Being Aware is the First Step
 
There is freedom that comes with awareness, because with it comes the opportunity to make a choice.

Life is a journey comprised of many steps on our personal path that takes us down a winding road of constant evolution. And each day, we are provided with a myriad of opportunities that can allow us to transform into our next best selves.
One moment we are presented with an opportunity to react differently when yet another someone in our life rubs us the wrong way; on another day we may find ourselves wanting to walk away from a particular circumstance but are not sure if we can.
Eventually, we may find ourselves stuck in a rut that we can never seem to get out of. We may even make the same choices over and over again because we don't know how to choose otherwise. Rather than moving us forward, our personal paths may take us in a seemingly never-ending circle where our actions and choices lead us nowhere but to where we've already been. It is during these moments that awareness can be the first step to change.
Awareness is when we are able to realize what we are doing. We observe ourselves, noticing our reactions, actions, and choices as if we were a detached viewer. Awareness is the first step to change because we can't make a change unless we are aware that one needs to be made in the first place.
We can then begin understanding why we are doing what we are doing. Afterward, it becomes difficult not to change because we are no longer asleep to the truth behind our behaviour’s. We also begin to realize that, just as much as we are the root source behind the causes for our behaviour’s, we are also the originator for any changes that we want to happen.
There is a freedom that comes with awareness. Rather than thinking that we are stuck in a repetitive cycle where there is no escape, we begin to see that we very much play a hand in creating our lives.
Whether we are aware of them or not, our behaviour’s and choices are always ours to make. Our past and our present no longer have to dictate our future when we choose to be aware. We are then free to move beyond our old limits, make new choices, and take new actions.
With awareness, our paths can't help but wind us forward in our lives while paving the way for new experiences and new ways of being. It is through awareness that we can continue to consciously evolve.

​By Daily Om

At the start of this year, once we got our head around what was happening, I think many people stepped-up to looking after their physical health. Then with a flurry of news about our mental health being at risk, many took up meditation etc., but it’s an ongoing task.
I think it’s clear that this chaos isn’t going anywhere soon, and whatever the root cause of the virus, it doesn’t really matter as much as the harmony that arose from the first few weeks of the lockdown. Now we are seeing people at each other’s throats on who’s right, or wrong. Which is so sad, as at the start it was lovely to hear ‘we’re in together’ etc.
Remember the previous blog on the vibration of love and fear? Huge difference and we need to stay strong.
I know some have been curios as to my lack of interaction over the last few months, but as I said back at the start of lockdown, this time, (a very important time in history), will mark how we handled it and survived it.
I nearly said God willing. But it’s not about God helping us through it (although most of you will know I don’t ‘dis’ anyone who has the comfort of faith).
It’s about taking the time to get to know ourselves from the inside out. To know when we’re running out of mental, emotional, or spiritual steam, and do something for ourselves to get us back on track.

The last five year (and especially the last three and half since losing Jay) have caused havoc with all my ‘bodies’ (mental, physical and even spiritual) as when he died, I lost my strong faith too. Physically, it brought on fibromyalgia and boy did that make an entrance!
As there were no classes, no TEWV meetings to go to etc., it meant I could really be still and sit with myself. I did some self-sabotage work, some shadow work and instead of rushing through the exercises and meditations, I really took the time to dig deep and find the roots of my issues.
Yes, the shock and trauma of losing my son was a big part, but I already had mental and physical issues from my past, especially my childhood.
I now had the luxury of TIME and as I say in The Me Programme, that’s what we need to heal, and I’m pleased to say I think I’m turning a corner.
I at least feel a bit more like me! But then I’ve worked through a lot of stuff this last few months, and for that, I thank these crazy times.

So, before the chaos gets worse, and it looks like it’s going to, please if you have them, re-read your self-help books. Watch/listen to the wonderful Lee Harris and Glenn Harold recordings, because they have literally saved my sanity through all the isolation. I really can’t thank them enough.
Great respect to them for keeping it real, which is something I’ve always taken pride in doing myself.
As always, keep strong and hopefully not too long till we can meet in person. Marie x

At the start of this chaos, once we got our head around what was happening, I think many people stepped-up to looking after their physical health. Then with a flurry of news about our mental health being at risk, many took up meditation etc., But it’s an ongoing task so remember to keep it up.

I think its clear that this chaos isn’t going anywhere soon, and whatever the root cause of the virus, it doesn’t really matter as much as the harmony that arose from the first few weeks of the lock-down. Now we’re seeing people at each other’s throats on who’s right, or wrong, which is so sad, as at the start it was lovely to hear ‘we’re in together’ etc. Remember the previous blog on the vibration of love and fear? Huge difference, and we need to stay strong.

I know some have been curios as to my lack of interaction over the last few months, but as I said back at the start of lock-down, this time, (a very important time in history), will mark how we handled it and survived. I nearly said God willing. But it’s not about God helping us through it (although most of you will know I don’t dis anyone who has the comfort of faith). It’s about taking the time to get to know ourselves from the inside out. To know when we’re running out of mental, emotional, or spiritual steam, and do something for ourselves to get us back on track.

