Mindfulness Migraine

Advanced Migraine Relief 

Yesterday a migraine got me again. Just as I got into full working mode the flashing lights started. Nothing for it other than to just stop and close my eyes until my vision returned and hope that it didn't develop much beyond that. I know that I am extremely lucky as my migraine symptoms are mild compared to some sufferers. But nevertheless, I do get frustrated that I have to down tools and ride it out.

As I teach mindfulness and meditation to others I thought it was about time I started to practice what I preach, so yesterday I decided to try mindfulness. I accepted my migraine, gave it my full attention and without judgement.

As I sat back and closed my eyes, I focussed on the lights - like isobars on a weather map, different colours all shimmering and vibrating around my right side. I watched them for quite a while and then I focussed on the physical feelings in my body. Not much happening there, feeling all pretty normal - whatever normal is. As the lights started to drift further and further to the side of my peripheral vision, I thought it was all beginning to pass. But no, the next stage kicked in which, in all fairness, doesn't happen that often but I really don't like it. I seem to lose a section of my brain/mind and I cannot function normally. I think that just as parts of my vision shuts down, so does my brain. I can't think clearly and can't seem to remember the words I need to use - I often wonder if that's what having a stroke must feel like.

OK, this was a little trickier because I had nothing to focus on, just my inability to articulate both in speech and thought. But that's exactly what I did focus on, without trying to force anything and without judgement. Slowly and surely my thought processes returned to normal.

On the whole I would say mindfulness definitely helped me to cope with the migraine much better, with all it's varying stages. It's not a cure but it does help you to realise that when life throws a few punches there are tools and techniques that can help you get through them much easier and without any added stress and anxiety.

Will I use mindfulness for the next migraine? You bet I will.

The Harshness of Life

Last week we saw a teenager kill one of his teachers in school. The nation was horrified, and quite rightly so. What on earth is our world coming to when young people can take another's life so carelessly. I thought about this tragic incident for a long while, trying to understand and make sense of it all.

On a spiritual level I get it. Before returning to this life, the boy had chosen this as his lesson to learn. Coming from the same Soul Group the teacher agreed to play her part in his lesson and chose to be the victim. Their love for one another is unending and unconditional. From the teacher's point of view her job is done, she has helped this young man and now she can go home.  The boy has to continue with his lesson and live out the rest of his life coping with the tough consequences. So what was his lesson to learn, you may ask. I have no idea and I should think at this point in time, neither does he.

Now don't get me wrong, just because I understand all that doesn't mean that I like it. I feel a deep sadness for the teacher and her family and I also feel compassion for the boy and his family - they are all going through a very tough time.

And I live in this world where acts of violence appal and anger me; the blatant disregard some folk have for others is shocking to say the least. Sometimes I want to hit out and retaliate, but that's not the answer. As Gandhi once said "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind".

I don't have any answers, maybe there are none. Maybe this is exactly how it's meant to be until we all start to realise that humanity has to change, that we have to move as one towards love and compassion in order to survive.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in two worlds and I find it difficult to merge the harsh realities of this life with my spiritual awareness. 

The Song of the Universe

Last Sunday I had a brand new experience - Crystal Singing Bowls!

I really didn't know what to expect from our session at the Como Centre but Genevra, Crystal Singing Bowls UK, arrived and wow - what a lovely lady, she just shone from the inside out.

As she started to unpack the bowls I marvelled at the beauty of them; different colours and different sizes. She brought around 20 of them and they all looked so beautiful on our floor.

As the session started Genevra began to play, gently at first but soon the bowls were singing together, in perfect harmony and unity. The sounds and vibrations were amazing as they washed over us, each of us taking exactly what we needed at that moment in time.

For me, personally, time stood still as I allowed the tones, frequencies and vibrations wash over and through me. It was a beautiful experience and as the sounds grew I had the sense that I had heard them before. I have no idea where, but I know I have.

Today I finished reading The Afterlife of Billy Fingers by Annie Kagan. An intriguing book and well worth a read. There's a part in the book where she talks about the sounds of the universe, very much like earth's nature sounds but more musical. A rhythm that constantly pulsates and changes.

Is that what I was hearing in the singing bowls - the song of the universe? I really like to think so.

You Only Have to Ask

Yesterday I took a friend to hospital. Although it was a minor procedure it was still under general anaesthetic and, let's face it, however minor things are none of us like to have to go through them.

So I did the only thing I knew how to do and called upon all the help I had at my disposal.

The night before I sent Reiki to the situation. Although not becoming attached to an outcome, my intent was for surgery to go well and for my friend not to be in too much discomfort - for his highest possible good.

I sent a cosmic order that he would be first on the list for theatre and that we could leave the hospital as soon as possible - for the good of all concerned.

I asked Archangel Raphael for a safe and timely journey - thank you very much.

I asked the angels for a parking space to become available when I arrived at the hospital - thank you very much.

We left home yesterday morning and the heavens opened. The journey was not good, the water and spray on the motorway severely affected visibility and, as always, there were the halfwits driving far too fast with no lights. Nevertheless, the arrived safely and on time.

