“If you are one of the millions of people who suffer pain, stiffness, arthritis, whiplash, slipped disks, and other neck problems, you have probably tried the gamut of treatments, including surgery, chiropractic, acupuncture, traction, yoga, or medications for pain. Any or all of these may offer temporary relief but probably won’t provide a permanent cure. So what is the prescription for better and more balanced communication and lasting relief from painful neck problems……In addition to medicine and behavioral changes, you must identify and change the negative thoughts that are triggering your health problems. In Louise’s affirmation theory, the healthy neck and cervical spine represents flexibility and the ability to see both sides of the conversation. But turn this concept on its head by introducing an unbending mind-set or bullheadedness and health turns to illness and disease—in this case, a stiff or painful neck.” ALL IS WELL ~ Louise L. Hay and Mona Lisa Schulz, M.D. Ph.D.
“Tight muscles creating an armor in the upper back are often loaded with rage that was initially aimed at ourselves but then get projected outwards toward others. This can be seen in what is known as the ‘dowager’s hump’, a formation of soft tissue that builds in the upper back, most often in older women. It would appear to represent a collection of angry, and resentful thoughts that grow without the means for expression as the years pass; it manifests as we get older and as our reason or purpose for living loses impetus.” The BodyMind Workbook ~ Debbie Shapiro
“If we are having neck and shoulder problems, we need to question ourselves. Are we being too inflexible in our thoughts? Are we being too rigid? Are we afraid to see what’s on the other side of us or behind us? Are we taking too much responsibility on our shoulders? Are we taking on responsibility that is not ours. Do we refuse to see other’s point of view or perspective? Do we allow other’s refusal to see our perspective affect us. The Healer’s Manual ~ Ted Andrews
“Pain and stiffness in the neck denote inflexibility in thinking. You may be in a situation that you feel you can’t control as you wish. You may feel someone or something around you has become a pain in the neck. Perhaps you are uncomfortable with what you feel is going on behind your back. Whatever the issue you pretend it does not bother you, but in fact you feel as if stuck in an emotional roller coaster. ~ Lise Bourbeau ~ Your Body’s Telling You: Love Yourself!
The neck tilts, nods and turns and supports the heaveyweight of the head and protects the spinal cord as well. The brain’s messages and major blood vessels travel through the neck to the body, and so too, do the major meridians travel through this area. To put it simply, the meridians are energy pathways that supply our physical and subtle bodies with vital energy—meridians are known to run under the skin; where they come close to surface is known as acupuncture/acupressure points.
“If you think of the meridians as an energy transportation system, a complex traffic network, you have a concrete model of how meridian energies interact. When a freeway becomes congested, it may be necessary to divert some of the traffic into another highway. An off-ramp may need to be cleared or widened. If a highway or meridian becomes backed up with too much energy, as occurs in the hubbub of life, a bottleneck forms. And the resources needed to support the community or the body [neck] are also blocked. It becomes difficult to provide food and remove waste products. Likewise, if a highway is damaged in an earthquake, even the critical support services that form the community’s “immune system” – like police, fire, and ambulance units – cannot function properly.” ENERGY MEDICINE ~ Donna Eden
“The 6th chakra..coordinates the harmonious cooperation of all the cells, organs and function systems of the body, as well as attuning the person’s way of living in the outer world with his or her plan in life and the constructive, harmonious interplay of the various personality aspects…..In addition, this creates a balancing effect on the stomach meridian, which runs from the area of the solar plexus over the chest, neck, and face through the eyes and shifts the activity of the brain more to the front section…Through the better functioning of the stomach meridian, problems can be processed more effectively and creative solutions for difficulties on all levels can be found and translated into reality. The resistance to stress is improved and self-perfection indirectly strengthened. According to..Traditional Chinese Medicine, without a well-funcitoning stomach meridian, no healing reaction can be triggered.” The Spirit of Reiki ~ Walter Lubeck
At the base of the brain is a complex of nerves that impart special energy to the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and sensory nervous system. It’s here that energy feeds your five senses, and when they don’t receive normal amounts of nerve energy the muscles can develop painful spasms which then restrict neck movements, causing strained ligaments that radiate pain to your head.
“The neck is a marvellous combination of yielding nonresistance, since it is able to turn in every direction. In good health it is strong, flexible and bends easily… When one has health problems in the area of the neck he is fighting, resisting, rebelling against someone or some circumstance of life, and has probably become intolerant.” Catherine Ponder
Constant tension in the neck area will block the voice and breath; in a stressful or fearful situation the shoulders lift creating a hunch-back effect which exerts pressure on the back of the neck, making it impossible to breath properly. This tension in the throat has also been associated with abdominal tightness which then produces a sensation of nausea. At this point we complain to the doctor or therapist about being unable to swallow and unable to breathe properly.
“If the spine is in its correction position, up and flexible in its support, then shoulders should hang down and slight back without tension. Habits that infiltrate the should are a result of holding, placing bracing or lifting against a force trying naturally to find its ease. In other words, we consistently go against the shoulders’ natural drift downwards by hunching them in a different direction. Even as you sit there reading, becoming more and more engrossed in the activity and engaged with the words and thought, stop and notice how much tension has started to overtake your shoulders and upper chest. This is the slow drifting tide of tension we have to fight against. In order to keep this area free of contraction continual release and monitoring are necessary. Even the slightest unease in thought or gesture can make the tightness return so we must put ourselves on constant reminder to release here throughout the day. The Right to Speak: Working with the Voice ~ Patsy Rodenburg
ANATOMY OF THE NECK
The neck actually consists of seven loosely joined cervical vertebrae at the top of the spine. The spine is near the center of the neck, not at the back as many of us imagine. This neck section of the spinal column is wrapped in dozens of muscles that contract and relax every time you move your head or alter the alignment of your spine or skull. These muscles have a tricky job on balancing what looks like a wobbling pumpkin on a broom stick.
“The head should naturally balance on top of the spine, its weight economically distributed. If you balance or juggle a heavy object on top of a pole you will instantly see how even the smallest shift will topple the object. Our head don’t drop off but a series of muscles in the neck and shoulders have to work overtime to compensate for any misalignment we are suffering.” The Right to Speak: Working with the Voice ~ Patsy Rodenburg
The most vulnerable neck muscle is the trapezius. It runs from the base of the skull down the back of the neck, where it fans out to the shoulder blades and spine. The head can weigh up to 20 lbs and carrying your head too far forward strains this muscle, which most of us do working at a desk, typing and looking at the computer screen.
Wearing high heels also strains the trapezius as the heels tilt a woman’s legs forward, thrusting her buttocks back. To compensate, the chest neck and head are forced to tilt forward. And this also means the trapezius must strain to hold the head in place.
The other major neck muscle is the sternomastoid. To find it, turn your head toward your shoulder and run your hand along the protruding muscle that extends from the base of the skull just below the ear down the front of the neck to your collarbone. The sternomastoid supports the neck to the side and front, whereas the trapezius controls front and back. If you brace your shoulder against a heavy shoulder bag, strain while lugging a suite case of scrunch up to hold your cell phone, you’re tensing both the trapezius and sternomastoid.
Are you short-sighted, as this can push the head forward straining the trapezius–and an aggressive attitude towards the world can push the head forward too.
Mental stress can create or compound neck pain. If you are depressed or angry, your muscles may tense without you even knowing. The longer the tension holds, the more likely the muscle will harden into a painful knot.
The key to breaking the spasm-pain cycle is to relax the muscle and increase circulation. Breathing exercises, a hot bath or heating pain might help as well as gentle massage and simple exercises.
ANOTHER METAPHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE
Metaphorically, of the many people I’ve treated for neck tension, 60% of the problem had to do with low self-esteem. Deep down inside they didn’t feel worthy of love and struggled with feelings of unworthiness. For many people, this low self-esteem had been caused from childhood fears of feeling unwanted, ignored, rejected or even problems going through the birth canal. (The neck represents the in-taking, the beginning of life. It is here that we swallow the reality that forms the essence of our life). Unknowingly, this affects a person both physically and emotionally, causing a fear of never quite measuring up. Many with neck problems, have a tendency to process information more deeply and become overwhelmed by criticisms, rejections, losses, betrayals and deaths. Unfortunately this makes them even more vulnerable to attack and control from the outside and much of their life is spend in devising ways of protecting themselves so that what’s deep inside their core isn’t discovered; they struggle with an inner feeling of shame.
Many people with afflictions to their neck love to look after others. Their ambition is to help others and often do this to their own detriment. The parents, you see, had invested all their energy in making their child dependent (which encourages sickness and weaknesses of all kinds) so the child would enjoy it when his or her pet is sick because s/he could look after it.
