Zinnia flower blooms on international space station for first time in history, CNN reports.

Photography by Scott Kelly

On January 16, 2016, astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted a photo of one of the zinnia flowers he grew aboard the International Space Station, writing: “First ever flower grown in space makes its debut! #SpaceFlower #zinnia #YearInSpace”.

“To boldly grow where no man has grown before” has been the mission of astronauts aboard the space station for nearly two years, where they have tried to cultivate edible plants in microgravity, writes Lin Taylor for CNN.

Taylor reports that although NASA’s Veggie plant growth facility, which was installed on the orbiting laboratory in early May of 2014, had several setbacks, it seems the team’s efforts are finally blossoming: their first ever zinnia flowers are now blooming in space!

Zinnias are colorful, long-lasting flowers that are also edible. According to Kelly, they were showing signs of stress early on, but he brought the flowers back to life after mold started growing on some of the leaves possibly because of high humidity. He joked on Twitter that he needed to channel his “inner Mark Watney” — referring to the fictional character in the movie called “The Martian” who successfully grew potatoes on Mars.

Growing these plants aeroponically (that is, in an air or mist environment without soil) aboard the space station hasn’t been without challenges. But with each failure, NASA hopes to understand more about watering schedules and adjusting fan speeds in microgravity, and gain knowledge about growing edible plants in these extreme conditions.

“Plants grown aeroponically require far less water and fertilizer, don’t need pesticide, are much less prone to disease, and grow up to three times faster than plants grown in soil”, Taylor quotes a NASA report.

Based on a statement by Alexandra Whitmire from NASA’s Human Research Program, Taylor explains that the Veggie project will also produce crucial information for a future Mars mission. In addition, growing plants in space also offers psychological benefits for astronauts, “particularly in combating feelings of isolation and loneliness.” NASA hopes Veggie will become a regular facility for ISS astronauts to grow fresh food in space.

The first edible space flower blooming in an orbiting laboratory is a huge accomplishment for NASA and in fact for humankind. Kudos to NASA and astronaut Scott Kelly for this achievement.

SOURCE: www.cnn.com/2016/01/18/world/first-space-flower-iss

ATTRIBUTES:  Strength, Courage, Security

ELEMENT:  All (depending on the variety)

CHAKRA:  Lower Chakras

MINED IN:  U.S., India, Morocco, Brazil, Africa, Czech Republic

Agate is the name given to different varieties of banded chalcedony, a mineral of the quartz family. Agates were formed from microscopic crystals of quartz most commonly laid down in bands.

A soothing and calming stone, Agate works slowly, but brings great strength. Agate is an excellent stone for harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit. It soothes and calms, healing inner tension or anger; and creates a sense of security. Agate is believed to give courage, emotional strength, and self-confidence, and to dispel fears. It can also stabilize the aura, eliminating and transforming negativity. Agate is said to enhance mental function and to improve concentration, perception, and analytical abilities.

PROPERTIES:

• Facilitates acceptance of self
• Cleanses and stabilizes the aura
• Improves concentration and perception
• Encourages speaking one’s truth
• Raises consciousness and awareness
• Promotes spiritual growth and inner stability
• Useful for emotional trauma
• Dispels fears and negativity
• Brings about emotional and physical balance

HEALING
In Crystal Healing, Agate is often used for cleansing negative energies. It is believed that when placed on the heart, Agate has the ability to heal emotional disease that prevents acceptance of love. Physically, it could be beneficial for disorders of the eyes, stomach, and uterus. Agate is also said to strengthen blood vessels, improve skin problems, and cleanse the lymphatic system.

A FEW VARIETIES OF AGATE:

BLUE LACE AGATE
Blue Lace Agate is a gentle, calming stone that brings peace and tranquility, lessens anger, and calms nervousness. It assists in reaching higher spiritual planes and communicating with angels. It can help bring stronger intuition and inner knowledge. Blue Lace Agate can increase mental focus and promote inspiration; it can also assist in inner attunement. It activates the throat chakra.

BOTSWANA AGATE
Botswana Agate is a soothing stone that is said to promote creativity and unconditional love. It encourages us to find solutions rather than focusing on negative aspects of daily challenges. It helps us to see the bigger picture and it gently releases emotional repression. Botswana Agate stimulates the exploration of the unknown and furthers our quest toward an enlightened state. It may also aid depression.

MOSS AGATE
The gentle, nurturing energy of Moss Agate encourages us to appreciate and enjoy each moment on earth, and assists the planet in its healing. Known by some as a “birthing” crystal that can assist midwives in their work, Moss Agate is a stone of new beginnings, and promotes release from old habits. Moss Agate also attracts wealth and abundance, and improves self esteem. It soothes and calms, healing inner tension or anger.

YELLOW AGATE
Yellow Agate is said to provide strength, protection, and support. It is a grounding crystal that promotes courage and balance. Yellow Agate is believed to bring prosperity and happiness, and to ward off self-induced anger and inner bitterness.

TREE AGATE (DENDRITIC)
Dendritic Agate is known as the stone of plentitude. It’s said to bring abundance and a fullness of life. It has a strong connection to the plant kingdom and it is believed to have the ability to protect crops and to maintain the health of house plants. It encourages us to remain centered and to enjoy each moment.

FIRE AGATE
Fire Agate is a strong grounding and protecting stone with a high vibration. It is believed to create a powerful shield around the body that provides psychic protection. Fire Agate has a deep connection to the earth and its calm energy can bring forth safety and security. It can also help center the energy stronger in the lower chakras and stimulate creative abilities. Fire Agate is believed to encourage spiritual growth and aid spiritual practices.

PURPLE SAGE AGATE
Purple Sage Agate is a stone of inner guidance, protection, purification, and healing. It emanates a gentle but steady vibration of the Purple Ray, and it is ideal for individuals who are highly sensitive to crystal energies and who can be over-stimulated by stones of more intense vibration. Purple Sage Agate is wholesome and spiritual, as well as grounding. It offers psychic protection by strengthening and sealing one’s auric field.

SOURCE:
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

By Beth Brown-Rinella
I believe that because you are here and breathing, you are worthy, loveable, valuable, and powerful! You are not broken, a mistake, a failure or any other ‘not enough belief’ that you may hold about yourself. Look within to see the magnificent, amazing being that you truly are! Seek to rediscover that God/Goddess sparkle that is your natural self. How? By meditating: by choosing to see the miracle that you are, by being vigilant with your thoughts.

Release the negative thoughts by replacing them with opposite, positive thoughts. Unwind the bindings of useless and untrue words that make you feel “less than”. Let go of the chains placed there by those who were unaware of the power of their words when they said you weren’t pretty, or talented, or smart or good enough. They created a link in a chain of self-denial. When you deny who you truly are — a miracle — you struggle in lots of small and large ways.

Begin today to embrace your personal flavor of being awesome! No more belittling that which was created so spectacularly by the Source! Look in the mirror at the face of a God/Goddess. Yes, you can! Yes, you are! Embrace yourself, the scared little person who is desperate to come out, and place the mantle of self-love upon your shoulders. Be ready for the evolution of being awesome! Embrace the Goddess within; embrace the God within; embrace the Divine within — in whichever way you choose to see yourself. Embrace and hold on to the understanding that “you are enough”!

