OMTimes Magazine August 2022 Edition

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Oliver Niño, also known as "The Spiritual Activator," is a Sacred Geometry and Energy Activation expert, thought leader, and celebrity spiritual advisor to stars such as Demi Moore, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev. He has trained and certified healers from over 60+ countries. As founder and creator of the Geo Love Healing Methodology, Oliver has almost 2 million students online and an extensive celebrity clientele. He is on a mission to teach others how to clear, protect, and unblock their energy so they can attract more abundance, love, and purpose in their lives. Coming up in 2023, Oliver will be releasing his first book through Hay House publishing.

As The Spiritual Activator, Oliver focuses on teaching people how to identify, activate, and master their spiritual gifts.

OMTimes | August 2022

He works on the entire energetic system, going straight to the root of the issue with one's aura, chakras, blood, organs, physical body, cellular level, DNA, gestational, generational, and karmic.

As a result, his healing usually takes effect after one session rather than throughout a long period of time.

Niño’s teachings and energy activation sessions have profoundly impacted the lives of public figures like Nina Dobrev, Julianne Hough, Gwyneth Paltrow, Donna Karan, Demi Moore, and Gerard Butler personal development legends like Tony Robbins.

THE SPIRITUAL ACTIVATOR

Oliver Niño was born and raised in the Philippines by a Catholic family with supernatural gifts.

His father channeled energy by using his tongue to communicate its sound frequency. His grandfather could channel the souls of dead relatives. And his mother would have premonitions in the form of dreams that would always come true. When he was seven, Oliver began having curious encounters too.

Today, Oliver is on a fervent mission to teach others how to unblock their energy and identify, activate, and master their spiritual gifts. He has trained and certified healers from over 60 countries.

Oliver Niño sat down with Sandie to share the extraordinary life events that led him to become a sacred geometry and energy activation expert, a thought leader, and a celebrity spiritual advisor.

OMTimes | August 2022

Sandie Sedgbeer: Tell us about your upbringing in Manila, the supernatural gifts your parents and grandfather had, and how that impacted you as a child.

Oliver Niño: It was a very interesting childhood looking back. I grew up with a Catholic background, so you can't have anything to do with psychics and energy and all those different things.

But the Filipino culture itself had a lot of practices and superstitious beliefs. It was a clash.

It was almost like what we talked about and what was done behind the scenes because it was part of the culture that no one talked about. So, for me, it was normal. If we were buying a new house or opening a new office, my mom would call in an Albularyo, who is like a medicine man who will clear the land and ask the spirits if it's okay and different things.

So, I grew up in a household with that as an undertone. There was always mystical talk, and I could feel the energy, but I was also scared of seeing ghosts because of all the movies I saw. Some people can see them, but I was more of a "knower." It was never something I had to pay attention to; it was just happening naturally in the background, but I would just "know" what was happening.

OMTimes | August 2022

Sandie Sedgbeer: So, it was quite normal for you to have that in your background, but I imagine it wasn't something you thought you would grow up and begin diving deeper into.

Oliver Niño: No. I think of it as a happy accident. Logically, I know it was divinely guided, but I didn't take the normal path most healers take.

Growing up, I didn't know what I wanted to be. My parents wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer, and I became an entrepreneur.

So, before I got into healing and spirituality, I had success with online businesses and entrepreneurship.

It was my first love and a passion of mine. So that was my life until I got "called," and the calling just got stronger. Eventually, it led me to a time and place where I had to choose––do I do what I could do well?

Or do I answer a higher calling and go all in with my purpose work. And that's what I had to do because it was aligned at that moment. But, yeah, I started off kind of doing the opposite. I was already established, got the business, the freedom, and the abundance. And suddenly, I get a call. I try to avoid that call and not answer it for the longest time. But, still, it is how it works. It's just very potent, and it's powerful.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Tell us about the moment you got that core. You were sitting in a vortex on a mountain in Sedona, and things started happening…

Oliver Niño: Well, I think of it as God's universe, higher power, whatever the listeners resonate with. For me, there was a dangling carrot; back then, the dangling carrot was money and abundance. And I remember I tried everything possible to make more in my business back then, which was close to 20 years ago. But nothing would work.

OMTimes | August 2022

The Spiritual Activator

And a friend of mine said, 'You should see this energy healer.

You might have abundance block.'

Since I trusted her, I went.

I remember walking into this octagonal house, and this guy is wearing all white, with mala beads and, music playing, & incense.

It was all very new for me because I'd never seen an energy healer before. So, I was sitting there, probably for the most uncomfortable 30 minutes to an hour, with my eyes closed, thinking, 'Okay, is something magical going to happen?" And this guy is in front of me, waving some crystal wands, making sounds and sayings, and nothing's happening. The only thing I could hear was the sound of my stomach grumbling because I was so hungry. I was so skeptical, and while I was grateful and gracious, I thought it was a big waste of time.

energetically, were stuck in your body that tracks back to your childhood. I've removed them. So, in the next three to five weeks, you should see a big change in the flow of abundance.'

And then, towards the end, he said, 'You had an abundance of blocks that, .

I thought it was baloney. So, I went on with my life, and I didn't do anything different, I was just going on with normal day-to-day business stuff. And then, true enough, four weeks later, I saw I'd made more in a day than I did an entire year. And that's what opened my eyes to energy. I thought, there's something out there that I don't quite understand, but it works.

OMTimes | August 2022

The Spiritual Activator

But my mind and emotions weren't programmed for success, so, within two months, I had spent all of it. I wasn't used to that much abundance.

So, I spent it all, paying bills and giving family members vacations. I just wasn't used to it, so I got rid of it. But it planted a seed that energy can move light years ahead of everything else.

From then on, it was the dangling carrot. That was the beginning of my journey of wonder. I knew there was something out there that I didn't understand, but if it could get me results that quickly, I wanted to master it and dive deep. That was the beginning of an inception point.

At first, it was freedom. When I got that, it was more–– it was the purpose.

I went to Sedona not knowing anything about vortex points. I hired a tour guide, and I sat on top of a vortex.

I was, and still am, afraid of heights, but for some reason, the fear went away when climbing; I just didn't think about it. I wasn't expecting anything because I didn't experience anything during my first clearing and healing.

Then suddenly, I felt like an energy going through my body, which was quite an experience. A lot of things started coming up, memories, emotions, and a lot of purging.

When I opened my eyes, I thought I saw things because I was seeing shapes, symbols, and colors. Thinking it was an illusion, I put my hand through them, but they were still there.

OMTimes | August 2022

Sandie Sedgbeer: So how did you go from that moment of receiving all this information and symbols - this download, so to speak - to become an expert in sacred geometry, a lecturer, a healer, and a teacher of millions. How did you make that transition?

Oliver Niño: It wasn't easy. It took a long time, and I wanted to shove it to the side. When I got all that information, my friend told me, 'you're a healer.' Then in my sleep and in my waking moments, I started receiving prompts about what to do and when I tried things out on myself, I would see a difference. Then I got this nudge to try it out with close friends and family members, and they would get such amazing results from their lives. So, for ten years, I was what I would call a closet energy healer. On the outside, I'm a businessman who likes making deals, launching and managing businesses, and still, on the side, I was doing my purpose work and not charging for it. I was donating my time doing energy clearings and healings for people. I was fascinated by it, but it also helped me in some weird way. Doing the purpose work and helping other people helped me. The fact I was giving it back raised my vibration to where things were amazing.

I was just doing it through word of mouth until I got called to do it on a higher level for more people and the world. So, of course, I fought that for a bit, but when my wife was pregnant with our son, I thought, 'this is a brandnew soul coming to the earth, and I'm the prime role model and example.'

I had worked with so many people then, and I knew many things that affected them later in life happened during childhood. So, I wanted to be the best example, to shine my full light, and be that example from my son's birth. So that kind of motivated me. I didn't know what it would look like, but I was going to jump into this fully because I'd been doing it anyway. I vowed to walk away from everything that I knew from the business, from all those things that were making good money and bringing in abundance but weren't fulfilling my soul and my being.

It was the scariest thing I've ever had to do. But at that point, I'd been living my life through divine synchronicity and faith to where I knew that I would be fine even if I couldn't see the steps. I'm guided.

It will work out. And here I am.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Did you have to do training and research, especially the sacred geometry part, or was that information that was channeled?

Oliver Niño: I would say 95% of it was channeled. I learned the grounding and crystals initially, and all this was just basic lingo of the field. Still, everything else came to me, and it was a process because the information would come to me, and I wouldn't know what it was, but I had friends and people around me who could see energy and things and would verify what I was seeing.

So, I had a lot of feedback. The information would come to mean in dreams. I would try things out, and they would work. I would do .

OMTimes | August 2022

Healings and people would get better. I actually preferred receiving channeled information in that manner because I wanted to get it directly from the source. I wanted a direct connection. So that was my intention. A lot of the stuff I'm teaching people is not even out there, so it can't be googled.

Sandie Sedgbeer: So, what are you actually teaching people? Are you teaching them how to use sacred geometry, move energy, and heal?

Oliver Niño: It depends. Some people come to me and just want to work on themselves. They have a block in their relationships or physical body, or their kids are sick.

They want to help their children or their loved ones. Or they feel this burning desire to serve the world, and they want to learn the methodology. So, when I'm teaching them, I'm doing activations and unblocking them. I'm removing whatever blocks are necessary for their highest good. And it can be blocks from their environment, from trauma, or from generational blocks that are passed on. And I look to see where the blocks are and how deep they are; they can be just in your mind, your heart, or your cellular level, to your organs and body. And it affects you physically.

But part one is removing the biggest blocks that are holding them back. Because for me, the way I look at it is like when you've got these big blocks, it's like you're driving with an emergency brake on, you think you're going fast,

Oliver Niño

So, for me, it's twofold: removing the blocks and activating dormant spiritual gifts or just elevating them so that people can tap into their inner resources and move through life. And, from that point, they have a choice. So I have people who are chiropractors, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, body experts, like a "Masseuse," or coaches who want to integrate this modality for their clientele.

