Crystal of the Month for March – Turquoise for Gratitude

This month, Turquoise has been chosen as the crystal of the month. Turquoise is known as the anti-negativity crystal with the Native American Indians believing it bestows a deep feeling of thankfulness on those that carry it.

Why do we become thankless? What causes our thought patterns to work that way? Why do we not show gratitude for all that we have in life?

These questions have been highlighted as the theme chosen for the month is Gratitude. Turquoise is known to improve all communication activities especially verbal and the written word. When we make changes to our internal and external voice from the negative to the positive, over time we can only then begin to notice the simple things in life that have been overlooked for so long. Counting your blessings, and acknowledging everything that you have worked hard to achieve and have been fortunate to receive over the years shows that miracles really do happen on a daily basis.

Turquoise helps to introduce wisdom and understanding back into our lives. It opens our eyes to the beauty that truly is all around us. When we are absorbed in the negative we really are blind to the wonders that occur on a regular basis.  It also assists in promoting self-realisation as it slowly dissolves self-sabotaging thoughts and actions.

The daily practice of showing gratitude opens us up to a pure happiness and makes us more aware of exactly what we have achieved in our lifetime. This then works to reduce our stress levels as we no longer totally look towards what we want but rather to what we have already.

We often take our life for granted especially the most important things such as our friends and family, our home and possessions, our career. Can you imagine how you react if something suddenly happened and you lost all of the things that mean the most to you. How would you cope? How grateful would you be if it were possible to have these things returned to you. Why wait for them to be taken from you before you realise, show gratitude now.

This crystal is very popular for a number of reasons and is widely available. All crystal collections should include a piece of Turquoise as it reduces inflammation and pain as it detoxifies the whole body. It works to improve the immune system as well as balancing the chakras. A selection of pieces are available to purchase from the Centre.

If you would like to enjoy the benefits of a personal one to one crystal healing with our extraordinary healer then please email Peta on healthful.healing@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 07736929614.

All of Peta’s healings come highly recommended, as they are beneficial, uplifting, rejuvenating and definitely de-stressing.

 

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At Home with the Metamorphic Technique

Metamorphic Technique is a valuable easy-to-learn technique for providing an unconditional space in which transformation can occur. One of the things I love about Metamorphic Technique is sharing it within the home.  Parents can do it on their children, partners can use it on each other, children can do it on their parents or even on each other as it really is so simple to do. And let’s not forget pets too, as many animals love this touch! 

In fact when we love something, there is a natural tendency to want to share that enthusiasm with others. So sharing something like Metamorphic Technique, once you’ve experienced it yourself, can be the most natural thing in the world.

When you do Metamorphic Technique you are offering an open, loving space to that person. You are letting go of any expectations and demands of what you consider to be right for them and in doing that you allow that person to find the best in themselves, their most authentic self. By doing MT, stuck dynamics in a family can change. Often children carry unexpressed emotions for the rest of the family and Metamorphic can allow for transformation to happen so everybody can feel lighter and freer. 

One of the most inspiring stories I heard about what MT can do was about a young boy at kindergarten who went home, after having had MT at school and insisted his parents learn how to do it. The family were not getting on very well and home was not an easy place to be. The parents responded to their son’s plea and the whole family learnt how to do it on each other and the whole atmosphere at home changed and became harmonious again. 

Metamorphic Technique is wonderful  to receive during pregnancy.  It can allow a mother the space to move through the transformation of pregnancy and birth with more ease and grace. Mothers have reported easier births and more contented babies and it is something she can continue to offer her child through all the different stages of development.

All that is involved is willingness to give and receive this soft, gentle touch on the feet, hands and head. No equipment is required, no special place or even any extra time as it can be done while chatting, listening to music or watching TV. A short ten minute session at bedtime can open the door to that inner magic we all have inside.

I offer regular workshops in the Metamorphic Technique, as well as personal sessions and family sessions. To learn more or to book call me on 07939118136 or visit: www.metamorphicwings.com.

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We have moved!

Hi there

We have moved our blog to our new website and it can be found by clicking on Go to : http://www.ilkleyhappinesscentre.com/blog

You will find all our articles in a much easier format.

We look forward to seeing your there!

Kimm Fearnley

Founder Ilkley Happiness Centre.

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Herb of the Month

Vervain – The Magical Post Viral Tonic

This winter has brought some particularly nasty viruses leaving many people with the classic post viral symptoms of fatigue and low mood.  I’ve clients who have been “not right” for weeks and one who spoke of the “90 day cough”.

As ever Nature has help for us and most particularly the herb Vervain, Verbena Officinalis.  Know as the wizard’s herb in Welsh, it is a truly magical herb.  it was sacred to the ancient Greeks and central to the beliefs and rituals of celtic druids.  The druids used it for divination, believing its soul could cross between worlds.

It is a perennial with toothed, pointed leaves and tiny purple flowers.  It is now rare in Britain outside herb gardens but it is easy to cultivate.

Medicinally it has anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic and anti-viral properties.  It is also protective to the liver.  Herbalists regard it as a nervine which means it is a soothing nourishing tonic to whole nervous system; a mild bitter tonic which means it regulates the digestion and a diaphoretic which means it mobilises our “wei qi” or defensive energy to fight off infections.

Vervain is widely considered to be the best herb for post viral recovery because not only does it improve physical symptoms, it is a great mood enhancer.  For post viral symptoms I often combine it with respiratory herbs like Angelica or Licorice, energy boosters like Siberian Ginseng and Rhodiola and other nervines like St John’s Wort.