Now go out and save the world!

Namaste,
Beth

If you need help getting started with this, I am a healer who heals past life wounds and can lovingly assist in person or long-distance by phone. Call 239-228-6949 to make an appointment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beth is the owner of Goddess I AM Healing & Art Center in Naples, Fl. She is available for appointments by calling 239-228-6949. Long distance and in-person readings are available. Visit www.GoddessIAM.com

by John McMullin and Leigh Randolph

The Western World places great value on intellect and thinking over the ability to open to the intuitive process that often allows for creative problem solving. Einstein acknowledged that when he said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Many holistic practitioners consider intuition the sixth sense given to all humans as a birthright.

Intuition is not about believing, it is about knowing, while our ego sensory system trusts the tangible. The great challenge for the human ego is how to expand its consciousness to allow and accept the message of intuition with less judgment, fear, or shame. The challenge of embracing the literal experience of the mind versus the knowing of our intuition is a common internal conflict. Thinking appears as ceaseless chatter from ego parts that are busy defending, proving, and justifying. On occasion we have the opportunity to still and silence our ego chatter and allow insights from intuition to appear in our dreams, fantasies, and abbreviated moments of a new reality. The great challenge of the human ego is to hold the experience without analyzing, judging, or creating rationalization based on past experiences.

So how do we teach our ego parts to accept this stream of insights that our ego distorts with its own values? The first step starts with the awareness that the ego blocks the message because of its own agenda. We try to pour the infinite message of the Cosmos through a tiny little funnel and then choose to believe in that very restricted version. Then we attempt to justify the ego’s version and express this through the limited capacity of language and thought. Through this awareness we begin to understand the great challenge for mortals to process immortal messages without attempting to contain them with our judgments and attachments.

To reduce the corrupted experience from our ego’s projection we start with compassion for the ego’s need to deny, deflect, or change. We learn to become curious about our own projections and reactions and how we have created stories based on our history. This curiosity allows us to develop compassion for the difficult challenge to expand into another consciousness. We begin to realize how much we have distorted not only the message of our own intuition but also the messages of others. Perhaps an important aspect of this process is the realization that our capacity for knowing has been compromised from our experiences of fear and shame. We must have compassion and forgiveness for our mortal efforts.

Some folks would offer that trusting intuition is learning how to think outside the box. The interesting aspect of this notion is that we can think ourselves out of the box when in fact thinking puts us back into the box. So what if we could teach ourselves the consciousness of thinking with our heart and feeling with our mind? Have you experienced thinking about your feelings and feeling about your thinking? Have you learned how to ask yourself and others how they feel about experiences instead of what they think about them? Can we use our body sensations as a reality check? For example, I might ask where you feel a memory in your body and is this sensation something you have experienced before? Have you learned to trust your body sensations and feelings versus the emotions you attach to your thoughts? Have you noticed how thinking can trick you and take you away from your feelings, a misdirection to justify old beliefs?

As we become aware of how we process by projecting old values on to new experiences, then we can invite curiosity to help us become conscious outside of the box of our old ego values. In addition to these tools of connecting with the inner self how do we ask Higher Self to remind us we are, and always have been, on the right course? This connection is the gift of intuition that reminds us we are part of something greater than lower self. It reminds us that our true north is the journey of intuition and the sacred contract of our incarnation.

When do you recall a message passing through you that created urgent action? Perhaps while washing dishes you become aware of the urge to contact a family member only to discover they were involved in some kind of crisis. Maybe you had the experience of knowing there was something wrong with a pet or a child without any evidence. You may have even had a knowing and chose to ignore it, only to discover later that you were connected to something that was happening. Most of us have encountered moments of déjà vu without any rational explanation for them. Our intuitive connection works equally well during the night. Journaling our dreams can bring insights and prophetic information. These kinds of experiences teach us to become more sensitive and accepting to a connection of an invisible intelligence that can guide us on the journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

John A. McMullin Sr is the founder of Journeys of Wisdom, Inner Achievement Methods and Director of Holistic Coaching Institute. He sees clients and teaches nationally and internationally. He also publishes SelfGrowthWisdom.com. John can be reached at (614) 975-5433.

Leigh Randolph is retired from a career in dentistry and has been fascinated by the world beyond the five senses for decades. That has led her to working with clients and their dreams through     Holistic Integrative Dreamwork, as well as scanning the biofield for stress patterns. She is available both locally and globally. You can reach Leigh at (614) 581-8703.

1. Assess your life
Evaluate your health, finances, work, home, family, and friends.  Look at all the aspects of your life and be honest about what areas are neglected and out-of-balance.

Are you as active and healthy as you want to be?
Are you managing comfortably or do you lie awake at night worrying about money?
Is your work and living place comfortable and relatively low stress?
Do you take time to laugh and play?
Are you satisfied with your job?
Are you happy in your relationship?
Do you take time to enjoy your significant other?
Does spending time with your friends energize you or drain you?
Do you take time each day to meditate/pray?
Are you satisfied with how you cope with life?

2. Become aware.
Stop and listen to your body and your soul. Be still and spend some time alone to contemplate your desires. You will discover what you really need when you take the time to pay attention. Meditating could be a wonderful way to do this. Once you figure out what is lacking and you become aware of what you require to feel more balanced, you will have a better chance of satisfying those needs and bringing balance into your life.

3. Set goals and intentions.
Set clear and realistic goals. Think through what you are trying to accomplish and come up with a doable strategy. Make a list of the things you wish to change and tasks that you will need to do to achieve your desires.

4. Plan for the challenges.
Have a plan ahead of time for how you will respond when you run into obstacles. There will most probably be times when you will face challenges, temptations, and setbacks that may keep you from sticking to your plan (fears, worries, doubts, negative self talk) Plan your response in advance and decide how you will overcome them. And if/when it happens, you will know what to do.

5. Move one step at a time.
Incorporate one small change in the area that’s out of balance. Then step-by-step, keep adding little changes until you feel content and more balanced. Do this so that you don’t become overwhelmed or discouraged. Remember, you can bring balance to your life, one small step at a time.

6. Seek help.
Connect and share your inner process with someone. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help or to accept it. Seek guidance when you need it. Find a person (a friend, a family member, or a mentor) who makes you feel supported, motivated, and focused — someone who can help you challenge your insecurities, overcome your fears, and celebrate your accomplishments.

7. Find inspiration
Find books, movies, music or people who will inspire and motivate you. Surround yourself with people who live the way you want to live. Someone who is living a balanced life can inspire hope and belief that you can also do it.

8. Prioritize.
“You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at the same time”, said Madeline Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State. So prioritize. Put what’s important to you first and if necessary, make sacrifices. Simply say no to things that are either not essential or don’t add something valuable to your life. Make time for the things that matter the most to you.

