"Healing Art"

Doistic (Taoistic) Art

2012-02-23T21:44:00.000+08:00

I was recently approached by a Chinese newspaper as they wanted to do an interview with me. I was very curious as to why, I don't speak Chinese and don't know a lot of Chinese. I was very flattered and also extremely curious, so I asked him when he arrived.

He explained that my images and especially my "Healing Art" Philosophy mirrored Daoism, also known as Taoism. I was very impressed and thought I needed to know more about this.

Along with Confucianism, “Daoism” is one of the two great indigenous philosophical traditions of China.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy which promotes living simply and in harmony with nature, and going with the flow.

The Yin-Yang symbol exemplifies this view. The black represents the Yin the white represents the Yang. Yin is also associated with weakness and passivity and Yang with strength and activity. The symbol shows that within the Yang there exists the Yin and vice versa. All nature is the balance between the two.

I was amazed when I read this as I have always associated with the Yin Yang and have worn one around my neck for the last 15 years.

I have found along with many others that the peace and harmony in nature can be felt by us if we stop and take the time just to be.

I hope that as you view my images you will take the time to do just that, take time to just BE.

Sacred Place

2012-02-16T09:15:00.000+08:00

These images are taken at t very special place that has a sacred feel to it.

I hope it brings health to you.

Why does it cost so much?

2012-02-10T10:14:00.001+08:00

A lot of people want to own good art but they balk at the price.
What are you getting for your money?

Why do you buy art?
Is it for an investment, or to create the living space that we want, be it for the home or office.
When you are decorating your home, do you just want to fill a blank space or are you looking for something that tells people a bit about yourself, through your style and your interests?
Are you looking to create a certain atmosphere? Do you want the room to be inviting, to stimulate conversation, to relax yourself and others, to create a healing space within the chaos of life?

If you are looking to do any of the above except just filling a blank wall I would encourage you to look at real art, not mass produced wall fillers.

When I take an image I am trying to create an image that will bring the healing and peace of nature to those who invest in my art. I want to increase their quality of life as well as their wellness. I try to capture not just the image, but also the feeling of the place I am photographing.

People often have no idea what it cost me personally to take an image. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, so any activity I undertake costs me in pain and in the reduction of anything else I can do, but for me it also brings me healing and enables me to feel that I still have something to contribute to society.

Once I have taken the picture, the art work has only just begun. I process the image so that the feeling of the place comes through. I make sure that the image itself is of the highest quality and I create the final image with love and add healing to each image.
I am a Reiki master and as such I add distance healing to my images so that no matter where you are when you are viewing it, it will bring you the healing you need.

Strange I hear you say.

I believe that nature has a great healing ability on its own, but I realize that when we are out in nature it is the energy of the place that also helps with that healing, so with reiki I add this energy back to the image so it becomes a living work.
Something that will bring you a lifetime of health and pleasure.

As such I only have my images produced to the highest quality while at the same time keeping my prices as affordable as possible. Most businesses add a 100%+ markup on everything they sell. I add between 25% and 50%. I am able to offer such good prices because for me this is a gift I am able to give you. I use the money I earn to keep updating my skills and equipment and am supported financially by other means.

I hope this blog encourages you to look for art that will do more than decorate a room, but that will be an investment in you health and wellbeing as well.

This is an example of my "Healing Art- Waterfalls on Uluru" set in a lounge area

If you require a specialized size please email me & I can organize what you require and send you pricing for it.
My artwork can be viewed at the Busselton Art Gallery or at http://www.juliakharwood.redbubble.com/

Natures Wonders

2012-01-24T09:05:00.000+08:00

We had the wonderful opportunity to sit on the beach and enjoy nature's beauty so I wanted to share it with you too.
It is a beautiful calm, balmy evening with the water gently lapping the shore,
people are enjoying the peace of the evening and then as we turn to the horizon we see God's artistry unfold before us.

Where has the time gone???

2012-01-19T12:23:00.000+08:00

How do we find time for social media in our hectic schedules?

Who or what is missing out?

Do you find you have to make time to stay in touch with your online friends or do you find you naturally spend time here to the detriment of other areas?

How do we find a balance?

I find that just as I make time to go and visit friends I have to set a time limit on what I do online. I try to set aside an hour a day for my online activities. I also encourage my physical life friends to join my online sites so they can keep in contact.

When I am travelling it is easier to update my social media so everyone knows where I am & what I'm doing. I often find it frustrating when people who are not on social media complain because I haven't contacted them.

I still love going and seeing someone and sitting down and having a coffee, but when I am super busy it is great to just be able to say "Hi" online.

I find if I don't schedule my time for online activity and times for offline activity then it all gets out of balance.

For me, once again, the solution is time management, but not being so scheduled that I can't be spontaneous.

Often when we become aware that something is a problem then we are half way towards solving it.

When it all gets too much, just get a glass of water and sit in nature for a while to re balance yourself.

Here's an image to help you.

Slipper Orchid, Cryptostylis ovata

2012-01-17T16:49:00.000+08:00

Light Play

2012-01-04T12:12:00.000+08:00

360 degree panorama or little planet.

2012-01-01T14:32:00.001+08:00

This is a 360 panorama of Warren River turned into a 3D plannet

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T11:04:00.000+08:00

Another year ends, another year begins.

I love New Year as it is like turning a new page in the journal of life, a brand new chapter in the book of life.

Yesterday I went down to the ocean and it was beautiful and calm, so I went into the water and floated in the calm water, thanking God for the year that has been and asking for health and happiness for the one to come, not just for myself but for everyone.

As I was floating there, a wave suddenly lifted me up and I floated down the other side, where did the wave come from was my first irritated reaction, then I noticed a few more rolling towards me and realised it was just the wash of a boat passing by.

Because I had got irritated I had stopped floating, but then after realizing where the disturbance came from I ressumed floating and I realiised it I had kept floating I would have just floated over the waves until the calm returned. I didn't need to worry about where they came from or where they were going. If I just stayed floating I would easily ride over them.

How often is life like this. So after that I made my new years resolution, "to stay calm and flat through the waves of life...hopefully they will all be small ones!!!!"

Relief from Chronic Pain, stress and anxiety

2011-12-24T10:25:00.004+08:00

Do you suffer from chronic pain, stress or anxiety?
I have just been reading a book and doing a workbook called Zero Pain Now, by Adam Heller. I wish I had of known this stuff years ago!!!

As you may know I suffer with pain from injuries, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Although the regime I am on helps to control the pain, I was faced with constant breakthrough pain which became very debilitating. Since reading the book and doing the exercises in the workbook I have found that a lot of my pain is related to my emotions. This made sense when I read it because when I am stressed angry or upset, the pain is definitely amplified.

But even more important, is that I now have a way to deal with it and that is not by stuffing it down or bottling it up.

Following the technique shared by Adam I have been able to release my emotions when they occur. I can acknowledge them and through his technique I can let them go. I have discovered that when I acknowledge and release my emotions my pain level decreases.

I am finding I am able to accomplish so much more in my day and I also feel like I have some control over the pain which for someone with long term pain, this is incredible.

By doing the workbook I have also learned many things about myself that I hadn't realized before.

For me this is an ongoing journey, but I wanted to encourage you to check out his book at http://zeropainnow.com/

I just wish I had known about this years ago.

This is how I feel right now, like a rose bud who has found some warmth and light and is just beginning to bloom.

Lake Cave, Margaret River/Augusta, Western Australia

2011-12-15T18:05:00.000+08:00

My Hubby & I recently took a few days out to go and explore an area only an hour away from us. We travel all over the country, but often forget whats on our doorstep.
Hope you enjoy the pics.

These last two are a little experiment I did with light painting!!!

HELP!!!! Are any of you feeling overwhelmed with the silly season upon us?

2011-11-25T10:20:00.001+08:00

I see so many people saying how awful the holiday season is because they feel they don't have the time or energy to accomplish what they want to.

As someone who suffers with chronic pain this is a real biggy..but for everyone I think the following will help.

Spontaneity is not something I can do anymore, everything has to be planned to the last degree. Although not everyone is like this it does help to break the holidays down into smaller portions.

1. Write a list of who you need presents for & if possible email them for ideas.
If you have a large family a "secret Santa" is a great idea. This is where everyone's name is put in a hat and then everyone pulls one out & that is the person you buy for. Everyone gets a present and it doesn't break the bank. (if you pull out your own name, put it back and draw another). It is best to do this after you have given out the gifts for the year so you have a whole year to keep an eye out for something that might suit the person you are buying for.

2. Shop as much online as you can. You can still buy local and support your local shops, most of them have websites, so you can see if they have what you want and how much and a lot of them will even deliver. If they don't then use the phone and give them a call.
Don't forget gift vouchers are a great idea & don't need wrapping.
If you have a credit card that is part of a rewards program, check out what rewards are available to you, you may be able to get lots of your gifts this way.

3. Wrap one or two presents a day, then it's not a huge chore.

4. Putting up your decorations for Christmas, don't leave it till the 1st Dec and then try to put them all up. Start a week or two before and put up one or two decorations a day.

5. Work out where the celebrations are going to be held. If it's not at your house offer to bring something, make it something that is easy and stress free for you. If it's at your place then ask everyone to bring something so it's not all on you.

6. Try not to do too much on one day, if you have lots of friends and family to visit then make it over a couple of days, some on Christmas Day and some on Boxing Day or even have one side the family for Christmas a week earlier, a lot of people prefer this as they don't have to race from one place to the next all in one day & this is especially good if you have family that live a distance away, you can meet half way and have a celebration.

7. Don't make it complicated. If it is getting stressful and becoming too hard work out ways you can simplify it.

Remember the holidays are about spending time together, relaxing and having fun.

And I would encourage you all to remember the reason for the season.

http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com

I failed!!!

2011-11-23T16:46:00.000+08:00

My goal for this month was to write a blog each day...I started off alright, but now I have missed two days:(

So how do we handle failure?

My first think was to avoid the problem....but here I am, so finally I worked out that burying your head doesn't accomplish anything. It is better just to say, ok, I didn't achieve it this time, re-evaluate and go on from there.

When we fail to achieve a goal it just means we got distracted or other things took piority, so learn from this so you do better next time, but watch your self talk and don't let it be bigger than it is.

So on that note....see you all tomorrow!

Smile

2011-11-20T20:42:00.000+08:00

Sometimes life is so hard we find it hard to smile, but if you can you will find you feel better.

If you are doing okay, remember to give a smile to someone & if they don't smile back, remember, it may be because they don't have one to give.

Here's one from me to you....

Verbal abuse is still abuse!

2011-11-19T09:38:00.000+08:00

I came across this image on G+ and traced it's origin back to an advertising campaign on child abuse. It carries a very powerful message!!
Created By: Advertising Agency: EuroRSCG Chicago, USA
Art Director: Puja Shah
Copywriter: Eugene Fuller
Creative Director: Blake Ebel

Disability, Curse or Gift?

2011-11-17T13:54:00.001+08:00

It was suggested to me to look at my disability as a gift given to have a chance doing what I am meant to.

This got me thinking, I usually look at all the things my disabilities have taken from me, such as an active social life, the ability to work and earn an income, the restrictions on my movement and consequently my lifestyle and so on.
But what if I was to do as this person suggested and turn it around and look at what the disability has given me. The opportunity to practice my photography, the time to get so much better at it, a mobile home to travel in (we only have this as it's to painful to sit in a car for long periods.) Freedom to travel as much as we want, when we want, to enjoy time with my husband, to understand others with chronic conditions and to be able to reach out and help them. A closer relationship with God as I have to rely on him 24/7 to get me through each day, real friends who have stood the test of time and an appreciation and gratefulness for the little things in life.

