Why Our Seed Is Paramount To Our Existence

December 25, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

For those of us who have children, we have a basic concept of the importance of our own lineage – with a connection to them from birth. Each and every one of us comes from the seed or offspring of a certain union. The unique parental coupling brings together all the genetic characteristics, resilience, and proof of existence – into the entire span of our lives, from birth through all eternity. Our seed, and where it took root, is the essence of our existence.

We become anchored by our birth ancestry in both time and history. Whether it is a family tree, the Bible, the Department of Vital Statistics, birth registration, or more recently the DNA ancestry – our seed is our identity and lifeblood.

There is no physical adoption of any human being in the developed world that can be forced or illegal. If the person was stolen, trafficked, exploited, traded, sold, etc. obviously it is not an adoption. So let’s cut to the chase and call it what it is. An illegal adoption of an underage child – is a crime. If the person was not given up for adoption by their mother as a child, and did not consent to an adoption as an adult, they cannot possibly have been adopted.

During the many hours I was forced to listen to an aberrant high school teacher make repeated and brazen claims that I was his daughter, I remember thinking, “How bizarre. Clearly I am not his daughter, and everyone knows that. So why on earth do I have to deal with this trauma”? He used his autocratic and religious teacher authority to make the false claims. He should have been arrested for his stalking and intrusive behaviours, as well as forcibly confining me for hours on end outside of school hours.

Nevertheless, the Alberta teacher made repeated false adoption claims over a very long period of time. It has to be one of the most delusional cons anyone could ever try to conjure up, and get away with. It is beyond the rational mind, yet it became a real belief. People in the school and community believed him. I just kept trying to escape him. It was all about enforcing dominance, control, punishment, and humiliation.

Since we are trending in conspiracies and conspiracy theories these days, this one is a real conspiracy. The teacher made a deal with my older brother when I was a student in school, and set up a sophisticated and nasty plot over my entire life. I got snared into a trap like a scared rabbit.

The teacher was absolutely obsessed with creating some kind of illusory relationship with me. I repeatedly said no. But I could not get free of these consistent and persistent lies. He was extremely aggressive and punitive, just like my big brother. I was ganged up on. After that, they just added more to the mobbing and robbing me of who I am.

The Ten Commandments tell us not to steal. I knew very little about the Bible when I was a young teenager, but I did know the Ten Commandments and a few basic things. I was forced to sit there being stared at by this creepy stranger claiming to be my daddy-god. In actual fact, he was trying to steal my life, my potential, and my soul for all eternity. Pretty serious delusion on his part.

The Ten Commandments tell us to honour our mother and father. Yet I had to listen to hours and hours of diatribe telling me how wicked and non-redeemable my own mother was. This twenty-nine year old religious fundamentalist teacher who came to teach in a small town in Alberta, had an absolute hate-on for our mother. In actual fact – he did not even know her, other than some of the tragedy and gossip surrounding our lives. He used that information and familial vulnerability to exploit and take ownership of a child.

In later years I began to understand the cult doctrine I had been brainwashed with. But it took a very long time to realize the significance of this guy trying to make me part of his own lineage and seed. How absolutely revolting. It is against every single Godly principle in the Bible. It is against all Universal, moral and ethical laws too. Yet he had no qualms about cornering me, staring me down, and insisting that I was his daughter – over and over and over again. Dare I defy him? Bullies have targets. I had the bulls eye on my forehead.

I am still facing the wrath, exclusion, and punitive orders from both this teacher, and my older brother over my refusal to have anything to do with the teacher – but so be it. It has been the struggle of my lifetime. Why some of us have a heavier cross to bear is something we may not know until the final judgement day arrives.

I am far more ashamed at the concept of being part of the teacher’s seed – than I am of the truth. Like everyone else on this earth, I came from the seed of my own mother and father. I am the fourth child of Harold and Joy Stevenson. I grew up with my siblings on a farm in rural Alberta. No one can rob you of the truth and testimony of your own life. At least I knew my parents – and over time have developed much more understanding and compassion for the weaknesses and suffering in their own lives.

But with the teacher, the more time went by – the stranger he seemed. The profound absurdity of it was a constant assault on my psyche and emotions. I must have cried a million tears wondering how I got stuck with the guy. I never could stand him.

My own brother gave me up for adoption (a con), and still uses every bit of power in his arsenal to make it stick. Since when do big brothers get to give their little sisters up for adoption? He is in his late sixties now, and has adhered to this adoption con like crazy glue.

Furthermore, he is one of the major shareholders of Canada’s second largest construction company. He is filthy rich, with a rich reputation and a huge company to defend. Does he care? No. He just cares about making more money, getting more power, and arrogantly abusing that power. That’s the name of his game.

He has his own seed, and offspring to consider. Does he care about them? If he had not pushed this adoption con with such an absolute vengeance, his juvenile history and background would never have surfaced.

This is an example of some of the Universal laws. A family who intentionally and repeatedly hurts a family member, will bring even more pain back onto themselves and their own family. The principles surrounding this must be brought out into the open and admonished. My brother will not even have a conversation with me about any of this. Believe me, I have tried more times than I can count. This is about finally setting some familial boundaries. This blog is kind of like an ongoing reality TV show. I am trying to reach him with some reality checks.

Rule Number One: The answer is NO. Siblings do not get to give their little sisters or brothers up for adoption. Nor do they get to sell them, trade them, kick them out of the family, lie about the fact you were born and raised together, change the seed they came from, or sell their soul to the devil. There will be consequences at some point for having done so.

Maybe we cannot change the past. But this is the present. They still cling to the idea they can punish me for rejecting their lies about my life. They do not own or control my life. I am saying it is long overdue to STOP IT.

Rule Number Two: The answer is NO. Teachers do not get to make a unilateral decision to adopt a student or a child who is clearly not up for adoption. Teachers do not get to chase down and take ownership of a young girl they happen to get the hots for. A twenty-nine year old teacher who is obsessing about adopting a sixteen year old girl who is about to graduate, and was not up for adoption in the first place – is nothing but a pervert. If the objective is to ensnare the child into the mind-altering world of Beelzebub – it is every bit as evil as any other type of child molestation.

Rule Number Three: The answer is NO. You do not support the villain instead of your own family member. Healthy families do not collude with and side with the perpetrator. Very few older brothers would even consider doing such a thing.

My brother knows full well how hurtful it is to damage all these relationships and rip the family apart. I want him to know – he does not get to set the parameters around my life, and restrict what I can and cannot do. He needs to stop the destructive “hate, shame and blame your mother campaigns”. That means he should at least try to overcome his own mother complex for his own sake. Even though she has died – there will be day of reckoning.

We all make many mistakes, and do many wrong things over the course of our lives. The key is to recognize wrongdoings and put a stop to them. Only then can there be true forgiveness and reconciliation. I know my brother is a very rich, and powerful big shot.

He has simultaneously turned me into the extreme opposite – a downtrodden outcast. He made me into a punching bag, and a throwaway, when I was just a child. Then he discovered he could make a deal with the teacher, and exploit my existence. It was one convoluted and underhanded way to get rid of me. He will have nothing to do with me for defying the teacher plot. He cannot accept reality – especially the reality of his own conduct.

Regardless of who and what he has painted himself to be in this world, and how much he has rejected me since the day I was born, it is not over yet. Far from it. Just as it was with Cain and Abel – we are still siblings. We are the story of one family with unresolved issues and unfinished business. I can accept that much.

But I do not accept my own family members colluding with some goon to gang up on me. Ganging up on family members is not cool. Period. I deserve to have a life just as much as they do. In order to maintain love in a family, we must have trust and respect for one another on an equal footing. It is difficult to trust people when the top dog, wealthiest and most powerful member of the family is gunning for you, scheming and manipulating non-stop. It is time to get over it.

Truthfully, it is Ledcor – a huge company is using its resources to gang up on me. The teacher handed my brother a reference to get a job with Leduc Construction in the early seventies, along with a get out of jail free card – in exchange for the deal over my life.

Now almost fifty years later, Ron is still using his position with Ledcor to continue the degradation, control, and shaming of my life. He gives orders to take away my livelihood. He will only allow me to serve others, without receiving any help or support in return. He will use his power to force a person into the poor house, and then degrade them for being there. His pattern is to punish, and then punish you more for your reaction to the unlawful treatment.

As a young widow and single mother for many years, I am lucky I have been able to support myself, since there was no safety net for me at any time of my life. My brother went into punitive rages whenever he was asked for anything. He has hostile judgment and seething contempt for any display of weakness. He does not respect the fact that some women have to work. He expects domestic slavery and devotion to caregiving others, while working for a living, and yet still exhibits a scathing disrespect and disapproval no matter how hard you work. No one can measure up to his gaudy and exalted lifestyle.

Rule Number Four. The answer is NO. You don’t get to make the fascist claim, or manipulate and pay others to make the false claim that I am mentally ill because I am not the teacher’s daughter. Nor is a person considered to be mentally ill for writing a book about the truth of the past.

The mental illness accusation was all part of the original construct of lies and became their fallback position. If I rejected the teacher, I must be mentally ill. I must be evil and wicked like our mother. There was no way they were going to allow me to be who I am.

In actual fact, making false claims about another person’s mental health in order to set up financial or career gains, or to overpower, dominate and coerce another person – is also unlawful and unethical. Set the manipulations aside for once and STOP IT.

I have written many articles about mental health as part of the defence surrounding their constant attacks on my own mental health. When the teacher became fixated on me, my mental health was under attack every single time I said no to him. He would loudly tell people I was “”emotionally disturbed” and “intervention was required”. He was the one who needed the intervention.

In actual fact I was excelling in school and graduated early. In those months before graduation, he almost destroyed me with his constant non-stop obsession, lies and threats. Those were among the darkest times of my life.

I was not adopted. I did not create the con or the adoption delusion. Therefore they are the ones who are psychotic and insane. Stop the madness. I am obviously not in control of their insanity.

Let these holy roller longtime church-goers know this Proverbs 15:25 “The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries”.

When it talks about tearing down the house of the proud, it is not just the house, but the entire family he will destroy. There are so many dire warnings about messing with widows, but like everything else in the Bible – these church-going religious zealots pay no heed.

But the truth of who I am, and the seed I came from – is girded about my own loins. I was not adopted. I have never in my life been admitted or treated for any serious mental health disorder. I repeat. There is no evidence or documentation of mental illness in my history whatsoever. It is all lies.

These dominant and arrogant men did not pay my way, or support me throughout my life. I worked my butt off as an RN from the time I graduated at the tender age of nineteen until I started working on the online store. I wrote the RN exams when I was still a teenager. The teacher took credit for my academic ability and forced me into nursing. But he had nothing to do with my abilities or IQ and never contributed anything to my life but hardship and sorrow.

There is no other female in the family who has been forced to support a family without any help – yet they condemn me for that too. They treat me like a degenerate who has never worked, yet I have always worked. Of course it wasn’t good enough. Nothing is good enough for our judgemental big brother, and his prideful wife – who has never worked a day in her life.

Even more importantly than all of the above, our seed on a spiritual level is of Biblical and eternal importance to our own lives, and our children’s families. We know from the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares that some seeds are sown for the good, and some for the evil one. Even within the same family, there can be both the wheat and the tares.

Just as it was in the story of Cain and Abel, even though Cain killed Abel in a fit of jealous rage, he could not hide it from God, and it did not take away the fact Abel was still his brother throughout all of time. Killing him did not eliminate him. It changed the course of history, but even so, there will come a day of reckoning.

Ultimately the seed of Abraham is the seed of all true believers in Christ. The only reason I have survived thus far, is by the seed from which I came from. In spite of a great deal of pain, peril, angst, conflict, and many near misses – I was protected through it all.

There is probably no greater time than on Christmas Day to give thanks for being part of the seed of Abraham. We are grafted into the tree of life for all eternity. Only God can graft us into our true lineage. No one can take the seed of our existence away from us.

I am very thankful by my own experience to finally know this to be true. It has served to strengthen my faith and put on the full armour of God. They cannot destroy my mind or my soul. They need to give it up already.

The teacher adoption con has become a very serious and divisive stranglehold within our family. Few people have the courage to stand up to my brother. The teacher really did steal, deceive, divide and destroy. In hindsight, it astounds me how a man as young as he was at the time, could be so diabolical, and cause such long term destruction to our family.

Everything on this earth is temporary. They will be held accountable some day. I will accept and be thankful for my humble beginnings, and the seed I came from.

Our seed brings us great strengths as well as adversity. The teacher was the opposite of what he claimed to be. Ultimately, he got the opposite of what he was trying to achieve. From our brother’s perspective, cutting off his own seed to align with the teacher, was probably the gravest error of his own lifetime. He cleaved to the darkness – not me. I lived in much of that darkness, but did manage to see the light. In fact, to me – hell would be getting stuck somewhere with those two.

In fact, if I had to choose between the two, and if they were bound so they could not attack me, I would far rather spend the time with my own brother than the teacher, who was boring as hell; as eerily ghastly as he was bland. It was like he was dead in his head.

Whereas, at least my brother is an intelligent person with a bit more scope in life. He can actually carry on an interesting conversation if he is in a half decent mood. If he would talk to me, I most certainly would make it clear that he is not going to use me or “my seed” as pawns in the continuation of his self-protectionism. The same goes for Ledcor and the teacher plot.

“Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made us free, and bee not intangled againe with the yoke of bondage.”

My brother, through his cronyism with the teacher, cuts off all paths to reconciliation and healing in his own life, as well as the rest of the family. It is through our seed that both the strengths, and more importantly, the weaknesses arise. This gives us the ability and the obligation to discern right from wrong, and overcome some of those familial patterns for the sake of future generations.

Familial burdens such as addiction, superiority, greed, worshipping money at the expense of others, unwarranted punishments and accusations, and male dominated misogyny related to family violence, can be intergenerational strongholds.

Familial wrong cannot be resolved by cutting off the branch, the fruit, or cutting down the entire tree. In fact, just as I am not owned as an object to be traded off, or given up for adoption by my brother – nor does he own our family tree. He does not get to eradicate another person’s life or spirit regardless of his wrath, hatred and jealousy.

My brother overestimates his power and dominance. The teacher is as far from the seed of our family as the east is from the west. He has his own crap to deal with. My brother’s power is not going to last forever – except perhaps in the place of torment like it describes in the Bible. His punishment might last a very long time, based on the endless cruelties and corruption he has inflicted upon this world since he was a very young child.

