This 3-min video is created by Alexandra Feldner & Agata Wels and touches me on soul level. It is that powerful, so I just have to share. The poem is written by Alexandra Feldner as well.
❤️, Cherryl
In 2020 I started a new adventure; energy healing. Luckily, I enrolled in LifeForce Energy Healing®, to become a Master Graduate Teacher at the Deborah King Center. Deborah King is a leading authority on energy healing, and I was beyond excited to be admitted to her carefully curated certification program. Last summer I finalized her certification course. And now I’m ready to spread my wings.
Energy healing starts in the universal field, also known as the cosmic field. Some also call it God, Buddha, Mohammed, Consciousness, Atman/Brahman or otherwise. Current science in the form of quantum physics is rediscovering what mystics have known for centuries. The starting point for energetic healing is that our physical body arises from the energy field.
Before birth, each person has a personal energy field, which consists of 7 layers, which interpenetrate each other. These energy layers communicate with the chakras in our body. Chakras are vital energy centers in our body that rotate. They bring new energy into our body and drain old energy. Basically, the same as our respiratory system does.
The optimal functioning of our chakras disturbs easy. We often do this unconsciously by denying our emotions and thus ‘hold on to’ them in our body. As result the energy in our body cannot flow and refresh enough, resulting in physical complaints in the long term.
Energy healing does not directly focus on the physical condition, but aims at rebalancing your human energy field. We do this by removing blocked energy (emotions), charging the field (like a battery) and bringing the whole back into balance. Indirectly this also effects your body, because everything is connected.
What does a healing session look like?
During the session, a short intake of only 2 minutes takes place. If you have complaints that you want to pay extra attention to, you can of course mention them. When you attend a healing session at my private practice in Hilversum (NL), you will lie on your back on the massage table with your clothes on. If we do the work via Zoom, you will receive a link from me and then you will sit at home in a comfortable chair or lie down somewhere.
The session itself takes between 20-40 minutes. Allow 10 minutes afterwards to integrate.
In order to promote maximum integration of the energy work, there will be no talks after the treatment. This is to prevent the session itself from being discussed and to turn on the client’s head / brain on the one hand. On the other hand, because as practitioner I’m not always fully aware of the extent of the healing and I don’t want to interfere your integration with untrue od incomplete information.
Compensation
A treatment á 125 euro is one session at the time and paid in advance to avoid administration afterwards. People who can’t afford it (which can be the case for many valid reasons) can opt for a Wednesday morning session á 15 euro as I hold spots available for this purpose (note: it might take a while).
Book a session
Interested in a (follow up-)session? You can always contact me to make (another) appointment. I love to work with as many people as possible and in these strange times we all can use it. Share my details if you know someone who is interested or benefits from it, so they can contact me. Or book a private session via deborahking.com (scroll down to the bottom of the page and go to private sessions).
♥, Cherryl (whatsapp: +316-23900803)
At the end of the fall, I turn inward, both physically and mentally. Along with winter it is a time to reflect, to learn and above all to intent for the coming year. When I notice the spectacular beauty of autumn trees, I often forget that the next step is for the trees to release those leaves. But in the end they will all fall, bringing us stillness as a result.
As natural beings, our lives also have cycles. There are times when we hold on, and there are times when we must learn to let go. Just like trees. When we act like them so when we let go of things that no longer serve us, we make room for new things to come into our lives. In other words, it’s like cleaning up.
Live in accordance to our annual cycle
To reap the benefits of this annual cycle, we must live it. Firstly, let us all release what no longer serves us and use the winter for rest and deepening. So when spring arrives we affirm new beginnings and new possibilities. More importantly, realising our spring dreams requires care and energy, nourishment and vigilance, persistence and endurance. As a result we can grow and get to fruition. Subsequently we are able to harvest again in autumn and the cycle starts again.
With the above in mind I wanted to share this beautiful poem by Safire Rose. I’m sure it will resonate to some extent. Let’s start our new cycle by letting go.
♥, Cherryl
SHE LET GO – by Safire Rose
Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of the fear.
She let go of the judgments.
She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.
She let go of the committee of indecision within her.
She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.
Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice.
She didn’t read a book on how to let go.
She didn’t search the scriptures.
She just let go.
She let go of all of the memories that held her back.
She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.
She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go.
She didn’t journal about it.
She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.