So after doing this little exercise, it's up to me to decide if it's a blessing or a curse, it's all in the way we perceive it.

I am going to start focusing on the positives instead of the negatives and see if it helps my quality of life, will you join me??

Are you an angel who has lost his/her way

2011-11-15T16:46:00.001+08:00

We are all devine beings walking this earth, but sometimes we forget where we came from or what our purpose is.

This is how I see myself sometimes, a devine being come to earth, cold in a snowstorm and yet there is a beautiful ray of light and love reaching down to me from above, letting me know I am never alone.

Neither are you ever alone, if we will just stop for a moment and feel the love that is reaching down to us, we will be able to go on, knowing that somewhere, somehow there is a purpose and a reason for our being and it is our job to remember what that is.

May heavens light warm and guide you.

Where has Christmas gone

2011-11-14T06:54:00.000+08:00

This came through my facebook page, so I felt I needed to share it.I don't know who wrote it, but it is very true

Twas the Month before Christmas

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
and we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

If you agree please forward

Remembrance Day

2011-11-13T16:42:00.000+08:00

I know I'm a few days late, but I couldn't face this post till now.
Remembrance Day is about remembering all those who have died serving their country. I appreciate what these people have given us so much and what their families gave was made so much more poignant by the passing of Ruby. Yes Ruby was just a tiny dog, but she was part of our family. It brought home to me how much grief and sorrow the families of our fallen soldiers must have to endure. A grief that never ends. A hole in their heart that can never be filled.
No greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for another....this is what they have done for each and every one of us.

So to all our men and women in the armed forces, thankyou.

RIP Ruby

2011-11-11T16:52:00.000+08:00

I am finding it hard to blog today, what do you say when your second dog in 6 mths has died.

Life seems so unfair.

6mths ago our little Amara got run over and then we got Ruby who was 7mths old to keep our other Pap, Louie, company.

He and Ruby had pups 7 weeks ago, they went to their new homes on Saturday and then she died yesterday.....why did it have to happen, why didn't it happen before the pups had gone, why do bad things happen to good people....all these things and more have been running through my head.

I know I can resist this lesson & it will be twice as hard or I can accept it even though I don't understand why. I am trying to accept, but it is overwhelming at times.

So RIP our beautiful Ruby

Ruby with one of her pups

Treated Badly

2011-11-10T08:09:00.001+08:00

How do we handle it when people or organizations treat us badly?

I recently had a case where I had joined a greeting card company when they were just starting out. I supported them, I advertised for them, I introduced other artists to them and then when I was not putting up lots of new work as I was unwell they "deactivated" my shop and then informed me after the fact.

I was upset, more at the way they treated me. I know that when one door closes another opens & I have already been invited to start up a shop with another company and I now sell my cards through my local art gallery and make a lot more than I did through the previous company, but it would be nice to have been treated right.

I have sent them an email, explaining how I felt, but what else can we do in situations like this?

I find my internal talk is the answer. My first instinct was to feel rejected and undervalued, but then I stopped my thoughts and said, to myself, they have actually done me a favor I am now free to pursue other areas. I felt a misplaced loyalty to them & that has now been removed so I can move on.

Many people buy my cards and my art and just yesterday I had a stranger tell me how awesome my work was and how blessed they were at being able to own it. It is these comments I will now focus on and move forward with no regrets.

When one door closes another always opens.

So if you are looking for cards, please go to Greeting cards by Julia K Harwood for a selection of cards, but also any of my images are available as cards, just go to my redbublle gallery, click on the image and choose greeting cards:))

Handling Stress

2011-11-09T18:48:00.000+08:00

How do you handle life when it seems to get out of control?

Today was a hectic day where I felt things were just beginning to overwhelm me, so I said to my hubby, "It's beach time"

For me heading to the beach and just enjoying the moment help to restore my equilibrium.

For those who can't get to the beach or anywhere else in nature I share this picture to allow yourself to take a moment....

Google+

2011-11-08T10:16:00.001+08:00

What is Google+?

Do I need it if I have fb and twitter?

I will declare an interest upfront. I am on G+, but I am also on fb & twitter, so why G+?

I have found G+ to be a more interactive platform. You can still play games, but they don't clutter up the feeds, you have different circles for different interests and can post to all or limited, but the thing I like the best is Hangouts.

What is a hangout?

It's where you and a group of friends or colleagues can get together in one room via your video cam and talk to each other, you can plan events, you can hold teaching sessions or you can just share an interest. I have learnt so much and met some incredible people since joining G+

My advise would be to check it out and see which format you like best. My G+ profile is https://plus.google.com/105894760755439344491/ for all my posts, I also have a business page at https://plus.google.com/b/112360760974850124817/ Have a look and see what you think.

Would love to hear your feedback.

Fatigue

2011-11-07T11:00:00.000+08:00

Have you ever felt so tired you can't keep your eyes open, so tired you feel sick in the stomach, so tired you can't get your words out properly. This can be part of chronic fatigue.

The distinguishing feature of ME/CFS is a type of exhaustion known as post-exertional malaise, ‘crash’ or ‘payback’.

Many people with fibromyalgia also suffer with chronic fatigue.

One of the main things you need to manage this is to listen to your body and keep activity within your limits to avoid relapse.

If you are unable to do this then allow for recovery time after activity.

Taking time out to spend in nature, just being still, breath in the clear air and let your body rejuvenate will help.

If you can't get out in nature, immerse yourself in this image. Allow the bush to heal you, become part of you and renew you.

Do we need Support networks?

2011-11-07T10:37:00.000+08:00

What do you think, do you thing support networks are important?

I know that for myself, having a disease that a lot of people don't understand, that support groups or networks really help. Even if someone is just saying I hear you I know how you feel.

I wonder sometimes if the path we have to travel is to help us develop empathy for others. I know of people who have had very little suffering in their lives and they are often very unemphatic and I find others who have suffered so much and yet still have empathy for others suffering.

I have found I use Facebook and more often now Google+ to link up with others with similar conditions. Living in the counry there are no support groups where I live but via the internet I can get support and help.

Where have you found support for your issues?

Don't judge a book by it's cover

2011-11-05T08:32:00.000+08:00

This is an amazing video that I felt I had to share. It shows what someone when given a chance can do. It really is amazing, you have to watch it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150373441113934

Friends for a reason

2011-11-03T09:33:00.000+08:00

I am sure most of you have probable read this saying at one time or another, but I would encourage you to read it again and really think about it.

People always come into your life for a reason,
a season, or a lifetime.

When you figure out which it is,
you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
or to provide you with guidance and support...
to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrong doing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.

They may bring you an experience of peace
or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it!
It is real!

But, only for a SEASON.

And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons;
Those things you must build upon
in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person/people anyway,
and put what you have learned
to use in all other relationships
and areas of your life.

I find it very hard to let people, animals or even things go and when they do it can be easy to slip into depression, but by remembering these words I am able to peacefully let go knowing that it is for the best. Yes it still hurts sometimes, but it just means they meant a lot to us. We can still let them go and move on.

Thank you for being a part of my life...

Blog a day for a month

2011-11-02T08:39:00.001+08:00

Today I accepted a challenge to blog every day for a month!

Yes a big one for me, but we'll give it a go.

Do you ever have days you wished you didn't have to get out of bed?

I do, somedays like yesterday, life is a huge struggle. I get up and put on my smiley mask and head out, but inside I am a crumbling mess. Everything people say or do either stops the crumbling a bit or exacerbates it enormously. I know in my head that I am being oversensitive, but it feels so real. I try to find things to do that I enjoy, but even that is hard sometimes. Yesterday I went for a swim, which helped, but then I felt miserable because I was swimming alone!!!

What do you do on days like this?

I have a list to remind me of what makes me feel better on days like this.

1. Put on some lively music
2. Go for a walk
3. Take some photos
4.Visit a freind
5. Play games on the computer or talk to someone on social media.
6. If all else fails, eat chocolate and then have a nap!!!

I hope this will help you on days when you feel down too.

A beautiful little blue wren who kept me company while I was taking photos

Chronic Pain

2011-10-10T17:07:00.000+08:00

We hear people talk about Chronic Pain, but do we really understand what Chronic Pain is?

There are two main types of pain, acute and chronic. Acute pain is like when you break a bone and the pain is agonizing. Think of the worst pain you've had or can imagine and make this a 9. Acute pain is 9 or 10 level pain and is usually, hopefully, only for a short time until you get to medical help.

Chronic pain is pain that is there for long periods of time, like weeks, month, years and sometimes decades. Chronic pain can go from a 1 right through to a 10 but it doesn't let up...it goes on and on and on.

Let me give you an example from my life. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. In 1991 I injured my back and it was discovered that I had HLAB27+ a condition which affects the bodies ability to heal. The result was that at only 28yrs of age I was told I would never work again and I would have to live with chronic pain.

I have done everything to counter that diagnosis and was able to return to work briefly, but then the pain returned with a vengeance. It was then that I was given my current diagnosis.

Over the last 20 years apart from a small period of respite I have had to cope with chronic pain. Most days my pain starts at a 2 to 3 and depending on what I do or the weather or stress, it can rise to a 9 or 10. (fortunately for me most times my pain killers keep it below an 8)

The feeling this gives you is one of being overwhelmed, there is no long term relief, and even max pain killers only give you an 80% reduction.

Why am I telling you this? Because I am not alone, many people who look fit and healthy are actually suffering with what we call the invisable illnesses. If you know someone who suffers from chronic pain ask them if you can do something practical to help. Apart from that, understand that they want to participate in life but are often unable to or often start out enjoying something only to have leave or stop because of the pain. But we still want to be asked and included. We know our limits and will say no if it is beyond us.

Chronic pain wears out the body and the brain chemicals are also used up quicker and so the mind struggles to cope as well as the body gets tired. Many people with chronic pain also suffer with chronic fatigue. This is because their bodies are worn out just coping with the pain before they have done anything at all.

So how do we deal with chronic pain. We read up on it as much as possible so we understand it, we join support groups so that we feel there are other people who understand us and then we have to try to find a way to still contribute to society and give ourselves a feeling of usefullness. Fortunately the internet has made that possible for so many of us. If nothing else, we can support others, but we can also learn from home, do art and scan it for others to see, do photography as I do or any number of other things.

So if you suffer with chronic pain I would encourage you not to give up, but to be kind to yourself and if it's a tough day, week, or month then rest knowing it will get back to a better level and if you know people who suffer with chronic pain, ask them what it is really like for them living with their condition and really listen to their response.

Winner!!!

2011-10-05T18:33:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'm excited!!!! I have been announced as a winner of the Steve Parish calender competition and one of my images will appear in a 2013 calender. To see which image go to http://bit.ly/kDUZz6

Steve Parish - Photographer

2011-09-30T22:02:00.000+08:00

This is what Steve wrote for his Google+profile and it rang so true with what I am about I had to share it.
“Educating others was my primary objective in starting the company. It wasn’t just about taking spectacular images, although that is extremely rewarding, too. It was about promoting an understanding for the importance of nature. The first step has to be to light a fire in someone — inspire them to learn more, inspire them to genuinely become one with nature, urge them to connect with it and to celebrate its beauty and diversity. Then let’s talk about saving it.”

