It's Monday morning, one of my favorite days of the week (yes, I did say that!). My Task Master gets all juiced up and ready to go for another fabulous week ahead. How about for you? Whatever you do, don't let Monday drag you down. Keep going with your Daily Energy Routine (DER) and keep those energies high!
     To add to the DER short version, today we're looking at the Crown Pull. It's perfect for when we can't stop the "chatting" in our head, realize we've been going in the wrong mental direction with lots of negativity, or for those tension headaches that creep up after a stressful day. Along with the Wayne Cook, the Crown Pull is also perfect for when we have trouble concentrating and remembering things. Staring at the computer all day will surely numb our intellectual capacities and an overload of meetings can be draining so bring the Crown Pull along for some instant relief. It will have your mind and brain feeling refreshed and connect you to your higher inspirations.

Enjoy!!

Peace and LOTS of joy in Being.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     How much of YOU do you think is destined or predetermined to be a certain way, that certain traits or attributes are just who you are and that's that? Do you believe you have limited control over what happens in your life; the experiences you have, the people that surround you, an illness or disease that is part of your inherited makeup?
     I've always thought that, while there may be a propensity towards an expression of an attribute (as some are deeply set biologically or environmentally), it's really how we "feed" an attribute that determines how it manifests. If I grew up in an angry atmosphere where people were in constant disagreement, for instance, I will more easily attach to that type of environment. It is a seed that has been highlighted in my life and one that I may have a propensity to express, more than the child who conversely experienced constant love and peaceful community. Nurture versus nature, you could say.
     But just because the seed (of anger, for instance) has been highlighted, it doesn't mean that it has to come to fruition. What we do with those root experiences, environmental atmospheres, and even our body's biology is up to us. With awareness and diligence to switch from feeding the unskillful and non-beneficial seeds to skillful and beneficial ones, we can change our set of circumstances and ultimate expression. We don't have to manifest an angry life just because we were surrounded by that. We can create the environment we seek (and we do it all the time). This ability to change is actually a big part of what I support others with, to give them the tools and confidence to approach and see life from a more empowered and enlightened perspective.
     Looking at disease and cellular creation of illness within the body can be a bit different, however. Cells have structure and roles which, in my non-scientific mind, can't be changed... or can they?? Again, this isn't to say that I don't have influence. I truly believe that I have a huge amount with how I take care of myself - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This holistic approach also includes re-balancing my personal energy field inside and outside of my body, thus influencing the environment in which my cells are housed. Obviously a strong, vibrant, and balanced one is preferred - thus my work with Eden Energy Medicine.
     But to go beyond and look deeper into changing the cell structure itself... is it possible? Well, according to Bruce Lipton, PhD, it is. He's a stem cell biologist from the Wisconsin School of Medicine who's focus has been studying the molecular mechanisms that control cell behavior. I've been following his work off and on for years with my initial read of his book The Biology of Belief.  Bruce has been taking his scientific findings regarding cell behavior and expression to the public sector, sharing his knowledge so that we can be empowered in the knowledge that we do have much more control over our destiny than we think, even regarding our genetic make-up. I won't go into all the science and details - he does a fantastic job of explaining it in this video - so I would encourage you to investigate for yourself.
     Watch, listen, learn, and begin to ponder the miracle of your physical and emotional expression in this life. Become even more empowered to create healthy change for yourself and know that you CAN have your life as you'd like it. It's all a matter of perception - that one special aspect that creates it all.

Peace and LOTS of joy in Being.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     Has anyone figured out what this life is for, why we are here, what this whole thing is about? I know, silly question to ask since it’s the ultimate one we all have about our existence but it’s one that I’ve really been pondering quite a bit recently. I’m trying to connect with the great Master Plan that I envision must be out there, held by the Universe far, far beyond what my little humanity has been able to reach so far. Yes, I know we are here to do good, to promote and spread love, and to continue the path of enlightenment for all beings. I have a nag inside, though, about this Master Plan, envisioning that it lays out the purpose behind everything we try to make sense of. Sometimes I feel like a marionette in a puppet show, acting out the story but never having the script of where it’s supposed to lead. It’s like a constant improv. I really think the performance I could give would be a lot more meaningful, vibrant, and fulfilling for all parties involved if I knew, though. Yes, this is my mind sometimes, showing me that I might be a little too goal oriented and just need to loosen up! (I hope you are amused and not frightened for me.)
     As a summertime treat I’ve been watching BBC’s Planet Earth series and am continually blown away by the immense diversity, spectacular-ness, and innate intelligence of the life that is contained on this breathtaking planet, including the amazing assortment of ecosystems. In my wildest imagination I couldn’t come up with all the uniquenesses of the thousands of species; the colors, shapes, reliances for survival, patience, habits of traveling thousands of miles for food or procreation just to do it all again next year. For me, I still can’t wrap my head around the workings of our brain or body. It’s way beyond science fiction and makes me even more desirous to have insight into the Master Plan.
     After a time, I finally ask myself “Does it really matter?”. In reality, probably not and I’m sure it’s best for me to spend my time creating peace, emitting love, and spreading light and positivity into each moment instead. To do what I can do and to trust the process , to “let go and just be”. I’m sure the Master Plan folks would appreciate that. And in writing those words, I do need to laugh at how many times in my life I’ve been told to simply “trust the process”. Haha. Another contemplation is provided.
     Well, if you have any answers or insights, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to add some comments below.