9. Eliminate the negative.
Minimize the negative influences around you. Avoid ‘toxic’ people (complainers, whiners, poor attitudes, and those who love drama). If you can’t completely avoid them, at least minimize contact and tune them out as much as you can. Surround yourself with positive, supportive, can-do people whenever possible.

10. Realign energetically.
When your life is out of balance, your energy bodies* and your chakras* will likely be out of balance also. You can have an energetic balancing performed by a certified Energy Healer, a Shaman, or a Reiki Practitioner. You can also do a Chakra Balancing meditation and utilize the help of crystals that promote balance and harmony (like Amethyst, Aragonite, Celestite, Emerald, Lapis, Ruby, or Turquoise) and balancing essential oils (such as Frankincense, Rosewood, and Spruce). Once you are energetically aligned, it might become more effortless for you to invite balance into all areas of your life.

11. Be patient.
Don’t push yourself too hard. Be patient and kind to yourself. It takes time and effort to overcome your habitual patterns and create new ones that will help you enjoy a more balanced life. Balance won’t feel good if you’re forceful to yourself in creating it!

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION:
http://tinybuddha.com/blog/9-tips-to-create-a-balanced-life/
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/10-simple-ways-to-find-balance-and-get-your-life-back.html

Some of us often feel that our hearts and minds are pulled in too many different directions and notice at some point that our lives are somehow out-of-balance. We may frequently over-extend ourselves and feel exhausted, overwhelmed or stressed most of the time. We simply need to find balance.

Consciously or subconsciously, we all crave balance. Balance is our natural state of being – even if it doesn’t always seem to be the case.

When things get pushed to the extreme, we desire to reshape and realign our lives in order to bring things back to balance. We wish for everything in our world to be good, whole, and complete. We long for a more natural and harmonious lifestyle. We strive to feel calm, focused, grounded, and clear-headed, but with our busy schedules and many obligations, that may often feel nearly impossible.

The concept of balance could mean something different for each one of us. Creating a balanced life is a very personal experience; and what might work for one person, may not work for another. But there are simple things that are worth trying in order to invite balance back into our lives.

Read on: 11 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACHIEVE BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

In many cultures throughout history, lizards have been associated with the dream world. They symbolize our dreams, desires, and visions.

In American Indian tradition, Lizard is often referred to as the ‘dream walker’ who lives in the dream world. Lizard helps us see the importance of respecting and remembering our dreams and help depict subtle messages from deep within the mind. According to the Manataka Indian beliefs, Lizard reveals our weaknesses, our strengths and prompts the energy of change.

When Lizard slithers into your life:

• Pay attention to your dreams, as they may reveal to you  what you are not aware of when you are awake.
• You may be encouraged to go within and analyze your present reality and move with confidence and conviction out into the world of new beginnings.
• You may be reminded that you have hidden gifts and that it is your responsibility to use these gifts for your own well being.
• It may mean a need to move quickly to avoid danger and be prepared to leave something behind.

If Lizard is your Animal Guide:

• You have the power to regenerate that which is lost.
• You are extremely good at facing your fears and moving between realities and ‘other realms’.
• You have the ability to recognize danger and remove yourself from harm’s way when the situation calls for it.

Ask for Lizards’s help when:

• You wish to learn ways to use your enhanced sensory perceptions to connect with your deeper psychic and   spiritual awareness.
• You need help finding the truth and discover what your heart is really telling you.

Did you know?

Lizards are found in warmer climates all over the world. They are sensitive to ground vibrations; they have keen eyesight and superior hearing. The lizard has the ability to escape from danger by leaving its tail behind and growing another. There are five general families of lizards and literally hundreds of species, the largest being the Komodo Dragon weighing more than 350 pounds and the smallest being the Beata measuring less than three quarters of an inch long. They have many descriptive names such as the Australian Bearded Dragon, Yellow Spotted Gecko, Iguanas, Salamanders, and Horned Lizards. Many American Indian tribes recorded their relationship with the lizard in images on pottery, petroglyphs, effigy bowls, figures, and shells and portrayed lizards in their ceremonies and stories as symbols of strength.

SOURCES:
www.manataka.org
www.spirit-animals.com/lizard/
www.shamanicjourney.com/lizard-power-animal-symbol-of-dreaming-and-conservation

by Leigh Randolph

How do you feel about dreams? Do you think a strange dream happens when there is too much garlic on your pizza or you watched the wrong movie before you went to bed? I invite you to consider a different way of looking at dreams.

Do you dream? Many will say, “No, I never dream”.

Dreaming is a path open to all of us, and while some may not remember treading that path, we all wander that way on our journey through this life. Remembering our dreams becomes the question, and the memory of dream images can bring richness to both waking reality as well as to that of our dream world. The dream world happens all around us, whether the dreams are in the dark of night, our musings during the day, in that fuzzy, liminal space before we fall asleep, or just at that edge of awakening, where we are neither quite asleep nor yet awake. All can be magical places for our journey and can bring a greater understanding to the richness of the human spirit.

Dreams are a part of human history stretching back farther than Joseph interpreting dreams for the pharaoh, or Jacob’s vision of the ladder that stretched to heaven and the angels. To indigenous people dreams have been an important part of life. Some dreams were meant for the entire tribe. For the individual, dreams during the first part of the night (roughly between midnight and two) were interpreted by shamans as messages from the ancestor spirits to help break negative patterns held within the family. Dreams during the second part of the night (roughly between two and five in the morning) were to remind the dreamer of promises made before coming here. We have been dreamers a very long time.

Living literally closes us down as we deal with work, bills, and the mundane tasks of life. Exploring our dream journey can open us to an expanding vortex of the magnificence of the human experience. When caught in the material world it is hard to see the depth and breadth of what it means to be within the human/spiritual experience. Dreams can help us better understand our journey, our difficulties, and our gifts.

Dreams are a gift to us to better understand that life is a metaphor. In dreams and life, the pieces of our stories are far more about what they mean than about the story itself. Because we get so caught up in our waking life stories can sometimes be hard to see. In our dreams and visions it is easier to ask, “What did that mean?” Simply asking that question makes life richer.

Dreams, like life, are layered. Dreams can be prophetic, but most of us don’t know that until the prophecy is fulfilled. More often our dream consciousness is helping us to work out dilemmas that are occurring in waking life. Studying dream images over time allows the possibility of seeing the repeating patterns of issues we are working on, and bringing clarity to an area we might not have been aware of at all.

How to begin?  Create a Dream Journal and put paper and pen beside your bed. Before you fall asleep set the intention that you want to remember your dreams. It may take a few nights before your dream ego realizes you really mean it, so be patient. Often at first you will recall brief images rather than an entire dream. It is a great beginning. If you can’t recall the images when you awaken record how you are feeling. How you feel when you awaken from a dream is important to the symbolic significance. If for example you have a dream of death, but feel jubilant when you awaken or profoundly moved in some way it may signal a death of old ideas and a rebirth into a new cycle of life. How you feel after the dream is essential to understanding the message the dream brings you. As you get into the habit of recording dreams and visions, your recall of those images will grow.

