A PALM READING OF A PUBLIC FIGURE

I am drawn here firstly to the Fate line and I am looking at the right hand and generally the fate line begins at the base of the palm running up towards the Saturn finger i.e. the middle finger. The line on this palm is quite deep it deviates slightly before continuing  straight again. This would suggest to me there was a career change. There had been a decision made but some event occurred to influence a change. The depth of the line is clear then it stops just past where it crosses the head line and then there is a clear break. Now as I read palms not solely on the lines I use my psychic abilities as well, this suggests an abrupt change where things are never quite the same again. And because this is the fate line it suggests career. Ageing the line I would suggest this comes to play midlife, and suggests early retirement.

Overall looking at the lines on this palm this person is determined and goal driven until this abrupt change where things will never be the same again.

The head line is quite straight suggesting this person needs to feel important and can make challenges more complex than they need to be, this person analyses everything and turns things over in their mind and dwells on things, such as a mere slight can become a huge grudge, when really it was and is a mere slight but it becomes a huge grievance. There is also a break in the line which suggests to me this person can be quite contrary, a bit like an April day calm and still one moment tears/temper stormy the next. There is a lot of a Cancerian personality here and the overall shape of the hand is one of water.

This Heart Line is long and turns up under the middle finger. A person with this long curvy line can be happy one minute and down the next, and it may not be due to what is happening in their relationship. This ties in what I said before with the head line. This person lives in the present tomorrow and the future after that are too far away to be concerned about. Today and right now are the only real concerns and most important things to the person with this hand and prone to being self indulgent. The Saturn finger is quite long where the line ends again tying into the self indulgent and self orientated personality of this person.

The life line appears short and in no way related to how long this person will live but to how they care for others. I want to say indifferent I don’t feel this person can give all of their self to another. Again this pertains to a ‘Me’ person and not physically demonstrative, perhaps not emotionally either. Its strong though so physically their constitution is strong.

The hand isn’t a warm fleshy hand and I’m picking up this person can be cold and indifferent to others. It’s not a rational hand and yet it's not a romantic hand but emotional as with anger and temper. I would say prone to flying ‘off the handle’ at the drop of a hat, this ties into the water/Cancerian aspect of this hand. There are no worry lines either so this person does not sit up at night worrying, there is a detached coldness about this person

The lower Mars mount is prominent suggesting argumentative again coupled with what I’ve already said about this water hand it doesn’t take much to send this person into a rage or aggression.

The thumb is rather flat  where they can have two sides, on one manipulative and instigator for their self.  And the confident exterior of this person can inspire others however the personality they show to the outside is quite different as to how they really are.

Conclusion I would say a ‘Me person’ prone to quick mood changes as in temper and lives very much in the present, not a worrier and doesn’t dwell on the future nor think to much about it. This person can be emotionally cold and indifferent but capable of being manipulative for their own ends as they like to get their own way. I would further say quite difficult to get along with as they feel emotionally cold

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A PUBLIC FIGURE'S PALM READING

Looking at this palm its quite fleshy and its overall look is an Earth hand and suggests to me he is quite fixed and stubborn so my first thought was one of the Earth signs like Taurus, Capricorn or virgo. He doesn’t strike me as a Virgo as they are quite neat and diligent so the choice was between Taurus and Capricorn both are stubborn but where Taureans can be coaxed or given another choice, Capricorns cannot. So I decided to check his birthday and lo and behold hes a Capricorn 3ist December. 

He is decidedly fixed in his ideas and determined and cannot be moved, this is more than stubborn, he has a thought and nothing will change it to the point of annoying everyone around him, he’s thrawn. Where all Earth hands have a stubborn personality, they can be sensual, by that I don’t mean sexy but use their physical senses. They can be practical people and will see a job through to the end, that can be a good thing but that can be a negative thing if they become thrawn.

