Going Within

Everyone has their own way to fill themselves up and to find their centre. For me it has always been going into nature. Sometimes remote nature, by myself, just me and my tent.I have been getting the intuitive message from spirit for months now that it is time for me to go on a vision quest-to go within. I have been ignoring this feeling and the gentle nudges to do so for a while now because I was too busy, I had too much going on.As a result my health began to deteriorate. My adrenals became tired and overworked and my immune system crashed to the point where I was flat on my back wondering how I got there. Well spirit answered me. I had been going full speed for so long that I had managed to successfully burn myself out to a full stop. Luckily with the help of herbal support, and acupuncture, and energy work I am well again.As a holistic practitioner I should really know better. Believe me. I know. The only thing worse that being unwell is judging yourself and your folly in getting there.While I was in Bali recently on a course I asked spirit what I needed to do to get back to my 100% and got the clear message that I needed to take a break, not just from work, but from everything. It was time for me to retreat into the woods to meditate and commune with spirit. For clarity, for direction, for expansion, and for healing.So that Is what I am doing. I realize it is not warm outside anymore but I am bringing my tent and I am going to find a remote patch of forest and sit and meditate for however long it takes.I have taken a brief leave from my work. I will return. I work with an incredibly talented team so I know my regular clients are in very good hands.I have had an incredibly busy and sometimes stressful 16 months. A lot of change. A lot of wonderful change in all parts of my life and some of it has been challenging. I have not had much time to process the changes or recover from them as it has been one thing after another for a very long time. That is another reason I need to unplug from 'civilization' and reconnect to spirit in a deeper way. I have heard spirit calling me to do this for over a year now and I cannot put it off any longer.After witnessing 2 very dear young holistic healers pass into spirit this past year it has reminded me that life is short, sometimes fleeting, it is precious, and we owe it to ourselves and others to be living our best life. I am taking the advice I would give any of my clients if they came to me with the experiences I have been having lately. When seeking clarity~ if the answers are not coming~it is best to Go Within. I will be doing just that.I thank all of you for understanding my process and being patient and understanding that I will not be available in my usual capacity at the centre for a few weeks.I was reading a channeling a friend sent me via email the other day and found it ironic the person channeling the message is taking a sabbatical until the end of the year. Since that time 2 more very intuitive people have told me they are also taking the next 2 months off. Although I do not plan taking the rest of the year off-there must be something with the current time we are in energetically and this very real need to go inwards.Whenever I have done this process in the past I emerge with new clarity, optimism, and beautiful treasures of wisdom from the etheric realm. I am going into this experience with no expectation other than I am making myself available to receive all that I need to receive to move forward. I look forward to sharing my experiences when I return.Until then I will see you in that big beautiful quantum field of possibilities.

With love,

Kerri     

Is Inauthenticity The Hole In Your Bucket?

