DEMON POSSESSION is it Real or Just a Mental Disorder

Jesus drives out a demon or unclean spiri
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Just about everyone these days has heard about ' demon possession ', it was made a household name by the 1973 movie ' The Exorcist ', and again it has become popular after the 2005 movie ' The Exorcism Of Emily Rose '. To myself and thousands of others, we have known and believed in demon possession for a long time from another source, the Holy Bible. The Bible written in sections or books, some more than a couple thousand years ago, tells us all we need to know about demon possession and that it is a very real condition.

In this day and age, when you mention demons or demon possession, most folks laugh or joke about it. Do these same folks laugh and joke about the Holy Bible ? To laugh and joke about the belief of demons and demon possession, is the same as laughing and joking about the Holy Bible and the word of God. If you are a true Christian and you believe in the Holy Bible as being the divinely inspired word of God, then you should have no doubts about the existence of demons and demon possession.

What are demons ? Demons are supernatural beings with great power and knowledge, their knowledge comes from not just their high intelligence, but the fact that they have been alive since before the earth was created. They are often called or known as ' fallen angels ', in fact that is exactly what they are. When satan rebelled against God, he along with his followers, (1/3 rd of the angels of heaven), were cast out of the Third Heaven, where God's throne and the actual city or place called Heaven currently exists. These ex-angels, now called ' demons ', were banished forever from the 3rd heaven where they once worshipped God and his son Jesus. Now for thousands of years, they have been condemned to live in what is called heavens 1 and 2, this area encompasses the planet earth, the sky above it, the stars, planets and the solar systems beyond it.

Demons are usually invisible in their natural state to the human eye, but they can take on any solid form they wish, and then we can see them. Demons can appear as wips of what looks like smoke, lasting only a few seconds, or at other times they look like fleeting shadows, often seen out of the corners of the eyes. They can take on any shape they choose, even an animal, they can appear solid or transparent and ghost-like.

What does the Bible tell us about demons and some of their abilities:

1. Demons seem to desire a body to possess or use as a host, like a parasite. It could be that when they were cast down from Heaven that they were changed into another form, or they just have a strong desire to control and cause as much trouble to humans as they possibly can. In ' Mark 5:12 ', when Jesus was exorcising demons from a possessed man, the demons spoke to Jesus and begged him, saying: ' Send us among the herd of pigs; allow us to go into them '.

2. Demons have great strength. In ' Luke 8:29 ', a man was possessed by demons, and while possessed he was able to break chains easily, the demons also made the man want to dwell among graves and lonely places.

3. The demons are responsible for many of the diseases and illnesses that people have. In ' Luke 11:14 ' , a man that had been mute and unable to speak, became able to speak normaly when Jesus removed a demon from him.

What are some causes of  demon possession ? Sin. yes, sin is the cause or thing that leads to someone being controlled and ultimately possessed by demonic forces:

1. Abuse - Some folks claim they were abused as children, and this has brought them under the control of demons.

2. Occult Activity - Reading and trying spells and other things in occult books.

3. Spirit communication - Using an ouija board, channeling, or automatic writing, is an open door to demon possession.

4. Astrology and Fortune Telling - Using ones horoscope or visiting a fortune teller to know the future is wrong according to the bible, clearly a warning that demonic forces are involved with it.

5. Music and Movies - Movies and music can be fun and inspirational, but most of the movies today are very sinful. Todays movies are full of such sinful things as sexual encounters that are out of marriage or with the same sex, cussing or using Jesus's name in vain, and there are numerous movies these days that show or try to let us think that dabbling with spells, sorcery and witchcraft are ok, when the Bible clearly says that any witchcraft or sorcery is wrong and can open the door to demon forces.

6. Sexual perversions - Pornography is very addicitve and often leads to more and more perverted sexual desires, such as same sex encounters and sex with animals which is growing more and more in todays perverted world, all of which is evil and wrong according to the Bible and Jesus. Demons can use these filthy and perverted desires to weaken our wills and mental states, until we allow them to enter us, and possess us.

There are many other activites and things that can ultimately lead to someone becoming possessed and controlled by demon forces, but the main cause is sin.

There are a lot of folks that say demon possession is just symptoms of either a mental illness or some other medical condition, or sickness. This can be true at times when the person does have a medical problem, but in a true case of demon possession, there will be signs or activity that NO sickness or disease can manifest, such as:

1. Knowledge of future events and hidden things - Demon possessed people have been known to gain a sudden knowledge about things that was never shared with others, or to even reveal future events that come true.

2. Superhuman strength - Possessed individuals have been known to break ropes, chains and other restraints with ease, and it often takes up to 4 full grown men to hold a demon possessed child down.

3. Speaking in unknown or strange languages - Demon possessed inviduals who have no prior knowledge of foreign languages have been known to start taking fluently in strange languages or foreign tongues, such as Aramaic, Latin and other languages.

4. Levitation and Psychic Powers - Demon possessed individuals have been known to levitate and hover in the air in front of other witnesses, or cause objects in the room to move by themselves.

5. Smells - Often in the presence of a demon possessed individual the surrounding air will become so horriblly smelling that folks will get sick, the smell has been described as the smell of cancer or death, or even sulphur.

6. Reaction to Holy relics or sacred items - Demon possessed individuals have been known to fear or even react violently to crosses, bible reading, holy water or other sacred relics and symbols. In one case of demon possession in pennsylvania in the early 1980s a young man, who was possessed had his head covered with a sack, so he could not see. He held his hands behind his back and a few different items were placed in his hands, when a cross was dropped into his hand, it burned his skin and became hot to others that touched it.

