"Women's spirituality is one of the richest and most dynamic forces
in modern Paganism. Women are respected in all Pagan traditions
and have enriched Paganism with a powerful vision of the Goddess
- the long-ignored feminine aspect of the Divine. In Paganism, women
are Priestesses in their own right, strong and proud, with their
own vision."
I think paganism can play an important role in our world today as the world is badly in need of healing in terms of environmental crisis and unfair treatment of women in many places. As the website says, "Women's traditions have an especially powerful vision of the Earth as the Goddess and are deeply involved with caring for the Earth and protecting her from the rape of modern civilization. They are concerned with the healing of the Earth and with the healing of the image of women." It is about time for women to reclaim their true identity as goddesses and let their spiritual light shine in imparting wisdom and healing, even as humanity is awakening to our oneness and interconnectedness with one another.
It reminds me of a similar post I came across in a blog recently about the power, beauty and divinity of women.
"We all come from the same mother (the Great Mother). She is the
wise woman. We all return to her embrace, her bloody-rich
womb place, when we die. Every woman is a whole/holy form of
her, able to be whole/holy mother of all life, able to be
whole/holy destroyer of life. Her power is her blood that
flows and flows, her blood which is life and gives life. Every woman’s
menstrual blood and birth-time blood is a holy mystery.
....
The purpose of this post is to shed light on our power, our beauty, and our divinity. We are not vessels of sin. We are not unclean. We are not lesser. We are not cursed. We are not weak. We are the direct opposite of all of these things. Embrace YOU. Love YOU. Appreciate the divinity and uniqueness of divine womanhood."
"One thing that's been very
useful for me is to start working my neuroplasticity toward the most
natural state the brain can be in by spending more time being fully
present. This is sort of a master key for overcoming ALL psychiatric
issues."
I googled about neuroplasticity, and learnt that it is about the brain's
ability to form new neural connections, which can be beneficial if
stimulated correctly, according to the following website.
I
think, like what the person shared, practising mindfulness and being in
the present moment can help our brain to overcome any distressing
symptom. Studies have shown this to be evident: http://chipur.com/2011/04/12/the-hope-of-neuroplasticity/
"Well, the discovery story goes like this. Dr. Schwartz revisited an
interest in the Buddhist concept of mindfulness; a clear-minded,
in-the-present-moment, self-observational technique that emphasizes
viewing oneself without criticism or judgment.
Schwartz discovered that when OCD
patients practiced mindfulness meditation (as a CBT technique), upon
experiencing distressing symptoms, a significant number of them reported
measurable improvement and relief.
Schwartz wanted to understand why. So he and his team examined PET
scans administered before and after a course of CBT. Guess what? They
found activity in one of the brain’s OCD-significant areas, the
orbitofrontal cortex, decreased significantly. Furthermore, the observed
decrease was about the same as what would be noted after antidepressant
therapy."
Being human, I tend to forget about practising mindfulness or living
in the present moment, since living in the modern society requires us
to multi-task in life, so I think having reminders, such as reading
about meditation and inspirational quotes about our oneness with God/the
universe, is useful for me to remember to take a deep breath, smile
inwardly and be fully present once again.
Natural News website has a good summary of nutritional supplements that may be beneficial to those who are gluten-intolerant.
Glutamine also serves as a source of fuel for the cells lining the
intestine and can promote healing in these cells when they are damaged
by gluten.
Probiotics are live bacteria that improve the intestinal microbial
balance and enhance overall health. They are the "good" bacteria found
in the gastrointestinal track. Inflammation or toxins in the gut can
disrupt the balance between "good" and "bad" bacteria. Probiotics may be
taken to restore a healthy balance and assist in the removal of toxins
created by gluten insensitivity or celiac disease. In addition, a
preventative dose of probiotics is a good idea as these microbes promote
immune health, and they are frequently absent in modern diets
Omega 3 fatty acids are comprised of the fatty acids EPA and DHA and are
found in fish and fish oil supplements. These essential fats are not
made by the body and must be eaten or taken in supplement form to ensure
the body's adequate functioning. In addition to reducing inflammation,
these fats help to support healthy heart, brain, skin, and bone function
Digestive enzymes aid the body in digesting and breaking down proteins,
fats, and carbohydrates. Digestive enzymes from either animal or plant
sources should be taken an empty stomach, 20 minutes before meals or
snacks. Enzymes help break down food into forms that the body can use.
