Chrysanthemum Tea

 I have joined a Tai Chi class that meets thrice weekly in the park by my youngest grandkids' school. I've been doing Qigong in the park while my grandkids play a little while after their morning school time, then a friend invited me to join the group practice. 

It's been lovely to revisit the Yang Long form, which I first learned nearly 40 years ago, during my massage training. My mentor suggested Tai Chi as a life long practice, and way you learn good ergonomics. She was so right! 

A week or so ago, the friend who invited me brought me this lovely treat Tea Pot and flowering tea from Numi! I often steep tea in a glass tea cup with matching strainer - but this provides such an elegant experience! Each tea "ball" can be stepped several times, and I often as some of my own tea leaves for additional batches.

Tea pot and flowering tea

This little of year I'm often dreaming about new varieties for my garden, and was pleased to find Bo Jo Hua Chrysanthemum tea plants at my friend Melissa's Van Hevlingen Herb booth at the Farmers Market! She had two varieties, which bloom in the late fall like otter Mums. Bo Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum morifolium) doesn't set reliable seed, so is only available as plants - I'm excited to add these to my garden! 

I found several blog posts about these plants and the flowers, which support the liver, eye health, and are good for the heart, type 2 diabetes and easing headaches (Sage Garden Theory) on a Growing Tradition, Thomas recounted his search for the plants and success. 

Bo Jo Hua Chrysanthemum

Melissa said the plants bloom on Halloween, and into November. The flowers are first collected mid day, and dried then stored. I think they will be lovely to steep in the little round pot! 

Full moon Land Tuning

 Tree spirit

Since last week's Angel Cafe on 11/22 with Aisling Mooney and 21 practitioners, I've been reengaged with my own essence friends! 

Thank you, essence guides Sara Estelle Turner and Aislng Irwin for sharing your gifts, and my friend Alessandro for inviting me to participate! (I signed up for Alessandro's complementary month with his online Qigong group!)

I pulled out essences and definitions to concoct several "bouquets" to help my grandkids focus on their schoolwork, as I'm Distant Learning Aide for the 3rd graders. They helped choose flowers from my suggestions, and named their bouquets. Today we tested them for the first time ...

I checked definitions in several books, including Molly Sheehan's Green Hope Farm Essences guide. This evening, I reread the section on her trips to Ireland and essences she created while there. During her visit in 2005, she had a chat with the elementals* shortly before she left, asking why they had been so supportive of her work.

They replied, "We steady this planet. We steady out emerald island. Most often, we steady against the imprecations of humans, but we find in this project, humans working to steady the planet with us. We thank you one and all for working with the Flower Essences and working to both balance yourself and your worlds. We need you. We need you most intently right now." 

The went on to talk about water coming, flooding (and as we have seen in the last 15 years, other earth changes!) And invited humans to step up and help 'Steady.'

"What do we mean by steadying? Your efforts to find balance in your lives matter." 

They go on to clarify that while our "ecological footprint" is out of balance, "the most pressing need is for you to work on your emotional footprint... You must stop leaving your emotional chaos littering the natural world. You must invite us to clear the land you inhabit."

Mountain Cascade - Joshua Fender©

The Elementals then asked Molly to put her basic process for Land Cleansing (or "Tuning") after their message in the guide. 

"You may think that your contribution to this effort would not make any difference. You would be wrong in this. We were interested in Molly's farm, small though it is, because, in part, the routine energetic cleansing done at this garden has helped in a significant way. .

"We speak in a united voice with our brethren Elementals of the new world when we speak of the significance of energetic cleansing. ... If you want to begin a deeper relationship by helping us in some way, doing any variation of the following process would be much appreciated. 

"Green Blessings."

I share this process with Molly's enthusiastic permission. Like the Irish Elementals, Molly feels the more people who do this in harmony with the guides of their bit of land, the better! She has had several experiences where bad weather was avoided or diverted, after being nudged by the angels to do this clearing every day.  

During the wildfires in September, I did this clearing daily for both my bit of land, and remotely for my beloved Breitenbush Hot Springs. Though much burned, including Vista where I offered massage, and the Sanctuary where I taught Tai Chi and Qigong, much was saved.

Molly comments that the guides & devas delight in being asked to help us. She & others who are sensitive to land energies feel that nature holds & stores energy that has been released when there are intense emotions, battles, etc. And when we ask, "A group of spiritual entities connected with Nature do the actual energy cleansing but this group cannot do this work unless a human asks them to do it. It is one of our vital roles in the co-creation & maintenance of earth. If a human doesn't ask for energy cleansing for a piece of land & this land is holding a lot of negativity, spirit's only options for removing this negativity are extreme weather."

Here's the Process Molly & I use:
** Imagine the boundaries of the land you wish to clear (you may want to have a map of your property, if it's larger, & may be guided to clear it in sections. If you're in an apartment, clear your own space, imagining the grounding cord of the apt going into the earth below you, & clear the land surrounding the apt. Invite guidance for what best suites your circumstances!

Energy Cleansing Process
Find a quiet & comfortable place to center yourself. In the beginning, you'll want to be in the garden/ on the land you're clearing.
"Ask for assistance from:
The Overlighting Deva of the piece of land you want to clean. This being from the Angelic realm holds the divine plan for this piece of land. (Deva is a Sanskrit word meaning 'being of Light')
Angels Overlighting the land. They work with the Deva
The Elementals of the land. These are the beings who bring land into form & then hold it there so we can live in a physical world. Gnomes for the Earth element, Undine with water, Sylphs work with air, & Salamanders with fire.
Pan, Head Elemental of Earth (Machaelle Wright calls Pan the CEO of Nature)
Any Ascended Master of God realized being who is connected with this piece of land. There may or may not be any connected, depending on the piece of land. (You can always invite the presence of the Ascended Master Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Quan Yin, St Germain, & other Masters with whom you you feel connected.)
Deva of the Earth's atmosphere, Lunaria
Deva of the Earth's surface, Sapphalo
Deva of the sun in the center of the Earth, Darndella
Our Sun, Helios & Vesta.After you call in this group, ask them to CLEANSE, CLEAR, RE-BALANCE & ILLUMINATE the land you are clearing.

