In This Edition

Quote of the Week

“The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.” ~ Dag Hammarskjold

Personal Note from Cheryl

I had the privilege of attending a concert and listening to Mavis Staples, the legendary gospel, rhythm and blues singer this week. I had goose bumps all night. Her singing comes right from the heart and seems so effortless. What a night! At one point just before they began to sing the infamous “I’ll Take You There” she pointed at me and said, “You probably weren’t even born yet in 1971.” Thanks Mavis! (I happened to have a great seat in the 2nd row middle.)

Personal Toxicity testing is now available for seeing tangible results from an ion cleanse – see wellness tip section below for more details.

There are plenty of exciting workshops with me this February… more details for each one are on the website or send me an email. There will be more added, so keep your eyes peeled.

We would like to extend a big “WELCOME” to those of you who joined us in the last week! Enjoy all of the tips, articles and resources coming to you each week! And don’t forget – you can access all the past issues of the ezine at http://sacred-journeys.ca/ezine-archives/.

P.S.  Welcome to all the new readers that have joined our community!  You’re going to love the resources you’ll find here!  Enjoy!

Cheryl Recommends

Energy Medicine Workshop

My Energy Medicine workshop is this evening @ 6:30 – the 26th!! It will change your life – I promise. Come on in and learn some fabulous techniques for balancing your body’s energies and experience optimal health, joy and vitality!

Reiki First Degree Class

There is one spot open for the 2-day First Degree class this weekend!

Ion Cleanse

Remember my ion cleanse for detoxification service? Well – it is definitely that time of year to come in and get rid of all of the sugars, fats, and alcohol consumed over the holidays. Yep, it’s still there in your body. It speeds up the metabolism, making it a fabulous way to begin any weight management program. It is also a great way to make a renewed commitment to your wellness in the new year. You will feel lighter, have a clearer mind, less aches and pains and tons of energy!

For the rest of this month you have the opportunity to buy 3 cleanses and receive the 4th absolutely F*R*E*E. Ideally having a series of cleanses is best to detoxify all the layers of toxins accumulated over a lifetime. (Purchase before the end of January and use the 4 cleanses right away or over several months – it is your choice)

Feature Article

What Do Setbacks Teach Us?

I was struggling with an ezine article idea this week and realized that I have an excellent topic to discuss. I am a living example of it right now. I have an injury that is keeping me from running and I had my world rocked to the core at around the same time. I decided I would share some of my ideas with respect to loss, injury, disease and setbacks.  But I have a few questions to pose first. When these incidents occur in our lives how do we handle them?  With anger, with grace, with introspection? Do we search for the lessons and the deeper meaning? Do we shrink away and hide? Do we throw up our hands in despair? Or do we decide to use it as an experience to learn, to deepen our personal growth, and to perhaps look at our lives differently?

The idea for this ezine came to me while having lunch with a dear friend. She is a hero to me. She has had several very tough years since her partner was diagnosed with cancer. We have all witnessed what a strong loving woman she has been for her family. Through all of this she has become a powerful advocate for patient care within the hospital setting; trying to make big changes to create a gentler, healing environment for the people recuperating or undergoing treatment. And also being incredibly aware of how the families are experiencing this situation with their loved ones as well. She gave me the example of entering the ICU and seeing huge signs with block letters that said: DO NOT ENTER. She felt this was an assault on the senses of the people coming in to see their loved ones. She called her assistant immediately and said: add this to the next meeting agenda as #1. To help make positive changes she has also spent her time seeking out ways to cope, to eat better and holistic/integrative approaches to help everyone stay well during this stressful time. She volunteers tirelessly, counsels, takes care of a big family, and sits on numerous committees and the list goes on. She did not hide away or shrink from the challenge. She met it head on with strength and determination. The world is richer for her being here… the experiences that could have devastated her made her that much more determined to learn and grow. She inspires me. I walked away from our time together pondering all of these things.

So we see in her case how her challenge has created the space for her to help others in ways that perhaps no one else could see or had the guts to do something about. But she had to BE in it to learn that and move in this direction. That is just one of the gifts from all of this. When we take this approach in our lives, we may begin to see the how’s and the why’s of it occurring for us.

We can look at challenges differently when we fall, get injured, get sick, etc. It is ALWAYS an opportunity to look beneath the surface. However, it might take some time to do so. We might need to lick our wounds for awhile and go through the appropriate stages of grief etc. But eventually we have to pull up our socks and move forward. We make the decision to live fully again. How many people do you know that have been sick or injured and a friend gave them a book that changed their life? Or maybe during their recovery they had an epiphany. The disease might have been the wake-up call they needed to change the way they were living their life.  As a result, they made the decision to be healthy, to changes jobs, to retire, to leave a relationship. I have always felt that if we continue along without doing “our work” during these times of wake-up calls the universe “ups that ante” – in other words… be prepared for another wake-up call.

