Movie Review: "I Am"

I watched the movie  "I Am"  last night.  I heard a bit of buzz about this movie but I wasn't really all that inspired to watch another movie on improving my life. I've seen a lot of the "spiritual/change your life" movies and I sort of felt "over that" a bit.  I guess I was wrong. 

This isn't a 'guru gets discovered by Hollywood" phenomenon. This movie isn't about marketing something. It won't give you secrets on how to change your life, make more money and surround yourself with abundance.  It might make you change the way you think about all that.

Tom Shadyac (today's picture is Tom Shadyac taken from the "I Am" website http://www.iamthedoc.com/) is a famous movie director.  He's brought the Jim Carry "Ace Ventura" movies to life. Most of his movie are funny, totally goofy, and purely meant to entertain. Shadyac was "living the good life" in terms of fame and fortune.  He had a transformation.

In Shadyac's case it was quite literally a knock to the head that put him into a whole different zone. In a post concussion depression and with the means to do pretty much anything he wanted to, he started searching for what was lacking.  What he found was what is present. He claims that while searching for what was wrong with the world, he found what was right.

This movie is a documentary of Shadyac's journey and conversations with some of the world's spiritual, and scientific leaders.  The cast of characters is wide and impressive. This is not some grainy, low budget, shaky camera production. This is done by a true professional with style and mass appeal . This is someone who knows what he is doing and the subject matter comes from his heart.

There is a lot of science in this movie and it's explained in a way that is easy to understand and can't really be argued.  Shadyac interviews scientists who explain the evidence that proves we are surrounded by electromagnetic fields that provide collective connections between everything. We do feel the pain and suffering of others and of all things in nature.  There is information on the Vagus Nerve http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2012/02/vagus-nerve-and-7-chakras.html  and how we react to our surrondings and those in it.  Science is starting to catch up with intuition.

There is so much in this movie.  I'm sure everyone sees and hears something different from it and perhaps it's meant to be watched a couple of times to fully appreciate.  One of the ideas that really stuck for me was the research that shows humans aren't hardwired for aggression, war and competition.  Quite the opposite. We are programmed for cooperation, sharing and working together to make a difference.  So are animals. So is all of nature.

Nature only takes what it needs.  We humans, a part of the nature collective, have mis-stepped on that a bit. Just a bit! We're fighting and hoarding, and trying to get more stuff, all in a misplaced effort to "find ourselves" and satisfy our emotions. We keep piling on the layers in an effort to the "pad the core" and in doing so, we've lost our central message.

There's a part in the movie that explains the 51% rule in nature.  When a herd of deer is in the wild they have to balance grazing time with heading to the water hole time.  They need to do this a a group or they would be vulnerable to attack.  They don't move to the water when the biggest guy says so.  They don't choose the timing based on the sickest, or when the youngest feel the need. They don't do it when some rebel decides it might be a cool adventure.  When individuals in the herd start to want water they raise their head and look to the watering hole. At the moment the 51% of the herd raises her head and looks to the water hole the entire herd starts to move towards. It isn't a particular individual deer that makes the decision.  It might be a different one each time. But when 51% agree it's time, the whole herd shifts. They don't talk about this, vote on this or argue this. They feel it. It's instinctual and protective in nature. 

Maybe this shift towards a kinder, gentler, more peaceful, and at the same time exciting, world is about humans reaching the 51% mark. If that's the case, one person really can change the world. That also means we all change the world. Both a great shift and the power of one mean the same in terms of transformation. Maybe all the talk about 2012 and great change is a prediction that we are close to 51%? Hmm...

This movie will make you think.  More importantly it will make you feel. For more information on the movie, the foundation and the continued efforts, check out the website http://www.iamthedoc.com/

In the meantime, maybe it's worth lifting your head and gazing at that watering hole?

Indecision & Uncertainty

It's Monday morning and after a couple of cups of coffee, some email replies that only led to more questions, some web surfing that had me seriously considering a PhD course I'd really like to take, a couple of  half hearted attempts to get "settled into some work", a "to do list" made, but not followed,  and more than a bit of procrastination, I decided to focus on writing a blog post.  That sounded pretty good until I realized I couldn't decide what I should write about.  Hmm....

A cup of tea, a ginger cookie, a bit more aimless wondering and I realized what I should be writing about was perhaps indecison and uncertainty!  Sort of that "no idea where I should start" syndrome that often follows me around.

