Thank You!

Thank you ~ all of you who are faithful readers of my blog and those of you who are occasional visitors.  I appreciate all the comments and private emails that I have gotten and I have enjoyed working with those of you for whom I’ve guided toward healing.

As my studies grow more intense (but still interesting and soul-filling) I find myself needing to step away from my healing work for a time.  I have also had some new opportunities manifest and am feeling the pull to focus some of my energies there.

One the eve of the Aries New Moon, this feels like the perfect time to refocus.

Please continue to enjoy the site, to leave comments and to email me.

Many Blessings!

~Terri

 

Improving My Vision Update #3

I’ve been a bit behind on keeping up with my posts.  Spring in Florida is a wonderful time and I’ve been spending as much time as I can outdoors planting my organic garden and gathering herbs.  How I love the Earth!  I have always enjoyed gardening, but somehow the energy of it this year is just palpable.

My vision is improving.  So much so, that I really need to find an optometrist that will give me a 20/40 prescription.  I have an optometrist locally, now I just need to make and appointment and convince him to give me the lesser prescription.

I can no longer wear my contacts.  Like Kaplan says, they force me to “stare” which is very unhealthy and only makes vision worse.  It is difficult for me to wear glasses in the sunshine and so my most recent glasses have either the transition lenses or a magnetic sunglass that match my frames.  So now I’m stuck with my old glasses (the weakest prescription I have here) without any transition or magnetic lens.  All that to say, I really really need to get to the optometrist!

My vision over the past two weeks or more has been stagnant.  I have found that my diet is directly related to how well I can or can’t see.  I’ve been eating a lot of comfort foods lately (I guess losing my dog was a good excuse) and I can tell that it is affecting my vision.  I’ve been eating sugar (in ice cream) and wheat (which I rarely eat) and I’ve known that my body doesn’t really like these two things so it’s not really a surprise to find that my eyes don’t either!

Time to get back to the whole foods plan.  Lots of raw, lots of monounsaturated fats. 

 

My Dog And A Mid-Life Crisis

You might remember me posting about my dog Kuma who was having a harder time being a 90 pound dog with breathing issues each day.  It was time yesterday to let him go so I said my goodbyes and brought him to the vet.  Next week I will get his ashes and bury them in his favorite digging spot near our house and we’ll plant something there to honor him.

I will miss my dog.  He made me brave.  When I was newly single, newly jobless, newly searching for yet another way to recreate myself 12 years ago, my dog was by my side.  When I decided to sell everything I owned and move 1,500 miles away from everyone I knew, my dog was by my side.  He, like all loyal dogs, lived life with me and I already miss him so much.

I’ve been half-jokingly telling my husband lately that I am having a mid-life crisis.  I am wondering what I’ve got left of my “old life” -  – my life before I was a wife and a mother.  And now, the last part of my old life, my dog, is gone.

Somehow I know that this event is a catalyst for me.  I need to find out who I really, truly am.  I am so many, many things and have so many passions and ambitions, but who am I really? Can anyone else relate to this?

I’ve purposefully taken some much-needed time away from the Internet in order to be fully present in my daily life and it has been wonderful, yet, it has also been another push to find the answer to this question.

And the most ironic, and even humorous question is this:  Why don’t I already know the answer?

 

Wheat-Free and Dairy-Free and Corn-Free Oh My!

A little more than three years ago, my family transitioned to a gluten-free household.  My youngest daughter was the impetus for this difficult, but very worthwhile change.  We eliminated wheat and gluten after a suspected wheat allergy was confirmed.  We had long suspected that my older daughter had a wheat allergy as well, and she definitely reacted to cow’s milk and milk products when she was younger.

Ironically, we found out that my husband also has a milk protein allergy around the same time that we eliminated casein from my daughter’s diet.

Little by little we began introducing items which contained gluten and all was well.  Little by little my oldest daughter began consuming more and more cheese and yogurt.  Recently it became clear that she needed be be casein-free as well.

We have also eliminated corn from my youngest daughter’s diet because her behavior after consumption and her bowel movements are a telltale sign that she and corn do not get along.

As for my husband, his allergy tests came back with a laundry list of things he should no longer eat.

