To the Moon {Discover}

This moon phase thing is brand new for me. Another chapter in the #makewaves learning journey and a pretty magic one at that! 

How did it all start…? To be honest, I do not recall the beginning of this adventure… It’s all covered in a soft veil of mist. My reading a couple of books about crystals may have led me to looking for new Instagram accounts, new books, new articles… Chances are, this moon mission of mine may have launched right then.

Who am I to turn my back to the Moon, after all? All the more as the southern European skies that welcomed me this summer are incredibly appealing every night: they show without a shadow the sparkling dress of the stars and the moon. It is a show of sheer hypnotizing beauty. 

To try and focus on mantras, self-development and self-introspection, I recently acquired a deck of cards I use almost daily (victory!) and the beautiful and minimalist Moon Flower Art Deck that combines moon phases and flowers - and this is probably all it took to get me started.

BLOOD MOON LESSON

I am now quite familiar with Moon phases and the recent Blood Moon was another opportunity to read many an article about the eclipse, its mechanics and the esoteric or spiritual interpretations that followed. As part of my growing and learning process, I have learnt to let my skepticism down and open my eyes. Anything is possible, I can face it and trust my gut feelings. Where is this leading me?

The next chapter feels more daunting: are moon phases really linked to specific values that can guide our introspection and research? Does this matter in the end? After all, I am using the cards first and foremost as a source of inspiration; when I draw the Waxing Gibbons Moon card and read the associated term “Trust”, I tell myself that this is just the primordial spark. I start thinking about what I define as trust, how I relate to it, what place it has in my life and that of people around me, how to nurture it… The opportunities are endless and once I start down that path, I  never know where it is going to lead me. Ever experienced this? 

WHAT IS THE SYMBOLISM OF THE MOON? 

Aside from the self-awareness journey spurred by the terminology of the Moon Flower Art Deck, there’s the interpretation and influence of each moon phase over us, humans, and over mother Earth (tides, anyone?).

That will be another chapter for me to tackle soon enough. I hear it is a rather complex and controversial one - is the Moon a feminine figure? What about the symbolism of its cycle? The questions and mystery surrounding it can only encourage me to grab a pile of books, start shooting questions and jump into the new topic! 

Care to join me on the next mission to the Moon?

Credits: TheDaydreamer

Learning time {Fairy Tale}

SCHOOL IS OUT. KIDS ARE IN.

Did you just say… “holidays”?! I am learning how to navigate this blessed time of the year. I am doing well, thank you. As I type this, you see, my two kids are watching a “scary movie”: Nanny McPhee. Apparently, nothing glamorous to gloat about. Still, there are circumstances I am learning to manage and today this means it is pouring down, no beach, everybody’s locked inside a summer dwelling that’s all beautiful and neat…  Until it rains and we need some kind of umbrella to go from one room to the other.

THE BEST SCHOOL

Still, this is perfect to sit down and ponder. I strongly believe that outdoor life is the best school possible for kids, adults… humans of all walks of life. Kids can finally run free, gather small treasures, swim and play alone or with friends. Everything is possible. They are as inquisitive, curious, and daring as ever - sheer delight in my book. Not to mention that it provides tons of stories and memories. Think long winter evenings, more rainy days… And yet, there are still rules to abide by. 

Combine the two and both kids and parents learn how to define that thin line to ensure balance and well… happy holidays for everyone involved.

CARVE OUT

Holidays turn out to be a unique learning opportunity. This is also when I have a craving for a different kind of learning - this is when night time is my savior. I have literally turned into a nocturnal bird who relishes the late hours to bask in silence, thoughts, meditation and creative activities. This is when I carve out time for my school hours.

NIGHT OWL

Once everyone is sound asleep, only the walls of the house, the local cicadas and the occasional owl still stir. This is when creativity kicks in! Sitting down in the small patio, I take out the painting gear, my friends for the night: sheets of white paper, paint brushes, watercolors, Micron pens… How can I possibly feel lonely with them? Sometimes the moon sits next to me - just recently she blushed so intensely that everybody spoke about her! The blood moon, they called it. Is that some great company, or what?!

