winter_09

RELATIONSHIPS Me, Myself and I ... and You SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Community Resilience with Davie Philip EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY Warm your Heart and Boost your Serotonin THE QUEEN OF THE NEW AGE Exclusive Interview with Louise L Hay WINTER 2009 €3

24 Price List Christmas 2009 IIHF Price List Christmas 2009.indd 121/10/2009 18:06:36 Distributors of organic and conventional whole foods to the INDEPENDENT TRADE www.iihealthfoods.com Contact Sales t: 066 9763800 f: 066 9763943 e: sales@iihealthfoods.com '%%.>cYZeZcYZci>g^h]=ZVai];ddYhA^b^iZY

4 6 8 11 12 15 16 19 21 22 26 28 30 32 34 37 39 40 42 44 45 46 Contents Winter vibes - Who, what, when where? Astrology - The gods in the skies - part 4 Spirituality and the city - Our readers’ Magical Moments Positive personality - Marcel Polak brews peace in a teacup Taking Steps towards a positive life Living with Integrity - The cornerstone of humanity Getting Into Your Body - The glorious journey home The Rhythm of Life - Drum circles and your heart’s beat The Movement of Your Soul - Ratu Bagus Relationships - Me, Myself and I ... and You Exclusive Interview with Louise L. Hay Heal Your Heart - Forgive and remember The Good Life 2.0 - Grow your own goodies Naturally Good for Babies - What to buy and use Mandalamat - Is there a bed of nails for everyone? Positively Newsworthy - The hills are alive with positive news The Wynne and Thorp Technique - Open your healing channel On The Mend - 21st Century medicine Opportunity Knocks - Making the most of setbacks Eat, Drink and Be Merry - Give your body a gift Holistic Hols - Taking time for yourself in Cloona Winter Recipes - Warm your heart and belly Making Friends with the right foods 24 Publisher PC Media paul@positivelife.ie Editorial Patrick Bridgeman patrick@positivelife.ie Design Simon O’Connor info@simplesimon.ie Advertising Paul Congdon paul@positivelife.ie 0861579518 Please use the information provided in this publication as a recommendation only to better mental and physical health. We strongly advise you to consult your doctor regarding health concerns that you may have. The views expressed by contributors and advisors do not necessarily represent the views of the publication’s staff. Printed, published, packaged and distributed in Ireland. www.positivelife.ie Positive edit TEARS. Recently I discovered that we have three types of tears: Reflex from a cold winter wind, Basal to keep your eyes lubricated and Emotional. EMOTIONAL tears are where the action is as they contain seroto- nin which regulates brain chemistry and leads to happiness. CRYING is good, not taboo. It clears, it heals and it releases pain and old wounds. IT’S ok to cry. In fact, it’s fantastic. SO whether our winter issue brings tears of laughter or sadness, remember it’s all good and always leads you back to who you really are. This issue, you can find out more sources of serotonin with CNM, grow your own goodies with Davie Philip and eat them in Winter Recipes. GET right into your body with Mari Kennedy, then shake it up with Ratu Bagus and his amazing orb chums, all to the drumbeat of Eddie O’Neill in The Rhythm of Life. LOUISE HAY, the beautiful matriarch gives us a rare and Exclusive Interview; and we continue her theme with Mary Kate O Flanagan in Heal Your Heart and Patrick Bridgeman on Relationships. FIONA DOYLE, our prize winning reader, shares her healing holiday at Cloona. Yvonne Clarke shows us some steps towards a positive life. Mandalamats hit the nail on the head, and we check out Ondamed: a new healing device, while Marcel Polak, our positive man with the tea garden plan, puts on the kettle. Until SPRING, I wish you a Happy Solstice, Christmas, and a Magical New Year. PAUL CONGDON

Winter WINTER SOLSTICE FIRE CEREMONY & PEACE VIGIL From this day on, the nights become shorter and days become longer. This is the turning of the season and the return of the Sun, a time of rebirth. Ceremony Commences 10.00 am Sat Dec 19th led by Dermot O Hara - Psychic Medium, Shaman Healer Teacher in The Peace Garden, Glencree, Co. Wicklow. (Sweat Lodge optional) Call 0868707854 for more info on this and ongoing events. www.shamanschoolireland.com www.celticshaman.com www.youtube/user/silverbirch77 100Th MONkEY MEdITATION The overall intention of this meditation is to disconnect the fear of death associated with Cancer. Based on the 100th Monkey Theory, the meditation will create a new awareness or mind-set of the body’s self- healing ability. For this reason, there will be at least 100 people present who have been cured of Cancer and who already know that cancer does not mean death. The meditation will be held on Tue 22nd Dec 2009 in Hungary, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm For more info on this and future events, email info@fengshuimagazin.hu NEW YEAR’S EVE FUNkY SEOMRA Join hundreds of other party goers at Ireland’s biggest and best alcohol-free dance event. Dec 31st, RDS Concert Hall, 8 pm - 1.30 am, €15 www.dancefree.ie SPIRIT ONE SEMINARS SPEAkERS’ SChEdULE An Evening with Aidan Storey and the ‘Angels of Divine Light’ 20th Jan, 7.30, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. €25 Louis Parson’s ‘Soul Art’ Workshop 13th Feb, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Heidi Wright ‘Animal Psychic’ 27th, 28th Mar, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Internationally renowned New York Times best-selling author Gregg Braden 20th Apr, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. www.spiritoneseminars.com dALkEY GOOd hEALTh FAIR 2010 Start the new year as you mean to go on with a visit to the 6th annual Dalkey Good Health Fair, Sat 9th & Sun 10th Jan 2010 in Dalkey Town Hall & Heritage Centre. Call 0862257531 or email aoife@akmpr.com SEMINARS.IE UPCOMING EVENTS An Evening with Lorna Byrne, author of ‘Angels In My Hair’. 24th Feb, 7.30 pm, RDS Concert Hal, D4. €35.00 Professor Ian Robertson will talk about how to get the most out of our brains. 18th Mar, 7.30 pm, National Concert Hall, D2. €40.00 Join Daniel Levitin, Paul Robertson and Dr Gary Ansdell for a fascinating morning to explore the life enhancing effects of music. 17th Apr, 9.30 am, National Concert Hall, D2. €75.00 €55.00 www.seminars.ie bUddhA bAG MEETING Returns in mid-January with another exciting schedule. See buddhabag.org for details and to join the mailing list EdUCATION @ ThE hAPPY PEAR 4 night “Basics of healthy eating” course is run on 4 consecutive Tuesday nights Dates as follows: Tue Jan 19th, 26th, Feb 2th, 9th. Tue Feb 19th, 26th, Mar 2th, 9th Residential health and detox weekend in Spruce lodge (near Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow) January 15th, 16th, 17th www.thehappypear.ie vibes “LET US LOVE WINTER, FOR IT IS ThE SPRING OF GENIUS.” PIETRO ARETINO 4

MINd bOdY SPIRIT ExPO The line up so far is David Wells, Aidan Storey, Barbara Meiklejohn, Heidi Sawyer, Max Leone, Stephanie King. Dates are Fri 12th, Sat 13th & Sun 14th March 2010 www.mindbodyspirit.ie SPINOLOGY Begin a career as a professional in a highly specialised field. Spinology is expanding in Ireland and the new classes begin in Jan 2010. Spinology is a pro-active spinal maintenance profession as opposed to a therapy. www.spinology.org www.thespinecentre.ie ThE ORGANIC CENTRE The Organic Centre has just published their new 2010 combined Course and Seed Catalogue. Titled “Let’s Grow Together” it features many new courses like “Growing in Allotments” and the new “Garden Complete” courses in Leitrim, Wicklow and Clare, and aims to help anyone who wants to garden organically to get started. For a copy call 0719854338 or email info@theorganiccentre.ie dETOx IN dUbLIN The Hydro Clinic’s owner, Niamh Fitzgerald, has been helping her clients detox using Colonic Irrigation for the past 4 years. Niamh has recently expanded her list of services to include Western Herbal Medicine and NuTron Advanced Food Intolerance testing. www.colonhealth.ie hIMALAYAN CRYSTAL SALT LAMPS FROM SUNSTONE. At Sunstone, each of their lamps are made from crystal salt aged about 250 million years. Apart from numerous health properties, they create a natural atmosphere, are calming and make long winter nights more than bearable. www.sunstonetrading.com YOGAGLO.COM Yogaglo.com is a website where you can do yoga from home with amazing instructors for only $18 dollars a month, anytime anywhere with your laptop. SUI (ThE IRISh WORd FOR SIT) Sui is a Mindfulness Meditation & Relaxation package including CD’s, a step by step booklet and beautiful handmade meditation / yoga stools. The whole ‘Sui’ project was inspired by Derval Dunford’s recovery from illness. ‘Sui’ CD’s are not only a huge hit, but have literally been recommended by the Doctor! www.sui.ie REVIbER PLUS This easy, time-saving exercise requires just ten minutes every-other-day. After testing the Reviber Plus for its ability to tone muscle, The Independent on Sunday gave the Reviber Plus ‘5 out of 5,’ saying that it not only delivers ‘impressive results’, but that it is also ‘easy to use and is excellent value for money’. For more info, phone Bernard on 040468645 or visit www.healthyhabs.com ACTS OF RANdOM kINdNESS Ark°, the global movement encouraging people to perform Acts of Random Kindness, has launched a new ethical clothing range with a unique idea to make the world a better place: Perform one ARK every time the clothing is worn. Their new range consists of top quality, 100% cotton, long and short sleeve tees. ArkHQ.com POSITIVE VIbES E-NEWSLETTER As well as our seasonal print magazine, Positive Life also have a FREE monthly e-newsletter full of positive suggestions for books, films, websites, products, events, venues, news and competitions. To add yourself to our mailing list, visit www.positivelife.ie/subscribe

What does the sign Capricorn represent? Capricorn, like the two other astrological earth signs, Taurus and Virgo, fundamen- tally represents the world of matter. As in nature, the astrological element of earth is about the material, visible, concrete plane. Capricorn in particular is about underlying structures and foundations. Physiologically, Capricorn and its planetary ruler Saturn rule the knees. The knees enable us to move forward in life. If our bones and knees lack calcium they cannot hold our body, yet if they calcify and become rigid we cannot move. Ultimately, lasting structures need the strength to endure and yet also the fl ex- ibility to sway with change. Fear, leading to stasis, is one of Capricorn’s greatest chal- lenges, which is best surmounted through tenacity – one of its greatest strengths. Like its zodiac symbol the mountain goat, Capricorn expects to work hard, repeatedly climbing steep mountains with a load on its back in a steady unremitting manner, forgoing any short cuts. This sign enjoys recognition and status for its achievements whilst maintaining a modest unassuming demeanour. So how does Pluto moving through this sign impact us collectively? In travelling through this sign, Pluto shines a torch on all that is inauthentic in our col- lective structures and infrastructures. This includes capitalism, which is a cornerstone of western fi nancial structures. The issue of true authority at macro and micro levels also comes under scrutiny. Other Capricor- nian collective areas include our sense of roots and belonging, as well as ownership of land and property. The use and misuse of our basic resources is highlighted dur- ing this transit, including metals and ores, food and water. “WHAT WE HAVE IGNORED OR DENIED INWARDLY WILL THEN MORE LIKELY COME TO US AS OUTER FATE.” CARL JUNG understanding the gods in the skies Margaret Gray MSW Dip. Psychological Astrology Tel. 085 8144135 (Ireland) 808 782 7953 (Hawaii) www.astrologypsychological.com Margaret@astrologypsychological.com in the build-up to 2012 – Part 4 Margaret Gray is a professional Psychological Astrologer with a consulting practice in Ireland, Hawaii and California. She teaches internationally both independently and on behalf of the CPA worldwide. Margaret is the book reviewer for the ISAR journal and a member of the APAI, ISAR and the Ast.Ass UK. Whilst in Ireland Margaret is based at Oscailt integrative Health Centre www.oscailt.com. Copyright of Margaret Gray August 2009 No part of this can be reproduced without her written permission. As a collective we are challenged with a fundamental question: have we built solid/ real foundations in these areas – are they too rigid or too weak? Do they serve their true purpose? How can we best work with Pluto in Capricorn as individuals, particularly with current global collective changes impacting most of us in our daily lives? • Capricorn takes us back to basics, hence it is a good time to do an “NCT” on our physical body, remembering we are human earth-bound creatures – check out any symptoms you have avoided. Look after the basics of your physical self – sleeping, eating, resting and relaxing as well as wor- king hard. • Check out what is authentic in the structures of your own life including your home – is it where you want to live? Does it need any repairs? Who lives with you? Who lives around you? • Your fi nances – What does money mean to you? How do you earn your living? Is it authentic to you? Are you taking full responsibility for your fi nances or have you handed fi nancial responsibility over to someone else? • Where in your life are you growing and developing and where are you stagnating? Is fear holding you back in any area of your life? Where do you need to rebuild foun- dations? Are you using duty or guilt to hold you back from moving forward in parts of your life? This is an excellent time to build on your authentic sense of self, moving away from any blame, shame or guilt to real self-em- powerment. This includes an awareness of the vast amount of choices available to each of us and the real strength and free- dom that comes from taking full responsi- bility for our choices. To read the extended version of this article, visit www.positivelife.ie The transit of Pluto in Capricorn on Individuals and the Collective One of astrology’s most helpful functions is to offer us, as individuals and as a col- lective, a map to assist us in understand- ing and working with the evolution of life. It does not determine the outcome – it merely describes the energies/patterns which the cosmos offers as an aid to our development. In understanding the cur- rent planetary energies, we become more aware of the collective and personal arenas that require our attention. As humans we are gifted with free will, enabling us at all times to make choices for our highest good or not. In the last edition, I described how the planet Pluto affects us as individuals and as a collective as it moves through the dif- ferent signs of the zodiac. In this edition, I am focusing on its current impact in the earth sign of Capricorn. By Margaret Gray

