Harvest Moon....

Today I am getting ready for my full moon ceremony….this one is a harvest moon and of course is something quite special. I remember last year we had a blue moon in the month of August – we don’t have that this year….but….

We have something far better.

This year we are witnesses for the earth, watching as she awakens, stretches and returns to life as it once was. She is re-gaining her energy, coming back to herself day by day and as she does this – the old ways will become relevant to us once again.

By this I mean the simple things such as honouring the full moon. Paying attention to the changing seasons, foraging for natures’ precious offerings and most importantly, using herbs as our medicine.

I have found one significant difference over these past few months since I completed my nearly 2 ½ years of back to back fasting (clearing, cleansing, parasite cleanse), the way my body now responds to food, water and herbs has changed.

What stands out to me most is the herbs of course, because it is so marvelous to have a dramatic, immediate and positive effect from a single cup of herbal tea or a glass of my Wild Harvest Herbal Remedy syrups (you have got to try them! LOL).

It’s as if I have broken through the barrier that kept these natural and healthy benefits of the planet in check – and this barrier also slowed down their action. I had long thought they should work faster and now I see that they do….it was the toxins (viruses, parasites, chemicals etc.) in my body that prevented these herbs from doing their work efficiently.

Which leads me to what I have been doing these days….over this past few weeks I have been busy looking at ways to make my life more efficient. To streamline my ‘working’ (homeschool, farm animals, market activities etc.) day while I keep things (the rest of my life!) in balance.

So, this harvest moon has come to mean something quite special for me this year, it’s finally the culmination of a year where I have truly watched things come together….efficiently.

April

Irish field in West Cork

Gut Health, Fasting and Physical Strength

Thankfully the sun is shining – otherwise rain would have added a strange dimension to the energy of this day. It has been an eye opener to say the least…after several dreams last night I was happy to wake up this morning.

I am sure we all have those nights where we sleep so deeply – but not in a restful way. Yet, I felt as if I was somewhere else and needed to come back from that place. Perhaps it was a part of me that has been away for quite some time, it certainly feels like it.

We are just coming back this week into increasing our exercise as well as talking about our next adventures in fasting. I think I will do some day on, day off – with weight training in between for the next little while to build myself up again.

Right now my focus in on building up my gut – I can sense a lot of changes taking place over these last couple of weeks and I really want to keep that going as well as perhaps enhance it in some way.

It’s as if as a result of each of these intense fasts, cleanses and detoxes I have done over the last couple of years have cleared out my gut enough to bring back life to the places and spaces where previously there wasn’t any.

No wonder I actually feel different – inside as well as outside – things are just different for me. My task now is to get used to this new way of being as well as to learn how to nurture myself in a new way. It’s a different sort of thinking really – to grow, cook, eat and prepare our food in such a way that will protect and enhance the delicate ecosystem inside.

But, the link here is how gut health, physical strength and cleansing are all inter-related. When your focus is on one, and you see it through, then you can focus on the others -- building up one area will enhance and affect the others as well. 

In lots of ways I have been doing this all along – no sugar, no medication, no caffeine, no Nightshades, no plastic etc. for many years should have helped. But, it was the actual clearing out of old debris that finally brought things back.

It just goes to show you – you can’t grow much of anything worthwhile on a rubbish heap, you do have to clear it out first.

April

Alignment of the Mind on the Spiritual Path

It's a good day for making some changes - as it is also a good year for it too! So, that is exactly what has been happening - seemingly for us and everyone we meet. Sometimes the best change you can make begins with a good clear out.

So, today that's what we have been doing. Cleaning out rooms, taking things out we no longer use and generally tidying up. And of course, as anyone knows, it feels good. A thorough cleaning inside and out is always a wonderful thing.

I am now on day 14 of my deep detox and moving right along. The one thing that stands out more then any other symptom so far though is my dreams. Fantastic dreams all night long - last night about walking a path and finding a beautiful pool...I was so surprised to find the water warm.

Otherwise, just the usual detox days - keeping busy and finding things to do as usual. 

It can be an important time for us as humans - taking stock of where we are, the places we want to go and then making adjustments to our dreams, hopes and wishes as we move along the path we are on. Sometimes a little breather arrives in unexpected ways....

If you find yourself with some down time take it seriously enough to prepare for your next step, the next leg of the journey and to allow yourself the time to get into the space you need to be in. I find that this also engages the mind to take a larger part in walking the talk.

Our minds are powerful parts of the creative self and need to be involved in each phase of our journey. And there are so many ways to bring the mind into alignment with the body and soul. All it takes is some detoxing, clearing out and practice.

April 

Clear skies at long last...

Cycles of Life- Making Room for Old Energy....

