Reflexology & Banyan Tree

Markus (my husband) was in need of some serious tender loving care this weekend as he had been experiencing stress, fatigue and a lingering headache on Saturday afternoon. Prior to his reflexology session, we took a short forest bath where we slowly meandered around the old growth trees. I asked Markus to place his hands on a tree trunk and to imagine the energy traveling from roots deep in the earth up through the trunk, into his hands and then through his body and back down to his feet into the earth where a loop was made with the roots of the tree. I had him hold this image in his mind for later.

Markus selected two cards for today’s session; the Pineal (sleep cycle gland) healing Water Crystal Oracle card and then randomly selected the Banyan tree (with spectacular roots) card from the Wisdom of the Trees Oracle. It was interesting that he selected this card symbolizing grounding and stability; the reason he also placed his hands on the trunk of the tree earlier. This was a nice synchronicity.

I performed a full foot reflexology session. While doing so, I found that his right foot was tender in various places. This is new, as he’s not experienced any pain in his feet since last year. The areas of tenderness included the bronchial down to the bladder (upper to mid medial side), the medial side of the heal and the neck jaw lymph drainage point (just below the webbing between the first and second toe). I went over these areas several times, and he found they remained tender but reduced a little. The left foot showed no tenderness. This is interesting to see, and I have seen this before where one foot retains the tenderness while the other does not. Markus was stressed and fatigued and we know that can play a role in foot sensitivities during a reflexology session.

After the session was complete, I proceeded to use a tuning fork on those tender areas. Markus commented that he could feel the vibrations moving from the fork into his body and that it was a pleasant sensation. After spending about 20 mins doing this, I did a pendulum sweep over his chakras to see if there was any energetically active areas. We found the same areas to be active as in the past as the pendulum swayed or did circles over the sacral, solar plexus and throat chakras. I placed crystals on him in these areas along with a clear quartz crystal on his forehead (crown) and asked him to continue resting for a few minutes.

After this, I asked Markus to select a crystal and hold it in his hand while we read about the Banyan tree from the guide book. Afterwards, he closed his eyes and envisioned his hands on the tree trunk exercise as described earlier. I asked Markus to remain laying back in the chair for a few more minutes just focusing on the meditative music video and the hummingbirds play outside the window. Markus was yawning non-stop for a good half an hour after the session was complete.

It wasn’t too long after that he noticed he started to feel better; less pain in his head and more balanced. The strain in his lower legs and feet were gone and he was feeling energetically lifted. This was a big difference from earlier in the day when he struggled to walk in the forest. That night he had a fantastic sleep and on Sunday reported that he was feeling very relaxed and completely rejuvenated. This always makes me feel good to know that his body is responding well to the sessions.

I have included the video I used in his session for your own enjoyment.

Disclaimer: Reflexology does not diagnose, prescribe or treat for specific conditions. Always seek proper medical attention should you suspect you have a medical problemReflexology is not a replacement for medical treatment.

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Lay back in the Lafuma Chair

@lunarainforest

The #view from inside the studio, laying back in the Lafuma chair, receiving #reflexology #clouds #sky #window #relaxing #zen #stressrelief #vanisle

♬ Tibetan Bowls – Spiritual Moment

Here’s the view you will have when laying back in the Lafuma chair receiving your relaxing reflexology treatment. We have a huge window facing open sky with 15 foot ceilings that offer spaciousness and tranquility. You’ll probably also get a few glimpses of our resident hummingbirds.

Reflexology & Resonance

This past weekend I gave Markus a reflexology treatment, the first since his skin cancer surgery on June 9. Before then, he spent three weeks recovering at home and has since gone back to working indoors over the past two weeks. The incision is healing very well but is going through typical bothersome stages of healing which involves irritations, pain and discomfort to the skin and face overall. Until mid August, he is to wear gauze taped overtop of the scar doubled with a personal mask to help keep environmental toxins off of his face. The pandemic is helping him to fit right in, although there is definitely a strange mask tension in the air.

As he’s been back on his feet, his body is getting accustomed to working and walking often although he is not permitted to engage in any excess exercise or heavy lifting. However the labour is still felt, the stress of the work still endured and so his feet very much craved a treatment after a month off. I refrained working on his feet while he was healing from surgery.

Very soon after starting the treatment, Markus very quickly went into a deep sleep. I completed a full foot routine followed by accentuating the stress-relieving reflexes (solar plexus, pituitary) with the tuning fork and finished with a basalt stone to ground his feet. Markus didn’t wake up; his body was put into a beautiful state of homeostasis. He says it is unusual for him, not to wake up and had no recollection of most of the treatment but did report feeling energized and light on his feet upon waking up. He described how much tension was lifted from his body and felt completely rejuvenated afterwards.

We picked two cards; the Basil card from Herbal Tarot – mainly because we have been eating so much of it lately. The divinatory meaning describes appreciating one’s own manifestation powers and capacities, a good recovery incentive. Markus blindly selected the Resonance card from the Water Crystal deck which was used to intentionally inspire his water for after the session.

This weekend we took a walk through a forest near us, enjoying the benefits of forest bathing. We are engaging little by little outdoors now that he is feeling better. But he still cannot allow his affected areas to be exposed to the sun (for 18 months), so he’s been laying low during the critical healing stage. By the time fall comes around, he’ll be in a safer zone.

I’ve been coming across ‘ghost flowers‘ over the past few weeks. They are a rather rare fungi flower hybrid that presents medicinal properties for anxiety – good for me. I decided to use a photo of them in the feature image. I have also come across rosehips; the oils from the bud are used for healing skin. Rosehips can been harvested in the fall, so maybe I’ll try to make a small batch of homemade oil for us to use. Apparently it’s very helpful for scar recovery and is paired very well with facial therapy and reflexology.

Disclaimer: Reflexology does not diagnose, prescribe or treat for specific conditions. Always seek proper medical attention should you suspect you have a medical problemReflexology is not a replacement for medical treatment.

China Beach

Taking advantage of the longer days, my husband and I took a drive out to China beach this past weekend. It was glorious and so well needed. The soft dark volcanic sand hugged the big black basalt stones rising out of the sea floor contrasting perfectly against the bright pacific ocean colours and the blue sky backdrop. It was a west coast serving of intoxicating sights and sounds. Along the way, we admired some beach stones and other ocean treasures such as chiton shells, fish heads, sea weed and even a bit of sea glass. I always feel better when I am surrounded by nature. We are fortunate to be at an arms reach from these places but of course I dream of being even closer; to immerse ones self in nature is a perfect life and it’s one I strive to achieve.

There is no doubt in my mind that even the inanimate natural objects hold more secrets than we can ever know. We take for granted the abundance of black stones all around us, for they are non living, non feeling objects. But they serve a structural purpose for our earth. The interconnectedness of not only living beings but the matter that upholds life provides a ground to stand on. Better yet, it provides a way to ground our own bodies, first making contact with our feet, better experienced without shoes. Spring is close and as the warmer temperatures draw near, it is the perfect opportunity to rub bare feet against these ocean floor basalt stones; for they are the natural masters of massage. Next time you find yourself around soft stones, go ahead and give your feet (and hands and face) a rub. You might be surprised as to how good it feels. At the very least, take a moment to observe their purpose and presence.