Because he has an Earth hand he’s very much focused on the material world, he’s definitely not a spiritual person this given his squat thumb can make him greedy for earthly things, material possessions, money and food. This is because of his fixed, single-minded thought pattern and his acquisition of wanting more and more. Saying ‘NO’ to this person will only make him more determined. Overall he has short thick fingers which suggests he doesn’t like taking advice from other people, particularly long fingered people who tend to be more spiritual, altruistic and esoteric. This can make him impulsive due to his heart line capturing his head line. He can commit to something with passion he has not thought through yet be so obstinate and single-minded as to not change his mind because he feels he would loose face to give up

Looking at the lines on his palm he almost has a simian line, he has a strong heart line that has captured his head line his emotional energy will drive him and because his headline is short, there’s not much in the way of logic, emotions will strongly rule every activity.

The Fate line on his palm isn’t clear, its certainly not strong if there at all which positively can suggest a sense of fun but negatively he has a firey core to the point of becoming dangerous if unleashed so it would be best to stay on his good side.

I’ve noticed too that his head line has no space between his life line, this suggests he was close to his family when growing up particularly his mother, he worshiped his mother and this is what he looks for in relationships, as his heart, head and life line all converge. He needs someone to look after him and mother him to the point of taking their advice. It’s almost as if he needs dominating and he would be lost without this in his life and driving him on.

Looking at the mount of Venus on his palm this dictates how passionate we are are (not just sex) but in beliefs, what drives us and his is large and fleshy but interesting there are several straight lines upon it again this points to the emotions and this emotion can drive him on to the impossible and unachievable, unable to back down. It can suggest someone prone to affairs but coupled with his three lines converging this is not the case but conveys strong emotion to a mothering figure. These lines can make him appear plausible and charming but remember the absence of a clear fate line don’t get on his wrong side or he will channel negative emotions and temper instead.

Conclusion this man has a fiery determined obstinate personality, prone to an explosive temper if he feels he is being thwarted  even if he is wrong he won’t back down. He is passionate in his beliefs and this can make him impulsive and this impulsiveness extends to all material things. Yet he needs approval and encouragement from someone who will mother him and once he has an idea he fixes on it and nothing will make him change his mind except the one person who drives him

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

DIVERTICULITIS

Diverticulitis is known as a western disease and extremely common

Diverticulitis occurs when the bulging sacs that appear in the lining of your large intestine, or colon, get acutely infected or inflamed.

The most common and severe symptom is sudden pain on the lower left side of the abdomen.

Drinking plenty of water and eating fibre-rich foods can help you avoid diverticulitis.

Diverticula are bulging sacs or small blisters that appear in the lining of your large intestine, or colon. This condition is called diverticulosis when the sacs first appear but aren’t yet inflamed or infected. When these sacs get acutely infected or inflamed, it’s called diverticulitis.

Diverticula are most common in the large intestine. However, they can develop anywhere in your digestive tract. Pain in the lower left side of your abdomen may indicate diverticulitis, especially when it’s accompanied by rectal bleeding as any rectal bleeding should be checked out by your doctor as there are a number of other conditions that cause this. Diverticulitis is treatable, but it can recur. Diverticulosis and recurring attacks of diverticulitis are the two components of diverticular disease.

Prevention is better than cure

Not eating enough fibre is a common problem in countries where much of the population eats processed foods.
Eating more fibre,  fresh vegetables and bran products can help.

Water is also important most people do not consume enough water is essential for all body processes

Constipation puts strain on your muscles during a bowel movement. Constant strain can increase your risk of developing diverticula in your colon. Once diverticula appear, it’s much more likely that bacterial infections or stool can get into the diverticula and inflame or infect them, causing diverticulitis.

Being obese increases your risk of getting diverticulitis. Studies have shown that a high body mass index (BMI) and waist measurement contributed to diverticular bleeding and diverticulitis.

Regular exercise is important to keep the abdominal muscles toned, this aids digestion and peristalsis i.e passage of food processed through the gut

People aged over 60 are more likely to develop diverticulitis, this could be related to the weakening of the bowels over time.

