19/07/2010 ~ Consciousness Of One ~

"How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

~ William Shakespeare

Welcome to my first “post-dinners” newsletter :)


Yip for those of you who have not being paying attention… the dinners are sadly no longer as I am moving away. I will still however be coming in to Cape Town to do Healing Workshops, my Earth Healing Work as well as for individual energy healing consultation (now that I am mobile I can come to you).


My newsletter will be released every second week from now onwards instead of every week and I have decided a name change is in order and so the newsletter, hence force will be called…


~ Consciousness of One ~

As in “We are all One energy… and our consciousness is united by One love… co-creating a new reality.”

Within these pages I hope to inspire you to fulfill your highest potential… to walk each moment in awareness… to be conscious of the light you shine. To nurture and love yourself more. To be aware that happiness… love… and joy are but choices… that being in the present is a conscious shift ~ moving away from the mental clutter… the thoughts.


Namaste

Tracy xxx

“The heart is the only constant and sure beam to follow ones cosmic door of understanding.” ~ Mentor, Agartha

~ The Mayan Calendar ~ Tracking the Evolution of Consciousness ~

For something like 16 billion years a process has been unfolding. That process is the Evolution of Consciousness. Consciousness can be defined as “the experience of being”, which suggests that the purpose of consciousness is to experience itself.


From the earliest moments of the Universe in what we currently call the Big Bang, the Universe has evolved ever greater levels of complexity from energy to matter, from matter to life, from life to awareness, and from awareness to self-awareness. Each step into complexity, or novelty, happens quicker than all previous steps.


One could say that the universe is a novelty conserving engine. This is a universe predicated on an evolving consciousness, a continuing expansion of the experience of being. Who we really are is the universe experiencing itself being. We now have an unambiguous and scientifically verifiable timeline of the Evolution of Consciousness, which we can all understand. It is verifiable by empirical and historical data, which anyone with good encyclopaedia access can understand and prove to him or herself.

This timeline has been decoded from one of the ancient calendars of the Maya by Dr. Carl J. Calleman. Unlike other calendars, this one does not time astronomical bodies. It is purely a calendar, a timeline, of the Evolution of Consciousness.

The calendar comprises nine discreet cycles of creation, nested within each other, all ending on a particular date. That date, believed by Calleman to be October 28, 2011, as opposed to the more well-known date of December 21, 2012, is when this phase of conscious evolution ends and a transformation in consciousness takes place. We cannot know exactly what we will each experience, what will take place or how, but we do now know the general timescale.


With the decoding of this calendar and its verification by scientific and experiential observation, we can at last place ourselves accurately within it. We are only a few years away from the re-birthing of humanity, in a way that seems utterly unimaginable to most people now. Many people are feeling the quickening pace of life, as our culture goes through rapid and accelerated change. We are experiencing exponential growth in many areas of shared consciousness, and this cannot, and will not, slow down.


And now, the good news … Consciousness did not spend 16 billion years evolving to this point just to slip up and annihilate itself with a cataclysm or catastrophe. Everything’s on track. Nothing’s wrong. We are on course for a spectacular collective transformation and Earth will wake up with a Planetary Consciousness that heals all ills and goes on to a whole new cycle of conscious evolution.


So what can each of us do, personally, to consciously participate in this magnificent adventure, as we ascend through the birth canal of individual and collective transformation? We are indeed entering the Apocalypse, but it’s not the Apocalypse we thought it might be. According to Wikipedia, Apocalypse, which derives from the Greek for “transit” and “lifting of the veil,” is a term applied to the disclosure of certain privileged persons of something hidden from the mass of humankind.


We are going through a process of “unveiling,” “revealing,” or “Revelation.” This simply means that the truth will emerge. We will all have to reveal ourselves and become ever more truthful, honest, and visible. The truth behind our politics, economics, social structures, religions and, most scarily of all, personal relationships, which are riddled with secrets and lies, will be revealed in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.


This process is unstoppable, but how we experience it will depend on how truthful, honest and visible we are. This may be a frightening process for some, and we therefore need to strengthen our communal ties with each other so we can support and be supported. We can enjoy this transformation as long as we keep our eyes, minds and hearts wide open.


Our greatest enemy is fear. The less we fear, the more naturally truthful we are, the more naturally joyous we are, and the more naturally loving we are. What’s crazy is we fear each other so much. Six billion magnificent Beings scared of each other’s judgement and barely communicating. Our fear of judgment and rejection cripples our self-expression and is based on the greatest fallacy of all—that we are separate from each other.


Our next greatest fear is based on another fundamental fallacy—that there is not enough of what humans need to make us happy. What’s worse is that we believe the next greatest fallacy—that we have to compete with each other for what there is not enough of. Earth is the Garden of Eden. This amazing planet can provide enough resources many times over for every man, woman and child to live a happy life if man works in harmony with nature. Almost every fear can be eliminated from our lives by simply enlarging our collective understanding of who we really are.


This is where we are heading, towards the end of “separation consciousness.” By the end of this evolutionary cycle, humans will be naked before each other with nothing to hide and nothing to fear. We will love each other without any kind of condition, without any fear of loss. Indeed, we will have no fear of lack of any kind, because in our unity we will share all our resources equally. This would be humanity reborn in fine fashion, but that’s barely the start of it. We can draw many astonishing conclusions about the Transformation of Consciousness through a new, larger understanding of the nature of consciousness.


So start now to dismantle your own Berlin Walls. Know your truth. Live it and speak it with your utmost compassion, and never judge another for living his or her truth. Let’s free ourselves from the shackles and chains of fear and make the Awakening of Humanity a glorious experience for all.


Copyright © 2008 by Anthony Goodman. All Rights Reserved.

