Solstice Full Moon Christmas Lunar Eclipse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Winter Solstice! to all friends & wellbeing retreaters

Here are some top tips for enjoying plenty of positive energy this Christmas time and into 2011.

Did you feel the effects of the eclipse?

Today, Tuesday 21st December 2010 is the first total lunar eclipse to coincide with the winter solstice since 1638. The word eclipse comes from the Greek word for abandonment – and it really is time to let go of all our day to day responsibilities! By switching off the phone, putting the emails on auto-respond and focusing on ourselves and our loved one, on pure enjoyment of the moment.

The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. It is the traditional time to celebrate the truly important things in life: our families, our children, our homes and of course, to look forward to the many gifts & Christmas treats just around the corner…

We all received a Christmas treat this morning – thank you Universe! As the moon, solstice sun, earth and centre of the milky way galaxy all came into alignment. How wonderful that during the season of good cheer, we are surrounded by an abundance of energy!

The eclipse signifies change, relationships & patterns we may need to look at more closely or completely let go of….so why not embrace this pre-Christmas time to bring body, soul and mind into alignment too with this potent energy source?

How can you do this at home?

Whether we are with friends and family already – or happened to be snowed in, make the most of this quiet-time before Christmas itself for some stillness and silence clearing the space for many gifts & new year opportunities. Just 5 minutes every day can help us make many positive changes in our lives by following these simple steps:

1. Putting on the answer phone.

2. Shutting the door.

3. Lighting a candle and focusing on the candlelight to help still the chattering mind.

4. making sure we are warm enough!

5. Relaxing into a comfortable repose and beginning to meditate.

6. Deepening our breathing, and simply through becoming silent and focussing on our breathing, we can begin to hear our quiet-inner voices (rather than the constant crackle of the have to’s of modern life).

Our inner-voice can most easily help us stay in healthy, happy harmony – it offers us the intuitive insights, guidance and learning’s to support all of us in finding more peace and calm amidst the Christmas chaos and keeps us tuned in and turned on to our life purpose…. all year around.

Why not begin a quiet-you-time practice for the new year ahead, this can help us feel whole in body, mind & soul…taking a mini retreat for 5 minutes every day and staying on track with our new year resolutions and wellbeing goals.

We can offer an extra helping hand – in meditation, yoga and more. Why not jump on a flight when the airports open again in January! Escape the snow & frost thaw and enjoy a heart and soul warming Ibiza winter retreat

We would love you to share stories and send in pictures from the eclipse – please send through to info@ibizaretreats.com or leave a comment below.

 


Are you SAD?


The facts:

The acronym SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder.  It is a form of depression that occurs only during certain periods of the year. In some cases, an existing depression may become more severe during certain times of year. The most recognized form of seasonal affective disorder is “winter depression” or more commonly know as the ”winter blues”.   Depression  effects 320 million people worldwide and according to the SAD association SAD effects 7% of the population every winter.

What causes it?

SAD is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus which controls sleep, mood and appetite due to the shortening of daylight hours – FACT – 75% of the population in the 19th Century worked outdoors, today only 10% work in natural light.

Other factors believed to be causes are – Low serotonin levels – Levels of serotonin have been found to be lower in depressed people, in winter. It’s thought that this neurotransmitter might not work properly in people with SAD – Low Melatonin levels – People with SAD have been found to produce much higher melatonin levels in winter than those who don’t have SAD symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

Depressed mood, over-sleeping or the urge to “hibernate”, cravings for carbohydrate rich foods, and associated overeating and weight gain, inability to  concentrate, anger, stress, tension and a low immune system are some of the characteristic symptoms. There is typically an onset of symptoms in September and a decline of symptoms when spring commences.

Like all forms of depressive illness, SAD can vary greatly in severity and can be a severely debilitating condition. Many sufferers can be perfectly healthy during the spring and summer months but unable to function during the winter. This leads to obvious problems with work and family life.

Getting treatment and help

Bright light therapy is the most effective treatment for most helping about 80 per cent of people, usually within three to five days. It means spending some time each day exposed to very bright light, at least ten times the intensity of domestic lighting.  Eating a balanceD healthy diet including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can also help along with daily walks or outdoor physical exercises in the fresh air.

Links and further information

Winter Wellness Retreats to lift your spirits

http://www.sad.org.uk/

http://www.sad.uk.com/

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/sad.html