2017 is Number One in Numerology

2017 is Number One in Numerology

by | Energetics

Numerology is the study of a cosmic code that uses numbers for its symbols. Each number is a symbol for a truth which can assist with personal awareness and growth. Each number has unique qualities and associations which make for a more in depth understanding of ourselves and our world. Numerology is used for insight into both who we are and the world in which we live.  Many systems of numerology are used throughout the world and have been used for thousands of years. The most common system used in the Western World is the Pythagorean system.

Basically, in numerology a series of numbers is added up until it is reduced to one digit for interpretation (eg. 1940  becomes 1+9+4+0=14  which becomes 1+4= 5).  In some cases, the series may create a double number refered to as a Master Number (eg. 44), in which case it is left that way for interpretation.  Using this method, what do we get for the date 2017?  2+0+1+7 becomes 10 which becomes 1.  This means that the influence for 2017 will be a Number One year.

What are some of the qualities of number One?  I have referenced this information from Ruth Drayer’s book,  Numerology: The Power in Numbers.

The number One represents the drive to initiate and push things forward. One represents the sun and the intellect and is considered masculine in nature.  Ones are the bosses, leaders, visionaries and pioneers. They can seem ahead of their time.  They are the “idea people”. Ones can come across as domineering, aggressive or may seem to be poor listeners. The number One is a strong, independent symbol standing with feet firmly on the ground and head in the clouds listening only to their inner voice.  “Beginnings” is a word that holds special meaning to number Ones.

The number One’s key element is Courage;  its symbol is the flame.  Its musical note is C.  Its flower is the lilac. Gemstones associated with One include turquoise, copper, moss agate and aquamarine.

Number One calls out to you to stand independently and live courageously.  It is a special time to be finding YOU, believing, validating and approving yourself, not looking at others for approval.  The only person who can live your life is you.

Number One Attainment is to attain an abundance of inner strength and personal power.  It is to attain “oneness” with the God/Goddess/Universal Life Force and to live each day with integrity and great courage.

Words and letters that total One include:
integrity,  spirit,  sunshine, sincere;  the letters A, J and S.

From these descriptors, it sounds like New Year 2017 is a great time to set a course in the direction of what we truly want in our lives and want of ourselves. If ever you wished to make changes, it looks like Number One will be here to support your decisions this year.  Good luck with all your New Year’s dreams and resolutions!

Religion, Spirituality and Mysticism

Religion, Spirituality and Mysticism

by | Psycho-Spiritual

As we enter the Longest Night and await the Birth of the Light after Winter Solstice,  it is interesting to note how many religions and spiritual traditions use this time of year for powerful teachings and events.  Three levels of understanding await the seeker on her/his transformational journey. Religion, Spirituality and Mysticism are related but different levels of understanding of the seeker.  Here is how Timothy Freke explains these concepts in his book, Spiritual Traditions.

“Religion is concerned with rituals, observances, creeds and codes of social morality.  It marks the transitions of life … with appropriate rites that bind together a community.  Religion is the outer form of spirituality.  However, it is perfectly possible to be religious but not spiritual as many people piously participate in religious customs without ever undertaking a personal journey of spiritual transformation.  Fundamentalism of all persuasions, with its insistence on blind faith in dogmas, is religion without true spirituality.  This is why it so often divides people instead of uniting them.

Spirituality is the inner content of all religions, but it does not necessarily have to have a religious context.  Spirituality is about setting out on a personal search for answers to the most profound questions of life. It is a journey of awakening to who we really are; a journey from fear to faith; a journey from ennui to a life filled with magic and wonder;  a journey from feeling alone in a hostile world to being at one with everyone and everything.

Mysticism is the deepest level of spirituality.  It teaches that reality is an indivisible Whole appearing as many parts.  Although we think of ourselves as separate individuals, this is an illusion.  There is only the constantly metamorphosing Totality.  We are not the transitory mortal beings we take ourselves to be.  Our immortal and eternal Self is one with the Oneness viagra generika schweiz rezeptfrei.”       pp.152-153.

Polytheistic traditions (eg. Shamanism, Hinduism, ancient Paganism) believe in many gods and goddesses.  Monotheistic traditions (eg. Judaism, Christianity, Islam) believe in one god.  Monist traditions (eg. Taoism, Buddhism) believe in an impersonal Oneness.  You would think that there was no common ground between them, and yet there are similarities.  All believe in a Oneness that connects us all.  The polytheistics worship the one God using lesser deities that are natural and supernatural.  Monotheistics worship the one God using angelic beings, saints and prophets.  And Monists recognize and utilize many gods, celestial Buddhas and nature spirits to worship the Oneness.

There is a saying,  “Many roads lead to God”.  Another one states, “There are different rivers running to one sea of Truth.‘  Perhaps at this special time of year, we can take a moment to remember that we are all on this journey called Life yet we may be taking different routes to get to our common destination. It’s not so important that you are on the same road to the One as I am. What matters is that you are on a road to the One!

May the gifts of the season support and sustain you.

