Here's an article from William Rand that I started practicing some years ago, especially after my move from Virginia to California. It helped me to acknowledge the parts of myself that had been hurt and releasing the pain and anger.


Reiki and the Shadow Self
by William Lee Rand

We create our own reality. This phrase is frequently repeated in the healing community, and many accept it as true. And it is easy for us to accept that when we make plans and carry them out, that we are creating our own reality. Or when positive things happen, it can be a boost to our self-esteem to accept credit for causing them, even when they seem like nothing more than good fortune.

But when calamity strikes, how many of us take credit for our misfortune. Frequently, when something negative happens to us, resentment, anger and fear begin to take over making it difficult to avoid blaming others or to blame circumstances that are seemingly beyond our control. By following this path, we sometimes gain sympathy from others, and validate our feelings of self-pity, which is a reward of sorts. And when confronted with the possibility that we have created our problems, our response is to state that we would never choose to create something so negative for ourselves. In this way, people often try to rationalize the idea that there must be some exceptions to the concept that we create our own reality, but as many have found, this is simply a way of giving up our power and remaining stuck in the illusion of helplessness.

It is possible to take personal responsibility for our unwanted experiences in such a way that we take back the power to create our lives in a healthier and more fulfilling way. The mystery of personal responsibility for all our experience begins to clear up when we begin to understand that who we are is much more than what happens in our conscious mind. We have a deeper side to our identity that most know very little about and for the most part are completely unaware. This deeper side is often called the unconscious mind. Many psychological processes take place within the unconscious that have a powerful effect on our lives. By gaining a better understanding of it, we will be better able to deal with our experiences of powerlessness and transform them into a life of greater freedom and accomplishment and in so doing, become the person we are meant to be.

As stated above, it is not just the conscious mind that is creating our reality, but our unconscious mind as well. The unconscious mind has a powerful influence on our decisions, our communication with others and especially on our body language. It also expresses directly through our energy field and by working in combination with the previously mentioned influences has a major effect on our total life experience. The unconscious mind can have both healthy and unhealthy aspects and it is the unhealthy aspects that are often called the Shadow Self. By working through the power of the unconscious mind, the Shadow Self is responsible for creating our unwanted experiences. Therefore, the only meaningful way to prevent unwanted experiences from taking place is by getting to know the Shadow Self and then to help it heal.

One important insight is that the Shadow Self is actually created by the way we deal with our unwanted feelings and thoughts.

In our society and especially when we are growing up, if we express feelings such as anger or jealousy, or other socially unacceptable behavior, we are often told by our parents to “stop it” or “don’t do that” which is a message to take our feelings and shove them inside. At first we may not do this well, but with repeated commands from our parents each time we experience these feelings, soon we develop skill at shoving our unwanted feelings inside. Eventually, we learn to do this automatically and the process becomes unconscious. We don’t even know we are doing it.

These unwanted feelings don’t simply go away, but accumulate in the unconscious mind, still very much alive and often even more angry and resentful for having been rejected in such an uncaring way. These Shadow Self feelings take on an identity of their own, retain a great deal of energy and are intent on expressing themselves. Because the Shadow Self is in the unconscious mind, we are unaware of it and the influence it is having on our lives. It is through this process that the Shadow Self is empowered and motivated to create difficulties in our lives.

So, if we want to get to know our Shadow Self, all we need to do is look at the condition of our life. Unwanted experiences are actually a reflection of our own Shadow Self. This means that if there is someone in your personal life that you have strong negative feelings about and wish would go away, it is your Shadow Self that has attracted them to you and caused you to feel the way you do toward them. And in fact, it is likely that the characteristics of this unwanted person that you dislike the most are characteristics of your Shadow Self. In other words, you have these same or similar traits within you. This is sometimes a difficult thing to accept at first, but if you can, it becomes possible to stop yourself from directing your negative feelings toward the outer person, and turn your attention inwardly to consider your inner state and search for any aspects within that may have the same feelings or characteristics you dislike so much in the other person. This about face in your behavior requires humility, but the effort is worth it. It is a step in the direction of healing and of changing not just your inner world, but your outer world as well.

Once you begin to do this, a process of inner discovery and healing becomes possible. The Shadow Self exists because, rather than heal the feelings that have created it, for one reason or another, you chose to ignore and deny them. If you are to heal, it is necessary to reverse the process by paying attention to the Shadow Self and accept it as part of yourself. When you begin to do this, only then is it possible to heal. Once the Shadow Self begins to be accepted and the healing process begins, you will find it much easier to accept the outer person as well, making it easier to find solutions and resolve issues. Or it may result in the person going away with little direct contact needed, or in you simply not being affected by them as you have in the past.

