Monday, June 28, 2010

So, did you miss me?

Dear Yin Weaver,


What, I need an excuse? Give me a break. I'm leaving on vacation in ten days. I've got a list of things longer than both my arms to get done before then. I have to write this blog (which is obviously late), and next week's blog. If I want to be super efficient, I have to write two more blogs beyond that to post while I'm gone. Guess what, that's not happening (well, maybe it will; I'm feeling very super-over-achieve-y). I also have to write my Constant Contact newsletter for August. I have to resend my Summer Special email. I have to write a flower essence article on Chrysanthemum. That's a lot of have-to's, all of which have to be done by July 7th.

But here's the bottom line. After a bit of reflection, I realized last Friday I had indeed, as the proverb says, bitten off more than I can chew. So I will be delaying my promised Five Element Series until I return from Europe. I do hope you'll stand on the widow walk, watching for my return.

Meanwhile, I'm going to share with you an article I wrote about Donna Eden.

A Bouquet for Donna


I’ll never forget the first time I met Donna. I was attending a week long conference on Energy Psychology. It was a series of fascinating keynote speakers, a whirlwind of breakout sessions introducing me to a myriad of energy psychology techniques, and evenings full of spoon-bending parties, poolside parties and other special events. By Friday afternoon my mind may have been the healthiest it’s been in a long time, but my body, as they say in the hood, was trashed.


Then Saturday morning came. Donna was giving a post-conference day long class that day. I’d signed up for it on a whim. I had read part of her book, and her approach to energy medicine sounded intriguing to me. But could I stand another grueling day of balancing my energy?


As it turned out...

As it turned out, you read the rest of the article at here

If I don't pull off being super-over-achieve-y, you will see me again the first Friday of August.

Blessings,
Rose

Friday, June 18, 2010

Next Eden Project Series--What Element are You?

Dear Yin Weaver,

Starting next week I will introduce you to the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Philosophy.  You'll have an opportunity to take a number of polls and quizzes that will help you determine your primary Element.  Although we are a blend of all five Elements, understanding your primary Element can help you appreciate your physical attributes, health patterns, personality traits and much more. 

If you took this week's quiz, you may be wondering what food preferences have to do with the Five Elements.  Well, what you like to eat can give you a clue to your primary Element.

If you like to eat predominantly sweet tasting foods, such as sweet potatoes with brown sugar, you might be an Earth Element.

If you like to eat predominantly bitter foods, such as green salad with vinegar and oil, you might be a Fire element.

If you like to eat predominantly salty foods, like salty nuts, you might be a Water element.

If you like to eat predominantly sour foods, such as tilapia with lemon, you might be a Wood element.

If you like to eat predominantly spicy or tangy foods, such as raw green peppers, you might be a Metal element. 

Finally, if you can't settle on a predominant taste preference, imagine you have a plate of food in front of me, and it had a slice of raw pepper, fish in lemon sauce, a dish of salted nuts, salad with vinagrette, and a sweet potato, what would I eat first, second, third, fourth, fifth?

Even then, it can be confusing. For instance, I'm Metal/Water. I do prefer salty foods over sour or bitter foods. However, I much prefer a sweet potato over almost anything, and although I like mildly spicy foods, you'll never see me eating a raw green pepper! 

But there's more to come, and when you put the whole puzzle together you'll have a much better answer to the question "what element are you?" 

Keep coming  back, and if you want to keep track of your poll answers here, along with your guesses as to your element, please do!

Blessings,
Rose

The Eight Week Meridian Challenge: Let Go and Get Inspired!

Dear Yin Weaver,

Congratulations!  You are about to complete the Eight Week Meridian Challenge.  Hopefully you have taught yourself to trace them, and have found your life to be more confident, purposeful, passionate and nurturing.  Today you will learn to trace the Metal element meridians Large Intestine and Lung.  When these two meridians are balanced, you are able to let go of the past gracefully and live with a spirit of inspiration. 

Large Intestine Meridian (5am-7pm):  A common problem in the large intestine are constipation.  We all know how uncomfortable that can make us feel physically.  But ask yourself what you may be holding onto that is toxic not only literally, but figuratively.  That also can lead to being very uncomfortable emotionally, mentally and spiritually. 

