5 Benefits of YOGA Deep Breathing

How often do you think about the way that you breathe? If you’re like most people you probably aren’t aware of how you breathe.  But how you breathe can have a huge impact on your life and your health.  Medical studies have shown that the simple act of deep breathing can have significant health benefits.  Here are the top 5 ways that simply taking a few moments to breathe deeply can really improve your health:

1. Deep breathing reduces stress – When you’re very stressed out stop and take 10 very deep breaths. You will instantly feel more relaxed.  Try it, you’ll see.  Deep breathing supplies the oxygen that your body needs to function well and that extra influx of oxygen can revitalize your body and your mind which will reduce stress and help keep you calm.

2. Deep breathing reduces pain – Have you ever noticed that doctors and medical personnel tell mothers that are giving birth to breathe deeply? Or maybe you’ve noticed that coaches tell athletes that are injured on the field to take deep breaths? That’s because when you take deep breaths your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are your body’s way of fighting pain.

3. Deep breathing helps you relax – Have you ever been told to breathe deeply and count to 10 when you’re angry or upset? Breathing deeply will help your relax and calm down which is why people are encouraged to breathe deeply when they are angry or upset.  Taking deep breaths will increase the oxygen flow to your brain which will help you calm down.

4. Deep breathing can reduce your risk of high blood pressure – There are some medical studies that show a connection between high blood pressure and a shallow, fast breathing rate.  So the faster your breathing rate is the more likely you are to suffer from high blood pressure.  Taking time each day to be more aware of your breath and to breathe slowly and deeply can help you lower your risk of high blood pressure.

5. Deep breathing can increase your energy level – Do you have trouble staying awake after lunch? Do you always feel your energy dip in the mid-afternoon? Millions of people have problems keeping their energy levels up during the day and turn to caffeine or other stimulants when you can get the same energy boost by taking some time to breathe deeply.  The extra oxygen that you get from those deep breaths can give you all the boost that you need to get through your day.

Jay Franco has been a Yoga enthusiast since an early age. He is constantly trying to find practical ways of implementing this ancient knowledge into his Western lifestyle.  Article Directory: Article Dashboard

---

---

ANGER -- Lose Your Cool and Look Like a Fool

I recently witnessed a scene in a mall parking lot that has had a lasting effect on me - it was two middle-aged women arguing over a parking spot. They were both standing beside their cars and screaming at each other while waving their arms in a threatening manner. The argument eventually became a name-calling competition, with each trying to outdo the other. The sad thing was that the store wasn’t busy and there were plenty of empty spaces available. Their arguing became so heated that other shoppers began stopping to watch the spectacle. Meanwhile, the women’s children sat in their cars and witnessed the whole scene. How proud those kids must be!

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The fact is that everybody gets angry. Whether it is at a family member, a co-worker or the stranger who took our parking spot, we all get angry. The problem with getting angry is that there is only a slim chance that it might solve the problem, but a much greater chance it’ll create new ones.

Anger is really us losing control and when we lose control bad things usually happen. At home it can mean a damaged relationship, in public it can mean a confrontation with a stranger, and at work it can mean getting fired or skipped over for promotion. Samaria Maxamus said, “Anger itself does more harm than the condition that caused it.” If you can’t remember that, try: Anger is only 1 letter away from danger!

Let’s be honest here, just like the two women in the parking lot, most of us can look and act pretty foolishly when we’re angry - usually saying and doing things we’ll later regret. Getting angry is a lot like being drunk, the intoxicated person is the only one who doesn’t realize he has a problem.

What makes anger so dangerous is that it can occur so quickly we’ve lost control before we even realize it. The only way to minimize the damage is to gain back control.

Before we can begin to diminish our anger we first have to understand what causes anger. There is really only one reason why we get angry and that is because someone didn’t act the way we wanted them to. Interesting, isn’t it? Anger is not an action, but how we respond to another’s action. Getting angry is letting someone else control you.

When was the last time something good came out of you getting angry? Benjamin Franklin said, “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.” The next time you find yourself getting angry, try and take a moment to ask yourself these questions: Is winning this argument really worth ruining the relationship? How important will this be a year from now? A month from now? A day or even an hour from now?

The moment you take back control you’ll lose the anger. Don’t let someone else control how you feel.

Who really suffers when you get anger? The Buddha said, “Holding on to anger is like holding on to a red-hot coal, you’re the only one who’s going to get burned.”

Why is it that when we hurt ourselves physically we learn not to do it again, but when we hurt ourselves emotionally we repeat the same action over and over? No one benefits from anger.

The best way to end an argument is to bite your tongue. That’s not admitting fault, it’s controlling the anger. Take back control. Besides, even if you win the argument, you still can’t enjoy the present if you’re angry about the past.

