Notes from Nina

Cynthia Nixon clarifies 'gay by choice' remark | CTV News

2012-01-31T09:45:00.000-05:00

Cynthia Nixon clarifies 'gay by choice' remark | CTV News

Is sexuality a choice or is it given to you by your genetics?

Cynthia Nixon recently stated that she is gay by choice. This has led to public confusion as many gay and bisexual people have been saying "I have no choice, I was made this way." The idea in society is that heterosexuality is the better, healthier, happier way. Is this true? Absolutely true?

For Nixon, it is not true. She is happy with her female partner and her gay lifestyle. She is absolutely not a victim of genetics.

Nixon's comments lead us to question what it means to be a victim of circumstance or a confident chooser of life. This is true conscious living; by choosing what is best for you and not judging it based on the choices of others.

Key to 2012: Believe in the Light

2012-01-01T09:19:00.000-05:00

This is a magical time of year, where change is possible and light sparkles in the dark sky. Whatever your circumstances, you can change your thoughts and watch that sooner or later show up in your outer world.

The most important thing to start with is to BELIEVE.

Believe that change is possible.
Believe that you can change.
Believe that life can change.
.....one step at a time.

No matter how dark or difficult your situation might be for you, see what light does appear and focus on that.

I send you support and love on your journey.
~~Nina

Slime Molds Teach New Paths of Intelligence

2011-12-28T10:24:00.003-05:00

Japan scientists hope slime holds intelligence key

The humble slime mold has ways of processing information that can teach us new ways of managing in the world. This is another example of what nature can teach us.

3 contract hepatitis C from infected Ky. donor

2011-12-25T00:11:00.000-05:00

3 contract hepatitis C from infected Ky. donor

An organ donor who tested negative on one HCV test and was misread as negative on another test had already donated two kidneys and 43 musculoskeletal tissue grafts and 1 cardiopulmonary patch before it was realized this this donor was hepatitis C virus -positive.

Two adults in Kentucky and a child in Massachusetts are now hepatitis C virus positive, according to the CDC.

Though this will certainly complicate the treatment for the underlying illness needing the transplant and the body's acceptance of the transplant, medical staff can monitor and treat the hepatitis C infection at a hopefully early stage as the initial exposure would have bee in late September 2011.

Fortunately, screening usually detects hepatitis C, but testing is not fool-proof and there are unfortunately risks involved when receiving transplants.

Best of luck to these individuals and their families.

Flying with Ladyboys - Bending Bender

2011-12-24T22:22:00.001-05:00

Flying with "Ladyboys"- Bending Gender Rules

A recent news story reported that PC Airlines (PC standing for the president Peter Chang) has announced the hiring of 9 transsexual flight attendants : Thai "ladyboy" flight attendants take to the skies.

This story represents the increasing acceptance in mainstream society for sexuality and gender that lie outside of the "norm."

Gender roles are a feature of Click here to read entire article...

Earth's Solstice: Mixing Dark and Light

2011-12-21T09:23:00.000-05:00

Good Morning and Happy Solstice Day!

It is winter solstice where I live in the Northern Hemisphere and summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Kind of mind boggling to realize at the same time it is our shortest day while in Australia, it is the longest day! We are the same, but opposite. They have an abundance of light today, a very long day; here it is our shortest day.

This reminds me of when I was a kid and we were digging in the garden and someone would say "if you keep digging, you'll reach China." We in New York were connected to China, if we just dug deep enough! One side of the earth is connected to the other.

I remember watching a news report that would show a raging fire through dry parts of the USA and then in other parts of the USA there would be terrible flooding. I would wonder, why can't we take this water to reduce the flooding damage and use it to tame the fire?

It made me realize that we do have everything we need, though the resources might not be immediately apparent or available. At the very same time, here on earth we have light and dark, fire and water.

I have heard the saying that "in every problem lies the solution."

I am not saying this as a mind twister, but it is a change in perspective that allows us to see the solution. A change in perception/perspective allows us to see that on our dark day, it is bright in Australia!

In the midst of this dark winter solstice (in northern hemisphere), there is still light. People have christmas lights, the stars are so bright in the night sky and the moon, well the winter moon (see my image below). There is always light, and the darkness helps us appreciate it, even more.

The more conscious we become, the more we realize that all is available. We see beyond our initial limited vision.

If we can't see something, if we don't understand it, then we may not be able to accept it. Becoming more aware, we open the door to more.

