Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

For those of you that walk on the crunchier side, you've no doubt heard the buzz about the oil cleansing method (OCM).

I shuddered the first time I read the gory details: rubbing thick oil all over your face to COMBAT acne and overactive skin.

Insert sound of screeching record here.

But, I must say, I approve.

It takes some experimenting with that works best. Crunchy Betty has some great advice on getting started with OCM, as well as her lastest post on tweaking the formula a bit. 

What's working for me now: 2/3 castor oil to 1/3 Smude's cold-pressed sunflower oil; tamanu oil (just a few drops/shot) and a few drops of tea tree oil.

Shockingly, your face may seem a bit dry after following the hot washcloth washing instructions. I use a bit of tamanu oil (very powerful oil with healing properties) over my face as a moisturizer.

Thoughts? Successes or failures out there?

The Four Agreements

As I may have eluded to in the past, I am in yoga teacher training (RYT 220) and will graduate from this intense program in November. I'm in month 4 and each month gets deeper into the guts of what makes us...

But I digress - the first meeting brought the lesson that would set the stage for the entire practice and probably my entire life as I now know it: The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. Please comment in this post if you've read this book, heard of it, and any insights or ways this has changed you. Not only are these guidelines important for personal growth, they help in business/family/friends/relationships/marriage on a daily (hourly!) basis.

Briefly, the Four Agreements are as follows (summed up nicely by Ruiz on the book's jacket:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. 

2. Don't Take Anything Personally (HUGE!)

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. WITH THIS JUST ONE AGREEMENT, YOU CAN COMPLETELY TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE!

4. Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment-to-moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstances, simply do your best, and you avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.  

I feel like this book is a business model, marriage counseling course, relationship rescue, parenting handbook, and self-help book all rolled into one. The agreements are simple when read, but very hard to put into practice. Each agreement makes you more aware of yourself, your words and actions and makes you a more CONSCIOUS human.