At One With the Earth – a First Chakra Grounding Meditation
I was inspired to share this meditation after an experience when I deeply understood the interconnectedness of all beings. My goal in this meditation is for us all to be closer to the oneness we have with this planet.
Sometimes we don’t feel the connection. And, I realize that some people never experience this oneness.
Use this meditation to connect with your place of inner peace and grounding.
PAUSE
Get comfortable on the floor, healing table, or other flat space. Position your body face up.
Breathe slowly and deeply. With each breath, your body relaxes more.
You feel a greater sense of awareness; experience a very peaceful feeling.
You are filling your body with a feeling of lightness.
When this happens,you know you can come out of this experience any time you want by simply opening your eyes.
PAUSE
Release your conscious thoughts, letting go of “mental activity.” You are in this place at this moment.
You feel so light now that you can lift up off the floor. You feel yourself gently floating.
A carpet appears at your side. It is just big enough to hold you.
When you climb on, this carpet gently lifts you up. You gradually move up – up through the ceiling.
Riding on your carpet, you move up, above the trees and the skyline.
Glancing down, you see the treetops appearing gradually smaller and smaller.
Stretching out on your carpet, you drift up – right through a cloud.
You feel warm sunshine on your entire body. Your body absorbs a beautiful pale red light.
You look down at the earth now and see it as a ball of light.
PAUSE
Your carpet begins to slowly descend to the earth. Passing through a billowy cloud, you see the skyline, now familiar from the trip up. You see the tree tops.
You peacefully return to the place where you began your journey.
You are grounded, and calm. You feel safe and secure.
Know that you can return to this space any time you desire.
Take a couple deep breaths and sit up. Continue your day now – energized,
rejuvenated, and rested. You feel more grounded and calm.
Go in peace!
Thank you for reading this meditation.
Thurman
www.thurmangreco.com
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network and share it with a friend.
Some information in this post was sourced from “Healer’s Handbook”. Further information regarding chakras and meditations may be found in prior blog posts and on “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” YOUTUBE presentations.
If you have further questions or remarks, I can be reached at thurmangreco@gmail.com.
Who Shouldn’t Receive a Reflexology Session, and Why (Contraindications)
My introduction to contraindications began at my first massage therapy class at the Potomac Myotherapy Institute in Washington, D.C back in 1979.
Our first class began on an autumn evening with about 40 students. By the second class, that number had shrunk to a few over 20. Missing students were culled because of contraindications.
A contraindication list changes based on several factors:
Wellness and reflexology writers each have lists based on their experiences and training.
Healers each have a list. My experience in this field tells me that this list is highly individualized, again based on each healer’s experiences and training.
Teachers in both schools and continuing education seminars have opinions. These professionals teach from a list compiled not only by themselves but by the school owners and the states where they teach.
When I first began practicing massage, Kerrith McKechnie cautioned us to not treat cancer patients, or anyone with fever, or a rash. And the list continued beyond that.
Later, when I studied reflexology, Marge d’Urso’s list was different.
Mary Ruth VanLandingham’s Reiki therapy list had no contraindications.
Over the past three plus decades, I have a list of my own. This list has changed over time based on my experiences, and classes taken.
And, of course, this list begins with
CANCER PATIENTS
As a student at PMTI, we were cautioned against working on cancer patients at all.
Years later, I know reflexology offers much for a cancer patient: relief from pain, stress, and nausea.
When I first offered reflexology to a cancer patient, she received her reflexology sessions 48 hours after chemotherapy. The theory was that she was toxic for 48 hours after receiving her chemotherapy.
I waited the 48 hours to protect myself.
The first time I offered reflexology sessions to a cancer patient, I did it because she asked. We discussed the situation and she felt that she had no options left.
To put her situation bluntly, I was offering reflexology to a terminally ill client. She wanted the relief offered from pain, stress, and nausea.
Now, of course, fewer and fewer cancer patients receive chemotherapy.
What’s important here is the journey reflexology and other healing modalities have taken as we learned more about cancer.
Years later, at a seminar at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, I learned that reflexology, massage, and Reiki therapy are appropriate for cancer patients whenever they want to receive a session.
For me, cancer is no longer a reason to refuse a reflexology session to a client.
PREGNANT WOMEN
I do not offer reflexology sessions to pregnant women experiencing the first trimester of an unstable pregnancy.
