Amira Ayad, PhD
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[Art, Stories & Body Whispers®] On Staying Challenged

6/9/2023

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This month story builds on last month’s Daring to Live theme. It’s about staying challenged.

Story

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The Japanese love sushi, but the waters around the island do not hold many fish. So, companies built large fishing boats to go farther out to sea. But, the farther out they went, the longer it took to bring in the fish home. The catch was not fresh anymore, and the customers’ culinary palate detected the difference. To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go even farther and stay longer.
However, the Japanese could easily taste the difference between fresh and frozen. And, sushi can’t be made with frozen fish. So, fishing companies installed fish tanks on their vessels, into which they stuffed the live catch. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving in the tanks; they were dull and sluggish but stayed alive. Unfortunately, this solution did not work either. The Japanese could still taste the difference - because the fish had not moved freely for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste.
Finally, they found the solution in a simple saying: 'A person thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment.' To keep the fish lively and fresh, fishing companies added a small shark to each tank. Sure enough, the shark ate a few fish, but the rest arrived in a vibrant energetic state. The fish were challenged!

Art

Draw a big rectangle on your page - this “tank” is your life - In it, jot down all the autopilot routine roles you have to play on a daily basis: driving to work, office stuff, replying to emails, cleaning, cooking, studying, taking care of the kids, spouse, watching TV…

Now, add a shark to your tank!

Remember, there is no right or wrong way of doing it. Your art could be realistic or abstract… don’t worry about the drawing skills… don’t worry about colouring inside the lines, perspective or proportions… just freely capture the feelings you are experiencing.
Take your time and keep adding any words that come to mind.

When you are ready, take a good look at your art:
  • What color is your shark? What shape, texture?
  • Is it big or small?
  • Does it look docile or vicious?
  • Did it take all the space or was it a tiny representation on the side?
  • Which "Fish" will the shark swallow first?
  • What is the shark trying to push you to do?
  • How scary is this challenge?
  • What blocks/ stands in the way?

Traditional Wisdom of the Month

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“Dance, when you’re broken open.
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, once you’re perfectly free.”
- Rumi, from Coleman Barks The Essential Rumi






Reflection & Journaling prompts:
  • Is there an area (or areas) of your life that is/are starting to stagnate, to feel stale, areas that  are slowly decaying, that are gradually becoming lifeless, sluggish and dull?
  • What “shark” do you need to add to your life to keep things flowing?

Body Whispers

As you know by now, your Body whispers are unique to you… You need to sit and listen.

Generally speaking, the main energy centre that starts to whisper when we are leading a meaningless, dull, boring, and lifeless existence, is our sixth chakra.
Our sixth chakra energy feeds our senses, our central nervous system and the pituitary gland.
​The pituitary gland is the master commander of our endocrine system directly governing the hormonal functions of the first chakra (the adrenals), the second (the sexual organs), and the fifth (the thyroid) along with many other critical roles.
When your days feel dull and lifeless, the whispers start. They might manifest as stress, anxiety, or immunity malfunction (first chakra-related disorders); PMS and reproductive tract disorders (second chakra-related issues); metabolic dysfunctions and thyroid hyper or hypo activity (fifth chakra-related disorders); or eye, ear, and nerve issues (sixth chakra-related disorders). Listen!
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[Art, Stories & Body Whispers®] Soul Yearning

1/8/2023

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This month, we’ll resume  our series: Art, Stories & Body Whispers® .

As you know by now, to follow along, you will need a blank-page journal or sketch book and some basic colours or collage materials. Every month we will explore a theme using art exercise and stories, sometimes I will suggest songs, poetry,  or traditional wisdom that will add some insight to the theme. Finally, we’ll discuss common Body whispers® related to the theme we are exploring.

This month is about soul yearning and daring to live.

Story

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Years ago, my cousins and I used to rent a small boat from the shores of the Alexandrian sea. The fisherman would warn us, “you can row far and wide, but never cross the boughaz (the inlet)” – this was a small opening in the wall of the breakwater rocks that the city had instilled years ago to protect its shores from the raging sea…. The Alexandrian coastlines were thus tamed and peaceful. Still, its sea was vast and wide… you can safely row for hours and hours and stop your boat to fish and cast your net… You’re safe and protected as long as you don’t cross the inlet - the boughaz!
Yet, crossing we did… EVERY SINGLE TIME… We couldn’t help it… Those bunch of rebellious kids who wanted to experiment with the unknown. As soon as we got the hang of our tiny boat, we row and row away from the shore and out of sight right through the boughaz… it’s a whole new world out there, a magical feeling. In just a few seconds, you are thrown into the wild and the Mediterranean shows its true face, its untamed and scary side. It is much more alive than the boring smooth waters of the safe coastlines. Once we've tried it, we could never enjoy the tamed sea again… we had to cross the inlet every time we’re out in the sea… and, it was our little secret. The beauty, serenity, and the peacefulness of the vast blue waters that meant the world to everyone, was but a boring illusion that kept us away from the true taste of the mysterious world – a world with no boundaries – the true Mediterranean – the True Sea, we yearned for.