What comes to us in dreams and visions connects all of us through the collective unconscious. As defined by Carl Jung, it is the part of the unconscious that is shared by all humanity. We each have our own personal unconscious, as well as access to the collective unconscious. The symbolism inherent in these is best explored through books about symbols. Books specifically about dream symbols can be limited in their value, while books more generally about symbols can offer great depth to understanding the message of a dream. It is surprising how often a metaphor from a distant culture fits exactly with current life experiences in a way that allows deeper understanding of a dream’s message. Your dream ego will use elements of life from the past few days or weeks and you will begin to recognize where those elements come from. What those images represent will be far deeper than the television show you watched or the topic of the book you just finished. As you begin to follow your dreams over the weeks and months you will see repeating elements and you can start to see patterns in dreams reflecting patterns in life. Those patterns may not have been in your conscious mind, and they may be images, numbers, colors, or ideas that recur in dreams. As you become more comfortable with those images you will find that the dream ego not only has messages for you but also has a sense of humor.

My dreams have helped me make life choices and know whether or not the road less traveled was my path. There is a lot of guidance to be found in your nightly travels if you are willing to pay attention. Know that dreams are deeply seated within our lives, so understanding the dreams of others requires knowing something about their lives, just as someone else trying to interpret your dream needs to know about yours. The symbolism of any image must resonate within your psyche, or it is not the message for you. Dream groups can help us learn to facilitate understanding the elements of our journey.

The memory of a strange dream can bring valuable understanding to some of life’s difficulties. Sometimes the dreams will reveal patterns to us that we didn’t realize we were trying to grasp. The journey is fascinating and really, it wasn’t just too much garlic on the pizza!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leigh Randolph is retired from a career in dentistry and has been fascinated by the world beyond the five senses for decades. That has led her to working with clients and their dreams through     Holistic Integrative Dreamwork, as well as scanning the biofield for stress patterns. She is available both locally and globally. You can reach Leigh at (614) 581-8703.

by Angela Passidomo Trafford

The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance. – BRIAN TRACY

It takes a spirited determination to live. There is so much loss in life, so many things that happen in the course of a single day that require us to choose.

Today we are all so very busy. The machines we have created through technology can run at rapid speeds often without breaking down for long periods of time.

But we are not machines. We are human; yet we are all going, going. Before you know it much time has passed. The children have grown up. We have experienced the ups and downs of life — the painful choices, partings with those we love or those once dear where flames have turned to ashes.

What is it all about, we wonder? This life that passes so quickly — in the blink of an eye. Where once we were children, young and innocent; now we are adults aware of the inconsistencies apparent in a single day.

We have experienced loss, perhaps serious illness. We are aware of the presence of death, the aging process.

For many of us life can be a painful, confusing, bitter, often bewildering experience.

Can we face life with the vim and verve that empowers us to look into the face of life’s challenges with a spirit of determination that connects us to a source of love that conquers all?

Many of us have been taught by our teachers, schools, families and religions that loving ourselves is a selfish thing.

Vanity, egocentricity and narcissism are all at opposite poles of loving oneself. These are all forms of self-rejection caused by a serious emotional deprivation in childhood, and fostered onward in life by an ego dominated by the need for self-preservation — survival.

We are all searching for unconditional love. But so many of us are at the mercy of erroneous beliefs and misconceptions.

Unconditional love starts in the heart of each of us for our own selves. My definition of unconditional love is: the awareness without judgment of our feelings. All feelings, even the darkest ones like envy, jealousy, shame, fear, guilt and others.

When we view our feelings without judgment, we surrender the negativity instead of getting bound up inside an unrelenting judgmental ego.

Everywhere people are searching for the way to change themselves, and their lives.

When we love ourselves unconditionally, we can view our human flaws and character defects in the healing light of love, and open to personal growth and change.

It is possible in the face of life’s challenges to develop a determination of spirit that helps us rise above the ignorance of our past ways, and the ignorance we see in the world at large, and lead noble authentic lives worthy of grace.

Our human heart beats with the joy of being alive; the gift we have been given in this moment of life.

When we are aware that life is a gift, it is easier to be humbly grateful for what we are given; instead of bitter over what we think we should have had.

Loving ourselves unconditionally allows us to forgive ourselves, change, and uplift our state of mind into one of humility and acceptance.

When we see our cat or dog comfortably at rest we must ask ourselves why most of us are eternally in conflict — why we can’t be as peaceful as even our cat or dog.

To achieve balance and inner peace we can start now by putting our arms around ourselves and saying, “I love you.”

It’s a good beginning, and we all have to start somewhere.

Giving yourself rest from an overactive mind with meditation and relaxation is another form of loving yourself.

Try keeping a journal and writing down your feelings and dreams. There are messages there that give you the wisdom you need to choose correctly in your day.

There is only one correct choice and that is one of love. By going deeply within ourselves in a true spirit of determination and introspection, we can seek to heal the division between the heart and mind and experience wholeness and peace.

All the great spiritual teachers of the world taught a way out of suffering through heartfelt love.

Opening your heart to the emotional need for love in your own self paves the way for a powerful rush of energy that pours from God’s creation into your body and mind.

This energy of love initiates joy, well-being, health, and healing in your relationship not only with yourself but with others as well.

Unconditional love is the key that opens the door to inner peace.

Krishnamurti said, “You are the World.”

Each one of us by healing our own wounds can heal the consciousness of the planet.

People are always asking me what to do in their relationships, why it doesn’t work out, why they meet the same wrong person time and again.

Love yourself, develop a compassionate relationship to yourself, find inner wholeness and you will uplift yourself out of the old ruts and patterns into a new way, a new light, a new connection with an inspiring enlightened individual.

Unconditional love is the medicine. To heal of life’s suffering, take the medicine and you’ll find the cure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nationally syndicated columnist Angela Passidomo Trafford is a spiritual teacher and author of The Heroic Path and Remembering the Language of God. You may contact her with questions or comments at aptrafford@aol.com or at www.self-healing.net.

Inspired Actions: Sonia S. Dickson on Bringing the First
Sustainable Yoga Program to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I am honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to create the first Sustainable Yoga Program for the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I was so inspired by the CCF organization and its founder; I volunteered to create a sustainable yoga program for them. Yoga has been a wonderful healing and empowering tool in my life. I believe yoga can be beneficial for anyone and wanted to work to make it accessible to under-served communities like the children and teachers at the CCF organization.

These pictures are from my first visit to CCF in Phnom Penh in early January 2016. The children seemed to  love the asanas they learned so far! I committed to returning to Cambodia at the end of February 2016 to continue teaching these very inspiring and wonderful children and teachers at CCF more yoga, and plan to continue contributing to the organization in others ways on a longer term basis.

energy . strength . courage

Red has historically been associated with courage, fire, beauty, health, passion, sexuality, power, love, and joy. In numerous cultures, red is the color of happiness.

POSITIVE ASPECTS
Love, Passion, Confidence, Joy, Courage, Energy, Determination

CHALLENGES
Fear, Aggression, Anger, Laziness, Dominance, Temper, Violence,

MINERALS/CRYSTALS
Red Jasper, Carnelian, Ruby, Garnet, Red Calcite

CHAKRA: Base/Root Chakra

Did You Know?
Red is the lowest of the seven colors in the visible spectrum. The wavelength of red light is approximately 620–740 nm on the electromagnetic spectrum.

