Loadshedding Lessons

Written by Grazia Martienssen

Different Times.

In my view, Eskom and the City of Cape Town (C.C.T.) really care about us, that 1s why loadshedding is at different times. When it comes to the loadshedding schedule, if you ever feel like Albert Einstein trying to figure out his next invention, then you are not alone. But I believe they want to teach us different lessons. No, I am not crazy, loadshedding does not have to be a vast “turn-off”. No pun intended. Please read on and you will understand why.

Different Lessons.

For one, the 50 shades of darkness bestowed upon us, teach us NOT to be lazy, and NOT to sleep late. Wakey, wakey, yes you guessed it, it is 5am, time to get up, boil the kettle and fill a flask for tea or coffee. In my case, lemon water. It also helps us to get more organized and to get our own schedules in line, because at times, we have to cook earlier to beat the loadshedding.

It can also be a good excuse not to cook at all (unless you have a gas stove) and get hubby to braai or treat you to a meal out. It can get the family to sit around and talk or light a fire (I envy those with fireplaces) and sit around telling stories or making memories, thus helping family members bond, light some candles, and have a romantic evening. It can help us watch less TV and go to bed earlier to ensure we have a good rest.

They also teach us not to take things for granted as C.C.T and Eskom will often be on the same level in competition. Sometimes I think they just say, “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, which schedule are we on today”. Or maybe they choose a number out of a hat? Or as I heard someone say, “they have a dartboard and choose the number the dart goes to”.

What about when they forget to switch us off! It happened recently in Summer Greens. We were scheduled to go off in the morning but did not, or maybe the switch guy did not come to turn up to work that day? Whatever happened I just hope he/she did not switch off the wrong area by mistake.

In Summer Greens we also have what I call “water shedding” at times. Some of the houses are overcrowded, so the pipes burst at times, and the water gets switched off. The lesson in this is to always have some container filled with water and not to waste water because you never know when you might have the urge to stay hydrated or brush your teeth!

Keep clean water in a container in the kitchen to cook with, and wash up etc. Or by all means, use it as an excuse not to cook and wash up. It is advisable to keep some water in the bathtub, or in a bucket in case you need it to flush the loo, or for anything else that humans may require water for.

Sometimes electricity will come back on, and the water will go off. So, we learn not to take anything for granted, and to appreciate when we have water and electricity. It can also be used as a history lesson for the children.

You see children, Eskom is teaching you what it was like in your great grandparent’s time…. before we had electricity and running water. What about using these dark times as the topic of your next history project?

Last but not least, it might be good to have a well point and pull up water with a bucket to show them how it was done back then (just a suggestion.)

Silver Lining

Sometimes I want to stop making fun of Eskom, but I am powerless! What positivity do you find in loadshedding, and depending on where you live, in water shedding, if you have it? Thanks for reading and do not forget, every cloud has a silver lining!

To Face the Issue or Cower Away

Written by Deborah Jordaan

Hello to all you gorgeous beings. Hope your festive season went well and that you are facing the New Year with gusto. Today I am questioning whether it makes a person a coward to cower away or if should we suck it up and face our challenge.

To be outspoken and straightforward is a good thing but sometimes words must be chosen so as not to hurt people’s feelings. One cannot always molly-coddle people and allow them to step all over you because you want people to like you.

Does that make you a coward not to confront the issue at hand?

A straightforward person will say you are a coward as that person faces their challenge and runs with it. Yes, sometimes even a straightforward person bites their tongue as they were taught respect by their parents. So you need a strategy in most situations whether you solve the problem in the background or bring the other person down to earth.

Some people born with a silver spoon in their mouth can be good humans or just keep on being self-sanctified snob and oh-so opinionated. They think they were put on this earth to be the new generation royal by self-appointment.

We are all human, either our own money or other people’s money makes us think we rule the world. This person says what they want and expects the person that doesn’t want a conflict to shut their mouth and keep on being abused in whatever way they are abusing the other person. Having money makes some people emotional bullies.

The good person then cowers away because they feel the argument will go nowhere, whereas the person who is not impressed by the person with money will voice their opinion on whatever subject they are having conflict over. There is a fine line between the self–sanctified royal and the genuine person being abused by them.

Why are we not allowed to ask questions or create a conflicting situation? My mom taught me to be straightforward in some situations it has awarded me but sometimes I have had to step back and say that the person I am confronting is definitely not worth my words as the only thing their money could buy is maybe some style but no manners.

Remember money cannot buy class or etiquette, the only difference is the wealthy person’s money can be used to cover up their mess. Be humble and when someone confronts you just respect them and have an open mind toward the situation, especially in situations where the parents have handed their little royals all decisions to make and control finances.

Behold the parent asks the child what is happening in the said situation if nothing is done. Be wary not to give the royal too much as they then think they rule the parent, this is where the abuse comes in as the parent has to accept whatever this royal child decides. If a child has manners and respect by all means give them responsibility as they will obviously respect whatever the parent’s opinions are. They are there to assist – not rule.

In my parting words, remember who brought you up and who is now relying on your common sense as a child to help make life easier for the parent. Don`t be an opportunistic douchebag.