---

---

Facts about AROMATHERAPY

If you want a therapy that will soothe and relax your whole being, why not try aromatherapy? This is the kind of treatment, which uses essential oils and other plant oils to enhance both the psychological and physical function. Aromatherapy makes use primarily of therapeutic oils.

This kind of oil has been known to have an effect on both the body and mind according to research. Aside from essential oils, other natural ingredients would include cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba, hydrosols, herbs, milk, powders, sea salts, sugars, clays, and mud.

All of these are used in order to make aromatherapy effective. Aromatherapy can be inhaled and applied. Once the aroma oils are inhaled into the lungs, there is a soothing effect that runs through the body. The natural components also offer some therapeutic effect.

One example is the inhaling of eucalyptus which decongests the nose and the lungs. The physical application benefits of essential oils take effect once it is placed on the skin where the blood streams have the ability to absorb it. This will help in rejuvenating the skin as well as initiate hygiene, health, beauty and well being. Plant oils are not applied undiluted to the skin. Usually, they are diluted in a light carrier oil like sweet almond oil and apricot kernel oil.

Aside from the aromatherapy benefits, essential oils can also be used in laundry, cleaning and some as insect repellants. We have the citronella as an example. This is the type of essential oil that is placed in a scented candle in order to drive away mosquitoes. Aromatherapy oils are the key for a very relaxing aromatherapy. You have to make sure that you were able to choose the right one and use it according to its specification in order to achieve the optimum desired effect.

Sallie Pinkerton is an expert on many subjects and likes to publish articles on different topics, including baqua spa chemicals and pedicure spa equipment.  Article Directory: EzineArticles

---

---

DIVINATION Without Being Psychic

When we think about spiritual inquiring and divination, we often think that one needs to be psychic in order to do so. Well, that is not true.

If one is not psychic, how does one clarify spiritual-based queries about oneself? There are 2 methods that I know of, namely Applied Kinesiology and Pendulum Reading.

Photo by HebiFot (Pixabay)

Using Applied Kinesiology or Muscle testing, it is possible to ask our own body and the soul/mind questions and get  'Yes' or 'No' responses. Applied Kinesiology works by gauging the reaction of certain muscle after asking the intended question. A strong response from the muscle means a 'Yes', while a 'No' will elicit a weak reaction. Uncertainty to a question will also yield a 'No' or weak response.

Applied Kinesiology can be performed alone or with the help of an assistant. One of the easiest ways to muscle test is to use the arms.

For clear and accurate answers, the session needs to start with a space clearing to remove any potential negative influences. Space clearing is the process of purging an area of negative and stagnant energies. It often involves defining boundaries and using smoke or smudging to clear the area. There are books and Internet websites that teach Applied Kinesiology as well as space and entity clearing.

Besides Applied Kinesiology, Pendulum Reading is also a good alternative that does not require psychic ability. When used in conjunction with a YES/NO chart, the pendulum can be used to provide Yes/No response to queries.

In addition, custom-made charts can also be tailored to very specific inquiries. For example, degree or percentage chart can be used to indicate the degree of intensity.

Like Applied Kinesiology, the pendulum reading session needs to start with the clearing of potential negative influences for clear and accurate answers.

Well, these are the tools for divination and spiritual inquiry that doesn't need one to be psychic. In fact, one will be surprised at the ease of performing these divinations.

Happy experimenting...

---

---

Raja YOGA

Raja means kingly or royal. This form of meditation is based on bringing the mind and emotions into balance or harmony so that your attention may be easily directed to the object of your meditation or on the Lord directly.

Nine yoga-meditation points in human body - Photo: Wikimedia

Life force is generally a movement up and down the spine so that it becomes balanced and the emotions, as well as the mind, are serenely content.

Awareness is then directed to move forward to a point that is located in the center of one’s lower

forehead. This meditation point, which is also called the Ajna, or third eye, is located about 1 half inches above where the eyebrows meet.

When the energy becomes balanced throughout your body and brain and moves effortlessly into the area of the ajna, calmness seems to overtake your mind.

Certainly, your mind is not passive but it frees itself from the meaningless worries, thoughts, and clutter of the subconscious mind.

You derive a pleasant sense of well being in this state and your mind seems to be filled with a velvety

darkness.

As your consciousness courses toward your third eye, different pastel colors appear your forehead. There are sumptuous, glorious pinks, whites, indigos, purples, yellows, blues and green that take their turn in your forehead.

As your life force becomes stronger and more concentrated you may think you see lightning, fireflies or moonlight. This whole process is getting you ready to experience your true nature.

The person who practices raja yoga in its purest form lives in bless with the will completely be surrendered to God.

---

---

The Meanings Of FLOWER TATTOOS

These days, more and more women are getting tattoos.  As more women decide to get tattoos, flower designs continue to rise in popularity.  The best thing about flower tattoos is the fact that there are many different colors and types of flowers – providing many different meanings as well.  The flowers can mean a few different things, although specific types of flowers such as the rose and the Lilly may have a more specific meaning.