Take Nothing for Granted

2011-09-24T14:19:00.003+08:00

This poem goes really well with our 365 day thankful project.

Takenothing for granted, for whatever we do,

thejoy of “enjoying” could be lessened for you -

Werob our own life more often than we know

whenwe fail to respond, or in any way show,

ourthanks for the givings that are daily ours----

Warmthof the sun, fragrance from the flowers,

beautyof the twilight, the crispness of dawn,

andthe crisp smell the fresh mown lawn.

Kindlittle deeds so thoughtfully done

Favorsfrom friends, and the love from someone

givenunselfishly to us, in so many ways,

Paymentis not expected, nor words of praise -

Sogreat is our loss, when we no longer can find

athankful response to things of this kind.

Forthe joy of enjoying and the fullness of living

canbe found in the “heart” that thanks for the giving

(unknown)


This is a tiny zebra orchid which most people never get to see, because to see them you have to really look for them as they are tiny and found in woodlands. How often do we miss the beauty of life because we fail to stop and look at what is around us?

Take a moment to have a look at http://juliakharwod.redbubble.com/ and add some beauty to your life. If you are looking for a gift why not give a gift of healing and beauty.

What happens to your facebok page when you die?

2011-09-22T19:10:00.000+08:00

Did you realize that if you die, your facebook page lives on!!!!
Your family can request it to be memorialized so it becomes a tribute page and a place friends and family can connect and share their grief.

If the person who has died wasn't on facebook you can create a memorial page here http://tribute.perfectmemorials.com/

For those who have lost someone to suicide then this is a great site http://www.childsuicide.org/memorialsites.html

Or even better, you can create a time capsule for when you do go at http://neverforgotten-px.rtrk.com.au

There are many other sites if you want to goggle them.

Suicide the Other Side (Part two)

2011-09-17T15:50:00.003+08:00

Forthose who know someone who has committed suicide, the other side....

Oftenwhen someone commits suicide we ask WHY???

Whydidn't they talk to us, why didn't they reach out? Why didn't I seetheir pain?

Mostpeople who commit suicide don't want to be a burden to anyone, theythink they are making life easier for those around them by endingtheir lives.

Let megive you an insight into what it is like to be in this place, yes Ispeak from experience, but thankfully I am still here. Some of thismay feel a bit overwhelming or confronting, but that is how someonein this position actually feels.

Peoplewith cancer are often given a idea of how much time they have left,an opportunity to say and do all that needs doing.

Peoplewith heart problems sometimes get a second chance, but everyone knowsthere's always a possibility it will happen again.

Someonewith a severe injury is given support, counselling, retraining andunderstanding.

Butwhat if something happens to you that is just as life changing butsociety and those around you don't see it or realise it's severity?

Oftenwe feel as if we have no hope, no longer able to do the job we love,no longer able to be with the person who is our soul mate, no longerable to do the things we used to enjoy. Everything that is importantto us has been taken away but no-one seems to really understand.

Constantpain, no chance of rehabilitation, no retraining, no supportnetworks. Knowing we will have to live with this forever, living ableak life with little chance of fulfilment. Some of you may saythere's always hope and help if you reach out, but sometimes therereally is nothing anyone can do and sometimes we really can't reachout.

Beforesomeone takes this final step this is some of what is happening forthem.

“Thepain hits, constant and ever increasing, firing a bombardment ofelectric shocks to the brain. My brain freezes, stop, stop, stop. Theonly thought the brain gives is ways to stop the pain. I am no longerin control, my brain has taken over my body. The computer that is mehas malfunctioned and is set on autopilot. All it knows is that thereis nothing left, only blackness. I have to end this pain forever. Mybody carries out the brains final command and both my body and mymind are free – I have found peace at last!”

Whatthe brain has failed to perceive is that when the pain ceased for me,it only moved from me to those who I love the most. Oh cruel, cruelmind, how could you have blinded me so?

Mylegacy is for my family and friends to forever be left with the agonyof grief, an enduring sorrow. If only my brain had been able toperceive this it wouldn't have told me to do what I did. But that isexactly why no one could stop this person or help at this point,because the brain, the thinking, rational part of us hasmalfunctioned and the person does whatever they have to do to make itall end. To make the pain stop.

Thisdoes not mean there is no hope. If help and support are given beforepeople reach this point then there is a much greater chance ofsurvival, but just as people still die from heart attacks, amalfunctioning heart, so people still die from a brainmalfunctioning. Unfortunately we are human beings that are made up ofmany vital organs and if any of these fail it usually results indeath. The brain really is just another organ and it too gives outwhen it is put under too much strain.

This is an image of what it is like when our mind breaks.

Whyhave I shared this with you? To let you know that if you loved andcared for the person who has gone and you were there for them, thenyou did all you could. They have died because a part of their bodyhas failed, not because of something you did or didn't do. People who'suicide' in reality die from a disease just as anyone else, it'sjust the disease is of the organ that we know as the brain, insteadof the heart or kidney or liver.

I hopethis brings you some comfort at this sad and agonising time.

Suicide, The other side (Part One)

2011-09-17T13:38:00.002+08:00

For those who have ever contemplatedsuicide, lets look at the other side....

Most people who commit suicide thinkthat the world and their family and friends would be better offwithout them. They often feel they are a burden to those around them.If this is you then let me show you the real burden.

Most of what I am writing comes fromreading the memoirs of a friend who has lost someone to suicide andtalking to many others who have lost those close to them.

Often we are driven to suicide by painbe it physical, emotional or spiritual. We just want it to end. Ourbrain can't take it any more....but by releasing ourselves from painwe inflict it on the people who know us and care for us, for the restof their lives. We often feel people don't care or understand, yetthink, if you were dead, who would show up at your funeral. Even ifit is only one person, do you want to inflict unending pain on them.

This will give you an insight into thatpain...

These are the words of someone who haslost someone they care for, to suicide, “Pleasehelp me so that one day I will heal and that the agony will slowlydepart. The feeling of emptiness that I feel is truly indescribableas is the intensity of my pain. I am left behind feeling totallyrejected.

You maybe at peace now, but the turmoil you have left behind isoverwhelming. Your death has caused so much pain. I feel I have lostpart of myself . Guilt and Fear live with me now. I have lost my selfesteem. I doubt myself at every turn. I am no longer confident inmany ways.

Sleepis impossible, but I try, I lay there and think over and over WHY????When I do sleep it's always restless and I hope to wake up and findit was a dream. Of course that doesn't happen and the reality ispain that never stops and tears that seem to go on forever. Iaimlessly get about the daily routine achieving nothing and gettingnowhere. When you took your life you took ours as well.”

Is thisthe legacy you want to leave behind for those who care for you.

Formost of us the answer to this would be, “No, we want to make lifeeasier for them.”

So thisis not the answer. Go and speak to a friend, ring your Doctor andtell him you are feeling suicidal. Don't be afraid to admit it. It isbetter to get help and to learn to live again than to cause all thosearound you a lifetime of suffering.

I havebeen where you are if you are thinking like committing suicide, and Iknow that no matter how much pain I am suffering or how despondent Imay be, that tomorrow is another day and with that comes the hope ofsomething good. I would rather endure my suffering than transfer itto someone I love.

I havealso found that even in the midst of pain and suffering we can findhappiness and love and hope. I speak from experience as I live withconstant pain and yet when I take myself

Looking at this sunset helps relax and soothe me, hope you can enjoy it too.

out innature and spend time just sitting watching the ocean or a beautifulsunset and I know that life is still worth living.

I stillneed to ask for help when things become overwhelming, but I know thatthe inconvenience that this may be to someone is much better than thepain and suffering they would endure if I was gone.

If youwould like to connect with me I am on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/105894760755439344491facebook at http://www.fb.com/Photography.by.Julia.K.Harwood/and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JKHarwood/

I wouldlove to talk to you or you can follow this blog.

How does Nature heal?

2011-09-07T14:41:00.002+08:00

Many of you know that my motto is "Bringing the Healing Power of Nature to you", so how can I do that and how does nature heal?

Firstly I speak from personal experience, Nature helps to take us to a place where healing can naturally occur.

How many of you have watched a sunrise or sunset and been moved by it? Did it make you feel better about yourself and better about the day that had just been?

Tropical Sunset

For most of us the answer would be yes. When we see nature at her best, it makes us realise how big the universe is and how small our problems are in comparrison to it. It also takes our focus off ourselves and our issues onto something else and something that is uplifting and rejuvinating.

Studies have proved that spending time in nature improves our sence of wellbeing, our stress levels decrease and our mind, body and spirit and nutured. They have also discovered that even sitting looking at an image of nature will have a similar effect.

For me when I go out in nature I am instantly transported into the now. What that means for me is I don't have to think, "how will I make it through the rest of the day with this pain, life is so hard, can I keep putting one foot in front of another?" to "oh the feel of the sun on my back is so beautiful, the feel of the ocean lapping my feet so refreshing, the smell of the sea air so peaceful".
I can just sit and observe nature and know that all is okay in the world. I look at the flowers with all their beautiful colours and the birds that find the food they need each day and it makes me realize that if God is looking after these things that live for such a short time, how much more does he have my life under control.

No I can't stop the pain or change my circumstances, but for a moment I can think of other things and somehow afterwards I seem to have the extra strength I need, not just to endure life but to know I can even enjoy it.

I want everyone to be able to experience this, even if they live in a dirty city or somewhere where they never have time to find that moment with nature, so I take pictures of nature at her best and you can put them on you wall, on your computer, even on your clothing so you are able to let nature work her magic in your life too.

http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com/

Fibromyalgia and Stress

2011-09-02T14:07:00.001+08:00

Research has shown thatpeople with fibromyalgia have much higher ongoing stress levels thannormal people.

Experts believe thatpeople with FMS actually suffer from a malfunction in thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) which is the body's primary wayto deal with stress.

This then causes the bodyto secrete hormones that actually further impair the bodies abilityto deal with stress.

Virtually any kind of painis worse when it's accompanied by stress and stress causes a flare upin fibromyalgia, so you can see how people with this disease are partof an never ending circle of pain and stress.

It is imperative that wetake action to break this cycle, even if it is only for a short timeeach day.

The ways we can do thisare many and varied and usually require a combination of things.

I will give you a fewideas here. These are of course in addition to your Doctorstreatment.

Gentle stretchingexercises, walking, meditation, especially before going to bed,gentle swimming, cognitive behavioural Therapy (CBT) and taking timeout enjoying nature.


Take time to gaze at Geiki Gorge, a beautiful spot in Australia

If you have other thingsthat have worked for you, please add them in the comments section.

JAMERRI ARTISTRY

2011-09-02T13:34:00.002+08:00

Ths is a friend of mine and I thought you may like to see her work. This is an intro to her:-

Through my company JAMERRI ARTISTRY, I offer my original artwork, prints, note cards, jewelry, and other items inspired by my artistry. It's my goal to present my unique perspective of a mix of American and other cultures. In addition to my artwork, I offer interactive workshops designed to inspire others to use color in enhancing their everyday lives.

