Water Fasting - The Spaces in Between

Another day is done – and I am still going here. This is quite a different cleanse then anything else I have ever done in my life, probably. Certainly in terms of my health.

Yesterday I was mulling this over a bit to see if I could articulate how it is so different and the only way I could describe it is to compare a water fast to space exploration.

While a master cleanse is like a journey to the centre of the earth. One takes you inwards – which is appropriate for what we are trying to achieve with any such body detox.

However, a water fast takes you in another direction – this time out into the spaces in between. It’s remarkably different from anything else – perhaps with only water as the medium or method of travel there is only one way to go and that is into the places where the vast majority of the water resides in our bodies.

So – today is day 24, I have lots of detox symptoms, but again they are not severe and slightly different from other types of cleanses. This time around it’s all about my stomach – which I have not usually had issues with but….

Over the years I would have been aware of bloating, wind, hunger even when not hungry and a gutted feeling at times, especially when stressed. I have also been aware of how much power has been seeping out of this area….

All of this has been coming up to the surface for me this time around and it is interesting to say the least. Part of some deeper patterns of stepping forward into who I am – especially when it comes to feeling empowered.

Well – it’s onwards towards another day – let’s see what that brings!

 April

Joy of Free Expression....

It's now day 8 of my cleanse - and things are starting to break through to the other side...or perhaps they always were there, I am only now recognizing and seeing what has become much clearer to me. And, that feeling is like finding a hole in the clouds for your head to surface....

As far a detox symptoms go, I have some - coated tongue, bumpy skin, loads of dreams and moments of great insight throughout the day. I have lots of energy and have increased my Yoga and exercise accordingly to improve my level of fitness.

That is what I would have to say is one of the greatest benefits to cleansing in general - the increases in energy and ability (craving for!) to do more exercise such as Yoga. And I really enjoy this part of the detox because I can feel the movements taking me more deeply into my tissues.

Of course that is precisely what a cleanse is all about. Creating a way to get back into all these spaces and places you have been pushed out of. I cannot say enough about exercise in general and would never go without it.

So on to my dreams - I have long been interested in dreaming in general and have had many fantastic experiences through my dreams over the years. Actually my earliest memories from my childhood, when I was 3 years old are of my dreams - then making the mistake of mentioning them to the family who raised me! They were of my past lives and did not go over well.

I think for a time following that experience, I probably shut some of them down as I gradually tried to distance myself from 'myself'. But, being an intuitive, that never really worked because what I saw, heard and understood inside and outside of myself - I knew to be real. 

And here I am...only now taking back more parts of my inner child and her fabulous dreams!

April

A child's Joy of free expression 

Recover What Has Been Lost - Energy Work...

This is my second day on my detox and I am feeling as I normally do when I start these - a little all over the place but just as determined to carry on with cleansing and getting into the deepest parts of myself possible.

The weather is also warmer then it was before Solstice and that makes for a welcome change even if it is mostly wet and rain filled days...however today is sunny with actual heat in the sun. I love that, when the sun comes back to us! 

Right now for this detox I have yet to fully focus on a single goal, there seem to be several floating around - but I know that it will solidify shortly into an overall theme. Of course I am always looking at getting more of myself back and this month is no exception.

The interesting point is how we have left so much of ourselves behind during lifetimes filled with turmoil, trauma and change. Not that this one has been much different for so many of us. However, this is the first lifetime (in a cycle of 3) that we have a chance to recover what we have lost.

And, it is important to only take back exactly what is yours - otherwise the energy will not fit. From the most basic principles of Energy Medicine - this situation creates energy blocks, frustration and causes harm within the energy field.

And we know anything that obstructs the flow of energy within the field will ultimately lead to dysfunction and disorder in the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. One good reason to be working on areas of stagnant energy whenever possible.

This detox and this year is going to be an interesting one of great and good change...while further blocks are located and removed.

April

Can't wait for summer....

Last Big Push! Day 21

Well, this is it - finally it's day 21 and I only have a few hours left to achieve my goal. That's 21 full days drinking only Master Cleanse juice (my own recipe) with herbal teas and water. My body feels squeaky clean and ready to move forward.

I am having loads of dreams, feel great, some detox symptoms such as coated tongue and sore back at times. I think the majority of the clearing is taking place in my back - lungs, kidneys, bowel and so forth. But, it's totally manageable.