Photo© - Marilyn Affolter, Amity OR

Molly: 'You can visualize all the negativity being removed from the land both below & above the ground. You can visualize yourself or an angel holding a sword (Michael/Michaella) cutting all the negativity free, perhaps spinning in a circle holding the sword out; or you can imagine a big gyroscope whirling & cleansing. 

"The image only needs to work for you. If visualization isn't possible, it's OK. The land will still be cleansed because you have asked to have it done. Close the session with a thanks to everyone involved.

"This is the bare bones of a process. Over time you will probably develop your own individual approach. For example, you may get to know the names of the Deva & Angels of the land. You may get shown a process that will improve on this one. You may get asked to do several pieces of land. Thank you for doing this service."

Violet Flame

** I also like to imagine a hedge of roses (think Brier Rose) with portals of violet flame at the entrances, clearing folks' energy as they enter or leave. At times I erect a golden pyramid above my property (rectangular here :) or a violet bubble - check in & see if any images come!

Any time you feel vulnerable, are concerned about weather or safety, take a few moments to do this process. You can check in to see how often to tune your land - I strive for several times a week, and uusually walk pour my back door, do the invocation, and within a few moments, feel a frisson.

It helps to have quick name for the process - you may simply invite 'Devas, Angels & guides of this place, please CLEANSE, CLEAR, RE-BALANCE & ILLUMINATE this land!' And when you feel the process is complete, thank them.

* Besides clearing my own land, I often invite the Devas/guides of the city where I live (or someplace I'm visiting) to CLEANSE, CLEAR, RE-BALANCE & ILLUMINATE  that place, as appropriate.

I reason that any place humans can toss litter, I can invite the guides to help clear! I especially see the 'green areas' being cleared, parks, the planting strips & flower pots in the downtown, etc. Molly invites us to listen to our guidance, & network with the devas, guides & elementals on this! 

My friend Gwynne Warner practices Feng Shui, and writes, "this is the 10th Lunar month, the "kindly moon" in Chinese tradition," she invite us to "go outside beneath the luminous night sky, and make an offering of gratitude to the moon herself. A prostration or a bow. A song or a dance. A cup of tea poured into the earth. A fresh flows blossom laid on the earth. Then speak your blessing: 

'Beauteous moon, I know you are here! I am so deeply happy and grateful for your presence in my life.' 

I am making Land Tuning my daily practice for this 10th lunar month - the Elementals ask me to invite you to join us, "it will be of the highest service, and prepares the way for the next shifts and integration! Your help is needed - Thank you." 

12 Days of Fitness Challenge - WE DID I!!

We did it!!

Catherine Basu has been hosing a 12 Days  fitness challenge! Here's the link to the Facebook group! The official challenge began Chrismas Day, but some folks began later, and are sill going

Catherine encourages us to move a bit more each day, 'Even if it's just a 10 minute walk!'

I began my morning with Qigong, and a little bit of Edgu, 'spinal maintenance' which originated with my friend Jeffery 'Page' Redmond, who teaches seminars at Breitenbush. I've never taken the seminar, but have taken quite a few Edgu classes! Basically - the posture is a wide 'Jockey stance' with the hips stable, while your spine/core moves. I love 'carrying plates' with forearms at hip level, gently twisting side to side, & the figure 8s of the Sun & Moon mobius - here's a little video from a teacher in Eugene, Nancy Hopps.
Since 'best times' for Qigong are 5-7 (AM or PM) & 11-1, I did one round at the earlier time, & one at the end of the day, after my nice Epsom Salts bath!

I've been preparing for a Reiki Level 1 Class for a month or so, since a couple of friends attended the Body Mind Spirit Expo, & scheduled sessions with a gal who integrates Reiki into her work. When we talked about learning, they were game for a class, so I put one together! I invited people who had already taken Reiki 1 to refresh or 'audit' the class, we had 5 students & 5 gals auditing. WHAT A LOT OF ENERGY!

Yesterday was THE DAY for that as well, & so we moved massage tables, & got some stair exercise (I parked out front, there's a SHORT flight of stairs to the room we were using; friends bringing the other tables used the elevator)

So - what's Reiki?

In the West, we use the word 'Reiki' to denote a healing system, generally 'hands on,' but also just off the body or 'sending' over distance of space & even time. I've utilized it for myself & in my bodywork practice for over 25 years, & it both energizes me & enhances my work.

The founder of our Modern Reiki System, Mikao Usui didn't use this term, his teachings were more commonly called 'Usui Do' (the Way of Usui) and the healings 'Usui teate' or Usui's form of hands-on healing. Later, the word Reiki was added or substituted, to signify the system utilized spiritual energy.

In Chinese, the same two kanji are used for 'Ling Chi'  
"Ling Chi is the subtlest and most highly refined of all the energies in the human system and the product of the most advanced stage of a practice, whereby the ordinary energy of the body are transformed into pure spiritual vitality. This type of highly refined energy enhances spiritual awareness, improves all cerebral functions, and constitutes the basic fuel for the highest level of spiritual work." (Ling Gung: Harnessing the Power of the Universe - Daniel Reid)

Congratulations to the other Fitness Bloggers - let's keep in touch!!
& thanks, Catherine, for helping get 2014 off to a great beginning!

