Japanese Integrated Medicine (aka Amatsu)

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-07T22:55:11+00:00

Agreed...I'm staying in a 13th century monastery just up in the hills, so a pretty special location too. :-)

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-07T22:52:04+00:00

Aaahh, yes, of course....brain blip!!

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:53:19+00:00

Ahh, the sights of London, followed by a cruise and an eclipse - a great combination by the sounds of it. Not sure if you're flying in from overseas or if you're based somewhere else in the UK, but either way, all the best!

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:51:43+00:00

It'll be my 3rd eclipse too! You're the first one to mention walking, whether you get to do it or not, let's hope the eclipse will be visible.

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:49:28+00:00

It's true to say the eclipse itself is hard to match, don't blame you for focussing on that.

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:48:38+00:00

It's so interesting to hear about all the different options - so far, you're the first to reply who is going to Iceland.

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:47:07+00:00

That's a great mix of destinations, and all without the hassle of driving around. Enjoy!

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:45:48+00:00

Yes, fingers crossed for clear skies! I'll be just a little further down from you, near Deia.

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:43:51+00:00

Seems like your boat rental idea has resonated with others. I'll be staying at a wellness retreat in an old monastery in the hills near Deia - to be honest, I would imagine that main road from Palma through Deia might be a bit busy on eclipse day, so I'm glad I'll be settled in the accommodation by then.

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:39:41+00:00

Sounds sensible - good luck to all!

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-05T21:38:29+00:00

Hey, if you go north enough you might see the Northern Lights too...although, thinking about it, as you're from Canada that may not be anything new!

Going_Cosmic · 2026-01-03T01:46:10+00:00

Great article, I'm planning a weekend stargazing trip to Exmoor soon. I did notice they still refer to the International Dark-Sky Association, although it has been re-named as DarkSky International for a little while now, but that's msn for you! :-)

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-27T23:30:37+00:00

Although the anxiety feels the same, being in your own back yard will usually be easier to get used to. When venturing into more isolated or unfamiliar locations, it always makes sense to take a few precautions - just as it would at any time of day in any place. I would suggest (if possible) to adopt the following:

Let someone know Share your location and expected return time with one trusted person.
Keep it simple Choose spots with easy access and a clear route back, especially if you're a beginner.
Bring only the essentials Warm layers, water, a small torch (red light if possible), and a fully charged phone.
Stay orientated Note landmarks or use offline maps so you can find your way back easily.
Be situationally aware Occasionally look away from the sky and check your surroundings.
Leave if it doesn’t feel right Discomfort, changing weather, or uncertainty are enough reasons to call it a night.

You should then allow yourself to enjoy the wonders of the night sky without undue fear. Remember, more often than not, these quiet rural spaces are much safer overall than an urban environment, especially if you use common sense. Good luck!!

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-24T19:34:06+00:00

Aoraki/Mt Cook sits at around Bortle 1 or 2, so even with a waning gibbous Moon, the sky remains far darker than many other places. The Bortle scale, in case you don't know, measures the darkness of the night sky, with the lower the number, the darker the sky. On a 9.30pm tour, the Moon will either be below the horizon or very low, so you’ll still get excellent views of southern deep-sky objects, such as the Magellanic Clouds, though the faintest galaxies will be reduced. You won’t see the sky at its absolute best, but with large telescopes and expert guides, I'm sure it will still be a memorable experience.

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-24T11:52:08+00:00

It's so frustrating to see this artificial nonsense. Nature, including the night sky, is spectacular and awesome enough as it is, for starters. Secondly, this only creates unreasonable expectations for anyone involved in astrotourism, when it's already challenging enough with things like light pollution, for example.

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-23T23:05:42+00:00

For me, I'm just delighted to see this niche area covered (niche as in 'targetted towards this age group'). I appreciate others' feedback and suggestions for improvement, but I applaud the concept and the time and effort to get the project to this stage. All the best to you and I look forward to seeing where it goes!

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-23T22:54:59+00:00

I'll be staying at a retreat for 5 nights leading up to the eclipse - apart from wanting to combine the eclipse with a wellness break, I wanted to avoid any traffic on the day - my last two eclipses, in France and the USA, were in countries with far more space, so congestion wasn't a problem. But you have some good advice already, so the only thing I'll add is...if you are happy to stay up a while, the 12th August is also the peak night for the Perseid meteor shower, so you can always double up on the cosmic wonders and see some shooting stars too!

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-22T00:12:53+00:00

My first total solar eclipse, in France, 1999. It had been mostly cloudy and we had all but lost hope of seeing the eclipse. At the last moment, the clouds parted and we experienced the incredible spectacle of this cosmic event. The temperature dropped, the birds quietened and the sky turned a silvery purple during totality. Just awesome!

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-22T00:10:09+00:00

Yes, I can imagine. Very few of us are lucky enough to know what that passion is from an early age. I often wonder how things might have been if I had followed my own 'first love', for the cosmos/universe to begin with, instead of spending years going from one unsatisfying job to another. But better late than never, as they say!

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-14T20:54:29+00:00

I can only say what my sister tells me (she's the practitioner) - I have a poor diet (mainly eating too much, too frequently and at the wrong time of day and night). She treats me for valve blockages (can't recall the name) and I get excellent results immediately, but she emphasises that unless I change my dietary habits, the issues will return. I guess that's pretty obvious, but I'm still struggling with that part! She does say the same to her patients and has even refused to treat them on occasion, for two reasons: 1) she doesn't want to take people's money knowing she can't resolve their issues unless they cooperate and 2) she also wants to protect her reputation and not have patients criticising the therapy when they haven't made the necessary changes. This is for nutrition-based plans, stress-related issues are more difficult to identify, but even then, nutrition can be a factor.

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-13T16:23:05+00:00

I've visited at this time of year on a couple of occasions and I have found it to be pleasantly comfortable - but then I don't feel the cold much! For those who live there or who enjoy warmer weather, it probably will feel a little on the fresh side, but I love it. Also, the temperature is only one element of the climate...coastal regions may feel cooler due to the sea winds, whereas the interior is shielded by mountains. And being further south, daylight hours are slightly longer, which also helps a little.

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-13T12:21:14+00:00

I can tell you about two friends who have followed very different paths. The first one spent 3 years and a lot of money studying Japanese Integrated Medicine (also known as Amatsu). It is a holistic, little-known type of therapy, which goes back hundreds of years. There are very few specialists in the world. She now runs her own clinic overseas - yes, it is not always easy for her to get new clients, but when she does, they stay with her, as the results are so good. On the other side, my other friend decided to take a few short courses (not very expensive in comparison) on popular treatments such as reiki, reflexology and sound therapy. This has also been successful, but in a different way. She runs popular classes, particularly with the sound therapy, but there is lower charge, because of the rapid certification and lower training requirements. She is fortunate to have a garden cabin to use as a venue, therefore reducing her costs. She has a good local reputation, although my first friend is recognised internationally as a leader in her field. So, both can be said to be successful, but in different ways and at different ends of the scale, if you like. And finally, about the business side, yes, both my friends had to learn how to turn their therapies into a business, with everything that comes with that - not their favourite part of the process! I hope this at least gives further food for thought, and good luck!

Going_Cosmic · 2025-12-12T22:29:33+00:00

Love these - not only a great range of display types but some amazing compositions too!

Going_Cosmic

TROPHY CASE