COLOR HEALING
Red can be utilized in different forms when applied in Color Healing (also called Color Therapy or Chromotherapy) to create balance and restore health in certain areas of the physical body as well as in the mental, emotional and spiritual areas. The most commonly used modalities include Crystal Therapy, Visualization, Color Silk Therapy, and Colorpuncture.

ATTRIBUTES
The color red is stimulating and energizing. It empowers, uplifts, and motivates. Red brings us courage, strength, stability and security. It can be helpful for overcoming tiredness and lethargy, for stimulating low blood pressure, and boosting sluggish circulation. Avoiding red for those who have high blood pressure, nervousness, and anxiety is strongly suggested. Because red stimulates the Base or Root Chakra located at the base of the spine, it triggers the adrenal glands to release adrenalin. This results in providing greater strength. Also, red light causes hemoglobin corpuscles to multiply, thus increasing energy, raising body temperature, and helping the body fight disease. Red color is said to be beneficial for anemia and blood-related conditions. It could loosen and open up clogs, and also release stiffness and constrictions. In addition, red is believed to stimulate ovulation and menstruation. NOTE: Never treat cancer with red, because this color will stimulate cell growth!

WEARING RED
Incorporating red into your wardrobe can suggest confidence, self-awareness, leadership qualities, strong will, determination, ambition, and spontaneity. In certain cultures red is believed to help manifest prosperity and wealth. Adding a red scarf to an outfit is a simple and affordable way to utilize color therapy on a budget.

RED IN THE HOME
Red excites the emotions. This color can lift the spirit and stimulate the appetite. It can be used in any activity area, but be careful as it can make a space look smaller and bring forth claustrophobia. However, if used well, red can make a room feel warm and cozy. Adding a red candle to your home can inspire color therapy attributes on a budget.

SOURCE:
www.deeptrancenow.com/colortherapy
www.colourtherapyhealing.com/colour/red
www.energyandvibration.com/color

Just like us, our animal friends are most probably welcoming a break from the summer, too. But the cooler weather may also bring some dangers for our pets. Here are some tips to keep our animal companions happy and healthy during the cooler months.

TIP #1: Always check for ticks

The crisp and clear fall weather encourages so many of us to go hiking, camping, and do other outdoor activities. Besides the fun, being out in nature might also bring the danger of ticks. Protect your pet by taking the time to do a thorough tick inspection every time you come back from the outdoors.

NOTE: Hiking trails are favorite stalking grounds for common dog tick species.

 SOURCE: www.mypet.com/pet-care-tips/september-tick-season.aspx

TIP #2: Watch out for snakes

Fall is the season when snakes who are preparing for hibernation may be particularly “grumpy,” increasing the possibility of severe bites to those unlucky pups who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Be aware of the type of venomous snakes that may be in your environment—and where these snakes are most likely to be found—so you can keep your pet out of those areas.

SOURCE: www.aspca.org/pet-care/autumn-safety-tips

TIP #3: Keep pets away from YOUR holiday treats!

Thanksgiving traditionally brings lots of delicious foods on the table. But some delicacies can be dangerous for our pets. Rich, high-fat foods such as gravy and turkey skin can cause stomach problems, diarrhea, and even more serious conditions like pancreatitis. Small food items, like turkey bones, can be choking hazards and raw turkey may contain salmonella bacteria. Always remember, chocolate, grapes, and raisins are toxic to dogs!

SOURCE: www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-checkups-preventive-care/our-top-pet-health-tips-autumn/page/0/3

TIP #4: Chiropractic care for pets

Our pets, just like us, can benefit from chiropractic care to restore and maintain good health: monthly chiropractic adjustments could boost your pet’s immune system and help with a wide range of health conditions.

From: Healing Hands (for the wellbeing of your pet)

by Beth Brown-Rinella

As a healer, I often meet people and think, “Wow, they could use healing!” Now I don’t mean this in a judgmental, critical way — no, I truly see that their lives could feel easier to them if they weren’t hampered by the heavy energies they are dragging around.

When I speak of people carrying heavy energies, it is because I feel they are laden by certain energies that they may have acquired in past lives. I believe we all come into this life with energetic ‘junk’ from other lifetimes. More specifically, I reckon we have karmic issues, that are part of our work or schooling, that we first have to understand and then eradicate in order to accomplish our greater purpose on earth.

In addition, we often carry energies that are here to help and protect us, but they can sometimes create difficulties that we might not understand. For example, if you are deathly afraid of going into the ocean, and would love to scuba dive, but the fear is too great, the chances are you probably died in a past life by drowning in the ocean. Each of your cells holds a memory of every moment of each life — so that drowning is being remembered as a cause of death, now a phobia, and therefore, keeping you from drowning in this life.

We all have energetic baggage we acquired in previous lives. As we are doing our spiritual practices, meditation, reading, yoga, exercise, chanting, and singing, we may be able to clear and set some of these energies away from us. We can do a lot of good work healing ourselves, but there are certain energies that may elude even the most vigilant spiritual warrior’s efforts to become whole. That’s when the assistance of an experienced healer could become essential.

As a healer, I have found that most of these energies can be removed through a series of healing sessions. I suggest a series, because there is only so much that can be accomplished in one session and have the client feeling good, not overwhelmed. Some layers of energies run deep. Healing is similar to peeling away the onion-like layers of energies that distort, shift, block, darken, damage, or distract you from your path. This is often why healers utilize several healing techniques and modalities to reach each of these layers. One method may clear the path, another may bring balance, and yet another may bring in missing pieces.

Clients often misunderstand the process of healing. They think that getting a healing session is a cure-all solution for everything that is not working for them, physically or emotionally.

Understand that you weren’t built in a day, and neither will you be healed in one session. If you accept it as true that you have been in many lifetimes and it took many of them to get you to this place, in this time, with energies carried from all of these past lives influencing your present moment, it stands to reason that it will take more than one healing session and new understandings to bring about significant changes.

The goal is to find an experienced healer who can recognize and help navigate the complexity of your current state and circumstances. Trust and follow the directions of your healer. For example, if he or she suggests that you should work on separating yourself from a situation or a person who keeps activating the “I’m not worthy” belief in yourself, then pay attention, because there is a reason for it. You might be dealing with a karmic issue that you may not be aware of.

Listen to what is going on energetically with you and make a plan with your healer that works for you. Set a goal for yourself to be on a healing path and include healthy activities to further your progress. Do not believe that you have to surrender your healing solely to another. This is YOUR life! Be empowered by the choices you make to be balanced, have clarity, and bring healing into your body, mind, and soul.

Namaste,
Beth

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beth is the owner of Goddess I AM Healing & Art Center in Naples, Fl. She is available for appointments by calling 239-228-6949. Long distance and in-person readings are available. Visit www.GoddessIAM.com

Camomile (Anthemis Nobilis) Essential Oil is extracted from the flowers of the Roman Camomile plant. It has been used for centuries to promote deep sleep and relaxation. This calming and uplifting essential oil has many emotional and physical health benefits. As a home remedy, it is traditionally used to help digestion, calm the nerves, fight infections, improve circulation, and so much more.

