Festive Frolics and Seasonal Survival Tips

Just a few ideas for a happy, healthy Christmas.  Although I do keep wondering if tips for a healthy Christmas, and, well Christmas go together for most people? 

I think they can without difficulty though.

I plan to keep on drinking green juices to keep my energy up, get some great nutrients and maybe help neutralise the bits I might pig out on now and again.  Better than the many energy drinks on the market I think you can mainline great live enzymes and vitamins from a 2 minute juice to make.  Fair enough the washing up may take a moment or two longer but there's no can to recycle and the only waste is compostable.  Green in more ways than one.  I've blogged several times about green juices but if you want any recipe ideas or advice on how to get started there's lots out there on the net or do feel free to get in touch.

Keep hydrated.  Often we mistake thirst for hunger and surrounded by salty foods in a centrally heated house we may dehydrate faster - 6-8 glasses of water a day is the ideal although do listen to your body here too. Too much water isn't all that great either.  A glass of water per glass of alcohol is a good tip too - and you'll appreciate it the morning after.

Sleep. A little now and again. Ideally a minimum of 4 hours a night although I think we all know what amount works for us and as near to this as possible is great.  Maybe a cheeky afternoon nap can help balance out those late nights and great parties.

Get moving!  The temptation to stay in on these grey, rainy days is much easier to listen to than on those bright, sunny summer ones but your body will thank you.  Exercise helps the body to digest food more effectively and with an increased intake a bit of moving about will help all round.

Curb the carbs... it'll help you have more energy into the afternoon instead of your body needing to shut down it's functioning ability so that it can take time out to digest your dinner.

And it couldn't be a seasonal survival blog without the mention of homeopathy could it?
Nux Vomica is a great morning after remedy - and some recommend to take it on going to bed after a drinking session too.  Worth having some to hand for those pesky hangovers. Great for over indulgence of both drinks and food and can antidote heartburn, nausea, vomitting.

Also worth remembering is Pulsatilla for when you've indulged in more fats than you're used to - you may see heartburn, heaviness after eating and a coated tongue - and cold drinks appear to help the person.

The tissue salt Nat Phos 6x is a simple remedy for overindulgence and indigestion.  Just take 3-4 tablets when the symptoms strike.  After 15 minutes if the symptoms aren't gone then repeat - up to three times.

Not to eat the 'bad stuff' is a great way to go but sometimes we want to and so to do so without guilt, enjoying your food and savouring it. Appreciating the work behind the meal, both that day and in the past is a great contemplation and way to really enjoy the food on our plate.

Wishing you most merry, fabulous festivities,

Love,

Em

Step into Christmas, Hop into Hanukkah, Walz into Kwanzaa...

Whatever and whenever you celebrate, wishing you wonderful celebrations and happy times.

I have to admit to being a relative novice in terms of my knowledge about other festivals celebrated around the world and producing the Homeopathy for Health in Africa calendar last year was a great start to looking at festivals outside of my own experience.

The ideas behind Kwanzaa appeal to me and I think we may look to incorporate some of these in our seasonal celebrations.... Just in case you would like to find out more - here's a brief overview I've just pulled up from a google search:

Kwanzaa is a nonreligious African-American celebration that was established in 1966. It is based on various African harvest celebrations. Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and continues for 7 days.

During each of the days of Kwanzaa, family members gather to light one of seven candles. As each candle burns, the family discusses one of the seven principles on which Kwanzaa is based:

1. Unity 2. Self-determination 3. Collective responsibility 4. Cooperative economics 5. Purpose 6. Creativity 7. Faith

Some communities collect food and clothing for the homeless during the seven days of Kwanzaa. On the seventh night, there is a feast to which friends and extended family members are invited. There are traditional foods, and cards and gifts are exchanged (although the giving of expensive commercial items is de-emphasized in favor of simple, handmade gifts). There is also singing and dancing. People greet each other with the Swahili expression "Habari gani," which means "What's new?" This is followed by a response that relates to one of the seven principles.   http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/profbooks/decceleb.htm

Going Green

The more I read, the more I listen to and the more I feel I know that green juices are fabulous.  On Monday night I watched my friend's 4 year old downing a gloriously fresh green juice. A most wonderful sight.

I'm really passionate about juicing and about the health benefits of getting fresh food right there and then, live enzymes straight into the body - so much so that recently I've been round to two friends places running through juicing with them.  It feels great to be spreading the word and seeing other people get really excited about this as well.

One of my favourites (the Monday night juice) is pretty much Jason Vale's Turbo Charge Smoothie (or how I make it from memory now anyway so may not be identical) and is as follows:

1/4 pineapple (skin off)
2 apples
handful of spinach
stick of celery
1/4 lime
1/4 cucumber

Push through the juicer (sandwiching the other ingredients between the two apples).

Pour into the blender and add:

1/2 avocado
handful ice cubes

Blend.  Pour into glass.  Clean juicer (so much easier if you do it straight away).  Drink and enjoy the juicy goodness.

I'm unquestionably loving this, my favouritest* soup at the moment...

...vegan, wheat free, great for you, delicious, warming and divine. In my opinion - and if you like the ingredients I suppose. Oh and so simple to make for a quick and easy, nutritious dinner.

I tried to save some for a friend to try and am disappointed to admit I was unable to. There's a great excuse to make it again very soon though!

It's from Jason Vale's 'Juice Yourself Slim' which is jam packed with fabulous recipies - juices, salads, soups as well as lots of making sense stuff around eating, lifestyle and more.  It's great to follow as a week launch of more healthy eating ashould you feel you need it and then to use as part of your daily life to lead to a great, energetic, nutrient rich lifestyle.

So without further ado - the recipe:

Sweet Potato, Coconut and Chilli Soup

2 medium sweet potatoes
1 small red chilli (seeds removed)
2 spring onion stalks
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 can of half fat coconut milk

Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into small chunks
Chop the chilli and spring onion stalks into small pieces
In a large saucepan heat the oil, add the vegetables
Gently sweat the veg over a medium heat for 15 minutes then add the coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes
Remove from the heat and using a blender, blend until smooth
Pour into a bowl and enjoy!

*I know it's not a word but it really, really should be.

Red Root Soup (my new second favourite soup)

Tonight made myself a tasty, tasty dinner and in the spirit of sharing I thought I would divulge my recipe.  It's become my new second favourite soup (I'll share my new favourite when I make it later this week but can't take the credit for that one).