The best way to avoid demon activity and possession in your life is to avoid sin as much as possible. Read your bible as often as you can, go to a nice bible believing church, and most importantly, accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour, repent of your sins, and try not to sin like you did before your conversion.

As we are now living in what I call the ' End Times ', we will be seeing and hearing a lot more news about possession and demon activity. If you would like to know a lot more about the ' End Times ', and read some great Christian articles on such subjects as 'Being Saved, Armageddon, The Rapture, and much more, visit the website: ' Signs Of The End Times '

By Robert W. Benjamin - Copyright © 2006 Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970s-80s. RB59 Software http://www.rb59.com/software Article Directory: EzineArticles

---

---

Can AUTISM be Cured

This is a question that every parent of an Autistic child will ask at some point. The answer is no. There is no cure for Autism. While you may see ads for books, or products that promise a cure for Autism, they are misleading you. Autism has no cure. There are lots of treatments that can make living with Autism easier.

Birthday of an autistic child. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here are some of the treatments that help with Autism.

Therapies

There are several types of therapies that can help with the treatment of Autism. Occupational, physical, behavioral, speech, music, sensory, drug, play, and many other types of therapy can make a big difference in the life of an Autistic child. The therapies will not cure your child's Autism. They will just help teach them different ways of coping with it.

Alternative Treatments

Natural and alternative treatments are on the rise. These can include the use of herbs instead of prescription medications. The herbs do not have the side effects found in traditional medicines. Vitamin and mineral supplements are being found to help in treating Autism. Always notify the doctor of any natural products you are using with your child. Some herbs can have interactions with prescription medications. Remember again these herbs and vitamins are not cures. They are just to help with some of the symptoms of Autism.

Nutritional Methods

Some people turn to the diet when treating Autism. They eliminate certain foods that could cause sensitivities. Some of the foods the remove from the diet are Gluten, dairy, and artificial dyes. The idea behind this method is that removing the foods that cause sensitivities will remove the behavior problems. You can have your child tested for food allergies. Ask your child's doctor about allergy testing. This will let you know if your child could be having behaviors due to a food allergy. It will also give you an idea of which foods to eliminate from their diet.

There is no cure for Autism, but there are lots of treatments that can help with some of the symptoms. When trying a new treatment only try one at a time. This will let you know if it is helping or not. Allow enough time for the treatment to work. Usually two or three months is enough time to tell if a new treatment is working. There will be no miracle treatments that give immediate results. If you are using a herbal or vitamin treatment inform the doctor. They need to be aware of the things you are trying. Herbs and vitamins can cause reactions with other medicines. It is important that the treatment team be kept informed and on the same page. This will make your child's outcome a more positive one.

Do not waste your money on products that claim to cure Autism. If there was a cure available it would be told to you by your doctor, instead of some guy on a late night infomercial. Continue to help your child by treating the symptoms of Autism. This will help your child have a better life.

The Biggest MENTALISM MASTERS Revealed

Though mentalism has its roots in the 1500's, only in up to date years has it gained worldwide popularity. The famous pioneers of mentalism were great men like Uri Gellar, Richard Osterlind with more recent blood like David Blaine and Criss Angel bringing mentalism sorcery into the main line.

Some of the mentalism masters are:

Uri Geller in Moscow (Russia)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Uri Gellar, Born Gyorgy Geller in 1946 is an Israeli-British performer and self-proclaimed mystic, though he likes the term 'mystifier' than mystic. His claim to celebrity came after his performance in a chain of broadcasted shows where he seemed to demonstrate psychokinesis, dowsing, and telepathy. His routine included bending spoons, describing concealed drawings, and making watches stop or run quicker.

Geller asserted he performs these attainments through willpower alone and the strength of his mind. He claims his accomplishments are the result of paranormal powers, and also claimed during the '70s that his mystic capabilities were awarded to him by extraterrestrials.

Richard Osterlind is an internationally famous mentalist who has made many wizardry tricks and mentalist routines at length in use by the mentalism masters of today. His Mind Mysteries video documentary is considered by many to be the pre-eminent instructional video for learning the art of mentalism.

Richard Osterlind has been performing for over thirty years for top companies around the world, and also appeared in Monte Carlo, Britain, Bermuda and Beijing. He's one of the highest paid mentalists working today.

David Blaine
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David Blaine is an American wizard and endurance artist. He's famous for his highly visible deeds of endurance, e.g. Buried Alive, Frozen in Time and Vertigo. Blaine has additionally made his name as a performer of street and close-up wizardry. He has set and damaged many world records.

Blaine has perfected the new sort of mentalism, a mixture of psychological wizardry and street sorcery which appeals to a more larger audience. Though his mentalism feats appear not possible and wonderful to the untrained eye, many have discovered how his more well known tricks like his levitation and mind reading tricks are performed.

Another Mentalist and stage performer is Criss Angel. Riding on David Blaines recognition and the world's new obsession with mentalism and street wizardry, Angel's large personality and fashion sense has received him more fans than his performances.

He is famous for his massive television specials and collaborations with Acrobatics group Cirque Du Soleil.

Angel is also renowned for debunking what he considers as fake acts. Featured on one of his Mindfreak shows he showed how tarot card readers and psychics do what they do by putting himself in their shoes and showing the audience that its simply a matter of knowing what to claim to the audience and twisting their words around a little bit.

