Count Gideon

20/01/2025

2025: The Year of the Wood Snake—A Forecast for Those Born in the Year of the Tiger

2025, guided by the Wood Snake, offers a dynamic and transformative journey for those born in the Year of the Tiger. The Tiger’s bold and adventurous spirit contrasts with the Snake’s calculated strategy, creating a year of opportunities that demand balance between action and reflection.

General Outlook for the Tiger

This year will challenge Tigers to harness their natural energy with the Snake’s knack for planning. While the Tiger thrives on spontaneity and courage, the Wood Snake encourages thoughtful decisions and measured steps.

Harness your passion strategically: Tigers will benefit by focusing their drive on long-term goals instead of fleeting pursuits.

Cultivate patience: Growth this year will come from blending bold moves with careful analysis.

Career and Finances

The ambitious Tiger will find 2025 ripe with opportunities, but success lies in adopting a strategic approach. The Snake’s wisdom emphasizes calculated risks and thoughtful investments, encouraging Tigers to refine their goals.

Professional Success: Networking and careful planning will open doors to new achievements. Avoid rushing into decisions without evaluating potential outcomes.

Financial Growth: Focus on sustainable investments rather than high-risk ventures. A steady approach will yield lasting rewards.

Tip: Develop a clear roadmap for your ambitions, integrating flexibility to adapt to unforeseen changes.

Relationships

The Wood Snake’s energy brings depth and introspection, prompting Tigers to enhance their relationships through trust and understanding. While your charisma shines, building lasting bonds requires emotional insight this year.

Romantic Connections: This is a year to deepen your partnerships by aligning passion with mutual respect and care.

Friendships and Family: Strengthen your bonds by being an attentive listener. Avoid letting your restless energy create unnecessary distance.

Tip: Embrace vulnerability to foster genuine connections and resolve past conflicts.

Health and Well-Being

The Tiger’s energetic nature needs balance in 2025. Physical vitality will thrive with routine care, but the Snake’s influence reminds you to prioritize mental clarity and emotional well-being.

Physical Health: Activities that combine focus and movement, like martial arts or yoga, are ideal.

Mental Health: Meditation and mindful practices can help Tigers channel their dynamic energy constructively.

Tip: Spend time in nature to stay grounded and rejuvenate your spirit.

Key Challenges

Tigers may face hurdles in:

Impulsivity: The Snake’s energy warns against acting without thinking. Pause and evaluate your options carefully.

Overextending: Avoid taking on more than you can handle. Set boundaries and prioritize your efforts.

Emotional Distance: Focus on connecting meaningfully instead of letting independence hinder closeness.

Final Thoughts

2025 promises transformation and growth for Tigers. By blending their courage and charisma with the Snake’s strategy and introspection, Tigers can achieve incredible personal and professional milestones. Stay open to change, temper boldness with wisdom, and seize this year’s potential with confidence.

19/12/2024

Most affordable CPD ever:

The Healing Frontier Seminar showcases advances in therapeutic techniques and innovations. This one-day online seminar is available to attend on zoom and can also be purchased and downloaded to listen at your convenience.

15/09/2024

Check out my latest article re postoperative acupuncture for faster recovery: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-acupuncture-post-surgical-recovery-review-gideon-acupuncture-mrklf

30/04/2024

Join me as i go live tomorrow end every Wednesday at 12 noon (South Africa time) the QR code will take you to instagram where I am hosted to go live. My topic for tomorrow is QI put your best yoda on and come and ask questions

22/04/2024

Posture/Alignment
In the womb, where we dream the eternal dream, we're curled and though we practise ‘unfurlment', our ultimate unfurlment is at birth. It follows, therefore. in waking action and deed, that the more erect we are the more conscious (awake) we'll be; the more we curl (foetal posture), the more unconscious we become.

In practising Tai Qi, the instructor often brings our awareness to posture, even before we begin to move, guiding us to have an erect spine and yet be supple. For rigidity, as in rigor mortis, is the extreme opposite to the foetal curl. In life, we want to find the balance point between these two extremes and the apex of life means to be erect but soft.