12 Days of Fitness Challenge - Day 11

Getting close to the finish line on Catherine Basu's 12 Days  fitness challenge! Here's the link to the Facebook group! Catherine encourages us to move a bit more each day, 'Even if it's just a 10 minute walk!'

Another moderate day for exercise - I did my 5 Element Qigong when I woke up, then self-Reiki .... walked a bit here & there - at the Farmers Market (indoors) lugged 2 massage tables to my car (from our clinic & my daughter's garage), strolled here & there making copies ...

It was a LOVELY sunny day, and would have been great to take a REAL walk, but I was busy collating the handouts I'd written & printed/ copied, making up the Flower Essence 'bouquets' for participants, & doing my last bits of gathering for class TOMORROW!

It's been awhile since I've taught a group, generally working with one or two students in my office... so really want to support everyone having a good experience, & having the tools they need!

Tomorrow's day 12 - what do you have planned? I'll be slogging supplies, massage tables, a screen ... & teaching Reiki I!!

Catherine has a sweet virtual class in the offing ...

12 Days of Fitness Challenge - Day 8

Happy NEW YEAR!! What a good beginning

Catherine Basu in Texas is hosting a fitness challenge - here's the link to the Facebook group - though we're more than halfway through - there's always room  for one more - please join us for a Last Day of 2013 Workout! 'Even if it's just a 10 minute walk!'

After a sweet, rather quiet dinner & fireside gathering with a few friends last night, I woke up before 7, so did my 5 Directions Qigong, & then did Self-Reiki for ~ half an hour before getting up .... well & good.

I was having a nice, lazy morning, & just finished a bowl of Hopping John / Skipping Jenny New Years soup, when my daughter sent a Text - "Free Cindy's (Gym) class 11-1" .... it was 10:58!!! She'd just found out from a friend who is one of the instructors an hour before, & was dashing home from their Family N. Y. eve party with other friends with kids, to change & get to class!! "Sampler Classes, each 20 minutes long." 

.... so ...

I also changed into gym friendly garb, & walked over (6 blocks) and got in all but the first `5 minutes!!

Zumba Girls

Zumba (2 instructors), weights, spinning, aerobics, more Zumba, & a nice bit of stretching & cool down.  Whew!! My daughter & were both tired by the end, but smiling!! The Gym has just been purchased by one of the gals who taught Zumba, wonderful promotional!!

I got home, & was eating lunch (the rest of my bowl of soup, plus a nice green salad) when I got a text from my NY eve Hostess: "Have you gotten your exercise for the day? I'm  thinking to get out & get mine soon and would go to Airport Park if you want to go. Otherwise I will go for a bike ride."

.... So....

I changed into jeans, got my dog's leash, & we went for a nice hour long walk with my friends around the trails (they were impressed I didn't get my new white shoes TOO muddy!!)

Whew!!

I took my magnesium, & another Epsom salt bath sounds nice, after (Gluten Free) Pizza & movie night with my Daughter & her Family! 

12 Days of Fitness Challenge - Day 6

Catherine Basu in Texas is hosting a fitness challenge - here's the link to the Facebook group - though we're halfway through the challenge, there's always room for one more - please join us!! This is a nice way to get a head start on those intentions for the New Year, which often include eating better, getting in shape ...

Today I went to work!
Now, probably most of us went to work in some way, in an office, at home with kids ....

I'm a massage therapist.
Most working days, I'm with my toddler grandkids in the morning, then go to my office & see clients in the afternoon, so on a 'good day' I generally see 2 or 3 clients. Today I had five sessions, back to back (15 minute breaks), two of the sessions were 90 minutes; total: 6 hours of massage. I generally schedule a longer break midday, at least 1/2 hour - but our receptionist scheduled the last 2 before thinking of that ... kind co-workers had extra snacks (inc a great green smoothie!)

Years ago, we were told that offering massage ranked up with professional dance in terms of energy spent. And a calorie counter suggests I burned ~ 1450 calories doing those 5 sessions ....

My massage mentor had polio as an adult, & stressed we MTs need to have good body dynamics - or ergonomics - whenever we perform sessions. I took my first Tai Chi class at her (strong) suggestion, as she felt the principles of movement in that form would translate well to massage - & it does!
I bend my knees, & take a wider stance, rather than bending my back. I use my body weight for deeper work (especially when I'm offering Ashiatsu 'barefoot' massage)

During one of my breaks today, I did one round of the Cherokee (Tsalagi) Dance of Life /Dance to the Directions. I learned this in a workshop combining Cherokee & Buddhist teachings ~ 18 years ago, & as the commentary explains, it looks like Tai Chi or Qigong!

12 Days Fitness Challenge - Day 4

Catherine Basu in Texas is hosting a fitness challenge - here's the link to the Facebook group - though we're several days into the challenge, there's always room for one more - please join us!!

Today was another Qigong day. I did three Palms Rising and 5-Element Standing Stake, about 10 minutes. Plus strolling around our Farmer's Market, getting wonderful OG kale, Collards (for Hoppin' John New Year's soup), parsley, squash, apples, & then a pasture raised (no grain!) leg of lamb.

It was also our second family Christmas party, with my son & his family, niece & her daughter at my daughter Mary's home. I completed my knitting project for my son; this pair of fingerless gloves (knit earlier in the week) & the Jacques Cousteaus hat, which I finished yesterday! It took awhile to get the size 'just right' - & to figure out the decrease - LOVE it, & plan to make a few more!

The wool is from a heritage flock of Navajo-Churro sheep from Bide A Wee farm. I was able to show off the finished goodies to my farmer Karen. The darker grey was commercially spun from their wool, & I spun the paler grey from washed wool I carded on wool cards my mom & her mom used when preparing wool for hooked rugs. The wool is a joy to work with, & I am growing increasingly fond of the meat!

