Spiritual E-Magazine February 2011

Price : (FREE)

Vol : VIII

Issue : FEB 2011

SPIRITUAL LOUNGE E-MAGAZINE

An Eye Pillow

The Silence of Mind

Andorra

Spirituality, Humour and Leadership Is there such a thing as a real friend?

The power of the flowers

Graphology

How do I invoke the emotion of loving myself?

Kabbalah

Tantric Sex – An Introduction

Amusement is a form of love Kundalini and dreams

EDITORIAL

February 2011

Dear Readers, Last month we just completed our first anniversary, though we officially launched Spiritual Lounge during the event held in January 2010. It did not begin with any big bang but a quite birth of an organization filled with immense happiness and hopes for a bright future for Spiritual Lounge.

Life is tough at the Earthly plane. In these times it is a struggle just to survive and live a peaceful and dignified life. We are always living for someone or something but are we living for our-selves too? We need to give ourselves a little me time.

Individuals, families, societies, companies, corporates, organizations, institutions, governments, etc., should give a little time to their people as a me time.

Time to be silent, to meditate, to contemplate and so on. The differences can be noticed subtly but surely. Try it!

This month also sees the Valentine's Day being celebrated. Love is also being spiritual; they are like the two sides of the same coin. Those who have found true love can easily become spiritualists.

Our publishing division Moksa Publishers has published a gift coupon booklet that will be offered to all at a very concessional rate. For more details please write or call us anytime.

Feel free to share the Spiritual Lounge E-Magazine with all and so send us your feedback!

Connect with us anytime at: spirituallounge@live.com or +91-9619629092 Thank you,

Dhara Kothari

Cover page Photo : ANDORRA Copyrights: All rights reserved SPIRITUAL LOUNGE EMAGAZINE Š 2010-2011

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CONTENT

February 2011 The Silence of Mind

By Swami Chaitanya Keerti Page 7

An Eye Pillow Page 4-7

Editorial Page 2

Spirituality, Humour and Leadership Page 8 The power of the flowers Page 9

Is there such a thing as a real friend?

Page 10

How do I invoke the emotion of loving myself?

Page 11

Kabbalah Page 12-13 ANDORRA Page 17-21

Specialperson Page 22

Tantric Sex – An Introduction Page 14-15 Amusement is a form of love Page 22

International Seminar on Yogashastra of Acharya Hemachandra Graphology And Handwriting Analysis and Homage to Late Jambuvijayaji the study of human behavior Page 24 through handwriting Page 16 Kundalini and dreams Page 23

The Encyclopedia of Dream Interpretation Page 25

Edited by Dhara Kothari. Published by Moksa Publishers for Spiritual Lounge.

Designed by Biren Shah, Casper Creations. Email: spirituallounge@live.com.

Cell: +91-9619629092 / +91-9757274289 3

February 2011

An Eye Pillow - Linzi Martin

An Eye Pillow why it can help you experience better sleep and how to make one leep, beautiful sleep that nourishes, revives, refreshes and enhances our looks (beauty sleep), our physical health and well-being. Yet so many people suffer from poor sleep. In the UK most people at some time in their life will suffer from sleep deprivation. Especially in the summer season, with the longer daylight hours, this can also play havoc with our sleep pattern. People may become sleep starved. This is quite debilitating with a loss of concentration, lethargy, depression, being unfocused and poor decision making. Sleep starved folk are simply not much fun to be around. Perhaps you know someone who becomes irritable for no reason, has emotional outbursts or even has to take a nap or siesta when everyone else is alert. It can even be dangerous to drive or use machinery if one suffers sleep deprivation over a long period. Insomnia is the term often applied to those who suffer acute or chronic sleep disruption, sleeplessness, waking up too early, waking up frequently during the night with not being able to return to their slumbers. There are many reasons for sleep disruption and insomnia.

Often stress and anxiety have their part to play and it's well known that our emotions “come out to play when the theatre of our mind is at rest,� Linzi Here I want to share with you how you can bring some relief to those moments of 'trying to get to sleep' by using an Eye Pillow and how to make one for yourself. They can also make a thoughtful gift for

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To alleviate depression, stress, and anxiety ?

To enhance your physical, mental, and spiritual

balance (meditation aid) Did you know that on an average we might wake up 10 - 15 times a night but often have no recollection of these moments of wakefulness! It is like being in a semi-conscious state.

So why sleep? For deep and nourishing rest to restore and renew our physical and mental energies. And how much sleep do we really need? This depends on your age and needs but a general guideline: The elderly need 6-7 hours plus naps; adults 7-8 hours; baby needs12 hours plus naps. For good health we need a core sleep of 4-5 hours. It is the production in the brain of Melatonin, which is dependent on darkness, along with high levels of Serotonin, to calm the body in the evening that enables the biological process of sleep.

I personally use an eye pillow regularly. I enjoy the soothing effects on my eyes and brain. It's ideal if I'm practising a guiding visualisation as it helps me to focus better. I'd come across the idea some years ago whilst on a long haul flight, where the airline were giving out a sleep mask as part of their complimentary flight pack. Unfortunately it did not help to make the very uncomfortable seats any more sleep-worthy but the sleep mask did prove to be somewhat soothing so that I could nap a little on the flight.

What's the difference between an Eye Pillow and an Eye Mask?

An Eye Pillow is like a mini padded or filled pillow which is laid across the eyes and an Eye Mask is (normally) a fabric shaped slip which can be secured around the eyes/head. Both endeavour to block out the light and soothe the eyes.

someone. ?

The Art of Restful Sleep and the beneficial effects of using an eye pillow for napping, siesta and sleep time. ?

To promote relaxing sleep ?

To help relax your tired eyes ?

To help reduce eye puffiness ?

To help calm your facial muscles ?

To refresh your mind ?

To alleviate the pain tension of headaches, migraines, and eyestrain

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When to use an Eye Pillow?

When lying down with the head reclined horizontally or at an angle so that the pillow can drape across the eyes and not slip down the face.

Use as: A prelude to quality sleep; for a nap or siesta; to soothe the eyes and head/brain if experiencing a headache or migraine; when taking some time out or quiet time, especially if feeling stressed or anxious; can also be effective when preparing to meditate as a 'tool' to separate oneself from the outside world hubbub/noise/disruptions. It clearly gives a sign that the user wants to be left in peace and solitude for a while. (Do you think one's kids will accept this??).

February 2011

An Eye Pillow - Linzi Martin Making Your Own Eye Pillow There are many designs available and you can unleash your creative spirit by embroidering the outer cover, adding motifs etc. In this article I have provided a simple version which can take as little as an hour to complete. I've made eye pillows in a sewing group as a social activity; people seemed to like getting back to the basics of hand sewing.

properties; it is 'cool in the summer, warm in the winter'. As a pillow filling it contours and fits easily over all face sizes and shapes with a gentle light weight for comfort. The filling lasts for many years making it good value for money and environmentally friendly as it can be emptied after use into the compost or the ground without harm. I do not recommend heating the pillow in a microwave as I avoid the use of electro-magnetic energy that microwaves produce and the intense heat may destroy the husks. Do not allow the pillow contents to become damp or wet as this may create mould or lead to decay. I have not personally put my pillow into the freezer to chill it before use but you might try this as a cooling aid.

8 Steps to making an Eye Pillow Materials: Natural washable Fabric: 1 piece for outer pillow case, size in the region of 20-24cm x 25-30cm, 1 piece for the inner case to enclose the filling (close weave), size to be slightly smaller than the outer fabric. Silk thread about 2-3meters to sew outer case plus cotton thread to sew inner case. Buckwheat husks/hull or similar filling material, around 30 - 50 gms. Lavender or similar natural herb scent (optional).

Filling You can use a variety of fillings from (uncooked) lentils, beans, flaxseeds etc. I personally use Buckwheat husks or hulls for the pillow filling as I had a supply of them already and for their properties.

Tools: A few pins to hold fabric in place 1x sewing needle A pair of scissors Pencil or chalk to mark up fabric Okay off we go: 1. Measure across your face from temple to temple for how wide to make your pillow. Measure from about eye brow to below eyes for height allowing blocking out the light without blocking the nostrils. Remember to make the inner case slightly smaller so that it fits inside the outer case. For both the inner and outer cases the fabric is folded in half so add on an extra 1 cm for each seam. A) The long length opposite the folded side. B) Both ends as each will have a seam.

Example, if my measurements are: outer case 22cm x 27cm I should actually cut out fabric of 24cm x 29cm.

BUCK WHEAT Why use Buckwheat?

Buckwheat although it looks like a grain, is infusing a fruit. The husks or hulls are hypo-allergenic and very few people are allergic to buckwheat. Buckwheat is grown in the United States, Russia, Eastern Europe and Japan. The husk filling has good insulating

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2. So you've now cut out 2 pieces of fabric. I would suggest the inner case is made of calico or a similar tight weave natural fabric so that the filling will be held in place. The outer fabric can be more fancy, patterned or plain.

