What is Mindfulness?

Good morning, everyone! I hope you all had a brilliantly relaxing weekend :) 

Last Sunday I wrote about relaxing detox baths but today I want to write about a new thing I've tried called Mindfulness. I've heard this word being thrown around and increasing in popularity for quite a while now but only recently researched into what it is. 

 

Cover Photo by Peter Hapak for Time Magazine

Mindfulness is a 'way of paying attention to the present moment.' It uses a combination of yoga, meditation and breathing techniques, it helps us to become more aware of what is around us and how we are feeling at that exact moment in time to help us manage them better rather than becoming overwhelmed. 

By practising Mindfulness, people can focus more on their emotions, increase their attention span  . and has use it to help aid stress, anxiety, depression and addictive behaviours, making you happier and more peaceful. One is able to practise Mindfulness wherever and whenever they want or need too, whether it be at work, home, outside or inside.

Their are various courses to help you learn mindfulness however I have done a little research and the three main steps are these: 

1. Focus on your breath. Inhale and exhale deeply and slowly.
2. Whenever any thoughts, emotions, sounds or physical feelings occur; completely accept them, letting them come and go without any further thought on them. 
3. If your attention drifts off and focuses on any of these feelings, just bring it back to focusing on your breathing.

I've tried this out for a few days now and am really feeling a lot happier and chilled out (yay!)

There are more in depth courses online or in person that you are able to undertake that cover all sorts of techniques and reasonings for Mindfulness so you are able to practise it whenever you want to with ease. 

Visit http://www.bemindfulonline.com/ for more information 

What is Lammas?

We are well into summer now, balmy nights and breezy days have taken up our lives for the time being and the warmth is such a welcome change. For Pagans, being this far into summer means that 'Lammas' is just around the corner, or in this year's case, today.

Lammas is a Pagan festival from Celtic origin that celebrates the start of harvest, welcomes the start of Autumn and was one of four festivals to help split up the year. Lammas was traditionally held on the day the fields would be harvested and reaped for their nutritious goods. This harvest season would continue until Samhain (nowadays known as Halloween) when the last of the food would be stored away for the winter months.

To celebrate, Pagans would play music, dance, eat and get together as a community, whilst others would perform rituals and ceremonies similar to this one. A popular thing to do on Lammas is to play traditional games that legend says Lugh (the God Lammas was named after) started as homage to his deceased mother. 

Nowadays people still do all of this to celebrate. They bake berry pies and loaves of bread, spend quality time with friends and family and often groups will be involved in rituals or ceremonies to welcome harvest.

Now I'm not a pagan or a wiccan myself but still find their festivals absolutely fascinating! The celebrations sound like a lot of fun too and I'd really love to get involved and celebrate them one year.

What festivals (if any) do you celebrate and what do you do?

F**k It Therapy

I came into work today full of happiness and glee for absolutely no reason whatsoever (I'm going to put it down to the fact I actually ate breakfast...)  and it was marvellous! I've had such a great day because of it.

I wondered why we don't all wake up feeling super happy every day and how we can go about doing it, so I had a browse through the self help books to see if anything might be of use. I'm not usually one for self help books or CDs or anything as they're too fluffy for me (but just right for others). I found a book called 'F**k It Therapy' by John C Parkin and was very intrigued. After picking it up, reading the blurb and having a flick through, I decided this was not a normal self help book. This one was special.

The plan is to start reading this tomorrow (my day off) to ensure I'm as happy as larry whenever I choose to be. I will keep you updated on how it's going and how great this book will be.

I bought a cute little fairy bookmark that I adore to help keep my place whilst I try and sort out my life; I usually read from a Kindle but I just have a feeling I'm going to be buying more books from now on. 

Both book and bookmark can be found online or in store. 
spiritualquest.co.uk

Sunday detox day!

It's the end of one week and the start of a new one, I always find Sundays to be slightly fragmentary; a little disconnected from the rest of the week. Sometimes slow, quiet and dare I say, boring. But often a day for total relaxation, preparing yourself for the week ahead and spending time with family. 

I like to use Sundays as the day to look after me. Meditation, exercise, baths, wholesome food and naps make up the majority of my day. I've recently been adding Himalayn Salt crystals to my bath as they are fantastic to detox and balance out your body's natural acidity and alkaline levels.For more information, click me 
 

I got thinking and thought that there must be other things you can add to your baths to detox, not just salt. A quick google search yielded lots of results; ginger detox, the baking soda detox, a hydrogen peroxide bath (?!?!) I decided to play it safe and try out an essential oil detox bath. The main reason being is that whatever ailments you may have there is usually an oil that can help you. 

