My Life, My Work

The Battle of the Forces: Dark -v- Light ... Part II

2012-01-13T20:09:00.001+01:00

In my last post I said I was going to talk about Essential Fatty Acids and their connection to light. But before I talk about that, we need to have a little reminder of physics!

Everything on Earth is constructed from atoms. The nucleus of an atom is filled with positively charged protons & negatively charged neutrons. Electrons (which are negatively charged) surround the nucleus - attracted to the nucleus by the electromagnetic force. Here's a basic drawing to help you visualise this (the large circle is the atom's nucleus and the smaller ones are the electrons).

Let's for one minute stop here and notice that this simplified diagram of an atom and its surrounding electrons look incredibly similar to our sun and orbiting planets! If you have ever struggled with the concept that we are all one with each other and the universe, then here are a few similarities that may help you to understand this better:

Molten metals within the earth’s core provide a magnetic force that extends out into space. An atom's core also contains a magnetic force that extends out into the space around it.

You’re a star... you really are! Every atom in your body originates from the centre of the stars!

Both planet earth and our bodies are equally composed of about 70% water.

The moon influences the tides of the sea. The moon also influences the ebb and flow of water in our bodies – and particularly the menstrual flow in women (so called from the old English, Latin & Greek translations for the "moon" due to the menstrual cycle being in synchronicity with the lunar cycle). The moon also influences our emotions too – hence another related term “lunatic”.

There are many other amazing similarities if you want to explore this further. Isn’t it wonderful ... makes you think doesn’t it?!

Now, let’s get back onto the subject of light. Photons are light particles. They are positively charged and as such are attracted to negatively charged electrons. Therefore the more available electrons, the more photons are likely to be present.

Within their structure, Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) contain a high amount of electrons, and therefore also contain a high amount of photons. So, when we eat EFA’s we are literally eating light! Our bodies need light in order to be healthy on every level – physical, emotional & mental (and no doubt spiritually too – there are many references to this which I will leave to another time).

EFA’s are called “essential” because our bodies can’t manufacture them – we have to get them from the food we eat. The sad fact is, that with today’s food industry of processing, preserving and producing fast/convenient foods, the majority of people are deficient in EFA’s. This deficiency can lead (in full or part) to many problems such as depression, anger and other emotional imbalances, ADHD, inflammatory diseases, dyslexia, cardiovascular disease (the list goes on) .... sound familiar of today’s society?! So, I bet you want to know what foods contain EFA’s?! In short, the two types of EFA’s you will be aware of are Omega 3 & Omega 6. A few good sources of Omega 3 are oily fish, flax seeds and nuts (particularly walnuts). We need the right balance of these EFA’s for good health but unfortunately due to the modern diet we are obtaining too much Omega 6 (found in vegetable oils, which is also an ingredient in many processed foods & margarines and grain fed meats (one reason to buy free range organic meat)) but we're not obtaining enough Omega 3.

In a healthy person, there is a highly concentrated amount of EFA’s in the brain and nervous system. Therefore, the more light & nutrition our brains receive from essential fatty acids, the more ‘awareness’ we have access to. And how far can we stretch this ‘awareness’ to? Well, here’s another wonderful similarity between us and the universe: do you know that in a human brain there are the same amount of cells as there are stars in the milky way? So that’s how far our awareness can reach, if we allow it ...and maybe we can reach even further beyond, who knows?! Also of course don’t forget that stars are light from which we are made. It’s no wonder then that EFA’s are critical for brain development, especially for a growing foetus and during a child’s first years of life.

So one of the wonders of EFA’s is that they bring light to our cells and in particular our brain cells which improve our brain development, concentration levels and learning capacity. It brings new meaning (or should I say it brings new ‘light’) to the widely used image of a light bulb switching on above someone’s head to represent having an idea doesn’t it? How many “light bulb moments” have you had today?!

So, if you fancy eating some wonderful light during these dark days of winter, one healthy way of doing this is to grind up 1 – 2 tablespoons of organic flax seeds every morning and sprinkle them on your breakfast cereal or mix it into a smoothie. Don’t buy already ground flax seeds as they will have lost a lot of their goodness. Introduce yourself slowly to them (maybe starting off with a tablespoon or less and then building up to two tablespoons). The best way of grinding them up is by using a powerful blender (make sure it’s totally dry inside) for a few seconds until the flax seeds resemble a powder. You need to do this for the minimum time possible, literally for a maximum of 10 seconds, otherwise the oils will start to become damaged. You can also use a coffee grinder as these are usually more powerful than a standard kitchen blender (just make sure there’s no coffee inside or your halo may slip!).