Have you ever felt drained at the end of the day even though you did not really do anything to warrant such exhaustion?Do you ever feel totally drained after  hanging around certain people?You were going along, having a perfectly wonderful day, and then you spend a few hours with someone or in a group and afterwards you feel like you want to slip into a zombie coma?What the heck just happened?!Some websites and books out there will tell you that you were attacked by an 'energy vampire.' That this 'bad' person stole your energy.  Energy vampire was a term that was very big in the 80's & 90's..it came along with bad hair, huge amounts of hairspray and the need for protection, amulets, salt circles, crystals up the nose, fancy outfits, and whatever your favourite tool is to ward off  so called 'evil.' Energy vampire was the perfect term to describe those  people with 'negative energy' who made it feel like they were sucking the life right out of you. It was a catchy phrase. Catchy but dangerous.Why dangerous?It's dangerous because it shifts the focus away from where it needs to be.  As soon as you start labelling and blaming others for a problem that you 'think' they caused, you take the focus off the feeling that You are having (that feeling that is all about you) and you put the blame on them. In doing so, you take away any self responsibility about how you were (all of a sudden) feeling.Not to mention doing that can be a bit scary too because-Wow! they must be pretty powerful to get through your supersonic energetic bubble and enchantments and powerful anti negativity jewellery to drain your energy dry like that. What are you going to do next time to prevent it? This is where people can spend a fortune from their fear as there are always those who will  gladly take your money for more amulets, more potions, more spells, all the while feeding your fear for why you need those things (and need them) to save you from that other person. What you really need is to be saved- from yourself.I know I'm poking fun, and I am likely going to take some heat from this post from the die-hard energy vampire haters, but I have totally been there. I have felt this drain before too. Many, many times. I'm empathic. For those who do not know what that means, it means that I Feel EVERYTHING all the time (emotions, physical ailments, moods) As cool as that may seem, it's not a fun trip. Believe me! I can also tell you there is no magic product out there that is going to stop that drain. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. You may find things that help a little bit or things that trick your mind enough into believing they work-and the mind is very powerful and can help you there, but ultimately you are the only one who can stop it permanently. That's because that energy drain you just had, in all honesty, its kind of your fault.What???!I know!!! That's a horrible thing to say to someone! Especially when they are feeling so low and after they have had their life force energy drained and feel so energetically victimized.My intention is not to be  'mean' by saying that it is your fault. I wish it wasn't so. Believe me I do. Life would be so much easier if we could just blame other people for everything. But it's just not the case. In this case, you are at fault and it is simply because You allowed it.No one pinned you down, or held you against your will to drain you of your energy. No one forced you to hang around that person, or give them your energy, or listen to their draining life story. Instead you were following a different law, a different set of rules-that unwritten agreement many of us have (and still follow) to pretend with that other person that everything is o.k. even when it is really not o.k. at all.Why do we do this? Well it is easier, or seems to be easier to do this. No one enjoys conflict. No one wants to alienate people.But unfortunately over time, this inauthenticity and self dishonesty drains you energetically. It becomes the hole in your bucket and it's simply not worth it.It is one of the absolute laws of the universe that nothing can interfere with your energy without your permission or free will. Nothing. Not a thing, no human, animal spirit, being, space alien, tweedle bugs, anything.So what just happened to your energy then? How did it get drained?! How was it that allowed that you didn't want it?!If you go back through that situation in your mind-and do so with honesty-you will be able to pick out the exact moment where you began to feel the drain. The exact moment where you began to be inauthentic or dishonest with yourself or someone else.This is actually how muscle testing works-the basic premise that when something is true or right for you the body's (muscles ) show strength, and when something is wrong or untrue for you the body's (muscles) show a weakness. The body is not the only thing affected in a situation where something is untrue or not right. In that case, the entire energy field is depleted. When people tell a lie their energy field totally collapses for a brief moment in time. My kids absolutely hate that I can always catch them in a lie this way.So you were inauthentic. Big deal. We do it all the time. You are in a situation and don't want to have 'that conversation' or rock the boat, or stand out, or worse yet -hurt someone's feelings, so you just adjust yourself to fit into the environment-while your 'energy vampire' friend, loved one, co worker, family member, stranger, begins to feed on you and drain you of all life force energy. You just sit and smile and nod and listen and fade away. You never once say what you want or truly feel. If you did then you would not feel drained afterwards.Someone energetically 'present' and 'aware' in that situation, and someone refusing to compromise their authenticity, would leave that situation feeling just fine.When we are dishonest with ourselves and others about who we are and how we feel we begin to drain energy. When this happens a lot, we become so depleted we begin to create illness and disease in the body.When you are able to maintain who you are and your authenticity in every situation, you are not only doing yourself a service but you are helping others by mirroring back to them their ability to do so and  you are essentially giving them permission to do the same for themselves. That is empowering.Some of my favorite people on this earth are down right shocking, but they are Real. I Love children. I love their raw honesty. Children are born honest. They are real. They do not know any otherr way to be. They learn dishonesty from adults. Pets are honest too, and simple. Pets don't lie. Our bodies are honest too. I love working with the body because the body tells it like it is- the body never lies. The human mind on the other hand....well you could be lost in a mind for days, weeks, heck even years! The mind is a wild maze! It is the mind that decides if we are going to be authentic or not..and it will have many scenarios at the ready-scenarios it likes to play out of things that have never even happened! Things that may never happen! The mind will convince you of why its better to stay quiet, to stay safe, to stay small and to just allow that person or situation to rip right into your etheric jugular and bleed you dry.Why do we do this? Why do we change from the beautiful honesty of a small child ,to an insecure, inauthentic, and non self-aware adult?Plain old survival.As children many of us learn to people please to get rewarded. We learn when we are 'good' we receive love and affection or we do it to avoid getting yelled at or in trouble. We learn to be 'good girls' and 'good boys'. We then grow up carrying those same patterns with us of selfless service, and silence for love, for acknowledgement, and for attention. Attention is actually how we give and receive Love. We learn that early on. The worst thing you can ever do to someone is withhold your love or attention. The opposite of Love is not Hate. It is indifference.We learn to be chameleons to be what the other person wants us to be rather than learning to be comfortable in who we really are. We learn to Bend.We look at magazines and tare aware of the media and what it tells us to be. We tell our children and young adults how to be and who to be to fit in. No one wants to be different. Not that different, to run the risk of  not having friends. Most friendship s, and relationships require compromise. We learn to alter, we learn to Blend.We learn to look outside of ourselves for our answers and to find reasons for our problems. We learn to Blame.Often we do it in families where we may feel so incredibly different from our relatives we try and fit in by changing to fit the role of who they think we are rather than who we are truly are. We do it in relationships by becoming the person we think the other person wants us to be instead of being who we actually are.Do you know that around the holidays is my busiest time as a holistic practitioner? When I began my practice years ago I found that incredibly odd because most of the services I offer are not covered by extended health care, and is an extra expense during the holidays, and can cut into the Christmas budget. Why do so many people see me then?I believe it is because everyone is drained. They are spending time with their family -even those who would normally avoid doing so- and then while in those scenarios (to keep the peace) they pretend to be someone else. All of that pretending and not speaking your mind or honouring who you really are is totally exhausting! Most of us can barely walk thru the door to fall into bed after such a day.So what can we do to protect our energy and keep it full and vibrant? Other than hermiting away and avoiding people forever or going the other extreme and  alienating everyone, how can we avoid becoming drained?I'm not suggesting you go out there all guns a blazing and blast everyone with your truth on some power trip just to be you. Relationships will be damaged and there will be fallout. These kinds of changes can take time. I'm simply asking for you to notice in your life when and where you feel drained. Just observe when and where it takes place and the context around it. Instead of blaming the other person for how you feel, honestly take responsibility for how you are feeling and look at where You were being inauthentic in that situation. By taking responsibility for allowing your energy to be drained, that new found awareness will allow you to make the necessary corrections so that it Never happens again.Please know that despite what you may have heard, YOU are Always in control of your energy and your body. When you fully realize that, and embrace that 100%, and own it, then you will be able to end the cycle of being a victim in your own life, and you will truly see some incredible changes in your life.By taking responsibility, you take ownership, you take your power back, and you take your energy back to you where it belongs.Be yourself, not a crappy copy of someones else. If you have changed, let your family and friends know that. Allow them the chance to get to know the new you. You may be surprised..they may like your new self a heck of a lot better than the old one. Or maybe they are pretending to be someone else too. Once you take off your mask and let it all out, you are giving them permission to do the same and you can meet as two hearts, two minds, in honesty, in trust, in true authenticity.