The average teen with an interest in these humanities these days has a good chance of making it as a great mentalist. To benefit from the mentalism masters there is plenty of literature, tutorial videos and everything else you want available on the net, it is not impossible.

With a lot more folk getting inquisitive about mentalism and psychological wizardry, and with so many resources available for budding mentalists, doubtless this is just the beginning for this new found branch of sorcery.

Christopher Lam is a mentalism expert. Discover more information about The Mentalism Masters, visit http://www.mentalismsecretsrevealed.com. Article Directory: EzineArticles

---

---

The TATTOO "To-Do" List - Go Through This List Before You Get a TATTOO!

Freehand cherry blossoms and koi fish.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Go Through This List Before You Get a Tattoo!

1. Trendy tattoos have a history of ending up becoming regretful tattoo choices. Make sure your ink will hold some personal meaning to you.
   
2. Your Design Choice. Have you researched to find the best design? Don't just go into a parlor and pick the first thing you find. Rather go to an online tattoo book site and browse through all the latest and highest quality designs available. This way you won't have any regret and can be ensured you are getting a top notch tattoo design. 
   
   
3. Body Placement. Go over this several times. Make sure you have found the ideal spot on your body that your tattoo will work best on, and that this is the spot where you want ink placed. So often guys and gals regret the body placement of their ink after the fact because they didn't take body placement as serious as they should have.
   
4. Tattoo Parlor. Take your design and go to a few tattoo parlors. See how confident they are in being able to ink on your design. Get friend recommendations. Ask around for different experiences. If you see some great ink on someone in your town, don't be afraid to ask who their artist is.
   
5. Do you really want a tattoo? This is just a way to give yourself a final out and ensure that this is a decision, and a design, that you can live with for the rest of your life. It's a big decision, but as long as you are confident within yourself, and your decision is based on who you are and not on trendy reasons then you should be good to go!

Article Directory: EzineArticles

---

---

Has the Philosophers Stone Been Found? Quantum Science Begins to Understand Ancient ALCHEMY

Throughout the 70’s and 80’s Hudson was totally perplexed by a substance he could not identify… Please let me explain. David was a highly successful Arizona farmer and in the 70’s began a gold mining enterprise on his land as a hedge against inflation and to attract various tax benefits. During mining he found what was commonly known to old miners as ‘Ghost gold’…However the more he mined the more accumulated, so much so it was actually reducing his precious metal output therefore he had a vested interest to investigate same. Over the next 10 years his ‘ghost gold’ frustration grew and grew.

An Alchemical Laboratory, from The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This material:

1. When dried and exposed to direct sunlight would ‘explode’ in a flash of intense light but with NO force.

2. Was entirely resistant to any normal form of chemical analysis. He later found they had no real chemistry BUT did have resonance he learnt to manipulate.

3. Was also resistant to normal spectrographic analysis to identify its constituents although in time a method was adopted from Russian spectrographic research to identify it.

4. When purified and heated would lose weight with unchanged volume.

5. On cooling could either gain or lose weight, again with the same volume.

6. At some stages of heating would actually disappear then return when cooled again.

7. Could be made to ‘disperse’ simply by approaching the stuff with the magnetic field surrounding your hand…As you could imagine his frustration knew no bounds.

Patents and Science. During the 80’s things began falling in to place coming via two disparate arenas: Russian Spectrographic analysis and Superconductivity theory. Firstly, during normal spectrographic assays he found the usual method of the ‘30 second burn’ for normal metal determination had to be extended out to the standard Russian method of ‘300 seconds’ for identification. From this he found his ‘Ghost gold’ actually consisted of huge amounts of the ‘Platinum group’ of elements being Rhodium, Ruthenium, Palladium, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium and Gold. However as American precious metal assayists did not believe him, he managed to refine elemental Rhodium whilst convincing the management of General Electric (G.E.) to let him use 'his purified metal' in their Fuel cells and jet engine systems.

He reasoned that if these devices could only work in the presence of Rhodium then if there was metallic rhodium in his refinements, and the G.E devices worked, then this would ‘once-and-for-all’ prove his decades of work. As you can probably no doubt tell, his rhodium did work in these applications.

After he developed a method to isolate all these elements, in 1989, he was in a position to lodge world patents describing his method in at least 7 different European countries and even one in Australia.

‘Strange substances explained’

Secondly, it was one thing to identify his elements, it was quite another to explain their odd behaviour.

During discussions with some leading American physicists, notably the eminent Hal Puthoff, David learned the only thing that could explain their behaviour was the 1970’s discovery of Superconductivity and some late 80’s physicist ‘Transition element’ discoveries. [To jump a long way ahead, Hudson tells that the US Navy, through the use of SQIDS (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices) could actually see cells communicating to each other…Hudson suggests it is these ORMUS elements which allow for this communication. Therefore Hudson postulates that as superconductors carry electrons as light then it is LIGHT that communicates one cell to the other (see below)].

---

---

Later, during ‘Thermo-gravimetric’ analyses (a highly specialised controlled heating apparatus) Hudson observed that at different temperatures these elements exhibited ‘odd’ properties (points 4 - 7 above). From these observations he believed he witnessed what physics was beginning to describe as ‘transition metal group (the platinum group fall into this) super deformed nuclei’. What physicists observed was that in various conditions these transition elements actually began to ‘turn-in-on-themselves’ and in this state exhibited no chemical reactivity, defying the normal metallic element behaviour from which they sprang.

