Saturday, December 31, 2011

Theif in the Night, Goodbye 2011

"Light Bearer" is a painting I did after seeing the Brazilian healer John of God

Happy New Year's Eve! Hard to believe that tomorrow will be 2012. A year of promise and new opportunities. 

Last night I had a dream that a thief came during the night. That's all I remember, all of the other details were lost in the deep folds of sleep. This morning I woke happier than I have felt in a very long time and I had the distinct sense that through all of this hard work I am doing with this cleansing way of eating something wonderful is occurring within me. I think my "thief in the night" was invited by me to steal away all the things that no longer serve me. In opening my heart, cleansing and detoxing my body and leaving the door to my deepest self ajar I invited this "thief' to steal away my illness, inflammation, pain, depression, anger, grief. Bit by bit he comes at night while my body rests and each morning I awaken with a little less pain, a little less inflammation and a lot less depression. 

My heart is so filled with gratitude this morning. Through this very limited way of eating I really think I have finally found the key to beating this inflammatory-autoimmune disease. 11 years ago I was bitten by a tick and my life descended into a living hell for the next 6 years with no diagnosis. Finally I was diagnosed with Advanced Neurological Lyme Disease and Ankylosing Spondylitis. For the next 5 years I tried every possible means to get well and some things brought improvement others did not. Last winter I was using a combination of a wheelchair, walker and cane to get around. I was paralyzed by fatigue and suffered constant pain. To say I was depressed is an understatement. I was told by my Neurologist to "Go home, get cable TV and a comfy recliner and to make myself comfortable". I looked her in the eye and said "I can't do that, I'm not done yet"

I went to see the Brazilian healer John of God in September and began doing some deep spiritual work. I continued to work with an intuitive healer using biological medicines and I began to make small changes in my diet. Once I felt comfortable with these small changes I cut everything out of my diet except for large amounts of organic vegetables and limited amounts of beans, tofu, nuts, seeds and very limited low sugar fruit. I began making fresh juice and continued drinking my VitaMix green smoothies. The change in my condition since I changed my way of eating has been remarkable in a very short time.
"Radiance" is another painting I did after seeing the Brazilian healer John of God
I am over the moon excited about what 2012 is going to bring. I can't wait to build up enough energy to get back in the studio so that I can explore this new passion I have for creating Art Cloth and making Art Quilts. I feel so energized at the thought of this new creative path and doing some work that is more geared towards abstract, intuitive work than my silk painting, which is more realism based. I am more stirred up creativity than I have been in years. Maybe all that pent up creative energy from all those years of illness keeping me out of the studio is ready to burst forth.

Happy New Year Everyone!
Wishing you an abundance of peace, joy and health in 2012

2 comments:

  1. Thank you Linda for this wonderfull story of hope. I follow you on facebook and came across your article. I have been suffering from fibromyalgia for over 5 yrs now and can identify with some of the same feelings of loss of self and depression etc that you said you have. I have been in love with art all my life and one of my goals for 2012, is to use art as a therapy to help me get through some of my tough days. Besides my family and saying gratitudes, I find that looking at art and being creative myself brings me so much joy. I've been on a vegetarian diet now for a year but I was happy to see that you listed the way you've been eating and that it's been really helping you. I've thought of eating more raw foods and juicing, so I was glad to hear that you've had some good results with the way your eating. I just wanted to thank you for the article you posted and to say that I love your art and wish you all the best for 2012.
    Rebecca Renkas

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  2. Rebecca,
    I don't know if you will see my reply but I wish you the very best on your journey. Watch the movies I listed in my previous post, this way of eating has made all the difference for me!
    Blessings,
    Linda

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