Here is one way to look at the setbacks that occur. It is with a book I adore: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. It is one I picked up in my 20’s and has been instrumental in my spiritual growth and wellness since then. Contained within her book is a list of physical problems that has a 3 part chart. It works like this: you look up the ailment, disease or physical symptom. The next column contains what the probable cause is and in the final column a new thought pattern one can incorporate into their life to help heal it. I opened the book for an example: Adrenals. The probable cause is listed as: Defeatism. No longer caring for the self. Anxiety. The new thought pattern is: I love and approve of myself. It is safe for me to care for myself.

When something shows up in my body or that of one of my clients, I always refer to this list and am continually amazed at how accurate it is. I use this list for my own self-care and awareness. When we are aware then we can make positive changes in our lives. If we move along without stopping to examine our lives when we have a setback we lose the opportunity for tremendous growth.

Remember from some of my past ezines: when a physical symptom shows up in the body it is a red flag. Our body in its wisdom is waving for you; pay attention. Symptoms disease injury and setback always have an underlying emotion or thought pattern that has now shown up as a physical symptom in your body.

Why do we have setbacks in our lives? I feel that it occurs when something in our life is out of balance, when things are awry, when we need to slow down, make changes or pay attention. I see so many people avoiding taking care of themselves or avoiding issues or grief or pain and so they keep busy all the time. Avoiding setbacks by running around, watching TV, listening to the radio, on the computer, texting, reading, cooking, working out, never being alone. We fill the hole inside with busyness and the acquisition of more and more material goods. They are all excellent ways to avoid being still, because being still feels scary. When we stop and get quiet or are alone, feelings can come up. Whatever we have pushed away, or stuffed down or avoided shows up. And that is a good thing by the way! Think of a pressure cooker. We need to take the lid off and allow the steam to escape. It takes a lot of energy to hold things in. Although a meditation practice is an excellent tool to allow the lid to come off to release the pressure, you can simply allow yourself some quiet time to reflect. With the busyness we are often in the fight or flight response which is running on adrenalin. This stresses out the central nervous system which in turn creates anxiety, affects our immune system and can create a host of other problems. We are taught to chin, up, suck it up, that we cannot cry and to avoid our feelings. And that is exactly why I feel we have our setbacks… to get us out of that toxic loop and help us get back on track.

And so with my current setbacks I am spending some much needed time with friends, writing a shorter article this week and doing some things for my own self care. I am slowing down and letting go of a few responsibilities that were creating a schedule that was simply too much. I am doing more Yoga! I think of the image of a wrinkled shirt…Yoga irons out all of my wrinkles, releases pent up emotion, brings me into my body and I always feel richer for the experience.

Take some time for yourself and look at your list of ailments, symptoms and setbacks. Are there changes you have been avoiding? Are you taking good care of yourself in the way you deserve? Do you keep promising yourself that you will do certain things? Take the time to honour and treasure yourself and your personal growth. Perhaps you can allow your setbacks be a guide to a greater awareness and to help create deeper meaning in your life.

My own current setbacks have created this ezine for you this week. My intent is that it inspires you to take a closer look at your own life. Look at the glorious opportunities that are there for you. Try changing the way you look at ailments and see the wisdom behind each one.

And know that I am here for you along the way to help you discover the wondrous you that IS there! I send each of you much love today.

Where is Cheryl

Upcoming workshops & events:

January

January 26  – Energy Medicine Workshop (6:30 – 9:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 28/29 – Reiki: First Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30)  Enroll & Pay Now

February

February 4 – Reiki & Natural Healing for Animals Workshop (9:00 – 4:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February 18 – The Chakras (9:30 – 4:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February 19 – Healing with Crystals (9:30 – 4:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February 25/26 – Reiki: Second Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

March

March 3/4 – Reiki: Third Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

March 24/25 – Reiki: First Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

And stay tuned for upcoming teleclasses and spring retreats with me!!

Your Wellness Tip

Toxicity Self Testing Kit

For those in my area please be sure to stop in at Green Door vitamins and see David Best for the Alcabase I mentioned last week and any other high quality supplements you may need.

A Toxicity Self Testing Kit is now available from the creators of the ion cleanse machine that I wrote an article about last week. It helps to provide tangible information so you can see exactly how toxic you are and how big of a change there is after even one ion cleanse. It is nice to have proof that this process actually works. Here is the info below:

John Jacobs
Healthier Living 4 You
1-866-745-5743
www.healthierliving4you.com

About Cheryl

In This Edition

Quote of the Week

“Spiritual progress is like detoxification. Things have to come up in order to be released. Once we have asked to be healed, then our unhealed places are forced to the surface.”  ~ Marianne Williamson

Personal Note from Cheryl

It looks like winter is finally here in Canada, and we got it all in 2 days. Are you out enjoying it? Try skiing, long wintry walks in the park, snowshoeing, skiing, skating… there are so many ways to enjoy the white stuff.

There are plenty of exciting workshops with me in January & February… more details for each one are on the website or send me an email. There will be more added, so keep your eyes peeled.

We would like to extend a big “WELCOME” to those of you who joined us in the last week! Enjoy all of the tips, articles and resources coming to you each week! And don’t forget – you can access all the past issues of the ezine at http://sacred-journeys.ca/ezine-archives/.

