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Rural Country Living eZine, October 1st, 2008
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Table of Contents
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Letter From the Editor
The Healing Art of Reiki By Mike Kay
Greenhouse Gardening Montana Style by Cyd Bus
Hypnosis for Childbirth by Karen Martin
How To Schedule Your Homeschooling Day, And Have Time To Spare by
Megan Wiles
Survival Tips For Deer Hunting by Jimmy Cox
A Healthy Immune System Equals a Healthy You by Jonathan Bell
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Letter From the Editor
Welcome!
A bit late this month due to extra workload of writing assignments--
apologies.
Halloween is just around the corner, and ghouls, goblins, witches,
scary spiders and bats will emerge from their boxes where they've
been safely tucked away for the past year. We will have real
homegrown pumpkins to show off and carve. Bright orange and still in
the garden; we plan to harvest our Jack o' Lantern pumpkins a week or
so before Halloween. Roasting pumpkin seeds in the oven has always
been a traditional activity at this time of year, and a nourishing
organic snack for the whole family. Here's hoping you have a spooky
Halloween full of treats and not too many tricks.
Enjoy the issue!
Love & Hugs,
Victoria
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The Healing Art of Reiki
By Mike Kay
Reiki is a Japanese type of spiritual practice also used for stress
reduction and relaxation. It is a technique that also helps promote
healing either for self or for other people. It is characterized as a
practice of "laying of hands".
The healing powers of the technique are based on the idea that there
is an unseen "life force energy" that flows through each person. This
life force is said to be the reason why people are alive. When one's
life force energy is low, then people are likely to get sick or feel
weak. If the life force is high, people fell healthy and happy.
Reiki is also a form of meditation used as a type of therapy for
treating physical, emotional, and mental diseases. The name Reiki is
taken from two Japanese characters that describe energy itself. The
word "rei", which means "unseen" or "spiritual" and "ki" which
means "energy" or "life force" is combined to become Reiki. In
English, its meaning is usually given as "universal life energy".
It was Mikao Usui who was known to have developed Reiki in 20th
century Japan. Story has it that Usui received the ability of healing
after going through three weeks of fasting and meditating on top of
Mount Kurama. Practitioners of Reiki use a technique similar to that
of the laying on of hands.
This action is said to promote the channeling of "healing energy" to
another person. The energy flows through the palms and brings along
with it healing powers that can be used for self-treatment as well as
for treating others.
Reiki is a simple, natural as well as safe method of dispensing
spiritual healing and self-improvement. It is said to be effective in
providing alternative treatment for virtually every known illness and
malady. Not only that, Reiki also helps create an added beneficial
effect, that of spiritual healing. This method is also said to work
well when combined with other medical or therapeutic techniques to
help relieve side effects and promote recovery.
Reiki, although seen as a very powerful healing technique, is an
amazingly simple to learn. Reiki and the ability to use it
effectively cannot be taught in the usual sense. The skill is said to
be "transferred" to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is
not merely learned but is passed on by a Reiki master to the student
during a gathering known as "attunement". After the skill has been
passed on, it allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply
of "life force energy" that can then be used to improve one's health
and enhance the one's quality of life.
Although the practice of Reiki may be spiritual in nature, it is not
considered as a religion. There are no set of beliefs that one should
learn about before learning to practice the technique known as Reiki.
The practice does not depend on any form of dogma.
It will work whether the student believes it or not. But it is said
that the practice of Reiki helps people to keep in touch of their
spiritual selves rather than the intellectual concept that it
provides.
The practice of Reiki also aims to develop and promote living in
harmony with others. Aside from practicing Reiki and its principles,
the founder of the Reiki system, Mikao Usui also recommends the
practice of simple ethical ideals that can lead to peace and harmony
among people. Getting to know what Reiki is may help people not only
become a healing channel but also a tool to promote peace among other
people.
Visit us at TrainingReiki.com and find out more about the ancient
healing art of Reiki, what is a Reiki attunement, how you can obtain
a Reiki certification and how Reiki crystals can help you.
