Written by Saaid Radwan, Behavior Analyst and Family Consultant Saaid Radwan is a Behavior Analyst, Neurodiversity and Family Consultant, and CPD Certified Trainer with 20+ years of international experience across the UAE, MENA, Europe, and Central Asia. He specializes in ABA, communication support, emotional regulation, and family-centered care, advocating inclusive, lifelong development. Life at home with a neurodiverse child can feel exhausting in ways that are hard to explain. Many parents find themselves asking the same quiet questions late at night: Why does everything feel harder at home? Why does my child struggle with things that seem simple? Why does therapy seem successful, but daily life feels overwhelming? Over time, these questions often turn into guilt. Parents begin to doubt their instincts, their consistency, and even their role. Yet in my years of working with families across different cultures and settings, one truth remains constant: these challenges are not a reflection of parental failure. Behavior at home is shaped by routines, expectations, communication, and emotional safety. When these elements are misunderstood or inconsistent, challenges naturally emerge. The good news is that behavior is not random, and it can change. In this article, I will explore the most common daily challenges families face at home, explain why they happen through an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) lens, and share practical, realistic strategies that support both the child and the family. Why home challenges feel harder than therapy sessions One of the most common statements parents share is: “My child does well in therapy, but everything falls apart at home.” This difference is not accidental. Therapy environments are structured, predictable, and consistent. Home environments, on the other hand, are emotional, busy, and constantly changing. From an ABA perspective, behavior is influenced by antecedents (what happens before), behaviors, and consequences (what happens after). At home, parents are not only implementing strategies; they are also caregivers, emotional anchors, and decision-makers. Fatigue, time pressure, and emotional attachment often lead to unintentional reinforcement of challenging behaviors. Understanding this dynamic is not about blame. It is about clarity, and clarity leads to effective change. The most common challenges parents face at home 1. Tantrums and emotional outbursts Tantrums are among the most stressful behaviors for families. They may include crying, screaming, dropping to the floor, aggression, or self-injury. From an ABA perspective, tantrums are often a form of communication. They typically serve a function such as: Escaping a demand Gaining attention Accessing a preferred item or activity Expressing frustration due to limited communication skills What helps: Observe what happens before the tantrum (the antecedent) Identify the function of the behavior Teach a functional alternative behavior, such as requesting a break or asking for help Respond consistently without reinforcing the tantrum unintentionally When children learn that appropriate communication works, tantrums lose their purpose. 2. Refusal and non-compliance Parents often describe this as “not listening” or “saying no to everything.” In ABA, we ask different questions: Does the child understand the instruction? Is the task too difficult? Has refusal worked for them in the past? What helps: Use clear, brief instructions Break tasks into manageable steps Offer limited choices instead of open-ended demands Pair expectations with meaningful reinforcement Follow through calmly and consistently Compliance improves when children experience success rather than pressure. 3. Communication breakdowns When communication skills are limited, behavior often becomes the primary way a child expresses needs, emotions, or discomfort. What looks like “misbehavior” is frequently unmet communication. What helps: Teach functional communication using words, gestures, visuals, or AAC systems Reinforce attempts to communicate, not just perfect responses Model language naturally during daily routines Improving communication reduces challenging behavior more effectively than punishment ever could. 4. Mealtime struggles and feeding challenges Picky eating, refusal, or rigid food preferences are common and emotionally charged for families. These patterns are often shaped by sensory sensitivities, control, and past experiences. What helps: Gradual exposure instead of pressure Reinforcing small steps toward tolerance Keeping mealtimes predictable and calm Avoiding power struggles Feeding challenges are not just about food; they are about regulation, routine, and trust. 5. Sleep difficulties and bedtime resistance Sleep issues affect the entire family system. Inconsistent routines, excessive screen exposure, or attention during night awakenings can maintain sleep-related behaviors. What helps: Establish a consistent bedtime routine Use visual schedules to increase predictability Gradually fade parental presence Reinforce independent sleep behaviors Small, consistent changes often lead to meaningful improvements over time. A familiar story many parents recognize A parent once shared that their child followed instructions well during therapy sessions but became oppositional at home, particularly during homework and bedtime routines. Tantrums escalated quickly, and the family felt they were constantly “walking on eggshells.” Through observation, it became clear that expectations at home changed daily, instructions were inconsistent, and emotional responses unintentionally reinforced avoidance behaviors. The child was not being defiant; they had learned that emotional escalation helped them escape difficult moments. By introducing clear routines, visual supports, consistent responses, and functional communication strategies, the frequency and intensity of behaviors reduced significantly within weeks. More importantly, the family reported feeling calmer, more confident, and more connected. This progress did not require perfection. It required understanding, structure, and consistency. Why consistency matters more than perfection One of the most common misconceptions parents hold is the belief that they must do everything perfectly. In reality, consistency matters far more than intensity. From an ABA standpoint: Behavior changes through repetition Skills generalize through consistent practice Inconsistency creates confusion and instability Parents do not need to become therapists. They need practical, repeatable strategies that fit naturally into daily life. When support becomes necessary If behaviors persist, escalate, or begin to affect family functioning, professional guidance becomes essential. Early support prevents small challenges from becoming long-term patterns. Family-centered ABA support focuses on: Coaching parents within real routines Embedding strategies into daily life Building independence and emotional regulation Improving quality of life for the entire family Support is not about control; it is about empowerment. Start with understanding, grow with structure Parenting a neurodiverse child is not about fixing a child. It is about understanding behavior, teaching skills, and creating environments where children can succeed. When families are supported with evidence-based strategies, progress becomes achievable and sustainable. When families feel supported, change becomes possible Every family’s journey is different, and no single strategy works for everyone. When daily challenges begin to affect emotional well-being or family stability, guided support can make a meaningful difference. Family-centered ABA consultation helps parents understand behavior, respond with clarity, and apply strategies that work in real home environments, not just therapy rooms. The goal is long-term independence, emotional regulation, and functional skills. If you are seeking professional guidance to better support your child at home, you can learn more or request a consultation through Support starts with understanding, and understanding leads to change. Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn  for more info! Read more from Saaid Radwan Saaid Radwan, Behavior Analyst and Family Consultant Saaid Radwan is a Behavior Analyst, Neurodiversity and Family Consultant, and CPD Certified Trainer with over 20 years of international experience across the UAE, MENA, Europe, and Central Asia. He specializes in ABA, communication support, emotional regulation, and family-centered care across the lifespan. Saaid is passionate about inclusive education, early intervention, and empowering families and professionals through practical, compassionate strategies. His work bridges evidence-based practice with real-world impact.

Written by Petra Zaremba, Transformation and Soul Purpose Coach "You are not broken. You are becoming." Petra is a transformation and soul-purpose coach who guides people back to their true essence and inner power. She co-hosts the Real Raw Honest podcast and leads talks as a speaker to inspire others to break free and live their most purpose-driven lives. We're taught that success is about setting goals, creating plans, and taking action. But what happens when you've done all of that and still find yourself stuck at the same ceiling? This transmission reveals just that, the missing piece of the achievement puzzle, the identity shift that must happen before your external reality can truly change. What version of you is trying to reach this goal? I've seen it countless times. Brilliant, capable entrepreneurs who set bold goals, create detailed strategies, and take massive action only to find themselves mysteriously stuck at the same level year after year. They change tactics. They work harder. They invest in more courses, more coaches, more systems. And yet, something keeps pulling them back to familiar territory. Here's what I've come to understand: You cannot outperform your identity. The version of you that set the goal cannot be the same version of you that achieves it. The person who built a £50k business is not the same person who will build a £500k business. The leader who manages a small team operates differently from the leader who inspires an organisation. This isn't just about acquiring new skills or strategies. It's about becoming someone new. Why traditional goal-setting falls short Most goal-setting advice focuses on the external. Define the outcome. Break it down into milestones. Create accountability. Track progress. None of this is wrong. But it's incomplete. It assumes that who you are today is capable of achieving what you want tomorrow. That the same patterns, beliefs, and ways of being that created your current results will somehow produce different results if you just try harder. This is why so many people achieve their goals only to feel empty afterwards. Or worse, they sabotage their success shortly after reaching it. They've changed their circumstances without changing themselves. Your external reality is always a reflection of your internal identity. If you want lasting change, the transformation must start within. The invisible ceiling of self-concept Your self-concept is essentially the story you tell yourself about who you are. What you're capable of. What you deserve. What's possible for someone like you. This self-concept was largely formed in childhood, through your experiences, your environment, and what others reflected back to you. And unless you've done deliberate work to examine and update it, it's probably running the show from the background. Here's where it gets interesting. Your subconscious mind is extraordinarily loyal to your self-concept. It will work tirelessly to keep your reality consistent with your beliefs about yourself. If you believe deep down that you're someone who struggles with money, you'll find ways to create financial struggle even when opportunities are right in front of you. If you believe that success requires sacrifice, you'll unconsciously ensure that your achievements always come with a cost. If you believe you're not quite good enough to play at the next level, you'll hold back in subtle ways you're not even aware of. This isn't about positive thinking or affirmations. It's about genuinely shifting who you know yourself to be. The death that precedes the birth Every significant transformation requires a kind of death. I am not talking here about physical death, but the death of an old identity. Old patterns. Old beliefs. Old ways of being that served you once but now limit you. This is why growth often feels uncomfortable. You're not just adding new skills or habits. You're letting go of familiar versions of yourself. And the ego doesn't go quietly. Expect resistance. Expect the voice that tells you to stay safe, stay small, stay in the known. Expect old stories to resurface with new intensity, precisely because they sense they're losing their grip. This is not a sign that something is wrong. It's a sign that real transformation is happening. How to facilitate the identity shift The shift from who you are to who you're becoming isn't something you can force. But you can create the conditions for it to happen naturally. Clarify the identity you're stepping into. Get specific about who you need to be to achieve what you want. Not just what you need to do, but who you need to become. How does this person think? How do they make decisions? How do they respond to challenges? What do they believe about themselves and the world? Notice the gap. Without judgement, observe where your current identity differs from your desired identity. What thoughts, behaviours, or beliefs are keeping you anchored to the old version? Name them with compassion. Make decisions from your future self. In every moment, you have a choice: respond from your old identity or your new one. When faced with decisions, ask yourself: "What would the version of me who has already achieved this do right now?" Then do that. Surround yourself with evidence. Your environment reinforces your identity. Seek out people, content, and experiences that reflect who you're becoming, not who you've been. This isn't about pretending but about immersing yourself in new possibilities. Expect the integration period. There's often a lag between the inner shift and the outer manifestation. Hold the new identity even when your circumstances haven't caught up yet. This is where most people give up. Don't. The permission you've been waiting for Here's what I want you to hear: You don't need to earn the right to become the next version of yourself. You don't need more experience, more qualifications, more proof that you're ready. The readiness isn't found in your CV. It's found in your willingness to step into the unknown and trust that you'll figure it out as you go. Every successful person you admire once stood where you're standing. They weren't more special or more capable. They simply gave themselves permission to become someone new before their circumstances said they could. That same permission is available to you. Right now. Today. The goal is the vehicle, not the destination Ultimately, the goals themselves are less important than who you become in the process of pursuing them. The revenue target, the business milestone, the achievement you're chasing—these are vehicles for your evolution. They give you something to grow towards, a direction for your becoming. But the real prize isn't the goal. It's the person you transform into along the way. The confidence you build. The limitations you shed. The expanded sense of what's possible that you carry into everything you do. When you understand this, the pressure lifts. You can pursue bold goals without attaching your worth to the outcome. You can embrace the journey, knowing that every step is transforming you into someone capable of receiving what you desire. Ready to step into your next-level identity? If you're feeling the pull towards a bigger version of yourself but aren't sure how to bridge the gap, I'd love to support you. Through deep, intuitive guidance, I help visionary entrepreneurs shed the identities that no longer serve them and step fully into who they're becoming. And if you feel called to go deeper and work together on your transformation, message me on Instagram or email me. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Petra Zaremba Petra Zaremba, Transformation and Soul Purpose Coach Petra is a transformation and soul-purpose coach who guides and inspires you to return to your true essence. Her work is a journey of liberation, an awakening of inner trust, clarity, and courage. Through deep, intuitive guidance, she empowers you to dissolve fear, remove blockages, and transform deep-rooted limitations, allowing you to embrace your unique path and unlock your fullest potential. Her mission statement is, "You are not broken. You are becoming. It is time to step into the most authentic, magnetic, and beautiful version of yourself."

