Mental Illness

With the suicide of Robin Williams everyone is talking about the seriousness of Mental Illness and how devastating it can be. Depression hurts in more than one way and sometimes the person pays the ultimate price. From the psychological and psychiatric perspective, a mental disorder is an illness with psychological or behavioral manifestations associated with impaired functioning. It can be due to biological, social, psychological, genetic, physical or chemical disturbance. It is measured in terms of deviation from some normative concept. Each illness has characteristic signs and symptoms. From a Shamanic perspective, mental illness is caused from mal-adaptive patterns of pain that impact a person's meaning and purpose in life to the point of causing their emotions and inner dialogue to erupt. This causes an interruption in how a person perceives reality. The person then creates an adapted reality in order to cope. My question is, who decides what is normal? Everyone responds to pain differently. Also, we can't continue to only treat the symptoms. A pill may lessen the anxiety but it will not heal the underlying pain. This is the major cause of relapse for many. When you are well you will take the medication but when stressed you won't in which case you will once again slip into your own private hell. With Shamanism we help people find the heart of the matter and heal the pain that is causing the mal-adaptive patterns. It is a healing process that allows the person control over what they think and feel and gives them valuable tools to counteract their reaction to pain triggers. Awareness is crucial! This healing process however requires determination, and commitment, and in this day and age of immediate gratification feels like too much work for some. I don't know how often I hear someone say, "I don't have money for that." (healing). Then they buy cup after cup of coffee... shop for things they don't need or buy illicit drugs to dull the pain. When will people learn to prioritize their health? Although Shamanism affords most people a much faster healing path there is still time and effort involved. There is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to mental health...

Independence Day

This year I am in the USA celebrating the 4th of July with my American honey. It is the first time I have actually been State-side for this celebration and I am paying close attention to what is happening in our neighbourhood. It is mid morning and like any other weekend morning people are out mowing lawns, washing muscle-cars or the houses and yards look quiet. I am sitting at the kitchen table writing this blog while eating "biltong" which we bought on our way down in Oakville, Ontario. So that should give you some idea where I am from. Later today we are going to have what Richard refers to as "a cook-out" otherwise known as a "BBQ" in Canada or a "braai" in South Africa. As I sit here typing away I reflect of all the different culture I have been exposed to. In my own homeland South Africa all the African cultures, Afrikaans, English, Sesotho, Zulu, Xhoza, Swahili, Venda and many more. Since I have moved to North America I have embraced Canadian, Native American cultures and now also American... it seems endless! Americans fought a hard battle for Independence. The right to make their own decisions and determine their fate. What does Independence really mean to me? Freedom to choose my own path. It means that no-one but me can decide how I should live my life. With that right comes responsibility. I have to take responsibility for all my choices. I can never blame someone else for events in my life. On a spiritual level Independence means that I have stopped listening to fear. I opened my heart to learning and thinking new thoughts and making the unknown my friend so that I can be fearless in going forward and following my chosen path. I have made peace with the part of me that lives in the shadows and I am gently healing the scars that I created. I too have fought a battle to bring all of me into the light and make myself whole. I have unleashed my shinning by teaching, and guiding others towards their own healing. This is an honour and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. My medicine has become an integral part of me and I pledge myself to it.... Love & Light!

Do you believe in the Power of Music?

For some music is their lives and a day without music would be like a torturous death while others can take it or leave it; but no-one I know has ever said that they hate music.  Everyone, even people that listen on occasion has a special song, one that reminds them of a person or emotion, a joy or even sadness.    Let’s face it anyone that has ever been married in the history of the world has that special song, the one they danced into their new lives with, the one that held meaning for them as a couple.

There is a tremendous power in music.  Do you believe that it can move you to do things?  That it stirs the emotions?  Of course it does.  There is a reason countries have a National Anthem – it stirs the Patriotic Spirit and creates a kinship and a source of pride.  Ask any athlete who has ever stood on a playing field while his or her National Anthem was played and they will tell you how overwhelming it is.  It can hold a source of pride for a school, club, university or college any organization that is attempting to draw people together towards a common goal.

For our ancestors music was used as a medium to tell tales of heroism and tragedy.  Bards traveled from town to town throughout the world retelling stories of cultures and great kings, of Gods and Goddesses, death and wars, life and love.  Through music and dance they retold the hunt and so much more.

Music has even been used to move people to action.  In ancient times and through history warriors were moved to courage through drums, pipes and the voices of their women.  I believe that even today soldiers will play music in the tanks in order to be swept up in the passion required for the action of actually taking someone else’s life.

People make love to music, they grieve and they heal through music.  They pray and worship with music and it can inspire a glimmer of hope in the deepest darkest corners of despair.  There isn’t a single human emotion that isn’t touched by music in some shape or form.  It can even scare us to death while watching a scary movie.  It is such a powerful tool!