P.S.  Welcome to all the new readers that have joined our community!  You’re going to love the resources you’ll find here!  Enjoy!

Cheryl Recommends

Detox Your Body

Remember my ion cleanse for detoxification service? Well – it is definitely that time of year to come in and get rid of all of the sugars, fats, and alcohol consumed over the holidays. It speeds up the metabolism, making it a fabulous way to begin any weight management program. It is also a great way to make a renewed commitment to your wellness in the New Year. You will feel lighter, have a clearer mind, less aches and pains and tons of energy! This ezine explains the process more clearly with pictures, a detailed article and a few testimonials from those who have experienced amazing results.

For the rest of this month you have the opportunity to buy 3 cleanses and receive the 4th absolutely F*R*E*E. Ideally having a series of cleanses is best to detoxify all the layers of toxins accumulated over a lifetime. (purchase before the end of January and use the 4 cleanses right away or over several months – it is your choice)

Feature Article

Why We Need to Regularly Cleanse Our Bodies of Toxins

Several years ago I experienced a great deal of stress as I went through my divorce. At the same time I found a lump in one breast. In my search for all things holistic and natural, I came upon information about toxins and how the biggest cause of toxins is stress. I also learned how the breasts are literally the dumping ground for toxins in the body. In this search I found out about the ion cleanse for detoxification process that I offer as a service in my wellness practice. I loved the idea of not having to take an oral type of cleanse – I felt nervous about all of the herbal pills in the packages. I had read stories about the herbs being mouldy, covered in pesticide and out-dated. I had also heard that a lot of the boxed cleanses detox your body too harshly and quickly. I needed this thing called an ion cleanse! And I must tell you – it worked wonderfully. I still do one weekly and have since 2006.
Here is some information about the ion cleanse process and how it works to detoxify your body; giving you the opportunity to jump out of bed feeling a burst of energy!

What is it all about?

Our world is filled with stress, stresses that come from everyday life. Our bodies were not designed for the high levels of stress we experience on an ongoing basis. We rush around all day, from place to place or task to task, we rush when we eat – we never slow down enough for our body to catch up. Modern conveniences were supposed to give us more time –  but all I see around me are people on cell phones, texting, emailing and expected to do everything instantly – long gone are the days of the phrase: “it’s in the mail.”

Our bodies are not designed for plastic foods, genetically modified foods, chemicals, pesticides in fruit, vegetables and grains, growth hormone in meats, medications etc. in our drinking water and pollutants in the air.
Think of a detox in the same way as you would a spring or fall cleaning for your home – the same way you take your car in or change your furnace filters. Have you seen what your furnace filter looks like?  The liver; which acts as the filter for the body (the largest organ in the body) gets clogged up with toxins in the same way.  Aging well includes cleaning our body out regularly. Our car would not run with dirty gasoline and our home would be full of airborne pollutants without the filter in the furnace.

Here are Five benefits to cleansing:

1. Create a Slimmer you – One of the main underlying causes of weight gain affecting men and women is toxic build-up. Detoxing your body is gentle and safe to set your body up for optimal weight loss!
2. Absorption of nutrients – Your bloodstream is nourished through the intestinal system, if it is dirty, so are all of your organs, cells and tissues. When you cleanse, you eliminate waste and toxins. This allows better absorption of minerals, supplements and nutrients from healthy foods.
3. Promotes healthy digestion – The body stores toxins as it is not designed to deal with them. Cleansing helps your body get rid of waste and toxins. This includes the things we eat like processed food, sugar, flour and preservatives which cannot be broken down.
4. Immune System – Three quarters of your immune system is in your intestinal tract. If your immune system is overloaded with toxins, you can pick up diseases more quickly. Cleansing helps to eliminate toxins from the bloodstream and makes you feel and look better. You will experience more energy.
5. Overall Health – By cleaning the body from the inside out…. we can expect an improvement in skin, fatigue, headaches, allergies and bad breath.

Session Information

We are now exposed to the greatest toxic load in the planet’s history. Our bodies are constantly being bombarded with chemicals, toxins, heavy metals and pollutants coming from the air we breathe, the food we ingest and the water we drink.

Much of the food we consume is genetically modified and exposed to pesticides and insecticides. The air we breathe is filled with many air-borne pollutants. The water we drink is laden with solvents, heavy metals, dissolved plastics, hormones, petroleum products etc.

As a result of this exposure, physical symptoms can manifest in the form of:
•    allergies
•    skin problems including acne, rashes, dark circles under the eyes
•    digestive problems such as constipation & diarrhea
•    headaches, migraines
•    respiratory conditions
•    chronic colds, flu’s

and degenerative diseases such as:
•    cancer
•    diabetes
•    arthritis
•    heart disease
•    depression
•    obesity
•    psoriasis
•    gout
•    joint pain
•    chronic fatigue / fibromyalgia

The Ion Cleanse system can help you achieve increased wellness and avoid disease. It helps to relieve your entire body from the daily toxic stress it is constantly being exposed to. It may be possible to improve comfort and well-being despite a lifetime of toxic build-up in the body. It provides a comfortable and relaxing way to rid the body of toxins and rejuvenate aging organs and glands. Ongoing and periodic detoxification combined with a healthy lifestyle are key to good health. Isn’t that what we all strive for?

