Autumn in Chinese Medicine is a time of looking inwards, taking on board and clearing whatever we have gained in the previous seasons. Autumn is associated with the Lungs, Large Intestine, and the Metal Element. The Metal Element deals with transformation, and to transform...
Eye of newt and toe of frog. Did historical apothecaries and folk herbalists ( often called witches ) really add strange animal body parts to their brews and potions? Or is there another explanation for the weird and horrifying recipes? “Filet of fenny snake,...
Many people hear a calling to connect with the Cacao Spirit, more so in recent times. This calling is described as curiosity, a longing for more connection, a whisper in the heart or a strong voice to reconnect with Mother Nature. Cacao is more...
Divine Feminine energy brings a sense of peace and balance. Tapping into it can be quite simple. The Divine Feminine energy in it’s simplest form is devoid of ego, judgment or harm, and deeply tied to nature, mysticism, wisdom, intuition, purity and matters of...
We hear more and more about the rise of The Divine Feminine, but what actually is it? Contrary to popular belief, the Divine Feminine isn’t limited only to the female of the species, it is an energy that we all possess, no matter where...
According to the last official census, 51% of Britain’s population are women and the process of bodily changes known as the Menopause will happen to every single one of them. In previous generations, it was not discussed even between female friends, to men of...
Yarrow ~ Wild Plant Medicine Yarrow ( Achillea ) has a long history of many uses as medicine, for wound-healing, fever treatment, and pain relief. Greek soldiers carried yarrow primarily to staunch wounds and this continued with soldiers across the world throughout history until...
EFT ~ Emotional Freedom Technique ( Tapping ) Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/ Tapping) is a simple but highly effective self-help technique based on the combined principles of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. Tapping with the fingertips on specific meridian end points ( energy pathways...
What is Qigong? an ancient energy practice originating thousands of years ago in China, passed down by ancient masters who understood how certain movements and postures could rebalance the body, mind, and spirit by connecting to Universal energy. The life force or energy that...
Full Moon Release Meditation This short meditation is a full moon ritual to release anything not serving you and encouraging forgiveness and peace of mind. A full moon is a time of change. It is a point at which energy peaks and then subsides,...
Dandelions rock! Dandelion balm is nourishing, soothing and a little miracle in your medicine cupboard. It is healing and calming and useful for easing sore muscles, chapped skin, joint pain, and headaches. It’s also a wonderful base to add healing essential oils to, to create...
What are Affirmations and why should you use them? Affirmations are simple, effective, positive statements concerning a goal or an aim. They are mantras that when repeated multiple times over a period of time can have a profound effect on the conscious and subconscious...
What is a Painbody? You may have heard holistic therapists mention your painbody and wondered what on earth they were on about? There is such a thing as old emotional pain living inside you. It is an accumulation of painful life experiences that were not...
Your Vibration ~ what is it? Your ‘vibration’ is a scientific way of describing your overall state of being energetically speaking. Everything in the universe is made of energy vibrating at different frequencies. Even things that look solid are made up of vibrational energy...
The human brain is a powerful thing. Brainwave Entrainment is a safe, simple method of calming the activity in your mind using music to help you achieve a state of relaxation or even sleep. By listening to specially prepared sounds known as Binaural Beats,...
What is mindfulness? In recent years Mindfulness has become a buzzword along with meditation. Many people have heard of it but very few know what it actually is. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. It...
This colour breathing meditation aims to help you improve your mood by simple use of colour, choose your colour carefully according to your emotional or mental need. If in any doubt you can choose a rainbow of all colours or just use White. For...
Colour ~ A simple way to boost your mood Colour plays an important part in our world, especially on our mental and emotional well being, different colours can create different emotional responses in our body. This means that we can utilise our responses to...
A jar full of calm, a DIY guide to creating your own, to help your meditation, relaxation or mindfulness practice. A Jar of Calm. If I could bottle it I’d have made a fortune by now. Sadly It’s not possible, although I do have...
12 Steps to Happiness ~ small changes, big results There are a few things I’ve learned in my 43 years from ”people who know”. Life skills, people skills and key skills to improving my happiness. Simple steps to make small changes that had big...
~ Gratitude ~ Every day is not always good, but there is always something good in every day. A simple concept based around gratitude to improve your daily life. As a therapist I see many clients suffering from varying degrees of depression and...
Did you know that your body keeps a physical memory of all of your emotional experiences? You have many memories stored in your brain that you can recall at any time, names, faces, where the event took place, what it smelled like. But over...