I found two parking spaces, one right outside the main entrance.

My friend was first on the list, went to theatre on time and was allowed to leave just 4-hours later.  Surgery went well.

The journey home, whilst still in the rain, went smoothly.

Last night I followed up with another session of Reiki.  Today he is fine, a little sore but not in pain.

We all have so much help available to us - all we have to do is ask.  And, of course, remember to say thank you. 

The Inner Child

We're constantly told to allow our inner child to surface every now and again.  Yesterday my inner child broke free - trouble was it was the spoilt brat!

For some reason I just couldn't settle to anything and I became frustrated to say the very least. Whatever suggestions were made, I didn't want to do it. Everyone seemed to be out doing something, but I wasn't! Everyone seemed to be having fun, but I wasn't!  I was in danger of some serious sulking - what was wrong with me?

I didn't like it one little bit, I didn't like the way I was feeling or the way I was acting.  I needed to get a grip.

I needed to find something to do, something to occupy this inner child who was being a complete pain.

So in desperation I started to read random articles on the internet - and one really caught my attention.

Delores Cannon is a hypnotherapist specialising in past life regressions.  Ooh, we had something in common so I kept reading.  But that's where it ended because Delores had been working in the field for many years and had started to notice patterns emerging in her clients.  She started to notice that not all of them had past lives on earth and eventually came up with her theory of "three waves of volunteers*".

Well this really got me thinking now because, if Delores was right in her theory, then I could well be one of the first wave of volunteers!

My inner spoilt brat suddenly disappeared and I was fully immersed in theories. So much so that my Kindle downloads were on overtime last night.

Maybe the spoilt brat was supposed to break free yesterday, to make me focus on something I would not normally have had time for.

Ah, the Universe works in mysterious ways.

* The Three Waves of Volunteers and The New Earth - Delores Cannon

Facing Fears

Eight years ago I had breast cancer, went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was finally discharged from the hospital in 2012. As any cancer survivor will tell you, we live with the fear of it striking again.

You can understand, therefore, how terrified I have been after I started to experience some discomfort over the past few weeks.

I tried to keep positive and harbour only positive thoughts, but this was becoming a struggle.  I often advise others to confront their fears head-on, as the fear then loses its power.  Life is a constant series of highs and lows and it's the way that we deal with the bad times that help shape us.  But my mind was just racing - why now when my life was really happy, when Gill and I had just started our beloved Como Centre and it was going so well.  Surely Spirit must have more work for me to do here.

I confided my fears in just a couple of people - their advice was unanimous; get it checked.  I asked my guides and angels for help - their advice was the same; get it checked.  But I was scared, so I left it.

Last night I had an horrendous night - no sleep at all and by this morning not only had the breast cancer returned, but had spread to my lymph nodes, lungs and possibly bones!  How pathetic am I?

This couldn't continue.

So this morning I decided I would face it head-on, whatever the outcome, and I got an appointment with the doctor.  He reassured me that he could find nothing and my discomfort was most likely due to scar tissue. However, he would see me again in 4-weeks time and if he thought there were any changes, or I was not happy, then he would refer me to the Breast Clinic.  But he was confident that all was well.

This evening I am extremely relieved and happy, but had the result been different I was ready to deal with it. I cannot live with fear, it eats you up and ruins all happiness.  It is there, constantly at the back of your mind, like a big dark cloud hanging over you; you are not free to be the person you truly are.

If you are facing a fear, face it head on, deal with it and reduce its power over you.  Free yourself to live the life you want and deserve.

Time to Listen

A month or so ago I had a private Tarot reading with my lovely friend, mentor and spiritual worker, Kitty Phillips. Among the many things she told me was the need to take time out for myself, relax more and just chill. Knowing me well, she went on to emphasis the point and said that if I didn't take the time needed, Spirit would force me into it around March-time.

Now it's not that I don't listen, or take advice seriously, but sometimes taking time out is easier said than done. I knew I had my first free weekend since Christmas coming up so figured I would just plod on. Why, oh why don't I just listen!

They hit me last night with a thumping great migraine just 30-minutes before I was due up at Como to run a meditation course. "Oh not now?" I pleaded, as I sat back and closed my eyes.

After half hour I felt slightly better, the visual disturbances had died down so off I went to my class. As the evening wore on my headache started and I wasn't sorry when the session came to an end.

The minute I walked back in the house the visual disturbances began again. What on earth was going on? This had never happened before. I sat and closed my eyes but it just wasn't shifting. I finally took some pain killers and went off to bed.

This morning I felt better, but not brilliant. The visual disturbances have gone, as has the thumping head. In it's place is a huge solid ball that thumps around in my head every time I move; I'm left feeling drained and and good for nothing.

Oh yes, I've listened now! I have spent the whole day doing nothing, just a little reading and watching some TV. I will have an early night in bed and tomorrow I will feel back to normal.

From now on I will make sure I take a little time for me, and do what I'm told to when Spirit tells me. Another lesson learned!