Transform Anger, Bring Harmony

"Resentment, anger, frustration, worry,

disappointment—negative emotional states, justified or not,

take a toll on your heart, brain and body.

Don't let justified emotions rob your health and well-being."

~Doc Childre and Howard Martin

 
The attitude of ANGER is destructive to balance and harmony in the body. IT is the feeling of "I'm not getting my way and I don't like it!" ANGER is a force that can separate the soul from the body as it creates such an intense, destabilizing energy within.

According to a study of more than 1,000 people at a Western Electric factory in Chicago, over a 25-year period, those with anger management problems were at a high risk of dying from coronary problems, as well as cancer. Chronic anger is also linked with weakening of the immune system, leading to life-threatening illnesses. 
   
Anger affects the function of Liver and Gall Bladder Energy in the body as well as Blood Essence and can manifest in alcohol addiction. 
   
The opposite of ANGER is Harmony & Balance. To balance anger, HOLD the MIDDLE FINGER for about 5 minutes or until you can feel a gentle rhythmic pulsing. Even and clear. Breath easily. Relax the shoulders and smile from the very heart of you. 
   
As you hold the MIDDLE FINGER, the destructive feelings of anger begin to dissipate. The Middle Finger is the General Harmonizer of the body. It is powerful for the respiratory system and promotes good digestive function while releasing tension from the knees. As we come into balance, we increase our capacity for compassion and reinstate harmony. 
   
Hold your middle finger whenever you feel "out of balance". As Thomas Merton once wrote, "Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." Holding the middle finger will remind you that balance is where you really want to live. Funny, isn't it, that often the middle finger is used to express Anger.. why not use it to balance and clear anger? Give it a try! Relax. 

 "Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."  

~Mark Twain 

Take Time to Pause

"Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky.

Conscious breathing is my anchor." 

~Thích Nhất Hạnh

Breath is the simplest and most perfect of all the tools we have for health and balance. The breath can be used with awareness at any moment to balance the life energy and bring us into a place of harmony and healing flow. Within the breath lies the key, our power to transform our lives and the world. The breath releases endorphins, helps to clear and focus the mind, strengthens weak abdominal and intestinal muscles, and has deep purifying effects on the respiratory and nervous system. There is a strong relationship between our emotional state and the quality of our breathing. Poor breathing depletes energy and negatively affects mental alertness as well as causing or worsening all dis-eases! The first step in healthy breathing is to become conscious of how we actually breathe.

In Jin Shin Jyutsu, we are invited to focus not on the inhalation but instead to observe the Exhalation, as it is the key to clearing the body. "The 36 Conscious Exhalations Meditation" is a great way to access this Limitless Life-Power.

Sit with your hands folded in your lap. Drop your shoulders. Bow your head and SMILE from the very soul of you. Begin by counting each exhalation.  One, exhale, inhale. Two, exhale, inhale....... Allow your breath to unfold naturally.  When we EXHALE long and deep, we release all of the stale air held in the lungs. Imagine that your exhalation is even longer than the inhalation. Observe the pause that happens just before the inhalation begins. Inhale deep into your belly. Instead of  expanding your chest, expand your belly. You will begin to realize that once you have fully exhaled, the next inhalation "just happens". No effort is necessary. Again observe the pause that happens just before the exhalation begins again. Just by focusing on these pauses,the breath becomes deeper and slower. Bring your attention to these pauses. If you lose count, just begin again. This exercise can be done all at once, or broken into 4 session of 9 breaths each. In time, your breathing will automatically become deeper and more rhythmic. As you count each breath, your attention is focused on the counting and this in turn serves as a way to quiet the mind.  As you EXHALE, unload all the dust dirt and greasy grime that is held in your body. Exhale from head to toes. INHALE from toes to head. RECEIVE the Cosmic Energy of Abundance and connect to the Cosmic Energy Force.  

When we breathe in this manner,  we have the ability to eliminate stress, anxiety, irritation and anger. We experience a reduction in depression, insomnia and general fatigue. We see improvements in our blood circulation, lung capacity, digestion and elimination. And when you combine the use of your breath with holding your fingers, the results will astound you.

The practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu teaches us that with each breath we are made new, imbued with a new awareness of our limitless life energy and awakened to our ability to partake of  Effortless Reality.

"Learn how to exhale,

the inhale will take care of itself." 

~Carla Melucci Ardito

Awakening Our Inner Healer

“At the center of your being


you have the answer;


you know who you are


and you know what you want.”