Free Articles provided by The Free Library
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Greenhouse Gardening Montana Style
by Cyd Bus
These are some of the elements that must be considered in order to
really get the maximum potential out of your greenhouse or sunroom:
the type of greenhouse you want whether it be a cold house, portable
greenhouse, hobby greenhouse a greenhouse kit or a large or a mini
greenhouse, the greenhouse construction and it's foundation type,
which greenhouse equipment you will need, which type of greenhouse
covering or glazing is best suited to you, and the type of watering,
humidity control, heating and air circulation systems that are best
suited to your sunroom or greenhouse gardening needs.
First Decide Whether you Want to have Cold House or a Heated
Greenhouse.
A cold house is the simplest of greenhouses, it is not equipped with
any artificial means of heat and thus the growing season is shortened
when the outside temperature drops below freezing. It is not possible
to grow frost sensitive plants between late fall and the middle of
spring unless you provide heat (which would not make it a cold
house!). A cold house does extend the growing season from that of the
outdoors by trapping the heat from the sun during the day. And it
provides a cozy respite for you to work away from the elements of
wind and rain, it also protects plants from these same elements too.
When you install a heater into your cold house it becomes a true
greenhouse and it transforms the hobby of gardening into a year-round
hobby. The minimum temperature required to grow greenhouse plants
through the winter is 45° F (7.2°C), so be sure to allow for this
extra cost for heating to be included in your monthly budget. Also,
be sure that when you begin planning for your greenhouse construction
that you build it as near as possible to your house as this will
reduce costs for digging and installation of electrical wires (and
plumbing if you need that too). It is also better for quick access
during the winter months if you have your greenhouse closer to your
house.
Watering Needs for Greenhouse Plants
As it does not rain inside greenhouses watering is a very important
thing for greenhouse owners to remember! But, watering inside a green
house is not just as simple as just watering your greenhouse plants
everyday. Within soil there are small open air pores that roots
depend on for supplying them with nutritious gases. When you water
your plants these small air spaces get filled up with water and it,
in effect, causes suffocation for roots. When roots suffocate, plants
wilt and the most common reaction by gardeners for wilting plants is
more watering! Just remember that the watering needs inside a
greenhouse are different from the watering needs of your outside
garden. Because the green house environment is enclosed a fair amount
of moisture does get trapped and thus, less watering is usually
required. The best rule for watering plants in your greenhouse or
sunroom is: always check the soil before you water, if the soil is
dry then you should go ahead and water. And, remember that plants,
just like people, do not like being watered with cold water. For
plants the ideal water temperature is between 65°F and 80°F (18.3°C
and 26.7°C). Anything above 80°F (26.7°C) is too hot!
There are many different alternatives available for watering your
greenhouse plants. Among your choices are irrigation systems, drip
system, misters, water sensors and a gardener's best friend the good
old watering can. Irrigation systems are wonderful for those periods
of time that you plan on being away; there is nothing worse than
coming home to dead plants in your green house because your best
friend forgot to water them while you were away! A good selection of
all of these watering systems is available at online gardening and
greenhouse supply stores.
Selecting the Right Seeds and Plants for Your Greenhouse
When it comes to selecting seeds and plants for your greenhouse the
biggest deciding factor is your personal choice! You will need to set
up your greenhouse interior to accommodate the types of plants that
you choose though. For example if you choose to grow plants that
require a trellis you will have to install some trellises. Some
examples of plants that grow well with a trellis are peas, runner
beans, tomatos, cucumbers, watermelon, winter squash, nasturtiums,
passionflower, bougainvillea and sweet peas. Some crops are harvested
only once and then they are done; for example onions, carrots and
radishes. Other crops that need harvesting many times; for example
leaf lettuce, strawberries, broccoli and brussel sprouts should be
placed in easy to reach places, like at the edges of beds.
Buy a good book on greenhouse gardening so as to learn about the
different temperature, water, humidity and pH level requirements of
different plants and then make your final selections of seeds and
plants. A greenhouse gardener's book will also help you with the best
layouts for your plants and seedlings.
Sustainable Living Articles @
http://www.articlegarden.com
About Cyd:
Cid Bus has been an executive in the Hospitality Industry for 15
years. Also a graduate of the NY Restaurant school,and co owner of a
catering company. A competitive long distance trail runner x-country
skiier, and "green thumber" they can be tracked down at their bed and
breakfast Fish Creek House in Southwest Montana
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Hypnosis for Childbirth
by Karen Martin
Incredibly, there is a way to reduce anxiety during pregnancy,
experience comfortable childbirth without any pain medication and
minimise the risk of post-natal depression. And it's available to
every single mother-to-be at minimal cost.
