Today was one of those days when I don’t really know whether being psychic is a blessing or a curse.

Doing readings for people usually focuses on helping them figure out where to focus their energies in their work or in their personal life. I am guided by visions, messages etc. which I try to pass on as clearly as I can.  Readings can be very challenging, or they can flow very easily. They can bring up many emotions both in the client and in me, but they are usually encouraging and positive.

Today was a day when my visions where not the kind I like to see. I will first say that I rarely see anything negative or scary in my readings. I think this is because the spirits know I am a wimp and don’t like to pass on those kinds of messages, but we all have fears to face from time to time.

I was preparing to do a phone reading for someone. When reading for someone over the phone, I have only a name and a phone number, so I try to tune into the person by pulling a few cards before calling them.

I did a basic card spread. If you know anything about tarot and oracle cards, you will know that the images on the cards are most often symbolic representations of what might be going on in someone’s life. Today there was no pretty symbolism. There was only cold, harsh reality.

My first few cards showed me a hand bearing a wand and a mother and child being struck by lightening. I was immediately overcome by a huge wave of grief. I knew that I was seeing the violent death of a child.

I had to pull myself together and make the call for my phone reading. Even though I was overcome with emotion, I still had some doubts and confusion about what I was seeing. I was certain this event had already happened and that I was going to be speaking to a family member of this child, but that was all I had to go on so far.

This might seem like a very negative experience. I finished the reading and hope that my visions of the future can bring some peace to the family. I am shaken, but at peace.

It is a great honour to be allowed to share in grief with another soul. I was given messages of peace and healing for this family and was able to see justice and protection coming their way. I saw this child safely in the arms of a deceased relative and was able to pass this information on. I can only hope it gives them some solace.

So, even though I am still greatly saddened by what I saw, I was also reminded of how incredible the human spirit can be. It amazes me how people can go through tragedy and still continue on. We can be unbelievably strong when we have to be, and that is the beautiful part of being allowed to see into someone’s else’s life. So, good, bad or ugly, I am truly grateful for the ability that I have been blessed with.

Who doesn’t love a bowl of good hot soup in the winter months? I recently ran across this article with a few good recipes and ideas about how to make soups specific to your health needs.

Soup Therapy: Detoxify, Lose Weight, and Boost Immunity

By Maoshing Ni, Ph.D., D.O.M., ABAAHp, L.Ac.

The healing power of soup: something that both scientists and grandmothers can agree on. From helping you lose weight to warming you up from the inside out to boosting your immunity, soup is a winter staple that you shouldn’t be without. Maybe that is one reason that it is celebrated this month with its very own National Soup Month. Here’s a closer look at what you can do to benefit from soup’s amazing healing powers. Read more…

This morning’s Globe and Mail has an article on how NHL players are using acupuncture to keep themselves on the ice.

“This one was in a tricky spot as muscle injuries go, so they called in the guy with the needles.

It’s true NHLers are given access to all the surgeons and therapists they could ever need, but in many cases players are looking outside the field of traditional medicine for help.

The Montreal Canadiens’ Michael Cammalleri is merely one of many. A month ago he suffered a charley horse in an awkward place on his thigh that didn’t respond especially well to physiotherapy and stretching.

So the sniping winger turned to acupuncture.” read more

I am having lots of fun with cosmetic acupuncture lately. But, here in good old Guelph we don’t quite get away with charging $200 a session!

New scientific studies show that Reiki is an effective treatment for pain and stress! Of course, we Reiki practitioners have known this for decades! Read the article below:

“After decades of often disputed validity, the effectiveness of Reiki, a holistic energy treatment is gaining new respect within the medical community. Not only are highly reputable medical facilities throughout the U.S. offering patients alternative healing programs such as Reiki, those facilities are analyzing the benefits of their programs and are submitting them for review and compilation. The results are nothing short of remarkable.” Read More here…

Are you doing all you can to survive the flu season?

If you could do one thing to help keep you from getting sick this winter would you want to give it a try?

Who wants to feel achy and sore, shivering with fever, coughing, hacking and dripping with cold? Uck!

Yes, you should eat well, take your vitamins, drink lots of fluids and get your rest, but there are other natural and virtually side-effect free ways to boost your immune system and help you to avoid colds and flus.

Acupuncture and cupping therapy can help keep you healthier and help you to get rid of toxins.

Acupuncture releases stagnant energy and gets blood and oxygen flowing through your body. These life-giving elements are the natural enemies of viruses in the body.

Cupping therapy can actually help to pull toxins right out of your body to the skin and lymphatic system, where they are naturally eliminated. It is totally painless and feels like a gentle massage. When someone has a lot of toxins or is about to come down with the flu, there are often darkish sludgy looking fluids oozing right out through the skin during cupping treatment. Gross! I know! But, wouldn’t you rather have those nasties coming out rather than sitting in your body, taxing your system and making it easier for you to get sick?