Anti-inflammatory herbal formulas can help reduce inflammation and
promote healing. Look for herbs like turmeric, aloe vera, ginger, and
boswellia in formulas or by themselves as a part of your healing regime.
My family has been buying mainly canola oil for cooking for the past year or so, as it is commonly sold in supermarkets and labelled as healthy.
Recently, I came to find out that canola oil isn't as healthy as it is claimed to be.
Natural News website has a video on it (as shown in below link). The Health Ranger recommends natural healthy oils, such as:
- coconut oil
- extra virgin olive oil
- avocado oil
- flaxseed oil (to be used in moderation though, as cautioned in this website)
- peanut oil
Fats That Can Be Safely Heated Butter and tropical fats - coconut, palm, palm kernel, cocoa, and shea
nut - are safest for frying, because they contain only small quantities
of Essential Fatty-Acids ( EFA's ). The saturated fatty acids contained
in these fats / oils are inert and therefore heat stable. Heat does not
destroy
them in the same way it destroys EFAs. Butter and tropical Fats are best
used unhydrogenated. Only small amounts should be eaten, as they are
sticky,
hard, saturated fatty acid-containing fats.
(most oils and fats once high heated become carcinogens . - LRU)
Tropical oils got a bad reputation for increasing cholesterol and
triglyceride levels that supposedly cause cardiovascular disease. An
unconfirmed rumor
suggests that the soy bean industry financed the successful campaign
against tropical fats to kill imports and increase soy bean sales.
Tropical oils
used in their country of origin have been shown in several studies to
decrease cholesterol levels. The difference in results may be due to
several causes:
deterioration in tropical oils during storage ( oxidation; processing
hydrogenation ) ; differing experimental design; or a combination of the
above. Raw tropical
oils are rich sources of vitamin E and tocotrienols, which help protect
arteries from damage leading to cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Olive
oil
imported from Italy is safe for baking but not for frying or deep
frying. Buy only imported Italian olive oil as it is cold processed by
law.
Before you read the following article, here is
a summary of a few facts regarding Canola Oil:
It is genetically engineered rapeseed.
Canada paid the FDA the sum of $50 million to have rape seed registered and
recognized as "safe". (Source: Young Again and others)
Rapeseed is a lubricating oil used by small industry. It has never been
meant for human consumption.
It is derived from the mustard family and is considered a toxic and
poisonous weed, which when processed, becomes rancid very quickly.
It has been shown to cause lung cancer (Wall Street Journal: 6/7/95)
It is very inexpensive to grow and harvest. Insects won't eat it.
Some typical and possible side effects include loss of vision, disruption
of the central nervous system, respiratory illness, anemia, constipation,
increased incidence of heart disease and cancer, low birth weights in infants
and irritability.
Generally rapeseed has a cumulative effect, taking almost 10 years before
symptoms begin to manifest. It has a tendency to inhibit proper metabolism
of foods and prohibits normal enzyme function. Canola is a Trans Fatty
Acid, which has shown to have a direct link to cancer. These Trans Fatty
acids are labeled as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Avoid all of
them!
According to John Thomas' book, Young Again, 12 years ago in England
and Europe, rape seed was fed to cows, pigs and sheep who later went blind
and began attacking people. There were no further attacks after the rape
seed was eliminated from their diet.
Someone commented in this website:
"Monied interests truly run the show behind the scenes of the food
industry. And health authorities, with their gleaming mantel of official
legitimacy, are like the sleazy patrons of these slimy corporate
mercenaries...kind of reminds one of those bad old days where the rich
and powerful hold sway over the minds and lives of the common folk."
Someone in this blog wrote: "I don't know what you'll be cooking with tonight, but I'll be using olive oil or the very healthy alternative Coconut oil."
On a similar note, I can relate to a testimony shared by someone in this website Danger In The Kitchen:Is Canola Oil Bad For You? because I too had experienced knee joint pains occasionally, especially in the past few years. I have stopped buying canola oil since, although the knee joint pains somehow continue to occur occasionally, perhaps less frequently than before - I am suspecting the knee joint pains could be due to long-term fluoride ingestion from toothpastes and mouthwash, but that's another blog for now.
I would like to relate my personal experience after using canola oil
for over 10 years. My wife and I love popcorn and 5 nights a week we
would pop the corn and enjoy our treat using canola oil because it said
had no cholesterol.