Message boxes, miracle boxes, prayer boxes or spirit boxes have been used for many years by people to manifest their desires, needs and wants. A modern take on the original prayer box ( where you write your prayers and put in the box...
Organic skincare ~ can actually make you happy!! When you choose good organic skincare, you are choosing products whose ingredients work in harmony with the natural systems of your skin. Given the right nutrients, our skin has the ability to care for and repair...
Space clearing ~ A guide for beginners Space clearing, cleansing or energy clearing are all terms used to describe an energetic clearing process carried out in any space, indoors or outdoors or even personal space ( aura ). Basically it means clearing away any...
Depression As better awareness about mental health has educated more people, the amount of people realising that they are suffering from some form of depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder has increased. Everyone at some point in their lives may suffer from depression, be it...
30 Day meditation Challenge 2017 is rapidly heading our way and with all of the New Year Resolutions that are being set I thought you might enjoy a challenge too. A meditation challenge, a simple, easy to do 30 day challenge. Why? Partly to...
It’s party season so I’ve put together a selection of remedies for the dreaded hangover, all tried and tested, but feel free to test them a little more! What is a Hangover? According to James M. Schaefer, PhD, an alcohol metabolism researcher, when you...
Considered sacred by ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Hebrews Rosemary has a woody, evergreen like scent and is actually part of the mint family. Rosemary has been extensively used since ancient times for a variety of purposes.The Egyptians used it for Incense in ceremonial events, the...
Many years ago I was told by a wise woman that being different didn’t matter, all I had to do to enjoy being me was to find my tribe. Being surrounded by a world full of people who are pretty much the same as...
A fantastic workshop full of fun that will teach you everything you need to know to be able to read many kinds of divination cards or Oracle decks for your own use. It will also teach you some self development tools that will enhance...
One of the most precious oils used for centuries, the amazing properties of Frankincense were even known to the Egyptians who prized it highly. In Biblical times this was known as ‘The King of Oils’. This incredible oil has MANY health properties and can...
Home made play dough is so easy to make and it’s even better with some essential oils added. A fab sensory experience, you can use therapeutic oils to help relax, calm or energise or even for their anti bacterial properties! Here is the recipe,...
Winter is coming and so is the season for colds and flu. As someone who will avoid any kind of medication unless death is a distinct possibility I love alternative remedies. This is my tried, tested and much loved Organic Elderberry Syrup, we use it...
I came to a sudden realisation today that at the best and worst of times in their lives, people come to me because they need me. It’s quite a privilege. I often hear from clients; this happened or I need this and ”I thought...
In a recent Essentially Curious workshop held at my local Cancer support centre I was asked to share information regarding the use of essential oils in relation to clients undergoing Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy. The following information is a guideline to safe use of oils...
Whilst on a training course recently, as part of an exercise to prepare ourselves as therapists to work on clients, we were taught a method of leaving all of our daily problems behind and to help us to focus and to feel happy, positive...
Summer is here and…it’s raining. No chance of getting a tan naturally in England but it’s much safer and more reliable to use a fake tan. If a mortal fear of looking like an umpa lumpa or a weird patchy mammal has prevented you...
The Retreat is known for offering wonderfully relaxing and safe Cancer Care treatments, in a private and welcoming environment. I also work hand in hand with a wonderful local cancer charity called Breast Friends and provide bi monthly make up workshops at the local...
Prevention is ALWAYS better than cure, especially in the case of Sun exposure, but because we all know Sunburn happens when you least expect it, I decided to share my sunburn remedies with you just in case! Did you know that it takes around...
Meditation does not have to involve chanting, however some forms of meditation do and mala beads are the helpful accessory to aid you in your practice. Over the last few years they have become somewhat of a fashion accessory and although they make great...
It’s getting around to Hay fever season again, a problem at The Retreat because we are sitting in the middle of fields and fields of grass and pollen filled plants. The only over the counter treatment for hay fever is Antihistamines in tablet or...
Simple but really effective, shower bombs are a great way to get an aromatherapy blast without having to soak in the bath. These little compact discs full of essential oils are popped in the corner of your shower and as you wash the steam...
Cold feet are a very common problem for both men and women. As a reflexologist I find a lot of chilly tootsies and was inspired to try out a recipe originally created by an ethnobotonaist for a warming foot oil, to help increase circulation....
Homemade herbal remedies are something we adore at The Retreat. In many cases they are nicer and more effective than over the counter products. I’m sharing a few of my favourites over the coming months. The first is a great salve for anyone suffering...
Carrier oils are a group of base natural oils used to blend or ‘carry’ essential oils for use on the skin. There are many to choose from, each have their own natural properties and are suitable for different uses. I have covered a selection...
