Indholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2022 #237 i Odyssey Magazine

Community Long before the pandemic forced our world to press the pause button, I'd begun to reflect on all those familiar questions of who, where, when and especially why? Where had my footsteps led me and where were they headed as I morphed from hedonistic petrolhead to spiritual pilgrim? A decade ago, some of those musings found expression in a memoir entitled Lost and Found, since sold out and never reprinted. Now they've been massaged, reshaped and expanded into a manuscript I'm calling Pilgrim: Taking a really long walk from the head to the heart. Along with many of my hopes and dreams, it's in the hands of an American selfpublisher that's a division of Hay House. It feels as if I've always been a journalist and writer, although 2022…

"We are all born with an ability to communicate - though we don't always understand the communication. As children we could all tap into animals and nature and could understand them. However, as we became influenced by the greater world, we were encouraged to follow its mechanical routes rather than our intuitive ones. Animals help us to reconnect to this gift through reconnecting to our gift of intuition. And the more we work with our intuition, the stronger it gets. If you love animals, then on some level you are already engaged in animal communication. Animals often communicate with us in a way that we understand - be it via 'the voice in my head', or showing images which convey feelings, attitudes and experiences, even body language. It can also…

Spotlight On Occasionally throughout history there have been individuals whose achievements leave a positive mark across the entire world. B.K.S. Iyengar (1918-2014) was such a person. In 2004 he was named by Time Magazine as one of the hundred most influential people in the world. His fellow Indian, Mahatma Gandhi declared: "We must be the change we wish to see in the world" and Iyengar lived according to a similar principle through his lifelong practice, study and teaching of Yoga. In private Iyengar was conventionally conservative; as a Yogi, however, he was a revolutionary. When he was a young man, Yoga was still very much an oriental mystery passed on from guru to sisya (pupil), a closely-guarded secret kept only for a select group. That Yoga came out of India,…

Ayurveda Feature Ayurveda is a term well known by many, especially in the Yoga world. It is derived from two Sanskrit words, 'ayuh' meaning 'life' or 'longevity' and 'veda' meaning 'science' or 'sacred knowledge'. Ayurveda loosely means 'the science of life' or 'the sacred knowledge of longevity'. Ayurveda is like a road map to svastha (health), a guide for all parts of our being to work together harmoniously to experience ease and wellness. When this doesn't happen we are on our way to stress, which often builds up to chronic systemic inflammation like diabetes, heart diseases, cancers the list goes on and on! Ayurveda not only helps us understand our individual natural tendencies (see dosha quiz) but also the cyclical and rhythmic nature of the world around us - it…

Ayurveda Feature Ancient cultures and civilisations revered Mother Earth and embodied living in harmony with nature. They developed indigenous health systems, which are still practised and equally relevant today. Some of the traditional systems are Ayurveda, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, chiropractic and osteopathic medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy. Globally they are recognised as Complementary and Alternative Medicine Systems - CAMS, the term used for medical practices that are outside the domain of conventional medicine. CAMS is the preferential choice for those who practise consciousness and conservation. Ayurveda: Ayus - life, Veda - knowledge The science of Ayurveda originated from the subcontinent of India 5 000 years ago. It propounds that the universe is a unified field of pure, non-material intelligence and consciousness which, according to the law of vibration, manifests into the…

Eco Planet When the rain clouds roll in and the heavens open up, when the air fills with the smell of soaked earth, I take a breath and rejoice, for I am the soil. I am the smallest mushroom pushing up for air, reaching through the thick bed of mulchy leaves towards the light, I am the tallest tree with my roots grown deep. I am the perennial streams gushing once again after months of parched anticipation. I am the mountain with my head in the clouds and the forest with every living creature that calls my canopy home. I am an ancient spirit, a collection of memories. I have been around since the beginning of time….I am Limpopo. There is such poetry in the landscapes of Limpopo but our…

