Community Spirit, March 2018
Community Spirit emagazine was created in 2017 to help bring the English speaking community closer together in the city and the surrounding towns. And to support individuals and businesses to overcome their challenges of setting up a new life in this beautiful area. Don't miss an issue of the emazine magazine! To subscribe and get all the back issues, visit and send a message to: www.facebook.com/emazinemediaglobal
Community Spirit emagazine was created in 2017 to help bring the English speaking community closer together in the city and the surrounding towns. And to support individuals and businesses to overcome their challenges of setting up a new life in this beautiful area. Don't miss an issue of the emazine magazine! To subscribe and get all the back issues, visit and send a message to: www.facebook.com/emazinemediaglobal
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BISHOP,<br />
DARREN<br />
EXPERT<br />
PYROTECHIQUE<br />
INSIDER VIEW ON<br />
GIVES<br />
LAS FALLAS<br />
VALENCIA'S<br />
ANNE E. DUGUID<br />
DR<br />
HOW<br />
EXPLAINS<br />
THINKING<br />
POSITIVE<br />
YOUR<br />
TRANSFORMS<br />
<strong>Community</strong><br />
MARCH <strong>2018</strong><br />
<strong>Spirit</strong><br />
EXCLUSIVE<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
EXCLUSIVE<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
REALITY<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
INTERVIEW:<br />
EXCLUSIVE<br />
WITH BHARAT AND KALPANA<br />
NEGI FROM<br />
AYURVEDA LIFESTYLE CENTRE<br />
ON THE WORLD DAY<br />
OF INTERCONNECTEDNESS!
IN THIS<br />
ISSUE<br />
Founder's Message<br />
Hi Everyone,<br />
So we are now on the 5th issue of<br />
'<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>' online magazine.<br />
I think it's amazing how the magazine has developed over the last 5<br />
issues and grown into something very special in the community.<br />
One thing that is for certain is that we can all do with a little bit of help<br />
from each other. The more that we 'reach out' and ask each other for<br />
help, instead of trying to battle through things on our own, then I think<br />
the more we can heal ourselves, overcome tough life challenges and<br />
grow as a community of supportive caring people!<br />
So this issue is packed full of inspiring articles and stories which I trust<br />
can do exactly that!<br />
All the Best,<br />
Richard T. Voller<br />
LAS FALLAS!<br />
The community spirit<br />
talks with Darren Bishop<br />
to get an insider view!<br />
SOLAR<br />
SYSTEM<br />
ADVICE<br />
Local businessman, Nathan Holder,<br />
owner of Serrania Solar, follows up<br />
on last month's article with more<br />
important advice.<br />
MIRACLE<br />
HEALING!<br />
19<br />
46<br />
29<br />
Do you experience lots of anxiety or<br />
depression? Do you find your<br />
emotions get the best of you? Maybe<br />
it's time to explore alternative<br />
healing and visit the new Ayurveda<br />
healing centre in L'Eliana.<br />
99 RED<br />
BALLOONS!<br />
35<br />
Do you ever get overwhelmed with<br />
negative thoughts? Would you like<br />
to know how to transform your<br />
thinking, so you can improve your<br />
quality of life?<br />
This project is being supported by
CONTENTS<br />
Areas of interest to be covered .<br />
5<br />
24<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
POEM<br />
by Ray Foster<br />
19<br />
25<br />
THINGS TO DO<br />
Las Fallas Festival - Exclusive interview<br />
with Darren Bishop - The insider view<br />
LOCAL BUSINESS<br />
SERVICES DIRECTORY<br />
26<br />
COMMUNITY SUPPORT<br />
Age in Spain, financial support for retired<br />
people living in Spain.<br />
29 ALTERNATIVE HEALING<br />
Ayurveda Lifestyle centre in L'Eliana<br />
offers miracle healing!<br />
35<br />
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT<br />
99 Red Balloons - Anne E Duguid<br />
explains how transforming your thoughts,<br />
transforms your life for the better.<br />
46<br />
HOME<br />
Learn more about your solar system,<br />
advice from local expert Nathan Holder.<br />
48<br />
PHOTO COMPETITION<br />
Winner from Villar del Arzobispo!<br />
49<br />
PARENTING / COMMUNITY<br />
Finding Your Tribe Emma Coyne.
CONTENTS<br />
Areas of interest to be covered<br />
52<br />
TRAVEL<br />
My Love Affair with India - Written by<br />
Helen Warriner<br />
56<br />
JUST FOR LAUGHS<br />
58<br />
ASTROLOGY<br />
The Astrological Birth Chart - The<br />
Universe's Personal Message to You!<br />
67 ANIMAL WELL BEING<br />
Firework phobia in dogs<br />
74<br />
ANIMAL WELL BEING<br />
Domestic Poisoning in Pets: Part II<br />
Testimonial<br />
"It’s the way the world works!<br />
Now and again someone comes up with an idea that’s just what we need.<br />
Cometh the need, cometh the man!<br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> online magazine is just what we have been looking for. Perhaps we didn’t know it but<br />
really, what’s the good of being a like-minded community without an effective way of being knitted<br />
together. Good on you Richard. Long may The <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> Live!"<br />
Eugene Carmichael
WHAT'S ON?<br />
Local Cultuarl Events and Charities<br />
Free Language Exchange,<br />
Lliria<br />
The address is:<br />
ASOCIACION VECINOS LA BUITRERA<br />
C/ ABETOS 2<br />
URBANIZACIÓN LA BUITRERA<br />
46160 LIRIA<br />
The language exchange takes place every Friday from<br />
7,30 to 8,30 PM.<br />
We do half an hour of Spanish conversation and half<br />
an hour of English.<br />
There is no charge for this.<br />
R E I S E | P A G E 2<br />
ARTS & MUSIC
WHAT'S ON?<br />
NATWEST 6 NATIONS FIXTURES <strong>2018</strong><br />
Below are the NatWest 6 Nations fixtures for <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
10/11 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
Ireland v Scotland, Saturday 2.15pm<br />
France v England, Saturday 4.45pm<br />
Wales v Italy, Sunday 3.00pm<br />
17 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
Italy v Scotland, Saturday 12.30pm<br />
England v Ireland, Saturday 2.45pm<br />
Wales v France, Saturday 5.00pm<br />
ARTS & MUSIC<br />
R E I S E | P A G E 2
Wednesday- Casinos<br />
Pedralba<br />
Rastro<br />
Pedralba Rastro<br />
Sunday 11th <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>,<br />
Location: Behind Bar Sardi, Pedralba.,<br />
From 9.00 til 1.00.<br />
Lin Shepherd, event organiser, raises funds for<br />
Naturaleza y Animales (Vice President) by charging<br />
Euro 2 for space at the Rastro which goes to the charity.<br />
Sellers need to arrive at 8am<br />
Weekly Local Town Markets<br />
Friday - Villar del Arzobispo<br />
Thursday - Lliria<br />
Tuesday - Betera<br />
do you have a free public<br />
event?<br />
you can<br />
advertise it<br />
here for free!<br />
There are some things which you just need to<br />
remember, you don't want to be driving into town to<br />
find that everything is closed down because you forgot<br />
. .<br />
Public Holidays in <strong>2018</strong>:<br />
it was a public holiday!<br />
Monday 19 <strong>March</strong> - Saint Joseph<br />
Friday 30 <strong>March</strong> - Good Friday<br />
Monday 2 April- Easter Monday<br />
Send your information to:<br />
communityspirit112@gmail.com<br />
Tuesday 1 May - Labour Day<br />
Wednesday 15 Aug - Assumption of Mary<br />
Tuesday 9 Oct - Valencian Regional Holiday<br />
Friday 12 Oct - Fiesta Nacional de España<br />
Thursday 1 Nov - All Saints' Day<br />
Thursday 6 Dec - Constitution Day<br />
Saturday 8 Dec - Immaculate Conception
THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS<br />
Map of Contributors<br />
People who have contributed to this issue of<br />
'<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>' online magazine<br />
It's always good to get an overview, so this map gives you an overview of where local people live who have contributed by<br />
either writing articles, being interviewed or paying for advertising in this issue. As you can see, there is quite a distance<br />
between everyone but we all feel connected through the community spirit.<br />
Villar del Arzobispo - Nathan Holder (Serrian Solar)<br />
Casinos - Maria Lluch (Eclispe Vets)<br />
Domeno - Quiz Night<br />
L'Elinia - Kalpana (Ayurveda Lifestyle)<br />
Pedralba - Eugene Carmichael and Lin Mcnally<br />
Lliria - David Smith, Susana Diaz Estaban<br />
Olocau - Emma Coyne and Gladys Brooks<br />
Gilet, near Sagunto - Ray Foster<br />
Montserrat - Anne E Duguid<br />
Valencia - Pierre and Yohe DeBaas-Tortoza (Blondes, Brunettes and Redheads) , Kelly Darling and Ben Eilers (Warrior Up to<br />
Win), Claudia Dogger, Darren Bishop, Radilina Shanova.<br />
United Kingdom - Helen Warriner
1st <strong>March</strong><br />
La tristeza de los ogros, Teatre Principal, 20:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Prefiero que seamos amigos, Teatre Talia, 20:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Argentinean dance clases, Ca Revolta, 20:00h<br />
Workshop, Ciutat Vella<br />
Music Box - Elige la música de la peligro, La peligro, 23:59h<br />
Music/DJ, El Cedro<br />
Fragments <strong>2018</strong>, MuVIM, 19:30h,<br />
Exposition, Ciutat Vella<br />
The Baboon Show, 16 Toneladas, 21:00h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
2nd <strong>March</strong><br />
Concierto benéfico: A chance to dream music series UPV,<br />
18:00h<br />
Music, Universitats<br />
Chiki Lora Kaf Café 21:00h<br />
Music, Benimaclet<br />
Oirtrio (jazz/latin) Magazine Club, 21:30h<br />
Music, Extramurs<br />
Arcangel Akuarela Playa, 20:00h<br />
Music, Poblats Maritims<br />
El último, que apague la luz Estudio 64, 19:30h<br />
Exposition, Benimaclet<br />
La dislexia de los conejos Sala, Russaf,a 20:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Russafa<br />
Information provided by Claudia Dogger<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
3rd <strong>March</strong><br />
Pequeño Beethoven: niños y música clásica (CHILDREN), Librería La Rossa<br />
11:00h<br />
Classical music Benimaclet<br />
Fallas Sostenibles, LaMorada Valencia, 18:00h<br />
Conference/debate Russafa<br />
The Velvet Rock Band, Sala Funkadelia, 20:00h<br />
Rock/pop music, Extramurs<br />
Invisible adversaries, La Filmoteca, 22:30h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Radioactive - Funky Groovy Music, Radio City, 23:00h<br />
World music, Ciutat Vella<br />
Aves de Paso, La Filmoteca, 18:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
4th <strong>March</strong><br />
El libro de la selva (CHILDREN) Sala Flumen 12:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Campanar<br />
El teatro estaá lleno de zombies Espacio Inestable 20:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Mercado de autoras: coro de mujeres, l'Anticor El Solar<br />
Corona 17:00h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
5th <strong>March</strong><br />
Els Temps de la Seda Museu Nac. Ceràmica, 9:30h<br />
Conference/debate, Ciutat Vella<br />
41 Fira del Llibre Antic y d'Ocasió, Gran Vía Marqués del Turia, 10:30h<br />
Book fair, Gran Vía<br />
Yo, Claude Monet, Yelmo Cines, 20:00h<br />
Cinem,a Campanar<br />
Hip hop jam session, Radio City, 22:00h<br />
Hip hop music Ciutat Vella<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
6th <strong>March</strong><br />
The Practice of Love, La Filmoteca, 20:00h,<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Flamenco en vivo, Radio City, 22:30h,<br />
Flamenco music, Ciutat Vella<br />
Degustación asiatica, Tulsa Café, 21:00h,<br />
Other, Benimaclet<br />
Circuito Café Teatro Caiza Popular. Dani Alés, Radio City, 20:00h,<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Factoría Rambleta, La Rambleta, 20:00h,<br />
Other, Jesús<br />
7th <strong>March</strong><br />
Atomic Art <strong>2018</strong>, La Fábrica de Hielo, 18:00h<br />
Music/illustration, Poblats Maritims<br />
Antología de la Zarzuela, Sala Flumen, 18:00h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
Sorolla: Los Viajes de la Luz La Filmoteca 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Noche de flamenco, Sala Matisse, 22:00h<br />
Music, El Cedro<br />
Reggae night. Jam & DJ session, Radio City, 22:30h<br />
Music Ciutat Vella<br />
Las Sinsombrero, Sala Matilde Salvador, 19:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Miguel de Molina al Desnudo, Teatre Talia, 20:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
The Hole Zero, Teatre Olympia, 20:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Leslie Helpert Trio, Jimmy Glass Jazz Pub, 22:30h<br />
Jazz music' Ciutat Vella<br />
Todas a la Huelga Party, Sala La Peligro, 23:59h,<br />
Music/DJ Universitats<br />
8th <strong>March</strong><br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
9th <strong>March</strong><br />
Mäbu, OCCC, 19:00h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
No se lo Digas a Nadie, Sala Russafa, 20:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Russafa<br />
J&BTRYO (Jazz), Teatro Círculo, 20:30h<br />
Music, Benimaclet<br />
The Standby Connection + Ghost Transmission, Sala Russafa, 23:00h<br />
Music, Russafa<br />
Ray Collin's Hot Club, 16 Toneladas, 23:00h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
Karim - Sólo Para Adultos, Teatre Talia, 23:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
10th <strong>March</strong><br />
Yoga + Tameana, The Rubias Studio, 11:00h<br />
Workshop Russafa<br />
El Patito no es Feo: Es Diferente (CHILDREN), El Teatret, 17:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Extramurs<br />
Concienciación Sobre la Violencia de Género, Fusionart, 18:30h<br />
Conference/debate, Benimaclet<br />
Tribal Trip (Danza Tribal), Fusionart, 20:00h<br />
Dance Benimaclet<br />
Natural Woman: An Aretha Franklin Tribute by Calyce Jonene, Sala Matisse, 23:00h<br />
Music, El Cedro<br />
Hard Party, Teatre Talia, 23:30h<br />
Theatre/dance' Ciutat Vella<br />
11th <strong>March</strong><br />
Domingo con The Rubias: Desayuno + Crea tu Tapiz, The Rubias Studio, 10:30h<br />
Workshop, Russafa<br />
Trivialencia, Cruz del Sur, 19:00h<br />
Quiz, El Cedro<br />
Ventura Teatre, el Micalet, 19:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Extramurs<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
12th <strong>March</strong><br />
Temps de Rock, Las Naves, 09:30h<br />
Other Poblats Maritims<br />
Cezanne, Retratos de una Vida Yelmo, Cines, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Campanar<br />
Phronesis, Jimmy Glass Jazz Pub, 20:45h<br />
Jazz music, Ciutat Vella<br />
Hip-hop jam session, Radio City, 22:00h<br />
Hip hop music, Ciutat Vella<br />
13th <strong>March</strong><br />
Tiempo de Mujeres Valencia <strong>2018</strong> Fundació Bancaixa 09:00h<br />
Conference/debate, Ciutat Vella<br />
Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone. 1968, 164'), La Filmoteca<br />
18:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Adam's Rib (George Cukor, 1949), Col·legi Major Rector Peset, 18:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Red, Gold & Green Tuesday Party, Sala Matisse, 22:00h<br />
Music, El Cedro<br />
14th <strong>March</strong><br />
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (Robert Siodmak. 1945. 80'), La Filmoteca, 18:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Edictio Siglo XXI: Prohibido Tener Hijos, La Filmoteca, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Degustación japonesa, Tulsa Café, 21:00h<br />
Other, Benimaclet<br />
Fred Wesley & The New JBS, 16 Toneladas, 22:00h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
15th <strong>March</strong><br />
Mostra de Artesania, Mercado de Colón, 11:00h<br />
Other, Mercado de Colón<br />
Plan B Falles Festival <strong>2018</strong>, Falle Borrull Socors, 22:00h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
Reina Roja, Café del Duende, 22:30h<br />
Music Extramurs<br />
Carlos Sarduy. Afro Cuban, Jazz Jimmy Glass Jazz Pub, 23:30h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
DJ Mapache, La Peligro, 23:59h<br />
Music/DJ, Universitats<br />
16th <strong>March</strong><br />
J.J. Vaquero y Nacho García Teatre Talia 20:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Mad Punk + Zurakapote 16 Toneladas 23:00h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
The Masters of the Piñon' Jimmy Glass Jazz Pub' 23:00h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
MS Nina + Beauty Brain + BVNKZ + Qwert' Sala La 3, 23:55h<br />
Music, Poblats Maritims<br />
Do the Ska Party! El Primo del Ska + Danny Soulrocket, Sala La Peligro<br />
23:59h<br />
Music/DJ Universitats<br />
17th <strong>March</strong><br />
Clowntifics, Teatre Talia, 12:00h<br />
Theatre/dance Ciutat Vella<br />
Les Poissons Voyageurs, Tulsa Café, 20:00h<br />
Music, Benimaclet<br />
Muerdo, El Loco Club, 21:00h<br />
Music, Extramurs<br />
Xequebo! Fallas Festival <strong>2018</strong>, Plaza del Carmen, 22:00h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
18th <strong>March</strong><br />
Mostra de Artesania, Mercado de Colón 11:00h<br />
Fair, Ciutat Vella<br />
The Fire Night Trio, Jimmy Glass Jazz Pub, 23:00h<br />
Jazz music, Ciutat Vella<br />
Fiesta de Disfraces back to 80's, La Peligro, 23:59h<br />
Music/DJ, Universitats<br />
19th <strong>March</strong><br />
Vincent van Gogh: Una Nueva Mirada, Yelmo Cines, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Campanar<br />
Hip hop jam session, Radio City, 22:00h<br />
Hip hop music, Ciutat Vella<br />
Fallas Antifascistas <strong>2018</strong>. Cremà Falla Arrancapins, 23:00h<br />
Other, Extramurs<br />
20th <strong>March</strong><br />
Todo Sobre mi Madre (Pedro Almodóvar, 1999) Col·legi Major Rector Peset, 18:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (Robert Siodmak. 1945. 80'), La Filmoteca, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Flamenco en vivo' Radio City', 22:30h<br />
Music, Ciutat Vella<br />
21st <strong>March</strong><br />
"Félicité" by Alain Gomis, VOSE (French) Institut Français - Auditorio, 17:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Le Sage Hamadi y Otros Cuentos (CHILDREN), Institut Français, 18:00h<br />
Workshop, Ciutat Vella<br />
Big Bang Dones. Feminismes en Expansió MuVIM 18:30h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
22nd <strong>March</strong><br />
Mi Vida Entre las Hormigas. El Documental de Ilegales SGAE, 19:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Americana FIilm Fest La Rambleta, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Jesús<br />
De Sobte la Llum Teatro Círculo 20:30h<br />
Music, Benimaclet<br />
23rd <strong>March</strong><br />
Crea tu Historia (CHILDREN) Idecrea, Centro de Formación, 18:00h<br />
Workshop, Russafa<br />
Taller de Habilidades Socioemocionales Para Niñas y Niños (from 5 to 10 y/o) (CHILDREN),<br />
Fusionart, 18:00h<br />
Workshop, Benimaclet<br />
El Último Beso Sala Russafa 20:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Russafa<br />
24th <strong>March</strong><br />
Mindfulness, Relajación y Bienestar Psicológico, Fusionart, 17:30h<br />
Other, Benimaclet<br />
El Comediant Teatre El Micalet, 19:00h<br />
Theatre/dance, Extramurs<br />
Noche de Poesía Erótica, Fusionart, 21:00h<br />
Poetry, Benimaclet<br />
Sleeper (Woody Allen. 1973. 88'), La Filmoteca, 21:30h<br />
Cinemam Ciutat Vella<br />
Guerra de Sexos, Sexos en Guerram Teatre Taliam 23:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
25th <strong>March</strong><br />
Iconografía de la Inmaculada Concepción (CHILDREN),<br />
Museo de las Bellas Artes, 11:00h<br />
Workshop, Ciutat Vella<br />
El Reino del León (CHILDREN), Sala Flumen, 12:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Campanar<br />
Cantando al Mundo Palau de la Música 19:30h<br />
Music, Aragón<br />
26th <strong>March</strong><br />
Renoir, Admirado y Denigrado, Yelmo Cines, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Campanar<br />
Hip hop jam session, Radio Cit,y 22:00h<br />
Hip hop music, Ciutat Vella<br />
27th <strong>March</strong><br />
Omega, SGAE, 19:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Ciencia y Cañas, La Fábrica de Hielo, 20:00h<br />
Other, Poblats Maritims<br />
Curts Polonesos Contemporanis, La Filmoteca, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
28th <strong>March</strong><br />
A Través del Espejo, La Filmoteca, 20:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Palabra de Mago. Jorge Blass, Teatre Olympia, 20:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Ciutat Vella<br />
Evil, Evil Girrrls & The Malvados, 16 Toneladas, 22:30h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
29th <strong>March</strong><br />
Dúo Caifás "Jesucristo Superstar", Tulsa Café, 13:00h & 20:00h<br />
Music, Benimaclet<br />
Cesk Freixas, El Volander, 21:30h<br />
Music, Nou Moles<br />
La Muñeca de Sal + Elle Belga, 16 Toneladas, 23:00h<br />
Music, Campanar<br />
30th <strong>March</strong><br />
Kancaneo Teatro, Fusionart 21:30h<br />
Theatre/dance, Benimaclet<br />
Miguel Rodríguez Trio + Víctor Jiménez, Jimmy Glass Jazz Pub, 22:30h<br />
Jazz music, Ciutat Vella<br />
N.R.P. con Percusión, La Peligr,o 23:59h<br />
Music/DJ Universitats<br />
31st <strong>March</strong><br />
My Darling Clementine (John Ford. 1946. 97'), La Filmoteca, 18:00h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
Noche de Folk, Fusionart, 20:00h<br />
Music/Cinema, Benimaclet<br />
The Immortal Story (Orson Welles. 1968. 58'), La Filmoteca, 22:30h<br />
Cinema, Ciutat Vella<br />
WHAT'S ON?<br />
What's On in the city of Valencia?
