Hello in 2024

I have not blogged for six years. My last blog was in 2018 and now it is 2024. A lot happened since and still have a lot to say and a lot to share. 

I actually really enjoyed blogging and now I realise how therapeutic it is. Life is just so busy that somehow I have not written a new book, have not composed and recorded a new song lately but……in 2019 I started to draw, then paint and I am finding a lot of pleasure in it. So you will see a lot of artwork and pages of my art journal here accompanied by my thoughts of that day. 

Good or bad art, you like it or not, I really don’t care because I do this for myself. It’s not really true…Of course I care if they are good or bad. It is a nicer feeling when you finished a day’s or a couple of minutes or hours worth art making and you are happy with the outcome. However, art, music, dance, any kind of creative work not always perfect. And that is absolutely fine, once you understand this. 

And of course I do care if my friends and the viewers like my work or not. It is always nicer if they do like what you create. But I do make art in any way, even if people don’t like my art. Art is so subjective. Many times the work I like very much is not liked by others. And other works that I think is total rubbish doe snot receive the same feedback I thought it would. So that teaches you very quickly not to rely on others’ opinion! Just walk your own path and develop your own style. Your authentic self and style will attract the followers. 

Some people can’t cope with making bad art, playing badly, having a bad music practice, a meal not turning out as it should. They have not grown up doing creative art or learning music where you practise every day for the sake of making music and to get better. When you do something every day you learn that it is up and down. Like everything in life. There are good days and bad days. There are good meals and bad meals  There are good practices and bad practices. There are good football matches and bad matches. Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. 

But the whole point is to do it every day. Not every second day or weekly, every day if you want to improve. If you are serious about it. Because when you do something every day and your mind is there you will improve. You can’t not to improve. 

However, a lot of people start learning music or make art for the wrong reason. They think, they will become the next Franz Liszt or Pablo Picasso and will sell all their art works and become rich and world famous. If that is the reason for making music or art they only will find disappointment. However, if they start making music, draw or paint to enjoy the process and learn, they might discover something special about themselves and the object of their passion. 

That playing music, drawing and painting is their “ikigai” as the Japanese would call it. That this activity, does not matter how simple and primitive it might be takes them to a special place, a Zen zone, where time matters less, the dust of every day life is lifted, the heart finds peace, the soul connects to something special and the result of this activity becomes truly precious because it is theirs. It is a piece of them. 

A true expression of who they are at that time.  A never returning and not repeating capture of that time in space. A special moment. A special art. A special YOU. 

iTovi scanner your personal product expert!

Have you ever wondered how people choose from the hundreds of essential oils daily what to use? 

As I got to know them, I got better and better listening to my body and go with my gut feelings and my needs for certain scents and what my mood was that day. 

The App and the book Modern Essentials hugely helped to target certain health issues. 

However, it all changed when I got a high tech pocket-sized tool called iTovi scan. This scanner helps you understand how your body responds to the products you use! Using scientific technology iTovi takes out the guessing of the growing world of essential oils and supplements.  So wether you are wanting to listen to your body's response or help others to understand their body's responses, the iTovi scanner is a perfect companion.

How does iTovi work?

ELECTRICAL FREQUENCY
Every biological or non-biological thing has a unique energy signature that vibrates at certain frequencies. A frequency is the number of times a wave repeats itself within a second, called an oscillation. iTOVi has measured and recorded each unique frequency of essential oils and supplements for each product company. Through the electrodes on the iTOVi scanner, these frequencies are sent into the skin, inducing a measurable response from the body.

BIOIMPEDANCE
Bioimpedance is a technology commonly used to measure body composition through resistance to electrical frequencies. During an iTOVi scan the device passes small electrical currents through the skin to measure the body’s resistance to frequencies, each of which is the natural energy signature of various supplements and oils. The passing of electrical frequencies induces a measurable response from the body which is then recorded and shown in the iTOVi report.

