Wednesday, January 11, 2012

New Blog Site

Hi All,

I have decided to move to another blog site...

http://nourishyoursoul.tumblr.com/

I hope you enjoy the new blog!

Love, J x

Sunday, January 1, 2012

A Healthier You!

After completing a 12 Week Food Mastery Course plus conducting my own research, I am sharing with you the very best bits of what I have learnt...

Topic One - Raw Food

I have been playing with the concept of raw foods for a while now and to my absolute delight it was the first topic we covered in this course.

The term 'raw’ had come from so many angles; friends, websites, blogs, books, interviews, seminars, even journal articles, and my curiosity got the better of me, so simultaneously to this blog series I will be trialling a raw diet in our household (80% raw, 20% cooked – studies show that when correctly prepared and combined, raw foods can neutralise the harmful effects of overcooking… more about that later!!!).
I have heard remarkable accounts of raw food diets, and also the remarkably bad, and I will be the first to admit if it isn’t working; I am a full time mama, I need brain power for my studies and I need energy for the gym, I have a growing 2 year old son and a hungry husband who works long hours so it has to satisfy us all… I’ll let you know how we go!

So, what is raw?
It has been agreed by nutritionists, doctors and raw food enthusiasts that approximately 40 degrees Celsius is the temperature at which changes in foods can be found (water can be heated slightly higher, changes to the water molecules have been noted at 60 degrees Celsius), these changes generally degrade the food, the main affect is upon the depletion of enzyme content of the food. Enzymes are our life force. Without enzymes our cells would just be mere mass, we would just be mere mass.
When food is heated it becomes oxidized and this forms free radicals, free radicals damage the cells in our body and this has the potential to cause serious health problems. In fact it has been estimated that there are enough free radicals released in our bodies during every 24-hour period to subject each and every one of our cells to a thousand hits by unbalanced electron-stripping molecular fragments. This is war!
However be rest assured that a diet rich in all the necessary vitamins and minerals will naturally combat these free radicals and therefore protect us!
Heat also changes the fats in foods and oxidized fat is another cause of serious health problems, an interesting fact; the smoke from a single steak's fat drippings contains as much of the carcinogen benzopyrene as the smoke from approximately three cartons of cigarettes! Don’t freak out too much, remember the vitamins and minerals…

Furthermore research conducted by Swiss Dr Paul Kouchakoff indicated that cooked food caused a reaction within our body called digestive leucocytosis, which is a white blood cell reaction, meaning the immune system has been activated. This essentially means, cooked food causes our body to react to it like it would a virus such as a cold. Interesting! What’s even more interesting is that, during the study, when subjects ate a cooked food item together with the same food in a raw state, no reaction occurred demonstrating the power of the raw food to neutralise. It would seem that those enzymes have more power than I realised!
So how exactly am I going to get some raw food into my diet and more to the point, how am I going to get it into my husband’s diet without him feeling lethargic and grumpy?
David Wolfe recommends the following daily food structure; what I like about it is that there are no food plans, he lets you have the freedom to experiment and eat what you enjoy eating, but still gives a really good base…
This routine also acts as an everyday detoxification program, it’s natural and gentle…

Daily Routine for Detoxification

·         1 – 2 litres of water on an empty stomach – not only is this hydrating, it causes a bowel movement to detoxify at the beginning of the day. Sip the water, I found drinking it over a period of a few hours was the best, and I was surprised at how much clarity of mind and energy I had from this step alone!

·       Have a liquid breakfast – super food smoothie (base of water, coconut water, rice milk, orange juice or tea then add hemp seed, goji berries, cacao beans, spirulina, maca, honey) If you like coffee then use that as a base and add the super foods – reishi mushroom will neutralise the acid reaction of a coffee.

·       Later in morning (approx. 1 hour later when hungry); snack on goji berries and fruit, if you need more put protein with the fruit, sprinkle hemp seed straight on the fruit.

·        For lunch eat a big salad and a sandwich (brown grainy bread) (remember to make your salad interesting, colour and variety!)

·        2pm-3pm pumpkin seeds, sultanas, dried cranberries, fresh berries, more nuts, make a trail mix.

