According to Richard Tarnas, who also wrote of The Passion of the Western Mind, history is on the verge of a major shift, comparable to the one wrought by Copernicus and Galileo, but a seemingly antiscientific one: an astrological turn that can only be understood thorough chronicling planetary alignments as they correlate to the rise of the modern mind over the last 500 years. Understanding planetary alignments, for Tarnas, is crucial to the world's future and requires a genuine dialogue with the cosmos, by opening ourselves more fully to the other, to ancient and indigenous epistemologies, even to other forms of life, other modes of the universe's self-disclosure.
Astronomer Copernicus, conversation with God. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The book is filled with philosophical, religious, literary and scientific thinking ranging from Luther and Kepler through Hemingway and even Hitchcock and Dylan. Reading it will require a strong background in the history of modern thought, an advanced knowledge of astrology, a willingness to withhold skepticism about the role of planetary alignments of the past in understanding life today and the avoidance of imminent world catastrophe. Tarnas's call to redefine what we consider as legitimate knowledge will resonate in some sectors, but it will be a tough sell with the more scientifically hardheaded.
In terms of planetary cycles, our present condition in history is most comparable to the period five hundred years ago—that era of extraordinary turbulence and creativity, the High Renaissance. Not since Copernicus conceived the heliocentric theory has the human community faced such a profound realignment of the way we think.
Perhaps it’s time for us to move back to the philosophy that man is part of the universe, not placed here to conquer it. Just as we’re finding some older medical procedures, such as the use of leeches, to have value today, perhaps we should open our minds to the distinct possibility that astrological forces can be a powerful influence on our lives.
This Aromatherapy Foods(TM) recipe made with pure essential oils makes very flat, crispy chocolate chip cookies. They will spread a great deal on the pan while baking. If you enjoy cookie pieces these cookies are ideal for cutting into bite sized bits before they have a chance to cool. Or you can remove them immediately from the baking sheet and allow to finish cooling on a rack.
Macro of chocolate chip cookie. Yummy! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ingredients
Half pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus some for baking sheet
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 - 6 drops pure organic peppermint essential oil
3 cups all-purpose pastry flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 - 2 cups chocolate chips
Preparation and Baking Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment; set aside.
Into small bowl cream butter until smooth, add sugars, and beat until smooth. Beat in eggs, vanilla and peppermint oil. Into a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients. Slowly stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips.
Drop 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto baking sheet; space dough 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake until golden, 8-10 minutes. Remove cookies immediately and allow to cool.
Makes sixty 3-inch cookies.
PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for cooking. For best flavors and results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use organically grown and wild crafted essential oils that have been tested for purity and are pesticide free.
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KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, Oregon, USA. She has utilized essential oils in her professional practice for more than 30 years, and teaches aromatherapy workshops, including cooking with essential oils. KG is the Director of PurePlant Essentials Organic Aromatherapy and a specialist in formulating aromatic blends for healthy living. KG can create the perfect synergy blend for you! More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, Ashland, OR (541) 941-7315. Mahalo!
Many "Mixed Martial Arts" (MMA) fighters have the strength and endurance to be formidable opponents, but they struggle with breathing, balance, and flexibility. An excellent training method to solve this problem is yoga. Yoga is not just for a bunch of new age peace lovers it is a proven discipline for anyone with a desire to strengthen the body and mind.
Many MMA facilities across the country have started to incorporate yoga into their training programs. The correlation between yoga and grappling techniques used in Brazilian Jujitsu are remarkably similar. The obvious benefits of yoga are increases in balance and flexibility which enhances speed while it decreases the risk of injury.
There are many other beneficial properties of yoga training. One major quality is enhanced dexterity to formulate submissions in a more fluid and coordinated matter. Through yoga, a fighter can amplify balance and core strength in stabilizer muscles often ignored in standard "Mixed Martial Arts" training programs.
Balance improvement will greatly decrease the chances of slipping. How often have you seen a fight end in minutes due to an unfortunate slip? A perfect example of this is the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight. Kimbo's lack of balance gave the fight advantage to his opponent he then lost the fight in eleven seconds.
Another important factor in "Mixed Martial Arts" is breathing control. You can easily observe the best fighters have mastered proper breathing. This enables them to outlast opponents and even persevere through a near submission.
Yoga added to a weekly workout routine provides a change rotation for muscles normally used in strength and condition training. This will rejuvenate any muscles used primarily during the week while still being able to make progress with scheduled training.
There are at least fifty other direct fighting benefits yoga can offer with unique training routines for any fighter. If you are really serious about winning, use this brand new fight training technique for a new yoga edge in the ring.
Satori is a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor, Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher,and personal life coach.
Various diseases exist throughout the world which do not have a specific cure procedures or definite medications. Rather many alternative therapies are used to lower the effect of the symptoms and relieve the pain resulting from them. Chinese herbs are one of the many herbal medicines that are used for the similar procedure.