Ask your local health store about Our range of Organic, Fair Trade, Never Tested on Animals Neem products include: Supplements Supercritical C02 Extract of Neem Leaf, Vegetarian Neem Capsules, Neem Leaf Alcohol Extract Body Care Neem oil, Neem cream, Neem Lip Balm, Neem Leaf & Aloe Vera Gel, Neem Oil Botanical Soaps, Nail & Cuticle Scrub, Botanical Fading Cream, Outdoor Herbal Spray Hair & Scalp Neem Shampoo & Conditioner Oral Hygiene Herbal Neem Toothpaste & Mouthwash Distributed in Ireland by Neemworks Ltd. Rathescar, Dunleer, Co. Louth Contact Patricia on 041 6861059 or 086 8114419 email patricia@neemworksltd.com For more than 4.000 years, people in India have taken advantage of this fascinating tree. Even before ancient herbalists discovered the analgesic qualities of the Willow Tree - from which aspirin is derived - people used branches, fruits and leaves from the Neem Tree to help with skin ailments. Even today, rural Indians refer to the Neem Tree as “the village pharmacy” because of its huge array of properties which can also help to protect their crops and animals from insects. WHAT IS NEEM? forever living is operating in 135 countries, avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides,our patented stabilisation process ensures our Aloe Vera is identical to the inner plant. Aloe Vera is a succulent plant concealing a pure inner healing gel. It assists to heal all ailments naturally, on the outer skin or inner skin, and balances the immune system . Contact Bronagh for a full brochure of all our products 0876463175 . Job opportunities: kck.kitchendesign@gmail.com Eating Disorder Resource Centre of Ireland 24 Glendoher Close, Ballyboden , Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 Principal: Suzanne Horgan, Certifi ed Trainer in Practitioner Skills of Eating Disorders Do you wish to work with people experiencing eating disorders or people who have food, body or weight issues? The Eating Disorder Resource Centre of Ireland, in affi liation with the National Centre for Eating Disorders (UK), wish to offer you the opportunity to embark on a one year, part time fully accredited Diploma in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders. 2010 Course being presented in the Ashfi eld Room, Montrose Hotel, Stillorgan, Dublin 4 For further information please log on to www.eatingdisorders.ie where you can download a course prospectus and synopsis or alternatively you can contact us at Phone: 01-4953577 Mobile: 087 2056560 Email: info@eatingdisorders.ie Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment Food, Body & Weight Issues Are your eating habits taking over your day? For one to one consultations please contact Janice Ziegler, Phone 087-2976679, Email jada21@gmail.com, www.naturallysimple.me Based in Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown Area

I love that feeling of standing on a fork in my life’s path, looking at all the possible directions I could go in and what incredibly exiting things could happen on each path. But sometimes this is a tricky situation; I am afraid to walk on new roads, to leave the safe place I’m in, or I simply can’t choose. In these moments, I love to look back, realize where I am, where I came from and the path of tiny decisions in between. This is a magical moment for me, to see how amazingly well things have unfolded for me in a dimension I never could have dreamed of. And when I see that, all the seriousness of the decision I’m facing is gone. I feel the shivering and tingling in my back and sense my ‘helpers’ are with me, saying, “Relax, man, we have your back!” PADRAIG MANNIONMD of Studio Rua I’ve been in Dublin for 7 years now. That accounts for two college degrees, three part-time jobs, two film festival awards, one long- term relationship, three bikes, nine homes, countless loved ones and one start-up business. Most importantly, it contained two ma- jor life-changing events. The first happened while I was at college. It devastated me, and left me in an emotional and spiritual rut for nearly four years. Over this time, the city became a very rough, dangerous and unwelco- ming place. My second life-changing event was like a gift; it came in the form of one very important lesson: Take Responsibility. No blame, no resentment, no guilt, no shame. Forgive, love, and focus on the positive in life. No excuses. Take Responsibility and move forward! With this I could own every moment I was in, and each one presented learning or an opportunity more profound than the one before. You own it and you deserve it, go out and enjoy it. www.studiorua.ie While living as a Buddhist nun in Nepal, I had the oc- casion to do a retreat high in the Himalayas about one day’s trek from Everest Base Camp. The retreat was in- tense and involved fasting every third day. The air was thin and I got by with little sleep. During the retreat, I had occasion to go to the outdoor bathroom during the early hours of the morning. The scene was breathtaking - the moon was full, I was high above the clouds and stars were shooting. In the midst of all of this splendour I was so seized by its beauty, there was nothing for it but to squat right there and have a pee. In that moment, I felt completely at one with nature. Spirit and instinct, sky and earth, inside and outside were a simple manifestation of this mysterious and awesome thing we call life. www.oscailt.com Spiritualityand the City“MAGICAL MOMENTS” SöREN KLARSSoftware Engineer MARY O’CALLAGHANMindfulness Trainer / Psychotherapist

9 SARAH RuANEPsychotherapist My magical moment happened on a visit home with my new boyfriend - the unveiling. I live at the foot of a mountain and as a little girl I used to dream of the day when I would bring my prince charming up there and share my special place. So that’s what we did! On with the hiking boots and up the mountain we went. It was perfect! The only sad piece was that my dad had passed on and was not there in person to meet us. So, on Sunday, we visited his grave. I said, “So, Dad, what do you think, will he do?” With that, a beautiful light shone down on our mountain, exactly where we were the day before. We believe that this was a sign from Dad letting us know he is still around and he does approve! findingmylight@gmail.com One magical moment was walking across the candlelit glass bridge in the Cultivate centre, into a room filled with the most amazing at- mosphere, people and music. At the time an underground event called the Funky Seomra, a most incredible night of dance, liberation and Tea; and of course this would not be the event it is without the 300-500 odd dazzling souls that go every month. Another moment was attending an enlightening weekly meeting called the Buddha Bag. The- se are brilliant events that celebrate life and I could not have imagined the amazing, wonder- ful, beautiful, vibrant, open, joyous, fun-loving, caring, INSPIRING, colourful, loving people that have, continue to and will come into my life. I would love to take up the whole page and name you all but if you know me then I am tal- king about you. I wish to also thank my glo- rious parents for the most Magical Moment of all…LIFE. and the City JESS BRIDGEMANArtist / Graphic Designer For the past few years, I had been searching for the job of my dreams and couldn’t understand why I hadn’t found it yet. Eve- rything else in my life seemed to just fall into place and the one thing I focused on most was the biggest struggle. I was exhausted. It ended up I just needed to get a job, any job, to pay the bills. So I let go. As soon as I did, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I realised how much pressure I had actually been putting on myself. Then I started to look at everything else in my life. My amazing boyfriend, beautiful dog, loving family, great friends I’ve made...I was actually walking on a cloud, basking in utter appreciation... and the next thing you know, I get the job: the job that ticks all the boxes and opens many doors. Life is amazing right now! It feels like anything is possible. www.jessicabridgeman.com JOE QuINNAuctioneer / Estate Agent

Photo: Emma Brereton Reduce Stress and Anxiety Improve Health Increase Energy & Vitality Enhance Memory & Focus Manage Weight Eliminate Unwanted Habits Overcome Limiting Beliefs Enhance Self-Esteem Increase Intuitive Abilities Connect with Life Purpose SUMMER 2009 3 THE MEANING OF LIFE God, the Universe and Everything? THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE Exclusive Interviews with Bruce Lipton and Lynne McTaggart MUM’S THE WORD Food for Mum and Baby FESTIVAL LIFE How green is their scene? AUTUMN 2009 3 PL_autumn_09_d4.indd 104/09/2009 14:53:14 AUTUMN 2009 3 RELATIONSHIPS Me, Myself and I ... and You SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Community Resilience with Davie Philip EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRYWarm your Heart and Boost your Serotonin THE QUEEN OF THE NEW AGE Exclusive Interview with Louise L Hay WINTER 2009 3 PL_winter_09_d1.indd 1 30/11/2009 10:59:48 Would you like To subscribe go to www.positivelife.ie delivered to your door? ¾=bUb]XYU`kcf`XYjYfmcbYbYYXgUkYY_k]h\@]n"¿7"7 ¾=k]g\=Wci`XghUm`cb[Yf mciÁjY[]jYbaY\cdYh\UhUbmh\]b[]gdcgg]V`Y"¿5AW ¾=ZYY`U`][\h\UgVYYbgk]hW\YXcb]bg]XYaYUbX=ZYY`df]j]`Y[YXhc\UjYVYYb []jYbgiW\U[]Zh"¿9"?" ¾H\YVYgh\c`]XUm=\UjYYjYf\UX"¿7"G ¾H\YW\UhYUi]gUaUn]b[Vihh\YWcadUbmUbXh\Y`Ui[\gUfYk\Uh=Á``fYaYaVYf acgh¿>"> ¾H\]g\UgVYYbUkcbXYfZi`UXjYbhifYcZa]bXVcXmUbXgd]f]h Wca]b[hc7]jfUW Zcfh\Y&bXh]aY]g`]_YWca]b[\caY"¿J""B  7]jfUW CbYWci`Xkf]hYfYUagUVcihh\YVYUih]Zi`giffcibX]b[gUfcibX7]jfUW  cfh\YhUghmbihf]h]cigZccXUjU]`UV`Y cfh\YZibUbX`Ui[\hYf VihdYf\Udg gb]ddYhgZfcah\Yj]g]hcfÁgVcc_gia]hidVYhhYf @cc_]b[ZcfkUfXhcgYY]b[U``W`]Ybhgc`XUbXbYk" :cfZifh\YfXYhU]`gj]g]hkkk"W]jfUWgUbWhiUfm"Wca gUbWhiUfM aWbcObSR![W\cbSaT`][0]`RSOcfQS\b`SW\bVSVSO`b]TbVSdW\SgO`RQ]c\b`gaWRS PL_autumn_09_d4.indd 3207/09/2009 08:39:20

When I finished school in Slovakia, there weren’t many opportunities to progress in my life. I was young and I wanted some new experiences so I came to Ireland to improve my English. I wanted a challenge and at the time my English was very bad. My first job was packing shelves in a supermarket, then I got a job as a doorman for a nightclub, but I didn’t want to always be working for someone else. I saw an opportunity here, like when people see “new” ideas that are making money in other coun- tries and then open up something “unusual” in their own country. In my country there are many tea houses and I thought that that idea was perfect for Ireland because many people were sick of pubs and nightclubs and they were looking for something new; somewhere quiet they could relax and chill out, maybe play some chess or have a great date without drunk peo- ple around. It was very difficult to open this place, but I had help from my brother Marial and my American friend Alan who helped me to communicate with different offices. We asked a bank for a business loan but they said that if we don’t sell alcohol then we can’t do business in Ireland, so they refused it. They didn’t get the idea, but it’s okay; it was just another challenge for us. We wanted to be the first people to open up this kind of place in Ireland. Even if it didn’t work, nobody could take that away from us. I was working at my other job in the night so I had my days free to do some painting or construction on this place. We did a lot of the work ourselves to save money. It cost us a lot of energy and time and we left a huge piece of our heart here, but I hope it’s worth it. Here, there are not many places to go in the night- time if you don’t want to visit a pub or a nightclub. Most of the cafes and parks close at 6pm. What I’m offering is nice organic tea in a different atmosphere for 1 or 2 hours. I know people like it as I always see the same faces coming back. We have people showing up from all over the world, getting in out of the Irish weather. In my country it’s the best place for a date. You have your privacy, you can lie down on pillows upstairs, nobody rushes you and there are no messy drunk people around, so you can talk with the woman that you love. In my opinion, it’s the best thing. It’s also a great alternative for young people. I see the Irish Government fighting to reduce the problems of alcohol in Ireland. In my opinion, they should help to open up places like mine. This is a place where young people can come to hang out, play some games, read a book or use the free Wi-Fi. On our menu, we have teas from Japan, China, India and South America. If you close your eyes and drink the tea, for a few moments you can be somewhere else. It’s a nice relaxing way to clean up your body from toxins and even from bad habits and thoughts. Feeling good is the best thing you can do for your body. I had no idea about tea before this. I never went to the tea houses because of the tea. I just liked the uni- que atmosphere. When I became interested in the business, I started to find out all about the science and history of teas. In my opinion, we can learn a lot from Asia and the Orient. Drinking tea there is a ritual. The family get together in a quiet place and prepare a nice relaxing tea. The people in the East may not have a lot of things but they have the most important thing: Dreams. POSITIVE PERSONALITYMarcel Polak For more info, visit www.tea-garden.com For a man who likes a challenge, Marcel Polak certainly found one when he tried to open a non-alcoholic late-night tea house here in Ireland. Determined to be his own boss and to fill a niche he’d found in the market, he persevered, and one- and-a-half years later “The Tea Garden” is a firm favourite among Dublin’s trendy teetotallers. Interviewed by Patrick Bridgeman11 Photo: Emma Brereton

I meet people all the time who are unhap- py. I hear them say, “I want to be a mil- lionaire; I want to own a villa in the sun, etc.” But few have actually taken the time out to honestly make any positive changes. Instead, most just focus on how unhappy they are. Those who do take time out find some- thing interesting. They find they actually want happiness, contentment, success and good health. But there is a clear misalign- ment between what they truly want and what they actually have now. Why don’t we have what we truly want? For most, it’s because deep down they don’t feel “worthy” of living the life of their dreams. Have you closed the door on your happi- ness and the life you truly want and deserve? Is it possible to change this? Absolutely, Yes! VISUALISE YOUR FUTURE First, you need to realize your personal self worth. To do this, shut down the internal critic. Catch those negative thoughts, stop and reframe. Turn each negative into a positive statement. “I am no good at making Yvonne Clarke is a Personal NLP Coach and runs a practice in Balbriggan. Yvonne has also recorded some self-help hypnosis CD’s which work to reinforce your subconscious positive thinking. If you would like to book a private coaching appointment to explore your unique journey further, call 0877641818, email info@spiritualrays.com or visit www.spiritualrays.com Taking stepstowards a Positive Life As you let go of the negatives, you will experience increased self-esteem and optimism. Take the opportunity to reframe your perspective and see yourself and your life differently - see yourself with a new exciting partner, experience the beauty of peace in your life, take the time to search for the job of your dreams, believe in your ability to build your future each day. You may think this sounds all very well and good but is not reality. Believe me - your reality today is a direct result of your past thoughts. Every action starts as a thought. As Henry Ford said, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” The most successful people in the world didn’t get there without facing setbacks, but they believed in their ability to suc- ceed and focused on moving forward with renewed resolve. To them, setbacks are an opportunity to refocus, regroup and plan a successful outcome. RULES FOR SUCCESS: · Accept setbacks as an opportunity to refo- cus, regroup and plan success. · Face your fears, work through them towards your goal. · Be patient. Reflect and plan for success. Absorb each step along the way. · Go beyond your comfort zone; take calcu- lated risks, as this builds self-esteem and resilience. · Find a role model, someone you admire who has achieved what you wish to achie- ve, model their behaviour and their beliefs, and find out what helped them to reach their goal. · Be clear about your goals. Have specific, measured and realistic goals. · Be solution focused and proactive. · Break large goals into smaller goals, then you won’t feel overwhelmed. · Seek the support of friends, family or a pro- fessional personal coach. · Give yourself credit for your achievements. · Welcome setbacks as opportunities to learn. · Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. · Rest, look after your body and it will look after you! When you follow these steps, you become aware of your natural innate ability to mas- ter your future NOW, and see real positive changes in your life. Remember, every step you take in the direction of your dreams brings your dreams closer to reality! By Yvonne Clarke changes in my life” becomes “I am making positive and healthy decisions every day.” Become aware of your thoughts, fee- lings and negative self-talk, and change them to match the positive outcome you desire. “Visualize a Positive Future.” Create this image and practice visualising it every day, soon it will become reality. WORk ThROUGh ANY SETbACkS POSITIVELY You may experience setbacks. These are natural occurrences, an opportunity to train your subconscious mind to recreate your new pattern of positive thinking. Setbacks are simply an opportunity to learn some- thing which will propel you forward into success. Take time, listen to your inner wisdom, use your intuition and get clear about your next step. There is no such thing as “failure”, only “feedback”. CONGRATULATE YOURSELF ON YOUR PROGRESS Give yourself credit along the way. Make mental and written notes of your successes, your wins and the positive changes. 12

