Anti-Cancer Lifestyle.
A Morning Walk by shaUna
Owlsong
Exercise - It's Good Medicine!
by Derek Beech
A Morning Walk
by shaUna Owlsong
Full moon in Scorpio invoked my energy last
night as I tossed and turned, the bluish hue of her mighty
gaze shining on me and into me through my bedroom window.
Each awakening bringing me awareness of tensions I hold, of
hidden thoughts, and buried creativity. It awakens me and
enlivens me and helps me to remember what is real and what
is true.
Arising at dawn to blue skies and sunshine I feel fully energized
and a bit giddy, even with so little sleep…partly due
to the lunar energy and partly due to my first spring feast
of fresh nettle soup (Urtica dioca) last night. Also, today
is a special day for me. I will spend the day doing whatever
I am called to do. I rise to morning yoga, bathing, and breakfast.
After morning chores I get bundled up in my
long underwear and sweaters. Even though it is the first week
of April, it is still chilly outside. It is a perfect spring
morning full of the splendor that this time of year brings.
The sap is rising, some bulbs are blooming and others are
sprouting. There is a single crocus in the lawn…good
morning!
As I descend the steps, my consciousness is altered, the sun
kisses my cheek, the wind rustles my hair, and my feet touch
the earth. It is good to be alive.
I walk a few steps and notice the daylily (Hemerocallis
fulva) stalks are already a few inches tall. I squat down
and snap off a stalk flush with the earth. I peel the outer
leaves off and nibble the inner stalk. So fresh and delicious,
a wonderful addition to salad and soup. I am aware to not
eat very many because they can give me funky digestion (if
you know what I mean).
My house sits on a paved road. It is not very well traveled
for which I am thankful. Across the road from my house there
is a hill, lots of forest, and a stream. Actually right now
there is an additional small stream that exists to help bring
melted snow down from the mountain.
Along this stream I munch on daisy leaves (Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), sheep sorrel
(Rumex acetosella), and dandelion leaves (Taraxacum officinale).
The daisy leaves are sweet, the watercress is spicy, the sheep
sorrel is tangy, and the dandelion leaves are simply delightful
and ever-so-slightly bitter.
Wow, I have only walked a few hundred feet and feasted abundantly
on the wild plants under my feet! I am going to head into
the woods now, up along the larger stream. Within moments
violet (Viola species) greets me with her shiny heart-shaped
leaves. I enjoy her slippery sweetness.
I trot up the trail with my feline companion
Shady (she enjoys hiking with me, she runs up trees and hops
from tree to tree and chases leaves). I munch on hemlock tree
needles (Tsuga canadensis) and pine tree needles (Pinus strobus).
They are a refreshing snack and high in vitamin C.
I make it up to a very special spot, a small waterfall with
mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) growing on the banks. She
is my plant ally this year. There is also a huge rose quartz
rock gracing this spot. The fairies live here. They teach
me and I listen:
The water flows
with love,
with purpose
and with strength,
as do you sweet sister,
always remember.
I lay there listening and drift off to sleep,
for how long I do not know…one never knows in fairy
land.
Until next time…blessed weed walking to
all and to all an abundant spring!
shaUna Owlsong is presently attending Birthwise
Midwifery School in Maine, the beginning of her journey as
a homebirth midwife. She will soon be moving to Massachusetts
to apprentice with a homebirth midwife there. She apprenticed
and interned with Susun Weed for 13 months and has apprenticed
with herbalists Ellen Hopman and Pam Montgomery as well. She
lives in reverence of the sacredness of all beings and manifests
her connection with life in her dedication to sacred birth
experiences for women and families. shaUna leads ceremony
and offers herbal consultations and birth support. Email shaUna
Owlsong at summerayne@wildmail.com
for permission to reprint this article and for workshop and
consultation information.
Exercise - It's Good
Medicine!
by Derek Beech
The positive benefits from exercise are impressive.
- decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and
fat
- a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
- an increase in daily energy and self esteem
- protection against osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- reduced stress and anxiety, resulting in a lower risk of
depression
- and most importantly of course, and increased lifespan.
If you are just beginning a new exercise program it will take
about 6 to 8 weeks for the results to be measurable, but you
will start feeling a lot better about yourself within 2 to
3 weeks.
Exercising will release endorphins in the brain,
causing you to become calmer and less stressed out. It has
been proven that a persons heart rate, blood pressure and
muscle tension all increase when a person is under stress,
it has also been proven that all of the above items decrease
when we stick to a regular exercise program.
Be careful in the beginning though and do not
add undue stress into your life by choosing an exercise program
that you do not like or by setting unrealistic goals for yourself.
Start slowly if you need to, walk just 10 minutes
a day if you have not been exercising for awhile. Remember
to stretch your muscles before and after your workout. If
you do not have time to join a gym then be more active in
doing what you already do everyday. Clean the house more often,
extra yard work, invite that friend you have for a walk instead
of the usual morning coffee at the table.
Enjoy being more active, in the long run your
body will thank you for it..
Wishing you success in all your health and fitness
goals.
Derek Beech
Derek Beech is a Natural Competitive Bodybuilder and the writer
of the Elite Fitness "Lose Your FAT Fast" E-Course
offered for Free at his website: Http://www.elitefitnesshealthandbodybuildingequipment.com