Author: soulsticespirit

ULTRA SENSITIVE IN AN INSENSITIVE WORLD

These days, anything from stomach aches and food to movies and nightmares can be signs of extreme sensitivity. Now more than ever, humankind is realizing that the external world can have a deep impact on our mind, body and spiritual growth. It can impede our progress or it can make us stronger. The choice is ours to make.

For those of us who are highly sensitive souls, navigating through our lives in this day and age can be extensively challenging. Sometimes it seems as though we can’t go anywhere or do anything without feeling overwhelmed by what we see. And sometimes it crosses our mind that life might be easier to handle if we stayed in the comfort of our own homes and kept to ourselves.

Setting foot on a spiritual path has its challenges. Though most outsiders believe that being spiritual means that we have overcome all of our fears and worries, those of us who have been on our paths for quite some time know all too well that this common misconception is just that: a misconception. Being spiritual has never meant that we have all of the answers, or that we have overcome the desire to feel angry, sad or hurt. In fact, sometimes being spiritual means that we become so sensitive as to want to feel these feelings on a much deeper level. Being spiritual does not mean that we have let go of feeling these feelings- it means that we have the wherewithal to acknowledge our feelings, feel them and heal them in order to move on.

Sometimes, to sensitive souls, it can seem like “everything is happening to us” or that we are “always being punished”. We can’t believe that other people are behaving in a certain way, harming the Earth, with blatant disregard for Mother Earth herself and her inhabitants of all species. It can be quite traumatic to witness on an ongoing basis, and we may feel stuck because it feels like we have no choice in the matter because no matter where we go, destruction is everywhere. Further, we may feel helpless in an effort to stop these atrocities.

We, as sensitive souls, tend to take everything personally. We do this to the point that we become burnt out and exhausted. But as all experiences in life, we have a choice. We can let these circumstances get the best of us, or we can accept that these circumstances are beyond our control. And with acceptance comes the knowledge that we have the power to effect change on an energetic level. We have the power to stop, be true to the moment and send love to ourselves, human perpetrators and most of all nature. We can realize that as sensitive souls, we can empathize with even the nastiest seeming humans. We can understand that their actions are bigger than themselves. Instead of judging and hating, we can make the Earth a more tolerable place by sending those people love in hopes that in some small way, it will affect them. For THIS is why we were born.

What we must remember is that we were born this way intentionally. Even though our sensitive nature can seem like a curse, it is in fact a blessing. We chose, in tandem with The Creator, to be born at this time in this way to change the world. Changing the world may not mean, necessarily that we will lead the world into a better day. It could, but if it can also mean that by changing the heart of one person we can create a series of events that could spark a positive change in a big way.

We must remember that we are not alone. We are not the only individual born this way. In fact, there are hundreds of thousands of us everywhere. By being true to ourselves and living our truths, we will find that we gravitate towards other individuals who have had similar experiences. We will begin to attract similar types of people who are on a similar path, and we may begin to feel a sense of comfort in this.

In addition to the strength we may gain from forming alliances with other souls on similar paths, we can be sure that we are also supported by The Divine. We can rest assured that we are not alone by any means, even when it feels as if we are. We can have faith that we are guided by something outside of our bodies yet so strongly connected to whom we are intrinsically- who we were before we acquired bodies, personalities and Earthy experiences. And we can trust this guidance, for it knows our truth better than we do. To rest our trust on The Divine, to relinquish our fears, worries and challenges, is to begin to heal as ultra-sensitive souls, and to begin to heal the insensitive world.

THE EMPATH TOOL KIT- 5 THINGS AN EMPATH MUST KNOW:

WHAT IS AN EMPATH?

An empath is a person who takes on energies of other people and places and integrates them as her own. There are two kinds of empaths. There are those of us who are conscious empaths and those of us who are unconscious. Those of us who are conscious empaths are aware that we take on external energies and are often able to stop them before we begin to integrate them as our own. Those of us who are unconscious empaths are often unable to recognize that what we are feeling may not be of our origin. When the latter happens, we can become easily overwhelmed, and not know why or where to turn. Because empaths are so sensitive, we are always at risk of attack by negative or harmful energies. Harmful energies do not necessarily mean physically harmful, however they are energies that resonate below our natural vibrations and are liable to bring ours down. Symptoms of being an empath are:

-Feeling drained after being in a crowd or with an emotional person

-Suddenly feeling sad, angry or depressed after speaking with someone who has those characteristics

-Extreme sensitivity to violence, cruelty and abuse

-Extreme sensitivity to media

-Taking situations very personally

-Energy matching people with whom we are conversing

-Feeling easily burnt out

There are so many ways for our energies to go haywire! With all of these potential situations, it is crucial to learn methods of self-protection.  Here are five tools that every empath needs to know about how to protect and heal:

1)      Sage- Sage is an ancient traditional tool used to neutralize negative energies. Called “smudging”, lighting dried sage and burning it around our living space and personal energy fields can rid us and our homes of energies that we may have attracted due to our empathic nature. Our living spaces may also attract negative energies based on who comes into the space, who has lived in the home prior to us and the land of the energy that the home was built on. Not only can the home take on energies based on the above three, but residual energies from arguments and trauma that have occurred in the home can also sustain themselves if uncleansed. Sage will remove residual energies and protect any undesired energies from entering or sustaining there.