31 naetura alice bozena possible self www.bcenteredu.ie The holistic & spiritual web directory bCenteredU is a new kind of online directory that aims to spread the word of healing and give both practitioners and end-users a way of finding one another. Log on... ...and start the search for something life changing. For more information Call: (+353) 086 6651544 Email: info@bcenteredu.ie bCenteredu ad.indd 105/11/2009 16:13:04 Health & WellnessYour Body, Your Choice! for more information, contact BA Marzena Kolano - 085 7066 835 Free Consultation Health problems? Continual treatment with little or no results? Bring Your Body back to Balance by using all natural combined supplements tailor made for you Finally in Ireland The Most Successful Treatment By NATURE THE POSSIBLE SELF promotes prosperity in all areas of your life by offering you practical solutions to achieve the success you deserve both personally and financially. If you truly want to experience the peace that comes from being a real success on your own terms, make better decisions, trust your intuition and live with integrity, start today. Start designing your own luck, so you can lead the life you were meant to live. JOIN THE EVOLUTION If you are interested in personal development and are an ambitious, self motivated individual and want to reach your optimum potential personally and financially, then email your CV to ainne@thepossibleself.com or visit www.thepossibleself.com Naetura introduces to Ireland a new generation of affordable certified organic personal care products, based on pure natural plant-source ingredients with the highest possible content of active ingredient reaching percentages of up to 97% ......Pure & simple! Naetura organic products can be used by the whole family & are of special benefit to anyone with a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis etc. Complete your healthy lifestyle & protect our fragile beautiful environment with Naetura WE DO NOT USE: parabens » synthetic perfumes » sulphates » crude-oil derivatives » such as paraffin other synthetic » or aggressive ingredients. To find out more call into your local health store and ask for Naetura or visit www.naetura.ie

nibbles reiki fedsunstone 2YQIVSYWLIEPXLFIRI´XWˆ 'VIEXIELIEPXL]REXYVEPERHGEPQMRKEXQSWTLIVIMR]SYVLSQIˆ 0EVKIVERKISJREXYVEPERHWLETIHHIWMKRWˆ 'SQTIXMXMZITVMGIWˆ 8LITIVJIGXKMJXER]XMQISJXLI]IEVˆ ;IEPWSHSWIPIGXIHLMKLUYEPMX],IEPXL ;IPPRIWWTVSHYGXWˆ WYGLEWXLISVMKMREPWEPXTMTIJSVEWXLQELIEPMRKGPE]ERHQSVIŸ &Y]SRPMRIEX[[[WYRWXSRIXVEHMRKGSQSVGSRXEGX %RXLSR]EX0SGEPP (IWXVIWW]SYV PMZMRKEVIE[MXLE 7YRWXSRI'V]WXEP 7EPX0EQT Josephine Sweeney a Certified Heal Your Life® Coach & Workshop Leader trained by Patricia Crane, Ph.D., runs group courses and one2one Life Coaching based on the philosophy of Louise Hay best selling author of You Can Heal Your Life®. The following events are scheduled for January 2010:- “The Pathway to New Beginnings” 2 Day Workshop Saturday & Sunday 30th&31st January (10am-5.30pm) 8 Week Course Study Thursday 28th January - 18th March (7-9pm) Ennis, Co. Clare For further information contact josesweeney@ eircom.net or mobile: 0876926715 on availability/ cost of courses and one2one Life Coaching Mary Dalgleish www.head2toemassage.co.uk Tel: 0044 (0) 20 88749047 For further information or to arrange a course in your area, contact course tutor Mary Dalgleish (+44 (0)20 88749047; marydalgleish@yahoo.co.uk; www.head2toemassage.co.uk). Dublin venue is Walmer College (www.walmer.ie) Mary is an experienced therapist, tutor & co-author of “Ear Candling in Essence” & “Indian Head Massage in Essence” published by Hodder Arnold. CPD Courses for Therapists London: regularly; Dublin: February & October 2010 • Natural Face Lift Massage (Facial Rejuvenation) • Natural Facials • Ear Candling • Ayurvedic Kansa Vatki ™ Foot Massage • Indian Head Massage • Advanced Indian Head Massage CPD Courses for Therapists in Dublin: February 2010 s

Living with Integrity By Sarah Bird Sarah Bird is a Personal Development Consultant and a leading practitioner of Energy Psychology Techniques and Non-violent Communication. For information on consultations and workshops, log onto www.sarahbird.ie “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.” alan simpson 15 Integrity- what is it? We’re all totally in favour of it, but do we live it? We’d like our politicians to display integrity, we’d like bankers and property developers to display integrity. We’d especially like our colleagues and family to display integrity. But if we are to be in integrity with others, we have to be in integrity with ourselves first. As David Gruder says in his book, The New IQ, “The single greatest thing that keeps us out of integrity with ourselves, others and the collective is our undigested life experiences.” So how do we digest these life experiences and find freedom? There are many solutions offered and it comes down to making the best choice for us as individuals, because being in integrity with ourselves often demands that we change. Are we prepared to walk the talk and make the oft-times difficult decisions that need to be made if we’re to be in integrity with our true selves - or do we show a mask to the world and live very differently? Several years ago, I was attending a day with an “enlightened being”, or so I was led to believe. I was disappointed to witness this person preaching one way of being but then modelling the opposite of what they were preaching. I sat there and thought, “the mask has slipped.” Our values and beliefs are an expression of our spiritual connection and we have to be in line with them. If not, we become dis- connected from our essence and so fall out of integrity. The question we need to ask ourselves is as follows: “How can I maintain the abundant flow of life energy I need for authenticity, for connection and for service?” Let’s take authenticity first. We all know intuitively when someone is not genuine. Again, look at some of the political and business community and it’s very easy to see where someone has stopped working in the public interest and started to become self- serving. Echoing the words of Tom Peters, “There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.” It’s less easy to spot, however, when we get into the ‘grey areas’ – when we can choose to have minor lapses in truthfulness, be untruthful, partially truthful or fully truthful. What is important is the intention behind the choice. Is it for my personal gain, or is it out of integrity and concern for your personal safety or our greater good? Someone may have different values to me, but I can still appreciate how they are living their life through integrity to their beliefs and values. Now let’s look at how integrity influences our sense of connection. At all times, we need to be aware of what we’re saying, aware of its consequences, aware of its ability to hurt others or make them feel like lesser human beings. If we are genuinely tuned in to what we’re saying and to its personal ramifications, and we take responsibility for what we’re saying, we walk the path of integrity. And finally, we need to look at the concept of service if we are to display true integrity. Unlike servitude, service is a way of inte- racting with our fellow human beings with a deep respect that brings love into the equation. Even if it’s just hoovering the house or washing up after dinner, you add a massive heaping of integrity to the experience if you can treat it as an act of love. The Latin expression probably sums it up best: ‘labo- rare est orare’ – to work is to pray. So, if you see someone who is struggling, offer help. If they look overwhelmed, is there something you can do to ease the load? Integrity, in short, is the value that enhances all your other values and is the cornerstone of our character. It’s simply no longer accepta- ble to say to others, “Do as I say”, it’s got to become a matter of, “Do as I do”. So resolve today to live your life from a place of integrity. No other quality has the ability to enhance all aspects of your life to such a degree, and to add fulfilment and enrichment to both your own life and those around you. “Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.” ~David Star Jordan, The Philosophy of Despair

realised I had been engaging with the world through my mind and had been living some distance from my body. Bit by bit, as I reclaimed my body, it offered back to me (as if grateful that I had acknowledged its existence) a gateway into myself, my truths, my imagination, my shadow, my capacity to witness, my authen- tic pulse and a deep wisdom. In hidden corners of the cells of this body, I met my deepest longings and parts of me that I had unconsciously buried in order to survive. This body showed me how everything and everyone is connected. It taught me how to be present with everything, every situation, every feeling, every person we meet. Most magically, it offered me a quality of softness that I had never before allowed myself to experience or live from. Living purely from the mind, absorbed in our thoughts, is a rigid, constrictive and exhausting way to be. The mind usually has us engaged in one of three pursuits: 1. Judging, 2 Criticising, 3. Fixing. It is relent- lessly hard on us, on those we love and even unassuming strangers we meet along the way. With the mind as captain of our ship, we keep playing out old stories and learned patterns of behaviour, over and over. The glorious climb back into our bodies 16 THE BODY offers an alternative; our per- ception of ourselves and the world changes. Living with awareness in the body brings a softer and a much more powerful way of being in the world. It opens up a fullness and a robust kind of existence. Best of all, it offers relief and an alternative to the Judge, the Critic and the Fixer, and provides the doorway into the storehouse of sensations and feelings that can guide us to true wis- dom and our expanding consciousness. In reclaiming the body we do not reject the mind, but rather allow the mind to do what it does best: be our tool for navigation. We need the mind to figure out which bus will get us to work on time. But it’s not the best mechanism to ask, “How am I doing?” The body holds the real answer to that kind of inquiry. I call it a deep knowing, our compass, our unique guidance system should we choose to inquire and listen to our body. Begin the climb down. As you read this, become aware of the aliveness in your hands. If you are holding the magazine become aware of the contact between the magazine and the skin of your hands. If you’re not holding the magazine become aware of the temperature of your right hand in this moment. Allow your attention to rest in your hands for 15 seconds. You are practi- cing embodied reading. Notice how it feels. Don’t think about it, feel it. Embodied Movement, Dance, Felden- krais, Focusing, Alexander Technique, Mindfulness and Yoga are just some of the ways into the body. But it is the intention of growing our awareness and listening to our bodies whilst doing any one of those prac- tices that really brings you in and down. It becomes a daily spiritual practice that brings rich rewards. Personally, when I’m living an embodied life, it feels like I’m in a 3D movie. When I forget, everything reverts to the flat screen one dimensional version. For so long we humans have been encou- raged to separate from our earthly body, to reject the flesh as a path to enlightenment. The time has come in our evolution to full-heartedly drop down into the earthi- ness of our flesh and bones and discover the supreme intelligence available to each and every one of us. And in so doing, our glorious bodies will not only contain our expanding spirit, but will be the vehicle for its fully evolved expression. By Mari Kennedy Mari Kennedy is a Consultant Coach, Movement Therapist and Yoga Teacher with a practice in Oscailt. Email: marikennedy@eircom.net I have been in this body of mine for just over four decades. Through most of those years, it carried me around; much of the time it defined me; it took my abuse (I’m thinking the nights in those 4 inch high stilettos as much as the more obvious abuse of my 20’s); it became the hanger on which I expressed my unique take on fashion; it has attracted, perhaps repelled and often connected me to many people; its skin the boundary that physically separated me from others and the world. In those years, I despised parts of it, tried often to change it and spent far too much time looking through critical eyes at it in the mirror. Yet in all that time, I didn’t ever really feel wholly connected to it. Then one evening 5 years ago, dancing barefoot on a wooden floor to the beat of drums, eyes closed, I met “the soft ani- mal” of my body, and so began the most gloriously fulfilling and rewarding rela- tionship I have experienced thus far in this physical existence! At that peak moment, a doorway opened into a way of being human that changed my relationship with myself and the world. I “MOST MAGICALLY, IT OFFEREd ME A qUALITY OF SOFTNESS ThAT I hAd NEVER bEFORE ALLOWEd MYSELF TO ExPERIENCE OR LIVE FROM”

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the Rhythm of Life I have been drumming most of my life and have been a professional percussionist for over 35 years. Although at first my interest in drumming was purely from a musical viewpoint, my interest in the healing pro- perties of drumming came at an early stage. I can vividly remember one afternoon, just as I was finishing up after “practicing” on my drum-set, I noticed that I was feeling really good, relaxed and calm. I had always felt that way after drumming, but this time I really thought about it, and I was convinced that the drumming had a lot to do with the way I was feeling. This moment was the very first step I took in a very long journey of reading, researching, travelling and studying the health benefits of drumming / rhythm. In my 25 years of travel and research, I discovered African drumming and healing practices, the ancient healing ways of the Celtic Shaman and his drum, the ritual healing Taiko drummers from Japan, the celebrating Samba drummers from Brazil, the Mother Earth worshiping drummers of the Native American Indians, the ancient Women Frame drummers from Mediterra- nean Europe who drummed for the Great Goddesses, and found a whole world of contemporary investigation and research into this ancient practice. Drumming has been used for centuries in many cultures around the world to create and maintain physical, mental and spiritual health. In fact, drumming is one of the ear- liest forms of Holistic Therapy, encouraging naturally altered states of consciousness and meditation, endowing us with a greater sense of connectedness with self and others. From the Shamans of Mongolia to the Minianka healers of West Africa, therapeu- tic rhythm techniques have been used to cure illnesses such as stress, fatigue, anxiety and emotional disorders, as well as helping to build community and bonding amongst groups of people. In recent times, this type of “drum the- rapy” is making a strong come back, in the form of “recreational drum circles” and is sweeping across the Atlantic from the USA (where it is currently recognised as the fastest growing Holistic / Therapeutic / Recreational pastime) with great speed. So what is this Drum Therapy? Drum therapy is a method of utilising the immense power of rhythm and applying it to an individual or group of people to com- mence a healing process. This may manifest itself physically, psychologically, emotional- ly, intellectually, spiritually or socially. The format used is normally the “drum circle” format, where people sit in a circle and play drums and percussion instruments together. Sounds like a lot of fun… and yes, it is. Recent research on the subject of the healing benefits of drumming indicate that drumming accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system, produces fee- lings of well-being, helps release emotional trauma and assists reintegration of self. From a social point of view, drumming in a group drum circle is very empowering and provides a sense of connectedness with others and interpersonal support. It has also been noted that group drumming alleviates self-centeredness, isolation, and alienation and provides an authentic experience of unity and physiological synchronicity. Drumming is very much like athletics and martial arts in so far as the constant repetition of playing repeated rhythmical patterns can put us in a transcendental state that athletes call “the zone” where we become very alert and focused and are able to react effortlessly and spontaneously to our surroundings. Drumming together brings out the child in all of us and allows us to “play” once more, to make noise and express how we feel without using the spoken word. Rhythm is an International language we can all speak, we only have to start a sen- tence with a pulse and the conversation will grow and flourish. A drum circle is all inclu- sive… young, old, all cultures, religions, genders, beginners or advanced. It is built on respect and harmony and is normally led by a DCF (Drum Circle Facilitator) in a recreational setting, or a Drum Therapist in a more therapeutic / holistic setting such as health centres, counselling groups or holis- tic gatherings. The most popular reason why people take up group drumming is to have some fun and to relieve stress. Drum- ming has been proven to increase our Alpha brainwaves, those brainwaves associated with feelings of well-being and euphoria. If you have never tried drumming as a pathway to health and well-being, I urge you to try it sometime. Drumming is our way to connect with the powerful force that is rhythm. When you make that connection and begin your drumming journey you will discover that Rhythm is Life, and Life is Rhythm.19 Eddie O’Neill is a Drum Circle Facilitator and Drum Therapy Student at Diploma level. He runs recreational drumming courses and rhythm retreats throughout Ireland. Visit www.rhythmretreats.com or call him on 0879151134 for more information. By Eddie O’Neill

