International Women's Week (because one day isn't enough)

One day after International Women's Day. I spent more time this year, more than any other year, participating in honouring International Women's Week (because one day isn't enough). Our very own Soul Sisters group began discussions about our own Marmora events months ago. Joyce Ioannou and Janice Chrysler joined forces to bring back the Women In Wellness Expo that Janice started many years ago. Joyce has taken the reins with Janice's guidance and the prospects of honouring women in business, health and wellness continues to grow! We started our week with a Wellness Wednesday (this is ongoing) at the Marmora Public Library where we had some discussion around the theme of this years' Int'l Women;s Day event, #Embrace Equity. We finished our time with a Shamanic Drumming and meditation I offered to the group. Later this day three of the Soul Sisters attended the ribbon cutting for Int'l Women's Week with Mayor Jan O'Neil at Caressant Care, It was lovely to spend time chatting with the women who attended and share a few stories. Saturday was dedicated to the Women in Wellness Expo! Despite a big snowfall the night before, the event was well attended. The day ended with a presentation by Joyce Ioannou and a meditation led by Janice Chrysler and I got to do a little bit of drumming once again! Yesterday, being International Women's Day, I was able to attend the Inspire Event in Peterborough which was a full day of ceremonies, guest speakers and workshops. The energy was fantastic, uplifting and inclusive. The keynote speaker at the end of the day was musician and Order of Canada recipient, Susan Aglukark who shared songs, stories and inspiration. I definitely came away from this wonderful week feeling my cup had been filled! This crone feels a part of the nurturing love of the sisterhood that chooses to uplift, teach, encourage, support and protect all the women and those who identify as female in moving forward. We can embrace equity. We can embrace inclusion and we can embrace each other.

Spiritual Ecology

Spiritual Ecology. There is an emerging field in religion, conservation and academia recognizing that there is a spiritual facet to all issues related to conservation, environmentalism and earth stewardship. "Reason" has become the norm in place of spiritual values, faith and honoring the gifts of earth. Yes, there's a lot to gain from technology but we have lost sight of this predominance of worldview, global economy and material possessions in relation to the damage we are causing and the limits to which we can stress our earth.

Many indigenous cultures practiced the wisdom in not taking more than we need, using all that we gather and making sure a balance is maintained. There were ceremonies to herald the seasons, the hunt, the harvest and all creation.

People like Rudolph Steiner who wrote extensively on biodiversity in growing food, the balance of healthy soils, working with moon cycles. Pierre Teillhard de Chardin, a jesuit, spoke of the divinity within every particle of life. These influencers remind us of the balance of all things. Humans are not the center of all creation. Everything is alive and we are responsible for sustaining this planet. We are not separate from all. We are responsible for healing the damage we have caused and for a transformation to occur. We are out of balance. The thing to remember is that there is no hierarchy in how we approach solutions. One religion, spiritual practice or political party can not be the answer. We as individuals can do our part in all kinds of ways. The information is out there for us to access. As a Shaman Practitioner, I have been using the Shaman Journey to explore what spirit has to share about the state of my own backyard, the spirits of the land, water, air, sun, trees, rocks and plants have much to offer in knowing how healthy things are, what we might be able to do to help, even where we need to back off and allow nature to do its' work. It's very humbling to connect with the spirit of an area and be told "I've got this. I'm in charge here but you need to quiet those machines!" (referring to the boat motor noises on the river). I like to journey to check on the trees on my property, areas that are used for recreation to make sure we're not disturbing the "balance" of that area, the health of the river and creek and so on. Our helping spirits know us intimately and are able to provide answers and insights knowing how capable we may be in doing the work.

The Drum Beat

Do you feel like something special is happening when you hear a drum beat? Does a drum beat resonate somewhere deep inside you? I have always felt a prickly feeling then a whole body response when I hear drumming. I'm not talking about JOhn Bonham, Dave Grohl or Ginger Baker type drumming (although they are amazing!). I referring to a classic hand held drum, usually round, that is associated with rituals, ceremonies and the Shamanic Journey. For centuries this drumming was used by a Shaman within a community to assist in reaching an altered state of consciousness in order to do the journey. Sometimes rattles, didgeridoos or repeated chanting was used. The Shamanic Journey relies on a steady 220 beats per minute. It has been scientifically proven that listening to this "sonic driving" beat allows the brain to relax, altering from our ordinary beta state, brain waves slow down into an alpha state then moves further into a theta state. Cortisol levels have been measured and shown to lower, creating a sense of calm, decreased heart rate which assists us in our altered state of consciousness to experience the shamanic journey. Using the drum beat creates a focus and routine we can use safely to practice our journey. Many modern shaman practitioners us a recording of the shamanic drumming and often headphones so we don't disturb other people in our space and to block out outside noises.