When in very early life, our creative self-expression is repressed and we are not encouraged to make our own choices, we find ourselves living someone else’s dreams, ideas or expectations. Unaware of an alternative, we experience frustration, tension and even depression; we feel restless, anxious or even guilty because we’re unable to get ourselves to do what we really want to do. When this happens we find ways to reduce our stress by eating sweets and pastries or opening a pint of ice-cream or a quart of beer and kill hours surfing the internet or watching TV. What we’ve done is repressed our feelings and diverted them into some form of ‘habitual pattern’. The longer this tension holds, the more likely the muscle(s) will spasm or harden into a painful knot. The more we suppress our hopes and desires the more we wither on the inside; we also become dependent on others to tell us what we want and where we wish to go. If we fail to speak out for ourselves, our suppressions can actually cripple us.
It is true that anxiety, jealousy, anger, creates stress that tends to strike the muscles in the upper back and neck. Stiffness in the neck can cause the cervical bones to go out of alignment by restricting the circulation and nerve energy, which may eventually result in rheumatism and/or cervical problems. The neck is one of our most vulnerable areas and when stressed could indicate an inability to express what we’re feeling, blocking off our communication. The neck is considered by many spiritual disciplines as the gateway or bridge to the spiritual world through which the breath must pass.
Anger can also come from a habit of reacting angrily instead of listening with patience and compassion. And these fiery outbursts of energy create a lot of acid in the body. The constant release of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol can sear the body in a way that is similar to acid searing metal. Even hours after the output of these chemicals, they still remain high in the body, elevating blood sugar levels, causing damage to the muscular system, decalcifying our bones and thinning our skin. This is when toxic emotions become deadly emotions.
When we are under stress, the thyroid gland has to work harder, pumping out more of its hormones. The thyroid controls our ‘basic’ metabolism, cardiac rhythm, and manages our ability to adapt. If stress continues, the thyroid won’t be able to continue its increased level of production and may begin to fail. When this happens, the immune system becomes confused and starts producing antibodies against the thyroid. As the thyroid falters, metabolism slows, causing mood swings, emotional outbursts, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, aches and pains in joints and muscles, and muscle weakness and coordination problems.
If you’d like to more about the metaphysics of the thyroid, EMOTIONALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY DECODING THE THYROID
Problems in the neck area can also be caused by restrictive breathing. The muscles that lift the rib when we breathe deeply into the abdomen are the sternocleidomastoid muscles and the upper trapezius muscles on the back of the neck – shallow breathing can result in neck strain and chronic neck tension – and – the most common cause of headaches is neck tension, especially the excessive pull on the base of the skull where the upper trapezius attaches.
If you have any structural problems with your back, spine, neck or overall posture, this will restrict the nerve supply to your organs and digestive system; the result of this is poor digestion which can lead to toxic buildup of food materials in your intestines. From this, you might develop food sensitivities as the healthy food becomes toxic.
THE THROAT CHAKRA
“Expressing our feelings is the function of the Throat Chakra. People who are not prepared to deal with emotional energy often have problems with their throat, mouth, teeth, and ears. When we limit the flow of energy by blocking our expression, there is insufficient energy to feed these areas of the body, and energy has a difficult time reaching the higher centers of the mind. If there are energy leaks in the Throat Chakra because of suppression, negative energy will stay bound in the body and form the musculature and character style of the person. Energy will never rise up to the higher mind, to be expressed as thoughts, opinions or insights. This can produce engorgement of the tissues, rigidity of the bones and other congestive problems. The more we feel free to express ourselves, the more internal regulation we have for our mental and emotional functions. Energy wants to be able to flow in and through us” LIFE CHANGES With the Energy of the Chakras ~ Amika Wauters
When Alyssa came to visit me and other practitioners in the clinic, she was suffering from a condition known as cervical spondlyosis.
(Cervical spondylosis, also known as cervical osteoarthritis, is a disorder where the bones in the neck and the discs start degenerating. Anatomically, degeneration in the bones and discs of the neck are usually the result of wear and tear as we grow older. What happens, is, the discs lose their elasticity causing them to become more brittle. Along with the degeneration of disks, bony outgrowths may also form on the vertebrae which are called osteophytes. All these degenerative changes in the cervical spine cause compression and pressure on the spinal nerves that come out of the spinal cord producing symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis. The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are: – pain and stiffness in the neck which is usually progressive in nature; pain and numbness that radiates to the hands and fingers; headache that starts from the neck and extend to the back of head; loss of balance and vertigo (sensation of spinning or whirling with loss of balance).
No matter the temperature outside, Alyssa always, always wore turtle-neck tops or scarves right up to her chin. She spoke in whispers as if afraid to speak out and found myself leaning in more to hear what she was saying. The fifth chakra is associated with our ability to communicate and express ourselves. When the fifth chakra is balanced, we feel we have the right to speak and be heard; we communicate clearly and can express ourselves creatively. When the fifth chakra energy is deficient, there is a tendency to protect our throat, to be silent and to fear self-expression.
“Most people are not prepared to express the depth of their feelings. They chose safety rather than honesty. Their Throat Chakras then become congested with energy that eventually becomes stagnant..” LIFE CHANGES With the Energy of the Chakras ~ Ambika Wauters
At the base of the brain is the Medulla Oblongata. This area at the back of the neck feeds nerve energy to our five senses. When we have no desire, no will, our nerve energy becomes depleted, it never reaches our ears, eyes, throat or mouth. Our five senses are literally starved and react by creating a physical problem. When we are drained of energy, of power, our body steals it from our eyes, ears, nose, throat and mouth.
(Solar Plexus 3rd Chakra)
During Alyssa’s Reiki treatment, her mind/body spoke of her being intensely self-critical and, very much like a harping parent trying to redo herself over and over again (Solar Plexus 3rd chakra). This not only creates a crises and personally overhauls the personality; it also creates changes in friends and our surrounding environment. Alyssa said, she had no idea how to stop picking on herself. This self-destruct, self-punishment cycling was creating her bones to landslide, down to the pits, the bottom…in a devastating momentum. Alyssa hadn’t realized how big her self-criticism was. After the treatment she also realized all the struggles with losing jobs, her home, lifestyle, everything was her continually trying to start over and over again .. ‘trying’ to be ‘totally’ someone else. This tendency to ‘change’ also made Alyssa vulnerable, giving her power to others and leaving her insecure and bewildered.
The 3rd chakra is the center of self-esteem or the lack there-of; it’s the chakra of how we’ feel about ourselves; it registers every memory you have of being criticized and what you define as being attractive. Everybody’s approval you need is in this part of the body and how you react to people and situation in regard to your sense of self. For example, if you picture being attractive, anorexic, and permanently looking 24, or any other component of being attractive, your spirit will leave your solar plexus and temporarily plug into images surrounding the social mind that says, unless I accomplish that image, I’m not attractive. This is similar to what Alyssa’s energy was plugged into. In the past, she so desperately needed someone’s approval she started remodelling everything about her ‘self’. This may seem a little thing but it’s really a Huge thing because you’re saying to that person, “I agree with you, I’m not good enough the way I am, so I’ll let you remodel me.” So little by little you begin to negotiate your sense of self to please the other person.
When we are disempowered or held back by a dominating figure, we usually hold in our feelings of pain and humiliation. As said before, holding in negative emotions short circuits our nervous system, depleting our energy, circulation and digestive system. The energies of the solar plexus center affect the digestive system, the pancreas, the liver and gall bladder, the diaphragm, and the middle back. The diaphragm is also very important in the role of speaking. It allows us to express our deepest feelings inside. It helps us to connect to our power, our sexuality, our passion, our creativity and higher spiritual values. It begins at our 2nd chakra, the seat of our emotions. This area records all our repressed as well as passionate feelings.
The diaphragm is a muscle shaped like an inverted bowl that separates the chest casvity from the abdomen. As you breathe in this muscle stretches out to allow air into the lungs. As you breathe out, the diaphragm curves inwards and upwards to help force all the stale air out. The human body is designed to exhale 70 percent of its toxins through breathing. Only a small percentage of toxins are released through sweat, and the elimination of waste products from the body.
The scalene muscles attach to the sides of the neck vertebrae as well as the top two ribs. The scalene help stabilize, flex and rotate the neck; their main job is to raise the upper two ribs on each side when you inhale. The scalene muscles work extremely hard when your breathing is stressed or if your coughing and sneezing.
In upper chest breathing, the diaphragm is unable to expand and contract as it should, this overtaxes and shortens the scalene muscles and the trapezius in the neck. Shortened muscles in the neck causes undue stress on the
THE SACRAL (2nd) CHAKRA
Why you make the choices you make stem from your core beliefs and feelings about your inner power or lack thereof. Second chakra imbalances affect your mental and emotional perceptions and your motivations for making life decisions. This chakra keeps energetic messages of your development as a child. So in truth, this is where the inner child originates from. If the inner child is misplaced, due to trauma, it is usually found either in the base or solar plexus area.