“Grace fills empty spaces, but it can only enter where there is a void to receive it, and it is grace itself which makes this void.” ~ Simon Weil

~ Embracing the Unity Consciousness ~

This past weekend people from all over the world prayed, meditated and joined together to co-create the template for a unity consciousness ~ as part of the global initiative called the ‘Conscious Convergence’.

Once humanity develops Unity Consciousness we will know that there is no such thing as "us and them." We will remember that all Life is interconnected, interdependent, and interrelated. What this means very practically in our lives is that every single thought, word, feeling, or action we express effects every facet of Life on this planet. Just think, with every thought, word, feeling, or action we are either adding to the Light of the world or to the shadows. Moment by moment, we are either positively or negatively affecting every person, place, condition, or thing on Earth.

"The Conscious Convergence is a global collaborative of individuals and organizations whose purpose is to set the intention for, and to demonstrate the fulfilment of, Unity Consciousness, both individually and within communities around the world. All wisdom and faith traditions are invited to join and help express how we, as an evolving species, can transcend age-old boundaries and ideologies to fulfil a greater destiny than our history may imply.

"This Global collaborative prepares us for the evolution of consciousness as indicated by the Mayan Calendar. Mayan elders invite us to align with the Divine Plan for Humanity's greater fulfilment, to recognize that 'we are One like the fingers of one hand' ~ Grand Elder Don Alejandro.

Read more about it on Callerman’s website or join the Facebook group:

http://www.calleman.com/content/articles/ninth_wave.htm
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=351010346085

 

~ The recreation of the Global Tree of Life in the Conscious Convergence ~

Ancient traditions of our planet almost universally looked upon the four geographical directions as Sacred. The origin of this sacredness of the directions is that they since the beginning of time have played a role in the ongoing creation of our planet and its evolution of consciousness.

Naturally then, many peoples all over the world have performed ceremonies to honour these four directions. The four directions were thought to be associated with different spiritual qualities and so were often each symbolized by a guardian angel as described for instance in the Book of Revelation.

From many traditions, such as the Mayan, it is also clear that the four (and sometimes six, if “above” and “below” is included) directions emanate from the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is the most widespread of all ancient myths, and it was seen as the center of the four directions. Examples of how the energies of the four directions were organized around a center we may find in the Medicine Wheels in the West or the Mandalas of the East.

In the modern era the knowledge about the Tree of Life and the Four Sacred Directions has essentially disappeared and been replaced by a purely quantitative GPS system. While modern people typically acknowledge for instance cultural difference between the East and the West it is rare that they would see those as related to the Tree of Life. The result has been that many have become insensitive to the shifting energies of time and how these affect the evolution of humanity. Only some indigenous cultures have retained the tradition of the spiritual qualities of the four directions. Yet, in the Book of Revelation it is described how the new world emerging at the end of time will at its center have a Tree of Life that will nurture the inhabitants of this all year around. Maybe we are now in fact now beginning to see a return of this Tree of Life also in popular culture such as for instance in the movie Avatar.

What then is the Tree of Life? It is hard to believe that a phenomenon that has been worshipped all over the world by almost all traditions would not be more than a myth or a symbol. It would seem that there has to be a reality behind it. This, I believe is an etheric three-dimensional scaffold from which all the energies that create the universe emanate. Yet, there is not just one Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is more like a nested hierarchy of holograms, and exists at several different connected levels of the universe that are in resonance with one another ultimately according to the principle As above-So below.

The highest level is the cosmos, referred to as the Heart of the Heavens by the Maya, the second, lower, level is the galaxy, the third is the solar system, the fourth the Earth, the fifth the human beings (and all other organisms) themselves and then down to the level of the elementary particles. Each of these levels has a central axis, a Tree of Life, which is at the center of all of its energy grid systems (branches). On the level of our Earth, the Tree of Life is the Polar Axis* and since we ourselves are affected by the energies of the Mayan calendar through our resonance with the polarities that the Tree of Life generates it is now crucial to prepare for the onset of the ninth wave. To be able to do so I however believe that it will help if we are able to ceremonially recreate the Tree of Life after centuries of oblivion.

Our planet and its human cultures have thus emerged through the effects of the polarities of energies originating from the Tree of Life. The same can be said about the imbalance between male and female that has dominated for about 5000 years and it is not an accident that in the Judaeo-Christian creation story of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and the ensuing separation of the genders, the Tree of Life plays a crucial role. According to the Mayan calendar, which is based on the shifting polarities of the Tree of Life, we know however that these imbalances are now being rebalanced and will ultimately result in unity consciousness if our resonance with the Tree of Life is strong enough. These polarities are introduced along different perpendicular planes. One such plane is equatorial and separates the northern and southern hemispheres, another goes through Berlin, Rome and Cape Town and separates the western and eastern hemispheres of the planet and a third plane goes through Washington, DC and separates the front (Pacific) from the back (Europe/Africa) hemisphere of the planet. Through the influence of the Yin/Yang-polarities emanating from the Tree of Life the planet has thus evolved into a global brain, where the western hemisphere corresponds to the left brain half and the eastern to the right brain half.

Ideally, to recreate the Tree of Life of the planet we would thus like some people to have gathered to perform ceremonies at both the north and south poles, but since this does not seem practicable the North and South will be represented by gatherings in Scandinavia and South Africa, respectively. To recreate the global Tree of Life these gatherings will be complemented with gatherings on the equatorial plane in the West in Guatemala and in Singapore/Bali in the East. In each of these directions representatives of cultural traditions to whom the sacredness of the four directions have remained a living reality will be participating (Sami in the North, Chinese/ Hindu in the East, Bushmen in the South and Maya in the West).

Although the details will have to be developed locally it is recommended that part of the ceremony is about recreating the global Tree of Life and strengthening the relationship of the participants with this creative source. A second part may be about unifying the energies and peoples of the four directions. The Conscious Convergence is like setting up a base camp for the climb to the ninth wave and part of what you do in a base camp is to make sure that you are prepared. This is true also four the ceremony of the Sacred Directions.