Decades later, I am wondering where this adventurous rebellious girl went… I can’t remember how many times I surfed art supplies stores buying art supplies and stocking them in my already busy drawers and tool boxes. When I decide to finally paint, I open my tool box, gaze at my endless materials and think: “No… these are too precious, I’ll save them for a more serious project.” And, guess what! This ‘more serious project’ never comes. My paints, glue cans, and mediums wait in their safe storage until they dry up and flake, until they turn from precious to useless waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ that never came, and may never come.
Of course “art supplies” here are but a metaphor for everything in life… every new adventure, opportunity, dream, passion… that we stock in our safe drawers waiting of the perfect time. Kind of like the story of the poor fisherman throwing away the big fishes he catches as he only has a tiny frying pan at home. The big fishes just won’t fit!!!

The most important lesson I learned from my art classes at the faculty of Fine Art back home is to be bold, to take risks. You are faced with a blank canvas, you could paint it any way you wish. If you choose dull, monotonous colors just to ‘be on the safe side’, you will end up with a boring lifeless painting. “What if I mess up? What if I used the wrong colors?” I asked. “Just add a fresh new layer,” my professor calmly answered. Accidental mistakes and bad choices in art, like in life, are revealing strokes. They teach us and force us out of our comfort zone, “see them not as mistakes, rather as opportunities,” my professor taught.

I’m wondering whether the beauty, safety, and comfort of our modern life became but a boring illusion… a veil that denies our soul its yearning of crossing the boughaz, of reaching out for its True Sea?

Art

You might have already guessed our art project for today… Open up a new page spread in your art journal and just pour a blob of random paint - any random color… better yet a color that you don’t really care for.
Then, close the journal while the paint is still wet and open it up again.
Now that you created a mess, use more colours, paint, scribbles, collage, whatever you fancy and turn this blob of random mess into a monster. Yes, a monster!

Remember, there is no right or wrong way of doing it. Your art could be realistic or abstract… don’t worry about the drawing skills… don’t worry about colouring inside the lines, perspective or proportions… just freely capture the feelings you are experiencing.
Take your time and then jot down any words that come to mind.

Now, look at your art:
  • What colour did you use? What texture? What shapes?
  • How strong, sharp, heavy or light are the colours, lines and shapes?
  • Who or what is your monster? How strong, sharp, heavy or light is it?
  • What is he/she trying to push you to do? Or prevent you from doing?
  • How scary is your monster? How big is it?
  • What triggers it?
  • What calms it down?
  • How does it block/ stand in your way?
  • If you want to add yourself to the page, where would you be?

Here is a song, you might enjoy while painting your monster:
Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying

Traditional Wisdom of the month

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Rumi gives the simile:

“When you load your cargo on a ship, you do
that with full trust God keeps it safe for you.
You don’t know whether you might drown
Or, you’ll be saved from ever sinking down.
If you say, ‘till I know which one I’ll be
I won’t go on the ship or in the sea,
I need to know if I’ll be drowned
Reveal to me if I’ll arrive safe and sound?
I won’t embark on a journey with all the unknown
The truth to me has to be clearly shown.’
No trade will be accomplished, then, by you
Because the answer is hidden far from view.
The frightened merchant with a fragile nature
Finds neither loss nor profit in his venture.”

Reflection & Journaling prompts:
  • Name your fears

Body Whispers

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There are so many ways your body can whisper to you that your soul is yearning for more out of life… You need to sit and listen. Everyone is unique.
Yet, usually, the parts of the body that get affected when we deny our life passions and yearnings, when we let our fears prevent us from pursuing what we are called to pursue, are the sexual organs and the thyroid.
  • Sex organs & female hormonal imbalance - things like PMS, hot flashes, uterine fibroids, PCOS, and ovarian cysts... are trying to tell you that you are missing joy, excitement & creativity in your life.
  • Throat & thyroid whispers want to tell you that you need to be heard; you need to reclaim your authentic voice. This area is also related to issues with surrender and learning to align our will to the Divine will without compromising or giving up on your dream nor ignoring your voice.
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[Art, Stories & Body Whispers®] On Fear, Letting Go & Trust.

11/7/2023

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This month, I am starting a new series I have been thinking about for a long time now, combining my three favourite subjects: Art, Stories & Body Whispers® .
It will be sweet and brief as I know we’re all busy.

To follow along, you will need a blank-page journal or sketch book and some basic colours or collage materials. Every month we will explore a theme. You will start with an art exercise. Then, you’ll move to a story that will usually be some symbolic take on the theme. Finally, some common Body whispers® related to the topic we’re exploring.

This month we are exploring Fear, Letting Go & Trust.

Art

Open a new spread in your journal and using colours, images, collage materials, drawing, doodle, scribble… explore: What does fear look like for you?
There is no right or wrong answer nor right of wrong way of doing it. Your art could be realistic or abstract… don’t worry about the drawing skills… don’t worry about colouring inside the lines, perspective or proportions… just freely capture the feelings you are experiencing.
Take your time and then jot down any words that come to mind.

