Green Facts -- Celebrating St. Patrick

This month of March at Footsteps in Eden Reflexology we have our focus on green -- green living, green celebrating, green facts, just plain green! It just seems appropriate for the month that celebrates St. Patrick. This blog post will share a few of the fun facts we've discovered about St. Patty, the Irish, and Clover. Our sole purpose for you to just ENJOY!!

So as we celebrate green, the first interesting fact we're choosing to share:
The actual color of St. Patrick is BLUE. GREEN became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow. (Sounds a bit -- or maybe even a whole lot superstitious to me -- but a fun fact none-the-less.)

In Chicago the Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day (with green vegetable dye).

Lucky Charms, a favorite cereal brand among many, young and old, was created in 1963, with its popular mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun. Its jig is a memorable tune for many, including the young at heart.

Hearts, Stars, and Horseshoes
Clovers and Blue moons
Pots of gold and rainbows,
And the red balloon

That's the luck of me lucky charms! 
Their magically delicious!

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.

The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as "The Emerald Isle."

On a more serious note:

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice -- which he believed to be God's -- spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. (Anyone else agree this many seriously could have used some reflexology?)

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each or us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.


We learned these facts by visiting the websites below. Be sure to check them out for yourself to learn more about this man's fascinating life and the land where he lived.

www.wsaw.com/seasonal/misc/40129602.html?mobile=yes

www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89

www.history.com/topics/who-was-saint-patrick

www.kaboose.com  (check under holidays and St. Patrick)

Photo credit: www.canstockphoto.com

Essential Oils to Kill the Insects that Eat Your Plants

This is very exciting. Those of us that know the potential of essential oils have been aware of their potential to be an highly effective pesticide without the toxic effects to humans and animals and the environment. Now National Geographic is reporting it as news in their Green Guide. They are calling them "killer spices." I'll call them essential oils. The article refers to both. You may read the whole story here. This is such valuable information.

Wonder what took them so long to figure this out? Cedarwood (discussed for many interesting reasons in a post a day or two ago) has long been used to line closets and chests to keep insects from eating their way through clothing, linens, etc. Citronella is sold in candles and sprays, which often contain other more toxic ingredients in their formula as well. Those are just two common ways essential oils from plants are used for the critter battle already. And without the side effects of the toxic chemical solutions. It makes me almost sick to even walk down the aisle in the local "do-it-yourself center" where these are stocked. Think someone would have gotten it sooner.

You may find that growing these plants in your garden may be beneficial for insect control. To purchase small amounts of these oils (in highly concentrated form & which may be significantly diluted) for your own gardening needs, please visit Heaven Scent Essentials website.

The Green Parent - Review of a Great Green Blog

Just found this quite fun and very interesting and helpful blog for those looking for greener ideas for life. "Your Kid-friendly Guide to Earth-Friendly Living" is the subtitle for this refreshing little spot on the great big WWW. Personally, if it isn't kid-friendly, I don't believe it is probably very adult friendly either.

In this blog you will find not only the author's green opinions on a vast array of timely and pertinent topics. The blog also includes numerous links to vital information to support the detailed reports being brought your way. Topics range from building, clean air, eco-crafts and green events to healthy eating, pets, schools, reducing waste and about 20 other topics in between. Each topic has been covered in several different posts about different aspects of that topic.

Continuously, I'm excited as I find new resources to share with you to help all of us take better care of ourselves, our lives, our family, our homes and our planet. This blog is one of those resources!!!

Thieves® -- Thankful Today for this Green Cleaner

The thought of sending my king size bedspread to the dry cleaner was distasteful for a couple of reasons. Only one (kinda large) corner needed cleaning. The dry cleaning solvents would be quite noxious to my way of thinking. Never the less, the whole bedspread would certainly not fit in my washing machine.

What happened? Our precious little 2 year old granddaughter was sleeping on our bed when an upset tummy presented itself in quite a yucky way. You probably get my drift here.

