Pilgrimage Studio

Tag: Complimentary Health

  • Of Fire

    Of Fire

    by Beth Haley

    Garlic is one of the oldest plants used as medicine. “When the British came to India, leprosy became known as “peelgarlic,” because of the frequent sight of lepers peeling and eating garlic cloves.”

    –The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies by C. Norman Shealy MD, PhD

    Garlic increases pitta, or fire, and it helps with digestion by increasing digestive juices. It has both a cooling and heating effect on the body. When the fire element is too inflamed in our bodies (agitation, stubbornness) it can help bring balance. On the other hand, if our fire is too low, garlic can get the fire burning again.

    Fire Temperament

    Fire element plants are not just for the physical body. Destructive forces such as anger can be regulated as well by the principle of “fighting fire with fire.”

    “…to put out forest blazes by deliberately setting the undergrowth aflame, can release rage in a dramatic and explosive outburst. Once this willful anger is gone, the sorrow hiding beneath it can be expressed, bringing the system back into balance.”

    –Plant Spirit Wisdom by Ross Haven

    Some uses of garlic:

    Cancers

    Colds

    Skin disorders

    Parasites

    Joint issues

    Arthritis

    Cysts

    Fluid retention

    Antibiotic

    Reduces blood pressure

    Reduces cholesterol

    Stimulant

    Carminative

    Expectorant

    Disinfectant

    It is rejuvenating for the nervous, digestive, respiratory, reproductive and circulatory systems

    All this written, if one were to eat the amount of garlic recommended (6-12 cloves a day) to produce these results, I don’t suppose we would smell that great. However, garlic does come in capsules which are odor-free.

    –The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies by C. Norman Shealy MD, PhD

    Photos by Team Voya & Mike Kenneally

  • Fisher King

    Fisher King

    by Thela 🦊 Foxgood

    Working in meditation today, I was reminded that sometimes healing is uncomfortable. When we are in the midst of the process of healing, we may feel disempowered. Rather than feeling powerful, we only feel and see the wounds. However, this is the process – and to step into healing, we must first spend time tending the wounds.

    I don’t normally refer to religious texts. However, two passages (3 actually) came up during this session.

    1. Of the Fisher King it is said, “He is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” -Isaiah 53:3

    The Fisher King is also associated with The Wounded King, The Hanged Man and The King of Cups.

    That the Fisher King (from The Grail Legend) has taken to fishing while he is waiting for help and healing seems symbolic. Fishing is an activity that requires not only patience, but is dependent upon the right fish, at the right time, taking the bait… or in other words, the right element, person, or tool for the healing he seeks.

    I suppose that the Fisher King is associated with the “Fisher of Men” because both of these stories were about seeking what was lost. One King was seeking healing for his body, soul, and kingdom. The other King, “The Fisher of Men,” was seeking those that were lost, to save, and bring into his kingdom.

    Facing a mountain?

    A Dark Night of the Soul?

    Before healing – is the process.

    Before power, is weakness.

    Without denial, we see our wounds. Without hurry, we seek healing.

    Healing can come in unexpected ways.

    I love working with Bibliomancy. I take a book (any book I feel drawn to), pose a question, and then read the first thing I see.

    Today’s meditation session felt like a “Lord of the Rings” moment where the dialog goes, “…but something happened then the Ring did not intend.”

    Now, I am not a religious person (spiritual, yes), so what happened next, I did not expect. The first thing I saw as I opened the book after working with the messages of The Fisher King, was:

    2. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

    -The Beatitudes

    To Meditation

    3. Seek and you will find.

    What are you seeking today?

    Kingfisher Photo by Boris Smokrovic

  • Out of the Ordinary

    Out of the Ordinary

    The route you take depends a good deal upon where you want to go. -Lewis Carroll

    Day after day, the father drove to work along the same dreary highway to the same dreary job. Sometimes his daughter went to his office with him. On one of these occasions she noticed a winding road running parallel to the highway. “Oh, Daddy, let’s take that road today,” she suggested. After some grumbling and mumbling, the father agreed and turned off to take the side road.

    To their delight, the road was lined with full trees and a rainbow of flowers. They came upon a quaint little village in which there was an office with a sign in the window that said, “Clerk Wanted. Inquire Within.” The job seemed perfect and the man accepted it with excitement he hadn’t felt in many years.

    Sometimes we have to risk taking a different path in order to arrive at a different place. How else can we change things in our lives that need to be changed? And how easy to do it, once we’re willing to risk something out of the ordinary.

    What can I do that’s out of the ordinary today?

    From: Today’s Gift – Daily Meditations for Families

  • Post-It Notes 17

    Post-It Notes 17

    The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.

    -Helen Keller

  • Love Moon

    Love Moon

    by Thela 🦊 Foxgood

    The New Moon In Libra works with Venus the planet of love. It is a good time for new beginnings and fresh starts, and for setting goals and intentions.

    Love is an energy. It is friendship. It is family. It is romantic love. It has many faces and comes in many ways, shapes and forms.

