I love herbs. German chamomile is growing wild in my garden right now for the second year in a row. Today I brewed some fresh chamomile tea for the first time in my life. I took ten flower heads (seemed like a good amount) that were at the peak of their blossoming cycle (this is how flowers are chosen also for the making of flower essences) and steeped them in a covered tea cup filled with hot water for 5 minutes. The tea was clear, medium-light yellow and tasted delicious!
In the book "Herbal Remedies" by Andrew Chevallier it was suggested that you brew it either in a teapot or in a cup with a saucer on top because most of the active constituents are formed in the steam. Good to know!
It also said that regular cups of chamomile tea can make a difference in inflammatory conditions such as gastritis, Crohn's disease, and colitis. Chamomile is a great anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, relaxant, spasm reliever, digestion soother and wound healer. A lovely herb!!!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Self Love Exercise
Have you ever told yourself: "I love you!"?
Give this exercise a try: Combine saying/thinking "I love you" to yourself, while using your fingers to gently caress your fingers, hands and arms. Make sure that you are not imagining someone else caressing you but being fully aware that you love you.
How does this make you feel? Is it comfortable or not? Does it help you open your heart or not? If not, what is happening? Open to whatever emotion surfaces. Do this daily at least until you start feeling comfortable with it.
This is one way to learn to accept yourself, to increase your self esteem and self love.
Give this exercise a try: Combine saying/thinking "I love you" to yourself, while using your fingers to gently caress your fingers, hands and arms. Make sure that you are not imagining someone else caressing you but being fully aware that you love you.
How does this make you feel? Is it comfortable or not? Does it help you open your heart or not? If not, what is happening? Open to whatever emotion surfaces. Do this daily at least until you start feeling comfortable with it.
This is one way to learn to accept yourself, to increase your self esteem and self love.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Patience & Nurturing
We purchased a lilac tree three years ago, so it just started its fourth summer in our garden. It was a "rescue" tree, one that was for greatly reduced because it wasn't doing well. For the last three years it has barely grown and I wondered if it ever would.
This year it has finally decided to bloom and has already almost doubled its foliage height! All the nurturing and patience finally did pay off. :)
In parallel, it made me think about what a human goes through when experiencing a difficult situation or choosing to uncover all those dark places in oneself to find to start living in the light.
When you start on your path to healing and/or growing, a lot of work, combined with love and nurturing, goes into that process. Sometimes it takes a long time to see the positive results and it can become discouraging. Be patient though and keep nurturing your healing and your path. You will experience exponential growth once you hit critical mass, just like my lilac tree did. :)
This year it has finally decided to bloom and has already almost doubled its foliage height! All the nurturing and patience finally did pay off. :)
In parallel, it made me think about what a human goes through when experiencing a difficult situation or choosing to uncover all those dark places in oneself to find to start living in the light.
When you start on your path to healing and/or growing, a lot of work, combined with love and nurturing, goes into that process. Sometimes it takes a long time to see the positive results and it can become discouraging. Be patient though and keep nurturing your healing and your path. You will experience exponential growth once you hit critical mass, just like my lilac tree did. :)
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
The Two Facets Of Parenting
As a human being you want to be loved for who you are. You look for this confirmation starting with your parents.
As a parent it is necessary to give the child guidelines and structure. Invariably by doing this you are setting yourself up as the big person, the adult that knows better, which is an important role, but not the only one.
Just as important is seeing your child as a full, equal human being and soul. You can achieve this by creating the space where he/she can be who he/she is without judgement. A space of unconditional love where they feel safe, are seen for the beautiful soul they are, and where they are mirrored unconditional love. In this space it is one soul seeing and being with the other as equals, where no roles/rules are imposed, where the soul can evolve, spread its wings in its fullest potential.
When your child is seen and loved for who he/she is (not some ideal thought of who your child should be), he/she is in touch with his/her essence. This acknowledgement emphasizes the child's inner beauty, strengthens his/her belief in himself/herself and teaches him/her to be in that unconditional space also for others.