Parts of the body controlled by the 2nd chakra are the sexual organs, large intestine, lower vertebrae, pelvis, appendix, bladder and hip area.
The base chakra gives us stability, the 2nd or sacral chakra gives us movement. Without water, the earth would be infertile. Picture a beautiful waterfall flowing majestically down a mountain. Look closely at the rock formation and see how the water has gently carved, molded and smoothed the face of the stone. Together earth and water create a potent connection. This helps us to see that the sacral chakra also has to do with our bodily fluids, blood circulation, hydration and elimination. It is also linked to the lympathic system which takes us to the 5th or throat chakra.
When the Root (1st chakra) and sacral chakra are balanced there’s a harmony between the body/mind. If the 2nd chakra is blocked or never properly developed, our mental health can be affected. We may lack common-sense and be immature about personal relationships. We may exhibit an urge to control other people and react childishly, like having a temper tantrum to get our own way.
It is not unusual for people with traumatic childhood’s to have blockages in their first 3 chakras. Problems with their health may show in the muscles and nervous system, eczema, ulcers, kidney and structural (bone) problems. These 3 energy centers are the basis for the framework of the body.
BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF HEALING
I’ve written of the Three A’s before which are so vital in the process of healing, have added them again.
THE THREE A’s
Awareness, Acceptance, Adjustment
“The formula is simple. Take your greatest victory as your ceiling and your worst defeat becomes the place where your foundation will be built. Once that’s in place you’ve got a frame which you will fill with joy and sorrow. From your center will come the creative force of your being, your truth and your instincts. It is from this place that everything else evolves.” Linda Joyce
AWARENESS – To make changes to our world, we first need to know where we are before we can decide how to get where we want to go. If you got lost driving to my house, you’d call and ask for directions. To help you get here, my first question to you would be “Where are you now.” Awareness is about asking yourself….”Where am I now”; it always determines your next move.
ACCEPTANCE – Awareness and acceptance are intertwined. By learning to accept freely and uncritically where we are at this moment, we begin to allow our unconscious to release more knowledge about ourselves. The process of acceptance is one of acknowledging to ourselves that we are in fact perfect—it is where we are supposed to be right now.
Mentally fighting our current situation with judgements such as “I should be better” drains our energy and self-esteem. Without acceptance of where we are, there is no possibility of moving in a direction of our choice or of every enjoying ourselves fully.
For example, until some acknowledges and accept a current situation of being overweight, he or she cannot choose the goal of thinness and enjoy the process of moving toward it.
ADJUSTMENT – Once we are aware and accept where we are, can we go on to make the changes in our habits that we’d like to make and bring us to a greater state of health.
The keys to the stage of Adjustment are patience and moderation. Often we go too fast and become discouraged when we can’t change everything overnight, or else we think that the changes needed are so great that we’ll never be able to make them and discourage ourselves before we start.
Giving a voice to your independent point of view, will attract appreciation and love for the person you truly are. If you surround yourself with people of who you really resonate with, you experience the joy of knowing that you are valued for being there in the present moment with them. When you trust your own perceptions and act on them to create an inner equilibrium, you add the peacefulness of your presence to the situation.
When you go to your deep self and then express the balance and stability that is there, you silently invite others to go to that place within themselves. The power of your harmony impels others to go to their depths also if they wish to relate to you; in this way, through claiming your centre, you create harmony.
**
We can only build truly satisfying connections by first developing a secure relationship with ourselves; we need to accept and validate our feelings and needs and be willing to assert ourselves, even it breaks the peace as this actually creates a deeper and more authentic contact. We also need to apply this to our own bodies when we notice pain or discord. We need to go within and listen and discover how we’re using our personal energy and power…which also involves our sense of self-esteem and self-expression. It’s also learning about the cause and effects of our choices and how we wield our own power.
As you learn to consciously observe the transformation process, you will watch yourself repeating a lot of old patterns long after you seemingly know better. Spiritually and intellectually, you realize there is another way, but emotionally you are still clinging to the old habits. This is a difficult time. Try to be patient and compassionate with yourself. When you recognize the futility of an old pattern so clearly, it’s about to change! A short time later, you will suddenly begin to respond differently, in a more positive way.
ASSIGNMENT ~ FEELINGS LOG
This is a simple but significant assignment I gave to Alyssa and have shared with most of my clients;… for the next few days pay attention to your feelings and write a description in a journal or notebook just for this exercise. You’re going to find out what makes you feel good and what makes you feel sad, what irritates you, what frightens you, what makes you nervous, and what you avoid. All you have to do is write what happened immediately after the feelings … “I stepped out in the rain and felt happy … or .. walked into a room and felt uneasy”
This is not a feeling’s journey, it’s like a log without editorializing…
You see we all have the habit of trying to hide our feelings from ourselves. We automatically deny uncomfortable feelings and try to turn them into comfortable ones … it’s not easy to catch yourself doing that.
And if the event that triggered the feelings seems too small to have mattered, your active brain is going to go looking for something fancier and overlook the right event, so this project will be a bit difficult at first .. very similar to another meditation on this blog.. Counting Your Thoughts Visualization
Actually logging your feelings is making you accept yourself, and respect yourself, a whole lot more than a hundred affirmations saying “My feelings are all right” or “I’m a good person” The very act of noting something means you accept it.
What if you only really want good feelings .. “I just want to be happy and find my passion” .. well we know that doesn’t work.
We can all remember a time when we felt good, positive, bold, but we also remember times we felt rotten, for weeks and just couldn’t get rolling. There is a way to get through the bad feelings fast but squashing them won’t do it.
To work with feelings, you must use feelings.
If you’re feeling hurt, you probably need to cry. If you’re scared you might need to run for safety. If you’re angry then you need to speak out about the injustices done. And though we were trained to control our feelings in public and to think before we act .. it doesn’t mean we should make this a habit in our personal lives.
If you’re not alone with your feelings, don’t swallow them ,, just postpone them for a moment and go somewhere private to express them. Cry, tremble, shake your fists, curse the injustices. Do whatever the feeling seems to want you to do. Go ahead and groan or heave heartbreaking sighs in the bathroom. Snarl and punch your palm in the coat closet. Shiver and admit you were scared to death. I know it’s hard because we’ve learnt to keep all those feelings in but just a few minutes of expressing your feelings will radically lower their intensity and give them a chance to transform themselves the natural way .. just like a thundershower clears away dark clouds.
Unexpressed feelings are toxic. That’s why nature gave us the tools of expression–to discharge the toxins that have built up inside. Expressing our feelings is the only natural way to turn a bad feeling into a good one. When you’re alone, drop the facade we’ve been conditioned to wear and let the fear and hurt and anger burst out or you’ll carry them around with you for days, until they leak into scenes of your life where they don’t belong and wreak havoc.
Trying to pretend to feel better doesn’t work, same as the same affirmation said over and over again… the mind is so creative it eventually resents the dullness of the repetition. Whenever I try to repeat an affirmation over and over my subconscious rebels because there is a defiant child in all of us that doesn’t always want to do the right thing lol!
This exercise isn’t about silencing or arguing with our thoughts; it’s about listening and acknowledging them so we can begin making gradual changes to our internal critical self-talk
Do you feel tense, , To rectify this, learn to stop yourself for a moment and notice where your thoughts are. Are they in the present, past or future or directed towards a person or thing?
**
When Alyssa returned a week later, she couldn’t believe the many voices and images inside her head that put her down or said horrible things about her. It made her aware of how negatively she talked to herself and that this needed to change in order to feel differently. I also told Alyssa, our thoughts are part of where we scatter our attention, our power; they are made of old beliefs, experiences, feelings, fears and hopes all collected in a jumbling pattern; in a way they are alive and conscious, depending on how much power we give them.
Images we hold in regard to our past (childhood) as well as present time, influences not only unhealthy situations but can arise in the form of unhappy experiences as well as mental or physical illness.
For her 2nd Reiki treatment, I asked Alyssa to again listen to the critiques inside her head but this time, try and identify from whom these inner voices came (mother, father, siblings, colleague, teacher, partner, etc.) and if she could locate where she felt them resonating in her body. As the healing began, I asked Alyssa to illuminate and bring into focus the buried images/feelings she’d written down. With the hand placements of Reiki we worked together to bring the hurtful images/feelings out of hiding. Rather than zapping them out of existence, we surrounded and immersed them in light, where they began to lose their strength and destructive power. This would need to be reinforced again, and again, but each time, the critiques-within would lose more of their power.