Another way of eating light is to supplement with a good quality fish oil (NOT fish oil from the liver of a fish i.e. don’t take cod liver oil as there can be too many toxins present). Even better still (environmentally & for purity), Krill oil, can provide an excellent addition to your diet. Always take fish oil with a meal containing protein – preferably at breakfast. One reason for supplementing with a fish oil is that you are providing your body with a direct source of particular nutrients (EPA & DHA) that can immediately be utilised by the brain and assist with other bodily functions. When you eat flax seeds your body has to go through various processes to break these oils down into EPA & DHA. Some people don’t have the relevant enzymes to efficiently carry out this process (quite often people with eczema being one example). But don't get me wrong, flax seeds are wonderful and so beneficial, plus for some people they are a lot easier to take than fish oils. There is so much to say on this subject and I’m aware I need to keep to the topic of light here so I’m not going to go into any more details now otherwise you will still be reading this in a week’s time! I highly recommend you consult me or another nutritionist before embarking on supplementation with EFA’s (and any other supplements). This is of particular importance if you have any medical condition, in which case you should consult your doctor because supplementing with some EFA’s can interfere with particular drugs (e.g. blood thinning medications) or may cause problems for people with certain conditions like epilepsy. Also, professional advice should be sought in order to ensure the correct balance and optimum absorption and utilisation for your individual needs (taking your full medical history into account).

Where there is light there is movement: we feel ‘light’, expansive, happy, active, ideas flow, inspiration, we want to connect with others, freedom, energy ...

Where there is dark there is inactivity: we feel ‘dark & heavy’, inward looking, depressed, low in energy, slow, restriction, fear, have a desire to withdraw from others or from life, and want to curl up into a ball and hibernate.

I'm sure you are aware of the Eastern philosophy of chakras (‘chakra’ is Sanskrit for ‘wheel’ - they are depicted as spinning vortexes of light) which were handed down by oral tradition for thousands of years and centuries before Christ.

It's only now through science that we have found these chakras are actually aligned to our endocrine glands – one of which is the pineal gland that registers light (as I have already talked about in my previous blog).

Colour (which is of course light vibrating at different frequencies) has a strong affect on us in many ways, one of which is our behaviour – something all companies use to influence our buying habits. For example, most fast food places are bright red or other high energy colours that make you feel restless so you don’t hang around very long - this means getting more bums on seats or even influencing you to eat on the move! Green emits a different wavelength of light that's more calming and is often used for natural and organic products and is used by companies that make you want to think they are natural, environmentally friendly and good to be around.

So, here are a few more little things you can do to bring more light into your life:

Make a conscious effort to wear bright colours this winter. This will help your mood and energy levels. If you wear something black, then simply brighten it up with a flash of colour such as a scarf, tie, belt or jewellery.

Increase your intake of fresh organic vegetables. Try to make sure that EVERY DAY you are having some dark green vegetables. The dark green vegetables contain a lot of chlorophyll (chlorophyll is the pigment used by the vegetable to convert sunlight into energy). Chlorophyll is a very powerful antioxidant and has been found in research to help prevent and treat some types of cancers. But lightly steam your vegetables, juice them or eat them raw in order to receive the health benefits.

Now go forth and feed your cells with light!

Above you will find the first of my Soul-Health videos on my YouTube channel. This one includes a meditation on sunlight to follow on from these last two blogs. I hope you enjoy it ... and if you do, please "like" and "share" my video and you can subscribe to it too! I would love to hear your comments. Enjoy!

With very best wishes and lots of light
Sally :-)

The Battle of the Forces: Dark -v- Light

2011-11-21T17:48:00.000+01:00

How are you getting on with the colder weather and looming darkness at 5pm? These changes in our environment affect us physically, emotionally & mentally. As instinctual creatures of this planet, we naturally want to hibernate. However our ‘evolved’ way of life allows very few of us to follow these natural rhythms by eating before it gets dark and then resting when there’s no more light. Going against these natural rhythms puts extra strain on our physical bodies and therefore our emotions and mental state too. When the mornings are cold and dark we have to summon up more energy to get out of bed than we do when it’s sunny and warm. How many times during the winter evenings do you put off a social event by saying “I can’t be bothered to go out” or “I’m too tired”? Sometimes, just the thought of getting ready to venture out into the cold dark night air is exhausting, let alone actually doing it! At times like these our subconscious creates an image of being all warm & cosy, curled up on the sofa reading a book or watching the TV – a persuasive argument!