Last night my dreams were of Oprah and Lady Gaga - don't ask, because I don't know either!! LOL All I can think of is that I read Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star before I went to bed... but either way, they were very informative and interesting dreams. As usual during a detox.

Today, feels like I am just punching time until tomorrow morning when I can start on my juice - however, if other cleanses are any indication, this will be a most interesting day. The final detox cycle will be in full swing and I should get lots of insights into why and what was achieved these past 3weeks.

I have a feeling it has everything to do with this nasty ball of energy that is coming up in my stomach - it has been there forever, is full of other people's anger and negative energy and I can't wait to get this moving out. It's something I have been working towards for awhile.

Perhaps this detox has been even deeper than I thought. I will keep you posted,

April

Lemon Thyme in my garden

Day 20 - Nearly There

I finally have a chance to write - these last hours of my 21 day detox, I am trying my best to keep busy and to keep everyone else focused as we come into the home stretch of this. It is important work and I don't think I have done anything better for myself, my mind, body and soul, ever.

Today I am feeling pretty good - a little tired from running around and trying to get a few things done, but nothing out of the ordinary. I don't have many detox symptoms right now - my body is at it's best when I am nearing the end of any cleanse.

I feel like myself. It is uncanny - it's as if I am thinking clearly, feeling clear, seeing clearly and it all feels so very right somehow. I can't explain it any better then that. If you have yet to do a detox or master cleanse - you don't know what you are missing.

Seriously.

This other thing that takes place is something in my life shifts, changes, alters and opens up for the better each time I do one of these. There is a method to this madness! LOL - None of this disciplined hard work is in vain. 

You achieve something significant, you will get results - anything worth doing is worth doing properly and well - and that is how I feel about walking through each of these cleanses. It's not always easy, but you train your mind, focus and get on with it.

Tomorrow is my last day and I can't wait - next week we have a birthday celebration so I have lots of cooking and special meals to make. You know what that means - piles of yummy food to prepare and indulge in! 

It is always worth the wait

April

Our Top Bar Bee Hive at Inishbeg in the Summer

A Physical Shift in the Right Direction - Higher Consciousness

When you are fasting each day is a milestone because you have made it through another few hours or a day. But also another detox cycle (as I refer to them) of one to three days where your body dips deeply into the tissues to pull something to the surface. 

For me this is day 15 of my detox and I am feeling pretty good - what I like so much about all of this is the fact that I am observing my body in action. Which is both amazing and humbling to witness. At one time I would have said I had seen it all - perhaps when I healed my body of cancer using clean water, food, exercise and herbs.

And then when I had my daughter at home in a free birth - that for me was such an event in my life. Again, watching, witnessing, in complete awe of what my body was capable of. Right now I am seeing this again. 

Perhaps month after month as I uncover, unwrap and undo all of these years of toxins which had been held deeply in place in the matrix of my organs, tissues and bones - I am seeing something even more profound and more extraordinary than ever before.

My body is changing - the cells, the structure, the inner processes and even down to the DNA are all shifting into something different and completely new. I can feel it all around me as I go about my day - paying attention to the smallest details will provide all the clues.

This is the one thing about detox using water and herbs - and a very important aspect of doing spiritual work properly. Your body will use the water to clean, clear, shift and create the body you need here on earth. A body ready and able to carry higher levels of consciousness. 

And to think - most of this resistance has been affecting my mind - overcome those influences and it all starts to fall into place.

April

Day 14 - Losing Their Religion

Today is day 14 of my detox and I am now 2/3 of the way to my goal of 21 days. I am feeling pretty good, I don't expect to feel bad - fasting never makes me feel anything other than as if I have gone into a deep clean cycle and this is what my body does.

So, with that in mind - this is really a deep clean! My dreams are all about some dark energy that I encountered quite a number of years ago as well as several people from my past who could not accept anything about me (intuitive, holistic, alternative, pagan) and desperately tried to change me.

Of course, their efforts were in vain because it only served to push me away. As far away as I could get in fact...

Yesterday I mentioned the over mind - and this is still quite prevalent today. I can see, feel and am gaining insight into how I was affected so profoundly by other people's thoughts. Perhaps being an empath doesn't help in this situation - because if you fell down, I feel the pain. And that has not always been a good thing!

But what else have I taken on? And more importantly, how has it affected me, shaped my life or held me back from my own personal goals in this life? It is starting to come to light from both my dreams and my insights during the day that it has slowed me down and altered my life quite a bit.

