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The website of Author/Writer and Psychic Medium Astrid Brown. Making the most of 'YOU' i.e. how to achieve well-being and beauty from within ourselves. A truly holistic blog providing information on all aspects of psychic mediumship, spiritualism, philosophy, holistic therapies, nutrition, health, stress, mental health and beauty with a little bit of Wicca for good measure. Feeling and looking good is as much a part of how we feel inside as the outside.

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I am a great believer in Karma, but just what is it? Karma comes from the Sanskrit and ancient Indian Language with the underlying principal that every deed in our lives will affect our future life. For example, if we treat others badly during our lifetime we will have negative experiences later on in that lifetime or in future lifetimes. Likewise, if we treat others well we will be rewarded by positive experiences.

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FIND ME ON BARNES & NOBLE

FIND ME ON BARNES & NOBLE
ASTRID BROWN

Tuesday 21 January 2014

AN EXCERPT FROM MY NOVEL "A PSYCHIC AFFAIR"

AVAILABLE AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE AND MOST OTHER OUTLETS


 A Novel


John and Maryann live 5142 miles apart, in different countries, they've never met physically however this doesn't stop them having an intense and intimate relationship, the difference is, their relationship is on a different level, it's conducted psychically. What happens next, is romantically intense, intriguing and hilariously funny at times.

From the Author

There is a glossary at the rear of this book to aid understanding of Mediums/Psychics and how they work. Although I am a Spiritualist/Medium/Psychic, my goal is not to impose my views and the meanings behind them. Whether you believe some incidents are possible or not, just be open minded. This is a love story and includes some of the characters concerned. I like to think of it as a kind of hybrid. Any resemblance to any real person living or dead or names, dates or places is purely coincidental as this book is a work of fiction.

From the Inside Flap

"It was a very special moment for John's spirit was awakening and he was opening up, I had touched and resonated with his soul. It was more than just cyber sex, more than making love with someone you loved, it was blending souls as soul mates do and it was an incredible moment for the two of us. We both cried beautiful happy tears"
A Psychic Affair 



5.0 out of 5 stars What an Amazing Read :-), January 15, 2014
I found this book totally drew me in and couldn't wait to get to the next page to see what was going to happen!

Brilliant book - a must have read :)

BELOW FROM BARNES AND NOBLE

Great read, it's not the usual romantic novel it's a bit of a cross genre

Great read, it's not the usual romantic novel it's a bit of a cross genre being informative and paranormal but it had me hooked, I would love it if the author wrote a sequel as I would love to know how the characters relationship goes I do hope the author does
Sarah65

Amazing read and was engrossed until I finished reading this book

Amazing read and was engrossed until I finished reading, this book is more than a novel it helps understand the psychic's world and has such depth of feelings
Stella Matthews

 
Chapter Nine “I don’t know what to say”

Just when I thought everything was so wonderful, and this happens all to often in life, something changes and turns everything around. John told me Janet seemed much better, he had been spending time with her and getting her out with the house and having both Janet and her little girl around to use his pool. Natalie was also spending time with her.

It was mid October by this time and John always chatted to me every day and left off-lines or  comments, somehow and I knew something was up, he was quiet and evasive. He was not his normal self. I asked him what was wrong, he told me nothing. I knew this was not true, I felt it; I sensed it there was something definitely wrong. Natalie came online and we started chatting:

natalie30
“Hello Maryann”

ME
“Hello there”

natalie30
“Hi have you just been chatting with my brother by any chance?”

ME
“Yes, a moment ago why lol?”

natalie30
“How did he seem to you?”

ME
“A bit down”

natalie30
“OK”

ME
“He said he didn’t have a good evening, are you worried about him?

natalie 30
“I wanted to know how he would have been with you on here that’s all. I am a bit”

ME
“He won’t talk much about it, he says it’s okay now but I sense he’s a bit down, that’s the trouble with being a medium, I sense too much.

natalie30
“Did you ask him about it?”

ME
“No, he won’t talk about it, so no point in asking him”

natalie30
“Yes John doesn’t like to talk too deep sometimes”

ME
“Yes, I know”

natalie30
“Especially if he is upset”

ME
“Oh I know he was very upset”

natalie30
“Do you really know what is wrong?”

