Yes to both! So much fear and hype is spreading about the coming end of the Mayan calendar in the year 2012. Do you choose to live in fear or to open to the possibilities of living in a new and better world?  In case you haven’t noticed, our old ways of thinking, doing and being aren’t working very well. Unless you think wars, famine, genocide, political corruption, widespread environmental and physical toxicity, disease, etc. is the way to go.

If we, as a planetary society, desire to continue for much longer, there must be a death of the old ways to allow for a rebirth of the new. Scary?  Perhaps! But what are our choices?  At some point, we must take the leap into the unknown and trust our intuition and inner knowing that there is a better way and we are the instruments of its inception.

How does this look on an everyday level? It might mean ending those relationships with groups or individuals who don’t support what we believe to be true. It might mean changing our lifestyles to decrease our negative impact on the environment or our own or others health.  Quit smoking, perhaps, or eat healthier?  Recycle. Use fewer plastics. Eat more fresh and unprocessed foods. Volunteer to help out in the community. Ride a bike more often and use the car less. Get to know that neighbor of a different race or religion. Grow your own or start a community vegetable garden. Plant a tree. Develop more green spaces in your city or town. Start a “think tank” with friends and start discussing what you can do to help change what you don’t like about yourselves, then the community, then the world. Change starts with the individual. The rest follows.

The death of one way of being is followed by the birth of a new way.  Dwell on the death or revel in the possibilities of the new. The choice is up to you. May you choose the way of your own inner truth and know that you are not alone. We are all in this together.

Is it real? Is it a dream?  Who cares? Go for it!  Take on those wings and see where your imagination/creativity takes you.  New ways of thinking is what will get the world out of the mess it is currently in. The old ways no longer work.  Get out from behind the “status quo” and be part of the new paradigm.  It is each one of us thinking and acting in new ways that will create a future of peace and abundance. So get out those dragon wings and  fly. I’ll meet you just left of the third star on the right!!

“We ask you to cast, anchor, and hold the Net of Light steady for the Gulf of Mexico,” the Grandmothers said. “This crisis is affecting the entire world, and humanity is asleep. Wake up!” they cried.” Animals are dying, plants are dying, and your Mother is writhing in agony. If you hold the Net of Light steady at this time you will help stave off further catastrophe. “You have been lulled into a false sleep,” they said, “told that others (B.P.) will take care of this problem. This is not so,” they said. “And this is not the time for you to fall into oblivion. Determine now to stay awake, and once you have made that commitment, think of, cast, and hold the Net of Light. Hold it deep and hold it wide. Amplify its reach to penetrate the waters of the Gulf and dive deep beneath the crust of Mother Earth. Anchor it at the earth’s core and as you hold it there, ask it to unify with the mineral kingdom of this planet. It will do this and will harmonize with all the solid and liquid mineral states on earth-including oil and gas. The Net of Light will call these minerals back into harmony. Men have wreaked havoc. They have abused the kingdoms of life on earth for many years, but this time their destruction has reached crisis proportions.

“Whatever human beings have damaged, human beings must correct,” the Grandmothers said. “This is the law. We repeat: This is the law. You cannot sit back and ask God to fix the mess humanity has created. Each of you must throw your shoulders to the wheel and work. We are asking for your help. Several years ago we gave you the Net of Light so you would be able to help the earth at times like this. Step forward now. This is the Net of Light that will hold the earth during the times of change that are upon you,” they said.

“First move into your heart and call on us. We will meet you there. The Net of Light is lit by the jewel of your heart,” they said, “so move into this lighted place within you and open to the Net of which you are a part. Bask in its calming presence. It holds you at the same time that you hold it. “Now think of magnifying your union with us. We, the Great Council of the Grandmothers, are with you now, and all those who work with the Net of Light are also with you. There are thousands, even millions now connected in light,” they said. “Along with this union, call forth the power of the sacred places on earth. These will amplify the potency of our joint effort. Then call on the sacred beings that have come to prevent the catastrophe that threatens to overwhelm your planet. We will work together,“ they said, nodding slowly.

“Think of, cast and magnify the presence of the Net of Light in the Gulf of Mexico. See, imagine or think of it holding the waters, holding the land, the plants, the sea life, and the people. Holding them all!” they said. “The Net of Light is holding them steady; it is returning them to balance. Let the love within your lighted heart keep pouring into the Net of Light and hold, hold, hold. Calmly and reverently watch as the light from your heart flows along the strands of the Net. It will follow your command and continuously move forth. As soon as you think of it, it will happen. We ask you to practice this for only a few minutes at a time, but to repeat it throughout the day and night.”

“We promise that this work with the Net of Light will do untold good,” the Grandmothers said. “We are calling you to service now. You are needed. Do not miss this opportunity. We thank you and bless you.”