When someone else thinks a certain way about you and has a strong presence in your life - these thoughts enter your energy field. When these people are close enough to you to drain your energy, of course, the result is an uptake of foreign energy to take the place of the energy you have lost.

This is not a complex process - basic energy medicine - something has gone out from you, a vacuum is created and something comes in to take it's place (you can read all about this in my books). Then you end up with a portion of your energy field operating from a vibration separate from your own - otherwise known as an energy block.

Unfortunately this happens all the time - any toxin or foreign substance can cause you to leak energy. A detox, change of diet, removal of non nutrients will being to reverse this process - then it's watch out world!

April 

Our turtle - Solstice 

Tackling the 'Over Mind' on Day 13

Another day has come and nearly gone now - always busy on Saturdays for me, perhaps my favourite day of the week really, mostly because we are all together on the weekends. But also because it is my day out and about....

I don't need that a lot - sometimes I think I hardly need other people at all! My mind, body and soul are such interesting places to be and being intuitive, my head is constantly full of other worlds, pictures, faces, senses and stuff. 

It can be a whirl wind of activity at times and especially during a cleanse. I was just thinking to myself how much I enjoy these days spent detoxing - my system is empty, clear and that means every thing inside of me is aware or not dulled down in any way.

It is really nice to be so in touch and in tune with your own body. But also to get the sense that you are in step with the rest of the world as well. It's a treat and I wouldn't trade these days for anything. It really is entirely about mastering the mind - or perhaps a better way to put that is to overcome the outside influences that have been controlling our minds. 

I usually refer to this as the 'over mind' - it is a real issue out there in the world at large and you cannot help but run into it whenever you are 'out there'. It's like walking into a big supermarket with a list and coming out with loads more than you had planned. 

Something else takes over your mind and you think - why not. Or perhaps some of the time, we don't think at all - we just act automatically as if we were robots. It is far more then just clever marketing too - very strange vibes in some of these places...

When we are struggling with weight, eating, impulsive behavior and so forth - perhaps this sort of over mind plays a far bigger role then anyone realizes. It is a sinister force out there and of course, everything gets taken apart during a cleanse - so I am curious to see how this one plays out.

As far as the rest of the detox - still dreaming loads, symptoms are ok so far, increasing my exercise again to keep things moving and reminding myself that this is for such a short period of time in the overall scheme of things. 

I remind myself that this will be over very soon, then I can eat what I want, all I want. The food will be there at the end of the cleanse, just like a prize for the winner. Great food in appropriate proportions that will nourish and fuel my clear body. 

So, another day closes and I am nearly complete with day 13 - the sky is clear, a little sliver of a moon is out and all is well.

April

Blossom - our goat

Day 11 and More Then Fine - Terrific!

Now I am officially over the half way mark - it's day 11 and I am doing fine. My eyes are bright, my skin is a little bumpy, my energy is good and I 'feel' like myself. Just like any other day on an intensive, soul searching, energy pattern life altering cleanse! LOL

Actually I am more than fine - I am terrific. My mind just feels free, clear and creative. I would probably be best described as a bit of a creative spirit usually, but when I am cleansing it's as if there is far more of me present.

I was thinking this morning how nice it was to feel like this but at the same time how I also have to be prepared to take full responsibility for the new/buried/hidden parts of me that surface. What I have found over these past 2 years especially (intensive detoxes) is that my artistic side flourishes whenever I am doing a cleanse and I just want to make things, cook, draw, colour, write and anything else I can do.

It's not a bad way to be at all. Of course I am still keeping up with some cooking right now as I have other mouths to feed, rather then my own - so this morning when I was making a fresh loaf of bread for my daughter I was carefully considering what other things I might do with bread to create even better and more interesting tastes.

Then I moved on to drawing and painting while I got everyone and everything sorted for the day. Between kids, animals, garden and livestock it is full on some mornings - however, easy enough to get it all down to a routine (if everyone cooperates!).

Today I am really sensing that this detox is now shifting into the emotional, mental and deeper levels - and I am looking forward to this change. Perhaps that also has something to do with wanting to create and make things - other sides of me are more engaged.

As usual I am also systematically going through the house cleaning each day - by the time this one is over I should be in great shape - inside and out.

