Pilgrimage Studio

Tag: wellness

  • A Meditation

    A Meditation

    Staying in More

    During this time, we are out less. We could think “isolated” or we could think, “Protect and Prevent.” I guess it’s all in how we see it.

    We could see it as more time spent with home or family. It’s good food cooked at home, time for board and card games, or catching up on some family movies.

    We could notice. How often do we really stop and listen and see.

    We’re noticing the tension in our world and especially, we see those of us who are out in the thick of it, day in and day out. There are gloves and masks and hand sanitizer along with, “keep your distance.” They screen me entering the hospitals and rest homes. And, I’m glad for the precautions taken. It’s a different world though isn’t it?

    What do we do, finding that we have extra time on our hands, while also finding that today is a very different day than even a few days ago… I wish that the reasons the world has slowed down were different ones. And, I wish that the world slowed down more often for better ones. Why does it take critical times for us to slow our pace?

    With that in mind, here is a meditation to sooth the body, mind, and spirit. As we send our healing light out into the world, may our souls also find peace and rest.

    Stay in when you can. Find some zen. Prevent and protect! 🌟

    Background soundtrack is from Insight Timer by Owen Jenkins, Nature Sounds: Flowing Stream

    Cover and Video Photo Credit: 12019@Pixabay

  • Today’s Shot 82

    Today’s Shot 82

    Slow-Motion Crystal Shards Returning to their Original Liquid State

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

    Face Masks

    During this time, I have seen many people wearing masks. While this can be helpful – also remember that the best protection is for anyone who is currently unwell to wear them. And if you are wearing them while well to prevent germs, remember that germs may adhere to the outer surface of your mask 😷. If you take your mask off or touch it, you’ll need to wash / sanitize your hands!

    Prevent and Protect! 🌟

  • Today’s Shot 77

    Today’s Shot 77

    Biking Tools

    We came across these the other day on a biking trail. I had never seen this before, but it’s good to know where the tools are at, in case they are needed!

    Vitamin C – A Powerful Antioxidant

    In addition to improving cardiovascular health, improving cancer survival rates, and promoting longevity, vitamin C is a powerful antioxident that boosts immunity, helps to balance and maintain our immune system, and fights infections.

    As written in “Life Extension Magazine“:

    “…vitamin C increases the life span of immune cells and reduces infection-related cellular damage. This bolsters the immune system’s ability to fend off a broad range of infectious agents.

    Interestingly, research has clearly demonstrated that during times of infection, concentrations of vitamin C are rapidly depleted in the blood and in white blood cells.

    Scientists have found that supplementation with vitamin C improves several important parameters of immune function. Therefore, supplementing with vitamin C during infection may protect immune cells and strengthen their ability to fight infectious pathogens.”

    –Life Extension

    Prevent and Protect 🌟

  • Today’s Shot 76

    Today’s Shot 76

    Solitary

    Wellness Tip

    As an addition to the posts, Hygiene and Prevention and Airport Safety, one more area of focus would be gas pumps. I wear gloves, but buttons and handles can also be easily wiped down with disinfectant wipes before use.

    Prevent and Protect 🌟

  • Heavy

    Heavy

    I loved this post from Beth @ I Didn’t Have My Glasses On

    Yesterday was heavy. Put it down.

    — image credit: diego rivera, untitled (a heavy load) 1948

    Cover photo by Kelly Sikkema
  • Today’s Shot 75

    Today’s Shot 75

    Ray of Light

    Sumter National Forest

    At times, as I’ve aimed the camera, I think I know what I’ve captured… then looking later, I know I didn’t truly see at all. Not then.

    Mantra Practice

    Tidal force is what causes high and low tides. It is the side closest to the moon that pushes the inflows and draws the outflows with the moon’s gravitational pull. Just as, with each planet, there is an energetic effect. I have always been interested in how this affects us as people. More, I wondered if there were mantras for the planets 🪐 which help us navigate the energetic currents that tug at our own lives.

    Mercury has been the talk of late, being in retrograde (appearing to move backwards). I find that working in Mercury’s energy (which has been associated with communications of all kinds) with my voice and words, has been interesting to me. It is intentional thought, throat chakra in action, words and sound – all combined – focused towards those very things: Mercury and communications. The idea is, that these types of mantras help to sooth or smooth-out the natural energies that are at play in our lives. It is helpful to know your birth chart if you’d like to pin-point a specific issue along with its planetary associations.

    You can chant with mala beads 108 times. Or perhaps, set aside a certain amount of time and make it a part of your meditation practice.

    Mercury Mantra / Budh

    Note: as I heard it explained, the sound “Bood – Ha” is not the same as Buddha.

    Om Budhaya Namaha

    Om Bood-hah-yah Nahm-ah-ha

    In his book, “Mantra, Sacred Words of Power”, Thomas Ashley-Farrand says, “Attention is energy. Intention qualifies attention.”

    Whether you pray, dance, sing, drum, or chant mantras… what kind of attention is your intention qualifying?

  • Today’s Shot 73

    Today’s Shot 73

    Sky Gazing

    Through

    Winter’s Branches

    Baking Soda

    I had not tried all of these uses for baking soda and didn’t realize it was used for so many things. I think my most memorable use of baking soda was with our calf many years ago. When he would get bloated, I would put some baking soda into his formula. After he drank it, I would take him for a walk and pretty soon, he was all better again.

