Curing a Cold

    Picture of a cold comes from www.medicinenet.com  

In Calgary, during the fall, people quite often have colds because the weather is so changeable, they may not dress correctly for the fluctuations, and it is so easy to catch a cold from someone else.  

This thought raced through my brain as I drove home from the grocery store after having been sneezed and coughed on by at least six people.  Sometimes a sneeze comes out so fast you simply do not have time to get your arm up to block it.

So, when I got home, I did some research in one of my favourite books – The Five-Elements Wellness Plan A Chinese System for Perfect Health by Barbara Temelie.  

I found the discussion of the cold on page 146, and what she said made sense to me. She talks about the effect of cold or “a cold” on the body as closing the pores.  To release the cold, the pores must be open, and the person must be sweating.  The Chinese Ancestors recommend ginger tea and hot alcohol such as hot spicy wine for a head cold. A rice dish with leeks and onions and hot spices will open up the lungs to strengthen the body’s natural immunity.  

Although I am not much on spicy wine, I love ginger tea.  And, this morning, I woke up with a head cold. I drank lots of ginger tea, took Vitamin C and D, and ate soup with rice and leeks and onions.  By tonight, I am feeling much better. I hope that the cold will be completely gone by tomorrow.  

If you try this, let me know how it works! 

Blessings,

Judy

Porcupine as a Spirit Animal

 Picture from a friend 

We live close to a provincial park and we have had several experiences with porcupines coming up into the neighbourhood to check out the gardens and the fruit trees.  They are beautiful in their laid back, quiet saunter.  Their ability to climb trees is awesome.  And, we know to stay clear of them.

If you grew up in the country or had a cottage at the lake, then you know that the porcupine is on the list of “beware of” animals.  One – it has quills that it can “throw” at you and they are very, very difficult to get out of either you or the dog! Two – don’t leave any tools on the ground because the porcupine will eat the handle – it likes salt! Well the first item is partially true – the quills are very difficult to remove. However, the porcupine cannot throw them. It can, however, back into either you or the dog, and do lots of damage. And, it really does like salt – possibly because it likes to be close to water and prefers willow and water lilies to eat – both with high water content.

The porcupine is a fascinating totem animal and spirit guide. Although it is a land animal, it spends most of its time in trees eating young buds, blossoms, and bark. As mentioned earlier, it loves water lilies and so spends time in the water where it maintains its buoyancy through its quills which are filled with air. Thus, porcupine has an affinity with three of the five Earth elements – wood, water, air, and metal. Porcupine is a reflection of a gentle nature that is joyful and full of innocence. Yes, it will defend itself. Yet, it never goes on the attack except in the protection of its young which the mother raises alone. Porcupines are very much loners and seem to exist in isolation. However, they do share their burrows or hollowed out trees with others if the occasion arises. Porcupine is also about communication – reflecting the “barbs” that hurt us and the barbs we hurl at others. 

If porcupine shows up for you, ask yourself if you are communicating offensively, particularly to loved ones. Also look at porcupine’s diet and determine if you are eating healthy foods, drinking lots of water, and getting lots of fresh air. Do you need to climb to a higher height to have a better view of the world? Do you need to allow others into your den in a move of generosity? Is your salt intake too high, too low, or adequate? Is it time to be alone?

Blessings,

Judy