Does all work have to be 'spiritual'?

At the beginning of this year, I said to the Universe, OK, if you want me to do healing work full time, show me the way and I will do it. I tied up a new loose ends and was ready, open to whatever came.

I waited for about 2 months and nothing happened. I had some business cards made up. But generally, I felt uninspired to do anything much. Aside from paint. Which I did a bit of.

Then I started feeling depressed.

So, I said to the universe, what's going on? If you want me to be a healer, then I can do it. But I can't sit around on my arse all day waiting for something to happen. Show me the way.

The next day, the phone started ringing again. I was inundated with offers of work. Opportunities to get involved. In research. Which is what I was doing before. And I felt happy again.

Maybe it wasn't the right time. Or maybe, I am just one of those people who is meant to have a 'normal' job which gives me the head space and the freedom to be the one to go with my friend to the doctor, or to be able to stay up late into the night listening to a friend over the phone, or to meet someone in the day for a chat, or to just go and spend time showing some people a new product and being nice to them.

I realised today, it's not what you do, but how you do it that counts. That random acts of kindness mean something to me. That you can make a difference by being present and happy and smiling at people, rather than being a grumpy old chook who takes more than she gives.

And if I am meant to be a healer and do 'healing' work, then that's fine. I am sure I'll be shown the way. If not, I'll just keep doing what I do.

Because people do lovely things when you give them permission. Today for example, there was a little old lady trying to cross a busy road. I stopped to make sure she was OK.

And then something lovely happened. First a big truck flashed its lights and stopped, so she could cross half of way. So, we started walking and I said, I think we can go after this car waited for a natural break in the traffic. But before that, a lovely person stopped their car and let us cross.

I smiled and thanked the universe. Surely others choosing to be kind in that moment constitutes a miracle.

Not all grains are created equal

I had heard of people being intolerant to wheat and of course there are caeliacs who are allergic to gluten. But recently I have been learning that there are a lot of other grains people are not able to digest properly.

One of my friends has dropped a dress size in 4 weeks simply by cutting out the grains which were causing her terrible IBS.

I have a sensitive body which seems to want to be fed only healthy and loving foods. OK, so a sensitive and intelligent body.

But sometimes it's a bit of a drag, especially when I find it hard to figure out what it actually wants. Anyway, on my detox, I still had a bloated stomach at times and I was following that thing to a t. I noticed it was when I had rice, and I've thought for a while that rice isn't great for me. Not even brown short grain, the world's most absorbant complex carbohydrate.

When I saw my kinesiologist last week, she did some testing on me and discovered that for my body, rice, wheat and oats are out, and rye, millet, barley and corn are in. So, I am giving it a go to see if it does make a difference. What a wonderful world of discovery awaits.

I found a recipe for:
Millet muffins (imagine raspberry and fig millet muffins)
Ryvitas - how much do I love ryvitas and I never eat them...with hommous and cherry tomatos, with peanut butter
Corn on the cob - summer loving the corn with olive oil and pepper or popped with balsamic vinegar and salt and Barley - barley soup is just about one of the most nurturing soups known to man. It positively transforms a bowl of vege soup....

So, here's to the less popular grains out there. Thanks for being there!

We are all in a transition

You might think I'm mad but can you honestly tell me you haven't noticed wierd and intense things happening all around you?

According to this site, we are moving into a greater realm of love. So, it's worth it, then, isn't it?!

Check out this site and see what you think...

http://www.tribe.net/recommendation/Creating-Sacred-Spaces-Grounding-New-Earth/ddf864bc-e2fe-449c-a7c9-4205d8b6d359

Enjoy and don't worry, it will pass. You might even come to enjoy it...

Love and light and peace to you all

Beth

What are the seasons of fruit and vege?

One of the things I have become aware of since my detox is the seasonal nature of our food. We get a bit blinded to it when we shop at supermarkets year round (I confess to doing it myself). So, I decided to get a bit more aware of which fruit and vege are in season at what times of the year.

I have one for the UK here, but obviously if you live in say, Australia for instance, then it's going to be the other way round.

