What is REIKI Nur Ilahi

Photo Eddi van W. (cc)

Reiki is an ancient form of healing that came from Japan using your hands. If you want to learn this technique, you have to learn this from a Reiki master. You too can become a master and then go on further by learning Reiki Nur Ilahi which in English means 'divine ray of enlightenment."

Reiki Nur Ilahi is pronounced Noor ee-loa-hee. There are eight levels of these often referred to as Magam. This term means 'state of divine accomplishment of your awareness" and those who are able to learn it can heal certain emotional, mental and physical illnesses as well as purify the soul and spirit.

Unlike the other forms of Reiki, it does not use any symbols. The only prerequisite is that the person should already be a reiki master. This will make it easier for him or her to move from one level to the next since you just have to do affirmation to continue up the ladder. This is because after you reach level 8, there are still other Reiki techniques that you can learn.

The main goal of Reiki Nur Ilahi is for the person to gain unity to both your self and God's consciousness. There are not that many schools that teach this technique. In fact, there is not that information about it but if you hard enough, you will find out that there are experts who prefer to give this training online.

You will be emailed a detailed manual of the course, distant initiation so you don't have to travel and once you pass the course, you will be given a certificate of completion.

When you are looking for someone that will train you in Reiki Nur Ilahi, you should ask them from the beginning if this will allow you to teach others in the future or will you have to take another session and pay additional fees in order for this to work.

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That person should be competent enough to teach everything you need to know and offer support in the future if this is needed since this healing technique is not just for yourself but for others who also need it.

After passing through the course and getting the certificate, it is best to practice Reiki Nur Ilahi with friends who are already into Reiki so they can be used as attunement models. Surely, you will know your success if they feel some improvements. But if you have no one to practice with, you can try doing this first perhaps on a stuffed animal or even a pillow.

Reiki has a deeper purpose because you don't only heal yourself or others when it can also serve as a guide in your life. You just have to practice until you become confident because you don't become a master overnight.   You have to earn it just like when you first started out as a student who didn't know much about it but now desires to learn the powers of Reiki Nur Ilahi.

One thing you have to remember about Reiki Nur Ilahi or any of the types is that you did not master it but rather you have been mastered by it. This is because you totally surrender yourself to something bigger and the long-term benefits are endless.

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REIKI Symbols Revealed

Japanese kanji of Reiki (old style)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many Reiki symbols that have already been revealed and each of them is thought to possess a unique vibration of energy.

At one point, they didn't have any names and were simply numbered from one to five. But later on, each one of them stood for something and here they are.

The first is called Cho Ku Rei and is referred to as the Power Symbol. In simple terms, this means, "put all the power of the universe here." This allows the user to draw energy from the surroundings so you can focus it where you want it to.

This can be used for aid in manifestation, cleanse negative energies, empower other Reiki symbols, for spiritual protection, spot treatments, and seal the energies after the treatment.

Next, is called Sei He Ki also known as the Mental Emotional symbol because it helps those who are suffering from an emotional or mental imbalance.

Sei He Ki means "God and Humanity Become One." This enables the person to find activate Kundalini during meditations, balance between the left and right side of the brain, bring harmony and peace, cleansing, improve one's memory, clear blockages and aligns the upper chakras, provide psychic protection, remove addictions, bad energies and negative vibrations.

Third, is called Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. This is a distance symbol that is used to enable the Reiki channel to be able to channel Reiki at a distance regardless if this event happened in the past, the present or the future.

This is an aggregate from the 5 Japanese kanji namely; source, origin, person, right or just, correct certainly and thought or idea. It is also known as a Buddhist chant which means right consciousness is the root of everything.

The fourth symbol is the Tamarasha. It is a basically a balancing and unblocking symbol that may ground and balance energy.

The fifth and last symbol is known as DaiKoMyo that is used to initiate a student to various initiatory Reiki degrees. This is considered to be the most powerful symbol and can only be used by Reiki masters.

This symbol is used t heal the soul since it deals with the person's spiritual self that can cure a disease or illness of the original source in the aura or energy fields. It can also provide enlightenment and peace as it allows the person to become more intuitive and psychic.

