Imbolc - Making a Bridie/St Brigit's Cross

Imbolc -Making a Bridie/St Brigit’s Cross

There are a few methods of doing this besides the one detailed below and of course traditionally would have been made with reeds or straw.

Selection of Paper Straws

I have used different coloured paper straws in order to show the order more easily.

Take 1 Straw (you might want to flatten each straw prior to using).

Bridie Cross Green Initial Straw

Next take another straw and place underneath in the form of a cross.

Bridie Cross Starter

Bend straw underneath to the Right

White Straw Bent to the Right

Next is where some methods differ. Some leave the initial straw as it is whereas I am folding in straight up and thus forming an L shape. From this point onward we will be turning the straws used to the Left and adding a fresh one to the Right.  

You can if you wish think of it as Marching, Left, Right, Left, Right, until we have to halt. Slip a straw (in my case Red) inside the White and fold to the Right. I found that that if I placing the straw inside made it easier to handle on the first time around.

Turn to Left and Add Red Straw to Right

Turn the whole thing again to the Left then add another straw to the Right. I have slipped a Yellow one inside the Red one and folded.

Turn to Left and Add Yellow Straw to Right

This forms the basis for the cross. The cross will be built up by continuing to turn to the Left and adding straws to the Right. There is one small proviso. The next two rounds of straws will be added by folding around the base straw instead of being slipped inside as before.  Therefore the next straw which is Green is added by folding around the Yellow straw

Turn to Left and add 2^nd Green Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 2^nd White Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 2^nd Red Straw (outside – picture missing) 

Turn to Left and add 2^nd Yellow Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 3^rd Green Straw (outside)

Turn to Left and add 3rd White Straw (outside) 

Turn to Left and add 3rd Red Straw (outside – picture missing)

Turn to Left and add 3^rd Yellow Straw (outside)

After adding the final straw of the cross it can be fixed so it doesn’t unravel. Take a straw that matches the corresponding colour (optional) in this case Yellow and place underneath the 3 other Yellow straws.

Add 4^th Yellow Straw

Next wrap this straw around the other three and fasten at the back with sticky tape.

4^th Yellow B –Wrapping Around

 

4^th Yellow C –Wrapping Around

 

When you have fastened one side of the cross you can go on and repeat the process with the other 3.

Finished Bridie Cross 

Stress the Silent Killer (And its’ Sidekick Anxiety) Part 3 By Lady Jane

Stress the Silent Killer

(And its’ Sidekick Anxiety) Part 3

By Lady Jane

There are many techniques available to help combat Stress and Anxiety from Meditation to Primal Scream Therapy. There is not one size fits all answer. Each individual will have to find out by trial and error which method suits them best. Indeed it is most likely that it will be a combination of techniques that will be most helpful. This is due to the fact that levels of Stress and Anxiety can differ wildly and there is no need to take a sledgehammer to crack a nut. In other words you don’t have to rush out and buy a year’s supply of incense if a sit down and cup of tea will suffice.

Meditation

One of the most common forms of tackling Stress and Anxiety is Meditation. This generally includes some form of breathing modification and thinking of a safe and pleasant place.

Some pointers for this are firstly to be comfortable. You cannot relax if you are sitting on the remote control or wearing a pair of shoes that are too tight.

Make sure that you have time and space without distractions to concentrate on what you are doing. This means switching off the Television and Telephone and ensuring that you are doing it whilst being unlikely to be disturbed by callers, friends or family.

You are usually encouraged to take gentle deep breaths often by breathing in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

Once the above breathing method is accomplished find yourself visualising an environment that you find safe and serene and imagine that you are there. When the feeling of Stress or Anxiety fades you can slowly bring yourself back to reality.

Another technique is that of using sound. Human emotions are very susceptible to sounds and therefore gentle music can soothe fraught nerves. There are various relaxation CD’s available to buy or download.

A very ancient technique which over the last few decades has become exceedingly popular is that of Chanting or the repetition of Mantras. Some of the most well-known are cited below with pronunciation.

Chants/Mantra

Awen: - Ah – oo- wen

Angel: - Ee – nu –rah - Zay

Om Mantra: - Om

One method that I find particularly useful is that of Distraction Therapy. This again takes many forms. Whereas Meditation is used to calm the mind Distraction refocuses it usually in a practical way. Taking up a hobby can be very beneficial.

Crafting

Crafting of some description is very therapeutic. This is especially true when doing something rhythmical. This could be the slow sweeping movements of plaining and sanding an item in woodwork, the long strokes of a paintbrush in artwork or even the continual back and forth in knitting.

Alternatively the mere fact of creativity can bring its own pleasure and therefore help combat the negativity of Stress and Anxiety.

A craft project will be following entitled Making a Bridie/St Brigits Cross.