"The Navajo-Churro sheep were brought to the North America by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century as a source of food and clothing for their armies. By the 17th century Churros were popular with the Spanish settlers in the upper Rio Grande Valley.  Flocks of Churros were also acquired by Native Americans through raids and trading, and soon became an important part of the Navajo economy and culture.  A series of US Government sponsored flock reductions and "improvements" (by cross breeding) decimated the Navajo flocks until the old type Churro sheep nearly disappeared."

What did you do for your health & well being today?

12 Days Fitness Challenge - Day 3

Catherine Basu in Texas is hosting a fitness challenge - here's the link to the Facebook group - please join us!!

Today I've been finishing some Christmas presents (for our family gathering this weekend) so my FINGERS have been busy knitting! And playing some tunes from my new harp book, a Christmas present from daughter Mary and family.

I returned to Qigong today, doing the longer 'Soaring Crane Qigong' form (~ 30 minutes) that I learned over a decade ago. A lovely feature of qigong is its focus on INTERNAL movement, while practicing the forms, one's mind is on vitality (qi or chi) & the movement.
Master Zhao, Jin-xiang began teaching his form in 1980, & it was brought to the US by professor Chen, Hui-xian. My teacher learned it from Prof. Chen when she was teaching at the Oriental Medicine College (OCOM) in Portland Oregon.

Master Zhao had pleurisy & tuberculosis, & was sent to a sanatorium in 1962, where he learned a seated form of Qigong, developed by the head of the sanatorium. His health improved enough for him to return home, where he continued to practice. Eventually, he began treating patients (having learned Traditional Chinese Medicine), & realized that could help them help themselves if he taught them Qigong. He began to develop his own form, which is very effective in eliminating disease.

One of my massage clients was taking Soaring Crane when she realized she had breast cancer (Professor Chen was recovering from breast cancer when she met & studied with Master Zhao). My client refused radiation or chemotherapy, though she did have the lumps removed. She began coming to me for Reiki (which goes hand in hand with qigong, energizing the the giver as well as the recipient) & massage. 15 years later, she is still cancer free, & comes monthly for sessions. 

12 Days Fitness Challenge - Day 2

Besides my early morning Qigong (just 3 palms Rising today), my daughter Mary & 1st Granddaughter joined me at the pool for WATER AEROBICS! So an hour of cross country, crunches, dolphin kicks, pull ups (LOVE pull-ups on the side of the pool!) & weights. Then a bit of time in the hot tub, ahhh....

Nadya, Alyssa & Mary

I got to W A fairly regularly until my youngest grandson needed day care when Mama Mary returned to work, & I began spending mornings with the little guy ~ 2 1/2 years ago.

But with Mary & her hubby off this week, we've been able to go to the deep water class! It's been SO much fun to have Mary, then this morning 'Sissa join us! Our friend Nancy goes regularly, & we convinced her daughter 'Juju' (who used to babysit the kids) to come to - the 'girls' both agreed, but ONLY if the other was coming.

If you've never done water aerobics - it's fun, and a GREAT way to exercise if you have any limitations to movement. Our friend Donna, who's diabetic, isn't able to do high impact classes .... water aerobics classes are perfect for her!

Today marks my mom's passing - nine years ago!  She loved teaching her nieces & nephews to swim in the pond at home, but by the time I came along, the swimming pool was the only option.... that wouldn't be an issue for many folks, but my mom was on crutches from having polio when she was nine. Her ankles had been set for ~ 3/4" heels (popular in the 1920s), so she couldn't walk barefoot. & HATED to ask for any special treatment ... you had to shower, etc.
She did go swimming a few times long after there was a new pool with one of those lift slings, & I think she enjoyed it. So our 3 generation pool time today was extra special! Love you, little mama!!

Now, off with the granddaughters for a 'girl day!' 

12 Days of Christmas Fitness Challenge - 1

On the First day ....

Catherine Basu in Texas has put out a call for a fitness challenge - beginning today. The holidays are a classic time for both indulgence, & for declaring one's intention for doing better - soon! Here's the link to the Facebook group - please join us!!

As a fitness consultant, she invites us to get out there & get moving; & blog about what we do - even if it's 'just' a 10 minute walk.
For years, living in the temperate Pacific NW, a Christmas tradition has been a walk around the neighborhood, seeing what's in bloom! Often 'at least' dandelions, but we had pretty cold temps in early December, so haven't seen any.

Today I did Qigong for 10 minutes, at about noon. The ideal times to practice my form are from 5-7 (AM or PM) & 11-1 (mid day or mid night).

For the last decade, I've focused more on Qigong and dance as my main movement forms.

Last spring I was certified to teach 5 Element Standing Stake Qigong, & do that form almost daily. In 2012, when I participated in an online Qigong intensive, I followed up with the 100 day practice 'challenge' & do the form for 100 days!

I have been doing Soaring Crane & several other forms 2-4x a week for several years, & and took my first Tai Chi/qigong classes 30 years ago, when I was studying massage.

With the holiday 'time off,' I've been puttering around cleaning & organizing a bit. I have a Lamb shoulder roast in the oven -  from a pasture raised heritage herd of Navajo-Churro and Jacob sheep herd at nearby Bide A Wee farm - I have been getting meat from Karen at our Farmers Markets for a couple of years now - and am getting more & more fond of it!

I made some 'John the Baptist Balls' for our family gathering this afternoon - locust (carob), sunflower & pumpkin seeds (soaked first), dates, figs, chocolate, shredded coconut, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla ... 

Merry Christmas!