    🐮💗

    A few uses:

    • Digestive Issues
    • Detox Bath
    • Put a box of baking soda into a bath for sunburns. (Try with other burns as well)
    • 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda in a glass of water for ulcer pain
    • Make a paste and rub onto itchy bug bites
    • Helps to balance PH
    • 1-2 teaspoons in a glass of water can help with heartburn and indigestion
    • Anti-fungal (this makes a great foot soak for toe nail fungus – especially with added tea tree oil) or as a paste that you can spread onto trouble areas
    • Kills streptococcus bacteria
    • Great as toothpaste (tooth whitener – kills germs)
    • Household cleaner (oven cleaner! Mix baking soda with vinegar, spread over oven, let soak and then scrub off)
    • Carpet deodorizer (I add essential oils, mix well, and then spread over carpet. I let it sit on the carpet for a few hours before vacuuming up)
    • In the Journal of American Society of Nephrology, research showed with 134 patients, that taking a little bit of baking soda every day helped kidneys function a little better and prevented some patients from having to be on dialysis.
    • Helps with urinary tract infections
    • Helps with muscle fatigue and aching muscles
    • Foot scrub / face rub (follow with moisturizer)
    • Deodorizer
    • Hair cleanser (condition after)
    • Make a paste for canker soars. Apply 3-4 times a day.
    • Grease Fires
    • Scorched pots and pans
    • Freshen up pet beds and pet areas
    • Fresh produce soak (add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda to water and soak fruits and veggies in it).
    • Silver cleaner…? (Never tried this)
    • My favorite use: pour some baking soda down a clogged drain. Pour vinegar over the top. Wait 10-15 minutes and then follow with boiling water.
    • Cleaning coffee pots
    • Stinky shoe deodorizer (let sit overnight)

    Contraindications:

    • High Sodium (1 tsp contains about 1250 mg)
    • Can raise blood pressure
    • Do not use if you have edema
    • Do not use if you have heart or circulatory issues, liver or kidney disease
    • Don’t use if you are pregnant or nursing
    • Do not use for small children
    • Can increase potassium processes
    • Can interfere with prescription drugs (take two hours before or after medications)
    • Can interact with aspirin, herbs, supplements, and diuretics
    • Can be drying
    • As with any beneficial product – too much can be poisonous – causing seizures, vomiting, abdominal pain, coma and even death.

    Sources

    Dr. Paul Haider

    ASN – BAKING SODA: FOR COOKING, CLEANING, AND KIDNEY HEALTH?

    Mediocrity is self-inflicted and genius is self-bestowed.

    -Walter Russell

  • Today’s Shot 72

    Today’s Shot 72

    Peering Through the Moss

    Bluffton, SC 2019

    Energy, Stress, and Adaptogens

    Early in 2019, I was struggling with energy and I came across a product called TianChi. It makes a drink which you take on an empty stomach in the morning. I took this every morning (It didn’t take this long to see the effects, but I continued taking it!) for a month and a half, and I was off and running again with as much energy as I’d ever had. The adaptogens found in this formula are: Shizandra, Rhodiola, Reishi Mushroom, Ashwaganda and Eluthero.

    This formula was created by Master Tonic Chinese Herbalist, Roger Drummer and his formula can be found at HerbWorks.com

  • Today’s Shot 70

    Today’s Shot 70

    Momentos

    Hygiene and Prevention

    Dr. Kenneth Seaton Ph.D. coined the phrase, “Germs don’t fly; they hitchhike.” Of course, we know that germs do fly – however, this was the outcome of some of his research: ten healthy people were put into a room for eight hours with ten people infected by viruses. The rule was, no physical contact. Two people got sick.

    Then, ten healthy people were put into a room for eight hours with ten sick people, except this time, there was physical contact. All ten became sick. That works out to be 20% risk factor without physical contact and 100% risk factor with physical contact.

    Jordan Rubin writes in “The Great Physician’s Rx” , “If we are to stave off colds, allergies, or the flu, particular attention must be paid to five areas of the body – the hands, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.”

    Andrew Cavanagh writes in “How Important is Hygiene?“, “Over ninety percent of germs, viruses and allergens on the hands are harboured under the fingernails and thumbnails.”

    Hand washing in very warm water, working the soap under your fingernails and around the entire hand for 15-30 seconds is great prevention. After your hands are clean you can also do a face wash. Rubin recommends hand and face washing in the morning and evening with a soft soap (which can get under fingernails) that is not antibacterial. In public places, use a towel to not only turn the faucet off, but also to open the door. And, when washing isn’t available, have your sanitizer with you!

    Hygiene Sources

    Andrew Cavanagh

    Jordon Rubin

  • Today’s Shot 67

    Today’s Shot 67

    Humble Beginnings

    Travel Safety and Germs

    On 29 August 2018, “Deposition of respiratory pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports” was published by BMC Infectious Diseases. Of the surfaces tested in this research, the plastic security screening trays showed the highest risk.

    What about the self-help ticketing kiosks?

    Don’t worry if you look like a fanatic!

    You can use anti-bacterial wipes on armrests, kiosks, tray tables, headrests, door handles, toilet lids and handles, and more.

    But let’s face it, we can’t wipe down the whole airport. Got gloves? There are escalator handrails, shop payment buttons, stair rails, counters…

    Wash your hands often, sterilize what you can, glove-up if you’re able to, and try not to touch areas like your nose, eyes and mouth. How many times a day do we touch our face?

    Can you imagine how much safer public places would be if everyone sanitized what they could?

    Stay well!