August 16, 2010   Fall 2010 - Letting it Roll Rolling with the Season Ways to Let it Roll The energy of the Earth element, which is waning into the energy of Metal this time of year, is circular, rolling along without much effort. Its taste is sweet, it's sound is singing, its emotion is sympathy. At least, that's when it's in balance. When out of balance, this energy gets stuck in unending loops, e.g., obsessive thoughts and worry. It is like a broken record, doing the same thing over and over, without resolution. It feels heavy and gooey. If nothing tastes good except sweets, you know you are overdue for an acupuncture treatment.   In nature, this is the time of year when the crops are almost ready for harvest. Food is abundant. The nuts are falling from the trees, the corn is tall and golden. All of nature's work is done and she is letting it roll on pure momentum.   So let the day go by. Let the plans you laid come to fruition. Let the summer come to a close. Allow the traffic around you to carry you to your destination. Allow the time to carry you through your day. If it's 3pm, do what you do at 3pm, without worrying about it. Let the sun rise and then let it set. Why Stretching Makes you Cool Something Everyone Should Know Keeping yourself limber is a well-known maxim. But few people know how many wonderful reasons there are to stretch the body every day. Here's why stretching builds personal charisma: Stretching: Opens the flow of energy through the pathway, which Gives you a feeling of power, relaxation, and lightness. It releases stuck energy, which Makes you feel vibrant from the burst of energy. It creates a field of positive energy in and around you, which Makes you feel more easy-going, and Makes you a nicer person to be with. Therefore, people and animals feel good around you, which Makes you more attractive to everyone. --> CHARISMA   Physically, stretching makes the muscles more flexible and stronger. It also lessens pain and inflammation. Beyond that, it lessens the chances for injury and helps heal scar tissue from injuries. To sum up, stretching is amazing. Keep Yourself Balanced Get Treatment As I say every time, keeping your energy in balance makes everything easier. In times of stress and recovery, receiving energy work really comes in handy. When your energy is flowing unobstructed and the organs are in balance, the body and mind can handle routine and release tension much better. With regular treatments, it is far easier to get loose and stay easy, even in the end, even when things wind up. So my advice: stay loose, take it easy, and take care of yourself. You are welcome to give me a call and schedule one or more late summer sessions!	Spirit Point Healing In This Issue Rolling with the Season Why Stretching Makes You Cool Keep Yourself Balanced It's all about staying loose when things are sticky! And they are pretty sticky right now, in more ways than one.   Some ways to balance the energy lag that can come with late summer: 1. Go for a short, easy walk in the shade. 2. Stretch your body and think of how the energy is flowing as you do it.  3. Get a nice, deep massage. 4. Enjoy the fruits of summer, one serving at a sitting. 5. Give yourself 20 minutes to let your mind wander peacefully. 6. Sit outside with a glass of water or tea and appreciate the colors of nature. 7. Eat according to the season. 8. Let your body go limp for a little while. 9. Keep the TV off one evening and just sit with your family, no plan. 10. Let something nice just happen without worrying about it.   Damp-draining foods: barley, corn, adzuki beans, garlic, mushrooms, mustard greens, chicken, alfalfa, shrimp, scallions, rye, pumpkin seeds, mung beans, lima beans, (most beans and legumes, in fact). Bitter herbs and foods tend to be drying, so they can overdo this or be great, depending on your needs. Call me with any questions.   Dampening foods can make you feel especially sluggish: sugar, wheat, dairy, alcohol   You can schedule your next session by calling: 410-570-2896 or email me: info@rachelsara.com

June 7, 2010

If the meanest, cruelest people in our life are in fact our greatest spiritual teachers….

The Dalai Llama says that the above is true, since they force us to look deep into ourselves for our true motivations and our darkest fears; to bring our unconscious aspects into our conscious awareness. All of this so our enemy cannot use it against us.

If this is the case, then let us consider the insidious voice that lives in us all. I have often wondered how the enlightened ones have dealt with that voice that we all share. This voice tells us that our plans will never succeed, that shirking our promises to ourselves doesn’t really matter, that it’s okay to put poison in our bodies, and so on. Then, if we succumb to that voice and have that ice cream or spend the evening watching re-runs instead of doing something enriching, it would sneer at us and call us a loser. If we let it, it would break us down in an unrelenting, merciless stream of negative thought, leaving us weak and full of self-loathing. Then we would be useless, because we’d have no strength left for creating the life we are meant to live. Finally, it would sit on our inert self and laugh, sneer, and kick us just to make sure we couldn’t get up again.