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After many years of trying various practices, one day I walked into a class in Rialto called Bio-Energy Meditation, a form of energy work that originated in the jungles of Bali from an extraordinary energy master: Ratu Bagus. The practice focuses on releasing energy that is blocked in the body, in order to wake up the vital force “Chi”. It involves focusing on various Mantras while shaking the body. Once unleashed, the energy begins to clean the organs, strengthen the immune system, and calm the mind and the emotions. During the practice, the energy sometimes felt like explosions of light in my body, or liquid fire moving through my organs and into my cells, vibrating and pulsating throu- gh every part of me. I felt this “liquid fire” was literally burning away any negativity in my body. After each class, I felt cleansed and rejuvenated, and after a few months, I started to feel radically different. I could feel my heart was unfolding and opening. I felt happiness and contentment in myself that was never there before. Phy- sically, I started to lose weight. I had more vitality and zest for life. Emotionally, I felt a peace inside and a calmness that is hard to describe. I wanted more of this “energy” stuff. I wanted to go deeper, so I packed my bags for Bali… In Bali, the training intensified: 3 ses- sions a day, 3 hours a session. By the 2nd week, I was exhausted. I had blisters on my feet, and my body was covered in mos- quito bites. My muscles were aching from all the physical shaking, but underneath all of this, my desire to experience my soul was so strong it overcame all the pain. Every session, I would call to my soul, like a baby calling to its mother in a completely vulnerable state, crying, demanding that she would come, show herself to me and take care of me in my quest to understand myself and grow. By day eleven, the energy began to build a force of its own. I was getting closer. I could feel it. Then it happened: day eleven - the evening shake. I started to really focus on the mantra “Om Swastiastu Ratu Bagus.” I felt a bolt of electricity surge through my body. It jolted me upright like I had been hit by lightning. I was filled with a feeling of exhilaration. I opened my hands to wel- come the energy and allow the divine to do its work. A very fine vibration was shaking me at a very high intensity - it was shaking me. It felt very sacred. I knew all I had to do was to somehow catch the wave of this feeling and it would take me to where it wanted me to go. I let myself go. Suddenly I saw beams of light in front of me, like rocket launchers above my head. I felt lightness and heard a voice saying, “Well, you did call me. I’m here.” I was looking at a symbol that was pure light. It was the most exquisite thing I had ever experienced. It lingered above me like a huge hologram, filling the entire space above my head. I felt it was both in me and all around me. New chakras that I didn’t even know existed were ope- ning up and exploding inside of me, along with feelings of pure bliss beyond any other experience I have had on this planet. This sacred GOD/LOVE frequency was showing me the perfection of the universe, and that nothing is chaotic and all is exactly as it should be. Wave after wave of realisa- tion was coming into my body. The energy was spinning really fast all around me now; it had a complete momen- tum of its own. I could see spirals of light all around my body - like wheels of light. It was effortless; the energy was completely carrying me. It felt like I had found my own axis and I was spinning on it. I had been in this state for over an hour and it felt like just a few minutes. I knew that the session time was going to be up soon and I made a conscious effort to ground myself. Another flash came... This time, I saw a galaxy of stars, thousands of them. I felt as though I was one of them. It was so exqui- sitely perfect, I couldn’t help but cry; it was too much for my system to take in… Wave after wave of the purest love I’ve ever felt was gushing into my heart. I experienced it as a deep sweetness and at the same time the most powerful force there is. In one second, I was witness to how vast and how perfect the universe is, and how much LOVE there is waiting to be called into my life. Eight years on, I am still 100% devoted to this practice. My life has changed beyond measure in so many ways. I feel truly blessed. For more info, visit www.ratubagus.com The Movement of the Soul By Sharon Miller “I WAS LOOkING AT A SYMbOL ThAT WAS PURE LIGhT. IT WAS ThE MOST ExqUISITE ThING I hAd EVER ExPERIENCEd.” 21

I touched on the subject of relationships in my last article, The Meaning of Life. Wri- ting that article now seems like a walk in the park compared to trying to explain what I’m completely immersed in in every moment of my life, yet may never fully understand in all of my lifetimes put to- gether: Relationships. I do know one thing: my wife is my Guru. I didn’t realise it until well into our rela- tionship but she was the catalyst for most of the issues that came up in me for healing. That’s a nice way of putting it, compared to the words I used to describe her part in my process at the times they were occurring. I do love her, and it was after a good friend of mine told me that having that kind of a relationship was more of a blessing than a curse (especially as we are so good at com- municating our truth to each other that it always leads to a healing) that I decided to ask her to marry me. We’re still “helping” each other to bring our issues to light (mental, physical and energetic blockages that seem ready to be cleared) and we’re getting better at reco- gnising when something is my issue or hers or both of ours. And if we don’t manage to clear an issue properly the first time it shows up, it’s always willing to show up again and again and again until we finally get it. Recently while we were on holiday, Evi (my wife) became ill, which I found frus- trating. Then after wallowing in those feelings for a while, I became ill, which made me angry. Then I became even more ill, which was when I noticed the pattern that was developing. The more negative my thoughts and emotions were, the more physically ill my body became. That was a lesson I thought I’d learned long ago. I guess not. I’m still learning that the outside world of people and things is a reflection of our inner world of beliefs and perceptions. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and it is given. Whatever you focus on, you’ll attract into your life in one form or another. I’ve found that I also play a part in other people’s healing and issues. Sometimes I find myself behaving in a way that doesn’t so much feel like “me” as what the person I’m interacting with expects me to be, as if their beliefs draw out certain aspects of my personality more than others. They storm off feeling justified that what they believe about the world is true and I’m left standing there wondering what just happened. I learned a big lesson about others being a mirror of ourselves recently when I got so annoyed at a friend’s behaviour that I wrote down every single thing that I thought he’d done “wrong” and emailed it to him. Nee- dless to say, he saw the situation differently, but whose truth was the true truth? Is there such a thing? Does it really matter? As the situation progressed, I noticed that a lot of what I was criticising him about was actually behaviour that I myself exhibited in one form or another at one time or ano- ther, and the reason it annoyed me so much to see it in him was because I still hadn’t made peace with it in myself. What a reve- lation! It opened a valve and released so much pressure from my mind and my life. Part of me wishes it didn’t have to happen the way that it did, but sometimes I don’t get the subtle hints. One thing is for sure, you can’t control how someone else will feel when you do what you do, so you may as well go with your heart’s desire and take comfort in the fact that you’re being true to yourself. If you do that, then others will respond in a way that brings you closer to your goal, even if it doesn’t appear that way at the time. God (or whatever you want to call it) works in mysterious, wonderful ways; and you are God. So, when it all comes down to it, your relationship with yourself is the most important one of all as that is the foundation for all of the other relationships in your world. Me, Myself and I: the relationship between Mind, Body and Spirit. It’s such a big topic it requires a whole article to itself. For now, I’ll simply say, look to yourself when trying to find the answers as to why your world is the way it is, why your rela- tionships are the way they are and who’s going to help you to make them even better. We all live in our own little world as we all have a unique view of the world, an interpretation of events based on our beliefs (beliefs that affect manifestations that affirm beliefs and on and on and on). You’re wonderful and I know you’re doing your best. Life is here to be shared, that’s why there are so many of us. Sometimes we forget that we’re all One having fun with the many manifestations of what we are. Who do you want to be in your relation- ships with others? It’s something to decide with each person in each moment. It’s not hard, but it may seem complicated. Love knows what to do in every moment, so if you live from love, from your heart and head combined, you can have it all for all to enjoy. By Patrick Bridgeman Relationships “WhEN IT ALL COMES dOWN TO IT, YOUR RELATIONShIP WITh YOURSELF IS ThE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF ALL” 23 Where do WE begin?

Recently dubbed “the Queen of the New Age”, Louise L Hay is also known as one of the founders of the self-help movement. Her first book was published in 1976, long before it was fashionable to discuss the connection between the mind and body. Louise now heads Hay House, a successful publishing company which includes many notable authors in the self-help movement. She has also founded two non-profit charitable organizations and has recently released “You Can Heal Your Life: The Movie”, a film on her life and work. Patricia Crane, Heal Your Life® workshop leader, was privileged to conduct an exclusive personal interview with Louise for Positive Life. Patricia: From knowing you all these years, I know the depth of your intention to share all the healing that you have learned about with people. We now have some fantastic Heal Your Life teachers in Ireland. It has just spread around the world in absolutely amazing ways. I also see your book and teachings as being absolutely timeless. Louise: It is a timeless book. It’s been over 22 years and is still going strong. Patricia: Absolutely. And let me ask you this, do you think that your work has changed at all? Has anything been added over those years? Louise: Well, I think it’s simplified in a lot of ways. It comes down basically to fear and anger, which are very closely related, being the negative things that get in our way, and also love and forgiveness that open the doors again. As to what I’m actually doing these days… I don’t speak very much any- more at all, but I find people who are doing really good work and I support them and open the gateways so the world can know about them. I find that very satisfying. I don’t have to do it all myself anymore. Patricia: That is wonderful, and certainly Hay House has expanded in amazing ways with your influence and guidance 24 You CanHeal Your Life An Exclusive Interview with Louise L Hay By Patricia Craneand has an incredible number of authors these days that are really doing fantastic things. Louise: Yes. It just does my heart so much good to find someone like Bruce Lipton, who is so passionate about his work and he’s such an excellent teacher and speaker, and to broaden his audience. It’s the same thing with Abraham, with Jerry and Esther Hicks. It gives them a really huge audience. See, the people I discover, I never want to change their work. I don’t want to change a word about what they are doing. I just want to open that gateway so that more people know about them. Patricia: Wonderful. I know that Hay House has been publishing a number of books about the shift for 2012. Where do you see consciousness going with that kind of a shift? Louise: I don’t know actually. I don’t

know. But, what I am very much against at the moment is a new movie that has just come out and it’s called 2012. They advertise it joyfully as the most dismal of catastrophic movies that has ever been made. I think a lot of people are going to take advantage of this date and sell fear, and that’s just such a stupid thing to do. Remember when 2000 came? Patricia: Yes. And the computers were all going to crash and everything. Louise: People were selling fear. All of these horrible things were going to happen, etc. We would never get past the year 2000. And nothing happened! There was a glitch and we had to take care of it. I think wha- tever is coming up will be a positive thing for humanity. But, between now and then we have some cleaning up to do. It’s very obvious. If you look at the government and the industries and business and every- thing, there’s too much greed going on in this world. It needs to be let go of. People need to trust that they will actually be safe without having to fight for themselves, because as you know, it’s all consciousness. Patricia: Absolutely. Also, I think your point about so many things needing to be cleaned up is really accurate. I think something that a lot of people do struggle with in the spiritual realm, which I want to ask you about is: when does attracting abundance and affirming for abundance go over the line and become greed? I’ve had a lot of people ask me that question. Louise: Well, are those people who have abundance or don’t have abundance? Patricia: Mostly they don’t have abundance. Louise: But they’re worried about someo- ne else getting too much. See I think we concentrate too much on abundance. Yes, money is wonderful and it’s important to have. It does make life easier. But, what is the point of driving down the street in a brand new car if you’re having road rage and screaming at people? The inner things are so much more important than the outer things: peace of mind and feeling good as you walk down the street, and knowing when you wake up in the morning that it’s going to be a good day. You know, knowing that the people in your life are friendly. One of the affirmations I say a lot is, “I bless and prosper everyone in my world, and everyone in my world blesses and pros- pers me.” Patricia: That’s beautiful. Louise: Well, you know, what you give out is what you’re going to get back. And if people would just remember that one little thing, that “what you give out, you’re going to get back.” If you give out a lot of fear, you’re going to get back things to be frigh- tened about. If you give our a lot of anger, you’ll find many things to be angry about. But you need to really make peace with yourself. Decide that this is a good day. Patricia: Lovely. I think that really answers one of the questions I’ve gotten from Ireland in that it seems like even though we’re looking at (financial) reco- very here (in the US), there’s still a tre- mendous amount of fear going out in the media in Ireland. So, you know, what you’ve just said about peace of mind and focusing on the positive is going to be so helpful for them. Louise: I think that an affirmation which is very important for people to use right now is, “Life loves me and I am safe.” Patricia: That’s beautiful. Louise: It’s a good thing to hang onto. Then watch the nice things happen. Patricia: As you mentioned there are so many wonderful people out there really sharing such fantastic positive ideas in their work, and that’s where people need to focus. Are there any other authors or light workers from Hay House or elsewhere that you want to recommend? Louise: Well, I think it’s very interesting that psychics used to predict dire things. But, the psychics that are coming around today are much more positive. They give positive messages to people. We have John Holland, who is an excellent psy- chic, and he gives a wonderful message to people. Doreen Virtue talks about the angels and fairies and she gives beautiful, soothing messages to people. I’m pleased that there are so many people doing that sort of work. Patricia: What fun things are you doing for yourself these days? Louise: I’m gardening. Well, you know, I live in a high-rise and I haven’t had a gar- den for some time. Two years ago I bought a little weekend place up in Carlsbad and it’s right on a lagoon. The first thing I did there was put in a vegetable garden so I can have my food again. I love that. Patricia: Oh, wonderful. I’m sure you enjoy it a lot. Louise: I put in a pond and there are fishes. It’s very soothing for me. It is 35 minutes away and it’s like another world. Patricia: That’s wonderful. That’s exci- ting. Well let me just ask you one final question. As you know, we do have a number of Heal Your Life® teachers in Ireland who are sharing your work and new ones that will be trained very soon. Is there anything that you would like to say to them? Louise: I would like to thank them for putting their foot on this pathway and deciding to do this work. It will not only be healing for everybody that they come in contact with, but it will be very rewar- ding for them. I just congratulate them for having made this decision. Patricia: Wonderful. Thank you so much Louise. I do so appreciate your time. I and all of those who have benefited from your work thank you and wish you many more years of sharing your wisdom. “I ThINk ThAT AN AFFIRMATION WhICh IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO USE RIGhT NOW IS, ‘LIFE LOVES ME ANd I AM SAFE.’” For more info, visit www.louisehay.com or www.hayhouse.com. For information on the upcoming one week Love Yourself, Heal Your Life® workshop teacher training in Ireland, go to www.eileenclair.com

