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

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

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

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

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

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.