It is the first time in 11 years that I have ever cancelled clients due to “illness.” As one friend so aptly put it, I tend to think I am superwoman—that I can juggle all the balls, spin all the plates, twirl around, and still look graceful. I have a strong will and I can usually accomplish anything I put my mind to. But every so often, things come crashing down to remind us that ultimately we are not in control of our destiny; we are reminded that true heart-centred self love happens when we are in alignment with Divine spiritual intention, not our own agendas.

I am seeing many clients with viral flu (fear), insomnia (the start of spiritual awakening or our ego conflicting with our spiritual path), digestive issues (not digesting life well, resisting change), constipation (anger and not letting go) and tension in the shoulders and neck (gallbladder and liver tension; holding on to anger and resentment instead of changing this energy into action or change). The year 2012 has been and will continue to be especially intense as humanity goes though its own wake-up call and the universal energies demand that we change how we are living within ourselves and on our earth. Our body can be our best messenger in letting us know that we need to love ourselves, trust, and surrender fully to the changes upon us. Here are some of the ways the body is talking to many of us right now:

1)      Changing sleep patterns, hot body, busy or vivid dreams, wired and tired feeling, waking up two or three times a night.

2)      Flu-like symptoms, headaches, vertigo, dizziness, memory issues.  All of these symptoms mean that you are integrating new consciousness but that your energy field is breached and that you may be fearful or resisting changes.

3)      Sudden waves of emotion and crying for no apparent reason. See-saw of emotions: Feeling suddenly angry, sad or depressed. Then happy or peaceful. There is often a hurting or an emotional stirring in the heart chakra (the middle of the chest). Some experience heart palpitations. If you experience pain left of the heart chakra or shortness of breath then please consult a doctor or call an ambulance. This is a heart attack—a very big wake-up call.

4)      Any kind of accident, such as breaking bones, a car accident, tripping, falling, or bumping into things. This signals a need to ground yourself and deal with issues that are unbalancing you.

5)      Old wounding surfacing and being mirrored back to you by other people close to you or by new people that appear in your life. Pay attention to the lessons instead of getting caught up in the drama.

6)      Craving certain foods, experiencing an abrupt change in eating habits, being hungrier than usual, feeling thirsty all the time, even when you drink lots of water.  This means your body is either trying to shift out of an addictive eating pattern (cravings for unhealthy foods) or you are trying to integrate spiritual changes into your physical body (hungrier and thirsty). Craving protein means you need to be more grounded.  Craving fruits and green vegetables means your body wants to detox.

7)       The sudden appearance of allergies or food sensitivities. This means you need to clean out your body to remove a physical burden from your past.

8)      Increase or decrease in weight, especially five pounds or more. It means you are holding on to your wounding and other past events, or you do not feel safe in your environment and your own body.

9)      Not being able to sustain the level of physical exercise that you could previously, or becoming addicted to excessive exercise. This happens quite a bit to those that run marathons, cycle, or jog. I always ask those that do excessive exercise: What are you running from or why do you need to punish yourself so much? If you need a high from exercise, then something is missing in other areas of your life. Anything we are addicted to generally means we are missing inner self love and self worth.

10)  Changes in hearing, sight or smell.  Your senses may become dulled or amplified. You may see things that you did not formerly, such as shapes, flashing light, or auras. Blurred vision and a difficulty focusing can cause you to feel ungrounded.  All of these symptoms mean you are shifting your reality from the old to new consciousness within you.

11)  Energy surges and changes in body temperature that have nothing to do with menopause or andropause. You might have lots of energy and then crash with fatigue and lethargy. Either you are too hot or too cold. You will need more rest as you shift and integrate new consciousness.

12)  Skin issues such as rashes, acne, hives, herpes and shingles. This is a sign that you are repressing your inner turmoil and need to release anger or shame in another way that is more conscious.

13)  Waking up one day to see life differently, a desire to change your life in some way, searching for your soul purpose, needing to be more creative, bursts of creativity, feeling unsettled in current relationships, noticing that certain relationships are toxic or are holding you back from shifting in your life.

14)  Wanting to be out in nature more, connecting to Mother Earth in new ways, becoming more tuned in to the seasons, the moon cycles, your menstrual cycle, solar flares, seeing signs from nature. Feeling more compassion for animals, plants, and other sentient beings.

