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			<title><![CDATA[Find Your Still Point]]></title>
			<author><![CDATA[Annette Graham]]></author>
			<category domain="https://harmonyandbalance.uk/blog/index.php?category=vibrational_energies"><![CDATA[vibrational energies]]></category>
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			<description><![CDATA[<div id="imBlogPost_000000006"><div><span class="fs12lh1-5">I’m never one to ever discuss politics, trending news stories and so forth on here, but today I want to - indirectly, from an energetic stand point.</span></div> &nbsp;<div>When you understand everything is energy, everything has vibration, you understand how lower vibrational energies can affect your field (an energetic auric system we all have).</div><div><br></div> &nbsp;<div> </div> &nbsp;<div>For more than a few millennia, we have been working against a tide of greed, corruption, envy, division and many more low vibrational energies. This has placed us in a survival mode, survival of the fittest, the richest, the most corrupt. In a world where people are constantly overwhelmed, living an outdated paradigm of eat/work/sleep cycle, tying you in to a system of debt, our auric fields are constantly overwhelmed and out of balance. When this happens, we feel disempowered, sick, easily controlled.</div> &nbsp;<div> &nbsp;</div> &nbsp;<div>What happens when we are constantly controlled? We are powerless to change, powerless to energies trying to manipulate and keep control. But, this is the beauty happening right now – systems that are Draconian are falling apart, systems built on greed, ego and corruption are falling apart. The astrology shows that we are in energies not seen for 6,000 years (I can provide research if needed). The world around us is collapsing, and that’s beautiful. The masses shouldn’t be in lack, poverty, and depression while a small minority control the world, the press and the agendas of countries and their citizens.</div> &nbsp;<div> </div> &nbsp;<div>At every level, every news story, we are being manipulated. There are a thousand rabbit holes you could go down when you start to look at what really is occurring in the world, trust me – I’ve been like Alice in bloody wonderland a few years back. It created an anger in me, injustice on many levels. But who was benefitting from this anger? Not me, or those around me, but energies that want to feed off anger, off fear, depression, scarcity. </div> &nbsp;<div>We may feel powerless and scared when we see big headlines. We may share news stories on social media about the corruption being uncovered, about what’s really going on, but that only serves to spread more anger and fear. So what can we do?</div> &nbsp;<div> &nbsp;</div> &nbsp;<div>We change the world by choosing to find our still point. A place in us that is love, peace and calm. Yes, it’s incredibly difficult when we are blasted constantly by low vibrational energies, but to create a world full of love and peace, we become it. In moments when you feel more peaceful than others, create a list of what brings you joy. It may be a walk in nature, a favourite film or song, a photograph of an achievement, make the list as long as possible. So, when you find your inner world shaking violently, look at that list, and do one or two things on there to shift your energy.</div> &nbsp;<div> &nbsp;</div> &nbsp;<div>Water, is not a resource, it’s the source. We are born in embryotic fluid, we have water running through our veins, water is the source of life, a living energy. So, before you drink your water, bless it. Send it love, peace AND joy, pause and send beautiful energies into the water. It’ll help your vibration raise and then when we urinate we release that high vibrational energy as a matrix around the world. Look around your community, see what joy is being created, focus on the glimmers. Look to nature, let her heal you and love her back. Tidy away any rubbish that may have been littered, plant up new plants to create more life.</div> &nbsp;<div> &nbsp;</div> &nbsp;<div>When we are giving our focus on what is coming out of the Epstein files, out of Trumps mouth, out of multiple injustices around the world, we are lowering our vibration and continuing the very energies of those who want to manipulate you, going. Distraction energies, are simply trickster energies, stopping you from focusing on peace, joy and stepping into your power. Fully in our power, we are unstoppable.