This non-interactivity was explained because as the nucleus elongated it began interacting with it’s own surrounding valence electrons thereby blocking reactions to other elements. Physicists also described these metals exhibited ‘ceramic-like powdery’ properties. Hudson/Puthoff later deemed these deformed and non-deformed nuclei metals as going into 2 phases, High and Low spin states and whilst in this state, acted as a single atom- viz: displayed quantum (atomic) properties in the ‘macro’ (physical) form... In Physics this quantum observation is VERY, VERY special.

Further, these High Spin state metals exhibited the weight and invisibility anomalies that could only be explained via Superconductivity theory of which Hal Puthoff’s theories predicted. Also Puthoff predicted these elements SHOULD already exist in nature but orthodox, chemical based science could not prove their existence [Hudson tells us these things do exist in much of the foods we already ingest… Indeed he attributes much of the therapeutic benefits of food juices and herbs down to these elements.]

NOTE: A superconductor essentially is a carrier of light in the form of paired electrons called ‘Cooper pairs’ andexhibits a ‘Meissner’ field -(Like a magnetic field)- the strength of which depends upon the ‘amount’ of cooper pairs the superconductor contains.

Where is this all leading?…Mysticism? All this theory, physics and superconductivity sounded fascinating BUT what was the ‘bigger picture’ here? How could he use these findings, other than simply get rich on it OR go down in the annals of science? In the early 90’s while pondering it’s significance and reflecting on his US$5 million fifteen-year odyssey, he was approached by a relative waving a book under his nose.

The book described a white powder of gold, being an alchemical extract of various transition metals that allowed element transmutation, invisibility and when ingested, immortality. Hudson was conducting limited experiments on a handful of people who were willing to ingest these products also. What they began to experience was described in many ‘Hindu/eastern mystical practices and austerities’ as a profound increase in psychic sensitivity (clairaudience/clairvoyance), seeing light beings, a strange yet intriguing sound was noted about their head and an energetic constriction about their throats and chest. Therefore his research began to touch upon the eastern mystical arts…. Where was this NOT going to lead?

During this period David found himself thrust into a 600+ book ‘read-a-thon’ that inevitably led him on a literary voyage to ancient Africa, ancient Egypt and a history of the Bible. However Hudson had already begun some literary research of his own, into the Pharaohs of the ‘Old Kingdom’ of ancient Egypt. He learnt that not only were they described as Gods and immortal but that they were fed this ‘what is it’ by their High Priests.

Later he construed that many of the Jews of ancient Egypt were actually metal-smiths and through their foundries manufactured their own ‘What is it’ (Monatomics). Also Hudson asserts that when the English found a way into the ‘Great pyramid’ and whilst opening the Kings chamber sarcophagus found it to be empty save for some white powder. Further, he suggests that of all the structure of the great pyramid is found only one word, ‘BREAD’. Also that the mummies of Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom had never been found…Were they actually immortal? Perhaps this is why they were never found!

So many questions. So many possibilities!

Some more recent history.

The above represents a condensed overview of a 9 hr video tape, witnessed by the author some seven times in 1997, Hudson made available through one of his 18 North American lectures in the mid 90’s. The tapes were used to promote his efforts to attract people and their monies, gifts andhelp to start production of a plant to produce these elements in bulk. [To the author’s knowledge, his tapes are not available but there are various abstracts on the net] The author has kept relatively abreast of Hudson’s work through the Internet and other sources only to learn that he managed to raise the monies for plant construction but has been thwarted via various natural events being: In 1998, during construction, there was a major chemical spill and the EPA forced him to relocate, setting him back 18 months and Following this, David had a heart attack requiring 6 bypasses with complications but to all reports has recovered OK.

[To my knowledge, no material has been distributed to members to date.] Our comments. It is the year 2006 and it is my view that Hudson’s work will prove to be profound probably affecting most areas of life, as we know it as well as opening new vistas to the human experience. Further, the quantum sciences of Superconductivity and quantum tunnelling, Bose-Einstein Condensates, and more, will all be needed to explain this emerging branch of physics to describe this ancient alchemy which will further lead to the scientific understanding of mysticism and indeed spirit itself.

Glen Rees BSc, ND. Certified full-time practising Naturopath and spiritual seeker since 1982. For more information please visit http://www.highertruthhealth.com.au

---

---

Everything You wanted To Know About SOLAR PANELS

The history of solar panels can be dated back to 1839 as this was the period when French physicist Antoine-Cesar Becquerel made the astonishing discovery of the photovoltaic effect. This surprising discovery took place during an experiment that involved an electrolytic cell made from two metal electrodes and was placed within an electrolyte solution. Antoine-Cesar Becquerel discovered during the experiment that when the electrolytic cells were exposed to light, it produced a certain amount of electricity. The more the light, the more the production of electricity and that is how solar panels actually came into the picture.

Photovoltaic cells produce electricity directly from sunlight (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Almost 50 years later in 1883, the first solar cell was developed by Charles Fritts and it was formed using selenium coating sheets with a micro-thin layer of gold. Between the period of 1883 and 1941 there were several scientists as well as inventors who with the help of companies started experimenting with solar energy. It was during this period that Clarence Kemp, an inventor from Baltimore patented the first ever commercial water heater that was being powered by solar energy. Apart from this, the great scientist Albert Einstein also published a thesis on photoelectric effect and within a short period of time received the coveted Nobel Prize for his thesis and valuable research.

Around 1941, an American inventor named Russell Ohl who was working for Bell Laboratories patented the first ever silicon solar cell. This new invention was spearheaded by the Bell Laboratories and they went on to produce the first ever crystalline silicon solar panel in the year 1954. This was the most effective solar cells in that era as it achieved a 4 percent return on overall energy conversion. In the next few years several scientists from all over the world continued their research, study and experimentation to improve upon the original solar cells and started producing solar cells that gave 6% efficiency on overall energy conversion.

