Welcome to the “in2thelight” blog-ezine with Penny Mckay
February 2009

“As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
                                                                                    Nelson Mandela

• Feature article – The Vital Flow of Water – Are You Getting Enough?

• Personally yours…… Peeling carrots, chopping spuds and “no work”

• This months link – Sufi poem by Rumi

• Yoga yarns – Tales from the yoga mat…………

• In the pipeline……….Workshops for Feb/March

PLUS -  New this month
Book worms ~ for books and authors from the body, mind, spirit genre
Kids corner ~ a place for parents to share body, mind and spirit hints and tips for the kids  
Have you heard of………? ~ a potted profile on inspirational people
 

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The Vital Flow of Water – Are You Getting Enough?

Water is all about a natural flow. Rivers flow towards the sea, the tides ebb and flow and we too are part of nature’s great flow. As human beings, sustaining the flow of our health and the well being of the physical body depends on an adequate supply of water and nutrients.

Water is vital.
 
Water is vital when you begin to consider all the processes in the body that require fluid. Some are more obvious than others. Our body as a whole consists of 50-75% water. On a daily basis we loose moisture through the breath in expiration, through the skin when we sweat and through the urine when we go to the toilet. Other moisture vital areas to mention include our mouths with saliva, our eyes with tears and mucus producing sites such as the lungs and vagina.

These areas of the body we know and are able to relate to very readily but there are many other hidden internal processes that also require us to be hydrated for example the metabolism of fat, the regulation of body temperature and the lubrication of the discs in between the vertebrae in the spine.
Even as a foetus our journey begins in the amniotic fluid in the womb.
How vital that a woman drinks plenty of water during her pregnancy.

Our connection with water is instinctive and life preserving. The mechanism of thirst is triggered within the body, to drive us to seek water for our very survival. This driving force has an intelligence all of its own and it will ultimately prevent us from dying.

Unfortunately, along with our developed intelligence we have developed lots of lovely tasting drinks heavy in additives that are not required by the body for its survival.
Perhaps when the instinct of thirst kicks in it is not a coffee or a coke that the body is craving, it is water.
 
Water is vital.

The effects of dehydration in its early stages may include headaches, loss of concentration, lethargy and exhaustion.
Dehydration doesn’t just occur overnight, thought overnight is when the body does carry out a great deal of repair and renewal. These symptoms will present and progress after many years of not drinking enough water in between the teas, coffees, coke, fruit juice and alcohol.

The kidneys are the major organs that process the fluid we drink and primarily bear the consequences of our choices. If left dehydrated for long enough the body may develop kidney problems in the form of kidney stones and possibly, in conjunction with certain genetic factors, the worst case scenario could take you all the way to kidney failure.

Re-hydration takes time too.
With consistent attention the body will gradually adjust, recover and restore the delicate balance of this flow.

Water is also a vital part of our emotional processes.

In the Dao philosophy specific organs of the body are linked with particular emotions. The kidneys are associated with fear and the ability to transform fear in to courage.

Symbolically the flow of water is representative of the flow of our emotions. In a very real sense this flow culminates in the production of tears that represent our joy, pain, sorrow and frustration. For some of us allowing emotion is a difficult and uncomfortable place to find ourselves. For others it is a sign of weakness. But to never allow ourselves the release of being able to cry with emotion suggests a stopping of this natural flow which can only lead to overwhelming outbursts when we least expect it and ill health. We would do well to “let go and let it flow”

How much water is enough?

This will vary from person to person and will depend on your life style too.
The guideline is to aim for 2 litres of water a day but if you exercise it will be nearer 3 litres. The key to really knowing how much water you need to drink is by monitoring your urine. If it is strong in colour, strong in odour and a weak flow you could benefit from increasing your water intake. Ideally you will have a strong flow when you go which is pale and straw like in colour.   

To help you to track how much or how little you’ve had to drink in a day, purchase a litre bottle, keep it with you and refill it as you need to. Sip your water gradually rather than gulping it down in one go, this way the body is literally drip fed constantly throughout the day. 
Yes, you will need to go to the toilet more frequently initially, but this will settle down. It is a good indication that your kidneys and bladder are working effectively when this happens, be more concerned if it’s not!
Consider having a glass of water for every cup of tea, coffee, juice you drink.
A nice warming alternative is warm water and a slice of lemon. Warm water is said to be absorbed more easily be the body and at this time of year may be preferable to freezing water from the tap.
If you really find water tasteless then add a splash of fruit juice as this will be better than no water at all.
Further increase your intake of water through fruits with a high water content such as melon, apples and cucumber.  