MY FAVE ACTIVITIES

What I have drawn and painted so far, are mainly flowers: dahlias, peonies, roses (very difficult) thanks to this gorgeous book. I have doodled a lot too, thanks to another amazing resource I went through before leaving on holiday with the kids. As the hours grow dark, I feel safe and inspired - sometimes even overwhelmed by all that my mind wants to grasp, achieve, discover… It imagines the podcasts I want to catch up with, the latest chapter in my current book (this, by the way), the pictures taken during the day I would like to edit, categorize and rename, the blogs I would like to read and the shell collection I would like to wash and display… And the list goes on and on…

This may sound like a to-do list, but it is not. I just let my mind take me where it feels most at ease and safe. No list, no pressure. And, do not be mistaken, this is what I am learning. For me, and for my kids. Learning to just…be here.

Credits: TheDaydreamer

#MAKEWAVES

Make Waves: 2018 Summer Series {Look Around}

It has become a true tradition and I can see no reason to skip it. I am very happy and grateful to be typing here again, in this special virtual corner of the world. I am especially happy to launch the 2018 Summer Series in true daydreaming style!

You know how much water is dear to me - a breath of life, a cradling world that speaks softly and confidently as long as I let it in and pay attention to it. As long as I can focus on its ripples and taste. 

This year's title is Make Waves.

This title sounds like an invitation to be active on all fronts and fully involved in the making of this series (time, halas, is still of essence and lacking...). I have chosen this title to make YOU feel involved and to encourage you to embrace its many meanings.

How can we make waves?

We can dive in the deepest sea or skim its surface, always marvel at its beauty and fragility. We can splash around alone or with our kids and friends... Feel united and unique in the motherly ocean, sea or lake we cherish.

We can also act in order to make things around us shift: drop toxic relationships, silence the unsettling noise made by all of those who want to prevent us from hearing the true stories of the world, escape our routine and take risks to find out who we really are, what we are really worth, accept uncertainty and challenges to grow and learn - always learn -, embrace diversity, compassion and champion acceptance...

The list is endless. So are the possibilities.

Make Waves.

You get the drift.

There are many waves, it is up to us to make something precious of them to be sure this summer does not pass us by.

#makewaves

Ayurveda in my life {Discover}

CIRCUMSTANCES

Circumstances. A word I do not like to use that often. Today is a special day then. Not only am I pronouncing it out loud, I am welcoming it in by writing it down.

Circumstances in my life brought about new experiences, some good, some bad and among the positive journeys I am going to include Ayurveda and the wonderful person who introduced me to it, Magali. With her jet black eyes, slender frame and reassuringly firm hand shake, she's opened the crack of Ayurveda. Some of its light touch me thanks to Shirodhara.

HOW DOES SHIRODHARA WORK?

The ancient body and mind therapy is known to soothe the anxious, stressed, overactive souls affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) fighting with overflowing thoughts, recurring nightmares and tumbling down into the dark pit of doubts and fears.

Once I lie down on the wooden bed, face up, Magali bends my head so as not to hurt my neck. She opens the faucet, as it were. A warm stream of oil touches my forehead as I close my eyes and surrender. Shirodhara is a word that associates two meanings: head + flow/stream. The oil drips delicately, balances slightly from left to right at the beginning and then focuses its vibrations on the center of my forehead. This is our shrine: it encapsulates a dense network of nerves and symbolizes ideas, thoughts, dreams, rationale, logics.

Just picture yourself slapping your forehead when remembering something you thought you had forgotten. That's it. The forehead.

Now, I'll be honest here and tell you that the idea of having a stream of liquid poured over my head reminded me of some kind of torture... the fateful drop of water that hits the head on the same spot, over and over again. As I write this, I grasp the significance of hurting the cradle of our brain, a second heart of sorts.

EFFECTS OF SHIRODHARA

The good news is: Shirodhara has nothing to do with this memory of mine about turture, plucked from a book, no doubt. Shirodhara is a friendly therapy. It is meant to help clear my head, take away the tension, release positivity and serenity. The silky oil is so soft and calming, it acts like a soft blanket cradling me from left to right, holding me tight while letting me breathe again. Once the head is clear, tensions dissolve and the nervous system regains its balance, the rest of the body can start functioning properly again.

The feeling of relief is palpable following the healing session. I feel at peace when regaining consciousness after a state of deep, soulful meditation under the guidance of the oil action, the warmth of its touch, its vibrations and the silence filling the small room. I have traveled far and away. Now, I am back.

