In time of such uncertainty, struggle, suffering & conflict we can often feel powerless & helpless, so what can we do to help?  We can raise our vibration.  To do that we need to be able to cultivate an inner happiness that is not dependent on outside factors. For this is where our power lies.

Ghandi, Mandela, His Holiness the Dalai Lama all cultivated deep compassion, understanding & forgiveness for their persecutors & in so doing so transformed their experience.

We are energetic beings, we resonate an energy, a vibration. When there is so much fear & doubt pervading our external environment we can absorb that energy, lowering our own vibration. You see, If we are constantly focusing on the bad news, our energy resonates on a low vibration so the energetic match is also low vibration.  By resonating at a higher vibrational energy which  comes from inner happiness, the ripple effect spreads beyond us. Thus, through our own small  steps we begin to raise the collective consciousness.

Why is this important?   The Maharishi Effect – the energy of peace, love & joy has the energy to shift the world.

Maharishi Mahesh was a spiritual teacher who believed that igniting the unified field with joy & calming energy has the capacity to bring peace & harmony to the wider community.  For example, in the ‘70’s a group of monks was sent into a crime ridden community, where they represented only  1% of the population. They did what monks do: meditated. And crime dropped by a staggering 16%.

One of the most powerful practices we can do in these uncertain times is to be mindful of where we are placing our energy,  become more heart centred & practice gratitude – all really powerful ways to raise the vibrations of the wider community. Therefore, raising the collective consciousness towards peace & harmony.

Indeed, The Dali Lama has said if we taught all children around the world to meditate we would have a peaceful world in a generation.

Did you know that gratitude is another powerful practice for raising our vibration? What we appreciate appreciates as the energy flows, creating more of the same. 

Likewise if we focus all the time on the negative we create more of the same.

It has been said that if gratitude was a wellbeing drug it would be a best seller such are the wide reaching physical, mental, emotional benefits of a regular gratitude practice.  Gratitude helps us to focus our attention & our energy on the positive. This is extremely important to help balance our negativity bias, which evolved over millennia to keep us safe from life or death threats outside our cave door. But ultimately it means that we are far more likely to remember negative events. By practicing gratitude, we are taking time to savour the moment – it takes 20 seconds to commit something for which we are grateful to memory; which  in turn starts to shift your energy.

Did you know that self-care is a vital ingredient of raising your vibration? Taking some time to nurture & nourish yourself sends a powerful message to The Universe that you care enough about yourself to invest in yourself.

Audre Lorde, author of A Burst of Light says, ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self preservation’

When it has never been more important to ensure our vibration is high for the collective good, self-care is even more important, as is conscious awareness of where we are placing our attention & energy, developing an inner state of happiness through heart centred & gratitude practices.  I believe that we chose to incarnate on this earth at this time because we are being called to raise the collective consciousness of the planet to bring at end to all this chaos, fear & doubt.

This is where our power lies. This is the work we are being called to do right now.

If you would like to find out more about changing your vibration check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Incorporate short yoga sequences & meditations as part of your self-care toolkit with guided practices on Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

For more info check out www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Having used her training & knowledge to navigate her own menopausal journey & create a life in which she is thriving, Alex is devoted in supporting other’s in this life changing t

Do you remember when, if you didn’t want alcohol for whatever reason, you were doomed to a choice of orange juice, coke or a slimline tonic?

Thankfully, supermarkets and even bars have been steadily making shelf-room for interesting and tasty soft drinks. Some are full of sugar, which as a doctor I can’t recommend. However I have no problem recommending Saicho, which gives ‘Tea-total’ a whole new meaning.

Camellia sinensis leaves (tea leaves to you and me) have many attributed health benefits, including boosting immunity, reducing heart disease and obesity. They’re rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals and some studies back up the health claims. I’m particularly interested in the proposed anti-cancer properties of green tea.

The wealth of different teas rival fine wine in both quality and diversity. Tea experts will taste teas in the same way as a sommelier and one can pay just as much for a good tea as a fine Margaux.

But Saicho have shown that tea-drinking can go well beyond a hot cuppa.