ME
“Well, I know it will be to do with Janet most likely”

natalie30
“I was not sure if he would have told you about Janet”

ME
“Oh he has”

natalie30
“I am a little surprised, John doesn’t like talking about it, but it’s good that he has told you”

ME
“Well, I have shared things with him too”

natalie30
“I need to talk to him properly, I will make sure he is okay”

ME
“I know it’s causing him distress”

natalie30
“He had a hard night, I got the call at the end of it. Has he really told you everything?”

ME
“Well, we have been chatting since February”

natalie30
“Oh that’s been a while now, I didn’t know that. I wasn’t aware of you until a couple of months ago. He has been very hurt but things are slowly getting better”

ME
“Yes, I know we have compared notes”

natalie30
“I don’t know what to do with him lol, he can get so fragile at times”

ME
“I know, he’s an Aquarian like me and stubborn and tenacious lol”

natalie30
“Well, I will talk to him but I don’t want to upset him. I know what his problem is, it’s just getting him to deal with it. Maryann will you be on messenger later?”

ME
“Most likely why?”

natalie30
“I have to go for now but if you want I will come on here later and talk to you about this”

ME
“OK well I shall be on chat later Natalie well I want to help him yes”

natalie30
“Yes, I know you do, that’s very obvious to me. I can tell that you care for him”

ME
“He’s been a good friend to me too”

natalie30
“Yes, I hope so. May I ask a favor of you?”

ME
“Yes, of course”

natalie30
“Don’t say we have chatted about this, he wouldn’t like what we have been discussing. I will come back later and if he is around here again let me know how he is”

ME
“OK thanks Natalie you take care now”

natalie30
“You too Maryann, chat soon”

I could tell, what had happened must have upset him deeply and it was obvious that his sister to whom he was so close was concerned, yet he had not said too much to her and she was trying to find out. I didn’t want to say what I felt had happened, being a psychic you know too much and it was not my place to discuss this with his sister even if they were very close

natalie30
Hello Maryann
“How are you, have you spoken to John today?”

ME
“No, I haven’t”

natalie30
“Has he not been on?”

ME
“No not to me why how is he?”

natalie30
“I went round there last night like I said and he is not too good I have to say”

ME
“But no I don’t know how he is, what did he say?”

natalie30
“Yes, I found out everything”

ME
“Yes, I know too

natalie30
“I take it he told you about it?”

ME
“Yes, he did”

natalie30
“Well, we just spoke about it for a while”

ME
“Did it help him?”

natalie30
“I don’t think so he is confused”

ME
“Did he say why?”

natalie30
“He doesn’t know what to do, he said you’re angry with him lol”

ME
“And he said that? Why would I be angry with him?”

natalie30
“I have no clue”

ME
“I am certainly not at all can't think where he got that from. He actually said that?”

natalie30
“He was talking so fast but yes he said that. I had to tell him to take a deep breath and slow right down. I knew it was coming, just a matter of time?”

I wasn’t angry with John, I don’t think I ever could be I just loved him warts and all. We are all human, our time on earth is for learning and we all make mistakes, but it’s only from making mistakes that we learn

Eventually after a few days where he hardly said a thing, he told me what was up. Janet and the little girl had been round at his place one evening for dinner and they had been laughing and talking about old times. Janet started to cry and John tried to comfort her by hugging her. She sobbed she wanted the old times back, she wanted John back. He was hugging her and trying to comfort her he told me, when one thing led to another and he denied going all the way making love to her, he stopped in time, perhaps that may have been due to Janet’s little girl waking up or perhaps maybe he really did stop himself in time. I wasn’t there I only had John’s word for it.

john_jack01
“I will understand if you want to break it off and you hate me now”

ME
“I just don’t know what to say here”

john_jack01
“I didn’t mean to do it, I’m sorry, it just happened”

ME
“I don’t know what I am thinking and feeling right now, we had a deal you and I we both promised if our feelings changed we would be honest with one another”

john_jack01
“I know baby I am so very sorry, but I will understand if you don’t want to hear from me again”

ME
“Is that what you want? You want me to go and get back with Janet?”

john_jack01
“No, it’s not what I want, I don’t want her back, we have a history, we talked after it happened and both agreed it was a mistake”

ME
“I am glad you told me”

john_jack01
“I don’t want to loose what we have. I am so sorry. It shouldn’t have happened”

ME
“You know I have told you so many times I am not like anyone else I love you unconditionally, I love you enough to let you go. If that is what you want?”

john_jack01
“I don’t want to loose you I love you Maryann, you are so special to me”

ME
“Then you wont. I love you too Baby”

john_jack01
“I've made you very unhappy with what I did, I expect you to be angry”

ME
“I'm not angry, I was so sad, but you see, I love you spiritually, I love you unconditionally, I love, all of you, the good and the bad and I love you so much so, enough to let you go if it made you happy. Baby do you think me strange?”