To learn more about the Grandmothers and the Net of Light, go to www.grandmothersspeak.com

Allergies and the Body/Mind/Spirit Connection

It is allergy season here in the Southwest with the accompanying sneezing, sniffling and feeling miserable in general. Are you one of the many who are part of this web?  I say web because it can be something we can get caught up in, the collective unconscious, so to speak. “It is just something that happens this time of year. There is nothing I can do about it.” I beg to challenge this assumption.

For many years when in my twenties, I used to get a bad cold/flu around the Holidays. I thought it was just because I was around a lot of people in close quarters.  I commented to a Course in Miracles friend that “I always get sick after the Holidays”.  He said “You know, it doesn’t have to be that way” and from then on my Holiday colds ended. Mind over matter, that can apply to allergies, too.  I used to be very allergic to cats. I could be in someone’s home who had cats that I didn’t even know about, and within 15 minutes I couldn’t breathe and was sneezing uncontrollably.  During a Shamanic journey, I  acquired a female cougar as a power animal. After befriending her and coming to peace with her and my power, I no longer was allergic to cats. Interesting body/mind /spirit connections!

And so, at this time of year, I find myself sneezing and sniffling and feeling miserable in general. As I become more conscious of when the sneezing attacks occur, I find they are connected to stressful situations, as when I receive an e-mail from someone about a controversial situation or am writing down a stressful dream I just had or when reading the morning newspaper. Interesting connections, again!

I also find when dealing with clients that the more stressed they are in general, the worse their allergies symptoms. This has to do with the adrenals (stress regulators) and the immune system.  Stressed adrenals weaken the immune system making them more sensitive to their environment, physical and emotional. Are these clients getting enough sleep, taking enough “down” time, eating well, being conscious of their negative emotions and relationships? All of these can weaken the body’s normal stress regulators. Eating well and avoiding sweets, fatty foods and too much caffeine or alcohol can be helpful. Taking vitamin and herbal supplements, such as Vitamin C and bioflavinoids,  multiple Bs,  essential fatty acids ( fish oils) ,  kelp and various adrenal supplements in the form of herbs (ashwaganda, ginseng, licorice, eleuthero or rehmannia), glandulars or homeopathics. Taking time daily to de-stress through such activities as walking, meditating, yoga or deep breathing and keeping the nervous system working properly through regular Chiropractic care are all essential to maintaining good health. Being mindful, in general, is what it is all about – taking time to notice what we are feeling, doing, thinking and how it is affecting us.

Other methods that can be helpful deal with connecting to the spirit realms. If juniper pollen is what you are sensitive to, connecting to the spirit of the juniper plant to find out what its gift is or what message it is trying to get across.  One can also connect with the immune system to see if there is a better way it can deal with the pollens in the air that is not so incapacitating.

On the Mind/Body/ Spirit level many things come into play that affect our general well being and all need to be considered to maintain optimal functioning. Sometimes, we can do it alone. Sometimes, we need the assistance of other health care practitioners. Whatever you choose, being mindful of what is going on in your life and in your body is the first step.  The next step is up to you. It doesn’t have to be allergy season , after all.

In my work with body/mind/spirit integration, I have found that these are times when old issues, aches and pains are presenting themselves for resolution and release.  Some people are finding that the pain of old injuries, physical and emotional, have returned for no apparent reason. I believe they are showing up to help us release what no longer serves us and promote our evolution. If this is happening to you, my suggestion is to acknowledge their presence, look for the gift or message they may have, be grateful for the role they have played in your life, and move on. Often people need assistance for this process and reaching out to friends or various health practitioners may be appropriate.  On the physical level, I have found that realigning the spine and balancing the CranioSacral system to maintain proper physical support and balance, while emotional issues are being dealt with, will enhance the healing process. Nutritional supplementation and dietary changes can also help in supporting overstressed adrenals, under-active thyroid, imbalanced hormonal systems or an under-functioning liver. Spiritual guidance and support can also be helpful in reaching a place of compassion and forgiveness for ourselves and others.

I believe that, as we do our own internal work towards healing, this energy or grace will be manifested in the external world. As we find compassion and forgiveness for ourselves, we can forgive and find compassion for others.  As we find peace and tranquility inside, we will manifest these qualities outside. As we demand truth from ourselves, truth will be forthcoming from others.

The natural world also has wonderful ways of helping humanity in their healing process.  Huge deposits of snow can be great ways to slow us down and give us time to reconsider our situations and spend time with ourselves and family members. Earthquakes can awaken global consciousness and open our hearts to help others we don’t even know. Melting glaciers, eroding coastlines, polluted air, mudslides and wildfires can make us aware of the negative impact our daily activities have on the local and global environment. Seemingly negative events can be full of blessings.

If we want to heal the world, I believe we must start at home, with ourselves.  Physical  and emotional pain is a sign that something isn’t right.   Let’s look inside for the resolutions, take appropriate action and bring our self-healing to the outside world.

Cold symptoms are one of the body’s ways of letting you know that it needs rest, time-out and better care. It is also a way to give you some down-time to process all the emotional “stuff” that has emerged from the many encounters with friends and family, not to mention all the energy shifts that are occurring on the planet at the moment. This down-time also gives you the space to contemplate the previous year and consider changes for the new one. So, heed the body’s warning signals and take this time to take care of yourself physically and emotionally. If you don’t pay attention, the body has ways of increasing the warning signs until you absolutely can’t ignore them and are too sick to think of any of the above.

