Reflexology and gentle massage in the affected area can provide wonderful relief from Oedema also known as water retention. Please check with your doctor first as oedema is not a condition in itself but a symptom of an underlying condition, which could be serious.

Oedema occurs when there is too much fluid in the bodies tissues, causing swelling to occur. Milder oedema can be due to a kidney imbalance. More severe oedema can be due to kidney disease, diseased leg veins, cirrhosis of the liver, anemia or congestive heart failure. Obesity, malnutrition and incorrect nutrition can also result in water retention. It may also be a side effect from other toxic junk that has gone into our body such as certain medications, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

If left untreated continued swelling can cause skin ulcerations. These may be painful, cause a burning or itching sensation, redness, brown discolouration, dry or scaly skin.

2 types of Oedema

1. Non Pitting Oedema: is more common and less serious, pressure is applied to the skin which does not result in persistent indentation.

2. Pitting Oedema: this usually indicates something more serious, when one applies pressure to the swollen area, a persistent indentation occurs.

how will reflexology help?

Reflexology combined with gentle massage stokes in the affected area will almost always help with Oedema by getting fluids moving back up towards the heart. The finger and thumb pressure on the reflex points support the natural processes of the whole body. Aiding the body to bring itself back into balance.

Ongoing mental and emotional stress, eating too many processed foods, and doing little exercise mean that the healing mechanisms in your body cannot function correctly. Reflexology is able to bring your body out of the fight or flight mode which allows the healing mechanisms to begin operating again.

Stress specifically relating to fear and anxiety have a negative effect on the urinary system (kidneys & bladder) which when imbalanced are one of the most common underlying factors in Oedema. Its a good idea to give some thought to and to discuss with your reflexologist what areas of your life are creating fearful and anxious thoughts. Changes may be necessary!

A constant state of stress is the number one contributor to dis-ease. If you are in a constant state of stress because of some circumstance in your life, the dis-ease is your wake up call!You are off course in your life.

Reflexology is a wonderful antidote as it promotes deep relaxation and stress relief, and the body it is able to begin healing itself.

diet

Diet may also be discussed with your reflexologist. Processed foods containing high amounts of salt and too much protein may affect the functioning of the kidneys and liver. A cleansing diet of fruits, vegetables and plenty of clean water will greatly aid the body in healing.

mindbodylife connection

I always like to take  a look from a metaphysical view point as well! What is this swelling in your body trying to communicate to you?  Oedema may be related to stagnant or unresolved emotions.

When we are feeling overburdened, weighed down or unable to move forward in our lives over a long period of time this creates a heaviness in our body. We are not flowing with life and this is seen in our body as stagnant fluids accumulating.

We may feel inhibited in some way which is preventing us moving forward. Perhaps we don’t seem to be able to move forward in the direction we would truly like to. We may think we are not good enough, we don’t accept ourselves or we would like to use our skills but some negative self belief  is stopping us.

Reflexology is a holistic therapy working on not only the physical but also on mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Gently aiding the body, mind, emotions and spirit to flow once again, allowing stagnant fluids and old emotions to be processed and released.

References:

Stormer C. 1995. Language of the feet: what feet can tell you. Hodder and Stoughton: London.

Noontil. A. 2003. The body is the barometer of the soul 2. Brumby Books: Victoria.

Enzer S. 2000. Reflexology: A tool for Midwives. Soul to Sole Reflexology, Sydney. Australia.

To elevate your consciousness take note of what’s going on in your thoughts. Fearful, judgemental, critical, guilty and angry thoughts all carry a low vibration and come from the ego. It’s your choice to think these type of thoughts or not. When they crop up and you notice them, make a conscious statement that you choose not to align with them but to align with your true nature which thinks in terms of gratitude, peace, joy and unconditional love. As you constantly re-align you raise your vibration and lift your level consciousness.