Power Animal Retrieval

When you have been taught how to practice a Shamanic Journey you engage in this amazing experience with spirits who are not only completely compassionate energies, they are there for protection, for assisting us in seeking answers and showing us different ways of thining, feeling and perceiving life. When embarking on a shamanic journey we are either assisted by what we call a Power Animal or we meet with our Power Animal to explore the non-ordinary reality for answers, guidance, healing, exploration or just great company! Each of us have different ways of perceiving messages. Some of us are more visual, some of us hear a story line being presented, some of us feel images, some of us get al the information all at once as a "knowing". Our own experience with our Power Animal is also perceived the same way. None of this matters once you discover your own unique way of perceiving. The next steps are developing a relationship with your Power Animal. They can show us images that have meaning only to us. They can present stories or parables that encourage us to find the meanings. They can have conversations with us. They can have a sense of humour to show the true meaning of a message we have asked. It's not unusual for a message to take some time to understand depending on how our Power Animal shared the information. If a message doesn't make sense, perhaps we are meant to sit with it for awhile before we understand the hidden massages or concepts. Somethings I have come to understand when we work with our Power Animal is that they want to help. They are not only compassionate helpers, they love to be with us. They chose us for a reason. If ever you are feeling alone, seperated from a loving connection, you have your Power animal to call upon. Much like each of us have a guardian angel, we can call upon our Power Animal.

Crystals and Healing Stones

Crystals and healing stones. There is an energy within these precious gifts from the earth (and some from the sky!) that offers a connection when we feel "dis" connected from life. Just holding a stone or crystal can offer the benefit of feeling a positive energy begin to shift a negative energy, a feeling of sadness or hopelessness, of being unwell. I sometimes feel these energies as being so much more than a small object it it's true! These nuggets of matter have taken many years but mostly centuries, of massive earth conditions and unique combinations to create this structure. Allow yourself a moment to hold a crystal or stone in your hand and listen to the messages that come to you. Allow the stone or crystal to absorb the energies that cause you grief, sadness, sickness, anger, anxiety or whatever negative energy is consuming you at this moment. Thank the crystal or stone for reminding you that you are here on earth for a reason, you are connected to everything and are willing to let go of what no longer serves you to be converted and released so that you are able to make room for positive energies to fill the void.

Our Family Tree

When we think how we measure our own growth from when we were kids to where we are at this stage of our lives, the comparison to how trees grow over the years can be an interesting comparison. Well, at least I think it's interesting. Depending on the nurturing we received or didn't receive as kids is imbedded within our cells. When a young tree is growing its' nurturing results in how cells are formed. Too much or not enough water will cause a change in cell structure. Too much sun or not enough sun will do the same. If the tree has to struggle to grow it will react to this environment. Even as we age we react to our environment and what we absorb. Our tree family are a reminder of the importance of connection. The family tree. Everything is alive. Everything is connected. We rely upon each other.

Our Tree Friends

In my last post I talked about comparisons of how trees grow in similar ways as we grow. Knots, broken bits, growth spurts, reaching for the sky, connected to the earth. Look at this wonderful example of adaptation! I'm guessing this tree was happily moving up in the world while having to deal with the circumstances of its environment. Flooding in the spring, swampy conditions and sometimes dryness in the summer, a huge amount of organic matter dropped at its feet every fall, freezing temperatures, ice, snow, critters pecking at your bark, critters gnawing, critters perhaps taking refuge under you. I'd love to journey to the spirit of this tree to see if it wants to share its story. That's the beauty of learning the shamanic journey. You are able to venture to a non-ordinary reality to spend time with helping spirits, your power animal and spirits of the land. You can ask for advise, ask how an area is doing health-wise, ask to be shown how you can help or in some cases, not help. Nature spirits can be quite clear when your help isn't needed but also very helpful in showing how we can help in ways that are sometimes unexpected.

Everything Is Alive

Everything is alive. I find the more I connect with my helping spirits that I begin to notice details that my "busy mind" used to pass over in a blur. The more one journeys the more in tune to the natural environment we become. A deeper respect begins to emerge. Noticing fine details in trees, plants, animal sounds, footprints, water flow and even rock formations. All of these examples (and more) allow us to feel connected to our natural environment, respectful of how we interact with and effect the land we share. As we marvel at a baby's bright eyes and soft skin we can, in turn, marvel at the texture of a tree trunk or limb, the gently swaying and creaking of a large tree on a windy day, the playfulness of two squirrels chasing each other, the fine colours on a glimpse of a cardinal on a winter day. Just sitting and looking out at nature and taking the time to notice the details. Everything is alive and we are all connected.

