OMTimes Magazine December A 2018 Edition

November A Issue

DEVA PREMAL The Medicine of Mantra.

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CONTENTS • OMTIMES

Table of Content s

01 02 03 04

Love Is a Fire 35 Affirmations That Will Change Your Life How Grief Reveals the Light The Search for the Loneliest Whale

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04

02 03

DECEMBERÂ A EDITION

what's inside this issue

DEVA PREMAL Interview By SANDY SEDGBEER

The Cosmic Vibrations of Numbers

Love Your Neighbour As Yourself

How to Know you have a Past Life Connection

Creating Success In Business

the things Things that differentiate Love from Passion

+

Special Features

The Power of Thoughtt

Are You Really There?

Looking to connect with the Conscious Community?

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December A 2018

Cover Story 28

Deva Premal - The Medicine of Mantra

Health & Wellness 46

Feeling Winter: A New Medicine Approach

Metaphysics 114

The Cosmic Vibrations of Numbers 120 The Power of Thought 124 How Do You Know That You Have Incarnated Before

Spirituality

Personal Growth

OM Living

World Vision

54 58

66 72 76

82 86

Are You Really There Love Is a Fire

35 Affirmations That Will Change Your Life Love Your Neighbor As Yourself Creating Success In Business The World is your Drumming Circle The Search for the Loneliest Whale

Relationships

100 Know the Things that Differentiate Love from Passion 106 Is Your Style of Relating Successful or Problematic?

110 How to Know You Have A Past Life Connection

132 How Grief Reveals the Light

138 Should an Enlightened Society be Guided by the Ethics of Care

Books

144 Sweet Sorrow - Finding Enduring Wholeness after Loss and Grief

The Medicine of Mantra Deva Premal Interview

by Sandie Sedgbeer

Over the past few decades, chronic illness has skyrocketed worldwide. Meanwhile, since their debut album was released 20 years ago, musicians Deva Premal and Miten have received letters from people across the Omtimes.com

globe, sharing dramatic stories of healing from listening to and chanting along with their signature Mantras. Numerous scientific studies now verify that music has the power to heal us, both emotionally and

physically. Even where the big guns of conventional medicine have failed, Deva Premal and Miten decided to celebrate the launch of Deva’s new album of signature Mantras with a live Facebook event series on The Medicine of Mantra in partnership with top doctors across the globe.

were already deeply immersed in Eastern spirituality, especially mantra. He took it to such a deep level–four hours every night, 2 to 6 am in the morning, walking around the city walls of Nuremberg. Chanting mantra.

That’s the kind of person he was; he would do everything very thoroughly in a German way.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Before we talk about how it’s possible for music in general, and mantras in particular, to facilitate healing, I’d like to take a little trip back in time and share with our listeners a little bit about your own journey with music and in particular mantra.

On the other hand, he was so not German because he was so at home with yoga and meditation. He studied Sanskrit.

He made himself a German Sanskrit Dictionary because he couldn’t find one. So, I grew up with his influence and my Mum’s.

Also, they chanted mantras for my sister and me when we were born and, as a good night ritual, we had the Gayatri mantra every night three times. As a kid, I did it because I was asked to, or told to, and I had no idea what I was doing. Also, I was a little embarrassed at what I was doing, it was different to what other people around me were doing, and didn’t really know the meaning. My mum once told me it was cleansing, so I knew there was something good in it, but I didn’t know what it was; I didn’t know this was called the Gayatri Mantra, and

Deva Premal: Yes. Both of those things, music, and mantra entered my life right from the very beginning because my mother was a classical musician.

She played medieval music on old instruments like the viola that combined the harpsichord and everything. My father was the wild card in the family. He was an artist, a painter, and he got into drumming Persian style around the time I was born, so I grew up with him always drumming, and even before we were born, my sister and I

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that millions of people chant this across the world, especially in India. I think we all have to find our own way in life and, for me, it was finding my own Guru, and that was when I was eleven years old when I dropped chanting the mantra and totally immersed myself into my path.

Later on, it all came full circle. I met Miten. I became a Singer–I still have a problem calling myself a Singer, but I guess you would call it that–and a musician under his teaching because Miten was already an accomplished musician and knew how to make music for meditation, which is a very different thing from music for entertainment. So, I was in really good hands and saw some potential in the way our two voices sounded, and so we started singing together. I started very shy and supported him as a second voice, but there was no mantra in sight at that point. I had totally forgotten about my Mantra beginnings in my childhood.

Later, I heard the Gayatri Mantra being sung by friends, during a year in England and was surprised that there was Omtimes.com

somebody who knew those words I had chanted every night as a child. Then I started singing it myself and chanting it, and a whole unfolding happened out of that. The shyness disappeared that I had felt up to then singing on my own in front of people, and the voice developed in ways I hadn’t expected or believed it would work. It kind of unfolded and came into flowering, and then we started to record these mantras and realized there is a whole world out there who loves to sing and chant Mantras and incorporate them into their lives, and that’s the kind of Yoga community. That was 20 years ago now. Now I think it’s gone beyond that.

Sandie Sedgbeer: The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most revered and powerful Mantras of all. Why is that? What makes it so special?

Deva Premal: One reason is that it came into existence at the beginning of time, with the first fire ceremony that created the Universe and there were the Vedas, and there was the Gayatri Mantra. The other thing is that it’s a prayer to the Sun. It doesn’t specifically call

upon a specific deity, but it calls upon the light, and the light is so universal and cosmic, and everyone on the planet relates to the light as a benevolent force. So, it’s universal. You don’t have to believe in anything. You don’t have to focus on a certain deity or quality like love. The light shines on everything – and the sounds themselves vibrate the whole energetic body system; they have a very wholesome effect on our bodies and our metaphysical bodies.

Sandie Sedgbeer: On October 12th this year, nearly 20 years after your original groundbreaking version of the ancient Gayatri Mantra topped the alternative music charts and appeared on yoga meditation sleep playlists, you released your latest album which is very simply titled Deva. Before the month was out, it had already reached Number One on the Billboard New Age Charts and on iTunes World Music Charts in 11 countries. Tell us about the album and why you decided to re-record these Gayatri Mantras.

Deva Premal: Actually, it’s not re-recorded because the Gayatri

Mantra that’s on this new Album called Deva is the long form of the Gayatri Mantras, so that’s what I came to know later after I reconnected to the Mantra that I had grown up with. Of course, I looked for the Gayatri Mantra, and I realized that there’s a longer version that has more sounds and words.

The difference is that the new version, which we called the Seven Chakra Gayatri Mantra, addresses every single one of our seven Chakras individually.

Which means that we meditate upon this enchanting source of all things in this divine light of pure consciousness that awakens us or inspires or energizes us.

So that’s the meaning of the Mantra. We are calling upon all the seven spheres or realms, seven Chakras as they are, as these seven realms are reflected in our bodies, and we invite this pure light to shine upon us and to enlighten us.

Sandie Sedgbeer: You open and close with the Seven Chakra Mantra. Why did you choose to bookend it in that way?

Deva Premal: When we recorded it, we felt they were different, and we didn’t want to Omtimes.com

choose one over the other. It’s a kind of déjà vu because it’s also what happened 20 years ago on The Essence album when we had two versions of the Gayatri Mantra. We didn’t even realize that it was all happening again, so it was kind of funny. They’re different and what’s also special for me is that I’m actually not a composer. Miten is the composer in the family. Secretly, I was always hoping that maybe for this long form I would find a melody, and Joby Baker, who is the producer of Deva and also of Miten’s Temple at Midnight and a few other albums, wouldn’t take no for an answer. He said: “You just have to write this melody. It has to come out of you this time.” It really did, and I was so surprised and the melody just kind of formed itself in front of me, and it felt so right.

Sandie Sedgbeer: So, you didn’t think you’re a winger, and you are. You didn’t think you’re a composer, and now you are. What else don’t you think you are?

Deva Premal: That’s a good question. Maybe I should look at that. (Laughs) Sandie Sedgbeer: At what point did you start to consider that your Omtimes.com

music and chants had healing power?

Deva Premal: It was pretty needed. It was incredible when we recorded The Essence, which had the Gayatri Mantra on it, I still remember we went to India with a pre-mix just after recording it. We played it to our friends, and somebody said, “Wow, there’s some power in there.” It’s a huge responsibility to put music to these sacred sounds. From the very beginning we received messages from people saying: ‘I was ready to take my life, and somebody put on the CD while I was getting a massage, and suddenly the light went on, and I felt some kind of spark that would make me want to live again.’ This hasn’t only happened once. It’s so extremely humbling, and I feel like if we’ve just recorded these Mantras just for this one person, it would have been worth it. It actually makes me speechless.

Sandie Sedgbeer: To coincide with the release of Deva, you and Miten launched the Mantra of Medicine live Facebook Series, in partnership with several wellknown Doctors. What inspired that?

Deva Premal: I think if I hadn’t become whatever I am now, I would have become a healer in some way. In school, I was always attracted to biology, like taking classes in biology. When I first left school, I learned bodywork - shiatsu, massage, reflexology, cranialSacral - always in the direction of alternative healing, and so that idea was pretty selfish because I find it so intriguing when those two worlds meet.

Last week we had a talk with Kulreet Choudhary, MD, who is a Neuroscientist and has created a hospital where the mantra is being chanted in the morning as part of the healing process for the patients. Then, there is Michael Finkelstein with his slow medicine concept and Dr. Kenneth Pelletier. They all come from different angles, but they have all realized that when both worlds meet there is magic, and even more healing can happen - to just have their angles on Mantras, and how they work is very intriguing for me.

Sandie Sedgbeer: On your world tour, which began in April and finished in November, you also played to homeless people and autistic children. I’ve read

that you’ve been contacted by teachers and caregivers who have said how much Autistic children love the music. What do you think it is about your music that they love?

Deva Premal: We played at the Centre for Discovery in upstate New York, and it’s an incredible place. That’s where we can really see the power of Mantra. They have no concept of how old they are, or what they should feel when they hear them; they are just receiving the sound for what it is in that moment and responding to it just the way they do. They have no filter, they aren’t going to be polite, so it’s a direct transmission that really shows the power, and the staff just couldn’t believe they would sit for one-and-a-half hours without getting restless. It was just so touching and wise. I think first of all it’s the power of sound, the sounds are healing.

Sandie Sedgbeer: One teacher wrote to you saying that she was playing The Essence CD for her class as part of the noontime relaxation hour and within a few weeks children who’ve never uttered a word began singing along with the mantra.

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That must be so gratifying, and of course, it’s proof as you said in the interview with Ken Pelletier that you don’t have to understand the meaning of the mantra to feel the benefits of it.

Deva Premal: You don’t have to believe anything, and for me, that’s the most important thing.

We don’t have to have some mindset that needs to be in place for this to work. It speaks to all of us.

Sandie Sedgbeer: You and Miten have also used the mantra and your music for your own healing as well, specifically as an integral part of Miten’s healing from open-heart surgery earlier this year.