I've written about this feeling before. It's a pattern for me. If you search "indecision" and "uncertainty" in the search button you'll find a few musings.  If you're procrastinating yourself, you'll be set for a few minutes!  But, if you'd like to follow me in my path to get out of this pattern, keep reading.

Dr. Bach put his 38 essences into 7 categories.  One of those categories in "uncertainty".  Within this category, there are a total of 6 essences. These include;  Gentian, Gorse, Cerato, Scleranthus, Hornbeam and Wild Oat. Sometimes, when selecting the right essence, it can become a process of eliminating the potential suspects.

Gentian and Gorse really don't address the type of uncertainty and indecision I'm feeling. Gentian helps when you are feeling discouraged or depressed when facing difficulties. It can help if you're feeling the obstacles are so great that you don't know where to start.  That's not my issue today. Quite the contrary- no real obstacles but myself.

Gorse is almost a degree up from Gentian. The Gentian state of discouragement can sometimes progress to Gorse and is described as extreme hopelessness and despair. If all those obstacles just won't go away and you can seem to make a dent in the problem, you may find yourself slipping into a Gorse state when you  just give up. It can take a few drops of Gorse to discover there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Both Gentian and Gorse speak to a sense of depression that doesn't fit with my restless uncertainty.  Quite the opposite, I feel "all things are possible". Hmm...

So that leaves Cerato, Scleranthus, Hornbeam and Wild Oat.

I've written a lot about Cerato.  In my opinion, it's a real fundamental essence. Cerato is helpful when you need to connect to your inner self a bit and trust your inner wisdom. When you're in a Cerato state you ask around for other's opinions. You ask for help and suggesitons and keep seeking advice, not really happy in the answers you receive. Well, I did consider asking a couple of people about that PhD program. I considered setting up some meetings to see if I could get sponsorship. But I wasn't really looking for advice. Perhaps that's a deeper layer, but for the moment, on Monday, these feelings seem a bit more superficial.

Scleranthus is the really helpful essence if you can't choose between two things. This essence is near and dear to my heart.  If I had been torn between taking the day off and getting down to work for instance I would consider this essence. I'm not even close to two alternatives at this point.  The possible options seem endless and equally exciting.

With a number of possibilities in sight we're talking about Wild Oat. I am a frequent flyer for this essence as well.  Wild Oat personalities become easily bored and unsettled.  They  often try several different careers (or PhD's!) but continue to drift. With so many opportunities available, they become undecided which way they should turn. This partially describes where I might be, although Wild Oat is frequently reserved for major decisions or being at a cross-roads. It's helpful for the big questions of career, partner, or finding a true path.  I haven't ruled it out yet, but I'm going to think about Hornbeam.

Hornbeam is sometimes referred to as the "Monday morning feeling" essence. I guess I should think about that on this- Monday morning! When in a Hornbeam state you tend to procrastinate and lack enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. Ah ha...  Hornbeam speaks to a mental weariness rather than a physical one. Perhaps that's hard to tell after three cups of caffeinated drinks, but even before those cups I really wasn't lacking in energy- just focus.

Hornbeam is a deciduous hardwood tree.  It's an extremely hard timber.  Hornbeam was used in the days before iron and steel for the moving parts of machinery. The toughness of the wood was described as being more like a horn than a wood- hence it's name. Yet the wood catches on fire easily and burns with a fierce intensity of both heat and bright flame. In Bach Flower Remedies; Form and Function, Julian Barnard claims there is no folk lore around the Hornbeam tree. It's just admired for it's beauty in flower and it's utility in timber. No mystery, no big secrets, just an ability to transform energy into action. Sounds like the "Just Do It" slogan. And who can argue with that on a Monday morning!

Bottoms up!

Bach's Anti-Bully Solution

The concept of bullying is far from a new concept. We've been hearing about bully problems in schools and workplaces for years. There are a multitude of programs, courses, strategies, and "fixes" developed.  In my opinion, they aren't exactly working. Although we definitely have an increased awareness of the issues, I'm not sure we have solved the problem in any significant way. 