Correct posture is all to do with the alignment of the spine. The spinal vertebrae at rest and erectness sit atop of each other with least effort; when we lean or bend, the spine has to adjust, and the effort increases exponentially. It is therefore more work to have your head bowed or your nose tilted to the sky.

When observing the posture, first our own and then that of others, much can be read from it. Babies do this long before they develop their verbal ability. We refer to it as body language. The foundation of this language lies in the spine. The more erect you become, the less arrogant you will be, yet you will be assertive without being overbearing.

In Tai Qi, this idea of balance is even expressed in the name for Tai Qi, which refers to yin-yang and the great ultimate balance between these opposing forces. In Buddhist terms, this could be described as the middle way.

15/04/2024

Sciatica, characterized by pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, can be excruciating. It's often caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, typically due to a herniated disk, spinal stenosis, or bone spur on the spine. Symptoms include sharp, shooting pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness along the sciatic nerve pathway, which extends from the lower back through the hips and down each leg.

Tips for Easing Sciatica Discomfort:

Gentle Stretching: Incorporate daily stretches that target the lower back, hips, and legs to alleviate tension and improve flexibility.
Mindful Movement: Engage in low-impact exercises like swimming, yoga, or walking to strengthen muscles and support proper spinal alignment.
Posture Awareness: Maintain good posture while sitting, standing, and lifting to reduce strain on the lower back and alleviate pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Heat and Ice Therapy: Alternate between heat packs and ice packs to soothe inflammation and numb pain in the affected area.
Acupuncture Therapy: Consider acupuncture sessions to target specific acupuncture points that can relieve sciatica pain and promote overall wellness.
Mind-Body Techniques: Explore relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or guided imagery to manage stress and alleviate sciatica-related muscle tension.
Supportive Measures: Invest in ergonomic furniture, such as a supportive chair or mattress, to provide optimal spinal alignment and reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve during rest.
By integrating these tips into your daily routine and seeking professional guidance, you can empower yourself to manage sciatica discomfort and enhance your quality of life. Remember, consistency and patience are key on your journey to sciatica relief and wellness.

08/04/2024

Breath is central and vital to life. It is through correct breathing that many ailments and discomforts can be overcome, for the first signs of distress are noticed in changes of breathing patterns.
By being aware of our breath, we can become first of all sensitive to the changes in breathing patterns; secondly, by becoming masterful in our breathing technique we can reverse physical distress with the breath.
This basic knowledge around breathing is evident in other natural practices such as Qi Gong and yoga, where conscious breathing is practised. I therefore encourage you to become aware of your breath and masterful in using your breath.
Our breathing generally is automatic and controlled by the medulla oblongata, the oldest part of our brain or deepest part of our being.
You could also call this the most unconscious part of our being, yet this crucial place is also the greatest opportunity to become conscious and it has therefore been used by meditators since time immemorial.

To give a practical example, I taught my young sons at an early age to manage pain and fright by focusing on breathing.

What is your breathing doing right now?

01/04/2024

🌟 Illuminating Wellness: Acupuncture's Dance with the Kidney Meridian 🌟

Embark on a journey where ancient traditions intertwine with modern healing modalities, revealing the intricate tapestry of the body's energy pathways. Let's delve deeper into the captivating synergy between acupuncture and the Kidney Meridian (KI), a beacon of vitality and equilibrium.

🔍 The Heartbeat of Acupuncture: At the core of acupuncture lies the concept of Qi, the life force energy flowing through meridians. The Kidney Meridian (KI) emerges as a vital conductor, orchestrating the ebb and flow of energy throughout the body.

👉 Acupuncture & KI: Through skillful needle placement on KI points like KI3 or KI7, practitioners guide the Qi, restoring balance and igniting the body's innate healing potential. From banishing fatigue to fostering emotional resilience, the Kidney Meridian holds the keys to holistic wellness.

