Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2025 #250 i Odyssey Magazine

The first chakra, located at the base of the spine near the tailbone, is your root connection to the earth and to your physical body. The basic drive of this chakra is survival and it is the seat of the stress response: The fight-or-flight reaction, also called 'fight and attack'. The energy of this chakra can remain rooted, or stuck, in fear - the primitive survival response - if not made conscious and released in trust and surrender. This chakra is the most instinctive of all the chakras and is connected to the oldest part of the central nervous system, the reptilian brain, which we share with most living creatures. Fear leads to stimulation of the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys, which are the stress glands - the…

We often hear the phrase “don't look back” - as if our past holds us hostage or distracts us from the present. But what if looking back isn't about getting stuck in old stories or regrets, but rather a quiet invitation to remember what we've come through, what we've seen and how life has gently shaped us along the way? I've spent over four decades in the personal development field and, if there's one thing I've come to see, it's that nothing from our past is wasted. Even the messy bits. Especially the messy bits. In my 60s now, with more behind me than ahead, I find myself looking back more often - but not with nostalgia or regret. I look back to listen. To see the threads. To recognise…

If anything can be termed an odyssey in modern life, it's the wealth quest. Every single person on the planet is on it and it is highlighted as the very purpose of life itself by most. Your wealth journey began the day you were born. You brought wealth into someone's life - untold, immeasurable wealth. New life, what price can be put on that? The preciousness of human birth is a key reflection in Buddhism. It is said that human birth is as rare as a turtle swimming across all the oceans of the world coming up for air every thousand years, putting her neck through a single hoop which is also floating somewhere in the oceans! Imagine that! Contemplating the preciousness of human birth is very useful, as it…

As a human collective, we are in an extremely transformative time, calling for a new way of being, an evolution in consciousness and a reconnection to our Souls, both individually and as a human species. This year's intense astrological shifts are deeply associated with beginning again and the year 2025 is a powerful year to do the work that is necessary to prepare for a rebirth. In a way, I see it as the great collective Phoenix Rising, where the fire of Aries burns away the old and, if you are ready, you can soar to new heights and connect with your Heart and Soul's desire. But, it will ask of you to be courageous, for you to show discernment and for you to let go and make the necessary…

Two years ago, someone tried to kill me – and here I am to tell the tale about it. Not to caution people so much as to share the gifts in what can only be described as a horrific story. And it happened to me, not as a helpless naïve young woman but just after I turned sixty, happily married, mother, stepmother, grandmother, creative, intuitive, sangoma. American born and South African by choice, I'd been around the block on both continents and had amassed quite a magic toolbox full of training and experience. I was trained in and practising all manner of trauma modalities, both practical and esoteric, life coaching, philosophy, energy work and traditional African spirituality to boot. In short, I was as prepared for this - and as…

A year or so into my travels, I met an astrologer in Varanasi, India, who told me I was very depressed and disconnected from life. I could not relate at all to what he was talking about, as I felt quite happy. A bit empty perhaps, as if I lived in a void, but at least I didn't walk around on eggshells any more. Now in hindsight I can see how frozen I was, as if I just lived from my head, planning on where to go next, just drifting from place to place, avoiding setting down roots anywhere. As I had felt so trapped at home, I now craved freedom. Then, a few more years into my travelling, when I was living in Tokyo in my early 20s, I…

Saturn is associated with the root chakra and understanding the condition of Saturn in an astrological chart reveals some glimpses into themes of the root chakra. The same is true of Jupiter and the sacral chakra. The more in-depth expression of a planet should also take into account its degree in the zodiac, house position and aspects to it. Let's keep things light for the chakras. • Saturn in Capricorn instils a serious and disciplined approach to duty. Those with this placement take their responsibilities deeply to heart. Insecurities are overcome by accepting they are not accountable for more than they truly are. • Saturn in Aquarius carries a similar sense of responsibility but with a more individualistic flair. This placement often leads to a strong sense of duty toward…

