by the spoonful or smear it on bread perhaps.

Counteracting Garlic Breath: Parsley is the antidote for garlic breath. It neutralizes the smell of garlic, so eat some fresh Parsley after you take or eat your garlic.

Garlic dressings: You can also add raw garlic into homemade salad dressings. Blend up raw garlic with some fresh herbs, avocado, lemon juice, a pinch of sea salt, and voila! Pour over fresh greens and eat right away.

Garlic Juice: You can also add garlic to your fresh juice recipes if you have a juicer. It works well with vegetable juice combinations.

A note about improper use of garlic: Recently on some of the raw food blogs and Youtube videos, some raw food “gurus” have been saying that garlic is dangerous to ingest. Sadly, this misinformation started when someone applied raw garlic to a wound on the skin. NOT RECOMMENDED. They then showed that the garlic burned the skin/wound and left a bad scar. The conclusion was that eating raw garlic would burn your insides. This is obviously not true. You cannot just take herbs and apply them at will, however you choose, or you could get hurt. Garlic is a safe, non-toxic herb from the onion family that we can eat. It can also be used as medicine, but it is never to be put on a wound. Doing so would be like looking at a can of Lysol and saying, “Hmmm, this is anti-viral and anti-bacterial. I should spray it on my open wound.” NOT a smart idea.

A note on buying organic: When your body is working hard to fight a virus, illness, or infection, you do not want to ingest pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides that will give your liver a lot more toxicity to filter out. The same goes for food. If you are eating healthy salads, but they are covered in toxic poisons, you may want to re-think that. Also by supporting our organic farmers, we are contributing to a less toxic world and therefore less illness, less cancer.

Part Two… coming soon!

More Archangels ~ Class Notes

Thank you to all who attended the class! Here are some notes that will help you remember what you learned. Keep in mind that in order for the angels to help you in any way, you need to give them permission by asking for their help. I mentioned in class that I like to use affirmative prayer and here is an example of how to use this:

Dear Archangel Raguel,

Thank you for healing my relationship with ___________. Thank you for helping me to take responsibility for my part in our disagreement. I ask that this healing be done for the greatest good of all concerned, with harm to none, and no harm done.

And so it is.

I have had a few requests from people who would like to purchase a bottle of my Angel Oil aromatherapy that I used in class which is a mixture of rose absolute and lavender. If you are interested, please email me: jessica@wellnessthroughwisdom.com. I am going to make them in 10 ml bottles for $25 each.

The Archangels

HANIEL: “the grace of God”

halo color: blueish white like moonlight
crystal: moonstone
astrological: overseer of all signs
helps with women’s issues: pms, menopause, reproductive related issues
seen as the Angel of the Moon
call upon during the full moon to release and heal
connect with her in the moonlight, take a moon bath
heals heartbreak
pulls out lower energies (works with Raphael for healing)
helps you deal with feelings you’ve been avoiding
helps develop intuition and clairvoyance

RAZIEL: “the secrets of God”

halo color: rainbow
crystal: clear quartz
astrological: Leo
helps with spiritual understanding
opens us to the secrets of the universe
Sefer Raziel – the book of the angel Raziel, contains universal wisdom. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sefer_Raziel_HaMalakh
helps turn knowledge into wisdom
helps us learn to avoid distractions (get back to our spiritual practices)
a record keeper of soul contracts, past lives, akashic records
helps us deal with phobias and addictions and other issues that are rooted in a past life
can help dissolve vows we’ve made in past lives
dream interpretation

RAGUEL: “friend of God”

halo color: pale blue
crystal: aquamarine
astrological: Sagittarius
bring harmony back to relationships
helps bring fairness and justice
manages relationships between angels and humans
heals arguments
removes tension from marriages
forgiveness
attract new friends that are positive for you
heals business relationships
guidance can appear as repetitive gut feelings and signs
most of all improves/heals your relationship with your self (that all other relationships are a reflection of)
known as the angel of hope

JEREMIEL: “the mercy of God”

halo color: dark purple
crystal: amethyst
astrological: Scorpio
watches over departed souls and ministers to those who are about to cross over
helps newly crossed over souls conduct a life review
can help us review our current life and take inventory of personal history (and back through past lives)
can help you see why you decided to be born (and your purpose)
helps us see the big picture so that we can have patience and be calm
helps us see other through love

