The School of Life:  Life-Long Learning

I don’t know about you but when September rolls around I think about going back to school. As adults we may think our school days are over but certainly our learning isn’t.

 

From a spiritual perspective, we are here to learn and grow throughout our lives.  In fact, we all have opportunities to grow and to create more love and joy in our lives.  Really what could be healthier and more life-sustaining?

 

We may consciously seek out ways to expand our growth such as studying Eastern arts like Mindfulness Meditation and Gendai Reiki or Tai Chi and Hatha Yoga.  We might even sign up for personal growth seminars like my course, “The Power of Your True Self,” so we can connect with our authentic, amazing self.

 

Look around and you will find local resources that will help you to grow personally and spiritually.  You may take a course or even sign up for a series of Reiki sessions with guided visualization so that you can cleanse and heal yourself of unwanted issues -- issues that need to be purified and released for your well being.  Hypnosis sessions can also empower your spiritual healing.  An Ultra Height Hypnosis session with your Higher Self resonates at the heart and leaves you feeling peaceful and tranquil as it brings more healing into your life.

 

One thing is for sure though.  One way or another the ‘school of life’ will provide all of us with situations that will give us the chance to learn and grow regardless if we are students in a classroom.  The challenge for all of us is to recognize these times and to understand how we can benefit and learn from them so that we are living the life we are meant to live.  If we don’t learn from these ‘school of life’ opportunities and find new ways of being in the world where we consciously choose to grow, we will repeat the same old patterns and hinder our movement forward.

 

As the days of September continue to wind down may each of you re-discover the beauty of your creative spirit that always seeks new ways to learn and grow.  And, may you find the guidance that will help you to do that. 

 

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This month’s issue of Healing Connection News features an article “Restoring Your Health”.  You will also find my regular Tips For Better Health and info about upcoming events including my Fall Equinox Meditation on September 22.  Join me to celebrate the first day of Autumn.  Also find info to register for this Fall’s Reiki Shoden Level I, Sept. 26 & 27 and Okuden Level II, October 24 & 25th classes.  My CDs are also on sale this month, see page 3.  In addition, check out my personal empowerment workshop series The Power of Your True Self.  As well, don’t miss this month’s inspiring quote. 

 

Peace & Light

 

Deborah

“Restoring Your Health” By Deborah Ferris

One of the simplest ways to restore your health is through relaxation of the body, mind and spirit.  You can start by learning to be at ease with your body and your mind’s thoughts.

 

Begin with sitting or lying comfortably and as you breathe in and out slowly and gently you will feel how the breath relaxes and calms your body and your mind.  This may feel too simplistic at first.  But stay with this deep slow breathing as you put your hand on your belly and watch how the belly rises and expands on the inhale and deflates on the exhale.  This form of natural breathing can restore your health as it brings more oxygen into the body and to the brain.  As well, it can help you to release anxiety and stress.  Just allow your body to sink into the chair or the floor and breathe.

 

You can also feel the groundedness in your feet.  Focus on feeling your feet touching the floor, anchoring you into this space right now.  Thoughts may come in.  Maybe there’s a thought about whether or not you are doing this right or maybe a thought about how this is useless or maybe you are just thinking about something from the past.  Gently note the thoughts and then let go of them.  Go back to focusing on the rise and fall of your breath.  Notice the pause between the inhale and exhale.  Have compassion and patience for yourself as you take some time even five minutes to be at ease with yourself.

 

You will discover over time that this time out for breathing and meditating has many benefits.

 

You can also restore your health through rest.  Many people do not get enough rest and sleep.  Rest may involve taking a short cat nap or just relaxing.  It really is about disengaging your mind and body for a period of time to release stress.  For some people who are always ‘on’ you can benefit from letting go of being highly charged and out there.  Rest is the opposite of doing.  It is really a state of just being.  So let go, let be.  Rest for you may be about stopping trying so hard.  Instead you can allow events to unfold after your initial effort.  You can practice being at ease.