Astrology is a wonderful way to explore our celestial make-up, our vital energy and our physical health and wellbeing in regard to our correspondence with cosmic consciousness. Astrology is an intuitive and symbolic art that can help to realign us with our heart and soul, with our body and spirit and with the heavens and the earth – so that we come to realise that we are more than just a physical body with blood running through our veins and we come to know more about our spiritual and energetic anatomy and our multidimensional magnificence that's at creative play within the physical world at large. Astrology as a form of symbolism and even divination, can help us to know ourselves more deeply, to understand ourselves and the complexities that make…

Growing up, I wondered if I'd been delivered to the wrong address. My parents and my siblings were extremely sporty and academic. I was the quiet shy child wanting to be invisible. I found my refuge in my love of animals and in reading. I became a sensitive observer of the world around me. On the surface, our lives seemed idyllic. But underneath that apparent facade was a deeper double life that no one knew about, not even my best friend at school. My father was a pillar of society as a Rotarian, a humanitarian and a successful entrepreneur. But he battled severe bipolar at a time when there was no name for the disease. He battled with the stigma of medication. When things were great my father was charismatic…

Geoff's greatest boyhood dream was to experience Everest up close, something he did finally in 2007. After pioneering a 21,000km overland route from China to South Africa, he returned to the Himalayas weeks later to slow to the walking pace of our ancestors and trek to Everest Base Camp. It was intended to be a precursor to a summit bid. Instead, his epiphany was that the love of family and friends was more important than ego-driven summit glory. This is his account in one of Odyssey's 2008 editions. God lives in the high mountains of the Himalayas of Nepal. The reminders of our precious connection to the Divine are to be found everywhere: from the gaily fluttering Buddhist prayer flags welcoming pilgrims, to the ancient monasteries, stone altars and carved…

I envision a world where giving birth to our children is something we consider a sacred, natural emergence; an event that belongs to mothers, their babies and their families. An event that is seen as matter-of-fact, because it is simply what women's bodies were created to do. Birth without noise, interference, fear, or the unnecessary involvement of strangers, institutions or industries. Birth that is not sterile, surveilled, managed, disconnected, interfered with and sabotaged. There is a wave of women and families who have started asking questions and considering options that don't fall into the mainstream approach to birth. Exponential healing is occurring with each child who is born in a way that centres the mother-baby dyad. Each birth that is allowed to unfold physiologically reduces birth-related trauma, disconnection and complications.…

Let's be honest. How many times have you caught yourself thinking, “Why won't they just listen?” or “What's wrong with them?” If you're a parent, chances are you've been there - frustrated, exhausted and baffled by your child's behaviour. But what if I told you that the problem isn't them? What if the most powerful shift we could make as parents isn't in how we discipline our children - but in how we examine ourselves? This is the invitation of conscious parenting. And while it might feel counter-intuitive, even uncomfortable, it's also where true transformation begins. Changing the question Conscious parenting asks us to shift the questions we ask ourselves. Instead of wondering, “Why won't my child just behave?” we begin to ask, “Why does their defiance affect me so…

odyssey cambridge.dictionary.org noun [usually singular] UK /ˈɒd.ɪ.si/ a long, exciting journey: Figurative a spiritual odyssey I thought how wonderful it would be… a magazine with articles on religious philosophy, a new approach to education, alternative technology, parapsychology, holistic healing and the inter-relationship between thought and manifestation, remembered Jill Jill went on to say, “It seems like yesterday that Gerald Moskovitz and I emerged from the premises of associated press carrying our first few copies of Odyssey Magazine, literally hot off the press. The bulk of the 5000 print copies ordered would be delivered to CNA's warehouse manager at Buitengacht Street, and the rest would be distributed by Mossie, on foot, to his established distribution network”. Seven years later, a healthy and well-established publication was handed over to a new team…

