Everything is going to work out for my highest good.
Author: Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila
Aloha Ke 'Ākua! Māhālo nūi lōa for visiting Nā Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila!
We established our Sanctuary for the exploration and awakening of consciousness, the unfolding of our collective creative and healing potential and realisation of our essential Unity.
Our teachings arise out of direct experience of awakened awareness and emanates the untamable fragrance of freedom whilst radically embracing the mystery and mess of human existence. Our invitation is for you to open to the fullness of life, to say YES to the totality of your experience and to meet reality with radical compassion. Our doors are an open invitation to all who seek authentic freedom and are willing to meet heart to heart in honest and open inquiry.
We were taught that the goal of life is to move through life walking up the mountain of experiences with your Aloha, your Bowl of Light. Life is filled with lessons to learn and teaching moments along the way. When you become angry or jealous, you drop those stones into your bowl of light and those rocks cause leaks in your Mana-sacred power. When your bowl becomes filled with stones, you become a stone that cannot grow. No Aloha! The solution is that at any moment, you can turn your bowl upside down emptying these stones out of your bowl to naturally refill it with YOUR golden light -- your natural Aware and Awakened state of Aloha, your natural state of Divinity. This is the power of Pure Aloha: an Awakened Heart Awakens the Mind.
Awakening hinges on your genuine desire for the discovery of your true nature. If it is to flower in you, you must truly want liberation from everything that is false in you, you must want to give yourself totally to the inquiry into what is true beyond all inherited concepts, ideas and beliefs.
The purpose of our teachings is to ignite this wanting in you. When the flame of this desire becomes an untamable fire, it flips a switch inside of you and the direction of your destiny is irrevocably altered. It’s like turning on the light only to discover that you are this light. This in itself is extra-ordinary: even though you may have heard the words a thousand times, nothing can prepare you for the naked reality that is revealed.
And yet the living experience of this revelation is very ordinary: you have simply re-discovered the innocent wholeness of your essential nature. It’s the you that never was and never will be separate from anything at all. This discovery is the end of suffering and the beginning of freedom.
But awakening is just the beginning. The adventure begins, not in the rarified atmosphere of transcendence, but in the midst of the chaos of life. And living the truth of awakening has perhaps never been more of an imperative than in today’s rapidly changing world.
The invitation is for you to awaken to the pristine perfection of your inner light and then to fully embody and express this light amidst the mystery and mess of human existence.
Come join us!
Health ~ All Dairy Is Not Created Equal ~ Kathryn Van Wyk
Dairy is one of those topics that come up a lot here at the Wellness Center. Many of our patients discover that their digestion or skin is irritated by dairy consumption and end up avoiding it all together. Others find that raw milk or goat and sheep’s milk is fine for them, but that other dairy products still irritate them. There’s no doubt that when it comes to dairy everyone is different, and your tolerance can change over time. For example, if you have any auto-immune issues, leaky gut or a dysbiosis you might have to avoid dairy altogether until you’ve resolved the underlying issues. Because most dairy products available at the market today are very different from the dairy our grandparents drank (much like in the case of wheat and gluten!) many people also find themselves intolerant to it. There also seems to be a correlation between gluten intolerance and dairy intolerance. We tend to see a link between skin issues, especially acne, and dairy consumption, so if that’s you, try avoiding dairy for a couple of weeks and see if there’s any improvements.
Because this is such a confusing, heated and frankly quite controversial topic, let’s just dive in and see what all the terms mean and what all your options are. There are lots and pro’s and cons to sift through so bare with me!
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is the sugar found in milk and is what a lot of people find themselves intolerant to it. As it turns out, a significant percentage of the population stop producing lactase – the enzyme needed to digest lactose in milk – at a certain age (all babies produce lactase in order to digest breast milk) and will therefore experience a lot of discomfort when consuming conventional, pasteurized dairy products. But, did you know that raw milk actually contains lactase – that enzyme I mentioned that helps you digest lactose? That’s right. Unfortunately pasteurization destroys all those enzymes, which means many of us (those of us who don’t produce our own lactase anymore) can tolerate raw dairy, but not pasteurized.
Interestingly, some populations who have been exposed to dairy for a long time, such as Scandinavians, have a much higher likelihood of also producing lactase and tolerating dairy just fine.
Grass Fed, Organic, Hormone Free – What’s What!
If you choose to eat dairy, it is always ideal to get dairy from pastured, grass-fed cows who have eaten the food they’re meant to eat (grass!) and been grazing outside in the sunshine. The sun is essential for the cow to produce enough vitamin D, which also ends up in the milk you drink. And the diet full of grass makes the milk higher in nutrients – especially the essential Omega 3 fatty acids.