I wish you peace~

Happy Thanksgiving! -The Gift of Presence

2011-11-24T07:33:00.001-05:00

Here in the US, it is Thanksgiving Day, which is really a day of gratitude. Being thankful has been studied and found to increase one's well being. It is healthy to have gratitude!

Last night, I was reminiscing about people in my life from the past. The gift I remember most is when they looked me in the eyes and were really there for me. It wasn't any financial gift, or action gift, or words. It was actually being present and "seeing" me. For one or more moments, they were not distracted, wanting to get on with things, eating, watching tv, or playing games. They were actually sitting and looking at and breathing with me.

Presence is a gift beyond words. Some call it empathy or active listening. Some call it love. Whatever you call it, it is worth practicing with ourselves and with the people around us. You can practice the art of presence, or active presence (consciously being present rather than day dreaming), at any time, with any person or even a pet.

When we are in this energy of presence, the world become sacred. We feel brighter because we have gone deep in our souls to our truth. Everyone has a presence that is beyond the chatter and activity; go to this place and you experience heaven, heaven on earth.

On this day of being with people, family, friends, community, or even on your own, beyond the food and the words is a place called being present. Consciously observe and send silent love by noticing the souls who are with you.

I am grateful for you dear reader and wish you health, peace, love. ~~Nina

Watch Hepatitis C Video Blogs

2011-11-07T18:46:00.001-05:00

For those of you interested in hepatitis C blogs, here are a few personally madeYou tube video blogs from people in treatment for hepatitis C:

Anna's Hepatitis C Treatment Video Blog Week 1

Diana's Hep C Cure1

Jazzy: a Teenager in the UK Undergoes Treatment

Happy Ending after Treatment

I am inspired by the courage of these video bloggers to share their personal experience in hep c treatment.

Please let me know if you know of other video blogs I should look at/post.

To your health~
Nina

PS: I am providing these links for information purposes only. I would not advise that you do what they have done. Get good professional advice on your situation. Watching part of all of these videos might help you know what is best for you.

My motto is:

FOLLOW YOUR HEART,

Your Gut,

Your Truth.

Let everyone else follow theirs!

Comment on the Lollipop Chickenpox Vaccine

2011-11-07T16:48:00.001-05:00

Nation & World | Prosecutor to parents: Mailing chickenpox illegal | Seattle Times Newspaper

A woman is reported to be selling chickenpox virus-laden lollipops over the internet; the virus was obtained from the spit of her chickenpox-infected children. That this story is showing up all over the news indicates the public's growing dissatisfaction and distrust of mainstream medicine's use of childhood vaccines.

The scientific facts show that vaccine use has actually coincided with a statistically significant decrease in human morbidity and mortality (ie, people are living longer and healthier thanks to vaccines). Getting more notice are the more famous and alternative health-conscious parents who decide to limit or avoid childhood vaccination.

There are a very small number of children that are hurt by vaccines, but at a population level this is miniscule compared to the number that would be hurt by the illness if there were no vaccination. Never mind these numbers. No parent wants to give their child a vaccine that might harm their child, no matter how small the risk.

(On a risk analysis though, a parent doesn't think how feeding their child fried or processed foods, not breast-feeding, smoking in the home, or driving with old tires might increase their child's illness or risk of death.....which would perhaps be higher than having a vaccine....but these numbers are not publicized.)

Then there are the rumors of vaccines causing autism, never truly proven, but living wild in the public's beliefs due to prominent people saying they believe that increased vaccine use causes autism.

Other rumorists believe that vaccine use in the past caused the spread of the HIV virus. This has not been proven, but rumors prevail in the minds of people who are anti-science or modern medicine.

People want to blame someone when they or their loved one becomes ill. Scientists, drug companies, doctors and their methods can be the targets and any data can be manipulated to show what anyone wants to show.

This has led to a growing population which does not trust doctors or the drug companies that make vaccines. They believe that vaccination is bad.

Without vaccination, what do these parents do? I would warn these parents not to be fooled into trying a potentially dangerous remedy, such as the lollipops with infected children's spit or other risky and unproven remedies.

The spotlight of publicity around this brief internet sale of chickenpox-infected lollipops indicates the desperation of parents who are concerned with mainstream vaccines and vaccination recommendations but have nowhere else to turn and who become targets of unscrupulous and unsafe alternatives.

