This is what is the matter with us: we are bleeding at the roots because we are cut off from the earth and sun and stars. ~ DH Lawrence Not only is the above quote is referencing ways humans fall short in the pursuit of love, I believe it applies to many parts of life. We have separated the meaning of our lives from nature, our very souls are isolated from our everyday focus and tasks. It's no wonder this creates disharmony. Whether it shows up as adrenal stress, deep fatigue or hormone imbalance, the body suffers from this separation as it struggles to make ends meet. The repair of this disconnect, between our souls and nature, succeeds when we become aware of the beacon that guides us to our soul vision, through consistently honoring our personal beliefs and values.  Even after reconnecting with the soul, we may still struggle with the physical symptoms. Why? Because the physiology can get stuck. We can do everything "right"... eat well, sleep plenty, learn to occasionally say "no" to others so we can say "yes!" to ourselves. However the adrenal depletion, thyroid imbalance, symptoms of PMS and menopause can persist. This is how we are "bleeding from our roots", while everything seems fine at the surface (or according to your doctor), things don't feel fine. Once the body responds to a stressful event, if that event is prolonged, or the brain perceives a constant need for vigilance, the body's pH can begin to decrease in susceptible areas in the body. This can become it's own stressor. Or, perhaps cells fall into disrepair due to persistent inflammation, compromising cell function, and therefore becoming yet another stressor. These situations, and others like them, fall into a place in which they are self-generated, persisting even when the original situation is removed, resulting in a frustrating and vicious cycle. This is where the ability to dialogue with the body through muscle testing is very helpful. Only when each stressor, from cellular to whole body, can be identified and resolved SIMULTANEOUSLY, can the space for healing be opened. This is my offering. I am a seasoned guide who can help you make the voyage into the cells, into the biochemistry, into the DNA, to relocate your inherent wellness plan.  Because this is an adventurous journey through an interdependent web of processes, I work in a series of session rather than a single session. This requires a positive commitment from both of us, to travel together into the physical body, freeing tensions that are in self-generating cycles, and to release you from a life of overwhelm and frustration.
Does this sound like you?
If so, grab a spot on my calendar to set up a free 30 minute Rejuvenation Session so we can explore the possibility of working together and talk about how to get you back on your feet and feeling GREAT!
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I saw somewhere... a spoof of some fitness posters. It was really pretty phenomenal how the message of the original posters was along the lines of "work harder", "do more", "look in the mirror to assess where you are"... all things that seem to me to say "you're not good enough, you should do better than that". I guess that sums up why I have trouble getting on board with most fitness programs. It's always some type of "whip you into shape" kind of attitude that I don't go for, myself. In fact, those kind of messages, about how I'm not good enough... really just stress me out.
Anyway... then I got to the end of the list of posters... and one said something about the goal being clear urine. Now there... you just went beyond "you're not good enough" into "dangerous". It seems to me that fitness AND nutrition types are often pushing water. They act like there's no upper limit. Oh... but there is. Your urine should NOT be clear. It also should not be dark yellow. If your urine is clear you are in danger of flushing out critical minerals... some that could cause your heart to beat improperly (potassium comes to mind first). The truth is, I can't think of anything that the body uses and NEEDS that can't become too much. Some things are harder to get too much of than others, but it can be done. The whole thing with the body is finding a BALANCE. Not too little, not too much. Let's go back to the water thing. I've heard lots of formulas and such about water. I wonder why we don't teach people to listen to their bodies? Why don't we train ourselves to monitor for signs of too little water? I realize that means that we are already off balance... but if we monitor ourselves for a few days or weeks, I imagine you'll get a pretty good idea of how much water YOU need. That is to say... based on YOUR exercise, body composition, diet, and metabolism.... how much water do YOU need every day? This provides you with no less than two strengths that the "clear pee" goal doesn't. 1) You can respond to changes in weather, activity levels, or body conditions that might require a change in the amount of water you are drinking. 2) If you're self-monitoring this way you are training yourself to be conscious of your body's needs, you are responding to its feedback, and you are building a relationship with your body. You are doing what's right for your body based on the feedback you get... not following someone else's idea (or ideal) that isn't applicable to you. My goal is that we all learn to listen more to our bodies... there is so much wisdom to be found there. The body can connect us to our emotions, our experiences, and truly enrich our lives. But it can't do that if we're constantly forcing it to do things that aren't supporting it. Too much water can be very hard on the kidneys. This provides a physical stressor, in addition to the messages that we aren't good enough as we are. I have more coming up soon with regard to stress... but long-term ongoing stress is certainly one of the things that underlies many hormone imbalances. More on that soon...  Picture from Wikipedia Black cohosh This is a North American native plant. It is known as a tonic for bronchial health, and has long been used to support the female reproductive system through the perimenopausal and menopausal years. Because of it's widespread use it is generally deemed quite safe. There is also clinical research indicating relief of physical and emotional/mental symptoms associated with perimenopause after just 12 weeks of use.  