Written by Anna Semchenko, Licensed Nurse and Foot Health Expert Anna Semchenko is a licensed nurse, foot health expert, and wellness entrepreneur. She combines medical knowledge with holistic practices to educate on foot care, clean living, and building a conscious lifestyle brand. When we think about preventive healthcare, we talk about blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, weight management, and mental well-being. Rarely do we begin with the feet. Yet clinically, the feet are often the first place where systemic dysfunction quietly reveals itself. After years of working as a licensed nurse specializing in foot care, I have come to see one consistent pattern: foot health is not cosmetic, optional, or secondary. It is foundational. And when it is ignored, the consequences extend far beyond discomfort. The feet as a clinical indicator The human foot contains 26 bones, over 30 joints, and an intricate network of nerves and blood vessels. It is biomechanically complex and metabolically sensitive. Because of this, it often reflects early signs of systemic disease before patients fully recognize symptoms elsewhere. Changes in skin texture, color, temperature, capillary refill, nail integrity, sensation, and wound healing patterns can indicate underlying vascular insufficiency, neuropathy, metabolic dysfunction, or inflammatory processes. For example: Reduced sensation may suggest peripheral neuropathy. Delayed healing may signal impaired circulation or uncontrolled glucose levels. Chronic callus formation can indicate abnormal pressure distribution and gait dysfunction. In clinical practice, these are not aesthetic concerns. They are early warning signs.   The cost of delay One of the most common patterns I observe is delay. Patients tolerate discomfort for months or years. They normalize foot pain, assuming it is simply a result of aging, standing long hours, or “bad shoes.” But persistent pain is rarely random. When biomechanical imbalances go unaddressed, they alter gait. Altered gait affects the knees. Knee compensation affects the hips. Hip instability affects spinal alignment. What begins as mild foot discomfort can evolve into chronic musculoskeletal dysfunction. From a preventive standpoint, early intervention is not merely about comfort. It is about protecting long-term mobility.   Preventive foot care is public health Preventive care is often framed around screenings for heart disease or cancer. Yet structured foot screening is rarely integrated into routine health strategies outside of high-risk diabetic populations. This is a gap in care. Foot assessments can detect: Early pressure points that may lead to ulcer formation Structural deformities that increase fall risk Circulatory compromise Improper footwear patterns contribute to injury In older adults, compromised foot health significantly increases fall risk. Falls remain one of the leading causes of morbidity in aging populations. Addressing footwear, balance, and foot structure is not cosmetic, it is preventative medicine. In children, improper footwear and unaddressed biomechanical issues may influence posture, gait patterns, and long-term musculoskeletal alignment. Across age groups, the foot remains the same: foundational.   The footwear misconception A frequent misunderstanding is that expensive footwear guarantees protection. Price does not equal biomechanical appropriateness. What matters clinically is: Proper fit Adequate toe box width Controlled but not rigid support Flexibility at the correct anatomical point Stability appropriate for the individual’s gait Shoes that are too tight restrict natural toe splay and circulation. Shoes that are too loose create instability and altered walking mechanics. Both can contribute to long-term strain. Footwear should support function, not simply reflect trend or status.   Foot care is not cosmetic There remains a persistent perception that foot care belongs primarily in a spa environment. While aesthetic maintenance has its place, clinical foot care serves a different purpose. Medical foot care prioritizes: Sterile technique when appropriate Risk assessment Skin integrity evaluation Neurological screening Early detection of pathology Particularly in high-risk populations, older adults, individuals with diabetes, and those with circulatory compromise, routine clinical foot evaluation is not optional. It is protective.   The Role of Nurses in Preventive Foot Health Nurses occupy a unique position within healthcare systems. We often spend more time in direct patient interaction than other providers. This proximity allows early identification of subtle changes. Foot care nursing integrates: Education Screening Preventive intervention Ongoing monitoring Community outreach In community settings, assisted living facilities, and primary care environments, structured foot assessment can reduce complications, preserve mobility, and improve quality of life. Preventive foot care is not an isolated specialty, it intersects with chronic disease management, fall prevention, wound care, and geriatric stability.   Reframing the foundation We cannot continue to approach foot health as an afterthought. If the feet are unstable, the body compensates. If the foundation is compromised, the system often adjusts at a cost. True preventive healthcare must begin at the base. By reframing foot care as clinical, structural, and systemic, not cosmetic, we elevate its importance within broader health strategy. The feet carry the body through every stage of life. They deserve attention not only when they fail, but while they function. Because in medicine, what supports the foundation ultimately protects the whole. Follow me on LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Anna Semchenko Anna Semchenko, Licensed Nurse and Foot Health Expert Anna Semchenko is a licensed nurse and foot health expert passionate about holistic wellness and conscious living. With years of clinical experience and a growing lifestyle brand, she shares insight on foot care, toxin-free skincare, and natural routines. Anna is the founder of SOLE BY SEM, a wellness-focused product line and community platform. Through her content, she empowers others to lead healthier, more intentional lives from the ground up.

Written by Kelsey Irving, Licensed Clinical Therapist Kelsey Irving is a licensed therapist and recognized specialist in OCD and anxiety disorders. She is the founder of Steadfast Psychology Group and author of the children’s book Jacob and the Cloud. Perfectionism has great PR. It’s often mistaken for high standards, ambition, or a strong work ethic. In job interviews, people even list it as a “weakness” that secretly sounds like a strength. But real perfectionism isn’t about excellence, it’s about fear. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of not being enough. At its worst, perfectionism doesn’t push you forward. It quietly holds you back. Here are seven signs your perfectionism may be doing more harm than good. 1.   You procrastinate constantly It sounds contradictory, but perfectionists are often chronic procrastinators. When the standard is “flawless,” starting becomes terrifying. You wait for the perfect mood, the perfect plan, the perfect version of yourself to show up. Instead of making progress, you delay because you’d rather avoid doing something imperfectly than risk doing it at all. If you find yourself stuck in cycles of avoidance, your perfectionism may be paralyzing you. 2.   You struggle to finish projects Starting is hard. Finishing can be even harder. Perfectionism convinces you that nothing is ever quite ready. You tweak, revise, rethink, and redo long after something is good enough. Deadlines feel stressful because you’re still trying to polish what others would have submitted hours ago. If “done” feels impossible unless it’s flawless, your standards may be unrealistic, not admirable. 3. Small mistakes feel catastrophic Everyone makes mistakes. But for a perfectionist, mistakes feel like proof of inadequacy. You replay minor errors in your mind for days. You assume others are judging you more harshly than they actually are. A small slip becomes a sweeping conclusion: I’m not cut out for this. When your self-worth rises and falls with tiny outcomes, perfectionism has crossed into self-criticism. 4. You rarely feel satisfied You achieve something you worked hard for. Relief lasts a few minutes, maybe a day. Then your mind moves the goalpost. “That was good, but it could’ve been better.” “Next time, I need to do more.” “It’s not that impressive.”   Perfectionism robs you of the ability to enjoy your wins. If accomplishment feels empty or short-lived, your internal standard may be impossible to satisfy. 5.   You avoid new challenges Ironically, perfectionism can make you risk-averse. If you can’t guarantee you’ll be good at something, you’d rather not try. You stick to what you already know. You choose goals you can control. You avoid situations where you might look inexperienced. Growth requires being bad at things before you get better. If you’re shrinking your world to protect your image, perfectionism is limiting your potential. 6.   You tie your worth to your performance Healthy ambition says, “I want to do well.” Perfectionism says, “If I don’t do well, I am not good.” When your identity is fused with your output, every task becomes a test of your value. Feedback feels personal. Criticism feels crushing. Rest feels undeserved. Your worth is not a performance review. If it feels like one, something needs recalibrating. 7.   You’re exhausted all the time Perfectionism is mentally and emotionally draining. You’re constantly scanning for flaws. Constantly comparing. Constantly pushing. Even during downtime, your brain is drafting improvements or replaying what you should have done differently. Excellence can energize you. Perfectionism depletes you. If you’re chronically tense, dissatisfied, or burned out, your standards may be costing you more than they’re giving. The difference between excellence and perfectionism Excellence is about growth. Perfectionism is about fear. Excellence allows mistakes as part of the process. Perfectionism treats mistakes as verdicts. Excellence says, “How can I improve?” Perfectionism says, “How can I avoid being seen as imperfect?” The goal isn’t to lower your standards. It’s to shift them. Aim for progress. Aim for impact. Aim for done. Because in the long run, imperfect action will take you much further than perfect hesitation ever could. If this sounds familiar Perfectionism often overlaps with anxiety, obsessive thought loops, and compulsive behaviors. What looks like “high standards” on the surface is often a nervous system stuck in overdrive underneath. The good news is that these patterns are changeable. I work with people who struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, rumination, and compulsive tendencies to help them build healthier standards, quieter minds, and more sustainable success. If this resonates with you and you’d like support, feel free to reach out to inquire about coaching services. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kelsey Irving Kelsey Irving, Licensed Clinical Therapist Kelsey Irving is a licensed therapist specializing in the treatment of adults with OCD and anxiety disorders. Inspired by a close family member’s diagnosis and the widespread misunderstanding of OCD, she became deeply committed to providing informed, compassionate, and effective care. Kelsey serves individuals through her private practice, Steadfast Psychology Group, and extends her impact through her children’s book, Jacob and the Cloud.