</div> &nbsp;<div> &nbsp;</div> &nbsp;<div>We have an emotional guidance system that shows us where we’re at. Divided into two, with sub emotions of each. One is love, in this we have creativity, passion, joy, peace, calm and so forth. Your vibration of this will go out into the collective and raise the energies, forcing anything of low vibration out quicker. The other is fear, in this we have hate, division, anger, lack, worry, and so forth. You will see this agenda pushed constantly because low vibrational energies feed of this. It will only allow an elongation of the absolute tripe of atrocities to continue. There is nothing that hides in the shadows that has any power of its own. It is only what we feed it through low energies ourselves. When our vibration is high, it cannot touch us.</div> &nbsp;<div> &nbsp;</div> &nbsp;<div>Spread stories of joy in your news feed, of good news, feed your water love, create a list to shift your energies when you are dropping into a low energy. We were disempowered thousands of years ago and fed lies, hierarchies were created and we have been kept in a false narrative. The time is now to move out of this, which is why everything feels incredibly chaotic and scary. We help others around the world, by raising the energy, by raising the vibration, by focusing on the joy, by going to our still point.</div> &nbsp;<div> </div> &nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Much love to you all</div> &nbsp;<div>Photography credit to Georgina Faye Metcalfe</div></div>]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Journey to the Apache Heart]]></title>
			<author><![CDATA[Annette Graham]]></author>
			<category domain="https://harmonyandbalance.uk/blog/index.php?category=Apache_Heart"><![CDATA[Apache Heart]]></category>
			<category>imblog</category>
			<description><![CDATA[<div id="imBlogPost_000000004"><div class="imHeading4" role="heading" aria-level="4">May 23rd – 27th 2026.</div><div data-text-align="center" class="imTACenter"><img class="image-1" src="https://harmonyandbalance.uk/images/Apache-Heart-Workshop_a3jbdhjj.jpg"  width="1165" height="699" /></div><div><br></div><div><span class="fs14lh1-5">You are invited to join us in the heart of Glastonbury this May to train with Apache Ceremonial Leader Morning Star. By his side will be his wife, Sylvy, a keeper of hundreds of ancient indigenous dances from Native American and Mexican heritage. Along with them both will be Annette Graham, Shamanic practitioner.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Over five days, you will be led into the magic of Apache teachings. Through sacred pipe, (Chanupa), &nbsp;sweat lodge, (Inipi ceremony), and firewalking, you will release unresolved trauma. Morning Star will also be guiding you through his certified course, ‘Pasále’ , a unique teaching giving new tools to heal for not only yourself, but others, as well as manifesting a life full of joy and opportunities. Sylvy will be bringing her dance, to move stagnant energies, as well as the wisdom and knowledge these sacred dances contain, reigniting your souls true essence.</div><div><br></div><div>Journey into deep healing and step into a one-of-a-kind training experience that weaves hands-on healing with profound subconscious exploration. This work goes beyond the surface, meeting the deeper needs that allow true healing to take place.</div><div><br></div><div>An extraordinary journey through the heart—where transformation begins from within.</div><div> </div><div><b>Ron Lucero </b>(Morning Star) has been given the right from his elders, as a holy man, to teach and pass on these ways of life. He is a fourth generation Curandero, a native Apache descent and a brother within the Franciscan Order. His spiritual journey has led him to become a Sundancer multiple times throughout 24 years, survivor of 8 Hambleciya (Vision Quests) and a Burial. He is also a Chanunpa (Sacred Pipe) carrier, Inipi (Sweat Lodge) leader, Gourd Dancer, and has completed up to Grandmother Moon Ceremony 5th level. Ron is a certified Fire Walk instructor, Clinical Hypnotist, NLP and Reiki master, DNA activator, skilled in Tetzkatlipoka healing, a giver of Kambo sacrament and holds a black belt in Butokan.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Sylvy Lucero</b> is an important carrier of native dances, bringing to life the energies contained within them. Her passion and enthusiasm allows you to capture the essences these dances give, pulling in the power from Great Spirt and allowing it to flow through you, uplifting and connecting you to heart led energies. She has helped support and hold space for Sundances throughout many years as well as being by Ron’s side for all his teachings.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Annette Graham</b> spans two decades of training in various healing modalities. Blending her teachings from the Celtic shamanism she learned at Lendrick Lodge, Scotland, to the last few years, where she has been an apprentice to Morning Star, learning and practicing the Apache teachings passed to her. Her experience has allowed to her to sit multiple times in a Sweat Lodge, Firewalk, carry out a Hambleciya (Vision Quest) in the sacred lands of Sierra Nevada, train in Run For The Sun, and pass on the Pasále teachings within her work. She is also qualified in multiple levels of Reiki, Breathwork, Andean medicine as well as physical therapies, whilst also working on extracting low vibrational energies from clients and retrieving soul and power aspects once lost.