Where possible I like to use organic vegetables - I get mine from the brilliant (IMHO) Riverford - and whilst I'm on that topic, I'd say that the best advice re organic I've been given is to buy as good quality veg as you can afford.  I think it's worth the little extra for the quality, taste and lack of nasties - and find Riverford very reasonable and great service too.

So for my Red Root Soup (to serve 2 with a little left for seconds) you'll need:

2 beetroots
2 sweet potatoes
1 butternut squash /small-ish pumpkin
1 medium red onion
2 cloves of garlic
Handful of green leaves eg watercress/spinach/rocket
1 pint of water
1 veg stock cube
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sesame seeds

Chop the onion, squash, sweet potato and beetroots, peel the garlic cloves and add all the vegetables to a large pan with the oil. Sweat over a medium heat stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add the green leaves to the pan and continue to sweat for a further 5 minutes.

Dissolve the stock cube in a pint of boiling water and pour over the veg in the pan. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Blend in the blender or use a hand blender to mix.

Serve topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Enjoy.

And then one thing just kinda led to another...

Wow! What a year.  About a week and a year ago I decided to set myself a goal of learning 3 new skills over 3 consecutive months (largely to see if I could as well as learning things I'd been meaning to for a while).  Struggling to decide on what the third one should be (too many options as opposed to not enough) a friend suggested I did a whole year of it. What's a girl to do? Of course I did it.

I've learnt lots both from the skills/interests I've looked further at but lots, lots more and here I just wanted to mention the way I'd noticed so many of the things I've done have led me done interesting, relevant but unexpected paths. 

Back to the beginning.  I think the idea was initially inspired by the gorgeous, tactile, beautiful colours and textures of the yarns at Purl and Jane and I wanted to learn how to do something with them. Other than making pom poms or crocheting miles of chain together. So on the 29th November I turned up to one of the early Yarnaholics Anonymous evenings for a lot of concentrating and to rekindle something I could do when I was 7.

My first project in wonderful Mirasol Hacha yarn

Knitting was followed by mindful meditation which seemed to deepen my joy of life, smooth out issues and create a sense of calm and happiness (although I did already feel fairly joyful, calm and happy it seemed to further enhance that).  My can do, experiment a bit and see what happens attitude led to this year saying yes to the great north swim.  That in turn led to needing to practice open water swimming which meant I joined the local triathlon club. Watching the men's triathlon in the Olympics with the club saw me getting recommended Chrissie Wellington's autobiography, which, inspirational as it is was merely a stepping stone for me. Next stop Born to Run and my journey into barefoot running. Leading neatly into Scott Jurek's Eat and Run and my excitement about the health benefits of a plant based, vegan led diet.

Just about to swim a mile at Ulswater.  This year we're planning a 3.8k swim there.

A road trip and friend's birthday earlier in the year had resulted in my doing some training on food intolerance testing and now, following inspiration from Scott and more, December's planned for yoga month has been overtaken by my beginning diplomas in both nutrition and kinesiology.

I've still lots I haven't done that was on my initial lists - pilates, yoga, French, rollerblading - as well as more I'd like to have done more of during some months. However as an exercise, taken on with a sort of 'who knows what's going to happen' I would have to say it's been one of the most enriching, fabulous, exciting, unpredictable things to try out. Who knew I'd have made the centre pages of the Guardian back at the beginning, on the 29th November last year? I would have to say I'd no idea but the experience that led me there was a magical, life affirming, restoring faith in humanity-type-of-thing and a wonderful appreciation of the simple joys of life.

A little like my year really.

Low Cost Clinic Success

It was fantastic to have a full session at my turn with our new low cost clinic run by the homeopaths at Craven Clinic.  My January session is nearly full whilst there are still a couple of places on my session in December.

It's great to be able to offer this service through the clinic and I would ask as a favour that you are able to share the information about the clinic with friends and family so that as many people as possible can get to know about us, that we're there and that the low cost service is available should they need it.

Low Cost Homeopathy Clinic opens in Skipton

It feels like it's been ages in the pipeline but am excited to say we're now running our low cost Homeopathy clinic from Craven Clinic, Skipton.

Currently available the first and second Tuesday morning of the month between 9.30am and 1.30pm and one Friday afternoon a month 1.30-5.30pm. The cost is £25 for an initial consultation and £20 for a follow-up appointment.

The low-cost homeopathy clinic has been set up by three experienced homeopaths: Linda Gartland, Jonathan Coles and Emma Colley, and aims to make homeopathic treatment available to as many people as possible. The clinic offers our usual high quality service, but at a reduced cost, to make it more affordable to people who might not otherwise come for treatment.   

A holistic, non-toxic, non-addictive form of medicine made from natural sources, homeopathy helps the body rebalance and strengthen itself both physically and emotionally and can be used alongside conventional medicine.

The clinic offers consultations to people of all ages for a wide variety of short and long term conditions, including asthma, eczema, arthritis, migraines, digestive disorders, hormonal problems, sports injuries, stress and anxiety related conditions.

Patients will always see the same homeopath for their treatment and will be offered up to six sessions (more by negotiation), generally on a monthly basis. 

For more information call 01756 796690 or email info@cravenclinic.co.uk

Juice ahoy!

Time for a spot of juicing I think.  I've done juice detoxes for about 3 years now since a friend introduced me, or more importantly to me at that point, my sister to the joys of juicing.  She followed the Jason Vale 7lb in 7 days plan and looked so fabulous I decided that I wanted some of that for myself!  My sister followed the program much more to the letter than I did, doing the recommended excercise and looked, well, simply glowing.  I followed the juicing recipes, ran around after a 3 year old and felt fantastic.  Following us later my mum took part in it, got rid of headaches (along with using Homeopathy also) and lost an amazing 22lb (not all in a week I'd like to add) and felt brilliant.

The 7lb in 7 days a great one to start off with, whether you're looking for weight loss like my mum or detox like I was. It's especially important I feel to read the book first, to make yourself aware of the benefits, what you're gaining by cutting out certain foods (sometimes I think we can identify with the 'diet' mindset and focus on the lack instead of the gain involved). 