I recommended Alyssa talk to the dietician in the clinic and consider other healing tools, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, EFT and massage. I also gave her meditations to help with her self-esteem.
The most important element to self healing is the ability to be present with your Self. You cannot begin if you are preoccupied with the past or living in the expectations of future times. All these do is scatter your ability to focus and leave you powerless.
Being in the present will begin the process of releasing powerful emotions that have been masked or blocked. It means courageously looking back and inward on a pain originally based on a fear…..an often painful process we all try desperately to avoid. AND when we avoid pain, we experience frustration, anger and exhaustion…..our bodies only get sicker.
Taking care of yourself requires discipline and focus……it takes a lot of courage to nourish and respectfully pay attention to YOU.
**
MEDITATION ~ FREEING YOUR BODY The Self-Esteem Companion ~ Matthew McKay Ph.D., Patrick Fanning, Carole Honeychurch, Catherine Sutker
People experience emotions in their bodies as well as their minds. Do you ever get “gut feelings” about things? Have you every been very angry and felt your stomach clenching? Or Experienced sadness as a heaviness in the chest?
Even chronic feelings of low self-esteem can manifest in your body. You may feel the hollowness of failure in your stomach, the pressure of self-blame on your heart, or the pain of shame in your throat. You have a painful hunch of shoulders from a fear of rejection.
The following exercise can help free your body of feelings connected to low self-esteem. You may want to voice-record the exercises for repeated use.
The first step is to relax your body and mind. Sit or lie down in a quiet place, close your eyes and begin to breathe slowly and deeply. Mentally check in with your body, scanning your muscles for signs of tension. If you find any tense areas, take a belly-breath and release the tightness as you exhale. Remember to scan your whole body—your face, chest, back, arms, stomach, pelvis, and legs.
When you feel physically relaxed, try to quiet your mind. Clear out the random thoughts that dart in and out, and concentrate on a sense of stillness. If thoughts intrude, simplet let them come and watch them go, always returning your focus to the quietness of your mind. Now you’re ready to begin the visualization to clear your body of emotion-based pain.
Visualize the negative feelings that lie in your body. Give them a shape and a color. Make them as ugly and weird as you want. They could look like an anvil, a sword, a sack of potatoes, or an empty cave. Take some deep breaths. With each breath, see those feelings move out of your body and away from you. Watch the anvil leave your stomach or the choking fingers let go of your throat. You are floating past the bad feelings now. They are out of your body, and you are drifting away from them. They get farther and farther away from you. Keep fcuisng on your brahting as the negative feelings move farther away, first becoming a distant speck, the finally disappearing altogether.
Say to yourself: “These are feelings from the past. They come up whenever a situation arises that challenges me. I will survive them, floating past until until my body is free from all of the pain.”
In your imagination, step outside of yourself. Now you can see how bad you’ve felt. You can see how you struggle with these negative feelings in your torso and limbs. See your face, the position of your body. Imagine the location of any remaining negative feelings as a red glow in your body. It will fade in a while. Take deep breaths as you watch the red glow diminish. Imagine the bad feelings passing as the glow gradually fades away. If you wish, you can turn the red light into a neutral or relaxing color–pale blue or another gentle pastel. When you are ready, go back inside yourself.
Finally, envision a mental picture of yourself days or even years from now when these bad feelings are long gone. See yourself standing straight and tall, head up, confident, and relaxed. As you bring your awareness back to a more relaxed present moment, remember that you can do this exercise whenever your body is experiencing tension or pain from emotional stress.
BREATHE
Breathing is the most natural thing in the world. It is at the very center of our physical lives. It is instinctive and involuntary and yet how often do we let it work naturally? Most people most of the time are unconsciously hindering the full extent of their breath. Look at the breathing of a young child, and you will see the whole system working effortlessly. All the movement is centred in the middle of the body. This is because that child has not had time to learn any bad habits that can interfere with the natural process.
Now take a moment to observe yourself. Is your head freely balanced on the top of the spine, or is it held tightly in position? Is your jaw or throat tense? Are your shoulders braced up toward your ears or slumped forward? Is the upper chest caving in or being pulled up? Is your stomach relaxed? How free are your knees and feet?
All these little details, habits born from experience, can affect your breathing, making it inefficient. If your posture is bad, for example, the muscles that create the changes in the body that lead to the intake and outflow of breath are restricted in their natural movement, and the lungs cannot expand to their full potential. This can result in breathing only in our upper ribs, a habit we get used to and accept as normal.
Also, the breath and emotions are interrelated. When you are angry, you might hold your breath, or, if you are particularly nervous or stressed, your breathing might become very short and shallow. Most people only use their lungs to their maximum potential when they laugh or cry deeply –laughter and crying both leave behind a feeling of relaxation, a release of emotional tension. Think of how tired and cleansed you feel after a bout of wholehearted laughter, or relief you feel after a deep sigh. If you have ever had a massage, you will have noticed that as your muscles relax, your breathing deepens and slows.
Try is little exercise, it will allow you to feel how deeply you can breathe.
Stand upright with your feet apart. Cross your arms in front of you, and rest the palms of your hands on your shoulders. It should look as if you were giving yourself a hug.
In this position, relax your arms and shoulders. There should be no unnecessary tension in the upper body. Drop your head forward, bending from the waist. Breathe all the way out, and then slowly, naturally allow a big breath in. You will be aware of your ribs opening in your back, and it should feel like the breath will be moving right down your spine.
Repeat a few times. Drop your arms, and then return to an upright position, slowly–if you stand up too quickly you may become dizzy.
Great Links
Trapezius muscle release (youtube)
Easy trapezius stretch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jiq1WbdfkE
http://www.oneworldhealing.net/chakra-healing/vishuddha/
http://www.pharrah13.com/Chakra.html
http://www.holisticwebs.com/sound/thymus.html
http://www.inner-truth.net/healing/chakras/throatchakra.html
http://self-healingsecrets.com/1486/metaphysical-meaning-behind-back-and-neck-pain/
http://www.pharrah13.com/Chakra.html
http://www.holisticwebs.com/sound/thymus.html
ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com
Thanks….great article…..Jill
I’m glad you enjoyed it Jill 🙂
Thank you for this info, Janice.
I have a question, perhaps you can help or point me in the right direction – ?
My neck gets hard as a rock and gives me a headache ONLY at the onset of my cycle, and ONLY on the right side of my neck. I can’t seem to find the connection between the two. I am 50.
Would you have any thoughts on this?
Thank you
Hi Maureen,
How long have you been having these neck/headache pains? Did they just start, or have you been having them for quite a long time? What’s written below may guide you and perhaps others as well.
Muscles are known to react or correspond to mental energy ~ hard knots in muscles have been called by some healers as “energy cysts” multilayered knots of trapped physical and emotional/spiritual energy, that restrict, restrain and pull on the fascia .. (the fascia is a multilayered net or web that encases, connects and communicates to ‘all’ soft tissue (including muscle) below the skin).
(Energy cysts, metaphysically could mean ‘many restrained desires’ … this could feel like the muscles are pulling you back from the inside.)
Muscles, especially in the C1- C4 areas of the neck, could refer pain to the head region, causing migraines/headaches. You mentioned your pain (neck/head) is all on the right side.
Metaphysically, the left brain (intellect), connects with the right side of the body while the right brain,(creative, receptive, irrational) connects with the left side of the body. During the first half of our menstrual cycle (left brain)…..everything’s good, flowing, comfortable…..(we ignore what’s bothering us) but after we ovulate, we switch to the right brain, (estrogen/progesterone switch) things become more unbearable…we have trouble straightening out our thought patterns …we become more critical because we sense things are “out of balance”.
Irritability = intuition. It means we have to learn the intuitive message behind our irritability and gain access to our intuition. Meditation/visualization is helpful during this time.
Tension on the right side of the ‘body’ has more to do with work and the masculine expression of control/aggression and authority. While the ‘left side’ of the ‘body’ has to do with the feminine/creative aspect of our lives. It’s during this time we become irrational, angry and upset because our intuition is trying to tell us there’s something not right with our lives.
The throat has an immense power of creation and has amazing powers but if you’ve invested your ‘power of will’ to be used by others, you won’t have much left for yourself. 5th chakra healing is where we call our spirit back from all the places that don’t serve us any more.
You’re 50 Maureen and at this age we can suddenly move in a totally new direction. If you have knowledge of astrology, then you might know you’re experiencing 5 years of your Chiron Return. This means Chiron returns to the original placement in your natal chart. It’s a time of discovery and gaining new perspectives and understanding of your wounds in this lifetime. Chiron has been known to be the bridge between the left and right brain.
