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  Know Thyself It is so important to understand how the mind and the body play together in states such as Anxiety. And to ‘Know Thyself’ is the first step to taking your power back, because let’s face it – we are often left feeling powerless in the face of this really powerful chemical cascade. And it is a cascade, which occurs with every single thought we have – all being released into your body. Every single thought. Anxiety happens in the mind, but it is experienced in the body… As you think, so you are. So this post goes to understanding the process of anxiety in your body. Why is this important? Because knowledge is power, and empowering. There is nothing worse than feeling out of control – and that is exactly how you feel when ‘anxiety’ kicks in! By the time it’s in your body though, it’s a helluva lot harder to do anything about it! 🙁 That’s why it’s important to learn about the process of Anxiety, so that the work can happen in those ‘inbetweensy’ times – as that, my friends, is where the difference is made! This part of therapy is normally referred to as ‘psychoeducation’ – and it’s where I always begin. Here’s why: 1) Understanding takes away the fear and helps prevent one of the biggest traps of Anxiety – getting anxious about feeling anxious! That just confuses the whole thing even more… 2) You can see how different practices and processes (often called interventions) fit in. It all just makes a bit more sense, and helps you have the ‘conviction of your courage’, as well as the courage of your conviction to dump anxiety. Well, to dump the unnecessary and unhelpful anxiety, because sometimes it shows up for good reason! So let’s dig a little deeper 🙂 Sun and Moon At the most basic level what we’re talking about is the ‘fight, flight and fear response’, or sympathetic arousal. There are lots of people talking about this now (Joe Dispenza is a good one) – so its an easy one to get more information on. What we have here though is not a textbook, it’s a blog post, so here it is as I tell it in counselling… The fight and flight response takes place in the Autonomic Nervous System. The Autonomic Nervous System has two aspects to it, like most things in our experience they can be seen as opposing forces that need to be held in balance – Yin Yang kind of stuff The two parts are known as the Sympathetic (S) and the Parasympathetic (PS) Nervous System One gets you up and going (S), the other (PS) calms you down. When I was nursing many moons ago the PS system was simply referred to as the ‘resting and digesting’ system. And that’s exactly what it does – helps you relax so that so that you can eat and sleep, rather than stress and pace when the whole thing is out of balance! I like to refer to these two arms of the Autonomic system as Sun (S) and Moon (PS); so when you are in a state of Anxiousness – or sympathetic arousal – it’s like your out in the sun for too long – you start to feel a bit burnt out. How does this happen? As stated earlier, it is mostly triggered by thinking – which is impacted by emotions and memories – however it can also be as simple as ‘you’re mind telling you crap’. Just because you think something, doesn’t mean it’s true. This is why we need to challenge our thoughts from time to time. So, when we have a ‘negative’ thought (judgemental, catastrophising, self critical etc etc),  it gives our brain the idea that there’s something not quite right in our world, and we need help to deal with it. This happens next… It responds by pumping out adrenaline and cortisol to help us deal with a perceived threat – but we could be just sitting on the lounge thinking about stepping out the front door! When this happens on a daily basis, it builds up in the system and we get to a point where we just tip over into ‘flight and fight’ mode, really really easily. And what does this system do? Prepares us to fight or to flee, so that’s what we feel like doing! A part of our brain yells – ‘there’s trouble afoot! quick – get ready to run!’ Sound familiar? We get agitated or aggressive, or alternatively, avoid… run away, and hide. Sometimes behind closed doors, sometimes behind the couch, sometimes in the bedroom, sometimes under the bed! With a bottle of Whiskey… cause that might help (not). And while this might sound silly – I’ve been in that exact space 🙁 Shifting Energies Understanding this process better also helps us to understand that some practices will encourage the sun to set (just have a rest buddy), while others are all about bringing up the moon! For eg: Cognitive therapy changes your self-talk and therefore the chemistry you release, effectively bringing down the sun (sympathetic arousal); breathe work (oh so powerful) will help to raise up the moon. When you get a handle on the physiology behind this, you start to find your own ways to break into it and make a difference. This ‘difference’ can be felt as a shift in perspective, a shift in how your body feels, or even a shift in your energy body… Yep, our thoughts have a huge impact on our vibrations! So, start to ‘know thyself’ better 🙂 While this is a very basic introduction to what can seem a complicated process – you don’t need to understand it for the changes to happen! Be compassionate, rather than self critical, and for now, simply breathe with intention 😉 And feel free to ask some questions! Finally, it’s important to understand that while ‘awareness’ is important – it’s not the...