One of the big up-sides of Jason's work I feel is the education element.  There were many things I probably hadn't questioned or given much thought to before reading his books, and having been involved in healthcare for the past 9 years I would guess I'm not the only one in the country.  Take milk for example (and please bear with me - I'm a relative newbie to the argument), but really - why are we all drinking gallons of the stuff?  Surely cows milk was only intended for baby cows just as much as human milk was made for our babies.  Fair play to the restaurant in Covent Garden who produced the breastmilk icecream

and really - why was it banned (later unbanned) when we're as a nation downing gallons of stuff made for another species - and one with four stomachs at that?   And, if we need all that calcium to get by then how on earth do the biggest mammals on this earth cope with merely a plant based diet?  Don't get me wrong - I've not (yet) given up dairy but have significantly reduced it as a result of reading Jason's books. 

Scott Jurek may be the one responsible for that bigger change to come, after reading his brilliant Eat and Run, the first autobiographical recipe book I've ever read, I've been inspired to move towards a vegan based diet....

So here goes for Autumn - and in keeping with the just gone summer theme, the day after a wonderful full moon pool party I've chosen the Ibiza Detox  for initially 6 days of juicing.  It's the first time I've followed this plan and so far so good - the juices are easy to make, require slightly less variety of ingredients but are tasty and seem well planned.  Similarly to Mr Vale's programs there's a follow on so a total of a 3 week plan for you to follow should you desire.

Here's to a happy, healthy Autumn for everyone... juice ahoy!

Skipton Triathlon to Ironman: the Alternative Way

Ever since I joked in with a coach after a swimming session that I'd go from a sprint distance triathlon to an ironman distance it's been something I've come back to - I call it my 'Em does Ironman fantasy', and so far each time a member of our Triathlon club does an Ironman Tri I've had it... fortunately there's not been too many competitions as yet...

The fact I've not run for years, not ridden a bike for longer and am not competitive at all haven't quite put me off as yet - I am hooked on the swimming element (particularly in open water - although maybe I have to get beyond the enjoyment and drinking in the views and get on with doing it properly now and again).  I'm planning Skipton Triathlon next year which'll be at least a start...  Listening to other athletes did get me thinking about the alternative bit - could you do it without resorting to conventional medication for aches, pains and strains?  Doing what I do, I'm confident you could and thought would share a few of the remedies I'd put together in a kit for this sort of thing...

Arnica often features highly which you'll realise if you've read any of my other blogs.  This is probably the most well known homeopathic remedy of all and is wonderful for helping to ease bruising and soreness.  As a quick aside I've had times on a night I've dropped something on myself and been convinced I'd have a great big sympathy inducing bruise the next day - taken an arnica and there's been nothing to see in the morning - it really is amazing!  It is also brilliant to help with tiredness - great if you're travelling to an event to help with jet lag, and also good to just help you find that bit of extra energy at times when you're really flagging.  Great as a first remedy to take in cases of shock or accidents too.

Hypericum is most well known as being useful in injuries to nerve rich areas - such as trapping the fingers in a door, falling on the coccyx or lacerations from sharp instruments.  Pains are extreme and feel to shoot along the nerves - they're better for warmth.

Ledum is great for puncture wounds such as from insects, the area is swollen, blue and cold but feels worse for heat and better for cold.  It's also particularly useful in black eyes - great for those swimming mass starts.

Ruta grav is an excellent remedy for pain in the joints, ligaments, tendons, cartilidge and bones and can be really useful for injuries to the wrists and knees.  It's helpful for weakness in the joints or tendons and has been beneficial in cases of tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.  Also can help to relieve low back ache and painful bruised feeling in the bones.  Worth remembering in repetitive strain injuries.

Rhus Tox is useful in sprains and strains with stiffness accompanied by restlessness.  The pains are usually around joints which ache and feel stiff and sore.  Pain is worse on first movement, with a tearing or stitching sensation but eases after continued movement.

Silica is the first remedy to think of where you need assistance in helping out splinters or other foreign bodies.  It can be helpful to assist in forcing out hard plugs of ear wax (especially after swimming) but do remember not to use if if you've metal pins, grommets, pacemakers or the like. It can also be used in helping painless wounds that are suppurating and slow to heal.

Last but not least, I thought I'd mention Aconite, not as a recovery but can be handy as a preventative for colds - if you take one tablet at the first sign of cold symptoms you may well be able to head off the cold - thus making competing more enjoyable.  It's helpful too for coughs and colds that come on quickly after being exposed to cold dry winds.

Taking remedies is a bit of an art in itself and I think an important thing to remember is that homeopathy works with the law of the minimum dose - take a pillule and wait, listen to your body - you may not need another tablet or you may wish to repeat once symptoms return.  If you've tried 3-4 doses of the remedy with no effects it's probably worth checking that the remedy is well indicated, it might be another would help you more.  Check out alternatives or speak to a professional homeopath to get more guidance. 

Olympic flag, Athens

Serious injuries and illnesses should never be treated without seeking expert advice. Use your instincts and common sense, if you are worried then call for help first and you can give the appropriate remedy whilst you are waiting for help to arrive.  If symptoms show no improvement or return always seek professional help.   

Happy prescribing!

Emma Colley RSHom BSc(Hons)

Craven Clinic, Skipton  01756 796690 or 07734 861297 www.homeopathyskipton.co.uk  em@homeopathyskipton.co.uk

Homoeopathy: Alternative or Complementary?

Personally, and I am aware that it's perhaps a personal preference, I like to think of it as complementary as opposed to alternative.  Alternative suggests by it's very name that it's this or that, whereas for me it's about what's the most suited in the situation. I don't want anyone knocking on my door with a broken leg, but please feel free to come back once it's been set and get a remedy to help the bone to knit together, reduce the bruising and help the healing process. 

Integrated medicine seems to me to be the only logical step forwards - to stop complaining about the weaknesses in different ways of working, focus on the positives and use what is appropriate.  I've seen incredible results using homeopathy with illnesses conventional medicine can do nothing but palliate, but that's not to say that there's not times I'm thankful conventional medicine is available too. 

 Homoeopathy (from the greek - Homo = similar; pathos = suffering) as a therapy works with your body as opposed to at times a more conventional way of working against it.  Like cures like is one of our basic rules  - what makes you sick can cure you (albeit in a potentised, homeopathic remedy). Matching the energy of what's making you ill to a remedy out there in nature may be one of our challenges, but done well it can create harmony and restore health leading to a more vital way of being.

Jan Scholten, a well known Dutch homoeopath says that the deepest level of healing is insight and having been working with homoeopathy for 9 years, I can see this and believe that the depth of insight from a well matched remedy can be astounding, liberating and freeing. 

