Why does it feel sooo good having a massage? What is it that creates that afterglow and gooey
buzzing well-being? What if we could have it on tap?

A yoga teacher friend of mine exclaims " you gotta participate, be receptive, open", when chatting
about good massage treatment.

The answer is: oxytocin - and yes, you can get it "on tap" in form of a spray. Tough that is not the
best option in the long run.

Oxytocin was originally discovered in 1906 by a British scientist Henry Dale in connection with
breast feeding and child birth and that might be where most of our general knowledge and
familiarity about it lays. More recently you might have come across oxytocin in popular culture being referred to as the "love hormone" advocating hugging.

Research by Swedish scientist Kerstin Moberg Uvnäs over the last thirty years, confirms that
oxytocin not a substance exclusive to mothers, but has much wider existence and importance as
an ingenious substance in all humans as well as in animals.

It's primary function and existence is to create and aid our ability to bond and develop social ties.
But it does have further additional functions that are rather incredible. Apart from a general sense of well-being it reduces fear and aggression, is relaxing and calming, increases pain thresholds and
deepens our relationships. It also supports out immune system, breathing, sleeping and wound healing. A long and impressive list of attributes.

Nature has given us the ability to produce this marvellous (but complex) substance and it is released into our bloodstream when we touch or are being touched. Even being in proximity with others that mean us well will stimulate production. That explains the joy of good company. But our production capacity has individual variations - in some oxytocin flows easily and abundantly, in others not so.

Like everything else nature hands us from birth we have different predispositions but our life
circumstances also play a significant part in this instance.

The last bit here is crucial and why administrating oxytocin as a bliss spray is not best option.

The missing component to experience self-produced flow of oxytocin and well-being buzz is trust.

Trust in being touched. Trust it is safe to be touched.

The 'formula' for wellbeing (and all benefits of oxytocin) is simply put:
Rubbing skin + trust = oxytocin production

You might have noted, if you are still with me, that oxytocin also increases trust and a feeling of safety. It's there for us to strengthen the bonds between those who means us well, but not to be reckless and unbounded. It can take some building up to, but in the long run it is preferable to encourage our own capacity by gaining trust rather than override our natural abilities with an external administration, better stimulate our own production. Massage is fantastic and a top choice for this and all body therapies are beneficial in encouraging the production, provided of course, the recipient feels safe and trusts the therapist.

The touching of soft materials, stroking animals, yoga, even singing in a group will also
have a positive effect and can be a place to top up your oxytocin and could be a starting point for
those who are not comfortable with touch.

I might be preaching to the converted here but it might be good to try to understand when others have reluctance and resistance to touch and how important it is to go easy, but also to remember how beneficial it is.

Returning to my yoga friend who has it worked out that for maximum benefit of massage she needs to be open to receive. In other words, to trust and the bliss will be there. This, I know, was not always the case but rather developed over time.

We are never alone truly.
We are born from two (biological mother and father), brought up by at least one if not half a village.
People do not choose solitude to thrive in life. It is their last choice for survival when they have been mistreated one too many times.

Or they choose it for the purpose of transformation. A form of challenge for spiritual cultivation.
 
Touch is medicine

Therapeutic touch is consensual structure in which the client and the therapist give each other space so the therapeutic qualities of change can emerge.
It is chosen and developed as a container, in which one can allow themselves to be exposed. To give up their thriving and fighting against discomfort.

True rest requires safety.

Just like yin and yang are complimentary, one needs a safe environment in which they can free up their defences (muscles and nervous system for an armour).
A good massage or Acupuncture treatment is based on non-verbal communication. Although the practitioner may seem to be in a place of power, it is their priority and responsibility to keep listening to their clients. Both via touch, sight and hearing.
A good session is like a non-stop dialogue in which the therapist gives just the right amount of stimuli, which allows the person lying down to fully relax. To dissolve into the new structure that is being co-created.
Of course this can look in many different ways. Yet, a firm and steady hand can provide so much relief.

Rest is so vital. Especially so today, when our society is geared towards productivity via burnout.
In a time when we feel challenged, burnt out or more sensitive than ever, therapeutic touch can make a world of difference. It can be a puddle of safety in the ocean of turbulence.

As we are approaching the energetic year of the Yang Fire Horse, it becomes even more important to tune into that quality of rest that our being craves so much.
We can find this in many different forms, in poetry, Tai chi, nature walks or massages.

A good thought to keep in mind, is that rest also requires effort. It is by far not the same as zoning out whilst watching digital content.
Rest is best described in the meditative world as “calm abiding”. A state where we are present yet simply abiding in peace. In the lake of consciousness undisturbed by thoughts and feelings.

