Buddha Groove – Feed the Spirit, Inspire the Mind

Buddha Groove – Feed the Spirit, Inspire the Mind

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This post is about my recent discovery of the buddhist gift store Buddha Groove. I am always on the lookout for things that inspire the mind and feed the spirit, and finding Buddha Groove has covered both aspects more than well.

I’ve always felt drawn to the mystical beauty and healing vibes of crystals and gemstones. Over the years I have collected a large number of semi-precious stones and they never stop fascinating me.

Not every town has a store with a large variety of gemstones, unless you happen to live near Covent Garden in London. When I used to live there, those ‘metaphysical hubs’ were my favourite places to spend my time after work, especially ‘The Astrology Shop’ in Neal Street, or a Buddhist store with an amusing name ‘Buddha on a Bicycle’ in Endell Street.

The Astrology Shop, 78 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London
Buddha on a Bicycle, 27 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London

Apart from a mountain of healing crystals and some splendid gemstone jewellery, both shops offer a great variety of items for spiritual practice, Tibetan singing bowls, temple bells, Buddha statues, incense, essential oils, books, and all kinds of fair trade gifts. I could easily spend a whole afternoon between these two stores and rarely return home empty-handed.

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The Online Garden of Earthly Delights

When I moved out of London, I was missing these places and everything they had to offer. Especially when I needed to choose a present for someone. To me, things like this make the best presents, being personal, meaningful and pleasing to the eye.

So I embarked on a search for online stores with a similar line of products, and I came across an online store called Buddha Groove. I have to say, it has superseded my expectations. The store has a remarkable range of tasteful products for meditation practice and Yoga lifestyle, and for anyone who simply seeks inspiration in beautiful items.

Spiritual Jewellery, Crystals & Gemstones, Singing Bowls, Tea Ceremony, Mala beads, Buddha statues…

Buddhagroove

I was hooked after just a few clicks through their site, because they had exactly the kind of things that used to be the object of my pilgrimages to Covent Garden. I went through their entire gemstone jewellery collection and kept discovering more and more sophisticated and dangerously inviting items of adornment.

I also love the collection of Tibetan singing bowls, Tingsha bells, and Prayer Wheels. I’m seriously considering getting the ‘Three-in-One Hanging Brass Prayer Wheel’, which can be mounted on the wall (you can see it in the photo slider above).

There is also an intriguing collection of statues, ‘Zen garden’ items and home accents.

I had to stop browsing through their pages after a while because I caught myself visualising half of their stock in our house. Every other click would be accompanied by a gasp of amazement. I’ve already managed to compile a mile-long list of people and their matching gifts.

The only department which left me rather indifferent was the section ‘Inspirational jewellery’. Compared with the awe-inspiring sterling silver and gemstone collection, the pieces from this category seem less impressive to me. (This is obviously a matter of personal preference.) I’m a big fan of quotes and affirmations, but I don’t feel the need to wear pendants that say ‘I love yoga’, or ‘No mud no lotus’ – although I do find the latter witty, and I can see the wisdom behind these words.

Find Your Favourite Sections Easily

You can use this table of contents to find your favourite sections. My wish is that scrolling through this page will provide you with an uplifting, esthetic experience, similar to visiting a gallery. Once you’ve found a section of your interest, click on the gallery thumbnails to enlarge them, so you can fully appreciate the textures and shapes of the beautiful items, feeling fully present with their essence.

Gemstone Jewellery and Healing Crystals
Amethyst
Citrine
Clear Quartz
Labradorite
Lapis Lazuli
Moonstone
Pyrite
Rose Quartz
Sodalite
Sterling Silver Jewellery
Singing Bowls (including a video demonstration)
Tingshas, Cymbals, Bells and Chimes
Zen Home – Zen Garden
Prayer Wheels
Gifts
Clothes and Accessories
Recommended Sections

Gemstone Jewellery and Healing Crystals

These are my favourite sections of Buddha Groove’s store. To me, browsing through the pages of such gems (literally) feels like walking through a mythological palace filled with treasures. I find the combination of beautiful shapes and proven healing properties of the gemstones truly spellbinding.

In the gallery below you’ll see a sample of Buddhagroove’s range of gemstone jewellery and decor. You can access all the listed items in Buddhagroove’s sections Gemstone Jewellery and Healing Crystals.

Before purchasing a piece of gemstone jewellery it is useful to know a little about a particular gemstone’s properties, to make sure it will resonate with you. Like us, and everything else in nature, gemstones emit electromagnetic fields of various frequencies, and some of them may fit us better than others – depending on where we find ourselves on our life’s journey, or what aspect of our life we’d like to improve.

It is similar to our favourite colours, especially the ones we wear. It’s not just the visual impact of a colour that makes us decide whether we want to wear it it or not; we get equally affected by the colour’s physical vibrations.

There was a time when I was wearing black only. I was also prone to feeling gloomy quite a lot in that period without any obvious reason. Then a friend – healer made me aware of the likelihood of the colour’s frequencies on my states of mind, and I noticed a considerable change as soon as I ‘lightened up’ my wardrobe.

Realising that colours can effect our emotions has helped me a lot. If I was holding a long-term negative charge towards some people, I would not only visualise forgiving them and sending them love, but I would also start wearing rose-quartz jewellery and carry rose-quartz crystals in my pockets, as this gemstone is known for supporting forgiveness and unconditional love.

Similarly, when I have to tackle a big project and need to strengthen both my confidence and willpower to accomplish the task, I tend to surround myself with the golden-hued Pyrite.

Which Gemstone May Help You Right Now?

Below is a summary of the main properties of gemstones featured in this post. May it help you chose the right gemstone for yourself or someone you care about.

Amethyst

Amethyst

Amethyst is a healing gem associated with spiritual growth, wisdom, tranquillity, and protection against negative energy. It is associated with the 7th chakra (the Crown chakra), and it is believed to open and activate the chakra, strengthening our connection with the higher realms.

All the items shown below are available at Buddha Groove’s store under sections Amethyst and Amethyst Jewellery.

Citrine

Citrine

Citrine is associated with the Third chakra (Solar Plexus), positively affecting mental focus, endurance, and self-esteem.

Known as the ‘Merchant’s Stone’, this sun-like gemstone emanates warm, positive energy, and it is believed to bring its owners good luck, success and prosperity, while filling them with generosity and joy.

Visit Buddha Groove’s Citrine section to find your own sign of good fortune.

Clear Quartz

Clear Quartz

Clear quartz is deemed one of the most powerful stones due to its ability to purify and dispel negative energy and bring clarity. Frequently used in energetic healing, it is often called ‘a master healing stone’.

Associated with the 7th chakra (The Crown chakra), its energy focus is on enlightenment, cosmic consciousness, energy drawn from higher spheres, and perfection. Clear Quartz is great for balancing all seven chakras.

You can locate any item listed here in the store’s sections Clear Quartz and Quartz Jewellery.

 

Labradorite

Labradorite

Recognised as a gem of magic and mysticism, Labradorite is famous for its ability to strengthen intuition and psychic power by connecting to the 6th chakra (The Third Eye chakra), connecting us with higher realms of consciousness.

The gemstone with its characteristic subtle rainbow effect is a powerful guide on your journey of self-discovery, spiritual awareness, and inner transformation.

You may find all the items listed below at Labradorite and Labradorite Jewellery sections.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli

A gemstone of truth, self-discovery, and spiritual growth, Lapis lazuli is associated with the 6th chakra (The Third Eye chakra) promoting spiritual awareness, psychic power, and intuition.