Wow what a Great World that would be!Shine on Bright Beings! Shine On!

xo Kerri         

Sometimes You Just Have To 'Be The Tree'

'Be the tree' was the message I received a few weeks ago from spirit while receiving Reiki. I had been asking for guidance for some time, only until that moment I had not been in a clear space to receive it.You see I was in pretty rough shape. For a healer, we do actually learn early the importance of self healing in order to stay balanced and well so that we can better help others. But also, as a healer, many of us tend to want to take care of others first. Somehow over the holidays (from doing too much) I came down with a virus. By new years I was getting back on track only to end up with a raging kidney infection. After a foray to emergency and drugs I was back home and really not happy about any of  it. I had things to do and places to be and no one else could do those things for me. It was stressful to not be able to stay on top of my insane to-do list.So there I was on the table, receiving a healing, not for fun, or as a tune up, but because I really needed it badly. I had fallen completely off my groove, out of my flow, off my centre, out of alignment, was ungrounded, my cheese had partially slid right off the cracker.... You get my drift. I also have friends who insisted on coming over, despite my crankiness, and comments of 'I'm o.k. I just really want to be alone right now.' But they decided on a reiki intervention instead. Thank god for them.Humbled and Grateful is the way I felt after these dear friends and amazing healers gathered to help me out. I was at the end of my rope, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I was coming off a rather challenging 7 months and felt like I kept getting knocked down right after I would pick myself up.  I was not in alignment. I knew that the law of attraction was at work in my life 100% and until I sorted myself out I would just keep re-creating the same disasters. You would think that by knowing this that would be enough to bring myself into some semblance of balance but because I was pretty emotionally attached to all of it, I was not receiving any clarity.So as I was  on the reiki table, I was intuitively asking my guides and angels and any spiritual being with compassion out there in the universe to come and help me out with some answers. I wasn't even asking for them to take the drama away. I was just asking. 'What should I do?!'  I was beginning to think all of the red tape and delays and downright ridiculous obstacles were the universe's way of subtly telling me to give up on everything. So as I lay there waiting for the lightning of divine insight to strike,  I heard very loudly and very clearly a female voice say "Be the Tree."It was clear. It was simple and that was it. At first to be honest I thought 'Is that it?!' After months of total chaos I wanted to shout to the universe 'That's all you've got?!' (but after the time I had experienced recently I did not think it was wise to provoke or 'throw down' with the universe) so I thought better of it and instead I opened myself up to truth of those words and contemplated.Once I (finally) relaxed and opened myself up, the advice of 'Be The Tree' it made complete sense.My life had been chaotic and scattered because I had been chaotic and scattered. 'Be the Tree' meant I had to be like a tree. Literally! I needed to find my still centre, find the ground, and sink my roots deep into the earth. I needed to claim that space, to own it, to become strong centred and grounded again so that life's storms would not knock me over. The crazy thing was I had not even realized how un-rooted I had become. Once I had that aha moment, the voice went on to talk about the ice storm we had a few weeks ago that affected so many people. In my neighbourhood especially, it had been heartbreaking to drive up and down the street and see tree branches laid out ready for pickup, to see the devastation and all of the trees lost from that storm. The standing people, the silent watchers, the beautiful space holders, cut down so dramatically.The voice explained that to 'Be the Tree' does not mean there will not be storms, that there will never be loss or devastation. In fact it told me that life is loss and devastation and to think that we can get through it without experiencing that is ignorant.