Here are some examples of an unbalanced Large Intestine meridian.  We may find it hard to let go of past grudges, losses.  We may stuff our painful emotions and memories.  Our lives may be cluttered with unnecessary "things" to which we are too emotionally attached.  Unbalanced energy in this meridian can affect our ability to reach our goals.  Have the fruits of our labors spoiled?  Or have the good things we've tried to accomplish become rotten?  Balance this meridian and you will be able to live more effectively in the present, fueled with energy to step into your future. 

To trace this meridian place the open fingers of one hand at the end of thee pointer finger of the opposite hand, trace straight up the arm to your shoulder, cross the neck to beneath your nose, and go out to the flare of your nose.  Do both sides will repeating the words, "I let go of guilt, shame and fear.  I live fully in the NOW!" 

Lung Meridian (3am-5am):  We can live without water and food for a week or two.  But we will die within minutes without air.  What would happen, also, if our lungs did not purify the air we breath?  We could get sick with a whole host of ailments, such as asthma, bronchitis and cancer.  Without air we couldn't express our thoughts or feelings either, which means healthy lungs are crucial to our emotional and creative lives as well. 

Similarly, our Lung meridian draws chi--what I like to call "the air within the air"--into our souls, and releases stagnant chi from our souls.  Without this vital function, we would be lacking inspiration, and the capacity for deep, soulful expression.  Purity of mind and heart would elude us, as well.   

Place one hand over the opposite lung and move it up over your shoulder, straight down your arm, and off your thumb.  Do both sides will repeating the words, "I breathe in fresh chi and inspiration.  I breathe out stale chi and grief." 

I mentioned in another post that the best way to trace your meridians is to trace all fourteen of them in order of their time of greatest influence.  Always start by tracing Central and then Governing meridian.  Then move to the meridian that is active at the time of day you are tracing it.  So, for instance, if you are tracing your meridians at 6 am, you would trace Large Intestine Meridian.  Below, for your convenience, is a list of all twelve organ meridians (remember, Central and Governing don't have a specific "time" during which they operate; they are always "on"), starting with Kidney. 

Kidney                 5pm to7pm
Circulation/Sex     7pm to 9pm
Triple Warmer      9pm to11pm
Gall Bladder        11pm to 1am
Liver                     1am to 3am
Lung                      3am to 5am
Large Intestine       5am to 7am
Stomach                7am to 9am
Spleen                   9am to11am
Heart                   11am to 1pm
Small Intestine        3pm to 5p

If you don't remember how to trace them, just refer to my posts starting May 7th. 
And now for the moment you've been waiting for.  What do the answers to my poll mean?  Well I'm not going to tell you!  At least, not in this post.  Honestly, as much as I like to write, I realize reading material like this can be a little deadly, and if you've gotten this far, well...you should be darn proud! 

So I'm going to sign off now and then do another short blog on the poll, which will introduce the next Eden Project series.  Stay tuned.  And leave me a message, why dontcha?

Blessings,
Rose

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Free Teleseminar on July 13 with Melanie Smith

Dear Yin Weaver,

If you want to hear it live from one of my favorite teachers of Eden Energy Medicine, check out this F*R*E*E teleseminar on July 13th.  Shifra Hendrie interviews Melanie Smith, Doctor of Oriental Medicine and  Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner, who shows you how to create your own compelling personal vision of wellness. She will also share insights of her new energy technique Harmonize the Fire for stress reduction, adrenal exhaustion and hormone balancing.

By the way, this is just one of many talented speakers Shifra will interview during her Teleseminar Intensive between June 16th and July 22nd, including Donna Eden.  Go to Quantum Healing to register. 

Blessings,
Rose

Friday, June 11, 2010

The Eight Week Meridian Challenge:

Dear Yin Weaver,

What is the value of tracing your meridians? When meridians become unbalanced, they can carry too much or too little energy to the organs, and they can create emotional havoc. Tracing them smooths and evens the flow of energy throughout the meridian system.  The result is optimal health and well being.