Each of these symbols is activated by drawing them in the palm of your hand, visualizing it or spelling the symbols" name three times. Then this is placed or drawn on the client's chakra, hands or wherever this should be treated.

Symbols have power and if you can't remember how to write it correctly, try recalling the alias because this can also be used to harness that energy. With practice, you will no longer need to remember how they look because you will be able to harness it when needed.

Now that the Reiki symbols have been revealed, you will now be able to use them. Just remember that it is the intention that really matters because as mentioned earlier, each of them is used for various things.

And using the right one is the only way you will be able to solve a problem whether it is physical, mental or psychological.

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HEART RATE MONITORS

Heart Monitor - Photo   by       Nicola since 1972  (cc)

Heart rate monitors used to be exclusively operated by physicians and nurses alone but that was soon rectified with today’s multi-tasking generation. Every person seemed to want to know about everything that was related to them and that, of course, included monitoring their own heartbeats.

What is a Heart Monitor

Also known as a cardiac monitor, a heart monitor is a piece of electronic equipment that can be used to track or observe heart functions continuously. It allows people to place a numerical value on their healthiness based on their heart rate and have a target heart rate to work for. The more complex versions of the heart monitor allow physicians to see any signs of deterioration or improvement and make the necessary adjustments immediately.

Types of Heart Monitors

Today, heart monitors are produced by the millions and designed to cater specific types of individuals. Some heart monitors are primarily designed for weight loss programs while others are meant for the use of athletes or fitness programs. Some are wireless or come as a built-in feature of exercise equipment like a treadmill or an exercise bike. It can be strapped to your wrist or of considerable size. It may or may not emit any electromagnetic waves, depending on its purpose. A fetal heart monitor, for instance, must not produce any waves at all as this may affect the health of the baby.

Factors on Selecting the Best Heart Monitor for You

ECG-Accurate Monitors with Chest Straps – Heart monitors that come with chest straps are more often not the most accurate of heart monitors. The chest strap is strapped around your chest, a few centimeters below your breast. It contains a device that’s able to detect electrical activity of your heart and transmit it to the brain of the machine – just like an ECG. The results are shown on the display monitor, which most of the times is attached to your wrist like a watch. Others, however, prefer results to be transmitted through audio messages via earphones.

Upon choosing heart monitors with chest straps, you need to remember to keep the strap constantly connected to your body lest you want the heart monitor to produce inaccurate readings.

Lastly, the only alternative to buying heart monitors with chest straps are the ones that rely on pulses on your fingertips. These, however, do not provide readings as accurate as those with chest straps.

Heart Monitor Features – Basic and lower end models tend to display only your heart rate and maybe the elapsed exercise time as well. This, of course, does not provide sufficient information if you want to know exactly how much you need to improve before you can be qualified as a completely healthy individual. Higher end models will naturally offer a wider range of features – for a price. Examples of such features are – but not limited to – heart rate zone alarms, timers and number of calories burned. It may also allow users to set pre-programmed workouts along with a targeted heart rate.

Ease of Use – Lastly, you must purchase a heart rate monitor that you will have no problems of using. What good would a high-end heart monitor do if it takes you an hour to operate it? Are the numbers and words appearing in the heart rate monitor readable? Can it be used in no-light situations? Are buttons well-labeled and ergonomically positioned?

To Buy or Not to Buy a Heart Monitor

Heart monitors can be especially costly, more so if you are intent on purchasing higher-end models. If you have a limited budget, you should ask yourself whether or not you truly need to buy a heart monitor. You can, of course, purchase one of the lower-end models but low-quality heart monitors can lead to inaccurate results and that sort of defeats the purpose of buying one.

If you are intent on purchasing a heart monitor, you need to ask yourself another question: do you need to make a solo purchase or is it alright with you to use the heart monitor that comes as a built-in feature of a treadmill? Lastly, you should remember as well that you can always pay your doctor regular visits and have him monitor your heart rate for you.