~Lao Tzu

      When I found a holistic approach to wellness, it set me on the path to clearing long standing dis-ease in my body and restoring balance in ways that I never thought were possible. When I had my very first Jin Shin Jytusu session back in 1998, my inner healer woke up! Until that point in my life, I was unaware that I even had an inner healer. My inner healer was reminded that she had work to do, revealing to me the power that is within us.
      Because it is a common belief that we need a doctor to "fix" us, there are many among us that do not realize that we each have an innate ability to heal and that being whole is our birthright.
      Think about it, for our entire lives, we have healed cut fingers and skinned knees, mended broken bones, overcome colds and flu without even thinking about it. Healing occurs without conscious effort, as does every breath and heartbeat and body function. The Innate Intelligence of our bodies has the ability is to maintain the body, to take the food, sunshine, water, air and thoughts that we consume and turn it into what our bodies need to heal and become whole.
      Wholeness or "health" is our natural state of being.  Our Innate Intelligence provides us with all of the tools needed to heal ourselves. The assistance that we get from a practitioner or doctor merely provides support for our own bodies’ natural healing abilities. And when we attend to the cause of the disharmony, rather than masking the symptoms, our inner ability to heal is supported.
      With Jin Shin Jyutsu Energy Work, we seek to clear the energetic stagnation that produces dis-ease in our bodies. When the stress that is held in the body is removed, our inner healer is able to get to work returning balance and harmony. This enables us to tap into our natural ability to create the healing we need in our life, to help the body to fulfill its innate functions harmoniously, and to produce health and EASE.
     Awaken your inner healer by developing a daily self-help practice as simple as holding your fingers to transform the negative effects of our attitudes and regular Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions.

“You have within you right now,


everything you need to deal


with whatever the world can throw at you.”

~Brian Tracy

Make Way for the Returning Light

"May you have

the gladness of Christmas which is hope;

The spirit of Christmas which is peace;

The heart of Christmas which is love."

~Ada V. Hendricks

Here we are today at the Winter Solstice, December 21nd, which is both the shortest day and longest night of the solar year. Today may be the the longest night but it carries the promise of Spring. The Winter Solstice is the day that the Sun’s light begins to grow again. The diminishing of the Sun’s light ends and the days begin to grow brighter and longer again until warmth and fertility return to the Earth.

The word Solstice literally means the sun stands still. It is the extreme positions of the sun at midsummer and midwinter, that makes the rising and setting of the sun appear to take place in the same position on the horizon for three or four days in succession. The Sun's path north or south appears to come to a magical stop before reversing direction.

It’s also the day, if we are attuned to the rhythm of the seasons, that we know we are heading toward more daylight and this manages to lift our spirits and has been a cause for celebration way back into the most ancient of times.

In the Jin Shin Jyutsu philosophy, it is not surprising that the color associated with this Winter-time of darkness is blue/black. The attitude of imbalance is FEAR and the harmonizer for fear is LOVE. (Hold your index finger to balance.)

This moment of transit from the old light to the new provides an opportunity for each of us to reflect on our experiences through the year and to set our intentions for the incoming year. Take this opportunity to embody the light, the love, and the consciousness that is your birthright as a Spiritual Being having this Human Experience. I invite you to embrace the darkness, to welcome the returning light and to share this love with all around you. Merry Christmas.

"With mounds of greenery,

the brightest ornaments,

we bring high summer to our rooms,

as if to spite the somberness

of winter come."

~Margaret Starkey

Peel Away The Layers

“Life is like an onion:

you peel it off one layer at a time,

and sometimes you weep”

~Carl Sandburg

Peeling the onion is a common metaphor for healing. Edgar Cayce taught that "we are like onions and each of our layers looks very much like the one before. But as we peel the onion, we get closer and closer to the center: to the heart of the matter, the core themes that are pervasive in our lives."

from the New World Encyclopedia: "The expression 'layers of the onion' is used to describe a situation in which it is possible to go deeper and deeper revealing seemingly similar layers until a central core is reached."

Lately, I've been thinking about this metaphor as I work with clients and as I work through my own healing process. Imagine the papery outer layers of the onion.. they peel off easily to reveal more layers. Each time we get through the next layer, we learn more about ourselves and become stronger. And we think, Ahhhhh, I've done it, gotten though, smooth sailing now! But since this process is like an onion, you pull off one layer, and there is yet another layer! Our work is to get to the innermost core, the deepest layer. But we must work our way thorough the outer layers first. We peel back one layer only to find a juicier one underneath. In my kitchen, I am reminded that occasionally there is a nasty yucky layer between two perfectly edible layers of onion and once I wash that messy part off, the rest of the onion is good to use.  

