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. 

Dry body brushing with essential oils

Dry body brushing has been along for a very long time.  It is a well-known natural health practice and is practiced in many traditional cultures around the world.

Think of the Finnish sauna traditions that go back to 7000 BC.  The sauna customs of the forefathers of the Finns was written by the Nestor the Chronicler in 1112.  

He told of “hot wooden saunas in which naked bathers beat themselves with branches and finally pour cold water over themselves.”

Bathing culture has been around similarly in the European countries for thousand years.  You will find magnificent bathing houses in Turkey, Hungary, GRB and many-many countries around the world.  Sophisticated beauty routines using natural ingredients has been documented for centuries.

Flagellation (Latin flagellum, "whip"), flogging, whipping or lashing is the act of beating the human body with special implements such as whips, lashes, rods, switches, etc.  Typically, flogging is imposed on an unwilling subject as a punishment; however, it can also be submitted to willingly, or performed on oneself, in religious or sadomasochistic contexts as Wikipedia explains.

The strokes are usually aimed at the unclothed back of a person, in certain settings it can be extended to other corporeal areas.  For a moderated subform of flagellation, described as bastinado, the soles of a person's bare feet are used as a target for beating (see foot whipping). 

The purpose of these ceremonies might be different but they all share something in common.  Purifying the body and the soul.  For health reasons or for punishment, the need to initiate changes in the body and soul is the need for such actions.  To purify, detox, eliminate, remove, to get rid of things in the body and the soul that don't serve us well. 

How deep we want to go and how big change we want to induce it all depend on what result we want. 

Dry body brushing is a simple health practice that anyone can practice at home before taking a shower.  No flagellation needed to get great results!  Dry body brushing offers amazing benefits, especially when combined with essential oils! 

Benefits include:

• exfoliating, removing old, dead skin from the back and the rest of the body
• increases circulation
• reduces cellulite
• smoother younger looking skin
• improves fascia and reduces inflammation in the system that can be the cause of chronic pain, MS, fibromyalgia and different mysterious aches and pains (personal experience)
• detoxifies the lymphatic system
• energizes you and makes you feel alive
• reduces depression
• improves sleep

Using natural plants bristle brush is a must.  You don't want to scratch your skin with synthetic brush.  A brush with a long handle so you can reach your back is crucial.  Our spine is the most important as it carries the nervous system.  The Central Nervous System (CNS) controls most functions of the body and mind.  It consists of two parts: the brain and the spinal cord.  To keep your spine healthy and flexible so your CNS can operate to its best capacity is vital for good health. Stimulating it daily will assist your whole nervous system.  Especially, when we spend so much time inactive and sitting. 

Starting the day with a good refreshing dry body brushing then jumping in the shower to have a warm shower to wash off all the dead cells you brushed away gets the circulation and your Central Nervous System going.  Make sure that you finish your shower with cold water!  This is absolutely crucial for a great health routine!  Just gradually turn the hot water lower, then wait, get used to it, then turn it off more, then wait, get used to it etc.  Then you will see, standing under the cold shower is really not that big deal. 

Training your body to get used to this routine of dry brushing with a few drops of essential oil on the brush followed by warm shower followed by cold shower will become your best friend.  Especially in summer, it is sensational!  If you live with Multiple Sclerosis or chronic pain this will bring your back to life and will tremendously help you reduce your heat sensitivity. 

What oils to use on the brush?

I have tried and love many. I used doTerra oils for quality like Lemon, Wild Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Litsea, Siberian Fir, Thyme, Cypress, Coriander, Cilantro, Ginger, Peppermint, Lavender, etc, you name it I tried and all work!

My most favourites and the ones I would highly recommend, other than the one I will detail here next are these:

On Guard blend to build your immune system in seasons of cold and flue when everyone is sick around you. 

Slim & Sassy blend (Smart & Sassy in Aus) to shape up, loose weight and get more energy for the day.

Breathe (Easy Air in Aus) for allergies, sinus issues and respiratory problems or when you go to work out! It will increase your breathing capacity and help performance. 

However, when someone suggested to try Zendocrine that is a doTerra blend for detoxification and it is The Oil of Vitality and Detoxification according to the book called Emotions & Essential Oils, everything has changed.  Zendocrine has Tangerine Peel, Rosemary Leaf, Geranium Flower/Leaf, Juniper Berry, Cilantro Herb essential oils in it. 

