Radiant Living

Making Healthy Habits Stick

2009-10-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I started working for Inner Rewards a brilliant new wellness website that offers articles, reviews and discounts on personal wellness. Part of my role is to respond to people's wellness related questions. One such question really got me thinking and felt juicy enough to share my response with you all here. Enjoy!

Question: How do you make a good habit stick?
There are so many things I think I should do more or less of. Take fish oil. Drink wine. Drink water. Put cream in my coffee. Sleep. Fiddle around on Facebook. Eat a healthy breakfast every day. How do you make and stick with good habits, or break "bad" ones?

Response: Here's the deal, all good habits (or bad one's for that matter) start in our brains. Our brain literally creates a neural cluster around things we do over and over again, including thoughts we think repeatedly, conscious or unconscious, and a thought is basically the root of any action. What this means is we become preconditioned to whatever we do, feel or think over and over and over again.

Its recently been shown that the brain creates a neural cluster when we do something for more than 15 minutes. When we spend 15 minutes or more focused on something we are creating cellular memory around it, a predisposition to do or think this again.

Doctors used to think that was it, you built all your neural clusters by the time you were 25 and that was what you were stuck with. But the science of neural plasticity is showing that we can actually remap the brain based on new actions, thoughts, and choices.

So look at it this way, if you spend say 15 minutes every morning eating a healthy breakfast, focusing yourself on the way eating healthy makes you feel, you are creating a new neural cluster that conditions you to eat that way. If you do this for, say, 21 days then you are siphoning off all the energy that normally went to the bad eating habits cluster and rerouting it to the new healthy eating cluster. But if you go back and forth you are disbursing your energy and are at a wash.

Think of it like having a bank account. If you invest in the account of healthy eating (or any habit that strengthens you) that account gets bigger/stronger from being invested in. Likewise, if you invest in all the things that you know weaken you, that account is strengthened instead. The thing is that the brain, at this level, does not discriminate between what weakens you or what strengthens you, it just sends more juice to whatever you are focusing on by your thoughts, feelings or actions.

Knowing this about yourself can go a long way to creating healthy habits that stick! One of my favorite stories that illustrates this is:

A Grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson.

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."

"One wolf is evil and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance."

"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, true, compassion, gratitude, and deep VISION."

"This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other human as well."

The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out; "Oh! Grandfather, which wolf will win?"

The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed."

Embracing the Mess

2009-07-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

By Megan Woolever

The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions. ~Ellen Glasgow

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown

As the saying goes, the only thing that's consistent is change. And yet why do we resist change so vehemently, holding on to what is safe, what is familiar, what we "know?" To learn and to grow requires letting go of the familiar and embracing the unknown. And often this looks a little messy.

The nature of change is just that, messy. Think of a baby being born. The baby is all warm and snuggly in mom's belly until WHAMMO its time to be born. That birth process from the baby's perspective must be pretty scary, moving from a completely ensconced and protected space into who knows what of an outside world. And messy? To say the least!

In life as in nature the most effective route isn't necessarily the cleanest, straightest of lines. Often we take twists and turns along the way, we get lost, we ask directions, maybe we find a hidden retreat. And all the while we are discovering, exploring and uncovering the mystery of our life and our world. It is only when we are willing to get lost a bit in life, to let go of our need to know and control every step along the way, that we can then begin to open to learning something new or finding something extraordinary outside the realm of our comfort zone or routine.

Embracing the mess is a mindset. It says, "I honor and acknowledge that there are things in life that are beyond my comprehension and therefore I let go of trying to control every aspect of life." Do you really think the caterpillar would willingly volunteer to cocoon itself if it knew its entire body would break down to the point of near annihilation in the process of becoming a butterfly? Sounds pretty messy if you ask me. And yet, that is its destiny, its purpose. Like it or not, the genetic egg timer goes off inside the caterpillar and, just like that baby being born, there is nothing that it can do to stop the change. It must occur.

The more we resist, the more we try to control the change, the harder we make it on ourselves. Better to embrace the process and surf the waves of change with hope and a vision for who we are becoming and what we are learning than to fight tooth and nail to keep things the way they are. Change is inevitable in life. Our greatest power lies not in controlling or predicting the change, but in interpreting it, understanding it and ultimately allowing it to shape and inform us of who we are becoming.

Things die, fall apart and are no longer relevant to our experience. Rather than trying to hold on to the past because "that's the way it used to work," instead of trying for perfection, which is just another word for stagnation, why not embrace the mystery of the world as it unfolds this very moment in all its quirks, glitches and foibles. Why not embrace the mystery of yourself as you fall down, hiccup and faux pas your way to your destiny. It may be messy, but it will not be boring!

Choosing Your Heart's Yes

2009-06-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

Did you know that your heart says "yes" or "no" before your mind even considers the question? Researchers at the HeartMath Institute have discovered that the heart actually perceives things before it reaches your mind. In fact, the heart actually has pre-knowledge of the information you will encounter before it is even presented! How's that for "let your heart be your guide?"

And the heart has a distinct way of saying "yes" or saying "no." When our heart says "yes" we feel it opening, like energy is flowing through us, around us, with us in a positive, harmonious way. You feel eager, enthusiastic and peaceful when the heart says "yes." There may be no rational reason why, but your heart's wisdom fills you with a sense of knowingness beyond the mind's comprehension.

The opposite is true when your heart says "no." You feel a contraction, a protection, or a shutting down. It may be subtle, in the case of an "I don't know" or "maybe" it may even be just a shadow of doubt or uncertain twinge, but these are cues from the heart telling you a "yes" would not fully open and move you into your creative flow. They tether you, hold you back a little, urge you to look before you leap.

A few years ago I read a book Buffalo Woman Comes Singing by Brooke Medicine Eagle. In it Brooke describes a process she learned to help empower her to make conscious choices that were in alignment with her passion and purpose in life. She called this process "The Absolute Yes."

Brooke says that our Absolute Yes is the "yes" our heart says fully, without reservation. The "yes" we described above. It is when we listen to this "yes" that we are brought into alignment with our destiny in life, and are in flow with the universe and its purpose for our lives. Whenever we say "yes" to things that our hearts are either unsure of or are definite "no's" we actually move ourselves out of the flow of destiny and create blocks in our system.

The truth of this is brought home in the recent film The Living Matrix. Doctors and scientists in this film report that our heart's rhythm is actually set by the emotions we feel. Positive emotions create a stable, harmonious rhythm in the heart, while negative emotions cause erratic heartbeats. They also say that the heart's beat sends a pulse wave through your body, aligning all the other functions and organs to the beat of the heart. Your heart is the regulator for the health of your body, and its health is set by the choices you make. You can either choose to do that which opens and strengthens your heart, or that which shuts you down and weakens you. And you make that choice again and again, every day, every hour, every minute.

The good news is that beginning to follow your "Absolute Yes" is as easy as listening to your body. You feel open, good, powerful when you hear a "yes" response in the heart. That's the easy part. For many of us, our biggest challenge is learning to say "no." We let duty, other people's expectations and pride often drive us to say "yes" when our heart is telling us otherwise. We often put others health before our own, choosing things that shut us down or deplete us because we feel we have to. Ultimately this makes us sick, physically as well as emotionally.

So the Absolute Yes practice is this: For a week, or at minimum a day, try to only say "yes" to your Absolute Yes. Practice getting quiet enough so you can hear and feel that Absolute Yes in your heart. Then only follow its guidance and nothing else. You may be surprised at the things you say "yes" to!

And if you are finding it particularly tricky to say "no" to some things in your life, like your family or a work related event, then find something about that situation that you can feel a "yes" for and focus on that being the purpose for your participation, not the shoulds, musts and have tos.

One week of following your Absolute Yes and you will find that doors begin to open where you previously saw no way, and opportunities will begin to call to you that you had no idea were even a possibility. A lifetime of Absolute Yes and you will have truly lived the life you were born to live!

Unlocking the DNA Codes to Your Wellbeing

2009-05-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

by Megan Woolever

A few years ago Gregg Braden, scientist, engineer and spiritual seeker, reported on some amazing findings regarding the relationship of your DNA to your thoughts and feelings. Three experiments were conducted that showed how our DNA can be activated or deactivated according to our intention. The first two experiments basically show how DNA is organizing and non-local, meaning it will organize random energy patterns around it and it is not effected by time or distance. The third experiment is what I want to focus on as it has powerful implications to our health and wellbeing.

