Meditation

lady meditatingMeditation sounds simple in principle – focus on one thing and block out all other thoughts! But in reality it can be harder to achieve and takes dedication and sustained practise. However the benefits far out way the commitment needed.

In some cases you may think of meditation of being a hippy thing to do, or a perhaps an extension of yoga practise. But in reality the world is a confusing and very busy place for all of us these days. Strides in technology are fantastic, but they have also created an environment where we are ‘always on’, smart phones and tablets have made it in to the bedroom that once would have been a tranquil place to rest. Just doing everyday tasks like getting lunch and coffee now provide many choices and with it many decisions.

All told many of us are stressed both in body and mind perhaps without even realising it. And this is where meditation comes in. It gives you a safe place to crowd out all of the pulls on your everyday life. In that moment you just get to concentrate on you – not your partner, your kids, or your job – just you…

A traditional pose for meditating is sitting cross legged on the floor – but find a space and position that is comfortable to you. Some people prefer a dimly lit room, others will like light, some will close their eyes, others prefer to focus on something like a lit candle – again, do whatever feels right for you. Try to carve out a period of time that will be quiet and where you will be undisturbed – and turn off any technology!

You may find it easier to relax if you do some gentle stretches and an important component is your breathing – very gradually slow down your breathing, so that you breaths in and out are calmer and more controlled.

When you first start meditating you may find it difficult to clear your mind, you will no doubt have to sit in the position for a while. Random thoughts will try and enter your head – what you are going to cook for tea, a friend you must remember to call, a sick relative, an email you forgot to send. It is not unusual for you to feel guilty for taking the time out, and to begin with you may tell yourself that you could be better spending your time on a million and one things from your ever growing to do list…

The whole point of meditation is learning to resist this inner chatter, there is no need to feel guilty for taking a small amount of time for yourself each day. With practise you will find that following your sessions any decisions that were troubling you now seem easier to take, and you will be able to prioritise what really needs to get done and frankly what can wait.

Some people find it easier to take themselves on a guided tour of their imagination – you might think of a place that you felt really happy (perhaps a beach on holiday), then can you imagine the salty taste on your lips, the gentle breeze on your skin, the smell of the suntan lotion and the gentle chatter of people in the background, the warmth of the sun and the relaxed glow you felt…Gradually allow this visualisation to carry over your whole body until all of the tension in your muscles melt away and your mind goes quiet. Keep breathing deeply and slowly and keep working to keep your mind clear of any thoughts.

Regular practise should see you reap the benefits; you should feel more enlightened and happier on a deeper level.

Gratitude Diary

grateful imageMany of us could probably write a list quite easily about the things that we consider to be wrong in our lives or things that we would like to change, the list would be different for all of us:

Feeling like your work/life balance has got out of kilter

Feeling as though there is never quite enough money coming in

Wondering if your relationship is going to go the distance

Feeling worn out and in need of a break

Struggling to manage all of your responsibilities

The list goes on…

But what if instead of making endless lists in your mind about what is wrong, you turn things around and write down on a weekly basis everything you are grateful for!

When you are stressed, tired, ill, short on time or are just going through a difficult patch it can be incredibly difficult to think you are grateful for anything. But even thinking of one thing can have enormous benefits to your health.

Dr Emmons has been studying the effects that gratitude can have on our health, wellbeing and our relationships with others for over a decade. People that keep a gratitude journal for even three weeks show positive benefits.

On the Physical Side:

Stronger immune systems

Better quality of sleep and a feeling of being refreshed on waking

Lower blood pressure

A desire to look after themselves and exercise more

On the Psychological Side:

People feel more optimism and just generally happier

They feel more joy and are able to take pleasure in more things

A general feeling of being more alert, alive and open to positive emotions

On the Social Side:

They forgive themselves and others more easily

They feel less alone and isolated

They are more helpful, generous and compassionate

To get started, you could try writing down five things you are grateful for three or four times a week. There is no need to feel pressure to write something big down, it could be as simple as ‘I am glad my neighbour has grown sunflowers this year as they make me smile every time I pass them.’

In time if you want to you can extend the practise to others, for example sending a note to a person to thank them personally will benefit both them and you? Rather than writing things down, with certain people for example your partner you may choose to tell them: try telling them three things before bedtime that you are thankful for, for example ‘I really appreciated you texting me after my meeting today to see how it went.’

