Lots of people are exploring ways to enhance their health and boost their immunity! It pays to eat a healthy plantbased diet and be aware of what we consume. For example, around 15% of cancers can be prevented by dietary factors. Optimal nutrition can help us stay healthy and enhance our wellbeing. When I contemplated this soup and the creation of it, there were many unexpected health boosting aspects to it.

The soup was made with foraged spring nettles and wild garlic, as well as cleavers, ground elder and dandelion removed from the garden when weeding.  It contained potatoes and coconut to add some creaminess and some stock for flavour. So what were the unexpected health benefits...

Be kind to your body, gentle with your heart and nourishing to your soul!

With love from my heart to you, Fiona

Like many of you, I have been feeling the unsettled energies in the world at the moment. I have been working to process what is arising and return to presence, it's not been easy. This morning I went for a walk in the glen near where I live. I was noticing that my mind kept been drawn back into fearbased thinking. I kept working to let go, surrendering my angst and asking the earth for her guidance.

There is a favourite spot where I like to sit, it's situated on a stony outcrop above a ravine. I sat there on an old tree stump and found my energy begin to calm and settle. Finally after a period of time, ease returned and I began to sing "Love is here", I sang and felt at peace. Then I noticed a squirrel appear on a branch about 3 metres away from me. He looked at me for a few moments, then he took one of his paws and placed it on his heart. He took a few more steps and I heard that he was making sounds, it felt like he was joining in with my singing. He then looked at me again and replaced his paw on his heart. He hung about for a while and then slowly made his way along the trees in front of me. Wow, thank you Squirrel!

Floating feathers, especially white ones have long been a sign of benevolence and support from the Universe for me. A few minutes after the squirrel departed I saw a large white feather float up from the ravine, it came up slowly until it was in line with me and then gradually drifted off to the side, bobbing as it floated away. My heart was so full and grateful for nature and her miraculous abundance that she generously shares with us when we open to it.

This experience reminded me that there is always love and support, though it's not always obvious. I needed to walk mindfully, practise deep breathing and let go in order to connect. I was rewarded for my perseverence. In these bizarre times in the world, there's an invitation to meditate (however you do that) and connect deep, find the abundant love that surrounds usz

I share with you this quote from Victor Frankl a survivor of Auswitsch, who found the light and love through the most horrendous situation:

With love and deep peace from my heart to yours, Fiona

Fiona is an Active Listening therapist, reflexologist, and experienced doula. She is passionate about living true to her heart and soul and empowering others to do the same. She holds retreats at her home in Scotland and runs various workshops related to the vibrancy of conscious plant based eating and women's issues including being childless/free and loves joining women in circle. Her website is www.fionareilly.co.uk or click here for her facebook page - True Living

We each have a unique fire burning within. For some it’s a gentle, small, slow burning flame, for others it’s a big bonfire. And our fire may change at different times in our lives. However your fire is, your light is valued and has an important role in Life. The encouragement here it to find your spark and let your fire ignite. It can feel vulnerable to let yourself be seen in the world. There is the risk of making "mistakes" or being laughed at. However as Marianne Williamson said “You playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so others won’t feel insecure around you. As you let your own light shine, you indirectly give others permission to do the same.”

A client today was telling me of a “near death” experience she had, where she was going towards a spectacularly bright light, before she was guided back to her life here. She realized that she was a speck of that immense light come here to express itself. This experience is common and frequently documented. So perhaps we are part of that pure light and we are here to let it shine forth. Richard Bach once said “Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself.”  So lovingly express your truth and let your light shine!

I love this video with Edgar, he’s so keen and eager to participate, though it keeps backfiring on him (no excuse for the pun!). He has oodles of fire, though is a bit clumsy in his expression. His tendency to give up trying is very recognizable. However, with a little support from a friend (and her gentle fire), they find a way to express his gifts and bring joy to the world. Edgar’s story encourages us to keep trying, to fall down and pick ourselves up again. We are also reminded that we are never alone. Support comes in many forms, it may be in the form of a friend, something someone says, a film that inspires us or a myriad of other synchronistic possibilities. Often the support comes in the ways we would least expect so remain open. Here is Edgar and his faithful friend to inspire you... "don't fight the feeling anymore!!!", let it flow and be expressed instead.
 

As the sun turns and the light returns (at least in the northern hemisphere) may you find your unique fire, aliveness and passion within and let your light and enthusiasm come forth in love and truth.

With blessings for midwinter, the festive season and the approaching new year, Fiona

The world can often feel a little crazy, we are faced with all kinds of challenges. It's useful to have some quick techniques to calm and soothe your soul when adversity arises or anxiety takes hold. When you are feeling stressed or anxious, no matter where you are, these simple techniques can help to restore calm and a sense of ease.

• Gratitude is known to be directly related to joy and so practising gratitude uplifts our souls. Simply bring to mind things in your life that you are grateful for. We can also bring to mind things that bring us joy, such as a memory of a joyful time or a person that we love. Here is an inspiring video with Brene Brown looking at her research which demonstrated that practising gratitude relates to increased joy. "It's not joy that makes us grateful, it's gratitude that makes us joyful." (Brene Brown). There are many ways through which we can practise gratitude, such as using a gratitude journal, naming things you are grateful for at certain times of the day, expressing our appreciation to others, saying grace or sharing blessings with family and loved ones.