This experiment was done by the Institute of Heart Math. In this experiment, some human placenta DNA (the most pristine form of DNA) was placed in a container from which they could measure changes in the DNA. Twenty-eight vials of DNA were given to twenty-eight trained researchers. Each researcher had been trained in how to generate and FEEL strong emotions.

What was discovered was that the DNA CHANGED ITS SHAPE according to the feelings of the researchers:
1. When the researchers FELT gratitude, love and appreciation, the DNA responded by RELAXING and the strands unwound. The length of the DNA became longer.
2. When the researchers FELT anger, fear, frustration, or stress, the DNA responded by TIGHTENING UP. It became shorter and SWITCHED OFF many of our DNA codes! If you've ever felt "shut down" by negative emotions, now you know why your body was equally shut down too.
3. The shut down of the DNA codes was reversed and the codes were switched back on again when feelings of love, joy, gratitude and appreciation were felt by the researchers.

This experiment was later followed up by testing HIV positive patients. They discovered that feelings of love, gratitude and appreciation created 300,000 TIMES the RESISTANCE they had without those feelings. So here's the answer to what can help you stay well, no matter what dreadful virus or bacteria may be floating around. Stay in feelings of joy, love, gratitude and appreciation!

These emotional changes went beyond the effects of electro-magnetics. Individuals trained in deep love were able to change the SHAPE of their DNA. Gregg Braden says this illustrates a new recognized form of energy that connects all of creation. This
energy appears to be a TIGHTLY WOVEN WEB that connects all matter. Essentially we're able to influence this web of creation through our VIBRATION.

As we learn more about the holographic nature of the universe (e.g. fractal geometry) and the inter-connectivity of our consciousness as a planet (e.g. the Gaia theory), you may begin to understand the broader implications of this work. There is a saying in metaphysical circles that illustrates this perfectly, "As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without." What this means is that what is true for you is true for the universe. What happens inside of you, your thoughts, feelings and attitudes, also gets reflected in the world around you.

Because we know that DNA likes to align itself and synchronize with other living systems, and that DNA is powerfully effected by the feelings we are holding, consider for a moment the impact you have on the world around you! Learning how to transform your negative feelings and thoughts to into more empowering ones is one way to begin to master your DNA codes. Meditating on your DNA and visualizing it relaxing, opening up and turning on according to healthier patterns is another way. One of the best ways I know to create a permanent, positive shift in your DNA is to receive a 22-Strand DNA Activation.

22-Strand DNA Activations actually turn on the dormant codes within you, codes that are like the hidden gems of your destiny and wellbeing. I've heard it said that most folks are only using 5-10 percent of their DNA at any given time. A DNA Activation helps you access more like 80-90 percent of the DNA codes, giving you more power, clarity and support in your life.

To learn more about DNA Activations I invite you to listen to an interview I recently did with metaphysician, Cece Converse, where we talked about DNA Activations, and also visit the DNA Activations page on Emerge Healing. If you would like more information about Gregg Braden's research, have any questions or would like to schedule a DNA Activation, please feel free to contact me at megan@emergehealing.com or call 415.652.8004.

Namaste.

The 6 Steps to Energy Bodybuilding

2009-04-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

Recently on my radio show "Shine Your Light" I shared a technique for raising your vibration/resonance when you feel your energy has been drained or when you have been triggered by something in your life. This technique was taught to me by Marianne Weidlein, a powerhouse of a peak performance and self-employment mentor that I worked with a few years ago. I have written about a portion of this technique before, the Smiling Joy into Your Heart exercise. Since it is such a fantastic tool for shifting things in the moment I wanted to share the full protocol with you here.

When you are in a situation that triggers you try using this simple, easy technique, for moving through the negative emotion and attuning to a higher vibration. A trigger is anything that touches upon wounding, fear, or other negative emotions that you may experience, all those places that are still needing to be healed. What this often looks like is you are going along and everything in life feels just fine and dandy and then WHAMMO something or someone happens and all of a sudden you feel drained, upset, angry, scared or otherwise out of the flow of life.

Its important to understand that negative or lower vibrating energy isn't wrong or bad in and of itself, and what triggers one person may not trigger someone else. When we are triggered it is an indication of areas inside of us that still need some attention, love and healing. However, the prolonged effect of living 24/7 in a negative emotional resonance on our bodies, minds and spirits is depleting and deteriorating. Becoming a master of your emotions means learning how to identify when we are being triggered and knowing how to shift that energy to a place that gives you more freedom and creativity to deal with whatever you are facing.

So the first and most important step is recognition.

Step 1. Say to yourself, "I am being triggered."

The way we recognize a trigger is when we are not feeling powerful, positive and in the flow of our life. Typically, something has triggered us and we have begun the downwards spiral. Recognition of this fact is the first step in correcting the energy.

Step 2. Take a deep, slow breath.

This is another approach to the saying "When you're angry count to 10." Taking a deep breath oxygenates our system and gives us a pause. It creates a tiny little disruption in the body-mind, shifting us out of the contraction of a triggered state and ever so slightly expands and opens us to different options.

Step 3. Ask yourself, "How do I feel now?"

Taking an assessment of what remains after a deep, slow breath lets us see the effects that opening has had on our nervous system. Yes, we may still feel some of the anger or saddness or worry that we felt before, but typically taking a breath gives us a little more distance, and therefore a little more power, from the trigger.

Step 4. Smile joy into your heart.

This is the most important step. Up until now the work you have done is just a preparation for changing the energy. Taking a deep breath alone isn't really shifting your vibration, it is just giving you a bit of a breather, literally. It is only when we replace the triggered emotional state with a new, more powerful energy, that we actually begin to attune or master our vibration. So put a big smile on your face (and the physical act of smiling is very important because it engages the physiology of your body and all the muscles in your system respond in kind) and smile joy into your heart. Imagine a moment when you were full of utter joy. Perhaps it was playing with your dog, or watching a new born baby, or celebrating an important event, whatever it is imagine you are experiencing that feeling right now and then see or feel it melting into your heart and fill your heart with this joy.

Step 5. Ask yourself "What do I need now?"

This moves the energy out into the world. It puts it into action. Remember the point of mastering your energy isn't so you can levitate off the planet. The purpose of becoming a master of your energy is so you can live a better, more empowered life. So you can make a difference with whatever it is you are here to do. So when you ask yourself, "What do I need now?" be open to whatever comes. It may be that you need a break, or to eat something nourishing, or to focus on someone else for awhile. Trust whatever comes as an answer to that question, even if you just hear the word "red." Go out and buy yourself something red to eat, like a juicy strawberry, or buy a bunch of red flowers. The important part isn't the "what" it is simply that you listen and then follow through. So the final step is...

Step 6. Do It!

Whatever it is that you have determined you need, DO IT! Try within 24 hours of doing this exercise to fulfill whatever it is that you have determined you need. If what comes to you is a more long term goal like, "I need to go on vacation!" then take one small step towards that need within 24 hours, like going online to a vacation site and researching locations to visit or putting some money away towards the vacation. Again, the importance isn't in the "what" of the practice, it is in the follow through, the message you send to your self, your mind, your body that you are serious about mastering your energy and learning to live empowered by your fullest, most radiant self.

Write these 6 steps down on a piece of paper and keep it with you. Use it often, as many times a day as you need to, to keep practicing how to shift your energy. You will find that it becomes easier and easier to move through those 6 steps fluidly and quickly. You may not even consciously notice you are using them anymore, but you will also be feeling quite a bit more freedom and joy in your life naturally.

And like I always tell my clients, these techniques are powerful and they work, but only to the degree that you use them. If you read this and then never put these steps to practice in your life then guess what, they won't work for you. But if you take to heart the idea that you are the master of your emotional body and energy vibration, and you can practice these techniques to strengthen your agility, then there isn't any thing, any one, or any situation that can master you. Think of it like strength training for the energy body. The more times you use this, the stronger your vibration and your ability to sustain a higher vibration becomes.

