(Yes, that's me on the right.) There is nothing quite like a 40 year High School Reunion to make you feel your age, right? Well I was surprised. It didn’t do that for me at all. What it did do however, was to remind me of how very far I’ve come. It reminded me of the power of the mind and how changing your thoughts can literally change your life.
You see those years were probably some of the worst years of my life both at school and at home. I lived my senior school years in tears each and every day. My life had become a helter skelter, a downward spiral both emotionally and educationally. I was an emotional and physical wreck. I hated school and I hated home and I had become very good at hiding it. I had gone from absolutely loving school to just wanting to escape. I took every opportunity I could to “wag” school and hardly anyone even noticed. I was born a gifted child with high IQ (163 at age 7) with hyperactive child syndrome (ADHD) a thirst for knowledge and a love of learning. I had a reading age of 12 when I started school at 4, working with the older children right from the start. (There is another story in this - for a later page) I loved flouting my intelligence and throughout my infants in UK and early primary school years in NSW it was never a problem. Due to my father’s work, I was backwards and forwards between schools in different towns each year and each new placement began with an intelligence test so that the teachers knew where to place me in the class, what reading to give me and which library books I was allowed to borrow. I loved astounding my teachers with the results of these tests and I was treated to extra reading material, quizzes, and fun things to do. During the school holidays I would work through maths text books two or three years ahead. I loved this too and was so proud of myself when I came to the end of a book. But things didn’t go so well as I got older. My father’s work relocated him to a new town for three years and I was stuck at the same school from grade 5 to grade 8. My grade 5 teacher had no patience for someone who was so far ahead. He refused to allow me to work at my own pace and I was hit with a ruler on a number of occasions for “showing off” or doing long division “the quick way”. In grade 6 I was banned from maths and english games in class because I always knew the answers which meant that no-one else had a chance. I had to sit by myself and watch everyone else struggle and not be allowed to help. I began to get so miserable. By the time I finished primary school as DUX, I was being bullied by other students for my intelligence, for being English and even for being skinny. On a few occasions I was even threatened at knife point by another student. I told no-one. I thought I knew how to fix it though. As I began grade 8 I vowed never to be top of the class again and I even tried failing exams on purpose. My class results started to slip, but I realised that I wasn’t really happy. And to top it all, I was now being teased and laughed at for NOT being top of the class. Towards the end of grade 8 - first year of high school, my father’s work took me to my final school destination in a regional city - no need now for the boarding school for which I had won a scholarship. I was full of good intention - I would be able to prove myself again. BUT the mind is a powerful thing. I couldn’t for the life of me turn things around. I was still a good student, but I could no longer put pen to paper on a written test or read multiple choice without making stupid mistakes. I COULD NOT pass an exam. As soon as an assignment or an exam hit the desk in front me I would freeze and my mind would be completely empty. My essays became a series of dot points containing all the facts, but nothing else. I was called lazy at home due to my results, and I began to take it on board - I was beginning to believe it. Gradually, I was failing almost every subject except art (which not surprisingly I did not enjoy). I had gone from top of every class to literally the bottom of every class. Music and Dance kept me going and also gave me my escape route from school. I was part of the school Stage Band and concert band, learned flute and tenor saxophone at school and studied ballet externally. I made friends with the school office staff who would mark me away at dance or music classes when I needed to escape. Nobody ever knew what I was going through, although I have an idea that my friends in the office suspected. Unfortunately during my last two years at school I was made to give up my dance to concentrate on improving my school work - I lost that escape route. By now the tears had started - at school because I didn’t want to be there and then I’d cry all weekend at home because frankly I would rather have been at school. I had nowhere to go. With the problems at home, the looming end of school was especially terrifying. I had nothing to show for my years of study - there was really nothing I could do in those days, but become a secretary or shop assistant. I did both. I moved out of home at 17 and worked one full time job in an engineering office, part time in a dress boutique and part time at my parents picture framing business. All in an effort to prove that I had some worth. I would walk to work at the office at 6am in the morning and not leave until 6pm. Then work weekends and Thursday nights at my other jobs. But then life caught up with me and at the ripe old age of 18 I collapsed after contracting Ross River Fever. I was bedridden for 6 months and had to move back into the family home (another story for later). This culminated in diagnoses of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, early onset arthritis, depression and anxiety and in all honesty I did not expect to make it to 30 years of age. BUT I was determined. There are many stories to tell around my long recovery, but those I will share in parts at later stages. Surprisingly though, I didn’t give up on myself. I’m here! I’m fit, healthy, happy and living my dream. I learnt to change my thinking. It did take me a good few decades, but I’ve never given up. I have multiple qualifications in different areas as I found that studying outside of school suited me well. I now understand the workings of the mind in creating reality. Life really and truly is what you make it. You can make it negative or you can make it positive. The choice really is up to you. In the words of Mike Dooley “Thoughts become things. Choose the good ones” to edit.
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 I don't know who sent me this little cartoon, but it really struck a chord with me. It's to do with a lesson I've learned (very belatedly) during this whole COVID-19 episode. You see, I have always equated recieving help as being pampered. Silly I know. Maybe it was my upbringing that forced me to become so fiercely independent, but I've finally figured out how much of a disservice I've been doing myself.