The last five year (and especially the last three and half since losing Jay) have caused havoc with all my ‘bodies’ (mental, physical and even spiritual) as when he died, I lost my strong faith too. Physically, it brought on fibromyalgia and boy did it make an entrance!

As there were no classes, no TEWV meetings to go to etc., it meant I could really be still and sit with myself. I did some self-sabotage work, some shadow work and instead of rushing through the exercises and meditations, I really took the time to dig deep and find the roots of my issues.

Yes, the shock and trauma of losing my son was a big part, but I already had mental and physical issues from my past, especially my childhood.

I now had the luxury of TIME and as I say in The Me Programme, that’s what we need to heal, and I’m pleased to say I think I’m turning a corner. I at least feel a bit more like me! But then I’ve worked through a lot of stuff this last few months, and for that, I thank these crazy times.

So, before the chaos gets worse, and it looks like it’s going to, please if you have them, re-read your self-help books. Watch/listen to the wonderful Lee Harris and Glenn Harold, because they have literally saved my sanity through all the isolation and to Christine Lopes for giving me the missing pieces of a few ‘jigsaws’.  I really can’t thank them enough. Great respect to them for keeping it real, which is something I’ve always taken pride in doing myself.
​
As always, keep strong and hopefully not too long till we can meet in person.

Some of you may have wondered why I haven’t had more direct contact with you during this pandemic, but those who have known me long enough and took my courses will know I’m all about self-awareness and self-empowerment, not about reliance.
In the early days of charity work in Africa. They’d go in, to help a village by building it for them and leave, which left the villages relying on the workers to come back and maintain etc. Then the charities learnt that the better way would be to go in and show the village how to do the work, how to build and how to maintain. This left the village self-empowered.
​
My books, classes and especially courses are designed for exactly this. Coping and maintaining our health is a 24/7 job. That’s why I give out so many handouts on the courses, so you can refer to them if you’re struggling with any part of yourself. Just as I must do when I’m heading for the ‘pit’ – or sadly too often, once I’ve reached the bottom.
The journey of life is just that, ours, to live and experience. The good and the bad, and as much as we, as caring human beings want to help, rescue, save someone who is struggling, remember the story in the book about the little boy trying to help the butterfly get out of the cocoon.
Of course, as I write those words I’m reminded of my desperate need to fight injustices, and I’ll still carry on shining a light on things that need highlighting and raising awareness on parts of our health system that I believe could work better for us.
 
Before I close, look at the words in the last paragraph. Raising, shining, light, highlighting. All high energy words because we are all energy based. Sometimes I look into my tool cupboard and desperately want to do a job, but I know I just don’t have the physical, or mental energy to even start it, never mind finish it.
This has always left me frustrated and in the past, also incredibly angry at myself for not being able to do the things I used to be able to do. But finally, I’ve learnt to be kinder to myself and to go with whatever turmoil is going on in my head, or heart. That if I’m kind to myself I’ll learn whatever it is that needs releasing from my system that’s holding me back. At this moment sadly I expect it’s still my grief. But I’m where I am for a reason and as much as I still wish I could decorate a room, or rearrange the garden, most days I just can’t and for today at least that has to be ok.
 
So when this is finally over and we are able to meet up in class once again, to re-call, and re-cap on how we’ve all coped (or not) during this crazy time in history (and that should be some first class eh lol) you know I’ll be asking how often you dipped into the course files/books, or how often you completed the Me Programme – as we’ve had time to do it twice now – and no I haven’t either lol, because you know if nothing else, I’m always honest about my own journey.
I think this time we’re in is what many of those in metaphysics have waited for since 2012. It’s a time of change. It’s all about communication, transparency and honesty. Especially with ourselves.
So, when my health allows, I’ll add more on the website for you to access 24/7, and remember I’ve put contact details of other local organisations on the page too.
Hopefully not too long now till we can meet in person. Till then, stay strong. Marie x

Sorry for my lack of web presence this last couple of years, especially those of you who have kindly written to say how much you have benefited from my posts in the past.
Most of you know by now that my son died three year ago gone January (see previous blogs) and this led me to ‘battle’ the NHS services to acknowledge their lack of care getting him into hospital.
To say it’s been hard is an understatement and as I’m a person who likes to see things through to the end, it’s with a heavy heart that I must concede. Not because I don’t believe they let him down, but because it’s took such a toll on my own health. Mental and physical. And I can only hope that I’ve stopped in time before I myself end up needed care.
 
Anyone who knows me, or have read my books, know I must believe in what I say, write and do, or I can’t do it. That’s the reason I’ve found it difficult to post the inspirational/spiritual stuff of my old days (old me), when I am struggling to live the words myself.

Grief has taught me I will never be the old me and I’m constantly reminded from those who know that I’ll never be the same again. The grief of losing my first born literally tears me apart on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, I do try, but no matter how much I work at being positive it doesn’t last long, and if it wasn’t for what I teach/write I really don’t believe I’d have survived this last three years.