As with any ruminant that is fed grains (ie corn), it will get sick from that diet and most of the time be treated with antibiotics. Also, most milk-producing cows today are given genetically-engineered growth hormones ( rBGH or rBST), designed to increase the cow’s milk production. Those antibiotics and growth hormones will also end up in the milk you drink.
Raw
Raw dairy is by far superior to pasteurized milk when i comes to digestibility and nutrient content. Simply put, raw milk is a whole food, while pasteurized milk is a processed and altered food. However, because the milk has not been pasteurized there is a small risk that it can contain dangerous bacteria. Although the milk is in fact sterile while it’s inside the cows udder, it can become contaminated once it’s been milked by equipment used or even the surface of the udder. So whether or not you ‘dare’ to consume raw milk is a risk assessment that you have to make for yourself and your family. If you decide to try raw milk, make sure to get it from a trusted farmer that takes great care to keep the milk safe. Also, in the US many states do not allow raw milk sales, besides directly from farmer to consumer, and this is without a doubt a very controversial issue, so do your research and ask around until you feel comfortable with your own decision – whichever way you choose to go.
Pasteurized, Homogenized and Ultra Pasteurized
Pasteurization is the process that heats the milk up to about 150F for 30 minutes to kill any dangerous pathogens that might be present in the milk. It also makes the milk last longer which is of course a great benefit to the producers and distributors. But unfortunately this process also degrades the vitamin A found in milk, destroys the naturally occurring enzymes (including lactase) and any beneficial bacteria that was originally in the milk. It is also becoming more and more common to ultra pasteurize dairy to make the product last even longer on the shelves. This process heats the milk up to an even higher temperature – 280F – to eliminate even more bacteria. This process is even more harsh on the complex molecules in milk proteins which basically makes them indigestible, causing a lot of inflammation and digestive distress.
The other processing technique performed on milk today is homogenization, where all the fat molecules get mechanically forced to be the same size basically making the milk proportionately higher in casein and whey proteins, potentially leading to milk related allergies.
Skim, Low-fat, Full Fat, Lactaid, Fortified – What Do I Choose?
The typical recommendation made by the USDA etc is to choose nonfat or low fat dairy products on the assumption that the saturated fat is damaging to our health. But now we know better! And the fats in milk are important for absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D! And the vitamin D is important for proper absorption of calcium. You see – when nature creates a perfect food, we shouldn’t go ahead and mess with it! All the different nutrients work perfectly together so if you’re going to eat dairy, always choose full-fat products to get the most bang for your buck. Also, make sure to read this article about skim milk on our blog!
Lactaid milk is basically just like any other conventional milk with some added lactase enzymes. You could just as easily take an enzyme supplement and eat your regular dairy product and save you the trouble and the money.
Fortified milk is very common these days, especially because all of the processing depletes the milk of it’s naturally occurring nutrients! Synthetic vitamin A and D are often added to milks, but these are not as easily absorbed by our body, especially not without the fat!
To cut to the chase, always buy full-fat dairy products.
Fermented Dairy
Yogurt and kefir are fermented milk product that contains beneficial bacteria and can be healthy foods if you’re someone who can tolerate dairy. Just remember to choose your products wisely, keeping in mind my points above. Many people do find that the addition of the good bacteria makes these dairy products easier to digest. They can also be a great source of protein and fat – making them a good snack. However, make sure to avoid the sweetened varieties and experiment with sheeps and goats milk yogurt too to see what works best for you!
Bottom Line – What to buy
Best: Raw dairy from grass-fed cows
Good: Lightly-pasteurized, non-homogenized whole milk from grass-fed cows and then lightly-pasteurized, homogenized whole milk from grass-fed cows
OK: Organic milk – this milk usually still comes from grain fed cows but will at least be free of hormones and GMO’s
Worst: Ultra-pasteurized, conventional non-fat milk!
This article was originally published on www.drfranklipman.com. Read the original here.
Health ~ Acupuncture Eases Alcohol Cravings ~ Health CMi
Acupuncture reduces alcohol cravings in alcoholics. Researchers note that acupuncture is both safe and effective for reducing cravings in alcohol dependent patients. They add that acupuncture is an inexpensive modality of care for the treatment of alcoholism and “produces significant results.”
This study breaks from other research on this topic. Prior research focused on National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) acupuncture point prescriptions for addiction. This typically involved use of auricular acupuncture points including Kidney, Sympathetic, Shenmen, Liver and Lung. However, this study used only one acupuncture point that is located on the lower leg. The researchers note of this acupuncture point, “Traditionally, it has been used as an acupoint for detoxification.”
What’s the Point?
The acupuncture point investigated in the research is Zhubin (KI9) that is translated as “guest house.” It is located on the medial aspect of the lower leg and is 5 cun superior to KI3. It is approximately 1 cun posterior to the medial border of the tibia at the lower end of the gastrocnemius muscle. It is placed on a line drawn between KI3 and KI10.