ZADKIEL: “the righteousness of God”

halo color: deep blue/indigo
crystal: lapis lazuli
astrological: Gemini
known for unconditional love and kindness
considered the angel of memory
helps student and those taking test and exams
helps us recall facts and data
you will notice a ringing in your ears sometimes with this angel
you will feel a burst of confidence when this angel is helping you
speeds up test-taking
helps you remember your mission
helps heal the Victim archetype, heals pain from the past
can remove the emotional charge from the painful memories while leaving behind the beautiful ones and helping you focus on those
works with you to take responsibility for your own happiness (also related to getting out of victim mode)

METATRON: name meaning has not been verified, many believe it to mean “one who occupies the throne next to the throne”

halo color: violet and green
crystal: watermelon tourmaline
astrological: Virgo
Metatron is believed to have been the prophet Enoch (ancestor of Noah) who then ascended to become and Archangel
considered the angel of life who writes the Book of Life: records our deeds in our akashic records
guardian of the Tree of Life
works with sacred geometry and is picture with geometric shapes, often a cube that he uses to clear energy
will help clear your energy when you don’t have time to do it yourself – will clear and balance chakras
assists with time management – can warp time, helping you get where you need to be without speeding
comforts and helps highly sensitive people and children (star beings: Indigos, Crystals, and Rainbows) deal with the harsh energies of being on planet Earth
will help sensitive children if they are having bad dreams or have images stuck in their heads that are upsetting

Notes from my Intro to the Angels Class

Thank you all for attending the class on Archangels! I hope you enjoyed the meditation to your crystal temple and being surrounded by angels.

Please share with me your angel stories and the signs you have received that the angels are near you! You can e-mail me at: jessica@wellnessthroughwisdom.com.

I am not going to go into all the introductory information I shared, but rather just give you the overview of the 7 archangels that I spoke about so you can begin to call upon them in your daily lives.

I will be offering this class again in the new year, as well as a Part 2 class that will cover even more of the angels.

Angel blessings & many white feathers ~ Jessica

ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

Protection ~ will keep you and loved ones safe
Safety during transportation ~ ask him to keep you safe in your car or during travel
Keeps us safe from corruption or lower vibrational energies
Courage and bravery
often invoked or associated with police officers and others in roles of protection
Halo color: Blue (a royal peacock blue and also turquoise) and sometimes Purple

ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL

Healing ~ body, mind, and Spirit
“God’s Physician”
Helps us when seeking a soul mate (romantic, in business partnership, friendship, etc.)
Halo color: Green

ARCHANGEL CHAMUEL

“The eyes of God”
Observes from a high vantage point
Help us shift our perspective/perceptions
Will help us find lost items, return missing belongings so we can be at peace
Love and peace
“Some people consider Chamuel to be the patron angel of people who gone through relationship trauma (such as divorce), people who are working for world peace, and those who are searching for items they’ve lost.” – Whitney Hopler
Halo color: pink (It is often written about as pink, but I usually see a goldenrod yellow, sometimes mixed with pink)

ARCHANGEL GABRIEL

Babies and birth
Parenting
Communication ~ keeping a journal, poetry, writing a book, expression
Creative arts especially music
Halo color: copper gold and white

ARCHANGEL ARIEL

Nature and the environment
Helps us be more eco-friendly and in work that saves the Earth or animals
Protects animals
Provides for our survival needs ~ money, food, shelter
Courage ~ known as “the Lioness of God”
Pale pink or rainbow

ARCHANGEL AZRAEL

Help us in times of loss and grief
Helps dying people make the transition
Helps us let go of people or situations
Healing the heart from loss
Connection to those who have crossed over (left the physical body)
Azrael means “helper of God.”
Halo color: pale yellow