Diving Deep for Your Destiny

2009-03-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

by Megan Woolever

If you feel safe in the area that you are working in you're not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you are capable of being in - go a little bit out of your depth - and when you feel your feet are not quite touching the bottom you are just about in the right place to do something exciting.

- David Bowie

Our destiny is like a treasure chest buried deep in the ocean floor. Not knowing it is out there we play it safe on the shores of life. Sticking with what is familiar, what is known, what is comfortable. We see others on the shore and they seem happy, content with pails and shovels digging in the sand, splashing in the water. "Its a good life," we say to ourselves, never knowing that there is undiscovered treasure just out beyond the breakers.

As evolutionary beings our destiny is to grow, to change, to evolve. We are not destined to play it safe, for safety equals stagnation. Safety means that we are protecting what we already have, which means we will always have just that, what we have, whether it be an object, information or level of awareness. It is only when we muster up the courage to dive deeper, to explore the unknown that we open ourselves to our destiny, our hidden treasure.

When we wade out into deeper water we take the risk of not knowing what lies beneath. What lies hidden in the vast expanse of our potential? It may seem scary, overwhelming, yet we do not do this unprepared or alone. When we dive deep we take care to arm ourselves with the right equipment and support systems to anchor and sustain us while we explore, whether that is a person who supports us, a program or a belief system.

Diving deep requires we let go of the illusion of safety and control and allow our destiny to call us, to woo us, like sonar searching for a hidden location. Only when we learn to hear the siren call of destiny, asking us to expand beyond anything we thought we could ever be, do we arrive at the destination of our soul's purpose. It is then we realize that we are the key to this treasure box, we have held it always. But this process isn't mapped out, it is felt out. Each day, each moment, each breath.

We begin this odyssey by quieting ourselves so that we can hear the pulse of the ocean, sense the ebb and flow of the tide, see the pattern of the sea birds in flight. And from the heightened state of our senses we begin to distinguish the still, small voice of our destiny calling to us. The Rev. Michael Beckwith has said about destiny, "God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the called." I would add that each of us are called. So the question that remains is, "Can you hear your destiny calling?"

Stop Getting In Your Own Way

2009-02-20T11:55:00.000-08:00

By Megan Woolever

We are often the biggest obstacles to having what we want in life, not ability, not education, not family history, not even money, just us, our thoughts, feelings and habits. To borrow from one of my favorite quotes by Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

All the power to create the life you were born to live is inside of you...all you need to do is figure out how to tap into it.

That's where personal empowerment, or what I call "Self-Evolution," work comes in. When you say "Yes" to cultivating your personal empowerment, you are saying yes to growing and expanding into the power that is your birthright. And, as Marianne Williamson said, its not just in some of us, its in everyone.

For power is simply the ability to make a change in your life, but empowerment is making the change in a direction you want. In my practice I take my clients through four key steps to personal empowerment:

1. Awareness
2. Discernment
3. Choice
4. Action

These steps are crucial to becoming master of the power in your life. First, by cultivating Awareness, or recognition of the condition of your thoughts, feelings and habits, you create an open space where you begin to realize that you are something greater than your mind, body or emotions. You start getting out of the way for something bigger to come through you. Second, by learning Discernment, you begin to become aware of which thoughts, feelings and habits strengthen you and which weaken you. Third, you learn to make Choices towards the things that feed, empower and strengthen you. And you come to realize that we are making these choices again and again every day. Its not a one time thing and every choice counts! Finally, you cultivate powerful Actions that move you into greater alignment with your goals in life. All the internal work is great, but if you don't take it out into the physical world and put it into Action you are kind of missing the point of being a human, incarnated being.

Over the years I have watched as my clients move through these stages and amaze themselves and those around them with new-found power and freedom that they had no idea they were missing. I invite you to learn more about this process and contact me if you would like to learn more about how you can live your life more powerfully.

Learn More about Self-Evolution

Conscious Choices: Saying "Yes" Even When Its a Little Scary

2009-01-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

by Megan Woolever

Last year I was given an opportunity to contribute a chapter to a women's anthology "Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman's Guide to Life." Being a writer, I immediately knew that I wanted to contribute a chapter, however I also knew that the chapter that was wanting to be written was about a subject that was both powerful and vulnerable for me, Sex. I knew that to write this chapter I would need to plumb the depths of my soul and write something from my heart, not just rattle off a list of painful experiences or tittilating adventures. To be an Evolutionary Woman writing about sex, I needed to write something that had soul, something that was true, authentic, real.

So taking a big breath I began to write. I dove in and allowed myself to write without judgement or censor. My story in all its pain, rawness and yearning began to emerge. The story of how my search for love had led me through much darkness and times of despair. How I tried to find love in all the wrong places, with all the wrong people, and for all the wrong reasons. Ultimately the story led to how this search for love taught me to love myself, and through that self-love I found a partner with whom I now co-create a spiritual (and sexual) partnership.

It came as a total surprise to me that the writing process itself was quite easy. My story had wanted to be told for awhile, and was just waiting for permission to speak. What I couldn't foresee, and what has ultimately been the most difficult part of this process, has been what has happened after the story has gone public.

All of a sudden I feel a little bit like I'm naked in public. I realize that anyone can potentially read that story...ex-lovers, family, coworkers, clients. Anyone and everyone now has access to parts of me that I previously held quite private. Now its not like I wrote a tell all expose with lots of salacious details about my sex life, no those kinds of books these days are a dime a dozen. What I wrote about is infinitely more tender to me. I wrote about my inner journey, my longings, my beliefs and many times my fears around sex, relationships and love.

The goal of our little book was to bear witness, to allow ourselves and our journeys, sometimes pretty, sometimes not, to be seen, known, and celebrated. Our truths are being told so that other women can find themselves in these stories. I said "Yes" to this project because even though it was my edge, one of the scariest things I could think of to do, the thought of not doing it was even scarier. When life gives you an opportunity to make a difference, playing small and hiding because you are afraid is the opposite of personal growth, it is personal death. If just one woman reads my story and seeing herself says, "If she can do it, so can I!" then it was all worth it.

For I have come to realize that when I courageously step up to the plate and take an evolutionary leap forward, its makes it that much easier for the next person to do the same. And so it is with much joy and gratitude that I invite you to purchase our book and read my story, Deep Longing: A Sexual Evolution, along with the stories of my evolutionary sisters in "Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman's Guide to Life." May my words kindle in you the memory of your deepest longings and make clear the steps you can take to achieving them.

Purchase a copy of Conscious Choices on Amazon

What does Food and New Years have to do with Miracles?

2009-01-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

by Alice Moore

Healthy whole foods are a Miracle! Don’t you think?
I mean really. The fact that food grows in the ground, on trees, branches, vines, in the ocean! It’s miraculous!

These whole foods are nutritious, delicious, organic, from nature, colorful, endless in shapes and sizes, packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and energy! Sweet, sour, bitter, savory, salty! You name it.

We are completely overflowing in the Bay Area with richly abundant high quality, remarkable whole foods! Grains, greens, sweet and root vegetables, fruit, we can even get these foods from all over the world.

These foods create healthy blood and improve the quality of our organs. These foods dramatically heal our bodies and change the way we feel and think.

The simplicity of these facts are remarkable, miraculous, so profound and yet we blow it off! We put this knowledge to the side:

“I’ll just get a muffin or a bagel. It’s easy, it’s fast, it will fill me up, it’s cheap!”

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!
I repeat: WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!

Do you want to live this New Year being “easy, fast, full and cheap”?
(Sounds like something a used car salesman might say- no offense to those of you who sell cars)

So, we blow it off and we go on and on, year after year, another New Year’s resolution!

This year I’ll:
1) Eat more veggies
2) Lose weight
3) Cook more
4) Move my body more
5) Be a rock star

Sound familiar?
For years I wrote New Years resolutions and it was usually a let down. By February I would reflect and see that I had either forgotten my resolutions or lost faith and hope that I could achieve them. “Maybe next year…” I’d say.

After years of this I have learned that New Year’s Resolutions don’t really work for me. So here is a new game I play:
It’s called: “Every day is New Year’s Day!”

365 days a year is a New Year’s Day. I can start over at any time, I can do anything any day. This moment, this day is new and has nothing to do with yesterday or tomorrow.

