My Hospital Friend

Written by Deborah Jordaan

Good day, beautiful inhabitants of this planet we call earth. Today I am going to write about the friends we meet at public hospitals and how we only see each other once a month when seeing the doctor, fetching a medicine repeat or having been admitted and meeting our fellow bed mate.

We meet the most amazing people at the hospital. However, when we see them in another environment it is different and we might not even greet each other. They all come from different walks of life.

Some live in the suburbs and some in the squatter camp. Why is it that in the hospital we become friends but when we are at home we do not visit each other? What stops us from visiting our friend in Orange farm, we were after big buddies in the ward.

Is it that we are afraid of the change in environment or the stories we hear about the less fortunate areas? We are all human beings and the only thing that separates us is society and politicians that dictate to us that we do not become house friends.

Do we just have that one thing in common when we all sit and talk about medicine and doctors at the hospital? What will we talk about if we had to visit each other outside of the hospital?

I have hospital and clinic friends as I take patients regularly to these places but yet we also do not visit outside these places. We are happy to see each other at the places we meet but outside we are mere acquaintances.

At these places, there is no such thing as racists – as you talk to the person next to you in the capacity of one sick person to the next. We have that in common.

I always make a friend before I leave a clinic or hospital as I message them to ask how they are doing.

You must remember we are all troubled humans and having a friendly face sitting next to you offering your little one a sweet or snack is all that is needed to start a conversation. We should not be afraid to talk as speaking is the universal language no matter what your race might be.

At the one clinic I go to I always buy the little children sweeties as they sit and get niggly. A sweetie will cheer them up. By that simple act the chaperone of the child can see I am no different to them. I am a caring human being just being nice to my fellow man.

My advice to everyone is – to make a friend because you never know how badly they might need a shoulder to cry on when they are sitting at a cancer clinic for instance. It is a very lonely place for someone going through cancer treatment to sit there all alone with their thoughts. They might not seem to want company but once you strike up a conversation they become a blooming flower and have a smile on their face. Whenever I see a person sad I ask them to smile for me as they are beautiful.

Anybody needs a tender word no matter what their condition. You just might be saving a mentally challenged person from committing suicide that very day.

Be blessed and be grateful. There is someone out there that cares for you.

Practical Magic – 102 Soup for the Soul

Written by Vanessa Anderson

The usual conjuring and imagery of Witches, witchcraft and spell work often centre around a cauldron bubbling on a hot fire – hubble and bubble – while a cackling crone stirs the pot, muttering softly to herself as she dollops and sprinkles her tinctures and herbs. Each component is selected for cause and effect, a concoction of sorts meant for suture and salve, whether corporeal, ethereal or spiritual. An act of intent, for which ailment affects.

I previously appealed to you, to remember your magic yet I was not quite sure yet which element of practical magic should follow my last instalment for I truly believe that everything we do, with intent, is magic. One practice, in particular, keeps circling my mind – cooking, brewing, concocting, creating with love and intent, spelling.

In my piece titled – When the world tries to break someone you love – I wrote about my nephew, he is sick, very sick. Amid the chaos of disrupted routine and emotional upheaval, one simple, wholesome act pulls together the red thread that binds us all – cooking. It is this element because it is so raw in our existence that I want to reflect on it in this piece.

The ill, like the stone thrown across a pond, cause a ripple and those within the concentric circles ebbing outward – hold the space of the one within. We take care of them, holding them together so that they can hold those within.

Through all the ages of man, in every culture across the spiritual realm, we have sustained each other, held these circles together and gathered others towards us, with food. When we celebrate, we gather and share food, when we mourn, we gather and share food, when others are ill, we do what comes naturally – we cook, we gather and we share food.

We do this to hold the line when others are raging against a battle and, if we are lucky, we may have others to hold the line should we find ourselves in a battle that threatens to consume us.

When we were little, and we felt sick, we rested and our mothers made us soup to eat. When family and friends are sick, we offer to make their food, and we sustain them when they do have not the strength to do so themselves. It is a practice (in magic) done naturally, with intent. We give of our time and our energy towards others, the ingredients may be wholesome and nourishing, but that is not all on offer.

We infuse love, a knowing and understanding of the space others are in. It is an act of kindness where energy, like magic flows naturally. It is not odd or strange that the foods we prepare are often, exactly what the body needs to support it. It is knowledge within, sometimes we forget, sometimes the universe reminds us.

