Dec 2007

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From Rachael Hertogs

Archive newsletters can be found at http://angel-healing.tripod.com

These last couple have months have been one heck of a journey for me. My fathers health started to decline rapidly towards the end of October and he passed away with his family around him on the 4th November, so in order to be kind to myself through this grieving period I postponed my Reiki classes and workshops and took some time out from my client work.

This ‘time out’ gave me a space in which to reflect and make some necessary changes.  I know I couldn’t have got through this difficult time without the support of my close family and friends and Reiki. On days when things felt incredibly dark, Reiki brought in some light and reminded me to take things easy and be really gentle with myself. I am so grateful to have had this wonderful gift/tool passed on to me and that I have the honour of passing it on to others.

I’d also like to thank Yasmin (her site is www.moonology.com) who found my You Tube Meditation Videos and posted them on her web site- which has given my profile a boost- and added quite a few members to my newsletter list. Welcome all of you! If you haven’t seen me on You Tube- I’m here- http://uk.youtube.com/ReikiRachael

Anyway- we approaching the Holiday Season (although I must admit it doesn’t quite feel like I’m in it yet!)  and it can be a stressful time for us- so when things feel too much remember to take a breath, find one thing to be grateful for in your life, go out side, look up at the blue sky and feel your body calm down – let nature heal you!

It feels so nourishing to turn my attention toward gratitude, it’s easy to put taking care of ourselves and our bodies on the back burner while we are working, taking care of children, decorating and shopping for Christmas. During the holidays, I hope we take time each day to look at the sky, the trees, the moon, the excitement in a child's eyes and to do something loving for ourselves. May we all be kissed with the beauty and magic of this season!

Oh yes, one last thing…I launched my Moon Times Website this month- as well as washable pads and Moon Time goodies- you may find some gifts for friends and family members…see www.moontimes.co.uk.

Below I have added some ‘Green Holiday Tips’ to help you over the holiday period.

Have a wonderful time and keep in touch, blessings and love Rachael xxx

An affirmation for you: In this moment, I choose to live in the present. I choose to let go of the past and let tomorrow be for tomorrow.

Transition Towns- http://transitiontowns.org/  This site is also the home of the Transition Network - the mission of our embryonic charity is to inspire, inform, support and train communities as they consider, adopt and implement a Transition Initiative. We're building a range of materials, training courses, events, tools & techniques, resources and a general support capability to help these communities.

Check if there is a local Transition Group near you- or be inspired to start one!

Websites don't have to be expensive. They can cost as little as £50 to set up a simple one and are a great way to let people know about you and what you do. You can use them to promote your business or to share family photos with friends overseas.  Contact Lisa Cole -  info@nakedwebsite.co.uk   for more details.

Whenever you see darkness, there is extraordinary opportunity for the light to burn brighter.
-Bono

Green tips for the holidays:

When you buy your Christmas supplies, consider buying delicious organic, locally produced or fairly traded products. Most supermarkets stock organic supplies and a choice of fairly traded tea, coffee, nuts and chocolate. 
When you head into town to buy those Christmas presents, don’t forget to reuse old carrier bags you have lying around.

Do you have to send Christmas cards? Personalised e-mails can be just as fun and equally effective. If you do purchase any, make sure they are made from recycled paper. Most charity shops sell a huge range of ethically produced Christmas cards. After Christmas recycle that pile of cards. You can take them to either Tesco stores or WHSmiths for recycling. This service is available from 3rd Jan and collected cards are sent to Woodland Trust for recycling. You can recycle your stamps too! Cut out stamps leaving a 3mm margin around each one, pop them in a bag and take them to your nearest Oxfam Shop.

So much wrapping paper is wasted at Christmas. Often the bag the products came in is sufficient. Or you could consider wrapping presents in old magazines or comics for the children. Ensure any wrapping paper used is made from recycled paper.

On the day, don’t rip open those beautifully wrapped presents from friends. Carefully remove the paper and use again for wrapping up presents, flower bouquets and wine bottles, making decorations or even covering books.

5 million Christmas trees are purchased every year. Remember, always ensure the tree comes from a sustainable forest…or buy a potted one with roots. Keep it cool and well watered and, after the festive season, you will be able to plant it outside and watch it grow.

Don’t leave a huge pile of pine needles on your carpet, and get an artificial tree. They come in a range of designs and can be used year after year.

If you have purchased any electrically goods, consider buying reusable batteries. It will reduce hazardous waste and save you some money too.

Put on that wooly Christmas jumper and save money on your heating bill.

Don’t throw all the food scraps in the bin, use them to create a compost heap, it will do wonders for your garden.

The UK produces a 3 million tonne festive waste mountain each Christmas. To avoid this, try to recycle or reuse all your paper, glass, plastic and aluminium.

If you can’t replant your Christmas tree, household waste recycling centres will accept trees for recycling and your district council should provide somewhere for you to recycle your tree. Click here for a list of local councils.

Ensure you give any unwanted presents to charity shops for others to enjoy.

Make a New Year’s resolution to do your bit for the environment. See how many positive changes you can make… and remember to smile. Protecting the environment is a good thing! Some resolutions could be-

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle: paper, plastic, newspaper, and aluminum cans. If there isn't a recycling program at your work, school, or in your community, ask about starting one.

Insulate Your Home- Add extra insulation to your walls and attic, and install weather stripping around doors and windows. This step alone can reduce your home heating costs by more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.

Be Thrifty with Heating and Cooling- Turn down the heat while you're sleeping at night or away during the day, and aim for moderation with heating and cooling at all times. Try pulling on a sweater before rushing to the thermostat.

Leave the Car at Home Whenever You Can- Less driving means less money spent at the pump and that means fewer emissions. Besides saving money and petrol, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community's public transport system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

Buy Energy-Efficient Products- When it's time to buy a new car, choose one that gives you the best mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and energy efficient bulbs are now designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.

Turn down Your Appliances- Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save water. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

Don't Leave the Water Running- Remember to turn off the water when you're not using it. For example, while brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog, or soaping up your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You'll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital natural resource.

Get a Report from Your Utility Company- Many utility companies provide home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

Be an Informed Consumer- Learn more about environmental issues so that you can make wise choices for yourself and your family. Education is everything!

Encourage Others to Conserve- Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbours and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.

Why do I feel it is so important to conserve? Beyond the immediate financial costs is global climate change. This is something we will face in our future. The consequences are wide-ranging and will have an affect on every living creature. Average temperatures across the globe are projected to increase between 2.5 and 10.4 degrees F during the next 100 years. Because temperature is such an integral part of weather formation, other aspects of the climate such as winds, currents, precipitation, sea-level rise, and severe storms, could also change.

The potential health effects related to climate change are serious and demand attention and investigation. Increased levels of heat, extreme weather events, vector-borne and water-borne diseases, air pollution, and compromised water supplies affect all peoples in all locations of the planet. The poor, the elderly, the young, and anyone whose immune system is compromised will be the hardest hit.

Many of the effects of climate change will be compounded by other environmental stresses such as pollution, increasing population, over-harvesting of natural resources, and habitat loss. Therefore, improving environmental practices such as decreasing discharges of pollutants into the soil, air, and water may help lessen the harmful effects of climate change on fragile ecosystems and keep us all going a little longer.