The celebrated Findhorn spiritual community in northeast Scotland is rising Phoenix-like in the devastating aftermath of Covid, Brexit, an arson attack, massive job losses and near financial collapse. Battered by its recent painful past, it is preparing a determined response to offer fresh hope in a rapidly changing world that's navigating a great disconnect from the healing intelligence of the natural world. From Mother Earth, our first mother, herself. Centred in what is now known as Park Ecovillage Findhorn, adjoining the iconic centuries-old former Findhorn fishing village and an historically and ecologically important dune field alongside the North Sea, it is physically small and outwardly seemingly insignificant. But its messages and pioneering example have touched thousands and perhaps millions of lives over the past 60-plus years. Described variously as a…

What if it's possible to support your loved ones and your world intuitively without needing to say a word? I'd like to show you how to use your natural intuition in a specific way - to not be overwhelmed by collective fear and suffering but, instead, to broadcast authentically the intuitive songs of truth, felt as the experience of peace, love and joy; and that you can weave this into ordinary life - no need for any special skills - only your sincere intention and willingness to practise and discover. This intuitive training is for you if… • You're feeling the collective stress of the world and your loved ones and want to help support them; • You're an empath who is easily impacted by others' feelings and, instead of…

Root chakra, or Muladhara chakra, is the basis of the chakra system and associated with survival, security and grounding, while manifested as a body in this world. Addressing root chakra entrapment involves connecting with the physical body, practising earthing techniques and engaging in movements like free dancing to lift out of survival mode into the lightness of being, raising arms, flying with arms like a bird, bending down, moving slowly up unfolding vertebra by vertebra, lifting, opening heart and chest, visualising being free, while stomping feet in rhythm to music. Consciously rising from root chakra emotional energy blockages, entails daily practice to engender a sense of stability, security and confidence, leading to a more grounded and balanced state. Signs of root chakra entrapment: • Chronic anxiety or fear; • Feeling…

I predicted there would be a mental health meltdown because no government or healthcare system is prioritising mental health and nutrition and pharma is running the agenda for most. In fact, the latest report in the Lancet shows that 43 per cent of the world's population has disability due to a brain or neurological or psychological issue. Every three seconds someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. The youngest age of a non-genetic Alzheimer's diagnosis is 19. Autism diagnoses are going through the roof. In Scotland one in 14 schoolchildren are diagnosed with autism. In the UK we have about three million effectively addicted to anti-depressants. That's the bad news. The good news is that we really do now know how to prevent these problems and have found the…

Growing up with his brother, sister, mother and her family in the township of Kwamashu near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, he vaguely remembers when he first started walking with a walking frame and his first set of prosthetics. He grew up in a very toxic and violent environment. “Here I had limited access to equipment and opportunities. For most of my young life, I was teased and called names due to my disability and also, being limited in so many things. Sometimes people will test you with simple things and ask you simple things like how to spell your name or count just to prove and see if you are capable. Most will be jungle basic on the disability. Doors being shut. Lost opportunities due to conditions. But I have learnt…

“He seems to prefer his own company,” says Dad, glued to a soccer match on TV and leaving his son to do his own thing. “She finds her own entertainment,” adds Mom in answer to a query about their daughter's whereabouts. “You're so lucky,” remarks a visitor, “not having to worry about your children.” But wait. What are the youngsters actually doing and why are they so absorbed with it? United nations statistics showed that around 77 per cent of people aged between 15 and 24 used the Internet in 2023 and the figures have been mounting exponentially. Children who find ways to amuse themselves are increasingly likely to be seeking entertainment of one sort or another on a digital device, usually connecting to the Internet. This could well be…

Cathrine was six years old when she died. That is how her parents described it. For nearly three minutes, her heart stood still. She had slipped beneath the surface of a swimming pool during a crowded afternoon - unnoticed until her body floated silently near the shallow end. She was pale, her limbs unresponsive. A lifeguard moved fast, beginning resuscitation until the ambulance team arrived. The paramedics found a faint rhythm. She was rushed to the hospital. Her condition remained uncertain for hours. When she awoke, she didn't cry or panic. Her first words described something luminous. She said she had risen - not just above the pool, but above her body. She could see people around her. They were anxious, distressed. But she herself felt quiet and safe. A…