Peace and LOTS of joy in Being.
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     This past weekend I spent Saturday a most wonderful Day of Mindfulness at Rose Apple in VT and, as it always seems to be, the Dharma talk was perfect and felt like it was directed right at me. Brother Zohar shared insights about time... actual time and storyline time.
     Actual time is a fact. It's contained fully in the present moment. It doesn't direct us in any way and, with its simplified self, moves along at a consistent and measurable pace. Storyline time, on the other hand, is directly connected to the story of us and the forward motion that most of us have in our approach to life. It's the back story of why we rush through things, task master the objects in front of us, and seek to gain control of our experience. We're moving forward out of this ever-present moment into anticipation of the next moment, spending little time here and now.
     Storyline time prevails when we are searching for joy and happiness outside of this moment. We think that it is somewhere else. There may be an uncomfortableness here and now, an aspect of grief or sadness, an emotion of dissatisfaction that is searching for harmony. Instead of residing in the Now to reconcile that, we unconsciously search for this freedom in the next moment, feeding a habit of striving that leaves us even more unfulfilled.
     Take a look at how you receive each moment of the day. From observation of my own experience, I feel like I'm under an invisible time pressure much of the day. Even though I'm great at calendaring and leaving space, there's still an essence of this push to get things done and onto the next. As a business owner, there are many details that I need to attend to and that involve planning future events in order to maintain a consistent level of business activity.
     The continual calendaring of my day, however, brings about a momentum of moving from one activity to the other that can be challenging to stop. The dribble of  "after I get these things done..." is a common quote I can replay over and over in my mind when it's time to settle down and really take a break, to stop the locomotion of doing and let go into pure being, a being that goes well beyond the body stopping. The result is a relationship to time that can be scattered, shattered, and multidirectional with an element of dissatisfaction to what is right now. And underneath this striving can be a level of fear, unworthiness, agitation, and a general sense of joylessness.
     This isn't to say that planning and taking care of things isn't important but it begs me to notice how much time and mental effort is spent in the subtle search for happiness. Even with an active mindfulness practice, staying here and not escaping into Doing can be challenging. Fortunately my teacher Thich Nhat Hanh so eloquently reminds me with this quote above which is so true. Stopping to be right here, it is possible to live happily in each moment and still get things done. It all rests on the attention and intention I am placing in the moment, reverting from getting caught up in my own story and the master manipulation of my experience.
     Time is as it is. All the rest is just a mental construct. Time is something that we can't get back, no matter how much we try. As I continue to age, this becomes more prevalent in my consciousness. Perhaps this has added to my sense of rushing. I seek to have so much peace, love, and harmony in my life and, instead of seeing that it's right here right now, I am being pulled by my habit energies to seek it out. Look, look, though! In the mirror resides all that I need and, when this is my footing, I can walk safely into whatever arrives next.
     Yup, and that's why we call it  "practice". Simple but certainly not easy!

Peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     Thank you so much for keeping up with these Daily Energy Routine exercises. I hope you've been able to incorporate them easily into your regular self care routine. Don't forget that you can pick and just do one or two whenever you might need it.     
     This week we're looking at crossing our energies, an important part of having a steady flow of resources in our body and mind. We all know about the coordination between the brain and body - the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. This same crossover energy is everywhere, even within the structure of DNA. It's a necessity so that all systems can be functional, strong, and balanced.
     If our energies are not crossing over, we might feel uncoordinated or clumsy, mentally or emotionally out of sorts, exhausted for no real reason, unable to think clearly or stay focused on task, or even depressed. Things just aren't lining up right.
     How do we get that way? There are several things in our daily life that can create this energetic imbalance which Donna Eden calls being homolateral, i.e. one way. Wearing a heavy bag on one shoulder cuts our crossover energy off. Looking at vertical lines, like striped wallpaper or the white lines on the road as we drive, can put our energies into homolateral. In your office or home, perhaps you have vertical blinds. If so, open or close them fully versus having them hang down like separated lines.
     There are several ways we can strengthen our crossed energies. In the two videos, I offer one version of the Cross Crawl as well as the Crossover Shoulder Pull. The first one may give you a little bit of a workout but feel free to take it as slow as you need. If you're really tired, try it in the morning while you are still laying in bed. The second one is perfect for when you are in a meeting or some other noticeable social situation. Nobody needs to know that you are connecting your energies but they'll be happy you did! Enjoy!!

Peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC

     Just checking in... How's your energy body feeling with these energy exercises? I've heard from so many of you that you are loving the videos and that they're helping to integrate into your day. Fantastic!
     Today we are going to look at the neurolymphatic reflex points, important places on the surface of the body that are connected to the lymphatic system. Our lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system and a vital part of the immune system. It's a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials by transporting lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. Activating this natural detoxifier is important for keeping our bodily systems clean, clear, and vital.
     There are over 90 neurolymphatic reflex points, housed in many locations throughout the body (see pic below). Unlike the bloodstream which has the heart to pump it, lymph does not have a built-in pump. Years ago when we used our body throughout the day, adequate pumping came from our frequent movement. Our more sedentary lifestyle has impacted that, however, so it's now more important to support our health with purposeful pumping. No to worry, though. We can do this pretty easily by rubbing our neurolymphatic reflex points with our hands. Besides clearing stagnated energies (including emotional energy) and creating space for things to flow, it will leave you feeling energized and alive!! Plus touch is SO important so feel your body and rub away.
     As you begin, go slowly and with medium intensity of pressure. If you find any tender spots, don't avoid them. This indicates energy blockage or stagnation so rub this area for 30-45 seconds or until you want to stop. It's also neat to check the chart to see what area of your body is needing attention. Make sure to breathe and also hydrate to flush toxins. And most of all, enjoy!!
     Until next week, stay well and peaceful. Connect with me for any questions.

Peace,
Shanti

Shanti Douglas
Mindfulness & Stress Management Coach
Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner
8 limbs Holistic Health, LLC