We must remember that each layer brings us closer to the center. And in that center, is the promise of growth, the potential for a new life. We must remember that, from the onion's perspective, those layers and layers are simply compost and fertilizer for its next stage of growth. It is the same for our healing process, all of those layers of life experiences and healing work are nourishment for the BE-ing that we are BE-coming.

the onion peels

the tears spill

the pond fills

the lotus unfolds

~ Reisha

Honor the Dark before Calling in the Light

Self-Help Tip: 

“We all walk in the dark 

and each of us must learn 
to turn on his or her own light.”

 ~Earl Nightingale

          And here we are at the Winter Solstice which is both the shortest day and longest night of the solar year. December 21st may be the the longest night but it carries the promise of Spring. The Winter Solstice is the day that the Sun’s light begins to grow again. The diminishing of the Sun’s light ends and the days begin to grow brighter and longer again until warmth and fertility return to the Earth.

         The word Solstice literally means the sun stands still. It is the extreme positions of the sun at midsummer and midwinter, that makes the rising and setting of the sun appear to take place in the same position on the horizon for three or four days in succession. The Sun's path north or south appears to come to a magical stop before reversing direction. It’s also the day, if we are attuned to the rhythm of the seasons, that we know we are heading toward more daylight and this manages to lift our spirits and has been a cause for celebration way back into the most ancient of times.

         In the Jin Shin Jyutsu philosophy, it is not surprising that the color associated with this Winter-time of darkness is blue/black. The attitude of imbalance is FEAR and the harmonizer for fear is LOVE. (Hold your index finger to balance.)

        This moment of transit from the old light to the new provides an opportunity for each of us to reflect on our experiences through the year and to set our intentions for the incoming year. Take this opportunity to embody the light, the love, and the consciousness that is your birthright as a Spiritual Being having this Human Experience. I invite you to embrace the darkness, to welcome the returning light and to share this love with all around you.

"With mounds of greenery, 

the brightest ornaments, 

we bring high summer to our rooms, 

as if to spite the somberness of winter come." 

~Margaret Starkey

Remember, We are the Tree

"We are like the little branch 
that quivers during a storm,

doubting our strength 
and forgetting we are the tree—

deeply rooted 
to withstand all life’s upheavals."

~Dodinsky

     To balance and harmonize our total being we can simply hold the palms of the hand. Holding the palms puts us in direct contact with the energy that determines the blueprint for our manifested form, the human body. As we are burdened with the trials of our everyday life, it is helpful to remember that we are indeed SPIRITUAL BEINGS having a HUMAN EXPERIENCE. With this in mind, I find it easier to deal with the mundane aspects of being human and to remember that I am the tree, rooted to the earth as I reach for the skies.
     Since this energy puts us in touch with SOURCE energy, it is small wonder that throughout human history, people have clasped their hands together in "prayer" position. The ancients knew that this was not just a symbolic gesture but a practical way to connect with SOURCE  and find harmony with the universe.
     As a total harmonizer, holding the palms, one at a time or together, will enable us to feel a profound sense of peace and oneness with ALL. Harmony is bestowed upon diaphragm and umbilicus energy. This energy helps to regulate temperature and breath. It is the source of our personal life energy. Holding the palms can serve as a recharge for your rundown "battery".
     This energy is ours to access at any time of the day or night. Sit or lie quietly with hands held together, either fingertips in palms or palms together in whatever way that you find most comfortable. Breathe. Inhale, Exhale. Relax the shoulders. Allow the shoulder blades the slip down the back any amount. Continue breathing with awareness and feel the pulse of the universe in the palm of your hands. Remember that you are a Spiritual Being having a Human Experience and SMILE. Know that all you need is already there, inside you.

"I am the Cosmic Rhythm, 

which is the Breath I receive, 

all knowledge/wisdom is within. 

So simply BE the awareness/knowledge 

and the understanding/wisdom." 

~Mary Iino Burmeister

Philosophy and Spirit

   “Living life becomes art, 

when the phenomenon we call man realizes he just appears 

to be an object in the phenomenal world, 

whereas in fact he is the Original Source, the Divine.” 

~Mieke Berger

       More than just a healing modality or style of bodywork, Jin Shin Jyutsu provides us with a philosophy for life. It gives us tools for living a balanced life and makes us more aware of our connection with Source and with our true nature. Often, it is the philosophy and spirit of the work that attracts clients and practitioners to Jin Shin Jyutsu rather than the technique.