A mindful exercise to let go of Judgement and help you live a non-anxious life! Who has anxiety? Just about everyone it seems these days. Is it just jumping on the band wagon or is something else going on? As an anxiety sufferer (and yes, I am going to use that term)  and a Psychologist – I’ve wanted to dig deep in a whole lot of different ways to truly understand what is going on, and where my anxiety was coming from, so that I could get my hands on it and make a difference, and hopefully make a difference with others. Make a difference, a positive difference –  to me, to my life, and to the lives of others. What I’ve learnt is that it is the more sensitive souls amongst us that are predisposed to anxiety. I definitely came in with mine, and perhaps it is a vulnerability in the nervous system that I have inherited genetically, but then, did I choose that? Is there something more here to understand? If you are a sensitive, empathic or creative person then read on… If we look at the whole person (rather than the holes within a person!), you can see that it is often their sensitive nature that predisposes them to states of anxiety. Which often comes down to a fear of judgement. Judgement of self – Fear of judgement of self by others – and YES – sometimes we can also get a little judgey, even if it’s only toward those we think are judging us! 🙂 Complicated much? So today I’m going to share a little practice that I developed a number of years ago, that can really help us to open up and become more accepting – of ourselves as well as others. And the motivation for this? To develop our spiritual nature and grow in life and soul. In this way you can start to see your anxiety as a gift – it’s definitely how I’ve come to see it, as it forces you to do the work to grow. Otherwise life is just too damn uncomfortable, and we never really get to achieve all that our souls want is to. So here we go… BIRDY BIRDY First a little context. While studying herbal medicine a number of years ago, I was fortunate enough to live on a beautiful rural property… one that even had its own waterfall! It was pure Bliss 🙂 And every morning I would walk to the waterfall to sit on a rock perched high up top, and meditate. One spring morning, I can remember being particularly enchanted by all the gorgeous blossoming flowers, as well as all the insects, birds, and fruit trees. I was relishing in their colour, their form, and their beauty… and then a thought struck me! Why do we love love love the diversity of nature, and appreciate all that it offers us, and then turn around and expect everyone out there to be just like us, or there’s something wrong with them!??? Always forming little groups… you know, ‘birds of a feather flock together’… and really… it is great to hang out with like minded souls, as long as we are able to leave ‘judgement’ at the door when it comes to others. Otherwise, look around, it just becomes another excuse to manifest an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mindset. A separation mindset. And that just won’t do at all. It’s evolutionary probably, I get it – but as noted before, anxiety is often experienced by sensitive, creative souls… empaths if you will, and this is higher order stuff! Spiritual stuff. It’s almost as if we’re stuck in the middle of our evolutionary urges designed to keep us safe, and our evolving spiritual awareness and competence. And this us against them mentality is not always helped by media or social media. This gathering and ‘herding’ the masses in one direction or another is old magic. Scarily though, it seems to be becoming more prevalent… One way that you can disengage from this, is to consciously choose not to buy into ‘judgment of others’. Learn to let that go and be more free and easy with others – and you will – over time – become more free and easy with yourself, and by that I mean, less judgmental. Trust me on this! MINDFUL WALKING So here’s the fun bit… I want you to try a kind of creative mindfulness exercise, one that is directed by an open heart and an open mind (that part is very important!) Lets go… Mindful Walk The best way to walk is mindfully, otherwise you risk taking all of your ‘stressie thinking’ with you, arriving home just as tired and just as disgruntled as when you left, and having missed all the good stuff on the way! Ok, so this is easy when you don’t have any worries catching you up, so I am speaking to those times when you’re head is a mess. So shake it off, take a few breaths before you leave, and then step outside the door with a smile on your face… or on your liver if you like! (little eat, pray, love reference there ) And while your walking I want you to remember how much you love the differences in color, in size, in form, in smell and sound… within the natural world Flowers, trees, insects and birds… could you imagine the world if they all looked the same?? BORING! Keep this in mind as you come upon different people, see if you can open your heart and your mind, and view them with the exact same appreciation. In whatever way they choose to express themselves in that moment, celebrate it… smile and give thanks – for they are indeed an expression of the creative forces – just like you! Big hair, no hair; tattoos or no tattoos; orange, blue, black, brown, white, red, yellow skin; short skirts, long pants; ear-rings & piercings or...