As the body mind and spirit are connected, one can’t not be affected when the tsunami sweeps me away. When my spirit is high, the emotion, mental and physical layers must play catch up and just when I get there, another wave comes and knocks me off my feet again and it starts all over again. This as you can imagine is so tiring.
 
I decided to share this as I want people to know that, no matter what happens I still believe in what I teach and that although at times its looked like I’ve given up, I haven’t. Not only because I love my family so much, but most importantly, after many, many years of not, I finally love myself!

The health scares I’ve faced (and still facing) since losing Jay have been far too many, but in it’s defence, my body, mind AND spirit have taken such a battering with the constant hours of crying (or more accurately wailing) which has stressed out my organs, tissues etc. and with the exception of loving time spent with my family and friends, I’ve been pretty much sad most of the three years.
Worst still, I’m told it is still early days for losing a child!
 
Grieving would have been hard enough, but I’ve also put pressure on myself to be the ‘Well-being Consultant’ or the author who writes about how the body can heal itself. Hopefully folk will remember I also say, ‘when not in a state of stress’ and while experiencing physical problems and depression on top of grief, it has been a tough few years.

Also, as I’ve always raised awareness on injustices, mental health etc., and have promoted helplines for the huge problem with suicide in our area, I think this has led people to believe that’s how my son died, and I end up defending that he didn’t, by telling how he did! Clearly not helping my well-being.
 
Anyway, I felt the need to blog again, as apparently, we lose followers if we don’t post regular on social media. I know I lost over 500 twitter followers in the first few months of Jay passing as I wasn’t posting and have since lost over half of my 2000. I panicked at first worrying it would affect by book etc., but quickly realised I could live with that – after all, I had bigger things to think about such as looking after myself.
But I’d rather not post at all if I can’t mean what I post.

For those of you who have stayed with me, thank you and hope one day soon at least part of the old bubbly Marie will join me in life and start posting how amazing life really is and it is :) 

Self-help for people with Electro Sensitivity symptoms:
some thoughts THIS IS NOT ADVICE FOR TREATMENT, AS EACH PERSON IS INDIVIDUAL AND SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSIS AND HELP and also to learn all they can themselves Imbalances, before a disease state is achieved, may be helped by:
• Removal of stressors (pollution, electrosmog). Take responsibility for the replacement, or serious limitation of use, of tools such as cordless and mobile phones, Wifi, routers etc and other sources of RF (radiofrequency/microwave radiation) – use wired alternatives, and consider the wiring in your house, demand switches, filters for dirty electricity, turning off of circuit not in use especially at night.
• A clean diet (possibly organic and rich in antioxidants and good hydration with water, free from impurities, full of vitality (‘zing factor!’).
• High quality sufficient sleep, with good melatonin production, in darkness
• Addressing nutritional imbalances: *especially B and other vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids ​*minerals especially magnesium and zinc, and trace elements, *avoidance of additives such as aspartame (breakdown products include methanol)
• For some people: *reduction of body load from metal in the mouth: mercury from silver fillings is neurotoxic and may cross the blood brain barrier
* metal fillings, implants and pegs used in the mouth, close to the brain, in dentistry may act as an aerial for RF fields, *metal work in the body may act as a focus for EM or RF fields.
• Addressing software and other constitutional and emotional imbalances:
* Learning and using software retuning tools such as EFT, acupressure/puncture, flower essences and other constitutional and emotional retuning tools as appropriate (see James Oschman, Energy Medicine, 2nd Ed, Elsevier 2015).
• Possibly addressing electrostatic charge (and the unearthing effect):
*Many people are never barefoot on ground free of EM fields, e.g. sand on a beach.
*Earth is at zero potential. An adult standing barefoot and earthed on moist ground has zero potential right through the body; an adult with rubber soled shoes or otherwise uncoupled from the earth has a potential of 190 Volts at the head, and zero at the foot, giving a gradient across all cells, as an additional stressor.
*Earthing can however lead the body to be an aerial conductor for signal and fields, or one may be earthing onto ground currents especially in urban areas – both potential problems.
• Treating life as a journey, with respect and compassion. See www.healthandself.care The higher one can raise one’s level of health, the less symptoms may be troublesome. However, symptoms are messengers, and the body gives them for a reason, often to bring about change or avoidance of a cause. All organisms respond to weak electromagnetic fields and signals. We know that bird and insect populations are seriously affected by EM and RF fields (some devices use this to keep insects away), so it is hardly surprising that some more sensitive humans are also symptomatic.
History tells us that Safety ALWAYS lags Technological advances and the costs of safety often impact others later. Some governments at present prefer the fiction for EM fields and RF radiation that non-thermal = non-harmful, despite thousands of scientific papers to the contrary. www.ignir.org www.es-uk.ifo
For sub-clinical deficiencies of B and other vitamins, zinc, magnesium, manganese etc, see Dr Sarah Myhill “Diagnosing and treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”. For modern approaches in medicine, see James Oschman “Energy Medicine”. For sensitivity to emotional ‘weather’ in another person or a place, see Kyra Mesich “Strength from Sensitivity”. This sensitivity can also extend to man-made EM to edit.