Credits: TheDaydreamer

Le froid apprivoisé : la cryothérapie {Discover}

Au fil des ans, j'ai appris à regarder autour de moi pendant les longues saisons hivernales, à en extraire quelques étincelles de chaleur et de bonheur qui me donnent l'énergie suffisante - à défaut de la lumière - pour avancer, tête baissée et cœur léger, vers le printemps, à mon propre rythme.

Le froid existe autrement. Pour le découvrir, j'ai ouvert mes horizons aux thérapies complémentaires de la médecine traditionnelle (souvenez-vous de ma passion pour les huiles essentielles). C'est d'ailleurs au travers de cette dernière que je suis arrivée à la cryothérapie corps entier. A force de chercher, on trouve chaussure à son pied.

Afin de refaire le plein d'énergie, de combattre les hauts et les bas psychologiques, les coups de mou et les douleurs articulaires ou musculaires au quotidien ou après ma séance de sport, je tiens enfin une solution non invasive : la cryothérapie corps entier que j'ai découverte chez Norkapp, à Bordeaux. 

Ce centre spécialisé est un havre de sérénité : conçu comme un cocon alliant douceur et expertise, j'y ai été accueillie par une infirmière diplômée d'Etat formée à la cryothérapie corps entier. Elle prend tout son temps pour me faire passer la visite préalable, m'expliquer qu'il s'agit d'une thérapie par le froid, pratiquée en chambre cryogénique, sans azote, pendant 3 minutes. La température de la chambre ? -85 °C.

Je retiens mon souffle. 

L'infirmière enchaîne sur les effets du froid déclenchés grâce au choc thermique. Ce dernier provoque chez nous tous des réactions qui, dans un cadre maîtrisé, sont bénéfiques à bien des égards : libération d'endorphines, récupération après l'effort (adieu acide lactique), amélioration de la qualité du sommeil, libération de molécules anti-inflammatoires... 

Une fois les extrémités de mon corps protégées, j'ôte mon peignoir et entre en maillot de bain (!) dans la chambre de cryothérapie bleutée. Je vous laisse imaginer la scène... Un contresens par excellence pour la frileuse que je suis ! 

Une douce musique m'accueille, je suis les instructions de l'infirmière qui communique avec moi de sa voix posée, avec des mots précis. C'est important pour moi : j'ai besoin d'être rassurée et de comprendre aisément et rapidement ce qu'elle me dit. Inspirer par le nez et expirer tranquillement par la bouche m'aide à me caler dans le moment présent, sans hyper-ventiler . 

Petit à petit, des picotements se font sentir sur ma peau - effet normal de l'exposition de l'épiderme à la température extrême. Je suis tellement à l'écoute et contente de cette nouvelle expérience que les trois minutes s'écoulent sans que je m'en aperçoive ! En tant que grande anxieuse, j'apprécie énormément de pouvoir discuter à tout instant avec l'infirmière, écouter la musique en chantonnant et bouger librement dans la chambre. A aucun moment je ne me sens prisonnière et entravée et ça, c'est capital à mes yeux pour accueillir le froid dans les meilleures conditions.

La suite se déroule dans la salle de relaxation : un espace minimaliste où je m'enveloppe dans un plaid, déguste une tasse de thé détox et me laisse aller à une douce détente et sérénité alors qu'une sensation de chaleur envahit mon corps. Les épaules se relâchent, je ferme les yeux et je me laisse aller sur le lit de repos... Je suis bien là, tous simplement.

Une parenthèse de bien-être qui, au fur et à mesure que j'accumule les séances, se consolide et apporte une aide naturelle, indolore et non invasive à ma récupération tant physique que psychologique et cela alors que je suis en pleine période de sevrage.

Vous savez quoi ? J'ai apprivoisé le froid. Vous êtes prêts à en faire autant ?

Ci-dessous, je partage avec vous les infos pratiques pour découvrir à votre tour la cryothérapie corps entier en suivant les empreintes de mes pas dans la neige... 

ADRESSE:

Norkapp

Centre de cryothérapie corps entier

10, rue blanqui - 33300 Bordeaux

Arrêt de tram : ligne B, Achard ou Cité du Vin

@norkappcryo (Facebook, Twitter et Instagram)

contact@norkappcryo.com

Illustration: TheDaydreamer