The genie has the magic right? In this blog I discuss why I prefer to use the whole plant (herbs) remedies vs an isolated synthesised chemical (pharma), usually derived from the herb! This is like pulling apart the radio to see where the music is coming from… Many years ago I studied what is known as Physiomedicalism, which is an understanding of herbal prescribing that has come down through the European tradition over the last 2000 years (at least). This knowledge was then blended with that of the Indigenous Peoples of America. So, for those who don’t know, we have a very strong European tradition of herbal prescribing which is a little different to Chinese Medicine. In the European tradition we develop the formulas based on the specific need of the individual (rather than by condition), building it up herb by herb by herb. Generally, European herbalists utilise what are also known as Galenical Preparations, because they have actions over and above the isolated, or ‘active principle’ of the herb. This is using liquid extracts of the whole herb, that combine together with other herbs, into one big bottle of yucky tasting liquid gold. However, Professor H E Bock makes no distinction between the active principle of a plant and the use of the whole herb when he states… “Herbal medicine, either using the whole plants or isolated principles, is called phytotherapy. It presents itself as a gift of nature…” He emphasis’s the scientific application of herbs. Which is ok, as herbal medicine as it’s practiced today is based upon the latest science based evidence, in addition to the empirical use (verifiable by observation & experience) of plant therapy over thousands of years. It’s a blend of knowledge, which is really quite exciting. And yet, most herbalists would disagree with the above statement as they believe that there are a number of valuable differences between ‘galenical’ preparations and the use of isolated constituents. I know I certainly do! Nature as powerful wisdom keeper With a healthy regard for nature, herbalists know that the whole plant contains within it several other constituents that work to buffer the side effects observed when potent plant chemicals are administered in an isolated state. Like with a drug. This is not only understood, but valued. And this is something that speaks to the wisdom of herbs – they have a brilliantly complicated and potent chemistry that is put together in a way that is supportive and/or protective, when it comes to benefiting from the chemicals that pack the most punch. To see why this matters let’s look at a few examples. Rauwolfia Firstly, lets take the example of Rauwolfia Serpentinia. This is a herb that works mainly through the central nervous system to reduce blood pressure via reduction in the heart rate. It also appears to have a balancing action on the emotions, gently tranquilizing the nervous system. In this respect it has been used in India for several centuries, being mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts as far back as 1000 BC. One of the many people to savor it’s sedative effects was Gandhi, and in its long history of usage in the whole plant state, there have been no reported side effects. According to Dr R Wilkins, previous Director of the Hypertension Clinic at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital “it had a type of sedative action… the patients appear to be relaxed, quiet and tranquil…”, and this effect was noted without any accompanying grogginess or ‘fogginess’ being present. Viewed by Herbalists as a superior plant in the treatment of Hypertension, the main alkaloid of Rauwolfia, Reserpine, was eventually isolated and used as the basis of a pharmaceutical medication known as ‘Serpasil’. A quick search on the internet shows that this medication is still recommended for the treatment of High Blood Pressure. In the isolated form however, Reserpine produces unfortunate side effects, such as melancholia and depression, often severe enough to require hospitalization. Whilst it may be correct that reserpine contributes much toward the therapeutic action of the plant, there are at least 161 alkaloids found in this herb! It is believed that the combined action of all of the alkaloids improve tolerance and reduce risk of sensitive reactions to any one individual alkaloid. Ephedra (Ma Huang) Another example would be Ephedra sinica, or Ma Huang, a powerful bronchodilator used safely by the Chinese in the treatment of Asthma for many thousands of years. Working via the parasympathetic nervous system it is able to subdue bronchial spams, that was until the isolated active Ephedrine was made into a pharmaceutical drug, followed by pseudo-ephedrine. In the whole plant state however, it has a gentle ‘awakening’ activity, and formed part of a tea blend used by Indigenous peoples – known as New Dawn. I often used this tea as a substitute for coffee. Now, sadly, due to the abuse of the pharmaceutical versions, which have a much stronger (and addictive) action – the plant can no longer be used. Meadowsweet We don’t lose them all to pharmaceutical companies however. Take Meadowsweet – this beautifully gentle herb contains salicylic acid (or aspirin), however it also contains tannin and mucilage within its chemistry. These compounds are known to be protective and healing to the gut wall. Aloe Vera is example of a plant that is very high in mucilage, which is a slippery slimy kind of compound that places a barrier over the mucous membranes, so-that when you take Meadowsweet as a whole plant preparation, you get the pain relieving benefit of the salicylic acid, without any damage occurring to the gut wall! Win-Win I hear you say – and I would respond with a resounding Most Definitely! So as you can see…there are numerous constituents found in all plants, which together work synergistically to offer something more in the way of restoring and regulating bodily functions. The myriad of plant chemicals contained within any given remedy contribute their own special bit, and then there is the more metaphysical concept of...