As the Ninth wave of the Mayan calendar will be activated on March 9, 2011 a new frequency of vibration and a new polarity of consciousness emanating from the Tree of Life will be introduced, which we need to be prepared for.
 

The Conscious Convergence is meant for those wanting to be co-creators with the divine plan and so the days July 17-18 is nothing but a start point of a path directed towards unity consciousness and for this the recreation of our planetary Tree of Life plays a vital role (www.theconsciousconvergence.com).

Carl Johan Calleman

Seattle, July 5th (1 Ahau)

*Note that I am here talking about polarity shifts in consciousness. This has nothing to do with the many unfounded speculations about a shift in the position of the polar axis or a geomagnetic pole shift in 2012. For a scientist’s view on these type of speculations see for instance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHGaZMC8E0U. In fact, the only understanding of the Mayan calendar that no scientist can reject is that it is based on the evolution of consciousness

“Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.” ~ Richard Bach, Illusions

“For it is the only finite that has wrought and suffered; the infinite lies stretched in smiling repose.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

~ Veg Inspiration ~ Macrobiotic Perspective ~

There is the macrobiotic perspective that animal foods are extremely yang in their energetic impact on the body, contracting the energy field, and that the body will then naturally and inevitably crave foods and substances that are extremely yin and expansive. These extreme yin foods are alcohol, white sugar, drugs of most every kind, tobacco, and caffeine. Grains, legumes, and vegetables tend to be neither excessively yin nor yang, but are more balanced, and so create few cravings. Eating extreme foods forces the body to gyrate continuously between the two poles, alternatively craving contracting foods like meat, cheese, eggs, and salt, and then expansive substances like sweets, coffee, alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, ad nauseam.

~ Restaurant sushi tuna loaded with mercury ~~ Herb or Medicinal Plant of the Week ~

(NaturalNews) A new study on sushi has found that higher-end, restaurant-grade tuna sushi often has higher mercury levels than the cheaper tuna sushi found at local supermarkets. Researchers evaluated the DNA of various tuna species and came to the conclusion that varieties like blue fin akami and big eye tuna that typically have firmer flesh and are more visually appealing, are generally higher in mercury than other less expensive varieties.

According to the research, which appeared recently in the journal Biology Letters, the reason why higher-grade tuna often has higher mercury levels than other grades is because mercury tends to build up in muscle rather than in fat. This is why species like the blue fin toro, which is a fatty variety of tuna, typically has lower levels of mercury than bluefin akami and bigeye tuna, which are leaner varieties.

Mercury Poisoning case reports have described harmful nervous system effects... "The most prominent symptoms include tremors (initially affecting the hands and sometimes spreading to other parts of the body), emotional instability (including irritability, excessive shyness, a loss of confidence and nervousness), sleeplessness, memory loss, muscle weakness, headaches, slow reflexes and a loss of feeling or numbness”

Mercury poisoning is not just from eating fish or other sea food... we can be poisoned by the Mercury fillings in our teeth and it is also used extensively in crop sprays (pesticides, fungicides, etc) ~ so unless you are eating organic foods you are at risk.

“Inside every human is a God in embryo. It has only one desire — it wants to be born.”

~ Kahlil Gibran

~ Angelic Message ~

So much of our time is taken up by worrying about ourselves ~ our safety, finances, health, family, friends, work, even our spirituality… when next you feel yourself thinking about yourself in this way ~ switch your focus to how you can be of service to someone less fortunate then yourself ~ focussing on others takes you out of that negative space and reminds you of how blessed you are when compared to so many others.

“Mind is repetitive, mind always moves in circles. Mind is a mechanism: you feed it with knowledge, it repeats the same knowledge, it goes on chewing the same knowledge again and again. No-mind is clarity, purity, innocence. No-mind is the real way to live, the real way to know, the real way to be.” ~ Osho

~ Herb or Medicinal Plant: St John's Wort ~

Common names: St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Origin: Eurasia ~ now plentiful throughout the world

A perennial herb that grows one-three feet tall in uncultivated areas. Flowers appear midsummer.

This wonderful herb is best known for calming anxiety and banishing depression. It truly chases away negative spirits, thoughts and feelings. It is said you must pick St John’s Wort with your left hand after asking the plant for permission. It is most powerful if picked on a summer evening.

For protection and to attract abundance, plant a St John’s Wort bush near your front door. If you are looking to deepen your spiritual connection, soak the dried leaves in olive oil and then put the mixture in a bottle. Place the bottle outside where the moonlight can shine on it. Leave it there for a month. You can then use the oil to anoint yourself and others. Apart from emotional respite this herb is marvellous for the skin… so use the oil liberally on your skin. It is also used to treat bladder problems. Given as a tea before bedtime, it will help children who are struggling with wetting the bed at night. It will also help relieve chronic lung congestion and clear up urinary tract infections.

Plant wisdom: Deepens connection to your instinctual nature. Repels negativity.

“Choose Life! Only that and always! At whatever risk, to let life leak out, to let it wear away by the mere passage of time, to withhold giving and spending it… is to choose nothing.” ~ Sister Helen Kelley

Picture: Richard Arran

~ Underground caves discovered beneath the Pyramids ~

What is going on beneath the Giza plateau in Egypt? News has been coming out of underground cave systems that have been uncovered. There have also been rumours and stories about the secret archaeological excavations taking place in the vicinity of the Sphinx. Objects are rumoured to have been taken out and a lot of speculation is going around on the web about this. So what is the truth? What is the story on this? We are going to begin to talk about the discovery of Giza's cave system, Egypt's "duat", the real underworld that exists underneath the pyramids.