And some who want to be healers and to learn a modality. But a good majority of them come so they can learn the skills and They do it on themselves or their family members or loved ones.

Sandie Sedgbeer: So, are you 'seeing' the blocks? Are you 'sensing' the blocks? Or are you 'feeling' the blocks?

but you don't really know how fast you can go because you've got this block weighing you down. So, after I work on the blocks, I activate their spiritual gifts because we all have them. We were born with these gifts; they were given to us so we could navigate life. And that is everything that we need to succeed, to thrive, to have abundance, to have happiness. But, still, for some reason, life happens, or we're afraid of it, or programming, and we turn our intuition and gifts off, or we tune it down, or they are dormant.

OMTimes | August 2022

Oliver Niño: Great question! Because people think the only way is to see them. I have clients that see the blocks in detail.

When they describe them to you, it's like a movie! For me, not quite. I'm a feeler. I feel it. I can run my hands about a foot or two from their energetic body if they're in front of me, and I feel the blocks.

And I can do it they're remotely connected. When I feel it, information comes to me, so I'm a feeler-knower.

There are different combinations in how people process energy and information. I've never been able to see. I get messages through dream form. Or that download throughout the day. But my wife is a complete seer.

She sees the energy. She sees the energy entities and everything in between. It's funny because we would compare notes. I would feel stuff, and say, 'I feel this over there. 'And she'd be like, 'I saw that and this,' and it would match. But I would interpret that information through feeling.

Sandie Sedgbeer: You've worked with a lot of Hollywood stars. Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, and many others. Is that a word-of-mouth thing that brought them to you?

Oliver Niño: Yeah, it is typically like, somebody who's been following me for a while who I've helped, who I might not even know. I don't check any of the messages I get because there are so many. Sometimes people have been waiting, for six months and it's hard for my team to know who everyone is. But we would typically have somebody whose lives would change and they would refer us to people in the entertainment industry, and then we'd work with them. Some have found me through content on Instagram, where they see my video and resonate with it.

But for the majority, it's word of mouth.

OMTimes | August 2022

If someone's life got rocked, they want to share it with someone near and dear to them. It's the same with many of our clients: They get a change in their lives. Next thing they're bringing their sister, their mom, their dad, we've had it to where entire family systems could come in because the people around them notice the change.

Sandie Sedgbeer: You founded and created the Geo love healing methodology and got almost 2 million students online. Tell me about the method. How did you develop it and what, what does it consist of?

Oliver Niño: Yes, much of it came from my experience of activating in those 10,000 sessions in the first ten years. Then the next close to ten years after that was refining it. But at first, it was a system of first being able to remove or identify energetic blocks in the body, remove them as frequently as needed, and go as deep as possible. Because typically, if somebody has a hard time attracting love, or if they attract a toxic or narcissistic love, that can be a block in the heart. That could be as simple as they were a kid in the playground, bullied at seven, and their hearts closed off. And when their heart is closed off, they start thinking the world's not safe; I am unlovable, I should be invisible. So now you've got the thought mixed with the emotions and trauma. So, it creates this frequency where it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and starts attracting more people and problems if you don't address it. It can be changed at any moment. And when it's changed, they find people that come to them lovingly, respect their time and honor them, and have fun, which works. So, I help people know how to do that for themselves. And at the same time, have the tools to deal with life.

OMTimes | August 2022

For example, if somebody's sensitive in crowded areas or the mall, teaching them how to shield and protect themselves and getting to a place where they raise their vibration enough to where they don't need to shield themselves because their vibration becomes their protection.

I would say the system is mastering energy, which is the invisible thing that affects everything.

OMTimes | August 2022

So, to complete mastery of energy, how to protect themselves, how to raise their vibrations, how to remove the blocks, how to do it for others, how to make an impact on your surroundings and everybody around you, and live a life empowered.

Sandie Sedgbeer: So, when people are on your course and having these experiences, they're learning how to sense the energy, remove the blocks, et cetera? Is that the activation process, or does the activation come afterward, and how is the activation? I mean, you're known as the Spiritual activator, energy activator. How are you activating people?

Oliver Niño: So, for me, it is two parts. It is removing the blocks, and it is activating their gifts. So, when I was doing one-on-one healings a long time ago, I never had to meet them.

Typically, I'd do one healing. That's all it took. Because the way I work is I go to the root. I don't go to the branches of the fruit. I go to the one thing that if I work on this, it affects the hundred other things, and it's good. So, I never really needed to do 2, 3, 4, or 5 sessions.

If they're different topics in different areas, sure. Some things were like layers of the onions for those that took divine time. So, I would do some, but my methodology has never been, "I'm working with somebody for an entire year, every week."

Sandie Sedgbeer: You provide a lot of videos, tips, tools, and techniques for people. In 2016, you launched the geo love healing program. Before we look at some tools, techniques, and tips you can offer us, tell us what this program is all about.

Oliver Niño: This is an eight-week certification program for people who want to become their own healers. It's very in-depth, and they learn an entire methodology for doing that themselves. They go deep, get practice hours, and get to do healings on others and feedback and all that stuff. And towards the end, they get a certification. I do healings and activation on them as well. I don't do one-on-one, but I do it for this program.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Is this an online course?

Oliver Niño: Yes, it's online, but it's also something people can do in person. So, we have a completely virtual one where they get training every single week, homework, and practice for eight weeks. And then, in the middle of the program, we have a typical four-day event. If people can't do it live, they do it remotely. And that's when they get to experience the activation. They clear. I do it on them, and then they learn how to do the healings on others, with people in front of them, and remotely.

They get to do it, and they get to exchange notes, and 30 or 40% of the people in the room who come in there, they don' t think they' re healers, and hearing all the feedback and results blows their mind away because they' re like, is that really me?

It is such a great experience watching people just step into the powerful things they knew how to do naturally when they were born. It changes everything for them.

Because every single time somebody goes through that entire program almost like within 30 days or 90 days, we' d either get messages from their family members to thank us because they' re noticing a change in their husband or their wife or their sister or their daughter. And it's such a profound thing that they get to see this change. So it's a ripple effect.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Do you think everybody can be a healer?

Oliver Niño: I feel like we all have it within us. But it' s a matter of being willing to tap into it and do the work, to step into that. So, suppose you have the gift, okay, any gift––there are many gifts, healer, channeler, psychic, transmuter, or Akashic Records––I look at all gifts as frequency-based. And depending on your frequency, you can access a certain version of your gift. Let' s say someone is a transmuter, they walk through the world, and they can feel somebody' s energy and not know how to do what they' re doing.

They can cleanse somebody' s energy unconsciously, and that person walks away feeling lighter.

OMTimes | August 2022

And the transmuter, depending on their frequency, might get tired if it' s a little bit lower. They might feel all the pain and trauma that person was feeling because they're transmitting it through their system. But if their frequency was higher, they wouldn' t feel a thing. It would happen fast, and it would be normal.

The dormant (gifts) are the hard ones because they've got to choose them. They've got to be open to them. You can bring a horse to the water, but that's all you can do. And, for me, that's been a tough one in the past because I want to save and help everybody. I want to elevate everybody and realize that sometimes you can't. All you got to do is embody the best version of yourself and hope. It happens a lot that since they're connected to you, it also affects them by working on you.

Sandie Sedgbeer: We hear much about empaths and highly sensitive people. I think everyone is an empath, but often they don't realize they are, or they may feel too much and suppress it. They dumb it down. But you have some tips to offer empaths to protect their energy.

Oliver Niño: The thing with empaths is that there are always different versions of gifts. I've seen empaths who really are healers. Others are transmuters, but the first path for them is awakening. So, I see that there are times when somebody wakes up to their energetic ability, and we can never predict when our third eye will open. The third eye doesn't mean you see ghosts. But it can mean that, for some reason, you're sensing everybody's energy, and it's overwhelming. It can happen when you're in a crowded area when you're in your house, feel great, or go to a crowded area. You're like, what's going on? You're overwhelmed. You are thrown off your Zen. The thing with empaths is the point of overwhelm. This happened to me about ten years ago. I would be going through my day, and all of a sudden, I would have this anxiety about something, about health, bills, or something like that. I'm like, this is not mine.

OMTimes | August 2022

OMTimes | August 2022

Five minutes later, I'd get a call from my mom, and she was worried about her health or something. Or she was typing an email or a text. So, it happens once, and you think it's kind of odd. You feel their emotion, their frequency before it even happens. But then guess what if it keeps it happening repeatedly? Next thing, it's probably happened thousands of times where it becomes undeniable. Then you start thinking, wow, something is happening here.

Invisible. I don't have to be in a crowded location, in a concert, or a mall in an airport, to feel overwhelmed.

I had one girl who came to one of my workshops who would get so overwhelmed with everybody's energy in the grocery store that she would go home and a friend who have to finish her grocery shopping for her.

That was her life for 15 years. I taught her how to do shields in my workshop, and when I heard from her 30 days later, she said: "Oliver, I did my first grocery store run in 15 years, and I felt nothing but calm." For some, it's bringing their power back to where they do shields to protect themselves. But ultimately, I would work more on vibration nowadays because it's a longer-term solution.

OMTimes | August 2022

Sandie: Sedgbeer: What is your ultimate goal?

Oliver Niño: So, my wife and I have the same ultimate goal, which is to raise the consciousness and the frequency of the entire planet to love and pure potential. Because I feel that if people knew their gifts, if they accepted them, if they knew how to release their blocked energy and they could do it for themselves, it would affect those around them and then we'd live in such a different place. Right?

Sandie Sedgbeer: Oliver Niño, So, thank you for talking to us today.

