The Power of the Collective

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Have you ever taken a moment to consider what is set in motion before we emerge as individuals?
In this wordless time, while we are deeply bonded in love to a collective reality in the family.

What if we took a step back for a moment from our day-to-day challenges to get a more objective view to question if we actually share in unfinished struggles that reverberate still in our family system?

Physical symptoms can offer a glimpse of what may have gone undiscovered for generations.  Typically, issues connect in a kind of metaphorical echo of what was previously unfinished.  It takes a new way of “seeing” to offer a fresh perspective.

I’ve become fascinated with family-centered recoveries or spontaneous remissions that happen when all doctor’s scans and medical testing show dire expectations.  Reports from around the world, for well over 30 years, have documented hundreds of thousands of people finding relief through Family Constellations.  In North America we are about 20 yrs behind Europe, Russia, Mexico, South America & Australia – places in the world who have been benefiting from this tool for decades.

Its like saying each individual is like a single neuron in a giant brain.  The human family is our primary collective, this collective subconscious that guides families.  As you read these words are you getting curious about the influence of this collective on your life?

What I find leads me even deeper into the understanding of how family’s are all interrelated, is that what goes unresolved in one generation is then given to the next.  Carrying the risk for one of your children or grandchildren who may face a similar challenge in some form or another.  We all say we want what’s best for our children, with that in mind … are you ready to register for the upcoming Family Constellations Workshop?

Your Family, Your Health

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When you think of your mother, does your heart open with softness or close with bitterness?
Do you allow yourself to feel her love or open to the ways she shows care?
What is your sense of where you fit within your family of origin?
What’s unresolved with your parents doesn’t automatically disappear. It serves as a template that shapes your later relationships. Maybe you’ve experienced this with a partner?  With your boss?   If you felt you didn’t get enough from your mother, perhaps you also feel that you don’t get “enough” from your partner. It’s an often surprising reality, but it’s true more often than not.  The same holds true with your father. Your unresolved relationship with your father will also show up in your life.
I’m sharing this example from my teacher, Mark Wolynn’s workshop about a woman who rejects her father, can repeat the fate of her mother by attracting a partner who behaves similarly to the father she rejects. In this way, she brings what she dislikes about her father back into her life. With this sense of what we reject, we embody.  Not only that, but by reliving her mother’s experience, she joins her mother in her discontent.

Family Constellations, created by Bert Hellinger, offers an incredible body of knowledge that allows us to look at the complexity of illness or even a general unhappiness in life from a very insightful perspective.

Observing Mark Wolynn, inspired by the healing potential of Bert Hellinger’s family work, a sought-out facilitator who works with those who are often unable to find their healing solutions from traditional sources.  In my first workshop with him, I had the feeling that I had found what I was looking for:  I experienced an incredible ability to instill healing within willing participants without any medication, just by Mark’s insight, his way of being, the power of his questions and his insightful doing. From studying a wide range of holistic therapies, with their view of illness as a disturbance of order, the connection between health and order makes a great deal of sense to me. Bert Hellinger and Mark Wolynn’s insights into the orders of love in human systems and their possible meaning in medical contexts quickly made sense to me and I’ve been applying them with positive feedback from my clients ever since.  Not such a leap, really to integrate holistic medicine and the need to include the dynamics of the family system.

As a therapist I’m interested in ‘What has contributed to healing, where the healing processes were initiated or activated by family constellation systemic perspective’  If you are as well … Watch ‘The Ghost in Your Genes’ Documentary.