My JAMERI ARTISTRY FB page is www.facebook.com/jameriartistry.
My website is www.JameriArtistry.com

What not to say to someone who's grieving

2011-08-21T21:43:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had someone close to you lose someone they loved and not known what to do or what to say to them?
I have, a friend who has lost both a son and a husband. I found it so hard to know what to say to her and so I asked her and she told me some things that you SHOULDN'T say, so I thought I would share them with you.
"It's God's will, he knows best"
"You have other children....you should live for them"
"You should keep busy"
"There are other people worse off than you"
"Don't dwell on it"
"They are in a better place"
"They're not suffering anymore"
"I know how you feel" (unless you to have been through exactly what they are going through. ie both lost a partner to cancer.)
"At least you had them for x number of years"

But remember it is better to be there and say the wrong thing occasionally than to stay away.
They need you to be there. You may need to see them or call them every couple of days for many months.

Let people talk, reassure them that everything they say is ok and that they are in a safe environment. Allow them the emotions that come up whatever they are. They don't want to hear about other peoples experiences. They want to be allowed to be in their grief, to feel what they are feeling and know it is okay. They will often repeat the same story over and over again, they need to speak their story until they feel they have really been heard and till they hear themselves telling it. Then they will naturally move to the next stage when they are ready. You can't speed the process along. Even though you may want them to be back to their old self and living life again that won't happen until they are ready. they will never be their old selves, they will be a person who has suffered grief and will be changed by it but they will eventually start to move on with their lives, but they will never be "over" it so don't expect them to be.

You can say you are sorry, that you remember the person, if you do.
Let them talk and let them cry.
Be their friend, let them still be a part of your life, let them know whats going on in your life, even though they may feel sad that life is still going on for everyone else they still want to be included and be told about your life. But don't complain about things that they can no longer do, like buying presents or organizing birthday parties etc. If you are going to events they would normally be invited to, still invite them. if they don't feel up to it, they will say no. Don't make decisions for them.

I hope this will help you through a difficult time and will help you to help those around you.

Photo blog of things to be grateful for

2011-08-08T08:22:00.000+08:00

For those of you who are interested in the 365 Grateful project, I have uploaded the latest pictures athttp://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150188485753796.324325.135415283795

For those of you who don't know what this is all about, it is finding something to be grateful for, for a whole year. I have chosen to take photos of what I am grateful for. I encourage you to take up the challenge and also look for things to be grateful for.

Soulistry-Artistry

2011-08-07T09:57:00.000+08:00

I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine:-
Here's what she had to say:
Would love to have your followers be part of the Soulistry FB page (www.facebook.com/soulistry)
Okay - short post ... I'm the Founder and Facilitator of "Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul" an umbrella for workshops and retreats and publications that connect spirituality and creativity. "Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul: Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality" has just been published and is now available on Amazon etc. To read book reviews, have a look at www.soulistry.com/category/bookreviews

Rest is the next best thing.

2011-07-29T16:19:00.004+08:00

What is rest?
Peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity.

Sleep or quiet relaxation. Relief or freedom from disquiet or disturbance. Mental or emotional tranquillity.

Most people associate rest with sleep, but you are able to rest while being fully awake.

Why do we need to rest?

A quarter of all women and a fifth of men who work full time say they are dissatisfied with their work-life balance according to the 2010 Australian Work & Life Index. If we are able to have time to rest and relax we are better able to deal with the stresses of life. 32% of people also have insomnia or sleep disturbances, so they are stuck in a vicious cycle. However you can still get rest and recharge your batteries. According to Dr Matthew Edlund we need four types of rest - physical,social,mental & spiritual rest.

So how can you get rest and restore balance to your life?

You take some "Me" Time.

Physical rest can just be a 5 min doze, social rest is about spending time with people that make us happy, mental relaxation can include visulization and listening, and for spiritual rest we need to be present in the moment. The way I find to do this most effectively is to sit out in nature and just enjoy the moment, however if you can't do this look at an image of nature instead, be present in the moment and imagine yourself in this setting. Spend a few minutes doing this a few times a day & you will experience the benefits.

This is what I bring to you in my photography and art, a way to rest & relax wherever you are.

Natures Window http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com/sets/149771/works

Allow youself to imagine that you are sitting in this natural rock window looking out at the vista before you, feel the warmth of the sun's rays and the cool touch of a gentle breeze, see the reflections in the water and allow yourself to flow through the landscape with the river. Take a deep breathe and inhale the scent of the bush. Take time to rest!!!

Whale Watching

2011-07-20T19:06:00.000+08:00

Whale's tail as it dives.

Today I got to tick something off my bucket list....Whale Watching. i had always wanted to take a boat cruise to see the whales, but had always put it off because I didn't want to get sick. But today was the day, I took my sea sick tablets and yet I still ended up feeling quite green, but it was worth it. Sometimes we have to put up with a little discomfort to realise our dreams. I didn't get as many photo's as I would have liked, but being ill made me sit back & just be in the moment, something us photographers often forget to do. Just sitting & watching them without getting frustrated about the missed images was very healing & calming. They really are absolutely magnificent creatures. Here are some of the pics I did get.

Whale's diving

Things I am grateful for

2011-07-16T16:10:00.000+08:00

Man & His best friend.....just one of the things I'm thankful for...

I have just updated my 365 day grateful project, so if you'd like to follow it goto https://www.facebook.com/Photography.by.Julia.K.Harwood/ and under photos look for 365 day grateful album.

Dolphin magic

2011-07-10T12:34:00.001+08:00

Many of us get great pleasure and company from their pets, but when we commune with wild animals in their enviroment, something magical seems to happen. It is as if these wild animals are taking time out to interact with us even when there is nothing in it for them. For me it helps to put life into perspective. Dolphins are beautiful creatures who own nothing and have to hunt each day for their food & yet still have time to frollick and play and even interact with us. I hope you can take the time to relax and just spend some time with them here.

I've got my eye on you:)

Freinds

Let's play

Hello

serene

Blowholes....dangerous but beautiful

2011-07-05T19:00:00.000+08:00

We went to Quobba near Canarvon in West Australia and were facinated by the water being forced up through the holes in the rock forming what is commonly known as "blowholes".
This area is reknown for king waves which can suddenly come up & wash you to your death on the rocks below, but still we are drawn to the beautiful and the dangerous. As i shot this video I had Colin, my husband, watching ready to warn me if the waves even got anywhere near large.
Check the video out here http://youtu.be/6imUPEb800U
Remember in life we are often drawn towards things that are facinating yet often dangerous, but do we put safety nets in place & if we do, do we listen when they say Stop?

Swimming with the Sharks

2011-06-25T08:57:00.000+08:00

While at the Horizontal Falls I had the opportunity to swim with the sharks.....yes real sharks....but fortunately it was in a shark proof cage.

Me in the shark cage.


Sharks!!!

Once I knew the sharks couldn't hurt me, I was actually fascinated by them. Wouldn't it be good if we had a shark proof cage around us to protect us from the sharks we come across in our everyday life!
The water was beautiful & warm and it was a great experience.

If you are suffering from the effects of shark attacks in your everyday life, remember to take time out to enjoy nature and if you can't get out and about, give yourself the gift of a nature image to spend time looking at it. It has been proven through scientific experiments that spending time looking at nature has a positive effect on mood and stress levels and also increases productivity.

Broome

2011-06-20T09:04:00.000+08:00

Well I have finally found time to update the blog and add some pics. Travelling can be very hectic and I am finding I need to take time out to experience the moment rather than just photograph everything.
I have had the most amazing opportunity to go and see the Horizontal Falls. It is a unique feature in the far north of western Australia. It is assessable only by seaplane or cruise ship/ I went out on the seaplane, an amazing adventure in itself. When we landed we hopped on a jet boat & were taken through the falls at low tide, this is the only time both falls are assessable. Horizontal Falls are named because the water rises and falls horizontally instead of vertically! The tide rises about 6 metres, you can see the tide line on the rocks in the pic, and as the tide both rises and falls the water rushes through the opening in the cliffs causing white water and whirlpools to form.


Horizontal Falls, low tide.

To get the full effect you need to feel the power of the water. We came back to the houseboat, had a swim with the sharks....more on this next blog.....had a bar-b-q breakfast before getting back on the jetbaot for a trip up the lagoon and then back through the main fall when it was raging.
As you can see from the picture I took from the seaplane it is a beautiful, breathtaking, tranquil part of nature. I hope the image will bring you peace and a place of reflection.

What to do when life sucks!

2011-06-06T10:43:00.000+08:00

Often we struggle with the cards life deals us, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or the lives of our loved ones, so how do we handle this? I can only speak from my personal experience and what others have shared with me, and I am still learning every day. When we were selling our house & buying "Rosie" there was a lot of things going wrong causing stress and frustration, but I learnt a lot from the man we brought her off. He had had cancer and is now in remission & his whole attitude was, "don't worry about it, it will work out how it's supposed to". This is often easy to say when we are not in a stressful situation, but he was in the situation with us. Settlement was supposed to go through on the 18th April, but didn't end up going through till 24th May, so he had to wait all that time for his money, yet he said, "worrying won't make it happen, just let it take it's course" Good advice, but not something I was able to do , so I had a massive flare up & was in a world of pain. It didn't change anything & he was right it all worked out in the end. So I encourage you to try, as I am, to give things over to the universe or to God and trust that they will work out for the best.

I found the only way to get stress relief during this time was to spend time out in nature, for me that meant walks on the beach and grabbing my camera & taking pics.

On the open road

2011-06-04T10:43:00.003+08:00

Well, we are on the road again in our new motor home "Rosie"

It is relaxing & exciting to be headed north again. Often we give up the things we love because of pain or age but often we just need to look around for other solutions. I enjoyed our travels last year, but thought I would Not be able to do it again as my back & my fibromyalgia played up so much, but after the sale of a house, purchase of a mobile home which met the requirements to make travel less stressful for me & we are back on the road again. We are doing a 2 nth trial run before the big one next year. So far so good. If there's a will there'soften a way! I will keep you updated on out travels & be posting lots of pics. If you want to follow our journey more closely then like myfb page at http://www.Facebook.com/Photography.by.Julia.K.Harwood/ I will be posting pics as often as I can here. Look forward to seeing you there.

Every cloud has a silver lining

2011-05-27T17:15:00.000+08:00

{EAV_BLOG_VER:bc77f971a97c0154}
Hi Just a quick update on whats happening. We have brought out motorhome and are packed up almost ready to go, so you can all look forward to some great new images that I will be taking during our travels. We are travelling to Broome where I will stay for 3 weeks and yes a visit to the horizontal falls is planned, then we will head back down the caost to Shark Bay, Monkey Mia and Kalbarri.

This has been a trying time for me , getting the sale through, packing and all that goes with it, but I was reminded the other day that ever cloud has a silver lining when I went for my walk and saw this.

Jules Healing Art's photostream

2011-05-24T04:20:00.001+08:00

Jules Healing Art's photostream on Flickr.

Check these great pics out

Jules Healing Art's photostream

2011-05-22T14:25:00.001+08:00

Jules Healing Art's photostream on Flickr.

Photos on Flickr for you to enjoy

How does it make You feel?

2011-05-20T13:36:00.000+08:00

My blog is all about healing art, so I wanted to share this image with you to see how it speaks to you.

It has been proven that when we take time to contemplate nature scenes our stress levels decrease and our overall health increases. Do you feel that with this image?

Take a few moment to just sit with this image and the tell us what it speaks to you.

To me it lifts me, I feel it in my solar plexus chakra, it relaxes me and makes me feel hopeful and warm and it also makes me smile....your turn now.....