'Be the Tree' means to Believe in yourself enough to anchor yourself deeply into the earth, to be so connected that if you lost a branch or two in a storm you are still the tree, life goes on. To not give up. To recover, to rebuild, to begin again.

These are all acts of courage. It takes courage to hold your ground, to stand up for what you believe in, that it is just and true. It takes courage to rise up after falling, and more still to stand up again after being knocked down.Now was the time (in my darkest hour) where I needed to stand up and begin using All that I had learned the last few years. That information was not just for me to share with others, but for me to actually use, and this time I Needed to use it. I needed to, or I wouldn't survive the storm.That all sounds very dark. But it was dark, and I had been in a dark place. I had been questioning my intuition, my faith, my relationships, and my life path. Many years ago, when I chose a life of service, I made that choice and promise and take it very seriously. As a result, I sometimes feel the responsibility that comes with that choice means my life is not always entirely my own. It is that way once you mother children as well. It is a joy but also can be a huge sense of responsibility that can weigh on a person. I have a vision and a promise to keep to myself and to others but it would be nice if it does not destroy me in the process. I have realized lately,(that how things are arranged and re-arranged out there in the universe, a.k.a. quantum field) are not for me to decide. I am not in control of the process. Sometimes only after everything has been destroyed, can we see what truly needs to remain, and what truly needs to be rebuilt. So I decided to re-surrender and allow the universe to reshape my world. I was holding fast to the one thing I could, the one thing I still had faith in, and was is the dream I had many years ago, a dream of creation, and I decided to hold fast to that and trust that this dream would one day become reality. It was almost here, and I knew that to give up in the final hour would not only be counterproductive but it would be tragedy.Today in the midst of more chaos(I could write a book on my last week alone!) I asked for a sign from the universe if I was to keep it going or let it all go. I got my sign, and 5 more immediately afterwards. So I took that as a YES! So I decided to pick myself back up and 'Be the Tree'. I am going to re-root and hang on and hope we won't have any more storms. Or at least not until I heal from the last one.I'm a healer, a teacher, an intuitive, a mother, and a friend, and you know what? I'm still learning. As we all are. I always preach to have compassion for others, but this most recent experience has shown me that I need to still work on cultivating some compassion towards myself. I hold myself to some pretty high standards, and when I fall short of them I am pretty hard on myself.I had a student recently ask me if intuitive types have more challenging lives  than the average person who is just out there living life. I don't think so, but it seems to me that the people who question things, who really wants to understand things or push the envelope to excel at something, do tend to experience more adversity. Why is that?Well I believe that when you want to understand things, when you ask for the truth, when you are going for it, and want to know, the universe will show you all that is is you wish to understand. But in order to understand something, to truly make it your own, we need to Experience it. And the only way to do that is to have that idea manifest in your outer universe, so that you can interact with the scene in your daily life to further understand the idea or concept or situation. Once we have experienced something, we can combine that with our intellectual understanding of it, and turn that into true wisdom. And wisdom does not always come easily. Wisdom sometimes comes faster along the path of adversity. Do I wish I could just live my life and not ever ask 'why?', and be content to live my days out being content and not wanting to understand the true nature of reality and my place in it? Absolutely. But I'm not wired that way. I am unfortunately (fortunately?) an explorer, and inventor, a pioneer. And pioneers never have it easy! The people who come after (once the trail has been blazed) do.In the bible (yes I have read it!) it is suggested that we rejoice in our sufferings, because it produces perseverance and perseverance produces character. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete in character, not lacking anything.”So there you have it. I have been suffering all along, so that I can build a better character. I may not have been 'joyful'  as it happened but I'm o.k. with that. There are many things I do well, but I also have many shortcomings. I'm stubborn. I don't ask for help easily. I don't receive love as well as I give it. And I get mad at myself when I become sick or unwell because 'ain't nobody got time for that!'  and I think I should know better! But I am learning to love myself despite my shortcomings, and to forgive myself for my mistakes I'm allowing myself to take the time I need to heal myself. I'm doing this so that I can be a better person, and a stronger Tree so that I am able to better love and support someone else when they need it, just as my dear friends did for me.If you feel you are being tossed around by the universe, first of all know that you are not alone in your suffering. We all experience this from time to time unfortunately. It is just part of being human. Secondly please do not hermit away and don't do what I did. Instead put your roots down deep into the earth, breathe, let your friends and family help you, be easy on yourself and Be That Great Tree and have faith as you wait for the storm to pass.It always does.

