10 ways to follow your soul

10 ways to follow your soul

Feel like your life has become routine and lacks depth? Tap into the secrets of your soul to increase creativity, heighten intuition and follow your bliss.

Work with what you love. Idealistic though it may sound in hard economic times, Kalil Gibran’s tenet “work is love made visible” is a soulful sinecure held sacred by many in search of a more spiritual life. Adds Teresa Franklyn, author of online inspirational publication The-Not-So-Daily-Dose, “When you forget about everything else related to it, when you quiet all the ruckus and offer pure, uncluttered thought about the thing you want, it finds its way to you quickly. Let the Universe handle all the details. Your only work is to clear out all the debris and create a clear pathway for the thing you desire by simply and solely focusing on what you want.”

Socialise with creative thinkers. While everyone has different soul dreams, exchanging ideas with people who think differently to you is a major key in unlocking your creativity. Says Vera John-Steiner, author of Creative Collaborations, who studied famous duos like Pierre and Marie Curie and Albert Einstein and Niles Bohr, “Social interactions are crucial. They provide a non-judgmental ear for emerging ideas.” While the current global recession may be financially crippling, tough times can create great opportunities for collaboration to rise above negative circumstances. During the Great Depression, creativity, in terms of both theatre and physics, flourished.

Trust the darkness. “Creativity – like human life itself – begins in darkness,” says Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way. “Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.” However, while insights often come as blinding flashes, they are usually preceded by a gestation period that is interior, murky, and completely necessary, adds Cameron, who likens their growth to that of yeast in a dark cupboard.

Harness your imagination. Trivial though it may sound, the greatest creative force, said Albert Einstein, is imagination. Without the vision, there would have been no Disneyland for the world to see, said Walt Disney. “Imagination is the most marvellous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known,” says Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich (Filquarian Publishing, 2005) who helped Andrew Carnegie and two US presidents to tap into theirs to come up with far-reaching solutions. By exercising it daily, you not only transform mundane events into opportunities, but can tune into your soul essence to manifest your dreams.

Live overseas. Besides opening your soul to new experiences, the challenge of living in a foreign country, say researchers Adam Galinsky and Willam Maddux, teaches you how to think more creatively. “Just thinking about your time as an expat before engaging in a task can boost your creativity, the researchers found,” says a recent article in New Scientist. “They primed volunteers, all of whom had lived abroad, by asking them to write about their time spent either in a foreign country, travelling, at home or in the supermarket. They found that the first group did significantly better than the others on a subsequent word-based creativity task. “Experiencing a different culture may make you less fixed in your thinking and more able to accept and recombine novel ideas,” conclude Galinsky and Maddux.

Dance to your own drum. When Fenella Barnes went on a trip to Skyros, Greece about 10 years ago, she had little idea that it would send her soul down a new path. “One of the workshops was African drumming, which I thought I’d give a go, and just got hooked. By pure chance the teacher lived about 20 miles away from me in the UK, so I started going to his weekly classes when I got back,” says Barnes, who is now part of a network of drummers who visit Senegal and Gambia once a year, and has witnessed how it calms autistic patients. “It was the key to following my bliss.” While drumming may not be your choice, music of any sort has been shown to help people think more laterally and come up with more novel ideas than non-musicians who only use their left frontal cortex ro solve problems.

Trust your higher self. Because your ego is only concerned with gratifying itself in the present, it fights with your higher knowing or guidance, says Barbara Rose, author of Individual Power: Reclaiming your core, your Truth and your Life. Once you tune into higher faculties like visions, psychic messages and intuition where you just know something is right, “you find your life to be so much easier, far less painful; because it comes form your higher self, so it knows exactly from where you are at this moment to wherever or whatever your goal is.”

Daydream. Touted by a recent study as a crucial key to problem-solving, daydreaming is an easily accessible way to stay in touch with your soul and intuitive faculties. “When your mind wanders, a different kind of thinking occurs,” said Professor Kalina Christoff, the study’s lead author. “When you aren’t trying to solve problems deliberately, it provides more mental space, you make connections and let your mind go wherever it wants.”
“Driving is the perfect activity for letting your mind wander because it is highly automatized and requires only a small part of our attention,” she adds.

Take charge. While tuning into the flow of intuition is vital for reaching your soul, directing its flow may need more focus. A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, life coach Martha Beck likens her life to riding a horse, which has a mind of its own. “While waiting for external circumstances to make my decision for me, I’ve found myself utterly frustrated. But by creating plans and acting on them they create an energy zone of clarity and power. That alone will get the horse moving,” says Beck. “I still can’t ride worth a darn. But now when I ride I know that failure to move forward is not her fault, it’s mine. And I know that my life, like my obliging mare, cannot take me to wonderful places unless I hold the energy of leadership the whole time I’m on her. Your life is a horse. Lead it,” she asserts.

Open the door. “The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door,” says Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of Women who run with wolves (Random House, 1992), whose Jungian take on the soul centres on telling stories in order to keep the past and instinctual self alive. “If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” Open it, explore your past, connect with the present, listen to your soul. Or, as mythologist Joseph Campbell once wrote, “Follow your bliss and doors will open where there were no doors before.”

Published in Aquarius. Copyright held by the author.

 

10 ways to seize the day

Whether you want to put a dent in the universe or live a fulfilling life which resonates with your soul, you need to get out there and just do it! We spoke to 10 professionals who live their dreams.

Take baby steps. Whether it’s trying a food you’ve always wanted to try or learning a new language, the secret is actively taking that step, says novelist Christopher Hope. “Look at your life, look for regrets, look for hopes, look for small dreams, even the ones that are completely out of reach, and start taking steps to get to them. You may never, but remember, sometimes the journey is more important than the destination,” says the author of Brothers under the Skin: Travels in Tyranny (2003). “Start from the beginning, stop reading this article, and do something bold, or meek, flamboyant or minimalist, just do something.”

Variety the spice. Says Viv Gordon, who besides owning a specialist recruitment agency, mentors four previously disadvantaged students, the key is balance, “I believe in the trilogy of looking after your heart, head and body in equal parts.” For her heart, she does Bio Danza, a dance form which has opened her heart to love, appreciate and respect her children beyond all expectations. For her head, she sees a trusting therapist and for her body, and self-esteem, she goes to gym and walks, which culminated in a recent trip to Peru where she climbed Salkantay at 4600 metres. “I now believe there is nothing in the world that I cannot do.”

Get off your butt. For straight-talking motivational speaker and team building trainer Mark Berger the way to seize the day is dramatic. “Move on. Let it go. Get a life. Or make a big sign and go picket against whatever is freaking you out. Just don’t waste your precious energy agonizing over stuff you can do nothing about. And if you can do something, then do it. Get involved. Play the game. Stop sniping from the sidelines. It serves no purpose, other than to increase your blood pressure, stress levels and the sales of alcohol and antidepressants. Erase the word BUT from your daily dialogue and watch how your outlook on life will change. Dramatically.”

Let go to grow. While seizing the day for some means literally that, for others it means letting go of past mistakes and making constructive choices to grow. Says Derek Davey, drummer for Them Particles, a Johannesburg-based country and blues band, every morning he starts out with a yoga session and a light-hearted mantra which helps him tune out any inner chaos, “May I shut up, cheer up and not repeat my mess-ups. Grace and humour, be my wings.” As a sub-editor for a busy daily newspaper during the day, his nightly band practice is both his meditation and his muse and his lifelong dream of an overseas road trip is always in the wings.

Feed the well. Life coach Laura Young believes the secret to managing her full life is by constantly filling the inner well. “It takes a considerable amount of discipline to remember that we have a whole inner aspect to our lives,” she says. The most effective way to do this is to turn seemingly menial, functional tasks into internal ‘feeders’. “Hiring someone to do the weeding so that I can make time to read a book on building my business, for example, might look sensible thing, but it’s like farming out my own meditation. Gardening, for me, isn’t an external task. It’s an INTERNAL one. And, believe it or not, cleaning is, too,” says Young.

Set a time. “For years I didn’t seem to have the self-discipline to write. Eventually it occurred to me that I always felt at my best first thing in the morning, so I made a decision that I would work between breakfast and lunch,” says author of The Wild (2000), Esther Freud. “Instead of sweeping the floor, putting the washing in and taking out the rubbish, I went straight to my desk. So now my house is much less tidy, but I have written four novels and I’ve stopped wondering how people have the discipline to sit down and write.”

Pay attention. For astrologer Tracy Shaw, the secret is in little acts of connectivity. “On waking I immediately open the blind, so I can see the world outside. Through the course of the day, when I notice something beautiful, I stop for a moment to take it in. When a friend calls, even if I can only speak for a few minutes, I give my full attention. That way I am left feeling really connected.”

Prioritise. Though she says she’s lucky to be able to be doing a job that reflects her heart desires, journalist Lauren Beukes says learning to say no in order to do proper justice to her work has been her biggest lesson. “I’m inspired by the world every day, from the whimsies and wonders to the wrenching atrocities that inflame me. It’s all inciting. All the things that make me happy and angry fuel my writing,” says Beukes, adding that discipline is paramount as there is no magic shiny inspirational energy to make it easy.

Live like you are dying. Every day since the age of 17, Steven Jobs, inventor of Apple Computers, has asked himself whether he would do the same thing that day if it were his last day alive. “Whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2004, his aspiration to put a dent in the universe was amplified. “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose,” he says. “You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

Give thanks. When Jaco Swart, a tubing guide on the Storms River, survived after being swept into a dangerous gorge by a flash flood, together with 14 clients, he made a vow to give thanks to God. “Only one client survived and I hung onto a log for 27 hours with a shattered knee before being rescued.” Nine years and six operations later Swart is living up to his promise and on January 15 set out on a barefoot walk around the borders of South Africa. Two months after leaving Cape Town, he crossed the 1000km mark and has high hopes of completing the 6500km stronger than ever.

