The Smiling Spirit

Archive for the ‘Health & Body’ Category

Blessed Tuesday!
I hope this post finds you all well and happy :)

I was emailed this video and I thought it worth passing along. We never know what situations we may find ourselves in and who may hang in the balance. This is a new technique for preforming CPR on an adult. It makes more sense in my opinion.

May we never have need of this knowledge.

Link to YouTube Video if you’re unable to see the embedded video.

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Hello my friends! Happy Sun and Spirit Day!!

Today I’m just popping on to send you all an AWESOME link.  It’s a link to an entire album of this very awesome relaxation music.  I’m in LOVE with all the tracks.  Check them out.  They’re 100% free, no strings attached.  Enjoy!

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It’s a double posting day today!  Hot on the heels of the SynchroDestiny post, I give you Moon Manifestation.

Today, Tuesday (2-23-10) @ 12:29pm EST, the Moon v/c until 6:29pm this evening.

I love when I think I need a break and the Universe agrees.  I intend to relax today.  Yesterday’s “Day Spa Monday” didn’t go as relaxingly as planned.  I did however enjoy my day.  I had some running to do so I popped into my very favorite store in the world, The Silver Branch, while I was out.

I suppose it was meant to be because I met a couple of fantastic women while I was there.  I’ve been consciously attempting to be in a “meeting new people” vibe and I guess it’s working nicely :)

But anyhow, today I will just chill.  I have some minor chores to do, but then I think I may write some more.  It’s nearly 40 degrees outside.  There may be a walk in Abby and Bandit’s near future too!

When She rights her course @ 6:29pm EST, she’ll move into Cancer where she’ll remain, from Tuesday evening until 12:48pm EST on Thursday (2-25-10).

My almanac says: Cancer stimulates emotional rapport between people.  Pinpoints needs, supports growth and nurturance.  Tend to domestic concerns.

My Plan: Tuesday evening through Thursday around noon ~ Emotional is the key word in this for me.  Being “Moon Linked” as I am, as a woman… please know what I mean… I always cycle around the full moon.  This coming Sunday is our next full Moon which makes right NOW my most highly charged, emotional time.

I think I WILL tend to domestic concerns by staying home and just chilling.  I believe that when you’re feeling run down and tired, it’s not a time to chug a coffee and get it together, but a time to allow your body the rest it’s asking you for.

It’s very important to me that my mind and body have a strong connection and communication.  Whenever you “FEEL“, you’re being communicated with.  Sometimes by the mind and sometimes by the body, but emotional and physical feelings are your outer world communicating with your inner world.  Heed their words and honor yourself.

~ Moon Manifestation Tarot Card ~

I’ve been learning about tarot.  I am working with the most beautiful deck.  I adore them.  I love just sitting and shuffling them!  They feel wonderful in my hands.  That might sound nutty, but hopefully some of you out there understand what I’m saying.  The deck is called Tarot of a Moon Garden.

Learning to read tarot cards is one of the things I’m doing this year.  I started out with high hopes and was drawing a card every day.  Then I forgot days, sometimes weeks, and now that I’ve figured out the format for my “Moon Manifestation” and received my gorgeous new deck from Amazon, I’m going to draw a card with each Moon Manifestation post.

So!  Today I have drawn the Eight of Cups.

The eight of cups tells me that I feel weary and run down because I need to let go and move on.  It’s funny that I should draw this card because I know that’s exactly what I need to do, and during this highly emotional week I have highly emotional circumstances impending where there will be an ending for me.  Not a complete severance of relationship, but it’s clearly changing and  I have to let it change and see what comes of it.  I know I’m resisting it because I feel like crap.  My emotions and body are all screaming at me to release it to be as it will.  I will focus on that.

How’s the beginning of your week looking?  oxoxx

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Good Friday morning to all of you beautiful bloggies!
I feel so great about the next few days. As many of you know, Ash and I have decided to do a group abundance ritual/meditation tonight. You can find the details for it here.

At 5:55 EST this morning, the moon entered into the house of Taurus.

My almanac says:In Taurus, thing begun DO last, tend to increase in their value, and become hard to alter. Brings out an appreciation for beauty and sensory experience.

She’ll be in Taurus until She v/c @ 7:15 am on Sunday 02-21 until 1:47pm when She settles into Gemini.

I intend to attend my group ritual tonight and charge my money clip talisman and spend time meditating on the abundance all around. Thursday I ventured into the snowy wood to leave gifts of coins and beautiful stones for my Earthy Elementals. Saturday I will do it again. Taurus brings out an appreciation for beauty and there’s nothing I find more beautiful than the sanctity of nature.

I foresee a lazy Sunday morning. With the moon v/c, I like to take my cue to just chill! And what better time to chill with my family than on a lazy Sunday morning.

The moon will be headed straight into airy Gemini Sunday afternoon @ 1:47pm, but I’ll see you again before then. *wink*

You Say Potato, I Say Organic

I am sold.  I am all about the organic potato.  This wasn’t always the case however.