Stress the Silent Killer (And its’ Sidekick Anxiety) Part 2

Stress the Silent Killer

(And its’ Sidekick Anxiety) Part 2

By Lady Jane ©

In Part 1 I discussed the difference between Stress and Anxiety and their effects. In this article I will be concentrating on possible methods to alleviate their effects. First stop and I cannot emphasise this too strongly is consult a Medical Practitioner. Although you may think that you know what is wrong with you self-diagnosis is notoriously difficult and if you make an error the results can be disastrous.

How to start?

Like any problem you cannot find a solution until you know the cause. This can be very difficult to identify especially if there are more than one underlying causes. Therefore it is best to break it down.

A good way of beginning is to get a pen and paper to make notes. Alternatively if you are more technological you can record on a device. The important thing is to have something available for you when you need it.

When you feel stressed or anxious make a note of the date, day, and time. Next note what you are doing, where you are and who you are with. Finally make a note of how you feel. Are you feeling hot, cold, nervous, angry, frustrated, scared, worried, or defensive?

Keeping a record in this fashion should help to highlight any recurring patterns. You may wish to highlight or colour code this record to emphasis the strength of the effect; for instance if you felt extremely stressed or anxious you could mark the information in Red. If you were quite stressed or anxious the colour could be Orange, mildly stressed or anxious in Yellow and so on.

After identification

Now that you have identified what is causing you stress or anxiety you are already on your way to managing it by breaking it down. Remember that you are an individual and therefore need to tailor methods of trying to alleviate the effects to suit you.

Your colleagues, friends, or acquaintances might swear by a particular method such as Yoga but that doesn’t mean it will help you. However some methods take a while to take effect so if you do not feel the immediate benefit do not give up. Your symptoms didn’t occur overnight therefore the alleviation will take time too. Neither should you try to jump in at the deep end. For example if you have difficulty bending it is doubtful that you will be able to achieve the Lotus position at your first go at Yoga.

Things that may help

Before you rush off down to the nearest pharmacy or health store for all manner of medication or alternatively the local holistic practitioner or leisure centre for treatments

and classes start with the basics.

Sleep – are you getting enough?

The right amount of sleep is imperative for your mind and body. If you have difficulty sleeping there are things you can do to try and improve the amount and quality that you get. First the body likes routine so make sure that you go to bed at around the same time every night.

Ensure the room is dark, this is particularly important in the summer months with the early dawns. Alternatively use an eye mask.

Slow down your brain. You cannot sleep with an active mind. Try to relax your mind at least half an hour before bed. This means removing any potential disturbance i.e. turning off the TV and Computer. Also avoid stimulus such as doing crossword and Sudoku puzzles.

Do not Eat or Drink right before going to bed. You cannot get comfy with a full stomach neither will running to the loo help your attempts to sleep.

Food and Nutrition

Whilst not eating and drinking directly before bed is advisable it is also important to make sure you get enough during the day. Any shortage will have an adverse effect on your health.

Dehydration

Drinking enough fluid is essential to keep the body working properly. However what you drink is important. Water is best and it doesn’t need to be an expensive shop bought variety. Juices can be good but check the sugar levels. For optimal health you should aim for 6 – 8 glasses a day.

 Avoid alcoholic drinks which dehydrate you which can defeat the object. The same goes for fizzy drinks they contain carbon dioxide (this makes the bubbles), colouring, additives, and sugar.

Hot drinks such as chocolate, coffee and tea also contain caffeine. Drinking decaffeinated and herbal tea can help – ordinary tea is a diuretic which can lead to excessive urination.

Nutrition

A bad diet can lead to tiredness which in turn can affect the mind and body’s ability to cope with stressful situations.

Vitamins and Minerals

These are known as supplements as they supplement the body’s natural supply. That means they are additional to not a replacement. Make sure that any supplements you take, herbal or otherwise are right for you especially if you are taking any medication. Taking the wrong supplements is worse than taking none at all.

Food

A balanced diet is needed to keep the body fighting fit to cope with stress. What a person needs to be healthy depends on a variety of factors these include gender, age, medical condition, i.e. pregnancy, allergies and sensitivities, height and weight. Therefore your diet needs to be tailored to meet your own individual requirements.

As a general rule you should keep sugar, fat and salt to a minimum. However do not cut out all fat as your body needs fat in order to work. It is a question of which fats to cut out and which fats to have. If you are not sure which fats are good and which are bad see the link below. There is also a link to the different types of sugars including natural, processed and recommended daily amounts.

An average adult needs a minimum of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. It is also recommended to eat fish preferably oily fish such as mackerel twice a week. Meat both white and dark is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Counteract the fat content by choosing lean cuts.