Standard of Ur Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli was an ‘obsession’ of ancient Sumerians. The ‘Standard of Ur mosaic from 2500 BC, found in royal tombs of Ur (present Iraq) in the region of southern Mesopotamia, is made of Lapis Lazuli, Red Limestone, and shell.

Enter the sacred realms of ancient Sumeria through the portals of Lapis Lazuli and Lapis Lazuli Jewellery.

Moonstone

Moonstone

Connected to the cycles of the moon, moonstone promotes inner balance and harmony filling you with ‘Yin’ (feminine polarity) vibes and helping you draw peace from cycles and rhythms of nature. Moonstone is a gemstone associated with the Third Eye chakra which governs intuition and development of psychic powers, as well as the Solar Plexus chakra which in a centre of self-awareness and personal identity.

Any of the gems below are obtainable from the store’s sections Moonstone and Moonstone Jewellery.

Pyrite

Pyrite

Giving an impression of being armed with intergalactic gold, Pyrite is known as a powerful auric shield, protecting you from negative energies and decreasing the harmful effects of environmental pollution. It is often used in energy medicine when working with the aura, i.e. for repairing tears in your aura and thus supporting your physical and emotional wellbeing.

It is also said to strengthen willpower and confidence, so it is a great stone to have near you when you need to accomplish important tasks.

The gallery items listed below can be found at the store’s section Pyrite, or, once you enter the store, by typing the item’s name in the search bar at the top of the page.

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz

The tender, pink-hued crystal is known as a gem of love, compassion, trust, and harmony. It encourages forgiveness and unconditional love and promotes deep inner healing. It is associated with the 4th chakra (the Heart chakra). It is an excellent gem to have when we’d like more peace with others, and – of equal importance – with ourselves.

You can find any of the items below either under the store’s section Rose Quartz, or, once you enter the store, by typing the item’s name in the search bar at the top of the page.

Sodalite

Sodalite

Sodalite is recognised by its clarifying and strengthening vibrations, and its ability to open the gates to inner wisdom.

The gem is associated with the 5th chakra (The Throat chakra), supporting truthful self-expression, so it is a great gemstone for improving confidence and self-esteem.

Its metaphysical properties are logic, intellect, and efficiency, and it is also said to strengthen a sense of community in groups. (A good gem to have in a place of work!)

You can access the items displayed in the gallery here.

Sterling Silver Om Ring for Men and Women, Size 7-12

Sterling Silver Jewellery

Buddhagrooves’ range of sterling silver jewellery in pure form or with a combination of gemstones is vast, spanning well over 20 pages. If you like any of the items from this small sample, go to the general Jewellery section at Buddhagroove store and type in the name of your desired item in the search bar at the top of the page.

Singing Bowls

Singing bowls have long been used by Buddhist monks in meditation practice. When played, the bowl vibrates and produces a humming, expanding sound. The effect is created by striking the side of the bowl with a tool known as a mallet or striker, and then running the tool along the bowl’s ridge. This produces vibrations which we perceive as the characteristic deep tones, and which provide a profound relaxation effect.  

Set of 12 Tibetan Singing Bowls

I have recently seen a fascinating video from Nepal, where a sound healer and singing-bowl master Sudeep Lamsal demonstrates how to use the powerful frequencies of singing bowls to treat back pain, headaches, depression, and for chakra balancing.

When you fill a singing bowl with water and start circling the rim of the bowl with the stick (maintaining contact with the rim), the water will start ‘dancing’. Particles of water will react to the sound’s vibrations.

As we consist of about 70 percent of water, the singing bowl’s frequencies can have a powerful healing effect on our body. I highly recommend watching this 6-minute video.

Enjoy walking through the gallery of these ancient instruments that can bring harmony to your home and keep you healthy. You can find each of them at Buddhagroove’s store under the section Singing Bowls. 

Lucky Fish Ritual Tingsha Chime with Striker

Tingshas, Cymbals, Bells and Chimes

Tingshas are circular chimes joined by a leather string, often used in mindfulness and meditation practice to help focus the mind. When struck, the chimes make a bright, ‘celestial’ sound that keeps on resonating for a surprising length of time. Most of the bells and chimes below are available under the section Tingshas and Bells, and a small number of them are from the category Accents.

Zen Garden Cairns

Zen Home – Zen Garden

So far I’ve only encountered the sweet, gravity-defying pebbles stacked upon each other in pictures with inspirational quotes. I used to think they were just temporarily glued together for the effect. What a nice surprise it was to find out that these formations are actually made to stay in this soul-lifting shape.

The candleholders and the cast-iron pagoda wind chime are also hard to resist. You can start designing your own Zen space by visiting the section Garden Accents.

Three-in-One Hanging Brass Prayer Wheel

Prayer Wheels

Enjoy viewing Buddhagroove’s alluring collection of Buddhist Prayer Wheels, which you can access by following this link.

Lavender Sachet Trio, Made in the USA

Gifts

Buddhagroove has such a large choice of gift ideas that I really found it difficult to stop adding more and more pictures to this gallery. You’ll see for yourself when you visit the Gifts section.

Here are some of my favourites. I can guarantee my little nephews will want the frog to live in their garden! (See image no 18.)

Clothes and Accessories

The store also has an Apparel section, where I spotted these ‘Messenger Style Monk Bags’ in traditional monastic colours, which brought back memories of my time in Dharamsala and MacLeod Ganj.

Simple yet practical, the bags are made of 100% cotton, have interior and exterior pockets, and a practical zip-up closing.

You can find them in the section Accessories.

Monk Bags 100% Cotton

The lovely ‘Fair Trade Sheer Lotus Scarf’ from the same section has also caught my attention. I think it would go very well together with some Rose Quartz jewellery. I love wearing natural fibres, and this scarf is made of 60% cotton and 40% silk, so that’s yet another item on my wish list, I’m afraid..!

Fair Trade Sheer Lotus Scarf

Conclusion

Apart from a small number of items which have not resonated with me, Buddhagroove offers such a huge choice of high-quality, thoughtful products, that it’s already become one of my favourite online stores.

I have two reasons for saying this:

It is a true haven for finding deeply personal and meaningful gifts for everyone (myself included), and it fills me with pure delight of simply looking at beautiful things.

I hope you’ll find visiting Buddha Groove as uplifting and inspiring as I have.

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10% discount - code: Nurture

A Note for Customers Outside USA and Canada

Buddha Groove are a USA based company and offer free shipping within USA & Canada. If you are an international customer, you may find that once you get to the check out, you can only select from those two countries. That’s what happended to me, causing my heart to sink for a few moments, until I found out that, fortunately, Buddhagroove accepts international orders as well. They’re just handled on ‘order by order basis’, i.e. by email.

The best way is to place an international order is as follows:

– Place your items in the shopping cart

– Copy the product’s title and item code from your cart (as shown in the screenshot)

Buddha statue

– Email the customer service at cs@buddhagroove.com

– Let them know your products’ selection, delivery address, and your phone number.

They will then respond with the shipping charges and you’ll be able to place the order. (Hooray!)

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Any questions or comments are very welcome – just leave a message in the comment section below!

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BY LUCIE DUN

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My Musical Journey

My Musical Journey

On tour with Arthur Brown and Focus (Thijs van Leer)

This page contains a selection of music videos, a list of recordings I’ve participated in, and a gallery of photos from my colourful musical journey largely based on coincidences and synchronicities – at least in my eyes.

I’ve always been intrigued by the phenomenon of synchronicities, especially since reading the intro to the I-Ching (‘The Book of Changes’) in my late teens. The intro was written by C.G.Jung, who, alongside his theory of the collective unconscious, personality types and the dream theories, devoted a large number of his studies to synchronicities or ‘meaningful coincidences’.