Of course, nothing can stop any of us from rising above it. Look at all the people who have kicked drugs, done the 12-step program, lost weight on purpose, overcome poverty, or mastered a disability. History is full of people not giving up.

It seems that this insidious voice is, in fact, our greatest spiritual teacher. It knows what we think, our every weakness, our every desire, and our every love. There is no way to bluff it. If we are to truly overcome this voice, we have to be authentic in ourself. This voice is an invitation to go deeper and become more conscious of our real strength and our real motives.

Ironically, the way it challenges us is by lying to us about everything. It tells us we don’t care when we do. It tells us we don’t want something when we want it very much. It tells us we need things that we just don’t need. It tells us we know what others are thinking when we don’t. It’s all lies. Sounds like the Judeo-Christian description of the Devil, the father of lies, or the Adversary. In fact, ‘Adversary’ is a great word for it because that’s just what it is: our most worthy adversary. It takes on any guise, creates entire movies in our imagination of ludicrous futures and distorted pasts. Over and over again, this adversary will keep us entertained and distracted from our reality. And why? …Why not? …What do you think, you who have read thus far? This is a destructive entity, a shadow self, a demon, etcetera.

Maybe it is there to make us or break us.

*2nd Annual Holistic Health Fair of Crofton*

Saturday June 12, 2010

9:00am-2:00pm

Prince of Peace Church

1657 Crofton Pkwy, Crofton, MD 21114

To my best beloveds,

Well, it's official, as of April 16th 2010, I have moved my Edgewater office to a lovely space in Severna Park (pictures soon, I promise). It's in a quiet area, across the street from the Severna Park Community Center on one side and the Baltimore Annapolis hike and bike trail on the other. I could not ask for a lovelier, more convenient location. And now, since I love it so much, I'm moving my Crofton office there as well.

And as of May 18th 2010, I'll be there full-time!

Thanks to all my patients for following me, I'm really amazed at how everyone has come along without a moments hesitation. Your loyalty has been a great thing for me and I appreciate it immensely!

So here's the new address:

645 B&A Blvd, Suite 107

Severna Park, MD 21146

I look forward to seeing you there!

New Date for The Hidden Power of Nature

Presented by

Rachel Sara Strass, MAc, LAc, Dipl Ac (NCCAOM)

Free Speaker Program         

Tuesday March 9, 2010, 7:00pm-8:30pm

Workshop

Sunday, March 14, 2010, 12:30pm-3:30pm

Due to the snow last night, we cancelled the talk and are rescheduling for March.

Where did those crocuses come from all of a sudden, wasn't it just snowing? And you can connect with the hidden powers at work in plants and nature. The growth and blossoming of plants throughout the year is a perfect way to describe the larger flows of the universal whole. Come and explore the power of nature and how to connect with that living, thriving abundance behind what we see in this world. Join us with licensed and nationally certified Acupuncturist, Rachel Sara Strass for an illuminating evening. You will learn how energy flows through plants in all seasons of the year and the best way to connect with this power for rejuvenation and balance.

Speaker Rachel Sara Strass, MAc, LAc, Dipl Ac (NCCAOM) is a graduate of Tai Sophia Institute in Columbia, MD. She has a Masters and License in Acupuncture, is a NCCAOM National Diplomate of Acupuncture, and is a certified NADA practitioner. Finally, she is a nationally certified Zero Balancer. Her deep, healing presence has brought many to wellness and she is available for lectures and speaking engagements. She uses humor, stories, and good solid examples from life around us to connect with her audiences and her patients. Her website is http://www.spiritpointhealing.com. 

 

February 2, 2010 SPEAKER PROGRAM:  Free with donations appreciated

March 7, 2010 WORKSHOP COST:   $25.00

REGISTRATION FORM:  Information call 410 956-0055

HOST LOCATION:  Annapolis Lymphedema and Therapy Center

2001 Tidewater Colony Drive, Suite102, Annapolis, MD. 21401

(ALTC is at the intersection of Bestgate Rd and Tidewater Colony Dr.)