“Here, we revisit ancient patterns; have the opportunity to go back to the source of our deepest, unresolved wounds; to heal them, once and for all, so that we can live the remainder of our lives in keeping with our true soul purpose.”
http://astrologyforthesoul.com/chironreturn50.html
Hopefully this is helpful to you.
xo
Thank you for your reply, Janice.
Yes, what you wrote was extremely helpful – the info of Chiron particularly. The mention of Chiron has caused a domino effect, if you will, of all the information I have been working with in my attempts to help myself heal.
I loosely follow astrology and understand that during this current Venus retrograde, Chiron is showing up. I have been a student of metaphysics and healing for many years. This Venus retro, and the lessons she brings, have been grand for me. Very much fifth chakra, calling my Spirit back, and a restorative process.
The headaches have been going for many years, only at a particular time, and in a particular area. I just figured it was hormones in accordance to my age. I’ve had trigger points in my upper back for years. It was not until recently, when many other factors in my life falling apart came into play, that I realize all the “fragments” that I’ve been dealing with point to these headaches, and where my help/healing/answers may lie.
You know, you open the puzzle box, see the individual pieces, but are unsure how they become the whole picture? That’s been my healing journey these past few years. Well, the picture has become that much cohesive, via Chiron. Thank You for that mention.
Your page has been a favorite of mine for many years … though it was random that I came when I did, and saw the article of neck pain. I didn’t think you would reply to my question, but figured, what the heck, I’ll just throw it out there and see what happens. And here comes my healing.
With great appreciation,
Maureen
xo
Hi Maureen,
Thank you for enjoying this blog and I’m very happy to have helped. I do my best to answer all comments and emails. 🙂 Sometimes, when in a quandary, we just need another person’s point of view to ignite what we’ve been feeling but couldn’t quite get a handle on.
What a great observation! It’s interesting you brought up Venus, as she went retrograde in Virgo, (health, healing, nutrition) asking us to go within, to listen to our bodies, our intuition and what our heart’s most desire. And it definitely coincides with the guidance of your Chiron’s transit, however, even after Venus goes direct (Sept. 17th) you may feel Chiron slowing you down as he prepares you for your healing journey. Chiron guides us to our inner teacher.
By the way, Chiron was discovered between Saturn and Uranus, and, Saturn (Kronus) in mythology was said to be Chiron’s father and Uranus was Kronus’ son! So it might be good to look in your chart and see what these two opposites are up to.
Enjoy your healing journey Maureen,
xoxo
Speechless….my whole life makes complete sense now.
Thank for your inspiring feedback Wendy 🙂 Acknowledging where you are ‘now’ creates a solid foundation for your body, mind a spirit to nestle into and heal from ♥
Hugs,
ravenstar
Ravenstar this is an amazing site.
Thank you, you have put so much work into it and it is so easy to follow, understand, in a way that can be applied to an individual’s life. I believe in synchronicity and this site has helped me immensely when I had this year lost all hope.
I had been diagnosed with, Hashimoto’s, pterygium, carpal tunnel, tenosynovitis, along with mild, now moderate neutropenia, and normochromic +normocytic red blood counts. As well, after working in Aged Care for 6 months-previously a chef for many years, well the aged care I felt like I was 90yrs old after every day of work, could hardly make it to the bus stop, consequently my back and neck gave out, had to leave the job and spent 2 months on the floor, and the last 4 trying to walk properly. That’s why now I appreciate the walking I am able to do and swimming, although I find myself very tired, where once I was a person who could go from 3.30am to 10pm, now I need a nap in the afternoon, and hit the hay by about 9.pm latest.
All of this left me feeling like I should just finish it. Along with being alone to cope with it, and not wanting to ask for help or love out of shame, and being a burden.
The doc’s perplexed and numb to any questions-here’s some pills, just go away basically (I don’t take any pills) I have felt like a leper, and interestingly after reading the Chiron account-I am turning 50 next year.
I have changed my way of living lost over 22 kilos, exercise, walk 1.30 hrs daily, swim and things were not really changing. to have learned of the metaphysical reasonings, well thank you, I will now try to apply that. Even as I was reading your blogs-Hashi’s, neck, upper back, I was trying to breathe deeply and I feel calmer.
I so looked forward to this year as was going to work, and do my Bach degree in Counselling(Coaching), I really wanted to work with long-term unemployed and long-term-illness clients, then all this happened and the one good thing is I have really understood the fragility,isolation, and loss of hope one feels. If I can get through these things and complete my degree, which I have only in September started because I could not even sit at the laptop too long, or read without eye’s flaring up, well at least I will be able to truly speak from the heart with it all. It’s not about the money for me, it is about the human connection and helping us all ascend, in whatever small way an individual can.
You really have a special gift, and thank you for the generosity of sharing it, when so many would charge for this vital information. I send you my best most heart-felt intentions, truly.I hope to give back to others in the inspiring and tangible way you are doping here.
Aroha to you
Karenlee
X :))
Hi Karenlee,
I am truly humbled by your genuine and gracious heartfelt comment, thank you! Similar to you, I love teaching and helping people realize there’s something more beyond the physical world and that their life actually has a real purpose. When that happens, they start to examine their lives in a new way and begin to heal old wounds and bruised self-esteems. It’s exciting to watch as the light comes on and people become aware of their own spirituality.
By strengthening our focus we learn how to hold something in view and work with it. This skill will become even more vital as we learn to hone our gifts and abilities so we may serve with them.
Being an alternative healer, I am not allowed to diagnose an illness, but I can tell you, that carpal tunnel almost always indicates some kind of thyroid problem.. they go hand in hand.. Interestingly, just yesterday, I added more info to the blog on decoding the thyroid… it just might interest you.
“Anodea Judith, author of Eastern Body, Western Mind, believes a child who is forced to keep secrets has to carry burdens which holds back the spontaneity of free-flowing speech. Negative experiences can cause a person to deny or repress a part of their truth, usually out of fear, or *shame, and it puts the whole person’s breathing pattern and auric field out of whack. Children forced to keep silent about domestic violence or substance abuse in the family for example, live with a ‘lock’ on their throat chakra, becoming hyper-vigilant, guarded, and separate from what Judith calls the ‘spontaneous, streaming vibration that marks true aliveness’. In short, they are unable to live fully in their truth.
(*Shame is a deep feeling within us of being exposed and unworthy. When we feel shame we want to hide. We hang our heads, stoop our shoulders, curve inwards and try to make ourselves invisible. Emotional abuse is a very shaming experience and those of us who have experienced it, feel humiliated and degraded by the experience.)
So, as an adult, you may have trouble being understood by others when you first meet. Because you lack the spontaneity of speech, the way you speak can confuse or rub people the wrong way. If you lack self-confidence or feel overly nervous, it can show in your words and your body language. Usually adults who’ve had traumas with their 5th chakra, suffer from a lowered self-image which makes them overcompensate, thus sounding insincere or desperate to others. With all the ‘natural’ talent you have inside, just waiting to be accepted and expressed, this can be a very frustrating way to live. The remedy is to take yourself seriously without becoming too serious. Humor and laughter are vital ingredients of your personality. They provide the “finishing touch” to genuine healing.”
After reading about the many autoimmune disorders you have, including the problems with your red and white blood cells, (which can cause anemia), you hit the bulls-eye in saying….
“Along with being alone to cope with it, and not wanting to ask for help or love out of shame, and being a burden.”
We often don’t communicate our needs because of a fear of rejection, criticism or as you noted ‘becoming a burden’. You know exactly what you need but fear holds you back.. It’s very possible you’ve learned to associate that expressing your needs also means being controlled by others (something to think about). This ‘holding back’ affects our ability to express ourselves which also holds us back from making progress and moving on with our goals. 🙂
B complex vitamins with folic acid (B9) help support blood lymphocytes – helps promote anti-bodies and T-cells distribution and immune cell activity.
(leaky gut and candida disrupts the metabolism of vitamin B6 and EFAs (have you been tested for leaky-gut?)
Minerals play an important role in regulating the acid/alkaline levels of the body, and, they are a major factor in regard to your metabolism. They are the spark plugs of the body, transmitting vital electrical and magnetic forces (positive/negative charges) which are constantly required to energize the body and keep it running efficiently. I’d highly recommend looking at Ferrum Phosphate, Kali Sulph and Natrum Mur, all these are geared to heal inflammation and put oxygen in the blood.