Anyway, here is the list:

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetables
In the UK we have a fantastic variety of home grown fruit and vegetables, many of which have gone out of fashion with the influx of exotic imported produce, but fruit and vegatables in season have the best flavour. Why not rediscover some of that flavour.
For some suggested recipes click on the fruit or vegetable.
January (winter)
Jerusalem artichokes, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, curly kale, endive, garlic, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, main crop potatoes, salsify, shallots, swede, turnip
February (winter)
Jerusalem artichokes, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, chard, chicory , kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, main crop potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, swede, turnip
March (spring)
Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, leeks, parsnip, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, rhubarb, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, main crop potatoes, sorrel, swede
April (spring)
Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, leeks, mushrooms, spring onions, main crop potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb
May (spring)
Asparagus, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, French beans, lettuce, mushrooms, new potatoes, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries
June (summer)
Globe artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, broad beans, French beans, beetroot, calabrese, carrots, early summer cauliflower, courgettes, cucumber, wet garlic, gooseberries, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangetouts, mushrooms, spring onions, new potatoes, peas, peppers, red currants, rhubarb, savoy cabbage , raspberries, spinach, strawberries, tayberries, tomatoes, turnip
July (summer)
Globe artichokes, aubergines, broad beans, French beans, runner beans, beetroot, blackcurrants, calabrese, carrots, cauliflower, celery, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, garlic, gooseberries, kohlrabi, lettuce, loganberries, mangetout, mushrooms, spring onions, peas, peppers, raspberries, red currants, Scottish earlies, spinach, strawberries, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnip, watercress
August (summer)
English Apples(Discovery), globe artichokes, aubergines, broad beans, runner beans, beetroot, blackberries, blackcurrants, calabrese, cucumber, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cherries, courgettes, fennel, garlic, greengages, kohlrabi, leeks, loganberries, mangetout, marrow, mushrooms, onions, spring onions, peas, peppers, plums, main crop potatoes, pumpkins, raspberries, shallots , spinach, strawberries, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnip, watercress
September (autumn)
English Apples (Katy, Worcester Pearmain, Blenheim Orange, James Grieve), globe artichokes, aubergines, beetroot, blackberries, white cabbage, calabrese, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, courgettes, cucumber, damsons, elderberries , fennel, figs, garlic, greengages, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, marrows, mushrooms, onions , spring onions, pears, peppers, plums, main crop potatoes, pumpkins , raspberries, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turnip, watercress
October (autumn)
Apples (Spartan, Cox's Orange Pippin, Egremont Russet), beetroot, blackberries, British sprouts, calabrese, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, courgettes, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, marrows, mushrooms, onions, pickling onions, spring onions, parsnips, pears, peppers, main crop potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, squash, swede, sweetcorn, turnip, watercress
November (autumn)
Apples, beetroot, British sprouts, cabbage, calabrese, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, garlic, leeks, mushrooms, onions, spring onions, parsnips, peppers, plums, pears, main crop potatoes, pumpkins , quince, spinach, swede, turnip
December (winter)
Apples, British sprouts, green cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, celeriac, celery, garlic, curly kale, leeks, mushrooms, onions, spring onions, parsnips, main crop potatoes, swede, turnip

Source: www.wfu.org.uk - got some wonderful recipes on there.

And here is a link to some delicious fig recipes from WFU for you, Trish!
http://www.wfu.org.uk/Recipes/figs.htm

You may not know how much you make a difference

I somehow got myself onto an email list from the Hare Krisnas up in Watford. Every so often they send me details about events and sometimes a beautiful message of love or hope or peace. Today I recieved this one and I think it is so fitting for today. I hope you enjoy it:

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.
It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Tough emotional times

I just want you to know, dear readers, that it is a very tough time emotionally for people at the moment. There seems to be so much going on in the universe. There are trials aplenty, as we move into a new phase which promises greater peace and inner calm.

So, if you feel (as I do) that life is just way too much for you, that you want to check out of being a grown up, that you want to go and sit in a cave and never come out, don't worry. You are not alone.

Now is the time to be kind to yourself. Take a nanna nap if you need one. Eat properly. Don't overcommit yourself to too many things. Breathe. Go for a walk if you can. Don't drink too much or eat too much chocolate.

And wait for it to pass. And remember, the sun will shine again in your heart.

Share it

How much lighter is the load one must carry when it is shared.

I have noticed many times how just having someone listen to you and really hear you can be the greatest gift for easing a heavy heart, troubled mind or saddened soul. It can give the courage to continue.

Often however, the listening comes down to a select few who seem to listen more than they are listened to, and care more than most.