Written by Aaron Eschenburg, Ayahuascero and Astrotheologer Aaron Eschenburg is an Ayahuascero and Astrotheologer. He is the Founder and creator of Ancestral Herbs, a natural plant medicine company, and MiTranscendance Entheo Religious Society. What if religion and mythology are deeply connected to the movements of the cosmos? By exploring Earth’s astronomical cycles and the progression of zodiac ages, this article invites readers to reconsider the origins of spiritual traditions and the stories that have shaped human belief for thousands of years. Earth's motion can be calculated by three different movements and speeds.   Rotation on its center axis is a Day/Night which repeats every 24 hours. Revolution around the Sun is a year consisting of 365/366 days. Wobble on its center axis is called the precession, or the Precession of the Equinox, known as a "great year" by our ancestors, consisting of a 25,920-year cycle   Earth’s 24-hour rotation is split into 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night. Observably, as the Earth spins, we see the Sun in each of the 12 signs of the Zodiac for two hours each day. We calculate this in modern times with a watch or a clock, observed hourly as the Earth spins. Earth’s 365/366-day revolution is split into 12 equal parts, spending approximately 30 days in each of the 12 signs of the Zodiac. We calculate this in modern times with a calendar, observed daily/monthly as the Sun rises in a new "Sign of the Zodiac" each month as the Earth revolves around the Sun.   Earth’s 25,920-year wobble is split into 12 equal parts, spending 2,160 years in each sign of the Zodiac. We calculate and refer to this as an " Age" or an "Era," observed annually as the Sun rises over the equator on the spring/vernal equinox. To calculate the Wobble, if we were looking at a clock, it’s as if each hour took 2,160 years instead of 60 minutes, from 10 o'clock to 11 o'clock is 2,160 years. Moving one degree in the Zodiac is equivalent to two minutes on a clock, Earth’s rotation. Moving one degree in the Zodiac is equivalent to one day in the calendar, Earth’s revolution, while moving one degree in the Zodiac to Earth’s wobble is equivalent to 72 years. Two minutes, 24 hours, 72 years, all one degree mathematical, calculable, observable, natural movements created by the earth and our relationship with the Sun and cosmos. An hour, a month, an age.   The end and the beginning of religion The end of the Mayan calendar aligned with the Winter Solstice, December 21st, 2012. This wasn't the end of the world, or the end of time, but the end of an Age/Era, and the beginning of a new one. The end of the Age of Pisces and the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. The end of 10 o’clock and the beginning of the 2,160 years of 11 o’clock.   Before Pisces was Aries, before Aries was Taurus, Gemini, and so on. Aquarius is the current Age of Spirituality, which is knowledge, community, technology, and non-dogmatic religious practices. Pisces, the “Two Fish”, was the Age of Christianity with the “Icthus” or “Jesus fish” that represented the Age of Pisces. Aries, the “Ram”, Judaism’s Father Abraham translates to Abba Ram = Father Ram, along with the Shofar horn and pendant representing the Age of Aries, the Ram. Taurus the Bull is represented by the bull God Baal, and the Bull of Heaven. Gemini, the “Twins”, had many sets of twins in their mythology: Utu & Innana, Lahmu & Lahamu, Anshar & Kinshar, Anu & Kishar. Each represents contrast and dualistic elements of nature.   This is the great revelation Christians often talk about the “Revelation” or “End Times.” This is simply an implication of the end of the Age of Pisces and the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. Revelation also means Awakening. This knowledge is part of our awakening. The great understanding.   The creation of the Sphinx in Egypt 12,000 years ago during the Age of Leo, faces East toward the constellation Leo and is one of the oldest astro-archeological artifacts of humanity that we know.   We have water damage on the Sphinx from approximately 10,000 years ago during the Age of Cancer, a water sign, which we historically know nothing about, with the exception of stories of a great flood.   The Age of Gemini gifts humanity with knowledge, written language from many lands, and mathematics. The traits associated with Gemini are information, communication, language, and sharing.   After Gemini is Taurus, which is associated with land, agriculture, structures, homes, personal possessions, and monoliths. People of this time created large structures all over the world, worshiped the land that grew their food, and came together during celestial events like full moons, new moons, eclipses, solstices, and equinoxes to celebrate. They believed in many Gods that we understand to be contrasting forces. The God of lightening, fertility, the sun, the sea, wind, agriculture, rain, love, war. For every contrasting force or energy outside of human control was its own God/energy/entity. The people of this time would make blood sacrifices to their Gods, including human and child sacrifices.   When the Biblical character Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the stone tablets that represented the laws to the new Age of Aries, everyone was dancing around a Golden Bull, which represented the old Age of Taurus, so he made them destroy it. Out with the old, in with the new. Aries is the Head in the Zodiac and is about the relationship with self. Self-assertiveness, taking the initiative, the spark of the match that lights the fire. Father Abraham is a Hebrew translation from Father Ram, Abba Ram, and wears a ram’s horn pendant known as a Shofar. Abrahamic Faiths understand and follow this knowledge of the “Ages”. In the dawn of Judaism, people of the land still believed in multiple Gods known as “El's”, El = “God of”. Early Judaism still practiced blood sacrifice. If one had sinned, they were to create a blood sacrifice to the Gods to repent and alleviate themselves of their sinful nature. Instead of waiting for group or celestial events, worshiping the land like the previous Age of Taurus, this Age of Aries created a direct relationship to their Gods that they can connect with at any time through their prayers, spoken out loud or in their minds.   After Aries comes Pisces, the Two Fish, which is associated with Belief, Faith, Compassion, Forgiveness, and Unity of all things. Christians often wear a fish symbol pendant or bumper sticker called an “Icthus”, which is a direct representation of the Age of Pisces. The people of this time supported a monotheistic concept of God, one God or creator of all life and energy. Instead of creating blood sacrifices to alleviate themselves from sin, they created a Solar Messiah called Jesus. Jesus is an anthropomorphic, personified allegory for the Sun that lights the world, whose reflection walks on water. When one believes this story that God sacrificed its only Son, they no longer have to offer a blood sacrifice to wash themselves of sin, because the creator itself made the sacrifice.   The death and rebirth of the Sun, our savior The Sun is born from the Virgin Mother Earth. As the Sun was moving through the “Age of Pisces”, the shadow of the Earth was in Virgo. We lost touch with our relationship to earth while we turned our focus to “belief” and “faith,” which can be attributed to Pisces. Believing what someone else told us and repeating it as the truth or the gospel. Most of us get our food from grocery stores instead of farms, and the majority of the population has never hunted, killed, gutted an animal, or cared for its carcass to prepare clean meat. We have become very disconnected from the source that gives us life while we praise people, God(s), angels, deities, and things that we have never seen, only because someone told us to believe.   The purpose of this story has multiple reasons, most importantly, to remember the changing seasons. Each generation has its own words for the characters, but it’s the same theatrical play, the same scenario. Hercules and his 12 Legions, Joseph and his 12 brothers, Jesus and his 12 disciples, the Sun and the 12 signs of the Zodiac. Anthropomorphizing the constellations, Sun, Moon, Earth, and Planets, to make it an easier story to remember. Meaning we are giving “things” human characteristics and traits because it’s easier for our brains to remember. Over time, we lost touch with the origins of the story and simply believed what the person of authority was telling us, be it our parents, our families, friends, religious, or political leaders, they simply told us what was told to them. It wasn’t malice, it was just lost over time. Jesus and Mary, the woman of the night, are simply the Sun and the Moon. The “telephone game” gone terribly wrong over thousands of years. In the Ages of Taurus and Aries, it was common practice to offer a blood sacrifice to whichever God was believed in, for whatever reason they felt necessary. It wasn’t just YHWY, but Bacchus, Dionysus, Juno, Jupiter, Minerva, Mars, Mercury, and some 12,000 Gods that existed. Battles over whose God was stronger and more powerful broke out into fights and divided people. An offering to the God of the sea for safe travels, an offering for the God of rain, an offering to the Goddess of grain, the Goddess of fertility, an offering to God to wash away the mortal sin. The blood sacrifice could be a human or a hoofed animal like a ram, lamb, or goat.   As our species has evolved, we have developed the conscious awareness to understand that this barbaric way of living was not progressive and conducive to our growth as a society. It was unsustainable as more offerings were being made to account for the prayers, rituals, and sins of man.   We needed a solution to unite our people, and create a solution to ritual sacrificial offerings that were decreasing our population, and the animals we hunt, farm, and breed for resources.   In the new age of Pisces, Jesus the Sun shares an accumulative story of the many deities, Gods, Goddesses, and Sun Gods that existed before him. The virgin birth, baby in the manger story, the baptism, raising people from the dead, turning water into wine, the betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, copied from Horus, Attis of Phrygia, Zarathustra/Zoroaster, Glycon, Heracles, Dionysus, Romulus, Odysseus, Krishna, and Buddha, who all came before.   Jesus is the Sun, personified as a human Son of God who was sacrificed to alleviate us from our sins, so we no longer have to create a blood sacrifice. No more did we need to slit the neck of a lamb, ram, goat, or human body to free ourselves from our sins to get us closer to God. God already made the ultimate sacrifice for us humans by offering his one and only Son to die so we can live. Every year, the Sun dies for three days on the solstice and rises north on December 25th.   The only partial truth to this story is that the Sun of God really does give its light and life for us. We do not know how long our star will shine. Is it eternal? Science shows us that stars have a beginning and an end to their lives. How is a star born? A large cloud of dust and gas called a nebula collapses under its own gravity. The gas and dust clump together and begin to heat up enough to initiate nuclear fusion at its core. It’s an immaculate birth, no question. The divine mother and father of the cosmos give birth to the divine Sun. How is a star reborn? Geocentrically, the Sun is reborn every yearly cycle after the Earth completes one full revolution.   The reality is we exist, and we don’t have a single clue as to why we exist, who we exist to, or when we exist. We believe what others have told us about creation stories, but we have no clue who we are, where we came from, or why we are here. There might not be an ultimate reason for human life other than the simple answer. To experience. To be. To feel. To love. For the creator to exist through your eyes and explore this thing called life. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Aaron Eschenburg Aaron Eschenburg, Ayahuascero, Astrotheologer Aaron Eschenburg is an Ayahuasca Shaman and creator of the natural plant medicine company Ancestral Herbs. Being hit by a drunk driver at 21 spiraled him into a journey of exploring alternative medicines to get away from the side effects of pharmaceuticals. Astrotheology and plant medicines then came into his life at the same time, creating a better understanding of humanity's relationship with our living planet solar system and the universe. He now dedicates his life to helping others explore the options of natural healing, entheogenic practices, and embracing the Aquarian Age.