Common Primary Uses according to Modern Essentials is for endocrine support and hormonal balance.  This blend also assists healthy tissue function.  You can diffuse this oil blend, inhale the aroma directly from the bottle or by putting a drop or two on your palm, rub your palms then cup your palms around your nose and inhale the aroma, rub, inhale, rub, inhale.  You also can massage on the bottoms of your feet neat or with a little carrier oil.

Emotionally, this blend assists during times of transition and change.  It can assist an individual in "detoxing" old habits and limiting beliefs.  When you feel trapped by self-sabotaging behaviours, Zendocrine paves the way for new life experiences.  It aids in letting go of behaviours, thought patterns and feelings that don't serve you well any more.  Zendocrine is especially helpful during major life changes which require adjustments in habit and lifestyle, such as alternating diet, quitting smoking, moving house, changing city or country or leaving a job or a bad relationship. 

Zendocrine reawakens vital life energy and helps finding new enthusiasm for life.  Makes you see life from a fresh perspective and embrace new experiences. 

Try dry body brushing with Zendocrine and watch your life change!

Essential oils are here to teach us a lesson

My doTerra essential collection is my greatest treasures.  Until I started on oils I thought that my piano was my greatest treasure and nothing ever will change that.  How wrong was I!

I have been using oils for close to two years and they have truly changed my life physically, mentally,  energetically, emotionally and spiritually.  They changed for the better.

I like to learn about them, watch the best people talk about oils and I educate people about how they can live a life closer to nature and use these lifelines of plants to bring us back to life, be more vibrant, energetic, loving and more be part of this wonderful life on Earth.

When people touch the oil bottles little they know what the expect.  They have little understanding and little respect for these oils.  They are impatient.  They shake, touch, violate these oils instead of approaching with curiosity and patience.

These oils have personalities, they have their own characters, they have their own nature and speed. They are like a child. They grow and change.  Like a little puppy, they will love you unconditionally if you let them.  They are like a beautiful flower, they will blossom when they come in contact with you.  They are like the best lover you had.

When you touch the bottle, take it in your hand and look at it's label, check the colour on the label, it has a significance what colour group the label is.  Feel the energy of the bottle in your hand and let it synchronise with your energy and frequency.  Let it warm to you. Let it entrain to your rhythm or your body to the oil's rhythm.  Feel it, smell it, touch it, look at it before you open it.

Then, let the magic happen and open the lid but still, just feel it, smell it. Do not put your finger to the spout. Do not shake and turn the bottle up side down. Get to know each other.  Like a beautiful creature that you don't want to frighten away. You just want to observe and admire in its own environment. No guns, no thumping, no shouting. Become one with its environment so you can observe long.

If you want to get to know your oil closer, tilt it to an angle with your other palm or finger being under it.  Don't be impatient, don't shake the oil so it would drop faster and don't put your finger to the spout.  Just observe how thin or thick the oil is, is it running fast or slow, is it oozing with aroma right away or it takes time to reveal itself?  Knowing your oils will help you choose the right one for the occasion.

Sometimes you need to be energised so you will select something that is fast and highly energising like Peppermint. Other times you need something that is slow, rich, thick and has immense depth and the scent will reveal itself in layers, gradually with time like Myrrh.

Using essential oils teaches so much about them, about where they come from, about the life those plans/herbs, flowers, seeds lived. They have a lesson to teach us with every drop we use, with every inhale we take.

Sometimes the oil you hate the most at first has the biggest lesson to teach you.  Sometimes the oil that we resist the most is the oil that will help us the most.  Don't be judgemental about a scent.  Be open minded like we should be with people.  Don't judge too fast.  When you get to know someone, when you hear their story, when you learn what made them who they are and get to walk in their shoes you can't hate or dislike them anymore.  There is a story behind every single person.  There is a story behind every single oil.  That's why most oil lovers have quite a great collection. It is great to have a few basic oils but just as you don't want to eat the same food every day, not even your favourite ones or you don't want to be surrounded with the same people every day, the same applies to oils.  There will be oils that you want to use every day because they work and your love them.  And there will be oils that you will rarely touch.  But when you feel the need to use them, they will take you a special journey. They will take you to a far away country, show you landscapes, animals, birds, plants, climate you have never seen. They will introduce you to people you would have never met any otherwise.  They will make you dream dreams you would have never ever had any other way. These oils will transform you as a person you would have never ever would have become.