Deva Premal: Yes. The mantras, again, are proving their power because Miten had open-heart surgery on the 20th of March this year, and when we finished our tour, which basically lasted from May to now, I asked him: ‘How do you feel after this tour, do you feel exhausted, do you feel you need to rest? He said: ‘No, I honestly don’t feel any different from when I started. I don’t feel I’ve lost any energy from it.’

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We also had a profound experience right after the surgery when he was still very much aware of having a lot of trauma in the body, so whenever he fell asleep, he would wake up in a kind of panic. Then he had a lot of crying, a catharsis, a big outburst of emotion to let out all this stuff where the body had been traumatized. We luckily remembered the long form of the Gayatri, the Seven Chakra Gayatri Mantra, and we put on the recording that we were working on at that time and it was incredible how it transformed the energy and brought peace. We could just come to healing sleep.

Sandie Sedgbeer: I was watching a video on Facebook the other day of a conversation you had with a physician living in India who shared how she used mantras in everyday life. I’ve always thought of it as being a kind of ritualistic kind of activity, but she says when she’s cooking, when she’s making herbs, she would use a mantra. Do you do that?

Deva Premal: Yes, for me that’s the way to use mantras; to infuse our whole life with an attitude of prayer or worship, like an awareness, and there’s

no separation between, ‘Oh now I will chant a Mantra, or now I’m cooking or walking”, it’s all one. It’s beautiful to chant while cooking with the intention of nourishing and healing those who eat it. But just to start a meal with chanting a mantra three times changes the whole vibration of the meal.

It’s incredible how quickly the energy shifts to a deep level of silence or relaxation or peace, and the more we can create these habits of chanting while we’re doing things, the more our lives will have more color and joy because we can’t separate it.

Sandie Sedgbeer: What you’re describing sounds like a continuing mindfulness practice, a continuing meditation.

Deva Premal: Yes. Also, chanting itself. Sometimes I feel it’s almost like cheating because it’s so quickly that we get a silence break with chanting. I mean, like when I sit just without doing anything, just silently, and close my eyes and try to watch my thoughts, my mind is busy, active, my body is restless, and when I sing in chant the silence happens. It’s like immediate. It’s vibrant silence, the thoughts

are slowed down, and they don’t have such a grip over me.

My body just wants to be in a silent place. It doesn’t want to be fidgety, or you know, so the great thing is it’s so much fun. It’s not like something strenuous we have to do to get there. We can sing and chant and the silence just happens, really so sweetly. That’s what’s so uplifting in the concerts also because then it’s like so many hundreds of people together and then there’s this pin-drop silence after a Mantra.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Your next Facebook Live event in the Mantra of Medicine Series is with New York Times best-selling author Dr. Larry Dossey, who’s going to be discussing mantras as a portal to the one mind. In the introduction to that event on your website, it says that when he published in 1993 his ground-breaking book, Healing Words – The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine.

Only three medical schools in the United States had courses devoted to exploring the role of spiritual practice and prayer in health, and now there are nearly 80 medical schools that have instituted such courses. To Omtimes.com

see the two worlds converging, the physicians, the scientists, and the spiritual dimension as well, must be very gratifying for you as you’ve been aware of the healing power of mantras for 20 years.

Deva Premal: Yes, it’s so funny that we need to have people with titles to endorse our experiences – if a doctor says it then it must be right. And it’s also great that there are so many doctors who actually have the courage, experience, and the knowledge to explain it to our minds because sometimes we need that explanation to trust and let go into it.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Do you and Miten plan on continuing this series?

Deva Premal: Yes, we have a few more. We are going to do one with Bruce Lipton, and we will see who else appears, but there’s a few more that definitely will be coming.

Sandie Sedgbeer: We live in a world where there’s so much space, so much food, so many resources, and the technology to make the most of all of Omtimes.com

them. Yet, fighting, back-biting, anger, upheaval, hate crimes, and poverty are increasing rather than diminishing.

With all that you’ve seen on your travels, all that you’ve experienced at your concerts, and all that you’re learning and sharing now through this particular Facebook Live series, it would seem that music, mantra, and meditation could be a powerful antidote to the rising rates of stress, illness, depression, and alienation that the world is experiencing.

Would you agree with that?

Deva Premal: Absolutely.

Sandie Sedgbeer: The question is how do we get this out more widely?

Deva Premal: I feel that the wave has already started and, actually, you can’t stop it. Every one of us must keep chanting, keep singing, keep sharing, and it will spread.

Sandie Sedgbeer: In this series of discussions that you’re having, has there been one thing that has really stood out for you, or is it all just confirmation of what you know?

Deva Premal: More confirmation, so far. I’ve been very touched by the individual pathways of the doctors, and what they offer. On a kind of conceptual level, there haven’t been really big surprises for me, but I find that also beautiful because that means that we are already deeply immersed, and we’ve already won.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Mindfulness and Meditation are becoming acceptable in schools now. In fact, some schools are actively encouraging these practices, teaching medication to the children and having mindfulness corners that children can go to. I know that in Ohio, where Representative, Tim Ryan, was instrumental in introducing mindfulness in schools, they’ve actually seen that a lot of the children, especially those that had learning challenges who would not come to school, are now coming to school and they’re actually calming down, and there’s less violence in the classroom. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if chanting was also included in that?

Deva Premal: That would be wonderful, but there’s still a

religious hurdle. Mindfulness is safer. People are scared of mantras, thinking that it’s Hinduism, or that they have to subscribe to some belief system.

That’s kind of unfortunate because it’s not true.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Perhaps that will change now that we are discovering so much about health, longevity, and how vibration, frequency, and Mantras can support that.

Deva Premal: That’s what I hope. When these doctors come forward, and when people actually have the experience, and somebody says it saved my life, you will listen to it so, hopefully, yes.

Sandie Sedgbeer: Now that you’ve finished your world tour, are you planning more recordings or are you going to take a rest?

Deva Premal: We don’t really have that rest concept. We are going to record again, in Australia. We already have our next album – it’s being birthed – we’re pregnant with it, as we speak. And we’re really looking forward to it.

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Health & Wellness

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

OMTIMES DECEMBER A ISSUE

FEELING WINTER:

A NEW MEDICINE APPROACH FROM ELSON HAAS, MD Winter is generally the coldest and the darkest of seasons. It is the time when living creatures go within, while nature’s crops are in storage. Nature and mankind are dominated by the yin principle. You must stay warm and it is important in winter especially to have a cozy spot to relax, sleep, and dream. Winter is the

Weak kidney energy may be experienced as lethargy or low energy and vitality, while strong kidney energy may express the opposite, plus willpower and ambition, also ruled by the kidneys.

time of quiet preparation while awaiting the greening rebirth of spring with the

The Nei Ching says, “The kidneys are like

rising winds, singing birds, and blooming

the officials who do energetic work, and

flowers.

they excel in their ability and cleverness.”

The Winter season is related to the Water element and to the kidneys and bladder. These organs determine the water, mineral, and acid-base balances in the body by filtering the blood, making urine, and eliminating unneeded substances.

In the Chinese system, the kidneys control the life force energy. Our vitality and longevity are said to be stored in the kidneys, visible externally by the sparkle or vibrancy of our eyes.

This ability and cleverness may be strengthened by nourishing the receptive (yin) principle, of which the kidneys are part, through deep relaxation and refection. From this process a blending of the inner with the outer can occur, which can give rise to knowledge, wisdom, and clear guidance.

The kidneys and Water element rule over the emotions. Both water and the emotions are unpredictable. When flowing, all is well; but when blocked or stagnant, great pressure can develop, or disease can set in.

THE KIDNEYS AND WATER ELEMENT RULE OVER THE EMOTIONS. Kidneys, water, and emotions are all ruled by the yin principle, the moon, the deep and dark. These aspects may stimulate fear from within, the emotion governed by the Water element, and fear or lack of faith may injure the kidneys or create an imbalance of Water in the body. With attunement to the “feminine� power, deep strength and wisdom develop. Fear, ear, and hear are all associated with the Water element; the ability to listen before acting is important to the well-being of this element and to the ease of our lives.

The winter diet should be warming and substantial, with more whole grains, less fruit, lots of steamed or baked vegetables, and more dairy and flesh foods if these are in your diet. Soups are wonderful during the colder weather.

Ocean foods, like fresh fish and the seaweeds, are especially good now and support the element. Soybeans, one of the complete vegetable proteins, is good food with many uses, whether sprouted or cooked, like tempeh and tofu; or fermented and aged to make miso.

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exercises that support energy building.

Through the year, it is important to balance outward, energy-expanding activities like walking, jogging, tennis, and swimming, with quiet energyaccumulating, internally rejuvenating practices like yoga, tai chi, and breathingrelaxation. Keeping your spine and other joints flexible, and mobile is important to how you feel. These practices can keep you young and vital.

Much of nature is hiding in her roots during the Winter, gathering the energy to

RETNIW

Winter is a good time to do indoor

be reborn in the Spring.

GNILEEF

This gathering of energy is important to us as well, and we may facilitate it by brewing herbal roots and drinking lots of good tea. Ginseng is a fine general tonic and rejuvenator, but burdock, comfrey, ginger, licorice, and sarsaparilla roots are also traditional energizers.

Vitally important to your health in Winter, as in all seasons, is a balancing of intake and output of your energy in the form of foods, feelings, and work.

You need proper rest and sleep, relaxation and play, to balance the activity, stress, and work in your life.

Creating and maintaining cleanliness within and without is also important to Staying Healthy.

The coming of each new season brings stress and change; illness can more easily overtake you then

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But illness itself gives you the opportunity to reevaluate your life.

However, if you do this voluntarily and tune in and change with the new season, you may prevent illness.

Winter is an important time to feel what your inner changes are and weave them into your dance of existence. “(In winter) people should retire early at night and rise late in the morning, and they should wait for the rising of the sun.” —Nei Ching (The Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine, recognized as one of the oldest known medical books).

To help you sleep, which often is challenging no matter the season, I offer this five-minute relaxation audio to help you unwind during the busy holiday season, so you get enough sleep. (Please visit my Youtube channel.

If you would like a more in-depth look at how to align with the seasons, my first book, Staying Healthy with the Seasons, has detailed information.

This material on Winter is from this book. I also invite you to my website, ElsonHaasMD.com for other articles and tips on seasonal living and eating.

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Elson Haas, MD is a long-time integrative family physician who is the founder and director of Preventive Medical Center of Marin, an integrative center in San Rafael, CA. Elson is also the author of a dozen books on health, nutrition, and detox, including Staying Healthy with the Seasons, Staying Healthy with Nutrition, The Detox Diet, Ultimate Immunity, and Staying Healthy with NEW Medicine: Integrating Natural, Eastern and Western Medicines for Optimal Health.

ElsonHaasMD.com Preventive Medical Center of Marin

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.

