I open the cover and fall inside. Wow, what a wild ride I climb every mountain. I sail every sea. I laugh with hyenas And hum with the bees   Eat breakfast with Bilbo. And wander the glenn Travel with Gulliver And his little men     Explore the castle. In which Dracula sleeps Find the woman in the attic. That Rochester keeps.   Ride upon the White whales back Travel down chimneys in Santas sack Walk with Hamlet and his father's ghost. Cheer Black Beauty on past the winner's p

Thackey Poestar was a constant worry to her mother. She insisted on climbing trees, catching frogs and trapsing through mud. What was even worse was, Thackey, no matter where they were always found an adventure to go on or a mystery to solve. Usually both. A good sleuth knows you do not solve mysteries alone and for that Thackey had Courage. Courage Astor was Thackey’s best friend. After all, how could you not love a girl called Courage. Courage’s hair reminded Thackey of But

She lay running fingers through the open wound. bare in the cool night air. She knew the more she poked and prodded it the worse it would become. Her nails pierced deep, and she winced with the memories, the tragedies that had been and those which would never come. She tried to turn her mind to happier times, there had been many, but she was trapped in a cage from which she could never escape. Sleep when it came was just as harsh as reality, for the wound followed inside haun

Love can be a very confusing game to play, as the characters in this Shakespearean comedy discover. With mistaken identities, unrequited love, hidden passions and revelry all playing their parts to make this a comedy that spans all time. We fall in love with the young Viola shipwrecked with her brother and twin, Sebastian in the land of Illyria. Fearing her brother is drowned Viola sets off into the town and acquires a job as a manservant to the Duke Orsinio. To get the posit

Lewis Carrol is a genius in his creation of a mysterious and bizarre world that exists down a rabbit hole. It is into this fantasy land that a young headstrong girl called Alice leads the reader. Once down the rabbit hole Alice continually catches glimpses of a white rabbit in a waistcoat, wearing gloves and mumbling to himself about his tardiness. Curious Alice cannot help but follow the white rabbit in order to see exactly what it is he is late for. Eventually the rabbit go

The hair whipping around her head was the colour of crumpled autumn leaves skittering across the ground. Although she had opened the door, she still faced the street as she could not bear to step inside and face the memories embedded in the walls. Not all the memories were bad, but some had broken her. Tentatively she turned and stepped across the threshold as she had for the first time when everything was still wine and roses. As she placed her hand on the cool granite count

Full moon in Virgo tonight It is about setting everything right Completion in your week, your day Getting everything squared away The Vestal Virgins begin their walk While you must watch how you talk As Mercury stands over you Say what you say and do what you say you will do Worms wriggle to the surface now While crows caw and wolves’ howl To reveal who you truly are And how you have come so far Examine your very soul Are you doing what makes you whole? Are you healing parts

According to the World Health Organisation over three hundred and fifty million people suffer from some form of depression. Depression disorders can range from mild to severe but regardless of what level of this illness you endure or for how long it is a debilitating disease when you are in its grasp. There are several treatments for depression including psychotherapy, Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and even sometimes anti-psychic drugs but what i

Throughout history women have been seen as housewives, nurturers and mothers. Their “natural” role, as deemed by society, is to take care of the home and occupants within it by virtue of their gender and the social processes conflated with giving birth. From this patriarchal notion of motherhood stems certain behaviours and feelings seen as essentialised in the good mother; self-sacrifice, loss of identity, unconditional love, the mother’s place is within the home, selflessne

Therapeutic Benefits of Sleep 1. Helps our minds and bodies repair. 2. Improves concentration. 3. Boosts immune system. 4. Increases intelligence. 5. Helps your skin regenerate so you look younger. 6. Makes you more social. Less cranky and aggressive. 7. Improves your general wellbeing. 8. Reduces stress and anxiety. Tips on getting a Good Night’s Sleep 1. Go to bed at the same time every night. 2. Make sure you are cosy – thi

What is Hydrotherapy and Hydrothermal Therapy? These therapies are based on the mechanical and thermal effects of water and heat. The body's reactions to hot and cold stimuli are used as well as the pressure exerted by the water and then sensation that this causes. These therapies relieve physical discomfort as the water reduces body weight by 90% and promotes psychological wellbeing. Hydrotherapy and hydrothermal therapy have been used to heal in many cultures for a long ti

It's no secret that women face many challenges in today's society. From pay equality to the glass ceiling, women have a lot to fight for. However, by empowering themselves, women can start to overcome these challenges. In this post, I am going to give you 10 practical steps that will help you empower yourself. From learning how to stand up for yourself to becoming more independent, these steps will help you to become the strong, confident woman you know you can be. By followi

What is Touch Therapy? Touch therapy is using the sense of touch for healing purposes; both physical and psychological. The oldest document describing the use of touch for healing is the Huang Ti Nei Ching written about 5000 years ago in China. Touch therapy was used widely in ancient Greece to heal and assist people who wanted to attain higher consciousness. Benefits of Touch Therapy 1. Touch serves as a universal communicator 2. Infants need touch to thrive especi

What is Laughter Therapy? Laughter Therapy is the use of the physical act of laughter to elicit a psychological response. The physical act of laughter causes the chemical changes in the body that increases happiness. The ability to laugh at a situation gives a person power over it. Benefits of Laughter 1. Humour and laughter can foster positive and hopeful attitudes 2. People are less likely to succumb to feelings of depression if they laugh about what is troubling

What Is music therapy? Music therapy is the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to bring about positive changes in the physical, psychological, cognitive, and social functioning of a human being. Music therapists’ asses emotional wellbeing, communication abilities, social functioning, cognitive skills and physical health through musical responses, design music services for individuals and groups based on client’s needs using music improvisation, listening to music,

What is Art Therapy? Art Therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is life enhancing and healing. British artist Adrian Hill started painting to relieve boredom while in a sanatorium during WWII and other patients became interested in what he was doing and started painting too. Benefits of Art Therapy Increases self-awareness Helps people cope with symptoms of disease Decreases Stress Levels Enhances Cognitive Abilities Helps peo

What is Pet Therapy? Pet therapy encourages connection with animals in various ways such as patting, watching, and playing with the animal to help individuals let down communication barriers, socialise more easily and relieve tension. Dr Ben Levinson was one of the first people to start research into pet therapy. He used fifty patients for which no other therapy had worked. Forty seven out of the fifty patients showed some improvement and they all said they felt happier in th

What is Drama Therapy? Drama therapy is using the dramatic process with healing intention. It is used to transform and reflect an individual’s experiences. Drama enables the individual to express feelings and work though the problems they are experiencing. A connection is made between the individual’s inner world and the dramatic activity. The individual tries to seek new perspectives on the life experience or problem. The aim is to find a new relationship to the problem, a r

He isn’t going to ride in on a white horse He isn’t going to stay with you tonight He isn’t going to defend your honour You have to find your own way to the light He isn’t going to run to your rescue He isn’t going to throw you down a rope He isn’t going to swoop in and save you He is not your great last hope There will be no knee There will be no ring He is not your prince He is not your king He will not promise you tomorrow He can’t even get through today Don’t think that y

1 ) Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens 2) The Scent Keeper – Erica Bauermeister 3) The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul – Deborah Rodriguez 4) Summer at Little Beah Street Bakery – Jenny Colgan 5) Misery – Stephen King 6) The Institute – Stephen King 7) The Odd Thomas Series – Dean Koontz 8) The Art of Happiness – Dalai Lama 9) Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert 10) Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert 11) Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee – Dee Brown