The Spirit of Christmas – 29/12/18
It’s such a lovely time of year isn’t it!
But not for everyone of course.
For some it’s a reminder of things they’ve lost, such as a break-up, a job, so they can’t buy loved ones presents. The loss of their personality through depression, illness etc as they’re usually tied together, and then there’s the loss of someone you love and you’re grieving. That’s when this time of year is most difficult to muster up the smiles, laughter and the simple joy of the season.

Throughout the year these things are still affecting us, but somehow at Christmas and New Year, we are reminded of what we don’t have. I know the secret is to try to be in the present moment, focus and be grateful for the things we still have. But somehow the lack of seems to grow bigger now. Maybe it’s all the advertising of families around the tree smiling hugging etc, but I think for me it’s the music that gets me the most. Happy songs make me miss my son, Christmas songs make me miss him and of course there’s the sad ones, or the ones that he loved.

I made Christmas the most magical time of the year for my children, as for me as a child they weren’t, and I can only remember two Christmases with my mam as I was always sent to my Aunts, so I always wanted to make Christmas special for my children.
My daughter reminded me of that in her card this year:
“Dear mam, you taught us the spirit of Christmas – anticipation, excitement, magic and wonder, family, warmth, food and the loveliest, cosiest feeling of being together……and because of that I know how to make Christmas for my family as they grow”.
I so want to get those feeling back in my life, because those feelings are what life is all about.

I said to my other son when we were walking last week, that I feel like the fire in my heart has gone out and has only been a pilot light for that last two year – but, turn it around and am so grateful it’s still flickering at all.

I read the books, watch the videos and listen to wise words on how to grieve, but as I’ve found out since that gorgeous light that was my physical son went out, there really is no route to take.

It’s a path I never wanted to travel and to be honest, one I’ve always feared, as I’m sure all parents do. It’s also a very lonely path as you don’t want to bother family – they’re grieving too, and you feel that you’ve sickened your fiends with all the crying constantly over coffee cups, even though you know they’d be there if you asked.

The Spirit of Christmas really should be there every day, as our world could do with it. Kindness to those in need, compassion for those less fortunate and the general spreading of love all around. That was my Christmas wish to all this year.

Remember to regularly show your family and friends how much they mean to you, because you never know when it’s your last conversation, as I found out two years ago yesterday.

As I was leaving him at the hospital (thinking he’d be out in a week), he said he loved me, and I returned his cuddle and said, “I love you too and I’ll see you in the morning son!” not knowing they’d have to induce a coma through the night so we never spoke again. Once again I turn it around and thank God we got the chance to have those as our last words on earth.

Yes, I know I will see him again in spirit and I know he has ways of showing me he’s still around and I treasure that too, because I don’t know how I’d cope without those moments. But there’s nothing like the smile, laughter, touch or even an argument to show this dance of life in all its glory. This really isn’t a rehearsal (and try to remember that when I’m sat in the dark crying) that we must make the most of each precious day here on this wonderful planet.
​
Quote: You can have regret from yesterday, fear tomorrow, but peace today by sharing your heart’s deepest feelings. A life spent being fearful of showing your soul is a life not worth living –Shannon L. Alder
here to edit.

I think we can all agree with that, as many people are affected in some way by this issue and don't know how to respond to a friend, neighbour or family member that may be trying to 'drown their sorrows' and run away from their problems.
​Unfortunately most help comes in the form of medication which often leads to more problems and not enough cash is put into therapies to find the root causes.

Since 2001 deaths from alcohol related issues have risen sharply and unfortunately Middlesbrough is at the top!
 
I was watching a programme on TV about this problem and was shocked at the man interviewed (who drinks around 100 units a week), actually ‘chinked’ his glass and toasted ‘good health!!!
Then said, “I’m addicted to it without being an alcoholic”.
Is that is even possible?
 
Adrian Chiles (making the program) said “I think WE are the problem” meaning those who drink most days after work etc,. As most stigma is that it’s the ‘wino’ on the park bench that’s the main cost to the NHS, which it isn’t by the way.
It was brave of Adrian to do the programme on highlighting the problems we have now, especially when he was having an internal fight to stop or cut down his own intake.
 
As for the media telling us there isn’t a stigma, that’s a joke.
If someone gets taken to the hospital with cancer, they get compassion along with their care. However, it isn’t always the case if someone is taken to the hospital with an addiction.
 
So, what can be done for someone needing help? I say needing help, as wanting help is a whole different ball game. The person usually doesn’t think they need help, convinced they can stop their harmful habit whenever they choose. Most of the work in place isn’t working, at least here in Middlesbrough, or we wouldn’t have so many addictions ruining and taking people’s lives.
 
Personally, I believe we need a healthy mindset to be able to heal the body, so if it’s the mind that’s broken how can you get better? That’s where other people play a huge part, but of course, that isn’t easy either. The person under the influence of the drug (including alcohol) doesn’t always want your help and will often fight you all the way, saying they can do it alone. So surely, it’s time to stop the constant Mantra of it being ‘a lifestyle choice’. It’s an illness and thankfully many professionals now recognise it is.
 