“Are You Really There?”

By John Holland

I want to share with you the following special story of a dad’s love, in showing that he really is there for his son and family.

Just this week, I gave out two of my books that had ‘sand dollar’ connections. I was out enjoying the day in the beautiful town of Newburyport, MA and

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came upon an artist who was displaying her creative work using real sand dollars. She had jewelry, night lights, and colorful plaques. With each item, there was a story of the sand dollar and how they relate to the five doves that visited the three kings on that special night in Bethlehem. I told her that they

also had a special meaning to someone else I know. I told her the following story below and said it was in a book. She said: “Now that’s a book I’d read!”

That day in Newburyport was also a day I decided to do what I’ve often done in the past, which was to leave my latest book: Bridging Two Realms – Learn to Communicate With Our Loved Ones On The Other-Side in a random place for someone to find. I trust that the right person will find it and it could be just when they need it. I didn’t even have to leave it somewhere, as I felt the urge to give it away right then and there! I reached into my bag and gave this woman a book. She offered to pay me, but of course, I refused the money.

The book was meant for her!

Then the very next day, I was at a local food store that I often frequent and noticed that the cashier had a tattoo of a fisherman on her forearm. She could see that I was admiring the tattoo and she told me it was in memory of her husband and that he passed away from a sudden heart attack a few years ago. She went on to say that tomorrow

was a big day for her and her family. Then I ask her why?

“Is it the date you lost your husband?” She said: “No, tomorrow my daughter starts high school and she is nervous, and we so wish that my husband was going to be there to support our daughter.”

As she started to well up with tears, I once again realized the ‘sand dollar’ story needed to be told. Now, she doesn’t know me personally, or what I do for a living, so I had to tread lightly. I went outside and grabbed a copy of my book and told her the sand dollar story and that I felt the story and book would help her because it is so similar to what she’s going through. She took the book and thanked me, wiped the tears and put the book aside to help the customers that were now in line.

I hope the following extract from my book somehow helps you (or forward this to a friend in need) by confirming that your loved ones are around and they will do anything they can to reach out to you and give you the love and support you so need.

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SAND DOLLARS | TOKENS OF LOVE Jeri and David had this beautifully romantic ritual that they always did together. They would head off to the local beach, not to watch the sunsets but to stroll, holding hands and looking for sand dollars that would wash ashore. It was their special time together, and it would be rare for them not to bring a few sand dollars home.

Every token became a special memory of their romantic walks together.

They married and had two young boys, and everything seemed almost perfect. It came as a terrible shock when David developed an aggressive type of cancer and passed away far too quickly. Jeri lost the love of her life, and their children lost a doting father.

One day, some months after David passed, Jeri was hanging out in the living room with her youngest son, Logan, who was eight years old at the time.

They’d both been thinking about David a lot recently. Logan was starting a new school year, and she knew that he wished his Omtimes.com

dad could be there for this big day. Sensing Logan’s mood, Jeri reached out and whispered, “Do you want to join me for a walk down on Sand Dollar Beach?”

Before she’d even finished asking, Logan had hopped off the couch with a smile and took her hand. That was his answer!

It was the first week in September, and the beach was practically deserted. Without a word, they both started looking for sand dollars, just as Jeri and David had done together so many times before. They walked up and down the beach, pushing mounds of sand aside, scouring the shore for their treasure.

Yet no matter how hard they looked, they couldn’t find a single sand dollar. Logan’s face couldn’t hide his frustration and disappointment. Jeri looked up at the sky and said in her mind, David, please send us a sign. Logan is starting school tomorrow, and he really could use a hello from Heaven from you right now.

Jeri turned away for a moment so Logan wouldn’t see the tear trickling down her face. It was then that she noticed a small boat approaching the shore. She

could have sworn it wasn’t there before, and she didn’t know where it had come from. The man in the boat stood up waving and yelling, “Hi! Are you looking for sand dollars?”

“Yes!” the two yelled back in unison, a resounding roar of excitement.

The man smiled and pointed, “Give that sandbar over there a try!”

Jeri and Logan thanked the man and ran across the beach. She glanced back for a second, but he’d already turned the boat around and left. She thought how strange it was that this man hadn’t asked them if they were looking for shells, sea glass, or even heart rocks. Instead, he’d specifically mentioned sand dollars!

Logan ran ahead excitedly, hoping to find just one memento.

He soon saw, to his amazement and delight, a crisp sand dollar sticking out of the sand! Then another and then another lay before him. The more they looked, the more they found.

Jeri smiled as she heard her son

shouting in joy, “Mom, mom, here’s another one!” They found so many, they filled every pocket they had. As they walked back up the shore, they counted a total of 43 sand dollars. Logan looked up at her, smiling, his eyes full of tears, “Mom, this is better than winning the lottery!”

In her heart, Jeri knew it had been David who’d helped them.

She closed her eyes as she felt a gentle breeze caress her face like a kiss. Her skin tingled with his presence.

Logan kept asking, “Mom, how did the guy in the boat know what we were looking for? I bet it was Dad saying hi!”

Simple signs can be profound. A special symbol, unique to you, has a way of filling your heart.

Now, whenever Jeri walks along that special beach, whether alone or with her sons, she knows that David will be right beside her.

I’m sure there will be many more sand dollars (and other ADCs) waiting for Jeri and her family.

I hope you enjoyed this short extract from my book.

Live a Soul-filled life!

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Love Is a Fire

“Whoever stands near me stands near the Fire,” declares Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas.

The Qur’an concurs, “Blessed is the person near this Fire, and those around it” (Q 27:8). Similarly in Hinduism,

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“The journey to the Atman … begins and ends in fire.”

Divine love is a blazing fire, and it burns alike in East or West. “God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29), and the yearning for God, truth, or love is itself this same fire burning in the heart. The mystical journey is a process that transforms the human disciple into this living fire of love. “One who knows the Fire knows all that is, the secret of all being.... All the worlds are but the declension of Fire: beyond it there is Nothing.”

To unite with the fire of love, one must become this fire, on its terms. This is the secret fire of divine love, without which no true spiritual transformation can take place.

Fractal of Divine Fire The fire of divine love burns on every level of existence— from the heart of the sun, to the human heart, to each tiny cell in the human body, to the subatomic particles and the core of every star across all galaxies. It is a grand

fractal fire of love. Although physics distinguishes between chemical fire and nuclear fire, the fundamental forces of fire—the strong and weak nuclear interactions, and the electromagnetic interaction— are believed to be a single unified force.

Love is a transforming fire. Like all fires, it ignites, incinerates, purifies, and shines with brilliant light and warmth. There is no force in the cosmos as powerful as love, and nothing propels spiritual evolution as swiftly as love. Ultimately the fire of love burns away everything that is not love.

“Set your life on fire,” proclaims Rumi, and “seek those who fan its flames.”

Why? Because in the absence of divine fire, no transformation can take place.

There is a crucial need for disciplined spiritual practice that kindles the fire of divine love, and for the allimportant sincerity and depth of aspiration that fuels

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the flames of divine love in the heart. With diligent practice, total self-giving, and surrender, this secret fire of love becomes a roaring blaze that burns away everything that stands between the devotee and the Divine.

The divine fire is one, yet is described differently in various traditions. As Heraclitus portrayed it, “The world order, the same for all beings, neither any of the gods hath made nor any human; but it was always, is and shall be ever-living Fire, kindled in measure and quenched in measure.”12 In Hindu terms, the fire of love incinerates the three “knots of the heart” that keep the soul bound to material existence.

These three knots are: (1) the knot of Brahma that binds us to physical form, making us believe that “I am the body”; (2) the knot of Vishnu that binds us to our desires and makes us say, “I want this” or “I am happy” or “I am sorrowful”; and (3) the knot of Shiva that binds us to the mind, making us believe “I am my mind”

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or “I am my thoughts and beliefs.” As the three knots of the heart are removed, the soul is liberated into its original oneness with Brahman.

In Christian terms, “This flame of love ... is the Holy Spirit....

And that flame, every time it flares up, bathes the soul in glory and refreshes it with the quality of divine life.... The more intense the fire of union, the more vehemently does this fire burst into flames.... As a result, all the acts of the soul are divine.”

In Islamic terms, Rumi’s teacher Shams i Tabriz ignited the fire of divine love within him, and Rumi sums up his entire life in two lines, and the result is not more than these three words: I burnt, and burnt, and burnt.

“Shams had awakened in Rumi a fire that could only be satisfied with union, with the ecstatic loss of the self in the presence of the Beloved,” says Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. Rumi became a living embodiment of this divine fire and ignited

the same fire in other souls wherever he went: It is the burning of the heart I want; this burning which is everything.

More precious than a worldly empire, because it calls God secretly, in the night.

The Essence of the Mystical Journey

process; we cannot master it; we cannot force it; we cannot co-opt it any way for our own purposes. We can only give ourselves to it, if we choose, and consent unconditionally to this process on its terms.

And if we do this—or rather, allow it—the living truth of love empties us of ourselves and fills us with divine love. * * *

Where does this fire lead?

What becomes of those who give themselves to it? The Fire of Love is the supreme gift offered to every human being. Whatever name we give to this process, whether we call it henosis or theosis or divinization, whether we conceive of it as apophatic or kataphatic, whether it takes place in a Christian or Muslim or Hindu or as a spiritual but not religious practitioner, the process is basically the same.

The soul is transformed into the Divine, by the Divine, through participation in the Divine.

Excerpted from Belonging to God: Spirituality, Science & a Universal Path of Divine Love by William Keepin, Ph.D. (Skylight Paths) In his book, William Keepin, a mathematical physicist, social activist, environmental scientist, and co-founder of Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI), a non-governmental educational charity, illuminates the commonalities in the scriptures by focusing on the core teachings of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism to demonstrate how the path of divine love is the greatness of each of these traditions.

We cannot understand the

pathofdivinelove.org

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OM Living For those living a more Conscious Lifestyle

35 Affirmations That Will Change Your Life

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Words are responsible for everything we hold to be true; We believe the things we believe because someone spoke them to us. But in our day to day lives, we rarely

recognize the magnitude of our speech. We tell ourselves both good and bad things every day, often without paying attention to what we’re speaking into existence. Out of habit we might say, “I’m scared,” I’m tired,” “I’m desperate,” “I’m stuck,” or “I’m not good enough.” What we don’t realize is that such phrases eventually become the truth of our lives. Because what we keep thinking, we speak.

What we keep speaking, we do. And what we keep doing, we become.

A major step to changing your life is changing the way you relate to your problems, and by extension, the way you speak about them: When a problem comes up, what words do you use to describe the situation? Do you tell others that you’re “helpless” and a “victim?” Then you will continue to be. You have to take control of the things that threaten to take control of you. This process starts with a simple “I am.”