</div><div><br></div><div>Guided by your three dedicated teachers, this certified course will gift you tools to heal your own past while awakening a unique shamanic capacity. You will learn to transfigure the places where you hold your deepest wounds. If you work within the healing field, these teachings will be greatly beneficial for you to pass on to your clients too. We will hold space for you as you alchemise pain into power and return to your heart and birthright of your joy!</div><div><br></div><div class="imHeading4 imTACenter" role="heading" aria-level="4">Accommodation and Venue</div><div><span class="fs14lh1-5 cf1">We will be nestled just five miles from Glastonbury, on the edge of Compton Dundon village in Somerset, staying at the Earth Spirit Centre which lies within the ‘temenos’ (sacred enclosure) of Avalon. The centre is situated in a beautiful landscape between two nature reserves; just two minutes’ walk from St Andrew’s church, which has within its cemetery a yew tree of 1,800 years old.</span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1"><br></span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1">The centre’s seventeenth century farm buildings have been restored and specially converted for use as a venue. They are set within seven acres of fields and gardens, and have the added bonus of two ley lines under the main hall we will be working in.</span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1"><br></span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1">The price includes food and accommodation and as an added bonus, there will also be a spa, and sauna available throughout your stay. Accommodation is dormitory style, (shared rooms, between 2 and 7 beds). Allocation of the rooms will depend on the gender mix, any special needs and allocated to suit the group..</span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1"><br></span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1">Journey into deep healing and step into a one-of-a-kind training experience that weaves hands-on healing with profound subconscious exploration. This work goes beyond the surface, meeting the deeper needs that allow true healing to take place. Working with your shadow aspects, – working with your unconscious mind to uncover parts of yourself that you repress and hide. This can include trauma or parts of your personality that you subconsciously consider undesirable.</span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1">This experience, the accommodation, spa/sauna, food, certification and all healings is priced at £800. (Additional cost for special dietary requirements)</span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1"><br></span></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5 cf1">To book, payment can be made in full or by a non-refundable deposit of £200 to be paid upon booking. The outstanding balance due by 30th April 2026. (Monthly instalments are an option upon request).</span></div><div> </div></div>]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<link>https://harmonyandbalance.uk/blog/?journey-to-the-apache-heart,-in-a-rare-opportunity-to-learn-from-visiting-ceremonial-leader,-morning-star,-and-his-wife,-keeper-of-indigenous-dances,-slyvy-</link>
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			<title><![CDATA[My Journey to a Open Hysterectomy]]></title>
			<author><![CDATA[Annette Graham]]></author>
			<category domain="https://harmonyandbalance.uk/blog/index.php?category="><![CDATA[]]></category>
			<category>imblog</category>
			<description><![CDATA[<div id="imBlogPost_000000007"><div><span class="fs12lh1-5"><b>As I prepare for surgery on Wednesday, I wish to share with you, ‘My journey to an open hysterectomy’</b></span><span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div><br></div><div>As I wrote this, I was sat in an old renovated crofting cottage in the west coast of Scotland, the rain was lashing down so hard that the loch wouldn’t have been visible had it have been daylight. The log burner flickering next to me and I’ve just done a 30 minute breathwork session to clear anything that needed clearing, it’s still only 6am.</div> &nbsp;<div>I had originally booked this week to get away from it all. A long overdue relationship break up in the Summer had prompted me to book a week away by myself, ironically in the same place and same cottage I used to stay as a couple, either I’m a sadist or my inner self is a genius, I like to think the latter.