THINGS TO DO<br />
Las Fallas Festival - Valencia is an explosive city!<br />
Exclusive interview with Darren Bishop, pyrotechnics<br />
expert living in Russafa, Valencia<br />
Valencia is full of wonderful traditions. The most explosive<br />
one is known as Las Fallas. It is a celebration for the<br />
commemoration of Saint Joseph as well as the celebration<br />
marking the beginning of the Spring equinox. The festival<br />
culminates from 14th to 19th <strong>March</strong> each year when you will<br />
see them let off lots of fireworks and burn massive<br />
monuments called ‘falla’, which have taken the whole year to<br />
design, construct and paint! Sounds crazy? Yes, it is!!<br />
So I thought that it would be interesting for our readers to get<br />
to see a different perspective of this amazing festival, so I was<br />
very happy when I got the opportunity to meet with Darren<br />
Bishop, an expat living in the Russafa area of Valencia, who<br />
happens to be an expert in pyrotechnics. What is amazing is<br />
that the festival actually goes on all year!<br />
THE INTERVIEW<br />
Richard: “How is the festival organised?”<br />
Darren: “Each committee work from their ‘casal’, as they are<br />
known. The casal, meaning home, is their base. This is where<br />
all the planning and fundraising takes place for the individual<br />
casal. Casal’s are broken down into streets, and/or sectors<br />
(neighbourhoods). You will see these scattered around<br />
various streets”.<br />
Richard: “What is a casal?”<br />
Darren: “A casal is their base, there are over 800 of them in<br />
Valencia and surrounding neighbourhoods so it is nearly<br />
every street. The base depends on their own fundraising to<br />
put on extra effects like street lights or parties but is mainly<br />
paid for by the commission".<br />
Richard: “So, every street has its own firework display?”
Darren: “Not always but for the majority of<br />
the time yes, and some of them are massive!<br />
They are also cleverly constructed from<br />
timber frames, wire, paper mache and<br />
shaped with polystyrene.”<br />
Richard: “So, who finances it?”<br />
Darren: “The local governmen. Well, there<br />
are some small groups locally that don’t<br />
support it as passionately as the majority.<br />
You can and will see small groups protesting<br />
at times for various reasons. For instance,<br />
some don’t understand why so much is<br />
spent on the festival when money could go<br />
to other causes. But the argument is about<br />
tourism and how much money is generated<br />
because of the event.”<br />
Richard: “But then of course the people like<br />
to have a festival and like to celebrate,<br />
especially here when they’ve been working<br />
away so hard.. What is it that people say<br />
here ‘Siesta and Fiesta!”<br />
Darren: “Exactly, I totally agree, no siesta,<br />
no fiesta!”<br />
Richard: “So it’s financed by the local<br />
government, right?”<br />
Darren: “Yeah, well not firework display. They have their own monuments, you<br />
can walk through a small lane by the historic centre, and see something tiny,<br />
like the size of a chair.”<br />
Richard: “What are the themes that they used for building the monuments?”<br />
Darren: “They are all topics of satire, political, local, national and international<br />
press. I saw a good one the other day of Trump dressed up as Napoleon. He had<br />
2 puppets in his hands, one was Putin and the other was Kim Jong Un.”<br />
Darren: “Yes but organised by each of the<br />
local casels. Me and my wife have just joined<br />
one, it’s quite exciting. It’s in our<br />
neighbourhood. They welcome anyone<br />
International, which is very nice. We meet<br />
between 8pm and 9pm every Tuesday and<br />
have drinks and pay into a lottery. They have<br />
given us the first year free then it’s 16€ per<br />
month.”<br />
Richard: “So, that goes into?”<br />
Richard: “They are actually public figures?”<br />
2 0 C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Darren: “That goes into the casals,<br />
each casel do their own things. They<br />
have their own parties, their own<br />
marquees, throughout the year. They<br />
have their own paella competitions,<br />
its a real family experience! If you are<br />
in one of the casal you are in a bigger<br />
extended family! That’s what it is like<br />
over here.”<br />
Richard: “How many people are in a<br />
casal for example?”<br />
Darren: “They are all different, some<br />
of them are massive, some of them<br />
could be less, like 20 people or some<br />
less. The bigger ones like Na Jordana<br />
are a lot larger. I can’t remember all<br />
the names of them, there is like 800<br />
of them. The bigger ones do well in<br />
the competitions.”<br />
Richard: “So there are judging<br />
competitions for the monuments?”<br />
Darren: “Yes, there are judging<br />
competitions for the<br />
monuments, but there are also<br />
little monuments called ninots,<br />
they are like 3 meters high and<br />
the detail on them is absolutely<br />
out of this world. The big<br />
monuments and the ninots are<br />
everywhere. There is an<br />
exhibition going on at the<br />
moment in the City of Arts and<br />
Sciences, on the bottom floor.<br />
All the ninots are there at the<br />
moment (ninots means<br />
‘snowman’).<br />
Richard: “Who are the artists?”<br />
Darren: “There are many artists,<br />
they are really highly regarded<br />
over here, if one passes away,<br />
they put a note online and<br />
everyone gets upset about it.”<br />
Richard: “So these artists are<br />
famous?”<br />
Darren: “Yes, they get paid for<br />
doing the work and can make a<br />
career out of it! l would love to<br />
be part of it!”<br />
Richard: “So what else is going on?”<br />
Darren: “That's just part of it, then there<br />
are the lights, as well as the pyrotechnics<br />
and music which is done by famous<br />
groups and gets funding. The bigger the<br />
funding the more they grow, the more<br />
popular they get.”<br />
“Pyrotechnics for instance, the traditions<br />
is from the 1st <strong>March</strong> to 19th <strong>March</strong>, is<br />
that there will be a mascleta in the town<br />
centre every single day at 2pm. This<br />
originally started as one Mascletà on the<br />
19th <strong>March</strong> for the celebration of Saint<br />
José. As the years have gone on we now<br />
see one every day from 1st to 19th <strong>March</strong><br />
at 2pm in the main square.”<br />
Richard: “What’s a mascleta?”<br />
Darren: “A mascleta is made of 4 parts<br />
and ends with the ‘earthquake’ at the end,<br />
they have what they call the terratremol<br />
which is a rumble of noise because it’s the<br />
earthquake. It makes your hair stand on<br />
end even if you are not that keen on<br />
pyrotechnics! I saw people over in the<br />
square with tears in their eyes."<br />
2 1 C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
"It’s amazing you really get<br />
something from it, every single day<br />
it’s done by a different pyrotechnics<br />
company and while the majority of<br />
them are local and Spanish some of<br />
them are from Europe, not just<br />
Spain.”<br />
Richard: “Where do they come<br />
from?”<br />
Darren: “They come from all over<br />
Europe. It’s not just Spanish<br />
companies, but Portugal and so on.<br />
One of my favourite companies is<br />
Europlà Pirotecnia. The manager of<br />
Europlà pyrotecnia is Spanish but<br />
English, French and the Dutch work<br />
for them too. You might think you<br />
have seen fireworks, I’ve seen them<br />
since a child but over here they go<br />
that next step further and it just goes<br />
up then up again.”<br />
Richard: “What is it that makes those<br />
fireworks so impressive? I mean you<br />
have years of experience with<br />
pyrotechnics, so what is the<br />
difference?”<br />
Darren: “That comes down to the<br />
individuals in the design and<br />
manufacture of their own products,<br />
like I was saying tomorrow night<br />
there is a firework display being fired<br />
by Ricardo Caballer of RICASA<br />
Pirotecnia. I have already seen a little<br />
bit of their set up today and it looks<br />
really, really good actually. They are<br />
going to have 4 cranes, they are<br />
doing a first ever double vertical<br />
Mascletà. Last year they did a single<br />
vertical Mascletà which was a first<br />
and was amazing. This weekend is<br />
going to be absolutely outstanding.”<br />
Richard: “When you say they are going to<br />
have a first ever double vertical, what<br />
does that mean?”<br />
Daren: “They are going to have 2<br />
Mascletà’s hanging vertically from cranes<br />
2 cranes per Mascletà. A normal Mascletà<br />
would be where they have strings tied to<br />
stands that go along, it looks like a<br />
clothesline. They are really popular over<br />
here and the towns goes nuts, it’s packed.<br />
It’s like a low clothesline or hanging<br />
garlands."<br />
Richard: “So, you will see it going up to<br />
the aerial and then down to the ground<br />
shaker?”<br />
Darren: “It’s very good, they have got a<br />
surprise for us, they are going to put<br />
writing up, I think that is what is 36<br />
metres high. You will have letters coming<br />
from, that is the surprise for us tomorrow<br />
night. The Caballa family themselves,<br />
Ricardo Cabela have been doing it for<br />
years and years, their family have been<br />
doing a historical piece from the late<br />
1800’s, it’s crazy!”<br />
Richard: “I wondered about the<br />
pyrotechnic companies, they are<br />
obviously family traditions?”<br />
Darren: “Absolutely, they work together<br />
to make the mascleta. They look great<br />
when they are hanging down, it looks<br />
pretty as street decorations, and every<br />
company has a different effect/wrapping<br />
or intensity of noise. It could be louder or<br />
shoot coloured smoke into the air, like the<br />
shining stars. For national woman’s day,<br />
they did something special, they did<br />
multi-coloured smoke like a rainbow, it<br />
looked absolutely awesome, another<br />
company did<br />
something similar to promote awareness<br />
of equality.”<br />
Richard: “What is the safety level with all<br />
these explosives going off around the<br />
general public?<br />
Darren: “Funny you should say that<br />
because a new Bill came out yesterday.<br />
It’s different from the city square<br />
Mascletà which I think now pyrotechnics<br />
companies are only allowed to use<br />
between up to 250kg in product weight.<br />
As for the bigger shows they are limited<br />
on burn time and calibre of the shells<br />
being fired. I know tomorrow night there<br />
is 1.275kg of fireworks but they are<br />
allowed more (if needed) because it is on<br />
the other side of the river and it is away<br />
from the people. It is designed perfectly<br />
because it is the right spot but wherever<br />
you are it is going to look pretty good.”<br />
“I do pyrotechnics myself, as I said I had<br />
my own company and I had to close it<br />
down because of the red tape in the UK at<br />
the time, the insurance went sky high, but<br />
so did the safety distance for both storage<br />
and display. The storage facilities distance<br />
started at 75 metres away but it went up<br />
to 500 metres by 2001.”<br />
“This was the distance of the storage<br />
facilities to any public railway or walkway,<br />
which makes perfect sense, so, you can<br />
understand why people want to do the<br />
right thing, it just makes it more and more<br />
difficult. The bases over here, I have not<br />
been to one, but seen pictures of them,<br />
some of the guys that do the pyrotechnics<br />
over here, they are very secure they have<br />
concrete ramps, bunkers and taped off<br />
areas and are extremely secure.”<br />
2 2 C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Darren Bishop on site<br />
Richard: “So, basically people are safe<br />
walking around and what about cats<br />
and dogs?”<br />
Darren: “The veterinary society of<br />
Valencia have just launched an<br />
information campaign for people<br />
about what they can do to keep their<br />
pets safe and calm, so they are taking<br />
them into account. The Mayor also<br />
mentioned it yesterday. You know<br />
what it is like in England if someone<br />
lets off a banger in June, there’s a riot!”<br />
“But pets do get more used to the<br />
fireworks the more they hear them, so<br />
eventually it becomes normal. In<br />
England because you just have 5th<br />
November and New Years Eve, it<br />
comes out of nowhere so it petrifies<br />
the animals. So it stands to reason that<br />
if they hear it more they get used it<br />
more. Don’t forget they have a long<br />
firework season over here, nothing to<br />
do with Las Fallas, but the season<br />
starts from <strong>March</strong> to November, so<br />
they have fireworks all the time.”<br />
Richard: “Well thank you very much<br />
for coming along and giving us a<br />
different perspective of what this<br />
great festival is like, when you are<br />
actually living in the city. Very nice to<br />
have met you!”<br />
Darren: “It was a pleasure!”<br />
Darren’s Background:<br />
He was born into another world<br />
famous tradition, Lewes Bonfire.<br />
The small county town of Lewes, East<br />
Sussex, attracts 10’s of thousands of<br />
people each year to witness their<br />
Bonfire remembrance and traditions.<br />
Involved in this are many costumes<br />
that are made by the wearers or their<br />
families, processions of flaming<br />
torches, firework banners and<br />
firework displays. There are 7 Bonfire<br />
Societies in Lewes and Darren has<br />
been involved from a very young age<br />
with two. This lead him to get<br />
involved with the pyrotechnics and<br />
that sowed the seed for his passion for<br />
everything pyro.<br />
He followed his passion with thanks to some<br />
other ‘Bonfire’ friends followed it all the way<br />
here to Valencia! To this day he is very much<br />
involved and can often be seen carrying<br />
firework banners on November 5th each<br />
year.<br />
From this he started his own pyrotechnic<br />
company in 1997 and has done professional<br />
displays for some big names including Sir<br />
Richard Branson, Charlton Athletic FC and<br />
many more!<br />
2 3 C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Poem:<br />
CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A<br />
CLOWN<br />
WHEN ONE DAY WE FADE AWAY<br />
AND ALL OUR HAIR HAS TURNÉD GREY<br />
QUITE TIGHTLY ON THE ROPE WE’LL SIT<br />
IMAGINING WE ONCE WERE FIT<br />
TO FROLIC IN THE AFTERNOONS,<br />
TURN SOMERSAULTS BENEATH THE MOON<br />
AND CONTEMPLATE WHEN ADULATION<br />
SOUNDS, THE MARVELS OF CREATION<br />
UPSIDEDOWN ON WIRES TAUT<br />
BALANCING WHERE WE NEVER OUGHT<br />
TO BE, BUT WHERE THE LIGHTS & NOISE<br />
TREMBLE IN A MOCKING VOICE;<br />
THERE WE WANT OUR YEARS TO RUN,<br />
COUNTING TIME WHILE HAVING FUN<br />
BALANCED IN THE AFTERNOON<br />
AS AGE APPROACHES ALL TOO SOON . . .<br />
Written by<br />
Ray Foster
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TRUFFLES<br />
Written by Eugene Carmichael<br />
Hello everyone!<br />
I’m Eugene Carmichael from the<br />
beautiful island of Bermuda, now a<br />
permanent resident of Spain, living with<br />
my wife Lorna in Pedralba, while our<br />
adult son, Nathaniel (Nathan) lives and<br />
works in the Pyrenees Mountains as a<br />
professional guide and canyoning<br />
instructor.<br />
I thank Richard for the invitation to be a<br />
guest contributor to <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong><br />
on matters related to “Driving in<br />
Valencia.” The new arrival to our<br />
community soon learns that Spain is a<br />
gloriously varied country, rich in a<br />
chequered history that lies as an open<br />
book full of interesting historical facts<br />
for the curious.<br />
The flat lands of Valencia are where the<br />
vast majority of humanity has settled<br />
which offers a centre of much cultural<br />
activities, but when we look to the<br />
mountains that provide<br />
‘the backdrop we find the authentic life<br />
of el campo. If you have a car here is<br />
where you’ll find a vast network of<br />
narrow two-way roads to carefully<br />
explore. Every village has a Patron Saint<br />
to be honoured and many have festivals<br />
that celebrate their economic reason for<br />
being. By visiting the Internet or<br />
Facebook page of the Ayuntamiento for<br />
any selected village you will find their<br />
programme of upcoming events.<br />
For instance, on January 20th, <strong>2018</strong> my<br />
wife and I paid a visit to the hamlet of La<br />
Pobleta that is part of the Barronia de<br />
Andilla. These are a group of little<br />
villages that are connected to Andilla,<br />
the principal one and include La Pobleta,<br />
Osset, and Artaj.<br />
To get to this area first locate the CV-35<br />
northwest from Valencia City in the<br />
direction of Ademuz until you get to the<br />
turn off for Villar Del Arzobispo. This is<br />
the next principal town past Lliria.<br />
You then travel towards Villar and at<br />
the roundabout entrance to Villar you<br />
will see sign posted Andilla. Twentytwo<br />
kilometres farther up the<br />
mountain range you will encounter<br />
Andilla with a population of 349<br />
including all four villages, and they<br />
stand at a height of 895 metres (2,936<br />
feet) above sea level. The temperature<br />
difference was 10 degrees cooler in<br />
that region.<br />
By following the V V-6203 and then<br />
the V V-6123 along a winding<br />
mountain road you will eventually<br />
come to this cluster of villages and<br />
hamlets. This is the true Spain where<br />
it’s highly unlikely any tourists will be<br />
found. We had gone there to enjoy the<br />
truffle festival, or as it is called, “La<br />
Feria de la Trufa.”