Higher consciousness, Healing & Weightloss

A higher level of consciousness starts to reflect in your life, and your body. Note that illness has a low vibration and can be healed through lifting your consciousness which lifts your vibration. Excess weight created by mis-aligned thought patterns can be lost through raising your level of consciousness (I will be blogging more about this).

A good point to remember:

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” Albert Einstein

This year the tide is with you to let go of the old gunk, raise your vibration and re-align with the highest part of who you are.

*Photograph of Cape Town Stadium by http://www.jasonbuchphotography.com

Maybe I don’t have to know what my destiny is or what my ultimate life purpose is. It will all be revealed to me step by step. I just have to be present and take the next step. No effort required, just trust. There IS a divine order to things.

This sometimes requires me to let go of stuff, or people, and erm….control (the hardest!) But I remember this:

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one, which has been opened for us.”
- Helen Keller

This is the approach I like to take these days:

“Occasionally, the warrior sits down, relaxes and simply lets everything that is happening around him continue to happen. He looks at the world as if he were a spectator, he does not try to add or take away from it, he merely surrenders unresistingly to the movement of life. Little by little, everything that once seemed complicated begins to become simple. And the warrior is glad.”

-Paulo Coelho

11.11.11  may well feel like an ordinary day but shifts in our consciousness are taking place! (Hopefully).

Starting today humanity on a large scale begins to remember, reconnect and awaken to their divine essence within. This is awakening to our true self. A part of ourselves that we have lost touch with believing that we are separate from others and separate from The Divine/Source/God/The Universe.

The divine is now making itself known. The divine wants to meld with the human body, to live in the body and to have experiences through the body. Something that we have not allowed it to do before now. To work within our lives and within our bodies. To work through us. We experience this as a change in our perception allowing us to live life through the eyes of this loving compassionate joyful being.

Joy

Joy is a sign of awakening to the divine within. A belief in being separate from the divine keeps us from feeling this natural joy. As we connect to our oneness it puts us in touch with the natural joy that is part of us.

This posture with the heart fully exposed and open is one that I have always been drawn to.  We do similar postures in Yoga and being in that position can make you feel very vulnerable and can often create a surge of emotion.

I suppose it’s the opposite of being closed down to life, too fearful of being hurt again, hunched over to protect the heart space. I think I choose the open heart and connection! After all we are all one so they say.

I was walking down the street, not in a head down rushed kind of way, but taking it slowly. I was enjoying the warmth and sunshine after a few days of rainy cloudy skies, noticing how blue the sky was today and how beautiful the mountain looked.

All of a sudden time seemed to expand and I felt a powerful surge of love, for nothing in particular but for everything and everyone. My heart opened up and it felt like I was connected to a source of enormous love that was beaming through my heart and  outward. There was no separation between me and the source of this love or between me and my surroundings. Everything seemed to blur and blend, but at the same time it felt crystal clear and intensely joyful.

I believe I was given a glimpse of oneness, a recognition of our inherent interconnectedness with the web of life. Unfortunately this is something most of us humans have forgotten about, perceiving ourselves as individuals separate from the world around us and from source. Reconnection with this knowledge is really what the world needs right now!

Namaste

Over the last couple of months I have been seeing the numbers 1 or 11 everywhere. When I check the time, it will be 11:01, 11:11, 1:11, or a variation. I realized that I live in apartment number 1, street number 254 added up it’s 2+5+4 = 11. Co-incidence? Maybe, but I don’t really believe in co-incidence, rather in synchronicity. I did some google investigations and this is what I found.

Although the numerological significance of the numbers 1 and 11 seemed to point to some personal changes, I discovered that seeing the numbers 1 and 11 repeatedly is not an uncommon phenomenon. In fact there is a mountain of information on the Internet, and thousands of people have reported seeing these numbers repeatedly over the past 15-20years. It is called the 11: 11 phenomenon. In about 50 or so days it will be 11/11/2011. For more information on this please see websites listed at end of article. To me though the ones seemed to speak of the principal of Oneness.

oneness

At a press conference immediately following the recent Earthquake in Japan, President Obama noted that “for all our differences in culture or language or religion, ultimately humanity is one.”