Enjoy your time off!  It can be more productive than you could have possibly imagined.

(1)    Eat Well – Avoid  sweets, caffeine, fatty foods  and alcohol as much as possible.  When at a party, eat small portions and avoid going back for seconds. Try to keep  the offending foods out of the house or , at least, out of sight. Munch on fresh fruits and vegetables or freshly popped , low fat popcorn. Herbal holiday teas or sparkling juices are good substitutes for high calorie drinks.

(2)    Rest – Taking a 20 minute” power nap” in the middle of the afternoon can definitely charge up your batteries and give you a better outlook for the rest of the day. If you can’t nap, at least take frequent breathing breaks, 2–5 minutes of deep, slow conscious breathing. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep per night is also essential. If insomnia is plaguing you, try taking a hot bath before bed or drinking a warm glass of milk.  Avoid violent or disturbing television before bedtime and listen to soothing music to help you drift off to pleasant dreams. Various herbs, nutrients and homeopathics are also available to help you get a good nights sleep. Ask your health care practitioner for more information on what might work for you.

(3)    Attitude – Make priority lists for your day or week to keep perspective as to what is really important to get done. Include “down” time for yourself and quality time with friends and loved ones. Notice how much you are re-acting to what is going on around you and how much of your actions are conscious choice. Is getting angry at that person who just cut you off  helping the situation any, or would some deep breathing and pleasant thoughts make for a better day?

(4)    Loving Actions – Make a conscious effort to do at least one kind, loving thing for a stranger or someone you know every day. It is amazing how quickly acts of kindness can spread . After all, Peace must begin within each one of us before it can spread to the rest of the world.

(5)    Play – Above all else, bring play into your day. If this is all an Illusion anyway, you might as well make it a Fun one.

Wishing you all a Happy, Fun-filled, Loving Holiday season,

Christine Baranowski D.C.

Is that illness or pain you are experiencing a result of environmental or physical circumstances, or a way for you to avoid something else going on in your life? It is not uncommon for those “people who can’t say NO” types to develop physical symptoms that give them a “legitimate” reason to say NO without too much guilt. There is also that proverbial “I have a headache, dear” or “ I have a bellyache, mom, so I can’t…..”.

It is not to say that these aches and pains are not real , but becoming conscious about what is really going on can give us the opportunity to find better and less painful ways to deal with the underlying issues. Just saying “NO” to someone’s request for help and trusting that they will be taken care of,  just not by you this time, can be a very loving way to take care of yourself. Understanding that the headache or bellyache may get you out of an unpleasant task or duty for now, but not really take care of the situation in the long run, can be the impetus for speaking what is truly on your mind and finding a better solution to the underlying problem.

Consciousness, paying attention to what is really going on in our lives, is the first step to wellbeing. It allows us to take care of ourselves so that we are better able to be there for others. Try it. You’ll like it!

Digestion is the body’s way of assimilating nutrients from ingested food to synthesize  tissue and produce energy to sustain life. On the body level, any blockage to the numerous pathways involved in this process can compromise health and wellbeing. Such compromise can originate in the food we eat if it is not of optimum quality or quantity. It can result from having sub-optimal digestive enzymes, an irritated or diseased gut lining( ie Crohn’s disease, leaky gut syndrome,  an ulcer), or food  allergies or sensitivities. On the mind level, compromise can result from stress ( ie irritable bowel syndrome, hyperacidity). On the spirit level, it can be related to our inability or resistance to assimilating spiritual sustenance from our surroundings or relationships.

The first priority may be to look at the circumstances that precede digestive problems. Is it related to the food we have eaten, the time of day, the circumstances under which we have eaten? Were we stressed at the time? Were we rushed?  Does it happen whenever we eat pizza, chili, bread or dairy products? Does it happen every time we eat or only under certain circumstances? Perhaps, family gatherings or work situations. Finding out what circumstances bring on the digestive disorders and correcting them, if possible, on your own is the first step in the healing process. If this doesn’t help, getting professional assistance is in order.  Various lab tests, dietary changes and other investigative procedures can be of great help in uncovering the cause of the problem.  Perhaps psychological counseling, massage therapy or various relaxation techniques may be helpful. Even Chiropractic adjustments can facilitate reducing stress on the nervous system and restoring proper digestion.

Looking at the whole Body/Mind/Spirit paradigm is essential to any healing process and  the promotion of well-being.  Our physical states affect our feelings. Our feelings cause  the release of various neurochemicals that affect our physical functioning.  And, our mental outlook  affects our feelings, which affect our bodies, which affect our mental outlook. It is all connected.  A digestive disorder may be fixed by simply avoiding a particular food group, or eating under relaxed circumstances. Or, they may require medical assistance. Look at all the possibilities.