Rosemary is for More Than Remembrance

Rosemary is for More Than Remembrance

by | Aromatics

The herb Rosemary has been a symbol of remembrance for ions. In herbal folklore, “Rosemary is for Remembering”.  It was often used at times of funerals, anniversaries and when soldiers marched off to war.  Its aroma has always been uplifting and stimulating; sharp, herbaceous and slightly camphorous are some adjectives used to describe its aroma. The penetrating aroma sharpens the senses and can focus the mind.  By stimulating the mind, one has greater recall and greater ability to remember things.  Because of its stimulating effects upon the nerves, brain and muscles, there is no time to sleep when Rosemary is around, as it also calls one to action! It is also renowned for its stimulating effects on the scalp and hair growth. Good for memory,  exhaustion, pain, infection, digestion, stamina, hair growth and other things, its health and healing properties are legendary.

The ancient Romans and Greeks believed that Rosemary brought good luck and protected people from evil spirits.  They believed that infections were brought on by evil spirits, so it is not surprising that they came to believe that Rosemary could protect them, which could also be called good luck!  We know now that one of Rosemary’s therapeutic qualities is that of being an antiseptic.

Here is what Banckes’ Herbal had to say about Rosemary back in 1525:  “If thou be feeble boyle the leaves in cleane water and washe thyself and thou shall be shiny … smell it oft and it shall keep thee youngly.”

In spiritual work, Rosemary is said to cleanse “energetic muck”;  its sharp aroma penetrates and clears the auric field.  Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that the aroma causes some people to release their pent-up anger.  Anger is often one of the root causes of long-standing problems.

In her book, The Blossoming Heart, Dr. Robbi Zeck describes Rosemary as follows:
“…  it assists the dynamic development and transformation through directing creative energy into action.  When familiar patterns, conditions, habits and beliefs keep resurfacing and manifesting in your life, Rosemary moves you onward, freeing you from restriction, sluggishness and mental fatigue…. Recharge your creative batteries, reconnect to your creative fire and allow the next part of your cycle to emerge.”  p.111

In aromatherapy, we use several Rosemary chemotype essential oils based upon what needs to be done. Each chemotype has similar but different effects from the other. The camphorous chemotype is better than the others for its antiseptic qualities, so we can consider it when dealing with infectious conditions in which the environment needs to be disinfected.  This chemotype also offers deep comfort to aches, pains, sprains and strains, but care must be taken as to the dilution rate being used.  Too much and it can cause the skin to react poorly – definitely not what you want to happen.

If we want to help clear up acneic skin, we can use the verbenone chemotype with greater ease, as the ketones in this Rosemary are more skin-friendly than those in the camphorous type. It has a softer aroma than the camphorous chemotype, making it more enjoyable to use on the face.  Verbenone offers less irritation when used on skin and hair, but it is not always easy to find.

The cineole chemotype is generally considered the safest Rosemary to use, even with people having significant health conditions.  It can be used for most health issues and in all aromatherapy methods of use. If unsure as to which Rosemary to use, this is generally the better one to choose.

All Rosemaries have contraindications and precautions that need to be respected. Avoid during pregnancy.  Avoid with people having seizure disorders. Avoid with high blood pressure. May antidote homeopathic medications. Take special care if using on children or animals.  If you are not sure, contact a Registered Aromatherapist for clarification.  Do not depend upon what you read on the Internet for your answers!

As November 11th draws near, take a quiet moment to focus and inhale Rosemary and Remember! 

Did you know ……

  • In Aroma Genera, Rosemary personality is young at heart, creative, sensitive, determined and enjoys security
  • The term Ayurveda comes from two Indian words:  ayur,or life, and veda, or knowledge;  Ayurvedic Medicine is described as a “knowledge of how to live” and emphasizes that good health is the responsibility of the individual

In Chinese Herbal Medicine, the Metal Element is associated with: Season is autumn;  Taste is pungent;  Emotion is grief; Parts of the Body affected: lungs, large intestine, nose and skin

Herbal Delights

Herbal Delights

by | Aromatics

The Botanica 2016 conference inspired me to find more ways to use my plants every day for health and well-being. There is still time to enjoy the bounty of the garden – even if the temperatures are cooler and the daylight is shorter.  If you have access to fresh herbs, here are a couple of suggestions by Shannon McKinnon from a 2013 edition of Gardens West – Special Edition  (Vol. 27 No 08).  If all you have are dried herbs, that’s fine, too.

Rosemary Salt
1/3 cup (80mls.) fresh rosemary needles
1/3 cup  (80mls.) coarse salt
1 cup  (250mls.)  Kosher salt
Pulse rosemary and coarse salt in a food processor until the rosemary is chopped to approximately the same size as the salt.  Stir in 1 cup (250mls.) Kosher salt and blend well.  Pour mixture into a suitable dispenser. Can be used to add flavour to most meats, chicken, fish, soups and stews.  A little goes a long way!  Makes a great hostess gift.