So today, I want to send out a huge fanfare and thank you to all you givers and say, make sure you find your own sacred circle of sharing when times get tough for you. Don't be afraid to share your pain with others. There is no good you being weighed down with heaviness. You have Divine work to do, which can only happen with a light and gladdened heart. And the person listening might be glad to be of assistance. Who knows, they may even learn something in the process. And you might find a new perspective that sheds light into the seeming darkness...

Don't despair if you can't find a person to talk to. There are always the angels who will come to your aid if you ask...

Start again

Many years ago, I did a 10 day Vipassana meditation retreat. It was a wonderful experience to learn meditation and a skill I still use today pretty much on a daily basis. Every morning we used to get up about 4.30am and listen to chanting from one of the monks and one of the things that he used to say quite a lot was 'start again'. When the mind loses its way and goes off on a seemingly never ending tangent, you can simply regather yourself and refocus on the breath and start again.

Today, this is particularly relevant for me. I have found myself caught in a negative cycle with an important relationship and at something of an impasse as to where to go from here.

I sat down in front of my alter, lit 3 candles - one for the other person, one for myself and one for us and asked for divine assistance as to where to go from here.

Very quickly I heard the words, Let it go. Let what go? All of it was the reply. Then I was moved to write on a piece of paper all the things that were annoying me about the other person. Then on the other side I wrote all the things I love about that person. Then I burnt it. Then I did the same for myself - all the things I don't like about myself and all the things I do. Then I burnt that also.

Then, I drew a love heart and in the middle of it wrote all the things I wanted to keep in my heart. My list included things like trust, forgiveness, honesty, kindness, freedom, sanctuary, but other people might put different things in there. At the bottom in big letters I wrote Start Again.

I didn't burn this one, because I wanted to remind myself of the important things for me.

So often in relationships, we lose our way and forget what it was that brought us together in the first place. But it is the qualities of love and friendship that constantly need to be reaffirmed and lived both in ourselves and in the other person.

This is the painting I did of it.

So today, for anyone who is struggling with a relationship or at an impasse of some form, why not try the above exercise? You might feel better for it.

This is for you, girls!

This is something I got sent today from one of my girls. So this one's for you gorgeous creatures (and if you are reading this, that includes you!).

Girlfriend and Sister's Week

I am only as strong as the coffee I drink, the hairspray I use and the friends I have. To the cool women that have touched my life. Here's to you!

What would most of us do without our sisters, confidants and shopping, lunching, and travelling girls? Let's celebrate each other for each other's sake!

TO MY GIRLFRIENDS!

It is good to be a woman:

1. We got off the Titanic first.
2. We can scare male bosses with the mysterious gynaecological disorder excuses.
3 Taxis stop for us.
4. We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
5. No fashion faux pas we make, could ever rival the Speedo.
6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.
7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
8. We can congratulate our team-mate without ever touching her rear end.
9. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
10. We have the ability to dress ourselves.
11. We can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture them naked
12. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.
13. We will never regret piercing our ears
14. There are times when chocolate really can solve all our problems.
15. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.

Send this to all the bright women you know and make their day!!!!!

PS No intention to offend male readers!

Just do it

My friend Trish writes a cool blog most days and today I found her entry particularly inspiring... check it out...

http://blogasmic.typepad.com/blogasmic/2006/09/get_up.html

Go girl!

Experience it and let it go

So often, I see people running away from their emotions and blocking them out with all sorts of clever strategies like drinking, eating, shopping, being so busy you never have time to sit, or never taking risks for fear of getting hurt.

Well today, I want to say that when you fully experience the emotion in that moment, it really does pass very quickly.

[Obviously there are times when you simply can't yell or cry or have a mini break down for some reason and have to wait until a time when you can be alone for instance, but to be honest with you, I find that when you really do embrace this state of being in the moment, the timing seems to fit in OK].

And then you can move on.

Really move on and not continue to be chained by the shackles of your pain or whatever it is.

This also works for the feelings we typically associate with being good, like joy or sharing with others. A lady on X Factor the other night (yes, I do watch it sometimes!), was singing with her mouth shut because she didn't want to look stupid driving in the car and having her mouth move. I thought that was really creative but also really sad that she didn't feel she could be herself and sing her heart out in the comfort of her own car.