So I write down those “resolutions” (let’s call them intentions or desires):
1) Eat more veggies
2) Lose weight
3) Cook more
4) Move my body
5) Be a rock star

Then each morning when I wake up I choose one thing I’m going to do THAT day that is a baby step in the spirit of these goals or moves me towards these goals.

Examples:
1) I’m going to have spinach at lunch today.
(This is eating more veggies!)
2) I am going to drink 3 extra glasses of water with lemon today.
(This helps us cleanse our body. This helps us loose weight.)
3) I’m going to put on a pot of rice when I get home to have for dinner or bring to lunch.
(This is cooking more.)
4) I am now doing 10 jumping jacks, right now, today. Now.
(This is moving our body)
5) I’m going to put on my favorite song and sing like a rock star.
(This is being a rock star!)

And each day, you wake up, a New Year’s Day, look at the list and do one thing. Then repeat 365 days, doing one a day.

This is not a new concept, but so hard for us to take on.

It is truly a miracle for those of us with busy lives in a city who have access to any kind of food at almost any time of day without having to lift a finger, to go to the stove and cook a pot of rice.

A miracle, really.

To saute a green vegetable, that has no chemicals in it and was lovingly grown and then sit down in peace and chew it delightfully in this modern world: Another miracle.

After being a Health Counselor for 12 years I know first hand the Miracle of these simple daily practices.

Today is New Year’s Day. So is tomorrow. Do the best you can and don’t stress yourself out this January trying to fix everything in your life!

If the miracle of food is still just a theory for you and you would like to make it a reality, email me for an initial consultation and see if a food program would be right for you.

What will you do with your precious body this coming year?

2008-12-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

by Alice Moore

As we come to the end of another year, thoughts of New Year’s resolutions always come to my mind. I feel a sense of a new beginning and a new chance. What will I do this year?

The holiday season can be a time of celebration, exhaustion, depression, fun and for some, a time of reflection on the past year and hope for the new to manifest in the year to come.

There are as many possibilities as there are people in the world!

Many of us set intentions and sometimes feel disappointed that we do not complete or achieve all our desires.

This year how about a “baby step” instead of a long list?

Being a health counselor with a focus on food and body, I hear every holiday season things like:

“I’m know I’m going to over-eat, so I’ll just start being healthy next month”
“I’m just going to eat the cookies, I always do.”
“I know I’ll gain weight.”

Sometimes the tone feels like one of resignation:
“I have no choice. This is just what happens.”

NEWSFLASH: We always have a choice.
It may take months or years to become skilled and relaxed enough to really take care of our sweet selves at the holidays, but the good news is the potential is always there!

Why wait? What about this moment now?

I invite YOU to take a moment right now and take a slow, deep breath. Ask yourself this question:

What’s one thing I can do for my precious body this holiday season that is new and different and will feel so good?

Just one thing.

Perhaps it’s a suggestion below or something from last month’s newsletter:
- a walk after a big holiday meal or festive party
- book a massage
- stretch your body in between your aunt’s special cookies
- make the delicious recipe below and bring it to a party
- take 5 minutes to pause before a party or family gathering and honor your self and your body maybe asking: how hungry am I? how am I feeling? can I take this slowly?
- take nourishing breaths in between bites of food and chew well.
- imagine and visualize yourself eating in a way that feels nourishing and not destructive: what would that look like?
- call a friend and ask how they are to get your mind off yourself and the food.

Pick one and see what happens.
You don’t have to wait until January 1st to do something wonderful for your precious body.

I would love to hear about your experiences. alice@emergehealing.com

Here is a great recipe alternative to the traditional sweet potato/marshmellow dish. This one is rich and delicious, less sugar, no refined sugar, more nutrients a little lighter and yet totally rich and fulfilling.

Sweet Potato-Butternut Squash Delight

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Wash 3 medium yams/sweet potatoes or 2 big ones.
Poke holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork, wrap them in tin foil and cook for an hour.
Wash a medium to large butternut squash, cut in 1/2 or quarters. Remove the seeds. Place in casserole dish facing up or on cookie sheet for 30 -40 or until squash is completely soft. Check with a fork. (one of my clients just puts the whole squash in for an hour, uncovered and she says it works great!)

Bake them until they are soft- 45 minutes to an hour
(if you cut them up they will bake faster, if you keep them whole or half them do an hour)

Remove the skins with a fork or knife or if you let it cool a bit you can do it with your hands.

In a big bowl, mash the sweet potatoes and squash.
Add 1 1/2 cups almond butter (roasted or raw)
(If you are allergic to nuts, I recommend cooking the squash open faced with olive oil or butter and adding more butter or olive oil in the bowl or try coconut oil-yum)
options:
Add 1/2 cup maple syrup or agave nectar.
You can add more or less sweetener and almond butter to your tastes. My experience is that these root veggies are super sweet and you don't need a lot.
optional: Add salt, or cinnamon or ground clove.

Put the mash in a casserole dish and garnish with sliced, whole, raw, roasted or tamari almonds. I like to make a big smiley face or something fun like: Obama rocks!
:)

Store in refridge if it's for the next day or it can be out all day if you make it in the morning.

Bake for 15-20 minutes before serving if you like it hot- 350 degrees.

Enjoy!

"Who am I?" An Empowerment Poem

2008-12-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

by Megan Woolever

I have been called by many names.

Isis, Morgan La Fey, Mary Magdalene, Bride, bitch, slut, prude, smartass, dreamer, talented, loud, bulldog, outrageous, scary, wise, oak, angel, hellcat, banshee, siren, goddess, indigo, fantasy, wench, maid, priestess, shaman, earth mother, seductress, magician, fool.

I am all of these and none of these.

I am the voice that whispers in the wind.
I am the taste of the earth kissing the sky.
I am the touch of the waves to the shore.
I am the smell of the tree rooted in earth.
I am the color of the moon-bird in flight.

My words are many, my truths few.

I am she who roars and she who weeps. I lick your wounds clean with my salty tongue while making fresh red tributaries down your leg with my claws.

My voice is fierce, yet my heart is pure.

While you sleep I creep lantern in hand howling like the wind and release all your ancient ghosts.

When you awake my gentle fingers stroke the slumber from your eyes and rub life into your quaking limbs.

My dance is the dance of death and life and death and life - a never ending eddy leading somewhere and nowhere at the same time.

If you blink quickly you might just catch my shape - that's me the haloed after-effect of too much light, like staring at the sun.

When you are alone, I am there. Quietly spinning my yarn of tales, ideas, inspirations through your mind - giving breath to the breathless - urging you to Stop. Slow Down. Be Present. Be Intentional.

I am neither here nor there, for I am everywhere. Look for me and you will find me. Call my name, whichever one pleases you most, and I arrive. I may be under a rock. I may be the uninvited guest. I may be your own thoughts. Expect me and I will come.

For I am you. And you are me. We are one. We are many. We are. I am.

Thriving in Times of Economic Crisis

2008-11-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

by Megan Woolever

I just returned from spending the month of October traveling and studying both in Europe and the US. Specifically, I was in France during those first few weeks in October when the stock market fell and the US banks went into crisis.

I was actually informed of the situation at dinner one night by a German businessman who was staying at our B&B. He told me that he used to think it didn't matter what happened to the US economy, but with recent events he had realized that what happens to the US happens to the rest of the world...we are all one. He had come to realize that our financial systems, like our ecological systems, are all interconnected.

As I turned on the French news, I watched the truth of what he was saying first hand. Analysts all over the world were panicked and afraid because of the panic and fear in the US. I began to wonder, how much of this market fluctuation is based on fact and how much on opinion? Consider this: if economics are largely based on the behavior of the market, and the market is greatly determined by consumer action, and consumer action is based on an individuals beliefs and behaviors...then how much power do we the people potentially have to shape our economy?

Just because someone tells us we are in a recession, that there is no work out there, that everything is falling apart do we actually have to live into that statement by becoming fearful and worried? Yes, we must scrutinize our financial habits and spending patterns, and ensure we are being good stewards of our money. But we do not have to live each day in fear of what the market is going to do, as if we are powerless to control anything.