KI9 is the Xi Cleft point of the Yinwei (Yin linking) vessel. This is the channel that connects the yin meridians of the hand and foot to the Conception channel. The Yinwei vessel may also be accessed by acupoint PC6, the confluent point of the Yinwei vessel. To achieve this, PC6 is often paired with SP4, its paired confluent point for the treatment of heart, chest and stomach disorders.
This study used only KI9, whose Yinwei vessel connection makes it especially suitable for the treatment of heart issues. In particular, this point benefits patients with heart shen (spirit) issues due to phlegm and phlegm-fire. This includes the treatment of mania, raving, bipolar disorder (manic depression) and other forms of severe mental illness. Here, there is a logical consistency with the application of KI9 for the treatment of alcohol cravings given alcoholism’s propensity for causing phlegm-fire in the heart.
The Protocol
An acupuncture treatment group was compared with a placebo controlled group in this single-blinded, randomized investigation. The acupuncturist was aware of the group allocations but the staff and patients were blinded to allocation of placebo vs. real acupuncture groups. This was made possible through the use of the Park Sham Device (PSD). Made by Acupuncture Needle Inc., Korea, this unusual sham acupuncture needle device simulates acupuncture needle insertion but never actually penetrates the skin. The researchers note, “It has a 15 mm diameter round plastic base and a shaft telescopes into the handle when downward pressure is applied. Placebo needles have blunt tips and are put into the tube to mimic the insertion of a needle.”
Exclusion criteria included drug abuse, use of psychotropic medications, cognitive impairment and other factors. The treatment procedure commenced after three weeks of patient admittance to the study to avoid intoxication and withdrawal symptom complications. All real acupuncture and placebo group patients received group therapy, education and standard hospital care. The real acupuncture group received acupuncture at KI9 using a needle guide tube with a 0.25 X 40 mm needle (Dongbang Acupuncture Inc., Korea). The Park Sham Device was used for all placebo group patients. All subjects had treatment periods of 15 minutes, twice per week for a total of 4 weeks.
Testing of cravings was performed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for assessment. The researchers note, “We used a horizontal line, with 120 mm in length. At the left end, the subject feels no craving for alcohol, while he feels a maximum craving for alcohol at the right end. The subject marks on the line the point that they feel represents their craving for alcohol in their current state.” Testing of cravings was performed after provoking cravings at week 1, 2 and 4 of the study. In all cases, the acupuncture group had significantly less cravings than the placebo group.
The cravings for alcohol were provoked by giving the subjects sips of liquor once every 30 seconds for 3 minutes. This was followed by a 3 minute interval and another period of sipping liquor every 30 seconds for another 3 minutes. The researchers note that the acupuncture group showed significant reductions in cravings and the placebo control group showed no improvement. The research team notes of the 4 week study, “The results showed that the acupuncture treated group had a significant craving reduction compared with the control group. Acupuncture treatment on Zhubin (KI9) was effective from the 1st week of treatment and its effect lasted through the 4 weeks.”
About HealthCMi: The Healthcare Medicine Institute (HealthCMi) publishes news, research and acupuncture continuing education courses online for acupuncture CEU and PDA credit. Learn more at www.healthcmi.com.
Health ~ Healthy Holiday Essentials: Skip Weight Gain and Guilt ~ Victoria Ann Diaz
Whether it’s an office party, a happy hour with friends, or holiday celebrations with family, food is a way of bringing people together. It is often used as an expression of thanks and love.
According to the National Institute of Health, most people only gain a little weight over the holidays. Studies show that the average person only gains 1-2 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
It takes at least 15-20 minutes for our brains to signal that we are actually full, so sit, relax, and talk for a while.
Yet, many people may not lose the extra weight after the festivities are over. Over 10 years, that can add up to 10-20 extra pounds—and as we get older, it gets harder to lose excess weight.
Wishing people good cheer and celebrating with food should not be stressful. We shouldn’t have to dread a holiday party, fearing it will derail all of the health and wellness goals we so diligently followed all year. Simple modifications to our recipes and eating habits can help us have fun without the guilt or potential weight gain.
Holiday Party Tips
Whether you are the host or the guest, here are some holiday party essentials to help you navigate all of the tempting food and drinks. Check out these tips before you indulge in holiday festivities:
• Don’t skip meals. If you arrive at a party hungry, you will tend to over-indulge. If you are preparing food, make sure you have healthy snacks available.
• Don’t taste-test everything while cooking or baking.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is a great way to stay energized. It also helps us feel full.
• Try baking recipe modifications like gluten-free or whole-wheat flour; fruit puree, honey, or agave as healthier sweeteners; and dairy-free alternatives such as almond, coconut, or soy milk.
• Enjoy healthy appetizers like fresh fruit with cheese and whole-grain crackers, raw vegetables with salsa or humus dip, spiced nuts, and homemade dried fruits.