ARCHANGEL JOPHIEL

Beauty ~ “the beauty of God”
Helps us shift our thoughts to beautiful ones
Helps us with self-image ~ finding the right clothes and look
Will help with making your home beautiful
Scent of roses
Helps you see the positive
“People sometimes ask for Jophiel’s help to: discover more about the beauty of God’s holiness, see themselves as God sees them and recognize how valuable they are, seek creative inspiration, overcome the ugliness of addictions and unhealthy thought patterns, absorb information and study for tests, solve problems, and discover more of God’s joy in their lives.” – Whitney Hopler
Halo color: yellow

ANGEL NUMBERS

Here is an excerpt from the book “Angel Numbers” by Doreen Virtue & Lynette Brown (this is just a taste – you have to read the book for more!). Doreen Virtue is also the creator of many angel card decks – her cards are featured here, above.

111 – Monitor your thoughts carefully, and be sure to only think about what you want, not what you don’t want. The sequence is a sign that there is a gate of opportunity opening up, and your thoughts are manifesting into form at record speeds. The 111 is like the bright light of a flash bulb. It means that the universe has just taken a snapshot of your thoughts and is manifesting them into form. Are you pleased with what thoughts the universe has captured? If not, correct your thoughts…ask your angels to help you with this if you have difficulty controlling or monitoring your thoughts.

123 — Simplify your life. Get rid of anything that’s pulling at your energy, time, or finances—especially anything that pulls you away from your life purpose. The ascended masters are helping you with this simplification.

222 — Have faith. Everything’s going to be all right. Don’t worry about anything, as this situation is resolving itself beautifully for everyone involved.

333 — The Ascended Masters are near you, desiring you to know that you have their help, love and companionship. Call upon the Ascended Masters often, especially when you see the number 3 patterns around you. Some of the more famous Ascended Masters include: Jesus, Moses, Mary, Quan Yin and Yogananda.

444 — Thousands of angels surround you at this moment, loving and supporting you. You have a very strong and clear connection with the angelic realm, and are an Earth angel yourself. You have nothing to fear—all is well.

555 — Buckle your seatbelts. A major life change is upon you. This change should not be viewed as being “positive” or “negative” since all change is but a natural part of life’s flow. Perhaps this change is an answer to your prayers, so continuing seeing and feeling yourself to be at peace.

666 — Your thoughts are out of balance right now, focused too much on the material world. This number sequence asks you to balance your thoughts between Heaven and Earth. Like the famous, “Sermon on the Mount” the angels ask you to focus on spirit and service, and know your material and emotional needs will be met as a result.

777 — The angels applaud you… “congratulations, you’re on a roll! Keep up the good work and know your wish is coming true.” This is an extremely positive sign and you should also expect more miracles to occur.

888 — A phase of your life is about to end, and this is a sign to give you forewarning to prepare. This number sequence may mean you are winding up an emotional career or relationship phase. It also means there is light at the end of the tunnel. In addition it means, The crops are ripe. Don’t wait to pick and enjoy them. In other words, don’t procrastinate in making your move or enjoying the fruits of your labor.

875 — The changes you’re making have put you on the right path for manifesting abundance in all ways.

999 — Get to work, Lightworker! The world needs your Divine life purpose right now. Fully embark upon your sacred mission without delay or hesitation.

000 — A reminder you are one with God, and to feel the presence of your Creator’s love within you. Also it is a sign that a situation has gone full circle.

CLICK ON THIS CHART TO HAVE IT APPEAR MORE CLEARLY AND LARGER:

Sinus Blend

Yesterday I made a batch of a therapeutic aromatherapy blend that I call Sinus Blend. After an exciting class last night, as well as handing some out as gifts, the batch is gone and I will be making more! I want to take a moment to explain this blend: what it is and how to use it.

ABOUT THE BLEND: This blend is great for clogged or runny sinuses, but more accurately it is a blend that assists the whole respiratory system. This is different than my Dream Drops formula because it is made in a base of what Aromatherapists call ‘carrier oils’ while the Dream Drops is “neat” – which means just straight essential oils (no carrier). The reason I make the Dream Drops without a carrier is that people like to use it on pillows and linens and this way it will not stain or leave an oil splotch. The Sinus Blend uses some more intense oils that work well with the carrier oil to make it non-irritating to use on skin and kids. This is why it is in a dropper bottle – so it can easily come out! Do not take internally.