YOUR SOUL ESSENCE COLORS * CRYSTALS * CHAKRAS * TONES I’ve been reading a lot about the Solfeggio frequencies of late, and their use in healing. The Solfeggio frequencies make up the ancient 6-tone musical scale. They’re used in sacred music (such as the Gregorian Chants), and the tones are also believed to impart spiritual blessings when sung in harmony. Each Solfeggio tone is comprised of a frequency which balances your vibrational energy, keeping your body, mind and spirit in greater alignment. According to Edgar Cayce, we each resonate to a particular frequency depending on our level of evolvement and the gifts we want to utilise in this life experience, and he often recommended people listen (or chant) to certain Solfeggio notes or tones to assist with greater attunement, however he also recommended some be avoided! If you understand your particular resonance point, and work with that specific tone, it will assist in bringing previous knowledge and skills gained in past life experiences – into greater conscious awareness through your chakra system. So you can use those gifts now. In talking about the Solfeggio tones in healing Cayce often referred to the do re mi scale… so, while there is an abundance of information available on these frequencies, and a vast array of music that you can download – you can hear more of these beautiful tones in the wonderful Julie Andrew’s version of Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music. Vibrational assists We have much more than the vibration of music to play with though! In very broad terms, Cayce taught us (while in a trance state) that if we become more aware of our particular vibrational point of resonance, we can use this knowledge to surround ourselves with the right kind of energies. This includes the energy of music as noted above, however it also includes the energy of crystals, color and scent. Playing around with this idea, I created a ‘Soul Essence Report’, using the Cayce material as a jumping off point. I then  drew on color psychology, crystals, chakras, and the latest research on the vibration of thought and word (see Dr Emotos’ work for more on this). Well, it’s great to have that kind of information, however how to discover which energies are right for us? We attune to our higher self, our intuition, and see if we can find the answers there. For me, I do this through the divining of energies using a pendulum. I find this very exciting as this is how we can make our intuition an observable force! I’ve spent many years (ok, decades) divining (or dowsing) the various energies of ‘things’…(crystals, water, plants, plant remedies etc.), so I was able to identify an someone’s individual Point of Resonance, and then use this knowledge to match their vibrations to the ones that would support them most. Going further, I dowsed the health of each chakra, and identified specific vibrational assists that could be used to cleanse, open and attune each of the spiritual centres – opening them up for more goodness to flow through. I was able to identify which colors, notes, and crystals a person could attune to for enhanced spiritual growth and overall well-being (mind, body, soul). My work has taken me in different areas now, however I still find it a fascinating story – a story of energies. And when you walk around each day with the right kind of energies in your home, you experience that same sense of bliss that you feel when you are by the ocean or in the forest. Perhaps a workshop is in the making 🙂 #solfeggiotones #chakras #colormyworld  #crystalpower  

Why you should pick up the pendulum I have used dowsing as part of my practice, and part of my life really, for more than 20 years now. I was first introduced to the art of dowsing when spending time in the gem fields of Nth West Queensland Australia, areas known as Sapphire, Rubyvale and Emerald (what’s not to love there!). It was affectionately known as ‘The Gemmies’ to my parents, who went there every winter for around 10 years, to dig for sapphires. I spent a couple of winters with them the first few years of my son’s life and while I was up there I met some very special people – characters all 🙂 One of whom taught me the art of dowsing. He grabbed a couple of copper rods one day and said simply, ‘lets see how you go’… and, well… I went good 🙂 I left it alone for a few years; then when studying herbal medicine I worked in a wonderful little ‘new age’ book shop. This is where I first