I strongly advise you to put time aside for rest regularly. Whether it’s in meditation or during an acupuncture session, frequent ‘abiding’ makes a world of difference. It leads to deeper and longer baseline of a calm, safe, confident sense of self.

If you need some support with Rest in your life, do not hesitate to reach out to me or the rest of the fabulous WNT team.
 
PS: Perhaps Confidence is something you wish to work on this year? Please read my other article on Starting the year right: with positive emotion and community. 
 

Hi everyone,
Hope you all had a lovely festive period!
I am back in London. Recharged with inspiration and ready for 2026.

So let's start the year with something positive :)Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a talk by Maitreyabandhu (a Buddhist scholar and practitioner), who shared many lifetimes' worth of wisdom around positive emotion.

Why is it so important?I think we can all agree that life is often challenging.
Yet it is also immensely beautiful.

Depending on the state of our mind, our experience can be of beauty or of suffering.
Positive emotions allow us to have a deeper capacity to stay present, appreciate and act creatively in our everyday life.

What sort of positive emotions are we talking about?Maitreyabandhu believes that our generation has been gradually losing its natural access to positive emotion.

This shows up as:
- a disconnection from nature, including our physical body
- a loss of community. the lack of feeling seen, loved and appreciated
- a missing cosmic connection. The experience of being part of something much larger, like the universe, humanity or the divine
Happiness, appreciation, and love, amongst others, are extremely potent positive emotions, yet they are not so readily available for someone living a busy metropolitan lifestyle.

Why do people struggle with positive emotion?There is a genetic predisposition to prioritise any sense of danger for the sake of survival. Unfortunately, this strategy has become maladaptive with our current lifestyle. As most of us are living up in our heads, overflooded with information. Boosted by a hyperactive nervous system, which is also overfilled with the energy of a multitude of (negative) emotions residing in the body.

The most commonly regarded positive emotions are not something we can easily (if at all) generate when we are isolated, overly cerebral or have no time to simply be.
Of course, there are countless practices out there which can be utilised in order to generate loving kindness or compassion, yet they fall short when we do not have genuine connections in our lives.
Connection to others and to ourselves.

What is the solution?
The Buddhist answer is simple:
- Live a slow life
- Stay deeply embodied and present
- Live in a community with individuals who share the same values as you

Now, that is beautiful, but this might not be available to you if you are:
- not a person of faith or interested in Buddhism
- do not know how to connect with such individuals
- have a full-time job and other responsibilities
- already living at your capacity

Perhaps you have a really supportive group of friends. Some deeply loving family members. Potentially a job that allows you to spend more time on your own. Yet there is something still missing.

Here is an alternative solution:

Whilst this is not a better solution than actually walking on the (Buddhist) path of dedication itself. It is also not exclusive of that.
What I am presenting to you today can be an excellent (and free!) alternative or addition to your preexisting journey towards a better, deeper, loving life.

Here is what you get:

Imagine a place where you can naturally unfold all the shapes, identities and habits that keep you away from experiencing joy and love as your everyday baseline.

A community where, instead of ‘working on yourself’, you are actually having fun with like-minded people.
Where goofing around allows you to truly be yourself as you are
right now.

A magic toolbox, stuffed with all the goodies that lead you to positive emotion.

A completely practical approach. Where you can finally get out of your head, down into your body. Where pen and paper become your friend. Where your phone actually brings you slow, nourishing content, instead of a wired nervous system.

In this community, we only have three laws to abide by:
1. Have fun
2. Be kind,
3. Keep the momentum

The best part?

It’s all free!

All it costs you is to bring a little bit of passion with a little bit of effort. 
So you can be present with other individuals who pretty much want the same things as you do.

Living a life free of Shame and full of confidence so you can be as Free as a bird.

What am I really talking about?

What ‘it’ is is an Online Community, run on a platform (Skool), which is naturally geared towards interactions, thus building a community.
With access to a free Academy designed to help you become the most Confident version of you that you can be.

What is the catch?

The catch is that I cannot do it without you. I cannot build and maintain a community without people who prioritise their own well-being, so they can make the most of their lives, whilst also being truly helpful to those around them.

So what I am asking you is to come, join us, and give each other a chance to build a community where we can experience what Maitriyabadhu talked about:

An embodied community filled with love and belonging.

What this is not:

It is not a miracle cure. It does not substitute in person friendships and connections.
It doesn’t make all the wars stop around the world.
But it is a start towards living a life more connected and deeply loving.

It is also not complete. 
I am currently putting together the materials for the academy, which are going to be quite extensive -and deeply transformational- as we head towards summer.

The amazing thing is, is that the more you interact in the community, the more you can influence the material I am putting out there.

It will be personalised to the needs of the group. So the "funding members" have an excellent opportunity to shape the material.

How can you join?

You can click on the button below, which will take you to the Skool website. 