Until next time,

Kerri

Castor Oil ~ Natures Cure All

castoroil

Recently I have been using castor oil packs on my legs to help with tight calf muscles from running. Kim Keresturi our RMT was the one who suggested it. Before that, I had only ever heard of castor oil packs on the abdomen. I have had great results with this method and thought I should share it.

What is Castor Oil?

Castor oil has a long history of traditional medical use dating back to ancient Egypt. Castor oil is derived from the castor bean (Ricinus communis). Although it used to be taken orally as a laxative, it's now known to be toxic and is used only externally over unbroken skin. It should only be used after consulting a health care professional.

What is a Castor Oil Pack?

A castor oil pack involves the use of cloth soaked in castor oil which is placed on the skin. It's used by some alternative practitioners to enhance circulation and to promote the healing of the tissues and organs underneath the skin. Alternative practitioners also use it to improve liver function, relieve pain, reduce inflammation and to improve digestion.

How is a Castor Oil Pack Made?

Closeup of young woman with hand on her stomach

Castor oil packs are made by soaking a piece of flannel in castor oil and placing it on the skin. The flannel is covered with a sheet of plastic, and then a hot water bottle is placed over the plastic to heat the pack.A castor oil pack can be placed on the following body regions:

• The right side of the abdomen. Castor oil packs are sometimes recommended by alternative practitioners as part of a liver detox program.

• Inflamed and swollen joints, bursitis, and muscle strains.

• The abdomen to relieve constipation and other digestive disorders.

• The lower abdomen in cases of menstrual irregularities and uterine and ovarian cysts.

Materials

• Cotton flannel, or other 100% natural material large enough to cover the affected area

• Castor oil

• Plastic wrap cut one to two inches larger than the flannel (can be cut from a plastic bag)

• Hot water bottle

• Container with lid

• A thin towel (I use a tea towel) (I prefer a thin towel so the heat can still get through)

• If doing this in your bed lay on a towel or use older sheets. Castor oil may stain clothing and bedding.

castoroilpack

Method

1. Place the flannel in the container. Soak it in castor oil so that it is saturated, but not dripping.2. Place it over your whole abdomen (make sure to include the liver and the uterus), or if doing a pack on another area, place the pack over the affected body part.3. Place the piece of plastic on top and then place the towel.4. Place the hot water bottle over the pack. Leave it on for 45-60 minutes. Rest while the pack is in place.5. When you remove the pack, the remaining oil can be massaged into the skin or cleaned off using the other clean flannel cloth.6. Store the pack in the covered container in the refrigerator. Each pack may be reused up to 25-30 times.

7. Take it easy for a couple of hours after doing a Castor oil application.

Properties Of Castor Oil Therapy

Castor oil assists the body in the removal of inflammatory components like prostaglandins. This decreases pain during menses and pain associated with endometriosis, inflammation, and adhesions."Scientific studies have shown that Castor oil treatments can boost the immune system by increasing the number of total lymphocyte count."Castor Oil Packs Break Up Scar TissueCastor oil therapy can be effective in breaking up scar tissue and adhesions. Castor oil pack also loosens up masses or cysts and can remove toxins from as deep as 8 cm.Castor Oil Packs Aid Tissue DetoxCastor oil stimulates lymphatic drainage and removes waste products from the tissues and cells.

Other Benefits Of Castor Oil Therapy

The following conditions respond to the application of Castor oil packs:1. Menstrual dysfunction and painful periods.2. Liver, pancreas and gallbladder disorders.3. Digestive and stomach problems.4. Adhesion and scarring of the Fallopian tubes.5. Constipation and poor elimination through the bowels.6. Benign fibroids, endometriosis and ovarian cysts.7. Lymphatic congestion and swollen lymph nodes.8. Constipation, bowel impaction or adhesions.9. Bladder and vaginal infections.10. Fibrocystic breast disease (breast applications).11. Can be used to treat gynaecological disorders related to infertility, like endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, etc.Castor oil is absorbed easily into the body through the skin and its healing components are delivered directly into the body tissues.

