Chronic Fatigue

 

What is Chronic Fatigue? 

Myalgic Encephalomylitis is abbreviated to ME and has all the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Tiredness, muscle aches, brain fog, depression, are part of a syndrome that has baffled doctors. It has now been accepted by the medical world as being a genuine illness and not one that has been imagined by the patient. Many treatments are available, from diet, sleep treatment, physical therapies, etc. It is best to avoid medications if they can be avoided. 

Insomnia

 

Lack of sleep has many causes; it could be from noise, from anxiety, from habit or from medications (just to name some possiblities). You could have difficulty getting to sleep or you could wake early. The result of lack of sleep can lead to exhaustion, cause traffic accidents,  increase moodyness.  Do not use medication - sleeping tablets - these have very serious side effects. Use natural methods. Create a bedtime routine, do not do anything stressful before bedtime, listen to a tape or gentle music, and make sure your bedroom is a place of peace and tranquility. 

Message /3 from Mandy

Do You Have Allure? The allure of mystery is a fascinating phenomenon that captures our imagination and arouses our interest. At its core, the enigmatic quality of a person can be deeply appealing, and there’s psychology at play that helps explain why we are drawn to these individuals.

One of the key factors is unpredictability. When we encounter characters, be it in novels, films, or real life, who keep us guessing, it ignites a sense of excitement and curiosity. Much like a gripping mystery novel, where each page holds potential surprises, a mysterious person seems to promise an unfolding story that captivates our attention. We find ourselves wanting to turn the next page, eager to discover what lies beneath the surface of their persona.

Gestalt

 Gestalt focuses on the present time - what happens now - with our thoughts, associations, feelings,  sensations and fantasies. It helps us to explore ways we block painful experiences. Our awareness increases of what is hidden from ourselves and from others; we let ourselves feel and express more, to become more open, and it provides us with freedom to be who we are, to play, to feel alive, and move on from negative emotions. 

Message 1/ from Mandy

From my perspective, shifting from victimhood to self empowerment was a metamorphic journey. It was a powerful process that led to a more gratifying and joyful life. It was all about recognising my own strength and taking charge of my narrative. Here are some friendly tips to help you along the way -

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: It’s okay to feel hurt, angry, or disappointed. Recognising and validating your emotions is the first step towards healing. Allow yourself to feel the feelings without judgment.

2. Reflect on Your Experiences - Take some time to think about what you've been through. Journaling can be a great tool here. Write about your experiences, but also focus on what you’ve learned from them. This enables you to shift your perspective from what happened before, to what happens now. It helps you to grow from your experience.

Message 2/ from Mandy

 Life is short, and every moment counts. Why stick around people who treat you like a pinata at a party, getting bashed from all angles but getting no goodies in return? It’s much like trying to dodge heavy rain drops instead of using an umbrella, why not seek out those who bring sunshine instead? It's essential to recognise when someone is draining your energy, leaving you feeling battered and bruised. It’s time to summon your inner ninja and make a swift exit from relationships that really don't serve you.

Having pointless arguments? They’re nothing more than a treadmill of frustration, much like trying to cure a hangover with another drink, only leading to extra chaos. Don't waste your breath on wind up merchants that argue for the sake of it. Instead, focus your energy on those people whose conversations inspire and elevate you. Engage with people who recognise your true worth and who celebrate your special qualities, because those connections are the ones that really matter.

Transpersonal Psychology!

What is Transpersonal Psychology?

 The higher self is a part of ourself which is beyond and transcends the individual ego, beyond the self serving and selfish aspect of the self. It is understanding and appreciating the sacred and avoids religious dogma and traditions. Altered states of consciousness can be experienced. Spiritual development and values such as serenity, self understanding, joy and gratitude are part of the bigger spiritual picture.

The Seven Karmic Paths

1. NO PATH: This path is best expressed in poet William Blake’s words: “The road to excess leads to the palace of wisdom.” Those on this path eventually, through experience and pain, will perceive what has value and what doesn’t. Those on this path judge everything from a perspective of self, and often they have difficulty judging what action will result in harmony as opposed to disharmony. The No Path people appear to have little sense of balance and are usually unwilling to accept responsibility for their own lives. 

Pre Menstral Syndrome!

Pre Menstural Syndrome: Curse or Cure?

As I am a Feminine Cycle Consultant and help women understand, appreciate and track their feminine cycle to improve the quality of their lives, I thought it was time for me to speak about this much debated topic that affects so many women in our society: the Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Cognitive Analytic Therapy

 Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is conducted by qualified psychotherapists, to assist patients to gain a greater understanding of their own process. 

Biofeedback

 

Defined by mathmatician, Norbert Werner as a 'method of controlling a system by inserting into it the results of past performance', Biofeedback has been popular for decades. It is a process for mechanically monitoring bodily functions in order to gain control over them. The process requires a period of training but the results are remarkable and are of vital importance to health. It might sound like magic, but the mind is capable of extraordinary feats. Think for a moment of the Tibetans who, on the coldest of days, could increase their body heat to significant levels. Heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, relaxation, brain rhythms, are just for starters. I have heard of excellent results for excema, migraine, gastritis and other very common ailments. 

