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The Science Behind Sound Healing

Sound has always been healing and exists in many frequencies throughout nature. This is why you might find yourself winding down to relax on a sofa after a day when it has rained all day. You can find a sense of calm coming to your entire being after spending time at a retreat in a forest, hearing the wind move through the trees and the chatter of insects.

Sound has always been known to heal us, whether it be hearing a favorite sad song of ours or the voice of a dear friend on a bad day. Sound is a tool used in the world by nature and deliberately by humans to alter the state of mind. Sound healing works on the principle that everything in the world has a vibration. This vibration is then used to influence the situation at hand. When it comes to why this happens, we must look toward science.

How Does Sound Heal Our Body?

To understand how sound heals us, we must understand how our body works. Our existence is a gathering of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that occur as interactions between our neurons. These groups of neurons then interact together in unison to create electrical pulses that are known to become different brain waves. These brain waves are divided into different bandwidths, out of which five are mainly known.

These different bandwidths triggered deliberately can then relax the body and bring it to different resting states. This is where sound becomes relevant because it has the power to trigger these reactions with its vibrations. This is something that ancient monks and yogis already knew. In their traditions sound was also known to have the power to bring chaos into order. READ MORE...

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5 Reasons to Start Smudging Today

Smudging is a cleansing ritual involving the burning of bundled medicinal herbs and plants, most commonly white sage, to help rid places and people of negative energies. While it has been practiced for ages, the smudging ritual has become increasingly popular in recent times.

The benefits of smudging are plenty. In fact, some of them are backed by scientific evidence. Here, in this article, we discuss the five major reasons to start smudging today

1. Natural Air Purifier 

White sage smudge purifies the air you breathe. That’s reason enough to start smudging in your home and or office. The air in your living space contains all kinds of bacteria and allergens.   It includes bacteria, viruses, pollen, dander, mold and dust.   The herbs used in the smudging ritual cleanse the air of these harmful, airborne particles, reducing the chances of disease.   A study conducted proved that smudging removes airborne contaminants up to 94%, with its effects lasting around 24 hours.

 2. Helps Relax and Feel Good!  

Had a bad day? Having trouble sleeping? Burning dried sage can act as the perfect mood booster.  The relaxing fragrance has a soothing effect on the nerves, calming the mind and body almost instantly. READ MORE...

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The Full Moon – Lunatics, Beliefs & How It Affects You

The Moon itself has been worshipped by many civilizations throughout time. There are countless moon gods in ancient tradition and mythology celebrated and worshipped, whether it be the Greek goddess Selene, the Roman goddess Luna, or the Egyptian God Thot. The moon has always been recognized for its influence and is known to be the most powerful energy without any doubt.

Ancient Full Moon Beliefs and Practices

In Hindu practices, there are rituals around the full moon to celebrate, gift things to your neighbors, distribute sweets and sing to worship the Gods. Native Americans on the other hand, have their rituals around prayers for guidance, ceremony, dancing and singing. In China, you can find a full moon festival celebrated for the past 3000 years and is now a public holiday. It was originally started by emperors to thank the full moon for the bountiful harvest of the empire.

Full Moon Spiritual Practices

Moreover, the moon can be found in many ritual and spiritual practices. In astrology, the moon sign represents our emotional landscape and subconscious. When astrologers read the sky transits, each full moon brings with it the realization of the energy of the zodiac sign it is in, allowing it to affect the collective with its influence.

In addition, you’ll find the moon in a tarot deck, where it represents the hidden truth. The moonlight is then considered to be the moon connecting us to the realms of the unknown, the hidden, and the unconscious. READ MORE...

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The Art of Living from The Heart and Oneness

Sufism: The Religion of the Heart

Sufism, the religion of love, as it is known, embodies the true spirit of living by heart and oneness, seeking the Divine in the human heart. The heart is a very important place as this is where the journey to the Divine takes place, where one travels deep within himself to share the bliss of union with the Divine. With Sufism, thus, begins the communion with Divinity. One begins to question their own existence, surroundings, and purpose.

To achieve the ultimate goal of Sufism, an individual must recognize the limitedness of his or her worldly-influenced knowledge and perception and then discard them, opening oneself to an awakening, thus embarking on a journey of truly understanding what is beyond this world; the true message of Divinity.

Religiosity to Spirituality: The Universality of Sufism

Sufism is a ‘mystic body of religious practice within Islam’ and has, seen its inception, evolved as a spiritual practice. Although it is born from a specific religion, it is a practice for all, regardless of belief, creed, or dogma, since Sufism is a religion that empowers humanity. Sufi mystic, Inayat Khan, revolutionized traditional Sufism by separating it from its strict association with Islam. “Sufism has never been owned by any race or religion,” he stated, and that “Sufism itself is the essence of all the religions as well the spirit of Islam.”

Since its inception, the crucial beliefs of Sufism have existed free of social and cultural constraints, such as gender and ethnicity, rituals and rites, and other socio-cultural constructs. Therefore, it appeals to everyone, as it allows one to rediscover oneself on this journey to communion with the Divine. READ MORE...

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The Akashic Records — Library of the Universe

If you have ever been to a library or even accessed an online, you would know the feeling of having vast information that is readily available at your fingertips. Knowing that you can ask almost any question or query, there will be a list of records for you to pour over and devour. Yet this is only knowledge that is gained and written by humans.

