Clear as Quartz

Meditation: unravelling the myths

Andrea Wren — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:22:44 +0000

I really like this post on Yoga-Abode, the site of Lucia Cockcroft, a friend of mine. Lucia says that "You don't have to wear orange robes and sit on cushions in an incense-swathed room. Anyone can meditate, and even a minute a day can pay off," and with this, she basically deconstructs the idea that mediation is something that only gurus people can do.

In this post, Lucia provides a simple guide on how to begin this very beneficial practice and interestingly, notes that one the most difficult things to take on board is that meditation must be practised without a specific goal.

She adds that it needs a relaxed, open approach that is without judgement or expectation. This is useful for me to know, as I often at least have the goal to try and 'keep my head empty'.

It's worth keeping an eye on Yoga Abode since the site is going for a relaunch very shortly, though I shall ensure to let you know here when it does.

How to get more people to read your work

Andrea Wren — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:45:29 +0000

If you are a therapist and you write a blog or own a content-driven website, you will want to find ways of getting more people to read your articles on your site. I have found one little way (amongst the many!) that might help.

You could try writing an article for GoArticles.com and link to your site or blog within the piece. I'd originally written the How to Choose Your Spiritual Mentor feature which appears on this site for Vision magazine, before it folded, so rather than 'waste' the article I not only posted it here, but put it on GoArticles a few days ago. The feature has since had 6 requests - which means my work and my blog are getting circulated.

For the article to be picked up, it needs to be properly structured (rather than just a rambling blog entry!) but there are many publishers hungry for good content, and though I would not normally offer my work for 'free' (as a journalist, at least), the purpose of this exercise is to get other people to read my blog

I think this is only one small example of how we can market our sites or blogs more, but I'm sure you'll have some posts already within your site that you can tidy up a bit and turn into more of an article.

Dr Kevin Ross Emery: Managing the gift

Andrea Wren — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:41:06 +0000

Dr Kevin Ross Emery is an eminent US spiritualist coach and counsellor, who has written a number of interesting books on various aspects of spirituality and psychic-awareness, but most notably, Managing the gift: alternative approaches to attention deficit disorder.

I met Dr Emery last year in the UK at a bit of a spiritual soiree and he is most definitely an interesting guy. In Managing the gift, Dr Emery claims that the 'ADHD impacted person is part of the evolutionary process of humanity', and in his view, we must recognise and appreciate the gifts that people with attention deficit disorders bring to society.

Dr Emery doesn't feel that medication is the answer to help people affected by ADD or ADHD. He even says that if he were to rename the disorder, he might call it something like 'cultural inconvenience syndrome' (which I do quite like). Dr Emery also believes that intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically, people with attention deficit disorders can easily be appreciated in many ways (if we were in an ideal setting), and he feels that there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the 'disorder'.

In Managing the gift, Dr Emery certainly provides a fresh approach to something that is increasingly being seen as a 'new problem', and something which should be quashed as a opposed to harnessed. In his book, he outlines a framework to begin the management of ADHD or ADD, and then devotes chapters to the different levels of intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical management. Also covered are the impacts of anxiety, shame, isolation and depression, as well as how to address these aspects.

I think there is insight within the pages of Dr Emery's book for anyone dealing with people with attention deficit disorders, whether as parents or as therapists/care workers, as well as for people with disorders themselves. I cannot recommend whether or not one should choose to adopt the approaches, but I feel that any attempt made to widen understanding or take an alternative outlook can only be positive.

Managing the gift: alternative approaches to attention deficit disorder by Dr Kevin Ross Emery (paperback, 165 pages), £7.46.

Click here for details of Kevin's Serenity Tour (in the US), beginning May 6th.

The New Encyclopedia of Flower Remedies

Andrea Wren — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:39:49 +0000

The New Encyclopedia of Flower Remedies by Clare Harvey (published by Watkins) is a wonderful book of incredible detail and knowledge about flower remedies across the world (and it's a gorgeous bright pink!).

