Oh yes, that Aries Moon!
LOL! My son is so totally daring... secure, selfconfident, however frightened to go use the toilet....(weird that)...
Anyway thanks for the link and those photos, yes stunning!
Well my family has been planning a trip to Wales, and Scottland, a sort of walking/train trip when the boy starts using the toilet properly, and we have some time.... my husband probably would rather go to one of those little cold islands out on the Scottish West coast though.... to camp out and battle with the rain
... I think I'd stay here in Sweden where I know that even though we have rain, that we also know it will let up about half of the time...
UK weather is predictably rainy at best... but I suppose its better when you are alone and prepared for it and not a small child who will freeze in the cold rain... I seriously doubt Super energy boy would ever be found sitting in a tent... no, too much fun trying to run away.
Wales does look beautiful though
.. probably warmer too!
Scotland is amazing
I lived up in Inverness for 1 month and yes it was a few degrees colder than back at home! The best place we went was the Isle of Skye, this place is amazing and we were really lucky to have excellent weather for the few days that we were there. I would highly recommend staying there for a few days.
Wales is warmer, North Wales has the biggest mountains and the highest one is called Snowden, there is a train that takes you all the way to the top! I've walked up there twice and for some strange reason the second time was almost exactly 10 years after the first time (both on bank August bank holiday weekends too). So I will now try to walk up there every 10 years
South Wales where I live has the Gower
This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is where I go every day to swim
If you type in The Gower into the google search engine you will find loads of sites about it. In the summer we can get some hot weather. Also for some reason sometimes it can be raining in Swansea but the gower will be sunny !
Yes the tongue injury is supposed to heal really fast, however I know from people who have had their tongue's actually peirced (willingly) that it can bleed so much that it may actually be wise to have it looked at and put stitches into if it doesn't stop bleeding. It took a while for his to stop.. and strangely enough he went to sleep early that night and he was fine ...
( its impossible to get him to sleep most nights before 8pm... and its been this way since he's been about a year and a half ; he's a 13-15 hour a day kind of boy )
Yes I believe Aries Moon makes for a good athlete... because you need that 100% emotional commitment to push so hard... all or nothing... its either going to be a very good source of energy to harness in the future for him or its going to be very difficult to adjust to the fact that other people are not always going to be so impuslive and all gut feelings about things...
My point of view is that its easier to motivate him when I appeal to that sense of adventure, then suddenly he's a willing participant in the most boring of drudgery---My own Saturn is in Aries conjunct his Moon so I feel he sees me as a damper on his fun and adventure... but both of us have Vesta in Aries..( his conjunct the Moon and MC and mine conjunct Saturn ) so I think we tend to modify our styles a bit... Him less adventurous, and me less "stick in the mud"
I think everyone even knows me as "the fun momma"... in spite of my stance on safety... and avoiding accidents.
None the less, here I go sorry I didn't see this sooner! But I hope you have recovered fully from your cycling so much after this last week-end...
Be well,
svenskasfinx
I have recovered very well now and am feeling fitter for it
I've been training every day since walking and cycling etc. Then today I felt very fit so cycled to 2 beaches and 2 swims and was out for 6hrs 20mins!
Yesterday (the 18th) I had my natal lunar return that I told you about where the sun and mercury were both almost exactly conjunct my venus. Well I felt very good but the only things of note so far are these: I have a mountain bike (super light) that I bought about 6 years ago but it has never felt good to ride (I always had a bad back and neck after riding it). I have tried everything to get it to fit correctly (bought different stems, different forks, adjusted the height of the handlebars, bought different handlebars). I had decided to sell the bike although it cost me a lot and I wanted to race it one day. well on the 18th I had a thought of buying a really big stem adjuster and to raise the stem so it was very high! I tried this and wey hey
It is now a perfect fit and I haven't felt the slightest bit of back ache at all with it
Here is a pic of the bike with new stem:
The other thing that I figured out was:
Since I started to sea swim regularly I have felt more energized, much clearer headed and generally more alive
But this wasn't anything that built up the more I went, I felt great after my very first sea swim! Now I can say that I'm almost addicted to swimming every day. If I don't go I don't feel so good that day. It is almost like a drug, I need my fix to feel invigorated and refreshed. I think/know that everyone suffers from the blues and people get depressed from time to time. Well since I've been unable to train like I used to for cycling and my stupid bad neck and back that I get, plus a lot of other things, I have not felt very good for a number of years now. I would even go so far as to say that if I was asked by someone was I happy I would have answered no - I was stressed out, tired out, irritable and a whole load of other stuff too.