ABOUT THE OILS: The carrier oil I use is a blend of grapeseed and sweet almond oil. The essential oils in this blend are: certified organic Niaouli (also known as MQV), wild crafted (this is even better than organic!) Rosemary, and certified organic Eucalyptus radiata. The quality of the oils is key. What you can buy in the health food store is a very different grade of essential oils than what I use in all my formulas. The oils I use I order from the shop connected to the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy and come direct from the distillers all over the world. If you get into aromatherapy, you will start hearing a lot of companies claim that their oils are “therapeutic grade”. A lot of times that is nonsense. The oils I use are beyond therapeutic grade, they are in fact medicinal grade – the same that are used in the hospitals in France and other countries where aromatherapy is highly respected and researched (and even used internally – do not try this on your own).

HOW TO USE: Sinus blend can be used on adults, kids, and even babies (just one drop – and if your baby is super sensitive I can make a more diluted version or you can drop it into unscented lotion to dilute). It is wonderful to massage into your chest and back. It can even be used on your face – massaged over your sinus area (do not get near eyes – it is strong!). You can also put a few drops into a bath (or more if you like). Add it to unscented lotions or massage oils for a lighter scent. If you are sick, it is nice to massage this onto your chest then close yourself in the bathroom and run hot water to steam up the room. Sit in the steam for 10-15 minutes.

WHY I DISSED VICKS VAPORUB: So at the class last night, I mentioned that this is kind of used like Vicks because that is something everyone knows. But then I said Vicks is a horrible product because that is my opinion. The oils are not pure, not organic, and it is in a base of petrolatum (that is the sludge that is left over in the pipes when oil is refined into gasoline). I do not use any petrolatum products on my body – that means no Baby Oil and no Vaseline or anything related. Simply said they are toxic and carcinogenic. There are plenty of studies to read on that if you want to find out more, just do some research and you will see.

Thank you and I hope you can breathe more easily with the Sinus Blend on hand. To order, call me at (619) 405 – 4226 or email me at jessica@wellnessthroughwisdom.com.

With love,

Jessica d’Arcy

PS – The photo above is of Niaouli (MQV) Melaleuca quinquenervia.

Wellness Tips for Fall

The Autumnal Equinox came and went on September 22nd this year. After that day of balance, where day and night were equal, we entered the waning part of the year – the time when the nights are longer than the days. In ancient times, the Equinox marked the second harvest. At this time of year, the crops were finished being harvested and the herds were culled for the coming winter. And so began a time to rest after the harvest. Our bodies are in tune with the cycles of the Earth and naturally urge us to slow down, rest, and go within at this time. It is a time to pull back a little from too many external activities and go to bed a little earlier. Here are some simple tips to harmonize yourself to the Fall season:

*NOTE: Always use organic herbs! You do not want to be taking herbs sprayed with pesticides, fungicides, etc. that will stress your body.

1. Echinacea tincture ~ Echinacea is used to boost the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells, T cells, and all other infection fighting cells that are part of the immune. When you are fighting an infection/bacteria,

or supporting your body to fight a virus, take your body weight in drops 3 times per day for 3 days. Herbs work best when you start them at the first sign of illness. Consult an Herbalist if you are unsure how much to take or need to check on interactions with other medications. Some herbalists give smaller doses (half your body weight in drops) more times per day depending on the issue. Discontinue after day 3 – your immune system will be at its peak and you don’t need to keep stimulating it. Echinacea in capsules will not work, use a tincture. Echinacea augustifolia is the most medicinal, but Echinacea purpurea has beneficial qualities as well. I like Super Echinacea by Herb Pharm because it has a mix of species. Gaia Herbs is a good company as well for tinctures. You can grow your own Echinacea, beautiful pinkish purple coneflowers, but the roots take several years to mature and you need to know how to tincture them. For children, I love Planetary Herbals Well Child, Echinacea-Elderberry Herbal Syrup, Alcohol Free. Another excellent brand for kids is Herbs For Kids. They make a Wellness Kit that is really nice to have around.

If you order from http://www.iherb.com/ use my Reward Code: LQM000 (those are zeros) for up to $10.00 off your first order.