Why I didn’t want to try them.

I can buy a 10 pound bag of Idaho potatoes for $3 or I can buy a 3 pound bag of organic potatoes for $2.50.  Unfortunately math was my strong subject.

Why I decided to try them.

I stumbled upon a top 10 list of produce that retains the highest percentages of chemicals and are best bought organic. Potatoes were #1.  Coffee was #2, but with the amount of coffee I drink, I’d go broke!  One change at a time please.

Why I’m sold.

I bought the 3# of organic potatoes for $2.50.  *cringes* I took them home and the first thing I made with them was french fries.  I scrubbed them with my produce brush (LG fingernail brush), put them through the french fry cutter and dropped them into a bag with some olive oil and sea salt.  I shook them around to coat them and threw them into a 400 degree oven on parchment paper for about 15 minutes.

1* Normally I do up a bunch of potatoes and bake them.  We eat.  What’s left is left.  Usually the dogs get what’s left.  ~  How much money was I wasting by OVER cooking so often.  As I cut up the expensive organics, I was much more conscious to the amount that I would need and I even put out more vegetables to compensate for the smaller amount of potatoes.  Everyone ate everything.

2* These were, by far, the best tasting potatoes I’ve ever eaten.  I didn’t even realize that potatoes really HAD a flavor.  I always thought of them as bland and absorbing whatever flavor they’re added to, but that’s not true.  Potatoes are phenomenally delicious!

So that’s my testimonial for spending the extra money and buying the organic potatoes.  Give them a try, you won’t be sorry!

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Hello Blog World :)

I’m delighted beyond belief to report that I’m feeling SOOO much better today.

Really, I was feeling much better by supper time last night, so I ended up eating a little oatmeal with raisins and honey.  I drank a smaller glass of soda water on my way to bed last night because your bladder holds its contents the longest through the night, giving the alkalizing soda the most time to work.

This morning, the world was a cool, calm, happy place :)

No more soda for me today.  One day was enough.  Today I’m just drinking water.  Not in excess either!  When you flood your bladder with water, you wash away the protective lining in it.  The goal is to drink a full 10 glasses (8oz each).  That’s 2 quarts and a pint.  Broken up and consumed throughout the day.   My goal is to flush my system, not to flood it. Nothing is good in excess.  Balance is key.

I did have a minor side effect drinking the soda water and that is that it gave me a little bit of the trots. Frankly, it was totally worth it in my personal opinion.  I drank 16oz water w/1 TBSP baking soda @ 10am and 4pm and then about half that @ 11pm.  I drank about 5-6 8oz glasses of water, and (2) 12oz cups of herbal tea w/ raw honey in between.

So, that’s it!  Hopefully you’re not a person who experiences kidney stones or urinary tract infections.  That’s the obvious preference.

But if you ARE one of us, and you’re looking for a more natural way to snuff out the flame… this has been my experience, as an overall healthy, 30 yr old female on no medication, and with normal blood pressure.

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The following is my experience and should NOT be taken as medical advice.  Don’t follow what I do, get a serious infection, and then try to say it’s my fault basically. This is just handy knowledge for anyone who’s into natural remedies as I am. Know for certain that whatever you read here is practiced in my house, but use your own head please and do other research as well. After all, everyone is different, inside and out.

I avoid western medicine when possible. I’m not neglectful of my and my family’s health, but seeing an actual MD is a last resort in our household. I am the healer in my home.

Right now I’m having a small issue with either a kidney stone or a UTI or both. I don’t have a fever or chills and if I develop either, I would go to a doctor. Just so we’re clear.

A kidney stone is painful as hell. If you’ve had a baby and can identify what contractions feel like, it’s almost like THAT. Seriously. It’s wicked painful. And it comes on slowly. You can actually FEEL the pain build in your lower abdomen, groin, lower to mid back. All those areas or any combination of them.

It will reach a point that makes you sweat… really. I had a kidney stone once before and I was actually breathing through the pain like contractions. I kid you not.

If you DO go to the doctor at this point, you will likely be told, “Okay Mr./Ms. So-And-So, you have a kidney stone. Go home, lots of water, take Advil, if you start pissing blood or don’t feel better in the next 48 hours, come on back in.” Really. That’s their solution.

Unless of course you want them to shove a tube up your urethra and into your kidney to break up the stones with sound waves… while you’re awake…

And urinary tract infections aren’t much more fun. I wouldn’t say the pain is really less… it’s just different. Less of a charlie horse cramp and MORE of a “gee it really sucks that my business is currently burning like I’ve got a lit match stuck in it” kind of pain. An intense burn that makes your body compulsively insist upon trying to urinate which is a vicious cycle because the act of urinating just intensifies the burning.

Going to the doctor for this would entail me coming home with a prescription for antibiotics that will end up making me JUST as miserable as the infection when they kill ALL the bacteria in my system, good AND bad, and set me up for a miserable yeast infection.