The community is currently called the Beyond Shame Academy.

I am putting a little extra focus on getting people from a state of Shame to a sense of Confidence. However, it will be a truly holistic experience. Perhaps with some Tai chi material in there, in the future. :)

It will ask you to create a free account. Where you can be yourself. Otherwise, you are welcome to take up an alias if you would rather contribute without your real identity.

Because you matter!I hope to see many of you there!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to drop me an email or to ask me in person.
Have a wonderful start to the year!
Compassionately,
Miha, the Acupuncturist 

Hi everyone,
Here I make a return again with these articles before the quiet period of Winter. This holiday season is always a time that I find deeply inspirational. But if I am honest, Autumn is a season that I often struggle with.
So many ghosts (from the past) come to visit, that it can be truly overwhelming. But there is hope!
Today I wish to talk about how we can find hope both by the recognition of our human condition and by the grace of needles. :)

The Channel of a Bright Future

In Chinese Medicine, we often refer to the meridians (channels) as a fixed set of tools with equal importance within our toolbox. Yet they are much more than that.

Channels are energetically living entities within us that allow our mind and body to connect to one another, and everything else beyond our understanding (beyond the ‘I’). 

They also have a sort of hierarchy which is based on time and space.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians are the ones formed first, and those which lie deepest to our core.

One of these channels is called Yang Wei Mai (Yang linking vessel). It brings a fascinating purpose within our development. Its function is related to how we perceive the future based on our experiences of the past.

What is even more interesting is that it has a message. Which is, if we focus our efforts in the right places, life can be bright, and full of optimism for the future.

It organises all Yang within the body with a special notion to our protective energies (Wei qi).

I like to refer to these as troops within the body and the mind. When we are mentally stable and physically healthy, these troops wait at the border (where pathogens may enter), waiting to be dispatched. They also retire inward towards the evening, so they can rest.

What happens when we allow chaos to reign our troops against our best wishes?

When we experience something physically or mentally traumatic (especially in early childhood), these troops can get stuck with very old orders, such as ‘be vigilant, as an attack is incoming any minute’.

Thus, the mind never rests. It creates unnecessary tension internally (which, over time, can translate into autoimmune conditions) and may also create illusory scenarios to which the troops are dispatched.

Worry and control: A common example of this is worrying about a possible future scenario. This worry often creates conflict not just in our minds but also between us and others. Pre-mediating a fight that is solely based on our own fears. These heavy feelings give birth to a desperate need for control. Which leads to further and further discontent and aggression.
Another example of what we may call the “Future disease”  is the inability for someone to take steps towards (a brighter) future. We can get so stuck in our view of life, like we have already ‘decided’ how it is going to play out.

Passivity and victim-hood: People with such personality traits often take a passive stand in life, in which things keeps happening ‘to them’. This sort of victim mentality creates an illusion of a ‘set future’ which may feel comforting for those who have gone through traumatic experiences.
Yet it is the anchor which prevents people from taking agency in their lives by finding the slightest bit of momentum, which could result in a mountain of change in the long run.

Going back to the troop analogy, when our General (the Liver) and the Empress (Heart) have lost their vision and clarity, these troops scatter or accumulate in different places. Often resulting in fighting themselves (autoimmune and inflammatory conditions). 

How can we turn things around for the better?

One way to counteract this chaotic state is to ascertain our priorities in the given moment.

Yang Wei Mai is also a channel associated with purpose. As it has the ability to ascertain where our troops are needed the most. Thus, setting priorities becomes an essential aspect of anchoring, centring and focusing the mind in the prospect of supporting the body in moving out of a state of dis-ease.

Pro tip: when you find yourself spiralling downwards, remember that spiralling already has given you a momentum. You are already doing, it's just not the kind of doing that will lift you up. All you need is a little nudge to change the direction. Upward we go when we bring to mind our priorities (or purpose in life) and start acting on it. It does not have to be a massive leap. It can be enough to decide to go out and get a breath of fresh air. Change brings freshness. In that momentum we can brainstorm new ideas. As long as we keep going, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow. 

Realistically speaking, making the right decision can change your experience (of the present moment) in a split second. How can you make your next hour of life marginally more pleasant?

In Acupuncture we have an amazing opportunity to directly connect with this deep aspect of our psychosomatic being, which can bring forth purpose, optimism and excitement for the future.
When we activate the Yang Wei Mai, we simply bring it into a more open state. We vibrate the channel so it comes alive to be more resonant with our priorities.

Of course, it is not magic. Change requires an immense amount of honesty. To really see ourselves (with the help of others) as clearly as possible. To see when we have the opportunity to act on our priorities, and to kindly make the decision which brings us onto an upward cycle. 
We all deserve to live out our lives in a way that brings us closer and closer to our purpose.