Having heard so much about trufas we<br />
were curious. The current price for this<br />
product is around one thousand Euros<br />
per kilo, so what’s causing all this<br />
excitement?<br />
Firstly, to me a trufa smells like my dog<br />
Max on a wet day, and looks like<br />
something he may have left behind. The<br />
taste of the trufa in its pure form is<br />
nondescript, but when added to food<br />
magic happens. I have no way of<br />
describing that magic, it’s so subjective.<br />
Basically it is a fungi and the highest<br />
price ever paid for a white and rare one<br />
weighing 4lb.16 oz was $61,250.<br />
Whichever way we look at truffles or<br />
trufas they are the world’s most<br />
expensive food.<br />
She got to try one of these as a tapa and<br />
was convinced to buy the package. The<br />
cost: 15 (fifteen) Euros for six eggs<br />
including the truffle, or 2.50 Euros each<br />
egg. I hope this was a one-off purchase.<br />
This has been only one example of<br />
what can be experienced and learnt by<br />
getting off the beaten track. It adds<br />
depth and breadth to living in Valencia.<br />
It also adds the purpose of educational<br />
enrichment to the tool that is the<br />
family car.<br />
Happy Motoring!<br />
Written by Eugene Carmichael<br />
My wife bought half dozen free-range<br />
eggs that had been stored in the<br />
refrigerated truffle store where they<br />
absorbed the odour of the truffles. In the<br />
package a small truffle was included to<br />
be grated onto the eggs as they were<br />
fried.<br />
Available on Amazon<br />
Email: eugene.spain@gmail.com
COMMUNITY SUPPORT<br />
There’s a lot of talk about independence right now. Whether you are in<br />
Spain or the UK, it’s hitting the headlines. And whatever your personal<br />
perspective on issues such as The UK’s relationship with Europe, or<br />
Catalonia’s with Spain - one thing is clear - independence<br />
matters to us all.<br />
What does independence mean and does our perception of<br />
independence change as we get older? The UK study The meaning of<br />
“Independence” for older people in different residential<br />
settings (The Journals of Gerontology May 2014)compared the<br />
perceptions of independence by older people with different levels of<br />
dependency according to whether they lived in their own home, or in a<br />
supported living environment (purpose built independent living<br />
accommodation with access to some communal services) or in<br />
residential care. It found that whilst the term independence had<br />
multiple meanings, certain things that mean independence were<br />
common to all participants in the study - such as accepting help at hand,<br />
doing things alone, having family, friends and money as resources, and<br />
maintaining physical and mental health.<br />
‘I joined Age in Spain because I wanted to help others,<br />
but I only have a limited amount of free time. Being a<br />
caseworker gives me flexibility. I am given a person to<br />
visit on a one-off basis to collect information about<br />
their circumstances, I fill in some forms and send them<br />
to our Casework Manager. Sometimes people’s<br />
problems can be resolved by putting them in touch<br />
with local organisations that can help. Sometimes, a<br />
small grant can make all the difference.<br />
Just a couple of hours of my time is enough to put<br />
people in touch with help.’<br />
Helping people maintain their independence - that’s<br />
what matters to us. Can you help? Find out more<br />
about us at www.ageinspain.org.<br />
WHERE INDEPENDENCE MATTERS!<br />
Age in Spain helps English speaking people in Spain to maintain their<br />
independence through information and practical support. Whatever<br />
your situation, loss of independence can happen at any stage of life, no<br />
matter how carefully you plan. For this reason, Age in Spain helps<br />
people of all ages to deal with life changes and challenges.<br />
We are a small organisation, run by volunteers, helping people<br />
throughout the whole of Spain. Our Info guides are available free on our<br />
website and our Information phone line is open Monday to Friday. If<br />
information alone is not enough, our trained volunteers help to<br />
find practical solutions through our Casework service. We work with<br />
local welfare organisations and services in Spain and the UK, and help<br />
guide the client through available options to resolve their problem. We<br />
also act as an agent for UK charities which can support UK nationals in<br />
Spain who need extra financial help. A small grant for someone with<br />
real difficulties can make a lasting difference. We assess the client’s<br />
circumstances and put them in touch with the organisations that might<br />
be able to help.<br />
Gladys is one of our team of thirty caseworkers in Spain, who covers the<br />
Valencia area.<br />
FOR ALL FOREIGNERS<br />
IN SPAIN<br />
Your arrangements to meet your final<br />
expenses that were made in your home<br />
country do not work here in Spain.<br />
You need cash, credit card or a Pre-Paid<br />
funeral plan.<br />
I can help you understand the Pre-Paid<br />
funeral plan option- No obligation!<br />
Call me, Eugene Carmichael at<br />
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Geneinspain@Yahoo.com.<br />
I suggest you do so today.
New Ayurveda Lifestyle Centre<br />
in L'Eliana - Miracle Healing<br />
Xclusive<br />
interview<br />
So I heard about Ayurveda from my<br />
travels to India, but I wasn't really sure<br />
what it was all about, so I thought that<br />
the best way to find out was to go along<br />
to the Ayurveda Lifestyle centre in<br />
L'Eliana, near Valencia and find out for<br />
myself.<br />
Bharat Negi and his wife Kalpana invited<br />
me to their healing centre to experience<br />
an Ayurveda massage, their delicious<br />
cuisine and great hospitality.Over the<br />
last 14 years, Bharat Negi has treated<br />
over 10,000 clients, so I wanted to get to<br />
know them better and understand why<br />
people are flocking to experience their<br />
healing treatments.<br />
The interview started with a loud crash<br />
in the back garden, I looked around to<br />
see a big sign hanging off a tree which<br />
said “Om. Relax”.<br />
[That just made me start to laugh!]<br />
Richard: “So how did you get into<br />
healing?”<br />
Bharat: “It was my mother who inspired<br />
us to get into healing when we were<br />
children. We grew up in India, and came<br />
from Himachal Pradesh in the<br />
mountains. Basically, we start learning<br />
Ayurveda from home. An Indian<br />
(kitchen) is a Herbosteria.”<br />
Kalpana: “When you finish school you<br />
have to go straight into medicine or<br />
Ayurveda. It is not your decision, it is<br />
either 6 years study for Ayurveda and 6<br />
years for studying for medicine. Actually<br />
his brother-in-law and his sister have<br />
been practicing Ayurveda. One is in<br />
Holland and the another in the US. It is a<br />
family tradition, my younger son started<br />
studying Ayurveda last year we have<br />
another son whose wife is an Ayurveda<br />
doctor also.”<br />
Richard: “What is Ayurveda?”<br />
Richard: “Why did you setup a clinic in<br />
Spain?”<br />
Kalpana: “I realised it is very popular in<br />
the West, so if we can give a little bit of<br />
our knowledge to the people here to<br />
live a good and lead a better life, then<br />
that is how we can help.”<br />
Kalpana: “It’s Ayurveda, a lifestyle<br />
basically.”
Richard: “What's the essence of<br />
Ayurveda and how is it different to the<br />
other treatments?”<br />
Bharat: “The difference is nature. First<br />
you need to know what is nature?<br />
Nature is your Earth, Water, Fire, Space<br />
and Air. This is the nature, in sanskrit<br />
they call it the same, they call it water,<br />
pitta, koffa, ( kapha), air, space. These<br />
are the five elements. There is a story<br />
about the five elements which comes<br />
from over 3,000 years ago, before<br />
Christ. One of the first books is called<br />
‘vedas’, which gave us a lot of<br />
knowledge, from singing to how to fight<br />
wars. It gave us all the knowledge we<br />
needed. Yoga and Ayurveda are like<br />
sisters. Yoga is the mind and physical<br />
and Ayurveda is the lifestyle. So, they<br />
are sisters. Vedas in the place of<br />
Vader’s”<br />
Kalpana: “It is basically a way of living.<br />
This is the essence they call it in Spanish<br />
the ‘Arte de vivir’, which is your lifestyle,<br />
it’s a way of life. That’s why our name is<br />
Ayurveda lifestyle."<br />
Richard: “But that’s actually like a<br />
generic name.”<br />
Kalpana: “Yes. If you change a bit of<br />
lifestyle your complete body changes.<br />
When we wake up in the morning, the<br />
first thing we do is to have a glass of<br />
water, then we brush our teeth and we<br />
clean our tongue. Most people have<br />
their breakfast and then they brush<br />
their teeth, this way you keep all the<br />
bacteria the whole night on your tongue<br />
and in your mouth and then add your<br />
breakfast. Whereas, with Ayurveda it’s<br />
different, it’s a change of lifestyle.”<br />
Richard: “Sometimes, I think that the<br />
way of living in the West is not<br />
particularly the best way.”<br />
Bharat: “It depends on where you are<br />
living.”<br />
Richard: “Does that mean then that you<br />
adapt the Ayurveda lifestyle to the<br />
environment”<br />
Bharat: “Absolutely, it’s all in the nature<br />
and connecting to the five elements,<br />
most people are disconnected from<br />
nature.”<br />
Kalpana: “When you disconnect from<br />
the five elements then you get the<br />
disharmony, with Ayurveda we don’t call<br />
it a disease we call it disharmony.”<br />
Bharat: “Dis...Ease.”<br />
Kalpana: “We do a very special<br />
treatment, it is called panchakarma,<br />
pancha is fire and karma is therapy, but<br />
we do more than 5 therapies here and in<br />
that my husband does the consultation<br />
first. He does the pulse reading, where<br />
he basically scans your whole body, and<br />
then he knows where the problem is and<br />
where the disharmony is. This is not<br />
only for the people who have health<br />
problems, this is for people who want to<br />
improve their lifestyle. We have clients<br />
who do this every year, they do it on<br />
their birthdays as a present to<br />
themselves. The treatment usually<br />
starts in the morning, then they have<br />
their breakfast and go for a walk and the<br />
procedures in the afternoons are<br />
different, cleaning and massages, things<br />
like that.”
“We get people who come here for the silent treatment, especially the<br />
corporate level people, they are very stressed out. We have the<br />
directors from big companies come here, they come only for the<br />
meditation and the treatment. Basically, it is connecting with yourself,<br />
nowadays, we are connected with the whole world, but we aren’t<br />
connected with ourselves!”<br />
Bharat: “People have seen everything, so now they are moving towards<br />
the peace.”<br />
Kalpana: “The treatments that we do are very deep treatments. Our<br />
massages are also not a normal spa massage you can have, with ours<br />
you feel your emotions are coming out, your chakras open up and you<br />
feel the energies.”<br />
Richard: “How do people react when they can feel their chakras?”<br />
Kalpana: “One lady cried a lot and then later she sent me a message<br />
saying that she was feeling so good! She had not felt so connected to<br />
herself for a long time, but after the massage, everything started<br />
flowing again in her life!”<br />
Richard: “Why do people come here for treatments?”<br />
Bharat: “Different motives, everywhere we see detox, everybody<br />
wants to detox, these are the main problems.”<br />
Kalpana: “Anxiety, depression.”<br />
Bharat: “They have various motives but for me, it is mainly detox.”<br />
Richard: “What is the detox treatment?”<br />
Bharat: “Detox, the five elements.”<br />
Richard: “I love how you always come back to the five elements.”<br />
Bharat: “It’s the story about the five elements, that’s why we have five<br />
fingers on our hand!”<br />
Kalpana: “Actually, there is a connection with the hand and the five<br />
elements. The five fingers, it's the energy, like when you take a spoon it<br />
is a metal energy, food is an energy so, when you eat it with your hand<br />
the food tastes different.”<br />
Richard: “That’s really interesting, I’m an artist as well, I’m a healing<br />
artist, it’s just one of the things I do but I paint with my hands, I don’t<br />
paint with a paint brush and I’ve always thought it’s because of the<br />
connection. I find it fascinating that I have never heard of the five<br />
elements and the five being connected to fingers.”<br />
“With our<br />
massages ...<br />
you feel your<br />
emotions are<br />
coming out,<br />
your chakras<br />
open and you<br />
feel the<br />
energies."<br />
Kalpana: “It’s the energy, life energy.”<br />
Bharat: “This is the story of the five elements, it<br />
really is.”<br />
Richard: “And it’s like this story is the basis of<br />
everything.”<br />
Bharat: “Yes, everything, absolutely. Change your<br />
chip.”<br />
Richard: “What do you mean by that?”<br />
Kalpana: “Your way of thinking. Your way of<br />
thinking changes, your vision to life changes.”<br />
Bharat: “The fear.”<br />
Richard: “That’s also very interesting, because<br />
people, the majority of people are ruled by fear, so<br />
fear is in their mind, I can’t do this, I can’t do that, I<br />
would imagine also, that people are fearful of trying<br />
out some of your treatments!”<br />
Kalpana: “Since we have been here, people have<br />
warmed to us both and trust us. There are people<br />
who don’t know what Ayurveda is but they come,<br />
every day to see what we are doing, this is<br />
something very new to them.”