So, today, I want to say, be yourself and allow yourself the chance to sit with an emotion that you might otherwise run from. That doesn't mean shouting at someone because you feel angry, because I think you can do this and still be kind. I'm thinking more like if you need to have a good cry, have one. If you want to tell someone you really like them or that they look really good in something, have the confidence to say so. If you think something's funny, let yourself laugh.

It's amazing how alive you feel when you allow the journey of the heart to be expressed.

To you and your authenticity. I hope you have a beautiful day. xxxx

Happy Anniversary to us!

Today has many memories for lots of people, but in our world, it is a day of celebration.

So for my honey, I want to say thank you for being such a wonderful person and my life is so rich with you in it. Te quiero todo sobre tu y la vida es mejor con tigo.

S - I have tried many times today to post the photo of us in Brighton that Nuria sent but to no avail.

Share the love

I went to a 5 rhythms session last night....

http://www.5rhythmsuk.com/5rhythms.html

It was a lovely evening of dancing to great music and just getting into the wonderful movement of the body. And a bit of meeting new people in there too.

And I realised that when you connect with the love, it is so important to share it. Because when you share it, it multiplies.



So, if you are blessed with love be it from a partner, child, your family or just because you have a spontaneous moment of joy, don't just keep it for yourself, share it with someone else. Because by doing so, you really can make the world a better place.

Intention is the point of the arrow

Recently, I realised how the same action can be construed so differently depending on the person's intent. And I think I can forgive almost anything of someone whose heart is good.

I think I am one of those people who feels the sentiment rather than hears the words, even though words can be cutting too.

According to the Buddhist scriptures, right intention leads to peace and harmony...

While he was striving for deliverance, meditating in the forest, he [The Buddha] found that his thoughts could be distributed into two different classes. In one he put thoughts of desire, ill will, and harmfulness, in the other thoughts of renunciation, good will, and harmlessness. Whenever he noticed thoughts of the first kind arise in him, he understood that those thoughts lead to harm for oneself and others, obstruct wisdom, and lead away from Nibbana. Reflecting in this way he expelled such thoughts from his mind and brought them to an end. But whenever thoughts of the second kind arose, he understood those thoughts to be beneficial, conducive to the growth of wisdom, aids to the attainment of Nibbana. Thus he strengthened those thoughts and brought them to completion.

From: http://www.vipassana.com/resources/8fp3.php

So, the point of my story for today in my sleep deprived state? Focus on your heart and your intention rather than the details, and forgive yourself if sometimes the words might not come out right.

Any thoughts or wisdom to share on that?

Happy Anniversary to me

Well today it is officially 5 years since I landed in London. I had no idea how long I was going to be here for, or the events that would unfold.

But 5 years on, I can say it has been a wonderful journey so far.

I feel complete here. I feel at peace. I feel content. I feel happy.

I mean, the guy at Customs even said to me as I handed him my shiny new red passport declaring me to be one of the nation's citizens - 'Welcome Home'. Never before or ever since has anyone said that to me. Nor have those friendly words been declared to anyone I know.

The entry into London didn't start quite as well as expected but I like to think I learned my lessons quickly and by the following spring, things were well on track. I had a new boyfriend, a nice enough job, a home to live in, some new friends, food in my belly and the beginnings of a new life.

So, today, I declare a sparkling apple juice toast (I am on a detox remember) to London. Because you have been so good to me it makes we want to cry and I am so grateful for all you have given me.

Count your blessings

'When I count my blessings, I always count you twice' is a magnet I have in my office.

Last night at a surprise 50th birthday party for a lovely friend of mine who I hardly ever see, I had the privilege of meeting her new man. I mentioned the break up some time ago on this blog, and I have to say, it was unquestionably for the good. She is radiant and so is her Beloved.

They are like ying and yang. He mentioned in passing what a blessing it is to meet one's soulmate in this life.

Anyway, I just wanted to say it was so lovely to meet him. He just sat and enjoyed her enjoyment all night. As she salsa'ed and giggled with the girls, and received an abundance of gifts from those who love her, and cried when she realised all these people had come just for the moment to see the look on her face and be part of her history.

He oozed gratitude and grace. For each moment it seemed. It's so easy to let the day to day stuff get in the way of appreciating what you have, it was a lovely reminder for me to see someone not caught up in that.

So, to the two T's. Because you being together makes the world a better place.