Now, look at your art:
  • What colour did you use? What texture? What shapes?
  • How strong, sharp, heavy or light are the colours, lines and shapes? How strong, sharp, heavy or light is your fear?
  • Is it contained or pervasive?
  • What triggers it?
  • What calms it down?
  • How does it block/ stand in your way?
  • If you want to add yourself to the page, where would you be?

Story: It is Written in the Sand

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​There is an old Sufi tale about a Stream that flowed freely for years. It is said that he began his journey from up there in the mountains far far away… He passed through hilltops and lowlands… He survived ditches and travelled plains … until one day, he reached the desert.

The Stream has been through a lot on his journey and was certain that he can pull through this one too. So, he tried and tried; and the more he tried to cross the desert, the faster he kept sinking into its Sands… the Stream’s waters were disappearing and the Stream was gradually fading away… it was scary!

The Stream knew that he was meant to cross the desert… but, he had no idea how… And, he began to wonder why… Why was he facing such a hard task?  Why can’t he just continue flowing as he used to? This is when the Stream heard a gentle subtle voice that seems to come from afar … the voice whispered: “the Wind crosses the desert, so can you.”
“But, the Wind can fly,” replied the Stream, “it can flow over those harsh arid Sands that keep sucking the life out of me.”
“Maybe you’re pushing too hard,” whispered the voice,
“maybe you need to let go… To trust.”
“But, what would I be if I let go?” Wondered the Stream. 
“If you just allow yourself to be absorbed in the Wind, it can happily carry you to wherever you are meant to be.”
The Stream fiercely objected, letting go meant losing control… it meant facing the unknown… it meant embracing the change that is taking place … a scary ambiguous change.
Yet, what will he be if he does not let go? Continuing to push against the harshness of the Sands is futile. He will soon be absorbed away or turned into a swampland. 

It was a hard choice to make… After all, the Stream only knew one way of flowing… one way of knowing. All his life, he has been flowing in his old familiar way… he has been knowing in his old knowable way... he was free, or so, he thought… he had never relinquished his control before… “Will I remain the same Stream that I am today?”

“Your essence will never change… whether you become a new stream, a lake, or a river… whether you choose to sink in the Sands or turn into swamp or marsh... you are and will always remain you… your secret… your most essential you.”

“How do I know that this is true?”

“You need to trust.”

The Stream was more confused than ever… So many questions needed to be asked. But, the answer did not come from the faraway whispers this time, the answer came from deep within. The Stream vaguely remembered once upon a time far faraway when he was held by the caring Wind… it felt safe… it felt true… or, did it? 

And, the Stream allowed his waters to be absorbed in the Wind… and, the Wind gently carried the waters to the mountaintops far faraway. The Stream was watching and learning... He was flowing like he had never flown before… He was knowing like he had never known before...
The Stream still did not know where the Wind is carrying him… And, he still did not know what or how he’ll end up being… But, it felt true… it felt real… it felt safe. The Stream somehow knew that he still was and will always remain the Stream that he had always been and he also knew that he no longer was and will never remain the Stream he had ever been.

And, on his journey up to the mountaintops, he heard the familiar gentle voice whisper again, “We have always known, because we see it happen all the time."
And, this is why it is said that the journey of your Stream of Life is written in the Sands.


*The story is from Tales of the Dervishes by Idris Shah

Reflection & Journaling Prompts:
  • What do you need to let go of?
  • What is your relationship with trust?
  • Do you trust yourself and your judgements?
  • Do you trust God? What does trusting Him means to you?
“If tomorrow morning by stroke of magic every dazed and benighted soul woke up with the power to take the first step toward pursuing his or her dreams, every shrink in the directory would be out of business.” Steven Pressfield
What “first step” you need to take now towards pursuing your dream?

Body Whispers

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Knees
Knees problems hide an underlying sense of fear, worry and insecurity. You are missing the feeling of belonging, integration, and grounding ... the feeling of being part of a secure, safe family, community or society.
Knees pain signals some reluctance or unwillingness to move forward or change direction especially when you feel unsupported by your family or community, you feel that you are flowing against the current and striving to change what cannot/would not be changed.
Knees also start to ‘whisper’ when there are some major changes going on in your life. It could be some material change or changes in beliefs and thinking pattern… when your beliefs about what is true and valuable in life are challenged by your reality, community and environment… When your identity and self-worth are at stake or questioned.
If your knees are causing you problems, you need to start asking yourself where in my life do I need to surrender more? What do I need to let go of? Do I need to be more flexible and understanding? Am I being stubborn, hindering life flow with ease and spontaneity?
What fears am I storing: is it fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of change, fear of being not enough, fear of criticism, fear of breaking hearts or crushing dreams?
Knees problems could also signal some form of conflict with the ego, a prideful unwillingness to give up or give in. Pride doesn’t always mean arrogance, sometimes pride denotes the inability to accept our human limitation as we keep fighting, struggling and banging our head against a wall in a futile battle.