2. Golden Seal Hydrastis canadensis ~ is an antibiotic herb. So it is inappropriate to use this herb on a regular basis. It is only to be used when you are fighting a serious infection that you would use antibiotics for. I do not recommend this herb because it is very strong. As my herb teacher, Susun Weed, says, “Golden seal can do more harm to gut flora and the liver than most antibiotics.” Instead of using Golden Seal, think about taking herbs to support your immune system to do the healing. Your body can heal itself and herbs can boost it’s power.

3. Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium ~ I keep this tincture around for headaches and migraines, and as the name implies, for fevers. Take as directed on bottle.

Another reliable company to buy herbs from is: http://www.healingspiritsherbfarm.com/store/tinctures-extracts. The formulas are by amazing herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Her book, “Herbal Healing For Women”, is one of my favorites.

4. Siberian Ginseng ~ Again, I’d like to quote Susun Weed, to whom I was an apprentice, “Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus) is widely considered the single most effective immune tonic and adaptogen in the herbal realm. Safe and inexpensive, it helps the immune system respond quickly to infection and mitigates the effects of stress.” I suggest you start taking this as a tonic herb daily, especially for Fall and Winter. I use the tincture and I also simmer the root in soups or as a decoction.

5. For severe sinus infections, I use Colloidal Silver nasal spray. I would first use herbs to assist my body in healing itself, but if the infection is advanced and I want to get rid of it, I use colloidal silver. This, like Golden Seal and Oil of Oregano, is an antibiotic and thus not to be used recklessly or often. Keep in mind antibiotics kill off the good bacteria and flora in your gut as well as the bacteria that is making you ill. I have also had good results using essential oils via a neti pot. My favorite is using a drop or two of Niaouli, also known as MQV, for it’s botanical name: Melaleuca quinquinerva viridiflora. This herb has similar qualities to Tea Tree oil, but is about 10X stronger. It does not bother the delicate sinus tissues. To test it out, try putting a few drops on a tissue and stuffing it into your nose, leaving it there to be inhaled for a moment or two.

6. Last, but not least, I always use Osha Root tincture for sore throats. For more on that, see my post entitled ‘5 Natural Remedies That Really Work’: http://wellnessthroughwisdom.com/5-natural-remedies-that-really-work

I hope these tips inspire you to stay well as best you can. Remember to get your sleep (every hour before midnight counts double!) and keep your feet warm and stay out of the cold wind. Keep your home warm (no, a cold house does not ward off sickness – colds and flus thrive in cold weather), but not completely closed up. Allow some fresh air in each day. Let a little sun touch your skin (sunscreen free) for vitamin D to keep you healthy and feeling good. Most of all, find ways to embrace the seasons and make it your intention to do whatever makes you feel good.

Fall Blessings,

No One Can Heal You

As a healer, I have studied and worked in the holistic health field for 15 years now. Through this time, I have had the privilege of being a student and client of many gifted practitioners and I have been able to work in various organizations. Along the way, I have noticed patterns and found that there are certain truths that I keep returning to. Today I want to share one of these truths that I feel is very important. It not only applies to healers, but to those seeking any form of healing as well. And here it is: no one can heal you.

The good news is: you are a self-healing organism. You have the ability to heal yourself. It begins with the decision to heal and this decision has to come from within. You make this decision and you begin to hold a vision of yourself healed, whole, healthy, and happy. You decide to take responsibility for your health, on all levels. Instead of simply going to a doctor and saying “fix me”, you take responsibility for what you are putting into your body, what thoughts you are thinking, your lifestyle, your environment. You dig deeper, you educate yourself, and you look within. You may go to healers and doctors to assist you with that process or guide you with their knowledge and expertise, but ultimately they cannot heal you unless the desire to heal comes from within.

Because no one can heal you unless you truly wish to heal, healing will not take place if someone is being pushed into something they do not want to do. This is why addicts do not usually respond to court-ordered treatment and why I don’t accept clients for hypnosis who want to quit smoking or eat healthier because their partner wants them to. It does not work that way.