This concept of Oneness seems to be filtering into mainstream vocabulary. An understanding that we are neither alone nor separate, that we are all connected to a single divine source. Externally this is reflected in the idea of a global community and increasing capacity among many to think globally and identify themselves as world citizens.

Moving from multiple communities with a duality consciousness seen as individuals, groups and countries pitted against one another, towards a global community with a Oneness consciousness where equality, justice and compassion prevail. This shift in awareness will lead to changes in interpersonal, social, cultural, economic and ecological arenas.

For this to happen a shift in perception from separation to Oneness is necessary. When we do this we can feel and see our intrinsic interwovenness with everyone and everything. Our compassion is unleashed and our perceptions expand. We realise that we are not isolated individuals struggling to get by. We are not alone, separate or powerless to make a change. Perhaps the appearance of the one’s are a call and constant reminder to consciously align ourselves as One. Or even just to begin to contemplate this principal.

unity

One is a synonym for Unity. Jung speaks about our inherited Oneness. In tribal and indigenous cultures there is a unity in sameness. Qualities such as mutuality, co-operation, stability, and interconnectedness define and sustain them. As societies evolved and migrated, they experienced conflict with one another. This is seen throughout history, as oppression and prejudice the world over. This stage is characterized by a feeling of separateness and disagreement.

We are now returning to where we began, a consciousness of Oneness or Unity but this time on a world scale. A Unity in diversity. It honours all the natural and unique forms of diversity that exist within the human family. This process can be described as inherent unity followed by intentional separateness followed by intended unity.

completion & new beginning

The meaning of number One is also an indicator of completion. Just as we see reference to the beginning (the Alpha), one also symbolizes the ending (Omega). As an ending approaches we must become aware of a new beginning on it’s heels. The Mayan calender which plots the timeline of the evolution of consciousness was originally said to end on 21 December 2012. This date has now been brought forward to 28 October 2011. The ending of the calender represents the symbolic death of one cycle and it’s rebirth into another. A moving from one chapter to the next.The calender cycle begins again at year zero and some say this is the beginning of the Golden Age. A time when many people begin to awaken to their oneness.

This will be subtle shift where the idea of our oneness begins to filter into collective consciousness.

U2- one

I will end off with the words of the song by U2- One. There has been much speculation about the meaning of the lyrics which Bono deliberately leaves open to interpretation by the listener. The song came at a time of difficulty within the band, with band members wanting to change their musical direction, causing the band to almost split. This song came out of nowhere, within 10 minutes they had the song melodically and cut a take in about two hours. It came almost like a completely formed piece. The song One reunited the band. Band members perhaps recognizing the global truth in the song, maybe they realized that what they were doing as a band was bigger than them. Their petty quarrels and disagreements suddenly seemed small. The reason to continue and why they had started in the first place once again became clear.

Perhaps in the light of what I have just written about, the lyrics speak about the strong feeling or the longing to be One, without being the same (Unity in diversity).There is a longing like an ideal, a vision to live in one love, one blood, one need, for tensions to be overcome when we carry each other.

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say…

One love
One life
When it’s one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don’t care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it’s…

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We’re one, but we’re not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One…

Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it’s all I got
We’re one
But we’re not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can’t be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we’re not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One…life

One

Websites:

Numerologists believe that events linked to the time 11:11 appear more often than chance or coincidence. This belief is related to the concept of synchronicity. Other authors believe it is an auspicious sign, and others that it signals a spirit presence. –Wikipedia

11:11 Invitation 2012 (2011) Retrieved 27 September 2011. 11 Phenomenon. Website: http://www.1111invitation2012.info/1111Invitation2012/11_11_phenomenon.html

Nvisible (2011) Retrieved 27 September 2011, Solara & the 11:11. Website: http://www.nvisible.com/