My big brother is vastly superior to me in every way. He holds me in absolute contempt. There could be no greater polarization than there is between the two of us. He does not think I deserve to exist. He continues to give orders to control and oppress. He sets up rewards for those who will punish or exploit me. He held a grudge and hatred toward our own mother forever, and would not even go visit her on her death bed. He is the one who calls all the shots, and shuts off all compassion and reasoning.

There is no such thing as equality or accountability. He has the capacity to corrupt and harden the hearts of the family, a huge company, and politics. He has developed the ability to corrupt en masse, by honing a system of reward and punishment. He uses his Ledcor boss power over family members without regard for conflict of interest and abuse of power. He does not even grasp the concept of conflict of interest. It is meaningless to him.

There has never been a time in his life where he has been held accountable. I finally wrote a book about the truth of our past, and within a week he offered a truce. Then he immediately turned around and broke that truce by trying to force the teacher on me all over again.

Both my brother and the teacher are dedicated church-goers. They suit the following 2 Timothy 3:3 verse to the letter:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. and verse 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

On my part, there might be some poetic justice on the horizon. He does not get to break the truce, punish me, and still expect the book go unpublished. It is high time for some cause and effect.

In due time, there will be real justice. Hopefully they will figure it out before it is too late for them. After all – especially as we age, we are really just a heartbeat away from a sudden death finale.

We ride that pale horse with no thought of the end – even though its conclusion is breathing right down our necks.

Merry Christmas. Peace, Love & Good Will To All!

What Does Optimal Mental Health Actually Mean?

December 13, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all immersed in this topic. We not only feel the effects of negative emotions – but we see the effects of a breakdown in mental health on society in general. Obviously mental health deterioration has an adverse effect on the person who is losing it, as well as on the family and community they dwell in. It is a vast and complex subject.

Maintaining stability in mental health involves managing emotions first and foremost. Of the wide range of mental health illnesses, anxiety and depression seem to top the list. Most people who suffer from anxiety and depression manage to lead outwardly normal lives.

It is fairly common to struggle with thoughts of what has happened, and what could happen – and then feel dominated by negative or fear-provoking thoughts. We need to ask ourselves what is happening from a realistic perspective. A depressed or anxious person can remain quite stable, as long as they do not turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. Self-medicating for short term relief or mood elevation, exacerbates the problems. Excessive and ever increasing amounts of self-medication can disinhibit any individual, leading to a downward spiral of an otherwise stable person.

Most violent and antisocial behaviour stems from a failure to cope with life’s circumstances. The number one key responsibility to remain sane, is to manage anger and fear without lashing out. It does not mean the emotions, betrayals, annoying behaviours, wrongdoing should be buried. If it is buried, things do not get resolved and fester away often erupting in violence.

The key is to remain rational and share your opinions using words. If the negativity is being inflicted on you by another person or entity – sharing the opinion helps to find someone to either validate or refute it. In any case, using non-violent language to explain how something is affecting you, will help to get the grievance out and on the table.

The other thing to help alleviate anger, agitation or tension is through exercise and sports. Most people who are healthy with high levels of energy have long since realized they are much saner and more able to cope if they go for a walk, run, swim, or bike ride. One of the healthier mental health habits is to create some kind of outlet that works best for you as an individual, and make sure it is something you can fit in and do on a regular basis, especially when faced with negative moods, reactions, and conflicts.

In some cases, people find their escape route through music, painting, tinkering on cars, washing the car, organizing the kitchen or the garage, etc. In fact, organizing things can be quite therapeutic since it gives us a sense of control over our environments.

None of us can maintain a completely optimal state of mental health 100% of the time. So we have to think it through, and make decisions on how to handle the intense emotions. Screaming, cursing, throwing things, verbal abuse, etc. is a sign of mental health deterioration. If done frequently or consistently, it is a sign the person is going to need intervention.

Part of navigating undue strain upon our mental health is the importance of setting boundaries. All healthy relationships, families, organizations, and communities need to set boundaries. There are certain things we can tolerate, and certain things that are deal breakers.

Fortunately most people can discuss, understand and respect boundaries. But there are difficult people who will not respect boundaries, or who will try to control the life of another adult without even consulting with them. Each of us only has our own life to live, and we get to decide what we believe and who we serve.

No one can take away the intrinsic purpose of another person’s life. They do try – so boundaries are critical. No means no. It is a hard thing to get across to some people. People who will not take no for an answer are viewing you as an object. We don’t have to be treated as objects. We were not put on this earth to benefit someone else, who thinks they can scam and take ownership of our lives and our potential. Get lost – is what you firmly have to tell them, and the sooner the better.

It took me more than thirty-five years to get a high school teacher out of my life. A teacher I did not want to have any kind of relationship with in the first place. Yet it was almost impossible to get rid of the guy. My biggest regret in life, is that I did not set a louder boundary and scream blue murder when he targeted me as a student in school. Someone should have put a stop to his obsessive and delusional claims over my life. He would not listen to me. What an incredible abuse of power he exhibited.

I am certainly not being preachy when I write tips on maintaining mental health, because it was only by the grace of God, I managed to survive the delusional teacher’s lifelong soul-stalking and lies.

There are soothing and meditative sleep channels that help a great deal. A nutritious diet is essential to provide all the regulatory and stabilizing mood chemicals from the gut bacteria, blood glucose, etc. Our moods are influenced by our environment, relationships, sleep patterns, diet and exercise. Never underestimate the value of a peaceful and restful sleep. Rest is central to mood, healing, restoration, and immune function.

Another aspect of maintaining optimal mental health is to work at something every single day. Idleness is unhealthy. It numbs out both body and mind, leading to a lack of productivity and hopelessness. Everyone who is capable, needs to work on something. No matter how old we are, the more we do, the more it keeps our cognitive function going. Making a point of memorizing passwords, sixteen digit bank and credit card numbers, etc. will help the memory. Staying motivated to work on something helps us to look forward to each day.

Games like bridge, chess and scrabble are good for memory and brain exercise. My all time favourite is Words With Friends, which is online scrabble, with a few different rules than regular scrabble.

Taking a break from negative news media helps. I spoke with one elderly lady recently in the grocery store, asking her how she is coping with all the covid news. She said she has stopped watching the news and puts on comedies or nature shows instead.

Her sensible reply demonstrates how adaptable we are. We can unplug from the media for a period of time, if things get too depressing. For many people, growing things, nurturing others, or caring for pets is quite therapeutic.

One bonus to being home so much is that I have learned about the varieties of chrysanthemums, and at the time of writing, still have multiple blooms when it is almost Christmas! There are so many different colours and types. Some look like zinnias, others like bright yellow daisies, and some like small bushes. Others will cascade downward like a waterfall.

In fact after reading up on them, I have learned they are the flower chosen as the Imperial Emblem of Japan. The New York botanical gardens and many yearly displays in Japan showcase these colourful blooms. They have certain varieties growing with up to a thousand blooms on a single stem. Who would have dreamt it? They also seem to like coffee, so we do have common grounds.

Chrysanthemums supposedly only bloom once a year. But I have learned from experience, they do bloom more than once. I bought some in the spring and once they stopped blooming, stuck them in bigger pots, just in case. They grew much larger, and all four plants bloomed again for months.

They will grow stems long enough to go around other plants, to get their faces and flowers into the sunshine. They are totally different than the common bushy small ones you see everywhere in the fall. They get much more creatively unruly, and are far more beautiful, once they let loose a little. The semi-lockdowns brought me a huge appreciation for these gorgeous flowers with so many varieties. It also reinforces the many advantages of living in a fairly mild, west coast type climate.

The milder climate means we have been able to get outside, without all the snow and ice. I think a big part of staying sane and well-balanced, is to have gratitude for what we do have, and what we can do.

People who end up in LTC facilities, often end up there for one of two reasons. One is a physical disability, which is severe enough to take away their mobility, and therefore they cannot get around or function without help. The other, and equally important contributor, is a loss of cognitive function. In some cases, the person has no control over these things. Like cancer and other diseases, some of the chronic conditions are simply bad luck.

But to improve our chances, we have to learn to control our emotions and exercise our minds as well as our bodies. We have to adapt to losses or disappointments in life without losing our mind, or being in a constant state of stress.

Many times I ask myself when I feel worried about something, whether or not it is something to be dealt with, and what needs to be done about it. If the answer is nothing – then accept it as a transient annoyance or trigger you are not obligated to react to.

Sometimes when there is conflict, you have to measure out a response, and put the ball in their court. Then simply wait for a reply. So in this regard, being able to compartmentalize certain facets of life, can help us to set negative things aside, once we have done what we can to alleviate them.

The biggest word of caution, is regarding the roller coaster ride created by drugs and alcohol. Never assume a prescription drug will not have side effects or consequences to your health. Anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs may give short term relief, but getting off them and restoring dopamine and serotonin levels is another matter all together. These drugs are potent neuroleptics affecting the brain and entire central nervous system.

There is no point in being in a chronic state of not being able to see the forest for the trees. Look at the mountains, the sky, the ocean, and the rivers when you get outside. Nature is every bit as beautiful as it was before all the covid fears began. Some things in life change. Other things are constant. Some of what we face each day is completely out of our control.

Figuring out and accepting what we can and cannot control – while leaving the rest to faith – in a nutshell, will also assure us of a sound mind. Good thing too. We need our cognitive function now more than ever before.

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Four Horses Of The Apocalypse

December 5, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

This is a topic I never really delved into until all the recent talk of death, and the reporting of covid deaths in the media every day. I find it surprising simply because this constant reporting of death, is a relatively new thing. We used to hear about murders and car accidents in the news, but not every single long term care death, or deaths from respiratory illnesses.

Most of us understand death is inevitable. Now it seems only the covid deaths are horrific, tragic, preventable, and exponentially stacking up. For some reason, it takes centre stage over and above all other causes of death. Most people will attribute this to the fact it is contagious. But it is not the first time we have been exposed to contagious outbreaks, so what makes this one so mind numbingly catastrophic?

I worked in hospitals. If you ever sat down with even just a handful of nurses, you could hear about the saddest cases, none of which ever hit the news. So the death horse is upon us, whether it is related to Biblical prophecy or not.

The covid death announcements makes one wonder if we have entered this phase of Biblical prophecy. It is not uncommon for people to look to their faith, or to the Bible, during times of uncertainty – especially uncertainty surrounding our own mortality.

But we do have to keep in mind that apocalyptic visions have been advanced by every doomsday cult throughout history, as well as by people like Greta Thunberg on the secular and political side. In fact, every time there is upheaval and change, there are many who will associate it with end times.

I have listened to multiple different speakers on Bible prophecy, and have read about a variety of different interpretations of the four horsemen. Some of them seem rather far-fetched.

There are many examples of how events throughout history, were interpreted to be present day signs of the end times. During the major wars and famines throughout history, people understandably wondered if those events signalled the end of the age. Therefore, one could easily be mistaken by attributing this covid crisis as being symbolic of the pale horse of death.

It is not really the covid deaths causing all the ruckus, but the reaction to those deaths, that really makes me wonder what is going on. The media is on the covid bandwagon non-stop. Is it a real emergency? Or is it manufactured? If not for the media and the masks, would we know it was happening? It seems viruses are just as polarized as we are. They are simultaneously innocuous and malignant. They have been around since the beginning of time – yet suddenly we are overwhelmed on a global scale by a single virus? How so? This has never happened before.

Now perhaps more than ever, it is interesting to examine some of the end times beliefs. In one case, the author and speaker believes the colours of the horses represent emotions, balance, and the human intellect. In another case, the interpretation claims the white horse represents the antichrist.

Various other interpretations claim the white horse represents Christ. But there is not much logical support for that theory, when you consider what the white horse is leading. The white horse is more likely to represent a faux rescuer, like the concept of the knight in shining armour. Except it is an illusion of rescue, one without substance.

The apocalypse is a topic that plunges us into the mystery of the book of Revelation, and the many unknowns about the end times. There are Biblical scholars who have devoted much time and study to Revelations, yet few of them come up with the same theory about the meaning of this incredible imagery and its significance in today’s world.

In thinking about the pale horse, or the horse representing death, I have learned this is the last horse of the four. The first horse is a white horse. The figure on it is wearing a crown and carrying a bow, but apparently the bow does not have any arrows.

There is an interesting correlation on the etymology of the Latin word corona – which means crown, wreath or garland. In the light of what is happening today, it does seem to be an odd coincidence. I wonder if the horseman riding the white horse has a corona garland on his head?

The curious connection relating to the crown worn by the rider of the white horse is the type of crown it is. He wears a stephanos crown, which represents the garland of conquest, as opposed to a diademata crown, which is the crown of a king.

Another puzzling concept is why the bow carried by the horseman on the white horse has no arrows (Revelations 6: 1-2). Therefore, in my own interpretation, the first horse is going out as a conquerer, but has no real or ultimate authority. He leads the other horses, which in turn, creates the awful global circumstances that are carried by the horses following him.

The second horse is fiery red and carries a big sword. It is generally agreed it represents bloodshed and war. This one takes away the peace on earth or perhaps the illusion of peace brought by the white horse. It might also represent an increased amount of anger. Since red is also symbolic of communism, it could be another facet of this imagery. The second rider’s large sword, is in sharp contrast to the first rider, who has just a bow and some trailing ribbons. It appears the red horse has the power, or the symbology, to cause hatred and harm.

The third horse is a black one, with a rider who is carrying a weigh scale. The verses in Revelation tell us the black horse weighs out a small measure of wheat or barley for a days wages. It is only enough to make a couple loaves of bread, so many people believe the black horse represents poverty and famine.

It is interesting to note the weigh scales are to dole out portions of wheat and barley, but the oil and wine must be reserved. Reserved for who, I wonder? Although it is open to interpretation, I wonder if this refers to saving and reserving the best for the elite. Another significant meaning attributed to the scale could be fair wages, justice, and income disparity. It might also point out how unfair it is for the ultra rich to ignore the needs of the poor, or worse yet, to oppress, judge and persecute the poor.

The fourth horse is described as the pale horse, and is widely thought to represent death. In fact, it is described as having Hades following right behind, or possibly even sitting on the back of the pale horse directly behind the rider. In the translation of colour, some will say this horse is actually a pale green. But I think for the most part, claiming it is green is a matter of translation.