Call: 962 324 478<br />
www.ayurvedabybharatnegi.com<br />
Ayurveda Lifestyle By Bharat Negi, C/Salamanca 12<br />
L´Eliana, 46183, Valencia<br />
Bharat: “I remember 14 years ago when<br />
I came here, in one month I had my first<br />
patient, and since then the same people<br />
who came then are still coming to me<br />
today, that’s got to be 14 years, the<br />
whole families.”<br />
Richard: “What is it that has kept people<br />
coming back again and again?”<br />
Kalpana: “They get good results. They<br />
want to maintain their body, they want<br />
to maintain their health.”<br />
Richard: “It’s interesting you talk about<br />
the chip because the chip is like<br />
changing something deep within us, then<br />
the outer body will change as well.”<br />
Bharat: “Exactly.”<br />
Kalpana: “It’s very important to change<br />
our inner bodies first, because I had a<br />
lady yesterday, she came for a massage,<br />
and she was telling me she doesn't like<br />
herself, she said because she is not the<br />
same as she was before. I said what’s the<br />
problem if you start loving yourself?<br />
Give positive energy to yourself.”<br />
Richard: “This is the key, self love.”<br />
Kalpana: “You need to start loving<br />
yourself and give positive love and<br />
energy to yourself, you cannot be the<br />
same at 47 years as you were when you<br />
were 18 years old. Your family loves<br />
you, my husband loves me, my daughter<br />
loves me so what is the problem, you are<br />
you, the whole world doesn’t have to<br />
love you, but you need to love yourself.”<br />
Richard: “I think with things like<br />
FaceBook, social media and everything<br />
else, it can be quite narcissistic, what do<br />
you think?”<br />
Kalpana: “True, looking for other people<br />
to ‘Like’ you and if people don’t like your<br />
beautiful profle photo then you can feel<br />
upset. It is just your ego getting hurt.”<br />
Richard: “It is almost like an epidemic<br />
that’s going happening on social media.<br />
And that’s totally disconnecting from<br />
the five elements, so, that’s why I can<br />
see the work that you are doing has even<br />
more importance in the world today.”<br />
Kalpana: “We try our level best, and you<br />
know when people come here they are<br />
not allowed o use their telephone.<br />
When we lived in Vilamarxant we did<br />
not have internet either, we were<br />
completely disconnected from the<br />
online world. But our clients still have<br />
one call a day to their families to check<br />
that everything was OK!”<br />
Richard: “Does smoking affect your<br />
connection with nature?”<br />
Bharat: “Yes. All the oxidents come<br />
straight from the nicotine and it goes in<br />
your body.”<br />
Kalpana: “It alters your mind also, why<br />
do people smoke? They say I was so<br />
tense I took a cigarette so, it has some<br />
effect on their attention so they take it<br />
but it affects the body.”<br />
Richard: “Is that the same with alcohol?”<br />
Kalpana: “Alcohol is worse because<br />
sometimes people drink and they get<br />
more confidence to talk, otherwise they<br />
are very quiet and don’t say anything,<br />
they start drinking and then open up.”<br />
Richard: “It seems like a lot of the work<br />
you do is fire fighting, it feels like people<br />
come to you, they are not living the<br />
lifestyle and you are telling them they<br />
have to change.”
Kalpana: “Everybody tries to live the lifestyle but they think that theirs<br />
is the best. But people do need a mentor, someone who can advise<br />
them on what is best for their body, mind and soul. It’s not about<br />
making big changes, but rather making small ones. Rather than eating<br />
food raw, if you cook it will be much better for your body because<br />
maybe raw food is not compatible with your body!”<br />
“The way of cooking and when to eat is important. Like the fruit, if you<br />
eat it at night it is spoiling your body, if you eat it in the daytime it’s<br />
perfect, in other words, if you eat it after the sunset it will block all your<br />
channels, then, you will have a breathing problem, especially for the<br />
people who have asthma. So, this is basically a little change of lifestyle.”<br />
Bharat: “And the lifestyle is?”<br />
Richard: “The five elements, I am learning fast. You are a good mentor!”<br />
Bharat: “I have something very special I am going to tell you, all of us<br />
are not the same, we are different, there are 10 types of people in this<br />
world with Ayurveda.”<br />
Richard: “Can you tell me what they are?”<br />
Bharat: “That’s what I call the Vata, Pitta and kapha. Water has the air<br />
and space, pitta has the fire and the water, third is the kapha, the earth<br />
and the water. So, everyone is different. You have to see who is the<br />
President of your body, once you know who is the President, who is<br />
controlling your body, the second is the Vice President. There are 3<br />
pitta, water,kapha, in everybody. You have to see who is governing your<br />
body, for that, it is these pulses.”<br />
Richard: “So, if you take my pulse, can you tell me who is controlling my<br />
body?”<br />
Bharat: “I will tell you right now (takes my pulse), what did you eat this<br />
morning?”<br />
Richard: “I had muesli and tea, earl grey tea.”<br />
Bharat: “What else?”<br />
Richard: “That’s it.”<br />
Bharat: “That’s very bad.”<br />
Richard: “I love it when a mentor says that!”<br />
Bharat: “Your type is fire, avoid all the citrus fruits!”<br />
Richard: “That is really funny I’ve got lots of oranges at home and I<br />
never feel like eating them!”<br />
Bharti: “Also, avoid chillies.”<br />
Kalpana: “But today you can make an exception as we have some lovely<br />
hot food for lunch! Would you like that?”<br />
Richard: “Yes, I am sure that will be ok!”<br />
Editor’s Note<br />
It was really nice to meet and talk with Kalpana and<br />
Bharat Negi. I can understand why people trust<br />
them and keep going back again and again. I always<br />
feel that medical doctors often don’t have any<br />
compassion or feelings for their patients, but they<br />
both have a lot of self-love. You can feel it when you<br />
talk with them and that love is what they give to<br />
others. It feels really good!<br />
Bharat is also very much connected to his inner<br />
child. He’s very playful and fun when you get to<br />
know him. When I think back on the interview, I<br />
keep on seeing him smiling and showing me his hand<br />
with five outstretched fingers.<br />
Bharat’s son, Ronak, will take over the business one<br />
day, so it was nice to meet him and experience one<br />
of his treatments. Ronak gave me a very strong<br />
massage and I remember being aware of just how<br />
much pain I had in my body. It was all around my<br />
shoulders and my lower back. It made me realise<br />
just how much stress I was going through at this<br />
time and that I really needed to have a massage<br />
more often. But it did feel good. During lunch, I had<br />
a very open and frank conversation with Bharat. It<br />
was like he seemed to know my Soul. I felt very<br />
connected with him, funny this meeting happened<br />
on the World Day of Interconnectedness! And the<br />
food was absolutely delicious, lucky it was only a<br />
mild chilli so I think my body was OK with it!<br />
The day after the massage, my body was aching and<br />
then I started to get this excruciating pain in my<br />
solar plexus! I felt it at the top of my rib cage. I was<br />
with friends and had to go home, I slept for the<br />
whole afternoon and evening and the next day I<br />
became aware that a major blockage had been<br />
cleared.<br />
Weeks later I feel that my inner strength has<br />
become a lot stronger, I had a lot of experiences I<br />
needed to warrior up to and transform my reality<br />
for the better. I had to take many scary decisive<br />
decisions to turn things around and I managed to do<br />
it because I really felt that I had the inner power to<br />
do so! I also feel very much more connected to<br />
nature. I was even given about 200 Aloe Vera plants<br />
for free by Glen Lawes which I planted in my garden<br />
after the recent rains!
HAIR & BEAUTY<br />
That's Funny Meeting You Here!<br />
I was up at 5 am to drive into the city and meet Anne E. Duguid<br />
at Pierre's hairdressing salon 'Blondes, Brunettes and Redheads'<br />
in the Russafa area. This was my next exclusive interview!<br />
Pierre had very kindly offered me co-working space in the<br />
back room for doing interviews when I am in the city. It's good<br />
to have supportive friends.<br />
But it was funny because I had just arrived and sat down to<br />
talk to Anne when their first customers walked in through the<br />
door. I recognised one of them from the day before! It was<br />
Katlijn-Katarina Luysmans who I had met at the Ayurveda<br />
Lifestyle centre in L'Eliana! It was amazing! She had come<br />
along with her husband Bart to have their haircut after it was<br />
recommended to them by their accountant, Susana Diaz<br />
Estaban.<br />
I start to feel that this hairdressing salon is more like a portal<br />
to another dimension, reminds me of that kid's TV show from<br />
the 80's, Mr Benn, I used to watch and love!<br />
Anyway, I am always meeting really<br />
interesting people in this<br />
hairdressing salon, like Radilina<br />
Shanova, Michele Schalin, Dessi<br />
Dimitrova and now Katlijn-Katarina<br />
and Bart Christian from Belgium.<br />
So after doing the interview with<br />
Anne, I started thinking about the<br />
song '99 Red Balloons', but I couldn't<br />
remember who sang it and I don't<br />
have internet on my mobile, so I<br />
walked out into the hairdressing<br />
salon and asked everyone.<br />
Richard: “Can you remember who<br />
sang '99 Red Balloons?”<br />
Bart: “Yes, it was sang by Nena in<br />
1983.”
PERSONAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT<br />
99 Red Balloons!<br />
Xclusive interview with Anne E. Duguid, Performance Enhancement Coach<br />
I’ve been going through quite a tough and challenging<br />
month, it feels like life is throwing everything at me this<br />
month to see if I am ready for what is coming next! So I<br />
must admit that I felt that the tables were turning when<br />
Dr Anne Duguid contacted me.<br />
Background on Anne:<br />
I have worked in the field of health and well-being for over<br />
27 years and it’s been my privilege to work with people<br />
facing almost every type of challenge that life can throw at<br />
them. I’ve always been in awe of the dignity, resolve and<br />
tenacity which emanates from deep within the human<br />
spirit. Whether I’ve been working in the fields of mental<br />
health, learning disability, gender, ageing or substance<br />
abuse; the innate human drive towards seeking greater<br />
contentment and wellness has never ceased to amaze me.<br />
Even in the darkest of places, I have found simple kindness<br />
has the greatest capacity to heal and this, we all have within<br />
us to share.<br />
So rather than telling any more about this awesome interview, I<br />
think it’s just best that you read it for yourself and let me know what<br />
you think, by posting your feedback in the FaceBook group / Our<br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>.<br />
THE INTERVIEW<br />
Richard: “How do you know you are doing the right thing when you<br />
are going through difficult times with manifesting a project?”<br />
Anne: “It is about aligning yourself with the project so it has<br />
meaning and value to you. And then you transmit that to other<br />
people. It passes on and people realise that this is something that<br />
this person is in the right place to do. Their head and their heart are<br />
in alignment. So now it not like they are off on their next whimmy<br />
project, this is actually all the stuff that they have learnt and now it<br />
is coming together so they can achieve the intention that they have,<br />
put out into the world.”
“I think that sometimes, before people<br />
can get to that place, they are either<br />
gaining knowledge or they are chasing<br />
money; or they are ambitious. Their<br />
value base isn't necessarily part of that<br />
and what they are searching for is very<br />
external. As they get older, they start<br />
to realise that it is ‘just work’ and it is<br />
not quite as fulfilling. They might have<br />
a nice car and big house, but they want<br />
something more. Maybe they are<br />
having arguments with their wife, they<br />
drink too much alcohol or they are food<br />
junkies! So they suddenly say, 'Hang<br />
on! Where is the ‘thing’ that I thought<br />
this was going to give me?'<br />
“So as they get older, they realise that<br />
maybe they are looking in the wrong<br />
place. And when people start to look at<br />
more about what there interests are,<br />
their values are, even what their<br />
service is to others, what they are<br />
looking to provide value to society as a<br />
whole, when they make that shift, they<br />
start to be more content in their life.”<br />
“The people, like yourself, who are not<br />
particularly money orientated kind of<br />
drift around looking at ideas. But there<br />
comes a point where all of the things<br />
that you have learnt in that journey<br />
kind of come together. And then it<br />
suddenly jumps into you doing<br />
something and people can see that you<br />
have got the skill sets and the drive, the<br />
motivation and the experience to make<br />
it happen. But more so, it is that you<br />
are getting up in the morning because<br />
it is something you want to do.”<br />
Richard: “Yes, I agree! I was up at 5<br />
o'clock this morning for this<br />
interview!”<br />
Anne: “I teach martial arts, I have a<br />
black belt in Aikido and I say to my<br />
clients 'Look would you get up in the<br />
morning at 5am to drive three hours to<br />
go to a conference?' If the answer is<br />
'No', then I know. But if you are going<br />
to fly to other end of the earth, to see<br />
somebody, for a two day retreat, then<br />
that is what you will put your money<br />
and your energy into and that is where<br />
your values are set! Because we live<br />
out values, it is not something that we<br />
just talk about, we act it out, outside of<br />
ourselves.”<br />
Richard: “Yes, I get that. It's like I have become this<br />
new version of myself.”<br />
Anne: “Or you have woken up?”<br />
Richard: “Well, I woke up in 2010 and I keep on<br />
waking up!”<br />
Anne: “It is a continual process. It is not that you stop,<br />
but you are continually evolving. The important thing<br />
is that when you know what you are doing, and you<br />
are getting up early, and the crap is hitting the fan and<br />
people are generally not very nice to you, everything<br />
is going wrong, but you can say ‘Today I did this!<br />
Today I helped that person.’ That is what matters.”<br />
“I know that that, was my value. And not value in the<br />
short-term for money, but let's be honest, we all want<br />
to make money, we all want to be able to eat and live,<br />
and go on holiday! But most of us aren't doing it to<br />
become multi-millionaires! Fine if people want to<br />
make us multi-millionaires ... If we can say 'Ok, it's<br />
been a crap week, but I helped that person, then you<br />
see what your value is and then that becomes your<br />
sustainer.”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Richard: “Yes, I get that. To me I place<br />
value in the number 13. So every 13th<br />
day of the month, I celebrate the<br />
'World Day of Interconnectedness'<br />
with other like-minded people who<br />
understand that we are all<br />
interconnected.”<br />
Anne: “When you tap into the joy of<br />
other people's success, then that<br />
means that you are always going to<br />
find joy somewhere. I love to see my<br />
clients transform! To see them<br />
suddenly turn their lives around.”<br />
Richard: “So who has inspired you with<br />
your work?”<br />
Anne: “Sidney Banks and the 3<br />
Principles. The three principles are<br />
basically to do with the relationship<br />
between the Universal Mind (God or<br />
interconnectivity), consciousness (an<br />
awareness that that we have an<br />
awareness of ourselves) and then the<br />
relationship to our everyday thinking.<br />
And of course, how our thinking<br />
constructs our reality.”<br />
“Now having done years of studying, I<br />
became aware that they are all saying<br />
the same thing! That is it!”<br />
“So my practice really changed after<br />
that point. So I still use hypnotherapy<br />
for getting rid of things from the past.<br />
Regression work. Being able to close<br />
the door. It works really well.”<br />
Richard: “What? You mean from past<br />
lives?”<br />
Anne: “No, most people struggle with<br />
this life!! You can't explain it, you have<br />
to experience it. You are are opening<br />
up your subconscious mind.”<br />
Richard: “What is your subconscious<br />
mind?”<br />
Anne: “It is the bit that knows what<br />
things feel like, but isn't aware to point<br />
it out. Your conscious mind is<br />
constantly thinking. Your subconscious<br />
is everything else that you have ever<br />
possibly know that is there until you<br />
bring it into your conscious mind.”<br />
“So you remember who your best<br />
friend was when you lived in a certain<br />
street, you remember what your cat<br />
was called when you were 9...”<br />
Richard: “Ok, that is the subconscious mind.”<br />
Anne: “Yes, it is just like a library at the back and you<br />
go to this shelf to bring that information out. It is<br />
always there, silent, until we want it”.<br />
Richard: “And the conscious mind goes out and picks<br />
whatever it needs from the subconscious mind?”<br />
Anne: “Yes, oh look there is a flower and it's green.<br />
(points to flower on desk) The subconscious mind<br />
knows that it is there. But I am not paying attention to<br />
it, because my conscious mind is paying attention to<br />
you.”<br />
“So it is there all the time. It is the part that gets us to<br />
breathe, the part that reminds us we are hungry, it is<br />
the bit that takes us to the toilet, it is the bit that<br />
chugs along and does everything.”<br />
“In regression work, we allow, what is called 'the<br />
critical factor' in hypnosis, the bit that watches all the<br />
time. It is the analytical part. It normally kicks in<br />
around the age the 13 and that is when kids say, 'Hey<br />
Mom, you are a liar!' or 'Dad, you are a hypocrite!'<br />
Richard: “Father Christmas doesn't exist!”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Anne: “Suddenly, it is looking out at the<br />
world, as an observer, and saying 'Hang<br />
on a minute, you are saying this but you<br />
do that! So your Godlike status has<br />
suddenly been stripped from my eyes!'<br />
“And that part of us is trying to keep us<br />
safe, trying to make sure that we are<br />
OK. Some of us go into the realms of<br />
complete cynicism and say 'Oh my god!<br />
Everything is a lie and they are all out<br />
to get me!' Some of us just learn to live<br />
with it and say 'Some days I am a bit<br />
more cynical than other days and some<br />
days I hate the world!!!”<br />
Richard: “So is imagination and play in<br />
the conscious mind?!”<br />
Anne: “Well, you get taken back to<br />