The issue of bullying in schools became highlighted in the most notorious of ways on April 20th 1999 when 12 students and one teacher were killed  in the Columbine School shootings. Twenty-one others were injured.  The shooters, both high school students themselves, also died.. Later investigations highlighted the fact that they had been bullied and that, perhaps fueled their revenge.  Eight days after that event, on April 28th 1999, a 14 year old student in Taber Alberta who had also been the victim of much bullying, walked into his high school and shot two people, killing one. Canadians could no longer pretend those kinds of things didn't happen around here.  The complicated issues behind what makes someone a bully, why people are bullied, and what might break the pattern became a science.

In my opinion, 13 years later, we can't deny the fact that bullies create bullies.  It would seem that the capacity to be both a victim and the aggressor exists within us all. Perhaps rather than treating the two entities as separate problems or people, we should be acknowledging the fact that every bully has been, or is, a victim and every victim can become a bully. Hmm...

There's a Bach Flower for that!

When Dr. Bach was creating his line of 38 healing essences, he first developed the 12 healers. These first essences address soul qualities or personality types.  After those had been developed he created the next 7 essences which he called the Seven Helpers. The essences within this category are not inherent soul types. They address what has become a chronic emotional response to life experiences.  The essence Vine is included within this category.

The Vine essence is prepared from the flower buds of the grapevine plant. In "Bach Flower Remedies Form and Function", Julian Barnard compares the emotional state of Vine with the growth of the plant. Grapevines are cultivated just like bullies. Every time the plant puts out a new shoot it is cut or tied into a particular form. Barnard writes that the Vine personality experiences the same type of control.  Every time the child has an impulse to express themselves they are limited, shot down, or ridiculed.

"Whatever the individual story, the Vine types begin to learn that the only way to gain control is to follow that example and become in turn bullying, dominating, forceful adults. It is a learned approach to life." (Barnard,pg. 176)

Grapevines have a tendency to climb up and over others. They don't have a strong trunk or core, so they attach to something else and curl around it in quite a restrictive manner in order to reach the light themselves. It's a blind search. The vine keeps reaching out until it finds something that it can seize upon.  Just like the way a bully searches the playground (or the office tower or the community) looking for someone they can pick on. They are looking for a source of strength and support. Perhaps we're all looking for that at one time or another.

In the cultivation process, everything around the grapevine is removed. The world around the plant is very controlled. The vines are encouraged to grow in one way only. Do we do the same with bullies?  When we see the problem beginning do we try to remove the stimulus?  Do we isolate them by suspending them from school. Do we take away their technology so they won't have their "tools".  Do we put in more controls and trim them back? In doing that, do we give them ideas of how they too could control others by taking away, giving orders, and restricting access?

Dr. Bach wrote a lot about relationships between parent and child. He felt the Vine personality occurred when parents or a close relative tried to dominate or control the child.  There is a tendency to "blame" family relationships when we see bullies developing. But I think we need to consider there to be a much wider circle of influence today than there was in the 1930's when Dr. Bach was considering such things. I don't think all bullies get their ideas on how to control and dominate from their parents. I think it's something we perpetuate in our culture. It's the "climb to the top" mentality. It's the search for physical and material gain.  We reward vertical growth more than horizontal spreading. Hmm...

Is there a point to my ramble?  I think so.  First of all, we could give the Bach Flower essence Vine to people (children and adults) that seem to be focused on controlling and dominating others. When balanced with compassion, the Vine tendencies of ambition, assertiveness, and the search for the light are great attributes. It's what we want in leaders, teachers, bosses and parents.  The essence can help people be determined without dominating. The core of the grapevine, the grape, is sweet and juicy and highly useful! That's why we try to cultivate it.

But perhaps we could also acknowledge and reward self expression and horizontal spreading. So when kids and adults seem to be testing out a shoot and going in a direction we might not have anticipated, perhaps rather bringing  them back by force, rules and controls we could allow that self-expression .  Perhaps we should see that as their chance to find their core support, their trunk, their spine.

Perhaps there is a reason why bullying in schools has become the focus. I'm not blaming teachers or parents. But I think the system might be a bit broken.  I think the school system looks a bit like a vineyard.  New growth and unusual flowers are considered weeds to be trimmed and dug out. Success is measured in terms of vertical height and curriculum outcomes. Sitting still, printing neatly, and focused attention are highly rewarded as "controlled" behavior. We are all about "control".