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai, May 2009. Copyright held by the author.)

 

Seventh heaven

SEVENTH HEAVEN

Tranquillity at its most elegant, a stay at the Six Senses Destination Spa on Naka Yai island, Phuket, is nothing short of life-changing. Surrounded by jungle and white beaches, the resort island is both a luxurious cocoon and natural springboard for holistic wellness programmes. After six days, Sharon Marshall leaves with her seventh sense firmly intact.

When I mentioned to a friend that I felt the gods of renewal were making a mid-life entrance in my life, I had little inkling just how prophetic the statement would be as I struck the entrance gong of one of the finest spas in the world to make a wish. Set amidst a jungle on a tranquil island shaped like the Buddhist sea serpent after which it was named, Naka Yai oozes greenery, harmony and rejuvenation from every laidback pore of its plus 80 000 square metres. As do the staff, who, akin to the sea serpent’s fabled ability to bridge the world of man and gods, mindfully tend gardens, drive autos to and from the spa and subtly attend to every click of the finger or phone.
Just a short boat trip from the mainland, the Six Senses eco-friendly island resort opened the doors of its earthy, sophisticated 61 pool villas, decorated in neutrals and vivid greens to offset the turquoise sea, to the world in November last year. Elegant rather than garishly luxurious, each minimalistic villa has its own sparkling pool, an outdoor bathroom with bath, steam and rain shower and, for the lucky like us, a view of the serenely lapping sea from the vast bedroom window.
Kicked off with a preliminary counselling session with a resident naturopath, whose intuition was so clear and tangible I found myself unburdening nagging stresses and strains within minutes of arrival, our six-day sojourn was well-aspected from the start. Within an hour, our massage programmes – two a day from a wide selection of Thai, Indian, Indonesian and Chinese – had been plotted. The rest was up to us!
Dazzled by the sheer tranquillity, we joked, while meandering down the stone path towards the Ton-Sai beach restaurant, that we could probably walk on water without any treatments. We were yet to discover that specially treated crystal water was just one of many elixirs on offer to complement fresh fishetarian cuisine, detoxifying smoothies and a spread of vegetable, fruits and salads light enough to ensure floating, but sumptuous enough to fill. Behold the first afternoon in tropical paradise: a gentle jetlagged nap, followed by an 80-minute Himalayan Hot Stone massage for me and a full detoxifying massage for him.
Housed in a feng shui-designed quadrangle divided into Thai, Indonesian, Chinese and Indian sections, the massage rooms, run by adept Thai masseurs who gauge strength according to your request, are tastefully nestled amidst gangly bamboo, mulberry bushes and lotus-filled ponds, with a zen-like tea garden at the centre to rehydrate the tissues post-massage.
By supper, where we forego the organic wine with some restraint, we are relaxed and spoilt for choices with starters ranging from papaya and coriander cous cous to sashimi rolls and hot Thai soup.

THE SEVENTH SENSE
Breakfast, we discover not too early the next morning, is just as sumptuous: muesli, sushi, fruit and omelettes vie for selection with miso soup; good sustenance for a Qi Gong class, a Chinese martial art, which leaves us feeling flexible and ready for a cycle of massages, starting with a traditional Pra Kob Thai for me. A combination of Royal Thai massage and a Thai herbal compress, it uses acupressure to ease muscular aches and pains while the heated facial compress improves the flow of energy. My sinuses feel much clearer afterwards! All the better to swim with, which, this time, is in the sea, complete with palm-lined beach, of course.
Afternoon, after beetroot carpaccio at the raw cuisine restaurant at the Point, presents a turning point; my wellness coach, equipped with a discerning 12-point wheel covering the key aspects of our lives, dissects areas where performance can be improved. Incorporating psychological, spiritual and intellectual to social, physical and emotional, wellness is perceived to be the seventh, all-encompassing sense and I leave with a mini task to listen to my inner voice for the duration of my stay. While my partner is mountain biking and kayaking, I dip into the copy of Kalil Gibran’s The Prophet on the bedside table for divine inspiration. The idea is to get a healthy balance of activities, and though the areas of preference differ from person to person, meditation is the focal point. In the evening, we do nadabrahma, a meditation which aims to clear blockages in the body via gentle humming, a sound vibration which simultaneously opens the heart centre to giving and receiving. The next morning’s session, a variant of kundalini meditation, is less metaphysical, but, through dancing loosely with eyes closed, helps to release tensions and inhibitions and allow the subconscious mind to open up to wisdom from a higher source.

NEW WORLDS
By Day Three, we’re starting to follow a routine and our city-clogged senses are starting to open to the smells, tastes and textures of the beauty surrounding us. Our bodies and minds start to relax and we begin feeling like we want to feel, both within and without. Fatigue is dissipating, and between massages, we relish the opportunity to learn ancient practices to aid our daily lives. Two massage classes, led by a diminutive Thai masseur, open up a new world: Chi Nei Tsang, in which we are shown how to locate and treat the Qi point in each other to oust negative emotions stored in the body, and Rue-si Dat Ton, in which we try to learn impossible techniques of stretching to counter computer, and other work-related, pains. This, combined with a comprehensive iridology consultation, which pinpoints a weakness in my lymph glands, a need for vitamin B, more exercise and three-hourly meals, gives me plenty to work on while I contemplate the meanderings of my soul during a holistic massage with free-flowing oil. Early morning yoga and Mat Pilates basics on day four ground the Lomi Lomi, a Hawaiian massage, which is performed by a fresh-faced masseur with powerful loving hands who synchronises my breathing to the sound of Hula dance music. While my partner receives Thai boxing tips and does core exercises, I slip off to a Reiki and Vibrational Alchemy lecture by a visiting therapist. It’s also Earth Hour, we discover that evening as the lights are switched off in support of the planet; more fitting a place to toast with organic wine and candlelit seafood barbecue than this holistic Shangri-La we cannot imagine.

LOTUS PETALS
By Day Five, mind, body and soul are working harmoniously and I am quite convinced I could make the leafy villa my metamorphic cocoon forever. Small surprise that when I walk out of my final wellness counselling session I have committed to a series of exercises, both practical and metaphysical, to enhance my life. That my soul, during the session, blurted that it would need to come up with a book plan by December, I have Gibran to thank for. My final massage, a Wat-su, in which the masseur guides me, butterfly-like, in a pool of tepid water to simulate movements in the womb, brings me full circle. Winged, I leave for the real world, my soul unfolding like Gibran’s countless lotus petals. After all, I have made a promise to the universe and my e,mail reminders will ping me into action at least once a week.

(BOX 1)
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
Ramona Galardi has been changing lives for 15 years ever since she happened upon Reiki, an ancient Japanese form of energy renewal, which she informs us is with you forever once you are attuned to it, even if you don’t use it. Radiating vitality, Galardi combines the energies of Reiki, the vibration of crystals and colour and the vibration of sound using Tibetan bowls and chanting to form her healing modality called Vibrational Alchemy. Her first visit to the spa as a visiting consultant, Galardi is one of several alternative healers who offer a deeper healing component to the full massage agenda. I came away feeling a lot lighter, more centred and with a pair of meditative calligraphy cards, which she pens when not making jewellery. Her free-flowing meditation sessions underline her belief in creating your own reality and keeping universal energy flowing.

(BOX 2)
ECO-FRIENDLY COCOON
Designed to aid guests through tough life transitions and provide a lasting blueprint for wellness, Naka Yai is committed to an eco-friendly social responsibility programme, in accordance with Green Globe’s international benchmarks for environmentally-friendly resort spas, which aims to make the resort garden 100 percent able to provide meals. Locally caught fish is used as much as possible and endangered species avoided in order to help sustain the local communities and the planet. Says communications manager Anja Graube whose daily cleansing staple is the exquisite locally grown dragon fruit, “We use Tasmanian salmon, the safest and best quality in the world because it is free of all antibiotics and genetic modification and never the endangered red snapper which is common in the Andaman Sea.”

(BOX 3)
TREATMENTS
Managed and overseen by Kelly Mitchell, who personalizes individual programmes according to her wheel of wellness, the team of professional masseurs provide clients with a choice of over 20 massages from Thailand, Indonesia, India and China. Pre-planned life passages for specific needs range from a three-day “Recharge and Energize” to a 10-day “Mother-to-be” and 21-day “Body Confidence”. Mitchell, a great believer in synchronicity and the healing effect of water, combines energies with naturopath Sally Twitchen, who provides iridology readings and nutritional consultations, and lives by the Hippocratic oath, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.” In addition, a hair and nail spa offers a wide range of specialised vanity treatments and a fully-kitted gym keeps the body in shape.

(SIDEBAR)
NEED TO KNOW:
WHEN TO GO: November to March, when temperatures are in the mid-70s with little precipitation, is the best time to visit. Though temperatures rise to the upper 80s and lower 90s in April and May, it is still a good time for tourists, but September and October should be avoided because of the hot, wet monsoons.
GETTING THERE: Guests are escorted from Phuket International airport in a limousine which takes 30 minutes to reach Ao Por Grand Marina. From here a resort speedboat takes five minutes to whisk to Naka Yai island.
COST AND CONTACTS: Pool villa accommodation for two including breakfast and two fishetarian spa cuisine meals a day, an individual wellness consultation, two spa treatments per person per day, a choice of wellness activities, starts at THB 75 000 (excl service charge and taxes; valid until 31 Oct 2009) for three nights. The Retreat on the Hill, a self-contained accommodation with kitchen, huge pool and individual spa and wellness facilities starts at THB 300 000 (service charge and taxes incl) for I bedroom per night, THB 377 000 (service charge and taxes incl) for 3 bedrooms per night while The Enclave, a cluster of six hill pool villas with outdoor conference/dining facilities is available on request. Go to http://www.sixsenses.com/Six-Senses-Destination-Spa-Phuket/ or contact reservations-naka@sixsenses.com for more details. Specialised treatments, cooking classes and boat trips to other islands cost extra.