365 grateful project

2011-05-15T17:27:00.000+08:00

I have stumbled upoin this fantastic project, its called the 365 day grateful project. I have added the link above and would love you to check it out. Basically it is finding something each day for a year to be greatful for. You can then write this down each day or if you love photography like I do, then you can take a picture each day of what you are thankful for or you can draw what you are grateful for. Why do this? Well often we miss the little things in our life that make it worth living and we are swamped by the troubles or worries that come our way, so this is a way to rebalance our lives and bring some joy into each day, so I would challenge you to take this on & then share some of what you have discovered. I am going to take on the challenge myself and starting today I am going to find things to be grateful for. I will post some things on here from time to time to.

I'm greatful for friends that visit!!!

New images & general update

2011-05-10T11:00:00.000+08:00

I have had a hard time with pain lately, thus not many posts, but am in the process of learning how to let go and trust...not an easy thing to do...but one of the things that has helped is just to sit and enjoy nature & give your worries over to the universe (or God). I have posted some new images at http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com/ Would love you to take the time to go and have a look.

Pain can be so debilitating as it robs us of our life energy and affects every area of our life and all thoses around us. I am fortunate I have people around who love and care for me, some others are not so fortunate. When pain overwhelms me I find it very hard to find a smile, so if you pass someone in the street who can't give you a smile, give them one of yours. It's not usually that they are miserable people, it's usually just that life has become a bit overwhelming.

If you personally know someone who is struggling why not give them a call or drop them a card to let them know you are thinking of them. I have a card shop at http://www.cardgnome.com/shops/jules-fine-art-greetings where you can personalize a card and we will post it for you. Take a moment to help someone less fortunate than yourself. It may be just the thing that keeps them going.

Love & light to you all.

How do you keep getting back up when life keeps knocking you down?

2011-04-23T09:59:00.002+08:00

Sometimes life seems really hard. It can be natural disasters, personal crisis, death of a loved one or friend or even death of a pet. Usually it is something in your life that means a lot to you that is suddenly taken from you. How do we deal with this?

Often we are able to deal with one thing or even two, but what happens when it is one thing after another and it feels as if life itself has turned on you?

This is how I am feeling at the moment, a frinds family murdered in the US, a beautiful little dog run over before our eyes, the sudden unepected death of a cousin and then our plans to travel turned upside down. Even little things like deciding to repaint the deck and we get a week of rain.

Sometimes I find I can deal with the big things, but it's all the little ones tacked on that undo me.

Firstly I know from experience we need to reach out to others at times like this, be it friends or a crisis support line, it's important to know that others understand the pain you are suffering. They can't change it, but they can be there.

Secondly, be kind to yourself, allow yourself pleanty of sleep (if you can) or rest if you can't, try to plan somethings during the day to keep you busy, it helps take your mind off things, even if just for a few minutes at a time. If you feel like crying, allow yourself to cry, it is all part of the healing process.

Thirdly, try not to focus on just the things that are going wrong, ask friends to remind you of some of the good things in your life, you probably won't be able to think of any for yourself. The pain is too overwhelming.

I get very angry at God when things like this happen, but I still need him as ultimetly he is the only one who can help me through this. It is alright to let him know you are mad at him, but also remember to ask him to help you get through it.

Finally the only other solace I have found is to get out in nature. For me I go down to the beach and sit and watch the movement of the ocean and it makes me realise that I am only a tiny speck in this universe and somehow, even if I don't know how, I will get through this.

Be kind to yourself, eat chocolate, cry, sleep and ultimately keep putting one foot in front of the other and lean on your friends and family, allow others to help where they can. I will add an image here that hopefully will bring a momentary smile to your face.

Do you like my manicure?

Love to each and everyone of you.

Use fear to your advantage!!!

2011-04-20T17:00:00.000+08:00

This is a great video about how to use fear to our advantage. Go check it out http://marieforleo.com/2011/04/fear-advantage-cool-brain-trick/

Are you tired of living with pain?

2011-04-20T11:18:00.000+08:00

Do titles like this get you excited, that maybe someone can help you...and then all they offer is some simplistic solution to a very complex problem.
I get so fed up with peoples advice and quick fix solutions. If they would work then I wouldn't be where I am today. Obviously if you suffer chronic, long term, pain it is not easily fixable. That doesn't mean we don't try what is available & keep hoping for a miracle, but sometimes people's attitude make the road so much harder than it needs to be.
I get very disillutioned when other people try something I have tried and it works magically for them. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for them but I then think "Why can't that be me."
At times like this the only releif I get is to take myself out in nature and sit with the birds or the blossoms or the ocean and let the peace it brings wash over me & realise that everyone's road is different & there is a reason for me having to tread this one even if I don't know what it is.
Do you get down and discouraged? What have you found that works for you?

Child abuse

2011-04-15T09:09:00.000+08:00

Have you heard the latest, apparently giving kids time out is corporal punishment and is soon to be banned in daycare centres in Australia. From there one can guess where it will lead...parents won't be able to use time out.

Apparantly we should allow kids to set there own limits!!!

Then we spend millions trying to fix our teen crime problems and ultimatly blame the parents...this is a nanny stat gone mad.

Yes this is a healing art blog and as such all manner of healing and health issues are addressed and beleive me this will be a health issue of the future.
Already they are saying we have a generation of nacasists, children that we have raised with an exaggerated sence of self from never being able to tell them they are anything other than brilliant. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge beleiver in being positive and building up our kids, but lets build there self esteem, not there egos.

Maybe it should be a prerequisite for would be parents to do parenting classes and poloticians in roles related to child upbringing should have to have had children!

What are your thoughts on all this and what ways will we have to teach children healthy boundaries?

Living Life

2011-03-26T09:37:00.000+08:00

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things that are closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
Don't let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over till the moment you stop trying.

This is an extract from a pocket inspiration and I thought it was so true I wanted to share it with you. You can purchase pocket inspirations from most newsagents.

2011-03-24T12:06:00.000+08:00

I have been struggling to get back into routine after being on holidays, does this happen to you too?

It's so nice to take time out and for us it's fishing, reading, taking photos and playing cards, but then it's so hard to rev back up into work mode.

I think the older I get the more benefits I see from the layed back life style. Beach walks, swims, catching up with friends. These are things we often struggle to find time for in a hectic lifestyle, but when we take time out we are reminded again of how important these things are.

If we don't prioritise these things they don't happen. I find the computer is like a bit yawning chasm that steals whole chunks of time, so I am setting my alarm to warn me when an hours up and it's time to go and do something else.

What stratagies do you have to manage your time to include leisure activities?

To give you some lesure time right where you are you can have a look at my latest pictures taken while I was on holidays at http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com/ Enjoy:)

Art Exhibition

2011-03-20T12:01:00.005+08:00

I have been nominated for a Solo Juried Exhibition "Sojie 9"
This is a great honour. I will post a link when the exhibition opens.
This is the image that has been selected. http://www.redbubble.com/people/juliakharwood/art/5526889-1-cable-beach-broome#comment-40197936/

Dancing Stingrays

2011-02-23T16:52:00.003+08:00

While we were down fishing this morning at hopetoun some Stingrays came by to entertain us, it was like they were dancing. You can see a video of them here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7khxpF3AZTQ

Story about a little bird.

2011-02-20T10:57:00.000+08:00

When I got up this morning & went to the toilet (we are camping in a caravan park) there was a little willy wagtail bird that had got into the tiolet block but couldn't seem to find his way out, so I held the door open and enlisted some help to keep him away from the closed windows. He was getting so agitated and flying everywhere but through the open door and it reminded me of us sometimes. How many times do we keep trying to get through a closed window when there is an open door in front of us. We flap around getting upset and frustrated, when if we just stopped for a moment we would feel the breeze through the open door and know which way to go.
I left him as he was getting so distressed. I couldn't prop the door open so just had to leave the bird there.
When I went back a few hours later the bird was gone and then I noticed that there was a 2 foot gap at the bottom of the door where he could fly through. I had been so distressed and trying to help him that I didn't realizr he didn't need my help. How often do we do this. We see someone that we percieve has a problem and we jump in to try and fix it and in out efforts to help just cause more distress instead of trusting that the person will be able to find a way through themselves.
So I learn't two important lessons today, firstly when in a flap, stop look around and see if there are any alternatives. Secondly when I think someone needs help, stop & watch & I may realize that they actually have it under control.

Willy Wagtail
http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com/sets/149782/works

It all goes back to trusting. Put your requests out to God, or the universe, and then let him/her show us what to do and which way to go.

Beyond tender loving care: 'TLCs' promise health and happiness

2011-02-18T09:50:00.000+08:00

Beyond tender loving care: 'TLCs' promise health and happiness

Interesting article that explains ways to improve wellbeing without medication. Also supports time in nature and meditation as tools to wellness.

February 17, 2011

Lifestyle changes—such as getting more exercise, time in nature, or helping others—can be as effective as drugs or counseling to treat an array of mental illnesses, according to a new paper published by the American Psychological Association.

Spending time in nature can promote cognitive functions and overall well-being.

Relaxation and stress management can treat a variety of anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorders.

Meditation has many benefits. It can improve empathy, sensitivity and emotional stability, reduce stress and burnout, and enhance cognitive function and even brain size.

Win a 8x10in matted print

2011-02-16T08:40:00.000+08:00

Win the image below 8 x10in print matted. Go to http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Photography.by.Julia.K.Harwood and tag any of the photos with your name and I will be entering everyone who tags into a draw for the image below. Draw is 31st March 2011 and I will post image to you. Remember to "like" the page first. Remember to "share" any images you really like with your friends.

How to Decrease Stress, Increase Positive Moods and Feelings of Well Being

2011-02-12T18:18:00.000+08:00

One of the biggest causes of stress and depression is being in a negative situation that you feel you have no control over.

For a lot of people this includes chronic conditions, whether, pain, injury, illness or terminal disease. So when you are feeling this way how can you turn things around?

To suggest it is easy would be to belittle what people in these situations go through, however there are things that we can do to improve our mood and increase our well-being.

The first of these and the one I want to focus on in this article is physical activity.

"Whoa," I hear you say, "I'm disabled or in constant pain or terminally ill, how am I going to increase my physical activity?"

Stay with me. I too suffer from chronic pain, so these words are from the heart and personal, practical experience. There are things we can do.

But first lets look at what increased physical activity can do, notice I didn't say excercise, this is not about excercise, it's about becoming a little more physically active.

Physical activity decreases stress and regulates mood by increasing serotonin and dopamine which are essential for cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Serotonin and dopamine are neurochemicals in the brain that affect the way our brain receives and sends messages.
Being physically active can help combat depression as it releases endorphins and chemicals in our brain that promote positive moods and feelings of well-being.

When we suffer from chronic conditions often physical activity decreases and we tend to become more depressed. Not only are we having to deal with the reality of life changes that have been forced upon us, but we are less able to deal with them as the decreased physical activity is depressing out system.

Therefore it is vitally important that we try to find something that we can do.

When I am in really bad pain I get my husband to drive me to the beach and help me down to the water so I can just float, even this increases the serotonin and dopamine and I feel better able to cope.

Finding physical activity you can do can be a real challenge.

I was recently given the money for an electric bike and the difference it has made is amazing. Just being able to cruise down the bike path with the wind in my hair makes me feel fantastic.

Wait I hear you say, I don't have that kind of money.