Donna Eden says in her book Energy Medicine, "As you pass your hand over a meridian, you are aligning your hand's energies wih the meridian's energies, like the moon pulling the tide." 

But how do you trace meridians?  Easy.  Rub both hands together vigorously and then shake them off.  Use an open hand, palm facing the body.  You can touch the meridian line or stay within two inches of it.

This week let's learn how to trace the Stomach and Spleen meridians, which sit in Earth element.  Earth Element is about our foundations.  These two meridians contribute greatly to being grounded and sturdy, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  They can also contribute to being stuck and toxic.  Yuck!  Tracing these two meridians can keep you moving forward in life full of health and vitality.      
 
Stomach Meridian (7am to 9am), according to Touch for Health founder John Thie, takes in new new feelings, thoughts, experiences for just the way the stomach takes in new materials, sees what is available and tags it for use in other functions of the soul and body.  Sometimes, however, we don't pay attention to what we "eat," whether it be food, a feeling, a thought, and experience, or something else.  Then the Stomach meridian can be overwhelmed by elements that are poisonous to our spirits.

If you have stomach trouble, don't always assume it's because of what you eat.  Ask yourself, "What is difficult for me to swallow?  What's making me sick to my stomach figuratively?  What is it I can't stomach, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually?" 

Because the energy of this meridian moves from the top of the body down and off the second toe, a balanced Stomach meridian also helps us stay well grounded.  If you need to stay more grounded, balancing this meridian can be very helpful.

To trace Stomach meridian, place both hands underneath your eyes, drop to your jawbone, circle up the outside of your face to your forehead, come down through your eyes to your collarbone, go out at your collarbone, over your breasts, in at your waist, out at your hips, straight down your legs, and off the second toes.  Repeat this affirmation while you trace it, "I have both feet on the ground; I am balanced and centered."

Spleen Meridian (9am to 11am) takes the raw "energetic materials" received by the stomach and transforms them into useable forms which are then distributed throughout the body and spirit.  When Spleen meridian is balanced, it sustains us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  It nurtures us, in a sense, like a mother.

When Spleen meridian is out of balance, we may have trouble finding the sweetness in life literally (think diabetes) and figuratively.  We may not be able to break down problems into manageable parts.  Our bodies and spirits may be working too hard to detoxify from toxins that can impact our immune system.   Exhaustion in body and mind will be the result.   

To trace Spleen meridian, start at the outside corners of each big toe and go straight up the inside of your legs, flaring out at your hips, up the outside of your rib cage, and down to the top of the rib cage.  Repeat this affirmation while you are tracing, "I nurture myself with love."

We have been racing through these meridians over the past month, and I've heard nary a peep from anyone.  Who out there has been trying to trace these meridians?  Are the directions for tracing them confusing?  Do the pictures help?  How has tracing them helped you?  What have you noticed? 

Do you know what Element you are?  Well, you'll notice I've added a survey to my blog.  Each week I'm going to ask a question, and the next week I'll let you know what Element matches each answer.  After awhile you'll start to see a pattern in your answers that might help you determine your Element. 

Yes, you can only choose one, so ask yourself what you would want to eat if if was your last meal on earth. 

Blessings,
Rose

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wish You Could Sleep Like a Baby? Here's How

Dear Yin Weaver, 

I'm in complete agreement with the Psalmist who proclaimed we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."  However, sometimes I'm puzzled by the design logic. 

For instance, as you might remember from my second blog on the topic of meridians, each meridian has two hours during the day when it is most active.  In the case of Triple Warmer, the meridian that gets activated whenever there is a crisis, danger, illness or some other cause for the "fight or flight response," is most active between 9pm and 11pm.

So, right when your body is starting to wind down and prepare for sleep, Triple Warmer is getting juiced up.  That sounds to me like a design flaw.  In addition, from 11pm to 1am, your Gall Bladder meridian is most active.  This is the meridian that is always thinking about things, planning, problem solving, looking over things, mulling, judging, evaluating.  Just when you would rather turn off your mind, the meridian most ready to help turn it on is juicing up.  Sounds problematic, doesn't it?