After many years of using canola oil I had noticed yellow in the whites
of my eyes and was concerned as the yellow indicates a liver issue. I am
not a drinker nor do I abuse my body, my motto is to be moderate in all
things including moderation. In the spring of 2002, I could barely walk
as my knees were very inflamed. The inflammation started in my right
knee and 3 weeks later my left knee. Going up stairs was so painful I
wanted to cry. Some days were worse than others. In the fall of 2004 I
was taking a medical course and the doctor presenting the course ask as a
side note if anyone was using canola oil? He suggested anyone using the
oil to change as canola oil blocks the function of the liver and causes
the toxins to backup. These toxins would cause inflammation to the
joints of the body as our body tries to clear those toxins. At the time I
did not know want kind of oil we used. I called my wife and she told me
we used canola oil and sure enough when I got home that night I found a
gallon bottle in our cabinet. I changed our use that night and over the
next 3 weeks my knee issues went away. It took 3 months for the yellow
in the whites of my eyes to clear. To this day, I ask whenever I am at a
restaurant what kind of oil they use. Sometimes I am served something
cooked in canola oil and my knees will ache for the next 3 days. Another
thing I have noticed, if served canola oil, I will have intestinal gas
after 30 to 40 minutes of digestion. I am watchful of any food prepared
with canola oil.
Earlier this year I went so far as to write the Canola oil board in
Canada, the Ministry of health in Canada as well as the FDA asking for
copies of any long term human studies. I was informed there have been no
long term studies.
Last month I was on a Celebrity cruise ship and asked the top chef what
kind of oil they use as I have problems with canola oil and cannot use
it. He stated to me they will not use canola oil as it causes joint
problems. I was very surprised to hear that from him and asked where he
got his information? He stated with as many senior people on the ships,
they had many complaints and will not use the oil.
Here's
sharing some information I came across just
now about the health benefits of okra (lady's fingers) - a type of
vegetable. It grows in the tropics, though I think it is available for
sale in temperate countries like Canada. It is beneficial especially for
those with blood type A, B or O.
I googled about it and found supporting information about the health benefits of okra:
"3. Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative
qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools.
This helps prevent and improve constipation. Unlike harsh wheat bran,
which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage
soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its
slippery characteristic.
"Okra
is rich in fiber, nearly half of which is soluble fibre in the forms of
gums and pectins. This type of fibre helps to lower serum cholesterol,
reducing the risk of heart disease. The other half its fiber is the
insoluble form that helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy,
decreasing the risk of some types of cancer, especially colorectal
cancer." http://sillyfunnycrazy.blogspot.com/2007/12/benefit-of-eating-okra-ladys-finger.html#
Constipation may be caused by insufficient intake of water, as well as side effects of drugs or supplements, such as iron supplements.
Some remedies that I have tested and tried to be effective include: 1. Drinking plenty of water, especially in the earlier part of the day (morning and early afternoon)
2. Getting sufficient exercise - walking, and doing abdominal exercises can help strength the muscles necessary to empty the bowel without much straining
6. Chewing food slowly and thoroughly where possible
I learnt that it is important to chew food slowly and thoroughly where possible when eating a meal.
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/This-Cure-For-Constipation-Will-Amaze-You/388195
"When you chew, your brain sends signals to your stomach and intestines that food is on the way. Your body can prepare itself for everything it will need to properly digest the food you eat. By giving your system a head start, the food you eat is better absorbed and digested.This passes the food more effectively and efficiently through your body. The more nutrients absorbed from the food you eat, the less fat that is absorbed for later use."
7. Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables
eg papayas, guavas, bananas, cucumbers, grapes, green apples (with skin intact)
I also remember that some fruits, such as guava and papaya, can be very effective to help relieve symptoms of constipation. Ripe guavas with soft flesh are especially effective (raw ones can be hard to chew, so should be avoided) - there were times I ate a ripe guava after lunch, and the next day, I experienced bowel movement quite easily. The high fibre content provides roughage for the colon and rectum to release the stool more easily.
I have also checked that guava, cucumber, grapes, apples with green skin intact, papayas and bananas are suitable for people with blood type B. These foods are high in fibre, and helps maintain the health of your digestive system naturally, and without having gluten allergy side effects.
Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood
Anemia
Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function
Constipation and Diarrhea
Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.