 ⁸And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Therefore, we can conclude this allegorical description of the horses is ultimately about overcoming death. It appears the four horsemen of the apocalypse are a prelude of what is to come, as the grand finale signalling the end of this age.

One thing it took me many years to realize, is how vastly different Christian beliefs are. Night and day differences. Polarized differences. And there are differences in the way we interpret things, which is probably influenced by how we want to interpret them, or whether we choose to pay attention at all. But if we do not seek truth, we are in big trouble. To me, that much is for certain.

Our spiritual beliefs are an offshoot of who we are. As a child, I hardly ever went to church. If we did, it was to the local United Church. My strongest recollections are that the Sunday school teacher seemed like she was at least a hundred years old. She looked like Granny Daisy May Moses.

Other than that, I was quite fascinated by the wooden offering plate, and having to put a quarter in when it came around. The offering was always treated as a very sombre activity, with deacons to carry it from row to row. I would wonder if a person could look straight ahead, and keep a really serious, blank expression like the deacons did – then just discreetly pass it to the next guy? I don’t know. I never really understood church rituals as a kid.

Understanding religion got much more difficult when as a high school student, an autocratic religious fundamentalist teacher became obsessed with me. It took many years before I realized the falsehoods and abuse he inflicted upon me. The belief system came from the Exclusive Brethren Mennonites, and follows a false doctrine written in the 1800’s by John Darby. The theology and doctrine they follow is called dispensationalism.

I always kind of thought religious people were superior, and seemed to think they had all the answers. Plus they were the judges of those who are bad. “Oh you are a bad girl, just like your wicked mother” – was the teacher’s mantra. They were far superior, because they had been blessed by God.

I was indoctrinated with false doctrine, without even knowing it. I could not escape the guy. He followed me around school, basketball games, and whatever activities were going on outside of school. He forced me into his car on numerous occasions, and took me to his house for all night sessions of brainwashing, with really strange dogma and lies. I remember being told what a wonderful Christian he was, and was ordered to obey his authority. But for the life of me, I could never figure out what was so wonderful about him.

To me the biggest contradiction was the lies he told me about my own life and our mother, when I knew perfectly well what the truth was. But to refute him brought punishment, so I had to sit and listen to him. In fact, this guy entrapped and ensnared me for life. I am still being punished by the teacher and my older brother. The two of them have been in collusion since day one.

There has been a great deal of pain, deception, and family betrayal – as a result of a high school teacher, who inflicted all this upon me just months before I graduated. From then on, I could not get rid of the guy. He continued to follow me after I graduated, and throughout my life. My rich and powerful older brother made sure he was invited to every family function. If the teacher decided to visit me and I said no, I got cornered and raged at by my brother. That’s pretty much how they kept me in the trap.

He would not take no for an answer. I remember thinking, “for crying out loud, even God does not force us into a relationship with him”. One of the things that took so long to figure out, was the fact there are so many different belief systems among Christians. The hypocrisy is as dark and dismal as those all night sessions with the teacher – and then as glaring as the noon day sun, with all the blinding contradictions.

Yet challenging him, in his mind, was like defying God. Saying no and telling him to get lost meant I must be mentally ill, because his supreme ego would not permit him to accept rejection. The teacher would always tell me my family would not support me if I refused to have anything to do with him. That is only because of his collusion with my older brother. Their plot over my life was based on nothing but lies, manipulations, false accusations, and orders from Ledcor headquarters (my own big brother) – to keep the punishment going.

The teacher has harboured a very delusional concept of his relationship with me from the get-go, which is typical of the stalker types. He was determined to be my daddy-god for life. Stalkers have all kinds of illusions and delusions about those they become obsessed with. They imagine themselves to be the father, the husband, the saviour, the soul-mate – or whatever.

They often develop long-term fixed delusional belief systems about the relationship with their victims. No matter how many times you make it clear you want nothing to do with them – they will not accept it. In my case, he had the escape routes blocked. He always maintained and manipulated access to me, until I really put my foot down. The punishment for doing so has never ended, but even so, it was well worth it.

A huge percentage of television and youtube preachers, like the teacher I got saddled with – embrace false doctrine. Others are brainwashed by those power abusing leaders, or else simply misinterpret things.

The one thing we can be sure about, is the level of deception is sky high. So in my own interpretation of things, the white horse represents deception by those with authority. They give the appearance of being lily white, but look at what they are bringing with them? They bring hatred, division, unjust punishment, and deception to the extent, they will lie about who you are. To them, black is white – and white is black. They speak in opposites. They act and claim the very opposite of what they are professing.

The white horse to me, represents the introduction of this final earthly battle. It brings a spirit of deception and division to set the stage for the rest. The battle of Armageddon, is about bringing all the things we fear the most right in front of us. It is in our minds and spirits. The tension in the plot is rising. Much of it is about the love of money.

Working to earn money is to be expected. Money itself is not evil. It is the love of money that causes betrayals, murders, exploitation, deception, and harm to others. That is when money turns from being a tool or a blessing – into true evil.

Some people serve mammon, and become very arrogant in the process. But in the final judgement, the Bible does make it crystal clear – greed is catastrophic. Even at the time of a natural death, surely people know they cannot take anything with them. Power must be so intoxicating for some people, it removes common sense.

It might be impossible for us to fully comprehend the Bible, to separate the metaphorical from the literalistic interpretations, and to put the pieces together. There seems to be some key elements to help with the construct of Biblical beliefs. The first is of God as the creator. Then it is the redemption and salvation through Christ, and finally – judgment.

How we live our lives is more important than we realize. Our beliefs will eventually teach us who we serve. Redemption is about understanding we were bought for a price. We should know beyond any doubt, who we belong to, as we journey through the process of forgiveness and redemption. If we are believers, we know there will be a final judgement. Repentance has to be sincere and come from the heart.

If things play out as dramatically as Revelation portrays, the end times will be the greatest test of courage and faith we could ever imagine. Yet overcoming such fears, is likened to the analogy of the increasing intensity of labour pains. When we are in labour – we know and believe the outcome is well worth it. The end result is joy, along with a sense of overwhelming love and awe.

Some Christians believe they will be beamed up before facing great tribulation. If we look at history, and what happened to the early Christians, we might get a reality check on the theory of a pre-tribulation rapture. There is no Biblical evidence to support that claim either. But, you can always find stuff in the Bible to suit what you want to believe. What could be more desirable than an escape into the clouds just when the going gets tough?

Others believe there will be a rapture at the half way point of the great tribulation. In my mind, neither of these theories hold water. The rapture theory is steeped in dispensationalism, which I know beyond a shadow of a doubt by my own experiences, as being false and evil to the core. Personally, I reject all the pre-tribulation and mid-tribulation theories. In fact, there cannot even be a measuring of time to claim there will be a seven year tribulation in the first place. I think it is clear there will be tribulation, but the length of time is unknown.

Some people believe there will be a never ending hellfire for non-believers. Some think people go straight to heaven when they die. Others believe we rest or sleep until Christ returns.

To be honest, even though most televangelist preachers and mainstream churches teach pre-tribulation rapture, the takeover by a single anti-christ, and a seven year tribulation – for the most part, those concepts are not part of the Biblical dramatizations. I’m no Bible scholar. But I have evaluated the most pessimistic and terrifying of the fundamentalist beliefs I was indoctrinated with, and find it to be false. The John Darby bible is false doctrine. John Darby made hundreds of changes to the original Bible, yet few Christians seem to realize this.

The Bible does not describe a single anti-christ, but many antichrists, and often refers to it as the spirit of the antichrist. The Bible consistently tells us that no one knows when Christ will return. Therefore, all the unlocking of the timelines from the book of Daniel is futile. The same goes for the dispensations, or timelines as crafted and outlined by Darby.

We are also told many times throughout the Bible, that to God, a day can be as a thousand years, and vice versa. So we simply do not know the timelines, otherwise people would be able to accurately interpret the return of Christ. Therefore those timelines go out the window with the rest of false doctrine.

Another set of beliefs places the prophecies of Revelation as past tense. They claim the tribulation already took place in 70AD, and the evil ruler or antichrist was Nero. This particular belief system envisions a world that is becoming increasingly better, not worse. We are going in the direction of Utopia, not great tribulation.

Although placing tribulation in past tense is an optimistic interpretation, it does not make sense either, because Nero has nothing to do with the end of the age. The events that took place in Rome during that terrible time in human history, did not turn out to precede the second coming of Christ.

So what is the truth? We may not find out until the end of the age arrives. Even if things unfold as dramatically as Revelation describes, some people will be in the midst of it, and still not believe it.

In the end, what we believe, is the final inalienable right we will never have to let go of. We have been warned many times not to be deceived. The white horse and the leader of the apocalypse is the deceiver, or more likely, the spirit of deception.

I do believe Christ will return. I believe the four horsemen of the apocalypse are prophetic visions depicting the end of the age, or the culmination of the great battle between good and evil. It does not mean we can predict what will happen next. But we can see the changes and what is developing now, as an indication of metaphorical comparisons at the very least.

It could take a day, or it could take another thousand years for the end times scenarios to fully play out. With the dramatic changes throughout the world in this past year, it does seem things are unfolding before our eyes.

When we look at the four horsemen, it could seem pretty grim. When I listened to the religious zealot teacher, it seemed even worse. Shaking the dispensational theology loose and getting free of it, totally changed my outlook. It is a relief to know the teacher was wrong, and I do not have to believe what he believes, in order to be a Christian.

But now, I see these things as a precursor – a confrontation of the great deceptions and polarizations we have been plunged into. I see the lily white supremacy and arrogance of false prophets. Each successive horse spells out for us, what follows the first one. I think the period of tribulation varies for different individuals. Some people have to deal with far more adversity, tribulation and persecution than others do.

The conflicting aspects of eschatology for me now are based on the severity of tribulation, and whether it will be as bad as some people envision. There are several verses describing a busy albeit corrupt world. It does not sound quite as apocalyptic as some descriptions. Also, it would appear to be entirely possible to avoid and steer clear of depravity and corruption, therefore be less affected by what is going on. I think tribulation is both personal and worldly, but maybe not as catastrophic as the dispensationalists and other cults would have us believe.

Also the Bible tells us the return of Christ would be like it was in the times of Noah. From gotquestions.org “They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26–27). Jesus was pointing out that, although the people of Noah’s day were totally depraved, they were not the least bit concerned about it. They were carrying on the events of their lives without a single thought of the judgment of God.”

The four horses are giving us the warnings. They are rearing up into a wild and dramatic depiction of what it is to merge worldly warfare with spiritual warfare. In my interpretation of things, we will become more entrenched in spiritual warfare more than anything. Ultimately the battle between good and evil is a spiritual battle, not a carnal one. So many people are caught up in the concept of the mark of the beast. If there is a mark of the beast, there must also be the mark of a Christian, to differentiate the two.

This to me, is a metaphorical interpretation, or should be. The reason I believe so, is because the Bible does refer to the seal of the Holy Spirit as well, but for some reason this assurance gets very little attention.

I think the idea of the mark of the beast being put on one’s forehead or hand is metaphorical. It stands for what you believe, what is in your mind, and who or what you worship. Because what is in your mind, or what you believe in – will motivate your activities. After all, deviousness comes from planning and scheming, followed by doing, or carrying out unscrupulous deeds.

The pale horse of death is what most of us fear the most, especially if Hades or hell is on the heels of that horse, breathing hellfire down our necks. What our secular world fails to wrap their collective heads around, is that we do not face the prospect of just one death.

There is the earthly physical death, when the soul leaves the body and goes to a resting place. The Bible does teach certain things about the time of the second coming. It says the dead in Christ shall rise first. That means believers do not go straight to heaven after death, but they sleep and wait until Christ returns.

It sounds like some people go to a comfortable place to sleep, such as the references made about those who are resting in Abraham’s bosom. Others may not be quite so comfortable – such as the rich man who is described as begging Lazarus for a drink of water, and then asking him to warn his family about this terrible place he found himself.

The second death is the death of the soul for non-believers or those who are not repentant. This death comes after the final judgement. In my opinion, the Bible does not claim there will be eternal hellfire for all unrepentant sinners. It says, “the wages of sin is death”. I know many will disagree, but that is what it says.

How can we believe people go to heaven or hell for all eternity at the time of their physical death, if they have not faced judgement yet? Many would argue it is salvation alone that assures us a place in heaven. But what would be the point of judgment then? Surely there is some sort of plausible integration surrounding the rewards, punishments and system of justice that sets the stage for how people will live eternal lives.

I tend to believe at the time of Christ’s return, the living believers will be joining the dead in Christ to meet Him in the air. Prior to His return, those who are dead, have left their physical bodies and are sleeping somewhere until He returns. Following the return of Christ, there will be something akin to a massive court case.

We are conditioned to fear the first death. But the old saying “giving up the ghost” is somewhat realistic, in that the spirit and soul leave the body. It is not the final death. What is referred to as the second death is the annihilation of a person’s existence following judgement. There may be a certain amount of hellfire to face, but I don’t think people spend all eternity burning in hell. In fact, I cannot even imagine such a thing, and am not sure why it is central to mainstream religion.

I believe the meaning or intent of the four horsemen is to warn us. It helps to give us a conceptual framework for what is happening in this world, and what is to follow. For those who believe in and look forward to the return of Christ – we will see how the final pale horse representing death has been overcome.

The central message of the true Gospel is that death will be overcome. The apocalypse is dramatic, and beyond our comprehension in many ways. But after that, the greatness and glory has just one focus. Christ will bring about the great reset. So even though it seems like things are going to hell in a hand basket, and may get worse in the near future – there is much to look forward to.

Although the wait has been a long one – in the end it will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Then everything on earth, and everyone on the earth – will be changed. As promised – the truth will set us free.

Although any kind of deception, hypocrisy, or contradiction – tends to make us angry, anger is not the remedy. We still need to maintain self-control and follow the laws.

In fact, the most important part of our armour – is peace, truth and love. Against such – there is no law.

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

What Is The Great Reset?

November 21, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

This one is even tougher to grasp than all the covid contradictions. At first I thought mentioning it might lead to accusations of being a conspiracy theorist. Even though this concept sounds like a conspiracy – it is clearly something of significance lurking like an incredible hulk, in the shadowy forms with all the covid hype.