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The Mathematics of ORIGAMI

This illustrates Maekawa's Theorem in the mathematics
of paper folding. I
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you have ever held a piece of origami in your hand you have in all probability been at least tempted to open it just to see how the folding was done. The geometry involved in the piece is something you could easily see in the creases displayed on the opened paper.

Scientists and artists have studied these geometric aspects as well as origamists and mathematicians. Mathematicians throughout time have developed ways to use geometry to define origami; they have designed highly sophisticated models using fundamental theorems. They have studied and found amazing similarities between tessellations and origami (tessellations is the name for a figure comprised of a shape that is repeated over and over again with no gaps or overlap when fitted to a flat surface).  Teachers around the world have used origami to teach different concepts in chemistry, physics, and architecture as well as math.

Origami construction is defined as the folding of paper using the raw edges, points of the paper and any creases or points subsequently created by those folds.  The folded paper is seen as both an art piece and a geometric form.  The folds produce varying sizes of triangles, rectangles, and other shapes.  A single fold can bisect an angle twice or as in the case of a reverse fold, make 4 triangles at once.

When the first steps to making a figure are applied to other figures, resulting in a number of figures having common shapes, the common shapes are called bases.  There are several established bases such as the bird, the kite, the windmill and the water-bomb to name a few.   Modern origami relies heavily on these existing bases alone and in combination when designing new figures.  As an example, the kite base is used to make quite a few of the different zoo animals.

Studying the creases of existing models has led to the creation of many new models.  These creases show definite patterns of triangles, rectangles, and other shapes.  The geometric study of the crease lines over the last twenty-five years has paved the way for the discovery of new bases.  Not all designs are combinations or parts of other bases; some like the box pleat is completely original.  

Some origamists saw the base as a set of areas each independent of the other differing only in their length and arrangement.  With this in mind, they went on to develop computer programs that are capable of doing all the math necessary to generate crease patterns for any base from a given length and area arrangement.   With the aid of computer programs using intricate mathematical theorems, origami has become as much a puzzle as a piece of art.

Mathematical origamists are now designing more and more complex, realistic models still sticking to the simple rule of one sheet of paper with no cuts.  These programs are also used to solve problems involving getting large pieces of paper folded to fit a specific sized flat surface.

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Accepting the Diagnosis of AUTISM

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

Receiving a diagnosis of Autism can seem overwhelming. You may be left with a lot of unanswered questions about the diagnosis. You might be thinking the diagnosis is wrong. This cannot be happening to your child. There are different feelings and emotions you will experience when dealing with a diagnosis of Autism. Here are some of the ways you might be feeling, and ways to come to terms with the diagnosis.

Denial

Denial is a  common feeling when dealing with any medical problem. Sometimes it is easier to deny that there is even a problem. Some parents do not want to consider that there could be something wrong with their child. So they pretend like there is nothing wrong. The doctor was wrong, their child is perfectly normal. Being in denial about the diagnosis will not help anything. The sooner that you accept that your child is Autistic the better both of you will be. The condition will not go away if you ignore it. Accepting the diagnosis and moving on will be a huge step for you as a parent to take. The quicker this is done the sooner you can start looking into treatment options.

Anger

Anger is one of the emotions you might feel when you get a diagnosis of Autism. You might be angry with yourself, or angry with God. Why is your child Autistic. You might be angry with other parents that have healthy children. This is a normal feeling to experience. Remember while you are feeling angry to think of all the great things about your child. Share your feelings with others. Keeping anger bottled up can be a bad thing.

Grief

Sometimes when a parent gets a diagnosis of Autism they go through a grieving period. They are sad that their child has something wrong with them. They may be feeling sad that the dreams they had for their child may have to change. They might be sad over the way the world will treat their child, and the hardships they will face. Grief is a normal emotion to go through. The key is to get through the grief, and on to the acceptance. Try not to look at the things that are wrong. There will have to be some adjustments made to your plans for your child's future. That is what life is all about, change. If you find yourself unable to move past the grieving stage you might need to talk to someone. It might help having a few therapy sessions to deal with the feelings you are experiencing. 