In general, flower tattoos have a connection with nature, bringing up thoughts and images of life and vitality. Anytime we look at a flower, we see the duration of life, simply flowers connect with us in the sense that we both grow.  Flowers emerge from the earth and continue to grow on a daily basis.  Then, the flowers bloom, knowing that they will later dry up and start to wilt away.

Flower Tattoo - Photo by Shannon Archuleta 

Having a tattoo with a flower brings back the entire process known as life.  Keep in mind however, that different colors and flowers on tattoos will symbolize other things as well.  White flower tattoos symbolize purity, while red flower tattoos can symbolize a burning passion.  There are many colors and designs available, giving plenty of meaning to those desiring flower tattoos.

Roses are the most common flower design for tattoos, symbolizing love.  During the turn of the 16th century, roses were tattooed on those who were sentenced to death.  If they were to escape from the gallows, the rose tattoo would serve as a symbol to easily recognize them.  These days, roses symbolize both love and passion.  Roses have long been known as a romantic flower, popular for special occasions with the ones we love.  

In the western regions, rose tattoos are a symbol of love and purity.  In the Eastern regions however, love and purity are symbolized by a lotus flower.  Tattoos that feature lotus flowers also bring a little more meaning to the table.  Lotus tattoos are also known to symbolize fortune, peace, beauty, and goodness.  Even though roses are the most popular tattoos in North America, Lotus flower tattoos are more common in other regions.

Other examples include the acacia flower tattoo which is the symbol for love and friendship.  There are some people with Irish heritage who choose to get tattoos with the flower known as the Bells of Ireland.  This flower is well known throughout Ireland, with the tattoo symbolizing good luck.  Irish who have this tattoo are known to be lucky, or have an insane trend with luck.

Those who think of themselves as being the perfect lover may want to get a tulip tattooed on their arm.  Tattoos with tulips represent passionate love and fame for being a great lover.  If you happen to be shy and timid, you may want to go with a violet flower tattoo instead.  Violets are common tattoos for those who are shy and timid, and enjoy taking things slow.  Those wanting to symbolize wisdom and virtue on the other hand, would be well to get an Iris.  Magnolias are also common with flower tattoos, as they symbolize an individual’s love for nature.

Flower tattoos are very common and popular designs these days, giving plenty of meaning behind their beauty.  The flowers can be large or small and as bold as you wish them to be.  No matter which flower you have decided to use with your tattoo, you can ensure that the flower says the meaning you are looking for.

---

---

Is SOLAR POWER Really Worth the Cost and Trouble to Save Money on Your Power Bill?

Want to generate your own home electricity? The first solution that comes to mind for many people is solar power. Use the sun to make your own electricity. Sounds easy, right? What some people fail to stop and think about are the actual returns you'll get from setting up your own home solar power solution. 

There are countries around the world that actually encourage home owners to install some kind of solar setup and they do this by offering grants or cash backs. It sounds good so far until you actually take a look at the costs involved and what it means for your house. Is it worth installing and setting up solar power in your own home? This is a tricky question, because there answer is both a yes and a no.

Solar panels are definitely worth installing in your home if doing your little bit to save the planet is high on your list. The reason for this is because the setup costs are high and you will need a lot of disposable cash to setup any kind of solar solution to see a significant drop in your home power bill. Why is this? The high costs come from the photovoltaic cells which are the heart of any solar power setup. This PV cells make it possible to convert the sun's energy into electricity. While prices have come down over the years they are still extremely costly and the majority of home owners just won't be able to justify the high cost considering the small savings you get in return.

While it would be nice to be able to do our little bit to help save the planet, the truth is that everything in life has some cost associated with it. Because of the high price of PV cells, many home owners just can't afford to install solar power. Another problem with solar power is that the amount you spend on it does not necessarily translate into an investment in the value of your house. Spending 10,000 USD on solar power does not mean your house will rise in value by that amount. This can be said for installing a pool, as the high cost of the pool does not equate to an equal rise in value of your home. The amount of money governments give you is very little compared to the cost of solar panels and the small savings you will get in return. Solar power is great in theory, but sadly that is as far as it goes.

Another alternative to solar power are magnetic generators. A magnetic generator is a generator that is able to create clean home electricity but does so using much cheaper parts. They run off magnets alone and this translates into an extremely low cost alternative power solution. Their small size and low price means that almost anyone in the world can install a magnetic generator, make home power and see savings of anywhere from 30 - 50% off their power bill.

Article Directory: EzineArticles

---

---

---

Storing ENERGY

We have come to rely completely on energy.  We use it in almost everything we do; we live in it, use it for all our modern conveniences and more.  Without energy we wouldn't know what to do.  In the past, before energy, there were lanterns for light and matches and wood for heat.  That was the only options people had.  When power was accessible to everyone by running power lines through cities, towns, residential areas to allow everyone to tap into the new generation, people were skeptical as to how this would affect everyone in the future.