What are your priorities for the week?

Curious to set priorities that will support you through this festive season?
Come and see me for an acupuncture treatment.
Simply drop an email with your availability if interested.
I am also offering -reduced rate- Online sessions where we can dive deeper into your beliefs and systems, which are (hopefully) supporting you all year around.

Unfortunately I can't do pregnancy massage anymore, I used to love it! I love working with pregnant women so I now use facial reflexology which can help with symptoms and preparation for birth, and also facial massage to relax the facial muscles, especially around the mouth and jaw, as the mouth has an associated correspondence to the "birthing organs". So it's always good to remember that relaxing the mouth helps to prepare for birth!

Years ago, after my wonderful natural home birth experience, I wanted to share some of the tools I had used to prepare myself and my body for the birth of my baby in the smoother way possible, stretching to avoid tears. My daughter Desta flew out like a super hero, with her arm outstretched and so the midwives were expecting a bad tear. To their surprise, they found my body intact and immediately asked me: "Did you do perineal massage?". Of course I did! I mastered it! And in view of its benefits I had decided to share this knowledge and skill with as many women as possible. After all, it's not really something that they teach us, as they are so used to performing a rather painful episiotomy that scars us for life. 

Antenatal Perineal massage
Perineal self-massage is very important to prepare for birth. We can avoid perineal tear and unnecessary episiotomy.   Perineal massage helps you to know your body and prepare you for the feeling of pressure and stretching that you may experience as your baby is being born. It will help you to relax and take active part in the birth of your child with increased body awareness. It can help easing pain during crowning: can ease the "ring of fire" so often experienced while baby's head is emerging. It helps to gradually soften and stretch the perineum, ready for birth. It can promote closeness between you and your partner.  

Veronica offer guidance in a easy to read, instructive e-booklet and a Perineal Massage Oil (order one directly with Veronica).
download Veronica's FREE E-BOOKLET Perineal Massage in Pregnancy for a smooth birth

Stepping into pregnancy here for the first time and I am being met with both the excitement and joy of new life and also all the different changes that are taking place in my body. Each day more or less comes with new experiences and I never really know what will come along. Glad I have my yoga practice to lean on and doing my best to take it breath by breath. 

Up to now I felt changes and pressure in my sacrum, chest, back (especially my upper back) and that tiredness that just keeps on coming. I haven't had any morning sickness which I am grateful for and have been doing my best to give myself the rest I need. I started to also change my working schedule so it is more sustainable during this time. On top of that I have been doing what I can to make sure I continue to give to myself what I give to others, because when there are so many changes happening, sometimes our good habits can fall apart. So I really had to make sure I got myself to those regular Cranio-sacral treatments cause the tiredness at times tried to convince me otherwise. Once I found myself in those sessions it just helped me tremendously. The pressure I can feel in the sacrum has a chance to be released, as well as the pressure in my upper back & chest and it just gives me some more room and space within my own body again. It has been such a relief to be taken care of and have a space where I can just be in. 

After the treatments here during pregnancy, especially after the one when I had a little longer time in between them, I just really wished that every pregnant woman could have the chance to get this support and space to be in. To help the body and systems in this way has just felt for me like such a freedom and gives me the chance to just be able to enjoy this journey of pregnancy more. Since the pregnancy is ongoing, more regular treatment just seems to be the way that works best for me, so that is what I keep on aiming for now. 

On top of treatments, I also want to learn as much as I can about this new chapter of my life. Especially when we live in a world that can so easily focus on the negative and so much drama. So for me during pregnancy it is so important to surround myself with doulas and birth educators that have a healthy, happier and natural view on it all. The more I do and the more I learn this way, it just gives me the ability to enjoy and look forward to both this pregnancy and also for the birth of my child. So far I have been blessed with hearing and seeing so many powerful birth stories that just uplift my heart in the best way. 

One of the books that has been really helpful for me is Natalie Meddings book How To Have A Baby and you can find it here: https://www.nataliemeddings.com/shop/p/books/how-to-have-a-baby I am also so glad that I get to have Natalie as my doula as well.

Another wonderful soul that I haven been drawn to is a woman by the name Bridget Teyler, who is a doula and birth educator in the US. She has a lot of free offerings online, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/@BridgetTeyler/videos. She also has a wonderful program you can join and have the chance to step into the possibility to learn even more and get to love your birth. Click here to check it out: https://www.builttobirth.com/ This is the program I joined and it has helped me a lot. 

During my journey of this pregnancy I have tried to do my best to bring in those tools that support me and that allows me to relax and enjoy. I can only assume if you are still reading this, you might be pregnant too. So asking yourself what support can you bring in right now? Are there treatments that can really help you? How often do you need them? How much rest do you need? Checking in also on what kind of souls allows you to be in this state during pregnancy of confidence and relaxation? And make sure to bring those in! 

