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Khrisna Das Interview With Khrisna Das By Sandy Sedgbeer
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Pain Syndromes, Management, and Care
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By Andrew Pacholyk MS L. Ac
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Addictive Fixes That We Often Dismiss
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Do Your Loved Ones Watch Over You?
By Crystal Presence
By John Holland
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Gita - Interview with Isaac Bentwich M.D. By OMTimes
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CONTENTS • OMTIMES
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Are You Suffering From Normosis?
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How to Channel Energy for Positive Personal Change
Table of
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From Spiritual Connections to Sweet Inspiration
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Intuition for Kids: Help Them Discover Their Super Powers
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Special Exercises to Help You and Your Partner Grow Together Use The Tao Precepts to Deal with Challenging Relationships What Are the Wheels of Samsara? Sensing the Right Time The Most Impatient of the Zodiac signs How To Beat Daily Stress And Be at Your Best. Gita - A Timeless Guide for Our Time
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KRISHNA
DAS Flow of Grace INTERVIEW BY LIANE BUCK
Krishna Das is known for his
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ability to transport his audience to other worlds with his deep, hypnotic voice. Fusing traditional kirtan of the East with Western harmony and rhythm, Krishna Das has developed his own musical style. Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star because of the artistic layering traditional art of kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das ” known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD ” has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time.
Don't wait for a Guru. Your life is your Guru. Krishna Das
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Photos ©Perry Julien
His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. In February 2013, Krishna Das performed at the Grammy awards in Los Angeles, CA streamed online to millions of viewers. The award-winning film ‘One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das’ has been in over 100 US cities, over 10 countries worldwide and is available on DVD everywhere. KD spent the late ’60’s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-Ji. In the winter of 1968, Krishna Das met spiritual seeker Ram Dass and was enthralled by the stories of Ram Dass’s recent trip to India, where he met the legendary guru Neem Karoli Baba.
KD spent the late ’60’s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, Krishna Das left behind his dreams of being a rock ’n’ roll star and was on his way to India to spend three years with Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-Ji. Given the name Krishna Das, KD began to chant as part of following the path of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotio During this time, Krishna Das’s heart was drawn to the practice of Bhakti yoga—the yoga of devotion— and especially to the practice of kirtan (chanting the Divine names). Krishna Das returned to the United States and, as he continued chanting, developed his signature style fusing traditional kirtan structure with Western harmonic and rhythmic sensibilities.
He travels the world leading calland-response kirtans and sharing this deep, experiential practice with thousands of people. With the release of his 16th album Peace Of My Heart, October 2018 – KD on behalf of the Kirtan Wallah Foundation offers nearly two hours of deeply moving, meditative and artfully restrained new recordings born out of a request from a yoga teacher who works with children on the Autism Spectrum. Forgoing the ecstatic tempo changes so common to temple-style kirtan, these 5 new tracks move slowly and deliberately. The song to song steadiness is both striking and soothing, and as emotionally impactful as ever. In the new edition of the book, Flow of Grace, he shares the 40 lyrical verses that give praise to Hanuman, the monkey god known as the pinnacle of bhakti (devotion) and the remover of fears and obstacles. It is said that just by reciting this ancient mantra, you will gain great strength and confidence and be filled with divine energy. OMTIMES
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In 1977, the writer and pilot Richard Bach published the Novel Illusions: the adventure of a Reluctant Messiah, as a follow-up to 1970's Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The story circles around Donald William Shimoda, a tired Messiah that quits his mission because he is disappointed with the show performance business-side of the Miracles. Despite having the power to transform lives, Shimoda is just not satisfied by the public display of spirituality. Like Shimoda, Krishna Das is a reluctant spiritual luminary, humble and modest, he is a very timid soul. On our interview, many of the questions were answered in almost in a reticent way.
Devotion is a way of being, it's not something you do. It's dedication to finding awareness and Love. Chanting is like asanas for the mind and the heart.
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Krishna Das
Grace removes obstacles that we don’t even know are there. Grace is what arranges our lives so we are forced to look within.
Krishna Das.
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Photos ©PabloNarayana
Krishna Das does not consider himself as a fearless person despite the enormity of the selfless work he had embraced in this lifetime. The art of anchoring the light in people’s heart is no small task. In 2015, Krishna Das joined in with Peacemakers’ Bearing Witness retreats with Bernie Glassman- In Native American Bearing Witness Retreat at Wounded Knee Memorial Site, South Dakota USA and another one in Auschwitz/Birkenau, Poland. The Auschwitz-Birkenau retreat has been the central program of ZPI’s Bearing Witness programs – designed to bear witness to specific and collective expressions of human suffering in various places around the world, to develop bonds and facilitate creative and healing action.
https://zenpeacemakers.org/
Since 1996 the Auschwitz retreat has been an interfaith and immersive cross-cultural gathering event for over 1500 peacebuilders from different war-torn countries such as BosniaHerzegovina, Palestine/Israel, Syria, Native American Nations, and over 20 other countries. We talked with KD a little about his new Revised version of Flow of Grace, his practice, and his music and his spiritual journey.
Photos ©LonnieRaffray & MattThomas
OMTimes: Why did you feel it was necessary to produce a revised version of Flow of Grace? Krishna Das: This book is written about Hanuman and the practice of chanting to Hanuman with the Hanuman Chalisa. Hanuman is a Being who lives only to serve the divine within us. The HC is a hymn that invokes his presence. Grace is the natural state of the Universe embodied in and manifested by the incarnations of God and Great Saints. Grace is always present and flowing to us and through us, but we are not aware of that.
Grace is our natural state, but we’ve lost touch with that. When we invoke the presence of Hanuman, we turn ourselves toward the deepest part of our own being, which is the Love that lives within us. This love is always flowing in all directions at all times. Usually, we are too busy to look. We’ve also cultivated the habit of being identified with our thoughts and emotions and information from the senses. So, through the chanting of the HC. Hanuman is the energy that reunites the soul with the Supreme Being by removing the obstacles that prevent us from recognizing our own true nature.
OMTimes: I know the ageless art of Kirtan that you’re performing nowadays is essential art - the devotional singing and the grounding of energies. My big question for you would be how this happened in your life, how this came to be? Krishna Das: When I first heard chanting in India, I recognized that this was a practice I could truly give myself to, and I had been looking for something like that my whole life. OMTimes: Many people say Hanuman Chalisa is a miracle chant that brings liberation in many levels. Can you elaborate on some of these levels? Krishna Das: There are Chalisas to almost all the deities. Durga Chalisa, all these Chalisas. There are a million Chalisas. But this is the one, the Hanuman Chalisa is the one from this lineage of Hanuman. We’re all in that lineage. Maharajji is in that lineage of Hanuman. His devotees saw Him as Hanuman, so we felt we were singing to Hanuman when we sang this, and He knew what we felt. He made us feel that way. So, He opened our hearts that way. So, it’s a very powerful chant, partially because it’s difficult to learn.
You have to really commit to learning. You don’t have to memorize it. You can read it. Hanuman not only gives liberation, frees us, but in the process of freeing us, He allows us to satisfy the desires that we need to have satisfied to move on. He allows for the satisfaction and fulfillment of healthy desires that we have. The things that we need to have, that we need to get, in our own particular karmic predicament, individually, we’re talking about. He makes all that possible, too. So, it’s not only that He gives liberation, but He also allows us to eat a little bit on the way. So, this is Hanuman. Hanuman is that the ability to overcome all obstacles, to break all attachment, to remove suffering, remove calamities from our lives, all the stuff that keeps us back, obstructs our path and Hanuman Chalisa invokes the presence of that love. Maharajji gave us that chant, in His own inimitable way, He never said, “Sing the Chalisa.” He said, “Here.” He never said, “Here. This is the Hanuman Chalisa. Learn it and then sing it to Me.” He didn’t do that. Everything just happened as if He was doing nothing.
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"I knew that if I did not start chanting with people, that I would never be able to clean out the dark corners of my own heart. I knew it with every cell in my body and mind." Krishna Das
This is the way Mahrajji was. Everything that came towards Him got something burnt away because you couldn’t come close to that fire with all your shit. Just coming towards that love burns stuff off you in the first place. And that’s Hanuman. Hanuman is that love that’s always turned towards Ram, towards God, and anything that approaches Hanuman gets into that flow of Grace towards love. But to enter that flow, you have to leave some of that luggage behind. You have to. It’s not always pleasant, and it’s not, it doesn’t always feel good, but you want the love more than you want all that luggage and so you will let go of that given the opportunity. Well, Maharajji said that every word of the Hanuman Chalisa is Mahamantra. So, the whole thing is the Name, repetitions of the Names, which He considered to be the practice that we were qualified to do. He also said that the chanting of the HC could change fate.
We saw Him as a manifestation of Hanuman, and because of that, we experience the power and presence of Hanuman very deeply. When we sang the HC to Maharaj-Ji, it was a very powerful experience, and it opened up many doors within us and continues to do so. The deepest changes are from the inside out. Hanuman is always seeing and experiencing Ram, who is Reality. And so, aligning oneself with the presence and power of Hanuman gradually but inevitably removes the blinders over the heart. When we asked Him, “How do we find God?” he said, “Serve people.” “How do we raise Kundalini?” He said, “Feed people.” “ Love everyone, serve everyone and Remember God .” That was basically what He told us. What He told other people, we have no idea, but that’s what he told us. OMTIMES
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OMTimes: In one of your many interviews with your Chai 'n' Chat video series, you spoke to a young lady and told her how similar the energy of Lord Hanuman was to the energy of Lord Ganesha. Can you explain this a little more, as we understand that Ganesha influences the base chakra and Lord Hanuman seems to have a bigger influence over the heart chakra? Krishna Das: They are both Beings who remove obstacles to us finding our True Self.