Heal Your Heart By Mary Kate O Flanagan Mary Kate O Flanagan is a certified Heal Your Life trainer. She runs weekend workshops and ten-week evening courses, based on the philosophy of Louise Hay out of Oscailt Complementary Health Centre. To find a certified Heal Your Life Trainer near you, go to www.healyourlifeworkshops.com and search by location. Q: I am trying to recover from a broken relationship. When I was younger I was always looking for a boyfriend but I usually ended up alone after having drunken one-night stands. This year, I was (finally) with someone I really loved and at first it was great. We had a wonderful time for months and I couldn’t believe that he really wanted me – but he did. Then I started to act awkward and clingy and even though I knew it was off- putting, I couldn’t stop. This man I loved more than anyone I ever met gradually became critical and cold and eventually broke up with me. I cannot believe that I finally found love and lost it. Although the relationship didn’t last that long (just under a year) I don’t see how I could ever love anyone more. Even though he hurt me, I would take him back now if he would have me. A: Firstly, forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for having lost this apparently ideal relationship and for looking for love at almost any price. In fact, forgive yourself completely and unconditionally for the past. You can’t create a happy present out of guilt. Forgive yourself for settling for less (like one-night stands) when you really wanted something more (like lasting love and affection). We all want love and we do all sorts of undignified things while we are seeking it outside of ourselves. That’s part of the human experience and the divine comedy. When we lack love within, we long for someone to come along and love us and “complete” us. And when we don’t really love ourselves but we meet someone and fall in love, the intensity of that experience is more about our feeling of relief from loneli- ness than about hav- ing created love in our lives. But the reality is, until we are healed, we attract people and experiences that ulti- mately mirror our negative beliefs. Rela- tionships start like a fairytale and yet, as you experienced, criticism and conditional love creep in and we end up in an unful- filling relationship, or experiencing aban- donment and rejection. This will keep happening until you learn that you are lovable – that’s the lesson that has come up for you and it will keep coming up until it is learned. Here’s the most important bit: it isn’t anyone else’s job to change how you feel. You have to do that yourself. To attract a truly loving relationship, you need to replace your thoughts of unworthi- ness with the truth of who you really are, a work in progress, sure, flawed, sure - and a wonderful human being who is completely lovable. When you love yourself so much that another person’s opinion of you is almost irrelevant, when you take responsibility for your own happiness and well being, you make yourself safe because you can never abandon you. You leave your prospective lovers free to delight in you, enjoy you, share pleasure and sorrows and work with you, without giving them the burden of your pain and asking them to fix it. Stranger things have happened than you two meeting again and him seeing you in a new light when you have done this work. Another possibility is that you will meet someone else and your feelings for this man will fade as you create a more fulfill- ing love. And another possibility is that you will have an absolutely marvellous time with yourself and the longing for a partner will not be so urgent and painful. For now, your only job is to think good thoughts about yourself and thereby attract people who reflect that thinking. I invite you to make it a habit to write 5 Things I Like About Me every day in your notebook. You can repeat things if you like, e.g. “I have a lovely smile” can be on the list every day. You can choose things that are as trivial and fleeting as you like, e.g. “I look damn good in these jeans” or you can remind yourself of big truths that are at the foundation of your being, e.g. “I am a good friend; I have good friends” It will all change so fast your head will spin. I don’t mean perfection, but proof that it is working will come. Soon. A new approach to looking for love, based on the philosophy of Louise Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life. 26 “WE ALL WANT LOVE ANd WE dO ALL SORTS OF UNdIGNIFIEd ThINGS WhILE WE ARE SEEkING IT OUTSIdE OF OURSELVES.”

mar kate holistic therap training centre Louise Hay teaches us that we always have the power to choose how we respond to our circumstances, no matter what. We can do that by reaching for thoughts and practices that move us towards appreciation, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, humour, hope, love and joy. Be guided and supported in the next step on your journey by participating in a Heal Your Life Workshop or Evening Class near you. based on the philosophy of Louise Hay Certifi ed Teachers County Clare Eileen Clair 065 905 2239, enquiries@eileenclair.com (Eileen is also a Heal Your Life Certifi ed Coach) www.eileenclair.com County Kerry Juliana Murphy 066-7181855 and 087-2915343, coisceimntc@ eircom.net Coisceim Natural Therapy Centre 8 Church Street, Tralee, Co Kerry South Dublin/Wicklow Manda Talbot Brady 01 285 4382/086 343 2528. Dublin City Centre/North Dublin Mary Kate O Flanagan 086 816 3656. marykate@ireland.com Contact any of us for more information.

In this regular column, I explore how we can make the transition to a more sustainable way of life, one that is community based, ethical, healthy and resilient. By Davie PhilipThe Good Life 2.0 We live in interesting times. There are so many converging challenges coming at us at once. Also, recent reports on climate change suggest that it’s going to get hotter, wetter, colder and dryer sooner than we thought, and that most of the planet could be severely under stress by 2050. But the system will not collapse because of climate change, pollution or running out of critical resources like oil. What runs out is the abi- lity to cope. Our current food systems are vulnerable, supply chains are long and modern farming is heavily dependant on oil to produce, process and import our food. Farmers are leaving the land and food prices are rising. In this article, I want to explore how we can begin to build food resilience, the ability to feed ourselves in these uncertain times, support our farmers and at the same time develop community resilience - the ability of society to cope and adapt to a changing world. GROWING OUR OWN FOOd – TOGEThER Community Supported AgriCulture

biodynamic growing methods. Typically, members pay a weekly subscription and pick up a share of produce every week. Importantly, they also share in the risk; if there is a crop failure the members share the loss. Many systems encourage mem- bers to work on the farm in exchange for a portion of their membership fee. CSA’s can also be a way to help small farmers remain economically viable in these difficult times. For many members this system is a way to take responsibility for how our food is pro- duced and to reduce the distance from the field to our plates. In Cloughjordan, our CSA initiative is called Cloughjordan Community Farm and members or subscribers are made up of people from both the Ecovillage and residents of the existing community. It has been a fantastic way to build a bridge between the residents of the new commu- nity and the old. There are local farmers participating and even the local butcher is involved. Weekly subscriptions pay for the seeds, the livestock, the equipment nee- ded and the wages of a full-time farmer. In return, members pick up vegetables, eggs and milk. Meat is on the way and this year we also experimented in growing oats, bar- ley, spelt and wheat for a baker who is due to build a micro-bakery in the Ecovillage. The Cloughjordan Community Farm is located on a 21 acre farm on the outs- kirts of the village and also utilises two fields on the ecovillage land. Members are encouraged to get involved in the planting, weeding and management of the farm. Our CSA is very much community driven but other CSA systems are farmer led. For a farmer, a CSA can provide a small but secure income, and the involvement of the community can overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness. The Stroud Community Agriculture project, one of the more established CSA’s in England, has regular activities and celebrations to encourage members to get involved. Monthly workdays, farm walks, barbecues and picnics all help to cultivate community as well as cultivating the land. Community farms can also make connections with wider members of the community such as local councils, schools, educational institutions and voluntary organisations. So, why is there not more community supported agricultural projects in Ireland? There is only one other down on Sheep’s Head peninsula, the Bantry CSA. This project was initiated this year by three far- mers in the area who are growing plots of oats and potatoes, which they have opened up for subscribers to buy shares in. They have set out to introduce the concept of CSA’s to potential producers and consu- mers in the West Cork area and hope to extend the project next year, increasing both subscriptions and varieties of crops. Another aim of the project is to encourage the infrastructure to produce porridge locally from local oats. With export markets at risk, maybe community food systems like CSA’s could provide guaranteed local markets for our farmers and food producers. By providing a percentage of our food locally, CSA’s can really help us to build food resilience. But here is my hope, that the current populari- ty of growing our own food could be a way to reach new audiences and to mainstream the ideas of sustainability. As we build our food resilience, we inad- vertently develop community resilience which will help us build the capacity to cope, to adapt and to thrive in these uncer- tain times. In the next issue, I want to explore personal resilience, but for now, let’s get growing together. There are many ways to build food resi- lience. We can start by growing some of our food ourselves. The media is full of cele- brity chefs encouraging us to do just this and to eat, as much as possible, from local sources. Interestingly, this year, for the first time, the seeds of vegetables outsold those of flowers. The demand for allotments is overwhelming local authorities and com- munity gardens and city farms are popping up all over the place. Of course, gardens run by the community do more than grow food, they are also a fantastic way to get to know your neighbours and increase outdoor activity which provides many additional health benefits. The introduc- tion of farmers’ markets, farm shops, box schemes, food co-ops and buying clubs is gaining momentum, all helping us to esta- blish a direct relationship with the people that produce our food and reconnecting people with the land. I mentioned previously in this column that I am a member of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage, a model of sustainable commu- nity which is developing in North Tippe- rary. Soon I am actually moving into one of the first eco-houses to be built, I can’t wait. In Cloughjordan, we have established allot- ments and teaching gardens, have made plans for forest gardens, planted hundreds of Irish apple trees and have started one of Ireland’s first CSA projects. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, a system of mutual support between food producers and food consu- mers. It is a low-carbon method of providing local people with sustainably produced food. This model of farming was first deve- loped almost forty years ago in Japan where a community group started a direct growing and purchasing relationship between them- selves and local farms called ‘teikei’, which literally means, “putting the farmers’ face on food.” Similar systems were developed in Europe and the United States by commu- nities who felt removed from the production of their food. For some, especially urban dwellers, it was a way to re-establish a sense of connection to the city’s rural hinterland and to provide food security and support for marginalised and disadvantaged groups. There are now thousands of CSA’s around the world and they come in many forms. They provide fresh, high-quality, local foods which typically use organic or 29 Davie Philip is the Education manager at the Cultivate Centre, a member of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage and the coordinator of the Irish Transition Towns Network. www.thevillage.ie www.cultivate.ie http://transitiontownsireland.ning.com “AS WE bUILd OUR FOOd RESILIENCE, WE INAdVERTENTLY dEVELOP COMMUNITY RESILIENCE”

Naturally Good for Babies Nobody would argue that babies bring with them an infinite amount of love, cuteness, smiles and cuddles. Talk to any new parent about their new bundle of joy and a smile will inevitably appear as they proudly dis- cuss their first smile, or how even at 2 weeks old, “She knows me.” Pregnancy is a busy, exciting time for prospective parents. There’s a lot to worry about, but also much to look forward to. It’s a time of positive change, and a time at which families often tend to look more closely at all aspects of their lives – be it diet, finances, household or stress. It’s also a time when everyone will try to give you some advice. Everywhere you look, healthcare professionals, family, friends and ‘expert’ authors will have something to say. During pregnancy, many women tend to look more closely at the ingredients put into their food, and find themselves considering the impact these foods may have on their bodies and their impending arrival. We look for organic foods and tend to eat more heal- thily – because we’re eating for two. General guidelines would be to eat as many greens as possible, take your prenatal vita- mins, increase your essential fats, increase the iron intake in your diet, cut back on the baddies and keep active. After all, there’s no better incentive or motivation to eat heal- thily than a healthy baby at the end of nine months. It’s all stuff that we know already, but somehow pregnancy is the time when we take it very seriously, because with pregnan- cy comes the added responsibility of shaping the life of another. We also begin to look at the things our baby will come into contact with after it enters the world. We look at where the dog sleeps, what dangers lurk around the house, we look for natural fibres for their clothing and bedding, and we stock up on the most gentle products we can find for our babies’ delicate, gentle skin. Truthfully, very few of us will ask exactly what ingredients make up our shower gels, By Karina Brennan body lotions or make-ups. When you realise, however, that 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into the bloodstream, you will find yourself looking more closely at what comes into contact with your skin and that of your new bundle of joy. In response to this, a huge range of che- mical-free, natural and organic products is becoming more widely available. While this market has been growing steadily for a few years, it is now becoming more environmen- tally aware and slightly more mainstream. Natural brands such as Dr. Hauschka and Burt’s Bees are becoming household names, while the newer brands are also finding a market. And because a baby’s skin is so soft and sensitive, you can now get a whole range of natural, organic products for babies at your local health store. From real cloth nappies and bath products to baby wipes and natural diaper creams, you’ll find everything you need for your bump, baby and beyond. For mums-to-be, you’ll find a wide selec- tion of prenatal vitamin supplements, along with a selection of iron products and essen- tial fatty acids, all of which are highly recom- mended to take during pregnancy. For more information on cloth nappies or any other natural baby products, go to Evergreen Healthfoods in Galway or shop online at www.evergreen.ie 30 “WhEN YOU REALISE, hOWEVER, ThAT 60% OF WhAT WE PUT ON OUR SkIN IS AbSORbEd INTO ThE bLOOdSTREAM, YOU WILL FINd YOURSELF LOOkING MORE CLOSELY AT WhAT COMES INTO CONTACT WITh YOUR SkIN ANd ThAT OF YOUR NEW bUNdLE OF jOY.” The skincare ranges available are also par- ticularly suitable during pregnancy due to the low chemical content and the sensitive nature of this time in your life. For your hos- pital stay you’ll find organic maternity and nursing pads, the widely respected homeo- pathic remedy arnica and witch hazel. When it comes to nappies, there are quite a few options which are more environmen- tally friendly and gentler on the skin. Also, enjoying a resurgence at the moment are cloth nappies, which are now becoming more mainstream. And with nappies being such a large expense for parents, cloth nap- pies are a cheaper, more cost effective option for many families. They could save you up to €1000 for the first baby, and even more if you keep them and use them for subsequent children. The added bonus is that you’d be doing your bit for the environment. The latest UK Environment agency reports are claiming that reusable nappies are 40% better for the environment. Here in Ireland, people often see it as being backward instead of forward. In the UK, 35% of parents use or have used reusa- ble nappies for their baby. In Ireland, esti- mates range from 1%-5% of parents trying reusables for their child. It should be said that cloth nappies are not what they used to be. Gone are the large safety pins and terry towels. They are now stylish, fashionable and easy to use. They are also the most bum-friendly option with soft breathable materials and no plastics, chemicals or gels. And because the cotton is naturally breathable, it allows the baby to regulate their body temperature more effec- tively, lessening the likelihood of nappy rash and other irritations.