15)  Suddenly needing more time alone for introspection, soul searching, and spiritual curiosity—beyond religious affiliation.

16)  A desire to de-clutter and clean your living area, work space, or car. The desire to renovate is also another level of spiritual transformation.

17)  Serendipitous moments start to happen frequently, you feel compelled to speak your truth and impeccable integrity becomes very important to you, you feel you want to share your talents with others but struggle to know how, you want to explore your emotions more than your intellect.

18)  Increased or sudden connection to other “entities.” Psychic awareness increases, you may receive messages, you see or hear angels, spirit guides or other divine entities. You may suddenly be able to communicate with animals, plants or crystals, or experience an increase in awareness of  the animal or plant communication around you.

19)  A strong desire to find your soul mate. Understand that this means you are simply trying to find yourself, so do your inner work to manifest the person who will truly reflect your loving essence.

Remember that we have the opportunity to use these signs to explore and shift into a whole different level of spiritual living if we choose to surrender and trust our personal growth process. There may be physical issues tied to these symptoms that may require support, so let your inner knowing be the guide and seek help when needed. These are just some of the common spiritual awakening signs I am seeing in my clients, but if you have any more to add please leave me a comment!  Enjoy the journey—it is always unfolding and full of surprises. How you walk through your own ring of fire is entirely up to you!

Blessings,

Samantha

Important Cosmic Dates for April, May and June 2012 that will affect us physically, emotionally and energetically and allow us the opportunity to awaken more fully: 

April 21^st, New Moon

May 5^th, Full Moon

May 20^th, Ring of Fire- Annular Solar Eclipse (New Moon)—this is the strongest eclipse of the year so get ready for mega-energy!

June 4^th, Partial Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon)

June 20^th, Summer Solstice 

Remember to protect yourself a few days before and during these intense energy dates by getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of water, eating well and surrendering as best you can to any changes around you.  I drink Healthy Boundaries tea and Soul Chakra tea  to more easily hold my boundaries and keep me grounded.  I also use the Warrior Elixir to stand in my power and soften any resistance to change.  And the Sage Elixir to connect to my inner knowing more easily and to protect my energy field!

For more on Samantha’s book and her Senses of the Soul product line:  http://www.sensesofthesoul.ca/ 

Cusco, Peru

After a long, twenty hour plane ride, I finally arrived in Cusco, Peru. I was immediately hit with dizziness and fatigue from the high elevation (Cusco is at 11 000 ft), but I soon became aware of a different sensation: the energy around me in the tiny airport was alive, throbbing even. “What is this energy?” I wondered, as I waited with my group to reclaim my suitcase. The energy continued to swirl around me as we spilled through the airport doors, whereupon we were warmly greeted by a friend of Star Riparetti’s (the trip organizer and my friend and mentor), who placed an Incan cross of turquoise and serpentine stones around our necks. The air hummed with this new energy: the indigenous and local people embodied it, and the rolling green hills and mountains oozed it. I realized a few days later, as we walked around the ancient ruins of Sacsayhuaman, that the energy was that of a whole other level of consciousness. The moment I stepped off the plane, I had left the world of North American material realism and entered into the mystical Andean shamanistic culture. This land was ancient, wise, and full of energetic reciprocity; it was so different from the self-serving, empty, and one dimensional reality that I was born into and that challenged me daily back home. From the time I arrived and journeyed into the Sacred Valley of the Inca (Urubamba region) to Machu Picchu and then back again, this living energy had started to permeate my cells. It was astonishing and, at the same time, a wee bit unsettling. I knew I would never be the same again.

Moray sacred site in Urubamba

I consider myself to be an enlightened being. I work hard to be mindful and sit daily with my inner wounding to see what it will tell me about myself. I teach and bring enlightenment and dynamic health to my clients with the help of archetypical energies, plants, and other natural medicines. But being in the Andean culture and learning about their traditions has been a whole other level of energetic awakening for me. It is difficult to put into words the Andean concept of reciprocity, anyi, but it encapsulates that which I have written about in my book: the importance of connecting to nature and the world around us in Oneness and in honouring the duality in everything. It is the principle that we must give and take in equal exchange with our surrounding environment, and balance the masculine and feminine within us so as to exemplify this balanced wholeness in everything we think, do, and say.