Symptoms

Sudden pain on the lower left side of the abdomen is the most common and most severe sign of diverticulitis. This pain can get worse over a few days.
Other signs of diverticulitis are:

• abdominal pain and tenderness, usually on the lower left side
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• fever
• gas or bloating
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• rectal bleeding that’s usually bright red

Treatment

Because diverticulitis is an infection in the intestines, your doctor will suggest rest, antibiotics, and sometimes prescribe medication to relieve the pain. Often, the conventional remedy requires several days of bed rest while waiting for the infection to subside. It may be possible to relieve the pain associated with diverticulitis within hours, rather than days. An infection of the diverticula is an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. All bacteria compete for space in the intestinal tract. The more friendly bacteria that are present in the gut, the less prone you are to developing an infection.

Avoid all forms of sugar, even natural sugars as sugar affects the immune system’s response time. Sugar also feeds pathogenic bacteria so its a good idea to take Probiotics especially after and whilst taking antibiotics for antibiotics kill the good bacteria as well as the bad and this can leave an unhealthy balance of bacteria in the gut. Probiotics come in different formats as in capsules taken at mealtimes or as a powder sprinkled onto food and some dairy products has probiotics added to them such as yoghurts.

Eat a diet with your primary source of protein being from fish & vegetables. Stay away from grains, seeds or nuts, as these foods can be hard to digest which results in bloating & gas. Other foods that should be avoided include dairy products, red meat, fried foods, spices, sugar products as well as processed & refined foods. Avoid foods such as celery and corn as these foods contain indigestible roughage and use bran to prevent constipation.

Establish a regular bowel routine by spending at least 10 minutes a day trying to have a bowel movement at approximately the same time.

In rare cases surgery may be needed where parts of the affected intestines require to be removed or an abscess excised

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

OF COURSE REINCARNATION IS REAL

When someone passes over, I prefer this term to death, it is only the physical human body that perishes, the person's mind still exists, with all the personality and foibles that made that person who they are, their character. Everything on earth and in 'heaven' has a vibration, an energy, mediums have the ability to 'tune in' to this vibration and interpret ate it; a bit like turning the tuning dial on a radio to locate a station. After all each radio station has its own wave length and by turning the tuning dial we locate another channel. We know that sound waves exist, we cannot see them, but we know they are there for when we turn on the TV or radio, they are responsible for enabling us to watch and listen to our favourite program. This is exactly what a medium is, we have been gifted this 'tuning dial' that is all.

Of course reincarnation is real I have long believed it, not in the sense that some religions believe that we will come back as other species, but we reincarnate as other humans. There have been too many cases around the world for many decades to simply dismiss it. In my belief as a Spiritualist Medium I know we incarnate many times each time progressing to become more spiritual. 

Before we chose and yes CHOSE! to be incarnated on Earth, we all made our own blueprint of what experiences and lessons we wished to learn. Some of those lessons would not be pleasant but necessary for us to truly understand, compassion, humility and empathy with others. However if we kept the memory clear in our minds, obviously being human we would avoid unpleasant situations, so our memories of our blue print is dulled to our subconscious. Along our life's journey we will meet like minded souls, we will feel rapport with them sometimes other times we will come across the total opposite, some will be part of the blue print to help us achieve the lesson WE OURSELVES planned.

Often we incarnate in the same soul groups, the soul is neither male nor female, and we choose which sex we will be to experience life and views from that perspective. Sometimes in that soul group we may be the father of the son who was the father in the last incarnation to experience life from both sides to gain empathy and understanding. We tend to incarnate in groups so that we learn from one another, and the power of this in action is that we are often drawn to particular people in our lives here. We are often drawn to these souls, on meeting these people we instantly feel a bond, not necessarily of physical attraction, but we feel some sort of unseen force bond at work, for we had planned this meeting before we came here, and we recognise one another on a subconscious level. Remember though it is up to us whether we choose whether to go through the experience, but generally if we delay the process, we will often have to relive these experiences at a later date or another life, for we know instinctively what is best for us. We choose to do this because we have a common goal we wish to grow closer to God and the Universe.

************

Reincarnation 'is REAL as consciousness is contained in the UNIVERSE after death'

REINCARNATION is possible as consciousness is simply energy which is contained in our bodies and is released after death and can find a new host, according to an astonishing theory.

By SEAN MARTIN FROM THE DAILY EXPRESS

GETTY

Dr Jim Tucker set out to prove that reincarnation is real

Dr Jim Tucker spent 15 years interviewing young children who came to have been reincarnated.