·        Evening – big green vegetable juice, use lots of green in the juice, this will calm your body and mind and prepare you for sleep, plus a big salad and one cooked item (fish or organic meat or rice or some vegetables)

·         Late at night – if you are starving have fruit (not apple)

Don’t be scared of fat in raw food; nuts, avocados etc, you will not gain weight from these, when you are exercising and when you are eating an 80% raw diet. Even if you ate these foods in huge, huge quantities for an extended period of time, you would be lucky to put a few kilo’s on!

A lot of people are concerned about protein when they reduce or give up meat, yet the best sources of protein are raw organic plant based super foods. E.g. spirulina, blue-green algae, chorella. They are superior to meat because the protein is completely absorbed due to its liquefied state, therefore it reaches your cells very easily. Something like steak takes a huge amount of processing and energy before the protein will reach you on a cellular level. Did you know bee pollen has 7 times more protein than steak! If you eat meat though make sure it’s organic.
Above all else listen to your body!

Love, J x

References
www.drcranton.com

P Kouchakoff M.D.,(1930). The influence of food cooking on the blood formula of man. Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

In the beginning

Full of anticipation, wonder and excitement the first day of the new year is significant for me. I live the first day full of all the intentions I have for the coming year. Usually with loved ones, in the great outdoors, eating delicious healthy food.

I have recently completed a 12 week food mastery course and to help others fulfill their healthy new years resolutions I will be sharing tips and secrets I have learnt starting 1 January 2012.

Start the year as you intend to go on!

Love, J x

Thursday, November 3, 2011

wanderlust

We arrive in Buenos Aires after 25 hours of exhausting travel and catch a taxi into the city. The roads are fast and chaotic, a busy hive of a busy city. The taxi takes us to our hostel in a back street, the narrow pavement is cracked and decaying but the beautiful European inspired buildings tower proudly above, watching over the city.

Bang-Bang-Bang!! Bang-Bang-Bang!!!

The hostel is quiet, we peer in through the cracks in the newspaper lining the windows and alas! The hostel is chained closed, out-of-business.

Bryce and I instantly feel the magnitude of a city singing in Spanish and our deaf ears ache. We take off in search of a home for the night.

Bellies full and sleepy eyes rested we awake the next morning and readjust ourselves for our next adventure. Off of San Telmo, the bohemian suburb of the city, to find a hostel home.

The city amuses us, at every corner we see mirages of cafes and life, chasing the pavement we then realise we have only reached another empty building. Blinking with confusion we set off again.

The city is sprawling and we find it difficult to find ourselves. Occasionally we stumble upon a string of shops and cafes and marvel delighted. Our Spanish is horrendous but the locals accommodate us with snippets of English, a lot of hand movements and kind smiles.

After lunch the heavens swell and darken and split. Mother nature hammers the city. And us. We walk laughing, drenched. Blissfully happy.

Time deceives us here; breakfast at mid day, lunch in the early hours of the evening and late hours spent enjoying the fast ferocious city.

Love J x

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Time for a change.


Irene Suchocki

I swing gently in my hammock. My place. My favourite pastime. And it has been so long! 

I have enjoyed this cozy winter; hot baths that sting the skin and the changes in the trees, but now I wait for spring.

I can feel the shift internally as my body begins to crave more water, citrus fruit and salad and my skin aches to be exposed to the elements.

Goosebumps prickle my arm in the crisp breeze, and smooths again as the sun heats my skin, the smell of the warm air tempts me with promises of days spent in the water and late hot nights outside. Times spent with friends, that will become memories I treasure. The anticipation of a new season, and the adventures to be had, is almost too much.

Irene Suchocki

Dragonflies make love in the sunshine, hovering with graceful expertise! The garden has started to bloom, lavender attracts bees and my secret garden hums. Everything is lush and green from the rain and spring is about to burst; creating chaotic overgrowth once more. I cannot wait.

As I lay I watch the webs that adorn the hammock snap and break free, the long wispy threads twinkle in the sun, they move like hair in water, masses of delicate strands. Truely beautiful.

The sun dips behind a cloud and I instantly feel cool; reminding me. Patience. I await the sun.

Love J x

Sunday, July 10, 2011

It began with two lovers...

Passionate and free. Limitless boundaries. Delicate and marvelous. Love to never cease. And then... New Life. 
A beautiful mystery buried and blooming within the depths of our souls.


Intrincially linked, now and forever. Anticipation. Wonder.  A tiny life created by two lovers.

Becoming a Mama encouraged my 'best version' to step forward. Everything changed. I surrounded myself with all the good that this world has to offer. Lifestyle. Food. People. Thought. Creativity. Love.