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Kidneys:
​When your kidneys start to whisper, your body is trying to tell you that you are harbouring too much fears, especially fears related to safety, financial security and worry about tomorrow.
People with kidney problems are experiencing a growing feeling of vulnerability, they feel lonely and unsupported. They fear being left alone in the world. They also harbour lots of negative emotions that they are unable or unwilling to release: worry, resentment, criticism, self doubt, self-blame and frustrations. They fear that they won’t be good enough or that they might fail.
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The 7 I’s: A Journey of Healing & Transformation

20/6/2023

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Our life is a story…

We make sense of our journey and our sufferings through stories…
Our pain stems from our disconnection from those stories… When we disconnect, our life and body sends us warnings, Body Whispers®, to tell us that something needs to change in our life. If we don’t listen, the Whispers get louder and louder until they become screams that we can no longer ignore.
Our healing lies in listening to our Body Whispers®, in reclaiming our story and re-telling it in our own authentic voice, in restoring connections and integrating our mind, body, heart & soul, finding our life meaning and purpose, restoring our health, and living in joy.

The 7 I's help you through this journey. It is inspired by Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.


  • The first stage: Integration: It seemed like an ordinary life until you get a Call for Adventure. This call might come in the form of major life changes or challenges, or it might stem from your body sending you warnings, Body Whispers®, to tell you that something needs to change in our life - the warnings could be in the form of anxiety, depression, heartaches, body aches, or simple feeling of uneasiness… Now, it's chaos & ambiguity -  You stop to connect & integrate all the bits & pieces of your life and build the foundation of your primary. needs for safety, security, support, and belonging: who am I? Where do I stand? Who stands with me? The integration stage is the foundation that establishes the structure and framework needed for you to embark on your journey.
When this stage is not in order, our Body Whispers® to us through the adrenal glands. We feel anxious, unable to cope with stress, our blood pressure is out of balance, our bones ache, we experience constant fatigue, depression and/or our immune system falls out of synch.



  • The second stage: Initiation: Change is hard. Yet, as you acknowledge the kaleidoscope of your emotions (all the anger, fear, grief, frustration, guilt...), you Accept the Call & are initiated on your healing journey. In the midst of the chaos, you start looking for the light that could reignite your love, passion & joy.
When out of balance, our body sends us warnings through disturbance in sexual hormones and reproductive functions, creativity block and addictive behaviors.


  • The third stage: Implementation: It is time to make the decision - to Cross the Threshold & become an active agent in your healing journey. You own your narrative and assume responsibility for your life & your health.  You acquire knowledge & gather tools. You choose your allies & support system, you re-visit your beliefs about yourself and others, dig for “sparkling events” that point you to your strengths, potentials, and talents; and integrate those stories into your emerging identity. 
When this stage is not in order, our body sends us warnings through imbalanced blood sugar levels, digestive disorders, liver problems, different food cravings, addictive behaviors and some forms of cancers.


  • The fourth stage: Intimacy: Healing is not easy nor is it a straight forward journey. There is  no magic wand nor a secret pill. It is a Road of Trials that you have to tread. And, as you are advancing on the path, you are building your heart-based strength, courage & resilience. You are anchoring your trust in the Divine & intimately connecting with a sacred, transcendent reality that gives meaning to your life.
When out of balance, our body sends its warnings mainly through our heart, vascular system and immune functions. Lung problems and breast cancer are also common whispers here or rather screams.


  • The fifth stage: Integrity: This stage is an expected pause in any life-changing journey. Digging into your stories and exploring strengths and weaknesses force you to come face to face with many tests, allies, and enemies that might force you to retreat in the Belly of the Whale, into your Innermost Cave.  It is time for slowing down, for reflection & re-evaluation. Here, you achieve Transformation. You find your genuine true voice and trust & surrender your will to the Divine will. 
When out of balance, our body sends its warnings through disturbance in our thyroid gland and throat & upper respiratory tract problems.


  • The sixth stage: Insight: You are seeing through your ordeal and emerging with a richer narrative & a valuable contribution. You now must take the Road Back for Resurrection to occur. You reintegrate into re-engage in life with more wisdom & meaning. The insight you gain at this stage of your journey enables you to see new ways and embrace other alternatives, choices, and possibilities.
The sixth chakra, known as the third eye, is about finding meaning and wisdom in our challenges and humbly making peace with our human nature that limits our ability to find all the answers we seek. It sends its whispers through the pituitary gland, the ‘maestro’ of the endocrine system. This is why when it is thrown out of order, we experience load of associated whispers ranging from stress, worries, and anxiety to autoimmune disorders, immunity & reproductive system malfunctions, and metabolic disorders.