       Jin Shin Jyutsu is the study of the life energy that pervades the universe and gives life to all things, our personal creation story. Through the study of Jin Shin Jyutsu and Self-Help we gain an awareness of the energy centers of our bodies, such that we can consciously utilize our breath and our hands to dissolve the blocks to the natural flows of our energy, and release stress and pain.

       Healing is the process of becoming WHOLE, a harmonizing of body, mind and spirit and a reconnection with Source. The word HEAL comes from the Greek word Holos; to make whole, entire, complete. This Source or power that brings us into being has the power to heal. It is this sense of balance and well being to the whole body-mind-spirit that Jin Shin Jyutsu emphasizes and that we experience as remembering wholeness.  

       Mary Burmeister called Jin Shin Jyutsu a "physio-philosophy". She believed the understanding of Jin Shin Jyutsu by many people would be facilitated by calling the art PHYSIO-PHILOSOPHY - KNOW MYSELF IT IS. (PHYSIO, meaning Nature, or Creator’s Art / One Order; PHILOSOPHY, meaning Effortless Reality, or Being the Non-being). She also referred to Jin Shin Jyutsu as the "Cosmic Artless Art to KNOW (Help) MYSELF", or “NATURE - THE EFFORTLESS REALITY, KNOW MYSELF IT IS”.

      The study of Jin Shin Jyutsu puts us on a path toward understanding ourselves and our relationship to the cosmos while giving us a deeper understanding of the energy that animates our being and brings us awareness of complete harmony within the self and the universe. Through both physiology and philosophy, Jin Shin Jyutsu teaches how to take the physical understanding and apply it to our circumstances.  Jin Shin Jyutsu teaches the wisdom of life, to know myself, to be in harmony. Our health and harmony depend upon the free and even distribution of this life energy throughout the body, mind and spirit. When we live in the moment with the breath of life, we have all the energy we need.

“For those of us addressing existing stress or health disharmonies, 

or for those wishing to participate actively 

in maintaining health, vitality and well-being, 

the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu is a simple powerful tool, available to all. ”

~Mary Burmeister

Stay at the Center

"Stay at the center of the circle and let all things take their course." ~Tao Te Ching   The Main Central Universal Harmonizing Energy Flow (the Main Central) is the Source of Life Force Energy for our bodies. The Main Central can be compared to a sensitive antenna as it connects us directly to Universal Source Energy, maintains our connection to Source and serves as the energetic blueprint for our total being. It is the energy flow that created and sustains us, setting our other energy flows in motion and becomes a strong regular force for our bodies when it is allowed to flow freely down the front and up the back.When energy circulates easily and abundantly, body, mind, and spirit are all nourished. But when the flow becomes blocked, constricted or stagnant, disharmony results. The Main Central is a valuable daily self-help tool as basic energy hygiene.  It is the primary harmonizer for all body functions and is responsible for renewing, maintaining and sustaining our manifested form on all levels-physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. Harmonizing the Main Central regularly helps you to feel centered and ensures that you will have plenty of energy.  For me, the Main Central is my primary self-help tool. It has become my daily basic energy tune-up. Most days, I do this flow in the morning before I get out of bed and at night before falling asleep. When I am abusing my body (gardening, dancing, painting, computer work, etc) during the day, I take a break and do this flow. It re-centers me and takes the kinks out of my body.  It is simple self-help. Follow the steps in the picture...  1. Right hand (RH) on top of head.  - Hold till last step.     Left hand (LH) between eye brows (3rd eye)  2. LH on tip of Nose. 3. LH on Throat  4. LH on Top of Sternum.  5. LH on Base of Sternum.  6. LH on Pubic bone.  7. RH on Coccyx. Hold each step for 2-3 minutes, or until the pulses you feel at each hand synchronize with each other. "I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being." ~Confucius