Ups and downs are often unavoidable in pregnancy as well as in life and hormonal shifts, emotional fluctuations and physical discomforts can be part of the journey for you and your baby. I really recommend, wherever you can, making choices to treat yourself in the best way possible and bring in any support that makes you feel empowered to give you a chance to enjoy any moments you can on this precious journey. 

I turned 60 recently and was very excited to receive my wonderful London Oyster card and find out that I now qualify for free prescriptions but wanted to find out what other positives there are about reaching this milestone and while searching the internet was informed that it is a time of ‘celebration of resilience, wisdom and possibility’.                                                                              
 
As far as resilience and wisdom go this may be true, as by this age, we have had decades of experience dealing with sometimes challenging situations that we have hopefully managed to overcome.
 
Possibility however, will really depend on our financial security and physical ability. If we are fortunate to have a mortgage-free home, a good pension and with that, some spare cash, we can happily embrace a work-free future and spend more of our leisure time on hobbies, holidays and fitness. Ah yes. Fitness. This is the most important thing of all, as without it, possibilities may be limited.
 
From the age of 30 our bodies start to change. We start to lose lean tissue, muscles start to atrophy (3-5% per decade) and we see an increase in fat. Bones may start to weaken, skin starts to thin, joints start to stiffen and we start to lose height as the discs in our spine begin to dry out.
 
So what can we do about it?

I see a lot of clients who are over 60 and I am pleased to say that the majority of them have realised that they need to take their physical health more seriously.
 
According to current figures the average life expectancy is 81 for women and 79 for men (longer in more affluent areas) so when we turn 60, we can expect to live for another 20-30 years. Therefore we need to be able to move, have balance and be strong. Now is the time (if we haven’t already) to implement changes to save our bodies.
 
Fitness doesn’t have to be an expensive business.

• Walking. Walking is free, good for you and if you join a hiking or rambling club, also sociable.

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/ramblers-groups/south-bank-group

• Running. No equipment needed apart from a pair of running trainers, love of the outdoors and some will power!

If you would like to start running and would like a very friendly beginners course, the Dulwich Park Runners run two courses a year in March and September. Members receive a 10% discount on Sports Massage at West Norwood Therapies.
https://www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk/

• For something a little more challenging, why not look at Windrush Triathlon Club

Where you can run, cycle and swim with a friendly, encouraging bunch. They run weekly training sessions and also get a 10% discount at West Norwood Therapies.
https://windrushtri.co.uk/

• Cycling. A fantastic and inexpensive way to keep fit as you can always pick up a fairly decent second hand bike or borrow one from a friend if it’s for an occasional ride. Take a look at this website if you don’t know where to start.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/cycle-skills

• Gym. Join the local council gym who have vastly reduced swimming sessions, exercise classes, and gym access. Active Lambeth offers a 15% discount to over 60’s (£43.85 per month) while Better offer a discount from age 66. If you are unstable on your feet, Active Lambeth offers a couple of chair-based exercise classes and aqua aerobics.

 
If you can afford it, I would really recommend finding a Personal Trainer and seeing them twice a week. If only once, ask them to design a simple exercise programme that you can either do at home or in the gym (with a few bands or hand weights) a couple of times per week.
 
If you think you can’t, look for concessionary seniors classes connected to local libraries, hospitals and community centres.

• Swimming. Have a few swimming lessons if you need them and then take yourself to the local pool or to one of London’s fabulous lidos.

 

• Pilates. If you book a block it can be cheaper and you will be going regularly so it is worth the investment. I would suggest that if you are new to Pilates, you choose a mat class rather than a reformer class. The reason being, if you have a weak core, you will learn the foundations of how to engage and strengthen it in a mat class. Whereas, the reformer equipment moves on springs and if you have little core strength to start with, this can be challenging and occasionally dangerous (you could fall off).

It is a good idea to find out the qualifications of a practitioner. At least a Level 4 in mat and reformer.

• Yoga.  Again check the qualification of the instructor. Do some taster classes to find out what kind of yoga is for you as there are many types. Yin (more stretching) to Vinyasa Flow (faster moving) and others in between.

 
N:B if you have been diagnosed with, or suspect you may have, hypermobility please inform your teacher as it is very easy to over-stretch tendons and end up with injuries.
 