Surprised? Well you may be even more surprised to discover that it's
not a new development but a simple therapy that has been around for
centuries. This miracle cure for all the modern-day trials of
childbirth was pioneered by Dr Grantly Dick-Read, the founder of the
National Childbirth Trust no less. He was a leading proponent of the
use of hypnotherapy in labour when he wrote 'Childbirth Without
Fear', originally published in 1933.
Inspired by the good doctor, the HypnoBirthing movement gathered pace
in the US in the latter part of the 20th century. Created by
hypnotherapist Marie Mongan, it provides a structured training
programme for practitioners as well as books and CDs offering
practical advice and information for expectant parents.
Extensive research, mainly in the US but including some small studies
in the UK, demonstrates without exception the many benefits of
hypnosis in childbirth. Despite this and the fact that there are a
growing number of hypnotherapists trained to support maternity
services, HypnoBirthing is not available within the NHS.
Midwives in Scotland who dipped into their own pockets to pay for
hypnotherapy training earned numerous testimonials from happy parents
for their trouble. But, as is the case with the majority of
alternatives to drug-centred treatment, the medical establishment is
reluctant to acknowledge hypnotherapy as a valid treatment for any
kind of condition. And this is even though a study conducted back in
the 1950s gave it sufficient credibility for the BMA to recommend
that hypnosis techniques should be taught to all medical students.
Needless to say, the recommendation was never taken up.
However, the National Childbirth Trust is a testament to parent
power, proving that sizeable numbers of us would prefer to keep
medical intervention in childbirth to a minimum using safe, simple,
tried and tested methods. On the whole, our heroic midwives support
this aim and we are fortunate indeed to have all the technology NHS
budgets can afford to provide life-saving treatment when things don't
go to plan. That said, if you do a straw poll of any number of mums
in your acquaintance you'll find an unsettling number pale at the
memory of their labour and, if pressed, will reveal something
traumatic about the birth of their cherished little ones.
In fact, I'd describe my own two experiences of childbirth as
harrowing to say the least and believe they would have been very
different if I had the knowledge I have since gained as a clinical
hypnotherapist.
So let me explain how hypnotherapy helps mother and baby, making the
job easier for attending midwives and ultimately reducing
complications and subsequent costs. Dr Dick-Read rejected the need
for pain relieving drugs during childbirth on the grounds that pain
was principally a product of preconceived fear and tension. He called
it the 'fear-tension-pain' syndrome and believed that women who were
properly prepared could control labour pain themselves without having
to resort to medication.
Our innate fear of childbirth is a belief derived from cultural
conditioning. There are non-westernised cultures where it is
considered normal for babies to be delivered without pain. But, for
us, the term 'labour' automatically conjures up thoughts of pain and
struggle. And we relate hospitals to sickness and death, not life.
So, two evocative negative images already exist deep within our
psyche, in the subconscious, where thoughts and beliefs gathered
through a lifetime are deeply embedded. It is this part of the mind
where hypnosis does its work and where hypnotherapy can begin to
transform the birth experience by dislodging negative conditioning.
Contrary to popular belief and a mystique cultivated by stage
performers, hypnosis is no more extraordinary an experience than day-
dreaming. It is a trance-like state between waking and sleeping which
we frequently go into quite naturally during the course of a day.
What is exceptional about hypnosis is that it enables us to access
the subconscious part of our brain and change our way of thinking
through imagery and suggestion.
We cannot consciously 'unthink' long held beliefs any more than we
can learn not to read any more. We cannot, through sheer force of
willpower, decide not to feel pain. But hypnosis enables us to
overcome fears and focus our attention away from pain to a degree
that makes it possible to block it out completely.
This is powerful stuff so it's worth stating loudly that no-one can
be hypnotised against their will or be forced whilst under hypnosis
to behave or think in a way they do not wish to. The act of becoming
hypnotised is, in effect, self-hypnosis, whether induced by a
therapist, by listening to a CD or simply by relaxing and using well-
practiced techniques. This alone reduces tension and creates a
feeling of well-being and calm.