In the intro to the I-Ching Jung describes a synchronistic event experienced by him and one of his patients. The patient was telling him about her dream from the previous night, where she was given a golden scarab, and as she kept describing the dream, Jung heard something gently tapping on the window. It was a scarabaeid beetle Cetonia aurata, whose gold-green colour resembled that of a golden scarab.

Since reading this story I’ve been looking out for synchronic events in my life, and, interestingly, since the time I had consciously focused on this phenomena, they started to happen more frequently. Or – they had been happening all the time, but I simply started paying more attention to them.

I’ve long stopped counting all the events that paved my musical path without me ever having to plan anything. One of such events was walking into a random music club during my very first time in London, and meeting a group of magical people who had come to this club for one purpose that night – to look for a keyboard player. The group was Instant Flight – my soon-to-be band.

Another coincidence: The outrageously talented leader od my new band, Marco Magnani (previously a member of the Italian band Gli Avvoltoi), and his back-then wife and a really cool drummer, Ai Niikura, introduced me to the album’ The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’. It became one of my favourite albums after hearing just a couple of songs. I loved Arthur’s voice and expression, and the Hammond organ by Vincent Crane cast a spell on me. I couldn’t get the haunting sound out of my head.

About two weeks later I was busking with my keyboard at Monument Underground station, and who else wouldn’t pass by then Arthur Brown. I immediately started playing his smash hit ‘Fire’ (I’ll take you to burn!). This somehow caught his attention, and just a few weeks after this semi-surreal encounter I was hammering ‘Fire’ with Instant Flight at our very first gig with Arthur. 

Last, but not least: My favourite place to busk with my keyboard was Kings Cross. I developed an interest in psychogeography of London, Kings Cross in particular. One day, a friend invited me to come to an evening dedicated to William Blake, one of my favourite poets. I wasn’t very well that night but decided to go nevertheless. There was a poet reading a poem with the topic of my great interest – the psychogeography of Kings Cross. Listening to the poem made my evening, but I was too shy to approach the tall, rather enigmatic author. I would have never imagined back then, that a few years later, through a string of strange synchronicities (of course…) this poet would become my main musical partner, as well as marry me at St Pancras church, where else than in Kings Cross. It can prove useful to read books’ prefaces.

Biog

Lucie Rejchrtová (Dun) is a UK-based pianist and keyboard player, born in Prague. Classically trained and influenced by her father’s love of jazz and gospel music, she enjoys playing different styles including jazz, blues, rock, ambient/electronic and her own compositions.

Shortly after her arrival in the UK (2000) she started busking with her keyboard, accordion and blues harmonica in the London Underground and in the streets of London and other UK and European cities such as Berlin or Amsterdam.

In 2001 she joined the London-based psychedelic rock band Instant Flight and recorded two albums with them.

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Lucie, Tommy Kanai (bass), Ai Niikura (drums), Marco Magnani (guitar, vocals & all compositions)
In 2003 while busking in the tube, she met the 60’s icon Arthur Brown, who skyrocketed to fame in 1968 with ‘Fire’ (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown). Lucie, together with Marco Magnani and their band Instant Flight, became a part of Arthur’s band and played all across the UK and Europe, including ‘Hawkfest’, where they shared the stage with Hawkwind, ‘Summer of Love’ with Country Joe and the Fish (the star of the 1969’s Woodstock festival with his anti-war song ‘Vietnam’) or in Spain, Andalucia, together with the psychedelic legends The Pretty Things. Both Lucie and Marco are mentioned in Arthur’s biography, The God Of Hellfire: The Crazy Life And Times Of Arthur Brown (2006), by Polly Marshall.

They have toured extensively and shared the stage with bands like Eric Burdon and the Animals, Yardbirds, Focus (Thijs Van Leer), Country Joe and the Fish, Hawkwind, Procol Harum, Pentangle, or Art Wood (The Artwoods). They’ve performed at festivals including Glastonbury, ‘Ray Davies’ Meltdown’ in London, or ‘Legends of Rock’ in Poland.

Lucie has also played with Joe Carnation, the guitarist of the legendary Czech underground band ‘The Plastic People of the Universe’, celebrated by Tom Stoppard in his play ‘Rock’n’Roll’.

Other musicians/bands she has gigged or recorded with include Phil Shoenfelt, Eggnoise, Mark Steiner, Tony Rose (Two Dollar Bash), Jimmie Bozeman (Lazy Pigs), Cleanhead Phil – Big Daddy Blues, Philip R. Holmes, Oskar Petr, Eva Turnova, Florence Joelle, The Lysergics, Milla Gems, Federico Zig (My Juliette), Victor Peraino, Paul Martinez, or Steve McNerney (The Pleasers).

Since 2009 she’s been working with the poet Aidan Andrew Dun known as ‘Voice of King’s Cross’, with whom she plays compositions influenced by Debussy, Stravinski, and Satie, but even nu-jazz and hip-hop. Aidan’s poetry reflects influences by e.g. Arthur Rimbaud or William Blake. He has toured the States and met the key poets and writers of the Beat Generation including Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti or Michael McClure. In 1995 his epic poem Vale Royal was launched at The Royal Albert Hall, where he performed alongside Allen Ginsberg and Paul McCartney.

Aidan and Lucie have performed at Ledbury Poetry Festival, Ruigoord – Amsterdam, Dimbola Lodge on the Isle of Wight, German Gymnasium and The British Library in London, Shakespeare & Sons in Prague, and many joint events with other fellow poets, such as Niall McDevitt, John Crow Constable, Philip Wells’ The Fire Poet’, Jay Ramsay, and John Gibbens.

They’ve released two albums – ‘Psychogeography’ and ‘Honeyland’ and they’re currently working on new joint projects.

Video

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play The Bridge from the Tantric Lover album. Jim Mortimore – Baritone Guitar, Sam Walker – Drums, Lucie Rejchrtova – Keyboards. Recorded at Zu Studios 9/9/10. Watch out for the ending! 🙂

A legendary footage of Arthur setting a stage on fire with his fire helmet! Filmed at ‘Legends of Rock’ festival in Poland. We shared the stage with Eric Burdon and The Animals that night. They were glad to have left their instruments on stage during our set; my keyboard was covered with fire-extinguishing foam! Watch out for the most hilarious moment – the stage catches fire just as Arthur screams the words ‘Oh no, oh no…!’

Another electrifying performance by Arthur Brown, starting with ominous growling…Do not miss his spellbinding intro to ‘Fire’! (4:08) And from about 7:20 you may witness some interesting Arthur/Lucie interactions, including a leg on the keyboard…if you dare.

A rare footage of Arthur Brown, Phil May (The Pretty Things), our band Instant Flight, and more, playing at The London Astoria in 2005. Notice at all the mad characters on stage. The evening, called ‘Arthur Brown’s Otherworld’, featured Arthur Brown’s Kingdom Come, The Pretty Things, Instant Flight, Captain Sensible, Howard Marks aka Mr. Nice, Lene Lovich and others. My dream of sharing the stage with The Pretty Things came true that night.

Arthur Brown, Jim Mortimore (guitars/bass), Sam Walker (drums) and me on keyboards at The Albert, Brighton, 2010. Watch out for Arthur’s hilarious build-up to ‘Fire’ halfway through the video, as well as our interactions towards the end, when I almost sink under the keyboard in the presence of The Almighty! 🙂 

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown play ‘Spontaneous Apple Creation’ at ‘High Voltage’ festival, London 2011. The gig, full of Arthur’s quintessential antics, has been recorded and released as ‘Live at High Voltage’ (see section ‘Recordings’ further down).