Written by Cali Werner, Director of Business Development and Behavior Therapist Cali Werner, PhD, is a licensed clinical social worker, sport psychology consultant, and elite distance runner who specializes in OCD and anxiety treatment. She is the Director of Referral Relations at the OCD Institute of Texas and founder of Athlete Rising. We often hear the term OCD thrown around in ways that are completely misaligned with what it actually is. Individuals will say things like, “I am so OCD,” or “If you walked into my room and saw how neat it was, you would understand I have OCD.” When described in this way, people think they are identifying characteristics of OCD when, in reality, they most likely are not. Individuals with OCD struggle with intrusive thoughts or triggers (i.e., obsessions), followed by repetitive or ritualistic behaviors (i.e., compulsions) performed in an attempt to relieve the anxiety brought on by the intrusive and unwanted thoughts. The ritual may bring temporary relief, but it ultimately reinforces the obsession and keeps the anxiety cycle going. When someone says, “I am so OCD because I like to keep things neat and tidy,” they are typically describing Type A personality characteristics or perfectionistic tendencies. The keyword here is like. When an individual likes a behavior, they are not describing OCD. They are describing ego-syntonic behaviors that align with their sense of self and do not feel distressing or unwanted. If perfectionistic tendencies significantly impact functioning and the individual does not see a need to change them, this may reflect something more consistent with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), rather than OCD.   It is important to note that individuals with OCD do not like engaging in their repetitive behaviors or experiencing their intrusive thoughts. They feel driven to perform rituals in order to prevent something bad from happening. OCD is an ego-dystonic disorder, meaning the behaviors feel unwanted and inconsistent with the person’s values. For example, someone may feel they have to arrange everything in their backpack perfectly before a big presentation. If this is truly OCD, they are not organizing because it makes them feel productive or “on top of it.” In fact, they likely wish they did not have to complete the ritual at all. They feel compelled to do it in order to prevent the presentation from “going sideways.”   Most individuals with OCD have insight that their thoughts and rituals are unrealistic or irrational. However, the intensity of the anxiety can make it feel impossible not to engage in the compulsion. When left untreated, OCD often worsens over time and can lead to significant impairment.   The gold-standard treatment for OCD is a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) known as Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP). Many clinicians may say they treat OCD, but if they are not providing evidence-based ERP, they are likely not delivering the most effective treatment for this disorder. A helpful resource is found on the Anxiety Society Podcast, episode “ Good vs. Bad Therapy , ” which explains how to determine whether you are working with a quality, evidence-based clinician. Research shows that individuals with OCD are often untreated or misdiagnosed for 12-17 years after symptom onset. This delay highlights the need to build awareness and challenge misinformation in the media. Treatment for OCD is specific, and it works. Individuals with this diagnosis should not have to suffer when effective, evidence-based care is available. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , TikTok , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Cali Werner Cali Werner, Director of Business Development and Behavior Therapist Cali Werner, PhD, LCSW-S, CMPC, is a clinician, sport psychology consultant, and elite distance runner whose work bridges high-performance athletics and mental health. As Director of Business Development at the OCD Institute of Texas, an intensive treatment facility that treats OCD, anxiety, and related disorders, and founder of Athlete Rising, she specializes in treating athletes struggling with OCD, anxiety, and perfectionism. Drawing on her experience as a Division I runner, where she won 9 conference championships, at Rice University, her participation in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon, and her doctoral research on Olympian mental health, she integrates personal insight with evidence-based practice.

Written by Matijas Slivnik, Naturopath | Therapist | Musician Matijas Slivnik is a naturopath specializing in burnout, hormonal balance, and chronic fatigue. He combines natural medicine, energy healing, and healing sounds to help clients restore body and mind, delivering lasting results with over 12 years of experience. When we talk about health, we usually think first of the heart, lungs, digestion, or the brain. Rarely, however, do we truly consider the lymphatic system. And yet, this hidden network within our body represents one of the most important pillars of our immune defense and natural detoxification processes. In my work as a naturopath, I often observe how little people actually understand what the lymphatic system does and why it plays such a vital role in our overall well-being. In naturopathy and naturopathic therapy, the lymphatic system is placed at the very top of the priority list when it comes to building long-term, resilient health. The lymphatic system is not something people casually discuss in everyday conversations. You won’t see it highlighted on most healthcare posters or emphasized in basic health education. And yet, it is always there, working quietly in the background to protect and cleanse the body. It functions like an invisible river flowing through every tissue, transporting essential information and substances between cells. What is the lymphatic system? The lymphatic system is a complex network of lymphatic vessels, capillaries, lymph nodes, and organs through which lymph flows, a clear fluid that collects excess fluid, toxins, metabolic waste, and bacteria from tissues and delivers them to the immune system. Along this pathway, lymph does not merely remove waste, it also transports white blood cells that fight infections and help identify where immune defense is truly needed. Few people realize that the lymphatic system has no “motor” or pump of its own, unlike the heart, which drives blood circulation. The word lymph  originates from Latin and means “water,” which perfectly describes its nature as the body’s internal cleansing flow. Lymph moves slowly, under low pressure, and its circulation depends heavily on our own bodily functions, muscle movement, breathing, posture, and even simple activities like standing up and walking. Why the lymphatic system is essential for health The lymphatic system is not only responsible for detoxification and drainage, but it is also a key partner of the immune system. Within the lymph nodes, critical communication between immune cells takes place. This is where pathogens, waste molecules, and foreign substances are recognized, analyzed, and met with an appropriate immune response. This means that the lymphatic system does far more than cleanse, it actively directs immune activity. Scientific studies increasingly confirm that the lymphatic system is an active participant in immune regulation rather than a passive drainage network. Its endothelial cells and lymph nodes play a selective role in transporting cells and molecules, optimizing immune surveillance throughout the body. What happens when lymph flow becomes sluggish? When we talk about the lymphatic system, we are really talking about balance and proper drainage. If lymph does not flow efficiently, due to lack of movement, chronic stress, burnout, or ongoing inflammatory processes, stagnation can occur. This stagnation may manifest as persistent fatigue, a feeling of heaviness in the body, increased susceptibility to infections, swollen lymph nodes, fluid retention, skin problems, and slower tissue regeneration. When waste products are not properly removed, they can accumulate, weakening immune resilience and slowing the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate. How to support the lymphatic system naturally every day Supporting the lymphatic system does not have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, it relies on simple daily habits that benefit the entire body: Drinking sufficient water throughout the day Eating a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables Regular movement, walking, yoga, or any activity that activates muscles Deep breathing and conscious stress reduction Gentle stimulation of lymph flow through techniques such as manual lymphatic drainage, massage, or dry skin brushing Because the lymphatic system has no pump of its own, muscle movement acts as its natural engine. Research confirms that physical activity is one of the most effective ways to promote healthy lymph circulation. The lymphatic system and modern medicine Although the lymphatic system remains underrepresented in conventional medicine, scientific interest in its importance is steadily growing. Emerging research shows that the lymphatic system influences not only immune responses but also fluid balance, inflammation regulation, and even responses to viral infections. These findings reinforce the idea that the lymphatic system is a dynamic, multifunctional network, not merely a passive “drainage channel.” That said, there is still significant room within modern healthcare to place greater emphasis on lymphatic health and its role in preventing chronic conditions and burnout-related imbalances. A foundation for true health If we truly want to care for our health, we must look beyond what is visible on the surface. The lymphatic system is a hidden yet essential part of the whole organism. It cannot be ignored if we seek stronger immunity, higher energy levels, and overall vitality. By learning to listen to our bodies, respect their natural processes, and support them with simple, natural practices rooted in naturopathy, we allow health to become a natural outcome rather than a constant struggle. The lymphatic system is not just a biological structure, it is an expression of our vitality, our immune intelligence, and our internal balance. Caring for it is not an “extra.” It is the foundation of lasting health. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Matijas Slivnik Matijas Slivnik, Naturopath | Therapist | Musician Matijas Slivnik is a naturopath specializing in burnout, hormonal balance, and chronic fatigue. With over 12 years of experience, he combines natural medicine, energy healing, and psychotherapeutic modalities to support holistic health. As an experienced musician, he uses music and healing sounds to enhance healing. Matijas is the founder of PraNaturas, helping clients restore energy and balance naturally.

Written by Geoffery Nnalue, Tech founder, product leader and Author Geoffery Nnalue is a passionate tech professional and founder of The Circlesapp, a business solutions company that help businesses sell smarter and grow their revenue while improving customer experience and sentiment You know AI could transform your business. You have read the case studies, seen the potential, and understand that staying competitive in 2026 means embracing these tools. But every time you think about introducing AI to your team, you imagine the reactions. The fear. The resistance. The whispered conversations about job security. This fear is not unfounded. Your team has seen the headlines about AI replacing workers. They have heard stories about automation eliminating entire departments. And now their boss wants to bring this threat into their workplace. Of course , they are scared. But here is what most business owners miss: the problem is not AI itself. The problem is how you introduce it. Get this wrong, and you will face resistance that stalls your progress for months. Get it right, and your team will become your biggest advocates for AI adoption. Why your team is really scared Before you can address your team's fears, you need to understand what they are actually afraid of. Most business owners assume their team fears being replaced. While that is part of it, the deeper fear is about becoming irrelevant. Your team members have built expertise over the years. They take pride in knowing how to solve complex customer problems, handle tricky situations, and deliver results through their experience and judgment. When you talk about bringing in AI, they hear, "Your expertise does not matter anymore. A machine can do what took you years to learn." The second fear nobody talks about is the fear of looking incompetent. Your team imagines struggling to learn new systems while younger, more tech-savvy colleagues adapt easily. Nobody wants to be the person who cannot keep up. Understanding these real fears is the first step to addressing them effectively. This is not about convincing people that AI will not replace jobs. It is about showing them how AI makes them better at the jobs they already have. The three-phase framework that works After helping multiple small businesses implement AI successfully, I have found that teams who embrace it fastest follow a specific framework. Most business owners skip straight to announcing changes. That is where resistance builds. Phase one: Show value before asking for change The biggest mistake is announcing "We are implementing AI" before showing your team why this matters to them personally. Instead, start by identifying the most frustrating, time-consuming tasks your team handles regularly. Not the tasks you think are annoying, but the ones they complain about. Then, quietly pilot an AI solution for one of these pain points. Do not make a big announcement. Just implement it, let it work for a week, and then casually mention: "Hey, I noticed we have not had to deal with that annoying task as much lately. I implemented a tool that handles it automatically now." When people realize AI eliminated something they hated doing, they start getting curious instead of defensive. You have shown them that AI is not here to replace their valuable work. It is here to eliminate the busywork so they can focus on what they are actually good at. Phase two: Make them part of the process Once your team has seen one example of AI making their lives easier, bring them into the conversation. Schedule a meeting where you ask questions and listen. "What tasks do you wish you did not have to do every day? Where do you feel like you are wasting