She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.
She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.
She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.
She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.
She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.
She didn’t call the prayer line.
She didn’t utter one word.
She just let go.
No one was around when it happened.
There was no applause or congratulations.
No one thanked her or praised her.
No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort.
There was no struggle.
It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.
It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be.
A small smile came over her face.
A light breeze blew through her.
And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…
The last couple of years I felt lost. There was no direction. I was walking my path not knowing where my life was heading anymore. It was not that I didn’t like my life, but it just felt off. I missed a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment, although I was doing and being many things. I was lacking growth and mostly inspiration.
Direction needed
Reading books, spending time in nature, meditating and participating in MindValley quests helped me remember that I love growth and transformation. And I just needed to step up in that game. It was like walking in a dense fog. With every step I got more comfortable and things became more clear.
Yesterday I finalised my personal roadmap, based on the 3 MIQ’s of Vishen Lakiani. I added an extra column as I want my ‘World Vision’ to guide and support my Experiences, Growth activities and Contributions. Thank you to MindValley for making all this amazing content from all these amazing people available to many! And I want to share my roadmap with you as it may inspire you and help you determine your direction.
♥, Cherryl
Today I realised I hardly participate in politics. How come? As a child I was told I was blessed living in a democratic country. Moreover, I should be grateful for the fact I’m allowed to vote. Voting rights for females in the Netherlands are, as in many other countries, relative new. My grandma, mom, aunts, mothers-in-law and friends always urged me never to waive my rights to vote. But here I am, showing no real interest in:
- our government activities;
- our government budget;
- its different parties;
- any form of elections (country, province and city);
- local politics
Current politics is about power and separation
In my opinion politics today, no matter where you live, is all about retaining power. Its focus is on differences instead of similarities. Political ideology also largely assumes that the people must be led. While I know that people are basically good and act ‘right’ from their moral compass. Some would argue: the moral compass of some is poorly developed and thus not much of a beacon. I don’t agree. If you look at Earth from the sky, there are no borders, no nationalities. There is only this amazing ‘floating’ globe and its inhabitants.
Everyone is family
Yesterday I remembered something from my childhood that made me want to write this post. I am partly of Indo descent (mom’s side). When I used to stay with my grandparents there was always family hanging around. Ranging from grandpas, grandmas, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. In-laws are family; no distinction made. Later on I came to realise that even (lifelong) friends where seen and treated as family.
Almost a year ago I challenged myself to the extreme with Coast to Coast Scotland. It was a 170 km breathtaking course in the most mysterious and wild locations in Scotland. In 2 days we went from Nairn to Isles of Glencoe; cycling, running and kayaking. What an amazing but tough event it was!
How did I end up in Coast to Coast?
People who knew me 10-years back would never refer to me as the sporty type of person. I was a bit overweight (about 5-10 kg’s) and surely I wasn’t in a good shape. My priorities at that time were with my young family and with my career. A very stressful combination and I convinced myself I couldn’t find the time nor the need to exercise. 10-years back I couldn’t run longer than three minutes without gasping for air.
Sometimes I did an attempt, but finally not having enough character to carry on. Maybe you recognise this from your own behaviour. Then what made my behaviour change in the end? Well, the short answer is: I met Matthias, my new sporty partner, I noticed something during my yoga-classes and I was invited to a party.
A few years back the concept non-attachment entered my life. Although it fascinated me, you could say it resonated within me, I could not fully grasp it, understand it. It felt like there was a ‘hidden truth’ in there, but I just couldn’t pinpoint what that exactly was.
Today I understand it a bit better with the help of Michael Bernhard Beckwith. Luckily I saw him speak at MindValley’s A-Fest in Portugal last year and had the opportunity to participate in his teachings ‘Life Visioning Mastery’ via MindValley as well.
Attachment, detachment and non-attachment
- ATTACHMENT
To understand non-attachment to the fullest we must comprehend attachment first. What is attachment exactly? We people attache ourselves easily to other people, stuff and thoughts as well. We are needy for validation and acceptance via attachment. For example, gaining self-esteem from your possessions or feeling worthy by the love of your partner. We even attach ourselves to concepts and opinions. How often do we try to convince others of what we believe in. Instead of feeling worthy ourselves (from within), we need other people or items for validation. We experience a discrepancy to what we have and what we think we should have. So actually, we attach ourselves to an outcome.
