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Seeds of Wellness, LLC

Gifts for the body mind and soul

440-933-7733

33501 Lake Rd., Suite H, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012

Seeds of Wellness

Apache Tears Metaphysical Properties

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When hot lava spews into the air and solidifies before hitting the ground, the nodules are nicknamed Apache Tears. These stones originate in desert-like parts of the United States, especially Arizona and Nevada, as well as other countries. Apache Tears, a type of Black Obsidian, name comes from an American Indian Legend:

“In the 1870s, a small group of Apache warriors met the American Cavalry in a battle. They were sorely outnumbered and it became clear that they could not win the battle. Instead of conceding defeat and being captured and murdered, they decided to ride their horses off the side of a mountain to their deaths.

According to the story, when the wives and children of these warriors heard this story, their tears turned to gemstones when they touched the ground where their warriors fell.”*

Apache Tears Gemstone

Aids with Grief and Negative Feelings

Apache Tears aid and bring comfort to grief and emotional trauma as well as bring peace and calm energy. These gemstones help soothe negative feelings and old hurts. Apache Tears can also help you forgive yourself and others.

If you would like Apache Tears to help you emotionally, wearing them near your heart places the gemstone closest to your emotions. You can place them near to you on a table, desk, etc., however, they are more effective the closer they are to you.

Dispels Negativity

Like gemstones in the Obsidian family, Apache Tears dispel negativity, but in a gentler way compared to the other gemstones in the same family. “This stone seems to have a more intuitive grasp of when it should do it job and when it should give you a rest!”*

They also help you heal from past traumatic experiences by removing the negative energy left by the event. This gemstone is wonderful for people in the medical and healing professions. Apache Tears keep you “psychically safe through the frequently traumatic experiences of working with the sick and dying.”*

Apache Tears absorb negative energy, drawing it into them. Therefore, you do need to cleanse this gemstone on a regular basis. This is especially necessary when you experience very negative people, environments and/or events.

Provides Protection and Grounding

Apache Tears improve your ability to recognize dangerous situations before they happen. These gemstones protect and cleanse your aura from negative energy by absorbing it. Apache Tears also protect you from psychic attacks and psychic vampires.

If you need grounding, Apache Tears are associated with the Root Chakra so carry them in your pant’s back pocket. You want the gemstone close to the base of your spine.

Helps with Physical Healing

Known to strengthen the immune system, Apache Tears help remove toxins in the body. They also help calm muscle spasms and increase blood circulation. By removing energy blocks within your body, your body’s ability to heal improves.

Cleansing Apache Tears

You need to cleanse Apache Tears regularly because their efficiency will wane as they absorb negativity. Start by holding your Apache Tears under cool/lukewarm running water while visualizing the negative energy going done the drain. After drying the gemstone, place it in direct sunlight or moonlight for several hours.

Combining with Other Stones

You can combine Apache Tears with other gemstones to increase positivity and happy energy*:

  • Turquoise – helps improve mood and “opening lines of communication”
  • Other chakra gemstones – helps balance your chakras and ease the energy of these chakras
  • Citrine – helps cleanse Apache Tear’s negativity and bring a joyful energy

Seeds of Wellness carries a variety of gemstones including Apache Tears. Come in or call 440-933-7733 for more information.

Disclaimer: The healing and metaphysical properties written on this website are for reference and inspiration. The information is gathered from writings and other sources. It is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. If you suspect you have a disease or health-related condition of any kind, you should contact your health care professional immediately.

Sources:

* “Apache Tears: Meaning, Properties and Powers” on Crystals and Jewelry.com

“Apache Tears…” by Liz Oaks on Healing Crystals for You

“Stone of the Month – Apache Tears” on Ask Ron and Sue

“The Legend of the Apache Tear” on CrystalWind.ca

How Seniors Can Take Control of Their Lives with a Holistic Approach to Health

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Holistic living can have different meanings, but when it comes to your health, a holistic approach is all about balance. Achieving this balance is good for anyone, but it’s especially beneficial for seniors who want to feel their best. By adopting a balanced approach to managing your health, you can truly enjoy a great quality of life at any age.

Manage Your Health Coverage

Along with everyday healthy habits, getting health screenings and preventive care is one of the essential ways to fight common ailments of aging. This is why it’s a good idea to explore different options to make sure you have the coverage you need. Some people choose to get a Medicare Advantage plan or other supplemental coverage so they don’t experience any gaps in care. Supplemental coverage begins at the start of the new year. If this is something you’re considering, check out what the Medicare Advantage options are in your state so you can find the right fit for you.