Carefully wiping it off and then allowing it to dry out gave me a bit of time to think this one through. Thieves™ in its many forms has come to my rescue before. One corner of the bedspread would easily fit in my oversize kitchen sink. So, with a bar of Thieves™ Soap and some cold water the spots were gently coaxed from the bedspread. Wrapped in towels to absorb the water, the bedspread is now clean and spread out to dry.

The greater benefit is the antibacterial properties of Thieves®, and essential oil blend from Young Living, and the fact that Thieves® products also are made without the toxic ingredients found in most household cleaners. This stuff will even remove mold (and it doesn't come back.) That's pretty powerful stuff. Check out my Young Living website where you will find Thieves® bar soap, Thieves® Household Cleaner, Thieves® essential oil blend, Thieves® tootpastes, Thieves® mouthwash, Thieves® hand sanitizers, and Thieves® personal sprays.

Theieves® products have proved to be great immunity builders and infection fighters for our family!

Drinking Water -- Recycling Those Bottles, or Do We Use Them at All?

By visiting Yahoo! Green's link above (the headline will get you there) you may find yourself amazed and gap jawed at some of what you read about the GIANT bottled water industry. This YOUTube video also makes a quick, but impressive point about all the empty bottles.

At our home we have begun to recycle our plastic and glass containers. Our community does not make this convenient, but we have made the decision to take the extra effort to preserve a little drop of the environment for everyone. At the end of the YOUTube video you will find websites specifically focused on the recycling issues.

There are many very safe reusable alternatives for taking your water "to go" without the expense and pollution hazard of bottled water. Many of us have filtered water coming right out of the door of our refrigerators. After reading the material at Yahoo! Green you many come to recognize this as a more reliable source of safe drinking water anyway.

As a reflexologist I am very aware of the importance for my clients to be drinking considerable water following a reflexology session. This means unless they have their own with them, I offer a bottle of water to go. Every time I do this I wonder about the real quality of the water in that bottle, and also where the bottle ends up. I'll be giving some serious consideration to an effective alternative.

What choices will you be making for the health of your planet and yourselves!?!?!? The decision affects all of us.

ALIVE! My Morphed Newsletter

SENSE ABOUT SCENTS has morphed. As an Independent Representative of the Young Living Essential Oils company, many received a monthly newsletter via email, SENSE ABOUT SCENTS. Since discovering the wonderful ONEGroup miessence® line of organic skincare and cosmetics, and launching my FOOTSTEPS IN EDEN reflexology business I've seen what I believe are some awesome reasons for morphing that newsletter into this wonderful blog.

Since late October I have been working to bring blog readers helpful information on a variety of health and wellness topics. I've also included links to fun, informative, and educational spots on the web offering products and services I believe my readers will love and enjoy.

When I am forced to categorize this blog, it's under health and wellness, but my readers also find posts and links relating to greening our world, family, spiritual matters, shopping, and more.

In the last couple of weeks I've learned to offer an opportunity for readers to become subscribers. (I'm learning this blogging stuff slow but sure -- smiley face here) I'll be emailing my newsletter list today to introduce them to this expanded version of the newsletter. What an exciting new step for ALIVE!

How Will You Celebrate the Green Today?

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Celebrate the kind of St. Patrick's Day that would please the saint himself, and bring glory to the God he served. Some of our traditions associated with this holiday are simply fun and even a bit silly, and I believe that is OK! Others that are not so uplifting and certainly not of a nature that honor Jesus Christ and His Gospel -- the Gospel shared freely by St. Patrick don't get such a big thumbs up here. He shared it not only with those closest to him, but also with the very people that imprisoned and mistreated him for many years.

Green means growth: perhaps celebrate by growing in your own relationship with Jesus Christ today, by helping someone else grow in theirs. Better yet share the Gospel with someone who doesn't yet know . . . they will be on a brand new green sprout in the Kingdom of God. St. Patrick would be honored for the glory you bring to the Living God.

For insight into St. Patrick's life and his ministry visit Proverbs 31 Ministries Devotions. It is the devotion for the day today, March 17, 2008. If you come up on this after the date, their materials are archived on the site.