What if we rewarded self-expression for it's originality and creativity. If  adults, saw and believed, really believed, in the value of thinking outside the box, finding new ways of doing old things, and encouraged dreaming, maybe the potential bullies wouldn't see any value in trying to control those that express themselves that way.  It wouldn't be a weak point. Maybe if we pointed out how colorful, unique and cheery those mis-matched socks with the striped leggings, the lace ballet skirt and the flowered shirt worn backwards to Kindergarten looked, there wouldn't be suicides or homicides over wearing the "wrong" runners to High School.

Grapevines still grow in the wild.  They still attach themselves to other plants and search for the light. They make it to the light. They grow horizontally as well as vertically.  They still produce sweet, juicy grapes. It isn't the Vines we need to get rid of. It's the process of cultivation that could use a closer look.

During this school shootings/bullying "season", I'd like to see less examples of "no bullying: and "zero tolerance" and more tolerance of each other. I'd like to see less focus on the differences between the bully and the victim and more focus on the similarities between the two. Instead of "zero tolerance" I'd like to see 100% tolerance. It's the perfect time of year to celebrate new growth,and shoots of self-expression.  I think I'll start my own bullying program.  I'll call it  WEEDS. It will stand for We Encourage Extaordinaary Dreamers in School. No cultivation allowed.

Role Assignment & 7 Chakras

Shakespeare's character Jaques in the play "As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7 ", says:

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."

This phrase has become pretty common in our culture and in my opinion, that signifies how true to life it appears to be. Perhaps it provides some guidance if we pay attention.

A lot of spiritual advice suggests that our life journey can be compared to a theatre production. We take on roles and play our parts with the freedom to change the lines, step out of the act, or sit in the audience if we so choose. It is often suggested that we create drama to amuse ourselves and then get so caught up in the role and the production that we loose sight of who we really are or want to be. Hmm...

I sort of "forgot all that" and was explaining to a friend how I was a little unclear of what my "role would be" in a drama being played out or, "soon to open in a theatre near me".  I told her I was waiting to see what role would be expected of me, having recognized that even within relationships, our roles and the parts we play often changes, or should change, as we carry through our journeys.  This friend is a true "Wise Woman" and in the fashion of  true wisdom, in one line, delivered a very profound message to me. She told me ,"you have only one role to play; that of loving person, and you should do whatever feels right to you, without waiting for a role to be assigned."

Wow! At least that's how I reacted.  So simple and yet so profound.  I guess I had got caught up in the casting call and lost sight of the overall production. I guess I was waiting for the Director to type cast me into something, give me my script, send me off to costuming, and provide my cues for stage direction on when to enter and exit.

So there I was waiting, when in fact, I don't really take direction that well in the first place! Nor do I like waiting. I'm not sure where I thought the Director would come from. I think I would have been very critical of such management.  I would have wanted to re-write the script no doubt. I imagine I would have fought the use of heavy make-up, and elaborate costuming- not comfortable to me. I have issues with right and left , so no doubt, I would have exited when I should have entered and vice versa.

That Wise Woman advice gave me great comfort.  I can handle one role. I can perform one character attribute: loving. I don't have to wait for a script. I don't have to think about stage directions I'm not comfortable with and might trip over. I'm get to "ad lib". I guess I'm more comfortable with "Improv" that with Shakespearean productions.

Shakespeare's character Jaques claim we have 7 acts.  These were in reference to stages of growth from infancy to old age. I think I want to change that piece.

I can't see the number 7, in reference to life's drama as anything but a reference to the 7 basic chakras. Perhaps that's not the way Shakespeare meant it, but I'm taking over the direction of this production remember.

I am going to bring my one character attribute; loving, into all 7 chakra acts. Within the Root Chakra I will recognize that I am safe and secure in this production without being dependent on any other characters. I can perform this one-person play. While I love the other characters, I don't need them for safety. I can let characters go if they need to move to other settings or out of town performances. I will move to the Sacral Chakra confident that this personal level of loving security allows me to use my creativity to adjust the setting, the costumes, and the props. If I feel I need a little more energy to bring my inner character to center stage, I'll just adjust the lighting and let it shine on my third chakra.  This will give me the power to love myself and my character deep in my heart. From that balanced Heart Chakra I can radiate that love onto other characters without  taking anything away from my own core performance.  I'll bring love into my Throat Chakra so that I can really speak my truth and be clear in my communications. I will be able to project my voice to the back of the theatre. It will come from the heart , not only from the logical, filtered,rehearsed, side of my brain. I don't need a teleprompter or some other Director to feed me lines, I'll just tap into the Third Eye Chakra where intuition will guide me throughout the performance. No need to memorize lines!  As I tap into that knowing, I'll connect to my higher self in the Crown Chakra and realize the truth. I am the star of this performance. All I have to do is be me!!

