Latest news with #HeavenlyHealing
The Citizen
11-08-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
WATCH: Why Saying Affirmations Could Change Your Life
Affirmations are not self-help slogans or internet memes. While the idea of changing your world with the power of the... Affirmations are not self-help slogans or internet memes. While the idea of changing your world with the power of the spoken word is not new, it's becoming an every day tool that nobody can ignore anymore. They are powerful tools of intent, and when done correctly, they can completely change mindsets, boost confidence, and help change emotional patterns. Spiritual practitioner Anne-Marie Viviers of Heavenly Healing in Benoni works with clients seeking clarity, healing, and personal growth. She uses tools like Reiki, past-life regression, and the power of the tongue. She said affirmations are far more than words when applied by design. 'Affirmations need to be personal and spoken with conviction,' she said. 'They are declarations of change, and when they come from a place of sincerity, they carry real weight.' WATCH: Learn about affirmations Before saying anything, she said, the first step is to be honest about what needs changing in your life. 'You cannot just copy something off the internet and hope for the best. Whether it is self-doubt, fear, money stress or heartbreak, the affirmation must speak to that exact thing.' She said that although people often Google affirmations or pick them out of books, she encourages clients to build their own. 'Together we create wording that matches where they are and where they want to be. It must feel true to them. If it sounds forced, it will not land in the body.' Write down affirmations Viviers also recommends writing affirmations by hand. 'There is a neurological impact when you write something down. Your body remembers the motion. You are not just saying it. Instead, you are embedding it.' ALSO READ: Joyspan: The one life measure that really matters Believe it or not, apart from writing down affirmations, getting a message across to your mind and body should be done naked, in front of the mirror, she suggested. It's a growing trend, and Viviers encouraged it as a form of no-holds-barred self-confrontation, gently. 'Standing unclothed in front of a mirror strips away image and ego. There is nowhere to hide. And when you speak words of power and kindness to yourself in that state, it changes you. It builds self-respect.' She said the time of day when you do affirm ideas to yourself matters less than the intention. 'Say it in the morning if you need to face a difficult boss or colleague. Repeat it throughout the day if it is about anxiety or fear. The more often, the better, but always with presence of mind.' Affirmations can be done almost anywhere, not just in your birthday suit before a mirror. Public spaces, such as a park, in the car, or even while shopping, are ideal. You can whisper them to yourself, say it out loud in traffic. 'Even saying it quietly in or thinking it in a meeting still sends the signal. It is the intention that counts.' Listening to a recording of your own voice repeating affirmations also helps reinforce notions. 'Your subconscious responds best to your own voice. It trusts it,' she said. You trust your own voice Affirmations are not magical words that can be used like a wand to make anything manifest. 'If it is not part of your life path or truth, no amount of repeating it will make it happen. Wanting to win the lottery is not going to manifest because you chanted it. 'Affirmations work when they are aligned with who you are.' Viviers reiterated that affirmations are most effective when they come from a place of clarity and honesty, and knowing bits about yourself. 'This is not about wishful thinking,' she said. 'It is about intention. And when intention meets repetition, that is when the real change in the universe and your own orbit happens.' Five affirmations to test drive: I am open to the abundance of the universe. I am beautiful, sexy, and a limitless sensual being. Nothing can stop me from (insert goal) if it is right for me. (Insert problem or challenge) no longer haunts me, because I emerge in joy. I love myself, and therefore I can love others. NOW READ: Gen Z is not okay, the internet is making it worse
The Citizen
05-08-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Joyspan: The one life measure that really matters
Unlike fleeting moments of happiness, joy isn't dependent on good news or good weather. We count our years. And we track our steps. We measure cholesterol and productivity. There are apps for all of these, but there's nothing that tracks joy. Well, except perhaps an old chocolate ad with a gorilla drumming and taking a moment to find pure joy in their own happy noise. But, pause, take a moment and ask yourself how much of your own life is actually spent simply taking a moment and experiencing joy. There's a word for it now. It's called Joyspan, and it refers to the amount of time in your life that is genuinely joyful. Not just the absence of stress, but moments of satisfaction, connection, and lightness of being. Think of baby's first steps, when gaga became mama, or when you simply overachieved against all your own expectations. When someone gifted you something that you really wanted, or when giving gave you a joyful feeling. There's nothing in formal science that defines Joyspan, but it's a ponytail word that's getting traction, because it's not something we can ignore, said medical doctor and psychologist Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys. 