The benefits of increasing your water intake can be felt immediately. Headaches, even migraines, can miraculously disappear and if you feel lethargic and tired it is possible you will notice a lift in your energy very shortly after drinking a glass of water.

Try it for yourself and next time you have a headache at the end of a hectic day or experience difficulty concentrating after being at your desk for a while, drink a glass of water and sense what happens for you.    

To find out more about the healing capability of water
 “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water” by Dr F.Batmanghelidj published by Tagman is an interesting read.
He states that “The message of this book is simple. You are not sick, you are thirsty.”
I like the underlying message of the book and the fact that controlled use of water and salt could remedy many of our modern day illnesses.
His website is www.watercure.com

We are so lucky to have good quality water readily available to us just by turning on the tap. Let’s start drinking it! 

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Personally yours……….Peeling carrots, chopping spuds and “no work”

I am already so enjoying the vibe out here in 2009. Are you?

A few days ago I found myself arriving in such a tremendous place of contentment and peace that I feel compelled to share it with you. Whether things are still in a place of working out for you or whether you’re in this place of peace too.
All I was doing at the time of recognising this loveliness was pottering, would you believe it!
I was getting a meal ready for my mum and my son. In a world of peeling carrots and chopping spuds, checking the chicken and defrosting the strawberries that we picked last summer. I love the old, old connection with prepping food and I always find myself drifting to days long, long ago where the art of chopping a carrot can’t have been a lot different from what we do today.
My mum and son were in the next room being teased and tempted by titbits of chicken that I would pop through with periodically and feed to them. They were like baby birds with their mouths stretched open for more.
Then from nowhere a tremendous contentment gently settled within me accompanied by these words that came floating in to my mind, equally as serenely as the feeling in my heart, “I’ve now come in to my own.”
 
I don’t know about you guys but 2008 was such a year of challenges that I’m sure I didn’t choose!
Not only that, but the challenges seemed never ending at times. From personal relationships to work it was as if no stone was left unturned.

For me, the work/life balance was always weighed more heavily in favour of work. I actually see now, that most of the time I put my life on hold “just in case” I got any work. A little of it is the nature of being self employed and the mindset you must always be available for potential clients as that is when you get paid. A risky perception I can see now I am free of it! Always work came first.
So last year I chose a new reality, one of having “no work” for the large majority of the year and it was tough. (Just the way I like it!)
For me “not having any work” = not being validated, needed or required.
“Not having any work” = Not contributing financially.
“Not having any work” = I’m worthless!

I firmly blamed the Universe for not needing me anymore because I really wanted to work but what was really going on was that I really wanted to continue to believe I was worthless.
As if to torture myself further when I did get a sniff of work I would cling to it in desperation and then…….. “no work” over and over again.
I was exhausted by it and fed up with it, exhausted by myself and fed up with myself!

But I did it. Eventually I edged my way in to living and let go in to “be” ing.
Well what else was I going to do, there was no work!
A huge shift occurred for me.
Now I live and sometimes work. The funniest thing was, as soon as I started living, people stopped asking me about work. It was always the question I would dread “how’s work?” or even worse “are you busy?”
It just stopped being an issue.

Now I validate myself.
And somehow the money seems to come from “nowhere – to now here” (Wayne Dyer) exactly when we need it.

So with kindness I urge you to hang in there, peace and contentment are coming to you now.
Let go of holding too tightly to any aspect of your life in these ever changing and fast moving times.
Trust.
If you know you’re balancing act is long overdue a rethink then choose “life”.
It’s too short not to.
For once put yourself first, peel some carrots and chop some spuds - you never know where “you” might take you.

LOL  

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Book worms – Title “Inviting Silence” by Gunilla Norris
Here is this month’s book for your delight, beautifully reviewed and highly recommended by David Smith. (Thanks David)

Title: Inviting Silence
How to find inner stillness and calm
Author: Gunilla Norris
ISBN: 184413575-6
Price: £ 6.99 or less at Play.com 

Most of us who have some interest in the spiritual aspects of life have read many books--probably too many books!
Rarely in a lifetime do you encounter a gem, this book with a deceptively simple style in which everything non-essential has been pared away reads like poetry and yet it is profound.
It will inspire you to re-engage with meditation if you have tried it and failed or to begin if you have never attempted it.
Concepts and insights like this can only be gathered by someone who has spent a great deal of time in silent contemplation.
Hard won truths achieved through consistent practice shine out in every page.
A book you will want to share with others--a thing of beauty,

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Kid’s Corner
……a place for parents to share body, mind and spirit hints and tips for the kids.
 