I chose lavender for it's calming, relaxational effects. All you need to do once you have chosen an oil is run a hot bath, mix together a handful of Himalayan crystal salt (or Epsom salts), half a cup of baking soda (I thought this was slightly strange too) and add to the bath alongside 10 drops of essential oil. Soak for 20minutes and rinse off with a cool shower to clear off any residue. This was a gorgeous recipe and I really felt the toxins being drawn out and eliminated from my body, it smelled great too.

So draw yourself a nourishing detox bath, make yourself a green tea, find a good book, light some candles and relax (tea, book and candles optional but advised)

Quest sells both gorgeous selling candles, Himalayan crystal salt and essential oils! A win win for everyone 

Enjoy your relaxing Sundays, peace and love xoxo

Indian Head Massage Review

At work yesterday I was treated to a beautiful Indian Head Massage by Quest’s reflexologist, Sarah Newby. 

At only 15minutes long, it was a great session that covered by head, neck, upper back and shoulders. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I was an Indian Head Massage virgin but I will definitely be going back for more.

It left me with an amazing sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. I wasn’t sluggish and tired like I usually am after a long day at work and showed it by going home for a jog before seeing friends in the evening!

I would 100% recommend getting an IHM if you ever get the opportunity. Sarah is currently offering 15minute taster sessions at Quest for £15. 

For more information, send us a message or drop us a call on 01372 878606 

Rainbows

As we all know, rainbows occur when it's both raining and sunny at the same time. But why do they occur and what can they mean? 

Rainbows are made when the sun reflects off of millions of tiny rain droplets. The white light enters an individual droplet and leaves as one specific colour of the spectrum.The colour that is produced depends on the angle that the light hits the rain drop. If you only had a few rain drops, you would only have a few colours and there wouldn't be a rainbow. 

As the raindrops fall through the sky, the angles change and consequently, so will the colours. This is why rainbows seem move and appear to change in density. Rainbows are actually a circle, however because of the horizon, you usually only see half of them.

To find a rainbow, face the rainclouds (when it's raining) and make sure you have your back to the sun.

Spiritually, rainbows signify different things to different religions and beliefs.

 In Christianity, a rainbow is a sign from God to show that he is there and will not flood the Earth again. In Pagan lore, the rainbow symbolises happy events, great success and spiritual enlightenment.

 In Greek mythology, Goddess Iris was the Goddess of the Rainbow. She is deity of sea and and sky and was believed to supply the clouds with water. Thus creating rainbows. Iris was messenger of the Gods and was believed to travel on rainbows whilst delievering messages to the mortal world. Ancient Greeks believed that as Iris linked the Gods to humans, the rainbow links Heaven to Earth. 

 

Copyright Lisa Iris

 
To many people, rainbows have their own meaning, whether they signify luck,  happiness or wealth! What do rainbows mean to you? 

Palm Readings, Reiki and Chakra Balancing

Tomorrow, Saturday 11th May, we are having a special day with Carolina who is available for Palm Readings, Reiki and Chakra Balancing. 

Carolina has been a Palmist for 16 years and has read thousands of palms during this time. In a typical reading she takes a look into your past, present and future to help you go forward in your life. 

She has studied and offered Reiki healing for five years and chakra balancing is a new treatment! 

Prices

Reiki - £60 for 1 hour £35 for 30 minutes 

Palm Readings - £40 for 30 minutes

Chakra Balancing - £35 for 30 minutes

                              Come on down for a lovely relaxing, pampering Saturday! 

Happy bank holiday!

We hope everyone had a fantastic Bank Holiday relaxing in the sun with family and friends. 

Carolina has created a lovely little video, taking you around our shop in Epsom, Surrey. 

Click this link to have a look!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3enKxLUprNI

Click the photo to go to the video!

She will take you round and show you our popular products and most of the things you can buy online at spiritualquest.co.uk

How to smell good with a simple soap

If you're looking for a new fraqrance that's gentle and organic but just can't decide, Quest's Strawberry & Rose Organic Soap Bars are just perfect. Smelling gorgeous, they give a subtle smell that isn't too strong and is just wonderful to relax with.

They're long lasting, paraban free and available in two other scents; Relaxing and Indulgent & Wild Fig and Grape.

£3.50 for a 100g bar, they are quite the bargain! Can be found in store or online at spiritualquest.co.uk

Current Offers

Shiatsu Offer - spend over £30 in Quest and receive a voucher for a free 15 minute back massage with Murray.

Sarah is offering a 30 minute Stress Buster Reflexology Treatment for £10, 40 minute Hot Stone Reflexology Treatment for £20 and 20 minute Indian Head Massage for £10. Sarah is available Wednesday afternoons.

Penny Siggery our massage therapist is offering Quest customers£10 off her normal price massage treatments.