Nothing is more wonderful than a reflexology session offered to a woman in her 7th month of pregnancy and has not seen her feet for a couple of months and still has 2 months to go.
The rule I follow: avoid offering reflexology in the first trimester and stay on the bottom of the feet when you offer sessions thereafter.
If you have any concerns, switch to Reiki therapy. Reiki therapy is wonderful for pregnant women at any stage of the pregnancy. With a regular Reiki therapy client, you can offer sessions weekly and can offer to go with your client into the labor and delivery stages of the birth process. Then, of course, you have two clients.
CLIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Infectious disease sufferers should not receive reflexology for your protection. If you decide to offer a session to someone in a contagious condition, consider some options: gloves, mask, etc.
SEVERE CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
This is a good time to use your Reiki therapy skills.
GANGRENE
Gangrene occurs when a person’s cells begin to die in a particular place when there is no circulation in a certain place in the body. Gangrene is fairly rare but can be seen in cases of advanced diabetes. This situation requires a physician’s attention.
ADVANCED OSTEOPOROSIS
Persons suffering with mild osteoporosis or osteopenia benefit from reflexology sessions. Use a light touch and a short session taking care not to fracture bones.
The red flag begins to fly when a new client approaches you with advanced osteoporosis. By then, it’s too late for your services without permission from the physician.
EXTENSIVE ATHLETE’S FOOT, ETC.
Whenever there is a rash, an open sore, athlete’s foot, etc., offer hand reflexology instead of working the feet. If you are uncomfortable offering hand reflexology to a person who has a contagious or infectious condition, use gloves.
ADVANCED DIABETES
Clients with mild diabetes respond well to reflexology sessions offered to both hands and feet. Use gentle pressure when working the pancreas. Use a lighter pressure in general for diabetics because their skin may be thinner or more sensitive and bruise easily. Also, reduce sessions to 30 minutes or less for new clients.
HEAVILY MEDICATED CLIENTS
Persons taking a lot of medicine may have a buildup of toxins. Because reflexology sessions offer a natural detoxing action you need to take care not to overload the person. Offer a light thouch and shorter session.
SEVERE SWELLING
Swelling may indicate an internal injury, such as torn ligaments caused by a sprain, strain or fracture. Do not work an ankle, or foot that is swollen and painful. Once a medical professional has ruled out any underlying conditions, you can use your reflexology skills.
OPEN SORES OR CUTS
Cover blisters and cuts to keep them free from bacterial infections. Sometimes open sores may indicate an underlying, chronic condition, such as diabetes. The sores may also be related to contagious skin disorders.
BREAKS OR SPRAINS
Wait for permission from a physician. And, do not remove a cast or bandaging to offer reflexology. Work with what tissue is available to you and focus on a gentle touch and slow movements.
This may be a good option for Reiki.
FEVER
Fever is not a health issue. It is a symptom of an infection somewhere in your body.
For me, fever is one of the most important symptoms you may experience. It can indicate a heart attack, tumor, trauma, or a reaction to a vaccine.
Reflexology offers homeostasis which is important when a person has a fever. Returning your body to an ideal temperature is one of the best outcomes a person with fever.
Giving a reflexology session to a person with a fever can be a healing situation once you understand the cause.
FEAR OR ANXIETY
The final item on my list is highly personal. If I suspect a person is afraid of receiving reflexology or is experiencing anxious emotions about being on my table, I offer to cancel or postpone the session.
Sometimes, people who have never received bodywork or healing are unsure about being ready for a session. This is not the time to change someone’s mind or feelings.
They can always reschedule the session at a time when they feel calmer about their session.
Throughout the years that I’ve offered healing sessions, I’ve had only two people arrive for appointments. I knew the minute I saw them that something wasn’t “right”.
I followed my intuition and offered to cancel or reschedule the appointment. Both people were relieved to receive my offer. And I was happy I offered to cancel or reschedule. The moment the words left my mouth I knew they were the right words.
Thank you for reading this article!
None of the above contraindications occur often. But when they do happen, I like to feel I am following guidelines learned in classes throughout the years.
Please refer this post to your preferred social media network and share it with a friend.
Some information in this post was shared from “Healer’s Handbook”. More extensive information regarding contraindications may be found in prior blog posts and on presentations on YOUTUBE.
If you have any further questions or remarks, I can be reached at thurmangreco@gmail.com.
Thanks again,
Thurman
Thanks for Asking!