parts of your life. It's called<br />
'Revivification', so you live a memory. It<br />
is not to say that is exactly what<br />
happened, but it is the emotional part<br />
of the memory. So say Mummy and<br />
Daddy had big fights when you were 5<br />
years old and you were really<br />
frightened at that age, because you<br />
were little and you didn't know what<br />
the hell was going on!<br />
"So you can go back to that moment<br />
and relive it in a safe place because the<br />
therapist is there.”<br />
“So you can re-experience it and talk to<br />
the people, you can interact with them<br />
and then as you come back out of the<br />
hypnosis, you can look back with an<br />
adult and critical mind. At 5 years old,<br />
we don't understand what is going on.”<br />
“And these experiences create these<br />
core beliefs that we follow and we<br />
repeat them because we think they are<br />
true. So it is almost like onion layers. So<br />
the onion layers build and we have the<br />
belief that Mummy didn't love me<br />
because she said she had the wrong<br />
baby from the hospital. Now as an<br />
adult we know that is rubbish! But a 5<br />
year old doesn't know that!”<br />
“The thing is that this is the first belief<br />
they have. They might not even know<br />
that they remember this, but that is not<br />
what the emotional mind thinks. It still<br />
thinks that that is true. So when you do<br />
regression work, you are clearing up<br />
those basic misunderstandings.”<br />
Richard: “Which are creating these<br />
emotions later in life?”<br />
Anne: “Yes. But the 3 Principle Work is slightly<br />
different, because with regression you are working<br />
with the subconscious-mind. The conscious mind lies<br />
and makes it all dismissable, as if it is not important or<br />
it doesn't really matter. But the emotional mind is<br />
terrified because it is aware of itself.”<br />
“I love doing regression work. When I do it people<br />
open up and come with something totally random and<br />
nothing to do with what we were talking about<br />
beforehand! But then they come back two weeks<br />
later and whatever they wanted to deal with has gone<br />
spontaneously. For example, they come to deal with<br />
boundary issues with their boss and they do<br />
regression work and next time I see them they don't<br />
have any boundary issues, they are just creating them<br />
without thinking about it!”<br />
Richard: “The regression work is under hypnosis?”<br />
Anne: “Yes, we ask the conscious mind to park itself.<br />
We say 'You are watching all of this, but you go over<br />
there for a little minute, while I have a conversation<br />
over here.”<br />
Richard: “Is the conscious mind what some people<br />
would call the Ego?”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Anne: “The problem with 'Ego' is that is<br />
it really associated with Freud's work.<br />
So the ‘Ego’ is the guy who was doing<br />
the daily living and the 'Superego ' was<br />
like your nasty mum telling you that<br />
you are a bad boy and you should do<br />
this and you ought to do that! And then<br />
your reaction is 'Fuck that! No way, I'll<br />
get up when I want, smoke fags and<br />
snort coke!' So that is the<br />
relationship!”<br />
“So that is Freud's relationship, but<br />
because of all the other parts of the<br />
theoretical, a lot of people reject that<br />
model. It is just a theory like any other<br />
theory, it is capturing an aspect of our<br />
own existence and it gives us some<br />
insight. But it is not reality. Becaues the<br />
theory that would capture reality is<br />
called “Reality”<br />
“It would have to be that complicated<br />
and that big. So when you are reading<br />
theory you have to take it with a pinch<br />
of salt, not that it is giving you some<br />
aspect of your own self, but it is never<br />
everything. So you use it as a tool, like<br />
you use your mobile phone. That<br />
theory is useful for that, like an App,<br />
but it is never the whole story.”<br />
Richard: “What is the difference<br />
between hypnosis and the 3<br />
Principles?”<br />
Anne: “(The 3 Principles) is about you<br />
learning to hypnotise yourself when<br />
you are awake. So say you wake up in<br />
the morning and you have had a bad<br />
night's sleep and the house is cold. The<br />
first thought that comes into your head<br />
is 'Life is terrible, it's never going to get<br />
any better! It is freezing, what did I do<br />
to deserve this?' And then the next<br />
thing that happens are all the things<br />
which have ever been wrong in your<br />
life! And they all line up like the pink<br />
elephants on parade! And you sit there<br />
with them all parading past …. 'And<br />
there was that time when my Boss said<br />
that to me! And there was that time<br />
when that didn't happen!' … 'And<br />
nobody does anything for me!!!'<br />
“And they all parade past you. The<br />
more you think, the worse you feel.<br />
Because you think they are real. But<br />
they are not, they are in your head.”<br />
“They are like dreams in the daytime,<br />
because they are not actually<br />
happening.<br />
The thing that happened 10 years ago, isn't happening<br />
now. It is only happening in your head. What happens<br />
is that we grab the thoughts and then the emotions<br />
come with the thoughts, so then the emotions really<br />
start to come alive. It is human nature for us all to feel<br />
down.”<br />
Richard: “So how do we make the shift?”<br />
Anne: “Just realise that you can make a choice, not<br />
think them. We don't capture all our thoughts, but<br />
sometimes we have ones which we like, we have<br />
particular patterns and we can see thoughts, like<br />
balloons.”<br />
“There is the self-righteous balloon and there is also a<br />
self-pitying balloon. As we grab it, the emotion grows<br />
and grows so suddenly we think it is real! But it is all<br />
happening in our head! So when we let it go and say,<br />
'Ok, I'll pick a yellow balloon. And the yellow balloon<br />
says, 'Today I achieved this or I am actually proud of<br />
what I am doing!”<br />
“It is not to be hippy and fairy-dust positive thinking, it<br />
is about recognising that this reality outside of us, is<br />
nothing further than what we make it.”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Richard: “So our thoughts are our<br />
emotions?”<br />
Anne: “Yes, and we can choose them.<br />
Because a new one will come along in 5<br />
minutes. We can sit in the miserable<br />
ones if we want. How many times have<br />
you felt miserable and put some music<br />
on and feel awesome!”<br />
Richard: “That is funny because my<br />
Dad died a couple of years ago and he<br />
had this Roberts radio always playing<br />
news programmes loud at night. In the<br />
last couple of days, I must admit, I've<br />
been going through a tough time, I<br />
managed to find the connecting lead<br />
and plug it in, but this time I tuned it<br />
into Rock FM.”<br />
Anne: “Now that is the point. It sounds<br />
like 'Put music on and feel better.<br />
Breathe the air, you will feel better!' It<br />
is true, but you don't know why? It is<br />
because you are changing your<br />
thoughts.”<br />
Richard: “That is true!”<br />
Anne: “Yes, you can wallow in the<br />
negative stuff. You are a big hippo and<br />
there are two pools you can wallow<br />
in....the shit one or you can go into the<br />
flowery pool with the herbal essence<br />
shampoo.”<br />
“You have the choice!”<br />
“It is not to say that things come in our<br />
mind that make us feel sad or painful,<br />
of course they do. But when you<br />
recognise that it is just a thought with<br />
an emotion attached to it, it gives you<br />
the power to stand away from it. Now<br />
people die and it is painful, ill health is<br />
painful, losing a job is painful. When<br />
you let go of the pain of the loss, and<br />
replace it, another thought or emotion<br />
about the person will come along in 5<br />
minutes.'<br />
Richard: “That is like with this radio.<br />
Everytime I turn it on, I think my Dad<br />
and it is a good vibe!”<br />
Anne: “Suddenly you are changing the<br />
relationship with the thought. Now it is<br />
not happening outside,<br />
it is happening in your head, that's the important thing<br />
to always remember!”<br />
Richard: “It is interesting, I mean where does life<br />
happen... it happens in your head!”<br />
Anne: “Most people think they experience life as 'out<br />
there'... and that is why they blame everyone else.<br />
They say things like, 'That Boss is terrible to me' or<br />
'that person is mean to me'. But when you become<br />
aware that part of it is just switching your mentality<br />
and saying 'OK, I accept this person isn't nice to me<br />
and I don't like her. I don't want to have anything to<br />
do with them! And I don't want to change them, or<br />
make them like me or even make them think I am the<br />
most wonderful person in the world! I don't need to<br />
do any of that, I can just make the choice not to have<br />
anything to do with them.”<br />
Richard: “That is actually quite important, especially<br />
with things like social media at the moment.”<br />
Anne: “Oh God!!! Yes, I was saying to Pierre and<br />
Yohe, that I had been watching their business come<br />
together as they were telling their life stories on<br />
Facebook and it was really nice to read. I was really<br />
enjoying it and then suddenly all that stuff kicked off!<br />
I thought that this is really awful! It was horrible! I<br />
normally stand back and don't say anything, but this<br />
time I spoke up and said 'Look, could you not wait at<br />
least 48 hours until after their wedding day was over?'<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Richard: “But to me this is just about<br />
people being genuine, open and<br />
authentic. I don't understand what all<br />
the fuss was about actually!”<br />
Anne: “I have a lovely friend, she is a<br />
very genuine and open person too and I<br />
saw the same thing happen to her. That<br />
is how we became friends actually. But<br />
this with Pierre was completely<br />
shocking! It is simply bullying and<br />
ignorance. Just lack of respect for<br />
other people as human beings with<br />
feelings and emotions and a right to go<br />
about their life.”<br />
“But ultimately, they have the choice to<br />
say 'It is just those people's thoughts.”<br />
Richard: “Yes, it is interesting actually<br />
because bullying is not just something<br />
which happens at school. It can happen<br />
in the office or even in the family. Don't<br />
you think?”<br />
Anne: “It is a really strange thing when<br />
people start to recognise the dynamics<br />
they have been living with, and what<br />
they have accepted in families and<br />
friendships. A lot of the time, because<br />
you are just yourself, people don't like<br />
it.”<br />
“People really do prefer it that you<br />
conform and that you join in, and you<br />
join this group and you fit into as they<br />
wish you too. Not because there is<br />
anything intrinsically wrong with you,<br />
but because our difference makes<br />
them fearful.”<br />
Richard: “I understand now.”<br />
Anne: “They are fearful because you<br />
make them question themselves. And<br />
again, instead of them looking inside of<br />
themselves for the answers, they want<br />
to look outside and blame someone<br />
else, by saying 'Ok, this person is doing<br />
this and that is wrong because …...”<br />
“Now it is actually a reflection on<br />
themselves. Maybe they want to be<br />
able to wear whatever clothes they<br />
like, maybe they want to be able to say<br />
what they want, maybe they want to be<br />
happy!!!”<br />
“The thing is that the more you think<br />
about someone else and think<br />
something like 'Lucky bastard!' the<br />
more that balloon grows and the more<br />
it becomes an intrusive thought. And<br />
then you are having to run away from<br />
the idea of 'OMG, I made the wrong choice!'<br />
“Say for example, if people looked at you and think to<br />
themselves, 'I wish I was like Rich, he doesn't have all<br />
the responsibilities I have' … then the next thought is<br />
'OMG, the guilt of thinking that! I love my wife, my<br />
family, I love my job! I really love my life! It's ok!' …<br />
but maybe that thought actually is my deepest<br />
greatest desire! Maybe I did make the wrong choice,<br />
maybe I didn't want to get married, maybe I didn't<br />
want to buy this house, maybe I didn't want to buy<br />
this car!'<br />
“And then you are just having a war with yourself! So<br />
the more you try to stop thinking about the thought,<br />
the bigger the thought gets!”<br />
Richard: “So how do you make the thoughts smaller<br />
than?”<br />
Anne: “Just let the balloon go and be conscious that it<br />
it just a thought. In this moment, maybe I am hungry,<br />
maybe I am tired. I’m thinking ‘why am I having to do<br />
maths in Spanish with my son?’ I feel frustrated. But<br />
it's just a thought so I can let it go, because the next<br />
one that comes along will be 'I feel so blessed and I<br />
love my son!'<br />
“Would you rather be the hippo sitting in the pool of<br />
shit or the hippo in the herbal essence?”<br />
Richard: “It's just a choice! So what about dreams?”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Anne: “Well I once worked with this<br />
person who had terrible, violent<br />
dreams against women. So he said to<br />
me 'What if that is my inner desire?<br />
What if I am actually a psychopath?”<br />
“Your thoughts during the day are the<br />
same as your thoughts at night. They<br />
randomly appear! How many times are<br />
you judgemental in a day?”<br />
Richard: “My conscious mind says<br />
'Never!'<br />
Anne: “Exactly! But we all are! We say<br />
things like, “OMG, I don't like his<br />
trousers.'... 'God he's got a crap<br />
haircut!' … 'Oh, she is fat!' … 'Put the<br />
pie down darling!' … yeah you<br />
understand now?”<br />
“It constantly happens!”<br />
Richard: “What happens when you<br />
choose to have more positive<br />
thoughts?”<br />
Anne: “Well you feel better, don't<br />
you?”<br />
Richard: “So that means you are<br />
affecting your reality then?”<br />
Anne: “YESSSS!! Because you are<br />
happier.”<br />
Richard: “OK, I see now.”<br />
Anne: “It is not that you are not going<br />
to have bad days or bad moments, but<br />
when they happen and you just say<br />
'This isn't real!' … 'This is just a<br />
thought'... “<br />
Richard: “So you are becoming more<br />
conscious that your reality is thought<br />
based?”<br />
Anne: “Yes, that is when you are taking<br />
the big shift. When you take the choice<br />
to let it go and you allow yourself to<br />
know that you don't have control over<br />
all the thoughts, life becomes happier.”<br />
“Imagine being in a factory where the<br />
balloons are being churned out 24/7,<br />
365. They are going past the window<br />
and you keep thinking, I am going to<br />
grab one of them because it catches my eye and then<br />
it grows. But if I let go of it, there are more coming as<br />
the factory is still churning out more balloons.”<br />
“So I can choose to pick the yellow and the orange<br />
ones, or I could pick the greys and the browns. And<br />
sometimes, I want to feel depressed, so will pick a<br />
grey balloon on purpose!!”<br />
“Grab the bottle of wine and tell yourself how terrible<br />
life is and that everyone hates you! Put some Shania<br />
Twain on ….”<br />
“But when we accept it is not real, then we can detach<br />
ourselves from the emotion. When someone cuts you<br />
up on the motorway and that anger rises up inside of<br />
you, it is just momentary and the next realisation is<br />
that the whole world isn't a bastard! It is that at that<br />
particular moment, you are thinking whatever you are<br />
thinking, you are frustrated or anxious a lot of the<br />
time, especially when you are driving through<br />
Valencia and stuck in the traffic!”<br />
Richard: “That is really funny because last week I<br />
spoke to someone and she said to me 'You have such a<br />
powerful energy! You could light up the whole of<br />
Spain with it and set it on fire! It's so positive!' So I<br />
walked away and over the next few days I kept on<br />
thinking about what she said and the thought got<br />
bigger and bigger.”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
“Then I was sitting having a cup of tea<br />
with my friend and we were talking<br />
about some stuff and she said<br />
something which I suddenly felt my<br />
energy inside react too... it was almost<br />
like an explosion inside of me. At the<br />
same time, she grabbed hold of the<br />
kettle to pour some hot water into a<br />
mug to make tea, and just as she did,<br />
the element in the kettle suddenly<br />
burst into flames!”<br />
“And I was thinking, OMG!!! I am<br />
setting Spain alight!!”<br />
Anne: “Well I have no idea if you did,<br />
but I will just make sure I'll move my<br />
phone to a safe distance.”<br />
“It doesn't matter what sense you<br />
make of anything. It's just that you<br />
have the choice to make it positive or<br />
negative. You could be a Muslim who<br />
thinks that all women should be stoned<br />
to death for adultery if they are raped<br />
by their Uncle. Or you can be a Muslim<br />
who believes in love and compassion.<br />
Whose got the better life?”<br />
Richard: “It's amazing what happens<br />
when you focus on love?”<br />
Anne: “Yes, whose got the happier life?<br />
Whose the person whose got the most<br />
potential to be adding some value to<br />
the world? Who is the person who gets<br />
loads of abuse and insults for being<br />
different and doing something new, but<br />
will get up in the next morning and do it<br />
again?”<br />
“And that is the thing, that even if<br />
someone does say something horrible<br />
to you or does something horrible to<br />
you, the reaction you have inside, is<br />
generated by you and only you! You<br />
can have the choice to take it on board<br />
and feel hurt and wounded, or you can<br />
just say 'That is their thought.'<br />
Richard: “Yes, you see this on social<br />
media a lot with people.”<br />
Anne: “Yes, if you need a high approval<br />
rate and want everyone to like you all<br />
the time, then why? What for? Do you<br />
like everyone all the time?”<br />
“Why should you be like Jesus Christ reincarnated? I<br />
mean he got freaking crucified!”<br />
“And he was an alright bloke!”<br />
“So there has to be a bit of realism in it. We are all<br />
thinking judgemental thoughts all the time about<br />
people. It is just part of human nature. We all do it.<br />
Some of us are more judgemental than others. Some<br />
of us act on our judgements, others just let them go.<br />
So the guy with the really bad dreams for example, I<br />
told him that he has no control of those thoughts and<br />
it doesn't mean that they are real. It is just activity in<br />
your brain that is taking some possibilities and it is<br />
putting them together. Now the more that you worry<br />
about it, the more powerful those images become.<br />
Your mind pops them up again. Ever since this<br />
awareness, he has never had them since!”<br />
Richard: “So what happens when you have really<br />