Safety Precautions

Do not apply a Castor oil packs on broken skin. Avoid doing castor oil pack during menses. In women who are actively trying to conceive, it is best to avoid castor oil therapy after ovulation has been detected. Avoid applying heat on the abdomen during early pregnancy as this can affect the developing baby. in fact, castor oil treatment are contraindicated in pregnant and nursing moms. If you have uterine bleeding or suffer from cancerous tumors do not do castor oil packs. For any serious conditions talk to your doctor before doing castor oil therapy.Kim Keresturi, our RMT at Circle of Light introduced me to Castor Oil a few years ago. Thank you Kim!

In Search of Sweetness ~ Reflections on Peru

I recently returned from Peru.Though I have been back for over two weeks I felt like I actually 'came  back' (to earth) a few days ago. I was not there long but I may as well have been on the moon with the amount of time it has taken me to re-acclimatize. We spent most of our time  in the Andes working closely with shamans and priests experiencing numerous ceremonies and healings and blessings.I was completely transformed by the experience. So much so that it has taken me a while to process everything. They were experiences I will always treasure.The shamans we worked with spoke Quechua. It is the Incan Andean  language. Many also speak Spanish but the majority of people from the mountains or smaller communities  only speak Quechua.Our guide was explaining a few years ago Quechua was dying out, not that many people spoke it. Today it is coming back. Most children will learn Quechua during their first few years and then they learn Spanish. He was very happy about this because he loved the language.(With Maria & Manuel ~ Q'ero Paccas (priests)He said it is a very Sweet language. He said this with such depth of feeling, we all took notice. I had never hear anyone describe a language as 'sweet' before and he was so sweet saying it. It was a moment that has stayed with me.After spending 15 days with people speaking Quechua I can say with certainty that our guide was absolutely right. It IS a Sweet language spoken by Sweet people.The people who speak it do so with love in their hearts; for their people, for their culture, for their brothers and sisters, and a reverence for the earth, and all of nature. The language is exactly as they are. Heartfelt and True.We learned many things on this trip but the love and the sweetness is what has stayed with me the most. Just as the hummingbird that collects the nectar from flowers, we all went through our own journey collecting our own sweet experiences and memories.Even in the Despachos (offerings for mother earth) there was always sweetness present in the form of flowers, sugar, candies and cookies. These are always a part of the offering because the people believe Pachamama (mother earth)  is similar to a little girl and that she enjoys sweets.Reflecting on my past experiences with Pachamama I have never experienced her as a sweet candy loving young girl. In ceremony I have felt her as a loving mother, stern mother, wise teacher, healer,  but I  never as a little girl excited to get a treat. The image that conjured up made me smile. Why not? Aren't we all children at heart. Why would the earth mother be any different?So many experiences on this trip, but right now what stands out the most is the connection I made with the earth, with the people, with the sacred places we visited, and with myself.ALL parts of myself but especially that little sweet child inside. The one who loves to throw her arms in the air on a sunny day and twirl. The one who says yes to everything. The one who springs out of bed at 6am because she is so excited what the day will bring. The one who loves breathing in the fresh air and being outside all day. The one who gets lost in playing. The one who loves everyone and everything. The one who sees the bright side of any situation. And much much more.I connected with my inner little girl  on this trip and it feels really really good.Since I've been back I've been playing more, laughing more, creating more, and am more patient and loving in my relationships with others.I think that Peruvian sweetness has rubbed off on me a little and it's all good. I find I am loving myself more-ALL parts of myself.This experience has changed and blessed my life and transformed my approach to life, and my goals and dreams for the future.They are as large and colorful as a Koricancha (Quechua for Rainbow)I have much more to share but have been at a loss for words to describe the depth of experiences I have had on this trip. I know! Me! A loss for words?! LOL. I will post more about Peru in the near future but for in the meantime a Very Large Solpayki, (‘thank you’ in Quechua) to my soul brothers and sisters who accompanied me on this sacred journey, the beautiful healers and teachers we met, our Amazing guides, Pachamama for holding us lovingly as we laughed cried and healed, the sacred Apus(mountains) for sharing their wisdom and magic and becoming a very large part of us, Inti (the sun) for shining every day we were there, and all of you reading this right now. Peru is Truly magical!I promise I will blog more about Peru once I integrate everything a bit better. : ) in the meantime I feel the pictures speak for themselves and you can see more HERE.If you are feeling you would like to have your own Peruvian experiences I will be taking another group next Spring and will have details soon. Email me if you would like more information.With Love,Kerri