I have spent over two decades walking alongside the grieving, listening to stories steeped in sorrow, mystery and meaning. Yet nothing quite pierces the veil - or mends it - like the dreams people have of their loved ones who have passed. These dreams aren't like others. They arrive uninvited, vivid, urgent and often life-altering. In fact, I have become more interested in identifying if the dreams we have of our loved ones are actually transformational. Grief is something few talk about openly: Waking up from a dream where the deceased felt so real and vivid not imagined, not symbolic, but as though they'd returned for just a moment to say something that couldn't be said in waking life - is as real as having your loved one back in…

Mars is associated with the solar plexus chakra and understanding the condition of Mars in an astrological chart reveals glimpses into themes of the solar plexus chakra. The same is true of Venus and the heart chakra. The more in-depth expression of a planet should also take into account its degree in the zodiac, house position and aspects to it. Let's continue to keep things light for the chakras. Mars in the zodiac signs: • Mars in Aries acts with great energy and determination. This placement fosters uninhibited and forceful action, sometimes leading to impulsiveness and accidents. Think of a rocket - there is immense drive to achieve goals with courage and initiative, as Mars rules Aries. • Mars in Taurus, well, here Mars moves slowly and deliberately, with a…

Are crystals, cleansings, and energy blessings - mysticism and a touch of Wicca - the new trend for those who are 'spiritual but not religious' and tying the knot? Before we apply labels or define this practice as bold, esoteric, or traditional, we might take a moment to consider that almost everything about a modern traditional wedding ceremony is steeped in occult rituals and customs, rooted in the supernatural. From the supportive and large number of wedding attendants to the exchanging of rings… “Prosperity to the man and happiness to the maid when married in June,” - an ancient Roman proverb. The most popular time for traditional and eclectic weddings is June and it's not about the weather, holidays and vacation clubs. June possesses numerological significance, being the sixth month…

Integrating sexual energy into the spiritual path or consciousness path, is often the place spiritual folk in many different modalities get stuck. From the Christians to the esoteric mystics, from the Yoginis to the religious folk. It's certainly where I got mired in the belief systems and agendas of others for around two years. Sometimes in the beginning of a spiritual sexual journey you have to explore the profane first. It's not the only way, but what I've found is, if you try and explore the energy from a place of perfection or 'higher energies' only, the lack of grounding and shadow work will shipwreck you before your voyage has even begun. Sexual energy, meeting needs and desires, exploration with consciousness is often fraught with those who run a sexual…

The KwazuluSpirit Festival™, initially inspired by Bali Spirit Festival, the New Zealand North and South Spirit Festival, has been curated in 2025 with the reviews of 2023 and 2024 top of mind. This festival is our third year in celebration of the human spirit, our humanity and divinity, a vibrant exploration of consciousness and wellbeing. The festival weekend launches on Friday 25 July at 12 noon with a Conscious Parenting Indaba. The KwazuluSpirit Festival continues 26 July 9:30 until 18.00, followed by the Sensorium Soundscape from 18:30 -20:30. The final festival day Sunday 27 July opens Sunday 09:00 and concludes Sunday at 17:00. On Saturday and Sunday we bring you deeply transformational and uplifting experience. The programme offers the opportunity to attend Powerful Talks and Immersions with our master coaches…

When I was a child, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and, usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model aeroplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome. Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing child, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. “This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday. “First, Mom and Dad…

