Blog Archives - Journey with the Seasons

Festive gathering & Winter Dreaming workshop ~ 18th December 12-3pm

11/27/2015

You are invited to our festive gathering!

We will be having seasonal goodies to share between 12 and 1pm (free and drop-in), this will include mince pies and hot punch.
Then at 1.30 you are invited to attend a Winter dreaming workshop (£8.50).
Take time:
- To focus on what is essential to you at this time of 'hibernation'
- Enjoy a relaxing guided meditation
- Receive a seasonal gift from us
- Go away with some top tips to keep you on track over the festive season.

To book the workshop please contact Sarah-Jayne on 0781 2400 634 or email journeywiththeseasons@gmail.com

Time to declutter...

11/27/2015

One of the gifts of Autumn and the Metal element is the power it has for cleansing, decluttering and getting rid of rubbish, it almost feels like a mini Spring clean; with its link to the large intestine and lungs it gives us the opportunity to create more space in our lives. Doing this can be an amazingly transformational experience as we traul though old experiences, photos, clothes, habits and beliefs and review if they really reflect who we are anymore...then if they don't, we have the opportunity to let it go and create space for something new and more 'you'. What an amazing gift this is to keep on recreating our lives simply by reviewing it and making a choice. Of course we often hold on to things because we fear how life may be without something. My experience of letting go is that the more we do it the easier it is and even clearing out one cluttered drawer brings that expansive, creative feeling that makes you want more....so as we are in the final couple of weeks of Autumn make the most of gorgeous Metal medicine and do some clearing out...and let us know how you get on! 🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁 lots of love Carol xx

Getting rid of what we no longer need

11/26/2015

The Fascia Lata muscle in ‪#‎Kinesiology‬ is the 'prime mover' relating to the Large Intestine meridian and the metal element from acupuncture theory. Issues such as letting go of what you no longer need on all levels show themselves (and can be balanced) when this muscle comes up to be checked in a kinesiology session. Issues with this muscle and meridian are more noticeable in the Autumn time. To help balance the large intestine meridian and fascia lata muscle rub along the outside seam of your trousers from hip to just below the knee. This is the neurolymphatic massage area which helps move old stuck 'stuff'. Pay attention to the bits that are sore by giving them an extra rub!

Autumn composting...

11/26/2015

This pile of veg scraps is from cooking a big seasonal soup. Off to the compost heap it goes to rot down to make compost for next seasons veg bed. The waste from this season rotting down to provide nutrients for next years growth. This is the metal element in action, using the nutrients or nuggets of what has been let go for growth and development (after a bit of processing of course). Happy composting, Sarah-Jayne x

Focus on small beauties

11/24/2015

These wonderful winter jasmine flowers in my garden are like little lights in these darkest months of the year. Our new project garden can feel overwhelming with the amount of cutting back, clearing and pruning needed. This metal element time of year is perfect for it though, and when it gets too much I turn my focus to these little beauties and remember all is well. In personal development terms we can feel overwhelmed by the overgrown bits of our lives, the parts of our lives that need a good prune or clear out, the bits that are no longer serving us. The trick is to remember to focus on the little beauties (in kinesiology I called them 'nuggets') that you find while clearing out old patterns, stories or habits. This gives encouragement to continue, and allows that which no longer serves to really give up its treasure before we fully let it go. Meridian wise this is the job of the large intestine..to sort through the last of the digestive waste and reabsorb any 'nuggets' before completely letting go. So if life has an amount of rubbish or dark in it, remember to focus on the small beauties/nuggets. They are always there. Happy clearing, Sarah-Jayne x

Autumn Eating... warm and cosy

11/23/2015

There are several ways to support our Metal element with food through the Autumn season. Firstly with it's connection to the Large Bowel this is the perfect time to explore fermented and cultured food, these are packed with healthy probiotics which keep the good bacteria thriving. A healthy bowel bacteria is linked to good mental health and a strong immune system. Try experimenting with sauerkraut, kefir or even a good natural yogurt. The other way to support the healthy bacteria is to make sure you eat lots of prebiotic food such as garlic, onions, leeks, jerusalem artichokes and asparagus. In terms of the Five Element associations pungent is the taste of the Metal element and white is the colour, so now is the time to enjoy some spicy food and white vegetables such as cauliflower, parsnip, potatoes, onion, garlic and leeks. As the energy of the season is descending and contracting this is the time to start cooking more slowly, baking dishes in the oven rather than on the hob. Warming soups, casserols and stews are also in season packed with pot barley and split peas. I love this time of year when we start getting cosy and the kitchen becomes the warm heart of the home again. Here is a lovely autumnal recipe for you ro nourish your metal element with:

Kale & Chickpea Curry

This is a lovely quick and easy curry recipe and so warming and satisfying it's one of my favourites this time of year. I prefer to use the cavelo nero (black kale), but any of the other varieties work well in this. Sometimes I add in some cauliflower florets too.