time on things that do not require your expertise?" Let your team identify the problems. Then ask: "If we could automate this task, what would you rather spend that time doing?" This question shifts the conversation from what they are losing to what they are gaining. Maybe they want more time for creative problem-solving or building customer relationships. When your team sees AI as the tool that gives them time for the work they actually want to do, resistance evaporates. Phase three: Celebrate wins and share results Once you implement AI tools, track the impact and share results regularly. But do not just share business metrics like "We increased efficiency by 30 percent." Share the human impact. "Sarah, remember how you used to spend three hours every Friday on scheduling? AI handles that now, and I noticed you have been able to focus on the strategic project you have been wanting to tackle." Make heroes out of team members who embrace AI tools effectively. When the rest of your team sees their colleagues thriving, they want to experience that too. The conversation that changes everything There is a specific conversation you need to have with your team before implementing any AI. Gather your team and say something like this: "I want to talk about the future of this business and your roles in it. Over the next few years, AI is going to change how every business operates. I know that probably sounds scary. But here is what I want you to understand about my vision." Then paint a picture of two futures. "We could ignore AI and keep doing everything manually. That means you will continue spending hours on tasks that frustrate you. It also means we will become less competitive and grow more slowly." "Or, we can embrace AI strategically. We use it to eliminate the work nobody wants to do anyway. That frees you up to focus on the things that actually require your expertise, creativity, and judgment. The things that make you valuable. The things that no AI can replicate." "I am not bringing AI in to replace any of you. I am bringing it in so you can do more of what you are actually great at, and less of what wastes your time." This conversation works because you are addressing the fear directly while casting a vision of a better future. The three rules for success As you move forward, three rules will determine whether your team embraces or resists the changes. Rule one: Start with augmentation, not replacement Your first AI implementations should clearly augment what your team does, not replace it. Choose tools that handle tasks your team does not want to do anyway, or that help them do their work better and faster. For example, if you have a customer service team, start with an AI that drafts responses for your team to review and personalize. They still own the customer relationship. AI just makes them faster and more consistent. Rule two: Provide training that builds confidence Invest in hands-on training where people actually use the tools with real work scenarios. Give them time to experiment without pressure. Create a "safe to fail" environment where asking questions is encouraged. Assign an "AI champion" on your team, someone who catches on quickly and enjoys helping others. Peer-to-peer learning often works better than formal training sessions. Rule three: Maintain transparency Nothing breeds fear like uncertainty. Hold regular check-ins where you share honestly about what is working, what is not, and what you are learning. If you are considering expanding AI use into a new area, discuss it with your team before making decisions. Transparency builds trust. When your team knows you are not hiding anything from them, they can focus on adapting rather than worrying. What this looks like in practice A small marketing agency I worked with wanted to implement AI for content creation. Instead of announcing "We are using AI now," the founder started by using AI to generate first drafts of social media posts for the most tedious client, the one who wanted fifteen posts per week on dry technical topics. After two weeks, he mentioned to his team that he had been testing something that made those posts less painful. One team member asked what he meant. He showed them how AI-generated solid first drafts that they could then refine with their creativity and the client's brand voice. The response was immediate, "Can we use this for other clients too?" Within a month, the team was using AI extensively for first drafts, research, and headline ideation. But they still owned the creative direction, final polish, and strategic thinking. The founder later told me, "If I had just announced we were implementing AI for content creation, they would have panicked. By showing them how it solved a problem they hated, they could not wait to expand its use." The future your team actually wants Here is something most business owners do not realize: your team does not actually want to keep doing everything manually. They do not love the tedious tasks, the repetitive questions, or the administrative busywork. What they love is doing work that matters. Solving real problems. Using their expertise. Making an impact. AI gives them more opportunity to do exactly that. It eliminates the noise so they can focus on the signal. When you frame AI implementation this way as a tool that gives your team more of what they actually want from their work, resistance becomes enthusiasm. Fear becomes excitement. And your business transformation accelerates because your team is pulling you forward rather than holding you back. Taking the first step If you are ready to introduce AI into your small business in a way that builds excitement rather than resistance, start with one simple action: identify the task your team complains about most and find an AI solution for it. Do not overthink it. Just eliminate one pain point and let your team experience what AI can do for them. That single win will open the door to bigger transformations. The key is to remember that successful AI implementation is not about the technology. It is about the people using it. When you prioritize your team's experience, address their fears honestly, and show them how AI enhances rather than threatens their value, you create a foundation for transformation that extends far beyond any single tool or system. Your team wants to do meaningful work. AI can give them more opportunities to do exactly that. Start there, and everything else will follow. P.S. Do you not know the right AI tools for your small business? I cover this and how to use them to build an obsessed customer base in my book titled "Obsessed Customers – How Businesses Can Use AI to Create a Cult-Like Brand.” Get it here . Follow me on LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Geoffery Nnalue Geoffery Nnalue, Tech founder, product leader and Author Geoffery Nnalue is a tech founder and product innovator driven by the mission to reshape how modern businesses grow. With nearly a decade of experience across product management, sales, and customer support, he has built a reputation for turning complex challenges into simple, scalable solutions. As the visionary behind The CirclesApp, he is pioneering new ways for business owners to build smarter, more profitable companies with customers who are genuinely obsessed with their brand. Geoffery’s work sits at the intersection of technology, commerce, and human behavior fueling tools that help entrepreneurs sell better and create unforgettable customer experiences.

Written by Cameron Tukapua, Heartfelt Living Coach, Chinese Medicine Practitioner Cameron Tukapua is a Heartfelt Living coach and Chinese Medicine practitioner. She helps people align the head and heart to create meaningful, purposeful lives, and is the author of 'Heartfelt Living - Your Ancient Wisdom Guide to Healing and Spiritual Awakening'. On February 17, we gallop into the Fire Horse year. Firepower comes from the sun; it is hot, fast, expansive, energising, and light. In nature, it is an endlessly creative power visible in our sunrises and sunsets. In the human realm, fire corresponds with the heart and the power of love. Photo credit: Nemyrivskyi Viacheslav A horse’s power is dynamic and full of momentum. Horses are herd animals, and they are instinctually aware of others. They like to follow a confident leader and need security, safety, and structure. A horse can move from a standstill to galloping in a few seconds. Their energy is finely tuned and changes quickly. The Fire Horse union happens once every sixty years. There are five elements and twelve signs in the Chinese Zodiac. Each year, there is a different combination of element and sign, and the last pairing of these two energies was in 1966. To explore the macro trends of this upcoming year, let us reflect on what happened in our world back then. Looking back at the mid-1960s, we see a time of expanding consciousness. It was the dawn of the ‘Age of Aquarius’. The Aquarian drives for truth-telling, equality, freedom, support for youth, futuristic thinking, and social transformation were clearly in play. People were exploring different ways of thinking and challenging existing social structures. Global movements for equality brought sweeping changes in awareness and action. People protested on the streets, openly challenging injustices. Younger people were driving the changes, with many standing up as strong-hearted leaders. In the mid-1960s, many people began exploring meditation and spirituality. That seed beginning is now maturing in 2026 with the rapid acceleration of the yoga, qigong, wellbeing, healing, coaching, and mindfulness movements. The inadequacies of mainstream health services are highlighting the need for self-care in healthcare, bringing the power and responsibility back to the people. Sixty years ago, there was a rise in people-led transformation. Dr. Martin Luther King led the Civil Rights Movement and demonstrated the power of love and unity as a peaceful force for change. He used plain truth-telling and a vision for a better world to galvanise human hearts. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” – Dr. Martin Luther King During those years, yoga masters from India arrived in the US, sharing ancient wisdom teachings and practices to give people a direct experience of our true divine nature. The Beatles’ discovery of Maharishi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, propelled these spiritual teachers into the spotlight. Baba Muktananda, from the Siddha Yoga lineage, went to the US to share his message, “God dwells within you, as you, for you.” The Eastern spiritual traditions give us practices to access our inner spiritual power, in contrast to seeing God as a power outside us. Politically and spiritually, the message encouraged owning our individual power to co-create new lives by cultivating inner and outer harmony. At this time in 2026, we can see that strategy is highly relevant. The Fire Horse as a year of change We can expect this year to be fiery. In many places in the world, humanity is in a state of chaos. Leaders and governing systems are falling, as what was false and artificial is being exposed. It is an unstable time, especially if we are used to feeling settled and comfortable. The energies of this year are high-powered and revolutionary. Something new is trying to be born. Uncertainty is a breeding ground for fear, and many of us have been conditioned to think we should know what to do in all situations. In the ancient wisdom teachings, ‘life is a mystery’, and time is a great revealer. The Prigogine principle states that once an organism experiences chaos and disorder as a means of dismantling itself, it always reassembles itself into a more evolved and expanded structure. Witnessing the collapse of the old and the birthing of the new can catalyse a heart awakening. Our hearts are attuned to unity, purpose, and meaning. In times of chaos, we are more likely to ask deeper questions. “What is important to me about this situation?” “What does this mean for me personally and for the wider collective?” “What can I control, and what is beyond my control?” “How and who can I help?” “What help do I need, and who can support me?” Reflecting on these questions activates the higher mind. Expect to receive answers, which can come at any time. Make a note of what you receive, as flashes of awareness can disappear as fast as they arrive. At this powerful time of transition, it may be helpful to look back on the snake year we are leaving as a time for shedding old skins and letting go. By contrast, the energy of the Fire Horse is go, go, go. Reflect on what you needed to let go of. As you go forward, be bold and choose to engage this fiery energy to grow and evolve. Our growth this year will be faster than ever before. Fire, the heart, and the spirit Fire is one of the five elements of Chinese philosophy. In nature, it is associated with the sun and the summer season. In this hot season, the light of the sun shines brightly, and our gardens bloom into full maturity. We feel more open and expansive in the sun. Too much sun and we get burnt. Not enough, and we can feel sad. This is reflected in Seasonal Affective Disorder, a condition in which people experience lower mood or energy levels during times of reduced sunlight, particularly in the winter. Science and nature-based philosophy agree that the presence or absence of sunlight powerfully impacts our energy, emotions, and sense of well-being. In Chinese medicine, the fire element on a human level corresponds to the heart. In our heart lives the light of pure awareness, our unique, individual expression of the divine spirit of life itself. Our heart is our personal link to the heavenly realms. In the Taoist context, ‘heaven is the overarching intelligence of life itself’. The Chinese medical term for our individual heart spirit is the ‘Shen’. As individuals, the Shen is what makes us special and unique. As a collective, we all connect to the ‘Yuan Shen’, the original spirit, and we each carry a spark of the same heavenly light. The original spirit is divine, blissful, and whole. It exists in the heavenly realms as our pure nature, which is programmed for harmony and balance. Raising our vibration through dance, play, fun, laughter, meditation, chanting, and prayer helps us engage our lightness of being. When our hearts light up, we can see and understand life more clearly. This assists us in forming more loving relationships where we honour ‘the one in the many, and the many in the one’. Fire and love, the primal energies of life Fire, as a primal energy, assists in warming and transforming us