2)      Crystals- Crystals have subtle vibrations that can protect and heal our energy fields. Certain types of crystals have a frequency that an protect our energy fields from negative and/or harmful energies. One example is black tourmaline. Black tourmaline is known for its protective properties.  Placed in a pocket, purse or pillow case , black tourmaline is sure to protect invasive energies from interfering with us.

3)      Learn to protect your energy- By utilizing a simple and brief daily meditative exercise, we are able to create an energetic force field around ourselves. With this force field, we are assured that no energy can get through to harm us. By consciously inviting Archangel Michael into our space and asking him to surround us with white Light, to “clear and shield” our energy field, we will be invoking a layer of protection around our energies. We will be helping to prevent burnout.

4)      Energy Healing- Whether we choose to receive energy healing on a regular basis from a qualified practitioner or learn to practice it on ourselves, it is a very highly effective form of treatment for empaths. Because it is energy specifically that we are taking on, it would stand to reason that treating ourselves with benevolent energy will combat any residual undesired energies.

5)      Take regular breaks- empaths can easily become overwhelmed with energy. It is important for physical, mental and spiritual health that we take regular short breaks. It’s important that we take time for ourselves so that we do not burn out or worse- become ill. When we become overloaded with uncomfortable energies and there is no outlet, the uncomfortable energy has the potential to take its toll on our physical bodies. This is why it’s important to take the time to let it go. Take the time to reconnect with yourself; to nurture and to heal.

Especially in this day and age, there are countless opportunities to let other people’s energies create a fearful mindset within us. It’s important to first acknowledge which thoughts belong to us and which do not. Once we practice the art of discernment we will be far more apt to survive as empaths in such a tumultuous global environment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL: jmorgan.soulstice@gmail.com

5 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR ANIMAL’S LONGEVITY

Most of us love our animal companions to pieces and would do anything to keep them in our lives as long as possible! Did you know that the main reason animals are put down too early is due to a lack of knowledge by the animal’s person? Too often humans are unaware of the vast information available that could save their animal’s life, or at least prolong it for a few years.

1)      Exercise –Just as with people, allowing a regular exercise regime promotes healthy cardiovascular function, healthy circulation, bone density, confidence and longevity in animals. By exercising our animals’ body AND mind, we will be keeping our animals fit and sharp. Just as with people, animals thrive through proper health habits.

2)      Healthy Food- animals are without options with what they get fed. If you took your animal friend to the store to choose her or his food, would she or he choose the food you are buying currently? If animals could speak, they would definitely want good quality food. Because our animal friend is unable to go to the store to buy her or his own food, this is our responsibility. It is our duty as caregivers to put ourselves in their positions and ask ourselves what would be the most nutritious source of food for our animal’s bodies? As we know, the animal and human bodies function optimally with optimal nutrition. And, the concept that healthy food is expensive is a myth. There are a number of higher quality brands that will not burn a hole in your wallet. In fact, there are a number of healthy brands that cost far less than the ones you’re currently buying. If you are buying your cat or dog food at a human grocery store, you may want to rethink it. At the very least, read labels carefully and research the factories where the food was made. Those who follow these feeding guidelines know that some animal food brands are often untruthful about the exact details about where the food was processed and which order the ingredients should really be in.

3)      Regular trips to the holistic vet- animals are incredibly sensitive to energy. They are so sensitive that they assimilate all energies that they encounter into their own energy bodies. Whether a fight at a dog park, their people’s fight or a series of stress-related incident the animal stores that energy in her or his body. Because this is a very regular occurrence, the animal can easily create an energy blockage in her or his energy field.  If not cleared or removed properly, this energy blockage can trickle down into the physical body. This trickle down can cause a physical blockage such as a knee issue, diarrhea, vomiting, chronic allergies; pretty much any physical ailment that seems sudden but has in actuality been building over time. By visiting a holistic vet on a regular basis (once per year) the vet is able to catch energy blockages before they can cause serious health issues. Often early organ failure can be PREVENTED by seeking holistic advice from a holistic vet. Through a vast understanding of the body’s energy systems, the holistic vet is able to track any blockages and treat them with acupuncture to relive the buildup of energy. Some cancers have been healed and many prevented.

4)      Regular visits from an Animal Communicator/Energy worker- Animals have messages. Whether they are profound or personal, every companion animal desires to express her or himself. If the animal feels like she or he is not being heard, this can be very stressful for the animal. This is often seen in multi-animal homes, homes with children and homes with a lot of visitors and/or angry family members. When animals feel, they feel incredibly deeply. And, if these emotions are bottled up within the animal for a prolonged period of time, the stress takes its toll. This can lead to chronic illness and/or misunderstood behaviour. Generally speaking, your animal friend is not suddenly acting out without reason. Your animal friend is trying to get your attention. If you are unable to discern what this message is, contacting an animal communicator will help. Animal communicators read energy. Energy is animals’ fundamental language. Because animal communicators are so well versed in energy, we are able to read what is happening inside and around an animal, as one would read a book. By having an animal communicator come in for a regular visit (once or twice per year, barring any unforeseen circumstances), your animal will feel that he or she is being heard. This will stop the stress before it becomes toxic. It will also help your animal friend to know that you care and that communication between you two is important.