So a sudden change in my plans for the weekend meant that I spent my Saturday evening in Surgery to have my appendix removed instead of having dinner with friends. As I’m a firm believer in alternative ways to heal your body alongside any...
I’m always being asked about how to use essential oils at home, by clients and friends who would like to try them but don’t quite know what to do with them. So the Essentially Curious Aromatherapy workshop was born. Our worlds and homes are...
You are what you eat, but if you put your food in your face masks it works that way too! Try to use organic ingredients whenever possible, as the skin on your face is more fragile and absorbs toxins more easily. For face mask recipes...
Everyone who comes here knows that I love to bake. Clients and students often ask for recipes from the treats that get devoured here. So I have decided to share a selection with you, for you to bake at home and enjoy, but you’re...
Tea is a wonderful thing! Many wrongs have been righted throughout history over a simple cuppa. It has amazing restorative and comforting powers and there are many kinds to choose from, each with their own healing powers for all kinds of illnesses. Here is...
Bananas don’t tend to make the top ten list of ‘Superfoods’, the buzzword for nutrient and vitamin packed foods that keep us happy and healthy. The humble Banana is a fruit staple and most people are aware that they are high in potassium and...
As an aromatherapist and beauty therapist for many years, I know about the amazing results that oil cleansing produces for your skin. Soft, dewy, glowing, healthy and vibrant skin, fewer wrinkles, pimples and flakes. Even the most sensitive of skins benefits from oil cleansing....
It’s that time again.Resolutions. That time when everyone intends to be fitter, thinner, healthier, busier etc. I do it my way, well why not, look how well it worked for Frank! In a week many of us will have given up or at least...
Ahh! Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year. Family and friends, gifts, music, good food, lots to drink, celebrations and children having fun. A house full of love and laughter. Lovely. In reality the thought of spending 3 days trapped sharing a house with the...
Vapour Rub It’s that time of year again when you can hear people coughing and sniffing everywhere. As child I suffered with Asthma and the one thing that made me feel better and made my breathing easier was good old Vicks Vapour rub....
The following are two essential oil based recipes that were handed down to me from a wonderful therapist who is sadly no longer with us. Her energy and wisdom are greatly missed but I still get to think of her on a regular basis...
The generally ‘accepted’ dilution of standard Essential oils is 2.5% which is 15 drops of oil per 30 ml base/carrier oil. So if you are using 3 oils in a blend that would be 5 drops of each. This is perfectly safe for topical...
As an aromatherapist I fragrance my world ( and therapy room ) using natural essential oils rather than synthetic creations. This means that not only does everywhere smell nice but it actually has a healing benefit too, always a bonus! I’m often asked for...
A quick peek behind the scenes at a couple of our Make up Artist training days, great fun with brilliant results. Details for all courses are on the website. We use the rather gorgeous Royal Effem make up range, a professional line from Parma...
Find a quiet space and ten minutes ( or more ) of undisturbed time. You can do this when you wake up still lying in bed or find a comfortable place to sit upright. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Take a few...
A fun two day training course with hard working students. The Reiki courses include 2 full days of training, 4 attunements, 2 Reiju empowerments, meditation, theory and practice, for both hands on and distance treatments.
I get asked a lot if I would write about learning to meditate, for those people who can’t for whatever reason take meditation lessons with me. So I’ll create a collection of meditations for you to try out along with hints and tips to...
A brief glimpse into Reiki Training with Reiki Mama at The Academy
A quick peek at The Retreat showing our treatment studio and various elements from our treatment menu. For more details please go to our treatment menu on the website. A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at The Retreat. Whether you are joining us...
Getting my head around Blogging is one thing, I just about managed to get started, then I was reliably informed that I should be making video for my shiny new website too! Since I have the technological skills of your average hamster I was...
Halloween or All Hallows Eve is here again and this year I thought I’d share a couple of techniques that you can try out, if you aren’t out on your broomsticks. Connecting with your Guides can help you gain clarity regarding situations or answers...
I have been offering Reiki drum treatments for a while now, and I am often asked about them and their effects. The Reiki Drum technique combines Reiki, a system of energy re-balancing that stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal on a mental, emotional,...
I recently spent a whole day learning several kinds of meditation and little relaxation skills from a Buddhist Lama. His is well known world wide but he only teaches a few people each year. The training is not in any way Buddhist/ religious or...
Six times a year I go to my local Cancer Support centre and in conjunction with a local breast cancer charity, who provide all of the products for each woman, I run a specialist make up workshop for women undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy. For...