Fertility & The Subconscious Mind

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We appear to be in the middle of an infertility epidemic: millions of women receive the services of clinics that specialize in assisted reproductive technologies hoping for a healthy and happy outcome: baby or babies.
Women have received the diagnosis of “unexplained infertility” and some of them look to ways to enhance the success of the procedures: mind-body meditation programmes, Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naturopathic care and Hypnosis.
From before the moment of conception to the moment of birth, very powerful subconscious programs are established that are then re-accessed as she contemplates becoming a mother. If the subconscious mind believes that having a baby could jeopardize her safety and/or survival – even if this belief makes no sense to the conscious mind – then it will not allow pregnancy to occur, or if it occurs, not allow it to continue to term.
As mammals, the human mind is designed to reduce fertility when food supplies are low and when it feels unsafe. Human hormones are exquisitely balanced so that even the slightest hint of stress is relayed to the reproductive system and the body ensures that pregnancy does not occur. The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline produced by the adrenal glands interfere with reproductive hormones such as FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) in both men and women. This in turn decreases testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Chronic stress can stop ovulation, menstruation and significantly lower sperm counts.
One of the most important blocks to fertility is safety… if her sub-conscious mind does not believe that a pregnancy is safe, it will not let it happen. If pregnancy is associated subconsciously with trauma (i.e. miscarriage), her mind will ensure that she is not further re-traumatized and make sure that conception doesn’t even happen. Hypnosis can support you in releasing the trauma from a previous miscarriage to allow your body to experience a state acceptance that is encouraging to pregnancy.

Quotes of the Day

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“Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them.”
Shakti Gawain

Healing:  “to solve a problem, view it from a higher level – especially with physical healing.  Physicians can only arrest an illness, keep it from progressing or reduce infection, thus providing conditions in which healing can occur.The actuality of healing is always a miracle that happens on a higher level through the restoration of wholeness”
Glenda Green

Hypnosis and Birth

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There are so many professionals now using hypnosis that it must be really confusing to know which one to go for and what each one involves. The most recognized names include HypnoBirthing, Natal Hypnotherapy, Hypnobabies and Leclaire Method. But what is hypnosis in childbirth? What’s it like? How does it work?

Sometimes the perception of hypnosis in childbirth is that it’s a special state, something like you’ve seen in stage hypnosis, which couldn’t be further from how it all works! So to help clear things up for the reader, here’s my own view on this (as a hypnotherapist and a mother who has used hypnosis in her birth).

Hypnosis is among the oldest phenomena known to man and is found, in one form or another, in virtually every culture throughout the world. In the case of childbirth, it’s the complete inward focus on birth which is the natural trance (“hypnotic”) state. This trance state, which can only happen when a woman is completely relaxed and feels safe during her birth has been happening since the beginning of birth itself.

If you haven’t already experienced childbirth and wonder what this trance state feels like, you have probably actually experienced it before without knowing. Think of a time when you were so focused on something, that you had no perception of time, of people around you or of other noises wherever you were. Sometimes this can be through listening to music, reading a good book or being mesmerized by a great movie. It’s also the state we go into just before we nod off and fall asleep. It’s this ability which you already have which is called on for giving birth.

By practicing this existing skill before you give birth, you can help increase your confidence about your ability to birth gently and calmly. A great way to practice this calm inward focus is to do so while listening to relaxing music you may have chosen to be played at your birth, so you automatically link the two together, plus visualize your birth unfolding just as you would like it too.

According to published results of clinical studies (Am J Clin Hypn. 2004 Apr), the use of hypnosis facilitates a more uncomplicated birth process. In a separate research study done by University of Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble, it was also found that women who learn hypnosis before delivering babies suffer fewer complications, need less medication and are more likely to have healthier babies than are women without hypnosis. Schauble’s first study involved adolescents getting prenatal care at a public health clinic. A group of 20 patients who received hypnosis preparation were compared with 20 who were given supportive counseling and 20 patients in a control group who received only the standard prenatal care. None of the women who received hypnosis required surgical intervention in their deliveries, compared with 12 in the supportive counseling group and eight in the control group, he said. “Patients who are prepared for labor and delivery in hypnosis are more likely to absorb and benefit from information because they are in a relaxed, highly focused state”

Check out the Joy of Birth Program Now

Conscious Parenting

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I have enjoyed Bruce Lipton’s books and insights for years … he’s simply amazing.
He is so excited about the scientific information about human behavior he has gathered and shares with passion.
Check out what he has to say here:

Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum

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I first met Gaela when I was expecting my first baby, for a homeopathic birth kit to have available for our home birth. It came in handy in my experience as my water broke ……. yet, nothing else happened! Gaela had remedies inside the birth kit to encourage labour to begin naturally.