Rather than ignore or deride the people who criticize modern medicine, I believe that it is time for medicine to take in these concerns and develop new ways of practicing medicine that incorporate or develop methods that don't hurt anyone.

Halloween: A day to admit you're wearing a mask!

2011-10-31T17:44:00.000-04:00

In my (humble) opinion, the celebration of Halloween where you wear a costume and a mask and play a part that is not your real self, is truly what many do every day.

The trick or treat part is where you trick people, again, many people do this every day.

Treats are alway nice, any day of the year.

The scary part, where we celebrate skeletons and witches and dragons, we are just admitting that we are scared of death and the boogie man and we play with this idea today.

We eat lots of candy, with more impunity than other days, at least from people who might criticize us, if not our waistline.

All in all, Halloween is a holiday where we bring to consciousness, and society's approval, that which we want to do, and many do in hiding all through the year.

Boo~!

( I am dressed up as an intellectual-looking eyeglass-wearing cat lady eating York peppermint patties cooking a stew of lentil curry and typing on the computer. The cat is dressed up as....a giant cat with long whiskers and a cute pink nose!)

Getting into the Force Field of Integrity

2011-10-27T21:16:00.000-04:00

More on integrity:

The benefits of acting with integrity:

--we feel better knowing we have done the best we can
--the people around us intuitively feel our integrity, and they will respond likewise.

It has been fascinating to discover that forgiveness, integrity, love and other high level states of being are created by more than just saying:

"I forgive you"
"I love you"
or one moment of acting with integrity.

There is actually a force field for each of these qualities. So forgiveness becomes an attitude, a way of being and responding to life. Love becomes an attitude, a way of responding to life. Integrity becomes an attitude, position, a way of being in life.

To maintain the position, the force-field of integrity:

1- make a choice to act with integrity, to come from integrity in all that you do
2- feel this choice in your physical and emotional being
3- regularly remind yourself that this is your choice

When I get into this "field of integrity" from within myself, I feel brighter, calmer, clearer, and taller!
Yes, I feel taller than my usual height, calmer, and more pure, not in a religious sense but in the sense of a purer lightness of being.

Getting into the force field of the qualities we wish to live in brings exactly that back to us.

When we are in forgiveness, we are forgiven
When we are in love, we are loved
When we are in integrity, we are given integrity.

And so it is.

Darkening Days of Winter: Create a Coziness Within

2011-10-27T16:11:00.000-04:00

It's the end of October and the days are darkening rapidly. Here in Maine we are on the cusp of getting our first snow. What are you doing for your health at this time? Some people take vitamin D, some make it a point to go outside to get what light there is, others get flu vaccines. Our bodies crave more or different food as the weather changes.

Listen to your body, you may need more rest, hot soups, warm blankets, and hot baths. Take care of yourself by getting enough rest and nourishing foods and you will find a cozy way to enjoy the approaching winter.

I have white fairy lights on my front deck, welcoming me to some cheerful light as I come home in the dark. I try to go outside each day, especially on those sunny days, and let the light touch my skin and eyes. I appreciate the warmth of my flannel sheets, fuzzy slippers, and snuggly robe. Pets and people snuggle closer!

The frost will be good, I think, because the ticks and other insects will leave us alone and I can safely clean the garden without getting suckered. Though frost does not keep rose thorns from attacking!

The roads are getting quieter as the visitors leave the state. Though many shops and eateries close for the winter, enough stay open to provide winter warmth and cheer.

How are you dealing with/preparing for winter?

Why it is worthwhile to practice living with integrity

2011-10-26T10:44:00.001-04:00

Integrity starts within ourselves and spreads to those around us.

When I act with integrity, I am giving my best to me and to you.

When I don't act with integrity, I usually suffer some level of guilt and pain and need to apologize and make amends or cover those feelings with diversion and addiction.

To practice integrity:

~~Know yourself: your values, what is important to you.

~~Know those around you: their values, what is important to them.

~~Be conscious of your words and your behavior.

I wrote about integrity in my book "Reiki for Dummies" when I wrote about the three "I"s: Integrity, Intuition, Intention.

Integrity is essential for people who are in any position of authority or healing otherwise they might harm the other person as well as themselves. This means parents, teachers, healers, politicians, employers, in other words, all of us!

Bijan of Effortless Success and Effortless Prosperity has written:

"Remember to keep your word today."

His work suggests that when we lie to ourselves (For example, you tell yourself “I am going to eat healthy today”....and then you don't) we are building guilt which can hurt us.

don Miguel Ruiz of the Four Agreements: the first agreement is:

"Be impeccable with your word."