Over the years the use of these herbs has increased to treat Psoriasis and nourish up a healthy heart. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that results in thickening of the skin along with redness and scaling as well. In this condition, the cells in the outer layer multiply very rapidly, causing the thickness of the skin. Furthermore they stick to one another more strongly and for longer period than the normal cells do thus resulting in the scaling of the skin. The redness and scaling of the skin depends upon the part of the skin involved.
The Chinese herbs help the patients by reducing the symptoms of the disease which encourages them to continue the medication course. The diagnosis outline of the herbs which is carried out by a professional doctor, also known as “Heat in the Blood”, is focused on the redness of the skin. The doctor first determines the main pathology of the said condition so that the diagnosis and treatment are in order and the side-effects can be avoided as much as possible.
Moreover, the doctor observes the features of the scales and patches as the patients are treated individually and the condition of the disease varies between being mild or severe amongst a group of affected ones. Though the herbs are easily available with description on web, it is recommended to consult a good doctor to ensure
maximum treatment rather than using them on your own.
Besides, in case of healthy heart, the laboratory tests carried out in many countries indicate that the herbal formulas used in Chinese medications help in the large production of nitric oxide which generates relaxation in our blood vessels. This consequence allows the blood to flow more easily through the entire circulatory system. Also nitric oxide helps prevent blood clots and plaque from clogging the arteries whilst also keeping the blood pressure in check and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Have you ever seen raw violence or someone getting 'owned'? Just search google for "martial street fights" - "martial owned" Watch those movies and cringe!!!
Kung Fu, Boxing, dancing, balley, incompetance? What will you display to your attacker if that day comes?
People from the Korean Martial Arts School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada do a demonstration. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Can you throw a punch or even stand steady on one leg? can you do a round-house or even give a kick to the knee? Ever heard of a combination, technique or form?
Today we are lazy, probably fat too.. Go look in the mirror and skip for ten minutes, then check your image again and what do you see?
I can judge I am probably half the strength and endurance form 10 years ago, how about you?
MARTIAL KNOWLEDGE
a martial art is defined as - 1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior 2 : relating to an army or to military life 3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE
a martial art is defined as: various styles of self-defense, usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet.
The term 'Kung Fu' does not relate to any specific form of martial art, but rather translates as 'talent' or 'aptitude'.
Wu Shu is traditionally the term popularly used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions akin to Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also been used occasionally. (Wu Shu is the term of late used for Chinese martial arts by the People's Republic of China).
If you’ve never studied a martial art, your awareness of them most likely starts at Bruce Lee movies and ends with the stylized theatrics of The Matrix. If that’s the case, you may not realize from what you’ve gleaned onscreen that there are an estimated 200 unique kinds of martial arts, and within these, thousands of different styles. Karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do are among the most popular and well-known of the martial arts in the U.S., but there are numerous others.
Despite the array of martial arts and styles, most of them share common techniques, and so they can be organized into broad categories that facilitate understanding. The primary way of classifying martial arts is by the basic physical technique they use: striking or grappling.
Because karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do have been more prominent than other forms in popular culture, from film to sporting events, many people mistakenly believe that all martial arts are Asian in origin. In fact, diverse cultures throughout history from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East have also given birth to their own martial art forms.
Or a combination of triangles with small circles as can be seen in chinese trapping, wrist locks or Aikido entry and endings.
Do you even know the diffference between kung fu and karate? Do you think wing chun is a chinese dish?
The different styles can even be related to shapes or geometry - squares, triangles and circles.
MARTIAL TRAINING TO LIVE
Training is hard..really hard. The most hard is to get started and its down-hill easy from there. What you need is a martial arts machine - something new and exciting to get you off your fat ass.
Everyone knows someone who knows how to fight - with fists, knives, weapons, guns, tactical, sensless, whatever but START!
Or find a martial arts school in your area.
GO to the local phone book and look up kung fu or karate. Then give them a call, go along or take your kid.
Whats important now is to do something, start with brief excercise, get into stretching, shadow box, then step up and train hard.
ITS DANGEROUS OUT THERE
Its dangerous out there and especially for you..
The enemy may be next door and you dont know it but you got to have the guts too look. What can you really do once you see some violence or get scared or worse because you receive a bashing or king hit - do you hide in your house?
TV today scares the shiit out of many people as it promotes violence and turns the meek yellow and nervous.
The danger today is maybe not too obvious to you but you better hone your sensors or youll get hit without seeing it coming.
You know that given a situation to be a hero and stop a crime, terrorism or violence you'll be able to step up or chase after them etc - or maybe you'll cower or be the victim.
Were are you on the scared meter of life? Are you out there amongst it or a bit of a shy body or house mummys boy?
CONCLUSION IS ACTION
Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you petrified.
Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.
Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you afraid.
If you are not liking what you see in the mirror, afraid to go down a dark street, scared of a potential confrontation then train now.
Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.