Food, good food, is energy. When it is prepared with love and intent – whether twirling round a cauldron or a pot on the stove – it is magic.

All magic is, is practice with intent.

We give our thought to the idea that someone else is in need. We give thought to the knowing that they have other things on their mind. No matter whether they are the one who is ill, or the one taking care of the ill, or those holding the space between the lines and the circles – our thoughts, through simple practices, like making food, become the tincture that offers suture and salve to the wounds of the embattled.

Remember that you are magic.

Test the theory, remember the last meal you made now remember the way you approached preparing it, what you infused within, how you and others felt eating it? Was it merely sustenance for an empty stomach, or did it nourish and nurture more than just body?

Last thought: if you are what you eat, then should you not take back the power over how it is prepared?

Quality of Life

Written by Deborah Jordaan
Good day to all the beautiful souls that take time to read our thoughts and opinions every week. We appreciate you. This week I’m writing about the quality of life and how people all have different views on the subject.

As we all know I work at an old age home and I see the patient’s conditions get worse. It doesn’t mean getting older means your life ends. The sad part about some of the elderly at the home is that eventually they just exist and they lose the quality of living and enjoying every moment. They eat, sleep and breathe – not by choice but because they have to.

I went to breakfast with my partner as we often try to do to keep the quality of our life. Noticing two ladies in the corner of my eye I observed that they were having brunch and sharing a bottle of wine. They were both in their sixties but so smart and funky. I approached them and asked if I could take a photo of them for inspiration for this article. They told me they were lifelong friends and that the one had come from the UK to see her friend. They enjoy life and make the most of every day. How beautiful.

The next person I know is a previous ballerina who has come from an affluent life but somewhere she lost her quality of life and has forgotten how to live. She spends her days going to shop, buying cat food and minimal food for herself. She wants to be miserable and have people feel so sorry for her but she is actually losing the time she has to have a quality of life on pity for herself, as everyone in her life prefers not to be in her space as she just drags everyone into her sorry excuse of a life.

PEST – play, eat, sleep and touch is quality of life. Children have all those traits yet adults seem to have lost the play and touch. Those people that have lost quality of life must go inside themselves and go find their inner child and they could find their quality of life that they lost.

Don’t let people take away your PEST. Sometimes when we are in toxic relationships we lose our PEST and to find it again is difficult but if you are worth it, get out the hole you have fallen into and face your days with gusto.

My partner lost a leg below the knee as I have mentioned before but he refuses to sit in a corner and feel sorry for himself. He lives by the motto of PEST, if he allowed the pity to take over he would be less of a human and be a pitiful mess. We don’t always feel like playing or touching but those are things that are crucial for a human being to feel like they are worth it.

We have six human needs which are security, variety, significance, connection, contribution and growth but without play and touch, we lose connection which in turn inhibits our growth.

So in my ending words, my advice to all of you is don`t forget to practice PEST.

Macro vs Micro – Global Dust Bunnies

written by Vanessa Anderson

While I was vacuuming dust bunnies, fur and lost hairs from the corners of my in my home – it suddenly struck me. I was contemplating a particular situation the details of which are both secular and complex, an inner turmoil with roots grounded in exclusion and isolation and something I have been researching bubbled to the surface. It is the concept of the micro and the macro. In the natural order of things there is an organisation of things, a sacred geometry that appears in the micro and mirrored in the macro. (There is a fantastic series called “What on Earth Happened” that offers some great examples of this in our world today – still on Youtube).

For example – and it is a very literal example for a reason. The hexagonal compound eye structure of bees (micro) mirrored in the honeycomb structures (macro) within their hives.

Does the how of how they see, impact the how of how they build?

Interesting thought – but I digress.

Micro and macro, the small and the big of it. Very often the world we live in mirrors the world within. Which brings me back on point.

The world (macro) we are living in now is a hive (see what I did there?) of activity that in recent years has been driven to almost a frenzy. Panic, fear, dissent, confusion, chaos…

Inside us all (micro) we find ourselves recently alone, distrustful and confused.