5)      Reduce stress- stress is more damaging to an animal than some may think. When humans and animals get stressed, they often act out. If there is no outlet for their stress, they can easily take ill. By reducing stress in the animal’s environment such as loud noise, clutter, screaming children, arguing, poor quality food, lack of exercise, lack of respect of space (the list goes on and on), we are promoting a healthier and longer life for our animal friends.
In addition to the promotion of longevity through these five steps, we are also promoting and ensuring a better quality of life for our animal family members. Given that they are our loyal, unconditionally loving companions and we are theirs, they deserve nothing less!

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL: jmorgan.soulstice@gmail.com

5 INTEGRAL STEPS TO SELF-HEALING

We have all asked ourselves: Why is life so challenging sometimes? And then we are reminded that if life was easy, we would never learn anything. It is the nature of the human experience to live out the peaks and troughs of life. As a result, the human experience can be quite uncomfortable at times. As with all circumstances, we have a choice. We can let them get the best of us, or we can employ our spiritual warrior sides and face them head on. When we choose, we must realize that if we choose to ignore the situations or let them get the best of us, we will continue to be confronted with them time and time again until we have healed. It is fair to say that the old proverb “If not now, when?” is of great import with this.

As a spiritual healer and teacher, I am often asked how to heal from a situation; whether it is a soul contract, heartbreak or trauma. Whatever the origin, the grieving process can be difficult at best. Here are five steps that we must all take in order to heal properly from pain, loss and trauma:

1)      Acknowledge- The first step to healing is to acknowledge that we are hurt. Acknowledge that it is time to heal.

2)      Accept- To fully heal, we must accept that we are hurt. We must accept responsibility for our part in the situation. We must accept that we are not a victim. We must accept that we have been involved in a situation that has caused us pain and accept that our actions have gotten us here. Or in some cases, we must accept that we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We must not blame others for our pain. Though other people may have been involved in our traumatic experiences, our primary responsibility is to ourselves and our own healing, irrespective of others. We cannot change the events that have taken place, we can only change our reactions to them by accepting the situation as it is.

3)      Feel your feelings- to fully heal from an experience, letting yourself feel the depths of your pain is the most sincere form of facing your shadow side. It can be extremely uncomfortable at times to stare your heartache straight in the face but it is necessary to do so in order for it to work its way out of your system. Of course there is a major difference between dealing and dwelling. Dealing with pain means bearing down, sitting in it and letting the emotions run their course. Dwelling in pain refers to those of us who repeat the story of our pain over and over again to ourselves, not allowing ourselves to overcome the pain. It refers to those of us who are stuck in the trauma so deeply that it becomes who we think we are, and our true nature becomes lost. There is a fine line between dealing and dwelling. To deal with our pain, we must not ignore our feelings. We must not numb the pain with external substances such as drugs, alcohol and food. By numbing the pain, we are procrastinating the self-work involved in healing. We will eventually have to face the pain. And the deeper it’s buried, the harder it is to find. The more we ignore our feelings, the more we create a blockage within ourselves. And the bigger the blockage, the more healing will be necessary in the long run. To deal with our pain, we must acknowledge it, accept it and feel it; however uncomfortable it may be.

4)      Forgive yourself- Perhaps the most overlooked step to healing is self-forgiveness. Self-blame is a common thread in all situations that involve healing. We often blame ourselves for aspects of the situation that we had no control over at the time; aspects of the situation that could not have been altered. We blame ourselves to the point that the guilt takes over and causes a downward spiral thinking pattern. This too can lead to repetition of thought resulting in it becoming our identity; losing ourselves in the process. To err is human. We must recognize that we are fallible. We are not perfect; and it will only harm us to continue to punish ourselves for actions that we have taken that have created an undesirable result.  It is part of our wiring to make mistakes. If we did not make mistakes, we would never learn. And as we realize this, we can grow. To be gentle with ourselves is to begin to heal. Once you have forgiven yourself for your part in the situation, you are ready to let it go!

5)      Let it go- holding onto any burdensome situation is unhealthy. This behaviour affects our physical, emotional mental and spiritual states. To completely heal from any situation, we must let it go. We will know when we have finally healed from the experience when we are able to think about it and remain balanced. No crying, no sadness, no remorse. Once we have healed we will be able to reflect on the experience with love.

The road to self-healing can be complex; and to walk it we must be courageous. Remembering that we are only faced with what we can handle can give us the strength to succeed. Should we choose to delay the facing of our fears, we will hinder our personal progress. We will be subject to living out the same scenario time and time again until we learn from it. It is important to be patient with ourselves during our road to healing. We must give ourselves healthy space and time to breathe and build self-confidence so that we are able to overcome our perceived obstacles in order to come into alignment with our highest selves.

YOUR ANIMAL’S PERSPECTIVE ON LIVING IN YOUR HOME

One of the most common questions I get asked is “Is my animal happy?” Given that this is a very broad question with a whole host of possible answers, there are some general suggestions that can be applicable to all households.

All animals have messages about how they are feeling and what they would like their people to know. If we wish to listen to what they have to share, we are fully capable of doing so with practice. Animals have thoughts and feelings about their households, the other members of the households, if they are happy and healthy and if they would like something to change.