BEWARE OF THREE DOORS IN A ROW This sort of configuration is a major feng shui taboo. If there are three doors in a row and one of them is the front door, the house is said to suffer from afflicted feng shui. One solution is to keep the middle door permanently closed. Otherwise use plants and furniture to create a barrier to slow down the flow of energy, or hang a wind chime between the doors. THROW OUT DRIED LEAVES AND PLANTS Dried, wilting or rotting plants emit large doses of yin energy, with negative results. Stale water, faded flowers and any dried flowers should be removed from the house. Be careful to do the same in the garden. This will maintain the presence of healthy yang energy. FENG…

Eco Planet South Africa is a rich and diverse country and this is evident in even our plant kingdom. We have many useful plants in our country, including some very elusive, very tasty and very nutritious fruits. Indigenous fruit are fruits that are found in the wild in the southern African region. They originated in the area and slowly spread upward into Africa and eventually all over the world. Most indigenous fruit has been used by our ancestors for thousands of years but has become increasingly less popular as eating habits change and indigenous people become more reliant on commercial food crops. This has also led to the slow degradation of this lost food source and possible commodity. A recent study showed that indigenous fruits are very high in certain…

Relationships Before we apply labels or define this practice as new or old, esoteric or traditional, we might take a moment to consider that almost everything about a modern traditional wedding ceremony is steeped 'occult' rituals and customs and rooted in the supernatural, from the supportive and large number of wedding attendants to exchanging of rings… "Prosperity to the man and happiness to the maid when married in June," Ancient Roman proverb. The most popular time for traditional and eclectic weddings, is June and it's not about the weather, holidays and vacation clubs. June possesses numerological significance, being the sixth month of the year. The ancient Greeks believed a set of six points represented marriage because it is formed by the pairing of two three-pointed triangles: One masculine, the other…

reflection (noun) a calm, lengthy, intent consideration Reflection comes from the Latin reflectere, made up of the prefix re-, "back," and flectere, "to bend." So it's bending something back: Your reflection in the mirror is the light waves that bounce your image back at you. When you pause for reflection - serious thinking, that is -your thoughts are bending inward. seasonal reflection Autumn brings with it focus on the air element and prana, the vital breath, the subtle essence of life. "The trees produce a stunning explosion of colour as the leaves change from green through yellow, orange, red and then turning to brown before falling to the ground. Trees are a wonderful example of the cyclical nature of life. In autumn they shed their leaves as they get past…

Wavelength Community - Wavelength “Aboriginal cultures do not make the usual distinctions among rocks, air and humans; all are imbued with spirit, the invisible energy. Doesn't this sound familiar? This is the world of quantum physics, in which matter and energy are completely entangled.” Bruce Lipton PhD: The Biology of Belief Recently, while visiting Jenny Davis, whose friendship dates back to our teenage years, I learned that, during what one would consider to be a minor operation, she had had a near death experience (NDE). The point in illustrating Jenny's NDE is that it clearly validates the fact that consciousness is a spiritual effect associated with astral projection. I needed to know how to explain this in terms of scientific research. Jenny's experience was explicit - no tunnels, lights or entry…

Mind Meditation benefits every aspect of our being: Body, mind and soul. We spend most of our lives looking for happiness, peace and fulfilment outside of ourselves. During mediation we begin to explore and expand awareness, the essence of which is that we really are restoring the memory of wholeness in our lives. Meditation is not about forcing your minds to be still or to silence the incessant chatter of our minds; it is, however, a process to rediscover the quietness that is already there, that has always been there - this silence is the thought between thoughts; behind the 'crazy monkey of the mind' is the silence of pure awareness, this silence is in the now; it is not concerned with thoughts of the past nor of the future.…

Ayurveda Feature Qualities The elements have 20 qualities (gunas) that help us understand all substances/experiences. They are sometimes represented as 10 pairs of opposites: Cold and hot, oily and dry, heavy and light, gross and subtle, dense and liquid, soft and hard, static and mobile, sticky and clear, slimy and rough and slow and sharp. These pairs give us insight and understanding as to where we are on our health spectrum. For example, is your skin generally more oily or dry? This will determine if you need oil massages or dry brushing. Is your cough more slimy/mucousy or more on the dry/rough side? Do you need something more astringent like turmeric or more honey to sooth? In Ayurveda the saying goes: "Like increases like and opposites balance". To bring about…

