Follow these 8 good luck rituals to get your New Year off to a great start , especially if this year is one that you will be glad to see the back of.

# 1.  Give a coin

Give a coin to everyone who visits – especially on New Year’s Eve – to ensure prosperity for the upcoming year. 

According to Celts, throwing coins into water is especially lucky. 

#2. Dark Haired Man

Have a dark-haired man come in to your house last thing on New Year’s Eve to ensure luck all year round. 

Romance will blossom in the year ahead if you see a dark-haired man first thing on New Year’s Day.

#3. Change clock batteries

Change all of your clock batteries on New Year’s Eve to ensure time goes well for you.

#4. Burn Last Year’s Calendar

Safely burn last year’s calendar to cleanse the energy around you. 

#5. Throw a party

Celebrate with friends on New Year’s Eve and share food and drink – it will chase away bad luck and spread abundance around. 

Cow’s milk is a widely popular choice for daily dairy consumption, but its not the only choice.

Below are 5 dairy-free milk options to try next time you are grocery shopping. 

Almond Milk

Almond milk is a good source of vitamin E, which is important for immune health and healthy blood vessels.

Health Benefits: Lactose free, gluten free, high in antioxidants, low in fat, low in kilojoules and high in monounsaturated fats helps to reduce belly fat.

Taste: watery and nutty.

Ideal for: breakfast muesli, smoothies, hot drinks, middle eastern cooking

Best Suited for: Vegans, Dieters, Keto lifestyle

Not suited: for people with tree nut allergies

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is a delicious opaque, milky white liquid that is extracted from the grated pulp of coconuts. 

A great source of natural ‘good’ fats as well as rich in electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and phosphorous which are important for a healthy heart, normal nerve, and muscle function.

Taste: sweet and creamy. 

Ideal for: curries, smoothies, milkshakes, and desserts.

Health Benefits: Lactose free, Gluten free, high in antioxidants, electrolyte balance, prevents heart disease, strengthens immune system, healthy hair and skin. 

Best Suited for: Vegans, anyone who is lactose intolerant, Keto lifestyle

Not suited: for people with tree nut allergies

Quinoa Milk

Quinoa milk is a lesser-known plant-based milk option, can be difficult to find but worth the search if you are after a diet-friendly dairy alternative.

Rich in magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, iron, fiber and vitamin E and contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.

Taste: creamy and slightly nutty.

Ideal for: porridge, coffee and smoothies.

Health Benefits: low glycemic index, immune boosting, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation

Best Suited for: Dieters or those who don’t like the taste of nut milk.

Not suited: for people with allergies to grains, for people on keto diet because it is high in carbs

Rice Milk

Rice milk is made from ground brown rice and water, making it popular for people who can’t eat dairy, nuts or soy as it’s the least allergenic of milk alternatives.

Taste: watery and mildly sweet

Ideal for: cereal, smoothies

Health Benefits: enhances the immune system, protects your skin from premature aging due to sun damage. Rich source of vitamin D, magnesium, calcium and iron. Promotes bone density. Enhances your digestive health.

Best Suited for: for anyone who is lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy or nuts, keto lifestyle

Not suited: for people with allergies to grains

Warning: High in carbohydrates, so is the least desirable choice for people with diabetes or anyone wanting to lose weight.

Soy Milk

Similar protein and carb levels to dairy milks, soy milk contains all the essential amino acids, which are crucial for promoting healthy cells in the body.

Taste: mild soy bean flavour with skin milk consistency 

Ideal for: substitute in tea and coffee

Health Benefits: supports healthy muscles, improves cholesterol levels, reduces high blood pressure, fight inflammation, supports weight loss/maintenance 

Best Suited for: for anyone who is lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy or nuts, keto lifestyle

Not suited: for anyone with a soy allergy, for people who have an intolerance to cow’s milk, people with stomach or intestinal problems, people with gout

Warning: Soy milk may alter thyroid function in people who are deficient in iodine.

Massage is simultaneously a relaxing and refreshing therapy that has numerous health benefits that will help you cope with life’s pressures and make you feel ready to take on the world again.

Here are some important benefits to having a regular massage…

1. Physiological benefits

On a physiological level, massage affects all systems in the body, resulting in improved general functioning as well as relieving specific conditions.  

It can also assist with self-esteem, release emotional blocks, increase mental clarity, and help you to connect with your inner light.

2. Physical benefits

Massage can stimulate and relax the body and the mind.  As tense muscles relax, stiff joints loosen and nerves are soothed, and all over feeling of relaxation and well-being develops. 

The skin, blood, and Lymphatic systems are stimulated, which boosts circulation, improving supply of necessary nutrients needed for healthy skin, hair and nails,  aiding cellular renewal and removal of toxic wastes. 

Massage can also help relieve a range of problems including headaches, insomnia, anxiety plus a wide range of digestive disorders. 

Stress hormones have a weakening effect on the Immune System and therefore increases the possibility of illness. 

3. Emotional benefits

Massage is also valued for its feel-good factor, as it contributes to the relief of conditions such as stress, depression and anxiety. 

Regular massage not only improves mental clarity, but reduces mental exhaustion, feelings of being overwhelm and irritability.

Research indicates that the level of stress hormones such as Cortisol falls during massage, while the level of feel-good bonding hormones such as Oxytocin, significantly increases.