3. Fold the inner fabric in half longest lengthways. Pin in place and (if you need to) mark with pencil or chalk

February 2011

An Eye Pillow - Linzi Martin a measured seam of 1cm along one short end and the long side. Pin here to hold in place.

fabric.

LINE DRAWING OF BLANKET STITCH

LINE DRAWING OF FABRIC FOLDED IN HALF

4. With cotton thread sew 'back stitch' (overlapping small stitches) along this 1cm seam line starting from the short end by the fold, turning the corner and along the long edge. Remember to tie a knot in the thread at the start of sewing so the seam doesn't come apart or back stitch on the spot.

8. Using blanket stitch and the silk thread start at the short end by the fold and work your way along that edge, round the corner and down the longer side. At the end of the tube you'll need to finish off the open end edges. You have several options. B) And C) both allow for outer case to be removed and washed: A) tuck the edges over like the other sides and blanket stitch together. You will not be able to remove the inner case to clean the outer case. B) If the fabric does not fray much, turn over the open edge by 1cm and blanket stitch around each side, leaving it open to remove inner case. C) turn over the edge twice to hide the raw fabric and blanket stitch both sides leaving it open, leaving it open to remove inner case.

So you now have your inner filled case nicely tucked into your outer case.

5. Turn inner case inside out. Fill with husks.

Optional: you can also add in some dried lavender or other soothing dried herbs (see below). Pin the open end.

6. Now you've a temporary sealed pillow. Check how plump you want it by laying it across your eyes. Does it feel comfortable, does it fit? You can add or take out husks as desired. Turn over the open ends 1cm each and hold in place with pins. Use cotton thread and small stitches to secure this end. You have now made your inner eye pillow, congratulations!

Taking the filled inner pillow lay it on top of the reverse side of the pillow slips cover and wrap this over. It's a bit like its being put to bed! (Folded in half long ways). We are going use blanket stitch as a decorative stitch around the outside short end and longer side. Tuck under 1cm seam along one short end and the longer side. Tip: you may want to iron these seams so they hold better in place, do this without the filled pillow in place. Pin to place to hold

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LINE DRAWING FINISHED PLLOW Optional: If you wish you can add tie tapes or elastic lengths to both (short) ends, so that you can tie around the head if you were to wear the eye pillow with your head resting on its side, so the pillow does not fall off. Or in a reclining position. Adding the personal, creative touch: if you want to decorate the outer case you can either do so before stage 7 or when the case has been made up.

February 2011

An Eye Pillow - Linzi Martin

Optional additional filling to add in with the Buckwheat: Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) The Romans used lavender flowers for centuries so it is an ancient soothing herbal remedy. It can influence the beta waves to enhance calmness and reduce stress. Lavender contains a balancing aroma to reduce the effects of headaches and migraines.

If you don't want to make one yourself I have Sleep Well Eye Pillow kits with all the materials you need and instructions, available from my site to order www.feelgoodzone.com Your sleep becomes more peaceful, restful, and continuous.

You feel an improved sense of wellness, healthfulness, and feeling revitalised, refreshed, relaxed. Daytime fatigue a thing of the past. Getting to know yourself, insights, and selfawareness.

If readers are interested I can write a further article on ways to bring about more restful, healthful sleep using natural methods and techniques. Let the editor, know your thoughts or contact me directly at linzimartin1988@gmail.com (UK) Disclaimer The information in the article should not be considered medical advice. It is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always check with your medical practitioner if in any doubt. Certain herbs and holistic remedies are unsuitable to take if you are pregnant or nursing and must always be cleared by your doctor before use.

By Linzi, Sleep Well and Live Well consultant http://www.feelgoodzone.com

The Silence of Mind - By Swami Chaitanya Keerti urdjieff was a unique Russian mystic and his methods of transformation were unparalleled in the world of spirituality. His dance meditation exercises were complicated and one really needed to be very alert to practise them. But he had found some simple ways of stopping the mind.

Osho says that in the East, people have been trying for centuries to concentrate the mind, to visualise it, to stop it and Gurdjieff found a way through physiology. Gurdjieff would shout Stop! and everybody would freeze. And when the body suddenly freezes, the mind feels a little weird. What happens? Because the mind has no association with a frozen body, it is just shocked. They are in cooperation, in a deep harmony, moving together, then suddenly the body is completely frozen; what is the mind supposed to do? Where can it go?

For a moment, there is complete silence; and even a single moment of complete silence is enough to give you a taste of meditation. Gurdjieff had developed dances, and during those dances, suddenly he would say "Stop!" Now, while dancing you never know in what posture you are going to be.

People would simply fall on the floor. But even if you fall, the exercise continues. If your hand is in an uncomfortable position under your body, you are not to make it comfortable, because that would mean you have not given a chance for the mind to stop. You are still listening to the mind. The mind says, "It is so uncomfortable, make it comfortable." No, you are not to do anything.

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This maverick master had learnt dancing methods of meditation from the Sufis: "The Sufi may be dancing, but while he is dancing, at the centre he remains absolutely unmoving, the centre of the cyclone." The dance is the cyclone, his whole body is in movement, fluid, flowing, dynamic, but at the centre, the witness is there silently watching, undisturbed, undistracted. From the outside, you can learn the exercise. From the outside, you will never become aware of what is happening inside. And the inside is the true story." Another method Gurdjieff taught was of self-remembrance.

Osho says: "We are not aware of ourselves. Gurdjieff, for instance, used self-remembrance as a basic technique in the West. Remember yourself, whatsoever you are doing. It is very difficult. It looks easy, but you will go on forgetting. Feel 'I am'; don't verbalise. Just feel that you are. This non-verbal feeling, even if for only a single moment, will give you a glimpse a glimpse that no moodenhancing drug can give you, a glimpse which is of the real.

For a single moment, you are thrown back to the centre of your being. You are behind the mirror, you have transcended the world of reflections; you are existential. And you can do it at any time."

Both of these meditation methods can be done for one hour each. Alternatively, you can do it for 40 minutes or extend it to 90 minutes.

Spirituality, Humour and Leadership - Dr. Amit Nagpal

February 2011

Spirituality, Humour and Leadership hould a leader have good sense of humour?

Debatable, people would say. How can you be a strong administrator, no nonsense person, if you joke and smile? People will get too relaxed, take you lightly and loose seriousness towards work.

Actually true, when you are young, too gentle or have immature subordinates. As managers we all would have experienced this problem at some point of time. I remember my ex-boss would stop laughing and give a serious look when he was having a chat with his peers when a subordinate entered his office.

So you will tell me, “As it is humour is difficult with the kind of pressures we work in and you are further adding the complication of spirituality.” But have all of us not learned this lesson, “If it is easy, it wouldn't be worth much.” All good things come at a heavy cost.

Giving your style a touch of humour and being a no nonsense person either comes with lot of experience or with the aid of wisdom of balance (gained through spiritual tools).

Let me add few of my offbeat jokes here. I recently wrote on Facebook, “She has brought so much light to my life that I think I need to apply the sunscreen.” If we sacrifice our smile to become managers, is it worth it? Well I have my doubts. I once wrote, “He removed the smile from his face to become a strong administrator. And he became one, but the life has stopped smiling back at him since then.”

I always have a joke ready for any situation, “HMP Music CEO has resigned. Many people are vying for the post. I think I should call it a musical chair.” Take life seriously but don't take yourself too seriously. I plan to write an innovative book. Inspired by Gandhi, but a bit more complicated, my book is entitled, 'My Experiments with Complete Truth, Ruthless Frankness and Brutal Honesty.'

Sadly, enlightenment word is taken too seriously in society. May be we still associate it with the fact that Lord Buddha left his wife sleeping and attained enlightenment by running away from family duties.

But this is only a mental block we have. To add a touch of humour I would rather say, had Lord Buddha started 'Enlightenment Inc.', its punch line would be, Dimaag ki batti jala De, or switch on the mind's light.

Humour is in fact a great way to communicate in today's stressed out, burned out society. If I tell you to silence your mind through meditation, you will get bored. But if I express the same idea by saying, “We have developed powerful silencers for the vehicles, but our minds are always making noise,” there is more likelihood that you will think about it, make some noise in your mind to decide to silence your mind.

When my students take me lightly and start misbehaving, I tell them, “Fortunately man evolved from monkey, but some people still behave like monkeys, forgive them... for they are still evolving.”

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And I sarcastically ask them, “Are you still evolving?”

I think our society is going mad. Or maybe the entire society is suffering from, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), obsessed with money, compulsively chasing material, and it is no wonder that the demand for psychiatrists increases every day. Just stop and think, why do we need so much money? Are we all not running, not even knowing where we are going? I would rather say, “While rats are in the rut of the rat race, the cool cat enjoys the show (tamasha) from the sidelines.”