Aroma: fruity, strong, herbaceous, dry and sweet scent

Properties: Soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, anti-spasmodic, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibiotic, disinfectant

Spiritual Aspects:  Love, Longevity, Happiness, Inner Peace, Spiritual Awareness

Element: Air

Chakra: Heart & Throat

Gender: Feminine

Benefits for Massage & Skin Care:

• Reduces inflammation when used in a compress
• Excellent for sunburns when combined with lavender and aloe
• Improves skin elasticity and soothes dry, itchy skin
• Helps to clear acne, athlete’s foot, dandruff, and eczema
• Cuts, ulcers, and wounds can be treated with a diluted wash
• Diminishes scars and dark spots on the skin

Health Benefits:

• Helps reduce pain in muscles and joints, headaches, toothaches, and bone injuries
• Stimulates circulation and helps detoxify the blood from toxins
• Aids the digestive and urinary systems
• Can help prevent and fight infections
• Beneficial for jaundice and liver problems
• Aids the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis
• Chamomile Essential Oil is safe for babies, children, and pets in proper dose

Emotional Uses:

• Useful for insomnia especially when blended with lavender and orange
• Balancing to central nervous system
• Helpful for irritability
• Uplifts the spirit and eliminates depression
• Relieves anger and exhaustion
• Alleviates tension and stress
• Creates emotional stability
  

Spiritual Uses:

• Brings inner peace and joyfulness
• Allows us to connect with the spiritual realms for comfort and unity
• Can help clear away past emotional debris
• Harmonizing, and soothing to the spirit

 Tips:

• Use in an essential oil diffuser throughout the home for cleansing and purification.
• Add 10 to 15 drops to your bath to attract love.

Did you know?

Chamomile essential oil can be used to lighten hair color.

THIS ESSENTIAL OIL IS AVAILABLE AT GODDESS I AM HEALING & ART CENTER

Recipe for Sleep Blend                                  

• 3 drops Chamomile
• 4 drops Lavender
• 3 drops Clary Sage
• 3 drops Sweet Orange

Drip essential oils on a cotton ball, and then place it in your pillowcase to ensure a good night’s sleep.

DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS PAGE IS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO SUBSTITUTE THE ADVICE GIVEN BY A PHARMACIST, PHYSICIAN, OR ANY OTHER LICENSED HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL. GAIA’S HEALING GIFTS PRODUCTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FDA AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY HEALTH CONDITION OR DISEASE.

Attributes: Communication, Spiritual Growth

Chakra: Throat and Heart

Planet: Jupiter

Element: Earth / Storm

Astrological Sign: Sagittarius

Mined in:  USA, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Tibet.

In many ancient cultures, Turquoise was a symbol of wealth and prosperity. This gemstone has been esteemed for thousands of years as a sacred stone, a bringer of good fortune — “a gift from the gods”. Today, Turquoise still is a popular gemstone associated with protection from harm and connections to the spiritual world.

Turquoise is an aluminum phosphate mineral. The color of the stone ranges from sky blue to various shades of bluish greens. The color depends on the minerals found in the area where it grew. More copper in the mix produces a bluer stone; more iron in the mix produces a greener stone.

Did you know?
Its name comes from the French pierre turquoise, which means “Turkish stone”. This is because in the old days it was most commonly sold in Turkish bazaars. Originally mined in central Asia, Turquoise reached Europe through trading routes that passed through Turkey and quickly became a popular gem for jewelry and ornamentation. Grave furnishings with turquoise inlay were discovered in ancient Egypt, dating from approximately 3000 BC. Native Americans also found deposits in rock layers in cliffs and believed this mineral had spiritual significance and ceremonial relevance. Today, Turquoise is found all over the world in places where once volcanic activity has occurred.

Turquoise is a strong protection and purification stone; it dispels negative energies and clears electromagnetic smog. It purifies, it balances, and it instills inner calm. Turquoise promotes forgiveness, self-realization, and self-acceptance.

It’s believed that Turquoise unites the Earth and the Sky, bringing together male and female energies. It holds the wisdom of compassion and forgiveness.

Turquoise can help us attune our physical selves to the highest realms. It helps us to better understand ourselves and to bring our ideas and emotions under control so we can see them become fruitful in our reality. It activates and balances the Throat Chakra, to help us communicate honestly and effortlessly. It can help us articulate and bring forth our deepest desire and wisdom.

If you find your life is out of balance, causing anxiety and stress to govern your days rather than peace, try bringing turquoise into your environment. It can help increase serenity, balance energies and allow those within its sphere of influence to have honest communications.

BENEFITS

• It is a symbol of friendship and good fortune
• It provides solace for the spirit and well-being for the body
• It brings peace and protection to the home
• It draws out negativity from the body and mind
• It enhances intuition and psychic abilities
• It aids analytical thinking and creative energy
• It encourages communication with the spiritual realm
• It brings great truth and wisdom
• It protects against geopathic stress*

CRYSTAL HEALING
It’s said that turquoise is a most efficient healer, especially beneficial for alleviating depression, exhaustion, and panic attacks. This stone is also believed to help detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, and alleviate pain. It could be beneficial for the eyes, gout, rheumatism, and the stomach.

POSITION
Worn as a talisman or a protection amulet, Turquoise is said to protect and bless the wearer. Those suffering from depression can sleep with a small piece of Turquoise under the pillow to help lift the depression faster.

MEDITATION
Placed on the Third Eye Chakra during meditation, it’s said to open this chakra and enhance ‘clear sight’ and intuition. Placed on the Throat Chakra, Turquoise can quickly activate this chakra, and stimulate communication with the Higher Self and Spirit Guides.

ELIXIR
A Gem Elixir made with Turquoise can be used to strengthen the body and your immune system so that you can fight off viruses and infections, soak a sprained or pulled muscle, and help damaged or cut tissues to heal. In order to transfer its properties into the water, add a few rocks to a glass container of water and allow it to sit outdoors overnight where the moon can shine upon it, and then the sun can shine upon it during the day. That evening, pour the elixir into a tub of warm water, step in, sit down and allow the healing energies of Turquoise to work upon your body. For headaches, soak a cloth in the elixir and place on your forehead until the pain goes away.

NOTE: Turquoise is a very soft mineral. Therefore, it is often ‘stabilized’ before its use in jewelry making. During this process, Turquoise is crushed to powder and then mixed with resin, to make a stronger and more robust colored stone.

*ELECTROMAGNETIC SMOG A subtle but detectable electromagnetic field given off by electrical power lines, computers, cell phones, television, and microwave ovens. It can have an adverse effect on sensitive people.

SOURCE:
The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian
The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-turquoise
www.gemstone-dictionary.com/turquoise.php

Note from the Editor:

We shared the story of “Building a Selenite Network” in the September 2015 issue of White Lotus Magazine. The response from our readers was heart-warming, and the article seemed to have motivated others to share their stories of Selenite with us. I was inspired to publish some of these stories and call them “Selenite Transformations”.