-SEVENTH HEAVEN

Tranquillity at its most elegant, a stay at the Six Senses Destination Spa on Naka Yai island, Phuket, is nothing short of life-changing. Surrounded by jungle and white beaches, the resort island is both a luxurious cocoon and natural springboard for holistic wellness programmes. After six days, Sharon Marshall leaves with her seventh sense firmly intact.

When I mentioned to a friend that I felt the gods of renewal were making a mid-life entrance in my life, I had little inkling just how prophetic the statement would be as I struck the entrance gong of one of the finest spas in the world to make a wish. Set amidst a jungle on a tranquil island shaped like the Buddhist sea serpent after which it was named, Naka Yai oozes greenery, harmony and rejuvenation from every laidback pore of its plus 80 000 square metres. As do the staff, who, akin to the sea serpent’s fabled ability to bridge the world of man and gods, mindfully tend gardens, drive autos to and from the spa and subtly attend to every click of the finger or phone.
Just a short boat trip from the mainland, the Six Senses eco-friendly island resort opened the doors of its earthy, sophisticated 61 pool villas, decorated in neutrals and vivid greens to offset the turquoise sea, to the world in November last year. Elegant rather than garishly luxurious, each minimalistic villa has its own sparkling pool, an outdoor bathroom with bath, steam and rain shower and, for the lucky like us, a view of the serenely lapping sea from the vast bedroom window.
Kicked off with a preliminary counselling session with a resident naturopath, whose intuition was so clear and tangible I found myself unburdening nagging stresses and strains within minutes of arrival, our six-day sojourn was well-aspected from the start. Within an hour, our massage programmes – two a day from a wide selection of Thai, Indian, Indonesian and Chinese – had been plotted. The rest was up to us!
Dazzled by the sheer tranquillity, we joked, while meandering down the stone path towards the Ton-Sai beach restaurant, that we could probably walk on water without any treatments. We were yet to discover that specially treated crystal water was just one of many elixirs on offer to complement fresh fishetarian cuisine, detoxifying smoothies and a spread of vegetable, fruits and salads light enough to ensure floating, but sumptuous enough to fill. Behold the first afternoon in tropical paradise: a gentle jetlagged nap, followed by an 80-minute Himalayan Hot Stone massage for me and a full detoxifying massage for him.
Housed in a feng shui-designed quadrangle divided into Thai, Indonesian, Chinese and Indian sections, the massage rooms, run by adept Thai masseurs who gauge strength according to your request, are tastefully nestled amidst gangly bamboo, mulberry bushes and lotus-filled ponds, with a zen-like tea garden at the centre to rehydrate the tissues post-massage.
By supper, where we forego the organic wine with some restraint, we are relaxed and spoilt for choices with starters ranging from papaya and coriander cous cous to sashimi rolls and hot Thai soup.

THE SEVENTH SENSE
Breakfast, we discover not too early the next morning, is just as sumptuous: muesli, sushi, fruit and omelettes vie for selection with miso soup; good sustenance for a Qi Gong class, a Chinese martial art, which leaves us feeling flexible and ready for a cycle of massages, starting with a traditional Pra Kob Thai for me. A combination of Royal Thai massage and a Thai herbal compress, it uses acupressure to ease muscular aches and pains while the heated facial compress improves the flow of energy. My sinuses feel much clearer afterwards! All the better to swim with, which, this time, is in the sea, complete with palm-lined beach, of course.
Afternoon, after beetroot carpaccio at the raw cuisine restaurant at the Point, presents a turning point; my wellness coach, equipped with a discerning 12-point wheel covering the key aspects of our lives, dissects areas where performance can be improved. Incorporating psychological, spiritual and intellectual to social, physical and emotional, wellness is perceived to be the seventh, all-encompassing sense and I leave with a mini task to listen to my inner voice for the duration of my stay. While my partner is mountain biking and kayaking, I dip into the copy of Kalil Gibran’s The Prophet on the bedside table for divine inspiration. The idea is to get a healthy balance of activities, and though the areas of preference differ from person to person, meditation is the focal point. In the evening, we do nadabrahma, a meditation which aims to clear blockages in the body via gentle humming, a sound vibration which simultaneously opens the heart centre to giving and receiving. The next morning’s session, a variant of kundalini meditation, is less metaphysical, but, through dancing loosely with eyes closed, helps to release tensions and inhibitions and allow the subconscious mind to open up to wisdom from a higher source.

NEW WORLDS
By Day Three, we’re starting to follow a routine and our city-clogged senses are starting to open to the smells, tastes and textures of the beauty surrounding us. Our bodies and minds start to relax and we begin feeling like we want to feel, both within and without. Fatigue is dissipating, and between massages, we relish the opportunity to learn ancient practices to aid our daily lives. Two massage classes, led by a diminutive Thai masseur, open up a new world: Chi Nei Tsang, in which we are shown how to locate and treat the Qi point in each other to oust negative emotions stored in the body, and Rue-si Dat Ton, in which we try to learn impossible techniques of stretching to counter computer, and other work-related, pains. This, combined with a comprehensive iridology consultation, which pinpoints a weakness in my lymph glands, a need for vitamin B, more exercise and three-hourly meals, gives me plenty to work on while I contemplate the meanderings of my soul during a holistic massage with free-flowing oil. Early morning yoga and Mat Pilates basics on day four ground the Lomi Lomi, a Hawaiian massage, which is performed by a fresh-faced masseur with powerful loving hands who synchronises my breathing to the sound of Hula dance music. While my partner receives Thai boxing tips and does core exercises, I slip off to a Reiki and Vibrational Alchemy lecture by a visiting therapist. It’s also Earth Hour, we discover that evening as the lights are switched off in support of the planet; more fitting a place to toast with organic wine and candlelit seafood barbecue than this holistic Shangri-La we cannot imagine.

LOTUS PETALS
By Day Five, mind, body and soul are working harmoniously and I am quite convinced I could make the leafy villa my metamorphic cocoon forever. Small surprise that when I walk out of my final wellness counselling session I have committed to a series of exercises, both practical and metaphysical, to enhance my life. That my soul, during the session, blurted that it would need to come up with a book plan by December, I have Gibran to thank for. My final massage, a Wat-su, in which the masseur guides me, butterfly-like, in a pool of tepid water to simulate movements in the womb, brings me full circle. Winged, I leave for the real world, my soul unfolding like Gibran’s countless lotus petals. After all, I have made a promise to the universe and my e,mail reminders will ping me into action at least once a week.

(BOX 1)
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
Ramona Galardi has been changing lives for 15 years ever since she happened upon Reiki, an ancient Japanese form of energy renewal, which she informs us is with you forever once you are attuned to it, even if you don’t use it. Radiating vitality, Galardi combines the energies of Reiki, the vibration of crystals and colour and the vibration of sound using Tibetan bowls and chanting to form her healing modality called Vibrational Alchemy. Her first visit to the spa as a visiting consultant, Galardi is one of several alternative healers who offer a deeper healing component to the full massage agenda. I came away feeling a lot lighter, more centred and with a pair of meditative calligraphy cards, which she pens when not making jewellery. Her free-flowing meditation sessions underline her belief in creating your own reality and keeping universal energy flowing.

(BOX 2)
ECO-FRIENDLY COCOON
Designed to aid guests through tough life transitions and provide a lasting blueprint for wellness, Naka Yai is committed to an eco-friendly social responsibility programme, in accordance with Green Globe’s international benchmarks for environmentally-friendly resort spas, which aims to make the resort garden 100 percent able to provide meals. Locally caught fish is used as much as possible and endangered species avoided in order to help sustain the local communities and the planet. Says communications manager Anja Graube whose daily cleansing staple is the exquisite locally grown dragon fruit, “We use Tasmanian salmon, the safest and best quality in the world because it is free of all antibiotics and genetic modification and never the endangered red snapper which is common in the Andaman Sea.”

(BOX 3)
TREATMENTS
Managed and overseen by Kelly Mitchell, who personalizes individual programmes according to her wheel of wellness, the team of professional masseurs provide clients with a choice of over 20 massages from Thailand, Indonesia, India and China. Pre-planned life passages for specific needs range from a three-day “Recharge and Energize” to a 10-day “Mother-to-be” and 21-day “Body Confidence”. Mitchell, a great believer in synchronicity and the healing effect of water, combines energies with naturopath Sally Twitchen, who provides iridology readings and nutritional consultations, and lives by the Hippocratic oath, “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.” In addition, a hair and nail spa offers a wide range of specialised vanity treatments and a fully-kitted gym keeps the body in shape.

(SIDEBAR)
NEED TO KNOW:
WHEN TO GO: November to March, when temperatures are in the mid-70s with little precipitation, is the best time to visit. Though temperatures rise to the upper 80s and lower 90s in April and May, it is still a good time for tourists, but September and October should be avoided because of the hot, wet monsoons.
GETTING THERE: Guests are escorted from Phuket International airport in a limousine which takes 30 minutes to reach Ao Por Grand Marina. From here a resort speedboat takes five minutes to whisk to Naka Yai island.
COST AND CONTACTS: Pool villa accommodation for two including breakfast and two fishetarian spa cuisine meals a day, an individual wellness consultation, two spa treatments per person per day, a choice of wellness activities, starts at THB 75 000 (excl service charge and taxes; valid until 31 Oct 2009) for three nights. The Retreat on the Hill, a self-contained accommodation with kitchen, huge pool and individual spa and wellness facilities starts at THB 300 000 (service charge and taxes incl) for I bedroom per night, THB 377 000 (service charge and taxes incl) for 3 bedrooms per night while The Enclave, a cluster of six hill pool villas with outdoor conference/dining facilities is available on request. Go to http://www.sixsenses.com/Six-Senses-Destination-Spa-Phuket/ or contact reservations-naka@sixsenses.com for more details. Specialised treatments, cooking classes and boat trips to other islands cost extra.