Many of us just associate flower remedies with Bach Flower, but there are thousands of others from across the world that could possibly be used. Whether Deva Flower Elixirs from Europe, or Andreas Korte Essences from Africa and the Amazon, Harvey lists them all in a comprehensive and easily-used resource.

Harvey's book begins with a history of the use of flower essences, as well as including a detailed description of how they work, of energy fields and of the effects of stress, shock and pollution on humans.

What I especially like about this book is how detailed the information sections are, particularly the ailment chart and the remedy rescue chapter. There is a guide to stockists and also some extra advice for practitioners at the back of the book which includes a discussion of psychic protection

This book is excellent for people who are just becoming accustomed to using flower remedies, and also for more advanced practitioners.

The New Encyclopedia of Flower Remedies by Clare Harvey (paperback, 432 pages).

Meditation books worth checking out

Andrea Wren — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:11:36 +0000

With reference to my last post on meditation techniques, I thought it might be worth rounding up some of the good meditatin books out there to buy.

Meditation for Dummies by Stephan Bodian is a very simple, easy to use book which is perfect for beginners. Okay, it doesn't look like something Deepak Chopra might have lying around on his coffee table, but it 'does what it say s on the tin'! It's available from Amazon currently priced at £10.39.

Guided Mindfulness Mediation by Jon Kabat-Zinn is a beautifully packaged audiobook containing 2 CDs. It saves you the trouble of reading a book, of course, and you just get to sit and be washed over by perfect peace while listening in. It's available from Amazon currently priced at £25.00.

The Meditation Bible: A Definitive Guide to Meditations for Every Purpose by Madonna Gauding is a delighfully uncomplicated book which is very much ideal for newbies to the practice. The approach to meditation within its pages is achievable and practical, and is the sort of book you can easily dip in and out of. It's available from Amazon currently priced at £9.09.

Meditation techniques and free lessons

Andrea Wren — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:41:42 +0000

Meditation is the one thing that everyone in the world can benefit from, and daily practice (or as often as you can begin with, even if just once a week to start) can really enrich your life - quietening the mind, providing focus, producing a sense of calm, and allowing physical relaxation.

For those who are completely unfamiliar to meditation, in the most simplest form, you can begin by sitting in a comfortable position, closing your eyes, taking deep breaths, and allowing your mind to empty. Thoughts will come in, but just let them go.

I found a website that offers a free e-zine and free lessons on meditation techniques, and non-denominational guided meditation methods. Worth checking out?

CLICK HERE to find out more about meditation techniques and get a free newsletter with lessons!

smile like a star

Andrea Wren — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:30:42 +0000

It doesn't exactly fit into the 'therapy' bracket, but it does fit into 'beauty' - as I've got together with my friend Alison Levelsey to begin a new business venture in teeth whitening. smile like a star is the name we have given to our laser teeth whitening service, and I'm currently undergoing my training so that I can safely see clients myself and whiten their teeth.

Alison has been set up with the equipment and training for a while, but just needed someone to help take it forward. So, spotting a good idea when I see it, I was happy to jump on board with her. I'll be doing much of the marketing to get our name out there, and hopefully, much of Manchester will soon have shiny white smiles down to us!

Because we're operating outside of a salon and without salon overheads, we are able to offer an extremely competitive price to clients - only £199 per treatment. We're also offering various discounts, particularly for those clients who would be happy to host a 'treatment day' at their own homes.

Contact smile like a star for more details.

Champagne charity event at SPACE.NK. for St Ann's Hospice

Andrea Wren — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:45:40 +0000

If you're interested in supporting the work of St Ann's Hospice and live around the Manchester or Cheshire regions, then they would very much welcome your attendance at a champagne & canapes charity event being hosted at SPACE.NK.apothecary in Wilmslow (11c Water Lane).

The event takes place on Thursday 6th December at 6.15pm and costs £15 to attend, with a goodie bag to take away included in the price. The evening is focused around skin and hair care and make up demonstrations with expert advice, and of course, champagne and canapes! To book your place contact Dipti Lahkani on 0161 498 3644 or email dlakhani@sah.org.uk for details and the address to send your payment.