Class Pass gives access to many different classes from gym to yoga and a two week trial costs £1. https://classpass.com/walkthrough/getclasspass

• Walking Football and Walking Netball

Great for those who are new to the sports or have previously played but are returning from injury or want something less stressful on the joints.
There are a few teams in South London
https://thewfa.co.uk/directory/pride-of-lions/
https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/play/walking-netball/

• Tennis, Padel and Pickle Ball

All of these court based sports are a lot of fun but can be expensive (padel for sure). And, if you are a beginner, it is very easy to get over enthusiastic and play too often.
Although they are wonderful fun and great for aerobic fitness, they can cause knee, hip and shoulder issues as there is a lot of ‘stop/start’ movement which puts stress on the joints.
https://www.lta.org.uk/support-centre/competing/competing-in-padel/what-is-the-gb-seniors-padel-tour-and-how-can-i-enter/
 
By keeping strong we will have increased mobility and energy to really benefit from the free oyster card travel to galleries, museums, parks across London, visiting friends and family and trying different exercise classes. AND greatly reduced the need for those free prescriptions.
 
Tessa Glover
Clinical Sport and Remedial Massage Therapy
ISRM/BTEC (Level 5) Professional Diploma
07966 473738

Frankincense as a ritual tool.
Rituals are ancient and found in all cultures in human history around the world. Pagan or religious, rituals and ceremonies have marked important milestones, cycles and events in the lives of our ancestors and can help us today to reconnect to values, to nature, to ourselves and the divine in a way that has been lost in time.

Rituals and ceremonies for Rite of Passages, such as coming of age like the First Moon (Menarche), for Closure and Beginnings like deaths, births, healing, marriage or separations, to celebrate the harvest or a new season, to crown the new king or queen with the anointing of the ‘Chism Oil’ - these all express a desire to honour and bring the sacred into our life.

When we are in ceremony we enter a profound connection with ourself and Source, whatever that means to us. We experience a glimpse of our divinity. We bathe in the bliss of eternity as we alter our consciousness and we perceive ourself as soul beings, as part of something bigger. Ceremony holds the mystery of eternity that unfolds the experiencing of our divinity.

Rituals nourish the soul, nurture healing and support our spiritual growth.

In ancient Egypt rituals were a daily sacred task performed in the temples with mystical aromatics like Frankincense, age old incense, used by many civilisations. Aromatic fragrances, ritual and the divine in ancient Egypt were inextricably interconnected.
"Scents were believed to originate from the gods, to have sprang from their eyes or their bones, in particular the eyes of the sun-god Ra" - Lise Manniche.
Sacred Scents were believed to be a link to become ‘one’ with the Divine, to be the very fragrance of the gods, derived from the sacred essence of gods, from their particular manifestation.

FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense has been described as the 'golden resin of the sun'. Spiritual and holy, Frankincense is evocative of ceremonial rituals from the land of the Pharaohs, it fills your space with the mystical scents of an ancient temple, bringing the sacred from the distant past into your present life. The history of the precious Frankincense resin can be traced back through ancient texts.

Revered by the ancient Egyptians, considered as valuable as gold, incense was central to the worship of the deities of the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon and large quantities of Frankincense  were burned every day in temples throughout Egypt. Olibanum, “the substance being conducive to a divine state” is documented in many hieroglyphic texts and it was listed as one of the seven sacred oils in temple rituals. Believed to help the soul of the deceased to find its way to the spiritual world, it was also found in the tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Frankincense is fundamental in my daily meditation, rituals and ceremonies, to open sacred space, purify my energy and cleanse the room, inviting blessings and protection and open the connection with self and the Divine. It immediately grounds me and connects me with source when the mundane feels too distracting and overwhelming.

Frankincense resonates at a high vibrational frequency, and yet it grounds you deeply on Earth while connecting you to the Divine. It provides spiritual protection, purification and energetic transmutation, dissolving the illusion of separation between the physical and spiritual realms. Centering and uplifting, it enhances focus, alertness and clarity.

PURIFICATION RITUAL WITH FRANKINCENSE
Fire Ceremonies are incredibly powerful to release the old and heavy, to burn away that which is holding us back from expressing all that we are fully and shining our light vibrantly.

Fire has the powerful ability to transmute energy and transform it. To transcend dense and disharmonious energies into resonant ones.

In many cultures and traditions, Frankincense, burned as sacred smoke, is believed to have the power to protect, purify and transmute heavy, negative energies.

For cleansing and purification purposes, the smoke of the burned resin can be smudged on yourself, your space, or any object you intend to purify by passing these objects through the smoke of burning frankincense. There ancient incense can be burned for DAILY MEDITATION, PURIFICATION, BLESSINGS & PROTECTION.

HOW TO BURN FRANKINCENSE
To release its scent the frankincense is burned over hot coals. The bamboo coals provide a natural alternative to standard commercial charcoal which contains saltpeter and interferes with the scent and therapeutic benefits of the frankincense.
Place the coal inside a censer or a small ceramic bowl, or anything that can tolerate heat. Once the coal is completely light up and white, place a piece of resin on top of it. Just a small tear of resin will produce enough scented smoke that will linger for hours. More resin can be added if needed.