Reiki can be used to help this process. As an example, if there is someone in your life that is causing you grief, and you would like to use this experience to get to know your Shadow Self better and to heal, meditate on the feelings you have toward the person. Then ask yourself, “Is there a part within myself that is similar to this person?” As you do this, locate where in your body or energy field these feelings and/or the part resides. Direct Reiki energy there with your hands. Use the mental/emotional symbol along with the power symbol or the master or other Reiki symbols you feel would be helpful if you have them. As you do this, speak to the Reiki energy with your mind and ask it to show you the part of yourself that has attracted this experience into your life. This can bring up hidden aspects of yourself that you have been unaware of, but need attention.

When you begin to feel the part, let it know that you are sorry for ignoring it for such a long time. Tell it you would like to get to know it better and to help it heal. This process may feel uncomfortable at first, but continue sending Reiki and it will help you work with your emerging Shadow Self. Allow yourself to have compassion toward the part(s) that come into your awareness.

Continue to send Reiki and also, if you are open to it, say a prayer and ask for help from the Higher Power using whatever name feels comfortable to you.

Continue sending Reiki, feeling compassion and looking into this part of yourself with the intent of understanding it and helping it to let go and heal. As you do this continue to thank the Reiki energy and/or the Higher Power for its help. You may also include an affirmation such as, “I release all negative feelings into the Reiki energy to heal now” or similar words or other affirmations you feel are right. Continue to do this until the session feels complete for now and end the session with the intension that the healing will continue as long as is needed. Repeated sessions may be necessary until you have let go of all the negative feelings and you feel at peace.

As you use this technique or variations of it, hidden parts of your personality that had been intent on creating problems for you will become allies that you can consciously direct to achieve goals and create a healthier more satisfying life.

This is because the Shadow Self has what can be called a Radiant Self counterpart that becomes available when the Shadow Self begins to heal. The Radiant Self has the same abilities as the Shadow Self, but uses them to create benefits for you and to attract positive situations and experiences.

I invite you to think about these ideas and to apply them using your Reiki energy. I am sure you will find it to be an exciting, empowering experience that will bring benefit to your life as well as the lives of those around you.

William Lee Rand is the founder and president of The International Center for Reiki Training, author of Reiki, The Healing Touch, Reiki for a New Millennium, and with Arjava Petter and Walter Lübeck, The Spirit of Reiki, editor in chief of The Reiki News Magazine, and developer of Karuna Reiki®. He has taught Reiki classes internationally for the past 12 years.

Optimism, mastery help cancer patients cope
Tue, August 26, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Cancer patients who are optimistic are better able manage the severity of their pain, while those with a strong sense of mastery (control over their environment) can control their fatigue more effectively while also keeping pain severity in check, new research shows.

"These findings underscore the need for physicians and nurses involved in the care of cancer patients to recognize, encourage, promote, and take advantage of these traits in their patients to help them more effectively manage their cancer care, so that they ultimately can achieve a better quality of life," Dr. Margot E. Kurtz and colleagues from Michigan State University in East Lansing, the study's authors, conclude.

Patients with cancer commonly suffer from both pain and fatigue, which have a major impact on their quality of life and their ability to function both mentally and physically, Kurtz and her team note in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. To better understand the role of a person's emotional resources in handling these symptoms, the researchers had 214 patients undergoing chemotherapy complete a 10-week symptom control intervention program, with a nurse's assistance. All study participants were interviewed at the beginning of the study, at 10 weeks, and then again at 16 weeks.

Patients with a strong sense of mastery had less severe pain and fatigue, the researchers found. The more optimistic study participants reported less severe pain, although optimism was not linked with fatigue severity. Older patients and those with fewer health problems in addition to cancer also had less severe pain.

There was little difference between patients diagnosed with late stage illness and those whose cancer was caught early in their degree of optimism and mastery, the researchers note, while the number of additional health problems also did not appear to influence baseline optimism and mastery.

Clinicians can watch for these traits in cancer patients, Kurtz and her team suggest, and work with their patients to help them use their optimism and mastery to cope effectively with their symptoms.

SOURCE: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, July 2008.
Copyright ©2009 Reuters

Sunny side of the brain

Thu, October 25, 2007
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Imagine receiving a big chunk of cash in the future. Or winning a prize.

Chances are such optimistic thoughts are coming from two places in the brain that play an important role in enabling people to, as the old song says, accentuate the positive, New York University scientists said Wednesday.

Pinpointing the brain regions involved in optimism and positive thinking about the future, the researchers said, may also have shed light on what might be going wrong in people with depression.

The researchers used sophisticated brain imaging to track brain activity in 15 young adults -- seven men and eight women -- while they asked them imagine future scenarios. They included getting a lot of money, winning an award, going to a birthday party or ball game or the zoo, being lied to, the end of a romantic relationship, going to a funeral and others.

When scenarios filled with optimism were imagined, two brain regions -- the rostral anterior cingulate and amygdala -- lit up with activity in the brain scans, the researchers said.