What is an Ion Cleanse?
It is a process that draws waste from the body through a unit (array) placed in water with a positive and negative electric current. The array goes into the water with the hands, feet or body, and the power supply delivers a small amount of direct current into the array which causes the metals within it, in combination with water and salt, to generate positively and negatively charged ions. Ions are charged atoms that have gained or lost an electron, which causes them to set up a magnetic field capable of attracting and neutralizing oppositely charged particles and pulling them out of the body through a process called osmosis. Osmosis is a scientific term used to describe the movement of particles through a membrane from a lower concentration to a higher concentration. The higher concentration in this case refers to the ion field set up by the Ion Cleanse machine in the water.

Ions travel through the body quickly, attaching themselves to many different toxic substances. It may be possible to neutralize pain and other symptoms caused by a lifetime of toxic build-up in the body. The long-term effectiveness of the Ion Cleanse detoxification process depends on the other life-enhancing changes that the patient is willing to make.

What are the benefits of negative ions?
Removes bacteria, vitalizes our cells, increases the oxygen holding capacity of blood, improves metabolism, improves alertness, removes fatigue, boosts resistance to disease, has a substantial healing effect on headaches, insomnia, constipation, allergy, asthma and more.

How does it work??
Because of poor diet and high stress, we tend to accumulate and store excessive quantities of waste products. During a 30-minute session, the ions enter your body and begin to neutralize these tissue acid wastes. The process is called reverse osmosis.

It is similar to walking in the sand along the beach, only more powerful because your feet are in direct contact with the ions being made in the water. Recall the way your body felt the last time you stood next to a waterfall or walked along a beach with the waves breaking at your feet. You breathed more deeply into your lungs and abdomen; your brain cleared and the pain in your joints subsided. You felt relaxed and at peace with the world. These invigorating reactions were caused by the ionization of trillions of water molecules as they crashed to earth.

What can I expect from an Ion Cleanse session?
Healthy individuals can expect to feel lighter and experience a greater feeling of well-being from each Ion Cleanse detox session. Some people with pain, edema, swollen and deteriorating joints have reported symptomatic relief from Ion Cleanse detox sessions.

Ion Cleanse detoxification accelerates change in the body. Aging and disease states are characterized by a diminishing anabolic capacity and an increasing catabolic capacity. Toxic build-up of cellular waste and debris is the inevitable outcome of these trends. Reversing them through whole body detoxification requires nutritional support, particularly digestive enzymes, trace minerals and fatty acids, which are involved in the movement and transport of raw materials in the body.

Many colours and objects appear in the water during Ion Cleanse sessions. There is a reaction between the toxins and the particles in the water, the salt added to the water, the metals in the array, and the acidity or alkalinity of the person being bathed.

I encourage you to come and try at least one with me. Here are a few testimonials:

“Just wanted to let you know I feel 10 kinds of fabulous this morning. I feel REALLY clear headed. Still do. Pretty fab. I think we’re going to have to do this cleanse bit again!”
T.F. Kingston, Ontario

“The ION cleanse was so great. I had a wonderful little nap and woke up so refreshed. Later that evening, I realized that although I still had almost all the joint pain, I no longer had the stiffness and I could easily walk without my cane !!!! My hand that was so swollen and so painful at a 10+ (pain) was no longer swollen and the pain is a 1-2 and I can once again close my hand into a fist. YES !!! I had a women’s group that I attended today (without my cane) and I felt wonderful. One of my friends (Julie Shea) will be calling you to set up a session. Thank you so much !!!!! I will spread the word”
Nancy Fudge

And if you would like more information on ion cleanse and would like to purchase your own unit, this is my contact:

John Jacobs
Healthier Living 4 You
1-866-745-5743
www.healthierliving4you.com

Where is Cheryl

Upcoming workshops & events:

January

January 21 – Integrated Energy Therapy: Basic Level (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

January 22 – Integrated Energy Therapy: Intermediate Level (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

January 26  – Energy Medicine Workshop (6:30 – 9:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 28/29 – Reiki: First Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30)  Enroll & Pay Now

February

February 4 – Reiki & Natural Healing for Animals Workshop (9:00 – 4:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February 18 – The Chakras (9:30 – 4:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February 19 – Healing with Crystals (9:30 – 4:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February 25/26 – Reiki: Second Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

March

March 3/4 – Reiki: Third Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

REGISTER FOR CLASSES NOW as space is limited. You can pay via Paypal using the Enroll & Pay Now links above or email Cheryl at cdh@kingston.net to register today.

*Please note that for more detailed information you can visit the Services & Workshops tab on the website at: www.sacred-journeys.ca

And stay tuned for upcoming teleclasses and spring retreats with me!!

Your Wellness Tip

Keeping Your Body Level

For optimum wellness it is critical to keep your body alkaline; meaning at the correct pH level. Ion cleanse creates this alkaline environment in the body.