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>I brought with me books, colouring pencils, notebooks, reference guides, many oracle cards and other materials that would help me with my goal, to create some divination cards tuning into the healing energies of plants. But, the cards never happened, as much as I tried the flow wasn’t flowing. This week had been about something bigger, that even I hadn’t realised, and that breathwork session just now, gave me the realisation that I need to share my journey, the one so many women are silent about.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>To me my periods were never a problem. A monthly occurrence, that came and went without too much interruption to life, or problems. Regular, not too eventful and not spoken about, a not so wonderful conditioning born from modern society in which we now live.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>As I met my husband to be, I started the contraceptive pill, having breaks in between to have our two beautiful girls, and straight back to taking the pill. Not even a thought as to effects on that little pill.</div> &nbsp;<div>At 29, I found myself divorced with two little girls to care for. This isn’t a sob story, I’m not going there, I’m simply building a picture. It was at that age that my direction would start changing, clearly, but in a more spiritual way. I found reiki, (an energy healing therapy), well, it found me, and I later trained within it, moving the course of how I started to view emotional blocks. I studied, trained, read anything I could relating to healing, understanding that every physical aliment is a manifestation of an emotion. Louise L Hay taught me that, science backed up the theory of thoughts being energy and deeper and deeper I delved.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>My early years as a tot saw my Dad leave, actually the only memory I have as a kid is that moment. A step Dad came along, who actually was an amazing man and guardian in so many ways, and I do wish to give him credit for that, but due to demons he’d carried, he brought in aspects as a guardian to a child that should never have happened. As an adolescent I was constantly looking for male attention, replacing the unhealthy male figures around me. This would result in some questionable life choices. After the divorce, and three full years of counselling, I continued that longing to be held unconditionally, albeit sub consciously.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>I started to work on myself, doing the spiritual job of clearing out the old shitty wounds. At the same time my boobs would become painful on a monthly basis, ‘just mastitis’ the doctors would say, ‘oh ok’. Moodiness and fatigue started following. I’d always tried to look after myself, but knew my diet could be better. I would do a detox now and again, ingesting clay, take cleansing liver and kidney drinks, days of fasting, soup days, supplements, you name it, I’ve done it. In between I would drink alcohol, eat chocolate, but still try and eat healthy. I thought it was ok as I would have ‘clean’ days. The older I got, the more I studied, I started listening to my body and the more I felt I’d released patterns created in my younger years.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>Each moment in my life has brought me something, each relationship too, bringing teachings and lessons. The last seven years I’ve supressed myself who I was to help others feel comfortable with whom they’re not. It wasn’t one of them blindingly obvious things that happened, or something that was immediate, but a slow steady stream with ‘well, I’m comfortable with who I am, so I’m gonna dim my light some to help you’. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but consistently and without it being reciprocated, it can be detrimental.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>At the same time, my periods began to worsen, the fatigue prior was debilitating, the flow heavier and the pain becoming unbearable. I also started to get piles, my bowel habits changed, I would get spasms throughout the month in my stomach and anus, painful ones! The piles turned to anal fissures; it was like passing broken glass. The doctor checked me out for anything sinister, said there was nothing wrong, I've just got IBS. I know my body, yes I may drink once a week, have some chocolate but predominantly I'm really healthy, this isn’t IBS.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>At the same time, Covid was happening, my sister was moving miles away, and I had been in a situation where I’d suppress huge aspects of myself to accommodate someone else’s needs and the periods became something I’d dread. My body was screaming out to me, my emotional and physical needs weren’t being met and it was manifesting in my base and sacral chakras (energy centres), and all I could do was dread every month.