Taking Care of Our Inner Tribes – Microflora, Awakening and You

By Christina Lavers

Guest Writers for Wake Up World

Many of us are feeling something profound shifting within. For most this transformation process is both exciting and daunting. It is exciting because the more we open and allow this shift to occur the more aware we become of the energy in our environment and how we interact with it. When we tune into the higher frequencies we feel lighter, more fluid and more aligned with the wisdom of our hearts.

However, other effects, some not so comfortable effects, also come into play. On a physical level some of these effects include headaches, nausea, flu-like symptoms, anxiety and many more. These unpleasant aspects of the process have come to be known as ‘ascension symptoms’.

The high frequency energies that we are learning to engage with and cultivate have a purifying effect on all they touch. They bring up everything old and toxic that needs to be healed and released. The more we connect, the more astute we become at recognizing the ways in which we have allowed ourselves to be compromised and distanced from our natural state of radiance. We start to understand just how we have allowed the social mechanisms of our society, which bombard us with fear and doubt, to compromise our integrity. The process of taking back our power and reinstating our sovereignty has not just been occurring on a psycho-spiritual level; it has been occurring on all levels. Personally, on a physical level it has taken me right down deep into my guts.

I realized that the old adage ‘as above so below’ was relevant in this picture, for in the same way that our outer physical environment is being polluted with toxic influences so too is our inner ecosystem. I came to understand that our guts (which many call ‘the second brain’ because it has a complex system of neurons similar to the brain….so does the heart btw) are populated by communities of bacteria that have a profound effect on our physical and mental health. In a healthy system the good bacteria proliferate and the bad bacteria (there is always going to be some bad) are kept in check. Unfortunately modern diets and stressful lifestyles encourage pathogenic elements to thrive. These bacteria love sugar (especially white), and carbs, and thrive in a stressed, toxic, acidic body. The pharmaceutical industry, who obviously benefit from a sick population, encourage widespread use of antibiotics which have the effect of wiping out healthy inner communities. As well Roundup, the prolific herbicide used to grow a majority of our food, has been found to compromise these bacteria as well.

All healing begins in the gut

Increasing research is confirming what Hippocrates said hundreds of years ago: “All disease begins in the gut.” Because the immune system is largely based in the gut – when the gut is compromised, our immune system becomes compromised. A system in which the bad bacteria thrive is a system that is unhealthy at its root, and can therefore succumb to illness. Today the amount of people with auto-immune disorders has reached epic proportions, and more and more evidence is suggesting that these illnesses are directly related to the health of our gut. [Learn more.] The bad bacteria that proliferate in our system have been shown to possess the ability to influence our minds, making us crave foods that assist them to prosper within our inner systems. We are also more likely to experience depression and anxiety when our guts are out of balance.

Good bacteria work in unison with the whole promoting a state of inner health and wellbeing, while pathogenic bacteria, when allowed to get out of balance, work against the whole, leaching the body of vital resources in order to promote their own success.

Several years ago I began to wonder how people acquired good gut bacteria before the advent of pro-biotic capsules. I discovered that in the past fermented foods (in which good bacteria are cultivated) were a central part of our diets (even ketchup was fermented). It seems virtually every culture on Earth had a traditional diet that included some form of fermented food. However, with the advent of industrialization, as food became processed and made in factories it became easier for production to eliminate the fermentation process, and replace it with vinegar, preservatives, or chemicals. Eventually, we learned to see all bacteria as undesirable, and even in our homes the fermentation process, to the detriment of our health, was eliminated.

As my husband and I further researched this topic we began to realize that there was a strong connection between these bad bacteria, bodily detoxing, and ‘ascension symptoms’ (symptoms experienced by those who are sensitive to energies). When our body detoxes, this encourages a ‘die off’ of bad bacteria and these are some of the symptoms we can expect:

Headaches; brain fog; irritability; anxiety; moodiness; nausea; bowel/digestive issues; fatigue; flu-like symptoms; low grade fever; muscle, joint aches; gas/bloating; dizziness etc.

Sound familiar?

Awakening — a process of purification

My personal belief is that the current universal energies are working to purify our body temples, which is why so many people engaged in this transformative process are experiencing the above symptoms at various times. For me this transformative process is very much about healing, and on a physical level a crucial aspect of this has been becoming aware of and healing the inner communities that I contain, and am responsible for, and learning how to ensure they are happy, healthy and vibrant.

So according to what I have learned, an excellent way to support our bodies in this cleansing process is to actively support the process by consuming food that nourishes and replenishes the good bacteria. If we do not do this, we risk finding ourselves on a never-ending cycle of re-surfacing symptoms. We can be eating the cleanest food on the planet, taking loads of supplements, and generally pursuing a healthy lifestyle, but if we don’t have a healthy gut a lot of this will be wasted. Without a healthy gut, food cannot be properly digested, and vitamins cannot be adequately absorbed. Good bacteria need to be replenished and maintained and I believe diet is the best way to do this.

