December 2009 Ezine Articles Archives

Greetings Cosmic Cousins!

It is the last month of 2009 and we are about to launch into another Christmas and New Year period. 

2009 has been an interesting year and in some ways challenging for many people.  I will allow you to reflect on the year and how the 11/2 vibration has affected you.  For me, there has been a lot of growth and in some respects a lot of challenges.  I am proud to say that I am still standing and in many ways a lot wiser so, a good year overall.

The Sun is Sagittarius – the sign of the archer. Sagittarians are renowned optimists – they are philosophical and enjoy their freedom.  Sagittarius is a fire sign so they like to invest a lot of their time in creative projects.  Sagittarius is highlighted in the ninth house of religion, philosophy, higher education and long distance travel.  These aspects will infiltrate all of our minds during this period leading up to Christmas.  At which time the Sun moves into Capricorn.  We will explore this transition in our January 2010 column.

The Full Moon was December 2 in Gemini 11 degrees at 6:30pm AEST.  Thos bold visions you’ve had need to be backed up with data now.  A Venus/Saturn sextiles supports relationship commitments so consider taking the next step.  Mars, Jupiter and Chiron combine to offer hope and enough daring to help you overcome any fears or insecurities that have held you back.  Adventure, discovery and new horizons help you get a fresh perspective on current events.

The New Moon is December 16 Sagittarius 25 degrees 11:02pm which unfolds as a hopeful New Moon, in the most optimistic sign of all, channels the vision and compassion of Neptune align with the drive and energy of Mars.  Magic happens under skies like these as you have a chance to find the kernel of truth within and act upon it.  An enlivening Venus/Mars trine lifts spirits and energy levels, encouraging you to take healthy risks for happiness and for love.  There is much positive energy to be discharged now so see the opportunities in your life and act on them.

This New Moon is the ripe moment to plant the seeds for:

• Quest for truth
• Peace of mind
• Travel/free/adventure
• Legal issues
• Faith/optimism
• Finding solutions
• Overcoming excess
• Direct communication
• Mentors
• Colleges and universities
• Good luck
• Generous spirit
All these seeds are ready to be planted in your garden of hope and good fortune.

December is a number three month.  This is the month when burdens ease.  It provides an opportunity to fall in love or have an affair – but above all be careful that the fun does not cost you for years to come.

The eight of wands is our next stage in the tarot journey.  The eight of wands heralds a period of action after delay or struggle.  Travel is sometimes implied, or a clear stretch of fruitful creative activity, where the imagination flows unchecked after anxieties and tensions have been overcome or resolved.

Moose is our animal totem for December.  Moose gives you a reason to feel good about something you’ve accomplished on your journey.  This may be a habit you have broken, a completion of some sort, an insight on a goal, or a new sense of self that you have fought hard to earn.  It is a time of feeling harmonious pride, and of recognising those who aided you in the progress.

One good exercise in Moose medicine is to write down things that you can love about yourself and your progress in life.  Don’t forget to share the findings with others.  They need the encouragements as you much as you do.

Our Goddess for the final month of 2009 is Isis.  The most venerated of Egyptian Goddess, Isis was the sister and wife of Osiris, king of the gods.  When their jealous brother, Seth, murdered Osiris, dismembered his body, and scattered the remains across Egypt, Isis laborourisly collected all the pieces of Osiris’s corpse and reanimated him. Their son, Horus (often represented as a falcon) went on to defeat Seth to become the first ruler of Egypt.  Thus, Isis was honoured as the mother and protector of the pharaohs; accordingly, the hieroglyph for her name is a throne.

In addition to this role, Isis presided over women’s household arts, medicine and magic.  Because of her resurrection of Osiris, she was identified with him immortality and revered as the giver of life. Worshipped in tandem with Osiris, the goddess nonetheless remained the more popular of the two.  Her cult enjoyed a revival during the period of the Roman Empire.

The crystal for December is Malachite which amplifies both positive and negative energies.  It grounds spiritual energies onto the planet.  It is believed by some people that Malachite is till evolving and will be one of the most important healing stones of the millennium.

Psychologically, Malachite is a stone of transformation.  Ife is lived more intensely under the influence of this adventurous stone, which encourages risk taking and change.  It mercilessly shows what is blocking your spiritual growth.  Malachite draws out deep feelings and psyhcomatic causes, breaks unwanted ties and outworn patterns, and teaches how to take responsibilities for one’s action, thoughts, and feelings.  It releases inhibitions and encourages expressing feeling.  This stone develops empathy with other people, showing how it would feel to be in their place.  It alleviates shyness, and supports friendships.