How’s a woman to cook for a family with so many restrictions? I’m finding myself cooking the same things over and over and over again, and mostly it is meat.  I know we are consuming too much protein (most people are!), and I am not really a lover of meat  myself, so let’s throw that into the dinner-planning mix.

Today I came across this site and just signed up. Perhaps it will help.  The associated blog looks interesting too.  For those of you out there who have to eliminate one of these from your diet, or those of you who believe that doing so will improve your health and digestion, I hope you enjoy!

 

Improving My Vision #2

My vision is holding steady and now, while reading at a distance of about 22 inches in full sunlight, instead of seeing the blue highlighting around each letter, what I see are halos around period marks and the dots over the letter i.  I remember seeing these early on when I first started wearing contacts.  It’s similar to the hazy halo you see around car headlights at night or around a candle flame.

I warn anyone who tries this;  if you think that there will not be an emotional component to healing your vision, you would think wrong.  Dr. Kaplan talks about the left eye holding the energy from your mother, and the right eye holding the energy of your father.  He will often have patients cover one or the other eye so that the exposed eye will help release some of the old emotions that may be causing the loss of vision.

I have to admit that I thought I’d be able to escape the emotional component.  After all, I have dealt with the issues that both my mother and my father left me, hadn’t I?  Well, yes and no.

I am realizing that these issues are now tied up in other things in my life, like my perception of my own parenting for example, and my oftentimes overwhelming desire to run away, like my father did.  I am so grateful for and appreciative of my husband who understands all of this and will listen and say just the right things when he does respond.  He is helping this process along.

Now that I’ve acknowledged these things I am ready to move on to the next step.  And that is, finding a practitioner who will give me a 20/40 prescription for my glasses.  Strong enough to see, yet weak enough to allow my eyes to make up the difference.  I found a practioner in Orlando and am making an appointment soon.  The glasses (remember the old ones I found in a drawer?) are now too strong for me.  Oh how I love typing that!

 

Improving My Vision Update #1

This is truly amazing.  Today I soaked in some more sunlight without my glasses on (I try to do this for at least 20-30 minutes each day.)  I am now able to read at a distance of 22 inches or so when I’m outside in the sun.  Sometimes I get what Jacob Liberman calls “flashes” of three-dimensional, clear sight.  Did you know that wearing lenses distorts the vision and that you really only see two-dimensionally?

Another interesting thing is happening: although I see the typeface and each individual letter clearly on the page when I am reading, I see a blue highlight of sorts around each individual letter.  As if someone took a very faint, light blue highlighter and highlighted each individual line in the letter.  Not a chunk of highlighting, if you can picture what I mean.

This blue colored highlighting is lessening.

I am really enjoying the eye relaxation exercises too.  Here are a few that anyone can do that help with eye strain.  You’ll love them!  (Does anyone remember this “hot dog” exercise from childhood!?)

Right now I am finishing Dr. Kaplan’s book The Power Behind Your Eyes, and once I am finished, I’m going to contact him for some private coaching sessions.  This course and new information is so exciting to me and is already changing my life.

 

Really? Just Like My Dog?

Well, my sore throat/laryngitis turned into a full-blown “flu”.  Fever, body aches, sinus pressure, you name it.  Thankfully it did not last long, and the things I learned during the past 2 days or so are things that I’ve known, but have not been giving my full attention to.   Things like needing a break.  Needing some time alone.  And I don’t mean an hour at the grocery store or a few hours in my office studying or taking exams.  I mean real, quality ME time.  And a lot of it.  Once again, my Self told me that I am not giving Her my full attention.

I’ve been fantasizing for a few years about being able to go away alone.  Somewhere remote.  Quiet.  Somewhere where I could be alone and not have to talk to anyone.  Kind of like an ashram experience without the schedule.  And the people.  And the ashram. Like to an island. And that’s what I’m going to do.  I talked it over with my husband this morning and I’m going away.  Soon.  Before July.  And I know the place too.  An island.  A quiet one about four hours from home.  I’m already setting intentions for this trip and I am not so excited about it as I am relieved because it is soooooo necessary.