    A part of bringing more love into our lives and opening up to receive it, is to begin releasing attachments: attachments to “who”, “when” and “how.” Let go of what you think love has to look like and open your heart to simply receive love in all her many forms.

    Inhale the vibration of love

    Exhale, and let go of “who”

    Inhale the vibration of deep connection

    Exhale, and let go of “when”

    Inhale the vibration of passion

    Exhale, and let go of “how”

    Instead of thinking that love has to be a specific person, at a specific time and in a specific way, make a list of what love “feels” like to you. Whether it is friendship, family or romantic love; whether it is an existing love or new, love feels like:

    It feels like security

    It feels like a warm fire on a cold night

    It feels like a cool pool of water in the heat of the day

    It feels delicious

    It feels caring

    It feels devoted

    It feels like sharing

    It feels like laughter

    It feels like sparkle and sunshine

    It feels like being heard

    It feels like abundance

    It feels healthy

    It feels balanced

    It feels mutual

    It feels like Anam Cara

    It feels tender

    It feels everlasting

    It feels like hugs

    It feels like kindness

    It feels like understanding

    It feels like a shoulder to lean on

    It feels like a solid foundation

    It feels like standing on holy ground

    It feels like connection

    It feels like peacefully sharing space

    It feels like communion

    It feels like angels all around

    It feels like kindred spirits

    It feels like magic

    It feels like adoring presence

    It feels like companionship

    It feels equal

    It feels spiritual

    It feels like being enough

    It feels like comfort

    It feels like coming home.

    Love is here now, in each of us. And, for each of us.

    Another part of receiving is giving thanks.

    So after making a list, spend some time in gratitude for your blessings now, and for new ones on their way!!

    Photo by Grant Mclver

  • Who Now?

    Who Now?

    by Beth Haley

    If you were to remove the titles of all of the roles that you play in life (mother, friend, partner, daughter, son, sister, brother, yoga teacher, jogger, swimmer, computer programmer) and instead, focused on what those roles bring out in you, or bring to you (security, love, caring, sharing) or what it is about these roles that you like or that fulfill you, what would a journal entry titled, “Who am I?” look like now?

    What makes you the happiest? How can you create your life around the elements which bring you the greatest joy?

    Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf

  • Post-It Notes 16

    Post-It Notes 16

    Instead of asking “why” when your expectations don’t match your reality – ask, “What am I leaning?”

    Christine Hassler

  • Post-It Notes 15

    Post-It Notes 15

    “Hygge moments are the small everyday moments that make you happy. The best of them are bright and shining like stars. Having a word for it makes you aware that they are right in front of your eyes. Ready for you to collect.”

    Hygge – The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Soderberg

  • Palm Tree

    Palm Tree

    by Beth Haley

    A great exercise to strengthen your ankles, and calves as well, is the Palm Tree.

    Sit in a chair, or stand in Mountain Pose with your hands lightly touching a wall. As you inhale, raise your heels up as far up as is comfortable. Exhale and bring them back down. Repeat 5 to 10 times

    For more foot exercises see : Medical News Today

    Photo by Rune Enstad

  • Literally

    Literally

    by Beth Haley

    Colloquialisms

    If you are learning a new language, colloquialisms can be confusing. The metaphors, slang, and idioms most people are used to hearing every day might make very little sense.

    For example: The saying, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,” has little to do with the Greeks, except for the history of the Trojan horse, and more to do with being cautious about overly generous gifts.

    “I’m sitting on pins and needles,” might be a saying that is a “head scratcher” for people learning English. They may wonder about the safety of their chair and if the person speaking has a scalp condition.

    “On the other hand, ” if you were to look at the “flip side,” most people, once familiar with a language, understand these types of sayings, and know that considering another point of view, or listening to opposite, or additional information, is what is represented by these sayings.

    Literalism

    There is however, another group of people who can have difficulties with the everyday colloquialisms that they hear in their own language, and these are people on the autism spectrum. For them, slang terms that make sense to others are like “ships passing each other in the night” and their symbolism is not translated into a clear picture of what is meant or represented.

    One might “bend over backwards” in an effort to speak clearly, but even with the best attempts, if colloquialisms are used, someone with autism may envision, “bend over backwards,” as a person doing a backbend.

    In other words: Literalism is translating words in their exact sense and literal meaning.

    For someone with autism, this goes farther than just the literal spoken words, and can affect being able to correctly interpret tone and body language as well.

    For example, Sarah interprets “hello” as a greeting. Yet spoken in a different tone and using specific body language, a “Hello” might be someone trying to convey romantic interest. Despite the differences in tone and body language, Sarah still interprets “hello” as literally, just hello. This can create quite a bit of confusion unless the person in question clearly states their intentions and interests.

    And, if being literally-minded is not challenge enough, once a metaphor is understood, knowing then how to appropriately respond, can be an even greater challenge.

    For some, the challenges of a language dissipate with learning. For others, this has been, is now, and will always be a struggle for understanding – making each social encounter and conversation an event which feels like… well, like sitting on pins and needles.

    ‘Copy & Paste’ – Hidden Asperger’s – Girls with Aspergers | Niamh McCann | TEDxDunLaoghaire

    Remember Your Superpowers