Homeopathic medicines are very gentle and safe for women and their babies.
They have been used for over 200 years by midwives and homeopaths to ease birth and avoid unnecessary medical interventions.
Ideal for home births, a birth kit of homeopathic remedies is a powerful addition to your comfort measures.
Homeopathy successfully treats morning sickness, low milk supply, baby reflux and colic, post partum depression, thrush, breast pain, late starting labour, ineffective contractions, hemorrhoids, and more.

Homeopathy for Children:

Individualized ‘constitutional’ treatment is the best prevention! Each child is unique; one child may be prone to repeated ear infections, while another has eczema. Temperament is an important factor in this holistic approach. Homeopathic remedies don’t merely eliminate the symptoms, they go deeper to heal the cause, boost the immune system and prevent recurrence. Moms often tell me that with constitutional treatment their child also has more energy, sleeps better, and is more resilient emotionally.

The beauty of the individualized homeopathic remedy is in its simplicity; there are no complicated dietary regimes or expensive additional supplements.

Homeopathy for Women’s Health:

Studies have shown that homeopathy is an effective treatment for hormone imbalances such as PMS, fertility problems and menopausal symptoms. I have also had success treating depression, anxiety, exhaustion/fatigue and chronic pain.

Gaela Nelson, PDHom has been practicing for 7 years after completing the four year program of The School of Homeopathy. She is registered with the Canadian Society of Homeopaths. For more information about Gaela and many articles about homeopathy see www.homeopathyottawa.com

Love Your Body Secret Tip

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From a colleague who runs a business called Build Your Body Beautiful

Love Your Body TEA 

  1. 8 white tea bags
  2. 8 pu-erh tea bags (you can get pu-erh tea in China town – don’t bother with the specialty tea shops that sell it for $10-15, I got mine for $2)
  3.  lemon
  4. fresh ginger
  5. sweetener of choice (optional) – you can use natural honey, or if you want calorie free go for stevia

Directions:
Boil 8 cups of water.  Add the white tea and pu-erh tea bags and several slices of fresh ginger to the boiling water.  Steep for 5 mins.  Remove teabags and ginger.  Add 2-3 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice & sweetener (if you wish) and allow to cool.  Pour into a pitcher, and keep in fridge.  Makes 8 servings.

How to get the best fat-melting benefits of this tea:
1. Have 2 cups in the morning w/breakfast.
2. Have 2 cups mid-afternoon w/ lunch
EASY!

Exploring the ingredients and their benefits:

PU-ERH TEA FAT LOSS BENEFITS:

Named for a mountainous region in China this tea has magical properties. It has a big jolt of caffeine that wakes up your metabolism.   Pu-erh tea helps you to lose weight by helping to increase the speed of digestion.  Pu-erhtea will accelerate the movement of fat from the stomach to the colon without giving the fat time to be absorbed by the body.  Pu-erh can also help you to lose weight in many other ways besides increasing the speed of digestion.

Other Pu-erh Tea benefits:

  • Helps lower blood cholesterol levels
  • Boosts the flow of blood and help enhance circulation
  • Inhibits the formation and growth of cancer cells
  • Helps invigorate the spleen
  • Remove toxins from the body
  • Helps heal aches and pains

WHITE TEA FAT LOSS BENEFITS:

White tea has more benefits to health than any other tea known to man.  It is the  is the least processed of all teas. It was originally discovered in a small province in China a thousand or so years ago and used for healing.

White tea aids weight loss in a number of ways. It increases your metabolism rate which in turn increases your calories losing rate and you end up losing pounds!
It is able to increase your metabolism rate because it contains more antioxidants than any other tea available. This makes it the perfect choice for those wanting to lose weight (even more than green tea!).

