TEA

When I drink tea
I am conscious of peace
The cool breath of Heaven
rises in my sleeves, and
blows my cares away

Chincese Poet Lotung

Summer Solstice: Seasonal Simmers

Good Morning!
Simmers are a special mixture of herbs and spices, which are combined
into a blend or potion, created to bring the power of aromatherapy
and intention into your life. They are also designed to capture the
attention of those around you.

Based on folk remedies, grandma's recipes and the ingredients
provided by nature, these simmers are recipes used to make your
kitchen smell delightful. They can be used along with a "special
intention" and later, can even be enjoyed as tea!



Summer Simmer

Used for: scenting the kitchen/any room with aromatherapy, inviting
Summer, honoring the Solstice, invoking Summer love, as a cooling
iced tea.

-Blend 2-4 quartz of water with:
-1 lemon, sliced
-1 lime, sliced
-sprig of mint
-1 tsp. vanilla
-4-6 tsp. of two of the following herbs: Jasmine flower, Chamomile
flower, Chrysanthemum flower, Rose petals.


Slowly simmer on the stove. Allow the smell to permeate the room.
Cool and refrigerate for iced tea.




Peppermint Simmer

Used for: scenting any room with aromatherapy, creating a cooling
iced tea or used as a insect repellant.

-Blend 2-4 quartz of water with:
-15 - 20 peppermint or spearmint leaves
-1 orange, sliced
-two drops of peppermint, spearmint or wintergreen essential oil

Slowly simmer on the stove. Allow the smell to permeate the room.
Cool and refrigerate for iced tea.




Special Notes:

With each simmer you can:
-take advantage of their aromatic properties.
-say a positive affirmation, invoking words, a special prayer or give
thanks.
-use them at the start of each season to give honor to yourself and
your intentions for that season.
-as it cools, share, drink, these simmers as a tea.
-the health properties of these ingredients are appropriate for each
season, relate to the internal organs and are associated by taste,
temperature and color.


Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

TO: Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit
For sharing all of his wonderful knowledge so freely!

Summer Crystal Reiki Grids

Good Morning!
Many Healers are called to facilitate 'distance' energy sessions for
people that do not have access to in-person care. Often, this
includes seriously ill clients/friends/ family that could use Reiki or
healing energy each and every day. Distance energy work in the
same way as sending a 'prayer'. A prayer is energy that transcends
time/space to interact with a situation/person/ event. The
requirement for any distance energy to be effective is a strong,
concentrated intent from the person sending the energy/prayer.
This includes Reiki work and all other forms of 'sending energy'
across a distance.

There are many props that can be used to assist us in 'sending' our
healing energy in a coherent and concentrated manner. First, we
must adequately establish a connection with the receiving person.
Photo's, personal items, or a previous meeting with the receiving
person (ie, someone we already know) are usually the best ways
to connect. Second, many Healers find it very useful to facilitate a
full session on a proxy... like a stuffed animal, with the other items
(if they are available) close by.

You may also want to create a grid for the season's solstice. This
grid allows for the purification of the energy around you in your
home, office, meditation space or garden! Creating your own grid
with your crystals is a personal and balancing way of manifesting
good energy for a good season! There are many combinations you can
create! Here is one suggestion:

Evoking the Element of summer, which is fire, make a space that is
for your crystal grid. This should be in the south direction of your
home, garden, meditation space or office. Use a fire stone in the
center of your grid such as garnet, ruby or red spinel. Evoke the
other seasons and directions by placing 4 crystal quartz points
around the center red stone with the points facing away from the
center. in between the 4 quartz points you may put 4 complementary
color to red, which is green (such as jade, aventurine or peridot).
Bless the grid with incenses, herbal sage or sweet grass or simply a
prayer for a bountiful harvest (which is surely a metaphysical
metaphor for our lives) and then allow the grid to do its work.

Working with Reiki Energy

Many Reiki Practitioners and Energy Workers add the
subtle vibrations of stone energy as a complement to their
healing sessions or daily lives. Usually this includes the
laying on of the appropriate colored stones to coordinate
with the Chakra centers, meditating with a particular
stone, or wearing the stones as jewelry when the
inspiration hits. There are, however, even more uses when
stones are set up in a 'Grid' and are properly 'activated'.

A 'Grid' is more simply put, a way to arrange the stones in
a sacred geometric pattern. They are then consciously
'activated' by connecting a 'line of Light' between the
stones so that they radiate an energy field in the immediate
environment in which they are constructed. Those of you
who are sensitive to energy will be able to tell immediately
that there is a shift of energy in the room where you
construct a Grid. Depending on which stones you choose,
there will either be a gentle shift... or a very tangible one.