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai, June 2009, copyright held by author)

 

Cape Town: Soul City

Cradled by spectacular mountain and beach scenery, cosmopolitan Cape Town, South Africa’s premier tourist destination, is a haven for the soul in more ways than one.

1. Walk up Table Mountain
Cape Town’s most defining landmark, Table Mountain, with its well-known cloudy tablecloth, presides over the Mother City like an imperious, but watchful guardian. If you’re relatively fit, a walk up Platteklip Gorge on a clear morning is both invigorating and spiritually rewarding. Imbibe the spectacular aerial view of the city from the flat table top with the dassies, have breakfast in the restaurant and take the cable car down. For the more adventurous, guided trails of the mountain, called Hoerikwaggo by the indigenous San, can be arranged. The six-day Top to Tip Trail of Table Mountain National Park, from the bottom of the table to the bottom of the spine at Cape Point, includes luxury accommodation. Contact Barry Washkansky (washer77@gmail.com) to climb Devil’s Peak, explore Tranquillity Cracks or discover the Valley of the Red Gods, tailored according to your fitness levels.

2. Sunrise at Cape Point
If the trail is too strenuous, hire a car and head for Cape Town’s southernmost point before the sun comes up. Take a packed breakfast, choose a beach (the reserve offers maps at the entrance, which include historical buildings), but beware of the baboons. Though they’re well-monitored, tourists who feed them are partly responsible for their sometimes marauding behaviour. If you’re well-heeled and want to really bliss out, hire a self-catering cottage in the reserve (http://www.capestay.co.za/capepointcottage/) and take advantage of the complimentary massages.

3. Spa at V&A
In need of inner rejuvenation to banish shopping woes? The Cape Grace spa at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront has a sauna, steam room, mineral spa bath, rain shower, body shower as well as an indoor pool to wash away stress and strain. Or have a refreshing facial, wax treatment or one of a range of other beauty treats to get your boy in tiptop condition. Owned by Dubai developers, the massive mall with restaurants and shopping of every description, has a spectacular view of the reclaimed yacht basin and boasts South Africa’s biggest aquarium.

4. Picnic at Boschendal wine estate
One of South Africa’s most famous wine estates, Boschendal, originated by the French Huguenots in 1685, is a healing balm for the travel-weary spirit. While the restaurant, housed in a Cape Dutch-style manor house dating back to 1812, offers buffet luncheons and Le Café light lunches and teas, a specially packed picnic on the grass, complemented by a selection of the finest Cape wines, is the best way of combining social and spiritual aspects of your soul. If you want to get out into the country, there are plenty of other wine estates to choose from near Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. For a unique experience, head for Solms-Delta, a modern wine estate with a museum commemorating the slaves who worked there over the centuries, and order a tailored picnic from the Fyndraai restaurant.

5. Chill out at Bakoven
Nestled below a cluster of quaint seaside cottages between Llandudno and Hout Bay, Bakoven Beach offers secluded bathing and a wild view of the sea from a set of large boulders. A great spot for relaxing or a mellow cocktail party when it’s not too hot, the idyllic cove is much more intimate than Camps Bay, its upmarket neighbouring big sister. The backdrop of majestic mountains makes for pure surreal escapism; beach bathing doesn’t get more spiritual than this.

6. Jazz in Green Point
Feed your soul with soothing jazz and delectable eats in happening Green Point. The Best Ugly Rhythm Bar and Restaurant in Main Road is perfect for light starters and laidback entertainment, while the Pigalle Restaurant offers upmarket seafood and Mediterranean fare. Or get Cuban at the Bueno Vista Social Club, which has a really laidback vibe and chilled latino vibes to transport your mind. Guest houses and holiday accommodation make this area, close to the new soccer stadium being built for the 2010 World Cup, a popular haunt for trendy tourists.

7. Surf lesson in Kalk Bay/Muizenberg
Muizenberg, with its long white beaches and gentle, consistent waves, is popular with professionals and beginner surfers alike. If you’ve never tried it and want to experience the natural high of hitting the lip, contact Gary’s Surf School (+27-21-788-9839) for affordable lessons. For those already in the loop, surfboards are also available for rental. Or try the Surf Shack School (+27-21-788-9286) where professional, experienced instructors will ensure you get hot coffee at the coffee bar after you’ve caught a wave.

8. Horseriding on Noordhoek Beach
An endless expanse of white sand, Noordhoek Beach, on the other side of Chapman’s Peak, the sheer illusion of boundlessness is sure to open even the most jaded soul. Though it’s often too windy to bask in the sun, horserides, from Kommetjie past the Kakapo shipwreck, are the most adventurous way to experience the area’s spirituality. Contact the Imhoff Equestrian Centre on 082-774-1191 or info@sunsetbeach.co.za for a champagne breakfast along the way.

9. Sundowners on Chapman’s Peak
Winding 9km from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, which was carved into the mountain nearly 100 years ago, offers spectacular 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean. Picnic spots and viewpoints are dotted along the way and provide the perfect setting for an evening sundowner. Don’t forget your camera; the dramatic manganese-layered cliffs and seascapes make this one of the world’s most famous marine drives, especially when the whales are mating.

10. Sunset concert in Kirstenbosch Gardens
Besides being Cape Town’s premier showcase of indigenous flora, spectacular Kirstenbosch Gardens in Newlands offer visitors panoramic views from the lower slopes. Open 365 days a year, the gardens are ideal for a long leisurely strolls, with or without dogs, or a laidback picnic, stocked with delectable fare from the Fynbos Deli, during the day. Or sample world-class cuisine in style at the Silvertree Restaurant. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the gardens range from interesting herbs to local fynbos and rare cycads. For a really novel experience, take a walk in the ‘blind garden’ where plants can be identified by smell and touch. If you’re there on a Sunday evening during November to April, unwind on the grass and tune into one of the many international and national musical acts between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright owned by the author.)

 

10 ways to make a difference

You may not be able to change the world, but every act of kindness, random or planned, is a step towards constructive engagement with the planet. Here are some ideas to kickstart your mind.

Plant a tree. The most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint and help cool and beautify our suffering planet, planting a tree in your garden, if you have one, or sponsoring a programme that promotes city or district greening can heal your soul too. Join an environmental initiative like the ‘Stand Up Take Action 2008 Campaign’ to plant endangered ghat trees around the UAE, or log on to www.missiongreenearth.ae to order free seeds. As eco-feminist writer Alice Walker says in her famous tree poem, we all have a responsibility to rise up and resist suffering imposed by fellow human beings. “When they torture your family, plant a tree…when they begin to torture the trees and the forests they have made, start another.”
Clean up your neighbourhood. Besides getting to know your neighbours, starting a group in your area to recycle plastic, glass and cardboard or even a neighbourhood watch to keep an eye out for intruders can snowball into a warm environment or part of a bigger action group. Motivate for recycle bins, alternative ways and uses for plastic mineral water bottles or glean new ideas from foreign cultures. “Though I’m not sure what to do about it, it struck me when I was visiting India that the biodegradable leaves fashioned as take-away plates for food sold from street stalls would not only cut down on costs but also help the environment,” says European traveller Sue Mills.
Volunteer your time. Whether it’s for the underprivileged, an environmental or human rights concern, giving up some of your time is often more precious than forking out money by way of support. Contact the India Consulate in Dubai to help out with their Amnesty programme, join a non-governmental organization at the Dubai Humanitarian City or teach English at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. Take inspiration from individuals like Ashwani Gogia, 49, who, after a 12-hour shift, seven nights a week between 10.30pm and 1.30am, teaches English and “life skills” to labourers. “I try to help these men, some of whom are illiterate and do not have very much, to improve their thinking. I want them to be like lotus flowers that manage to bloom despite their surroundings,” says Gogia, who says nothing helps give him more pleasure than helping others.
Walk or cycle; don’t drive. If your destination is too far to walk to, ensure you reduce your carbon impact by doing regular maintenance checks and taking cautionary measures like accelerating and braking more gently, switching the engine off if you’re going to be stationary for longer than two minutes and avoiding carrying extra weight in the boot. Make sure, that, at the very least, you use unleaded petrol.
Sponsor an endangered animal. Sponsor endangered animals, and get feedback, by sending money to the World Wildlife Fund via the internet, or, if you’re more adventurous, join a foreign volunteer programme and give back something to the country you’re travelling in. Or send your children on a reputable foreign hike like the Snow Leopard trek in Nepal (http://www.snowleopardschooltreks.co.uk/) which donates money to the Snow Leopard Trust for every child that participates. Start a fundraiser like one child who put up a poster of a leopard at a fete and raised money by getting people to buy ‘spots’ on the cat.
Petition for change. Feel about something strongly but think it’s too petty to be noticed by the powers that be? Though they don’t all work, history shows that major changes have been brought about by petitions like the mammoth 1893 Suffrage for Women petition which resulted in New Zealand being the world’s first country to give women the vote. These days, websites like www.care2.com and www.petitiononline.com make standing up for your rights easier to formulate and distribute as well as being accessible to most of the population.
Go to charity concerts. Besides giving a local artist a chance to prove themselves, you also often get to broaden your horizons. For example, when Rob White, of the Tibetan Music Trust in Dharamsala, arranged an informal concert recently for refugee Doyee Tsering, he told the audience that though they could buy the CD, a donation to the entire project, which aims to help preserve their musical culture while in exile, would be more beneficial. A small act for one person can easily become a giant leap for mankind. Contact tibetanmusictrust@gmail.com if you think you can help from outside India.
Promote education. Moulded on Nelson Mandela’s contention that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world, South African rugby player Francois Pienaar and a circle of friends came up with MAD (Make a Difference) to provide educational opportunities for less fortunate children. Go to www.themadbunch.com if you would like to make a donation or start your own trust in your area.
Go to the mountain. If, as the saying goes, the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, you can always go to it. Which is what Stacy and Lorena Townsend did when they discovered their dad had Alzheimer’s. Joining a team of eight mountaineers, the sisters climbed Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro, in 2007 to raise over $10 000 each for the Action for Alzheimer’s cause. “My dad was diagnosed more than eight years ago and I stood by and watched helplessly as he slipped further away from us. I don’t want to feel helpless,” she says. “I want to feel hopeful!”
Start where you are. The biggest step to moving in a meaningful new direction is awakening the heart, says Pema Chodron, author of Start where you are (Element, 1994). “Rather than seeing the unwanted aspects of life as obstacles, Jamgon Kongtrul, a 19th century Tibetan teacher, presented them as the raw material necessary for awakening genuine uncontrived compassion: we can start where we are,” says Chodron. Whether it’s a spiritual revamp you’re after or a minor change, the first step to creating a mini-revolution is being kind to yourself and the rest will follow.
Do a good deed every day. “Even though it probably makes me feel better than the person I am helping, I still do it,” says call centre manager Martin Liefeldt, who keeps the acts to himself unless pressurised. “Yesterday I bought a magazine from a street vendor for double the price and took one of my disadvantaged employees for a ride in my expensive sports car. I played Bob Marley and she was ecstatic as she usually only gets to ride in a bus.”