My son and his partner put in for my birthday and christmas, so you could ask friends and family to do the same, then I scoured the papers and websites until I found one I could afford. I got a new one online for only A$300. It has taken me from sitting on the sidelines to once again participating in the fun of life.

An electric bike is great as it is peddal assist, so you can peddle but without any resistance and then when you get tired just use the motor.
Where I live there is a man who has a specially built three wheel motorcycle that he can push his wheelchair straight up into, stay in his chair while he rides and then push himself off when he stops.

So what are some other ideas of what you can do to increase your physical activity?

Maybe get a gopher. My eighty three year old Aunty has one of these as it means she can still get around and have some independence without driving. When I broke my foot my son would take me to the local shopping centre where I would hire a gopher for a few hours and just cruise around.

Another option is a tandem bike, so you can sit on the back and someone else can do the peddling.

I live in a seaside town and they have beach wheelchairs available that even go in the water so that people who couldn't otherwise get down to the water's edge can.

We also have a disabled surfers association so people with disabilities can have a surf.

I have stopped using a walking stick and got myself a hiking pole instead. When I use a walking stick people ask what someone so young needs a walking stick for, when I use the hiking pole people just smile and acknowledge you as someone who is fit and healthy out for a walk.

Friends have suggested water aerobics, this is too much for me, but others find they can cope with it as the water holds all your weight. I enjoy walking in the water.

Another friend says that in bad weather she plays Wii or Kinnect and finds that helps too.What about flying a kite, you can even do this sitting down, but it gets you outdoors usually to a park or the beach and you are getting the benefit of increased physical activity as well as the healing benefits of nature.

What activities can you come up with, let's pool our creativity and see how many ideas we can come up with.

Holidaying in Esperance

2011-02-11T13:23:00.000+08:00

We are having a few weeks in the south west of Western Australia. We are in Esperance at the moment.

Esperance is known for having the best beaches in Australia, but unfortunately we have been unable to enjoy it fully as cyclone Yasi has reached all the way over here and we have had lots of rain and very overcast skys, but we are keeping our fingers crossed.

We have met Sammy the sealion and I did a 5 min helicopter ride as well.

Sammy the Sealion
http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com/sets/149773/works

There is also a great local coffee van called the Coffee Cat that is down near the main jetty every morning and is the locals favourite for coffee. We tried it out and the coffee was brilliant!

Yesterday we had a bit of excitement with a train derailing and the pictures I took of it were in page three of the Esperance Express!!!

Will keep you updated as the holiday progresses.

"How to find your purpose in life."

2011-02-02T10:20:00.000+08:00

I recently discoved that one of the things we as humans need to survive this journey is a purpose.

So what is your life purpose?

Many of us can rattle off a few things that come to mind but how many of us know our true life's purpose?

So, how do we find out what it is? I have been doing this search myself, so the answers you find here are ones that have worked for me.

The first one seems very simple but is actually quite challenging.

Get a piece of paper and write or open your word processor and type whatever comes to your mind when you ask youself, "What is my purpose in Life?"

Write down every thought that comes into your head, you may have them flowing in a certain direction or jumping all over the place. That's fine, just keep writing. Set aside at least 30 mins for this but also know it could take up to an hour.

Do you deserve to give yourself an hour of your life to get the guidance you need to suceed?

Turn off your mobile and put a do not disturb sign on the door. This may well be the most important gift you ever give yourself.

As you write or type you will put down something and it will really resonate within you, it will feel like the sun has come out from behind a cloud, but don't stop here, keep going!

That's right, keep going, this will probably happen a few times until you get to your real purpose....you'll know you've found it when you feel the tears welling up in you. You will have that feeling of coming home after being away for a long time.

Sit with this for a while, close your eyes and ask for devine guidence then write it out and put it where you can see it often. This will guide you in everything you do.

When an opportunity comes your way, ask yourself, "How does this fit in with my life purpose?" and use this question as your guide in all you do.

For those of you who want a step by step process to help you , follow the steps below.

1. What things, people, activities bring a smile to your face even when you just think about them?

2. What do you get so immersed in that you loose track of time, or have in the past?

3. Who inspires you. If you had to ask someone for help, who would it be? If you could attend any workshop in the world who would it be run by and what would it be about?

4.What are your natural talents and abilities?

5. What things make you feel good about yourself?

6. What things are most important to you? What are your beliefs or deepest values?

7. If you were to die today what would you regret not doing or not finishing?

8. If you were present at your own funeral, what would you want people to say about you?

9. If money was no obstacle what message would you want to get accross to the world? How would you acheive this?

After answering these questions and doing the writing exercise above I was able to find my life purpose.

For me, it is
To love myself as I am, to accept myself, all of me. To Be!
To trust in God that he has everything under control
I am free to speak my truth and to be me because I am ok. I am loved, I am at peace.
Through this I can love and accept others and allow them to be."

I would love you to share your life purpose with me also.

Happiness

2011-02-01T12:53:00.000+08:00

I have just come accross the Hapiness Project. Yes I love it's name, but also the idea that we are in charge of our happiness. I have been having major computer issues which has tested my resiliance to the max and I found this site refreshing. So check it out and see if you find it helpful too. An excerpt is "Each month, I’ll propose an area of life to tackle, and over the next four weeks, I’ll suggest concrete, manageable resolutions to help you boost your happiness."

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/the-year-of-happiness-challenge.html

Nature at it's best

2011-01-27T14:22:00.001+08:00

Natural cure for skin cancer

Dealing with Stress

2011-01-23T11:35:00.000+08:00

I found this great article by Georgia Foster. It's worth a read.

Stress and the Power of Your Mind by Georgia Foster

One of the thinks she tells us is that a simple tool when you are feeling stressed is to take a deep breath in and hold for 5 seconds, then release the breath and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat this 3 times. At the same time say silently to yourself on each breathe in positive statements such as ‘I am safe’ or ‘I am calm and confident.’

I have found combining this with looking at an image of nature and it has amazing results. Give it a go & let us know if it works for you. Go to the link above and read the full article.

Chakras, What are they?

2011-01-18T18:58:00.001+08:00

What are Chakras and how do they work?
Many of you may have heard people mention your chakras or energy centers but don't understand what they are and how they work.

Firstly the body has long been recognized as having its own magnetic field. The earth is like a huge magnet to which living things are attached by magnetic attraction.

Our bodies have their own magnetic field and bio-magnetic frequencies or patterns that react to the earths magnetic field and also other magnetic influences around us. The ancient healers used magnetic lodestones along the bodies meridians to treat pain and bring the body into harmony. Modern magnetic therapy follows the same principle.

Science tells us that every living thing is made up of individual molecules which vibrate at such a rate that they appear as a solid mass, for example the human body, but it is actually the energy both positive and negative created by the movement of these cells that keeps them working in perfect harmony. So what happens when this harmony is disrupted?

Illness and injury happen.

What is often referred to as a persons aura is in actual fact the magnetic field that surrounds our bodies.

Getting back to the chakras, they are energy vortexes within the human body. There are 7 that are commonly referred to and some people also have an 8th. I will explain this more a bit later. For now we will concentrate on the 7 common ones. When these are fully open and balanced then our body is in harmony and therefore well. This article will explain what they are, in future articles I will explain how we open and balance them.

Each chakra is located at a different part of the body and has a color associated with it and is responsible for certain organs within our bodies. So let's have a look at them.

The first one is the Base or Root Chakra. It is located at base of the spine and its color is red. Organs associated with it are the bladder and kidneys and also the hips, legs and the spinal column. It is also connected with our sense of smell. The emotional aspects it represents are survival and stability. It is the center of self awareness.It is also the sexual core of our being. The Sanskrit name for this one is Mulahadra (derived from Mula meaning 'root' and 'adhara' meaning 'base or support') In females it rotates anticlockwise and in men clockwise....maybe there is more to attraction of the opposite sex than we knew!

Read more »

Dealing with the loss of a pet

2011-01-16T20:45:00.001+08:00

Many people due to floods and fire have lost their pets. In the face of so much loss, both of lives and possesions they often feel that it is wrong to be feeling the strong feelings of loss and greif they have. This is a great article on dealing with the loss of a pet. http://www.pet-loss.net/

My heart goes out to you.

Overcoming pain with love, laughter, and help from above!

2011-01-12T09:42:00.000+08:00

Do you suffer with chronic pain? Pain that drives you to despair at times, pain that others cannot understand? Have you tried all the medical options and been told. "Sorry we can't help, you'll just have to learn to live with it"? I do, I have severe osteoarthritis and fybromyalgia and am only 47. Yet despite the odds, I have learned to live with it and how to laugh again. Come on the journey with me and I will show you how. It's FREE, and available to each of you. It is not religion or theoretical platitudes, it is real life and what has worked for me.

"Overcoming pain with love, laughter, and help from above!"

When I say these things people look at me very strangely. How do you overcome pain with love?
I can only relate personal experience and from that experience I have come to learn that if we rage against our pain, which is so often the natural thing to do, then it just becomes worse and we become frustrated and angry.
If we can instead look at our pain, especially those of us with chronic pain, as our friend, as someone who is with us all the time. It is a constant companion, so instead, choose to send it love.

When the pain comes, it is trying to tell us that it's crying out to be loved. So send it love.
As you do that you will find that laughter returns to your life because you will see that in spite of the pain you are able to laugh at life knowing that it is your friend, it's not something that you can change, it's not something to get rid of, it's something to embrace. By that I don't mean making it more than it is, I don't mean hanging on to it, I mean letting it go, loving it for what it is, when it's there and when it's not being joyful and happy.
About now I can hear you say, "She's nuts, who would want to embrace pain?" But for a moment keep an open mind while I explain. I am not talking about clinging to pain or making pain a crutch or becoming a hypochondriac, I am talking about chronic pain that is with you all the time and that Doctors and medical science seem so ill equipped to deal with.

As I mentioned in the title, 'help from above', this is NOT religion, this is not ideology or theology, to me 'help from above' is the real help from the universe, from the creator of the universe. All around us in this world there are things that can help us, for me, that help has come from nature. Being out in nature, being able to photograph nature, and to be able to share it with others and to give something back of what has been given to me.
When I take my camera and I absorb myself in taking a photo out in nature, or even when I am sitting at the computer, working on my images, creating the artwork that I do, I become lost in what I am doing and I feel alive again. I feel that I have a purpose, I feel that the pain has given me something beautiful that I would never have found otherwise. At times when the pain becomes so much that I struggle to find the love to give it that it needs, I ask for help from above. I ask that the white light would pour love into that pain and that the pain would be able to step forward into the white light and I hand it over from me to God, or for others, to the universe, to release it and then rest in the arms of love. That to me is who God is, not religion, not theology but pure precious love.
I hope by sharing this with you that you too will be able to find it in yourself to love your pain, to learn to laugh again and when it becomes to much, to call on the love from above to help you get through.

Look for something that is special for you, be it sitting out in nature, be it looking at artwork or doing some yourself. Be it appreciating what others do for us. We each have our own passion. It may be sitting in a garden or sitting on the beach, it may be spending time with family. Whatever it is for you, find that thing and recognize it for what it is. If you struggle with this, then again, ask for help from above, that's how I discovered my photography, I opened myself up to suggestion and said, "Please help me, let me find something that will take me through this journey" and I found my photography.

I encourage you to do the same. Pain can be debilitating, it can be heart breaking, it can be soul destroying, if we allow it to be, but we can turn it around and we can love it, we can know that it is part of us that is hurting, that needs love far more than any other part, so give it that love, listen to the pain, rest when you need to, don't struggle against it, flow with the river instead of fighting against it. and let yourself be free, finally free to be all that you can be.