You see it wasn't actually the pandemic that stopped me in my tracks - in fact living on a farm and enjoying being isolated anyway, it really had the opposite effect. I went in to overdrive. Working more, supporting other people and actually quite enjoying myself and getting sooooo much done. "I don't need other people around me anyway." was my way of thinking. So the universe (or my higher self) kind of decided that I needed to learn an important lesson. One day whilst home alone, taking my dog for a walk, I tripped down the front step injuring my foot. I couldn't stand myself back up and Hector the Cavoodle was careening out towards the road, dragging his lead behind him. My first thought was for Hector and I tried to call him back to me, but I must have frightened him when I fell and he would not come when called. I dragged myself off the steps and onto the grass and lay down having the idea that he would want to lick my face and play. This he did and I managed to secure his lead to the veranda post. I then realised that I didn't have my mobile phone with me to call for help, but as luck would have it, I had had a call earlier on my landline, and taken it outside to talk. Instead of putting the phone back in its cradle, I had just opened the flyscreen and placed the phone on the floor, just inside. I managed to crawl back up the steps and call my husband at work. Now, being the "strong independent woman" that I am, I had NEVER in the 40 years we've been together, asked him for help during my long periods of illness or my many silly injuries. Therefore, it came as a bit of a shock to me that now that I'm not as young as I used to be, I quite possibly would have to ask him to help me stand up (and God forbid, more). He, poor thing, is the kind that hides away, or puts up a barrier when confronted with any kind of ill health or suffering, so I saved him the worry and called an ambulance. These lovely paramedics were so kind and helpful. They splinted my foot, carried me to the ambulance and hubby met us at the hospital. A few hours, xrays and consultations later I was dispatched home with a pair of crutches and instructions to keep off my foot for two weeks and to then have more Xrays. Turns out I had torn all the ligaments quite severely, pulled the muscles and tendons and ended up with a beautifully multi coloured foot. This would mean weeks, if not months of time off it. Although it wasn't broken I was in quite a lot of pain but the worst of it??? It began to look as though I would have to ask my husband for help with cooking, cleaning, walking the dog. I knew he wouldn't do anything without being asked. He just wasn't used to it and I wasn't used to asking. Consequently, I tried to do everything I could and spent a good few days in tears. Over the few months prior I had been doing quite a lot of work on self love and self worth and at the end of the first week, when I finally allowed myself to accept that I HAD actually injured myself severely and it wasn't just my imagination, I had an epiphany. What if asking for help and allowing people to help you is part of self love and self worth? Had all of this happened to me to make me realise that I didn't know how to love myself, to honour my body and to give myself time? And do you know? As soon as I made this realisation, the energy changed. Something changed in my husband too. I didn't even need to ask for help any more. He was offering and I was allowing. It's been two months now since I injured my foot and although i am pushing myself to heal quickly, I've been honouring myself and allowing people to help me. I think it's brought my husband and I closer together too. I'm back on my feet again now, and although still in a little pain (though this is nothing new for me) Hector and I are walking twice a day. I am quite sure that my husband secretly enjoyed his walks with the dog, but he says he doesn't miss them. He gets enough exercise on the farm. Anyway - Message to self!!!! Accepting help is NOT the same as being pampered. I love myself unconditionally, I deserve the best in life. I AM love.  Growing up was a difficult process for me. I had a less than happy childhood with many forms of abuse by many different people. I was bullied wherever I went, by children and adults alike. By the time I hit high school, I was afraid of everything and everyone. I was scared to go to school and scared to be at home. I hated weekdays and hated weekends. Each night I would lie awake and wonder how I would get through the next day. Those that know me from high school would probably remember me in tears most days in my senior years.
BUT During these years, something miraculous was also happening. Something that kept me going, something that I wouldn't recognise and understand until many, many years later. Each and every morning as I stepped outside, as I did every morning at about 5am, I would be flooded with a warm, white gold light. I would feel instant peace, instant bliss and I would KNOW that I could get through another day. This happened spontaneously each day until the day I moved out of home at age 17. At 18 I contracted a severe form of Ross River Fever and was bedridden for more than 6 months during which time I had to move back to my parents home. It was a horrible experience and resulted in a thirteen year journey through chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety. During the years of therapy that followed, I was often asked how my heart had managed to remain so full of love. Most people, I was told, who had been through what I had been through in my childhood and beyond, would have crumbled, would have been on the streets, alcoholics, addicts of some kind - but here I was relatively sane and with a heart apparently radiating love. And what I struggled to understand was how I could ever let anyone love me back. I was so undeserving and so messed up. When, during therapy, I was asked to think of a happy experience, I could honestly say that I could not remember one. Sometime in my twenties, I ditched all medications, all therapists and decided I needed to heal myself. After all, since I was still around, I obviously had a purpose. I just needed to find it. My healing journey is another story altogether, but with the decision made, I began to once again have glimpses of this golden white light connection from my childhood. I began to start imagining it happening until it actually did. I pictured that white gold light above me, And I began to hold on to it. Breathe it in, fill myself up and feel that instant bliss, that joy of life. And it became a regular part of my healing journey. I understand now, that I was so very lucky to have had the experience that I did in my childhood because it enabled me to recognise that light. And I believe that it stopped because I needed to make it become conscious. I needed to learn that I could connect to the universe, I could draw in the energy and unconditional love at will. I needed to hit rock bottom to learn to heal myself and others. There are many books and writings that speak of calling in the light, charging yourself with love and then radiating it into the world. This is how we heal each other and the world around us. It keeps your vibration high, your connection to the source strong and with this you can face anything. You can create miracles. Meditation Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths into your whole body. Then imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet into the earth and feel the earths energy traveling up through those roots into your body, anchoring your, feeding you, healing you. Then imagine or feel a ball of golden white light hovering above your head. Breathe it in through your crown and feel it filling your whole body with light. Let it mingle with the earth energy, filling each and every cell within you. Then let that light expand outside of your body so that you are cocooned in light. Take a few more deep breaths and imagine or feel a pink light radiating inside your heart. Allow this light to grow until it fills your chest. Then send a beam from your heart out into the universe and watch it enveloping the earth and all of its beings. The whole world needs love right now and we can all contribute. When you are ready, take a few deep breaths and open your eyes. Do this exercise every day and you will find that it will become spontaneous for you. You will only have to intend it and it is done. You will know it is done because you will feel the energy and the bliss and the joy. Namaste Jane  The Chakra System Part 1 Throughout history, the idea of a universal energy percieved throughout all of nature has been held by mystics, religious practices and more recently Western Scientists. Think od the Indian spiritual tradition of prana; the Chinese calling vital energy Chi: the Jewish Kabala referring to astral light and the Christian religious paintings indicating a field of light or