Published in Aquarius, Dubai, 2009.

 

Are you ready to join the vegetarian revolution?

 

While giving up meat may seem like a major sacrifice, an increasing number of people are adopting vegetarianism as a healthier, more conscientious way of life. Far from being a boring routine of soy milk and lettuce leaves, a chiefly vegetarian diet can be an adventure for body, mind and soul. Here’s how to follow your gut instincts and help save the planet.

 

When Indian spiritual guru Mahatma Gandhi refused to eat meat in the west, he was reinforcing centuries of traditional belief that meat is impure. While many modern Indians eschew such strict religious codes, individuals from all cultures are embracing vegetarianism as a healthier, more ethical style of eating, regardless of religion.

Why the shift? Though scientific debate centres around whether humans are designed to eat meat at all, many vegetarians simply believe meat is murder, given the amount of suffering involved when an animal is killed, while others are health- or environment-related. Those on the health wagon feel that meat, while it provides plenty of protein, also proves tons of fat, and contributes to heart disease. (See Plant Power)

Others believe food poisoning is more prevalent in meat eaters, and cutting out eggs and dairy provides an even lower risk. In addition, studies show that vegetarians are less likely to be obese, and though it is possible to subsist on cakes and pizzas, an all-vegetarian diet is more likely to help shed kilos.

An added motivation is that the meat industry harms the environment in a number of ways, from a waste of resources (animals raised for food eat enough grain to feed the world) and fuel to the pollution caused by their waste matter. They believe, like Albert Einstein, that evolving to vegetarianism is the only way to sustain the planet.

“At the bottom line,” says Rod Suskin, author of Soul Life (Double Storey 2006), “vegetarianism is a spiritual issue. If you’re eating consciously you will quickly begin to discern the energetic difference between living food such as fruit and vegetables and dead food such as meat, however fresh. While vegetable matter retains life for a few days after it has been removed from the source of its life, animal matter dies immediately and thus begins the process of decay. Ancient wisdom teaches that the more we use dead matter as a source of life, the more we incline to dark, low states of consciousness.”

Like any major lifestyle change, switching to a vegetarian diet takes time and preparation, and being dogmatic about it is only likely to discourage you:

1. Read all about it. Check out comprehensive websites like GoVeg.com, Post Punk Kitchen (www.theppk.com), Savvy Vegetarian (www.savvyvegetarian.com), borrow books from the library or from vegetarian friends. “Since the advent of the Internet, answers to questions which at once seemed elusive are now exposed in a click. We cannot plead we are uninformed consumers, unless we wish to remain so,” says Ingrid van Heslinga, who chose the vegetarian option a year ago. “Animal welfare groups such as PETA provide factual literature and video footage of the inhumane conditions in which large scale farms and slaughter houses operate. The documentary Earthlings (www.earthlings.com) fully clinched my decision. I knew intrinsically that I could no longer say that I loved animals and continue to support the meat industry.”
2. Make gradual changes. Says nutritionist Ginny Messina, who became a vegan after 28 years of eating meat and has since co-authored books like The Convenient Vegetarian (MacMillan Press,1999), “Most people say they cannot imagine completely giving up meat, fish, dairy and eggs. And I always tell them that that’s okay. You can choose meals with fewer animal foods right now in some pretty painless ways.” She adds, “Start reducing your consumption by replacing simple things. Use vegetarian mayonnaise, replace creamy dressings with oil and vinegar, use non-dairy coffee creamer, buy vegetarian baked beans, serve mushroom- instead of meat-based gravy on potatoes.”
3. Tell friends and family. Keeping your nearest and dearest in the loop about your decision and the reasons for it can allay much anxiety and ensure that you aren’t tempted into carnivorous delights at dinner parties. “Though it was the most natural thing for me to do, you do need to be strong to stick by your guns,” says Stacy Adendorff, who has been a vegetarian ever since she left her meat-eating home 12 years ago. “People often seem offended when I tell them I’m a veggie. It’s like they need to tease me and question my decision to make themselves feel better. In general, I just get on and do it.” Says Messina, “Show your friends that vegans love and eat good food and that vegan cuisine is not about deprivation. Everything doesn’t have to be low-fat, whole grain, and sugar-free.”
4. Get exciting recipes. Plunder recipe files (ask your veggie friends for first-hand knowledge) and try one new recipe every week. Use meatless substitutes in the dishes you usually eat with meat, e.g. vegetable instead of chicken stock, or non-meat packet spaghetti mixes, says Messina. Once you have 7-10 that you use over and over because you like the, you’re well on your way. Testifies Adelle Horler, who has eaten a mainly vegetarian diet for the last six years: “Make an effort to learn a whole new way of cooking and eating, rather than making the same stuff just without the meat. That way you have a new culinary experience without feeling like you’re denying yourself something.”
5. Prioritise protein. While protein is essential, most people overdose on it by eating meat. If you eat a variety of foods containing protein from vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, soy protein and the like, you’ll get more than your share, which is 46 grams per day for women and 56 grams for men, says Messina. This will also ensure that you don’t overdose on junk food and become an unhealthy vegetarian, adds Adendorff,
6. Experiment. Suss out ethnic cultures that are mainly vegetarian, from Chinese and Moroccan to South American and Inidan, and entertain your taste buds. Ditch the illusion that tofu is tedious, and tuck into dietary delicacies like chickpeas, couscous, haloumi and hummus. Not only do they present endless opportunities for restaurant meals, but they can be prepared at home in advance.
7. Supplement where necessary. Those who do not eat dairy and cheese often use Vitamin B12 supplements or a plant food fortified with it like breakfast cereal or soymilk. This is a wise decision as B12 deficiency can lead to mental decline, says Messina. Go for a chewable variety as it is absorbed better. Make sure you get enough calcium, from varied sources to ensure absorption, to maintain bone health. If you don’t get your 1000mg from leafy greens, fortified orange juice and fortified soymilk and tofu, invest in a supplement.
8. Find veggie restaurants and plunder health stores. Though vegetarian restaurants are becoming increasingly popular, a big hurdle for many is finding a meal that provides adequate sustenance when they dine out. You could also expand your omnivorous friends’ horizons with a purely vegetarian meal. Though free range eggs and vegetarian cheese are generally available in supermarkets, health food stores offer a huge and interesting range of supplements, meat alternatives and tinned pulses. Read the labels, and be on the lookout for pointers like the vegetarian society’s Seedling Symbol.

 

(maybe add a box on veggie restaurants and health stores in Dubai)

 

LEARNING TO VEG OUT

While vegetarian implies no meat in any form, it does not necessarily exclude dairy or eggs. Strict vegetarians from strict religious sects like the Jains (which bases its philosophy on non-violence) also don’t eat non-fertilised eggs, honey or root vegetables like ginger, garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes and radishes. Veganism, the most extreme form of non-violence, includes no dairy, and excludes all forms of exploitation of animals for clothing or any other purpose.

While most veggies strive for this ideal, the transition is not easy. Perseverance, says vegan nutritionist Ginny Messina, is the key. “Make the changes that are easiest for you — and feel good about them! Remember, every time you choose a plant food instead of an animal food, you’ve made a difference.”

Says Adelle Horler, who stopped eating red meat six years ago, “I didn’t like lamb or chicken, and ate beef only when I went out, but grew to dislike the heavy, toxic heavy feeling in my stomach. Now I only eat fish, eggs and dairy. I eat fish as it’s an easy source of protein, but that will have to stop soon if I stick to my motto of “nothing with a mother”.

“Emotionally I feel better because I know nothing suffers through me; physically I feel healthier, and my system feels ‘clean’. I hate the idea of animal grease.”

Her only regret? “Sometimes I wish bacon was an honorary vegetable!”

Like Adelle, Robert Krzisnik occasionally eats fish after his decision to give up meat 22 years ago. “I had been reading about the negative affects of eating meat on the human body, was worried about the ethics of killing animals for food, and slowly began to realize that I did not really like eating meat. Now eating meat is just as appealing to me as eating wood or mud, so I don’t do it.”

“About 10 years ago I started to feel my body was lacking something and since then I have been eating fish about bi-monthly or so, primarily sushi or smoked salmon. And I do eat eggs and some dairy products,” adds Krzisnik, who was also inspired by the Earthlings documentary.