For his book, Life After Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives, Dr Tucker interviewed 2,500 youngsters who show signs that they have been reincarnated – such as having memories that they had never experienced or having scars or birthmarks identical to the person that that they have supposedly been reincarnated from.

The psychiatrist from the University of Virginia says that reincarnation is possible thanks to consciousness being energy on a quantum, sub atomic level which is simply contained in our bodies, and not a part of them.

Exactly what consciousness remains a mystery to scientists, with researchers struggling to pin down exactly what it is.

GETTY

Scientists are still unsure as to what exactly consciousness is

According to some well-respected scientists, quantum mechanics allows consciousness to live on following the body’s eventual demise.

Dr Robert Lanza coined the phrase ‘biocentrism’ which is a theory that the consciousness is released into the universe through sub-atomic particles after death.

Dr Tucker has adapted this theory, and says that this stream of energy can find a new host.Speaking to NPR, he said: “Some leading scientists in the past, like Max Planck, who's the father of quantum theory, said that he viewed consciousness as fundamental and that matter was derived from it. 

“So in that case, it would mean that consciousness would not necessarily be dependent on a physical brain in order to survive, and could continue after the physical brain and after the body dies. 

“In these cases, it seems - at least, on the face of it - that a consciousness has then become attached to a new brain, and has shown up as past life memories.”

GETTY

Consciousness can find a new host after death

One of the people he interviewed was a young boy named James Leninger who was “the son of a Christian couple in Louisiana”.

The young boy, who was two years old at the time, was obsessed with his toy planes, and eventually started having nightmares where he was in a plane crash.

Dr Tucker continued: “During the day, he talked about this plane crash and said that he had been a pilot, and that he had flown off of a boat. 

GETTY

Some scientists state that consciousness remains in the universe after death

“And his dad asked him the name of it, and he said Natoma. And he said he had been shot down by the Japanese; that he had been killed at Iwo Jima; and that he had a friend on the boat named Jack Larsen. 

“Well, it turns out that there was an aircraft carrier called the USS Natoma Bay that was stationed in the Pacific during World War II. In fact, it was involved in Iwo Jima. 

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

BECOMING VEGAN, IS IT HEALTHY?

I'm not against anything for I believe in moderation in all things and for some people they have no option but to use soya milk in their diet. One of my own daughters developed a cows' milk sensitivity after a severe viral illness as a toddler and we had no option but to give her soya. As Dr, Nestor Demosthenous says below it is deficient in calcium and to make up for this I had to supplement her diet with sesame seeds which I might add are the richest  source of calcium but I am diversifying. As human beings we are not biologically designed to be vegans.

There might be some advantages of a vegan diet:

It may help lower cholesterol,  One study into Diabetes carried out in 2007 showed that people with Type 2 diabetes who adopted a vegan diet reduced their LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol by 21 percent 

It may help lower blood pressure:  vegetarian eating is linked with decreased risk of death from ischemic heart disease. The report also concluded that people who eat a vegetarian diet tend to have lower LDL levels and less incidence of hypertension and Type 2 diabetes in comparison to non-vegetarians. Further studies need to be carried out for Veganism.

It increases antioxidant intake: Vegan eating usually increases intake of wholesome foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes and whole grains, which are a high source of antioxidants vitamins and minerals, and of course fibre.

There are I would say more disadvantages of a vegan diet:

For eating a vegan diet is a  radical change: eating becomes complicated if you are not allowed to eat certain ingredients

There can be potential interference with existing medical conditions: If you have a condition such as osteoporosis or diabetes, it is essential to get your doctor’s advice and a registered dietitian when starting  a vegan diet.