Andrew Collins is with us, the man who in modern times has re-discovered these. We hear the story of how he found the entrance to this natural cave system at the "tomb of the birds", located at the plateau's north cliff. Where does the story begin? Who discovered them first?

How has Zahi Hawass of the Supreme Council of Antiquities dealt with this story? This is an explosive discovery that could rewrite the whole story of Egypt and how their underworld myths came about. Topics Discussed: Hall of Records, Henry Salt, Caviglia, Tombs, Sokar, Rostau, Edgar Cayce, Caves and Pyramids Under the Pyramids, Lion, Entrance, Mouth of the Passages, Giza, Nuit, Hathor, Duat, Tomb, Crystal, Diamond, Subterranean Chamber, The Edfu Texts, Myth of the Primordial Mound, The First Temple, Duat n Ba, Underworld of the Soul, "Bnnt" Antediluvian world, 11000 BC, Dogon, Southern Hill, Well, Memphis, and more. Don't miss hour two for more on the "secret excavation" rumours.

Listen to the 1 hour interview ~ go to: http://www.redicecreations.com/radio/2010/07jul/RIR-100704.php

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” ~ Epicurus 341 BC – 270 BC and ancient Greek Philosopher

~ Acceptance by Regina Hill ~

Acceptance means that you can find the serenity within to let go of the past with its mistakes and regrets, move into the future with a new perspective, and appreciate the opportunity to take a second chance.

Acceptance means that when difficult times come into your life, you'll find security again and comfort to relieve any pain.

You'll find new dreams, fresh hopes, and forgiveness of the heart.

Acceptance does not mean that you will always be perfect.

It simply means that you'll always overcome imperfection.

Acceptance is the road to peace -letting go of the worst, holding on to the best, and finding the hope inside that continues throughout life.

Acceptance is the heart's best defence, love’s greatest asset, and the easiest way to keep believing in yourself and others.

“Nothing wastes more energy than worrying. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.”

~ Douglas Pagel

~ Healing ~

Healing is... releasing from the past. It is retraining my mind so as not to see the shadow of the past on anyone. It is learning not to make interpretations of people's behaviour or motives. It is letting go the desire to want to change another person. It is letting go of expectations, assumptions, and the desire to control or manipulate another person...

Healing is knowing that forgiveness is the key to happiness and offers me everything that I want.

Healing is knowing that the only reality in the universe is love, and that love is the most important healer known to the world.

To heal is to trust in a creative force that is loving and forgiving… and to know in our hearts that there is no separation and we are all joined in love with God and each other. It means that all hearts and minds are joined as one...

Healing is letting go of the fearful, needy child so many of us carry inside, and awakening to the innocent child who has always been within us.

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky." ~ Siddhartha Gautama

 

~ How to make my ‘Dinners with Love’ ~
~ Mousaka ~

I generally cook by using all my creativity and senses ~ putting in a bit of this and a bit of that until things smell and taste divine… so bear with me while I transfer this into a somewhat rational process. Please make sure your ingredients are organic where possible… home grown would be even better. When you work with each ingredient thank the plant or animal that it came from… send them your love… and bless the food as well as the plant or animal. This simple ritual makes think about the origin of what you are eating… and it makes the food taste great… it really is the secret ingredient ;)

Start with a few large aubergines (egg plant) ~ the amount depends really on the size of the dish you are using ~ gage how many you will need for about 3 layers (bottom, middle and top).

Then slice them into roughly 1 cm thick slices. Now fry the slices in olive oil ~ medium heat ~ slow cooking so they don’t burn… but you want them really cooked through and very soft ~ this takes a long time and you will find that you tend to use quite a bit of oil. Once they are cooked allow them to drain on a paper towel to one side until you need them.

While doing the aubergines you can cook the lentils in vegetable stock until tender… again it depends on the size of the dish you will be using (roughly 300 grams uncooked for the sauce quantity below ~ so increase accordingly if necessary). Drain.

Make up a tomato based sauce by chopping up about 8 large fresh Roma tomatoes that have been skinned (dip them in boiling water for about 5 minutes and the skin will come off very easily). To the tomatoes add a generous dash of olive oil… lots of fresh oregano and marjoram ~ I have these herbs growing in my garden and use about 6 to 8 large sprigs of each – using only the tender leaves not the stalks. Also add about 6 cloves of garlic… crushed with the side of a knife to remove skin and then chopped finely. Add salt and pepper and a little freshly grated nutmeg… not too much (use the whole nutmeg so it is very fresh you can buy it whole at some spice shops).

Simmer this mixture for a bit until it gets a little thicker and the tomato has broken up quite a bit. At this point you need to taste it to assess if it needs anything… add salt… a dash of cayenne pepper… more garlic or herbs if necessary. It may even need a boost of tomato flavour in which case you may add a little tomato paste or puree.

Then add the lentils and mix well. Then start to layer the dish with a layer of the cooked aubergine then a layer of tomato lentil mixture… same again… finish with the final layer of aubergines.

Over this pour a white sauce (I put all the ingredients in a pot ~ about half a litre of milk, about 50g of butter, and 2 tablespoons of mazena ~ then bring it to the boil stirring continuously until thick). Pour this over the top of the dish making sure it gets down the sides and into all the nooks and crannies… and finally sprinkle some cheddar cheese over the top.

Bake for at least an hour… at about 180 degrees… it must be golden brown on top and all the juices must have merged bubbling up on the sides. Allow it to cool a little and serve warm with a nice salad. It goes really well with red wine.

“We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy or our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” ~ E.E. Cummings

Past "Medicinal Plants of the Week" - Part 1

COMFREY

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) ~ this is a must in every garden as it is a wonderful healer of plants, animals and people. It has a very high vitamin and mineral content and helps to break down organic matter making it a god send in the compost heap. Comfrey is a great companion to all plants.


