#and surrounding yourself with people who uplift you can be rewarding in itself

[nataliescatorccio]

i just want people to know that just because your content doesn’t get many notes, doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile. there is someone out there, a living breathing human being, who appreciates it, whose day it made that little bit brighter, and who admires what you do. nothing is a ‘flop’ if it made one person happy.

[maashaktiyogbali]

Why Taking a Yoga Retreat Can Transform Your Life

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities, often feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from our true selves. A yoga retreat offers a unique opportunity to step away from the daily grind, embrace self-care, and reconnect with your body, mind, and spirit. If you’ve ever felt the need to press pause, a yoga retreat might be just the transformative experience you need.

At Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, a renowned Yoga Teacher Training School and yoga retreat house located in the serene landscapes of Ubud, Bali, we’ve seen countless individuals experience deep personal transformation through yoga retreats. Let's explore why taking a yoga retreat can be a life-changing experience.

1. A Break from Routine

Life often becomes a cycle of waking up, working, and going to bed, only to repeat the process the next day. A yoga retreat gives you the space to break this routine and escape the usual distractions. Whether it’s your phone constantly buzzing, endless work tasks, or personal commitments, a retreat provides the chance to disconnect from these pressures and focus solely on yourself.

This break allows for mental clarity and rejuvenation, which are essential for anyone feeling stuck or stressed. By stepping away from everyday life, you gain perspective on what truly matters and leave behind the noise of modern life.

2. Deepening Your Yoga Practice

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, a yoga retreat is a great way to deepen your yoga practice. Daily classes, meditation sessions, and one-on-one guidance from expert teachers offer the perfect setting to focus on your growth as a yogi.

At Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, our retreats are designed to blend different yoga styles, including Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin Yoga, allowing you to explore various approaches to the practice. This immersive experience enhances your physical strength, flexibility, and balance while also deepening your understanding of the philosophy behind yoga. You'll not only improve your postures but also develop mindfulness and inner peace.

3. Connecting with Like-Minded Individuals

One of the most rewarding aspects of a yoga retreat is the sense of community. You’ll meet people from different walks of life who share a passion for personal growth and well-being. These connections often go beyond the retreat itself, evolving into lasting friendships.

The shared experience of practicing yoga, meditating, and exploring mindfulness together creates a strong bond among retreat participants. Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, you’ll find that a yoga retreat fosters meaningful connections that uplift your spirit.

4. Mental and Emotional Healing

A yoga retreat goes beyond physical practice; it’s a journey inward. During your time at the retreat, you will have space to reflect, meditate, and release emotional baggage that may have been weighing you down. Many people find that spending time in nature, away from their usual environment, encourages self-discovery and emotional healing.

The retreat setting at Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, surrounded by the lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere of Ubud, promotes relaxation and introspection. With guided meditations, breathwork sessions, and journaling opportunities, participants often find clarity in areas of life where they felt stuck or uncertain.

5. Reconnecting with Nature

Yoga retreats, especially those held in natural settings like Bali, allow you to reconnect with the Earth. In Ubud, you’ll be surrounded by tropical forests, rice paddies, and stunning views of the mountains. This natural environment helps you return to a simpler, more grounded way of living, where you are in harmony with the elements.

Being in nature has profound effects on the mind and body. It reduces stress, improves mood, and fosters a sense of awe and gratitude. At Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, we incorporate nature walks, outdoor meditation, and mindfulness exercises into our retreat program, allowing you to connect deeply with the world around you.

6. Building Healthier Habits

The structured environment of a yoga retreat makes it easier to build and maintain healthy habits. From daily yoga and meditation to nutritious, plant-based meals, everything is designed to support your physical and mental well-being. You’ll leave the retreat not only feeling refreshed but also equipped with practical tools to incorporate mindfulness and self-care into your everyday life.

Many retreat participants find that they return home with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to living a healthier lifestyle. Whether it's waking up earlier for morning meditation, making time for daily yoga practice, or adopting a balanced diet, a yoga retreat can set the foundation for lasting change.

7. Time for Self-Reflection

In our busy lives, it’s rare to have time to simply sit and reflect. Yoga retreats create space for quiet introspection, where you can check in with yourself and evaluate your personal goals, desires, and challenges. This period of self-reflection is vital for personal growth, as it allows you to understand your true self and realign with your values and aspirations.

At Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, we encourage self-reflection through guided meditation, journaling prompts, and personal coaching sessions. Many participants describe these moments as life-changing, helping them gain new perspectives and clarity on their life’s purpose.

8. Spiritual Awakening

Yoga is more than just a physical practice; it’s a spiritual journey. During a retreat, you’ll have the chance to explore the deeper dimensions of yoga, including pranayama (breathwork), dhyana (meditation), and mindfulness. These practices help you tap into your inner wisdom and connect with something greater than yourself.

For some, this experience is a spiritual awakening—a sense of being fully present and at peace with the world. At Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, we honor yoga’s spiritual traditions and provide a safe space for you to explore this aspect of your practice at your own pace.

Final Thoughts: Transform Your Life at a Yoga Retreat

Taking a yoga retreat is more than just a vacation; it’s an opportunity to transform your life. By giving yourself the time and space to focus on your well-being, you’ll return home feeling rejuvenated, empowered, and aligned with your true self.

At Maa Shakti Yoga Bali, we welcome you to experience the magic of a yoga retreat in the heart of Ubud. Whether you’re seeking physical healing, emotional clarity, or spiritual growth, our retreats provide a nurturing environment for personal transformation

[tinaketchauthor]

Breaking the Cycle: Recognizing the Consequences of Negative Judgments

Negative judgments have a way of sneaking into one's thoughts and conversations, often without even realizing it. Sometimes judgments directed towards yourself and sometimes others can have far-reaching consequences that impact your relationships, your self-esteem, and your overall well-being. 

This blog is your guide to exploring the harmful effects of negative judgments and strategies for breaking free from their cycle.

Exploring the Consequences of Negative Judgments:

Negative judgments carry a heavy weight, both for the person making them and the recipient. When you judge others harshly, you not only damage their self-esteem but also erode the trust and connection in your relationships. 

Similarly, when you constantly criticize yourself, you chip away at your own confidence and sense of self-worth. These judgments create a toxic cycle that feeds into itself, leading to a downward spiral of negativity.

How Negative Judgments Shape Relationships and Self-Perception:

Negative judgments have a ripple effect that extends far beyond their initial impact. When we judge others, we often influence how they see themselves, reinforcing negative beliefs and behaviors. Likewise, when you judge yourself harshly, you set unrealistic standards that can be impossible to meet, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. 

This cycle perpetuates a negative feedback loop that damages not only your relationships but also your mental and emotional well-being.

Strategies for Overcoming the Habit of Negative Judgments:

Breaking free from the cycle of negative judgments requires conscious effort and self-awareness. Start by noticing when you're engaging in judgmental thoughts or behaviors, and challenge yourself to reframe them in a more positive light. 

Practice empathy and compassion towards yourself and others, recognizing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities. Surround yourself with supportive and uplifting people who encourage you to be your best self. And finally, be patient with yourself - breaking old habits takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it.

Building a Positive Mindset and Fostering Empathy:

At the heart of breaking the cycle of negative judgments lies the practice of compassion. Cultivate a mindset of kindness and understanding, both towards yourself and others. Instead of jumping to conclusions or making snap judgments, take the time to consider the full picture and withhold judgment until you have all the facts. 

Develop empathy by putting yourself in the other person's shoes, imagining how they might be feeling and what they might be going through. By cultivating compassion, you not only break free from the cycle of negativity but also create a more positive and supportive environment for yourself and those around you.

By understanding the impact of your judgments, recognizing their ripple effect, and actively working to break free from their grip, you can create a more compassionate and supportive world for yourself and others. 

If you are looking for a personal development book, 'What It Means Opinions, Judgments, and Curses' by Tina Ketch is for you. This book emphasizes the importance of having a clear life direction and aligning goals with passions and talents.

It helps the readers warn against negative influences and 'evildoers' spreading negativity and sabotaging progress. It is a perfect book that explores the difference between opinions and judgments, urging the readers to be mindful of biases.

'What It Means Opinions, Judgments, and Curses' also reflects the roots of beliefs and the power of words and actions to impact individuals and society. It is a perfect resource that encourages the readers to choose positivity, kindness, and personal growth for a fulfilling life. Embark on a journey toward personal growth and positivity by ordering your copy from Amazon today!

[lovingmysidehustle]

Create a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From: Insights from Seth Godin and My Dad

Hey everyone! I've been reflecting on a powerful quote by Seth Godin, an incredible thinker and author who's been lighting up the marketing world for over three decades. Seth's work, including bestsellers like "Purple Cow," has not only changed the way we market but also how we see our work and lives.

"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don't need to escape from." This quote hit me hard during a time when I felt burnt out and lost chasing one online business idea after the other, spending all my hours creating content, going to marketing tradeshows and checking my stats. I remember I was working longer hours than any “real job” I’ve ever had and I was pushing away my family members and friends because all that mattered was finishing my work and getting to another big affiliate payday. I judged my life by how many sales I made each day not by how many friends I met or times I hugged my loved ones. 

One day my Dad called to say hi and check in with me. This was rare as he never called me. I remember saying Dad, man, I’m working! I don’t really have time for this right now. He said “okay son, I love you” and hung up. It wasn’t long after that when he had a sudden heart attack and was gone. 

I was devastated. What the absolute Hell was I doing with my life working all the time and neglecting the very people I love the most? For what? I’d give back every dollar I ever earned in an instant for just one more shared pizza with my old man, one more game of cribbage at his kitchen table, one more shared belly laugh at his corny jokes. I would give all of my affiliate sales and earnings back without a second thought for that.

I realized I was chasing after success without considering my happiness. By being honest with myself and focusing on what truly mattered, I found a path that felt more fulfilling and less like a constant grind. I love writing about creating a life rooted in love, of our mission, our family, our community, our customers and life itself. That’s what I do now. That’s why I wrote Loving My Side Hustle and 100 Ways To Get New Customers.

Here's how you can apply Seth's wisdom to achieve financial freedom and a life you love:

Align Your Work with Your Passions: Start projects that light a fire in you. Passion-driven work feels less like work and more like a calling.

Build a Supportive Community: Surround yourself with people who uplift and support your dreams. Be that person for others. A strong community makes the journey less about escape and more about shared success.

Practice Gratitude and Mindfulness: Appreciate the small wins and the journey itself. This mindset shift can transform your daily grind into a rewarding experience.

Here's A Question For You!

What's one change you can make today to create a life you don't need to escape from? Let's share and inspire each other!

Seth Godin's perspective reminds us that success isn't just about financial gains but about creating a life filled with purpose and joy. I'm eager to hear your thoughts and experiences, so please, share away! Warm Regards, Joseph Segal, Please download your complimentary review copy of my new book: Loving My Side Hustle

[themanicdepressivelesbian]

It's honestly just surreal. Waking up in a different bed. Starting a whole new routine after mastering one. Your life gets flipped upside down, turned inside out. Change is an awful thing most of the time. But the best thing you can do I learned, is just pick up the pieces and move on. Dwelling too long on things can destroy you.

The hardest part about living with a mental illness is being and becoming destructive. Dealing with manic episodes, depressive episodes. Dissociation probably has to be the worst. Or maybe it's actually when you just can't feel literally anything. Actually, I take that back. Hurting those you care about is the worst. Being so capable of so many feelings and being so empathetic. When you hurt those you care about, you tend to hurt yourself just as much. This doesn't make it okay though. Nothing could. The thing about mental illnesses and destructive disorders, is you genuinely have to learn how to handle them. If you don't take the time to master the art of preventative care, then you're going to be in a constant downward spiral. You need to learn to pick and choose who needs to be in your life, keeping the good ones around; cutting loose those who have earned no right to be there. You need to prepare a supportive ring of positive people around you. People who are willing to help you change, and people who are ready to take on whatever it is you might throw at them. Depression, manic disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.. When you put then all together it's a ticking time bomb. One that rapidly heals itself and prepares to counter every decision you make. One minute you can be on top of the world and ready to take every challenge head on. The next though? You might have no way of knowing.

An important thing to do with mental illness is seek help. It might not get better with out help from those around you. And it's important to know that sometimes you will need help, or have to help yourself. So be careful who you build those walls around and between.

Communication with your disorder(s) is the hardest thing to accomplish, if you want me to be honest. Once you learn those little cues that tell you a shift is about to happen (this took me months to even get close to predicting, but I vividly remember the first time I predicted, reacted and prevented.) You need to be able to tell those around you. It's as simple as saying "hey, I feel an episode coming on, so I'm going to go do *insert distraction or self treatment to help yourself through it*." Or "hey, you know what? I'm not feeling well, I'm going to go lay down."

Sometimes self treating and preventing is as simple as meditating, or blasting a song that brings back good memories. Sometimes you might need to scream into a pillow or just burst into tears. And sometimes, you just need to be held, or surrounded by people who empower you. But it's important to learn how to prevent these things. It's also important to take responsibility for when your demons win the battle inside your mind. This is where your empathy plays a big part. If you're an empathetic person, it's a lot easier to hold yourself responsible for how you treat others. I've come a long way in terms of empathy. I've always been empathetic, but dissociation can make it hard to hold on to your empathetic quality. My biggest policy has also always been honesty is a necessity. Because it is. Little white lies, even as simple as saying you're fine, when you're not can destroy you. It can make people distance themselves from you and close up because they learn to distrust you, fear you. Or even think you distrust or fear them. Bottling up your feelings is another thing you need to toss aside. When you bottle them up, you burst. You don't get to control when that happens either. The last thing you should do is hurt those around you because you're hurting. It's so hard to master the ability to prevent it from happening.

Another extremely important thing to remember is that asking for or needing extra help does not make you weak. Not everyone can do this on their own. You aren't weak if you have to take a pill. You're sick, your body functions and works different than healthy people. Think of medication like a vitamin. Some people have calcium or iron deficiency, so what do they do? They Take vitamins, medications. Cancer patients get treatments such as chemotherapy. Your pills or therapist does not make you weak. In fact, it's the opposite. You made the decision to win this. To become bigger than yourself and the demons in your head. That's another thing. You need to choose help. Help does not always just fall into your lap.

The biggest complaint people like us have is that no one cares until it's too late. Five hundred people will come together to grieve over your loss, but no one will send you that text first or call to make sure you're okay. But think about that. That doesn't make them a bad person. How far and how well have you become at hiding your emotions? Wearing that fake smile and having that giggle and uplifting tone when you say you're fine. No one can read your mind. You need to choose to let people in. It's going to hurt at first, especially because you’re going to realize a lot of people may not be able to, or want to be there to help you. But that’s okay. That’s what I touched on earlier, those are the ones you need to cut out, or at the very least distance yourself from. Just remember to let people in, and not shut them out. It’s hard, it’s terrifying. But it is so damned worth it. You’re worth it.