Did you ever wonder why the published image of covid looks like one of those spiked balls, flails, or morning star weapons they used to clobber people over the head with during medieval times? This image has been put on almost all publications, featuring a round ball with red spikes.

Where did such an image come from? Does it really look like the covid virus? The obvious answer is – No, it does not. They have yet to identify single viruses within a family of viruses, under an electron microscope.

For the most part when you look at images of viruses under an electron microscope, you see clusters of amoeba like shapes. There can be a differentiation by the general shape, to help identify the type of virus, but as far as what covid-19 actually looks like, they had to resort to a completely fictional image. Quite simply – they do not know what it looks like.

Where does the spiked ball covid image we see published everywhere, as a purported likeness of the virus come from? This image is part of an emerging trend called BioArt. It is a fictional representation and branding based on graphic design alone. There is nothing real about it. And why they would make it look like a flail to whack people in the head with, is incomprehensible. Yet in the overall scheme of things, it makes some sick sense.

They made the covid image look that way for a reason. It looks sinister. It has multiple red spikes. We have been hammered in the head with the little spiked ball, every time we look at the news. It is a metaphorical bit of squeamish injury to our sensibilities and thought processes. Ouch. What just hit me? Oh right. More covid BS.

Okay, so there you have it, the best non-conspiracy observation of the shadowy form and branding lurking behind the covid imagery. Oh some might cry! How dare you call the little spiked ball fictional! Well, then why not use an image of the real thing? It is the most logical question to ask.

Another example of some far out BioArt being used to demonstrate RNA messenger vaccines and chemotherapy with little scissors embedded into the RNA. Seriously? The image looks like something out of a Walt Disney Movie. https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-new-elegant-chemo-israeli-scientists-edit-genome-to-destroy-cancer-dna/

Languishing behind the spiky covid form, is a despotic fascist archetype from the World Economic Forum. If he could be portrayed as the villain in the plot of a new release of George Orwell’s book, The Animal Farm, I would give this guy the role of a bullfrog on a log. He has about as much charisma as a Gaboon viper, along with the audacity to think he can dictate what is best for the entire world, and all those who inhabit it.

The Great Reset comes from the World Economic Forum, which sounds like a big deal, but in reality the founder is a University professor by the name of Klaus Schwab, born in Germany in 1938. He is the founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum. Yup. This whole devious plan comes from an arrogant professor in Germany.

Honestly, it is one of the most convoluted and contradictory plans I have ever heard of or read about. Next to the objectives of various other tyrants throughout history, this one is right up there. First of all, he claims the world will become a much angrier place. He admits there will be poverty, mass unemployment and misery.

From there he takes a great leap to another log, and claims we will have a greener earth, and the two concepts are not incompatible. What?

Using a double negative, he is claiming the resulting unemployment, anger and human misery is compatible with the objectives of having a greener earth? Since when does poverty, squalor and homelessness make the earth greener? It is just the opposite in fact. Always remember – they speak in opposites. The bullfrog has two faces.

Last I checked, the earth is pretty green. Are they going to change the colour of the sky too? Will they start to make up rules for a brighter, and bluer sky? You bet they will. They seem to have no limits to their over reach.

He makes very arrogant sweeping statements, like how the “global stakeholders” will determine the great reset. What global stakeholders? Who owns the earth? They do? Or at least they seem to think they do.

Embodied within all these contradictory statements, when real questions are asked, he says, “I do not know the remedies”. Well the logical thought process in my opinion is that if you don’t know the remedy, or the cure – how are you going to reset anything?

He claims there will be dignity for all. Yet the title of that particular you tube diatribe was how the world is going to become a much angrier place. How do we get dignity out of anger?

He seems to think there will be equality for women. He looks and talks like he is still stuck in the German fascist regime of the late thirties, so how would a guy like that know the first thing about what it is to be oppressed as a woman?

He talks about equality of outcomes. There is no such thing. If you give identical fishing rods and boats to five different groups of people, does anyone really think they would all return with an equal number of fish?

I will readily admit how little I want to know about the great reset plot, but it cannot be ignored. I call it a scheme, because clearly there is a great deal of deception and arrogance underlying the statements he makes.

There is no compassion for humankind whatsoever in his plan for a great reset. In fact, there is no real plan at all, other than creating human misery, homelessness, hopelessness, famine and poverty – all under the guise of creating a greener earth.

The question is, who benefits from such a disjointed plan? They do. Those who meet at the DAVOS conference each year. Those who think they are the global stakeholders. Those who have the money to buy the mainstream media, which is little more than taking out full page covid ads on a daily basis. CBC is constantly running ads requesting people’s covid stories. How on earth can that be considered unbiased journalism?

Some obvious examples of media deception: In one case they tell a story about a woman with dementia who cannot remember to wear a mask. The gist of the article, of course, is to shame the anti-maskers. If a person with severe dementia can be taught to wear a mask, then how can any cognitively intact person ignore those orders? Since the woman cannot remember anything from one minute to the next, the article describes how the caregiver hangs several brightly coloured masks on the woman’s doorknob because she cannot remember to wear a mask when she goes out.

Here is the clincher. The article goes on to say that when the woman goes out with her caregiver and sees other people without masks – she is aghast to see others are not wearing masks. How can a person with short term memory loss, who cannot remember why she must wear a mask – make a judgement call on random people in the community who are not wearing masks? It is such obvious deception, especially for people who have known and cared for people with severe dementia.

Another article in the mainstream media describes the death of a teacher calling it a covid death, and calling on all people to wear masks to prevent such tragedies. The man had stage 4 lung cancer with metastasis to the brain. He had zero chance of survival with that diagnosis, yet they somehow twist that to be the fault of random people not wearing masks on Granville Street? How so? How pathetic is it to exploit deaths for the sake of media sensationalism and promoting a false narrative? In my opinion it is the absolute bottom of the barrel, tire biting, ambulance chasers, who would write such overtly exploitive articles about grief and death.

In Canada, we have had confidentiality policies within hospitals for many years. If a person calls in to make the most basic enquiry, they are told the information cannot be disclosed. Yet the minute the person dies or becomes incapacitated, the media can exploit their story. How many of these people would have given consent if they knew the true motives behind this?

The next of kin can give consent to share stories, pictures, etc. But those people are in a state of grief, are vulnerable, and it is common for them to feel anger and blame, as a normal grief reaction. Making all these vulnerabilities, raw emotions, and losses into public sensationalism with covert political objectives, is unfair to the general public.

Probably the greatest contradiction surrounding the great reset, is the placating claim: “we are all in this together”. They are telling us, indoctrinating us, brainwashing us, into believing we must not socialize with another human being, yet we are all in this together? Togetherness is the last thing they want.

We are not to see our family members, no hugs, no Mother’s day, no Thanksgiving dinners, no birthday parties, no exercise or dance classes, no singing, no indoor public spaces without masks, etc. What togetherness are they advocating for? See how they speak in opposites?

How can they constantly and divisively drive people apart, banning all contact, and then say, “we are in this together”. Obviously we are not in this together, so cut the crap. Their objective is behaviour modification.

What are they trying to do? An elite few are basically claiming to be the owners of the earth. They will make the rules. They will dominate and cause unprecedented human suffering. And most of all, they get sadistic and arrogant pleasure out of doing so.

They obviously rule mainstream media. But who else do they rule over? If we do not believe the lies. If we do not give any credibility to the lies in the media – what does that leave them with?

If the so called great reset had even a modicum of value to the general public, one might be able to defend it. But it makes no sense at all.

If a problem is defined, fair enough. But how can they justify collapsing all systems, when they themselves do not have the answers? How does any virus, sniffles, a cold, or flu bug lead to a golden opportunity for a great reset and intentional collapse of the economy? The bull frog makes some great leaps of logic, creating these antagonistic paradoxes.

I had the misfortune of being forced into nightly brainwashing sessions as a vulnerable teenager by an autocratic, incredibly arrogant high school teacher. Due to a collusion with my older brother, this teacher plagued me my entire life with his lies. If not for that experience, I might not see through the deception and brain washing this great reset is bringing about. If not for the fact that my own brother is the second largest shareholder of the second largest construction company in Canada – I would not be so aware of how psychopathy has come to rule the globe.

But I do know from experience how brain washing, shaming , deceiving, and making outrageous false claims – can become a reality. They have a single MO, and that is to repeat the lies until they are believed. They will intimidate you if you refute those lies. They will gang up on you. Make no mistake – their end game is domination and violence. They have no respect for humanity. They have a dehumanizing disgust for the poor and downtrodden. They do not think poor people even deserve to exist.

Refute the lies. There is nothing wrong with truth. In fact, there has never been a more important time in history, to let truth rise to the surface. Truth rises high above people like Klaus Schwab. He is eighty-two years old. Would anyone want to be in his shoes?

Buried within the books written by Klaus Schwab, there is a focus on sustainability achieved through a careful management, not of resources – but of people. His utopia or more aptly dystopia, revolves around having “smaller numbers of perfect people”. Someone should let him know – he is not perfect either. None of us are perfect. So obviously this is an ideology beyond human capabilities.

It would be crazy to follow this WEF guy. He is one step away from his own demise, whether he dies of old age, a heart attack, or a massive stroke. Reality of age should not be considered ageism if the person is not acting on behalf of public interests.

He has already reached his life expectancy. Why would anyone want to inflict misery on the world at his stage of life? He has lived most of his life, yet he proposes to alter the entire landscape of opportunity for the rest of humanity? Especially when using out dated, quondam, long in the tooth, antediluvian, archaic concepts?

I often wonder why we are seeing so many men well past retirement age, continuing to dominate world politics with the “old dog” mentality. The adage that you cannot teach old dogs new tricks, certainly comes to mind when you listen to some of these guys. How many old women do we see taking centre stage? It is pretty clear, what is good for the goose, is not good for the gander.

For those who believe there will be a final judgment day – no one should fear it more than the people who are proposing the great reset. They are deceptively using an unseen virus as the perceived human enemy. It is high time we point the finger at the real enemies of humanity.

The great reset plan eliminates love and truth – and replaces it with fear, anger and deception. They are promoting unemployment, isolation, poverty, and global behaviour modification. They have created a recipe for disaster.

Total control stems from insecurity and complete unbridled selfishness. People are turning on each other, and blaming their neighbours for lockdowns and restrictions, when in actual fact, the general public does not cause viruses, and have nothing to do with the plan created by Klaus Schwab.

We most certainly have not caused the disproportionate over reaction to this particular virus. The political leaders are causing it. Covid is merely an excuse to control the world. They have manufactured the crisis.

Goodness and truth will prevail. And someone, somehow – will put a stop to this madness. To those who are encouraging this covid mania – ask yourself one question. Can there be any greater greed or delusion, than the belief you can own and control the world? I don’t think so.

I just discovered the petition on the Pierre Poilievre website:

https://www.withpierre.ca/stopthegreatreset

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Self Care During Lockdowns ~ Flatten The Fear

November 20, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

Most of us have never experienced such restrictions in our lifetimes. Without a doubt we face an unprecedented bombardment of rules, arguments, civil unrest, contradictions, and most of all – things that provoke negative thoughts and emotions.

Fear is not our friend. It breeds worry, blame, anger, hopelessness, and negativity. For the most part, we fear the unknown and the unseen. It’s like laying in bed in the dark with the covers over our head, trying to interpret every noise and creak in the house. From there, we imagine the worst, like something out of a horror movie.

One of the things that helps with fear of the unknown, is to create your own plan for daily living. There will always be some dark days, but the goal is to reduce and minimize the dark clouds that pass over our souls. Central to the “be happy” plan is maintaining practical aspects of physical and mental health during the lockdowns. Since there has been so much fear mongering in the media, our biggest challenge, and the best conquest in this covid era, is to overcome fear.

To overcome fear, we have to remind ourselves that we have control over our own thoughts. Fear is a biological signal that serves to increase adrenalin and prepare us for fight or flight. In the absence of the need to fight or run, it means the fear is mostly irrational. Besides that, there is nowhere to run to. In the past people would flee countries where the political scenarios became worrisome or tyrannical. But with the current situation, moving to a different country is not an option, and would not be an improvement anyway.

One thing we can count on in life is change. Where there is instability and upheaval, we can expect things to change. In the meantime, it helps to do rational evaluations and be thankful for what is stable, secure, happy, positive and hopeful.

Gratitude is central to maintaining peace of mind. If we have peace, as in the absence of war and being attacked, a roof over our heads, health among the members of our family, hot water, heat, and food – basically it is a good day.

The small things can be amplified, like when you see roses blooming in your garden in winter months. Or a burst of sunlight through the clouds that highlights the snow on the mountain tops. We don’t have to go anywhere to appreciate these things.

I think we are all realizing how important our health is and how much we have to rely on ourselves to maintain it. Many health care services are adversely affected as a result of the focus on covid. We have heard so much about the fear of overwhelming health care systems, we are inclined to avoid those services all together if we can.

For many people, part of this entire health argument is to listen to the experts. I don’t think we have much choice but to follow the mandates that are put into place, and wait and see how long they are going to last. We can adapt. But the most important thing, is to listen to our own body and mind. We can nurture and nourish ourselves with the food we eat, and combine it with wholesome food for thought.

If you take grocery shopping for instance. The line ups are longer than usual, which changes the habit of running out for a couple of lemons or some sour cream. Many of the small produce stores are now shuttered, so we have to go to the large supermarkets even if we just need an onion.

Given all the changes around grocery shopping, means that we have to plan the meals, fresh produce and healthy meals to last for longer periods of time. If we can shop for everything in one stop, to last two to four weeks – then we can reduce the length of time in line ups, as well as reduce the exposure to others.

Fresh produce and whole foods are the healthiest for our diets, but you cannot keep lettuce and radishes for three weeks. That means, the planning includes buying things like fresh salad ingredients, fresh beans, peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli, then using those up in the first week.

The longer lasting root vegetables such as turnips, carrots, parsnip, squash, sweet potatoes and beets – are the vegetables to use for the second and third week between grocery shopping. When setting up the grocery plan, the first couple of times, you realize what you are most likely to run out of, and also what things you allowed to go to waste.

After a bit of trial and error, you realize what you run out of and then add to it. For instance coffee cream lasts a week or ten days in the fridge – but you can buy a larger container and pour some of it into smaller containers and freeze it.