What to Do When Caught In The Undertow

Life is a lot like surfing. Sometimes you are in the flow of the most magnificent wave. Sometimes you miss that wave and other times you take a total beating. But one thing is for certain- When you fall down you have to get up. Recently I found myself caught off guard, and ended up taking a bit of a fall. Only this time while I was getting up, I was hit again and I fell down...Again...and instead of getting up, I got caught in the undertow.Being under violent crazy water not knowing when you are going to pop up for air or even 'if' you will be able to catch your breath is an uncomfortable place to be. It is easy to go into fear in that crazy storm. It can be difficult but it is So Important To Stay Present when that happens and just simply focus on getting head above water.I swam hard, I fought the current.Thankfully I did pop up. I got a breath. Then as things settled I got a few more breaths and eventually I ended up washed up on shore. A bit surprised, relieved, and totally exhausted.I would never have fallen if I had not decided to surf in the first place.Do I regret surfing?Not at all.Am I going to run out there to hop on a big wave right away?Not so much.I think I might take a couple of days in the kiddie pool with a lemonade and recover first.Am I talking about surfing?Yes and no.Am I talking about life?You bet I am.As a Holistic practitioner, I have a lot of tools at my disposal for health wellness and balance. Does that make my life immune to challenges? Not at all. In fact I often joke that my life challenges have gotten larger in comparison to my available tools-just to keep things fair and balanced in the universe. : )Even the most present, aware and balanced surfer is going to fall. You cannot live your life afraid of the fall.If you are going to ride those big waves, then you need to train hard and prepare for them so that if you fall while surfing them, you can survive it.You also need to go into surfing them with no fear. Sure you may fall, you may even get hurt-but if you let the 'what ifs' and fears hold you back, that is not living.So because I am a surfer and because I have 'been there'(on the bad side of a wave) a few times over the years and I am still 'here', this is my best advice for what to do when you fall off your wave, and how to get back up and surfing again. : )1. Take Action- Try at first to help yourself. Try to swim to get up for air. If you cannot, or the water is too rough then....2. Just Wait. Continue to hold your breath and allow the water to move you up and out or to shore. Baby steps or one step at a time. Only look at the things directly in front of you that need immediate attention and let everything else fall away.3. Surrender. Know that this is Bigger Than You. If your effort alone would change this you would have had results from step #1. If you are still being tossed around, recognize that you do not control these larger elements. Things are rearranging in your life. Allow them to.Chaos Always precedes Large change. The bigger the chaos, the large the change.4. Be The Observer. Watch the scene with calm detachment as though it was a movie you were watching-instead of feeling yourself in the scene. By taking that step back to observer perspective, you will see valuable and helpful things you may have missed while 'in it'.5. Ask For Help. This may mean asking someone for advice, getting more information, or researching something more. It could be that you need actual physical help, or healing. This also includes asking spirit for help and prayer.6. Be Open To Receive the help you asked for. Take that advice. Listen. Allow yourself to receive that love and healing you asked for. Embrace those answered prayers.7. Build yourself up again. Recover. Be kind and gentle. Learn from your 'mistakes' and then get back out there and get back on your wave. After all, you are a surfer!I was a bit later than I wanted getting this post up and out there. Thankfully things have settled for me and I'm back on my board but still felt it was important to share this because I know I am not the only 'life surfer' out there, and I definately know I am not the only one who has fallen and had to get up again. This is for all of the courageous and fearless surfers trying to live their dreams and not giving up, not even when they fall or get knocked down every so often.As Dory in finding Nemo sings..."just keep  on swimming, swimming, swimming..."Lots of Love,Kerri