Alternative Energy - Photo by the russians are here 

Over the years, appliances became energy friendly, which made for less manual labor and more free time.  Wash machines, dryers, dishwashers and the latest in cooking stoves that no longer needed wood.  These were all great inventions and although people were skeptical they still took advantage of these appliances.  Today we have the worry of saving the energy that we know and love so well.  Our energy is fueled by non-renewable resources which will allow the depletion of these resources slowly and over time where we won't realize it until it is gone. We need to find an alternative to the way we power our energy but we also need to store the energy that we already have.

Solar energy has been tested and experimented with as we learn more and more about how to conserve and store the natural heat from the sunlight.  We all know how effective it is and why it is something that we should work very hard at conserving.  Storing the solar energy can mean endless usage of water and other necessities by using conservative methods of saving energy.

Thermal mass systems are the process of using natural resources to make material that will store solar energy.  This type of storage uses renewable resources from the earth, such as dirt, water and man made resources such as concrete to help store energy if only for a short period of time.  Thermal mass can help heat water at night or heat your home long after the sun goes down or on cloudy days when the sun doesn't peak through the clouds at all.  These need to be worked on because there is no extensive long storage capability using solar power just yet.

Then you have the thermo-chemically phase which uses types of devices to store heat.  Some examples of this type of storage includes

Paraffin wax inside of a storage tank.  When the paraffin wax is cold it is solid but when it is heated it is a liquid that can help hold heat for a very long time without cooling it down. As the paraffin wax cools it becomes hard which can hold the heat in longer.

Eutectic Salts are inexpensive and can store heat in a heating system which will distribute the heat evenly and lasting hotter longer.

Molten Salts are an effective way to store solar energy because it allows the heat to remain hot without being non-flammable and cost effective.  During the time that the storage tank is heating up, the salt mixture is heated and then used to make steam.

Rechargeable batteries can be a great way to store energy.  This type of storage allows the power source connected to the battery maintain its power.  Lead acid batteries are the more common battery used for this type of storage.

As you see there are several ways that we can store natural energy we just need to learn how to make these methods more practical and efficient.  When we figure it out we will have an unlimited supply of natural heat.

---

---

Is SHAMANIC ENERGY Healing For You?

What is healing energy? First and foremost, energy healing is not new. Nearly every ancient culture had some form of energy healing. A form of energy healing can be found in both Eastern and Western religions. Archeological evidence suggests such healing is at least 40,000 years old.

"Hamatsa emerging from the woods--Koskimo"
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Traditionally, energy healing meant the realignment of the body's physical energy to promote healing. Today, still relying upon the realignment of body energy, energy healing is viewed as an alternative approach to contemporary medical practices and is also viewed by many medical professionals as complementary.

All things are energy. This includes all plant and animal life forms. This energy is generated by the vibration of the molecular structure of these life forms. Quantum physics tells us that all things are in a constant state of movement. A wide number of things can cause a disruption of that movement resulting in illness, physical or mental. The healer's job is to realign the patient's energy so the body can heal itself.

There are several healing approaches currently available. Among these are the following:

• Reiki

• Qigong

• EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques and sometimes called Tapping)

• Biofield Energy

• Therapeutic Touch (TT)

• Spiritual Healing

• Faith Healing (Laying on of hands)

• Yoga

• Meditation

• ARCH (Ancient Rainbow Conscious Healing)

• Visualization

• Chakra Balancing

• Shamanic Healing

Much is being written about shamanism. Many people are taking courses in shamanic healing to become shamanic practitioners. Others are going on vision quests in South America, in Nepal or in Tibet. Please be aware that these people are not shaman. Going through training programs offered by various institutions doesn't make one a shaman; it makes them healers. Such programs train people in energy manipulations. In actuality this is similar to the manipulation carried on by a chiropractor.

The focus here is healing practices carried out by a shaman. Like other healers, the shaman makes a determination about the patient's conditions. He or she may do this by moving his/her hands over the individual's body. The shaman may then use sound to realign the patient's body energy. Drums, flute, rattles and the human voice are the sound producing instruments used by a shaman. Their vibrations aid in the realignment of the patient's energy. A wide variety of herbs may also be used in the form of teas, poultices, salves, ointments, or oils. Unlike many other healers, the shaman can and does travel to other realms to seek the help of the spirit world in healing his/her patient. Whatever the shaman does, it is energy based; either realigning the patient's energy, restoring energy through the use of herbs and herbals, or transferring energy from him or from the spirit world.

Two cautionary notes are appropriate at this point. Whenever you choose an alternative healing approach make sure you consult your medical physician. A second caution is that all of the alternate healing approaches are faith based. You must have faith or believe the healing approach works.

