Depression As A Gateway To Inner Peace

How can one possibly say that depression is a gateway to inner peace? When we are depressed, it feels like peace is something only enjoyed by others – never by ourselves. We feel as though we are stuck in this state forever, destined to feel awful. We wake up with a feeling of dread and go to bed feeling the same way.

Yet we can view depression as an experience that can assist us to evolve and to become more whole. This state of being alerts us to the fact that we have disconnected from who we really are and that something is not right with the way we perceive our reality.

When we are fully connected and are comfortable with who we are, and have self-love – there is little room to experience discordance. Life flows in a positive direction and we experience a deep sense of inner wellbeing. In the moments when life does throw us a curve ball, we know how to positively reframe the experience.

Depression as a Gateway to Inner Peace

In this way, depression can be viewed as a gift. It forces us to journey within to root out the illusions and negative/false beliefs we have created about our self. From here, we can make changes to our self-beliefs and the way we interact with others and our environment.

In days gone past, certain indigenous cultures viewed ‘mental illness’ as a spiritual initiation. Members of the tribe sat in ceremony with the sufferer, supporting them while they processed the unintegrated aspects of self. They journeyed with them as they experienced a shamanic death i.e. the death of the ego. The person experienced rebirth and a stronger whole sense of self.

It is a shame that the modern world views depression as a weakness and shuns those who experience its symptoms, because love and understanding is the key to healing.

Many of us cannot know true happiness and joy until we have known the depths of despair. It takes an enormous amount of courage to delve into ourselves to unravel who we are. When we understand and accept the dark and light sides of our nature, we grow and evolve in the most profound ways possible.

When we come out the other side of this process we experience extraordinary self-love and peace. The experience of depression can be a key that unlocks this door.

Press the link below to give you a closer look at Teagan’s amazing course.

Live Without Depression

Healing Depression

In our modern world, the conventional treatment for depression is via medication and engaging in therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist. These conventional practices however, often only focus on the mind and emotions. A person with depression is encouraged to talk about how they feel and to explore solutions with the therapist. This approach can take years and many ‘clients’ remain stuck and frustrated in their experience of depression.

Depression is experienced not only in the mind and the emotions but also physically and spiritually. One needs to explore all of these aspects to allow effective healing to take place. The sufferer needs to be treated as a whole being. Profound changes will occur if they are guided correctly, with non-judgment and love.

If we positively reframe our perspective about depression we can help ourselves and others to obtain the peace that we desire.

Much love to you on your journey.

 

Teagan

Teagan is an International Yoga Teacher and Life Coach. She specialises in treating anxiety and depression. Click her to see her on online program ‘Conquer Your Depression With The Power of Yoga & Meditation’

www.teaganfea.com

Lust after Lavender

Lavender is the star of the herbal world. Regarded as one of the most beneficial and versatile herbs for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, the ancient secrets of lavender are out. Here are ten reasons to surround yourself in all things lavender.

1. It rejuvenates the skin

Lavender’s antiseptic and antifungal properties have assisted in the treatment of pesky skin problems for centuries. Its balancing action helps clear acne, prevent tissue degeneration, calm psoriasis, and aid the formation of scar tissue. As it contains a high percentage of linalool, naturopaths also use it to promote the healing of wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburn.

2. It strengthens hair

Keep tresses glossy and follicles strong through regular massages with lavender oil. Lavender is found in numerous hair care products, and for good reason – it’s known to balance scalp oils and rejuvenate the hair from root to tip.

3. It smoothes cellulite

Beautiful legs are achievable with a little flower power. Lavender improves circulation, tones the skin, prevents stretch marks and dispels fluid retention, thus helping with the appearance of cellulite.

4. It eases anxiety and insomnia

Scientific evidence suggests aromatherapy with lavender may be as effective in soothing the nervous system as some pharmaceutical relaxants. It’s renowned for promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality, and is even used by herbalists to ease mood swings and depression.

5. It relieves headache and pain

Lavender is famous among aromatherapists as the oil of choice for pain relief. Gentle massage with lavender oil not only melts away body-tension, it is an effective way to relieve pain from headache, sore muscles, aching joints, rheumatism and sprains.

6. It helps clear respiratory disorders

Don’t spend another sleepless night coughing. Lavender eases muscle spasms, fights infection, dulls pain, and most importantly helps you sleep. It is extensively used for a number of respiratory problems including coughing, throat infections, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, and laryngitis.