The month I thought I would end the year with a Rune.  Runes are stones with marked glyphs on them.  In ancient countries of Scandinavia, Europe and Anglo-Saxon England there were also used as a means of protection of holy sites.  Runes are also used as a forecasting tool and in that vain I have chosen one Rune for the holiday season.

The Rune is: Teiwaz (which is Rune number 17)

Teiwaz indicates victory.  Your battle is with yourself.  The shaping of character is at issue. Courage, dedication, patience and discrimination are all virtues required at this time.

Key words: insigna on shield to give strength and courage for survival – victorious.

Well, I want to wish you all a wonderful, happy and safe holiday season.  I look forward to catching up again in the New Year when we will look at 2010 together.

Peace, Love and Joy!

Hales

Greetings - MoonHawk's Musings 

This month I have decided to write about hayfever.  The hayfever season is well on the way in my part of the world.  Hayfever is defined as acute, seasonal allergic rhinitis.  It involves inflammation of the nasal passages and production of mucus.  Hayfever tends to occur in spring and summer as pollen counts increase, or when seeds ripen.  Different people react to different pollens and dust in different ways.  Be sure about what it is that causes your hayfever.  For me it’s a plant called Patterson’s Curse - Echium plantagineum.  When this plant flowers, I get hayfever.  My partner is more affected later in the season when grains are being harvested, which I find quite bizarre because he grew p in a farming community. 

This month there isn’t a recipe, rather I’ll share some methods for navigating the festive season without over eating or drinking too much alcohol.  There is no magic way for doing this, it takes discipline and forethought.  You are responsible for what goes into your mouth, so take responsibility and do some planning so you can navigate through the eating etc and come out the other end the same weight you went in.

Wishing you many good things
Moonhawk

This months image is of the herb Amoraciae rusticanae or Horseradish.  This herb is commonly used in combination with other herbs and nutritional supplements to ease the symptoms of hayfever.  More on this later.

Practitioners of natural medicine see hayfever as an inappropriate reaction by the immune system.  Simply put, the immune system sees an allergen and reacts by instigating a specific immune response.  The immune system reacts to invading pathogens, e.g bacteria and viruses, by instigating a different immune response.  Thinks of the immune response as a see-saw with an allergic response at one end and a pathogenic response at the other.  As the allergic response increases, the pathogenic response decreases.  When the allergic response gets out of control, you get hayfever.  natural medicine aims to bring this reaction back under control, to a more normal state. 

The herb of choice for doing this is Perilla frutesccens or Perilla (don’t mix this up with the name Pirelli, a company known for manufacturing tyres and producing a calendar every year with nubile young women).  Perilla is a member of the Lamiaceae or Labiatae (mint) family.  it’s a small, low growing annual herb.  The leaf, stem and seeds are generally used in the production of herbal products. 
Perilla has shown to produce anti-allergic responses in both in-vitro and in-vivo.  My own clinical studies have indicated that Perilla is successful in reducing hayfever in many cases.  What this means is that Perilla will reduce symptoms such as itchy eyes and nose.  Reduce the itch and reduce the production of mucus.  Perilla creams have also ben proven to reduce allergic dermatitis. 

Should you take Perilla with anti-histamines?  Not without supervision by a qualified herbalist or naturopath.  There is a potential for a combination of Perilla and anti-histamines to have an additive effect i.e one may increase the effects of the other, so care needs to be taken.
Is Perilla safe to take during pregnancy?  There is no evidence to suggest Perilla is safe or unsafe during pregnancy.  As usual, it is best to err on the side of caution. 

So where does horseradish come into the treatment of hayfever?  Horseradish won’t prevent hayfever, but it will reduce symptoms such as nasal congestion and sinusitis. It’s usually combined with garlic and vitamin C, and can be purchased over the counter in this combination.  Other herbs can also be used to illicit a reduction in symptoms, depending on what your herbalist or naturopath will think is best for you. 
Horseradish contains mustard oils, which can be toxic, therefore dosages exceeding dietary intake are contraindicated in people with stomach and/or intestinal ulcers, or kidney disorders, and pregnant women. 

It’s also contraindicated in children under 4 years of age.   
Remember, always consult with a qualified practitioner before taking any herbs.  The NHAA and ATMS both provide lists of accredited practitioners. 
References: Mosby’s Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary – 6th Edition.   The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone.  Herbs & Natural Supplements – an evidence based guide by Lesley Braun and Marc Cohen. 