'Joyspan is a useful metric,' he said. 'We've spent years looking at how to prolong life, but not enough attention has been paid to the emotional content of that time. Joy is protective. It builds resilience, improves health, and widens our capacity for connection.' Joy builds resilience Unlike fleeting moments of happiness, joy isn't dependent on good news or good weather. It can be spontaneous, enduring, or simply a reflective moment. A Harvard study on adult development found that people with strong, joyful relationships lived longer and had better physical health outcomes than people with weaker social ties. Relationship expert Lisa Welsh from said that in her experience, couples who pay attention to the small, joyful interactions tend to report higher levels of emotional intimacy. 'Joyspan in relationships is often about micro-moments,' she said. 'Being heard, sharing a laugh, cooking a meal together. These are the things that sustain connection over time. Not grand gestures, but the dailies.' Also Read: Why Gen Z fears phones It's not only about relationships, either. Anne-Marie Viviers of Heavenly Healing, who incorporates bodywork, energy therapy and spiritual wellness practices, said joy must be cultivated just like physical fitness. 'Joy is not a bonus at the end of healing,' she said. 'It's part of the process. A body that is regulated, a nervous system that's supported, becomes more receptive to joy. It's not something you chase; it's something you clear space for.' Life's small things increase Joyspan Viviers believes that movement, scent, sound, and intentional rest all play a role in increasing Joyspan. 'People come for treatments to relieve stress, but what they often walk away with is more clarity and a lightness. That's the entry point to sustained joy.' There's some medical backup for Joyspan. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences linked positive emotional states, including joy, to better immune function, lower stress hormone levels, and improved cardiovascular health. Dr Redelinghuys said people tend to overlook the small wins in life. 'I often suggest to people to track their weeks. Not for tasks completed, but for moments of actual joy. What they find is that it's not really the expensive dinner or the promotion at work that creates joy. It's usually the moment a child says something funny, or that quiet few minutes before the rest of the house wakes up.' The impact of joy on mental health is also well documented. Studies show that sustained experiences of joy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve emotional regulation, and increase motivation. Yet few people prioritise it in daily life, said Viviers. People are exhausted Welsh noted many of her clients arrive exhausted, not just physically but emotionally. 'They're trying to tick all the boxes like career, family, fitness and so on, but there's no space for joy. The first thing I get couples to do is reconnect with what makes them laugh together. If you're not laughing, you're not connecting.' Viviers believes modern life is overloaded with what she calls joy blockers. These are constant digital inputs and overstimulation from social media and online living. It can cause emotional fatigue. 'It's not just the phone in your hand; it's the information your nervous system is constantly trying to process. People are tired, not just from work, but from the intensity of everyday living.' Improving Joyspan doesn't require big life changes. Movement, gratitude, awe, and even a few minutes of mindfulness a day have all been shown to boost joy. A study by psychology academics Emmons and McCullough found that people who wrote down three things they were grateful for each day reported higher levels of life satisfaction over time. 'Joyspan doesn't need to be manufactured,' said Dr Redelinghuys. 'It needs to be noticed. It's already happening, and you just need to pay attention.' Now Read: Why are we so negative? An expert answers
The Citizen
24-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
WATCH: Sangoma Pretorius explains the fear of Tokoloshe
Sangoma Fezile Pretorius explained that the Tokoloshe has different forms. It was not uncommon to see beds propped up on bricks in many South African bedrooms. It's a measure to keep the Tokoloshe in check, because they cannot climb elevated surfaces. The small, hairy and somewhat hunchback-like creature, as passed on by generations of folklore, is said to be both mischievous and malicious. The creature is purportedly sent to you by someone who wants to create fear in your household or do actual harm. Heavenly Healing's resident healer Sangoma Fezile Pretorius explained that the Tokoloshe, sometimes called Tokoloshi, has different forms in traditional understanding. 'There are three grades of Tokoloshe,' he said. 'The most common one people know is like a little hairy man. Often, it's not mystical at all. It can be trained animals, even baboons, used by certain people to carry out menial tasks. It's more psychological warfare. When you see something that fits the idea of a Tokoloshe, fear grips you and that fear becomes its own weapon.' Watch: Sangoma Fezile Pretorius talk about Tokoloshe Three kinds of Tokoloshe The second form is more spiritual. 