So in my contemplation around narcissism and abusive relationships, it occurred to me that what we are currently witnessing around the world at the moment is an absorption of the macro sphere (the global reactions and game plans that have been set in motion) into our micro sphere (our personal relationships and belief systems). In my experience, this is where I fear many people are currently, unknowingly, victims of narcissistic relationships both in personal relationships, friendships etc and likewise with their organisations and yes, even their governments.

So what exactly led me to this conclusion, well here are some typical manipulation tactics that can affect our belief systems. I am leading you on a though trail directed at our current situation, simply because I believe many may not even be aware of the parallels. It remains yours to dissect.

• In an attempt to persuade you to a particular position, the manipulator will bring in a mutually supportive participant. This person agrees with me, therefore I must be right. (Triangulation)

Examples: Trust the Science (Science is universally accepted, – no argument there – if I speak for Science you cannot question me, to question me is to question Science)

• Also known as the Mandela effect, we tend to remember things in a slightly different way. This leads us to doubt what actually happened and therefore accept a different truth.

Example: They never said that it would stop transmission or prevent serious illness…….

Yes, yes in fact they did. There are countless documented interviews and even marketing information stating these very promises. (Gaslighting)

• As the world sat in terror, awaiting an apocalyptic wave of disease, we got offered a life raft, a solution. A solution that proved inadequate and when its failure was apparent and it started to lose its following as fast as it was losing its efficacy, we were introduced to;

For example: Boosters. Come back, let us try again, we promise it will be different this time. (Hoovering)

• In a world of disconnect, where wars are rife and hatred feeds like an impoverished famine, the world awakens and scores of people rise to reclaim their sovereignty. United for humanity, there is a humble surge of love, a fever broken that should render us all in awe.

Yet is it met with silence. A calculated, methodical and deafening silence that is meant to perpetuate your feelings of isolation. (The silent treatment)

• Don’t look up, I am your friend not your enemy, look around you to the others, the ones who don’t comply, the ones who question. They are dangerous, they spread dis ease for the common goal. (Scapegoating)

• Hesitancy, a slow uptake, riddled with scepticism for a golden solution. Your reluctance to embrace the Science will result in the failure of our efforts. (Passive aggression)

Do any of these things feel familiar to you?

Like a dull aching sensation you have grown accustomed to, a security blanket you cannot shake and yet you are starting to feel confronted with at every turn.

Make no mistake the impact of the macro on our micro and vice versa.

In our designed isolation grew the seeds that have driven dissent into our conversations. Let us break that silence.

The best of us, the empathic, trusting, honest people became ardent supporters of the macro, reinforcing its message, watering the seeds, nurturing the dissent and internalised the war – unknowing victims.

Let us break that silence. What are we afraid of, if we have been wrong I pray it is not too late to take a different path.

I never anticipated the weighty task of housekeeping. A dust bunny in a corner of my mind drawn into the tubular vacuum. Discard it as you will or offer it a place to mull in a dark void for a while until it makes sense to you.

The Holistic Fayre, Bothasig is turning 8, on 12 July 2014

The shortest distance between two people is a smile

Swap out your battered and beaten day at the Shopping Centre with an indulging day of warm hospitality and effortless chatting amidst interesting and exciting stalls. Perhaps you’d like to visit a Reader for a peep into what the future might say….

We have a great selection of Psychic, Tarot, Angel, Astrology, Rune Stones, Medium and Numerology Readers, or maybe sooth those tired muscles with a relaxing Massage, Reflexology or even some Shiatsu.

Meander through the hall with its great selection of books, CD’s, DVD’s, Incense Sticks, Aromatherapy Home and Personal Care, Crystals, Jewels, Plants, Orgonite, Water Fountains, Healing Oils, Hats, Gifts, Clothing,  and much more.  You never know where you might find your next treasure.

Don’t forget to grab a cup of gourmet Coffee and a slice of delicious Cake while browsing…. And for lunch…. Choose from delicious Vegetarian & Non-vegetarian Meals, pastries, and Asian or even Greek dish….. you’ll be spoiled for choice… Not so hungry… how about a Samoosa or Cupcake? For this special celebration we have a very invigorating and exciting day planned just for you.

