Positive News & Interviews

By Yvonne Fannon

For some reason, the ‘spa day’ never really captured me – a good thing considering my ‘spa day’ budget is currently non-existent. However, I am realising that its effects – the feel good factor, the relaxation and the rejuvenation are free and abundant in our beautiful Spring-kissed countryside. My equivalent of a spa treatment goes something like this… I stroll down an abandoned boreen breathing deeply the Atlantic infused, west of Ireland air. This particular boreen has grass growing on the road so each step I take is padded as my feet meet the soft earth. The boreen begins with bog on each side of the road. It’s flat and open everywhere I look and I find my mental clutter falling away. A sense of openness manifests within me, mirroring the unobstructed landscape around me. Soon there is a narrow bridge over a narrow stream and I stop to look, and feel the cool air rising from the water. From here, the boreen winds through a more forested section where everything – the trees and the stone walls – on either side are covered in a thick blanket of moss. Little white flowers, that remain nameless to me, poke up through the moss. I remind myself of how lucky I am in this moment. I find a random sitting spot and with my rain jacket between me and the damp earth, nature surrounds me making it almost impossible to think of anything else. I focus on the bird songs – so loud when you stop and listen; so many songs and calls. I look up at the tree branches touching the sky. I observe the clouds – their shapes, colours and movements. I follow the tree branches back down to the tree trunk and into the earth. Soon, I proceed on my stroll and I think that there is nothing quite like the ‘new green’ of Spring – it’s a brand new colour pushing through the greys and browns of winter. The walk, though not particularly long, winds through forest and bog. When it’s almost over, I locate my favourite sitting rock at the top of a small hill. I climb up. It’s bog beneath and little pink flowers are dotted about. I sit on the rock and take it all in – a 360 degree vista of greens, blues, brown, beiges, purples, trees, fields, big sky, grass, heather, hills and mountain. Every day is a new day up here – the sky and the presence or absence of the sun can colour the landscape in varying shades from one minute to the next and one visit to the next. The feeling of insignificance in the presence of seemingly boundless nature is humbling and breathtaking. Spa treatment complete. Relaxation achieved. Rejuvenated I return to my life.

Yesterday, April 13th, more than a thousand people gathered in Dublin’s Citywest Hotel for the sold-out POSSIBILITIES 2011 civic summit. POSSIBILITIES is organised by three Irish non-profit organisations: Afri, Children in Crossfire and SpunOut.ie and aims to inspire people, young and old, to become vocal and active in transforming our country and our planet for the better.

The event was attended by the exiled and soon to retire Tibetan leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who accepted a personal invitation to come to Ireland from his close friend, Derry man Richard Moore. Richard was blinded by a rubber bullet at the age of 10, and went on to seek out and befriend the British soldier who shot him.

The Dalai Lama spoke on the subject of ‘Universal Responsibility’ and how taking action for change is something we all have a duty to do. Following the Possibilities Summit, the Dalai Lama continued on to speak at events in Kildare and Limerick as part of his third visit to the Republic.

By Patrick Bridgeman

I’ve long known of the benefits of meditation, but hadn’t found one that easily evolved into a daily practice for me until I was recently given a gift of the new Abraham Hicks book and CD, “Getting into the Vortex”. It couldn’t be simpler. The CD contains four 15 minute guided meditations. The relaxing music guides your breath while the uplifting words guide your mind.

My wife and I decided to start the journey together and took the advice of reading whichever section of the book corresponded to each meditation before listening that meditation for the first time. The first time we did this for each section, whoever wasn’t reading allowed for the other would fall into either a deep healing sleep or a deeply relaxed state; while the reader themselves would also feel drawn into those states.

While in those states we both experienced a tangible shift in the energy of our bodies. Amazing sensations that I hadn’t experienced for many years happened to me once again. All good signs that we were onto something with real power to change people for the better.

We’ve taken to listening to one of the four meditations in bed every night, or sometimes if I feel the need to calm my mind and clear my energy during the day, I’ll pop in the CD and take a trip into the Vortex.

You can get yourself a copy of it from their website www.abraham-hicks.com

A  WONDERFUL  WELCOME  TO THE WORLD
By Mary Costello
Infant Massage seems to be getting more and more popular these days, but what is it all about?

