Astarte Mind & Body

29/08/2025

One thing about life that is inevitable is change.

As creatures of habit, change can feel quite uncomfortable and even scary.
Any change has the potential to institute a flight or fight response in our system, especially if we are rigid in our thoughts and behaviours.

The less rigid and more open we can be to the potential and possibilities, the less terrifying change can become.

Life is in a constant state of ebb and flow, always seeking balance in some respect. Just like the tide, sometimes life will sweep things away from us, and sometimes it will wash up gifts.

Every time I have fought against change, I have lost the battle. However, somehow, I have also managed to find something precious amongst the ashes.

As I sense the presence of another wave of change coming my way, instead of putting on my battle armour, I am going to take a breath and dive.

🌊🌊🌊 2026

25/08/2025

The fascinating connection between leg strength and brain health. Keep lunging forward! 😊

Stronger legs could mean a sharper mind
Your legs might be the key to a sharper mind! A groundbreaking 10-year study from King’s College London has revealed that leg strength can predict brain health better than genetics. The study followed 324 female twins and found that those with stronger leg power at the start of the study experienced slower cognitive decline and better-preserved grey matter after a decade.

What’s fascinating is that the twin design of the study controlled for genetics and early environment, isolating leg strength as a unique predictor of brain health. This suggests that activities like squats, lunges, climbing stairs, and resistance training could be among the best investments you can make for your future brain health.

The connection likely stems from improved blood flow, growth factors, and the complex muscle-brain communication pathways that are activated when you work your legs. The stronger your legs, the more likely your brain will remain sharp as you age.

It’s a simple but powerful takeaway: if you want to keep your mind in top shape, it’s time to hit those leg workouts! The future of brain health might just lie in your lower body.

22/08/2025

Since my home is now also my business premises due to government mandates and lockdowns, no way I am paying any extra taxes on something I have already worked thirty years to pay for. What a hide!
Did they also stop to think that maybe people have a hobby room, or a spare bedroom for visits from friends or family?
How utterly cruel, greedy, and ridiculous.

21/08/2025

Sometimes, you just have to start over!

This painting began with the concept of a cat on a windowsill of a stained glass church window. I spent hours drawing and painting up the main design, playing around with and changing the colours, and experimenting with different textures.

It sat there for weeks, taunting me. It wasn't working for me, and I had no motivation to complete it. I realised I was essentially stuck creatively. Change was required, but I realised I was still emotionally invested.

Today, I bit the bullet and decided to let it go, painting over everything except the sketch of the cat.

While in one respect one may feel all the hours spent already were a waste, they showed me clearly what I did NOT want.
I now have a fresh slate on which I can create something new.

It's a good analogy for life, really. Just because you invested in something initially does not mean you are beholden unto it. You have the right and the authority to create change where you feel it is due.

19/08/2025

I came across this image today, and it perfectly sums up the importance of having some sort of creative pursuit in our lives.

Art is not just about creating something that is deemed 'good enough' to sell or hang on a wall. It's about connecting back into the very essence of our humanity, tapping into our intuition and creativity, and allowing what resides within to be expressed externally.

Art is powerful therapy for the mind, drawing us into a meditative alpha state in which time passes in a moment.

It energetically redirects stress, worry, and trauma into something positive, firing up those parts of the brain that help us rewire our neurons, release serotonin, and balance out our stress hormones.

It's not about the art we produce, but the very act of producing that provides the benefits.

So don't be worried about the outcome. Simply be open to learning and be surprised by whatever comes out. 🩵

12/08/2025

On Tuesdays, I paint ... when I have time.
I can't get into a flow state when I know I have an appointment pending or pressing errands to take care of, so
yesterday, I worked from dawn until evening to create some guilt free time and space for myself today.
It's a little mind game of making a contract with myself and following through.

I feel like I am constantly going back to beginners' level with each new art piece as they are so few and far between, but, just like anything, practice makes progress, and consistency in practice makes it even better.

This piece will be part of my Rogues Gallery of cats that will be on display at our Crazy Cat Connoisseurs mini Expo next month.

And no. I didn't even brush my hair today ... yet.

11/08/2025

We are the major sponsor of this event happening in Shellharbour Village next month. We will be posting up some information on each of our vendors over the next few weeks. If there is anyone else out there in our local community who makes cat related arts or crafts, and who would like to be involved, we are happy to have you on board. :)

For all you crazy cat lovers this is going to be awesome 😻😻😻😻😻

11/08/2025

Old school fitness fashion. I loved the craziness of the 80's. Who had leg warmers and what colour were they? Do you still have some?
I may or may not have some gold ones I have put away for special occasions... 🤫😅
I also had some of those special gathered socks that you could wear over trackies and bubblegum jeans. I forget what they were called. Mine were yellow and blue. They didn't match anything I had but I wore them anyway. 🤣

04/08/2025

Today marks just under two years since I heard my GP say "It's c@ #*×$", so it was time for yet another follow-up appointment.

It's always a stressful experience waiting for results and assessments, and I feel the tension rise in my body as the appointment day draws nearer.

Today was a good day, though, giving me the all-clear for year two, and providing me with more confidence in the alternative healing path and protocols I have chosen for myself.

Only three more years of monitoring to go to get to the 'magic' five year mark, after which one is released from the system if still NED*.

* NED (No Evidence of Disease)

02/08/2025

Today, I facilitated an Art of Rock Wrapping workshop at the Shellharbour Civic Centre.

Inspired by the bound stones that marked the path for visitors in zen gardens, the art itself requires decision making, focus, and much patience to produce an object that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and calming to the mind.

28/07/2025

I was thinking the other day about how we get stuck in certain habits and ways of thinking, and this extends to our food.
There are certain dishes that in our minds must be made a certain way, and certain foods that must be combined or kept separate.

I think back to when I was growing up, where weetbix and toast was the staple for breakfast, a sandwich and a piece of fruit for lunch, and then meat, mashed potato and peas, beans, or carrots formed the standard dinner.

My favourite meals, though, were actually what my mum called 'leftovers surprise' where she would make something entirely random from the leftovers in our fridge. She didn't follow a recipe. She just put a whole bunch of stuff together and hoped for the best. Anything could be stir fried or put into a noodle pie to make something fancy.

The image I used here is a vegan version of leftover pasta napoletana ... but not. I didn't have pasta, so instead substituted steamed broccoli. The sauce is actually made up of fridge leftovers, including onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and capsicum, in a basic tomato base with olive oil, and lightly seasoned with Celtic salt and the tiniest pinch of cayenne pepper.

It was surprisingly delicious. I will probably have similar again with whatever happens to be in the fridge tossed into a sauce.

28/07/2025

In the past two weeks in Pilates Fusion we have focused on benchmarking through a series of "Can You ...?" challenges.
Here are some foundation challenges for balance, lower body strength, postural strength, and general spinal mobility.

CAN YOU ...
✨️ Balance on your left leg for 1 minute?
✨️ Balance on your right leg for 1 minute?
✨️ Hold an Overhead Dquat for 1 minute?
✨️ Do a full squat keeping the feet flat?
✨️ Hold a lunge for 1 minute each side?
✨️ Touch the floor on a roll down?

You can add extra layers of challenge to balance exercises by closing on or both eyes or layering some upper body movements on top of static holds.