To keep your body alkaline on a daily basis try taking a product called Alcabase. Alcabase (made by a Canadian company called Homeocan) is mineral salts used to balance the body’s pH. It has been found that disease cannot grow in an alkaline environment. Most of the time our body is acidic, which can be caused by stress, medication, etc. Ideally our pH is 7 or higher. Acidic means your body is less than 7. When you purchase Alcabase you often get a roll of pH papers/test strips to test your pH daily. Ideally it is best to take 1 teaspoon once or twice a day before meals. I suggest mixing it with water, juice, greens drink or smoothie.

Here’s a bit of information from their site:
Alcabase is composed of basic natural (alkali) mineral salts that cleanse the body and purge its toxins. Its mode of action is simple: it releases substances (citrates) that act like sponges by attracting and absorbing toxic products.
Indications of excess acids in the body:

• Early morning fatigue, aches and pains and migraines.
• Difficulty concentrating and memorizing.
• Greasy, oily skin upon awakening, profuse sweating for little effort.
• Early morning bad breath and coated tongue.
• Difficult digestion. Waking up several times during the night.
• Body aches, muscular pains, cramps.

The signs above can be the result of a surcharge of waste products which are inadequately eliminated by the body. Some foods help the body’s tissues evacuate waste products and cleanse itself. These include lemons, cooked vegetables, fresh fruits, protein from the sea, etc. Unfortunately, our daily food consumption does not supply the necessary quality or quantity needed.

About Cheryl

In This Edition

Quote of the Week

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”  ~ Saint Francis of Assisi on time management in 1200AD

Personal Note from Cheryl

For those of us in Canada…the weather we are having this year makes it feels like spring! Rick Mercer (hilarious CBC TV comedian) had kids doing mud angels on his show this week, because there is no snow.

I am leading the 10k running clinic at the Running Room this January for 10 weeks beginning on Tuesday, Jan 17. It is a gradual build clinic… so if you are running a solid 5k you are good to go, and if you are doing 3-4 km with little effort you would also be fine. The gradual build 10k details are on The Running Room site. Let’s keep you fit and active over the winter months; that way you don’t have to start from square one again in the spring. www.runningroom.com

There are plenty of exciting workshops with me in January… more details for each one are on the website or send me an email. There will be more added, so keep your eyes peeled.

We would like to extend a big “WELCOME” to those of you who joined us in the last week! Enjoy all of the tips, articles and resources coming to you each week! And don’t forget – you can access all the past issues of the ezine at http://sacred-journeys.ca/ezine-archives/.

P.S.  Welcome to all the new readers that have joined our community!  You’re going to love the resources you’ll find here!  Enjoy!

Cheryl Recommends

An Upcoming Workshop – Energy Medicine!

Do you want to feel healthy, vibrant and more energized? This workshop has 2 dates this month: Thursday, January 12 (tonight) or Thursday, January 26th. Let’s begin the New Year with the best possible tools for your happiness and health!

Energy Medicine Workshop

Our lives are hectic these days, leaving us with little time for proper self-care. With our health care system also in decline, we need to learn to take charge of our own health. This workshop is about awakening the healer within each of us. The course will teach you about the energy that is within and around you, and how it flows in your body. This energy can become stagnant or blocked, adversely affecting your health. Each of us, within our own body, has the innate ability to heal ourselves and experience optimum health.

You will be shown techniques for an easy to learn 5-minute routine. This routine can be easily incorporated into your daily schedule, no matter how hectic it may be. It can be done anywhere: while traveling, in the shower, or at your desk.

These exercises help to:

• boost your energy

• calm your mind

• provide mental clarity

• increase your endurance and stamina

• strengthen your immune system

• balance your energies

• sharpen your memory

You will learn how to relieve anxiety and stress, nervousness and fear. You will also learn techniques for insomnia, how to improve your eyesight, alleviate pain naturally, lower a fever, and fight off an oncoming cold.

All of the exercises taught are designed to help balance your entire system for improved health and well-being.
Please dress in comfortable clothing and bring a pen and paper.

Date: Thursday, January 12 or Thursday, Jan 26th
Time: 6:30 – 9:00pm
Cost: $55.00 + hst

Feature Article

Get Organized for a Fresh Start

One of the top five resolutions that people make in the New Year is to get organized. This time of year feels like a fresh start; a new beginning. We begin to plan projects, business trips, vacations etc. for the coming year. We buy a new day timer, open new files and it all begins anew. Or does it? Or, are you starting the year with old piles and undones from last year. As I write this I am looking at a desk and an office that needs some purging. There are little reminder post-it notes, a pile of paper, some Christmas cards, and books that need to be placed back on the shelves. The rest of my home is tidy and organized, but I find it challenging to keep my work space clean and clear. It is an organized space most of the time, however, we need to keep in mind that creative spaces and places where projects are completed might go from tidy to messy and back again. That is why having some strategies for keeping some semblance of order are a good idea. When I am working on a project it might look messy, but I know where every single thing is at all times. Organized chaos!