Why did starting daily sea swimming make me feel all of a sudden 'alive' again? This is the question that I have thought a lot about. My first thoughts were that it was the cold water that invigorates and refreshes you, plus the exercise, the sea salt, the fresh air and the sunlight. Whatever it was it definitely had a huge positive effect on me, where I would notice very strongly that after going swimming I'd be almost buzzing and this would last for the rest of the day. Then yesterday it came to me. I have thought from the first day I started the sea swimming that the only other time I felt so refreshed and clear headed was when I went on a cycling training holiday to Switzerland with 3 friends. We stayed there at a log chalet high up in the mountains and every morning we'd go for a cycle to the top of the mountain and through the forests. Then in the afternoons we would either go for another long cycle ride or a walk up the mountains. The air was so fresh with zero pollution. I remember vividly that my head felt completely clear, no mucus feeling or congestion at all, my lungs felt great, I was much fitter and felt soooooo healthy. I have always thought that this is the best I've felt in my life and that it was because we were living so far up and the pure clean and fresh air was the reason. So why does the sea swimming I am now doing daily (and sometimes 3 times a day) make me feel similar to how I felt in Switzerland? I've kept on thinking about this because I love the feeling so much after swimming I now need to swim. Then yesterday I figured it out
I had read about negative ions a few years ago and how waterfalls, mountains, woods, forests, the sea, lightening, rain etc created them. At that time I visited some waterfalls near where I live but this didn't seem to have any effect on me so I didn't carry on going regularly. But the sea swimming with all the crashing waves and the act of swimming fast creates huge amounts of splashing so therefore as I am getting quite out of breath during fast swimming I am breathing in huge amounts of negative ions
Also many times I have been to caswell bay and this is one of the favorite spots for surfers because of the huge waves, so this place must be thriving with negative ions. Now I've read about mountains and pine forests and bingo! This is why I felt so great in Switzerland, this is why the sea air is so good for you and this is why I feel so good with daily swimming
One other thing that I have noticed about sea swimming with me, is that often I walk through the woods to get to the beach and I have maybe an aching knee or my back might be in slight pain, but after I have been swimming all pains are gone! I put it down to the exercise and that I also do a lot of stretching in the water, but I am now thinking that it's the negative ions. Even today when I cycled to the beach I had some slight pain in my right hip, but after I had been swimming at 2 beaches and playing in some big surf etc. When I cycled home I had no pain and also felt much fitter/faster on the bike, usually you would get more aches the longer your ride and more tired !
Anyway, I've been reading lots of articles and have copied some of the best bits out
[ a lot of it is repeating itself because they are from different articles]
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Researchers believe that through control of the electrical charges in the air we breathe, our moods, energy level, and health can be markedly improved!
Today, modern homes and offices seal out negative ions. Computer terminals (monitors), fluorescent lighting, forced air ventilation systems, and modern building materials generate an over abundance of positive ions. Positive ions make us feel tired, depressed and irritable.
The worlds most tranquil and refreshing regions are loaded with billions of negative ions. Air near waterfalls, mountains, beaches and forests are among those places where ionization levels are in complete and natural balance.
After a lightning storm, most of us feel invigorated and refreshed. This is because the electrical storm has generated trillions of gloriously tranquilizing negative ions that ease tension and leave us full of energy.