How does my dog fit in to all of this you might wonder?  Well, he does, and in a big way.  My dog is about twelve years old.  I got him from the shelter that many years ago when I was going through a major transition in my life and he played a big role in my keeping my sanity.  During that time, and over a matter of weeks, I left a long-term, live-in relationship and moved to a new apartment, my previous dog died after a long weekend of suffering, I lost my (very good) job in a political upheaval, and I was very much back at square one wondering what to do with my life.  I went and got my current dog then.

Kuma and I took six months “off”.   I collected the “guilt money” that my former board of directors offered me and got in touch with my deepest desires.  We spent our mornings walking in the fog, playing in  the snow, our afternoons running in the woods or sitting by the stream.  We spent our evenings sitting together on my sofa, sharing snacks and reading books.  Our nights were spent together in my bed, he with his 90 pound body snuggled up next to me.  It was a difficult time, yet it was bliss.  Kuma andI decided to leave the state and start a new life, which we did exactly eight months later.

When I got married, he did too.  When I had my first baby, he did too.  After the second baby, it was old hat for him, as it was for me.  And now my dog is dying.  His veterinarian said two weeks ago that he doesn’t have much time left, and it is apparent to me as well.  His heart is enlarged, his lungs are not functioning at full capacity and there are signs of cancer too.  Not to mention arthritis which I know is painful for him.  My friend and Classical Homeopath suggested I give him Arsenicum Album to make him more comfortable.  I did not have this remedy on hand and so I ordered it a couple of weeks ago.  It just came the other day.

Well, yesterday I contacted this same friend to ask her to do an acute case for me, because clearly, nothing I was doing was helping.  Guess what remedy picture showed up for me?  Yep, you got it. Arsenicum Album.  “I wonder what the connection is between you two?” my friend asked.

Well, I know.  We have a deep soul connection.  My dog has been the most steadfast, patient, sweet, loving, protective dog I’ve ever had.  He filled my needs in so many ways for so many years.   And all he’s been telling me lately is “I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.”  And he’s happy and playful.  He promised me that when he was ready, he’d let me know.  And I trust that he will do just that.  For now, though I am loving him as much as he loves me.  I know you dog lovers out there understand the depth of this.

So when my dog friend does decide to re-emerge into non-physical, that is when I will take my trip to the remote island and celebrate his life and mine.  Alone.  And in silence.

 

Darn That Louise Hay!

Why does she always have to be so on target about the emotional component behind physical symptoms?

After almost two weeks of “rest”, well, as much resting as one can do as a full-time mother and student can do, I have manifested some positive things and some at-the-moment not so positive things.

First, I am working on correcting my vision using Natural Vision Therapy and it’s totally working!  Yesterday, while outside I was able to read without my glasses at a distance of about 20 inches.  I’d never been able to see clearly beyond about 6 inches from my nose before this.  I am documenting my progress and will certainly write more about this as I go along.

I’ve also had a realization about why my vision went bad all those years ago, and am processing those things.  If you read the blog post linked above, I write about the reason why there.

While I thought I had healed from that incident, my body is now clearly telling me otherwise.  Last night I developed a sudden and painful sore throat and laryngitis.

What does Louise Hay say about that?

Sore Throat = Holding in angry words.  Feeling unable to express the self.

Laryngitis = So mad you can’t speak.  Fear of speaking up.  Resentment of authority.

And this morning, I have pressure in my chest which feels like bronchitis.

Bronchitis = Inflamed family environment.  Arguments and yelling.  Sometimes silent.

I woke up this morning knowing exactly what this is about, and this describes my life experience more than 20 years ago when this traumatic incident happened to a T.  So why, Louise Hay, do I have to experience this again?  After all these years?

Don’t answer that.  I already know the answer.  And I am appreciative that this is coming to light because I know that I will not truly heal my vision or my whole Self without going through this again.

Now, my question is: how do I work through this thoroughly and once and for all while mothering 24/7 and going through the paces of daily life?  Truly, I need some emotional space.  I also woke up this morning pondering where and how I would get that.

I’m going to start by using these specific Louise Hay’s affirmations:

• I release all restrictions and I am free to be me.
• I am free to ask for what I want.
• It is safe to express myself.
• I am at peace.
• I declare peace and harmony within me and around me.
• All is well.