That’s the mind-blowing message of Adam Roa, an amazing spoken word artist. Last June I had the opportunity to attend Mindvalley’s A-Fest in Algarve Portugal and see Adam perform live on stage. He touched me deeply with his poem; what a beautiful reminder. So I wanted to share this motivational video with you, because it might just be the answer you’ve been looking for.
♥, Cherryl
The last two years my brown hair is turning grey rapidly and the first real wrinkles in my face are appearing. Not strange considering I’m over forty, but accepting these physical first signs of old age are hard. Especially when people around me start suggesting ‘natural’ hair dying. Luckily nobody mentioned botox yet, although in the area where I live botox and lip injections are more common than ageing naturally. Next to that I’m raising two teenage girls now, who are growing more independent each year. The process of liberation of me as their parent has kicked in and my ego isn’t getting the reward anymore as it was used to. My ego is suffering as well in the field of work accomplishments. Don’t get me wrong, I still like doing my work, but it is defining me less as a person. However my mind (ego) loves playing games with me on this topic of growing older as it wants to hold on to something familiar or instantly clings to something new. I’m definitely on a turning point in life; midlife.
Regular readers of my blog know I like doing experiments. I read a lot and want to experience what I read about. Call it childish curiosity or being playful, it is certainly a way to be able to form my own opinion about a topic. This time I wanted to experience ‘being in ketosis’. In an earlier blog ‘Ketosis: what is it and what are the do’s and don’ts’ you can find more background information. This blog is a weekly update about my month on a ketogenic lifestyle.
Diary: a full month on a ketogenic lifestyle
So from January 1st I started with this new lifestyle of less carbohydrates. I follow the advice of Optimal Ketogenic Living (OKL), mainly because they focus on:
- being able to maintain this way of eating for a longer period,
- maintaining the natural hormonal balance and
- prevention of muscle breakdown
And I combine it with the food list from the Plant Paradox by dr Steven Gundry. I want to eat real and healthy foods, including variety to make sure I get all the nutrients that my body needs.
Supplements
On one part I am a bit stubborn, because it is highly recommended to use some supplements like:
– 2000 mg sodium (Dutch: natrium).
– 4000 mg potassium (Dutch: kalium)
– 3 tablets (in total 1250 mg) magnesium
– psyllium (Dutch: vlozaad)
I however start my experiment without these supplements, because it feels as an unnecessary strain on my liver and my gut. I have no science to back this up, so don’t just copy my behaviour. Once my body is giving me messages it is deficient in any form I shall add supplements.
Baseline measurement
Weight: 54 kg
Macro’s: at least 94 gr protein; no more than 84 gr fat; no more than 23 gr carbs, based on the OKL-chart
My aim with this experiment is a) to find out how metabolic flexible my body is. How easy can it switch between energy sources (glucose and fat)? and b) to loose some weight (4 kg’s). That’s why my fat macro is -10 gr of my protein (94-10 = 84 grams). If you don’t want to loose weight use the min -max on the OKL-chart. Target is 50 kilograms, but not after a month. If this lifestyle works out for me I might extent it with two more months.
And I had pictures taken of my body (front and back) to compare the physical results after a month. Standing there in my bikini however felt awkward and painful at the same time. Somehow this is a bit strange, because I don’t mind wearing it on the beach. However to have my body ‘exposed’ on the internet feels tougher than expected. Especially my legs are a sore point (read my blog: The Swan with elephant legs: Time to exercise). Although I really see the improvements in the shape of my legs, I’m still uncomfortable. So I don’t know if I’m ready to share these after all. I shall decide after finishing this blog.
Week 1 (1-7 Jan 2018)
I would describe this week in 2 words: Poor Preparation. Although I read a lot about ketosis in general, I know too little about meal plans and macro’s. And especially the combination of both. So the first days my macro’s were a mess. Either too many carbs or too much fat and always not enough protein. I admit cheating already on day 3 with a white wine and desert to celebrate my birthday as excuse (could have seen that one coming ?). But I used these first three days as well to get more knowledgeable on the nutritional value of food items. Because I had started I had to increase my knowledge fast.
And than there was my search for keto sticks. I assumed I could buy it at a local drugstore, but that was not the case. So ended up buying it online, although I was desperate to check the ketones in my urine. Foodwise I ate plenty once I got the hang of it; more accurate it was a struggle to eat enough food to reach my macros. I ran one time and that was a tough one. I really had to slow my pace down.