Chicken are the most avid plant grazers and will happily devour a comfrey plant entirely if it is not well protected with chicken wire ~ allow a few leaves to peek through so that the chickens can have a little treat now and then without destroying the plant. If they are laying lots of eggs they will be thankful for the extra dose of calcium and minerals that comfrey supplies in abundance.


This ancient plant was originally called “knitbone” or “boneset” and is brilliant for mending bones ~ applied externally to the wounded areas. It also soothes wounds, chest ailments and arthritis. It is a wonderful skin healer. Doctors suggest that excessive internal consumption be avoided however many people have used comfrey leaf infusion regularly with no liver problems, ditto for the group of people at the Henry Doubleday Research Foundation who have eaten cooked comfrey leaves as a vegetable for four generations… but I suppose, as with everything, practicing moderation is best.
Likes full sun or light shade in very hot areas. Loves water and will grow bigger accordingly. It dies down in winter. Can be propagated from a good size piece of root.

"Don't lose your own Peace trying to make others peaceful. Let those who answer, answer... Let it be!" ~ Maharishi

GARLIC

 
Garlic (variety Giant) (Allium sativum gigantium) ~ is so much a part of our diet we no longer give it much thought anymore but it is actually one of the most healing plants. It’s easy to grow in any garden or even in a container. Home-grown garlic is so much more potent! A dressing of dolomite helps the bulbs to swell… bending the tops (like onions) also helps with this. When the leaves dry off it is time to harvest. Chemical fertilisers or sprays affect the plants medicinal qualities so they should not be used at all in your garden! Plant near spinach and tomatoes ~ helps them to grow stronger.




It is fabulous to include in your pets diet: cooked in with their food for general well being ~ or for dogs give 2 teaspoons of chopped garlic twice a week to help keep tics and fleas away.


It is a natural insecticide so very beneficial to have in your organic garden. It’s also a natural fungicide and helps to clear ailments like ringworm, athlete’s foot, acne, etc. It is great for building the immune system. It contains more than 100 biologically useful active principles. Garlic plays an important role in reducing the 'bad' cholesterol and blood pressure that’s how decreases the risk of heart attacks. It helps to thin the blood, which reduces for formation of blood clots (be careful if you are taking blood thinning medication ~ rather consult your doctor first).
Due to its anti-carcinogenic properties, it prevents cancer & inhibits the growth of tumors. In fact, tumors that have already formed can be reduced by 50 to 70 percent by increasing garlic intake.


How to take it: Crush or Mash 2-3 small cloves of garlic and eat it raw or boiled, before going to sleep. You could have it with a glass of milk or with water. If its smell bothers you, avoid taking garlic in the daytime… or eat it with parsley ~ parsley removes the after effects of the eating garlic.

"Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation of our lives." 

LAVENDER

Lavender (Lavandula species) ~ Lavender is a wonderful and very popular plant. It can be found in most gardens these days and is probably best know for its essential oils and its wonderful fragrance. It is easy to grow. Likes full sun and well composted soil initially (loves coffee grinds too) and needs to be cut back by a quarter at the end of summer to ensure abundant growth the following year.

Most insects don’t like lavender so it is a wonderful and gentle pest control. Great to use in your linen closet (the dried flowers in muslin bags).

Its fabulous flavour is now being enjoyed in cooking ~ many of you enjoyed my Lavender shortbread over Xmas.

Medicinally it relieves pain and calms anxiety and stress. It has antispasmodic, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties.

Try this fabulous Lavender bath…

It will refresh and cleanse you. Light a lavender scented candle. Blend (in a muslin bag) a teaspoon each of: lavender flowers, chamomile flowers, and dried crushed rosemary. Hang the sachet under the faucet, and draw your bath water, allowing it to pour down through the herbs. Add a half cup of lemon juice to the bath and a handful of Epsom salts.

When you settle into the tub, lean back, relax, and take three deep breaths. Close your eyes and focus on the excess tension and stress in your body. Feel the herbs and lemon draw it out of your muscles and mind. Thoroughly clean your tub when you are done to remove any residue of negative energy from the bath water.

Using lavender oil in your bath will help with stiff and aching muscles and will ease tension.

A tea made from fresh lavender flowers (1/4 cup of flowers to 1 cup boiling water) will ease general aches and pains… sore throat. It is also wonderfully calming.

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." –Gandhi

BARLEY

Barley (Hordeum distichon) ~ This annual grass is grown in winter (in temperate regions). It is an ancient, revered grain but was replaced by wheat in the middle ages. Known and marketed as green barley grass in most health shops. It is rich in protein, B vitamins and minerals, barley is a hugely important health grain. Young and tender leaves can be finely chopped into food as an energy booster. The highest nutrition and energy value is in the sprouted seed.

 

In Neolithic times the grain was cooked, crushed and pounded into a nutritious milk that built strong bones ~ barley is now recognized to be important for osteoporosis due to its high calcium and potassium content. A glass of barley water 3 times a week is a superb detoxifier and will restore hair and nails as well as clear a multitude of ailments (stomach ailments, sore throats, catarrh, kidney and bladder infections, diarrhea, hepatitis, high blood cholesterol, children’s fevers, cramp, diabetes, for babies to prevent the development of milk curds in the stomach and colic, and for convalescence).

 

A bundle of dry barley tossed into a pond will keep the water clear and free of algae. A bale thrown into a dam will significantly clear murky water and it is safe for fish and animals to drink (totally safe for the environment).

To Sprout: soak seeds for a couple of hours and serve when soft.

To grow the grass: soak and then place on moist cotton wool (for them to root in) ~ keep moist and clip grass when it appears.

Plant in autumn: in rich composted soil in full sun. Can also be grown in deep pots.