His advice to omnivores? “I do not think that it is bad to eat meat. But I really wish people were more conscious of the quality of meat they buy. All the preservatives, colours, hormones and steroids, along with the awful energy of living beings, being held in zero space and tortured, is something that I believe affects meat-eating people very much and should be avoided.”

For Adelle, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (available in downloadable format at www.animalvegetablemiracle.com), about a US farming family who eat only produce they’ve they’ve grown or buy within 50km for a year, including only free range meat, was the inspiration..

The rationale? “If you’re going to eat meat, make sure it had a happy life and was killed humanely.”

 

(Suggest cutting below if necessary)

 

PLANT POWER

While documenting every last animal-derived ingredient in your diet is only likely to make you neurotic, says Messina, following a plant-based diet makes health sense. Plant foods:

• provide phytochemicals, which reduces risk for heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.
• contain fibre, which is associated with a lower risk for cancer, heart disease, and obesity, and no cholesterol, which even lean meats like shrimp and white chicken meat are high in.
• are low in saturated fat, which is linked to a heart disease risk. Though olives and nuts are high in total fat, they contain healthful types of fat.
• have a type of iron which is regulated by the body in a way that guards against iron overload, which may be linked to chronic disease.
• are excellent sources of nutrients, such as folate, potassium, and chromium, which help fight chronic disease.

(Published in Aquarius 2008. Copyright owned by the writer.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 ways to live in the now moment

The basis of most spiritual philosophies, focusing on the here and now, as opposed to the end destination or past failures, is the key to a productive and fulfilling life. Stop procrastinating, ditch self-defeating distractions and do it now.

1. Follow the Daffodil Principle. When Carolyn took her mom to see a spectacular field of daffodils in a country town, their lives were changed forever. Beside a house next to the field was a poster headlined, “Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking”. The first answer read: “50 000 bulbs”. The second answer was, “One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain.” The third answer: “Began in 1958.”
The message, as Carolyn pointed out to her mom who lamented about what she could have done had she started 30 years’ earlier, was, “Forget the past. Start now. One bulb at a time.”
2. Just do it. Says Tim Pychyl, Carleton University professor and expert on procrastination, “When the temptation strikes to put something off to tomorrow, I just get started on it right then. Even in the darkness of 6 am when another 15 minutes in bed sounds great, I say to myself: ‘Get your sorry little butt out of bed. The horses are hungry. Get up!’ And when I’m up, I’m happier.”
3. See the big picture. Whether your day is spent tending the household and running after children or designing an ad for a high-flying corporation, niggly chores and dreaded tasks are as important to the final result as creative endeavours. Take 15 minutes a day to write a to-do list. Divide it into chores and exercises that require a lot of time, and work your day around a schedule. Tick off tasks as you complete them, and review your progress at the end of the day.
4. Zap the time thieves. “Simple honesty with yourself is huge, huge,” maintains Pychyl. “Identify clues you’re about to put off. If you’re checking e-mails instead of attending to the small chores, he says, don’t take refuge in the ‘It-will-only-take-a-minute-later’ rationalization. Turn it around. Realize that many jobs literally only take a minute, so let’s do it right now.”
If you’re weak on emotional steadiness, conscientiousness or organization, you need to break down tasks into pieces, and finish one piece at a time, says Pychyl. “Once we get started, we wonder ‘Why did I put it off?’ Make a deal with yourself to work on a task for 15 minutes, and with resistance overcome, momentum to continue usually takes over.”
5. Change the way you talk to yourself. After leaving university in his third year mainly because he lacked direction, Pychyl’s natural interest in human behaviour, and what turns people into their own worst enemy, was aroused by an adviser’s research on personal projects and happiness. His interviews with graduate students showed that many of them were in procrastination paralysis because of lack of self-esteem. Solution? “Instead of worrying about living up to other peoples’ standards, think to yourself, ‘This isn’t the end of the world. This is just the way I react emotionally,’ instead of moving away from the task”.
6. Improve your concentration. A study by Carleton undergraduate researcher Ari Rotblatt confirms that mindful meditation, with your breath as focus, builds concentration power. If you feel you are drifting off in the middle of the day, do an engaging computer game which will sharpen your reflexes and attention to immediate detail. Or tap into your senses. Says Raphael Cushnir, author of How Now, “For example, pay attention to what happens when you smile. Notice how your interior sensations shift as a result. Next, close your mouth and hum a note. Follow the vibration of the sound waves as they spread through organs and bones. Let them wake you up.”
7. Disconnect. When you’re busy on an important task, shut off your e-mail, MSN and your phone. Don’t have Facebook open. Says Leo Babauta, whose simple blog (http://zenhabits.net) mushrooomed from observations of everyday Zen into one of the world’s top 50 blogs, “Don’t check e.mail first thing in the morning. Do your three most important things for the day, or the thing you’ve been procrastinating on the most. Then check e.mail. If you are constantly checking email throughout the day, you will be distracted and not able to focus on the task before you.” To ensure his inbox is always empty, he decides what has to be done with each e.mail as it arrives: answer, print out for later appraisal if it’s long, mark for later action or archive it.
8. Go with the flow. Coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to describe the essence of experience described by high achievers, flow is “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake”. While it sounds mystical, it is very practical to institute, says Babauta. The direct antithesis of multi-tasking, which keeps you busy but not necessarily productive, getting into flow requires choosing a task that is challenging, ditching all distractions during a quiet period in your day, and pouring yourself into it without worry of self-consciousness. “Aside from the pleasure of getting into Flow, you’ll also be happier with your work overall. You’ll get important stuff done. You’ll complete stuff more often, rather than starting or stopping frequently. All of this is hugely satisfying and rewarding. Take time to appreciate this feeling (perhaps after the fact), and to continue to practise it every day,” he says.
9. Seize the day. While going with the flow sounds like a passive exercise, it really requires active participation and ownership. As Rachel Lim, an intern for Arrows With Soul (www.arrowswithsoul.com), a Singaporean community enrichment programme, says,“The word ‘seize’ means to take possession by force, and conjures for me an image of jumping up and grabbing hold onto to that moment, declaring, ‘It’s mine! It’s my moment!’, and then holding on to it for dear life.”
10. Set poetry in motion. Seize the moment, but make your 60 seconds of duty 24 hours of satisfaction. Says Taoist Deng Ming-Dao, “Just do what you can for the present, and leave everything else to happen naturally. Work. Wash. Meditate. Eat. Study. Urinate. Sleep. Exercise. Talk. Listen. Touch. Die each night. Be born again each morning.”

Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2008.

 

How to have a perfect marriage

Happily ever after an idealistic phrase coined by writers of children’s fairytales? Not so, say those who view marriage as a soul journey undertaken by two individuals with separate life paths and a common goal.

 

* Trust must be absolute. “I think entering into a marriage with an exit clause is destructive and dangerous. Trust is critical in a marriage. You can’t trust someone and ask for a dissolution agreement ‘just in case’. If you need that, one or both of you is holding back or is seeing something that you should be paying attention to but are trying to ignore,” says life coach Laura Young, whose second marriage, 15 years on, gets better by the year.

“You need to know that your partner is capable of loving you even when it’s painful. Think about what you are agreeing to when you enter in to a marriage. I didn’t the first time. I’m older and wiser now. I get it. So does my husband.”

* Involve and evolve. Remember that you are married to a separate and evolving individual who is put on this earth to do and learn certain things, maintains Young. “The reality is your partner is going to change. And it is a fact that each individual has to figure out for themselves what this life is going to mean to them and how they want to walk their path.

“Being committed to another doesn’t mean you become the other. Lives combine but in healthy marriages they don’t become absorbed one into the other. Celebrate each other. Embrace change. Encourage evolution. Remember where you end and they begin. In short, love each other as other.”

* Don’t fix it if it’s not broken. For Suzanne Saunders, the romance of marriage started to wear off when she started working from home, which included domestic chores, isolation – and coping with a stressed out husband at the end of the day. “When Clive got home, he would generally be in a bad mood, and I would think he was angry with me because I had forgotten to do something or irritated him in some way.”

“I spent months feeling inadequate because I thought I was making him unhappy and disempowered because I thought my petty grievances were unimportant to him.”

A common scenario, says life alchemist John Rushton, who recommends a simple dose of compassion and respect for each other’s boundaries. Adds Young, “What your partner does is seldom a reflection of you or on you. I allow him that space to come down from his day to allow us time to get in sync. Had I made his process about ME, I would have been cranky, needy, demanding or some other version of annoying and then he’d have to fix me after a full day of work.”

* Sexless seasons are normal. A dry spell isn’t a sign that you’ve lost your mojo or that you’ll never have sex again, says journalist Ylonda Gault Caviness. “It just means that maybe this week, sleep is more important than sex. And don’t kid yourself; no one is doing it as often as popular culture would have you believe. The key is to make sure that even if you’re not doing ‘it’, you’re still doing something — touching, kissing, hugging. Personally, my heart gets warm and mushy when my husband rubs my feet after a long, tiring day. He may not be anywhere near my G-spot, but that little bit of touch and attention keeps us connected even when we’re not having spine-tingling sex.”

* Respect and resolve. While conflict is inevitable, and even healthy, there are ways to ensure it doesn’t get out of hand and harp on past issues, says couples counsellor Jodi Whyman. Bring it up in a non-threatening way, no name calling, focus on specific issues or behaviours, rather than personality qualities. Use “I” statements, stay calm, take a few minutes break if tempers are frayed and choose the right time — not when people are tired or hungry, when the kids are around, or when you’re on deadline at work.”

* Our way is better than my way. The biggest breakdown of marriage, says Rushton, is separate agendas. “It’s called the ME syndrome. A marriage is doomed for failure if you each rush about doing your own thing and not seeing the bigger picture of US.”