  • The seventh stage: Intention: You are strengthening your love and sincere connection with the Divine; reclaiming your true identity & sense of agency. You are earning the Freedom to Live: Freedom as our Divine gift to live our life in harmony with His law and order. You are now clearly seeing & actualizing the valuable purpose & meaning of your life. You are back "Home", yet you are seeing it in new eyes.
The crown begins its whispers through insomnia, headaches, dizziness, migraine, low energy, and depression. With an out-of-balance crown, we lose our sense of purpose, meaning, motivation, and interest. On a deeper level, it is related to brain and nervous system disorders and fatal degenerative illnesses.



We go through the journey all the time, with every new challenge, change or transformation in our life. We are always at one stage or another on the journey.​

Take the time to locate where you are at this stage of your life and thus envision how to proceed further.
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On Letting Go...

20/11/2022

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Every year, since I first came to Canada, I become fascinated by the sight of the bright colored tulips sprouting every spring. I learned that you plant the bulbs in October and they remain dormant during fall and winter until they miraculously bloom with the first signs of spring.

Back then, I bought some tulip bulbs – I decided to plant them in my garden. But, for some reason, year after year, I kept missing this narrow planting window. For some reason, every fall, my life got entangled in so much mess that I kept postponing my planting project waiting for the “perfect time” – "Maybe next year", I kept telling myself. I carried those bulbs with me as I moved from one house to another, from one city to another, still waiting for “the perfect time” to lay them in the ground. Finally, this fall, I decided not to wait any longer- plant them I will. So, I got the bulbs out of the storage box, prepared the ground, opened the bag, and lo and behold, here they were… all rotten!

It was such an aha moment. I laughed so hard. Here I was, carrying along a bag of rotten bulbs for years waiting for the “perfect moment – perfect life… perfect time… perfect place...
I wondered what other “rotten stuff” have I been carrying along? What other rotten memories… beliefs… ideas… illusions… dreams… have I been allowing into my life hoping that one day something good will come out of them?
What other rotten layers of my life was I refusing to shed… to let go of once and for all?
I finally threw away the old rotten bulbs and bought fresh new ones. This time, I didn’t wait for the perfect time and place. I didn’t wait for the best weather or best practices… I dug in the dirt and laid them with total faith that beautiful colorful tulips will emerge under my windowsill in the spring, God willing!
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“If you become addicted to looking back,
Half your life will be spent in distraction
And the other half in regret.
You can live better than that!
Find happier friends.” Rumi 

“If you stop reading from your own small view,
The phoenix will grant kingdoms then to you!” Rumi 
​


Body Whispers: Neck problems

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Neck problems are related to flexibility. This is your fifth chakra: your ability to find your authentic voice and use it in a good cause, yet, it is also about learning to align this newly found will with the Divine will. Learning to trust: when do you need to keep pushing and when do you need to let go - not out of helplessness or despair but out of faith and trust.
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Ask yourself:
  • what is keeping me from moving forward, from moving on with my life?
  • Do I feel stuck? Why? What is holding me back? What “rotten stuff” am I refusing to let go of?
  • What other sides of the story am I stubbornly unable or unwilling to consider?
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Mind the Duck

4/10/2022

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The aftermath of the pandemic with all the fears and uncertainty it created left us with many challenges and many balls to juggle. Many of us are struggling to pay the bills, make ends meet, care for loved ones, and care for ourselves… And, as we are caught up in this daily grind, we’re also caught in what Rumi calls an eagerness/ urgency mentality that drives us to keep running and pushing and striving further and further.

Rumi calls this human disposition “the Duck of Eagerness” بطة الحرص  and warns us that if we leave this Duck roaming around freely, it will take over our life turning the good qualities of eagerness and urgency into an extreme of greed and anxiety.

Here is how he describes this Duck:

The Duck is eagerness, for his bill is always in the ground
Looking for what is buried in abundance or scarcity
His gullet doesn’t stop for a single moment;
The only command he is willing to hear from God is “Eat!”
He is like a thief breaking into a house
And very quickly filling his bag
Cramming in it what is worthy and what is worthless
Pearls and chickpeas alike
He sees his time as limited
and opportunities scarce.
Fear overwhelms him
So he puts everything under his armpit in haste.

But, a true believer - filled with trust-
Conducts his affairs in leisurely manner.
He feels safe
He knows that he won’t miss anything;
And he feels secure from other competitors,
As he perceived the King’s justice.
No wonder he doesn’t hurry
He is calm
At peace that his appointed fortune won’t miss him
Hence he has deliberation, patience, and forbearance
He is content, altruistic, and pure at heart.

Rumi describes this Duck Disposition as greed; and advises us:
“The shackles of greed, on your hands and neck now break
New fortune then, from heaven you can take.” 

To be honest, I never thought of eagerness as greed. In our fast-paced world, eagerness, urgency and haste are considered as positive qualities.  But, looking more closely, the Duck Disposition generates a scarcity mentality, a fear-based attitude, a FOMO exaggerated by the endless social media posts and flashy ads. We end up insecure, impatient, overwhelmed, feeling unsafe and unsettled, running around, missing all the daily beauty and joys sent our way.

