PSA re Flower Essences

 It was recently brought to my attention that there is some confusion about Flower Essences because the label is being misapplied to what are actually herbal tinctures albeit perhaps highly diluted. Please let's not conflate these two wonderfully natural remedies! 

Herbs and their tinctures are incredible in potential healing but they CAN produce side effects since they are still in material form. 

Flower Essences made in the traditional method started by Bach and continued respectfully through the 20th Century by dedicated co-creating consultants and producers are entirely and purely vibrational remedies and, as such, simply work - or they do nothing; they cannot harm because they are working on higher vibrational planes. 

Back to the Beginning

 Back in 1999, I was first introduced to Flower Essences. As with most of us at the time, that was through the Bach line, the originator of the system of co-creating flower essences back in the 1930s. His work lives on! While I did experience results with the Bach essences, I was quickly drawn to a different line that became my primary one. Now, after all these years, I'm being called back to Bach. I'm not sure what to expect or why this is happening but I will share parts of my journey with you. And hopefully inspire you to give these Flowering Gifts of Gaia a chance in your life.

I periodically co-create my own local flower essences. Most recently, see Co-Creating with Sassafras.

Find more information on Flower Essences HERE within this blog site or access via the tag on the right.

The Spiritual Side of Health Choices

I was recently watching some videos by Amanda Ellis, specifically her COVID playlist, and it reminded me that while I wrote several times in this blog about my own perspective on the topic from a holistic health standpoint, I'd not addressed the concurrent spiritual energies around my choices. I might at some point do so but for now wanted to share Amanda's videos. I haven't watched all of them, so it's probable I might disagree occasionally with her stance, but overall we seem relatively in sync. 

Essentially, I've felt all along that it's my body, my choice, and none of us should be penalized or ostracized for making medical choices that feel right for us and, as has already been proven in the years since 2020, harm nobody else. This also points to the reason I separated myself from a friend of 50 years -- she was adamant about the harms those of us choosing not to jab were doing to others and she said she was in agreement with putting those refusing and/or infected into camps similar to what was done to the Japanese citizens in WWII. I simply couldn't be friends anymore with someone who would support such an abolishment of personal freedom out of their own self-righteousness and fear. 

Forcing someone against their will to undergo a medical procedure that is experimental and/or goes against personal autonomy and freedom is simply wrong and outright unethical. I thought this had been resolved at the end of WWII. 

Thankfully, the state I live in put a halt to over-reach early on. I'm grateful.

Spiritual Community in Flower Essences

 I was first drawn to Flower Essences because I felt Spirit active and powerful within them. I took a peek and smiled when I saw that my very first post on this blog back in 2012 was about Flower Essences! The following is a bit of a trip down memory lane but also into the present and a reminder of how we are all connected ... 

To begin, the following quote never gets old: 

“The action of these remedies is to raise our vibrations and open up our channels for the reception of our Spiritual Self, to flood our natures with the particular virtue we need, and wash out from us the fault which is causing harm. They are able, like beautiful music, or any gloriously uplifting thing which gives us inspiration, to raise our very natures, and bring us nearer to our Souls: and by that very act, to bring us peace, and relieve our sufferings. 

They cure, not by attacking disease, but by flooding our bodies with the beautiful vibrations of our Higher Nature, in the presence of which disease melts as snow in the sunshine.”

From: Ye Suffer From Yourselves, by Dr. Edward Bach (1931)

And then, there are the people we meet along the way ... 

There are SO many beautiful, gifted, intuitive, and spiritual Flower Essence People I’m grateful to have met and/or connected with from the late 1990s through 2011, while I was living in Maine. Of course, I’ve also co-created a few flower essences myself over the years — most of us who are passionate about them end up doing so (and I’m developing a small Ozarks Flower Essence set that I hope to complete next spring, so that’s fun). Anyway, on to those who have inspired me!

I’m forever grateful to the charming Diane N., who had an herbal shop and consultancy in Massachusetts; she was a primary hub-person for me, especially for my beloved Australian Bush Flower Essences et al. and was responsible for offering not only in-person workshops but through her I was able to make other contacts with reputable people and their essence lines — not all of them in-person myself but I trusted Diane because she had worked with them and their products. Those were the days before Zoom and the massive influx of online classes — so I drove from Maine to various areas to connect with people and participate in classes. 

