GaiasWheelYule06

Sharon's Success Story - Updated!

I am the mother of five beautiful, intelligent and talented children. I gave up a lucrative and rewarding profession, as an Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of a large corporation, so that I could spend my life raising my children. I wanted to be part of every moment of their lives. As every mother does, I made plans. Those plans were for my spouse and myself and of course, our children. We want them to be healthy, educated and successful.

Did you ever try to explain to your 67-year-old mother that her first granddaughter isn't going back to college because she needs to go to a drug rehab because she is addicted to heroin?

Did you ever stay up all night and watch your child shake with tremors because of heroin withdrawal?

Did you ever spend the day in the emergency room checking your child into a medical detox unit?

Did you ever ask one of your other children to help you physically carry her sister to the car so that you could drive her to the hospital because she had overdosed on heroin?

Did you ever spend the entire day on the telephone trying to find a rehab suitable for your child that your insurance covers?

Did you ever get into your car and drive seven hours straight without stopping to prevent another relapse?

If the answer is yes to any of the above sentences you need to continue to read….

My days, hours, and weeks were consumed with finding a solution to my daughter's drug addiction, which seemed an impossible task.

My daughter fought her addiction and lost since she was 13 years old. It all began by experimentation with marijuana and alcohol but she then fell into the drug trap battling an addiction to every drug available today.

As her addiction grew worse and worse my husband and I feared the day when we would get the call that she had landed in jail, or worse – she had died. Thankfully that call never came. In July of 2001 we gave her an ultimatum – either she seek treatment or we could no longer have anything to do with her. For 2 months after she was 'out there' doing whatever she could to get high. I have never been that scared in my life. In August of 2001 she finally agreed to go into treatment.

Thanks to the Narconon® Program my daughter has been clean for almost six years. She met and married a wonderful husband and they are expecting their first child this May 2007. She is happy and stable and has been for many years now.

I never want any parent to go through the nightmare that I went through with my child and there are millions going through it right now. I am writing this to tell you that there is hope. Today I can honestly say that I have my daughter back.

S.D. - Narconon Arrowhead Parent

If you know someone who needs help with drug or alcohol addiction or would like more information about the Narconon Arrowhead Field Referral program please call 1-800-468-6933 and ask for Desiree Cardoso or DannaSue Lafitte.

Together, we are saving lives, reuniting families, and making stronger communities through effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

http://www.stopaddiction.com

NARCONON and the Narconon logo are registered trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.

Drink Nourishing Herbal Infusions

Nourishing herbal infusions are the second key to vibrant elder years and an easier menopause. They provide protein, minerals, phytoestrogens, and special fats needed by menopausal women. Many common menopausal problems can be connected to a lack of one or more of these nutrients.

Low protein leaves hair and skin dull, lifeless, and thin. Nourishing herbal infusions, plain yogurt, lentils, and organic meats are excellent sources.

Low levels of minerals leave the bones and heart deprived of calcium, the immune system low in zinc, and the muscles prone to pain and spasms. Nourishing herbal infusions, plain yogurt, seaweed, and organic chocolate are magnificent sources.

Insufficient phytoestrogens in the diet increase breast cancer risk and menopausal distress. Nourishing herbal infusions, lentils, roots and seeds are the best sources.

Lack of high-quality fats, can lead to thyroid problems, immune system stress, lack of energy, and blood vessel disease. Nourishing herbal infusions, full-fat yogurt, organic chocolate, olive oil, organic butter, nuts and seeds are superb sources.

To make a nourishing herbal infusion: Buy (or gather and dry) at least one ounce of nettle leaf or oatstraw or red clover blossoms or comfrey leaf. Place the ounce of dried herb in a quart jar. (One ounce equals one full cup of dried herb.) Fill jar to the top with boiling water. Cap tightly and allow to brew for at least four hours. Overnight is fine. Strain and drink 2-4 cups a day. Most menopausal women prefer their infusion iced, but you can drink it hot or at room temperature. A little mint or sage may be added to change the flavor.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) builds energy, strengthens the adrenals, and is said to restore youthful flexibility to blood vessels. A cup of nettle infusion contains 500 milligrams of calcium plus generous amounts of bone-building magnesium, potassium, silicon, boron, and zinc. It is also an excellent source of vitamins A, D, E, and K. For flexible bones, a healthy heart, thick hair, beautiful skin, and lots of energy, make friends with sister stinging nettle. It may make you feel so good you'll jump up and exercise.

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) reduces high cholesterol, increases libido, and strengthens the nerves. A cup of oatstraw infusion contains more than 300 milligrams of calcium plus generous amounts of many other minerals. Its steroidal saponins nourish the pancreas and liver, improving digestion and stabilizing moods. Oatstraw is best known however for its ability to enhance libido and mellow the mood. Do be careful whom you share it with, or you may find yourself sowing some wild oats. In Auryuvedic medicine, oatstraw is considered the finest of all longevity tonics.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is better in every way than its cousin soy. It contains four phytoestrogens; soy has only one (isoflavone). Red clover infusion has ten times more phytoestrogens than soy "milk," fewer calories, more calcium, and no added sugars. Red clover is the world's leading anti-cancer herb; soy isoflavone encourages the growth of breast cancer cells in the lab. Red clover improves the memory; Japanese men who ate tofu twice a week doubled their risk of Alzheimer's disease. Soy beverage can contain up to 1000 times more aluminum than milk, according to Sally Fallon, lipid researcher and fat specialist. She believes that "the highly processed soy foods of today are perpetuating . . . nutrient deficiencies. . . ."