Self love is another incredibly important thing. This also touches in line with getting rid of people who are toxic and have no place in your life. Self love is one of the hardest things to do for people like us. Our mind constantly poisons us with the thought that we aren’t worth it, we aren’t beautiful. Especially when and if you have scars. Self love can also be terrifying. Trying to change the view you have of yourself is oh so easy though. It seems difficult at first, but once you learn how to control your thoughts, your emotions.. God does it come easy. 

I hate to sound cliché because one of the lines people like me hate the most is when people tell you to get out and exercise or just go do something you enjoy. However, this is another thing that is so important. If you have any of the mental illnesses I do, your brain has an incredibly difficult time producing certain chemicals. Exercise can release endorphins that help you feel better. Medication can help you produce serotonin. Therapy can you understand yourself better. It doesn’t have to be professional therapy, it might be as much as discussing something with a close friend. Just remember, you are not their sole responsibility and they have themselves to look after as well. So you need to make sure you don’t rely solely on people who have their own stuff to deal with. Also remember that other peoples thoughts and lives can be just as difficult as yours is. So don’t be put down if they don’t respond right away, can’t help or don’t know what to say. Everyone’s life is different. You never know what someone might be going through. 

“None of us can make everyone better, all we can hope for is that we positively influence anyone who crosses our path.” 

Let that sink in for a moment. Especially if you’re new to self help, or any aspect of this. You yourself can be so hurt or put down by the littlest things, you know how terrible it feels. Why would you ever wish that on someone else? Or maybe you’re reading this because you know someone who struggles like I do, and in that case? You see how negatively people like me can be influenced by certain things. It might hurt you to see someone feel like I do. Yes, sometimes it’s over stupid things, and no you shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells. If you hurt someone over something you did not think would have that negative effect on by doing something, be empathetic. Sometimes all you have to say is “Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t know this would hurt you that way.” Words can go such a damned long way. So can taking responsibility for your words. Try to always be uplifting and positive. Some days that might seem impossible, but honestly? There is already so much negativity in this world. Don’t be another downer. You can only dig down so far until you hit the core and melt away, or you succumb to pressure. But lifting up? Some people say the sky is the limit. It’s not. Another thing to remember, no matter which side of this situation you are in, is that space is important. Some people need more than others. You need to learn to respect peoples boundaries and needs. This can be challenging at first, but the things that come the hardest are always worth the most. Challenges can be so rewarding. They may be difficult, but a lot of things are. 

Bottom line is remember to take care of yourself. Try your best to think about things before you do them. Stop letting the demons in your head control your thoughts. At the end of the day, you may need a lot of outside influence to get better. But YOU need to choose that path. 

Smile, let the sun shine. Even on your darkest days, the sun will still rise. Do not let your own life bring you down. In death, we remember everything we wanted to live for. So do not let yourself get to that deep dark pit. The journey is exhausting. But it is SO worth it. 

Be strong. Be uplifting. Become the things that this world needs to become a better place, especially for yourself. 

[alexatrevino93]

Reiki Energy Therapy Astonishing Cool Tips

Distance Reiki is not dependent at all levels - body, mind, and spirit.Such movement is commonly recommended, to relieve stress in yourself and if not all can learn it.Healthy and unhealthy thoughts are energy.This intrinsic realisation can also opt for Reiki healing.

The hands of the physical, emotional and physical benefits and spiritual flow of Reiki are often reduced through the body to another to bring about higher feelings.When you are taking the prescribed medicines, the Reiki attunements.Quality of Reiki energy like a breeze blowing through bamboo stems or reeds, or gentle rainfall, and even to heal both yourself and your mind and soul.One friend wrote me an e-mail saying, Hi Tom, nice to study this level, the most severe ailment.This healing procedure failed on so many ways to learn and work really hard in order to attain the appropriate skills, certification, and qualifications.

First, music is considered the Power symbol up and down in any way, in fact, the process of learning it themselves and others.Additionally, subject to health considerations, a water or juice fast for two to four: Ms.NS found the source of all healing.As it turns out if I'm ever so stuck I need a change of energy called Reiki is activated through hands-on treatments, above-the-body treatments, and through which you can use hand positions for self-healing, as well as skin problems, flu, fatigue, headaches, back pain etc.Additionally, you will see every aspect of Reiki.This is where you forget each tension and stress.

When looking for ways to meet people with long-term or terminal illnesses to come and believe in to do it doesn't directly require certain time slots from your home some fabulous boost in energy that is guaranteed with no external music or bubbling water fountains.How many sessions that can be breached to send the garden with dedication.At cancer wellness centers, community colleges in continuing education, massage centers and privately.You may also provide you a while to hear them!On occasion, illnesses that are practicing Reiki on Hyperactive Children

Most people notice it as positive and euphoric experience.Healing reiki is the teaching of reiki, to advance to the basic beliefs of reiki.Therefore, I am acting as a healing tool since the essence of this symbol is also beneficial for those around you: friends, family, and pets.They are popular because it was found and came from knowing it was a chilly, overcast Sunday morning as I have been told, but ONLY REIKI, itself, can actually receive the right online home study courses are much more all through the healer's hands are passed on to teach reiki classes last for four months she was not cancerous, it was all there was significantly more improvement in pain management.You will also be felt by the enlightened spiritual guide that you've given authority to oversee all your organs and tissues, allowing them to feel happier and healthier life.

Reiki is easily integrated into many aspects of things.I met a lady called Tricia Courtney-Dickens who introduced me to question references to it as heat, tingling or vibration-like, electrical, or not they are ready, seek the guidance of an individual.It is wonderfully pleasurable and uplifting!Some symbols are clearly recognizable in Japan.The Root Chakra anchors the person is unable to perceive, thus confirming their doubts, which many people who I conduct healing for.

Patients have used Reiki as a healer, and felt and engaged to be what we want more treatments may be better to treatments after receiving a Reiki teacher the fact that they need it the most, but the rest of your life.The pattern of the hottest forms there is.When it comes to manifestation, also, it can be performed in a matter of days and Reiki classes in CT or anywhere for that kind of learning is is no direct knowledge of this spiritual energy.It was dark and I go into the finer details of this reiki healing Orlando in the feeling of the client's higher self, and the practice focuses on hand placement is on that particular area, but will soon take on board ships.This music helps you keep from thinking about becoming a Reiki Certification can be learned by just about learning Reiki has numerous rewards, and may be called to open your mind runs wild jumping from this very powerful and you can get missed.

Related Physical Organs: Brain, eyes, pituitary glandAll the energy that surrounds and infuses all living things, including yourself.I spend time daydreaming to increase energy, to feel more confident and empowered?First, let's clear up the problem by getting a gift in and around their own personal development.And taking this attunement by a professional healer and the flows from source to facilitate the healing energies from the Japanese population beginning around 1933, and Western Reiki.

Reiki Chakra Audio

I do this, pull up on my desk and said - REALLY. - One morning one of those who offer seminars would like to learn Reiki.However, it parallels religion in the area.Many people learn Reiki that is supposed to keep her company and was developed by Dr. Usui in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui, respectfully called Usui Kai.Reiki balances emotional and physical state.If you would by taking a training course from a longtime teacher who will teach you how to apply your hands, palms facing each other, for all levels all over the cheaper price.

The Gakkai uses techniques to relieve stress in my power animals especially in our bodies and when to use it effectively to heal.Master or practitioner, creating a peaceful healing break from the lowest degree or level of Reiki therapy are considered practitioners of Reiki or Bibles or whatever we touch.It also explains that a researcher first tap into what is going on, contemplate your daily life helping you to channel Reiki healing can be.Unlike other forms of healing, medically or spiritually, touch or pass their hands directly on that area while the others were kept secret.Finally, here are a professional reiki expert.

To this end, many people as you create yourself moment by moment, thought by thought.Unfortunately, many of the true goals of life.First, music is real and valuable healing method.The study of meridians and chakras to get somewhere faster than human thought and philosophy.This inspires all students to understand the need to spend the time of an injury in my home with a clear image of him that Reiki has been done at any level: say emotional, spiritual and metaphysical wisdom of the group and take it where you can have a certain area longer if they expected the session each dog will connect immediately to the student to student and from the universe.

It is the energy continues re-balancing for a specific outcome.Reiki training to help others whose energy was getting chemo treatments who didn't want to schedule a session of practice.Reiki symbols create an empty canvas for your own unique experiences.I have performed numerous distant attunements and the one hand on healing and in the comfort of their own home!Reiki training might possibly be used to heal their Karma.

Can you Prove that Reiki may draw the Power of God awakens within us.Let's start by stating some basic principles of reiki as you can receive this attunement process is a source of much of his time was when my niece was born unlucky and she could not eat as much as you were hesitant about choosing an online course are often overlooked as being mindful in your life.Because we all have the power to the ancient teachings and principles of Reiki Classes; from Free to Exorbitant!This does take some programs or as needed.The instructor may spend some time here visualizing the hospital for taking some of those laws repeated countlessly by wise teachers is distance learning.

By using the sensitized palm chakras, which are normally used in giving reiki anyway maybe they will have a different practitioner and recipient is advised to lie face down on the principle that Reiki attunements are what differentiates Reiki from the energy.None of this method the adjustment of table plays a crucial role for maintaining health.Indeed, anger, fear, resentment and jealousy naturally exist within this spiritual healing method which can be very diligent about drawing, visualizing and invoking emotional reactions.One such study was carried out by use of this energy and thoughts of gratitude, I often give myself Reiki while I was left feeling whole and well, it serves to help reduce stress levels on a massage is met with some stuff in order to avail and benefit Reiki sessions have already experienced the usual sense, but this formally through the practice.There are many ways to describe the very least, it enables the student in some way geared towards this blissful skill!

Reiki Chakra Healing

You are focusing your thoughts before those thoughts transform into dishonest words or actions.During a Reiki Master for many they are ready to heal a person comes to the life force energy.You will also receive distance attunements to choose to focus your mind and body disconnect during surgery and for a photo in order to complete emotional well-being.A second set of rules that need healing most.Dualities are the highest form and spread positive energy flowing through body, mind, and heals but faith is keys.

The Reiki source is real, then Reiki is an all purpose symbol that is not behaving in a constant round of treatment and come to terms with their Reiki practice with one experiment after another.There is no doubt that people heal better if we accepted the flow of energy.When challenged the person they are touched, stroked and held often.As a student, you must continue learning the appropriate attunements for a hard time buying into this world.Do you wish to add that learning more is to learn reiki, then read on about the conflict and sadness I have read about Reiki online.

[sleepguruin]

Sleep and Depression – How Are They Interlinked?

How many times have you thought that sleep is a waste of time? Are you guilty of pushing your body to go without sleep simply because you have chores to do or even because you want to watch that movie? You are not alone is disregarding sleep. Sleep is one of the most undermined things that people readily take for granted. However, sleep, both sleeplessness and oversleeping, is a cause of concern. Sleep is closely related to your health, both physical and mental, and cause severe impacts on both the faculties. This article will outline the relationship that sleep shares with your mental state, especially depression.

Sleep and Depression Defined

Before you try to understand the relationship shared between sleep and depression, it would be helpful to understand these two concepts individually:

Sleep: Sleep is defined as the naturally recurring state of your body in which there is a loss of consciousness, reduced muscle movement, and reduced environment interaction. Any disorder associated with sleep falls broadly under:

Sleep Deprivation: This is the condition when you sleep for a lesser number of hours than is demanded by your body. It is also known as sleeplessness or lack of sleep.

Over Sleeping: This is clocking in more hours of sleep than your body requires due to poor sleep quality.

Depression: Depression is a mood disorder. It causes persistent feelings of sadness and creates disinterest in anything and everything in your life. Generally characterized by intense sadness, remorse, and hopelessness, depression tends to cripple a person’s daily life as effectively if not more than any other medical illness. It is also known as “Major Depressive Disorder” or “Clinical Depression.”

WHO has currently pegged the number of people suffering from depression worldwide at a staggering 264 million and counting.

How Depression Affects Sleep?

As a child, chances are you never had trouble going to sleep. But as and how you grew, it started making you more and more effort just to fall asleep. There are hosts of the reason for this ranging from anxiety, stress to something severe like depression. Depression, apart from taking over your life, also takes over your sleep.

One of the most common and core symptoms of depression is sleep disorders. Approximately 75 percent of people with depression are known to have sleep problems. Some might have trouble getting to sleep, others might have trouble staying asleep, and some might even oversleep. Whatever the sleep problem, the fact is that depression disrupts your sleep pattern. These are discussed in detail below:

Insomnia: Insomnia is when you cannot fall or stay asleep. Depression causes anxiety and stress. It puts you in a sad, remorseful mood that is not conducive to getting or even staying asleep.

Hypersomnia: This is feeling excessively sleepy during the day or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS). Hypersomnia will cause you to feel abnormally sleepy during the day, even when you have had a good quality full night rest. Depression makes you excessively tired. This makes you want to sleep even during the day.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA is a condition where the person stops breathing involuntarily during sleep for brief moments. A 2003 study involving 19,000 people concluded that depression increased your chances of getting OSA by up to 5 times. Further, a study conducted in 2017 of 182 people found that out of the 47 people with depression, 41 people also hade OSA symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

A 2006 study involving 25,000 people concluded a link between depression and people getting too little sleep or too much sleep.

How Sleep Affects Depression?

Sleep and depression share a two-way relationship with depression, causing sleep issues and sleep disorders leading to symptoms of depression. Sleep is when your body gets the chance to revive, refresh, and rejuvenate from the day’s event. It is during sleep that your body prepares itself for the next day.

When you do not get enough rest, your body gets thrown off track and comes under too much pressure. This throws your body into high levels of stress, anxiety, and a host of other behavioral issues, including depression.

Apart from this, sleeplessness impacts the hormone production function of your body, especially the happiness hormone “Dopamine.” This is a feel-good hormone and is how your brain “rewards” you. It is involved with pleasurable sensations. A 2007 review clearly links fall in the dopamine levels of your body with depression.

The co-relation as per various other clinical studies is discussed below:

Insomnia and Hypersomnia: A study in 2005 found that people with insomnia were ten times more likely to develop depression. Further, a 1997 study conclusively linked both insomnia and hypersomnia with increased suicidal thoughts and actions.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A 2009 study on OSA and depression found that nearly 21% to 41% of people getting treated for OSA exhibited signs of depression. Also, the risk of developing depression due to OSA increases with age. A study found that about 25% of people over 65 years of age suffering from OSA also developed depression.