To explain the concept of servant leadership, I take the analogy of new buses with engines at the back. “Engines which were placed in the front are now being placed at the back. The time is coming for the servant leadership.”

One of my favorite mentors, Col Sunil Prem told us how commando training breaks the mental barriers of trainees. I believe, “Spirituality is the commando training of the spirit, crossing the barriers created by our own selves, the limiting beliefs.” I once joked on salary negotiation by organizations, “We pay 20% more salary than what you deserve, but how much you deserve, we only know.”

Wherever I have seen managers and creatives work together, I have always seen a conflict, a difference of perspective like the never ending battle of the sexes.

Once I wrote, “And the debate began between the creatives and the managers, both claiming superiority.

Creatives said, if we create then only you can manage.

Managers said, if we don't manage what you create, all your creations will be destroyed. Then the Leaders came and both creatives and managers accepted their leadership.”

I sympathize with work addicts who have lost out on relationships. I once posted, “Workaholics Anonymous, welcomes all work addicts who have lost all relationships because of work and the pressure has taken all the light away from their mind and work gives them a kick, but everybody else has kicked them out. Welcome, make a fake identity on social network and we will provide the emotional support.”

My Chairman once told me, “Amit you can write a book on OFFBEAT jokes.” I said, "Sir, if I go OFF on a one week holiday to do that, don't BEAT me up.” Create your own story; develop your own leadership style. Add a pinch of humour and spirituality if you wish, but listen to your inner voice. The day your soul has reached the right maturity level, the right time has come for you to become MSR (Mocker, Seeker, and Leader).

My story is a bit different. It's about a Monk who bought a Ferrari and then took everyone for a joy ride.

Dr Amit Nagpal, PhD amitknagpal@gmail.com

The power of the flowers - By Amy Cohen

February 2011

The power of the flowers: keeping healthy spiritually, emotionally and physically t is so tough to stay grounded these days. So much going on within our family, our community, our planet. We are dealing with more negative issues than ever before for ourselves and our children. And what is worse, finding our way out is getting smaller and smaller and we are beginning to, or already feeling trapped.

There are many flower remedies made by only a handful of people throughout the world. The belief behind the flowers is that at the heart of all distress and disease, is an imbalance in our emotional outlook on things. If we heal our emotional dis-ease, our physical healing follows.

Besides all the flowers discovered for our emotional healing, many new and profound remedies have been discovered for our spiritual growth. There are newly (when I say new-these remedies have been researched for many years) discovered remedies to help us with our meditation, to help with reaching our higher selves, remedies that help us heal and balance our chakras. We have remedies that come from animals, gems and all live forms.

We have come so far with our remedies, and come so far with our healing arts.

These issues can be anything from a career you don't want anymore, a job you lost, anger issues, depression, loneliness, an unhappy marriage, or maybe feeling stuck. Then we have our kids-some struggling with ADD/ADHD, confidence, behavioral issues, sleep/eating disorders, failing in school. Everywhere we turn; there is something new to add to the pile!

I am here to tell you that you can get yourself out from under. You can feel good, your family can live calmly and happy.

I have been seeing beautiful results with children on the spectrum as well. It helps to relieve some of the symptoms that are common, such as communication, contact, fixations and concentration. I have had beautiful results with these symptoms.

This is where the beauty of the flower remedies come in. It can take a child that is aggressive to a non-aggressive happy calm state. It can help your child who's brain is always, always thinking to stop, turn off and rest, or a bed wetter that is not able to stop, to make him/her stop. Daily tantrums seem to get shorter in duration, then disappear. Sibling rivalry, rage, confidence, self-love, sadness can all be improved. It's beautiful! You and your children start to feel different, to think different to feel good and start living the life you all want to live.

It just happens naturally as you are moved back into balance.

Flower remedies should be in every household, every pantry, and when you wake in the morning and feel not your best, reach for the remedy you need to bring you and your children back to feeling your strongest mind, your best self! It changes our own family world and allows us to live in a calm and happy environment where we feel strong enough to reach for, and achieve all of our goals.

After taking a customized remedy blend, your stress begins to heal; you forget you were feeling so overwhelmed! You will deal with your family and your job differently. You start to think about other things you can do for your future if you are not happy with your job, and you start to feel happy again. Your household is moving towards calm and happy. The beauty of all this, its natural. Given to us from the earth.

All around us, all over the world, we have everything we need to help heal. It was here before we were, waiting for us, with the intent of healing.

What can possibly be better!

Amy Cohen is a flower remedies practitioner and teacher living in NJ. She travels all over the world to work with the finest producers of flower remedies and find the best remedies to use for her clients and bring back to the U.S. Amy has clients all over the world, doing phone and skype consultations. You can learn more on her website at www.strongestminds.com and you can email her any questions at: amycohen@strongestminds.com.

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Is there such a thing as a real friend?

February 2011

Is there such a thing as a real friend? red sphere, ask yourself what blocks or attachments are holding you back from creating the types of friendships you want. Explore why you keep attracting unbalanced relationships what do you need to learn or release in order to attract healthy, balanced friendships? Record all that you receive.

From MaryAnn: I used to think I had many friends, but lately I am not so sure those are real friends. I don't hear from them for months and then when something goes wrong in their lives, they call me and I bend over backwards to help, but when I call them with a problem or just to say hi, they either don't respond or are too busy to talk. Do real friends really exist and how do I get some of them?

With this information in hand, you can work on what you need in order to heal these patterns.

This may take time and require external help, for there may be several layers to work through. For each item on the list, when you are ready to release it, on a Thursday sit in your sacred space with your higher self and feel a blue cube around you. Breathe in the blue radiant light, filling you as if you were a crystal vessel. Shine this light out from within you in every d i r e c t i o n , extending beyond the walls of the cube in shades of blue and green.

Thank the pattern for its service and feel it transmute into pure energy that fuels your healing.

Inspirations from Binah: The definition of real in friendship is as fluid as a running stream.

Each person will have their definition, one just as valid as the other. What you seek is a balanced friendship where your definitions match, and that will require you to know what is important to you a n d a c t accordingly.

Before releasing any of your existing relationships, you should make a list of what friendship looks like to you. Spend an evening alone watching movies that represent friendship. You can watch just your favorite parts or the whole film, what is most important is to write down all the behavior and feelings you want in your own friendships.

Repeat this process as often as necessary in order to remove obstacles and patterns that keep you from finding "real" friendship. With each transformation, consciously ask to only attract relationships that are healthy for you. Let slip the friendships that no longer serve and nurture the new ones that blossom. Soon you will have a full garden!

Take this list and over at least three days expand on it based on your interactions with friends.

Did you leave anything out? Are there things that are more important than others? Remember that you can only control your own behavior, therefore focus your energy on how you want to act and feel in the relationship.

Yvette Soler, a leading spiritual teacher who will help you find spiritual solutions to the issues in your life. Please forward any questions you may have to binah@eternallightenergy.com.

Additional questions, answers and podcasts can be found on the Inspirations from Binah website: www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

On the following Tuesday, set aside some time for deep meditation. Prepare your sacred space, call in your Higher Self and create a red sphere of light around you. Have your list before you and a clean page where you can write more. Within the

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How do I invoke the emotion of loving myself?

February 2011

How do I invoke the emotion of loving myself? comes to the surface and reveals what is buried deep.

Each expression shows you your strengths and weaknesses, creating a blueprint for your personal development.

Not sure you want to go it alone? There are many Intentional Dance communities which will guide you through this emotional experience. Incorporating ritual, ceremony, breath, music and movement, dance becomes meditation taking you to higher states of consciousness. Some groups also incorporate vocalizations through chanting, grunting and toning.

"Throughout time, humans have gathered and danced in ceremony. We have used dance as a means to get in touch with our inner and outer landscapes and as a tool to conjure light and dark energies. These energies are inherent parts of each of us.

B y building communi ty with o n e another we create a safe, connectiv

From Marina: People always say feel the love within, love yourself first. What healing steps can we take in order to invoke the emotion of loving ourselves? What tools do we use to begin this process?

Inspirations from Binah: Love yourself, love thy neighbor, unconditional love, make love... even just a quick search reveals the vast depth of this powerful word. Love is about acceptance, experiencing a situation or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit. It is about looking at yourself in the mirror and being happy with what you see even though you know it is not perfect. You see the wrinkles and understand that their presence reveals the wisdom that can only be acquired through experien ce. Each c u r v e a n d blemish creates t h e unique person you are.

Though you look with your eyes, you see with your heart a reflection of all that lies within a deep glow that can only be obtained by stepping onto the path of life and marching forward in spite of the obstacles.

What we seek for ourselves is unconditional love; a love that shows us the beauty and harmony in all that surrounds us, encouraging us to explore the shadows as we walk through the light. Of course there will be moments of sadness and pain, but you recover quickly when your heart is filled with that elusive quality called self-love, a knowledge that you have all you need to heal and grow. But how do you find self-love? How do you find that endless well of internal beauty and acceptance?