Personally I have always fallen into the “Love” music category.  I listen to music every day, even if it is just a meditation CD at bedtime.  Music has forged many of my friendships.  I spent many hours as a young woman rehearsing and performing.  Unfortunately it did not become my life as I took a different road but I am still in love with music.  For a while it was like a lost lover lurking in the background, soft tones supporting conversations or extremely loud at parties with wild dancing.  I have never become a music snob – I will listen to just about anything and I can find at least one song in every genre that will float my boat.

At this time in my life I have found a new bond with music.  Old friendships have been rekindled and new ones are being formed.  I am singing again, something that I haven’t done in years, having fun and loving it!  That lover that was skulking around in the outfield of my life is pushing its way back in, coming forward into the light to shine again.  Through it new breath is being blown into my life and relationships and new avenues of expression are opening up.  I use my voice and drum to praise the Creator and old Pagan songs to honour the Mother and Moon Goddess.  I am embracing old memories and finding places that need healing that have been hiding in the dark recesses of my mind and heart.  Every day it grows stronger. 

The troubadours of our time are no different to the ones that walked from town to town years ago.  They still sing tales of love and love lost… tragedy and joy… life and death.  There is a saying that it is easy to write – just sit down in front of a typewriter and open a vein.  I understand this as an author.  I believe that musicians dig deeper still and become vulnerable opening their very hearts allowing people to look inside…. 

Long live music and all the valiant souls who write and play it!  Thanks guys and gals we owe you a huge debt of gratitude!

Love and light.

History repeating itself....

I was checking my facebook page today when I came across a post from a friend regarding the abuse of women.  There was a picture of a woman in various stages of abuse signifying that each consecutive beating had steadily got worse.  This is unfortunately true, in most cases once a man has lifted his hand to a woman once he is very likely to do so again.  It is a matter of respect you see; he has none for her or himself.

As I read the comments made below about how these men should be hung, drawn and quartered I wondered what could really be done.  More physical violence would most certainly not solve the issue as a matter of fact it might even exasperate the situation.  It might make the men who do not condone this kind of behaviour feel better to think what they would do should they get their hands on them; but in the long run it will not resolve a thing.

It made me think about where and how this behaviour started.  I am sure that all was not sweetness in light throughout the ages; however there was an Age, at the Dawn of Mankind when women and The Earth Mother was revered.  Women were cared for as society realized that without them there would be no future generation.  Every law and decision was based on the needs of the women and children of the tribe and assuring the continuation of the blood line.  There were many matriarchal societies and the very first artifacts, were of the Goddess and was found all over Europe and many other cultures.  As a matter of fact the phallic symbol only came along many thousands of years later and was always placed close or nearby the Goddess symbols.  The Sacred Feminine was very much alive and well.  The Universe was in balance as matriarchal societies; it is believed, did not disregard their men but believed in working together toward the common good of the people.

Then came the Greeks and suddenly Athena “sprang” from Zeus’s brow.  She was no longer perceived as a Mother Goddess that gave birth to the world and all in it and she became the Goddess of War.  How did the nurturer become the destroyer?  Slowly civilizations built on this and our societies became patriarchal and the women slowly lost their power.  It took thousands of years but eventually women once revered were forced under foot.

In very recent history as little as 800 years ago women were vilified by the Church.  Thousands were put to death, burnt at the stake for practicing medicine, midwifery and herbalism.   The village wise women were ostracised and pushed aside.  There are some historians that believe that the number of murdered women could be in the millions as the Burning Times spanned a period of 600 years but very few records were kept.  Generation after generation of young men were raised believing that their Mothers and Sisters were inferior.  I have many opinions on why the Church did what they did but it would take me days and days to write it all down.  You only need to read the “Witches Hammer” to realize that there is something very disturbing about a faith that could allow such atrocities based solely on gender and an imagined evil.  Why, in England and North America in the late 1800’s a women’s person belonged to her husband and he could do with her as he pleased.  All her property and resources went to him without question at marriage.  First she belonged to her Father and then her Husband. 

Of course now our Western Societies frown upon such behaviour.  We no longer prosecute women HOWEVER thousands of years of conditioning have left their mark and it will not take a couple of hundred years to undo what has been done.  Terrible I know.  There are still cultures today that practice the persecution of women and some of them are driven by faith and cultural belief systems.   Islam is a case in point but that does not mean that all Islamic men would treat their women badly.  Their Laws however, can and often do.   Are they only following our lead?  Individuals during the burning times I am sure looked after and cared for their wives but as a society we were sorely lacking.

Which I guess brings me to my point.  I apologize for the rant…. but this subject is very close to my heart.  As the Mother of two boys it was important to me and their Father to instil in them a sense of respect for women.  I hope we succeeded; all the signs indicate that we did. 

