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Travelling Alone is FUN!

Travel is a huge part of who I am. I need to travel often or else I get stale and lack inspiration. I love going to new places, new countries, and meeting people from different places and experiencing what is out there beyond my back yard. I didn’t start my travel adventures outside of my home country or Europe till I was twenty-two. Then there was no stopping me!

I have been fortunate to have friends and a partner who also share my passion for travel. However sometimes no one is available due to annual leave, money & not actually wanting to go where I do. Instead of giving up on my dream I go by myself.

It is scary and some people find it too terrifying to travel solo, especially if you’re female. It doesn’t have to be. With a bit of planning and research it can take the fear out of travelling alone. There are numerous global tour agencies that now specialise in solo travel for all ages. You’re never really ‘alone,’ unless you want to be!

The Internet has made planning so simple. Google map’s can zoom in with a satellite image so you can get a good look at a place without actually being there. There are reviews, tips, pictures, itineraries and tour groups all waiting for you to discover them.

I’ve done plenty of solo travel over the years. The first time I jumped on a plane by myself was exhilarating and liberating. I was only going 50 minutes from London to Edinburgh. All the way I was thinking “look at me on a plane by MYSELF!” Four years later I was on a 24-hour flight to Australia alone, turning up in Sydney with my backpack thinking “now what?!”

My last solo trip was a few weeks ago. There was a yoga seminar in Melbourne being hosted by Bikram’s wife Rajashree. I really wanted to go and instead of hunting around for a travel buddy I booked myself a flight, a room in the hotel where the seminar was being held and went alone. Too easy. I then decided to combine it with a trip to Adelaide on the way back for a personal session with my Soul Mentor. Four days dedicated to doing something just for me, without worrying about accommodating anyone else. How good does that sound?

We spend too much time looking after other people and working around them to make things easy. This leads to your own needs being over looked or we miss out on doing things we truly want to do. It is NOT selfish at all to nourish yourself with some alone time. It is good for us. We serve others better when we have served ourselves first. If no one else wants to join you on your adventure, go by yourself.

I did my research before leaving. I had to negotiate transport from the airport to the city via bus, tram and a walk. It was all there on the Internet and I could book my bus ticket online. It had been eight years since I’d been to Melbourne and last time I drove there. I’ had a rough idea of the city but couldn’t really remember it. I booked my flights so I’d arrive well before dark as I didn’t want to be alone in a strange city at night. I knew if there were no nearby restaurants I could always eat in the hotel. If you don’t feel comfortable sitting alone in a restaurant, order to go or there’s always room service. Often when eating alone you attract other people who ask you to join them. If that’s creepy to you, simply decline & read a book.

On arriving in Adelaide I’d booked myself into a ‘treat’ hotel. The Stamford Grand in Glenelg is right on the beachfront in a cosmopolitan small suburb. A taxi from the airport was safe and easy. They have a concierge service that puts you in properly licensed cars. I Googled ahead and had a rough estimate of how much it would cost so they’d be no surprises.

I had a fab time! Walking on the beach before sunset, eating fresh organic pizza and soaking in a long, hot bubble bath. Finally curling up for an early night with Dirty Dancing on TV and my favourite sparkling water (yes water!). I was so relaxed I woke up hours before my alarm for a really long morning walk along the sea front, followed by another bubble bath. I got the hotel to sort me out a taxi and called into Bakers Delight for a fresh Cheesimite scroll for breakfast. (Solo travel does not need to be expensive) All this topped off with an amazing energy healing before jumping on my third and final flight home.

I only took hand luggage with me. Simple, light and no waiting at carousels. All my check in’s were done on my smart phone. No faffing around with paper boarding passes or check in lines. I just had to make sure I had enough battery by the time I got to the gate. Watch out that free Wi-Fi sucks the battery life.

At no time did I feel scared or unsafe. Everything was planned transport wise. I’d researched a few places to eat but this can always change, which it did. Once you get somewhere & have a look around you discover so much more. That’s part of the excitement. It was a treat to just curl up and watch movies that are always available on free view in most hotels. I really embraced having time for me without any distractions. I got so much writing & reading done. I came home so chilled and ready to get things started with this blog it was just what I needed.

Don’t be scared, if there’s somewhere you want to go, something only you want to do go do it!!! Why wait.

Happy travels & safe,

Seren xx

 

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©Seren Holistic Lifestyles Blog 2013
 (please share the love with full credit thanks)

Click on image to enlarge

©Seren Holistic Lifestyles Blog 2013

(please share the love with full credit thanks)

Crystal Healing – Blue Apatite

I’m very excited to introduce you too crystal of the week. Blue Apatite is a very positive crystal with multiple uses. I was attracted to it primarily for it’s association with the Throat Chakra to enhance communications. My part job as Bikram Yoga teacher requires me to pretty much talk non-stop for 90 minutes. Any help I can get in assisting the words to flow is greatly appreciated.