‘Celebrate’, one of my favourite songs from our album ‘Endless Journey’. Listen out for my ‘cinematic’ outro with a brass sound. Working with Marco Magnani has always been extremely inspiring – he influenced my own musical creativity, especially in the field of arrangements. You can listen to samples of the whole album in the ‘Recordings’ sections further down.

I enjoyed taking part in this witty 15-minute musical collage by Marco Magnani, called ‘Musical History Tour’, a tribute to the bands of the 60’s and 70’s. This recording, which has enlivened many parties, features Marco Magnani (vocals, guitars & bass) James Ovens (drums), and me on keyboards and backing vocals.

Singing and playing keyboards on this nostalgic love song ‘Will You Think of Me’ by Instant Flight. Music and lyrics by Marco Magnani.

With Instant Flight Live @ the Underworld, London, Camden, 2005. Playing ‘Her Mystery’ with my church organ intro, as well as the flute melody in the song’s instrumental part (3:28).

My composition ‘Manchild’ from the album ‘Psychogeography’, created with Aidan Dun. The lyrics (by A.D.) are based on The Old Testament’s Book of Job. Listen out for the wailing, climbing guitar parts, which probably came to me as a result of listening to both jazz and hard rock. Check the whole album out in the ‘Recordings’ section.

Absolutely loved playing this gig with Arthur at Komedia, Brighton, 2012. The vibe was particularly joyful that night. This 26 minutes’ footage includes Kites, Fire, Angels, That’s How Strong My Love Is, I Put A Spell On You, and All The Bells. There’s a hilarious moment (9:50 onwards) when Arthur reacts to an over-excited fan’s shrieks during a peaceful song. He addresses the howler with the kind of sophisticated humor that proves to have more effective than any clichéd rock-star over-reaction.

A clip from The Ronnie Wood Show, where Alice Cooper describes what happened to him when he first heard Arthur’s ‘Fire’! Ronnie Wood also mentions playing bass on the hit. (He’s referring to the BBC session on 8 April 1968, not to the Track Records studio album, where Vincent Crane uses Hammond organ bass pedals.)

Arthur performing ‘Fire’ as a guest at Alice Cooper’s show in Alexandra Palace, London 2011. I remember that day very well because we were just on tour with him in Scotland, and Arthur had to leave us for a day to join Alice’s gig. When he returned, he was ON FIRE!

Recordings & Releases

golden string

Gilden String (2021) Released with Bandcamp

Listen to my tune if you’d like to get moving.

Stream or Download

meridian-wheel-affirmations

Meridian Wheel (2022) Released with Bandcamp

Affirmations inspired by the ancient wisdom of the body’se nergy channels

Stream or Download

LuRay Hit the House

Hit the House (2021) Released with Bandcamp

Listen to my tune if you’d like to get moving.

Stream or Download

Sugarhill High (2022) Released with Bandcamp

A joyful and wacky tune!

Stream or Download

A collaboration with the poet Aidan Andrew Dun, this album could be described as a cross-genre venture in electronica where nu-jazz and two-step collide with dub, hip-hop and ambient. 

Stream or download

 

Impressionistic settings of Aidan Andrew Dun’s poems to piano, with early 20th century influences.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

A limited-edition of ‘Colours & Lights’ by Instant Flight, (2004) the best of UK New Psychedelics wave, featuring a very special guest Arthur Brown. He sings on the tracks ‘Kites’ and ‘Freeway’, which he ends with his ominous ‘God-of-hell-fire’ shrieks! There’s also ‘Will You Think of Me’, sang by me (see the ‘Video’ section).

Amazon US / Amazon UK

A well-received album by the psychedelic legends Instant Flight. It includes the track ‘Celebrate‘ (see the Video section) and an upbeat ‘Get Away‘ where I play harmonica, or the divine Gentle Waves of Sound, which makes one wonder whether Marco Magnani is really from this planet.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s album ‘Zim Zam Zim’, (2014) (inc. some of my keyboards and backing vocals) is full of intriguing textures and rhythms, and, of course, staggering vocal range of the one and only Arthur Brown. Most of the keyboards on the recording are by the amazing Sam Walker, but I took over those parts when playing live.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

Live recording from ‘High Voltage’ festival in London, 2011, including the version of ‘Spontaneous Apple Creation’ (see the Video section). 

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

‘Blue Skies Opening’, a classic by ‘Mark and the Clouds’ (former Instant Flight), where I played the keyboards. It also features the wonderful Fabio Serrone (bass), who’s very sadly no longer with us. Listen to my favourites Blue Skies Opening, or For All Diamonds to Shine. This song ‘sends shiver down my spine’, to quote the great Nikki Sudden who described Instant Flight’s music with these words.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

Cumulus, a 2017 by ‘Mark & the Clouds’ (former Instant Flight), where I played keyboards. Check out Marco Magnani’s Bert Jansch-esque guitar playing and beautiful vocals on I’m Stopping Here, The Endless Road, Take My Sky, and more.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

A multi-genre album by the Prague supergroup Eggnoise, where I made a guest appearance playing keyboards on the track ‘Leaving’, together with ‘Big Daddy Blues’ Cleanhead Phil.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

Influences

I listen to any kind of music that resonates with me, but the following selection shows albums that particularly influenced my early keyboard playing. I only started playing keyboards in my twenties; until then, I played the piano – mostly classical, or a bit of jazz and blues. I had always wanted to play in a band, so listening to these albums and learning the songs helped me to make my ‘on stage’ visions true.

A cult album by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Vincent Crane and Drachan Theaker, including the no 1 hit ‘Fire’!

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

A true gem of UK psychedelia – S.F. Sorrow by the Pretty Things. My old dream of sharing the stage with them came true thanks to Arthur Brown and my band Instant Flight.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

The best of the world’s progressive rock manifested via the Dutch band Focus, with Bach’s reincarnation Thijs van Leer. The albums includes the mega-hit Hocus Pocus, with Thijs van Leer’s incredible yodling ventures, as well as the ecstatic track Sylvia.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

The iconic first album by Pink Floyd, one of my earliest influences.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

Kuře v hodinkách (Chicken in the Watch), released in 1971, is considered one of the best albums of Czech rock history. It is the only studio album of Czech fusion band Flamengo from 1972. One of the best Czech poets, Josef Kainar, participated in its creation as a lyricist.  The communist regime in former Czechoslovakia played a huge role in the fact the album did not reach international recognition back then.

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

Arthur Brown’s masterpiece of progressive rock from 1971. A unique album full of dark prog moods, psychedelic auras, plenty of wild guitar work, killer organ, and of course, Arthur’s otherworldly voice. I was over the dark side of the moon when Arthur suggested to learn ‘No Time’ and ‘Gypsy Escape’ for our 2013 tour. It was a big challenge for me, (hours of deciphering all the crazy keyboard parts by ear), but I did it, and we kicked ass with these tunes. In the words of one reviewer: “In case anyone listens to this album for the first time I warn you that you may suffer severe brain damage.” (But the ones of us with brains already out-of-sorts should be safe.)

iTunes / Apple Music
Amazon US / Amazon UK

Recommended

Cassandra Lied
CASSANDRA LIED

Described as ‘Ein kleines Meisterstück’, Phil Shoenfelt’s latest album ‘Cassandra Lied’ has been causing a stir since its release in in January 2020. The layered, atmospheric sound of the album is coloured by trippy guitar effects including Kristof Hahn’s lapsteel guitar, the sound of which has been compared to ‘banshees wailing in another dimension’. With songs like ‘Ionian Dream’ or ‘Ghost Song’, you’ll find yourself wandering through virtual forests of other-worldly realms, not wanting to return back to earth for quite a while – or at least for the length of the album!