And to all the MEN out there who just cringed… just so you know… yeast infections ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO WOMEN! Men get them to. Funny thing is men get them all over. Mouth, anus, penis… so there will be NO stone (kidney or non) throwing here. The state of your body and health is YOUR responsibility.

Knowledge is power my friends.

So here’s my solution. Here is what I’m actually doing, in real life, for my problem with this, right now, even as I type this post.

Today I will be on a liquid diet. Water, organic broths, herbal tea with a little honey only… and the miracle. NO JUICES! Fruit or other.

Here’s why:

• There’s a reason you’re often not hungry while ill. It’s your body’s way of focusing it’s energy into your healing. When you eat food, much of your person energy goes immediately to your digestion. After all, your digestion is a process that lasts for a few hours and involves every single organ you possess.Fasting on a liquid diet allows your body the calories and nutrition it requires with minimal digestion and energy loss.
• Your body needs liquid most when it’s down. Staying hydrated makes all the difference in how fast you flush out an illness or infection.
• Stay away from juices, even the 100% juice, no sugar added varieties. When you have a stone or UTI, there are bacteria present. Bacteria eat sugar. By flushing your system with sugar, even natural ones, you’re basically sending your infection an engraved invitation to stay and expand.
• I am drinking a specific herbal tea. Any herbal tea would be fine. I am drinking Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra with honey I add. The reason I’m drinking this tea specifically is because it has Valerian root in it and chamomile and I add the honey.In homeopathy, chamomile is used for things hot, angry, red, temper-mental, welted. If those things don’t describe how you feel with a UTI, I don’t know what does.

  Valerian root is commonly associated with help sleeping. I can’t vouch for YOUR reaction to it, but I don’t get sleepy unless I’m tired. If I drink this tea at night before bed, it helps me off to sleep. However, Valerian root is really for promoting relaxation. And drinking it @ noon simply has a relaxing, calming effect on me.

  I can use some relaxation right now :(

  The honey, raw and unfiltered, has immense healing properties in it. It’s anti bacterial, anti microbial, and anti viral. I like really HOT beverages personally, but when I use honey, I don’t add it to boiling hot water. Cooking the honey kills it.

Here’s the miracle that seals the deal. This is an amazing trick that Ash told me about, and I’ve used it once before now, and am happy to have it in my little medical bag now. I wouldn’t recommend doing it often because it would likely screw up your entire inner balance, but it’ll kick the crap out of a UTI if you do it for a day or 2.

1 TBSP Baking soda in 16oz of water. Drink it and repeat 2-3 times a day for 2 days.

In addition to the other liquid you’re drinking. Expect to feel a bit bloated. I sure do. But I’ll tell ya what… I was ON FIRE and I drank down 16oz and about 45 minutes later… the burn had subsided. As soon as it reached your bladder, it relieves some of the pain.

According to Ash (because frankly, I haven’t a clue) it creates an alkaline environment in your bladder that the bacteria cannot thrive or live in and therefore they are flushed away. True? *shrug* No clue. Does it work? Hell yeah it does. It’s amazing.

So that’s me and my day today. I sure hope your day is going well and the only thing burning for you is desire and passion! LOL

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This is what I’ve decided to construct. Not a Book of Shadows. I know that the name of that book is part of the witches tradition, but that is the beauty of being a Solitary and making your own traditions in my humble opinion.

I thought about constructing a Book of Shadows and was giving thought to what I’d want to include and the more I thought about it, the more I thought of things I would include. Then the more things I listed to include, the more the similarity of the nature of those things seemed.

The nature of all of the things I would include in my Book of Shadows are things related to energy and healing and life and creation and joy and love. Those are not things of shadow. Those are things of light.

I also believe that working around some of the seemingly darker aspects of “witchcraft” will help me to reach a broader audience and be more readily accepted if not understood. And it’s not that I’m seeking anyone’s acceptance, but more that I believe that if I can bridge the gap between myself and someone else simply by altering my language, why shouldn’t I?

Besides, I find the idea of a Book of Light so much more appealing.
I know witches are said to/to have kept information regarding their magic in their Book of Shadows, but I see it like this.

My LIFE is my magic! Everything in my life, I have created… manifested. Everything I am interested in and am pursuing is under my spell and part of my magic. And my LIFE and my interests and pursuits center specifically around my home and family and health and Spiritual growth.

Maybe it’s… non-traditional, but I went and got myself a 3 ring binder. If I read something online I want to include in my personal book, I print it, punch it and include it. I’m free to use my trusty highlighter and make notes in every margin to my heart’s content! I even have section separators and folders. It organized so many things for me. I had information floating all over about all kinds of things and now I have a single location for all of it!

This translates over to everyone! You don’t have to be a witch to have your own book. Especially for the homemaker or mother. There’s so much we do and are responsible for. It really is wonderful to have a place to put it and a place to find it later! I even include a journal, calendar and my own personal “Tame the House” cleaning schedule/routine that helps me to conquer the chaos of life with boys!

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