Saturday, December 26, 2009

Steiner Education Videos

Just a couple of short videos that help explain Steiner education for those friends and family who are curious. I hope you enjoy them.



Saturday, December 19, 2009

Reindeer Poo!

This year Aria helped me make some delicious christmas treats! We've decided to call them 'Reindeer Poo', as that's just what these delectable mouthfuls look like (I guess!)




These are vegan and gluten free, healthy, raw and all natural. Great for kids and mummas alike! They are easy peasy to make and incredibly rich, so make them quite small - they'll be a sure favourite with the whole whanau. Here is the recipe...

1 cup Agave nectar
2 cups carob powder
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup raw unsalted cashews
2tbsp calcium powder (optional and preferably non-animal derived)

Blend all the ingredients together and spoon into a mini-muffin tray. Put in freezer for 20mins and enjoy!


What a sweet toothy grin!

 
In with both spoons - twice the yum!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Aria's latest little friends

Just a quick photo post of Aria's latest bunch of Christmas and Summer friends.


The whole crowd (animals to come hopefully - I'm finding them so difficult!)
Aria loves the crystals, shells and stones just as much as the dolls.



The Archangel Gabriel brings some heavenly news!



Three three wise men - Aria seems to play with these guys the most!


 
Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus -  ("Bubba")



A Summer Fairie  - Christmas gift for one of Aria's little playmates.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The 3rd Chakra - looking after the solar plexus area

Just thought I'd write a quick post about the 3rd chakra. I've been looking into how to look after and stimulate this area due to my ongoing dealings with glandular fever and chronic fatigue.




The 3rd Chakra, also called the solar plexus chakra, is located halfway between the navel and breast bone and is associated with the colour yellow. In terms of Eastern philosophies, this area is also the domain of the inner adult - giving the ability to make choices that stay true to your course in life with courage and integrity. It is where our core strength lives and is the seat of our personal power. This whole area houses the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver and spleen.  The kidneys, liver & spleen work at ridding our bodies of excess toxins and help protect against illness - giving energy and stamina, while the adrenal glands work at keeping our nervous system and stress hormone levels healthy.

The adrenal glands play an extremely important role where our well being is concerned. Too much stress, failure to look after the whole self and chronic negative emotions such as worry often result in adrenal overload and burnout.  When the adrenals are overstimulated by stress, they become overloaded with cortisol which means that they must adapt by diminishing the output of these regulatory hormones in order to maintain equilibrium. The nervouse system of a sufferer of adrenal fatigue is running on low stress coping hormone levels (eg. cortisol). This can reult in hypoglycemia, depression, anxiety, fatigue, addiction, muscle spasms, 'night owl' tendencies, low blood pressure, inflamation, immune deficiencies, increased abdominal fat, slow wound healing and a lack in many vitamins and minerals. Glandular fever (the most common precursor to chronic fatigue) is also a result of 3rd Chakra exhaustion despite being attributed in the past to the epstein barr virus (it has since been discovered that the EB virus lays dormant for many years in a number of people, but only becomes 'active' when triggered by other factors such as too much stress and a lack of vitamin B).




Here are some ways to help look after our personal power house - the 3rd Chakra - and prevent the all too common conditions related to burn out. (Please remember that this is just data that I have collected from my own personal research and esperience - it is in no way a professional opinion or a diagnosis.)

Teas/Herbs:
Licorice root, Siberian Ginseng, Ginger, Cinnamon, alfalfa, Bayberry, Juniper berries, parsley (for potassium), dandelion root and orange peel, Green tea (moderately due to caffiene), fennel, chamomile

Vitamins/Supplements:
Spirulina, L-tyrosine, Licorice extract, potassium (always consult a professional), organic sodium (not salt), GTF chromium, magnesium and clacium, Vitamin B complex, B-5, B-12, Vitamins A & C, a-b-c strain probiotics.

Foods:
Grains, Starches, Dairy, Yellowe fruit & veg, Spices; ginger, mint, melissa, chamomile, tumeric, cumin, fennel.

Essential Oils:
Rosemary, Carnation, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Peppermint, Juniper, Lavender, Citrul oils, Cedar, Pine, Rose (decreases depression). 1 tbsp of apple cider vingar and some epsom salts in a bath also work wonders.

Crystals:
Amber (amazingly soothing - especially if worn around the neck for relief from all those glands and a heavy head), Citrine, Melachite, Topaz, Rhodonite, Rhodochrosite. 

Excercises:
Yoga -
Sun salutation, Navasana (boat pose, 1/2 boat pose, leg lifts (Urdhva Prasarita Padasana), Warrior poses, twists, Bellows Breath/Breath of Fire (Bhastrika Pranayama). Passive backbends are resotrative where 3rd Chakra excess is present - they cool off the belly's fire and have a calming effect.
Hula Hoop, Dancing - the twist, Belly Dancing, rubbing the belly

Alternative therapies:
I've also found Chinese herbal medicine, accupuncture, cupping, massage, osteopathy helpful for providing relief from the symptoms listed above.

Meditation & Inner work:
Where any condition presents as being chronic, I believe a great amount of soul searching is integral to the healing process. Loving, guided meditations can be greatly soothing and can be used to kick start or provide the most fertile environment for healing to occur. I love Doreen Virtue's Angel meditations, Brian Weiss's meditation for joy and love, and Louise L Hay's affirmations amongst many others. Whatever spiritual path you are on, now is the time to immerse yourself in it - to read up on, listen to and nurture those aspects of yourself.

Don't forget lots of rest and sleep, and to go easy on yourself! It's amazing what we say to ourselves all day long - I really have to watch this internal dialogue. It's also important to eat wholefoods and organic wherever possible - lessening any toxins that enter your system. This way you will be easing the work load for the cleansing organs in your solar plexus area.

I hope my experience is of some help. Much love, strength and warm wishes for the Christmas period ahead.




Links:
Angel Meditation, Dorren Virtue, phd.
You can heal your life affirmations - Louise L Hay
The work of Brian Weiss
Salute to the Sun, Yoga
Search here for the healing properties of any oils, herbs, food

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Mumma and Bubba's refreshing holiday


Here is a little clip of our latest trip to Warburton. It was just Mumma and Bubba on this holiday.  Aria enjoyed singing, talking, dancing and walking for the first time. It was so beautiful to watch her develop and become increasingly free as she learns how to be comfortable in her little body and within the world. Such an enchanting little spirit.




Pitter patter...



Flapping together - amidst screams of delight!




Aria and her friend Mr. "Duh"






Mummy takes a nice long deep breath...


...and catches up on some knitting


Siberian ginseng and fennel seed tea tastes like heated up plastic when mixed together. An acquired taste!



Aria helps to sweep up with her brand new broom.






Sunny horizons


Happy little debut walker



Another magical journey.