It was this realization that shifted Caviness into a different gear. “A lifetime of experience has taught me that in most areas, at most times, I am right about most things. What shocked me several years into my marriage, though, was the realization that the more ‘right’ I was, the more discontented my husband and I were as a couple.”

Her solution? “After locking horns often, I realised that there is no right way or wrong way. When I sincerely acknowledge his view, it seems to become easier for him to hear mine. And because I know I’m being heard, most of the time now, I don’t even want to prove how right I am any more. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”

 

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2008.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give your home a spiritual makeover

Like our bodies and minds, our homes are the product of the spiritual energy we pour into them. Here’s a sample of a few practices which inject light, colour and energy into every corner and space – engage the senses and combine them for a therapeutic, balanced environment.

 

FUNCTIONAL FENG SHUI

Based on the Taoist philosophy which aims to balance yin (female, passive and weak) and yang (male, active and strong) energies, feng shui aims to create a harmonious environment. “If yin and yang are not balanced in your environment, the imbalance can produce unwanted emotional and physical effects,” says South African master of feng shui Elaine Hosiassohn.

The flow of qi can directly affect our moods and ultimately our health, over a period of time, says Hosiassohn. “Nourishing qi circulates. It gently revolves and curves, and creates a healthy balanced environment. Strong qi [called sha qi] disturbs and can cause mental and physical illness.” 

On the other hand, weak qi is as detrimental. “A stuffy airless room or a house with the same neutral colours throughout causes qi to stagnate,” says Hodiassohn.

 “In classical feng shui the two most important factors to consider are the year the house was built and the compass orientation of the house.” This coupled with the five elements (fire, wood, earth, metal, water) which correspond to the occupant’s birth years give an accurate audit of your house, says Hosiassohn.

Never live in a house which faces the end of a road, or passageway, in the case of an office. Your house or office’s entrance door should be clear and free of trees or other obstacles, and should not be much bigger or smaller than your neighbours.

 

REFINING YOUR HOME

 

1.    THE BEDROOM

Places of calmness and tranquillity, bedrooms require earth objects to bring relaxation. “Square shapes and pastel tones should be used. Try to avoid too many bright colours and busy patterns,” maintains Hosiassohn.

Ensure the bed is always placed against a solid wall. “This gives you a ‘command of the room’ position which is extremely important for a restful sleep. Never sleep with the bed placed in line with the door. If the room is too small and the bed cannot be moved make sure you sleep with the door closed.”

Mirrors opposite the bed are also not advisable as they disrupt the energy flow, and pictures of water can cause insomnia and attract bad luck. If can’t get rid of sharp edges pointing towards the bed, cover them or place a plant in front of them.

2.     THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is one of the most active areas in the house. “This is where we cook our food to nourish our bodies. Bright colours should be used. Be careful not to keep the kitchen feeling too yin with colours of white, black and too much metal,” says Hosiassohn.

Make sure you don’t place a fridge, washing machine or sink opposite your stove – the clash of fire and water could cause disagreements in the home.

3.   THE BATHROOM

Always close the bathroom door and toilet lid (when not in use) to prevent the loss of qi and a possible opportunity. Lots of good lighting, ventilation and mirrors keep chi reflecting and moving throughout the room and house. Dripping taps are a sign of wasting money. Another way to counteract opportunity and prosperity from being flushed away is to keep a bowl of pebbles or a flower arrangement on the toilet tank or on a shelf above the toilet. This element of earth helps control the water.

4.       THE LOUNGE

Reserved for relaxation, conversation, interaction and relationships, the lounge needs plenty of yang energy, which is symbolized by pendulum clocks, ceiling fans, plants and TV sets.

“Colours should be warm and round objects and streamline curves – shapes which symbolize action – are suitable. Photos and paintings should be used extensively,” says Hosaissohn.

If the view from your lounge has harsh lines or angles like a neighbouring home or city skyline, break up the lines with large plants. Place furniture strategically apart to break opposing straight lines, which will allow qi to flow gently, and break up dead areas with larger items of furniture, plants or fish tanks.

 

ENERGY ENHANCERS

1. MOVEMENT

Enrich relationships and stir up stagnant qi with mobiles, wind chimes to flags, scarves or incense smoke. Flowing water in the form of a fountain is also a good idea.

2. LIGHT

Use mirrors to deflect unsavoury qi by pointing them outwards towards whatever is undesirable, like a factory opposite. Lighten up dark areas or corners with soft lighting. Avoid too much yin energy in the vicinity of your home, symbolized by churches, hospitals or cemeteries. Open wndows often to ensure you don’t attract too much yin energy.

3. SOUND

Harsh noises cause Chi to become inharmonious and unsettled. Use wind chimes (which double up as a movement remedy), bells or even the gurgling sounds of water features to soothe the atmosphere. A ticking clock and harmonious music also all add to flowing qi.

1. SPIRITUALITY

If your house has beams that qi can flow along too quickly, use bamboo flutes, scrolls, fans or swords to deflect the qi into the room and enrich your health. To create an area for spiritual reflection, find a space for a statue like a Buddha, a piece of driftwood or an unusual stone. This will slow qi down and help purify it.

 

ZEN AND THE ART OF DECLUTTERING

Like feng shui, zen is an offshoot of Taoism, based on the principle of minimalism. In the home this means clean lines and clutter-free living to clear the energy flow to let calm and joy enter your heart.

“Like any habit, it takes just six weeks to break the desire to hoard and collect clutter,” says Sue Kay, author of No More Clutter (Hodder Mobius) and Hoarder to Order (Hodder Arnold). “In the first two weeks, find at least one item a day you don’t need and put it in the rubbish bin or give it away to charity.” Whether it’s a holey pair of socks or a frying pan you never use, it will only take up space if you keep it. Up your bin additions to two items a day in weeks three and four, and four items in the last two weeks. “Now you should be ready to tackle the bigger jobs and up your decluttering process to an hour a day.”

The best place to start, says Kay, is in the linen cupboard. “I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t have loads of tatty towels and tired sheets. So dump them. Recycle if possible. Then decide how many sets of bedlinen you need for every room in the house and for guests. Usually two sets is enough per bed. Similarly with towels – 2-3 sets per person is enough,” says Kay. Then get really crisp and invest in white duvet covers and towels.

To keep the flow in your house free, sort out all the rubbish on your desk and keep the floor clear. To maintain the zen atmosphere, stick to the principle of one-in, one-out. “It’s an essential tool of any clutter-free home and balances the flow of things entering and leaving the home.”

 

CREATIVE COLOUR THERAPY

For fine artist and colour therapist Tiziana Giardini, colours perform the same role in the home as instruments in an orchestra. “For example, indigo and violet which are at the top of the spectrum are equivalent to a violin and red, at the bottom, is similar to the sound of a drum.”

“Your home is the reflection of your inner self,” says Giardini, who uses her finely developed sense of colour to act as a colour filter for her clients. “Colour creates moods. Whether you opt for bright strong vibrant colour or more subtle hues that reflect nature, colour makes you feel alive and evokes memories. I often use flowers, leaves and stones as a starting point.”

A good starting point is to create a mood board in combination with a colour wheel. Gather samples of your favourite materials and pictures of inspirational room designs, create a board for each room and lay out according to order, ie carpet samples at the bottom.

For each room, choose your main base colour. If it’s one that’s dictated by what you already have and can’t change, like a grey carpet or pink tiles, use the colour wheel to see what colours will go with it and decide whether you want a tonal, harmonious or complementary scheme.

To avoid colour pollution, says Giardini, use neutrals as a base and visually declutter. For example, adding just a touch of colour to a white paint will give the neutral the vibration it requires, and works brilliantly when offset against a more solidly coloured wall. Another important aspect to consider is to zone colour according to the lighting in the environment. For example, a house with a sea view has very different possibilities to one in a leafy suburb, says Giardini.

 

VIOLET: Purifying, calming for the body and mind, enhances purpose and dignity, heightens awareness. Purple, the colour of sex, is also perfect for bedrooms.

INDIGO: Sedative. Helps to open up our intuition. The colour of divine knowledge and the higher mind. Not suitable for areas for entertainment but for quieter places, like bedrooms, treatment rooms, libraries or studies.

BLUE: Calming, relaxing and healing, promotes intellectual thought and communication. Not as sedating as indigo, but good in bedrooms, bathrooms or studies. Choose a blue with a warm undertone to avoid a chilly reception.

GREEN: Balancing, harmonising and encourages tolerance and understanding. Depending upon the shade, can be used for most areas. Too much green can make you too complacent or indecisive – add a dash of red or orange to counteract this.

YELLOW: Stimulates mental activity, promotes feeling of confidence, energy. Great in a study as it helps one to stay alert. Also good in activity rooms, entrance halls, kitchens and north-facing rooms. Not restful for bedrooms as it can enhance feelings of emotional distress.

ORANGE: Warming, energizing and reassuring. The colour of fun and sociability, orange stimulates creativity and is great for activity areas or living rooms. Not ideal for bedrooms or areas of possible stress, as it can overstimulate.

RED:  Energizing, adventurous, passionate, warm. A good bet for dining rooms as it promotes sociability and stimulates the appetite. Take care with the use of tone as it can make a space look smaller by being claustrophobic or oppressive.

 

AERATING AROMATHERAPY

Create a fragrant ambience in your home by burning aromatherapy oils or placing candles fragranced with essential oil around the home. Add 6-8 drops of your favourite scent to water in a diffuser or place the drops directly into a bowl of boiling water. Use lemon, lime, bergamont or grapefruit for entrance halls. Combine with uplifting lavender or calming geranium, depending on the time of day.

Give your linen cupboard a fresh fragrance by adding a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and spray on garments before ironing. Create an air freshener by adding six to eight drops of your oil of choice to 600ml water. To rid a room of stale tobacco or cooking smells use cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, rosemary or lime. Saturate cotton wool balls and place in the corners of a room, in cupboards or hidden places throughout the house.