Well, actually, no.  Think about it.  Sleep is a time when we solve problems and make discoveries.  For instance, Elias Howe invented the sewing machine in 1845. He had the idea of a machine with a needle which would go through a piece of cloth but he couldn't figure out exactly how it would work. He first tried using a needle that was pointed at both ends, with an eye in the middle, but it was a failure. Then one night he dreamt he was taken prisoner by a group of natives. They were dancing around him with spears. As he saw them move around him, he noticed that their spears all had holes near their tips. When he woke up he realized that the dream had brought the solution to his problem. By locating a hole at the tip of the needle, the thread could be caught after it went through cloth thus making his machine operable.  He changed his design to incorporate the dream idea and found it worked!

However, there are times when Triple Warmer and Gall  Bladder meridian are out of balance, and the result can be tension, tossing and turning, and loss of the much needed, restorative sleep.  When you find yourself unable to fall asleep, try this easy and restful exercise.  By the way, this can help to boost the Thyroid gland as well. 

The Sweet Dreams Triple Warmer Neurovascular Hold

1.  Do the Triple Warmer Smoothie.
2.  Place your hand lightly just over the hollow of the throat and inner edges of your collarbone.
3.  Rest your other hand lightly at your temple.  Both of these areas are TW Neurovascular points, and by drawing blood flow to these areas, you are stimulating a relaxation response in the TW meridian.
4.  Hold gently for four or five deep breaths, and then repeat on the other side...if you stay awake that long.
Frankly, this exercise works like knock-out drops on me.  Do you have insomnia?  I'd love to hear some success stories!  Tell me yours. 

Blessings,
Rose

PS  that's a picture of my cousin Lucero's beautiful baby Ivan

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Triple Warmer Smoothie--No, It's Not a Drink

Dear Yin Weaver,

 The Triple Warmer Smoothie may not be a drink, but it is definitely a way to unplug from stress and refresh your energies.  It will take you all of 20 seconds to perform, which is why you can do this between 2 and 1,000 times a day.  In other words, you can't overdo it, and the more you do it, the quicker you'll tame the tiger in Triple Warmer's tank!

Here are the directions to the Triple Warmer Smoothie, taken directly from the pages of Donna Eden's award-winning book Energy Medicine for Women: 


Triple warmer energy starts at the tip of the ring finger, travels up to the neck, behind the ears, and ends at the temples. You can use the electromagnetic energies of your hands to readily calm overactive triple warmer energy by tracing part of this pathway backward. Here are the steps:
1. Place your fingers at your temples. Hold for one deep breath, again breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.

2. On another deep in-breath, slowly slide your fingers up and around your ears, smoothing the skin while maintaining some pressure.

3. On the out breath, slide your fingers down and behind your ears, press them down the sides of your neck, and hang them on your shoulders.

4. Push your fingers into your shoulders and then, when you are ready, firmly drag them over the tops of your shoulders, and smooth them to the middle of your chest, with one arm resting on top of the other. This is the heart chakra. It brings you home to yourself.

5. Hold here for several deep breaths.
So, what do you think?

Blessings,
Rose

PS  if you just happened upon this blog, and don't know what the Triple Warmer meridian is all about, visit my recent post for the details.

Friday, June 4, 2010

The Eight Week Meridian Challenge: How to Stop a Panic Attack in Its Tracks

Dear Yin Weaver,

Panic Attacks happen suddenly. They fill a person with a sense of imminent doom, death or destruction. They usually strike when the person feels they are in a life-threatening situation from which escape is necessary. They may think they are experiencing a heart attack, or that an earthquake is about to occur, or something violent is about to happen. Situational Panic Attacks are triggered by situational stressors. These and are indicative of social and specific phobias, such as fear of heights or public speaking. Panic Attacks that appear without any specific cues are more likely to be indicative of Panic Disorder. You have Panic Disorder if you have recurrent panic attacks, and are persistently worried about future attacks, to the point you change your behavior in order to avoid having them. This can lead to Agoraphobia, the unwillingness to leave your home for fear you will have a panic attack. 