What if it was a library of the universe instead, the one that holds the truth of everything ever to exist and will? This would then be the library of Akashic Records.

What Are the Akashic Records?

To put it simply, the Akashic Records are a collection of all universal memories, feelings, desires, events and actions that have occurred since the beginning of time. This collection contains an all-time continuum meaning the past, the present, and the future, of every being to ever exist, not just humans.

How To Access The Akashic Records?

They say that anyone can access the records. We unknowingly access them many times in our daily life during an intuitive hunch we get. Many ways to access the records include meditation, intuitive study, tutorials, and guides. Yet, some fundamental principles stay the same.

Here is the process:

It is essential to set an intention and be clear on what you’re seeking and why. This clarity is significant. Acceptance is needed if you just want to explore and browse the records to confirm their existence.

Next, if there is something specific you are looking for, think of it in terms of a question. Take your time to understand what you are asking. There is no right or wrong when it comes to what you want to know. You might not get an answer, but you must be willing to try. Read more…

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How To Manifest Positive Energy

It is certainly challenging to stay hopeful and at peace amid all the negativity surrounding us every day. But as humans, it is key to learn to adapt and accustom ourselves to the ever-changing ways of life. Conquering problems and challenges by radiating positive energy is a terrific way to not only survive but thrive!

People are naturally attracted to someone who makes them feel at ease. While being “a ray of sunshine” may be effortless for some for others it requires a little more work.

Manifesting and creating positive energy is certainly possible with a little practice and commitment. Changing our mindset to something we are not accustomed to is not always easy, but as we slowly start to integrate more positivity into our lives, we also start to create more positive circumstances around us, that in turn make us feel good.

Here are some actionable tips to channel and manifest positive energy:

Practice Gratitude 

Gratitude is one of the most significant ways to manifest positivity. When you appreciate things, regardless of how trivial or mundane they are, our body releases an oxytocin hormone in charge of making us feel fulfilled and happy. Expressing appreciation, the moment you open your eyes in the morning creates a positive mindset that sets a positive trajectory for the rest of the day.

Plan Your Day Ahead of Time

Before you go to sleep at night, visualize how you would want the following day to unfold. List the things you want to see happening, especially those that inspire your creativity and motivation. Make a plan that is achievable for that particular day. Completing tasks always establishes positive feelings of fulfillment and productivity. Read more...

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How I Consciously Died

by James Malsbury

How does one begin a story that may seem too far-fetched to be true? Perhaps just tell it as it occurred, and whether others believe it or not is irrelevant. I will use the initial of each person’s name to keep them anonymous.

We gathered in a back room at the home of S and K, a place where we all have gathered many times before to explore expanded consciousness together using various plant medicines. This time was a little different, Z offered to facilitate with the use of a crystallized form of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine). It was offered by the way of a volcano, a balloon-like device where the vapes are captured inside the "balloon" and then inhaled. This type of journey typically lasts thirty minutes at most. We each took a turn while the others held space. When it came to be my turn, I lay down to prepare myself for the journey and used earplugs and an eye mask to avoid distractions. Sitting in front of me, Z asked if I was ready. As I looked over my right shoulder, looking at S I said, "Yeah what's the worst that can happen? S will have to burry me in the back!". Everyone sort of laughed and S gave me a startled look that said: "WTF!" As Z filled the balloon, he instructed me to take three very large, deep inhalations and to hold the last one in for as long I could. I did as instructed and on the last inhale, put on the eye mask, firmly grabbed K's hand, and sank back into the cushions.

As I lay there in darkness a very loud buzzing noise seemed to drown out any outside noise and a feeling that I may pass out came over me. Tightly holding K’s hand and staying connected to my breath, the feeling began to dissipate. The buzzing in my ears also began to quiet down, so I started to relax and let go of the hand which I was gripping so tightly. Read more...

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Finding Serenity and Maintaining a Positive Mindset with Palo Santo

Have you thought about using smudge sticks but you are not sure how effective they are?

Try Palo Santo and let your doubts be erased.

Smudging is drawing people’s attention to the powerful impact of certain rituals for the purpose of inviting peace and positivity. With all the chaos and unresolved challenges filling our thoughts and body, the positive energy we try to manifest within ourselves is suppressed. For this reason, there is a great need for cleansing. Purifying our minds and shifting our outlook are simple but effective ways to restructure our perspective and learn to manifest genuine happiness.

Using Palo Santo wood affords one the required peace of mind and clears the haze that has been created by negativities. This scented wood has a reputation for healing and cleansing that goes back to ancient times when it was highly recommended in most spiritual ceremonies.

What Makes Palo Santo Unique?

Palo Santo is a wood that has remained popular around communities that practice smudging, mainly for its unique smell and other underlying benefits. It grows primarily in South America and its name translates to ‘holy wood.’ This famous wood certainly lives up to its name because it produces a heavenly aroma and cloudy smoke that evokes positive emotions which are beneficial to spiritual practices.

Oil and resin are found within its grain and this explains the sweet, citrusy, and woodsy fragrance. Sometimes, it can be harvested separately to produce more products such as essential oil, soap, and beads. The antibacterial properties extracted from its wood serve as a powerful remedy for various illnesses and the treatment of rheumatic pain, headaches, cold, and stress. However, beyond the physical benefits of Palo Santo, there are more benefits it can offer. Read more…