evergreen calm naturalcalm natural 

So what is it and where does it originate from? The bed of nails is an ancient tool that has its roots in Indian mysticism. It was used by Yogis to release blockages; phy- sical, emotional and mental. Some early users were also identifi ed in China and la- ter users are recorded in Russia, the Stan countries and in Eastern Europe. There is even a Sami tradition of lying on a bed of juniper bushes to achieve the same effect. From a western perspective, the bed of nails got much notoriety in Russia during the 1970’s when it was developed as part of the Russian space programme but later came to be used, and indeed was offi cially sanctioned for use, in Russian hospitals. Even today an adaptation of the bed of nails can be found in the standard fi rst aid kit in Mongolia and some parts of China. Closer to home, the bed of nails concept emerged again in the past few years in Scandinavia, this time on a mat with plastic spikes instead of nails. 32 How does the mat work? There are 6210 points of contact, placed in a special geometric pattern on the mat, that help stimulate the acupressure points of the body. This stimulation promotes in- creased blood circulation which enhances your body’s uptake of oxygen. This in turn transports toxins away from your body and strengths your body’s self-healing proces- ses in a natural way. What is it good for? Pain relief or relaxation, or both at the same time. The use of the mat can help to release endorphin and oxytocin. Endor- phin is one of your body’s most powerful hormones for pain relief. A release of en- dorphins can make you feel energised. Oxytocin on the other hand is known as your body’s calming hormone, which helps you to relax and provides that deep feeling of well-being. In particular, the mat can be of benefi t when suffering from low energy levels, stress, insomnia, tension, migraine, back pain and much more. Has there been any research done? A research paper from the USA, by Tanya Zilberter, PhD was presented to the Inter- national Symposium on Integrative Medi- cine (May 26-28, 1999, Omega Institute, NY). It showed very positive results. The study focused on the use of the mat for fi ve categories of ailments. The key question asked was “Did you experience any posi- tive effects using the mat?” Out of 126 sub- jects, the response was as follows: 1. Relaxation category 96% reported relaxation 2. Pain relief category 98% reported pain relief 3. Sleep quality 94% reported improvement 4. Energy level 81% reported an increase 5. Allergies 49% reported improvement Other unsubstantiated and unpublished research supposedly done in Russia during the 70’s made many amazing claims, among others that it helped with depression, it increased empathy and reduced aggression levels. It was interesting but unfortunately unpublished research. The Irish ‘bed of nails’ Noel and Joanna from Mandalamat™ were the fi rst people to design, market and sell this new type of nail mat in Ireland. They sold their fi rst mat in early 2008, just after it started to appear in Scandinavia. In mid 2009 they fi nally decided to focus on it full- time. They formed a company and embar- ked on a marketing campaign to make a broader audience aware of the benefi ts of the Mandalamat™. By Noel Mulkeen Looking for an interesting way of relieving your tensions, aches and pains while achieving a deep state of relaxation at the same time? How about lying on a bed of nails? In use for thousands of years and found in many traditions across the globe, it seems to be a very simple tool that can have an amazing effect on your body. Is there a ‘bed of nails’ for everyone? Noel and Joanna are looking for help in this endeavour, so if you’d like to become an agent/reseller for Mandalamat™, or if you simply want to know more about the mat, contact them by email at noel@mandalamat.ie or joanna@mandalamat.ie or call them on either 012148946 or 0857611811 www.mandalamat.ie

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 "' (   &  '"!4'&$"$!" 5!"'(  & $ " !(* !" ((&#"!3 %$"()((5#!"*0  "' (  /")  )))3 "' (  3! “I love the sensation of heat I get from it and the pulse I can feel in my back as I lie on it, pleasure and pain such a close relationship it’s really obvious when you use the Mandalamat™! Fiona at TwoPalmsYoga, Dublin. “ ” acupressure mats voted Christmas present of the year in Sweden, Lite mat `49.90, Original mat `59.90 Become a distributor! Contact noel@mandalamat.ie or 01 2148946 for more details Eden’s Original Organic Biscuits and Cookies have fi nally arrived on the market and come in eight tasty varieties: Organic Biscuit Range: - Spelt Biscuits with Mixed Seeds - Spelt Biscuits with Vanilla - Spelt Biscuits with Honey and Coconut Organic Cookies Range: - Spelt Cookies with Honey - Spelt Cookies with Honey and Coconut - Spelt Cookies with Chocolate-chip - Spelt Cookies with Honey and Peanuts - Cornfl our Cookies with honey Our range of biscuits and cookies are all handmade in a family bakery from high quality organic ingredients. Each and every one of them is produced with great care so that you can enjoy the power of spelt with every bite. Look for them at your local health food store today!www.edensoriginal.com ORGANIC BISCUITS & COOKIES Rediscover the treasures of nature

34 ThE hILLS ARE ALIVE WITh ThE SOUNd OF WILL ANd Ed Will and Ed, from Kent in the southeast of England, are on an unusual mission. Setting off from Canterbury in February, the twenty-somethings have been walk- ing around Britain, singing traditional folk songs ‘for their supper’. “We are singing for our supper... learning about this land, about the people that live and work here, the histories that have formed it, the cultures that have gone before... and that remain.” In this age of hyper-quick travel and urban pop, the question is why? “It just feels sensible,” explains Will. “Walking defines our bipedal species. A walk has cumulative benefits – the sum of every step, everyday. The changing landscapes keep our minds fresh.” Ed continues: “Being on foot lets us learn deeply about this land. As the landscape folds outward, the grey doorways open inward.” Will and Ed are learning nomadic skills – edible and medicinal plant lore, local history and culture. To pay their way, they sing traditional local songs, which are gathered as they walk. “The songs seem to rise through us, from the soil beneath our feet. They want to be released, freed to the winds, given to new ears and hearts,” Ed says. “The lyrics concern day-to-day subjects. They are from our ancestors’ experiences of living and dying on this land,” adds Will. “We’re invited into houses, schools, barns – we’re fed, clothed and watered. Our faith in Britain is constantly refreshed and reborn.” Will and Ed are continuing to walk and sing around Britain for the foreseeable future. “What else could there possibly be to do?” they both laugh. “We’re just expressions of a very ancient and open way of life. It is free for the dream and all are welcome.” You can catch up with Will and Ed through their website: www.awalkaroundbritain.com bATTERIES NOT INCLUdEd In a new book, ‘Nature’s Playthings’, the author Alison Wilson Smith takes us on a trip down memory lane – a time when children walked to school, climbed the neighbours’ trees for conkers, entertained themselves outside all day and puffed on dandelion clocks to prove that it wasn’t yet time for bed. When Alison Wilson Smith decided to write a book about the joys of playing freely outdoors, as she did as a child in the 1940s, it seemed a timely proposal. Now appears to be a particularly good time to recall the days when children could walk alone to and from school, and entertained themselves with whatever the seasons provided, from trees to pebbles, conkers to running streams. ‘Playing – particularly unstructured and loosely supervised activity outdoors – is vital. It develops the child’s physical co-ordination, facilitates social develop- ment, such as making friends and keeping them, coping with problems and working collaboratively. It also cultivates creati- vity, imagination and emotional resilience. This includes the growth of self-reliance, independence and personal strategies for dealing with any challenging and trauma- tic experiences.’ Now a grandmother, she recalls her own childhood to inspire this generation to play outdoors, to learn the rules of conkers, the joys of making leaf-boats, flea darts, grass whistles, daisy chains, poppy dolls and more. This practical and lively book will remind parents, grandparents, childmin- ders, schools and playgroups, how to ins- pire young people to get outside and enjoy nature’s playthings. www.merlinunwin.co.uk Positively newsworthy

RECORd-bREAkING PEACEMAkING: More than 6,000 children gathered to fly their homemade kites on the beach near the city of Beit Lahiya in Gaza. The acti- vity symbolized Peace and Unity, and was actually a genuine Guinness World Record attempt. The challenge was to simulta- neously launch 5,000 kites into the air for at least 30 seconds, to break the previous record of 967, set by Germany. The chil- dren, media and spectators were not disap- pointed – an estimated 4,000 kites soared into the sky, high above the heads of the crowds, amid joyous cries of record-brea- king excitement. Nearly 250,000 young people partici- pated in the United Nations ‘Summer Games‘ programme, with many local tea- chers giving up their holidays to help run it. The initiative is organised to restore hope and normality to the war-torn territo- ry and foster a positive summer experience for Gaza’s children. This year’s activities range from sports to theatre, traditional Palestinian folk dancing, arts, crafts and swimming. www.artwfg.ps www.flickr.com/photos/31315139@N03 hOPE FLOWERS Palden Jenkins started supporting the Hope Flowers School in Bethlehem throu- gh his role as web creator and as a member of the Jerusalem Peacemakers – a network of independent, interfaith, peace builders. The school was founded in 1984 and has become a centre for democracy and peace education. Palden has been helping to re- build their website and is assisting in the development of an English language out- reach programme. He is also working with six other villages, giving psycho-spiritual support to community workers and encou- raging people to reunite. Palden’s aim is to collate the school’s experience and take it to other areas of conflict worldwide. “Hope Flowers has the world’s most advanced knowledge in trauma recovery, conflict management and community development,” he says. “It’s a tremendous resource.” Recording his observations in a blog online, Palden is heartened by the warm welcome he has been receiving. Noting a powerful sense of community, selfless mutual support and genuine desire for peace, he writes: “This is indeed a holy land: scintillating, energising, enlighte- ning, yet tragic, contradictory and rubble strewn. Despite its bizarre, challenging aspects, it’s a remarkable place to be.” paldywan.blogspot.com www.hopeflowersschool.org IMPULSE POWER: A revolutionary solar aircraft, designed to fly continuously without fuel, even at night, has just been unveiled by two re- nowned adventurers. Bertrand Piccard, who set a world record with the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight and André Borschberg, an engineer and pilot, will make history by flying a piloted, solar-powered craft right round the world. “Yesterday it was just a dream. Tomorrow it’ll be an ambassador of renewable energy,” Bertrand declared. The Solar Impulse should make its first test flights by the end of 2009, while a complete night time flight is planned for 2010. The results will be used to develop a second aircraft. Scheduled for 2012, it will circumnavigate the world in five stages, each lasting for several days and requiring the pilots to swap. “The plane could do it non-stop theoretically but not the pilot,” Bertrand told the BBC. People wanting to follow the adventure can enrol to receive news alerts, adopt a solar cell, book a VIP visit at the Solar Impulse base or even put their names on the aircraft’s fuselage. www.solarimpulse.com MANY LAYERS OF GREEN ENERGY Steven Gill and his brother David have been cultivating and processing onions for 25 years, but now, they have taken the lead when it comes to green energy. The growers, who employ over 400 people, are no longer throwing away the excess tops, tails and peel. Instead, they have found a unique way to convert the waste into energy: a fuel cell power plant that runs on onion juice. True to the company motto, Waste Not, Want Not, Gills squeeze every last drop out of every piece of peel, converting it to biogas and then using it to power the pro- cessing facility. With their state of the art anaerobic digester, Gills have been cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by 30,000 tonnes a year – the equivalent of taking 5,000 cars off the road. Gills, who recently earned recognition as a Cool Planet Project by The Climate Registry, continue to find ways to make the company greener. “Achieving zero waste and improving water conservation are both achievable goals,” says Steven Gill. “We’re excited about our future.” www.gillsonions.com

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The Wynne and Thorp Technique The Wynne and Thorp Technique is an exciting new means of healing that can ac- cess information and knowledge at levels that have up until now been out of reach for most of us here on Earth. This tech- nique can shift consciousness and reality, and helps people to clear blocks that are knocking them off their true path, and to reach and bring in their full potential here on Earth. Damien Wynne and Janine Thorp first began channelling together about 5 years ago in Ireland, making channelled essen- ces and developing the skills for grounding high vibration energies and making those energies available to both themselves and to others. As they worked with many different and highly evolved intelligen- ces, they were taught how to clear their channels to allow a broader band of high vibration energy to assist here on Earth, and were also taught points of access in the body so that these intelligences can work with other people to help them to become clear and to fulfil the dream their soul had when it decided to come to Earth as a soul with a physical body. These teachings formed a unique and highly intelligent method that works beautifully and efficiently with both individuals and groups, and can be taught and passed on to those who would like to work with it and are connected with the energy. These points are located on all parts of the body, each one holding the connec- tion for specific energy to shift within the energy-field of the recipient. Such as, on the head there are points that give access to cellular memory, and to the DNA that holds the blueprint for thought patterns, family emotional patterns and physical weaknesses and strengths. There are also points near the eyes for clearing one’s vision and for clearing blocks around seeing on every level. On the chest are access points to deep clearing around heart issues. Even issues that are tucked away and well hid- den can be released and cleared, leaving room for more heart-based relationships to come into the person’s life. At the feet, information is held relating to the entire life of the client. Blocks from the genetic history of the parents, and from conception and until the present day can be let go of, significantly freeing up the energy that is available to them, allowing them to move forward and to be more free to live their life according to how they chose, rather than it being dictated by the past. Energy from the soul can be assisted to ground by other points at the feet. Pat- terns of abuse and self harm are locked into structures within the field of energy, and can be cleared by working with points on the back and on the stomach. Other peo- ple’s energies that have been accepted as one’s own can also be easily released, and healing around the reasons why they were accepted in the first place can come in, empowering the person to stand more ful- ly in their space, owning their own energy and vitality. By working with points on the hands, relationships with people, family, money, health and basically every area of life can be cleared so that relationships with these areas can in future be positive and life-enhancing. Past-life healing and healing of experiences in other dimensions can also significantly help free a person to be centred within their own energy. Clearing our energy so powerfully in this way has a significant effect on more than just ourselves - our whole world can change. This positive energy spreads out into our families, into our homes and our work, and out into the world all around us. Those who have worked with this technique are being asked what they have been doing to make such a difference. What they have done is to reach up, bring in their true energy, and then grab the opportunities that have been presenting themselves more and more clearly and more and more frequently. With their blocks dissolving, they can flow through life with so much more lightness and ease, able to manifest and create the life that is theirs for the choosing. Universe Intelligences created this tech- nique, and as we work with it and clear ourselves, we become more attuned to the flow of Universal energies, and able to stay in our centre as we move through the shifts and expansions that are happening with ever greater speed and intensity. We can ground light and information from the Universe via our soul, making our evolu- tion and the evolution of the world, a much more smooth and beautiful experience. 37 Janine and Damien hold channelled workshops for clearing and for teaching, as well as working with individuals. They have been working in Europe and will be bringing the technique worldwide. For further information, please visit www.angellightcreations.com “EVEN ISSUES ThAT ARE TUCkEd AWAY ANd WELL hIddEN CAN bE RELEASEd ANd CLEAREd, LEAVING ROOM FOR MORE hEART-bASEd RELATIONShIPS TO COME INTO ThE PERSON’S LIFE.” by Damien Wynne & Janine Thorp