Overall, adapting the shopping and food planning to last for longer stretches, also helps with our sense of security.

Most of us are spending more time than usual online. I was listening to some lectures on eye strain and near sightedness and how much this increases with time spent indoors looking at screens, whether it is television, phones, or computers. Getting outdoors makes a difference to the health of our eyes as well.

We all need fresh air and exercise. To combat the excessive computer time, it is best to get two hours of fresh air each day if possible, which is crucial to our overall health. When adding to a daily routine or plan to stay healthy, we are wise to include habits that increase our physical mobility. It is also a good idea to make a point of taking frequent breaks to look at things further away – like the sky, birds, mountains and trees.

Gardening and playing an instrument are self soothing activities. The use of essential oils cannot be under estimated. I have learned to love the smell of cypress, marjoram, thyme, sandalwood, lavender, jasmine, and several others. In fact, essential oils are more powerful than the mainstream systems will ever admit to.

Over the years I developed some severe allergies, to the point of anaphylaxis. The first time it happened was life threatening, since it progressed rapidly before I realized what was happening. After the first time, I had a few more episodes to signal the onset, which was itchiness and rapid swelling in my hands and throat, followed by hives and body rash.

The first time, I attributed it to the last food I had eaten before going to bed, which was blueberries. But the next time it happened, it seemed unrelated to food. I do have some epinephrine in a first aid kit, but after doing some research, I figured that it is a mast cell anaphylaxis, and not quite the same as other allergic reactions.

The second and third times there was an onset of anaphylaxis, I used Benadryl, steroid cream on my hands, and a dropper to put a high concentration of undiluted oregano oil down my throat and under my tongue. The last time it happened, I used just the oregano oil. For me, this is what works to stop the progression to full blown anaphylaxis.

After thinking about how it developed, I could correlate it to a root canal and illness related to the dental procedure that developed more than ten years ago. No doubt, certain things are cumulative. I think there was a build up of allergens, antigens, and toxins, that simmered away systemically for a period of time. It took three years before I would try blueberries again to test my theory, and sure enough, it was not the blueberries that caused the first reaction.

Now I realize the cause of mast cell anaphylaxis is complex, and is related to cortisol, the adrenal system, blood dyscrasia, neurotransmitters and receptors, lymphatic toxins, and stress. If there is a significant amount of stress, it really increases the risk of having this type of allergic reaction. I have learned to manage it, so that I do not have to go through the episodes of battling it and fearing the worst.

I have not had any allergic reactions in the past year and a half. Thankfully, it has been getting better, not worse. With any type of chronic condition, we want to alleviate it on an intrinsic level. If we can manage to do so, it increases our confidence in managing our own health. I realize this approach is not for everyone. But I have managed to stay away from doctors for many years, and consider myself to be better off for it, not worse.

We have entered a period of health interference, where the government keeps announcing how they are “keeping us safe” when nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t mind staying out of the health care system, and for that much I am grateful beyond words. We never know if we will be hit by a debilitating illness or accident, but each day that we can maintain our health and freedom from illness or pain, is a good day.

Most of us can relate to getting a blister on our foot during a hike. Prior to the blister, we never gave out feet a second thought. Then before we know it, we cannot think about or concentrate on anything else. I think it is similar with many things. We take our health for granted until there is something we cannot ignore. A few preventative measures can save us a fair bit of grief, and in some cases, can completely alter the direction things are going with our health.

Of all things to avoid, we need to be very cautious about prescription drugs and alcohol. All addiction is about mood elevation and escape. But it wreaks havoc with our systems and creates a cycle of dependancy and sickness.

It takes years to clear our bodies and minds of an addiction once it takes root. Every addiction has many layers, from the cause, to the effects on ourselves and those around us. For those suffering with addictions, there is hope. We have the capacity to change, and once the dopamine levels and peace of mind is restored, there is a path to feeling better.

As much as it helps to plan our days, from groceries and to-do lists, now is the time to plan our thoughts and bring them captive to our own quest for joy and happiness. The entire media and covid barrage, seems to want the opposite – so the best we can do is defy them with our thoughts.

Some people get mad if we don’t think masks and lockdowns are effective. Or if we don’t believe asymptomatic healthy people should be called covid cases. But, even if we are following the rules and mandates, it does not mean we cannot think for ourselves.

They speak in opposites. They drum up fear and anger. There is misinformation galore. If we can manage to filter out the negatives, and make a determined effort to stay happy, it defeats their purpose.

For those who are abusing power and deceiving the masses – I would not want to be in their shoes, no matter how much money they have. There will be a day of reckoning. There are Universal laws, which if ignored – they do so at their own peril.

What is our best ammunition against the onslaught? There is no greater time to make a commitment to being humble and happy. Gratitude for personal health. Gratitude for nature. Gratitude for the nature of truth.

Truth will rise to the surface. There is no regime of tyranny that has lasted forever. There has never been a deceptive and self-serving scheme that has not eventually crumbled. We have coexisted with viruses since the beginning of time, and regardless, humankind has grown and thrived. Covid is not the beginning, or the end of viruses. It is not as atypical as they would have us believe.

So we might as well add patience to our list of happiness objectives. Let the rest of them wrestle the wind if they want to. We can ride out the storm and wake up with a song in our hearts.

They want worry and fear to consume us? They can pound sand. We don’t have to surrender our thoughts. The sky is not falling. I have been checking it every day.

As far as the lockdown is concerned – salute it with a happy thought. We will be just fine. The more this covid hype continues, the more of a farce it seems to be. They are aiming for the great reset, so they do not want to see the cases go down, no matter what people do. Relax. This is not our fault.

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

What Is Our Soul & Why Is It So Important When We Die?

November 9, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

As human beings most of us have been taught that we consist of body, soul, and spirit. We know what our physical bodies are, and depending on what we believe spiritually, we can readily grasp the awareness of spiritual beliefs, and how they shape the inner person. But what exactly is the soul?

Our soul resides inside of our body, and consists of our mind, thoughts, intellect, and emotions.

For the longest time, I thought I had been targeted by a religious fundamentalist high school teacher because he was a complete self-absorbed king-kong type chauvinist, with the hots for a teen age girl. I also knew that he saw me as a golden opportunity to use as a fund raising mascot for the Exclusive Brethren religious cult he was steeped in. But that was only a part of the whole plot. His main objective was mind control.

There was opportunism, victimization, objectification, and an all out attack on my mind, which in turn led to a great deal of emotional pain. Constant accusations, shame, humiliation, entrapment – were all part of the lying scheme.

As time goes on I am increasingly cognizant of the soul destroying aspect of what he was aiming to do to my life. It was definitely all about attacking my mind and emotions. The nightly brain washing sessions were geared towards thought reform. He used tactics of sleep deprivation, fear mongering, skewed Bible verses, and constant degradation of me and my mother.

He did not even know our mother, yet he had vitriolic hatred for her. She was the most despicable, sinful, horrible creature on earth. In fact, he would claim she was non-redeemable. Then he would drop his head as if it pained him to make such a statement. He would say, “I know that is a hard thing to accept.” Like I had no choice but to accept his authority on who is redeemable and who is not.

I mean this guy was a twenty-something year old brand new teacher at my high school in a hick prairie town of 454 people. Yet just because he was a teacher, he seemed to think it also meant he was god. He had the swaggering and untouchable arrogance like he was the almighty authority over all things.

This was a teacher, who I did not even know existed, before he showed up as some kind of tough guy guru in Warburg, Alberta. Yet simply based on being a teacher, he had the audacity to follow me around, chase me down, force me into a car, and then forcibly confine me all night long. He did it many times in the months before I graduated.

At the time I was a vulnerable student, just months away from graduating and making an escape, from the public school in the small town that had employed him as a teacher. I was born on a farm seven miles from Warburg. He was a complete outsider. Both of my parents were alive at the time, and I did have family in the community as well.

How I wish he had either been arrested at the time, or better yet, got a job in some other town. I would have been spared so much of the agony he brought to my life. If I allowed it to, the rage and indignation over his incredible gall, would have consumed me by now.

For starters, where do our thoughts come from? There are actually Universal laws surrounding thought processes. Our thoughts stem from our identity, which is established at birth or soon after birth, perhaps even before we are born. Our identity and individuality is intrinsically understood based on our family of origin. We exist as a part of, or extension of first our mothers, then the awareness of our own physicality, and presence in our family of origin.

Although no one really knows when thought processes begin in an infant child, those thoughts are inextricably linked to identity, and especially to our mothers in utero and after birth. As time goes on, we get a better understanding of the impact of birth order, and other relationships. Therefore a big part of attacking the mind and soul, also attacks relationships.

When the teacher fixated on me when I was in high school, and had cooked up a scheme with my older brother to make an outrageous and false adoption claim, he was attacking my identity, my mind and my emotions. It was a life long, soul destroying endeavour he stubbornly embarked upon. He also set out to rip the family apart, and make himself more important in my own family than I was. He actually managed to do that as well. My big shot older brother remains closely aligned with the teacher. They are continuing the lies, and attacks into the next generation.

The question of whether the devil or his minions can attack our minds, is pretty obvious to me now. How does a person reconcile the constant lies when someone is trying to convince you that you are not who you think you are? I was sixteen years old when this guy stalked and pounced on me. Did he really think he was going to change my identity at that stage in life? Was he delusional enough to believe his own lies? Or is he so evil that he stubbornly and purposefully continues to lie, in a soul destroying fight to the finish?

There is no doubt in my mind that the number one focus in most satanic type attacks, is the mind. For me, this has been a lifelong battle. The minute I refuted the lies, I was accused of being selfish, mentally ill, wicked like our mother, who was not wicked at all; but that was all part of the whole ruse. They used this ploy to set up a lifetime of persecution.

Our earliest recollections and identity, are based on being an extension of our mothers, therefore I can now see why that was so much a part of the teacher’s repertoire. He repeatedly told me my mother was wicked, evil and non-redeemable. He repeatedly told me I was HIS daughter, which struck me as being beyond bizarre. He had made the unilateral decision that my mother did not deserve to be my mother.

The all night sessions were very dark. The room was dark, with just enough light to reflect off his glasses. It was like something out of the twilight zone, listening to him rant and ramble on all night. One night, I got up and bolted for the door, but he caught me on the landing before I could get the door open. I honestly thought he might kill me, when he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me away from the door. I looked into a face of absolute rage. “You better not try that again” he growled.

He would allow me to go home around five am, so I could get a couple hours sleep, and then get ready for school. I had to face this guy in school all day. He was also the girls basketball coach. He would stare at me like we had some kind of special secret. I felt revulsion to the core of my being, but there was no escaping him or his lies.

During those many dark and tortuous nights when this teacher forcibly confined me in his living room, with his wife and young children sound asleep in their beds, he hammered me with skewed Bible verses, accusations, humiliation, shame, and claims that God told him to adopt me.

The teacher and his wife were a little more than a decade older than me. I remember thinking, “So did they have a child when they were ten or eleven years old? I wonder what the birth experience was like for them? Were they elated when I was born?” It just seemed so absurd I could not process it in my mind. I know that I am very lucky to have come through it all, without losing my mind.

When I was much younger than sixteen, I knew where I came from. I knew who I was. But that meant nothing at all to this aberrant teacher.

When a person is attacked by such a cultish, domineering and violent mentality, it is beyond description. He used his teacher and god authority to attack my mind. He repeatedly told me I had the exact same IQ as his wife. I knew that had to be a lie, yet I was ordered to have the utmost respect for this wonderful Christian. Often when my tyrannical older brother would order me to “Be grateful for the wonderful Christian”, I would say, “What is so wonderful about him? He lies.”

I always had a vague understanding of the soul within us. But I did not really understand it until I had a near death experience with anaphylaxis a couple years ago. During that rapid onset loss of blood pressure and obstructed airway, there was a very temporary out of body experience.

I have not drank alcohol for at least fifteen years, and had not taken any drugs or medications, so was very alert throughout the whole experience. It started in the middle of the night, when I was awakened with extremely itchy hands.

My first thought was that it was some kind of autoimmune reaction, like psoriasis maybe. I tried for a few minutes to go back to sleep, thinking I would deal with it in the morning. Within minutes, I woke up again with unbearably hot and itchy hands. I could feel swelling, constriction and itching in my throat as well. So I thought I better get up and figure out what was going on.

When I stood up, I felt extremely dizzy and faint. I realized my blood pressure must be very low. My hands were swelling so fast, it felt like the skin in the webbing between my fingers was splitting open. I managed to get down the hall and into the kitchen as things were going black, switched on the light, and sat down on a chair, putting my head down below the level of my heart to stay conscious. I saw the hives and scalding body rash, and knew it was full blown anaphylaxis, that it was life threatening, and had advanced rapidly. I started praying, and thinking about what to do next.

I thought, I better get to the phone and try to call 911. That was next to impossible. The phone was about fifteen or twenty feet away. I lifted my head and looked around, to make sure I would not collapse and crack my head on something, and then got up and tried to walk.

I made it just a few feet, before everything went black and I collapsed on the floor. It was like just flopping over, with absolutely no control over my body or the directions I was giving it.

That was when my soul left my body, right there on the kitchen floor. I was momentarily directly above my body, looking down on myself. I remember thinking – if I saw someone on the floor like this as a nurse in a hospital setting, what would I do? The answer was, I would get out the crash cart and call a code.

Then I thought, but you don’t have any of that here, so get up, stay conscious and maintain an airway. From looking down on myself, I knew that otherwise, I would convulse and die right there on the floor. I could not stay like that. I could not even crawl. I remember thinking, it looked like I had been sprayed with Raid. Without the chance to make the observation like that, I am not sure I would have known what to do, so in hindsight it was a benefit.

One of the amazing things to me was that I was like a rag doll, already to the point where I could not maintain a blood pressure, yet my mind was as alert as if I was racing down a mountainside. In fact, the next day as I thought about it, I likened the experience to being in your own private airplane crash.

Things just happened so fast. It’s like, Oh Oh, this could be bad. Then it rapidly got worse. Each few seconds, things deteriorated, in rapid succession toward the grand finale.