You dance... "... Dance... is about the primitive response to the world around us. It evokes emotions, tells stories and can connect the dots of the inner fury that every living thing experiences."

Dance allows us to release our emotions through movement and sound. By choosing a song at random, closing your eyes and allowing your body to move without restraint, your subconscious

e container within which we can develop deeper relationships to authentic self-expression and integral health." -Synergy: Intentional Dance Experiment Add dance to your spiritual toolbox as a way of gauging how you feel and expressing self-love. Push the coffee table out of the way, pick a selection of your favorite tunes and let your body commune with spirit in motion!

Q u o t e b y : http://www.thoughts.com/BitterSweetNy/once-onthis-island-a-story-of-love S y n e r g i e : http://www.facebook.com/synergyintentionaldance Podcast can be downloaded from: http://www.eternallightenergy.com/IFBpodcasts/Ho w_do_I_invoke_the_emotion_of_loving_myself.mp 3 Yvette Soler, a leading spiritual teacher who will help you find spiritual solutions to the issues in your life.

Please forward any questions you may have to binah@eternallightenergy.com. Additional questions, answers and podcasts can be found on the Inspirations from Binah website: www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

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Kabbalah - Yvette Soler

February 2011

Kabbalah As I sit before my computer and begin the process of writing an answer for a question submitted to Inspirations from Binah, I draw upon many sources, the greatest of which is Kabbalah. But what is Kabbalah? That is a question with many answers depending on who you ask, how long they have been studying and who they studied with.

Here are a few of the most frequently asked: QUESTION: I thought Kabbalah was part of the Jewish religion.

ANSWER: While Jewish Kabbalah is probably the most recognized study of this mystical tradition, Kabbalah is independent of religious thought. We owe much to the Jewish scholars for preserving the knowledge and creating a system for passing in on, a deep appreciation we should always remember. In Hebrew, the word Qabalah means tradition. It is derived from the root Qebal which means to receive. This hidden meaning refers to the oral tradition of Qabalah, transmitted from mouth to ear, teacher to student. When it is translated into English, there are many different spellings: Kabbalah, Cabala, or Qabalah depending on the tradition of the writer.

Kabbalah provides a key to the interpretation of the spiritual teachings, the hidden meanings of the scriptures. The Kabbalah studied by the mystery school traditions has incorporated much deeper knowledge and is commonly defined as the Hermetic Kabbalah.

The Kabbalah was said to have been taught

by God to the Angels in Heaven. It contains the creation of the logos as well as the key to union with source. Perhaps the most common area of study of the Kabbalah focuses on the Tree of Life. The Tree is the soul of this tradition. It is the basis for meditation exercises, inner visions, associations with other systems, cosmology and anthropology.

Understanding the Tree, we can understand the system of initiation used by most of the esoteric

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schools. This is because the tree represents the ideal balance of the aspects of human personality and the relationship of Man to Source; a blueprint to who we are today, what we have within us and what we can become tomorrow.

QUESTION: Do I have to be Jewish to understand or use it?

ANSWER: No. There are many different paths within the Kabbalah landscape. While some follow religious thought, there are many others that use esoteric and spiritual practices to get you to the same place. It is important to find the path that feels right to you.

QUESTION: Is Kabbalah about spells and curses and witchcraft?

ANSWER: Not necessarily. While you can construct rituals based on Kabbalah and through the Tree of Life, you can find associations to the tools of other philosophies. There are many that study Kabbalah without ever broaching these areas.

Kabbalah gives you the tools to understand yourself fully so you can eliminate the subconscious and use all the physical and non-physical energies at your disposal for the greatest good. As a Kabbalist, you would know that using the power of the Universe to deliberately hurt another would only bring you harm.

QUESTION: What does it mean to use angels, planets and the elements?

ANSWER: Through the Tree of Life, we learn that there are archetypal energies that make up the Universe. An easy example of this would be the Greek Gods. Zeus is the great masculine energy, the father of Wisdom and Action. His wife, Hara, is the great feminine energy, the mother Contemplation and Understanding. Aphrodite is the goddess of romantic love in the garden of beauty. In Kabbalah, these same energies are known as Chokmah, Binah and Netzach, respectively.

Just as you can link Greek mythology to Kabbalah, you can connect Kabbalah to angels,

February 2011

Kabbalah - Yvette Soler planets and the elements. Each association brings a greater richness to your ability to work with these energies. When you are looking to understand a given situation, you can call upon Hara to bring you some missing knowledge or you can ask the Aralim angel choir to illuminate the path. Each will get you what you seek in their own unique way.

QUESTION: From what I know about Kabbalah, it sounds very esoteric. What is the practical part of practical spirituality in Kabbalah?

ANSWER: As with many philosophies and traditions, there are millions of lines of text you can read to uncover the nuggets of wisdom and reach new levels of personal understanding. And while many choose to walk the introspective, passive path, there are just as many that are looking for active, practical ways to bring desired energies into daily life.

As an example, imagine you have a situation at work where your co-worker is doing something you don't understand. You don't know if it is good or bad for the business because you don't understand it. You have tried everything you can think of to understand why he does what he does, but you just can't figure it out.

Here are two practical, Kabbalistic aids to understanding your co-worker's actions: 1. At work, while you are watching him do what he does, drink Chamomile tea and intentionally ask your Higher Self (internal guidance) for understanding.

2. Take a Pearl and set your intention for it to channel the energy of understanding. Carry it in your pocket at work so that it is with you as you watch what your co-worker does.

These two small things, done separately or together, will channel the energy of understanding and lead you to clarity on your co-worker's actions.

QUESTION: Can Kabbalah help me with everyday problems like abundance and love?

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ANSWER: Absolutely. Working on multiple levels, Kabbalah holds a mirror up to your inner world, showing you where you have created blocks and are in need of internal house cleaning. Once your obstacles have been identified, you can develop personal strategies to eliminate the roadblocks and transfer that energy into positive areas of your life. Study of Kabbalah will teach you the building blocks of the Universe, which can be used to eradicate barriers and create an internal and external path that leads to abundance in all aspects of your life.

QUESTION: Can Kabbalah help cure diseases?

ANSWER: The Tree of Life is within us, representing our physical, emotional and spiritual body. Each sphere represents a part of the body, both internally and externally, as well the emotional links created. Learning these correspondences will show you the source of your illness and reveal techniques for healing. From medicinal herbs for tinctures to musical tones for music therapy, the associations provided by the Tree of Life will equip you with a multitude of tools from which you can choose the best treatment for preventing and treating disease.

QUESTION: I've lived most of my life without using Kabbalah. Why do you think it will help me now?

ANSWER: Kabbalah not only provides a window into your inner self, it also provides you with the ability to create tools for personal development and empowerment. Its study will fill your spiritual toolbox with knowledge and problem solving techniques that can be applied to all areas of life, including the physical, emotional and spiritual, furthering your spiritual awakening. The more you know about yourself, the more empowered you will become.

Yvette Soler, a leading spiritual teacher who will help you find spiritual solutions to the issues in your life. To find out how Kabbalah can enrich your daily life, visit www.eternallightenergy.com or ask a question to I n s p i r a t i o n s f r o m B i n a h a t binah@eternallightenergy.com. Additional questions, answers and podcasts can be found on the Inspirations from Binah website: www.inspirationsfrombinah.com

Tantric Sex – An Introduction -Compiled by Dhara Kothari

February 2011

Tantric Sex – An Introduction antra in Sanskrit means: Tantra loom, warp; hence principle, system, doctrine, from the two root words tanoti stretch, extend, and trayati liberation, anglicised as tantricism or tantrism or tantram. The word Tantra also applies to any of the scriptures (called Tantras) commonly identified with the worship of Shakti.

Tantra deals primarily with spiritual practices and ritual forms of worship, which aim at liberation from ignorance and rebirth, the universe being regarded as the divine play of Shakti and Shiva.

Tantra is the beliefs and practices by which, working from the principle that the universe we experience is nothing other than the concrete manifestation of the divine energy that creates and maintains that universe, seeks to ritually appropriate and channel that energy, within the human microcosm, in c r e a t i v e a n d emancipatory ways. The Tantric practitioner seeks to use the prana (divine power) that flows through the universe including one's own body to attain purposeful goals. These goals may be spiritual, material or both.

Tantrism is a quest for spiritual perfection and magical power. Its purpose is to achieve complete control of oneself, and of all the forces of nature, in order to attain union with the cosmos and with the divine.

Tantric sex is a spiritual practice. It is not aimed at self-indulgence or pleasure as an end in itself. There is an aspect of sex in highest yoga tantra practice which is both symbolic as well as descriptive of the practice of using sexual intercourse to transform one's sexual potential into a blissful consciousness directed towards achieving enlightenment.