We cant all be Bruce Lee but you also dont want to be an emotional and physical punching bag do you?
THE TRAINING ANSWER
The Martialarm is the only martial arts training dummy that bequeaths you consummate realism in all your martial arts training in kung fu, karate, krav maga, jeet kune do, tae kwon do, kempo and more.
The martialarm is unlike similar training dummies: The wooden dummy has been used for centuries as a solo training machine. In contemporary years, they've been provided accessible in different materials as well as synthetic. But still they all have one item in general:
They dont swing and they're all static.
The wooden dummy frequently costs hundreds of dollars but is still only produced to absorb your blows and step up your precision moves. It doesn't react to your attacks akin to a factual partner can. So although you get apt repetition training, which is acceptable for accomplishing the basics down, it may well be difficult to use and will get dreary so quickly.
As martial artists, we all recognize this. Your martial arts instructor probably hammers the point home in practice every day. Alas, there are only so so many classes in a week and this can stunt your learning and headway.
You want to improve - swift. And you're keen put in your time with home training. But solo training can only take you so far due to the fact it lacks the interaction that only a assistant can award.
Each generation in a tribe confronted numerous challenges it had to successfully meet, if the nation was to survive. These included clan obligations, religious relationships, camp work, acquiring stories, and so on. To acquire the vital necessary learning, the cultures put sophisticated systems in place for the tribe to utilize. These duties were rooted in their special perspective on the nature of humans and of the environment. The ancients considered themselves part of the natural world. They believed everything came from the same source thus a bear, wolf or fish was our brother or sister and part of the evolutionary tree for a purpose. A bear being a relative is far more likely to be treated with kindness then an object, most urbanized people have become - disconnected from their brother A Tribe members life was shared with all creation in a common world. As they examined the natural world, they discovered in nature its marvellous detail of how it functioned. Each tribe reproduced habits of the species they observed so they to lived with the flow. In other words each 'fine' of the tribe replicated an animal's teachings into tribal life & some began to see the written history of these animal gods in the stars as well. All ancient mythology is but symbolism for a sort of Genealogy of the Tree of Life.
The world tree Yggdrasil. Photo: Wikipedia
The Magnificent Celtic World Tree bridged with the Milky Way as its massive roots that extended down to the Earth., is also what was considered to be the origin of all peoples, each symbolized by an animal sitting in the tree. Each tribe was a descendant from these animals brothers or gods or a particular tree, river and so on. And just as the animals were sacrificed in the circle of life, so were they. But all came from the World tree, even the winds and other trees. So many tribes chose the tree, animal, constellation, or mountain that they would most see, as being their Mother or Father God. Whether the tribe was Japanese, Indian, 1st nations and so on, we are all from the one tree. Some tribes had a turtle instead of tree, but all mean the same thing. This is what comprises the ancients universe and understanding of its powers. We can see with this tree, in the Welsh Celts of the Arthurian cults who used his court warriors to help Culhwch (Kul oo k) finding the ancient animals to look for Mabon - blackbird, Stag, owl, eagle, and salmon. Ysbaddaden (pronounced - (Is ba thad'n) - which means Chief Giant.) gives Culhwch several tasks in order to win his daughter Olwen (means "white footprint" because she left white flowers where she walked). It is my opinion, giving the knowledge that the Celts well into the Roman times had Tree Gods they were descended from, that Ysbaddaden might have been the world tree - "Chief Giant" tree, though I cannot prove this theory. The Blackbird replaces the Hawk in Norse myths.
An illustration from a 17th century Icelandic manuscript shows a hawk, Veðrfölnir, on top of an eagle on top of a tree, Yggdrasil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In the Norse Tree
The Norse decided on the frost giants (being the giants (possibly huge planets) of fire and ice in the voice or sea space who break up and become earth and planets but they too came from the tree with the rainbow bridge (milky way), and in its branches were also the similar main ancient animals of creation which included an eagle and it's knowledge, a hawk called Vedrfolnir, a squirrel called Ratatosk who runs up and down through the ash tree and carries malicious messages between the eagle and Nidhogg. There are also Four Stags run in the branches of the ash which feed on the foliage and represent the four directions. Their names are: Dain, Dvalin, Dunyr, Durathror. Again all these constellations can be found in the sky. The hawk sits atop the eagles head in the sky.
Dain (dormant) - one of the 4 deer constellations in the branches of the World Tree, an elf name who most likely gave birth to the elves.
Dvalin (sleeper) - one of the 4 deer constellations, a dwarf name and the 2nd smallest deer is most possible the ancestor of the Dwarves.
Duneyr (drooping-ears) - the second largest of the deer - could be the ancestor to whomever mythical creature had drooping ears.
Durathror (sluggish beast) - the largest of the deer. Another constellation long forgotten.
Ratatosk (gnaw-tooth) - the squirrel constellation. Is the main stars in Cassiopeia, with his feet, body and two stars for its tail visible.