New Horizons

In late October, I jumped on board with the Ultimate Blog Challenge, & began my new blog: King's Touch Reiki. You can find my first post here.  I've always loved the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, & this quote  "King, did you hear that? The hands of a healer, I say."  Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkein 


And though the challenge is only 'official' in some months, the Face Book Group decided to continue in November, & I've been faithfully posting! Over the last 5 or so years, I've taught few Reiki classes, & done more one-on one trainings with client/students, but now I'm wishing to offer more classes. I've  been looking into what space(s) will work best for that. My office, while great for sessions, doesn't lend itself to hosting classes. Recently, a friend has offered to help me with promotion, & getting the ball rolling. I am grateful!

With my renewed dedication to blogging, I dusted off my 'Wishcasting' shoes, & have been revisiting that practice & rekindling my own interest in this blog. & decided to re-join Wishcasting Wed, led by Jamie's prompts. Well & good.

Last week I wrote about Prosperity, & this week when I saw the general prompt of "What Do you Wish For," I thought of my work with Reiki, & with my new blog (possibly that little Reiki Book I've thought of writing? What a good beginning!)

But as I read on, I realized that venue is also morphing: Jamie wrote: "In December, I’ll be launching the e-course so that you can receive wish prompts in your inbox every week for a year! And with that, and this is so hard for me to say, Wishcasting will be transitioning away from its Wednesday spot at the Studio. It’s time to open up the space. It’s time for new ventures to have room to grow and new adventures to begin."

So this week, my wish for myself is that opportunities to teach Reiki, Qigong, making & using Flower Essences and perhaps other self-healing & nurturing modalities manifest easily, & that students be attracted to & benefit from my classes & workshops. I wish for my practice to gradually transition from offering bodywork sessions to more teaching & mentoring.

My wish for Jamie - that all her ventures flow & prosper! Blessings - & thanks for the inspiration!

Springing forward

Today Jamie asks: "What do you wish would SPRING into your life?"

Tee hee - I immediately thought of the Spring Forest Qigong 'spring intensive' I participated in - on-line, with about 50,000 other folks around the globe! What a SWEET week it was! Each day there were a couple of audio sessions to listen to at your own pace, & there were videos of the active forms. (there are a couple of 'moving pictures' on this practitioner's page, & some of the testimonials that we watched during the course) There is also a FB page for interaction with members of the community. You could purchase the instructional materials at any time, or just use the free version while available.

I pulled out a notebook & took notes, watched the active video a couple of times (going back to the more complicated part), and after the class was over, decided to take the 100 day practice 'challenge' & do the form for 100 days! I have been doing Soaring Crane & several other forms 2-4x a week for awhile, & and took my first Tai Chi/qigong classes 29 years ago, when I was studying massage.

I also have begun integrating the healing method into my massage & Reiki practice, it dovetails with other methods.
While the healing stories in the Testimonials sound fantastic, the teacher who brought Soaring Crane to the West is now in her 70s, & was 'terminally ill' with Breast Cancer at 48, after adding Qigong to her routine. Professor Chen already had surgery & was undergoing radiation when she told her 'sad story' to a fellow in the waiting room ... his 'sad story' - lung cancer, he'd also been told to 'go home & rest' .... & went out & discovered Qigong instead! After several months, he returned to the clinic, & they told him 'cancer very small, we can do radiation after all ...'

So I'm 'springing' into spring with qigong!

Law of Attraction

Energy flows where our thinking goes - Jamie asks what do I wish to attract?

The little bi-line that flows into my mind is to be 'healthy, wealthy & wise!'

Health - that's a constant theme, here! Working on healthy balance of wonderful, nutritious food (complemented by things like my daughter's DELIGHTFUL & decadent GF/Vegan Chocolate BD cake that she made for herself!), movement, fresh air, good water.

Wealthy - I think more of sufficiency - having enough 'food, shelter & warmth' - & being able to enjoy time off & adventures. Wealth of spirit, wealth of living on this lovely blue-green planet, & being able to buy heritage seeds, eat OG food, live in a less toxic world. I am still in process with rearranging & clearing clutter - more rich surfaces & abundantly beautiful rooms!! (this one is 'borrowed' - isn't the colour yummy!?)

Wise .... hmm, what do I want to study? I have been drawn more to nutrition, esp as I learn more about how many non-organically raised crops are sprayed with round-up just before harvest 'dessication,' to make it EASIER to harvest .... sheesh!! So, I buy OG ... but if I eat out, besides the danger of cross contamination from gluten, what other dangers lurk?

I lean toward completing training in Soaring Crane Qigong, so I can teach this form! I love doing it myself, & would like to share it with more folks!

What do YOU wish to attract?

Soaring like a Crane

I spent the weekend at the beach with my galfriends - 'Sister Circle's' annual retreat at the Sylvia Beach Hotel - marvelous! It was rainy but not to cold; by Sunday had cleared off & there were high tides, so lunch at Depot Bay offered lovely view (without danger of being swept away!)

In a few weeks I'll begin Level III of Soaring Crane Qigong. ('chee gong') with Jo Ann Albrecht.
This form is designed to energize those in very poor health - "Professor Chen (who brought this form to Oregon) was diagnosed in 1982 with terminal cancer. Doctors gave her a 25% chance of recovery. In search for a cure, Professor Chen was introduced to Qigong.
"At that time, Professor Chen was an English Professor at University of International Business and Economics in China. After her remarkable recovery, Professor Chen became a devoted practitioner and has dedicated her life to teaching Qigong."
Jo Ann studied with Professor Chen & offers the teachings in a clear, dedicated way.