A common misconception about animals is that “all dogs” or “all cats” is an accurate way to categorize. In reality, however, just as each individual human has her own personality, so does every individual animal. By understanding the personalities of each animal in our home, we will be well equipped to provide a healthy and happy environment for our dogs and cats. In my classes, I call this “individuation”.

Pay attention to what your animal likes to do, their dislikes and set up your living space in accordance with these preferences of your animal friends. If you are unclear how to do this, there are questions that you can ask yourself that will allow you to see things from your animal’s perspective- this is called empathy. Empathy simply means- putting yourself in the animal’s position. By doing this, it will be a lot easier to understand if your animal is happy and what you might want to do to adapt your environment to make your animal more comfortable.

Companion animals seek balance. By taking a moment to observe your home, and your animals’ behaviour in your home, you will begin to see what may be out of balance. Balance may be sought in temperature, noise level, ability to go outdoors into green space, cleanliness of home, diet, play time/play things, among others. Bringing balance to your animals’ living space can make a world of difference!

Asking yourself questions such as: “Is my animal’s sleeping area warm/cool enough” , “Does my animal have enough fresh air every day”, “What brings my animal joy?” can really help you to understand your animal’s personality. Once you have taken the time to answer some of these questions, you are now ready to accommodate your animal. For example, is your feline friend more interested in sitting on top of a wall unit all day? Or is she more interested in hiding under the covers of your bed all day? Does your dog react better to a reward system based on food or praise? By identifying what interests your animal friends and accommodating accordingly, you will be providing a nurturing environment where the animal can grow and learn- and most importantly, be content.

In some of my earlier articles, I mentioned that animals have specific roles in our lives. It is important to let them know that they are heard, that they are loved and that they are doing a wonderful job. By using positive affirmations toward your animals, you will be helping them to succeed and to feel confident in their roles. Though your animals may or may not understand linguistic words and phrases, the certainly understand intonation, energy and vibrations. It is common that when you use a negative tone of voice or raise your voice, your animal may cower or exhibit discomfort via body language. This is not a coincidence. Just like humans, animals will respond better to praise than negative reinforcement. In fact, it is often the case that animals are more sensitive to tones, noise and yelling than humans are. Knowing this can help you to create a more harmonious home for you and your animal friends.

Instead of worrying if you animal friends are happy in your home, it will help you feel better to take action to ensure that they are happy living with you and your home environment. It will also help to remember how sensitive animals are to our thoughts and feelings. When we are unhappy, they are unhappy. By allowing time each day to connect with our animals through various ways, our animals will be that much more comfortable. Some of these ways include; cuddles, massage, energy work and singing to them daily. These practices are those that the animal understands on a very basic, intrinsic level. By connecting with them in these ways we are nurturing them and helping them to feel balanced and at peace. Of course, it will also help us to feel at peace as well!

Once you become practiced at animal empathy, you can begin to commune with your animal friends daily.  You may be surprised at how open they are to communication!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO UNDERTSAND AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR ANIMALS, email: jmorgan.soulstice@gmail.com.

BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL FOR CATS AND DOGS

**Please note: if your cat or dog has pre-existing health issues, please consult with your animal care practitioner before adding coconut oil to their diet.**

COCONUT OIL FOR CATS & DOGS

Due to an epidemic of side effects from eating poor quality food in combination with environmental toxins and drinking water with heavy metals, companion animals are experiencing many physical symptoms of poor health.

Beginning with food quality, many animals suffer from dry skin and dry coats. Most would have people believe that this is “normal” or “healthy”. It is not. When we examine the ingredients of the food that we are feeding our animal companions, we can begin to see what the issue is. When we examine kibble, for example, we can note that it is dehydrated food. What does this mean? It means that in order for the animal’s digestive system to pass the dehydrated food through his system, water must be sucked from every vital organ such as liver, intestines, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, urinary bladder, eyes and the kidneys,  which take the brunt of the water draining process in order to moisturize and facilitate smooth digestion. We often find that in aging animals, a dry coat and skin is accompanied by redness of whites of eyes. This is a clear sign of dehydration. If your cat or dog eats a mainly dry food diet, red eyes are common. They are a common sign that your cat or dog’s body lacks sufficient moisture to adequately lubricate their eyes. This may not seem like a big deal, however just as it is for humans, dry, red eyes can be uncomfortable and often painful. Prolonged dry and red eyes are a sign of serious dehydration in the digestive organs.  And if caught early enough, it can be treated with coconut oil. If you are feeding your animal dehydrated food (even dehydrated meat and snacks), please check your animal’s eyes for redness. This is often a sign of a deeper issue with major organ dehydration.

Secondly, when we look closely at the ingredients of both kibble and processed wet food, we will often find evidence of carcinogens, toxins and non-food items. Powdered cellulose, for example is a very common ingredient in lower quality cat and dog food. It sounds healthy, doesn’t it? This assumption would be incorrect. Powdered cellulose is a clever word that marketing teams have come up with to disguise this horribly inflammatory ingredient. Powdered cellulose is sawdust. SAWDUST. One other such ingredient is ‘corn gluten”. Again you may think it sounds healthy? Alas, this is just another cleverly disguised word for WEED KILLER That farmers use to kill weeds in their crops. Be mindful that these are just two of many, many toxic ingredients found in cat and dog food; Even veterinary “science diet” recommended brands. It is extremely important to read ingredients and research what you are actually feeding your animals.  Please do not blindly trust professionals. Do your own research and ask yourself if the ingredients listed on what you’re feeding are healthy for your animal or if the ingredients are harming your animal.  With prolonged exposure of ingestion of these items, there are many possible chronic health complications. Coconut oil has been known to aid in the “flushing out” of muscles, joints, digestive tract and all other areas where toxins can build up over time.