on all levels. In Chinese medicine, we learn how the warmth of the fire in our belly provides cooking power for digestion and drives us into action. The fire energy warms the blood, assisting circulation to all tissues in the body and helping to activate the heart. On a spiritual level, fire expresses as a warm-hearted way of being. The natural character of the heart is to be open, light, expansive, and free, like children. It is the state of ‘original innocence’, which has a blissful quality. The heart is our opening to love, which manifests in its myriad expressions. Love is the most powerful unifying force in life. In the Upanishads, an ancient yoga text, it is said, “We are born of love, and when we die we return to love.” Between birth and death, as souls, we are here to evolve through learning and experience. For many of us, the biggest life lessons come through relationships. Heart-to-heart territory touches our depths. Here we discover the richest treasures of life. We can also find it the hardest to fathom. The horse Horses are herd animals that prefer socialisation to isolation. Many humans born in the horse year tend to navigate social situations with ease and grace. Horses have big heart energy, and they form powerful bonds with other animals and humans. As grazing animals, horses like space to roam and look for greener grass. Horses need freedom to exercise their full strength and power. They like to play with speed and are naturally graceful in activity and movement. Horses are very sensitive and have lightning-fast reflexes. They sense what is happening in their environment and are naturally attuned to other living things, including animals and humans. They will move on quickly when situations are threatening or dangerous. The electromagnetic field of a horse’s heart is very powerful. HeartMath scientists have evidenced that horses can very easily come into ‘coherence’, a state of flow where we experience a harmonious sense of order and connectedness. Their sensitive nervous systems can quickly down-regulate. Being around a relaxed horse, walking, grooming, or simply being near them can help people come into coherence. Horses are known by many to be powerful heart healers. Navigating the Fire Horse year Both the Fire and Horse energies are powerful, passionate, and dynamic. We will feel this in our nervous systems, which can be easily overstimulated this year. Settling the energy is critical if we are to avoid burnout and overwhelm. In the five-element creative cycle, fire feeds earth. Bringing the fast, dynamic, speedy energy of fire down to earth will help us avoid burnout this year. Fire is spirit and awareness, whereas earth manifests as the physical body, in the muscles and the flesh. Earth energy also powers the digestive organs and the processing of food and thought. Coming back to the felt presence of the body and steering and calming the mind is a necessity. Finding ways to stay grounded and stabilise these fast, fiery energies is critical. Simple things like walking barefoot on the earth, eating yellow, orange, and root vegetables, lying on our bellies or on the ground or bed, and spending time in nature can help. Slow rhythmic breathing with longer exhalations than inhalations helps to calm the nervous system and reset the ‘rest and relax’ response. Be practical. Allow plenty of time for everyday tasks and give your full attention to the rhythms of sleeping, eating, cleaning, exercise, and rest. Maintain order in your outer world. Keep your home and workspace clean and tidy to reflect your inner order and purity. Conserve your energy. Notice where and with whom you feel in flow. Make time to connect and socialise with people who nourish you, and balance that with time for silence and stillness. Nurture your energy to match your outputs. For example, if you work hard physically or mentally, be sure to feed your body and brain regularly with quality nutrition. Plan time for silence and solitude. If your work brings you into contact with lots of people, balance that with time for solitude. Communication uses a lot of fire energy. With too much talking, we can burn out. Fires need embers and times for slow burning to stay alight. Silence is an age-old medicine neglected in our urban world. When we are silent, we can listen to ourselves. Many of the people I see in clinical practice have overstimulated nervous systems. The epidemic of anxiety is related to overthinking. Taking time to retreat from the world and constant engagement with people and screens is medicine. Allow time for integration. If there is a lot shifting in your world, slow down. Change takes energy. Give yourself more time and space to attend to the new. Treat yourself like a newborn baby, protect yourself, and go gently. Golden moments Fire is light, and it communicates through our heartfelt awareness. Paying attention to our heart and how it feels in any situation turns up that light. Noticing where we feel open, free, and expanded is a compass for navigating the shifts in direction that will arise this year. Pause and take in the moments of beauty. Notice how you feel when you are with those you love and allow those feelings to penetrate your heart space. Breathe them fully into your being and consciously expand their presence. Practise gratitude for the blessings and mercies of each day. We help make our life good, true, and beautiful when we honour the small touches of grace. When possible, pause to observe the sunrise or the setting sun. Be sure to have time outside every day and look up. Notice the light in the clouds and the stars in the dark evening sky. If this is not possible, light a candle at the beginning or end of the day. Remind yourself often that you are a divine, whole, heavenly being having an earthly experience. Be open to transformation this year and expect good things to happen. The Brainz 2026 message was, “Celebrating a bold and purpose-led year ahead.” Imagine the seeds you have sown coming to full maturity, supporting your visions, hopes, and dreams to manifest in the world of form. Put your energy and passion into what you really love and take small steps towards the life you would like to live. Create more space to run free and wild. When you are feeling restless, move your body and express that energy. Dance, run, sing for your life. Open up to spirit. Find a practice that helps you go inside for answers and trust the wildfire of your own heart. “What you seek is seeking you.” – Rumi Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Cameron Tukapua Cameron Tukapua, Heartfelt  Living Coach, Chinese Medicine Practitioner Cameron Tukapua is a wellbeing coach who shares ancient wisdom teachings from Chinese Medicine, along with Qigong, Yoga, and Meditation practices. She helps people align the head and heart. Cameron has written a book called ‘Heartfelt Living,’ and her work has been featured in Thrive Global. She offers Individual coaching, online study pathways, and face-to-face wellbeing retreats.

Written by Alessandra Mantovanelli, Sound Therapy and Integrative Coaching Alessandra Mantovanelli is a Sound Therapist and Integrative Coach, offering energy and somatic healing, mindful eating coaching, and Psych-K facilitation. She founded Waves for Thriving to help you shift from surviving to thriving by cultivating a heart-centered connection and coherence between your mind, body, and soul. Deeply traumatised people see the world through distorted lenses, which bias their thinking, feelings, and actions in the present. A profound shift in our identity, life, authenticity, and connection occurs when we release trauma from our bodies. What unfolds is our pure, untouched soul essence, which was never wounded. As we become whole, a sense of light joy emerges, along with an awe for life’s simple wonders. What is trauma? Trauma is any perceived threatening experience (conscious or unconscious) that overwhelms the body-mind’s ability to cope and renders us helpless.[1][11] During traumatic events, we are unable to self-regulate and may lack a compassionate witness for comfort. There is not enough time, space, resources, or permission to adapt, respond, or heal. Young children are more easily overwhelmed by emotionally painful or distressing events because their brains and nervous systems are still developing, and they are not able to stand up to adults or speak for themselves. Early childhood trauma often results in adverse effects on cognitive and emotional development, increased inflammation, and a less diverse gut microbiome. It may also lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, dissociation, depression, and other health issues later in life. [2][3][4][5][6] Types of trauma A single unbearable event can result in acute trauma, such as a serious accident or injury, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; witnessing violence or death; or sudden parental separation (“too much, too soon”). Complex trauma develops when people experience ongoing abuse, bullying, neglect, abandonment, chronic illness, domestic violence, living near or participating in war (“too much for too long”), as well as housing instability, unsafe environments, starvation, discrimination, and financial struggle (“there is not enough for too long”). An experience can become traumatic when it feels unsafe, overwhelming, and dysregulating. Some examples include birth stress, being left alone, floods and other natural disasters, losing a pet or loved one, romantic breakup, moving to another city or school, illness, and invasive medical procedures, especially if experienced early in life or in the absence of support.[1][7] Firefighters, therapists, and family members of trauma survivors can experience secondary (or vicarious) trauma and develop symptoms similar to those of direct trauma. Collective and historical trauma, such as genocide or systemic oppression experienced by a community, can affect future generations and shape cultural identity. How does trauma affect our body, perception, and connection to the world? When we feel threatened, our autonomic nervous system activates survival responses such as fight, flight, freeze, appease, or dissociation. Our thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex) goes offline, while the fear and emotional centres (the amygdala and limbic system) take over, flooding us with intense emotions and visceral sensations such as a racing heart, sweating, shaking, and shallow breathing [8,9,10]. As a result, we lose the ability to regulate emotions, leading to extreme panic, confusion, total dissociation, or freezing.[1][8] Traumatic experiences may cause parts of us to feel persistently unsafe, always on the go, angry, hypervigilant, distrustful, powerless, or helpless, undermining our sense of control, dignity, connection, belonging, and meaning.[1][11] Trauma can also trap people in shame, eroding self-esteem and confidence, increasing defensiveness and self-protection behaviours, and consequently undermining their relationships with others.[1] Severe trauma can lead to long-term symptoms of PTSD, such as intrusive thoughts, phobias, hyperarousal, startle responses, mood swings, nightmares, irritability, poor sleep, and difficulty with memory, concentration, and logical thinking. Trauma can also show up in repeated patterns, such as self-harm, addictive behaviours, recurring accidents, or re-enactments in relationships.[8][12][13] These outcomes can result from chronic dysregulation of the nervous system and sensory processing, as well as changes in brain function and neural circuitry, reduced communication between the two brain hemispheres, and heightened survival responses to subsequent distress.[10][13][14][15][16][17] It’s important to note that these symptoms may have other causes, and not everyone experiencing one or more of them has been traumatized.[1] The body imprint Traumatic experiences leave an imprint on the mind, brain, and body, with ongoing consequences for how we survive in the present and alter our perception of reality: “It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think”.[8] Trauma memories can persist as fragmented survival patterns in the body, even when the conscious mind cannot recall the original event.[1][8][18] These implicit bodily memories may resurface as sudden fear, emotional flooding, reliving, or a sense that “something is off,” often triggered by a scent, sound, person, time of day, or place, even when we are safe in the present. Manifestations of unresolved trauma can be ever-present or hidden for decades, may grow more complex over time, and sometimes appear seemingly disconnected from the original event.[1] After trauma, we can lose a sense of a coherent self and become fragmented into different parts as a way to stay safe and survive. The wounded, traumatized part is often disowned to suppress painful feelings. Meanwhile, another part continues with day-to-day life.[18] It is important to know that you are not crazy or weak. The range of feelings, sensations, and beliefs that arise from trauma is the body crying for help and the disconnected parts yearning to come back home. Therapeutic approaches for healing Somatic approaches invite us to bring mindful attention to our bodily sensations, posture, and movement. Somatic practices can uncover unconscious patterns, help the body complete unfinished stress responses interrupted by trauma, release stuck energy, and make us feel safe in our bodies. Over time, they can improve nervous system regulation, resilience, posture, and breathing, and these embodied experiences can be integrated into daily life, restoring our connection to ourselves and others. In particular, the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach focuses on building a compassionate connection between our fragmented parts and the ‘Self,’ a higher, whole part of us that cannot be damaged and inherently knows how to heal. EMDR uses eye movement desensitization and bilateral stimulation to reprocess traumatic memories and convert emotionally charged, implicit trauma memories into integrated, explicit memories, reducing automatic stress responses.[8][19][20] Neurofeedback provides real-time feedback of brain activity and can help regulate neural oscillations associated with calmer nervous system states. It has been shown to reduce PTSD severity by improving cognitive control, emotional regulation, and dissociative symptoms.[21][22] Equine-assisted therapy can help individuals with severe childhood trauma and attachment disruptions who do not feel safe with humans. Play therapies, including sensory and movement-based games, help children process trauma, organize sensory input, and foster affective connections.