April

Art in the Morning

Old Energy Patterns Being Dismantled

Finally - I was thinking late last night before I went to sleep how I was getting the sense of a little break though with this cleanse...it was as if things were starting to make sense or that the goal I started out with was now coming into focus. 

Yesterday I had good levels of energy as well as got some exercise in as well as all the other things I do in a day - I spent some time down in the barn with the goats (because they were in for the day on account of the rain) and that left me feeling peaceful.

I had very telling dreams again last night - dreams all night long of the same things, people and places as well as the energy that was coming in from each of the interactions. In one dream a person who I know to be very angry had shown up at our house and was leaving great piles of old stuff (broken furniture, old clothes, old toys etc.) things I did not not want or need.

I just stood there asking why I had to take this on in my house when I clearly did not want it. Then she was leaving to go get more. In the dream she completely ignored me as if I wasn't even there and my protests fell on deaf ears.

So, that told me a lot. This wasn't anything new of course, an old pattern from family members - being dumped on with things that do not belong and I didn't want. Then feeling powerless to do much about it because my voice was not heard or paid attention to.

I have been wondering when this one would surface - it shows me how deep this cleanse is going but also what I am tackling right now as well. Many of us drawn to these healing professions have these energetic patterns - very unhealthy and dispiriting at the same time.

There is nothing like a deep cleanse to get this moving and hopefully keep it moving out...

April

Sunrise this morning in Leap, West Cork

A Thankful Heart - Day 8 of My Detox

This is day 8 and I have definitely settled into this new routine of fasting - I am feeling pretty good as well. And sleeping fairly deeply these last couple of nights - in spite of all the dreams!

I have more detox symptoms today then yesterday - perhaps it just took a little while for them all to surface. Today I have a coated tongue, my skin is a little bumpy, my hair is limp and all the usual outward signs of cleansing are there.

Emotionally I am holding steady - but I can feel energy rising up in waves throughout the day as I progress though a host of different feelings, thoughts and senses. It's all quite good as well because I have such a strong inner indication that things are moving. 

Right now I am remembering all the game meat I have eaten as a child and in fact I swear I can even smell it on my skin. I grew up in a house of hunters - we all hunted and I was taken out trapping, hunting and fishing from a very young age.

The meat eaten in that house at this time of year was moose, rabbit and some sea ducks. Today I can smell cooked rabbit and perhaps even the sense of the fur from a moose... It is quite uncanny actually because I have always thought of these animals as having souls of some kind.

Perhaps not souls as we humans have but certainly some kind of divine essence and connection that links into us when we use them for food. I often wonder if we were ever thankful back then for these animals who gave their lives for us to eat.

Perhaps today, this is a good place to start - with a thankful heart while I seek a deeper understanding of where we all fit into this bigger picture on this planet. 

April 

Art on a Monday Morning....

Day 7 of My Detox

Today is day 7 - at one time this would have been a very significant milestone for a 10 day Master Cleanse - but as I hope to do a little longer this time, I am only a week into it! LOL

Right now I am planning to do at least 20 days - this is what I would consider to be an emotional detox as opposed to a purely physical one. Believe me there is a difference and I am looking forward to getting past the 10 day mark - usually that is when things shift into a deeper zone.

So today has been pretty good so far - keeping myself busy with cleaning and taking advantage of this extra energy. For the most part I don't have many physical symptoms of detox - just the mental, emotional and spiritual ones.

That being said they would be mainly lots of old memories, feelings and patterns coming to the surface. I notice them because when you are detoxing you need to pay attention to everything - it is often easier to do that when you are not eating.

Your body has only to focus on what is coming up and your mind has the time to process or digest the things that are floating through. This is actually (finally) the type of work that I had been trying to do for many years.

Of course for me this time around it is all about my inner child - I started doing this work more than 20 years ago, but there is still so much to be done. I feel as if this cleanse could shift things once and for all. There are huge changes taking place inside - so we'll see what surfaces over the next few days or so.

This is going to be a great week!

April

Day 5 - Cleanse All to Myself...

Today is day 5 of my unofficial Master Cleanse - LOL. I am still using that word and keeping a fairly low profile about it - but only with myself. And you know what? I have had hardly any detox symptoms, at least not physical ones anyway.

Otherwise there is lots going on in my head and emotionally. It actually feels as if I have simply picked up where I left off in November - as if I wasn't quite finished with that particular cleanse or something. So, it feels really right to carry on.