It can be difficult when dining out: Not many restaurants offer true vegan choices and often confuse Vegans with Vegetarians

 

There is the loss of essential vitamins and minerals: There is evidence to show vegan diets do not contain vitamin B12, an essential nutrient only found in animal products. Though some vegan products do add it as a supplement

Lastly unrealistic expectations: "A person might believe that by becoming vegan they are making themselves healthier but unless you have a good basic knowledge you may be doing the opposite. At the moment there isn’t enough data to state a vegan diet is the healthiest

As with anything in life there has to be a balance to get the best out of your body you have to treat it well, eat a nutritious diet, drink plenty of water, regular exercise and of course give up smoking and avoid exposure to UV light whether it’s from the sun or a tanning bed. The two latter smoking and UV light are the worst culprits for damaging the skin

Article Below is from the DAILY MAIL

Is your soya latte ruining your FACE? Doctor reveals how a dairy-free diet can wreak havoc with your skin and bone structure

• Cosmetic doctor Dr Nestor Demosthenous highlights the pitfalls of going vegan
• Says a lack of calcium - and being exposed to added sugar - can wreak havoc with your skin and even your bone structure if you decided to cut out milk
• Some soya lattes will contain added sugar to match naturally-sweet cows' milk

By UNITY BLOTT FOR MAILONLINE

Each year more and more Brits undertake a virtuous vegan January in pursuit of healthier lifestyle.

But while dairy-free drinks might seem like a great alternative to cow's milk, is your soya latte actually doing more harm than good?

This year, as an estimated 50,000 of us try out 'Veganuary', a leading cosmetic doctor has warned that eschewing animal products can wreak havoc with your skin and even your bone structure.

Scroll down for video 

In some cases, going dairy-free can mean missing out on the regular dose of calcium that many of us get from drinking cow's milk in takeaway coffees, on cereal, and in cups of tea 

Dr Nestor Demosthenous says a lack of calcium - and being exposed to added sugars - are the main culprits.

The aesthetic doctor and specialist in non-surgical procedures, who also works from Harley Street’s PHI Clinic, ran FEMAIL through some of the potential pitfalls going vegan can have on your skin.

ADDED SUGAR 

'If you've gone dairy-free this January and are feeling suitably smug about your soya milk, consider this: soya milk is often sweetened with sugar (up to 12g of it per carton!) to match it to naturally-sweet cows' milk.'

Some soya milk will list 'evaporated cane juice’ as an ingredient which also contains sugar.

'Not only is this not ideal for your teeth or your waistline, but it can have a major effect on your face too,' explains Dr Nestor.

Going for a soya latte? Cosmetic doctor Dr Nestor Demosthenous says a lack of calcium - and being exposed to added sugars - can wreak havoc with your skin and even your bone structure

'Sugar molecules bind to proteins such as collagen in the skin, which causes a loss of firmness and the start of premature wrinkles forming.

'As collagen breaks down, skin becomes less elastic, thinner and drier. We lose our even skin tone. This all contributes to a dull, aged complexion.' 

Dr Nestor adds: 'This lack of collagen can affect the face in different areas. Losing the fullness in the cheeks and forehead is another side effect of the loss of collagen, which usually happens naturally as we age, but can be aggravated and accelerated by external factors.

Dr Nestor is an aesthetic doctor and specialist in non-surgical procedures

'The cheeks can atrophy [waste away] and fall down our face, deepening nasolabial folds and marionette lines, which gives us a sad look to the face.'

Dr Nestor suggests combating these effects by snapping up products containing ingredients like grapefruit oil (such as Ermana's Cleanse Balm) or vitamin C (like ZO Skin Health Ossential C-Bright Serum).

In severe cases, he suggests Botox and fillers as a way to lift the face and give skin a 'youthful boost'. 

LACK OF CALCIUM 

In some cases, going dairy-free can mean missing out on the regular dose of calcium (adults aged 19+ need 700mg a day according to NHS guidelines) that many of us get from drinking cow's milk - in takeaway coffees, on cereal, in that last cup of tea before bedtime.

And this lack of calcium can exacerbate the signs of ageing, according to Dr Nestor. 

'In the same way that our body loses bone density, so does our face,' he explains. 'Eye sockets expand, which makes the eyes look deep set, sunken and tired.

CELEBS GO VEGAN 

This is the fourth official year of the Veganuary campaign and, according to its organisers, it has grown from a mere 3,000 participants in 2014 to around 12,800 in 2015.

Its surge in popularity is due in part to high-profile vegans Beyoncé, Gwyeth Paltrow, Brad Pitt and Ellie Goulding, who have all raved about the benefits of an animal-free diet.