An incredible journey of self discovery and appreciation. He teaches me something new every day. He lives presently, in this moment. Right now. Learning to live that way has been enlightening. I still stumble but he is patient and only happy to show me the way once more.

I marvel as two years fly. And the rest. The potential. The possibility. All that is yet to come.

A big and bright life, created by two lovers.

For all the Mama's past, present and future.

Love J x

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Winter.

We have been house bound for days. Avoiding the weeping sky and boisterous wind. Watching birds struggle in flight with slick wet feathers. Wrapped in cosy layers, we hibernate.

It's delicious.

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The slow cooker bubbles, the oven roasts, the kettle boils.

My little boy and I eat our dinner in a steaming hot bath, its all snuggle, gobble, love, warm kisses. Blankets are strewn all over the house, remnants of sleepy clothing, woolly socks and fleecy slippers.

Winter leapt with full force this weekend, and we are lucky enough to enjoy its bluster from a cherished warm hearty home.

We watch the trees in the distance dance and run on our deck for wind swept thrills. Our little boy cackles with appreciation.

The young trees in our garden sway dangerously, threatening to snap and the shrubs perform endless Mexican waves.

This is o
ur simple bliss.

Love J x

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tourist in my own backyard


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Family from afar have graced our door steps. I have become a tourist in my own backyard. Everything is new once more, and I am charmed by the world that surrounds me.

Usually we flit around the city focusing on our destination, its when we slow down to show off our beautiful country that we remember.

Today my gorgeous cousin and I spent the day chasing the sunshine through the streets, dancing with the breeze and admiring artistic expression all over our city. We ate homemade love at a local fair trade cafe and rushed to the beach to clasp at its warmth.

Dancing free, our hair swept by the breeze into piles of messy curls, we cart wheel and dip cold toes tentitively. We wrote notes and drew pictures in the sand. Messages to the ocean, for her to keep.

Pink cheeks and smelling of sweet fresh air we come home to bake and spend the rest of the afternoon licking bowls, spoons and our fingers in delight.

I think I will be a tourist in my own backyard more often!

Love J x

Monday, May 2, 2011

Tender Love

Without winter there will be no spring, without sadness no place to amount happiness, without death there is not life.
Our soldier has been given 4 weeks.
From this place of pain and sadness and loss, I watch my Grandmother care for our soldier in his last weeks of life. And it is the most humbling and inspiring act I have ever witnessed.
From her devotion to his comfort, at the sacrifice of her own, is incredible beauty. Heart wrenching pain and outstanding beauty. A glimpse into their tender love.
Their love was born from the time of courting, letter writing, and hand holding. She would watch her soldier leave for far off war torn countries and hold her breath for his return. Their love is from a time like no other.
Our soldier has a mighty heart; he is built of fine values and full of good morals and kind words. Our soldier has been fighting his last battle for 8 months, fighting not for a country or a flag but fighting for his best friend. His one love. Fighting his last battle for his true love.
When he is strong enough to sit up in bed, I watch their eyes lock, I see their fingers entwine, a sweet tender kiss, a sigh, a nod, they almost seem to read each other’s minds. After 54 years I imagine they do.
When he cannot sit up I watch my Grandmother care for our soldier, no words need be spoken, she knows what he needs, he knows she is there. We all are.
Without winter there will be no spring, without sadness no place to amount happiness, without death there is not life.
Their love will endure beyond this life. They couldn’t be more perfect for one another.  

Love J x

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Wild Flowers

The morning was spent enjoying the last moments of the summer sunshine. The morning was spent picking flowers that streamed endlessly through our secret garden.
The sweetest scent. The comforting warmth. The dearest morning had by two wonderers.

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The change of season had already claimed our early mornings and evenings.

We revelled and huddled in the brisk air. We rugged up in blankets. Layered ourselves in soft fabric.
This day had brought clarity and a welcome peaceful rest, it was time to stop and smell the wild flowers! 

Love J x

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Nourish
YOUR SOUL

Inspired by nature, beauty & potential, inspired by the healthy, whole, genuine & real. Inspired by love & honesty & the magic that surrounds our everyday lives. Nourish was born to serve others, to promote something pure, something cleansing and practical in this crazy old world.

The Adventure
My exploration of nutrition, herbalism & all things natural, along with my incurable curiosity, led me to experiment with herbal teas, the results are what I share with you.