Companions: Beetroot, cabbages, chamomile

BUCKWHEAT

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) ~ This is an Heirloom crop. Quick growing annual but it will grow all year round in temperate climates like ours (sow seeds all year round). An ancient, revered food, brought to Europe from Asia by the Crusaders, buckwheat has always been one of the world’s most important grains. The monks found it to be an excellent medicinal plant there are records that go back into the 14th century of its versatility in treating many ailments. Thresh the grain for chickens and add the stalks to the compost pile. This is THE crop for bee food. Honeybees just love buckwheat and it makes a highly sought after honey rarely found on the market anymore. You will notice that blossoms are more active in the morning when the plant produces more nectar. Butterflies love it to! It was used to feed livestock at one point. It makes a wonderful flour that is great for making wheat-free pancakes.

It is a wonderful green manure crop ~ full of minerals that break down easily into the soil.

It has a high rutin content, which gives it a powerful effect of the circulatory system… heart ailments, poor circulation, chilblains and varicose veins. It also helps people with diabetes process sugar better. To make a tea use ¼ cup of fresh leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Stand for 5 minutes, strain and sip slowly.

To grow: Sow seeds all year round (except June and July) in well composted soil and in full sun. Can also be grown in pots. It will help to loosen heavy clay soil. Add copious amounts to the compost heap (to enrich its mineral content).

Companions: Mealies, globe artichokes. It will stimulate the other plants growth so it’s good for root crops. Do not plant near winter wheat as it will retard its growth.

Plant wisdom: Buckwheat helps you to experience the magic that each moment contains.

Sprinkle seeds around your home for protection. Baking with Buckwheat flour brings good luck, love and prosperity to family and friends.

DANDELION

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) ~ Certainly not a weed! This beautiful plant is one of the most astonishing healing plants, the array of health benefits will take your breath away!

It has the ability with its high mineral content to build strong enamel on the teeth and strengthen the bones. All parts of the plant are effective and safe to use. The root is a mild laxative and a superb liver tonic (flushes out the system of all toxins). It is rich in vitamin A, B, C and D, carotenoids and minerals, especially potassium and calcium. This truly is one of the best detoxifying herbs!

Dandelion is a common plant worldwide. The plant grows to a height of about 12 inches, producing spatula-like leaves and yellow flowers that bloom year-round. Upon maturation, the flower turns into the characteristic puffball containing seeds that are dispersed in the wind. Dandelion is grown commercially in the United States and Europe. The leaves and root are used in herbal supplements.

Dandelion is one of the most complete plant foods on earth. It is the best natural supplement you can have and most of the time it goes un-noticed. The leaves are used in salads and teas, while the roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Dandelion leaves and roots have been used for hundreds of years to treat liver, gallbladder, kidney, and joint problems. In some traditions, dandelion is considered a blood purifier and is used for ailments as varied as eczema and cancer. As is the case today, dandelion has also been used historically to treat poor digestion, water retention, and diseases of the liver, including hepatitis.

Dandelion leaf and root should be used with caution by persons with gallstones. Persons with an obstruction of the bile ducts should avoid dandelion altogether. In cases of stomach ulcer or gastritis, dandelion should be used cautiously, as it may cause overproduction of stomach acid. Those experiencing fluid or water retention should consult a nutritionally oriented doctor before taking dandelion leaves. The milky latex in the stem and leaves of fresh dandelion may cause an allergic rash in some individuals.

Most animals will benefit from this plant and some wild or pasture fed ones seek it out at certain times of the year to help them boost their health (Tortoises, horses, Llamas, sheep, goats, mules, etc). Crumble the dried leaves over your pets food for a tonic booster, detoxifier and duretic.

To grow: It self seeds prolifically… thrives on neglect… but if nurtured it will grow well. This plant is a survivor! Add leaves to compost heap to give it a vitamin and mineral boost. Remember to always give back to the earth (if you are harvesting from the wild).

Companions: Dandelion has the ability to exhale an ethylene gas which causes nearby plants to mature and ripen quickly.

Plant wisdom: Dandelion reminds you of the abundance life holds. The seed head is a symbol of abundance… the small seeds are carriers and messengers ~ when you blow a dandelion head make sure you make a wish ~ visualise each of the seeds carrying your dreams to god :)

BUCHU

Buchu (Agathosma betulina) ~ also known as Barosma betulina or round-leaf buchu. This plant is a shrub of up to two metres in height and is indigenous to the mountains of the Western Cape (meaning that is the only place in the world where it grows naturally).

Buchu is part of the cultural heritage of the San and Khoi people… it was used to anoint the body (after mixing the powdered, dried leaves with sheep fat), probably both for cosmetic reasons as well as an antibiotic protection. For medicinal use, the leaves were chewed to relieve stomach complaints. These practices where taken over by early Dutch colonists and Buchu became a popular Cape Medicine (leaves steeped in brandy became a tincture known as Buchu brandy).

Buchu vinegar was highly regarded for a wound wash (can also be used as an infusion). It also has a great reputation for treating kidney and urinary tract diseases, for the symptomatic relief of rheumatism. Buchu is known to relieve indigestion, stomach complaints, nausea and even hangovers. In fact it is excellent for the entire digestive tract.

Most of the plants are still grown in South Africa where the government exercises strict control over the gathering of the leaves to prevent destruction of wild plants.

Plant wisdom: This plant brings us the feminine divine energies and is closely linked to the moon and the element of water. It teaches us about our psychic powers and brings about prophetic dreams.

MELISSA

Melissa / Lemon Balm / Sweet Balm (Melissa Officinalis) ~ Origin: Europe, Mediterranean, North Africa. Herbaceous Perennial that likes full sun or partial shade, well drained soil and moderate watering.