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OMTIMES: You have the gift to bring and bridge sacred knowledge, Ageless Wisdom, to the modern world. What do you believe is the importance of the old Traditions such as Mantras, Kriyas, chants, and devotional poetry to a western world that has problems distinguishing Religious from Spiritual Traditions? Krishna Das: Everybody in the world has the same problems. We all suffer because we don’t know our true nature. All these practices have worked for 1000s of years to remove the ignorance that blinds us to who we really are.
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OMTimes: So, in the chants, the prayers, and the meditations, how important is it to have a correct pronunciation of the sacred chants? In other spiritual practices, the emphasis is on the intention. The intention is what is important. What is more important in your point of view? Krishna Das : Intention is more important, but some effort should be made to accurately express the prayer or the chant. OMTimes: How do your personal devotional and life experiences play when you are performing your sacred music? Krishna Das: I don’t perform sacred music. I share my spiritual practice with the people who come. It is not a performance. I chant to save my ass every night every time. I sing I bring everything that’s happened in my life into that moment and offer it into the practice with as much intensity as I can. OMTimes: In the pursuit of self-knowledge and self-realization, people sometimes shed layers of the ‘self.’ After your experiences and Initiations in India pursuing a spiritual path, did you ever feel the need to reinvent yourself? Krishna Das: The Self doesn’t shed layers. The Self shed the non-self, everything that is not the ultimate truth. What remains is the true heart shining brightly, illuminating everything, and loving everything equally and serving all. As one moves along the path, one naturally lets go of limiting concepts of oneself. But one does not reinvent oneself. To ask the ego to destroy the ego is like to ask the thief to be the policeman. There will be a lot of investigation, but no arrest will ever be made! Through the power of devotion and the presence of Grace, one ultimately recognizes one’s true nature and becomes one with all beings.
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OMTIMES: Tell us a bit more about your next creative projects, and how people can follow you and know about your events? Krishna Das: You can find out more about my upcoming events, podcast, musical recordings, workshops, quotes, on KrishnaDas.com or find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
OMTIMES: Do you hold a Mystical Vision for our World? What would you like to see manifested in our collective reality now? Krishna Das: I would like all beings to be free of suffering.
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OMTimes: We know you practice a lot of SEVA. Tell us a little about your Kirtan Wallah Foundation, its mission, projects, and how people can support you. Krishna Das: We started the foundation to support small independent missions of goodness in the world. People who are doing good things but aren’t recognized by the larger charitable foundations. In our small way, we try to help those people help others. You can see the projects we support and also make a donation at k irtanwallahfoundation.org .
The presence of real love in the world inspires me.
Mandala Publishing is delighted to announce the spring 2019 release of a new edition of Flow of Grace (Mandala Publishing), which offers an updated book including CDs specially created to deepen our understanding of one of the most revered pieces of Indian sacred text, the Hanuman Chalisa.
Furthermore, in this book and CD set, Krishna Das explores the correct pronunciation of each of the 40 transformative verses, the means of invoking Hanuman’s grace and healing, and the power chanting. Flow of Grace also includes two recorded CDs. The first disc consists of 8 different melodies of the Hanuman Chalisa with musical accompaniment and the second disc is a word-by-word, slowly spoken instructional recitation of all 40 verses by Krishna Das.
Health & Wellness Innovative new approaches to Healing as well as holistic methods for dealing with health issues and personal growth
Pain Syndromes, Management, and Care
Acute and chronic pain affects over 100 million people in the United States each year. While pain is best known and characterized as subjective, meaning only the person who is experiencing it can
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explain what it feels like, pain is often called the Universal equalizer. Pain affects people differently. What may be perceived as only a minor nuisance to one person, may be completely debilitating to someone else. Pain is a warning that something isn’t quite right. Pain is not a disease but the result of an underlying condition or due to injury. Pain is not just a physical sensation or psychological event, but a combination of these and other components. Pain is caused by a variety of situations such as accidents, musculoskeletal disorders, improper lifting, bending, sports activities, misalignment of the vertebrae of the spine and disease. It can also appear out of nowhere with no obvious cause. A viral illness may be a cause, or emotional trauma, such as fear or resentment. The vast majority of cases, pain is caused by stasis of blood and or our body’s energy resulting in muscle spasm, trauma, and immobility. From a healthy heart to a good sex life, the proper flow
and circulation of blood in our arteries is one of the most important things we can do to maintain good health, painfree life and push back the aging process. There is a common denominator between good arterial health and pain disorders such as heart attack, obesity, diabetes, and high glucose levels, as well as sexual health. That common denominator is blood. Pain is a vicious cycle: spasm and inflammation lead to more spasm and inflammation. Although the cycle can develop due to injury, the ultimate cause is often in the brain, which can interfere with muscle physiology through the spinal cord. Chronic (long term) and acute back (and neck) pain are common expressions of stress and emotional stress. It demonstrates the true complexity of the mind/body interaction. Many times, it is the brain’s distortion of muscle function that sets us up for pain by preventing muscles from responding freely to physical stresses. Omtimes.com
8 Common Pain Syndromes 1. Inflammation caused by injury, joint diseases, tumors, infection, abscesses, misalignment. The cause is usually clearly defined and is medically classified as Calor, dolor, rubor, and tumor: Heat, pain, redness, and swelling. The four classical signs of inflammation. 2. Physical Injury is defined as cuts, broken bones, sprains and strains and can manifest as intense burning pain or deep aching pain. 3. Widened Inflamed Blood Vessels considered migraines, headaches or temporal arteritis. This is defined as pulsing, throbbing intense pain and localized to the area of inflamed blood vessels. 4. Insufficient Blood Flow considered angina, leg pain, pain from exercise or in some cultures the definition of pain itself; blood stagnation. 5. Nerve Pain expressed as shingles, diabetic neuropathy, and sciatica. This sensation is that of tingling or burning
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pain and may radiate along nerve pathways. 6. Toxemia, which is caused by the ingestion and accumulation of substances which are foreign to the body and toxic in nature, such as chemicals, drugs. These produce irritation, inflammation, and pathology in bodily organs and systems. Toxemia, which is also due to the accumulation of toxic wastes resulting from the food and beverages we eat and drink; unnatural food or natural food in excess beyond what the body can use now. 7. Deficiencies: The insufficiency of necessary food substances, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, lead to the breakdown of cells, tissues, and organs which is given names of diseases, according to its location. 8. Enervation is the reduction or loss of energy due to the lack of rest or sleep, or the excessive use of emotion, negative thoughts, worry, stress, or the overdoing of physical actions, overeating,
etc. Enervation leads to a reduction of the body’s ability to digest, absorb, assimilate and excrete body wastes – thus leading to a retention of wastes in the cells and tissues and thereby causing disease. 10 Common Sources to Relieve Pain 1. Cold Applications This application often feels best on acute injuries, where the pain is often hot to the touch or has a feeling of heat radiating from it. Ice numbs the area, reducing pain. It also constricts blood vessels, limiting blood supply to the injured site. This action decreases swelling. Ice can also decrease muscle spasms. If an area is painful to move or swells after exercise, use ice. Apply ice or a frozen object, such as a bag of corn from the freezer, to the injury. Be sure the area is protected from the cold application and not applied directly to the skin. The cold will reduce swelling and pain at the injured site. This step should be done as soon as possible. Apply the frozen object to the area for 20 minutes, every two to three hours for the first 48 hours.
2. Hot Applications This application is often most effective for chronic injuries or pain that is cold to the touch or has cold radiating from it. It is very useful with injuries to agitate by cold or damp weather. Heat increases local blood supply, bringing healing cells to the area and potentially relaxing tight muscles. Use moist, hot towels or microwavable heat packs for no more than 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. Never sleep on a heating pad. 3. Anti-inflammatories from aspirin to herbal compresses, anti-inflammatory applications can reduce the recovery time by half if done within the first 2448 hours of an injury or painful attack. 4. Lancing or Draining Abscesses, reducing swelling from painful sprains and strains and toxic swellings from insect bites are all very important reasons for lancing and draining an injured area. In Chinese Medicine, cupping is done after the lancing to draw out the blood from the area. It is a very effective method used to decrease the amount of time it takes for the area to heal. Omtimes.com
5. Rest: This can be the best medicine for any condition from a cold to a broken bone. Rest rejuvenates, repairs and reassembles. For acute injury, rest and protect the injured area. If it hurts to bear weight on the injury, use crutches if it hurts to move the area immobilize it with a splint. 6. Compression and elevation tend to go hand in hand. Compress the injured site by applying an Ace bandage. It will decrease the swelling of the injured region. Although the wrap should be snug, make sure it is not too tight as this can cause numbness, tingling, or increased pain. 7. Elevation of the injured area above the level of the heart as much as possible. This technique will also assist in reducing the amount of swelling to the injured site. 8. Exercise: conditioning and stretching certain pains can improve from stretching such as painful stiff muscles and joints by increasing blood flow to these areas. Weight-bearing exercises are beneficial for
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improving strength and bone density. Restoring movement and normal function to an injured area is critical. Learn to stretch to improve your flexibility. 9. Dietary Changes: So many aches and pains can be eliminated by the proper foods we choose to eat. Weight gain affects our joints, heart, circulation and blood pressure among other conditions. Change your diet and change your life. 10. Root Cause Treatment: Pain is the result of injury or disease. With acute pain, the cause is often obvious — a fall resulting in a painful scrape or twisted ankle. In chronic pain, often the pain has been with you for so long, it is hard to pinpoint the real cause or root cause of the disorder. Most alternative health therapies see the occurrence of disease as the results of an imbalance. The treating of the root of the primary cause of the disease is what makes a root cause treatment very effective in the long term. It does not just treat the symptoms of that disease.