The final branding is not finished yet but for those of us who don’t care for branding I am releasing a small number of Nourish teas early for your enjoyment.


Nourish Teas

The recipes are carefully crafted from ancient and modern day herbalism using organic and wildcrafted products.

I am so so so happy to introduce...

YOU are Zen
inner stillness & peace of mind
A holiday in a tea cup. This tea will leave you feeling calm, centred and balanced.
Ingredients
Passionflower, Schisandra berries, Lemon balm

Yummy Skin 
radiance & glow
Nurture yourself from the inside out. Let your natural beauty & radiance shine.
Ingredients
Chamomile, Dandelion root, Horsetail

Va-va-Voom
energy & power
The power house tea. Bounce all day… and all night.
Ingredients
Tienchi Ginseng, Ashwaganda (Indian Ginseng), Schisandra berries, Oat straw

Details
All teas come in a 100% recyclable, compostable, resealable earth bag. Each bag contains 80g enough to make 80 blissful cups.
The teas are at the mates-rate of $10 each plus postage (if required)
Email bryceandjennifer@activ8.net.au or email me on facebook if you would like to experience the goodness.
Love J x

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Global Gypsy

"I travelled twenty thousand kilometers before I realised the best journey was within. I could not have begun my spiritual journey had it not been for my constant desire to explore my potential. That desire was stronger than the fear of the unknown."


The above is the opening to a book written by Gerar Toye who has travelled much of his life, documenting the world through photos and notes. These personal treasures became the basis for his photographic book depicting his spiritual (as well as physical) journey.

The opening pages were so honest and raw and perfect that I wanted to share some of his wisdom...
________________________________________________________________

"The quotes (herein) are not affirmations, just starting points, where they take us depends on how far we want to go. Their meanings change as we grow and repeatedly investigate the tangent, especially when compared with our latest experiences. The quotes have served my questioning mind. They were all tangents I visited which allowed me to express through words, a plane of existence I felt, an ultimate truth realised."
________________________________________________________________

"Realisation does not mean understanding something new, but recognising something known but long forgotten."
________________________________________________________________

There are no answers only questions.
________________________________________________________________

"None of this book, the images or the insights were planned. It grew through wanting to express what I have felt by listening to my higher self. Its purpose is to inspire others to have the courage to look within, to seek who they truly are, rather than stay caught in the illusion of who they appear to be."
________________________________________________________________

"If you have not explored your world yet then I hope you will be inspired to do so. Go seek your potential. Seek out real experience and the humble simple life. Have no desire for wealth or ego, they are only distractions. Find who you are by creating and allowing the experiences you need to receive the next answer along the way. Follow your heart. Live your passion. The universe will always lead you towards the next opening experience if you are awake and looking for the signs."
________________________________________________________________

I love this one, it is so true of our daily journey through life, adapting, being flexible, open to change and willing to see the beautiful opportunity, not the obstacle that we face...

"Travelling with time restrictions does not allow me to feel the subtle miraculous events of life, as I become distracted by the destination instead of being present. I find that when I am not seeking a destination or outcome, I start to feel the lure of the unknown path and the gifts that are there to be found."
________________________________________________________________

"When I allow myself to be guided, miracles come in a never ending stream. So many people refer to miracles as if they were created by some other entity but we create our own when we are grateful for what we have and are in harmony with heart, mind, body and spirit. Life is the miracle, the universe is conspiring to unfold every opportunity for us to grow. It is ego and mind that sabotage the magic. Now I do not question why miracles happen, but rather why they are not happening."
________________________________________________________________

"Travellers do not known where they are going, tourists don't know where they have been."
________________________________________________________________

"We are beings with incredible power. It is no secret! What we imagine, can become reality. When we have a thought, no matter how wonderful, scary or irrational it is, if we hold that thought we create it as a possibility in the universe."
________________________________________________________________

I hope that these quotes will guide your perceptions as you need them and that from one day to another the words will mean something new and exciting as your personal journey unfolds.

As Gerer says the traveller does not need to leave the country to go on a journey, we are all travellers of this life, hopefully not tourists!

Love J x




Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Welcome to the Equinox.

We have just welcomed the first 2011 Equinox, which is when the earths tilt is neither towards nor away from the sun, we are parallel. 

isphotography.myshopify.com

The Equinox also represents a change of season and brings with it the sentiment of renewal and transformation.