My first piece of Blue Apatite I used to tuck into my pocket and carry around with me. This causes all sorts of problems especially when you forget it’s there and it falls out on the floor or worse, goes through the wash. Ideally Apatite should be worn against the skin, especially over the throat chakra to improve communications. Then I got the idea I should purchase a Blue Apatite pendant.

I don’t usually like buying crystals online, I like to pick them up & feel if they are a good fit. Connect with them and let them choose me. You don’t know for sure how they have been mined either online. I tried the local crystal shops but nothing grabbed me so I hit up Etsy. I like supporting small business artisans and the pieces on there I felt were made with love, and not mass-produced in factories.

I found it! The pendant I knew should be mine. It was set on a silver bail reminiscent of a Celtic knot with a neoprene cord. Perfect for the hot room, neoprene won’t go skanky when soaked in sweat. A stunning piece, had crafted by Charlotte Taylor.

Blue Apatite isn’t just for communications it enhances creativity and awakens the inner self. If attuned to the third eye it can improve concentration. A good piece to have if you’re studying. Another handy benefit, if made into an elixir (watch this space more on elixirs later in the series!) can help suppress hunger.

I got rather attached to my Apatite. I think at one point I was wearing it a lot for teaching. Just like a security blanket. You never want to get too dependent on anything this can cause all sorts problems. My Apatite had a great way of letting me know this. When I was carrying out over the tile floor for it’s monthly cleanse, it slipped and fell. On the tiles. A small piece broke of one of the edges. I was gutted. Can you imagine if the whole pendant has smashed? It was telling me I’d become attached & I needed to let it breathe for a while.

Now I rarely wear it to teach. I feel I have good balance between my third eye and throat chakras. I wear it whenever I feel drawn to it. It’s an awesome piece to draw creative inspiration that helps in my main day job. I make sure it is fully secure before travelling over the tiles!

  • Chakra: Throat & 3rd Eye
  • Vibration: 9
  • Colour: Blue, grey, green, grey, yellow
  • Family: Apatite
  • Birthstone: February & March
  • Metaphysical: Balancing, creativity, healing, peace & eliminates negativity. Good for communication, clarity & intellect
  • Physical: Suppresses appetite
  • Spiritual: Manifesting, meditation, psychic development & releases blockages.

Love & light,

Seren xx

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Reference for pendant artist:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CharlotteTyler?page=1

Colour Therapy – Violet

Today I had a totally different post scheduled for you all. One that I was super excited about sharing as well. The Universe had a different plan! I try & live in the moment as much as I can. Not planning too far ahead and letting life unfold naturally, day by day. I’ve not always been like this. I am a reformed control freak. Totally full post on that later.

The Universal curve ball that hit me in the face this morning brought to my attention that I needed to write about todays subject Colour Therapy. I felt totally compelled to reschedule my planned post for next week and get this post written right now. Following my inner guide and intuition.

Colour surrounds us everywhere. There is no escaping it. Without colour we’d live in a very dull, vanilla world. Our senses are ignited when they come into contact with colours. Our body’s energy meridians, the Chakra’s all have corresponding colours. Colour Therapy can be a powerful healing tool. How uplifted do you feel when you slip on a bright red dress to hit the town in? One old roommate often commented on colourful plates of foods and how much more appealing they looked to eat. Isn’t it relaxing staring out onto a clear turquoise sea on a bright, summer day?  Colour healing can take on so many forms, clothes, food, pictures, lights, flowers and the list goes on.

Personally I use a pack of colour therapy cards, specifically these one’s by Inna Segal. You don’t need a special pack of cards at all, you can meditate on the question “what colour do I need today.” The answer will come to you and you can source something of that colour, even an image off Google. Every morning I pull a card for the day and place it on my desk right in front of me. I’ll read the guide book page to the corresponding colour and often do the visualization suggested.

Today I pulled Violet – create a balanced life. (1) The challenge I faced this morning had sent my world into a spin. I have so much going on this week so much planned another bonus challenge could rock the balance I’d already created. Or had I created balance? What blessing is there hidden in this new challenge? My Violet card I feel was delivering quite a few strong messages to me that I needed to address. Time to reassess.