The best way to begin the process of getting organized is to declutter. When we move away all of the disarray, debris and obstacles we can see more clearly. There is an inner calm that comes from feeling organized and free of disorder and confusion. Our outer environment can be a reflection of our inner environment. When we are feeling chaotic, messy and unclear inside, it is reflected outwardly. Clearing our home and office can help clear out the emotional and mental baggage. Clutter is stagnant energy. Energy needs to move and flow.

When you look around your home and office do you feel relaxed and comfortable? Is it clean, organized and free of piles of stuff? Or do you feel stressed or claustrophobic while in the space? I love the feel of retail stores that are clean and uncluttered; where I can see all of the merchandise clearly. Think of how it feels when you walk into a store or someone’s home that is full of clutter. It feels difficult to relax.

Is this one of those projects that you keep postponing? This is a great time to clear your home, your office, and your life of clutter. Clutter can present itself in many different forms; an unkept home, piles of laundry, piles of paper, a desk of files and even relationships. Sometimes like my too small office, we outgrow the people we have in our lives too.

Here are some easy ways to begin the process. You will love how you will feel more inclined to invite guests over when your home is easy on the eyes.

If you know it is clutter, get rid of that first. Clutter can be invisible; we are so used to it being there, that we bypass it every day. Try this: take everything off of your kitchen counters and look at the clear clean space. Can you create a file for the paper clutter? Decide which appliances are utilized most frequently. Then begin the process of placing things back on the counter or placing them in cupboards. If you use them once in awhile, then make sure you have easy access to the items. Your living room: take everything out if you can, and rearrange the room using only those items that fit and that you truly love. Get rid of the items that make you feel uncomfortable or the gifts that you never liked in the first place.

Try not to look at the whole picture or you will feel overwhelmed. To reduce clutter you need to approach it in small amounts; begin small. For example, take a drawer – pull out all the contents and lay it out in front of you. The best way to decide is this: if in doubt, throw it out. I make three piles: have to keep, maybe and donate. When that process is complete, I go through the have to keep and maybe piles one more time until I am down to two piles: one I keep and the other goes in a box or bag for donation. To reorganize, little baskets or trays are nice for small items. For clothing, refold and place neatly back in the drawer and look at all that extra space – you will actually find things when you look for them now!

Closets: I take it all out section by section, throw it on my bed and go through each piece. Try it all on to see what fits, what you like, what is in style, and what is out of style.  If you don’t feel great in something, why keep it?  Make the same 3 piles again. I put the No’s away in a bag immediately; out of sight, out of mind. If you have not worn something in about 2 years, get rid of it. And how often do you paint? You don’t really need that many items for painting do you? If I buy two new sweaters, I donate two, and the same goes for anything I buy.

Shoes: Dig them all out, dust them off and purge in the same way. Take in the ones that need polishing, new lifts or repairs.

Good hangers are key: have all the same type of hangers. It makes it look neat and tidy, and keeps things properly hung up. Wire hangers be gone!

For offices and kitchens: Invest in baskets, trays and clear stackable storage containers.  Label the ones you place on shelves for easy identification and retrieval.

Kitchen cupboards: Go through all of them and check the best before dates on everything. And while you are there, take the opportunity to purge items that are unhealthy for you.

The living room: Get a small basket for all of the remotes, one for magazines, etc., so you have a home for each item that tends to get lost or untidy. Consider adding different types of lighting or more area lamps for those areas. I love dimmer switches so that I can control the amount of light according to the time of day and the mood I wish to create.

Items that you use frequently: Keep them easily available so you can access them when you need to, and most importantly, so that they are easy to place back in their proper location.

Lighting: A well lit area does not tend to get cluttered.

One of the best ways to avoid clutter is to do a quick clean sweep once a day and move, arrange or put things away. This will eliminate the buildup of the daily accumulation of little piles everywhere. This will keep things from getting out of control in your home or office.

If you are having a hard time moving forward in your life, it just might be the clutter that is literally holding you back. Again, our outer clutter is often a reflection of the inner chaos… no wonder you may feel stuck, have trouble making decisions, or taking action toward your goals. De-cluttering your environment takes away a great deal of stress; it creates new space for new opportunities.

As you know I support, coach, inspire and motivate others to live their best life. I am here for you. Let’s scratch this one off of the to do list!

Where is Cheryl

Upcoming workshops & events:

January

January 12  – Energy Medicine Workshop (6:30 – 9:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 14 – Reiki & Natural Healing for Animals (9:30 – 4:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 17 – 10k Running Clinic @ The Running Room (6:30pm – 10 weeks)

January 21 – Integrated Energy Therapy: Basic Level (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

January 22 – Integrated Energy Therapy: Intermediate Level (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

January 26  – Energy Medicine Workshop (6:30 – 9:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 28/29 – Reiki: First Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30)  Enroll & Pay Now

February

February 25/26 – Reiki: Second Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

March

March 3/4 – Reiki: Third Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

REGISTER FOR CLASSES NOW as space is limited. You can pay via Paypal using the Enroll & Pay Now links above or email Cheryl at cdh@kingston.net to register today.