Physically I am feeling fine - good energy levels, slight coating on tongue, my tummy is a bit bloated, and I am feeling cold when outside. Mentally there is a lot coming up for me from very early in my childhood - mostly of other people's anger, hostility and dark energy. Perhaps to do with religion?

Last night my dreams were very deep and quite telling. All about me, taking care of other people, taking on their 'energy' in the form of clothes that did not fit and then losing out in the end. Sound familiar to anyone out there? 

Very unhealthy patterns set up early in life living with a dysfunctional family where I never quite got to be a child. I realized a few years ago that since my own children were born, it was the first time I remembered playing (I had to learn how) and I have gone through each of their phases with them.

So, all good so far. 

The others will join me in a couple of days and my detox week to myself will soon be over - I have quite liked it actually. It feels as if I have only got to be responsible for my own well being or something - while cleansing. 

Usually I am so closely monitoring and helping everyone else that I don't always get much time to process my own stuff. If you want to change anything in your life - this is the easiest and best way to do that.

April

Sunlight shining through the MC juice 

Patterns of Limiting Self Belief

Today I am getting back to myself after the week or so off from well, nearly everything! After our last cleanse it was a welcome break - and I just loved all the baking, cooking and eating...But now I am ready to get back into the swing of things.

So, today is a fast day, tomorrow, well we'll see when that day comes how it will be. If I was to go with what I am feeling right now I could nearly say that I should start my 20 day Master Cleanse and just get going with it.

I am looking forward to moving more deeply into the core of my being. That is exactly where I feel I am heading at this moment. My dreams are all indicating something very deep coming up to the surface as well as finally some breakthroughs I have been hoping for.

One of the most significant things I have realized recently - and in years past I have done quite a bit of work around it - is how when people close to you, don't believe in you and criticize your beliefs, the toll this can take on the spirit.

I am not even certain I have phrased it properly - so perhaps it is better to give an example. For myself, I have been repeatedly told by the aunt who raised me that I was nothing, a nobody and would not amount to anything.

For other people perhaps words were not spoken but a complete lack of belief in their abilities has been implied and then acted upon. As another example, I know someone who is very capable and highly intelligent, yet was pushed into menial work and encouraged to stay there.

He has fought all of his life since to get out of those positions, to educate himself (because his family refused, he wasn't worth it) and to find his own inner self-belief. Now, he has degrees and is in the process of following his own dreams. 

The power of hateful words from someone who is supposed to love and support you is soul destroying.  

I couldn't imagine even thinking that my children were incapable of something marvelous and fantastic in this world and indeed I will do all I can to support their dreams and hopes. Come to think of it, they are already amazing human beings!

This may give you some idea of where my head is at right now - in the perfect space to clear, unravel and do a Master Cleanse with this theme in mind. Right now I am still finding these spaces within myself, a place that holds my own worth that can be guide me forward on my path. 

April

Turkeys in the pen, eyeing up my camera!

Day 13 - On the Juice!

That's another cleanse done - today it's our juice day and we are all feeling great. And I am happy to have accomplished another leg of this journey with our fasting. Each one is unique, each one takes us more deeply into our bodies and every time we are closer to our final goals.

Right now I have a sore throat and the cold my kids had a couple weeks ago -- LOL. So, I am not feeling overly terrible, just stuffed up, achey and perhaps worse than any of the days spent detoxing. Such is life, now it's my turn to have a cold and get more energy moving.

So far today I am drinking only juices and water, but later on in the evening I will have a lovely bowl of stewed veggies or some soup. I can't wait - it is a blustery cool day and the exact weather for some nourishing food.

As I went to sleep last night I could feel something very dark around me - almost as if this was the final push from my body to get another layer of toxins out - all I kept seeing were strange mythical creatures with a magical energy about them. 

Perhaps this was the evidence I had been waiting for of the dark arts moving out, a pattern breaking apart and the final removal of some horrible spell. It's funny, I liken my 40 days detox to breaking free of a curse. It was that powerful -- and these past 12 days were no less so. Just not as intense.

Where does it all come from? Well one area is any place evil intentions, ill will and hate reside. There are unfortunately far too many people in this world who spread that stuff around like a virus. What this does to us is something like cause a fault in the programming, affecting our thoughts and therefore our actions.

Being around people who spread dark energy and pull you down, along with a poor diet of sugar, caffeine and other drugs will cause us to soak up this energy like a sponge. Once this energy gets taken on board, it will fester and create energy blocks.