Image from Wikipedia Chaste Tree or Chaste Berry This is widely prescribed in Europe for relief from PMS, breast tenderness and menstrual irregularity. This herb has also been studied in clinical trials and is considered safe. Women experiencing symptoms of estrogen dominance may have the most to gain from this taking this herb. Estrogen dominance will be another post... but essentially, progesterone begins to decrease before estrogen, leaving some women with a proportional excess of estrogen. One note with chaste berry, if you are still cycling, and find that depression symptoms worsen just before your menses begin, discontinue this herb immediately. Dong Quai (no photo) This is a Chinese herb that has long been used to address female reproductive issues. It contains high levels of phytoestrogens, which may help women who are experiencing a drop in estrogen with the onset of menopause. It is generally most effective when used with other herbs in a formula, and is not recommended at all if you have ever had an estrogen-sensitive cancer.  Photo from Wikipedia Ashwagandha
This is an Ayurvedic herb, and is the one that's given me some relief from my symptoms. It is generally used to rejuvenate the adrenal, immune, and nervous system and is particularly good if you're struggling with fuzzy thinking, stress, or sleep problems. It may also help if vaginal dryness has become a problem for you, as it's known for invigorating both male and female sexual potency. Over 200 medical studies have been done on the benefits of taking this herb. Healing benefits may include:
Metal is the counterbalance to Wood. While Wood is really expansive, Metal is contractive. The Metal Element is the framework, and has the benefits of providing structure, self-discipline, and critical thinking. However, unbalanced, it has a tendency to turn on itself with hyper-criticism, perfectionism, and collapse of inner order.  Metal is a tricky beast... as the self-discipline that is part of balanced metal... is that part that is so needed when metal is unbalanced... for it is through self-discipline that we can see the thing that is not right in front of us... the clarity that we so desperately need in our mis-alignment... is elusive. For instance, I remember once talking to a mentor of mine... I was working through some old medical trauma because I was facing a needed surgery. I was upset, irrationally fearful (a little is always normal... but whoa! I was getting kinda wacky...)... and I remember him saying that when we get into a mindset... a cycle of fears and doubts and anxiety... it is hard to see anything else that doesn't look like our current mental/emotional environment. We can even forget the totality of who we really are. This is what is happening when we say things like "I just don't feel like myself". When the Metal Element is unbalanced... it has a terrible habit of spinning out of control... reinforcing the "out-of-balance" through our inner critic.  So... it is through self-discipline (which I admit to having TOTALY resistance to in recent history)... that we are able to set down where we are in the moment to take a wider view of the situation. This is metal being flexible, using a foundation of our true essence, to use self-discipline to take a step back, and with clarity and discrimination, discern the true state of our Selves.
I'd like to offer that it is a practice of self-discipline that also allows us to hear our own story... played back through our cells. It is the willingness to sit in the quiet and listen to our body's subtle information streams... that supports our vitality. The discipline comes in the form of taking that time for ourselves regularly, creating (AND maintaining) a daily practice, or making sure our cups are filled through self-care. In that vein, a client and I are working together on a 21-day water-drinking challenge. We are both heavily influenced by our Metal Elements, and both need to be more regular around fluid intake. I hear that a habit can be created in 21 days... so I challenge you... what will you do for 21 days that you want to have as a daily practice (habit?)? And how will you stay accountable to the practice? Share in the comments if you feel so inclined! I'd love to hear from you!  One of my favorite things about my work is that I get to spend time really contemplating and fully understanding so many systems in the body. Lately, I've been doing some work both for some clients and with myself around the female reproductive system. As I've been looking at the cycle of hormones, the communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and the organs themselves that are required for growing, maturing, and releasing an egg... it's such a beautiful dance. I can see this flow of giving and receiving information and then responding as a cycle that is at once complete, and absolutely independent of outcome. That is to say... that regardless of whether or not there is a pregnancy... the cycle is complete all by itself. In absence of a pregnancy it is about cyclical renewal. This, in essence, is how we reflect the cycling of the earth among seasons, the life-death-life cycle of earth.
It's just striking me that these are the blood mysteries... the ones I would have sworn, even just a week ago, to have not really understood. It is about how shedding blood and tissue can be an act of regeneration and rejuvenation. And it translates into our whole lives by being willing to release that which no longer serves us provides us the ability to create what does build our lives. When we continue to grasp those old ideas or beliefs or agreements, we cannot maintain alignment with our true and present selves. It is in taking as many steps as possible, each and every day, each and every week, each and every moment... that we live the mysteries in wholeness... that our lives are cyclical and rhythmic... receiving and releasing... and the cycle itself is the wholeness... not what happens... not how much we accomplish... or how it all turns out. The completion is in the being. |
Jill CliftonI'm an explorer of inner realms, a pattern observer, and an invitation maker. I believe that healing the world starts within. If you organize your blog conversations through Bloglovin' you can follow me there...
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