Nurture

"The best way to nurture children's inner lives is by taking care of our own inner selves  for their sake." ~Sylvia Boorstein Nurturing ourselves may well be one of our greatest challenges in life. As women, we tend to put everyone else first, thinking that our role is to please and accommodate our loved ones and our jobs before tending to our own emotional, physical, or spiritual needs. For many, it takes a "special" day like Mother's Day or our birthday to allow others to DO for us! But when our habit is to put others first, the result is that we are stressed out and depleted and have little left to give. However, when we make the time to take care of our own needs, we have so much more to share with our families and our jobs!  Eda LeShan says, “When we truly care for ourselves, it becomes possible to care far more profoundly about other people. The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others."  It is important that we find ways to nourish ourselves, to listen to our bodies and to tap into healthy resources like Jin Shin Jyutsu to maintain a sense of balance and to nurture our spirit and well-being. It might be helpful to think of caring for yourself as if you were your own child.  According to Lauren Mackler, author of 7 Steps to Nurturing Your Inner Self, "A great technique for treating yourself better is by developing your Inner Nurturing Parent. Imagine you had a little child in your care. You'd make every effort to keep her healthy and safe; to love and support her; to be forgiving of her mistakes, her inevitable slips; and to let her know how precious and important she is. That's what a loving parent does. Only, in this case, you're the parent and the child." Mary Burmeister, the mother of Jin Shin Jyutsu encouraged her students to, "BE your own testimony." Think of nurturing yourself as setting the example for your children and those you care about by giving to yourself at least as much as you give to others. Love is the great healer. The capacity for self-love and the ability to self nurture is bigger than you and me, it will bring balance and peace to the world.  "We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it." ~John Lennon

With an Attitude of Gratitude

Self Help Tip: 

With an Attitude of Gratitude

     
"If you don't like something change it;
if you can't change it,
change the way you think about it."
~Mary Engelbreit
 

As I woke up on Thanksgiving morning, I held my fingers, as I do most mornings,  and thought about the gifts that Jin Shin Jyutsu brings to my life and how easy it is to access those gifts by holding my fingers. In the practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu, we are taught that by holding our fingers we can harmonize the attitudes that dis-harmonize our bodies. Each finger harmonizes an attitude as well as the organs that are affected by that particular attitude. Hold your fingers not to suppress attitudes but to express or release them. Holding our fingers to harmonize limiting thoughts and attitudes is the simplest, most readily available tool we have to cope with whatever life throws at us. This simple act not only keeps us from getting stuck in those limiting attitudes, but brings us in touch with the limitless, positive and harmonious gifts that BALANCE brings to us! 

I wanted to find a way to emphasize these gifts and was inspired to created this Thanksgiving turkey hand as a way to show what we bring in as we harmonize those attitudes! At the same time giving me a chance to express my gratitude for each of these gift that my practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu brings to my life each day.

thumb - worry transforms to into harmony, a healthy sense of self, profound security
index - fear transforms into love, flow, perfect circulation
middle - anger transforms into peace and balance
ring - sadness and grief transform into joy and happiness
little - try-to's/effort and pretense transform into ease, laughter and BE-ing
palm - despondency transforms into equilibrium, balance, intuition and connection to Divine Source

HOLD each finger for about 5 minutes or until you can feel a gentle rhythmic pulsing, even and clear. Breath easily. Relax the shoulders and smile from the very heart of you.

Take charge of your ATTITUDES and bring GRATITUDE into your daily practice. Remember that the simple act of holding your fingers will balance all of your Attitudes and transform them into the positive emotions that we all thrive on. It really is that simple. We are in charge of our attitudes and nature has given each of us an easy and accessible way to do so.

"Could we change our attitude,
we should not only see life differently,
but life itself would come to be different."
~Katherine Mansfield

Happy Thanksgiving

As I woke up this morning and held my fingers, I thought about the gifts that Jin Shin Jyutsu brings to my life and how easy it is to access those gifts by holding my fingers. We often talk about how holding fingers harmonize the attitudes that dis-harmonize our bodies-thumb/worry, index/fear, middle/anger, ring/sadness, little/try-to's. So I drew this Thanksgiving turkey hand to show what we bring in as we harmonize those attitudes! Enjoy!

Our Right and Responsibility

Self Help Tip:

Our Right and Responsibility

“Although our interests as citizens vary, each one is an artery to the heart that pumps life through the body politic, and each is important to the health of democracy.”
~Bill Moyers

     I imagine that you are wondering why I have listed this piece about voting as a Self-Help Tip... well, voting is a participatory way of taking care of our interests and our well-being and is just as essential as daily self-help. Voting is important for a working democracy. Our democracy only works when we all participate. Our vote is our voice. It is our right AND our responsibility to vote. Countless men and women have fought hard to protect this fundamental right.
     American Novelist, David Foster Wallace, said, "In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard's vote."
     Be an active member of your community and take action this week. We all have a choice, but you lose that choice if you miss the opportunity to vote! So Inform yourself about the Issues and Get out and Vote on Tuesday. 

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." 