THE BODY’S RESPONSE
Bioimpedance relies on the body’s autonomic nervous system in order to elicit reactions. The autonomic nervous system is the body’s central command centre, connected to every other part of the body, and can be relied upon to give reactionary results. There are lots of ways to measure those results (i.e. blood pressure, blood flow, skin or body temperature, breathing patterns, eye dilation, sweat glands/skin moisture, etc.) One particular way to measure the reaction is the tissue will become more or less resistant to electrical current flow. Changes in temperature can also help us understand how the body reacts. During an iTOVi scan hundreds of frequencies are sent to the body, one at a time. The body has a unique reaction to each of these frequencies. As the body reacts to the electrical current flow, iTOVi measures these reactions.

REPORT
As the iTOVi scan runs, your body will naturally react to frequencies and the scanner will record these changes, identifying supplements and essential oils that match. As the scan ends, these frequencies are recorded, analysed, and compiled into a personalised iTOVi report. Based on the information gathered during each session, the iTOVi App will recommend the oils or supplements to which your body had the strongest reactionary response. These recommendations are presented in your report, ordering each product by the strength of their reaction. Using the recommended oil or supplement will bring your body’s frequencies back to its optimal state.

It is incredible, how accurate this pocket-sized scanner is! For awhile, I was very sceptical and wanted to see if I can trust it. Every week I took out the oils I felt like using. Then I scanned myself. Every time, even if not the very same oil was recommended, the group, where the oil belonged and what it was used for was correct. For example, lemon instead of lime from the Citrus oils. stress. Serenity calming blend instead of Lavender Peace. 

It never suggested oils that were not for stress, calming, energising or for MS. I still have fun testing my scanner. When I scan a new client, I always investigate their background and what they need help with and establish what oils would be the best to start with. Then, I scan them. It never ceases to amaze me how accurate the report is and how follow up scans point us to the right direction with products. 

My latest scan result is here as an example to show you what the report looks like. It could not be more spot on with Restful Blend Serenity or Lavender Peace as called in Australia being the No 1 most important product for me to get more sleep, rest, de-stress and relax. I have a diffuser in my bedroom now and that is the blend I use the most!

Reassuring blend, Peace, is my most commonly used roll on that I just got recently and had quite an issue with it for awhile as I did not like its smell. But I needed it badly so I kept using it every night before going to bed. Now I am OK with it and the change that it has made to my nights was worth it!

Fennel on this report is interesting as it is part of the blend that I use every morning, DigestZen, to help with digestive issues. Makes perfect sense again!

My iTovi scanner is the best tool to set up a new client, to select starting products for a new Wellness Advocate and a business building tool for my team. I scan myself every week to stay on the right track with my health improvement. 

Kefir, the living food

Kefir is a living relationship, a symbiosis, of a number of bacteria and yeast which form grains or cauliflower-like structures.

These living organisms ferment milk into the living food, Kefir. The Kefir drink is lactic acid - alcoholic fermented milk.

Kefir grains are a biological production centre. Living foods like Kefir help to detoxify, support and balance digestion, and help in building up the immune system. to counteract negative influences.

During the fermentation process the Kefir grains change normal milk into Kefir beverage. Lactic acid, ethanol, acetic acid, carbon dioxide and other compounds are produced as well as vitamins.

The delicious microbiological living food Kefir can be very helpful in regenerating the bowel flora and works in this way, in many cases like a wonder.


How to make Kefir

What you will need:

• Kefir grains
• Milk - organic or normal (goat milk, coconut or almond milk can also be used with milk grains)
• Plastic (non-metallic) sieve/strainer
• 2 or 3 glass jars with lids (each jar should be about 500ml in size)

Instructions:

With 1 tablespoon of kefir grains add 250ml of milk to the kefir grans (or 1 teaspoon of kefir grans to 125ml of milk). The milk should be at room temperature (kefir grains prefer room temperature 20-27C).

Place the lid on your jar, keep it a little loose so that the kefir doesn't carbonate as much. Jars should be kept at least 2 cups (500ml in size) so that you have enough room for expansion of the kefir grains. 