One important thing to know about reactions we experience in a reflexology session: a client will not always experience the same reaction at every session.
After all, our bodies are different every day. The most common reaction I experience during a reflexology session is sleep. I slip off into a sleeplike state during most sessions.
Reactions vary with each session. They are based on what your body needs on a cellular level at that particular time.
One thing consistent in a reflexology session is this: reflexology encourages homeostasis: the balance of all body systems.
Reflexology students ask questions about reactions to reflexology treatments.
The reactions your client experiences during a reflexology session are homeostasis in action.
It’s amazing what reflexology can do!
Because many healers read this blog, I don’t give nearly enough blog time and energy to these inquiries. People ask, I answer, and then my focus moves on to other things.
Well, at last, I’m focusing some time and energy into sharing information. After all, for every person who asks, others remain silent.
And, for those of us who practice reflexology either as a career or as a hobby, how often do we think about these important pieces of information?
My training is that there are more than a dozen different reactions to reflexology sessions. Reactions listed in this article mostly happen during or soon after a session.
Other reactions happen several hours later. They are all important.
A reaction is a sign to me that the reflexology session is working.
As a reflexologist, you and the session you give are a vital wellness link between a person experiencing a challenge and appropriate professional support.
INCREASED URINATION – Focus on urination becomes part of the session when it becomes obvious. I have a client who simply cannot make it through a session without a trip to the ladies room. For me, this is a good sign. The session stimulates her urinary system!
FLATULANCE and INCREASED BOWEL MOVEMENTS
Marge d’Urso taught us that fully 50% of our clients have digestive issues. Unless a client brings up the subject, I don’t really ask. I prefer to hear about constipation or other irritable bowel solutions when my client initiates the conversation. I love it when a client reveals she no longer has issues.
Marge d’Urso taught, and I believe, that health begins and ends in the digestive system.
AGGRAVATED SKIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS PERSPIRATION and
PIMPLES
IMPROVED SKIN TONE and TEXTURE
Skin changes are pretty common for my clients. I love to ask my client to look in the mirror on her way out of the healing space after a session. There is nothing like looking 10 years younger after a reflexology treatment.
INCREASED MUCUS SECRETIONS IN NOSE, MOUTH and BRONCHIALS
DISRUPTED SLEEP PATTERNS – EITHER DEEPER or LESS RBED
Disrupted sleep patterns are personal with me. I always sleep so much better after a reflexology session! Occasionally, rarely this can be extreme.
One December, after receiving a reflexology session, I felt a strong need to rest about an hour after my appointment ended. I returned home, got comfortable, dozed off, and woke up the next day.
When I recall this event, I’m not really surprised. I was working too hard and my body, after its reflexology session, demanded a time-out.
DIZZINESS – NAUSEA
Reflexology sessions can modify and minimize dizziness, nausea, and pain experienced by cancer patients.
The first time I offered a reflexology session to a client cancer patient, I wasn’t prepared for how how dramatically she felt better after her appointment.
After seeing the changes she experienced, I studied more about reflexology and the cancer patient. I took continuing education classes and even attended one at the prestigious Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City.
It wasn’t too many more sessions that I began to use words such as pain reduction, improved quality of life, reduced fear of the future, better sleep, and reduced fatigue.
TEMPORARY OUTBREAK of a SUPPRESSED DISEASE
INCREASED VAGINAL DISCHARGE
FATIGUE – HEADACHE
These symptoms often disappear during a session if not long after. They can also be a reaction to a session.
FEVERISH – TEARING
Some feverishness and tearing can happen during a session. A lot of this happens when the client feels safe in the healing space. I keep boxes of tissues handy for tears.
Everyone needs to cry tears at one point or another. Reflexology sessions can be a safe place for this.
Sometimes, reactions to a session can be subtle, even silent, for a short period of time after the end of the session.
Just because you don’t see any behavior or skin changes immediately, don’t assume that there aren’t any reactions. Chat with your client for a few minutes after the session to be sure that everything is okay.
After all, you don’t want your client to leave your healing space and wander out into the parking lot, still a little vague about the session.
One time I received a scheduled session from a practitioner in New Paltz, New York, just a few miles away from my home in Woodstock.
It was a wonderful session. I left her office a few minutes too soon, though. It took me over an hour to get out of her area and on my way home.
Thanks for reading this article! Please forward it to your preferred social media network. Share it with your friends and relatives.
The YOUTUBE channel has an ever-enlarging selection of videos focused on reflexology and healing.