Geirrod- the eagle constellation, unnamed among the Norse but whose name we find as "Garuda" in Hindu mythology. Some called it the swan. (We call it Elyrch (which means swan in Pwkatta - pronounced Eleerpuh)
Vedrfolnir (wind-parched) - constellation for the hawk upon the eagle's head.
Nidhogg (poison biter) - constellation of a serpent at the foot of Yggdrasill's root. The constellation some say is the same as Scorpius, who resides just at the base of the tree's root. But I read too many others that say the snake is like energy coiled & can move up and down the tree. It is the bridge to otherworld knowledge with sheds its skin and begins anew in each phase of learning.
In a poem called "Grimnismal", there are four stags on the bottom roots, and four harts at the top boughs, making 8 turns of the wheel. An eagle at the top of branches and a snake at the bottom. (The eagle is now seen as Cygnus the swan in Summer).
One tells of the thunder god Thor helping out the hero Aurvandil by carrying him in a basket back from the frozen north. On the way his toe slipped out and became frost bitten, so Thor broke it off and threw it up into the sky to form a star.
An Anglo-Saxon (Celtic /Scandinavian tribe) version of Aurvandil is Earandel, meaning 'morning star'.
A giant named Thiassi, carried off the goddess Idunn to attain youth from her eternal apples, was killed by the gods after they rescued her. To atone for this deed Odin took the old giant's eyes and threw them up in the sky as his punishment. These stars could only be the twin stars Castor and Pollux.
Other myths associations with Constellations
Grendel - In mythic terms, is a major character who disappears beneath a lake or sea implies that it is a constellation which sometimes slips beneath the celestial equator. From northern Saxon regions, like England, a good proportion of the constellation Scorpio is below the horizon, and one of the zodiacal constellations. Checking on position, I found that Scorpius' position makes it seem that it drowns in the mythic waters. Scorpius is also a clawed creature who loses a claw and its shoulder in the sky, as the same in the story of Beowulf.
Grendel's mother - There is a small constellation adjacent to Scorpius called Lupus, the wolf. It too 'drowns' in the mythic waters just before Scorpius. There is if we read closely, a reference to her being a "wolfish-swimmer". Lupus has associations with Pan and fauns, and in the Roman culture, its festival survived way into the Christian times.
Vidofnir - cock/rooster that is perched upon the highest branch of the World Tree most likely would be Polaris, the North Star or magnetic north. It is golden and shines like a thunderstorm. An immortal guard watching over the world. A symbol of the heralded 'sun fire'. On earth his totem crows at dawn for the victory of light and life returning. Among Germanic tribes he is a spiritual guide. This same 'son' is also Arthur - the pole star who has a wagon or plow. If wer changed the V to W we get "Widofnir" which means (Weaver of the winds), the name of the skies of Vanir, regarded as the Norse deity of fertility.
Horses of Many Cultures
Sun /Star Horses - In the Prose Edda, most are described as the mounts of various gods. The horses seem to be involve either the sun and moon chasing or carrying the sun to next zodiacal sign or adventure. Sleipnir (son of Svadilfari) is the most famous of horses only because he was Odin's mount. Goti is Gunnarr's horse. Grani was Sigurdr's horse. Gulltopr (also called "Gold-Top") was Heimdallr's horse. Hoof-Tosser, Kertr, Slangvir were others. Vakr was Morn's horse. All-Bright, Alsvidhr, Arvakr, Early-Wake, Gladr, Gullfaxi, Sheen-Mane, Shining-Mane and Skinfaxi. There are also night horses and some of those names mentioned are Fjarsvartnir - Frosty-Mane.
These can go in any sign as they are always pulling the sun God or Night Star God on its course. They might be legends of but one tribe. So you ca really put in any animal for each 'fine' (smaller groups part of a larger tribe but function as an independent unit as well).
Auriga, the Charioteer or Waggoner in early days the Wainman, is the French Cocher, the Italian Cocchiere, and the German Fuhrmann. Its key star was considered a she goat and sometimes a unicorn then the myths went to the major constellation of Capricorn, the Turks had is a a mule.
The Sacred Horse is a potent symbol of intelligence, speed, grace, strength, virility, & fertility. It was once seen in the constellation now called Pegasus. Called Epona to some Celtic tribes and so on. Its flowing mane representing the brilliant rays of the sun as the Horse is a beast which carries the Sun's wagon, or the Moon's, across the sky. According to Kristian Kristiansen, in an article called rock art and religion, Horses appear on many early Bronze Age rock carvings showing ancient scenes of fertility rites. He/She believes that Horses were the symbolic twins who would be both ships & horses, night (ship) and day (horses). Horses were actually consulted by priests who would decipher their movements, and sounds. Horses were kept as sacred in many temples up to Christianity who then, as we see in mock humour in the movie "A Knights Tale," would desecrate a church. The church tried to cover many things from pagan past.