~Franklin D. Roosevelt 

The Virtue of Persistence

Food for Thought:

“As long as we are persistent in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, 

we will continue to grow.
We cannot choose the day or time
when we will fully bloom.
It happens in its own time.”
~Denis Waitley 

Time to Emerge from Our Winter Cocoon

Time to Emerge from Our Winter Cocoon

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle,
a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl.  
And the anticipation nurtures our dream." 
~Barbara Winkler

Even though the calendar still indicates that we are deep in winter's embrace, our recent weather says otherwise. The daffodils are pushing up, my quince bush is blooming and the air smells like Spring. And even though I know that we are likely to get more cold weather and even a snow or two, my thoughts are turning to Spring planning for the garden and my life. 

The smell of Spring in the air brings to mind the process of Spring Cleaning, that age old tradition of  cleaning the house from top to bottom which is conducted in the first warm days of the year. Windows thrown wide open to let the fresh Spring air blow through the house to clear out the staleness that comes from being shut to the winter cold, to clear out the dust and darkness of the winter, and to make a fresh start.

As we emerge from the cocoon of Winter, besides cleaning our houses, we have a need to clean out physical being and to restore balance.  One of the traditional Jin Shin Jyutsu ways of Spring Cleaning-body, mind and spirit, is to do a Week-long Healing Intensive.  An “intensive” consists of two one-hour sessions per day for 5 days in a row. Receiving a series of sessions close together brings harmony on a continued basis for the week and allows us to affect a change in patterns of disharmony, and the habits and attitudes that create imbalance.  

Jin Shin Jyutsu is cumulative, so having ten sessions in one week is a dynamic way to move energy, to clear out, deep clean, and harmonize our total BE-ing. This intensive treatment series can breathe new life and energy into our depleted physical being and bring about a reconnection with our essence. The goal is to bring about deep relaxation, to restore a sense of beauty and harmony into body, mind and spirit and to unleash the inner healer. When we find balance, we set into motion the power of our innate ability to heal which brings about profound changes to our vitality and sense of well-being

I invite you to experience this rejuvenating and refreshing treatment, that brings balance, harmony and clarity to the many layers of your life. A week-long healing intensive brings the opportunity for deep cleaning and gives you access to the benefits that come from having a number of appointments in close succession. When we have an opportunity to keep the body’s systems clear and balanced without the time in between to fall back into unhealthy patterns, we actually give ourselves a fresh start on a clear path, we bring to our BE-ing a mindful, go with the flow way coping with whatever life brings.

Send me an email or give me a call to schedule your Week-long Healing Intensive. This is a special accelerated healing process involves 10 Jin Shin Jyutsu treatments in 5 days. On each of the five days you receive two treatments, one in the morning, and a second later in the day. The fee for this series of treatments is $450 for the total package, paid in one payment at the start of the week.  

"The best is yet to be." 
~Robert Browning

Running on Empty?

Running on Empty?

“There is more to life
than increasing its speed.”
~Gandhi

     As I sat down to write last week's newsletter, I discovered that my computer was running on battery power, the power supply was not working and the keyboard and track pad were going haywire. This computer issue made me aware, in a very tangible way, just how important it is that we have ways to recharge our batteries. We just can't run indefinitely on battery power!

     The fix for my computer was easy, I just had to buy a new battery and put it in. That fixed everything! I found myself thinking alot about recharging, refueling, and regenerating and wishing that it was this easy to recharge my personal battery. Our lives seem to demand that we be on the run all of the time, always on the move. And we end up running on empty. We can only run on fumes for so long. 

     How do you get back to your best self? What is it that recharges your battery? How do you restore and regenerate? It is important that we take the time to know what recharges/refuels us and that we find ways to enhance our well-being by supporting ourselves during times of stress. It will make everything you do so much easier.

     For me, it is all of the good things that I do for myself regularly that recharge my batteries-yoga, daily meditation, eating good healthy food, fresh air, mindful breathing, loving my family, reading uplifting and inspiring books, daily self-help, etc. And to really recharge my batteries, regular Jin Shin Jyutsu gives me a jump start back to harmony and balance. I love that I have so many ways at my fingertips to bring balance to my BE-ing.

   Jin Shin Jyutsu is likened to a pair of jumper cables applied to a dead battery. To restore the natural flow of energy and release the safety energy locks, our hands are used as jumper cables. The battery comes to life when the “jumper cables” are attached, and our engine can run once again.
   
   The following Self-Help Tip is a great way to Quietly Regenerate Body, Mind and Spirit. Give it a try. 