One of the things I like about fasting, cleansing and detoxing using water and herbs, is the manner in which these energy blocks are tackled and broken down one piece at a time. Now, let's see what this next few days bring as there is always an adjustment period post cleanse. 

April

Sun in the trees

Finally Day 12.... Clearing out the Ghosts!

So, we are now into the last 24 hours or so of our Master Cleanse and little experiment (on my part anyway) to see if we shifted in any way into more of an emotional detox as opposed to a physical one. And my thinking has been correct....

Over these last few hours, it has been entirely about old emotional patterns coming up to the surface for each of us. I know doing 20 days of cleansing a detox for emotional blocks, I just wanted to see when this kicked in - it does appear to shift into this different mode right away.

The change in level and depth of detox was so obvious, I could see, hear and feel things clicking into another arena, like gears moving in an engine. Uncanny. I have been debating going further this time until about 15 days, however, this is a long weekend and I want to do some things with the kids.

As for detox symptoms - I am cleaning. Usually that is a good sign, because when you are clearing and cleaning outside (with gentle environmentally friendly products) you are doing the exact same thing inside. So far today I have spent about 3 hours dusting, sweeping, washing, mopping and laundry. 

And I am still not finished. But, this is good work and once it's done, the house feels better - and we all feel good. Nothing like a good thorough clean out to get you back on track. 

Some of my other symptoms are loads of energy (can't you tell?), not sleeping deeply these last 2 nights, a lot of dreams when I do close my eyes, my hair is coming back to it's own, my eyes are clear and I must look ok because someone stopped me yesterday when I was out and told me how well I looked.

That's always a good sign! 

Today I am really looking forward to getting back to more cooking, eating and of course our feast next week on Samhain. This is such a big deal for the children - they don't go out for treats, we have plenty at home. But also special movies and it's a full moon on Monday.... lovely energy all round.

Great time to clear the ghosts! 

April 

Swans on Lough Hyne West Cork 

48 Hours To Finish Line! Day 11

As of right now there are less then 48 hours left until juice day of my Master Cleanse and I am feeling pretty good. What I had hoped to discover this time around is if doing these extra days, past the 10 day mark has any added benefit.

The story so far this cleanse has been less clear to me then some of my other detoxes - in that there has yet to be any real theme emerge. Or so I thought. I now think it has been far more elusive, because I am clearing out old ghosts from the past.

And I mean that literally. In the energetic world, when someone passes on (or should have passed on but manages to remain here feeding off of others) this causes an energy disparity. Of course, those of us who work hard at living in balance within our own resources will find this to be a strain.

Unfortunately we all know people like this. They walk the streets, are family members, co-workers and so forth. Energy vampires are always on the look out for an opportunity to siphon off a free meal from any unprotected human.

All of this sounds like heavy, deep work - but it actually hasn't been. These past 11 days have been easy enough to navigate and I feel fairly good. But, I am really aware of the deep work taking place underneath the surface, especially around my back and kidneys. These are common places of attachment and this cleanse has been working away at breaking down these cords.

Today I have some detox symptoms - my tongue is still coated, my hair is still limp, my skin is a little bumpy, I can see shapes, lights, flashes and strands of energy waves moving within my energy field - as if a bit of re-patterning is going on.

Otherwise, my energy levels are good, I have been keeping up with my workouts, getting lots of work done on my new recipe book (Eat Like A Pagan), and the children are moving at a great pace with their school work. 

Most importantly to me, my dreams are back - full on! I have been dreaming non stop each night again of whales, open ocean, boats and last night of a beautiful house with a big central fireplace and marble floors. There was a cat and snow on the ground outside....

Well, off to start my day - it will be a good one!

April 

A little dragon fly on one of our sunny days

Getting There - Day 10!

Today is Day 10 of this Master Cleanse and so far, we are all still deep into detox mode - it has been fairly steady - but I have a feeling things are about to go a little more beneath the surface. Especially after some fairly clear dreams I had last night....

Last night started out well, I never have any problem going to sleep - my head just hits the pillow and I am gone off. Eager to find my dream world and pick up after the day. And it is a rare night these days when I am kept awake by anything....

Except last night - my little one woke up and could not get back to sleep. For hours. 

She is asleep now, and I am here writing after getting the kitchen sorted for the day, doing my Salt Water Flush and feeding the animals. Hopefully she will sleep for a little while now otherwise we are going to have one tired child today! 