Other benefits of White Tea:

  • It retains the highest amount of cancer-fighting polyphenols
  • The enzymes found in white tea reduce inflammation
  • It helps fight arthritis
  • Helps reduce and prevent wrinkles 
  • Reduced LDL cholesterol (thats the “bad” cholesterol we dont want!)
  • Have the possibility of reducing your blood pressure by thinning the blood and improving your artery function
  • These help strengthen the immune system and prevent intrusion from bacteria and viruses
  • Healthier skin and acne prevention – has antioxidants which get rid of free radicals in the skin

LEMON FAT LOSS BENEFITS:

Bunch of lemons on tree

There are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries. The two biggest are lemons’ strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers and their use as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser. They help by eliminating toxins and can really get a sluggish digestive system moving again. Lemons contain many substances–notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene–that promote immunity and fight infection.

Other benefits of lemons include:

  • Lemons treat acne - dilute your lemon with water let it sit overnight on skin.
  • Have cancer-killing properties. Well, it’s true.Lemons contain a compound called “limonene”; this compound can increase the levels of liver enzymes that fight carcinogens.
  • Lemons are a natural cleanser- have natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties that have been used by major cleaning companies for years
  • Very nutritious! Excellent source of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, which is a water soluble, natural antioxidant. They are also low in calories, contain no cholesterol, and have no saturated fats.

GINGER FAT LOSS BENEFITS:

Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for centuries.It has many many benefits, especially with the digestive system. Ginger helps protect the gastric system by increasing the pH of stomach acid, reducing its acidity, thereby lower the rate of gastric secretions, and increasing digestive enzyme activity. Rather than blocking the feelings of nausea in the brain, it acts directly on the stomach and liver to reduce nausea and vomiting. It is also said to speed up the metabolism thus help to burn fat.

Other benefits of ginger:

  • Powerful weapon in the treatment of various cancers especially ovarian & colon cancers
  • Just as effective as vitamin B6 in the treatment of morning sickness
  • Remedy for the nausea associated with motion sickness 
  • Has anti-inflammatory properties and is a powerful natural painkiller
  • Long been used as a natural heartburn remedy 
  • Treatment for colds and the flu 
  • May provide migraine relief due to its ability to stop prostaglandins from causing pain and inflammation in blood vessels. 
  • In Chinese medicine, ginger tea with brown sugar is used in the treatment of menstrual cramps

Post Partum Depression

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Most mothers feel tired after the strenuous energy of a birth, however, sometimes it’s more than just recovering from a birth, and sometimes things happened that the mom is just not recovering well.

MOTHERS NEEDS:

To feel safe, as she allows herself to explore her feelings and her thoughts. These two are highly connected and during birth, she is highly suggestible. Therefore, the statements, the looks, the beliefs that she experiences through her birth can often leave her feeling lost, a failure and fearful for both herself and her infant.

SOME SIGNS OF DEPRESSION:

No Joy, no happiness with her infant – the “good enough mother” but not the joy and love in being a mother
A “blunted” mother, sad, motionless, fatigued, distant from her baby and her family and even herself.
Angry, Unnecessary fears, negative thinking
Not sleeping, emotional, and unable to cope with baby’s needs
Or fear of leaving baby unattended even for a moment
Severe dreams interrupting sleep
Not eating, finding everything extremely negative
Not showering or maintaining self care
Disinterest in the baby, good enough, but not loving or interested in the infant.
Disinterest in the family life
Lack of attention when speaking to her, anxiety, not available for intimate relationships
Sleeping through babies cries
Not wanting to leave the house
Shortness of temper or completely lack of emotional response
These can be signs of post partum depression and are easily attended to without the involvement of drug therapies, which can be harmful to baby.
How Can Hypnotherapy Help Post Partum Depression?

Not unlike, PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, with similarities, operating at a “machine pace” the residual disappointment of childbirth, traumatic interventions & fear simply overwhelms the mother’s nervous system.

Essentially 3-4 sessions of hypnotherapy will rebalance the new mother’s brain chemistry so that her natural internal system simply “re-boots”. When we have long periods of interrupted or shorten sleeping, the brain does not release the levels of serotonin and endorphins needed which we generally get during a regular 8-10 hour nights sleep.

When that is interfered with over longer periods of time, this interruption can create distortions in the body and the brain.

Hypnotherapy allows the mother to achieve the deep state needed to “re-start” the brain chemistry and after 3-4 sessions over a few days time, her own internal system will come back to its full state.