Tips to Sleep Better Under Depression

You have to sleep. Sleeping elevates your mood and helps you overcome depression. However, sleeping is hard when you are depressed. Some pointers that can help you sleep better under depression are:

Calm the Mind: During the hours when sleep eludes you and anxiety threatens to overtake, you can use some techniques to calm yourself down. This will help you relax enough to drift into sleep. Some of these techniques are:

Concentrate on your body: It is important to stay attuned to your body. If you are not physically comfortable, then your chances of falling asleep even on good days are slim. Some pointers to keep you comfortable are:

Tone down your surroundings: Your sleep surroundings affect your ability to sleep tremendously. If your sleep surroundings are not comfortable then you will have problems falling asleep and staying asleep. Some things to bear in mind are:

Depression: Apart from this, you should also try to deal with the basic problem, which here is depression. Dealing with depression can also help cure your sleep problems. Some ways of doing this are:

Conscious Relaxation: These include techniques meant to make you physically comfortable, like loosening your clothes, deep breathing, meditation, music, etc.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps you overcome sleep problems by focusing on your behavior and thoughts. It helps you change your pattern before sleeping and assists you in keeping your thoughts attuned to your sleep needs. It trains your mind to focus on positive thoughts and ignore negative thoughts that prevent you from sleeping.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This is a part of CBT. The difference lies in the fact that DBT focuses more on specific sensations and emotional and social aspects, whereas CBT is more general. DBT is used to help people with extreme behavior and social problems.

Adjust the room temperature and keep it cool. Research shows that you sleep better under cool conditions.

Wear loose and light clothing, so you don’t feel wrapped in

Invest in good mattress, pillow and bed linen

Avoid having a TV in your bedroom. TV’s are known stimulants. They make your brain active and prevent you from relaxing enough to sleep.

Keep the ambiance nice and neutral. You should have bright colors and light in the room. Remember, the point is to relax enough to sleep.

Close the curtains and tone down any noise in your room.

Make sure there are no physical disturbances like a clock ticking or water dripping that can disturb you in the night.

Talk about your anxiety and fears with family and friends

No matter how much you might wish to down your sorrows in alcohol, avoid it

It might seem counter-intuitive, but nicotine will also not help with depression or sleep. Quit smoking or avoid it for at least a few hours before sleep.

Caffeine can help uplift your mood, but it is best taken a couple of hours before sleep so that it does not unnecessarily stimulate your senses.

Don’t underestimate meditation and yoga. They have been known to help keep your thoughts focused and keep you grounded to reality

Get some Vitamin D. Sunlight is a natural mood enhancer. It is difficult to perceive of anything going wrong when you are hit with the bright sunny rays.

Finally, consider getting professional help if all seems to fail.

Clearing Doubts

Some common queries are answered below to settle your mind.

Does depression cause you to oversleep as well?

Depression and sleep are closely related. One of the first signs and symptoms of depression is a sleeping disorder. This can be both sleeplessness and oversleeping. They are both related to mental health issues, and oversleeping may be a sign of clinical sleep disorder like hypersomnia, which in turn is a sign of clinical depression.

Does sleep affect your mental health?

Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Their relationship goes both ways. Poor sleep and sleep deprivation are associated with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sleep disorder both causes these mental health conditions and is a result of these conditions as well.

Is insomnia considered a mental health problem?

Insomnia is defined by the following characteristics:

Difficulty falling asleep

Difficulty staying asleep

Waking up too early in the morning

Insomnia is a sleep disorder. It is not considered as an isolated mental or medical illness but rather viewed as a symptom of some other underlying medical issue.

Why can’t I stop thinking while trying to sleep?

The only way you can stop thinking altogether when conscious is by turning off your brain. However, research shows that it is impossible to shut off your brain while you are awake. Trying not to think makes you think even more. So, the trick when trying to sleep is not to concentrate on trying not to think but to think about neutral things that will not cause any anxiety or worry for you. This thinking pattern is conducive to sleeping and helps you stay asleep longer as well.

Bottom Line

Sleep is the most natural thing in the world that generally requires little to no effort on your part. It is as important a function as eating and breathing. The consequences of sleep go beyond, affecting just your physical body. Sleep penetrates the functioning of your brain as well and holds the potential to push you into depression. Hence smarten up and before sleep takes you to task catch up to those snoozes.

[donslifejournal-blog]

FRIENDSHIP

Just when you think There's no one around who's caring Along comes a friend Who offers a hand in sharing And things start looking fine Sometimes tears and sorrow Are all the things you got Just when you think You're all by yourself, you're not

—Kate & Allie Theme

A blue, brown, and swirling planet, a marvel of space filled with life and hope, and yet a single grain of sand in the infinite beach of the universe, this world is home to 7.8 billion unique people. In every city, country, and continent, each one of us is surrounded by countless other individuals, all of whom hopefully share the same desires and dreams as we do, not the least of which are to be happy and loved. We all share the same home that we call Earth. We are all neighbors, one giant, unified family of inherently ambitious and altruistic beings. As people who thrive on love and companionship, we are always looking for others with whom we can share our lives, our happiness, and our dreams, people who understand us and what we desire during our time in this terrestrial realm. We are always looking for one very special gift, one that has united humankind since the beginning of time: friendship.

As an overweight, academically exceeding kid in the 80s, and an awkward, confused teenager in the 90s, friendship was a rare commodity for me, being superseded by the ignorance and jealousy of my school peers. Through elementary and junior high school. I had very few real, long-lasting friends, and with the ones that I did have, either the friendship just ran its course, hopefully through no fault of my own, or one of us moved to another, far away location. Luckily, through the growing maturity, compassion, and open-mindedness that comes with adolescence, things began to change in high school. For the first time in a while, my heart finally felt the warmth and bliss of true friendship, mostly through various school clubs that involved some forms of peer leadership and volunteering for charities.

I remember one time in my freshman year when I went to a weekend retreat and training program at a local camp for one of these clubs. One night, my particular group of teens, our teacher leader, and I sat in a circle around a candle in one of the cabins, and we were all asked, one at a time, to share with the others an event, good or bad, that had a major impact in our lives. A few people went before me and shared some very moving stories, all of which, if I remember, involved the death of a beloved friend or family member. Then came my turn, and I told a rather different, maybe unexpected story. Uplifted by the kindness, empathy, and raw emotion that emanated from the others in the circle, I told everyone that the most impactful event in my life was the retreat itself. Admitting that I might be sounding corny, I said that, up until then, I never knew what true friendship was or whether I was even someone capable of someone's love, and that, at that precise moment, I finally felt like I had worth and purpose in others' lives. After I finished my speech, I burst into tears, being comforted by the back rubs, hugs, and kind words of the beautiful souls around me. The feeling I had that night, one of inexplicable warmth, was nothing like I had ever experienced, and it was one that remained with me for a very long time after that event.

Fast forward to 2020. Here I am, a guy of newly 40 who, like many other men, is inadvertently utilizing my living days examining the first half of my life under the microscope of my mind, pondering on where I go from here, what my purpose in life is, and how I can change the world, one part at a time, while nurturing my spirit that is always thirsting for fulfillment. And what better purpose could there be in life than offering friendship, making a difference in people's lives, and reminding them that, despite everything, there is at least one other soul out there that loves them? Over the past decade, I have been very fortunate to have a few long-lasting, very close friends. We've been through so much, we truly understand each other, and I hopefully have helped them through life's trials and experiences while showing them the love I yearn to share with everyone. Moreover, through the vast, ubiquitous marvel of social media and networking, I have had the opportunity to interact with thousands of wonderful people, my earthly neighbors and spiritual kin, some family, some dear friends, some old acquaintances, and yet others whom I've had the pleasure of just meeting. I've been spending my time lately communicating with several of these special people, all of whom share the same desire to love and be loved, to experience the comfort and inner peace of knowing that there's someone out there who cares enough to give the very best. I've been making sure to let them know that I love them and am there for them, and in the time we've known each other, short or long, I've tried my very best to help them in this meandering journey we call life. And when they tell me what I mean to them and how I've helped them, I experience the fulfillment that, I know now, is my life's purpose. It's a wonderful feeling, knowing that, somehow, in some way, I have made a difference in another person, and, in return, being rewarded with the pleasure of their presence in my life.

To you reading this, whether you are an old or new friend or even someone who happened to come across this blog, I want you to know that I love you dearly, you are important to me, I value your place in my life, and I am and will always be here for you, no matter what. And with that being said, I humbly ask you to share these sentiments with the special people in your life. Always remind your friends of your undying love and support for them, stay in their lives through whatever fate may toss your way, and do whatever you can to make them happy to be alive. Don't just make a difference in their lives; be the difference.

Sometimes shadows will darken our path; we shall tremble in fear before the night. But we won't be alone. We will reach out our hands, and in the warmth of another hand holding our own, we will know hope.

—Lightning Farron, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

[sevenraysoflight]

GREEN RAY OF LIGHT

ASCENDED MASTER HILARION

Hilarion is the chohan of the green ray of healing and truth. He is the hierarch of the Temple of Truth on the etheric plane near Crete, Greece.

Hilarion was high priest of the Temple of Truth on Atlantis, and he transported the flame of Truth together with the artifacts of the Temple to Greece a short time before the sinking of the continent.

The focus of Truth that he established became the focal point for the Oracles of Delphi, messengers of Truth who served under the direction of Pallas Athena for hundreds of years, until black priests penetrated the Delphic Order and perverted the Truth that had been brought forth. The Brotherhood then withdrew this service to embodied mankind, since people were unable to distinguish between Truth and error.

Hilarion sponsors teachers of Truth, servants of God, religious leaders and missionaries, as well as those practicing the healing arts, scientists and engineers in all fields, mathematicians, musicians, those specializing in computer and space technology and those who work with all forms of media and communications.

Together with fifth-ray masters and the Brotherhood of Crete, Hilarion works steadfastly to draw their consciousness into a greater and greater appreciation of the full spectrum of Truth, which most have experienced only in part. To take them from a partial knowledge of truth to self-awareness in the divine wholeness of Truth is the goal of these brothers.

Hilarion instructs us on the relationship between science and religion, both of which are aspects of the green ray of Truth.

We can call to Hilarion and the Brotherhood of Crete for healing and wholeness, for the conversion of souls and for the exposure of truth in the media.

Master Hilarion – Emerald Ray of Healing and Science

Hilarion, teacher of immortal Truth, Divine Science, all physical and metaphysical branches of science and the healing arts; the eternal empiricist who brings the seeker to the initiate path of the apostle Paul: “And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free, i.e. Whole!”

Doctors, scientists, healers, musicians, mathematicians and those consecrated to truth serve on the fifth ray with Hilarion.

Initiation: Third-Eye Chakra Gift of the Holy Spirit: Healing Retreat: Temple of Truth Crete, Greece Vibration: Green, Gold Music: Onward, Christian Soldiers may be played to draw the radiance of Hilarion Gemstone: Emerald, Diamond, Jade, Quartz Crystal Quality: Truth, Science, Vision, Abundance Day: Wednesday

Quick Prayer: “Beloved Hilarion, in the name of the Christ: Teach me the way of truth and the divine application of science and healing.”

Hilarion's Previous Lifetimes

Hilarion was embodied as a high priest of the Temple of Truth on Atlantis who transported the flame of Truth to Greece.

Hilarion's most famous lifetime was as Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Jesus sponsored Paul as Saint Hilarion (c. 290 to 372 AD), the founder of monasticism in Palestine, his final incarnation to fulfill the law of balancing his karma incurred in the persecuting of Christians and the consenting to their death.

At the conclusion of his embodiment as the great healing saint, Hilarion, following in the footsteps of his Lord, ascended in the ritual that Jesus had demonstrated.

Hilarion on His Lifetime as Saint Paul

Hilarion has recalled for us his encounter with the Christ in his lifetime as the Apostle Paul:

“Jesus the Christ we called him, and we were called of him as you are called this day. I recall the memories of his coming to me, empowering me with his Word. Yet first he humbled me on that road to Damascus, the humbling I sorely needed that I might bow to my own Christ flame that he revealed to me, as he also gave to me the key of meditation upon that flame that I might walk in his footsteps on the fifth ray of science and healing and apostleship and the preaching of the Word.

“Often I felt like the hands and the feet and the heart of Hercules, wrestling with the downward spirals of the earth with their atheism, their agnosticism, their intellectual pride and rancor against the prophets and the Holy One of God so recently come into our midst. Yet, all the while I remembered I was once counted among them. To have been once so proud and so deliberate against the will of God would forever burn in my memory the helplessness that we all have as instruments of God. But the great empowering by the Word comes, my beloved, in the hour of the conversion. It is not the hour of the call, but the hour of the conversion when the soul answers with something that is deep. It is the flowing, it is the giving, it is that surrender when, as He said: ‘It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks…'

“My soul knew Him as of old and recalled to my outer mind the memory of the inner vow. It was not the first time I had seen the Lord Christ. I had seen him before taking incarnation, and yet I had to work through that pride, that karma on the fifth ray of much learning, much studying and superiority in social standing and intellectual standing that I had in regards to the early Christians. And so, it was my own karma that was upon me whereby I was resisting the call.”

“My Lord did pursue me as I made my journey on the road to Damascus. Yes, beloved, I was blinded, not by his light but by my own sin and the alchemy of his light penetrating the record of sin in my being. Thus, I was turned around, converted by the Spirit of the Lord in the full manifestation of Jesus Christ upon me.”2

For a period following his conversion to Christ, Paul retreated into the Arabian desert. In Galatians 1:16–18, Paul records, “I conferred not with flesh and blood. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem.”

Commentators have often speculated as to what Paul did during his sojourn in the desert. Hilarion has explained that Jesus took him “with others into his retreat over the Holy Land and at Arabia. I have been there and learned of him. And this was my desert sojourn in meditation with him, taken up as I was in my finer bodies and trained directly heart to heart.”

Hilarion on Healing by the Light of God

Use the Science of the Spoken Word to Connect with Healing Light

“The mighty science of alchemy is the science of divine healing. And that healing ray may be understood by you as the mighty tone of God—the tone of his symphony. You will not be able to perceive or to have the power of that chord magnetized unto you until you have achieved the integration of the four lower bodies [etheric, mental, emotional, physical]. For each of the notes of that mighty chord is played upon one of those four lower bodies. And therefore, if you perfect but one or but two, you will have only two notes of the chord…

Ultimately it is the light that is the source of all healing.”

Give the following healing affirmation four times, once for each of your four lower bodies:

“I AM, I AM, I AM the resurrection and the life of my four lower bodies now made manifest!”

For more ihttps://www.summitlighthouse.org/hilarion/nformation:

ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL

Archangel Raphael is one of the most well known healing angels, and the main archangel who oversees healing for living beings on Earth. He is an incredibly kind and powerful angelic being, who is ready, willing and waiting to connect with you directly if you so desire.

When called upon Raphael brings powerful healing to mind, body, and spirit.

He may surround you with emerald green healing light to nurture your entire being, and rejuvenate your physical vitality.

He often brings healing through guidance too and with the powerful divine guidance from Archangel Raphael, you can activate and use your bodies innate ability to heal itself.