Over time it is okay to alter the schedule of how often your write in your gratitude journal, but be specific, honing in on details stops you getting fatigued over the task and seeing it as a chore.

After a while you should be able to create gratitude in your head as well as on paper. When negative thoughts creep in to your day, you can counteract them with ‘What is good about my life today?’

Fun in the Sun

burnt toast representing sunburnA recent poll carried out by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society demonstrated that 80% of us did not know what SPF protection means! 56% did not realise that SPF is only in relation to UVB rays and not UVA. The end result – clearer labelling is needed on sun protection products, perhaps moving to a much simpler system of low, medium, high and very high protection taking in to account the UVA & UVB components.

Perhaps equally as concerning was that over 50% of the people are never using sun protection and 15% of those with children were not checking for a UVA rating.

So, this cause for different labelling is a great idea but it is not going to help us right now. So whether you are staying in the UK or are jetting off on holiday here is the lowdown on what you need to know to protect you and your family in the sun:

1) Go for a broad spectrum sun screen that has UVA & UVB Protection.

2) Use an SPF factor 15 as a minimum to protect against UVB rays. Sun factors rely on you knowing how long it would take for you to burn without using sun screen. So if you would normally burn in 10 minutes (unprotected), then using a factor 15 would allow you to be protected for 150 minutes. When in doubt – go higher.

3) In the UK, UVA protection appears as a star rating on the bottle, from 0 – 5 stars. The higher the star the greater the protection.

4) When purchasing sun screen – check that it is not past its expiry date. Sometimes it is okay to use last year’s sun screen; they can have a life of several years. They need to have been stored in a cool location out of direct sunlight. Check the bottle, as there will be a manufacturing logo on it showing how long it can be used for after opening.

5) You should aim to spend time in the shade when the sun is at its hottest – between 11am – 3pm.

6) Apply sun screen before you go out and reapply regularly. Most people miss bits and also use a lot less than the recommended amount. Don’t forget to protect your scalp. Sweating in the heat and swimming will also remove the product, even if you are using a waterproof version, so keep topping up.

7) It is a misconception that a ‘base tan’ will protect you. Also do not be lulled in to staying in the sun longer or applying lotion less frequently because you have used a high factor product.

8) Lastly, remember to also protect your eyes. Look for a CE or British Standard mark when purchasing. You want glasses with a 100% UV protection.

None of us want to get burnt in the sun, but occasionally we do get caught out. If you are worried, then regular checking of skin and keeping an eye on any moles is a good idea. For moles follow the ABCD route:

A = Asymmetry, check if the two halves of your mole look different.
B = Border, check to see if the border of the mole is blurred, irregular or jagged.
C = Colour, check if the mole is uneven or has more than one shade/colour.
D = Diameter, look to see if any of your moles are wider than 6mm (which is about the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil).

You are now all set, for safe fun in the sun – enjoy!

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – Cancer Star Sign

cheryl fernandez-versiniCheryl Ann Fernandez-Versini (née Tweedy, formerly Cole), got married (hence the name change) on the 7th July 2014 following a three month relationship with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.

Cheryl’s love life up to that point had come under much scrutiny due to her fame in ‘Girls Aloud’ and her partner (Ashley Cole) job as a footballer. They started dating in 2004 and they got married in 2006, but it was all over by September 2010 when they were officially divorced.

One of the main problems in their marriage was Ashley’s philandering ways, so it was a bit of a surprise when she married known play-boy Jean-Bernard. He was known as a ladies man who partied hard on the Riviera.

So, we know that Cheryl is a Cancer sign, and Jean-Bernard was born on 29th August making him a Virgo. So just what is Cancer/Virgo compatibility like?

Well a Cancer women and a Virgo man can make a very good match, their relationship should have real staying power, growing in love and strength as the years go by. Both signs want security and trustworthiness, and their attentive and nurturing traits make this happen.

Both signs want goals in life, so they understand the need to be self-disciplined and dedicated, their respect of each other’s dreams will keep them bonded together. Cancer women are charismatic and others are easily impressed by them, but a Virgo lover will keep them grounded. A Virgo man is sensual and calm, he provides emotional and physical support when needed – he is a real man’s man.

