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Hello Everyone,
Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day, from the Family Practice Centre of Integrative Health and Healing. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Maralyn Wilson, our psychotherapist and Reiki Practitioner has written about love in all of its forms. Cynthia Love, our centre’s nutritionist, has provided us with two recipes, including a sweet one for this sweet holiday. For anyone new to our newsletter, earlier editions can be viewed on our website www.fpcihh.com.
When I was first asked to write this month’s newsletter I was at a loss as to what I should write about. Then I realized that this month’s special day is Valentine’s Day. “What an opportunity to write about the four letter word called LOVE”, I thought. Of course, Valentine’s Day is a day we celebrate romantic love in various ways. Some people are lucky enough to give/receive flowers, chocolates, have special dinners and treats with their special someone. Some parents also celebrate this day with their children. It’s a special day to tell a special someone that they are loved. However, not everyone has a special someone to celebrate with. Does this mean that they aren’t loved? I should hope not!!! I remember a time that I spent with a wonderful mentor of mine. She was a celebrated and intuitive psychotherapist. At that time my romantic relationships had not worked out the way that I had envisioned and I was at a crossroads in my life. Not knowing where to turn I asked my friend if she would help me discover my life’s purpose. The experience was life changing! With her help I realized that my purpose was to learn about the various forms of love. I was to learn about universal love, spiritual love, unconditional love and love of self. I realized that there was so much to learn about love and this was my purpose. I learned that there are so many variations of love, but the most important love relationship one can have is the love for self. All of us are born with love in our hearts. It’s the socialization by family, community and culture that can move us out of hearts and into our heads where love then changes to fear because of experience with anger, abuse, death, disease, pain, greed, addiction, selfishness, violence and war. My journey brought me to the study of Kabbalah, which is about Jewish mysticism, although the practice is not limited to Jewish people. I read numerous self-help books. Some of my teachers were Louise Hay, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Caroline Myss, Don Miguel Ruiz, to name only a few. I owe my spiritual understanding of love to Mikao Usui, who developed Reiki Ho, a Japanese healing modality, that found it’s way to North America in the 1930’s by Mrs. Takata, a Japanese ex-patriot who lived in Hawaii. I also am grateful to Marianne Williamson, who wrote “A Return to Love” and to Dr. Demartini, for his Breakthrough Experience seminar. As is the way of the universe, I picked up “A Return to Love”, by Marianne Williamson at a garage sale for 50 cents. It was a big book and had no meaning to me at the time. I just knew that I had to have it. When the time was right and I eventually began to read it, I realized how blessed and guided I really was. This book is a reflection of the principles of “A Course in Miracles”, which is a self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy that presents universal spiritual themes. Spiritual love is that which we give from our hearts to others and to ourselves without fear and without holding back. The love that I’m writing about has it’s own energy. Marianne Williamson says it best when she writes, “it’s a feeling in a room, a situation, a person. Money can’t buy it. Sex doesn’t guarantee it. We experience it as kindness, giving, mercy, compassion, peace, joy, acceptance, non-judgment, joining and intimacy.” As I read, “Return to Love”, I began to see how my life was being driven by fear and negative interpretations of past events rather than guided by love and possibilities. Love was endless and everywhere. I did have so much to learn about love! My Reiki practice has solidified the concept of self, spiritual and universal love. I have learned to surrender to my Higher Power and to live in the moment, without attachment to outcome. I meditate on the 5 Principles. Just for today, I am not angry, I do not worry, I am grateful, I work with diligence and I honour everyone, as best as I can. In Reiki Ho, spiritual healing is the connector to universal consciousness and with the core of our own being, and I work toward this connection. Dr. John Demartini is another teacher that has enhanced my understanding of love. He has written many books and conducts numerous seminars. The attribute I admire the most though is his unconditional acceptance of everything, because everything is as it should be. And everything we go through is an opportunity to experience love. As you can see, my personal journey in learning all about love took many years. I learned that loving is really a choice. I could choose to feel hurt, angry, bitter and resentful, or I could choose instead to see blessings and to be grateful for everything in my life, both good and bad. As well, I learned that everyone is equal in God’s eyes, and therefore to be honoured, no matter what his or her skin colour, nationality, or social status is. What a wonderful world we could be living in if we can relinquish fear and instead bring kindness, mercy, compassion, acceptance, and non-judgment to ourselves, to our loved ones, our communities and expanding to all parts of our world. Self-love, universal love, spiritual love…what a concept!! I wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day. Light and Love
Spaghetti with Tomato and Herb Salsa This uncooked pasta sauce is fresh and vibrant tasting. Preparation time: 1/2 hour Ingredients:
Directions:
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies These cookies are amazing and great treat for Valentines Day !! I’ve made them for a lot of people over the years and everyone loves them! Ingredients:
Directions:
We hope that you continue to enjoy our newsletter. Please feel free to forward our newsletter on to family and friends. They are welcome to subscribe and can request our newsletters at www.fpcihh.com. Steve Cagalj, Registered Massage Therapist |
LOVE
Recipes