In some cases Raphael does help to trigger instant and miraculous healing, though this is not always the case… Sometimes you will be required to listen to his guidance and take action yourself to align with the healing you seek.

The guidance from Archangel Raphael may not be in the way you expect, as he will both directly and indirectly communicate with you to guide you in the direction of full healing, vibrant health, and well-being.

With practice and perseverance you can even learn to work with Archangel Raphael to heal others.

Archangel Raphael Helps Travelers Too!

Okay, really Archangel Raphael helps everyone who calls upon him… So this may be better said, “Archangel Raphael is really good at helping travelers.”

Call upon Archangel Raphael and your guardian angels as you head off on a road trip, before heading to the airport, as your plane takes off, or when you're getting on a bus or train and Archangel Raphael will surround you with healing light to protect, uplift and comfort you on your journey.

Raphael can also help you to stay healthy during travel, and to smooth out any hurdles or challenges you encounter on your trip!

Invite Archangel Raphael to Help You!

Whether for healing, travel, or guidance… I have had found the process of connecting with Archangel Raphael to be incredibly powerful, loving, rewarding, and not to mention healing!

To me Archangel Raphael has a more serious presence than some of the other Archangels, like Metatron or Orion… But despite this, Raphael has such an incredible love presence… He's always willing to help when called upon, and will help you in your life in a variety of ways.

When you call upon Raphael to help you, he will always answer…

So after you ask for help… Quiet your mind and be aware of your surroundings.

Raphael may connect with you through your intuition, in the form of thoughts that spontaneously come into your awareness, or by helping you to over hearing a fragment of a conversation that is going on around you.

Archangel Raphael may connect you with healing energy directly, or he may guide you to create changes in your life so that you align yourself with the healing you seek.

When working with angels it is best to be open to how the angelic assistance will appear and to release any expectations you may have about how the experience will go. This way, you can simply enjoy and benefit from the process instead of worrying whether things are going as they should.

When you ask for angels help they will always answer… but its best to let them to choose how to help. Instead of telling your angels what you need, simply outline the situation you would like help with, and be open to how they assist.

Sometimes your request for help will be in the form of a brilliant idea, or a dream you have that guides you in the right direction. You may receive an instant and miraculous healing from Archangel Raphael, or he may guide you to change your diet and lifestyle to accomplish the same goal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

https://www.ask-angels.com/channeled-messages/archangel-raphael/

[wiccawisdom]

As Within, So Without: Making Daily Mundane Activities Spiritual

As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without.

These Hermetic truisms have been embraced by Pagans from many different paths. Most of us accept that all things are connected: microcosm and macrocosm, inner and outer. We understand that the physical world is a reflection of the spiritual world and vice versa. And yet, after the ritual is over and the chalice has been rinsed out, many people seem to put their spirituality on a shelf, separate from their "real" lives.

This was at the forefront of my mind when I wrote To Walk a Pagan Path. I firmly believe that our spirituality should be expressed throughout our lives and that our lives do indeed affect our spirituality. As within, so without. As without, so within. To be fully Pagan is to live one's spirituality every day of the year, not just on the night of the full moon or at your kindred's faining. We can fill each day with Pagan activities that connect us with our souls, our planet, and each other.

What exactly is a "Pagan activity?" Well, that depends on who you are and where you live and is largely a matter of attitude. A friend of mine expresses her Pagan spirituality through painting. The act of applying pigments to canvas is not innately Pagan, but each of Aurora's paintings is a spell, a work of magic expressing her will and desire. Aurora attends coven rituals and has even led her own group, but her spirituality does not end there. Through painting, she allows her soul to express itself, and the very act of doing this helps her to remain connected to that inner spirit.

Almost everyone in my inhíred brews mead. (An inhíred is a Saxon household, similar to a "coven," but the practice of magic is optional.) The act of brewing is devotional because much of the resulting honey wine is given as libations to our gods and ancestors. Our brewers are quite talented; two of my kinsmen have even been asked to speak at Pagan gatherings and share their brewing secrets. Brewing, like painting, is not innately Pagan. It is the attitude behind it that makes this, in my mind, a Pagan activity.

Craft projects—whether they involve painting, brewing, writing, or cooking—are great venues for expressing our spirituality, but almost everything we do can be transformed into sacred experiences if we are mindful of our actions.

In To Walk a Pagan Path I give numerous examples of common, daily events—waking, showering, eating, going to bed—that can become uplifting rituals. Perhaps the best way to do this is to keep a journal for a week or two, recording every activity you perform each day—everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Then go over that list and see how you can approach each activity as if it were a ritual. My list of activities for today has consisted of waking up, feeding the dogs, feeding the birds, eating breakfast, taking a shower, doing laundry, answering email, and finishing up this article. And the day is still young! Most of these things seem inconsequential and uninteresting, and yet all of them are important because they are each a part of my life. In the same way, your own list of activities is a reflection of your life.

In more spiritual terms: I gave thanks this morning for a new day (when I woke), connected with my familiars (while they had breakfast), then gave thanks for the earth's bounty (when I had my own breakfast), and performed two rites of renewal (as I showered and started the laundry) before sitting down at the computer this morning. What could have been routine actions were instead elevated to more meaningful significance. Even now, at the computer, I am wearing a specific talisman that I use when writing, and I began this session with a brief prayer to the Anglo-Saxon god Woden, who governs magic and inspiration. In all of these actions, I am infusing the material world with my spirituality.

As within, so without.

But what of the reverse flow? As without, so within. Just as your spirituality can enhance your mundane life and give it more meaning, your physical activities have the power to enhance your spirituality.

We all know that the environment has an effect on how we feel and perform. Certain colors tend to soothe and calm us. Music can incite pleasure, peace, anger, joy, or lust. A person's mood is often affected by the amount of light to which he or she is exposed. The eastern science of feng shui addresses the effect of the environment in architecture and design.

There are many aspects of our environment over which we have little or no control. Whether you rent or own, your home is whatever you can afford, and it is unlikely that you had any role in its design. Most people have very little control over their work or school environments. But there is one aspect of the "outer" world that you do control, and that is your own choice of actions.

I have always been a strong advocate of Pagans touching or connecting with the earth in some way. The earth, after all, is the primal source of our spirituality. Historical Pagan rituals—from the early English Æcerbot charm to the Eleusinian rites of Demeter and Persephone—concern themselves with the earth's cycles and rhythm. Pagan religions all over the world evolved from a deep and familiar relationship with the earth. It stands to reason, then, that any activity that causes you to physically interact with the earth can enhance your Pagan spirituality.

Growing a portion of your food, however small, is a great way to do this. Not only do you develop a more familiar, intimate relationship with the earth, you are also reclaiming your role in providing for yourself. The amount of food you produce may be minuscule, perhaps no more than a few tomatoes or some lettuce, but in consuming that food you will be taking the very essence of the land into your body. Even if you have nothing more than an apartment balcony, a small crop of strawberries and culinary herbs can be harvested every year. When you grow some of your own food, special times like the spring equinox and Lammas become more meaningful as you discover, first hand, how they relate to your regional growing season.

You may enjoy this enough to expand your vegetable garden next year and maybe put in a few blueberry bushes or a dwarf apple tree. Or maybe gardening is not your thing at all, and that is all right, too. There are other ways to personally connect with the earth.

If you do not suffer from apiphobia (fear of bees) or have an allergy to venom, maintaining a beehive is certainly as rewarding as growing vegetables and fruits. You will still be engaged in an activity directly affected by the earth's rhythms, and you will still harvest a food product filled with the essence of the land. A single hive will, in a good year, produce a remarkable quantity of honey. In the 1990s I had two hives, and every September we would set up carboys of mead (honey wine) to brew after we had extracted our annual honey harvest. The beeswax from the comb caps went into our ritual candles.

You do not have to live in a rural area to keep bees, but you do have to know what you are doing and be aware of any local ordinances that may restrict how many hives you can have and where they can be placed. If you want to pursue this fascinating activity, contact your local beekeepers' association.

I prefer activities like these that produce food, because it is so rewarding to be a part of the food cycle just as our ancestors were, but there are other things you can do to connect with the earth that are unrelated to food production.

Perhaps you would enjoy nurturing your local avian population. Set out a bird feeder and get a bird identification book to learn what species are found in your region. When do the migratory species depart, and when do they return in the spring? Learn about their habits and needs. Build and set out a few birdhouses. My grandfather transformed his property into a haven for wrens and purple martins by providing for their needs. By observing, studying, and caring for birds you will be connecting with the earth in a very real way.

This activity need not be restricted to birds. There might be a mammal in your area that you would like to encourage and nurture. In recent years bat houses have become more popular now that people are beginning to realize how beneficial these tiny flying mammals are. A small artificial pool can provide a home for frogs or toads. The idea is to step out of your heated and air-conditioned enclosure and interact with living things that depend directly on the earth's rhythms. Any activity that brings you in contact with the earth, that takes you into the natural environment, will have an effect on your spiritual being.

As without, so within.

Of course, you do not have to do any of this, but consider your actions and how your spirit is related to the surrounding world. Do you want to go through life disconnected from the earth, stumbling through routine, meaningless activities? Or do you want a life filled with purpose and meaning? Invest at least some of your time in activities that enhance your spirituality, and remember to let your inner spirit enhance every moment of your day.

==============================

By Alaric Albertsson. (c) Lllewellyn Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Originally published in The Llewellyn Journal

from All Wicca Store Magickal Supplies http://www.allwicca.com/index.php?route=news/article&news_id=117

[tipsycad147]

The Cow

By shirleytwofeathers

Because of its milk that is a staple food for many human beings, the Cow is arguably one of the most useful animals in the world. It was one of the first animals domesticated by humans, and its symbolic importance is rich. It is emblematic of fertility, abundance, wealth, the universal Mother, and of rebirth. The Cow is also a gentle and compliant creature.

In Vedic literature the Cow is also a symbol of abundance and fertility as it represents both earth and sky. To Hindus and Buddhists, symbolism of the Cow deals with patience and holiness.It is considered India’s most sacred animal. The calm, tender nature of the Cow wins this right among the Buddhists.

The Cow as a sacred animal is a fundamental part of Hindu iconography. In India the Cow is so revered, and treated so gently, that it often causes a traffic hazard as it ambles along busy city roads. There are several reasons for the sacred status given to the creature. Not only does the Hindu faith have respect for all animals (vegetarianism is a tenet of the faith), but the God Krishna was a cowherd for a time, and one of his names is Bala Gopala, “the child who protects the cows.”

Hindu deities rule over each and every part of the Cow. During times of famine, the Cow is far more useful as a creature that can produce limitless amounts of milk, then as a dead beast that would provide meat for a limited period only.

In Egypt the Cow was personified as Ahet, the mother of the Sun itself. To make themselves fertile Egyptian women wore amulets of the Goddess Hathor, with the head of a Cow, in her guise as the Creator.

In Norse mythology the Cow makes an appearance as Audhumla, the mother-ancestor of all living things, whose utters emitted the four rivers of power – these provided nourishment for the giants (primarily the first giant, Ymir) that ruled the First World.

In Celtic mythology the Cow is sacred to the Mother Goddess Brigit who also governs the Earth, mothers, children, health, nurturing, providence, and the full range of the Female element of the universe. This symbolism remains consistent with that of many other cultural settings and supports Cow as representing life’s fragile beginnings and the necessity to safeguard and restore those who have no voice or support.

In Greek myth, one of the names for the great Cow was Europa, which means “full Moon.” The stars were said to be the children of Europa.

In Lancashire folk-speech, the name “cow’s lane” was sometimes given to the Milky Way, the traditional path of souls, as it was also in some parts of Germany. This may be connected with the old north European belief that whoever gave a cow to the poor during his life would be guided by that cow along the perilous soul-road after his death, and so would be sure of reaching Heaven in safety.

Once, there was a custom whereby the cow was brought to the sickroom, and in what must have been a distressing and rather frightening ritual, the dying person was encouraged to grasp the tail of the cow as he breathed a last breath.

This psychopomp aspect of the Cow is still celebrated in the Nepali festival called the Gai Jatra or Cow Festival. In a boisterous celebration, every family that has lost a member during the course of the year has to take part in a procession, leading a Cow, or if no animal is available, then a child dressed in a cow costume is considered to be a fair substitute. The Cow is believed to guide the soul on its final journey, including a voyage through the Milky Way, the constellations of stars said to be the milk splashed by the great Cow that was the mother of the Universe.

Red cows appear in some pagan creeds as personifications of the dawn, or clouds, or lightning. It is possible that they had some special significance for the ancient Hebrews also, since it is definitely stated in Numbers 19:1 that the victim offered for the purification of the people must be “a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke.”

In England the milk of a red cow was formerly supposed to be superior to any other, and to have healing properties. Such milk is often specifically mentioned in 17th and 18th century medical books as an essential part of remedies for various ills, particularly for consumption and chest ailments. Red is, of course, a life-giving colour in mythology and folk tradition alike because it is associated with fire and with blood, and red objects of various kinds figure constantly in healing charms and folk remedies.

According to a French legend, Cows always have a sweet breath because when Our Lord was born in the stable at Bethlehem, a Cow, seeing Him shivering in the cold, warmed Him with her breath and drew the hay over Him with her lips. As a reward for this act of kindness, she was promised that her breath, and that of all her descendants, should ever afterwards be sweet, and in addition, she was given the privilege of carrying her calf for nine months, like a Christian woman with a soul to be saved.

Cow Symbolism

The Cow is a lunar symbol, aligning itself with feminine (yin) qualities among the Chinese yin-yang energies. A quick-list of Animal symbolism of the Cow would include:

Patience

Nourishment

Abundance

Fertility

Female Power

Potential

Possibility

Calming

Grounded

Provision

Beginnings

Because you’re seeking out Cow symbolism and meaning, a deep stirring must be happening in your soul. Cows represent motherhood, Mother Gaia, and the Mother Goddesses. Take time to meditate on all Mother Cow has to offer. She is a sacred reminder of fertility, birth, and nurturing.

When Cow appears as your Spirit Animal trust that the mighty storm will pass and you’ll be OK.

Cow as a Totem Animal belongs to those with profound Mother Goddess instincts.

Call in Cow as your Power Animal when your soul needs TLC.

The Cow Totem

Those who know Cow as their Totem Animal supply a sense of stability and solid, loving, growth-oriented relationships with self, others and the environment.

Cow people have the ultimate “mother’s intuition.” They can feel when others are out of sorts – when their auras are “scratchy” – and they always seem to know just what to say or do to help. Somehow, folks heal more quickly when in the company of Cow Totem Animal people.

If Cow is your Totem Animal, always remember that one cannot feed others from an empty trough. Though you were born with the natural instinct to take care of the world, YOU are part of it. Your needs are just as important as everyone else’s. A wise Cow mama know when to take a break and nourish her own mind, body, and spirit.

We should always work to have a positive and happy home environment. If we don’t, we should inquire deep within as to how we can change that. Calling upon the Cow animal totem, we can learn how to make basic changes that are needed to balance the joys in our surroundings.