The first ever large scale deployment and use of solar energy ever recorded was in space satellites. USA was the first country to enable production of solar cells that gave 20% efficiency and this was in the year 1980. By 2000, USA had produced several solar cells that were producing 24% efficiency. Last year, two large companies, Emcore Photovoltaics and Spectrolab rose to dominate the world of solar cell production by producing cells that gave 28% efficiency.

Working of Solar Panels

The solar panel basically consists of pure silicon. Silicon is first stripped of all its impurities and hence provides the most ideal neutral platform for enhancing the transmission of electrons. In its natural state, Silicon can carry at the max four electrons although it has the ability to carry eight. So mathematically speaking it has enough room for 4 more electrons.

When a silicon atom is made to come into contact with a second silicon atom then each of them receive each other's extra four electrons. So the 8 electrons satisfy a single silicon atoms' needs and this results in the creations of a strong bond but the fact is that there are no negative or positive charges. To produce a large piece of pure silicon, the silicon atoms have to go through the process of combination for years. Once the pure silicon is ready, it is applied on to the plates of solar panels. When silicon is combined with other elements then it produces a positive or negative charge.

Solar panels are being looked as the provider of tomorrow as the other forms of creating electricity are getting replenished by the day. There are several online sources and websites who are selling solar panels with a power range that varies from 10WP to 280WP.

---

---

SHAMANIC or REIKI Healing

Shamanic or Reiki Treatment

Both shamanism and Reiki are methods of healing. Shamanism has been around for at least 40,000 years and had a presence in most world cultures. The origin of the word shaman and shamanism has its own levels of disagreement. Reiki came on the scene in the 1920s.

Chujiro Hayashi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Like shamanism, Reiki has its share of inconsistent origin stories. According to William Rand, Mikao Usui, while at a retreat, received Reiki. The word reiki is a Japanese word for universal energy. He used it on his family, friends and passed it on to others. Because of his own background as a student of qigong, medicine, psychology, religion, and the art of divination, he added those skills to his practice. He passed the learning and techniques to others, particularly to former naval officer and medical doctor, Chujiro Hayashi. He made some modifications to accommodate his own style. He trained Mrs. Takata who then introduced the form of Reiki healing called Usui to the West.

Does the fact that one predates the other make it a superior approach to healing? Personal experience dicates an unequivocal no!

A comparison will help. Both call upon the universe for healing energy and both use supplication in their efforts to connect with universal energy. Both function as conduits for healing energy. Shamanism viewed many of mankind's ills to be caused by the loss of spirit/soul; (Life energy) while the Reiki healer recognizes energy drain and incorrect energy flow.

The shaman uses an altered state of consciousness to travel to another realm where he or she seeks a solution to a patient's health or emotional issues. A Reiki Master does not travel or journey as it is sometimes called. The Reiki Master uses sacred or secret symbols, each containing its specific healing purpose. The shaman uses sacred objects to surround a patient; whereas, the Reiki may draw the sacred symbols on the patient using a finger to do so.

Doña Ramona, a Seri shaman from
Punta Chueca, Sonora, Mexico
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Reiki Master will use incense as does the shamanic healer. Generally, this is used for cleansing the area around a patient. Soft music is the choice of sound for the Reiki Master; a monotonous drum beat serves the shaman's purpose of driving out evil spirits, altering the state of consciousness of the patient, or changing the direction of the energy flow.

The Reiki Master uses his or her hands to change the energy flow of a patient. The hands are allowed to choose the place where the physical issue is located. With patient permission, the Reiki healer will physically touch the patient. During a Reiki healing session, the healer remains quiet; whereas, a shamanic healer may be chanting, have a flute played, and depending on the location, may dance around the patient.

Thanks to Michael Harner, many of the world's best shamanic practices have been transferred to Western culture. We now have shamanic practitioners. They are different from a traditional shaman in that they are trained for the specific purpose of healing; a traditional shaman has other duties to perform.

If you are inclined to use an alternative healing approach, be sure you check the credentials of the practitioner, ask for references, and remember, you are the one who decides.

By Norman Wilson , PhD Dr. Wilson is an authority on shamanism with several books and dozens of articles published about the topic. His books include Shamanism What It's All About, Shamanic Manifesting. He is a Reiki Master Healer, Level Three. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Dealing With DEPRESSION

Depression (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Depression is something that affects most people around the world from time to time and can be very hard to deal with. I have myself struggled with this problem in the past but have lately found ways to cope with this very much unwanted depression. I will write about how I go about doing this in this article.

I have been born into a family which include many members who find it hard to cope with life and are often worrying about something or other. I am one of these people and there does not seem to be a day that goes by where I do not have some issue in my mind, that is making me unhappy or stressed. I have found it very difficult to appreciate all of the things in my life which are basically good as my brain only seems to focus on all of my problems or potential problems.

In the last couple of years I have tried to deal with these what I now call challenges and have attempted to focus more on the positive aspects to my life. This has been very hard for me to do as I am a born worrier by nature as I have already explained.

What I now have decided to do is to try to compare my own life with that of other people who live around the world. As an example, in the last couple of days I have been watching the news programs on the television and have been hearing in horror about the current situation in Iraq. I am sure most readers of this article will be aware of what is going on in Iraq but a couple of events have really shocked me.