Honor your agreement to yourself and to others.

I have also heard:

Mean what you say

Say what you mean

And don't say it mean

~~~Today, I practice integrity, starting with my words to my self~~~

HepC Nomads

2011-10-02T19:47:00.003-04:00

I wanted to let you know about a great source of information on hepatitis C:

Hep C Nomads

Help Support and Information For Those Affected By Hepatitis C.

We are a group of friendly like minded people that have or had hepatitis C. Some of us have been through treatment and cleared the virus, some of us have not been so lucky. Some of us are just supporters or carers. We provide emotional support from people that understand what it is like to have hepatitis C. http://hepcnomads.co.uk

A reader of Reiki for Dummies emailed me about this link. Thank you for passing on this information!

Try Roasting Your Melon

2011-10-02T10:13:00.000-04:00

There have been reported deaths from eating listeria-contaminated melons. The official recommendation is: "CDC recommends that consumers not eat Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe from Jensen farms. This is especially important for older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women."

For those of you who have melons from other places but you are concerned about eating them, you could try roasting them and serving alone or with ice cream or whipped cream.

I once received a melon as part of a CSA (community supported agriculture) weekly veggie and fruit delivery. Since I usually received vegetables, I assumed it was another interesting form of autumn or winter squash (should have read the notes that came with the package), covered it in foil, placed it in a baking dish, and turned up the heat for roasting. Around 45 minutes later, I tested it with a fork and being easily pierced, I removed it from oven. This thing had squirted lots of juices, more than I would expect from a pierced squash. When I tasted the hot liquid that leaked out of the hot "squash," it started to dawn on me that this was not a squash. I finally reviewed the list of produce sent from the CSA and realized they had sent a melon. I counted the squashes I had received. This was the melon.

My friend and I ate the hot melon for a heaven-scented dessert; I don't remember if we had ice cream or whipped cream with the hot fruit, but they would surely complement this roasted fruit. This sweet beauty was a locally grown organic canteloupe and I do not know how this would taste on a store-bought canteloupe for $1.49. But if you were about to chuck your melon and wanted an alternative, roasting as a cooking method should kill many germs, including listeria.

****
This is not intended as medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions, please consult your medical provider/professional. Blessings!

Spine Journal Review and Criticism

2011-06-29T10:58:00.000-04:00

From the NYTimes:

"In an extraordinary move, a group of spine specialists are publicly repudiating the research of other experts that has backed the widespread use of a Medtronic bone growth product. In a series of reports published in a medical journal on Tuesday, the specialists called the research misleading and biased."

An entire issue of the Spine Journal was devoted to this issue, bringing the world's attention to the problem of industry sponsored research

Reiki and Ethics of the Bodyworker

2011-06-29T10:52:00.000-04:00

Scrolling through the web this morning, I noticed a comment on a discussion board that someone had found reiki to be calming and useful. She had three sessions and then at the last session, the Reiki Master had suggested to her, while she was still on the table and quite vulnerable and suggestible, that it would be useful for her to take courses at this Reiki Master's school.

The person felt that while these courses might be useful to her, the Reiki Master's timing showed a serious lack of ethics. She stated she would not be having any other Reiki sessions....with anyone.

Whew. Reading this brought up a lot of feelings for me, both as a Reiki Master myself and also having received much body and energy work for decades.

The truth is, some people might be gifted as a body or energy worker and help you, but that doesn't mean they have good boundaries. Just like doctors or therapists, they are privy to parts of you that are very private and not all people respect boundaries in the way you would like.

If you are trying Reiki, I list ways in my book "Reiki for Dummies" on how to choose a practitioner. Also see article on how to find a Reiki teacher:
http://ninapaul.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-do-i-find-reiki-teacher.html

It is up to you to research who you are using and set up the boundaries from the start. Get recommendations from a trusted source! If you do find a practitioner with questionable ethics, tell the person how you feel, or tell their boss (if they have one).

If you are a practitioner, please please please do the work yourself so that you are truly a blessing to your client and not an abuser.

---This is a pretty big topic so I will try to write more at another time.

Peace to all, Nina

"Mom’s prenatal stress raises child's disease risk"

2011-03-14T23:23:00.001-04:00