The true power of our economic system lies in the fact that WE THE PEOPLE can greatly determine its health and well being. I am not advocating we all go out and spend, spend, spend. What I am advocating is a seasoned and circumspect look at the way we discuss and communicate with each other about money. Businesses base many of their decisions about things like hiring, investment and new development based on where they believe the market is going. So who gets to determine the market? WE DO!

Instead of talking about all the horrible things that are happening, focus your attention on the potentials that are opening up right now. In every downturn there are subsequent opportunities if you look for them. From the perspective of Conscious Evolution, we are experiencing a "birth crisis," something new is being born, a New Money Paradigm with Spirit, Heart and Integrity. As such, something old must die; a system of debt and spending beyond ones means that is no longer sustainable or healthy for our future. Recognize it as such. Realize that with any birth a little pain happens, but that pain is in the interest of the overall birth.

Take a deep breath. Breathe into the new potentials that are opening up as old ones die away. Look for those opportunities, even as you are being asked to reevaluate where you spend your life force (work) and your energy (money).

An excellent resource for learning more about how you can transform your currrent relationship with money and our economy to one of power and spirit is The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of our Inner Resources by Lynne Twist.

May your lives be filled with true Abundance of your Soul!

Tips for Dealing with Sugar this Holiday Season

2008-11-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

By Alice Moore

The holidays present us with many challenges and my clients tell me that a big challenge is what to do about the mass amounts of SUGAR that sit in the office all day and show up at meetings. AH! For those of us with a sugar sensitivity having candy, cookies and cupcakes around presents a challenge both for our physical and mental/emotional well being.

Here are some suggestions can help with this.

Bring your own ‘treat’ or snack for the day, something you love! Even if you don’t eat it, you will have an option with you.

Examples:
- A healthy peanut butter or almond butter jelly sandwich (I suggest jam naturally sweetened or honey, delicious whole grain bread and nut butters without preservatives) This snack is filling (like a cookie or cake) because of the bread and will give you energy instead of a blood sugar crash and feeling depressed) If you cannot eat nuts, make a regular sandwich to have at that 3-4 o’clock time when everyone is going for coffee and sugar- example: turkey, cheese, hummus, etc.

- A baked sweet potato or squash –this also gives you tons of energy and is filling grounding and sweet! (optional: add butter or olive oil, yogurt, agave nectar, honey, nut butters, cinnamon)

- Drink a delicious warm tea with honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup and soy milk or almond milk. (Celestial Seasonings: Bengal Spice tea and Almond Sunset Tea are delicious)

- A homemade cookie (see below for yummy cookie recipe and perhaps bring the rest of the batch for your office mates)

- A piece of your favorite chocolate. (this is FAR better than the highly refined and often chemicalized candy we often see at the office)

Consider ‘soul’ foods instead of eating:

- walk away from the treats and go call a friend or your health counselor or send an email to a friend.

- go into the bathroom and take at least 3 preferably 10 slow breaths. This creates space, relaxes you and then you can assess: Am I really hungry? Am I thirsty? Am I tired? What do I really need?

- go outside, take a walk and/or get some fresh air.

I invite you to practice being kind to yourself this season. Keep slowing down the process, breathe and notice what happens for you personally.

My experience with myself and (my clients) teaches me that each year as we continue to eat well and learn what is true for us and our own unique bodies, eating at the holidays gets easier and more peaceful. When we are at peace we can focus on what really matters.

If you would like guidance and support on your personal situation, I have inspiring group programs starting in January and I also work one on one to create change in your relationship to food and your body.

Email me for a free initial session: alice@emergehealing.com

Yummy Cookie Recipe
You can use unsweetened carob, or grain sweetened chocolate chips, or do what I did and chop up 2/3 of a bar of Scharffen berger 70%. I sort-of shaved half the bar with a knife and then cut the rest into bigger chip-sized chunks. You can make your own almond meal by pulsing almonds in a food processor until it is the texture of sand - don't go too far or you'll end up with almond butter-or you can find it at Rainbow Grocery. And lastly, the coconut oil works beautifully here, just be sure to warm it a bit - enough that it is no longer solid, which makes it easier to incorporate into the bananas. If you have gluten allergies, seek out gluten-free oats.

3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil, barely warm - so it isn't solid
(or alternately, olive oil)
2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 - 7 ounces chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, racks in the top third.

In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla extract, and coconut oil. Set aside.

In another bowl whisk together the oats, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.

Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips.The dough is a bit looser than a standard cookie dough, don't worry about it.

Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto a parchment (or Silpat) lined baking sheet.

Bake for 12 - 14 minutes. I baked these as long as possible without burning the bottoms and they were perfect - just shy of 15 minutes seems to be about right in my oven.

Makes about 3 dozen bite-sized cookies.

Is Your Cell Phone Making You Sick?

2008-09-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

by Megan Woolever

I have noticed that over the years as I have become more energetically sensitive, so has my body. Cleansing, yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic care have all made my body healthier, but they have also led to greater sensitivity in my system. Things like cell phones, that I never experienced a problem with 5 years ago, are now really having a negative effect on me. Last year I began to experience some really disturbing reactions to my cell phone. I noticed that after using it for 10 minutes or more the side of my head was hot, felt numb and ached.

I began to research why and discovered quite a bit of interesting information on cell phone radiation and EMFs (electro-magnetic frequencies). I wanted to find out why this was happening and if there is anything that might help me reduce the effects. On antennasearch.com I found that over the last ten years, over 400 wireless and cell phone towers and antennae have been erected in my neighborhood alone!

Even more sobering is research I found about the effects of cell phone radiation on the brain. The picture to the right is after just 15 minutes of cell phone usage... the entire face looks like its been in a microwave! So I tried a few different products (including the Aulterra sticker) to try and reduce EMFs, but I still noticed the same debilitating and painful side effects.

The good news is I recently found a product, the Bio Pro Cell Chip, that greatly reduces the effects of EMFs from your cell phone and other electronic devices. I have been using the Bio Pro technology for a few months now and I can report that I am experiencing a greater reduction in the EMF side effects, to the point that I rarely experience any negative sensation after using my cell phone. The picture to the right is after 15 minutes on a cell phone that is using the Bio Pro cell phone chip. This patented device sits right on your phone and emits a frequency that cancels out the EMFs emitted by your phone. Even better it is less than $35! I am so happy with my Bio Pro Cell phone chip that I have decided to resell them. Learn More about the Bio Pro Cell Chip

In addition, here are some other tips that I have found can help you to reduce the effects of EMFs on your body.

- Turn off your wireless when you go to bed at night or when you are not using it.
- Sit at least two feet away from your TV and computer monitor.
- Use a speaker phone or hands-free device (NOT a bluetooth) when talking on your cell phone.
- Switch off your phone when you go to sleep and never charge it in the room you are sleeping in.

There is quite a bit of information out there on this topic, and of course a lot of differing opinion. I am happy to share what I have found and am experiencing with anyone that is interested. Bio Pro also makes products for other electronic devices that are high EMF emitters like computers, microwaves and wireless routers. Please feel free to email: megan@emergehealing.com or call 415.652.8004 if you have any questions or would like more information.

Eat a Meal in Peace

2008-09-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

by Alice Moore

How many of you have eaten a meal in peace lately and what does it mean to eat a meal in peace, anyway?

Many of us are so hard on ourselves, judging ourselves for what we are eating all the time. Consider that "how" we eat is just as important as "what" we eat.

Sitting down and eating can aid digestion as well as breathing and chewing. Breathing assists the esophagus in moving food down to the stomach. Chewing helps break down the food to prepare for digestion. Basic eighth grade biology, it's true, but how many of us actually sit down, breath and chew?

Honor your body today and try these simple steps:

1. Sit down to eat.
2. Take a deep breath.
3. Look at your food.
4. Smell your food.
5. Take another deep breath.
6. Take a bite.
7. Chew it well.
8. Put the fork down.
9. Take a deep breath.
10. Say to yourself or out loud: "Thank you for this food"
(Expressing gratitude for our meal is a wonderful way to slow down and feel peace. How glorious that we get to eat each day, several times a day! There is so much to be grateful for)

If you cannot do all the steps, try one or two to start.

Eat a meal in peace this week and let us know how it goes.

