Let nature heal you

How does your living space or daily environment support healing or health? Look around.  Is it cluttered? Are there any natural scenes of just concrete and noise pollution? How do you relieve stress? Yoga... or perhaps stress relieving medication? Perhaps you draw or paint.  But there is a simple and free, that's right, free method to help you heal. 

These questions provided a start of how my daily lack of exposure to natural environs can affect my mood in the worst way.  Utne Reader published an article from Deb Aronson of Science & Spirit 2003 noting a study done on children living in Robert Taylor Holmes apartments in Chicago, IL.  The study suggested that they would find children stressed out because of the challenges that come with living there.

 “Our theory was that public housing is a very fatiguing environment,” says Faber Taylor. “It turns out that small amounts of greenery seem to make a big difference. You don’t have to live in Sherwood Forest to enjoy nature's benefits.” (utne.com)

But the exposure that the children had to trees from a window view on the second, third or fourth floor seemed to benefit from nature.  

image source:https://pixabay.com/en/landscape-spring-wood-scenic-green-403165/

Ralph Smart, psychologist, also notes in a brief video on healing, the importance of getting out into nature as a form of healing.  In the video he is at the ocean and talks about the therapeutic effect of water. 

I could use a dose of nature therapy.  I'll pass on camping out in the woods, but a nice walk along the shore of a nearby river always does me good. 

Lastly, there is a great website, calm.com. that uses the sounds in nature to help with calming.  I like to use it when I am having trouble sleeping.  The serene natural environs of trees, water, rain, etc all help me doze off effortlessly in a matter of minutes from tuning in.  

Ralph Smart

 https://youtu.be/LyG9Qhr3RdI

How nature heals us

 http://www.utne.com/environment/hownaturehealsus.aspx?PageId=1#ArticleContent

Serenity Prayer

image source:alisetterodriguez.blogspot.com

Sometimes when faced with difficulty or challenges, it is hard to find the words to pray.  Here is a simple and familiar prayer that I would like to encourage you to use if you are at a loss for words to pray. 

Self-care

Self-care used to be one of those topics that I didn't know of but found out that I practiced frequently.  I found myself happier, more rested, and balanced in every area of my life.

Right now I am experiencing burn out.  I try to practice some self-care but scheduling the "me" time seems like more work.  This needs to change and will change. Scheduling "me time" will be a priority.

image source: https://pixabay.com/en/gear-mechanics-wheels-transmission-408364/

                                                                                         There is a self -care wheel from OlgaPhoenix that suggests we have 6 areas on the wheel.  The areas are physical, professional, psychological, emotional, spiritual and personal.  Within each area there are several examples of what self care looks like. Upon closer reflection I will need to revisit the wheel and start again in order to relieve burnout. I hope you join me on the journey of self-care. 

For more information on the self-care wheel see http://the-psychology-blog.tumblr.com/post/80565755635/therapybros-becauseiamawoman-the-self-care

Color Therapy

image source:https://pixabay.com/en/art-therapy-therapeutic-discipline-230045/

Wearing white for a wedding and black for a funeral is symbolic of the mood the wearer should feel for the occasion.  Similarly wearing other colors can boost our mood.  Have you walked into a room where the walls were painted blue and felt a sense of calm?  Well this same feeling can be achieved by the colors we wear.  African clothing is very brightly colored.  I'm inspired to wear colors for the occasion and mood I'm in.  Rarely do I wear black, but it is a color that I wear year round paired with a lighter color.  Brown tones and grays are great for fall and winter.  Perhaps you will add some new colors to your wardrobe this year. Maybe you have never worn African inspired clothing but always wanted to. Get in some last minute light weight summer wear. Check out some African clothing and fabrics at the links on the right margin. =====>

Hair, Head and Heart

I had the pleasure of talking with Mary Reed, the host of Hair, Head and Heart.  Mary is a hair stylist and expert in hair care. Her show features guests with discussion on all things related to the topic of hear.  "It is a safe zone for all ages, textures and backgrounds to explore issues related to hair". (hair, head & heart)

The show is broadcast on AM 1570 Wellness Radio in Minnesota every Saturday at 3pm. It is available on podcasts as well, along with other wellness shows.  Find out more here http://twincitieswellnessradio.com/content/all/podcasts
To reach Mary, email hairheadheart@gmail.com

The healing properties of black seed oil

Black seed also known as Nigella Sativa has been used as a flavoring and Arabic, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. According to The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, it has the components "thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, thymol, carvacrol, nigellimine-N-oxide, nigellicine, nigellidine and alpha-hederin".  It also has antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory as well as anti-cancer properties.

I use black seed oil for allergies.  A few times during the year, I go through bouts of sneezing, sore throats, and sniffing.  I take 1 dose of black seed oil (1 tablespoon) twice a day and in a few hours the allergies are gone.  As a school teacher this is also important for me to have in my regimine to keep me from being sick which will lead to absence from my students.

If you are curious and want to give black seed oil a try just know that it has a strong earthy taste sort of like turpentine. Depending on the manufacturer it varies in color from light brown to a deep rich dark brown.  The taste range to from a mild earthy taste to a strong taste.  To cope with this you can add a little pure honey and little freshly squeezed lemon or citron lime juice to your tablespoon quantity.

Prophet Mohamed was know for saying that black seed was a remedy for everything except death. A search on the web will give you a multitude of ailments that black seed oil can help with. There are 833 medical articles regarding the healing properties of this natural remedy.  To find our more go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=nigella%20sativa .



referenceThe American Journal of Chinese Medicine can be found at the following link.  

Read More: http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0192415X1100941X

image source: https://pixabay.com/en/nigella-black-cumin-oil-fixed-oil-216510/

A little poetry for you

This is a poem I wrote in 2011 after I was invited to share my skills and gifting with students. It was a season in my life where I was trying to sort out the next steps professionally. The timing couldn't have been more perfect to share.  I hope it encourages you.

Acceptance

Being too high for mountains
Being too low for valleys
Looking for a soft place to land
I found solace in the arms of an invitation.

It is also in my self published book of poetry. Check it out here http://www.lulu.com/shop/yvette-r-toko/breath-eyes-memory-in-me/paperback/product-22529331.html or click on the Literature tab at the right.