• Spending some time connecting with nature, a walk in the woods or along a beach is extremely beenficial and restorative. No matter where you are, there will be some nature to connect with, maybe the clouds in the sky or a potted plant or the ground beneath your feet. “Nature isn’t a miracle cure for diseases, but by interacting with it, spending time in it, experiencing it and appreciating it we can reap the benefits of feeling happier and healthier as a result.” (McRobert). It's worthwhile to cultivate a sense of wonder and awe around our natural world, look at something as if it is the first time you have ever seen it. I love walking barefoot, this is also known as earthing and there is now scientific evidence showing a number of remarkable health advantages, such as increasing antioxidants, reducing inflammation, and improving sleep. So kick off those shoes!

 

• Express your unique soul's creativity - sing, dance, garden, learn something new, draw, be silly... whatever it is that encourages lightness within you. If like me you tend to procrastinate then just begin and Create Art, not excuses. Mark Manson suggests that action isn't just the effect of motivation; it's also the cause of it. By doing something we can initiate motivation within us and become inspired. You know the feeling.... brainstorm activities that bring joy to your soul and then spend time engaging with them.

 

• Be nourishing and gentle with yourself. Create a small space (or a large space is even better) in each day to do something nurturing for yourself, even if it's just lighting a candle, listening to a favourite piece of music or having your favourite mug of tea. The things you love and find comforting are unique to you, so allow yourself to indulge in them without feeling guilty. By loving yourself you have more to give to the rest of the world. The other thing that can help to soothe our souls is to help someone else, reach out to someone who is by themselves or drop some soup off with a neighbour or find a flower for someone you love.

 

• Finally (and perhpas most effectively) to soothe your soul become more present and let go of any worries or fear-based thoughts. It is a cliche though true none-the-less that the only moment we have is right here, right now. When I come into the moment, I realise that right now all is well. So if you catch yourself being tight or wound up become mindful of the present moment, tune in to your senses and what is happening around you. You may find that all is very well :)

Here's a fun video to inspire some singing or dancing or maybe both, boopa dada - enjoy!

With love and ease from my soul to yours, Fiona

It's wonderful to hear, see and feel the heightened awareness of climate and pollution issues over the past few months (at least here in the UK). Thanks to David Attenborough everyone is aware of the plastic issue and changes are being implemeted at a goverment, local and personal level. The Extinction Rebellion is an awesome movement that is highlighting awareness of some crucial issues. Gretna Thunberg, the Swedish teenager is inspiring young and old with her passionate pleas. There is a lot to celebrate and be grateful for! While life on Gaia is in seriously threatened, it is wonderful to see people's concern coming to the fore and changes being implemented.

Sometimes we may feel deep sadness as a result of the devastation that is happening on Gaia. We may feel despondant and hopeless at the level of destruction and greed that continues to escalate. Or we may feel overwhelmed, powerless and frustrated. Yet, there is so much beauty and magic in our world, so much to appreciate. While it's important to process fear, anger or other associated feelings that may arise as a result of the current chaos, we need to find a balance as opposed to getting lost in the despair and negativity. It can be helpful to find and focus on the positive elements too.

We don't need to do everything or feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation, rather implement the things that feel most important to us. Make one little choice in this moment, take one step at a time. Perhaps the biggest contribution we can make is to reduce consumption, though this article isn't for suggesting what to do, there's plenty of information to be found about that. It's about encouraging us to feel into our own hearts and make conscious choices in how we live our lives and celebrate the positive impact we can achieve. Living from our hearts we shine a light that brightens up the whole world.

The Universee often guides me to relevant material when I am writing something and today I came across this quote in an article by Mary O Malley that seemed apt "You are a necessary and unique expression of life. In this time of chaos on this planet, one of the most powerful things you can do to become a healing presence is to know that you are essential and needed. Or, as Eckart Tolle once said, “You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are.”" Thank you for being here and contributing your unique and beautiful self to the world.

Gratitude has been shown to be corelated to joy. Let's be grateful for all the positive things that are happening all around us every day. A friend sent me this quote by an unknown author -

"To the person who uses metal straws to save fish, but comsumes animals, I'd like to say thank you. To the vegan who isn't aware of our homelessness problem, thank you. To the climate change activists who aren't attentive to fast fashion, thank you. To the girl who gives her old clothes to the disadvantaged but isn't educated on sex trafficking, thank you. To the guy who picks up rubbish on his way home from a surf but isn't well-informed about male suicide rates, thank you.

To the grandparents who knit socks for sick children but aren't up to date with current race and homophobic issues, thank you. To the students that stand up for bullying but are unaware of the constant domestic violence epidemie, thank you. To the peace activists, feminists, stray dog adopters, teachers, volunteers, foster carers, recyclers, givers, doers and believers, I say thank you. We are all on a different path and we all see through different eyes. Current world issues that you are passionate about, aren't always what other people are trying to change... and that's okay. It's not everyone's job to save every part of the world but it it everyone's responsibility to thank every person who is doing THEIR part to save the world. Don't criticize, just appreciate. Don't judge, just educate. We are all trying our best. Thank you."

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is making a positive contribution to life, no matter how small that contribution may seem. If you haven't already heard the inspirational story of the little boy saving starfish, you can read it here in an article about how to best be of service. Jaya Bhagavan, has been translated as "Hail God" or "Victory to God". Recently my friend Jane shared how she sees "Jaya Bhagavan" as a prayer of gratitude or appreciation for the "God" within everything. We can contemplate on all that we appreciate in this precious life. Jaya trees, Jaya friends, Jaya bees, Jaya river... Here is a beautiful rendetion of Jaya Bhagavan to touch your heart. I offer it here as a prayer of gratitude...

With gratitude for what you do to take care of our precious Gaia and the sentient beings that are here, Fiona