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   Saturday 26th April 1996- Maine Road, Manchester. I still have my crumpled ticket, not that I need a reminder of the most brilliant night ever. The Manic Street Preachers warmed up the crowd, the rain was drizzling but the atmosphere was electric. Noel and Liam came on stage singing 'Round are our way the birds are singing' (sic) The crowd surged toward the stage and the best gig ever got underway. The lyrics didn't really matter that much- it was the tunes and the music that got under the skin, made you dance, made you sing, made you feel so good to be alive. The adrenaline flowed, everyone loved each other, the crowd was a huge buzzing bee. The playlist: The Swamp Song. Acquiesce. Supersonic. Hello. Some Might Say. Roll With It. Morning Glory. Cigarettes & Alcohol. Champagne Supernova. Whatever. Cast No Shadow. Wonderwall. The Masterplan. Don't Look Back in Anger. Live Forever. I Am the Walrus. and then the encore. Cum On Feel the Noize (Slade) Now, that's ...

                                                This is a self-portrait that I painted while feeling sorry for myself, I  had had the first four sessions of Chemotherapy (out of sixteen) and I was exhausted and fed-up. I had just come out of hospital where I had spent a week in isolation after picking up a bug. Not a fun time. Anyway, I tried to pick myself up and get on with it as really that's all I could do. I have finished chemotherapy now and radiotherapy. I had surgery last year so apart from having to go back on the endocrine treatment, I'm done. (Well, I hope I am) So, that's the brief history of my cancer story. Everyone who is going through, has gone through or who has a loved one going through a similar experience has my sympathy, I feel for you all. Before this all started, I found the lump in September 2021, I had been studying and writing posts ...

                                                      I've been off the blogging scene for a while as I've been having chemotherapy but that's finished now, thank goodness.    I did not retreat from The Times, Below the Line however, in fact that has been prolific, there seem to be so many things to get annoyed about, I'm talking politics of course and mainly Bloody Brexit.           I have republished some older posts from artycelia.com but left in place all the Brexit (Brexiety) posts. We are nearing the 25th anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement, and I think it's important that we remember our (not mine obviously!) decision to leave the European Union and the precarious position it has left us in. Despite politicians telling us that they 'got Brexit done,' they obviously did not. It seems to me that the polit...

  We all know how it is when we are 'picking up good vibrations,' when we meet someone, and they just seem to glow. Seeing them makes us smile, lifts our mood and well, the happiness just spreads into our soul. Good vibrations, good energy, how do you get them? If you think about it, everything in the universe is energy and all energy exists at various levels of frequency and, yes, you've guessed it, vibration. The lower the frequency, the denser and heavier the energy. In humans, a low level of energy can cause us to feel that our problems are insurmountable, we are miserable, low, we may even experience pain, confusion, depression, we can find that our thinking is 'fuzzy' and we can't get a grip on things. However, the higher our vibrational frequency, the lighter we feel. Our body. mind and spirit feel free, we feel energised and on top of things. Life can seem thrilling, exciting, satisfying, and peaceful. Our bodies feel better too, we are more energetic, a...

Crown Chakra: I Understand The Crown Chakra is the sum of all the lower six chakras. It is the key to accessing higher conscious levels that connect a person to the Divine and the guidance of the Universe. The Sanskrit name is SAHASRARA The Crown Chakra lies at the top of the head. Some refer to it as a violet chakra and some refer to it as the white light chakra, it's all about finding the colour between the two that represents your soul. When imbalanced a person can feel a lack of purpose, a disconnection from the Divine source, apathy, and fear.  for the Crown Chakra When in balance, a person enjoys a deep sense of spiritual connection with the Divine, a connection with the Universe, wisdom, and peace. This person will feel blessed. Yoga can help to awaken and balance the Crown Chakra. The mantra is pure silence. Only in silence can the soul connect to the Divine and listen to the messages of the Divine's guidance. Affirmations. I am one with the Universe. I honour and cheri...