The other side of this coin is that healers are people that assist and guide with healing, but they cannot take credit for healing (just as they cannot be blamed for lack of healing). Be wary of anyone saying they are “saving peoples’ lives” or taking full credit for your healing or transformation. The individual is co-creating their health (or lack of) with their higher power. A healer may know techniques to help you through a shift, to move stuck energy, or to ease and comfort you. Ultimately, they do not have a power greater than Source (ie God/Goddess/the Universe/etc.).

Does that mean that helping people or preventing them from a death is negative in some way? No. What can become an issue is the way we think about ourselves. If we give our Ego credit for something that really our higher power was responsible for, it can snowball into a messianic complex, meaning believing ourselves to be a savior of sorts. I have seen this happen to healers. All the good feedback feeds that Ego and if not checked, can get out of hand. So, affirm to yourself and your clients that they are the ones healing themselves. Even a doctor or surgeon who performs a life-saving operation cannot take full credit. There are other factors at work, which is why the same operation or treatment does not work each time. The outcome is part of a divine plan, not a game of chance and not the Ego. There are agreements we’ve made on a soul level that affect outcomes, your life plan, the greatest good of all concerned, as well as our feelings and beliefs about life and healing.

The beauty in understanding this is that now you have the power to play a part in co-creating your own health. There is an inner voice that can guide you and when you listen, you will be supported. That inner voice is connected to the collective unconscious and all of your guides and angels. Although there may be some things you cannot change, there are also areas in your life that you can change. Begin there. Focus on what feels good and let that be your guide. Let your affirmation be: I am self-healing; I am co-creating my own wellness.

Whether conscious of not, in each moment you are creating, but what you create is all up to you. You are the artist sculpting yourself… and no matter what you are given, no matter what you are starting out with, you can make it beautiful.

SELF-HEAL

This is the flower of the plant called Self-Heal, Prunella vulgaris. It has many healing uses and you might even find it growing in your lawn.

Patricia Kaminski of the Flower Essence Society says this about Self-Heal: “Self-Heal flower essence is especially indicated for those who have lost belief in their own capacity to be well, or who have abdicated this inherent responsibility to healers or others. It is a very beneficial remedy for those who face great healing challenges, whether physical, mental, or spiritual.

The central teaching of Self-Heal is to enable the Self to affirm and to draw from the deep wellspring of life, toward true recovery and restoration. The name “Self-Heal” is perhaps its own best affirmation, since all healing depends on an inner commitment to be well. No variety of outer measures and techniques can bring about healing (physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual), if there is not a quickening from within the individual, a motivation to seek and affirm the wholeness of life.”

Aromatherapy Blend For Coughs And Colds

I put together a blend of essential oils today to help with my son’s minor cough and runny nose. A welcomed side effect was that it made our house smell great and purified the air.

Most of us tend to reach for Eucalyptus for colds, which is great, but sometimes a combination of other oils works better and is an uplifting change. Niaouli, Melaleuca quinquenervia, is also wonderful. If you are unfamiliar with this oil, it is also known as MQV, and has similar qualities to Tea Tree Oil, but is at least ten times more potent. Try inhaling it by putting a few drops on a tissue then breathing in deeply from both the nose and mouth.

I made this blend today and dropped it into the vaporizer with the water. It is diffusing nicely and is less medicinal in scent than the usual Eucalyptus route. I order all of my oils from Original Swiss Aromatics because they are the highest quality oils in my opinion.

Add 5 drops each (or play around to create your own recipe):

DILL WEED, Anethum graveolens: Dill essential oil is great for bronchial infections and is considered mucolytic, which means it breaks up mucus.

CYPRESS, Cupressus sempervirens: It is important to buy real Cypress oil because a lot of what is available is not authentic and therefore will not have the qualities you are looking for. This oil is excellent for respiratory conditions and I find it helpful for runny noses.

ROSEMARY, Rosmarinus officinalis: Wonderful oil for upper respiratory conditions and even the flu. Again, making sure you have true Rosemary oil is key.

MARJORAM, Origanum majorana: This oil is another good herb for the respiratory system and is considered “antiinfectious with spamolytic qualities.” The Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy recommends it for treating Whooping Cough.