8. Taking natural supplements, such prune juice, psyllium husk
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-psyllium-husk.html
"Psyllium is quickly becoming one of the top recommendations for people using low-carb Atkins-style diets. It is very difficult to get enough fibre in a diet when you eliminate the carbohydrates in cereals, whole grains and fruits. Psyllium capsules are an easy way to take care of this problem. It fills you with fibre, reducing appetite without overstimulating the nervous system; a much healthier approach than formulas containing ephedra such as Herbalife or Metabolife."
I remember I took the supplement in powder form with water - I would poured one small satchet of psyllium husk into a glass of water, and stir it to mix well with water. Then I would drink it completely. Sometimes I would drink another glass of water after that. There were times the bowel movement occurred shortly, within half an hour. Other times, there was no immediate response, so I simply continued to drink lots of water (8-10 or more glasses of water) during the day, and then tried taking the supplement again the next day, for the bowel to clear naturally on its own. I tried to minimise straining where possible, and let it happen naturally with the help of deep breathing.
I also remember drinking prune juice which I bought from the supermarket - I used to drink a glass of prune juice every day or every other day, besides drinking plenty of water, and it helps to facilitate a relatively smooth bowel movement - sometimes the day after.
Prune juice is also suitable for people of blood type B. For some reason, the website below discourages people from drinking coconut milk. On the other hand, it lists papaya and banana as beneficial for people of blood type B. http://curezone.com/ER4YT/fruit.asp
9. Taking probiotics
Here's sharing some information on this Neobiotics probiotics that I have been taking every other day - I find that it is quite effective in maintaining regular bowel movement too.
"The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of
being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter
one of the most creative periods of my life. During the next five
years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and
fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went
on to create the world's first computer animated feature film, Toy
Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world.
In
a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple,
and the techology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's
current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.
I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I haven't been
fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient
needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose
faith.
I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers.
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way
to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the
only way to do great work is to love what you do."
I
have been reading up on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and
its aftermath, and how many common people suffered from exposure to
radiation, due to insufficient warnings from the relevant authorities
about the dangers of radiation from the exploded nuclear power plant. I
too felt their hurt and anger, and grieved with the families over the
loss of their loved ones. It was kinda distressing reading such reports,
and I discovered that a small ulcer had developed on my tongue recently
due to emotional stress and work fatigue.
I learnt that splitting
atoms can release huge amounts of heat energy, as well as radioactive
materials as by-products, which are harmful to health and the
environment. They also have long half-lifes, so they will remain for a
long time in the environment for hundreds of years.
If that is so, do you think people should split atoms? Is that a violation of nature because atoms are supposed to be whole?
Splitting an atom apart is like splitting the universe apart because the atom is like a replica of the universe.
On
another level, I think a split atom is like a person with a split
personality (or split identity). Both release negative energy, which can
be harmful to oneself and others.
To
me, I think splitting atoms is perhaps like trying to clone humans or
creating a Jurassic Park, with the knowledge that the consequences can
be tragic or disastrous if things go awfully wrong.
Just like the
raptors and T-Rex in a Jurassic Park may be harmless as long as they are
confined within safe boundaries but become extremely dangerous when
released from their captivity, the nuclear power plants producing
radioactive materials and extreme heat can also become extremely
dangerous and hazardous to health and the environment if things go
wrong, whether due to human error, natural disasters, terrorism or
sabotage.
THOUGHTS FOR LIFE January 7 (Extracts from the book, ‘God Believes in You′ by Francois du Toit)
Fundamentally,
all matter in the universe is made up of tiny separate particles called
atoms. The nucleus of the atom is basically a tiny sound wave,
electrically charged, and vibrating spontaneously and continuously. A
million times a million atoms make too small a lump to see, but with
powerful microscopes we probe into this near-invisible world to unveil
its secrets. We discover fascinating reflections of distance, energy and
movement that mirror outer space. On scale, the distance between a
whirling electron and the nucleus it revolves around within the atom, is
further than the distance between the earth and the sun. (220 million
kilometres!) Just when we hope to finally calculate the electron, it too
breaks down into energy vibrations that blink in and out of our view
millions of times per second.
Creation declares his handiwork! We are his workmanship! Jer.1:5, Ps 139:16, Eph 2:10.
I
also find the Nobel laureate and scientist Max Planck's findings
interesting, such as "All matter originates and exists only by virtue of
a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds the
most minuscule solar system of the atom, together... This mind is the
matrix of all matter." It makes me think how the atom is a reflection of
the solar system, as the protons, neutrons and the vast space
surrounding them resembles the vast space surrounding the stars and
planets in the universe.