Creating a Sacred Space:

We live and work in a variety of environments. Many of these
environments have a specific function to fulfill that can be
consciously and energetically supported. The current attention on
Feng Shui and similar 'getting the energy in the room just right'
techniques have shown that we, as a society, are becoming more
aware of how our immediate spaces can either be harmonious or
disharmonious to our goals. Constructing a Crystalline Grid in an
environment that supports the function of the room is yet another
way to contribute to the overall energy flow.

Most people wish to create a Sacred Space in personal rooms;
such as, Healing, Meditation, and even Bedrooms. Healing rooms
should be warm, inviting, supportive, loving, and full of Light
(Selenite, Rose Quartz, Turquoise, Crystal Points, etc.). Meditation
rooms should be soothing with an added emphasis on reaching
high vibrational states of consciousness (Amethyst, Azurite,
Moldavite, Angelite, Celestite, Selenite, Crystal Points). Bedrooms
are the alchemical combination of dreamtime, regeneration, and
(hopefully) intimate bliss (Herkimer Diamond, Rose Quartz,
Garnet, Lapis, Azurite, etc.). These are all examples of rooms one
might wish to support with appropriate Crystalline Grids... but
certainly not the only kind.

There are other spaces that can be supported by a general 'vibe'...
such as living rooms, children's spaces, offices and workspaces,
etc. In a living room, one may wish to add a Grid that supports
harmony of a group or general feelings of Love and Comfort
(Crystal Clusters, Rose Quartz). A Grid in a Child's space might
include nurturing, creative, and joyful energies (Moonstone,
Citrine, Rose Quartz, Kyanite). An office Grid might include
harmony of a group, calmness, grounding, and shielding (Crystal
Clusters, Amethyst, Black Tourmaline, etc.).

There are no right and wrongs.... you choose the space, you
choose the Crystalline Grid to support it the way your intuition
guides you. Familiarizing yourself with the various metaphysical
properties of minerals can be very helpful to you as you make your
choices. You can get a nice list of stones you may want to use and
then use a pendulum to figure out which ones would be the most
effective for you.

The Star of David Pattern

Place quartz crystal points under our massage table in a pattern
called the Star of David layout. For this, place crystals on the
points of an imaginary Star of David: one each below the head and
foot, one each below the shoulders and hips.

This layout creates a very stable and relaxing energy pattern which
seals in the Reiki energy. We also recommend it for meditation.

There are many possible variations to this pattern. Amethyst or
citrine may be used instead of quartz, and the points may be
alternated with stones of another kind (rose quartz for a love grid,
aventurine for healing, aquamarine for creativity, hematite for
psychic protection).

Hands On
Often clients enjoy holding a crystal in one or both hands during the
treatment. You can either let them choose the one(s) to which they
are attracted, or make suggestions, such as:

For grounding issues: hematite, tiger's eye, black tourmaline, red
jasper, smoky quartz

Anxiety/nervousness : amethyst, rhodochrosite, aquamarine

Love issues: rose quartz (for relationship issues); emerald, for
feeling cut off from divine love or one's spirituality

Opening up spirituality: clear quartz, chrysocolla, amethyst

Spiritual Teaching Grid
(suggested by Zoe Lan)

For my grid I use stones which I purchased specifically for the grid.
They happen to be phantom amethyst raw chunks from Africa. I have
this great shallow bowl which I have filled with sand which I
reikied, and then I program each crystal to sit *proxy* for a person
or a situation. I then arrange them in any formation I wish.
Often, I will put a crystal in my grid representing a spiritual
teacher - Sai Baba, the Dalai Lama, Sri Ganapathi - others who I
consider avatars or great teachers who I feel are able to also focus
grace into my grid. For our circle, I begin by washing all the
crystals I have at my disposal. It is quite a ritual for me since I
just enjoy that sort of thing. I often prepare myself by taking a sea
salt and soda bath.

I invite my reiki guides and any other beings who have the permission
of my higher self to come and assist me. I then *ask* the pile of
clean crystal *beings* who would like to sit proxy for so-and-so.
Invariably, one of them speaks up or I perceive a light from them. I
then program that crystal just as one might program a piece of paper
for distancing reiki. I state the name and the request and I place it
in the grid and move on to the next one.