We already know that stress lowers the immune system. This study looked at how unborn and young children are affected by the mother's stress! Mother's and mother's to be: when you reduce your stress you help yourself and your children. Reiki can help.

Send Reiki to Japan Tsunami

2011-03-14T21:29:00.006-04:00

Send distant Reiki, prayers, good thoughts, energy light to Japan and the Japanese people at this very challenging time after the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor meltdowns. Reiki originated in Japan and now the Japanese people need our support. Facebook Link

The Hepatitis C Trust Welcomes New Response To 'The Worst Treatment Disaster In The History Of The NHS'

2011-01-17T21:18:00.001-05:00

The Hepatitis C Trust Welcomes New Response To 'The Worst Treatment Disaster In The History Of The NHS'

New hope for hepatitis C, an often hidden disease

2011-01-17T21:05:00.001-05:00

"There's new hope for an overlooked epidemic: Two powerful drugs are nearing the market that promise to help cure many more people of liver-attacking hepatitis C -- even though most who have the simmering infection don't know it yet."

Article in Boston Globe

Using Reiki in Treating Cancer - Robotic-Prostatectomy.com

2010-05-25T19:51:00.002-04:00

Using Reiki in Treating Cancer - Robotic-Prostatectomy.com

Posted using ShareThis

Interview with Denene Brox about reiki for this cancer blog. Good questions and it helps bring different ideas about healing into traditional venues of medicine

Vets and Mesothelioma

2010-01-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

It has been pointed out to me that many of the veterans who were exposed to hepatitis C infection while in military service might have also been affected by asbestos and have symptoms of the related cancer called mesothelioma, which affects the thin layer of cells that lie over the body's internal organs. The most common form of mesothelioma affects the layer over the lungs. A great website that will give you more information is:
http://www.maacenter.org/

Reiki for Haiti

2010-01-22T18:09:00.000-05:00

One can send reiki, or other forms of distant energy healing or prayer, at any time in any place, but if you want to join a group healing event to focus energy to Haiti, William Rand of International Center for Reiki Training writes:

Group Reiki Healing for Haiti
Sunday, January 24 at 4pm
(In your time zone)

If you responded to the previous request to send healing to the situation in Haiti - Thank You. While progress is being made, and people are receiving help, the situation for many continues to be desperate. In order to focus even more healing I've schedule this group healing event. The intention is to send Reiki in a similar way that Reiki is sent for the world peace meditations - sending at the above time in your time zone. Please send Reiki for 15 minutes or longer. By sending Reiki together as a group our hearts will join together and our efforts will be more effective.

Please print this page and use it to send Reiki healing by simply hold it in your hands and using the distant symbol and any other Reiki symbols you're guided to use. Please send Reiki for 15 minutes or longer. If the 4pm time doesn't work, send Reiki any time you can.

May all those who were adversely affected by the earthquake in Haiti be deeply healed and guided to the resources and help they need. May all those providing aid including food, water, medical care and shelter and those involved in rebuilding the infrastructure be filled with the love, strength, perseverance and organizational skills needed to fulfill their purpose.

Please forward this email to all your Reiki Friends.

Thanks for helping.

Sincerely,
William Lee Rand
The International Center for Reiki Training

Getting Back on the Blog

2010-01-22T14:07:00.003-05:00

Hello There!

Well, here I am, back on the blogging circuit. I started to blog in 2005, on the advice of my then acquisitions editor, Mikal Belicove who was then at Wiley. He was an advocate of this new media and suggested the blog as a way to stay in touch with readers.

Both of my Dummies books have links to my main web site, which has links to my blog.

One of the Dummies books is on hepatitis C.
the other Dummies book is on reiki.

I struggled to figure out what my blog should be about:

Update and keep the Dummies Books alive?

update people about hepatitis C, a rapidly changing landscape of treatments and information
run a commentary about reiki and other energy modalities and answer reader questions

Personal anecdotes?

my meanderings, nature notes, observations and suchlike?

Introduce my books in progress?

try out my new ideas and works on this hopefully growing audience

Try to change the world?

develop a platform to espouse my opinions and beliefs

etc etc etc.

I was so unsure of how to conduct the blog, that I just dropped it, like a hot potato.

Now I am back. I have decided to get back on the blog saddle and ride the blog again. I still don't know exactly where it is going. This time, though, I don't care , I just want to write it.

Am I trying to make friends, keep friends, get new readers, keep old readers, figure out where I am going, have fun, play with words and ideas, get feedback? Yes, yes, and yes.