“I am” is the single most important phrase you will ever speak, because what follows these two words dictates who you are: what you believe and invite into your life. “I am” becomes even more meaningful when you re-define yourself throughout the day: “I am confident,” “I am beautiful,” and “I am ready for love,” are just a few of the endless declarations you can make to replenish your well-being and re-center your soul. You will feel calmer and more grounded. The right words, recited with purpose and conviction, can shift your perception entirely.

The key is to personalize your mantras so that they come from your heart. Make them specific to your circumstances.

So instead of saying a vague, “I am powerful,” say, “I am powerful enough to overcome my breakup and attract a dedicated, loyal partner.” Pick your favorite phrases from the list below, change them as needed, and

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repeat them throughout the day. You will see that with time, these empowering statements will come effortlessly: 1. I am more powerful than my pain. I have the strength to defeat any adversity. I break through barriers and leap over hurdles. Nothing is as great as my own power.

2. I am in love with who I’m becoming. I give up on trying to please others. Instead, I work to fulfill my authentic self.

3. I am in control of my life.

I reject anything that harms me and embrace everything that delivers joy. I am master over my circumstances.

4. I am worthy. I deserve the incredible things that are coming to me.

5. I am attracting the perfect person for me. The universe is sending me a partner who is committed, faithful, and

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unconditionally loving.

6. I am healthy, I am stable, I am sound. My body is in excellent shape and my mind is at ease. I accept my flaws and embrace the totality of who I am.

7. I am unstoppable. I am determined to reach my goals and make them a reality. I remain undeterred from my dreams.

8. I am superior to negativity.

I rise above my troubles.

9. I am talented. I have been given endless skills that I utilize each day.

10. I am emotionally pure. A river of compassion washes away my anger and replaces it with love.

11. I am extremely successful.

My career is growing, expanding, and thriving.

12. I am happy. Today, I choose joy over suffering.

I am content with my accomplishments and blessings.

choose to engage fully and deeply in this present moment.

13. I am loved. I am appreciated, admired, and respected by the people who matter most to me.

20. I am bold. I have the courage to take necessary risks that shape my future for the better.

14. I am resilient. My ability to overcome challenges is unfailing. I am leaving my pain in the past. I am healing.

21. I am evolving. I am becoming the best version of myself. I am growing smarter, wiser, and more enlightened every moment. I make wise decisions that lead to my ultimate good.

15. I am purposeful. I am meant to be here to impact this world in profound ways. My divine destiny is unfolding before my eyes.

16. I am limitless. My soul is eternal. My potential is infinite.

17. I am fearless. My uncertainties are simply melting away. My doubts are replaced by faith.

18. I am beautiful. I radiate charm and grace.

19. I am alive right now. I

22. I am desired by my significant other. I am irresistible to the person I love. Our bond is fortified each day.

23. I am in tune with the universe. I listen to my intuition and pay attention to divine signs.

I am well-guided in my endeavors every step of the way.

24. I am proud of myself.

I have achieved so much

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already, and will achieve so much more.

25. I am all-knowing. All that I need to know, I already know, and all the guidance I need is within me.

26. I am free. My spirit soars.

No burdens weigh me down.

My life is uncomplicated, unbound, and free to take its predestined course.

27. I am vibrant. I am brimming with creativity and new ideas. I am excited to meet like-minded people and connect with the wonderful world around me.

my mind to, I accomplish. I treat myself with patience, compassion, and kindness.

31. I am protected. The divine watches over me at all times. Everything that is happening, is happening for my greater good.

32. I am magic. I manifest what I envision. I have the ability to bring to reality anything I choose. I am planting the seeds for a brilliant future in this very moment.

28. I am reborn. My life is just beginning. My path is carved towards greatness.

33. I am at peace. I choose to see others with forgiving eyes, especially those who have hurt me. I understand the bigger reason and accept all things as they are.

29. I am unafraid to say no. I do only what I feel comfortable doing. I stand up for myself whenever necessary.

34. I am detaching from negativity. I walk away from anything that does not serve me. There is only place for positivity in my life.

30. I am my own best friend.

I can rely on myself for anything. Everything I set

35. I am the architect of my life. I build its foundation and choose its contents. I

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decorate my life with hope, healing, and happiness.

of numerology, mediumship, and incredible intuition.

Being aware of your words will multiply your inner power and help you uphold a positive perspective. Practice the mantras above at any time to feel inspired, enabled, and uplifted.

Carmen has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, New York Post, and New York Daily News, and on shows like Good Morning America, The View, Good Day New York, the Today show, and many more.

Speak to become, Dr. Carmen Harra Dr. Carmen Harra is a worldrenowned intuitive counselor, psychologist, best-selling author, radio show host, and relationship expert. In the past 25 years, Carmen has helped over 40,000 people rediscover peace of mind, reclaim personal power, and regain joy. Her clients include people from all walks of life, from the lady next door to Hollywood celebrities and eminent politicians.

Carmen’s unique technique includes combining the normal with the paranormal to deliver the greatest transformative potential: tried and tested cognitive therapy coupled with the ancient arts

Carmen is the author of the international best-sellers Everyday Karma, Decoding Your Destiny, The Eleven Eternal Principles, and Wholeliness, among others.

Her seventh book, The Karma Queens’ Guide to Relationships, was released by Penguin Books, and she’s now working on her eighth book all about commitment!

Carmen has also hosted callin shows on Hay House Radio, WOR Radio, and WABC Radio.

She now hosts a popular weekly show called Miracle Guidance for Everyday Life every Tuesday at 7pm EST on OMTimes Radio.

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Love Your Neighbour As Yourself

by Isha Judd

Certain principles are universal truths, and they appear in most religions. The golden rule “Love your neighbor as yourself� is an aspect of compassion, based on the principle that we recognize Omtimes.com

others as an aspect of ourselves. It is so universal that in 1993 it was included in the “Declaration of world ethics by the Parliament of the World’s Religions,” and signed by leaders of the main religions of the world.

as self-denial; but wellunderstood charity “begins at home.” When we learn to accept and be kind and loving to ourselves, these qualities overflow into our environment, as an extension of our love and acceptance.

But why is it so difficult for us to comply with this golden rule? Because we lack love for ourselves. The violence, discrimination, and repression that humanity “inflicts on others” is a reflection of the judgments and rejection we feel for ourselves. We are often our own worst enemies, judging ourselves with more intensity than anyone else can, repressing and punishing ourselves, and striving to behave differently than we naturally are.

India, perhaps more than any other country, shows us that religions can coexist peacefully.

With its unique cultural diversity, it hosts followers of almost all the religions of the world. During a recent visit to New Delhi, I met Ezequiel Isaac Malekar, leader of the Jewish community in India, who told me that this is the only country in the world where Jews have never been persecuted, where there has never been antiSemitism. India is a profoundly religious country, and this attitude of mutual respect shows that religions do not necessarily have to disagree. If we preach tolerance and love, peaceful coexistence should be a priority.

This golden rule relates to the emphasis on service, which is shared by religions. Giving is the blissful extension of a realized heart because when we experience inner fulfillment, our greatest pleasure is to extend our bliss towards others. Charity, in many cultures, is perceived

Hinduism is the predominant religion of India. I wonder if the acceptance of other forms of worship in that country is

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related to the fact that Hindus worship only one God, but in multiple ways. There are millions of “gods” in Hinduism, each representing a different aspect of God himself, so when foreigners arrived with new names for their gods, the Hindus accepted their beliefs without judgment.

So how do we love ourselves?

By embracing difference, by embracing the new. By choosing the things that help us evolve, not the things that make us feel comfortable because it’s not important for us to be comfortable. Friction is what makes us develop.

Friction moves the stress and creates more consciousness.

Friction is the best friend of evolution. Passivity doesn’t evolve. It just continues doing the same thing. How does a person feel when they are not evolving? Bored, they start creating conflict and drama so they can feel alive, but a person that is challenging themselves, that is moving forward, that is focused in giving doesn’t have time for dramas, doesn’t have time to take from others, doesn’t have

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time not be happy and moving forward. This is a passionate person.

Animals never sit around feeling sorry for themselves.

They always make the best of what they have. Nature is like that, and yet we have humans with everything, and they beg for love, we have all the love we need, but we keep asking for more. What is it to love ourselves? To evolve, to have new experiences, to love all aspects of ourselves unconditionally, to embrace life and enjoy every moment.

Just as the spring cannot do anything but give of itself, the realized heart cannot avoid sharing its discovery with all humanity. We must discover a love for ourselves and then, giving with joy arises as a natural consequence of this.

Isha Judd is an Australian humanitarian, spiritual teacher based in Latin America, author of “Love Has Wings” and “Why Walk When You Can Fly?”. Watch “Why Walk When You Can Fly?” on iTunes. Her website is www.ishajudd.com.

Creating Success In Business

Business is one of those places in life where people think they have to know it all. They think it’s education, experience, or expertise that’s necessary to make a

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business work. That’s not at all the case.

A successful business isn’t about how many letters you have after your name, or any shiny qualifications. Creating a business that really thrives, requires asking questions and following your awareness to know what will work.

Credentials are irrelevant.

Business is about creation. A successful business is where you’re willing to have the level of joy and possibility that’s truly available.

What definition do you have for business? What did you grow up with? If you observed your parents coming home after work tired and grumpy, for example, or heard people consistently complain about all their problems with work, then that’s what business became associated with. It wasn’t a place for joy or possibility.

Asking questions to create your business is looking at everything you defined

business as and asking what else is possible. Instead of doing whatever you learned or concluded you have to do, ask what other choices are available. Replicating what has been done or relying on facts and figures restricts what you can create.

Questions allow you to know what will work, what will be more generative, and what will give you access to possibilities that go beyond anything that’s ever been created. Definitions don’t allow any room for true creation.

Here are some other key elements to assist in creating a successful, joyful business: Acknowledge that creating your business is the creation of your life.

Has it ever occurred to you that creating your business is the creation of your life and living? Most people try to put the business in a container as if it can be separate from their life. I often say, your life is your business, and your

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business is your life. When you acknowledge that they are truly one in the same, it changes the way you relate to your business and the choices you make. If you wake up in the morning and have blood running through your veins, you’re in business.

business. That’s because they’re not asking the questions required to know what’s actually possible and what will work. Asking questions is not how business is usually done. It’s creating in a way that’s totally different.

The joy of business is the ability, capacity, and willingness to be real about what is occurring, what you can change, and what you can create. It’s asking what choices you have available in any given moment for a different possibility. Creating a joyful business is the creation of a joyful life.

Acknowledge every capacity you have available.

How many capacities do you have that you haven’t ever acknowledged? People tend to rely on a handful of skills they’ve determined their greatest strengths without considering what else they have to offer. Acknowledging your capacities doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself but, by doing so, you unlock the restrictions you’ve concluded you have on your abilities to create something greater.

Be willing to be truly different. Look at all the people around you. How many of them are creating their lives joyfully? Are they hungry for change? What could you create if you were the one who’s willing actually to be different?