I also met and interacted with some of the folks from Southern Herb back in those days, and they were responsible for hosting, I think, the Level III and White Light workshops I attended where I was finally able to meet Ian White founder of the ABFE in person, a real treat after so many years working with his essences and being certified at all levels.

I feel that it’s important to be aware of the people who are co-creating Flower Essences and the group that is then working with and distributing the essences. Who are you drawn to? What are you feeling about them? What does your intuition say? This is not about good/bad but rather who we resonate with (flower AND people, etc.) for optimum results with the essences we select. 

For instance, while Bach remains a global brand nearly one hundred years after the founder’s early insights, I simply wasn’t deeply drawn to them; I began with them, as most people do because Rescue Remedy has been around such a long time, but quickly discovered other essence lines that better suited me and my work. Similar with the folks at FES (Flower Essence Services) who are amazing and have great flower essences but … except for a few of their essences I’m really drawn to, we just haven’t clicked strongly. I also have the full set of the Spirit-in-Nature Essences co-created by Lila Devi starting in 1977 and one of the twenty is sometimes perfect for an issue but not always.

So, who do I resonate with? Interestingly, the founders of all three of the following essence lines are in my own generation cohort. Perhaps not surprising. And while I have a few bottles of essences each from about a dozen other flower essence lines — all of which have been helpful — I generally find myself turning to my Flower Essence Triskelion.

My instant and primary go-to essences are Ian White’s Australian Bush Flower Essences (ABFE) as well as his White Light, Light Frequency, and Divine Presence Essences (those are three different lines of pure frequency co-creations made in special environments with special spiritual intentions). As Ian says: “The Australian Bush Flower Essences work on the emotional, cognitive, and spiritual levels. The White Light Essences work at healing and clearing on the soul level. The Light Frequency Essences work at enabling us to be open to all the new spiritual energies. The Divine Presence Essences are crown-centred Essences that ground and anchor whilst bringing in the highest spiritual energies.” While this provides a nice framework of understanding the so-called levels, my experience has been that all of these can and do expand into other areas of our energy bodies; ultimately, we have no delineation as to energy bodies. I’ve been working with Ian’s co-creative essences for more than a quarter of a century. I adore these essences.

I have two strong secondary essence lines that began calling to me a bit less than twenty years ago or so and their lines of flower essence energy frequencies are profoundly different or at least they are for me.

Because I was actively working with animal clients (and a few of their people) through my holistic health consulting business (Flower Essences and Homeopathy as well as Reiki), I came across Delta Gardens Flower Essences of New Hampshire. While they offered back then a complete Medicinal Set of excellent essences, one I still turn to, they were making significant progress in using pendulum work, muscle testing, and intuition towards assisting animals and people suffering from Lyme disease, a problem rampant in my part of the country (the NE USA) at that time. I attended one of their classes to learn more. That energy set was flat out amazing in how it could help my clients — and a couple of my own dogs. Their essences are potent in how they activate energy bodies toward real physiological changes. 

The other profoundly affecting flower essences I’ve used extensively through the years are those of Green Hope Farm Flower Essences, also based in New Hampshire. Molly is at the very center of the spiritual rays emanating from and into everything that develops and is co-created on the farm and elsewhere; she is a bright, gentle, wise light as she describes the Flowers, Angels, Nature Spirits, and the very land within which the farm emerged. I always feel like Molly holds nothing back and as long as she and her family are bringing these flower essences into the world, I’m always eager to experience their wonders. Plus, the fact that Molly keeps a delightful, insightful running blog endears her and the Green Hope FEs to me every more — and she usually includes plenty of photos of the vast, exquisite gardens!

Due to the relatively extreme challenges I’ve faced since we left the Northeast in 2011, I’m eternally grateful to have had my beloved Flower Essences — along with their Devas, Angels, and Nature Spirits — helping me move through those experiences with as much grace and healing as possible. And, during the past couple of years since my mom died, I’ll admit that I’ve been floundering somewhat (which has resulted in a sort of scattered, willy-nilly approach to taking the essences — helpful but could be much improved). 

Thus, I’m grateful to have finally reached a point where I feel able to refocus enough to consciously seek the ever-present wisdom and support the Flowers offer through their essences. My energy system seems to respond better to a bit more structure in the area of wellness support; everyone has a different innate constitution, and I encourage you to know yours, which allows us to find those touchstones. 