The pineal gland found in the brain is light sensitive and is known as our “biological clock”. It picks up on the difference between the light from the moon and the light from the sun. So when it becomes dark, the pineal gland produces melatonin (by converting serotonin) which induces rest & sleep. Serotonin is our feel good hormone and so when we spend more time in the dark (as in the winter) we have less serotonin available which can sometimes result in feeling a bit emotionally down or tired and we can find it more difficult to be motivated. However some people can experience more serious problems such as depression and SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which clearly affects their lives in a significant way.

We are losing our connection to the planet through what some people call ‘progress’. We have unnatural artificial lighting, enabling us to work during the day in gloomy or windowless offices. This is made worse in the winter when a lot of people go to work in the dark and return home in the dark and spend their entire day indoors under bad artificial lighting staring at computer screens all day. And what if you regularly work night shifts seriously depleting your exposure to sunlight? These situations can cause many physical, emotional and mental imbalances. Add stress and the overload of increasing toxins in our environment to the mix (including all the processed food & drink we consume) and we are becoming more and more ‘unnatural’ by the day. Our natural bodies can’t sustain this. We are losing our instinctual connection to ourselves and the planet – we are becoming sick.

Light is essential for our bodies to be healthy. Cells need light in order to function and communicate with one another. In the second part to this blog I will be talking a bit about Essential Fatty Acids – what they are, how they are connected to light, why you may be deficient in them and how you can improve your health and wellbeing.

In the meantime, here are three simple things you can start doing now to bring more light into your life:

1. The mind is extremely powerful. Many studies have been conducted into this area and it is widely known that our thoughts can seriously influence our mood, our energy and even our immune system. Beginning your day with a visualisation will create a positive frame of mind and improve your emotions too – which can’t be a bad thing can it?! So, every morning when you wake up, before you get out of bed, take a few minutes to imagine that you are taking a walk on a sunny beach, splashing about at the water’s edge or swimming in the turquoise sea. Imagine yourself smiling and laughing. You can use other images too like walking in a field breathing in the colours of beautiful scented flowers, grass and trees that surround you. Choose whatever image works for you as long as you are somewhere sunny and doing something active with a smile. Just before you open your eyes to begin your day, finish off your meditation with three deep breaths. Your visualisation can change from day to day – let go and enjoy!

2. Another, even more powerful technique is using affirmations. Affirmations are positive sentences you say to yourself every day. Just like learning to ride a bike, drive a car or learning a new language ... whatever we want to learn we have to repeat it over and over again until it sticks! Unfortunately we can also be exposed to negative things on a daily basis (i.e. a boss, colleague, family member or friend who is negative or tries to put us down, some advertising can be negative using fear of ill health to sell products and the news is of course a constant source of fear and negativity). These day to day examples can have a tremendous effect on us without even realising it. Affirmations create positive thought patterns that will stick with you and benefit you in many ways. Honestly, the most effective affirmations are ones that are written personally for you. I am not a fan of general affirmations for everyone. This is because one word you may find positive another person may well have negative memories, thoughts or feelings attached to it. Anyway, having said that, here is an affirmation to get you started: “My entire body and life is full of light, happiness and positivity, I feel fabulous”. Write this affirmation inside a card that makes you smile or feel good and keep it beside your bed. Read it out aloud three times in the morning when you wake up and three times when you go to sleep.

3. Get out into the sunlight during the day. Never look directly into the sun but also try not to wear sunglasses for a while as it allows the light to be registered in your eyes and the message relayed to your pineal gland. If you have a day off and it’s sunny go for a walk in nature and don’t forget to breathe in the colours that surround you!!!!

More suggestions to come in the next part, including a guided meditation!

Embracing your Soul

2011-07-07T16:17:00.001+02:00

So, here I am living in Florence, Italy. I can't believe I have been here for 6 months already. It has taken this amount of time to get myself set up in a fully functioning life with phones, internet, friends, fabulous food, the best cafes and a good Italian teacher! I have also completed all my nutrition assignments and passed my exams ... now I am just waiting for my diploma so that I can begin incorporating natural nutrition into my work.

The decision to make such a bold move to live in Italy sprung from a recognition that I was ready to enter a new phase in my life. For many years I have had an inexplicably strong heart pull to Italy. In fact I intuitively felt that Italy was going to be so meaningful for me, I didn't want to just visit for a holiday. I wasn't going to have a one night stand with this beautiful country - I knew it was going to mean more to me than that! My first serious thought of making this move was at the end of September last year. Only three months later, on 1st January, I excitedly (& nervously!) opened the door to my new apartment in Florence.

Back in August/September last year I recognised that my life in London wasn't reflecting my true self any more. I had grown as far as I could. Everything that once had provided me with positive challenges and personal growth was now holding me back. Just like learning to ride a bike, at some point you have to recognise you are ready to take a leap of faith and remove the stabilisers!