positive and beautiful dreams?”<br />
Anne: “Well cool!! Keep them going! And say 'OMG!!<br />
I am so lucky!”<br />
Richard: “Yes, I am. I feel blessed actually because<br />
they are manifesting into my reality?”<br />
“So why should they like you?”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Richart doing his Aura Paiting with a group of Lightworkers and Healers from Eindhoven.<br />
Anne: “Yes! You are just pumping yourself<br />
with endorphins all the time! The thing is<br />
that it is almost like we don't allow<br />
ourselves the possibility to be positive. We<br />
have to ground it with negativity. We need<br />
a bit of negative, otherwise we must be<br />
'hippy-dippy-tree-huggers'!”<br />
“And we can't be that, because that is too<br />
out 'left-field' for most people to handle!<br />
But sod that! If you are out there hugging a<br />
tree and are as happy as Larry, then bash<br />
on!! That is the thing, there are enough<br />
things that will challenge us in life, that will<br />
push our buttons not to be positive, or<br />
push our buttons not to be happy. Life will<br />
bring it to you! Don't worry about that! So<br />
the big question is, can you let that<br />
negative thoughts go?!”<br />
“Have you heard yourself say ‘Oh no that<br />
person in the street blanked me! What<br />
must they be thinking about me?<br />
Maybe they don't like me anymore! That<br />
bad thought that I once had about them,<br />
did they find out about it? Did they<br />
somehow know about it? ….”<br />
Richard: “Yes, I see.”<br />
Anne: “The person has just had an<br />
argument with her husband! And the last<br />
thing they want to do is make small talk<br />
and they don't want to talk to you because<br />
you are Mr Frickin Happy Bunny! And they<br />
ain't feeling it”<br />
Richard: “That is funny! I even call my<br />
home 'Hapi Zen'!”<br />
Anne: “Yes, you are just letting the balloon<br />
go quicker! You see we learn from every<br />
experience we have with someone. We can<br />
go through all our self-righteous<br />
arguments as to why this happened and<br />
why that happened. We can spend hours<br />
or days arguing with them, and the person<br />
isn't even there! They are in our head!”<br />
“They are off doing whatever they are doing and we<br />
are sitting there reliving it, saying 'I will say this, then I<br />
will say that!! We relive it! And the only person who is<br />
suffering is ourselves. But we think that because we<br />
are being self-righteous that means that we are<br />
entitled to be.”<br />
Richard: “This is like when I say, 'Don't over analyse<br />
messages that I write on Facebook posts or in emails.<br />
When people look at every word and think 'What is it<br />
that he is trying to say? What is the deeper meaning?'<br />
Than it totally disconnects and blocks them from the<br />
flow of positive energy that I am sharing with them.<br />
Anne: “And that is it. The feeling. It is about<br />
connecting with someone on a really human level.<br />
This is why I didn't like Psychology because it is the<br />
ultimate in disconnection. I am supposed to look at<br />
you and have a 'Checklist' and I am supposed to<br />
evaluate you by the Checklist. That means that I miss<br />
everything that is You!”<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
“Immediately there is a big barrier and I make the wall. Any energy flow<br />
between us, any human connection, is blocked. But that is not how we work<br />
as human beings. That's why I didn't like Psychology as it is the complete<br />
opposite of what helps people.”<br />
“When I help you, I don't just help you, I also help me.”<br />
“When I talk to you, I am reflecting back on me. I am learning as I am talking. I<br />
am hearing what I am saying, and I am reminding myself that that is what I<br />
need to do. And that is how we do it.”<br />
“So when you say that people don't need to over analyse what you say, all you<br />
have to do is keep on repeating what you are saying and at some stage they<br />
will eventually get the message, which is that they don't have to think too<br />
much!!!!”<br />
Editor's Note<br />
Hahahaha!!! It was an absolute joy to talk with Anne and I became so much<br />
more aware about my Self, and that it was also a very enlightening<br />
experience, and a very unexpected one at that! I am curious to see how my<br />
life will transform over the next month, now that I am fully conscious of those<br />
balloons! I'll keep you posted!<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
YOUR<br />
UNDERSTANDING<br />
SOLAR SYSTEM<br />
HOME<br />
HOME<br />
In this issue, we bring you the next part of<br />
the exclusive interview with solar energy<br />
local expert, Nathan Holder, owner of<br />
Serrania Solar.<br />
Richard: "How long have you been working<br />
in the field of Solar Energy?"<br />
Nathan: "I've had experience of off grid<br />
solar systems for over twelve years, and<br />
been working as an installer /<br />
troubleshooter for the past 8 years."<br />
Richard: "What is your reason for working<br />
in this industry?"<br />
Nathan: "I was drawn into working with<br />
solar systems as a job because I just found it<br />
so fascinating. Every solar system is like a<br />
different living breathing organism and no<br />
two days are the same for that reason. Also<br />
it's a very social job, as at the end of every<br />
solar system is a person or family, and I love<br />
helping people make things work without<br />
having to connect to the trappings of the<br />
outside world!"<br />
Richard: "What are the benefits of<br />
using solar energy?"<br />
Nathan: " Well, if the system is set<br />
up properly, I can't see any<br />
disadvantages for a start. The<br />
benefits are endless on the other<br />
hand. We can all guess at the<br />
obvious, no bills, good for the<br />
environment etc. but what<br />
surprised me as I met more people<br />
using solar power to energise their<br />
daily lives was the feelgood factor<br />
people get about surviving totally<br />
off grid and producing their own<br />
power without being dependant on<br />
others. No worrying about how<br />
much the next bill is going to be or<br />
whether they're going to put up<br />
energy prices this winter! Also<br />
some people really enjoy the<br />
hobbyist aspect of having a solar<br />
system, and the tweaks and<br />
upgrades that make differences<br />
that you can watch and see<br />
immediately."<br />
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" It can be quite addictive watching your<br />
power production displays or voltages<br />
etc. each morning / afternoon. I catch<br />
some people sitting in bars with fellow<br />
solar user friends comparing notes on<br />
how much power their panels<br />
harvested yesterday, or how high their<br />
voltage got to in the last sunny spell!"<br />
Richard: "How quickly can a solar<br />
system be installed?"<br />
Nathan: "A small system can be<br />
installed in just a couple of hours.<br />
Bigger systems can take a couple of<br />
days, but what takes the time is<br />
designing and installing the system<br />
properly, so that things like the solar<br />
panel supports are correctly angled for<br />
maximum power harvest with the least<br />
chance of failure.. the last thing anyone<br />
wants to worry about is their panels<br />
ending up halfway down the garden on<br />
the next windy day!"<br />
Richard: "What are the most important<br />
considerations when planning the<br />
installation of your solar system?"<br />
Nathan: "Well the first question people<br />
should always expect to be asked by<br />
their installer, is how much power do<br />
they intend to use?<br />
It's always important to ensure<br />
from the initial stages that the<br />
system meets expectations later,<br />
because one person's power usage<br />
may vary hugely from another's.<br />
The first thing is to make a list of all<br />
your intended appliances and their<br />
intended hours or minutes of usage<br />
each day. With this information you<br />
can come up with a required energy<br />
figure in "kWhs", which is the unit of<br />
electricity we see on electricity bills.<br />
This is an amount of electricity, like<br />
a "litre" would be used for<br />
measuring an amount of water.<br />
Although this will always be a<br />
guesstimate, it will give your<br />
installer an idea of the total energy<br />
requirements you may have,<br />
measured in these "kWhs".<br />
From there, using averages of the<br />
number of hours of sun that you<br />
have in your region per year, we can<br />
start to work out some rough<br />
estimates of the number and power<br />
of solar panels you may require (ie.<br />
the daily energy the system will be<br />
capable of producing), and the<br />
capacity of the batteries required<br />
(ie. the amount of energy that will<br />
need storing).<br />
Other considerations will also need<br />
calculating like the power of the "inverter"<br />
(the piece of equipment that generates your<br />
220v mains type power), but all this will be<br />
taken care of by your installer.<br />
With all this information at our fingertips, the<br />
figures can be compared and the solar<br />
system can be sized appropriately.<br />
If you're doing the system yourself, all this<br />
information can be found online, or if you<br />
email me on serraniasolar@gmail.com, I<br />
would be happy to send out more<br />
information, including the forms for<br />
predicting your usage.<br />
..next time we will be talking about life on a<br />
solar system, and some common hurdles to<br />
overcome!<br />
"Off Grid Solar Systems"<br />
Please call Nathan on:<br />
+34 619589210 or<br />
UK mobile 07743 755108<br />
Email serraniasolar@gmail.com
PHOTO COMPETITION<br />
This Month's Winner is....<br />
Laila Fletcher<br />
PHOTO DETAILS<br />
Looking out towards Chulilla & Vanacloig from our house (zona tarragon, cerro<br />
castellar, Villar del Arzobispo)
“It takes a Village to raise a Child”<br />
African Proverb<br />
Back in 2014 and as a parent of a then<br />
two year old this proverb above<br />
became more and more present to me<br />
in my daily life.<br />
For generations within many African<br />
Cultures the principle that raising a<br />
child is a communal effort has been a<br />
strong foundation for many families. My<br />
recent trip to a village school at the<br />
base of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania really<br />
highlighted this for me.<br />
find<br />
your<br />
tribe<br />
Written by Emma Coyne<br />
emmacoynecommunityspirit@gmail.com<br />
Mobile: 628.904.748
A <strong>Community</strong> raising a child is also present in many<br />
other cultures in daily life and has been for<br />
generations but with the ever-changing societies in<br />
our modern world sometimes traditions can get lost<br />
or replaced. Even Hilary Clinton wrote a book called<br />
“It takes a village” back in 1996.<br />
For many of us, we chose to move to a completely new<br />
country and immerse ourselves in a new culture. We<br />
may have been parents already, expecting or planning<br />
to start a family sometime in the future. Whilst our<br />
new adventures are exciting and Valencia brings with<br />
it an abundance of positive things, for most, our own<br />
families or extended families are miles away overseas.<br />
You now get to spend quality time with them when<br />
they visit for holidays and even with several visits a<br />
year this time can seem so short as it’s usually filled<br />
with lots of activities.<br />
Across most countries, today community definitely is<br />
not what it was thirty-five or more years ago. Where<br />
the back door was always open to the Neighbour’s to<br />
call in for a tea or borrow eggs or sugar. Whereas<br />
children in holiday time we were out on adventures<br />
from morning until night. Only to return when we<br />
were hungry. We swam in lakes, climbed trees and<br />
fished on the river. The older children looking out for<br />
the younger ones. The adults knew where to find us<br />
and if we lost track of time someone’s Parent would<br />
be calling us across the fields. I am so grateful for<br />
these experiences and the independence we had.<br />
I think we would all love to have the sense of<br />
everyone caring for each other and being really<br />
connected to our communities. That what is<br />
happening over there with neighbours and friends<br />
does matter. Those people really looked out for<br />
one another. It’s not that this is completely gone<br />
but the question is, how do we create and grow our<br />
communities to nurture our children now and for<br />
future generations. Whether we are present to it in<br />
Life or not we are ‘one’ in this world. We are not<br />
separate, we experience similar things and whether<br />
we choose to hide in our gated complex or step out<br />
and acknowledge our communities that ‘oneness’<br />
will never change. It is the foundation for pretty<br />
much everything.<br />
I spent the first year after moving to Spain a bit<br />
like a ‘duck out of water’, the simplest things<br />
sometimes felt like a challenge. Listening to a new<br />
language, making myself understood at the local<br />
market, knowing where to go and complete<br />
paperwork and identification numbers for the<br />
family this was amongst the toilet training, the<br />
meltdowns with a two-year-old and of course<br />
enjoying the food, sunshine, pool, beach and<br />
countryside. When I look back those challenges<br />
were nothing in comparison to the lifestyle we<br />
have created here in Spain.
My one saving grace was meeting my best friend<br />
Susana a native Valencian four years ago at her local<br />
English Academy. The generosity, connection,<br />
compassion and love that she showed then and still<br />
shows to my family is incredible. Susana supported me<br />
as a mother, woman, human being, wife and person in<br />
this <strong>Community</strong> to grow into a new culture. Her<br />
compassion as a human- being has created our<br />
friendship to blossom over the years. There were<br />
plenty of times when I misunderstood, asked for the<br />
wrong vegetables, got the wrong papers, got<br />
frustrated and then started all over again. Now I can<br />
laugh about those moments and definitely experience<br />
them less as the years in my community go on.<br />
As a parent, mother, wife, woman and person in a<br />
community, I can reflect on many areas that have had<br />
me grow. There are so many people on our doorsteps<br />
or short car rides away that can help support us.<br />
Sometimes we don’t even know they are there. Then<br />
there is the positive side of social media where you<br />
can ask a question in one of the many local groups or<br />
connect with like-minded people.<br />
During a retreat that I organized in Valencia at the<br />
end of 2016, the theme was ‘Completing your Year<br />
powerfully’. We set goals for the year to follow and<br />
one of mine was to ‘Find my Tribe’ I have my tribe in<br />
the U.K. so what about having the same here in<br />
Valencia?<br />
Not because Life was a struggle but because both<br />
myself and my family deserve to have the support<br />
from the community we Live in. To help raise my<br />
children and show them all that Life can bring. It’s a<br />
two-way thing whilst my family flourishes so do all<br />
the people that make up my community. We all<br />
have something to give and receive in this process.<br />
Since declaring this goal I have been connecting<br />
and sharing time with an abundance of people.<br />
Sometimes it just happens spontaneously. From<br />
locals in the café, families at school, educators,<br />
holistic groups, people out walking. These<br />
connections have not always been right here in<br />
Valencia but also worldwide. Even the creation of<br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> and now connecting with all of<br />
you out there has been part of it. I did not have a<br />
tribe two years ago and can now share with you<br />
that my tribe is growing. We can all find our tribe,<br />
we don’t even have to spend a heap of time trying.<br />
There is an abundance for all of us.<br />
So step outside, go practice your Spanish with your<br />
neighbour and say the wrong words, go take up<br />
that hobby that you have been talking about, take<br />
your children to the local Valencian puppet show<br />
and National Parks. There are endless<br />
opportunities waiting on our doorsteps to grab<br />
with everything you have got.<br />
Talk to people in your <strong>Community</strong>, learn from each<br />
other and remember “It takes a village to raise a<br />
child”<br />
I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes:<br />
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty<br />
one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and<br />
grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.<br />
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my<br />
privilege to do for it whatever I can.<br />
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in<br />
life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have<br />
got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing<br />
it on to future generations.<br />
George Bernard Shaw
is indeed<br />
“This<br />
The land<br />
India!<br />
dreams and<br />
of<br />
of<br />
romance,<br />
fabulous<br />
and<br />
wealth<br />
fabulous<br />
poverty..."<br />
Written by Helen Warriner<br />
“This is indeed India! The land<br />
of dreams and romance, of<br />
fabulous wealth and fabulous<br />
poverty, of splendour and rags,<br />
of palaces and hovels, of<br />
famine and pestilence, of genii<br />
and giants and Aladdin lamps,<br />
of tigers and elephants, the<br />
cobra and the jungle, the<br />
country of hundred nations<br />
and a hundred tongues, of a<br />
thousand religions and two<br />
million gods, cradle of the<br />
human race, birthplace of<br />
human speech, mother of<br />
history, grandmother of<br />
legend, great-grandmother of<br />
traditions” Mark Twain<br />
Love it or hate it, India is a<br />
place that forever imprints<br />
itself in the heart.<br />
that takes its guest on a<br />
rollercoaster ride of emotions.<br />
Inspired by its beauty, enraged by<br />
its practices or touched by its<br />
people, the visitor can’t help but<br />
find the country getting under its<br />
skin, tugging on the heartstrings<br />
and questioning everything.<br />
There is no place on earth like<br />
India. No single nation on the<br />
planet that has as much diversity<br />
and variety. Within the 28 states, a<br />
multitude of cultures, religions and<br />
tongues can be found, all so<br />
uniquely different, it is as if each<br />
one was its own country. With so<br />
much to see, do and explore in a<br />
land deeply rooted in historical<br />
traditions and spirituality, it feels<br />
like a lifetime would never be long<br />
enough to uncover all its magic.<br />
MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH INDIA<br />
NO. 1<br />
With most visitors to the great<br />
nation claiming the former, it<br />
cannot be disputed that at<br />
some point in the journey an<br />
element of the latter will be<br />
experienced. It is a country<br />
The Calling<br />
It was 2016, I was living in Spain<br />
with my partner and life was<br />
good…until it wasn’t.