Acceptance

Finally coming to terms with the diagnosis of Autism can take awhile. Some people are just glad to have an answer to what is wrong with their child. Others have a hard time accepting their child is different from other kids. Eventually, you will accept that your child is different, and that is okay. Once you have accepted the diagnosis of Autism you can start to help your child. Do all the research you can on Autism. Think about how hard it is for your child. They need you to be behind them in their treatments one hundred percent. The first step to doing this is acceptance.

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A Bit Of The HISTORY OF MAGIC

Photo   by     Internet Archive Book Images

One could enjoy watching magicians perform their amazing tricks. Whether they are in a circus, in a school program, a friend’s birthday celebration, or in a favorite television show, magicians are among today’s top entertainers.

Here are a few of the top magicians in their times:

The history of using magic as a form of entertainment may have begun with magician Chevalier Joseph Pinetti. More than three centuries ago, Chevalier Joseph Pinetti, wowed his audiences worldwide with his bag of magic tricks. And that was in 1782!

Among his tricks was the ability to produce an orange tree blossoming on stage that bore fruit. Pinetti’s wife even acted as an assistant, helping the magician to do his mentalist and escape tricks. Known as the “Professor of Natural Magic,” he was known for his great magic tricks, tricks that belonged clearly to the modern era of magic.

Come the nineteenth century. The said century welcomed the use of technical-assisted magic, with some of the magicians developing various devices that would aid or help in their illusions. Using optical aids or devices, electromagnets, as well as various stage lighting forms, these magicians were able to amaze audiences from time to time with their very elaborate and dazzling tricks.

One known magician in the nineteenth century was the magician Hermann the Great. Alexander Herrmann was his real name, and this German magician did his tricks with all of the kinds of stage magic he had known, even from super close-up productions to fill-stage events. An American rival, Harry Kellar, took over Herrmann’s popularity for some time and became the most prominent magician for more than 10 years.

Other magicians in the nineteenth century included T. Nelson Downs and Howard Thurston. Downs is originally a vaudevillian by trade, but had become great and famous in his magic tricks that he became known as “King of Koins.”

Thurston, on the other hand, invested much of his money in building an extravaganza, which is a show on magic. It reigned over the American entertainment magic scene for over twenty-five years.

Probably one of the more known magicians in recent times was Harry Houdini. Known as one of the best American magicians, he was known for his great escape acts, including his own famous creation, the “Chinese Water Torture Cell.”

Another famous American magician is David Copperfield, who until recently performed numerous magic acts in shows and TV programs.

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Discover the Natural Cure for NAIL FUNGUS

Nail Fungus / Toe Nail Fungus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Potential side effects exist for many of the conventional prescription and over-the-counter medications available today.  As a result, many individuals are turning toward a more natural cure for their ailments.  One natural cure known to be effective is available for nail fungus.  This infection affects millions of people worldwide.

Nail fungus occurs in only two areas, which include the toenail and/or fingernail.  The most effective way to provide a natural cure for nail fungus is to keep the infected area clean.  Bacteria worsens if the area isn't thoroughly cleaned, which is particularly true with nail fungus.  Additionally, extra care should be taken to make sure that the area is both dry and cool.  This can be achieved by always drying the hands thoroughly or the feet after bathing or swimming.  Hands will stay cooler than feet, which is why anyone suffering from toenail fungus should strongly consider wearing cotton socks exclusively.  Cotton, itself, is a very breathable fabric and has the ability to absorb moisture and excess sweat.  These are all effective examples of a natural cure for nail fungus.

The kind of soap you are using can make all the difference in the world when it comes to finding a cure for nail fungus.  While regular soaps can do the job of keeping you clean, anti-bacterial soaps are specifically designed to fight germs and other forms of bacteria.  As a result, they're one of the easiest solutions for nail fungus.

Vinegar is a product most people have in the pantry, but did you know that it can be a cure for nail fungus?  All that's needed is a simple application to the infected site two or more times a day.  By doing this, many sufferers have reported great success and relief.  This is why vinegar is considered to be one of the best natural cures for nail fungus.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as professional medical advice.  The information contained herein should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, a doctor's recommendation.  Any individual who develops nail fungus, either in the fingernail or toenail area, should consult a licensed physician for proper diagnosis and inquiries regarding a natural cure for nail fungus.