Divination In Nature

I'm enjoying the process of writing this winter. Some days the thoughts flow and others, like today, seem lodged in the fuzzy parts of my brain and can't be teased out. I even have a nice picture to share but still the right words won't come to me. I took a minute and just gazed at the photo I took when Lionel and I trekked around "The Gut" two falls ago now. The sunbeam on the rocks seems rather magical , doesn't it? Ah yes, there it is. A remembering. When we use naturals materials to ask for answers to questions, what might seem nonsensical in the beginning, starts to slowly reveal messages. The exercise is to formulate a question that you are seeking answers. Make sure it is not a simple yes or no question) more of a how, where, what, who question. With this question clearly in your mind, take a natural (unpolished/machine tumbled) stone or grapefruit sized rock and gaze at one side of the rock. Begin writing down any features that show themselves to you (a head, animal, body part, thing. etc.) then turn the rock around and do the same on all sides and facets. Don't worry about anything making sense. Once you have studied the rock and "found" all the shapes to write down, take a look at what you have written down and begin to formulate a response to your question. How do all these images fit with what you are seeking to answer? Write down the first things that come to mind or speak your finds out loud. You may be surprised at what you will find!

Spiritual Supports and Connections

We are often trying to stay so much in control of everything that is going on in our lives that we have great difficulty shutting the drive for control down and allowing the peace and serenity offers when we allow spirit to gently show us what we need to see for our greater good. Yes it is useful to have a focus in mind in order to reach some of our goals otherwise we may get lost in feeling stuck and keeping up with the demands of our jobs, our family and relationship interactions, our communities, health and wellness. There is great benefits from being in control of what goes on in our lives. The cracks start to show themselves when we disregard the equal importance of letting go of control, feeling a sense of freedom and allowing obstacles, both actual and imagined, to be removed. Like the concept of moving within circles, there is a flow of give and take, up and down, speed and stillness, doing and not doing, thinking and acting, responding and allowing. The concepts can feel like polar opposites or be wound around each other in vague blurry mixtures. When we lose sight of the differences between right and wrong, strength and weakness, force and allowing, darkness and light, love and unloved, the circles become fragmented, we begin to feel the physical and mental effects and all we begin to see are the obstacles. In order for our perceived obstacles to be removed we might want to consider spiritual supports and connections to bring our focus back into balance, the circles flowing and connecting clearly and in ways that allow the voices of our helping spirits to remove obstacles and remind us that everything is alive and we are all connected. The circle goes beyond the circles we create within our own sphere. Our circle cannot exist without all the others that surround and interlace with us.

New Year's blessings

The 1st of February is upon us! Here's a bit about a lovely festival called Imbolc and the references to a lovely goddess called Brigid Imbolc (pronounced IM-bolg or IM-bolk) is Old Irish for “in the belly.” It’s also known as Oimelc, Lady Day, and, in Christianity, Candlemas or St. Brigid’s Day. Traditionally, Imbolc represents the beginning of spring and the time when the first lambs are born. It’s the time of the year associated with pregnancy, and is the time to honor the fertility goddess Brigid. As the days lengthen bit by bit. Imbolc is around the time this change really starts to show. The end of the day has noticeably more light, even though the trees and grass are still in winter’s grip.The divine spark that was born in midwinter is growing, and nature is beginning to wake up.

The goddess Brigid (pronounced Breed or Breej) was the daughter of Dagda, the oldest god in the Tuatha dé Danann or Celtic pantheon. Brigid is a fertility goddess. She rules the fire of the hearth as well as the fire of imagination through poetry. She also blessed other skills that required the use of fire, like blacksmithing.When Christianity came to Ireland, Brigid became Saint Brigid, complete with a human history beginning around 450 A.D. in Kildare, Ireland. As a saint, she was known for feeding the poor and healing the sick. A perpetual flame that was tended for centuries by pagan priestesses, and later, by Brigidine nuns, burns in the town square of Kildare. I'm posting a picture of a lamb. Too many of the Brigid depictions show a sexy red head with tight clothes and lots of cleavage. Not there's anything wrong with cleavage, it's just that realistically, Brigid was probably covered up with some handspun cloth from head to toe and looking more like she could plant a garden and milk a cow. Light a candle tonight and call upon Brigid to use her fire to burn away that which no longer serves you and to create light around any new ideas and projects you may be planning for this new year.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Baby It's Cold Outside! How do the little birds with their tiny legs and feet manage to stay warm? I'm watching a large flock of what might be Pine Grosbeaks. What a treat to see a large flock of these round bodied birds, the males with a dusty red plumage hanging out in the ash trees. The Crowe River is almost completely frozen over this morning as we experience -23+ temperatures. There's a sliver of open water here and there that is crammed with Trumpeter Swans, both in the water and resting on the ice. Local river otters like to snag a fish then bring their meal up onto the ice to eat. Eagles and crows soon catch sight of the fish bits and will often swoop down to finish off any remains. Curiously large prints are exposed in the snow, moving all over the yard then out along the edges of the bay towards Beaver Creek. Lovely long shadows cast upon the smooth snowy ground from the towering pine trees late at night. An owl hoots to a far off partner while looking for a midnight snack.