When asked ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ no one answers with: ‘an alcoholic, or, a drug addict’ and I can’t understand how those in charge of helping people off their addiction can say keep saying “They have to want to change”. Their mind is often so broken they don’t have a choice.
 
This is where early intervention plays an important role! Spotting someone who’s having emotional problems and using alcohol/drugs to ‘escape’ their feelings. It is vital to the outcome.
 
Thankfully services have stopped the game of ping pong, sending the person to other services to get help before they can do their part. Dual Diagnosis is finally in place here in Middlesbrough and are all now starting to recognise they need to form a safety net, so people aren’t slipping through the holes.  
I’m proud of my part in bringing it about, but it took many days of going home after a meeting or workshop and crying most of the night wishing things had been changed earlier.
 
Mental health is affected by alcohol we all know that now. It’s estimated that half the people drinking excessively are doing so to alleviate depression, life circumstances, loneliness etc.
 
If you’ve read the root cause of an illness in the Louise Hay book ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ she states Probably root causes of:
Addictions: running from the self. Fear. Not knowing how to love the self.
New thought pattern: “I now discover how wonderful I am. I choose to love and enjoy myself.”
 
*But anyone who struggles with addiction will probably tell you that those words are the furthest from their mind and possibly trying to say them is far too much to hope for.
 
Alcoholism: Feelings of what’s the use? futility, guilt, inadequacy and self-rejection.
New thought pattern: “I live in the now. Each moment is new. I choose to see my self-worth. I love and approve of myself.”
 
Again, I repeat my sentence above*
 
In an ideal world yes of course, the person addicted would just read the book and say the words till change comes.
Of course not! The person needing help probably wouldn’t pick up such a book, let alone read and follow all the exercises in it.
 
Don’t get me wrong it’s an amazing book and the information in it is spot on, but it took me years to read it properly and I didn’t have an addiction, just low self-worth!
 
So, before I finish this, I ask that if you see someone struggling with life, just send a loving thought out to them rather than a judgement and remember they are probably in a dark place, stumbling about wondering how, when, and where life is going to become light again.
 
My wish for 2019 is that more help is out there for people struggling with their emotions and I’m pleased to say I for one will keep on making the courses I run available to anyone who needs them.

​"Depression is a cruel & debilitating illness. It affects every single aspect of my life. The negative thoughts are deafening. I feel weak, ashamed & alone. Unworthy, helpless & hopeless. I develop anxieties on top of my anxieties – of the telephone, leaving the house, opening my post, travel, noise… My family were, & still are brilliant. But that brilliance shines almost too brightly, I put them on a pedestal & depression convinces me that I just don’t match up. That I am a burden to them. That I am dimming their light. That in simply existing, I am slowly, but surely ruining their lives." – A man talking on a UTube TED talk.

“Depression isn’t only the person screaming out for help, it’s the silent person dealing with battles they’re still trying to understand themselves. It’s the want & need to be around people, but at the same time, you push them away. It’s drinking the way you do because at least for a moment your pain is numbed. You know the effects lead to being even more depressed the next day & you know alcohol is a depressant but being numb helps sometimes. It’s eating too much, or just never being hungry.” - Anonymous

One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with depression is often the stigma & negative criticism that can come from others. Often people may not even know their comments are being negative or hurtful & sometimes even make the depression feel worse. The weight that depression can bring upon a person is enough to bury them for a day, or even a week and the ‘black dog’ may push them to be alone, because they don’t want to impact anyone negatively.

This next piece was something I put out to raise awareness eight year ago!

Patients with depression should be routinely given £300 meditation courses on the NHS, doctors claim. They say techniques used by Buddhist monks could produce 'massive savings' by halving the risk of depression coming back. But only one in 20 family doctors are prescribing such treatment, according to a report by the Mental Health Foundation charity. More than 100 studies have shown that areas of the brain linked to controlling emotion are bigger in those who have meditated regularly for five years. This means they have a greater volume of grey matter to process information.
Dr Andrew McCulloch, the Mental Health Foundation's chief executive, said 'mindfulness' therapies were much cheaper than treating the condition with drugs. 'This would have huge knock-on benefits both socially and economically, making it a sensible treatment to be making available, even at a time when money is short within the NHS,' he added. 'Our report found that three-quarters of GPs have prescribed medication to people with long-term depression believing another treatment would have been more appropriate.'
He said NHS guidelines already recommend eight-week meditation-style courses which cost £300 for recurrent depression, but provision is patchy and should be extended.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1240642/Doctors-urge-NHS-use-meditation-beat-blues.html - 4/1/2010

It’s sad to say, nothing has changed much, but let’s hope we get the change so badly needed very soon.

I was booked to talk at an event in York yesterday and it was so nice to be back speaking about my book as it's been a long time since I have. In fact its been a very long time since I even put up a new blog and that's because it's been one hell of a couple of years for me.

Without going into detail, my eldest son took ill when life got too much for him & disappointments came at him hard & fast. One of them being the closure of our steelworks where he was proud to say he worked. The thought of being 'on the dole' swallowed him up & his mental health plummeted. He literally lost himself, believing he was worthless.