Now is the time for cleansing your mind, body and soul. You may be inspired to clean out your home, embark upon a deeper level of consciousness or complete a detox for your body.

I’ll take all three (!) but specifically now is the time to prepare my body for winter.

Our immune system is about to be hammered with winter colds, flus and other virus's floating around, so what can we do to minimise, or avoid completely, the winter blues?

Vitamin C (with bioflavonoids) is great, getting Vitamin C from a food source is the best option, as it is more bioavailable for your body, I am looking into Kakadu Plum and Camu Camu, goji berries are also a great source.

Echinacea is fantastic for immune support, especially for respiratory function. My preference is the tea and the cooler months really suit sipping warm tea, tablet form is available.

Garlic is an amazingly strong anti-bacterial-fungal-viral food, I am adding it to anything and everything that I can!

Fish oil tablets also support the immune system.

Interestingly enough it is important to have healthy gut bacteria for your immune system; nutrient uptake is dependent on a strong presence of good bacteria in your gut, if you are over ridden with bad bacteria - candida - which most people eating the traditional western diet are, one way to help your body get back into balance and function better on every level, is to take a probiotic, you can get this from dairy or soy yoghurt (check the labels as not all yoghurt is probiotic) or take a probiotic capsule (Inner Health Plus).

There are a million and one things that you can do, it depends on your lifestyle and preference, what you will and want to do, as well as your specific health requirements, but the above is a well-rounded approach that you will see results from.

Enjoy the autumn leaves. Crunch!

Love J x

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Room to breathe

isphotography.myshopify.com

We wake from childish deep sleep. Still-shots of wild vivid dreams flicker beneath my eye lids. At once we set off for the ocean. All tousled bed hair and sleepy smiles.

We can smell it before we see it, hear it before we touch it. We long for it.

We wander the shore line and play chase with the waves, we smile at the sparkling ocean and I wish I could capture the sparkles in a jar to gaze upon forever.

Here we lose track of time. Here we have room to breathe.

Love J x

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

What my dreams are made of...

With Earth Hour around the corner (26th March) people have been sharing their "beyond the hour" pledges of what they will do to make an even bigger impact on our environment. I found these incredibly inspiring...

"I have gone a year commuting by bike and bus. Am converting my lawn to a veg garden this Spring. Less water and fertilizer, more food. All lights are CFL. But most of all, THIS IS FUN!"

"I will commit to planting three trees each day through the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees Program @ http://www.plantabillion.org"

"I am on the plastic diet and have given up non recyclable plastic. I am running a series of waste and recycling workshops but what am I doing? I decided to look at my own bin and come up with some strategies to limit waste going to landfill. I started a blog and asked kids to help with advise. I am now aiming for Zero Waste. Check out www.millenniumkids.com.au"

"I drive a BMW 3 series and this year I have decided to take my actions of protecting our planet and protecting our environment one step further by selling my pride and joy. I am serious about my carbon footprint. This is a very big step for me, but one that has to be done."

"I will use reusable bag instead plastic bag, bring my own tumbler & lunchbox, use public transportation"

What a bunch of superheros!

What will you do? Make your own pledge at www.earthhour.org.

What have I done?
  • Started a compost and worm farm
  • Reduced by half my non-recyclable waste
  • Begun to use glass rather than plastic
  • Committed to eating organic
  • Weaned myself from nearly all beauty products that harm the environment... just a few last habits to kick :)
  • Use an environmentally friendly lamp at night rather than normal lighting
  • Boycotted my air-conditioning
  • Pledged to not buy any new clothes for a year (replacement of items I need is ok!)
  • Planted out my veggie patch and planted a heap of herbs and fruit trees, vines and shrubs
  • Reduced to almost zero our packaged food consumption - this has made a huge impact on our budget, belly and the environment!
And for the future. What my dreams are made of...


Fully self sustainable home off the grid, environmentally friendly vehicle (one horse power!) and larger quantity of home grown food!

Dream big, live big, one wave does not shape the beach but a thousand will...

Love J x

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

A moment. A lifetime.

It began before that day. That day, in that moment.

But it was within those moments, that seemed innocuous at the time, that something began. Something real and genuine and lasting. Something that would change everything, given the time to do so.


It was a rush and a burst, a bubble and a pop! It was an adventure and excitement. It was the never ending summer of the best times that had been yet.