Meanwhile the struggle to get a few feet to a phone – it might as well have been ten miles away. Even if I would have made it that far, I would not have been able to pick up the phone or speak anyway. I could not have picked up a syringe or epi-pen to give myself an injection of adrenalin, or even hit a panic button, if it was five feet away. I could not speak or call out to anyone.

My mind was trying to figure out how to survive each second with full concentration, no different than if I was falling off a horse at full speed. There was a fair bit of natural adrenalin that kicked in. The adrenalin was affecting my mind, but you would not have known it to look at me.

It was a brief out of body experience, but very clear. I could see the dust on the top of the refrigerator. I quickly came back into my body, with the command to get up and get in a seated position with my head below my heart, and lean forward enough to get my swollen tongue out of the way so I could get each breath.

After struggling for what seemed like forty-five minutes just to breathe, I realized the next day, that it was probably only a few minutes. If I would have died, it would have been considered sudden, but it did seem to go on much longer. Every breath was such a struggle. Afterwards, I tried to estimate the time frame by the number of breaths I had struggled to get. Each one was a huge effort.

At the end of this whole ordeal, I finally concluded that never mind trying to take another breath, my heart was not going to take another refill. I could feel the impending circulatory collapse. At that point, I gave up and accepted death. Before that point, I was determined to stay conscious, but it was just too difficult.

I remember asking God, why? Why this? What did I do when I was sleeping to cause this? What did I eat? What infection or sepsis, or immune response caused this? In those milli seconds, the knowledge of what was going on flooded my mind. It was like a textbook of information came in all at once. I was about to leave my body for the last time and I knew it. I remember thinking, I am going to leave, and go right out that window and see what is going on out there. It was like there was a crackling of activity all around me.

At that moment I had no airway at all. Then things changed very suddenly again, and I started a succession of retching. I never left my body again. I think the retching, combined with the closed airway, worked as a form of internal cardiac massage. I felt like I was on fire, and in the midst of some sort of divine intervention. It was like the spirit world I was heading for, came to help me instead.

By this time I had third spaced so much fluid, my hands were swollen like baseball mitts. It felt like I was on fire inside. I had chosen to sit up and let myself go unconscious, because it was so difficult to keep bending so far forward to get the next breath. It felt like there was an iron rod in my chest that I had to lean over, which caused a fair bit of pain. If I sat up, it alleviated the pain, but I knew I would lose consciousness if I sat up. I decided it no longer mattered, and would be a relief to lose consciousness.

The only way I can describe what came next, was like a force from outside pushed my head down, and told me to hold on. It was like being picked up, turned inside out and given a shake. Every single pore on the surface of my skin opened up and poured out the toxic fluid. I was soaked, and the floor around me was in puddles. After all the retching, I vomited once. After that I felt immediate relief of the pain and sensed less spasm in my throat and airway.

It was like the core muscles had kicked into a coordinated effort to get rid of the toxins. That combined with the amazing function of how the skin serves as the largest organ, was quite astounding to me afterward. My body got rid of all that toxic fluid, and those reactions signalled the climax of it all. I lived through it. The worst of it was suddenly over.

It amazed me for many reasons, and on many levels. The fact I was able to shed all that toxic fluid was huge. I had seen enough third spacing of fluid to know it is usually an end of life stage. When a person is in ICU, it is very difficult to get rid of third spaced fluids. They have to rely on intravenous diuretics, and risk a chain reaction of causing more anaphylaxis by recycling the fluid through the system so the kidneys can detoxify and get rid of it.

I have never known or heard of any drug that can cause all the pores in the skin to open up and get rid of third spaced fluids. I doubt many people would let anaphylaxis go that far, to find out, if they could help it. I certainly am much more alert to the onset of allergic reactions now, and have an early intervention and treatment protocol set up in case it does. I would not want to go through it again, to test any theory.

After awhile, I managed to get into bed, and hung my head down over the edge of the bed to keep my tongue forward enough so I could breathe. I knew the airway was still quite constricted, but it was nowhere near as bad. The struggle for each breath was no longer the primary battle. The pain in my chest that had felt like a rod of hot iron, subsided very quickly.

Totally exhausted, I told myself I would wake up and check myself every fifteen minutes or so to see if I could move my fingers. After three or four checks, I knew the swelling was subsiding. Within an hour or so, I could put my head on the pillow and fell asleep for a few hours. Within a few more hours, I could close my hand and make a fist.

When I woke up and sat up, I wondered if I would have any long lasting effects. I knew I had to take in fluids and get a proper fluid balance restored, as well as get out of the wet pyjamas and sheets. So that’s what I did.

For a few days, and weeks, I gave a great deal of thought to the whole experience. It totally changed my outlook on death. I always wondered if I would fear death and how it would come about, but now I do not fear death at all.

I never had the same kind of near death experience that so many others describe, because I did not really go anywhere. There was no tunnel or bright light. But the experience had a profound impact on my understanding of what the soul is, and what it is like to die, or at least come so close, you surrender to it. The exit is different than what one would expect. Your body dies, but your soul does not.

As I look back at the many attempts by the teacher, and my older brother, to attack and destroy my mind, there is much more clarity on how it was an attempt to destroy my soul.

Now when you think of the targeted and determined attempt to attack or destroy the mind, in many ways it is worse than attacking the physical body, because our soul is what we are left with in the end. It is what we take with us to eternity.

Why does anyone want to isolate us and then attack our mind and thoughts? How can we prevent such attacks traumatizing us on an emotional level?

When I was young and constantly being physically assaulted by my older brother, he also mocked, shamed, humiliated, and did everything he could to exclude me from being a member of the family. Later on, he schemed with the teacher to set up an adoption lie. How many older siblings get to give a younger sibling up for adoption? Only in my big brother’s world of delusion and abuse of power.

Now I am beginning to understand all the tactics of the soul-destroying attempts by psychopathic individuals. They are constantly in attack mode, or they are setting you up for another baseless attack.

The most recent attack on my mind was set up by my brother and involved a mental health therapist. I got suckered into this under the guise of helping family relationships, and gaining some family support. Nothing could have been further from the truth, as usual.

The construction company obviously has hired guns in those EAP programs. It is strange because all the years I worked as a nurse, to include the aftermath of my husband’s untimely death, I never once used the employee EAP program. But I entered into those counselling sessions hoping it would help alleviate some of the family conflict over the teacher.

The entire counselling episode revolved around blaming me, and finding a diagnosis to saddle me with. The woman EAP counsellor acted like she was out for blood. My blood. I tried to tell her about the past. I told her this was a re-victimization. I told her that what she was doing was unlawful. But she would not listen. If I sent her an email telling her this was more abuse and revenge from my older brother, she promptly forwarded it to the construction company that hired her.

She tried to diagnose me, picking up and waving a DSM manual in the air. She was reminded that she is not qualified to make any diagnosis, so she began manipulating a psych assessment. When I resisted that, she got pushier.

Finally I went, and in the end, they could not come up with any real diagnosis. In a five minute interview with a psychiatrist, telling him the verifiable truth about the adoption con and family of origin abuse, he told me I was delusional.

But since I had told the truth, and the psychiatrist did not do any fact checking – it was a misdiagnosis and a mistreatment. Besides that, in this current world of extreme polarities, is there anyone who is not considered delusional by someone?

To keep it simple. I told him a teacher had abducted and forcibly confined me repeatedly, when I was a student in school. I explained that, in collusion with my older brother, they made false claims that I was adopted by this teacher. I also told him my brother is now the second largest shareholder of Canada’s second largest construction company. These things are verifiable with a paper trail of documentation and countless witnesses.

When the psychiatrist learned that I had written a book about it, he blurted out, “Oh that is just terrible.” How was I to interpret that response? I can only conclude – fascism is alive and well in the field of psychiatry. That was my one and only experience with one, and I will make sure it never happens again.

All I can say is that it is crucial to protect our minds from these kinds of unsavoury attacks. Why are we being bombarded in the media with so much fear mongering and negativity? It is an attack on our minds. Brain washing, indoctrination, thought reform – like so many other things, all share a similar pattern. It focuses on the mind, which leads to negative thoughts based on fear, anger, and negativity. Those thoughts lead to emotional pain, self examination, self recrimination, resentment, bitterness, helplessness, hopelessness, dependency, etc. Those who are basically evil, know they are attacking the soul.

It may have been my own pride, but for years I thought the attacks on my mind were because I had scored high on IQ tests and accelerated through school. But now, I am beginning to understand that this attack on the mind and emotions is not about IQ, it is an attempt to destroy the soul.

If you defy them or if they see you as a threat, they will punish and humiliate in every way they can. It is definitely a male dominance thing. If you cross them on a larger scale, such as exposing the con, they are that much more vengeful. My brother retaliates in every conceivable way.

What is hard to understand is why they did not just drop it long ago. I am not opening up and going public about this on impulse. I have been saying no to this all my life. It has been years of crying, pleading, threatening to write a book, etc.

I reported it to the police several times, the Alberta Teacher’s Association, various Ministries in Alberta, the Warburg school and umbrella school district – you name it. And they still would not stop forcing the teacher on me, which is pretty much based on Ron’s power in the family and role with Ledcor.

Ron will never stop manipulating abusive cons and control over my life. The teacher will manipulate access to me until the bitter end. There is no way I am going to let that happen. So why would they continue, at the expense of the reputation of such a large company?

Why would they bring the dysfunctional history of our family out into the open? They have literally forced it out into the open, because they refuse to take no for an answer. The refuse to listen. They refuse to stop it. What else can I do but share the story? Edification is a good thing. There has to be some good come out of so much adversity.

If God exists, then within the framework of believers, the devil exists as well. The devil knows we will all eventually die physically. He wants to destroy us for all eternity, after bringing misery to us while we are alive. He wages psychological warfare.

Some horrific crimes are carried out that attack people physically, but in those cases, the perpetrators are usually caught and jailed. The less outwardly graphic, soul destroying attacks on our mind and emotions, are not seen for what they are, in the realm of our earthly existence. But they are extremely damaging and destructive to the victim, removing all hope. How dare they?

I used to think if I could only get rid of the stalking, lying teacher, I would be fine. But, the real culprit is my older brother. I hope to get through to him that I will not allow him to attack my mind again. When he could no longer attack me physically without getting arrested, he channelled all of his attacks into emotional, psychological and spiritual attacks.

It is true that the end game in life as we know it, is the battle between good and evil. We do battle against principalities and corrupt rulers, more than anything. We fear the destruction of our body and physical death, but in reality, we must guard our mind, our thoughts and our emotions. We cannot preserve our bodies, but it is essential that we protect and preserve our soul. For that is what we are left with in the end.

“If someone has absolute control over you, it’s easy to believe they have absolute power over everything and everyone. They can’t be defied or challenged or disobeyed, and every opportunity for escape just feels like a cruel test.” 
― Josiah Bancroft, The Hod King

“Riches I hold in light esteem,
And love I laugh to scorn,
And lust of fame was but a dream
That vanished with the morn.

And if I pray, the only prayer
That moves my lips for me
Is, ‘Leave the heart that now I bear,
And give me liberty!’

Yes, as my swift days near their goal,
‘Tis all that I implore –
In life and death, a chainless soul,
With courage to endure.” 
― Emily Bronte, The Complete Poems

Spiritualism & Mental Health Over Religious Indoctrination

October 7, 2020  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

This is a topic that trips us up time and time again. The problem with religion is that, like politics – it is rife with deception. Throughout our lives, most of us will observe many contradictions in mainstream religion, to include people you probably would not want in your home, if you knew what they were really like inside.

Religious indoctrination is filled with a male dominant, arrogance and superiority. Often there are many rules, restrictions, and judgemental attitudes toward what they view as sinful behaviours.

If you get indoctrinated with certain religious beliefs and literalistic or false interpretations of the Bible, it is difficult to shake all that shame. It is also easy to interpret the deception and nastiness as being part of God’s world or agenda, when clearly it is not.

Yet when times really get tough and we have nowhere to turn, we need to put our trust and faith somewhere. It is much wiser to put our trust in God and never mind the religious autocrats who try to call the shots. I always found the fire and brimstone rants disturbing, along with the pious and shaming looks, and the empty stare of the faux do-gooder who, if you can see beyond the glare of his horn rimmed glasses, looks like he would rather eat you alive.

Being in touch with our own spirit, and place of rest, where we can lay the burden down, and ask for help – creates a true sense of wonderment when some of what we hope and pray for works out. It reinforces that if we trust God, we will never be completely alone. We do not need to put our faith in man, and can hit the mute button or walk out, if we don’t want to listen to some religious rant.

Spiritualism is not filled with ranting and raving fire and brimstone, burn in hell forever type scenarios. It is not holding a hand out asking for a portion of your income in tithes either. It is not rewarded with money.

It does not form a political allegiance – except to things that are honest, good, transparent, and true. It does not turn you into a god, or take you away from God. It does not rob you of your identity. It is simply a quiet retreat, a place where we can be deflated and humbled, small and forsaken – without complete desperation.

Meditation calms the spirit. On a spiritual and individual level, we do not have to believe anything – and yet we all do believe something. Even atheism is a spiritual belief.

I tend to lean toward the beliefs and writings of Blaise Pascal who wrote, “truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love truth, we cannot know it.”

And “We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything.” Blaise Pascal

And “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” Blaise Pascal

Fair enough. If we believe in God, and it ends up we are wrong, we have lost nothing. If we don’t believe in God, and it ends up we are wrong, we lose all eternity.

There is nothing though – no threat, no losses, no preachers, no visions of burning in hell forever – that can draw us toward God. It is His love and forgiveness that humbles us the most. He draws us in with the power of His love and mercy, knowing everything there is to know about us.

I am not a church goer since there is so much in mainstream religion that I cannot swallow. I believe there is a great deal of metaphor and things we do not understand about the Bible. It is very easy for religious zealots to misinterpret things and get way off base.

There are now many versions of the Bible, something like a hundred different translations in the English version alone. Many of those translations are made deviously or mistakenly. In other cases, it is church leaders who twist the scriptures to suit their own agenda. We have to search for truth and hold the truth we do find close to our hearts.

Our spiritual life, beliefs, and persona do not belong to a specific church or religious doctrine full of deception. Instead, our spirit knows who we serve and ultimately where we are going.

