Speak to what we can do not the hate of the issue

July 10, 2015January 22, 2016Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

We see and hear a lot of people choosing to bash instead of inform, animal cruelty, mouthy politicians, kids abusers, egomaniacs , but in the end showing restraint and looking towards the positive solution is what we need. We need people who unite not divide, people who teach not dam, people who will only accept peace and not entertain hate.

Is this hard? yes sometimes it is, but in the end we are the solution to what ails this planet and all on it, so we need to come together in respect, willing to inspire others to see what CAN BE and with a willingness to work together, our choice, our thoughts, our possibilities, so what are we going to do? It all starts with each of us, with you.

By Sara Troy

Self Discovery Radio

How to Eat Fruit Properly

April 3, 2015March 30, 2018Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

EATING FRUIT..

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It’s not as easy as you think. It’s important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! * FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let’s say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil….

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining – every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc – actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

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When you need to drink fruit juice – drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don’t even drink juice that has been heated up. Don’t eat cooked fruits because you don’t get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher.. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene – the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can u believe this?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this ‘sludge’ reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE’: (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack .. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let’s be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive…

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we’ll save at least one life.

Read this….It could save your life!! Please do share and save someone else’s.

Sara Troy

Cowichan Valley Artist Offers Pope Francis an Art Piece for the Vatican

March 27, 2015March 4, 2025Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

John Hood artist, tree educator, and garden guru, has given us a piece of art for the soul

Duncan BC Canada – An artist located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island is hoping to offer Pope Francis a unique art piece to hang in the Vatican. John Hood, a gifted artist now has the challenge of contacting the Pope through the Vatican to offer his detailed depiction of Christ.

“I found out at an early age (6), that I could draw and I never took a class in my life on how to draw, nor did I take art in school” comments John when asked about his background. Starting with HB pencil drawings, John moved to different types of pencils, oils, ink and now into a pigment pen.

“Most of my art I call Mindscapes because they are challenging to draw. When I work my pieces, I have them on my mind all the time and some of my best ideas come while sleeping. I have been told that the depiction I have used has never been seen before, and others have said it is similar to an artist from the 1500’s.”

Every year John Hood blesses various Faith Families around the world with a gift of his depiction of Christ. In turn many faith leaders and art critics have responded with expressions of gratitude. They have also declared his art worthy of bringing to the attention of Pope Francis and the Vatican. Thus John is beginning an artistic pilgrimage nurturing the hope that a divine intervention will one day see his depiction of Christ gracing the revered corridors of the Vatican.

John continues to work on various additional art pieces including personal journey pieces, world issue and mental health. A very down to earth person of faith, John volunteers to maintain and teach school children on heritage apples at the orchard at the BC Forest Discovery Centre in his community -30-

To hear my radio interview with him go here artist-philosopher-leaf-whisperer-dad-husband-orchardist-and-educator/

BC Anglican Bishop Logan McMenamie, Victoria BC

“stunning, very nice work, my wife loves it”

Mary Stewart, President of Mary Stewart Healthcare Inc.

” I love your piece, outstanding job. You are filled by the Holy Spirit, God Bless you.”

Leszek Barowucz, Independant Fine Art Professional, Poland

” highly labor intensive – You have immortalized him”

Gerrit Verstraete, Canadian Arts Masters Society

“Impressive fine detailed work”

Erasmo Signore, Silvermine Art School, Realist Artist, New York City Area

“God has spoken to you, God has spoken to you.”

Dr. Rajinder Singh Bedi, MA. JD., UNSD., LLM, PHD, CEO Rajtech

” man had never seen The Christ depicted like this”

CONTACT: John Hood

PHONE: (250) 732-4540

EMAIL: thegardeningguru2000@gmail.com

agent

Tracy Hamilton

Three Point Creative

Phone: 250-416-9069

The Spiritual Bond Between Mother and I

February 19, 2015January 18, 2026Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Joanne Patricia North was born Janauary 25th 1920 and left us February 13th 2017

My mother Jo and I shared a deepJanuaryly spiritual bond. We believed in the same universal energy—an energy we called God—that united us, loved us, and guided us toward unity and purpose. We were both seekers and readers, trusting the divine to speak to us through our souls, resonate with our hearts, lift our spirits, and open our minds. We both saw spirits and spoke with the dead, and we were perfectly at peace with that—it was simply part of how we understood life.