Such is life - and if that is the worst I have to contend with, so be it. We are all fit, healthy, strong and happy - and most of all, in this together. Not a bad way to live and I am thankful for our abundant good health. 

I got up this morning (one of the many times) feeling a sore throat, stuffy nose and full in my sinuses. My first thought was I was coming down with a cold or something. Then my thoughts quickly went to the fact that I would be doing my 5th salt water flush this morning and I was immediately confident I would feel better.

And I was right. A SWF clears out everything - and especially the sinus area. Even though I am drinking the salty water and it is moving down and out the other end (LOL). Go figure! I wanted to mention this part of doing a cleanse, because it is so vital and such a useful aspect of clearing out toxins from our bodies. 

Water and sea salt - you can't get much more gentle, safe and natural than that. 

April

One of our ducks from this summer in the bath

Day 9 - Discipline of the Self

Well, I have arrived here on the ninth day of my cleanse feeling pretty good this morning - happy the weekend is over, because I can get my routine back. Funny how we are such creatures of habit - we find routine comforting, predictable and safe.

Right now when I am deep in the middle of a detox, I also find it makes the time go faster and I know how to keep myself busy! And to be honest, it's not that I want to eat or even about food, even though I am surrounded by it and it's all I do. For me, I just like to feel productive and get as much done as I can during each of these cleanses.

Once my mind is made up to do something - such as a Master Cleanse for 12 days - all thought of eating is firmly placed on the back burner for the duration of that time. Perhaps I have trained myself to do this over the years. 

However, I do remember a time when I would find it very hard to stick with any plan, especially when it came to food. I used to think and complain at the time that it seemed someone else was controlling me or that rubbish food was in control.

And I am certain that was indeed what was taking place (energetically and physically) on many levels. When we are full of toxins the struggle is far greater and it requires far more energy to get the process moving forward. 

My 40 day detox sorted me out on that end. I think that I cut through so much old muck in my system by doing those few weeks, it changed me completely. But, most importantly, I learned discipline. As I talk about in my book The Pagan Diet, I was taught all about spiritual discipline.

Of course this is a life long quest and there is still much to learn - I refer to this as self - mastery and I have mentioned it here several times. Fasting, walking the spiritual path and any of these paths to higher consciousness requires of us to overcome lesser energies that hold us back.

This all takes effort and energy, your body is a work of art - removing one layer of debris at a time as we are gently shown how to overcome addictions, lower vibrations, old habits and fear that have kept us locked down for so long.

April 

Hawthorne berries, drying on the wood stove

It's Day 8 - Healing Old Wounds

And things are definitely different right now - we are really into a deep detox mode today - everyone of us can feel it. And since this is exactly what we are attempting to do - it's where we should be at - moving all of this old stuff out.

Today each time things quiet down and I get a few minutes to myself (we are all keeping busy with chores) I hear the words 'trust the process'. And I know full well that things are happening. I am remembering each time I have been moving through 'something' (such as healing myself of cancer or my home free-birth etc.) and of course, those words were always there.

As for symptoms last night my back started aching and it still aches a little today - it's an old one though and is very familiar to me. My tongue is quite coated, my hair very limp, my legs feel tired and I am just wanting to listen to music. 

Considering that many people might feel like that on a good day, it's not so bad! LOL

Otherwise, I feel fine, I have loads of energy and am getting lots done. Today I am working on my herbs, the garden, cooking a bit and the usual house work. I have a pile of hawthorne berries drying right now in the kitchen along with several other leafy herbs. 

The funny thing about this cleanse is that I am not really remembering my dreams. I am dreaming, I can remember little snippets, but not the usual long drawn out sagas I often have and I do miss them. Perhaps they will be back before this is over. 

Hard to believe we are nearly there - only have to keep going until Friday morning and then that's 12 days done. It all feels a little surreal at the moment because so much deep work is taking place. Especially at my back, kidney area and spine. Lots of energy moving and change. 

I have been making teas with herbs from my garden that were dried over the summer making this  a very gentle and easy cleanse. Old inflammation is moving up and out that has been there for ever and this feels nice to be shifting forward. It's like healing old wounds. 

The one thing our bodies are absolute experts at is healing - we just need to provide the space for this to happen. Of course the magic elixir is water - the bringer of life!

April

My daughter on a walk with me