Tantra like Yoga or Zen is a path to enlightenment, which has its roots in India. It is nicknamed the science of ecstasy and focuses on heightening and prolonging the special awareness and rapport that

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exists between lovers. This view holds that the greatest source of energy in the universe is sexual, and places high value on ritualized intercourse.

Sexual orgasm is seen as a cosmic and divine experience. Tantric philosophy also teaches that everything is to be experienced playfully, yet with awareness and a sense of sacredness in every gesture, every sensory perception, and every action.

The sexual practices in the Vajrayana context are very different from ordinary sexual activity. This is an extremely advanced practice and should only be performed once realizations of the path have been achieved. Sexual symbolism is common in Vajrayana iconography, where it basically represents the union of wisdom and compassion or wisdom and method. This is of utmost importance as this shows that enlightenment can only be achieved through practising both wisdom and compassion.

According to some Tibetan authorities, the physical practice of sexual yoga is necessary at the highest level for the attainment of enlightenment. The use of sexual yoga is highly regulated. It is only permitted after years of training. A great majority of Tibetans believe that the only proper practice of tantric texts is metaphorically, not physically, in rituals and during meditative visualizations.

The concept of agni (fire) is associated with the concept of soma (nectar) forming a complementary pair. Soma is fuel to agni and it quenches its continuous thirst. From their union a new creation is born, and vice versa, the pair agni - soma appears where there is a creative process. For example in a loving couple, passion is agni and the loved one is soma. In the human body, digestion is agni and food is soma. In the tantric sexual alchemy, there is the pair tejas (agni) and ojas (soma). Even on a larger scale, in a star, the atomic fire is agni and the

Tantric Sex – An Introduction -Compiled by Dhara Kothari hydrogen fuel is soma. When one looks carefully we can find a soma for any agni. In the human psychic, agni acts as desire and intentional will, and soma is whatever is the object of that desire or will.

Through the intimate connection of body and universe in tantric thought, we can understand how sex and orgasm can be seen as a cosmic and divine experience. Sex may be used by tantric' to heighten their energies, consciousness or connection to the universe which can aid healing (peace, wholeness, power, bliss) and growth (self-esteem). The following quotes express different understandings of tantra; 'In tantra, sex is used as the cosmic union of the opposites, to create the polarity charge that connects with the primordial energy from which everything arises in the universe; the totality of all.'

The greatest source of energy in the universe is sexual, and places high value on ritualised intercourse. Sexual orgasm is seen as a cosmic and divine experience. Tantric sexual practices involve heightening sexual energy so that it can be utilized for spiritual growth and healing. They help you embrace the divine nature of your sexual energy and learn to flow it to the upper energy centres of your body.

The path of the tantra is a spiritual one, which includes and appreciates the experience of our sexuality and sensuality as a conscious meditation, as a flowing together of the physical, erotic and cosmic energies. If you were a devoted student of tantric philosophy, you would go through an extensive program of physical, sexual and mental exercises to heighten your sensory awareness.

There are tantric texts that specify sex having three distinct and separate purposes; procreation, pleasure and liberation. Those seeking liberation avoid frictional orgasm for a higher form of ecstasy, as the couple participating in the ritual lock in a static embrace. Several sexual rituals are recommended and practiced. These involve elaborate and meticulous preparatory and purificatory rites. The sexual act itself balances energies coursing within the pranic ida and pingala channels in the subtle bodies of both participants.

The sushumna nadi is awakened and kundalini rises upwards within it. This eventually culminates in samadhi, wherein the respective individual personalities and identities of each of the participants are completely dissolved in a unity of cosmic consciousness. Tantrics understand these acts on multiple levels. The male and female participants that are conjoined physically are represented as Shiva and Shakti, the male and female principles. Beyond the physical, a subtle fusion of Shiva and Shakti energies takes place, resulting in a united energy field. On an individual

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February 2011

level, each participant experiences a fusion of one's own Shiva and Shakti energies.

There is no end goal in Tantric sex, only the present moment of an ideal, harmonious union. Tantra teaches you to worship your sexual partner and to transform the act of sex into a sacrament of love.

Tantric sex attempts to awaken powerful psychic energies within through which we can enter into higher states of consciousness.

February 2011

Graphology - by Binoy Sasidharan

Graphology Handwriting Analysis and the study of human behavior through handwriting he myth that our personalities might be hidden in our handwriting is attractive. The way each of us writes is so personal, apparently in just the same way our personalities are so individual.

Handwriting is also a mode of personal expression, a creative act we have been developing our whole lives.

Handwriting analysis is refered to as Graphology.

Handwriting may also be regarded as brain writing. It is an expression of the whole personality. Writing is expressive movements and these movements have there meanings and interpretations. Graphology is the study of handwriting and the connection it has to a person's behavior.

Graphology has been actively used in compiling profiles for employment, business partnerships and marital compatibility. In Switzerland, approximately 80 percent of large corporations use graphology in their hiring procedures.

History of Graphology Most of what we know about Graphology dates back over the last few hundred years. The first known book about Graphology was published in 1622 by Camillo Baldi, an Italian doctor of medicine and philosophy. In 1872, Jean Michon published his book on Graphology which became the authority on the subject at that time. Soon, European universities started to offer a Ph.D. or Master's degree in graphology.

Conducting a Graphology analysis You will need a sample of spontaneous handwriting written on plain paper using a ballpoint or fountain pen of not less than 12 lines long with a signature.

How and where is Graphology applied?

Compatibility Issues: Usually done for couples who wish to test their true compatibility before marrying.

Graphology is used to ascertain whether or not the couple in question complement one another and can expect to enjoy a long lasting commitment. Even in cultures where arranged marriages are still a part of societal ways, graphology is used by elders in the community before giving consent as a sort of extra assurance that the individuals should indeed marry.

Human Relations: Graphology, along with an assembly of other similar tools, like a criminal background check, are thought to be useful as a method of facilitating the hiring process, giving companies a way to place prospective employees in positions better suited to them, or perhaps decide to not hire at all. However, using graphology as a part of the recruitment process has been greatly criticized in terms of both legal and ethical grounds.

Legal Matters: Graphologists are often called upon by those in the legal profession to examine and analyze handwriting samples of prospective jurors as well as those on trial in order to learn more about their personalities, giving the counsel an edge in their case.

Graphology - Main Features/Parameters ?

The Pressure Used: It is said that the pressure one uses when writing exudes the intensity of their emotions, or also their stress levels with, obviously, the heaviest applications being indicative of the more intense

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emotions. ?

The Shape of Strokes: Handwriting that is square indicates practicality, whereas irregular strokes and squiggly lines convey a more relaxed, artistic view and approach to life. Handwriting that is circular in appearance is said to indicate an easygoing, agreeable nature, and in contrast, angular handwriting with sharp, jagged points may indicate aggressive behaviour, high levels of energy, and a direct, purposeful approach. ?

The Slant of Handwriting: Handwriting that slants forward indicates that one is rather emotionally expressive, and the opposite is true for those whose writing slants vertically, indicating a possible sense of withdrawal when it comes to emotions. Upward slants are said to mean optimism, while downward slants may indicate exhaustion or low energy levels. ?

Graphology / Handwriting Analysis / Grapho-therapy Graphology features and interpretations provide a small but useful guide as to the way people behave, and particularly how they handle their social requirements.

Check your own handwriting against these pointers to see (Graphology Main Features/Parameters) what you can learn or confirm about yourself, and see also how effective even just a few simple graphology techniques can be in revealing personality style.

Understanding the personality through handwriting is a valuable way of making the best of both personal awareness and interpersonal situations for the benefit of all concerned.

The aim in using graphology to analyse a person's handwriting must always be positive. The interpretation should enable people analysed to use the understanding gained, to help them live their lives to the highest level of satisfaction that they choose. In a professional or organizational context, graphology can play an important part in enabling working relationships to be forged that will enhance the quality of the group or team performance.

Binoy Sasidharan

ANDORRA

February 2011

- Dhara Kothari

ANDORRA

A whole world in a small country ucked away in the eastern Pyrenees, the tiny Principality of Andorra is a land of narrow valleys and mountainous landscapes.

Andorra's pretty villages and hamlets dotted along the main road that traverses the country are filled with houses built in the local style. The few found away from the main road are even more unspoilt, and provide spectacular views across the rugged countryside.

Andorra officially the Principality of Andorra (Catalan: Principat d'Andorra), also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra. It is a small country located in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains and bordered

by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of 468 km2 (181 square miles) and an estimated population of close to 90,000. Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe, being at an elevation of 1023 metres. The official language is Catalan, although Spanish, French, and Portuguese are also commonly spoken.