This sent me on a journey of accessing the local services & I saw from the inside the flaws in the system, especially with so much red tape/bureaucracy to deal with, not to mention the frustration the service workers were dealing with too.

Unfortunately we didn't get the happy ending, as the services couldn't agree who should be taking care of him & as he couldn't take care of himself due to his "head being broken", as he described it.

If we have a body that is broken in any way, a healthy mental health can help heal the body - but if it's the head that's broken - the body cant do much to heal the mind!

My son Jay just couldn't take care of his body as his mind told him he wasn't worth the effort & eventually it stopped working.

After a week in the hospital his machines were turned off & the family are still reeling from the shock of losing him last January.

I realise now that I will never 'get over it' as he was my child, my first born & the hopelessness I felt/feel at not being able to save him, especially knowing what I know about mental health/well-being still haunts me!

I also realise how much the 'system' is broken & my son wasn't the first to fall through the cracks in the system (as his own GP said to me on one of the days I was begging her to give him a home visit - which she said she couldn't do) & he wasn't the last, as I've heard of many in Middlesbrough since.

Thanks to all I know about mental health, I am finally having days like yesterday, were I don't fall in a heap crying over losing him & in his honour I will carry on trying to raise awareness of health issues, especially mental & emotional well-being.

I will also carry on with my work for Inward Bound, which I set up in 2014 after seeing how he couldn't get the help he needed. I wanted people to access help without having to pay high psychological costs, which is what happened when Jay first asked for help.

As he was working full time, he was told he had to pay the £45 hour - which he couldn't bring himself to do having a mortgage & a family to look after. Thankfully this is changing, as has some of the rules about care in the area.

'They' hope that we get some comfort knowing my campaigning means that other families wont have to go through this pain - but it depends on what part of the day I get asked as to whether it does, but usually not.

Not having him around the table at family gatherings is still too raw. Plus, it was a very high price to pay to get the rules in place that should have been there when we needed it.

www.inward-bound.co.uk for information on FREE wellbeing classes & courses.

​NATURE’S CHEMIST   13/5/14
WHAT DOES REINCARNATION MEAN?  16/04/2014
THE LITTLE SQUATTER  05/02/2014
ASPARTAME POISONING  19/12/2013
IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONS  06/11/2013
STRESS  05/11/2013
HOW MINDFULNESS AFFECTS MIND AND BODY  29/10/2013
HEALING FREQUENCIES  23/10/2013
THE MAGIC OF TEE TREE OIL  20/10/2013
NETTLE TEA  11/09/2013
EMBRACING OUR SHADOW  11/09/2013
MEDITATION  11/09/2013

On a recent wintry afternoon, Mark T. Bertolini, the 58-year-old chief executive of Aetna, the health insurer, was sitting in his Hartford office wearing a dark suit and a crisp, white, French-cuffed shirt. But instead of a necktie, he wore a shiny metal amulet engraved with the Sanskrit characters “sohum".

Roughly translated, sohum means “I am that,” and repeating the phrase is used to help control breathing in meditation. Mr. Bertolini says the word also signifies a divine connection with the universe. (He has a similar design tattooed on his back.)

“Meditation is not about thinking about nothing,” he said. “It’s about accepting what you think, giving reverence to it and letting it go. It’s losing the attachment to it. Same thing with pain.”

In case there was any doubt, Mr. Bertolini, who runs one of America’s 100 largest companies by revenue, wants to make it clear he is a different sort of C.E.O.


In recent years, following a near-death experience, Mr. Bertolini set about overhauling his own health regimen, as well reshaping the culture of Aetna with a series of eyebrow-raising moves. He has offered free yoga and meditation classes to Aetna employees; more than 13,000 workers have participated and those who have report, on average, a 28 percent reduction in their stress levels, a 20 percent improvement in sleep quality and a 19 percent reduction in pain. They also become more effective on the job, gaining an average of 62 minutes per week of productivity each, which Aetna estimates is worth $3,000 per employee per year. Demand for the programs continues to rise; every class is overbooked.

“We have this groundswell inside the company of people wanting to take the classes,” Mr. Bertolini said. “It’s been pretty magical”.


Fron article by DAVID GELLES FEB. 27, 2015

For full article see: http://nyti.ms/1BY9dgr

Your brain functions on a small amount of electricity, much like a computer. This electrical current vibrates and pulses at various speeds. When you are wide awake, with your eyes focused, your brain vibrates 20 times per second – what scientists call 20 cycles per second or the Beta frequency. You are probably at this beta level of mind right now.

When you go to sleep, your brain frequency slows down, all the way to about half a cycle per second in the deepest levels of natural sleep. This is known as the Delta level.

In between Beta, (the waking state), and Delta, (the deep sleep state), there are yet two other levels of mental activity.

When you are in a light level of sleep or in meditation you are in the Alpha range, which is 7 to 14 cycles per second.

Going to the alpha level or centering is essentially the same thing as meditating. When someone meditates, scientifically, they are simply reducing their brain wave frequency to Alpha. The Alpha level is the level we use to activate our minds.

