Cosmic Intervention

The universe is a lot closer to us than we think. In fact, the universe is what leads us to a better existence - it is our mentor, our friend, our companion and our constant guide. If you have ever asked a question and received the answer you wanted, you have encountered a cosmic intervention.

When in doubt or struggling to find an answer that is just not there, try to stop analysing, hypothesising and formalising and instead ask the universe. Write down your question or think about it once or twice before you go to bed and then STOP thinking about it. Set your intention and let it happen.You will soon find the answer comes to you in a way that you never expected: a book that contains the guidance you need will end up in your hands, a messenger will bring you news to guide you to where you need to be, your dreams will suddenly start speaking to you.

No matter how you receive the information, the universe will provide you with the signs you need to take you down the right path. You play the part of the receiver - keep your mind and heart open, listen to the signals you are given and you will not go wrong.

This process can be used for absolutely anything that is going on in your life:

• You want a new job, but you are not sure of what you want to do
• You need to move house, but you don't have the money
• You want to take a brerak from your relationship, but you don't know if you should
• You want to travel, but are worried about your career

If you simply set the intention - ask the universe for an answer or a solution to something that is bothering you - you will be amazed at how much guidance the universe provides. However, if you dwell on your problems and try to force a solution, you will be unable to hear the wise words of the cosmic guide and will end up back in the same place you started.

Keep your heart open, go with what is presented to you and listen well. If you are able to do that, you will always have someone to rely on and will always manage to tailor-make your life in exact accordance with your true needs and desires.

Sofas and Headboards

There are some things in life that just make you feel like jumping out of your skin - that sense of happiness that bubbles through your veins and explodes into a smile that plants itself on your face and refuses to budge.I get that feeling when I see toddlers trying to walk and when friends laugh so much that they cry. It's like a whirlpool of warmth swirls in my gut and makes me feel fuzzy all over.

Luckily enough, this weekend was one of those full of warm fuzzies. Despite the cold that crept through Jozi on  Saturday morning, the warmth of all things beautiful made every day feel like rainbows and sunflowers. A wine-induced family dance off, romance in the rain, laughing until my tummy hurt, pub grub with friends, the success of London marathon-ers and of course sofas and headboards.

Shopping for a new home can become an arduous task, especially when living in a concrete jungle. You end up spending more time in your car than you do in the shops and with so many options, your brain goes into  overdrive as you try to find the best deal. However, undertaking this mammoth task was anything but arduous thanks to a very special person in my life. Whoever knew lying on a hundred different beds (in public) could be so much fun!

Anyway, to the point of today's blog: Make the most of eveything you see and everything you do. Enjoy every minute. Savour every second. Laugh with your whole heart, love with your whole soul, be spontaneous, dance in the rain, eat popcorn for breakfast, go shopping for something you don't need! Every task that is presented to you can be the most fulfilling of your life if you let it, so smile through it and make memories worth remembering.

For the Love of My Country

Today I learnt, once again, about the tragic effects of misused power.

A man who had the courage to stand up for his country, to protest against acts of violence and oppression, to ensure that others would not have to endure what he had to - this man was seen in the eyes of those in power as the bad guy. And what these people do to bad guys is truly appalling.

Abducted with his wife and son-in-law, this man was tortured and beaten to the point of death. Suffering from severe head injuries, brain damage, broken ribs and extensive trauma, he managed to survive for 2 years after the vile attack, but this week he could hold on no longer and passed away.

My blog today is dedicated to this man and all others who have fought for what they believe in, in spite of the horrendous circumstances. Thank you for being so brave.


For the whole story, go to: 
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38742%3Azim-farmer-who-took-mugabe-to-court-dies-of-his-injuries&catid=69%3Asunday-top-stories&Itemid=30

To Mike Campbell, age 78.

Curiosity and the Cat

Curiosity. It didn't actually kill the cat. And if it did, so what? The cat had another 8 lives ahead of him anyway!

Being curious is an essential aspect to living an interesting and fulfilling life. Being curious allows us to seek adventure, to learn more about the world around us and to understand the intricacies of the human psyche.

My curiosity has led me on a multitude of adventures - I have explored places, learnt languages, tried and failed, picked myself back up again and made connections with people that I never knew were possible. Curiosity is no detrimental trait, in essence it is the key that opens the door to opportunity.

When meeting someone for the first time, be curious - ask questions about them, listen and respond, don't just nod your head and let your mind wander. Be fully engaged and let your curiosity take you down a path of human connection. Watch how your relationships explode with love and laughter as you become more and more curious.

This doesn't only apply to those you have just met, it applies to all relationships in your life - when your partner comes home to tell you a story about their day, stop what you are doing, sit down, look them in the eye and allow your curiosity to uncover the little nuances of what they are saying.

Become curious in your job - if you are bored with what you do every day, ask your boss how you can expand what you are doing. Ask questions, do some research, be proactive. Make every day that little bit more exciting by using the inquisitive part of your mind.