There is much that homoeopathy can complement in conventional medicine, and once it begins to do so more frequently I believe we will all be able to move forwards as holistically healthy people and practitioners.

'I should'... but why?

I did my first proper open water swimming event at the weekend - fundraising for Homeopathy for Health in Africa and loved it. (Just here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/emmacolley1 if you fancy sponsoring me.) Well I loved the second lap of the mile swim we did.  That was when I let go of the 'I should's and let myself fully experience the joy of being in the water, free, supported and in an area of amazing beauty (we were swimming in Ullswater in the Lake District). 

The first lap I was concerned with where I was in relation to everyone else, would I be last? I should be swimming faster... Would I be able to make it round twice? Did I want to make it round twice? Were people going to finish whilst I was still going round the first time? What was I doing all this for? On a conscious level I knew I was doing the event to enjoy, with no pressure or time constraint but interestingly it all crept through nonetheless.

I love open water swimming and often chat as I cruise along but on Sunday, swimming alone (OK I still did chat a bit to random people I met and the steward-y types) I had time for musing to myself on life, love, the universe - that sort of thing.  What came to me most clearly as I got on with swimming was the letting go of 'should's and the liberation and freedom that gave me.  It was with gratitude that I recognised this lesson again and am holding it close to me to observe the other 'should's I may still be hanging onto.

With freedom,

Em :)

Amber from Studio Pilates in Ilkley and I about to swim. Beautiful Ullswater in the background.

 It probably wasn't the best morning to practice extreme hula and Bellis Perennis 200C* helped with the sciatica that ensued from that meaning I swam brilliantly and got a personal best (OK it was always going to be a best being my first race) time too!

*Bellis Perennis, a homeopathic remedy made from the daisy is used in cases of muscle soreness and injuries to the deeper tissues - injuries to nerves with intense soreness.  It's an excellent remedy for sprains and bruises.  Used in sore joints, sciatica, sprains where they feel as though they are contracted as from an elastic band around the joint.

Homeopathy... it can send you to sleep...

and not just in that glazed over way when I know I've gone too far, got too passionate about something I'm very passionate about and really lost someone's attention span (I do try to do that far less in these days with much more distance from qualification although in the early days... well apologies to anyone who I went on and on and on at! In my defence, I'm just as passionate, well probably more so than then, I just try not to talk as much!)

I've been acutely aware of a lack of sleep for the past three weeks since I woke up the most terrified I've ever been to an incident in the middle of the night.  At the time (the following night anyway) I thought that I would return immediately to my usual sleep pattern which went something like - go to sleep, hear birds, open eyes, hello morning!  It was not to be so.  I was also at the time in the middle of a proving experiment (aware of the eyes glazing so to keep it short) where a group of healthy volunteers (usually homeopaths) under supervision take an unknown remedy and record the effects they experience.  I didn't really want to affect the proving by taking other remedies and was in a sort of curious place so observed on myself how a lack of sleep can be from a stress related incident. 

With an incredible amount of energy considering I was having between 4 and 6 hours sleep a night I had lots of fun and played with different ideas - a great impromtu party, fab bonfire and midnight hula hooping under the stars, experimented with where I slept (tent, different houses), when I went to bed (later was much more fun!) and generally how I coped.

There were definately some differences but nothing really lasting enough to get properly back to how things were before.  So back to what I know and love.  Homeopathy has long been used in insomnia and sleep disturbances and also mindful meditation which I'd spent my second month in my 13 challenges of the year practicising and had really enjoyed as well as finding it beneficial (one amazing side effect would have to be the increased amount of spontaneous joy I experienced - a bonus for anyone!).

There's over 800 remedy pictures in the homeopathic materia medica that show some extent of sleeplessness, and that's just after a quick scan - there could well be loads more.  Homeopathy has always worked with individuals - prescribing a remedy most effectively is when their characteristics are taken into account and the remedy prescribed is based on these symptoms and not a more generic picture.  So I would suggest that if insomnia were a chronic issue that it would be worth seeing a Homeopath for consultations and work together on improving sleep.  For more temporary insomnia or sleep disorders it may be worth trying remedies yourself at home, and it is for this that I'm approaching the remedy suggestions following.

Aconite 
The homeopathic remedy Aconite napellus is indication in many types of nervous and panic disorders - particularly useful here where insomnia caused by pain and fears. People needing this remedy may be woken from their sleep by anxiety, panic or fears and may sleep walk.

Arsenicum album
Arsenicum album is made from elemental arsenic. The person needing this remedy can be very tired but too restless to sleep. They are often anxious about small things, and wake unrefreshed. Those needing Arsenic wake frequently during the night and may have many dreams, for instance dreams of storms, fires, and darkness. They may experience a burning sensation under the skin.

Belladonna
Belladonna is made from the Deadly Nightshade. This remedy helps those who are very restless and are woken up by their nightmares. They may also experience jerking while sleeping and may be drowsy in the evenings with much yawning at this time. They may experience a pounding in the blood vessels of the head or be kept awake by hearing the blood pulsing in their head. Their dreams are anxious and vivid: of fires, robbers and assassins. They may also wake with a headache.

Calcarea phosphorica
Calcarea phosphorica is a mineral remedy that can be helpful to children who wake from growing pains in the legs. Any aches in the bones and joints that prevent sleep may be helped by this remedy, in both children and adults. Those needing this remedy have difficulty getting to sleep because of the pain and discomfort and then have difficulty waking from sleep. They can wake frequently during the night as well.

Coffea

As it sounds, a homeopathic remedy made from coffee.  People who will benefit from this as a remedy may be experiencing over sensitivity of nerves - making them over exciteable and over sensitive.  Pain, noise, touch and odours may be intolerable to them.  They may be suffering from the ill effects of fear, fright, over tiredness and would often be showing great restlessness.

 

Nux Vomica

Often indicated where someone works hard and plays hard - seen frequently in people who stay late at the office under a lot of mental strain then go and party hard to feel better.  They may turn to alcohol, rich stimulant food and sedative drugs then suffering the next day from them.  (It is a commonly used hangover remedy too)  There may well be digestive disturbances and twitching may also be seen.  They are likely to feel chilly.

 

This is just a few remedies which may be helpful in sleep disorders, there's lots more and feel free to get in touch for anymore advice - do Duck Duck Go (my new Google!) search Mindful Meditation and I also have previous blogs mentioning it:

 

'Slow down - you're moving too fast...';
Thoughts on joy...