Being overly different can sound too risky for many people when it comes to

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Make a list of all your capacities. Ask others what they’re aware of about you that you aren’t seeing. The more aware you are of your capacities, the more expansively you can create.

Leave judgment out of it. Judgment is where people stop themselves from creating and generating everything they could be. All judgments are just points of view based on definitions of right and wrong. They’re where you keep yourself and your business from being as boundless and generative as actually possible. Judgments will never allow you to create anything greater.

What judgments are you functioning from? Get honest with yourself and look at what else you could be choosing. The reasons and justifications aren’t important. They’ll just keep you locked in. Be willing to acknowledge what judgments you’re using to keep yourself from ever being as truly successful as actually possible. Now, what else can you choose?

Business isn’t about getting anything right. It doesn’t require any particular education or experience.

Success comes from the

willingness to go beyond definition and to ask questions every day about the possibilities available.

What can you create as your life, living, and business that’s greater and more joyful than you ever imagined possible?

Simone Milasas is an entrepreneur, creator, creative business coach, international business owner, author and Worldwide Coordinator of Access Consciousness. She has been at the forefront of cutting-edge business creation and development for over a decade and has trained business leaders and innovators all over the world. Simone is the author of JOY OF BUSINESS translated into 13 languages and best-selling book GETTING OUT OF DEBT JOYFULLY translated into 5 languages. You can find Simone every week on her podcast – The Art & Industry of Business & Living available on her website, www.simonemilasas.com

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The World is your Drumming Circle

The beat pattern of the rain speeds up and calms down until it slackens to a slight drip-drop. The brittle fall leaves create precise rattlesounds, rustling and shaking

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like a tambourine. Yet, the spring leaves birth fresh and soft rhythms, as they wave in the beat of the wind.

Invisible currents from animals are running, moving insects, wings flapping overhead and even our own footsteps provide our own personal drumming circle. Just as we connect with others by joining a drumming circle and sharing the rhythm, nature joins with us in our own individual drumming circle.

Our rhythms reflect who we are to a larger extent than we ever imagined. Our personality is reflected in our personal rhythms: our gait of walking, how fast or slow we speak and move, and even our characteristic postures with their unconscious communications. In the Caribbean, this signature rhythm is called your tumbao; it is as unique as your fingerprints. It is the unique beat that you project!

The environment unconscious-

ly moves us with circadian rhythms of Mother Nature.

Her beat-pattern of summer, fall, winter, and spring gently guide our moods. Her swinglike movements of more and less sunlight, softly rock us into compliance, as the days march on.

Shooting down from the sky are invisible frequencies, below our hearing range, originating from the movements of the stars in the heavens, combining with magnetic currents from underground magma - deep within the Earth.

These multilayered waves combine with the rhythms of our breath, circulation, and heartbeats. Rhythms nearby “entrain” and impact each other. We are a fluid participant in the rhythms of Earth.

We naturally sync with the energies and rhythms around us – without any conscious thought that this has occurred. We submerge ourselves in beat patterns of phone and internet signals.

We are in the center of a

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drumming circle of cars impatiently honking, fire sirens screaming, people yelling and frantic hip-hop sounds pulsing out of phones.

The brain naturally looks for repeating patterns - as we have evolved in nature and she responds to such patterns of sound. Man’s chaotic drumming without any pattern, tires the brain, producing stress and draining our peace and energy.

We are more connected than we ever imagined to rhythms and beats, many that we are unaware of. Our life pace and our hearts reflect sounds from within our bodies as well as from the environment and the cosmos. This fall, consider immersing yourself in calming sound patterns. Our bodies relax and restore with caresses of nature’s healing drumming circles.

Jill Mattson is a prolific Artist, Musician, and Author. Jill is widely recognized expert and composer in the field of Sound & Color Healing!

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She has also produced nine musical CDs with intriguing, magical tracks using ancient & modern techniques, & special healing frequencies to achieve profound benefits. Jill is a four-time author. (Crystal Realms CD – Best Sound Healing CD of 2017, Best Overall Music (popular Vote and Industry Leader’s Choice – Gold Awards), The Lost Waves of Time – Best Book of 2016 and Best Alternative Science book of 2016, Deep Wave Body Healing CD– Best Sound Healing CD of 2016, Contacting Angels & Masters CD – Best CD of 2015 and Deep Wave Beauty CD – Best New Age CD – Silver Award).

Jill has participated in many hundreds of teleseminars, radios shows, and magazines!

She offers an online Sound (& Color) Healing School.

Jill presents new ways of approaching health and everyday issues using the benefits of sound and color! Free music & School of Sound Healing at www. jillswingsoflight.com

I S S U E

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THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

ADVENTURE

Dan Maston goes on an epic adventure

MONSTER TRUCKS ...and where to take them

ROADTRIPS OF THE YEAR

Shakti World

Powerful Jewelry

Check out our list of some of the best trips you will take in your life

OMTIMES. DEC A

THE SEARCH FOR

THE LONELIEST WHALE

“Whales feel cohesion, a sense of community, of loyalty. The distress call of a lone whale is enough to prompt its entire pod to rush to its side- a gesture that lands them nose to nose in the same sand.

It's a fatal symphony of echolocation, a siren call to the sympathetic.” ― Marina Keegan, The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories Just Imagine having to wander the world in search of a relationship, continually calling for a companion, a friend or anyone, but never receiving an answer or a response, ever.

It sounds dreadful and sad, doesn’t it? Perhaps that is why many people around the world sympathize with the story of "52", known to be the most solitary whale in the world.

The cetacean, named after the distinctive frequency of its appeal, which is 52 Hertz, belongs to an unknown, unidentified species. The sound it produces is just above the lowest note in a tuba. Apparently that of a whale, but unlike any other known record of them.

So, this poor chap wanders the oceans of the world, year after year, desperately calling for a mate, but it had never found one. Curiously, 52 was never actually seen; only his helpless love songs were picked up by marine sonar detectors but never accompanied by another whale answering call, as it is customary.

These 52 phenomena is so intriguing that scientists closely monitored this peculiar frequency since it was first detected by William Watkins of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in 1989.

He went on to study the mating calls of male whales in the North Pacific when was confronted with the anomaly of 52.

Since then, the US Navy's sophisticated billions of dollars of hydrophone system, designed to track Soviet nuclear submarines during the Cold War, has recorded the migratory patterns of 52 every year, showing how it moves from central California to the Aleuts Islands, in the North Pacific. The Whale 52 always travels alone, and according to a report in the Deep-Sea Journal, his migration pattern has nothing to do with the presence or movement of other species of whales.

SONIC SIGNATURE Experts have discovered that the sonic signature of 52, although profound for humans, is very acute compared to the regular call of the giant blue whales, or any other species of whale.

Some believe this is because the giant mammal may have a physical deformity while others think it could be a hybrid of a blue whale with one of the other species.

"I find it very sad that so many people identify themselves with this whale,"Â

Mary Ann Daher, a marine biologist who spent years listening to the hidden lives of whales, co-authored the original research on the discovery of 52.

She says that as the story came to the public, more people began to identify themselves with the desperate situation of that whale.

She reports that many people have written to her expressing their empathy.

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"I find it very sad that so many people identify themselves with this whale," she said in an interview. "I get letters, e-mails, and poems - mostly from women - and it's painful to read some of the things they say.

These people identify with this animal that does not seem to fit anywhere, does not make friends easily, feels alone and feels different from everyone else. "

Musicians and storytellers around the world have used the unusual story of 52 as inspiration in their works.

"Loneliest Whale in the World" is a rock written by the British band Dalmatian Rex and the Eigentones.

Singer Laura Ann Bates also recorded a song dedicated to the unique whale, called "The Loneliest Creature on Earth" (lovely). And the German author Agnieszka Jurek wrote an illustrated children's book entitled "The 52 Hertz Whale".

It seems that people can see a series of diverse narratives in the mysterious lifestyle of the 52 Whale.

"For some people, he's so lonely," said filmmaker Josh Zeman, who is determined to find 52 one day. "To others, he is celebrating his loneliness. It is an inspiring message, because it continues to call, no matter what.

To other people, it's kind of a warning tale about loneliness, technology, and social media. " Josh accepts that all this sounds very much anthropomorphic, something that scientists like Mary are entirely against. The biologist says that the romantic angle for the solitary journeys of 52 is entirely a human construct, there is no way for scientists to really know what is happening in the mind of a whale.

"We do not know if he's lonely or not," she said. "The supposed emotional yearnings of 52 say much more about human beings who hear his story, than about the whale itself."

OMTIMES. DEC AÂ

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In the other hand, scientific research also shows that whales are social creatures, and some whale songs can travel 5,000 km across the ocean for the sole purpose of communication. Having said that, it is easy to understand why most people, like Josh, choose to focus on this most romanticized aspect.

- "Being lonely or calling and never being heard is one of our greatest fears as human beings," he said. - "We are completely social beings ... Whales are the same. They have spindle-shaped cells, which allow them to love, hate, be part of certain (social) circles ...

Imagine a being out there who could even feel love, acceptance, and pain in a way they cannot even understand? " Last year Josh Zeman teamed up with wellknown actor Adrian Grenier for a joint funding campaign from a 20-day expedition to find the 52. His goal was $ 300,000 but the moving story of the world's most solitary whale, apparently caused enough commotion to reach $ 405,937. They plan to make a documentary on the follow-up to 52 and, if all goes well, mark it with audio detection equipment, allowing scientists to study it in rich detail.

DECEMBER

A feature-length documentary entitled 52: The Search for the Loneliest Whale is in production, shot by Joshua Zeman, the director of Cropsey, and produced

by Adrian Grenier. Funded through a Kickstarter campaign, the film is due for release sometime in 2018.

Relationships

The interconnectedness among all human beings and, consequently, the relationships among us are the focus of this section. The dynamics of the web of connections we make is one of the most prominent aspects of human existence: how we interlace with each other’s existence in a meaningful way.

Things that differentiate Love from Passion

By Ascending Hearts

Passion and love are two powerful feelings, but we already know that ... And however related, they are entirely separate, and it is in this part that the confusion begins!

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Can you identify what passion and love characterize? Psychologists, philosophers, and even neurologists are dedicated to studying these feelings and on delimiting the differences between each one.

In order not to err when it comes to self-declaration, recognize that what you feel is love or passion!

The Attracting Factors Psychology defines passion as the manifestation of the phenomenon of projection, that is when the person projects his idealizations on the partner.

That is to say, when we are in love, we are drawn to the idealization of our partners, and not necessarily real or coherent to the person they may be.

Typically, when we are in love, the characteristics that attract us most are the physical ones, be it the

beautiful eyes, the lips, the soft skin or the smile, for instance.

But when we are genuinely in love, we can see beyond appearances, we start to identify the so-called “inner beauty” of the person, that is, their values, their authenticity, and personality turn out to be as or more exciting and attractive than a beautiful smile.

