Pampering for Spiritual, Emotional and Physical Renewal (continued)

Gandy asserts that at the heart of pampering are 24 sacred pampering principles, 12 for the spirit and 12 for the body. Sacred Silence and Achieving a Balanced Life are two of the Gandy's sacred pampering principles for the spirit. Gandy assets that for our lives to be balanced, we must incorporate blocks of silence, even if they are small blocks. Such periods of silence are important to counter the effects of sensory overload that contemporary living gives us. On a daily basis we are bombarded with noise such as the alarm clock, radio, stereo, yelling, television, sirens, loud engines, ringing telephones and slamming doors. In silence you can hear the whispering of your intuition. Silence enables us to get in touch with our inner self. We need to redesign our lives with daily silence as a necessary ingredient. Gandy suggests starting with five minutes of silence of day. Some simple ways to incorporate more silence in your life are reading, writing a poem, drawing, bathing, praying, and journaling, in silence.

Sacred pampering is a means to brings equilibrium in your life. The process of organizing your life around more self-supporting priorities, healthier choices and self-care first helps counter those things that drain your power and time, and wear you down. Gandy says "[ i ] realized that when I am pampered, rested, and revitalized, I am more relaxed, happier, patient, and productive. I am mentally and emotionally more present, energetic, loving, tolerant, understanding, humorous, and focused when I'm in balance and maintaining my self-dictated life tempo."

Achieving balance requires making space in your life. Many of our lives are cluttered and crowded with unhappy relationships and obligations that consume our time, but do not enrich our spirits or touch our hearts. Some of us live in cluttered physical spaces. Cluttered bedrooms, cars, closets, purses, desks and cabinets are often a reflection of our minds which are also too full and cluttered. Often our calendars are filled with activities that do not enhance us. When we are out of balance, we tend not to do things that bring us joy.

One of Gandy's sacred pampering principles for the body is to make your personal pampering a reflection of you. The pampering experiences you select to indulge in should reflect your personality and personal style. Participants in Gandy's pampering seminars have shared diverse and varied ideas about what brings them joy including writing thank-you letters, watching the sun rise, writing a poem, staying in pajamas all day, playing the piano, singing, sleeping in on the weekends, going to a concert, taking a relaxing bath, reading a good novel, having a slumber party, walking in the rain, and relaxing in front of a warm fire on a chilly evening. It is important to examine the nature of the experiences that bring you joy.

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