WHAT IN THE WORLD THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT Mary Bruen MINA, MICPO 44 Leinster Street, Phibsboro, Dublin 7 Tel 086 8236008 Email mary@libranaturlhealth.com. www.libranaturlhealth.com Aine Delany SRN,LicAc Health and Herbs, Sea Rd, Galway Tel 087 7965070 email:ainedelany2@eircom.net www.acupuncturegalway.com Suzanne Stone TCMCI Libra Natural Health, 44 Leinster Street, Phibsboro. Dublin 7 Tel 086 3824276 email info@libranaturalhealth.com. www.libranaturalhealth.com For over 15 years the ONDAMED has transformed many thousands of lives throughout the world. This PEMF Technology based on physics and centered around Pulse Biofeedback helps to “jump-start” cellular repair and regeneration. The patients biofeedback deter- mines which stimulus proves most therapeutic and where in the body the stimulus is needed. Practitioners use ONDAMED as an adjunct tool to support their diagnosis and offer an immediate therapy solution in a practice providing health, wellness, and anti-aging from the inside out. The ONDAMED also treats addictions (smoking, alcohol etc) very successfully in 1 to 3 treatments “The Ondamed is the ultimate innovation in complementary medi- cine” Robert DeJonge DO ONDAMED is one of the fi nest German inventions, based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. It allows easy and effective analysis and therapeutic application. My clinic is considered to be one of the leading institutions for treating acute and chronic diseases. ONDAMED has proved to be an indispensable tool” Dr. Wolf Dieter Kessler, M.D. PhD “Patients with neu- ropathy who use ONDAMED have up to 90% of their pain relieved” DR Stephen J Bock “The vibrational frequen- cies that are determined by sophisticated equipment like ONDAMED is perhaps a search for the real truth. This is the future of medicine” Dr. Stephen. T. Sinatra. M.D. C.N.S. The ONDAMED System often proves success- ful where no further biochemical means is able to prove effective” Rashid Buttar, DO,FACAM FAAPM 9 Sourced from European deep sea deposits over 250 million years old. • Promotes skin health and muscle relaxation. • Helps to reverse joint and tissue calcification. • Contains up to 800 sprays. Fast and effective penetrating body spray formulation. For joints, bones,muscles, sleep...

As mentioned in Patrick Bridgeman’s inter- view on The Future of Medicine last issue, The Living Matrix movie puts forward the theory that “the body’s energy field is a major in- fluence in the development of our genes, the growth of our cells and the general working of our immune and other bodily systems.” The Ondamed™ system incorporates the most important recent scientific discoveries in the field of Medical Energetics. All matter is made of energy fields that interact with humans, who are themselves electromagnetic beings and are thus receptive to and fun- damentally affected by electromagnetic vibrations or frequencies. With the unders- tanding that disease is caused by energetic imbalances, Ondamed™ explores the whole body, identifying and correcting blockages. The Ondamed™ system is a pulsed elec- tromagnetic field therapy system using the Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS). The Sys- tem was invented by the electrical engineer Rolf Binder in Germany in 1993. It is used to detect early stages of disease and elusive pathogens, to locate blocks, to detect layers of pathology and to determine appropriate priority for treatment. Biofeedback measures skin tempera- ture, skin resistance, muscle tension, brain activity, heart activity and arterial pulse. Biofeedback also allows the patient greater insight to their health status. According to Bruce Lipton, author of The Biology of Belief, we can affect our genes using our perception (Epigenetics). Most physiological processes previously thought to be regulated by the autonomic nervous system can be regulated consciously if the processes are brought to the awareness of the patient. The Ondamed™ Pulsed Electromagnetic Biofeedback therapy facilitates this and encourages patients and practitioners to work together. The Ondamed™ system uses specific frequencies with the appro- priate intensities and within the appropriate timeframe as determined by the VAS. All cells in the body optimize at a specific frequency and communicate with each other through light emissions called photons that are measured in frequencies. A healthy body has around 50 trillion cells vibrating in harmony. According to Lynne Mc Taggart, author of The Field and The Intention Expe- riment, “In 50 years time, the idea of using drugs or surgery is probably going to be considered barbaric. We are moving much more towards an understanding of ourselves as being an energetic system.” In our bodies, our connective tissue, also known as the extra cellular matrix or the living matrix, is our largest and most perva- sive organ / system. Our connective tissue connects all cells, tissues and organs, inclu- ding our tendons, cartilage, bone, ligaments, myofascia, superficial fascia, and even rea- ches our DNA. The molecules that control cell behaviour are sensitive to fields. Modern biophysical research has confirmed that tissues respond to very tiny energy fields of the appropriate frequency, intensity and pulse shape. This is exactly what Ondamed™ does. It is both a diagnostic and a treatment system. The Ondamed™ system has 4 modules. In the first module the patient is confronted by therapeutic frequencies ranging from 1 to 32,000 hertz through a neck applicator. The patient’s biofeedback loop determines the most therapeutic frequencies, their intensi- ties and the precise treatment time for each individual patient. A hand held applicator is used to scan the body to locate the reaction areas which include areas of inflammation, infection, scars or traumatised sites. Module 2 presents preset programs to the body and, using VAS, the most necessary programs are prioritised. Module 3 focuses on micro-organisms such as parasites, viru- ses, fungi, bacteria etc. Then the last module deals with nutritional issues. Ondamed™ is a non-invasive system with no known side effects. It is unique in that it allows diagnoses and treatment simulta- neously. Each treatment is unique to each individual at every session. The underlying dysfunction of the patients symptoms are identified with the help of the pulse biofeedback. Instead of labelling a dysfunction with a diagnostic name, Ondamed™ allows the practitioner and patient to go right into treatment mode to effectively regenerate body function. Ondamed™ provides a therapeutic solu- tion for a wide variety of health disorders - treating the patient and not the disease. Clinical applications include: Pain mana- gement, Surgical recovery, Wound healing, Stress management, Sleep patterns, Inflam- mation, Improved immunity, Metabolic function, Addictions, Anti-aging and Well- ness treatments. Ondamed™ also acts as a stimulus for internal relaxation, improves complexion and reduces signs of aging. It reduces toxins and the waste stored in tissue, and facilitates improved metabolic function. It improves sleep, mood, energy and mental focus. Ondamed is now being used in Ireland by Aine Delaney SRN in Galway: call 0877965070 or visit www.acupuncturegalway.com, and also in Dublin at Libra Natural Health: call 0868236008 or visit www.libranaturalhealth.com. For further information on the Ondamed system, go to www.ondamed.net On The Mendwith Ondamed By Mary Bruen “WITh ThE UNdERSTANdING ThAT dISEASE IS CAUSEd bY ENERGETIC IMbALANCES, ONdAMEd™ ExPLORES ThE WhOLE bOdY, IdENTIFYING ANd CORRECTING bLOCkAGES.” 39

In 1995, Kathryn Duffy started up “Inches Slimming Clinic” in Galway, encouraging men in Ireland to do something about excess weight gain. It was a ground breaking evolu- It was a ground breaking evolu- tion in the industry, affording men a comfort- able environment to shed their excess weight with masculine dignity. All was going well, but then she noticed her clients’ weight starting to plateau. Luck- ily, that was also when a solution accidentally and fortuitously presented itself . Kathryn discovered the NuTron food intolerance test. This test identified foods that the body attacks creating inflammation which in turn results in weight gain and many inflammatory conditions such as Arth- ritis, Asthma, IBS, Migraine, etc. The result was fantastic. Trying it herself, she lost weight instantly while eating as much as she wanted of specific foods for her body. “It was especially great for me because I’m terrible at calorie counting,” admits Kathryn. “I like to eat as much as I like.” Her ove-Her ove- rall health and energy levels also improved significantly, so she decided to base her clinic around combining this test with electronic muscle stimulation and toning. Kathryn’s little business was ticking away nicely all that year and was quickly becoming the place for men to visit for help in losing weight. Then, in Dec 1995, disaster seemed to have struck when her clinic disappeared overnight due to a gas explosion. That did not deter her, in fact the opposite! Within a year and a half, Kathryn had rebuilt her clinic in Galway and opened two more in conjunction with setting up 21 franchisees, and this was all due to word of Mouth. Five years later, 82,000 clients had succes- sfully gone through the programme. Howe- ver, Kathryn’s own life had lost its balance and the stress and pressure of running such a large successful company took its toll on her health. On the 25th of May 1999, Kathryn was admitted to hospital with a Pulmonary Embolism (clot in the lung). This was fol- lowed six months later by two bleeds in the brain, stroke, brain surgery and losing the use of her right side. After she was diagnosed, all she could think about was her three small children at home. Who would rear them? Kathryn’s eldest brother had died a few years earlier from a brain haemorrhage so she knew what may be ahead of her. Immediately after that, the priest came to anoint her and it was then that Kathryn felt she was in serious trouble. Her life was hanging in the balance. A few days prior to that, she was visited by her friend Gerry who brought a Padre Pio relic and blessed her and everyone else in the high intensity ward. Before the brain surgery took place, her doctor told her husband Paul that she only had a 10% chance of survival. He also said that if Kathryn did survive, she would be in rehabilitation afterwards learning how to walk, talk and basically do everything again. She has no doubt that Padre Pio intervened, because she was at home eight days later, walking, talking and ringing in the millen- nium surrounded by her precious family. She also believes that it happened for a reason and that everyone needs a little shake up now and again to help us appreciate what is here in front of us - a wonderful life. Kathryn learned to make the most of every day since. For the following three years Kathryn recu- perated and learned a very valuable lesson, that “your health is your wealth”. Since then Kathryn has taken control and responsibility of her own and her family’s health. She feels that you and only you are responsible for your health. Not your doctor or consultant; you! Over a period of six years she has created her own wellness home in Galway. She says, “In it we breathe mountain fresh air, bathe and drink clean living spring well water, and sleep in beds that gently detoxify, heal and rejuvenate our bodies.” In February this year, Kathryn received a phone call from her good friend Fionnuala, enquiring as to where the NuTron diet was now because two of her friends wanted to do it. This rekindled Kathryn’s love for NuTron and with a lot of help from Fionnuala, Kathryn restarted her old business and rena- med it NuTron Advanced. Kathryn’s vision for the future is that becau- se of the positive results of both old and new clients through the NuTron Advanced pro- gram, lots more people will learn how to take responsibility for their health and wellness and enjoy the natural energy and wellbeing that we were designed for. Opportunity By Seamus Quinn and Kathryn Duffy For more info, call 091470308 or visit www.nutronadvanced.com Knocks Identify your food intolerances and lose weight effortlessly! Endorsed by doctors worldwide EAT TO THE LIMIT OF YOUR APPETITE Johnny Murtagh uses the NuTron Advanced programme to help him maintain his weight the healthy way. Contact www.nutronadvanced.com t: 00 353 91 470308 NuTron Advanced (As seen on TV3) Are You Tired Of Counting Calories , shakes and pills while trying to lose weight?NuTron Advanced AVERAGE WEIGHT LOSS 1 STONEPER MONTH.95% success rate nutron advanced.indd 127/11/2009 13:33:31 40 “EVERYONE NEEdS A LITTLE ShAkE UP NOW ANd AGAIN TO hELP US APPRECIATE WhAT IS hERE IN FRONT OF US.”

nutron advanced ad Identify your food intolerances and lose weight effortlessly! Endorsed by doctors worldwide EAT TO THE LIMIT OF YOUR APPETITE Johnny Murtagh uses the NuTron Advanced programme to help him maintain his weight the healthy way. Contact www.nutronadvanced.com t: 00 353 91 470308 NuTron Advanced (As seen on TV3) Are You Tired Of Counting Calories , shakes and pills while trying to lose weight?NuTron Advanced AVERAGE WEIGHT LOSS 1 STONEPER MONTH.95% success rate nutron advanced.indd 127/11/2009 13:33:31

Trainee naturopaths and nutritional therapists at the College of Naturopathic Medicine have noticed an increase in patients attending clinics who are on the go all the time and who think that they are not sick, are often very tired and report feeling out of balance. By Avril Ivory Trainee naturopaths and nutritional thera- pists at the College of Naturopathic Medi-College of Naturopathic Medi- cine have noticed an increase in patients attending clinics who are on the go all the time and who think that they are not sick, are often very tired and report feeling out of balance. The world is changing very quickly, from climate change to a restructuring of the world economy. It is more important than ever for us to be on top of the world in terms of our health and wellbeing. Many people are very busy and pushing themselves towards optimal productivity. Sometimes, taking a step back to nurture ourselves leads to greater productivity in the long run. How do we do this? It is a crucial time to have a positive per- ception. “Nothing is either good nor bad only thinking makes it so.” Our perceptions are mediated by our sense of wellbeing, if we are in balance physiologically we see the world in a more positive way. The basics are easy: drink more water, get more exercise (increase endorphins), get more sleep, make yourself important, respond to your own inner wisdom, stay connected to nature, pursue a hobby or passion and surround yourself with good friends. On a deeper lever, however, there are three crucial points to address as a basis for physiological wellbeing. Ensure that your adrenal glands are not overworked, ensure that your serotonin levels are adequate and keep your blood sugars in balance. AdRENAL GLANdS: A car rushes out of a laneway, narrowly mis- sing you. Your heart rate increases, you break into a sweat, there is a rush of blood to your head… We all recognise this experience of releasing adrenaline. It is an adaptive func- tion, a clever mechanism to help us mobilise glucose to remove ourselves from a dange- rous situation, e.g. a bear in the woods. However, for many people this adrenal response is happening too often and too quickly and is exhausting the adrenal gland. Instead of a bear in the woods, it is happen- ing in response to a missed bill or a mortgage repayment or a productivity deadline or even something as simple as a traffic jam. It is causing the body to remain on high alert. Symptoms of too much cortisol / adrena- line being released in the body include feel- ings of anxiety, difficulty relaxing, difficulty ‘switching off’ and often disrupted sleep. The adrenal glands respond wonder- fully well to relaxation techniques and deep breathing. The first and most important step is to track your baseline, sometimes the stress response has become so habitual that we don’t even know we are releasing corti- sol. Do something that really relaxes you (if necessary have acupuncture or visit a herb- alist), hold on to that feeling of relaxation to help identify when you’re moving too far away from that baseline. Identify all the activities that bring you back to that feeling of relaxation and make sure you build some of these into everyday life. When you have done this, make the fol- lowing changes: avoid stimulants, sugars and refined processed foods; increase foods with a low glycemic load, e.g. fruit, veg- etables, whole grains and legumes. From your health food store, purchase a good Multivitamin and Multimineral, a Vitamin B complex, and ask for a herbal mix that might contain nervines such as Passion- flower, Skullcap or Valerian. bLOOd SUGAR: If you have been responding to life’s obsta- cles with an overactive adrenal gland, it is likely that you might be slightly dysglyce- mic. This means that your blood sugar sys- tem might be having dips and peaks. Signs of dysglycemia include difficulty concentrating, mood swings, anger and irri- tability and craving sweet foods. We feel abundantly better and more able to cope with the world with a stable blood Eat, Drink and Be Merry 42