Illusions also tend to disappear with love. People who love each other can truly identify their partner’s qualities and shortcomings, and even with their fights, they choose to deal with adversity despite difficulties for an ordinary shared life of two.

Passion: When does it start and when does it end?

Several authors describe passion as an “overwhelming feeling” and, and just like a great storm, often do much damage, but

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inevitably Passion ends up coming to an end.

Some studies on human behavior say that passion can last for a few weeks or years (1 to 2 years, on average). After this period, two things can happen The end of the relationship or the beginning of a real love story.

Unlike passion, love does not happen at first sight.

This feeling is quite broad and complex, requiring an extended period of time for it to develop fully.

Only fools who think that love is guaranteed forever and ever. Yes, loves can come to an end! But to avoid happening, the couple should strive to respect, care and be sincere with each other, always.

“The perfect weekend.”

In other words: what is the perfect dating situation for

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you and your partner?

As passion is a more intense phase, there is a need to “live intensely” the relationship, so it is common for passionate couples want to be always in each other’s company, whether at a romantic dinner overlooking the sea or lying on the sofa and binging any series on Netflix!

How do you cope with times of crisis?

Some authors consider passion as the “honeymoon phase” of the relationship, where “adjusting” fights are not yet as constant. And when that happens, it might be an excellent opportunity for you to reflect on your true feelings towards your partner.

Fights exist even among people who love each other, the difference between moments of crisis in passion and love is the way we deal

with situations.

Love is made of exchanges and consensuses. We may even get angry and want to get away, but when we fight with who we truly love, the desire to put an end on disagreements becomes a priority. In these moments it is important that both are open to understanding not only who they are as individuals, but also the partner’s feelings and points of view.

Dialogue and understanding are two important ingredients in any successful love relationship!

What is most important in the relationship?

If the first thing you think about when you reflect on your relationship is the beautiful “physical” chemistry you have, then it is likely that real love has not yet knocked on your door.

Do not misunderstand, this kind of intimate contact is essential in any love relationship, but in love, sex is far from being the most important thing. When we love we want the guarantee of the happiness of the loved one, and the desire to care for and help the partner to achieve their dreams and daring goals.

The most important thing in love is just this: to share and to guarantee the happiness of those you love! Remembering that this feeling needs to be mutual so that the relationship is maintained, and cherished.

And finally, to love is also to know and when how to say goodbye.

Oh, and let’s not forget that love can go much further than the traditional “romantic love,” okay?

Love has many forms and manifestations.

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Is Your Style of Relating Successful Or Problematic?

By Marcia Sirota Author, speaker, coach, and MD

In working with people for over 25 years, I’ve identified five styles of human interaction. Two of them work really well to create positive personal and

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professional relationships; the other two are more problematic and the last one, can go either way.

If you want to be happy and successful in your relationships, you’re going to have to learn which of these styles of interaction you’ve been using and exchange the problematic ones for the ones more likely to succeed.

What do I mean by five styles of interaction? I’m describing the ways that people relate to one another based on what’s driving them internally and how much awareness they’re bringing to their relationships.

The more aware you are of yourself and other people, the more empowered you’ll to be to make use of the more successful styles of interaction.

Some people are lucky enough to have naturally adopted the more successful styles of interaction. For everyone else, these can be learned. More importantly, the problematic

styles can be unlearned.

The five styles of interaction I’ve identified are: Empathetic, Playful, Transactional, Strategic and Reactive.

Empathetic: This style of interaction comes out of the desire to connect with other people. People who use the empathetic style of interaction have an open heart and are in touch with their emotions.

If this is you, you’re sensitive, and the way you deal with other people is driven by your empathy.

The empathetic style works well because it enables you to get close to others. People feel that you care and they respond accordingly. In the empathetic style of interaction, everyone feels seen and heard, and it’s easier to build trust. With empathy driving your interactions, people see you as safe, warm, present, emotionally available, and easy to be around.

Playful: The playful style

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of interacting can work really well, or it can keep you from connecting in a meaningful way with others.

When you’re playful, it can help to break the ice with someone, but it can also be a way to keep up a mask that hides your authentic self and doesn’t let the other person in.

Flirting is playful, as is banter.

Being witty is playful. So is sarcasm. There are a lot of ways to be playful that will help you to ease into closeness, but too much play can be alienating. Sometimes, you just need to play it straight.

Transactional: This style is driven by need. If you use this style, the underlying message goes something like this: «I›ll do something for you, and then you›ll do something for me.» Codependent relationships are an example of transactional interactions; as are relationships based on people-pleasing.

In the transactional style of

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interacting, people tend to exploit and be exploited.

It’s a style that lends itself to power imbalances and bullying since those who are trying too hard to please will often foster contempt and hostility in others. Politics and business can involve this type of interaction.

Those who’ve adopted a transactional style tend to end up on one side or the other of an abusive relationship.

Narcissists, sociopaths, and users have this style of interacting, as do those who are insecure and overly nice, pleasing and placating.

Strategic: People use this style when it›s not appropriate to be open or intimate with the other person; for example, in a professional relationship (with a boss, colleague, teacher or coach) when it›s necessary to have more of a persona. It›s also a style for when you›re dealing with someone who isn›t that reasonable and/or needs managing.

In strategic interactions, you’re polite and ethical, but you play to win. You keep your cards close to your chest and maintain your poker face.

You think about who it is you’re dealing with and use what you know to your best advantage. You maintain your integrity, but you don’t let anyone mess with you.

Reactive: In this style, people deal with each other based on their past experiences.

If you were hurt, rejected, abandoned, exploited or abused in the past, you’re more likely to use this style of interacting.

With this style, you deal with your current relationships, both personal and professional, as though the people you’re with today are identical to the people from your past.

This will create a lot of problems for you, both personally and professionally.

Reactive interactions tend to involve a lot of drama and conflict, and they lead to

unhappiness.

It should be clear from the above that the two best styles of interacting are the empathetic and the strategic ones. With these, you’re most likely to achieve success in both your professional and your personal relationships.

If your habit is to use the transactional or reactive styles of interacting, or if being playful has become too much of a smokescreen for you, this is a good opportunity to look at why you interact in these ways and to make some positive changes moving forward.

Sign up here for my monthly wellness newsletter. May is all about positive parenting.

Listen here to my latest podcast.

My new book, Be Kind, Not Nice: How to Stop PeoplePleasing, Build Your Confidence and Discover Your Authentic Self, is now available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca

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How to Know you have a Past Life Connection?

4 ways to discover you already know someone from another life.

By Humanity Healing

We often wonder if we have ever met a person before, whether by great affinity or a strange feeling that you may have already met her in a past life. Although this phenomenon is thought to be rare, it is not impossible that we have already met many souls in our various past lives. We have lived with many different people, but can you tell if you have seen someone in a past life? Here are some ways you can try to find that out.

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“Have you ever met someone for the first time, but in your heart you feel as if you’ve met them before?”

–JoAnne Kenrick THERE IS A STRONG LOVE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU If you have ever loved someone in the past, the chance that you will love them again in this life will be greater. Generally, the souls you have met in a past life generate

an immediate connection. It is possible to know if this love is not new by the ease of relationship and the reality of that feeling.

And you know when that happens.

When it does occur, remember that person may be someone who has lived in a past life with you, and that feeling of love has been marked so strongly for some reason. Try to understand that there are reasons for this love to return.

“The love that you withhold is the pain that you carry lifetime after lifetime.”

–Alex Collier NEGATIVE FEELING WITHOUT REASON For some time in your past life, you must have lived with someone who did not do well or was not necessarily your friend. Sometimes, this feeling is maintained during the transition to a new life, and so we recognize a negative feeling to a person for no apparent reason.

The feeling may be a red flag for you, warning you, but it does not mean that you should hate that person. We strongly suggest you to get to know her before you judge her. This is how we evolve and grow as human beings.

YOU FEEL A TELEPATHE UNION Some people live with us who can understand very well how we are feeling. Such a person can know what is happening without speaking. It is that person that you think of her, and soon she comes in contact with you.

If you know someone like that, she must be a person with a strong connection to your soul in the past. That is the reason why you can understand us so well, and there is a strong connection to our lives.

THE LINK OF LAST LIFE IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LOOK The souls that meet again identify with only the look. His past life has well recorded the gaze of a known soul, and the eyes show this recognition of someone familiar. Reincarnation specialists believe that these recognitions are not accidents. So, pay close attention to a person’s eyes when you find it.

“I do not fear death. I see what has gone before, through eyes that are not of this body. When I dream, my visions are of days yet to be.”

–Cathy M. Donnelly

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Metaphysics

The Cosmic Vibrations of Numbers

Numbers hold special significance for many people.

Some believe they have a lucky number, while others notice that significant life events tend to occur in pairs, threes or other groupings.

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Some people even feel a simple, inexplicable affinity for a particular number. These people may have naturally tapped into something with roots that stretch back through the millennia to ancient Egypt and Babylon — Numerology, or the study of numbers and their cosmic vibrations.

In Numerology, each number, from one through nine, is believed to have its own symbolic meaning. When applied to a person, a number — referred to as a Life Path Number — reveals that a person’s personality, challenges, and potential. Life Path Numbers are calculated by adding together the eight separate digits of a person’s birthdate (the two-digit day and month, and the four-digit year).

Let’s take, for example, a birthdate of December 1, 1975. This would be written numerically as 12/01/1975 (or 01/12/1975 — either method will produce the same Life Path Number). Adding those eight digits together (1+2+0+1+1+9+7+5) results in a total of 26. As this is a two-

digit number, the two and six are then added together to produce a final Life Path Number of eight for this particular birthdate.

When calculating a Life Path Number, we reduce most birthdates that add up to two-digit numbers to one digit, ranging from one to nine, as in the example above.

There are, however, three exceptions: 11, 22 and 33, the three Master Numbers of Numerology. Those whose birthdates add up to one of these numbers have an extraordinary life path.

The Master Numbers are thought to denote both extra challenges and extra strengths, and people with these as their Life Path Numbers have the potential to face significant adversity, yet also make significant achievements in their lifetime.

Following are brief descriptions of each of the twelve Life Path Numbers.

Once you have calculated your own Life Path Number, use this information as a starting point to explore the vast Omtimes.com

wisdom of Numerology.

1 – You possess a strong personality and a positive outlook. You’re likely to be physically strong as well.

Creative, ambitious and filled with original ideas, you are a natural leader among friends and co-workers. Watch that your assertive nature doesn’t turn into bossiness or selfishness. Similarly, blocks to your natural energy can result in laziness, impulsiveness or unrealized goals.

2 – Peaceful, artistic and refined, you are a peopleperson who loves being surrounded by friends. Your sensitive, honest nature inspires others to confide in you regularly. Watch that your sincerity does not verge into gullibility, allowing others to take advantage of you. Also, make sure to attend to your own needs as well as those of the people around you. Try not to avoid conflict to the point of giving up too much ground to others.