Saicho was developed by Charlie and Natalie Winkworth-Smith. In Natalie’s own words: “Having been born and raised in Hong Kong, I have always been fascinated with the versatility and variety of tea. So when I met my husband Charlie during our PhDs in Food Science, we began cooking up the idea for a sparkling tea that creates a new dimension to food pairing without alcohol, whether it be eating in a fine dining restaurant, enjoying a drink at a wine bar or at home. The essence of Saicho is that we source the highest quality single origin teas from around the world and let their natural flavours shine through.”

Saicho brew the tea leaves at a low temperature for 24 hours to extract more of the delicate aromatics rather than the bitter and astringent compounds, resulting in a clean, crisp and complex flavour profile. The drinks are delicately sparkled and are best served chilled.

I’m delighted to share my thoughts after tasting three of the Saicho teas:

Hojicha from Japanese Bancha green tea – strong and complex flavours mixed with a delicate slight sweetness.

Darjeeling – a deep yellow ochre and taste reminiscent of muscadet.

Jasmine – green tea from the Chinese Fuding mountains infused with jasmine flowers and natural oak flavours – pale in colour, the oak reminded me of a chardonnay.

And there is more exciting news – last year Saicho launched a new Rare Tea Collection made with some of the most exquisite teas. The first, Eight Immortals is a Chinese oolong tea which has elegant spiced aromas and complex bittersweet notes. Each tea has been selected from specific regions and harvested at a certain time to create varying acidities, sweetness and mouthfeel that complement certain foods and flavours.

I highly recommend trying Saicho as a healthier alternative to your favourite tipple.

You can find out more and buy online from www.saichodrinks.com

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

MRS PARGETER’S POUND OF FLESH, the latest Joffe Book of the Week, and is a masterful cosy mystery from bestselling author Simon Brett, out now for the special launch price of just 99p | 99c.

When vivacious widow turned amateur detective Melita Pargeter’s friend suggests a few days away at a health spa, she is happy to tag along. After all, no one ever died of a little rest and relaxation. Did they?
Then Melita spots the body of a fellow guest being wheeled out of the spa. Everyone says it was the woman’s sparrow-like diet that killed her, but Melita’s not so sure. She saw the terrified expression on the victim’s face before they wheeled her away. What — or who — was she afraid of?   Can Melita catch the killer before it’s too late?

“One of the wittiest crime writers around.” Antonia Fraser    “No one delivers more pure entertainment.” San Diego Union    “A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans!” P.D. James

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF MRS PARGETER’S POUND OF FLESH FOR JUST 99P | 99C.

And now for a few new releases to tempt you, but go on to  Joffe’s website to find more of the little rascals.

The Judge at Saint Jane’s by Lisa Howell   OUT NOW — ONLY 99P | 99C

A COZY MURDER MYSTERY SET IN A PICTURESQUE CUMBRIAN VILLAGE.    It’s a glorious autumn evening in Tarnfield when Deborah Arbiter falls to her death. What was she doing on the roof of her old Georgian country house, St Jane’s?   Can Suzy Spencer get to the bottom of these sinister goings-on before anyone else pays the ultimate price?

Murder on the Golf Course by Roy Lewis   OUT NOW — £1.99 | $2.99

Arnold Landon’s boss, Simon Brent-Ellis, has been discovered dead in his bed with a mystery woman. Then high-flying consultant Steve O’Hara, next in line for Simon’s job, is found dead on the golf course, his head staved in with a blunt object.   Everyone wants the boss’s job, but was someone willing to kill to get it?

“An unforgettable character.”   The New York Times

Make waves with Joffe’s Arc…   Intrigued? Joffe  have launched Joffe’s Arc, an advance readers club for their most passionate fans. If you’d like to be among the very first to read brand-new titles from Joffe Books, then you can apply to join their  special Facebook group, and receive early copies of their books to read and review, vote on your favourite cover designs for forthcoming releases, and help Joffe reach even more readers.

Joffe run a tight ship aboard Joffe’s Arc, so please do make sure to answer all of the questions if you’re interested in joining.      YOU CAN APPLY TO JOIN JOFFE’S ARC HERE

Catch a Q&A with Joy Ellis.  #1 bestselling author Joy Ellis took part in a fascinating live Q&A event with Suffolk Libraries this week, and talked about her life, career, being taught creative writing by Sue Townsend, and her latest book, THE NIGHT THIEF.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A Q&A WITH BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS

And there we have it, a feast of delicious treats for you. Enjoy.