"What's interesting is these two regions that we saw that were involved in projecting optimistic futures are also the same two regions that we see affected in depression," Elizabeth Phelps, an NYU professor of psychology and neural science involved in the research, said in a telephone interview.

It had been unclear what was going wrong in these two regions that might contribute to depression. "But our data would suggest that one of the things they're doing is making it hard to think about things optimistically. Of course, one of the primary symptoms of depression is pessimism," Phelps said.

Phelps said the findings had the potential in the future to help guide new treatments for depression.

The research was published in the journal Nature.

OPTIMISM BIAS

The rostral anterior cingulate is part of the brain's frontal cortex that may be involved in regulating emotional responses. The amygdala is an almond-shaped brain structure in the medial temporal lobe involved in emotion.

"Understanding healthy optimism is important because optimism is related to mental and physical health and to success. We can have people who are not necessarily depressed but have different levels of optimism," said another of the researchers, Tali Sharot of University College London who was at NYU when the study was conducted.

Phelps said the research team is not saying these are necessarily the only brain regions involved in optimism.

The researchers said they examined how the brain generates what some scientists call the human "optimism bias."

"Humans expect positive events in the future even when there is no evidence to support such expectations," the researchers wrote in the journal Nature.

"For example, people expect to live longer and be healthier than average, they underestimate their likelihood of getting a divorce, and overestimate their prospects for success on the job market," they wrote.

Phelps said the researchers had a hard time getting the volunteers to think of purely neutral events in the future.

"They tended to make them positive," she said. "We sort of stumbled upon this optimism bias that psychologists have talked about before."

Copyright ©2009 Reuters

Don't Get Sick With Worry

If you think that worrying is annoying but harmless, think again. Experts have linked increased anxiety to a host of other aliments.

1. Hot flashes. In a study of women approaching menopause, those with the highest levels of anxiety reported up to five times more hot flashes than the women who were least stressed.

2. Heart attacks. Long-term anxiety increases the risk of heart attack by 40 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

3. Digestive problems. You might get a stomachache worrying about the presentation you have to give this week. In fact, the American Institute for Preventive Medicine says that ongoing agonizing can make you more susceptible to peptic ulcers.

4. Headaches. Stress is the most common cause of headaches, according to the National Women’s Health Information Center.



A Worry-Free You

10 Ways to Stop Worrying

It’s natural to worry during a major life event, such as getting a new job, moving, or having a baby. But if you find yourself fretting over small concerns, try these 10 tips to reduce your worries.

1. Just say no. Instead of overextending yourself, explain that you would like to help, but you don’t have the time.

2. Don’t be a hero. Delegate some of your responsibilities. Let someone else have the glory—and the anxiety.

3. Take a break. Take 20 minutes a day to just sit and breathe. Listen to soothing music, or sit in a quiet place.

4. Write it down. Writing down your worries in statements that start with “I am worried about” helps you pinpoint the source of your anxiety, according to Mind, a U.K. mental-health education group.

5. Take it one step at a time. Keep your mind on the task at hand, and try not to think about the things that you have to do later.

6. Confide in a friend. Expressing your worries aloud can help, and other people may think of solutions that you couldn’t.

7. Face your fear. Worries are essentially fears. The best way to manage them is to face them head-on.

8. Eat right. Poor eating habits, including having too much caffeine and sugar, can lead to feeling jittery and agitated, according to Mind. It also makes concentration difficult.

9. Don’t procrastinate. Leave extra time for important tasks. Allow for bad traffic when going to the airport. Print out your proposal early so that when the printer is out of ink, you have time to go to the store.

10. Kick the habit. Though some people feel like a cigarette calms them down, the need to have that cigarette can cause stress. This is true for other addictions as well.

Energy Share for Sunday
February 22, 2009


Daffodils

I wander’d lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch’d in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay;
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee;
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth

Today I sent you an energy boost using the Fusion Reiki symbol placed in a chi ball. Take a moment to imagine or visualize the chi ball filled with light infused by this symbol (or the word 'Fusion Reiki'). Place your hands on your belly and imagine the ball floating above your crown. Reach up to the ball with both arms and imagine you are drawing the ball into your crown with the ball releasing light and energy down through your chakras. Breathe in deeply the essence of this symbol. As you exhale, allow the energy to permeate every cell of your body and expanding light outwards into every dimension of your being. The boost will be there for as long and as much as you need it.

Let the boost help you stay balanced on your feet, focused and ready for the next step on your journey this week. I gratefully acknowledge and embrace the boost from you. Thank you for all you do as healers and friends. By the way, if you aren't already familiar with Fusion Reiki and want to attune yourself, I have it listed as a freebie on my site, Passion 4 Living, www.passion4living.org/gpm (free attunements, healing techniques & reference guides). All I ask in exchange is to make a contribution to support the site.