3 – Intelligent, creative and

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witty, you are an excellent communicator, whether entertaining others with jokes and stories or using your perceptive nature to explore life’s deepest mysteries. You find it easy to read others’ thoughts and feelings. Do your best to set goals and pursue them; otherwise, your life could lack direction. Also, avoid jobs, relationships and daily routines that are overly monotonous, as these will bring out your escapist side.

4 – Practical, hardworking and down-to-earth, you are the person your co-workers, family, and friends rely on for stability and support.

Your incredible willpower can sometimes turn into stubbornness. You prefer a life of routine, as unpredictable people and situations overwhelm you. You can also be resistant to change. Seek out loyal friends and partners and use these relationships as a secure base from which to reach out into the unknown.

5 – You stand out in any crowd. People are drawn to

your happy, vital nature. You possess diverse interests and may regularly spread yourself too thin. You adore adventure and excitement but try to avoid being irresponsible or unreliable. Similarly, watch out for a tendency toward competitiveness. You shine naturally, so there’s no need to work overly hard for attention.

6 – Your loving, caring nature makes you a beloved friend and family member. Honest, conscientious and thoughtful, you regularly look out for others’ rights and wellbeing.

You find it easy to connect and communicate with just about anyone, including animals. If you find yourself becoming easily annoyed or feeling jealous or depressed, take it as a sign that you have overextended yourself.

Take time alone to rest and recharge.

7 – Deeply analytical, you possess innate spiritual wisdom. You meet life on your own terms, which can make you appear a bit aloof.

Adding to this is your natural perfectionism; you hold yourself and others to high standards. You need autonomy in your work and relationships, but you’re capable of great loyalty when involved with a person or organization that you believe in.

8 – Creativity, willpower and good luck combine to make you a powerhouse of a personality. A forward-thinker who can readily assemble a strong team, you carry your plans through to the finish. Watch that you don’t become overly competitive or dictatorial as you pursue your goals. In relationships, you are attracted to people who let you take the lead. Try not to take advantage of this dynamic.

9 – You are honest, trustworthy and compassionate. In relationships, you are attracted to people who possess the qualities you value most highly, such as generosity and kindness. Your idealistic, sensitive nature

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lends itself to humanitarian causes. Just try to avoid overextending yourself; if your energies are drained or taken advantage of, you could swing toward selfish or inconsiderate behavior.

11 – The first of the three Master Numbers, 11 can be thought of as a more powerful expression of the number two (as 1+1=2). Your artistic, creative nature makes you a true visionary. Filled with fascinating knowledge and theories, you are a favorite companion among your friends. Your work in this lifetime is to influence others’ thoughts, ideas, and values.

Your life path should involve creative expression. Change the world through art, science, writing or teaching.

22 – The second of the three Master Numbers, 22 can be thought of as a more powerful expression of the number four (as 2+2=4). Filled with willpower and a deep sense of purpose, you can

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achieve anything you set your mind to. Be sure to use this power with care; focus your efforts toward worthwhile pursuits, and avoid unhealthy, destructive relationships and behavior. Find friends who allow you to be yourself, and who can stand up to your strong personality when needed.

33 – The third of the three Master Numbers, 33 can be thought of as a more powerful expression of the number six (as 3+3=6). Highly sensitive, emotional and dependable, you are widely adored for your kind, caring nature. Naturally empathetic, you feel others’ emotions as if they are your own; for this reason, take care to protect yourself emotionally when necessary. You have a strong need to know you are loved, so seek out close, loving and harmonious relationships.

Don’t avoid conflict as a rule, however; remember that you must set firm boundaries from time to time.

Love is Real

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The Power of Thought

by Jim Dreaver

The more awake and freer we are, the more we consciously use thought and intention as a creative tool to direct and guide us in the process of living. This is the Law of Attraction in its most potent form.

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After all, thoughts, while not “real” in the sense that we cannot find them anywhere (they fleetingly come and go), are enormously powerful.

What’s going to happen to me?

Everything human-made began as an idea, a thought, a vision, an imagining, or an intuition in someone’s mind. Everything from the tiniest microchip to the largest bridge, building, tanker, or jumbo jet, started as a flash of inspiration between someone’s ears not to mention books, movies, and the whole media complex.

How will I make it on this amount of money?

That’s the power of thought.

And the freer we are, the more ideas becomes available to us as an amazing, dynamic, creative tool. Indeed, the possibilities are limitless. Just consider what is happening today with the internet, artificial intelligence, and social media, and how deeply our creative lives are entwined with cyberspace.

Most of the noise in people’s minds is from thinking about themselves, their life, their problems, their hopes, doubts, fears, and desire, and often to the point of obsession, as in:

Why is this happening to me?

Does he or she love me?

What should I say or do now?

God, I feel so lost/confused/ unhappy!

This endless “self” obsession, which people engage in when they still believe that their thoughts are real, creates all kinds of emotional havoc, not to mention physical stress and illness, in the body.

Believing they are this ego “self,” people either cling to the idea of “positive” thinking in the hope that things will turn out well for them or remain mired in negative thinking, with all its conflicting emotional reactions.

And yet the emotional havoc is completely unnecessary once we see or understand the connection between thoughts and emotions. We are left with all the beauty and creative

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potential of this very moment, and we are free to do whatever we want with it.

Thought, and the ego “I” itself is seen for what it is. A powerful tool that we, as awareness or consciousness are senior to, and yet have available to us. Whatever we can dream or intend to make it happen at this moment, and all the immense possibility that lies within it is ours.

We use thought, or conscious “story,” to set our intention, release it, and then be here now, immersed in the flow of what is happening.

Awakened intentions are brief, conscious “stories” that we choose from a place of clarity and emptiness to align our mind and will with our heart’s desire.

They serve to attract and bring to us what we want in the deepest recess of our heart.

After all, we live in the real world, the relative reality, and so we draw on the power of awakened intention to better our daily experience. Also, because they arise from our heart, they invariably serve the greater good, so everybody benefits.

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We can even indulge our imagination, our power of fantasy, to help flesh out our dreams, to make them more vivid in our minds. Just remember to return to reality, to being grounded in our body, here and now, when we are done.

As Jean Klein said, “Imagination is meant to enhance living, not substitute for it.”

Every thought is a story, and every story an intention.

Realizing the power of thought, “we”—as the ego “I”—use thought consciously and creatively, with wisdom and compassion.

BIO Jim Dreaver, a native of New Zealand, teaches the art of awakening to the ease, harmony, and flow of our true spiritual nature. He is the author of End Your Story, Begin Your Life, and has taught at Esalen Institute and elsewhere for many years.

His own awakening happened in 1995 after a 20-year search, and his guide was European nondual master, Jean Klein. Visit www. jimdreaver.com.

Love is Possible

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How do You Know that You have Incarnated Before?

6 signs you have already undergone a reincarnation process.

Reincarnation is a belief that is present in several religions but has differences according to the place where one lives.

It is a controversial subject, and even in the ancient and ancestral religions there Omtimes.com

is no logical proof of its existence, but the indications are many. In some faiths especially Western religions - it is believed that souls can return to earth for different reasons but always to inhabit

another human body, in Eastern religions it is already believed that if the soul has been unfortunate in past lives, it may reincarnate in animals.

Be that as it may, the signs of reincarnation are similar in the various religions that believe in it, see the main symptoms that you have reincarnated on this planet.

“I know I am deathless. No doubt I have died myself ten thousand times before. I laugh at what you call dissolution, and I know the amplitude of time.”

–Walt Whitman

Déjà vu Do you know that “I’ve seen this scene before” or “I’ve lived this moment” feeling? It is a feeling where the person believes that he has been there, has lived that moment or knows someone he has never seen before.

Déjà vu scientific explanation is a failure of the mechanisms of Memory, when an event is stored directly in the memories of the long or short term, without going through the immediate, so we have the sensation of having already occurred.

6 SIGNS THAT YOU HAVE LIVED BEFORE

But what does spirituality say about it?

Unexplained fears and attitudes

Spirituality believes that this happens if you are facing a situation that you have experienced in a past life, and so have experience through time remembering something that happened in another life.

Some fears and phobias have no logical explanation: for example, fear of water without ever having experienced the sensation of drowning or fear of ladder without ever having fallen from one. These inexplicable fears and attitudes may be the result of a problem that occurred in the past life, a soul that died drowned can reincarnate and bring that fear to the new being reincarnated.

By the vision of spiritual people Déjà vu are memories of past lives, it is as if the brain could not hide the recollection, and presented “a bug” in the system, releasing a small remnant of what we

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already lived. It is as if it were a comparison with past life.

What to do after a déjà vu happens?

Simply after having a déjà vu experience, breathe, close your eyes and try to desire good things, focus on gratitude for all the knowledge gained, right after you ask yourself: why did this sensation come to the surface?

What led to this feeling?

If you discover the answers or try to tread in search of selfknowledge, know that you are undergoing a process of spiritual evolution, so take a moment for reflection and meditation asking yourself to have greater wisdom and understand the messages brought about by this feeling.

Types of Déjà vu Déjà vu vécu: it is different from a simple déjà vu because the sensation and feelings are very detailed. Consequently, it has a longer duration than the common ones. So, usually, they are intense and persistent.

Déjà vu senti: refers to the same sense, but is exceptionally mental and has quick aspects, Omtimes.com

rarely remains in memory after, that is, soon after the sensation obtained, it is lost in time, and the person does not remember anymore.

Déjà vu disité: it is related to a new place, the person knows absolutely everything about the place, without having never stepped on it.

Never-vu: it names the feeling of fear and insecurity, that is, knowing that we are in the situation for the first time, but with a feel of how we were before.

There are many types of research and references on this subject, each one in its positioning and explanation.

What we do know is that in both science and spirituality this feeling is real. And so, these experiences are able to enrich our memories and mainly bring self-knowledge.

Recurring dreams Often, we have a recurring dream, with no logical explanation for it. It can be a complete dream that you dream about, or some element present in different

dreams. This element can be a person, a place, an animal, an object, anything. It may also be someone from a past life who is trying to tell you something important, and you need to decipher the dream, but you still cannot return it with the same dream message.

Remembrance of a place you never knew You go somewhere (or see photos or a video) of a place that has never been, and that place is familiar to you. You have never seen him before but feel a comfort, a welcome, as if he had lived there as if it could be your home. In fact, it may have been in past lives! The sense of belonging and often the recollections of some facts about that place (which you are sure you have never seen read anywhere) can also be signs of reincarnation.

Birthmarks Some religions point out that the birthmark is related to the death that the soul had in another life. Some people are born with marks similar to shots or marks of knives or axes, for example, and then say that

the birthmark reveals how that person died. Often two souls who have lived together can recognize themselves through the birthmark.

Feeling Nostalgia or missing someone you never even met.