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Why You Need to MEDITATE

Meditation - Photo   by     Vox Efx

The side effects of meditation are positive and countless. Studies have demonstrated that those who meditate on a regular basis have reduced illness, stress, and need for rest.

But one of the most compelling reasons to meditate is that the process of meditation itself is sublime. Meditation is not dependent upon the result, but the act of meditation itself is a blissful one, transporting one to a state of contentment and tranquil awareness during the training of meditation itself, not just at the end of training. Actually, because the means equals the end, the training has no beginning and never ends.

All of us in modern times experience a constant onslaught of stress. We are bombarded by uninvited energies in the form of such things as television, noise pollution, arguments, and angry or envious people. In order to counteract this enormously overwhelming force of negativity and distress, we need a superior power, gathered within ourselves; and meditation connects us to this internal reservoir of cleansing, enlightening energy.

In former times, nature surrounded people in their daily routines and rituals of existence. There were no artificial sound vibrations from telephones or machinery; there were no stresses and diseases resulting from urban industrial complexities. There was the sound of water, the hum of the wind, the beauty of the stars in the sky, and the scent of the earth. There were natural tempos in every aspect of life, as people planted seeds, nurtured them into foodstuffs, and as they observed the cycles of nature they felt a connection to them. Nowadays we can live our entire lifespan without ever contacting nature in a direct way. We live in artificially controlled climates, we gather food from fast food restaurants or from stores where it is packaged in a factory; we invite a total divorce of ourselves from our natural origins and our organic, original pace of life.

Meditation allows us an easy, convenient, portable method to enter into those lost natural rhythms and aesthetics, by closing out the world around us, letting go of our bodies, and clearing the mind of all the artificial stress it gathers knowingly or unknowingly during the course of lives. 

Meditation costs nothing, it has no harmful side effects, and it won’t add calories or cholesterol to your body. Nor is it addictive in the sense of drugs and alcohol. But it does provide practitioners with an elevated sense of well-being, often compared to a natural “high” more powerful than those induced by drugs, and this component of meditation is one that can be fully embraced for positive, healthy benefits.

The human body is a complex creation, and in the brain, the body naturally produces drugs that are hundreds of times more powerful than pharmaceutical narcotics. As one meditates, the body secretes mysterious hormones and chemicals that actually provide an incredible rush of energy and happiness, and this is only one of the amazing side effects of meditation practice.

Meditation is different things to different people. Some use it in place of, or in addition to, psychotherapy. Others find it most valuable as a tool to enhance sports or work performance, and to increase the memory and other mental functions. Some people rely upon it to help them deal with grief or the aftermath of trauma or tragedy and to regain a contentment and appreciation for life’s beauties. And there are those who use meditation as a creative tool to inspire them in the arts. Meditation gives us stronger and more sustainable vigor, sexual energy, and calm, as it provides a restfulness that is comparable to deep, exceptionally restful sleep.

There are countless reasons to meditate, and one way to make the world a better and more peaceful and harmonious place is for all of us to dedicate some time out of our stressful lives to pause and drink from the mental oasis of meditation practice.

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MYSTERIES: The Most Perplexing Mysteries ever found in the Geology

It is seen in the animation pictures and cartoon channels, the animals coming out of the capsules and talking something funny to entertain the audience. Well, this isn’t a reality. But history has some mysterious thing in its store to provide us more information of some of the animals that were sealed in the stones. Some of the small and tiny animals are inexplicably found inside the solid rocks and that too alive. The amphibious enigma encased inside is still a great mystery. Some astonishing and Mysterious Cases of animals in sealed stones are: 

Frog Bones (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• The Toad inside a stone: Ambroise Pare in 1761 had stated a note in his annual registrar that while his workers were working on breaking of some huge rocks and stones in Meudon village, they had found a huge toad with full life on it, but however it was lacking its aperture. Toads like this were found in many while the rocks and stones were broken. Many such tiny creatures were found by the laborers inside the huge stone blocks.