Let the Waves Pass

I'm a big fan of stopping, appreciating the moment and not getting lost in the past or future. Or at least I'm working on it anyway!  

Sweet dreams!

 

 

 This blog is not intended to replace medical advice or to help with diagnoses in anyway. Always contact your Doctor if you require medical assistance.

 

For me holidaying and homeopathy go hand in hand...

My kit means that we've lots of things to hand that can help us with first aid type situations from splinters to sickness and bruising to bellyache.

However you don't need to buy a kit to get the benefits (although I do recommend them and wouldn't want to be without mine!) - you can just get a couple of bottles of remedies from Boots or a Health Food Shop to get you started and gradually build on it from there.  I thought I'd suggest 10 remedies here that are ones I'd recommend as a starter kit...

What to start with? Arnica springs to mind as one of the most well known and with due cause (I was recently listening to a dance teacher wax lyrical about it and how she should be given shares in Arnica sales as she's always recommending it).  You can buy an arnica cream as well but the remedy is one I think anyone should be well stocked up with.  Great for bruising but also wonderful for helping with jet lag for those longer holidays.  Good for people in shock as well - particularly where they say they're fine but clearly they aren't.

Apis, whilst we're on the A's, is another good one to have to hand - good for stings, especially insects but also burns as well - use where the skin is red and inflammed and feels better from a cold application.

Arsenicum is great to have to hand and is best known for it's use after food poisoning.  Often the person may have burning pains and discharges yet feel chilly.

Belladonna is worth having for those sudden onset fevers - come on rapidly and the inflamed area/person is burning up, hot and red.  A rapid pulse, they may be angry and a good keynote is that they are thirsty and may desire lemonade.

Cantharis which is thought of highly for intense burns and sunburn is well worth a mention - pains are cutting and burning. people needing it have an intense thirst but feel worse for drinking - particularly cold drinks.  Also helpful in cystitis.

Hypericum is brilliant for nerve injuries - particularly to nerve rich areas such as trapping your hand/fingers in the door or falling and hurting your back.  The pains feel to shoot along the nerves and are better for warmth.

Ledum - great for puncture wounds such as bites from animals and insects, area is swollen, blue and cold but feels worse for heat and better for cold applications. Also good for black eyes when that campsite game of rounders goes wrong (although thinking a friendly tennis ball shot by mistake rather than a scrap).

A holiday kit can't go without a mention of Nux Vomica - the number one hangover remedy! In fact each time I create a list of remedies - party season, holidays etc Nux Vom seems to get included.  Over indulgence of food and drinks can be eased with the remedy (no place for lectures from me that maybe you shouldn't have overindulged in the first place - it is all about the holiday after all!)  Good planners can take one tablet a couple of hours before going to bed for best results (although plenty are known to take it the morning after).

Rhus Tox would be your first to think of in the case of sprains and strains.  Pains are usually around joints which ache and feel stiff and sore.  Pain is worse on first movement but eases with continued movement.

Lastly for my group of ten is Silica which is great for helping to force out splinters, foreign bodies or hard plugs of ear wax.  It does come with a warning though and is advisable not to use it if you have a pacemaker, metal pins, breast implants etc.  Good also for painless wounds which are slow to heal.

When taking remedies and you've determined which you'd like to take by matching the description of the remedy to that the person is experiencing take one tablet and wait.  Should symptoms improve don't take anymore until they return.  If nothing happens you can repeat the remedy after a time (say around 20 minutes for acute situations) and wait.  If after 4 doses of the remedy there's been no change it's worth re- looking at the symptoms and checking the remedy matched what was going on for the person.

If in doubt in a first aid situation always call for medical assistance before prescribing remedies.

Lastly just to mention that if you need any help with any of the above or have any questions on matters homeopathic, feel free to get in touch either through email em@homeopathyskipton.co.uk, through the clinic 01756 796690 or direct on my mobile 07734 861297 (please leave a message if I'm not able to answer and I'll get back to you as soon as I can).

Our Great (in the North) Swim and Dalai Lama wisdom

I feel like I've been talking about it for ages, blogging about it forever and finally I've done it. Well, kind of anyway.  Weather conditions were such that the Great North Swim was cancelled on the day we were due to swim so that was off.  As the Dalai Lama said when I saw him speak on Sunday (amazing, inspiring and moving as well as full of humour and humility); “If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.”

We were all set for a film afternoon when a text came asking if I wanted to swim a mile in an alternative location. About turn again and off we set!  Off to Capernwray Dive Centre which was just outstanding.  The disused quarry setting meant the water was calmer - with still some waves which were fab - and so beautiful. Flowers growing on the rock face, beautiful clear blue water and fish - lovely fish that I didn't expect to like and really did!

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who's sponsored me - so far I've raised over £300 for Homeopathy for Health in Africa which I know will be put to great use and really appreciated. I'd still like to raise more and with another swim coming up I'm extending the date I can recieve sponsorship to the end of July 2012 so if you haven't and you'd like to then it's easy to do here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/emmacolley1

After a week which started on Sunday with the Dalai Lama then to Dynamis to learn for the week - camping, bonfire, solstice party and dancing in the rain under the trees it was a fitting end to be peacefully swimming in a serene, beautiful setting with a good friend.  And for more feisty race swimming, I'll be at the Epic swim event at Ullswater on the 15th of July to do another mile... that's if we don't swap to the 3.8km swim...

Open water swimming and great big fish...

Well, after last years saying no to the Great North Swim this year it was a big YES (well probably quite a timid, shy one really but it's a far more confident one now)!

Open water swimming became June's challenge on my 13 challenges (or playtimes) leading up to 2013 and has been a lot of work, learning, discoveries - and fun!  I thought I'd like the concept but not the reality (the cold, huge fish and enormous weeds bothered me) but it turns out although I'm a little bit less happy with the weeds, I've not seen an enormous fish in either Coniston Hotel lake or Malham Tarn as yet and I can deal with the cold.  I'm raising money for Homeopathy for Health in Africa - of course - who are doing such incredible life changing work in Tanzania.  They work largely with people who have HIV and AIDS, using Homeopathy alongside the conventional medication their patients are on.  So far I have been pledged over half of my £500 target and it would be wonderful to smash through this altogether.  If you'd like to sponsor me the link here will take you to the page:

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/emmacolley1

Reflecting last night whilst swimming and looking back over the time since I started this mission back on the 29th November, there's been a whole lot of 'I can''s going on - I have learnt lots of new skills, revisited old ones, become more adept or at least less rusty at others.  It's been an incredibly positive experience which I would recommend to anyone and am so very pleased I started it. 