In lots of cultures, massaging babies is a tradition that has been around for centuries, but it is thanks to Vimala McClure and the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) that it is at last spreading throughout the Western World. It is the very special art of using nurturing touch to communicate with your baby, to show them that they are loved and welcomed and that they can feel secure and safe in this new world into which they have suddenly been delivered. This knowledge will allow a baby to grow and develop in a healthy way. It can speed up their development, can help them gain weight and enable their digestive system to function more efficiently, thus aiding the prevention of colic and constipation. Because it impacts on all the systems of the body, it is particularly beneficial for premature babies.

Infant Massage is also a very special way to bond with a baby. For this reason, IAIM recommend that it is only taught to those closest to the baby, especially mum and dad, but also grandparents, guardians or siblings for example. For dads it is a special way to get involved when mum is breastfeeding, doing something that is enjoyable and fun, and really benefits the baby.

Oxytocin, the hormone of love, floods the system of the baby and of the person giving the massage. For mums suffering from post natal depression, this has a natural healing effect, and for babies it has a calming, relaxing effect. Massage can therefore aid sleeping patterns.

Baby Massage Ireland (BMI) is the Irish Chapter of the IAIM and they have instructors throughout the country running private classes and group courses. The benefits of infant massage are so numerous that it is becoming more and more recognised by the medical profession. In Ireland, course fees are now covered by most of the major health insurance companies provided the instructor is registered with (BMI). All certified instructors are listed on www.babymassageireland.com

By Michael Rice

In its purest form, Democracy is supposed to be ‘of the people by the people for the people’. The foundations of it are the notions of freedom of choice and personal liberty, bound by social agreement and a system of laws and regulations. Orbiting within this sphere of consciousness is the idea of Capitalism, which is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit; and its lubricant Commerce, a whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business.

Society is governed by a complex web of agreements or contracts. Some of these contracts are well known, such as mortgages and marriages. Others are more subtle and covert, yet can fundamentally affect the way we view ourselves and the reality of the world we live in.

An example of this would be the Birth Certificate. This contract has far reaching implications for each and every one of us to the extent that we are in effect a commercial commodity that is traded both publicly and privately. These contracts form the very basis of all debt and control.

The New Commerce is a name given to the in depth study of the history, the practice and the implications of these contracts. By understanding them, we get an opportunity to create a new societal paradigm that is based on Truth, Fact and Honour.

Rather than placing too much energy on a flawed system, or being ignorant and fearful of it, the New Commerce is a vehicle for personal and global transformation, drenched in integrity and fuelled by love.

newcommerce.me/michaelricepublic
bioarchitecture.ie

By Niamh O’Brien

Increasing studies are proving that a healthy diet, managed stress levels and a balanced lifestyle are key factors in conceiving naturally.

Achieve Fertility is a team of 6 healthcare practitioners based in Sandyford who became established to offer a natural way of addressing infertility, either as an alternative to or in conjunction with conventional treatments. The group offers several modalities between them – there is a medical nurse who specialises in infertility, a nutritionist, chiropractor, psychotherapist, herbalist and two acupuncturists.

It supports couples hoping to optimise the results of IVF treatment and those who simply wish to be in peak mental and physical health for starting a family. At Achieve Fertility, a tailored holistic approach is provided, bringing the emotional and physical needs of an individual into balance and harmony.

Contact Ballawley Lodge on 01-2930941 or email info@achievefertilty.ie
Visit www.achievefertility.ie or find us on Facebook.

Choose a quiet room or space in your house, possibly a corner.

Turn off all lights and light one candle and incense.

• Sit in the lotus position (or cross legged) with both your hands relaxed on your knees (palms down). Close your eyes and concentrate on one single thought in your mind – for example: try to recreate the image of the candle flame in your mind.

• Breathe in deeply and slowly from your base/root chakra (the base of your spine); then very gently breathe out, making the sound “OM” very, very slowly.

If you do this continuously for 3 minutes, you will feel your body and mind become cool, quiet and calm. You will feel more energetic and more positive thoughts will enter your mind.

This process works for cleaning your heart and mind.

www.saffronandsapphire.com