food
Always Be Free To Own Your Feelings
When was the last time someone suggested to you that you are much too happy, that you are smiling too much and needed to get on with it? My guess would be… probably never. Then why do you suppose it is that whenever we are in a place of sadness, or enmeshed in feelings of loneliness, grief or despair, we are often told there is a time limit on our feelings; that we need to get over it.
My brother passed away at the tender age of 12 and left such an enormous gap in our lives that my whole family mourned him for over 25 years. For us this was a normal and natural process. We knew instinctively that we would release our feelings of sadness and our great sense of loss at our own appropriate time, with the added luxury of not having anyone give us a grieving time-table to adhere to. Continue reading
Heliotherapy – Let The Sunshine In!
As winter is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, for many of us it’s also the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as “winter blues” or “winter depression.” Since most of us can’t afford a month-long trip to a tropical island to offset our melancholy, what can we do holistically and naturally to restore ourselves to balance?
Many of us spend our waking hours almost entirely indoors. We wake up when the sun is just rising, work for many hours, and then go home when it is already setting again. This is artificial and unhealthy.
Our ancestors, who were free from our modern lifestyle diseases, never would have experienced it. We need sunlight to grow, to heal, and to thrive, which is why SAD, in these months of diminished sunlight, can be so debilitating.
Make it a priority to get outside and take in the natural light. Without the Vitamin D and other nutrients we need, it’s easy for us to slip into a downward spiral. In addition, natural sunlight has benefits such as lowered blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and improved mood. Continue reading
Is Your Mind In A State Of Zen?
Much like a computer, if you don’t keep your mind clear and sometimes take necessary steps to keep it running smoothly, it can give you some grief in the long run. You will find in the end that you are not happy, lack awareness and even suffer depression.
When our minds don’t function properly, our life doesn’t seem to be as fulfilled as it could be. Achieving this state of clarity, serenity and mental smooth sailing is what I call “living in a state of Zen.”
Have you been going about your life in a constant mad rush with your mind all over the place? This is not living in Zen. If you don’t need it, discard it from your mind. This way you will have the extra space to bring in things that actually serve your highest good and help you to be a happier healthier individual. Continue reading
The Third Chakra
The third chakra, or Manipura, is located just above the navel in the solar plexus. It is symbolized by a downward pointing triangle with ten petals. It is also known as the solar plexus chakra.
The animal totem of the third chakra is the ram and the musical note that resonates with this chakra is “E”.
The color of the solar plexus energy center is yellow. It rules the metabolic and digestive systems. The corresponding gland is the pancreas. Foods to stimulate this chakra include bananas, corn, and yellow squash.
Physically, Manipura governs digestion, mentally it governs personal power, emotionally it governs expansiveness, and spiritually, it is involved in all matters of growth. Continue reading
Discover Your Higher Self
The Higher Self has taken on many names: Nirvana, Ascended State, Total Consciousness, and many more. But what does it really mean to be connected with our higher self?
As most of us only use a tiny fraction of our brain’s potential, so do we also connect with a small piece of our inner spiritual selves. Modern science has shown us that there are infinite numbers of dimensions and countless invisible realms. And that is our higher self! It is the part of us that engages in the spiritual, unseen worlds.
When we are able to properly tap into this greatest part of ourselves, amazing things can happen. On a daily basis, we may, unaware, receive flashes of inspiration, creative bursts, lucid dreams, and knowing that something will happen. What we call “coincidence” or déjà vu is our higher self at work. We are not physical beings having spiritual experiences, but the opposite. All of us are capable of harnessing this powerful and dynamic energy. Continue reading
The First Chakra
Chakra literally means “wheel” or “circle of light.”
The first chakra, or Muladhara, is located in the coccygeal region at the base of the spine where we sit. It is symbolized by a four petaled red lotus flower.
The animal totem of the first chakra is the elephant. The musical note that resonates with this chakra is C. It is considered the root chakra.
The color of the root chakra is red. It rules the feet, legs, anus, hips, bowels and bladder.
Foods to stimulate the first chakra include beets, strawberries, raspberries, cherries.
Corresponding gland: Adrenal glands. Continue reading
What Did You Give Up For Lent?
You’re out with your friends on a Friday night and suddenly you notice that one of them has switched from his favorite microbrew beer to lemonade? Is it time for Lent already?
Giving up something for Lent sometimes evokes head-scratching in non-Catholics, but what might seem like just another Catholic eccentricity can actually be a practice with deep spiritual significance.
Lent, the period of 40 days that precedes the celebration of Easter, has its origin in the early days of the Church. This year Lent began on March 5th and it ends on April 17th.
Converts seeking to become Christian, who at that time were mostly adults, spent several years in study and preparation. Under the threat of Roman persecution, becoming a Christian was serious business, so their process of preparation was intensive. Then they went through a final period of “purification and enlightenment” for the 40 days before their baptism at Easter. The rest of the Church began to observe the season of Lent in solidarity with these newest Christians. It became an opportunity for all Christians to recall and renew the commitment of their baptism. Continue reading