Those self-obsessed Leos...

Andrea Wren — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:12:42 +0000

I love this site, videojug, which sells itself as being 'life explained on film'. When browsing around it this morning, I discovered it has a video for 'a day in the life' of each sign of the zodiac. How fabulous!

And for each video, it shows you how many people have clicked on to watch it. I wasn't surprised to find that when I surveyed the page, the gregarious and self-centred Leos have been interested to view their video a whopping 2,841 times, compared to the more introspective and humanitarian Aquarians - the group to have viewed their video the least, only 542 times. Quite a difference hey?

So, tell me there is nothing in astrology and I will beg to differ. I'm sure any astrologist will agree that they would have expected Leos to be the people who were most interested in finding out more about their favourite topic - themselves! (And don't shoot me down, I have to admit that while I'm a Taurean sun sign, my rising sign is Leo!).

How to choose your spiritual mentors

Andrea Wren — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:53:33 +0000

Whether you want to learn Reiki, begin Chakra healing, develop psychic awareness, or embark on other spiritual pursuits, picking the best people to offer guidance through your journey is crucial to your development. You need to find people you can trust and who you resonate with, because deciding to develop your inner wisdom is a very important stage of your life.

When Soul Coach Alison Levesley, based in Cheshire, was first setting out on her spiritual path and wanted to learn Reiki, she knew the instant that she walked into Farnham’s house that he was going to be her Master, because the energy between them was so right.

As is wont to happen in circumstances of shared intuition, Farnham experienced the same feeling that this was meant to be. But up until that point, Alison had been looking around the country for the 'right person for the job'.

“I was booked to do Reiki Level I with another Master,” says Alison. “But our booking was cancelled 5 times either by me or her. I began to question this and realised I was being shown that she wasn’t the Master for me.”

As an experienced Soul Coach and energy healer, as well as psychotherapist and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, Alison is not only pretty far down her path of spiritual development, but ideally placed to guide others. But it is only by ‘asking’ for guides to come into our lives that they will, says Alison.

“It can sometimes take a lot of courage to mention to friends, family, or colleagues anything about your spiritual questioning,” she comments.

“Only when we are further along the path and more open about ourselves do we find that some of the people around us have had their own spiritual search. Once we begin to ask, synchronistic events begin to happen. What this means is that people or situations will occur to provide opportunities for us to be in the right places to meet the people and so on.”

Olivia Stefanino, who is the principal of the online ‘Quantum Business School for Therapists’, guiding therapists on business development, says:

“I think it’s really important to follow your intuition when it comes to finding the right people, if something just feels right, then it probably is! And of course, if it feels wrong, then it also probably is!

"But what’s wrong for you may be right for someone else and vice versa. You can be sure that there are as many approaches to healing as there are people who will benefit from a particular modality.”

And it is more likely there will be a number of people you will have such a relationship with, rather than just one.

“By seeking guidance from a number of sources it will help you to clarify what you are looking for,” says Alison Levesley.

“There are so many belief systems out there that it’s about finding what fits your own personal beliefs. For example, for some, Reiki may be the answer, developing as a healer feeling the energy. But for others, who function more on a physical level, yoga might be something they’d like to try, and therefore their yoga teacher would guide them.”

Your guides may come in the form of crystal healers, Tai Chi teachers, psychics willing to show you how to tap into your own gifts, Chakra healers, and so on.

Of course, while there are many great teachers out there, all of whom can hasten an individual on his or her path, in the end, says Olivia Stefanino, “The understanding and ‘knowing’ comes from within, from the inner teacher inside you.”

And it is always worth remembering that in any field, there are those people you may be better off avoiding.

“Be very wary of any teacher who says that their way is the right way,” asserts Olivia. “We’re all created equal and have our own ‘hot-line’ to the Universe! The art is learning how to tap into that hot line.”