I was incredibly fortunate to travel and go on adventures with my mother. She was beautiful and youthful, so much so that people often mistook her for my older sister. We loved fashion and shopping together, dining out and exploring new foods, hosting parties and delighting in the process of preparing meals and entertaining friends. And oh, how we loved to dance.

I was fourteen when we moved to South Africa—a place where my mother truly came alive. It was there that she discovered who she was and embraced life fully. For those years, she truly lived, truly loved, and truly explored. She travelled, met people, made lifelong friends, and for a time forgot that she had ever been shy or reserved. She adored acting and was an exceptional actress who, in another era, could have gone very far in the industry. She also wrote beautiful stories, one we all cherish, Horatio Mouse, about a mouse who takes over the jungle. She loved words, written, spoken, and played with, loved ones and they came alive when she spoke them.

Timing was never on her side. War, opportunity, and love often arrived at the wrong moment, and she missed the chance to show the world her true gifts. But we saw them, and we were blessed by them.

Many men wanted to marry her; she brought out gallantry in those around her. Sadly, she lost loves through death and never married again. Her marriage to our father was not well suited, and it left her mistrustful of marriage. I also don’t believe she ever truly felt loved, sadness perhaps because she never fully loved herself. That is one of the great sadnesses of her life, for there was so much to love about her.

I will carry with me forever the joy of entertaining, traveling of travelingof hosting dinner parties, popping out for lunch, and shopping for that fabulous outfit that made us feel wonderful. I have carried on the joy of travelling with one of my daughters, and it brings me the same delight. Mum loved playing cards and was an absolute shark, traveled pretending to be the sweet, innocent little old lady while winning every time. The same was true with Scrabble; she adored words and always found the most unusual ones to play.

We lived in different countries for many years. I travelled home to see her, and she came to visit us. I wish we had lived closer, as we loved so many of the same things. My children adored her and loved visiting her in the UK, enjoying her soups, cakes, shepherd’s pie, and, of course, long card games.

We held a tribute to her, cooking the foods she made for us, playing cards, and celebrating the life of a woman who was deeply loved, even if she did not always know it herself. I prayed for her passing so that she would no longer be in pain. I know she is now with the collective energy, home in harmony, love, and divine joy. Still, I miss her. No more weekly calls. No more visits.

Logic may be ruling me now, but my soul longs for her to reach out. She will, in time. For now, party on, dear Mama, your life is now a joyful celebration of peace and everlasting love.

My Mother wrote children’s stories and here are a few read by Jan Berney a dear friend

CHECK OUT HORATIOS STORY HERE TOO

FIND MORE SHOWS OF ILLUMINATION HERE

Discover the sites we share on linktr.ee/saratroy

BE OUR GUEST AND SHARE THE WISDOM

The International Writers Magazine: In Memory of a Mother

February 19, 2015June 21, 2022Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

The International Writers Magazine: In Memory of a Mother

TRIBUTE TO JOANNE STANDELY NORTH

In Memory of Joanna North:

My mother Joanna passed away last week aged 95 after a pretty horrid, but thankfully short illness. Born in Ishapore, India in 1920, her father a Colonel in the Indian Army – her mother, seven sisters and one brother were shipped to the UK in time for war to break out and never quite got over the shock of living in cold England or the Blitz.

Jo had a long and varied life as an actress, a nurse during the war, a mother of three, collecting two husbands and finally Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, as well returning to acting from time to time. * I must also add she was great at telling fortunes and pretty damn good with the cards. We all relied on her for our ‘futures’.
Photo of Joanna © Bob North 1946

She was kind and spiritual – but shy off-stage. Tragically she lost her second husband (my Pa Bob) to a heart attack when he was just 44 and never remarried despite many offers. She lived in Cape Town for many years, Vancouver briefly, a few years in Hampshire and in between Lincolnshire, liking the Cape best I think. (Her last words were about the lemon tree in the Claremont garden).