Coconut oil is high in omegas 3 and 6. Omega fatty acids allow for the body to absorb moisture more readily. They help with healthy cell development. Omegas have been studied and shown to prevent tumour formation in animals.

Coconut oil is a known lubricator of joints. In aging animals (just like aging people), the joints become dryer and lesser mobile. This is because the joint fluid becomes depleted; which can also most often be associated with dehydration. Many of the lower quality foods contain highly inflammatory ingredients. Powdered cellulose, corn gluten, brewer’s rice (just to name a few- also all located on he ingredients list of veterinary recommended brands) joint lubrication is compromised. Symptoms include lower joint mobility and eventually arthritis. Though arthritis can also be congenital, by adding coconut oil into an animal’s diet, the symptoms of arthritis will be lowered due to the additional joint lubrication that the oil provides. Be mindful that eating a mainly dry food diet heavily contributes to joint mobility issues and arthritis. This is because, as mentioned earlier, consuming a mainly dry food diet (kibble) depletes all of the moisture in the body. This includes joints and tissues. By adding coconut oil to your animal’s diet, you will be replenishing moisture back into their organs, joints and tissues.

For many cats and some dogs, regular water does not provide enough moisture for a healthy body. In cats, this is due to the origin of species as desert animals. Genetically, cats originated in areas of the world with scarce amounts of water such as the desert. Their water drinking habits are learned behaviour. Though they have adapted behaviour to domestication, sometimes their bodies have not. This is to say that water often passes right through them without absorption. And, often they do not drink enough water at all to facilitate healthy kidney function. Cats most often will take exception to having their water bowl right beside their food dish. Have you ever noticed that your cat puts bits of food in her water? This is her way of letting you know tjat she woild like her water to be placed elsewhere in your home. This is because in their origin of species,  they never made their kill beside any source of water for fear of contamination of the water source. This behavior is wired very deeply into their genetics. You may notice that your cat doesn’t drink water from her water bowl that you’ve placed beside her food. She may prefer to drink from the sink or toilet. This is because she prefers to have her water source elsewhere from her food dish. To ensure she does drink adequate amounts of water, you may wish to place a few water bowls around your home. By adding a small amount of coconut oil to their food routine, they will be able to retain moisture within their skin, coat, eyes, mouth and digestive systems, allowing for a more healthful life experience. Because coconut oil is full of omegas, it will help your kitty friend to stay hydrated, keeping the moisture from the water to nourish her vital organs.

Coconut oil has been found to lower symptoms of depression which can aid with animals who are anxious and/or depressed. Omegas can also help with increasing cognitive function which is especially important in kittens and puppies who have been weaned too early or those who have been “found” in the middle of nowhere at extremely young ages. These kittens and puppies have been weaned too early as well and their brains and digestive systems have not had enough nutrition from their mother’s milk to develop properly and fully. Coconut oil can help with cognitive function as well as to lubricate the intestines for those animals who have IBS and suffer from constipation.

Other benefits of coconut oil for cats and dogs include:

-Aids in digestion

-Aids in healing insect bites and stings; applied topically

-Antioxidant

-Antibacterial

-Antifungal

-Antiviral

-Balances thyroid

-Clears eczema and other rashes; applied topically OR ingested orally

-Eliminates bad breath

-Helps control diabetes

-Helps with “hot spots”

-Immediate source of fuel and energy

-Immune system support (for those who have read my previous articles on chronic allergies, this is for you!)

-Improves metabolic function

-Minimizes poor odor

-Moisturizes dry skin & coat

-Prevents Infection

-Promotes wound healing; topically or orally

Be mindful that coconut oil is high in fat and should be used in moderation. As with any new food or supplement, begin by adding a very small amount. Monitor cat or dog’s behaviour and bowels. Because this supplement is oil, runny stools are possible if too much oil is given at once. Begin with a half teaspoon for larger breed dogs and a quarter teaspoon for cats and smaller dogs. If the dosage has no adverse affects on stool, increase incrementally as needed. It is not necessary to administer coconut oil every day. Three times per week is a healthy start, working your way up to 1/8 teaspoon, possibly slightly more if your cat is not overweight day 3x week.

If your animal has pre-existing weight issues, keep the dosage on the lower end as the oil can cause fat increase. Be sure to provide adequate exercise for your animals at all times based on the individual needs (caloric intake, breed specific etc) for optimal wellness.

If your  cat or dog has liver imbalances such as liver disease, liver cancer or any other liver malfunction, please do not feed them coconut oil, as it can make the situation worse. Do ask your vet before adding coconut oil or any other food supplement to your cat or dog’s diet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL: jmorgan.soulstice@gmail.com

WHAT IS DISTANCE HEALING AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Conceptually, distance healing is a valid form of treatment that can be performed on anyone, anywhere by a trained individual, anytime, anywhere. Because we are accessing the person, animal or plant’s energy body, it is unnecessary to have the patient with us in the same room.