In 2013, Gwyneth famously boasted that she hadn't eaten red meat in 20 years, while Brad Pitt is an ardent animals rights activist. 

'There are two dynamics that happen in the ageing face, which can be exacerbated by dietary choices: bone expansion and bone resorption. We lose bone density in the maxilla and mandible [upper and lower jawbone respectively]. 

'This causes an appreciable reduction in facial height and a moderate increase in facial width and depth.' 

If you're concerned about keeping your jawbone defined and your face looking youthful, Dr Nestor recommends upping your calcium fix and opting for unsweetened milk - but a more extreme solution is to get fillers in the cheek, chin and under-eye area.

However if you've decided on a dairy-free diet, all is not lost: 'Calcium intake can be boosted with plentiful green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and kale, as well as almonds, figs and oranges,' says Dr Nestor. 

'For those who are cutting out major food groups, it's key to replace those lost vitamins and minerals wherever you can, for the good of your health, and of course, for the good of your skin.'

THE BENEFITS OF GOING VEGAN

There may be drawbacks but nutritionist Lily Soutter and Jane Land, the founder of Veganuary - the annual drive for people to try veganism in January - say there are plenty of benefits too.

WEIGHT LOSS

'There is ample research to suggest that vegan diets can be effective for weight loss,' says Lily.

'In one study, those following a vegan diet lost 2.52kg more weight than those following an omnivore or vegetarian diet. But the most interesting aspect of the study was that the vegan diets lead to a greater weight loss than the calorie-controlled diet, despite the vegan groups eating until they were full.

'It is likely that this effect is down to the rich fibre content of vegan diets. Fibre can delay stomach emptying, which balances blood sugar and delays feelings of hunger.'

REDUCED RISK OF CANCER

Jane says: 'Vegan diets tend to be higher in fibre, which decreases the risk of colorectal cancer. In 2015, the World Health Organisation classified the consumption of red meat as carcinogenic to humans. This association was observed mainly for colorectal cancer, but associations were also seen for pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.'

LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE

'High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease,' says Jane. 'In 2012, a cross sectional study in Public Health Nutrition compared the blood pressure of non-vegetarians, semi vegetarians, pescatarians, and vegans. The results showed that vegans had the lowest risk for high blood pressure.'

REDUCED RISK OF ARTHRITIS

'Studies have shown that arthritis suffers who are following a vegan diet may experience less joint pain and swelling,' says Lily. 

LESS LIKELY TO DIE

Jane says: 'A recent study conducted by experts at the prestigious Oxford University's Oxford Martin School have found that by 2050, widespread adoption of plant-based diets would avert 8.1 million premature human deaths every year.'

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

AN ESSENTIAL: ESSENTIAL OIL

LAVENDER A VERY VERSATILE ESSENTIAL OIL

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

Lavender is from the same family as Rosemary and can be used in much the same way as Rosemary in cooking, often used in French and Moroccan dishes, it is relatively easy to grow and has a multitude of uses but here I want to talk about the use of Lavender as an essential oil.

Like all essential oils do not use in pregnancy or breastfeeding and in epilepsy and a known allergy

Lavender is the only essential oil that can be used neat on the skin (its extremely rare for anyone to have a reaction) and very useful to have in the first aid kit for MINOR burns where the skin is unbroken and the appropriate first aid routine as taken place first i.e. placing affected area into cold running water for 20 mins. It helps prevent scaring, its good to apply with a cotton bud on spots (unbroken skin) and insect bites and in fact applied onto pulse spots like the wrists, backs of knees and temples, neck etc. will help avoid being bitten in the first place. However for massage of large areas a 1% dilution for the head and face and 2% dilution for the body in a suitable carrier. If adding lavender to a bath either dilute in carrier oil and if you have no carrier it can be diluted in some milk and added to the bath.

It's one of the most popular of essential oils in Aromatherapy and has been used in healing in one form of another for centuries. Dried lavender bags have been used in time gone by to deter moths and insects in linen drawers as well as to fragrance them. It was used as an antiseptic back in Roman times who used it to cleanse their skin and wounds and the word comes for the Latin "Lavare" meaning to wash. Lavender was also very popular in Elizabethan times and English lavender was cultivated around Mitchum Surrey and now cultivated extensively in Norfolk.