A favourite memory for me is as a child sitting on the kitchen Aga (the only warm room in the house) listening to her saying her lines and quickly prompting her if she mis-remembered. I didn’t know it then but I was learning my craft as a writer from her and all about timing. Whether Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde, I loved listening to the words, even if most of the meaning went right over my head. She loved performing. and being someone else. Her last show was as the Captain’s wife, Parthy, in Showboat, even though she was terrified of singing in public. I remember how scared she was of having to faint on stage and be caught by this skinny actor who was equally deathly afraid of being squashed. (It was alright on the night).

My sister Jane writes: ‘I am grateful to Mummy who taught me the love of ‘colour and beauty’. This gift gave me confidence, as was her insistence that food should be interesting and easy on the eye. Home should be dressed to be welcoming and for the roms to flow. When it came to clothes ‘be comfortable and chose outfits that please yourself rather than others’. She taught by example. She told me that the word ‘if’ was the saddest word. Once you have decided on an action go for it, as long as you do your best it will turn out well for all concerned. She was there for me after my divorce and taught me that family is a bond that cannot break.’

When Sam Hawksmoor was writing ‘The Repercussions of Tomas D’ set during the Blitz, we were eating lunch with Jo in the garden in Petersfield when a Lancaster Bomber flew over low, on its way to an airshow. She went ashen as she was suddenly back in Brentwood during the war pushing the pram with Jane in it when a German bomber loosed its bombs on the houses there. One fell on the house next door to her as Jo flung herself over the pram to protect baby Jane from debris. Two children flew over the house from the next door garden and landed totally intact beside her but their innards blasted. She hadn’t noticed that she was bleeding herself until someone saw her and screamed. The war and it’s terrible effect were always well hidden but still intensely vivid to her. She was invaluable when writing that book.

Jo was always encouraging of others and if a little disappointed my sister Sara didn’t go on stage, despite showing immense talent, but supportive for her next adventures, if a little sad that Sara chose to travel so far away to Canada. Jo was enthusiastic about me becoming a writer, even if I clearly had little means of supporting myself if it didn’t work out. My Ma wasn’t always very practical and trusted to fate quite a bit – but in the end was proved right as it all did turn out ok. No vast riches, but that old adage about getting a skill you can fall back on was the best advice she gave me (teaching) and I guess true for any parent concerned about their kid falling between the cracks.

When I was a kid we lived in Lincolnshire and she was an avid science-fiction reader – favouring all those yellow jacket books from Gollancz. Even if I didn’t understand everything she encouraged me to read them from quite an early age and so I was addicted to quite a bleak view of the future courtesy of Phillip K Dick, all thanks to Jo. It was she who dragged us to Africa when my father died and we all fell under its spell. She blossomed there as never before and made some good friends who were generous and very entertaining. The Cape had a profound affect on us all and for Jo it was liberating. She went everywhere with Kandy, her Border Collie and was heart broken when she died.

Although shy she had quite a strong personality and you can see versions of her in the Sam Hawksmoor ‘Repossession Trilogy’ and more importantly in my own book Mean Tide where she is the matriach spiritualist living in Greenwhich. She influenced many people in their career choices or even marriage choices. She was always there to give solid advice.

When older she used to run a little writing group in Louth, but I know she always regreted leaving Cape Town and her little cottage there. I can’t remember why she left now, but whatever regrets she had she always looked on the bright side and made the best of it. I recall that any girlfriends I brought along she’d immediately ply them with home-made pies and cakes – she took great pride in her cooking. Karine in Martinique still misses those cakes!

The end years were pretty hard, being bed bound, but at 95 she woudn’t miss an episode of Big-Bang or NCIS and don’t get me started on Pointless. Her brain was sharp right up to the last three days and there is nothing more cruel to see someone suffer a minor stroke that robs them of the ability to see clearly or articulate their needs adequately. It was very affecting to see how much she hated leaving this life.

Jo is survived by daughters Jane, Sara, myself, grandchildren Tabytha, Tyler and Tasha, Dominic, Emma and Casper and the great grand-children. All will miss her.
© Sam North Feb 19th 2015

And here is Joanna in her own words back in 2001 on A Golden Age
More life moments