Category Archives: Plant uses

Spring – God’s Therapy

Posted on by under Encouragement, Herbs, Love, Mankind's Faults, nature, Plant uses, renewal

Someone recently told me I needed to go to therapy to work through some issues in my life. And no doubt, they are right. But, having a degree in counseling psychology, I’ve conducted therapy and I’ve participated in therapy and it is an exhausting process. If one can survive the initial stages where the baggage starts to fall off, and the weight begins to lift, it can be quite renewing, however. 

But, if someone cannot get past this initial stage, it can bring on depression and other physical and mental maladies. That is where they must continue with the process, even when it gets painful, and it can be very painful at times.

I recently told someone, who suggested I needed some therapy, that I knew all about it and didn’t have the time or mental energy for it at that moment. It was then I realized that springtime is my therapy. I love the warm days and sun hitting my back as I bend over my garden and admire the renewal of things, from baby birds to insects, to the lush green of my strawberry plants coming into bloom, or the loads of white blooms on my blueberry plants. Surrounding all this, the birds are swooping and flying back and forth as they build their nests to raise their babies. The bluebirds have returned to our bluebird house and already have a flock of babies they work non-stop to feed all day. Others, like the goldfinches, titmice, wrens, and others are working on getting their new nests set up and bringing nuts and other goodies to their new hatchlings. 

Even the flowers take on a new life of amazement. All of it fascinates me. It is so intricately detailed and unique, that each and every species is created differently and to God’s specifications. I gaze at the beauty of it all and know there is a God who is watching over all, there is not a bird that hits the ground that He doesn’t know about. If He cares for the birds and other animals, how much more does He care for me? And, that is my therapy, reveling in God’s creation, its beauty, its preciseness, its uniqueness and all made with His design. And, if creation in this fallen world which is full of sin and bad things can be so wonderful, how much better will it be when we get to the ultimate, perfect creation, spending eternity with God in His perfect world. What a joy that will be!

Conspiracy Theories – Everywhere?

Posted on by under authors, Big Pharma, Conspiracy, drug testing, empathy for characters, Health Care, Health Care Practitioners, Herbs, medical research, Plant uses, Prescription Medications, writing

Admittedly, I love conspiracy stories; either in book form or big screen. I can’t seem to get enough of them, so I guess it’s not surprising that is my favorite writing genre. With a very divisive election behind us and polarized masses, I think it has become even easier to envision a conspiracy on any number of levels.

So what makes for a good conspiracy? I believe it must have components that the reader can either relate to, or believe could be easily set in motion. Simply, it is taking something from our everyday lives and giving it a sinister shading or background.

My personal area of interest is the field of medicine. Given this, there is a lot of potential fodder in that category. There are the cries against GMO’s, chemical alterations in plants, added substances to food items, the growth of Big Pharma, and testing on pharmaceuticals that may not be totally ethical. My novel, Against Their Will dealt with ethical treatments and practices on unsuspecting patients.

There is also the component of money in medicine. Corrupt practitioners who may push a treatment on a patient, not for the best interests of the patient but more for the financial or other benefit of the practitioner is one area with potential. Other possibilities could include harvesting organs for the black market, or even the legitimate market but with non-legitimate means. Just think of motivating factors to obtain the end result, money or power, and you’ve got a story in the making.

Power and money are just two examples of motivators for characters. What other things could define your character and provide motivation for them? Is it love? Or, acceptance, or even hate that pushes someone into action?

The blank page is your canvas so they say. But sometimes we need a nudge to put something on that canvas. Think of what motivates you and what you would be willing, or even unwilling to do? There you have a beginning for a new character!

Happy writing, everyone!

Emerald Beach a novel by Nancy Livingstone

Against Their Will by Nancy Livingstone

 

 

 

 

We have so much right at our fingers. Do we know or care?

Posted on by under Healthy Living, Herbs, Mankind's Faults, medical research, medicine, Natural Cures, Natural Healing, Plant uses, Research, Uncategorized

What some call weeds, others call medicine.

What some call weeds, others call medicine.We have been blessed with so much, not just the material things in our lives, but the things Nature has given us.

We have been blessed with so much, not just the material things in our lives, but the things Nature has given us.

Those in past generations knew about some of the naturally occurring medicines provided by nature; things such as berries, roots, bark, leaves, etc. But as humankind advanced and began to make our own medicines, it became very convenient to forget about what was given to us by Nature.

Today, there seems to be a rising awareness as to the bounty of natural substances that are ready and waiting to be discovered and used. New interest is growing in the use of herbs, nuts, various plants, trees, and shrubs to cure, heal and even enhance our lives. Books are proliferating on shelves that discuss and dissect the entire topic of herbal and natural healing.

When our world was created, we were given all we would ever need to survive. But, we were challenged to discover and perfect our knowledge on our own. All the medicines to overcome the frailties inherent in our species were provided, but cloaked or hidden in various plants or in nature itself. This is a great thing to realize we have it all, but mankind is too often blinded by his or her overblown sense of self.

Those with determination, the will and the ability can study and learn how to use these medicines and how best to harness their power. Win-win, right? Not necessarily. Humans aren’t perfect and our inner core screams out to take care of self first. From there it is a slippery slope into outright deviation from doing good, to just doing what is best for the self. I think we all have a point of corruption. Given enough rope, (some need more than others) we would all hang ourselves. Given no boundaries to stop us, we would all eventually self-destruct, all in the pursuit of self pleasure.

In Against Their Will, scientists have discovered a natural substance in pine rosin that shows promise to cure many diseases and even enhance the human life. They develop a series of compounds that can cure multiple dreaded diseases, change personality traits and even give extraordinary longevity to humans. Sounds great, right? Sadly, these wondrous discoveries fall into greedy hands and are manipulated to serve selfish interests, not the greater good.

Should the abuse by some cancel the good that is done by others? That is the question, both in my book and in life. If seeing how this dilemma is played out in one scenario, read the book Against Their Will. If you’re interested in learning about some of the valuable plants that can benefit your life, read more at the following Healthy Holistic Living