If we go beyond the common misconception of space and time, we are able to access another space called the fourth density. The first three densities are three dimensional space- that which we live in and move about daily. Beyond the limitations of these densities lie many more densities. The one in which distant healing takes place is the fourth density. This is the telepathic density. It is the density to where we go in an astral projection.

Distance healing can work on all living beings; animal, plant and human. Through focused intention and acute training of ability, the healer connects with the energetic body of the patient. All living beings are innately telepathic. Some may disagree, however it is commonly believed that these people have lost their telepathic ability due to environmental and social conditioning. The vast majority of humans are limited in our belief systems of space and time. This majority live within a fixed framework of space and time; time only flowing forward, physical distance being a definitive separation of two objects, etc. As the majority are living within this framework, they are somewhat limited in a more complete understanding of what may lie without.

Because of the common human perception that time and space are of a fixed nature, many people take issue with the idea of manifesting change. As in the “law” of inertia, when something is set it motion it stays in motion.

As energy is transcendent of space and time, it is easily transmitted to its intended destination. Energy has a vibration- positive or negative. To exemplify this, consider a time in your life when your phone rang and you knew who was on the other end? Perhaps there was a time when you had a sudden urge to call a relative and he or she was in a bad way and needed to talk? This is all energetic telepathy. Most people are already doing this without conscious awareness!

Take a moment, if you will, to begin to see beyond the common belief of space and time. Go beyond linear time and three dimensional space. This is where distance healing takes place. In this new density, the fourth density, time can easily flow forwards and backwards. We can jump from one time period to another, one lifetime to another. We can access any place in space if we so choose in the fourth density. For this is where astral projection occurs. We may even go so far as to say that all of creation is happening at once. By this idea, we are able to manifest change in an instant. But how?

We may hear of healers claiming to “send healing”. Semantically, this is incorrect. There is no such sending energy across, or receiving energy from afar; there is merely the intention and the simultaneous reception of intention. When the recipient gives permission to the healer to access her energy, the trained healer is immediately shown what area of the recipient requires the healing. This is telepathy and is accessible to all beings. As with any skill, all it takes is practice. Once the healer witnesses the healing take place in the recipient, the healing is complete. Sometimes the recipient will fee the results instantaneously and sometimes it will be a gradual effect depending on the individual who has been treated. Every human, animal and plant is different and reacts to healing energy in her or his unique way. Does distance healing work? Absolutely.

TO BOOK YOUR DISTANCE REIKI/ANIMAL COMMUNICATION SESSION OR FOR REFERENCES ABOUT MY PREVIOUS SUCCESSFUL DISTANCE HEALING SESSIONS, EMAIL: jmorgan.soulstice@gmail.com

12 ADORABLY WEIRD ANIMAL BEHAVIOURS:

If you’ve ever spent time with an animal companion, you know how much joy and laughter they bring! While sometimes they exhibit such human-like characteristics, other times they will behave in such silly ways that can be unfamiliar to the human experience. Here are 12 behaviours with ancient origin that are sure to bring smiles to our faces…or at least answer some questions!

1)      Sniffing into the wind- When cats and dogs were wild animals, they would smell into the wind to see if they could pick up the scent of prey in the distance.

2)      Walking in small circles before lying down to sleep- When cats and dogs were in the wild, they would walk in circles on the tall grasses to pat them down and make a “bed” to sleep.

3)      Paws the ground after eliminating- This is marking behaviour. Cats and dogs have olfactory sensors in their paws. They leave additional scent with their paws for animals to smell after elimination.

4)      Chasing tail- Animals will chase their tails due to boredom. This is especially present in herding dogs or dogs who are bred to chase.

5)      Rolls around in grass- Dogs and cats do this for two reasons; to scratch an itch and/or to pick up the scent of the area onto their hair/fur so that other animals will know where they have been.

6)      Takes food from bowl to other room to eat- this is submissive behaviour. Even in single animal homes, the animal may be exhibiting a reflection of being the last of the litter to get food or having to compete for food in previous homes.

7)      Licks plastic bags- Some cats love the crinkling sound of plastic. Animals are highly noise sensitive. Plastic is not a natural material and it sounds funny to them.  They love to play with plastic bags and other items that make noise.

8)      Eats grass- Animals will eat grass for two reasons; if they have sore tummies, grass can often induce vomiting which can alleviate the soreness. They will also eat grass if they are lacking nutrients in their diet. If the latter is the case, research into supplementing the animal’s diet with vegetables or enzymes is necessary.

9)      Eats feces- Dogs will eat feces (coprophagia) for two reasons; when dogs were wild, one of their survival methods was to dispose of any evidence that could lead predators to them. They ate their stool so as not to leave a trail behind. Poop eating can also be a symptom of malnutrition. This means that they may not be digesting all of the necessary nutrients from their diets, or that they have contracted worms and are not absorbing the nutrients from food. For clarity on this seek assistance from an animal care practitioner; intuitive or veterinarian.

10)   Rubs body against people’s legs, face and body- usually seen in cats (and sometimes in dogs), animals will rub against people to “mark” them. While it may seem cute that our furry friends are greeting us in this cuddly way, they are actually claiming us as their territory.