The Principality was formed in 1278. The role of monarch is exercised jointly by the two co-princes, the President of the French Republic and the Bishop of Urgell, Catalonia, Spain. Andorra is a prosperous country mainly because of its tourism industry, which services an estimated 10.2 plus million visitors annually and also because of its status as a tax haven. Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France and Spain. In recent times, however, their thriving tourist industries along with developments in transport and communications have removed the country from its isolation. Its political system was modernised in 1993, when it became a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Places to visit Casa de la Vall Originally built as a family home in 1580, Casa de la Vall was bought by the General Council in 1702 and is now the seat of the Andorran Parliament. Situated in the old heart of Andorra la Vella, its architecture includes both civil and military elements. Inside

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there is an interesting cupboard with seven keys which once held the most important national documents. The cupboard could only be opened by the simultaneous presence of councillors from each of the seven constituencies in the country. There is also a dormitory and a kitchen with magnificent 16th century murals. The Sala de la Justicia is the only courtroom in the whole country and the Sala del Consell is where the parliament still assembles.

Caldea Caldea is one of Europe's largest health spas, a futuristic architectural wonder situated in the heart of the Andorran mountains. There are over 6000 square meters of indoor and outdoor lagoons, saunas, jacuzzis, pools, Indo-Roman baths, cascades, bubble beds and much more. Fed by natural thermal springs, it is an essential part of any visit to Andorra, especially after a hard day's fun in the snow.

The Castle of Sant Vicenรง d'Enclar Perched on a hilltop at an altitude of over 1126 meters, the Castle of Sant Vicenรง d'Enclar overlooks the village of Santa Coloma. This medieval complex was built between the 9th and the 12th centuries and was the home of the Counts of Urgell. Visit the church, the necropolis and various ruins as well as

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the remains of the battlements and the stone guard walk.

The Casa d'ArenyPlandolit Museum, Ordino The Casa d'ArenyPlandolit Museum traces over three centuries in the life of an Andorran noble family. The museum is based in the house where the family lived since 1633 and gives a fascinating insight into how Andorran people lived.

Andorra la Vella Andorra La Vella is the capital of Andorra and its biggest town. Lying at the confluence of the Gran Valira, the Valira del Oriente and the Valira del Norte rivers, Andorra La Vella is dwarfed by stunning snow-capped mountains of up to 2500 metres high. Check out The Barri Antic (old town) the original heart of the town when it was little more than a village. Stroll in the Placa del Poble the large public square atop the Edifici Administratiu Govern d'Andorra. It's a great place for people to enjoy an evening and is home to the town's theatre.

Snow Probably Andorra's most valuable natural resource, heavy winter snow is very conducive to most winter sports. For about six months of the year, Andorra's well-equipped ski stations have perfect conditions for skiing. The main ski stations are at Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig, Soldeu-Tarter, Arinsal, Pal and Arcalís.

Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is a glacial valley in Andorra. The isolated valley offers visitors the chance to discover the harmony between nature and mankind saved over the years. The isolated valley is

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recognised as a haven for rare or endangered wildlife, and the undeveloped valley has recently been considered to be the spiritual heart of Andorra. It covers an area approximately of 43 km² and this represents almost 10% of the surface area of the country. In 2004 it became Andorra's first, and to date it's the only, UNESCO World Heritage Site in the cultural landscape category.

La Massana This parish contains the highest point in Andorra, the peak of Comapedrosa at an altitude of 2942 metres. One should also note its wealth of rivers since it is crossed by the Northern Valira, the rivers of Arinsal, Pal and Montaner, and numerous tributaries and streams. Its wealth of mineral waters is considerable. It is in the north-west of the country, separated from Escaldes-Engordany by the Sant Antoni tunnels, and holds great wooded areas such as the woods of Pal, Jou and Padern. It has very varied flora and fauna, including the proud presence of the isard (the chamois of the Pyrenees) as well as boars, foxes, hares and wood cocks.

Ordino Sornàs, Ansalonga, La Cortinada, Llorts and Ordino, five quarts or villages, make up the parish.

Ordino is the opposite extreme to the hectic pace of Andorra la Vella or Escaldes. It is a fortress of peace.

Farming is more in evidence than commercial offers or hotel complexes and it has maintained, intact and its air of a gentlemanly retreat. At Sornàs there are prehistoric drawings, at La Cortinada the Romanesque church of Sant Martí with its mediaeval frescoes, at Arans its famous cave with a profusion of stalactites and stalagmites and at Llorts its traditional chapel.

Engolasters The Engolasters Lake is where you can take a walk on the tracks around the lake and if you feel like hiking, you can take the Les Pardines track that leads to Encamp, forming an interesting mountain bicycle circuit. The existence of a hot spa, considered to be one of the hottest in Europe, gave rise to the construction of the first spa hotels, situated in the town of Escaldes; Hotel Valira, Pla, Carlemany and Muntanya. These buildings are

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commercial and hotel centre.

Mountain Meditation The Pyrenees are a range of mountains in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. For the most part, the main crest forms a massive divider between France and Spain, with the tiny country of Andorra sandwiched in between.

Mineral springs are abundant and remarkable, and especially noteworthy are the hot springs. The hot springs, among which those of Les Escaldes in Andorra are sulphurous and mostly situated high, near the contact of the granite with the stratified rocks.

These mountains may not have great lakes but what they do offer are great waterfalls.

These mountain ranges form the most natural hiking mountain retreats and natural representative of a mixture of French and Catalan influences from the Pyrenean bordering areas.

However, the use of local stone, an essential element for the walls of this new architecture, made them blend into the natural environment. Stylistically, they did not belong to any specific artistic movement, but rather they were included in typography of mountain buildings which retained certain important similarities.

Escaldes - Engordany The nerve centre of Andorran commerce consists of Avinguda Meritxell and Avinguda Carlemany, a single artery with two names. Escaldes owes its name to the hot spa waters which are still pouring out of public fountains at temperatures of over 60째 centigrade. Many private houses and hotels have these waters and it is no surprise that they have given rise to a giant spa centre. Escaldes-Engordany contains architectural jewels and in less than fifty years, Escaldes-Engordany has gone from being a totally farming community to being a great

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meditation retreats. The back to wilderness and solitude mountain retreat discovering the healing of natural effortless mindfulness, awareness and mountain meditation, spiritual fasting for personal growth, health, transformation and uprightness, rediscovering or exploring the deepest natural inborn awareness, meditation, spirituality and selfhealing. Live evaluation experience and the benefits of living life as a hermit, the luxury of being really out for weeks, without phone or mail. Mountain hiking meditation retreat in the Pyrenees and the spiritual hiking retreat are holidays for both body and soul.

Rediscovering the value of silence and most simple way of living during health retreat for spiritual healing and transformation.

Trekking and just being there;

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Mountain retreat fasting is no zero calories fasting but a natural Ayurveda based fasting technique: During meditation retreat and hiking days you eat a cup of muesli in the morning, eat rice or lentil soup at noon and night, drink herb tea. Life is experience and experience is bodily felt. This bodily awareness is awareness of the spirit of what you're doing.

hiking, walking, contemplation, awareness, natural effortless mindfulness and your own critical reflection of how you live. No guru no mysticism but down to Earth spirituality a natural meditation retreat.

Hiking mountain retreat; a simple natural path to deeper personal growth, better health and awareness in the midst of Western Europe's last wilderness. Wilderness retreat offers a natural way to combine both physical exercise in search for more fitness and health with turning into and rediscovering natural healing processes.

There is plenty of time to sleep rest and dream, feel and contemplate what comes up.

Mountains can be hazardous, weather bad, night's cold, and solitude difficult. That's real mountain wilderness meditation retreat: demanding autonomy. Respect of the others retreat in meditation, silence and solitude is of course a must. You also get a grasp of the soul of the mountains and why they help you to contact your deeper self.

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Other activities Andorra is the country of mountain climbing and for complete novices there are many rock walls to start with. Then there are many eco trails to discover glacier landscapes and ancient forest. Nature reserves and botanical gardens, which are home to 700 flowers and plant species, some unique to the Pyrenean. Some eco routes pass by meadows of matgrass, sub-alpine forests of hooked pine and rock-

fall terrain with exuberant plants like those from the daisy family. They are accompanied by European and Pyrenean monkshood. In the meadows of East Alpine Violet, there is English iris, groundsels and Canterbury bells, and particularly the clustered bellflower. Pyrenean brook newts and salamanders hide in the brooks and wetlands. It is well worth observing the multicoloured butterflies, some of which are rare, like the Apollo.

Another route passes through sub-alpine meadows. Before reaching the lake, to cross marshes with orchids. From the lake, you can ascend the peak, where there is exceptional flora, such as; water-crowfoot froom glaciers, retusa and potentilla saxifrage. There are the tits singing and the common crossbill with its characteristic beak. Then there are mountain goats in the canals. In the high areas, there are rock ptarmigans, red-billed and yellow-billed choughs. In the peaks, there are bearded vultures and golden eagles.

The Valley of Incles road brings the most

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stunning glacial valley in the Principality of Andorra. This r o u t e i s dominated by pine forests of hooked pine with the occasional European white birch, aspen and rosemary willow.