The first was a roadblock that was set up by people who were dressed up in police uniform. These people stopped a number of vehicles and dragged out the people who were in the vehicles, onto the street. They included young and old, men and women from what I have heard. Twenty one of them were shot and killed. I can only imagine how frightening this would have been.

The second event took place only the next day when fifty people were taken from their place of work and from bus stops. They were basically kidnapped and taken away in a number of vehicles. I am not sure what has happened to them since and can only hope that they are OK. This again is very disturbing and would have been a horrible ordeal for the people involved. 

I am no expert on the situation in Iraq or why all of these things are taking place. I also have no idea on how things can be improved, but something needs to happen to help these people.

For me it shows me that I am very fortunate and if I ever start feeling a bit low, I then think of the people who live in Iraq and also people who live in other countries. I am sure that most of these people would love to swap places with me and if I tried to explain to them why I was starting to feel a little depressed, they would probably laugh at me.

Goal Setting - Can It Increase Your SELF-ESTEEM?

Would it surprise you to know that your self-esteem (the value you place on yourself) determine whether you reach your goals or not?

The opposite is equally true: Setting and achieving realistic goals will boost your self-esteem substantially. Don't believe me? Just think about the last time you struggled to master a new skill. At the very point of exasperation, when you are at your wits end, if you persevere despite being sorely tempted to give up... Suddenly, miraculously, it all falls into place...

Photo by FemmeGoddessPhotography

Did you feel smart, surprised, rewarded, fulfilled, elated and as if you were going to explode with pride? Did you feel like you could easily build on this achievement? That's how you'll feel every time you set and achieve a personal goal. It will be even more satisfying if you focused your energies purposefully onto achieving something specific and concrete.

"Dare to dream! If you did not have the capability to make your wildest wishes come true, your mind would not have the capacity to conjure such ideas in the first place. There is no limitation on what you can potentially achieve, except for the limitation you choose to impose on your own imagination. What you believe to be possible will always come to pass - to the extent that you deem it possible. It really is as simple as that?" Anthon St. Maarten

People who dare to dream know that setting and achieving goals, however small and insignificant, boost their confidence on a day to day basis. Each time you achieve a purposefully set objective, your confidence in your own ability grows.

Although I knew about, and even occasionally used the goal setting procedure, I severely underestimated the potential of this powerful method. Too much hassle, I thought. I have since been converted, not only by my own experience, but also by the overwhelmingly positive reaction from my clients.

Your self-esteem, awareness, ability to communicate, energy and responsibility can all be amplified by your use of goal setting. Developing and maintaining our self-esteem is one of the challenges every one faces sooner or later. Confidence comes from knowing that we can successfully complete what we set out to do. It results from experience, the experience of meeting our goals effectively. We must have some way to evaluate an experience, some way to know whether it was valuable or not. This is where goal-setting comes in. Setting realistic goals, working toward them and finally achieving them are superb learning experiences.

We feel good about ourselves when we meet our goals. Which in turn makes it easier for us to reach our next goals, and so the effect soon snow-balls.

But how does one set achievable goals?

How to set and achieve any goal

Perhaps our very human essence is oriented towards the achievement of goals. Human endeavour is measured by some of its greatest achievements. What do you want to achieve? Without a set of key goals life can become a case of living randomly from day to day. Any goal whether a small one en-route to achieving a key goal, or indeed a key goal should be SMART.

SMART GOALS are:

-Specific: State each goal as a positive unambiguous statement

-Measurable: Break the key goal down to measurable small steps

-Attainable: Make sure it fits in with your current work, family and financial commitments

-Relevant and Realistic: Physically and mentally possible

-Time bound: Aim to achieve the various stages of your goal according to a preconceived timescale

• Specific - Setting detailed and precise objectives
  State each goal as an unambiguous, positive statement. The process of reaching goals includes an initial evaluation, frequent reviews, and progress checks. Goals should be set down in specific terms so they appear as crystallized pictures in the mind rather than fuzzy apparitions on the horizon. "I have to loose weight" sounds like a project of enormous proportions with nowhere to start. Setting a more concrete, short-term goal is more effective. For example, decide that at the end of two weeks you will have lost 2 kg. This is a more a more specific, practical, and therefore attainable goal. What precisely do you want to achieve? I want to be an Olympic competitor is not a performance goal; it's actually the outcome of a goal. Check that you objectives are specific and not just outcomes.


• Measurable - Structuring goals that can be measured
  So you want to walk for exercise... good! What does measured success look like? How far and how often do you want to walk? How would you know that you remain en-route to success and how would you prove this to yourself? You will need to break the key goal down to measurable small steps, like deciding you will walk 5 km 5 days out of 7. The best way to keep track of your achievements and progress towards your key goal is to keep an exercise diary.


• Achievable - Is this objective practically possible? 
  By ensuring your goals are achievable I am not suggesting that you seek to downgrade them so that they become too easy to achieve. Instead you should check what you are aiming to achieve against the other demands on your time, finances and talent. Keep the low-level goals you are working towards small and achievable. If a goal is too large, then it can seem that you are not making progress towards it. Keeping goals small and incremental gives more opportunities for reward. Derive today's goals from larger ones. Set priorities: When you have several goals, give each a priority. This helps you to avoid feeling overwhelmed by too many goals, and helps to direct your attention to the most important ones. Organization and prioritizing are imperative to the success of the true achiever. Attending to the most important items on your "TO DO" list will result in maximum productivity. Less essential items can be ticked off as time permits. Plan the work and then work the plan.