ENJOY!
Thanks again!
Thurman Greco
P.S. Much of the info in this article was shared from “Healer’s Handbook – Wellness for All” by Thurman Greco
Boost Your Energy With an Autumn Detox!
I love autumn and I love to celebrate the season with a detox.
When September rolls around, I know a detox will put sparkle in my eyes, and boost my energy.
One reason I like an autumn detox is because I’m a reflexologist and I know that one of the things a reflexology session does best is encourage a mild detox.
So, I begin my autumn detox with three days of reflexology sessions right in a row.
My next step is to eliminate. After all, that’s what a detox is all about. My autumn detox is a little different from any other detox, though. I’m not looking to eliminate everything – just the foods and drinks that weigh me down and make me feel sluggish. That means I’m going to ditch the junk and processed foods.
Because of the foods I eliminate, this detox is different from all the other detoxes that I do. Junk food and carbs top the list.
This season’s detox focuses on eating fruits for one day. Use them to rebalance your system. Because fruits always make me feel so good and energetic, I’ll probably stretch the one day out to two or three.
Each year, when I schedule my detox, I always schedule a few days of elimination when I cut out the junk foods, carbs, processed foods and the caffeine. (If you smoke, this is a good time to offload the nicotine.)
It’s never more than a couple days before I notice that my body is energized.
While I’m getting rid of the toxins and replacing them with good nutrients, I feel lighter, cleaner, and more energetic.
That’s when I take time to walk, schedule a yoga session, or go for a swim. The idea is to participate in activities which relax and rejuvenate your body.
An autumn detox is not new in my life. I remember autumn detox events dating back to my childhood in the South.
As the days grew cooler, a neighborhood mother prepared her special concoction and gave everyone a giant spoon full. To this very day, I have no idea what was in it.
This I do know: It tasted terrible! And, our bodies smelled terrible for several days afterward. If I ever smell that aroma again, I’m going to ask whoever is walking around with it to talk to me. I want to know everything!
Another neighborhood mother put herbs in asperfidity bags which she personally prepared for us. We wore them around our necks like necklaces. The only thing I remember was garlic. After that, my memory grows hazy.
Well, now is the 21st century and I prefer my autumn detox. It’s practical and easy. There are no smelly asperfidity bags to wear through the winter.
The power you will achieve by getting junk foods out of your life and your body encourages good things for you.
Several days worth of reflexology sessions bring bliss!
Adding exercises like walking, tai chi, or yoga are ideal for autumn rejuvenation and relaxation.
Complicated changes are not always necessary to promote wholistic health improvement and a longer life.
I hope you’re planning to join me and take the autumn equinox detox challenge!
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please share it with your favorite social lmedia network.
More health and wellness shows are available on “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” on YOUTUBE.
There are even a few reflexology and Reiki therapy tutorials.
Call me to schedule or attend a “HOPE on the Road” event.
https://www.thurmangreco.om
thurmangreco@gmail.com
THANKS
September Brings a New Season.
September is a time to honor your health – your wellbeing.
Have fun with this! Celebrate the season!
LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS offer a bounty of fresh and local fruits, vegetables, and artisanal products.
September’s markets bring my favorite foods.
Tomatoes, potatoes, squash, apples, melons, figs, and beets are in season this time of year adding color to your plate and your soul.
Stick with these new fresh produce options throughout your Autumn and into Winter. Two fruits which I make a point to buy and eat in September include pears and pumpkins. I love both these foods and they taste best during September.
Find a farmers’ market and plan your meals around the seasonal produce you discover. A bonus on this food is that you’ll boost your antioxidents when you eat fresh seasonal produce.
Cook up a soup or stew.
I think of my breakfast as a September food. Every morning I have a serving of muesli topped with yogurt and blueberries or other seasonal fruit.
Visit your LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE for what you can’t find at the farmers’ market.
While you’re there, stock up on immune-boosting supplements. Go for a multi-vitamin, calcium, D3, a protein, and probiotics.
Commit to staying hydrated with lots of water.
It’s sweater time! Is your wardrobe ready for that extra layer you’re going to need? Consider LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS AND YARD SALES. Make eco-friendly options a priority.
Is someone in your house returning to school? Check the backpacks and lunch boxes. Are they in good condition?
SLEEP BETTER in this cooler weather. When September rolls around, I enjoy renewing tranquility with soothing colors in my bedroom.