Corporate Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) Chronic workplace stress affects employees behaviourally, emotionally and mentally; studies would suggest that over two-thirds of the workforce report difficulty focusing due to stress. Effects on employees include: Sleep disturbances, headaches, gastro-intestinal upsets, hypertension and poor heart health, anxiety and irritability; often manifesting as lack of motivation and poor decision making. This is often compacted by resultant behavioural aspects, which may include: Substance abuse, tardiness and tenuous relationships with co-workers and stakeholders due to isolation or unwarranted outbursts Impact of workplace stress on an organisation includes: - High levels of absenteeism and poor timekeeping; - Increased staff turnover; - Low morale, poor performance and loss of productivity; - increased ill-health and accidents in-company. Recent studies support the incorporation of energy healing modalities such a Reiki…

CNN featured the BRC as one of the 10 finest meditation centres in the world. Meditation benefits every aspect of our being body, mind and soul. We spend most of our lives looking for happiness, peace and fulfilment outside ourselves. During meditation we begin to explore and expand awareness, the essence of who we really are, restoring the memory of wholeness in our lives. It is a process to rediscover the quietness that is already there, that has always been there – this silence is the thought between thoughts, the silence of pure awareness. My first retreat was undertaken in silence at the Buddhist Retreat Centre in Ixopo, KZN. That was 1986. I was the breadwinner, with an almost three-year-old toddler and a 15-month old baby and had found myself…

What if the future is like a tree, with many potential branches growing from every present moment? Some potential futures are strong, like thick branches; others are weak little twigs. What if, when we focus on trying to predict the future, it's like taking a chainsaw and cutting all the other possibilities away? When I became an accidental professional psychic at the age of 16, this was exactly the dilemma I faced. At the age of 13, I had dedicated my life to wisdom - it was a desperate dark-night-of-the-soul plea to find a reason to live that was bigger than the pain of being alive. I had chosen wisdom because the word represented deep answers to life's biggest questions. Only three years later, when my mother asked what I…

As humans, we're wired to think about the future and to focus on planning for what's next on our journey, which can be a great thing, as it helps us set goals and strive for success. However, it can also make the idea of looking back seem counter-intuitive, almost regressive. Yet, in the realm of mental health and personal growth, the opposite is often true because meaningful introspection and the conscious examination of our thoughts, memories, experiences and emotions, can be a powerful tool for shaping a more self-aware, resilient and fulfilled future. Understanding how your past influences your present is not about dwelling on regret or becoming stuck in nostalgia. Instead, it's about reclaiming ownership of your narrative, identifying patterns that no longer serve you and forging a path…

Once upon a time, there was a night when I asked the Earth to take me. I prayed and bled tears, begged for a hole to open beneath me and swallow me whole. The inner unravelling was too much to bear. I lay in a field of wild grass, the only light in a vast and aching dark was the swollen full moon, pregnant. The burning pain in my chest felt like the end of me and, what I didn't see then, is that it was the end of me. I had nothing left but wails and salt and surrender. So, I asked for the ground to open - to draw me into its dark belly for one last holy decomposition. But instead… it gave me an intensely clear vision.…

We talk a lot about burnout - and for good reason. Whether you're juggling a full-time job, side hustle, relationship drama, or just trying to keep your life together without losing your mind, burnout doesn't always crash in like a tidal wave. Sometimes, it's the subtle stuff: Waking up exhausted even though you slept, that constant brain fog, or realising you've been staring at the same email for 15 minutes and haven't typed a single word. And while we're flooded with quick fixes ('just take a bubble bath!'), what actually helps isn't always what's trending. It's the small, consistent systems that keep you grounded, especially when your brain is in overdrive. Here are four habits that have helped me feel more human again. Not hacks. Not perfectly curated wellness rituals.…

I AM Kuthumi, greetings. The gift of awakening and awareness is a personal treasure. It is the sacred essence of stepping into the higher frequency of that which life gifts you with. Whilst experiencing your human skin, some activities are distinctly pleasurable, whilst others, unbeknownst, hold their own treasures. Exploring the gifts of awakening through awareness reveals much that awaits within the unknown. To begin with, you enter life with a 'program' which we previously discussed. You come equipped with a 'dormant' etheric toolbox, which awakens as you do. As you grow out of your old skin, these discoveries come to life. The deeper you delve, the greater the discovery! Curveball cushions Your gifts or pointers serve as reminders, strategically placed at 'decision or choice' intersections along your journey, planned…