Just as the atom can be seen as a
reflection of the universe, and we are also the universe, the atom might
be a picture of ourselves - our bodies are made of atoms. My
take on this is that scientists should never split an atom in order to
obtain nuclear energy or to cause an atomic explosion, because when an
atom is split, great amount of heat and radioactive energy are released,
which are harmful to living organisms, like plants, animals and human
beings.
Similarly, a split atom is like a person with
split identity - someone who is under an illusion of separation, who
does not accept one's dark and light sides. So just as a split atom
released negative energy that harms people, a person with split identity
tends to release negative energy which can harm oneself and others too,
when the shadow self manifests unexpectedly, due to prolonged
repression and rejection of one's self.
Someone said:
"The greatest sin to humanity is we think it is a sin to be human.
The
greatest problem facing humanity isn't war, sickness, racism, hate,
sin, or even death, the greatest problem facing humanity is we have a
problem being human."
I think this describes the root
of the war, hatred, etc that we see in the world today - it's because
humans have problems being humans, thinking there is something wrong
with themselves, that "it is a sin to be human", causing them to reject
or hate themselves, which in turn causes them to hate or reject others.
It began with having a split self, not feeling or experiencing
wholeness. As mentioned earlier, it's like what happens to a split atom -
it releases huge amounts of heat and radioactivity - similarly,
humanity that is at war with oneself is like a split atom - they release
negative energy which harms oneself and others.
Hopefully,
people will realise that not only it is important for people to accept
and love and embrace their whole self to experience inner peace, they
will also learn that nuclear energy or nuclear bombs is not the solution
- they should consider other alternatives like solar or wind energy,
and other options to make peace with other countries, such as finding
peace in themselves and their own country first.
I believe inner peace comes by knowing our true identity - we are created in the image of God, who is Love. We can awaken to the divinity within our humanity.
We are gods. When we love ourselves, we are loving God. When we take care of our bodies and stay in good health, we take care of His temple.
How others see us reflects how they see themselves. We are all one. We can see the world through the lens of God's grace.
With inner peace, we have world peace.
The following quotes are also enlightening and promotes peace with oneself and others:
"In the light of
his vision he has found his
freedom: his
thoughts are peace, his
words are peace and his
work is peace." -
Dhammapada
"I was heartened on the summit between
leaders of Islam and Buddhism. Our world situation is so divided that
we need dialogue that reminds
us that we are connected not just by
economics but
spiritually and
morally as well.
We all rely on the
Earth and each
other for our survival.
As the Dalai Lama
has said, "If you see
yourself in others, then whom can you
harm?"
I
hope political and community
leaders will join these
spiritual visionaries to
wake up the people of
Earth to the fact that what happens to anyone
of us happens to
us all. When we can see these connections and act in the interests of and
compassion for
others, the Earth will be a safer place for
us and for future generations." - Laura
Hunter
If you can detach yourself from
all worldly worries, You will live in the rapture of
Eternity's garden. If you purify yourself
with the holy water of abstinence, The murkiness of your heart will
change into clear light. If you can separate yourself from
the house of desires, You will come into
the sanctuary of Divine Majesty.
In the heart of the ocean of
Unity, you're not A pearl that any
worldly money can buy; If you're brave enough not to grovel in the
dust, You can find a home in the heights of
heaven. If you dive now headfirst into
profound contemplation, You can
dissolve all the past debts of destiny. Doing such things are the sign of
the real seeker The signs of
fire of those who race along the
Path. - Rumi
I am Peace
surrounded by Peace,
secure in Peace.
Peace protects me.
Peace supports me.
Peace is in me.
Peace is mine--All is well. Peace to all beings
Peace among all beings.
Peace from all beings.
I am steeped in Peace,
absorbed in Peace.
In the streets, at work, at home,
having peaceful thoughts,
speaking peaceful words,
offering peaceful acts.
I think the article is one of the best medical or health advice I have come across so far as it is holistic and balanced. Most health practitioners tend to emphasise on eating well physically, while most spiritual gurus tend to emphasise on eating well spiritually, but Pythagoras is wise by advocating a moderation or balance of both physical and spiritual feeding, which would benefit both the physical body, our temple of God, as well as our souls, including our emotional and spiritual well-being.