11)   Head tilt- Have you ever seen your dog or puppy tilt his head? Though the definitive reason for this behaviour is unclear, animal behaviour specialists (including myself) believe that the dog will tilt his head when his person is speaking with him in anticipation of recognizable words.

12)   Hiding in box, plastic bag or in shelf/cupboard- cats love to hide in objects. Most of the time this is “play” behaviour. Most cats love to be in enclosed areas. It can help them to feel safe and secure. Boxes are not only great for safety and security but they are also a great place from which to stalk their prey unseen. Cats are curious by nature and love to see what’s in the box! Also the box tends to be warmer than a cold winter floor, so cold cats can find it more comfortable.

Whether you are an animal companion or love animals from afar, it’s always entertaining to watch them. They are perfect combinations between their ancient, wild genetic patterning and modern day social companions! For more information on animal behaviour, email: jmorgan.soulstice@gmail.com.

STRENGTH IN THE FACE OF SKEPTICS

As spiritual warriors, we have all come a long way on our path. We have twisted and turned, upped and downed, spiraled and been still. We have all come face to face with our darkest places and won the battle. And we keep going because we are bold forces of nature!

As brave and strong as we are, we occasionally still encounter those who do are not on the same journeys that we are. Sometimes, these people are family, friends or other people we see on a regular basis. And sometimes, because these people are so close to us, they can have the power to get to us the most.

 As spiritualists, we study and do our best to abide by the tradition of kindness. This is easy, of course, when going about our routine… until we are challenged by someone who is skeptical of what we think, who we are, and what we practice. We have all had this experience at one time or another.  Because the population of enlightened humans is rapidly growing, it is important that we pass onto them how to appropriately handle skeptics and nay-sayers.

Here are a few points to consider the next time you are faced with someone who challenges your spirituality:

1)      Avoid defensiveness! Our human brains are hardwired to react in a negative way to anyone who challenges us. The reality is that this knee-jerk reaction will never go away. What we CAN do, is know that we have a choice when we immediately feel this way in the face of confrontation. We can either fly by the seat of our pants and get into an argument that will likely leave us feeling worse than when we began it, OR we can choose to acknowledge the feeling of defense and let it go before any words ever leave our mouths. Once we let go of the immediate defensiveness in the face of confrontation, we can allow ourselves to act out of love.

2)      Act out of love! Referencing the above, our reaction to other people’s challenging of our path can result in acting out of ego if we are not careful. As easy as it is to claim that we do not act with ego when we go about our day to day lives, in certain situations, it can be very easy to slip back into the human condition and become defensive. Not only will this often make the other person equally defensive, but it will likely negate any opportunity you have to discuss each other’s points of view with compassion and respect.

3)      Empathy- Empathy is a key component in living a spiritual lifestyle. By being empathetic, we can understand where the person is coming from, and that they are entitled to their own opinion. Most spiritualists know that we do not know everything therefore it is not our place to call anyone “wrong” for believing that spirituality is a false belief. By empathizing with our challenger, we can begin to accept that not everyone is on the same path that we are. We are all evolving at different rates and we are all born with different circumstances that will get our souls where they need to go when the time is right.

4)      Avoid involving yourself in the other person’s drama. Dramatic people generally have a low vibration. They attract drama because they feed off of it, and often other people get hurt in the process. When we are dealing with dramatic people, it is important to listen intently and be a good friend. However, once we find ourselves engaging in the drama of others- whether it’s toward us or about someone entirely different, we are invoking the dramatic person’s karma upon ourselves. When we are conversing with dramatic people, we may find that we tend to “energy match” that person. This means that we get into their energy instead of maintaining our own. The more intense their energy becomes, so does ours.  It’s important that we recognize when this is starting to happen so that we make a conscious effort to maintain our energetic balance.

5)      Remain objective and detached- It is important, when communicating with people who don’t share our perspectives, to remain objective. This way, our emotions to not come into play in our responses. Once we begin to get emotional in context of a disagreement, our ego gets in the way. We always want to lead by example. More often than not, people who are not yet spiritual will connect a lot more to what we are saying if we provide them with objective reasoning, free of emotion. Also by remaining detached from the outcome of the conversation, we leave lesser room for judgement. It is important to remind ourselves to avoid judging others, as we are all on our own individual paths, and we are all going through our trials and tribulations at different paces, each perfect for the individual undergoing them. We must always respect where others are at o their journey- even if they don’t seem to think they’re on a journey at all!

6)      Rise above! – If you find that you feel like you’re “under attack” by those family members or friends who do not share your points of view about the environment, animal rights and any kind of spiritual practice you are walking, taking a step back and reaffirming who YOU are, apart from the judgement of others is of primary importance. By taking a moment to regroup, to reconnect with what you have worked so hard for, you can rise above any challenges and skepticism brought on by external sources. By rising above, you are remaining detached from the drama of others.

7)      Other people are NOT your responsibility! –As much as some of us would love to, we wish we could rule the world and persuade all of humanity to see things through our eyes. This, however, is not up to us. For we are only responsible for ourselves. The more we try to force others to believe exactly what we do, the more we are incurring their karma. As spiritual warriors, it is our goal to do the opposite of this- it is to heal our own karma and stop creating new. By focusing on improving yourself, you are (again) leading by example. By maintaining a higher vibration, you will inspire others to do the same.