Clinical Casebook Yoga Therapy is a combination of Ayurveda and Yoga formulated specifically for each individual to create a foundation for physical, mental and spiritual health. We achieve health and vitality through sincere, consistent and dedicated lifestyle practices. Food is medicine, movement is medicine, and breathing and any positive sensory input can also be healing in nature. The ancient Indian Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita written in approx. 4000 BCE, outlines the practice of maintaining health and treating diseases holistically. One of the basic principles is that optimal health requires harmony and equilibrium within our individual bodies and in all aspects of our lives - all of our interactions - and in our relationship with nature. Every experience has an effect on both the biological and psychological aspects of ourselves, seen…

“I believe people are more aware now than ever of the state of their health, as we live through a pandemic and are looking to take accountability for it.” Steve Stavs Biohacking began in the early 2000s as an underground movement but is now practised by millions of people around the world and has grown exponentially in South Africa. Biohacking is best described as the art and science of adapting and assessing your internal environment (your body) and external environment (where you live and work) and making the necessary changes to optimise your mind, body and soul. Johannesburg-based professional biohacker and health futurist, Steve Stavs, believes that this DIY, self-health approach improves quality and longevity of life. "Biohacking equips you with the tools to transcend society's stressors. While it sounds…

Health " I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to put my senses in order John Burroughs, American naturalist A connection to nature During my childhood in Minnesota, almost every hour I wasn't in school, I spent outdoors—climbing trees, playing with my dog Gypsy, helping my mother grow vegetables, swimming in the lake on my grandfather's farm, digging in the dirt around our house for treasured stones, or in winter, sliding down snow hills on my sled. Our family moved to the California coast when I was nine. We lived a block from the beach, where I ended up spending a lot of time. Because of the moderate weather, I could go barefoot much of the year. What a blessing it was to grow up in two…

“In a crystal we have clear evidence of the existence of a formative life principle and, though we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is nonetheless a living being. Nicola Tesla I am sure there are a few sceptics questioning how a stone can be a living being? Although they might seem inert objects, crystals are very much alive. Crystals, similarly to humans, have their own minerals which vibrate at certain levels of energy. In addition, crystals are also conduits of energy. Let me ask you a question? Do you know that some of the minerals humans are made up of are oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon? Basically the elements one would find in a star - a mass of particles evolved over billions of years. Take a…

Conscious Parenting A recently published clinical trial has shown that a locally available fresh plant extract from the Echinacea purpurea medicinal plant successfully protects children from colds and flu and that it inactivates not only influenza but also numerous cold viruses, including the common cold coronaviruses. Published in the European Journal of Medical Research, Echinacea reduces antibiotic usage in children through respiratory tract infection prevention is a randomised, blinded, controlled clinical trial that was conducted in Switzerland over four winter months, when children traditionally experience more colds and flu. The specific extract of Echinacea purpurea, widely known as 'the immune herb', that was used in this study is the most-researched echinacea product globally with a well-established antiviral and immunestrengthening track-record. “This was, however, the first paediatric clinical trial to examine…

Menu one - Canapés and Bubbles: A plant-based champagne breakfast These perfect one-bite breakfast canapés pair perfectly with the delightful Franschhoek Cellar Brut Rosé, with a note of crisp red berries and Leopard's Leap Cuveé Brut, with its zesty lemon note. For an excellent alcohol-free alternative, serve delightful Kombucha mocktails garnished with fresh berries, lemon and mint or a freshly pressed organic juice bar! Mini sourdough crostini with smashed avocado and green pea pesto 'Cheesy' vegan scones with plant-based herb butter Vegan smoked salmon blinis Spinach and vegan feta phyllo cigars Rye fingers topped with beetroot hummus and fresh cucumber Pecan stuffed dates Cocktail blueberry, apple and quinoa muffins Mini gluten-free granola and coconut yoghurt breakfast parfaits Organic banana bread with maple and fresh berries Recipe: Rye fingers topped with…