Ante-natal hypnotherapy sessions enable pregnant women to fine tune
this natural ability. With the guidance of a clinician, anyone can
learn to use what is described as the 'hypnoreflexogenous protocol'
to create a 'conditioned reflex'. Put simply, it is possible through
hypnosis to prepare emotionally to remain in control of and respond
confidently to the physical process of childbirth. So, women giving
birth can overcome the 'fear-tension-pain' syndrome using self
hypnosis to achieve the best possible outcome in their given
circumstances. There are even examples of caesarean sections being
carried out using hypnosis alone as anaesthetic. But this is at the
extreme end of the spectrum of uses of hypnosis because of the degree
of preparation required for a patient to undergo any kind of surgery
in this manner.
All you have to do is Google 'HypnoBirthing' or 'hypnosis and
childbirth' and you will find numerous clinical studies revealing to
varying degrees, but nonetheless quite staggering, statistical
success stories. Time after time you will find evidence of
considerably shorter labours, particularly for primigravid women,
with the first stage reduced by three hours or more. Typically, twice
as many women using hypnosis require no pain medication and the
majority delivery spontaneously without any surgical intervention.
Interestingly, though perhaps not surprisingly, higher Apgar scores
are recorded for 'hypnobabies'.
What is clear from research findings is that hypnosis is a safe and
effective way to decrease the perception of pain whilst increasing
your ability to manage the sensations of labour. With plenty of
practice, it is possible for some women to use self hypnosis to
eliminate pain completely and experience only pressure during
contractions. While not all of us can achieve this, we are all
capable of decreasing our perception of pain and increasing our
coping skills. When tense, anxious or frightened, our bodies create
a 'fight or flight' response.
Animal research shows that, if threatened by predators, mammals will
flood their bodies with 'fight or flight' chemicals to stop labour so
they can get themselves and their babies to safety. This was also
demonstrated during the Blitz when it was noted that women in labour
would stop when air raid sirens went off only to start again after
the raid was over. In a normal environment, the 'fear-tension-pain'
syndrome can create the same response, leading to prolonged labour,
greater foetal distress and lower Apgar scores.
Conversely, self hypnosis creates a state of deep relaxation whilst
fully aware, totally relaxed and in control. It generates feel-good
endorphins, making it possible to maintain energy levels throughout
the physically demanding process of childbirth. And the benefits
don't stop there. Research reveals that mothers who deliver under
hypnosis overwhelmingly report positive feedback on the whole
experience. Complications are fewer and more pregnancies go to full-
term. Partners are more engaged as they are involved in maintaining
the right conditions for hypnosis to do its work and they do not have
to experience seeing the mother of their child in extreme distress.
Postpartum, these mums recover more quickly and are less susceptible
to post natal depression.
Given all this evidence, it is my passionate belief that all parents-
to-be should at least be made aware of the incredible power of
hypnotherapy and have the opportunity to experience the advantages
for themselves.
Sustainable Living Articles @
http://www.articlegarden.com
About Karen Martin:
See www.hypnotherapykent.co.uk to find out how it is possible for
some women to use self hypnosis to eliminate pain completely and
experience only pressure during childbirth. Karen Martin explains how
we are all capable of decreasing our perception of pain and
increasing our coping skills.
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How To Schedule Your Homeschooling Day, And Have Time To Spare
by Megan Wiles
When creating a homeschooling schedule, areas of instruction, student
age, and family schedule should all be taken into consideration.
These three things should be integrated to come up with a schedule
that will benefit children and adults alike. There is no need,
however, to redesign the wheel. Use tools available to you to come up
with a schedule that meets your needs.
The first step in creating a homeschooling schedule is to develop a
mission statement. Take a few hours to sit down, write and rewrite a
statement of purpose for your homeschool. Consider these questions:
what do you want your children to learn? What can you provide through
homeschooling that your child cannot get through a regular education
setting? What traits do you want to promote in your child? Writing a
mission statement will guide your instruction and scheduling choices.
Once you have a mission statement, it is time to do some research.