sugar system. If your blood sugars are out of balance, follow all the same recommenda- tions as above but add some essential fatty acids to your regimen. They are wonderful in helping to balance the system. Also eat two apples per day to ensure enough fibre. Fibre stabilises blood sugars. Good sources include legumes, oats, nuts, seeds, pears and vegetables. Avoid caffeinated tea, coffee and ciga- rettes; all of which can cause both an adrenal response and a huge blood sugar fluctuation. Take frequent exercise (ideally every day): weight bearing and cardiovascular. Weight bearing exercises in particular affect our glu- cose tolerance factor, so even lifting gentle weights can keep our blood sugars in check for up to 48 hours. They can also bring out the warrior in us and ground our energies, giving us a stable base to work from and keeping our minds in balance. SEROTONIN LEVELS: Serotonin is a happy neurotransmitter that plays a major role in transmitting messages in the nervous system. When it is plentiful, we feel wonderful about the world, even if it is posing challenges. Our stores of serotonin can run low particularly if over a period of time our cortisol levels have been elevated, our blood sugars swinging and our gut func- tion disturbed. Signs of low serotonin include feeling ove- rwhelmed, lowered mood, insomnia, lack of motivation and feeling that we are not good enough. Serotonin is naturally produced by the body from the amino acid tryptophan. The tryptophan is converted into serotonin, but in order for the conversion to take place we need to be eating really well; ideally a diet which is nutrient dense and full of high life-force foods. We also need to make sure our gut function is good by including lots of prebiotics (garlic, onions, etc.) and probiotics and avoiding high sugar and high fat foods. With good gut function and by following all the recommendations above, and by including plenty of tryptophan rich foods in our daily diet (turkey, chicken, avocado, banana, milk, tomato, chocolate, pineapple and plums) our serotonin will be optimal. All our systems are inter-related. The adre- nals affect the blood sugar metabolism and gut function which affect brain chemistry. When these systems are in balance we feel poised to take on the obstacles of the times we live in, and indeed because we are posi- tive and energised we help to make a better world. In a season of gifts, the best gift we can give to ourselves is to honour and sup- port our physiology. Avril Ivory (M.Sc.Dip.nat) is a naturopath and health psychologist. She is the Academic Director of the College of Naturopathic Medicine in Ireland. CNM run free and reduced rate clinics in the city centre and in Dun Laoghaire. If you would like to be a patient at a clinic, contact Eileen on 012353094. By Avril Ivory NEW CNM SHORT COURSE STARTING The College of Naturopathic Medicine is offering a 12 week evening course on ‘Nutrition for Everyday Living’ starting on Tuesday Feb 2nd 2010 in Griffith College, Dublin. For bookings or information on our NEW course or any of our courses, call 01-2353094, email dublininfo@naturopathy-ireland.com or see www.naturopathy.ie

I was amazed when Paul from Positive Life rang me and told me I had won a free detox weekend at Cloona Health Retreat. The centre is situated in a former woollen mill which was initially restored to act as a Buddhist retreat. It is certainly a very calm place. Dhara, the owner and manger, welcomed us all and invited us to drink a glass of soft water from Cloona’s own spring. He empha- sised to us how we should drink water at room temperature, about six tall glasses a day, and never with food (the extra liquid dilutes the digestive juices) – the program- me had begun! Our first meal that evening was a plate full of various types of fruit. Fruit is the easiest type of food for our systems to cope with as it only needs half an hour to be digested. Vegetables take an hour and a half, while many foods can take much longer. All our activities at Cloona had to take place at least half an hour after we had eaten so our energy could be concentrated on digesting the meal before we undertook anything else. On the Friday and Saturday, the morning started with a shot of freshly juiced whea- tgrass (definitely an acquired taste!) and then we had a good detoxing breakfast. Catríona then led a two hour yoga class. I’ve taken some yoga classes in the past that twisted my body into all sorts of contortions, but this was a milder form of yoga, the Satyananda tradition, which is a balance of breath awareness, movement and deep relaxation. Lunch was a delicious root vegetable soup and two very large plates of salad for us to share. After lunch, Dhara assembled us for the first of his guided walks. That first day he encouraged us to think about our shoulders and hips. Then we set off, at our own pace, on an hour’s circuit through some of the beautiful country roads in the area. Dhara preferred us to walk on our own so we could focus on the walking process itself, but I must admit I dawdled at the back, chatting to Lesley that afternoon. Back at the centre, we could avail of one of the optional therapy sessions with visiting practitioners. I took reflexology the first day and had a facial the second. There was also deep tissue massage and shiatsu. Everyone related tales of good experiences and frien- dly therapists. The evening meal again consisted of a lar- ge plate of mixed, uncut fruit. Then a sauna was followed by a massage with Anne. On day two, at his briefing before our walk, Dhara had us focus on our feet, ankles and knees. Again there were lots of lovely vistas, including several glimpses of the sea and the bay. On day three, he drew our attention to the movement of our backs. I must admit, I didn’t feel at all well on day one – Dhara said it was the detoxing process at work. Several strong cups of coffee daily were being badly missed by my system. By day two, however, I was starting to feel much better, while by the third and final day, I was in great form and felt like a new woman. The others in my group claimed they never felt ill at all. On closer questioning I disco- vered they had all made an effort to drop coffee, tea, alcohol, sugar, salt and meat for the four days or so before they had arrived at Cloona – as advised in the leaflet – so the detoxing process was much less of a shock for their bodies. The final meal was another delicious soup. This was followed by two more fantastic salads. During the meal, Dhara explained how he tried to source not just organic but biodynamic food for the centre – food grown by organic principals but also according to phases of the moon and other earth forces. Bizarrely, I never felt hungry all the time I was at Cloona, despite the fact I appeared to be eating much less food than usual. I thoroughly enjoyed the three days. The amazing location surrounded by lovely countryside with supportive and fun com- pany made it very easy to relax. I felt so far away from manic living. I would definitely come back for the same again. I feel so much healthier. I left with my indigestion all gone and not feeling bloated at all. I only smoked 5 cigarettes a day while I was there, as opposed to the usual 20 a day. I didn’t feel an urge to smoke more. The whole experience made me aware that what I am doing at home is not right for me. I have learned how important it is to take time for yourself, i.e. yoga, walking. My time at Cloona was all so beneficial. In all I lost 5 lbs and I am now smoking outside my own house; something I have never committed myself to before. I am a reformed character! hOLISTIC hOLIdAYSTaking Time for Yourself By Fiona Doyle For more info on Cloona, visit www.cloona.ie 44

Roast Vegetables 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into bite size chunks 1 large or 2 small parsnips, peeled and cut into bite size chunks 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into bite size chunks 1 tsp dried thyme 4 tbsp olive oil Grind of salt and black pepper Sauce 2 leeks, washed and thinly sliced 8 oz mushrooms, washed and chopped up small 2 heaped tbsp wholemeal flour (I use spelt) 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp dried mixed herbs and 1 tsp dried sage soya milk (approx ¾ pint) 2 tsp dijon mustard 1 tsp salt 2 tbsp olive oil Topping 4 oz hazelnuts, whizzed in a food processor until crumbly but not ground 1 slice wholemeal bread made into breadcrumbs 1 tbsp each of sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp tamari (wheat free soya sauce) good grind of black pepper Directions Put all the vegetables in a large roasting tin so they are in a single layer. Coat with the olive oil and then sprinkle on the thyme and salt and pepper. Put into a medium hot oven and roast for 30 minutes until just soft. For the Sauce In a medium saucepan, gently fry the leeks, mushrooms, herbs and garlic with the lid on, stirring often. When vegetables are soft and there is a little liquid, add the flour. Stir to com- bine and cook for a minute. Gradually add the soya milk until you have a sauce-like consistency (you might need more milk). Add the mustard and salt and check the seasoning. For the Topping In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. When the roasted vegetables are cooked, spoon the sauce over them until well covered. Sprinkle on the topping until well covered and bake in a medium oven for about 15 minutes until the top- ping is crunchy-looking and the sauce is bubbling up through the vegetables. Serve with brown basmati rice and some stir fried cabbage or brussels sprouts – finely shred some green cabbage or sprouts and pan fry them for about 10 minutes with a little olive oil, a clove of crushed garlic and some lemon zest. Season with sea salt and black pepper. I have made this dish dairy free but you could make the sauce with butter and cows milk and you could add 2 oz cheddar cheese to the topping for a dairy version. Liz’s website www.wholefoodmatters.com contains articles, recipes and information about her cookery classes. For more information, contact Liz at liz.leagaun@gmail.com or ring 0868099604 POSITIVE FOOd Winter Recipes ROASTEd ROOT VEGETAbLES WITh LEEk ANd MUShROOM SAUCE ANd A CRUNChY hAzELNUT TOPPING 3 oz coconut oil – it is easier to measure when it is slightly solid 4 oz butlers 70% dark chocolate chopped roughly 4 oz unrefined caster sugar (or 3 oz fruit sugar) 2 large eggs, beaten 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 oz ground almonds 2 oz gluten free flour – Orgran All Purpose is a good choice 1 tsp gluten free baking powder pinch of salt 2 oz chopped walnuts or pecans ChOCOLATE bROWNIES (GLUTEN ANd dAIRY FREE) These are truly delicious – soft and slightly chewy. Make sure you use good quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids. Serve with a dairy-free vanilla ice-cream such as Swedish Glace. Directions Oil a shallow non-stick square or rectangular cake tin (approx 10’’ square) with some coconut oil. Heat your oven to gas mark 4 or 180 electric. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a small saucepan over a low heat. Add the sugar, stir well and lea- ve to cool a little. In a bowl, put the ground al- monds, flour, baking powder and chopped walnuts or pecans. Stir to mix and then add the eggs, vanilla essence and the chocolate / oil mix. Make sure everything is combi- ned, and spoon into the tin and level. Cook in the middle of the oven for about 25 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out relati- vely clean. Cool in the tin and then cut into small squares. Even non allergy sufferers will enjoy these! Liz Nolan works as a Nutritional Therapist in Health and Herbs, Sea Rd, Galway City, and also runs classes in wholefood vegetarian cookery from her home in Moycullen, 8 miles west of Galway City. These are two of her favourite Winter Recipes. They’re perfect comfort food for a winter’s evening and are dairy-free.

46 When you think about what you can achieve with your life and what would really make a positive difference to you, there are some simple ways in which you can feel empowe- red while making those changes. One way that has been proven to make a difference to those who need a boost is to take a fresh look at managing your diet based on the results of a food intolerance test. Removal of culprit foods identified by food intolerance testing has been proven to bring back the sparkle to the lives of many, whether you feel a little out of sorts or have more severe symptoms such as irritable bowel, migraine or fatigue. For example, treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) focuses on changes in diet and lifestyle, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, and managing stress. Individu- als with IBS need to feel actively involved in their treatment; taking control and feeling empowered are really vital as IBS can seem like such an unpredictable condition. Some foods will nearly always cause symptoms while others don’t, and it can be frustrating trying to pin down what you can and can’t eat without suffering an attack. There some- times seems to be no logic to it; far away from feeling empowered and in control. With conditions such as IBS there really is growing evidence that what goes into the mouth produces a reaction in the body, and that food is a really important factor. The problem with attempting any dietary modification is that first you need to know what to change. Currently the best accepted method for confirming food sensitivities is by elimination diet. This involves eating a restricted diet for several weeks. If there is no improvement during this time, it is assumed that the food type that has been restricted is not causing the symptoms, and the process is repeated with another food type. This method is time consuming, and because it would be near impossible to test Making Friends with the Right Foods all the different combinations of food types that may be causing the problems, it is not a wholly effective process. Another option is to use a ‘few foods’ diet whereby only limit- ed foods are given, for example rice, lettuce, turkey, pears and multivitamins, and while this approach can achieve good results it is not considered practical and certainly isn’t advisable long-term. The fact is that every individual person is unique with a different biochemical make- up, even to others with similar conditions. Eggs, strawberries and lentils may contrib- ute to John’s irritable bowel but they will be fine for George to eat even though he regu- larly suffers from bloating and diarrhoea. In terms of the evidence for food intoler- ance testing, and the benefits, there are a wide range of tests available which claim to identify the foods that may be causing prob- lems. One of the most scientific approaches to food intolerance testing that is available is a blood test that measures food-specific IgG antibodies. Antibodies are substances pro- Antibodies are substances pro- duced naturally by the body to identify and neutralise foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. Antibodies to foods are found in the body when the immune system has identified a particular food type as being foreign. Measurement of IgG antibodies to foods in blood shows that the body is ‘fighting’ that particular food; antibodies that are raised to fight the foods that we eat can also act directly against organs in the body causing the symptoms of inflamma- tion seen with IBS. It has been shown that removal of foods from the diet that the body is reacting to in this way can reduce ill health symptoms. There is only one food-specific IgG test available, the YorkTest foodSCAN that has significant clinical data to support its use. YorkTest has 25 years of experience in the food intolerance testing market and has widely published test data to show that, in those with chronic symptoms such as IBS, over 3 out of 4 will show significant benefit if they remove those foods that have shown a reaction in the foodSCAN test. The test was also used in the only IBS randomised controlled trial of its kind, showing a significant reduction in stomach distension, bowel dysfunction and also a reduction in factors such as pain and fatigue and an increase in general well- being. The fact that people see a return of symptoms on reintroduction of the foods identified by the food-specific IgG test supports the fact that this is an active and specific approach. Many people with IBS are looking to take control of their symptoms using a proven, positive and active approach. Now, it emerg- es, there is a simple dietary solution that offers real hope after all. If you would like to find out more, visit www.yorktest.ie or call 012022701 By Dr Gill Hart “REMOVAL OF CULPRIT FOOdS IdENTIFIEd bY FOOd INTOLERANCE TESTING hAS bEEN PROVEN TO bRING bACk ThE SPARkLE TO ThE LIVES OF MANY”