This production may require some Bach Flowers.  Sometimes I'm a little more comfortable with comedy than tragedy. I'll take some Agrimony if I find myself reaching for the mask.  http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2010/12/agrimony-to-release-whats-behind-mask.html

I think all actors need Larch every once in awhile.  It will keep me confident that I do have what it takes to perform. A one-person play is perhaps a bit risky, but Larch will keep me determined and capable. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2012/02/finding-your-inner-lion.html

If I feel a moment of stage fright and I'm frozen in fear, unable to remember what my one role is- I'll take a few drops of Rock Rose.  It too, might be appropriate for every back stage/prop room.  http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2011/03/coping-with-fear-alternative-remedies.html

I only have to direct myself in this production. If I loose sight of that and starte worrying if the other players have memorized their lines, I'll take a few drops of Red Chestnut. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2012/04/red-chestnut-bach-root-chakra.html It will keep me compassionate without the worry.

I think I might be tempted as it gets closer and closer to "show time" to call in a consultant or two.  There are probably all kinds of "out of work Directors" looking to provide advice and take over.  If I feel myself hunting through the want ads, I'll take a few drops of Cerato. http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2011/12/beyond-imagaination.html It will keep me trusting myself.

I can hear Wise Woman clapping from the balcony.  It's always more fun to play to an audience. I appreciate her supporting my efforts.

"The show must go on".

Animal Signs: Loon

All of a sudden it seems there is quite a night time symphony going on in my part of the world.  The Peepers seem back for the season, http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2012/04/signs-of-miracles.html there are birds everywhere, and in the past few days a loon has joined in. The first night I heard him I thought that was kind of strange. Maybe I had just dreamed it. Loons are more a fresh water lake species than an ocean bird.  But yesterday I found him happily floating along on the waves by the shore seemingly quite content and not a bit lost.

It just so happens this Loon is far from lost. He's a "new-age, radically- thinking" Loon. A quick fact check reveals that loons are a species that has shown an incredible ability to adapt. They have developed large nasal glands and specialized kidneys that allow them to ingest seawater and eliminate the excess salt for a net water gain.  With the threat of salt water intrusion along the coast due to Climate Change, these guys are way ahead of their time. In fact, this ability to filter sea water is being studied for it's application to structures that could allow the desalination of water for human use. Who knows, in a few years you might need a flock of these guys hanging out around your well! 

The Loon is also considered a Spirit or Totem Animal.  On www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/loon.htm it is reported "The haunting call of the Loon tells you that the hopes, dreams and wishes you have tucked away will come to the surface." It is suggested when a Loon shows up you should pay attention to your dreams and awaken your imagination.

In, Animal Spirit Guides, Steven Farmer recommends you pay attention to you dreams, especially those that stay with you through the day. Farmer suggests the appearance of the Loon may indicate these dreams have powerful messages and teachings for you. The Loon Spirit is seen as a bit of an astral traveller helping you connect between layers of consciousness.

The dream focus of the Loon seems to resonate with the Bach Flower essence Clematis. Bach Practitioners commonly recommend this essence for people that are day-dreamy and unfocused.  It can be very helpful with children that seem caught in a world of their own and have trouble focusing on school work.  http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2011/09/back-to-school-with-bach.html

But it occurs to me that it's all about the balance.  Maybe we are a little too focused on dreaming as a bad thing in our Bach Flower use of Clematis.  Perhaps you are feeling a bit stuck in the heaviness of this world and have lost touch with your imagination.  If that's the case, maybe Clematis can help you reconnect with your dream level consciousness where ideas and innovations are first conceived. May a few drops of Clematis can encourage you to dream and provide the strarting point to pursue your imagination.