Next stop T'ai Chi July and roller blading August - eeeeekkkk!!

Catwoman, Cakes and Lakes

1/2 way through my 13 for 13 - the real challenge on Tuesday..
....maybe anyway. I've been told that the nearby lake may be open for open water swimming in which case I will be trekking up there with wetsuit, which poses a question - do you wear it in the car to drive there and look a little odd? or does one wrestle ones way into it upon arrival at the side of a cold lake? Who knows - and, faced with the prospect of getting into the cold lake - do I care if I drive up there looking like catwoman on her way to do, well whatever cat woman does? Or at least look as though I'm trying to look like cat woman - not sure she had quite the love of cakes that I do.

So at half way through the challenge I set for myself back in November last year, I'm about to face my most challenging one so far.  Part of the fun has been a saying yes to life really, playing with new things, trying stuff out and working more on things I've always wanted to give myself time to do.

 But open water swimming? Out of nowhere it came (or really I'd said no to it last year and it just came back again to tempt me). I love the idea and find it really appealing, but the reality? Tell you after Tuesday... my first outdoor session in preparation for my Great North Swim on the 23rd June.

If you'd like to sponsor me it's easy to do through Homeopathy Action Trust which means that Homeopathy for Health in Africa can get the Gift Aid on any money you donate too.
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/emmacolley1

 Coniston Lake on a cooler day (I hope it's warmer than this anyway!!)

My 13 for 13 so far
December - knitting
January - mindful meditation
February -pole dancing
March -  sewing
April - photography
May - crochet
June - open water swimming

Still to come yoga/pilates, guitar, roller blading, cooking/baking and two spaces to see what comes along...

Homeopathy and Sports

This year the Society of Homeopaths has focussed it's Homeopathy Awareness Week around sports and fitness, and with the Olympics fast coming upon us it seemed fitting that, unable to beat them, I join them!

It's maybe also a fitting place to mention my own sporting challenge - this year has been a year I've set aside for me, my fun, different activities to focus on that I may never have done or would like to do better and I gave myself a month to try out an activity.  It could be anything from meditation to guitar lessons, roller blading to knitting.  Interestingly, as an aside, on one exercise class it was great for me to overhear our instructor in my February challenge telling people in the group to take arnica to help with any bruising and that she should be on commission for all times she recommends arnica to people!  Good to hear the word is being shared...  At the start of my challenges, Nov 29th, last year, I had a lot of ideas of things I'd like to do but also some spaces in the 13th months ahead of me leading up to 2013.

Open water swimming was one that kind of crept up and took hold of me.  I now have a very fetching wetsuit, well OK, a wetsuit, the ability to swim a mile in a swimming pool, some borrowed goggles, and a place on the Great North Swim (a mile in Windermere), on the 23rd June, the day before the Olympic Torch goes through Skipton.

I've decided since I'm taking the plunge, I'd like to use the opportunity to raise some money through sponsorship and am donating this to Homeopathy for Health in Africa.  I'd love to raise at least £500 so if you could I'd really appreciate it if you'd sponsor me - it's easy to donate here.
In my head it's going to be a little like this....

so I do appreciate any pennies I get that am able to pass on to HHA!

Onto the newsletter...

As ever if there's anything you'd like to see mentioned in a newsletter, want to find out more about homeopathy or to book an appointment, feel free to get in touch at either em@homeopathyskipton.co.uk, through the Craven Clinic on 01756 796690 or direct on 07734 861297.

Like a Bridge over Troubled Water

I've over indulged in Sex and The City recently and amused myself that lots of my mental wanderings begin with 'I got to wondering...' a phrase used often by Carrie Bradshaw in the series...

So in my nothing like Carrie Bradshaw attire I walked around Embsay reservoir about 7am on a beautiful Saturday morning and, inspired by a little foot bridge, I got to wondering about water, bridges, life, and all sorts.  Mainly does such a thing exist as troubled water? My initial answer was a definite no.  The water itself isn't troubled, that's an emotion we give to it from our perspective.  We've decided it's troubled and oddly enough, til that point I'd probably sung along to Simon and Garfunkel and accepted that it was.  However each water molecule is just being. Perfectly balanced, in tune with where it's supposed to be in the world, be that swirling, falling, crashing into a lake from a 50ft waterfall or lapping the ocean shores.  I moved onto the metaphors with life and how we experience it.  Sometimes life is crashing, freefalling, smooth, beautiful, challenging to negotiate - but troubled? I'm not sure it has to be if we're able to be present in the moment, experiencing it to the full and aware of ourselves.

So after my initial - water can't be troubled moment, I walked on, enjoying the sunshine, the gentle breeze (OK - not quite true... the strong winds), the clanking of the boat masts but then played devil's advocate which I do tend to... What about the incredible work done by Dr Masuro Emoto on the crystals made by water after different words had been said, meditations done and from different sources?  The video attached gives some idea as to the concept here.  The research found that hateful, unpleasant words made disordered, messy crystals and the most beautiful crystals were from pure mountain sources when the words love and gratitude were spoken or thought of.

So maybe I need to backtrack.  It would appear that water can be troubled, less happy but when it's doing it's thing, free and in the moment, my guess is that troubled water doesn't really exist.

How long will it take?

is often a question we, or really I as I can only fairly speak for myself, am asked.  The answer is not a straightforward one - pretty much like my earlier wafflings on who might come to see a homeopath with what presenting complaint (or reason for walking through the door).

Not everything is a quick fix, although having said that other people can take one remedy, find their problem resolved and walk through the rest of their life with ease.  Difficult to say but this latter type of people may not have been suffering / experiencing their complaint for a long time.  Some homeopaths give an equation around the amount of time someone has had the complaint eg 12 years, and feel that it would take 12 months or so to help them to move to a place of better health ie a month for every year.

I struggle to pick an equation or decide a fixed amount although I think that is as much about me as anything else - I struggled to find a 'routine' with my daughter and even when we did get somewhere such like I insisted in calling it a 'pattern' as felt less fixed to me.  I also eat largely organic, frequently vegetarian food and don't drink alcohol very often - however wouldn't want to label myself with any of these and want to be able to move freely and do as I like (to a limit!)