Special Care for Cats

Back in the early 2000s, I realized that I needed a proper isolation area for cats with occasional special needs. At that time, I was caring for anywhere between 9 and 12 cats at a time, many were rescues, and cleanliness was critical — especially since most of what occurred with the cats in my care were Upper Respiratory Infections (which is why I turned to Homeopathy and energy medicines; conventional veterinary drugs rarely helped and often created additional problems, while herbs or essential oils were often risky with cats). 

If you decide to provide care for animals with special needs or chronic illness, please be as prepared as possible to provide for them at home whenever you can because otherwise veterinary bills will overwhelm you (unless you're wealthy which we definitely were not).

With my husband’s help, we designed a four-unit Cattery Isolation Care Unit (CICU) in my Healing Room upstairs. 

Two-Fur Tips #1

 More than 25 years ago I began my intensive journey into helping animals heal. Like most people seeking a more natural approach to helping their dogs and/or cats attain optimum wellness for that individual, I started with herbs but quickly realized that these natural medicines could be problematic, especially in dosage, for many of our furry friends. I pivoted to energy medicines and am eternally grateful to have done so; this shift marked my entry in 1999 to both Flower Essences and Homeopathy. 

Here are my Two-Fur Tips for this Tuesday:

Is your cat displaying unexpected territorial behavior? Consider Dog Rose, Flannel Flower, and/Sturt Desert Rose. The blend you choose will depend on observation, animal communication, and trying to understand WHY the behavior is occurring.

Is your dog scared of thunderstorms? Consider Borax 30C, a Homeopathic remedy that has proven to significantly reduce the fear in many dogs fearful of loud noises including fireworks, gunfire, etc.

To learn more about Flower Essences and Homeopathy, see related posts in this blog, get some books (see Reference tab to start with), take a course, or seek out a professional.

DISCLAIMER: See my Welcome tab for my qualifications, however, I am not a veterinarian or a doctor, I'm an educator and facilitator. In an emergency or if you haven’t done your own responsible homework, please contact a veterinarian.

Confusing Science with Truth

One of my favorite chapters in Iain McGilchrist’s brilliant tome “The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World” is “Institutional science and truth.” Fantastic. Even if you don’t want to buy his book(s), even if you don’t want to read the entire massive text of the knowledge contained therein, please consider obtaining it through your local library and at the very least read this chapter. 

If you’re at all concerned about the ‘health policy’ debacle of the past four years with its broad attempts at coercion, mandates, and even force and punishment, you would do well to educate yourself on the difference between ‘science’, ‘truth’, and ‘scientism’ as it appears in mainstream media and so-called public policy endorsement. Following are just bits to wet your appetite, written and/or compiled by McGilchrist who is a medical doctor, a psychiatrist, and a philosopher. (His book was primarily written in the decade prior to the pandemic; published in 2021, so not produced as a specific response to that poorly handled mess.)

“The actual practice of science often falls far short of [model scientific enterprise] and it is worth anatomising the various ways in which this happens, to the detriment of both science and truth, and of the pubic at large — that’s us all.” (p.502)

“A survey of 1,576 [in 2016] researchers across scientific disciplines published in Nature revealed that more than 70% of researchers had tried and failed to reproduce another scientist’s experiments, and more than half had failed to reproduce their own experiment.” (p.513)

“The public is served up two competing fantasies: that anything that comes from science is irreproachable, and that most of it is irredeemably flawed. This kind of polarisation makes rational debate about the true (therefore limited) value of science very difficult indeed.” (p.514) FYI, earlier McGilchrist has spent a lot of time sharing insights into what science is and is not, what truth is and is not.

“Ioannidis continues, with a further point that is ethically more troubling, but will hardly surprise anyone who understands human nature: ‘the greater the financial and other interests and prejudices in a scientific field the less likely the research findings are to be true’.” (p.515) The data that John Ioannidis was sharing with the public in 2020 and 2021 was ridiculed by those same people swayed by 'scientism', financial incentive and/or fear-mongering.