Expressing Emotion is Food for Your Soul

2008-08-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

By Alice Moore

Did you ever consider that expressing our emotions could be just the "food" we need sometimes? That it might be nourishing?

As we continue to eat whole natural foods, our emotions want to come out. We become more authentic, more natural. When our bodies are clogged up with processed and chemicalized foods, we may be numbed out and emotions may become suppressed or confused. Eating and drinking processed and refined foods may cause us to experience extreme mood swings because our blood sugar is not stable. We may believe there is something wrong with us when in truth, our blood sugar is in a state of extreme fluctuation and we need different kinds of food to balance our chemistry.

Ideally our blood is balanced, our organ systems are working peacefully and we can discern: "My blood sugar is low and I need to eat or I need some vegetables and protein." (a physical need) or "I can't believe she said that to me this morning, I'm feeling very angry. Maybe I do not need to eat this entire pint of ice cream, but I need to talk to someone." (an emotional need).

Emotions are there to be felt and expressed. They are messages that inform us of our truth and help us grow. When we suppress our emotions, this can create imbalance and manifest dis"ease" in the body. We may get a cold, a headache, feel depressed, tired, have back pain and many more physical effects. We may also continue to eat things we don't want to eat or overeat or not eat at all!

We have emotions no matter what we eat. The idea is to be able to identify what we are hungry for and take care of those basic needs whether it is the need for nutrients in food or the nourishment of expressing our true feelings.

Here are some ideas for releasing emotions:

CRY. Let yourself cry. What a wonderful release. Puffy eyes, red faced! Let it out! Let the energy release. It usually feels really great after or the next day.

BE ANGRY. Call someone (not necessarily the person you're angry with) and talk about it or write it down. Rip it up! Punch a Pillow. SCREAM into a pillow or just SCREAM! Jump up and down. Run or walk around the block. If it feels like too much, tell someone "it feels like too much!". Just express that ANGER. You can do this without hurting yourself or anyone else.

LAUGH. Do this as much as possible! Share it with someone. Laugh until you cry! Rent funny movies. Hang out with those people who make you laugh. Call the people who make you laugh.

Expressing our emotions can be a satisfying and delicious meal or snack! Try it.

The Bird's Eye View

2008-08-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

by Megan Woolever

We all have a higher power, whether you call it God, a guardian angel, your higher self or spirit. This higher power is the wise loving self, that still small voice that speaks to us when we get really still and quiet. Now whether or not we listen is another story.

Asking this higher power for insight on our path is like getting the bird's eye view of our journey. Imagine you are standing on a busy city street surrounded by tall buildings. You know you need to get to a certain place, but have no idea how to get there. You may have a map or can even ask directions, but ultimately no one on the street level knows exactly what you may encounter along the route. You may set off in one direction only to find a road closed for work or a traffic jam.

Now imagine you had a friend with a cell phone on top of the tallest building looking down on your path. From their vantage point they can see every detour, road closure and potential mess that you can easily avoid. All you need is to call on them.

This is very much the perspective of our higher power or wise self. From the bird's eye view we can get from point A to point B perhaps with a few detours but in a much shorter time and with less hassle than if we try to figure it out all on our own.

Placing a call to your wise self can be as simple as sitting quietly for a few moments and asking for guidance from within. The more we do this, the more adept we become at recognizing the voice of the wise self. In any relationship the more you speak with someone the easier it is to recognize their voice. Recognition of our wise self can be cultivated in many ways; meditation, walks in nature, free writing, or even doing the dishes. Its just a matter of getting quiet enough to be present and listen.

What is most important is that we ask our wise self to speak to us and then we stay open for the answer without judgement. A good sign that your wise self is speaking is that you feel peaceful and calm with the answers you are getting. They may not be the answers you expect, or even want, but no matter what is said you will feel a deep sense of knowing and peace, which ultimately gives you the power to follow through.

Dancing Our Hope

2008-08-07T13:43:00.001-07:00

Posted by Megan.

One of my students sent this video to me after we talked in class about how dancing is a way for spiritual connection.

It has no overt message, but totally opened my heart and raised my spirits in watching it. So I wanted to share it with you!

The message I got personally is this, “We are all one and maybe if we all danced more together we’d have less energy for other less creative activities...” :)

Enjoy!

Read an article on its widespread appeal

Learn more about the illustrious dancer, Matt

Slowing Down

2008-07-17T13:03:00.001-07:00

Giving Your Nervous System a Mini-Vacation
by Megan Woolever

Recently I returned from a trip to the Southern Oregon/Mt. Shasta area. Although I was gone for less than a week, it felt like I had been gone a month. I marveled at how relaxed and open I felt in such a short time. It made me wonder, what was it about how I lived while I was away that encouraged my system to rejuvenate so quickly?

I came up with a few simple, yet profound actions that I realized were not dependent on being on "vacation" but could be used in my life right now to help me slow down and relax.

1. Be present in the moment- One of the things I noticed was that while I was away I had let go of the ticker tape of "To Do's" that constantly runs in my brain. I literally stopped thinking and planning so much and just let myself be in the moment with whatever happened. This is what I call the "Chew every bite" approach to life! The things you need to get done will get done one item at a time. What you are letting go of by being present in the moment is the energy that pushes us to go, go, go and never stop to enjoy where we are right now.

2. Stop multi-tasking- This is a hard one for those of us who feel like we have too much to do and not enough time to do it in. But compulsive multi-tasking, like eating while we are working, or driving and talking on the phone, actually speed up the nervous system and can lead to overwhelm and burn out. Try doing one thing at a time and what you are doing will get done quicker and with greater acuity.

3. Hire an expert- Sometimes we think we need to do it all on our own and become overwhelmed as a result. One of the greatest gifts I've given to myself recently, and hence to my nervous system, is to outsource some work, things that I either don't enjoy doing or am not that good at, and have someone who is an expert in that area handle them. This could be having someone handle your accounting, having groceries delivered or your laundry done for you. Although at first it may seem like extra money that you are spending, in the long run the energy that you save is actually creating more abundance for you because you are free to focus on building more of what you love and enjoy.

4. Let go of worry- Worry actually speeds up our nervous system because it is future focused, it takes us out of our present moment and power in the now. Letting go of worry means stepping into greater trust. One of my favorite teachings on worry is actually a teaching by Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount,

"This is why I tell you not to be anxious about food and drink to keep you alive and about clothes to cover your body. Surely life is more than food, the body more than clothes. Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow and reap and store in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds? Can an anxious thought add a single day to your life? And why be anxious about clothes? Consider how the lilies grow in the field; they do not work, they do not spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in his splendour was not attired like one of them. If that is how God clothes the grass in the fields, which is there today and tomorrow is thrown on the stove, will he not all the more clothe you?...So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. Each day has troubles enough of its own."

5. Give thanks- Regardless of what is going on in our lives, we can always think of something to be grateful for. Being in gratitude centers our energy in the heart which opens us to receiving more to be grateful for. It also replenishes the nervous system because when we are feeling grateful our bodies respond by lowering our blood pressure, increasing our immunity and shifting our nervous system out of the "fight or flight" response and into the "wine and dine" mode.

Our nervous system is a complex combination of electrical impulses, hormones and endocrine function. When we stress our nervous system by too much activity, whether that is mental, physical or emotional, our bodies can quickly become drained and burn out. Our system is designed to use the "fight or flight" response in emergency situations, like if you are about to be hit by a bus. But over time, if your system is being constantly barraged with overwhelm and stimulation, the system deteriorates and collapses, were just not designed to LIVE that way 24/7. Good self-care begins with adopting ways that protect and strengthen our nervous system so that each day we have an opportunity to slow down, let go and relax.

Eating for Summer

2008-07-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

by Alice Moore, Emerge Healing Foods Program Director

Recently we experienced some warm weather here in San Francisco, a rare occasion! It inspired me to share about foods that nourish the heart.

In the Five Element theory of Chinese Medicine, the fire element is associated with season of summer and the organ system is the heart. The fire element also includes the flavor of bitter, the sound of laughter and the emotion of joy.

Eating in harmony with the seasons is a profound and practical concept embraced by ancient traditions all around the world. We can experience increased energy and balance in our moods when we apply this theory to our own diets.