• Relevant and Realistic - Are you being honest with yourself? 
  Is it realistic to learn the piano to concert pianist level? Is it realistic to target yourself to rune a mufti-million pound corporation? Do you have the right personality; can you manage the pressure and worry when things are not quite going to plan? This is the essence of realistic. Set performance goals, not outcome goals: You should take care to set goals over which you have as much control as possible. There is nothing more dispiriting than failing to achieve a personal goal for reasons beyond your control. If you base your goals on personal performance, then you can keep control over the achievement of your goals and draw satisfaction from them. It is important to set goals that you can achieve. All sorts of people (trainers, parents, media, and society) can set unrealistic goals for you. They will often do this in ignorance of your own desires and ambitions. Alternatively you may set goals that are too high, because you may not appreciate either the obstacles in the way, or understand quite how much skill you need to develop to achieve a particular level of performance.


• Time bound- has a starting date and an ETA
  You should aim to achieve the various stages of your goal according to a preconceived timescale. Unless you build these parameters into your goals you could end up paralysed by procrastination and end up more frustrated and un-focused than before you started. Set a precise goal, putting in dates, times and amounts so that you can measure your achievement. If you do this, you will know exactly when you have achieved the goal and celebrate your accomplishment, and can take complete satisfaction from having achieved it. Formulate short, medium and long-term goals.

Plotting out your goals in this manner will make you aware of the skills, financial aid and time you will need along the way. Develop short and mid-term goals to help you build those skills. You will begin to make decisions based on whether or not those choices will be beneficial to your long-term goals. If you just drift along in the sea of choices, allowing the tide of every day life to chart your course, it would only be by co-incidence that you will reach your destination or even recognize it when you arrive. As you achieve each step, however small towards your goal, your confidence will grow and solidify.

"Perfection of effort is not required, by the way. It is the consistency of attempting to work these tools that brings the progress. It's like anything else. If I want to tone muscle, lifting a ten-pound weight a few times every day will move me toward my goal much quicker than hoisting a fifty-pound barbell once a week. Yes, it really is true: "Slow and steady wins the race." Just try a little, every day. You'll see." Holly Mosier

By M Montagu "It has been my life long dream to create a safe, stress-less, secluded and supportive space where people of all ages can come to rest, re-focus and figure out who they are, what they really want and how the are going to get it - with the help of my always-intuitive and ever-inspiring horses." Dr. Margaretha Montagu is a medical doctor with many years of experience in helping people live healthier lives by reducing their stress levels, increasing their self-confidence, reaching their full potential and and defining their life's purpose. Join us on a residential retreat in the sun-blessed south of France based on equine-assisted experiential learning, equine guided meditation and equine inspired therapeutic writing. EquineGuidedGrowth.com Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

What Are Some Similarities and Differences Between RELAXATION and MEDITATION?

Mahasati Meditation Basic Rhythmic Movements

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Relaxation and meditation may feel similar sometimes yet a line can be drawn between the two.

Let me share an experience. I decide it's time to have a meditation practice - for whatever reason or for no reason at all except it's time to sit. After 1 minute of sitting in an upright posture my mind is drawn to my tight shoulders. The muscles are screaming - "Please release me. I've been trying to get your attention for a long time."

Relaxation supports a meditation practice. We need silent muscles.

Meditation is a practice that ultimately helps us get a handle on the mind. A mindfulness meditation practice makes us aware of the mind. We may realize it is busy or heavy; scattered or focused. Or it could be dull or alert. The key is awareness; being aware of the quality of the mind without judging.

Relaxation as a practice is usually done lying at the end of a yoga class. The pose is called Shavasana - the corpse pose. The intention is to release tension in the muscular and the psycho-physiological system. The pose develops awareness of the body.

Practice of both relaxation and meditation can be formal or informal. With a formal practice there will be a time period. We might practice every morning before the regular activities. Or at night before going to sleep to help us unwind.

An informal practice occurs as we go about our day. We notice our shoulders creeping up to our ears and move them down. Or feel our hands in fists and soften them. It's an awareness of the body that grows out of the formal practice.

The same is true for the mind. We notice thoughts like a pattern of being critical, or the beginning of anxiety. We accept what is and have a choice to create a new thought or simply witness feelings and thoughts.

Mind versus Body

Life happens and sometimes the body may be forced to be inactive because of an injury. The mind however remains as active and engaged as before and now we notice. In this situation, if the formal practice of meditation is new, being inactive and having a scattered mind might be disconcerting.

Relaxation and meditation practices both help us befriend the body and mind. Our awareness and appreciation for these parts of ourselves deepen and we experience more of our inner world.

By Heather Greaves Heather Greaves is an avid yoga student and the owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training. She organizes yoga and meditation retreats and workshops in Ontario and Barbados, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach therapeutic yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

---

REIKI Music

Reiki which is pronounced as Ray Key is a holistic healing system that uses universal energy to heal an individual. In order for this to work, you have to be trained by a Reiki master. Since its rediscovery in the early 1900's, various forms have evolved and some of them use Reiki music.

Reiki music is used to create calm and peaceful atmosphere in order for the healing to take place. This is available for download while some retailers sell these in CD online. One example of this is Shamballa that is often used by seasoned spiritual travelers.

For those who have never done a Reiki session with music before, it is recommended to use one with gentle tunes first before trying out something more diverse. If the site you are visiting allows you to hear a sound clip, try it out so you have an idea where the music can take you.

Do you really need to use Reiki music during a healing session? The answer is no because meditation music or any other kind may also work as long as it is designed for relaxation purposes.