I have been practicing this form for ~ 8 years, having begun studying Tai Chi/qigong in my early 30s. My massage mentor suggested it as a way to learn good ergonomics, & felt it was well suited for exercise classes (& hoped we'd learn to teach it!)
When I lived & worked at Breitenbush Hot Springs, I had the opportunity to offer a 'daily well being' program & developed a style of 'drop in' Tai Chi which incorporated quite a bit of Qigong, focusing on the basics of breath, slow movement, attention to posture, & releasing 'negative' energy or chi, then bringing in positive energy.
Guests & fellow staff members often commented on my youthful appearance/radience after a class - & I looked forward to those bi-weekly offerings. When one of the cooks began offering Yoga classes, I sat across from her at dinner just after her first class, & noticed that same 'glow!'

In preparation for class, I've re-read the Soaring Crane level I manual, & been pulling out other qigong books. 'Qigong essence of the healing dance' by Garri Garripoli - one I ordered from Powells Books some time ago, is fascinating, with chapters on healing, on children & qigong (the author played with chi as a child, & assumed everyone did!) & interviews with masters from US, China & Canada; including one of his mentors, 92 year old Duan Zhi Liang. who does qigong in the morning, then 'spars with Kung Fu masters a third his age' before going to his offices & offering Chinese medicine & medical qigong (charging ~ $1 US per treatment!)

Gerri speaks of qigong as a dance, master Duan "uses the Chinese word hundun when he refers to his family's form of Qigong - 'chaos' ..." (p 26) mixing up movements, doing them in a different order each time, truely a 'dance.' This fits well with the classical Russian Ballet I began with (in my late 20s) where the teacher would listen to music, eyes shut, then give us the warm up routines for that day! One student, who'd studied ballet with my Tai Chi teacher (!) was quite puzzled that there was no set 'warm up' - it varried from day to day & class to class. Hundun.

This is the way I've taught Tai Chi/qigong; varying the order, using the same routines, but mixing them up, 'listening' for what to teach that day. The 'set form' of the Soaring Crane routines attracts me; will I actually teach this way?? (If I'm certified to teach it!!)

From Qigong essence: "When I began (with Master Duan) I had years of training in Tai Chi, ... in a world that seemed a bit crazy & unmanageable, perfecting my Tai Chi forms & repeating the prearranged sequence provided a sense of pride & security. Master Duan entered my life with his chaos theory & turned everything on its head. This 92 year old master never did anything in the same way or order twice." (p 17)
& "Bring the principles of Qigong into the basic activities that consume your life. With each step that you would normally take in a semiconscious way, bring consciousness into it. Link a deep breath to it. ... Reach for the door handle, . . . breath out. Pull it toward you . . . breathe in. ... Link a breath with action, this will slow you down." (p 33)

Essence of Qigong - bring presence to our daily activities!

Rants

A lovely - but cold - day! Debating whether to go out in it - I went out & practiced the dance to the Directions & then did Soaring Crane Qigong, but mighty nippy still. 'Fly Lady' suggests working on the kitchen this week - today is 'clear the counters!'

My 'rant' is - I had bible carrying ladies at the door this AM - why can't I just let them talk, or stay in my power?? No, I have to say that Earth Based spirituality, & a Universal (beyond 'father') God is more my style - & point to the harp, mention 'remembering' playing harp & healing time out of mind! & which early humans really thought 'god' (creator) was MALE, for heavens sake!! Which of the male animals around them was giving birth??

Sweet lady - her 'point' was 'we don't need to repeat suffering' & of course 'father & creator' god (ah, they're so much better coached now, with snippets of glimpses into other ways of thinking!) Co-creation & having any part of it all . . . nope :)
My women's spiritual book group is reading Carol Christ's 'She Who Changes,' & I find process philosoph so matches my sense of how it is (as much as we can see!) 'For process philosophy, the whole universe is alive & changing, continually co-creating new possibilities of life. . . . The world is a web of changing individuals interacting with, affecting & changing each other.' (p45)

Why do I feel the need to argue?? Sigh . . . it's more - I try to open the windows to thinking, beyond the pablum their ministers (all male) feed them. My mom had lovely discussions with some JW missionaries, until they began arriving SUNDAY AM (they're a Sat Sabbath bunch, which is historically 'correct'), knowing my folks attended Church every Sunday, rain or shine - unless we were camping. She'd sit in her chair by the open curtain, & 'ignore' their knocking - if they couldn't respect her beliefs, she didn't feel the need to open the door.

I open the door, & vary my response, today just went for it Hafiz & all 'The awake heart is like a sky that pours light.' (Persian poet, 1320-1389) . . . might I have quoted my favorite Celtic (fictional) 6th Cent religouse - Sister Fidelma?? Who lived in a time women enjoyed more freedoms & equal footing with men, lived in 'joint' houses (she was of Bridgit's mixed gender monastery)

So after they left, I went into my back yard & did a round of The Dance to the Directions, then & Soaring Crane qigong, sending some healing to the earth grid. Some of my friends have been working on manifesting (saying they feel there will be) an earthquake in the NW - I sent my intention of steadiness' to mama/sister earth, that if it's in alignment, may the NW be stable & assist in the Earth rebirth in other ways! O Sada - may it be so! & have been singing 'cleanse, clear, rebalance, illuminate' to the public places (parks, parking strips, well known trees, gardens) all around town; doing a 'tune-up' where I go.

** On Sat, my dau. attended the Gluten Free Friends group. There's a GF nurse that's a great resource for the group, she suggested going more for the whole grains, & less of processed things (noodles, bread) & adding nutrition, since our systems have been deprived while fighting off the damage of wheat. Sweet potatoes (I still have some from my CSA share) are one of the suggested additions.
So I made a mix of millet, amaranth, quinoa & a Tbsp of Teff (one of her favorites, but tiny) & ran peeled Sweet Potatoes in my mini processor - cook 20 min (a bit of kombu - kelp - as well) mmm - was Quite a hit with my dau & her honey - she added the rest of the pan into the rice she'd cooked!! Made another batch this AM.