Get Out and Explore

Peaple hiking
Image courtasy of Pixabay

Physical fitness isn’t just for younger people. Seniors need physical activity as much, if not more than, those who are younger. If you love to hit the gym and lift weights, that’s a great way to stay fit, but there are many other options. USA Today reports that more retirees want to travel, and they want to be active while doing it. Whether you like to swim, bike, or hike, there is really no better way to stay healthy than to get some exercise while exploring new places.

Even when you’re closer to home, getting a group together for walks around the park or joining a seniors hiking club is a fantastic way to be active and social at the same time. Being involved in a group gives you a way to meet other seniors who have shared interests. Another positive of group activities for seniors is that involvement helps maintain cognitive abilities.

Fuel Your Body Right

No one feels their best when they aren’t getting good nutrition, and this may be especially pronounced for seniors. Don’t stress yourself trying to maintain a strict “diet,” but it’s a good idea to focus on these key nutritional needs of seniors:

Vegatables at a market
Images courtasy of Pixabay
  • Eat nutrient-rich foods. According to the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, seniors need fewer calories but higher quantities of some nutrients. Supplements can help, but eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is the best way to get the nutrients you need. Calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 are some of the most important ones.
  • Fill up on protein. Protein is a powerhouse nutrient that helps so many of our body’s functions, including the retention of muscle mass. Besides getting protein from meat and seafood, you can add dairy and beans to your diet to get an extra protein boost.
  • Limit salt and sugar. Some seniors experience a loss of smell and taste, which can contribute to dietary problems. A common response is to add extra salt and sugar to make food taste less bland, but doing that isn’t good for your health. Instead, try experimenting with new spices and seasonings to add flavor to food.

Keep an Open Mind

You can’t have a holistic approach to health that doesn’t include your mind. Caring for your brain as a senior is really two-fold: you want to do activities that promote brain function (while reducing cognitive decline), and you also want to care for you mental health. When it comes to promoting brain function, one of the best things you can do is continually keep learning. This may mean embracing new technology, taking an art class, or learning to play an instrument.

Whatever you do, the key is to engage your mind in learning something new. The same idea goes for your other holistic aging tips: let your physical activity and diet evolve to fit your needs. So many people think that being a senior is the time to rest and slow down, but to truly live better, you should never stop exploring.

Article by Sheila Olson

Healing Your Body by Healing Your Etheric Energy

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All of us have an etheric energy body that is our physical body’s twin and consists of three major components – aura, chakras and nadis. “The etheric energy system delivers energy to your physical body so that it can do everything that it does to enable you to generate your life experiences. The etheric energy system is connected to the emotional energy system and the mental energy system. The energy bodies are integrated and they speak to one another all the time.”

The etheric energy body possesses negative and positive charged particles that are luminous in nature. “Any given shift in the quality of your etheric energy field reflects as shifts in your body, consciousness, and feelings.”

Aura around a woman meditating

Aura

The energy field surrounding the entire outside of your physical body is call the aura. It consists of several layers that connect us with the outside world. Astral light, coronas and other names also refer to the aura in different cultures and religions.

A variety of “theories have revealed the aura to have a fluid or flowing state; to be comprised of different colors, therefore frequencies; to be permeable and penetrable; and to be magnetic in nature, although it also has electromagnetic properties… As for the aura’s job, science has determined that this magnetic field conveys information about events taking place inside the body, rather than on the skin. Its purpose is therefore vitally linked to our internal health.”

Chakras

Seven major chakras

“The ancient tradition of Chakras originated in India, and the word translates to ‘wheel’ or ‘circle’.” What we know about Chakras today comes from the practice of yoga. Chakras refer to the universal life force (energy) that circulates through us, and each chakra transmits and stores the universal energy as it spins.

The seven major chakras correspond to different areas of your spine, major organs, emotions and spiritual being. Many believe that blocked chakra energy leads to illness and imbalance because the energy cannot flow freely. How the blockage affects you depends on which Chakra(s) are not in balance.

Nadis

Divine energy, life and consciousness flows through energy channels called Nadis and distributes the energy throughout your body. We feel healthy when all the Nadis are functioning correctly. Physical or psychic problems show signs of Nadis being out of balance or not working properly.

The 72,000 Nadis intersect with the Chakras creating a subtle nervous system throughout your body. Each Nadi carries “energy from the Chakras into the brain, the nerves, endocrine and organ systems, the skeletal structure, and finally to the cell level.”

There is a debate on whether Nadis and Meridians are the same. However, Holistic healing like acupressure, acupuncture, massage and yoga help remove energy blockages of these channels, which improves the bodies ability to heal itself.

Etheric Energy Healing

Several holistic healers help restore balance to your etheric energy field including Reiki, Prana, crystal healing and massage. Meditation, yoga, visualization, aromatherapy and flower essences can also cleanse your etheric body. By cleansing and restoring balance to your etheric energy body, you help your physical body heal.