Arthurian Horses - Spumador ("the foaming one", sea foam and cloud); a horse of Arthur's.
Berring - horse - Lancelot. Chestnut Long-Neck (Lively Steed of Britain) horse - Kai (Kay).
Cloven-Hoof (Plundered Horse of Britain) horse - Owain (Yvain).
Drudwyn horse - Mabon / Gwynn Dun Mane - Mabon. Dun-Grey (Pack-Horse of Britain) - Rhydderch Hael.
Gringalet, Gringolets, Gringuljete horse with the Red Ears - Lahelin, Orilus, Urjan, Lischois, & Gawain.
Llamrei - Arthur.
Caw of Scotland - Pale Yellow of the Stud (Bestowed Horse of Britain) horse - Lleu.
Passelande - Arthur. Lluagor (the opener of the host) - Caradawg's horse.
Arthurian. The word "Nightmares" is a name which was derived from the Celts who thought they were brought by a visiting horse Goddess such as Epona - Night, the moon, mystery, and magic.
In most Celtic myths the horses are black or white, thereby providing more evidence of night and day or dark half and light half of the wheel of the year.
So in conclusion we see in many cultures that whether it be deer, birds or other animals - they represent the four directions. Even A first nations tribe showed this in an opening ceremony at the 2010 Winter Olympics in B.C. Canada - Each animal represented one of the constellations of the Four Directions, the White Buffalo (north), the Eagle (east), the Wolf (south) and the Bear (west).
By Brahva Cwmevos
Copyright April 2, 2012
Bibliography -
This article was from my head but over the years I have been influenced by the Writings of Kristian Kristiansen, Eddas, and other Celtic scholars such as Mathew and Caitlin, Peter Ellis, JeanMarkale and so on.
Brahva Cwmevos
Chieftain of 1st Maers Khohias Tribe
(Northern European based but accepts all cultures)
Canada
Are you sick and tired of thinking of the perfect gift to give to your friends on their birthdays? Maybe you want to give something a lot more personalized aside from your homey but boring batches of chocolate chip cookies. You hate the thought of giving out generic gifts because you also very much abhor receiving run-of-the-mill gifts that go straight in your basement. It's high time you learn some do-it-yourself potential gift items that truly make the recipients feel honored to have you as a friend.
One time, while I was out shopping, I came across this quaint specialty shop downtown which sells exquisite how-to book on scented candles. The hard-bound book, which include materials for trial, is fairly cheap so I immediately purchased it and went home delighted. The first batch of candles I made wasn't exactly perfect but was good enough to display at my room.
If you're the kind of person who likes romantic candlelight dinner dates or whose idea of relaxation involves quiet reading time by the nook, then the scented ones are for you. These candles come in variety of shapes, sizes and yes, scents that can surely fascinate anyone. Not only are these scented accessories a beauty to behold, they also have the ability to soothe you after a tiring day at work. One has the option to perfume these wax-made products using either synthetic fragrance or essential oils.
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Both smell terrific but the latter produce more aromatic scents that can generally ease stress. Essential oils, originating from barks and stems of certain plants and flowers like jasmine, lavender, cedar wood, calendula, and lemon grass, lend unique vibrancy and authentic sensuality to a candle. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, are less expensive but also very appealing.
Do scented candles really have certain health benefits or do they also have negative effects on your body? Actually, there are particular kinds or methods of producing candles which are thought of as harmful. Candle experts agree that wicks that are made from metal are dangerous because they often cause lead poisoning and air pollution. Always make sure you purchase a candle made from paper, hemp, or cotton wicks as they are more health and nature-friendly.
Beeswax and soy varieties are also safer to use instead of paraffin. When buying questionable products, meticulously ask the vendor about the candle's method of preparation or the ingredients used. Make sure the ones you buy don't have chemical additives. Better yet, do your own ration of the candle. Through personally sourcing the materials and preparing them yourself, you can be assured you're using and giving your loved ones only the best.
Whenever we start something new we have a certain feeling of trepidation and uncertainty of the unknown and in most cases it is completely unfounded and we get on with things very quickly and easily. Sometimes it isn't and a simple little thing can cause us to have an entirely negative first impression and perhaps even never want to try that activity or passtime again. Yoga has so many health benefits, on both a physical and spiritual level, that it would be a tragedy for anyone to miss out on them because they made a silly avoidable mistake on their first day. With that in mind this article addresses the 3 most common mistakes of new Yogi, and how to make sure they don't happen to you.
This is, in fact, why I quit my yoga class. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Mistake One: Not knowing what you want from Yoga.
The reality is that there are numerous different styles and forms of Yoga and each has it's different attractions. Ask yourself what it was about Yoga in general that attracted you and then you can investigate a style that caters more specifically to that. You may like to set goals, be they physical, mental or spiritual. If you do then it's a good idea to discuss them with the instructor of your class before you begin. Yoga instructors are usually very approachable and happy to talk about their passion. They will be able to talk to you about your goals for the class and let you know if you are being realistic, aiming too high or too low. Make sure you goal includes a timeframe so it becomes something that is measurable.