Fibre is important so when choosing bread, rice and pasta try going for wholegrain varieties and leave the skins on potatoes. Dairy is a great source of calcium and is particularly vital for children. However for an adult low fat variety such as semi skimmed milk is preferable. Cheese, yoghurt and spreads also tend to be high in fat. Look for unsweetened selections in yoghurt and lower fat options for cheese. Diet spreads can have what is called trans-fats therefore it is better to either stick to butter or have spreads that are olive oil based.

                                                                

In addition to the above incorporate eggs, beans, pulses and nuts into your diet whilst keeping, sweets, cakes, puddings, crisps, biscuits and chocolate to a minimum. This doesn’t mean cut them out altogether just have them in moderation.

In part 3 we will be looking at techniques to help combat stress and anxiety.

Acknowledgements

www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/healthy-eating/11-reasons-to-stop-drinking-fizzy-drinks/

https://www.food.gov.uk/science/additives/aspartame

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Healthyeating.aspx

Stress the Silent Killer (And its’ Sidekick Anxiety) Part 1

Stress the Silent Killer

(And its’ Sidekick Anxiety) 

Part 1

By Lady Jane ©

What is Stress?

Stress is difficult to define as it means different things to different people. Even dictionaries vary in definition. There are lay term definitions, Academic definitions and Medical definitions. The best way I can describe it is pressure and lack of control.

Stress is often confused with Anxiety. Indeed there are many similarities and one could say overlaps between the two. One possible way of differentiating between the two is that Stress usually has a tangible reason behind it. For example Stress related problems can include - High workload, Deadlines, Weddings or Selling a House. Anxiety is more the fear of the unknown or the anticipation that something unpleasant will occur. E.g. Boss might not like your work, Wedding Cake might not be ready on time or Buyers might drop out of a sale.

A Phobia is another condition that deserves a mention albeit briefly in this article. A Phobia is a fear that has developed to a point that it is so powerful that it usually has become irrational. Some Phobia's can be generally understood e.g. Snakes can inflict poison, Cliffs can give way, Lightning can strike. However there are some Phobias that are not easily explained E.G. Fear of Buttons, Fear of Books.

What do Stress and Anxiety do?

It is often explained as the Fight or Flight response. The Fight or Flight Response is a natural reaction to perceived danger. Far from being harmful the response is vital for our survival. Primitive humans often needed to be on the alert for possible and to react quickly to it.

Unfortunately the Stress and Anxiety responses were not designed for the pressures of modern life and are often therefore triggered unnecessarily. The mind perceives a threat but since it is not tangible it does not know what to do about it. Consequently it reacts how it was designed; which after a period of time becomes an ingrained response.

The Fight Response

During a Fight Response the body automatically shifts itself into attack/defence mode. Blood will be sent to the upperpart of the body to supply it with energy and oxygen. Physiological changes can be seen in various ways such as the clenching of the fists, a change in stance e.g.; putting fists up, planting feet firmly on the ground, drawing up to full height etc.

The Flight Response

During a Flight Response the body automatically prepares for escape mode. Blood will be sent to the lower part of the body in order to facilitate the flight. In addition to this the body will often seek to flush out excess weight to make it lighter hence the reason for the need to urinate or defecate.

The Freeze Response *

Apart from the two above responses there is another action the body can take. If it surveys the situation and decides that it cannot, flee, fight or hide it can freeze. Though not as common amongst humans as in other mammals the Freeze Response is just as valid as the Flight or Fight Responses.

Anxiety

A person that is suffering from Anxiety may experience a variety of symptoms with a differing degree of intensity. Some of the most common symptoms are as follows:-

Apprehensive

Constipation

Cramps

Diarrhoea

Difficulty focusing on tasks in hand

Dizziness

Exhaustion

Feelings of dread

Forgetfulness

Headaches

Hyperventilation

Insomnia

Irritability

Migraines

Nausea

On edge

Overactive bladder

Oversensitivity to possible danger

Palpitations

Pessimism

Rapid pulse

Sweating

Trembling

Stress

In some ways Stress is very similar in the respect of symptoms. However it does have some additional ones as follows: -

Constant thirst

Dry mouth and throat

Drinking stimulants that include caffeine

Frustration

Increased reliance on alcohol

Restlessness

Chest pains

Difficulty in swallowing

Self-harm

Suicidal Tendencies

Unable to make decisions

These lists are not finite but they should be able to convey an idea of the symptoms that a person with Stress or Anxiety condition can display. How to combat these conditions will be covered in Part 2.

For more information see below

http://www.stressbusting.co.uk/

http://www.healthyplace.com/anxiety-panic/

http://phobias.about.com/od/introductiontophobias/a/whatisphobia.htm

http://www.stressmanagement.co.uk/stress/fight-or-flight-response.html

*

To best illustrate the Freeze Response I suggest Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park series.