Ellen's book will strengthen and guide you in your role as caregiver to an elder parent or relative, and help you understand your own physical, emotional, mental & spiritual needs.Now available at
Spirituality Category
Almost everyone I meet nowadays says “Something’s happening”. As our world appears to be speeding up, many of us are quite challenged to find a way to live that feels healthy & lowers our stress level. Here are a few tips to help you to slow down & smell the roses!
- Remind yourself that Less is More in terms of activity during this time of change (this applies to our work, personal life & leisure time)
- Spend as much time outside as possible, it’s rejuvenating & supports our transformation
- Drink more water than usual if possible, this supports our changing systems
- Meditate, pray, ask for guidance (whatever suits you & your philosophy) – it works!
- Do something for creative release each day, e.g. singing, art, yoga, dance, walking in nature
- Use grounding techniques to deal with your stress: e.g. walk on the grass barefoot, lie on the grass under a tree (these 2 are from Ayurvedic (Indian) Medicine; Stamp your feet; Imagine roots coming out of the soles of your feet, drop them down to the centre of the earth & anchor them there
- Eat moderate amounts of high quality food
- Balance your intake of alcohol, coffee, sweets, television & on-line activities (the latter may disrupt your nervous system)
- Laugh & have fun
If you feel you’re going through a transformation, you can check out this link: Indigo Children & Adults: Symptoms of Spiritual Awakening - (It’s not just for Indigos).
Check out my second blog Spiritual Journeying, you’ll find some excellent recent guest blogs on it.
Please give us your input, using the comments section. Thanks.
In spirit
Ellen
When someone who is dear to us passes away, our relationship with them doesn’t end, it transforms into a new form. We must come to terms with that; that’s the process of grieving. I believe that, as their body, mind and spirit changes into a different form, so does the relationship we have with them. We must surrender the connection that was in order to form a new bond.
We can’t predict how we will feel when the anniversary arrives. It’s just a day after all, we think, but it’s a special one. As the first anniversary of my mothers leaving drew closer over the past couple of weeks, I began to recapture some of the feelings and memories of that time. The first year is the most important, my friend Lee tells me, because we re-experience with our senses the sights, smells and sounds of that time, along with the feelings. It’s important to take some time to talk about the relationship we had with that person, the qualities we remember about them.
The loss of our mother, particularly of the mother-daughter bond, can be a primal experience. It’s about safety in the world. In my case, the feelings I’ve experienced anew have caused my physical body to go out of alignment; my low back tightened, my right neck and shoulder spasmed and hurt. My body was speaking to me loud and clear.
This morning, the actual anniversary of the day Mom passed on in the early morning, the atmosphere in my room felt exactly the same as it did one year ago. During meditation an awareness came to me; our revisiting, on this first anniversary, of the feelings and sensations that took place at the time of death is due, at least in part, to the presence of our loved one around us in a much closer way on this day. Their spirit is with us.
Not everyone would choose to think along these lines, but for those of you who do, I hope this comforts you.
Ellen
Ellen Besso, Martha Beck certified life coach and trained counsellor, is committed to helping midlife women enrich their lives. She is the mother of an adult daughter and was caregiver for her elderly mother and a close friend who recently passed away. Ellen’s personal goal is to live and work in a spiritual, heart centred way. She is the author of Surviving Eldercare & has numerous articles published on midlife and eldercare.
I received this announcement from the Canada Tibet Committee & wanted to share it with you. Last fall, the Montreal rock band, Sunrise and Good People released their music video I won’t fall down – a homage to Tibet, along with the CTC . Now they are doing a Canada-wide tour to raise money to sponsor the Tibetans who will be permitted to enter Canada over the next 5 years.
Please read this & if you feel moved to help in some way, subscribe to the newsletter, go to a concert, or help locally.
Here on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, we are working hard to form 2 sponsorship groups to bring Tibetan refugees to our community. If you are local & would like to help, please contact me through my website.