For more information about Oliver Nino's work, visit spiritualactivator.com

Follow Oliver Niño on Social media

“Every painful and traumatic experience you’ve ever had since you were a child had a tremendous energetic impact on you and it’s still affecting you, and holding you back…”

OMTimes | August 2022

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Health & Wellness Innovative new approaches to Healing as well as holistic methods for dealing with health issues and personal growth

How Chiropractors Help Your Body Function Better

I

by Rachelle Wilber

f you are like millions of other

discomfort is your top priority. To do

people, you deal with some

so, you may want to explore working

sort of pain daily. Whether it is

with a chiropractor. An alternative

headaches, backaches, neck pain,

medical treatment that has become

or shoulders that always seem to

more mainstream in recent years,

be hurting, getting relief from your

chiropractic care can offer numerous

OM TIMES | August 2022

benefits. To find out if it will work for

yourself more pain-free than you've

you, consider how it can help your

been in years.

body function better.

LESS RELIANCE ON PAIN RELIEVERS

EASING BACK PAIN When you start having back pain that just won't go away, your first thoughts

If you don't want to take opioids

may be that you will need to undergo

to manage your pain, undergoing

surgery or get steroid injections

regular chiropractic care can mean

frequently. However, if you suffer from

far less reliance on opioids and other

chronic lower back pain, a chiropractor

pain relievers. Since a chiropractor

may be able to help. Along with spinal

can perform various chiropractic

manipulation, your chiropractor can

adjustments on your neck, spine, and

suggest various exercises you can do

other parts of your body, you may find

to strengthen your back muscles and

OM TIMES | August 2022

can also help you learn more about

treat tension headaches and other

yoga, tai chi, and progressive muscle

headaches that originate in your

relaxation.

neck. For many people, having six to eight sessions with a chiropractor

HELP ELIMINATE HEADACHES

and follow-up sessions every three months makes a tremendous difference in how they feel.

Whether it's from stress on the job or at home, tension headaches may be commonplace for you almost daily.

BETTER ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Consider chiropractic care if you've tried aspirin and every other OTC

Whether you are a weekend warrior

headache reliever to no avail. Using

or perhaps someone who takes

cervical and upper thoracic spinal

athletic competition much more

manipulation, a chiropractor can

seriously, putting your body in the

OM TIMES | August 2022

capable hands can lead to better athletic performance. Through spinal manipulations, a chiropractor can give your joints increased mobility, reduce the pain you may have following workouts or games, and help decrease the amounts of inflammation and tissue restriction your muscles may experience.

Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California, area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her bachelor's degree in Journalism and Media Studies.

She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she

If you are seeking ways to help your body feel better that are non-invasive and may provide immediate results, relying on the skills of a chiropractor may be just what the doctor ordered.

isn't on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping at the beach or at the gym.

Follow her on Twitter: @RachelleWilber.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Why Being a Chai-Aholic is Great

by Dr. Paul Haider

OM TIMES | August 2022

D

id you know that Chai Tea

in concert for healing. In Traditional

has many health benefits?

Chinese Medicine, most herbs

Chai Tea has many more

are taken as teas because of that

health benefits than coffee

intertwined connection of the mind,

because many wonderful herbs in Chai

body, and spirit. Some Chinese Teas

Tea will benefit the body in powerful

are not great tasting, but the brain

ways. Here are just a few ways that

must connect to the taste of each

Chai Tea can benefit healing.

herb, thus bringing about a threefold process of healing.

And if someone is going to be hooked on anything. Chai Tea is great!

Chai Tea also contains:

Chai Tea contains black tea, and some

Cinnamon – Cinnamon is very

also contain green tea. Both have

important for lowering cholesterol

powerful polyphenols that prevent

and lower blood sugar levels. Plus, it's

diseases such as cardiovascular disease

a great antioxidant, thus preventing

and strokes and help to prevent

disease, and even a good anti-

diabetes and even cancer. In fact, a

inflammatory agent that helps with

new study showed that black tea is

arthritis and the cycle of chronic

very good at preventing and repairing

inflammation, which starts lots of

DNA damage.

different diseases. Also, cinnamon seems to help with PMS and

Why tea? Drinking any herbal tea

Alzheimer's Disease, and studies show

is great because, as in Ayurvedic

that it protects the stomach from

Medicine from India, which is

bacteria causing ulcers.

thousands of years old, every herb that we take should be tasted and

Ginger – Ginger is common in Chai Tea

smelled in order to have the best effect

and will help relax the stomach and

on the body. We do this using our

soothe away GI distress. Ginger works

taste buds and the olfactory region

great for motion sickness and helps

of our brain. These two important

with sweating and nausea. Ginger is

areas interconnect in our brain to

very important for preventing colon

bring about a selection of nerves

cancer because it boosts our immune

and meridians that work together

system, and in studies, ginger prevents

OM TIMES | August 2022

the development of colon and ovarian

away GI gas and even heartburn.

cancer. In addition, ginger is a great

Cardamom also works for headaches

anti-inflammatory agent helping

and works well for preventing

prevent arthritis by getting rid of

heatstroke. And Cardamom is one

cytokines and chemokines.

of the few herbs that work to detox the body of caffeine. And Cardamom

Cardamom – Cardamom is a powerful

works wonders for asthma and other

antioxidant helping to eliminate free

respiratory problems by increasing

radicals in our body that promote

blood flow to the lungs. Plus,

disease. Cardamom is also a good

Cardamom boosts our energy level

antispasmodic herb helping to soothe

and improves our mood.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Black Pepper — Black pepper is

Vitamins A and C that help to prevent

very common in Chai Tea, giving it a

cardiovascular disease, strokes, and

little spice. Black pepper helps with

cancer. And anise is full of B Vitamins

indigestion and flatulence, detoxes

for good mood and vitality and lots

the body, gets rid of excess fluids, and

of copper, which are very important

helps with nasal and lung congestion.

for promoting the formation of red blood cells. And anise also contains

Fennel and Anise - Anise is a great

potassium for fluid regulation and

herb for calming the GI tract and

good heart contractions. And fennel

killing foreign bacteria. Plus, it also

seeds help bind bile acids, thus

contains powerful antioxidants such as

helping to lower cholesterol.

OM TIMES | August 2022

OM TIMES | August 2022

Caraway - Caraway seeds are

And there are more great herbs and

sometimes used in Chai Tea and

spices in Chai Tea.

are great for soothing the stomach, helping to get rid of nausea and

Chai Tea is also usually made with

indigestion. In addition, caraway

milk, soy milk, almond milk, or any

wonders to freshen breath and

other kind of milk, honey, stevia, or

contains lots of great minerals,

any other sweetener. Thus, we also get

electrolytes, B vitamins, and great

protein benefits from many of these

antioxidants, helping to prevent

great kinds of milk. Along with a boost

degenerative disease. And these seeds

of energy from the honey, plus the

have a very soothing, relaxing, calming

great allergy-preventing capabilities of

effect on the body, making them great

honey.

for stress and anxiety.

Lots of people are switching from Cloves - Lots of chai tea contains

coffee to Chai Tea because of all the

cloves, and because of that, chai tea

great health benefits associated with

contains a powerful anti-inflammatory

Chai Tea. A warm cup of Chai Tea is

agent that helps with arthritis. The first

great in the morning, or a frozen Chai

step towards the creation of disease, in

Tea on hot days.

general, is inflammation, and when a person drinks chai tea with cloves, they

Try some Chai Tea, and it's one of the

reduce their risk of coming down with

few good things to be hooked on.

the disease.

PS - I admit, "I am a Chia Tea Aholic Nutmeg - Nutmeg is common in chai

I'm Hooked."

tea, and nutmeg is a great pain reliever and helps with aches and pains. Also,

Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist

nutmeg is a great antibacterial agent

and Spiritual Teacher for over 25

and helps prevent tooth decay. And

years, helping people recover and

nutmeg contains myristicin which

feel healthy. You can also find

protects the brain from dementia

Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul

and Alzheimer's disease, plus nutmeg

Haider, Healing Herbs, and at

strengthens our liver and increases

www.paulhaider.com – feel free to

blood circulation throughout our body.

connect with him any time.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Different and Easy Ways to Cope with Stress

by Brooke Chaplan

OM TIMES | August 2022

I

n today's world, it's almost

disappear. This can be anything from

impossible for you and everyone

joining a gym and getting a workout

else not to feel stressed out to

before or after work, walking around

some degree. Whether dealing

your neighborhood, lifting weights,

with the pandemic, inflation, world

or anything else you will enjoy. By

events, or things like a demanding

exercising several times per week for

boss at your job or problems with

only 15-20 minutes, you will release

family members, you were learning

endorphins that help to balance your

how to cope with stress in a healthy

body's nervous system. When this

manner can make a tremendous

occurs, blood circulation increases,

difference in your day-to-day living.

helping to rid your body of stress

So if you're searching for ways to cope

hormones.

with the stress in your life, these four strategies will have you feeling better

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

in no time.

EXERCISE REGULARLY

It may be hard for you to sleep when you're stressed out and have plenty of things on your mind. However,

Once you incorporate regular exercise

suppose you get less than seven hours

into your life, stress can start to

of sleep each night. In that case, the

OM TIMES | August 2022

stress takes an added toll on your body

the non-full spectrum so that you can

and mind, resulting in more incredible

get the full benefits of CBD. There are

difficulty concentrating, more aches

other ways, such as meditation or yoga

and pains, and a greater chance of

before bedtime, that can also help you

becoming depressed. To help with

get enough sleep.

this, you can try full-spectrum CBD gummies, which are becoming more

BOND WITH A PET

popular for managing sleep. There or different CBD supplements. Some

Yes, having a pet in your life can do

even focus on stress without putting

wonders for how you feel. Since dogs,

you to sleep. Full-spectrum is also

cats, and other types of pets provide

highly recommended compared to

you with unconditional love no matter

OM TIMES | August 2022

the circumstances, bonding with your

your mindset and send stress packing.

pet will assure you of always having at

This can involve playing a musical

least one friend who will be there for

instrument, playing golf or other

you no matter what happens.

sports, gardening, arts and crafts, or anything else you would enjoy.