[14] Cultivating self-compassion, along with co-regulation with individuals who can hold a warm and calming presence, can enhance the sense of safety and connection in relationships. Other healing activities that can help regulate the nervous system and engage the different parts of the brain include expressive arts, drawing, music, dance, qigong, trauma-informed yoga, healing touch, breathwork, singing, humming, and sound therapy. Overcoming trauma As Dr. Peter Levine says: “Trauma is about loss of connection to ourselves, our bodies, families, others, and the world around us; as we limit our choices by avoiding feelings, people, situations, and places, we gradually constrict our freedom, lose vitality, and the potential to fulfill our dreams”.[1] Healing trauma involves restoring coherence to all fragmented aspects of the self: cognitive, emotional, bodily, mental, and relational, including our relationship with different parts of ourselves and with others. Another important aspect of healing is improving the connection and communication between both brain hemispheres, helping to place traumatic experiences and emotions in the past rather than allowing them to hijack the present. By understanding that cellular and nervous system survival patterns exist to keep us safe, and by expanding our window of tolerance for distress and our ability to self-regulate, we open the pathway to greater resilience. We can overcome trauma because our body and mind have an innate ability to heal, and our higher, wiser selves offer us infinite support, possibilities, and wisdom. Instead of feeling victimized and stuck in the past, we face our wounds with compassion, embrace change, reclaim ownership of our bodies and lives, and trust that a new path will unfold. Healing from trauma is one of the most important steps we can take to change our lives, creating a ripple effect that benefits society as a whole. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alessandra Mantovanelli Alessandra Mantovanelli, Sound Therapy and Integrative Coaching Alessandra uses a unique integrative approach to help people move from survival to thriving, integrating and harmonizing their body, mind, and soul in a freeing dance. She holds a Master’s in Sound Therapy along with certifications as a Mind-Body Eating Coach, Somatic Trauma Healing and Reiki Practitioner, and Psych-K® facilitator. By combining her knowledge of physics and wave frequencies with biofield and energy balance therapies, she bridges ancient healing techniques with modern science. As the founder of Waves for Thriving, Alessandra is dedicated to helping individuals embrace their healthiest, happiest, and most conscious selves, unlocking their highest potential. References: [1] Levine, P.A. (2008) Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body. Canada: Sounds True, 90,pp. [2] Merrick, M.T., Ports, K.A., Ford, D.C., Afifi, T.O., Gershoff, E.T. and Grogan-Kaylor, A. (2017) ‘Unpacking the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult mental health’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 69, pp. 10-19. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.03.016. [3] Fan, L. and Hu, T. (2025) ‘Early childhood trauma and its long-term impact on cognitive and emotional development: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, Annals of Medicine, 57(1), p. 2536199. doi:10.1080/07853890.2025.2536199. [4] Borrego-Ruiz, A. and Borrego, J.J. (2025) ‘Early-life gut microbiome development and its potential long-term impact on health outcomes’, Microbiome Research Reports, 4, p. 20. doi:10.20517/mrr.2024.78. [5] Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, Williamson DF, Spitz AM, Edwards V, Koss MP, Marks JS. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Am J Prev Med. 1998 May;14(4):245-58. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00017-8. PMID: 9635069. [6] Beurel, E. and Nemeroff, C.B. (2024) ‘Early life adversity, microbiome, and inflammatory responses’, Biomolecules, 14, p. 802. doi: 10.3390/biom14070802. [7] Van der Watt, A.S.J., Du Plessis, S., Ahmed, F., Roos, A., Lesch, E. and Seedat, S. (2024) ‘Hippocampus, amygdala, and insula activation in response to romantic relationship dissolution stimuli: a case-case-control fMRI study on emerging adult students’, Journal of Affective Disorders, 356, pp. 604-615. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.059. [8] Van der Kolk, B. (2014) The body keeps the score: brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. New York: Viking Press. [9] Arnsten, A.F.T. (2009) ‘Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function’, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10, pp. 410-422. doi:10.1038/nrn2648. [10] Lee, S.W., Gerdes, L., Tegeler, C.L., Shaltout, H.A. and Tegeler, C.H. (2014) ‘A bihemispheric autonomic model for traumatic stress effects on health and behavior’, Frontiers in Psychology, 5, Article 843. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00843. [11] Herman, J.L. (2015) Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror. 2nd ed. New York: Basic Books. [12] Ho, J.M.C., Chan, A.S.W., Luk, C.Y. and Tang, P.M.K. (2021) ‘Book review: The body keeps the score: brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma’, Frontiers in Psychology, 12, p. 704974. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.704974. [13] Bremner, J.D. (2006) ‘Traumatic stress: effects on the brain’, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 8(4), pp. 445-461. [14] Kearney, B.E. and Lanius, R.A. (2022) ‘The brain-body disconnect: a somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders’, Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, p. 1015749. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1015749. [15] Blithikioti, C., Nuño, L., Guell, X., Pascual-Diaz, S., Gual, A., Balcells-Olivero, M. and Miquel, L. (2022) ‘The cerebellum and psychological trauma: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies’, Neurobiology of Stress, 17, p. 100429. doi: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100429. [16] Tian, T., Zu, Z., Liu, D., Feng, J. and Zhu, W. (2025) ‘Impact of childhood trauma on tripartite functional connectivity within the medial prefrontal circuit and the tapetum of the corpus callosum’, Journal of Affective Disorders, 390, p. 119849. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.119849. [17] Schiffer, F. (2022) ‘Dual-Brain Psychology: a novel theory and treatment based on cerebral laterality and psychopathology’, Frontiers in Psychology, 13, p. 986374. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.986374. [18] Fisher, J. (2017) ‘Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment: a new approach to treating unsafe behaviour’, Australian Psychologist, 3(1), Article no. 007. [19] Van der Kolk, B. (2000) ‘Post-traumatic stress disorder and the nature of trauma’, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 2(1), pp. 7-22. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2000.2.1/bvdkolk. [20] Coubard, O.A. (2015) ‘Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) re-examined as cognitive and emotional neuroentrainment’, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, Article 1035. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.01035. [21] Askovic, M., Murdoch, S., Mayer-Pelinski, R., Watters, A.J., Elhindi, J., Aroche, J., Kropotov, J.D. and Harris, A.W.F. (2025) ‘Enhanced cognitive control following neurofeedback therapy in chronic treatment-resistant PTSD among refugees: a feasibility study’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, p. 1567809. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1567809 [22] Harmelech, T., Hendler, T., Gurevitch, G., Fine, N., Fruchter, E., Amital, D., Goldental, N., Gross, R., Robinson, M.A., Lebois, L.A.M., Kaufman, M. and Tendler, A. (2025) ‘Amygdala-targeted neurofeedback for dissociative symptoms in PTSD: converging evidence from three independent studies’, Psychiatry Research, 353, p. 116752. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116752.

Written by Lorraine Kenlock, Holistic Psychotherapist Lorraine Kenlock is a Turks & Caicos-based psychotherapist specializing in trauma, ADHD, and mind-body nutrition. With advanced training in EMDR and somatic therapies, she helps clients across the Caribbean heal through culturally-attuned online and in-person sessions." When yoga classes, mindfulness apps, and spa days can’t soothe a nervous system that never gets to rest. Wellness has become a language of modern life. We speak it fluently now, through yoga studios on every corner, meditation apps on our phones, morning routines optimised for calm, and spa days carefully scheduled into busy calendars. Wellness promises balance, presence, and resilience. It promises that if we do the right practices, often enough, we will finally feel better. And yet, beneath all of this effort, many people feel quietly exhausted. Not just tired, but worn. Not just stressed, but unsettled. As if no amount of stretching, breathing, or self-care quite reaches the place where the fatigue lives. This is not a contradiction. It is a clue. The wellness paradox We live in the most wellness-aware era in history, and also one of the most dysregulated. People know how to meditate. They know the value of movement. They understand the importance of rest. And still, their bodies remain tense, their minds restless, their sleep shallow. The paradox lies here, wellness practices are often expected to do what only safety and recovery can. Yoga classes, mindfulness apps, and spa days are designed to support regulation. But they cannot override a nervous system that is constantly being asked to perform, adapt, and endure without pause. A nervous system shaped by modern life The nervous system evolved for short bursts of stress followed by recovery. Hunt, flee, rest. Act, then restore. Modern life rarely offers that rhythm. Instead, the body is asked to: Stay alert for constant communication Make hundreds of small decisions daily Perform emotionally while remaining composed Manage uncertainty without resolution Be productive, available, and resilient. To the nervous system, this doesn’t feel like ambition or opportunity. It feels like a continuous demand. Over time, the body adapts by staying “on.” Muscles tighten. Breathing becomes shallow. Sleep becomes lighter. The nervous system remains vigilant, not because something is wrong, but because something never ends. Why slowing down can feel so hard Many people report an unexpected experience when they try to rest, anxiety rises instead of falling. Stillness feels uncomfortable. Quiet feels loud. The body resists slowing down. This is often misinterpreted as impatience, lack of discipline, or an overactive mind. In reality, it is a nervous system that has learned to associate safety with motion, productivity, or vigilance. When the body has been bracing for a long time, stopping removes the distraction. Sensations, emotions, and fatigue that were postponed come rushing forward. The nervous system isn’t rejecting wellness, it’s revealing how much it has been carrying. When wellness becomes another performance In wellness culture, care is often framed as something to be done well. Morning routines perfected. Meditation streaks maintained. Progress tracked. Results expected. What begins as support can quietly turn into pressure. Instead of asking, What does my body need? We ask, Why can’t I keep up with this? The nervous system does not relax under expectation. It tightens. And when wellness becomes another area of self-evaluation, it risks reinforcing the very stress it aims to relieve. The missing conversation: Safety What most wellness conversations leave out is the role of felt safety. The nervous system regulates not through intention, but through experience. It calms when it repeatedly receives signals that it is no longer under threat. Safety is not abstract. It is physiological. It is built through: Predictability and rhythm Reduced urgency Emotional connection without performance Time without monitoring or evaluation Rest that doesn’t need to be earned Without these conditions, even the most well-designed wellness practices struggle to take root. Relief vs. Regulation A massage can relax muscles. A yoga class can quiet the mind. A spa day can offer a moment of ease. But relief is temporary. Regulation is cumulative. Relief is a pause from stress. Regulation is a new baseline. Without ongoing signals of safety, the nervous system will always return to what it knows best, vigilance. This is why wellness can feel like something we constantly need to “revisit,” rather than something that slowly becomes embodied. Where healing actually happens Nervous system healing rarely happens in dramatic moments. It unfolds quietly, in ordinary experiences that teach the body it no longer has to brace. Moments like: Ending a day without rushing into the next one Being emotionally met without explanation Moving gently instead of pushing through Sleeping without anticipating tomorrow’s demands Doing nothing, and not apologising for it These moments may seem small. But to the nervous system, they are profound. They create new expectations. New patterns. New possibilities for rest. Rethinking wellness as a cultural practice True wellness is not about optimisation. It is about softening the conditions of daily life. It asks us to reconsider: How much urgency do we normalize How often is rest postponed How productivity becomes identity How care is framed as personal responsibility rather than shared culture Wellness is not something we accomplish. It is something the body gradually allows when life becomes less demanding on the nervous system. A kinder question Instead of asking: Why can’t I relax? A more compassionate question might be: What has my body been asked to carry for too long? When we begin there, wellness stops being a performance. It becomes a process of remembering how to live in a body that feels safe enough to exhale. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lorraine Kenlock Lorraine Kenlock, Holistic Psychotherapist Lorraine Kenlock is a psychotherapist specializing in trauma, ADHD, and the mind-body connection, with a unique focus on Caribbean mental health. Blending EMDR, nutritional psychology, and culturally attuned therapy, she helps clients heal from chronic pain, grief, and shame, both in Turks & Caicos and online. Her groundbreaking work bridges island traditions with modern neuroscience, offering a fresh perspective on resilience.