A 2012 study looking at 95 adults found evidence to suggest 15 minutes of massage could not only help people relax, but also boosts oxytocin levels. 

4. Nourishing the Soul

The first signs of ill health are believed to show up as blockages in the Chakra system.  

If these imbalances are not corrected, then the issue(s) will eventually show up as a physical problem and our health and well-being will be compromised.  

Massage can also work on the energetic balance of the body through the Chakra system, which centers around its spiritual dimension. 

Here are 3 important tips to practice gratitude…

1. Appreciation

When family or friends do you a favour, don’t feel you have to return the favour, simply thank them and show your appreciation. 

Instead of responding to that person’s kindness pay it forward to a stranger or someone in need of some help.

2. Acknowledge 

When it comes to achieving  success, make sure you acknowledge and thank those who gave you a helping hand.

And it is just as important to give yourself some credit for your own success. It is extremely important to acknowledge how far you have come.

Doing so will help you to love and accept yourself and will help you learn to make yourself a priority.

3. Attention

When it comes to gratitude it is important to savour and really pay attention to all those good things that came your way.

By bringing your awareness into the present moment and expressing your gratitude daily will ensure positive experiences will continue to come your way.

Today, medical astrologers are still using this practice to help women have babies, schedule surgery, and help people when their health is at risk.

Medical astrology isn’t about replacing the role of your GP but merely complementing each other by offering preventative measures, such as herbs, vitamins, or a change in diet.

A medical astrologer will do your chart using your birthdate and time of birth to cast a chart showing the positions of the planets at the exact time you were born.

The chart is then interpreted to see how it influences your life.

For example, Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn tend to suffer acute conditions but usually seek help straight away.

Those born under Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius become sick slowly and suffer more chronic illnesses.

Whilst Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces tend to have hard-to-diagnose illnesses, such as chronic fatigue and nervous and stress ailments.

Gemini relates to the nerves and tubes in the body and Mars is concerned with inflammation.

So, if you had Mars in Gemini in your chart, you’d more than likely suffer inflammation of the nervous system or bronchial tubes.

Hippocrates believed that each planet and zodiac sign rules organs or parts of the body. So, what is your soft spot?

We have 6 Feng Shui tips for creating the perfect conditions for a better night’s sleep.

Tip #1. Furniture

A clear, light décor has a relaxing effect and conveys a feeling of safety and security.

Choose pieces of furniture that go well together and try to minimise clutter.

The best option is a bed with a slatted wooden frame and a mattress with no inner springs.

Tip #2. Colours

If you want to create a cozy atmosphere, use soft, earth tones in brown, copper, cream and taupes.

If you want to create a tranquil energy in your bedroom try using soft natural colours such as pale blue, lavender, lilac or green combined with a pale grey will help with deep sleep.

Tip #3. Tidy

If you must store linen and clothing in your bedroom, consider choosing cupboards and drawers that have shelving that you can’t see.

Open shelving looks messy and disrupts the calming atmosphere.

Tip #4. Location

Your bedhead should be ideally placed against a solid wall to make you feel safe and protected.

To encourage restful sleep your bedhead should be positioned against a solid wall and the foot of the bed should not be pointing towards the door.

Tip #5. Walls

Ideally do not place shelving or cupboards above the head of the bed.

Where possible, ceiling beams should also not run at right angles to the bed or be covered in silky materials. 

Under sloping ceilings, position your bed so you are looking out from the slope.

Tip #6. Sharp corners

According to the law of feng shui, sharp corners or shelves and cupboards must be softened if they point towards the bed.

Try to move the bedroom furniture around accordingly or hang nice drapery over the edges.

The use of house plants can also help to reduce harsh edges while making your bedroom appear more balanced.

Just make sure any plants you place in the bedroom have round leaves.

Want to improve your sleep? Try these 10 tips to help you get a better night’s rest before poor habits set in.

Tip #1. Know your sleep cycle

Sleepiness comes in waves of about every 60-90 minutes. Falling asleep is like catching a wave of sleepliness when it breaks. 

If you miss a wave you might have to wait for the next wave to come 60-90 minutes later. 

When you feel sleepy drop everything and go to bed.

Tip #2. Only go to bed when you feel sleepy

If you aren’t tired, there is no need to go to bed at the same time each night because you will just lie there for hours tossing and turning. 

Before bed try soaking in a lukewarm bath to relax and wash the day away. 

Tip #3. Dry clean

A university study found the average doona carries up to 20,000 house dust mites which can potentially have serious health implications as the contaminants can cause symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

They could also irritate eczema and psoriasis symptoms.

Have your doona dry cleaned every 6 months to avoid aggravating allergies.

Tip #4. Get out of bed at the same time every morning

You don’t have to go to bed at the same time every night, but it’s a good idea to wake up at the same time every morning.

Eventually your body will start to want to retire at the same time each night and you will develop a natural sleep pattern.

Remember to go to bed as soon as you start to feel tired – when you start to yawn and your eyelids feel heavy.

Tip #5. Your bed is just for sex and sleep

Keep your bedroom as a haven for sex and sleep only. 

Once you start watching television, making phone calls, listening to the radio or using your iPad or laptop, the peaceful association of bed and sleep is broken.

Do any important tasks in another time and in another place so your sleep isn’t interfered with because your mind is busy.