I look around the room and remove any and all electronic gadgets that have somehow sneaked in during the year.
September is the time of the year when I ban TVs, computers, phones, and anything else with an electromagnetic field which can produce irritating attitudes and challenge my sleep.
My goal is to refresh my bedroom so that it’s a retreat where I escape from the noise of everyday life. This sanctuary reminds me that meditation, rest, and contemplation are important for a renewed state of mind.
Nourish your mind and rejuvenate yourself for the coming winter months.
Go a step further and schedule a regular reflexology or reiki session. Better yet, get one of each!
ENRICH YOUR LIFE a bit. September is a good time to learn to play a musical instrument, visit a museum, investigate your family history, take a walk, or just daydream.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please forward it to your favorite social media network.
Share it with a friend.
If you are interested in learning more:
This new channel is improving daily. I always enjoy visiting it on Tuesdays because that’s when the new video productions are loaded.
T-shirts, hats, books, and aprons are sold at www.thurmangreco.com.
The summer book sale ends on September 22nd. That’s the date of the autumn equinox.
Your Spiritual Journey
I really like this beach scene. When you look closely, you’ll see foot prints in the sand.
I recently attuned a young man to first degree Reiki. He’s at the beginning of his spiritual path. I confess that I was impressed with him. After all, to have just “opened the door” on his journey with a Reiki attunement can be special.
The young traveler/Reiki student, newly arrived on his path, seemed hesitant and almost fearful of where he was going. He was trying to find his next steps.
To be young, and newly realizing you are on a spiritual path can raise issues of trust.
As I reflect on this young student, I wonder: What would I have done if I had been introduced to Reiki when I was 18?
Youth is an important detail. Sometimes that’s how a spiritual journey goes.
At other times, people discover Reiki after they’ve traveled on their path for awhile. I also see questions in a new, middle aged Reiki practitioner.
For me, finding Reiki was a middle age event. In my 50’s, my questions had to do with how I could experience more Reiki.
If you’re not careful, Reiki will surprise you in the middle of your spiritual journey. This can be especially true if you don’t have enough room for your own journey’s details.
If you are middle aged, you may not want to clutter up either your trip or the path with too many details. After all, you’re the only one on your spiritual path. No one else will join you.
Maybe you’ve been on your path so long you feel like that’s just how you “roll”.
Through the years I’ve attuned people to Reiki 2 who received a Reiki 1 attunement many years before. These travelers had questions also. Was trust the issue then? Or was it fear of failure?
I never asked. Now, having met Mark, I know there is more to hesitancy than readiness.
A teacher is a vital link between a student experiencing a challenge and the professional practitioner.
That’s where we return to the journey.
Wherever you are, take what you can use and leave the rest for a traveler coming up behind you, the one you may never meet.
Select what you need. Pack what you can use.
Look around you. Is there any space left? Maybe you have room for a few more things to use further down the road.
Remember, it’s okay to carry a few extra things – just in case.
The first thing to pack in your spiritual journey bag is positive feelings.
Can you use joy? What about gratitude or kindness? Patience and laughter may come in handy. Finally, courage and self-love will fit in somewhere.
What are some things you might be cultivating?
As you focus on your inner life, how important are rest and sleep?
.What are some activities which will help?
Positive feelings are the foundation for how you engage with these elements. Being calm and focused is basic.
Then, you can work on your vision, values, and your goals.
You’ll need them when you develop healthy relationships.
Throughout your journey, look for meaning, purpose, and a sense of accomplishment.
Wherever you are, the single most important skill (for me, anyway) is intention.
An important piece of your spiritual journey is the opportunity to learn about yourself. What fun! This is where you get to make discoveries and seek laughter.
This is also where you get to like yourself!
As you discover yourself, you get to choose the type of person you’ll be. This is where you drop things that are no longer important. You can choose what’s important, and what you stand for.
You can examine how far you’ve traveled.
And, discover the true meaning of gratitude. This is where you see your achievements for what they are and how important your journey is to mankind.
As you clean your spiritual closet, your pilgrimage smoothes out the bumps and gets easier.
You’ll learn how unimportant comparison really is.
Find ways to be gentle with yourself.
See all these things you’re learning as if they are lovely flowers blooming along the path on your spiritual journey.
And, finally, go at YOUR pace and in the direction that’s right for YOU.
WOW!
Thank you for reading this article. Please forward it to your favorite social
media network. Share it with a friend and relative.