℗ 2019 Fuego © 2019 Phil Shoenfelt

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Golden Vanity
GOLDEN VANITY

A legendary album by two underground icons of the U.K. / European rock’n’roll scene, recorded in Berlin in 1998 and released in 2009. Nikki Sudden’s Dylanesque, lyrical vocals complement Phil Shoenfelt’s beautifully unsettling vox profundis with hints of Lou Reed and Ian Curtis. Listen out for the rock’n’roll gem ‘Hanoi Jane’, tense and dynamic ‘Cloak of Virtue’, nostalgic ‘Waiting for You’, or a raw  punk-rocker ‘Teenage Sheets’.

© 2010 Easy Action (Recorded in 1998)

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Find out more about Phil Shoenfelt’s work here.

Gallery

A set of pictures from my musical life, including my blues piano beginnings in Prague, my first UK band Instant Flight, various stage antics with Arthur Brown, and hanging out with some wonderful people, such as Thijs van Leer (Focus), Sky Saxon (The Seeds), or Mani Neumeier (Guru Guru). 

BY LUCIE DUN

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Phil Shoenfelt

Phil Shoenfelt

Phil Shoenfelt

Phil Shoenfelt is a Prague-based British singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and author, whose path started on punk and post-punk scenes of London, Manchester and New York, where in 1981 he formed the post-punk band Khmer Rouge. They shared the stage with artists such as The Clash, Nico, or The Fall. For a time, the band was managed by Nat Finkelstein, the legendary photographer who collaborated with Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground, and who filmed a video for the Khmer Rouge song New Assassins.

In 1984 Phil moved to London and in 1989 he made his first solo recording, a 12 inch single Charlotte’s Room/The Long Goodbye. During his UK tour dates in early 90’s, Phil supported Crime & The City Solution and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. In 1994 Phil toured in the Czech Republic, supported by the band Tichá Dohoda. In 1995 he moved to Prague, where he formed his current band Phil Shoenfelt & Southern Cross. In 1997 Phil founded Fatal Shore with Berlin-based Australians Bruno Adams and Chris Hughes, and in 2011 he started Dim Locator, with Chris Hughes and Dave Allen. Phil also collaborated with Nikki Sudden (the founder of The Swell Maps and The Jacobites) playing lead guitar in his band in 1997-98, and recording Golden Vanity with him in 1998. In June 2014 Phil Shoenfelt & Southern Cross recorded a live album The Bell Ringer – Live At The Shot-Out Eye for the occasion of the band’s 20th anniversary. Cassandra Lied, a well-acclaimed solo album,  was launched in early 2020.  Phil Shoenfelt has published several titles: A fictionalised autobiography Junkie Love, a poetry collection The Green Hotel, Magdalena – Books One and Two (with the Prague surrealist poet and artist Kateřina Piňosová), Kamikaze Skull (poems co-written with UK performance artist Sophia Disgrace), and Stripped, a two-part authobiographical novel set in New York between 1979-1984. Phil also wrote the afterword for the 1995 Czech edition of Nick Cave’s cult book And The Ass Saw The Angel, and features in several anthologies, such as The Return Of Král Majáles – Prague’s International Literary Renaissance 1990-2010, or City Primeval. New York, Berlin, Prague, which was named after a Khmer Rouge song.

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The full disclosure can be accessed here.

Albums

Cassandra Lied
CASSANDRA LIED

℗ 2019 Fuego © 2019 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Golden Vanity
GOLDEN VANITY

© 2010 Easy Action (Recorded in 1998)

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Under the Radar
UNDER THE RADAR

℗ 2020 Fuego © 2019 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Out of the Sky - Real World Demos
OUT OF THE SKY

℗ 2018 Fuego © 2018 Phil Shoenfelt, Bruno Adams

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

The Bell Ringer - Live at the Shot-Out Eye (Live)
THE BELL RINGER – LIVE AT THE SHOT-OUT EYE

 ℗ 2015 FUEGO © 2015 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

ParanoiaDotCom
PARANOIA.COM

© 2010 Phil Shoenfeld

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Wormhole - Dim Locator
WORM HOLE
DIM LOCATOR

© 2013 Dim Locator

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Setting the Sails for El Dorado
SETTING THE SAILS FOR EL DORADO
FATAL SHORE

℗ 2014 FUEGO © 2011 FATAL SHORE

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Immortalised - Dim Locator
IMMORTALISED
DIM LOCATOR

© 2011 Dim Locator

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

The Real World
REAL WORLD
FATAL SHORE

℗© 2010 Amboss Recordings

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Deep Horizon
DEEP HORIZON – 2 CD

℗ 2005 Fuego © 2004 Phil Shoenfeld

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Ecstatic
ECSTATIC

℗ 2009 FUEGO © 2002 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Electric Garden
ELECTRIC GARDEN

℗ 2009 FUEGO © 2002 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Dead Flowers for Alice
DEAD FLOWERS FOR ALICE

© 1999 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Dead Flowers for Alice unplugged
DEAD FLOWERS FOR ALICE (UNPLUGGED)

℗ 2002 Fuego © 2002 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

The Fatal Shore
THE FATAL SHORE
FATAL SHORE

℗ 2006 FUEGO © 1997 Fatal Shore

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Fatal Shore - Bird on a Wire
BIRD ON A WIRE
FATAL SHORE

© 2009 Fatal Shore

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Rare Tracks
RARE TRACKS

© 1998 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Blue Highway
BLUE HIGHWAY

℗ 2009 FUEGO © 1997 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Live in Prague with Ticha Dohoda
LIVE IN PRAGUE (TICHA DOHODA)

© 1995 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

God Is The Other Face Of The Devil
GOD IS THE OTHER FACE OF THE DEVIL

© 1993 Humbug Records

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Fatal Shore - Free Fall
FREE FALL
FATAL SHORE

© 2003 Fatal Shore

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Backwoods Crucifixion
BACKWOODS CRUCIFIXION

© 1990 Paperhouse Records

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

River of Light
RIVER OF LIGHT

℗ 2020 Fuego © 1991 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Khmer Rouge
NEW YORK – LONDON 1981-86
KHMER ROUGE

℗ 2020 Fuego © 2020 Phil Shoenfelt

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music

Video

GHOST SONG

From the album ‘Cassandra Lied’, 2020.

FLY AWAY

From the album ‘Cassandra Lied’, 2020.

CHARLOTTE’S ROOM

From the album ‘God Is The Other Face Of The Devil’, 1993, and ‘Deep Horizon‘, 2005

DEAD FLOWERS FOR ALICE

From the album ‘Dead Flowers For Alice’, 1999, and ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005

HANOI JANE

From the album ‘Golden Vanity’, recorded in 1998 with Nikki Sudden. (Released in 2010.)

CLOAK OF VIRTUE

From the album ‘Golden Vanity’, recorded in 1998 with Nikki Sudden. (Released in 2010.)

DEVIL’S HOLE

From the album ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005, and ‘Backwoods Crucifixion’, 1990.

DARKEST HOUR

From the album ‘Dead Flowers For Alice’, 1999, and ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005

ALCHEMY

From the album ‘God Is The Other Face Of The Devil’, 1993, and ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005

GARDEN OF EDEN

From the album ‘Backwoods Crucifixion’, 1990

PSYCHE

From the album ‘Backwoods Crucifixion’, 1990

KHMER ROUGE – NEW ASSASSINS

From the album ‘New York – London 1981-86’
Videoclip directed by Nat Finkelstein

INFORMATION

Quardasonic Studios, NYC, 1980

Books / Selected Writings

Junkie Love Phil Shoenfelt
JUNKIE LOVE
Phil Shoenfelt

© Maťa 1997, Twisted Spoon Press 2001

Winner of the 2002 Firecracker Alternative Book Award in New York

Set in Camden Town, London, during the late 1980’s, Junkie Love is a nihilistic (and largely authbiographical) love story that revolves around the themes of addiction, decadence, hedonism and self-destruction.