Last week I explained the Fire Element is comprised of four meridians. We dealt with the Small Intestine and Heart meridians, and how keeping them in balance can help us create a life full of heart and meaning. This week we're going to talk about the other two Fire Element meridians, Triple Warmer (yang) and Circulation/Sex (yin). Keeping them in balance can play a big role in helping you overcome panic attacks and generalized anxiety.

Circulation/Sex meridian (7pm to 9pm) sends energy to all the sexual organs. It assists many hormone-related functions, such as menstrual cycles, ovarian and uterine functions and prostate and testicular functions. It supports the ability to experience sex as pleasurable. Also known as the Pericardium meridian, it also supports the membrane sac which surrounds and protects the heart. Think of it as the meridian which helps us energetically connect sexuality with love. Finally, it is the meridian which helps keep the beat of the heart steady and appropriate, depending on the external and internal environments. The emotional polarity of this meridian is panic versus joy. When this meridian is balanced, our hearts are able to "leap with joy" appropriately. But when it is out of balance, our hearts may be racing with panic instead.

To trace this meridian, place the fingers of one hand a the outside of the opposite nipple, come up over the shoulder, go down inside the arm and off the middle finger. Do both sides while repeating the affirmation, "My heart leaps with joy."

Triple Warmer (9pm to 11pm) is so named because it is the overseer of the "three burners." The upper burner refers to the upper part of the body and includes the heart, lung and pericardium. The middle burner refers to the midsection of the body and includes the Spleen, Stomach, Gall Bladder and Liver organs. The lower burner refers to the lower section of the body and includes the Small and Large Intestines, the Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder. In essence, Triple Warmer is concerned with threats to the homeostasis of the system. It's primary goal is to maintain balance and create an environment wherein you are safe. It doesn't matter if the stress is external or internal, real or imagined. If Triple Warmer perceives a threat it goes into action. Whenever you experience the famous "fight or flight response," Triple Warmer is the meridian that goes into action, conscripting energy from other meridians to give you the edge you need to either stand and fight, or turn and run.

To trace this meridian, turn your hand over and starting at the ring finger, trace straight up the arm to beneath your ear, follow your ear around and behind, ending at your temple. Do both sides while repeating the affirmation, "I honor the warrior within. I am safe."

Tracing these meridians on a daily basis will restore energetic balance to them, which can help reduce the intensity, frequency and duration of a panic attack.  However, when you are in the middle of a panic attack, I can gaurantee you both of these energies will have too much energy.  Tracing them during an attack won't harm you, but it won't help you either.  You need to find a way to open the tap so the excess energy can drain away.  What do you do?  Simple!  Trace them backwards, a technique otherwise known as "flushing." 

There are other techniques to help quench the fires of Triple Warmer and Circulation Sex.  Stay tuned this week for additional methods for releasing excess energy from this Dynamic Duo.

Blessings,
Rose

Thursday, June 3, 2010

How Do You Make a Good Decision?

Dear Yin Weaver,

Since we're on the topic of decision making this week, I thought I'd drop in a quick article here (see below) on the subject.  Of course, I know you can surf the web as easily as I can, but let me tell you...the hardest decision I had to make was choosing which article to cut and paste!  If you know of a better one, or have your own techniques for making a good decision, let me know! 

I found another website on decision making I decided was too complicated to reproduce here.  But it's worth checking out.  Here's a bit of wisdom from Decision Making Confidence:  We all have freedom of choice, but you will never have freedom of consequences.  Choose wisely.


Blessings,
Rose

Simple Laws for Making Good Decisions
from Good Decision Makers

Charles Foster, PhD


I have spent 10 years studying decision makers -- identifying 35 people who generally make good decisions and 35 people who frequently make bad decisions... then watching over time as they make big decisions.

My research has led me to two conclusions...

Good decisions come from disciplined thinking. If you follow the basic laws of decision making, most of your plans will work out. Think haphazardly when you make a decision and little of what you plan will pan out.

They are habit-forming. Each time you make the right decision, you gain the necessary self-confidence to keep making good decisions. That’s why following the laws of decision making is crucial.