Self-Help Tip:

 The key to Quietly Regenerating is Safety Energy Lock #25. It is located at the sit bones. Anatomically part of your pelvis (the ischial tuberosity), the sit bones are quite literally the bones under the flesh of the butt that you sit on.

Holding the 25's will relieve bodily tensions, lower back tensions, knee and leg discomfort while helping you maintain alertness and memory. This flow filters out all toxins released during physical activities and removes tiredness from the body to enjoy the benefits of exercise. The 25's relieve mental tension, bring us an energetic mind and a sound body, and takes care of our overall sense of vitality.

It is said that holding the 25's for 20 minutes per day does the equivalent for maintaining the body and mind in good shape as an hour and a half hour jogging session! The 25's can be helpful in appetite balance, to support weight loss and will clear out the colon. 

Simply Sit on your hands (with the palms up or down, which ever is most comfortable for you). I do this simple flow myself most nights while watching TV with my family. If it is too hard on your hands to sit on them, I find that doing this while lying in bed is pretty easy too! The longer you can sit on your hands/hold your 25's, the more grounded you'll feel.

To Peel is to Heal

To Peel is to Heal

 “Life is like an onion:
you peel it off one layer at a time,
and sometimes you weep”
~Carl Sandburg

I love to cook and garden. In fact, I grow lots of the food that I cook for my family. It is all part of my holistic and sustainable approach to life. One of the constants in my garden, my kitchen and my healing practice is the Onion. So today, I share some thoughts with you about Onions. 

Even now, in the dead of winter, there is green in my garden, the green tops of onions making ready for the coming Spring. I love when the garden is blanketed in snow and yet the green onions and garlic tops are peeking out of the snow... hope springs eternal and these bits of green are my reminder that that which appears to be sleeping is indeed working underground. 

My kitchen pantry is never without onions. Cooks know that for most dishes, the addition of onion harmonizes, improves and enhances the flavors. I have been known to say that if I have onions in the house, I can make something out of nothing... it is indeed a magic ingredient. “Banish the onion from the kitchen and the pleasure flies with it. Its presence lends color and enchantment to the most modest dish; its absence reduces the rarest delicacy to hopeless insipidity, and dinner to despair.” -Elizabeth Robbins Pennell

In the kitchen at this time of year, the onions from last summer's harvest, like their relatives out in the garden, are thinking about growth as well. Peel back the papery layers and slice the onion in half and you will find a bit of green deep in the center. Hope Springs Eternal, while these onions are destined to be eaten, they are ever ready to begin the growth process again.

Peeling the onion is a common metaphor for healing. Edgar Cayce taught that "we are like onions and each of our layers looks very much like the one before. But as we peel the onion, we get closer and closer to the center: to the heart of the matter, the core themes that are pervasive in our lives."

from the New World Encyclopedia: "The expression 'layers of the onion' is used to describe a situation in which it is possible to go deeper and deeper revealing seemingly similar layers until a central core is reached."

Lately, I've been thinking about this metaphor as I work with clients and as I work through my own healing process. Imagine the papery outer layers of the onion.. they peel off easily  to reveal more layers. Each time we get through the next layer, we learn more about ourselves and become stronger. And we think, Ahhhhh, I've done it, gotten though, smooth sailing now! But since this process is like an onion, you pull off one layer, and there is yet another layer! Our work is to get to the innermost core, the deepest layer. But we must work our way thorough the outer layers first. We peel back one layer only to find a juicier one underneath. In my kitchen, I am reminded that occasionally there is a nasty yucky layer between two perfectly edible layers of onion and once I wash that messy part off, the rest of the onion is good to use.  

We must remember that each layer brings us closer to the center. And in that center, is the promise of growth, the potential for a new life. We must remember that, from the onion's perspective, those layers and layers are simply compost and fertilizer for its next stage of growth. It is the same for our healing process, all of those layers of life experiences and healing work are nourishment for the BE-ing that we are BE-coming.

the onion peels
the tears spill
the pond fills
the lotus unfolds
~ Reisha

All is Bright

All is Bright

"May you have
the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love."
~Ada V. Hendricks

We are just days away from the Winter Solstice, December 22nd, which is both the shortest day and longest night of the solar year. The 22nd may be the the longest night but it carries the promise of Spring. The Winter Solstice is the day that the Sun’s light begins to grow again. The diminishing of the Sun’s light ends and the days begin to grow brighter and longer again until warmth and fertility return to the Earth.