coca leaf tea for altitude sickness

This level of unification comes naturally to the indigenous Andean people in the way they honour both the masculine and the feminine in daily life. As much as I strive to embrace this way of living, my ego, which I deem as the masculine in all of us, was frantically scrambling to find its place of dominance in this different consciousness. Share power with and revere the feminine? See the feminine as equal and important? My masculine programming still struggles with this shift on certain levels. It is a constant challenge in our patriarchal society to recognize the duality in our world and consciously attempt to bring it into balance. And, like that of all North Americans, my ego was so used to having the upper masculine hand that it did not like that it was not in control. Afraid of the feminine, it wanted to dominate, compete, stand out, and be unique. It was a daily struggle, but I managed to release my ego for much of the trip. It was easiest to silence it when I was outside (which was almost all day, everyday) and when I was at the various sacred sites that I visited. How could the ego compete with such vastness and magnificence!?  I was a humbled North American who felt like she had finally come home. I felt strongly that my energy had been in this place before; I wanted to stay in this part of Peru and disappear into its spiritual wholeness and soulful lushness.

Masdevallia Veitchiana orchid, Divine Goddess

I learned about the Andean nature spirits: Pachamama (Mother Earth); Mama Killa (the moon); Inti (the sun); and the apus (mountain spirit) which surrounded me. I was in awe of the diverse orchid species in the Machu Picchu sanctuary.

The other thing that struck me as we travelled around the countryside was the lack of fencing; the animals (including dogs) and people roam freely on the open hills and mountains. Herders tend their flocks and animals are tethered and moved when necessary. One day we had a healthy lunch in an open field next to a few houses. The view of Cusco was breathtaking. I remarked to the man who served us lunch that he had a lovely property. “No,” he said and shook his head, “This is not my property. We are just borrowing it.” There is an unsaid understanding and respect that although people own land, all land belongs to everything.

The goddess gang at Machu Picchu (I climbed the mountain behind us the next day!)

I ate mounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and marvelled at our guide telling us that there are 96 micro climates and 3000 different kinds of potatoes in Peru. Diversity abounds in food and plant life–monoculture is frowned upon and unthinkable. I cleansed on many levels, not just through this wholesome food. By constantly being out in nature, sitting in energetic sacred sites, and by the ceremony that my group performed almost daily at these sacred sites, we purified ourselves and prayed for the world. We honoured Mother Earth. We asked for peace, forgiveness and unity.  We cried, laughed, and walked silently. All that we did was in reverence to what we were feeling. We carried an exquisite awareness of the natural world, and experienced intuitive connection and clairsentience: a fusion of mind, body, soul and spirit. And, in those moments that my ego surrendered to totality, I felt absolute bliss.

Before I knew it, it was time to come home and back to obligations, family, pets, staff, clients, and my businesses. When I arrived at the airport in Houston to transfer flights, I went into energetic cultural shock: it was so loud, busy and frantic. People were shoving food into their mouths and shopping for things they did not need. I was so disoriented that I did not realize that I had gone all the way to the wrong end of this huge airport! I ended up at the wrong gate at the time my flight was boarding. I started to cry; I could not do this. I could not go back to my old reality. At the height of despair, a quote from the Buddhist nun Pema Chӧdrӧn came into my mind: “Wherever you go, there you are.” At that moment, I realized that Andean culture had given me a bigger compass; it showed me that respectful duality and Oneness in North American culture, as well as around the world, is tangible and possible. If indigenous cultures, such as the Andeans, can find balance, so can we. I felt this truth so strongly: I could carry the experience and wisdom within me, instead of running back to Peru. I could become it even more than before. And so I wiped my tears, stuck out my belly button (see the Chakra Three section in my book for more about belly button power!) and confidently (and quickly!!) walked to the correct gate to catch my flight.

Children playing with orbs above

My experience in the Houston airport was more than a bit of post-holiday angst; it was the start of another ascension process for me. My Peruvian experience seems fitting and in alignment with 2012, as this year, more than ever, we are being asked to evolve beyond our ego-centred selves and step into wholeness with each other and our world. One client asked me, “How do I do this when it seems that my culture, its institutions, and my family are working against me?” I answered that we do it one day at a time, one experience at a time, by staying mindful, seeing beyond our culturally imposed reality, embracing the new co-creative values (see pg 41 of my book), and by finding the courage to be different. We must work at it, become it, model it, and not give up. And taking the occasional trip to Peru or some other place that lifts your soul and spirit doesn’t hurt either! We must all keep going with the same goal in mind: to become the healing conduit that aligns with nature’s innate values so we can bring balance, peace, abundance, and reciprocity to our little corner of the world.