And although I am often fairly patient, I think I'm somewhat impatient when it comes to wanting to see results - I like to see changes by the first follow up appointment - this doesn't mean I always do, and also am aware sometimes the remedy needs changing, tweaking, giving in a higher potency or it may have been slow to start acting.  So I suppose what I'm saying is that as a result of this desire I work hard to get as good a remedy match for a person as possible - this is one 'box' I'm OK about putting myself into.  And where the results mightn't have been as good as hoped, often after that 2nd appointment you can get closer and more of a change is noted. Cases can be harder to 'crack' - after all we're complex and so very individual things us humans - I'm fairly tough on myself - and I probably often forget that frequently people are coming to see us Homeopaths after they've been through the NHS system and found themselves at the end of the line with either drug choices or options.

But hey - that's how I found myself sitting in front of a Homeopath - no options for frequent headaches and migraines apart from Migraleve as required then Beta Blockers and now I can't remember my last migraine and headaches few and far between.  I am grateful on a daily basis that I'm involved with this amazing system of complementary medicine and the journey that it has brought me on.

Destination Unknown

I have, as I explained yesterday to the group of women I meet - all brilliant self employed business women from very different businesses - been playing ipod roulette recently.  Probably sounds a tad more glamourous than it is that way - ipod shuffle on a non-glam moment!  It's been really quite amazing and brought up some incredibly relevant songs for the mood or place I was in at the time.  After a day with some equally brilliant women at a session in Manchester where we dealt with everything from birth to death in very moving ways my treat was Beautiful World by Take That which seemed to sum up the day well.

So back to yesterdays treat - a Top Gun classic - Destination Unknown.  I thought about the song as I drove to the meeting and it's relevance to life as I'm knowing it.  As I explained to them, I knew what I was going to be when I was 7.  I had a great plan at 16 and at 17 entered my destination unknown phase.  No longer was I about to be a vet (latterly an equine acupuncturist - I hadn't realised that by 7, it was just a vet), I really didn't know where to go.  So I found something that fascinated me and did it.  I went to Manchester and studied Psychology and Neuroscience.  By then my horse had been treated with Homeopathy which that was great (no more sedating and steroid injections into her eyelid, or wearing pirate masks with one eye blacked out so she could go out on sunny days - hoorah!) but no idea where I was heading. 

Time passed and much as I loved my course I always knew I was alternatively bound. But where? So I went to Australia.  And loved it.  And returned.  Life at the time was 'interesting', I was sent to see my Homeopath by my mum - probably because she'd had enough!  It was my Homeopath at the time who suggested Homeopathy and that made absolute sense.  Once again something that absolutely fascinated me.

So I suppose what I'm saying is that I've ended up in an incredible place where I love what I do by no grand plan but by doing what made me tick.  I've had lots of plans along the way and still make them now, mixed in with my To Do lists, separately or verbally and whilst I do follow them to some extent I feel it's important to make your own path flexible if need be, follow opportunities that arise and feel good, and, most of all to follow your heart.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly or When is a Mistake not a Mistake?

I'm finding it interesting that I keep trying to write this blog and then deleting it and coming back to it in a few days. Presumably I think I'm making mistakes with it...

However what I'm trying to get across, through my starts and stops and starts again is that magical knowledge (maybe it's taken off us when we're given a pencil and it's natural accompaniment - the eraser - at an early stage) that there are no mistakes.

To explain I'll draw a little from my personal experience - I've had situations that have ended and thought 'What WAS I thinking?', however, with enough distance from the event it's been so clear that that experience led me to that next stage.  Just like childhood illnesses are often followed by a period of accelerated growth or learning, I've seen that my 'mistakes' haven't after all been 'failures' at all but steps to a far, far better place.  I've learnt some of my best lessons and grown so much from life from these events that really I have to thank my best teachers and appreciate the journey.

As my dad would say 'It all makes up life's rich tapestry' and I'm inclined to absolutely agree.

What would the average person coming for Homeopathy be, say or have?

I've been asked this a few times recently so have been pondering and musing more over it, particularly on my walk this morning, but really getting no further than my initial response. 

'Anyone, anything or anything really.'

It really doesn't get any more complicated than that. Or more simple whichever way you wish to look at it really.

I might see people who have a cold, prescribe remedies to help with healing from an operation, or see someone with hayfever, ulcerative collitis, migraines, chronic pain, ezcema, anxiety, depression, IBS symptoms, not feeling quite right but can't put a finger on it, (just thinking of a few examples from the couple of wks) or really absolutely anything you can think of.  Which makes it difficult, or easy to answer the question.

It doesn't matter about the age - my youngest client to date (apart from babies whose mum's have taken remedies to try and kick start their labour) is 4 weeks old and oldest nearly 90.

Distance really isn't an issue - although it's great to work from the Craven Clinic I am looking into working with Skype so am available longer distances than I used to be.

So really all there is is I could be about to see 'Anyone, saying anything and having anything really.'  And that would be something I really love about my job.

If you've been wondering whether Homeopathy might be of benefit to you feel free to get in touch - it'd be great to hear from you.

'What They Said'... or The Greats on Homeopathy

I've always had a 'thing' about quotes.  I used to write them in the front of notebooks (my favourites were those ones from France with the fantastic square paper in - you'll know what I mean if you had one), on paper and frame them in clip frames, and memorise them. And sometimes stencilled them (along with the sunflowers) on the walls as a student.  I had particular favourites - 'No Day But Today' from RENT was one, 'Carpe Diem' - brought to my knowledge by the brilliant Dead Poet's Society.  Well, you get the picture. I liked quotes! 

So I thought it might be worth collecting a few Homeopathy quotes from various sources.  The amazing Hahnemann with ideas way ahead of his time who has brought this incredible medicine into being, into our awareness and created such an amazing guide which is still so relevant now, over 200 years on has to be first...