While I was at it yest, I ran beet & carrot as well (I pre-chop into ~ 3/4 " pieces) & added them to my salad of fresh CSA & garden greens & a few dandelion flors, with some sprouts, kefir, & tahini, olive & coconut oil vinaigrette.

Eye Exercises

I found a post on the Coconut Oil Forum from a gal who's begun doing Tibetan Eye exercises to strengthen her eyesight. I looked it up & found this eye chart plus instructions - How fun!! The suggestion is to do these exercises twice daily, & to begin & end the session with eye 'palming.'
The author (name not cited) makes an interesting comment on the role rancid oils play in eyesight deterioration: "This type of damage is from the vegetable oils in the polyunsaturated configuration of the oils treated with hydrogen, (Trans fatty acids), [which] causes the rancidity (free radical damage) of cellular fats." - another reason to use coconut oil, don't you think?

My dad used a similar pattern regularly, & my kids recall his 'eye exercises.'. He was part Cherokee - did this come from something he learned growing up, or something he read??
Byrle's Eye Calisthentics didn't use a chart, each pattern involved looking to the very edge of ones' field of vision. They included: circling the eyes clockwise & counterclockwise, looking up & down, back & forth, & in a figure 8 pattern (which includes the diagonals in steps 4 & 5 of the Tibetan pattern!)

There is also a sweet acupressure self massage that I found in a calligrapher's cook book - 'Pots & Pens Three' these lovely drawings & text are by Andrea Heid.
I found the same Chinese set online here. There are also u-tube videos, inc. this one showing a child doing the exercises!

I remember reading an article about an elderly Chinese woman who did these daily, & could still do fine embroidery with out glasses into her 80s or 90s!

I include eye palming, face & self-massage at the end of my Tai Chi/Qigong class. It will be fun to add my dad's eye calisthentics into this pattern.

Movin' Movin'

I'm still feeling good participating in the Lenten 'moving' challenge - Friday was an awesome 'blue sky' kind of day - during a break (after walking the grand daughter to playschool in AM) I went to the park close to my office, & did Soaring Crane Qigong in the sunshine - such a nice way to be movin' & be outside!

Saturday was my 2x a month 'morning coffee' with my Moms group - walked there & back home (~ 26 blocks) & though I thought of doing more movement, mostly poked around learning more about using coconut oil, & looking up a 'Ranch' type dressing recipes for a dear gal friend. My daughter is a Ranch aficionado, & says that she has given up trying to find one that tastes right without egg yolks (she's allergic).
When my kids were young, I made mayonnaise, using eggs from our own chickens & fresh greens, so decided to try my hand at a creamy dressing.

This morning I used my tiny food processor to make a Creamy Shiitake Mushroom & Garlic dressing / Mayo:
I began with flax seed I'd soaked overnight & ground in the processor, (~ 1/4 C) 1/2 C organic sour cream with a T of lemon juice,
1/2 tsp prepared mustard,
a bit of salt & pepper,
coconut oil (1/4 - 1/2 C) & whizzed that.

Then I sauteed a garlic clove & one shiitake mushroom in a tsp of coconut oil, & chopped a bit when cool, then added
1 tsp curry powder
4 sprigs of fresh parsley (from my garden - overwintered).
I added olive oil in a stream through the hole in the top (about tsp at a time, then whizz) 1/4 - 1/2 cup.

It's a bit crunchy (from the flax - most recipes call for a whole egg & maybe an extra yolk - I could have used egg whites, but decided to try flax! I soaked the flax the night before, then ground in the processor. I think I'll try grinding the flax in my coffee grinder, then soaking.
-- The mushroom was the first from this year's 'Shiitake Mushroom Garden' - so much fun to grow my own mushrooms!! Christmas '07 many vendors shared a space for several weeks, & some local mushroom folks had baskets with a 'garden', (an 'oak sawdust bale' inoculated with mushroom spores) a potholder, instruction sheet, dried mushrooms, a water sprayer & recipe sheet!
I came home & told my daughter & her fiance (now hubby) that I really, really wanted one - so there it was, Christmas morning! I got four 'flushes' from my first garden - was sad when I'd used it up!
This year, the snow interfered with their Holiday Market trip - so I didn't get my 'refill' (the 'garden' in a bag), which needs to be refrigerated overnight to 'star.t) Therefore, I was tickled to find that a newly opened year round shop that features products from many of the same jewelers, carvers, & producers of local food products, also carried dried mushrooms & the gardens . . . 2 weeks ago, one followed me home!

When this flush is done, I'll let the block 'rest' a few days, then soak overnight & put it back in its aquarium (picked up from a local thrift store) & it will produce another cycle. Each cycle lasts about a month, & I expect to get 3 or 4 total cycles - what delicious mushrooms!

** For breakfast, I made a fruit & seed smoothie:
5 raw filberts (local) ]
2 tsp sesame seeds ]
3 tsp flax seeds ] soaked overnight in ~ 2x the water
1 t sunflower seeds ]
In the AM I put the mix in the blender & added 1 1/2 C yogurt (local)
2 T canned coconut milk
2 T coconut butter (Organic Virgin)
1 T Og agave nectar
a pinch of stevia
-- blended till combined, then added ~ a cup of frozen local blueberries

I took it over to my daughters & offered her some - the girls quickly asked for some too, & thought it was pretty yummy :)

Today several people commented on how good I look! I am about a week & 1/2 into using coconut oil, plus more movement, & feel that's making a difference! I need to decide soon if I'm taking the SoulCollage faclitator training I thought I'd do - have found myself 'flitting' from interest to interst recently. Time to step back & 'sit with' what I'd like to explore.