Sources:

Robert Atkinson, Ph D (2011), retrieved 26 September 2011. Article: Toward a Consciousness of Oneness. Website: http://www.noetic.org/noetic/issue-nine-april/toward-oneness/

The Home of Muorji (2007) Retrieved 26 September 2011. Website: http://www.muorji.se/U2MoL/AB/one.html

A different way of approaching pain comes from the Mind Body perspective.  The idea is that our thoughts are powerful enough to cause a chemical reaction (via neuropeptides) producing either positive or negative effects in our body. From this perspective pain is seen as a result of  ‘guilt’. When we are feeling guilty we unconsciously have the need to punish ourselves. The way in which we do this is by creating pain in our body.

guilt + punishment = pain

Let me give an example, over the weekend I went on a full day hike with a group of 12 adults. About halfway into the hike one of the women, a General Practitioner complained of a headache which had started about an hour into the hike.  She went on to say that over the past year since she went back to exercising she often got headaches during or after exercise.

Establishing that she had 2 young children I asked her if she ever felt guilty about taking time out for herself when she went running, went to the gym or on a day hike? She responded that yes she did, she didn’t like leaving them and worried about their safety when she did.

The headache was a form of self punishment born out of the guilt of leaving her children. I explained this to her and suggested that she could start thinking about things differently. For example when she felt a headache coming on during her time out, she could immediately become aware that she may be feeling guilty and change her thoughts consciously.

Re-framing the experience by telling herself that exercise was beneficial to both herself and her children, making her a fitter, healthier mom better able to cope with the demands of motherhood. Also noticing the fearful thoughts that crept in that some harm would come to her children with her being away from them, and affirming to herself that they were in safe hands, encouraging a sense of trust that she didn’t always need to be with them, that they would be ok without her.

As we consciously become aware and begin to work on changing our thoughts, we have the power to change our bodies response. In her case this could be effective enough to stop the headache from forming. Perhaps spending the hike thinking positive thoughts about her children, affirming their safety, and enjoying her day out would be more beneficial for everyone.

Next time you experience pain in your body, ask yourself what you could be feeling guilty about? Then affirm in your mind that you no longer choose to punish yourself.  Repeat these words a few times. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

“The mind body approach to healing is based on the idea that knowledge is power. That by bringing into our awareness new information which sheds light on the meaning behind our illness or injury and changes our perception, is powerful enough to have an effect on our bodies physiology creating changes in our immune, endocrine and nervous systems.”  Dr Christiane Northrup

Here are some examples of the mind body interpretations for sore throats, coughing and back pain:

SORE THROAT:

The throat is where you swallow the impact of what is happening in your life.  A sore throat is a clear indication that either some reality you are taking in is making you feel sore and inflamed (angry), or something you want to say is not getting said.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Is something getting stuck in your throat?

• Are you tolerating something that is making you’re feel sore, irritated, annoyed, angry, or upset?

• Is there something you really want to say that you are holding back?

• Are you feeling sore while pretending that everything is fine?

COUGHING:

Coughing is usually a reaction to an irritant. Coughing is an attempt to clear the way, to get the irritant out of your system.

• What is causing you to feel so irritated?

• Is something or someone making you feel hot or angry?

• Are you being asked to accept or swallow something you don’t want to?

• Is someone or something making you gag?

Coughing may also be due to something you have said or wanted to say, as the cough mechanism is part of the larynx.

• Have you said something that was hurtful?

• Do you feel guilty or ashamed about it?

• Or are you longing to express yourself to let out your feelings?

BACK PAIN:

It is commonly our back muscles that we unconsciously tighten when emotionally upset. As the back is ‘back there’ it is the perfect place for us to store issues that we don’t want to deal with.

In particular emotions that are difficult for us to acknowledge or we consider unacceptable such as rage, anger, grief, guilt and our fears.