"The highest ideal of cure is the speedy, gentle, and enduring restoration of health by the most trustworthy and least harmful way." Samuel Hahnemann, founder of Homeopathy

“No individual has done more good to the medical profession than Samuel Hahnemann” (the father of Homeopathy).  Sir William Ostler, “The Father of Modern Medicine”

"Homeopathy is wholly capable of satisfying the therapeutic demands of this age better than any other system or school of medicine." Dr. Charles Menninger M.D., Founder Menninger Clinic

"In the records of three years of Diphtheria in Broome County, NY from 1862 to 1864, there was a report of an 83.6% mortality rate among the allopaths and a 16.4% mortality rate among the Homeopaths.  (Bradford)."---Julian Winston

 "Homeopathy .... cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more economical and most complete medical science." Mahatama Gandhi

 "Homeopathy is the safest and more reliable approach to ailments and has withstood the assaults of established medical practice for over 100 years." Yehudi Menuhin, World famous violinist

 "The introduction of homeopathy forced the old school doctor to stir around and learn something of a rational nature about his business. You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of allopaths (the orthodox physicians to destroy it." Mark Twain

 “There have been two great revelations in my life: The first was bepop, the second was homeopathy.” Dizzy Gillespie, great jazz musician

 "The long-term benefit of homeopathy to the patient is that it not only alleviates the presenting symptoms but it reestablishes internal order at the deepest levels and thereby provides a lasting cure." George Vithoulkas, Director, Athenian School of Homeopathic Medicine

And there are many who use and support Homeopathy today... some celebrities are listed below...


Today's Stars

Other modern-day famous people who have publically declared their interest in and support for homeopathic medicine include: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Pamela Anderson, Jane Fonda, Cher, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, the Chili Peppers, Jane Seymour, Lesley Anne Warren, Axl Rose, Linda Gray, Susan Blakely, Michael Franks, Cybill Sheppard, Vidal Sassoon, Angelica Houston, Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, Cliff Robertson, Jerry Hall, Diane von Furstenberg, Ashley Judd, Naomi Judd, Olivia Newton-John, Julianna Margulies, JD Salinger, Blythe Danner, Pat Riley (coach of the Miami Heat), and England's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

My own stars are my patients who teach me so much and I want to thank here.  You're all brilliant and I thank you for the privilege of working with you.  I adore my work, know that right now this is where I'm meant to be and I thank you for being there.

With Gratitude,

Em

Love and Homeopathy

Doing some musing today on love and homeopathy and getting home from my seaside trip out I see that Mary Aspinwall has written a great blog Addicted to Love? Homeopathy can help.  Brilliantly written and well worth a read.

My thoughts were more around the similarities and connections between homeopathy and love.  For a start I think most homeopaths have a natural curiosity and love of people, leading them to want to discover more about people and a desire to help in general.  The homeopath in the clinic is ideally an unprejeudiced observer - with absolute acceptance and lack of judgement of someone as they are - or to equate this in a relationship sense I suppose unconditional love would be it.  We are open to finding out as much as we can about a person to be able to prescribe a remedy to ideally help them move forwards from the place they are 'stuck' in.

There's been a wonderful study from Norway about the personality of homeopaths - have a look here for more information but in brief they find:
'People who work as homeopaths can be described as open to new and different ideas, and as caring, understanding, and altruistic persons. Therefore, there is reason to believe that these dispositions are central in choosing homeopathy as an occupation.'

An ongoing love of learning is a must too! I started studying in 2003, graduated in 2007 and since then have been continually engaged in CPD or courses since then.  Currently I'm studying with Jeremy Sherr on his Dynamis course - a 2 1/2 year post graduate couse where I've met some amazing homeopaths and am loving it!  Also working with Jackie McTaggart with the Scholten methods and - yes you've got it - loving that too.  I study at home, learn so much from clients and know that my natural swot like nature has finally found the perfect vocation!!  On both my courses there are new homeopaths to ones who've been practising years and years - all with a genuine love of learning.


Homeopathy can also help with situations around love - from losing love and grieving to struggling to love and open up in the first place.  Issues bonding, letting go and anywhere in between are often seen and treated by homeopaths. More on this in Mary's article - link above.

I'm sure there's loads of connections I've not mentioned - these were just a few of my thoughts as we made sand pictures on the beach... usually a love of the natural world in there too...

With love,

Em

Let the waves pass...

I recently attended a workshop on The Pain Release Technique which is related very much to living mindfully.  To start it off we did a meditation and as a part of that we were to imagine waves passing through our bodies, then moving onto waves of emotions passing through us.  I loved the analogy and have thought of it several times since being at the workshop.  So much can get stuck because we're holding onto things.  Both good and bad.  

We can feel that 'this is the best it's ever been' perhaps, and not want to let that feeling go. But by that act of clinging onto it, the feeling of 'what could it go back to' we're operating from a feeling of lack, of insecurity.  Similarly from hanging onto bad feelings about situations or people we're living in the past, not in that moment.  I don't want to belittle anyone's pain as obviously it's valid and relevant but sometimes it doesn't help us in moving forwards freely into our next moments.  The anger may well have been useful - it probably was, but feeling that feeling 10 years on means that most likely we're trapped by that situation still whereas the other people involved may well be moving freely, happily through life now.  There's a great story that illustrates what I'm trying to say:

Putting down your burdens

A long ago time ago in the hills of Quong Zu province, there once lived a revered old monk who was a master of Zen Buddhism.

One day he decided that he would make a pilgrimage to a neighbouring monastery, and not wishing to make the journey alone, he decided to take along one of his young disciples.

They started their journey early the next morning and in the true spirit of Zen each walked along engrossed in his own thoughts, and so they journeyed for many hours without speaking. By mid-day they had come to a small stream and it was here that they noticed a young girl dressed in fine silk, obviously contemplating how best to cross the stream without getting her precious clothes wet.

Immediately the old monk walked over to the young girl and in one smooth motion, he picked her up in his arms and walked out into the stream, then after carrying her safely to the other side, he gently put her down and walked on without having said a single word.

His disciple having watched this whole incident was in a state of complete shock, for he knew it was strictly forbidden for a monk to come into physical contact with another person. Quickly, he too crossed the stream, and then ran to catch up with his master, and together they once again walked on in silence. Finally at sunset they made camp and settled down for the night.

The next morning after prayers and meditation the old monk and his disciple once again continued their journey, once again in silence.

After many miles, and no longer able to contain his curiosity, the disciple called to his master and said,

"Master may I ask you a question" ?

"Of course you may" his master replied, "knowledge comes to those who seek it".

Respectfully his disciple said, "yesterday I saw you break one of our most sacred vows when you picked up that young girl and carried her across the stream, how could you do such a thing" ?

His master replied, "That is true, and you are right it is something I should not have done, but you are as guilty as I am" .

"How so" asked his disciple, "for it was you who carried her across the stream not I" ?

"I know" replied his master, "but at least on the other side I put her down".

"You, however, are obviously still carrying her".

 

Let the waves pass and enjoy the current moment, the now. 

With peace,

Em x