“A nice, nasty read. I enjoyed it a lot”
Nick Cave

“A fine, gutsy, spare rendering of the drug underworld”
Will Self

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
Apple Books

City Primeval. New York, Berlin, Prague
CITY PRIMEVAL. NEW YORK, BERLIN, PRAGUE
Curated by Robert Carrithers and Louis Armand

© 2017 Litteraria Pragensia Books 

An anthology of stories, essays, interviews and photographs from the New York, Berlin & Prague underground scenes. It includes a 6000 word extract from Phil’s book ‘Stripped’, as well as photos of Khmer Rouge, Fatal Shore, Jolana Izbicka and Phil Shoenfelt.

The book takes its title from the Khmer Rouge song ‘City Primeval’.

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE

Stripped II
STRIPPED / AŽ NA DŘEŇ

© 2012 Maťa

A memoir of Shoenfelt’s New York years (1979-84).

An excerpt from the book’s opening in the original English version is available to read at Equus Press website. 

Available at Kosmas (Czech translation)

Stripped
STRIPPED / INKOGNITO V PODZEMÍ

© 2016 Maťa

Part II of  Shoenfelt’s New York years memoir.

Available at Kosmas (Czech translation)

Magdalena - Book One
MAGDALENA – Book One
Phil Shoenfelt / Kateřina Piňosová

© 2010 Moloko+

A collections of dark, erotic poems and incantations co-written with the Czech surrealist painter and poet Kateřina Piňosová. 

Available at Moloko+

Magdalena - Book Two
MAGDALENA – Book Two
Phil Shoenfelt / Kateřina Piňosová

© 2013 Moloko+

A collections of dark, erotic poems and incantations co-written with the Czech surrealist painter and poet Kateřina Piňosová.

Available at Moloko+

Nick Cave - And The Ass Saw The Angel
A UZŘELA OSLICE ANDĚLA
(AND THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL)

Nick Cave / Afterword: Phil Shoenfelt

© 1995 Argo (Language: Czech)

The Czech translation of Nick Cave’s classic Gothic novel includes afterword by Phil Shoenfelt, which can be read in English on Phil Shoenfelt’s website.

The Czech version of the book with Phil’s afterword (transl. into Czech) is available from Apple Books or Kosmas.

The novel in its original English version, but not containing Phil’s afterword, can be obtained from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE.

The Return of Kral Majales (Prague's International Literary Renaissance 1990-2010
THE RETURN OF KRÁL MAJÁLES
Edited by Louis Armand

Prague’s International Literary Renaissance 1990-2010 – An Anthology

© 2010 Litteraria Pragensia Books 

An anthology mapping the work of 90+ poets and writers active in Prague during the two decades post the Velvet Revolution. The title refers to the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg’s legendary visit in 1965, when on 1st of May he drove through the streets of Prague as a freshly elected ‘King of May’ by the students, and a few days later, on the plane to London, he wrote a poem Kral Majales. The anthology includes Phil Shoenfelt’s poem The Train of History… Derailed.

The Table of Contents of the anthology can be viewed here. 

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE

Kamikaze Skull
KAMIKAZE SKULL
Phil Shoenfelt / Sophia Disgrace

© 2014 Moloko+

Twenty poems co-written with UK performance artist Sophia Disgrace.

Available at Moloko+

The Green Hotel
THE GREEN HOTEL / ZELENÝ HOTEL

© Small Press Distribution 1998, Maťa 1998

A collection of song lyrics and poetry from 1972-1997.

Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK 

muziker audio and other equipment

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6 Non-Invasive Pain Relief Techniques

6 Non-Invasive Pain Relief Techniques

Edward Munch - Vampire

Edward Munch – ‘Vampire’

This article explores six non-invasive pain relief techniques that I have learned from the legendary energy medicine practitioner and teacher Donna Eden. If you are experiencing pain, I encourage you to experiment with these techniques and see what works for you. I hope you will find some of them helpful, and if you do, please share them with others.

The Nature of Pain

Physical pain, in its various forms and degrees, can range from uncomfortable, unpleasant, to incapacitating and debilitating.

However unwelcome and inconvenient pain always is, it is a useful tool for recognising that our body needs our conscious attention to get things back to normal, and possibly avert a much worse health issue.

Pain insists very clearly that we should start taking care of our body. If we don’t get pain, we might not be motivated enough to take care of our body through healthy diet and exercise etc. But when pain strikes, we can be fast enough to try and get ourselves better. To paraphrase Marcel Proust, we make promise to kindness and knowledge, but we obey pain.

Most of us immediately reach for painkillers, or rush to the doctor or a pharmacy to get some, so we can start pain-free again. What was taken for granted before – our normal state without pain, is now regarded as something so desperately desired that we’d give just anything to get it back.

Using Energy to Diminish Pain

Although painkillers can be highly effective in diminishing the pain, in most cases they don’t cause the actual healing – they don’t really treat the underlying issue behind the pain. Through working with energies, we can often achieve results that are much more beneficial to our body then just numbing the pain with chemicals. What’s more, the results of such treatments can be long-lasting.

Pain As Congested Energy

One of the brilliant things about using energy for treating pain is that when we free the stuck / congested energy in the body, the pain often diminishes very quickly and noticeably. And to move the congested energy is often easier than people realise!

Also, stimulating acupuncture points can often increase pain-suppressing endorphins, and release opioid peptides, which are highly effective in relieving pain associated with autoimmune diseases, postoperative discomfort, period cramps, lower back pain, tendonitis, etc.

There are a number of techniques to diminish pain; here are a few examples of the techniques I’ve used with success:

1.Breathing Out The Pain

This is one of the simplest techniques which can be combined with other more complex ones, but it can be helpful even on its own. Since energy can be moved by breathing, we can gain some degree of control over our pain by breathing in through our nose (with mouth closed), an breathing out through our mouth.

Exhaling can release some energy involved with the pain. It’s good to visualise that on the outbreath we are releasing all our physical tension from our head to your toes.

This technique was also popularised by a French obstetrician Fernand Lamaze, who in the 1950s introduced a method called psychoprophylaxis, also known as ‘Lamaze breathing technique’, which helps women in labour to better manage contraction pains, through the use of controlled breathing and conscious relaxation.

The best way to remember this technique is to think of smelling a rose (for the inbreath) and then blowing out a candle (for the outbreath).

2.Tapping

Tapping is another effective technique which is familiar to the body, as it resembles the heartbeat. You’ll be freeing energy in the congested area. This technique is specially good to use for aching muscles – e.g. after carrying heavy luggage.

If, for example, you experience pain in your shoulders, you can use your fingers or a hairbrush to do the tapping. (I particularly like using a wooden hairbrush.) Keep tapping for about a minute, while breathing in through your nose and out though your mouth, visualizing the pain being tapped out of the sore area.

3. Stretching

If you gently stretch the area around the epicentre of the pain, you can often experience some relief. This is due to smoothing, evening out, or freeing the energy that has over-accumulated at the site where you feel the pain. (This technique is obviously not suitable for open wounds or burnt skin)

4. Pinching (‘Spindle Cell Mechanism’)

Using your thumb and your forefinger, VERY lightly pinch the skin around the painful area. This super-light pinch is powerful enough to free clogged energy in the painful area through communicating with your nervous system, informing it that pain is no longer necessary.