This is one of my favourite herbs and it should be grown in every garden, particularly if you have kids! This gentle herb has many virtues and has been used for over 2,000 years by healers. In the seventeenth century the Carmelite monks in Paris prepared an excellent ‘balm spirit’ that soon became famous for its long live properties as a tonic.

Many know Melissa for its use as a ‘tea’ (a few sprigs in hot water) to clam frayed nerves and a cup at bedtime will also help you to sleep - so it is in valuable to those who suffer from insomnia.

It is beneficial to the digestive tract; it strengthens the immune system; is recommended for pain relief and nervous system health and is considered a great stress reliever – treating panic attacks, restlessness, irritability, despair, fear, nervousness, etc.

Many women drink it for menstrual problems and cramps. Fresh leaves ban be crushed and gently rubbed onto bee stings – it is also mildly antiseptic and binds wounds. It treats colds, flu, fevers and muscular aches and pains. If drunk regularly it will also increase mental powers and aid concentration and is said to extend ones life span.

It treats high blood pressure and circulatory problems.

It is brilliant for babies with colic, those with growing aches and pains as well as excitable, hyperactive children and those who have difficulty in concentrating.

Plant wisdom: Melissa / Lemon Balm fills your heart with compassion. It attracts love… helps release judgments… and deepens your spiritual connection.

MILK THISTLE

Milk Thistle (Carduss marianus / Silybum marianum) ~ Origin: Europe. Easy to grow annual or biennial that likes full sun and rich, well composted, moist soil.

Milk thistle has been used in Europe as a treatment for liver ailments, lactation in nursing mothers and for melancholia… for literally thousands of years… but it is only recently that research has been done on it ~ and the findings are astonishing! I always marvel at how those old healers knew what plant to use. In many places this beautiful plant is considered an invasive weed.

Milk thistle contains ‘silymarin’, but not until the 1970s did German research discover this remarkable substance: silymarin protects the liver in a highly effective manner by preventing the entry of toxins through cell membranes, while maintaining its function to reject and prevent damage caused by compounds that are toxic to the liver. It helps wherever the liver is under stress from coal tar drugs like pain killers, aspirin, and codeine, from excess alcohol and incorrect eating, from chemotherapy and from infectious diseases.

The fresh flower heads are dried and used as a tea. The medicinal part is the ripe seeds within the flower head.

It is brilliant for a hangover cure. It is also a very helpful anti-poison… if poisonous mushrooms have been ingested milk thistle can be the taken immediately afterwards to counteract their effects. For cancer treatment milk thistle can help to limit the damage to the liver due to chemo and it can also help to speed up recovery.

This species is toxic to cattle and sheep but can be used effectively on dogs, cats, horses, goats, ferrets and rodents to aid in liver or kidney damage, hepatitis, jaundics, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.

Plant wisdom: Thistle makes you feel alive… it deepens your spiritual connection… helps with healing ~ attracting spiritual helpers and healers.

ELDER

Elder (Sambucus nigra) ~ Origin: Eurasia. A beautiful tree that is easily propagated from a cutting… it loves full sun and deep, well composted soil.

This stunning tree is like having a medicine chest in your back yard. The flowers improve complexions and sooth skin ailments like eczema or psoriasis. An elder flower vinegar bath soothes sunburn and dry skin. A rinse can be made to revitalise your hair… and its wonderful for dry hands and cracked heals. The berries are rich in vitamin C and also have a high mineral content making it a great tonic for flu, coughs, colds, sore throats, anaemia, oedema, neuralgia, insomnia and anxiety. It is also a popular treatment for kidney and lymphatic ailments and an epilepsy treatment. It is also wonderful to treat burns, scalds, sore eyes, skin growths, rashes, grazes, flaky patches and sunburn.

In the garden the Elder is a protector of all. The Elder would do well near a compost heap. Onions love elder trees. It is also a deterrent for aphids (a leaf spray can be made) and mealie bugs and is very helpful for white fly on indoor plants.

Plant wisdom: The Elder gives you a fresh outlook on life… it brings abundance… accelerates healing and provides protection for all things within its reach. It is the holy water of the herbal realm and will dispel the darkest of energies.

BAOBAB

Baobab (Adansonia Digitata) ~ Origin: Northern Province, South Africa, Africa, Madagascar and Australia. This remarkable tree is a conspicuous feature (kind of looks like it has been planted upside-down). It grows in the frost free areas of Northern South Africa.

Africa’s Baobab

This amazing tree has many uses… the seeds are ground up into a white pulp, mixed with water and drunk to treat malaria, fevers, diarrhoea, and apparently also haemoptysis. In the Northern Province the powdered seeds are given to children as a hiccup remedy. The seeds are also roasted and eaten like groundnuts and pounded then can be made into a sort of peanut butter. The people also eat the pulp for porridge. The seed pulp is sometimes coloured and then made into sweets.

In West Africa the bark, leaves are claimed to have anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic properties and are regarded as a remedy for urinary disorders and mild diarrhoea. The bark has been sold commercially in Europe under the name “cortex cael cedra” to treat fevers and as a substitute for cinchona bark. The bark may be pounded and soaked and made into rope, fishing nets or clothes.

The leaves are used against fever, to reduce perspiration and as an astringent. But it is also used like spinach… they make a nice soup with the leaves. It can also be dried for use as a condiment.

Across the Kalahari, runs a line of Baobabs about 96 km’s apart. These living reservoirs have saved many lives. Life would be insupportable in some parts of Africa without the baobab. In the Sudanese wastelands, there are 30000 of these trees from which people have drawn water for centuries. One baobab may hold as many as 4-5 thousand litters of water. Baobabs are mostly protected today as they have been exploited for making paper in the past and exported to England.