Benefit concert for the Tibetan Resettlement Project (Project Tibet Society), starring Sunrise and Good People
Last fall, the Montreal rock band Sunrise and Good People released the music video “I won’t fall down” (an homage to Tibet) with the help of the Canada Tibet Committee. This was the start of a great collaboration between the two. They decided to launch a nationwide fundraising tour called Rock for Tibet!
Sunrise and Good People will start off their tour in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 28th at the Biltmore Cabaret . On March 31st they will perform in Victoria at Felicita’s campus pub.
Proceeds from the concert tour will be donated to the Tibetan Resettlement Project, an initiative to resettle to Canada up to 1000 displaced, stateless Tibetans who currently reside in Arunachal Pradesh, a remote state in the far North East corner of India.
Vancouver Concert information:
Date: Wednesday, March 28th
Time: Doors open at 8:00 PM
Location: Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward, Vancouver
Tickets: $10 at door; $25 advance tickets come with the CD “Rise Up”, by Sunrise and Good People
Event Website – Scroll down to March 28 and click on the ticketweb link to buy advance tickets on-line)
For more information, including concert details for Victoria and other cities across Canada.
Dermod Travis, Executive Director – CTC and Xavier Auclair, Lead singer – SGP, introduce the tour and the fundraising initiative in this Georgia Straight article by Matt Burrows
More information on Project Tibet Society and the Tibetan Resettlement Project:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s News release announcing acceptance of 1000 displaced Tibetans living in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and public policy concerning the settlement of these Tibetans:
CTC information relating to sponsorship and settlement of the displaced Tibetans http://www.tibet.ca/en/projecttibetsociety
To sign up for the Vancouver/Lower Mainland area’s Project Tibet Society/Resettlement Project e-mail list, please send your request to: vancouvertibet@gmail.com
Copyright 2008 Comité Canada Tibet Committee
Please forward to friends who you believe are supportive of the Tibetan cause and people.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season.
* Fill yourself with the company of loving family and friends
* Spend plenty of quality time alone
* Soak up nature
* Enjoy your favourite books and movies
* Give of your time or money to those in need
This prayer was sent to me by a friend recently. I’ve found several slightly different versions of it; each one says “Author Unknown”. Hope it speaks to you as it does me.
“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”
Author Unknown
Tibet Situation Worsening
I am reprinting this email, sent out to Canada Tibet Committee members in case you are not aware of the seriously worsening situation in Tibet.
You can read more about Tibet on the Canada Tibet Committee website or become a member.
Hunger Strike, Rally, March, and Vigil
Since 2008 when Chinese Government pressure escalated, life as a Tibetan in Tibet has been unbearable for many. Tragically, since February 2009, 17 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest.
In recent weeks the unbearable conditions in Tibet have worsened. Underground testimonies speak of horrific conditions, and convoys of Chinese military trucks have been witnessed heading into Tibetan regions. Canada Tibet Committee has appealed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to prioritize “Tibetans Before Trade” on his upcoming trip to China.
The Chinese Government is struggling to hide the current military crackdown from the world by blocking internet traffic and barring foreign media from Tibetan areas – e.g. CNN crew detained, January 31
Nonetheless, Tibetans worldwide have heard the pleas of their brothers and sisters. In response to the appeal from Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Dr. Lobsang Sangay, to carry out a Worldwide Vigil on February 8, 2012, Tibetans of British Columbia and Washington State will gather in Vancouver.
Please join us for all or part of the program, from 11am to 7pm.
If you are not able to attend the event in person, please join us in a day long solidarity fast.
The Event Program – Wed Feb 8
11am: Meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson St side), 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver. Rally with Tibetans and supporters and begin a day-long hunger strike.
12pm: March along Granville Street to Chinese Consulate at 3380 Granville Street, Vancouver.
1:00pm: Protest, Prayers, and Hunger Strike continue at the Chinese Consulate.
4:30pm: Candle Light Vigil (at the Chinese Consulate)
7pm: Closing Prayer
Copyright 2008 Comité Canada Tibet Committee
300, Léo-Pariseau, Suite 2250,
Montréal, Québec H2X 4B3
514.487.0665 Fax 514.487.7825