By Karen Tate

My gateway into Goddess Spirituality was via the teachings of Dianic women immersed in Women's Mysteries and Goddess herstory.  I owe them a debt of gratitude for introducing me to Goddess but this relationship wasn’t without many challenges. Like a “cafeteria catholic” moving down the food line of spiritual beliefs, choosing what ideas resonated with me, I put some of their ideas on my tray of life and rejected others leaving them to dry out on the sterno.

I was interested in a Feminine Face of God and not a male God so much. Christianity and patriarchy turned me off to institutional  man-made dogma, religion and Jesus for a long time. For me, the male God could be a consort of Goddess, perhaps her equal, provided she maintained her full autonomy and authority. Think of the Super Couple of Isis and Osiris for example. The feminist aspects of Dianics also appealed to me. Coming from a lower-middle-class family, growing up without a lot, I understood the importance of feminism to lift us all up to achieve equality. So the female empowerment aspect, the primary deity as female, feminism and herstory were really attractive concepts of Dianic Spirituality.

Grades, Cuts and Shades of Diamonds

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, roughly the phrase goes!  But selecting the best crystal for your loved one as a unique gift or for an engagement present may require more thought. Points taken into consideration would be the size of the stone, could your partner need a dainty piece of jewelry or would they like large and flashy?. Naturally the piece will be based on your finances!

“Codependency No More” Book Extract

Codependency Patterns: Think they are responsible for other people, for other peoples feelings, thoughts, actions, choices, once, needs, well-being, lack of well-being, and ultimate destiny. Feel anxiety, pity, and guilt, when other people have a problem. Feel compelled to help a person solve a problem, such as giving unwanted advice, giving suggestions, or fixing feelings. Fear when the help isn’t effective. Anticipate other peoples needs. Wonder why others don’t do the same for them. Find themselves saying yes when they mean no, doing things they don’t really want to be doing, doing more than their fair share, and doing things other people are capable of doing for themselves. 

Not knowing what they want or need or, if they do, tell themselves what they want and need is not important. Trying to please others instead of themselves. Find it easier to feel and express anger about injustice done to others, rather than injustice has done to themselves. Feel safe when giving. Feel insecure and guilty  Feel safe when giving, feeling insecure and guilty when someone gives to them. Feel sad because they spend the whole lives giving to other people and nobody gives to them. 

Drew Ryder

Passion and Motivation: In this month’s article I thought we could explore passion and motivation, as I consider that they go together hand in hand as it were.  Let’s first look at passion.  What exactly is passion?  Passion is, as described in the Oxford English Dictionary, amongst other things, (that is to say, leaving sex out of the equation!), as a strongly felt emotion or a strong enthusiasm for something, or, the object of an intense desire or enthusiasm: some of you might choose football as this desire, or dancing, or food.

When you are passionate about something it is easy to get excited about it and this often inspires you to do something about the passion.  In other words to feel motivated in to doing something – it may well be going to watch or even play a game of football, to dance or to cook. People can be passionate about all sorts of things, what ‘floats my boat’ may not necessarily float yours.  If you have a deep desire about something then that desire or passion alone, may well be enough to motivate you.  What if it isn’t?  Or what if there is something you need to do for instance, like lose weight for health reasons, some area where there is little or no passion.  How can we get motivated?

Rolfing

 Dr Ida Rolf founded a new method of treating the structure of the body, especially where there are postural problems, causing pain and discomfort. These can be eased and relieved. Her method, known as 'Rolfing' is also known as 'Structural Integration'. 

 

John O'Donoghue

Who was John O'Donoghue?

"When you cease to fear your solitude, a new creativity awakens in you. Your forgotten or neglected wealth begins to reveal itself. You come home to yourself and learn to rest within. Thoughts are our inner senses. Infused with silence and solitude, they bring out the mystery of inner landscape."

- Anam Cara, p. 17

Rainer Maria Rilke

Who was Rainer Maria Rilke?

Lived 1875-1926, Rilke was an Austrian traveller, poet and mystical prose writer. Conscripted into service in WWI, he experienced depression as he was not psychologically suited to the military. He was an only child with a dominating and extreme Catholic mother who dressed him in girl's clothing, made him kiss the wounds of Christ's statue, and told he must never complaint when he was in pain or distress. This behaviour might have influenced his later strong dislike of Catholicism. In one poem, he describes Jesus as having been married to Mary Magdalene - an early concept which has now found interest in the modern day. 

Richard Rohr

Who is Richard Rohr?

Born 1943, Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar and spiritual author living in New Mexico. He is the Founder of the New Jerusalem Community which is a grass roots community that provides equality for men and women and supports LGBTQ rights and campaigns for a new orthodoxy that is different from the top down Vatican line. 

Requiems - Poetry Choice

Requiems by Christina Rossetti 

When I am dead, my dearest,

Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.