Curiosity can take you on travels all over the country and the world. Get curious about your surroundings - take road trips, book lunch at a new place in town, go on a hike, take photos of interesting landscapes, jump into your car and drive until you find somewhere you would like to explore.

The fear of the unknown is often the hurdle that stops us from being curious. Knock it over, get curious and start living.

Open Your Heart

The recent catastrophic events in Japan have left us, as a world, devastated. The fact that so many of our fellow humans are suffering and there is nothing we can do about it, is heartbreaking. As much as we would like to be involved in sending aid or even jumping on a plane and being there in person, for the majority of us, this is not a reality.

Instead of feeling ashamed of what you cannot do on a tangible level, think of how you can help those who are suffering by using your internal energy and spirit. Natural disasters present us with the opportunity to open our hearts in compassion, to empathise with those who have lost people they love, who have had their homes destroyed and their entire livelihood taken away from them.

Simply by sparing a few minutes each day to think about what it would feel like to be in that position, to send love to those who are suffering and to be grateful for what you do have, you are helping Japan and its inhabitants more than you know. It is astonishing what a little heart opening can achieve, even though you may not be able to witness its positive effects directly.

Recently, one of my best friends, Jess Bonin, opened her heart to the fight against Cancer and shaved off her beautiful long brown locks for the cause. The vibrations of energy that she has released by committing to something so positive and selfless will no doubt be felt by all those around her and will one day reach a cancer patient, filling them with hope and providing them with a new head of hair.

Giving of your love and energy will have a profound impact, not only on those in need, but on you too. The more you can open your heart to others, the more love will be returned to you and what you receive will be ten times more powerful than what you give out.

So, take some time out today to spare a thought for someone else, we could all do with a little more love in our lives!

A Virtue Greater Than Patience

Whoever suggested that patience was a virtue was severely misinformed. It is certainly NOT a virtue. It is a challenge, a mounumentally enormous challenge that we, in our new-age fast-paced society, have grand difficulty in understanding, let alone conquering.

 

The quarter-life crisis can speak for itself here - those of us at the age of 26 to 30 want everything and we want it now! And why shouldn't we? We have the education, motivation and brain power to get there - we have been exposed to travel, tertiary studies and a plethora of mind expanding fixations (Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, Xbox, Amazon, Kindle) allowing us to think above and beyond the dimensions of 1980's ambitions. We now have the power to become anything we want, and we know it.

 

So I need to challenge this virtue called patience, ask it to step aside and replace it with something I like to call Trust. This again is one of those words that we use, abuse and misuse all the time for fear of sounding too emotional, personal or out of line.

 

For many women, 'I love you' actually means 'I trust that you are never going to cheat on me or break my heart'. For many men, 'Just trust me', means I really do want to be with you and if you keep believing that I am going to run away with the next hot blonde that walks into this bar then I might just have to leave you.

 

The connotation of trust that aligns itself most perfectly with my lack of patience is Trust in the Process. When I first heard this, I thought it was a piece of esoteric enlightenment that someone had come up with in order to make us all feel better, however the more I thought about it, the more I realised how true this was and how it had actually worked in my favour throughout my life.

 

SET THE INTENTION AND LET IT HAPPEN.

 

That is the best way I can describe the feeling of trust in this context. Rather than obsessing over something, wishing, hoping, praying every day that it is going to happen, strategically placing reminders everywhere to visualise and meditate on what you want, just let it go. Decide on what you want and then trust in the process of your life that whatever is meant to come to you will come when the time is right. Not only will this allow the universe to work its magic without the constant interference of your thoughts, it will also take a hell of a lot of pressure off your shoulders. Trust that the process of your life will unfold as it is supposed to, whether you like it or not:

 

• If he/she breaks up with you, stop trying to fight it, it's just not meant to be!
• If the job interview goes badly, suck it up, there will be something better around the corner.
• If she really won't forgive you, another friend will take her place who will love you even more.
• If you don't have the money, sorry to say but it is just not your time for a flat screen TV!

Stay trusting and you never know, patience might eventually become a virtue!

Natural Living

Here are some wonderful remedies for ailments that you may be suffering from at this time of the year. You can generally get them from all health shops and I find DisChem is great as they stock tinctures, tissue salts and combination tablets - depending on your preference. Alternatively use what you have in your cupboard, but be careful not to go too overboard - especially on the spices!

Aching in the legs - Cayenne Pepper
Nausea or digestion - Cinnamon
Constipation - Fennel
Period pains - Feverfew
To aid circulation or as an antibiotic - Garlic
Bad breath - Mustard
Headache or IBS - Peppermint
Sore throat -Sage
Relaxant - Chamomile
Hangover - Hops
Insomnia - Valerian Root
Lack of energy - Ginseng

The next blog will be about Bach Flower Remedies and the various ailments that can be elimanted through these wondrous drops, so keep reading!

Have a beautiful weekend and don't forget to take some time out for yourself.