“john_jack01
“No, I don’t”

ME
“But you must admit I am different”

john_jack01
“Sometimes Baby lol, but not really, I don't deserve you”

ME
“I know but you're stuck with me lol, being an Aquarian I am known for my tenacity lol I have missed you”

john_jack01
“Baby I have missed you too and I love you Baby”

We made love a bit difficult perhaps to imagine where you are thousands of miles apart, we cammed and talked about what we were doing to one another, it was so intense, so real then John said the strangest thing, perhaps he was beginning to feel spirit in the way I could.

john_jack01
“Baby it's so strange, there you are sitting naked in front of me, but I am seeing you through different eyes. You are beautiful not just physically but it's almost as if I can see your soul, it's so strange and weird and I don't know how to word what I am trying to say here, you are just radiant and glowing, I don't know what I am seeing. It feels as if you are really here with me and you and me are sort of one, blended together. I have never felt this before ever not even with Janet”

ME
“Shshsh! Baby you don't have to say anything, for I sense and know what you are sensing, knowing, seeing and feeling for you are seeing my soul and not the physical me”

It was a very special moment for John's spirit was awakening and he was opening up, I had touched and resonated with his soul. It was more than just cyber sex, more than making love with someone you loved, it was blending souls as soul mates do and it was an incredible moment for the two of us. We both cried beautiful happy tears.

A BOUND HEART

Love binds fast
Hopelessly tied
Unable to break the chain
Fate plays a cruel trick
My soul is bound

I cannot be freed
T'is a sweet pain
The ache is deep
And twists and turns
In my heart

It had been a difficult time, if I had any sense I would have walked away. I could not make rhyme or reason why I loved this man. I just knew I did. I knew this was a different kind of love, not the physical kind that begins with lust but it really was on a deeper level, and this was spiritual love where you wanted a kindred spirit to be happy. Where you want the best for them so much so you will do anything to see them smile. It is the kind of love a mother has for her child, the kind of love one sibling has for another, for a best friend and for a lover all wrapped up and bound in one package. Its very unselfish, non judgmental, no conditions attached, no hidden agendas, totally unconditional love: this is spiritual love.

Angel was still leaving comments asking him to come over to her classroom, quite deliberately I knew she was only leaving these comments to try to upset me and frantically posting new pictures, supposedly out partying with friends. Again, there was something odd about these pictures.
Natalie told me not to worry about Angel, she had known her for years, she was a gold digger, she also said she didn't have a high opinion of her and John knew she did not like her.

John was very attentive after that; he was pleased I had given him another chance and things settled down. In November, he decided he was going to put his house up for sale. It had been Janet’s and his home and it was time to move on. He told me first before Natalie. Angel was last to know; I did find that amusing as he posted the announcement on his page and that was how she found out about it.

It was not too long before he found a new place and sold the other one. John was also worried what Janet might say and he told me, when he told her she was upset, but it was time for him to move on. John told me he would not have internet access for a few days until he had that connected but not to worry and Natalie passed on messages back and forth between us during this time.

I was really beginning to write poetry during this time, it happened by chance I would look for poems to try to express my love for John and couldn’t find anything that conveyed it so I began to write many of which you see in this book.


ENTWINED

Your eyes begged pleadingly
How could I resist their longing
And their teasing, their seducing
Your lips tasted of red wine
As they met mine
By now I was intoxicated
In your gaze, I was powerless
Your hot tongue made me sizzle
As it trailed from my undressed shoulder
Finding its way
To taste the sweetness of my desire
I could not resist your seduction
You drank in my passion
My back arched in ecstasy
As you demanded my body
I gave
More and more you stole my soul that night
I pleaded for the mercy of release
When at last
You took me to a place I had never been
And set me free
Hearing the screams of passion in some distant place
Your eyes melted with mine
Entwined

Things were still much stressed at work as well as having my own marking of assignments in my subjects I was helping mark The Caterpillar's and The Walrus’s assignments. There was a great deal of inconsistencies in the marking and there was a growing amount of unrest amongst the students. In all the time I had been at the college, I had trained as a therapist myself here and come back as a tutor, I never felt so unhappy. The college used to have such a lovely family atmosphere it did no longer, what had been a joy, and pleasure to go to work was becoming one long chore. Again I spoke to the principal and it was almost as if she had disowned the place. Perhaps if she had appointed someone ultimately in charge that knew what she was doing, things would have been better.