Blessings,

Samantha

See more about Samantha’s book at:  www.sensesofthesoul.ca

The Saboteur is the common archetype this February, and will be prominent throughout most of March as well. The depth of the human soul has no limits, carrying the duality of both light and darkness and that of the masculine and feminine energies (for more on our own inner duality, see “Healing Into Wholeness” [pages 39-55] in my book).  It has purpose, is tenacious, and it thrives on love and compassion. While we are quick to recognize the feel-good qualities of our soul, many of us sedate and ignore our darkness.  We would prefer to repress the thoughts or feelings that cause discomfort and that we would not dare to show others—that which is dark and twisted and lives below the surface.  This is when our sinister shadow side can creep up on us, sabotaging our efforts to evolve our soulful and spiritual selves.

This challenge is part of the collective 2012 struggle to raise our vibration to Sacred Union or Wholeness within ourselves, and allow forgiveness and compassion into our hearts.  In raising our consciousness and shining light on our darkness, we can out-maneuver our ever-present, internal Saboteur, who has made a comfortable home in our unaddressed pain.

My favourite herbal plant for the Saboteur archetype is Burdock Root.  The Burdock plant has a very dramatic two year life span.  During the first year of its growth, it lies low to the ground and splays its broad, wedged-shaped leaves (which are green on one side and white like sand paper on the other).  During its second year, a central stalk rises. As it matures, spiky bulbs emerge from which purple flowers eventually burst forth. These dry into brown “fruit”, the seeds of which disperse by attaching to anything that gets near the plant.  After its short life and death cycle, it begins itself anew by sending its many seeds out to propagate future generations.

The Burdock plant has a large, twisted, beige root. The root is very long and buries itself deeply into the ground; when I first pulled one from the ground, it reminded me of a deep, dark twisted human soul.  Like the Burdock root, the Saboteur in many of us lies below the surface, gnarled and intertwined with our wounding and dysfunctional patterns.  When I see clients repeating past mistakes, engaging in caustic mental patterns, and being bogged down with icky, toxic, psychological baggage, I know that their inner Saboteur is at work. To help them, Burdock Root is my herbal ally of choice.  It works on the first, second, and third chakra centres of the body by combating and facilitating the release of fear, blame, shame, and disempowerment.  Burdock pulls out and disposes of destructive matter in the lower chakras by cleansing the gallbladder, liver, spleen, and lymphatic system (see Chapter 5: “Messages from the Body,” in my book for a description of emotions and mental patterns that correlate to these areas).  It is also nourishing to the pancreas and the nervous and immune systems, as it contains Vitamins B1, B6, B12, E, and C, and the minerals potassium, sulfur, silica, manganese and inulin.  Burdock is often one of the key ingredients in herbal cancer formulas because of its ability to help the body release stagnant toxins, heavy metals and purify the blood.

Many of us are currently feeling apathetic and are, at the same time, vacillating between anger and hot raging tears.  Our energy, and the energy around us, feels insidiously flat, stale, and dismal; nothing seems to bring us joy or meaning.  We may feel challenged in our relationships as the people in our lives mirror our own internal Saboteur back to us.  Understand that like the Burdock Root, we need to dig deep, sit in our darkness and allow it to surface. We mustn’t forget that the purpose of a root is to provide nourishment; we can do this for ourselves by feeling our pain, crying for it, and cultivating compassion for ourselves through this process.  Burdock allows us to understand that by sabotaging ourselves, we are also being urged by our soul to raise our internal standards and reach for our Higher Self.  Only then can we fill up again with courage, hope, and trust, make adjustments in our life and take our living to the next level of consciousness. From there, we can realign with our soulful and spiritual purpose.

Those of you who are feeling hopeless, apathetic, and overwhelmed by all the doom and gloom in the world right now should heed Mother Teresa’s wisdom.  When asked how she coped with the overwhelming poverty, desolation, and misery around her in India, she responded by saying:  “I deal with what is in front of me.”  Wise words indeed!