By Norman W. Wilson, Ph.D Dr. Wilson is the author of a dozen or more books, hundreds of articles. He is a Reiki Master and a metaphysical minister. Among his nonfiction books are Shamanism: What It's All About, Activating Your Archetypes, and Shamanic Manifesting. Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

---

Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Clinical Features

Clinical Features of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder 

Opinions vary as to whether the narcissistic traits evident in infancy, childhood and early adolescence are pathological. Anecdotal evidence suggests that childhood abuse and trauma inflicted by parents, authority figures, or even peers provoke "secondary narcissism" and, when unresolved, may lead to the full-fledged Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) later in life.

Person washing his hands (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This makes eminent sense as narcissism is a defense mechanism whose role is to deflect hurt and trauma from the victim's "True Self" into a "False Self" which is omnipotent, invulnerable, and omniscient. This False Self is then used by the narcissist to garner narcissistic supply from his human environment. Narcissistic supply is any form of attention, both positive and negative and it is instrumental in the regulation of the narcissist's labile sense of self-worth.

Perhaps the most immediately evident trait of patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is their vulnerability to criticism and disagreement. Subject to negative input, real or imagined, even to a mild rebuke, a constructive suggestion, or an offer to help, they feel injured, humiliated and empty and they react with disdain (devaluation), rage, and defiance.

From the book "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited": 

"To avoid such intolerable pain, some patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) socially withdraw and feign false modesty and humility to mask their underlying grandiosity. Dysthymic and depressive disorders are common reactions to isolation and feelings of shame and inadequacy."

Due to their lack of empathy, disregard for others, exploitativeness, sense of entitlement, and constant need for attention (narcissistic supply), narcissists are rarely able to maintain functional and healthy interpersonal relationships.

Many narcissists are over-achievers and ambitious. Some of them are even talented and skilled. But they are incapable of team work because they cannot tolerate setbacks. They are easily frustrated and demoralized and are unable to cope with disagreement and criticism. Though some narcissists have meteoric and inspiring careers, in the long-run, all of them find it difficult to maintain long-term professional achievements and the respect and appreciation of their peers. The narcissist's fantastic grandiosity, frequently coupled with a hypomanic mood, is typically incommensurate with his or her real accomplishments (the "grandiosity gap").

There are many types of narcissists: the paranoid, the depressive, the phallic, and so on. 

An important distinction is between cerebral and somatic narcissists. The cerebral's derive their Narcissistic Supply from their intelligence or academic achievements and the somatics derive their Narcissistic Supply from their physique, exercise, physical or sexual prowess and romantic or physical "conquests".

Another crucial division within the ranks of patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is the classic variety (those who meet five of the nine diagnostic criteria included in the DSM), and the compensatory kind (their narcissism compensates for deep-set feelings of inferiority and lack of self-worth).

Some narcissists are covert, or inverted narcissists. As codependents, they derive their narcissistic supply from their relationships with classic narcissists.

Treatment and Prognosis 

Talk therapy (mainly psychodynamic psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral treatment modalities) is the common treatment for patients with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). The therapy goals cluster around the need to modify the narcissist's antisocial, interpersonally exploitative, and dysfunctional behaviors. Such re-socialization (behavior modification) is often successful. Medication is prescribed to control and ameliorate attendant conditions such as mood disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

The prognosis for an adult suffering from the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is poor, though his adaptation to life and to others can improve with treatment.

---

---

The Spiritual Awareness Through SHAMANIC REIKI

Combining the concepts behind shamanism and Reiki into a single healing session increases the benefits of the beliefs and practices of both. Shamanic Reiki draws its foundations from concepts of shamanic journeying and channeling the living energy to create healing techniques that are powerful and effective in alleviating anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, and even illnesses.

Shaman - Photo by DavidDennisPhotos.com 

This Reiki technique fully encompasses treatments on the spiritual and energetic levels, allowing the practitioner to discover new ways of healing.

Shamanism is a very old system of beliefs whose roots can be found in pagan traditions and practices that uses the products of the Earth to heal. You’ll find different kinds of shamanism but all practices healing techniques that incorporate the use of herbs and communicating with spirits.

Other similarities of the different forms of shamanism include the belief that shamans are able to control or cooperate with spirits for the benefit of others that existing spirits can be good and bad, and that shamans are capable of treating sicknesses and illnesses. In other words, shamans are often seen as not only priests that communicate with the living world and the world of spirits but as healers, magicians, and teachers as well.

When integrated to the Japanese Reiki, shamanism becomes more encompassing and a lot interesting. With shamanic Reiki, the spiritual energy is used to see where exactly in the body do we need to concentrate healing techniques. In shamanism, the healing process revolves around the seven chakras in the human body. Determining which of the seven chakra or life forces are blocked will determine which area to concentrate healing techniques.

Once the area has been determined, shamanic Reiki practitioners combine traditional concepts of chakra healing techniques, the use of stones and crystals, as well as the use of medicinal herbs, all of which draws foundations from ancient shamanic healing. Combining these shamanic elements to channeling energy techniques from Reiki, and the results can be quite effective.