I was so glad for the Christmas break, there was so much bitching and bickering amongst the staff by now and I knew it was going to be very stressful with the coming exams in January. The principal had stated she wanted the exam papers prepared in good time and we all had to work together on them. Alas, she needed to reiterate that to a certain pair of tutors. There were also falling numbers for the new intake I guess past students were spreading the news what the college had become and it was common knowledge within the beauty industry potential employers were unhappy with the standard of beauty therapists from the college. There was a sickness within the building and I tried to tell my boss on so many occasions what the problems were but she refused to listen. I tried so much to help her, I had built up the Complementary therapies and it had brought her in a great deal of money and many students were keen to join my classes as my students always had a high pass rate in the external exams. It was sad to see this happen to a college I loved.


 FROM AMAZON

FROM BARNES AND NOBLE






Saturday 11 January 2014

AT LAST MY 22ND BOOK AND FIRST NOVEL 'A PSYCHIC AFFAIR'


 Finally at last my 22nd book 'A PSYCHIC AFFAIR' has now been published and will slowly filter to retailers and sites over the next few weeks and is available in paperback and kindle formats. I hope you will enjoy it as its a novel with a twist!



List Price: $14.00
6" x 9" (15.24 x 22.86 cm)
Black & White on White paper
300 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1494935740
ISBN-10: 1494935740
BISAC: Fiction / Romance / Paranormal

A Novel

John and Maryann live 5142 miles apart, in different countries, they've never met physically however this doesn't stop them having an intense and intimate relationship, the difference is, their relationship is on a different level, it's conducted psychically. What happens next, is romantically intense, intriguing and hilariously funny at times.




Friday 10 January 2014

TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT?

A lot of people go wrong due to portion sizes as it can be laborious having to constantly weigh food, well this article from the DAILY MAIL explains the Hand Diet

Trying to lose weight? Try the HAND DIET:  Measure food portions using just your fingers, thumbs and palm

  • A portion of meat should be no bigger than the palm of your hand
  • Carbs such as pasta should be no bigger than a clenched fist
  • A serving of butter is the size of a fingertip, cheese less than two fingers
  • Recent research found portion sizes have doubled in 20 years
  • Many people eat FIVE times the recommended serving of pasta, for example

If you like to pile your plate high, then this revealing graphic is likely to depress you.  But it could also help you lose weight on the so-called 'hand diet'.
It shows exactly how much of certain foods we should be eating - and it's probably a lot less than you think.
Experts say that a lack of portion control is one of the main reasons so many of us are overweight - with many of us eating way more than we should be.
Experts say that a lack of portion control is one of the main reasons so many of us are overweight - with many of us eating way more than we should be
Experts say that a lack of portion control is one of the main reasons so many of us are overweight - with many of us eating way more than we should be


For instance, a portion of meat should be no bigger than the palm of your hand - and carbs no bigger than a clenched fist.
When it comes to butter, the maximum amount you should be spreading on a slice of bread is the size of a finger tip.
The information comes from the website Guard Your Health.
The American Cancer Society says that many of us regularly eat way bigger portions than we should - for example, up to five times the recommended portion size of pasta.
Research has continually shown that when bigger portions are served, we eat them, because of the 'must clear plate' mentality.