Are you interested in learning more about Reiki? You’ll find YOUTUBE programs about both Reiki and Reflexology on “Let’s LIve with Thurman Greco”.
New programs are loaded on Tuesdays.
Thanks,
Thurman Greco
thurmangreco.com
What is Hope?
Hope is a feeling. It is also a skill.
Hope is honest. You can pretend to be happy but it’s pretty much impossible to pretend to have Hope.
Hope can be learned. How do you do this? Practice being Hopeful. Your first step is to make space in your life for Hope. This is also a good strategy for boosting your sense of well-being.
You don’t have to be positive to learn about Hope. I learned about Hope recently when I experienced some dark days. In the midst of these negative and painful feelings I discovered I felt Hopeful.
Hope just popped up and said “hi”.
When this happened, I felt I suddenly weighed several pounds less. I felt like I could smile even.
I think this happened because I refused to gloss things over. I decided I could try to change my situation. I felt strong enough to cope with the eventual outcome.
I was ready to try, anyway.
I wanted to do everything possible I could to make things better.
I was finally willing to even ask others for help.
I realized I needed to sleep and rest each day. For me, sleep and rest are holy.
One thing I was not ready to do was give up.
Once I dug my heels in, I felt inspired. I was through just sitting on the sidelines watching things go in the wrong direction.
Suddenly, Hope boosted me to take action! It was time to make things happen. Perfection was not in my situation but momentum and Hope were.
I soon learned that Hope covers many ills. I began to see what could happen because I had faith in things moving in the right direction.
Hope taught me, once again, that with a belief in the strength of a higher power and a faith in the universe, things can’t go wrong. I stumbled onto the wisdom of universally higher power.
We can all tap into universal wisdom. All we have to do is see it for what it is.
Sometimes, with Hope we have to reach out to others for help, answers, and direction.
I did this. I reached out to those around me. I didn’t stop with just one or two people. I asked everyone I could find for help, inspiration. I heated up the phone (and email) lines, as my grandmother would have said.
The result was not necessarily what I envisioned. It was, however, far better than what I saw as a good outcome. A lot of my reaching out resulted in “no” or “not now” or “I don’t know”. Even these negatives were encouraging.
All it took was Hope..
I knew what I needed to do was “go it alone”. I arrived at the TV studio with a basket from Karen filled with donations to put on the altar: stones, feathers, a singing bowl, an alter cloth, herbs, fruit, empty bottles, bread, rocks.
The first presentation of HOPE on the Road went out on Channel 23 this week. Ellen knew how to arrange the altar pieces.
You’ll find HOPE on the Road on YOUTUBE in early September.
Because I reached out to others, the outcome was beautiful.
Will you participate in HOPE on the Road?
Do you practice Reiki? Can you host your own HOPE on the Road?
You don’t practice Reiki?. That’s not a problem. Invite a Reiki practitioner to facilitate a HOPE on the Road presentation for you. Encourage people to enjoy your HOPE on the Road event.
A HOPE on the Road event includes a guided meditation opening followed by a group Reiki session. A hand blessing closes the experience. A HOPE on the Road event only takes an hour.
The Reiki practitioner is a vital link between a person experiencing a challenge and appropriate support.
Does that not seem right for you? Give me a call. Send me an email. I’m ready, willing, and able.
I’ll offer HOPE on the Road through Zoom or on the porch of a building, or in a garden somewhere. I can work with social distancing.
Don’t overlook your neighborhood library.
The important thing is that we share HOPE on the road.
What we all need now is HOPE.
Thank you for reading this blog article. Please forward this post to your preferred social media network.
Share it with your friends.
Thanks for joining HOPE on the Road!
Thurman Greco
HOPE – a Guided Meditation
Hope focuses on renewal, rebirth, and healing.
Find a place to be comfortable where you can rest undisturbed during this time.
As we experience this meditation, feel the “old” drop away and “new” opportunities present themselves.
Leave everything around you behind and bring your attention to yourself.
Relax as you go on this journey.
Get comfortable.
Breathe in from your abdomen – slowly, slowly, to the count of three.
One – Two – Three
Now – hold your breath to the count of four
One – Two – Three – Four
Now – exhale to the count of five.
One – Two – Three – Four – Five
Repeat this breathing pattern three more times.