Enjoy the previous posts. And thanks to those of you who answered my MySpace Friend requests....loved seeing your profiles and adding more friends! It also looks to be a great way of posting bulletins on upcoming events or promotions which I'll be doing in the coming weeks. You can check out my current profile, www.myspace.com/thepassionatelife.

Namaste (Let us honor the love and peace within each other),

Lydia


1. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
3. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria
4. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland
5. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK
6. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK
7. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA
8. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria
9. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA
10. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK
11. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK
12. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
13. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA
14. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA
15. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA
16. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA
17. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
18. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA
19. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK
20. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
21. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA
22. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA
23. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
24. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA
25. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA
26. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA
27. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada
28. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA
29. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
30. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA
31. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK
32. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA
33. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia
34. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
35. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA
36. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA
37. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
38. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands
39. Moira Congreve, England, UK
40. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA
41. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia
42. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA
43. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario
44. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA
45. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada
46. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA
47. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
48. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA
49. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
50. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia
51. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA
52. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
53. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
54. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
55. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India
56. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA
57. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia
58. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario
59. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India
60. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?

Be Happy, Live Longer

Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty? Your answer could affect not only your attitude, but also your health, success, and longevity. Here are some of the factors that contribute to optimists’ good health, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

• Optimists are more likely to be proactive than pessimists.
• Pessimists are more likely to develop negative responses to problems or issues.
• Pessimists are more likely to suffer from depression.
• Optimists are more likely to practice preventative health measures.
• Optimists generally view obstacles as temporary challenges that motivate them to take action, while pessimists view the same setbacks as hopeless, permanent problems.

It is possible to improve your outlook. Learn to how to find the silver lining...

How to Seize the Day

It’s never too late to change your outlook. Use these five tips to transform your negative thought patterns into positive ones.

1. Try alternative thinking. Create multiple solutions for a problem, then work to fix it.

2. Compare and contrast. It may sound unkind, but comparing yourself to others in worse situations can lift your spirits and make you appreciate your life.

3. Relax, relax, relax. Try exercise, yoga, and even smiling to lighten your mood.

4. Write about it. Write about your issues, then reason through your less optimistic thoughts until you have a more realistic vision of what has happened and what will happen.

5. Put your mind to it. Remember The Little Engine That Could? Let “I think I can, I think I can…” become your new mantra. That way, you’ll know that if you set your mind to something, you can do it.

4 Surefire Secrets of Happy People

So how can you join the ranks of the content? Earlier this year, scientists at the University of Edinburgh and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia reported that happiness has a strong genetic component, but they agreed that there are steps you can take to weed out the gloom and reap some satisfaction from you life.

Don't Worry, Be Happy
And you can be—if you follow these helpful tips.


1. Live an examined life. Make an inventory of a typical day, rate each activity on a scale of one to 10, then devise a plan to eliminate everything that ranks below at least a four. Granted, there are certain duties you can't completely rule out (i.e., cleaning the cat's litter box), but you can improve the working conditions (say, by investing in a self-cleaning litter box).

2. Be who you want to be. Use that inventory to ensure that you're living the life you want to live. If every one of your daily activities rates a two or lower, you may want to consider a major overhaul of your life. A University of Wisconsin study found that women who were satisfactorily absorbed in their lives had fewer stress hormones and less markers for heart disease.

3. Engage in new activities. Once you've made room in your life for the things you've always wanted to try, seek them out. Enroll in a class at the local university, take up yoga, or do both. Numerous studies have shown that adults who constantly challenge their brains and remain physically active are less prone to dementia in their twilight years.

4. Fake it. If history has shown us anything, it's that we can delude ourselves into believing just about anything. The next time you're overcome with frustration, anger, or anxiety, try to force yourself to laugh—and keep at it until you feel your bad mood lift. A brisk 15-minute walk or listening to a favorite song on the radio can also serve as mood boosters, according to researchers at California State University.

How to Become a More Positive Thinker

You have the power to change your attitude for the better.

It's not easy to be around people who are downers. But if you're the type who sees the bad in everything, you might be hurting more than just your social life. Several studies have revealed that those who think positive actually live better and longer than those whose glass is perpetually half empty. Changing the way you think can reduce stress, boost your immune system, lower your risk of coronary artery disease, help you breathe easier if you suffer from lung problems, and overall feel better and healthier.

Even if you've been a grumbler or a worrier from day one, take heart. Positive thinking is something that can be learned. You simply need to challenge your negative self-talk with rational thoughts, which will translate into a positive attitude. Sound impossible? It's not.

Get on the Path to a Positive Outlook

Here's how to get started:


Several times a day, stop and focus on your thoughts. Are they negative? Perhaps you're guilty of filtering, or weeding out all of the positive aspects of a situation and focusing on the negatives. Maybe your boss gave you a generally good performance review but mentioned one thing you could be doing better. Do you go home and obsess about that one thing without reminding yourself that your boss praised you? Instead of telling yourself you're a terrible employee, tell yourself you're a valuable addition to the team, and you'll be even better once you master that new procedure.