Navigating the Festive Season

With Christmas just around the corner many of us are filling our diaries with parties, get togethers with friends, and social events with work colleagues.  There will be situations where you are faced with making good choices about what your are eating and drinking, and in some cases there won’t be good choices available.  Here’s a few strategies you can use to survive the party season without over indulging in food or alcohol. 

1. Eat and drink alcohol in moderation.  Seriously, it’s OK to do this. 
2. Remember  you can use the word ‘no’, as in, ‘no thank you, I don’t want another glass of wine/beer/alcopop/fruit juice/soft drink’, or ‘no thank you, I don’t want anything more to eat’. 

You’ll notice that I’ve included fruit juice and soft drink in this list, because these drinks can contain high amounts of sugar, therefore additional calories/kilojoules.  Choose sparkling mineral water, or if that isn’t available, soda water, or even plain water, at least some of the time. 

Some hosts become offended if you refuse to keep eating what they are offering, even when you have eaten enough.  It’s OK to say no, so don’t feel guilty about it or be pressured into eating when you don’t want to.

3. Avoid or limit high calorie food like deep fried finger food, crisps, cheese, crackers, and other snack foods.  A lot of snack food is just carbs and fat with salt.  Most places provide healthy dips and vege sticks – boring I know, but sometimes you got to limit the high calorie stuff.  

4. Don’t go to an event with food feeling hungry, or worse, ravenous.  This is a recipe for over-eating. 

5. Just because you’re at a buffet doesn’t have to mean you eat everything they offer.  Choose to eat a small amount of a few key items.  Make sure to include lots of greens (salad or steamed vegetables) and keep the starchy vegetables (potatoes, pumpkin) to a minimum.  Avoid gravies and similar sauces. 

6. If dessert is inevitable, then eat a small portion and savour every mouthful.  There’s 3 desserts I find irresistible, pavlova, crème brûlée and chocolate mouse.  I accept this, eat it, and get on with enjoying myself. 

Plan ahead if there is an irresistible dessert on offer.  Don’t go overboard on earlier courses.
Christmas often brings yummy things like mince pies, shortbread, cakes, and an abundances of sweets, chocolates and candies.  Decide on an achievable limit for these beforehand and stick to it.  No use saying that  you won’t eat any as this is often a set up for failure.  It’s OK to eat the odd treat now and again, just not everyday, or several times a day. 

7. Portion control.  This means not overloading your plate with food just because you can.  Some places give you a set portion, if it’s more than you usually eat, don’t clear the plate just because the food is there to be eaten.  Think about how much you usually eat, and keep portions to that size, or smaller.

8. There’s a lot to be said for eating slowly.  It’s (generally) not a competition to see who can eat the fastest.  Put your cutlery down between mouthfuls, engage in conversation, whatever it takes to slow down the movement of food from plate to mouth.  This gives  your stomach and digestive system time to register that food is there.

9. Plan ahead.  Try to avoid a 3 course lunch then a 3 course dinner.  If you have a 3 course lunch organised, then plan a light dinner, no dinner at all.  If you’re stuck with the worst case scenario, then remember you don’t have to eat if you’re not hungry.  It’s OK to refuse a course, or only eat part of a meal. 

10. When you’re not partying, remember to eat well – see the article on the wellness diet I wrote earlier.  If possible, eat well 5 or 6 days a week, and cut loose on the 6/7th.  Keep up with your exercise program.  Get plenty of sleep. 

11. Most importantly, don’t punish yourself if you do go overboard on food and/or alcohol.  Guilt can lead to over eating.  Accept what happened, and aim for healthier eating to redress the balance. 

12. If you do over indulge and are suffering the consequences, try herbal teas such as peppermint and/or chamomile, both are great for settling the digestive system.  Ginger is particularly effective for nausea, e.g suck on a piece of glace ginger, or have some ginger tea.  There is no magical cure for a hangover, just time, rest and lots of water.  Well, there are some herbs that may ease symptoms, but you still have to give your liver time to recover and process all that alcohol. 

Have a great Christmas and New year. 

Dearest Jems,

Merry Christmas, my dear and wonderful friend!  I hope you and your family have a happy and safe Christmas and a prosperous 2010.

This year has been a revealing and interesting year. As I have sat back and watched the earthly interplay from the cosmic influences I’ve been delighted and on occasion somewhat dismayed.

On a positive note, there have been many demonstrations of tenacity and the enduring human spirit that I am in awe of how some people continue to keep the faith when all of their life has been shattered.  We are surrounded by true heroes.  In that view, I feel so proud to be a human being living this spiritual existence.

I don’t want to fill our final column for 2009 with negativity and sour thoughts of the year past instead I would rather focus on the positive and enlightening moments during the final curtain call for this year.