The Woodman Trail is in the Rabassa Forest, at an altitude of between 1,400 and 1,500 metres.

The whole route passes through the most attractive Scotch pine forests of Andorra.

The undergrowth is dominated by the common bearberry. Throughout the route, birds like the nuthatch, the coal tit, common goldcrest, etc., sing.

Mammals like squirrels, foxes and deer also live in these woods.

The district of Sant Julià de Lòria allows you to appreciate a rich natural heritage and discover local species amidst a great variety of landscapes. At the same time, during the trips, you will discover about the trades and crafts that used to be practiced here.

The district of Encamp, with four ecotourism trails, gives you the chance to discover the great diversity of flora and fauna, as well as the landscape surrounding them.

One can also enjoy a wide variety of routes of all levels, and the best bike parks in the Pyrenees. If you

want to have a great time with your friends or family, then nature activity parks is just for you. There are various historical heritages that can transport you back in time. Andorra also offers several refuges for hiking and trekking routes that never seem to end.

Do you want to feel what it is like to submerge in lakes at an altitude of over 2000 metres, in pure, crystalline water, where few people have dived before? Climb to altitudes of 2,700 metres, in ascents of great beauty, and try high altitude scuba diving to depths of more than 90 metres for lovers of more advanced diving techniques. With ascents by foot, or on a horse or a donkey, and through panoramic views by helicopter.

A diving experience like no other in the world, in lakes at an altitude of over 2000 metres, in summer and winter when you can go under ice. There are special training courses on offers as well.

Getting there Flights to Andorra: Andorra does not have an international airport. Closest international airports: Barcelona (BCN) in Spain and Toulouse (TLS) in France, besides others.

Travel by road: There are several bus routes that can be taken from Spain- Barcelona; Lleida; La Seu d'Urgell; Girona; Reus; Salamanca; Tui and Hospitalet de l'Infant. From FranceL'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre; Tolouse. From Portugal- Arcos de Valvérdez and Porto. There are three bus stations in Andorra itself.

Taxis/Car: Taxis may also be taken and sharing is common practice to cut costs. If you take your own car there are several routes from Spain and France.

Travel by rail: Closest train stations are: 1. Sants station (Barcelona). 2.

Lleida Pirineos station (Lleida), Spain. 3. Matabiau Station (Toulouse) France. 4. Hospitaletprès-l'Andorre station, France.

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Amusement is a form of love - By Master Chrism

February 2011

Amusement is a form of love - By Master Chrism Amusement is a form of love. It keeps one impervious to attachments from influences that feed off of fear for example. Fear evaporates in the face of amusement. It really is a useful and enjoyable tool to partake of as much as possible.

Amusement responds to Kundalini and is transformed into bliss, sometimes ecstatic bliss. Amusement is a protection from depression and fear and trauma dramas. It is an expressed form of love that is partaken of by the entire body and mind and emotions and spirit. All of the body's take part in a good laugh! This in turn leads to its healing and restorative functions as when the body is in laughter/love/bliss ecstasy disease is removed from the focus consciously and subconsciously.

This is why from a Kundalini perspective amusement is a quality to always have close at hand. I laugh quite a bit as a normal aspect of my interactions on this earth.

It is important to have laughter every day and in every way from the laughter of what a kitten or puppy can give to that of perplexed expressions of wonderment with what the human condition provides (serious laughter here!) to what actions we take in our everyday interactions with others. (Important is to be able to laugh at and with ourselves). During trauma dramas in the dream life one can see immediate results when injecting laughter into the equation.

Amusement provides a lightness of being. A carefree and love based lightning expression of appreciation and joy. The body heaves with laughter the same as it heaves in sadness during crying. Same muscles at work. Just another aspect of feeling. So please partake of it as much as you can during a Kundalini event from activation to awakening to kriyas and heart chakra activations.

Blessings to all who read it and are able to instill in themselves as mush laughter and joy as they can spill out from themselves into others. Š Chrism 2011 Chrism is another person like you, a consciousness clothed in flesh, who uses a set of protocols entitled the Safeties he guides students in a loving and safe manner through the Kundalini process. www.kundaliniawakeningsystems1.com

Photograph by Jiten Soni Special Person Special person is like a special word in your life, that special person who knows, understands and be with you at the best.

Special person is not when you are looking for a need that special person is indeed with you 24 hours round the clock.

Special person is not someone who makes you laugh that special person is one who supports you in your smile and makes you live with a smile.

Special person is not someone who has been with for years and years that special person is whom who be with you when you needed the most.

Special person is not someone you always make you justify things, that special person is someone who always supports you in your decisions.

Don't worry on your special person, that special person can be anyone you or me or someone whom you yet have to know from within your heart.

- Jiten Soni 22

February 2011

Kundalini and dreams - By Master Chrism

Kundalini and dreams he dream life is one of the main areas of communication between the Kundalini consciousness and the human ego or psychological consciousness.

These dreams will be customized towards the individual consciousness as it is this consciousness, along with all other bodies of awareness that is being transformed.

Often this communication will come in the form of a symbol or groupings of symbols that will represent certain aspects of an individual's life. Such as, a house in disarray indicating the need for some personal organization or as a need for further balancing of mental and emotional struggles or a beautiful scene, indicating a loving communication from nature. These are symbols of movement from one expression to the next.

In our lives we can experience a great many events and experiences that can last many years within our psyche. These thoughts and feelings can color the present time existence in ways that are quite challenging to our inner happiness and complacency. Kundalini dreams will seek to balance these areas.

Many of the Kundalini communications will be designed for the amelioration of these inner areas of turmoil or confusion gently or roughly guiding us into a healthier and greater awareness of what it is we are to learn and absorb through these experiences.

We are often given dramas with modulating story lines that point to a certain set of behaviors and actions, feelings, and thoughts that we are to adopt or cleanse ourselves of. Sometimes we will be given these over and over again until we begin to internalize them to the point of conscious expression of these teachings within our daily and nocturnal activities.

Within the Kundalini dream divine personages or teachers may come and give specific guidance towards the purification and inculcation of the Kundalini divine agenda within and upon the individual. These teachings are often accompanied by blissful or exalted feelings of love and appreciation from the dreamer.

Sometimes they come in ways that can be as a sharp rebuke for certain activities that must be stopped immediately. Drug use or addictions of many various natures would fall into this category.

Often within the Kundalini dream a type or many types and varieties of animals may come. Some species show up more than others such as the serpent or the tiger or panther. Spiders and birds are other manifestations of the Kundalini consciousness as it begins to help a person understand that the true source of divine transformation is held within the arms of nature. Mother Nature to be more precise as Kundalini in its feminine expression is the manifestation of this force.

As the primary conditioning factor for Kundalini begins its expression into the person it is the Sacred Feminine that takes the lead beginning to help her Kundalini child embrace a new world of expression and understanding while still immersed inside the world of the mundane physical.

These animals will most certainly appear in the Kundalini dreaming life of many people entering into this supreme expression. Yet one of the many differences of a Kundalini dream and a non Kundalini dream is that the Kundalini dream can literally bleed into the waking reality of an individual.

Meaning that as the person begins to awaken or is completely awake the Kundalini dream will persist in all of its glorious manifestation into the waking reality! This can rock the reality of the now awakened person, sparking the creation of many questions and concerns within the person and in some cases eliciting a fear response.

In many ways the veil of separation realities have begun to blend and it is in these ways that the Kundalini dreamer is being prepared for the future stages of being that accompanies the K u n d a l i n i a w a k e n i n g p r o c e s s .

These dreams can become the source of much fear. When a

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person does not know what is occurring they can begin to feel as if they are approaching a state of insanity. They can self commit due to these fearful dreams and the intrusive quality of these dreams into their real life. Kundalini is relentless and yet at its foundation Kundalini has the best interests of the individual at its core.

Fear dreams or nightmares can become a common theme if the individual is resisting the Kundalini or so fearful of any change that they immediately freeze up during the Kundalini instruction. And yet even in these circumstances will the Kundalini continue to treat and assist the person inside of their transformation. Kundalini understands fear. And it is as a separate and distinct aspect of our being. It is conscious and cogent of what needs to be given to any individual at any time and does so with a continuous methodology of subtle or gross transformation.

Dreaming in Kundalini can take on many different stages and qualities of expression. The out of body activity or OBE is a common feature leading into the Kundalini expression. As this activity occurs many lessons and a shift of the normal understanding of reality can occur as the dreamer views themselves sleeping thus identifying with more than the physical body lying asleep below them as they float gently above it. This of course can cause another fear response if the occurrence of the phenomena is an unknown for the person.

Lucid dreaming or becoming conscious inside of the dream will also serve as a function of the Kundalini dreaming experience as it may be necessary for the individual to have an awakened psychological conscious awareness inside of the dream state for a discernment of what the Kundalini dream is offering. This can occur in order for the lesson to be received.