Be wary of personalizing situations. If a friend cancels plans with you, don't assume it's because of something you did. Remind yourself there are many reasons she may have cancelled, including illness or a work deadline.

Are you a catastrophizer? Do you refrain from inviting over people you'd like to get to know because you fear the worst, such as serving them a dish that's inedible or somehow making a fool of yourself? Instead of creating imaginary disasters for yourself, tell yourself you'll have a lovely evening with new friends, even if something is slightly over- or undercooked.


Here are other common negative thoughts and their corresponding positive ones:

I can't do this-I've never done it before. Turn it into: This is a chance to try something new.

I have absolutely no time for this. Turn it into: How can I rearrange my schedule to allow for this?

No one ever calls or writes to me. Turn it into: I'll make contact with an old friend today.


Optimism isn't something that will come overnight. But with practice and determination, you can turn around those pessimistic musings and embrace a more joyous, healthier life.

By Laurie Salomon,
QualityHealth News

Energy Share for Sunday
February 15, 2009

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

By Robert Frost

Yesterday we had a belated birthday party for my nephew, Zachary who turned 7 last Sunday and, as usual, it was a joyous barbeque fete with close friends and relatives. In spite of the predicted rain, we had a beautifully clear, brisk, sunny day (perhaps, in part, because of the weather influencing we did the night before) and the kids had their day in the park...swinging, sliding, running with total abandon...a few wild hits on the birthday pinata, cake, and Palauan feast. With the party going on late into the night as everybody headed to our home finishing off seconds and thirds of potato salad, red rice and carne asada. What fun!

So...today I sent you an energy boost filled with all the joy and warmth of the togetherness of our little ohana. Let the boost help you stay balanced on your feet, focused and ready for the next step on your journey this week. I eagerly and gratefully embrace the boost from you. Thank you for all you do as healers and friends.

Enjoy the previous healthy living and Valentine's Day posts (can't do without chocolate myself, you know!). And the ode to Zach.

By the way, you might notice I've reordered your name alphabetically on the list. To make a long story short, I've had to recreate the list with email addresses and it turned out simpler this way. So please help me correct an error if you catch one. Thanks.

Namaste (Let us honor the love and peace within each other),

Lydia


1. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
3. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria
4. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland
5. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK
6. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK
7. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA
8. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria
9. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA
10. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK
11. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK
12. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
13. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA
14. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA
15. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA
16. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA
17. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
18. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA
19. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK
20. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
21. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA
22. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA
23. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
24. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA
25. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA
26. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA
27. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada
28. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA
29. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
30. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA
31. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK
32. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA
33. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia
34. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
35. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA
36. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA
37. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
38. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands
39. Moira Congreve, England, UK
40. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA
41. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia
42. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA
43. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario
44. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA
45. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada
46. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA
47. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
48. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA
49. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
50. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia
51. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA
52. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
53. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
54. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
55. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India
56. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA
57. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia
58. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario
59. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India
60. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA

Here's a repost one of my favorite songs as sung by Tom Jones, especially around Valentine's Day. Haven't got a special Valentine at the moment, but still love the song anyway. With, of course, some tea and chocolate.

My sister cut some calla lilies in the back yard to which her husband added a boquet of roses placed on the dining table this morning. And with the sunny day and birthday festivities planned for Zachary today, who could ask for anything more??

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xacNHCkblCY

Help Yourself

Love is like candy on a shelf
You want to taste and help yourself
The sweetest things are there for you
Help yourself, take a few
That's what I want you to do.

We’re always told repeatedly
The very best in life is free
And if you want to prove it’s true
Baby I’m telling you
This is what you should do

Just help yourself
To my lips, to my arms
just say the words, and they are yours

Just help yourself to the love
In my heart your smile has opened up the door
The greatest wealth that exists in the world,
Could never buy what I can give

Just help yourself to my lips
To my arms, and then lets really start to live

To Zachary...









The Moment

Walking the three tiers in first light, out
here so my two-year-old son won’t wake the house,
I watch him pull and strip ragweed, chicory, yarrow,
so many other weeds and wildflowers
I don’t know the names for, him saying Big, and Mine,
and Joshua—words, words, words. Then
it is the moment, that split-second
when he takes my hand, gives it a tug,
and I feel his entire body-weight, his whole
heart-weight, pulling me toward
the gleaming flowers and weeds he loves.
That moment which is eternal and is gone in a second,
when he yanks me out of myself like some sleeper
from his dead-dream sleep into the blues and whites
and yellows I must bend down to see clearly, into
the faultless flesh of his soft hands, his new brown eyes,
the miracle of him, and of the earth itself,
where he lives among the glitterings, and takes me.