Then program the entire grid itself stating that by the law of
correspondence, whenever I reiki the grid that the people the
crystals are sitting proxy for will receive a complete reiki
treatment. During our circle I spend much more time and individually
connect with each crystal since I put them in an order and know who
is who. But in between circles, I reiki my grid as a whole. I find it
also easy to add crystals as the need arises...more requests in
between etc.

For me, it is sort of a mini-medicine circle or my personal
stonehenge! It is also like walking a labyrinth in a way since I work
my way with the energy step by step.

I top off my grid with a gold-plated pyramid which surrounds the grid
and creates a standing columnar wave...I find it very powerful to
reiki right over the apex and I am also able to perceive that the
sacred geometry shape has an effect as well being over them. I am
also into pyramid energy so have thrown that into the mix because it
works for me!

Healer's Energy Grid
(suggested by Laura Kuaffman)

The first thing to do is develop clear intent of the purpose of your
grid. It is best to start with a grid to help you with your distant
healing, then if you want you can move on to grids for specific
projects or situations.

Do a prayer of intent that you wish to the perfect grid to assist you
in your distant healing work, and be guided to select the right
crystals for it.

It is best to use single terminated quartz or quartz-like for the 6
outer crystals (unless you receive strong guidance to use something
else). They can be any color of quartz or quartz-like i.e. clear,
rose, amethyst points, citrine, etc.

For the central crystal select something "special" i.e. a cluster, a
sphere, a pyramid or just something particularly meaningful to you.

Then you need a crystal that feels powerful and strong to you for
your master crystal. I feel that a crystal that is a blend of
masculine and feminine energies is most powerful for me. i.e. it is
very clear in areas and cloudy and filled with inclusions in other
areas. It will probably be slightly larger than the 6 outer crystals.

Allow a couple hours to create this tool the first time. It deserves
a sacred space in your life and is very worth the time. After it is
created it only takes a few minutes each day to maintain the energy

Preparing the Crystal Grid

-Cleanse the crystals
-Hold them one at a time and put all the Reiki symbols in them,
intending to charge them and asking them to serve as channels for the
Reiki energy. This can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes per crystal
depending on your guidance
-Place them in formation. ( uses a Star of David Pattern with a
cluster or other special crystal in the center.)
Then take your master crystal in your hands and pray to have the full
power of the Reiki energy flow through you as you empower your grid
to heal with love and light. Create an affirmation to do this
something like:

"I empower this grid to heal, to heal, to heal, with love, with love,
with love, with light, with light, with light".

repeat this three times as you connect the grid lines moving counterclockwise around the grid.

To connect the grid lines start by pointing the master crystal toward
the central crystal holding it a few inches above the grid . . . when
you feel the energy flow move the master crystal up to the crystal at
the top of the grid drawing a line of energy, then move diagonally to
the crystal on the left, then back to the center, then retrace the
line you just drew, then move to the next crystal on the left. Go
back to center and then retrace that line you just drew, then
continue around the grid as you say your affirmation.
It actually looks kind of like you are cutting a pie, except you are
retracing each line from the center back out. When you feel that you
are finished come back to the top crystal and then move to the
central crystal . . . let the final burst of Reiki flow into the
central crystal. You can then draw a power symbol over it if you
want, intending that you are increasing the power of the grid.
(connecting the lines and affirming the healing power is done daily
to keep the grid active 24 hours a day)

Next you just need to link the names of the people you want to send
Reiki to or the situations. I have my grid on a table that has a
drawer. The grid is on top and the names are in the drawer. You can
also can put a bowl under a table or simply keep a bowl or basket
with pieces of paper with the people's names on it near the grid and
intend that it is linked to the grid.

For crystal healing in person:
The crystals and stones can be placed:
-Upon the subject in a grid or pattern.
-Be extra careful when placing crystals or stones in particularly
sensitive areas such as eyelids.
-You can use a pre-planned grid or pattern, or place the stones on the
chakras, or use your intuition to access healing information from the
-Divine and use a pattern of your own devising.

Below the subject.
-Again, you can use pre-planned grids or patterns or use your intuition.
-Be careful of accidentally causing stone bruises, and pad the stones
if necessary when placing them under the healee.

Around him or her.
-Near or touching the body in a pattern around the healee can work
well for healing. You can effectively make the healee part of the
pattern in this way.

For long distance healing:
You can use a substitute to stand in for the actual healee who is at
a distance from you. A photograph of the healee is a great
substitute, however, if no photo is available, writing down their
name and using that is good also.

For ritual magick:
After preparing for your magickal ceremony, use the stones to help
focus the energy of your ritual magick, or as specified in the spell
or charm you are working with.