For extra support during this time, try The Lover Elixir or Essence, Release the Grief tea, and Love Chakra tea.  If anger and resentment are predominant emotions (you may feel tension and a stabbing pain in your shoulders, numbness in your arms, stiffness in the neck, have red rimmed sore eyes, hot tears, indigestion, tension in the solar plexus, or cramping/tight calf muscles) then also support yourself with The Warrior Elixir or Essence and Release the Anger tea, which contains Burdock Root.

For overwhelming fear, The Earth Mother Elixir or Essence will keep you rooted in courage.  Rose essential oil is a terrific antidote to sorrow.  Rub it on your heart chakra.  Stay away from sugar, especially if you are craving it – sugar allows us to gloss over our emotional process so that we can maintain our saccharine facade to the world.   Take the time to wonder at the thoughts and emotions that are surfacing for you right now, instead of sedating them with food, engaging in power struggles, and/or frantic living.  Journaling is useful to release those circular thoughts that can plague us, and connecting to nature helps to renew and rejuvenate the soul.

We will get through this part of our collective journey and thrive.  That is a certainty I feel deeply in my cells.  We can choose to align with our internal Saboteur and hear its message for us on an ongoing basis. The Saboteur is here to help us evolve our consciousness and unlimited potential as individuals, and as a species.

Blessings,

Samantha

http://www.sensesofthesoul.ca/  (Please note that my shopping cart is down for maintenance until mid-March, I apologize for the inconvenience.  For orders or to sign-up for a workshop please call 1-800-291-4912 , Canada and US only.)

I am one of the workshop presenters at the Festival of Health & Wellness, Saturday March 10th, Calgary, AB.  Click here for more details:  http://purepotentialswellness.businesscatalyst.com/presenters

It definitely feels to me like January has started out quietly. For the first time since the frantic, revolutionary energies of 2011, many of us can breathe, be still, and take a panoramic snapshot of our lives. We are now sitting in stillness and reflection as we ask ourselves “where are we going now?” It may be that the plans that we thought were set for this year have morphed into another reality, or perhaps we are experiencing an emotional inertia when it comes to making them happen. The world at large seems to be contemplating the next phase of its journey and we are in flux. While we continue on living our busy lives, the frozen earth around us whispers the question “Do you remember who you are?” I hear this everyday and am reminded to keep moving forward (or sometimes slogging forward!) in service, humility and authenticity. It is not easy and some days I definitely stumble!

 Re-assessing our lives can be a lonely journey: it can be easy to feel isolated and forget that we have a soulful connection to others. Our sense of deeper human connection has been replaced by the superficial connections we forge through the daily grind of life. But in 2012, this is starting to shift; we are dipping our toes into soulful collaboration with others.  

As we continue to shed the skin of the industrial age, we are craving a deeper and more conscious connection in our relationships. These relationships can take many forms, including human, animal, plant, earthly, karmic, and cosmic. One of the flower essences that is helpful for those of us who are trying to connect on a deeper level and mindfully tap into the new co-creative energies is Forget-Me-Not.  Forget-Me-Not is a small blue flower that reminds us of the potential for co-creative connection in all of us. As we move into deeper relationship with other beings and dimensions, we step into our authentic selves and into our full potential in our endeavours with others. The archetypal energy of Forget-Me-Not tempers the ego self and guides us toward expansive love for the universal family. It fosters a greater awareness of the incredible depth, breadth, and possibility of soul-based relationships. We can then release old relationships, re-assess current ones, and begin to cultivate new ones that support our soul’s purpose, not that of the selfish ego. This is timely and essential if we are to plant the seeds of consciousness necessary to grow a healthier, self-sustaining world. If you are in the process of   reviewing your relationship with yourself and others, then invoke the intention of Forget-Me-Not to get the most out of your soulful and spiritual growth during this phase of human evolution.  

On the physical level, the body will continue to call urgently to its owner this year. I am seeing a  build-up of toxins occur at a fast pace in all my clients as the body tries to rid itself of all destructive cellular memory from our DNA, our ancestors, and our current life so we can move forward. Those of us that resist this process and fail to listen to the body will see the consequences (this means more cancer diagnosis this year – currently 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men will have cancer in their lifetime). We are becoming more energetically sensitive on all levels, so watch your physical symptoms and treat your body with respect and kindness to help it as it purges that which no longer serves us. 