The dreaming state can be instantly turned into a Kundalini spiritual vision as a component of the transformation in the later stages of the Kundalini awakening dream experience. These visions are as a real representation of a Kundalini communication and are often superimposed upon the awakening individual's daily conscious understanding and reality. In the afternoon so to say or at lunch can a vision occur or at any time of day or night of the Kundalini consciousness choosing.

In many ways are we gifted with the Kundalini awakening awareness given to us from the Kundalini process. The dreams are a very real and valid vector of open and personal communication for the individual within the Kundalini awakening process. There is no denying it as we will sleep eventually and these dreams will come.

Open to these dreams as you open yourself to the inner divine transformation. Do not fear any aspect of the Kundalini communicating to you even though it may take on a fierce quality to test your levels of fear response. Open to the inner transformation and take no resistance in any form against the Kundalini. Even inside of the scary or frightening dreams are very real treasures and gifts of enlightenment that are waiting to be found by you within these states of consciousness and change.

Let yourself open and become enthusiastic about where you are going and how you are getting there. This is merely one aspect of the Kundalini process but it is a very important aspect and merely requires that you begin to accept and initiate a nonresistant attitude of grace and openness to the Kundalini and its ways of communicating and teaching and transformation within the dreaming expression.

Kundalini blessings to all! Š Chrism 2011

Report

February 2011

International Seminar on Yogashastra of Acharya Hemachandra And Homage to Late Jambuvijayaji organized by BLII, Delhi On 18-19 December 2010

By Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh (Associate Professor, B. L. Institute of Indology) this occasion a Souvenir was brought out which was released by the distinguished guest on the dais.

All the sponsors and co-sponsors- Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of Culture, ICPR, Batliboi Ltd., Siddho Mal & Sons, Ratna Sagar Pvt. Ltd., Enkay (India) Rubber Co. Pvt. Ltd., Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Cosco India Pvt. Ltd., were felicitated in the function. Director, Dr. Balaji Ganorkar conducted the program. Deputy Vice-Chairman Shri V. K. Jain proposed the vote of thanks.

In addition to the valedictory function, the academic deliberations were spread over six sessions.

In the first session, Prof. Fuzinaga Shin, Dr. Jitendra B. Shah, Mr. Narendra Prakash Jain enlivened, rather sanctified the atmosphere with their memoirs on the sadhana, religions conduct, method of editing of Late Muni Jambuvijayji.

In the remaining sessions Dr. Fuzinaga Shin from Japan, explained cosmology in Yogashastra, Dr. Christopher K. Chapple, USA, presented his paper on the five Jaina Yogas of Haribhadra, Prof. Sagarmal Jain, traced the sources of Yogashastra. Prof. Dharmchand Jain presented his paper on the Place of a Householder in Yogashastra, Prof. Kanti Mardia on Yogashastra, Kashayas and the tree of virtues, with the help of power point presentation. Dr. Falguni Zaveri, Mumbai, read her paper on “How person can achieve altered state of consciousness� and Dr. Kokila Shah, Mumbai on Equanimity: The essence of Yoga in Yogashastra. Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, BLII analyzed the sources of extracts occurring in the auto-commentary of Yoga. Dr. Vijay Shankar Shukla highlighted the genesis of Yoga in historical and social perspective. Dr. Abhay Doshi, Mumbai, and Dr. D. N. Sharma, Ahmedabad, also read their papers.

The chief Guest at the Valedictory function was Padma Vibhushita Prof. Satyavrata Shastri (Former ViceChancellor, Jaganath Sanskrit University, Puri) and the other Guest of Honor was Mr. Muthusamy Varadarajan (Former Secretary Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India).

The valedictory presided by Prof. Ramanuja Devanathan (Registrar, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi).

Prof. Gayachanran Tripathi, National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla delivered the valedictory address. The report of proceedings was presented by Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh. Dr. Balaji Ganorkar, Director, BLII conducted the whole seminar and proposed the vote of thanks.

The Inaugural Function, of the two-day International Seminar on Yogashastra of Acharya Hemachandra and homage to Late Saint Muni Jambuvijayji, was held on 18th December 2010, in India International Centre, New Delhi. The sudden and sad demise of the illustrious Munishri, in road accident, left his devotees, followers, and pupils, spread over the whole world, stunned. His departure from the world created a void in the academic world that cannot be fulfilled. The critical edition of Yogashastra of Hemachandra being his last work, BLII decided to organize this seminar as a mark of great respect to the departed soul.

Prof. K. R. Rao, the Chairman, Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), Dr. Godabrish Mishra, Member Secretary, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Mr. S. K. Goel, Director General, Indian Council of Cultural Research (ICCR), the founder and its chief patron of the BLII Shri Pratap Bhogilal and Prof.

Sagarmal Jain, a stalwart of the Jaina studies, graced the dais on this occasion by their benign presence.

The Chief Guest, Prof. K. R. Rao has pin-pointed the need to present the Yoga in a manner, comprehensible to the common people. He emphasized the need of spiritualizing the secularity rather than secularizing the spirituality. He told that a good English translation of Yogashastra of Acharya Hemachandra should be brought out. Mr. Goel, in his speech, spoken out that yoga has become an industry today. Our thrust should be to make yoga an instrument of bringing equilibrium between mind and body. Prof. Godabrish Misra gave a new connotation to 'Yogah karmasu kaushalam' as the right of knowledge in empirical existence. 'Yogaksema vahamyaham' to him stood for the well-being of body and mind.

Shri Pratap Bhogilal in his welcome speech highlighted that BLII should embark upon the researches in interreligious faith. He also threw light on the establishment of BLII. Prof. Jitendra B. Shah, Vice-Chairman, BLII, also the Convener of this Seminar, in his key note address, made an exhaustive survey regarding genesis and development of Jaina literature on Yoga. He incorporated in his scholarly speech the salient feature of the important works, written from the earliest period to the present day, in Prakrit, Sanskrit, Kannad, Hindi, Gujarati and English etc.

The function commenced with the chanting of Navakar mantra by Mrs. Deepshikha Jain. Mr. N. P. Jain, ViceChairman, BLII, introduced the dignitaries and distinguished participants, coming from different parts of India and abroad. Sri R. K. Jain, President of BLII, threw light on the activities of Vijay Vallabh Smarak. On

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February 2011

Book Review - Gayatri Pagdi

The Encyclopedia of Dream Interpretation

By Eili Goldberg

New Age Books

Have you ever dreamt of pulses? If you have, then it's got nothing to do with your diet but is rather an indication that your financial luck is about to change for the better very soon, especially if you are self-employed. And if you work for someone particularly nasty and office is a misery all through, dreaming of pulses is going to change all of it.

Pulses in your dream would mean that you are actually going to get a raise! How do I know this? Eili Goldberg's The Encyclopedia of Dream Interpretation tells me so.

Catch yourself sneezing in a dream and it means some sort of unexpected news is going to force you to change your plans. Dream of your neighbourhood tailor and it doesn't indicate that he is going to deliver a faultlessly made outfit; it simply means you are indecisive and are easily swayed by people. From Abandonment to Zoo, this 1008-page encyclopedia offers explanations and interpretations of all sports of dreams that people have. The author has studied 73 different dream dictionaries along with many other books that deal with dreams, he has consulted works ranging from the Bible to Jung's theories and has put together this interesting collection.

Goldberg is also an authority on dream interpretation and has written books on mysticism and psychology.

Dream interpreters would like to believe that sleep and dreams have more to do in shaping our lives than we have any idea of. The subconscious memory may be the direct cause of certain dreams.

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Price : ` 695

When the mind is centered on them, the sleeper goes over his life again and again in a phantom way. He lives over the experiences of his daily life. At times the sleeper is told of some thing that might benefit him or then is warned of a n impending danger thorough his dreams, most of us, instead of using this to our advantage dismisses them once we wake up.

Researchers say that all the knowledge of our past lives and their experiences is stored in our subconscious where it remains in minute form. Memory is only the awakening of the subconscious mind. Some long-forgotten incident, that has made a deep impression on the mind, is apt to filter through into the conscious state in dreams.

The dreamer is also known to have the dream picture of the past very prominently in one's sleep in time of illness or when one's vitality is low.

Childhood and longforgotten scenes come up frequently and appear as real as if they had only happened recently. They give the dreamer joy or sorrow, according to the stages he passed through.

Interpretation of dreams is complex but interesting.

The book, being a collation of dreams, is breezy to read and you can visit it from time to time, open any page and start right there. I, personally, did not agree with some of the interpretations and also felt that a couple of more could be added to the existing ones but there are far too many people and far too many dreams to ever fit in one book, even if it is an encyclopedia. Dreams and their interpretations are subjective and culturespecific. However, on the whole, the universal thought is the same: Don't dismiss or dread your dreams. They are worth studying, if only for the sake of curiosity, and this particular book is fun to browse through.

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