© Len Roberts, from poetry.com

Probiotics: Beneficial Bacteria

These friendly bacteria can do wonders for your digestive system. Learn how your body can start reaping the benefits.


The literal translation of the word probiotics is "for life." But just what are probiotics, how are they helpful in maintaining digestive health, and how can they be included in daily diets?

Probiotics definedThe normal human digestive tract contains over 1,000 types of bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and help promote a healthy digestive system.

Probiotics are beneficial types of bacteria delivered in dietary supplements or foods for a health benefit. These microorganisms may assist with digestion and help protect against some types of unfriendly bacteria.

By QualityHealth News, www.qualityhealth.com

Are You Getting Enough Fiber?

It’s essential for your health, but are you meeting your daily needs?


Something we all remember from childhood is our mom, our doctor, and even our teachers telling us to eat more fiber. But how many of us really knew what they were talking about?

Dietary fiber refers to carbohydrates that cannot be digested, which means that when consumed, they fill you up and provide you with energy. Here are the two main benefits of eating fiber:

1. It's loaded with vitamins and minerals. The foods in which fiber is found (mainly fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains) are often low in fat and calories-and packed with vitamins and minerals.

2. It helps prevent health problems. Both the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) claim that consuming the proper amount of fiber can help improve digestive disorders; lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure; and prevent obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

The Institute of Medicine recommends eating 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories, which can be 30 grams per day. Problem is, the average American eats only about half that. Without obsessing over nutrition labels, here are simple, everyday ways to make sure you get enough fiber-and how you'll know it's enough.

By Nathan Schiller, QualityHealth News, www.qualityhealth.com

How Can Women Achieve Optimal Digestive Health?

A few simple changes can make a big difference.


It may not be dinner-table conversation, but sometimes what we eat at the dinner table can affect us in negative ways. If you’ve ever left a meal feeling bloated, or suffered from heartburn or pain, your digestive system may not be operating at top capacity. The culprit? There could be several reasons why you’re uncomfortable—from what you're eating (or not eating) to how you're eating, or even what your stress levels are.

First, it's important to understand how your digestive tract works. Ideally, it contains millions of healthy bacteria at all times, known as probiotics. These bacteria exist to reduce the growth of unwanted "bad" bacteria, which can show up in tainted food or as a result of illness. In fact, antibiotics, which are popularly prescribed for infections, are notorious healthy-bacteria killers. And if you don't have enough healthy bacteria in your system to counteract the bad bacteria, the result is digestive upset.

Fortunately, you don't have to suffer in silence. One of the best ways to restore the balance of bacteria in your system is to take probiotic supplements or eat foods containing probiotics. Yogurt with live active cultures is a terrific way to get your probiotics. Eating enough fiber—something few of us do—also helps digestive health by slowing down your digestion and helping probiotics do their job. Many brands of yogurt contain as much three grams of fiber, along with a healthy dose of probiotics. And since the American Gastrological Association says we need at least 25 grams of fiber a day for optimum digestive health, look to add more to your diet with vegetables, fruits, whole-grain breads, and legumes. Try to avoid processed, refined foods such as white bread and white pasta, which have very little fiber or nutrients.

By Laurie Salomon, QualityHealth News, www.qualityhealth.com

Energy Share for Sunday
February 8, 2009

Remembering Chai

By crystalheart

Run into the wind, when it comes
(For it comes)
The time is not now to be still
(When it comes)
The storm clouds are rolling
The lightning is flashing
The rain drops are pounding;
It comes.
Shout into the wind, when it comes
(For it comes)
Barefooted, dance out in the rain
(When it comes)
The storm clouds are rolling
The thunder is raging
The wind, it is seeking;
It comes.

Run into the wind as it comes.

(from inspirationpeak.com: 'Remembering Chai' was written by our dear friend 'Crystalheart' in memory of a seven-year-old Thai boy who died of AIDS on May 6th, 2003. We thought it appropriate to remember Chai once again - along with the millions of others who are suffering or who have already died because of this disease. May their lives always be remembered and may there one day soon be a cure.)


In honor of my nephew, Zachary (pictured above), who turns 7 today (and quite a force of nature himself), I share with you an energy boost filled with childlike enthusiasm, laughter, and innocence. Let us recall those days when we just played, dancing with abandon, getting soaked in the rain, making mud pies...when the world seemed so big and wondrous that choosing to be anything you wanted was not only possible, it was an imperative to be accomplished without doubt or fear.

Let the boost help you feel that zest for life, that puts a little bounce and skip in your step, searching for the next great discovery within and without. I gratefully embrace the boost from you and thank you for all you do as healers and friends.

Enjoy the previous posts from Moira and Dr. Brenda Shoshanna. Thanks for your contribution, Moira!

