The answer is not in hiding… the answer is in keeping the momentum…
Life doesn’t always run smoothly. Sometimes you feel like it’s tough to even get out of bed in the morning. But, hibernating or escaping do not make our troubles disappear. They do not mend our broken hearts, pay our bills, restore our self-esteem, or fix our severed relationships...
The answer is not in hiding… the answer is in keeping the momentum…
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I find many of the people who come to me for help suffering from a disturbed or underactive sixth chakra. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this Far Eastern traditional medicine term, the sixth chakra is the energy center located between our eye brows. It is often referred to as the 3rd eye as it relates a lot to our intuition, inner instinct and innate wisdom. This major energy center feeds our pituitary gland, a small gland situated in our brain that acts as an orchestrating maestro for the whole endocrine system. It controls general body metabolism, growth and renewal, regulates the secretion of thyroid glands, adrenal cortex hormones, and sex hormones. The pituitary gland also plays a major role in controlling blood pressure, blood sugar level, stress reaction, inflammation, feelings of pain, and emotional responses. In short, mal-function in this energy centre knocks the whole physical body out of balance. Our sixth energy center is where we learn to embrace the present moment and to perceive the lessons behind our trials; it is there where we experience gratitude, content, peacefulness, and satisfaction even in the darkest moments of our life. It is the role of this center to help us use our instinct to reach wisdom behind life turbulences and challenges; and to perceive beyond material gains and losses. Many of us find it difficult to trust this subtle guiding voice, trust our inner voice that innately knows how to discern right from wrong, truth from false. Many of us fail to see beyond their challenges and learn from their pitfalls and dis-eases. Many of us are afraid to dream big or to envision a life beyond their current reality that they find it hard to accept or embrace. Lessons life deliver are not always straight forward, clear, or obvious They require us to still our mind so that we can hear this inner voice, so that we can listen and see beyond the surface. I know it is not as easy as it might seem, I’ve been there, we all have been, yet the fact remains: Life goes on. Whether we learnt our lesson or refused to embrace it, life will go on; and our lesson will return for us in another way, in another form or shape, till we heed the warning and out grow our challenge. And, when we do so, another lesson will be waiting for us round the corner, waiting to teach us a new meaning that help us further grow. This is life! Here are 5 helpful guidelines for restoring energy of our sixth chakra centre. They have always helped me embrace the present moment, see the bigger picture, and perceive a wiser perspective: 1. Know that change can always start within your own mind. It starts as a simple idea, hope, or dream waiting for the room to blossom, flourish, and create a better reality. 2. Be proactive. It is up to you to work on that thought and change your life for the better. Allah says: “Verily, Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Quran, 13:11) 3. Ask for guidance and pray for help. While you can control all your inner world of thoughts, choices, decisions, and actions, you can’t always control your outer world. We all need our Creator’s Higher Guidance and Ultimate Wisdom. 4. Acknowledge your feelings. We are all human, it is normal to experience fear, doubt, or anger sometimes. The first step in your restoration journey is to acknowledge your human feelings. Acknowledge your right to be scared, hurt, depressed, or angry. Then, it is up to you to choose how to express those emotions and how to vent them and transform them without hurting yourself or others. 5. Embrace ambiguity. Trying to get every aspect of our life under control is futile and frustrating. While seeking all worldly means, remember to strengthen your connection with your Creator and surrender to His Will. Have a great week!! Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women and the second cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Recent genetic researches point at breast cancer genes that, if present, make the woman susceptible to breast cancer development. These researches show susceptibility, but do not explain how many women carrying these genes never develop breast cancer nor did they demonstrate how many women lacking this gene 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 emotional traumas, mental abuse or energy leak), they can’t perform optimally which may trigger this already present gene. If environmental conditions are under control (nutritional health, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, energy flow…) these genes aren’t triggered and the disease is never manifested. In this recap blog, I want to share with you some natural health care measures to prevent this difficult disease and/or protect and care for our bodies. Nutrition/ food recommendation: - Eats lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, raw nuts and seeds, cruciferous vegetables (the cabbage family), dark green leafy vegetables, yellow/orange vegetables (carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes…). Buy organic local fresh produce as much as you can. - Consume fiber rich food. Fibers are the body’s broom, they regulate colon motility and function, and bind toxins and excess hormones and cholesterol in the intestine preventing their re-absorption into our body. Psylium husks could be supplemented if your diet is low on fibers. - Add garlic and onions to your diet, they greatly enhance immune function. - Brewer yeast (not baker’s yeast) is a great source of B vitamins. It can be found in health food stores and big supermarket chains, and used as a savory spread on toasts or bread. - If available, add shaiitake and maitake mushroom to your diet, they have proven anti-cancer potentials; and sea weeds like kelp and nori leaves, they are valuable source of minerals - Live culture yogurt and buttermilk ensure healthy bacterial flora in your intestines which fight candida and supply many valuable nutrients. - Drink herbal teas like ginger, green tea, peppermint and red clover. - Integrate herbs and spices into your everyday cooking. Many spices and herbs have valuable phytoestrogens (natural plant compounds that have the ability to block the damaging effect of extra estrogen in the body), anti-oxidants and anti-cancer compounds like ginger, turmeric, mustard seeds, fenugreek, purslane, black seed, cinnamon... - Soy products (soy beans, soy powder, tofu, tempeh…) contain a compound known as genistein that have cancer fighting ability. - Eat fresh apples, cherries, grapes, plums, berries - Sprinkle freshly ground flaxseed on your salad and add flaxseed oil to your diet, great source of essential fatty acids. - Drink freshly prepared raw vegetable and fruit juices. Include the cabbage family vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, apples, carrots, plums and peaches, pineapples and papayas, berries, spirulina powder and wheat and barley grass (the last three could be found in health food stores) Supplement recommendation: - Essential fatty acids (EPA, flaxseed oil or borage oil) are essential for controlling inflammations and ensuring proper cells reproduction. - High quality multivitamin and mineral complex to ensure nutritional balance and supply. Avoid the ones containing iron as cancer cells need iron to grow and divide. - Anti-oxidant complex containing beta carotenes, vitamin C, E and selenium. Selenium is also shown to kill tumor and protect cells. - Shark cartilage is used for cancer treatment as it inhibits tumor growth and stimulate the immune system. - Co-enzyme Q10 essential for proper cells oxygenation - Vitamin B complex improve circulation and regulate metabolism and hormone production - Vitamin C with bioflavonoids both are powerful anti-oxidant and anti cancer agents - Ginseng has shown good action against cancer growth Please note that every one of us has her specific needs. Not all these supplements are necessary (nor recommended) for each and everyone. Please consult your health care provider before taking any supplements especially if you are on medication. Food to avoid: - Refined sugars and grains, processed, deep fried, charred, and fatty foods especially saturated fats. - All products containing chemicals: preservatives, synthetic colors and flavors, or synthetic additives of any kind. - Eliminate pesticides, herbicides… from your home, environment and food. - Check the source of the food that might contain hormones like meat, poultry and milk - Do not use plastic containers in the microwave, the plasticizers leak into your food and pause serious health risks - Limit caffeine consumption. Life style recommendation: - Breast self examination: perform it regularly, each month during the first week after the end of your period. Stand before a mirror and raise both of your hands over your head. Check your breast for any unusual signs (irritation, lumps, nipples different shape, swelling, pain, itching…). Then, with one arm above your head, use gentle touches to firmly check each breast at a time. Begin at the outer periphery and in circular motion gradually work towards your nipples. Check your armpits as well. Perform the same check up while laying down on your back. Squeeze the nipples to check for any discharge. - Practice breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to manage your stresses - Regular physical exercises. Aerobic exercises are preferably performed outdoors to get your share of sunlight that supplies vitamin D. Stretching exercises like yoga and Pilates are also great for physical and emotional health. - Journaling is good practice to explore your emotions and vent off your negative feelings Energy pattern: 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. At the end, I want to share with you the story of Samira, an amazing woman I know, as I related it in my book, The True Secret: "Samira is a working class lady; she was a single mother of three school-aged children when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She was working very hard to support her family. Her children had no one else to depend on and they had no other income except the tiny wage she was getting cleaning houses all week long. Since she wasn’t insured, Samira could not afford proper medical treatment. “Either I pay for my chemotherapy or feed and educate my kids--- This is not a hard choice to make, is it?” She told me. Samira put her priorities straight: her primary role is to take