• Toad inside the limestone: During 1865, while the excavators were working with the magnesium limestone blocks at Hartlepool in England, they found some live toad inside the limestone. This stone was taken out from 25 feet below the ground level. This big toad presented an appearance of having been cast and had an unusual brilliant shining eye. This toad was fully vivacious as it was liberated. It even made some sounds while it was being touched; although it had some problem is respiration. On a research made it was found out that the toad’s mouth was fully closed while the noise came through its nostrils. It had its forefeet claws bent inwards and the hind ones were amazingly lengthy than the normal. It was initially discovered with a pale color look but gradually turned to a darker shade and then became completely olive brown later.

• Lizards: During 1821, a stone mason David Virtue while working over a huge road chunk which was 22 feet beneath the surface had found a Lizard embedded within the stone. This reptile was coiled in a round cavity and measures an inch and quarter. It looked brownish yellow and it head was round with shiny and bright sparkling eyes. While finding it showed no signs of life, but within five minutes of getting exposed to air, it started to move about with great celerity.

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Buddhist MEDITATION: Bringing Your Mind Tranquility and Insight

Yuzen, a Buddhist monk from the Sōtō Zen sect begging at Oigawa, Kyoto. Begging is part of the training of some Buddhist sects. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a hectic world that people live in today, many are stressed out after a hard day's work. Some even get so tired that they lose their energy completely that they lose interest in activities that are considered to be pleasurable, such as sex. Imagine yourself living your life like this every day and just imagine that by living this kind of life, you won't even have the time or the energy for your family and friends. Stress can definitely ruin your social life.

Today, many people are now looking for ways to get rid of stress effectively and give them that extra energy that they need in order for them to get through another day's hectic lifestyle and still have that extra energy to spend time with your family and friends.

Many people today aren’t really depending on technology to get them that extra energy that they need. But, they do look for it in the past. Meditation is one of the methods that are constantly growing in popularity among people today. You have to consider that meditation, particularly Buddhist meditation, have originated for centuries and up until today, this Buddhist technique has proven itself to be very effective. In fact, Buddhist monks still exist today where the majority of them live in Europe while others are situated in Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

People who do Buddhist meditation have been found that they worked more efficiently and have that somewhat "extra glow" or that extra energy. They do work as if it's nothing and Buddhist meditation practitioners have testified that they are happy doing work.

Buddhist meditation's main goal is to get to the path of Enlightenment. Mental development and mind over body are also considered to be one of the goals of Buddhist meditation. You have to consider that the body is controlled by the mind and because of this, Buddhist meditation practitioners have claimed that in order for your body to function properly, you have to get rid of the negative energy inside your mind by meditating.

A lot of people have claimed that through Buddhist meditation methods, they were able to live life happier and have reduced any negative thoughts that can affect their daily life. They also said that they don’t get angry too often even if they get stuck in a long traffic jam or when their boss gives them a hard time. They said that all they do to get rid of anger is do some of the Buddhist meditation they learned in Buddhist meditation schools.

Even scientists and medical practitioners alike were baffled by the effects of Buddhist meditation. Their patients who do Buddhist meditation are healthier and they also recover quickly from illnesses. Although there is still no significant scientific proof about the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation, you have to consider that there are quite a lot of people who are testifying about the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation.

So, if you are looking for enlightenment or you at least want to know how to handle stress effectively, you should try Buddhist meditation.

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The Dark Side Of CAMELOT

"Idylls of the King 3" by Gustave Doré - Enid, by Lord Alfred Tennyson. London: Edward Moxon & Co., 1868. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

What if that magical world of Arthur had really existed? What if we only had part of the story? What if Camelot still existed? No longer in the hands of Arthur or his knights, but in the hands of Morgen le Fey and her court who are determined to reconstruct the Round Table and use it for evil? It would be the ultimate tale of good versus evil.