Be blessed and be safe.

Pros and Cons of Being an Empath

Written by Deborah Jordaan

Good day, beautiful people of this planet we call home. Hope much of the disasters of the past few weeks of rain have been cleared up for you. Mother Nature is not happy with us. Today I am writing about being an empath and the ups and downs of absorbing everything.

I am an empath and some days it is not one of the best traits to have. I work with ill people and still take care of ill people. My soul gets no rest from the emotional turmoil of humans and animals alike. Always being Miss all nice has its downfall.

I am always trying not to offend people as I can be very straightforward and insulting. The day comes when all the nonsense of people makes me explode and all the negativity I have absorbed becomes like an entity on its own. It comes out and I have no limit to what comes out of my mouth. There is a method to my madness, even though it is not always the best for others.

The only way I can get rid of this anger and resentment that builds up is to let it out. I have tried all kinds of methods, gemstones and incense just do not do the trick anymore. I have an arsenal of stones and they are just pretty adornments around my neck now. I feel the need to get away and be in my temple, Mother Nature. I need to absorb her magic and wonder and recoup my soul.

My garden is in absolute turmoil so there too I am absorbing the mess of that and of course that is of no help either. When everything around becomes an uncontrolled mess you need to step back and reassess everything. Take one step at a time, which is easier said than done – as I am the only one in my mess. I am always assisting everyone but the human stays true and shows me when I need their assistance its non – existent.

I now understand why some people escape to nature and never look back. The animals appreciate you, and the human uses you.

There are good humans out there but to find them is like trying to find a dinosaur. No one is perfect not even me, but sometimes it would be refreshing to find my tribe and never look back.

Those thoughts stay in my fairyland file as unfortunately, we have to live in the real world and suck it up and keep going forward. The going forward part is difficult sometimes as we sometimes feel stuck as if we are in quicksand. Logical thinking is the only way to face problems. We are allowed to lose the plot and put on a tutu and tiara and imagine we are fairies and just dance around but that could land us in hot water, the sanatorium could just have a door with our name on it.

In parting words, yes we need to be grateful but self-care of one’s psyche is always very important. Keep on colouring out the lines but don`t lose yourself among all the weeds.

Be blessed and take care of yourself for the safety of others.

Modern English vs Kings English

Written by Nina Ganci

Many many moons ago, when I went to school, we were taught Kings English. Be it spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.

Yes, we learnt to write in cursive with a fountain pen!

What we learnt came home with us and was practised everywhere. It was the norm.

The other day, someone wanted to see me, so I suggested meeting at noon. Well to my horror, this young lady said “Perfect, will see you at 4pm then”

What just happened?

Telephone manners were strong. Never phone before 8am or after 9pm unless it is an emergency. That was something we all understood and obeyed. Never questioned.

Do you have WhatsApp? Should this not also apply?

I belong to a few WhatsApp groups in the area, someone will try to sell an item at 2am!!!

What happened?

Let me not start with the spelling …………..

Am I just old fashion? Is this what being old means?

What happened to manners? What happened to respect?

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.

Little Voice Called Lani

Written by Deborah Jordaan

Good day, beautiful souls of this planet we call earth. Today I am writing about the little voice inside your head reminding you that you need to be somewhere else.

You always miss something but you do not know what it is. It is not a person or even a specific place …. it is your inner self and who you are that you are missing. This will lead you to where you need to be when you recognise that little voice and listen to it.

I have an amazing friend, and now I know why she is part of my life. She is living the life my inner voice has been calling me to. She is there to give me the awakening I need. She is my real-life version of Julia Robert`s character in Eat Pray Love. She has been my inspiration since I met her. My little voice has always nagged me but it became real when I met her.

My soul cries out to the big wide world and the adventure it represents. Since a child, I have always been responsible but my wandering soul never stopped yearning for something waiting for me.

Yes, we all say we want to find ourselves but we keep on with the mundane life we lead because we are afraid of what is waiting for us. Looking at the media I envy the free-spirited souls that are not afraid to live.

How often are we going to make excuses as to why we can not live our lives to the fullest? I am not afraid of the future, it is the present that has me worried about where will it end.

We adventurous souls have to dig deep into our inner core and decide what is keeping us from exploring our future. We are stuck in limbo and sometimes we are not happy to be there, we are just used to it. I am delighted for a short while in any circumstance but then it starts to become mundane and I feel the need to move on. I need to find my happy place and settle till my old years but right now my little voice is telling me not to give up on my dreams, but the dream comes with sacrifice.

I always made excuses that my children are not grown so I cannot do anything which is valid but as they became adults I used the fact that my grandchildren are young but have their parents.

At the end of the day, all we have is ourselves and only we will know what best is for us.

Being a responsible person comes with perks, but when can we let our hair down and breathe?

There are people out there with financial means that can live their dream but because of their shallow souls, they do not see how blessed they are.

There are a few philanthropists that live their life to the fullest and pay it forward and they still see the world. They get to live their dream just by being unafraid.