It's properties were discovered or rather re-discovered by the French chemist Gattefosse quite by accident when he burned his hand and having no water to cool it he plunged it into a vat of lavender essential oil, he noticed how well the burn healed with no scaring and so heralded the birth of modern Aromatherapy.

It can lower blood pressure so can make the user feel a bit dull and drowsy so some caution is needed. It has a calming effect on the mind and can help insomnia however only in small doses if too much is used it will have the opposite effect. It's good for muscular aches and strains and beneficial for the respiratory system helping ease catarrh, laryngitis and colds (a couple of drops to some hot water for inhalations). It helps menstrual cramps massaged over the lower back and abdomen. Its good for headaches either a drop neat on the temples or better still added to some tepid water to make a compress to apply across the forehead

On a spiritual level Lavender helps stabilises the physical, etheric and astral bodies therefore induces a calm state of mind and helps dispel anger and soothes the spirit and helps dispel negativity.

There are so many ways to use this valuable essential oil both neat on the skin for spot treatments in dilution for massage and in the bath, as an inhalation, on pillows to help insomnia and in a burner and can be made into a room spray (a few drops of the essential oil added to some water add a drop of liquid detergent this acts as an emulsifier to disperse the essential oil throughout the water and can be placed in an atomiser 

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

Tales of people who believe they have seen an ANGEL

I have a few stories about Angels this one concerns my grandmother

Just as we need Mediums on the earth side, we also need spirits in the spirit realms who can go between just like Mediums do on earth. My grandmother was perfect for this role as she had been a platform Medium herself in the Spiritualist Church. She would tell me as a young girl about many of her experiences and one I remember very well, about the day one of my older cousins was born. 

One of my aunts and her husband stayed with my grandmother and my aunt was expecting her first child. It had been a difficult labor and it was obvious when the baby girl was born something was seriously wrong with the baby. She was floppy and unresponsive and the doctor attending the home birth had told my grandmother he did not expect the baby to survive the night. My grandmother took the baby into her room and placed her in a crib and made her comfortable and everyone expected the baby would not survive. My grandmother woke during the early hours of the morning and looked over at the baby in her crib, she was astounded to see the tiny baby surrounded by angels from tiny cherubs to larger angels all looking down upon my tiny cousin. My grandmother was transfixed by this scene and watched for some time and fell into a deep sleep. She was woken a few hours later by a baby crying lustily and obviously a very hungry tiny baby at that. My grandmother overjoyed took the baby through to her mother crying with joy and called the doctor. The baby was found to be perfectly normal and alert, a completely different little soul as to how she had been the day before.

That story still gives me goosebumps every time I recall it and one of many spiritual experiences and stories from my grandmother and my early years.

ARTICLE BELOW IS FROM THE DAILY MAIL

'I was just lying there then they appeared, two beautiful beings with wings dressed in white': Incredible tales of people who believe they have seen an ANGEL

• Former squadron leader Tom Rounds believes angel saved his life while flying
• Retiree Margaret Jones from Lancashire says an angel touched her in church
• One in ten Britons have seen or heard an angel - double the proportion in 2010
• 39% of women are likely to believe in angels compared to only 26% of men 

From a retiree who felt someone touch her arm, to an RAF squadron leader who heard a call to take action while flying - they both claim to have encountered angels.

And it seems Margaret Jones and former C130 Hercules navigator Tom Rounds are not alone, with one in ten Britons claiming to have seen or heard an angel. 

Ms Jones, 78, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, said she felt an angel by her side 20 years ago when she was singing in the choir at her church with her eyes closed.

Angel experiences: Retiree Margaret Jones (left) felt someone touch her arm while former squadron leader Tom Rounds (right) has told how he heard a call to take action while flying 

As she sang, she said she felt someone touch her arm and hold her hand, adding: ‘I felt the pressure of what seemed like a human hand touching my own.

‘As I was standing on the edge of the choir I assumed that Deborah, who had been playing the organ, had come over to join us; so thought nothing of it.