This is no different from training your physical body and getting into shape. If you exercise your body only once per month you get very different results than if you exercise daily. The same principle applies when you train and exercise your mind. The more you go into alpha, learn to visualize, relax, and tune into your intuition, the healthier and better your life becomes

I've had few enquires lately about people feeling unwell with fibromyalgia type problems & severe burning/headaches, so thought I'd show part of the chapter Energies of the Earth from my book. Hope it helps:

On a recent trip to India, I met a lady who actually started telling me that she suffers from sensitivity to Wi-Fi and mobiles. I actually thought she must have heard about my problem, but she hadn’t. In fact, she was relieved when I told her I shared the same problem.

I felt like she’d given me gold! To find someone who actually understood my issues was the biggest relief, especially when she described the same symptoms. She is so sensitive to this energy that she knows if a Wi-Fi computer is on in a certain part of the building.

There are many sites about GS on the Internet, so surely we can’t ignore it now. How many more of us are going to be ill, or even die before we see that the body is like a sponge and that we soak up this energy?

GS has been linked to conditions like ME, cancer, asthma and heart problems, and some say even cot death. It’s also linked to rage (including child abuse), allergy to foods and hyperactive behaviour.

During sleep your brain is supposed to rest half the time and is busy healing your body the other half. However, if you are geopathically stressed during sleep your brain has to spend all of its time working due to the strain of GS and you wake up tired, and as the GS of the earth seems to be much stronger at night, it’s obvious that this is also when we are our most vulnerable to it.

Sleep is very important, and a long time ago we would sleep on the earth to charge our bodies. Sleep is also used to create new cells, giving the right signals for the body to absorb the correct levels of vitamins and minerals and also to adjust the hormones. GS can interfere with this and leave the immune system weak.

Also, when we don’t feel well we go to bed, but if your bed is in a place that has GS you are making the matter worse. GS doesn’t actually cause illness, but it lowers the immune system and the ability to fight off viruses and bacteria. That’s why most people who work with Feng Shui realise that GS is the first thing to check for to ensure a ‘happy home’.

Check out Rolf’s website for diagrams on where to place beds, etc. and for other information, as it includes the fact that cars, hospitals, etc. are all affected. It’s said to have been proven to the satisfaction of the medical profession over 70 years ago that GS is detrimental to human health, yet in this country we feel silly trying to get it recognised.

Some indications of GS can be feeling rundown, tired, nervous or depressed and sleeplessness, when you finally get to sleep having bad dreams, when you wake having a fuzzy head, and children can also wet the bed or babies can cry constantly. Tingling in the arms or feeling really cold are other symptoms (we certainly had really extreme cold spots in my second shop).

People that can’t shake off an illness or depression, or simply just feel below par all the time, can ask some simple questions to see if they could be suffering from this problem, like:

“Did the problem start after I moved into the new building?” or

“Do I feel better when I am away from the place I work?” and can try to find out if the previous people who lived or worked there also suffered.

You can also check if the premises were built on an old water vein. I found out that my old house had been built on an area that had naturally been a stream and they had moved it to build the housing estate, but over time it was shifting back. Also, a place that’s unnaturally cold or damp could be a good indication that it needs checking.

Quoted from Rolf’s website:
“Research has shown Geopathic Stress is mainly caused by narrow paths of running water about 200 to 300 ft below ground. This creates an electromagnetic field, which disturbs the earth’s natural vibrations, in particular, the beneficially 7.83 Hz (cycle per second) Alpha vibrations (confirmed by NASA). The Alpha vibrations can be as high as 250 Hz in very Geopathic Stressed people. The USA scientist George Lakowsky confirmed in the ‘30s that humans (and animals) have less chance of fighting bacteria and viruses at higher than normal vibrations.

The effect GS has on the human body has been most convincingly proved by a major research project undertaken by the University of Vienna direct by Professor Dr Otto Berman. In order to eliminate any placebo effect the tests were organized in a double-blind fashion. Neither examining doctors nor the people tested knew whether they had been sitting in a GS place or neutral place. 985 people were tested and subjected to a very thorough medical examination before and after tests. Tests included blood sedimentation, electric condulance of certain muscle points, blood pressure, heartbeat, breathing, skin resistance and blood circulation. The people tested only sat in a GS or neutral place for 15 minutes. The harmful effect could be registered in most of the people who sat in a GS place. ‘One can imagine the consequences which exposure to Geopathic Stress over many years could have,’ wrote Natural Medicine.

We have hardly come across anybody who has died of meningitis, E. Coli food poisoning, BSE, Legionnaires Disease and SARS without being GS.

The UK has over 800 earthquakes and 20,000 landslides each year, which can affect GS. Nearby roads and building works can also alter the GS in your home. So check your home and bed positions once a year. Fortunately, a ‘good’ home will seldom suddenly become a ‘bad' home and some homes get better. During the night, at full moon or winter and stormy weather, GS is always stronger.