Scientific studies have shown that atmospheres charged with negative ions relieve hay-fever and asthma symptoms, seasonal depression, fatigue and headaches. It's also been shown that negatively ionized atmospheres improve performance of voluntary movement, increase work capacity, sharpen mental functioning, and reduce error rates.
Studies at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute have demonstrated that High Density Negative Ionizers appear to act as a specific antidepressant for patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Remarkable as it may seem, a room charged with negative ions was shown to stem bacteria growth and precipitate many airborne contaminants including pollen, dust and dust mites, viruses, second-hand cigarette smoke, animal dander, odors and toxic chemical
Benefit of Negative Ions
Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. Think mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.
Vitamins of the Air?
Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy. They also may protect against germs in the air, resulting in decreased irritation due to inhaling various particles that make you sneeze, cough, or have a throat irritation.
For a whopping one in three of us who are sensitive to their effects, negative ions can make us feel like we are walking on air.
Ionized Air (Negative Ions)
The action of ocean waves on a beach creates a large number of negatively charged ions, which may be why many people feel better at the seashore. Conversely, exposure to electrical equipment and other sources of positively charged ions is reported to cause poor health in many people. The percentage of the population who is sensitive to the ionization of the surrounding air is not currently known.
Positively charged ions, are detrimental to human health. The unfavorable interactions between humans and positive ions have occurred for millions of years. Folk knowledge has attributed evil effects to certain seasonal winds, which scientists now understand to be highly charged with positive ions.
Although nature produces negative ions, most people don’t live in regions high in naturally occurring negative ions. For those who are bothered by positive ions, a negative ion generator might be a practical remedy for neutralizing the exposure to positive ions.
Ionized air may play a role in allergies. Research suggests that some allergy-provoking substances, such as dust and pollen, have a positive electrical charge. Negative ions appear to counteract the allergenic effects of these positively charged ions on respiratory tissues.1 2 Negative ions also have other beneficial effects for the respiratory system.3 4
Natural Sources
Sunlight, Radiation, Moving Air and Water
Created in nature as air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. You may have experienced the power of negative ions when you last set foot on the beach or walked beneath a waterfall...The air circulating in the mountains and the beach is said to contain tens of thousands of negative ions -- Much more than the average home or office building, which contain dozens or hundreds, and many register a flat zero."
"The action of the pounding surf creates negative air ions and we also see it immediately after spring thunderstorms when people report lightened moods," says ion researcher Michael Terman, PhD, of Columbia University in New York."
Other sources are Plants, Showers "Every home has a built in natural ionizer -- the shower." Beswax Candles
"Beeswax, derived from flowers and bees, is nontoxic, naturally aromatic, and when burned emits beneficial negative ions that actually help purify the air. But beeswax supplies are limited, making it expensive."
Water Fountains
"The small decorative water fountains which cascade or spray are not only visually appealing, but also provide the pleasing sound of moving water."
Binchotan and Bamboo Charcoal
Findings
· "A computer room will have roughly six times as many positive ions as negative ones at the end of the day even if the room was aired in the morning, unless it is aired frequently during the day.
· Binchotan and bamboo charcoals not only dissipate 'hazardous' electromagnetic waves from computer monitors but also generate negative ions. More accurately, the infrared rays emitted constantly from charcoals reduce moisture in the air into fine particles that naturally change into negative ions. This means that a certain amount of moisture must be present in the computer room if charcoal is used to increase the room's negative ion ratio. The ideal degree of humidity in computer rooms is between 45 and 55%. In winter, when houses are heated, the computer room tends to be too dry. Of course, we can install a humidifier capable of controlling the degree of humidity in the air, but a few wet towels may be sufficient.