Yet we still have men who treat their women as second class citizens.  Children see, children do… they watch and learn.  There will be some who will vow to never lift their hands to the women in their lives even if that is what they saw but unfortunately the majority will follow in their father’s footsteps. 

In my opinion it is important that these men be re-educated.   When found guilty of abusing their women and children meeting this behaviour with more violence is not going to change one thing.  We need to think of future generations and change the behaviour at the source.  The men should be healed…brought into balance again, taught how to be men in the true sense of the word.  Tormentors hate themselves more than anything and until that anger and hatred is released all the punishment in the world will not help.   If there are young men in these households they need to be educated alongside their fathers.  The whole family’s anger needs to be addressed. 

There is much support for the abused but not necessarily so for the abuser, in my opinion this is where the change should be made.  I am not saying cry me a river for the abuser, all I am saying is I believe with the correct support they may be able to let go and become whole again.  As a society we need to heal our sick; emotionally, spiritually, mentally and not only physically.  I am not talking about the Western concept of illness or healing…there isn’t a pill to shift deep routed perceptions of hatred.  Yes, I use the word hatred because that is what it ultimately is.

I know…. I know… easier said than done, right?  But we have to start somewhere and it might as well be with the culprit!  The world’s tormentors will continue to prey on the weak if we don’t heal them.   Or maybe I’m just an idealistic fool…..

Love and Light!

Lightworkers Saga

Lightworkers Saga

Here is a promotional video for my Mystery/Suspense novel. Check it out my friends!

Love and light

Spiritual Connection vs. Abundance

There seems to be two concepts that are never mentioned in the same breath; Money and Spirituality. I find that to be very interesting. Spiritual people often use the word Abundance as if the use of that word somehow softens the fact that they are referring to money. Why do they have the need to hide behind this word? What does the word abundance actually mean? Here are some expressive synonyms; Excess, Profusion, Glut, Surplus and Wealth. None of these sound so connected do they?

Why is it that the more spiritually connected we get the more we believe that we should have an aversion to money? We are we made to feel guilty by others that we can’t live off love, air, energy and water alone?

Being spiritual and trying to maintain a spiritual connection at all times I have to work at allowing abundance into my life. Often public opinion dictates that the more "spiritual" one becomes the less you long for the material things in life. This may be true for a few guru's but most of us live in the physical world and therefore need to make sure that we can care for ourselves and our families in this reality.

I for one am going to let go of all my limiting beliefs and actively engage in attracting abundance - and yes I am using this word in it's true sense! This is a very real goal for 2012 and I will be focusing much of my intent on this goal.

The one thing that I have found that has proven to attract abundance is to have respect and be grateful for what you already have. If you don’t care for the things you have, then why should you be granted more? I have worked hard for every single thing I have in my life; nothing was handed to me and I take pleasure from the fact that I have done it all on my own, so to speak. Of course we are never alone if we are co-creating with Spirit....

I am very grateful for what I have. To be honest sometimes I am blown away by the blessings in my life!!

Would love to hear your comment on this post.

Love and Light!!

Marketing with Integrity.....

I have been struggling with the concept of Marketing.  When I decided that I was to become an entrepreneur in 2012 I knew that I would have a spiritual block with Marketing myself and any product I am promoting.  It is not because I don't believe in myself or my ability to help people or that I don't fully support the product; no, quite the opposite, I do wholeheartedly.  The problem lies with marketing and how to get my message across to people who might be interested in my books, personal development, healing and growth.

This means I have to market myself my books, my services and any supporting products. As I am by no means a guru in marketing or marketing techniques I have been taking some marketing courses.  What I have learnt, has up till today disturbed me and given me pause.  

Seems one can't just come out and say what you mean.  You have to create a hook!  Marketing is a seduction...a subtle lure.  It doesn't matter that what you are promoting will improve people’s lives you have to dress it up.  Understanding this truth through me for a loop and a small doubt that I could become a successful entrepreneur crept stealthily into my head.  Now what?

It was back to the drawing board for me.  I often tell my clients that the road to change is not always smooth but that one must persevere.  Never give up and approach difficulties from different angles.  So I asked myself the following question:  How do I market myself with integrity?

The answer came to me this morning during my meditation.  I need to make sure that my marketing campaign clearly shows my intent to do no harm.  That my enthusiasm for helping people change their lives for the better will be clearly communicated.  I realize that I will not be able to please everyone.  It also became clear to me that I can only do so much.  I can't be responsible for other people’s emotions.  Additionally the people who are ready to make a significant change in their lives will embrace my message while those who are not ready will simply click, shake their heads, and close the page and think on it no longer.

My mission should simply be to reach those individuals that are ready to embrace change and find their inner power and beauty through balance within my one rule - First, do no harm....