Peace Postcard

2011-01-12T07:46:00.001+08:00

I received an email today that included a peace postcard that I would like to share with you. It was from Teri Williams of Theblissnetwork.com
1. Strive for peace from the inside out - breathe and meditate
2. Smile at everyone you see, including animals
3. Listen to music for the pure joy of it
4. Give to another each day, no matter how big or small
5. Do what you can each day to create peace for yourself and others.

Light therapy promising for treating major depression

2011-01-08T18:40:00.001+08:00

(PhysOrg.com) -- A small clinical trial in The Netherlands suggests bright light therapy may be a useful treatment for the symptoms of major depression in older adults.

Read details here: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-therapy-major-depression.html

Take the time to "see"

2011-01-01T21:07:00.001+08:00

How often do we wander through life not really 'seeing' what is going on around us?
Usually we are so preoccupied with what we are doing or where we are going to pay attention to the small things.
All around us is great beauty, but it is in the quiet and the still, so it is often lost among the rushing and the noise.
If we take the time to see, we can find beauty in everything around us.

Make it a priority for the next few days to find something beautiful everytime you go outside. It could be the color of a weed, a cloud pattern in the sky, the sounds of birds chirping.

The secret is to take a moment to be quiet and still to find the beauty.

Buy This Poster

A Beautiful Prayer

2010-12-26T13:49:00.001+08:00

I asked God to take away my pain and bad luck.
God said, "No, it is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up."

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
God said, "No, his spirit is whole, his body is only temporary."

I asked God to grant me patience,
God said, "No, patience is a by product of tribulations, it isn't granted, it is learned."

I asked God to give me happiness,
God said, "No, I give you blessings, happiness is up to you."

I asked God to spare me pain and depression,
God said, "No,suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me."

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
God said, "No, you must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful."

I asked God for money and all things that I might enjoy in life,
God said, "No, I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things."

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me,
God Said...."Ahhhhhh, finally you have the idea."

Today is yours, don't throw it away.
May God bless you

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

~unknown~

I leave these words with you that they may bring you hope and encouragement.

Something about you're health everyone should know...

2010-12-20T08:06:00.001+08:00

There is something that can turn your health around, but not many people know about it, so let me enlighten you.

A machine called QXCI/SCIO.

The SCIO/QXCI machine saved my life…. it sounds a bit far fetched, well here’s my story.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in 2000. As a result I ended up on a huge cocktail of medications, which was giving me a quality of life, but the side effect was that after six years my organs began to fail. My thyroid wasn’t working, my liver was barely functioning, my kidneys were at about 25 per cent and my cholesterol was through the roof. The doctors were in panic mode. If they did nothing I would die, if they took me off my medications I would end up confined to a mental institution … not much of a choice.

I had heard of Tamara, Harmony Health, and the machine so, in desperation, decided to give it a go. The first thing the machine picked up was that I was bipolar. That in itself was amazing as there is no medical test they can do to diagnose Bipolar, it is diagnosed by a psychologist. Tamara explained she hadn’t treated anyone for Bipolar, so she wasn’t sure how effective it would be. Her honesty was refreshing but I had nothing to lose so said: “Let’s give it a go”.
All I really wanted was for my organs to be working again so I could keep taking my medication.
After a two hour session on the machine the readings said my thyroid was fully functional, my kidneys were at 75 per cent , my liver at 50 per cent and my cholesterol lower. I went away happy that I could keep taking my medication and the machine would help keep my organs functioning. Well the best was yet to come.

After three days I started to feel really drugged, something that had never happened to me before. I rang my psychologist and told him what I had done and what was happening. He said I needed to decrease my medication. I did this under his supervision over the next month and at the end of that time I was drug free and mentally stable.

Many people who suffer with mental illness think when they are well that they don't need their medication. This was not the case for me, if I missed even one dose I was a mess and usually ended up in hospital. For me to even decrease my medication was a huge step.

I was astounded, as were my family and my doctors. I went on the machine every two months for the next year and saw my psychologist regularly. After 12 months my Psychologist said he couldn’t say I was cured because there was no such thing as a cure for Bipolar but I didn’t need medication and I didn’t need to see him anymore.

This was actually a very scary moment as I relied on my psycologist, he was my rock and my safe harbour. I said, "What if I NEED to see you". He said, "If you need me I am here, ring, but I don't think you will."

That was five years ago. I am still medication- free and have not had any bipolar episodes. In that time, I have moved to a country town, leaving my son and friends behind, my husband has retired, my granddaughter was diagnosed with leukaemia , my husband was told he has a incurable bone marrow disease and I have travelled, all things which would normally trigger an episode. I still go on the machine once every six months and, as I live in the country, have been treated a number of times in “sub space”, this means from a distance and not attached to the machine, using a saliva sample.

I would recommend that everyone goes on the machine, even if it is just once for a diagnosis and initial treatment. We spend time and money getting our car serviced and we can replace that. How much more important is it to service our bodies and minds which cannot be replaced? Even if you use it just as an early warning system. The early we recognize a problem the easier it is to treat.

Patients go through a process similar to a virus-scan on a computer, looking for potential stressors such: as viruses, deficiencies, weaknesses, imbalances, abnormalities and food sensitivities.
It reports on the biological reactivity and resonance in your body and indicates needs, dysfunctions and vulnerabilities. The information provided is fundamentally different from X-rays or blood tests, as it tells us about the energetic state of your body and the direction in which the body is focusing its energy.
The QXCI/SCIO can measure and balance your individual stress response to over 9000 stressors. These include but are not limited to: pathogens (bacterias, fungi and parasites), organ tissues, emotional factors, hormonal and spinal imbalances. The system feeds back a gentle rebalancing frequency to redress these stressors and bring the body back to its natural balance point. The initial consultation generally takes one hour with follow-up consults the same.
Like many new concepts, QXCI/SCIO has its detractors. Patients have found the information presented to be beneficial.

I would add a note of caution here. It is the machine in the hands of a qualified specialist that is the key. Check out the person who is using the machine, check their credentials and ask for some testimonials.

I can only share with you what my experience was and also the others I have referred to Tamara. I could share story after story of how it has worked. For more testimonials see http://harmonyhealth.net.au/

I do not receive anything for sharing this information, it is just something I think everyone should know about.

The man who invented this is Dr William Nelson, he worked for NASA and was instramental in bringing Apollo 13 back to earth safely.
To read the story of the man who invented this go to http://thevitalityspa.com/services/biofeedback/the-inventor-bill-nelson/

Required Disclaimer: The SCIO system is to be used as a Biofeedback Multimedia System. It is designed for stress detection and stress reduction. The device does not diagnose or treat. Only a Licensed Practitioner can diagnose a patient. For the diagnosis or treatment of any disease please contact your licensed physician. No claims are made of the system or of its results.

Art Market Online

2010-12-16T17:18:00.000+08:00

Yay, I have just been listed with a Margaret River Art Gallery.
I am excited to be part of this new venture.
Please check out my art and also the other artists in the gallery.

Rare Phenomenum, Uluru in the Rain

2010-12-14T14:38:00.001+08:00

Okay I have a real treat for you all!!!

Most longtime residents of Central Australia know that the sight of rain
on the rock is a rare phenomenon.
Some say less than 1% of visitors ever get to see it in the rain!!!

Many wait years and never get to see it.

I was there during a rain storm in August. We were getting ready to leave and the rain started coming down. We took off out there from Yalara, caravan and all. As we approached the rock the sight was truely spectacular. Uluru in the mist, covered with waterfalls.


Uluru appearing out of the fog with waterfalls pouring off her.			A truely rare and spectacular penomonum!

Create a Healing Place

2010-12-14T10:25:00.001+08:00

What is a Healing Place?

To me a healing place is somewhere you can go to take time out. A place of quite or soothing music. A place you can be on your own. A place that is nurturing to the body, mind and spirit.

I am fortunate, my healing place is the beach. I have a beautiful beach down the road which except during holiday season is deserted. I walk down on the white sand and it massages my feet, the wind gently blows my hair as the suns rays warm my skin. I look out across the vast ocean and know that all is well in the world. I am at peace.
Read more »

Surviving Christmas

2010-12-11T10:11:00.000+08:00

Hi,

I wanted to introduce you all to Kimberley.
She runs the Centre for Authentic Self Development.

If you are like me, you would like to be your authentic self always, but often spending time with family over the holiday season makes that seem impossible. So often we try to be who our families want us to be, or what we percieve they want us to be, or we fall into the age old patterns that were part of our growing up.

These are some of the tips Kimberley emailed me to coping with the holiday season.
1. Take time to remember why your celebrating in the first place. (It would be very lonely if family weren't there)
Read more »

Gaze at the Moon

2010-12-08T09:15:00.005+08:00

I have reacently heard that a good way to inprove the health of your eyes is to stare at the moon. Who would have thought moon gazing is actually good for you. Apparently if you gaze at the moon for 5 mins each night it will improve the health of your eyes. It is also recommended as helpful for floaters in your eyes.
Read more »

20% off for Christmas

2010-12-07T11:25:00.003+08:00

Christmas gifts for all ages

2010-12-05T13:08:00.002+08:00

Christmas is nearly here and people are finishing their Christmas shp. Ususaly it's the hard to buy for that are left till last. I was listening to a programme on the radio the other day and they had a young man, 25, on and he was saying that as he lived in a unit, he didn't have room for lots of stuff and it was difficult to know what to do with things people gave him. I was interested to hear this as it was also a comment I had heard from a lot of people in the older demographic who had downsized, so what do you get them????
Some ideas that came out of the discussion were

Art - it could be hung on the wall and was something good to remember people by.
Experiences - Something that they could do that they might not otherwise think of or have the funds for.
Dining out vouchers - giving them time they could spend with their loved one.

One thing that a couple had received was a weekend away, nice gift, but out of the price range of a lot of people. He said it was great to get in touch with nature and have some time to de-stress, which is fantastic if you can manage the time off. But what do you do for those you know can't get time off or can't leave the kids, how can you give them a gift that will help them?

One answer is "Healing Art". Art that goes on the wall, so doesn't take up floor space and that gives them the healing gift of nature without them having to even leave home.

Studies have shown that spending time looking at images of nature helps you to de-stress and gives you a greater sense of community, so you are then more likely to make time for your family and friends whereas otherwise it may not have been a priority.

So if you are interested in experiences I would recommend Red Balloon or if you would like Healing Art then check out Red Bubble.

My site on Red Bubble is http://juliakharwood.redbubble.com so you can check out my healing art, but there are also lots of other great artists on there too. They also sell gift vouchers.

Remember at the end of it all if you are feeling stressed and worn out, give yourself a gift by allowing yourself some time out in nature, even if its sitting outside with a cuppa or if your stuck in the office, have a look at some nature images on your computer and allow nature to work her magic!!!

Wellness Continued

2010-12-02T14:10:00.012+08:00

This is part two of Wellness. To recap;

Wellness is the pursuit of the best health possible through fit body, balanced mind and peaceful spirit.