When you create this unconditional love space for your children too, you are not only strengthening your bond to your child, but you are changing the world, because they will know how to truly love others as equals.
As a parent it is necessary to give the child guidelines and structure. Invariably by doing this you are setting yourself up as the big person, the adult that knows better, which is an important role, but not the only one.
Just as important is seeing your child as a full, equal human being and soul. You can achieve this by creating the space where he/she can be who he/she is without judgement. A space of unconditional love where they feel safe, are seen for the beautiful soul they are, and where they are mirrored unconditional love. In this space it is one soul seeing and being with the other as equals, where no roles/rules are imposed, where the soul can evolve, spread its wings in its fullest potential.
When your child is seen and loved for who he/she is (not some ideal thought of who your child should be), he/she is in touch with his/her essence. This acknowledgement emphasizes the child's inner beauty, strengthens his/her belief in himself/herself and teaches him/her to be in that unconditional space also for others.
When you create this unconditional love space for your children too, you are not only strengthening your bond to your child, but you are changing the world, because they will know how to truly love others as equals.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Claiming Your Space
If you are a person that easily gives to others, it is imperative to learn when and how to claim your own space, especially when you are going through a tough period in your own development.
Give yourself permission to state that you are not in position to give when you are having a down day. You need to shift back into love and light before you can give. It takes time to shift and it is important to know this. Become aware when all your energy is going towards your personal growth that it is okay to do so and give yourself the time for it too. It is the gift of self love.
Be compassionate with yourself so you can be compassionate with others too.
Give yourself permission to state that you are not in position to give when you are having a down day. You need to shift back into love and light before you can give. It takes time to shift and it is important to know this. Become aware when all your energy is going towards your personal growth that it is okay to do so and give yourself the time for it too. It is the gift of self love.
Be compassionate with yourself so you can be compassionate with others too.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Life Is...
I would like to share a quote that says it all. If you can embrace this, then you will live life to its fullest. :)
Life is a song - sing it.
Life is a game - play it.
Life is a challenge - meet it.
Life is a dream - realize it.
Life is a sacrifice - offer it.
Life is love - enjoy it.
by Sai Baba
Life is a song - sing it.
Life is a game - play it.
Life is a challenge - meet it.
Life is a dream - realize it.
Life is a sacrifice - offer it.
Life is love - enjoy it.
by Sai Baba
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Bringing Challenges And Gratitude Together
Every negative emotion that is triggered in you is an opportunity/challenge to grow if you so choose. The more often you approach each challenge as a growth opportunity, the faster you will be able to get to the core of what was triggered in you. When you find the core issue you are able to let go of the initial negative emotion that a person or situation triggered in you. You are also readdressing something in you that needs to heal. So there are multiple benefits: no additional layers and possible removing one that is there.
When you are triggered it is easier to get angry at or defensive with or sad towards the person/situation that was the mirror. That is the way most of us have been taught or taught ourselves to react for protection purposes. By reacting though you are creating a "new pain story" for yourself in an attempt not to see the sore point inside of you.
When you do stop yourself before you create an external new pain story, and look inward and pinpoint what hurts in you, you will also find compassion for yourself and the person/situation that mirrored for you.
The more often you go through this process the faster the results. Gratitude will emerge. You will find that you are thankful for each resolved challenge and in time this gratitude will help you actually stop avoiding and instead start seeking new challenges, encouraging yourself to grow further. It becomes a beautiful, productive, positive growth cycle.
When you are triggered it is easier to get angry at or defensive with or sad towards the person/situation that was the mirror. That is the way most of us have been taught or taught ourselves to react for protection purposes. By reacting though you are creating a "new pain story" for yourself in an attempt not to see the sore point inside of you.
When you do stop yourself before you create an external new pain story, and look inward and pinpoint what hurts in you, you will also find compassion for yourself and the person/situation that mirrored for you.
The more often you go through this process the faster the results. Gratitude will emerge. You will find that you are thankful for each resolved challenge and in time this gratitude will help you actually stop avoiding and instead start seeking new challenges, encouraging yourself to grow further. It becomes a beautiful, productive, positive growth cycle.
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