· In order to keep a room 10 ft x 10 ft (3.2 m x 3.2 m) in an ideal ionic state, we need 9 lbs. (4 kg) of binchotan or 7 lbs. (3 kg) of bamboo charcoal [about $80 US]. According to our charcoal prices, it costs the same whether we use binchotan charcoal or bamboo charcoal.
· An important difference between binchotan charcoal and bamboo charcoal is that the latter tends to break easily as it is a lot more fragile.
· One important thing, however, is that once charcoal is placed in a room, it keeps working forever."
The air quality studied at the site of a waterfall, in the mountains, or after a spring rain showed significant amounts of negative ions. Further research revealed that human beings respond to negative ion levels above 1000 ions per cc.
Scientific research concluded that negatively charged ions have positive effects on living organisms. Plants grow faster and healthier, lab animals are calmed and more able to perform certain tasks, and humans respond with increased alertness and relaxation.
Negative ions aid in increased oxygen intake. Research has been conducted since the 1950's about negative ions and improvement in mood, anxiety, increased cognitive ability, increased energy, reduced depression, and improved sleep, as well as improvement in breathing and air quality. One gets the feeling of alertness and vitality, similar to the feeling we get when we are in a beautiful forest or near a crashing waterfall or breathing crisp, clean mountain air.
After a storm, the air feels clean and fresh. Filled with negative ions.
People often report feelings of pleasantness and well being following an electrical storm. Electrical storms are generally preceded by higher level of positive ions and followed by higher levels of negative ions.
Research has shown that most of us who live, work and travel in closed spaces suffer some degree of negative ion starvation or positive ion overabundance. This has become extremely evident to NASA in their space travel program.
People are spending their lives submerged in an atmospheric ocean of nitrogen, oxygen and a small percentage of other elements, plus the toxins and pollutions of our industrial world. Most urban areas with homes and public buildings of masonry, glass, steel and plastics, built amid mazes of roads, walks and parking lots cause reduction of this healthy electromagnetic "life force" of the air. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Mexico City, Mumbai, Kolkata and many densely populated cities, there may be few or no detectable negative ions at all during heavy traffic and high pollution periods.
The Ion Effect:
Serotonin is a very active neurohormone causing profound nerve, glandular and digestive effects throughout the body. Tests show positive ions increase the production of serotonin and negative ions decrease the hormone level.
The three major effects of positive ion excess are irritation and tension, exhaustion and a hyperthyroid response. The common symptoms of dizziness, headaches, depression, anxiety and a generally lower level of physical and mental function were shown to be alleviated and, in most cases, reversed by increasing the negative ions in the air.
Other Bio-Ionic Effects:
Experiments with plants, growing in an ion-enhanced atmosphere, show marked increase in size and growth rate. Airborne bacteria greatly diminish in number when there is a high negative ion count in the air.
Nature makes Negative Ions
In addition to providing you with a rewarding visual experience, waterfalls may also be beneficial to your health. A person desiring to enhance his body and mind through breathing exercises should do so by a waterfall. In Switzerland a woman who suffered from migraine headaches would often go to a small waterfall on the River Rhone. She would spend between thirty minuets to an hour by the waterfall. "I go there just to breathe. It makes me feel better for hours." Nearly everyone would agree that visiting a waterfall is a stimulating, refreshing and energizing experience.
On average there are 1,500 ions are found in a cubic centimeter (roughly the size of a sugar cube) of fresh air. Of these about 45%, or 675, are negative ions; the remainder being positive ions. At Yosemite Falls in California a reading of 100,000 negative air ions per cubic centimeter was recorded.
Other Sources of Negative Ions
Negative ions can be found in billions, on mountain tops, water falls and by the sea. Radioactive substances in the earth's crust and cosmic rays cause most ionization. But fire, crashing water (like water falls and surf), and plants during photosynthesis can produce negative ions as well. They give the air its invigorating freshness, which is so good for us.
Here are some average sample readings of negative air ions taken in various locations:
(note that the body responds to levels above 1000 ions per cc)
By a waterfall: 50,000 ions per cc. Pure air, very stimulating, exhilarating and relaxing, germs cannot live in this air.