The Water sign Cancer and the Earth sign Virgo, make a good pairing – both want to be comfortable, and want to surround themselves with nice things. But Virgo’s down to earth nature will rein in Cancer’s materialistic tendencies. Together they will ensure they have a great home, but they will also keep an eye on future prosperity.

The one difficulty for a Cancer/Virgo match is Cancer women’s possessiveness, she can become cold and distant if she feels ignored, but Virgo men sometimes need space and alone time to make things happen especially where work is concerned. Good communication is the key, so they feel connected even when they are busy or apart.

At the heart of a Cancer/Virgo relationship is a desire to make things work, to be prepared to put the time in and to achieve both personal and shared goals – so things bode well for Cheryl and Jean-Bernard as a compatible love pairing!

Photo Credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

UK Calling

UK Calling LogoIf you have a landline telephone or mobile phone, then the chances are you have been contacted by your provider about changes that Ofcom are bringing in to place from the 1st July 2015 to make it easier for everyone to understand the actual cost of dialling specific numbers.

Hence the name of the campaign – UK Calling: Clear Call Rates for Everyone!

As a result of these changes you will notice some differences on the Psychic Sight website and in corresponding advertising.
Currently the advertised cost of our Premium Rate calls – those numbers starting 0906 11 are £1.53 per minute. There may also be some corresponding terms: From a BT Landline, + standard network rate or network charges may apply.

From the 1st July 2015, the price and wording for calls to our numbers will change as follows: 0906 11 calls cost £1.50 per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

From 1 July 2015, the cost of calling service numbers will be made up of two parts:

• An access charge: This part of the call charge goes to your phone company, charged as pence per minute. They will tell you how much the access charge will be for calls to service numbers. It will be made clear on bills and when you take out a contract.

• A service charge: This is the rest of the call charge. The organisation (Psychic Sight) you are calling decides this, and will tell you how much it is.
The new rule will impact numbers that start 084, 087, 09 and 118. The changes do not impact numbers to ordinary landline numbers such as those starting 01, 02, 03 or mobiles (07) numbers. They will also not alter payphone calls, international calls or calls to the UK if roaming abroad.
In a further change, calls to Freephone numbers starting 0800 or 0808 will be free to mobile users as they are to existing landline users.
For further information you should contact your telephone provider and you can visit the UK Calling website:

ukcalling.info

Twitter: @uk_calling

Summer Solstice

StonehengeSummer Solstice, sometimes called Midsummer or Litha is a major celestial event, resulting in the longest day and the shortest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. Sol and stice are a combination of Latin words meaning Sun and to stand still.

Great spiritual significance is attached to the date, with humans having been amazed at the powers of the sun for thousands of years. Christians place the feast of John the Baptist towards the end of June, Celts celebrated with bonfires to add to the suns energy and it is also the festival of Li – the Chinese Goddess of light.

Druids celebrate the day as the wedding of Heaven & Earth whilst Pagans call it the Honey Moon after the mead made from fermented honey. Ancient Pagans celebrated with bonfires similar to Celts, alongside wearing protective garlands of herbs and flowers such as St Johns Wort (still used today by many herbalists as a mood stabiliser).

Many believe that it is a time to celebrate growth and life, but also to recognise the balance needed in ones life and the world in general and to acknowledge the shifting of seasons, as the sun begins to decline again towards winter.

English Heritage are providing “Managed Open Access” to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice on the 20th & 21st June 2015. As it falls on a weekend, there is likely to a build-up of traffic, and as such they strongly advise using public transport.

You can keep up to date on Twitter: @eh_stonehenge

SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS 19.00 hours (7pm) Saturday 20 June

ACCESS TO STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD19.00 hours (7pm) Saturday 20 June

LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK 06.00 hours (6am) Sunday 21 June – or earlier if full

STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD CLOSES 08.00 hours (8am) Sunday 21 June

SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED 12.00 hours (12 Noon) Sunday 21 June

• Sunset on Saturday 20 June 2015 is at 21.26 hrs (9.26pm)
• Sunrise on Sunday 21 June 2015 is at 04.52 hrs (4.52am)

Cleromancy

Hand throwing diceCleromancy is the art of divining your future using dice, ancient Greeks used dice for both gambling and divination purposes and it was them that popularised the use of a 6 sided die as opposed to four sided ones used previously.