2023 International Women's Day #EmbraceEquity

The theme of this year's International Women's Day is #EmbraceEquity. Embrace equity is not the same as embracing "equality". If you truly believe in forging an equal and inclusive world, then you will truly believe in the need for the world to better understand the difference between equity and equality. Here's a good description from the www.internationalwomensday.com that addresses the difference.

"People who push for equality-based solutions to social issues may believe in impartiality, and that there should be no difference in services and policies. However, equity-based solutions take into account the diverse lived experiences of individuals and communities, adapting services and policies according to these differences. Equity is a long-term and sustainable solution, and is a process for addressing imbalanced social systems."

I relate my own experience as a spiritual energy worker. I'm sure a lot of my friends who embrace spirituality can relate as well. It wasn't that long ago that it was considered kooky to be doing Reiki and now look at how many individuals are practicing Reiki! Hands on healing touch is even offered by nurses in hospitals. It's just called something different, less wow woo. Working with spirit, crystals and using oracle cards has been the same. I won't go into all the details but those of you who allow alternative energy and spirit work into their lives know there are certain people you don't discuss this with because it makes them uncomfortable, may start an argument or illicit an angry response. We often embrace the coping mechanism of "if they want to know they will ask". Best to keep the ego out of the way and not talk about your Reiki or Shamanism at the family or community gathering. One good thing is that there are SO MANY people embracing spirituality and energy work that it no longer feels odd or threatening (to a few). Our posters advertising our services still get torn down and there are those who feel threatened but THANK GOODNESS the basis of love is gathering strength and we no longer feel timid in promoting options so that others can begin the repair of mind, body and spirit. The equity part of this conversation is about helping each other to rise up, have access to all options and support each other in being the crones, the maiden, the LGBT and non-binary aspects of those seeking wellness. Equity means doing what we can to level the playing field for those that need a little extra help.

The Willow Tree

The Willow Tree. Pictured here is our lovely Weeping WIllow. The name "Weeping Willow" comes from the way raindrops run down its long leaves, making it look like the tree is crying. As a toddler, living in Kelowna, BC, my dad loved to take pieces of a long willow branch and plant them around our soggy yard as a way to soak up standing water, create shade and add beauty to the surroundings. My dad, grandfather and others used a willow switch to divine where underground water might be located, for future wells. Willows are wonderful trees to plant along riverbanks to assist in preventing erosion and in flat areas prone to flooding to soak up excess standing water. It is so easy to start a new tree just by cutting a nice size willow branch and putting the cut end into soil. One needs to be careful where you plant willows as their root systems can travel up to 50'. Avoid planting near septic fields, water or gas lines and house foundations.

There are over 300 varieties of willow, many of them are of the genus Osier. White willow has many healing properties. The active agent within white willow bark is called salicylic acid, much like our modern day aspirin, was used for headaches, pain, diarrhoea and fevers. The branches were used for arrow shafts and the branches were fanned out to create paint brushes. Branches were also used to make baskets.

An interesting note here is the connection between the word, Willow, and the terms Wicce, Witchcraft, and wicker. Willow has long been associated with Witches and there is also the association of wicker with Druidry. Since Wicce actually means to bend it is not a far jump to make the connection between the two. This Tree is held sacred, also, to Minerva and the ancient Great Goddess Whose bird, the Wryneck, nests only in the Willow. Cranes are also known to nest here and a grove of Willows with nesting cranes is a symbol of extremely happy domesticity.