“We undertake to publish only that which we believe to be in the interests of an ‘ethical’ lifestyle, which includes concern for the Earth and her creatures, which leads to holistic living.” Jill Iggulden-Stevens Editor 1977 - 1984 ODYSSEY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1979, PAGES 8-14 AND 42 Cult of the Body Interview with IYENGAR …In India he was unofficially titled Matsyendra – Shiva’s own pupil, and Yogiraj –King of Yoga. His innumerable admirers and pupils throughout the world knew him as an unequalled performer, a rigorously demanding teacher and also as a warm and fun-loving friend. He was the author of the best-selling ‘Light on Yoga’ and in 1979 had just published his autobiography. His application of Yoga technique to health problems is widely known and his patience and generosity legendary.…

Spotlight On How was it that an Indian Yogi, landing in the materialistic society that was typical of the United States in 1920, had such a lasting influence on the western way of life? As Brother Brahmananda of the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles explained in a 2005 interview: "Paramahansa Yogananda said that Christ and Babaji, who is a great master still alive in the Himalayas, were in communion and that Christ felt badly about the churches in the west, that there wasn't sufficient God communion there, people weren't really getting inside and being in God's presence… Now, what Paramahansaji has done is to take the deepest truths of Hinduism, shown that they exist also in Christianity, and created a path where both are present, in such a way that…

Man has been in this endless quest called life for millions of years and what separates him from the animals is this instinct to know more, to experience more and most of all, to achieve a quality life. This is the driving force for the evolution of our brain. Now, the important question is not 'what' we want to achieve, but 'how' we want to achieve. Are we marching forward towards success in so-called highly civilised ways? Or are we unwittingly rushing back to our caveman strategies, where survival is the only thought in our minds? Surprisingly, that so-called 'uncivilised' caveman was also trying to know beyond the known world around him. He observed keenly the nature surrounding him and tried to apply things he learnt. He passed on to…

To change your life, change one thing that you do every day. The understanding that slight changes have an incrementally large effect on our lives is what Ayurvedic nutrition and cooking rests on. The underrated human act of eating has a deeply profound effect on our experience of life. What we eat becomes who we are. We digest and assimilate whatever we ingest on a cellular level, with tangible effects on our physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. Experiencing the world through our senses alone, leads to a distaste for the subtle and we suffer because of this distortion. The disconnection from our sense of taste, which is our ability to discern, affects our food choices and this is what Ayurvedic nutrition addresses. Key principles The Gunas: Sattva, Rajas, Tamas The…

I am shooting through the universe, a beam of light with no form and no goal. I had been in a coma for almost three weeks and had long since left that body lying on a bed in ICU in a hospital in Constantia. I only learned later that my mother had not left my bedside and that my family had begged and pleaded for me to come back. Friends had recorded my two young children talking to me and played it to me and my sisters had rubbed my feet and brushed my hair. What I didn't know was what had been going on in the real world, the world where my body lay, breathing through tubes and machines. I knew none of this. I only knew I had…

Health "It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it's the grain of sand in your shoe." Robert W. Service STRESS is all around us (e.g. life-, work-, financial-, emotional- and relationship stress). It affects all aspects of our lives and wellness (physical-, emotional-, intellectual-, spiritual-, environmental-, financial-, occupational-and social wellness). High stress also affects our weight, sleep, quality of life, energy and basically everything. The good news: You can learn to manage it, as stress will never disappear. If left untreated, it may cause mild health challenges (lack of sleep, low concentration and memory, low energy levels, a suppressed immune system, etc) or even more extreme chronic lifestyle diseases (including depression, heart disease, diabetes, overweight/obesity, arthritis and all other inflammatory diseases). Stress is the number one cause for…