Rules to follow:

Use two or three dice
Only use dice for divining reasons once per week
Do not throw dice on Wednesdays or Mondays
If you are asking a question of a personal nature – get someone else to throw the dice for you
Throw the dice in silence
Before you begin draw a circle about the diameter of a standard ruler (30cm), to cast the dice in to, it doesn’t matter what you draw on to as long as the surface is even.

Using the circle:

Only add the value of any dice that fall inside the circle (dice that fall outside indicate separations or arguments).
You may choose not to add up dice that land on top of each other – they usually signify that you should ignore an opportunity you have been presented with.
If you find that the dice throw continually outside of the circle you should conclude that now is not a good time for a reading.

Interpreting the numbers (bear in mind that some numbers can only occur if some of the dice fall outside of the circle):

1 – This means ‘yes’

2 – This means ‘no’

3 – A modest surprise may occur or some good fortune will follow

4 – Disappointing news may follow; your current situation will hit complications

5 – Your life will be enhanced by a new and pleasing relationship

6 – You risk losing those that you take for granted, value what and who you have in your life

7 – You run the risk of your secrets becoming gossip if you entrust the wrong people

8 – You could become a scapegoat in a situation, even if you are not at fault

9 – Patch up an argument – it is a good time to do so

10 – A new business, venture or relationship will be successful

11 – A poignant separation will occur

12 – Celebrate – good news is on the way

13 – Don’t go ahead with your question in mind; something better is on its way

14 – An emotionally committed relationship is on the cards that will bring happiness

15 – Stand by your principles, don’t risk it – listen to your conscious

16 – A holiday will bring about unexpected benefits

17 – This is a time to be flexible – adapt and put others needs before your own

18 – 3 x 6’s – will bring happiness, joy and great blessings. The answer is ‘yes’ and your heart’s desire will be granted!

Have you got a Money Plan?

Piggy BankMost people in life have some sort of plan… whether they want to start their own business, how many children they would like, the age they would like to retire or the foreign holiday home the would like to own. But the reality is that most people do not have a ‘Money Plan’, probably worse than that a lot of people do not have any idea how much money they need to be saving in order to achieve their goals and dreams, in fact I would go so far as to say that quite a few people only have a vague idea of their budget on a month to month basis.

Money is fraught with anxiety for many people, now more than ever in the aftermath of the credit crunch and it is the cause of many arguments and relationship issues in couples and families. So hopefully we can look at some of the issues and get us all thinking about small steps we can make to make this topic easier to manage.

In order to begin looking at your financial health it is helpful to understand your ‘Money Personality’, broadly speaking there are several categories that people normally fall into:

The eternal optimist: those that believe ‘something will turn up’. A contract will be won; a promotion with a big rise is just around a corner or perhaps a lottery win!

Those that bury their head in the sand: these people never open a bank statement, dread any phone calls from financial institutions, and possibly rely on the ‘bank of Mum & Dad’.

Life’s too short: these people are generally big spenders, you will often hear them saying ‘you can’t take it with you,’ the problem is a large proportion of big spenders are spending on credit…

The dodgy dealer: everyone knows someone who always has a deal on the go, ranging from constantly switching credit card deals to dodging the tax man.

The problem with all of the above is that sooner or later the spending and/or lack of saving catches up with you. We probably all recognise someone from the list and perhaps you are a mix of these categories?

As boring as it may sound in reality we should all be aiming for a more balanced approach to money and our personal finances. Firstly we need to understand what comes in and what goes out.

Then we need to plan for the short term – emergencies like the car needing a repair or the washing machine coming to the end of its life. The medium term – being made redundant or falling ill and the long term – that holiday home you’ve been dreaming of!

Wishing you good financial health!

Getting a Career you Love!