One day out of the blue, he<br />
decided I wasn’t what he wanted<br />
anymore and just like that, the life<br />
I had built over 3 years was gone. I<br />
was devastated. Everything I<br />
thought my life was going to be<br />
was abruptly taken away from me.<br />
I felt confused, alone and angry. It<br />
was Christmas and I was back on<br />
my parents’ doorstep with my life<br />
in a suitcase.<br />
Amidst the pain, I began to ask<br />
myself what I could do to make<br />
myself happy again and the same<br />
answer kept appearing: India. For<br />
a few years I had ignored the<br />
itchiness of my well-travelled<br />
backpacker’s feet, believing I was<br />
content with the settled life I had<br />
created with my Spanish other<br />
half. And yet, suddenly, I found<br />
myself in a position to listen to<br />
that part of me. The part of me<br />
that craved adventure, the part of<br />
me that had pushed down my<br />
desires to feel free and explore<br />
and the niggling part of me that<br />
had felt a magnetising pull to India.<br />
Perhaps it was my love of yoga<br />
that drew me to India. It is,<br />
after all, the birthplace of my<br />
passion. Needing a distraction<br />
from my broken heart, I<br />
enrolled onto a one-month<br />
yoga teacher training program<br />
in Goa. It is here my love story<br />
with India began. Goa is a small<br />
state on the east coast of India<br />
which arguably boasts the best<br />
beaches in the whole country.<br />
Due to its popularity amongst<br />
tourists and its strong colonial<br />
ties with Portugal, the state<br />
offers a diluted version of real<br />
India and was the perfect<br />
stepping stone for an excitedly<br />
anxious first timer like myself.<br />
From the deck of my bargain<br />
wooden beach hut, I blissfully<br />
blocked out the world,<br />
watching the sun turn the sky<br />
into a swirly pink mirage as I<br />
buried my feet deep in the soft<br />
sands and forgot all about my<br />
problems.<br />
With cheap, fresh seafood, miles of white beaches,<br />
a distinct lack of built up hotels and a relaxed vibe,<br />
I soon felt at home in south Goa.<br />
Finding the heart of India<br />
But India is about far more than sunsets and<br />
cocktails. I dared to venture and discovered a wild<br />
and untamed country that pushed me to the limits,<br />
tested my patience and opened my eyes. I found<br />
myself in situations where I wondered if this travel<br />
lark was even worth it. The hours I spent on bumpy<br />
bus rides, fearing for my life on those overcrowded<br />
falling-to-pieces buses, or the times that<br />
completing simple tasks seemed like an impossible<br />
feat, sometimes became so overwhelming and<br />
frustrating, that I would have a mini meltdown and<br />
curse the country for its crazy logic.<br />
Yet there were so many special instants and<br />
charming encounters that the lows were quickly<br />
forgotten in the midst of magical moments. Indian<br />
people love a celebration. In the Hindu faith there<br />
are over 150 official festivals, not counting all the<br />
local village parties, and of course those of the<br />
other religions. The Indians absolutely love to<br />
rejoice about anything and everything, which<br />
means there is always something going on, be it a<br />
festival of camels, a snake-worshipping ceremony<br />
or a celebration of brothers and sisters.<br />
A CELEBRATION<br />
OF BROTHERS<br />
AND SISTERS
BEING INVITED AND<br />
INVOLVED CREATES<br />
TRULY UNFORGETTABLE<br />
EXPERIENCES.<br />
One of my favourite festivals is<br />
Diwali, the most important date on<br />
a Hindu calendar, which sees a 5-<br />
day celebration of gift exchanging,<br />
eating and praying to worship the<br />
goddess of wealth. As big as<br />
Christmas in the west, it is a<br />
holiday focused on family and<br />
loved ones. The buzz around<br />
Diwali in autumn is electric as<br />
people eagerly prepare for the<br />
festival of lights. Cities like Jaipur<br />
light up all the houses and<br />
buildings with literally thousands<br />
of colourful lights in an<br />
extravagant and over-the-top<br />
display. On the main nights of<br />
Diwali, the sky is an explosion of<br />
colour as fireworks explode from<br />
every rooftop and ears are covered<br />
as kids throw countless<br />
firecrackers on the ground. The<br />
city is quite literally alive and<br />
shaking.<br />
BEING A WITNESS TO<br />
SOME OF THESE<br />
CELEBRATIONS IS SIMPLY<br />
WONDERFUL<br />
But no festival in India is more<br />
crazy and colourful than Holi ‘the<br />
festival of colours’ that takes place<br />
in February or <strong>March</strong> to mark the<br />
start of spring and the victory of<br />
good over evil. The streets are<br />
bursting with people<br />
enthusiastically smearing coloured<br />
powder and soaking each other<br />
with water guns and bombs, the<br />
energy and joy of the frolicking<br />
enhanced by scores of musical<br />
instruments and banging drums.<br />
I was lucky enough to be invited to<br />
an Indian wedding; a Bollywood<br />
explosion of luminous lighting,<br />
princess dresses and a draping of<br />
golden jewellery by the carat load.
A huge, high-ceilinged room with<br />
great chandeliers sparkled above<br />
the mass of brightly-coloured<br />
diamante encrusted costumes,<br />
beautiful ladies and well-dressed<br />
gentlemen in turbans and shiny<br />
shoes. The food and drink were<br />
flowing, and the dancefloor was on<br />
fire with bhangra moves and people<br />
having the time of their lives. I have<br />
never experienced a night quite like<br />
it in my life. It was incredible.<br />
Getting a new perspective<br />
India has a great rich poor divide.<br />
One evening I found myself sipping<br />
champagne in a Bollywood Barbie<br />
dress and another day I was holding<br />
my nose whilst trudging through<br />
piles of littered plastic, trying with<br />
all my might not to befriend a skinny<br />
dog that had followed me for 20<br />
minutes.<br />
As I strolled through the slums of<br />
Mumbai with my clean clothes and<br />
designer sunglasses, an<br />
overwhelming sense of sadness for<br />
the dwellers rose up inside my<br />
uneasy stomach. I squeezed through<br />
the narrow walkways between<br />
homes that were no bigger than the<br />
width of a large child, dodging the<br />
exposed electrical wires and<br />
watching my foot didn’t slip on the<br />
uneven pot-holed floor. Doors were<br />
left open and I peered inside the<br />
homes that housed up to 8 people;<br />
tiny rooms with few belongings and<br />
no windows. I felt a surge of guilt for<br />
all that I had in my life and how, I<br />
thought, could life be so cruel and<br />
unfair to these people?<br />
Then I met a local boy who lived in<br />
the slum and was attending<br />
university. He was happy with his<br />
life and told me that even if he got a<br />
good job he would remain living in<br />
the slum with his family. It was his<br />
home. As I studied the sincerity in<br />
his face, I realised I had been<br />
judging everything by a western<br />
level of standards, giving pity to<br />
people for not having the same<br />
materialistic comforts we enjoy at<br />
home. Failing to appreciate that<br />
these people did not require my<br />
sympathy, that their simple lives did<br />
not warrant my disdain. These<br />
people had nothing according to our<br />
standards. But they were happy.<br />
In the west, we always complain<br />
about trivialities. We need to realise<br />
how lucky we are for basic things<br />
that are taken for granted, such as<br />
smooth roads, a waste disposal<br />
system and healthcare. Beyond that,<br />
we have our beautiful houses, clean<br />
streets and home comforts. A trip to<br />
India not only opens the eyes to the<br />
misfortunes of the world but really<br />
makes us think. It forces us to put<br />
into perspective the important<br />
things in life.<br />
I am certainly not the same person I<br />
was when I went.<br />
The people<br />
I went to India on my own, but I<br />
never felt alone. There are so many<br />
people travelling to India that<br />
finding a buddy isn’t difficult,<br />
although, I must admit, I revelled in<br />
the freedom of suiting myself and<br />
loved meeting new and different<br />
people along the path. Although<br />
India has over 22 official languages,<br />
and over 1600 mother tongues,<br />
many educated Indians speak<br />
English, especially in the big cities.<br />
This enabled me to forge close<br />
friendships with local people, to<br />
whom I will be forever grateful. I<br />
was invited into homes, offered a<br />
bed, fed and genuinely cared for.<br />
In fact, my favourite thing about India is the<br />
people. A nation struck with severe poverty,<br />
over-crowdedness and political strife, yet one<br />
which fights the daily struggle with passion and<br />
pride. They are loyal and strong in their beliefs<br />
and happy in their disposition. I am genuinely<br />
overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity<br />
that was shown to me. Every encounter,<br />
however brief or long-term, reflected the kind<br />
and inquisitive nature of the people. I will never<br />
forget the lady on the train who befriended me<br />
on a 7-hour journey and found me a seat when I<br />
was exhausted and confused on the jam-packed<br />
carriage, or the gentleman in the street who<br />
helped me find my hotel when I was lost and<br />
subsequently invited me to a dinner fit for a<br />
queen at his home with his beautiful family.<br />
The people stare, and not in a subtle fashion,<br />
yet they do so with a curiosity that makes them<br />
childlike. It isn’t a stare to be offended by. True,<br />
it is something that takes a while to become<br />
accustomed to, and for me it became so familiar<br />
that when I arrived back home, I wondered why<br />
on earth nobody was paying lots of attention to<br />
me. While walking down the street, every<br />
second person wants a selfie and although it<br />
can be annoying, there is something rewarding<br />
about being able to put a big smile on a kid’s<br />
face or make a family’s day.<br />
India isn’t for the faint hearted. The frequent<br />
electrical cuts, intermittent WIFI and<br />
unavoidable Delhi belly don’t scream luxury<br />
holiday. It made me cry, it made me mad and it<br />
drove me crazy. It also helped me heal my<br />
broken heart, taught me the true meaning of<br />
gratitude and created some of my most<br />
unforgettable memories.<br />
To discover more about Helen's Travels, go to<br />
her website:<br />
www.joyfuloverlander.com<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Just For Laughs<br />
Peter O'Toole<br />
Fork Handles or For Candles?
"When we live in<br />
the unknown, we<br />
become conscious<br />
that we co-create<br />
our reality.<br />
Therefore nothing<br />
is determined.<br />
Everything is<br />
possible."<br />
RICHARD T. VOLLER<br />
T O B E I N T E R V I E W E D B Y R I C H A R D T . V O L L E R A B O U T Y O U R<br />
B U S I N E S S , E M A I L : E M A Z I N E M E D I A @ G M A I L . C O M
A S T R O L O G Y<br />
THE ASTROLOGICAL BIRTH CHART – THE<br />
UNIVERSE’S PERSONAL MESSAGE TO YOU<br />
Discover more about Radilina's<br />
work: www.thesixthseed.com<br />
Facebook:<br />
www.facebook.com/thesixthseed<br />
WRITTEN BY RADILINA SHANOVA<br />
31 | Steam<br />
Confusion, depression, restlessness, a<br />
sense of futility and lack of direction.<br />
Stagnation or hyperactivity, fear…The list<br />
of these all too common states of mind and<br />
feeling can go on and on. We all<br />
experience them - each in our own private<br />
way – hidden or exposed. And it seems like<br />
today more than ever before, we seek to<br />
put order in the chaos of our personal<br />
struggles, or at least try to make some<br />
sense of how we fit as individuals in the big<br />
picture of the world around.<br />
The circumstances we were born<br />
in, our family and specific culture,<br />
still try to impose a set of rules and<br />
expectation on who we should be<br />
or what we should do with our lives<br />
- to define the concepts of success<br />
and happiness for us and expect<br />
conformity. And until fairly<br />
recently, hardly could anyone dare<br />
not to conform without facing the<br />
fate of becoming an outsider.
Yet, cultural frameworks and universal recipes are less and less convincing to<br />
modern men and women who are drawn towards self-realization and individuation.<br />
They no longer seem to work, at least not for everyone. ‘Find a well-paid job, buy a<br />
house, have children and you will be happy!’ Not necessarily. Your journey may be<br />
focused on so many different roles in so many different areas of life. What about<br />
personal vocation, for example? This certainly doesn't mean the same thing for<br />
everybody. For some, it’s a specific career, for others – a kind of service to the<br />
community or participation in a group cause. Yet for others, it is the development<br />
and expression of a skill or talent. And in some cases, equally valuable, vocation<br />
lies in homemaking and the raising of children. There can be as many options as<br />
there are people on this planet. And that’s what’s confusing.<br />
Approaching from such a philosophical angle the day-to-day issues and demands of<br />
the stressful and competitive times we live in may not be everyone’s cup of tea.<br />
Digging deep in search for answers to pressing personal problems can be scary and<br />
too impractical for most people who are looking for quick resolutions and concrete<br />
recipes to alleviate their emotional pain. Anything that helps simply keep them<br />
functional and in constant motion. Anything that ensures efficient action, but does<br />
not demand change. Why overcomplicate things when they are already<br />
complicated enough?! Because oversimplification can be even more destructive in<br />
the long run…<br />
So, in our search for inner balance and fulfilment, a realization starts to emerge -<br />
that an individual path is to be sought. One that calls for self-discovery and deeper<br />
knowledge of our individual make-up. It also means a renewed sense of relatedness<br />
to everything that surrounds us, so we can find our place in the ‘big play of life’.<br />
Something that will make us see more clearly what our individual role in that play<br />
is, without confusing it with somebody else’s. A starting point for forming a<br />
strategy and vision.<br />
The study of astrology, and the personal birth chart, in particular, can be a way to<br />
orient ourselves in the mess of clashing inner moods, complex human relationships<br />
and the very common tendency to sabotage ourselves by adopting lifestyle<br />
practices that are completely incompatible with our own nature. It is only one of a<br />
myriad of possible ways. But to me, astrology is the most comprehensive, allencompassing<br />
and person-specific tool for psychological analysis.
Astrology is a symbolical language and for those who explore it, it opens up a world<br />
far beyond superficial and inaccurate newspaper Sun sign columns. But despite its<br />
revived popularity in recent decades, its reputation is still controversial and it is<br />
often associated with fortune telling and dubious occult practices. It still remains<br />
largely unknown and misunderstood. And not surprisingly, considering the<br />
existence of many unscrupulous individuals who claim to be able to ‘tell your<br />
future’ through astrology or are quick to pass moral judgement and dub character<br />
traits as good or bad based on what they ‘see’ in the natal chart. Some succeed in<br />
satisfying people’s curiosity, as we are all hungry for any information which can<br />
clarify our life choices and give us some direction. The more specific the<br />
instruction, the better.<br />
Trouble is, predictions often get realized not because of some predefined ‘fate’ the<br />
astrologer has been able to spot in the chart, but merely as self-fulfilled<br />
prophecies. ‘Saturn transits your 7th house this year and it means your marriage is<br />
going to break up’, you’ve been told. The marriage may possibly end, but that was<br />
only one of many available scenarios revolving around relationship issues which<br />
the chart reflects. Yet, believing in that one in particular when someone readily<br />
pointed it out is the strongest factor behind its actualization.<br />
It is not my purpose here to defend astrology or convince anyone to believe in it. I<br />
can only urge whoever is interested in the matter to do their own research and<br />
make up their own mind – without prejudice. Personally, I am yet to meet someone<br />
who would at the same time know anything about the subject and refute its<br />
immense value.<br />
So, what is a birth chart and how can it be helpful in practice?<br />
The astrological birth chart is simply a map of the Sky at the time and place of<br />
birth. It is a piece of astronomical data. A register of where all planets in our Solar<br />
System were placed on their path around the Sun at that particular moment and<br />
from our point of view here on Earth. It is a still image of the giant clock of the<br />
Universe where everything is in constant motion. At any time, all elements in it<br />
form a unique pattern of relationship to one another and that pattern becomes the<br />
personal fingerprint or the musical score of whatever is born at that moment. A<br />
couple of examples of birth charts are on the next page.
It is basically assumed that we are all integral parts of a large cosmic organism, a<br />
big hole made of smaller holes, but all related in a way similar to how the head,<br />
heart, stomach, arms and legs related to the body. So, the motion of the planets in<br />
the sky is said to affect human beings not because planets exert some magical<br />
power influencing our actions, but simply because we are mini models of exactly<br />
the same thing they represent. When something is born, a new cycle begins which<br />
is in synchrony with the state of the Universe at that moment. Our personal clocks<br />
are set at the time of birth and from that point, they follow an individual path.<br />
Astrology cannot say what is going to happen to you, but it can help map out in<br />
time the moments of critical turning points in your lifetime. Properly read, these<br />
can provide specific tips on where our potential is concentrated and how best to<br />
play out our cards. Every one of us has a specific set of qualities and the task is to<br />
use and develop as many of them as we can, keeping as close to the instructions of<br />
our individual code as possible. Knowing what they place a compass in our hands<br />
which helps navigate through the vast sea of available options we can choose from.<br />
Still, it is a matter of free will whether or not we decide to stick to the instruction<br />
manual.