Seeds of Wellness offers Crystal Healing, Massage and Reiki. Donna Bell, our Crystal Healer, uses crystals and gemstones to help her remove energy blockages, shortages in your energy and other issues in your etheric energy body, which stop the flow of energy throughout and around your physical body. Visit our Healers web page to learn more about Donna Bell and our Events & Classes web page to learn when she will be offering Crystal Healing at Seeds of Wellness. The sessions last 45 to 55 minutes.

How Sleep Can Keep You Looking and Feeling Young

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One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to get a good night’s rest each and every night. Sleep improves how we feel physically, emotionally, and mentally. Not surprisingly, if you want to look and feel younger, sleep is your best answer.

How Sleep Helps

Man sleeping at his desk
Image courtasy of Stock Unlimited

About a quarter of Americans suffer from chronic sleep loss. Yet, getting eight hours of sleep a night is imperative for maintaining good health. We lower our likelihood of severe illness when we sleep well, which includes heart disease and diabetes. Those aren’t the only benefits, however, as sleeping well can help skin stay firmer and younger while keeping weight down. When you don’t get the right amount of slumber, you’re more likely to experience stress. This stress creates cortisol, which packs on the pounds. It also inhibits metabolism and makes our memory worse. Overall, to keep feeling youthful, we need to improve how we sleep.

Comfort Is Key

To ensure you get a perfect night of rest, you need a high-quality mattress. If your mattress is on the older side, it may interfere with how well you sleep. Should you feel lumps, springs, or notice that you wake up feeling tired or achy, it’s time to replace it. The type of mattress you get largely depends on the way you sleep. Sleeping on your back, which is the best style to avoid wrinkles, needs a medium firm bed. Side sleepers need something soft to uplift their joints, whereas stomach sleepers benefit most from firm mattresses that support the lower back. Unfortunately, most of us sleep in a combination of styles. A memory foam mattress is the best overall choice, for every position. Because they can be expensive, you should always check reviews to compare warranties and purchase choices before making a decision.

Stick to Your Schedule

When we have a schedule for slumber, we tend to sleep better. That may mean resetting our sleep clock, so to speak. If you wake up often or don’t get tired at regular hours, try doing a 16-hour fast. This can help our bodies re-establish our circadian rhythm. Go to bed and wake at the same hour each day; routine will make it easier to rest regularly. Start by adjusting your schedule by 30 minutes a day for optimum efficiency. Devote time each evening to relaxation without technology. Don’t use your phone or watch TV, as the light and stimulation can keep us up. These small adjustments may lead to large change down the line.

Eat for Sleep

Woman sleeping
Image courtesy of Pixabay

What you eat and when can have a direct impact on the quality of your sleep. Make sure your meals are spread throughout the day. This should keep you from feeling overly hungry at night and, as a result, eating a heavy meal or snacking before bed. Avoid any foods or drinks that can cause an upset stomach, as this can interrupt your sleep. Reduce your sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. If you do need a nibble before turning in, have a complex carb to boost sleepiness. Milk and a bite full of B vitamins can also help us feel ready for bed.

Reduce Your Stress

Our stress levels can keep us up at all hours of the night. Your mind may run over the same things again and again. Your heart may pound without warning, or your muscles might be tense. These are all indications you need to let go of stress. This is easier said than done, but it helps to incorporate relaxation into your nightly routine. Take a hot shower or a long bath, drink herbal tea, and read a good novel before bed. If you can, write in a journal to get negative thoughts out of your head. It can be anything, as long as it makes you feel relieved and relaxed.

We all want to keep our looks youthful and be energetic each day. Although we might hate to admit it, so-called “beauty sleep” is necessary for both. Thankfully, with a few tweaks, a new mattress, and stress reduction, we can sleep like a baby every night.

Article by Sheila Olson

New Year’s Resolution? Let’s Try Something New – Intention

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If you are like me, you have given up on making a New Year’s resolution because you never kept it beyond a few weeks. If you start it at all. Why is this true for many of us?

New Year's Eve clock

Most of the New Year’s resolutions I’ve made and heard go something like this:

  • I am going to lose 40 lbs.
  • Reducing my sugar intake
  • Starting January 1, I will quit smoking
  • I’m exercising at least three times a week

The resolutions usually focus on an aspect of ourselves we feel we need to change (fix). Usually something negative and in the past.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a resolution is “the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving something; an answer or solution to something.”

My resolutions never included a plan or a solution. They felt more like a test that I either passed or failed. I guess that is why they never happened. Isn’t there a better word than resolution that could help us focus on the future and be positive?

How about intention? After all intentions are the things you “plan to do or achieve : an aim or purpose,” as per the definition by Merriam-Webster. I think this fits much better and includes a purpose!