“The point is just this: that science is not immune from corruption on a fairly significant scale, and the significance is directly proportionate to the claims that are ritually made on science’s behalf. After all, some science-naive observers often seem gullible enough to believe that scientific pronouncements, ipso facto, represent ‘the truth’ with a capital T.” (p.523)

“Overall we see in public health advice [and policy] the hallmarks of the left hemisphere mindset at work: the triumph of theory over fact; denial when the evidence does not fit what one already just ‘knows’ to be the case; a refusal to see health in the round [as holistic and unique to the individual]; disregard of context; cut and dried positions; and an obvious desire to control.” (p.530)

I will stop there but there is SO much MORE. All of the above is reason enough to step back and consider one’s choices from a personal perspective. And to continue to support and endorse bodily autonomy as a freedom. No one else has the right to force me or you to accede to their idea of ‘scientific truth’ in what I choose to do with my own body — and because of these complexities, as well as the massive gray areas inherent within science, none of us should be punished by the choices we make with regards to our own bodies.

New to Homeopathy?

 Because I no longer offer consultations myself, I suggest that you check out "Homeopathy Works" with Joette. Full disclosure, I've never taken any of her classes but I have watched quite a few of her videos over the years and read some of her articles; and, while she and I may differ a bit in our overall approach to a healthy lifestyle, her Homeopathic foundations seem sound. 

If you are at all anxious or concerned or simply want to be prepared for whatever health 'warnings' or hype comes down from the powers-that-be in the medical industrial complex, check out this video: Health Warnings and Fears.

Easiest remedies to get? Straight from BoironUSA.com This is the brand you see most often carried in health food stores, markets, and even some pharmacies.

That said, as always, start slow, educate yourself, feel into your own intuition, and begin or step-up your healing journey with courage and confidence. Blessings!

Food and Constitution

 A quick note on food, eating, diets and how those have an effect upon us depending upon our unique, individual constitutions. We are all human with the same basic food needs. Absolutely. But we don't all have the same ways of processing the foods we ingest based upon many variables including genetics, history, geography (place where we live - hot/cold, wet/dry, etc., has a significant impact upon how our bodies respond to foods), and so much more (not to mention karmic impacts from past lives or, if you don't believe in reincarnation, simply cause and effect from your own life interacting with people and the world around you) . This is a lifetime of study that most people never have the opportunity to study and explore. Which is why we fall into what works for other people or what the establishment says is best. Where does that leave most folks? 

Listen to your own body. What is it telling you? How do you feel after eating a certain way for a while? There is no 'one size fits all' -- everyone is a unique individual. Every single diet out there -- and I do mean all of them -- can cite studies and anecdotal evidence that it cures or resolves an illness, dis-ease, etc. And I believe them ... for those individuals, that approach was right for them (long-term or short-term and follow-ups are rarely done). What they don't tell you is that for many other people, the diet or lifestyle or habits of eating did NOT work and, in fact, often created other problems because they ignored the first signs that something just wasn't right. They felt they must be doing something 'wrong' because, hey, it was working for all those other people. But they aren't those people, they are uniquely themselves.

So, again. Where do you feel led? What makes the most sense to you? How does your body feel? How are your food choices sitting with you not just physically but mentally and spiritually? Ayurveda (a 4500-year-old holistic medical system) teaches us that everything we ingest -- be it food, location, entertainment, the very lives experienced by the beings we eat, etc. -- is going to have an effect upon us, either in the present or in the future.

Lastly, you can do everything right and still end up suffering in some way, simply because life is unpredictable. Listening to your body and following as healthy and holistic and moderate a lifestyle as possible is what I refer to as 'hedging your bets' -- and, for most people, that approach can make a huge difference, one that brings confidence, joy, and peace. 

Do I know it all? Nope. (And beware anyone who says with certainty that 'this is the best and only way.') I simply share here the results of my own training and certification in various health care modalities combined with my own two decades of focused study and holistic health consultancy since leaving a 9 to 5 job in corporate work. Which is why I always come back to ...

Live well, listen to your own body/mind/soul, and follow your own path.

Repercussions

 I've been researching Big Pharma, the Medical Industrial Complex, and the Psychiatric paradigm for a couple decades at this point. 

Without going into my own thoughts on all of this, first I want to share a video documentary on pharmaceutical impacts: How Big Pharma Makes Healthy People Sick.

I will return to this topic and my own perspective in a later post, but felt compelled to at least share this video -- even realizing that most people reading my blog are already aware of the dangers of prescription drugs.

