Tuesday, 28 October 2014

SIMPLE SOUPS: Tomato & Basil


Ingredients:
*Carton of chopped tomatoes
*Fresh cherry or small vine tomatoes
*Garlic
*Small onion chopped
*Basil (dried or fresh or mix)
*Vegetable stock

Method:
*Put fresh tomatoes and 2 whole garlic cloves in oven dish and cover with oil. Medium roast until cooked.
*Fry clove of garlic and onion in oil then add carton tomatoes, veggie stock and basil.
*Remove roasted garlic and tomatoes from skins and add to pot.
*Simmer for 20-30 mins.
*Leave chunky or blend.








SIMPLE SOUPS: Leek & Spaghetti



This is a really easy handy soup for using up any leftover Leek!

*Add chopped leek and a clove of chopped garlic to pot and gently cook in butter or oil to soften. 
*Cover with vegetable stock (I use Swiss Marigold Bouillon).
*Add some mixed herbs. Break up some spaghetti and simmer until cooked.

Yummy with some crusty bread! Enjoy :)   

Friday, 28 February 2014

Chakra Meditation- Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra

Colour-Breathing Meditation for 
Sahasrara/Crown Chakra

Get comfortable.. if you`re lying down let your whole body relax and become comfy. If you`re sitting, then relax your hands on your lap or at your side, whatever way feels comfy.
And close your eyes. This is your time now, so leave all your worries at the door. Allow yourself to relax into the flow of the moment. Whatever comes easily for you is just right. There is only right here, right now, the future and the past do not exist right now.
Notice any sounds outside of the room, acknowledge them and let them go. Notice any sounds inside of the room, acknowledge them and let them go.
Tell your body to relax. Let your feet & legs soften into position. Drop your shoulders. Relax your hands. Allow your full body to soften down and relax into a natural position. Now tell your head and face to relax. Your scalp and hair. Your ears, your jaw and chin, your cheeks, your nose, your eyes, and your eyebrows..your forehead, all soft and relaxed. 
 Take a cleansing breath in…and breathe out the tension in your body.
Allow your breathing to fall into its own natural rhythm, not trying to control it in any way. Just observing as you breathe in relaxation, and breathe out tension. Breathing in, breathing out. Just watching the natural rhythm of your breathing.
If thoughts intrude, allow them to flow on past, and return your attention to your breathing. Breathing in, breathing out (repeat).
Bring your attention to the top of your head. Imagine a lovely little violet blue light there…swirling out from the top of your head like a little whirlpool. Try to notice how it feels, how it looks. Try to get a sense of how it is functioning, can you feel any tingling? What thoughts are popping into your head? Is it swirling and moving, what speed is it, does it feel fast or slow, a little small light or a big enlarged light. Can you see any colour in your minds eye?  Visualise again the little violet light at the top of your head, watch as this violet glow starts to gently spread out and get bigger as it spins.
Now bring your attention to your breathing- breathing in relaxation breathing out tension (repeat).  As you  breathe in, visualise yourself breathing in violet light. With every in-breath you pull in more fresh violet light, allowing it to fill your whole head and spread down into your chest, out into your arms and hands. Down into your tummy, your legs and your feet, filling you up with violet light. Allow it to fill your entire body, while connecting with all other chakras. Breathing in violet light (repeat). 
As you breathe in this violet light it brings you connection, wisdom, enlightenment.
  As you breathe out, the violet light removes all blockages. Feel the lovely violet glow as it gently spins and envelops you. Breathing in violet light. Tell yourself you are connected, you are all knowing. Breathing in violet light (repeat). 
(Closing down the Chakra): Bring your attention back to the top of your head, to the violet light of the Crown Chakra. Visualise the swirling violet light getting smaller, bringing it down to around the size of a fairy light, bringing it back down to normal function. Repeat to yourself “My Crown Chakra is working at normal function”. 