came across books on ‘dowsing'(otherwise known as divining). New Age stores were very popular back then and what fabulous places they were – all full of spiritual texts, crystals, essential oils, flower essences and so much more. The first instruction was to find a pendulum (something heavy(ish) that hangs on a string or cord or chain or whatever), and ask it to show you a yes, and then to show you a no. I simply used what was hanging around my neck… and it just kinda took off! This was pretty special to me, as my pendulum of choice was a beautiful sapphire crystal, sometimes called a ‘dogs tooth sapphire’, that my wonderful mother had dug out of the earth herself, and gifted to me many years before. Joy. I still have it. And it’s very powerful. Intention and detached awareness So what have I found out about the art of dowsing since then? A number of things over the years, such as – do not ask it if you are going to meet the man of your dreams this week (or any time soon)! It loves to play games, and intention is everything. I’ve learnt that if I use it to assist with the development of healing protocols, the wisdom and depth of information that is able to be teased out is nothing short of astounding. (You might now be asking – what exactly is this ‘it’ you’re referring to? More on that later). When using the pendulum to assist in dowsing up herbal formulations, it’s important to understand that I use it in combination with 4 years of formal study and many years of experience! If something is contra-indicated, I’ll know about it. Beyond that, it offers true beauty as it’s able to see far beyond my current understanding. You may have heard me say this before, but I’m going to say it again… I see it as drawing together specific notes to create a beautiful piece of music to enhance the health of the individual person (body & mind) that I am working with. I start by choosing indicated remedies according to my training, however for each specific organ system there can be up to 6 or more herbs indicated. So when this is combined with other remedies for other organ systems that may need addressing, there are quite a few combinations on offer! This is the art of herbal prescribing. For me, dowsing first broadens the potential herbs that can be considered (as generally you only want 5-7 herbs in your formulation to maintain potency), before fine tuning the remedy into something that is absolutely specific for the individual I am treating. You can learn more about this on my therapies page. There is much, much more that can be done here, such as working from a diagnostic perspective… but that’s beyond the scope of this blog 🙂 I believe that working from this place of science based learning and intuited understanding, allows me to ‘SEE’ (Science, Energy and Empirical knowledge) so much more… Dowsing basics to get you going I also use various crystals to dowse and cleanse chakras, however there are many simple day-to-day uses as well. A very simple one is to place an item (anything and everything from crystals and jewellery… to food, vitamins and even books!) next to your hand, and then dowse the two. For me, it will look like this (and I say ‘look’ as I bear witness and learn so much about what this is while dowsing)… the pendulum will arc and encircle your hand and the item while it reads it, then it drops for a moment. After that, it will either circle and encompass the two again, indicating that the item is ‘good’ for you to take into your mind-body system, or if there is no value (or if it is detrimental) – then it will divide the two with a straight up and down motion. You can also use it to ‘read’ any ad or piece of information to determine the value of it ‘for you’. And of course, the most obvious one is to use it to answer a question, however this is not my forte when it comes to the pendulum. I’m more a dowser of energies. Start with finding what your ‘yes’ and ‘no’ looks like… to do this just ask it. Always remember though, that the potential for healing and insight offered will be matched by your intention, as well as the depth of your intention. Work with your values and ground yourself in your ideals, and keep your heart and mind pure – or at least working toward that place 🙂 Shhh – secret dowsing business Another very special thing that I have discovered along the way, that I have not found in any of the literature, is that if you place your left hand over your brow chakra while dowsing (divining), it...