Third Eye Chakra. I See. The Third Eye Chakra is in the centre of a person's intuition, inner wisdom, psychic abilities and their sixth sense. The Sanskrit name is AJNA. This chakra is located between the eyebrows. The colour of this chakra is indigo. When there is an imbalance or obstruction of the Third Eye Chakra, a person can feel they have suppressed intuition, a lack of imagination and they may experience vision disorders. A person may also experience headaches, (in particular, migraines) and could be prone to nightmares. When in balance, a person has profound, guided intuition, perception of future events, an unclouded vision and a sense of Divine Guidance. Yoga poses such as child's pose, downward facing dog, pyramid pose, head to knee pose and knees to chest pose can help to balance the Third Eye Chakra. The mantra that helps the Third Eye Chakra is, OM. Affirmations: I am a wise being. I have an innate ability to look beyond the apparent. The Universe guides me all th...

                                                         Throat Chakra: I Speak The Throat Chakra is the house of a person's self-expression, communication, honesty, authenticity, and their true-life purpose. It is also at the centre of our ability to listen to others. In Sanskrit this chakra is, VISHUDHA. It lies at the centre of the throat where the thyroid gland is located. The colour of this chakra is a vibrant, peacock blue. When this chakra is out of balance, we will have difficulty in communicating with others. A blockage of self-expression prevails along with a lack of confidence when communicating with others. A person with a blocked throat chakra can come across as extremely shy or can display a very secretive personality. A person with an obstructed or imbalanced throat chakra may also suffer from headaches, oral health issues and/or...

                                                                  Heart Chakra: I Love The Heart Chakra holds love, self-compassion, self-acceptance, and compassion for others. The Sanskrit name for this chakra is: ANAHATA. This chakra lies at the centre of the chest. The colour is emerald, green. When the Heart Chakra is imbalanced a person can experience a lack of compassion, isolation, jealousy, and selfishness. They may also suffer from problems with the heart and lungs. When in balance, the Heart Chakra can bring empathy, generosity, trustfulness, peace, and unconditional self-love. An early morning walk on fresh grass, barefoot can work wonders for this chakra. Physical affection such as cuddling, and hugging empower the Heart Chakra. The mantra, YAM awakens this chakra. Rose and jasmine essential oils diffused in the ...

                                                          Solar Plexus Chakra: I Do    The Solar Plexus Chakra governs a person's self-esteem, confidence, strength, and willpower. The Sanskrit word is MANIPURA. The Solar Plexus Chakra is located about two inches above the naval. The colour of this chakra is a sunny yellow. When this chakra is out of balance, a loss of strength and/or a weakening of willpower may be experienced. A person with an imbalanced Solar Plexus Chakra can also experience digestive issues and fatigue. When the Solar Plexus Chakra is in balance, a person has positive energy, confidence, emotional strength, and strong willpower. Tai Chi is an effective way to help balance and heal this chakra. Chanting the mantra, 'RAM' awakens the Solar Plexus Chakra. Yoga poses that can help awaken and balance this chakra are Wa...

Sacral Chakra: I feel.   The Sacral Chakra holds your creativity, sexual energy, relationship experience, productivity, and passion. The Sanskrit word for the Sacral Chakra is: SWADISTHAANA. The Sacral Chakra is located almost two inches below the naval.  The colour of this chakra is sunset orange. Some people like to imagine it as a glowing and swirling orb of orange energy while others prefer to imagine a six petalled orange lotus. When the Sacral Chakra is imbalanced, a person can experience a lack of creativity, a lack of passion. They may feel insecure or jealous and could also feel sexually repressed. When the Sacral Chakra is balanced, a person can enjoy a flow of creativity, they honour their sexuality and take pleasure in the things they do. Meditation is the key to balancing the Sacral Chakra. A person can chant the mantra, 'VAM' while meditating and this will help to balance this chakra. Yoga poses that help to balance this chakra are Goddess pose, Mountain pose, Ga...

  The Root Chakra governs our sense of safety, survival, and security. This chakra also creates our connection with the earth. This is the base of all grounding necessary to keep a person emotionally balanced, it is also the foundation of all spiritual development. Root Chakra: I am.    The Sanskrit name for the Root Chakra is   MULADHARA. The Root Chakra sits at the base of the spine where the pelvic floor lies.    The colour of this chakra is Ruby Red. Sometimes referred to as the base chakra, some people like to refer to it as a glowing red sphere of energy whereas others visualise it as a ruby red four petalled lotus. When this chakra is imbalanced, a person can experience fear, anxiety, lack of self-esteem, weight issues and constipation. When the root chakra is functioning well, a person can enjoy a powerful sense of safety and security. Weight goals can be achieved more easily and positive energy flows freely. To awaken and balance the root chak...