Managing Your Pain R.I.C.E. RICE is the acronym used for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. It is used as the best initial treatment of soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and contusions. The combination of RICE helps reduce inflammation that occurs after acute injury. It is important to remember that the earlier this treatment is put into place, the more effective it is. Aspirin Therapy known as acetyl-salicylic acid, aspirin is the oldest and most widely used pain medication. Aspirin works by suppressing the production of prostaglandins. These hormone-like substances stimulate the nerve endings that send pain messages to the brain. Long term use of aspirin may also cause unwanted side effects, such as stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, kidney failure, and other kinds of strokes. There may be a benefit to daily aspirin use if you have some heart or blood vessel disease, or if you have
evidence of poor blood flow to the brain. Consult your doctor before you begin any aspirin therapy regimen. Aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 18 because of an increased risk of Reye’s Syndrome. NSAIDS – Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory drugs are also prostaglandin inhibitors. These are promoted as stronger, yet gentler alternatives to aspirin. People can often tolerate these better because they are given in smaller dosages. NSAIDS seem to be more effective against bone and dental pain. These drugs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. COX2 Inhibitors work by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2, or COX2. These enzymes produce prostaglandins that cause inflammation. Andrew Pacholyk MS L. Achttps://www.peacefulmind. com/pain-care”Living Life, Consciously”Therapies for healing mind, body, spirit
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Addictive Fixes That We Often Dismiss By Crystal Presence
Abstract: How living in an addicted society can keep our destructive habits overlooked and considered part of how life is. How we lose sight of our disconnection with self and our source. Deluding ourselves into believing that using fixes will make our lives feel better, only to lead us down the rabbit hole of lack, fear and powerless. How fixes fixate our energy and personal power.
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A list of common fixes we often dismiss. How to release these destructive habits. We are living in an addictive society; our destructive habits are often overlooked and considered part of how life is. It is common to lose sight of how disconnected we feel from ourselves. As for how disconnected we feel from source with it’s greater intelligence. It leads us to a desperate attempt to fix the uncomfortable reality we find ourselves. In an attempt to lessen our discomfort, we look for fixes that will distract us from the truth of what is happening. We learn to use our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as habitual ways to disconnect from the source that is always there to help us bring resolution. We delude ourselves by trying to use fixes to make our lives feel better, only to lead us down the rabbit hole of lack, fear and powerless. What if we admit how we have been lying to ourselves and commit to a new context of living? A context of embracing our discomfort, staying connected and living in whole being wellness?
Using a fix to escape our discomfort fixates our energy and personal power in a way that keeps us feeling powerless to have the experiences we want. These process addictions are habitual coping mechanisms that end up creating more discomfort and desperation. Thinking, feeling and acting as if we are powerless is one of the least talked about fixes. We perpetuate this with shallow breathing, no movement and holding onto the belief that we are powerless to make a change. We hold it in place by convincing ourselves that if we feel, vibrate and express the depth of the powerlessness we feel we may discover that our powerlessness is real, so will have to resign to the fact that this is just how we are. Process addictions that we may be using include • Overthinking • Self-importance/Self rejection • Trying to fix, control and manipulate • Shame/Shamelessness • Resentment • Being a victim • Drama
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• Worrying • Turning everything into a problem • Shame • Feeling abandoned • Comparing • Overwhelm • Obsessive talking • Criticizing and judging • Overworking • Guilt • Pain/Suffering • Obsessing about the past • Trying to be the best • Self-pity • Never enough So how do we release these habitual fixes? It begins with deciding with the willingness to admit the truth and go through withdrawal as with any other addiction. It takes rounding ourselves up and being fully present. It requires cultivating the sobriety that makes us capable of building power. Ask the question: “What is the nature of experiencing a new context of living with a continuous flow of whole being wellness that fulfills and satisfies us?”
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Practice staying connected with ourselves, our source and greater intelligence. Allow our source to provide the insights, information, and guidance we need to take the next steps. Create time and space for what we want and need in our lives. Love ourselves unconditionally as we embrace and nurture whatever comes up in our process. Learn to move, circulate and vibrate our energy. Make space for our feelings to come out of hiding as feel them all the way through. Disengage our addictive control. Do what it takes to release the control in our bodies. Make a safe and open space for our feelings to come out of hiding. Listen to our inner guidance and make healthy choices sooner than later. Make changes when the resolution is easy rather than dismissing and avoiding change until we find ourselves in crisis. Be willing. Allow suspension of our perceptions and tensions long enough to make a shift.
Remember, we are establishing new pathways.
behaving we are choosing to make the changes we want.
Be in nature and let it support us in letting go.
Be with people who align with our values — people who are highly committed to exploring, discovering and practicing a new context of living.
Let go of static thinking, rigid beliefs that keep us thinking we are powerless victims of our continuity. Engage in new activities. Visit new places, take different routes and change our routines. Meditate on a greater vision. Imagine a reality free of control and manipulation. Go through withdrawal. Embrace any symptoms that arise in our process. Support the release of toxins and other byproducts as we release control. Remember we are establishing new pathways. Stay alert to snapping back into the old continuity just as we are about to make the shift. Remember that breaking habits take practice. Notice and write down the details of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors we use as fixes. Then describe the new ways of thinking, feeling and
Appreciate the journey of watching our habits to dissolve, resolve and evolve in their perfect timing. Crystal is a certified expansion guide with the Total Integration Institute, author, multidimensional coach and facilitator for the live event called Freedom at the Core. She is the instructor and coach for her online course, Freedom from the Inside Out. She draws from her own experience and the experience of the thousands of people she has worked with over the past 35 years. Crystal is known for the fun and empowering way she supports people in bringing forth the experiences they want in their lives. www.crystalpresenceonline.com www.facebook.com/crystal. presence/
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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.
Do Your Loved Ones Watch Over You? By John Holland
Have you ever been with someone who’s not long for this world and see their eyes cast up as if they’re gazing at something not physically there? Have you ever noticed
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a dying person reaching up with their hands as if some invisible hands were reaching back out to them? Have you ever witnessed them having a conversation with someone who’s not there? When you ask whom they were talking to, you might be surprised to find out they were having a conversation with someone who’s no longer living! This phenomenon is known as deathbed visions (DBVs), which some people experience just before they pass. It’s less likely for such incidences to happen with a sudden passing. They are more common with a natural death or prolonged terminal illness. Even my mom had a DBV toward the end of her life. One day, she was sitting up in her hospital bed, quite coherent, and said quite excitedly, “Johnny! Guess who came to see me today for a visit?” I started reeling off name after name of different people in her life that I could think of. All she kept saying was, “Nope, nope . . . Nope!” Finally, she blurted out, “Wayne came to visit!”
Wayne was her first love who’d passed some 25 years ago. “What did he want?” I asked her quietly, sitting down on the bed to hold her hand. She went on to tell me how she’d seen him sitting at the end of her bed in his sailor uniform, handsome and young as she remembered him. He told her that he was checking in on her to see how she was and that everything was going to be okay. Examples of DBVs have been recognized and embraced by different cultures and faiths around the world, as well as thoroughly written about in both nonfiction and fiction. In 1926, the physician William Barrett wrote the book Deathbed Visions in which he detailed stories of people who’d experienced visions of deceased friends and relatives. He recorded how some had heard beautiful music, whereas others experienced visits from beings of light and angels. Barrett believed that these special visits were evidence of spirit communication. Scientific study on this subject is also becoming more accepted. Caregivers and medical staff Omtimes.com
at hospitals and hospices are also reporting more and more how their dying patients have talked about comforting visions or visits from a loved one. Of course, many of these experiences go unreported, as there’s still a stigma attached. People are afraid of embarrassment, of being ridiculed or disbelieved. I often say that no one ever goes home alone, and I believe that DBVs are evidence that we’re truly never alone. Whether our passing is slow or sudden, surprising or expected, there’s always a loved one to reach out and escort us back home. These experiences often help calm dying patients by lessening the fear of death. They can be extremely healing to the family and friends that remain after
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their loved one has passed.
JOHN’S LESSON If you know someone is close to passing, and they start to talk about someone visiting, the best advice I can give is to ask them questions about the visit — then listen with an open mind. You might be quite surprised by who showed up! Hopefully, as the phenomenon of DBVs becomes more widely written about and accepted, it will assist us in recognizing that death is nothing to be afraid of. If you’ve experienced a DBV, let’s talk more about it! I invite you to share your story either on my Facebook page, or you can call into one of my Spirit Connections radio shows. Live a Soul-filled life!
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“The Gita deals with the very structure of the universe and consciousness and who we really are. Understanding that as quantum physics helps us realize – it seems as though I am separate than you. But in reality, you know it’s a soup of atoms and subatomic particles and there is a unity underlying it. This is the unity that the Gita and Vedanta philosophy describe.” ISAAC BENTWICH, M.D
GITA |A TIMELESS GUIDE FOR OUR TIME | ISAAC BENTWICH, M.D
GITA
Interview with Isaac Bentwich, MD Isaac Bentwich M.D. is a longtime practitioner and teacher of Yoga and Meditation. Trained as a physician and a scientist, he has founded three life-science technology companies, leading revolutions in medicine, genomics, and environmental conservation, and he now heads Innovation Center at Technion, recognized as one of the top-ten innovative universities in the world. The vision and innovations that underlie the companies he founded came through periods of silent meditation retreats at the foothills of the Himalayas and in the Galilee. OMTIMES
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His path is one of reverence to the Wisdom teachings that shine through different traditions and religions. The study and practice of Gita's Wisdom teachings have profoundly touched his life, and he is passionate about sharing this with others. His work on this translation of the Gita spanned twelve years.