Another aspect of Medical and Psychiatric over-reach with huge damages long-term is the impact of tr@ns idealogy on children; this video talk HERE between Helen Joyce and John Anderson is helpful. 

Then, finally on public media channels, we are seeing a rise in awareness (no one seemed to pay much attention to the red flags being signaled during the past few decades on where we were headed) of not only how blatant flaws in psychiatry are affecting all of us, but also the terrible price children are paying for our culture's heedless flight into the 'god' status of psychiatrists to 'save' everyone from any kind of suffering or pain (which are an entirely normal part of living). I'd suggest looking into video talks with Jonathan Haidt and Abigail Shrier, just to start.

I would encourage anyone concerned about these issues to explore the vast options available to them in the holistic, complementary/alternative, natural health care community -- not just those I personally have found to be incredibly powerful -- whether 'talk therapy' (so many helpful aspects to this normal relational and conversational interaction) that are not within the Medical & Psychiatric & Pharma complex) or vibrational/energetic modalities (like Homeopathy and Flower Essences, which are my choices).

Take care, live well, and follow your own path.

In Gratitude

I'm offering a public moment of gratitude. 

I still see regular comments by folks, those who followed the dictates and/or mandates, that they continually get sick and often supposedly with C0^!d -- and I always send them healing wishes, of course. However, my husband and I have had quite different experiences. 

Neither of us were injected, he was at his office nearly the entire past four years (except for a short six weeks in those first panic months of 2020). Plus, he physically went to get what we needed from stores, as did I from the grocery store, we never wore m@$k$ unless absolutely required (which was thankfully eliminated early on due to the state - in the middle of the country - in which we live) and we NEVER wore them outside in the fresh air. Our home is in a semi-rural area; hubby works in a metro city of 170K people.

During the past four years, as of the date of this post, neither of us has been sick -- not at all, not from anything. We are both in our early 60s but we eat relatively healthy, get plenty of fresh air, and rely upon Homeopathy, Cell Salts, and Flower Essences for wellness support (the usual aches and pains of getting older). I'm sure we will, at some point, get a cold or the flu, as that is a completely normal part of life, but right now, we feel fortunate and blessed.

And we personally know others in our area -- plus those in my extended alternative health care community -- who have experienced similar results. Every person's situation and physical constitution is unique; this is simply ours.

This is not a judgment, simply my sharing of an observation based upon our own personal experiences and those in our communities.

Sending love, peace, and healing to all!

Flower Essence Power

The past four years have brought about certain challenges. For all of us, I know. My journey would have been much more difficult without access to my beloved Flower Essences. While I also practice physical-focused forms of wellness -- such as QiGong (Yoga formerly) and breath-work, meditation and walks in nature, plus am always surround by my precious fur-companions -- it is the Flower Essences that allow me to dive into my psyche's needs and support my mind, consciousness, soul the most fully and effectively, thereby deepening my physical healing as well.

There are many flower essence creations available; you can even co-create them yourself if you have access to wildflowers and/or organic growths, but especially those growing as far away as possible from pollutants and toxins. 

I've recently returned to a focus upon my all-time favorite flowers, the Australian Bush Flower Essences. While I have used a wide variety of lines of flower essences over the past 25+ years, I always seem to feel most at home and most easily healed through this line co-created by founder Ian White. The above image is of Crowea, my personal touchstone essence. And, I will admit that, after so many years connecting to this flower and its Devic kingdom, if I don't have a bottle of essence to hand, I can recall its image and feeling and tap into its healing energies that way (although the effect is more subtle). 

If you feel at all called to the healing energies of flowers, I encourage you to follow your curiosity. Flower Essences fall into the natural healing modality category of "it cannot hurt and might help". 

Blessings of peace and healing on your life path!

Boost Immunity and Health

During the past 18 months, I have felt no fear -- NO FEAR -- about any particular virus. Why? Because for almost three decades, I have been learning about and been trained in holistic medicine, understanding that the terrain of our body-mind-soul is more important than the so-called 'attacking germs' that are simply part of our world since time immemorial, changing as we do. 

I realize that many people choose to participate in the conventional medical system and I support their right to choose to do so. But the current propaganda pushing, even at times forcing, people to comply with a particular world view is wrong and short-sighted. Why should healthy people or those with alternative practices be forced to take injections or pharmaceuticals they don't need -- that have not been proven to help anyone else -- and that are potentially harmful to their wellness?