So, how do you know if you are living to who you TRULY are ... that you are living with fully embracing your soul?

Even from before we are born we are already accumulating experiences that are having an impact upon us on every level: In the womb you take on your family's health patterns. The circumstances you are born into greatly affect your outlook on life and your interaction with others. The challenges you face when growing up create belief patterns that make you come to certain conclusions about who you are and what your 'place' is within the world ... and so I could go on! Every experience creates layer upon layer of beliefs, emotions, habits, thought patterns - it's rather like your soul being a mannequin (go with me on this one if you can!). Every experience creates many different emotions, thoughts and decisions and each one of those is an item of clothing that gets layered upon the rest, piling on top of the mannequin until it's no longer visible. Of course these experiences are a part of life and it depends upon how we react to them and whether we learn from them or not that's important. We have to make sure we clear the heavy negative overcoats of fear, doubt and the like, otherwise they will just weigh us down and hide our true selves.

There are many things therefore that can pull us back from moving forward into new beginnings or embracing new challenges. These negative patterns we can hold on to will, sometimes silently, do all they can to hold us back. They can prevent us from living to who we truly are, because they are the piles of clothes that we have to wade through before we can even begin to reach the soul.

I consciously make sure that I take time out to stop and listen to my true self many times a year. I also like to think that I am subconsciously doing this on a daily basis. However no matter how much you practice self awareness and well-being, there will still be many, many, occasions where your buttons are pressed and you face personal challenges. This is all part and parcel of being human. Whether you believe in the continuance of the soul after death or not, I believe this is all part of the soul's growth. This life is sometimes a classroom and sometimes a playground. It's just up to us when we choose to learn, when we choose to sit back and observe and when we choose to look the other way and play truant from school!

This is obviously a huge subject and one I explore in many different ways on my retreats. It seemed apt to begin talking about this right now due to the recent changes I have made in my life.

So let's put a bit of this into practice! Here's one way in which you can begin to find out what subconscious blocks you may have that could be holding you back from living to your true self. It can highlight emotions, thoughts & beliefs etc that are silently playing out in the background. It may surprise you and you may have a 'light bulb moment' where some things simply make sense and fall into place for you. It's a meditation/visualisation and it can take as long as you want it to - 5 minutes is fine if that's all you have right now. But do try to do this every day for a week because it will be different each time and the longer and more amount of times you do this meditation, the more you will get from it.

Firstly switch off or silence any phones so that you won't be disturbed. Close your eyes. Take three long deep breaths. As you breathe out, imagine that tension is flowing out of you through your feet or dissipating through the top of your head. Take as long as you need to relax, scanning your body for areas of tension and breathing it out.

Now focus on your body. Ask yourself: "what am I wearing?". You may either see it, feel it or just intuitively know what item of clothing it is. Try not to force this - allow your imagination to create it. Then ask yourself the following questions:

What material is it made from?
What colour is it?
What condition is it in?
What style is it?
How does it make me feel?
When did I begin wearing this item of clothing?
What does this item of clothing signify?
How is it restricting me?

When you are asking these questions, try not to logically come up with answers. Take your time and allow periods of space with nothing happening. Keep focused on the item of clothing as if you are just looking at it through a shop window. The answers will come naturally. And by the way, some of the items of clothing may be totally bizarre - if so, don't change it, allow it to be what it is and where it is .... if you are standing in a top hat with rabbits popping out around your ankles or you are wearing a pair of neon yellow knickers on your head, wonderful! When I was creating this meditation, one visualisation I had was that I was wearing black leather driving gloves ... they were a hard leather and I was hardly able to move my fingers. Black is the colour of endings and restriction and of course driving is about moving forward. Because I couldn't move my fingers and therefore felt whilst I was wearing these gloves I couldn't use the keyboard on my lap top, they symbolised my inability to do any creative writing.

Once you have had answers to the above questions then say "thank you", remove the item of clothing and imagine that you are putting it into a fire and then washing that part of your body with some water (maybe from a beautiful stream or waterfall). I put my black driving gloves in the fire and now I am beginning to write my first blog!

You can do this meditation for as long as you wish going through as little as one item of clothing or 10 items but don't rush them - it's far better to do one item slowly & thoroughly, sitting with it and observing it, than it is to do ten in a hurry.

Remember, if you find yourself drifting off then don't worry or get frustrated, just gently bring yourself back to focusing on the item of clothing. This is bound to happen many times but the more you do this meditation then the more you will be able to focus on it. The images will also become stronger and more profound too.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on this blog and the meditation - I would love to hear from you.

With best wishes

Sally :-)

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