Comfrey (Symphytum) leaf is free of the compounds (PAs) found in the root that can damage the liver. I have used comfrey leaf infusion regularly for decades with no liver problems, ditto for the group of people at the Henry Doubleday Research Foundation who have eaten cooked comfrey leaves as a vegetable for four generations. Comfrey is also known as "knitbone," and no better ally for the woman with thin bones can be found. And, don't forget, comfrey contains special proteins used in the formation of short-term memory cells. Its soothing mucilage adds flexibility to joints, eyes, vagina, and lungs.

Menopause can change your life. Our Wise Woman grandmothers used nourishing herbal infusions, fermented dairy products, healthy exercise, and simple whole foods to weather their change naturally and live productively another 50 years. You can too.

Lyme Disease,

but why now?

We've all heard about the dangers of Lyme Disease and we know that it comes from woodticks but why have we only started hearing about it in the last ten to twenty years? It used to be that the only folks who got the disease were those who walked in the woods during woodtick season or owners of free-roaming dogs. But nowadays Suburbia is bursting with it. Why? How many of us ever considered that woodticks prey upon squirrels and birds too? Do you have a bird feeder? And, if so, do you keep it filled with bird seed after the winter snows have melted?

If you answered, "Yes," to that last question. then you are a potential target for Lyme disease.

I have a bird feeder too but just as soon as the Lilac buds start bursting in Spring, I stop filling the bird feeder. Once the snow has gone and Nature starts to turn green, there is plenty of forage for the birds. I'd rather that the birds not become dependent on the seeds I provide during the Winter lest they forget how to fend for themselves. My birds know who fills their feeder and, when I stop filling it, they follow me around speaking to me in the only voice they know. I continue to hope that, rather than fly off to someone else's feeder, they will teach their young what's good to eat and to only come to me for a hand-out when the snows again cover the landscape.

Dimitri

Natural Toothache Remedies

Native Americans applied the inner bark of the butternut tree to their gums to get relief from toothaches. The butternut tree is found in North America and is also the cousin of the black walnut tree.

Butternut trees are found in well drained soil, rich woods, and even in back yards. Once the tree matures, it can reach heights of up to 60 feet, with the bark being light grey in color, and the leaves and the fruit resembling the black walnut tree.

The bark of the tree can be applied to the gums, helping to alleviate toothache pain.

Mature trees can be identified by the diamond pattern on the bark and leaves that contain multiple leaflets one either side of the midrib.

Yarrow root can also be used. It normally grows wild in meadows, fields, and in open wood lands.

The root of yarrow, is what contains the anaesthetic effect. If you apply the fresh root of yarrow to your tooth or gums, it will help to stop the pain - until you can get an appointment with the dentist and get it taken care of.

Dimitri

Pick only soft, light-colored tips--if they are hard, or dark, they will taste of "turpentine" .

Spruce Tip Jelly

Pick about 6 cups of spruce tips selecting only the smallest, less open ones in the early spring. Rinse in cold water. Chopping them gives them more flavor than leaving them whole. Cover the tips with water and simmer for 10 minutes. Let stand overnight, strain with cheesecloth.

7 cups prepared spruce tip juice

1 cup lemon juice

2 packages MCP pectin (your grandmother would have used tart apples or quince jelly)

10 cups sugar

1/4 tsp. butter (optional)

Mix juice with lemon juice and pectin, stir until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil for 2 minutes (or jelly test). Add butter to

control foaming and pour into jars and seal. Serve on your favorite breads or heat and serve on pancakes.

Borrowed from Inherited Recipes

How do you make rose petal freezer jam???

I cup of wild rose petals

1 1/2 cup water

Juice of 1 lemon or equivalent amt of sumac juice

2 1/2 cup white sugar

1 package powdered no-cook pectin

Directions:

Place 1 packed cupful of wild rose petals into blender with water and lemon juice (or sumac juice). Puree. Gradually add sugar while blender is running...until sugar is dissolved. Then add the no-cook pectin, blending just enough to distribute evenly in puree and pour into jars. Store in fridge or feezer.

*if you do not have or cannot find the no-cook pectin, buy the regular pectin. Place 1 cup petals and 3/4 cup water and lemon juice or sumac juice in blender. While blender is running slowly add sugar until it becomes dissolved in puree. Take 3/4 cup of water and pectin and boil in saucepan for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour slowly into blender, and then into sterilized jars. Place in refrigerator, or freezer for longer term storage.

Wild Foods For Survival

Acorns

A few white oaks have acorns sweet enough to be eaten raw or roasted. But, most oaks have extremely bitter acorns. The bitterness is due to the tannins. The acorns must be processed in boiling water to remove the tannins.