This is one of the stories:

“Recently, a lovely woman gave me a Selenite necklace from around her neck – simply because I commented on how pretty it was. When I went home, I gave it to my son, as I thought he could benefit from its properties.

I also wanted to get one for myself. I searched around town and I couldn’t find a pendant that felt right, but later I found one online and ordered it. Then I saw the woman who gave me the Selenite necklace another time, thanked her again for the necklace and explained that I had given it to my son. She said, ‘You need it, too.’ For the second time, she gave me the Selenite necklace that she herself was wearing, before I had a chance to tell her that I had ordered one for myself. A short while later that same day, a good friend commented on the necklace I was wearing, so I ‘knew he needed it’ and put it on him. (Apparently, I have become part of a Selenite Network, kind of a Pay It Forward Movement that’s taking place in Naples. I believe this may be her mission because almost everyone who works at Food & Thought is wearing these Selenite necklaces. I think they are mostly from generous her.)

Later on, a precious friend who I had asked where to find a Selenite slab for cleansing crystals, brought me one that seemed to be glowing from within, and gave me the third Selenite necklace I had received that month! Third time is a charm, so I kept this one!

Both of these lovely ladies recommended White Lotus Studio for Selenite. I found it to be an awesome place with an amazing energy and a lovely owner. It is worth checking out if you enjoy crystals and jewelry. There I purchased two more Selenite necklaces I was inspired to share with loved ones.

I could feel ‘a pay-it-forward energy’ from the necklaces that were given to me. It was as if they were telling me that their purpose was to be shared with someone else. Perhaps that’s how they were programmed.

After reading the article on the ‘Selenite Network’ in the September issue of White Lotus Magazine, I understood the connections with all these special people: me, my Reiki student, and the Selenite in my life —  the Universal Love and Light connects us all.”

If you have a Selenite Story you’d like to share with our readers, please send it to:  WhiteLotusMagazine@gmail.com.

The Soul of the Elephant – A moving documentary exploring the last remaining herds of elephants in one of the most remote places in Africa

Review by Annamaria Geresdi

“They emerged from the swamps 50 million years ago and became creatures that ruled the world from coast to coast, mountains to deserts… They leave us messages, ancient footprints in the sands of time… Their movements are meditation. Their eyes shine with a deep intelligence…” – Dereck Joubert, Soul of the Elephant

Elephants: they are majestic; they are intelligent; they are iconic. We are humbled by their gigantic size, their strength, and intellect. Elephants are simply magnificent creatures. Yet, their population is decreasing each year — placing them at risk of extinction.

The natural habitat of elephants is disappearing in front of our eyes. As a result of climate change, large portions of their home lands are becoming hotter and drier, offering poor foraging conditions and threatening calf survival. The increasing conflict with human populations taking over more and more elephant habitat has also become a threat to the future of these animals. In addition, there are over 35,000 elephants poached each year solely for their ivory tusks.

That is 96 elephants killed each day. Organizations of wildlife conservation are working hard to maintain a ban on the sale of ivory as well as on regulations that govern worldwide elephant protection. But despite the efforts, ivory is still being used as a currency or commodity hedge in many countries, placing elephants at great danger of extinction.

It has become a depressing fact that many species can no longer breed as fast as poachers kill them. Slaughtering animals for fun, for myth, for greed and ignorance is an unforgivable act — a sin beyond comprehension, and it has to stop.

Raising awareness and spreading the message of securing a future for the elephants has become the mission of many dedicated individuals and organizations. They recognize that we cannot allow these incredible creatures disappear from Earth. Observing them, we come to understand that elephants are sentient beings that have a lot to teach us.

Elephants are smart and very perceptive creatures. They form deep family bonds and have memories that can span many years. They display feelings of grief, joy, anger, and play. They celebrate birth and mourn their dead, just like we do. They are social, considerate, and very protective. Elephants are among the world’s most intelligent and sensitive animals.

Focusing on the behavior that makes elephants unique, wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert take an intimate look at these majestic giants in their new film, Soul of the Elephant.

The Jourberts are dedicated conservationists who have lived in the wild in Botswana for over 30 years, filming, exploring, researching, and telling the stories of this magical place.

The Soul of the Elephant takes us on a journey to one of the most secluded regions of Africa, where over 9,000 elephants live today. Starting from a pile of elephant bones, the filmmakers explore the many different possibilities that one old elephant may have witnessed during the course of its long life.

The 50-minute documentary showcases spectacular footage on the life of these fascinating creatures and exceptional photography of the vast landscapes of Botswana. The brilliantly shot pictures are accompanied by intimate insights, narrated by the couple, into what makes these magnificent animals what they are.

According to Dereck Joubert, the reason for filming the Soul of the Elephant was to highlight what we might be losing if we no longer have these animals roam the earth: the richness of all the things they can teach us and the answers they can reveal to us – answers that may even help us understand cancer more in our own species.

Watching this eye-opening and truly moving documentary can help us discover and celebrate the “ways of the elephant” and realize the loss we’ll suffer unless the trade in wildlife stops.

Soul of the Elephant premiered on PBS on October 14^th, 2015. You can watch the entire film at http://video.pbs.org/video/2365582605.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Carol Glassman, our well-traveled copy editor recommended this video to me just the night after it was aired on PBS. She said: “It is magnificent – I love elephants and this was photographed where I was in Botswana!” Upon watching the documentary, I was moved and felt the urge to spread the word about it. So I decided to feature the film in this issue and inspire others to also watch it.

Along with this feature, I’d like to share Carol’s beautiful photography taken in the same area the documentary was filmed.
“I have always suspected that elephants are almost human and possess souls, but after being mesmerized by this documentary, I am sure of it! How often do we associate elephants with water? Oh, we may think of them comically hosing themselves and each other with those impossibly hilarious trunks, but here is a moving documentary that separates these regal creatures from the circus and the zoo, and places them back in their wild and natural origins — where they belong.”  – Carol Glassman, Copy Editor

Did you know?

Elephants can live up to 70 years. They communicate over long distances by producing a sub-sonic rumble that can travel over the ground faster than sound through air. Other elephants receive the messages through the sensitive skin on their feet and trunks.

Elephants live in tight family groups of related females called a herd. The herd is led by the oldest and often largest female, called a matriarch. Herds consist of 8-100 individuals depending on terrain and family size. When a calf is born, it is raised and protected by the whole family. Having good memory serves matriarchs well during dry seasons when they have to guide their herds over huge distances, sometimes for tens of miles, to watering holes that they remember from the past.

Males leave the family unit between the ages of 12-15 and may lead solitary lives or live temporarily with other males.

Adult elephants eat 300-400 lbs of food per day. They can measure up to 30 feet from trunk to tail. An average male weighs 6,000-15,000 lbs.

SOURCES:

Soul of the Elephant

http://www.defenders.org/elephant/basic-facts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dereck-joubert/the-soul-of-the-elephant_b_8288950.html

Linden tea is an excellent herbal tea filled with an array of many different antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins – one that can be very beneficial to our daily health. Its traditional uses include helping treat colds or coughs, relieving nervous tension, and aiding digestive problems.