Recently, during my trip to Sydney I became aware of the family pressure of gift giving.  Some folks were in a terrible state of anguish over the looming tasks of buying Christmas (and birthday) gifts.  It seemed to me that there was an immense pressure on them.

I slept on those messages and in the morning I approached my family and suggested that we stop buying gifts for the adults in the family.  Instead of presents we will ring each other for our birthdays or gather together for a meal and celebrate that person’s special day.

I offered that we continue to buy presents for our grandchildren.  And make sure that we catch up in person when time and opportunity permitted.

It was like a huge weight had been immediately lifted from them.  Now, we will endeavour to spread that suggestion to both sides of the family.  My final suggestion was, if you see something that a particular person would like and if it is in your heart then get that gift because your heart says, yes this is the perfect gift for that person.  But if it is not in your heart, then don’t succumb to the pressure of expectation.

Jem, I feel that a magical milestone has been reached in our family history.  We’ve planned to begin this new way of giving in 2010.  I feel relieved and joyful that the code of giving has reached a new level of understanding.

I believe that “expectation” is such an enormous pressure on all of us.  So many people are struggling to pay mortgages and trying to keep their heads above the financial tsunamis that continually devastate their lives.  People are working in jobs that taunt at their self-esteem and working with people who knife their colleagues in the back rather than whisper a kind word or an encouraging comment.  Why?  Is this the pursuit of happiness?  Or is it about expectation and the disempowering lingo of: I should; I could; or I would?

This year the festive season has highlighted to me the importance of spirit in our hearts.  If it is not in your heart then don’t do it!  If someone doesn’t treat you with respect then don’t tolerate it – if you don’t like someone for whatever reason then that is okay.  Of course I am not suggesting that we should be rude or obnoxious – but rather a polite withdrawal from their lives would be far more civilised.

My intent is to live more authentically has been a rocky road.  Jem, with each rock I turn over there seems to be another lesson to be learned.  I am grateful for those lessons but more than that, I am grateful that I have a family who listens to me, and a friend like you who hears me and responds with love and wisdom.

Thank you for your investment in the enduring spirit of our friendship.  And I look forward to seeing you next year – same place?

Peace and Love,

Jar

Season’s Greetings, JAR!

From the bottom of my heart I wish many bright and beautiful blessings to you and yours! This is a beautiful season, with so much happening at once, as the days get shorter and we approach the equinox. Even though December is a relatively long month, it goes by so quickly, with all the busy-ness of holiday preparation. I also find December to be a month that evokes depth and intensity of emotion. 
You are so right-on with your observation of the burden of buying gifts. Gifts are (or should be) the expression of a feeling felt, and not just a single handed attempt to keep the economy alive! Stuff, like thoughts, takes up a lot of space, which is really the most precious commodity. There is a sense of raw honesty that comes forth when there is no “stuff” to get between shared realities. Some relationships cannot survive that kind of exposure, and perhaps it is better that way!
As we get older, don’t you find that it feels so much better when we conserve our strength, resources, energy and time? I have always loved having opportunities to be generous. However, as I age, I am trying to find ways to use my energy and time sparingly, yet still harvest the maximum amount of returns. In my earlier years I was satisfied with the opposite. A Taoist teacher of mine told me years ago that during the early years of one’s life, the focus should be on expanding – reach out as far as you can go and develop the body and mind to their highest potential. The latter half of life is focused on drawing in and conserving energy, allowing the body and mind to ride the wave of immortality, which is a Taoist goal. It seems to be everyone’s goal, though, don’t you think – with all the focus on youth and warding off wrinkles and anything that suggests maturity?
There are toxic atmospheres, foods, drinks and definitely people – at times if I am in a situation that is particularly foul, I ask myself, ”If this was food, would I eat it?” If the answer is “no,” I find the nearest exit. I even feel this way about family members, which took quite some time to develop. During discussions via the grapevine, I can see where the drama leaks in, and how much time and energy is wasted on trivialities: “He said this, she said that”...who cares? I get disgusted at the pettiness that folks indulge in out of boredom or the need to watch others squirm.  It is then time to seek higher minded company.
I have been thinking of what type of gift would be suitable for you this Christmas. If I had a genii in a lamp, what I would ask for you is a mirror, and the ability to see: what a wonderful person you are, how much love and talent you possess, and how much good you are capable of doing for your fellow human beings. I would probably also ask for an endless supply of good quality chocolate that had no calories. 

Happy Holidays my Dear Friend!

Love and Blessings,
JEM