We pick up toxins on a daily basis through pollution and through additives and chemicals in our food and in personal care products. Cupping therapy acts like a vacuum to suck out dead cells, toxins and stagnation. This opens the pores and gets the lymphatic system working more efficiently. It is one of the easiest means of detoxification on the market.

In my practice, I can combine acupuncture and cupping therapy, or do them individually, depending on the preferences of the client. I recommend 3 sessions about one week apart to begin the process, and then one session per month for the remainder of the cold and flu season.

Your health is worth it!

Spread the word!

I still have spaces available for community acupuncture for next week. I am doing this every Wednesday, and if Wednesdays fill up I may be opening up time more slots during my week for community clinics.

Acupuncture helps out with soooo many conditions, you really ought to give it a try. Increase energy, up your immunity for the flu season, reduce pain, or just use it as a stress management treatment.

It’s only about 30 minutes out of your week and you will feel great. Book a private session, or an appointment for the community clinic day. It’s up to you.

I know I am really pushing my services, but I do this stuff for a reason. I started the community acupuncture days because I want to see everyone who needs help, get it!

The most exciting and rewarding part of my job is when I am able to make a difference for people who come to me in pain and distress. They leave with less pain, less fatigue, and feeling great! I am passionate about what I do because I can see the difference in people almost immediately. There’s no greater feeling than when you help someone improve their life!

Learn more on about private acupuncture sessions and about community acupuncture.

Busy, busy, busy!

I have a few things on the go!

First, Community Acupuncture is gaining popularity fast!
I will be offering this sliding fee scale service every Wed. from 12 to 2 and 4 to 6. You do need an appointment. Just contact me and I will set you up.

Next, this Sat. Nov. 5th I will be presenting on Acupressure and on Aura Reading for the Community and Volunteer Educational Series. This is a volunteer appreciation event for the Volunteer Centre of Guelph and Wellington.
FREE for all volunteers, but you must pre-register for the workshops.

Next week, we have a Reiki share at 44 Cardigan St. I will be co-hosting with my colleague Lisa Loder.
It will run on Wed. Nov. 16th from 7 to 9 pm. Please let us know if you are coming!

Check back often, things are always changing around here!

Community Acupuncture

Pathways Healing, at 44 Cardigan St., Guelph, has begun Community Acupuncture treatments.

Make an appointment between 12-2 pm. or 4-6 pm. Sliding fee scale from $20-$40. Whatever you can pay, no questions asked!

See more below:

In community acupuncture, a slightly different style of acupuncture is used, so that only points on the arms, lower legs and head are used. Therefore, there is no need for anyone to undress. Simply wear clothing that can be rolled up to the knees and elbows.

Bonnie offers community acupuncture on Wednesdays from 12:00- 2:00 pm and 4:00 – 6:00 pm. She will still be offering private acupuncture and all of her other services, so you can choose what kind of appointment you want.

The fee scale for community acupuncture is from $20 to $40. Whatever you can afford, no questions asked.

Contact Bonnie to reserve your spot today!

Here’s a great video about how others have benefited from community acupuncture!

Vertigo and Tinnitus are two conditions that acupuncture can help with.

Tinnitus is a condition in which a person perceives a buzzing or ringing sensation in the ears.

Vertigo is a condition in which a person has a lack of balance and dizziness. Some people experience both vertigo and tinnitus together, but they can also happen separately.

There are several perceived causes of vertigo and tinnitus, but in each individual case, it may be hard to tell what conditions or situations have lead to the problem. Some of the believed causes of include: tight neck muscles, headaches, head or neck injuries,  injury or malformations to the inner ear, wax buildup in the inner ear, exposure to loud noises, blood pressure irregularities, hormone fluctuations and excessive salt intake.

I say that these are perceived causes, because in some cases, people who suffer from these conditions and are not aware of any causal factor. They just wake up one day and have the condition.

As with any medical condition, if you believe you have tinnitus or vertigo, it is recommended that you see a medical doctor to confirm a diagnosis, and to check for any possible infection, injury or damage to your ears.

Acupuncture will not harm you if you have an infection or injury to your ear, but it would be important for your acupuncturist to be informed of what symptoms you have, so they will know how to address your condition.

Acupuncture helps to manage or eliminate the symptoms of these conditions by reducing inflammation, increasing blood and oxygen flow to the related tissues and balancing the body.  For instance, if the condition is related to an imbalance of hormones, acupuncture can help to restore balance. If the inflammation or injury is the causal factor, acupuncture helps to get those issues under control too. Reducing inflammation and relaxing tight muscles can even help in the case of excessive wax buildup, as when the muscles around the head and neck are relaxed, drainage of the ears is more efficient.

To learn more about acupuncture sessions at Pathways Healing click here.

If you have tinnitus or vertigo, you should give acupuncture a try!

More info on Vertigo.

More info on Tinnitus.