The Celtic word Saille became the word sally, meaning a sudden outburst of action, expression or emotion. This word may also suggest an excursion or a jaunt as well as a retort but it can be used to describe a more violent action by troops. It is also derived from the Old French word, saille, meaning to rush out suddenly. These words all reflect the spirit of potential symbolized by the Willow. Other fun Druid examples would be in the funerary flints, shaped as Willow leaves, found in graves from the Old Stone Age, showing that Willow has been a part of our lives for a very long time. This Tree has been associated with death, grief and cemeteries, the leaves themselves symbolizing unrequited love or the loss of a lover. The leaf has also been worn as a charm to protect against jealousy. Willow has been made into charms, ritual garments and magical wands.

This beneficial tree asks us to remember to acknowledge the beauty of nature, to slow down, bask in the dappled light beneath graceful arching branches and to feel her serenity and worth.

Connecting with the Spirits of a land location

When I looked at this picture I took a few years ago I had to chuckle. There is a similar chair in the same spot today, covered with the same amount of snow, perhaps a little more rickety. This is the part of our property we call "the point" and in turn, the name of my soap and body product business "The Point Naturals". What a magical spot this is! This is where Beaver Creek comes out to converge (hence the name of my other business) with Crowe River. The spirit of this area is strong and determined, kind and forgiving. I like to journey to this area from time to time to "connect" and to touch base to see if there is anything we should be doing to ensure this spot is always protected. My answer is always the same. "I've got this". Lionel and I do our best to create a stable environment for this beautiful spot. Protecting the banks with rock, allowing the banks to naturalize with native plants, trees and we don't cut the grass right to the edges. It's a slightly fragile area, surrounded by a sandy river bottom and experiences a lot of wave action from motorized watercraft in the warmer months. We are thankful for "the bay" on the Beaver Creek side as it is a huge source of natural habitat for fish, waterfowl, frogs, turtles, otters, mink, beaver, muskrats, herons, dragonflies, water lilies, reeds, rushes and hundreds of other goodies. Learning the Shamanic Journey is an exceptional way to connect with our living environment and the spirits of these areas.

DIVINE TIME NATURAL CLAY MASKS - A FEW GOOD RECIPES

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 this wonderful new product was created to appease my faithful customers who wanted to enhance their skin care regime with a spa type product the could enjoy while at home observing social distancing. Viola! Actually, I had been sitting on the idea of creating these clay masks for about a year but life just seemed to keep me busy and away from doing the work I needed to do to get this out there! Perhaps the universe was waiting to nudge me into making these three clay masks? I had all the ingredients ready! I had the idea on paper! I just needed an excuse to stay home and start mixing!

The basic recipe for all the masks is to mix 1 tablespoon of dry clay mix with 1 tablespoon of filtered water. Easy peasy. BUT, what if you wanted to take your facial mask experience up a few notches and mix up some kick ass formulations to make it EVEN BETTER? Ta da! I’ve included a bunch of different recipes for each of the clay masks that reflect ingredients for your specific skin type. Enjoy and please let me know what you think.

The 3 lovely natural clay masks:

Sensitive, Dry and Mature Skin Types

Note ** Use 1 tablespoon of filtered water with 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of your choice of the following:

Plain yogurt - calming and hydrating

Honey - deep moisturizing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, eases acne

Aloe Vera - healing, calming, cooling

Fresh Fruits - mashed avocado, banana, papaya

Witch Hazel

Vitamin E Oil

Carrier Oils - Sweet Almond, Avocado, Rosehip, Grapeseed, Jojoba

Essential Oils - 1 or 2 drops only. Never use undiluted essential oils directly on skin. Try a test patch on your skin to make sure you don’t react to certain essential oils. Best for dry skin: lavender, sweet orange, chamomile, rose, cedarwood, bergamot.

Normal and Combination Skin Types

Apple Cider Vinegar - anti-inflammatory, helps control oil, detoxifying

Lemon Juice - vitamin C content brightens skin and supports collagen production, lightens sun spots (best when combined with honey)

Honey- deep moisturizing, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, helps acne prone skin

Fresh Fruits: strawberries, cucumber, peaches

Aloe Vera - calming, soothing, healing

Witch Hazel-

Carrier Oils- sweet almond, avocado, rosehip, grapeseed, argon, sunflower, olive

Essential Oils- 1 or 2 drops only. Never use undiluted essential oils directly on skin. Try a test patch on your skin to make sure you don’t react to certain essential oils. Best for normal/combination skin is: lavender, tea tree, frankincense, ylang ylang, patchouli, geranium, clary sage.