8)      Remember not to be offended by other people’s beliefs and actions- They are most likely not intending to offend you. They likely lack the kind of empathy that we have worked our while lives to live by.  It can be quite trying at times to feel like we are part of the same species as some of the people we see on the news doing things we would never do. It can be quite difficult not to judge them. However, if we keep in mind that everybody is o his own journey and that it is always of highest consciousness to rise above the drama of others, we will find a small space in our hearts to send these “evil-doers” love. For they need healing the most.

Aside from these 8 points to consider, there is one final point that is perhaps of most importance: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!! Once you truly understand who you are, once you truly love yourself, nothing can hold you back from being who you are truly meant to be! And nobody- not a family member, friend or foe can ever take that away from you!

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2…

WHY IT’S HEALTHY TO QUESTION YOUR PATH

Embarking on a spiritual path can be filled with magic, mystery, peaks and troughs. It can create hope, joy, fear and confusion. It can help you come face to face with your darkest side only to illuminate how it has helped to serve you on your journey. It can be your brightest ally and your most antagonistic challenger.

Along your path, you are bound to have moments where you stop and question what is going on inside and around you. You are bound to ask yourself a series of questions; wondering if what you are experiencing is real, why you’re experiencing what you are or whether or not an experience you have just had is valid- did you make it up? You may even go so far as to ask yourself with whom you are communicating in the Spirit world, if in fact you are communicating with anyone at all. How do you know it is benevolent?

These are all valid questions. And it is healthy to ask them. Most of the time, when we are truly committed to our spiritual paths, the cause of questioning comes from an external influence. When we have lived a dedicated spiritual lifestyle, we have become accustomed to the synchronicity, the irony and the humour that life provides. When this ebb and flow is broken, it’s often due to a conversation, doubtful look or question from those who lead dissimilar lives. As spiritualists, we have grown to be so empathic that when questioned or examined by external influences, we can begin to take on their shred of doubt. We can begin to wonder if maybe they are right and this magic and mystery is all in our head. While this may sound like an unhealthy line of thinking, it doesn’t have to be. As always, there is more than one way to look at it. The alternative way to look at this self-examination is to re-affirm our paths. It is always valid to ask for proof of survival.

Asking for proof of survival is a healthy part of being spiritual. Walking in blind faith can be dangerous and harmful. When we walk in blind faith, we can become disconnected from the trueness of spirituality. It is always important to be an active part of our journey. When we leave our journey solely up to The Divine, we are omitting an integral part of it. Not only are we to learn by having faith, we are also responsible for the work we must do on ourselves to become in alignment with The Divine as well as with whom we are and why we’re here. By walking in unquestionable blind faith, we leave ourselves open to stagnation and backsliding. We also run the danger of having faith in something or someone that does not serve our highest good. By continuing to re-evaluate ourselves and our paths, we can continue to ensure that we are being of service to what is our ultimate truth in the highest a greatest good.

As spiritual warriors, we are in a constant state of shifting and fluxing. Nothing is constant as we are continuously learning and growing at an exponential rate. Our likes and dislikes are always changing and we are constantly attracting new situations or ridding ourselves of old, according to our ascending vibrations. Because our spiritual bodies are always on the move, it’s important to take the time to question where we are, where we have come from and where we’d like to be. Because of the rapidity of change in our lives, it’s always beneficial to re-evaluate our passions, priorities and goals.

By questioning our path, and our place on our path, we are creating for ourselves a new awareness. Because a commitment to spiritual awareness requires intense self-examination, we are always being confronted with new sides of ourselves. We are always drumming up the old, healing it and creating the new- all the while figuring out who we are in the face of all of these changes from darkness to Light.

Sometimes we wake up feeling unbalanced, down, or confused. By taking the time to question how we are feeling on a regular basis, we can get to know ourselves better. By asking ourselves questions regularly, we can become more grounded in understanding who we are at the core. With this self-grounding, we can have a platform on which to stand in the face of anything that Universe throws our way. And because we have this platform we are more readily able to stand sure-footed in the face of the challenges that we may face as old souls in a new human body.

When we question our paths, we are more readily able to let go of that which no longer serves us through the process of “discernment”. The process of discernment can be similar to the process of questioning as it comes down to a feeling in your gut. Much like questioning who we are and why we are, questioning whether or not something still serves us is a healthy way to progress on our paths. The process of “letting go” is a topic with a myriad of sub-categories which can take lifetimes to perfect. As we are constantly shifting and growing, our energies will attract and subtract learning experiences left, right and centre. It is our job to look within ourselves to find the necessity of each.

Lastly, it may seem familiar to some that if unquestioned and blindly believed, our spiritual paths can become stagnant. Spiritual stagnation feels like a plateau- nothing has happened for some time, like we are stuck. What we must realize is that we are stagnant so we can question. For without questioning, we do not grow and learn. In fact, the stagnation arises when we have reached a point that we have learned what we can from our current situations and it’s time to delve deeper and reconnect with ourselves. It is time to ask ourselves what kind of life we wish to live and how we, in tandem with Spirit, can make it happen.

Questioning our path is different from questioning ourselves. To believe in the path we walk, we must believe in ourselves. Believing in ourselves stems from the confidence found in self-love. To truly know self-love, we must understand who we are relative to what goes on inside and around us. We must always check in with ourselves to make sure we are on the highest and best road that leads to where we wish to be.