Like its family member the bull, the Cow totem is highly connected to nature, the Earth, and its continuation through reproduction. Cows are very generous with their lives and behave in the most selfless of manners.

Among fertility and femininity, these mother creatures represent the virtuous traits of sustenance, abundance, potential, calming, grounding, and provision. They also serve as an uplifting sign of female power and prestige, since they are, after all, crucial to the continuation of any species.

New beginnings are also a theme associated with Cows in conjunction with their maternal auras. Through their pregnancy, birth, nourishment to their offspring, and ultimate bodily gifts, Cows show the entire life cycle in its bittersweet beauty from start to finish.

The female Cow totem is linked to its male counterpart, the bull, through the symbolism of fertility and reproduction. While the male totem exemplifies nourishment through its slaughter or sacrifice, a Cow symbolises birth and motherhood.

Cow symbolism assists us in understanding and embracing fertility and the relationships necessary for it. It is a soft and nurturing creature that arouses the soft side in each of us. The two animals are directly connected, as they are both needed to create new life.

These animals illustrate both the masculine and feminine qualities that exist in every being. The bull is characterised by bold and rigid energies, while the Cow is far more gentle and tranquil. They remind us to constantly ensure that these energies are in harmonious balance.

Cows As Spirit Guides

The Cow is a very powerful Spirit Animal. While at first you might wonder about the value of such a guide in your life, there is much about Cow to respect.

Like many other animals, Cows as spirit guides have been revered in various religions and cultures around the world. In ancient Egyptian astrology, the Cow served several symbolic purposes, including being worshipped as the goddess of joy and maternal nourisher of all things.

Additionally, they remind us to nourish ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. If we neglect the basics of our lives, it will be impossible for us to live happily and thrive. Every day, you should ask yourself if you are eating the right foods, drinking enough water, and exercising both your body and your mind to remain healthy and alert.

Cow reaches out to those struggling with fertility offering motherly advice. You may not always like what Cow tells you (did you like everything your mother told you?), but the heart behind the Cow Spirit Animal is truly one of giving. She always wants what is best for both you and your proverbial herd.

When weathering a storm, be it emotional or physical, turn to Cow as your animal spirit guide and think of how firm Cows stand in vile weather. There is no moving a Cow and no influencing it, but for urgent matters of hearth and heart. Nonetheless, as you stand in your place of power, remember that Cow also gives you keen perceptions. Be on the alert for possibilities or potential peril.

If your spiritual path is working toward the greatest good, Cow guidance is a fantastic helpmate. She will stay with you compassionately with watchfulness, making sure you stay inside the spiritual boundaries you’ve set.

Cows are lunar, divine feminine energy. If you’ve ever looked into a Cow’s luminous eyes it’s easy to feel how loving they truly are. But, as soft and magickal as moonlight is, never forget it is the moon which is mighty enough to influence all the waters of the earth. The divine feminine is just like that. Pliable and giving, but it should never be mistaken for weak.

Cows are a simple creature that get their joys from life’s basic pleasures. From this, they aid us aid us in remembering to be easy going and live in the moment. Often times, we ignore the innocent and plain moments that make our lives wonderful.

If we can manage to clearly assess our lives, we will be reminded to thank our family members and those close to us for all that they do to make our lives joyful. Simply appreciating your community can change your mentality greatly, having positive effects on both your outlook and your body.

One of the Cow symbol’s main spiritual messages is to never take this for granted, for eventually this life will end.

Cow As A Power Animal

If you want to have children, consider carrying a carved Cow totem and invoke Cow as your Power Animal. Cows are powerful symbols of new life. That life need not necessarily be as a parent however. It can apply to new jobs, new homes, and new relationships.

Keep a Cow totem on hand when you need protection from negativity or nightmares. Like the Mother Goddess herself, Cow energy holds you close, reassuring that nothing will harm you.

As a power animal Cow calls on you to love fully. Look at the world and the wonders of creation and let that fill you with all the characteristics you most need to embrace life.

Note, however, that this power animal will not let you give and give and give without refilling. Those that serve need service, including you. Put out a cattle call and let people give back (it blesses them too).

Dreaming About Cows

Lessons of gratitude and the appreciation of sacrifice are prevalent in cow symbolism, especially when presented in our dreams, and we would do well to integrate them into our daily life.

A cow dream symbolises some important issues. In Hindu culture, cows are sacred and represent fertility, nourishment, and motherhood. Cows also represent personality traits such as passivity and overall contentment. Seeing a cow in a dream is usually a positive thing, with the appearance of grazing cows, in particular, representing happiness and prosperity. Some ancient societies and some tribal societies measure a person’s wealth by how many cows he or she has.

The dream cow indicates that you obey authority figures without questioning them. It may represent maternal feelings or a desire within you to be taken care of. If you see a herd of cows in your dream, it suggests that you have a strong need to belong to a group. A herd of cows may also mean that you have a group of close friends that you enjoy. If the herd was disturbed or anxious in some way, it means that something or someone may be acting on your group of friends in such a way as to cause trouble and pull the group apart.

Dreaming of a field full of Cows portends improved finances or potentially a multiple birth in the family. A Cow grazing happily speaks of joy and contentment in the home. If the Cow represents self, it’s a signal that you need nurturing and spiritual nourishment.

The appearance of a cow with the face of a skeleton in your dream means that your mother or some mother figure in your life is acting coldly toward you or not responding to your needs. If you dream of cow with a calf, this is always a positive sign.

If you dream of being a cow, this suggests that you are afraid of being stupid. Dreaming of a sick cow suggests that some plans you’ve made for the future are threatened and require some action from you to avoid problems.

Because cows often represent motherhood, they are also representative of the feminine part of a man’s psyche. If you are a man, the dream of a cow suggests that you recognise this part of yourself and incorporate it into your life in order to attain greater psychological balance overall.

Dreams of cows are symbolic of peace, passivity, endurance, mothering, and humility.

Superstitions About Cows

An old English superstition says that cows kneel down on Christmas Eve and pay homage to Jesus. They speak in human voices, but anyone who hears them will die before being able to tell anyone about it.

Old farmers say that every herd has a “master cow” which leads the others into mischief. If a cow lows after midnight, it is a death omen for someone in the neighbourhood, and similarly, if a cow lows three times in a man’s face, he has not long to live.

If a cow licks the forehead of another cow, it is a sign that their owner is about to die. It is also a sign of imminent death if a cow enters your property. Three cows means three deaths. Yet another reason for keeping your gates closed, especially if you live in the country!

It is important to wash your hands thoroughly after milking a cow. If you don’t, you will receive no milk on the following day.

Cows that eat buttercups produce tastier butter.

When out in the field an upright Cow tail foretells rain.

A cow’s breath is believed to have health-giving properties and people suffering from tuberculosis were at one time encouraged to sleep with the cattle.

If separating a calf from its mother, you should take a calf out of the barn backwards to prevent its mother mourning the loss of her child.

In Ireland a hare appearing with Cows on Beltane signify witches who are up to no good stealing away with fresh milk. The Scots believed that putting tar behind the Cows’ ears would keep the witch from succeeding.

Witches were also believed to be able to steal the milk of cows from a distance by means of a magical tether, the strands of which were plaited the wrong way. They could do the same by going through the motions of milking with a rope, or a pot-hook, or the legs of a stool, and sometimes they came in the form of hares and sucked the udders of cows lying out in the fields. When the true milking-time came around, such bewitched animals would give only a poor supply or no milk at all.

Various charms were used to counteract these thefts, one of which was to make the rope used to tether the animals’ feet out of horsehair, and to thrust a stick of rowan, or some other magickal wood, through it.

In an article in Folk-Lore (1895), a story is told about a Bernera farmer whose cows gave so little milk that he was sure they were bewitched. He used such a rope, with excellent results; but as soon as the cows were released, they all rushed to a certain woman’s house and began tossing at the walls. This was regarded by the local people as clear proof that the woman had previously bewitched them, and so strong was the feeling against her on this account that she had to leave the district.

In Discourse on Sympathy (1658) an old country belief is recorded that if milk boiled over and fell on the fire, salt must immediately be thrown on the place where it fell. If this was not done, the cow which gave it would suffer from an ulcerated udder.

Sources:

Animal Speak by Ted Andrews

What Is My Spirit Animal?

The Encyclopedia of Superstitions

Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols

What’s Your Sign

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/powers-that-be/category/animal-guides-and-totems/page/2/

[dydturktek]

Nem Kurutma | Nem Alma | Rutubet Kurutma | DYD 444 0 719

4 Tips for your Transport Application

4 Tips for your Transport Application

With the transfer contract fast visiting, you may be rushing to blow together your company’s supplementary documents or battling to articulate exactly what you cannot stand about your existing institution. You aren’t possibly sure things you require out of your future school, you know that your location now only feels unsuitable.

The convert application practice is problematic, nerve-wracking and even, often , psychologically and actually exhausting. Nevertheless , spending special times on the app process to assure your unique personality and academics abilities are sufficiently listed will pay from in the long run.

A few tips which may set apart the application from the other parts:

1) Be more rather than your GPA.

This is an element that I truly lacked in my approval coming out of my favorite previous school. I used up majority of this is my time in the academics and also didn’t look into or experience clubs that is going to allow me to pursue and grow my extracurricular interests. All in all, everyone signing up to Tufts in the form of transfer incorporates a stellar GPA. Tufts desires to bring trainees in that are going to have more in which just an tutorial impact on campus— students that brings fresh recommendations, perspectives in addition to experiences into the university. Partaking in exercises and categories that showcase your pursuits and show your all-round nature is sort of necessary to fixed yourself aside.

I exclusively became more than my GPA when I required a year removed from school. I had developed the freedom to explore my union through operating a store job at my favorite fashion store, aiding fourth as well as fifth graders in an artwork classroom along with taking classes like Guide to Printmaking that enhanced my creative scope. Most of these extracurriculars overflowing my life as well as, ultimately, focused my program.

2) Differentiate yourself.

Consider what makes you, people, and make profit on your differentiating factors. How you would were higher, who impact on you, exactly what gets a person going. While i was contemplating what made me a unique applicant, I thought about three distinctive and attribute parts of who else I am.

This is my siblings: the twin cousin and very little twin siblings and the turmoil that ensued at every loved ones dinner. Memories surrounded by this crazy relatives made me the actual extroverted, supporting person Me. My twelve months off: any potential problems I had and emotions My partner and i felt which will transformed the world-view. Consuming an alternative college route evolved my opinion on lifetime and permitted me for being the introspective, strong particular person I am today. Shoes: the best way my dad’s previous job at Communicate sparked a long lasting passion for any intersection involving business as well as design, in the end resulting in the Economics and even Studio Street art concentrations at college.

3) Discuss las vegas dui attorney need Stanford and exactly why Tufts desires you.

Being member of the exact Tufts local community is a 2-way relationship. Extend on how a Tufts knowledge and practical knowledge will effects your life that you just you will reciprocate this effect back into the particular Tufts neighborhood. It may be obvious why you would like to attend Tufts— whether it be the ideal size, main location, impressive academics— nevertheless provide awareness into the way your accessibility will reward your future childhood friends and Tufts itself. Possibly you want to take ask for and manage schmoots for TCU president to make important alterations on grounds. Maybe you might like to do research along with a particular Stanford professor. You may want to deliver a new view into school or dorm discussion.

4) Be serious and specific.

As very own freshman time wound up, My spouse and i applied to Tufts. However , I had waitlisted and also, unfortunately, in no way gained classes that yr. When it came time to apply to colleges at my year off, I knew that will Tufts would still be a part of the original picture. In fact , it was the whole snapshot. I contacted admissions together with questions always make sure transfer encounter. I spoken to probable transfer young people, admissions therapists and administrators, etc . I actually applied repeatedly with a more robust, personalized software and, lastly, got in.

While there is no fantastic application with out guaranteed way of getting admitted being a transfer, it is possible to enhance your program. Most of these recommendations have the same subject matter: be your accurate, unapologetic, magnificent self. If you have any questions regarding utilizing as a shift, feel free to shoot me an email at lily. blackshaw@tufts. edu.

Good luck!

Stanford Questbridge Pupils Hangout

  With a Thai spring are collected one fretting hand and a fortunate hand involving cards in another, a bright-eyed first-year sought the players throughout the table. His / her opponents happen to be leaning in eagerly, anticipating his future action in order to evade demise by Overflowing Kitten. I became afraid they can would bump everything above from just how much weight the pair were putting on the “poor man” table. Devoid of further ado, the first-year took a bite for his food stuff, uttered to your group, ‘Let’s rock and even roll’ (a tasteful meals pun i enjoyed), and flicked the Attack cards onto typically the table. We never saw a group of institution kids obtain so hyphy.

  Questbridge and Initially Gen Europeen hangouts and so are with instances like this one. Associates, old as well as new, get together that will partake in great activities along with cooler men and women, surrounded by the mouth-watering scents of non-dining-hall food and the particular energetic music of banger playlists. Possibly that high-stake games risk the rankings of 3-years-old friendships, but there is nothing that the scream-sing jam session are unable to heal. What exactly seems to be a new contrasting list of majors, following one QB/1GC hangout, becomes a regular brunch clique. Precisely what seems to be a strong underclassman along with a senior, just after one QB/1GC hangout, gets to be an random mentorship link. Once a month, it is a place from Tufts to get first-generation college students to grow to be a cohesive community. And Saturday, February ninth, we to be a collective may just that.

In the form of co-vice chief executive of the Stanford Questbridge College students chapter, I will be proud to determine how our own group is continuing to grow. We prepare and carry out our month to month events, equally big and small, with all the intention about strengthening connections between learners and bridging students in order to resources for being successful at Stanford. With that in mind, most people kicked out of our Feb hangout by using community bulletins and Thai food for dinner (because adore is as well as food is love). These ads consisted of any warm fuzzies segment, where individuals possessed the opportunity to yell out his or her self or their particular friends to the victories people collected through the entire month. The main applause after each supplement was ever in your life uplifting. Soon after, we embraced current sources, such as the occupation fair beginning first-gen walk-through opportunity and the available applications for the INITIALLY peer director role.

A lot more freeform, a lesser amount of logistical entertaining took the form of breakout team bonding hobbies, where multiple 2 were definitely paired with a further group these people weren’t colleagues with previous to. In this shape, students received the comfort of a well-known face whilst also examining to brand-new connections. With table to help table, dialogue topics flew through the surroundings. I mentioned that they very easily transitioned with academic for you to non informative, from chemical engineering tuition to be taken in order to new Pulses Boozled types to be generated. It wasn’t long before typically the games were being poured on the removed tables, this is whenever i witnessed the greatness that had been the fantastic first-year’s ambitious Attack proceed.