Among the most popular techniques used in shamanic Reiki is the use of crystal during the healing process. More specifically, practitioners of this Reiki technique use quartz, rose quartz, and amethyst as a means to channel the life force energy from the hands of the healer to the person being healed. The shamanic Reiki energy, together with the crystals helps increase the flow of spiritual energy regaining the balance that was lost. Mental, physical, emotional and spiritual imbalances will be regained after sessions of shamanic Reiki procedures.

To increase efficiency, there are combinations of crystals that seem to work well doubling the healing process. Shamanic principles are at play when choosing combinations of crystals, mostly pairing them with the colors that correspond to the chakras of the human body. For example, tailbone chakra would require black, red, or brown stones and the heart chakra would need to be paired with pink or green stones. The crown requires a white stone or crystal while the throat area requires blue stones.

Also, shamanic Reiki incorporates other shamanic healing elements like shape shifting techniques, the use of symbols, the use of spiritual guides and even the shamanic time journeying or astral travel. Shamanic Reiki can be complicated but the idea is rather simple.

The use shamanic traditions and techniques to channel the life force energy in all of us to induce healing. Everything boils down to this.

---

---

RUNES' Names and Meanings

Runes exist in several variants: Elder Futhark, Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, Younger Futhark and its Medieval forms. However, all types of Germanic runic writing are basically kindred and go back to the Common Germanic Elder Futhark. One may be certain that these ancient runes had names. Alas, no rune-master of the Common Germanic period either left us a list of names for the Elder Futhark or explained what these names meant. 

Contains all 34 runes in the Anglo-Saxon Fuþorc, their names,
meanings, and values in the Latin alphabet.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Therefore modern expositions of the original rune-names and rune-meanings are more or less daring reconstructions. There are several sources that allow us to speculate about the Common Germanic names of runes:

• Anglo-Saxon runica manuscripta (the earliest late 8th century)
• Abecedarium Nordmannicum (9th century)
• Letter-names of the Gothic alphabet (recorded in the 10th century)
• Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (end of the 10th century)
• Norwegian Rune Poem (late 12th century)
• Icelandic Rune Poem (15th century)

As one may see, the sources are rather late. Each of them is a witness of the contemporary runic tradition as it existed in a certain locality with respect to the number of runes, their meanings and names. Runica mansucripta are insular and continental manuscripts containing listings of Anglo-Saxon runes with more or less accurate roman equivalents and sometimes rune-names. One should remember that the manuscript tradition is somewhat different from the epigraphical one (whether or not they should be treated separately or combined as supplementary is not certain). Abecedarium Nordmannicum is a list of runes with short explanatory notes found in the Codex Sangallensis 878 that probably comes from Fulda. It is written in Old Saxon with traces of Anglo-Saxon influence. Names of Gothic letters are known from ms 795 from Vienna, National Library.

The language of these letter-names is notoriously different from that of Ulfila's translation of the Bible. Many researchers doubt whether this material may be relied upon. Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem from British Library MS Cotton Otho B.x has 29 stanzas of alliterative verse and is a very detailed account of the names and meanings of runes. Its Norwegian and Icelandic counterparts are shorter since they describe the 16-runes Younger Futhark and were recorded considerably later. Only careful comparison of all these sources can give a more or less adequate idea about the names and meanings of runes. Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that later Christian influence sometimes modified, reinterpreted or obscured earlier pagan concepts. For example, the Elder Futhark rune Thurisaz (giant) is called Thorn in the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc.

For more information visit my site about Norse runes and Vikings Article Directory: EzineArticles

---

---

Ajello CANDLES

The motto of the Ajello Candle Company is “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. This candle making company has been in business since 1775. The business has been family owned for seven generations. The candles from Ajello’s are well known for their beauty and quality. While they make more candles now than in 1775, their dedication to quality and to customers has never changed. 

Candle - Photo: Wikimedia

The Ajello Candle Company was founded by Rafael Ajello, an Italian painter. He was also a beekeeper, so he tried his hand at using bees wax to create candles. He worked hard to create a formula that worked well. The formula, combined with his outstanding artistic ability, lead to the birth of the Ajello Candle Company. In 1785, the company earned the honor of creating all the candles for the Vatican. He and his wife ran the business, keeping their children involved in the processes from an early age. As time went on, their children and grandchildren kept the business running as well as passed the family business on to their children. 

By 1862, the company had established itself as a leader in the candle making industry. They had also added perfumes and many colors to their line of outstanding candles. They decided to extend the business to Manhattan, New York. In both places, the business prospered. Kings and aristocrats in Italy wanted the services of the Ajello Candle Company. They designed candles for weddings, funerals, and ceremonies. They made the candles for the inauguration of the King of Spain in 1876, Pope Pius IX in 1878, and Pope Leo in 1902. Hollywood stars and rich people in Beverly Hills California wanted the candles from the Ajello Candle Company as well. Candles were also ordered by President Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, and Rudolph Valentino.