The other area where Vervain is so useful is with premenstrual syndrome and peri-menopausal symptoms.  Herbalists believe that it helps to increase progesterone production and balance the effects of estrogen dominance. Its action appears very similar to the famous Chinese Herbal formula Xiao Yan Wan, Free and Easy Wanderer. I could not imagine treating PMS without Vervain.

You can make vervain tea, or take the tincture, but best of all come to see me for a herbal consultation to get a formula tailored to your unique needs.  My herbal supplier, Rutland Biodynamic, make a Vervain tincture with fresh organic plants that is extraordinarily potent.  You can call me 07891579364 or email me integramassage@gmail.com to takethings further.

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Men’s Group at Happiness Centre

Nick Hudis, the Centre’s herbalist and Deep Bodywork therapist writes:

When Robert Bly’s Iron John, a seminal work in the men’s movement, was published in 1990. I was one of the men who scoffed. Men hugging each other in the forest…how corny…I don’t need that.

But over the last few years I have turned my attention increasingly to the needs of men who are seeking natural and holistic ways to care for and develop themselves.

I’ve come to realise that men in the twenty first century face a crisis of physical and emotional wellbeing just as much as they did when Iron John came out. We are caught between the distortions of Ramboesque machismo and the docile feminised “new man.” In the post-feminist age our natural drives and instincts are suppressed and belittled. Testosterone, the blueprint of our maleness is castigated as the cause of all the ills of society. We are the primary victims of so many of today’s chronic diseases. And we are often poorly served by the predominantly feminine ambience of the complementary health and development scene. We have forgotten who we are as men, and how to take care of ourselves. I think its time we took back possession of the strength, vitality and prowess that is our birthright.

And men particularly are often isolated. We have been conditioned to disregard our feelings; we have not developed the support networks that women easily form, and our social encounters often act out inappropriate competitive and hierarchical games. Often encounters with other men have an undercurrent of tension just like two stags disputing territory and breeding rights. As I once put it in a poem:

Every Man carries a Sword

With what skill or intention he uses it I do not know.

Most often men seek support through the feminine, only dropping their guard when they are with their beloved. Or we seek it through substitutes for the feminine. Beer, cars, computers, gadgets…. these may all be substitutes for the feminine. This opening to the feminine is a natural and vital part of masculine experience, but it is often mixed with insecurity and we end up giving up our emotional power and initiative to the feminine (or the object we are using to symbolise the feminine).

So I think that we men also have a deep need for the brotherhood of other men. A space in which we can share the unique qualities of being a man. We need other men to show us what it is to be man, to hold up a mirror to our lives and to point the way to fully embracing the joy and power of being man. The feminine cannot do that for us. However if we can do this among ourselves, we can connect with the feminine from our fullness rather than our neediness.

My intention is hold such a space for men at the Happiness Centre about once a month in the evening. My vision is a space where we can talk and learn, listen and support, have fun, go deep within, make a noise, be silent, get in touch with the inner wild man and the inner god. A space where cars, computers, politics, and football are off the agenda. I’m calling this vision Heart of Man, because that is where we want to be.. in our wild, sexy, wise, tender, powerful godlike man’s heart.

To support this space I can draw on 20 years as a therapist. I have a particular interest in sharing what I know of Tantric and Taoist sexual energy work, but the group will create its own agenda as it develops.

So if this resonates with you, we’ll be meeting in the meditation room at the Centre at 8.00 on 27th February and 27th March. This will be an open space to chat and see what emerges.

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Crystal of the month of February – Rose Quartz

February has always been known as the month of Love. This is the time of year when we celebrate St Valentine’s Day, or, the feast of St Valentine, where we traditionally declare our undying love secretly or as in today’s world more openly. Cupid also is very busy during this time as he works along side St Valentine where he shoots his little arrow into the heart of your chosen one and makes the person fall head over heals in love with you.

For this month we have chosen Rose Quartz as our favourite crystal as it is well known as the stone of gentle, unconditional love. It teaches us how to love not only ourselves but all of those around us too. It opens up the heart centre to allow the feelings of true love to flow deep and wide.

But I hear you say, that is fine for those that are in a relationship already but how can Rose Quartz help me to find the love of my life. How can it attract a loving relationship to me???

Well we will let you into a little secret that has been proven to work in the past. Honestly. All you have to do is follow the instructions and believe.

Firstly take your chosen piece of rose quartz and cleanse it under running water and then leave it to recharge over night under the moonlight.

Then take a piece of A4 paper and draw a line down the centre. At the top of the left hand column write the word ‘Want’. At the top of the left hand column write the words ‘Don’t Want’.  Now this is where you can be as creative and imaginative as you want. Write down everything that you are looking for in a partner, and everything you don’t want also. You can list absolutely anything, from the colour of their hair to the type of car they may drive.  When you are happy with your lists, fold the piece of paper into 4 and place it in a safe place with your piece of rose quartz on top of it. And leave it alone. The only word of warning is be careful what you ask for as you may just be in for a shock.

When used in a healing environment it is especially beneficial to the physical heart and circulatory system. It is effective in the treatment of healing emotional wounds as it releases the negative energy that is stored in the heart chakra.

A lovely selection of pieces are available for you to purchase from The Happiness Centre at an affordable price.  Try it and see what happens for you, you could be really surprised.

Why not consider enjoying the benefits of a personal one to one crystal healing with our crystal healer. Please email Peta on healthful.healing@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 07736929614 to book your session

All of Peta’s healings come highly recommended as they are beneficial, uplifting, rejuvenating and de-stressing

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