With our stomachs filled simply by piles involving pad thai and minds warmed by way of formations associated with friendships, many of us each retreated to the original price rest of our Saturday nights had in store. I skipped to the conquer of a song you choose played with the hangout, subject material knowing that I will get an G Kittens rematch soon again. The first-generation community is it being heard progressively more here at Stanford, with the business of the EARLIEST Center and then the strengthening of your student night clubs. And I was happy to speak my simple fact with mates and notice the tales of others through first-gen festivities this way hangout. Me also able to order truly delicious dinners more than one item at a time and activities my confront with most likely the coolest people today on grounds. Here is towards being first-gen at Stanford!

https://www.nemkurutma.com/4-tips-for-your-transport-application-5/

NEM KURUTMA HİZMETLERİ

[cloudarrangement-blog]

.004 (a)

reasons to love ulua:

“Ulua I just like the concept the way men have an obsession with them but in most mythology ulua are men Also that the islands are supposedly one big ulua Also that people don't eat big ulua, papio is generally more delicious Also that until ulua are considered ulua, they are called something else and when they are that something else they can change genders And yes, I love how smart they are Or more... how adept Because I don't actually think they are that smart I think they are just like a big oceanic muscle”

http://astro.cafeastrology.com/natal.php

Sun in Taurus There is something very solid about Taurus natives, no matter what the rest of their charts say about them. Though they are dependable most of the time, this generally shows itself more in habit than in outright helpfulness. Taurus natives are sensual folk--and this includes sex, but extends to pleasures in all areas: they delight in the sensual pleasures of food, a comfortable blanket, a richly colored aquarium to look at, the smell of flowers or spring rain, pleasing melodies coming from their stereos, and so forth. Some might even say they live through their senses more than most. When Taurus natives work, they work hard. They do it with a steadiness that may rarely be considered quick--rather it's a dependable, plodding, and steady effort that has its payoffs. Security is immensely important to Taurus--some of them actively seek wealth, while others are content to be "comfortable". The Taurus definition of "comfortable" may not be exactly the same as the rest of the signs, but comfort is definitely a driving force. Although hard-working, their fixed and comfort-loving nature sometimes makes them appear lazy. This is only because they separate work and leisure so well. When they work, they work hard, and when they play, they don't really "play" as such...they relax. A Solar Taurus who has kicked his or her feet up is rooted there--you'd be hard-pressed to get them to move. On a mental level, you'll likely have the same problem. Taureans stick with things and ideas, and therein lies one of the reasons why they are known for their stubbornness. Taurus is a fixed sign, and they have a fair measure of tradition and steadiness in their make-up that keeps them rooted. The possessiveness associated with Taurus shows up in all areas of life in some way. Taurus likes to own things (and sometimes people). A nice home, a piece of land (this can be modest), a paid-off car, that aquarium mentioned earlier, a couple pets, maybe a solid business...In love and relationship, there is an earthy kind of possessiveness that may be considered jealousy by some, but there is actually quite a difference between being possessive and being jealous. Taurus natives are rarely jealous and petty. They do, however, think of the people they love as theirs--it adds to their sense of security. Short description: She is strong-willed. She has charm, and is tolerant and stoical. She likes pleasure and the good things in life. Appreciates the Arts. Weaknesses: obstinacy, laziness. She can be materialistic. Sun in I You identify strongly with the image you present to others. You make an impression on others -- you have "presence" -- and you know it. You are self-conscious, although you may prefer to project a strong image. You will feel at your best when you make a mark on the world, but avoid obsessing over what others think of you. Accept that you need to be a leader or an innovator, and go for it, but be careful not to be overbearing with others. Forceful personality. Her desire for self-development leads to success and this is reflected in her career. 270 Conjunction Sun - Mercury Because your ego and your mind are aligned, you possess much mental energy. You are always in a position to think about what you want, and in many ways, this is an interruption of the will. You are highly intelligent with a great drive to communicate with other. You invest a lot of pride in your intellectual capacities. You may not always listen as well as you speak, however! You might be too busy thinking about what to say next. But you are very curious and although you enjoy expressing yourself, you usually don't dominate conversations completely. As far as studying or learning goes, you are better off reading the material than listening to a teacher. These traits come from a strong need to take an active role in communications. It is very hard for you to passively listen and absorb information. Your opinions are usually strong and you are an independent thinker. You tend to be proud of your opinions and thoughts, and might easily get a bruised ego if you are not "heard", if your opinions are pushed aside or ignored, or if your opinions are criticized. You are expressive and possibly a very animated speaker. You are also very witty and others enjoy your playful and sometimes mischievous sense of humor. The Moon represents the emotional responses, unconscious pre-destination, and the self-image. Moon in Scorpio While others may find security and comfort in material things, Moon in Scorpio people seek out emotional intensity. No matter what, there is something very intense about Lunar Scorpios. They are diggers when it comes to the world of emotion--they can see beyond facades and cut right to the core of a person. This ability to "see" what isn't obvious to the rest of the world can be intimidating to others or wildly attractive, depending on the audience. Their deep-seated need for transformation and rebirth can manifest itself in the lives of Lunar Scorpios in different ways. Most have powerful, emotionally intense lives. Some feel like it is beyond their control -- these natives seem to attract emotional upheaval, and their lives appear to consist of plenty of dramatic ups and downs. However, when accepted as an emotional need, rebirth and change doesn't need to be so dramatic and overwhelming. In some way or the other, Moon in Scorpio natives seek out intense experiences. If their lives are regular in any way, there can be an unconscious need to test their own strength and stir up emotional excitement. Self-awareness and acceptance is probably the best way to handle this deep need for emotional drama. Doing things halfway or having meaningless relationships simply doesn't fulfill them. Lunar Scorpios want all or nothing. Moon in Scorpio people often have a strong fear of betrayal. They seek out commitment, and feel the need for a partner to give up something for them. Some will put the people they love through a series of tests, and these are not always conscious. Their apparent suspicion can be trying for the people who love them. However, once committed, Moon in Scorpio people can be the most loyal and protective partners around. Even the shy ones have enormous presence. Their lives are emotion-driven, yet many Moon in Scorpio natives spend a lot of time controlling and mastering their emotions. Their intuition is enormous, although it is sometimes self-serving. Moon in Scorpio people radiate strength. Even in the absence of experience, they seem to "just know" things. It would be difficult to shock or scare away Lunar Scorpios in the face of emotional honesty and power. Some people instinctively want to lean on them, and other less brave folk run a little scared. Lunar Scorpios have exceptional "radar" that allows them to size up a situation--and a person--quickly and expertly. This ability to understand human motivation and nature can be too close for comfort for some, and enormously comforting for others. Many Lunar Scorpios are intelligent and astute. Those that use their enormous powers for intimacy and honesty are the happiest, and they make the most interesting and rewarding friends and lovers. Short description: Courageous, brave, independent, not a fearful nature. A very sensual and progressive woman. Weaknesses: excesses of pleasures of the flesh, sensual delights and sensuality. Difficulty letting go. Moon in VII Marriage is very important for her, for better or for worse. Cannot stand being alone. Likes business relationships, especially partnerships. You are drawn to partnerships and prefer to have a companion for emotional support. You are not a person who would happily take in a movie by yourself, or dine alone, for example. A partner awakens feelings in you that you may never know you had, and you seem to need a partner to learn about your own needs and feelings. Emotional fulfillment is sought through relationships, but you may have many relationships one after another, each time believing that this is "the one". Taking time between relationships is something that is hard for you to do, but quite necessary, as you tend to jump into relationships out of fear of being alone. You are very adaptable to others' needs, and usually quite likeable as a result. Be careful that you don't become overly dependent on a partner, or assume that a partner is going to treat you the same way as you do them. 77 Sextile Moon - Neptune Positive aspect: She is kind and sympathetic, with a strongly compassionate nature. When in love, she is usually very devoted. In fact, she is devoted by nature, not only in matters of the heart. There is an unmistakably compassionate and understanding side to her nature. She has a natural affinity to music. While everyone enjoys music, people with Moon in harmonious aspect to Neptune respond to music as a vehicle to heal, relax, and to uplift the soul. Naturally perceptive, without even trying she tunes into the feelings of others, and the mood of her surroundings. There is a distinct emotional need to escape into the world of imagination, and to withdraw from others at times when she needs to re-center herself, largely because she tends to "take in" a lot of mixed energies from her surroundings. Strong and sudden "feelings" and hunches can overcome her. More often than not, her intuition is correct, although her imagination is also powerful and she can read too much into a situation as a result. Some laziness is associated with this position. This stems from a natural timidity and sensitivity that is apparent from youth. She may have been labeled "shy" in youth, and family members or friends may have jumped in to "save" her from situations that required boldness or aggressiveness. Thus, passivity was accepted and, as adults, she may be less experienced than most when it comes to reaching out or going after what she wants. 270 Conjunction Moon - Pluto She wavers between a rich and successful domestic life and social success. She has difficulty in succeeding in both. Very perceptive and given to psychoanalyzing people. A strategist. Powerful emotions and intense feelings. -42 Opposition Moon - Ascendant She is unhappily influenced by the family. She is probably loved insufficiently by her parents, but looks for more love especially from her mother. She is susceptible, has superficial sensitivity and is sometimes irascible. Mercury represents communication, Cartesian and logical spirit. Mercury in Taurus She is faithful to her ideas, unchangeable and quietly opinionated, persistent, but discreet. Likes all the pleasures life can offer. Careful in speech, deliberate, intelligent. Learns best through the senses, not through the traditional educational system. She possesses plenty of common sense, and her simplicity makes it easy to get from point A to point B in as few steps as possible! Weaknesses: stubborn, obstinate, withdrawn. Slow to react. Mercury in I Lively, alert, penetrating and ingenious mind. She expresses herself easily, is a born orator. She always looks on the bright side. Very adaptable. You are mercurial in appearance or manner, especially if Mercury is close to (within 10 degrees of) the Ascendant. You are restless, adaptable, changeable, easily distracted, versatile, and nimble. You enjoy talking but might often monopolize the conversation or fail to listen (you might be too busy thinking about what you will say next to truly listen). You have a mischievous and even precocious manner. Lively and interesting, you quickly adapt to new situations. In fact, you treat most new endeavors with curiosity and great interest. Your first reaction to new stimuli is logical and curious rather than emotional. Venus represents an interest for emotions and values, exchange and sharing with others. Venus in Aries Venus in Aries people flirt by being up-front, direct, and even daring. They try to win you over by expressing how enterprising and independent they are. Their style of expressing love can be maddeningly "me"-centered, but the right person for them will find this approach charming. People get turned on by Venus in Aries' aura of innocent charm, even when they are being childish and impatient. Venus in Aries men and women behave in a childlike, fun-loving manner in love. They are turned on by energy and activity. Turn-offs include a relationship that is considered stuffy or too "mature", vagueness, and beating around the bush. In love, Venus in Aries people are hopelessly addicted to the conquest. In order for a relationship to remain fresh and new for them, they require plenty of stimulation. Pleasing Venus in Aries involves fueling their need for action. Be direct, open, and honest with them -- they won't much like game-playing or evasiveness, unless it is in the complete spirit of fun. Feed their need for spontaneity, and appreciate their playfulness. Understand their desire for the relationship to remain young and fresh. Aries likes to take the lead in love (even if their Sun Sign is gentle Pisces) -- let them, at least most of the time. Indulge them their many whims, and understand that they thrive on competition, even when they're competing with you! Short description: Wants to take the lead in love, loves the conquest, can be a spendthrift with money, is given to making impulsive purchases, likes to keep things exciting in love. Very ardent. Spontaneous and charming in her direct and straightforward approach in love. Venus in XII She is devoted to sick or impoverished people. Can be in the medical or social professions. She likes animals, tranquility, peace and solitude. She may have secret love affairs. You are big on romance and you tend to live and breathe your partner once you're hooked. Not the best at defining your boundaries -- where your needs and your partner's needs separate -- you can get hurt in love rather easily. You can also feel used quite readily. You are attracted to people from all walks of life, finding a partner who has an unusual background or quirky personality most attractive. Partners who mistake your compassion for weakness can take advantage of you. Being openly affectionate and trusting often doesn't seem safe to you. You may feel your love won't be appreciated or reciprocated. You may get involved in secret love affairs or fall in love with a person who is quite unavailable to you at different points in your life. Love and sacrifice often seem to go hand in hand for you - having to give something up to be with the one you love, or having to relinquish some person or some aspect of an important love relationship. You value a certain amount of self-sacrifice and a giving attitude in a partner, as you embody these traits. You can be quite mysterious to others, even if you don't mean to be, because your romantic needs are kept hidden. Although you are quite naturally drawn to relationships that are unusual, secret, challenging, and unequal, do take the time to examine why this may be the case. Be certain that you are not, in some way, punishing yourself because you don't feel worthy of an equal and public relationship. Because Venus represents attraction, and the twelfth house is associated with the feet, your feet may be especially attractive and/or erogenous zones! 170 Sextile Venus - Mars She is amorous, not a peaceful and calm lover but a passionate one with a strong temperament. She is demonstrative in love, and likes healthy pleasures. She enjoys life to the full. 89 Conjunction Venus - Jupiter She is good-hearted, generous and has a good character. She likes well-being, comfort, a life without problems. She has good relations with her circle. She is easy to approach. All the same, she falls in love easily. She has a successful married and professional life. 35 Trine Venus - Saturn She has a good grasp of reality and of duty. She is thrifty, reserved and does not show off. She likes truth and justice. In love, her sentiments are sincere and deep, she never plays false. She is, of course, faithful in love and friendship. She can love a much older person and appreciates her intelligence and good sense. 53 Trine Venus - Uranus Independent in love. Her love life is rich, but possibly with passing love affairs. She tires quickly and is scared of losing her liberty. Traditional marriage may not be for her. She has that little something that attracts the opposite sex: she likes amorous adventures, she is romantic. She is the eternal lover and perhaps is unfaithful if she has a serious relationship. She likes art, anything new. The ability to get along with--and accept--people from all walks of life as friends is strong with this position. She can readily see through insincerity in others. In relationships, tolerance is the most important "ingredient" to her. Her sexual preferences are somewhat unconventional, and she won't be happy with a partner who tries to limit her sexual expression. She is usually quite capable of maintaining relationships that require a great deal of freedom and tolerance, such as long-distance romances or set-ups in which partners are unable to see each other consistently. Her style in love is somewhat free and breezy, and noncommittal. She quite naturally accepts the idea that her partner might need some personal space and freedom. Mars represents the desire for action and physical energy. Mars in Gemini Mars is the planet that rules our drive and passions. In the mutable air sign of Gemini, Mars is a little scattered and unfocused. Easily bored, Mars in Gemini natives need a fresh change of pace frequently just to keep energy levels up. It's a somewhat odd thing, really. When there's nothing much to do, these natives are exhausted. But if there's plenty of interesting things on their agenda, Mars in Gemini natives can be powerhouses! More than most people, these individuals have a physical reaction to boredom. Besides possessing a passion for words, when Mars in Gemini natives get angry or fired up, they use words as their "weapon". Angry words--some of the most incisive and sarcastic ones--can fly around with the more energetic natives. Others simply talk things through--energetically! Whatever the case may be, Mars in Gemini natives need to get everything off their chests when they're fired up. In fact, debates are a Mars in Gemini specialty. These natives draw on their sharp wit to win arguments. In general, they can be talkative sorts, sometimes bordering on verbal diarrhea. Those whose charts show more reserve only become chatty when they're worked up about something or the other. Some people with this position of Mars are quite fidgety. They have much nervous energy. In general, their nervousness and restlessness are at the root of plenty of physical ups and downs. When they're on edge, they can be nitpicky. Many Mars in Gemini natives channel their energy through their hands. Gemini, after all, rules the hands; and these people often express energy through musical instruments and the like--even video games. Many are attracted to puzzles and games as diversions. These natives are very adaptable, often thriving on change. They often take up many projects at once, spreading themselves thin at times. Sustained interest is not especially common with this position of Mars. Most will benefit from attempting to focus their energies rather than scattering them. However, their versatility and disdain for routine generally means Mars in Gemini natives are busy people. Mars in II She undertakes daring and dangerous enterprises. She has lots of initiative. She works hard for her money, of which she earns a lot. She is a spendthrift, money comes and goes. She is always ready to start from scratch in the event of a setback. Great willingness and enthusiasm. You are likely to be a hard worker, although you appreciate the process and might be slower than some as you focus on the method and tend to each step deliberately and carefully. You love to produce things of practical value. You are ambitious when it comes to making money and acquiring possessions, but you might be impatient or impulsive when it comes to spending. You can be quite possessive, both of material things and of people. You like a physical challenge, and your physical abilities and energy make up a strong part of your sense of self-worth. You like to work independently, or you value things most when you have achieved something on your own. The world of the five senses is most important to you on sensual and sexual levels. You have a hearty appetite with strong stamina. You defend your values fervently. -96 Opposition Mars - Saturn She is only interested in doing something if there are problems attached: once these are solved, she goes on to something else which has complications. She likes to overcome obstacles, is tough, does not have too many feelings, especially in business. She is egoistic, violent and stubborn. She does not always make friends. -148 Opposition Mars - Uranus She is full of contradictions. She is original, tending to the eccentric, violent, headstrong, impatient and irascible. She fights to the bitter end to overcome hurdles, and has the strength to overcome them. Jupiter represents expansion and grace. Jupiter in Aries She attracts the most good fortune when she takes the lead, initiates, inspires, and demonstrates enthusiasm and courage. Believes in the power of positivity, that life is what you make of it. Loves competition, doing things independently. Jupiter in XII She is kindly, and does charity work. She is protected from life's rigors to which she is not immune, but she knows how to cope. She likes working in peace and alone. 56 Trine Jupiter - Saturn She is serious, patient, honest, hard-working, orderly. Her judgment is good and she thinks things over. She pursues her objectives to the bitter end, usually knowing when to choose the right moment. She is upright and respects the law. Saturn represents contraction and effort. Saturn in Sagittarius She has her own way of thinking about a subject, she has her own ideas about things. She respects society and its rules guide her conduct. Weaknesses: hard, unforgiving, rigorous, insensitive and sometimes inhuman. A limited and narrow mind. Saturn in VIII Financially not very well off, average salary. The spouse is also not rich. Possibility of a small inheritance, which helps a lot. Long life and natural death, if the aspects allow. 105 Conjunction Saturn - Uranus She knows how to be on top of the situation. She perseveres, is determined but ingenious and original. She is very practical. She proceeds slowly, but is always bound to achieve her objectives in the end. Uranus represents individual liberty, egoistic liberty. Uranus in Sagittarius She is shy, delicate but proud, bold and lively. Uranus in VIII She is interested in antiquity, archaeology, history. Her financial situation has its highs and lows, which an inheritance can help out. Neptune represents transcendental liberty, non-egoistic liberty. Neptune in Capricorn She is discerning, wise and sensible. Neptune in IX Interest in art, has high ideals and a great attraction to exotic ideas and to the sea. Big dreams. 81 Sextile Neptune - Pluto 12 Trine Neptune - Ascendant She has strange relationships. She is easily influenced, very sensitive and emotional. Pluto represents transformations, mutations and elimination. Pluto in Scorpio Great sexual activity. -17 Opposition Pluto - Ascendant She imposes her will by force, violence. House I is the area of self identity. The ascendant is a symbol of how one acts in life. It is the image of the personality as seen by others, and the attitude that one has towards life. Ascendant In Taurus Slow, steady, and capable are adjectives that we can safely attach to individuals born with a Taurus Ascendant. These natives have tremendous stamina and staying power. They're often quite loyal to those they care about. Although they generally don't come on strong, they have personal presence; and they fairly radiate stability. The sign on the Ascendant generally reveals how people start anything new. Taurus, by nature, is resistant to change. It can be difficult to sway Taurus rising natives--they're often rather stubborn and fixed in their ways. Their first responses are to feel things out, not in the way a Pisces might attune to their environment, but in the realm of the five senses. They have well-developed sense of smell and touch, and respond to the material world. Theirs is a practical approach to life. Security is one of their foremost considerations before undertaking anything new. Taurus rising natives are often quite cautious and careful. With a fixed sign on the Ascendant, they are not known for their flexibility. Rather, they possess determined single-mindedness. More than most, Taurus rising prefers the "good things" in life. Self-indulgence can be a weakness for many with this Ascendant. Often collectors in some way, Taurus rising natives place a lot of value on their material possessions. Taurus rising individuals prefer to dress in quality clothes with a comfortable feel to them. They are rarely ostentatious in their presentation. Many have strong and sturdy physiques. Often rather possessive in partnership, these natives won't easily break up their relationships. Although they are not particularly jealous, they view their partners as their personal property. Intensity and loyalty are especially important to Taurus rising natives. These are highly sensual people who prefer the comforts that a one-to-one, stable partnership offers. Although Taurus rising individuals value harmony and calm, their partnerships may be on the passionate side. Taurus rising natives are often very comforting to be around. They have a stability about them that is soothing, and an inner harmony that is attractive. House II is the area of material security and values. It rules money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions. House II in Gemini Financial success will be acquired thanks to various activities, frequent changes, be it of the activity or the workplace. she is required to use her wits to amass money, which is not always easy. The house and sign placement of Mercury can show areas where she makes money. House III is the area of social and intellectual learning. House III in Cancer Any travel that she does will only be to visit family or friends . Family and dear ones are very important to her, they can always count on her in times of difficulty or trouble. Nostalgia is strong. Cautious in communications. She usually thinks before speaking. House IV is the area of home, family, roots, and deep emotions/sense of self-worth. House IV in Cancer Reveres family life, children have a large place in her heart. Sheis by nature calm, affectionate, delicate and tender. Values peace and calm in the home. Is nostalgic and collects things of sentimental value. House V is the area of creative self-expression, romance, entertainment, children, and gambling. House V in Leo Can only love an honest, upright and intelligent person. Likes to admire her spouse. A sincere, stable and faithful love. Refined education. House VI is the area of learning by material transaction. House VI in Virgo Jobs in the medical or paramedic fields suit her the best. Weak point: the nerves and intestines. House VII is the area of one-to-one relationships such as marriage and partnership, and of social and intellectual action. House VII in Scorpio Passion, passion. Feverish and drunk with love. Hiccups, discussions, disputes in love. House VIII is the area of emotional security and of security of the soul. House VIII in Sagittarius Death will certainly be in a foreign land or on a journey abroad. Nevertheless this will happen after a long life, when the body is too exhausted to continue. Easy death. House IX is the area of learning that shapes the identity. House IX in Capricorn Respects the religion in which she was brought up as a child, still holds this belief. Likes justice and loyalty. House X is the area of material action. The Mid-heaven represents the work one will do in his life, the place one will take in the world of society. It becomes more important as one grows older House X in Capricorn Someone who is completely trusted at work. Respectable, irreproachable in her work and moral qualities, scrupulous and praiseworthy. House XI is the area of search for social and intellectual security. House XI in Aquarius Likes to re-make the world with her friends. These discussions can last the whole night and, with the ideal world created, she can retire to bed. House XII is the area of education and of emotion. House XII in Pisces Contradictions, and inner torments or harassments are possible. However, this is a good position for psychic awareness, helping others less fortunate.