Whole foods that nourish the heart are grains- quiona, amaranth and corn, tomatoes, red peppers (red being the color associated with the fire element) and bitter greens-mustard greens, dandelion, endive, arugula, radicchio and more.

Chocolate and coffee are stimulating foods that can activate the heart especially when eaten in good quality and small quantities like medicine. Ask your health counselor what is right for you.

And of course, soul foods that nourish the heart: hugs, laughter, having fun, playing, experiencing and sharing all kinds of love-with friends, family, lovers and community. Spreading love around will be sure to nourish your heart on an energetic and physical level. Try it!

I invite you in for a free initial consultation to see what foods nourish your heart.

The Secret to Living Your Soul’s Purpose

2008-06-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

I once asked a spiritual teacher “What should I be doing with my life? What is my purpose?” His answer was simple. “Do what brings you the most joy.”

“What?” I thought. “How can I make a living just doing what brings me joy?!” It sounded too simplistic. Yet, I had never stopped to think about the ramifications of doing what doesn’t bring me joy. Consider this, as we learned from The Secret what we focus our attention on expands, but its not just the end result that expands, its also the motivation behind our intention that expands as well.

Say we are focused on making a living that makes us lots of money, but the motivation for making this money is based on our fear of being poor or powerless. Guess what we are growing more of in our life? More feelings of being scared, poor and powerless, no matter how much money we accumulate in the bank.

Instead, if we focus our attention on how we can make a living by making a contribution to society or even on making money so as to give more powerfully to the things we believe in like environmental causes, sustainable businesses, and community projects, then we are growing more love, vision and service in our lives and communities. The Secret is as much about the why of what you choose to focus on as it is about the object you are focusing on.

Many people decide they want certain things- a better job, a mate, a new car- because they think these things will make them feel better. But what motivates those desires is just as important as whatever it is they are desiring. Marci Shimoff, featured teacher in The Secret, has really taken this concept to heart in her new book Happy for No Reason. Marci puts it this way, “Having things and circumstances – money, success, relationships, health--brings a certain happiness, what I call being ‘happy for good reason.’ Unfortunately, this temporary experience of satisfaction or joy soon fades and we have to hurry up and fulfill the next desire to get a new high… To experience true and lasting happiness, we must be free of the need for any external reason to be happy. True happiness isn’t a result of getting what we want; getting what we want is a side effect of happiness… Perhaps we need to focus a little less on trying to get what we want and a little more on creating a deep inner state of happiness.”

Dr. David Hawkins in his 20-year research on the human energy field reports that the emotion of joy is the highest vibrating emotion the human system can hold. The key then is knowing what brings you joy. Unfortunately, for many people this is the biggest hurdle. In my practice I encourage my clients to begin by making a list of 20-30 things that they really love, things that make them feel good. It could be anything from reading, to walking in nature, to gourmet cheese. Then find a way each day to do one thing that you love. The goal is to give yourself permission to explore the things that light you up and fill you with a sense of expansion.

Living joyfully begins when we let go of all the excuses, the justifications, the reasons why we can’t, and allow the child-like excitement of doing something new, something fun, something wonderful, to fill us with joy. Once we are living in this sense of wonder and expansion everyday we begin to magnetize what we truly want into our lives, for our joy becomes the most powerful attractor of all.

What brings one person joy isn’t necessarily what will bring joy to you or me. For one person this might be climbing Mt. Everest, for another building bird-houses, and another raising a family. Our deepest desires are as unique as we are, no two are exactly alike. To choose joy is to choose your soul’s deepest desires. For what your soul desires is a clue as to what you are here to contribute; your soul’s purpose.

(This will be published as an article in Open Exchange Magazine's upcoming July, Aug, Sept 2008 issue.)

Conscious Commerce

2008-05-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Cleaning up the oceans one bag at a time

A beautiful friend of mine, Heather Rose, moved down to Panama a few years ago and is working with the Panamanians to help clean up the oceans, protect the wildlife (sea turtles and manatees) and generally whatever she can do to assist the people of Panama.

Heather and friends are taking the tons of waste dumped into the oceans, in the form of plastic bags, and turning them into hand-woven bags for the Panamanians to sell on the open market. The issue now is distribution. How to get the bags to sell.

Enter you. Maybe you know of someone, or maybe you are, a business person that is interested in environmentally friendly, human rights projects and would like to exert your conscious buying power to make a difference. If so, I encourage you to learn more about how you can get involved by either buying or selling some of these beautiful hand-woven bags. Contact Heather (heather.goldenweb@gmail.com) or Leigh (leighshulman@yahoo.com) and start a conversation.

Learn more from Leigh's first-hand account of the project and below is Heather’s recent update about the project and working with the sea-life down there.

Enjoy!

------ Forwarded Message
From: Heather Rose
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 09:01:30 -0500
To:
Subject: from Heather Rose check out the article written about the purse project

Hi my friends and family,

Check out the article written about the purse project I am helping with in Panama, http://www.thefutureisred.typepad.com . The project is called "Weaving for Nature". This has been the greatest joy and fun of my life. Last week I went and worked with the turtles and manatees for 3 nights to really see what this wonderful group is doing. Their work is truly amazing. They patrol the beaches all night and it is dangerous yet rewarding work. Many people come and steal eggs and kill the turtles to sell their meat. Since these groups have been working with the turtles, the population has increased by 90%! I had the opportunity to watch a giant leather back turtle lay eggs. They actually labor like a human mother and are crying during the process. The first turtle I encountered I was unable to move I was so in awe. During my time with AAMVECONA, the group responsible for the turtle project in the San San Pond Sak wetlands in Changinola, I encountered 4 turtles. The dedication of the people working with the turtles here is amazing. Those in the community helping make $5 a night and work very hard, patroling for 5 hours a shift and walking over 10 km. And even with constant patrol there was still a nest of 100 eggs taken during my time there. Luckily the man was caught by Juan Obando, who works for ANAM and is secretary for AAMVECONA. He is so dedicated to the project. The president of AAMVECONA, Juan Ramos, is always on site and makes sure everything runs smoothly. He is so wonderful to all the volunteers and people that work with the project. Senor Gustavio Cano, who is 60 years old, patrols every night and also helps during the day. He has a beautiful way of working with the turtles. Many others dedicate their time to work on this project.

I have to thank Ghada Dergham from my whole heart. All of this has been made possible by a generous donation made by her to support the purse project. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Once the purses start selling we will be taking women to the Salt Creek Ngobe tribe on Bastimentos to teach the women there how to weave the bags. I will be making a trip in the near future to visit and talk with the women weaving the bags. Many of the women weaving are wives and relatives of those working at AAMVECONA so this is truly a family and community endeavor.

I feel so blessed to here in Panama. This is the most beautiful country, the nature and the heart of the people here is like nothing I have experienced. There is such a genuine giving that comes from the people of this country. My wish is that Panamanians are supported while preserving the beauty of this truly remarkable country.

Love and light,

Heather

Foot Detox

2008-05-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

For the past week I have been using these handy new foot detoxification pads, Sole Pads. They are designed to rejuvenate and alkalize the body while you sleep. I wanted to share them with you all because they really are making quite a difference to my body.

I tend to carry my tension in my neck and mid-back (between my shoulders). An energy healing teacher once told me that this is the toxic buildup area of the body, where all your energy tends to collect and stagnate...of course I'm sure working on your computer until all hours of the night doesn't help either! ;)

The foot detox pads work with detoxifying the reflexology zones on the bottoms of the feet. You place a pad on the area you want to soothe (for me it was the area at the base of the toes that is connected to my shoulders and neck) and sleep with the pads on overnight. The next morning you take the pads off and they usually are a dark color from all the toxins it pulled out of your system.

I'd been wanting to test these out for awhile, so last week I bought a trial pack. The very first night I used them I felt the tension draining out of my neck and shoulders and could feel energy running down my legs. My feet got hot and tingly. The next am my shoulders felt great and the pads were very dark. They recommend you keep using the pads each night until they are clear in the morning.

My husband started using them as well and after a week his are already clearing. But mine are still pulling more and more stuff out. To be fair, I have been moving them around to other areas of my feet: rotating between my neck, liver and large intestines. But I definitely can feel the difference when I am using them. So I wanted to share this with you all as it seems like a easy way to detoxify the body, and remember springtime is the time for cleansing!