In – one, two, three
Hold – one, two, three, four
Out – one, two, three, four, five
In – one, two, three
Hold – one, two, three, four
Out – one, two, three, four, five
In – one, two, three
Hold – one, two, three, four
Out – one, two, three, four, five
Continue to breathe deeply as you go into this relaxation.
Your relaxation becomes a blanket of warmth. Sink down into this quiet place inside yourself.
PAUSE
You are calm and peaceful now. It is time for your journey.
PAUSE
You are strolling along a path in a forest. Notice this path. How does it feel under your feet? Is this path a smooth grassy path? Are there pebbles? What kind of shoes are you wearing?
As you walk down this path, take a moment to feel the air on your skin – the sunlight shining down – gentle breezes caressing your clothes.
As you travel, notice sights, sounds, and fragrances: birds, butterflies, wind in the trees.
What is your reaction to this place? How do you feel beyond your body?
Strolling for a short time, you come to a clearing in the forest with openings to different paths.
As you look at the different paths, one attracts you.
You look down this path and see something shining in the sun off in the distance.
You’re drawn to this shining spot in the sun. What is it?
You walk along this path that you just selected. How does it feel under your feet? Is it smooth? Are there pebbles? Is it a smooth dirt path? Are there stepping stones?
As you walk toward the shiny spot ahead, you feel layers and layers of your past drop away.
The weight of the world evaporates from your shoulders.
PAUSE
You soon arrive at the end of the path where you see a bench waiting for you.
There, on this bench, you see new clothes, neatly folded.
When you look at them, you see they are more beautiful than any you’ve seen before.
You remove the clothes you are wearing and put on these new clothes. They are a perfect fit.
You walk up a slight hill toward the shining object you saw at the beginning of your walk.
As you approach the shining object, you discover it is a mirror.
You look in this mirror and see your reflection.
You see:
The person you have always known you were.
The person you have always wanted to be.
You see yourself as strong, and happy.
NOW – you can continue to explore your new “you” as you return to this room.
You know you can return to this place anytime you want.
This meditation is part of a new program I’m offering called “Hope on the Road”. I am sharing this meditation along with a reiki session and hand blessing to anyone who requests it.
This program is adaptable to zoom and in- person groups large or small. It will also be on my YouTube channel.
Thank you for participating.
Thank you for reading this meditation blog post. Please share it with your friends and forward it to your preferred social media network.
Thurman
Books, T-shirts, and aprons can be found on www.thurmangreco.com.
“Wellness for All” is now available in both paper and ebook editions.
“Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” – the YouTube channel – is a place to stay on top of all the new (and vintage) video clips.
Subscribe today and never miss a show.
Taking Charge of Your Health to Make a New Life
Take charge of your health.
An important decision you make for yourself, it’s one I celebrate! I want us all to become more conscious of ourselves and take charge of our own health.
Some of us reach this decision because of an event: injuries resulting from an accident or diseases experienced.
Some of us reach this decision because of experiences lived during the Pandemic.
And, some of us mature into this decision as an attitude toward our health.
Whatever the catalyst, deciding to be in charge of your health shifts your life’s path. It’s a reason to rejoice.
But now, what are you going to do about it?
Sometimes people come to my table after deciding to be in charge of their health. The idea is to give up the physician and replace her with a reflexologist. Frankly, this is not always the best decision.
When this happens, you are simply trading one coat for another. And, when this happens, you should be putting yourself in charge, not a reflexologist or acupuncturist or herbalist.
I have been in charge of my health care for years and rely on the training and wisdom of a nurse practitioner. Not only do I seek information and advice from her regularly, I tap into her information bank with every visit. She does blood tests. She schedules MRIs or x-rays or other tests.
She offers information, advice, and wisdom at every office visit.
And, certainly, if you are putting yourself in charge, you may find yourself going to a physician or reflexologist or acupuncturist or herbalist as often (or even more often) than before.
So, then what do you do?
BUILD A HEALTH CARE SUPPORT TEAM
This is a group of professionals who support you in your search for lifelong good health.
My team includes, among other specialists, a Reiki practitioner, a reflexologist, a massage therapist, a physical therapist, a yoga teacher, a podiatrist, a dentist, a periodontist, an allergist, a dermatologist, a sleep specialist, a fitness expert. a pharmacist.
I think you are getting the picture here.
LEARN HOW YOUR BODY WORKS
Buy some anatomy and physiology books. You are embarking on a new and wonderous journey!