[wiccawisdom]

As Within, So Without: Making Daily Mundane Activities Spiritual

As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without.

These Hermetic truisms have been embraced by Pagans from many different paths. Most of us accept that all things are connected: microcosm and macrocosm, inner and outer. We understand that the physical world is a reflection of the spiritual world and vice versa. And yet, after the ritual is over and the chalice has been rinsed out, many people seem to put their spirituality on a shelf, separate from their "real" lives.

This was at the forefront of my mind when I wrote To Walk a Pagan Path. I firmly believe that our spirituality should be expressed throughout our lives and that our lives do indeed affect our spirituality. As within, so without. As without, so within. To be fully Pagan is to live one's spirituality every day of the year, not just on the night of the full moon or at your kindred's faining. We can fill each day with Pagan activities that connect us with our souls, our planet, and each other.

What exactly is a "Pagan activity?" Well, that depends on who you are and where you live and is largely a matter of attitude. A friend of mine expresses her Pagan spirituality through painting. The act of applying pigments to canvas is not innately Pagan, but each of Aurora's paintings is a spell, a work of magic expressing her will and desire. Aurora attends coven rituals and has even led her own group, but her spirituality does not end there. Through painting, she allows her soul to express itself, and the very act of doing this helps her to remain connected to that inner spirit.

Almost everyone in my inhíred brews mead. (An inhíred is a Saxon household, similar to a "coven," but the practice of magic is optional.) The act of brewing is devotional because much of the resulting honey wine is given as libations to our gods and ancestors. Our brewers are quite talented; two of my kinsmen have even been asked to speak at Pagan gatherings and share their brewing secrets. Brewing, like painting, is not innately Pagan. It is the attitude behind it that makes this, in my mind, a Pagan activity.

Craft projects—whether they involve painting, brewing, writing, or cooking—are great venues for expressing our spirituality, but almost everything we do can be transformed into sacred experiences if we are mindful of our actions.

In To Walk a Pagan Path I give numerous examples of common, daily events—waking, showering, eating, going to bed—that can become uplifting rituals. Perhaps the best way to do this is to keep a journal for a week or two, recording every activity you perform each day—everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Then go over that list and see how you can approach each activity as if it were a ritual. My list of activities for today has consisted of waking up, feeding the dogs, feeding the birds, eating breakfast, taking a shower, doing laundry, answering email, and finishing up this article. And the day is still young! Most of these things seem inconsequential and uninteresting, and yet all of them are important because they are each a part of my life. In the same way, your own list of activities is a reflection of your life.

In more spiritual terms: I gave thanks this morning for a new day (when I woke), connected with my familiars (while they had breakfast), then gave thanks for the earth's bounty (when I had my own breakfast), and performed two rites of renewal (as I showered and started the laundry) before sitting down at the computer this morning. What could have been routine actions were instead elevated to more meaningful significance. Even now, at the computer, I am wearing a specific talisman that I use when writing, and I began this session with a brief prayer to the Anglo-Saxon god Woden, who governs magic and inspiration. In all of these actions, I am infusing the material world with my spirituality.

As within, so without.

But what of the reverse flow? As without, so within. Just as your spirituality can enhance your mundane life and give it more meaning, your physical activities have the power to enhance your spirituality.

We all know that the environment has an effect on how we feel and perform. Certain colors tend to soothe and calm us. Music can incite pleasure, peace, anger, joy, or lust. A person's mood is often affected by the amount of light to which he or she is exposed. The eastern science of feng shui addresses the effect of the environment in architecture and design.

There are many aspects of our environment over which we have little or no control. Whether you rent or own, your home is whatever you can afford, and it is unlikely that you had any role in its design. Most people have very little control over their work or school environments. But there is one aspect of the "outer" world that you do control, and that is your own choice of actions.

I have always been a strong advocate of Pagans touching or connecting with the earth in some way. The earth, after all, is the primal source of our spirituality. Historical Pagan rituals—from the early English Æcerbot charm to the Eleusinian rites of Demeter and Persephone—concern themselves with the earth's cycles and rhythm. Pagan religions all over the world evolved from a deep and familiar relationship with the earth. It stands to reason, then, that any activity that causes you to physically interact with the earth can enhance your Pagan spirituality.

Growing a portion of your food, however small, is a great way to do this. Not only do you develop a more familiar, intimate relationship with the earth, you are also reclaiming your role in providing for yourself. The amount of food you produce may be minuscule, perhaps no more than a few tomatoes or some lettuce, but in consuming that food you will be taking the very essence of the land into your body. Even if you have nothing more than an apartment balcony, a small crop of strawberries and culinary herbs can be harvested every year. When you grow some of your own food, special times like the spring equinox and Lammas become more meaningful as you discover, first hand, how they relate to your regional growing season.

You may enjoy this enough to expand your vegetable garden next year and maybe put in a few blueberry bushes or a dwarf apple tree. Or maybe gardening is not your thing at all, and that is all right, too. There are other ways to personally connect with the earth.

If you do not suffer from apiphobia (fear of bees) or have an allergy to venom, maintaining a beehive is certainly as rewarding as growing vegetables and fruits. You will still be engaged in an activity directly affected by the earth's rhythms, and you will still harvest a food product filled with the essence of the land. A single hive will, in a good year, produce a remarkable quantity of honey. In the 1990s I had two hives, and every September we would set up carboys of mead (honey wine) to brew after we had extracted our annual honey harvest. The beeswax from the comb caps went into our ritual candles.

You do not have to live in a rural area to keep bees, but you do have to know what you are doing and be aware of any local ordinances that may restrict how many hives you can have and where they can be placed. If you want to pursue this fascinating activity, contact your local beekeepers' association.

I prefer activities like these that produce food, because it is so rewarding to be a part of the food cycle just as our ancestors were, but there are other things you can do to connect with the earth that are unrelated to food production.

Perhaps you would enjoy nurturing your local avian population. Set out a bird feeder and get a bird identification book to learn what species are found in your region. When do the migratory species depart, and when do they return in the spring? Learn about their habits and needs. Build and set out a few birdhouses. My grandfather transformed his property into a haven for wrens and purple martins by providing for their needs. By observing, studying, and caring for birds you will be connecting with the earth in a very real way.

This activity need not be restricted to birds. There might be a mammal in your area that you would like to encourage and nurture. In recent years bat houses have become more popular now that people are beginning to realize how beneficial these tiny flying mammals are. A small artificial pool can provide a home for frogs or toads. The idea is to step out of your heated and air-conditioned enclosure and interact with living things that depend directly on the earth's rhythms. Any activity that brings you in contact with the earth, that takes you into the natural environment, will have an effect on your spiritual being.