See our Stone and Crystal community files for great Reiki Grids!
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/StonesandC rystals/files/

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ specialties. htm
Alternative medicine and therapies
for healing mind, body & spirit!

Summer Solstice Week: Summer Essential Oils

Good Morning!

Summer is a time of full growth, red, hot, joy, spiritual awareness
and traveling. Life is at it's greatest potential in the summer.
Trees, plants, grasses and seeds are now at their full peak offering
up the "fruits of their labor"! Take a minute to enjoy this most Yang
time of energy and production! These essential oils are great for
your first aid kit, as insect repellent, for soothing sunburn,
freshening and cleaning! Enjoy these soothing scents for relaxing and
letting go.

Tea Tree:
antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal,
expectorant, insecticide, cicatrisant (wound healer), etc.
infections, ringworm, athlete's foot
sunburn
shaving and other cuts
warts, pimples, etc. May irritate sensitive skin.

Lavender:
antiseptic, antibiotic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, diuretic,
analgesic, nervine, immune stimulant, sedative. antiviral,
carminative, decongestant, fungicide
burns and blisters
wounds (cell regenerator, minismizes swelling and scarring)
insect bites. stings
heat exhaustion, Avoid during the first trimester of preganancy

Peppermint:
digestive, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, febrifuge,
nervine, analgesic, astringent, decongestant. expectorant, stomachic,
vermifuge
indigestion, flatulence, halitosis
skin irritations
flu, colds, coughs, fever
headaches, migraines
fatigue, toothache
flea and ant repellant May irritate sensitive skin and mucous
membranes. Avoid during pregnancy and while nursing. May antidote
homeopathic remedies.

Eucalyptus:
vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, diuretic,
insecticide, stimulant, analgesic, antiviral, decongestant,
expectorant, febrifuge
coughs, colds
cystitis
sunburn, heat exhaustion
insect repellant Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
May antidote homeopathic remedies.

Citronella:
antiseptic, antidepressant, deodorant, insecticide, stimulant,
parasiticide
bug repellent (mosquitos, moths, fleas)
to refresh tired and sweaty feet after exercise
germ killer

Chamomile :
antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic,
sedative, anti-allergenic, antidepressant, stomachic, vulnerary,
antiemetic, carminative. digestive, febrifuge, nervine
external inflammations
teething
nervousness, irritability, depression
burns, sunburns
asthma, hayfever
sprains, strains
nausea, fever Avoid during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Clove:
antiemetic, antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, carminative,
insecticide, stimulant, stomachic
toothach
digestive problems, nausea
sinusitis Skin irritant. Do not use in massage

Rosemary:
antiseptic. analgesic, antirheumatic. antispasmodic, antidepressant.
astringent. carminnive. cicatrisant. digestive, diuretic. stimulant.
vulnerary, stomachic, nervine, etc.
muscular aches and pains
sprains
fatigue (mental and physical)
headaches, migraines
coughs, flu

Seasonal Healing is one of the best ways to remind ourselves that it
is time to evaluate our health. Our moods and bodies change as the
seasons change. See more on seasonal healing:

http://www.peaceful mind.com/ seasonal. htm

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ oils.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

Summer Solstice Week: De-Cluttering, Cleansing and Feng Shui

Good Morning!

1. Cleansing the Body
This is one of three processes that should be done 4 times a year.
Using the seasons as a guide, allows us to work with the "flow of
nature" and change as our bodies change. Consider a healthy detox or
work with the power of an herbal cleanser.
Here is a nice Detoxification Bath to get you started:

Detoxification Bath
2 Cups Sea Salt
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Tbsp. Ginger Powder
Place all ingredients in a hot bath and bathe for 20 Minutes
Drink plenty of water. This bath withdraws impurities from your body
and helps you to feel better. This bath can be done
2 to 3 times in a week or as needed.

Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and
mucilage. Psyllium seeds contain 10-30% mucilage. The laxative
properties of psyllium are due to the swelling of the husk when it
comes in contact with water. This forms a gelatinous mass and keeps
the feces hydrated and soft. The resulting bulk stimulates a reflex
contraction of the walls of the bowel, followed by emptying.

De-cluttering the space around you can make all the difference in the
way you feel. Start small. Try organizing a drawer or desk, your
closet or one room in your house, first. Then move on to a bigger
project. Learn the secrets to de-cluttering and re-organizing your
life with the proponents of Feng Shui

2. Cleansing the Mind
This is the 2nd in the trilogy. Learn how to think in "affirmations"
that are positive! These are statements that you make either aloud or
to yourself. Always approve and accept yourself. You cannot love
yourself unless you first, approve of and accept yourself.