The word Solstice literally means the sun stands still. It is the extreme positions of the sun at midsummer and midwinter, that makes the rising and setting of the sun appear to take place in the same position on the horizon for three or four days in succession. The Sun's path north or south appears to come to a magical stop before reversing direction.

It’s also the day, if we are attuned to the rhythm of the seasons, that we know we are heading toward more daylight and this manages to lift our spirits and has been a cause for celebration way back into the most ancient of times.

In the Jin Shin Jyutsu philosophy, it is not surprising that the color associated with this Winter-time of darkness is blue/black. The attitude of imbalance is FEAR and the harmonizer for fear is LOVE. (Hold your index finger to balance.)

This moment of transit from the old light to the new provides an opportunity for each of us to reflect on our experiences through the year and to set our intentions for the incoming year. Take this opportunity to embody the light, the love, and the consciousness that is your birthright as a Spiritual Being having this Human Experience. I invite you to embrace the darkness, to welcome the returning light and to share this love with all around you. Merry Christmas.
 

"With mounds of greenery,
the brightest ornaments,
we bring high summer to our rooms,
as if to spite the somberness
of winter come."
~Margaret Starkey

Self-Help Tip:
Finding ways to feel grounded can be a tall order, especially with the hustle and bustle that is such a part of most of our lives. For me, the simple grounding flow of holding my 1's is where I turn daily. Safety Energy Lock 1 is located at the inner knee. Hold one at a time or both at the same time and breathe. In no time at all you will begin to feel a connectedness and calm return to your being.  Use this hold often to feel grounded and balanced. 

Of course, you could also go out into the freshly fallen snow, lay on your back and feel connected to the ground, then have yourself some good winter fun and make a snow angel! 

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter.
Who would think that those branches
would turn green again and blossom,
but we hope it, we know it.” 
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Principles to Live By

  "Smile, breathe, and go slowly."
~Thich Nhat Hanh

    Many years ago when I began my study of the Japanese art of Jin Shin Jyutsu,  I was introduced to the idea of a Universal Energy that animates everything. One of my favorite quotes became this George Leonard quote:

“At the heart of each of us,
whatever the imperfections
exists a silent pulse of perfect rhythm
which connects us to the universe.”

Ahhhhh, I just love it!

   Over the last few years, in addition to Jin Shin Jyutsu, I have begun studying other forms of Energy Healing and ways to access this Universal Life Force Energy (Cranio-Sacral, Chakra Balancing, Soul Focused/Esoteric Healing, Clearing Ancestral Lines, Reiki, and others). I am loving the deeper understanding that grows in me about how the layers of our BE-ing interact with each other and the universe. I will always first be a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, but both my own personal practice and my healing practice are informed by these deep studies of Universal Energy.

     Today I wanted to share with you the "Reiki Precepts" which are so applicable to life for all of us. As Reiki Practitioners, we are given these Precepts as principles to live by. For me, they are an expanded form of the traditional "Golden Rule".



     The precepts invite us to be mindful, to let go of worry and anger, and to learn to honor and appreciate the wonder of our lives. I especially love the reminder to live in the moment, "Just for today". Somehow, focusing on the precepts on a day to day basis makes it easier to dwell in the present rather than obsessing on the past or future. I always say, "NOW is what we KNOW we have, this very moment." The Reiki Precepts help me to remember to honor the NOW, and to live a conscious lifestyle by taking small bites instead of looking ahead to all of life where it is easy to be overwhelmed. They remind me to treat others as I would wish to be treated myself.

     I invite you to take some time with these precepts each day, perhaps on waking in the morning and just before bed in the evening. You could start with one and gradually add on the others. Say the precept to yourself or out-loud. Say it over and over again and feel its vibration in your BE-ing. Use the precepts in your meditation practice.

     You could use the precepts in conjunction with holding your fingers as we are taught in the practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu to balance the limiting attitudes that disharmonize our bodies and support balance and transformation. (For more information on the Jin Shin Jyutsu practice of balancing by holding the fingers, READ THIS.

I will let go of WORRY. Hold the THUMB.
I will let go of ANGER. Hold the MIDDLE FINGER.
I will do my work honestly. Hold the LITTLE FINGER.
I will give thanks for my many blessings. Hold the RING FINGER.
I will be kind to every living thing. Hold the INDEX FINGER.

     I invite you to see what a difference the Reiki Precepts can make in your life and your ability to return yourself to BALANCE.

“The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.”
~Albert Einstein 

Time

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.”
~Albert Einstein