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A Timeless Guide for Our Time BY
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The Bhagavad Gita, often referred to as the Gita, is a 700-verse Sanskrit scripture that is part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, is a dialogue between a disciple and master. The disciple, Indian prince Arjuna, is called to fight a defensive battle against vicious family members who are out to kill him. Shaken by the moral dilemma, he seeks the counsel of his teacher and friend, Krishna, who is also God incarnate. With this dramatic battlefield backdrop, the master leads the prince from the worldly starting point of the prince’s despondency to a captivating, brilliantly clear account of the meaning of life, the source of suffering, and the paths to happiness and self-fulfillment.
OMTIMES: Why do you think that the Bhagavad Gita has been such a revered spiritual text for over two and a half millennia? What makes it timeless? Isaac Bentwich, M.D: The Gita (formally Bhagavad Gita, meaning Divine Song) is one of the world’s most trusted guides for happiness, meditation, and inner spiritual growth. It eloquently captures not only the core of Indian philosophy but also the spiritual essence of all religions and schools of inner development. Aldus Huxley called this common essence “the ‘Perennial Philosophy.’ It sounds like a tall order but is accurate
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“When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Gita.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
The Gita, while obscure to many, has had a profound effect on social and civil rights movements around the world.
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Alongside the Bible and Koran, it is one of the world’s most printed and read books. It is Comprising merely 700 verses, in song format, it is recognized as capturing the essence of all of the voluminous scriptures of India — the Vedas, Upanishads, and Mahabharata (over 110,000 verses combined). Though technically a part of the Mahabharata, a colossal Hindu epic, it is considered independent of it. It was first translated into English in 1785 (Wilkins) and later in 1885 (Sir Arnold), with well over a hundred translations to English to date and hundreds of commentaries. Presently there is no other translation of the Gita has recreated in English the melodious meter and rhyme of its Sanskrit original.
Strikingly, the Gita is further unique in that it manages to capture and convey these deepest truths: (i) through a simple, direct, eye-level dialogue, (ii) in a melodious poetic form, which speaks to one’s intuition and heart, and helps avoid over-intellectualization, and (iii) while retaining a pragmatic, down-to-earth approach. Gita is suitable for living in the world, here and now. Across centuries, across continents and cultures, these unique aspects of the Gita have made it relevant and uplifting for countless spiritual seekers and have inspired and captivated some of the world’s greatest creative minds: scientists, thought-leaders, poets, and spiritual teachers.
OMTIMES: What is the history of the Gita?
OMTIMES: Who are some of the famous people who have embraced the Gita?
Isaac Bentwich, M.D: The Gita is dated around 500 BC and is broadly recognized as the highest scripture of Indian philosophy. As an example, Yogananda — a recognized master pioneer who brought yoga, meditation and Indian philosophy to the West — says “Gita is India’s scripture of scriptures, the most beloved scripture of India, the one book that all masters depend upon.” JUNE
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Isaac Bentwich, M.D: The Gita has captivated and inspired many of the world’s greatest creative minds — scientists, thinkers, musicians, poets, and spiritual teachers.
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“Quantum theory will not look ridiculous to those who have read the teachings of the Gita.” –
From Beethoven to Leonard Cohen, George Harrison, John Coltrane, and Philip Glass — Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama and Deepak Chopra — to Carl Jung to Robert Oppenheimer (‘father’ of the atomic bomb), Bohr and Schrodinger (Nobel laureates, founders of quantum physics), and Emmerson, Thoreau and T.S. Elliot, J.D. Salinger — to Shirley MacLaine, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Hugh Jackman and Julia Roberts. Beethoven scribbled one of its verses in his diary. Nelson Mandela said Gita’s poetic verses of wisdom helped him survive prison.
Werner Karl Heisenberg
Thoreau said in comparison to the Gita, “our Shakespeare sometimes seems youthfully green.” Oppenheimer quoted a passage from the Gita when seeing the first Atomic detonation, and said (by whom?)the Gita is “the most beautiful philosophical song existing in any known tongue.” And Gandhi, who considered the Gita as the very center of his life and the key to his achievements, said, “Today the Gita is not only my Bible or my Koran. It is more than that; it is my Mother. When I am in difficulty or distress, I seek refuge in Her bosom.”
OMTIMES: Why do you think the Gita has inspired so many musicians and artists? Isaac Bentwich M.D., A fascinating aspect of the Gita, is that it does not only address life’s most profound questions — the meaning of life, and the paths to happiness — but it also does so in a poem format, of mesmerizing melodiousness. And so, many of the world’s greatest musicians, poets, thinkers, and creative minds – have found it a source of inspiration. John Coltrane recorded it. George Harrison sang it.
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Philip Glass composed it. Will Smith “is lovin’ it.” Leonard Cohen lived it. Emerson admired it at Waldon Pond. Thoreau said in comparison to the Gita, “our Shakespeare sometimes seems youthfully green.” Beethoven scribbled one of its verses in his diary. And Gandhi said: "Nothing delights me so much as the music of the Gita.” As mentioned above, though well over a hundred translations of the Gita to English exist, the current translation is the first and only one that recreates in English the unique meter and rhyme of the Sanskrit original and its mesmerizing melodiousness. I believe this special melodiousness is key to obtaining the full benefit from the Gita. Remember – it is called Bhagavad Gita, literally meaning a song of the divine; not ‘text’ or ‘discourse,’ or ‘lectures’ of the divine. Gita’s special song format, its magical melodiousness helps us ‘listen with our heart’ not just with analyze with our brain. This avoiding of over-intellectualization is key because Gita’s most profound truths can only be realized intuitively.
OMTIMES: What inspired you to translate the Gita?
Isaac Bentwich, M.D: Translating the Gita was something that grew out of my practice. I first met the Gita at a yoga teacher’s training course, some thirty-four years ago, and … I hated it! The translated text was so thickly wrapped with mythology and foreign terminology that I didn’t relate to it at all. Gradually, though, I did fall completely in love with the Gita, and once you do, its timeless truths do shine in all their glory. And so, the Gita became an indispensable source of light and guidance in my life, and I grew passionate about sharing this with others. I started re-writing favorite verses, for my sadhana, my spiritual practice, trying to capture their essence while carefully peeling away layers of mythology, terminology, and historical context. As I did so, I started hearing the music, the mesmerizing music of these pearls of wisdom. And so began a slow process of re-crafting the verses while re-creating the original meter of the Sanskrit; and then recrafting them again in gender-neutral form, to have them speak directly to men and women alike. This process spanned twelve years and filled my life with light.
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OMTIMES: What are the main points of the Gita? Isaac Bentwich, M.D: There are three main points: -Our daily struggles in life are ‘battlefields,’ just like that of Gita’s prince, which provide us an opportunity to grow spiritually. -Wisdom and happiness are within us and do not depend on any external guru, teacher, or religion. - Gita’s dialogue between master and disciple is our dialogue with the inner voice of our soul.
OMTIMES: How has Gita influenced social & civil rights? Isaac Bentwich, M.D: The Gita, while obscure to many, has had a profound effect on social and civil rights movements around the world. Gandhi considered the Gita the very center of his civil rights movement. “If we could change ourselves,” he said, “the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.” Martin Luther King was inspired by its teaching of non-violence, and Nelson Mandela said its poetic verses of wisdom helped him survive prison. Interestingly, Gandhi called his movement Satyagraha, ‘holding onto Truth,’ because connecting with your Inner-Self, as the Gita teaches — beyond your ego, your thoughts and your beliefs — is connecting with a unifying Truth which underlies diversity. Non-violence was the means of this powerful movement but connecting with one's inner-Truth was its beating heart and 'secret-fuel.' JUNE
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Isaac Bentwich M.D. is a medical doctor trained in Western and Ayurveda medicine, a teacher of yoga and meditation, and author of Gita: A Timeless Guide
The more you connect with this Truth, this Inner-Self — the more you can you see your aggressor, without aggressive-response arising un-invited in your heart. No longer merely suppressing your aggression, in response to wrongs done to you, but is firmly rooted in the unshakable Knowing of the brotherhood that unites us, aggressor and aggrieved alike. This inner Truth, the Gita tells us, is a light shining within, which not only dispels the darkness of our Ignorance but also lights up the world around us:
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“But when Inner-Self’s light dispels Ignorance, Then from within, this Wisdom-light shines; Radiant sun, lighting all that surrounds us, And all around us, we behold the Divine.”
Recent #MeToo revelations, yet again, of power and sexual abuse by prominent yoga teachers, are devastating. We turn to yoga seeking not only a relaxed, well-toned body but also a safe, uplifting environment, where we can grow spiritually. And so, such betrayal of trust, and of yogic OMTIMES: How does the Gita values, tears at the very fabric of relate to #MeToo revelations what yoga is for us. of sexual abuse by prominent yoga teachers? Gita offers a firm foundation on which we can safely ‘build’ our Isaac Bentwich, M.D: Today, yoga practice. As students, as Gita’s wisdom seems more seekers, it provides an relevant than ever.. unequivocal, crystal clear description of the conduct, and motivation of a teacher worthy of our trust
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It also constantly reminds us that ultimately, our spiritual growth and our happiness are within and do not depend on any teacher, guru, or religion. As teachers, it keeps us humble, disciplined, and committed. In awe of the lofty yogini/yogi ideal that the Gita so beautifully describes, and working together, with our students and yoga community, as we pursue our spiritual journeys.
OMTIMES: What does the Gita have to offer about business ethics so lacking today? Isaac Bentwich, M.D: The Gita offers powerful antidotes for the rampant materialism and flawed business ethics that are plaguing our society today. It teaches us to view our journey through life as a journey of spiritual growth. The ‘trick’ — says the Gita — is to be active in the world, while training ourselves to be firmly rooted in knowing that our happiness does not lay outside and does not depends on any external achievement or gain. Our real ‘battle,’ the Gita reminds us, is not with external challenges or foes, but an inner battle of the soul, between our higher divine nature, and our lower egotistical tendencies and desires, which we must learn to restrain. As the Gita poetically puts it:
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“Therefore, let your Divine-nature, Inner-Self, Restrain your mind, Prince, your lower human one; Then smite your elusive enemy, desire! Within, not without – the real battle is won.”