 I mentioned in my previous blog that 2012 would be “The Year of the Heart.” I am already seeing this manifest in physical and emotional symptoms:  restlessness, insomnia, a heaviness in the chest, lethargy, circulatory issues increasing, sinus/lung congestion (the lungs protect the heart), grieving/crying for no reason, loss of passion, and bitterness. As well, the fall virus that is still lurking continues to affect people, most notably in the lung/bronchial area. 

 Some of these health issues are the after-effects of indulging over the holidays, but much of these symptoms are connected to a deep grief in the heart and lungs that needs to be released.  Last year’s tumultuous events have left us all spinning; it is now time to process, integrate, and grieve that which has happened. This has inspired me to launch a new tea: Release the Grief.  Releasing our grief enables us to let go and move forward on our life journey. One of the ingredients in this tea that helps with this is Poplar buds. Poplar spoke to me last fall when we were placing our usual herbal order. I did not know why it was needed at the time, but, as with all my intuitive conversations with plants, I knew at some point this tree’s strength, endurance, and budding potential would be needed. And now is the time. This tea is available at Nurture Health & Wellness and www.sensesofthesoul.ca. This is the Year of the Heart: release your grief, remember who you are meant to be, and start co-creating! 

Release the Grief Tea:  Wild Cherry, Mullein, Yarrow, Poplar Buds, Licorice Root

(Awesome lung and sinus support!) www.sensesofthesoul.ca/shop 

Opening the Senses of the Soul Workshop – February 5^th, 2012.  Click here for more details or to register:  www.sensesofthesoul.ca/shop

It is like watching a herd of antelope scatter when they sense danger – some go left, some go right, others are too slow and huddle frantically in the middle, a few give up, and one is eventually taken down by a predator.  Then the herd cautiously regroups and it starts all over again. We are all heading for the same finish line.  However, it feels to me that we are still undecided and squabbling over the right course of action and we are struggling with finding the collective courage to do it together.   As frustrating as this process may be, it is necessary to release old dysfunctional human patterns before we cross the finish line and shift into the next stage of healing and new growth on the planet.   My clients know that I call this kind of roller coaster turbulence and uncertainty a “Healing Crisis”.

The larger the Healing Crisis, the bigger the shift in overall consciousness. When I work with a client to heal a long standing physical health issue which has many layers of psychological and spiritual wounding, the process can seem daunting.  It takes time, perseverance and great courage to go through the ups and down of healing the body, mind and soul.  As each layer is exposed and healed, there is new consciousness gained.  And then it starts all over again.  As a practitioner I have a sense of the healing trajectory, can suggest the protocol and be supportive, but I cannot ultimately control the final outcome of the process.  The client’s willingness to heal is an important factor and the rest is left to destiny.  We both must be accountable and work together for healing on all levels, but at the same time are detached from the outcome.  This type of mindset provides the greatest opportunity for success.

In the case of our current world Healing Crisis, where we end up as a species is not as important as how we all step up and work together to get there.  Surrendering to the process of healing is important, so that we can gain consciousness and a sense of achieving wholeness within ourselves.  We should not focus on a particular goal, or, in the case of health, the absence of symptoms.  It is the learning about ourselves through any crisis, be it individually or collectively, that brings dynamic health, peace and enlightenment.
So my suggestion for the remainder of the month is to take a deep breath and plunge into any unresolved issues you are pushing aside, finish up projects that may be lingering, stand firm in your boundaries, step into your personal power more fully and be the change you wish to see in this world.   Love yourself and others equally and with compassion.  Remember to turn any anger you are experiencing into directed purpose and action in defense of your own needs. These are stressful times and it is easy to blame, shame, guilt and sabotage ourselves and others instead of being there for one another.  Do not give up on yourself or your healing path.  Cheer on others that are struggling to get to their own finish line.  Release relationships and situations that you have outgrown. This will help all of us move energetically forward each day even though we do not know at this point where we are collectively headed.