Today my children are clearing out their old toys - you know the ones that hang around well past their sell by date. But also the toys they have outgrown, some which are broken - and anything made of plastic that has found it's way into the house.

Most of their toys are wooden, metal, cloth and as 'real' as possible because the vibration of these items is much better for them to use as well as just nicer and last longer. A little bit of a clear out before Solstice is always a good idea and maybe helps them to understand the deeper cycles of life...

Not only for the children but also and especially for us as adults - how often do we take the time to clear out our homes, rooms and bodies to make room for something new? Allowing our lives to flow with the cycles of each season and embrace change as it arrives.

Perhaps letting go of the old, broken and no longer useful aspects of living our lives and running our bodies is just what is needed at any time of the year. Our cells need to be clean to function optimally, and our tissues, organs and systems can always use the detox. 

But also right now, there is no time of expectation like the month of December. Of course this year being 2012 with the anticipated dates of 12/12/12 and 12/21/12 - this cleaning is needed far more then ever. And something quite different....

Because what is coming our way is not anything new - it is the old, the ancient, the timeless, parts of us thought lost in time and antiquity. These will begin to return to take up their rightful places in our lives and on our paths.

Part of going full circle is allowing what once was to return and begin again... in a renewal of spirit. I don't think for one minute the world is going to come to an end...however, change is on the cards for us one and all - and that is not a negative thing. In fact, this change has long been needed and seems to be well overdue.

But then again, some might say we are just in time - for something wonderful. So, during these first few days of December it's always a good time to clear, clean, remove and empty out what is no longer necessary in our lives. 

To make room for all of the old that is coming our way...

April

The Soul & the Well of Hope

It has been quite a week and of course seems like ages since we finished our detox. That's the thing with doing these often, it's not an event, but an incorporated piece of our existence. Something we do, automatically to get the energy moving and to keep it doing just that.

So, there is a lot shifting and shaking for us these days - all thanks to our concerted effort to regain what we have lost, take back the pieces of our souls and move forward in Oneness. Anything you truly want, that's worth fighting for, is worth having.

Energetically speaking you cannot hope to move forward by much or for very long, with only bits and pieces of yourself. Part of the learning while walking this spiritual path is that we are meant to be whole beings (integration) - yet what we start out as is a shell of our former self.

This shell has to be cleared, cleaned and readied for it's ultimate filling up as we journey forward. Of course this is a life's work, an entire process of supernatural proportions that fills our time and minds with it's simplicity. 

Today I feel as if I have come out of a deep tunnel, an excavation of sorts - clearing out the debris of the past. Moving forwards on the path, it's as if this next section will be lit from within - underneath all that cold, dark and heavy energy there is a brightness to be found.

I know that this next leg of my journey is perhaps only beginning - the soul in itself is endless, but with distinctly defined borders, blueprints and maps for the days ahead and a well of hope flowing through the centre.

This well has been uncapped and the water runs sweet.

April

Sunrise

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 

Finally On Day 10!

We made it to day 10 once again and are feeling better than ever, it's funny how we all go into 'focus' mode during these last few hours of our detox while our bodies must remove a pile of toxins, there seems to be so much happening. So, throughout the past 2 days or so, the official countdown has been on - it's nice to be counting hours instead of days.

Now with tomorrow being juice day (where my fast is broken while I get back to more solid foods over a couple of days or so), this is always a time of reflection for me. Mostly because during each of these 10 days I keep myself busy doing things not necessarily to pass the time, mostly because I have the energy and my mind is so focused.

Today all I have done so far since getting up is clean, sort, tidy and organize - it is nice to get the house in order for our festival coming up at the weekend as well. I am also feeling very creative, so I just want to make things, plant something, paint and otherwise work away with my hands.

I love how doing a Master Cleanse brings you so deeply into yourself to these levels, the nice part is that you can remain there once the cleanse is finished, because this is ground re-claimed as a result of the detox. 

I was thinking yesterday, I finally felt like myself - it is a really nice feeling. I have been many years trying to get back to myself, to feel like myself, to know myself on a deeper level all that time knowing there were parts and pieces to me - I knew existed but couldn't connect with. Now I know I am following the pathway to those inner places.

So far, I still have lots of detox symptoms - my tongue is coated, my head feels a little tight today, I am somewhat tired as well, but still have loads of energy and my ears are clearer. Not sure what that means exactly but more energy is moving around them.

Yesterday I made up a powerful tea for our cleanse juice so perhaps this has something to do with the extra clearing! Can't wait to have a dandelion coffee and I found myself craving herbs from the garden yesterday when I was out there weeding - looking forward to foraging leaves in the coming days to see what I can find for salads.

Have a healthy day!

April

Cat in the garden