PURSUE A HOBBY

Using these tips to reduce stress will Whether it's an activity you haven't

likely lead to a lower heart rate, more

been involved in within quite a while

optimism about what lies ahead in

or something new that you've always

your life, and other positive benefits

wanted to try, carving out some time in

that will put a smile back on your

your life to have a hobby can improve

face.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Simply Spiritual To perceive reality from a different perspective is to open oneself to the wonders and unlimited wealth of creation. Simply Spiritual offers the opportunity to visit new places, new methods, and different ways to perceive the vast human knowledge of our Universe.

How To Restore Your Soul

by Melvin D. Nix

Are You Feeling Fragmented?

when you've made decisions based

Feeling Separated From Yourself?

upon fear rather than confidence?

D

Are you genuinely happy with who o you often experience

you see staring back at you when you

emotions of emptiness,

look in the mirror? If you're familiar

rejection, and isolation?

with any of these feelings, it's time for

Have there been times

you to reconnect.

OM TIMES | August 2022

We've all experienced moments during

and a lack of self-confidence. Who

our lives where we've spoken up only

you are as an original person full of

to have our voices silenced, and our

intelligence, curiosity, and creativity,

opinion dismissed. As a youth, you may

gets watered down into a hybrid of

have wanted to participate in sports,

who you are? Let's look at what the

the arts, or academics. You shared

soul is and how it's affected by external

your desires with family or friends who

influences.

ultimately found a good reason for you to give up and pursue something else.

THE LAYERS OF YOUR SOUL

Yet, every moment you were denied self-expression, a part of your soul was

The soul is the part of your conscious

depleted.

mind composed of your will, intellect, and emotions. It governs who you

BEING DETACHED

believe you are, and it contains the limitations defined for you by yourself

Our lives are a summation of our

or others. The soul is also the seat of

experiences, environment, and family

the imagination, which gives us the

dynamics. In many cases, most people

ability to mentally construct our future

aren't operating from a sense of their

and see possibilities.

personality but an adapted one. We come into the world without a filter,

Your soul also works in tandem with

so we don't see anything wrong with

your spirit to produce your life, like a

how we express our emotions, desires,

seed planted into soil. The thoughts

or opinions. However, as time goes

you have are like seeds. When you

on, societal expectations begin to

begin to accept a repetitive thinking

frame who we are and how we think

course, your conscious mind allows the

and respond. Once this conditioning

seed of thought to be planted within

occurs, we either adapt to fit in or

the subconscious mind. Once those

become ostracized.

seeds of thought are sown into your subconscious mind, you will begin

The problem with adapting is that your

to talk, think and act in alignment

soul gets divided, becoming detached

with those thoughts. Your soul is then

from your core. Being detached leads

restructured to fit within your newly

to indecisiveness, codependency,

established thought patterns.

OM TIMES | August 2022

ёYour thought patterns trigger all

feel comfortable speaking your truth

of the emotions and feelings which

about the matter, or did you tuck your

you experience. So putting all of

feelings away because you believed

this into context, our will, intellect,

your voice wouldn't make a difference?

and emotions have likely been

Each time you stop yourself from

programmed by our upbringing and

trusting your gut and moving in

not intentionally designed by you. In

the right direction, your soul gets

essence, parts of you are unexplored,

fragmented.

have never been given expression, and You develop a behavior of dampening

have been repressed.

the voice of your inner guidance,

HOW OUR SOUL GETS FRAGMENTED

and you learn to distrust. Instead of utilizing your innate leadership abilities, you rely on a fear-based

Many of us are living on autopilot and

mindset and cut yourself short.

not realizing it. Think of the times you

Afterward, you kick yourself and

disagreed with someone. Did you

wish that you would have responded

OM TIMES | August 2022

differently. Ultimately this pattern of

bumped into your genius in times of

behavior leads to low self-esteem,

desperation. You've had moments

feelings of resentment, and bitterness.

of power when it seemed like all was failing, and you rose to the challenge

Feelings of envy, anger, and

and conquered. The good news is that

competition start to flood your mind

you can restore your soul, reintegrate

because you know deep within

your inner faculties and live from a

yourself that you have more to offer

place of authenticity.

the world, but you never let yourself out of the invisible prison which always seems to hold you captive. The failure to show up as your authentic self

REMOVING BLOCKS SO YOUR SOUL'S ESSENCE CAN FLOW

always leads to an internal struggle because you know that you've been

To begin restoring your soul, let's look

living a life of compromise. You

at what restoration means. The word

instinctively know that you are more

restore means to build up again, re-

than capable of greatness. You have

establish, and bring back to a former

OM TIMES | August 2022

OM TIMES | August 2022

and better state. Have you ever paused

truth, and it will be liberating. Any

enough to consider that you aren't

investments made to restore your life

operating from your best state?

by reclaiming your soul will reward you with unimaginable dividends, and

Restoring your soul is a process of

you will enjoy learning about who you

revisiting old wounds and recovering

"actually" are in the process.

your power from that moment.

Traumatic situations get stored within your body and lock in emotional

HOW TO PUT YOURSELF BACK TOGETHER

responses, creating internal blocks.

Once you discover the areas where

Now that you understand the

you have blocks and remove them,

importance of your soul, let's look at

healing and restoration can flow.

the restoration process.

Restoring your soul allows you to facilitate inner healing and a way to

REDEFINE YOUR BELIEFS

reshape your beliefs about yourself in an empowering way. You will

The next time you experience a

discover areas of your life where you

negative situation, take a moment

accepted false beliefs prohibiting your

to reflect on what was occurring in

life. Clearing emotional blocks and

your mind, what emotions you were

wounds will open up your heart to the

experiencing, and what actions you

beautiful person you are and reveal the

took. Then, ask yourself a series of

wonderful opportunities that life has

questions about the event. More

available to you.

than likely, you handled the situation from a reactionary standpoint rather

Imagine the quality of your life once

than intention. The reaction occurred

you've reconnected to your true

simply by the chain reaction of beliefs

nature. Think of how enriching your

you carried triggered by the event.

life will become once you remove the limits of your soul and you can

Once you identify those beliefs, ask

be present in the world as a fully

yourself questions about the belief

integrated person. Once you begin

system to see where it came from.

to change erroneous beliefs, you will

For example, a parent may have told

sharpen your eyes and ears to the

you that working hard is the only

OM TIMES | August 2022

way to succeed in life. So you have

consciousness. Once you examine if

developed a pattern of killing yourself

this belief is true and where it came

as you chase success. Meanwhile, your

from, you will notice what has been

neighbor down the street makes more

shaping your mindset, and you can

money, takes more vacations, and

course-correct it.

seems happier than you.

REOPEN YOUR HEART

It makes life seem unfair that there are successful people who aren't as

The majority of inner wounds stem

hardworking. Erroneous beliefs must

from matters of the heart. Never

be uprooted like weeds in a garden so

receiving love from your mother,

that they can no longer grow in your

having your heart broken, or feeling

OM TIMES | August 2022

betrayed by a friend is the most

you to uncover your originality. Think

devastating. We associate love with

about what truly makes you happy.

a variety of people and interrelated

What motivates you? What have

circumstances. Once our hearts have

you always desired that you believed

been wounded, it makes us question

you could never obtain in your life?

everything about our self-worth and

Once you've found answers to these

esteem. These experiences will cause

questions, begin to write a life script

you to close your heart and interfere

that matches the story that reflects

with expressing or receiving love. You

the real you. Surround yourself with

can't be responsible for other people's

people, places, and things that remind

actions, but you can establish healthy

you of your script. Begin to allow

boundaries that remove those blocked

thoughts, emotions, and desires to

areas to begin to love and value

build within your heart and accept

yourself. Then you'll be able to love

that you deserve to have them.

others in the best way.

Being authentically you is your

REWRITE YOUR NARRATIVE

birthright! Your voice is needed, and your opinions matter. The world needs your gifts, talents, and ideas.

What would you tell me if I were to ask

So, restore your soul and reclaim your

you who you are? Would you tell me

power!

about your upbringing, education, or occupation? Notice how none of these

Melvin D Nix is a spiritual teacher,

have anything to do with WHO you

author, and inspirational speaker.

are. When you think of your life and

He currently hosts a broadcast

where you have dreamed of being,

called "Putting On The Pneu

does it match? Are the goals and

You" (pronounced New You). He

aspirations you are striving for even

teaches how to apply universal

your own?

spiritual concepts and principles in an easy-to-understand format

To restore your soul means discovering

so that anyone can apply them

who you are, how you feel, and how

and see tangible results in their

you want to live. You must begin a

daily lives. Visit pneuyou.com for

process of self-discovery that will allow

information.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Breaking the Bondage of “Me” and “Mine”

I

by Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari

n my last article, “Ignorance:

afflictions as the root of all pains in

The Root of All Suffering,” we

life: Avidya(ignorance), Asmita (ego),

discussed the first of Rishi

Raga (attachment), Devesha (aversion),

Patanjali’s Five Afflictions

and Abhinivesha (fear of death).

(Pancha Kleshas) of Mind. Patanjali,

Humanity has lost its vision due to this

who showed the world the path

clouded state of mind brought about

of Yoga, talks about these five

by these five afflictions. Therefore,

OM TIMES | August 2022

understanding them as the most

there would be no step down

significant aspect of Yoga can help

f rom the absolute state of pure

us find our way through our current

consciousness that results in all

jungle state of mind.

the creations or manifestations of this glorious universe and cosmos.