On a physical note, there is a fall cold floating around, so stay warm and rest, drink hot or warm fluids such as teas and soups that have garlic, ginger, chili, clove, cinnamon and onion in them.  These herbs warm our life force and increase circulation.  Eliminate dairy, sugar and flour as much as possible as these congest the body, deplete immunity and are a beacon for bacteria to invade the body.  Echinacea, Elderberry and Astragalus provide wonderful deep immune support, so keep them handy in case you start to feel ill, or take them regularly as a preventative.  As I mention frequently, my Healthy Boundaries tea works wonders this time of year to keep one physically and energetically healthy.  Many of my clients are reporting digestive disturbances this month.  As we sift through what no longer serves us and filter in our new reality it will make one’s digestion more disturbed than normal.  This will pass in another few weeks.  Make sure your bowels are moving daily – this is a necessary action for the body so that we can release and surrender old ways of thinking and doing.

My book is heading to the printers within the next few weeks!  I am putting one foot in front of the other and making it to my own personal finish line, which I know will benefit and empower others!  Stay tuned for details about the book launch which will be posted soon!

If this theory is correct it certainly would account for the many weather catastrophes, including tropical storms , earthquakes and now the devastating typhoon in Japan , in the last couple of weeks.  As Mitch Battros of Earth Changes Media writes in his latest newsletter:

“Just as the Sun’s solar activity affects the Earth’s magnetic field which has a dramatic affect on Earth’s “weather” i.e. earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, hurricanes; so does this wave of electrical currents affect the human body’s magnetic field…

Solar Cycle 24 has begun – and it has been predicted by NASA, NOAA and ESA to be up to 50% stronger than its ‘record breaking’ predecessor Cycle 23 which produced the largest solar flare ever recorded. The Sun will reach its ‘apex’ (maximum) in late 2011 into 2012.”  (Mitch Battros, www.earthchangesmedia.com)

We are part of this universal magnetic or vibrational field here on earth and the cosmos around us.  So when there are changes to the earth’s magnetic field, it not only affects us externally, but internally as well.  Energetic communication is normally distrupted during solar flares.  Both our electronic devices and our own communication with others will be affected.  One of the themes I have noticed among my clients, staff and myself that has been challenging us in the last week is that of “heartfelt communication”.  This means communicating our needs without anger or fear while at the same time keeping our needs and boundaries intact.  Many of you may be experiencing miscommunication with others, feeling  anger, frustration, guilt and being “crabby” in general.  Throbbing of the throat, thymus, jaw tension, stuffed up head, ear infections, achey, tired, flu symptoms – I have been seeing these  4^th (love) and 5^th (communication) chakra symptoms since last week.  Now it seems the “flu’ season has started.  I equate any flu with unconscious collective fear – another topic for another blog (I talk about this in my upcoming book too).

As I mentioned in my last blog, Echinacea is an excellent herb for this time.  It helps us reintegrate that which is out of alignment – the main lesson we are learning right now is to communicate in a co-creative way, not in an ego based, confrontational way.  We are learning to mediate with each other so that we can continue to make the needed changes together in our core values for the betterment of humanity and the earth.   So keep all of this in mind over the coming weeks as the energy and our emotions will heighten due to solar flare activity, pushing us into situations that will require us to learn the art of effective communication.  So watch your words! 

Many of you may not sleep well during this period and will feel wired and tired.  Rest as much as you can and focus on what is in front of you as the energy around you will feel more chaotic than usual.  As a colleague and I mused today about the increased productivity in our lives:  Chop wood, carry water, chop wood carry water, breathe…and then do it all over again!

So use Echinacea’s energy to support your immune system and your energetic field.   I also recommend my Healthy Boundaries tea – wonderful for supporting your energy field, drawing off negative energy, supporting immunity and reducing fever and achiness.  The herb Goldenseal is good for mucus and congestion.  The crystals Aquamarine and Chrysocolla will also help align you with loving communication.  Eat healthy foods, do a cleanse, purify your thoughts and emotions, go sit in nature.  All of this will help you stay aligned and healthy.

While September and October will be energetically stressful months, find comfort in the fact that we are all in this together!  All the more reason to learn to communicate co-creatively.

Healthy Blessings,

Samantha

Echinacea has been calling to me urgently, both at work and at home in my garden.   I then had an urge to go to the local green house and was searching for Borage and other medicinal plants, but ended up coming home instead with 6 Echinacea plants of 3 different varieties.  Not like I needed more – I already have a ton growing in my yard.  But when I asked the plants where they wanted to be, it was below my Swedish Aspens, in a protected part of my yard where no Echinacea was currently growing.   Hmmm…that made sense to me.  Aspen’s vibrational energy helps us with vague fears and anxiety. Their fluttering leaves remind us that even though we may tremble before the unknown it is important to stand rooted in our power, feel our fear and bravely move forward (so hug one when you feel scared!).