halo surrounding Jesus and other religious figures. As I mentioned in my last blog, human beings can be viewed as networks of complex energy fields that interact with physical and cellular systems. The physical system resonates at a particular vibration and is an integral part vibrating at a lower frequency with the higher energy systems surrounding it. These higher energy systems referred to as our subtle bodies are composed of matter with quite different frequency characteristics than those of the physical bodies. These systems are physically superimposed on one another in the same space and together they play vital parts in the total functioning of the human being. Various writings from the Indian Yogic teachings refer to special energy systems which exist within these subtle bodies. They are known as Chakras The word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit meaning 'wheels or disks', and they resemble whirling vortices of subtle energies. These energy systems are associated with accessing universal energy and transmuting it into a useable form within the human structure. The origin of the seven fold chakra system that is most commonly followed today, has its roots in the Hindu culture. The earliest mention of the term chakra is said to come from the Vedas, the four holy books of the Hindus, believed to date back before 2500 BC. However, the notion of seven “maps of consciousness” for optimum well-being goes back much further. Physiologically, the chakras are involved in the flow of higher energies via subtle energetic channels to the cellular structure of the physical body. Therefore, the chakra systems seem to function as energy transformers, stepping down energy from a higher frequency to a lower level of energy. This energy is then translated into the hormonal and physiological system to bring about cellular changes throughout the body. Although the human energy system is said to have many chakras, and new ones are being discovered all the time, the traditional Hindu system names the seven major ones previously mentioned. The location of the seven chakras associated with the physical body corresponds with the major nerve networks. Each major chakra on the front of the body is paired with its corresponding one on the back of the body. Together they form the front and rear aspects of a chakra. There are also believed to be at least twenty-one minor chakras. Energetically, the chakras are openings that allow energy to flow into and out of the aura. As this energy is associated with a form of consciousness, the energy exchange is experienced in terms of seeing, hearing, feeling, sensing, intuiting or direct knowing. The tips of the chakras where they are connected to the Universal Energy Field (UEF) are referred to as the heart or root of the chakra. Within the heart of the chakra are seals which control exchange of energy between the layers of the auric field (subtle bodies). To allow certain energy to flow from one layer to another through the chakra, it must pass through the seals in the heart of the chakra. This is most probably why the Yogic literature uses the flower analogy - a lotus flower opening and shutting to explain the chakra. Even when we are perfectly still – as in a static yoga pose or sitting in silence doing nothing more than breathing, - the chakras are doing a dynamic dance. They are opening, closing, shifting, spinning, expanding and contracting. The energy generated by the Chakras moves up and down the spine. When flowing freely, that energy can connect us with the Earth at the same time that it connects us with the Higher Realms of existence. The energy has the power to lift us out of fatigue, depression, illness and despair. It has the ability to bring body, mind and soul together as one. It is therefore important to open the chakras and increase the flow of energy, the more energy flows through the system the healthier the human system will be. A brief look at the individual Chakras The first chakra, Muladhara (Root Chakra) is situated near the coccyx and is associated with the adrenals, triangular shaped glands that cap each of the kidneys. These glands secrete a variety of hormones including those that regulate the body’s metabolism. These glands also produce adrenalin, the hormone essential for our fight or flight response. The Root Chakra is associated with survival. The second chakra, Svadisthana (Sacral Chakra) originates near the tip of the coccyx or sacrum. It is associated with the male and female reproductive organs or gonads. Our relationship with our own sexuality and issues of emotional balance concerning that is a key association of this chakra. The third chakra, Manipura, (Solar Plexus Chakra) lies in the upper middle abdomen below the tip of the sternum. It is associated with the pancreas which lies behind the stomach and secretes a variety of substances essential for the effective digestion of food. The fourth chakra, Anahata, (Heart Chakra) can be found in the mid sternal region directly over the heart and is associated with the thymus gland. The thymus produces hormones that stimulate general growth, particularly in early life. The fifth chakra, Vishudda, (Throat Chakra) is situated in the neck near the Adam's apple, directly over the thyroid gland. It has associations with both the thyroid and parathyroid glands. The thyroid manufactures thyroxine, which controls the body’s metabolic rate, and the parathyroid gland controls the level of calcium in the blood stream. The sixth chakra, Anja, (Brow or Third Eye Chakra) in the mid-forehead above the bridge of the nose is situated over the pituitary gland. This vital gland influences growth, metabolism, and general body chemistry. The seventh chakra, Sahasrara, (Crown Chakra) is located on top of the head over the pingland which produces melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and photoperiodic (seasonal) functions.   You've seen or heard me talk about energy and energy healing on my posts, my workshops and through my art. So what is this energy that I'm talking about? Below is part one of my article on the Human Energy Field. I hope it answers some of your questions. Everything within and even outside of our universe vibrates with energy. It has been accepted for centuries through many, many cultures, that the human body draws energy into itself from a universal energy field. The human energy field is the manifestation of this universal energy in and around the human body. Its outer boundary can be described as a luminous egg-shaped cocoon surrounding the physical body. This energy field is constantly moving, ebbing and flowing, expanding and contracting and changing in intensity. Throughout history, the knowledge of this universal energy present in all of nature and surrounding the human form as what we sometimes call the aura, has been recognised and illustrated by many traditions including the Indian spiritual tradition of prana; the Chinese energy chi; the Jewish Kabala reference to astral light and the Christian religious paintings indicating a field of light or halo surrounding Jesus and other religious figures. In scientific terms, human beings can be seen as networks of complex energy fields that interface with physical and cellular systems. These energy fields or auras consist of layers, known as subtle bodies which resonate at higher vibrations than the physical body. To put it another way, these higher energy systems, (subtle bodies) are composed of matter with different or higher frequency characteristics than that of the physical bodies. These systems are superimposed on one another in the same space. Together they play a part in the total functioning of the human being. Healers understand that the aura holds the key to a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states. Although many systems have been created over time, we generally refer to seven layers and these are defined by location, colour, density, form and function. These seven layers are grouped into three Planes, The Physical Plane, the Astral Plane and the Spiritual Plane. It is important to remember that because of the differing intrinsic frequencies, physical and etheric matter can co-exist harmoniously within the same space; just as radio and TV waves can exist in the same space without interference. Each individual person has an aura unique to themselves, in intensity, size, colour and vibration. This field of electromagnetic energy can be felt and sometimes seen by people who are highly sensitive to different energies. They may even be able to see or feel each layer separately. So here is a quick description of The Energetic Layers. Etheric Body This can be viewed as the state between energy and matter and consists of tiny energy lines similar to the line on a television screen The following aspects characterise this layer:
This is associated with feelings and follows the outline of the physical body but does not duplicate it.
