Day 20: On cutting down trees

Tags

30-day blog challenge, Hidden Messages in Water, Japanese researcher, Masaru Emoto, power of intention, water crystals, What the Bleep do we Know?

Would you make a tree grow, or cut it down?

My sister Mica shared this with me just yesterday. She had read from the blog of Samantha Fey that the men and women living in the Solomon Islands of the South Pacific have a unique way of taking down trees. Men circle the tree for 30 days and scream at the tree. They hurl insults at the tree for the duration of that entire month (30 days seems to be a magical number for getting results). The effect of their screaming is that the tree dies. It always does. The villagers believe that the constant screaming and insulting is what kills the tree’s spirit.

This story reminds of the work of Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto, author of The Hidden Messages in Water (I first learned of this in the film What the Bleep do we Know?). Using a special photographic technology, he is able to capture the details of a water crystal. He did an experiment to see how thoughts and words affected the formation of untreated distilled water crystals. He typed phrases onto paper, and then taped them onto the bottles and left them overnight. Here are the effects of the words on water:

"Thank you" (photo from www.unitedearth.com.au)

"You make me sick, I want to kill you" (photo from www.unitedearth.com.au)

Kind words turned the water into a beautiful “snowflake” crystal, whereas the insult resulted into an image that resembled diseased cells under a microscope. And since we’re made up of 75% water, think about the effect of words and intentions on people.

The words we say to trees, water and people always create an effect.

Today, will you cut down a person, or nurture her to grow? Will you speak words of love and appreciation, or hurl insults and curses to water down someone’s spirit? Think about it. Ultimately, what comes into play after is a universal and biblical truth: Do unto other as you want them to do unto you.

Day 9: Doors

Tags

30-day blog challenge, doors, God's best, opportunity

"Blue door" shot by Maya O. Calica

“A narrative is like a room on whose walls a number of false doors have been painted; while within the narrative, we have many apparent choices of exit, but when the author leads us to one particular door, we know it is the right one because it opens.” John Updike.

As a writer, I create characters and move them within plots and universes of my own making. As Updike said, we create the doors and decide which door opens for our characters.

In real life, however, while I make my own choices, I “consult” God to lead me through doors that are for my highest good — especially when I get so attached to wanting it to come to fruition. I see doors as portals to many things: Friendship. Romance. Love. Closure. Reconciliation. Opportunity. New beginnings. A chance to move on. Transition. Healing. A new career. Positive change. Breaking a negative pattern/cycle. Rediscovery. Travel. Magic. Miracles. Second Chances. Happy homes.

Each time I am at a crossroads, feeling unsure of what I am meant to do or where I am meant to be, I ask God to swing a door open for me. (Be prepared for this, for He will do it! So pay attention…) While I believe He puts the desire in each of us to pursue our dreams, He also encourages surrender so that we can make room for what is best for us… and all involved. It’s an exercise in detaching oneself from the final outcome — aka “staying open for this or something better”.

In a nutshell, it’s being able to trust the old adage-slash-bumper sticker — to “let go and let God” swing open that right door for you. When he does, we still choose whether to enter, shut it or walk away. What will you do?

Today, pay attention to the “doors” that present themselves in your life.

stay-young tip: try something new

Water ballet aka Swan Dive

As I get older, it’s very easy to pass on new things: new skills, new sports, even new friends or new food to order in a restaurant. Not that easy is bad.

But sometimes, doing the same thing over and over again makes you stop growing. In the same way muscle is built by training it to take on a little more power/weight/exertion each time, our mind needs new experiences to stay active, alert and excited.

My recent “new” thing was to try the Discover Diving Experience during my recent trip to Dos Palmas resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. I had ALWAYS wanted to dive again, and yet it frightened me when my boyfriend proposed the idea. Still, I said yes. But during the pool session, my dive instructor said I was imbalanced in my swim and said he had to hold on to me when we went to open water. I was nervous, but didn’t want to be assisted that way. So I insisted on doing the swim without him in the pool three more times, and I got my bearings.

We went out to the open sea, and I was awestruck! Beautiful fish, clams, corals, sea life going about their business, with us their audience. I felt myself relax my breathing and felt steadier as I swam. I give props to our divemaster, Victor, who was very patient. After about 15 minutes, I was already dancing! I felt so alive diving, and want to do it again.

when life hands you lemons…

Tags

cleanse, detox, lemon water, liver, water therapy

hydrate yourself!