*Please note that for more detailed information you can visit the Services & Workshops tab on the website at: www.sacred-journeys.ca

And stay tuned for upcoming teleclasses and spring retreats with me!!

Your Wellness Tip

Eating

If you are making changes in your eating try this: begin with focusing on changing one meal a day for now. Make it easy for yourself. The 2 most important meals of the day are breakfast and your post workout meal. I suggest beginning with breakfast. This is the time of day when you fuel the fire, in other words, you stoke your digestive fire which gets your metabolism moving for the entire day. If you do not eat a good breakfast it will affect you negatively for the rest of the day. Your body will literally go into starvation mode when you don’t eat regularly, especially in the a.m. It will hang on to every calorie and store it, since your body doesn’t know when the next meal might be. Not eating or not eating enough are the worst things you can do for your weight and wellness.

The best way to gain weight is to go on a diet. Yep, the best way to maintain a healthy weight is to eat regularly balanced meals at regular times throughout each day, watch your portion size, and the time and type of food you are eating. If you eat regularly, your body uses it for fuel. Would you get in your car in the morning with no gas and expect it to take you to work and home again?

I am a master at this stuff… I am here to assist you in making health adjustments to your life and wellness! Phone, email, Skype, or face to face… there are plenty of options for us to get you moving in the right direction!

About Cheryl

In This Edition

Quote of the Week

“Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment.”  ~ Sydney Smith

Personal Note from Cheryl

Happy New Year everyone!

I simply have to share this part from the movie, “When Harry Met Sally”, Harry Burns says this: “And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

My sister and I in downtown Kingston on Christmas Eve…it was a balmy -18C!

This week is the week that begins the rest of your life – how would you like to spend your life? This week? This year? Are you happy with where you are? What areas do you seek to fulfill in your life? What or whom will you make a commitment to? Are there any areas where you feel you have settled for 2nd best? How can you create what your soul so deeply desires? In the article below I will share one way to do so. And of course, helping people get unstuck and love their life is what I do best. Let me assist you in creating the life of your dreams.

There are plenty of exciting workshops with me in January… more details for each one are on the website. There will be more added, so keep your eyes peeled.

Deborah and I – Christmas am after our 5km run with our Santa hats on – then off to eat all day!

I am leading the 10k running clinic at the Running Room this January for 10 weeks beginning on Tuesday Jan 17. It is a gradual build clinic… so if you are running a solid 5k you are good to go, and if you are doing 3-4 km with little effort you would also be fine. The gradual build 10k details are on The Running Room site. Let’s keep you fit and active over the winter months; that way you don’t have to start from square one again in the spring. www.runningroom.com

We would like to extend a big “WELCOME” to those of you who joined us in the last week! Enjoy all of the tips, articles and resources coming to you each week! And don’t forget – you can access all the past issues of the ezine at http://sacred-journeys.ca/ezine-archives/.

P.S.  Welcome to all the new readers that have joined our community!  You’re going to love the resources you’ll find here!  Enjoy!

Cheryl Recommends

Pamper Yourself

See the Calendar below for an exciting list of workshops for January… sign up and learn new information for your wellness and have the opportunity to meet some like-minded people. I always have plenty of tea, snacks and cozy blankets… think of it as a little retreat for yourself!

Remember my ion cleanse for detoxification service? Well – it is definitely the time to come in and get rid of all of the sugars, fats, and alcohol consumed over the holidays. It speeds up the metabolism, making it a fabulous way to begin any weight management program. It is a great way to make a renewed commitment to your wellness in the new year. You will feel lighter, have a clearer mind, less aches and pains and tons of energy!

Feature Article

Begin Your Year With Clear Vision

In the past few days I have been doing a mental review of this past year and wondering if I had in fact accomplished anything. Had I fulfilled some or all of my goals and dreams? Did I truly feel happy with my year?

As I reflected it felt as though I had not. Then I decided to flip back
to the beginning of my 2011 daytimer and do a scan. I was happily surprised with my findings and saddened by others. My list of
accomplishments was very high, but the most important one was not completed. I had promised myself I would have a published book by the
end of the year. I did not achieve it. I had made a deal with myself to set time aside every day to write. I would follow Al
Secunda’s 15-second principle of committing to that 15 seconds each day to work on my book. He says in his book of the same name,
that if you can commit to that time period for anything you are trying to achieve you will feel successful. 15 seconds is a very
achievable goal. And we know that 15 seconds flies by, so you can spend more time if you like.

Take some time and reflect for yourself… get out your old calendars and lists. How do you feel about what you achieved last year? Are you moving in the right direction? Have you spent time where you want to or where you are expected to? Are you following your own dreams of those of others
around you?

Now let me ask you this – how often do you sit and think about what you really want in life? What you REALLY want. Do you dream of what you would do if you won the lottery? You might even make a
mental list of who you would give money to, what kind of house and car you would buy, of quitting your job, and all of the places you
would like to travel to. Or you may be waiting to hire a personal trainer before you lose weight or get in shape, or postponing eating
better to when you can afford it.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t get upset with me when I say the following. What
if I told you that you can manifest it all for yourself without winning the lottery?  Well, I believe you can. One of the ways I am
going to discuss in more detail below is the idea of creating what is called a vision board.

