Hear What Feels Right

  • Autumn blooms in its own wonderful way, especially when the sun shines. In Chinese Medicine Autumn’s element is Metal, and the governing organs are Lungs and Large Intestines. If you are suffering with ongoing coughs or colds, asthma, allergies, constipation, digestive issues, feeling overly critical and heavy with sadness, your Metal element could be imbalanced and you will feel far from blooming. I’ve written a blog post about how to live in synthesis with this season and bring some balance to your mind and body. Link in my profile. #freeupmyinsta #bloom
  • I love the smell and the colour of eucalyptus so I’ve doubled up this week for an autumnal mantle piece! Autumn is the time of the Lung in Chinese Medicine and this beautiful plant helps strengthen our whole respiratory system. Use the oil in burners, hang the leaves above your shower or in your wardrobes, put the leaves in a muslin bag and place them in draws or under pillows; you can even make tea and add it to coconut oil to make a deodorant. This plant will help clear blocked respiratory passages, scent the air to lift your mood, repel moths and other bothersome insects, soothe sore throats and keep you smelling f r e s h! #freeupmyinsta #inspiration
  • It’s World Mental Health Day today with the focus this year being, mental health in the workplace. The charity Mind, and the @mentalhealthfoundation have some great resources for helping support mental health at work, and @youngmindsuk a fantastic resource specifically for young people and their families. Mental health issues can affect anyone, at anytime (read my last post for some shocking stats around young people and mental health). If you are in the South West (UK) you can train to become a Mental Health First Aider (details also in my last post), which will give you the skills to recognise when a young person needs support and also how to help a young person in crisis. Today is a great day not only to show your support but also to look after your own wellbeing. What could you do today, for you? Even if it’s 5 minutes of doing something that brings you joy, or helps you be more aware of your present moment, that could be enough to give you the small pause you need #WMHD
  • Did you know: 3 children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition and over 80’000 young people in the UK are severely depressed? In 2016, a quarter of a million young people in England were receiving help for a mental health condition? Budgets are being cut and mental health teams stretched beyond belief. Some work is being done at local levels for schools, but this will only reach the minority. Mental Health First Aid England are training people to become qualified Mental Health First Aiders. There are 2 courses happening here in Bristol on October and December 2017. You’ll learn the skills to recognise the signs of mental health issues in a young person and the ability to offer them first aid to help them get the support they need. Have a read of my blog post about this for more info or if you’d like to come along. I’m going along to the October date. More info in my bio.
  • A lone bird, this sky. A reminder of the simple, delicate beauty of life. One of my best pals was in Las Vegas, at the festival with her husband and some friends. My heart hurt when I heard the news. Thankfully they are all ok. This happens too much on this earth. No human has the right to take the life of another.
  • Just casually standing around pressing my sternum... Actually, this area contains a few acupuncture points that are fab for the lungs and chest. Since the lungs are the dominant organ in autumn, if they are out of balance you may suffer from anxiety that affects your breath, tightness in your chest, or a persistent cough. Grief may be an emotion that you are struggling to process and you may find that your lungs feel heavy with sadness. To find the points, simply use your first 2 fingers (like me) and move them down from the base of your throat to the point on your sternum which is raised. This is in line with your second rib (I should probably do a little vid to explain). Try gently pressing this area and if you feel some tenderness, stay there and breathe slowly into it. Did you know that your brain uses 20% of the oxygen you breathe in? Sometimes three deep breaths is all you need to bring a moment of balance to your body.
  • Happy Equinox. Today marks the the Autumnal equinox, Mabon: the middle of harvest season, equal day/night hours and the moment in which all is balanced. In Chinese Medicine, Autumn is the element of Metal and the organs of Lung and Large Intestine. The Lungs are responsible for bringing life into our body and together with our Large Intestine, help us let go of what we don’t need. As the Yang energy of summer begins to wane, the rising of Yin encourages us to turn towards Autumn with a healthy approach to letting go. So, just as nature lets go and recedes, we slow down, and prepare for the months ahead. This is the time we begin to start lighting fires and pulling on extra layers. The emotion associated with the Lungs is grief. Some may feel sadness at the thought of long winter months ahead, but it's normal to feel grief as we say farewell to the sun and the warm energy of Yang. An imbalance in Lungs may show up as an inability to process grief healthily and persistent coughs and colds. Traditional seasonal activities for the equinox are: gathering and feasting with pals or family, lighting fires, collecting acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress cones and placing them around your home/on the mantelpiece. Check out @rhythmofseasons for some leaf crown fun to have with children and @sacred_seeds for some brilliant guidance on foraging and harvesting natures gifts. Have a beautiful day.
  • There was a new moon last night, in the Earth sign of Virgo. In Chinese Medicine, Late Summer is the element of Earth so this new moon is a great time to connect with your Earth energy before we have the Autumn equinox tomorrow. To do this *consider how you prioritise yourself in your life. remember the saying 'you can't pour from an empty cup' *assess your diet. are you eating well, for you? chewing food slowly and drinking enough water? *consider if you are you getting out in nature enough? (I've just done an early morning jog/walk for the first time in years!) *check your worry levels. could you start to build a habit of mediation or mindfulness as we move into Autumn? tend to your mind. Remember, prioritising yourself leads to happier lives all around as the energy you project attracts the same energy in return. This is a beautiful time of year to remind yourself of your own light. Pen y Fan is a special symbol (to me) of how painful endings often make space for new beginnings. Photo credit @wallywanders and my family/friends at @brecon_cottages

About Me

It is my mission to help people gently connect with their self, body and to the natural rhythm of life.

Through my work and treatments, I hope to encourage you to slow down and listen to your heart, which is always there, quietly guiding you through life.

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