Collect information on the topics you plan to teach, and the
developmental level of your child. The internet is a valuable tool
for this type of research. To make things easier, you may want to
refer to the teaching standards laid out by your state for the
appropriate grade level. They have done the research for you. Use
these standards compared to your mission statement to add and delete
topics that you would like to be a part of your curriculum. For
example, if religion is something you feel strongly about, you might
add that topic of study to your states standards. Or you might
incorporate it into already existing standards such as, teaching
about people who have made a difference, or use religious works as
part of a cultural study or reading material.
With a mission statement and instructional content, you can now begin
to schedule your instructional week. With a weekly calendar in front
of you, first set down meal, snack and nap times appropriate for your
child and/family. Next add in regular necessary family activities,
such as weekly trips to the grocery store, sports practice, or church
commitments. Keep in mind that these activities can be tied into
current studies and become part of the learning environment. Decide
how many hours a day you wish to devote to instruction, and what time
is reasonable to begin each day. Finally divide the time between
subjects. It is generally accepted that at least 2-2 ½ hours a day
should be devoted to language arts (reading, writing, grammar,
spelling, listening and speaking). Another hour should be spent
focusing on math. The rest of your time should be divided among your
other areas of study. Some people prefer to hit every subject for a
short time every day, but most hit each area of study for a longer
period only once a week. For example, Monday – science, Tuesday –
social study, Wednesday – religious studies, Thursday – art and
music, Friday – community service.
The last key piece in your homeschool schedule is physical activity.
While some choose to treat this as any other content area, and
designate an hour or two each week to play sports, we highly
recommend that you take time each day to address it. Incorporating
short spurts of physical activity into breaks throughout the day will
reenergize students and allow them to focus more on their studies.
Additionally, spending 30 minutes of focused physical activity with
your child each day will model and promote healthy behavior that will
last a life time.
Sustainable Living Articles @
http://www.articlegarden.com
About Megan Wiles -:
Megan Wiles is a successful writer for Homeschool-Guidance.com. With
7 years as an educator she hopes to lend her knowledge and practical
experience to others. She provides a free e-course on "Maximizing
Your Child's Learning Potential".
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Survival Tips For Deer Hunting by Jimmy Cox
There are times when even the best of woodsmen are forced to spend a
night in the wilderness. A man might travel so far into the woods
after a deer that it might be unsafe or impractical for him to try to
find his way to the camp in the darkness. He might become lost as to
direction, and prefer to camp out instead of risking the chance of
becoming more confused by aimless traveling.
If, for any reason, it is necessary to spend the night in the woods,
a knowledge of some of the fundamentals of woodcraft will aid in the
comfort and even the survival of the lost person.
People seldom become lost on a day when the sun is shining, so the
chances are that cold, wet or stormy weather has to be dealt with.
Fire is the most important item in the camp. The hearth is the symbol
of the home and nothing does more to make a man feel at ease in the
woods than a good fire. Build it against a fallen tree or a dead stub
so that there will be a back-log to hold the heat.
Gather as large a supply of dry limbs and down-wood as possible,
because an open fire can use a surprising amount of fuel in a night
and it is no fun to hunt for it in the dark. Gather anything which
might burn and which can be dragged.
Sometimes a man will be caught with no dry matches or other
conventional means of starting a fire. In such cases it is possible
to borrow a page from the days of the flint-lock, when the hunter
would use his gun as a fire starter. This modern adaptation should
not be used except in an emergency, but it is usually effective.
The fire should be located with the thought of some sort of shelter
in mind. A shelter is almost a must on a stormy night. A log at the
back is better than nothing. A vertical ledge or rock is better and a
small cave is probably the best of all natural shelters. Lacking a
natural shelter, a brush lean-to can be made.
Before a person retires for the night, the boots should be removed
and the socks dried, if such a thing is possible. Usually the feet
will be warmer if the boots are left off during the night. The arms
should be removed from the coat sleeves and the coat buttoned with
the arms and hands inside next to the body. Sleep should be possible
as long as the fire continues to burn.
Many people are afraid to sleep in the snow without a fire for fear
of freezing while they are asleep. This fear will sometimes cause a
person to continue to travel until he is exhausted and in such a case
there is real danger if he should try to sleep or rest in the cold.
If a man is in good health, properly dressed and conditioned to cold
weather, and camps before he becomes too tired, it is possible for
him to resist the effects of low temperature.