Bring your awareness back to the flow of your breathing, in and out, in and out. Notice the cool breath as it comes in through your nose and down the back of your throat and into your lungs. Notice the natural movement of your tummy as you breathe, in and out. Be aware of your full body again as it rests against the floor. Bring your attention to your toes, and give them a little wiggle. Then to your fingers and give them a little wiggle. Give your shoulders a little shrug. Let yourself be aware of the room again, of all the sounds close by. And when you feel ready to, you can open your eyes and bring yourself back to this present moment in time. 


Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra

About Sahasrara (Crown) Chakra


Meaning:   “I UNDERSTAND. I KNOW” 
Yantra/Symbol:       
                                                       

Mudra: 


Mantra/Chant/Sound: Silent but can use AH or OM
Function: Inner wisdom and guidance. Spiritual connection. Enlightenment. Knowledge. Universal Consciousness. Meditation. Truth. Connection to one`s spirituality. Meditation, living in the now. 
Life Development/7 year cycle: 43-49 yrs and 92-98 yrs.
Endocrine Gland: The glands of the endocrine system provide a chemical communication network that controls a large number of physiological processes. The chemical messengers are known as hormones. The Crown Chakra governs the Pineal Gland which can be described as the `conductor` of the `orchestra` of al glands, while the Pituitary Gland is the lead musician.
Colour: Violet
Essential Oils: Ylang-ylang. Rosewood. 
Crystals: Celestite to activate. Sugalite to calm. Clear Quartz to balance.  
Yoga Pose: Crane Pose. Shoulder Stand.
Reflexology: Situated in the tip of the big toe.
Underactive Brow Chakra
*Symptoms: Lack of purpose. Loss of meaning or identity. Lack of trust in life. Unable to see the big picture in life.  Rigid thinking. Unconnected.  Frustrated with life.
*Restore: Meditation. Use crystals.   
Overactive Brow Chakra
*Symptoms: `Flighty`. Only concerned with spirituality, not paying attention to worldly needs. 
*Restore: Meditation. Use crystals.
Affirmations:
“I am a channel for wisdom and understanding.  I am complete and one with Divine energy.” “My Crown Chakra is functioning normally.”





Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Ajna (Brow) Chakra


Ajna (Brow) Chakra

Meaning:   “I UNDERSTAND” 

Yantra/Symbol: 
                                 

                                                       
Mudra: 


Mantra/Chant/Sound: AH

Function: Life Development/7 year cycle: yrs and yrs.

Endocrine Gland: The glands of the endocrine system provide a chemical communication network that controls a large number of physiological processes. The chemical messengers are known as hormones. The Brow Chakra governs the Pituitary Gland which is the master gland that regulates and stimulates all other glands. Glands can produce too few or too many hormones and will be restored by the Pituitary Gland, bringing about balance.

Colour: White or Indigo (deep blue)

Essential Oils: Bay Laurel, Galbanum, Rosewood.

Crystals: Diamonds to activate. Emerald to calm. Sapphire for deep insight. Lapis Lazuli to access deep memory and heal through wisdom.

Yoga Pose: Downward facing dog.

Underactive Brow Chakra
*Symptoms: Confusing information with knowledge. Carried away with own powers of insight. Confusion, lack of clarity. Lack of imagination. Narrow-mindedness. Rigid thoughts and beliefs.
*Restore: Meditate on opening this chakra. `THOH chant` (with caution). Visualise an eyelid in your forehead opening (remember to close). Candle Gazing. Avoid Flouride! Use crystals. Eat foods- high energy `clean` foods such as raw vegetables and sprouts. Blue and Purple foods. 
  
Overactive Brow Chakra
*Symptoms: Hallucinations. Paranoia. Spacing out. Difficulty focusing in life. Fuzzy thinking. Thrown by new ideas. Feeling an overload of information. Sleep/dream issues.
*Restore: Meditate on restoring the chakra to normal function. Use crystals. Avoid Flouride!

Affirmations:
“I am aware in every moment. My imagination is blissful. I trust my intuition. My vision is powerfully understood.”