Sage Gargle for Sore Throats
Pour 1 cup (250mls.) of boiling water over 4 teaspoons (20mls) of dried sage or 8 teaspoons (80mls.) fresh common sage leaves.  Steep covered for 10-15 minutes, strain and let cool.  Use this “tea” as a natural organic gargle to relieve sore throats. Do Not Swallow.  Will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Minty Bath Bliss
Snip off 6  lengths of sturdy mint stems with leaves, tightly secure them with a rubber band to make a herb bundle. Use this same elastic band to secure the bundle to your bathtub faucet so the warm water flows through the mint on its way into the tub. Soak and enjoy!

Lemon Balm (Melissa) Tea
Melissa is known for its ability to “calm you when you’re wired and boost you when you’re tired”.  Pour 1 cup (250mls.) of boiling water over 1 tablespoon (15mls.) fresh lemon balm leaves or 1 teaspoon (5mls.) of dried leaves for each cup of tea.  Steep covered for 3-5 minutes (longer makes stronger flavour).  Strain and enjoy.

Tarragon Vinegar
Add 1 cup (250mls) of tarragon sprigs to every 2 cups (500mls.) of white wine vinegar in a sterilized jar.  Use a wooden spoon (not metal!) to bruise the sprigs to release their essential oil.  Cover and let steep for 2 to 3 weeks until it reaches desired potency. Shake the contents every few days. Make sure the stems and leaves are ALWAYS covered in vinegar;  this avoids mould growth/contamination. When ready, remove the sprigs, strain the vinegar, rebottle and enjoy.  If you like, you can add a single fresh sprig at this time for decorative effect – just remember that it must stay completely covered in vinegar at all times.  The vinegar will keep in a cool, dark pantry for at least 6 months.

These are but a few of the ways we can enjoy and benefit from the plants we grow all summer.  Let these recipes inspire you to be creative and try other herbs and plants, too.  There is a huge element of pleasure in making something for yourself that looks and smells divine!  Don’t deny yourself these simple pleasures from nature.

Did you know ……

  • In 1852, salicin, the natural active ingredient in willow bark, was artificially synthesized; it was modified to be less of a stomach irritant and in 1899, acetylsalicylic acid was launched as aspirin (ASA) by the Bayer company.  It is still used today for pain and inflammation relief.
  • In 1775,  Dr. William Withering began experimenting with the herbal brew a patient’s family successfully used for curing dropsy caused by heart failure;  he isolated foxglove as the most potent plant in the brew. In 1785 he wrote, Account of the Foxglove and Some of Its Medicinal Uses; the cardiac glycosides digoxin and digitalis were eventually extracted from foxglove.  They continue to be used today for treatment of heart conditions.  The Latin name for foxglove is Digitalis.
  • Cabbage was called, “The medicine of the poor”, as it had a multitude of health benefits and was available to all.
September and Autumn Musings

September and Autumn Musings

by | Life Reflections, Psycho-Spiritual

As summer comes to a close, we reflect upon that which has happened and consider where we go from here.  The outward expression of our energies and activities, so much a part of the celebrations of summer, begins to slow down.  Time to gather and draw nearer. The harvest is collected and stored for future use. The harvest is more than just what comes from the fields.  It is also about the activites, adventures, connections and knowledge we experienced.  So the “personal harvest” is also a  time to reap and reflect.

What is in your personal harvest basket?  What information, lessons and personal connections have helped you understand your life and your world a bit more?  Will you be able to use these to create a more complete and satisfying life for yourself?  What pieces of your personal puzzle are still missing – or no longer fit?

Colette Baron-Reid, a life coach and spiritual medium, often talks about our ability to “course-correct” at any moment we choose. We perform this course-correction when we are truly present in the Now.  This is a great way of saying we have free will and can choose a new direction, reaction or response to whatever life presents to us.  At any moment, we can choose another way of thinking, feeling, doing and being, that takes us closer to our personal truth, dreams, goals and life purpose.  What a concept!   Another way of putting it, we are in the driver’s seat of our personal “magic bus”.

As the seasons shift from the freedom of summer to the routines of autumn, be sure to take time to reflect upon where you’ve been, where you are now and where you want to go. All experiences hold lessons for our growth and development.  The Autumn Equinox (September 21/22nd) denotes the time when Nature comes back into balance.  Equal day and Equal night. Equal female and Equal male.

So too, we can help ourselves to come back to balance – to Center – once again.

The full moon in September is known as Harvest Moon; a time for giving thanks for things we have received. The harvest can be of tangible things, such as our food, shelter, work and relationships with others. The harvest can also be of intangible things such as personal growth, strength, obstacles that have been overcome. Giving thanks for gifts received always multiplies them. Focusing on what is positive instead of negative attracts more of the same to us.

As your personal vision becomes clearer, you can decide if and when you need a “course-correction” in your life.  You have the opportunity to challenge and change direction at any moment.  It need not be a huge course-correction, as little steps will make a difference too. Use the power of the changing seasons to help determine what your best life course looks like.  Then love yourself enough to set your course to reach your personal destination.  If done with the highest intentions for the highest good, you will be on the right path.