</div> &nbsp;<div>The pain was horrific monthly, I was passing what I can only describe as bits of liver, I would sweat, feel shaky and dread each cycle. In between, my stomach was still not right. This isn’t what periods should be. I’d been told, ‘oh well, you’re nearly 50’, ‘peri menopausal’, ‘menopausal’. I didn’t accept that. I had enjoyed my periods, a way of cleansing and being in a cycle, like the moon, phases where I shone and phases when I rested and releasing what I no longer need in between. But now, it had become a horror movie, ‘nightmare on period street,’ the period itself may as well have been called Freddy Krueger and the day before it says, ‘I'm coming’.</div> &nbsp;<div>With all my teachings and healings I’ve had over the years, I sat with what was going on. What was my body screaming out at me?<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>Firstly, I had the intent to get better. Where intent goes energy flows. Secondly, I needed to take my power back; I had been looking for external things to fix me. I radically changed my diet, not just for three weeks or a month, or just 5:2, this needed to be a full overhaul. The liver is the powerhouse of the body, if it’s overloaded it can’t process like it should, hormones are disrupted. It is also the emotional link to anger; coupled with the food, emotions and external pollutants, it’s no surprise my hormones were disrupted. Since I was a child, I’d been storing a toxic mix and expecting it to act normal. So, I quit alcohol, all sugars, wheat, dairy, meat and yeast. I visited a kinesiologist to see what my body was intolerant to, and stuck to the advice given.</div> &nbsp;<div>I started to work deeper, shamanically, listening to my inner voice and the natural elements and energies around. These past 18 months, I’ve been trying to connect to my feminine more, having to be my own male figure growing up, then that for my children too, I knew my energies had become out of balance. I re-evaluated everything around me and lit my light fully back on, understanding that I needed to take full responsibility for myself and not dim my light anymore.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>In the summer, I trained in soul retrieval work, retrieving parts of your soul essence once lost through trauma. Whilst there, I asked for my womb to be brought back. Id abused it so much over the years and it had got abused. Id not liked it a lot and rejected parts of it, part of loving yourself is loving all aspects of yourself. Shame, guilt and anger manifests as physical problems within these areas. Given how it was acting now, I felt I wanted it back so I could nurture it. I discovered how powerful breathwork was on this course too. As I did a session, I sobbed, convulsed, shook and released more old wounds. Just connecting to my breath had been so cathartic; I immediately signed up to train in this powerful modality.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>All this time, the maniac periods would come and go, and now weird lumps were starting to appear like speed bumps. ‘like speed bumps you say’, the doctor asked, ‘yes, protruding lumps’, ‘like a sleeping policeman?’, ‘yes’, I’d say again. All this conversation over the phone, thanks to covid. Four months ago, I had spoken to the doctor about the pain, clots etc, she had recommended an ultrasound. This was the time that I thought, ‘right I’m changing my diet and how I do things’. The appointment had never come through, and in the meantime these weird hernia type lumps kept appearing, like an alien. Needless to say, within a week I had my ultrasound appointment, with suspected fibroids.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>Pleased with the fact Id find out what these little aliens were, and coupled with the change of diet, deep healings and different direction of life, I felt confident of getting somewhere.</div> &nbsp;<div>At my ultrasound appointment a very professional lady, with a sense of humour and humility removal, appeared. ‘Here for suspected fibroids’, ‘yes, I’ve really changed my diet and doing what I can now to help myself’, ‘well, that won’t make a blind bit of difference, and even if we remove your fibroids they can grow back’, ‘aren’t you a font of joy’ I quipped to her, no response. I could almost see the tumble weed passing by.</div> &nbsp;<div>The results were in. The ovary on the left side couldn’t be found as blocked by a large fibroid, fibroids blocking my bowel (hence the change in bowel habits), fibroids pushing my urinary tract and inside the tract. I’d had constant urine infections for a few years, doctors would keep prescribing antibiotics rather than get to the reason, instead I took corn silk tea and kept the UTIs at bay. My womb was up near my diaphragm and my uterus is that of someone 18 weeks pregnant, there was a whole fibroid party going on in my belly and womb and I’d not even sent out invites. At my next appointment the doctor had said, looks like you’ll have a hysterectomy, here’s the numbers to contact. ‘Noooooo! No no no’. I’m doing all I can to connect with my feminine, to save my womb and I’m now I’m being told its going to get cut out. That’s brilliant said many friends, best thing for you. No no no no no! I loved my periods, the ritual each month, the release, the phases, no no no no. I mourned the thought of it, I mourned.