Eventually tension builds up and the back can no longer hold any more. This results in an injury, muscle spasms, dull aches, a slipped or herniated disk or even a broken back.

Our repressed emotions which have not been acknowledged are finding a voice through the body. This signals a time to get our lives back into alignment.

When our back goes into spasm or we have a herniated or slipped disk we are forced to take time out and have bed rest. There is a need to be still, and the back makes sure you are. This often comes after a time of exhaustion, too many responsibilities and emotional drama’s or conflicts.

Healing comes through recognising the role that emotional stress is playing. Taking time out to find your ground and release deep layers of emotional stress, allowing the muscles to relax.

Upper back:

The upper back is on the reverse side of the heart. If we have pain in this area we are often repressing feelings which are the opposite to love, like anger, rage, resentment, or fear. Or we are feeling that we lack emotional support in our lives. We may be feeling unloved, or we are holding back love.

Middle back:

Corresponds to your solar plexus which is your area of power. Problems here often indicate that you are locked in indecision, caught between your own needs and demands from others. Issues of asserting yourself and making your needs known.  Issues of guilt are also found here, holding onto the past which is preventing you from moving forward.

Lower back:

This area relates to survival, security and self support. This includes money worries. Perhaps you doubt your ability to support yourself, you may not be feeling supported and feel that there is no one to help you carry the load.

References:

Deb Shapiro (2007) Your Body Speaks Your Mind: Understanding how your emotions and thoughts affect you physically. 3rd Edition. Great Britian. Piatkus Books Ltd.

Dr Christiane Northrup (2009) Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: The complete guide to women’s health and wellbeing. 3rd Edition. Great Britian. Piatkus Books Ltd.

As you identify the false belief for example ‘I don’t deserve to be sucessful’- this belief could apply to someone who’s pattern it is to work really hard to get to the top and then do something to sabotage it all and have to start all over again and then do the same thing again! or ‘It’s not safe to express my true feelings’ -could apply to someone who is unable to or finds it extremely difficult to confront others with their how they feel, causing them to bottle up it all up inside. When we identify the belief and recognise that this is a false belief (often acquired in childhood) and consciously begin choosing new thoughts the old belief ceases to operate and the pattern falls away.

How can I identify what my limiting beliefs are?

The body can provide valuable insight into what unconscious belief systems are operating. This is the mind body connection.The body is a physical manifestation of the subconscious mind. Physical ailments especially chronic ailments, aches and pains contain key information we can use to initiate change in our lives. They appear because of an imbalance in our thinking and once we have remedied our thinking our bodies and lives heal naturally.

Once you are aware of limiting beliefs which have been operating unconsciously the power is in your hands. We are able to create change and break free from patterns by having different thoughts. This is possible because of the very structure and function of our brain.

Our brain:

We are born with brains that are genetically hard wired with certain instinctual behaviour patterns that enable us to survive. But the wiring of our brains is not static, not irrevocably fixed. Our brains are also adaptable. Neuroscientiststs have documented the fact that the brain can design new pattens, new combinations of nerve cells and neurotransmitters in response to new input. Our brains are malleable, ever changing, reconfiguring their wiring according to new thoughts and experiences.  As a result of new learning, the function of individual neurons themselves change, allowing electrical signals to travel along them more readily. Training the mind for health and happiness is possible.

Mindbody Work:

Modalities like Massage Therapy, Reflexology and Reiki combined with exploration of the Mindbody Connection can bring about new learning and help to bring to our awareness negative states of mind including thoughts, beliefs, attitudes and ideas about ourselves or the world which are not benefiting our physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health. This empowers us to make changes in our thinking resulting in new neural pathways in the brain. Just by becoming aware of what our bodies are communicating to us physiological changes are activated.

These modalities also naturally induce positive feelings about ourselves and situations we are facing in our lives, helping to center, ground and bring us back into a state of balance. Engaging with bodywork over time can help us to shift and let go of old subconscious patterning replacing it more beneficial life and health enhancing ways of thinking.