A disciplined mind is a free mind. Gain control over your thoughts
and you maintain control over your life. Retrain your mind and you
regain your freedom. Calming the mind is a behavioral technique used
to interrupt, minimize and eliminate "psychological noise".
Obsessive, repetitive thoughts, anxiety and fears are all apart of
negative, self-destructive patterns that can benefit from the
positive affirmations and mind quieting.

"Love Thy Self"
I am perfect, whole and complete NOW, the way I am.
I deserve all that I require.
I am worthy, loveable and strong.

3. Cleansing the Spirit
This is a life long lesson and third in the trilogy. Utilize the
strength of yoga therapy. What is your belief system ? Does it serve
you well? How about discovering some great meditations !
The Sun Salutation in yoga is a great wakening and cleansing
exercise. This is a flowing combination of some of the asanas in
hatha yoga.

Sun Salutation
Stand in Tadasana, take a deep breath, clasp thumbs in front of you
and raise arms in front of you over head. Arch back from the waist.
Now, fold over at the waist as you exhale, placing palms on the
floor, Uttanasana, step your right leg back into Lunge, step your
left leg back to Plank, come into Bhujangasana, flow into Adho Mukha
Svanasana, step your right foot forward to Lunge, left foot forward
for Uttanasana, inhale up to Tadasana. Repeat, stepping your left leg
back into Lunge.

Sun Salutation can be found at:
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ yoga_therapy. htm

Cleansing Meditation

Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy. Air is the
primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in minutes. It is
so important that you do it without thinking. Your breathing is the
voice of your spirit. It's depth, smoothness, sound, and rate reflect
your mood. If you become aware of your breath and breathe the way you
do when you are calm you will become calm. Practicing regular,
mindful breathing can be calming and energizing. With the addition of
music and it's rhythm, the "musical breath" can even help stress-
related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive
disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and breathe. Focus on
your breathing and the music.

Focusing on the breath is one of the most common and fundamental
techniques for accessing the meditative state. Breath is a deep
rhythm of the body that connects us intimately with the world around
us.

Close your eyes, breathe deeply and regularly, and observe your
breath as it flows in and out of your body. Give your full attention
to the breath as it comes in, and full attention to the breath as it
goes out. Whenever you find your attention wandering away from your
breath, gently pull it back to the rising and falling of the breath.
Inhale through your nose slowly and deeply, feeling the lower chest
and abdomen inflate like a balloon. Hold for five seconds. Exhale
deeply, deflating the lower chest and abdomen like a balloon. Hold
for five seconds. Do this three or four times, then allow your
breathing to return to a normal rhythm. You will begin to feel a
change come over your entire body. Gradually you will become less
aware of your breathing, but not captured in your stream of thoughts.
You will become more centered inward. You will just "be there."

Feng Shui for summer can be a great experience. For more Feng Shui
tips:

http://www.peaceful mind.com/ feng_shui. htm

Seasonal Healing is one of the best ways to remind ourselves that it
is time to evaluate our health. Our moods and bodies change as the
seasons change. See more on seasonal healing:

http://www.peaceful mind.com/ seasonal. htm

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

The New "It" herb for summer

Here’s a finishing touch you can add to any salad or burger patty to really jive up your health this summer:

CHIVES
Those pungent, tender green shoots are packed with vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, and folic acid, according to Maoshing Ni, a doctor of Chinese medicine and author of Second Spring.

Chives are used in many parts of the world to do more than spruce up the flavor of bland dishes. In traditional Chinese medicine, chives are used to relieve congestion, stomachaches, and even bad breath. They are also believed to help improve circulation -- a nice bonus if you’re prone to having cold hands and feet.
www.realage.com

GEG Bulletin June 18, 2009
Worm into this Class!

Worm-crazy Ellen will hold forth about

WORMS & WORM COMPOSTING

Definitely try this at home!

O boy O boy!

How can you pass this up?
Even Lowly the Worm will be there

Wriggle into a seat and learn about:
Worm bins purchased or home-made
Setting up your bin
What kind of worms will work?
What to feed them?
What to do if…
How to harvest the compost

Date: Tuesday July 7

Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Place: VCRS (Valley Community for Recycling Solutions) on Palmer-Wasilla Highway

Tuition $10

Instructor: Ellen Vande Visse, Good Earth Garden School
Sign up to reserve a place (seating is limited unless you are very skinny): information@goodearthgardenschool.com or 745 0758

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com