Various Belly Dancing Studios are shimmering through the hall with veils and scarves,  following the beat of the Drummer as they fill the hall with delight. Later, you’re welcome to try your hand at some free drumming…

Listen carefully during the course of the day for the announcement of the 8 Magic Word Competition.  Be enchanted with over 20 prizes for this Competition. Exhibitors have donated over 200 prizes to be given away to Lucky Visitors.  Prizes vary from gifts to gift vouchers, treatments and sessions.  Two little Angels will be roaming through the hall giving away mini Tea Cups sets and Lucky Birthday Pegs .

For an entrance fee of only R5-, you will be entertained, no doubt receive Free Gifts, and attend Free Lessons as you mingle indoors in a positive and energizing environment.  Spend the day with us and leave feeling excited, fun-filled and re-vitalized. Situated near the N7 Freeway, The Bothasig Community Hall is easily located with ample secure parking, often under trees.  Festivities start at 10am ending at 4pm with a Closing Ceremony of Gratitude.

Arrive a Stranger, leave as a Friend.

Visit our Website www.aboutholistic.co.za for full program of monthly Fayre

 

7th Birthday Photos

A birthday is not a Birthday without a Cake

Our 7th Birthday was a roaring Success!  Thanks to You that made this possible.  Here are a few selected photos, for a full view of all photos, please view our Facebook Group

Opening Ceremony
This takes place before every Holistic Fayre. This helps bring the positive vibe you always feel upon entering the hall

Candle of love, harmony and friendship has been burning for 7 years.

Mariechen blowing bubbles

3 of our Best Psychic
Alison, Phyl and Mariechen

Please leave messages for our Beloved Madiba

Jewels to add sparkle to your life

Healing Oils all the way from Hermanus

All jewels hand crafted by Sally

Maria offers Awesome Orgonite to protect your home and lifestyle

Johan offers a wide range of organic herbs, plants and accessories

Free 20 minute Informative Talks available at the Fayre, every hour on the hour

Theresa welcomes everyone at the door. She often has Free Gifts on offer

M.E.R.C.Y. Animal Rescue is our Charity of choice. Please support

Pieter offers Herbal Remedies

Join in a Free Drumming Lesson at the Fayre

Zarina offers yummy scrumptious home made Indian Cuisine

Michelle offers mini-hand manicures and a Whisper of Fragrance

You will find the widest selection of Esoteric Books and Angel Cards at our Fayre

Be thrilled by Belly Dancers – watch out – they dance through the hall

Attend another very popular Speaker, Maeve, in one of her Free 20 minute Talks at our Fayre

Colourful Belly Dancers, who all offer Belly Dancing lessons

The widest selection in Cape Town of incense sticks and accessories is at our Fayre

7 years and still going strong

7 years ago, I followed a dream and was guided to start an Holistic Fayre in the Northern Suburbs. Little did I know where I would be guided and the events that would follow.

In July 2007 we opened our doors for the first time in Durbanville. Exciting times lay ahead. Twenty Exhibitors signed up, and by 4pm we had over 200 visitors stream through our doors. Wow! What an achievement! We even had room for a drumming circle and Free Talks!

In July 2008 we celebrated our first birthday in Durbanville. By this stage, we were so busy, and we outgrew the hall, there no room for new Exhibitors and the public found the venue very cramped. So: by the end of 2008, we moved to our new and improved hall, in Bothasig.

Within a few month of transferring the Fayre to Bothasig, due to unforeseen circumstance, The Northern Suburbs Holistic Fayre together with 40 Exhibitors, moved temporarily to the little community hall in Edgemead for 6 months, and celebrated our 3rd birthday there. By Christmas 2009, we were back at our favourite hall, Bothasig.

Our 4th Birthday in 2010 saw the World Cup Soccer played in South Africa, and we celebrated it under the first rain that the Northern Suburbs Holistic Fayre ever experienced. The rain washed away all our old problems and gave birth to new ventures and experiences.

2011 saw the first of our now popular shows: Belly Dancing, Hula Hoop, Bollywood Dancing, Fire Dancing, Drumming Circle to mention but a few.

In 2012 the 20minute Free Talks were re-introduced at the Holistic Fayre. These talks have proved to be extremely popular and well attended.