I hope you enjoy this blend as much as we are! I am a Certified Aromatherapist and available to make custom blends for people as well as all natural perfumes tailored to your emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

Be well ~

Jessica

The Unconscious Mind & Core Beliefs

We know that 95% of our behavior is ruled by the unconscious mind. Are you ready to learn how to master this part of your brain?

Your unconscious mind (also called the subconscious mind) is like a recording device. All the images, words, stories, voices, and music you expose your senses to each day are going in, without a filter, to your unconscious mind. It does not have the ability to say “oh I don’t want THAT stored in here”. It takes in everything. When we are in a different brain wave state, such as hypnosis, we are able to bypass the conscious/thinking part of the brain, and we are more susceptible to suggestions.

Children are in a different brain wave state during their first 5 years of life that is, basically, hypnosis. That is a time when core beliefs are being formed. During these formative years, we are taking in all the data that we see, hear, sense, and feel. The messages that come in become the programs that run – just like the programs on your computer. If you are running an old program that says, for example, ‘I am not good enough’, then when things happen, the mind will use it to prove this theory.

Now let’s take a closer look at how a core belief operates by using this very common example of a negative core belief: ‘I am not good enough’. Let’s say you are a person that was yelled at for making mistakes as a child, or told you were “bad”, or compared to siblings in a negative way. From these experiences, you formed the belief that you were not good enough and, perhaps, the belief that you couldn’t do anything right. You continue to live your life and one day you apply for a job and don’t get it. Logically you may know that: it is commonplace to not get every job you apply for and it is nothing personal towards you and that there was probably just someone better qualified for that job. Spiritually you may even know that it probably happened for a reason and there is a different job out there that is better suited for you. But somehow you start feeling bad about yourself. You find yourself depressed and hopeless. The unconscious mind is running it’s old program, saying. “You can’t do anything right. This happened because you are not good enough.” It will use new experiences and twist them to fulfill this prophecy (ie make the core belief true). It will even cause you to do things that help this core belief of “not good enough” be proven. For example, if things are going great for you, you might find yourself suddenly sabotaging some of your own successes in order to match this unconscious core belief.

So, what old programs are you running? If you are ready to upgrade the programs in your unconscious mind, good news! It is as easy as relaxing deeply and letting hypnosis put in positive new programs that will create different thinking and different behavior. Hypnosis can change core beliefs, traumatic patterns, emotional patterns, and so much more. Energy Psychology is also another exciting field that pairs nicely with Hypnotherapy to clear beliefs and traumas that are stored in our energetic bodies. Anything can be healed and when we make changes in the unconscious mind, it is easy to have all the joy that is your birthright. Because you are good enough and truly deserve to have all of your heart’s desires.

Blessings, Jessica

Opening Into The Unknown

This short article was first printed in the November 2010 issue of the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy newsletter. Enjoy!

Take a moment to think about something you REALLY want to have or a goal you want to reach. Really let yourself experience how it would feel to have that situation in your life. The next step is to consider actually creating it.

Now, if a reason why you can’t popped up in your mind first thing, just acknowledge it. We can let go of judging that thought and understand it is just the Ego’s way of trying to protect us from change. Perhaps your Ego chimed in with something like this: “I can’t do that! I don’t have the money! I don’t know how! Yeah right, how will that ever happen?” Or something along those lines.

We get blocked from creating our desires when we get stuck on wanting to know HOW and all the details. We don’t have to know HOW it can happen or the steps that will lead to that goal manifesting in our lives. I like the way Wayne Dyer explains this, he says, “The answer to HOW is YES”. What this means is we don’t have to know how or all the details, we just have to be open and say YES to our dreams coming true.

This is what I call ‘opening into the unknown’. We just send out what we want to create in our lives and allow the Divine energy to fill in the blanks. Louise Hay also addresses this issue, explaining that we don’t need to know how we are going to create something, we just need to be willing. Her affirmation for this is: “I am willing to shift the patterns in my unconscious mind that are creating this condition.” ‘How?’ is a challenge question. Stop challenging yourself and making blocks between you and your goals. Instead just open into the unknown, say ‘YES’, be willing, and be ready to receive.