Leave your kefir stand for 24hours or until the kefir thickens to your liking. The longer  you keep the kefir in the jar for the first ferment, the more sour your kefir will be. The jar should be kept at room temperature but not in direct sunlight. 

Once your kefir has shown signs of separation (you may see pockets of whey) or thickening, your kefir is ready.

Strain your kefir through a plastic sieve/strainer into a bowl, you may gently use a wooden or plastic spoon to help all the liquid go through the sieve, but be careful not to squash your grains while doing this. 

Place the grains into a clean jar and commence the process again. 

You can drink the kefir straight away or keep it in the fridge.

Please note at this stage you can add things to flavour your kefir like, vanilla, honey, cocoa, berries, apple, dates, lemon, orange peel, peppermint, garlic, ginger, or whatever you like! This is when the fun starts! Low sugar fruits are better as they will cause less carbonation from the lower sugar levels. 

Second fermentation:

If you wish to perform a second fermentation, you can leave your kefir on the counter for another 24 hours (without the grains). A second fermentation will give you a kefir lighter and creamier in texture. The second fermentation process also creates more B vitamins and probiotics. 

You also can second ferment adding flavours as mentioned above. Adding orange peel, ginger or anything you like will enhance flavours. You can leave the kefir with the additional fruit for a 4-12-hour period then store it in the fridge. 

To avoid damaging your grains, never add to freshly cleaned hot jar. To avoid this, always add the milk first to the jar before adding the kefir grains. Remember, room temperature milk is always kinder to the grains. 

If you don't wish to continue fermentation regularly, you will need to keep your grains in the milk in the fridge to keep them alive. You will need to change this milk every few days. Sometimes after the grains have bene kept in the fridge, it will take a few ferments for your kefir to be strong as it takes a little while for your kefir grains to wake up and adapt to the new environment. 

Once your kefir grains grow, keep adding more milk as they will ferment quicker. As a general rule, one tablespoon of grains for one cup of milk, (or 1 teaspoon for 1/2 cup of milk.) You always can give the extra grains to family and friend.

Finally, I hope you enjoy your kefir and all the health benefits that it brings to you and your family. 

Being grounded

I am reading a new book by Dr Norman Doidge, The Brain that Changes Itself.

In the opening chapter of this book we read the story of a woman called Cheryl, who, due to side effect of a medication, totally lost her vestibular function and perpetually falling, even after falling and landing on the ground. Fortunately, due to new inventions, Cheryl's story ends well and as a result of retraining the brain with a new device taking over the function of her vestibular, it becomes one of the first proof that neuroplasticity exists.

"In the 1930-s the psychiatrist Paul Schilder studied how healthy sense of being and a "stable" body image are related to the vestibular sense. When we walk of "feeling settled" or "unsettled", "balanced" or "unbalanced", "rooted" or "rootless", "grounded" or ungrounded", we are speaking a vestibular language, the truth of which is fully apparent only in people like Cheryl (who lost her vestibular function and perpetually falling). Not surprisingly, people with her disorder often fall to pieces psychologically, and many have committed suicide. 

We have senses we don't know we have - until we lose them, balance is one that normally works well, so seamlessly, that it is not listed among the five that Aristotle described and was overlooked for centuries afterward. "

In Biofield Tuning we know that the more grounded a person is, the less chance for illnesses. Therefore, Biofield Tuners make sure that they do a lot of work on the feet, especially on the bottom of the feet and on the so called Earth Star Chakra. Also, the Root Chakra that is located at the base of the spine and grounds us. It represents our security and stability in life. It is our survival centre. Our fight or flight response is initiated from this chakra. It is our primal, animal nature centre. The Root Chakra connects us to our ancestors. War, famine, natural disasters, and any events that threaten our basic survival, are all recorded within energies of the first chakra. This is one of the many reasons why Biofield Tuning is so crucial and successful. It helps to clear these energies and take out the charge of past events.