Oily and Combination Skin Types

Apple Cider Vinegar - anti-inflammatory, helps control oil, detoxifying

Lemon Juice - Vitamin C content brightens skin and supports collagen production, lightens sun spots (best combined with honey)

Fresh Fruit - oranges, grapefruit, tomato, papaya, strawberries

Aloe Vera

Witch Hazel

Carrier Oils - sweet almond, avocado, rosehip

Essential Oils - 1 or 2 drops only. Never use undiluted essential oils directly on skin. Try a test patch on your skin to make sure you don’t react to certain essential oils. Best for Oily/Combination: lavender, tea tree, frankincence, ylang ylang, patchouli, rosemary, geranium, clary sage.

Natural Bug Sprays VS Chemical Bug Sprays

It's almost that time of year again when the black flies descend to bite and leave huge itchy welts that last weeks. At the same time, mosquitoes are out and looking for your blood. Another itchy nuisance that drives most people crazy. Here in eastern Ontario where we have lots of swamp areas, lakes and rivers, there are wonderful breeding grounds for all things itchy. Did you know that the biting mosquitoes and black flies are all female? Those bitches! Sure, a girl has to keep the home fires burning, but couldn't you take up pollinating flowers instead of leaving us writhing in agony?

Female mosquitoes feed on blood to help their eggs develop into offspring (Figure 1). When she bites, she releases her saliva into the area where she is biting. Her saliva contains proteins that may cause some people to have an allergic reaction such as itchy red bumps and swollen hives. For those with increased sensitivity to bites, a blister, bruise, or large inflammatory reaction can occur. If a mosquito is harboring a virus, it is possible that she can transmit the virus to humans through her saliva.

SKedaddle! was created in order to avoid the use of potentially harmful chemicals and the desire to avoid chemical compounds that may enter the body through skin, blood and inhalation. The essential oils used in Skeddadle! have been very effective in reducing the contact with mosquitoes, black flies and ticks. I’ve been sharing this wonderful product for over 10 years now and have had positive feedback on the effectiveness when used outdoors. SKedaddle! is even effective in helping dogs avoid the irritation of biting bugs.

Just about everyone I know has used, bought or borrowed a can of bug repellant. If you want to enjoy the outdoors, especially at night, then you know what this is all about. There didn't use to be a lot of choice. We happily gave our money to the folks who create 'Off', 'Deep Woods Off', 'Raid', some of the most common insect sprays on the market and easily available. Now I'm going to go all negative and down right hostile. Why? Because I strongly believe those commercial products are NOT good for you, especially for little kids, pregnant or nursing women, older people or anyone who has health issues. 

Some experts also recommend against applying chemicals such as DEET and sunscreen simultaneously since that would increase DEET penetration. Canadian researcher, Xiaochen Gu, a professor at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of Pharmacy who led a study about mosquitos, advises that DEET should be applied 30 or more minutes later. Gu also recommends insect repellent sprays instead of lotions which are rubbed into the skin "forcing molecules into the skin".

The Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University states that, "Everglades National Park employees having extensive DEET exposure were more likely to have insomnia, mood disturbances and impaired cognitive function than were lesser exposed co-workers".[27]

The EPA states that citronella oil shows little or no toxicity and has been used as a topical insect repellent for 60 years. However, the EPA also states that citronella may irritate skin and cause dermatitis in certain individuals.[5] Canadian regulatory authorities concern with citronella based repellents is primarily based on data-gaps in toxicology, not on incidents.[28]

It’s unclear whether lower doses pose the same risks, especially if you follow directions. Still, our experts urge children, seniors and those with weakened immunity to use it with extra caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics says DEET shouldn’t be used on infants younger than 2 months, and Canada’s federal health department says children 6 months to 12 years old should avoid products with more than 10 percent DEET.

Smartest precautions

●Avoid tight clothes (which mosquitoes can penetrate), dark clothes (where ticks can hide) and strong scents (which attract mosquitoes).

●Stay inside as much as possible when mosquitoes are out: sunrise, sunset and early evening.

●When you’re sitting on a deck or patio, plug in a fan to blow away mosquitoes.

●When heading out to woody or grassy areas, tuck pants into socks, wear boots and tuck hair into a hat. When you get home, check for ticks, shower and toss clothes into a dryer.

●If you need a repellent, first try plant-based products. If you opt for DEET, use products with low concentrations, such as Off Family-Care Smooth & Dry spray (15 percent).

●Apply repellents outdoors and use them only on clothing or exposed skin (not under clothes), and wash clothes before wearing them again.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend using products that combine DEET with sunscreen. Sunscreens are intended for generous and frequent use while DEET is intended for less frequent use. The concern is that use of a repellent that combines the two compounds may promote increased and unnecessary use of DEET. Additionally, blending DEET with a sunscreen decreases the efficacy of both compounds. The CDC recommendation is to apply suncreen first, then the insect repellent containing DEET, to be sure that each product works as specified.