5. Siphoning the Pain

As the left side of our body receives energy, and the right sight releases it, this method can provide considerable relief from pain by placing our left hand on the painful area of the person we want to help. Our left hand will be pulling the excess energy from the sore area – ‘siphoning’ it off the other person, and thus providing him/her with relief. The energy will be draining off your right hand. Hold your right hand away from your body, facing down, and out.

Although this doesn’t often happen, it’s good to be aware of the risk of the energy of the other person being caught in your own body while performing this technique; you may start feeling pain yourself. This happened to me recently when I was treating my husband.

If this happens, stop at once and shake your hands off energetically. (I did exactly that, and then, to free my right hand from pain completely, did another healing technique on myself, described below. My pain was gone in less than ten minutes.)

6. Zone Tapping

One of the ways to stop or diminish pain is a technique called Zone Tapping. This technique is also practised in foot reflexology. I have used this technique on quite a few people including myself, and I’m happy to say that in most cases this simple treatment resulted in noticeable pain relief. According to this discipline, the body is divided into 6 zones (Figure 1 and 2).

First, you first locate the source of the pain on your body, then look it up on the diagram and determine on which zone the point of your pain lies. (This technique is more suitable for localised pain, rather than diffuse, widely spread pain)

You’ll then tap specific points on your wrists or your ankles, depending on which zone your pain is, and also whether it is on the front or the back of your body.

The softer parts of the body, which are in front your body and inside the limbs, (where hair doesn’t grow as easily) are classified as YIN.

This also includes the bottoms of your feet and the palms of your hand. It is easy to remember the yin parts especially when we think of the hairless areas of the arms and legs.

The slightly tougher areas of your body, especially the back, are considered YANG. This also includes the backs of your hands, the tops of your feet, the outsides of your limbs (where hair can grow) and the back of your head and neck.

To practise the zone tapping, follow these steps:

1. Locate your pain on your body and then look it up on the map of the body (Figures 1 and 2)

Figure  1 

Figure  2 

2. Find the number of the zone which flows through the area of your pain.

3. If your pain is anywhere above your waist, you will be tapping one of the allocated points on your wrist;

If the pain is anywhere below your waist, you will be tapping one of the corresponding points on your ankle.

(Note: ‘A’ in the diagram means Ankle, and ‘W’ means Wrist.

If your pain lies on the front (YIN) part of your body, you’ll be tapping on the INSIDE of your ankle or your wrist. (Remember: Yin = Inside)

If the pain lies on the back (YANG) of your body, you’ll be tapping the OUTSIDE of your ankle or your wrist. (Remember: Yan = Outside) 

4.  Find the point on the wrist (for pain above the waist) or ankle (for pain below the waist) that corresponds with the point of your pain. (Figures 3 and 4)

Figure  3 

Figure  4 

For example, if your pain is on the front of your head, near the centre, it will be in zone 1.

As it is above the waist, we’ll be tapping on the wrist.

And as it is located on the front (YIN) of the body, we’ll be tapping inside the wrist.

Then we’ll find W1 (Wrist 1) point on the diagram.

 

The Tapping Procedure:

1. Tap the point about ten times, and then stop for ten seconds.

2. Tap for 1,5 minutes (90 seconds) more. I usually tap in a one second interval and count to ninety.

3. In about ten minutes the pain should ease or disappear. If it doesn’t, do the same procedure on the opposite side of the body.

 

Note: If you are unsure whether you were tapping the correct point, you can energy test each of the points first. Press each of the points, and at the same time push the treated person’s arm (which is extended in 90 degrees from the body) down.

The person will lose energy on the zone that needs to be tapped and will remain strong on the other ones.

Back and Shoulder Pain

If you are suffering from back or shoulder pain, I recommend you visit my article ‘How to Relieve Chronic Back Pain.’

I hope you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any questions or comments, leave a comment below. I wish you a pain-free day!

BY LUCIE DUN

This site has been (very happily) built with DIVI, by Elegant Themes.

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How to Stop and Prevent Panic Attacks

How to Stop and Prevent Panic Attacks

In this post, I’ll be exploring a number of ways to stop and prevent panic attacks. I’ve written the following lines in the hope that they will help you answer the important questions – i.e. how to stop a panic attack, how to diminish its symptoms, and, ideally, how to prevent further panic attacks and stop having them altogether.

All the methods have been tried and tested by me because I have had the ‘pleasure’ to experience panic attacks a number of times. I am glad to say that since I have started practising these steps, my panic attacks have stopped. I hope it will be the same for you, if you are currently experiencing them.

Edvard Munch - The Scream

Why Do We Get Panic Attacks?

Those who have not (yet?) experienced a panic attack, might perhaps imagine it as some stronger form of nervousness or increased anxiety. This is all true, but only a person who has experienced it knows how dreadful it is to suddenly start losing control over everything. The intense surge of fear caused by thoughts like ‘These may be my last moments before death!’ is hard to describe.

Panic attacks can come as a complete surprise, especially when you think that everything is going fairly well in your life. They can happen as a delayed reaction to stressful events, various life challenges, over-worrying, thought-processes that we might not even be consciously aware of, or even just not enough quality sleep and too much caffeine!

A Number of Symptoms

Panic attacks are always overwhelming, and the symptoms can be both physical and psychological. They often manifest through a sudden breathing difficulty, especially when trying to inhale. The choking sensation can be terrifying.

Or, you may suddenly feel as if you can’t swallow. A wave of extreme weakness can overcome you, and your heart can start beating very quickly. The increased heartbeat is probably the scariest part of the whole experience, because how can you be sure that you are not having an actual heart attack?!

You may also start sweating, trembling, or feeling uncomfortably restless, with a strong urge to move, fidget, or run away. Some people even get sick.

What’s particularly scary is the unfamiliar sensation of becoming detached from your own mind. It can feel as if you are suddenly not in our body but disappearing from it. Or as if you are falling into a black hole. You may be overcome by a horrible sensation of going insane.

My Own Experience

I had a number of panic attacks in my twenties and thirties. One of them happened at home and completely out of the blue – when I was washing the dishes. All of a sudden, something was not right. And it was changing from ‘not right’ to ‘terribly wrong’. I thought I was beginning to lose my mind.

That was the scariest part – not to be in control of my own mind,  feeling that my normal perception of myself and the world is dramatically changing, and fearing that my life is possibly being taken away from me.

I kept asking myself: “Where am I?” My reality suddenly felt completely alien. I was so much in need to get to the familiar state of normality that I grabbed a piece of bread and started to eat it, concentrating on every bite. The taste of the bread was something familiar to me, and was hoping that it would help me to get back from this weird trip.

When, many centuries later, (which, in reality, could have been less than 20 minutes) I came back to the so desired normal state, I found chunks of bread everywhere – on the kitchen floor, all over the carpet in the living room…a strange sight indeed!

An Unwanted Departure

‪I even thought that my body was becoming paralyzed, perhaps by a stroke, because for periods of time I couldn’t speak or open my eyes. Also, I had a clear notion of electricity rising up all my limbs and then leaving them.  I was convinced this was what dying must have felt like.

I was afraid I was losing my mind – quite literally. I was trying to control my breathing, but even that was still a struggle. I was hyperventilating and could feel my heart racing extremely fast.

I kept losing consciousness periodically and experienced a few delusions. At one point, I remember my husband holding a cool sponge on my forehead but for some time I was convinced I was an old dying lady at a hospice and my husband was an old nurse!