Creating a vision board that really works.

You can manifest faster and more easily by creating a vision board
for yourself. Vision boards are a way to remind ourselves of our goals on a daily basis. The more we see it and stay focused, the more likely the items are to manifest and show up (and it speeds up the process!).

You see, we can dream and talk about things for years and years. Why not take an active role in creating the life you dream of, that you desire and that you deserve to have? A vision board does that – it creates a tangible object for you to collect and display all in one place. And you can always add as you go along. I have a huge one in my office that I add to all the time. I have pictures of someone doing Yoga, a runner, a couple in a canoe, a couple cycling together, food, quotes, words and phrases I love, gorgeous vistas and much more.

Here is how you make a vision board for yourself:

First, brainstorm a list of all of the things you would like to see in your life – let it free flow without judgment or limitation: how you would like to look and feel, the activities you would like to consistently partake in your leisure time, vacation spots, your home, car, books, a romantic partner, poems, quotes and phrases that inspire you.

Write down anything and everything that comes to mind. Then put on some great music, go and collect all of your magazines and
catalogues, and begin to cut out everything related to that list. And don’t stop there… cut out everything you love, that
catches your eye; anything that intrigues you. It might be a sunset, a gorgeous colour, or a big fresh salad. The images don’t have to make sense; but you do want ones that make you happy and satisfy something deep inside of you. You will find ideas that you never thought
of as you search through your magazines or browse on the web. Don’t limit yourself, this is the time to go outside of your comfort zone and dream BIG BIG BIG. The internet is a great place to find and print out images and quotes you might like to incorporate into the vision board.

Now that you have your huge pile of images, let’s build it. You will need a glue stick and a large piece of cardboard poster stock (2’x3’ for sure.) Arrange all of the images on the table beside the poster paper before you start gluing them on. Have fun and be creative as you mindfully place each item on your board. Now hang your vision board in a place where you can easily see it every day.

Here are a few visualization techniques for you to experiment with:

• Take a few minutes each day and visualize everything you have on the vision board, or stand in front of it and take note of each aspect you have placed upon it. Allow yourself to see, feel, taste, touch and smell it in as much detail as you possibly can.

• Another visualization technique for you to try in the morning before you get out of bed: take a few moments to visualize clearly everything you want in your life; begin your day that way, with that frame of mind. This part is key to manifesting: visualize the goal as if it has already been achieved… notice how it feels to have it now. Take a moment and think of one thing you would like right now. Close your eyes and see it before you… that life you want, a new car… feel the feelings of being in that place… allow yourself to see it, feel it, taste it. The more sensations you can bring alive while you think and dream, the more powerful your manifestation process will be.

One of the other things I did for myself last year was make up a binder filled with all of my favourite articles, quotes and items that motivate… that set me on fire! That keeps me on track. It is beside my bed and I review it almost every night.

Try it! Make that commitment to yourself that only you can make. In one year from now you can look back proudly and say: I did it!

Where is Cheryl

Upcoming workshops & events:

January

January 12  – Energy Medicine Workshop (6:30 – 9:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 14 – Reiki & Natural Healing for Animals (9:30 – 4:00) Enroll & Pay Now

January 17 – 10k Running Clinic @ The Running Room (6:30pm X 10 weeks)

January 21/22 – Reiki: First Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30)  Enroll & Pay Now

January 28 – Integrated Energy Therapy: Basic Level (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

January 29 – Integrated Energy Therapy: Intermediate Level (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

February

February 25/26 – Reiki: Second Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

March

March 3/4 – Reiki: Third Degree Class (9:30 – 5:30) Enroll & Pay Now

…more workshops to be added

REGISTER FOR CLASSES NOW as space is limited. You can pay via Paypal using the Enroll & Pay Now links above or email Cheryl at cdh@kingston.net to register today.

*Please note that for more detailed information you can visit the Services & Workshops tab on the website at: www.sacred-journeys.ca

And stay tuned for upcoming teleclasses and spring retreats with me!!

Your Wellness Tip

Natural Pain Remedy

Try this natural remedy for aches, pains and inflammation. I regularly use Traumeel; an incredible homeopathic cream. (They have also just come out with a gel which tends to absorb more quickly.) You can take an Advil that goes through your entire body and may have side effects, or use this natural remedy to target the specific area that is in distress.

This is what they say on their website about this product: “Traumeel helps slow down the inflammatory process and has a regenerative action on the damaged tissues. This is due to the vast range of separate homeopathic components which are of homeopathic, vegetable and mineral origin and that make up this unique formula. It is important to remember that inflammation means healing. If we break down the inflammatory response (acute, repair, maturation), it makes sense that we may be able to help inflammation but not entirely suppress it. Traumeel achieves all this, unlike NSAID’s which just suppress inflammation and can produce direct as well as remote side effects.”

About Cheryl