Change Is Good ~ Embrace Your Mess

We just completed the Kundalini Reiki Master Intensive class last Sunday and indeed it was intense. Not in a bad way but in a Big Way. Just because Karen and I teach the class does not mean that we are immune to the shifts of the energy. In fact I believe we get it in a very concentrated way before during and after teaching. It is as though the universe is saying 'Are you ready to ride this frequency? Then buckle up!'I LOVE teaching this incredible modality. I love seeing the changes. It works FAST, it blasts through everything it needs to! To be honest the chaos that this fast pace sometimes creates, I could do without. I do blame myself. I did way too many processes on my house in a short period of time. The kids and I became unwell-as we were processing the changes in our physical body. Not a fun way to process, but things are healing and balancing and re-arranging as a result. Sometimes change in it's initial stages can be messy. I am not a fan of messy. I prefer disorder within some kind of order. But in this case it just got messy fast and I had to surrender and sit in the mess for a few days.Coming out the other side of a 'mess' is much more fun. This morning while teaching yoga I could start to see the clarity, the healing and the new order forming, but I can still see some of the changes I need to make as well.Change is good and change is necessary but lets face it, change can be messy. Does it have to be messy? Not at all. Change can be graceful and beautiful. However, in my experience Big Change (change that affects multiple timelines of reality and many people, places, things, times, and events) can be a bit 'messy'.Why am I sharing this? Well I want you to all embrace your 'mess'. Whatever you feel your mess may be. Being in a mess is no time to stick your head in the sand. Look your mess straight in the eye(if it has an eye)(might be more like an eye of a hurricane-lol) and Embrace it, Thank it, Learn from it, Acknowledge it, Love it. That 'mess' in your life is simply your transition through change. Change that you probably 'asked for', change you most certainly needed. Sometimes those sandcastles need to come down to be rebuilt. Better, stronger, healthier.The bigger the 'mess' the bigger the change. So if you find yourself in a big 'mess' know that the change that is coming will be very very big and very transformational. And remember Change is GOOD. Change happens when we 'ask for it'. Don't be frightened of the process. Just breathe, go slowly and trust.xoKerri      

Checking In....Post Birth

I'm wondering how everyone is doing after the big shift we went through leading up to and throughout the holidays. I have noticed lately with clients and students that many people are not quite feeling like themselves yet. Or they have been going in and out of feeling like themselves and then just feeling 'weird'. There have also been a number of colds and flus making the rounds.I just wanted to share my view on what some of you may be energetically experiencing based on what my guides have been  sharing with me over the last few weeks as I have been helping others through the process.After our large shift we went into(and are still in) a period of integration and activation. Right now everything you had cleared and transmuted energetically may be still moving through your physical body before making a final exit from your body and energy systems. Hurray! Some of you did this before the shift-and some who were hanging on to some old stuff (and being stubborn about it!) are clearing it post shift. Sometimes the more  energetically sensitive the person is, the more tangible and noticeable these physical transmutations have been. Some have felt the release physically, others mentally and emotionally, or if you are lucky like me you get it moving through all layers before it leaves. : )The shift we had was indeed a BIRTH. For all of the moms out there who have gone the 9-10 months through a pregnancy-most of their available energy going towards growing and nurturing the baby- as well as the intensity of the labour experience you can relate to those post birth feelings. The after feeling of joy at having that new life to now hold and care for, coupled with the extreme exhaustion, body aches, and mood swings that may come after. Periods of intense joy followed by fatigue, and also learning a complete new way of being-becoming a mom-responsible for another life other than your own. A big responsibility. Your heart expands, your worldview expands. It is one of those moment that forever changes you, and you cannot even describe it, it just has to be experienced.Well Congratulations Everyone because on 12/21/12 we all birthed a New Reality. And although that was more of a concept and an energetic shift and not an actual physical baby, it was still a birth nonetheless. It was right up there with having twins in my books. : ) Some healers and intuitives I know actually put on extra weight the 9-10 months leading up to the shift(and that weight just came-no matter how active they were or what they were eating), and they are now in the process of losing it. How crazy is that?!This analogy may help you understand this current integrating period and to remind you to please please please be gentle with yourself as you readjust to life as a new mother. Nurturing that new life, is a big deal. And not only are you the mother who went through labour, but you are the baby as well. You are the mother and the child all at the same time. Amazing isn't it?Once you clear away those cold/flu germs(for those who have had that experience), or any lingering emotions, or mental patterns that no longer serve you,  you are going to feel lighter and clearer and ready to go forward full steam ahead.We all process and clear and shift at our own unique pace that is absolutely perfect for us. I have a tendency to go through things early and then once I'm through and out the other side, my clients and friends and family go through what I just experienced. I asked my guides about this a few years ago because it was a repeating pattern I noticed but did not fully understand. They explained to me that anyone working as a lightworker or healer, in service to humanity will have a tendency to shift through things earlier so that they can better understand and have compassion and offer guidance to those who have yet to experience it. The reason I'm sharing this information with you now is because I went through everything you all have too and am feeling fantastic right now! So if you are still in it and still feeling scattered and all over the place, please hold onto the hope that you will be very soon feeling more balanced and energized.Right now if you are still adjusting, take that necessary time for yourself to recover from the 'birth'. Be gentle with yourself and above all be compassionate and gentle with those other souls around you who are going through the same thing. A kind word and a smile can go a long way to brightening someones day.Much Love & Gratitude,& Give Yourself a Huge Pat on the back for Being So Fabulous!Kerri