 

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2007.)

 

 

 

 

Embrace your inner tortoise

At your wits’ end because you can’t access your e.mails every hour, frazzled because your children have misplaced the TV remote, stressed out by too many text messages? Take time to reflect, join the Slow Movement and watch your life really connect.

 

When London journalist Kate Muir landed up with an unmanageable version of Kate’s Bush and a gammy leg after trying to blow-dry her hair and do yoga at the same time as well as a bleeding nose while texting on the Tube steps, she found herself in the throes of a multitasking epiphany.

After a long, hard think, Muir realised that though her job, personality and lifestyle required plenty of cerebral stimulation, she was over-connected and spiritually impoverished. Enter the Slow Movement, an offshoot of the International Slow Food Movement, initiated by a group of anti-McDonald’s protestors 20 years ago in Rome, Italy.

Says life coach Sally Lever, who specialises in teaching people how to live a sustainable life,: “While technology has certainly aided communication in many ways, the downside is that urbanites are finding themselves more isolated than ever because of over-reliance on quick fixes and electronic devices.

“Real connection – on a personal, social and spiritual level – is becoming more the exception than the norm, as we communicate with anyone anywhere at the click of a button or mouse ove the face-to-face kind. This is what the Slow Movement aims to address.”

While embracing a movement of any description may sound ominously like taking on the beliefs of a political ideology, Muir says the beauty of living more slowly and thoughtfully can mean nothing more than adapting your lifestyle. “Lying on a beach in Ibiza with nothing to do has always meant endless boredom for me. So I think I’ll stick to a personal foxtrot – slow, slow, quick, quick, slow.”

 

Balance the techno scale

For Chris Barylick, a journalist with his finger on the global technological pulse, a meeting with an old high-school friend sounded loud alarm bells which many of us choose to ignore for the sake of expedience.

“I sat down with him for the first time in more than a year around Christmas, and watching the snow fall, I asked what had happened to him. He spouted geek wisdom, talking about technology and checking code on his Palm Pilot. And nothing else.

“Ask him how he’s doing on an interpersonal level in any way and it’s deflected back to the thousands of mp3’s in his collection, Monty Python quotes, Terry Pratchett novels or the latest upcoming anime series. I didn’t know what to think when he logged on to his e-mail later in the day, his hands moving so fast that it seemed like he had done nothing else for the past four years. His social skills are nothing compared to his online prowess; somehow something seemed to have gone wrong somewhere along the way.”

While the Slow Movement offers basic tenets to reconnect to a time when the extended family and cultural tradition played a major part in keeping us connected, Barylick’s solution is finding a balance.

“Everything’s good in moderation, and the important thing to find a balance between the real world and technology, even if one is more comfortable than the other. Today’s technology was never meant to adversely effect our social lives, but in some cases it can outright replace them. The time may come when you have to realize for yourself or another person that it’s a means to an end, not the end to all means.”

Says celebrated author of In Praise of Slow, Carl Honore, this could mean making a tiny change like slowing down on the information superhighway, like a senior manager at IBM who appends this footnote to every email: “Read your mail just twice each day. Recapture your life’s time and relearn to dream. Join the slow e.mail movement!”

The bottom line? “Life isn’t a spectator sport, nor has it ever been. Turn off the computer, step outside on a random weekend night and see where your feet take you among the thousand options that open up when you’re looking for them,” advises Barylick.

 

Downshift to upshift

The overriding message of the Slow Movement is to downshift, or choose voluntary simplicity, in order to upshift our lifestyles. Says Lever, editor of www.sallylever.co.uk, “Downshifting is a viable solution for those of us who find maintaining an externally imposed ‘standard of living’ stressful and meaningless. It’s about finding a quality of life that transcends all of that and concentrates on living according to our core values.”

For journalist Karin Schimke, the alarm bells came when she realised she was on a never-ending treadmill because of her over-achieving work ethic: “My distress at being a sloth at heart was at its zenith when I worked in a Johannesburg for two years in the mid-90s, when the culture of she-who-works-longest-wins still won out over gentleness and thoughtfulness every time. I had a two-day migraine once a week for three particularly horrible months. I was also fat as a piggy, because I never had time to eat proper food or exercise, and I spent my weekends collapsed in a misery of work-excess, unable to muster the energy to go for a spirit-lifting walk in the park.”

Like many career women who derive their sense of identity from their work achievements, Schimke was torn between material and soul success. “And all the time I wondered what the hell was wrong with me that this life didn’t give me the kick it seemed to give everyone else. If lunch was for ninnies, I wanted to be a ninny. Except I was afraid I might become a social outcast if I showed I needed rest or food. So I quietly hid my penchant for the slow life until a book called “How to be idle” found its way to me last year.”

When Schimke’s husband resigned unexpectedly over a moral issue, the family made a conscious decision to downscale financially, which meant gleaning pleasure from the natural things in life, rather than material pleasures. Schimke started growing her own vegetables, replaced her car with walks wherever possible, and turned family meals into connective conversations.

With the pace turned down, life began to organise itself. “Sunday evenings – with slight tweaks to the system just before bed every night – are when I do most of my work. I co-ordinate diaries, compose the week’s menu, do stock-taking and make a list of what needs to be bought so that I only have to go to the shops once. I put out everyone’s clothes for Monday, prepare lunch boxes, write cards, wrap gifts, plan, and generally assemble the mind map that will help me glide through my week.”

She also thrives on the little pleasures of life. “On Monday mornings I have a clean bra. Dinner is defrosting. There is petrol in the roving pigsty I call my car. Life is beautiful.”

 

Mellow out

While toning down urban life to a more natural pace is the answer for most, some, like Frik Grobbelaar, believe the only thing to do is give it all up and live in the country.

Says Grobbelaar whose decision to buy a farm in 1985 has lead to bigger dreams. “I realised that life on the planet was unsustainable if we carried on our consumerist behaviour, and decided to open my doors to anyone interested in alternative lifestyles. I now have international healers and local experts giving lectures on permaculture and ancient healing practices to try to educate the public on living a more holistic lifestyle.”

 “Living sustainably simply means living in a way that minimises our negative impact on the planet. On a day to day level, it’s about reducing our consumption of the world’s resources, re-using items rather than throwing them away and recycling our waste among a host of other things. On a more personal level, sustainable living is about valuing our health and wellbeing, our relationships and community above our need to consume and exploit,” explains Lever.

While living at a slower pace also means better health, reconnecting to natural rhythms and the world around us is that we stand more chance of living to a riper, more meaningful old age. As Schimke says: “The other day I found out that a man I admire greatly – a professor of philosophy – was 70 and not 55 as I’d thought. When I expressed my surprise, he said: ‘I spent my life in quiet rooms in armchairs thinking, drinking coffee and talking to colleagues. Time passes slowly when you’ve lived your life that way.’ And I thought: well, that’s how I shall age. Mellow-ly.”

 

 

(BOX)

Go Slow

• Travel slow. Instead of taking a planned tour, or slotting into pre-arranged hotel itineraries, find self-catering accommodation in out-of-the-way places, buy all your food from local traders and experience the sights by listening to locals’ advice. Slow travel is all about connecting to culture and creating an intense experience through total involvement. Or go one step further and get involved in voluntourism – help a disadvantaged child or volunteer to teach at a local school. 
• Eat slow. Even if you don’t join the Slow Food Movement which has over 65 000 members in 42 countries, think carefully about the choices you make when buying and preparing food. The simplest way to do this is to teach your children about the origins and tastes of food, and savour natural foods when you prepare a meal. Says ethnobotanist Dale Millard, “Our fast-paced consumerist lifestyles have made us lose touch with where our food comes from and what it tastes like.” The spin-off of preparing and eating natural, wholesome meals is that we get to take time to nurture our social connections as well.
• Grow slow. According to Millard, who embraces ancient spiritual healing and crop-growing practices from tribes as diverse as the South American Mayans and South African Shangaan: “You can grow your own salad greens and vegetables in your home with the aid of three plastic bottles which you hollow out, fill with fertilised soil and erect in a tier structure. By placing a container at the bottom, you get to recycle the water which you pour from the top. In this way you not only sustain yourself but also keep in touch with the environment.”
• Read slow. With the internet and passive television viewing, one of our biggest losses is forgetting to read books and filling our heads with information instead. Join a library and take time every day to feast on the pleasures of the written word. Fiction is an especially creative way of sparking the imagination and enhancing creativity.
• Think slow. It’s no accident that many teachers are reviving the lost art of chess to teach children to process information more constructively. Quite the opposite to what it sounds, thinking slow actually means the neurons connect more intensely and produce a deeper understanding and involvement.
• Buy slow. Besides organic food, local hand-made fashion is coming into its own and is often more trendy, and more individualistic, than upmarket designer stuff. Supporting local also feeds into community connectivity.
• Find a slow hobby. Knitting, crosswords, family trees, patchworking, painting, writing poetry – the list is endless, but, instead of overstimulating, provides head space to really be creative.
• Exercise slow. Get into yoga, meditation or a gentle form of exercise that helps the brain unwind. The benefits will manifest not only in your body, but your spiritual awareness will improve too. Sports that provides full engagement with natural elements like surfing or hiking are first prize, but taking yourself on a daily 20-minute walk is a daily springclean in itself.
• Dream slow. Says Lever, “Anybody can live their dreams if they really want to. It’s not a lack of any particular intelligence or personality trait that prevents some of us doing that. We all have it in us. Rather, it’s eliminating the physical and psychological clutter that gets in the way that’s important. It’s strengthening your character, not changing your personality that will get you there!” Lever believes there are three main steps to success: Having a strong desire or intention; holding a deeply held belief that it is possible, accepting it into your life when it happens.  

Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2007.