Namaste (Let us honor the love and peace within each other),

Lydia

1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA
2. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK
3. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA
4. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
5. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada
6. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA
7. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia
8. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands
9. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
10. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
11. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
12. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA
13. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
14. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA
15. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario
16. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario
17. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria
18. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria
19. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA
20. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA
21. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
22. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK
23. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA
24. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA
25. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK
26. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
27. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK
28. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA
29. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA
30. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA
31. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia
32. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK
33. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA
34. Moira Congreve, England, UK
35. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia
36. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
37. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
38. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India
39. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA
40. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India
41. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA
42. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA
43. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA
44. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK
45. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA
46. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
47. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA
48. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA
49. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA
50. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
51. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia
52. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA
53. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA
54. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada
55. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
56. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
57. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA
58. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA
59. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
60. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland

You Could Save a Life!

Simple Stroke Detection

Please read and save a life today


STROKE IDENTIFICATION
http://www.counsellingandhealingonline.com/

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall. She assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics). She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.


It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Remember the '3' steps, STR.

Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.

Unfortunately,the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple
questions:

S.... Ask the individual to SMILE.

T..... Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently,e.g. It is sunny out today)

R ....Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 (999) immediately
and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

Please let everyone know, thanks.

From Moira Congreve, moiracongreve@hotmail.com
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 9:07 AM

Practical Steps to Falling in Love

We are meant to live a life of love. However, no matter how successful some are in other aspects of their lives, they don't feel it's possible to have the same success in love. They tell themselves to "be realistic." Being realistic about relationships" is considered natural as we "grow up" and give up the fantasies, foolishness and dreams of childhood. But nothing could be further from natural. Being in love is the most mature and realistic thing you can do. It energizes your life, fills you with positivity, creates generosity and makes every moment beautiful. The body heals the heart is happy. The real question is, why aren't we in love all the time? How can we learn to fall in love with all of life?

Here are some ways to answer that question and turn your life upside down. You will learn how to clear away weeds in your garden and then realize "the entry point is right where you are."

1) THE ONE RIGHT BESIDES YOU

Most of the time we are searching and searching for the right person. Now it is time to stop running around seeking what is right in front of our eyes.

Look at a person who is close to you right now - anyone it happens to be. Notice the ways in which you push him away. Stop doing that. Allow the two of you to be together in whatever way you are. Let all of it be fine just as it is. Do the same thing tomorrow with someone else. We dismiss so many people who are in our worlds, while waiting for the "right one" to appear. The more we can be "right" with everyone, the more we can open up to what is being offered now, the fuller and more joyous our lives will be.

2) PLAYING AT LOVE

So many complain that they are not loved. The reason for this can be quite simple. They are so busy playing roles and games that the partner never gets to know who they really are. Notice what roles (or games) you play in relationships, and what roles you demand of others as well. See if you are in love with the person, or with the role he is playing right now. Why not let the roles go and simply be who you are. Who we are is always loveable and beautiful. It's the roles that get in the way.

3) LETTING HIM COME AND LETTING HIM GO

One great obstacle in living a life of love is the tendency to hold on. We grasp and cling to each, preventing the freedom of love from arising on its own. When someone comes into your life (or day) practice letting him come. Welcome the person - whoever he is. Enjoy what it is he brings. When it is time for a person to go away, practice letting him go. Do not turn the person's leaving into an experience of rejection, loss or abandonment. Realize that his leaving has nothing to do with you. It is simply time for him to go.Do this with yourself as well. Let yourself come and go freely in life, not tying yourself in unnecessary chains. The more we free others and ourselves, the more easily we fall in love.

4) PUTTING YOUR BAGGAGE DOWN

Many feel that love is not possible unless all their demands are met. They can be quite amazed to discover that these demands don't lead to happiness. They just may be obstacles to falling in love.

Take a look at what you feel is absolutely necessary in relationships. Now look at it again. Realize this is baggage you are carrying that may be keeping all kinds of people and possibilities away. Not only that - this baggage can be making you fearful and rigid, not open to what is available for you.

Let one of these demands subside. At first let it go for just one day and see how it feels to be without it. (Remember you can always take it back again). Now try another day. As we do this many times, we may find that that which we thought was crucial for our lives was really getting in the way. The more we do this the more light and happy we will feel. Not only that, but all kinds of new people, possibilities and situations we never noticed will start coming onto our path. We have made room for them by putting our baggage down.

5) GIVING GIFTS

Giving and receiving are the essence of relationships. To open up to falling in love, it is important to start giving naturally. What gifts do you give others in relationships? Take a few moments and also see what you hope to receive in return. Now find something new you can give to somebody. Give it. Do this everyday. Do it with all kinds of different people, without great fanfare and without expecting something in return. Then each day take a moment to find out what kind of gift you would like today. (Can be simple - a walk in the park, new lipstick, time with someone you care for.) Now give this to yourself each day. Although this exercise is simple, it is extremely powerful. When you give, remember not to look for anything in return By living with this open, generous mind, all kinds of other gifts come to you naturally.

