Thanks for book link Cinna! I haven't read Rosenberg's work but will add it to the list. You're keeping me busy!
My own thoughts on non-violent communication, as always, has really just stemmed from my own experiences, work, observations and reflections. I do have various books on buddhism, taoism, Gandhi etc but, like many of my vast library of books, have only found the time to dip in and out of them. I live in hope that the wealth of knowledge at my fingertips will somehow diffuse into my spirit without the need to physically read the information!
Aikido is beautifully graceful isn't it. I agree that to the spectator, perhaps even the practitioner at times, it is like dancing. I've heard stories of the creator of the art, Morihei Ueshiba, reducing his aggressors to tears by physically nullifying their attacks whilst whispering in their ear a form of psychological counseling. I guess that refers back to something you mentioned previously about other's anger and hatred being merely a consequence of their own insecurities and fears. Now that's non-violent, non-harmful self-defence. It can actually be beneficial to the welfare and personal growth of the attacker!
Interesting to hear of your mum's experiences with utilising honey's healing properties. I've used it in the past for various external issues myself and for others by using it alone or as a basis for homemade creams. As you said, manuka seems to be the best for this and, I understand, is even certified for medical application in Australia and New Zealand. My own investigations into various manuka honey's I've found here have unfortunately shown that it has been heated in production. Any commercially produced honey is almost certainly going to have been heated beyond ideal temperatures. Perhaps for external application this isn't relevant although I would expect a portion of the healing properties to be due to the heat-sensitive enzymes. I would certainly love to have access to truly raw manuka honey!