I think that's the power of the Loon.  I rather imagine there was a Loon out there that dreamed of having more space to swim around in.  I figure he was a little bored with the confines of his small lake and imagined big waves, and salty shorelines. I'm willing to bet he was ridiculed a bit for his dreams. Perhaps the other loons labeled him a "dreamer". His teachers probably claimed he "lacked focus" and wasn't "grounded". He probably scored high in flight school and low in surface diving. I imagine his early efforts to live in the ocean probably brought on a few stomach aches and bouts of high cholesterol. I'm glad he persisted. Without his ability to dream and his persistence ability to listen to his dreams and bring them to reality I wouldn't have the experience of "my Loon".  And I'm really enjoying the song he sings.   I admire dreamers and I love a rebel!

Pleasant dreams. May they fertilize your schemes. 

Ionic Toothbrush

It is my experience that when you enter the world of alternative health ideas, modalities and options, you have to expect a lot of scepticism. I'm used to eye rolling and flat out arguments. I've stopped really trying to justify, explain or worst of all, convince anyone. Now I only offer suggestions and information when asked and on this blog! But every once and awhile, something works so well, and the evidence seems so clear that I allow a little bit of gloating.  Hence today's story.

It feels like I'm a "regular" at the dentists' office.  I noticed when they re-modeled. I admire the changing artwork.  I notice when haircuts change. I know how the kids are growing and who has moved away. So we were all surprised when the records showed I hadn't had a check-up in 6 years!!  It seems I have done a lot of sitting in the waiting room, dropping off, or picking up. Meanwhile, my own teeth have been allowed to go un-checked, uncleaned,and  un-x-rayed. 

So today was the day.  I'm pretty sure everyone in the office was sizing me up for dentures.  Six years! Scandalous.  I had to explain a number of times that I hadn't been away, or sick, or boycotting- I just didn't realize it. I was braced for the dental hygiene lecture in "long version".  The one about not brushing enough, or the right way. It includes the explanation of why regular check-ups are so important, and heaven forbid the one about flossing! Apparently, flossing the night before doesn't count when it's been 6 years! I'm not condoning my irresponsibility. I'm not suggesting it's right to avoid dental check-ups. I'm just telling the story.

And the story makes me smile brightly.  Because... the x-rays revealed no cavities.  Not even that "little one we are going to watch" cavity. Despite the goggles and the heavy duty equipment there wasn't much plague build up. No "scaling" whatever that is - required. No one told me I hadn't been brushing right. No one even mentioned the floss. They kept looking in disbelief, but there you have it- a perfect check up. Hmmm.. Scandalous!

So I thought I'd mention what I have been doing because it would seem I'm doing something right?  For the past 6 plus years, I have been using an ionic toothbrush. Today's picture shows one.  I got the picture off the Soladay website http://www.soladey.com/.

If you go to the website, this is what you will find as a description:

"The Soladey ionic brush has a light-activated titanium dioxide rod (semiconductor) inside the handle. When exposed to any light source (a fluorescent bathroom light, a plain light bulb or sunlight), the photo-sensitive titanium rod inside the Soladey ionic brush converts light into negatively-charged ions (electrons). The rod releases these ions, which blend with saliva to attract positive (hydrogen) ions from the acid in the dental plaque on your teeth.

The acid is then neutralized and plaque is disintegrated – a scientific approach to a cleaner and healthier mouth! Toothpaste is not required as water (saliva) is the acting ingredient – oral hygiene now becomes not only natural, but also economical!"

I'm not really sure how I came across the ionic toothbrush. It was just one of those things that I thought I'd try and it felt right.  I stopped using toothpaste the day I got the brush. I wasn't really trying to avoid toothpaste, although a lot of people do because of the multiple ingredients in most brands. Some people believe toothpaste, in itself, is harmful. I just found when I used this toothbrush I didn't need toothpaste and I like the fact that I have one less thing to buy! My teeth feel really clean when I use the toothbrush and in all other respects (include mouth odor) I just don't notice a difference. Every once in awhile I soak the brush part of the toothbrush (it comes off and you replace it every couple of months) in colloidal silver http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2010/11/colloidal-silver-for-colds-flu.html

I have only one disagreement with the information on the website.  They claim one of the benefits of the toothbrush is that it's easy to carry in your purse or backpack.  That's true. But do NOT leave it in your purse or backpack if you intend to go through airport security.  I spent a long time in one particular airport explaining my toothbrush really was a toothbrush, taking it apart to reveal the rod was not some sort of knife or device, and demonstrating it's use as a toothbrush!! Was a tough presentation.