With this in mind, here is the approach (beyond eating fresh and/or organic foods predominantly rather than processed foods; getting exercise, fresh air, sunshine; using energy-enhancing modalities that are free such as QiGong, Yoga, meditation; no smoking; no drugs; minimal alcohol intake) I have personally undertaken to boost immunity and health in myself and my family (what you need for your unique constitution will vary as holistic medicine views each person individually):

• BioSuperfood -- This is a whole-food algae blend created from extensive research that supports cellular nutrition throughout our body by feeding nutrients to our hypothalamus (the genius within our endocrine system et al). You can learn more at: BioAge.com  I take this whole-food 'supplement' rather than isolated vitamins and minerals. Here is a good article on the nutrient density of this algae-blend Earth's Most Efficient Food.
  
• Homeopathy -- These remedies are made from the entire plant or mineral and provide holistic, vibrational support to our systems on multiple levels. Specifically, a simply prophylactic is at the first sign of illness, Bryonia plus Aconite are splendid. A blog post that may help you navigate this concept and remedies is: Josette Calabrese's Ferocious Flu Fears. 
• Cell Salts -- These remedies are made from 12 primary minerals we all have in our bodies that assist the body in re-balancing these vital substances and they are quite easy to learn to differentiate, which is why they are often used as an entry into learning Homeopathy. A simple reference for cell salts as to flu prevention (BioPlasma - the combination of all 12) or specific symptoms: For Colds and Flu.
  
• Flower Essences -- These amazing essences were my first love and introduction to holistic, vibrational, whole-plant/mineral healing sources. They help our psyche on an exquisitely subtle level and this, in turn, helps our body. In this specific situation, there are many options because there are a lot of different essence lines but my own personal preference right now to begin with if you have no experience in selecting your own essences is Boost from the Australian Bush Flower Essence line 

As always, feel free to post a question in the comment section if you would like more guidance. The above are just a quick reference to a variety of options to encourage you to explore what might help you boost your immunity and grow your own health from a holistic perspective. While I encourage people to learn on their own about all these modalities -- and more! -- I have to admit that there is no comparison to receiving actual training in a modality, whether a short course, certification, and/or degree because training involves depth that is hard to acquire on one's own. Self-teaching is awesome, don't get me wrong, but usually training pushes us harder to go deeper -- at least it did for me.

If I were to become ill then I would use the above as well, but in a different way, more intensive if you will, and based upon specific symptoms. If needed dependent upon symptoms, there are also other mostly-natural protocols to be used as adjunct measures. There are many options available to us -- preventative as well as therapeutic -- that have no side effects. Only as a last resort would I go to conventional medicine (just as I did when I had a broken arm -- and I'm very grateful for the surgical repair work of conventional medicine, which is where that industry excels).

David Crow, an expert in the Ayurvedic and Chinese medical systems, speaks in a recent video to our willful ignorance about true wellness when he says: “There is a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the man who waits until he is sick to think about his health is like the man who waits until his house is on fire to dig a well.”

As soon as we were aware of an illness that seemed to be spreading quickly -- for most of us it became apparent in February or March 2020 -- the first thing I did was pull out my books on 'germs' and epidemics and physiology to refresh my memory. David Quammen's books are particularly helpful to the layperson in understanding bacterial and viral infections historically. I also began turning to the holistic and integrative health professionals (many of them doctors) I've appreciated in the past, for their insights on what was currently happening: David Crow, Kim Elia (repeated updates via video meetings), Andre Seine, Josette Calabrese (weekly videos), Zach Bush (appeared on many podcasts and later produced web videos re health and immunity), Christiane Northrup, Andrew Kaufman, Judy Mikovits, Sherri Tenpenny. In addition, many people took up the task of producing video series to inform the public including: Del Bigtree at The Highwire and Pam Popper, an so many more! There has been a wealth of holistic information made available to all of us beyond the propaganda of MSM (main stream media). And throughout this entire time, the brilliant Dr. John Ioannidis as been updating us with the IFR (Infection Fatality Rate) that remains at a LOW 0.3% across all populations. 