Written by Gabriel Azuola, Head of the House of Azuola Legal strategist, founder of Cola Blanca Consulting, and Head of the House of Azuola, advising global FinTech and public institutions on regulation, governance, and strategic growth. Dedicated to ethical leadership, institutional development, and responsible innovation. I have just finished watching the new Amazon Prime documentary Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision. These are ten lessons from His Majesty’s work, lessons that we can apply to our own lives, regardless of who we are or where we come from. Over the past decade, a significant part of my professional career has been devoted, among other areas, to the field of sustainable development. While working as the Executive Director of the Costa Rican Foundation for Sustainable Development, Entebbe, I had the opportunity to participate in COP16 in Cali, Colombia, in 2024, a landmark summit for global biodiversity and the protection of natural ecosystems. Protecting the environment and the oceans has certainly become a passion for me, and something I intend to continue pursuing in the years ahead. That being said, I watched Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision three times, back-to-back, because I sensed something in it that deserved more than a headline. Some works are not meant to be consumed once, they are meant to be listened to until their deeper argument becomes audible. Furthermore, anyone who has worked or volunteered in these fields can recognise the pioneering and extraordinary work His Majesty The King has carried out for decades in defence of the environment, and, by extension, of our shared home, the planet itself. Nevertheless, I must admit that until this documentary, I had never fully understood the deeper pursuit that has guided His Majesty for so long, what he calls “Harmony.” In this documentary, His Majesty not only gives us a truly magisterial lesson on his vision, but also offers the public a rare opportunity to enter his mind, and, to a certain extent, his personal struggles, his experience of criticism and ridicule, and his resilience in continuing to pursue a long-term vision for the protection of our planet and the search for Harmony. As presented in the documentary, Harmony is not a vague ideal, nor a sentimental slogan. It is the recognition that nature has the power to both teach and heal, that the world is shaped by an underlying order, a kind of natural mathematics, and that everything is connected, nothing truly separated. It is the understanding that we are not apart from nature, but part of it. Harmony, in The King’s vision, is also about bringing together different elements, different backgrounds, disciplines, traditions, and systems, so that they function as one. It is about drawing from the best of the past to create something new, resilient, and sustainable. And perhaps most importantly, it is a reminder, that we all share, and that remembering what we share heals, preserves, and saves. In that sense, Harmony is not something reserved for kings, scientists, or architects. It is something any of us can find, a way of bringing things back together again, and of returning nature to every aspect of our lives. Yet beyond the definition itself, what stayed with me most after watching this documentary was something even more practical, the lessons. Because Finding Harmony is not only a statement of vision, it is also, quietly, a masterclass in leadership, perseverance, and the discipline of living according to one’s principles. For that reason, I would like to focus on ten lessons I personally took from His Majesty’s work in this documentary, and ten lessons I believe all of us can apply, regardless of our background, profession, or place in the world. Lesson 1: Childhood passions shape lifelong achievements In His Majesty’s own words, he began worrying from a young age about the effects of modern life on the natural world. He was deeply concerned about the impact that new technologies and growing patterns of consumption were having on ecosystems and on life itself. What struck me most is that he did not set those concerns aside as a passing phase, nor did he allow them to disappear as the responsibilities of his title grew. Instead, he carried that early conviction forward, and transformed it into decades of consistent work. From this, I take a lesson that feels both simple and demanding, we can almost always find a way to pursue the dreams that matter to us, and to fight the battles we consciously choose to fight, even when life becomes complex. That is what it means to remain truthful to oneself. And it is precisely why it is worth looking back to our teenage dreams, not with nostalgia, but with honesty, and asking what once gave us passion, and what part of it we may still be called to fulfil. Lesson 2: Lead by example, your home should reflect your ideas Since His Majesty, then The Prince of Wales, moved to Highgrove in the 1980s, he turned his home into a living test bed for his ideas about Harmony. Highgrove was not merely a residence, it became a place where principles could be tested, refined, and made visible. Robert Greene’s Law 9, from The 48 Laws of Power, advises us to win through actions, never through argument. It seems to me that the young Prince of Wales understood this instinctively. He knew that the only way to validate a long-term vision was not by relying on his future title or public platform, but by building credibility through what he could demonstrate with his own hands, on his own land. He took what was once an empty landscape and began, patiently, to restore it. He rescued threatened heritage varieties of flora and proved their value through practice, not theory. Through trial and error, he brought nature back into farming and gardening at a time when much of the modern world was moving in the opposite direction, towards chemicals, pesticides, industrial fertilisers derived from fossil fuels, and the wider logic of “quick efficiency” at any cost. He was ridiculed. He was labelled extreme. He was dismissed by headlines. Yet he did not argue. He continued. And over time, the results spoke for themselves. His organic initiative, Duchy Originals, became a national brand, and according to the documentary, has generated over £50 million for charitable causes. The lesson for me is clear, sometimes the most meaningful work must begin quietly, within the discipline of our own homes. We build, we improve, we persist, we ignore the noise, and eventually, we let the outcome become the argument. Lesson 3: Put your ideas in the service of others After his success at Highgrove, His Majesty chose to pursue a larger and far more complex ambition, to test whether Harmony could benefit not only a piece of land, but an entire community. In the 2000s, he acquired Dumfries House in Scotland, an estate surrounded by an area deeply affected by industrial decline. His intention was not merely to restore a beautiful place, but to heal what was broken around it. The goal was to regenerate land, create sustainable opportunity, and prove that renewal is possible through a different relationship with nature, work, and community. What stands out is that Dumfries House was not saved as a museum object, something preserved only to be admired from a distance. It was saved as a living project, a place meant to bring balance, vitality, and dignity back to local life. In the documentary, one senses that His Majesty is driven by a simple but rare instinct, not to leave things broken if they can be repaired. The lesson is clear, passions become truly meaningful when they move beyond personal fulfilment and find a way to serve others, when what we love doing becomes, in some form, a contribution. Lesson 4: Don’t wait for opportunities, build them One of the most striking moments in the documentary comes when the work at Dumfries House begins and a very practical problem appears, the necessary workforce simply did not exist. They could not find stonemasons or carpenters, so they started training them. They needed people with hospitality skills, and the staff they required was not available, so they created the courses and taught them. This is leadership in its most concrete form, not complaining about the absence of resources, but building what is missing so that the vision can become real. The lesson applies far beyond estates and restoration projects. Life does not always hand us the tools, platforms, or specialists required to fulfil our ambitions. Sometimes we must create the opportunity ourselves. And if, in the process, we can lift others, giving them not only work, but direction and dignity, then the value of what we build becomes far greater than the original goal. Lesson 5: Find Harmony with God Midway through the documentary, we see His Majesty walk quietly into his garden and take a moment of gratitude, praising God for the gift of having lived long enough to witness the fruits of his own harvest. He then shows a small sanctuary he built within the garden, bearing a simple inscription: “Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord.” It is a short scene, almost easy to overlook, yet it may be one of the most revealing moments in the entire film. Because it makes something clear: Harmony, as His Majesty understands it, is not only about landscapes, architecture, farming, or sustainability. It is also about the inner world. It is about restoring a right relationship between ourselves and the Creator, a humility that recognises that we are not the authors of life, but its stewards. In an age obsessed with control, that may be the deepest form of Harmony of all. Lesson 6: If you don’t like something, challenge it Inspired by his education in architecture, His Majesty began to challenge the way Britain was building its cities. He questioned not only the aesthetics of modern development, but the deeper philosophy behind it, the idea that efficiency alone is enough, even when it produces places that feel soulless, fragmented, and disconnected from human scale. The documentary reminded me of something I have written about before, when something is not right, when it goes against truth, dignity, or Harmony, one should not remain silent. There is a responsibility to say what needs to be said, even when doing so is unpopular. Because that, in the end, is what it means to speak the truth, for a deeper reflection on this principle, see my Brainz Magazine article “What Our Words Reveal About Us” Yet what makes this lesson even more powerful is that His Majesty did not stop at criticism. When arguments were not enough, he returned to the principle of leading by example. He proved his point through action by helping bring to life Poundbury, in Dorchester, a real town built to demonstrate that a different model of development is possible. Lesson 7: Everything we build in this era must be in harmony with nature One of the documentary’s most consistent messages is that Harmony is not an optional aesthetic, it is a requirement for survival. Whether we speak of homes, cities, farms, or entire economies, the era of building against nature is coming to an end. His Majesty’s vision insists on a simple truth that modern life often forgets, nature is not a background to human progress. It is the foundation that makes progress possible. When we design systems that ignore natural limits, we do not become more advanced, we become more fragile. The lesson is therefore both practical and moral, everything we build in this century must either work with nature, or it will eventually collapse under the weight of its own imbalance. Lesson 8: Don’t limit your vision to one place, think globally What the documentary makes clear is that His Majesty never treated Harmony as a purely British idea, or as a project confined to the United Kingdom, or even to the Commonwealth. Instead, he sought to carry its principles across borders, cultures, and regions, speaking to a wider human responsibility. Because some visions are not meant to remain local. When an idea is truly rooted in nature, it becomes universal by definition. Soil, water, beauty, balance, community, and sustainability are not “national” concern, they are human ones. The lesson is therefore simple, begin where you are, but do not build as though your responsibility ends at the edge of your country. The world is now too connected, and the stakes too high, for small visions. Lesson 9: Build from the goodness that was already there One of the most consistent principles in His Majesty’s vision is that true progress does not begin by erasing what came before. It begins by recognising what was already good, what was already true, and building from it with intelligence and care. This is not nostalgia. It is discernment. It is the ability to look at the past, at craftsmanship, tradition, heritage, and natural wisdom, and extract what still has value, then apply it to modern challenges such as sustainability, housing, and regeneration. Whether you are a banker, a journalist, a politician, an architect, or a doctor, the principle remains the same, look back, not to retreat, but to recover. The past is not perfect, but it often leaves behind foundations of meaning, beauty, and order that we would be foolish to discard. Harmony, in this sense, is not about going backwards. It is about moving forward without losing what made us human in the first place. Lesson 10: Make a difference At one point in the documentary, Amelia Fawcett remarks that His Majesty has spent his entire life using his position, his convening ability, and his platform to make a difference. It is a simple statement, yet it captures something essential about what leadership should mean. Because the point of influence is not visibility. The point of influence is responsibility. And the purpose of responsibility is to leave things better than we found them. This is the final lesson I took from Finding Harmony, we should always aim to make a difference, however small, and to improve what is within our reach. We can begin immediately by applying the lessons above, starting in our own homes, expanding to our communities, ignoring the critics, and letting our actions become our proof. We do not need to begin with a platform. But we do need to begin with courage. We can educate ourselves, train ourselves, refine our skills, and dare to build something that serves others. In the end, Harmony is not only a vision to admire. It is a responsibility to live. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Gabriel Azuola Gabriel Azuola, Head of the House of Azuola Gabriel Azuola is a legal strategist and founder of Cola Blanca Consulting, advising FinTech firms, investors, and public institutions across global markets. He has guided cross-border regulatory strategy and high-value capital mobilization, contributing to ventures surpassing $150 million. Azuola also serves as Head of the House of Azuola, a historic Latin American lineage dedicated to civic duty and ethical leadership. His work focuses on responsible innovation, institutional development, and principled governance.