I was meant to notice what others could not see. To feel the subtle nuances that others missed. To hear the quiet voice beneath the noise. This is how Reiki first found me - not through a logical decision, but through the quiet, persistent whisper of the soul. Hi, I'm Gina Ambrose. I'm a Reiki Master Teacher, practitioner and emotional guidance practitioner. I've dedicated over two decades to the study and teaching of Reiki in its many beautiful forms: Usui Shiki Ryoho, Karuna® Reiki, Gendai Reiki, Reiki Ryoho, Seichim Reiki and more. My journey also includes studies in crystal healing, personal alchemy and energy work rooted in ancient wisdom. My path, however, didn't start on a spiritual mountaintop. It started in a boardroom. How Reiki found me Years ago, I…

Today, no one goes through life unscathed by trauma. The difference today, there has been a consciousness shift since the '90s. We are in an era where information and technology are readily available at a click of a button. We are also in a place where there are many healing methods available. At times, life pushes to unforeseen directions with little to no preparation or the skills to comprehend what just happened. Everyone has something behind closed doors even though, on social media, life is portrayed as happy, what seems amazing and beautiful. Divorce, a car accident or abuse are not advertised on such platforms. Unless, you are close family or friends, these life experiences are often unknown. What is trauma? It is a deep emotional experience that is very…

'Age is just a number' is a common aphorism, it's also complete rubbish. Age is much more than a number. Age is personal, years are not! She looked me straight in the eye, indignant. 'I don't like that question.' January 2020, I was at the Arcadia Health Centre, Australia on a 10-day, water only, fast and had dared to ask the usually friendly Dr Nejla Burton how old she was. Her voice was firm: “If I tell you, I create a cage. If I don't give you a number, I am who you see. Age is not a number. I am not a number.” I learned an important lesson. She was right and it was the last time I asked anyone, how old are you? What's your age? With no…

In today's fast-paced world, it can feel as if we're constantly caught in the whirlwind of dating apps, fleeting connections and emotional surface-level interactions, but what if we could step away from the noise and focus on nurturing relationships that are grounded in authenticity, emotional depth and spiritual alignment? According to Livia, a former tech executive turned conscious living coach, heart-centred relationships are not found through endless swiping they are created with intention and care. If you're ready to cultivate relationships that are meaningful, authentic and spiritually enriching, here's how you can begin: Let go of the myth of 'The One' In modern dating, we've often been taught to believe in the concept of 'The One' - the perfect soulmate who will complete us. But Livia suggests that this ideal…

The way nature manages these flows is by a system called a feedback loop. A positive feedback increases change, eg, ocean temperature influences the temperature of the air and hence its capacity to hold moisture, which leads to more rain. A negative feedback loop reduces change. When a living system receives certain information from one sector it is able to adapt and respond to it with feedback loops and stay in sync with ever-changing conditions. But the key here is responding to the feedback loops in an effective way. In families, feedback loops that lead to a good growth are essential. We need to accept change will happen, be open to it and begin to accept feedback loops. So we look out for change bringing more nourishment, more intelligence, more…

Leo Low Ming is a dedicated, professional martial artist. He has trained with the world's top masters and practised his art for over 48 years. Leo teaches the young and the not so young. This is learning through doing. How to experience and evolve through the martial ways unfurls. Join Leo Low Ming for a unique experience. Step by step, let the master lead you… Simple taiji and qi gong movements and meditation techniques open up an energetic connection with the physical world. The western way thinks vigorous exercise that strengthens the muscles and heart brings good health. But the eastern way is different. Gentle, slow, repetitive movements release tension in the soft tissues and nerves, stimulate the organs, circulate the blood and quietly relax you. Here there is no…