OMTIMES: What is your message to readers who have never heard of the Gita? Isaac Bentwich, M.D: The Gita is a powerful guide for happiness, meditation, and inner-growth, one that’s written specifically for ordinary people like you and me and you, who are living and working in this crazy, troubled, beautiful world of ours. If you are seeking happiness and fulfillment in your life through innergrowth — you are welcome to the Gita! It is a magical little book that captures the deepest truths of all spiritual paths and all religions and conveys them in a simple, practical way that we can all understand and relate to. As you read and meditate on its verses, their poetic form lets them pleasantly ‘roll around’ in your mind, ‘doing their thing.’ Gradually, they help bring about changes in the way you view and act in the world. Empowering you to do good in the world, and to be transformed in the process; to change the world around you, by first changing the world within.
OMTIMES: Do you have any stories of the battle that people can relate to? Isaac Bentwich, M.D: Reading the Gita, I found it related to different battles my life had taken me through. It has taken me back to memories, still vivid, of battlefields I’ve experienced, as a young officer and tank-commander, witnessing the senseless horrors of war and the devastation of losing loved friends. It related to other more civil ‘battlefields’ I’ve experienced as a medical doctor, fighting death; the triumph of saving a life, and the bitter taste of defeat. And to yet more mundane ‘battles’ of daily life — those in parenting, in relationships, in boardrooms, and silent meditation retreats. We all live through these ‘daily battlefields of life’ and hence can easily relate to Gita’s ‘wisdom at the battlefield’ metaphor.
"Like Sun, I shine onto all beings, Could I shine onto anyone more?
But My devotees reflect My light
For they have opened heart’s door".
Isaac Bentwich M.D. is a medical doctor trained in Western and Ayurvedic medicine, a longtime teacher of yoga and meditation, and author of Gita: A Timeless Guide for Our Times (Harmonia, June 2019). Bentwich lives in Israel. For more information, visit: https://www.newgita.com/
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OM Living For those living a more Conscious Lifestyle
Are suffering from Normosis? The disease of being normal By Cathedral of the Soul
Humanity may be being affected by a global epidemic, one called Normosis, a sick obsession for being normal.
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At one point, it was normal in the history of Humanity that two people would fight to the death to entertain the crowd. It has also been normal to burn women at stake for witchcraft and to make people work without pay with the right to physical punishment just because they have a different skin color. It was also normal for humans to marry without love. It has been normal to spend 40 hours a week doing something that one detests, lying to make money and devastating forests in search of a supposed development. Wait, the latter is still normal. After all, is being normal and finding normal things to do should not be a disease? According to some psychologists, yes. The illness of being normal is called, in their opinion, Normosis: a set of habits considered normal by the social consensus that is pathogenic in different degrees and
leads to the unhappiness, the disease and the loss of wisdom in the life. The concept was coined almost simultaneously by a Brazilian psychologist and anthropologist Roberto Crema and the French philosopher, psychologist and theologian Jean-Ives Leloup in the 1980s. They had been working on the subject separately until a third psychologist, the Frenchman Pierre Weil, realized the coincidence. Perplexed, Pierre Weil connected the two, and the three together organized a partnership was born and the book Normosis: The Pathology of Normality. There is a deep-rooted belief in most people’s minds. It is the belief that everything that most people think, feel, believe or do should be considered as normal and as a consequence should serve as a guide to everyone’s behavior. The term “Normosis” is formed by the junction of Omtimes.com
the word “normal” with the suffix “ose.” The Suffix OSE which means “sick process” was adopted to designate the form of behavior seen as normal, but that, in reality, is abnormal. Want an example of “Normosis”? Always needing finding a culprit for the problems and failures of everyday life is one of them.
is fallacious and ends up only perpetuating society full of norms. The brain confuses what is familiar with what is right: by seeing or feeling something that awakens some memory, the brain defines that “familiar” as “correct,” in the same new way is decoded as uncertain and susceptible of mistrust.
Normosis is a Mind Bug. Normosis is a concept of philosophy to refer to social norms, beliefs, and values that cause distress and can be fatal; in other words, “normal behavior of a society that causes suffering and death.” In this way individuals who are in perfect agreement with normality and of what is socially expected end up suffering, getting sick or dying following the terms of normality.
In the business world, “norms” can lead a company to failure, because they are frequent and commonplace, but they harm as if they are real corporate diseases.
It is common to justify maintaining unhealthy behavior by being normal, something that “everyone does,” but this justification
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General Normosis: General Normosis are those accepted by the majority of humanity • The illusion of Separation: Feeling separate and independent of other people and nature; • Wars are Fair: Wars are normal and necessary ways to resolve conflicts between nations; • The general feeling
of Ownership: Believing that animals, Nature, and natural products are human possessions; • Consumerism: Consume all and everything with relative ease without thinking about social and environmental consequences. Specific Normosis Normosis can be subdivided into specific issues such as: • Food standards: Frying, sweets, soft drinks, excess meat, excess salt, alcoholic beverages. • Relational Normosis: Selfishness; confuse love with sensuality; sex with focus only on genitals. • Educational Normosis: Confusing science with positivism; do not use intuition and feelings in education. The Cure for Normosis is achieved by individual work, but some social efforts may help. To begin with, it would
be an advantage if we had a new educational model. The school could be where children discover their true vocations - instead of trying to standardize the students and convince them to be normal and follow to pre-determined socially accepted patterns. Maybe it will take years to happen, an educational system directed to incite creativity and originality. The explanation that Normosis may be a bug we all carry in the brain, which tends always to refuse new ways of looking at the world. This system was very useful to our caveman ancestors, who could not even eat any new berries that appeared in front of them. However, these days, which require new ideas to deal with a constantly changing world, this brain mechanism has become an obstacle to innovation. According to this thesis, Normosis is not a disease: it is a human characteristic, shaped by evolution. That is, maybe being normal is normal.
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How to Channel Energy for Positive Personal Change by Rachelle Wilber
Positivity has more influence than you may think. If you’re looking to foster positive adjustments in your life, then you need to discover exactly how to harness the right kind of energy. These actions may help you do so. You no longer have to tolerate life results that are mediocre and that don’t make you happy. Take up Yoga Yoga can be a terrific form of exercise. It can make your
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body feel a lot more limber and agile. It can also be wonderful for your mental state. If you’re interested in attaining inner peace, clarity, and any and all associated perks, then you should make yoga a part of your fitness routine as soon as possible. Stop Fixating on Bad Things A preoccupation with bad things may turn you into a person who isn’t open to positive changes. That’s
the reason it can help you immensely to refuse to obsess over the things about your existence that make you feel mad or sad. Make a concerted effort each day to concentrate on the things that actually make you feel wonderful and hopeful. Agonizing over things that are essentially lost causes won’t get you anywhere. Get a Psychic Reading A reading with an experienced psychic can give you precious insight regarding any changes that may be beneficial for you. It can also be a lovely chance to blow off steam for a while. If you’re interested in tangible guidelines that can help you revamp your existence, then you should visit a trusted psychic without any reluctance. A psychic reading can give you details that can encourage you to get up and go after all of your biggest dreams. Surround Yourself with Terrific People A fantastic support network can be invaluable to people who are committed to big changes in life. You can get yourself on the path to
positivity by surrounding yourself with folks who are excellent influences. Stay away from people who make you feel self-doubt. Stay away from those who you believe do not want the best for you. Remember, unpleasant feelings can often be infectious. Positivity isn’t something that’s silly or trivial. It’s in all actuality something that can affect your direction in life significantly. There are all sorts of strategies that can help you get on the track to positivity. You can try everything from psychic readings, to yoga classes. Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber;
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From Spiritual Connections to Sweet Inspiration By Judi Lynch
Our hearts, minds, ideals, and lifestyles all evolve under inspirational force. We get to choose what to do with that coil of possibilities. What inspires us, changes us, forever.