Mistake Two: Jumping in Feet First.
Having decided that they will give this Yoga thing a try many people take a running leap and jump in to a 12 month stage by stage class. These classes are usually an upfront payment arrangement and progress from one level to the next as the weeks progress. They are a fantastic way of learning Yoga and becoming very good at it, but it's quite possibly you will choose a class that is not ideal for you.
The best way around this is to join a Yoga beginner class, also known as a drop in class. If you do these classes for a few weeks you will notice a high turnover of students as new people join and old people move on. These classes are designed to give you a very broad feel for the different types of Yoga. The level of the students in the class usually varies greatly so you can expect the instructor to keep the classes quite tame. The other key benefit of doing this is that the classes are pay as you go so there is no big financial outlay for you while you decide the type and style of yoga that best suits you. You are also not obliged to attend every class. With the longer courses you can fall behind quickly if you miss a week or two in a row. With the pay as you go classes you will find that while each class is different the level stays quite low to cater for the newer people joining in.
Mistake Three: Choosing the wrong teacher.
Traditionally a Yogi had to be an apprentice to a skilled Guru for many years before he could teach even the simplest of Yoga technique. Nowadays a 3-day course over a long weekend is considered enough by some people. There is a big difference in what you will achieve depending on the skills and abilities of the person teaching you. Yoga is starting to make a regular appearance on the sports injury list and a large reason for this is instructors who have been taught just enough to be dangerous. A qualified teacher won't necessarily be fantastic and an unqualified teacher won't necessarily be terrible - but the odds are certainly cast in that direction, so it's a good idea to check your instructors background and qualifications before you begin studying with them.
There are numerous simple recipes illustrated in Ayurveda to correct many disorders. Here are few gruel recipes which are strongly recommended in digestive disorders. These are simple and effective remedies which can be prepared easily at home to correct the digestive disorder and also to replenish the lost nutrients.
Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with crushed ginger and salt. Powder long pepper and fry it in a spoon of cow’s ghee and add it to gruel. Consume this when it hot. This is very light to digest and relieves colic pain.
2.In Diarrhea
Ingredients:
Rice -1/2 cup
Water – 4 cups
Ginger paste – 1/2 spoon
Salt to taste
Pomegranate juice: ½ cup
Method of preparation
1.Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with ginger paste and salt
2.Add pomegranate juice when the gruel is warm. This gruel rehydrates body and supply energy . This soothes inflamed walls of intestine and controls bowel movements.
3.In flatulence
Ingredients:
½ cup of rice
4 cups of water
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) - powder-1/2 spoon
Roots of pippali or long pepper
Ginger paste -1/2 spoon salt to taste
Method of preparation
Cook Rice, haritaki powder , roots of pippali and water together. Add salt to it.Consume this when it is warm. This relieves flatulence and regularizes the bowel movement
4.In indigestion due to over consumption of oily food
Ingredients:
½ cup rice
4 cups of water
Butter milk – 1 cup
Salt to taste
Method of preparation
Cook rice water and salt together. Add a cup of butter milk when it is little warm and consume it . This relieves indigestion, nausea and corrects digestion.
If you’re a non-believer in astrology, spend a little time with the Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Eiffers. We guarantee it’ll make a believer outta you.
It’s a weighty tome, to be sure. Each birthday gets two full pages of on-target information as well as the usual celebrity birthdates, etc. Now this is a good book to have. Even better is one of the companion books, the Secret Language of Relationships.
Describing 1,176 possibilities, The Secret Language of Relationships sheds light on the classic questions--the hows and whys of chemistry in relationships. Is there a prime ingredient for love at first sight, a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of it all. An entertaining exploration of the very thing we cannot do without--each other--this wonderful volume explains why we feel the way we do about the people in our lives, and how--if necessary--to make it better.
You start with a matrix in the front with birthweeks across the top and side. You match your birthdate on one axis and find the birthdate of your new beloved. Every match-up by birthweek gets its own astrological prognosis. We used this book after many, many first dates, none of whom really worked out.
Both of them are fun books to take to work occasionally or have at parties because they’re great icebreakers and a lot of fun to watch people’s reactions when they hear their own profiles.
Other books in the series by Goldschneider and Effers include the Secret Language of Destiny and the Astrology of Time. If you become more involved with astrology, you might want to invest in these books. They’re well worth it. You may even want to take a class or seminar in astrology, or join a newsgroup online. There are so many of them, just do a few searches and you’re sure to find many like-minded spirits.
One of my most favourite oils, lime essential oil comes from the fresh skin of the citrus aurantifolia from the Rutaceae Family, also known as Citrus latifolia. Citrus oils have a lot in common with each other but also stand alone with their own unique properties.
Lime trees grow up to around 5 metres in height. The fruit is born from small white flowers. The fruit is bright green averaging around 5cm (2 inches) in diameter.