Dealing with dry winter skin

It’s cold outside and the air inside is dry. It only takes a few days for our bodies to start feeling the effects. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day helps but not enough to relieve the symptoms of winter exposure. Using a quality skin care product is essential in maintaining smooth skin that looks and feels good. I’ve mentioned in my other blog about how our skin essentially soaks in whatever you are applying into the surface, or epidermis, then a little bit more into your dermis (connective tissue, hair follicles, sweat glands) and then below that is your hypodermis (fat and connective tissue). Now think about this: if you are wanting to be careful about what you eat and drink, why wouldn’t you be careful about what you put on your skin? Your skin is porous, so anything you use as a skin care product is absorbed into your fat and tissue areas. This is a really important distinction. Penetration is when a chemical makes it into the deeper layers of the skin, while absorption is when the chemical actually makes it into the bloodstream. These two terms are often used interchangeably, and that’s not correct.

While both things are important considerations when you’re choosing skin care products, absorption rate is really what we’re after here. Most chemicals, even if they can penetrate to the deepest levels of the skin, are too big to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream or does it?

The truth is, every chemical has a different absorption rate. To complicate that even further, some chemicals react on the body and make other chemical compounds more or less absorbable.

Ethanol (alcohol), for example, is a common additive in skin care products that increases absorption rates of other chemicals that are present—both because it breaks down the skin’s natural barriers, and because it pulls apart chemicals into individual constituents, so that they are small enough to absorb.

On the other hand, silicone additives, like dimethicone, sit on top of the skin and don’t allow anything to absorb. In fact, dimethicone is so adept at blocking absorption that it’s causing problems for aquatic animals that breathe and take in nutrients topically.

Will our body absorb what we put on our skin? Unfortunately, the answer is yes and no. We can most assuredly absorb things through our skin and into our bloodstream, but it’s not as simple as “60 to 70 percent of everything.”

Some things absolutely absorb right into our bodies, especially if there are other chemicals present that increase the absorption rate. That being said, most things don’t absorb directly into our bloodstreams through the skin, though they can often penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.

I would suggest that researching penetration and absorption rates of any specific chemical or additive that you’re curious about. Even though there isn’t a black and white answer for this myth, it’s comforting to know that there is research out there that we can use to make informed decisions.

Stick with natural, organic skin care products to ensure that we are nourishing our skin and bodies, but we're also happy to know we're not blatantly absorbing everything we come into contact with.

So back to winter care! None of The Point Naturals products have harmful chemicals or synthetics. Having said that, every individual has different reactions to all products, including natural. organic compounds. I suggest sticking to an all natural product, using a small amount to begin with to ensure your body is happy with the new product, especially when used on babies and kids.

Baby Bum Balm is wonderful for people with sensitivities to certain essential oils. Great for bum rashes, and anywhere else on your body that is dry. This can also be used on lips. The base is quality oils and beeswax so it will be slightly greasy for a few minutes until you have rubbed it in sufficiently. a little goes a long way so start small, massage in well and only add more if you feel it’s needed.

Hand & Face Soother. It’s the exact same thing as Baby Bum Balm except there are a few more essential oils for nourishing your skin and a slight peppermint scent. Lip Balms have the same ingredients as Hand & Face Soother.

THE BEST for your face and neck is the Skin Repair Oil. I am constantly running out of this product after I do a show. Customers keep coming back for more and referring friends. 1 to 3 squirts of this amazing oil on the palm of your hand then massage into your face and neck after washing Skin Repair Oil can also be used on scar tissue, problem skin areas and rashes.

Skin Repair Lotion is a result of pressure from some of my best customers to make something that is a combination of the Skin Repair Oil and the All Natural Sunscreen. The results turned out beautifully! Another hot seller that I keep running out of! Wonderful for silky smooth arms and legs all year round.

A great new product to enhance your stay at home spa and create glowing skin is the Divine Time Natural Clay Mask: Sensitive, Dry and Mature Skin Types, Oily and Combination Skins Types, Normal and Combination Skin Types. Easy to use and a wonderful experience for taking a little extra time out just for you. See my blog site for added recipes to mix your own special facial mask.

My soaps create a luxurious silky lather that doesn’t dry the skin like commercial soaps. You get clean with my soap then you moisturize. The Complexion Soap with Clary Sage and Star Anise is a favourite for skin care regimes. Smelling deliciously of licorice and flowers with super fine pumice as a gentle exfoliant.