Today , 2013, we celebrate our 7th Birthday – we have reached our 7th Heaven. Thanks to our hard work, we are proud to announce that 3 other new Holistic Fayres have opened in The Northern Suburbs, thus forcing us to change our name from Northern Suburbs Holistic Fayre to The Holistic Fayre, Bothasig. We are proud to be the catalyst in this new trend. We are proud to be the leaders and pioneers in breaking new ground in the Northern Suburbs by introducing wholesome living. We take this opportunity to wish the other Holistic Fayres everything of the best.

Long may we all prosper together. Together we can spread Love, Light, Harmony and Friendship.

Mirror of Self Reflection

 

 Age creeps up on us all slowly stripping away our youth then one day we look into the mirror and the body does not seem to match the sparkle in the eyes anymore. Then we begin to look over our shoulder at our past and think I wonder what would have happened or what if I had taken this path?

The concept of there only being one life and a limited amount of time to live it is to most people like someone saying there is no Santa Claus. We simply want to believe in forever just like we wanted to believe in happily ever after as children.You may think I am advocating quitting your job and going trekking in Africa but no that is not where this is going. Living is an art in itself it is not about time management or fit as much in as I can. It is about passion, depth, vision, love and much more.I wish I could remember the taste of a meal long after I have eaten it, I wish I could see my partners face long after they have left, I wish I could feel my friends hug as she embraced me long after she had let go, I wish I could picture the one time my Mother said I love you long after she is gone, I wish I was so in tune with life, so aware, so enlightened that every moment was my greatest and I could feel it, taste it, and truly live it.I do not want to wait until someone tells me there are no more moments left I do not want to feel cheated because a Higher Power took my moments away. I want to be grateful a Higher Power gave me the moment to begin with.

As youth slips away and it will slowly I want to be able to look in the mirror and see the happiness of a life lived with depth and passion etched in my face. I want to be able to feel the touch of my lovers hand as it brushed away my tears not just remember it. But unless I am truly aware truly in the moment at the time allowing myself to feel, letting go of expectations, letting go of the need to hold something back, unless that happens all I will have is a vague memory. I want more I want an imprint so strong I can carry it with me and feel it when the moments are at an end.

My wish for you is that you may look in the mirror of self reflection long before youth has disappeared. I hope you will realize life doesn’t need to be filled up with things rather it needs to be soaked up for all it has to offer right now at this very moment. My wish for you is that you may experienced even for a second a state of total being when everything falls away and time stands still and you can taste the air you breath, feel the earth pulsate beneath your feet and hear the whisper of the Angels.

Little Angel

Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop.

Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there.

Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play.

As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little girl’s dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a hi after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked ’til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said “Because I’m different.”

I immediately said “that you are!” and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, “I know.” “Little girl,” I said, “you remind me of an angel”. She stood to her feet, and said, “Really?”

“Yes, ma’am, you’re like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by.” She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said with a twinkle in her eye, “I am.” I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, “And since you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done.”

Immediately I stood to my feet and said, “Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?” She looked at me and smiled, “You’re the only one who could see me, and you believe it in your heart.” And She was gone. And with that my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you’re all you have, remember, there is an angel always watching over you.

Everyone of your friends is an angel in their own.

Energy of Number 6

The number 6 vibrates to the energies of ownership, possessions and material wealth, love of home and family, care of others and nurturing, empathy and sympathy, responsibility and selflessness, provision and providing for the self and others. Number 6 signifies the need for stability in all aspects of your life.

The message of Number 6 is to keep a balance between your material goals and aspirations, and your spiritual, inner-self. Be grateful for what you have already, as an ‘attitude of gratitude’ encourages further positive abundance.

Number 6 encourages you to be loving, caring and nurturing of yourself and others.

Spirit of Six: Self-harmony; compassion; love; service; social responsibility; beauty, the Arts; generous; concerned; caring; children; balance; community service.

Influence of Six: Six is a center for harmony and balance, an excellent place for a family, especially with children. Six can contribute to feelings of wanting to help others and community service. Six is also excellent for those wanting to develop their artistic abilities or for nurturing and caring, such as a counselor or medical professional. In a Six it is easy to get to the heart of matters in a caring and compassionate way. Close loving relationships with your partner, roommates, friends and family come to life in a Six. Beautifying a Six as well as the surrounding area will drive those under this influence.

Challenges of a Six: Six is so geared toward giving there may be a tendency to give too much — seek a balance between giving to others and taking care of your own needs. The comfort in a Six may make one reclusive — push yourself out into the wide world!