The movement of our shoulders are linked to the rest of the body as there is an energetic relationship between the shoulders with the lower back, the chest and neck. The lower back also helps to support and stabilize the shoulders and acts as a link between our conscious actions and the balanced awareness of our 2nd chakra. The chest is our most vulnerable feeling center, which may either open to the world or shrink back from it, and the shoulders follow this movement, curving around to protect the chest or drawing back to support its opening. (Similar to the shame mentioned earlier). These movements also have a relationship to the breath as well as the diaphragm, which is usually tight when there is shoulder tension. There is also a continuity between the neck, the shoulders and the arms. With the arms we either reach out to the world or push it away.. they are an extension of our heart and our inner being. In your comment Karenless, you’ve expressed yourself so impeccably well. Don’t stop there .. go for your Bach degree in counselling, you’ll learn so much about yourself in the process. And as you meet many clients, you’ll learn to mirror their energies with your own. When we help others, in the process, we too grow 🙂
Bernie Siegel, a famous alternative doctor wrote in his book, Love, Medicine and Miracles…
“Exceptional patients manifest the will to live in its most potent form. They take charge of their lives even if they were never able to do before, and they work hard to achieve health and peace of mind. They do not rely on doctors to take the initiative but rather use them as members of a team, demanding the utmost in technique, resourcefulness, concern and open-mindedness. If they’re not satisfied, they change doctors.” He also says that the patient considered the most uncooperative is the one who is most likely to get well! Go for it Karenlee, follows your heart, your hunches, your gut reaction .. do what feels right and don’t do what doesn’t .. be in the synchronistic flow 🙂
Also, if you have a bit of astrological knowledge, check to see what sign and house your Chiron is in. It may be possible with Chiron’s long stay in Pisces, this is where your Chiron resides. The house itself, will give you a greater clue of what your healing is all about.
Also, a great book that will help you is call “The New Rules of Posture – How to Sit, Stand and Move ~ by Mary Bond. She goes into great detail (logically and spiritually) of the fascia, muscles and bones.
Blessings to you and your spiritual path Karenlee ♥
Hugs, (Aroha)
ravenstar xo
Dear Ravenstar.WOW! You’re blowing me away:)) in the best way:)Thank you for your reply. It very much resonates. The childhood ‘shame part’ and imposed silence makes so much sense. Shame I would say has been the one constant emotion felt throughout my life. My soul is sick of it, and I need to “shake it off, shake it off” as taylor swift puts it. :)) I am Chiron Pisces, – have just read it’s meaning-seems very appropriate.Lib -sun, Aquarius-Moon, Scorp-Merc, Sag-Mars,Virg-Venus, Vertex-Pisces, Asec-Leo, North Node Aries, 11 -life-path, and INFJ x 20 odd tests.I really want to be able to incorporate all that I know and am learning-leading to an existential way of theory/ counselling. There is too much out there, to dismiss parts because they may not seem acceptable to the norm, but I realise a softly softly approach or suggestion is the way to go, not an imperative.I’m really excited about all the things that have opened up of late, I feel whilst there may not be an absolute to healing all the physical ailments, there is a way to grow, galvanise and use this experience to enhance my own life as well as help-enable others. And today’s reading the Chiron explanation, it appears thaa is inherent within me, so yay, I have to start trusting my voice, intuition, something I have long doubted, and I think that suppression has partially led me to where I am physically as well.  I will go through all the suggestions you made in regard to vitamins etc, you may be an alternative healer, but you have offered more realistic approaches and insights into my situation than any GP or specialist. One can end up feeling like a hypochondriac, yet test after test coming back with new complications, diagnosis, has been the reason why I have searched in a more metaphysical, and spiritual sense. When we look at the BIG picture, how much more complete, and readily able to digest, and resolve the problems faced. It is a shame that all the alternative and spiritual conclusions are not taken seriously. It is my hope that one day they will be incorporated within a medical diagnosis, but I fear that is still a way off, as Govts, pharmaceutical, and medical institutions will not be so easily able to prosper from these new avenues. As you and I know too, these are gifts for all and should not be turned into a monetary transaction, or preying on those already lost, weak, sick or spiritually bereft. We are, though, as I am sure you know, ascending as a race, and the more people out there that can ascribe to this mentality the better. I so wish I could sit across a table to you and look in your eyes and tell you how thankful I am for your site, contributions to healing and just taking the time to reply again personally. It is invaluable.xIt feels like the universe has opened up to me of late, now that I have been asking the questions and wanting to be around people that are like-minded along with gentle souls, and kind hearts. I have also joined an empath site 1 week ago, it too has been enlightening and some of the readings-feelings back from a pic sent in has astounded me. There are so many intuitive people out there. Time to forge my steel so to speak and extend myself towards the betterment of this planet and its people. No more hiding away. I hope you don’t mind I have written about your site, and explanations, not as an absolute, but definitely an enhancing and possibly broader, sense of understanding for those there that are suffering and a little unsure. It is an Empath, Starseed, Lightworker site. All like-minded, searching are welcome. It is respectful.Thank you, you are a gift to this planet, a unique rose in the garden of humanity, and you are making a differance in the best way.Arohanui.KarenleeX
Just to let you know, I did not show what you have written to me, just mentioned how your site has some very relevant explanations, that may assist others.I hope that is ok with you.X
Hi Karenlee,
It’s so awesome to ‘feel’ your emotions oozing off this page (you write extremely well!).
I’m so glad you’ve reached out to others and joined a forum of like-minded (kindred) souls 🙂 It’s so very kind of you to share this blog, Each of us is a drop of water and the wave .. when we direct ourselves, we are truly guided.
Chiron in Pisces truly does enhance your sensitivity and psychic abilities. Here is the healer who senses the right treament for physical healing or the right thing to say for psychological healing (counselling). As you know it’s not an easy path as it has been filled with ‘shame’, self doubt and most definitely a lack of understanding from others. Also, Piscean (Neptune) health problems are often hard to diagnose. I wouldn’t doubt if you suffer from ‘auric drains’ when out in public or rambucious people … this usually leads to a lack of energy and loss of drive. In truth, many health issues will be experienced, so that in turn, what you’ve gone through, will in turn help others.
Do you know what house your Chiron is in?
Also, if you look at the astrological ‘aspects’ of the planets and where they’re situated in your natal chart, you’ll really begin to see whether they’re getting along or fighting for supremacy. It’s quite revealing as you understand the psyche of each planet and what they stand for 🙂
This is a great site on empathy that you would no doubt enjoy and perhaps your friends on the forum as well …
http://mysilentecho.com/dreamtongue1.htm
“After nine years of studying Empaths online, and thirty in general, I have found that the majority who step forward suffer from some form of mental distress or disorder. This does not mean that the majority of Empaths suffer from mental “illness”, instead it implies that the majority of Empaths encountered in my research profess to some sort of “struggle” with their own uniqueness. Since my training is in mental health counseling, I found this to be fascinating and made this area a special part of my research.”
Hmm … sounds very similar don’t you think … 🙂
When we take the perspective that everything happens … or doesn’t happen in our life is ‘necessary’, we become more alert and tuned in to what we’ve been oblivious to before. (You’re seeing this quite clearly) We don’t need a lightning bolt to strike us as long as we see ‘each moment’ as a creative opportunity 🙂 .. doing this creates an internal shift that changes your entire energy field. And as you know, this raises your vibration to allow more synchronicities to open new doors.
With the Aquarian Age we are moving more to the feminine energy than ever before. More and more people are gravitating towards the concept that we are first and foremost “Spirit” living in a physical body. People are gravitating towards subtle energy healing, acupuncture, naturopathy, nutrition therapy, spiritual counselling and a growing interest of spirituality in the workplace.
Govts, pharmaceutical, and medical institutions may want to control the masses, but in truth ‘groups’ of people are shifting direction in the way they see the world.
Creating our own reality means that each individual person on this planet paints the world a certain way and believes that this reality is ‘truth’. Omg, can you imagine what that must look like in the higher dimensions?
“I so wish I could sit across a table to you and look in your eyes and tell you how thankful I am for your site, contributions to healing and just taking the time to reply again personally. It is invaluable. ”
I too am honored that you felt comfortable enough to genuinely write what you were feeling in your soul. ♥ With Mercury in Scorp, I can feel your soul touching mine.
Infinitely curious, you leave no stone unturned and don’t give up until you’ve found answers to your questions. You ferret out information, analyze it until you understand its essence, then use it for your own purposes. Thus, you could be good at almost any type of research. Your love of intrigue may also manifest as a passion for mystery stories and detective novels.
Mahalo ♥
ravenstar
Dear Ravenstar. I don’t want to bombard you but felt no reply would be a- rude, b-totally miss the mark of this interaction. Firstly, how wonderful to have worked in the counseling sector so long and your wealth of information-extensive, but explains why you have such a professional diagnostic ring to it all. I’m sure if we met it would be a Friday to Sunday conversation/convention!!