THE SECOND AFFLICTION: EGO, OR ASMITA

This is the positive side of the story, that because we have avidya, we have this world, our body, our mind,

The second klesha, or affliction that

our thoughts, and all the beauty of

Patanjali talks about, is Asmita,

continual celebrative creations.

derived f rom the Sanskrit root of ashm, meaning “I am.” Asmita,

Then, Asmita, being born out of

or ego, is born the moment our

avidya, even though it can prove

undivided pure consciousness falls

problematic on the surface as “ego,”

from its pure state, and we forget

has a great role to play in our lives.

(avidya) our true divine nature.

Just imagine the world without

Maya or illusion takes over in the

egotistical persons! So the urge

form of a veil or mask, covering the

to create, prove, excel, innovate,

face of our pure consciousness, and

prosper, and play all comes from

as a result, Asmita, or ego, is born.

that one source, the shadow self that is Asmita, or ego.

THE NEED FOR EGO OR ASMITA

THE DOWNSIDE OF EGO IS PAIN

Asmita is vast and needs a lot of meditative contemplation. In

What is the downside of ego? Self-

its grossest form, it is just the

respect and self-esteem are positive

ego, which always tries to catch

parts of a strong character. But ego

attention, find recognition, be

is not. Watch the difference. While

appreciated, and be loved. But

one lifts us, the other destroys us.

let us not underestimate the

How do we know it is ego working?

need for Asmita for the entire

When we are craving attention

creative process. Imagine if there

and recognition, even when we do

is no avidya (self-forgetfulness);

charity or help those in need. We do

OM TIMES | August 2022

“good,” but our tricky minds may be

mind and intellect. The body-mind

silently fishing for compliments. If we

identified Soul creates his or her

are not appreciated, we may become

own opinions, ideas, thoughts,

depressed! We do so much good. But

philosophies, beliefs, and concepts

earn so little! Ego cannot earn! It can

as if they are possessions. The

only spend.

deep bondage of “me” and “mine” spreads its branches all over; the

Ego is a separate identity from the

identification, which started with

state of absolute purity. With ego,

the body and mind, now extends

the pure Soul now identifies with the

to everything the person starts

body and thinks, “I am this body.”

to possess, own, and control. The

The identifications deepen with the

pains follow.

OM TIMES | August 2022

BREAKING FROM THE BONDAGE OF MINE AND ME

Millenniums have passed; civilizations have come and gone, and so much has happened, yet the relevance of Patanjali’s insights is

Ego thrives on problems. It takes its

beyond question. Once we know

food to survive problems and stress.

the cause of pain in our lives, it

The more we struggle to remove all

becomes easy. Then we can work

problems, the more problems cling to

with focused attention to heal

us. To have a peaceful life, we need to

our pains for good. With Asmita

stop fanning the ego and its cravings.

or ego, we must accept it as it is.

Ego creates and sustains problems

Then through prayer, mindfulness,

through its survival instincts!

and meditation, we begin to

Therefore, we need to be watchful

consciously move f rom an ego-

of our thoughts and words. They are

centered life to a soul-centered life,

creating our destiny every moment.

for only soul-centered life can uplift

We empower our thoughts and

us to calm and peace, for that is

words and win without ego winning

what Soul is all about!

by watching, screening, and distilling.

As we empower ourselves, we see the

Bodhi (Shuddhaanandaa

dormant potentials of our real self-

Brahmachari, India) is a

manifest, and we become dynamic

globally acclaimed spiritual

outside and calm and passive inside.

teacher with 40 years of

Any identity we create for the world

meditation experience,

is from our ego-self, our shadow-

author, and visionary social

self. Our true identity is hidden in

advocate; he founded Lokenath

the recess of our hearts. How can we

Divine Life Mission serving

be happy with our shadow identity?

thousands of poverty-stricken

How long can we be happy to wear a

individuals. Received Lifetime

mask called personality? When will

Achievement Award, House of

we shed the false persona and know

Lords, UK, 2015. Author: Living

that we are the children of eternal

with My Himalayan Master.

light, that we have come to this

YouTube Channel: Bodhi

transient world only to dive within to

Shuddhaanandaa.

know who we truly are?

www.courseinmindfulness.com OM TIMES | August 2022

OMTimes Magazine Relax…

Let your worries drift away into the moment…

OMTimes is a free publication and can be delivered right to your inbox…

Subscribe at: Free OMTimes Subscription Visit our website at: www.omtimes.com

OM Living For those living a more Conscious Lifestyle

How to Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance

W

by Lauren Laporte

hen there is no

in our life, although it provides us

balance between

with resources for a decent living. The

your personal life

ambitious ones tend to work hard to

and your work, you

achieve promotions with an intention

might feel exhausted and fatigued

to settle down after a couple of years.

and even as if you were alone, without

However, sometimes they get caught

seeing friends and family often

up in a life that is dull, work-oriented,

enough. People forget that work

and non-satisfactory. Let's see what we

shouldn't be the most important thing

can do to make a relationship between

OM TIMES | August 2022

private and professional life well

Organize your time so that you can

balanced for our welfare.

prepare food and avoid junk food.

When it comes to mental health, don't

MAKE ROOM FOR SELF-CARE

ignore the signs of stress or anxiety.

If you feel like that, you can start

This means you should detach yourself

meditating a couple of minutes a day

from work during your free time. Try

or doing any other activity detached

not to take work home with you, and

from work that can do you well. Even

if by any chance you're working from

exercising can serve this, since it will

home, organize a space for work, and

boost your energy, other than giving

don't cross the line when you are

you a great shape.

not working. Self-care means that you should not neglect your mental

NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS

and physical health, eating habits, or exercise routine. Many people forget

How often have you canceled

to eat well while at work because they

a friends' gathering because you had

are too busy. Don't fall into that trap.

work to do? If that ever happened,

OM TIMES | August 2022

you might consider slowing down and meeting with some friends before it

FIND A JOB YOU ENJOY

is too late. People are social beings,

Understandably, many people do

and keeping yourself far away from

something they don't enjoy that much.

friends and family can make you feel

However, if you truly hate your job,

isolated, harming your mental health.

your days can be miserable. Consider

But, on the other hand, these people

starting your own business to finally

can help you cope better with some

do something you like if this is the

harsh moments, and if not, it is still a

case. It can be anything from starting

positive thing to do since you will enjoy

a blog to knitting. It depends on you,

some good moments and nurture the

your interests, and your talents. Let's

friendship.

say you like knitting. It is a nice talent OM TIMES | August 2022

that can allow you to start a fashion business. It can start as a hobby if you

SET SOME BOUNDARIES

are unwilling to give up everything

Prevent work burnout, which includes

and pursue a dream. Eventually, it can

work overload, little control overwork,

expand if you put time and effort into

or even discrepancy between job

developing the business. In this case,

requirements and personal values.

a web of suppliers and carriers can

If you work too much and exceed

make the job easier for you, so you only

your limits, you will become less

have to take care of the design. For

productive. The same goes if the

example, a women's knitwear supplier

companies' policies are too rigid,

is a partner to consider for a business

so nobody can ever relax, or if the

like this one.

micromanagement has a bad approach to the employees. Instead,

TAKE A VACATION

learn how to value yourself, don't allow exploitation, try to get along

Going on vacation doesn't count if

with your coworkers, and if there

you're going to look for new emails

is someone who bothers you, be

now and then and think about the

assertive and don't let it affect you

work. Vacations are the best way to

personally.

unplug from work. Ironically, according to the State of American vacation, 55%

Balance is one of the most important

of people leave some days of their

things in almost every aspect of our

vacations unused, and hundreds of

lives. We should be moderate in

thousands of days go to waste. The

everything to achieve mental stability

truth is that you don't benefit from not

and overall welfare. Apply this rule

taking a vacation. Although you might

to your work, and don't let it stand

be overwhelmed if you find some

in having a fulfilled personal life and

backlog after reincorporating, it is still

stable mental and physical health.

better to detach and spend a week

Don't give up on stuff you're talented

or two in someplace you like than

for and if there is something you

constantly spending your time in the

would like to do, give it a try because

same office day after day. A backlog

if you achieve working something you

might not affect you after you come

love, you will rarely feel stressed and

back refreshed and energized.

anxious at work.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Reiki, Stones, and Crystals, Oh My!

By OMTimes

R

eiki is much more than just

Perfect in their nature, stones and

healing, Harmonization,

crystals need no extra means to balance

and balance techniques.

themselves. Nevertheless, when used by

The benefits of Reiki go

us or come into contact with charged

far beyond its application to people,

environments, they need to be cleaned,

animals, and environments. This

purified and energized again.

technique can be used in food, plants, and even to clean and improve the

In this way, we believe that through

energies of stones and crystals.

Reiki, we have an effective means of

OM TIMES | August 2022

restoring this original energy and

From cleaning to programming, it is

making this vibrational quality even

up to the Reiki practitioner to decide

more subtle.

the best time to apply.

Reiki can never and will never

Most people prefer to use the

belong to just one person or one

technique after the crystal has been

organization. Reiki is the spiritual

cleaned and energized, but this is a

heritage of all humanity.

personal matter.

– Dr. Mikao Usui When deciding the best time to

HOW TO ENERGIZE MY CRYSTALS USING REIKI?

apply Reiki, simply tune into the energy and place your hands over the crystal. Then use the Cho-Ku-

Reiki energy can be applied at any

Rei symbol for a minimum of three

stage of crystal preparation.

minutes.

OM TIMES | August 2022

In the end, give thanks to the power and availability of the entire Crystal

THE ENERGY FREQUENCY OF CRYSTALS AND REIKI

Nation.

You probably know that Reiki and Remember that if you don't have

crystals work with energies of subtle

much time to dedicate to this

fields. However, in this case, Reiki is

energizing process, you can apply the

not intended to change the energy

technique for just one minute. Even

frequency of the crystals. Instead, the

if it's only a short time, it's still better

primary purpose would be to amplify

than not doing it.

and facilitate the process.