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What inspires our creative abilities? Is it abstract like a color on a billboard we noticed while driving down the interstate? Or is it something that someone said or did which creates a different thought process within us? Our senses function with sights, sounds, smells, and feelings to guide us into making choices; awakening our creative juices, inspiring us to dream. We can be greatly inspired by someone else’s achievements which lead us into new directions and inventions. Life changing ideas are born when we dare to take what inspires us and turn it into something real. A beautiful painting, a melody to dance to, medical devices which save lives have all come from many forms of inspiration. We can also be divinely inspired by spiritual connections brought in through meditation and prayer. A vision can inspire us to start a charity, build a business or completely change our lifestyle. If we are struggling with a health or financial issue, we often look to
others who have healed their circumstances and the methods they used. A child watching a nurse or astronaut speak about their profession can inspire that child to learn more about life professions in general. A music teacher could inspire a high school student to start writing symphonies for the band. Everyone can inspire another in different ways, positive and negative. A beautiful love song can inspire a new relationship to form while a loud acid rock song can inspire a purge of negative feelings to be released by the listener. We are unique in what brings us innovation and new thoughts. When we feel inspired, we feel excited about the possibilities our ideas can manifest and bring to light. We want to keep the momentum going to follow through and see the results of our visions. People who motivate and inspire others are in high demand at this time as people seek out others with common goals who offer friendly support. Women are inspiring each other in politics now like Omtimes.com
never before in history as they move into formerly uncharted territory with resolve to motivate positive changes. Someone else’s destructive behavior can also be the catalyst to inspire us to act and speak out to take a stand against injustice. Marches, campaigns, worthy causes and organizations have been created to counteract and heal the damage. We have all read true stories of heroism and courage which make us think about our actions in the same circumstance. Would we be inspired by someone else’s bravery and act as they did or Omtimes.com
would we be more cautious about the consequences? What inspires us to leave old habits for new beginnings? A big light bulb that clicks on over our heads? Some of us have inspirational dreams in which we are doing the activity we most would like to experience at that time. It may be a dream about an old friend we haven’t seen that leads us to get back in touch. Our physical needs as humans have inspired miraculous inventions that have changed how we all see and interpret the world. It inspires our souls to seek more solutions to the seemingly impossible. To create magic where once there was no hope
of restoration. It is the voice of the Universe speaking to us of our true abilities to flow and flourish. One speech can inspire a whole career in politics. One kind word can inspire a person who is unkind to find a better way. Inspiration is all around us, in everything and everyone. What touches our soul also affects those around us. If we seek out the future with empathy and integrity, our best lives can be realized. We can use it to our advantage in living a meaningful, peaceful life. Use it to run full-force, screaming-out loud for a positive change. Our hearts,
minds, ideals, and lifestyles all evolve under inspirational force. We get to choose what to do with that coil of possibilities. What inspires us, changes us, forever. Judi Lynch is a psychic medium, intuitive counselor, healing channel and author. She is president of the Crystal Healing Foundation, Inc. a 501(c) spiritual charity and writer for OM Times Magazine. She has authored two books, Friends with Lights and Conscious Ascension and has read for clients all over the world. To learn more or contact for a session see judilynch.com Omtimes.com
The intuition for Kids. Help them discover their Super Powers. by Dagny Grant and Beth Donnelly
It is important to encourage kids to expand their intuition, to better understand the power of their feelings and thoughts and recognize
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their own inner guidance. We could set an example of mindfulness for kids (and some adults too). We all have the power to choose our thought focus, which in turn attracts our experience. Kids can be taught that what they focus on expands…whether it is love or fear, sadness or happiness. “Kids are our future” is not just a tag line…it’s A fact. Imagine the next generation having the presence of mind, self-esteem, compassion, kindness & empathy and the understanding of how to be responsible for their actions and reactions. What if they had the tools to make their greatness shine and create the energy of gratitude in our world. What role can we play to assist them in this process? We know that as adults, we take the mission of inspiring and guiding the hearts and minds of these kids very seriously. It is a journey filled with joyful practice, repetition, sharing & learning.
For this article, we define intuition to be the inner voice or knowing, sometimes called a “gut feeling.” There are many ways to recognize intuition, whether working with a larger group of children, or an individual child. We may ask them to 1. Share the Children thoughts & feelings about intuition as part of a discussion. 2. Learn to pay attention to gut feelings. 3. Practice going inward and “listening to intuition” by meditating. Once a child has learned to recognize their innate intuition, it allows them to act from a place of empowerment to lead a more joyful life, rather than just reacting to random thoughts. The energy of “internal guidance” is felt by the body
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in a different place than the neural pathways of the brain stimulating thoughts. How one has assimilated their thoughts through their unique neural networks is key to the formation of their beliefs and perceptions. It is how they interpret their experiences and the world around them. Their beliefs and perceptions can be positive, neutral or negative. Intuition, on the other hand, is always an expansive feeling that feels warm and right. It is life-force energy emanating from the heart-space. Once we’ve helped children recognize their intuition, what do they do with that knowledge? We don’t think it would be an over-statement to tell our kids that intuition is part of a unique set of Super Powers! After all, … it can be instrumental in extending kindness, empathy, and compassion to their friends, family & eventually into the world.
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Other Super Powers triggered by our intuition are: Mindful Shifting! Mindfulness is paying attention to our thoughts and feelings. That is the first step. Shifting involves the realization that we’re thinking a thought or feeling an emotion that doesn’t serve us. Instead of acting on it, we choose to shift it to a thought or emotion that does serve us by telling a story that feels positive, right or good. By shifting our thought from one of negative judgment to positivity or empathy, we can also shift our action or reaction to one of love and kindness. Positive Self-Identity! (I AM) The words “I AM” are the most powerful in determining our self-esteem and identity. It is who we believe we are, whether it’s true or given to us by others. An example would be a parent calling us
the shy one, pretty one or the one who isn’t good at math. Whatever follows the words “I AM” are what we become. Uniqueness is good and something to be valued. We are all part of the painting of life, and it is what we do with our paintbrush that lets our greatness shine! Belief in Miracles! The belief in miracles is what allows them to happen! If we dare to ask for what we want, or better, believe in the field of pure potentiality; then we are expecting the miraculous! It’s important that our kids understand that this Super Power works in many ways. If we believe that a negative outcome will result, that belief can unfold as the negative result we’ve attracted. This concept loops back to Mindful Shifting where we teach kids to notice their emotions and what thought & belief proceeded that feeling.
Once our kids learn to listen to their intuition, they will recognize the inner guidance of their gut feelings. Like any skill, it just takes practice. These feelings, whether love or fear, sadness or happiness attract and expand their experience. What a wonderful gift we can give to the next generation…the understanding of their Super Power of intuition! Matrix Productions is a multi-media company represented by partners Beth Donnelly and Dagny Grant. Co-authors of the internationally Best-Selling Children’s book series “Journey of Joy,” they share mind, body and spirit connections, teaching mindfulness and I AM principles. Their publication of books, and “Echoes of the Soul” multi-media projects, produce tools that shape the thoughts and hearts of likeminded people.
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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.
Special Exercises to Help You and Your Partner Grow Together By Guy Finley
If we want to help our partner change, we must change. There is no other way. So, unless we’re exceptionally blessed, it’s unlikely our partner has
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the same wish that we do: to keep growing and exploring a love that, at the start, was filled with surprising changes, but that has lost some of that sparkle because one, or both of us has stopped changing. All this is to say: odds favor you’re the one who will have to initiate the work needed to refresh your relationship. No problem. You’ll find everything you need to get started in the three special relationship exercises that follow. They are designed to work in a two-fold way. Part one unfolds as you initiate the first action and receive the revelation that will help make changes in you. The second part of the exercise happens as your partner sees and experiences this change in you. When you no longer act toward them in the old way, they can’t help but see their mechanical nature that only
knows the “old way” to react to you. In effect, your new actions help to reveal their old limitations so that – for a moment, anyway – and to whatever degree it occurs, your partner suddenly sees the need to change! If ever there was a real “win-win” situation, a way for two people to realize the highest possibilities a relationship can offer, this is it.
Exercise #1: Look within yourself before you “speak out.” Let’s say you’re with your partner and you see something in their character that “strikes a familiar nerve” in you. Maybe it’s impatience, an obvious pretense, or just the unpleasant tone in their voice when they say something unkind or otherwise painful to your ear. There are so many options here, but suffice it to say that it’s whatever
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“stone” they seem to put in your shoe at that moment. You feel a sudden negative reaction come up in you, generally attended by an unspoken thought along the lines of “there they go again.” As a rule, the next thing that happens is you feel obligated to give this negative feeling a voice. After all, if you don’t point out their misstep how they will know they’ve stepped out of line, let alone how they’ve troubled you? But you know from past experience that whatever you feel compelled to point out to your partner causes them to immediately oppose you, pushing your observation away at the same time. So that rather than taking your habitual place in this old pattern – you meet the moment with your new intention: you look within yourself before you “speak out.” And what do you see?
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Call it what you will, there stands revealed some pain; perhaps anger, an old resentment, a sense of disappointment. By whatever name, it’s negative. But you’re not...and here’s why: your new awareness of this unconscious nature is the same as your freedom from its compulsion to prove itself right. Your conscious struggle to bear its pressure in you – to not let it push you to speak its pain – is the same as sparing your partner the brunt of its dark nature. You are changed on the spot because now – thanks to the exercise of looking within before you speak out – you can now see whom you can no longer agree to be. In the meantime, actually, at the same time as your revelations, your partner is watching you. It may not seem so, but in the same moment as their
misstep, they could feel your negative reaction. Even if you think you masked it for fear of an unwanted encounter, your partner feels that dark energy. It unconsciously registers within them, creating an opposing reaction. So your partner is waiting, albeit unaware that they’re preparing to defend themselves from what they think you’re about to say! But not a contrary word slips out of your mouth. You’re busy learning about yourself, and your silence is deafening to them. It’s giving your partner the momentary room – and the freedom – they need to see that the only thing punishing them at the moment is their defensive thoughts and feelings. They’re ready to fight, but your silence has left them no one to fight with! They’re left alone with their pain, with no one they can blame for its mounting pressure.
This new awareness is the same as their realization of a limitation in their nature; they would have never seen otherwise. What was concealed is revealed, and the healing can begin because now your partner has seen the need to change.
Exercise #2: Drop your end of this unseen tugof-war All forms of competition between partners breed conflict, especially in the unconscious form that it takes in what seems – on the surface – to be a casual conversation. It all starts as simply as you wanting to tell your partner about something that you did that day; perhaps to share an insight you gained, or to talk through some condition at work or at home that’s concerning you. No more do you finish your sentence – or at times, right in the middle of your
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words – than your partner interrupts you. They’ve decided to change the topic – on the spot – to one that’s more interesting than whatever it was you had to say. They start talking about themselves! Now maybe you show it, maybe you don’t, but you’re hurt. So you do one of two things: you either pull the conversation back in the direction you intended it to go, or you sit there, tune out your partner, and have a dialogue with yourself about how all your partner can do is think about themselves. Of course, you could tell your partner about how selfcentered they are by always hogging the spotlight but, as a rule, they’ll take your comments as proof that you want the stage all to yourself. If you want things to change, to end this unseen tug-of-war between
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the two of you, then try the following exercise. The next time you begin to talk about yourself to your partner and they step in front of you – to talk about themselves – don’t compete for the stage. Let them have the center spotlight. Don’t compete with them. Allow them the room they need to complete feeding the unconscious parts of themselves that believe they’re the only thing that matters in this world. Don’t contest their solo performance. Moreover, to the best of your ability, don’t judge it either. Instead, witness it and yourself at the same time. You’ll see that most of the pain you feel in these moments isn’t because your partner wants to steal the show, but rather because you want the same thing that they do: some attention.