Their flowers are very large and sweet-smelling; they are like white stars against the evening sky. Baobabs are not resistant to long periods of drought and young Baobabs perish in veldt fires. When a baobab dies, it collapses into a fibrous mass as though struck by lightning, until a high wind blows away the remnants of a solitary giant that had been a landmark for centuries.

African Legend: The Bushmen believe that the baobab had offended God, and as punishment God planted the tree upside down. The oldest tree is older than the pyramids of Giza ~ when its first leaves sprouted the Sahara was still lush and green, and yet it's lovelier now than the day it first took root. For some cultures it is the tree under which man was born.

Madagascar Baobab’s

Plant wisdom: A symbol of endurance, conservation, creativity, ingenuity and dialogue.

"Knowledge and wisdom are like the trunk of a Baobab tree. No one person's arm span is great enough to encompass them." Saying from the Volta region of Ghana

BALLOTA AFRICANA

Common names: Cat herb, Cape horehound (Eng.); kattekruie (Afr.) ~ Ballota Africana. Related to B. Nigra or black horehound.

Origin: Northern, Western and Eastern - Cape, South Africa,

Occurs naturally throughout the Cape (home range to many South African tortoises) and has been used by Bushmen as a medicinal herb for respiratory problems and as a sedative.

Ballota is very easy to identify and a very popular herb in the Cape and can reach a height of about more than 1m tall ~ the length of the bushes depend on the area where it grows - in the Karoo it grows in the shade of other shrubs and only grows to about 30cm.

An infusion of the leaves, often mixed with the leaves of salvias, was used by Khoi and Nama tribes to treat fevers. Brandy tinctures were used for colds, headaches, and other ailments

The plant has been used for fevers, measles, snakebite remedies and relieving of severe colic. Dried or fresh leaves can be used to treat coughs, colds, sore throats, influenza, asthma, bronchitis, colic, typhoid fever, hysteria, and over-excitement. Brandy tinctures had also been made to treat haemorrhoids. More usage for Ballota includes: hoarseness, heart trouble, hysteria, insomnia, typhoid fever, headaches, liver problems, piles and as a foot bath for arthritis.

Plant wisdom: Acts as a stabilizing force in your life.

"It is time to trust that small voice within, coming from the person we really are. It is time to look within and to uncover all that has been blocking us from our truth” ~ Unknown

LOVAGE

Common names: Lovage (Levisticum officinale). Origin: Mediterranean areas and South-western Asia. This herbaceous perennial enjoys partial shade and rich, moist, cool soil.

This is a fantastic herb to use in stews as it infuses them with a delicious celery-like flavour. The monks in ancient days grew lovage in their gardens and gave it to weary travellers to soothe and freshen tired feet, and treated the sick with a lovage brew to heal infected wounds and grazes and to ease nausea, vomiting and over indulgence. In rural areas the seeds are steeped in brandy and still used today to settle the stomach.

Both the roots and the fruit of lovage are used as a diuretic, to treat stomach disorders, and to relieve colic and gas. Add leaves to a salad to improve circulation and lessen constipation. A tea made from boiling the leaves in distilled water soothes the eyes and removes redness. The tea can also be used as a mouthwash.

Plant wisdom: Shows the meaning of love.

Will attract love, expand your social circle and help you to travel safely. Place a few leaves in your bath water to help open your heart.

Warning: Not to be used by those with kidney ailments not should it be taken during pregnancy.

WILD PLUM

 

Common names: Wild Plum (Harpephyllum caffrum). Origin: Southern Africa.

The wild plum has become a popular garden tree and is now found in most parts of South Africa. Large ever green tree reaching a height of up to 15 metres. This is one of our largest tree species in the forests of KZN and the Eastern Cape through up into Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces and into Swaziland, Mozambique and into Zimbabwe.

Male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The sour, but edible fruits are bright red and plum like.

Medicinally the bark is used… decoctions of the bark are used as blood purifiers or emetics. It may also be used for facial saunas and skin washes, and to treat skin problems such as acne and eczema. To treat sprains and fractures, powered burnt bark is applied to the scarification.

Plant wisdom: Removes all negativity. This tree has a deep sense of peace and calm… just being around it will help to reduce the negativity you have “collected” throughout your day.

“What could you not accept, if you but knew that everything that happens, all events, past, present, and to come, are gently planned by One Whose only purpose is your good?” ~ A Course in Miracles

 

WHITE WILLOW

Common names: White Willow (Salix Alba). Origin: native to Europe and western and central Asia.

The Willow is a large deciduous tree that can live for more than 120 years and grown upwards of 30 metres tall. The bark is very easily separated throughout the summer and this is used medicinally. The tree has long been associated with magic ~ wands and staffs are often made from its wood. It is a water loving plant and will often be found along lakes and streams.

Hippocrates wrote in the 5th century BC about a bitter powder extracted from willow bark that could ease aches and pains and reduce fevers. This remedy is also mentioned in texts from ancient Egypt, Sumer, and Assyria. The Reverend Edmund Stone, a vicar from Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, England, noted in 1763 that willow bark was effective in reducing a fever. The bark is often macerated in ethanol to produce a tincture.

The active extract of the bark, called salicin, after the Latin name Salix, was isolated to its crystalline form in 1828 by Henri Leroux, a French pharmacist, and Raffaele Piria, an Italian chemist, who then succeeded in separating out the acid in its pure state. Salicylic acid, (aspirin), which is a chemical derivative of salicin, can be fatal to cats.

Willow bark is useful for relieving pain. A tea made fro the bark will lower fevers, ease sore throats, and stop headaches. It is also useful as a treatment for rheumatism. A poultice made from the bark can be applied to open wounds to help them heal and avoid infection.

Plant wisdom: Helps you release sadness and grief.

If you symbolically sweep an area with the branches you will help to clear negative energies from your home.

"I am the darkness that is the light, the stillness that is the dancing" ~ TS Eliot