Weight: 53 kg. -1 kg, which is most likely water as your body will reduce water once it looses carbs (about 2 liters).
Week 2 (8-14 Jan 2018)
The second week, and Holiday-season is over and I have to combine my new ‘ketogenic lifestyle’ with work. That means even more preparation and planning my meals one day in advance, to make sure I have at least 30 mg of proteins in each meal. Normally I don’t eat breakfast, but I want to do this right, so I’m eating breakfast now. This week I would describe as: Mentally Fit. The brain fog that was a consistent partner the last weeks/months, due to too much snacks (in the office), disappeared. My blood sugar is more stable and thus I have a more consistent energy. And I thrive on that. My keto sticks confirm my body is producing ketones, which doesn’t mean I’m fat-adapted yet.
I went to the gym (strength training) twice and did my weekend-run. I could feel my body searching for energy, but it went better than expected. My pace running was almost normal, but I was really drained when I got home.
I do fear any signs of keto-flu, but I manage to get through this week without any. Could it be that my body is more metabolic flexibel than I expected? Maybe because I skip breakfast on regular basis and I have done some 100% all sugar free-challenges, it might be more metabolic flexible than I thought. Or is this just wishful thinking and my brain playing tricks on me….
Foodwise I try to eat up to my macro’s. Especially on days that I exercise I consider this a must, especially for the proteins, to avoid muscle breakdown. But on other day’s it is sometimes hard, because it is so much. Most of the time I eat more than my husband, and he’s 1.90 meters and I’m just 1.63. Sometimes I snack raw mushrooms to increase my protein intake. But I don’t complain, there is plenty room to eat great meals.
Weight: 53 kg.
Week 3 (15-21 Jan 2018)
I wanted to write this post last Sunday already. But I was in a depressed mode and had curled up on the couch with a blanket watching my all-time favourite Top Gun. Hoping Maverick would get me back on my feet again. No energy at all to even think about blogging on this ketogenic lifestyle. Dwelling in my sorrow is what I needed and did. In the company of Tom …… and my two daughters (who couldn’t believe this movie released in 1986 and their mom was only 11 at that time).
The first part of the third week didn’t seem a problem. Macro’s, energy, sports everything went okay. My weight went up and down and even reached 51 kg. But the second part became hard. Thus I would describe this week as: Struggle and doubt.
This week I did the same sport routine as last week (strength training twice) and a ran two times. I could feel improvement, but the second part of the week everything became harder. I had a small headache, felt nauseous a couple of times and lacked some real energy. On the emotional side I was really uptight at one point, making a fuzz on everything my daughters could even think about. The ketone sticks didn’t change that much color anymore, so I was in doubt. Was I still in ketosis or did I consume something wrong and/or too much? I was confused because my macros seemed right.
Weight: 53 kg. My weight fluctuated a lot this week, and I noticed some changes to the shape of my body.
Week 4 (22-28 Jan 2018)
Monday, I had to go to the office and it worked as distraction. And I realized my bowel wasn’t moving and that triggered me. Instead of doubting my macro’s I focused on the micro nutrients and I decided to add psyllium and magnesium (every other day) to my diet. And that helped me a lot almost instantly! In hindsight I was experiencing three days with some keto-flu symptoms.
And from that moment on, I felt like Superwoman! High on energy, happy, reflective, alert, as if I can do everything. Powerful and at ease at the same time. I went to the office, did my administration, investigated new mortgage interest rates, created some new recipes… I was in a flow. And I drove back from work one day, just feeling tremendous grateful and happy with my job.
For my sport routines the same is applicable. I could run full speed for the entire distances and in strength training I could finish all the exercises without trembling a lot. The only thing is I really warm-up doing something strenuous. So if you see me these days walking around in a t-shirt only, don’t be surprised. I assume this means I’m fat-adapted now. I would mark this week as: Ke-Flow. It was one of the best weeks in a long time.
Weight: 52 kg.
Overall conclusion:
This ketogenic lifestyle is working out for me. So, I’m going to extend it with 2 more months to find out if it can be a real lifestyle. Want to further investigate how to work with this lifestyle, once I reached my optimal weight. Will keep you posted!
♥, Cherryl