Mental body The mental body extends beyond the emotional body and is associated with thoughts and mental processes. The following aspects characterise this layer:
Astral body This has no fixed shape. It is composed of clouds of colour similar to that of the emotional layer
Etheric template body This subtle layer is further removed from the first layer and contains the etheric template blueprint for the physical body.
Celestial Body This is referred to as the emotional level of the spiritual plane It extends about two (60cm) to two and three quarter feet (85cm) from the body
Ketheric template (casual body)
So you can see that we are not just a physical body, but a complex integrated set of subtle energy fields, all vibrating at different rates. These subtle layers extend beyond the physical and create a force field of energy and luminous colours. Many scientific and technological researches from holographic patterning through to Kirlian photography, to different types of scanning have observed and recorded the human energy field in a physical way. Kirlian photography was developed in 1939 by Russian electronics engineer Seymion Kirlian. It was discovered that when leaf was cut in two and photographed using this technology, the energy field remained intact and recorded the same shape as when the leaf was whole. It is thought that this phenomenon may explain the “phantom limb” reports from amputees who can still feel pain and sensation in the area where the missing limb used to be. More recently, the development of Polycontrast Interference Photography or PIP, by researcher Harry Oldfield became one of the major advances in detecting the body’s energy fields. It is a complicated technology, but put in simple terms, the subject stands in front of a white screen and a form of digital camera photographs the different light intensities around the body while a computer translates this into a visual image, which can be “read” by a trained technician. This is useful in areas of diagnosis of imbalances and tends to validate the concept that all matter is energy and forms the foundation for understanding how human beings can be considered dynamic energetic systems. Humans are beings of energy – the solid nature of physical matter is a perception of our physical senses. Aura Photography is often available at New Age festivals and in many new age shops. Aura photographs are taken by having the subject sit in front of a plain background and placing one hand on a sensor plate which detects the energy emanations from the subject. The aura camera then translates this into a visual image and onto a photograph for the subject to take home with a reading from the photographer. The colours that appear can be “read” to give an indication of personality traits, states of mind, and general health at the time of the photograph. These photographs can be highly influenced by the subject’s mood and emotion at the time as the energy field is constantly changing. Next time we'll discover the Chakra System, it's purpose and function within the fields.   The Empaths Guide to Managing Energy
If you are an Empath, you might find that you need some extra pointers for managing your energy at any time. I hope these ideas will help you out a little. Being alone: Empaths need time by themselves where they are less likely to be tuning into the emotions of others around them. It doesn’t mean you’re anti-social or that you don’t like people! It just means you need to refuel before going back out into the world. Make sure you have plenty of alone time during which you’re doing something that is not emotional, such as knitting, gardening, cooking, etc. I like to play video games which requires strategy but has no emotional triggers for me. Be creative! Stay away from people and place that drain your energy Do not feel guilty about avoiding these people and places until you are stronger. Grounding: Here are some very effective grounding techniques that I use every day! 1) Eating: This is a delicious way to stay grounded as long as you pay attention to the food your eating! So pick something you really like and bring it along. The process of eating is ground, and so is digesting. You’re less likely to be reading other people in restaurants 2) Wear a crystal: I have at least 10 different crystal pendants (rose quartz, lapis, danburite, moldovite, etc). When I go out, I pick a pendant to wear (even before I pick my clothes!). 3) Wash your hands: I get the urge to wash my hands when I go to people that are tricky to deal with. It’s a great way to make sure their energy is not sticking to you and keep your own energy flowing. 4) Use visualizations: Imagine that you are growing roots from the bottom of your feet. The roots keep reaching deeper in the earth. They’re flexible too, so that you can lift your feet and the root follow you. Try it at home first then you’ll be able to do it while you carry on a conversation too! Managing your own energy Raising your vibration, grounding and Shielding (for emergencies only) :Shielding and protection is a technique I teach my clients as an emergency safe guard whilst they build up their own energies and raise their vibration. Lets start with an exercise to build up your own energies, a practice which needs to be done two or three times daily in the beginning until it becomes automatic. We start by becoming quiet and visualising or feeling a bright white gold light above the head. Know that this is your connection to the universal life force. see or feel that light entering in a stream down through the crown of your head and filling your whole body from head to toe, every cell, every fibre becoming alive with light. Then feel or visualise roots, like tree roots, growing from the soles of your feet into the earth, feel them running deeper and deeper. Pull red light up from the earth through the soles of your feet, filling your whole body, toes to finger tips. You are now connected to the universe and the earth together. From the centre of your heart space notice a ball of light. Imagine it as a pink light. This is unconditional love. Allow this light to grow and expand to fill your whole body. Let it expand further and further until it extends past your body and you see yourself encased in a cocoon or egg of light. Know and intend that this light will heal and protect you raising your vibration to its highest level. For emergency protection you can create an extra shield of light around you to help you in sticky situations. You can experiment to find out what works best for you. I use a spiral of light that spins around the outside of my body. I program it to knock away anything that will bring my own energy down. It is Not Necessary to Take Responsibility for Other People’s Hurt If you are an empath you are finely tuned to the pain of other people, tending to internalize it as your own. Remember that there is only so much you can genuinely do to help other people. Of course, you can try to help them or guide them as much as you see fit, but at the end of the day the person experiencing the original pain must be willing to help themselves for any true healing to occur. Often our caring natures blind us to the fact that many people don’t want, or aren’t prepared to be fixed because they are content in the safety of their misery. Go into Your Pain Rather Than Trying