Put the acorns in a pot of water and remove any that float. Boil for 15 minutes. Shell the acorns, chop them up, and boil again. (You can boil them in cheesecloth so you don't lose any pieces.) When the water turns brown, pour it off, add more water and boil again. Repeat until water no longer turns brown. Taste one to see if the bitterness is gone. If not, boil them until the bitterness is gone, then dry them in the oven at a very low heat.

Acorn meal is made by grinding dry, raw acorn kernels, mixing the meal with the boiling water and pressing out the liquid through a jellybag. This process may be repeated several times with very bitter acorns. The meal is then spread thinly on shallow pans and dried in the sun or a very slow oven. It usually becomes partly caked during this process so

it must be reground, using a food chopper or hand grist mill. Acorn grits can be made by grinding up not quite as fine.

Both acorn meal and grits are very dark-colored with a sweet, nutlike flavor. A lighter colored meal can be made with cold water leaching or rinsing.

Harvest: Fall - Nuts

Nutrients (Per 100 grams)

Calories - 48 Niacin - 0.5 mg. Thiamin - 0.02 mg.

Calcium - 12 mg. Phosphorus - 314 mg. Vitamin A - 6 IU

Fat - 0.1 grams Protein - 0.2 grams

Iron - 0.02 mg. Riboflavin - 0.40 mg.

Roasted Acorns

3 cups water

4 large garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup lemon juice

6 to 8 Tbsp curry powder 1 heaping quart acorns

(processed to remove tannins)

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp seasoned salt

Boil 2-1/2 cups water. While this boils, put another 1/2 cup water in a blender with garlic, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup curry powder. Blend until smooth. Add this to the boiling water along with acorns and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain acorns. In a baking dish, add acorns, olive oil, salt, and rest of curry powder. Roast at 300 degrees for 45 to 90 minutes, stirring often, until the acorns are dry and well-roasted, but not hard.

Acorn Glaze

2 cups sugar

1 cup water 1/8 tsp cream of tartar

Pinch of salt

Put in a small saucepan and boil until you see the very first hint of browning. Set the small saucepan in a kettle of boiling water to keep the contents liquid and dip in whole acorn kernels, which have been pre-boiled as described above, using a pair of tweezers; then place them on wax paper to harden. This improves the appearance as well as the taste of the acorns and they can be served as a confection or with a meal, as a good hearty food.

Acorn Bread

Sift together dry ingredients:

1 cup Acorn Meal

1 cup white flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt Beat together:

1 cup milk

1 egg

3 tablespoons salad oil

Add this to the dry ingredients and stir just enough to moisten everything. Pour into a greased pan and bake in a 400'(f) oven for 30 minutes.

Or...Acorn Muffins:

You can fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full of the same batter and bake only 20 minutes.

Acorn Pancakes

2 cups acorn meal

2 tsp baking powder

3 tsp shortening 1 tsp salt

1 beaten egg

Mix all ingredients. Cook like regular pancakes. They are delicious, tasting much like rich brown bread

It's better to regret something you have done, than regret something you HAVEN'T done.

Goddess Of The Week

FREJA (aka Freya, Freyja)

SUGGESTED MANTRA: PASSION

If you feel awed by the wonder of veins in leaves in the lush green

trees and feel your knees go weak at the joy of being alive, the

passionate goddess of love is working in you. Freya's gifts are those

that make us overjoyed to be alive!

SUGGESTED AFFIRMATIONS:

~ I live in love

~ Love gives me wings

~ I am visible, and I matter

~ I stand in complete satisfaction

~ I embrace life in its absolute fullness

~ At this moment, I have all that I need

~ Each moment is a precious gift in BEing

Related essences: Goddessence KWAN YIN 100% pure essential oil blend

to make the heart chakra JUMP FOR JOY

Related gemstones: Rose quartz, pink tourmaline, emerald (pink or

green stones)

It is from the Nordic Goddess of love and fertility's name that we

derived the name "Friday". Freya loves all things that give pleasure,

she indulges in love, romance and lovemaking - always walking in

harmony and beauty. Her power brings men and women together to create

new life, and she is the gentle goddess who ends life in order to

perpetuate the circle of life with love and trust. According to Nordic

myth she was also the Warrior Goddess who was hostess to fallen war

heroes in her great hall.

HER MODERN ENERGY

Freya represents passion: Passion in love, Passion in war, Passion for

the things in life that bring us pure joy. She lets us be moved to

tears with gratitude for what we see around us, her gifts are

tenderness, grace, compassion, delight and laughter.

DO THIS

If you are feeling that you are living your life without intention,

stop for a while. Devote this Friday to her namesake, and spend at

least a minute with your eyes closed, listening to your breathing.

Notice every noise around you and every smell that comes your way.

Mentally list 5 things you are grateful for. Build on this list to

think about your passions - have you been ignoring them lately?

Well, Friday is the day - get back to your passion, and get your

passion back!

Love and light,

~ Anita ~

www.goddess. com.au