There is nothing positive or negative in a birth chart and no chart is better or more<br />
evolved than another. They are all neutral, but all factors in them are inter- related<br />
and should be interpreted as a whole picture. Natal astrology deals mainly with<br />
three pieces of information which make up the birth chart – the planets, the Zodiac<br />
signs and the astrological houses. These can be illustrated as a theatrical<br />
performance.<br />
On a circular scene divided in sections similar to pizza slices, a complex play<br />
unfolds. The scene itself is the territory of the chart where all acts happen. In every<br />
separate part of it (each of the 12 houses), something different is the centre of<br />
attention – family, education, health, relationships, career etc. Planets are the<br />
actors in the play. They represent psychological functions we all have – Mercury is<br />
the mind, the Moon stands for our emotions, Mars – the physical energy, Venus -<br />
our value system and so on. Depending on which houses planets occupy in the<br />
chart we get to see where the dramas of our lives happen. And the 12 signs of the<br />
Zodiac are symbolical names of the 12 distinct costume styles our actors wear.<br />
Aries, Scorpio or Aquarius carry qualities which build character and indicate what<br />
hidden agenda our actors will be motivated by and what means they will use to<br />
play their specific role. The scene is set, actors dressed up in position and engaged<br />
in a complex dialogue which would last a lifetime.<br />
And we are only just scratching the surface…
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TESTIM<br />
W H E R E Y O U R J O U R N E Y B E G I N S<br />
ONIAL<br />
E M M A C O Y N E<br />
“It was a great opportunity when Richard suggested<br />
interviewing me after I had Summited Kilimanjaro a<br />
month before. I was so pleased to be able to tell my<br />
personal story to the communities where I live. In Life<br />
human beings are often seeking connection, to share,<br />
enrich and inspire others around them. <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong><br />
really makes this happen.”<br />
“People learn every month about people in their own<br />
communities, events going on around them or where they<br />
can get support for something in their everyday lives. It<br />
bridges the gap and brings all communities together in the<br />
rural areas of Valencia.<br />
It's such a valuable online magazine and so many of us are<br />
really grateful for its creation.”
C O M M U N I T Y SPIRIT / ANIMAL WELL BEING<br />
Fireworks phobia in dogs<br />
By María Lluch Barbera (veterinarian) &<br />
Laila Fletcher (student canine behaviourist)<br />
<strong>March</strong> brings the festival of Las Fallas in Valencia, with daily<br />
thunderous explosions of fireworks at 2pm (mascletá) from the<br />
beginning of the month, building up to five days of intense<br />
celebration, and culminating in La Nit del Foc (the night of fire),<br />
when the city erupts in magnificent fireworks displays and the<br />
burning of huge statues (ninots). Spectacular it is, and well worth<br />
seeing, but quiet it is not. Unfortunately for our four-legged friends,<br />
most dogs suffer some level of fear of sudden loud noises (e.g.<br />
fireworks, gunshots, thunder), and 40-50% are what is termed noise<br />
sensitive or phobic. If your dog is whining, panting, pacing, trembling,<br />
hypersalivating, hiding, or refusing to eat food/treats, then she is<br />
probably quite profoundly frightened, and you’ll want to do all you<br />
can to help her cope.<br />
If she is used to a crate, you can cover it with layers of blankets to help<br />
muffle the sound of fireworks (or a Thunder Hut sound-deadening cover<br />
could be bought for it). Only use a crate, however, if your dog normally<br />
chooses to enter it voluntarily. Closing the blinds/curtains of your home<br />
will also help mask loud noises and prevent her seeing flashes of light.<br />
If your dog seeks tactile comfort from you then stroke her soothingly; in<br />
fact, just gentle but continuous pressure with an arm or leg can be<br />
better.<br />
Fear of loud noises is natural in dogs, and there is a strong genetic<br />
component, especially among herding breeds. The best solution to<br />
noise phobias, then, is to prevent them developing in the first place,<br />
by gently and gradually exposing your dog to as many sounds as<br />
possible during puppyhood, always ensuring the sounds are never so<br />
loud as to be overwhelming (we will write more about puppy<br />
sensitive periods in another issue). Of course, this is not possible if<br />
you adopted your dog as an adult, or if she has already developed a<br />
phobia. The key here is to manage your dog’s surroundings, minimise<br />
her exposure to loud noises and help reduce her anxiety – this is<br />
extremely important, as noise phobias tend to worsen over time and<br />
generalise to other situations too.<br />
Firstly, never ever punish your dog whilst she is frightened, as it will<br />
only make her fear worse! If she has a toilet accident or damages<br />
something, quietly clean up the mess and forget about it. If she<br />
wants to hide alone in an unusual place, let her choose where she<br />
feels most safe.
"...you cannot reinforce<br />
your dog's fear by<br />
stroking her..."<br />
Gently massaging her ears, one at a time from base to tip, may help<br />
her relax, as may slow zigzag strokes along her back. Contrary to<br />
what many people believe, you cannot reinforce your dog’s fear by<br />
stroking her – fear is an instinctual emotion that she cannot<br />
consciously control, so you will not be encouraging more fearful<br />
behaviour if you comfort her with physical contact. However, it is<br />
important you behave as if there is nothing to be frightened of, as<br />
your dog looks to you for guidance when she feels unsure, and if you<br />
seem tense or worried she will believe there really is reason to be<br />
afraid. Avoid telling her “it’s ok”, as this may confuse her – she knows<br />
perfectly well things are not ok, and we tend to use the phrase only<br />
in situations when our dogs are anxious, so it will likely hold negative<br />
associations for her. Some dogs may find an anxiety wrap helpful –<br />
you could buy a Thundershirt, or a do-it-yourself version can be<br />
made from a scarf.<br />
It may help to distract your dog by playing games and having a<br />
training session – basic obedience commands that she knows really<br />
well can help divert her attention. Use her favourite toys and treats,<br />
or something extra special, such as small pieces of cheese or cooked<br />
chicken, and use a jolly upbeat tone of voice. For some dogs, music<br />
may help; classical music calms some, whilst for others music with a<br />
strong bass beat helps mask the sound of fireworks.<br />
Woofering Heights is a film created by canine experts<br />
with sights and sounds specifically designed to<br />
reduce anxiety in dogs and is available for free on<br />
YouTube. Start playing the music initially at times of<br />
day when your dog is already calm and relaxed, so<br />
that she doesn’t associate it with fireworks, and then<br />
gradually introduce it at times when she is frightened.<br />
Other household noises she is familiar with may also<br />
help reduce her anxiety (e.g. dishwashers, washing<br />
machines and tumble dryers; you could put a pair of<br />
trainers in the tumble dryer, so they clunk around and<br />
help mask the sounds of fireworks).<br />
Walk your dog only at quiet times of day, and in<br />
places where there are no fireworks. This can be<br />
tricky during Fallas, to say the least, as youngsters<br />
everywhere will be setting off bangers, so take her to<br />
a quiet location by car if necessary.
"...The aim here is not<br />
to sedate your dog, but<br />
to prevent or reduce<br />
her distress...."<br />
Ensure she wears a secure harness, so that she<br />
can’t escape and become lost if she is startled, and<br />
that she is wearing an identity tag just in case she<br />
does (a temporary one could be quickly made from<br />
a keyring tag if she doesn’t already have one).<br />
Please also make sure her microchip details are up<br />
to date with RIVIA (Registro Informático<br />
Valenciano de Identificación de Animales)!<br />
If your dog has a noise phobia, she will be truly<br />
distressed by all the noises of Fallas and is at risk<br />
of developing other fear-related issues, such as<br />
separation anxiety, generalised anxiety and panic<br />
disorder. Speak to your vet in advance about the<br />
many pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and<br />
complementary products available that will help<br />
your dog cope. The aim here is not to sedate your<br />
dog, but to prevent or reduce her distress. Several<br />
anti-anxiety drugs are available, which can be<br />
given on an as-needed basis, providing short-term<br />
relief with few, if any, side effects.<br />
Products such as alprazolam (Trankimacin or Xanax),<br />
clorazepate (Tranxilium) or trazodone (Deprax) are useful<br />
for isolated events where timing is predictable. Some of<br />
these have mild amnesic effects, so your dog will not<br />
remember the frightening event and her phobia will not<br />
worsen, and these can be given just a couple of hours prior<br />
to, or some even during the event itself.<br />
Where timing of these events is less predictable or more<br />
prolonged, medications such as trazodone (Deprax),<br />
clonidine (Catapresan) or selegiline (Selegil) can be started<br />
in advance and given for the duration of the Fallas period.<br />
Nutraceuticals such as alpha-casozepine (Zylkene),<br />
L-theanine (Anxitane) or Calmex, along with dietary<br />
products such as Royal Canin’s Calm dog food may also help<br />
your pet, but these must be started in advance, and they are<br />
insufficient alone if your dog has a severe phobia or other<br />
fear-related issues in addition. Dog appeasement<br />
pheromone (Adaptil) is completely natural and may help<br />
reduce generalised anxiety. This comes either as a plug-in<br />
diffuser or as a collar, but once again must be introduced at
least two weeks prior and will not be sufficient alone if your<br />
dog’s fear is profound. Other complementary products with<br />
anxiolytic effects are available through most health food<br />
shops, including Passiflora and Valerian extracts. Care must be<br />
taken with Valerian, however, as it has sedative effects in<br />
addition to reducing anxiety, and enhances the effects of many<br />
other products, including anticonvulsants, anxiolytics and<br />
anaesthetics. Though nutraceuticals and complementary<br />
products are natural, you must always consult your vet before<br />
giving them to your dog, as they will interact with other<br />
medications your dog may be taking, medical conditions she<br />
may have, or emergency veterinary care she may need, and<br />
naturally does not necessarily mean safe! Please also ensure<br />
you do not underestimate the fear your dog may be<br />
experiencing – though other complementary therapies such as<br />
homoeopathy or Bach Flower Remedies are available, they<br />
have not been included here as their use may be more<br />
appropriate for mild long-term anxiety, not for acute and<br />
intensely frightening events involving loud explosions.<br />
Ultimately, try to avoid leaving your dog home<br />
alone when she is likely to be frightened by<br />
fireworks, and in some cases, it may be better to<br />
send her for a holiday with a trusted friend or<br />
family member. If this is not possible, then<br />
hopefully you have found some useful advice here.<br />
If your dog has a noise phobia the most humane<br />
option is to aim to modify your dog’s fear in the<br />
long-term through seeking the help of both your<br />
vet and a professional behaviourist.<br />
With up to half of our dogs experiencing noise phobias, Fallas<br />
can be a very challenging time for them, and the fear and<br />
distress they may feel can genuinely compromise their welfare.
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threatening, though the<br />
pet, mistakenly believing that a<br />
metabolisms, and what is safe<br />
C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T<br />
A N I M A L W E L L B E I N G<br />
Ingestion of<br />
human<br />
painkillers is<br />
one of the most<br />
common causes<br />
of poisoning<br />
seen in<br />
veterinary<br />
clinics<br />
worldwide<br />
Written by María Lluch Barbera (veterinarian) & Laila Fletcher (student canine<br />
behaviourist)<br />
Domestic Poisoning in Pets:<br />
Part II<br />
D R U G S & M E D I C A T I O N<br />
If your pet us unwell or injured<br />
you will naturally want to ease<br />
prognosis depends on how<br />
for humans is often not safe for<br />
their pain, and it can be<br />
much has been ingested and the<br />
our furry companions. In many<br />
tempting to give them<br />
severity of symptoms. Many<br />
cases this is because dogs and<br />
something from your home<br />
such cases are through<br />
cats do not produce the proteins<br />
medicine cabinet. However, are<br />
accidental ingestion – perhaps<br />
required by the body to process<br />
you aware that human<br />
these chemicals. Please do not<br />
painkillers are harmful to your<br />
your pet has been countersurfing<br />
and got hold of<br />
under any circumstances give<br />
pet?<br />
medication you thought was out<br />
human painkillers to your pet,<br />
of their reach. However, many<br />
and if you think they may have<br />
accidentally swallowed some,<br />
Ingestion of human painkillers<br />
well-meaning owners actually<br />
is one of the most common<br />
give these medications to their<br />
get them to your vet urgently,<br />
causes of poisoning seen in<br />
even if they are not yet showing<br />
veterinary clinics worldwide,<br />
symptoms.<br />
child’s dose will be safe for their<br />
and is potentially life-<br />
dog or cat. Unfortunately,<br />
different species have different
common household painkiller is Ibuprofen, which<br />
One<br />
the enzymes necessary for your dog or cat to<br />
inhibits<br />
normal gastric mucosal barriers, blood flow<br />
maintain<br />
the kidneys, and blood platelet aggregation.<br />
through<br />
means that if your pet has ingested Ibuprofen, he<br />
This<br />
suffer perforated intestines, compromised kidney<br />
may<br />
not make themselves apparent until the following<br />
may<br />
days.<br />
and medicines such as Calpol that contain<br />
Paracetamol,<br />
are another common component of the<br />
paracetamol,<br />
deforms and destroys their red blood cells. For this<br />
it<br />
it can cause liver failure, and the damage to red<br />
reason,<br />
cells reduces your pet’s ability to get sufficient<br />
blood<br />
around his body, which can even cause brain<br />
oxygen<br />
Symptoms of paracetamol poisoning in pets<br />
damage.<br />
gastrointestinal upset, swollen face and/or<br />
include<br />
(especially in cats), and bluish-tinged mucosal<br />
limbs<br />
Similarly, Aspirin ingestion can cause<br />
membranes.<br />
haemorrhage, anaemia, raised body<br />
internal<br />
vomiting, gastric ulcers, and other<br />
temperature,<br />
complications. All of these painkillers are<br />
metabolic<br />
and manufactured for the human metabolism,<br />
designed<br />
they are not licensed for use in pets as they have<br />
and<br />
scientifically proven to be harmful. Many human<br />
been<br />
also contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener<br />
medications<br />
you might put in your cup of tea or find in sugar-<br />
which<br />
you must seek veterinary advice, as what is safe to<br />
here<br />
your dog may be dangerous for your cat, and vice<br />
give<br />
cats and dogs, just like humans, can suffer<br />
Though<br />
disturbances and may need a course of<br />
psychological<br />
as part of their treatment, this is always<br />
antidepressants<br />
careful veterinary supervision. Such medications<br />
under<br />
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or<br />
include<br />
serotonin-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as<br />
selective<br />
or Daparox. As in humans, the wrong dose of<br />
Prozac<br />
can lead to what is known as Serotonin<br />
antidepressants<br />
a potentially fatal condition triggered by excessive<br />
Syndrome,<br />
system activity. If your pet has accidentally ingested<br />
nervous<br />
in the home, symptoms may include altered<br />
antidepressants<br />
states, tremors, convulsions, muscular rigidity,<br />
mental<br />
dilation, and in severe cases coma or death. The<br />
pupil<br />
is usually good, however, with rapid veterinary care<br />
prognosis<br />
if your pet has no pre-existing medical condition to<br />
and<br />
the picture.<br />
complicate<br />
function, and his blood may be unable to clot properly.<br />
of Ibuprofen toxicity may include vomiting,<br />
Symptoms<br />
loss, apathy, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, pale<br />
appetite<br />
and ocular conjunctiva, or abnormal bleeding.<br />
gums<br />
symptoms may appear within an hour, but they<br />
These<br />
cabinet. The active ingredient,<br />
medicine<br />
is metabolised by your pet’s liver, and<br />
acetaminophen,<br />
chewing gum, but which is highly toxic to dogs.<br />
free<br />
painkillers are species-appropriate, but even<br />
Veterinary<br />
versa.<br />
vomiting, diarrhoea, tachycardia, raised body temperature,<br />
A N I M A L W E L L B E I N G | C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T
Drugs and other substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, can<br />
also have a serious impact on your pet’s nervous system if they<br />
are accidentally ingested. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed through<br />
the digestive tract, and its metabolic processing by the liver<br />
and kidneys can severely affect their function, particularly if<br />
their function is already compromised (e.g. in very young, sick<br />
or ageing pets). If your pet has craftily slurped too much of a<br />
cocktail left unattended on the coffee table, it may not be a<br />
laughing matter at all, as it can lead to serious complications,<br />
and even coma and death. Tobacco too is a danger to your pet,<br />
and may cause hypersalivation, hyperactivity, vomiting,<br />
diarrhoea, uncoordinated movements, convulsions, depressed<br />
respiration and even death. If your pet ingests marijuana,<br />
within 30-90 minutes symptoms may become apparent,<br />
including depression, tremors, motor difficulties, pupil dilation,<br />
disorientation and behavioural changes; in some cases,<br />
hypersalivation and urinary incontinence may also be seen.<br />
Other drugs of abuse can have very serious effects on your pet,<br />
and in the worst cases can severely compromise his nervous<br />
system, cardiac and respiratory function.<br />
As with any case of poisoning described here, the<br />
prognosis is usually good, providing very prompt<br />
veterinary care is sought. Most importantly, keep<br />
all medicines and potentially harmful substances<br />
out of reach of pets, and safely shut behind<br />
cupboard doors that they cannot accidentally gain<br />
access to. If you are in any doubt as to whether<br />
your pet may have consumed something harmful,<br />
the best option is always to get them to a vet<br />
without delay.
EMAZINE MEDIA<br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>, <strong>2018</strong><br />
'<strong>Community</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>' online magazine is published by eMazineMedia.<br />
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