It is time mind the duck! Don’t let it take over your life…
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Traditional Wisdom of the month

Rumi gives the simile:

“an armed frightened horseman rode ahead
Into a forest on a thoroughbred.
An archer standing there saw him and drew
His bow in fear, not knowing what to do.
He aimed to shoot, the rider shouted out:
‘I’m weak - don’t let my huge frame make you doubt!”

Rumi then explains:

“Your weapons are your trickery and plots-
They’ve wounded your own soul by taking shots.
Since from those tricks you’ve gained naught in the end,
Abandon them, so God good luck might send!” 

Sometimes we hold on to our anxieties and fears unconsciously imagining that they are the shield and weapons that keep us safe, keep us in control, not realizing that they are doing us more harm than good.

As Elizabeth Gilbert puts it, “you are afraid to surrender because you don’t want to lose control. But you never had control, all you had was anxiety.”

Our fears and anxiety, our Duck Disposition are the weapons that we desperately hold on to as they give us the illusion that we are in control. But, those “weapons” are in fact what is shielding us from a joyful, peaceful life.
  • What are your weapons and shields that give you the illusion that you are in control?
  • What is your Duck busy snatching, missing the beauty and harmony of its surrounding?
  • How can you mind the Duck?

Body Whisper: Chronic Fatigue & Fibromyalgia

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On Peace & Anxiety

6/9/2022

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As many of you may know, every year I choose an emotion, a feeling that I want to work on and reach during this year. My word for 2022 is “Peace of Mind.” I am still working on it. Rumi, as always, has a lot to say about this. And, here are two of his quotes that left me more anxious and confused than ever:
“Be silent and wait and when the clear green fore-head-stone is given, wear it.” 
And, “Don’t always be waiting to see what’s behind it. That wait and see poison your spirit. Reach for it.”

​Ok, so now what exactly do you want me to do, Mawlana? Should I silently wait or should I not?

It took me some time to grasp the essential message in all traditional teachings – Life is a paradox… embrace the opposites, the ambiguity… listen to your heart. 

In another place, Rumi advices, “Nothing happens until you quit contriving with your mind. Quit your talking!” 
In CBT, we call this undesirable “contriving”, the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts), those auto-generated thoughts that creep in- seemingly out of nowhere- and drag you down the rabbit hole.

An anxious mind is a mind loaded with ideas, thoughts, plans, to-dos, and scenarios… a mind like the World Wide Web firing in all directions all the time. Our ANTs generate negative feelings such as worry, fear, irritability, and helplessness. In their turn, the negative feelings initiate physical symptoms (hypertension, heart palpitation, high blood sugar levels, depressed immunity) and generate self-defeating behaviors that generate more ANTs and a vicious cycle sets in.
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Anxiety is the body’s warning signal, the reminder that we need to slow down.

Psychologists identified ten most common cognitive distortions (another fancy word for ANTs) that lead us down this rabbit hole. We all have them in various extents, but each of us usually has 2-3 patterns that we fall in again and again.

You can download the sheet of the 10 most common CBT patterns HERE

Try to identify yours and monitor your thoughts this upcoming month. Use a journal to catch the “ANTs”. Whenever you see yourself slipping into a negative thinking pattern catch those ANTs and quickly stick them in your journal. Write down exactly what those negative thoughts were - What were you saying to yourself?
Explore why and how those ANTs arise, reflect about it… Can you challenge/refute those thoughts?
Can you “Quit your talking!”
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When you chest is tight, your body is trying to tell you that there is a heavy weight, a burden, pressing on your chest that your are unable or unwilling to lift.
You are carrying too many responsibilities, running in all directions trying to meet everybody’s needs wondering when will you have time to meet your own… And, what are those needs of yours… you no longer know.
You are suppressing or avoiding your thoughts and feelings out of fear. Fear of facing the world… fear of facing your self… So, instead, you are putting on a mask that hides who you truly are.
And, on top of all that, there are stored grief and sorrow, and a deep feeling of loneliness and isolation. “Am I good enough?” You keep wondering. You have a need for intimate connection, a need to nurture and being nurtured, a need to love and be loved… A need to trust yourself and trust the world around you.
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“When the house of the brain fills with a wanting,
Your heart gets crowded with anxieties.
The rest of the body maybe undisturbed,
But in your chest, there’s constant traffic.
Find a safe haven instead
In the strong autumn wind of awe
Let last year’s peonies blow off their stems.
Those flowers must go, so these new buds can grow.” – Rumi


Our modern life became more and more stressful It is like a race with us running like hamsters in a wheel. Maybe it is time to slow down and take a deep breath… Find the safe haven Rumi is talking about.

Rumi advises:
“Patience, not haste, gets you where you belong,
Slow down and heed the Beloved’s song.”

Let’s heed the Beloved’s song in our daily life… This month, let’s conclude every day by reflecting on one thing -at least one- that was sent our way that brought joy into our hearts.
In an increasingly frustrating and demanding world, let’s seek and focus on joy! Remember, you always have a choice!