In 1922, the Ajello Candle Company made a memorial candle for their deceased friend Enrico Caruso. This candle was 18 feet tall and weighed more than a ton. It is estimated this candle could burn 24 hours a day for 1,800 years before running out of wax. This enormous memorial candle remains the largest one ever made in the world. Each year it is lit twice to honor the day Enrico Caruso was born and the day he died. 

The Ajello Candle Company continued to grow and sells were well beyond anticipated both in Italy and the United States. In 1953 the company was asked to create 2,200 candles for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. The company was honored to meet the request and had all the candles ready in six months. The Ajello Candle Company was approached to be bought out but refused. The family wanted their candle business to remain just that, not a major corporation. 

Despite the creative efforts of the Ajello Candle Company, they were not able to meet the demand for their candles in 1965 during the blackout in New York City. The age of computers has found the Ajello Candle Company offering candles via the internet. Ironically, as Rafael Ajello worked around the clock to make candles for this need, his wife was giving birth to their child at a hospital scrambling to find candles for her room. 

The Ajello Candle Company is still going strong today, offering quality candles that are beautiful as well as made of the best quality products. These candles can be purchased in many specialty stores throughout the world as well as on the internet in the comfort of our homes. This candle making business has spanned many generations, yet continues to hold the traditions and values of Rafael Ajello who started this business more than two centuries ago. 

Anyone who has access to the internet should take a look at www.ajellocandles.com. Your breath will be taken away at the gorgeous candles there. I have never seen such beautiful wedding candles or unique decorating candles. I have seen a lot of candles, and I was very impressed. While Ajello Candle Company has made many custom candles for celebrities and royalty, they are very willing to do it for you as well. Simply select what you want and they will provide you with the best quality candles ever made. 

---

---

Stress Management through GUIDED RELAXATION

Is stress controlling you? Stress and tension are one of the hardest things that a person has to learn to deal with. Stress and tension will control you if you let it. Therefore, you need to learn how to reduce it as much as possible.

Stress Management for IT professionals
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How managing stress helps you to relax: 

To reduce the stress you will need a stress management program. The program may include walking, socializing, using music; bathing, fragrances, massages, videos and more that help you relax. You can use books as well. Books designed to teach you to relax will help you set up a stress management program.

Finding relief with books: 

If you enjoy reading, go to the library and pick up your favorite genres. Instead of rushing through the day, take a moment out for you and relax. Read your book and do not allow demands to take over you. For example, if your mind is telling you to get those dishes done, put it off. We are not promoting procrastination; rather we are saying that sometimes you just need to relax. If the dishes are bothering you, ask someone else to handle the task. Ultimately you can get it out of the way, and then take time out to read your book.

How dieting helps you to relax: 

It’s a proven fact that healthy diets with three balanced meals a day along with daily excise can keep stress at bay. When the muscles are tensed that the body lacks nourishment it needs to survive healthily, it causes stress. Isometric workouts, Pilate’s workout, and yoga are just a few types of exercises you can add to your stress management program.

Yoga will teach you how to maintain your body as well as help you to meditate. You can also get yoga books from your local library as well as any bookstore. You can even find yoga help guides online. All you will have to do is go and find a yoga web site and order what you want. Yoga is normally a self-teaching exercise.

Audio: 

Audio brings in new sound waves to relax the mind and body. Online you will find many audiotapes, which produce sound effects and images. Audio includes CDs that guide you to relaxation. Brainwave disks or CDs help you to relax through natural and sound. Online you can download free screensavers, MP3 images and sounds. The sites online offer exclusive musical audio. The musical and images help you to relax.

Some CDs online are free. You get free CDs with audio that helps you to channel into the mind. You can use the CDs that take you inside your subconscious arena, which starts you on the course to transform your mind and body, thus taking control of your life. The CDs are designed to help you unblock areas of the mind where information hides, preventing you from making necessary changes to take control of your mind.

You can learn to use your subconscious powers to set goals that you can achieve. Inside the subconscious arena are hidden messages that help you to heal the body and mind. The guided relaxation tools help you to use the creative mind, which guides you to taking control of your life.

So remember that stress is a self-controlling you can fight this if you are strong enough to do this, you have to be mentally as well as physically strong but you can fight it. There is help available you just have to find it you can get help through books and videos and support groups.

---

---

---

Why Try MEDITATING Outside?

Meditating outdoors? Does it really matter where you meditate? I think it can. For some of us, being outside makes for not just a different meditation experience, but a more profound one. There are some good reasons for this.

Perhaps meditating in a quiet room with no sounds and nothing to distract is the easiest way, especially for beginners. It's hard enough to quiet your mind without constant input from your surroundings. On the other hand, life is constant input, so if you want the peacefulness that comes from meditation to enter your life beyond your practice, perhaps learning to meditate despite surrounding sounds and movement is just what you need.