Everything is vibration… You may have heard that right? Everyone seems to be saying it right now 🙂 Did you know though, that the ancient Mystery Schools of Egypt have been teaching this exact information for over 3 thousand years! So we are now in a period of time when we are re-discovering this old knowledge ‘en masse’. More importantly, we are ready to take this knowledge on again, and create something spectacular – our Divine Selves. It’s heartening to know however, that ancient ‘metaphysical knowing’ is being backed up by the latest understandings in science (think Quantum Physics). I see this as the ‘conviction of our courage’. In other words, all of the spiritual, metaphysical and mind mapping principles that are being espoused right now help in giving us the ‘courage’, however the more we actually believe in these truths, the more ‘convicted’ we can become. So what has this to do with Dowsing? Simply put – dowsing is working with energy, with the vibratory energies of anything you can imagine in your mind, anything you can hold in your hand, and anything you can consume… and then some! It’s a very interesting phenomena, and one that can go far deeper that many other forms of energetic practice. It can be as simple as asking a yes/no question; or as deep as working with the vibrational codes that exist in the etheric forces around us, as well as those within our very own DNA molecules. I’ve been dowsing for nearly 30 years, and over that time I have learnt a great deal… about myself, about dowsing, and about the potential that this skill holds in assisting all of us to heal, to grow and to emerge. Helping us to determine what is right for us ‘right here right now’; as well as for our relationships, our environment and our planet. We do not exist in isolation, and each one us comes to this experience from a very different place: genetically, environmentally; socially; culturally; and spiritually. Dowsing then, is the conduit between our higher self, our intuitive mind…our soul mind…and the manifested world. “It is where we take our intuition and make it an observable force”. Putting to Practical Use We can determine, amid the bombardment of information that is coming at us right now from the digital world – things such as: Is this food right for me? What is the best dietary approach for me: acid/alkaline; Paleo; Mediterranean; Macrobiotic; Vegan????? Does this book contain valid and worthwhile information for my journey right now? Will this therapeutic approach assist with improving or healing my mind? my physical body? my etheric body? or advance my Soul journey? Medical Dowsing… the wedding of internal and external forces After my first exposure to dowsing, I simply experimented and observed for a number of years. This is likely due to the fact that when I first grabbed a crystal pendulum and said ‘show me a yes’, it nearly hit me in the eye! It was an extraordinary response, which was made more potent (I believe) due to the crystal I was holding at the time. This crystal was found by my own dear Mother, in the gem-fields of North Queensland, Australia. Commonly known as a ‘Dogs Tooth’ – it is a beautiful sapphire crystal point. So, taking my sapphire crystal I started to experiment, and I learnt a great deal, and I think one of the most important things that I have learnt is that I am a Medical Dowser. Life comes together in mysterious ways, and it has not escaped me that my ability in this area marries with my life’s work  When I use dowsing in developing herbal formulas, or healing, or determining health related knowledge… the information that comes through is extraordinary. Over the years, I have developed a tremendous trust and respect for the information that is offered up, that at times borders on amazement. I’m fortunate in that I have enough knowledge in this area to know when I should be truly impressed. It adds insight and intuitive knowing to what I am doing, so that I see more deeply into the person I am working with. I liken it to drawing together specific notes to create a beautiful and unique piece of music for a particular soul. I have also noted the connection between the energy centers and the ‘vitality’ displayed by the pendulum through it’s arcing, or what I call ‘reading’ of the object, person or situation. For example, hold the palm of your ‘non-dowsing’ hand over your brow chakra to really energise the intuitive flow of the pendulum. Vibrational Codes You can also dowse the chakras of another person, which is a more potent practice than you may realise... This is because we marry our own intuition and energy of the crystal we are using (you can use anything, but the energy of the right crystal adds to the potential of the healing), to tap into the vibrational codes that underlay the universe. Now that’s a big statement…. however this understanding has come to me from my own observations, my own experiences, scientific readings, esoteric studies and personal meditations…over many years. It’s exciting, it’s powerful, it’s unique and its potential is vastly underestimated! If I’ve peaked your curiosity and you would like to start learning more about the potential for dowsing to awaken and develop your own intuitive knowing, in addition to assisting you to keep well (rather than overwhelmed!)…. then start right now. Go and grab something you can use as a pendulum. Generally something that comes to a point, and has some weight to it is best. Remain detached as well as focused, and ask the pendulum to show you your YES, and your NO. If it’s feeling a little ‘lacking in energy’, then try my tip of putting your other hand over your forehead (at the point of the brow chakra). This skill is so empowering, and can help beat back the...