 

Watch out for Negative Thoughts

The thoughts you think can deeply affect the way you feel.   That’s why it is important to monitor your thoughts to gain awareness of what you are thinking.  If you think in limiting ways this can affect your health negatively.  Purifying our thoughts is thus important.  We can do this through chanting and through self-purification techniques learned in Reiki.  As well a Metta practice involving sending out wishes for loving-kindness can help us to focus on the heart chakra and to open to love and compassion for ourselves and others.  As we focus on loving-kindness, negative thoughts and emotions can dissipate.  Of course this is restoring to our minds and bodies.

 

Loving-Kindness Starts with You

Take a moment now and focus on your heart chakra and imagine that your heart is like a pink rose or a beautiful pink lotus.  Imagine that the flower is opening to receive warmth and nourishment from the sun and the rain.  As you do this you can also imagine your heart softens and opens and the love that is there begins to flow up and out.  This love is for you and for others.  It’s like the love that you would give to a small child who is hurting in some way but now you give it to yourself.  Feel that warmth that compassion in your heart now. And now really take it in and own it as it encompasses you.  And, when you are ready send this love and compassion out to a loved one.  Be with this love. Later you can send this loving-kindness and good wishes to other loved ones and even to those who have harmed you.  Let this love continue to grow over the days and weeks as you practice metta.

In addition we can restore our health and our vitality through eating healthy alive foods rich in vitamins and minerals and through physical exercise.  Assess what you are eating; find out if you are eating the right amount of fresh healthy foods that can energize your body and keep it working well.  Essential fatty acids (flax and fish oils) also help to keep the brain healthy. A too sedentary life-style can take a toll on us as well.  We need fresh air and exercise to keep our bodies and minds healthy.  Yoga and Tai Chi are excellent mind/body forms of exercise that can help restore health.  As you commit to improving your health and leading a positive lifestyle, remember that it can take time to reach your goals.  Again, patience and loving-kindness will help you on your journey.

 

Tips For Better Health

Here are this month’s tips for improving your health.

1.  Diet tip #1.  Calories do count.  So eat smaller portions.  Diet tip#2:  Think slim, fit & healthy.  Slim people consistently say no to over eating as they realize you can’t have your cake and eat it too!

2.   Feeling anxious or stressed in some way.  Ground your body through feeling your feet, do some slow and deep breathing and do positive self-talk.  Stop imagining the worst.  Imagine how you can handle this situation positively.  Learn and practice NLP techniques to help you face the fear.

 

Personal Growth Events/Classes & More:

September 22 Fall Equinox Meditation:  Join me in celebrating the first day of Fall with a special meditation to help us bring balance and harmony into our lives as the season changes.  Cost:  PWYC/Donation.  7pm – 9 pm.  RSVP by calling:  (519) 688-9282. 

 

September 26 and 27 Level I Reiki Class:  Learn how to give Reiki to yourself, others, pets and plants. Call Deborah (519) 688-9282 to register now.  A $50 deposit holds your registration. Bring a friend and receive a 10% discount.  You receive attunements, a manual and certificate.  Life-long skills.

October 24 & 25 Level II Reiki class:  Strengthen your basic Reiki by receiving attunements and three healing symbols to enhance your Reiki plus much more!  Move to the next step.  Manual and Certificate.

 

The Power of Your True Self is a 4 session course. Through visualization, meditation, chi power and other experiential exercises you will connect to your amazing authentic self.  You will also increase self-esteem and confidence.  If you have a group of 4 or more, call to arrange dates and times this Fall, (519) 688-9282.  Total:  8 hours.  Evenings or day-time.  Cost:  $110. 

 

Healing Connection CDs on sale this month for $15! (regular $20). “Change Your Life – Embrace Your Inner Joy;” Be Smoke Free” ;“Slim Down with Hypnosis” & “Relax Away Stress With Hypnosis”.      

 

This Month’s Inspiring Quote/Thought: “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”.  Dr. Wayne Dyer.

 

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