'The hand then left mine and a few moments later I opened my eyes and was surprised to see Deborah was still sitting at the organ – she wasn’t there beside me.’

After the service, a member of the congregation told her: ‘An angel was here and he was stood next to you Margaret and touched you on your hand.’ 

A few years ago, Ms Jones then also saw two angels standing over her husband Vernie, as he lay asleep in bed - and is adamant she was not dreaming.

She said: ‘I was awake and just lying there then they appeared: two beautiful beings with wings dressed in white. What struck me most was that their hair was golden.

'It shone – they were just beautiful. Then they disappeared through the headboard. This always makes me laugh as it sounds silly, but they really did.’

Ms Jones then woke up her husband and told him. He said: ‘You daft woman, you were dreaming’. Ms Jones replied: ‘I know what I saw and I know I wasn’t dreaming.’

As a C130 Hercules navigator in the 1980s, Squadron Leader Tom Rounds (pictured) had been taking part in a routine low level flying exercise - 250ft above ground level

The figure of one in ten Britons claiming to have seen or heard an angel is double that of six years ago, according to the Bible Society poll revealed by MailOnline.

The survey found that a third of people believe in angels and the same proportion feel they have a guardian angel watching over them. 

Meanwhile Mr Rounds has told of his experiences of an angel while taking part in a routine low level flying exercise - 250ft above ground level.

As a C130 Hercules navigator in the 1980s, he and the highly experienced crew from RAF Lyneham went through Wales and the West Country.

Their flight was plagued with low cloud and rain and it suddenly became impossible for them to see, so at 280mph and 250ft, they were flying blind.

Mr Rounds said: ‘At some point I felt an overwhelming urge to climb the aircraft away from our then height of 250ft. 

'The hairs on my neck stood up. It was almost as though something was screaming in my head to take action immediately.

‘I duly screamed at the pilot to initiate a hard climb and rapid turn left, as I believed our safety was to be had out over the low lying land to our north over the valley’.

Watching over you: One in ten Britons claim to have seen or heard an angel – double those who said the same six years ago, it was revealed today

Just as he yelled at the crew, the radar altimeter - a device which tells the crew the actual height of the aircraft directly above the ground - began shrieking.

Mr Rounds added: ‘We knew at that point that we were now less than 250ft from the ground despite the aircraft attitude being at over 50 degrees, banked to the left, and climbing. We were now flying parallel to the northern slope of the mountain.

‘We then watched mesmerised as the indicated height on the radar altimeter continued to fall and reached at just 50ft - where it stayed.

‘I absolutely believed the plane was about to crash straight into the mountainside and that I had now consigned us, as a crew, to the statistics book of another RAF aircraft lost on a training sortie.’

He added: 'Was that my guardian angel who spoke to me urging I take immediate action? I don't suppose I shall really know for certain but during a quiet moment, I like to believe it was.'

Some 39 per cent of women are likely to believe in angels compared to 26 per cent of men - but roughly the same proportion say they have seen or heard one. 

The Bible Society figures, revealed by MailOnline today, also show that the one in three people who believe in angels has stayed consistent over the past six years.

But you are far less likely to have seen or heard an angel if you are aged over 75, despite that group being more likely to believe in angels than at any other age.

Looking into the light: A third of people believe in angels and the same proportion feel they have a guardian angel watching over them, according to the Bible Society poll

Meanwhile angels are not limited by geography, with a similar proportion of people experiencing angels across Britain.

A Bible Society spokesman said: ‘Of course, there will be many who say it is people’s “imagination or wishful thinking”.

‘But Bible Society believe it’s hard to argue that one in ten people, in this country, claim to have experienced an angel.

‘The Bible makes it very clear angels exist and so, it seems, do people in 21st century Britain.

‘Bible Society believes it is very difficult to argue with those who claim to have experienced an angel and say what they have seen, heard or felt is wrong or a product of their own imagination.’

This research forms part of the Pass it On campaign, which encourages parents and young children to engage or re-engage with Bible stories.

The poll was conducted for the Bible Society by ICM, which interviewed an online sample of more than 2,000 adults across Britain in August.

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