Today, the hygienist didn't seem as interested or impressed with my toothbrush story as the security guards (yes plural) were at the airport. Since I started using different things I've got pretty used to hearing that rather than alternatives actually working, if I've got positive responses, it must be due to genetics, or sheer luck.  Most commonly I get a version of, "If you had to work as hard and endure as much stress as the rest of us  do, you'd be sick (or have cavities) too".  Hmm... Perhaps that's true.

I scheduled another appointment in a year's time, but I left the free toothbrush, and sample toothpaste on the counter. I've got my own thanks. I'm still smiling!

Red Chestnut Bach & the Root Chakra

I find myself in a bit of a wait and worry mode these days. I don't do waiting very well. I'm prone to impatience for sure and have taken my fair share of the Bach Flower essence Impatiens.  http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2011/11/sun-and-moon-in-sagittarius-bach-flower.html But that's not really what this felt like so I decided to focus on it a bit. That led me to researching the Bach Flower essence Red Chestnut from a new perspective.

When I want to dig deeper into a Bach Flower essence, I often turn to Julian Barnard's book, "Bach Flower Remedies: Form & Function". This book explains the botanical nature of the essence as well as Dr. Bach's findings and often goes much deeper into his experiments than some other books.

It turns out, like all of the Bach Flower remedies, Dr. Bach discovered Red Chestnut seemingly by accident.  But in this case it was really an "accident" that led him to Red Chestnut. It was the 1930's remember, and Dr. Bach was chopping wood.  Can you see where this was going?? He slipped with the axe and "gashed his wrist" according to Barnard's account. He was treated with first aid measures but was in shock; pale and shaky from loss of blood. His friends, the ones that treated him, were anxious and worried about him. Dr. Bach felt that anxiety and believed their worries were making things worse for him.  He was feeling their concern and internalizing it. To make a long story short, he went wondering in the woods, and thus discovered Red Chestnut, the Bach Flower essence that is recommended for "worry and over concern for others".

But here's the part that strikes me.  Dr. Bach didn't discover this essence and pass it over to Nora Weeks and the friends that were "throwing out" this worry and anxiety. He didn't suggest that if they could calm themselves down by taking the essence he might actually feel better.  He took Red Chestnut himself. Hmm...

I think it is a very basic human trait to feel worry and concern for others.  There is a level of connection, particularly with people close to us, and we blur the boundaries between self and others sometimes. We seem to socially accept that we should feel this type of concern. Parents should worry about their children, friends should worry about each other, and perhaps there is something wrong with us if we don't.

Although we believe we should worry and be concerned for others, it seems we want to externalize it. We want to fix the other person that is "going through" this trauma or drama. It's easier to "fix" others than"fix" ourselves. But once you take it on- you own it. And the worry of Red Chestnut gets you right in the Root Chakra, your center for safety and security.

According to Barnard,  Dr. Bach believed the Red Chestnut anxiety, worry or imbalance, was partly based  upon a memory. At some point in the past, something did happen to someone you love and and this present event triggers that memory. A person in a Red Chestnut state "calls up" those accidents, mishaps, drama and trauma, and projects that image onto a loved one and the present event. This can set up a cycle pattern in people that are close to each other.  A classic example of this is the situation that can occur when a small child falls.  Often, before the child cries he looks to the parent.  If the parent looks upset, the child starts to cry.  Then the parent figures their worse fears have been fulfilled and there really must be a serious  injury.  Before you know it, both parent and child are in a weird circle of worry and crying. They both loose their sense of safety, security and confidence. The emergency department is filled with such cases on any given day. Red Chestnut helps to stop that pattern.  Perhaps it should be freely handed out in all emergency rooms. I'll add that to my ideas of reformed health care http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2012/03/tiered-health-care.html.

The red flowers of the Red Chestnut are powerful. They speak of an empathy and an understanding where you can truly appreciate how others feel. A few drops of this essence helps to balance your sensitivity so you can be in the present, and not overwhelmed by past remembrances and triggers that disrupt your sense of personal security. When balanced yourself, you are actually in a position to give emotional support to others rather than perpetuate the cycle. The red of the flowers resonates with the red of the Root Chakra. From that balanced place of personal safety and security we can extend our empathy without causing further harm. It seems sometimes our connectedness requires separation.

Maybe it's a good day to make ginger cookies  http://pixiedusthealing.blogspot.ca/2010/11/chakra-foods.html while I wait!