Ingredients
1 large onion – diced
olive oil
6 cloves garlic – chopped finely
2 tbsp fresh ginger – chopped finely
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can coconut milk
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric
1 star anise
1 green cardamom
pinch of cinnamon
½ tsp black pepper
1 can chick peas (100g dried and fresh cooked)
100-150g de-stemmed kale - chopped
handful of fresh coriander - chopped

Method
Gently sweat the onion in the olive oil until tender
Add the garlic, ginger and spices and cook together for a few minutes
Add the tomatoes and coconut milk and simmer gently for 15 mins.
At this point I like to blend the mixture to make a smooth sauce, but if you prefer to have more texture then proceed to the next step
Add chick peas and kale and continue to simmer for another 10 – 15 mins until the kale is tender
Sprinkle on coriander and serve with fluffy brown basmati rice.

ENJOY!

Reflection and Worth...

11/19/2015

One of the things I love about the Metal element in five element theory is how it's shiny, reflective quality can inspire us to get really clear and focused about what is going on for us. One of the ways we can do this is to use it's mirror like qualities to observe what we are experiencing in our lives and then to see this as a reflection of what is going on inside of us. Here is an example of a very 'Metal' lesson I experienced about value. Quite a few years ago now I was feeling very unappreciated in my life and taken for granted, I felt everyone wanted a piece of me but offered me nothing in exchange. Then one day I had a magic AHA moment of insight when I realised that actually I didn't value or appreciate myself; from that moment I started to do things that showed I valued myself; I became clearer about my boundaries and stated more clearly what my needs were. I also did things for myself, such as buy a bunch of flowers, because I suddenly realised I was 'worth' it, previously I may have waited for someone to show me my worth by treating me to flowers. Once I did this I have rarely felt unappreciated again and if I do I take it as a sign to look in the mirror, reflect and ultimately love myself a little more. So now is the time to connect with our insightful, reflective Metal element, notice how we are feeling about the world around us and find the lesson inside....with lots of sparkly, autumnal blessings and love Carol x 🍃 🍂 🍃 🍁 🍃 🍂 🍃

Balance; breathe in, breathe out...

11/16/2015

Breathe in, breathe out, take in, let go; the delicate balance of life and the quality of precision is the essence of the Metal element which predominates during Autumn. This quality of precision is necessary for optimum health and well being in ourselves and in nature. There is an optimum balance of minerals in the soil just as there is optimum mineral balance in our 'soil', the tissues, of our bodies. There is the balance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria in our gut which support our immune system and mental health. There is balance necessary in the pH of the blood which nourishes our cells, giving an alkaline environment which helps our body, mind and spirit flourish. Balance is necessary in our endocrine system to orchestrate the billions of hormonal reactions that happen every second of our lives. Finding balance on every level really is the essence of life... ahhh lovely Metal, so breathe deeply, let go and enjoy some balance today...., love Carol 🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁

Get Clearing!

11/11/2015

Everything has its season and Autumn is a great time to review what we want to keep and what is ready for recycling; nothing is ever wasted, just transformed and expressed in a different way. The Metal element supports us to do this particularly in the Autumn time when nature is busy letting go, sorting and composting; clearing space ready for Winter hibernation. We too need to prepare for Winter quiet time when we can fall deeply into ourselves and start feeling and visioning how we want the next year to be. Preparation is everything, if we go into Winter feeling cluttered and clogged up our dreaming and visioning will be unclear and lack vitality. So now is the time to ride the wave of Autumn and get clearing, whether it be a mini cleanse, clearing out a few cupboards or pruning in the garden your Metal element will be singing and dancing....let us know how you are going to do some Autumn clearing...for me I'll carry on clearing up in the garden 🍁🍃🍂🍃🍁🍃🍂 love Carol x

REach for the Stars- its autumn!

11/9/2015

The Anterior Serratus muscle relates in ‪#‎Kinesiology‬ to the ability to 'reach for the stars', reach for your goals and bring them down to earth and to fruition. Self confidence, and self worth issues often show themselves (and can be balanced) when this muscle comes up to be checked in a kinesiology session. The Anterior Serratus is the 'prime mover' associated with the lung meridian energy pathway and the metal element from acupuncture theory. Issues with this muscle and meridian are more noticeable in the Autumn time. To help balance the lung meridian you can trace or massage the line of the meridian from Lung 1 to Lung 11.