Have a Blessed Joyful month :) 
0 Comments

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2/10/2021

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Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women and the second cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Recent genetic research points at breast cancer genes that, if present, increases the the risk of breast cancer. These studies show susceptibility, but do not explain how many women carrying those genes never develop breast cancer nor do they demonstrate how many women lacking the genes end up developing the disease. According to Dr. Lipton, the internationally recognized cell biologist and author of Biology of Belief, 95% of cancers are not caused by genetic inheritance. Environmental conditions and energetic makeup are major cause of cancer development. When cells are subjected to unfavorable environmental conditions (including toxins, nutritional deficiencies, emotional traumas, abuse…), they can’t perform optimally which may trigger those genes. If environmental conditions are under control (i.e. physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing) the genes won’t be triggered and the disease is never manifested.
 
 
Listen to your Body Whispers®
 
Breast cancer is associated with the heart chakra, our fourth energy centre. Breast cancer sufferers usually have a history of repressed love, mothering too much or too little, losing a loved one or being betrayed by a loved one. In most cases, they have a history of over nurturing others while neglecting or rather denying their own needs for love and care. Our body sends us messages… If we keep ignoring them, they keep getting louder and louder until the Whispers turn into screams…
 
Some time ago, I met a lovely 30-year-old lady who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was with her as she navigated the chaos of emotions: fear, helplessness, anger, depression… and as she suffered the pain of surgery, and the side effects of radiation and chemo. It was hard… extremely hard.
Yet, one day, she came back to see me. It was almost a year after her treatment has concluded. I will never forget her words: “you know, this cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was asleep and it woke me up.” She related how her illness gave her time to reflect on her life, her beliefs, and her values. She changed and she grew… And now, she was helping women on the same journey to navigate the pain and chaos of their illness and restore their life starting by the most important step: Awakening & Awareness.
 
Al-Harawy (d. 1089 C.E.), the Muslim scholar and Sufi mystic, described human beings as travelers on a life-long journey towards knowing God. His hundred-station journey starts with the most critical step: Awakening, which involves self-awareness and deep self-reflection. According to Al-Harawy, awakening initiates a life-long venture towards a sound heart, the center of human intellect that guides the way to the Straight Path. 
 
How often does our life pass us by and go totally unnoticed? How often do we run on autopilot unaware and tumbling out of balance? Sometimes when we’re caught up in life challenges and pains, we miss those simple moments of awareness. Living our life with awareness allows us the opportunity to reflect on our trials and wounds. We do not bypass our pains, we do not deny our depression or brush away our fears; on the contrary, we learn to acknowledge our feelings; to savor every second of our life with its joys and sorrow, ups and downs; to live our life with gratitude and awe.
 
 
St. Teresa of Avila teaches “[God’s] voice reaches us through words spoken by good people, through listening to spiritual talks, and reading sacred literature. God calls to us in countless little ways all the time. Through illness and suffering and through sorrow He calls to us. Through a truth glimpsed fleetingly in a state of prayer He calls to us. No matter how half-hearted such insights may be, God rejoices whenever we learn what He is trying to teach us […] The important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens you to love.”
0 Comments

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

28/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women and the second cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Recent genetic research points at breast cancer genes that, if present, might increase the risk of breast cancer. These studies show susceptibility, but do not explain how many women carrying those genes never develop breast cancer nor do they demonstrate how many women lacking the genes end up developing the disease. According to Dr. Lipton, the internationally recognized cell biologist and author of Biology of Belief, 95% of cancers are not caused by genetic inheritance. Environmental conditions and energetic makeup are major cause of cancer development. When cells are subjected to unfavorable environmental conditions (including toxins, nutritional deficiencies, emotional traumas, abuse…), they can’t perform optimally which may trigger those genes. If environmental conditions are under control (i.e. physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing) the genes won’t be triggered and the disease is never manifested.
 
 
Listen to your Body Whispers®
 
Breast cancer is associated with the heart chakra, our fourth energy centre. Breast cancer sufferers usually have a history of repressed love, mothering too much or too little, losing a loved one or being betrayed by a loved one. In most cases, they have a history of over nurturing others while neglecting or rather denying their own needs for love and care. Our body sends us messages… If we keep ignoring them, they keep getting louder and louder until the Whispers turn into screams…
 
Some time ago, I met a lovely 30-year-old lady who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was with her as she navigated the chaos of emotions: fear, helplessness, anger, depression… and as she suffered the pain of surgery, and the side effects of radiation and chemo. It was hard… extremely hard.
Yet, one day, she came back to see me. It was almost a year after her treatment has concluded. I will never forget her words: “you know, this cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was asleep and it woke me up.” She related how her illness gave her time to reflect on her life, her beliefs, and her values. She changed and she grew… And now, she was helping women on the same journey to navigate the pain and chaos of their illness and restore their life starting by the most important step: Awakening & Awareness.
 