HOW NORMAL PORTION SIZES LOOK

•    1 oz. meat: size of a matchbox
•    3 oz. meat: size of a deck of cards or bar of soap -- the recommended portion for a meal

•    8 oz. meat: size of a thin paperback book

•    3 oz. fish: size of a cheque book

•    1 oz. cheese: size of 4 dice

•    Medium potato: size of a computer mouse

•    2 tbs. peanut butter: a ping pong ball

•    ½ cup pasta: size of a tennis ball

•    Average bagel: size of a hockey puck

Source: American Cancer Society
Even a decade ago, researchers at New York University's Department of Nutrition and Food Studies found that food portions were consistently larger than in previous years.
They found that cookies were as much as seven times standard portion sizes, while muffins weighed in at over three times standard portion sizes.
In their book, The Gastric Mind Band, Martin and Marion Shirran provide eye-opening examples of how portion control can make a huge difference to the waistline.
They say: 'Spread butter on your toast, but be aware that a teaspoon of ­butter (enough for a thin layer) is 37 ­calories, but a ­tablespoon (a ­generous covering) is three times as much (111 calories).
'Put dressing on your salad, but learn to weight the vinegar in favour of the oil. A teaspoon of oil may be 45 ­calories, but a tablespoon is 135. That one extra tablespoon of oil every day amounts to a stone weight gain over a year.
'Switch to sweetener in your tea or ­coffee. Cutting out two spoons of sugar in your tea three times a day creates an annual calorie deficit of 37,000 calories, which could be enough to shed more than 11lb.

What portion sizes look like

Kathleen Zelman, Director of Nutrition for the health website WebMD, has drawn up another way to manage portion sizes
Kathleen Zelman, Director of Nutrition for the health website WebMD, has drawn up another way to manage portion sizes


'Have ice cream occasionally, but just one scoop (about 150 calories) and never eat it straight from the tub. Enjoy a few nuts with a drink, but stop at one or two (a small 4oz bag will set you back 600 calories).'
Kathleen Zelman, Director of Nutrition for the health website WebMD, has drawn up another way to manage portion sizes.
For example, she says that a pancake should be no bigger than a CD, a bagel should be the size of a can of tuna and a serving of mayonnaise the size of a poker chip.
A serving of chocolate should be the size of a dental floss package, a portion of hummus the size of a golf ball and a three-cup serving of popcorn the size of three baseballs.
Late last year the British Heart Foundation (BHF) warned that Britain’s supermarkets are ‘out of control’ when it comes to portion sizes.
Bagels have increased in size by 24 per cent in the last 20 years
Chicken Korma and rice, Sainsbury's
Bagels have increased by 24 per cent in the last 20 years, while a curry ready meal is 53 per cent bigger



Despite the deepening obesity crisis portion sizes continue to rise, and are now double the size they were in 1993.
An average chicken curry and rice ready meal is now 53 per cent larger than in 1993, and a shepherd’s pie meal is about double the size.
Crumpets and garlic bread are from 20 to 30 per cent bigger now, while an average bagel has increased in size by 24 per cent.
To gain a pound in weight, a person need only consume an additional 3,500 calories and the massive increase in portion sizes explains why so many people are unwittingly putting on excess pounds.
As well as fuelling the growing obesity problem, the BHF said that oversized food portions were also contributing to heart disease, currently the UK's single biggest killer.









Tuesday 7 January 2014

MIGRAINE


Raising the profile of migraine today, most people assume it's just a headache, but if you have ever really suffered from it you will know there is a big difference to this debilitating ailment. Many work and school hours are lost due to migraine and it's often dismissed as an excuse for absence by ignorant people, believe me you would not wish to suffer from it. In this article below from THE DAILY MAIL, it explains silent migraine, but migraine doesn't just attack the blood vessels in the head but also the abdomen and often this is the first indication a child will go on to suffer the more usual symptoms of migraine later on. Some adults are affected by both and and some with all three types. 

I myself suffer from all three since my teens but I've never let it rule my life and know what my triggers are, so I can avoid them, (stress, cheese, chocolate and red wine the most common) For me homoeopathy when it was severe and recurrent helped me enormously and before you dismiss that as a placebo effect, homoeopathy works very well on babies, small children and animals who are incapable of being placated by placebos. There are many treatments available so do not put up with it speak to your doctor who can refer you a specialist to give you the correct diagnosis and help you manage this debilitating condition. If you think you suffer from migraine have it confirmed as it simply is not just a headache

They don't give you a headache - but 'silent migraines' can be even more shattering

  • Rachel Paskin, 42, from Aldridge, suffers from silent migraines - auras
  • Rarely has headache but bright, flashing line appears across her eyes

Rachel suffers from aura migraine, which causes her vision to partially disappear for about 20 minutes
Rachel suffers from aura migraine, which causes her vision to partially disappear for about 20 minutes