If you have any suggestions for me, please leave a comment! I love to dialogue with you all so don’t be shy!

 

How I’m Going To Improve My Vision Without Surgery

I am currently taking a course in Vision Therapy and what I’m learning is blowing my mind!  I’ve worn glasses for over 20 years.  I’m not sure what my vision actually is, but I do know that whenever I get glasses or contacts, the techs go “whoa! Coke bottles!”  It’s like one of those jokes about your name that you get used to in junior high, yeah, that’s funny.

I never really thought about vision as being related to your whole health, or holistic health.  I’m not sure why.  I think it’s because vision is one of those things that has been so engrained in us to be mutually exclusive.  You can’t see?  You get glasses.  Period.  Nobody ever tells you that your vision actually fluctuates from minute to minute according to your emotions.  Did you know that?

How many of you have gone to the eye doctor one year, only to go again and have them say that your vision has either gotten worse (very common) or gotten better!?  I’ve had an eye doctor tell me that the vision in one eye had gotten better!  I dismissed it as being nothing noteworthy.  I shouldn’t have.

I’ll have much much more to say on this subject in the recent future, but for now I want to relay some insights I’ve had about my own eyesight.

I got glasses for nearsightedness when I was 19 years old.  This is unusual. Most people develop myopia as children.  When I went off to college I had perfect eyesight.  Three semesters later I was assaulted and beaten around my temples and essentially left bleeding in the bushes outside my dormitory.  I got seven stitches in my right temple that night.  It was two weeks before the end of the semester, and two weeks before I could open my mouth wide enough to eat food that needed to be chewed.

I left that college after finals and transferred to one closer to home.  About 2 months later, as I sat in a small classroom at the new college, I realized that I could not see anything further than an arm’s distance away without squinting.  It was then that I got my first pair of glasses.

I had never related this assault to my loss of vision before.  Vision loss has shown to be directly correlated to emotional trauma, something that I certainly experienced.

And now that I’ve had this realization, all kinds of emotions are coming up around this incident. Another thing I hadn’t realized is that I never told my husband about this.  Not until this week.  Why?  I don’t know.  I guess it wasn’t in my perception until now.  Perhaps I repressed this memory, although it did not surprise me to remember it as I began reading about vision and emotions.

I have asked my Guides and all of my healers to come and assist me in healing this trauma once and for all, for if you subscribe to Natural Vision Therapy, you’d easily believe that my eyesight is still not 100% because of the way in which this event affected me.

After I was assaulted, I had a week before I had to begin finals.  At my request, my mother  came to pick me up and bring me home for the week.  My mother was always one for saying things like, “We will never speak of this again” and other such non nurturing ways of relating to me.  This time was no different.  She dissuaded me when I wanted to contact an attorney and press charges and I was in no shape to do this on my own.  I was in a major depression and still in shock.  I never did take action.  I just let it go.

Last night I had a healing dream about these events.  I dreamed that my tongue grew so large in my mouth that it was literally falling out.  I was in a public restroom (my mother was there) and I had to run to the trash can to spit my tongue out.  I couldn’t hold it in any longer.  My mother kept saying something about me not being able to get another one and she was upset that I was spitting it out but I knew that I’d have another once I was rid of that giant, swollen and heavy thing in my mouth!  I kept spitting and spitting and lo and behold, there was my “normal” tongue still inside my mouth.

In simple terms this dream is showing me that I can go on and heal the rest of this, and that the piece about how my mother responded is no longer relevant in this part of the healing.

I’m excited about that because I have been practicing this Natural Vision Therapy and have already seen some amazing, albeit fleeting, results! If you’d like to read more about NVT (Natural Vision Therapy), this is the man who started it all.

 

New Articles Page

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!  I have recently added a new page to my site – - one that will be exclusively dedicated to articles regarding holistic health.  These will be written by myself or by guest authors.

I’m going to wait a week or two between adding new articles so that they each get the exposure they deserve.

You’ll find articles about energy, diet and nutrition, feeding children, meditation and more.  Please leave me a comment about what you’ve read, or simply just say hello!

I hope you enjoy!