NB Caution may be needed when activating the Brow Chakra. Symptoms of activation can include headaches or other physical symptoms in the area. Keep watch for any emotional shifts occuring and seek support if necessary. Receiving too much information through the Brow Chakra can also cause a feeling of being overwhelmed, it is important to close down the Third Eye if this oc

Anahata (Heart) Chakra


Anahata (Heart) Chakra


Meaning:   “I LOVE”


Yantra/Symbol: 



Mudra: 


Mantra/Chant/Sound: YAM

Function: Heart Centre. Issues of the heart. Love. Giving and Receiving. Relationships. Passion. Love for yourself and others. Unconditional love. Compassion. Patience. Kindness. Forgiveness. Generosity. Peace.  

Life Development/7 year cycle: 22-28 years and 71-77 years

Endocrine Gland: The glands of the endocrine system provide a chemical communication network that controls a large number of physiological processes. The chemical messengers are known as hormones. The Heart Chakra governs the Thymus Gland which is concerned with the bodys Immune System.

Colour: Green. Pink.

Essential Oils: Rose. Neroli. Melissa.

Crystals: Peridot. Rose Quartz. Watermelon tourmaline.

Yoga Pose: Cobra. Fish Pose.

Underactive Heart Chakra
*Symptoms: Loneliness. Suspicion. Neediness. Possessiveness. Jealousy. Not able to connect well in relationships. Not able to find loving relationship. Resentful. Not caring. No compassion for others. Isolation.
*Restore: Plums, cherries, strawberries. brown rice, couscous, greens. Green or pink crystals. Metta (loving-kindness) Meditation.

Overactive Heart Chakra
*Symptoms: While there is no real danger in having your heart wide open with no barriers, and no such thing as too much love and compassion, an overactive Heart Chakra may lead to being taken advantage of if you are not able to stand in your own power. With great love comes risk and a certain amount of vulnerability.

Affirmations:


“I love and approve of myself.” “I am loving, I am loved, I am Loveable.” “It is safe for me to love and be loved with an open heart.” “I easily forgive others and I forgive myself.” “I give out love and joy and find it wherever I turn.”

Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra


Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra


Meaning:   “I DO”  I will.


Yantra/Symbol:      




Mudra:         




Mantra/Chant/Sound: Ram

Function: Development of personality and feelings. Power. Ego. Opinion. Growth.  Connection to others. Shining your inner light. Expansion. Self-direction. This chakra is the "power chakra." It governs our sense of self, the power that that we have within and over our destinies, the power that we have over others, and the power that others have over us. This Chakra deals with digestion, synthesis, distribution and emanation of our personal power. Our stomach, pancreas, gall bladder and liver deal with our digestion and synthesis, and our spleen and autonomic nervous system distributes and emanates our power.

Life Development/7 year cycle: 15-21 years and 64-70 years

Endocrine Gland: The glands of the endocrine system provide a chemical communication network that controls a large number of physiological processes. The chemical messengers are known as hormones. The Solar Plexus Chakra governs the Pancreas and Islets of Langerhan which are responsible for regulating blood glucose levels and food digestion.

Colour: Yellow. Golden.

Essential Oils: Clary Sage, Juniper, Geranium.

Crystals: Topaz and Yellow Tourmaline to activate. Citrine to balance. Emerald and Sapphire to calm.

Yoga Pose: Sitting Spinal Twist. Cow Pose.

Underactive Sacral Chakra
*Symptoms: Feeling powerless, Inferiority. Drained by other people. Doubt, worry. Fatigued. Taking on others fears. Isolation. Passive. Unable to take responsibility for self. Avoid confrontation.
*Restore: Meditate on opening this chakra. Wear yellow, use crystals. Eat foods- apricots, oranges, carrots, sweet potatoes, cranberry juice. Manipulate others to take responsibility for yourself.

Overactive Sacral Chakra
*Symptoms: Bossy, Narrow-Minded, Dictatorial. Egocentric. Insensitive. Confrontational. Aggressive.
*Restore: Meditate on restoring the chakra to normal function. Wear green or blue and use green or blue crystals. Avoid above foods and fish or chicken.

Positive Affirmations:
“I stand in my own power. I bring all my energy back to me. I accept my responsibilities. I have a balanced attitude to life.”