As much as possible, the recording should last for about 60 to 75 minutes which is the average time it takes to feel energized after a session.

Just like a regular session without music, you can tell if it is working when you feel different sensations throughout your body. An individual who feels down will afterwards experience an emotional release or relief.

Once you have found the right Reiki music, you can put it on and then simply sit or lie down in a comfortable position. You then place your hands over your face with the palms over the eyes, touch the tongue to the roof of the mouth with the tip of your tongue just behind the teeth. Remember to inhale and let the energy flow into your body and then let it go out along your arms and out through your face.

The same slow movement should be done with the other parts of the body so you wake up feeling refreshed and recharged.

Reiki wouldn't be around for more than a hundred years if it is not able to help those recover from emotional disturbances and addictions

In fact, various studies have been conducted and results have shown that patients are able to recover faster after surgery. This is the reason that there are more hospitals and clinics that have started to practice Reiki even before an operation to help them relax.

Those who worship Christianity have also embraced Reiki because its methods help them express compassion towards others and bring them closer to God. This is because Jesus healed with his hands and so is the hand healing technique used in Reiki that has made this very appealing.

Anyone can practice Reiki and you can do this with or without Reiki music because the tune that you hear only helps you relax when the most important thing to learn is the proper hand technique. This can only be taught by a master Reiki and when this is passed on to you, this can also be shared with others.

You just need to keep an open mind and have faith so you may also experience the positive energy that is needed to heal whatever part of the body, mind or soul that requires healing.

---

---

---

Therapeutic Advantages of ORIGAMI

Origami has been proven to possess therapeutic advantages. The activity is been used to help individuals with psychological aspects such as feelings of acceptance. People who are having emotional and mental problems sense a feeling of acceptance while being taught the art of origami. Realizing someone is willing to take the time to teach and show them how to do this activity promotes positive emotions.

Modular origami stellated icosahedron made from custom papers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When origami is demonstrated in a group setting, it helps the troubled individual experience a sense of belonging. It enables them to interact with others and connect with people who they can relate to. It's also a bonus when origami is being taught by a psychologist because any time a person feels the need to share their feelings, there's a professional there to intervene. 

The art of origami is effective in promoting positive behavior. In a group setting it helps an individual learn how to act appropriately in a social environment. This would be good for children who are having trouble communicating or getting along with other children. This activity requires patience and so it teaches people how to be patient. Again this would be beneficial for children. Origami involves problem solving and this is a skill that is needed daily by individuals of all ages. Getting people interested in activities such as origami encourages people to develop a hobby where they can be creative and be involved in a group activity. 

The therapeutic advantages of origami are amazing. To be able to take a simple concept such as paper folding and watch it make a difference in people's lives is awesome. Origami is a learning experience that incorporates communication skills and problem solving skills. It's also a great activity to promote goal setting. Finishing an origami project takes time but the results are beautiful and fulfilling. Seeing the outcome of the project in a picture and working toward it provides an individual with a goal. It's important to have goals in life and it's great that an activity such as origami can help a person learn about it. Origami provides an opportunity to relax and have fun. The enjoyment that goes along with this activity is definitely good therapy. 

Not everyone is quick to open up and share their feelings with another individual, even a psychologist or other medical professional. It's essential that the person administering help and advice present a non-threatening image. Origami can be used as a means of breaking the ice, a warming up technique. It can help the patient and psychologist find mutual ground. Origami can be used to bridge the gap between patient and doctor.

This will certainly make it easier for the patient to be comfortable and more inclined to share their feelings and work on their problems. It is imperative that a doctor and patient develop a good relationship. Not everyone is willing to discuss emotional issues and/or psychological problems. If origami helps to build a bridge that leads to healing, it can definitely be considered a therapeutic advantage.

---

---

WALKING MEDITATION: A Simple Way To Meditate Almost Any Time

Most Westerners think of meditation as someone sitting down, cross legged with their eyes closed and probably chanting some kind of mantra over and over again.

But that is only one of the ways that people can practice meditation.

Meditating can also be performed standing up, lying down or walking.

Labyrinth in Lower Leas Country Park This is in a country park in between Sandgate and Folkestone, above the seawall promenade. This artwork was designed by Clare Danstead for Shepway District Council for the park. 'As a contribution to peace and harmony within the ever-changing environment and community of Folkestone. The Labyrinth is a uni-cursal pathway leading to a centre and back out again. Used as a form of walking meditation or prayer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, we're going to look at walking meditation. In this situation, the walking itself is the focus of your meditation, rather than a candle or a mantra or your breathing.

Obviously, depending on where the walking is taking place, you may also need to be aware of other external influences as well, such as joggers and cyclists.

In a walking meditation, you should concentrate on the actual experience of walking. Notice the pressure on each foot as it touches the ground and the relief of that pressure as your foot rises again. Take in the experience of the muscles in your legs. Notice when they tense up and when they relax. Feel the changes in your toes as they meet the ground. Recognize what is happening to your ankles as you walk along.

As well as the stress relief that a walking meditation naturally brings, you should also experience a feeling of energy and invigoration. Walking is a more active meditation than some other types (although breathing meditations can get pretty energetic as well, if you choose to let them). You also benefit from the exercise of walking, which is an aerobic exercise in itself. It follows that a walking meditation can be of overall benefit to your health and can even help keep you fit.

If the thought of sitting or lying down to meditate has put you off in the past, then taking the walking meditation course could be just the ticket. Give it a try and see how refreshed you feel afterwards!

---

---