-I've done a few strange things in my day, and always open to trying them.  Recently, my husband and I slept with sliced red onions at our feet.  Yup you heard me right!  But you just don't wake up one morning and decide ah sweetie I think we will sleep with onions tonight.  Of course not!  You'd have to lock me up in the loony bin if that was the case.  However, let me take you back a few years. 

For a couple of years now I have observed Grant's health in the decline.  His love of life had faded.  His energy level washed away.  His enthusiasm for music even seemed to be blown away in the winds.  I'd sit and watch, forever the observant and when I tried to approach the subject of his health he denied that anything was "really" wrong.  Deep down inside my intuition told me something was up.  I even had two psychics tell me that he was sick.  But when you are so close to someone it's hard to communicate your concerns without appearing like some annoying nag.   Some of hardest lessons to learn in life is to let someone walk in their own shoes, in their own journey, on their own time especially when you have a deep connection of love with that person.

Every chant, every drumming, every meditation, every shamanic journey, and every prayer I asked the universe to grant me the courage, the patience, the compassion and most importantly, I asked for a gentle, graceful wake up call for Grant.  And without fail, the universe delivered.

On a morning in September 2016, Grant came out of the shower, and I noticed that he had skin rings all over his body.  I knew what it was right away for I had been in contact with this when I was a teenager.  He was covered in ring worms also known as tinea. I was really horrified at the site, and I knew that something much more severe was going on with his health.

I'm not going to go into what tinea is or is not, because this is irrelevant at this point.  Simply note it is a symptom of something much bigger.  And Grant's gentle wake up call to really look at his health.

And so a new chapter begins in bringing Grant's temple, his body to a new level of health.  I say new because you can never go back to what was.  Our bodies are in constant change of renewal.  There is no going back!  What we have is what is forward, what is new.  You literally create your temple by means of breath, sleep, food, thoughts etc. We are also the healers of our own bodies.  We have control over a healthy body, mind & spirit.  No one else does!  So it's important to understand that when you are not healthy, you alone with the power of will can make the decision to do something about it.  No one else!

With a heart filled with gratitude I thank Grant for making the decision to do something about his health. A new path has been taken on the road to a life of "energized being" in 2017.

So what about those onions you ask?  Don't worry I'm getting there.  Grant and I are not fans of the "Western" medical system and lean more towards the "Eastern" philosophy.  So with the Eastern approach we knew that the tinea was simply the result of something much much more...but what?  Fortunately, for us we are well connected to many different healer practitioners, and immediately I knew we needed to go see our good friend Purnima Chaudhari.  Purnima is an Ayurveda specialist.  She has many many years of training in this field and with a simple pulse assessment she can determine the levels of imbalances you have in all of your doshas and sub-doshas.  In my opinion this is more thorough then a visit to your MD who is overworked, has no time and has no clue what is wrong with you.  They focus on the symptoms and send you off with a cream or worse a pill.

We quickly changed our diets.  Dealing with the first imbalance; too much sugar in the body feeds the tinea (fungi - candida).  The key to a healthy body is a healthy digestive system.  We eliminated all sugar, the white stuff, the fruits, and starches.  We also cut out all wheat and anything fermented.  Grant had to say good bye to beer!  We needed to pay attention to when we ate and what foods hit the belly first, along with pre-biotics and pro-biotics.

After 4 months of being mindful of what was going into our bellies, Grant made the decision to give up cigar smoking.  That one was a little tougher then giving up beer.  But I admire his willingness and courage.  I myself have a really hard time giving up the sweets and chocolate.  And so we are getting closer to the onions.  After our last visit with Purnima, Grant's imbalances had much improved, but because of the cessation of cigar smoke many toxins were swimming along in his body looking for a ride out of the body.  With essential oils and transdermal creams applied to the spine and liver Grant started a painful process of ridding himself of the many, many toxins his temple was host to.

And so the onions.  Grant spent New Years Eve deathly sick in bed with a high fever, shivers, severe chest coughing, hacking mucus, loss of appetite, weakened, and shriveled to skin and bones.  Anyone who has walked along someones illness knows the desperation as an observer you feel.  I tended to his hydration, change of clothes, sheets, medicines and encouragement that he would get through this...and then the onions.

Another wonderful friend, Marina (my wonderful friend from the Fay)  suggested to slice up onions and sleep with them in our socks.  The onions would help break the fever and pull out the toxins in his body.   She also recommended that I do it as well, for I have been inhaling his germs and my immune system would be compromised.

So night time came and I looked at my husband and said: "you are going to laugh, maybe think I've lost it completely, but would you be willing to sleep with onions at your feet tonight?  It might help you break your fever and get you on the road to recovery".  He looked at me and said "Whatever Carole".  Okay let's do it.  And as we went to bed that night.  We laughed!  It felt silly even a little bit crazy.  But then who are you talking to?  I am crazy and willing to do what it takes.  That night I felt like chicken soup was cooking in the sheets.  We managed to ward off the cats, vampires and the fever.

We are grateful for those who aren't afraid to share their tips and tricks.  We are grateful to those who chanted for us.  I am grateful for Grant who doesn't always question why we do the things that we do.

I know one thing is for sure.  I will never look at onions in the same way again!

When you look around, one can truly see magic and beauty everywhere.  We are surrounded by the divine’s gifts of nature, kindness, and creativity.
 
There is a place I can call home situated in the eastern regions of Manitoba.  Carefully situated on the banks of the Whitemouth river, where a meandering, gentle flowing waterway, reminds you that life is simpler and easier if you allow yourself to be carried by the current of the river. The river is guarded by some ancient tree beings, protecting the sacred waters that give us life.  Warriors of a different kind never tired of their quest.
 
My bald eagle clan greets me even if it’s for just a fleeting moment.  We honour and respect each other by the acknowledgement of being present.  Here, my daily life and responsibilities melt away like a shadow in the mists of a fog.
 
We are greeted each morning by the rising sun with spectacular skies of unimaginable colors.  And our feathered friends show their excitement by singing and dancing in the branches; waiting to greet us for a new day.  In the evening, when it is time to slow down the sun makes it’s way to the West sprinkling hues of  pink, orange, yellow and purple.  A vista that never gets tiring for me as it only inspires me.
 
The moon beckons me, a time to honour the divine feminine within me.  A time to empower, create and set intentions.  She envelopes me with her nurturing rays, carrying me through some of my darkest times.  Here, in this place I call home, the moon’s energy is nothing short of miraculous;  precious, gorgeous, outrageously immense. I always have a great sense of being blessed to be in her presence.
 
Within this space, if you look carefully, you will notice the little things that make this a special home.  Sprinkled with inspirational quotes that require you to take note.  Angels and fairies are neatly tucked in places you don’t expect giving you the sense that you are not alone, never alone!  Reminding you that the divine is always within.  Your guardian angels are by your side day and night, waiting for you to ask, ask for their help, ask for their guidance, ask for their grace, beauty, radiance, peace and love; always ready, always present.  Open your heart to the possibilities of magic, magic of fairies.  They wait to bring you joy and laughter as they flutter from plant to plant, and tree to tree.
 
I am honored that the creators of this space, guided by their light are my friends who open their hearts to greet, meet and love me no matter what.  This is a special place I like to call home.  A place I like to come when I need to reconnect with my higher self in order to truly find my way home, the oneness of our universe…LOVE.