That is just what Kinley MacGregor, medieval historian and New York Times best-selling author (writing as Sherrilyn Kenyon), does as she exposes the dark side of one of the literature's most beloved legends in her upcoming novel, "Sword of Darkness". "Sword of Darkness" is the first novel in her much-anticipated new series, "The Lords of Avalon," which marks a complete departure from MacGregor's lauded works of medieval Scottish romance, and the first instance in which she introduces elements of the paranormal, for which her alter ego Kenyon is famed, in her pantheon of works with Avon Books.

In "Sword of Darkness," Camelot is not ruled by King Arthur and his sword of Excalibur, but by Kerrigan, champion of evil, and his sword of Darkness. Kerrigan is the male counterpart to Morgen le Fey, the magical enchantress who presides over the creatures damned by the Celtic god Balor, and who pursues the one thing that would eclipse good from Camelot once and for all. This compelling new novel from beloved author Kenyon is truly a remarkable retelling of one of the literature's most beloved legends.

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Fundamentals of AIKIDO

Aikido - Photo   by     HoangP

Aikido is martial arts that resulted from the combination of several disciplines. It was created by Ueshiba sometime in the 1940s. It was the result of Ueshiba’s search for a technique that provided him with contentment not only in the technical sense but also in the spiritual end. 

Aikido comes from the three Japanese words, ai-ki-do, which means joining, spirit, and way respectively. In essence, aikido is a martial arts form that focuses on the joining of the spirit and the body and the mind to find the Way. 

Aikido has many techniques and moves. Its basic structure comes from the throws and locks found in jujitsu and also from the movements that experts do when they are fighting with swords and spears.

Fundamental Techniques of aikido 

Let’s look at the different fundamental movements of this martial arts. 

Ikkyo

This is the first technique in aikido, where control is achieved by the use of the hand on the elbow and one near the wrist. This is the grip that is also that can apply pressure into the ulnar, which can be found in the medial portion of the arm. 

Nikyo 

This is the second of the techniques, which is characterized by an adductive wristlock that twists the arm and then applies pressure in the nerve that can be really painful. 

Sankyo 

This is the third technique that incorporates a pronating move. It directs an upward tension all through the arm, the elbow, and the shoulder. 

Yonkyo 

The fourth installment in the fundamental movements of aikido, yonkyo uses a shoulder control movement similar to a ikkyo but this time there is no gripping of the forearm. Instead, the knuckles apply pressure on the radial nerve  

Gokyo 

The fifth technique is actually a variant of ikkyo. This time the hand gripping the wrist is inverted and twisted. 

Aikido protective moves

Here are some of the moves that you can use in order to disarm your opponent. 

Kotogaeshi – this is what is called in the English as the wrist return. In this move, the practitioner will place a wristlock and throw that will stretch up to the extensor digitorum 

Iriminage – called the entering-body throw, here the practitioner or the nage will move into space where the uke or the opponent is. This classic move resembles the clothesline technique. 

Kokyunage – this is the breath throw, a term that refers to the various types of “timing throws.”

Koshinage – this move is aikido’s version of the hip throw wherein the person will drop his hips a little lower than the opponent or the uke.  He will then flip the opponent with a resultant fulcrum.

Tenchinage – Called the heaven and earth throw because of the levels that the hands will reach. The uke or the practitioner will grab both wrists and then moves forward grabbing the hand low and the other high. This unbalances the uke, which will cause him or her to topple over. 

Shihonage- this is the four-direction throw, wherein the hand is folded back past the shoulders  and then afterward locking the joints in the shoulder  

Kaitennage- called the rotation throw, in kaitennage, the practitioner or the nage will move the arm backward until the shoulder joints are locked. He will then use this position to add pressure. 

Jujinage- this is the throw that is characterized by a throw that locks the arms together. This is called shape like a 10 throw because of its cross-shape, which looks like 10 in kanji.

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Great Philosophers - IMMANUEL KANT (1724 - 1804)

Great Philosophers - IMMANUEL KANT (1724 - 1804) - Photo: Wikimedia

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TAI CHI: An Overview

Yang style Tai Ji demo at Culture Fest in Chattanooga.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you translate Tai Chi (Taiji), it would mean “Supreme Ultimate Force”. It is somewhat a state of infinite and absolute potentiality. It tackles on the concept of yin and yang or the Two Aspects governing the Four Realms and Five Elements.