to Escape from It It sounds counter-intuitive doesn’t it, “going into your pain”! But it's a very important step to releasing the pent up energy inside of you. When we are preoccupied by escaping, repressing and avoiding our pain, we perpetuate the cycle of our suffering. Rather than giving in to the temptation to run – stop – be still. Sit down and let yourself feel the fatigue, the confusion, the anger, the hurt. Only once you face the truth of the pain you feel can you then progress to the next stage of letting the suffering go. De-cluttering. The first step is to get rid of all obvious "trash"! Throw it out or put it out for recycling. As we mentioned earlier, empaths pick up on energy in objects as well as people. Take a look around you at all the "things" you have gathered over the years. We will start by gathering everything together that you don't use or haven't seen in the past year. This can include, shoes, clothes, books, ornaments. Put them in bags or boxes ready to donate or sell. That was the easy part. Now You will notice things around you that you don't actually like, but perhaps were given to you by a friend or family member. Remember, if you don't like it, it isn't you, then it will be affecting your energy. You can use the cord cutting technique we learnt earlier to release any attachment you have to the object and the person who gave it to you, then take note of how you feel! Do you still dislike the object? if so put it into the sell or donate pile. What about things that you really love, but you find it difficult to be around? These need to be dealt with in a similar way and honestly I find it best to cut the cords and get rid of them. Complete this exercise for every room in your home and workspace, garden and shed. It is also necessary to do your handbag and your car. You will already find that you begin to feel lighter. Catharsis and Body-Mindfulness = Useful Techniques As an empath it is so important that you incorporate some consistent form of catharsis into your everyday routine to rid yourself of the stuffy energy you might be harboring. Favored forms of catharsis among empaths include journaling/writing, meditation, walking and jogging. Other forms of catharsis include singing, dancing, screaming (privately), laughing and crying. It is also extremely beneficial as an empath to teach yourself how to get in touch with your body – I call this “body-mindfulness” or “somatic mindfulness.” Basically, learning to be in touch with your body is an excellent way of anchoring and grounding yourself in the present moment rather than getting lost in the flood of emotions and sensations that come your way. Body-mindfulness is also a good way of learning to listen to your needs, as well as nurturing and taking care of yourself. I wrote more about how to practice this form of mindfulness here. Realize That as an Empath, You Are Not Immune to Projecting Your Feelings onto Others Let’s be honest here. Part of the appeal of identifying as an empath is that it sometimes provides a doorway of escape to us; an opportunity to pin the blame on others. Yes, you might soak up the emotions of others like a sponge, but that doesn’t mean that you are exempt from creating, and deeply experiencing, your own emotions. It is all too easy to portray ourselves as victims in life, and much harder to take responsibility for our own happiness. A key realization on the path of healing as an empath is to learn to distinguish what WE are feeling from what OTHERS are feeling. And there isn’t always a clean cut distinction. Often you will find that you are feeling about 45% of the emotions, and others are feeling about 55% of the emotions, or you might be feeling 20% and others 80%, and vice versa. Shielding Which means, creating a shield between yourself and all those feelings out there. You can do this a variety of ways, but the most common is visualisation. By visualizing a force field around yourself. This field is pure energy. The more vivid the image you imagine for that field, the stronger it will be. You can set this field to selective, so that you will note others feelings, IF and only if, you want to notice other energies. This is not just your imagination at work. As we ask the mind, so it will do for us, and if you ask yours to build a stronger aura of energy around you, it will. You don't need to know the exact details of how it works, as your mind is perfectly able to build it for you, all you have to do ... is tell it to as strongly and vividly as possible. As a temporary technique, shielding can be helpful, but it is not a long-term solution. It is actually counterproductive to becoming an Empowered Empath. Shielding is essentially about resisting ether people's energy and resistance only serves to continue the cycles of fear and pain within. Rather than fighting, open yourself up through the heart chakra. Allow yourself to experience the emotions, but also let them pass by not adopting them as yours. To do this send them down into the earth asking the earth to heal. This takes time and practice. But non-attachment is a much better long-term solution. Know your own mind: Meaning, to know yourself, very deeply and to have that information about yourself and your emotional state, on tap, all the time. So that you can easily realize that those feelings your feeling, are, or are NOT, your own. This is critical, as if you are not aware of your own mental and emotional state, you can have a very hard time telling what is, or is not, your own feelings, so keeping a monitor on your own state, at any time, is paramount. Do not allow become a dumping ground Mow this is something that happens on a very regular basis to every Empath, unless they become aware of it and take steps to prevent its happening. Most " ordinary" people, are able to be aware that a such and such a person is "someone they can talk to" by this I mean, they know that after they have spent time or spoken with you, they feel better and that somehow you help them with their pain. This makes you a magnet for people with a major emotional load to drop. People will come to you and start to tell you their life story, as if a part of them believes that you could make it all better. And you can, for the most part, however, permitting this to happen, without controls, is asking for trouble. You will find yourself getting to the point where you will not even want to go places where there are strangers. And that is not a good thing. Shielding helps, but sometimes, you just have to look people right in the face and say no, unless you want to deal with helping them handle with their anxiety. There are two kinds of people, those you can help and those you can't, and there are a lot more of those you can't help, than you might believe. Therefore we need to...... Set limits: Just because we can perhaps do something about another's pain, doesn't necessarily mean, that we should. Often times, they are in pain for a reason, maybe they failed to handle something well, and that's a lesson they need to learn. If you take away all that suffering for a mistake, the lesson might go unlearned. So you need to learn to analyse the situation carefully. Know when it's time to say ... No. Cleanse your etheric body often: You have learnt that as an empath, you are an emotional magnet, feelings can cling to you . So it becomes very important to metaphysically clean out all the feelings and emotions that are not your own, from time to time. I cannot stress this enough, as if you fail to do so, the stress on you just builds and builds, and there is a limit to what any one person can endure, and stay sane ! Fail to do so and you may begin to suffer from stress, anxiety and depression yourself. You do this by meditation, relaxation, grounding, the light body exercise, and use the power of the mind to cleanse out anything negative or left over. In a deep state, you can see this light body and will learn to see the problem areas. For most empaths you will find them around the heart and head Chakras, as those are the areas most affected. Trust yourself One of the other big problems that an Empath faces, is wondering if what they ARE feeling is real or accurate. This is why knowing your own mind and emotional state is so important, as without this knowledge, it's harder to figure this one out. Trust yourself, trust your feelings, and know you can get a handle on this, it just takes time and practice.  