The purpose of energizing a stone or

Reiki's Healing system is based on

crystal with this technique is only to

a profound understanding of the

improve its energetic quality.

construct of the Universe. Therefore, all the processes taking place inside

The idea here is to make use of the

and around us are controlled by the

technique or a symbol to change the

matter of the highest order – the

energetic quality, connecting the Reiki

energy that has Consciousness – Ki.

practitioner's own energy to the work

– Katya Ki

with the crystals.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Reiki principles represent the mystical aspect of the art of managing vital energy. They are a guide for our spiritual path.

– Katya Ki

THE BENEFITS OF USING REIKI ON CRYSTALS AND STONES As you know, Reiki is an energy that vibrates at a very high frequency.

So, when it is applied, the energies tend to become more subtle.

The technique is able to increase the vibratory pattern, cleaning and energetically reactivating, causing the energy of a crystal to flow with more balance and harmony.

crystals through the Cho-Ku-Rei symbol.

There are no formal restrictions on the crystal to be infused with Reiki.

THE POWER OF CHO-KU-REI

In general, the application using the Cho-Ku-Rei symbol is recommended,

This Powerful Symbol, Cho-Ku-

but the most important thing is that

Rei, represents protection and

the Reiki practitioner is vibrating in the

transmutation. Its name means Light.

frequency of unconditional love.

It is a power source that allows us to have a connection with the universal

Love is the most powerful force in the

flow of energy (Life Force).

Universe—in this way, the energy can flow faster and more effectively.

Your Reiki Power is like an aura, a glow, and you are radiating out…

Even people who do not practice

no darkness can penetrate you.

Reiki can apply the technique to their

– Hawayo Takata

OM TIMES | August 2022

Cats as Amazing Spiritual Beings!

T

Cats are Energy healers and spiritually sensitive

he cat does not relate to

existing) secret impulses of aggression,

the appearance of a man.

the cat knows. And it defends itself

He sees beyond, inside,

from the cuddle. His relationship is

and out. It relates to the

with what is hidden, kept, and not

essence. If the affectionate gesture is

even we want, know, or can see.

fearful or replaces unacceptable (but

Therefore, when an act of surrender

OM TIMES | August 2022

appears in him, of getting on his lap

Usually, a cat will choose a person

or manifestation of affection, it is very

because of their vibrational field

true, which cannot be disdained.

because, as spiritual animals, they choose someone that matches

It is a gesture of trust that honors

their f requencies.

whoever receives it, as it means People think they adopt the cat,

judgment.

but the cat chooses its owners.

The Cats' purring creates a sound vibration that can vary from 20 to

“I believe cats to be spirits come

140 Hz, which coincidentally is the

to earth. A cat, I am sure, could

frequency used to treat various types

walk on a cloud without coming

of illnesses.

through.” ― Jules Verne

“I love cats because I enjoy my CATS AS SPIRITUAL GUIDES:

home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.” ― Jean Cocteau

Spiritual guides are entities that receive the charge to inspire,

As soon as you create an emotional

educate and guide us throughout

connection with a cat, he will share the

all life's paths, supporting and

healing vibrations, even if you don't

assisting our evolutionary process.

notice it.

Our guides can vary f rom But, without a doubt, after a while, a

Ascended masters to someone

cat can transform the entire energetic

who acquired wisdom and

vibration of an environment.

became a Master in certain areas and life passages.

A cat that enters a house for the first time will purify its owners' energy

A cat can be one of the many

and aura, and then, their energy

spiritual assistants we gather

transmissions can start changing

during life, as they care for

the frequency and vibration of their

our f requencies and general

physical bodies.

wellbeing.

OM TIMES | August 2022

OM TIMES | August 2022

“What greater gift than the love

They are very sensitive, not only to

of a cat.”

f requencies but also to tones of

― Charles Dickens

voices and even smells.

CATS HAVE SPIRITUAL SIGHT

CATS AS DREAM EMISSARIES:

Spirits are everywhere, but we

Every time you dream of a cat, it will

cannot always notice their presence,

bring you an important message,

let alone interact with them.

And even an answer for your immediate problems. The fact is

But cats can do that and much

that independently of what the

more. For example, it is not

dream is, they will have some

uncommon for a cat to look at a

relevance, so it will be best to pay

space and observe that there is

attention to it.

'something" there.

BLACK CATS ARE A MORE They do that because they analyze

SENSIBLE TYPE OF CATS

the energy and observe their “There are no ordinary cats.”

behavior and attitude.

― Colette “There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music

They also announce good Luck and

and cats.”

Prosperity.

― Albert Schweitzer • In Scotland, the black cat CATS HAVE IDENTIFIED INTUITION

appearing at your door is a sign of Prosperity.

Depending on the vibrational frequency of the person, a cat can approach it right away or can keep itself at a distance. It is not uncommon for a cat to hide with

• In Japan, black cats are regarded as a good omen.

• In Asia, whoever has a black cat is considered a fortunate person.

• In Italy, if you hear a black cat

someone strange comes into the

sneeze, you will have a period of

house.

Luck and joy.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Metaphysics

How to Remember Our Past Lives

W

by Eli Bliliuos

hen there is no

friends and family often enough.

balance between

People forget that work shouldn't be

your personal life and

the most important thing in our life,

your work, you might

although it provides us with resources

feel exhausted and fatigued and even

for a decent living. The ambitious

as if you were alone, without seeing

ones tend to work hard to achieve

OM TIMES | August 2022

promotions with an intention to settle

trance. The most significant past life

down after a couple of years. However,

memories will be remembered in

sometimes they get caught up in a life

almost all cases. The past lives that

that is dull, work-oriented, and non-

are directly related to our current

satisfactory. Let's see what we can do

incarnation, and can help us now, will

to make a relationship between private

come to the surface.

and professional life well balanced for our welfare.

LIMITING RELATIONSHIPS

Many religions, including Hinduism,

Most of us have had the experience

Buddhism, and Judaism, subscribe

of being drawn to someone when we

to reincarnation and approximately

first meet them. Alternatively, some

one-third of all adult Americans

people we don't trust intuitively or

believe in past lives. The idea is that

constantly butt heads with. Past life

we repeatedly incarnate to address

memories can shed light on why

karma and learn and grow as souls

we feel the way we do about certain

from experience. There are different

people. It is common for past life

ways to know about our past lives, but

regression clients to identify the

hypnosis is only one way to remember

characters in their memories as past,

them firsthand. A past life regression is

or current family members, friends,

needed to remember our past lives.

and romantic partners. For example, a client who always felt uncomfortable

HYPNOSIS TO EXPLORE PAST LIFE MEMORIES

with a family member learned that this person had wronged her in a different life. Immediately after the session,

The unconscious mind store all our

she felt differently about this family

memories and experiences. The

member, having understood that that

memories can be from both in this

was then, and this is now.

life and past lives. Hypnotic trance enables clients to remember past

PHOBIAS

lives by accessing the unconscious mind. A hypnotist specializing in

In some cases, fears and phobias are

past life regression can help guide

triggered by past life experiences. For

their patients into a relaxed hypnotic

example, one client could not leave

OM TIMES | August 2022

her house during a thunderstorm.

During a past life regression, she

SOULMATES

learned that she was killed in battle

There are many other things that can

during a thunderstorm. Once she

be learned during a past life session.

understood the source of her fear,

Soulmates can be identified, and

she overcame it completely. In

hidden talents can be uncovered.

another case, a client who feared

For example, someone who was a

heights overcame his fear after he

musician in a past life may find it

realized he had been pushed off

easier to learn a new instrument in

a cliff in a past life. A skilled past

their current incarnation. Some people

life regression hypnotist will not

learn that they have incarnated with

only help you to remember past

the same soul over and over, primarily

lives but reframe, or let go of, the

as a spouse. Regardless of gender, they

negative experiences that are

are intuitively drawn to one another

impacting you now.

because they are soulmates.

OM TIMES | August 2022

THE ULTIMATE REALIZATION Eli Bliliuos, the founder of For most people, remembering past

the NYC Hypnosis Center,

lives helps them accept and understand

has facilitated thousands of

that death is not the end. We all make,

regressions and considers past life

what we perceive as mistakes, but we

and life between lives regression

have many opportunities to learn and

to be his calling in life. He was

grow as we reincarnate. Those who fear

trained by the Michael Newton

dying almost always have a different

Institute and Dr. Brian Weiss.

and positive perspective after the

To learn more about past life

regression. One common theme is that

regression, click here. In addition,

clients remember their past lives, which

Eli facilitates sessions in New York,

will help them understand something

Florida, and online. Click here to

about their current life. Clients get what

visit his Facebook Page.

they need most.

OM TIMES | August 2022

Personal Growth & Development We grow as individuals as we face challenges and overcome life’s obstacles. This section is dedicated to helping you chart your course.