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Natural Ways To Increase Dopamine Levels & Avoid Dopamine Burnout

March 24, 2019  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

Dopamine is central to the function of our brains and nervous system. But what exactly is it? In the emerging field of neuroscience, dopamine is a neurotransmitter or messenger molecule involved in nerve cell communication. Discovered in the 1950’s, we now know it plays a critical role in central nervous system function such as movement, pleasure, attention, motivation and mood.

But what about our thoughts? It is estimated that we have 60-80,000 thoughts per day. That boils down to 2500-3300 thoughts per hour. What is most noteworthy is that 80% of our thoughts are negative (that’s for all people). Is there any way of figuring out if those 80,000 thoughts in a person’s day are wrong? Delusional? Not acceptable? Not true? We can tell if a person cannot string sentences together and might draw the conclusion that they have disordered thoughts. But – many people who have had damage to the brain, such as in strokes, have clarity of thought, but have difficulty with speech or finding the right words.

In other cases, a person might believe the devil is after him, or that his thoughts are being broadcasted, or he is being threatened by aliens. Delusional thoughts are not based in reality. If there is reality in the history of a particular belief system, it is not delusional – it is a legitimate concern for the person. Truly delusional thoughts are usually accompanied by abnormal behaviours and the inability to self care. People do not need to be labeled as mentally ill for having an emotional reaction to an external pressure, if that reaction is non-violent and the reasons can be articulated. Otherwise every single person would be considered to be mentally ill.

People who believe in God, think atheists are delusional or in denial – while atheists firmly believe that those who believe in God are delusional. Some people believe the Bible is literalistic, while others argue it is mostly metaphorical. Is there a diagnostic test to determine how many delusional thoughts crop up in one persons mind? Nope. Not one. The criteria used to be that there had to be documented evidence of serious impairment, but all that has changed in the past ten or fifteen years. Now it is anyone and everyone who can be targeted for chemical restraints.

If it is obvious or can be proven that a person has lost touch with reality, such as when they exhibit bizarre behaviours, have visual and auditory hallucinations, are severely impaired, distressed, or become a risk to themselves or others – then it makes perfect sense to diagnose and treat them. But in recent years, hundreds of fairly normal or justifiable behaviours and thoughts have been turned into illnesses. Active children are drugged with Ritalin. People who are not even noticeably mentally ill are being treated with potent neuroleptics. Life has its struggles – we should be allowed to do our level best to overcome them without interference or loss of autonomy.

In real medicine, every doctor and specialist relies on a detailed history and a battery of tests before making a diagnosis. Conclusions are drawn based on evidence of cellular pathology and abnormal test results, which can be tracked and measured. Even at that, getting a second opinion might bring about an entirely different diagnosis, simply based on the interpretation of results.

In a rational and evidence based reality, and according to all medical diagnostics, diseases cannot be identified based solely on brief interviews, especially when they involve subjective value judgements, power imbalances and coercion. There are way too many blind spots along with a lack of objective data. Perhaps this is the reason for a lack of cure in the field of psychiatry. In all other aspects of medicine, the objective is to cure the disease. Another very interesting thing to note about the field of psychiatry, is that they themselves have a much higher rate of suicide and mental health disorders than the general population does.

No one can track or measure a persons thoughts in order to make a diagnosis about thoughts. It is purely subjective, and can only be deemed pathological if the person is acting on thoughts in a way that threatens public safety or contributes to a disturbance of the peace. Given that I have a medical background, I am very skeptical of any opinion or diagnosis that has no diagnostic criteria whatsoever.

For example, those who worry about accidents that never happen, about children out for the night, or get obsessive about germs, or worry they have a cheating spouse, yet he is not having affair – are actually fairly common delusions. The same goes for those who refuse to believe a cheating spouse is having an affair, or that their fifteen year old is taking heroin – are also things that reflect an altered reality, because they are in denial of the truth.

The solution to dealing with life’s problems has to be around gaining insight and wisdom. We each have a unique life journey and challenges, therefore finding out how to be open to what is happening, without fretting over things that are not happening is important, yet tricky.

How many of us are freaking afraid of spiders, garter snakes and mice? Those are irrational fears, because non-poisonous little vermin cannot hurt us. We are bigger and smarter than they are, yet some of us will go straight up and screech the house down at the sight of one.

I know because they scare me too. I have tried to convince myself not to have such an adrenalin rush over them. If there are any snakes or mice around, the only workable solution I have come up with, is to wear shoes (not barefoot or sandals) and try to make a fair bit of noise, so they don’t run or slither under my feet – or come near me. I sat down one day after a close encounter with a mouse – and I asked myself, with pounding heart and my feet up on a chair. What is it about them?

I know mice and garter snakes are harmless, and they don’t want to encounter me either, so what is the problem? I theorized that the adrenalin reaction is mostly because I am afraid of stepping on one, especially in bare feet. It is the tactile and imagined feeling of having a snake or mouse under my foot that freaks me out. Come to think of it – I did step on a coiled up garter snake once in my bare feet. I shrieked loud enough to sound an alarm like there was an axe murder underway. To some people – it is laughable and ridiculous to be afraid of a harmless small animal. Is it a feature of mental illness? Why should it be? I have never met anyone who does not have some irrational fears, anxieties or worries. Honestly, although it may sound crazy – I think it is normal.

How about those who are comfortable financially and are actually quite wealthy? In many cases, they can build up nest eggs worth millions of dollars – but to talk to some of them, you would think they are in dire straights and have to worry about every nickel. For a high percentage of people who fret about money – they fear poverty, and in many cases grew up in poverty. Therefore they have associations with the loss of status and struggles it brings, are highly motivated to avoid it, and worry endlessly about it – even when they have plenty of money. For lots of them, they have enjoyed a steady growth in assets and income over a long period of time – therefore all those worries are actually delusional.

Farmers worry about drought or hail. They get their crops off year after year, but the fear of such a huge loss over which they have no control, can overwhelm them and cause them to become brooding and negative. We all battle imaginary problems, because we know untoward things can and do happen to people.

A growing number of people fear climate change, end of times, and global disasters. They are prepping themselves, and in some cases become obsessed with it to the point of making drastic changes in their lives. Everything begins to revolve around achieving total self-sufficiency. They spend almost all of their time planning for, and worrying about something that may not happen in their lifetime. Does this make sense to the average person? Yet, they have a right to thought, belief and opinion – so they plan their lives according to their beliefs.

Some people worry and fret about their physical health, and many have imaginary illnesses. Every bump is a cancerous tumour, and every bit of indigestion or false positives in lab or mammogram results signals a dire outcome. Most things we tend to worry about hardly ever happen. However once is enough to cause reactions and triggers from then on. We are not like gazelles grazing peacefully in a meadow, who suddenly get chased by a mountain lion. If they were like us, they would not be able to graze peacefully ever again, but they do – and we too, are best to deal with it more like they do.

Every individual has billions of thoughts, which may or may not be completely logical, or even rooted in reality (such as people who are cult indoctrinated, or even writers of fiction). What about all the near death experiences? Some of the descriptions sound like LSD trips, but who can say what happens but them? Who really knows, and who really cares what the range of beliefs or experiences are? The Orwellian notion of “thought police” is far-fetched, yet seems to be a part of the maladies and modalities assigned to ordinary people, in order to define ideas, worries, thoughts and beliefs – as sickness. At one time this included gays who wanted to “come out of the closet” and slaves who wanted to be free.

What exactly is a delusional thought? It is a thought or belief that the person with power or interviewer does not believe in himself (based on a value judgement, power and dominance, lack of information, or political belief)? Anything can be a delusional thought, depending on another persons value system alone. Beliefs by themselves should not be the basis for diagnostic criteria. All too often throughout history, people have been mistreated and discriminated against for thought, belief and opinion. It robs freedom and all reasonable discourse. It is also a slippery slope.

What about measuring mood? The dopamine receptors in the brain suck up the available dopamine and have an impact on mood. Since glucose feeds the brain, fluctuating blood sugars contribute to our mood as well. Hormones are also intricately connected with dopamine and mood. Perhaps more than any other concept about mental health – is that we feed our thoughts, which in turn affects our mood.

What is a mood disorder? Mood is a result of emotions. Emotions are the primary motivators of all human behaviour. A mood disorder happens when there is destabilization or unacceptable behaviours associated with mood. These include prolonged episodes of euphoria, depression, anger, or a flat and disinterested affect.

It is important to regulate emotions in order to remain stable. The purpose of emotions is to help with (but not dominate) decision making. For example, the purpose of anger is to make a grievance known. Therefore communication is central to utilizing emotion, but it must be done in a way that is honest, respectful and forgiving. In most cases, proper communication will alleviate the negative emotion by getting clarification through feedback.

Many emotionally induced situations result from miscommunication or misunderstanding. Oftentimes we are simply grumpy for a day or two, and it is not anyone’s fault. In this case, we are best to find ways to alleviate it through exercise, music, meditation, conversation with a friend – or simply being patient, and let it go by. How often do we feel dismal one day and then fine the next day? It is a good idea to ask ourselves, “what has changed in my life to make me feel this way”? Quite often it is simply a normal fluctuation associated with neurochemistry or even the weather. Like the weather, emotions and mood vary from day to day, so acceptance of this simple fact, is part of staying stable and productive regardless of how we feel.

We can keep in mind that certain personality factors can make people more mercurial. Artists and creative individuals tend to me more emotionally expressive. Gifted individuals experience more intense emotions as a trait of being gifted. Burn out can lead to a loss of motivation or a flat affect. Chronic stress or a chaotic environment, such as when we are moving, can affect our emotions and reactions temporarily. Major life changes such as divorce, grief, birth of a child, financial losses, and many other external factors can disrupt our emotions. Humans are very adaptable, but often we need time to adjust.

Regardless of what emotion we are feeling, we can know it is temporary, and the most important thing is to maintain self control. Things like communication, crying, or time alone – do not signal a loss of control. But things like self harm, violence, binging, door slamming, yelling, etc. do signal a loss of self-control. All people must keep emotions in check enough to avoid any sort of unlawful behaviours. We also must keep in mind that things like “the silent treatment” and withholding love through constant disapproval – are not unlawful reactions, but are emotionally damaging to our loved ones.

In addition to experiences, memories, negative and positive emotions, problem solving, and responses to stress (which is mostly fear based), we store information in our brains for future retrieval, in order to help us survive. We develop those survival skills and coping mechanisms based on what we have experienced in life. We cannot eliminate memories or experiences, but we can adapt to change, and then reroute the circuits to help eliminate stressful or fear based reactions when triggered. Triggers are usually activated due to associations, or the recognition of similar patterns, even though the circumstances may be different.

There is no reliable method of measuring dopamine. Symptoms of too much dopamine include euphoria, psychosis, aggression, insomnia, and increased sex drive. Symptoms of low dopamine include decreased motivation, sleep disturbances, depression, fatigue, forgetfulness and memory loss. Dopamine regulation is linked to norepinephrine and multiple other neurotransmitters and receptors in the body, therefore any disease process associated with the central nervous system and movement can have multiple causative factors.

The fact there are no ways to measure dopamine levels should tell us that unwarranted and unnatural chemical interference with dopamine is based on potentially faulty guesswork. Doctors are expected to make decisions about dopamine based on medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. If the medical history is overlooked, as it often is in psychiatry, that means there is a high risk of misdiagnosis and mistreatment. There are multiple medical conditions that mimic symptoms of low dopamine. These include thyroid deficiencies, type 2 diabetes, MS, poor diet, hormonal imbalances, tumours, certain types of cancer, and addictive substances.

Anything that interferes with or artificially increases dopamine will eventually burn out the dopamine stream. For this reason, it is wise to avoid any substance, medication or activity that interferes with the bodies natural dopamine streams. But what if there are conditions such as anxiety, mood disorders, lack of motivation, or other mental health labels that indicate dopamine depletion or overstimulation?

Fortunately, there are natural ways to increase dopamine:

Meditation (not medication) has been proven to increase dopamine levels. Many people meditate while sitting in a sauna, through prayer and fasting, or just by setting aside a quiet time without interruption to focus on healing and well-being. I have found that sleep meditation videos will put me back to sleep if I wake up in the middle of the night. They have helped train my brain to get sufficient sleep

Write a daily to do list. Specific goals, both short term and long term help to increase motivation and decrease stress – both of which improve dopamine levels.

Increase the intake of foods that contain L-Tyrosine. These include avocados, fish, eggs, cheese, bananas and pumpkin seeds. There are many other foods with direct and indirect effects on building dopamine levels.

Exercise is probably at the top of the to do list for increasing dopamine. Not surprisingly, the best exercise to do is the one you enjoy the most. For some it is running, and for others it is cycling, swimming, or weight lifting. Since dopamine has an intrinsic link to movement – we are best to get up and get moving, which is of particular importance for those with sedentary desk jobs. The best dopamine enhancer is through interval training, which involves short bursts of energy, followed by a brief rest, and then another burst. This can be done through sprinting, water running or cycling. Another often overlooked aspect of movement is in stretching. Stretching not only helps muscle flexibility, but it also has components of meditation that can be incorporated into a daily routine. I suppose this is the reason yoga is such a popular form of exercise.

Intermittent fasting. There is a wide range of fasting methods, from prolonged to intermittent. I know for certain that fasting is an incredible healing method – because it can reset the immune system. For years I was plagued with allergies and a cascading histamine reaction, combined with colds throughout the entire winter months. Since the fast, I have not had a single cold and no longer have the histamine, allergic response. I have not been routinely doing intermittent fasting, but after this mornings research on dopamine, I plan to follow an intermittent fasting plan. Typically this is in a 16-8 hour ratio, meaning that you fast say from 8 pm until noon the following day, and then eat light and nutritious food for the remainder of the day – avoiding stimulants such as sugar and alcohol. This can be done one or two days a week with positive results. With regards to longer fasts, such as the one I did (21 days) I have learned that it takes 7-10 days to reset the immune system. The healing crisis depends on the amount of toxins in our blood stream and fat cells.

Take time off from all technology, including gaming, social media, Internet browsing – and basically any activity or addiction that artificially elevates dopamine. The reason for this is that by artificially elevating dopamine levels, we eventually burn them out.

Drink green tea.

Create something. Whatever creative expression or hobby you are attracted to, will increase dopamine – whether it is writing, drawing, painting, photography, music, gardening, or building with wood. When you hear terms around finding avenues to increase “creative juices” or getting in a state of “flow” – these are references to naturally improving dopamine streams. It makes sense, because all creative endeavours involve the brain, some amount of movement, motivation, and measurable results.