Anyone's Guide to Raising your vibration At this time of the year, it is especially important to keep your energy and vibration strong. There are lots of emotions, both positive and not so positive flying around. Keep yourself on top of everything by following these guidelines. Become conscious of your thoughts. Everything you think, say or feel becomes your reality. There is a saying, "Thoughts become things". Choose the good ones. Every single thought that you have has an impact on you. When you change those thoughts for the positive, your reality is likely to become positive too. The more you do this, the easier it becomes. Try using positive affirmations to turn your thoughts around. Next time you find yourself having a negative thought, take the time to acknowledge it, thank it for showing up, and then say "Cancel clear and delete." and replace it with a positive affirmation. Appreciate the beauty all around you There is incredible beauty in this world of ours, yet so often we miss it in the hustle and bustle of life. Learn to appreciate art, colour, sounds and smells. Stop rushing for a moment and take the time to appreciate your surroundings wherever you are. Go one step further and actively look for the beauty in everything. Spend some time in nature every day. It’s easy to get caught up in today’s world of information and forget the natural world. Whether it’s a bush walk, a stroll along the beach or a quick half hour walk through the local park on your way home, getting out into nature each day will help you clear your mind, ground, become more present and remember you are part of a beautiful, living, interconnected planet. Consciously choose what you put into your body As well as containing important nutrients, food has an energetic vibration. Some foods vibrate at high frequencies, and some lower (broccoli has a high vibration as do blueberries; Big Macs barely vibrate at all ;-). Choosing healthy, fresh, whole foods over processed, frozen, stored or chemically altered will help you raise your vibration. Swap junk food snacks for healthier alternatives. Always read the labels and know what you’re putting into your body. If you are consuming packaged foods, chemicals and pesticides found within plastic packaging, will leave you vibrating lower. Eat good quality organic produce, food as nature intended it, and feel the high vibrations emanating throughout your body. If you can’t afford organic, at least buy free range. Most importantly, pay attention to how eating certain foods make your body feel. Become aware of the vibrational level of your friends, acquaintances and extended family You can raise your own vibration by spending time with people who vibrate at the same or higher rate than yourself. Choose to spend your time with people who are empowering, have the same morals as you. Remember your friends are a reflection of you. Drink water. Water is a form of energetic life force. It helps to keep your energy levels and vibration nice and high. Always drink plenty of water (filtered is best) to assist your body to flush out toxicity day to day. Toxicity has a significant impact on your vibration so we must do whatever it takes to reduce its impact within us and around us. Meditate. Even if you only have one minute, take time to be still and silent. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and breath in and out. Too often we rush through our days with a scattered brain leaving us in a state of anxiety and stress. Meditation helps to calm your spirit down and put you in a peaceful state of mind. It can help you become more conscious of your thoughts, which in turn helps you to break bad habits. It also creates space for inspiration and spiritual awareness to come through. Just 10 minutes of meditation a day can change your life forever. Practice Gratitude Gratitude shifts your vibrations from focusing on what you don't have to what is already abundant in your life. Most of us don't recognize how much we have to be grateful for. There is more to be grateful for than you could possibly imagine. Practice acts of kindness. Kindness (as opposed to being mean) puts you at a higher vibration. Make a donation to a cause, send a thoughtful gift, or even a message. Giving to someone else (without expecting anything in return) shifts your thinking from “I don’t have enough" or "Woe is me", to "I have more than enough to give to others.” Abundance itself is a high vibration. Gossip or treat others badly and your vibration will suffer. Practice forgiveness and compassion This may seem like the most difficult thing on the list, but its one of the most important. Thoughts of being the victim or thoughts of revenge are both low vibration. Instead surround yourself and your abuser with unconditional love, and raise your vibration higher and higher Get moving Exercise not only keeps you fit and toned but the movement gets chi circulating around your body. Vibration requires movement, the more you move the better your vibrations move. It also helps you to ground and gives you an opportunity to clear mind chatter. So Get Active! Dance, run, jump, climb! The happier you feel, the more you will draw happy experiences to yourself because you are operating at a different frequency. Create a higher vibrational home or sanctuary-like space for yourself. You are inside your home a lot! It will consequently affect your vibration. It’s important to have a space where you can feel serene and creative. Use salt lamps, candles, plants, prayers, paintings, books and crystals to decorate your space so it feels peaceful, inspirational and supportive. Even the colours on the wall and the way your furniture is arranged can affect your energy. You might even like to create an altar area that serves as a focal point for your spiritual awakening. Put some meaningful objects on it and light a candle now and then, setting an intention for what you want to create next upon your path. If you live with others and can’t change the whole house, just focus on making one room your higher vibrational zone. Learn how feng shui can help to increase the vibration in your home! Actively develop your spiritual awareness. Whether its learning how to communicate with your spirit guides, joining a spiritual