The Purpose of Empathy

T

By Judi Lynch

here has been a lot of

Those who study empathy say it

‘buzz’ the last few years in

is acquired both by nature and by

spirituality circles about

nurture. The ability to understand

being an empath. We write

what someone else is feeling and then

about it, discuss how to define it, how

offer support is a skill that many of

to process it, identify it, live with it and

us enhance as we evolve through life.

understand it. What is the real purpose

As children we see examples of great

of empathy in regard to our humanity?

empathy, along with those of shocking apathy, in others around us. We begin

The world is in great need of a big hug

to recognize the difference between

of empathy. We are all stronger, wiser

people who care. Those who are

and better when we can unite in Spirit

sensitive to our needs and those who

and common goals for our future.

disregard our feelings entirely. Some

OM TIMES | August 2022

of us are born incredibly sensitive and

are empathic will reach out to support

feel every emotion through the energy

others and help. It doesn’t have to

that surrounds everything. We often

mean that they absorb another’s

seek comfort in quiet places, away

sorrow and then hold on to it. It is also

from conflict and people who are loud

a skill we use to remember how to stay

and argumentative. Others who are

grounded in our own energy fields

less sensitive may love to argue, seek

when we are comforting someone else

out those who are weaker, criticize

as well. We can feel, care and assist

everyone around them. They too can

while still maintaining our emotional

learn empathy after several years of life

and spiritual balance. Our words and

experience and knowledge.

actions can help another in their healing process when we can relate

Empathy keeps our humanity

to their experience and share that we

alive. It is the ability to care about

have gone through it as well.

and understand each other. Social interaction depends on empathy

Knowing that we are seen, felt and

and common ground to operate in a

heard helps us see others too. It builds

forward, positive manner. People who

our capacity for empathy when we

OM TIMES | August 2022

hold space for another person. As

Characteristics of an empathetic

children, we may test the boundaries

person include being a great listener,

of empathy because we are learning

checking on loved ones regularly,

how and why it matters. Many of us

difficulty saying no and setting

are taught that we should treat others

boundaries, feeling drained in social

as we wish to be treated and until we

situations. It’s important to remember

experience both empathy and cruelty

to set boundaries to avoid getting

by others, do we fully understand why.

overwhelmed by feelings.

There are several different types of

People who lack empathy tend to

empathy. Firstly, understanding how

have little care for those in unfortunate

another person feels, physically feeling

circumstances, usually blaming the

their pain and knowing they are in

victim for their situation. When they

pain just by being near them, sharing

are faced with the same challenges

their existence. People who are

they tend to blame everyone else

highly empathic attract others who

but themselves. They are unable to

are seeking validation and support.

identify with the pain of others who

OM TIMES | August 2022

are different from them or who they

other. We have been consciously

consider below them in status. In the

learning since we incarnated here how

most severe cases, they intentionally

to live healthier, wiser and stronger

hurt others mentally or even physically

through empathy, sowing the future of

in order to take control, feeling entitled

humanity.

to do so. Many empaths learn to read these types of energies, avoiding

Judi Lynch is a psychic medium,

their presence whenever possible or

intuitive counselor, healing channel

have methods of shielding other’s

and author. She is president of the

intentions and negativity.

Crystal Healing Foundation, Inc. a 501(c) spiritual charity and writer

The world is in great need of a big

for OM Times Magazine. She has

hug of empathy. We are all stronger,

authored two books, Friends with

wiser and better when we can unite

Lights and Conscious Ascension

in Spirit and common goals for our

and has read for clients all over the

future. We have survived as human

world. To learn more or contact for

beings because we cared for each

a session see judilynch.com

OM TIMES | August 2022

Balancing Healthy Boundaries

L

by Ginger McBride

earn how to set healthy

Our self-care comes in many forms

boundaries that balance life

and shapes. On certain days it

in four easy steps to help us

may be yoga, working out, eating

thrive and progress!

healthy, and on other days it OM TIMES | August 2022

could mean resting, laughing with

traits, and needs. What is it going

friends, or finding time to enjoy

to take for us to thrive and be

the good things in this life. What

happy?

we define as self-care varies from person to person, which makes

Life can be demanding at times.

it all the more essential when we

We are constantly racing to

need to uphold our boundaries

keep up. A good bit of us is busy

for our own needs. We cannot

f rom when we wake up until

expect people to read our minds.

we fall asleep. There is always

It’s our responsibility to take care

something to do or needs to be

of ourselves, peace, and happiness

done. We toss in f riends, family,

first. Taking time for ourselves is

and relationships, and suddenly

not a selfish act and is essential to

most of our time is accounted for.

thriving in a busy world.

So when do we rest or replenish what we find essential? Through

Self-discovery is critical here. If

perseverance, we make it happen.

we don’t dive in deep to discover

We find the time for us, or more

who we are, finding what we need

likely, we make it. We notice

will be more challenging. This

that we are happier, more lively,

is just one piece of the puzzle.

and less stressed when we do

Even though we have been with

this. These are qualities that can

ourselves f rom the first moment,

benefit our lives in all other areas.

we are constantly discovering new

We can not pour f rom an empty

attributes, details, and changes

cup, but we can practice our

within us. Life can be a rollercoaster

self-awareness when running on

of educational experiences. We

empty.

can choose our responses to life’s stimuli, whether positive or

Once we know what is needed

otherwise. We often hear that we

for our self-care, the next step is

are trying to find ourselves, but

communicating this as kindly as

we are digging deep to see who

possible. This can be tough for

we were the whole time. We may

some, especially those who have

discover details such as habits,

a habit of putting everyone else

behaviors, responses, personality

first. While this is a noble idea,

OM TIMES | August 2022

we might find ourselves wavering

balance. Set aside time, whether

from exhaustion and stress when we

by day, week, or month. Notice the

continuously do this.

changes that occur and what has brought them on. Then, next time we

This is about replenishing our needs

are feeling stressed, we can use it as

to continue to thrive and progress

a tool for our replenishment.

in this life and not about being excessive. This is the fine line that we

A healthy balance for managing our

walk. In a few words, it is all about

lifestyle will always be needed. It

OM TIMES | August 2022

definitely comes with its own set of

Ginger McBride is a wellness

challenges. We may have to decrease

writer, certified health

time in other areas in order to do

coach, wellness expert, and

this. But, things worth having are

entrepreneur. She uses her

generally worth fighting for. So, let’s

knowledge in the health and

get to know ourselves and what we

wellness field to help others

need, communicate this to loved

with their health, inspiring them

ones, and practice it. It will be well

to reach their goals through

worth it in the end!

motivation and education!

OM TIMES | August 2022

When you look at the view of Earth from space, you are immediately in awe of what you do see: the incredible beauty of Creation. It is not until you look closer that you realize what you do not see.

You do not see lines partitioning countries.

You do not see separation between races.

You do not see division between religions.

You do not see the walls people build to isolate themselves from each other.

There is only One Planet. There is only One Humanity.

This section is dedicated to introducing thoughts and ideas to foster a greater understanding of Humanity’s interdependence.

World Vision

Creating Solutions to the Climate Crisis

C

By Darshan Goswami, M.S., P.E., Pittsburgh, PA, USA

limate change is one of the

climate tipping points are now

most challenging threats

imminent. Climate change could

humanity has ever faced –

cause significant disruptions to

but there are solutions.

ecosystems, society, and economies,

The Climate crisis is real and

potentially making large areas of the

happening now. The crisis is

Earth uninhabitable.

accelerating more rapidly than most scientists anticipated, and many of

The climate crisis is driven by

them are deeply concerned that

emissions of greenhouse gases, the

OM TIMES | August 2022

main contributor to the warming

are still rising. If it continues at the

temperatures. Every additional delay

current rate, global warming will likely

in action will result in worsening

increase Earth's temperature by 1.5°C

consequences of global warming,

between 2030 and 2050. [1]

including more extreme weather events, higher temperature extremes,

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CRISES

and a higher risk of fire, droughts, and flooding.

The impact of climate change can be seen in the massive raging wildfires

Fortunately, the crisis is solvable. There

in California and Turkey. Through the

are plenty of well-understood solutions

surging of global temperatures and

to the climate crisis. We now need the

heatwaves of 49ºC in Canada and

leadership and the courage to change

Morocco; devastating flash floods

course.

in Japan, Europe, the US, India, and China; rapid melting of glaciers; rising

WHAT IS CLIMATE CRISIS?

ocean temperatures; widespread mega-drought; increased respiratory

Climate change is a modification of

diseases; and mass forced human

the global climate over a long period.

displacement that is affecting every

During the past few centuries, humans

living being on Earth. Recent scientific

have released more greenhouse

reports show that the climate crisis is

gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the

only getting more severe and that we

atmosphere, increasing the Earth's

are not prepared for the worsening

temperature and contributing to a

impacts.

serious climate crisis. At least 97% of published climate experts agree that

These impacts specifically affect the

global warming is real and caused

planet's poorest countries and low-

by human activities. The release of

income communities, which face

harmful gases from burning fossil

higher risks of death and displacement

fuels (coal, oil, gas) is the main cause.

from the climate crisis. In addition,

Due to past emissions, the planet has

the record-breaking heat waves are

already heated about 1.2°C, and the

rippling across the planet, bringing

temperature is certain to increase

death and destruction in their wake.

further because greenhouse gas levels

Refusing to address the climate

OM TIMES | August 2022

crisis will cause significant economic

by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by

damage and global supply chain

2050. In addition, we must transform

interruptions.

businesses to rely on low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen and

WHAT CAN WE DO?

electricity generated from solar and wind to meet these targets. Because

Many scientists have called for urgent

the climate is already changing,

international action, citing cutting

we also need to adapt. Adaptation

carbon emissions as the only long-

involves preparing for the effects of the

term solution for avoiding the impacts

climate crisis, such as extreme weather

of the climate crisis. We need to focus

events, rising sea levels, and food

on two things to address the climate

insecurity.

crisis: mitigation and adaptation.

Mitigation involves decreasing the

CLIMATE CRISIS SOLUTIONS

concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by reducing

Greenhouse gases are released when

emissions. If we want to limit warming

oil, coal, and other fossil fuels are

to 1.5℃, we must cut global emissions

burned for energy—the energy we

OM TIMES | August 2022

use to power our homes, cars, and

of the climate crisis. We must

economy. Using less fossil fuel can

gradually phase out fossil fuels

curb our contribution to the climate

and transfer our energy sources to

crisis. Scientists also urge the slashing

clean technologies like solar, wind,

of pollutants, stabilizing the human

biomass, hydro, tidal wave, and

population, and switching to plant-

geothermal. Costs for wind and

based diets.

solar have come down between 60% and 80% since 2010, and battery

Here are 12 promising solutions to

costs have come down 85% in the

tackle the climate crisis and put the

same period. By 2030, the cost of

world on a path to zero emissions by

electricity produced from renewable

2050.

resources will be about half of that generated from coal and gas.