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>I then went for my breathwork training, more deep healings, experiencing my own emotional death, rebirthing, connection to the pain of my female ancestors. I cannot articulate what happened on this course, as to an outsider, it sounds bonkers, many a friend and family member already think I’ve joined a cult; simply, I went deep into my traumas and blocks and honoured what needed honouring, releasing more stored pains, making peace that my femineity is not defined by a piece of anatomical parts but by the energies I connect with.</div> &nbsp;<div>‘I want to ask the surgeon if I can take my womb home, do a ritual for it’, my Mum and Dads face as separate times when I told them this piece of information was priceless, for many reasons. ‘You cannot do that’, ‘it’s mine’ Id reply, ‘’I can do what I want’, ‘it’s not right’, they’d say, ‘you’re not right in the head’ ’was you swapped at birth’ ’why are you weird’, and lots of other things along the lines. I listened, and still wanted my womb.</div> &nbsp;<div>A beautiful, spiritual, intelligent friend of mine, pointed out that it’s not easy bringing your own body parts home as there’s rules, or all sorts of body parts can be buried and later found prompting murder investigations for people that are actually still living. Ok, so while I tend to do my own stuff and work outside of the box, she was talking logically. Besides, if I’m not able to lift a kettle after my operation, I can’t dig a hole until I’m fit, and with only one freezer in the house, storing my fibroid ravaged womb next to a bag of peas didn’t seem the best idea. She had suggested making a mould of it, and using some of the flow from my last period within to do a ritual, marvellous compromise I thought.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>For me, Scotland has magic. The land is wild and beautiful and always brings me a deep sense of peace, a sense of belonging. When I had booked this week away, I had no idea it would fall on what is now my last period, but how beautifully fitting.</div> &nbsp;<div>On Sunday evening, Monday morning, my period started in earnest. I collected some flow, mixed it with the clay I’d brought with me (incorporating Earth energies), and set about making a replica of my womb. Having never seen it I had to wing this, but was pleased with the results. I sat it on top of the log burner, to allow fire energies (highly transmuting), and let it dry for a bit.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>The next morning, I wrapped my replica womb, took a crow feather for creation, magic and rebirth (out of darkness comes life), mugwort for protection and its connections to being the hormone plant, placed it in a rucksack and trekked up to the top of the local mountain. Mountains are very special and sacred. Just to look at one fills me humility, very humbling. They have such strength and are grounding. I’ve done a lot of work shamanically with mountain energy, so I knew I had to bring my womb here. I climbed to the top, not passing one person and being completely alone whilst up there. I found a lovely crevice covered in moss, peeled it back, placed it inside the hole and recovered it with the moss. I gave thanks for all it had done, returned her back to the Earth and honoured it, having a burial. I sat quietly reflecting on those moments and made pure peace. The next stage was to have it surgically removed. The fibroids had gone too far now, my stomach was in constant pain, I hadn’t failed it, I just hadn’t listened sooner, when natural remedies and pure diet would’ve helped. But, its ok, this is my journey and exactly how it needed to be for me.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>As I left the mountain, I was instructed to gather a large rock, to bring the mountain to me in my recovery period. I chose one that reminded me of a standing stone. At the bottom I was told to gather another, to signify the end of my journey. I found a small white feminine stone, the only white one I’d seen come to think of it now, then the rains started to come and it began to pour down. I got back to my cottage and decided to do some journey work. I lit the fire, set up my shamanic tools that I use within my healings on others. I had pictures of three teachers in front, a Quetzacoatal gifted to me, my rattle, drum, a figurine of Green Tara, a crystal and the stones collected form the mountain. I began working with plant medicine too. In shamanism, everything has a spirit and energy to work with, I knew Journeying like this that I wouldn’t be alone. I started chanting the Green Tara mantra, for love and compassion.