7. It aids digestion

Your tummy has as many nerves as your brain so it’s no surprise lavender can calm the d

igestive system as it can calm the mind. Both an antispasmodic and a sedative, lavender can work wonders on ‘nervous stomach’ and cramps, as well as aid indigestion by stimulating the production of gastric juices and bile.

8. It helps clear respiratory disorders

Don’t spend another sleepless night coughing. Lavender eases

muscle spasms, fights infection, dulls pain, and most importantly helps you sleep. It is extensively used for a number of respiratory problems including coughing, throat infections, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, and laryngitis.

9. It boosts immunity

Regular use of lavender oil has been shown to boost resistance to disease by lowering the flow of the stress hormone Cortisol. Cortisol lowers your immunity, which makes you more susceptible to colds and influenza during stressful times.

10. It’s soothing and calming

The scent of lavender brings about a sense of calm. Research has shown that lavender has soothing and even slight sedative effects when inhaled.

 

Are you polluting our oceans?

Did you know that many facial scrubs and shower gels, toothpastes and other personal care products contain tiny plastic beads. these beads are too small to be removed by water treatment plants and are ending up as plastic in the ocean. The beads are unfortunately consumed by fish and other marine animals, not only causing harm to these animals but also ending up in us as part of the food we consume. Some exfoliants contain as many as 350,000 beads in one tube. In the USA the states of New York and Illanois have moved to ban these beads from skin and other personal care items.

What can you do?

Check out the labels of the products you purchase. It they contain the words ‘ployethylene’ or ‘polypropylene’ in the ingredients list, as this indicates that the product contains plastic. Opt instead for products that use beads made from clays, bamboo. The Australian Jojoba Company is one of many ethical Companies producing products that are safe for you and safe for the planet.

 

Bar code de coded go 93 (Australia in barcode world)

 

Several weeks  ago, Current Affair did a Report on frozen vegetables imported from New Zealand.  As it turns out if it is a Coles or Woolies home brand there is a more than good chance that the product has come from China.  Products made by McCain’s, Birdseye and other supposed reputable companies from New Zealand are now purchasing vegetable products from China and selling that product under their name.

Basically check where it is produced by the comments on the back of the pack and if it says produced from New Zealand and Imported product it has Chinese vegetables in it, put it back on the shelf.  I would even go as far as to say, even if it has product of New Zealand on it, I would be suspicious about where those vegetables in that pack come from. 

Learn from BARCODES

PLEASE NOTE – if you love Australian produce and the thought of keeping jobs here, AND you like to eat healthy foods and buy quality products, then please read on.  Please also note the Australian barcode prefix is 93.

There are no food inspection regulations of foods grown or processed in China, Vietnam, Hong Kong or Thailand.

Other world countries are scared of China making ‘black hearted goods’, but can you differentiate which one is made in Australia, the USA, The Philippines, Taiwan or China?  For your Information … the first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code where-in the product was made.  Example: all barcodes that start with 690; 691 through to 695 are all MADE IN CHINA.

4 71 is Made in Taiwan .

This is our right to know, but our governments and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE OURSELVES. Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products ‘made in China’, so they don’t show from which country it is made.  However, you may now refer to the barcode.  Remember, if the first 3 digits are 690 through to 695, then it is Made in China.  Don’t forget, Hong Kong is now China, too.
00 ~ 13 USA and CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ DENMARK
64 ~ FINLAND
76 ~ SWITZERLAND and LIECHTENSTEIN
93 ~ AUSTRALIA
628 ~ SAUDI ARABIA
629 ~ UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
740-745 ~ CENTRAL AMERICA
All 480 Codes are Made in THE PHILIPPINES.

WATCH WHAT YOU BUY.  ESPECIALLY ‘HIGHLINER’ FISH PRODUCTS; all come from China, even though the box says ‘product of Canada’, it is from China and ‘processed’ in Canada, that is, only the coating is added and packaged in Canada.  The fish are raised in pens using chemicals that are banned in Canada as cancer-causing but legal in China.  This was exposed on CBC TV’s ‘Marketplace’.

Avoid buying all processed food packaged in China.  Anything goes!  We just don’t know what else is in those packages.  Unlike countries like the United States and Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Great Britian – China does not have laws regulating food processing.

When I lived in China it was not uncommon for people to die (I am not kidding) from food poisoning by eating vegetables grown in Shenzhen where I lived. The veges were  sold in Hong Kong – people died and it was reported, not sure it would be today.

Your Health is at Stake!

REMEMBER THE AUSTRALIAN BARCODE PREFIX????

IT IS     93