'This is negative energy sent by someone who knows how to channel it. It's speculative – some believe it, others don't, but it's said that if you allow it into your mind, it can attach itself to you,' Pretorius said. Also Read: Sangoma: It's not always witchcraft and curses Then there is the darkest version, one that lives more in imagination than reality. 'There's talk of a Tokoloshe farm somewhere in the country where deformed children are raised as assassins, trained with muti knowledge and all the terrifying things whispered about in secret. I haven't seen it, but it's something we're told to be aware of.' It is a less-than-feel-safe scenario in all three instances, and, said Pretorius, people should take a measured view of the legend. He asked the bones for a perspective. 'The bones say it's true that these things bring darkness into people's lives. Usually, jealousy or money is behind it because someone wants what you have. Once the illusion sets in, it breaks your courage and destroys you from within.' There are ways to protect yourself. 'Regular cleansing, medicine to guard your home, and tying protective cloths in your yard can help. But most importantly, it's how we conduct ourselves in society. Keep yourself spiritually clean and the Tokoloshe won't be seen,' he said. Now Read: WATCH: TikTok ASMR trend heads to the massage studio
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
WATCH: TikTok ASMR trend heads to the massage studio in SA
ASMR treatment includes gentle touch, soundscapes and energy work. Imagine a massage that was spawned in a viral universe where whispering, chewing crackly snacks and tapping or slurping through straws reign supreme. ASMR, short for autonomous sensory meridian response, has now hopped across the digital sphere to a real-world experience – and it's now leapt across the Atlantic to Mzansi. An ASMR massage is designed to soothe frayed nervous systems through touch, breath, sensory experiences and ambient sound. Ann-Marie Viviers, founder of Heavenly Healing, has introduced what she believes is one of the first ASMR-based massage treatments in South Africa. Her method is inspired by the online trend that has captivated millions of people looking for calm in distraction in an increasingly messy world. 'It is not just a massage,' said Viviers. 'It is a controlled sensory environment. You are surrounded by soft thunder, rain sounds and intuitive touch. It is designed to quiet the noise that most people carry in their heads.' The treatment includes slow, gentle touch, carefully selected soundscapes, energy work, and ritual elements that blend ceremony and therapy in a single moment. Watch an ASMR massage: Sessions, she said, begin with a mist of water infused with crystals such as selenite and clear quartz, left to charge under the moon. Clients choose the sound palette for their session from rainfall, rustling leaves, to distant thunder, which plays softly in the background. The massage itself involves barely-there brushing using feathers, silk or soft-textured fabric. 'Stones like larimar or amethyst are placed gently on or around the body to support grounding or emotional release.' ALSO READ: 7 things people say to sound deep on Instagram 'There is a softness to this kind of massage that helps people feel seen without needing to speak,' Viviers said. 'Every sound and every touch is chosen to help the body settle and the mind find stillness. It is not about knots or pressure points. It is about emotional reset.' Full body and spirit experience Viviers said it is a full-body and full-spirit experience. 'It is sensual in the sense of being fully present in your senses. Some clients describe it as a spiritual return to themselves. You come in scattered and leave whole.' Psychologist and medical doctor Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said the popularity of ASMR content online, and now in real-life experiences, represents a move toward sensory-based therapies. 'People are turning to experiences that bypass the brain's usual defences,' he said. 'ASMR works with soft, repetitive, predictable input. The brain reads that as safety. That brings the nervous system down from a constant state of alert.' Dr Redelinghuys said ASMR, once considered internet novelty, has proven its staying power. 'We are overstimulated, overworked and interrupted constantly. ASMR offers a very different kind of presence. Whether it is online or in person, people are responding to that.' Possible reduction in anxiety Clinical research on ASMR is still in its early stages, but existing studies point to reduced anxiety, lower heart rate and improved sleep in individuals who respond to the stimuli. Dr Redelinghuys said it is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but it is meaningful for those who experience the effect. 'This kind of massage is not therapy in the traditional sense, but it is therapeutic,' he said. 'It brings people back into their bodies. That alone can be healing.' Viviers said the treatment has attracted people who do not always feel comfortable with conventional massage. 'Some clients have trauma, some struggle with overstimulation, some just want a way to feel without having to talk. This gives them that.' Sessions typically last between one and one and a half hours and are structured around presence rather than outcome. 'We are not trying to fix anything,' Viviers said. 'We are creating a pause, a space where someone can just be. From the moment the mist goes into the air to the final breath of the session, it is about stillness.' Dr Redelinghuys said the use of ASMR in wellness treatments is not surprising. 'Not all healing comes from analysis. Some of it comes from attention and care,' he said. 'If a treatment helps someone feel safe and calm, it matters.' NOW READ: Sangoma: It's not always witchcraft and curses