 

 

Pop in; call us on 01372 878606 or email in at info@spiritualquest.co.uk to book or for more information!

 

 

Prinknash Abbey Incense

Since 1906, the Benedictine Monks of Prinknash Abbey have been blending incense and are now one of the oldest and most popular incense blenders in Europe. Spending decades perfecting their incense recipe to make it one of the best.

Prinknash Abbey

The main ingredient used in this incense is the purest Arabian frankincense. It is then blended with precious aromatic oils and divine spices to create unique and superior recipes for a variety of incenses. The incense is blended to a secret recipe that, when burning, ensures a sweet odour is released, instead of the smell of burning.

One of the monks blending incense

Prinknash Incense comes in six varieties and has markets all over the world. When using the incense, place a charcoal disk on a fire and heat proof dish and light with a match. It will start to ember like the end of an incense stick. When the disk is heating, add a small spoonful of the incense granules to the top of the disk. The embers will help fuel and burn the granules.

This incense is mainly burned in cathedrals and churches however it's also very popular to burn in the home as a sweet fragrance or in space and energy clearing sessions. 

The names below are of the incense that come in packs for home use; these packs include a bag of incense granules and some charcoal disks.

Basilica

Priory

Cathedral

Sanctuary

Abbey 

 

For more information on Prinknash Incense, visit prinknashabbey.org and to buy the packs of incense, visit us instore or buy online from our shop - spiritualquest.co.uk

Angel Practitioner Course

Quest will be holding an 'Angel Practitioner Course' run by Steve Hunt. 

Learn who the Archangels are; how to communicate with them; meet your Guardian Angels and learn about Angelic Healing, Angelic Card Readings, setting up your Angel Altar and how to clear any outstanding issues from your life. 

A brilliant course led by an equally brilliant teacher- definitely not one to be missed.

The course is spread over two weekends; the first being the 13th/14th April 2013 and the second date to be agreed with the group. 

The course will run from 10am-4pm on all days.

The full price for the course is £320 and that includes refreshments and a copy of 'Messages from your Angels' book and Divination cards. Pay in advance and receive 10% discount. 

 

Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha is one of the most worshiped Hindu deity and also one of the most recognisable, because of his elephant head.

 In all of the images or statues of Ganesha, he has a broken tusk. This tusk is a symbol of sacrifice that he broke off to write the Mahabharata (an important Sanskrit). He is known to be the Lord of Success and the destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is worshiped as the God of knowledge, wisdom, education and wealth. The rosary that he holds suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. 

 

Dates for your diary!

Psychic Development Workshop For Beginners

One of our resident psychics, Steve is offering a one day workshop on Psychic Development. If you are wishing to learn how to use your psychic ability then this workshop is definitely the one for you. 

Steve will be covering topics such as what is psychic energy, how to feel energy, learning about your chakras, how to open up and close down, remote viewing, are you a clairvoyant and much more. 

Date & time: Saturday 23rd March, 10am - 4pm. 

The price is £60 for the day, including refreshments. If you book before the 1st March, it will be at the reduced price of £55! Definitely a steal. 

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage is excellent for anybody who just needs to calm down, relax and escape for an hour or so. 

This restorative therapy uses the renowned warming qualities of ginger to stimulate & boost circulation & ease restricted areas of stiffness & muscle soreness.  Infiltrating rosemary provides muscle release whilst cleansing lemon grass draws out impurities, improving the skin tone & condition of the entire back, encouraging renewed energy & invokes & restores the natural flow of ‘prana’.  

In each, individual therapy "prescribed" oils are used alongside regular ones to target the specific needs of the person. The massage reaches the deeper layers of postural & deep spinal muscle tissue binding the Vertebral Column, releasing the Cervical, & Mid-Thoracic areas through to the lower Lumbar & Sacral regions, forcing attention to where the physical effect of stress & tension are held. Commencing with a spinal alignment of heated basalt stones and restorative, essential oils. 

This gorgeous massage is available with Penny and can be booked through Quest. Call 01372 878606 or email info@spiritualquest.co.uk for more information! 

Muscle Ease Organic Full Body Aromatherapy Massage (1hour 30 mins) £55
Organic Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage (45 mins) £35

Happy Christmas!

We hope everyone had an amazing time over the Christmas period, whether you celebrate or not, we hope you had a great break and didn't get too stressed out! 

If, like us, you are feeling like you've just been through a hurricane with all the eating, drinking, cooking, visiting etc, why not book yourself in a lovely 'post holiday' reflexology appointment or go all the way with a hot stone reflexology session. 

Of course there's also the 'hands off' healing, reiki, done by Carolina; the very popular Shiatsu massage with Murray or an Indian Head Massage with Sarah. 


Just call us on 01372 878606 to book in an appointment or pop into the store in The Ashley Centre, Epsom.