We all want to be the main attraction, and some seem to need it more than others. The more clearly you see this, the less interest you’ll have in the parts of yourself that always want to fight for that part. On the other side of this equation, by giving your partner the stage all to themselves, you help make it possible for them to see how empty it is to be on it all by themselves. They may not change their “act” all at once; in fact, it’s unlikely. However, for your choice to no longer compete for the “top spot,” you’re awarded the “Freedom” prize for best supporting actor. Excerpted from Relationship Magic: Waking Up Together by Guy Finley. ©2018 Guy Finley Used by permission from
Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. Guy Finley is an internationally renowned spiritual teacher and bestselling self-help author. He is the Founder and Director of Life of Learning Foundation, a nonprofit center for transcendent self-study located in Merlin, Oregon. He also hosts the Foundation’s Wisdom School — an online self-discovery program for seekers of higher selfknowledge. He is the bestselling author of The Secret of Letting Go and 45 other books and audio programs that have sold over 2 million copies, in 26 languages, worldwide. Guy’s latest book Relationship Magic: Waking Up Together applies decades of spiritual wisdom to practical relationship challenges, transforming any relationship from mundane to magical! http://www. relationshipmagicbook.com/
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Use Tao Precepts to Deal with Challenging Relationships. By Ascending Hearts
The TAO is the origin of that which permeates and sustains all Creation. In TAO, everything has a natural way of being. There is only happiness when one
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respects the natural flow of Creation. The modifications and interferences all that is Life is what triggers pain and suffering in existence. The Tao is known as the perfect path, as a natural order underlying the substance and activity of the Universe. The Tao is the path, the Journey and the traveler at the same time. The main work of Taoism is Tao Te Ching, a book containing the teachings attributed to Lao Tse, together with the writings of Zhuangzi, form the philosophical foundation of this Eastern religion. Over time, several Taoist schools have emerged that have blended teachings and practices before Tao Te Ching - such as the theories of the School of Naturalists, which address the concepts of the Yin-Yang and the five elements of Nature. Taoist traditions and
fundamentals emphasize, as a basis for a life with balance and wisdom, the following behaviors: • The Serenity Living • Non-action • the empty • the Control of desires • Simplicity and spontaneity • the contemplation of nature Along with the cultivation of the Three Treasures: compassion, moderation, and humility. Within the teachings of the Tao, we also find wise counsel in how to deal with difficult people. Especially of those whose presences rob us of energy and often obstruct our ways. According to the Lao-Tse principles, in these cases, it is best to keep the serenity, to empty ourselves of negative emotions, and to remove the power of those who are likely to snatch our calm.
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To the unstable world we live in, it is necessary to learn how to manage problematic people and to deal with difficult personalities. We have proof that to survive in our professional and social contexts, we must coexist vigorously with precise personality profiles. We refer to passiveaggressive people and also narcissistic people. They are presences that swarm in almost all scenarios, that make use of the verbal abuse, of the manipulation and that, sometimes, its mere presence already obscures to us.
The Four Taoist Precepts Tao teaches many tools; At first, they are for the good management of emotions, secondly, for the proper control of states with which we can ultimately confront the abuse of power, establish limits, and improve
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our communication styles. It does not matter that the texts of Lao-Tse are so many centuries old. This legacy remains very useful. 1. Control difficult people without having to fight them “Controlling the enemy without fighting him is the greatest skill.� –Gichin FunakoshiWithin the teachings of Taoism, the allegory is exalted that living is like flowing through a river. Letting ourselves be guided by your channel without resistance is part of this harmony that we should all enjoy. However, concepts such as struggle, confrontation or resistance are the antithesis of this idea of natural flow. On the effect in which we are merely encouraged to move forward with courage and flexibility. So those who
choose, for example, to make use of the discussion, the constant affront with difficult people, will only have more discouragement and tremendous frustration. Opting for “no fight” does not mean giving up or letting oneself burden. It means, above all, not to give power to those who do not deserve it, choosing the wisdom about violence and opting for calm before opening the floodgates, wide open, so that anxiety floods us. 2. Empty your bowl of negative emotions “Emptiness is the best starting point. So, let go of all your prejudices and be neutral. Do you know why this glass is so useful? Because it’s empty. “ –Bruce Lee Difficult people often ruin our day with a single word or comment. No matter how irrational their message may be, the inadequacy of their actions affects us. One
of the tips that convey the teachings of Tao is that the less reactive we are, the more space we will have to make use of judgment. Let us, therefore, try to control the anguish, the negative emotions. Once the difficult person has performed his maneuver, we will count to 10, and we will breathe deeply. Nobody has the right to ruin our day, so let’s empty ourselves of anger, spite and bad mood, one by one. The mind should remain as a clean room, where the contaminated wind enters through a portal and disappears in the second through the other. 3. Be Proactive, Not Reactive Difficult people sometimes make us victims of their unhealthy arts. Little by little, we may suffer from frustration that we run the risk of reacting in the worst
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possible way. Sooner or later, we will regret the reaction, especially if we haven’t set boundaries beforehand. “Do not be a slave to anything or anyone, achieve true freedom.” –Right, Jeet Kune DoThe Tao recommends that we learn to be proactive. What exactly does that mean? It means that we must learn to take control of events instead of observing things happen. One counsel that Tao teaches us is that every time we see a problematic person, let’s try to put ourselves in their place using the phrase “it should not be easy.” When adopting this understanding statement “It should not be easy for my coworker to get everyone sick, to have so little control of their emotions.” “It should not be easy for my brother to be out of work,
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in debt and also have that complicated character.� Understanding the perspective of other people will allow us to be prepared to control the situation better. This will make it more efficient when we are ready to give help than when we make constructive criticism. That is more accurate and motivating. 4. Using The strength of Bamboo “There are times when everything else fails, there is no choice but to be blunt. Like bamboo that gains strength after being folded.“
The Tao of Leadership Sometimes it happens, our circumstances with difficult people reach a limit, and we are just cornered, but we feel defeated, even wholly humiliated. At such times, the Tao advises us to visualize ourselves as bamboo.
They also bend over, they also get the impact of the strong wind that wants to control them and have them under their power. Nevertheless, the bamboo draws its strength from its flexibility. The fact that bamboo leans makes the reaction stronger. We can do it, too. We should not use any type of violence, because strength does not reside in Violence, but on the capacity for response. it is important to know how to position ourselves with courage before those who dare to challenge us to become something that we are not: weak people. To conclude, the teachings of the Tao contain beautiful embers of knowledge that continue to inflame our ability to learn, enlightening us with your temperance to deal with greater wisdom with the complexities of the world today.
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Metaphysics
What are the Wheels of Samsara? How are you tied to the Wheels of Samsara? By Humanity Healing
To be born, to live, to die. These are unquestionable truths about the nature of human experience on Earth, where the only certainty we have is that we will someday die. However, death is interpreted in different ways by different cultures and individuals, which give it or a cyclical character, sometimes of eternal continuity or even the end of all existence and consciousness, accepting that there is nothing beyond it.
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For those who perceive life and death as an experience, the Wheel of Samsara (also known as the Worlds of Samsara) bring great insight into the spiritual condition of those who incarnated on Earth. The concept created by the Hindus and Buddhists reached us Westerners in the second half of the twentieth century and expresses the wheel of life and death, that is, the unceasing flow of rebirth through the worlds. It is an idea like karma and reincarnation, where a consciousness that is undergoing an experience in the now and had had other lives in the past. The concepts that deal with the Wheel of Samsara may have different names, but among them probably the most interesting analogy would be the Law of Return or Action and Reaction, where we are responsible for the effects our actions have on others and the world. Any phenomenon, process, or action that a living originates causes and consequences, and sometimes causes disturbances that need to be adjusted and internalized in that soul.
It is the Wheel of Samsara: reincarnation cycles that allow the spirits to live different experiences in the matter and to experience power, subjugation, wealth, poverty, health, illness, finally, to experience all the positive and negative aspects that an incarnation in different aspects of life can offer. In each of these possibilities, the spirit acquires knowledge and is closer to the truth, God, or the Higher Self as some call it. Knowing the concept, we can analyze our life and delve into our inner universe. Discovering which situations present themselves in our lives are karma, a rescue or an opportunity to work and to improve some characteristic of our spirit, making great difficulties allies. Usually, the complications we encounter have a common source and present themselves as a pattern in our life. A great example is a self-esteem: a spirit needs to work on selfesteem. Then, not infrequently, he expresses himself insecure, jealous and with a tendency to feel wronged by life. The soul Omtimes.com
is then born into a family that does not favor her self-worth and engages in destructive relationships, always living the same emotional pattern. These simple traits will then directly influence all spheres of the material existence of this spirit, such as work, social relationships, love, and family, bringing to each new problem the opportunity to strengthen one’s self-esteem through selfimprovement, without one realizing that everything that is generating frustration in your life has the same origin. The fact is that, regardless of the order of factors, the result never changes we are living a learning experience, and all the actions we take have an effect on matter, making the Wheel of Samsara spin. Part of the game of enlightenment is to realize this and to bring to you experiences that are increasingly enlightened and free from the action of karma so that it is possible to eliminate our attachments in Samsara and integrate ourselves with the fuller source.
