I, for one, am feeling somewhat overwhelmed by various daily life challenges. But as this number 9 year suggests, it is time to end… old limiting beliefs, old behaviour patterns, fear and worries, to release and align with the Self that we all are in heart and soul. This entails forgiveness of self and others, mind-body-soul daily health choices. Your daily calm sanctuary: Intending regular internal breaks by simply choosing for mindful minutes or even moments, to turn your attention to your deep, authentic Self, in the midst of all the ‘raucous shrieks and wild imaginings’, by focusing on your breath with awareness in each challenging moment as it arises and, most important, mind training to transform stressful thought patterns… a daily challenge!
A few ways to thrive with present moment, mindfulness practices: Gratitude affirmations when waking up, moments throughout the day, just before you fall asleep. Thankful for the miracles of your breath, your heart beating, your sense comforts we take for granted, the many blessings, life force, love and laughter; nature… flower petals, the wind in the trees, patter of a drizzle and so on.
Try to taste, see and hear what you eat for deeply sensual experiences: Crackle, pop, crunch, colours, sweet, sour, astringent/ bitter, Asparagus, green and black tea, spekboom leaves, aloe vera/ferox juice, legumes, pomegranates, cranberries, turnips, artichokes, radishes, fresh sprouts, citrus peels and herbs such as turmeric, fennel, bay leaf and parsley.
Spekboom also known as the miracle plant and nature’s homegrown multitool.
As Medicine – traditional healers often prescribe this plant for a number of health challenges: Hydrates: Suck a leaf to alleviate thirst and dehydration, reduce exhaustion and symptoms of heatstroke. Relieves: Crush a leaf and apply to blisters, sun overexposure, rashes to alleviate pain and itching. Treats: Chew leaves for sore throats and mouth infections. Heals: Juice the leaves and use as an antiseptic on wounds. Soothes: When the pulp gets applied to the skin, it can also calm sore pimples, sensitive rashes, nasty stings and painful sunburns.
As Nutrition -Nibbling on a Spekboom leaf won’t only cure an irritation, but also provide important health benefits. The edible leaves of the Elephant bush are rich in manganese, cobalt, and magnesium, as well as Vitamin C, iodine and selenium. The flavour, interestingly, changes throughout the day. During the daytime, it tastes very acidic and lemon-like. As evening approaches, the hint of acidity decreases.
It is a respectable natural resource to eat during famine and also assists breastfeeding mothers in stimulating milk production. For meal ideas, add the leaves to freshen a salad or toss in a sprig to flavour a stew.
Landscaping and environmental uses:
Uniquely adapted to curtail water evaporation during dry seasons with its ability to open its stomata (pores for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange) at night and close them during the day to avoid water loss. During wet months, periods that the stomata are open, reverse from nighttime to daytime. This plant lives for up to 200 years and can survive on only 250 – 350mm water a year.
Spekboom is an excellent choice for gardeners, its cuttings are easily propagated and it roots most easily during spring until autumn. Easy greening and water-wise.
Practice present moment awareness and compassionate action. This moment right now, is all we actually have as well as the choice to use it for inner focus and awareness.
Pro-active, compassionate action in LOVE and to know we don’t have to worry about the HOW, but can choose to release and trust in our superconscious mind, Higher Power, the Christ consciousness within us all.
Relationships With everyone we come into contact with… speak to, casual meetings, with a soft and gentle smile on our lips and in our eyes, our loved ones, including our family, friends and intimate soul mate, including heartfelt kindness to ourselves. All relationships are holy encounters. Most important in all contact with others, is to respect them by truly LISTENING to what they say, not hearing simply to interrupt, defend, or think how to use as trigger for something to use to tell our own woes, wonders and worries.
‘MY BELOVED HEART
My beloved child, break your heart no longer. Each time you judge yourself you break your own heart. You stop feeding on the love, which is the wellspring of your vitality. The time has come, your time To live, to celebrate… and to see the goodness that you are… Let no one, no thing, no idea or ideal obstruct you If one comes, even in the name of ‘Truth’, forgive it for its unknowing Do not fight… Let go And breathe into the goodness that you are’.
Swami Kripalu
“Health and happiness is our birthright and it lies within our souls’
Dr Arien van der Merwe is a medical doctor, author and holistic health counsellor. She developed and presents continued professional development training through VideoLearn and Synergetica CPD Courses on Mental Health in Challenging Uncertain Times; Heart Health; Inflammation both Friend and Foe and Neuroplasticity. These online CPD Courses explore ways to support both ourselves, our nearest and dearest, as well as our clients/patients.
Dr Arien is the author of Stress Solutions, the ‘Relax & Unwind’ relaxation CD as well as the books Health & Happiness, Managing Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome and Herbal Remedies. Dr Arien teaches group and individual meditation and relaxation classes, as well as health coaching online (WhatsApp video consultations) and at her rooms in Pretoria.