After the lost hunter has spent the night in the woods, he should try
to orient himself in the morning. This should not be hard to do if
the sun is shining. He should not trust to instinct, but should
reason things out. Even if the sun seems to be somewhere else, it
must be in the east, so there is one sure direction. The other points
of the compass should be easy to figure.
This information is of no value unless the lost person knows the
direction in which he left camp or the direction of the road which
runs by the camp. If these things are not known, it is best to remain
in the temporary camp and wait for aid, keeping plenty of damp wood
on the fire as a signal to searchers.
Long Lost Manuscript Resurfaces With Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips!
Click Here For Free Online Ebook
http://www.whitetaildeerhuntingtips.net/
Article Directory:
http://www.articlerich.com
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A Healthy Immune System Equals a Healthy You
By Jonathan Bell
The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and
organs that work together to protect the body. Immune systems appear
even in the most structurally-simple forms of life, with bacteria
using a unique defense mechanism, called the restriction modification
system to protect themselves from viral pathogens, called
bacteriophages. Immune system disorders occur when the immune
response is inappropriate, excessive, or lacking. Fortunately for
most of us, the immune system is constantly on call to do battle with
bugs that could put us out of commission.
The immune system has a series of dual natures, the most important of
which is self/non-self recognition. Each cell in our body has an
antigen that tells the immune system that it is part of us and should
not be eliminated. It is through antigens that the immune system
knows which cells to attack and which to leave alone. Sometimes the
process breaks down and the immune system attacks self-cells. This is
the case of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, systemic
lupus erythematosus, and some forms of arthritis and diabetes.
The innate immune system is the dominant system of host defense in
most organisms. The innate immune system comprises the cells and
mechanisms that defend the host from infection by other organisms, in
a non-specific manner. This means that the cells of the innate system
recognize, and respond to, pathogens in a generic way, but unlike the
adaptive immune system, it does not confer long-lasting or protective
immunity to the host. Innate immune defenses are non-specific,
meaning these systems respond to pathogens in a generic way. Natural
killer cells, or NK cells, are a component of the innate immune
system.
Both innate and adaptive immunity depend on the ability of the immune
system to distinguish between self and non-self molecules. Helper T
cells regulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses and help
determine which types of immune responses the body will make to a
particular pathogen. Adaptive immune responses are actually reactions
of the immune system to structures on the surface of the invading
organism called antigens. The immune system is enhanced by sleep and
rest, and is impaired by stress.
One of the drawbacks of chemotherapy treatment for cancer, for
example, is that it not only attacks cancer cells, but other fast-
growing, healthy cells, including those found in the bone marrow and
other parts of the immune system. In cancer cells, genetic changes
cause changes in the cell-surface antigens such that the person?s
immune system (hopefully) no longer recognizes them as ?self? and
destroys them. Boosting the immune system has been shown to be
therapeutically valuable in treating a wide variety of cancers,
chronic viral infections and other illnesses. Some cells of the
immune system can recognize cancer cells as abnormal and kill them.
But some new treatments aim to use the immune system to fight cancer.
Another important role of the immune system is to identify and
eliminate tumors. To the immune system, these antigens appear
foreign, and their presence causes immune cells to attack the
transformed tumor cells. The main response of the immune system to
tumors is to destroy the abnormal cells using killer T cells,
sometimes with the assistance of helper T cells. Clearly, some tumors
evade the immune system and go on to become cancers. However, if the
immune system is stressed and not functioning properly, a cancer cell
may multiply before the immune system has a chance to kill it.
The immune system is complex, intricate and interesting. Protect the
immune system and you will live a long healthy life. To understand
the power of the immune system, all that you have to do is look at
what happens to anything once it dies. That sounds gross, but it does
show you something very important about your immune system. Although
the immune system is extremely complex, its basic strategy is simple:
to recognize the enemy, mobilize forces, and attack. Your immune
system is under assault from herbicides, pesticides and food
additives, and also from the immense amount of radiation that is part
of our everyday life today. Protect the immune system and you will
live a long healthy life.
Jonathan Bell is a natural cancer prevention and treatment specialist
with years of experience in alternative health methods. He has done
various reports and consultations and continues his effort to educate
people with the good news that we can live free.
http://www.apricotpower-info.com
Free Articles provided by The Free Library
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