1. Expedite the Deployment of Renewable Energy (RE)

2. Cut Emissions

Renewable energy is the cheapest

To avoid the worst consequences

and safest option to avert the effects

of the climate crisis, we need to

OM TIMES | August 2022

reach "net zero" carbon emissions by

3. Carbon Pricing

2050. We must no longer build fossil fuel inf rastructure, phase out carbon-

To protect our health and well-being

intensive assets, and eliminate fossil

and move beyond fossil fuels, we

fuel subsidies to achieve this goal.

need carbon pollution. Economists

The scale of these changes requires

believe that carbon pricing is the

significant international cooperation.

most effective way to reduce carbon

OM TIMES | August 2022

emissions. Carbon pricing makes

states, industries, utilities, and

polluting more expensive and

other stakeholders to promote

more affordable solutions like clean

energy efficiency investments

energy and electric vehicles (E.V.s).

in the economy, industry, transportation, buildings, and

4. Develop National Renewable

appliances.

Energy Policy 7. Develop Energy Storage Each country must Enact and deploy a comprehensive new

We are already seeing incredible

energy roadmap with innovative RE

progress in energy storage,

policies — such as 40% by 2030 and

battery technology, fuel cells and

100% by 2050 — to create demand,

hydrogen generation/storage, and

new industries and innovation, and

smarter and more flexible energy

a new wave of green jobs.

grids. With newer and better technologies and evolving energy

5. Decarbonize the Electricity

and climate policies, renewed

System and Electrify Everything

investment in energy storage could set the stage for a major transition to renewables.

Expedite a move to electrify transportation by encouraging expanded use of E.V.s and plug-

8. Stop Deforestation and Plant

in hybrids and deploying solar-

Trees

powered E.V. charging stations worldwide. In addition, facilitate the

Cutting forests is a chief contributor

public transportation system of the

to climate change because forests

future with "zero-emission" battery-

and trees are carbon reservoirs.

powered electric buses in all major

While they absorb CO2 from the air

cities.

for photosynthesis, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere

6. Energy Efficiency

whenever they are burned or cleared. Therefore, controlling

To reduce the long-term energy

logging and planting new trees can

demand, it is imperative to engage

offset greenhouse gas emissions.

OM TIMES | August 2022

9. Plant-Based Diet and

products contribute to 15% of

consumption

global greenhouse emissions and threaten human health and

One of the best ways for us

environmental sustainability.

to stop the climate crisis is by

Moreover, animal farming

reducing our meat consumption

significantly contributes to

or by going fully vegan. Animal

deforestation and land use.

OM TIMES | August 2022

10. Work with Governments to

Women with more years of

Take Bold Climate Action

education have fewer, healthier children and actively manage their

Work with government leaders

reproductive health, and therefore

worldwide to set aggressive goals

a lower carbon footprint.

[2]

for climate solutions that create jobs, protect people, and cut

Climate change poses existential

pollution. In addition, governments

threats to humanity. Today's

worldwide need to adopt climate

climate crisis can be averted

action plans that comply with

by radically reducing carbon

international standards.

emissions f rom fossil fuels and other greenhouse gases. First,

11. Protect Oceans

however, all countries must live up to the commitments of the Paris

Oceans absorb large amounts

Agreement.

of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to keep

Some scientists have found that

our climate stable. But many are

we may have already reached

overfished, used for oil and gas

irreversible climate destabilization.

drilling, or threatened by deep-sea

Climate change could render a

mining. So protecting oceans and

significant portion of the Earth

marine life is key to protecting the

uninhabitable, creating increased

environment from climate crises.

social, economic, and political crises in the very near future if left

12. Educate Girls

unchecked.

Education is the most powerful

Decisive actions and policy

tool for breaking the cycle of

changes are needed to effectively

international poverty while

combat climate crises and ensure

mitigating emissions by curbing

the planet's health. While real

population growth. Educating girls

solutions will require global action,

is one of the most cost-effective,

each of us can make small changes

high-impact ways for every nation

in our day-to-day lives to lower our

to fight rising temperatures.

impact on the environment.

OM TIMES | August 2022

I believe that the threats posed by

everywhere must tackle the climate

the climate crisis can be solved with

crisis by making massive investments

technologies and the science that

in large-scale renewable energy

already exists. Moreover, the above

projects. Through a powerful

solutions are favorable for creating

combination of informed policy

millions of jobs, protecting the health

and personal choices, we must

of our communities, and fostering

ensure that the planet is safe and

a stronger, cleaner, more equitable

inhabitable for ourselves and future

economy.

generations. If we do not take action now, the damage f rom climate

To transition to a 100% clean energy

change could be much greater and

economy by 2050, policymakers

longer-lasting.

OM TIMES | August 2022

References:

Skeptical Science (2017). The 97% consensus on global warming. https://skepticalscience. com/global-warming-scientific-consensusin...

Brookings: Why is girls' education important for climate action?

at Pittsburgh's United States Department of Energy (DOE).

He is a registered professional electrical engineer with a passion and commitment to promoting, developing, and

Darshan Goswami, MS, PE,

deploying renewable energy

has more than 40 years of

resources and the hydrogen

experience in the energy field.

economy. The author

He worked as a Project Manager

supports India Foundation for

for Renewable Energy, Micro-

Children Education and Care,

grid, and Smart Grid projects

Inc. (www.ifcare.org).

OM TIMES | August 2022

Books

THREE PILGRIMAGES FOLLOWING GEESE, STARS, AND HUNCHES ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

BEEBE BAHRAMI

El

Camino

When long-time trekker, writer, and anthropologist Beebe Bahrami made her first full 500-mile hike on the Camino de Santiago, via the Way of Saint James, across southern France and northern Spain, she met French and Spanish pilgrims who told her that the Camino was more than a Christian pilgrimage.

They explained that it was also a great leyline, a path of earth energy that could transform one by walking. They added that under the 1,200-year-old Christian pilgrimage road, a more ancient, preChristian initiatory path could take one deeper into spiritual experience and consciousness. A person engaged it by looking for signs along the way. Signs?

Many, she learned, but that the most potent were those associated with the goose.

Omtimes.com

Ancient Leylines The leyline idea made sense to her, for she was already feeling it as she stepped along, an uncanny hum from the earth that seemed to support her every step. But signs and geese?

What did this have to do with pilgrimage, let alone spiritual initiation? She dismissed it as a wonky idea, dropped it quickly on the trail, and forgot about it.

But the goose would not leave her alone. It appeared as Bahrami walked, in village and landscape feature names, on medieval churches and monasteries, and most unusually, as a part of a massive inlaid stone board game, the Game of the Goose, in the Plaza de Santiago, the Spanish name for Saint James, in the Riojan city of Logroño.

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A popular European children’s game similar to Snakes and Ladders, in Logroño Bahrami, learned that the Game of the Goose was intentionally set there by city planners and with the church’s blessings to serve as a metaphor for the pilgrimage, as well as for life. She learned that the goose was seen as a creature of luck. But what else did the goose mean beyond luck, signs, and children’s game? What really led it to become associated with spiritual initiation, pilgrimage, and the Camino? No one seemed able to give her a straight answer, but by now, she was intrigued.

It took Bahrami three returns on three more through-treks on pilgrim paths in southwestern France and northern Spain to unearth the answers, ones that were rooted in ancient, preChristian times and that had survived to the present in the seemingly innocuous form of the goose. As Bahrami pursued the mystery of the goose, part skeptic, and part seeker, she encountered wise and humorous locals, quirky and questing pilgrims, and unusual evidence in stones, local stories, and practices that revealed that the way of the wild goose was indeed a real and vibrant pathway, a parallel universe to the Christian Camino de Santiago.

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She discovered that though the medieval Camino was officially dedicated to Saint James the Greater, older native goddesses and gods still dwelled under the surface and continued to influence the way. Most stunning, she found that the goose was very likely an ancient Eurasian earth-centered mother goddess who took many forms, but the goose was among her most prominent forms or association.

Ideas about the goose were crumbs, clues, and survivors of an older spirituality, ones that even found their way into stories of Mother Goose. n all this, what Bahrami did not anticipate was that the outer goose adventure would take on an inner twist; that way of the wild goose would pull her into her own initiatory journey.

I She began as a curious bumbling trekker and ended a seeker on a full-blown medieval adventure in modern times.

This three-part, the outer and inner adventure of The Way of the Wild Goose is a travel narrative about wild nature, ancient roads, and mysterious lore that tells a modern story of initiation, challenge, trail magic, and deep personal transformation. Something of a cross between Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, and Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, The Way of the Wild Goose is a travel narrative and a detective story unearthing an old mystery and unfurling with it a magnetically alive and meaningful long walk on the ancient roads in France and Spain..

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Beebe Bahrami is an award-winning travel writer and anthropologist known for her travel narratives, memoirs, and guidebooks. Her most recent book, Moon Camino de Santiago (Avalon Travel/Hachette, 2019), firmly established her as an expert on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes in southern France and northern Spain. She has dedicated three decades to unearthing the mysteries, lore, and many-sensory experiences of this massive and ancient network of roads that are all destined for the northwest of Iberia. Bahrami is also known for her essays and articles on travel, archaeology, outdoors and adventure, food, and wine, and spiritual and cross-cultural themes.

A Colorado native based in southern New Jersey, Bahrami extends her idea of home on regular visits, seminomadic treks, explorations, and excavations in southwestern France and northern Spain, one of Europe’s most ancient, deeply traversed, wild, and culturally rich landscapes.

Ever since she first stepped onto the Camino de Santiago in 1995, she knew she had found her place in the world and has delved deeply into these ancient paths and places across France and Spain.

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