Echinacea reflects the parts of ourselves that we have not fully integrated on our path to wholeness and works on the issues we carry in our second and third chakras.  It helps us to integrate and strengthen our core self which, in our industrial and technological world that has reached its peak of disconnection from nature and generally lacks warm human community, has been severely impacted and has fractured our self identity.  Most people are still floating around aimlessly, conforming to the norms of our culture but feeling empty, purposeless and occasionally hopeless.  Or are pushing their outside agendas without regard for the inner values that really sustain and nourish their souls.   When this becomes part of the body’s cellular reality it will contribute to immune illness such as colds, flus, allergies, skin rashes, pancreatitis, cancer, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and a host of other auto-immune related diseases. Many of these diseases are escalating in severity and others show no sign of slowing down their deathly carnage.   Echinacea’s Spirit is needed right now as it helps support our immunity during this intense ascension period while at the same time realigning us with our core values and awakening us to our true inner Self.   It is especially helpful in healing emotional or sexual trauma in the second chakra and issues surrounding force and violence in the third chakra. (If you are having vivid dreams or nightmares lately pay attention as these are messages of what is not fully integrated within you. )

We need this support more than ever, as our world continues to rapidly change and our internal soul revolution is increasing in intensity.  Our physical and psychological bodies will continue to take the hit as our internal reality is being ripped apart piece, by piece.  This internal shifting will not stop until we completely surrender to living authentically and in harmony with each other, nature and the universe.

This is the time to pull out all the stops on your soul evolution journey and find the courage within you to change.  It is easy to get distracted, feel hopeless, blame others and give up. Look at what is not fully healed within and stay on the path of cleaning up and healing your current physical symptoms and psychological wounding. This is how you can be the change you wish to see in the world.

Plant some Echinacea, or try some Echinacea tea or tincture if you need some extra reinforcement right now on this often uncertain human journey, especially if you start to feel a cold or flu coming on in the next few weeks (also good for supporting the immune system as we start to head toward fall!).  Elderberry also energetically poked at me this morning when I was ordering bulk herbs for my store; it said to add it’s Spirit to Echinacea as it will support us in knowing that we will get through this particular phase, lift the vague lethargic depression that is currently in the air and help us to be true to ourselves.

Sending courage, persistence and hope to you!

Samantha

Emotionally many are doubting themselves more than usual,  dealing with mother issues, family dynamics (some have parents or children ill or dying), power struggles, more emotional eating than usual (many clients said their healthy eating patterns were totally sidetracked!) and many reported that things kept happening that distracted them from their planned goals for the month.  Lots of people are questioning their life purpose and job satisfaction more than ever.  Many are contemplating leaving their jobs, changing careers or wanting to start a new business of their own.  But fear and doubt are in the way along with concern of how this will impact one’s standard of living.   Basically two steps forward and one step back constantly all month!  Whew!  We are all shifting out of unhealthy emotional patterns, learning to love unconditionally while holding better or firmer boundaries but the toll on our bodies has been extremely hard this month.  July will be better, I promise!!  Most of us are working on our third (The Warrior-power) and fourth (The Lover-love) chakras so keep this in mind.  More and more we are leaning or moving toward meaningful and loving service in certain aspects of our lives.

My advice is to surrender and find time for integration, this means stillness and rest, along with reflection. Be kind to yourself and allow your feelings to surface. Keep your bowels moving (release and let go of the old!).  My “Soul Chakra”, “Urban Warrior” and “Healthy Boundaries” teas would be helpful during this intense time of transition.   As we learn new ways of living we must take time to integrate and embody it.  Otherwise our physical health suffers more then it needs to and we feel we are not making progress in our healing process.   Keep your ego in check and listen to your heart.  Healing is not always smooth or quick, in fact our biggest healing shifts require the long storm before the calm.  So if you are going through a tough time right now know that “this too shall pass” and you will come out of it wiser and stronger.

I am off on holidays from July 1st to August 4th – I am in the final editing stage for my book, so will be writing and reflecting during this time!  If you are one of my clients, I look forward to seeing you when I get back from holidays!  Love and light to you!!