Al-Harawy (d. 1089 C.E.), the Muslim scholar and Sufi mystic, described human beings as travelers on a life-long journey towards knowing God. His hundred-station journey starts with the most critical step: Awakening, which involves self-awareness and deep self-reflection. According to Al-Harawy, awakening initiates a life-long venture towards a sound heart, the center of human intellect that guides the way to the Straight Path. 
 
How often does our life pass us by and go totally unnoticed? How often do we run on autopilot unaware and tumbling out of balance? Sometimes when we’re caught up in life challenges and pains, we miss those simple moments of awareness. Living our life with awareness allows us the opportunity to reflect on our trials and wounds. We do not bypass our pains, we do not deny our depression or brush away our fears; on the contrary, we learn to acknowledge our feelings; to savor every second of our life with its joys and sorrow, ups and downs; to live our life with gratitude and awe.
 
 
St. Teresa of Avila teaches “[God’s] voice reaches us through words spoken by good people, through listening to spiritual talks, and reading sacred literature. God calls to us in countless little ways all the time. Through illness and suffering and through sorrow He calls to us. Through a truth glimpsed fleetingly in a state of prayer He calls to us. No matter how half-hearted such insights may be, God rejoices whenever we learn what He is trying to teach us […] The important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens you to love.”
 
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Whether you are seeking personal healing and growth or you are a female Muslim Health Practitioner, Coach, or Therapist who is wondering how to get direction regarding her next personal or professional step…
It’s time to listen to your Body Whispers before they turn into Screams...
 
If you feel that it is time for you to embark on your Journey of healing & transformation… Let me help you find your authentic voice as you explore your personal story and experiences.
 
“Verily God will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Quran,13:11)
 
Learn about my private counseling  HERE. And if you feel inclined, contact me at info@amiraayad.com to set a 30 min free phone consult to see if and how I can help you.
 
0 Comments

Let your imagination roam

18/5/2021

0 Comments

 
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If you are anything like me, I find change very hard... any change... so, now after the 30 days of the holy month are over, I need time to resettle into my daily life...

To start getting back into my routine I needed some mindfulness practice. And, my favorite is Art journaling.

I’ve kept an art practice for years… I’ve always used visual art as a form of meditation, stress management, and self-exploration... But, it was only a few years back when I realized that I have been documenting my life in those pieces. I have always seen and interpreted my world within the pages of my art journals - my visual representation was an attempt to make sense of a very complicated (or maybe rich) reality that I struggled to make sense of.
In the Quran, God tells us: “We will show them Our signs in the horizons [the universe] and within themselves until it is evident to them that it is the Truth.” (Q. 41: 53)

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ (فصلت ٥٣)
My art practice was my humble attempt to discern those Signs that God was sending me “in the horizons”. And, my Body Whispers’ teaching was an attempt to discern those Signs “within ourselves.”

Avicenna (Ibn Sina), the famous Muslim physician (d. 1037 C.E.) saw that, in addition to our five external senses, our soul has amazing 5 inner senses that help us “see” the world and connect to its higher meaning and purpose. One of those inner senses is Imagination (Al-khayāl). In our Western culture, we might be familiar with creativity and intuition, but Al-khayāl goes way deeper than that. Imagination (Al-khayāl), according to Avicenna, is the power that bridges the soul (al-nafs) to the Spirit (al-ruh), it connects us to the higher wisdom, the sacred Divine Breath within us.

Yet, this Imagination (Al-khayāl) needs to be trained for it to be able to discern the signs, to speak the language of symbolism and archetypes, and for this, it needs reflection, creative practices, silence & mindfulness, and self-awareness & awakening.
And, like all faculties of the soul, Imagination (Al-khayāl) also needs to be tamed, and this is the role of the heart - a pure, sincere heart is our gateway for a whole magical world of imagination - a world that strengthens our connection with our Creator as we see His Signs everywhere “in the horizons” and “within ourselves.”

Maybe I will be brave enough to share some pages of my art journals with you …

For now, I highly encourage you to start your own mindfulness practice… Open up to the universe and it will open up to you! Let your imagination roam freely.
Have a beautiful week,
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    About the Author

    Hi, I'm Amira... I'm all for simple, natural, uncomplicated life... My core values are derived from my Islamic faith... My definition of wellness includes lots of smiles, human interactions, delicious food, music, joy, colorful paint, Mediterranean sunshine, blue sky and turquoise sea, care, love, compassion and deep heart-felt peace.
    I love learning… I love books and art supplies… And, I am saddened by human conflict and intolerance.
     
    I am an introvert who loves being around people... I love building communities and gathering around the kitchen table... I am a teacher at heart... I simplify complex health science and speak openly about heart and soul stuff...
    I've been helping people on their health and healing journey for more than 20 years now and I am committed to be authentic, caring and a beacon of love and peace.

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My wellness coaching, workshops, teachings, and all the services I provide are at all times restricted to education, teaching and training on the subject of natural health matters intended for general natural health well-being and do not involve the diagnosing, prognosticating, treatment, or prescribing of remedies for the treatment of any disease, or any licensed or controlled act which may constitute the practice of  medicine. 
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