It was weekends that lasted a moment. And work days that lasted a lifetime. It was traversing mountain sides. It was mid night walks. Early mornings and late nights. It was evading fatigue.

Winter crept in and with it the world expanded. It became icy dips in the ocean. Breath sucked violently from lungs. Life was potent. It was clinging to your warm body, extracting your heat. It was bliss.

Upon reflection, those times seemed like the happiest there had been, until now. 

Until I see your face, so familiar it could be my own. I hear your voice, it is etched into my mind. I feel your touch, so tender on my skin.

These are the best days. And this is always the best moment.

Love J x

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Beginnings

Inspired by David Wolfe's lecture last week, here is what I learnt about his approach to nutrition, life and health.

When you begin a lifestyle change its hard to know where to begin. There are so many options! So much information - a lot contradictory. So many paths. A lot lead to the same place. But where to begin?

According to DW a lifestyle change requires each person to take the responsibility for their own health. No longer can we rely on the medical system as the solution. Lets take a proactive and preventative approach to health. Lets decide to not be sick any longer! (and how powerful is that thought!)

Each and every day you eat, so what about using food as your medicine?


Its important to work with your strengths, if you cant, or simply wont do something, then don't! It wont last and it will cause you more pain than its worth.
Work with what you can, will and want to do. This means, if you wont get up at 6am and jog. Don't. If you will go to the beach in the afternoon for a swim, surf and walk. Do that! If you wont drink a litre of kale juice for breakfast. Don't. But if you will have a super smoothie with goji, maca and cacao in it. Do that!  By following this approach you ensure that these changes will become a part of your life permanently, they will become a part of you.

Next look at your diet, decide what is doing you more harm than good and proactively avoid it, replace it with something healthy and nutritious, add in salad and fruit where possible and add in super foods and super herbs.

A great place to start is with your snacks, replace whatever you snack on with a handful of goji berries and some raw cashews or almonds, throw in some cacao, some shredded coconut/sultanas/sunflower seeds even!

Super foods are highly nutritious foods that will boost nutrient intake and not calorie intake. Super herbs are medicines for everyday so that you never get sick!

DW suggests that because there are so many super foods and herbs choose just a few, start somewhere and go from there. Below are his top picks, choose one or all of them, whatever suits your lifestyle and build, change, adapt and enjoy them...

Super herbs
Resihi
Astragalus
Tulsi
Horsetail
Nettle
Cats Claw
Paul d'Arco
Shisandra





Superfoods
Goji
Cacao
Maca
Coconut products
Bee Products
Spirulina
Chlorella
Camu Camu
Marine Phytoplankton
Noni







The best place to start is where you are right now. Start with what you already have and build a strong foundation. Pull out the blender. Pull out your (finger) motivation and build yourself a wonderful life!

Love J x

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Love Letters

 
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 What you focus on grows; your thoughts and beliefs are the seeds from which grow the shape and sway of all your days.
  

The boundaries between your inner and outer worlds are illusory; it is only your perception (acquired from the mental constructs of your society) which separates them.

Even your unhappiness is worth loving, for it heralds your readiness for change.

 Never let your own instinctive wit and warmth be crushed by the conventional wisdom of how things 'should' be done.

 Every individual has the power to make a difference to life on Earth, not through grand, sweeping actions in the future, but by small, steady shifts in attitude and behaviour wherever you are Right Now!

 Be broad and generous in your embracing of beauty, for there is profound beauty in pain and suffering too. Beauty lives in poignant farewells, in losses and letdowns, in longings and heartache, illness and ageing, even death, for these events can trigger the opening of your heart, the deepening of your understanding, the circulation of care and acceptance between you and others.
 
nirrimiphotography.carbonmade.com

 From the tiny breeze generated by the flapping of a butterfly's wings to the almighty surge of a tidal wave - hold equal significance for me. Each one is part of the patterns and inter-relationships between all things on Earth.
   
nirrimiphotography.carbonmade.com

Your life may not look 'harmonious' in the static or balanced sense you've come to understand that word, but ultimately even the greatest hardships, the longest delays, can serve your highest good.

www.isphotography.myshopify.com

 Wisdom is everywhere, inherent in all things, waiting to be discovered, revealed, unearthed.
  
 Every being is equally capable of becoming a channel for the Divine.

These exquisite quotes are taken from the insightful and inspiring book "Love Letters from Mother Nature - A Meditative Journey" by Shelley Neller.

Love J x