I mentioned my All Natural Sunscreen earlier. Many tropical destinations are now asking people to avoid commercial sunscreens with harmful chemicals as they are now proven to have detrimental effects on coral reefs and fish habitat. Moisturizing AND effective at filtering harmful rays from the sun, you will love this scent, the feel of it and how it performs.

Get out and enjoy the snow! Make The Point Naturals products a part of your daily skin care regime and you will look and feel wonderful!

How Do You Make Soap?

The first time I attempted to make soap was thrilling! I was nervous (visions of sodium hydroxide - lye- burning me, the floor, my kitchen), and I was excited. I thoroughly researched soap making blogs and books, never really attempting to get the ingredients and get started. As it turned out, someone I met at the farm market dropped off boxes of books for me and in one box was my soap bible. Was it a message from the goddesses? You bet it was! So I began. Once I had my soaps out of the wooden molds, cut into bars and curing on the shelf I was hooked. I was like a first time parent. I would visit the soaps just to look at them several times a day. THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL!

For those of you who are curious about what is involved with soap making I thought I'd share a bit of a run down on the process. The method of soap making I use is called Cold Process. Cold Process soap making is the act of mixing fixed oils (common oils include Olive, Coconut and Palm) with an alkali (Sodium Hydroxide or Lye). The result is a chemical process called saponification, where the composition of the oils change with the help of the lye to create a bar of soap. One of the main benefits of cold process soap making is having complete control over ingredients. Depending on the ingredients you use, cold process soap making typically yields a long-lasting bar of soap. A downfall is that due to the chemical process, there are serious safety considerations to take into account. Plus, patience is a virtue as this process involves a 4-6 week curing time. One can use soaps before the curing time is up but it's worth the wait to get a longer lasting, harder soap.

Where I live in Ontario, our summers can often be quite humid. I make most of my soaps in the dry winter months but if I have to make batches of soap in the summer, I use a de-humidifier during the curing process to avoid sticky soaps. Even well cured soaps if left in a humid environment, will develop a slight sheen of oil. this in no way affects the sudsing abilities or effectiveness of the soap. It is beneficial to store your soap on a soap tray that allows the soap to drain and not sit in water, which will make the soap soft and reduce usage time.

One can play around with adding botanicals, clays, colours, layering and so on. I keep my soaps pretty simple. I don't care much for fussy soaps myself. I want a a luxurious lather with amazing essential oil scents that I can use on my face, body and hair. Around our house we get to use a wide variety of soaps fairly often as I keep all the odd shaped cut off pieces cut from the soap loaf. Why waste such gorgeous soap?!

I love soap making. If you have an inkling you would like to make your own soaps I encourage you to try. There are loads of books and blogs on the subject. And, if you don't have the time or patience, OF COURSE you can buy your soaps from me!

Give Me Some Of That Ol' Time....

It is not surprising that more and more we are reverting back to doing things the simple way. Well, sort of. Sure, we are tech savvy and making all kinds of great advancements but when it comes to what is good for our selves and our planet, that's when we find ourselves questioning all kinds of moral and practical issues.

Without sounding too fatalist, it seems the more we learn about what we are consuming, the more we realize how F*$ked we are becoming. (I know, bad word. I love bad words when used in the right context. Gives me a thrill. Please don't judge me!) Often we motor along quite happily until some sort of BIG LIFE EXPERIENCE wakes us out of our oblivion and shakes us up about what matters and how we need to be aware. Maybe it is a life threatening illness, a newly acquired allergy or sensitivity, strange rashes. Perhaps you are a new parent worrying about raising your kids to be healthy, or maybe you just want to make the right choices.

When I am selling my products at market one of the most common things I tell people is that the things we put on our skin is partially absorbed into our bloodstream. Basically, if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, why would you want to put it into your bloodstream? Another is, "If you can't pronounce the ingredient or access it easily, maybe you shouldn't use it." No, I don't preach. I learned a long time ago that talking to people who are resistant to learning how to do the right thing is a waste of time. It only makes folks angry and defensive.

The old saying, the proof is in the pudding, is perfect for this blog. The less complicated the ingredients the better. The purer the product, the better. Buying products made in smaller batches and fresh, is better. Knowing who you are buying from, is better. I sell a lot of products because I look healthy. I'm not bragging. I eat well, I exercise, I drink a lot of water, I meditate, and I use my products.

I do what I do because I believe in what I do. I love to share this with others. I especially love having people come back and give glowing reports about the product they bought. There's something completely satisfying about making people feel good.

Simple is better.