Was looking up some info on teachings I've enjoyed for 15 or so years - & was surprised to see the teacher's 'Native American' credentials challanged! I still enjoy the heart of what was shared, so am intrigued - Dhani Ywahoo - wisdom teacher? fraud? I use her chakra chants, esp if I'm feeling ill (to good effect!) & sat with a delightful group working with these teaching in the mid 90s. (& yes, there was a fee for the workshop!) Like many things, I've take parts that resonated, & haven't explored beyond that. Do I still like the chants? Yes, no matter their origin :)

This afternoon I chatted with my biologist former hubby (at our dau-in law's BD party) about coconut oil, asked what he has heard. He commented on the nature of the fat, & that it was the only fat his younger son could tolerate/absorb before his liver transplant! (the boy had a congenital liver condition, & in '07 at 14 was able to get a new, functioning liver!)
I owe my original interest in natural foods & the reasoning behind using them to his own scientific approach to the issue - so it's fun to pick his brain.

'Movement is Medicine'

"Movement is Medicine;" Music to my ears!!

* Do you know what physical activity offers 76% risk protection against Alzheimer's? (* answer below)

When I was in school, PE meant teachers who enjoyed ball sports & ridicule - not very inspiring or encouraging!! My favorite year - Sophomore in HS - was when we had a sweet gal with waist length red hair for fall term. She worked on things like deportment, & gymnastics floor exercises . . . then came spring, & she had to return to finish her college requirements, & we had the usual drill Sarge. gal for the rest of the year.
I tried a bit of gymnastics in College, & that was fun - but I didn't really think of myself as 'fitness oriented.' A few friends 'jogged' - that was a new thing - but it didn't much appeal. Then, when I was 28, my niece was in Nutcracker, & I went to watch - oh, ballet!! I had ballet paper dolls, & loved old musicals, especially if they had dancing scenes. Ballet - & 2 of my sis-in-law were enrolled in classes for adults!
I went to 'watch' a class, & the teacher encouraged me to participate, even tho I wasn't dressed for it!! Oh, ballet!!
I tried a few classes in our home town (my hubby's family lived, & the classes were ~ an hour away, but we visited often) . . . umm, boring? While the class I'd attended was so delightfully vital! Turned out to be a world class teacher, with classical Russian training, & I was hooked.
So for several years we drove up for class (my hubby & daughter started taking as well), then moved here, when the time was right. It took me ~ 5 years for my legs to catch up - my mom had been on crutches (polio at 9), & I think that influenced me on a deep level. She always encouraged me to do anything I could, but I always felt 'clumsy.'

When I studied massage, also from someone who'd had polio, I was encouraged to take Tai Chi, to enhance my body mechanics, & perhaps to teach seniors at some future time. I continued with both ballet & tai chi, loving them both. 6 years later, after moving to the hot springs, I began teaching Tai Chi as a 'daily well being' offering. With the ever changing flow of guests, & occasional staff who'd join for a time, I taught a 'drop in' style. I was blessed with access to several Qigong workshops, & added more of the energy theory (some of which came intuitively as well) to my classes.

Over the last few years, I've offered occasional classes, but advertising myself hasn't been my forte.

This week, a local elder care facility is hosting their National Senior Medical Officer (500 facilities!), who is presenting information on the benefits of continuing with purpose full movement throughout life. "Optimum Aging" is the goal - with physical, mental & emotional health intact, healthy spirits, & a twinkle in the eye!

So many statistics!! Risk of falls decreases by half with Vitamin D-3 intake upped to 800 - 1000 IU!
In Oregon's Willamette Valley, we're N of the 45th parallel, with winter sunlight not enough to stim. Vit D production in the skin. I work with to NDs, & many of their clients are coming in deficient, & they are recommending they take up to 5000 IU!
A simple blood test will assess where you are - our lady Doc attended a conference this summer, & said they were seeing almost NO Cancer, & almost NO osteoporosis when folks were taking 10,000 IU of D-3 daily!! At that level, one does need to work with a doctor, & blood tests are recommended; but even the MD (Kevin O'Neil) said there are very few risks, & many benefits, in higher Vit D than we've thought, . . . & with a senior population, it's often easiest to take 50,000 once a month!

Optimal aging includes: life satisfaction, social participation, self reliance, coping ability, setting new goals.

Exercise, exercise, exercise! Walking, weight training, working on balance; water aerobics, etc. If you have kids, make sure they're moving! If you have a desk job, learn some stretches to do at your desk, take the stairs, take a walk for your break, . . . "We are largely responsible for our own success or failure in aging well!"

These are his recommendations for folks over 65, or 50-64 with chronic problems:

Do moderate (can carry on conversation) exercise 30 min a day, 5 days a week

OR
Do vigorous intense aerobic exercise 20 min / day, 3 days / week

AND

Do 8-10 strength training exercises, 10-15 reps of each, 2 - 3 x week
AND

if you're at risk for falling, do balance exercises (TAI CHI or QIGONG are great!)
AND

have a physical activity plan!

After the workshop, I spoke to the director, & may be offering a Tai Chi class to the residents!
& this winter, my 8 yr old grand daugher will be in Nutcracker!

* Oh, & what was that exercise that offers a 76% risk reduction for getting Alzheimer's?? One of my favorites - Ballroom Dance!! Esp. Tango! Currently, I'm taking 'Round Dance' classes, put on by our local square dance club! Basically, ballroom done in a circle, & bit easier on the guys, as a 'cuer' tells you the moves!

Put on the music . . . .