🌱 Harvesting Wellness: Experience the transformative power of acupuncture as it nurtures reproductive health, kindles vitality, alleviates lower back woes, and fosters emotional serenity. The Kidney Meridian becomes a gateway to rejuvenation, offering a path to radiant well-being.

Step into the realm of holistic healing, where acupuncture and the Kidney Meridian intertwine to awaken your body's natural state of harmony and vitality. Embrace the journey towards wholeness and discover the radiant potential that lies within. ✨

22/03/2024

Gideon has made an in-depth study of face reading; he was a student of Lillian Bridges, a renowned expert. In recent years he was asked to treat an existing client (whose sciatica he had cured) to treat the wrinkles on her face. The result were spectacular and this inspired him to investigate a new speciality.

The lines and marks on our face tell a story and as we heal past trauma and come to peace with the retelling of our journey, we can also create a new lease on life.

Collagen production is naturally stimulated, wrinkles fade and disappear, completion is smoothed, elasticity returns and a more youthful appearance ensues.

The finest possible high quality acupuncture needles are used. The jade roller and gentle facial massage combine for a sublime experience.

Benefits of Facial Treatments:
- Improve firmness of the neck and face
- Eliminate puffiness around the eyes
- Reduce fine lines and diminish deeper wrinkles
- Increase collagen production and cell renewal
- Improve complexion and circulation
- Reduce stress signs in the face
- Bring out person's natural beauty
- Slow the aging process
- Increase energy level and concentration

15/03/2024

🌺✨ Celebrating the strength, wisdom, and beauty of every woman this Women's Month!

Honor the unique journey of each woman, providing holistic support for physical and emotional well-being. From acupuncture to traditional Chinese medicine, my practices aim to empower you on your path to extraordinary health.

Whether it's relieving menstrual pains, enhancing fertility, or nurturing hormonal balance, I am here to support you through every phase of womanhood.

Here are some tips and tricks for women's health:

Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for yourself each day to engage in activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation, such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature. Taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is just as important as physical health.

Nourish Your Body: Focus on nourishing your body with whole, nutrient-dense foods. Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your diet to support overall health and vitality.

Stay Hydrated: Drinking an adequate amount of water is essential for proper hydration and overall health. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day, and consider herbal teas or infused water for added flavor and benefits.

Move Your Body: Find joy in movement by engaging in physical activities that you enjoy, whether it's dancing, hiking, swimming, or cycling. Regular exercise not only helps maintain a healthy weight but also boosts mood, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Balance Hormones Naturally: Explore natural methods to balance hormones, such as incorporating adaptogenic herbs like maca or ashwagandha into your routine, managing stress levels, and prioritizing quality sleep.

Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness through practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or journaling. Mindfulness can help reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall mental health.

Get Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to support optimal health and well-being. Create a relaxing bedtime routine and prioritize creating a sleep-friendly environment in your bedroom.

Connect with Others: Foster meaningful connections with friends, family, and community members. Social support is essential for mental and emotional well-being and can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your body's signals and honor its needs. Trust your intuition when it comes to making decisions about your health and well-being.

Seek Holistic Healthcare: Consider incorporating holistic healthcare practices into your routine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, or chiropractic care, to address any health concerns and support overall wellness from a holistic perspective.

Happy Women's Month! 💖🌿

11/03/2024

🌿 Celebrating mindful connections and delicious flavors with Lindsay of https://chilled.mobi/ 🍦

We crossed paths at an event where she shared her incredible plant-based ice cream creations. Embrace the harmony of a pro-veg lifestyle and the beauty of Mother Nature.

Here's to mindful indulgence and the joy of shared experiences! 🌱💫

06/03/2024

Discover the transformative power of cupping therapy with Gideon! 🌿

Release tension, promote relaxation, and restore balance with this ancient healing art. Whether you're seeking relief from chronic pain or stress-related tension, cupping therapy offers gentle, effective relief.

Ready to experience the benefits? Schedule your session now!