Social inclusion, good conversation, supportive families, and helping others will improve dopamine levels naturally. When joy is shared, it is joy doubled – and when sorrow is shared – it is sorrow halved. We all have the capacity to heal, as well as to help others to heal.

Getting enough sleep cannot be underestimated when it comes to mental health, clarity, motivation and the immune system. Some people do seem to need less sleep – but in reality all people need 7-9 hours of sleep each night to rest and restore the body to maintain optimal health. It is best to avoid artificial sleep aids because there is more happening at a subconscious level when we sleep, than can ever really be understood.

Cold showers or ice cold baths are also on the Scandinavian list of things to do to increase dopamine levels. I suppose the best time to start this plan would be in the hot summer months. A dip in an icy cold river or lake would do the trick even better! Who can bring themselves to getting into an ice cold bath in the middle of winter? It’s definitely not on the instant gratification list!

Enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature every single day. A good aim is to get at least two hours of fresh air daily. Children thrive in fresh air. Many of our favourite memories involve playing outside or seeing some magnificent aspect of nature, such as wildlife, sunsets, and snowy mountain peaks.

Humour is one of life’s best releases and functions beautifully as a natural and spontaneous mood elevator. Nothing else can compete with wit and laughter. Wit involves the flashing comparison between two things, and lets us quickly see that we take life’s challenges far too seriously. Satire switches a negative thought into a humorous one. Funny people make us laugh. One funny person is far better than ten psychiatrists talking in a tin bucket. Comical banter among friends is delightful – because humour sheds far more truth and light on the human condition than a 974 page manual can.

This brings us to the things to avoid, in order to prevent a depletion of dopamine in our systems. Ironically, anything that leads to instant gratification messes with dopamine levels. “First it giveth and then it taketh away” – as the Proverb goes. The things to avoid:

Too much of anything for prolonged periods will stimulate and then exhaust dopamine levels. These activities include gambling, alcohol, all drugs, social media, Internet browsing to excess, gaming, watching television, etc. It is good advice to apply some of the principles of fasting to Internet, television, phone usage – or any other activity with mood elevating or “escapism” components. Even exercise, if done to excess – can be addictive and counter productive.

Avoid or restrict fast foods to once or twice a month, as opposed to habitual use. There is a fat/sugar balance in processed and fast foods known as the “bliss factor”. This addictive blend of sugar and fat can create an unnatural dopamine stream that will lead to a depletion and subsequent lows, destabilization of blood sugar, and other unpleasant side effects. Be wary of additives, especially MSG and artificial sweeteners.

Whatever we do as individuals to escape what is happening around and within us – will eventually deplete dopamine. This is an inventory only we as individuals can assess and learn to moderate.

Stress cannot be avoided completely. But the stress hormones released by the adrenal glands play an important role in mood, anxiety and mood disorders. Therefore it is important to recognize what the stressors are and create a “to-do list” to alleviate and prevent stressors from creating a spiralling downward effect on our well-being.

Challenging negative thoughts. I have learned that many negative thoughts have origins and associations with painful memories. We often get mired down in negative thoughts that are triggered by a memory association, and then mushroom into a big deal without the evidence or rationale to support our reactions.

Since dopamine was first discovered in the fifties – there has been more than a hundred thousand research articles written about it. Although some of those articles are quite controversial and narrow, we can help ourselves by increasing practical knowledge around the subject.

Knowledge is power because it is the precursor to sifting and then applying those basic principles to our own lives. We can make changes to our own dopamine levels without the need for toxic medications that have numerous side effects, damage the brain, alter neurochemistry in unknown ways, interact with food and anything else we ingest – and have few if any proven benefits.

We do have the capacity to monitor and change our own thoughts and habits. There is no scientific evidence whatsoever to prove that drugs can change ingrained thought patterns. Similar to our physical bodies, we can exercise our thoughts to help eliminate unfounded negativity by recognizing triggers and changing our reactions to them.

We now know that opiates (and many other prescription drugs) will interfere with, and quickly bind to dopamine receptors in the brain. But overall, the complexity of the drugs that interfere with dopamine and neurochemistry is poorly understood pseudoscience lacking in knowledge about the overall global impact on all bodily functions. Our bodies and brains involve complex systems that interact with one another at a molecular level.

There is nothing holistic about chemical interferences with dopamine. Dopamine is not just about improved mood – it is central to all movements, to include coordination, balance and the communication between billions of neurons and nerves. We do not want to mess with dopamine – if we really know what is good for us. Our bodies are smarter than poorly understood, rudimentary and narrow minded science. We are not meant to be guinea pigs. Doctors are not meant to be gods, guided by Big Pharma and profit motive either.

Pharmaceuticals are rapidly becoming the number one cause of death in all age groups. There is not enough empirical evidence due to pharmaceutical lobbying to even measure the depth and breadth of other damages caused by them. As just some examples, these drug induced hazards include falls, accidents, uncharacteristic violent outbursts, drug induced suicides, drug induced movement disorders and life threatening agranulocytosis. There are interactions with other drugs, interactions with food, interactions with alcohol, individual genetic markers, destabilizing and sickening withdrawal and detox symptoms, irreversible damages to the nervous system, damages to liver and kidney function, permanent brain damage, increased risk of cardiac arrest and stroke – and many other iatrogenic medical hazards that are secondary to the injudicious use of psychoactive medications.

There are huge profit motives surrounding the over prescribing of potent mood altering and psychoactive drugs and pain killers. We only need to do one hour of research, or less – to convince us that countless people are falling victim to addictions and harm stemming from the pharmaceutical profit motive. We can avoid those pitfalls by making some specific and positive changes to lifestyle and patterns of thought. We have a fundamental right to say no to them.

Self discipline is the basis for self control. In the absence of creating any harm through overt behaviours (such as violence), no one has the right to “thought reform” another human being. Freedom of thought, belief and opinion is a fundamental human right, which is clearly stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights – as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

 Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:

Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms

1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

• (a) freedom of conscience and religion;
• (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
• (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
• (d) freedom of association.

We are wise to acknowledge negative or irrational thinking for our own well-being and mental health – but in the absence of creating any real danger to anyone, thoughts cannot be diagnosed or monitored by anyone other than the individual. See if there is anyone, regardless of their education or inclinations toward pharmaceutical pseudoscience – who can challenge that thought!

It takes a thought provoking resistance to avoid being coerced into taking prescription drugs as a damaging pseudo cure for life’s difficulties. We do have the capacity to overcome emotional, physical and psychological toxicity – whether it has been inflicted upon us or self-induced. Like the lyrics in the Guy Clark song “To Live Is To Fly” –

“We all got holes to fill
Them holes are all that’s real
Some fall on you like a storm
Sometimes you dig your own”

Disclaimer – The opinions in this article are my own and not intended to undermine required treatment or medications. The information provided is to encourage research and seek methods of reducing over prescribing for seniors. The Beers list provides a comprehensive list of high risk medications to help inform the public. The link https://www.guidelinecentral.com/summaries/american-geriatrics-society-2015-updated-beers-criteria-for-potentially-inappropriate-medication-use-in-older-adults/#section-420

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage (2019). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

How Much Is Our Mental Health Part Of Our Physical Ecosystem?

November 25, 2018  | Valerie Hayes  | Health & Wellness, My Story, Thoughts & Ideas, View All Articles & Photos

Recent findings indicate that we actually have another brain in our gut. The second brain contains a massive network of an estimated hundred million neurons. The neurotransmitters in the gut, are immersed in and influenced by the same neurotransmitters as the brain. This knowledge can introduce an entirely different conceptual framework around mental health issues and treatment.

In fact the entire digestive track is lined with a network of neurons that communicate with the bacteria in the gut. Instead of receiving information from the brain, they carry information to the brain, hence the common expression, “I just had a gut feeling”.

As far as all the hype around leaky gut syndrome, I tend to think the syndrome can be debunked. To me, it doesn’t make sense our guts would be designed to leak. I believe we can get a build up of toxins in our blood stream that can wreak havoc with our health. But those toxins can enter the bloodstream from root canals, simmering infections, inflammatory reactions, open lesions on the skin, ingested orally, and inhaled through the respiratory tract. Probably more than anything, it happens from an overloaded, fatty or dysfunctional liver.

Our liver, lungs, skin, kidneys and immune system defend us against invaders by getting rid of toxins. The most difficult situations arise when there is a combination of pathogens, allergens, stressors, lack of exercise, and a poor diet. After a certain point, the immune system no longer functions the way it is supposed to. The auto immune disorders send signals for things to go haywire. This chain of events runs rampant, confusing the system by not recognizing friend from foe. It is an internalized form of self-betrayal that we seemingly have no control over.

Addiction is reinforced due to the mood elevating elements of the substance. It short circuits the other more holistic ways of fun and happiness, and quickly becomes a vicious cycle. Our brains constantly crave dopamine, serotonin, food, drugs, alcohol, sex, money – and literally anything that will elevate the mood.

As a new approach to dealing with depression, addiction, and other mental health issues – this knowledge about the second brain and biome of the gut should be at the heart of all treatment. What is the point of going to expensive counselling sessions unless you commit to a completely holistic mind and body treatment plan?

My own suggestion for those with an altered immune response, addiction, depression, mast cells, anxiety, and high cortisol levels – is to do a water only fast, followed by a change in diet. This could be a cheap cure for many ailments, including systemic cancer cells. The autonomy is preserved at the end of it all.

Over a period of time, although I always had allergies and the wrath of histamine, it worsened into a mast cell anaphylaxis. The onset was always in the middle of the night for some reason, so the first time it happened, was a near death experience.

I knew the initial onset was an itching burning sensation in my hands. The first time, I made the mistake of trying to ignore it and went back to sleep for another few minutes. I woke up suddenly, with a feeling like my hands were on fire. The intolerable burning sensation rapidly changed as more symptoms piled on. My hands were swelling so fast, it felt like the skin in the webbing between my fingers was splitting open. Before I knew it, there was no sensation at all in my hands. Within a minute, my tongue and airway swelled at the same rate as my hands were swelling. When I stood up and tried to walk, I had no blood pressure, and could only make it about three or four feet, before collapsing on the floor.

To stay conscious, I had to get into a sitting position, put my head lower than my heart, and focus every bit of energy on taking each breath. For the few seconds I was flat on the floor, it was an out of body experience, looking down on myself. I knew I had to get up and manage my own airway, or I would convulse and die right there. From that experience, I realize why so many people in a crisis, will struggle to try and sit up.

I also know much better what the experience of sudden death is like. It was an awful experience, but the gift I got out of it, was that it took away my fear of death. The revelation in those few minutes was more than I had processed in my whole life. It was like I was given textbooks of knowledge and understanding in a split second. It gave me a much clearer perception of how our our soul inhabits our bodies. I did not travel to a beckoning bright light anywhere – but I knew I could have!

When it happened again, I had prepared myself. I got up right away, and looked at the palms of my hands. I could see the rash and hives starting to crawl up my arms. I immediately took Benadryl 100 mg. orally and then used the highest strength undiluted oregano oil you can buy, and put a full dropper full down my throat. The airway was most activated and prone to swell, so I added another dropper full under my tongue. I sat down and watched the rash travel about another two inches and stop midway up my arms. It had to have been the oregano oil that stopped it, because the sublingual route, especially in a liquid form, is more rapid acting than ingesting Benadryl pills orally.

Even though I had found a method to stop the anaphylaxis from progressing, I knew I had to do something to get rid of the mast cells. The first time it happened, I attributed it to having developed a sensitivity to blueberries, the last thing I ate before going to bed. I tend to think I reacted to some kind of contaminants on the blueberries as opposed to the berries themselves, but I have yet to test the theory. When the onset of the anaphylaxis happened again and again, I knew there was much more going on, and that it had been insidiously developing over many years.

I started researching as much as I could find out about mast cells, and made the decision to do a water only fast. It gives the liver a chance to put all of its efforts and focus into detoxification, by getting rid of the villainous cells in the blood stream. Apparently the immune system can be totally reset with seven to ten days of fasting. Those alarmist autoimmune cells have to be removed from the lymphatic system as well.

My self treatment plan made sense. During fasting, once the glycogen stores are used up, the body goes into a state of ketoacidosis. As a mechanism of survival, the healthy cells are conserved and the damaged cells are destroyed. The digestive system is given a complete rest in the process. The fat cells in your body, including the ones around the liver, get released, and burned as fuel first.

There is a healing crisis on all levels during a prolonged fast. It is more intense when there has been a long-term build up of toxins in the body. I do think it has to be water only, so the glycogen stores are completely depleted for a duration of time. It is not for the faint hearted, and most people do it under medical supervision. In my case, I ended up stopping the fast after three weeks.

The main thing to keep in mind for the duration of the fast, is to maintain a well monitored intake and output fluid balance. You do not want to get dehydrated, which is probably the greatest risk. But over hydration also must be avoided, as you can throw the electrolytes completely off balance by drinking copious amounts of water. A long fast is a personal journey – something a person prepares for psychologically, researches, and then must decide if it is for them, and how they will go about it.

Based on my own experience, the fast cured the anaphylaxis completely. The onset of the repeat anaphylaxis was eight months before the fast and happening every couple of weeks. Following the twenty-one day water only fast I have not experienced even a hint of anaphylaxis. Even for the duration of the fast, there was no sign of allergic reactions, so I knew the causative factors were not in the air or water.

After the fast, I eliminated added sugar, and all processed and refined food. In the months following, for the first time in my life, the histamine settled down. To my surprise, I have discovered olives work better than any over the counter antihistamine I have ever taken. But one word of advice, get your olives fresh at an olive bar!

In my opinion, all mental health, physical, and addiction treatment should have a strong focus on diet, exercise and nutrition. We simply cannot change the communication between the neurotransmitters between our gut and brain otherwise.

Our mental health is part of our entire physical ecosystem. I really did wonder why I had the allergic episodes in the middle of the night, and knew it must have some association with the sub-conscious mind.

We can overcome many of our struggles and demons even though they are complex and multi-faceted. We just have to learn how to redesign and reroute those neurotransmitters. We can truthfully add a few more genial and palsy-walsy cells and microbes into the dark recesses of our minds – just from the micronutrients in food!

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage (2018). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.