Why not just take a probiotic supplement, you may wonder? While taking supplements can certainly be helpful, it is also expensive and limited in its benefits, compared to a dietary approach. A healthy system is one that is populated by a diverse community of good bacteria, while most probiotic capsules contain only a few key strains of bacteria. Probiotic bacteria work synergistically together – their combined actions are greater than the sum of their parts – so the more types of fermented foods we consume the more diverse and healthy our inner communities will be. Another positive aspect of learning the ancient art of fermentation is that it is a means of taking back our power, as we become less reliant on a system that is designed for profit rather than wellbeing.

Fermenting food is actually not that difficult. I am lucky because my husband has become a master of this old technique and now we have a fridge filled with sauerkraut, kimchi, kvass, kombucha, ginger-bug and heaps of other creative fermented delicacies. Some of the foods I had to acquire a taste for (now I love them, and as a healthy balance is returning to my body I find that I am beginning to actually crave this healthy food… instead of the unhealthy stuff), but some I found instantly delicious. If you’re interested, my husband has a website, www.celestialroots.com, with many free recipes and more in-depth information about fermenting.

As someone sensitive to the intensely powerful energies that have been sweeping the planet, I still face challenges in terms of processing these frequencies, but the inclusion of fermented foods in my diet has made my journey a lot smoother, and much more enjoyable.

* Please note: health is a very intricate and personal issue. We are all unique individuals with our own personal health puzzles. I am not an expert, just sharing a piece of what I discovered about this complex issue on my journey in case it helps others on theirs. It is important to remember that these symptoms can also be indicative of more serious health issues and therefore it is wise to consult with a health care professional you trust.

References:

• Farnworth, Edward R (Ed.) (2003) Handbook of Fermented Functional Foods. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
• Freter R. (1992) Factors affecting the microecology of the gut. In: Fuller R, (ed.) Probiotics, the Scientific Basis (111-44). London, Chapman & Hall.
• Huffnagle, Gary B. (Ph.D.) and Wernick, Sarah (2007) The Probiotics Revolution. New York, Bantam Dell.
• Katz, Sandor Ellix (2012) The Art of Fermentation: an in-depth exploration of essential concepts and processes from around the world. Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction VT.
• Tetro, Jason (2013) Forget Prozac, Psychobiotics Are the Future of Psychiatry. Accessed online 18 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150909225513/http://www.popsci.com.au:80/science/forget-prozac-psychobiotics-are-the-future-of-psychiatry,380520
• The Human Microbiome Project Consortium (2012) Structure, function and diversity of the healthy human microbiome.  Nature 486:207-214.

Jump Into The Blue

A Book by author Christina Lavers

Divine Magic or Madness? Heroine or Fool?

Jump Into The Blue is a breathtakingly beautiful, at times disquieting, and occasionally terrifying journey to the outer reaches of reality.

Beginning with a playful Ouija session, an eighteen year old Christy realises that reality might not be as straightforward as her rational western upbringing has led her to assume. As she opens to a cascade of subtle energies these forces increasingly influence her perception until she finds herself in a wild, enthralling space governed by magic and synchronicity.

As her consciousness expands and revelations abound, the socially constructed version of herself crumbles away. Immersed in the surreal mystical world of the blue, Christy believes she is on the verge of uncovering the holy grail of existence. But when her dreamy path unexpectedly transforms into a living nightmare, she learns the true implications of flying so high.

Jump Into The Blue is available here on Amazon.

For more information, check out www.jumpintotheblue.com and Facebook/Jump Into The Blue.

Previous articles by Christina Lavers:

• New Study Shows Regular Contact with Nature Reduces Crime, Increases Social Cohesion
• Research Shows Just 7 Minutes of Meditation Can Reduce Racial Prejudice
• Groundbreaking Study Maps the Decline of Wild Bee Communities in the United States
• More Evidence That TV is Dumbing Us Down
• Taking Care of Our Inner Tribes – Microflora, Awakening and You
• Taking Responsibility For Our Energy
• Discernment – Navigating The Spiritual Minefield
• TV: Cutting the Cord
• Heart Aligned Eating: Beyond Dietary Absolutes
• The Art Of Failing Well

About the author:

Christina Lavers is a writer, an artist, a creative enthusiast, and an inner world explorer. Born in Montreal Quebec Canada, she now lives with her life partner and son in a rainforest pocket in the hills behind Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia. She spends her time playing, creating, growing and sharing.

“My journey has been about personal alchemy… exploring the mysteries of my soul and my environment, and learning to bring all aspects, the light and the dark, together with the transcending ingredient… love. The more I uncover and nurture the wounded aspects of my being, the more whole and grounded I feel and the more my outer world reflects the love, wonder and magic I have discovered inside”.

Christina is devoted to assisting people to find and connect with their own creative magical current that flows deep within. She is now offering a comprehensive e-course designed to help people light up their world with passion and creativity. You can access Section One here for free!

Christina has recently published her first full length book, a memoir about her wild awakening journey entitled Jump Into the Blue, and she is currently working on the next one.

You can follow Christina’s work at:

• www.mysticalchemyarts.com
• www.jumpintotheblue.com
• www.facebook.com/mysticalchemyarts