Here in kid’s corner this month I am reinforcing the hydration message for the kids too.  
All the same bodily functions apply but even more so when you consider that children are very much in the process of developing and growing and how active they are. They also have a tendency to become so focused on what they’re doing be it playing, running or whatever they forget to drink regularly.
To give kids fruit juice or some other drink above water is an all too easy trap for parents to fall into. Everything else is so much tastier but for taste read sugar content. A glass of fruit juice does provide your child with the nutrition of a portion of fruit, but that’s just it, it’s not a water substitute.
I’m not saying cut out the juice but aim to cut down and to offer a drink of water as often as possible instead of the juice. 
 
The same “wee” check applies to them as us. How frequently are they going? How is their flow? Colour? Smell?
This simple check is an important gauge that kids can learn as soon as they are out of nappies and take forwards in to their adult lives.
Your kids will copy you. So it’s more than likely that if you are a fizzy drink fiend then your kids will be too.
Go on give them a chance at one of the key building blocks of health and give them water. It’ll cost you nothing!
 

Have you heard of…….?
Karen Bishop
Who’s she? Inter-dimensional traveller, communicator for the masses, author and much, much more.
What’s she into? “Emerging earth angels”, “the Ascension process” and “What’s up on Planet Earth.”  
How do I find out more?  www.emergingearthangels.com

February’s link…………Beautiful sufi words with images set to music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2nYZSoIMY8
Enjoy!

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Yoga yarns – Tales from the yoga mat and the Traditional Yoga Association Foundation Course.

Sunday 25th January 2009
Day one - Today I began the first day of a six month course to help deepen my yoga practise and so within a newly acquainted, small group of six, we gathered as a commitment to ourselves and travelled back to the ancient roots of yoga. We connected in this time and on this day to those ancient times and ancient ways through bringing our awareness to our central line. Through discovering our centre of gravity and point of balance, exploring flexion(bending forwards) and extension(bending backwards) of the spine and we were reminded via the grace that is our bodies how to stand on our own two feet as a whole body experience.   

What I uncovered – I have been guilty in the past of allowing my ego to lead the way and enforce the posture. However, today when I encountered resistance or holding via the body, I wanted to run away from it. I felt it took a whole heap of courage to remain there and “be” with it and trust it. It absolutely terrified me.

Quote of the day – “Let your shoulders melt like butter melting in the hot sun”  
                                                            Courtesy of Arjuna Marchant
 

Next instalment Sunday 25th February

New for March!
Energetic Antics ~ Ways to channel energy to enhance every day living.

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In the pipeline……….

CHAKRA CHI GONG WORKSHOP
Sunday 1st February 2009
Woodgreen Village Hall, Woodgreen, Nr Fordingbridge SP6 2AL
10.15am - 4.45pm
Clara Apollo and Trevor Noble are hosting another powerful day
of clearing, rebalancing and harmonizing. The potency of Chi Kung
integrated with the resonant sound of the crystal bowls attunened
to the vibration of each Chakra, is awesome indeed!
Contact: R.J. on 01725 513670 or Clara on 07901 933779 for more info.
Cost ~ £45 payable in advance to Clara or Rj,
£50 on the day.
www.newforestchikung.co.uk                      www.holistic-healing.me.uk

Workshops with Korani
STEPPING UP, STEPPING OUT
Sunday 1st February 2009  
  Salisbury
A one-day inspirational workshop for therapists, spiritual teachers and those who wish to embark on this path. Practical information will be entwined with energy activations and inspirational exercises and meditations to guide you on your way to Stepping Up to who you are, and Stepping Out into the world to share your gifts. 

LIVING YOUR LIGHT
Saturday 28th February  
  Salisbury
This series of three one-day workshops begins on 28 February. 
Each will be available as a stand-alone workshop, although the benefits of attending all three will be significant. 
The first “Freeing Your Light” will focus on the freeing up of your energy to enable you to integrate much more light into your physical form. 
Part Two “Expanding Your Light” (4 April) will open pathways for you to express your light in the world. 
 Part Three “Living Your Light” (17 May) will bring a sense of completion and connection on a profound level.

Full details at www.korani.net

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February page Images from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/