[CONTENT IDEA BY ZSUZSA SZABO]

CALMING EFFECTS

The most well-known benefit of linden tea is easing nervous tension and promoting relaxation. Its ability to help calm and soothe the nerves makes it a fantastic tea for those who are suffering from anxiety. Drinking linden tea may help relieve headaches. The sedative qualities of this tea make it an excellent sleep aid as well. One hot cup of this tea before bed can relax your nervous system and help you get a good night’s rest.

DIGESTIVE AID

Linden tea has been traditionally used for digestive related disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Drinking one cup of this tea can soothe an aching stomach due to feelings of bloating, gas, diarrhea, and cramps.

RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Linden tea can also assist in treating various respiratory ailments. The constituents of this tea can help fight off bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that could cause illnesses and infections of the respiratory system. Mild respiratory problems such as congestion can also be alleviated by drinking a cup of linden tea. This tea is commonly used to quell symptoms related to bronchitis, asthma, and any irritation of the throat.

SOURCE: http://www.lindentea.net/Linden-Tea-Benefits/

With our busy lifestyles, we find ourselves spending very little time outside and even less time focusing on ourselves. We may have demanding jobs, families to tend to, errands to run, and chores to do. We may feel stretched thin, disconnected, overwhelmed and pulled in a million different directions.

For many of us, it is difficult to maintain a sense of being ‘grounded’, especially being stuck indoors or in a high stress environment. But there are simple things we can do to restore our connection with the Earth energies, so that we can feel calmer, more relaxed, and more put together.

1. go barefoot
Take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the beach or in the grass. Just simply placing your bare feet on the ground – touching the soil or the sand will connect you with the Earth energies and get you grounded immediately.

2. be in nature
Find time to go outdoors. Whether your choose hiking, sitting in your backyard, meditating on the grass or playing with your dog outside, spending time in nature will help you reestablish your connection to Mother Earth.

3. garden
Getting your hands dirty while attending to your plants, herbs, vegetables in the garden is a wonderful way to ‘bring you back down to earth’.

4. turn off electronics
Give yourself a break and occasionally turn off all electronic gadgets: cell phones, computers, televisions.

5. grounding with crystals
Meditate or sit comfortably for a little while with a piece of grounding crystal in each hand. You may use any of the following crystals: Black Tourmaline, Tourmalinated Quartz, Black Kyanite, Black Obsidian, Smoky Quartz, Agate, Aragonite, Bloodstone, Jasper, Unakite, Boji Stones, Galena, Magnetite, Onyx, Brown Spinel, Amber. You can also place one or more at your feet during meditation or wear as jewelry to keep you grounded.

6. grounding meditation
There are many different meditation techniques you can try to replenish your energy and restore your connection to Mother Earth. An excellent example can be found on www.earthenergyhealings.com/blog/how-to-ground-yourself

7. grounding tools
With the help of special grounding products, also called “earthing tools”, you can connect directly to the earth while sleeping, driving, or working at your desk. Read more in the article on the next page. To order earthing tools, go to www.earthing.com.

DISCLAIMER
This article is proposed for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here are suggestions only.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION:
How to Ground Yourself by Sarah Petruno on www.earthenergyhealings.com

by Leora Dappen

Modern living has, in essence, severed our umbilical cords to Mother Earth.  Our ancestors used to do everything on the ground: they ate, slept, and walked directly connected to the earth.  Although much of the world still has this connection, industrial high-rise societies like ours are insulated and literally disconnected from the natural world.

Even though millions of people are drawn to the beach every year, few are conscious of just how beneficial it is to walk the shoreline or sit with bare feet sunk deep in the sand.  We know it makes us feel refreshed, energized and grounded, but a day at the beach is much more than an emotional retreat; it is a healing spa for our physical bodies.

Earthing, also known as grounding, is bringing new awareness and validation to the way our ancestors lived and to how our intuition often tells us to return to that way.

Scientific studies have revealed that connecting with the earth has many health benefits. We are electrically charged creatures and living ‘disconnected’ creates an imbalance of the electrical current running through our bodies. Free radicals, which are positively charged ions essentially responsible for aging, increase in our bodies with pollution, poor diet and electromagnetic radiation from cell phones and computers. Earthing neutralizes this activity by feeding the body free negatively charged ions that can help the body balance itself.

Touching your bare feet to the earth, whether it is sand, wet grass, or even natural stone, has almost instantaneous physiological effects. According to the book Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever by Clinton Ober and Stephen Sinatra M.D., earthing is incredibly effective at regulating blood viscosity, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, blood circulation, inflammatory response, and hormone activity, to such a degree that people on medications for these conditions sometimes are able to lower their dosage. On the other hand, wearing rubber soled shoes, walking on carpet and spending our lives indoors cuts us off from what once was a part of everyday living in the past and in fact still is for most indigenous cultures.

I had a personal experience with the earthing effect and using earthing tools. I spent the last 15 years in South Dakota, which is synonymous with long, freezing cold winters – not at all conducive to grounding for health. In fact, my body would often rebel in the winter months with very severe aching muscles and joints. I intuitively knew that being ‘disconnected’ affected my health and so I would travel to southern Florida for 2 -3 weeks every winter to walk the beach and revitalize. It would help me endure the rest of the winter up north.

When I learned about earthing, I ordered some earthing tools right away. I slept on an earthing sheet made of hair-like wire fibers and used a grounding pad under my bare feet during the day. You can literally ground yourself by ‘plugging in’ to the ground portion of an electrical outlet or running a cable outside to a copper rod for grounding — which is what I did.  I called this my “Northern Exposure” to try to make light of my artificial attempt at such a natural process.

To my delight, within four days of use, the severe pain in my wrists and hip were gone and I was sleeping like a baby.  After one week I noticed my mood was steady and my hormones were balancing.  It was a wonderful confirmation that my desire to be outside and barefoot had true health benefits. After this experience, if the weather got above 50 degrees I’d sit in my yard wearing my parka, with my bare feet in the grass.  I’m sure it was quite a sight for passers by.

I live in southern Florida now.  I only wear shoes when required and I recommend earthing to all of my clients. I especially recommend beach walking, as wet sand is the very best conductor of negative ions – the invisible little miracle workers traveling from the womb of Mother Earth up into our bodies to nourish and heal us.

If you aren’t able to go barefoot, then you can use earthing tools, which you can order online at www.earthing.com.  Wearing leather-soled shoes, like moccasins, will also keep you grounded.  If you are interested in the scientific research or in ordering the Earthing book, you can find it at www.earthinginstitute.com.  For now, if you can, kick off your shoes and start earthing. It’s free, safe, easy and plentiful.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leora Dappen is a Natural Health Practitioner and Board Certified
Holistic Nutrition Professional.  She received her Masters of Science
in Holistic Nutrition in 2009 and currently works with private clients
at the Healing Arts Center located at 1065 5th Ave. N. in Naples, Fl.