Using those very important aspects, the world is created. Tai Chi also means “unity, one, or being able to attain oneness.”With the use of the concept of the positive and negative energy, Tai Chi is a form of force that can be assumed as a dual dynamic state in which force coming from within the body is used in means of achieving the supreme and ultimate discipline in oneself.Today, Tai Chi is practiced in many parts of the world including the Western World. It can be a sort of moving meditation and yoga combined. Tai Chi has its many forms or sets that consist of a number of sequential movements that was derived from martial arts that can be in the form of imitating the movements of different kinds of birds and animals in the most gentle and invigorating way. 

Even if it is a kind of movement involving martial arts, Tai Chi is done in a soft and graceful manner entailing smooth transitions in between.Practitioners see Tai Chi as a form of meditative interaction between the mind, body, soul and the environment. They don’t see it as a martial art technique but as an exercise to calm the body. Some consider Tai Chi as a combat interest because of its considerable force. With regards to Chinese medicine and philosophy, the existence of “chi” is important to the vitality that enables to animate the body. One of the many aims of Tai Chi is to promote circulation of the “chi” throughout the body. By promoting this belief, the vitality and health of a person are normally enhanced. Once the “chi” circulates around the body, it goes to the pattern of the vascular and nervous system and any organ correlated to it. Thus, making Tai Chi connected with the principles of oriental healing and acupuncture.

One of the most familiar aims of Tai Chi is fostering the calmness and tranquility of the mind. One’s mind must be focused on executing the exercise precisely because doing it in a proper manner provides an avenue to learn things about balance, motor control, alignment, movement rhythm, and the list goes on. If the person practicing Tai Chi can practice it every day, then he or she will reach to the extent of being able to stand, run, move, and walk in a better position. It also touches some of the spheres in a person’s life as well.There are numerous benefits seen by practitioners regarding Tai Chi. One of which is inhibiting the correct posture and alignment of the body which lessens further injuries and tension. 

Push-hands is a kind of Tai Chi that involves two persons. Here, principles regarding Tai Chi are applied in a manner that the response of the other person is developed in a more sensitive way. It is an opportunity to exhibit martial arts aspects in a kind of a slow-motion combat, without hurting the opponent. An emphasis that Tai Chi has channeled through its practitioners is that they can give out an energy that may be in a form of a destructive behavior or context without dissipating that energy in a harmful way.

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The FIVE ELEMENTS of Oriental Medicine: Assessment through the Natural

Five Elements - Photo   by       Wonderlane 

One of the major ways in which Chinese medicine determines how one’s health relies on the laws of the universe.  This essentially means that any trained person in Chinese medicine will turn towards nature and the characteristics that are in this environment to determine why one may be unhealthy.

One of the ways that these determinations are made is through the five elements.

The five elements consist of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.  When looking at these elements, there are certain attributes that are analyzed.  In turn, the analysis that is made will also determine how it is related to various organs.  Not only did these five elements determine the relation of the elements to organs, but went on to include things such as how emotions corresponded with these various elements.

The idea of the five elements is to see how everything is interconnected to each other through the universe.  Chinese medicine determines that every man is a reflection of what is in the universe, meaning that each individual can be analyzed in direct co-relation to the elements of the universe.

Take for instance if someone is having trouble with their heart or small intestine.  According to Chinese medicine, this would directly relate to Fire, meaning that it would be linked with the qualities of summer and the energy of heat.  The result of the heart or intestine trouble would be that the sense organ of the tongue would first be affected.  The emotion associated with this would be either joy or shock.  The heart and the small intestine will also trigger bitter taste that someone will respond to.

The idea is that everything in the external universe is directly aligned with the internal.  In order to be completely healthy, or to get holistic health, the five elements principles have to be applied.  By doing this, one is able to find the natural solutions for any season or element that they are looking at.

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