 

Morning sun through the treesIntentions also allow for flexibility, are ongoing, can change as needed and focus on positive results. For example, I could intend to view exercise as a fun activity instead of a chore, look for something positive about each day and reduce my sugar intake by paying more attention to what I eat. Intentions are more about the journey instead of the destination.

However, you need to believe you can achieve your New Year’s intention, or it is as worthless as a New Year’s resolution. By keeping it simple and focusing on the bigger picture instead of a finite goal, you are more likely to get in touch with your feelings and desires. Remember intentions are not about failure or success, but the striving to be a better you.

You Can Balance Fitness and Self-Care

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Self-care: An often-neglected behavior that helps you to stay mentally and physically healthy, which — admit it — you probably often relegate to the back burner #BecauseWhoHasTime. But experts agree that taking care of yourself is critical to living a happy, healthy life.

Ignoring what you need is dangerous and unhealthy. When you take care of yourself, you’ll be better equipped to care for others who depend on you.

Relaxing hobbies

One of the easiest things you can do to work more self-care into your routine is to find relaxing hobbies that you enjoy. These activities could be as individual as you are. For instance, you might take up knitting as a hobby that passes times while soothing your mind. There are also coloring books for adults these days, which can tap into your creative side in a very meditative way. Speaking of meditation, you might even consider creating a safe space or room in your home where you can practice meditation or deep breathing. Try to choose a relaxing space where you won’t be interrupted or distracted.

Each of these activities helps to calm your mind and reduce stress. When combined with a good night’s sleep, with help from noise machines, a dark room, and comfy pillows, you’ll be setting yourself up to feel rested and relaxed all day and night!

Women sleeping

Finding a balanced approach

If you’re just learning to createthat balance between fitness and self-care, follow these steps:

  1. Start small with exercise — Begin with 10 minutes a day and gradually increase as you begin to feel more comfortable and gain confidence.
  2. Drop the “all or nothing” mentality — Adopt a “something is better than nothing” mantra. You’ll probably experience days when that “something” might be 10 minutes instead of the planned 45. That’s OK, too.
  3. Accept yourself — You’re taking steps to improve your mental and physical health and that’s great! Give yourself permission to embrace who you are right now. Stop negative self-talk and focus on the positive.
  4. Rethink what you eat — Don’t cut calories to starve yourself. Instead, seek healthy foods high in fiber and lean proteins. Limit processed foods, sugars, and simple carbs.
  5. Prioritize sleep — Cultivate a consistent sleep schedule, which means going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, including weekends. Experts associate poor sleep with obesity; studies show that sleep is also a vital fitness component that keeps muscles healthy and hormones balanced.

Squeeze workouts into a busy schedule

In a perfect world, you would freeze time for an hour so you could work on getting and staying fit. Twenty-four hours may feel like a lot, but after you factor in work, family, sleep, eating and a little R&R, how much time is really left for fitness? You can still make exercise a priority with these sneaky tips to squeeze activity into your day, just not necessarily in one fell swoop.

Do you live relatively close to work? Turn your commute into a workout. Bike or jog to work. Live further away? Park further from the building to extend walking time; hop off the train a stop early and walk the rest of the distance. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Get up 30 minutes earlier so you can get your sweat on prior to starting your day. Bonus: Most early morning exercisers find that they have more energy throughout the day. Not a morning person? Here are tips to convert.

Incorporate a workout into your lunch break. Those midday breaks often increase your afternoon productivity. Use those 60 minutes to hit the company gym or go for a walk. Scooting away from your desk benefits your body and your brain, too.

Workout at work by standing at a desk or sitting on an exercise ball, which requires core strength. On the speaker phone for a teleconference? Do some dumbbell exercises while you talk. Check out this 10-minute desk workout.

Like to watch TV at night? The average amount of ad time per hour in 2017 was 13 to 16 minutes, so if you watch two hours of television, you can fit in a 30-minute workout. Add a few lunges, push-ups, jumping jacks, crunches and squats during commercial breaks.

Fun exercises

The goal of exercise is to elevate the heart rate, get in some cardio and build muscle. Why not have fun while you’re doing it?

Women with hula hoop

Play ultimate Frisbee. Try hula hooping. Sign up for salsa lessons with your partner. Load up your backpack and go hiking. Go ice skating. Strap on the cross-country skis.

Don’t let your kids have all the fun! These other non-traditional exercises also count because they all use a variety of muscles and wide range of motion; you’ll gain flexibility, agility, endurance and strength when you try:

  • Skipping rope
  • Hopscotch
  • Rollerblading
  • Climbing walls
  • Yoga
  • Swimming
  • Disc golf

The key to success? Committing to making the time to manage and improve your mental and physical well-being. Embrace fitness as a way to improve your life, explore new activities, eat healthy foods, get enough rest and enjoy the adventure of living a happy, healthful life.

Article by Sheila Olson