That is a tough one because in one time or another every single one of us felt the feeling of inadequacy and the longing to go back to a place where you felt truly loved. This place could have existed in this lifetime during another phase of your life, but if you never experienced this in this lifetime but craved it as if you have experienced before, this is definitely a incarnational sign.

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times...

In life after life, in age after age, forever.

My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs, That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms, In life after life, in age after age, forever. – Rabindranath Tagore, Selected Poems

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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.

How Grief Reveals the Light

by Jayita Bhattacharjee

When grief pushes you down to your knees, and you stare at the space knowing you have hit rock bottom—such a pang of sadness descends on you,

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that you carry it wherever you go. And your life is never the same. Isn’t that the whisper to your heart?

While the pain chases us, no matter how hard we try to escape it—the truth is, every loss reveals a light inside. Every sadness leaves a beauty behind, and that is something which has eluded our eyes.

We wander from place to place, wearing the most beautiful smiles, while carrying the sadness inside.

Beneath our sweetest smiles, there come the streaming tears, that the world knows nothing about. Every loss has something to give. And as we open ourselves to the pain, it breaks our hearts, to reveal a thousand wonders.

We open to joy, as it unravels in delight. Every time, the pain knocks our hearts, it says something. If only we can hear it with the heart and not the head.

Every loss carries pain, and that is the reality that stares at us, no matter how hard we try to escape it. Every time we revisit the past wounds, we feel the silent stab that seems to still our life in a wordless pain. Life slows down, and we lose the rhythm. Though we try our very best to deny it in our secret depths, the more we deny, the more it chases us.

And we run from ourselves, fearing, what if we crash— but then, what if we land— what if, we rise in a new light, in the most authentic version of ourselves?

As the pain gets so acute—it becomes a signal for us to stop and see new pathways, new directions. We learn how to react to the pain.

And a conscious change fills our eyes with a new light, that was unseen before while we were sinking in the sea of sadness. We begin to rise in the light of a new beginning.

The sense of losing someone

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calls for a profoundly deep searching, an altered direction forever. We walk again, just not the same way anymore. It becomes-walking with a limp.

We tend to suppress it with a great deal of care.

Suppression and avoidance usually come with a hefty price tag. They tear us apart inside. Eventually, it becomes exhausting for our body and soul. We fail to recognize ourselves as we face the mirrors inside. Running away does not make less of a problem. Instead, it makes more of a problem, as we try harder and harder to mask it, we add more of a pretense every day to wear the best possible disguise.

In the process, we lose our authenticity. And we become some talented performers.

Denying the pain, walking away from the hurt is carrying an unseen burden inside. The very burden that weighs us down. That denial

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turns to a hindrance on healing. We become aware of the fragility of life. And yes, when the tragedy hits our lives—the truth is—it can be awful and awe-inspiring at the same time. It can be profoundly aching and profoundly precious, both at the same time. The very pain that we weep in-- can open a thousand doors for us. The very vulnerability can shake us to break us. And all we are left with is a powerful light from beyond. We reveal ourselves to this world in the best beauty of us. The bud inside sees its rarest bloom.

Every tear that fell on the ground rose to call us for something more profound, powerful beyond measure.

As we honor the pain, we begin to see the light of wisdom.

As we look back at the moments spent with the loved ones, it gives us the courage to know they are not left behind. They are the unseen souls who still

walk with us, sit with us in every moment of our lives.

Pain can be profoundly rich in the sense it unfolds us in every individual beauty.

We honor those we lost by honoring their vision, their dreams and those that they stood for. As we turn their dreams into reality, we honor their unseen presence into a towering monument of inspiration. By dying, they leave a legacy behind that is a legacy of wisdom. As we choose to walk in their trails, we carry them with us.

Nothing is truly lost. Every loss comes with something lost while something gained.

It is a rich and bittersweet blend of love and wisdom.

In the middle of pain, lies the opportunity to see every moment with the eyes of light. So, we begin to live more richly and purposefully.

You become conscious of the impermanence of life. What you have right here, right now, can be taken away,

before even you know it.

Such a consciousness gifts you with the light to live in the present and act in the present in a much richer way.

The right way, the only way, would be to make room for acknowledging the pain so that it can melt the frigid sadness. In such a melting, do we find a way to float again on the rushing waters of life?

Jayita Bhattacharjee.... born in Calcutta, India and later, education from the University of Houston in Economics, had chosen her career as a trustee and teacher. Her love for writing on a journey of heart and soul was hidden all within.

Her books “ The Ecstatic Dance of Soul’, “ Sacred Sanctuary” are some of the many that are authored, in her deepest calling.

Goodreads profile... https://www.goodreads.com/ author/show/6850731.Jayita_ Bhattacharjee

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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

Should an Enlightened Society be Guided by the Ethics of Care?

Bioethics - The Ethics of Care

By Cathedral Of the Soul

The Ethics of Care is a normative ethical theory that holds that moral action centers on interpersonal relationships and care or benevolence as a virtue. [1] Ethics of Care holds that the basis for our ethical concerns should be our emotional responses to Omtimes.com

these concerns. In this line, it also argues that special relations generate special moral duties, something that other theories (primarily those that defend impartial considerations in the ethics) reject. The Ethics of Care is one of the perspectives of contemporary ethics that emphasizes emotions and human relationships in contrast with the so-called ethics of justice, which deals with principles and rights.

The philology of the word ‘care’ points to its derivation from the Latin Cura (Curative), which is a scholarly synonym of care. In the earliest form of Latin, the word “Cura” or “Care” is written in a context of love and friendship, to express an attitude of attention, concern, consideration, and devotion for the loved one or a pet. Philological studies indicate another origin for the word ‘care,’ deriving it from cogitare-cogitatus, which means to cogitate, to think, to pay attention, to show interest, to reveal an attitude of care and concern. As can be seen, the nature of the word ‘care’ includes two basic meanings, closely related to each other:

the first is an attitude of care, caring and attention to the other, and the second concern and concern arising from the involvement and relationship with the other by the caregiver.

Thus, it seems that the philology of the word ‘care’ indicates that caring is more than a singular act; it is a way of being, the way one structures and realizes oneself in the world with others.

It is a way of being in the world that establishes the relationships that are formed with things and people.

One might think that because of this, the Ethics of Care could provide a basis for an anthropocentric point of view that excludes non-human animals. The reason would be that, since we generally have stronger relationships with humans, we should give priority to their interests and pay less attention to the welfares of nonhuman Beings.

I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.–Abraham Lincoln This argument was rejected by advocates of the consideration Omtimes.com

of nonhuman animals from care ethics such as Josephine Donovan and Carol J. Adams.

Donovan argued that we cannot be considered careful agents if we do not meet the interests of beings we know are suffering. Being a thoughtful or cautious agent implies a solidarity response to this suffering. Therefore, we must concern ourselves with the interests of all those who are able to suffer or experience joy, i.e., all sentient Beings. Thus, some theorists of care ethics have in fact proposed not only duties we can have towards non-human animals with whom we relate, but also to those with whom we do not link directly, such as animals living in wild environments.

In one of his works addressing the question of Ethical Conscience, the writer Umberto Eco emphasized that “the ethical dimension begins when the other enters into the picture.” There is an agreement today among scholars that without a minimum of fundamental consensus as to values of Life, it is not possible for the existence of a greater communion nor a dignified Omtimes.com

human coexistence.

We should mention the need to care about our planet to start with: Care with the land, our air ,and bodies of water: our “commons” [2] or shared resources with our communal home, which is threatened by numerous problems, including contamination of water, air, and soil, predatory deforestation, extinction of animal species, etc.

In the recent “Earth Letter” drawn together by personalities of scientific thought, this concern and care for the Earth were at the center of attention: “We must abandon our isolated positions and take care of our common home, our planet Earth. There is too much violence, injustice, suffering, and poverty in our world. We have to change this course. “ There is a need for the adoption of a “responsibility principle”: a new ethic based on caring for the future, affirming Human Rights and Nature Rights (Animal Rights), solidarity, Oneness, freedom, justice, and peace.

The second element to consider

would be the care for others: openness to others as a preventive action against indifference and apathy. Respect for their dignity and conscience and the affirmation of joint responsibility for the preservation of our species. This type of attitude facilitates balance, harmony and social Justice.

Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it.

–Francis of Assisi If we had to take care of the people with whom we have stable relationships, we would take care of very few individuals, only. In this logic, we would not take care of the overwhelming majority of humanity since we have no relation to them. In fact, many people even have a closer relationship with some non-human animals than other Human beings. If we were to make connections the basis for care, then we would have to accept ethically the neglect of the majority of humanity, as well as the regard that some nonhuman animals deserve

more consideration than many humans. An alternative to this is, of course, to reject the relevance of relationships for the attribution of moral concern, even if it means denying a part of what care ethics stands for.

Our time lacks an “ethic of compassion.” We cannot understand how we human beings can remain indifferent to such a disturbing history, where living conditions and violence prevent the affirmation of the dignity of all sentient beings on this planet.

For our society to evolve – in fact, for our society to survive – we need to to instill the Ethics of Care into both our private thought and public actions, in order apply that care beyond our immediate environs to Humanity as a whole, the planet as a whole, as well as all of its non-Human inhabitants.

[1] Wikipedia [2] The commons is the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society including natural materials such as air, water, and a habitable earth.

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Books

Sweet Sorrow

Finding Enduring Wholeness after Loss and Grief

Few of us know how to navigate the territory of traumatic loss successfully. Sweet Sorrow shows how we can respond and grow stronger from loss and suffering. Written by a psychologist and certified bereavement trauma specialist in the decade following the loss of her husband, father, mother, and only sibling, this carefully considered work provides perspective on grief and healing over time. This longer-term approach allows readers to have a more complete and accurate picture of the oscillations of grief over time. The book describes not only the immediate agony of the author’s losses, but also the process of starting over and making a successful new life as a single person full of hope and joy.

Sweet Sorrow combines the author’s psychological expertise and clinical experience with the compelling art of memoir to illuminate the surprising ways in which loss survivors can grow and even thrive to achieve wholeness after heartbreaking, traumatic losses. Using findings from posttraumatic growth, as well as evidence-based psychological approaches, Sweet Sorrow illustrates through story and example, ways for grief survivors to start over, to manage chaos and stress, to let go, and to heal with new strategies and re-storying. Sweet Sorrow also provides resources and recommendations for self-care, as well as tips and suggestions for all of us trying to respond creatively and helpfully to those around us suffering loss.

For more information, or to purchase the book, click the cover or visit:

Amazon.com

TREAT YOUR BRAIN ONLY WITH MINDFUL AND CREATIVE INFORMATION.

MAGAZINE

December A 2018 Contributors Writers

Ascending Hearts Carmen Harra Cathedral of the Soul Eldon Haas, MD Humanity Healing Isha Judd Jayita Bhattacharjee Jill Mattson Jim Dreaver John Holland Keen Marcia Sirota, MD OMTimes Sandra Sedgbeer Simone Milasas William Keepin, Ph.D

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