Rachel Paskin has suffered from migraines for almost 30 years but rarely has a headache. Instead, a bright, flashing line appears across her eyes, causing her vision to partly disappear.
The 42-year-old has suffered up to five such attacks a day, severely affecting her work and ability to drive.
What she experiences is known as a silent migraine - a type of migraine that comes without the severe headache typically associated with the condition.
Instead, those affected experience visual  disturbance, co-ordination problems, and pins and needles (symptoms known as migraine 'aura').
'The first time it happened I was about 14 and thought I was having a stroke or going blind - it was terrifying,' says Rachel, a Birmingham City University administrator who lives with her husband Neil, 44, a heritage building restorer, in Aldridge, West Midlands.
She saw an optician, who reassured her there was nothing wrong with her eyes, but after doing her own research she realised what was causing her symptoms.
She put up with the silent migraines and realised she would feel OK again after they passed, usually after about 20 minutes - although during that time she couldn't see properly and her co-ordination was compromised.
On average, she had about five attacks a year but two years ago she started having the attacks four or five times a day so she sought medical help. In the aftermath, she felt 'spaced out' and tired for a few hours.
Migraine aura can have a wide range of different symptoms, including seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines and blind spots, stiffness or a tingling sensation in the neck, shoulders and limbs, problems with co-ordination, difficulty speaking, and occasionally loss of consciousness.
Aura often strikes just before a crippling headache, which usually sets in under an hour after the aura finishes. 

 Experiences of aura varies. Some people never have a headache, and just experience aura, while others will initially  experience just aura symptoms, but then go on to experience severe headaches.

Some people's migraines change as they age, so the headache can fade, while the aura remains. 
Around a third of the eight million people in the UK who suffer from  migraines experience the symptoms of aura, with an estimated 1 per cent - around 80,000 - having silent migraines, according to the Migraine Trust.
However, the real number may be much higher, suggests Dr Mark Weatherall, a consultant neurologist at Charing Cross Hospital, London. He believes silent migraine cases are significantly under-reported, as many people will experience them infrequently and not seek help.

190,000

The estimated number of migraine attacks that occur every day in the UK
But he warns it is important to rule out other causes if the symptoms suddenly start, particularly in the over-60s, as such symptoms are also linked with stroke and a detached retina (when the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye detaches from blood vessels, potentially causing blindness).
'It can even be difficult for a healthcare professional to tell the difference between the symptoms of a stroke and a  prolonged attack of aura,' he says.
Indeed, people experiencing silent migraine for the first time often dash to A&E or their GP practice, frightened they are having a stroke - that's because they don't also have the headache symptom that might suggest it's a migraine, says Dr Andrew Dowson, director of headache services at King's College Hospital, London.
'Auras can be worrying,' he adds.
The key point is that migraine aura symptoms develop relatively slowly, and then spread and intensify, while stroke symptoms are sudden, according to the Stroke Association.
Migraines also involve acquiring symptoms, such as seeing flashing lights - stroke is characterised by losing abilities, such as muscle strength or speech.
It's important to get the correct diagnosis of migraine with aura as it's linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart problems.
Auras can happen without any of the traditional pain associated with migraine, but are distressing
Auras can happen without any of the traditional pain associated with migraine, but are distressing