Career ChoiceSome people know from a very young age – what they want to do when they grow up! But for many of us life turns out as more of a succession of jobs, rather than a career and becomes about paying the bills rather than working in an area we love. However it is never too late, there are more opportunities now for budding inventors, entrepreneurs or for taking a hobby or craft into self employment. Many brands that we know and love on the high street started with very humble beginnings:

For example Innocent Smoothies was started by three men in 1998, when they bought £500 of fruit and sold ‘smoothies’ all weekend at a London music festival. They asked each person who purchased a drink to put their empty bottle in a ‘yes’ bin if they thought they should give up their day jobs and pursue the smoothie idea. At the end of the day the ‘yes’ bin was full and so they resigned the next day from their jobs and started the company ‘Innocent’, so named to capture the pure and fresh product. The range has now expanded; they have gone on to get investment from drinks giant ‘Coca-Cola and now sell millions of smoothies a week.

Perhaps one of the most famous British stories is that of Sahar Hashemi and her brother who founded Coffee Republic – the UK’s first US style coffee bar chain. They already had good jobs, but risked everything on a dream of changing a nation of tea drinkers into caffeine addicts. They sold the business in 2001 but Sahar has become an inspiration to would-be entrepreneurs around the world, firm in her belief that anyone can do what they did. In fact she wrote a book titled ‘Anyone Can Do It – Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen Table.

In the early eighties Romy Fraser was interested in alternative medicine and so she started to produce organically sourced beauty products and natural remedies – Neals Yard Remedies was born. She was way ahead of her time – before all things eco became fashionable, but the brand was built on a solid foundation of no animal testing, 100% recyclable bottles (pretty blue glass) and all of the ingredients are UK sourced. They were front runners in their field and became the first UK company to be awarded a Carbon Neutral brand mark. The first shop was opened in London in Covent Garden and there are now multiple stores in the US, Japan and the UK.

Whilst the world seems a scary place at the moment with world economies still drowning with worries, these stories show that good ideas can take off whatever the climate. And many economists believe that difficult economic times can provide the best launch pad for some start-up businesses.

So if you have a hobby that really is your passion, maybe now is the time to take the leap…Or you have had an epiphany moment regarding a product that could make the world a better place, now could be the time to spring into action!

Maybe we will see you on Dragons Den…

Hay Fever Season Is Upon Us

shutterstock_53637229For many people the arrival of sun is a chance to kick back, relax, put on the shorts and get out into the great outdoors. But for many it is the season of streaming noses and itchy eyes as hay fever season arrives. In fact as an allergy it is on the increase; it is thought that 1 in 4 people in the UK suffer compared with 1 in 8 in the 1980’s.

Despite the name hay fever, hay is not the route cause of the problem – pollen from Birch Trees and other tree varieties such as hazel, oak, horse chestnut, sycamore, yew and willow to name are few cause symptoms during March & April. More common is summer hay fever created by grass pollen that peaks in June & July. Weed allergies can also happen in July and spores from moulds are around during August & September.

Pollen counts are usually high on dry, warm sunny days. Pollen is released in the morning and as the air heats up it is carried into the atmosphere. So pollen counts are highest in mid morning and late afternoon. Weather reports usually give pollen counts at this time of year – 50 grains per cubic meter will usually cause symptoms.

In order to find a remedy for your hay fever it helps to work out what type you have – tree / grass or if unlucky both! Some simple solutions are available albeit not always practical:

If the pollen count is unusually high – stay indoors, with the windows and doors closed.

Pollen filters in cars can help – get them changed regularly at service intervals and if your symptoms are really bad consider having them installed at home.

When you venture out, wear sunglasses that wrap around – so as to prevent pollen getting in your eyes. A simple solution for your nose is to line your nostrils with Vaseline or similar which helps to trap the pollen before you inhale it.

Showering when you get back to wash away pollen from your hair and body can help as well as washing clothes and bed linen.

If all of these measures do nothing to prevent / help your symptoms then it may be time for a trip to your GP or pharmacist. Many medicines that were prescription only medicines a few years back are now widely available in pharmacies. These come into several categories – antihistamines; generally taken as a table once per day, eye drops and nasal sprays. Many of these medicines need to be taken in advance of symptoms; their effectiveness is increased if allowed to build up.

If however you would prefer to approach a nature problem with a natural remedy then you could try the following:

Spirulina – A super food that may help to reduce the severity of runny noses and itchy eyes associated with hay fever.

Probiotics – Eating probiotic yoghurts may boost immunity and reduce the severity of pollen allergies.

Quercetin – An antioxidant found in apples and red onions may prevent immune cells releasing histamine that causes allergic reactions in the body.

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