Road Meditation - Photo by Kashirin Nickolai 

Meditating Outdoors

There's a high bank on a river where I lived years ago. It was a five-minute walk from the house. There's a level grassy spot at the top, looking down on the water fifty feet below. That is where I would go to sit. Often there was a breeze I could feel on my skin and hear in the surrounding trees. I also heard the water as it strained through some dead trees near the river bank. I smelled the dirt around me, and the odor of fish coming up from the water.

Meditating there wasn't only pleasurable because of the environment, but also different from meditating in the silence of my home. There was more of a sense of experiencing the world without thought, without over-analyzing. Why? Perhaps simply because there was more to experience. There were the sounds, which included birds, and the occasional splashing of some animal in the river. There were things to smell and the feel of the grass.

I usually close my eyes when I meditate, because I am a very visually-oriented person, and find it easier to meditate this way. When I finished my meditation by the river, I would open my eyes, of course, but what I saw was always different from what was there when I started. Of course, it was the same, but I was seeing it differently, as if for the first time. While difficult to explain, this is easy to recognize if you have had the experience.

It's wonderful to look around as if seeing for the first time. You are seeing without preconception. I might see a deer on the opposite bank of the river, but the thought "deer" wouldn't cross my mind, meaning it wouldn't cloud my vision with any ideas about what a deer is or should be. The sounds and sensations were also "new." I think this more direct experience of life is a profound demonstration of how much we normally "live" through our thoughts, somewhat detached from reality.

If you haven't already tried it, why not get outside for your next meditation? Sit on a hill or in front of a garden, or try standing in front of a lake or pond when you meditate. The view will be wonderful when you open your eyes. There is nothing quite like meditating outdoors.

---

---

Brahma Satya REIKI

Brahma Satya Reiki is a recent evolution of Reiki which originated from India as a result of descent of Shiva-Shakti as Brahma Satya. This descent was said to occur sometime in August of 1997.

It was during this time that Deepak Hardikar was drawn into the waves of this descent in deep meditative states that the brahma sutras, or the universal keys were revealed. Along with this revelation came the existence of the system now known as Brahma Satya Reiki.

In further explaining Brahma Satya Reiki, one must be able to learn and understand its name. “Reiki” is a Japanese word that is the result of joining together of two words. One of the words is “Rei” which means Universal and “Ki” which means the Life Force Energy. As for the Indian origin of the name, “Brahma” means Brahmaan or the Universe and “Satya” means the Truth.

Photo by recubejim

It can be said that “Reiki” is just a similar translation of the original Indian word, “Brahmaprana”. Reiki or Brahmaprana can both be explained as that life force energy which exists all over the universe. It is through that primal energy from which the life forms exist in the entire universe.

Brahma Satya Reik therefore can be further described as the Universal Truth of the Universal Life Force Energy. Through this new type of Reiki method, it is said that Reiki exists in the form of Shakti, Shiva-Shakti and Shiva. These are considered as the three primal energies which are radiated out of the very source of universal existence.

Through this, practitioners believe Reiki as also to refer to the Divine energy. Each of the three primal energies represents the primal vibrations and has their own special and unique characteristics.

The first primal energy, Shakti, is believed to provide inner strength essential for the realization of any type of task. Shiva is said to be the primal energy that is responsible for the completion or dissolution of any task. Shiva-Shakti is said to be that primal energy which combines the two other primal energies of Shiva and Shakti.

Through Shiva-Shakti the two can be considered either as independently functioning energies or also a joint form of these two primal energies. Shiva-Shakti is a very rare form of primal energy that requires inner strength and an intrinsic realization of the inner core knowledge required for the fulfillment and completion of any task.

This intrinsic realization can also result in the feeling of contentment and satisfaction which can bring about a constant experience of bliss. The Brahma Satya Reiki is the only type of the Reiki system that is known to be based upon the Shiva-Shakti.

In general, Brahma Satya Reiki, just like other forms of Reiki that has been developed through the years, is commonly understood as a holistic natural healing system. It is a system that provides individual well-being. It is a system that is very simple to learn and practice. The Brahma Satya Reiki is also considered as a stress relieving relaxation technique. Practice of the said system can effectively help dissolve existing pains and other struggles experienced by individuals.

The practice of Brahma Satya Reiki focuses attention towards the conscious awareness of all factors that essentially cause the pains and struggles that people experience. Brahma Satya Reiki gives importance upon the practical applicability of reiki, be it related to the physical body, emotional issues or the handling of life’s various adverse situations.

This system of reiki also stresses on the long distance method of healing, which is considered as a definite shift from all of the other existing forms of reiki. This aspect of the Brahma Satya Reiki is a distinct advantage in situations where the touch healing aspect of reiki is too difficult to be practically adopted.

---

---