In the mountains: 5,000 ions per cc. Exceptionally fresh, clean and invigorating air, "mountain air
In the country: 1,500 ions per cc. …"Country fresh air,"
Optimum 1,000 ions per cc. the minimum level one should sleep, work and live in
In an average modern office: only 50 ions per cc. ( As you can see - A city office has probably the worst ion balance you can find!)
What are the benefits of negative ions?
Remove bacteria, vitalize our cells, increase the oxygen holding capacity of blood, improve metabolism, improve alertnerss, remove fatigue, boost resistance to disease, have a substantial healing effect on headache, insomnia, constipation, allergy, asthma and more.
Russian Research:
Russian ion scientists studied groups of athletes under laboratory conditions for one month. One group trained with negative ions in the air they were breathing, while another group trained under normal conditions. At the end of one month the results were staggering; The unaided control group had their reaction time shortened by 11 millisecond while the negative ion group was shortened by 22 milliseconds. The unaided control group Increased their balance by 53% - 132% while the negative ion group Increased 370% - 393%. The unaided control group increased their endurance to 7% -24% while the negative ion group increased their endurance 240%, ten times that of the unaided control group.
Negative Ions
Remember that feeling you've experienced near a waterfall or high in the mountains? Those are two places that thousands of negative ions occur. They create an effect on human biochemistry. Ions are molecules that have gained or lost an electrical charge. They are created in nature as air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. The normal Ion count in fresh country air is 2,000 to 4,000 negative Ions per cubic centimeter (about the size of a sugar cube). At Yosemite Falls, you'll experience over 100,000 negative Ions per cubic centimeter. On the other hand, the level is far below 100 per cubic centimeter on the Los Angeles freeways during rush hour. Negative ions were researched by the U.S. Air Force in the 1940's and 50's. Pilots passed out at high altitudes. Air in the plane was tested, and found to be high in positive ions due to the metallic, closed environment of the aircraft. When negative-ion generators were placed in the planes, pilots stayed awake and alert. Certain environments are naturally cleaner and healthier. They contain more oxygen, less pollution, and more negative ions. Negative ions help deliver oxygen to cells and tissue.
The seashore is awash in healthy ions. Woods are also high in oxygen-negative ions, because trees generate negative ions. Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide and other toxic chemicals that create unhealthy positive ions. The more polluted an area, such as a large city with chemical pollution, a lack of trees, and stagnant air, the more positive ions are generated. These electropositive ions create an experience of tension and heaviness, sometimes even depression. Certain winds, the so-called “ill-winds,” actually carry positive ions. Hot, dry winds--"witches' winds," like the Foehn in Switzerland, the Chinook in the American Rockies, and the Mistral in France--rob us of our good senses because they spread positive ions. They can lead to disease and death.
The waves, ocean swells, and offshore breezes make sea air highly beneficial to your health. The actions of the water create negative ions—beneficial electric charges. These charges, brought into the body with the breath, tend to re-energize the whole system. Sea air also contains minerals. They are absorbed into the lungs, freshening and cleansing the tissues. Sea air, wet and pure, helps to relieve inflammation caused by gritty metropolitan pollution. No wonder we feel so good when we're at the beach!
Negative ions are abundant during and after a rainfall. This explains why one usually feels particularly robust at those times. The rainbow seen after a rainstorm is the visual component of the deep sense of relaxation and well-being we feel in large part because of negative ions. Waterfalls also generate rainbows. Water smashing against rocks creates the mist that refracts sunlight into a rainbow. In addition, the breaking up of the droplets generates a high concentration of negative ions. River rapids create negative-ion concentrations through the action of water dashing against rocks and exploding with crashing waves, reversals, and souse holes. The "ion high" experienced by whitewater boaters explains in part the addictive quality of the sport..
part 2 to follow...