… slice them thinly and drop them into a pitcher of drinking water!

Are you drinking enough water? And when we say enough, it’s from eight 8oz glasses or about 1.5 liters? And if you’re drinking coffee or caffeinated sodas, you’ll need to drink an extra 1 to 2 glasses?

If you haven’t, for reasons like you can’t stand the taste, flavor it. Some use cucumbers and mint leaves, but try the zesty lemon. It adds a ping of freshness into drinking water, and makes your pitcher prettier to look at too!

Think about it: 75% of our body is made of water, so if we’re not drinking enough, you can be sure we’re not firing off healthily on all cylinders. Still not convinced? Well here’s what convinced me to chug away on lemon water!

When you drink a glass of hot water with the juice of a lemon first thing in the morning, this aids flushing toxins from the liver.

Lemon water is also good for your digestive system, which is dependent on certain enzymes and digestive juices to break down food particles into nutrients to feed your body. But if you consume an unbalanced and unhealthy diet of much too much sugar, salt and fat, this does a number on your colon making it sluggish. The result? Constipation, which when unaddressed leads to bloating and even excess weight. Lemon water works in that it aids your liver in the making of bile, which does the job of digesting fat to promote easier elimination of these toxins.

The  bonus? Your skin will look radiant, and you’ll have more energy when your body is well hydrated.

Water you waiting for?

orange you glad it’s healthy?

Tags

Mila Chia seeds Miracle seed Lifemax orange Greek yogurt healthy breakfast

I love Greek yogurt! I found it in Cold Storage and have used it to whip up a quick breakfast or lunch meal. I bumped up its nutritional value with a scoop of Mila, Miracle Seeds  by Lifemax I wrote about earlier. Because Mila is a rich source of Omega 3s — the natural anti-inflammatory food. And since inflammation is the main source of disease, Omega 3s are an essential fatty acid we must have everyday.

Here it is…

Greek Yoghurt with Orange and Mila

Ingredients

1 orange, peeled and sliced in small bits

three scoops of Greek yoghurt (vanilla flavor)

1 scoop of Mila

Method: Combine everything in a bowl. Scoop into mouth. Enjoy! It’s a filling and highly nutritious snack/meal that’s rich in Omega 3s, antioxidants, protein and fiber. The consistency reminded me of Cookies and Cream ice cream — the texture of the Mila combined with the yoghurt and the orange slices was delicious!

miracles

Tags

Elaine Petrone shoulder pain relief, miracles Miracle Ball Method Prayer Tsunami Japan

Have been quite burdened by the tsunami in Sendai, Japan, and how it rocked the country. My Japanese uncle and aunt, who live in Tokyo, reported back saying they were both fine but Sendai is devastated. “Many town and cities disappeared,” he wrote, “and more than 400 houses swept away by tsunami.” Media reports say that death toll is close to 900, while others say 10,000 are missing.

Shall we all send prayers for healing, recovery and miracles to the people of Japan? When you go to church, or even in the quiet of your room when you do your meditation or quiet time, send intentions for the recovery of missing people, for there to be zero or minimal affectation of the health of the people around the nuclear plant that has leaked, and for reparation caused by both internal and external damage.

On another smaller matter, I had been suffering from pain on my left shoulder and left arm. Perhaps it’s the rainy, colder weather. Anyway, I put my Miracle Balls to good use. Devised by former dancer Elaine Petrone, who wrote a booklet called The Miracle Ball Method to go with the balls. I bought these two plastic balls and the book at Page One in VIvocity late last year, and used them with great success to ease my tight hips, achey neck and shoulder pain. For my current shoulder and arm pain, I did an exercise, whereby I slipped one ball under my elbow (bent at a right angle) and allowed the weight of my arm to sink in with my hand resting on the floor. At 6pm, I did this for three minutes and then removed the ball and rested my arm on the ground for 2 minutes, and then repeated the sequence three more times. The result? I had eased the pain by 70% by 730pm, so that it bothered me less I went out for dinner with friends. I slept well through the night, and as I type this the morning after, the discomfort is totally gone. It is a miracle of pain relief indeed, and I highly recommend it. For Singapore residents, you may find it at Page One or could even try bookstores like Borders or Kinokuniya. For those who want to order it online, I found her site and I believe you can order them here. Wishing you relief from whatever aches.