6) MAKING FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF

Many say they are lonely, even with a partner at their side. This is simply because they have not yet made friends with themselves. Once they make friends with themselves and are able to be who they are, it is impossible to be lonely anymore. Make friends with yourself. Spend time noticing who you are. Accept all parts of yourself. Stop judging and rejecting what is going on inside. Be still and look within. Pay attention to your breath and just notice what is going on. Let it be. Accept it, and return to the breathing. Understand that breath by breath, you are perfect just as you are. Choose to have relationships with those who want and appreciate just what you are.

This article is based upon Zen and the Art of Falling in Love, and Save Your Relationship.

Save Your Relationship (21 Basic Laws to Successful Relationships)

Energy Share for Sunday
February 1, 2009


This is the beginning of a new day
You have been given this day to use as you will
You can waste it or use it for good
What you do today is important because you are exchanging
a day of your life for it
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever
in its place is something that you have left behind

...let it be something good."

Author Unknown

It is a beautifully clear, sunny day with birds chirping in my backyard as I write this post. So today I sent along an energy ball filled with birdsong and the light and warmth of the sun. For each day this week, let us all wake up refreshed, energized, and ready to step forward on our journey with clarity, compassion and commitment as the healthy, beautiful and passionate people that we are.

I joyfully accept and embrace the boost from you. And for all the inspiring and magical things you do that touches people's lives, ke kmal mesaul, mahalo nui loa (with deep gratitude). Enjoy the previous posts. Starting with an enlightening message from Feng Shui and Vaastu expert Rupal Mehta Turner.

Namaste (Let us honor the love and peace within each other),

Lydia

1. Lydia Smith-Lenardson, Moreno Valley, California, USA
2. Lynn Wilson, Manchester, England, UK
3. Judy Oliver, Silver Spring, MD, USA
4. Joan Anderson, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
5. Lena Goon, Alberta, Canada
6. Mari Hayama, Berkeley, California, USA
7. Veronica Hansen, Sarina, Queensland, Australia
8. Mirjam Kik, Oude Tonge, The Netherlands
9. Andy Cooper, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
10. Sheryl Morris, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
11. Linda Prucha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
12. Joseph Bennett, Ventura, California, USA
13. Steve and Karen Edwards, Gunnislake, Cornwall, England
14. Rev. Patricia Lusher, Berlin, Vermont, USA
15. Patricia Blundon, Pembroke,Ontario
16. Violet Moreau, Pembroke,Ontario
17. Dunni Olasehan, Lagos, Nigeria
18. Austin Ndego, Lagos, Nigeria
19. Gurjinder Strom, Miami, Florida, USA
20. Natasha Adair, Olney Springs, Colorado, USA
21. Amy Manuel, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
22. Janet Kinge, Basingstoke, UK
23. Janet Henningsen, Indialantic, Florida, USA
24. Sister Mary Mebane, Santa Maria, California, USA
25. Denise Matthews, Nottinghamshire, UK
26. Meelah Rasheed, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
27. Eve Hale, Hampshire, England, UK
28. Sandy Kolman, Belleville, Illinois, USA
29. Hillary Bisaillon, Yorktown, Virginia, USA
30. Heidi Fruhling, Ft. Collins, Colorado, USA
31. Maree Rogers, Hastings, Westernport Bay, Australia
32. Carol Gent, Lancashire, England, UK
33. Matthew Leonard, Lodi, New Jersey, USA
34. Moira Congreve, England, UK
35. Silvia Weisz, Melbourne, Australia
36. Grant Luckey, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
37. Tiffany Wardle Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
38. Y.Nowshad, Kollam Kerala,India
39. Madhurima Bhatnagar, Fremont, California, USA
40. Venkataramadas Vivekanand, Chennai, India
41. Kim Lerman, North Highlands, California, USA
42. Donna Pfeiffer, Venice, Florida, USA
43. Egon Russell, Adelaide, Alabama, USA
44. Eileen To, Middlesex, Alabama, UK
45. Gudrun Gudmundsdottir, San Diego, California, USA
46. Janet Evans, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
47. Kim McCluskey, Tucson, Arizona, USA
48. Kyle James, Bel Air, Maryland, USA
49. Linda Cromer, The Villages, Florida, USA
50. Margaret McGuire, Cooma, New South Wales, Australia
51. Nathan Norton, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia
52. Pamela Clements, Westminster, Colorado, USA
53. Rebecca Cochran, Findlay, Ohio, USA
54. Rene Beauchemin, Alabama, Tomono, Canada
55. Rosemary Barton, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
56. Theresa Johnson, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
57. Vera Murrell, Friendsville, Tennessee, USA
58. Zachary Buchholz, Chicago, IL, USA
59. Karen Sheppard, St. John's, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
60. Brian Yeates, Dublin, Ireland