A 15-year study into the health of 28,000 female health professionals at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in the U.S. found migraines with aura were the second highest risk factor for heart attack and stroke, after high blood pressure.
A review of 25 studies published in the British Medical Journal in 2009 found risk of stroke for people with migraine with aura was twice as high as the rest of the population, while there was no extra risk for those with migraine without aura.
For women with aura the risk of stroke was double that of men with aura.
And a French study found that women who suffered migraine with aura who took the contraceptive Pill had a 16 times greater risk of stroke; if they smoked as well it led to a 34 times higher risk.
For this reason, women with aura should not be on the combined Pill and should stop smoking, says Dr Fayyaz Ahmed, a consultant neurologist at Hull Royal Infirmary.
'Attacks of migraine aura can cause a lack of confidence in leaving the home, because not being able to see properly can cause vulnerability'
'Stroke risk is higher for those with aura, but it is still small, until you factor in smoking and taking the combined Pill. It is important doctors are aware of these risks to give correct advice.'
Meanwhile, the British Heart Foundation says that people with aura should reduce their risk of heart trouble by keeping physically active, eating a healthy diet and not smoking - and advises anyone concerned by the risks to consult their GP for more advice.
When Rachel was formally diagnosed two years ago, her GP prescribed propranolol, a beta blocker used for angina and high blood pressure, also found to be effective in reducing migraine (it's thought the medication, which reduces blood flow and opens blood vessels, helps by reducing electrical activity in the brain during migraine).
After taking it for three months, her migraines subsided, and have since gone back to the usual rate of about five a year.
Susan Haydon, from the Migraine Trust, says: 'No one is really sure why migraines can change. They tend to be worse in younger people, and may ease off in the 50s and 60s - 40 per cent of sufferers no longer have migraines by age 65.
'Attacks of migraine aura can cause a lack of confidence in leaving the home, because not being able to see properly can cause vulnerability. If a person drives for their job such attacks could mean a change of career.' If it interferes with driving safety, aura may need to be reported to the Driving and  Vehicle Licensing Authority.
Triggers include foods such cheese or chocolate, alcohol, exercise, lack of sleep and stress
Triggers include foods such cheese or chocolate, alcohol, exercise, lack of sleep and stress


Migraine sufferers can usually identify triggers, and keeping a diary to record when attacks happen can be helpful.
Triggers include foods such cheese or chocolate, alcohol, exercise, lack of sleep, and stress - avoiding them can reduce attacks. When attacks occur once a week or more, preventative medication, including beta blockers , antidepressants and epilepsy medication, can be prescribed.
However, particularly with epilepsy medication, there can be unpleasant side-effects such as nausea, tiredness and depression.
Some patients take supplements such as magnesium. Studies have suggested migraine patients may have low levels of the nutrient and two trials, one in Germany the other in Italy, have shown magnesium supplements helped reduce the number of migraines people suffered, although other trials have had mixed results.
Meanwhile, the nutrient co-enzyme Q10 reduced the number of migraines people experienced by 50 per cent, in a study at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, while patients taking vitamin B2 (riboflavin) for a Belgian study also reported a 59 per cent drop in migraine activity.
The Migraine Trust says many studies suggest mild regular aerobic exercise can help reduce attacks. As stress is a common trigger, deep breathing exercises, yoga, acupuncture and physiotherapy are also recommended.
While Rachel's silent migraines have stopped taking over her life, she says they are of ten misunderstood.
'While I have always had good care from doctors, for a lot of people it is hard to understand aura and its impact,' she  says.
'For most people, a migraine involves a throbbing headache that lasts days. For me, the aura is always the worst symptom and while it is happening there is nothing that you can do but wait it out.'









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PSYCHIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

PSYCHIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE TO FORECAST THE FUTURE AND OTHER QUESTIONS?

I am often asked various questions pertaining to the spirit world and various aspects of the psychic, here are some of them: I will in time feature more questions and answers as this webpage evolves

Q. Is a psychic or medium a fortune teller?
A. It may surprise you to know psychics and mediums are not fortune tellers
Q. Is it possible to forecast the future?
A.Well not 100% and this is because of free will.
Q. What is free will?
A. Free will is YOUR right to decide what you want to do about a situation, it is a choice
Q. How does free will affect a situation?
A. Well before we incarnate as Spirit in a human body, we decide on what experiences and challenges that will benefit our spiritual growth. However we are given the choice (free will) as to whether we go through with the experience or challenge. In effect we are allowed to change or mind.
Q. So are you saying we all know what lies before us?
A. Well in a way we all do. Remember we are 'Spirit' in a human body and your spirit does retain a memory but it is deep in our subconscious. This memory is retained deeply for a reason to help us fulfill our experiences and challenges we ourselves chose. However it is also at this deep level so we are not so aware. If you knew what lay before you would you go through with it? Probably not but we still retain this memory deeply and this reflects in our Aura.
Q. So what is the Aura?
A.The aura is The Aura is an electromagnetic field that surrounds living bodies, this includes people, animals, plants and crystals and is composed of several layers that are constantly moving. The Aura links us to whats known as Universal energy i.e. that is all the knowledge in the Universe past, present and future. It is on this aura that psychics are able to tap into and access your past, whats going on in the present and the possible future and I say possible specifically if your goal or desire is dependent on other people, for remember every person involved in a situation has free will.