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>As I started my journey, the pain of my period really started to kick in. I was riding each contraction and going in to the pain of that stored emotion, crying if needed as each memory came up. I drummed, connected more with my guides, instructed more and more what to do, I was then finding myself in the birthing position, with guides around me helping me release, rebirth and let go. There was so much that happened within this session that doesn’t need to be made public as it was deep traumas releasing with each contraction, and in between I would go out to the Earth and bleed, releasing and returning back to my roots, then going straight back in to the birthing experience. This lasted for about 4 hours, was so deep, profound and beautiful. At the end, I remember thinking I wanted to connect to the moon more as she represents the feminine and the cycles, I was told I was already connected; it’s just my belief system that thinks it’s not. As I sat I realised it was dusk. This journey to the top of the mountain, that started early in the morning, had become a vision quest and lasted all day. I stepped outside and greeting me was the most beautiful waxing moon (signifying new beginnings), hanging above the loch and lighting up the water. It was pure magic and the only time I had seen and will see the moon whilst staying there.<span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div> </div> &nbsp;<div>My journey to my hysterectomy has been nothing short of painful, deep and joyful. As women, we are conditioned not to talk about our cycles. Being embarrassed about them, laughed at when younger at school, feeling dirty, shoving all sorts to them to stop flow.</div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div>In life, whether it’s starting our periods, experiencing painful ones, changes in them, the complications as you get older and everything it entails, we just have to get on with it, take a tablet and ignore any signs it may be trying to scream at us and tell. We’ve lost our power and how magical are cycles are. I feel so incredibly grateful to my teachings to allow me to honour my womb and what she’s given me. I know I will feel no less feminine now after my womb removal and would not swap the journey we have been on together. I held a lot of suppressed emotions in her for years, I’ve honoured her and by doing so my light will shine brighter going forward. I will not be dimming it for anyone anymore!</div> &nbsp;<div>When your body changes, listen to it – what is it trying to tell you? What do you need to release? </div><div><br></div><div><b>Take back your power and shine brightly &nbsp;xxxx</b></div></div>]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2021 13:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Drumming – a great workout for your brain]]></title>
			<author><![CDATA[Annette Graham]]></author>
			<category domain="https://harmonyandbalance.uk/blog/index.php?category=Workshop"><![CDATA[Workshop]]></category>
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			<description><![CDATA[<div id="imBlogPost_000000005"><div class="imHeading4" role="heading" aria-level="4">Today I want to give you a little bit of information about drumming.</div> &nbsp;<div><img class="image-0 fright" src="https://harmonyandbalance.uk/images/reiki-drum.jpg" alt="My reiki drum" width="457" height="609" />Pictured here is my drum I use on the journey workshops and during one-to-one healing sessions, but why drum? What does it do?</div><div><br></div><div><span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><div>I have attendees come to drum who experience the most amazing shifts, journeys, healing experiences and peace, yet others come and say, ‘didn’t feel anything, I couldn’t switch off’. Either way drum has worked, and here is why...#</div> &nbsp;<div>Drumming is a great workout for your brain and actually can make you smarter because when you drum you access your entire brain. Research shows that the physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the brain actually synchronizes the left and right hemispheres. So, when the logical left hemisphere and the intuitive right hemisphere of your brain begin to pulsate together, your inner guidance system – or intuition – becomes stronger.</div> &nbsp;<div>And listening to drum sounds regularly can have the same effect as drumming itself.</div> &nbsp;<div>The sound of drumming generates new neuronal connections in all parts of the brain. The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become. This leads to a deeper sense of self-awareness.