Yes found out that Chiron-Pisces-8th house, explains a lot, could not though discern any aspects but will keep looking-all good. There’s much to interpret, it appears accurate, scaringly so, one can ponder how can this be? We are all so unique yet.. My Aquarius Moon is in the 7th house, with positive aspects-thankfully.
I was once, in a rather strict religion so any delving into these things was considered not good to say the least. Since breaking away, I have searched quite a bit, but everyday something or one, comes up with another avenue to consider and it is completely blowing me away. The solidity in finding useful tools- understandings that truly resonate has given me more growth in the last couple of years than a lifetime. I truly feel like I am finally on my path, a path that will not only be fulfilling, but beneficial to others.
Thank you for the recommendations with things, I will have to go back and read them on the weekend as assignments are looming, as much as I was already reading the necessary listings and enjoying them the last week has given me an even deeper appreciation of the need to get the theoretical knowledge down pat and walk in a much more confident way towards my goal. As well, YOU with the counseling background along with what, and how you write, gives me great hope that this train of thought and direction is more than acceptable within society and it’s ever evolving realms.
Tomorrow I will get the B Vitamins, a doc did suggest Bs shots, and inner health plus, I have not been tested for leaky gut, I do though juice daily , about a litre of fresh celery, beetroot,ginger,orange,apple,red pepper,cucumber and whatever else I can get my little paws on. As well I try to eat a lot of garlic great for the blood,not so much the social life-Que Sara Sara.
Thank you for the book, link recommendations, they too will be investigated over the weekend.
I better go, there’s so much I have to say to you but times a tickin and those assignments won’t wait.
Thank you for your inspiration, for your humility,-even saying how we are each a drop of water and the wave, shows me that side of you. Refreshing.
YOU really need to write a book, you seem like a modern day pioneer with all the intrinsic yet completely comprehensible explanations. Apologies if typings out, internet is slow as…
Much love and appreciation.
Arohanui.
X
Hi Karenlee,
This comment conveniently rounds out our discussions and needs no reply 🙂
Melanie Reinhart who wrote Chiron and the Healing Journey, said this about Pisces:
“When Chiron is in Pisces…forms disintegrate, the past is dissolved and our separateness is relinquished so that a new and more inclusive cycle of life can begin, hopefully accompanied by the wisdom of the previous cycle…”
It does seem your Chiron Return is arriving at the most opportune time! You truly are on a healing journey for the Self, and growing by leaps and bounds. I thought you might be interested to know, Chiron was in Pisces in the 60’s and at that time Chiron repeatedly opposed both Uranus and Pluto… in fact it opposed Pluto 11 times! Also, through 1965 and 1966, Saturn was conjunct Chiron, and there was a grand opposition, Saturn conjunct Chiron in Pisces in opposition to Uranus/Pluto in Virgo. If you’ve created your natal chart on astro.com, it’s possible some of these aspects may be in your birth chart.
You were born to one of the most extraordinary periods of history .. the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the election of John F Kennedy and his murder, Martin Luther King Jr., the Vietnam War, the Cuban Missile Crises, the exile of the Dalai Lama and the list goes on! Society as a whole was confronted with intense challenges and illusions to power. Spirituality was unleased in the Western World and adults back then discovered deep self-revelations. Just look at how history has influenced your life. Deeper psychology practices (counselling) started helping people get in touch with their deeper selves. Hmm, do you see what I see?
I’m so glad you’ve been on a healthy regime and applaud the garlic and juicing factor. However, there are some vegetables (nightshade) that thyroid sufferers should avoid (all kinds of peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, white potatoes, beetroot, cucumber, etc.) or at least minimize in their diet. Something for you to consider 🙂 Also, watch your intake of cold foods, they can upset the good bacteria in your intestines, which could possibly lead to leaky gut and Candida.
Other supplements to look at (check with your doctor)
Omega-3 and Turmeric (curcumin) help to lower inflammation
Milk Thistle and Yellow Saffron heal the liver
L-Glutamine and/or Glucosamine help build the intestinal wall.
Probiotics (yogurt) help the gut and..
Oil of Oregano helps Candida and a great antioxidant.
Good juju’s to your assignments 🙂
Namaste
ravenstar
what is the metaphysical cause of prostate cancer and hip joint
Hi MysticalhealerRic
Thank you for your comment.
In regard to the prostate, there is actually a three part article on this blog which I’ve given a link to…
In Part 1 of the Prostate the last paragraph read…..“It is in this part of the body [sexual area/2nd chakra] that we fear losing control and fear of losing our power. These fears could manifest as chronic pain in the lower back and in the pelvic area, arthritic conditions, prostate cancer, impotency and bladder problems. Problems with the prostate can also be associated with financial difficulties or losses and the fear of losing control of our sense of security and independence. There has been a tremendous increase in prostate cancer in the last 30 years, because we have unknowingly, unconsciously, connected the energies of sexuality and power with money.”
Prostate Cancer – “Struggle with work and finances. Confusion,
overwhelm, indecisiveness. Feeling undesirable, rejected, ashamed, helpless. Fear of aging and of getting old. Allowing others to dictate your worth. Fear of failure”. THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF YOUR BODY: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness ~ Inna Segal
https://ravenstarshealingroom.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/part-2-metaphysical-causes-of-prostate-troubles/
The hips are a complex area since they support the body and support and move the legs. Structural imalance in the hips is often a lack of coordination between the legs and the axis of the spine. If you are into alternative healing, it would be good to check if one leg is shorter than the other.
As well, the basic drive of anger and sexuality also stem from the hips, anger involves kicking and stamping, while sexuality is supposed to free-up energy in the pelvic area. So a client may have repressed anxieties or sexual abuse in this area from their childhood.
With hip problems, there is also a tendency to carry others and take on other people’s responsibilities. Hip people will do everything for everybody but they won’t let others reciprocate because of their fears of abandonment. This fear creates chronic tension in the hips and pelvis, making it difficult to feel motion in this area. As well, for women, there is the tense feeling about feeling beautiful and sexy and many women tighten the muscles around their hips to make them look slender. This tension blocks the function of the hip joint with the spine and affects the legs as well.
The hips also represent our ability to let go of the past so we can start a new phase in our life. When we resist change we also resist the flow of life. Speaking of flow, the bladder meridian is the main meridian on the hips as it is on the back. The gall bladder meridian moves through the side of each buttock, running down the outside of the hips, passing over the sciatic nerve. So to be honest, you’d need to question the client regarding their childhood as well as listen to the client’s relaxed body as it speaks to you during the healing.
ravenstar x
Hello Ravenstar
This is an extraordinary website filled with deep wisdom, great love and incredible power. Thankyou.
I was not going to write more but wished for some of your precious advice and guidance although my little inner voice knows what is wrong but I feel overwhelmed as to where to start my healing.
I lost my amazing Dad last year and am overwhelmed with grief and guilt and regrets. He was a life long superfit nonsmoking nondrinking vegetarian runner who worked as a naturopathic oncologist, homeopath and herbalist. He was diagnosed with a rare nonsmokers metastatic lung cancer which spread to his brain. I am a conventional doctor but with all his beliefs and philosophy
It was a deep awful shock for us all and made worse by the fact we could not heal him – I understand the reasons why – karma etc. When Dad was diagnosed we had been looking at setting up a natural health practice together with me leaving my conventional surgeon role and building a huge integrative, holistic clinic. He had over 30 years experience in healing using natural remedies with amazing results and 100’s of patients.
Since his loss Mum and I are alone and devastated and have, I believe, as a consequence developed all sorts of symptoms – pains mostly head, neck and lower back, constant nausea, severe fatigue, throat ‘lumps’ and chest tightness, periods of dizziness and most recently I had a bout of severe palpitations and arryhthmias (all checked conventionally and no surprise, nothing found).
We have deep guilt and regrets for the years of frequent fighting and bad things said when angry and frustrated. We adore him and miss him so badly and know we will see him again but are having trouble getting through the grief. Also I have always suffered with fears – fear of illness, of something going wrong etc and 8 years ago ended up with adrenal exhaustion which it took 4 years to recover from. I have always been a very ‘stressed’ person but before Dad’s diagnosis was I thought getting better. Started yoga and meditation etc.
I am not even sure what I am asking you 🙂 but hoped for some words of guidance or encouragement or advice you may have. I feel terribly lost at the moment.
Thankyou again for your gift of healing and deep compassion and wisdom.
Valerie
Hi anonymous,
Could you send me a quick email to ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com and we’ll continue this discussion there.
ravenstar ♥
Excellent information.
Thank you!
Hi Julia,
Your kind comment is both inspiring and motivating. Thank you!
ravenstar x
Thank you for takin the time to write this article!