As without, so within.

Of course, you do not have to do any of this, but consider your actions and how your spirit is related to the surrounding world. Do you want to go through life disconnected from the earth, stumbling through routine, meaningless activities? Or do you want a life filled with purpose and meaning? Invest at least some of your time in activities that enhance your spirituality, and remember to let your inner spirit enhance every moment of your day.

==============================

By Alaric Albertsson. (c) Lllewellyn Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Originally published in The Llewellyn Journal

from All Wicca Store Magickal Supplies https://www.allwicca.com/blog/making-every-day-spiritual-path

[wiccawisdom]

As Within, So Without: Making Daily Mundane Activities Spiritual

As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without.

These Hermetic truisms have been embraced by Pagans from many different paths. Most of us accept that all things are connected: microcosm and macrocosm, inner and outer. We understand that the physical world is a reflection of the spiritual world and vice versa. And yet, after the ritual is over and the chalice has been rinsed out, many people seem to put their spirituality on a shelf, separate from their "real" lives.

This was at the forefront of my mind when I wrote To Walk a Pagan Path. I firmly believe that our spirituality should be expressed throughout our lives and that our lives do indeed affect our spirituality. As within, so without. As without, so within. To be fully Pagan is to live one's spirituality every day of the year, not just on the night of the full moon or at your kindred's faining. We can fill each day with Pagan activities that connect us with our souls, our planet, and each other.

What exactly is a "Pagan activity?" Well, that depends on who you are and where you live and is largely a matter of attitude. A friend of mine expresses her Pagan spirituality through painting. The act of applying pigments to canvas is not innately Pagan, but each of Aurora's paintings is a spell, a work of magic expressing her will and desire. Aurora attends coven rituals and has even led her own group, but her spirituality does not end there. Through painting, she allows her soul to express itself, and the very act of doing this helps her to remain connected to that inner spirit.

Almost everyone in my inhíred brews mead. (An inhíred is a Saxon household, similar to a "coven," but the practice of magic is optional.) The act of brewing is devotional because much of the resulting honey wine is given as libations to our gods and ancestors. Our brewers are quite talented; two of my kinsmen have even been asked to speak at Pagan gatherings and share their brewing secrets. Brewing, like painting, is not innately Pagan. It is the attitude behind it that makes this, in my mind, a Pagan activity.

Craft projects—whether they involve painting, brewing, writing, or cooking—are great venues for expressing our spirituality, but almost everything we do can be transformed into sacred experiences if we are mindful of our actions.

In To Walk a Pagan Path I give numerous examples of common, daily events—waking, showering, eating, going to bed—that can become uplifting rituals. Perhaps the best way to do this is to keep a journal for a week or two, recording every activity you perform each day—everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Then go over that list and see how you can approach each activity as if it were a ritual. My list of activities for today has consisted of waking up, feeding the dogs, feeding the birds, eating breakfast, taking a shower, doing laundry, answering email, and finishing up this article. And the day is still young! Most of these things seem inconsequential and uninteresting, and yet all of them are important because they are each a part of my life. In the same way, your own list of activities is a reflection of your life.

In more spiritual terms: I gave thanks this morning for a new day (when I woke), connected with my familiars (while they had breakfast), then gave thanks for the earth's bounty (when I had my own breakfast), and performed two rites of renewal (as I showered and started the laundry) before sitting down at the computer this morning. What could have been routine actions were instead elevated to more meaningful significance. Even now, at the computer, I am wearing a specific talisman that I use when writing, and I began this session with a brief prayer to the Anglo-Saxon god Woden, who governs magic and inspiration. In all of these actions, I am infusing the material world with my spirituality.

As within, so without.

But what of the reverse flow? As without, so within. Just as your spirituality can enhance your mundane life and give it more meaning, your physical activities have the power to enhance your spirituality.

We all know that the environment has an effect on how we feel and perform. Certain colors tend to soothe and calm us. Music can incite pleasure, peace, anger, joy, or lust. A person's mood is often affected by the amount of light to which he or she is exposed. The eastern science of feng shui addresses the effect of the environment in architecture and design.

There are many aspects of our environment over which we have little or no control. Whether you rent or own, your home is whatever you can afford, and it is unlikely that you had any role in its design. Most people have very little control over their work or school environments. But there is one aspect of the "outer" world that you do control, and that is your own choice of actions.

I have always been a strong advocate of Pagans touching or connecting with the earth in some way. The earth, after all, is the primal source of our spirituality. Historical Pagan rituals—from the early English Æcerbot charm to the Eleusinian rites of Demeter and Persephone—concern themselves with the earth's cycles and rhythm. Pagan religions all over the world evolved from a deep and familiar relationship with the earth. It stands to reason, then, that any activity that causes you to physically interact with the earth can enhance your Pagan spirituality.

Growing a portion of your food, however small, is a great way to do this. Not only do you develop a more familiar, intimate relationship with the earth, you are also reclaiming your role in providing for yourself. The amount of food you produce may be minuscule, perhaps no more than a few tomatoes or some lettuce, but in consuming that food you will be taking the very essence of the land into your body. Even if you have nothing more than an apartment balcony, a small crop of strawberries and culinary herbs can be harvested every year. When you grow some of your own food, special times like the spring equinox and Lammas become more meaningful as you discover, first hand, how they relate to your regional growing season.

You may enjoy this enough to expand your vegetable garden next year and maybe put in a few blueberry bushes or a dwarf apple tree. Or maybe gardening is not your thing at all, and that is all right, too. There are other ways to personally connect with the earth.

If you do not suffer from apiphobia (fear of bees) or have an allergy to venom, maintaining a beehive is certainly as rewarding as growing vegetables and fruits. You will still be engaged in an activity directly affected by the earth's rhythms, and you will still harvest a food product filled with the essence of the land. A single hive will, in a good year, produce a remarkable quantity of honey. In the 1990s I had two hives, and every September we would set up carboys of mead (honey wine) to brew after we had extracted our annual honey harvest. The beeswax from the comb caps went into our ritual candles.

You do not have to live in a rural area to keep bees, but you do have to know what you are doing and be aware of any local ordinances that may restrict how many hives you can have and where they can be placed. If you want to pursue this fascinating activity, contact your local beekeepers' association.

I prefer activities like these that produce food, because it is so rewarding to be a part of the food cycle just as our ancestors were, but there are other things you can do to connect with the earth that are unrelated to food production.

Perhaps you would enjoy nurturing your local avian population. Set out a bird feeder and get a bird identification book to learn what species are found in your region. When do the migratory species depart, and when do they return in the spring? Learn about their habits and needs. Build and set out a few birdhouses. My grandfather transformed his property into a haven for wrens and purple martins by providing for their needs. By observing, studying, and caring for birds you will be connecting with the earth in a very real way.

This activity need not be restricted to birds. There might be a mammal in your area that you would like to encourage and nurture. In recent years bat houses have become more popular now that people are beginning to realize how beneficial these tiny flying mammals are. A small artificial pool can provide a home for frogs or toads. The idea is to step out of your heated and air-conditioned enclosure and interact with living things that depend directly on the earth's rhythms. Any activity that brings you in contact with the earth, that takes you into the natural environment, will have an effect on your spiritual being.

As without, so within.

Of course, you do not have to do any of this, but consider your actions and how your spirit is related to the surrounding world. Do you want to go through life disconnected from the earth, stumbling through routine, meaningless activities? Or do you want a life filled with purpose and meaning? Invest at least some of your time in activities that enhance your spirituality, and remember to let your inner spirit enhance every moment of your day.

==============================

By Alaric Albertsson. (c) Lllewellyn Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Originally published in The Llewellyn Journal

from All Wicca Store Magickal Supplies http://www.allwicca.com/blog/making-every-day-spiritual-path

[wiccawisdom]

As Within, So Without: Making Daily Mundane Activities Spiritual

As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without.

These Hermetic truisms have been embraced by Pagans from many different paths. Most of us accept that all things are connected: microcosm and macrocosm, inner and outer. We understand that the physical world is a reflection of the spiritual world and vice versa. And yet, after the ritual is over and the chalice has been rinsed out, many people seem to put their spirituality on a shelf, separate from their "real" lives.

This was at the forefront of my mind when I wrote To Walk a Pagan Path. I firmly believe that our spirituality should be expressed throughout our lives and that our lives do indeed affect our spirituality. As within, so without. As without, so within. To be fully Pagan is to live one's spirituality every day of the year, not just on the night of the full moon or at your kindred's faining. We can fill each day with Pagan activities that connect us with our souls, our planet, and each other.

What exactly is a "Pagan activity?" Well, that depends on who you are and where you live and is largely a matter of attitude. A friend of mine expresses her Pagan spirituality through painting. The act of applying pigments to canvas is not innately Pagan, but each of Aurora's paintings is a spell, a work of magic expressing her will and desire. Aurora attends coven rituals and has even led her own group, but her spirituality does not end there. Through painting, she allows her soul to express itself, and the very act of doing this helps her to remain connected to that inner spirit.

Almost everyone in my inhíred brews mead. (An inhíred is a Saxon household, similar to a "coven," but the practice of magic is optional.) The act of brewing is devotional because much of the resulting honey wine is given as libations to our gods and ancestors. Our brewers are quite talented; two of my kinsmen have even been asked to speak at Pagan gatherings and share their brewing secrets. Brewing, like painting, is not innately Pagan. It is the attitude behind it that makes this, in my mind, a Pagan activity.

Craft projects—whether they involve painting, brewing, writing, or cooking—are great venues for expressing our spirituality, but almost everything we do can be transformed into sacred experiences if we are mindful of our actions.

In To Walk a Pagan Path I give numerous examples of common, daily events—waking, showering, eating, going to bed—that can become uplifting rituals. Perhaps the best way to do this is to keep a journal for a week or two, recording every activity you perform each day—everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Then go over that list and see how you can approach each activity as if it were a ritual. My list of activities for today has consisted of waking up, feeding the dogs, feeding the birds, eating breakfast, taking a shower, doing laundry, answering email, and finishing up this article. And the day is still young! Most of these things seem inconsequential and uninteresting, and yet all of them are important because they are each a part of my life. In the same way, your own list of activities is a reflection of your life.

In more spiritual terms: I gave thanks this morning for a new day (when I woke), connected with my familiars (while they had breakfast), then gave thanks for the earth's bounty (when I had my own breakfast), and performed two rites of renewal (as I showered and started the laundry) before sitting down at the computer this morning. What could have been routine actions were instead elevated to more meaningful significance. Even now, at the computer, I am wearing a specific talisman that I use when writing, and I began this session with a brief prayer to the Anglo-Saxon god Woden, who governs magic and inspiration. In all of these actions, I am infusing the material world with my spirituality.

As within, so without.

But what of the reverse flow? As without, so within. Just as your spirituality can enhance your mundane life and give it more meaning, your physical activities have the power to enhance your spirituality.

We all know that the environment has an effect on how we feel and perform. Certain colors tend to soothe and calm us. Music can incite pleasure, peace, anger, joy, or lust. A person's mood is often affected by the amount of light to which he or she is exposed. The eastern science of feng shui addresses the effect of the environment in architecture and design.

There are many aspects of our environment over which we have little or no control. Whether you rent or own, your home is whatever you can afford, and it is unlikely that you had any role in its design. Most people have very little control over their work or school environments. But there is one aspect of the "outer" world that you do control, and that is your own choice of actions.

I have always been a strong advocate of Pagans touching or connecting with the earth in some way. The earth, after all, is the primal source of our spirituality. Historical Pagan rituals—from the early English Æcerbot charm to the Eleusinian rites of Demeter and Persephone—concern themselves with the earth's cycles and rhythm. Pagan religions all over the world evolved from a deep and familiar relationship with the earth. It stands to reason, then, that any activity that causes you to physically interact with the earth can enhance your Pagan spirituality.

Growing a portion of your food, however small, is a great way to do this. Not only do you develop a more familiar, intimate relationship with the earth, you are also reclaiming your role in providing for yourself. The amount of food you produce may be minuscule, perhaps no more than a few tomatoes or some lettuce, but in consuming that food you will be taking the very essence of the land into your body. Even if you have nothing more than an apartment balcony, a small crop of strawberries and culinary herbs can be harvested every year. When you grow some of your own food, special times like the spring equinox and Lammas become more meaningful as you discover, first hand, how they relate to your regional growing season.

You may enjoy this enough to expand your vegetable garden next year and maybe put in a few blueberry bushes or a dwarf apple tree. Or maybe gardening is not your thing at all, and that is all right, too. There are other ways to personally connect with the earth.

If you do not suffer from apiphobia (fear of bees) or have an allergy to venom, maintaining a beehive is certainly as rewarding as growing vegetables and fruits. You will still be engaged in an activity directly affected by the earth's rhythms, and you will still harvest a food product filled with the essence of the land. A single hive will, in a good year, produce a remarkable quantity of honey. In the 1990s I had two hives, and every September we would set up carboys of mead (honey wine) to brew after we had extracted our annual honey harvest. The beeswax from the comb caps went into our ritual candles.

You do not have to live in a rural area to keep bees, but you do have to know what you are doing and be aware of any local ordinances that may restrict how many hives you can have and where they can be placed. If you want to pursue this fascinating activity, contact your local beekeepers' association.

I prefer activities like these that produce food, because it is so rewarding to be a part of the food cycle just as our ancestors were, but there are other things you can do to connect with the earth that are unrelated to food production.

Perhaps you would enjoy nurturing your local avian population. Set out a bird feeder and get a bird identification book to learn what species are found in your region. When do the migratory species depart, and when do they return in the spring? Learn about their habits and needs. Build and set out a few birdhouses. My grandfather transformed his property into a haven for wrens and purple martins by providing for their needs. By observing, studying, and caring for birds you will be connecting with the earth in a very real way.

This activity need not be restricted to birds. There might be a mammal in your area that you would like to encourage and nurture. In recent years bat houses have become more popular now that people are beginning to realize how beneficial these tiny flying mammals are. A small artificial pool can provide a home for frogs or toads. The idea is to step out of your heated and air-conditioned enclosure and interact with living things that depend directly on the earth's rhythms. Any activity that brings you in contact with the earth, that takes you into the natural environment, will have an effect on your spiritual being.

As without, so within.

Of course, you do not have to do any of this, but consider your actions and how your spirit is related to the surrounding world. Do you want to go through life disconnected from the earth, stumbling through routine, meaningless activities? Or do you want a life filled with purpose and meaning? Invest at least some of your time in activities that enhance your spirituality, and remember to let your inner spirit enhance every moment of your day.

==============================

By Alaric Albertsson. (c) Lllewellyn Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Originally published in The Llewellyn Journal

from All Wicca Store Magickal Supplies https://www.allwicca.com/blog/making-every-day-spiritual-path