development circle or simply taking time to reflect on the spiritual dimension more often, developing your spiritual awareness will remind you that you’re connected to an all-encompassing force and that. Treat yourself to some form of energy healing and re-balancing every couple of months. Reiki and shiatsu are both great modalities for healing, rebalancing and promoting vibrational change in your life. Find a good practitioner and commit to going every couple of months. You’ll always feel better afterwards and be glad you did. Heal and let go of the past. Most people go their whole lives without ever clearing out the cobwebs and as a consequence prevent themselves from living a happy and fulfilled life. If you feel you might have unresolved emotional patterns or negative belief systems from your past, find a good practitioner who can help you work through them over a number of sessions. Reduce your drug and alcohol intake (or cut it out completely) Alcohol, tobacco and all types of drugs vibrate at a low rate. Not only do the substances themselves vibrate low, but you will find yourself hanging out with people that vibrate at a low rate as well. You don't need alcohol or drugs to have fun, you need to be vibrating at a higher level. Be aware of what you are watching, reading and listening to Every form of media has a vibration. What you watch, listen to and read can either lift or lower your vibration. Much of our TV these days dramatises and glamourises a lower vibrational way of life. Become aware of how you feel whilst you are engaging with it. Watch love stories, or comedies, things that make you smile and laugh. Become conscious of what your music is saying to you Lyrics that speak of heartache, pain, violence, drama or fear send messages to your subconscious. You want to listen to songs of peace, love and real passion. Remember that everything is energy, so be mindful of the frequencies you’re submerging yourself in. Do more of what you are passionate about Expressing yourself through your art, music, writing, creativity, dancing, climbing, running etc. is vital for your well being and will raise your vibration tremendously. Take at least one step towards your soul’s task every day. Even if you just get some ideas down or do some planning. Working towards your soul’s task each day will help you feel happier, more fulfilled and content that you’re doing what you came here for. If you don’t know what your soul’s task is or want some direction and structure, find a good coach who can help you. Set goals and consciously plan your week ahead. Take time each week to consciously plan your week ahead. Set an overall intention and specific goals for each area of your life. Visualize yourself achieving your most important goals and play the images through your mind like a film. Then, break each goal down into doable steps and put the steps in your diary. Make sure you’re making the most of your life and doing the things that matter to you. Don’t blame your circumstances for your vibrational shortcomings. Sure, a home and job that supports and encourages a higher vibrational way of life is always preferable, but for a lot of people this just isn’t possible. You must therefore take full responsibility for your awakening and transformation in the face of lower vibrational energies and triggers, and put strategies in place that support you. If you can’t do this, what hope does the world have? Keep going! Transformation is a gradual process with a few intense shifts along the way. It’s inevitable there will be times when you slip back into your old ways and feel like you’re going two steps forwards and one step back. Go easy on yourself during these times, get the learnings, refocus and get back on your way again. Whether it’s in this lifetime or the next, you’ll get there eventually, and in the end it’s really about the journey anyway.
Then what is an Empath?
There are subtle but marked differences between empathy in an everyday person and empathy in an Empath. Empaths are highly sensitive people or HSPs, but actually very few HSPs are Empaths. Empaths possess a markedly higher degree of sensitivity to another's emotions and feelings. They take empathy to a whole new level. An empath experiences another emotions as their own and it is not uncommon to therefore feel overwhelmed in crowded, public places. An Empath doesn't consciously connect to others, then feel what he imagines the other person is feeling. An Empath will literally feel it and unless he is trained to understand this, may not be able to separate his own feelings from those around him. There are of course varying degrees of sensitivity and even different types of Empath and although it seems to have both genetic and spiritual aspects, most Empaths do not learn about their gift until later in life. How does an Empaths gift work? Everything has an energetic vibration or frequency and Empaths are able to sense these vibrations and recognise the smallest changes which would otherwise go unnoticed. Feelings, emotions and even words of expression hold an energetic pattern that emanates from each and every one of us. In fact every living creature. It's imprint is left on everything that we come into contact with. It is this energy that is picked up by the Empath. Are you an Empath? Take this quiz to see if you are an Empath. Answer yes or no to the following:
If you can say yes to most or all of these, then there is more than a chance that you are an empath. It occurs in less than 5% of the population and with the right training can be a wonderful gift. Stay tuned to learn more over the coming months.  Coming through many years of work in healing myself from Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression, I am often asked what affirmations I found best. The truth is that I could never find one that fitted so I wrote my own.
This affirmation has served me well over the years and I give it to each of my clients and share it with my meditation group each time we meet. It is an affirmation and meditation that covers all areas of your life and mine - and I'd like to share it with you here now. "I am whole, I am perfect, I am strong, I am powerful, I am loving, harmonious and happy, I am wise, I'm intuitive, I am calm, I am healthy, life is joyful, abundant and good. I am fully connected to the Universe. The Divine Energy flows to me, through me, beyond me. Filling me, healing me, soothing me, protecting me. I am one with the Universe. I am light, I am love. I am fully grounded in Gaia. The Earth Energy flows to me, through me, beyond me. Filling me, healing me, soothing me, protecting me. I am one with the Earth. I am Life, I am love. The light of unconditional love grows in my heart space. Filling me, healing me, soothing me, protecting me. I send it out into the Universe, enveloping the Earth and all its beings. I am Light, I am Life. I am Love. With deepest gratitude, I release all negative energies, malevolent beings, parasites, toxins, bacteria and disease into the Universe and to the Earth to be healed, as I am healed. I AM healed. I am HEALED. Thankyou" Please feel free to use this in your own life. I guarantee it will serve you well.  If you’re a business owner of any kind, you probably began with a dream - but I didn’t think that I had dreams or goals - or even that I deserved to.