I once read a story of an executive in New York who was dissatisfied with his crazy life and he gave everything up. He bought a whole bunch of educational books, sold up everything and went to Africa. He is in Africa educating underprivileged children. To me that is beautiful, he is living his dream. He was not afraid, so what is stopping us?

My parting words to you are that listen to the little voice because you might never know where your path will lead.

So let yourself go and embrace a new beginning.

Be blessed and be loved.

I Fall but Will Rise

Poem by Neshni Naidoo

Uncertain of what pushed me
Into a downward spiral I fall
No way of stopping
No way out
I bury my head under the blanket
Warm dark cozy
A cocoon of safety
Searching for a handhold
I grab onto a thought
A positive affirmation
And pull myself up
I am beautiful
I am intelligent
I am courageous
I am brave
I am amazing
I am incredible
Each thought lifts me higher
Until I can lift my head
And get out of bed
Self-doubt still lingers
Emptiness loneliness
Here in my heart
Tomorrow I will descend
Into the well I escaped
Face the demons that pulled me down
Slay them so that they trouble me no more
And pull myself as I did before
Reminding myself to fill my cup
With positive thoughts
So that the demons can’t survive

My Solace

Written by Deborah Jordaan

Good day loyal readers. Today I am writing about what makes me find peace and calm in the crazy world I call my life. We all find solace in something or someone and we feel like we are home.

Do we ever find peace in our minds? I do not know if that is possible sometimes. To me, I find my solace when I see the love in people’s eyes when they look at me with thanks and adoration.

The job I do as a carer always makes me feel like I am home when I see the elderly. It lightens my heart. They appreciate everything I do for them and in turn, I give them the love I would give my dearly departed mother and grandmother. Every granny I see I see a trait my dear mother had. So they all as a collective personify my mother. I see their pain and longing for a child and give them emotionally what they need and they give me what I need just by being there to listen to me or by allowing me to help them with whatever it is they need.

When my mother was alive I could never imagine that one day she would not be there and that I would miss her so much. I search for her in every older lady I meet. When a glimmer of my mother shines through I am attached to the person. So we are forever trying to find significance in other humans.

All I want is to be happy and enjoy the moment in another person’s company. My grandsons fill my soul with peace and happiness. They are my refuge.

I had two daughters and the chance to have more children was taken from me. When my grandbabies were born I thanked the universe for giving me the ideal family, two daughters and two grandsons. What more could I ask. I am a very emotional being and when my soul is happy I am forever faithful to the person that makes me happy.

It is not easy to find that feeling of wonderment, so grasp it with both hands when you do. We do not need someone to complete us, we need someone to be part of our soul.

A soul mate does not have to be one person, it can be a few people who contribute to the well-being of our souls.

Animals and nature can also be our places we go if we need that feeling of being completely happy or at least part of it. We cannot be happy all the time but if we find happiness part of the time, that is also okay.

So I hope you find your happy place and when you do hold on to it as people take a lifetime to search for it but sometimes never find it. Be blessed and loved.

Have happy thoughts.

How to Explore Your Awareness

Written by Elsabe Smit

When people become aware of their spiritual awakening, they become aware of ‘going out of their mind’, in other words setting the brain aside and opening up to the awareness that there are different dimensions that exist around us, and that we only chose to live in this one for the moment.

How do you deal with this spiritual awakening? The first action is to choose whether you want to reject it or consciously explore it. If you want to reject it, that is your choice, and it is neither right nor wrong. Whichever way you choose is perfect for you.

If, on the other hand, you want to consciously explore your new awareness, you will be surprised to discover the many opportunities that are opening up to you. At the same time you will experience what I can only describe as a deep sense of knowing about what resonates with you and what you should stay away from.

There are as many different directions and flavors of spirituality as there are people on this earth. You will find that you are intuitively drawn to some of these directions and practices, while you will probably find others to be hilarious and quite entertaining.

Remember, what you laugh at may be a very serious matter for someone else. The best advice I can give you is to trust your heart and listen to your intuition, and you will find this path quite rewarding.

However, this is only the advice of one person. If anyone insists on telling you which path is the best for you, I would question the intentions of that person, because how you explore your spirituality is a very personal decision.

Where do you find more information on exploring your spirituality? That depends on your own inclination. One option is to go to the nearest large bookstore and explore the mind, body and spirit section. Some books will call out to you, while others will not attract you at all.

If you do not like reading, find shops that focus in what is popularly known as ‘new age’ shops and browse. Look at the items and advertisements in the shops and explore, explore, explore. Search the internet for information on topics that you find interesting, and find groups that you can associate with and have conversations with.

If all of that increases your confusion, then here is something simple that you can do. Find a quiet space, close your eyes, and ask for experiences that will bring enlightenment and clarity to you. Then simply open your heart and spirit for these experiences, and ‘go out of your mind’, in other words set aside any judgment while you explore and expand your wonderful awareness.

If you are looking for scientific proof and explanations of the experiences that you are having, you will find them (or rather these explanations will find you once you have voiced your intention). If you only want to increase your intuitive awareness, you will have this.
Enjoy every step of this new path, wherever it takes you.

Believe me, it is mind-blowing!

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?