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Sangoma: It's not always witchcraft and curses
Pretorius said that he often gets clients who face uphill battles, especially at work or with neighbours. When things go wrong at work and at home, and a chinwag at the water cooler becomes more torture than titillation, something's wrong. But that wrong isn't always what people think, says Sangoma Fezile Pretorius of Heavenly Healing. Pretorius said that he often gets clients who face uphill battles, especially at work or with neighbours. 'You are feeling drained. There is tension at work, your sleep is broken, and something just does not feel right,' he said. 'Maybe your neighbour has been acting strange. Maybe your colleague has stopped greeting you. Then things get worse. Appliances break, money dries up, you start to wonder if someone has gone the supernatural route to make your life harder.' It is not an unusual thought to contemplate that you have been bewitched, or a spell or curse was cast in your direction said Pretorius. 'People come to me with this concern more often than you would think,' he said. 'When people live close to each other or work in high-pressure environments, tension builds up. When bad luck follows, they begin to suspect someone has done something to them. They think they are being targeted with muti.' People create their own spiritual unease It's not always the case, though. Pretorius said that many people create their own spiritual unease without realising it. 'In some cases, no one has done anything,' he said. 'What happens is that we know someone does not like us, or we feel guilty about something. That creates a mental and emotional spiral. Eventually, we convince ourselves we are under attack on a spiritual level. It becomes real to us, because we made it so ourselves.' ALSO READ: Fezile Pretorius: The white sangoma shattering stereotypes He said that muti works on three levels: the physical, mental, and subconscious. 'Some remedies work through the body, like herbs or mixtures. Others help us psychologically, to calm anxiety. And some work deep in the mind, prompting a change in how we feel about our surroundings. When it comes to neighbourhood fights or workplace disputes, the muti used correctly often helps us more than it harms anyone else. It brings peace to the one who uses it.' Curses and spells do occur Curses and spells do occur though. Pretorius recently consulted the bones for someone who suspected that they were at the receiving end of this. 'This reading gave me what we call a double positive,' he said. 'That means the energy confirmed the concern. It is not just imagination. There is interference. The bones showed darkness over this person's life, and a clear disruption in their physical and emotional state. They are tired all the time, but can't fall asleep at night. Then in the morning, they cannot wake up. Their energy was depleted. That was not a coincidence.' The source of the problem, according to that reading, was jealousy. 'The bones showed that someone nearby was feeling resentment,' Pretorius explained. 'There was envy about money, and more specifically, about children. The person who cast this negatively onto the client did not feel their own family was being provided for properly. They were watching someone else do well in life, and that resentment turned into spiritual interference.' The muti was not strong Pretorius said the muti used in that case was not particularly strong, but it still had some effect. 'It was weak, but it was active. What was more concerning was the prayer behind it. That is where the real power lies. The intention of someone's will carries energy, and it sticks. That is what you need to deal with.' The bones offered a solution to the client. 'Cleanse the yard. Start by removing any lingering energy in your home environment,' he said. 'Then prepare a traditional meal, cook ancestral beer, and host a ritual of thanks. 'Beat the drum, call your ancestors, and acknowledge all that you already have. When you do that, you create a new energy around you. You take back your space without retaliation.' 'When you change your focus and anchor yourself spiritually, the person causing the harm will often stop. They will see that you are not reacting with hate or fear, but with gratitude and clarity. And that usually ends it.' But before assuming that someone has ill will towards you, consult your ancestors, said Pretorius. He added that the bones do not lie. 'If someone has done something, it will show. But most of the time, it is not the enemy out there who is strongest. It is the fear inside us. That is where the real battle often sits.' NOW READ: Modern stress, ancient solution – facial reflexology
