13/09/2017
Autumn newsletter 2017
Hello to all of you. A couple of months I had the idea of writing a newsletter at the beginning of each season – so four over the course of a year – with a few of my thoughts on moving into a new season with all the lovely and less lovely elements of that. Please do let me know if my musings spark any ideas or comments, it would be great to start a conversation about the seasons and health issues. Feedback, good or not received with thanks.
So autumn: the season of glorious colours and crunchy leaves. I really enjoy walking my dog at this time of year and am very aware of the days getting shorter and the nights longer. We don’t see the sunshine as much as in previous months, so it is very important that we are aware of our potentially lower levels of Vitamin D. This essential vitamin helps to regulate calcium and phosphate in the body to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. It is particularly important for women after the menopause where we lose bone density which can lead to osteoporosis.
Over the summer to around the end of September we should be able to get all the vitamin D we need from sunlight directly on the skin when outdoors. Whilst Vitamin D is found naturally in some foods e.g. oily fish, red meats, egg yolks and some fortified foods such as breakfast cereals it can be difficult to have enough through diet alone. I know that I probably do not eat enough of these foods, so I take a vitamin D supplement and in line with the Department of Health would suggest that you also consider taking one as well.
I do really miss the sun and its warmth; somehow everything just feels a bit brighter and better with good weather. The idea of moving out of summer into autumn with winter around the corner can make you feel a bit flat. I find that Bach flower remedies are invaluable here. Most people think of Bach Rescue Remedy which is a more general remedy for todays stressed and busy lives. Actually Dr Bach put together 38 different flower remedies that he believed would remedy different symptoms. These symptoms are grouped together into seven categories such as ‘Live the Day’ and ‘Find Joy and Hope’.
I can give you a very good example of how this works. As many of you will be aware I lost my stepmother earlier this year. The effect of more than 2 years of travelling back and forth to France to nurse and support her, as well as my grief at her death left me felling exhausted and very low. I mixed myself a Bach Flower Remedy to help:
- Gentian, for when you are a bit down or off key. It helps to lift your mood
- Mustard, this helps you cope with the ‘black clouds’ that appear from nowhere.
- Star of Bethlehem for bereavement
- Impatiens helps with comping (in my case with the French legal system!)
- Honeysuckle, to help prevent one dwelling on things
- Thyme for guilt (somehow death always brings guilt)
Of course I was still really sad – this is not a miracle worked, but I do think that this combination of remedies helped me immensely in coping with a very difficult time, just taking the edge off it a bit.
As a Bach Foundation Registered practitioner I am able to put to match individual rescue remedies for your individual mood and personality. Please do contact me if you think that it might help you at all.
It is also the start of a new academic year with children off to new classes and maybe even leaving home. Even though my children have long left home I still feel like it is a season for new beginnings and learning new skills. I will be running Reiki classes this autumn - a great way to learn how to use your own energy flow to positively impact on your mood and activity.
Reiki is a non-invasive therapy said to use energy flow for health and well being. The wonderful thing about this therapy is that it is very gentle and you can practice it on yourself and others for the relief of symptoms of tension and strength as well as mood improvement.
I will also be holding one day classes to teach / support mediation, such a good skill to have in these fast moving highly pressured times. All courses will be held in my meditation room at home.
Reiki course will be held on 24th and 25th November 2017.
The cost will be £254 This includes all refreshments, lunch, and your personal crystal
Meditation days will be on 29th September and 21st October
The cost will be £75 and again includes all refreshments, lunch, and your personal crystal
Please let me know if you are interested in attending these courses. If there is demand I am happy to put on more courses.
I hope that you have enjoyed the information in this letter. Please, please let me have any comments and any ideas that you would like me to discuss in the Winter newsletter. In the meantime I look forward to seeing many of you and wish you all health and happiness.