care of those children and provide them with good education so that they won’t face the same difficult life she is leading; and that she will do till her last breath. She had a mission to live for and had sincere faith, amazing determination and belief that empowered her to carry on with a deep meaning and purpose. She assumed responsibility for her health as much as she could afford and carried on with her life in total satisfaction and surrender to the Divine. Today, Samira is a grandmother, her daughter is happily married; her elder son is a successful engineer working to support her and his younger college-student brother. No sign left from her cancer!!" In energy language, female organs are located in the 2nd chakra (the second energy center) in your body. This chakra is the center of your emotional needs, your creative powers and drives. This area of your body is where your power of creativity is stored. When you experience blocked creativity or stagnant emotions, when your creative actions or emotional needs are striving to be ‘birthed’, or when you lack the drive towards the outer world, this chakra with all its associated organs and systems deeply suffer. Dr. Northrup sees fibroids (benign growth) in female uterus [and benign prostatic hypertrophy in males] as wake up calls from your body urging you to listen and tune in to your creative and emotional endeavors. If not tackled properly, Dr. Northrup argues, these benign growth can easily turn malignant: ovarian/breast cancer in female [or prostate cancer in males]. Health in this area of your body entails listening to body messages. Women who ignore the repeated signs of PMS or the early disturbing symptoms of menopause are compromising their safety. Thousands of years back, elderly women were honored for their wisdom; and menstruating time was regarded as powerful enlightened time of the month when women are highly attuned and connected to their spiritual side. Ask your grandmother or great grandmother about these times of their life, they won’t mention anything about mood disturbance or uneasiness. Conventional medicine wants to convince us that PMS is a ‘normal’ part of female hormonal cycle, that we, women, shouldn’t be a ashamed of. Well, we shouldn’t be ashamed of, for sure; but, the ‘normal’ bit is the part I totally disagree with. There is nothing normal about getting crazy, angry, shouting and yelling at the kids and the poor husband just because ‘it’s this time of the month’. If your PMS is disturbing you, heed the warning, your body is trying to deliver a message. You need to listen!!! I’ve met tens and may be hundreds of women suffering from PMS symptoms and met tens who barely notice their period approaching. There was only one thing in common among those who didn’t suffer from mood alteration: They were all leading a highly creative and meaningful life. This doesn’t in anyway mean that they didn’t have any problem or challenges. Of course they did, but they were always seeing the Big Picture, they had a clear vision and a well established mission, they stepped out of their comfort zone and added challenges and liveliness to their life. They lived with passion!!! Stop for a while and consider: What is your passion? What will make you jump out of your bed every morning looking forward for the new day? Do you have a clear vision of your future, your ambitions, your mission in life? If not…then it's time to Listen to your body before it begins to 'shout' !!! Finally, I have to emphasize here that spiritual approach to PMS, or to any physical discomfort for that matter, is never enough. We need to tackle our four sides: body, mind, heart and soul to achieve ultimate balance, health, and healing. So here are some other measures to take into consideration: Body measures: • Eat healthy well balanced diet. Increase your intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. Switch to whole grain carbohydrates for their content of vitamin Bs, E, and fibers. • Eat food rich in potassium like bananas, tomatoes, and whole grains and cereals. • Add essential fatty acids to your diet. These can be found in nuts and seeds, avocadoes, fatty fish, and whole grains. • Your body needs calcium and magnesium. The best source of calcium is milk and dairy products. It is also found in dark green leafy vegetables, canned fish with bones, seeds and nuts. Magnesium is available in nuts and seeds, pulses and brown rice. • Avoid caffeine, fatty and sugary food, and empty calories snacks. • Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. This does not include your intake from juices and herbal teas. • Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!!! Cannot stress it enough. Aerobic exercises, among tens of other benefits, release endorphins into your blood. These are your inner morphine-like chemicals that elevate your mood and give you a motivational boost. Mind measures: • Your mind needs constant challenge, constant intake of new information and knowledge. Read new books, learn new skills, teach what you know to others, join a book club… Heart measures: • Build a support system. Women thrive in social and community settings. We need to have friends and family around us all the time. Connect to your family and friends, serve your community, volunteer to a charitable cause… |
About the AuthorHi, 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. Archives
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