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Does Samsara exist in Other Planets? Some Paranormal specialists affirm that there are countless inhabited planets, life forms, and the evolutionary levels in the Universe we inhabit. The laws governing a star may be directly linked to Samsara. Some ascended planets at some point in this journey may transit into the light and get rid of the Law of Karma. It is possible to speculate that some planets are already living in the Law of Love or perhaps even other laws that we are not aware of and even capable of imagining. These places do not possess Samsara since their inhabitants are on a pure consciousness level, that may no longer require reincarnation as the engine of experience that they provide. In the other hand, other celestial bodies of denser energy and home to more primitive spirits may offer a learning experience through birth and rebirth. These are experiences that, due to the difficulties of non-spiritual connection and extreme materiality, bring a very rich instruction to the consciousness that decides to reincarnate on these planets.
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Sensing the Right Time Animal Communication by Lisa Shaw
In mid- February I was contacted by a woman whose lively 14-year-old dog quickly deteriorate; she became lethargic, began coughing, and stopped eating. X-rays showed that cancer had invaded her Omtimes.com
lungs, liver, and spleen. After consulting a nutritionist and cooking chicken for the dog, who still refused meals, she contacted me. At that point, the dog had stopped drinking water, so she syringe-fed her chicken broth with prednisone famotidine. She told me her dog was still interested in walking downstairs despite a newly acquired limp, and even though she was sleeping more often, she said: “she still has this bright little spark.” The woman was temporarily in Miami and was getting preparing to drive home to the Northeast. I knew this was gravely ill even before I did the reading but approached it without bias. These were the owner’s questions Is she ready to go? Where is she feeling pain? Why did she stop eating on her own? Why doesn’t she want the other food that has nutrition and vitamins? Is she depressed and would she prefer to be around other dogs more? She’s been isolated here. Should I take her to the dog park? These questions ran to extremes from preparing for
death to group socialization, suggesting suggested that the owner herself was confused and likely blocking the obvious truth she knew recognized on some level. Her dog showed me a comfortable enclosure made of soft pillows and said she felt nauseated when she wasn’t lying down. I explained to the woman that when animals are ill (especially when they are dying), they seek cavelike places in which to isolate themselves. I also saw a butterfly, which is a traditional hospice symbol as well as a metaphysical sign of transition. The dog and I knew she was dying and yes, she was ready for the next level of existence but not within the next day or so, not yet. She said her body had an uncomfortable tingling sensation and a terrible taste in her mouth caused by her medications prevented her from eating. Her entire digestive tract was inflamed; she showed me she felt like a fire breathing dragon. The ailing dog was very close to dying. At this point, her comfort Omtimes.com
level was low, and she was not experiencing any relief from the combination of medicines the vet had given her The owner knew this. I advised her to listen to her dog, who will tell her when the time was right. I did not impose my inclinations. It is the tricky part of animal communication: passing along the information and staying out of the way unless asked for an opinion. In a case such as this, when the human caretaker does not specifically ask “should I put her down?” I can’t impose my feelings and remain careful to convey the information exactly as I receive it from the animal. I simply became the conduit between the dog and the
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owner and trusted the owner to make the right decision for the animal – and herself. She drove the dog up north, reporting “she seemed a little better.” I was surprised. A month later, I checked in with her, only to hear that the dog passed on March 9. This reading was reinforcement for me not to conflate interpretation with imposition. My job is to provide information, not advice unless it’s specifically requested (which it wasn’t). Always, the human and animal wrestle with decisions during the final days of their earthly relationship, but that struggle is the lesson itself -- for them.
Astrology & Numerology
The Most Impatient Zodiac signs
Are you among the most exasperated ones? We understand we are living in a world where we are Omtimes.com
under pressure everywhere, and where intolerance and frustration seem to be the theme of ordinary living. We face daily the pressure to be
an excellent professional, to be a good companion, or to be a good father or mother. Demands to do well on tests, to stand out, to do exercises can be overwhelming. That list could get even more significant. But, the truth is that some people manage to carry it all with lightness, while others get even with the slightest sign of pressure. The most stressed Zodiac signs Today you will find out which are the most stressed signs of the zodiac and you will understand what you should do to take care of yourself if you are amongst them. ARIES It was not hard to imagine that the Arians would be on this list, would they? They are rather the champions of nervousness and impatience. They want everything to be resolved quickly and in their way. Moreover, if that does not happen, they lose their patience quickly, and maybe grow angry.
VIRGOS They even try to control themselves, but they cannot, their sense of “correctness’ oblige them to try to correct everything and everyone. They are not explosive, but they can grow cranky very easily. SCORPIO They have their moments, but when what happens it is a moment of explosion, it comes out from deep and just below the surface. It is like a volcano that quickly explodes and begins destruction with its lava. Moreover, that happens with the least of the pressures; after all, they are always worried, agitated and tense with what can happen. They are Clock-bombs. SAGITTARIUS They hate being questioned and annoyed, and when that happens, they lose their temper, just like that. They want always to be the last to speak up and if things get out of control, be careful if you’re around one. They tend to be explosive and loud. Omtimes.com
THE OTHER HONORED MENTIONS About Aquarius and Gemini These two belong to the air element, which makes them more flexible and prefer to dialogue instead of shouting. It doesn’t make them stand among the signs that lose their easy patience, but when this happens, the air is no longer a slight breeze and happens to be a hurricane. Please do not play with air signs; they can unpredictable like the wind. About Cancer and Pisces These are water signs; they are loving and quite affective. Usually, they are calm waters, but when they are angry, they can lose control, and a
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tsunami begins. They have the power to overwhelm anyone with their emotions, and their bitterness and resentments seem like open floodgates. About the Royal Leo As the King of the zodiac, Leo does not lose its class easily. He always tries to carefully hold control of himself, to regulate the fury and not let others perceive that he is tense, nervous or angry. However, when they lose control, they leave the crown aside and become unrecognizable. The truth is, everyone has their days of fury, does not he? So, it is important always to keep the resources of talking and dialoguing and avoid letting storms happen in cups of water.
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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 To Beat Daily Stress And Be At Your Best By Johanna Kern
What overwhelms us in various situations is that we tend to fear that the outcome of our efforts won’t be the way we want it. It is the major cause of how we shoot ourselves in the foot.
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If we are concentrating too much on the outcome, our thoughts often trigger our subconscious fears. Such fears have been imprinted in us. We were never born with them. We were born with our innate joy of life and until our subconscious was programmed by our caregivers, our society, belief system, or the spirit of the times we were born in – we had no reason to speculate about such fears. What’s the remedy for that? • Forget the outcome. It will be what it will be. You are living your life. You can design it in any way you want – BUT there is always some room for surprises or for improvements made by the process of life itself. • Instead, concentrate on the task at hand and see it simply as a challenge: challenge yourself to have fun with the task and do the best you can do – because that is the natural
thing. Fearing what may or may not be – is not natural to us. • Slow down and find a way to de-stress. Listen to music for a while, smell the flowers, look at a peaceful landscape – whatever pleasantly engages your senses helps you to destress. Breathing deeply is another good technique. Alternatively, if there is no time to slow down, use a very simple technique: when a stressful or negative thought comes to mind – shout at it in your mind: STOP! Putt elastic on your wrist and snap it instead. Your brain will quickly learn to associate unwanted thoughts with pain and will avoid them at all cost. It works like magic. • Build your self-esteem. You can do it by repeating useful affirmations and reprogramming your subconscious for positive beliefs about yourself. Remember that all success in life starts with accepting our worth. Omtimes.com
• Think of your tasks as if you were playing a game. Make it fun for yourself. Be creative, reach for your childhood memories: remember how you played? How inventive, passionate and joyous you could be? Try to evoke in yourself that lust for life. We don’t need to change circumstances to feel happier. However, we need to change our perception of the circumstances. That is how it works. • Don’t think about things that you have no control over. It isn’t important how many people apply for the job you want, or if it’s going to rain. These are things you can’t change. What you have control over is your attitude, your performance, your faith in yourself, and how much effort you want to put into whatever it is you’re attempting. • Be confident about who you are and don’t dwell on what is not who you are. You hold your entire world Omtimes.com
within you. The world outside only mirrors that world. You create it with your thoughts, whether you are aware of it or not. • Learn to enjoy what you are experiencing. According to scientists and psychologists – happy people are healthier, both physically and emotionally, live longer, and have much more fulfilling lives than the grumpy, complaining and therefore unhappy, among us. They are eager to challenge themselves and think outside the box. They accomplish much more. • Whether you reach for the stars, apply for a new job, or climb a mountain, a good thing to ask yourself is: “What is the worstcase scenario?” Once you answer that question, you will know that there isn’t any worst-case scenario that could scare you away. We don’t tend to reach for things that are not in our reach. We usually attempt things that are
in alignment with our talents, skills, knowledge or expertise. • Once you have played in your head the worst-case scenario, throw it out of your Mind instantly and focus o the task at hand. Right here, right now, in the present. Focus on what you are doing and stay with it. The simple rule is to stay in the present and enjoy the challenge.
bring to the world. Then go for it. You are unique, and your life journey is unique. Once you find what’s in your heart, nothing is impossible for you. Johanna Kern is a transformational teacher and multiple award-winning author of
• Remind yourself that this is just another opportunity. If this one doesn’t work, there always will be more. Life is a stream of opportunities. Each of them is just an experience.
“365 (+1) Affirmations to Create A Great Life”, “Secrets of Love for Everyone,” “Master and the Green-Eyed Hope,” etc. She practices and shares the Master Teachings of HOPE, helping people to find their power and progress in all areas of life. Her story received international attention, winning praise by readers in North America and Europe, and endorsement by three world-renowned experts: Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., Jerry Solfvin, Ph.D., and Brian Van der Horst.
• Open your heart. Look inside to find out what you truly want and need to
https://johannakern.com https://www.facebook.com/ JohannaKernAuthor
No matter what is happening, it’s simply an experience that you have decided to have. Again, the more fun you have with it, the more fun you get from it.
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