FRANKINCENSE IN CEREMONY
In my Sacred Sound Ceremonies and healing sessions I integrates the ancient Temple Tradition of Sacred Aromatics.
One of my very favourite ceremonies is the Sound Journey with Sacred Frankincense Purification Ritual.

A Sacred Smoke Smudging Ritual is performed in preparation for entering the Inner and Outer Temple in this Sacred Sound Ceremony, using the sacred smoke of the Frankincense resin, green Hojari Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) from Oman and sacred instruments to clear our body on a cellular level as well as our energetic and electromagnetic fields.
In this ritual we offer sacred smoke to our own divine being and body temple. I instruct you how to perform this purification ritual, a skill you will take home with you.

This vibrational re-calibration will reset your unique energy signature to its original resonance. Both the sound frequencies and sacred scents have been used since ancient times for purification and healing purposes. Sacred smoke was offered to the gods and goddesses in ancient Egypt temple rituals; they believed these scents to be derived directly from the gods and be a link to become ‘one’ with the Divine.
A cascade of sounds from gongs, crystal singing bowls, flutes, chimes and other instruments then immerse you into a transcendental experience as set and promoted by the Frankincense.

Source: https://sothistemple.com/royalgreenhojarisacrafrankincenseresin
To learn more about Frankincense visit  https://sothistemple.com/sacredoilssoulessence/sacred-hojari-frankincense
and https://sothistemple.com/sacredoilssoulessence/sacred-hojari-frankincense
Source: https://sothistemple.com/royalgreenhojarisacrafrankincenseresin
 
ABOUT VERONICA
Veronica Massa offers unique multisensory soundscape experiences bringing the healing power of sound into ritual and ceremony. In her Sacred Sound Ceremonies, she integrates the ancient Temple Tradition of Sacred Scents - using Sacred Oils and ancient resins - connecting to the spirit medicine and soul essence of plants. She is the creatrix of Sothis Sacred Oils and founder of Sothis Temple where Sacred Art, Sacred Scents and Sacred Sounds meet in unison to celebrate life, nourish the soul and nurture healing and spiritual growth. www.sothistemple.com. Veronica is a visionary artist Spirit inspired and a multidisciplinary intuitive healer; in the past two decades she gathered experience in the Holistic Healing Arts and as a workshop facilitator.
Learn more about Veronica Nilah https://sothistemple.com/my-journey
 
WHAT IS SACRED SOUND
Everything is frequency and in a state of vibration. All matter vibrates at specific frequencies, including our body, our organs and the cells in our body. We are in optimal health and wellbeing when we have a normal resonant frequency, but if that frequency begins to shift then that part of our body is vibrating out of ease, we say it is dis-eased. This is basically the principle of using sound as a transformational and healing tool: “Sound can change molecular structure” restoring that part of the body back into its healthy resonance to repair damaged tissue and cells within the body and reinstate the harmonious energetic, emotional and mental function. The impact of Sound on human cells has been extensively studied since the ’80 but we also know that the ancient Mystery schools held a deep knowledge of sound and vibrational medicine, using sonic energy for healing and to achieve altered states of consciousness.
A sound immersion bathes you in deep relaxation restoring self-alignment, synchronizing the brainwaves and facilitating the rehabilitation of your cells to normal vibratory frequency, or to resonance which is your original vibratory frequency.

In the previous 2 articles we have explored how our mind shapes our reality. We also looked at how our actions (training) can shape our mind and body.

Going a bit deeper into the psyche, I wanted to talk about the nature of Responsibility and how the patterns of our mind lead to goodwill (grace) or ill-will (shame).

Feeling overwhelmed?

I came from struggle. Not that I had any physical needs unmet. I definitely did not come from wealth, however I always had shelter and plenty of food. (At least until my uni days. :D )

However, mental struggle was my normality.

I felt overwhelmed on a daily basis. Life, or rather the people around me were too much to handle.

So I developed an avoidant relationship with responsibility.

Not to say that I was not a caring and kind child. I think those qualities have been with me and strengthened by my family and teachers over the years.

Yet, due to the overwhelm, I tried to avoid taking any additional responsibility. To the extent of having difficulty with making decisions even about what I want to eat. Indecision.

Now everyone's story is slightly different, however I see a lot of overwhelm and avoidance in my clinical practice.
We will come back to this shortly..

On Shame..

When someone feels overwhelmed, their reality becomes an unsafe environment for them. 
In such situations the brain is forced to 'think their way out' of this non-safety. It is looking for an escape route.

This seeking, or rather avoiding usually leads us down the path of shame and guilt. Being brought up in a very critical and unkind environment, naturally enhances our mental story of not being enough.