Increase self esteem, self worth, optimism and confidence
Help forget your own physical or emotional pain
Help decrease stress and acts as a stress release
Improve immune response
Decrease feelings of depression and self doubt
Increase sense of balance and over all well being

Step 4 follows on from number 3.
Increase self esteem, self worth, optimism and confidence. As we decrease depression & self doubt we also increase self worth and optimism.
What is self Esteem?
Your self-esteem is the way you look at yourself. If you have good self-esteem it means that you like yourself and you believe that you are as 'OK' as everyone else.
Read more »

Wellness

2010-12-02T09:16:00.004+08:00

Wellness is the pursuit of the best health possible through fit body, balanced mind and peaceful spirit.

Increase self esteem, self worth, optimism and confidence
Help forget your own physical or emotional pain
Help decrease stress and acts as a stress release
Improve immune response
Decrease feelings of depression and self doubt
Increase sense of balance and over all well being

Whoa! I hear you exclaim, that's a pretty tall order.
Lets break it down into more manageable pieces.

I'm going to change the order a bit here too.

Firstly, I think that until we can decrease the stress in our lives and find something that works as a stress release for us we are unable to focus on the other things as it all becomes too overwhelming and just another list of things we can't quite find time to get to.

So lets look at stress.
What is it?
Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress.
Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. Now we need to understand there is good stress as well as bad.
Our bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood when there is a new demand on it.
These chemicals either give us more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger, or a bad thing, if their stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength.
So basically good stress is when we have a demand on us and our body produces the chemicals to help us deal with this demand. A bad stress is when we peceive a demand and the chemicals are released, but we have no way of using these chemicals and so they build up in our system.
An example of bad stress is worrying. We think something bad 'might' happen and so our body releases chemicals to help us deal with the actual situation, but it hasn't 'actually' happened, we have just imagined it might happen, and so there is nowhere for these chemicals to go and so our body gets stressed.
Some common stresses today are survival stress, internal stress, enviromental stress & work stress. To read more about these go to http://www.mtstcil.org/skills/stress-definition-1.html

People under large amounts of stress can become tired, sick, and unable to concentrate or think clearly. Sometimes, they even suffer mental breakdowns.

We need to find ways to release this stress.
Read more »

Great tips for looking good in family photos

2010-11-29T09:17:00.002+08:00

"Knowing how to take a fabulous photo will be the difference between great memories and memories where you wish you were cropped out of the frame," says image consultant and author Clare Maxfield ( www.claremaxfield.com.au). Put her tips into action this Christmas.

For the face:

• Stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth as you smile. It reduces the double-chin effect.

• Keep your chin down for a flattering line. Tilting your head up in excitement puts you at risk of nostril-cam.

• Say cheese! This is not as silly as it sounds. It opens your mouth into a natural smile. If you don’t want to be in the photo, get out!

There are lots more tips in the full article.
To read more click on the link in the article header.

Enjoy:)

All human pain is caused by words...

2010-11-28T17:15:00.005+08:00

....as is all joy according to a Yogic sage.
"We create words to define our experiences and those words bring attendant emotions that jerk us around like dogs on a leash. We get seduced by our own mantras (I'm a failure....I'm lonely...I'm a failure....I'm lonely...) and we become monuments to them. To stop talking for a while , then, is to attempt to strip away the power of words." This is from Eat, Pray,Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

When I read this I thought YES!!! This is so true. but if we stop talking our thoughts take over for us with more words and often these are more compelling as we can hear them more clearly when we aren't talking. This is one of the reasons people try to stay busy as much as possible, they are trying to escape this incessant thoughts or words.

But the only way to stop these incessant thoughts is to listen to them and refute them. Give them your full atttention for a few minutes and then senf them away. They remind me of small children when Mum is talking with friends, they tug on mum's dress going "Mun, mum, mum, mum,..." over and over again until Mum gives them a moment of her undivided attention, addresses what they need and sends them off to play. We need to do this with our thoughts.

Stop and listen to them
Address them and the issues. ie I'm a failure... Am I really? Is EVERYTHING I do a failure?
Say to the thought, NO!~I may fail at some things, but so does everyone, it's part of being human. I am okay!
Send them on their way. ie Ok I've heard you now & we know you are exagerating so off you go.

To do this we need to stop every now and then and be quite and still firstly to hear our thoughts and then to deal with them.

If we do this we will find our words start to bring us joy instead of pain.

Often finding time and a place for quite reflection is hard so if you want to set up a healing or quite place look at my "Healing Art" images and add one to your room so that you can sit and contemplate a beautiful nature scene while you give time to your thoughts and dealing with them.

If you want to know more please leave a comment or contact me.

Special Moments

2010-11-26T10:03:00.003+08:00

We all have special moments and special occassions in our lives that we like to remember, be they wedding anniversarys, birthdays or something else. We also like to help others celebrate and remember these special times and so I have decided to start a special service whereby I can add writing of your choice to an image.
You choose an image you like or you think the person you are buying for would like and then tell me what you would like written on the image. It can be as simple as "Celebrating the wedding of ..... and..... on the xX/xx/xxxx." Or it can be a poem or words of meaning to you or them. Often people chose one of the sunset images for this but any image can be used. I can still organize this in time for Christmas if you would like it as a gift.
Please email me details of what you would like on image & I will do it at no extra cost.
My email is jules@juliaharwood.com
Looking forward to hearing from you.

What's your word?

2010-11-23T19:55:00.002+08:00

I am currently reading "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert and I found a particular passage got me thinking. In it her Italian friend says we each have a word that describes who we are in our life at the moment.
Let me start with an excerpt from the book.
"Don't you know that the secret to understanding a city and its people is to learn - what is the word of the street." If you could read people's thoughts as they were passing you on the streets of any given place, you would discover that most of them are thinking the same thought. Whatever the majority thought might be - that is the word of the city. And if your personal word doesn't match that of the city, then you really don't belong there.
It went on to say Rome's word is "Sex", The Vatican's word is "Power", New York's "achieve", Los Angeles is "Succeed"
So what is your word?
Read more »

Card Gnome - Pink roses Wedding card greeting card

2010-11-22T19:42:00.000+08:00

Card Gnome - Pink roses Wedding card greeting card

20% off all white tees for Christmas!!

2010-11-21T18:23:00.000+08:00

Need a gift for Christmas, 20% off all white apparel. Get in quick to get delivery for Chrissy.

COPYRIGHT AWARENESS DAY

2010-11-21T17:17:00.000+08:00

Nature Makes Us More Caring, Study Says

2010-11-21T16:48:00.000+08:00

Want to be a better person? Commune with nature. Paying attention to the natural world not only makes you feel better, it makes you behave better, finds a new study to be published October 1 in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
"Stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits," says Richard Ryan, coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at the University of Rochester. While the salubrious effects of nature are well documented, from increasing happiness and physical health to lowering stress, this study shows that the benefits extend to a person's values and actions. Exposure to natural as opposed to man-made environments leads people to value community and close relationships and to be more generous with money, find Ryan and his team of researchers at the University of Rochester.

On a personal level, Weinstein says the take home message from the research is clear: "We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of," she says. Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world. "The more you appreciate nature, the more you can benefit," she says.

Ladies Only BREWING up something you’ll like!

2010-11-17T10:41:00.000+08:00

Morning all my fellow women,,

Are you ready to give your life a JOLT? Today, you have the opportunity to receive THE ULTIMATE LIFE BOOST! This is one of the most INVIGORATING announcements I’ve ever sent to you, and I definitely think you will want to be part of the BUZZ!
Julie Clark, founder of The Inspirational Coffee Club, is launching her beautiful new book, Inspirational Coffee Breaks for Women: 12 Ground Rules for Pouring Your Heart into Life. This unique guide for life is OVERFLOWING with heartwarming stories, thoughtful reflection questions, and rich wisdom to help you discover creative, new ways to REVITALIZE and RENEW your life. It’s a true DOSE of encouragement for the soul! (And you don’t have to be a coffee lover to enjoy it!) It’s the perfect gift to WARM-UP the Holidays and PERK UP the New Year for you or any woman in your life!

To celebrate the launch of the new book, Julie is hosting the world’s largest ‘INSPIRATIONAL COFFEE BREAK’ TODAY, Tuesday, November 16th, to help women REFILL that part of themselves that gets POURED out in the DAILY GRIND. When you purchase the book TODAY from Amazon.com, you will receive an EXTRA JOLT of BONUS GIFTS from over 90 other INVIGORATING authors and entrepreneurs from across the world. I’ve been invited to be one of those involved in this amazing event and am BRIMMING with excitement to share it with you.
Order your copy TODAY and receive over 90 FREE EXTRA JOLT BONUS GIFTS at:
www.inspirationalcoffeebreaksforwomen.com

Here's what a few who've gotten a 'Sneak Peek' of the new book have to say:

"I have never read a book that I couldn't wait to read again, with highlighter in hand to mark the areas that were especially touching. It made me laugh, it made me cry. A book that truly warmed my heart and inspired my soul."

"This is a MUST read book.... Its unique and will definitely get you jump-started to a new you."
"Whether you are a working woman, a stay at home mom, or a young woman just out of college, this book will touch and motivate you to become a better person. The way that Julie has poured her heart and soul into this book to help and encourage others is truly magical. You will leave this book feeling rejuvenated and inspired."

THE PERFECT BLEND of encouragement, humor, self-reflection and easy-to-apply action steps, Inspirational Coffee Breaks for Women will to inspire you to never stop DREAMING, never stop LOVING, never stop PERSEVERING, and never stop getting EVERY LAST DROP out of each and every day!
Get your copy of Inspirational Coffee Breaks for Women TODAY and receive over 90 complimentary gifts to help you improve in all areas of your life.
www.inspirationalcoffeebreaksforwomen.com

It’s truly the PERFECT GIFT to WARM-UP the Holiday Season for yourself or any wonderful woman in your life—Moms, Daughters, Friends, Aunts, Grandma’s, or Co-workers! www.inspirationalcoffeebreaksforwomen.com

GIVE YOUR LIFE A JOLT TODAY and enjoy this one-of-a-kind ‘INSPIRATIONAL COFFEE BREAK’ event. Let’s face it—you spend so much time POURING your wonderful self out to others. Let TODAY be the day you FILL YOURSELF BACK UP with inspiration and motivation for BREWING more HAPPINESS, SUCCESS and JOY!
With Warmth,
Jules

P.S. As you know, coffee is always best when shared with others. Here’s 2 ways to share this one-of-a-kind JOLT with friends: 1). Forward a copy of this email to friends who could also use a BOOST. 2). Buy multiple copies and give them as Holiday gifts to the women you cherish most! Go to www.inspirationalcoffeebreaksforwomen.com

Spending time in nature..study

2010-11-15T17:55:00.003+08:00

Spending time in nature makes people feel more alive, study shows

Feeling sluggish? The solution may require getting outside the box - that big brick-and-mortar box called a building.

If you click on the title of this blog it will take you to the full article, which tells us about a study on how important it is to spend time in nature.
For those of us who don't have the time, the means or the opportunity to do this, the next best thing is to have images of nature all around you so that you can still immerse yourself in nature.
When we are actually out in nature, we not only see, we hear and smell, so art does not give you the full experience but it definitly helps. If you spend time looking at an image of the ocean, then you add the sounds of the ocean you will gain even more benefit. Finally spray the room with an ocean scent and you will be amazed at how realistic it becomes.
If you click on the "Healing Art" tab above, you can get yourself an image and begin the process.
You may not be able to afford a full holiday to the beach, but you can give your body mind and spirit the lift it needs.
Enjoy every day by adding the beauty of nature to your surroundings wherever they may be.