It is claimed that Queen Victoria sent dowsers to Scotland to find the ‘good energy’ area and they came up with where Balmoral now stands. Further research shows that most castles and places of royalty have very little GS.

Thankfully, when I had my problem with the shop a very clever man called Jeff Moran came in to do one of his Sound Workshops, and as it happened I wasn’t there when he arrived. My friend welcomed him in and the first thing he said to her was, “The energy in here is really weird.”

She looked at him, knowing that neither of us had told anyone about the problems we were facing, and wondered how he knew. He then set about saying he had to check it out before he could begin working.

After only a few minutes, he told her we had a huge GS line running straight through the shop and into the back room (where people had reported a ‘spinning’ sensation during therapy). He made some alterations and placed crystals in certain positions, which helped.

It’s said that GS can have a severe psychological effect on people and may be present in cases where people are suicidal, and is also another suggestion why people get divorced.

The good news is there are thousands of doctors worldwide that recognise the seriousness of GS and know that we must deal with it.

In most cases the problem can be sorted once it is recognised, as the body returns to free-flowing energy and good health once the GS has been cleared out of the system.

Remember, GS doesn’t actually cause the illness, it weakens the immune system, which stops your chance of fighting any bacteria or virus. For the rest of the book, I've reduced the cost of download to £2.99 to make it more available and can be put onto your computer too, so you don't need a reader.

Stress

Stress is quite difficult to define because it means different things to different people. Some forms of stress are physical; some are mental, emotional and even spiritual. We all have different lives, different circumstances, life experiences, jobs, living conditions and diets. All of these factors can contribute to our total stress load.

At times like this your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases and you breathe faster, pumping maximum oxygen and energy-rich blood to your muscles. Your liver releases more sugar into your blood ready for action and even breaks down your own muscle mass to supply your cells with fuel. In evolutionary terms, this is a remarkable system that has helped our species survive. It’s called the Fight or Flight response.

As humans we are unique in that we are constantly exposed to stress. In the wild, animals aren’t exposed to stress in the same way as we are. For example, an animal chasing another for food will either kill it & the stress ends, or the target escapes & again the stress ends. Stress can be categorised in a number of different ways.

Physical

Eating poor quality foods, Processed foods

Sugar, Alcohol, Caffeine (tea, coffee etc)

Gluten intolerance and other food reactions

Over the counter and recreational drugs

Over exposure to toxins such as plastics, metals, pesticides, preservatives.

Nutrient deficiencies

Excessive exercise & even too little exercise

Mental, Emotional

Worries over money, job, security

Relationship issues, Family problems

Feeling lost in life etc.

When any of the above is going on in the body, it will produce cortisol. When we are under short term or severe stress, cortisol is a lifesaver, because it increases blood pressure and diverts the body’s resources to the brain and muscles, to help our fight or flight reaction, but excessive cortisol can cause havoc in the body and can lead to stomach ulcers and more.

Prevention is better than cure; therefore awareness of what our body is telling us is very important, as is relaxation and meditation. Complete relaxation is the brain not having to do anything, but this comes with practice. So to begin, we start by giving the brain simple tasks such as ‘breathe in and out’, or counting as we breathe, which helps relax the body. Doing this on regular basis will show great results such as:

* Drop in cholesterol levels.

*Improved flow of air to the lungs

*Decreases the ageing process.

*Greater creativity.

*Decreased anxiety and depression.

*Improved learning ability and memory.

*Increased feelings of vitality, happiness & joy

 So sit comfortably…..Relax....Close your eyes....

Take a long easy breath - let go of all responsibilities, that’s right - all issue are shaking off now. Take another breath. Letting go of all the ‘should be’s’- and all the ‘could be’s’ of the day.....Letting go of the inner critique which is always keeping you busy.

Breathing in and breathing out....that’s right.....Breathing in and breathing out. Just feeling the breath now. Carry this on for a few minutes. 

Then bring your awareness back into the room and when you are ready you can open your eyes.

Makes 1 traybake


For the base
125g soft butter
100g light brown soft sugar
2 tbsp ginger, peeled and very finely grated
210g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground ginger

For the icing
20g butter, melted
2 tbsp golden syrup
35g icing sugar
½ tsp ground ginger

1 Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Cream the butter and sugar with the grated ginger until light and fluffy. Sift in the flour, baking powder and ground ginger. and fold to a firm dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth; if it's crumbly, dampen your hands whilst kneading.

2 Line a 20x30cm oven tray and press in the ginger dough. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.

3 After 15 minutes, make the icing. Put the butter, golden syrup and ginger juice in a small pan and warm until runny, beat in the icing sugar and ground ginger to a smooth paste.

4 Remove the base from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before pouring over the icing. Leave to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Taken from Guardian article on 16/5/14:

Rosie Sykes is head chef of Fitzbillies (fitzbillies.com) and co-author of The Kitchen Revolution (Ebury Press, £25). To order a copy for £19.99 with free UK p&p, go to guardianbookshop.co.uk 

It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish.......all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born and left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body! These are best & more powerful when eaten raw.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex.

We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female; they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit.

There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well, to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics. Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.