Violet is directly related to the Crown Chakra, right at the top of your head, connected to your higher self. “Violet increases the psychic senses to release karma and regain freedom from past issues.” (2) This fits well for today as a past issue came up and it’s time for that chapter to close for the better. Violet is also very soothing and can eliminate emotions, especially shock, trauma or fear. (3) Which is probably the main reason this colour was presented today. I had a wee shock. (I’m fine though, please don’t worry, my faith in the metaphysical is guiding me soundly to a place I can heal smoothly. I know I am well supported through this)

I feel a need to create balance in my energy today & not get too stressed with everything that is going on & run off in a frenzy without thinking things through. Keep a slow place, take some time outs to be still and breathe and get outside for some nature time. Eat well by nourishing from the inside out with whole foods, lots of fresh vegetables and water. I’ll allow everything to unfold as it should & trust the out come is for the best. I need to keep balanced with my giving & taking as well. Not over give & come out the other side depleted. My Violet card is right here in front of my infused with healing happy vibes.

Love & light,

Seren xx

Click on image to enlarge
<br /> ©Seren Holistic Lifestyles Blog 2013
<br /> (please share the love with full credit thanks)<br />

Reference:

  1. Segal, I. 2001, The Secret Language of Color Cards Guidebook, page 79.
  2. Segal, I. 2001, The Secret Language of Color Cards Guidebook, page 79.
  3. Egan, S. 2002-2009, The Science of Natural Energies – Colour Therapy. Page 90.

Image Reference:

http://www.wallsave.com/wallpaper/1600×1000/violet-tulip-99429.html

Backyard Chooks

What is a chook I hear everyone outside of Australia cry? It’s a slang/pet name for a chicken. I love chickens. They are such fascinating creatures and make amazing pets. Have you ever seen the movie Chicken Run? It is so true to life. Just sitting and observing chickens going about their daily business I often think ‘what are they up to, what have they got planned?’ Hopefully my chickens are not planning a prison break like the Aardman chickens. Why would they? My ‘girls’ are treated like the princesses they are.

I’m blessed to live on a property that allows a lot of space for a good size chicken run, or two actually. The space inside both runs is ample for what can be classed as ‘free range.’ The runs offer night time security from hungry predators, perches to hang out with their ‘flock mates’ and a quiet, secluded place for the hens to lay there daily egg. During the morning after ‘laying time’ is done the girls are literally climbing the fence to get out and out they go! This is free ranging. Off they go to roam free, run amok, have a scratch in real dirt, forage for interesting snacks and have the space to flap their wings.

Chickens are such gentle animals. They liked to be picked up and cuddled. My partner is a dedicated ‘chicken hugger.’ I often find myself talking ‘chook’ to them. You know, bock, bock noises?! Come on you talk to your dog don’t you, why not your chickens?

We have about thirty chickens and three roosters. When we first started out the backyard Chook Empire there were no men allowed. Then I fell in love with a huge orange Wyandotte rooster and the rest was history. Rambo was our first rooster and served us well. He was followed by Hef (named after Playboy’s Hugh Hefner as like my chicken Hef, he has/had lots of girlfriends) It’s easier to name the men as they stand out, the girls lost their names a long time ago, there are just too many!

The flock is made up of a combination of Wyandotte’s, Isa Browns and Chinese Bantam’s. The Isa’s were ‘rescued’ from a local egg farm. I say rescued, they are sold for $20 and we happily pay that to give them a better life. They come from cages or the barn style free-range establishments. Usually their feathers are tatty with pale, floppy combs. A week or two in the outdoors and they are like new!

I’m totally biased but our eggs are amazing!! Our regular customers agree. I can’t fill the demand some weeks. All the money we collect, $4 a dozen, goes straight back into the chicken account or the ‘girl’s money box’ as I call it. They do have a money box, it’s right there in the fridge by the eggs. The cash pays for their feed or anything else they need. Our eggs are so good. The yokes are bright yellow and the whites nice & clear. They taste so much better than shop bought eggs, even other free-range organic eggs.

With every living thing there is always an energy transfer. This energy can be positive or negative. If the animal producing the product, like eggs, is happy and content the energy going into producing that egg will be happy. If the animal is suffering or is having a crappy life this negative energy will be transferred. Then when we consume that product we are digesting that energy, good or bad. Wouldn’t you much rather be consuming energy happy energy? Yes, because happy energy makes us happy and vise versa. I am more than happy to eat my chickens eggs as I know first hand they are happy. There produce is a living statement of this.

We try & support chicken charities where we can. My partner asked for cash donations for his thirtieth birthday instead of presents. He raised over $400 for the RSPCA charity – Hen’s deserve better. http://www.hensdeservebetter.org.au Everyone can do his or her bit too. Spend a little more and buy free range, even better organic. You will notice the quality and taste is better. Also tune in and see how you feel inside after digesting the ‘happy energy.’

Love, light & chicken hugs,

Seren

xx

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