Here are seven rules for making great decisions...

Focus on the most important thing. This seems obvious, but it is the decision-making principle that is most often violated. People overload the decision-making process with so many variables that what’s really important gets lost.

Example: Most decisions only require you to answer one yes or no question, such as, Do we launch this product? But then someone says, What about this? and someone else says, What about that?

What should have been a straight-forward decision gets confused by minor considerations. You lose the focus for making the right decision.

In every decision, one factor usually is the most important. Close your eyes, and concentrate on that element, forgetting all other considerations. Once you’re focused only on what’s most important, the odds are you’ll make the right decision. Everything else is a detail.

Turn big decisions into a series of little decisions. Some decisions appear overwhelming. You want to focus on what’s most important, but there are so many unknowns that your focus gets blurred.

Example: Taking a new job means learning new skills, moving to a new city, etc. With so many variables to juggle, you wind up making a bad decision -- or no decision at all.

Break that big decision into several smaller, more manageable decisions.

Take time to study the new employer in depth. Decide if it is a company you really want to work for. Spend a few days in the new city. Decide if you want to live there.

After you make all the little decisions, the big decision will essentially be made.

Base your decision on self-acceptance. Self-acceptance covers a lot of ground…

What you like.

What you’re interested in.

What you’re good at.

Any decision based on who you really are... how you really work... what you really like... probably will work out.

Problem: People think a decision will transform them from who they are to who they would like to be. Job offers aren’t measured by suitability -- as they should be -- but by whether they will make them better people. Their future becomes hostage to that lack of self-acceptance. A decision made under such circumstances is a disaster waiting to happen.

Ask yourself what you really like and what makes you comfortable. If the decision won’t add to your feeling of comfort, it probably would prove to be a bad decision.

Consider all the good things your decision can bring. Decision making is, for many people, an exercise in disaster avoidance.

Instead of making the decision that might cause something wonderful to happen, we often make the decision we hope will hurt us the least.

Reality check: There’s nothing wrong with running through possible negative outcomes when making a decision. It would be foolish to make decisions on the assumption that nothing could go wrong. But decisions turn sour when you fail to examine positive scenarios as well.

The decision-making process must be fueled by the possibility that your decision will lead to something wonderful -- a new career, a stronger marriage, etc.

Keep reworking the decision until you see it leading to something wonderful. If you rework the decision and nothing wonderful emerges, you risk making the wrong decision.

Get what you need to make your decision a success. Especially in business, this rule gets broken again and again. A meeting ends with the decision to do such-and-such, but no plans are made to implement the decision.

Example: Many dot-coms recently went under because they had no plans for obtaining all the capital they would need to feed the beast.

If there is no passion to implement the decision -- or if you know in advance that the resources you need won’t be available -- you haven’t decided anything. It is window dressing meant to satisfy someone’s ego or to be included in a report to show your department is on the ball.

Start with how you’re going to implement your decision and work backward.

Keep things as simple as possible. Even smart people break this law. Because they see the big picture, they want the decision to cover every issue that might arise. They draft plans so that no possibility is overlooked.

Reality: The more things that can go wrong, the more things that probably will go wrong. Keep the number of things that must go right for the decision to succeed to an absolute minimum.

Venture capitalists are justifiably wary of overly complicated plans for a new business. Business plans that are easy to grasp are the ones that are most likely to get funding.

Consider all your options. I have never met a decision maker -- good or bad -- who had checked out all possible options. Invariably, I come up with options never considered.

Example: Think back to when you mislaid your keys or your wallet. You convinced yourself that you had looked everywhere. But when you found them, chances are they were someplace you hadn’t looked.

Don’t assume you know everything there is to know to make a good decision. Talk to people who are more experienced about the subject than you are. Ask what they would consider when making the same decision. Not only will they present you with new options, their insights could completely change the way you think about the decision.

________________________________________

Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Charles Foster, PhD, MBA, director of The Chestnut Hill Institute in Boston, a research and consulting firm focusing on the psychology of business success. He is author of What Do I Do Now: Dr. Foster’s 30 Laws of Great Decision Making (Simon & Schuster).