Lime Oil can be used as a food additive and in the perfume industry. It also has many benefits in healing and health preventation. The fruit is a rich source of vitamin C amongst others.
Unripened key limes growing in a backyard. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Historically, The lime fruit was often carted on ships and used for the prevention of disease such as scurvy.
The Oil Extraction process
Certified Organic Lime Oil is taken from the skin of Lime by cold expression or steam distillation. Lime oil is of a watery consistency and a green often slightly yellow or orange colour. The aroma is natural, much like a concentrated Lime skin.
Using the Essential Oil
Lime oil can be used in many ways. It is recognised for its use in the treatment or prevention of illness and disease. It has many uses in cooking and used for its naturally calming and refreshing smell, Lime Essential Oil should be included in all homes for medicinal and Aromatherapy uses.
Some of the many uses of Lime Oil are listed below.
Lime oil can be used for treating Stress, Anxiety and fatigue and may increase the body's ability to think clearly.
Lime Essential oil has been used for the treatment and suppression of symptoms of headaches and migraines.
Many people have responded well when Lime Essential Oil was used to treat stomach problems and when used to aid the digestive system.
Lime Oil may aid in the healing of cuts and abrasions, minor wounds, and boils. It may also be beneficial to the healing process of scars associated with these cuts and abrasions etc.
Lime oil may relieve symptoms associated with Stress, Anxiety and Nervousness. It is ideal for use in a Vaporiser or Burner
Precautions
Precautions should be used when using any Essential Oil. Lime Essential oil should be used within guidelines expressed by the processor. Phototoxicity can occur with Lime Essential Oil. When used on the skin it is recommended to remain away from direct sunlight. Correct procedures will be on your bottle or in information sheets provided at the time of purchase.
Eric describes himself as being "Passionate about Organics". Eric is Married and has 2 Children. Eric and his wife Narelle represent Miessence Certified Organic Skin Care, Cosmetics, Home & Nutritional Products.
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With over 17 million people in the United States alone suffering from Asthma and consequently seeking some form of asthma control, this respiratory disease has proven to be a very debilitating hindrance to optimal health. Breathing is the very essence of life and for this disease to hinder its natural process, an effective Asthma control will be essential.
Asthma sufferers may not be able to breathe properly. They use a spacer to inhale medicine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Characterized by wheezing sounds, tightness in the chest, difficulties breathing and at times cough spells and sore throats, I had my first asthma attack as a kid and up until about 6 years ago had these attacks rather frequently. This made for many sleepless nights (why with reaching for my ventolin inhaler) and boring days locked in doors. This was simply because I didn’t have the cardio-vascular endurance to withstand play coupled with the added fear of allergic reactions to grass, dust or even a friendly pat on the back which could trigger an asthma attack at any time landing me right back in the bed for a week minimum.
This (with acne and lethargy) was my state of health for years till I started to take up Yoga, considering its mild, yet very effective abilities to exercise the body without any vigorous demands. I was introduced to Pranayama, the Sanskrit name for Breathing Exercises and was told of the benefits of such techniques as the Bellows Breath for asthma control and was also shown how such simpler Square breathing exercises
could be beneficial for curing and preventing asthma along with improving my overall health.
The author of the Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, Swami Vishnu Devananda attested to curing many patients with asthma symptoms by correcting their breathing habits and with the introduction of a proper diet and exercise. Based on my experiences, I will now provide you with similar and up to date information on the tried-and true techniques and methods of attaining successful and permanent asthma control techniques.
The first step to keep in mind whenever you are breathing is to make the conscious effort to ensure that it is done deeply. This can only be attained initially by conscious efforts but, with time and practice it becomes a natural process, like it was always intended to be.
To gain the most amount of air with minimal effort, ensure that when inhaling, you allow for the dome of the abdomen to have an outward curve. Contrary to popular belief and instructions given by vocal coaches and even some doctors, do not raise the shoulders or stiffen the diaphragm when inhaling as this constricts the inflow of air for the lungs.
For a good illustration of natural breathing as described above, simply observe an infant.
You would notice a baby always breathes deeply from the abdomen although it is with a seemingly effortless approach. (I guess that is another reason why the great seers and prophets say “to learn from little children eh?”
A simple test to establish proper breathing habits will be the following exercises. When executing them, ensure that they are done on an empty stomach and in a place with plenty of fresh air. Also, make sure that you breathe through the nose as often as possible.
Asthma Control: Breathing Exercises to Use
1. Inhalation and Exhalation:
-Either laying flat on a bed or sitting erect commence to breathing deeply, using a stop-watch or metronome to keep track of the time. The desired ratio here is 1:2. Minimum time for inhalation should be 4 seconds gradually building up to 16. (With the time for exhalation now being 8 seconds gradually building up to 32) consciously perform this exhilarating exercise for several weeks.
