​Of all the African tribes still alive today, the Himba tribe is one of the few that counts the birth date of the children not from the day they are born nor conceived but the day the mother decides to have the child.
When a Himba woman decides to have a child, she goes off and sits under a tree, by herself, and she listens until she can hear the song of the child who wants to come. And after she's heard the song of this child, she comes back to the man who will be the child's father, and teaches him the song. When they make love to physically conceive the child, they sing the song of the child as a way of inviting the child.
When she becomes pregnant, the mother teaches that child's song to the midwives and the old women of the village, so that when the child is born, the old women and the people gather around him/her and sing the child's song to welcome him/her. As the child grows up, the other villagers are taught the child's song. If the child falls, or gets hurt, someone picks him/her up and sings to him/her his/her song. Or maybe when the child does something wonderful, or goes through the rites of puberty, then as a way of honoring this person, the people of the village sing his or her song.
In the Himba tribe there is one other occasion when the "child song" is sang to the Himba tribesperson. If a Himba tribesman or tribeswoman commits a crime or something that is against the Himba social norms, the villagers call him or her into the center of the village and the community forms a circle around him/her. Then they sing his/her birth song to him/her.
The Himba views correction not as a punishment, but as love and remembrance of identity. For when you recognise your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.
In marriage, the songs are sung, together. And finally, when the Himba tribesman/tribeswoman is lying in his/her bed, ready to die, all the villagers that know his or her song come and sing - for the last time that person's song.

​“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” –Unknown
Wishing all women International Women's Day
Love and hugs Jacqui

Over 20 years ago, before vision boards became the fashion, I would scribble my goals/visions/dreams on the back of my business cards and pop them into the zip section of my handbag. Periodically, I would pull them out and it was so cool to tick off the ones I achieved and add new ones to the pile.
Now we have the science that indicates that the unconscious mind scans the worlds for things you pay attention to, attracting them into you life. However, be careful the universe responds to positive & negative in the same manner.
According to the basic Sanskrit definition of karma, it simply means “action”. Laws of karma are all about the positive or negative valance of our words, thoughts, and deeds. In essence, everything we do, creates a corresponding energy that comes back to us in some form or another.

Women's Health Week Sept 2-6th. You are invited to join in to improve women's health with little reminders, information, tips and resources.
For all my existing and new patients (ladies) will receive a free gift bag during that week.
Have a good week. Love and hugs