Those shameful internalised voices are further strengthened by the constant overwhelm, where we rationalize our inability of handling our 'unsafe' environment as shameful.

Often we also develop a deep desire to help those suffering around us. However as someone incapable of fulfilling their own needs, we often feel guilty for not being able to help others.

Thus we naturally start to associate our self-worth with how we feel in relation to other people.

This is crucial to understand. Our feelings have an effect on our worldview. Our nervous system is wired in a way to protect us, even if that results in us feeling shameful on a daily basis.

Children are very sensitive to suffering. And they do not have the logical understanding that it is not their responsibility to help adult figures. So the guilt deepens.

Naturally a child cannot control their environment. However as an adult, we definitely have the power to make (even if the tiniest) changes in our life.
Please keep reading on...

So how does shame and guilt affect us?

Think of yourself like your phone battery. When you go on about your day, feeling okay, your battery will slowly drain but it probably still be around a comfortable 30% when you retire to bed.

Now think of running apps on your phone. Editing videos, playing games, running an antivirus program whilst also watching a movie.

The more app you run on your phone concurrently, the quicker it will drain the battery.

Emotions and mental rumination do the same to us humans.

When we feel unsafe in our environment, the mind automatically keeps running an (antivirus) app to scan for danger around us.

Whenever a threat is found, our mind will start (Google) searching for all the possible reasons of how it might hurt us.

Then our brain has to come up with a coping mechanism. 
So the brain runs another app for distractions (Netflix or social media) or even a special app for dissociation (avoidance of sensations and emotions). 

All of these further and further drain our energy, and feed into our mental story of 'I cannot do anything about it'. A.k.a, Mental despair.

Naturally when one is overwhelmed and also exhausted, they will find ways to avoid further responsibility. Including looking after themselves.

Goodwill or ill-will?

I had a mini-breakthrough after listening to one of Ajahn Brahm's (Buddhist monk) talk on ill-will and compassion.

It is so obvious, yet easy to miss:
Entertaining shameful thoughts is an act of ill-will.

It is literally an activity which results in our own direct suffering, or the indirect hurt we cause to other people around us.

It is as simple as that. We must find omni-directional kindness within ourselves, in order to reduce the suffering (us and them).

Grace is defined as courteous good will.

Some Christian traditions define it as unmerited favour, kindness, and mercy. 

In Buddhism, a close equivalent may be compassion. The resolve to connect and accept one that may or may not be favourable to us.

In my opinion, regardless if you are a person of faith or not, Grace or compassion is the way for us to resolve those deeply engrained patterns of ill-will.

Thus, it is our primary responsibility to look after ourselves. As that is the only way we can truly care for others.

How can we get there?

Faith has been an options for thousands of years.
Today you also have a choice to seek help from others to strengthen your muscles of compassion.
Looking to feel better in your body?

Please reach out by email to enquire about your first Holistic Coaching session!

Available both in person and online.

I love having a variety of different tools in my 'life toolkit' and these are my favourite go to tools!  As I was writing them down it made me realise who the vast majority of them are for down-regulating my nervous system.  Sometimes my practices as higher energy, activating and releasing but more often than not they help me to balance the fast pace of juggling a busy London life 😆

Movement & Music - both of these, without fail, help me come back into my body and ground me.  Whether it's soothing music and yin yoga, something more uptempo and Vinyasa yoga or resistance training or an all out disco for one and shaking my tail feathers, EVERYTHING feels better afterwards!

Nature - plugging into Mother Earth always soothes my soul and settles my mind and nervous system 💚 I feel really grateful I live near a beautiful forest.   I love seeing the seasonal changes and how the little buds are starting to peek through now!  My go to 'happy place' is always the sea 💙. I can happily while away hours watching and listening to the sound of waves and contemplating the vastness of the oceans.
 
Pranayama & Breathwork - a topic I could talk about for days!  It's our most accessible 'tool' that has the quickest impact on our nervous system and it's totally free!!!  I regularly check in with how I'm breathing and where I'm breathing into.  I often catch myself when I'm in a stressful moment and take a moment to reset my breathing and take a long slow breath.   Here is a breathing meditation I shared a few years ago that always helps me.
https://youtu.be/Z00E7bFmua0?si=44XQPprHUwPUHJfm
 
Meditation - my main practice is Vipasanna but I also love Yoga Nidra and listen to a variety of wonderful teachers.  This particular Yoga Nidra is one I am currently recommending to my clients and friends as I find I always feel so present and calm afterwards. 
https://insig.ht/iyHo2EndERb
 
Journaling - The Morning Pages is a practice I come back to time and time again.  I was introduced  to this journaling practice via a yoga teacher mentoring program many years ago and found it to be a real game changer.   It helps clear the mental chatter and clutter and I notice improved mental clarity and feel much more spacious and clear.