2. Inhalation-Retention-Exhalation
-When you are properly established in exercise #1 the next stage included is retention. In ancient yogic texts, the required ratio would be 1:4:2 (inhalation, retention and exhalation) The minimum schedule again for this exercise is 4 seconds, gradually building up to a maximum of 16 seconds (inhalation that is) Practice this for several days or weeks till you master it and it becomes second nature.
Although, from the indications above, you’d notice that more emphasis is laid on proper breathing over diet as a step for a natural asthma control, do keep in mind that it is advised that you avoid Mucus-Forming foods such as Animal flesh and products, Most Grains, Junk and Processed Foods and even some so-called health-food products like Soy, Yeast, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and Vinegar.
Abstinence from the products above is a must and a fact that has been in effect in several programs aimed at correcting respiratory health such as the "Breath Retaining Program For Asthmatics" developed by the Russian, Dr. Buteyko. Within weeks of adhering to this advice, many chronic asthmatics have been able to give up the use of ventolin inhalers.
Replace these items with Fruits, Leafy and Root Vegetables and if desired less harmful whole grains like Brown rice, Quinoa, Amaranth and Millet occasionally.
Also make sure to combine your meals properly and not to consume liquids of any kinds while eating so as not to constrict proper movement of the visceral organs that lie underneath the all important diaphragm. In addition, make the effort to avoid the use of microwaves, conventionally grown produce and polluted tap water for your optimal health.
Asthma need not be a part of your life anymore; you too can effectively apply these natural asthma control methods with the steps outlined above. So empower yourself for a successful asthma control today with proper breathing and dietetic habits.
One requirement of a house is that it should be comfortable to live in. Of course, many people will say that a house cannot be called that if it cannot be inhabited. In order to make a house comfortable, certain aspects of civilization are required. We need to have the benefits of technology within the house in order for us to live in it.
Let’s face it: few of us can live without the benefits of technology. Only by having the conveniences of our times available do we stand a chance at actually having comfortable lives. However, comfort does have a price. In order to have these technological conveniences we need to consume energy. Energy costs money and, as people will tell you, money is not easy to come by.
People try to find ways to save money when possible (at least, the smart ones do). An evidence of this is the way a sale can make a product immensely popular. If you take a look around you, you will probably notice that even millionaires try to save as much money as they possibly can at their level of lifestyle.
In order to save money we, of course, try not to waste any of it. Most people would rather not spend on anything that they do not need. Electricity bills have a way of making you feel cheated out of your money. People feel that electricity bills cannot be controlled, hence, they should just be paid. This is because people feel that electricity is a necessary part of life and thus, the costs of electricity cannot be reduced, only paid.
However, if you really try to look into your situation, you might be surprised to see that there are, in fact, many ways in order to make your house energy efficient. By having an energy efficient house, you can cut back on the cost of electricity and only pay for what you are really consuming.
There are many ways to make a house more energy efficient. These methods are often found by other people to be time-consuming and expensive. However, those who have chosen to employ these methods find that the savings you get by having an energy efficient house is definitely worth the effort.
One thing to consider in making an energy efficient house is material. The materials you use in building a house significantly affect the cost of heating and cooling. By choosing your materials wisely, you can have a house that does not consume much energy to maintain a comfortable temperature level.
Another thing to consider is the design. In order to make a house more energy efficient you’ll need the help of an architect. Some architects actually specialize in designing energy-efficient buildings. By going to these people, you can maximize your energy efficiency.
Of course, energy efficient houses may not look like a conventional home. In fact, these houses may even seem a little strange to those who do not realize the purpose of energy efficient designs. However, the technology today has made it possible for architects to incorporate both forma and function in their house designs. This means that you may be able to have a very aesthetically pleasing, energy efficient home.
Also, in order to have energy efficient home, you’ll need to take a look at your surroundings and see if there are any alternative energy sources available for you to use. By making use of alternative energy sources, you can significantly lower your electricity bill.
Alternative energy is also known as “free energy” to some people. This is because of the fact that these energy sources are constantly being produced through the earth’s natural processes and are thus, available for harnessing.
In order to harness those alternative energy sources for your home use, you’ll need to have some sort of mechanism or conversion device. Thankfully enough, many home alternative energy devices are now available in the market for those who want their homes to be energy efficient.
Energy efficient homes are possible, thanks to the ever evolving technology. Energy efficient homes show us that it is possible to have all the comforts offered by modern civilization without paying a very high price.
sheds light on the classic questions--the hows and whys of chemistry in relationships. Is there a prime ingredient for love at first sight, a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of it all. An entertaining exploration of the very thing we cannot do without--each other--this wonderful volume explains why we feel the way we do about the people in our lives, and how--if necessary--to make it better.
and the 
. If you become more involved with astrology, you might want to invest in these books. They’re well worth it. You may even want to take a class or seminar in astrology, or join a newsgroup online. There are so many of them, just do a few searches and you’re sure to find many like-minded spirits.