If you are here in SF, The Scarlet Sage on Valencia St at 23rd is having a sale on them.
1173 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110-2919
Everyday (7 day / week)
11:00am-6:30pm
Tel: (415) 821-0997

You can also buy them on Amazon as well, and they are $10 cheaper than if you buy direct from the manufacturer's website.

I will keep you posted if anything else impressive happens, and do let me know of your experience with them if you decide to try them out.

Happy Detoxing!

Laugh Yourself Healthy

2008-05-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

Remember that old saying "Laughter is the best medicine?" Well recent scientific studies are actually confirming that as truth.

Dr. Norman Cousins and the College of William and Mary have both reported on the benefits of "mirthful laughter".

Here are just a few benefits:

-Heightened and balanced brain wave activity
-Stimulation to your muscle tone, respiration, and the cardiovascular system
-Enhancement of your immune system
-Reduction in the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
-Overall relaxation and a reduction of stress
-Boosts your endocrine system and balances your hormones
-Increases interpersonal responsiveness, alertness, and memory
-Greater communication between your brain and immune system
-Increases ventilation in your lungs and aids in clearing mucus plugs
-Raises your blood oxygen levels
-Provides a light workout for your body

and on and on and on...

Did you also know that it is physiologically impossible for your body to be in a contracted, negative state when you are laughing? Just try it. Clench your teeth, make fists and contract everything. Then try to laugh. Pretty impossible, huh?

Spending 1-2 minutes a day laughing is an effective way to expand your energy and improve your overall health. In fact, there is a whole school of meditation called Laughing Meditation where you get together with a group of folks and laugh yourselves silly. What an amazing way to connect to your essence!

So, here's a little treat for you...a laughing meditation track for you to laugh along with everday. Just 2 minutes a day and you'll start feeling better immediately!

Download It Here

You are just two minutes away from more Radiant Health!

(Research from "The Physiological Benefits of Laughter," Neurochemistry Department, UC Berkeley)

Sound Healing

2008-05-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a powerful experience I had on Tuesday night. I attended a lecture as part of the JFK Arts and Consciousness Community Art lecture series. It was entitled Aum, The Primordial Healing Art by Silvia Nakkach. Silvia uses chanting and singing as a healing modality. She leads the Vox Mundi Project and is passionately teaching people all across the globe how to use their voice for healing.

What I got out of this lecture, in addition to a sound buzz, was that sound healing is really so simple. It is all about your intention. She had us just sit there and hum, or make whatever noise wanted to come out of us, and it felt incredible!

Silvia really challenged us to allow our voices to arise without judgment by simply making sounds. It was liberating and really raised my energy levels. I was reminded of what someone told me once about how when you are singing it is physically impossible for your body to be contracted. The sound waves move through your cells, vibrating them and loosening things up.

As someone who has sung professionally and trained vocally, I realized that I have spent a lot of time critiquing my voice...learning the mechanics of how to sing. So many people are taught to judge their voice, especially folks who are performers (me included), thinking it is "not good enough," comparing it to others, worrying it doesn't sound ok, on tune, pretty, etc. Silvia shared with us that she does not perform. Even though she gets up in front of hundreds of people and sings, she isn't performing. She is using her body as an instrument for healing spirit energy. She gets out of the way and lets spirit take over. How beautiful! And that is the heart of ALL healing.

I went up to Silvia afterwards and told her I had spent years learning how to sing, and now I need to unlearn how to sing. To get out of my own way and let spirit sing through me, however it wants to sound.

I encourage you to take some time each day and make some noise. Maybe while you are in the shower or doing dishes or on a walk. Sometimes I like to sing while I'm doing yoga. Wherever you find yourself make some sound today.

Soften into it and play! It doesn't even have to make sense. We made up some beautiful melodies with just the word AUM and nothing else. Open up and let your creativity, your spirit energy, have a voice!

One of my favorite chants is the one used at the beginning of Anusara Yoga. I often find myself humming or singing it throughout the day, especially when my energy starts to dip. Here are the words and tune if you would like to learn it as well.

Namaste.

Here is a direct link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7pSswcI6YM

29 Day Giving Challenge

2008-04-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

A dear friend of mine started a social movement a month ago called the 29 Day Giving Challenge . In short, it is a movement to get people focused on opening up and giving to create more of an awareness of abundance on our planet.

Her goal? To get 2,000+ people to commit to give away one item a day for 29 days in a row and share how the experience impacts your life. Some people are donating money, clothes, time, a smile. What you give is only limited by your imagination. Then come back and share your experience with others online. Get inspired!

Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world.

Why so many people? Because we know that one person vibrating at a place of abundance and generosity can shift and transform the energy of something like 90,000 people. So what would that look like if 2,000 people were doing this?!

Lives are being changed as a result.

Visit http://www.29gifts.org and take the challenge today!

One Brain, One Heart

2008-04-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Brain Researcher, Jill Bolte Taylor, had a stroke at the age of 37 that damaged the left side of her brain, and at the same time unleashed a torrent of creative/spiritual energy from her right. A beautiful, moving presentation about our transformative healing capacity and how it is being tracked and recorded by the scientific community.

My Stroke of Insight
http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/view/id/203
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, Neuroanatomist

Belly Stone Treatment

2008-04-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

Ever laid back on a rock on a warm sunny day and felt the warmth of the rock ease your cares away?

A belly stone is a wonderfully simple healing treatment that draws from hot stone massage and Hawaiian shamanic healing. Lately I have been guided to recommend this technique to my clients for calming and shifting a frazzled nervous system, burnout and anxiety.

According to Chi Nei Tsang (Internal Organ Massage), the nerves from the spinal column rise to the front of the body at our solar plexus, the space in between your rib cage on your upper abdomen (about 3 finger widths above your navel). In many people this is where we hold our worry, anxiety and tension. This technique is simple and yet effectively helps to release toxins, stress and energetic build up in the nervous system.

Here's what you'll need:
- A smooth, flat river stone about the size of your palm.

-a towel or washcloth

-a pot of hot water

Here's what you do:

1. Place your stone in a pot of water and heat it until the stone is hot, the water is usually simmering.
2. Carefully remove the stone from the pot by using tongs or dumping the water out first. (You may need to let the pot sit for a few minutes first so you don't get scalded)
3. Place your stone on a towel.
4. Lay down in a comfortable position and place the heated stone, still wrapped in the towl, on your solar plexus. You can fold the towel a few times if the stone is too hot and as it cools you can unfold the towel until you can withstand the stone being placed directly on your skin.

5. RELAX! Rest with your stone until it has cooled or for at least 15 - 20 minutes.
6. After you are finished, place the stone outside in your garden or in a sunny window to release the energy it has absorbed from your body and let it rest there at least 24 hours before you use it again. It needs time to detoxify itself!

You may feel your stomach begin to unwind, as if snarls of tangled wires are letting go. You are allowing the stone's energy to detoxify your body. Stones have a much slower, steadier frequency than human bodies. Our stone friends help us to slow down, let go and flow.

You can use the belly stone on other areas of your body, the heart, the back between the shoulder blades, the womb, anywhere you can balance it. You can find smaller stones and put one in each hand or on your forehead. Wherever you need the tension eased most.

You may want to annoint your stone with essential oils or say a blessing over what you would like to cultivate in your life as you let go of stress, worry and anxiety. Make this time sacred, healing time for yourself. Light a candle, put on soft music, create an atmosphere of tranquility. But most important of all is to allow your body a few precious minutes to slow down, unwind and let go.

Happy Belly Warming!

Megan

Looking for a Western MD with Alternative Medicine Specialties?

2008-04-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for a resource for western medical care that will listen to and incorporate alternative and complimentary therapies as well, AND that takes insurance. I am thrilled to announce I have found such a person at the Health and Healing Center at CPMC.

Dr. Diana Amodia is a western MD with exceptional training in alternative care modalities including Reiki, Acupuncture and shamanic healing. She is a true gem. Best of all CPMC is covered by many insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross and more.

If you are looking for a caring, collaborative physician who will listen to your needs and work with you to address the holistic needs of your body, mind and emotions, Dr. Amodia is it!

Be Well!
Megan