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Routines

It is so interesting to me how we become "trained" by the systems and objects we interact with on a daily basis. I have light switches in my house that move up and down and other switches that move side to side. And they are randomly set in the rooms - I can't figure any method or reasoning as to how they were chosen for each room. When I go to flip a switch to turn on the light, I have a 50/50 chance of getting it right which way to try...I am quite often wrong. It's weird. I think I consistently try the direction of the last switch I used, but there is no system to how they are placed...so there is no way to be sure. For some reason, I cannot memorize which room has what - except for the bathroom. Perhaps I use that switch the most, who knows? The point I haven't come to speedily is: we are creatures of habit just like our horses and dogs are. Routines and predictability soothe us, help us feel in control of our lives and environments. When our animals cannot find consistency or when their surroundings or routines are constantly changing, it has a profound effect on their emotional and mental bodies. If "change" becomes their habit (like traveling for show horses) they do adjust - the trailer and the showgrounds become routines. Everyone needs something they can count on - or someone, you can be that for your animals!

Spring Tonics

Spring is on its way and all our animals (and all of us as well) can benefit from a "spring tonic" of liver cleansing herbs, iron rich blood boosting herbs and colon toning, anti-tumor herbs. The first ones; the liver cleansers are typically roots like dandelion, burdock and yellow dock. They are simmered in water to make a decoction to drink. The next ones; the iron rich ones are nettle leaf and sea vegetables that are steeped to make a tea (infusion) and the last are the herbs like red clover blossom, plaintain leaf and seed (psyllium), angelica root, turmeric root and pau d'arco. Tonics can be made in wine for humans and added to honey for animals (not for babies of any species - minute amounts of botulism could be present in honey that adults can handle but infants cannot). None of the herbs should be used during pregnancy without first consulting a health care practitioner. Want to receive the Naturalpaths newsletter and Herb of the Week? Email katharinechrisley@yahoo.com to receive them regularly.

Drala

ZEN

Art

So, I have an artist's reception on March 7th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Laughing at the Sun Gallery inside the Old Tortilla Factory in Mesilla, New Mexico. My "Zen Art" will be the featured work for the month of March, 2009. I love to paint and the time I spent in Tubac at my wonderful tower studio inspired me to express the true love of my heart - Nature and Animals, especially horses. I try to present the "Drala" principle of Energy without Aggression in my paintings and infuse them with Lung Ta, the WINDHORSE who carries our dreams into the Cosmos.

Winter's back

I put the seed catalogs away. Today is really cold, supposed to be windy and storms should roll in. The full moon was beautiful last night and had rings around it. My grandmother (who was the herbalist, midwife and had a Native American mother) used to say that the rings indicated wet weather coming. She also said that most disease was caused by parasites. In the "old days" people did do parasite cleanses and in other countries there are more protocols for such problems. Here in the U.S., we do deworm our pets and animals...but we seem to forget about ourselves. You know, parasites don't kill their hosts - that would be counter productive. They just steal sustenance and set up residence inside of us. Naturopaths believe that tumors are caused by parasites...and lots of other disorders. It makes sense. Here is a fact, though, a body out of balance (in any species) is a more likely target for parasites than a vibrant one with a strong immune system. Parasites are opportunistic. We must nourish our life force and use the herbs that detox and prevent/eliminate parasites. We don't want to think about them...but they are around us, waiting for a chance to join in.

Busy times

Life has a way of following your focus. It is still Winter, but it feels like Spring today. I've been looking at seed catalogs and planning a garden. I've been thinking about my organic farm friends in Arizona - more family than friends really - and what they might be doing as they prepare to plant and grow food for so many people. I was remembering how I fed a pregnant teenager and myself from my garden many years ago, being her birth partner, keeping her healthy. Any amount of food that you can grow yourself, feed yourself with and possibly share will give a great sense of satisfaction. I am working on a nutrition guide for animal lovers for the Naturalpaths store - being for animal lovers, it is vegetarian...vegan would be even better for animals, but I want a guide that more people will be able to use. I was talking to some people years ago about "ethical food", we decided that "Twinkees" were the most ethical because their ingredients were as far removed from life as you could get. It's a joke. We must eat foods full of life force, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, etc. And now and then a cupcake just for fun. We are what we eat - seriously! And so are our animals. It's a balancing act. And we can focus on nourishment! Our lives will follow that focus.