Whatever you choose, we'll make sure you have an incredibly relaxing time. 



Indian Head Massage - £25 for 40 minutes
Reflexology - 1st appt, £40 for 1hr15mins - After that, £36 for 1 hour
Hot Stone Reflexology - £48 for 1 hour
Reiki Healing - £30 for 30 minutes, £55 for 1 hour
Shiatsu Massage - 1st appt, £45 for 1hr15mins - After that, £40 for 1 hour

We're nearly there!

It's been so hectic here at Quest, we've barely had time to breath! We cannot wait for Christmas to be upon us for some well deserved sleeping and eating. 

Today, we've had a great visit from Santa and his elves, who are also wandering the Ashley Centre with lots of sweets to give away! 

Pop down for any last minute gifts for your friends and family :) We are open today, tomorrow and Christmas Eve!

Feng Shui

Feng Shui looks at the objects and things placed in your living environment and how they can affect your own personal energy flow. This personal energy flow affects how you think, act and what you do, consequently affecting how well you perform and succeed in your personal and professional life.

Feng Shui was developed over 3000 years ago in Ancient China. Essentially, it is the secret to how to balance the energy, anywhere, to assure the health and wellbeing of the people there. In Chinese, Feng means Wind and Shui means Water. In Chinese Culture, wind and water are linked with good health so good Feng Shui equals good fortune and oppositely, bad Feng Shui can bring misfortune and bad luck. 

The Ancient Chinese believed that the energy the land holds (Chi) can either make or break a kingdom. Feng Shui was created from the Taoist vision and understanding of nature. The energies have to flow harmfully and in alignment with each other to create the good Feng Shui, or, so the kingdom doesn't break. 

There are two main ways of introducing Feng Shui into your home. There is the the Tibetan way, which is the most simplest and the Compass Method which is the traditional method. 

Here at Quest, we advise on the Tibetan form of Feng Shui; however neither methods are wrong. 

For example, if you are standing with your back to your front door, the far left hand corner would be your wealth corner - a perfect place to put iching coins or money frogs - and the far right hand corner would be your relationship corner - brilliant for placing photos of loved ones or items to symbolize love and happiness. This applies to any room in your house, so long as you are at the door.

Tibetan Feng Shui Bagua Map

Of course, there's a lot more to learn about the different placements of things in Feng Shui that would take hours to put on here, so why not find a book or contact a Feng Shui practitioner to help you out?

Crystal Healing

Crystal healing is essentially, the use of crystals to aid in energy and health healing.  The energies of the crystals resonate with the energies of us to help us in a variety of different things.

Crystal healing is a non-invasive way of restoring stability, balancing energies and help to stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms. It's is an alternative way of healing that 'holistically helps to harmonize the mind, body, emotions and spirit, helping to increase our feeling of well-being, neutralize negativity, lift depression and to help us to become integrated, whole beings.'

There are various ways of using the crystals to heal. All crystals resonate with a type of energy. Most common uses for healing are placing the crystals upon the body on specific points or using a crystal wand or pendulum and sweeping it over the body. Wearing or carrying a specific crystal in daily life that is resonated to a psychical condition can help to gently alleviate symptoms. Chakras can be aligned, balanced and healed by using crystals in each Chakra colour.

The most popular reasons for getting Crystal Healing are sleeplessness, headaches, lack of energy or libido, lack of concentration and of course, helping to heal the mind and soul.

In Ancient Times, those who were incredibly spiritual, discovered the healing energies of the crystals. They started to distinguish what crystal could help with what and their link to the chakras. It is said that the origin of using the crystals to heal came from Atlantis, however many people think Atlantis is a myth. It has been discovered that more recently, in the grand scheme of things crystals were used in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, China and in America, specifically the Mayans, Incas and Native American

Friday Spell!

Attracting a new friend

You will need:

• Three brown candles
• A pen
• A sheet of paper

Casting the spell:

• Light the candles.
• On the sheet of paper, write down the attributes you would like your friend to have.
• Say each one out loud.
• Fold the paper in half twice.
• Light the edge of the folded paper from one of the candles and repeat the words below 

'With heart and mind I do now speak, Bring to me the one I seek. Let this paper be the guide And bring this friend to my side.

Pain and loneliness be no more. Draw a companion to my door. Let not this simple spell coerce Or make my situation worse. As I will, it shall be.' 

• Let the paper burn out then snuff out the candles.
• Use these candles only for the same type of spell.

Within the next few weeks, you should meet someone with some or all of the qualities you are searching for. Remember that you have called this person to you, so you have the confidence and the time to explore the relationship properly. Never ever be judgmental about the qualities your new friend possesses that are not ones that you have requested.