Don’t be overwhelmed. Anatomy and physiology books come in all sizes and stripes. They even come in coloring books. Try them all. Especially the coloring books.
You may even want to take a class or two.
You’ll learn much.
While you travel on this wonderful spiritual journey, you are now on a path to learn things about yourself that you never even knew you might need to know.
Definitely use the skills of a reflexologist or reiki practitioner regularly. Weekly appointments are preferred.
Homeostasis opens many doors!
EAT THE BEST FOOD YOU CAN BUY
An important step to take when you manage your own health is to eat real food. A cornerstone of good health is the proper diet. There are many, many diets out there. Until you feel certain that you are eating the correct diet for you, rely on foods which have no additives, preservatives, colors, etc.
I’m sure you understand what it means to eat real food.
I’m certain that when you do finally feel you are eating the correct foods for your body, you will rely on real food.
MOVE
Your body was made to move. When you manage your own health, you know how important this is.
AND ON AND ON AND ON
The bottom line is that, as you take charge of your health care, you will develop resources and you will probably never stop learning.
Welcome!
Thank you for reading this wellness article. There are many related articles found in past blog posts.
You can also find related information on You Tube at “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” or “Take this Bread with Thurman Greco”. You Tube videos include interviews with nutritionists, reflexologists, Reiki masters.
Subscribe today and never miss an update on the latest, as well as vintage, shows.
My book “Healer’s Handbook” has wellness information for you. It’s both interesting and readable.
You can also reach me at thurmangreco@gmail.com.
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network. Share it with a friend.
Thanks again!
Thurman Greco
Now, Try a 1-Evening, Digital Detox
My last blog post focused on having a mild detox – actually, a limited detox. It focused on receiving three extra reflexology sessions and cutting out the inevitable junk food which greets us every day.
Now, I’m inviting you to enjoy something you may not have even thought of – or even dreamed of – in a long, long time:
A digital detox event one evening every month.
Several years ago, I signed up for a detox vacation. I enrolled in a 7-day, supervised, fast. This vacation included drinking special juices during the day.
I also drank 2 broths each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This broth was a specially prepared soup of vegetables designed to rid my body of toxins.
Pure water was also part of the menu. I drank glass after glass of glorious, pure water.
Between drinking juices, broths, and waters, we went on walks around the area. Some of us practiced yoga daily. Others of us received massages. Yet others listened to live guitar concerts.
I don’t have to tell you that I loved this whole experience. The juices, the waters, the walks…everything.
We did one thing that really wasn’t on the brochure. Nobody even whispered about it. WE SLOWED DOWN.
Stress simply was not part of the reality.
As I recall this experience, I feel the absence of stress was probably the single most important positive portion of this whole event.
As the toxins left our bodies, they took the stress with them. When our bodies realized that they were on vacation too, other things happened:
We laughed more.
Our kidneys relaxed.
Blood pressure began to slowly, gradually, lower for some of us.
Intestinal problems took short holidays.
People commented about brain responses becoming a bit faster.
Most of us lost a few pounds.
Since that fasting vacation years ago, I’ve sought ways to replicate this experience in smaller, more intimate events when the seasons change.
I felt then, have felt since, and still feel now, that it is easier to do a good thing for my body more often. An ongoing detox can pamper my body in ways that an occasional week-long fast cannot.
So, now, one evening a month, I go all out for a digital detox.
I give my ears, my eyes, my brain, and my hands a break from phone calls, emails, social media pages.
heart with wings
At first, it felt a little weird. But, now I know that a technical vacation is less a luxury than a necessity.
One evening a month I turn everything off: TV, phone, tablet, laptop, and everything else eletronic in my home. I close these things up and put them away.
Imagine: no little blue light!
I sit down in a comfortable chair and enjoy the evening. This is my time to meditate for a few extra moments, read a book, have a conversation with a loved one.
When this break is over, I’m refreshed, grounded, and feeling positive.
Guess what. I know something that a lot of people don’t yet know. There is more to my life than the small screen and the little blue light.
Now, I’m inviting you to do something you may not even have thought of – or even dreamed of – in a long, long time.
Turn off everything that has a little blue light. Everything. Just for one short evening. Silence your phone, computer, tablet, TV, and every other distracting electronic thing in your space.
A short break from technology can refresh you, ground you, and remind you there is more to life than a message from a small screen.
Thanks for reading this article. Please refer it to your preferred social media network.
Share it with your friends and relatives.