Indeed, to view the IFR from the opposite count, the following survival rates have remained relatively steady throughout the entire world situation:

Age - Infection Survival Rate

 0-19     99.9973%

20-29     99.986%

30-39     99.969%

40-49     99.918%

50-59     99.73%

60-69     99.41%

70+        97.6% (non-institutionalized)

The primary reason for deaths as we age is a less robust immune system plus most of those who died were obese, had multiple co-morbidities and/or were on multiple pharmaceuticals. Most of those who died at less than 70 years old also fell into the above categories, especially that of being obese. Also, most of these people were refused therapeutics that might have saved their lives if given at the first indication of illness.

 The entire approach to this event has been extremely flawed according to everything we know about viruses and epidemics/pandemics and how we used to and ought to handle them.

I extend my deepest sympathies to all people everywhere who have been adversely affected by the past year and half, however that may appear in your life. May we all live in peace with one another and our Mother Earth.

Blessings!

I won't be factory-pharmed

As long as I have the freedom to choose, 

I won't become a factory-PHARMed* animal. 

I choose holistic, vibrational, natural healing modalities first and foremost to support wellness in myself, trusting in the ability of my body and energetic system to use those natural resources to become healthy, regenerative, and create an optimal immune response to challenges encountered.

I stand for Health Choice Freedom.

I choose Health Sovereignty.

Only as a last resort, and only if that should be my choice, would I turn to the anatomical repair-work offered by the conventional medical system (which is the area in which it excels) OR to pharmaceuticals as a last-ditch adjunct to holistic health care. This is reversed from the modern approach which emphasizes seeing a doctor, running tests, etc., first because most pharmaceuticals have so many, and often life-threatening, side effects.

A final consideration might be once diagnosed with a terminal illness, as I do believe in and support self-deliverance for the dying or chronically ill; I believe in freedom of choice when it comes to one's own body. Thankfully, we finally have states that support this choice.

* aka pharmaceuticalized or pharmaceutical-dependent

Yoga or Qigong or Both

As with most healing practices, we evaluate where we are in our life and body, in our mind state, and then let ourselves feel or intuit which practice might suit us best at this particular moment. Perhaps sharing my own experience may help you feel more at ease with how to choose a healing movement practice.

Many practitioners (I'm not a teacher, rather a forever student) concur that Hatha Yoga (postures or asanas) moves at a moderate or fast pace, focusing upon static postures that strengthen; it has always felt to me very much a masculine or yang system, no matter how much I slow it down or try to soften the postures. Qigong is felt to be a distinctly more flowing movement practice, often quite slow; far more feminine or yin in its character. Yoga usually requires greater athleticism while Qigong can be done by nearly everyone, no matter their physical limitations. That said, there are certainly some Yoga vinyasas (flows) that are less rigid while some Qigong videos present far less flow than others (I've found those to be presented by teachers who began with Yoga and added Qigong later so they seemingly still retain the rigidity.

I began practicing Yoga more than a decade ago, which led me to the holistic medical system of Ayurveda, both traditional practices in India for many thousands of years. The practice of Hatha Yoga suited me for a while, granting me greater strength and focus (even though I didn't 'advance' very far in the postures). As I had never been an athletic or "exercise" person per se, I surprised myself in keeping to a fairly consistent practice. That was then.

Moving through my mid-fifties, and following an accident that limited my mobility for several months, I found myself less satisfied with the practice of Yoga as it pertained to postures. My body felt so much more stiff than ever before and most of the postures weren't just uncomfortable but downright painful. I kept at the Yoga I knew for a while but began to realize something needed to shift. This is now.

Last week, as it happens, I received an email invitation to observe a free Qigong Summit (via the Shift Network, an organization that has provided me with many helpful programs over the years). Yes. This resonates on multiple levels. I'm ready for a change. I had tried Tai Chi many, many years ago but found it too difficult; Qigong is much more simple, especially in the beginning. Not that I will completely abandon Hatha Yoga but can feel an inner knowing that Qigong is where I need to be residing right now for movement and healing and wellness as I edge closer to turning sixty.

All of us need to move consciously in our lives, to keep the energy (Prana or Qi or Chi) flowing, the energy that heals.

What do YOU need? Where is your body, mind, and spirit guiding you?

A Modern Manufacturing of Homeopathic Remedies

Here is a marvelous short video of the process through which Boiron creates their Homeopathic remedies. 

I learned all this back when I was trained in Homeopathy, and have made some of my own remedies through the years, but it's fascinating to watch the modern industrial process.