Eco Planet Over the 20 years of teachings and experiential connections brought by Regis Kamaq Wageaq, the Incan lineage keeper and international spiritual elder of the Sacred Andean Tradition, we have identified two magnificent Sacred Trees at Olifantsnek Dam. They are Witstinkhout, they grow together, but one's appearance is white and the other black, like our black and white South African population. Back in 2007 we chose Olifantsnek Dam to conduct energy work interacting with nature. As we arrived at this beautiful place, Regis walked straight towards the surrounding vegetation. He saw two tall trees that seemed to be locked in a warm embrace and explained: "These two entangled trees, one black, one white, represent the two nations of this land. The black tree accepts and embraces the white tree.…

Eco Planet The Unus Mundus: Gaia Archetype and Gaia Science "The idea of the unus mundus is founded on the assumption that the multiplicity of the empirical world rests on an underlying unity, and that not two or more fundamentally different worlds exist side by side or are mingled with one another. Rather, everything divided and different belongs to one and the same world. […] … even the psychic world, which is so extraordinarily different from the physical world, does not have its roots outside the one cosmos [which] is evident from the undeniable fact that causal connections exist between the psyche and the body, which point to their underlying unitary nature." --C.G. Jung, Collected Works, volume 14, para 767. Gaia alchemy heals the Cartesian split by making matter and…

Home " How to listen to what the Earth and its beings have to say so we can co-create harmoniously together with our souls awakened. Starting point - Let's be open to Mother Earth being an incredibly loving, nurturing spiritual being, living in a community spread out over our immense universe. On her, around her and in her are innumerable other beings participating in what we call life, affecting the physical and ethereal realms. People and all other beings leave an energetic residue behind from their actions and reactions, which are absorbed and held in the soil and in the beings on it. Depending on the depth of consciousness or intensity of the experiences, the land holds these energies and radiates them out. This historical energy imprint is felt subconsciously…

Adam's Calendar, known as 'Inzalo y'Langa' (the Birthplace of the Sun), is the world's oldest man-made megalithic Sun Calendar. Situated high up on an escarpment in Mpumalanga in the north-eastern region of South Africa, it lies on the Nilotic meridian, 31 degrees east, connecting it to Great Zimbabwe and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. There are estimated to be in excess of 20 000 stone circle ruins throughout Southern Africa; Adam's Calendar is the epicentre of these ancient sites and is connected to the Anunnaki, gods who came here to mine the gold under the leadership of Enki, over 200 000 years ago. Baba Credo Mutwa, the revered Zulu shaman, was initiated here in 1937 and it has been used by isiZulu shaman and Wisdom Keepers for rituals and…

Conscious Parenting “ Reiki is like the warmth of the rays of the sun and the key to opening all the love in your heart. Rickie Mery Freedman This quote is how I begin every ReikiKids Class. I have one child draw a big sunshine with the rays of the sun and another draw the key to a door on the easel board. Ray-Key! An easy way to help them remember the name and grasp the concept of Reiki. My journey with ReikiKids began with my own children. I started learning Reiki when they were eight years old. I shared Reiki with each of them as I settled them into bed. Ron loved it when I blended in Reiki as I rubbed his back. Ryan, my sensitive child, could feel…

With Easter just a bunny hop, skip and jump away, The Plant Powered Show has rounded up a bunch of fabulous recipes guaranteed to get you all eggcited! Treat your family and friends to something special by making one or more of the 50-plus recipes that can be found in The Plant Powered Show's Easter Feaster Cookbook. Follow The Plant Powered Show @plantpowerza and be the first to know when the Easter Feaster Cookbook becomes available. Enjoy making, serving and eating delicious plant-based meals and non/low-alcoholic drinks over the Easter holidays with our easy-to-follow and easy-to-make recipe book. From yummy starters to mouth-watering mains and damn good desserts, as well as a range of refreshingly healthy drinks, it's the perfect guide for anyone looking for healthier (and meatfree) meals that…