Then I felt I was being hurled into space with no point of return. I had a clear sensation of falling at a nauseating speed, and I could hear my own thoughts yelling at me “Your time has come – you are dying!”

What to Do When You Have a Panic Attack

Panic attacks may hit you quite quickly. You might be sitting on a train, standing in a supermarket queue, watching TV at home, or hanging out at a party. It can start absolutely anywhere, unfortunately even on the motorway, with you behind the wheel.

Here are a few strategies you can use to try to stop or diminish a panic attack when you feel it’s coming or when you’re already experiencing it:

1. Try to Breathe Slowly and Deeply

Like me, you might be hyperventilating as a result of a panic attack, and this symptom can add to your anxiety. However, if you consciously focus on slow, calm, deep breathing, you can significantly reduce the scary symptoms of a panic attack. If you can gain at least partial control of your breathing, the hyperventilating will decrease and your mind will become calmer.

When you breathe in, (ideally through your nose) put your hand on your belly and try to breathe into your belly. Imagine it’s an inflatable balloon.

2. Acknowledge a Panic Attack Is Not Life-Threatening

Once you have recognized that panic attacks are temporary, and mainly, not life-threatening, your own mind will help you calm down and regain control more quickly. The main thing is to shake off that fear of dying, which is the most horrifying symptom of a panic attack.

By recognizing that you’re having a panic attack instead of a heart attack, you can remind yourself that this is temporary, it will pass, and that you’re ok. Try to diminish the fear that you may be dying or going insane. These feelings are typical symptoms of a panic attack. Once you recognise that you are having ‘just a panic attack’, you will be able to focus on all the techniques to reduce your symptoms.

3. Try Energy Medicine Techniques

In the following video you’ll see the renowned teacher of energy medicine,  Donna Eden, and her husband, clinical psychologist David Feinstein, present three stress and anxiety-releasing techniques which may be a great help while you are going through a panic attack. 

One of these quick-help techniques is holding your ‘Neurovascular points’, which Donna is mentioning in this video. 

4. Find Something to Focus On

As panic attacks can cause a scary feeling of detachment or separation from reality, your main wish will usually be to get back to reality as quickly as possible.

What I’ve found helpful is to concentrate on familiar sensations, such as rubbing my hands on my thighs, chewing something, or stroking my hands.

However, don’t try to run away or do vigorous exercise – you want to calm down, so you might want to do some gentle stretching instead.

5. Calmly Talk to Others

You can share what you are going through with others. Try to describe the symptoms objectively, and then reassuring yourself (and them, if they are equally scared as you are) that this state will eventually pass.

6. Lie Down and Raise Your Legs

If you can, you may want to lie down and raise your legs. I was advised this by a doctor who had seen me during one of my panic attacks. This will help your blood flow back to your head, and you may gain mind control more quickly. It may also help your body relax and ease the overall tension which makes your anxiety worse.

7. Use Soothing Essential Oils or Calming Teas

The best bet is stress-relieving lavender in a form of essential oil, which you can spread on your palms and gently breathe in.

organic lavender oil

Or if you find the scent of pure lavender too intense, you can try a more sophisticated blend of essential oils, such as the Relaxation Calming Blend by Ellia.com. (You’ll find this specific blend under the category ‘Roll Ons’.)

relaxation calming blend of essential oils
A cup of soothing chamomile tea might also help you relax if you’re lucky to have someone near you to make it for you. Somehow I can’t picture myself making myself a cup of tea while in the middle of a panic attack. For that reason, it is good to have a flask of essential oil at hand and ideally use the oil with a combination of breathing techniques, such as the 4-7-8 technique mentioned in the next point.

8. Do the 4-7-8 Technique

The 4-7-8 technique leads your mind and body to focus on regulating your breathing, rather than your worries, anxiety, or negative thoughts. Dr. Weil describes it as a “natural tranquilizer for the nervous system.” People who practice this technique say that it can calm a racing heart or frazzled nerves, so it might well help someone experiencing a panic attack as well!

How to do the 4-7-8 Technique:

  • Inhale for a count of four.
  • Hold your breath for seven counts.
  • Exhale for a count of eight.

Repeat this cycle four times.

Watch Dr. Weil demonstrate this technique in the following video.

How About People with Severe Panic Disorders?

In the second video, Dr. Weil talks about the success of the 4-7-8 technique for serious panic attacks. You will find that passage at 7:20. He says that people who have anxiety attacks have one thing in common: Their breathing becomes irregular, rapid, or shallow. However, if you practice the 4-7-8 technique, where the breathing is deep, slow, and regular, it’s almost impossible to be overcome with anxiety at the same time.

Dr. Weil has taught this technique to patients with severe panic disorders. He gives an example of one of his patients whose anxiety disorder was very severe, to the point that he was dependent on valium, but after practicing the technique regularly for two years, he got control of the condition and got off all the medication.

The ‘4-7-8’ Can Help with Insomnia

If you happen to suffer from insomnia, try experimenting with this mothod before falling asleep! The 4-7-8 technique has helped people with sleeping disorders, from difficulty falling asleep to shallow sleep, interrupted sleep, or insomnia.

Practising this technique will decrease your tension and allow your body to relax, which will naturally lead to better sleep. If you would like to learn more techniques for helping you sleep better, see my post 20 Tips for Better Sleep.

How to Prevent Future Panic Attacks

Be Mindful of Your Caffeine Intake

My own panic attacks were often triggered after drinking a larger amount of coffee. The stimuli we get from caffeine is due to our body releasing higher amounts of adrenaline, a hormone that raises blood pressure. From a nice initial kick, this can often turn to feeling edgy or anxious, and can lead to a panic attack.

Practice the 4-7-8 Technique

Practice the breathing method mentioned above (point 8). If you incorporate it into your daily routine and do it twice a day, as Dr. Weill recommends, you may prevent future panic attacks.

Make Sure You Get Enough Quality Sleep

Be mindful of getting proper, deep, restorative sleep to keep your body and mind in balance. I have devoted a whole post to this topic, called 20 Tips for Better Sleep.

Meditate

One of the best ways to prevent future panic attacks from happening is regular meditation. When you meditate, your body experiences a deep physical and emotional de-stressing process, which will have a great impact on your nervous system, your sleep, your focus, your mood, and much more.

Since I’ve started meditating regularly, I haven’t had one single panic attack. It is really, really worth trying. I have written about it in my article The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, where I look quite deep into the science of this ancient practice, and where I list all the positive effects of meditation which I have personally experienced.

Recharging - Back in 15 Minutes!

Keep Your Body Moving

There are plenty of ways to do this, from common physical exercise to moving your subtle energies through Energy Medicine or EFT Tapping. If you’d like to find out more, check my posts Ten Things to Do When Feeling Down, where I am exploring such techniques.

Do The Daily Energy Routine

The Daily Energy Routine is a set of exercises designed to balance and strengthen energetic systems in your body. This leads to greater resilience, the ability to fight illnesses, and generally feeling better. I have been doing this short routine every day for almost two years and I believe that these exercises have contributed to keeping my panic attacks at bay. I also haven’t had a cold since I started this daily routine. I highly recommend trying it out!

Panic Attacks Can Serve Us (Before We Get Rid of Them for Good)

Panic attacks are always extremely unpleasant, but once we manage to control our fear, we can start taming their symptoms and eventually condition our mind to avoid these states altogether.

They can, in their own way, serve us as a useful indicator that some area in our lives might need our attention – so a panic attack can actually prove a useful tool for solving a problem we were subconsciously avoiding.

I hope you have found this article helpful. If you have any questions or would you like to share your experience or opinion, leave a comment below.

Other posts you may like:

Recommended books:

 

BY LUCIE DUN

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