At the age of 48, I still didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’d been looking for something that made me happy, but I could honestly say I didn’t really know what happiness was. But I was slowly getting closer. I was writing a book titled ‘The Me Book - a journey of self discovery,’ borne out of the necessity to become my own counsellor. I began sharing what I learnt in writing this book, at scrapbooking classes where I taught. At the time I was trying to supplement the farm income by working as an intuitive healer and Reiki Master, running yoga and bellydance classes, And in my spare time working as a photographer and restoring vintage photographs. (All of this while bringing up two children, getting them to dance classes and helping on the farm) And whilst I wasn’t there yet, I felt that somehow, I was on the right path and I wanted to help other people find happiness too. Then suddenly something interesting happened. It started with an idea to create mandalas for healers like myself to use as visual aids whilst working with a client’s energy centres or chakras. I knew something of the healing power of colour and light., and as a photographer and graphic designer I thought I’d try using some of my stock of photos to create them. After many weeks of trial and error sitting at my computer I had created a complete set of 12 Chakra mandalas and 12 colour wheels. I wrote a manual describing how to use them and sold them to my clients and fellow healers loved them. I thought that was it - end of story. But then the dreams started happening both in my sleep and during meditation. Guiding me towards a new path. They were ideas and instructions for creating even more mandalas. As a healer and past-life facilitator, I had learned to follow my intuition no matter how far out it seemed, so I followed my dreams to see where they would take me. What eventuated was set of 48 oracle cards with readings channelled by myself and an amazing friend Vikstar. The Mandala Oracle was born (You can find this in online store HERE) and out of this developed my work as an illustrator for a publishing company. As I continued to create my designs, more and more people were describing to me how they could feel the energy from my art, some even revealing stories of complete healing. I began to do more research into the healing power of colour, shapes, symbols, light and vibration. This combined with the knowledge that “thought becomes things” gave me the answers I needed and the inspiration to take things even further. While mandalas are no longer the major focus of my art, I tell this story because creating them was my first big move towards a “dream” business. One that was drawn by my desire to help heal others, and it was a major turning point in my life. The first time that I had consciously followed my heart and my intuition with regard to what I wanted to do. While I still create mandalas, my art is now more focused on painting acrylic and mixed media works. I hadn’t considered myself an artist but after year long course of intuitive painting lessons - of which I spent the first few in tears, I eventually learned to tune in to spirit in the same way I did with healing. I began to paint from my intuition, not my own emotions and eventually I developed my own style of painting. One with the intention of carrying the energy of love to heal others. I am constantly amazed at the pieces I produce. And it is a privilege for me to see the changes that happen for my customers. I love hearing how my arts presence in their lives has brought joy, healing or even just reminders to smile. Or how through attending one of my workshops someone has found their own path. My journey as a business owner began more than 20 years ago, and since then it has had its fair share of twists and turns as I have moved towards a purpose that truly brings me happiness. With the Egyptian Goddess Isis as my inspiration, I began by using my healing gifts and the many modalities that I had studied over the years, to work with women helping them heal and to find their joy in their own lives. Then as my business grew, I began visualising owning a healing centre where I could teach the Me Book program, yoga and bellydance - a space that would have room to set up a small gallery, a healing room and teaching space. One day, two or three years ago after the rental cottage on our sugar cane farm had been vacated, I heard (or imagined) a voice in my ear saying “ You’ve got your space - now go and use it”. The cottage is now my gallery/shop and healing rooms and an old tobacco storage shed has been turned it into a dance/yoga/meditation studio and art workshop space. In my art workshops, I don’t teach fine art. That’s not what it’s all about. I teach fun, interesting techniques that can be used in many different ways. The workshops are loosely structured beginning with a meditation, some journaling followed by a day of painting, good food, good energy and connection. Participants always leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated with a piece of art that they can be proud of. I have some who come back each month for their “Me day”. I love seeing how they heal and grow over time and it always astounds me how Art and creativity can build confidence, grow character, promote relaxation and reveal purpose. Outside of my studio, working with troubled and under privileged teens and adults over the years has really allowed me to make a difference in the community doing what I love. Using the me book program we create art journaling pages that we bind together into a book for them to keep. I love seeing the girls blossom and open up with the positive affirmations and easy fun artworks that we create. Or we spend a day painting a fabulous canvas. Their ingenuity blows me away and my heart sings with every “thank you” I receive. Through Jaaneman Art I am able to bring light, love and joy into more and more people’s lives, and that is something I still can’t quite believe is real. They are things that came to me relatively late in life after many years of pain, trauma and hardship. I’ve learnt that it’s all about the choices we make. And my choice is live with love and joy and My goal is to help others to find their joy also. Because it could have ended very differently for me. As for my business, I am working towards creating online workshops so that they can be available to more people and to find new and beautiful ways to have my art printed and turned into wearable pieces. Through my journey to Janneman Art, I can say without doubt, that helping people heal is my purpose. And healing is about finding joy in life. I create my art because it is an accessible way for people to touch that joy. The energy of a piece I create will never diminish, meaning it will keep on working for as long as it exists. Knowing that my art has the capacity to impact so many lives is empowering, and I never fail to appreciate the gift that I have to paint. |
AuthorI'm Jane Marin, artist, illustrator, writer, self confessed eclectic bohemian. Follow me and my musings right here on my blog. Archives
November 2020
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