A few years ago when I asked an audience how many people did a meditation practice on a daily basis or knew what Reiki was – very few would raise their hands. I am pleasantly surprised to now observe more hands rising when I ask about meditation, or other ancient healing techniques (like Reiki). More people are seeking alternative healing …
Australian Bush Medicine: Australian Aboriginal Healing Practices
When you say “the bush” in the United States, you likely think of shrubbery and landscape design. But, the bush in Australian culture is as iconic as the Outback. To Australians, the bush means lush, barely-inhabited regions of their mainland (whereas Outback represents the more dry, interior areas of the continent). And, Aussies have attached bush to many terms over …
Emotional Wellness Through Ikigai
Japanese Key to Living Longer, Healthier What is your purpose today? Tomorrow? This month? This year? In life? These can be tough questions to ask ourselves because they’re even more difficult to answer. But, what if we could answer them more easily, readily? And, with these answers, we could take regular action that would produce greater emotional well-being? To get …
Ancient African Healing Methods, Part 2: Traditional African Medicine
“The future must come and look at the past, to learn from the past.” ~ Erick Gbodossou, MD (traditional healer and Western-trained physician) from the Andrew J. Young documentary, Strong Medicine: The Secret Power of African Healing. Dr. Gbodossou’s words ring true today more than any other time in history. Scientific advances have learned (using CRISPR technology) to …
Getting to Know…YOU!
Do you remember the musical “The King and I?” If so, you likely remember the song “Getting to Know You.” Remember? The chorus sings “Getting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me…” Getting to know a person you just met, or even learning more about someone you have known for decades, offers us …
Ancient African Healing Methods, Part 1: History, Healers and Herbalism
While it’s common for us to discuss (and we will do so here) Africa as a whole, it’s important to remember that the second-largest continent on our planet is home to more than 50 sovereign nations. The African continent is split by the Equator and Prime Meridian, meaning that it is our only continent that sits in all four hemispheres. …
Meditating to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
In the early to mid-1970’s, Dr. Herbert Benson, Harvard Medical School professor of mind/body medicine, founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, writes in his book, The Relaxation Response, about a simple practice of counteracting the flight-or-flight response. The Relaxation Response practice in the book outlines nine steps, but the essential elements are the use of a …
Ancient Egyptian Medical Texts, Modern Medical Research
Over 3,500 years ago, Egypt, a country that sits on two continents (northeast corner of Africa and a southwestern portion in Asia), experienced some of the primary forms of literature, agriculture, urban development, and precursors to the sciences we know today. While astrology and religion were among those “sciences” back then, the Ancient Egyptians were renowned for their medical knowledge. …
The Practice of Silence
In every religion and in all ancient healing practices, one of the common themes is the practice of entering into silence…. How does that feel to you? Does the thought of entering into complete silence scare you? Do you think – “how do I even begin to become silent?” Or “no thanks – that’s not how I care to spend my time.” In …
Ancient Celtic Healing
If you do a Google search for druidry, you are as likely to find modern-day discussions of ancient Celtic healing practices as you are to learn the latest tactics for druid characters in an online video game or Dungeons & Dragons. There is as much mystique that surrounds the ancient Celts’ polytheistic priests as there is research being done and …