</div> &nbsp;<div>Drumming also appears to synchronize the lower areas of the brain (non-verbal) with the frontal cortex (language and reasoning). This integration produces feelings of insight and certainty.</div> &nbsp;<div>For these reasons therapeutic drumming may be a powerful tool in helping retrain the brains of people who have some level of damage or impairment, such as with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), after a stroke, or where there is neurological disease such as Parkinson’s.</div> &nbsp;<div>Finally, drumming can induce a natural “high” by increasing Alpha brain waves. When the brain changes from Beta waves (concentration) to Alpha waves, you feel calm and relaxed.</div> &nbsp;<div>As such, Alpha waves can also produce feelings of well-being and even euphoria, which may help people who suffer from mental illness, such as depression and anxiety.</div> &nbsp;<div>This same Alpha activity is associated with meditation and other integrative modes of consciousness.</div> &nbsp;<div class="imHeading4" role="heading" aria-level="4">10 Health Reasons to Start Drumming</div><div>Drumming can have positive effects on your health and may help with many conditions from stress, fatigue, and anxiety, to hypertension, asthma, chronic pain, arthritis, mental illness, addiction, and even cancer.</div> &nbsp;<div><b>Here’s why drumming is good for you:</b><span class="fs12lh1-5"> </span></div><ol start="1" type="1"> &nbsp;<li>Makes you happy. Participate in a drum circle or take a cardio drumming class and you will see how happy it makes you. Drumming releases endorphins, enkephalins and Alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with general feelings of well-being and euphoria.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Induces deep relaxation. In one study, blood samples from participants who participated in an hour-long drumming session revealed a reversal in stress hormones.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Helps control chronic pain. Drumming can certainly serve as a distraction from pain. And, it promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, which are the body’s own morphine-like painkillers.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Boosts your immune system. Studies show that drumming circles boost the immune system. Barry Bittman, MD, neurologist and President of the Yamaha Music &amp; Wellness Institute, has shown that group drumming actually increases natural T-cells, which help the body combat viruses.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Creates a sense of connectedness. Drumming circles and group drumming classes provide an opportunity for “synchronicity” in that you connect with your own spirit at a deeper level while also connecting with other like-minded people.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Aligns your body and mind with the natural world. The Greek origin of the word “rhythm” is “to flow.” Drumming allows you to flow with the rhythms of life by simply feeling the beat.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Provides a way to access a higher power. Shamans often use drumming as a means to integrate mind, body and spirit. They focus on the whole body and then integrate the healing at both the physical and spiritual level by drumming, which connects spiritual forces.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Releases negative feelings. The act of drumming can serve as a form of self-expression. You can literally drum out your feelings. When held, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;negative emotions can form energy blockages. The physical stimulation of hitting the drums can help remove those blockages. Drumming has even been used therapeutically to help addicts deal with their emotions.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Puts you in the present moment. While drumming you are moving your awareness toward the flow of life. When you are flowing with the rhythm of life you cannot be caught up in your past or worrying about your future.<br><br></li> &nbsp;<li>Allows for personal transformation. Drumming stimulates creative expression. When you drum in a group, you not only get to self-express, but you get feedback from the other drummers. It’s the equivalent of talk therapy! Drum circles provide a means of exploring your inner self, and expanding your consciousness while being part of a community<br><br></li> </ol> &nbsp;<div><b>So, when you put drumming and reiki together something wonderfully magical happens! It’s like reiki on steroids.</b></div></div>]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jun 2019 15:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
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