Maria
Hi Maria,
Your comment is most appreciative! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it.
ravenstar x
yeah, that all makes sense to me lol Thank you for your insights.
You’re very welcome Boh 🙂
ravenstar x
Thank you I really enjoyed this article and a lot of I think resonates with me. My migraines have been getting worse and have been unable to figure out why. Had already changed diet, excluded food intolerances, tried multiple therapies. Today my Gp noted my pain was coming from my neck in what she called a neck spasm. Whilst reading your article and expressing my emotions which I often hold in and then doing the breathing technique you described my pain began to ease. I am thankful for this as I really didn’t want any further medication as already on quite a bit to control migraines. Once again thank you.
Hi Lisa,
I really appreciate you letting me know and visitors reading this blog, that the breathing exercises helped to relax and ease your pain. We learn and discover so much more when we hear it from others. Thank you.
For Your Interest….
There is a acupressure point for headaches that’s situated in the center of the web between your thumb and index finger. Apply pressure with the thumb from your other hand and, without lifting the thumb, press in a circular motion. There are also pressure points in the neck area to ease a migraine. This is a great site showing several acupressure points to help alleviate headaches http://www.modernreflexology.com/6-effective-acupressure-regions-to-treat-migraine-headaches/
Also, a herbal supplement called feverfew has helped many migraine sufferers. Feverfew contains a compound called parthenolide, believed to help with several aspects of migraine including an anti-inflammatory, preventing muscle spasms and stoppng blood vessels from constrictng. Feverfew by itself or with other herbs may help prevent a migraine. Feverfew tea is very comforting. Just don’t overdo it, too much of feverfew can be irritating to the skin.
All the best to you ♥
Hugs,
ravenstar x
[…] So then I thought about the location of my pain. Shoulder and neck. What does this mean? Cue more reading, more research and I found this interesting set of words which resonated with me so very much. (In fact the whole article was pretty interesting to me https://ravenstarshealingroom.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/metaphysical-causes-of-neck-pain/) […]
Hello Ravenstar.
Thank you for all this wonderful writings.
I came on your blog looking for depression and subconscious believes on Google and I ended on this article. It made a lot of sense for me.
I will try the exercises, hopping that I will really get myself to do them, because that is my biggest problem.
Anyway I was really looking for some information like this, as at the moment my life is quite a mess, and I need to get it back together. I just got 34 and I hope I can start to live soon.
Greetings Steven.
Hi Steve,
There’s actually four articles on depression on this blog, including changing subconscious beliefs. Here is PART ONE, Metaphysical Causes and Symptoms of Depression AND here’s PART TWO DEPRESSION PART II ~ REPROGRAMMING THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND
If you type “depression” in the search area on the right hand side of your screen, all ‘four’ parts of metaphysical depression will be displayed for you.
Have you recently lost your job? Has your rent suddenly increased or recently moved? Are you depressed due to the loss of a loved one? Are you going through relationship problems? Have you visited your doctor about anxiety, depression and/or exhaustion lately? Many of these symptoms can also be caused by a physical ailment of the body. For instance a low-thyroid can make you feel tired, depressed and sore all over. Low adrenaline can cause depression, where nothing interest you and everything looks pointless. Another cause of depression is Candida, which can cause a racing heartbeat, upset stomach, jitters, tenseness and even panic attacks. There is an article on the blog on Candida Metaphysics of Candida
In the meantime, see your doctor, tell him or her what’s going on and get a blood test (there is a blood test to measure the vitamins in your system, ask for this). It’s very possible your body has an unsafe level of toxicity or even low levels of histamine or even low Vit B levels.
Once you done that then you can get to know yourself better, more fully and in new and different ways. When you get to know your true Self, you’ll discover there’s noting wrong with you and that you have everything you need to live a creative and fulfilling life ♥
If you’d like to talk more privately about this, email me at ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com
Thank you for your very kind comment .. be sure you mirror those wonderful feelings right back to you!! 🙂
Hugs,
ravenstar x
This is a fantastic website and thank-you so much for the work you have put into it; it has helped me tonight.
Hi Michele! Thank you for taking the write and letting me know this blog has helped you. I truly appreciate this.
Hugs,
ravenstar
Everyone suffers pain and stiffness in their neck at some point in their life. Whenever we feel stress, our upper backs, shoulders and neck seem to carry the brunt of it.
Hi The dogvisitor,
Thank you for responding to my blog.
Yes, I agree, most people suffer from pain and stiffness in the neck at some point in their life. However, when chronic neck and shoulder/upper back pain, continues and affects a person’s way of life, he or she starts searching for the metaphysical or psychological patterns in their life. They have a knowing that somewhere back in time, denied feelings became trapped inside the neck area, depleting their energy and freedom to express themselves creatively.
Resisting every step will cause the head to move forward, affecting the body’s center of gravity causing the hips to tilt forward. The hips are used to balance the lower body, the shoulders are used to balance the upper body … so if the hips are out often the shoulders will be as well, causing a misalignment of the body.
Some people were abused as children and still experience fear, when an emotion (fight/flight) is triggered. These triggered emotions become a defensive response, which clenches core muscles to protect the body’s most vulnerable areas: the belly and neck/throat muscles. When muscles contract suddenly out of fear, it’s often difficult for muscles to relax again completely, and when they stay tense this keeps the brain in a state of stress.
Traumatic memories hiding in the neck muscles can symbolize – frozen in fear; fear of turning in any direction or heading in the wrong direction; and fear of making mistakes. Denied feelings remain trapped inside the body, depleting its freedom. It’s important to release all unexpressed emotions which have weighed down an individual for far too long.
All the best,
ravenstar
I really resonate with this article. Do you do private counseling?
Hi Phyllis,
Thank you for commenting and asking if I do private counseling. If you’d like to send me an email ravenstarshealingroom@gmail.com I will share with you how I do distant private counseling as well as Reiki distant-healing.
Hugs,
ravenstar
Oh my goodness…for whatever this may be worth, I hope that you are able to see this comment someday bc I just want to tell you, thank you so much for sharing such invaluable information and your knowledge…and putting forth all the effort that you did,…that’s a lot of writing n time, no doubt lol just to share it with the world. I appreciate you so much ❤️
Hi Alexandra,
Thank you for your very kind and supportive comment on the metaphysical causes of neck pain. It is you and people like you who speak from the heart, that inspires me to willingly share and provide information. Every now and then, it is comments like yours that help me to give my very best.
No, I don’t have all the answers, however, if this blog can help shift a person’s perception just a little, then it’s all worth it. Stimulating others to dig deeper into the metaphysical cause of their own illness may be all they need to start healing themselves.
Hugs,
ravenstar x
Love this article. Amazingly written in dept with so much information! Currently on a shamans path I now understand how to get a deeper reading of the indevidual and their pain, this way I can help more so. After many years of trauma and injury it has been a slow process to heal myself. This article brought some injuries to light I wasnt even processing the right way! Full or knowledge, I have shared this article many times now, and only recently started on the further reading. Love this so much
Reading Louise Hay’s work is good value. And personal awareness is imperative for any kind of change or growth.
Hi Sunrise Boy!
Thank you for taking the time to express your feelings.
Every person I’ve ever connected with knows Louise Hay. Her contribution to the world and of health and wellness will live on forever.
Louise Hay herself wrote: “We must become aware of what we believe about ourselves. By doing so, we can change those beliefs that are not serving us.
If you’re doing your affirmations in front of a mirror, always have a pad and pencil handy so you can write down the negative messages that come to mind when you say them. You don’t have to deal with the information right then. Later you can sit down and look at what you wrote, and if there is a list of negative responses, you can begin to understand why you don’t have what you say you want. If you are not aware of your negative messages, it is very difficult to change them”.
ravenstar
Absolutely love your advice/ teachings…..on numerous occasions I have googled symptoms and come across your page with just the advice I need to hear. My healing journey has progressed considerably from your wisdom. I teach yoga and practice reiki but have realised how much I still have hidden 🙏 deep gratitude for your work 🌈✨🤍🙏
Hi Yvonne,
I am honored this article and others in this blog, have spoken to you and guided you on the path of your own self-healing. In return, individuals are seeking your guidance to help stimulate and rebalance their spirit/mind/body.
We never really know where our next inspiration is going to come from. When we ‘truly and sincerely’ long to move beyond our pain/illness/procrastination, etc., our field of energy will (mysteriously) attract to us the people, places, and events that will be instrumental in helping us embark upon an interesting transforming journey. Lessons are often discovered in the most unexpected places.
Thank you again for your kind and wonderful comment. Yoga with Reiki creates a full and flowing supply of Qi, which will continuously propel you to reshape your life from the inside out.
Warmest Regards,
ravenstar X