• Use a dessert or salad plate to help with portion control.
• Limit alcoholic drinks, which add calories. Eggnog, for example, can contain as many as 450 calories per 8 ounces.
• Have fun staying mobile with an after-party walk or an old-fashioned dance contest.
• Be mindful of when you are hungry or full. Slow down when you’re eating. Take time to not only enjoy the wonderful food, but also engage with your guests. It takes at least 15-20 minutes for our brains to signal that we are actually full, so sit, relax, and talk for a while.
• Have dessert in moderation. Avoid a little sample of each by choosing your favorite. Alternatively, you can bring your own healthier version or have fruit.
• Keep away from leftovers by asking for help in the kitchen. Having help cleaning up will keep you from snacking on the leftovers.
• Send food home with your guests. Avoid keeping foods that will tempt you later.
• Stay in control. Stick to your food and drink boundaries. Allow yourself to say “thanks, but not right now.”
• Don’t skip your exercise routine. Cut down your workout time if you have to, but don’t eliminate it. If there is no time to exercise, be sure to use the stairs or park further away for a little walking.
• Keep your kids engaged and involved with holiday activities like stringing popcorn garland, making ornaments or decorations for the table, or helping in the kitchen. This creates great memories and traditions they can pass down to future generations. When adults and children have fun, no one will tend to eat out of boredom.
• Relax. Enjoy celebrations without the stress and be kind to yourself if you overindulge. Don’t sabotage yourself with guilt; just accept it and get back on track.
Holiday festivities and parties can make it a bit challenging to stay healthy, but with a little mindful preparation and some simple cooking modifications, we can still have a tasty traditional holiday celebration.
Have a deliciously healthy holiday celebration!
Victoria Ann Diaz is a certified integrative health and life coach and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In her Life Balance Health Coach practice, she supports clients with a mindful-living approach to health and wellness. For more information, visit www.lifebalancehealthcoach.com.
5 Stories of People With Pre-Birth Memories ~ Tara MacIsaac
The universe is full of mysteries that challenge our current knowledge. In “Beyond Science” Epoch Times collects stories about these strange phenomena to stimulate the imagination and open up previously undreamed of possibilities. Are they true? You decide.
Many people report memories of being in the womb, being born, and—in the most mystical cases—of being in another realm before entering the womb.
It is difficult to prove this phenomenon exists outside of anecdotal evidence, but for many people this is a very real experience.
Elisabeth Hallett, a registered nurse with a degree in psychology, wrote in her book “Stories of the Unborn Soul: The Mystery and Delight of Pre-Birth Communication” that we don’t hear often about pre-birth experiences because: “It’s scary to reveal an experience that contradicts the common view of reality. As one woman said, ‘I have been reluctant to share these experiences, mostly out of fear that people would think I was completely nuts.’”
Boy Remembers Song Played on Way to Hospital
On the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation website, Nicola E. told the story of a student of hers named Michael. Nicola was friends with Michael’s mother, who died when he was only a few months old. She had witnessed Michael’s birth, as she had gone to the hospital support her friend, who was a single mother. Nicola didn’t have further contact with Michael or his family after her friend died, until he was a student in her 4th grade class. Nicola and Michael didn’t discuss Michael’s mother much, but he knew they’d been friends.
The students were asked to discuss their earliest memories. Michael put up his hand and proceeded to describe in detail traveling to the hospital with Nicola as she was going to attend his birth.
He said he was in her grey car, he remembered the lyrics to the song that was playing, he saw Nicola stop at a gas station to ask for directions to the hospital, he saw her use a payphone in the hospital, and take a sweater that wasn’t hers in the waiting room and put it on.
All of these things were true.
She had a grey car at the time, but hadn’t since about two years after Michael’s birth. Some words Michael remembered from the song corresponded to a song she listened to often on a tape in that car. It was a rural hospital and she got lost on the way, so she stopped at a gas station for directions. The hospital didn’t have cell phone service, so she used a payphone. She was ashamed that she took a sweater that wasn’t hers; no one was around to claim it, it was just laying there, and she was very cold, so she put it on and kept it. She never told anyone about this.
Like Waking From Anesthesia
A man named Michael Maguire told Hallett his experience can be compared to waking from anesthesia:
“I can clearly remember being in the spiritual, and then suddenly finding myself on Earth trapped in a baby’s body. It’s a bit like having an operation. One moment you’re in an operating theater counting back from 10; the next you find yourself in the recovery room. The major difference is that when you have an operation, you’re drowsy before and after the operation. With my experience, I was fully mentally alert before and after the transition to Earth.”
Remembering Birth Complications
A woman named Joelle told Hallett that when she was in her 30s, her aunt told her about complications during her birth, which her mother had never mentioned to her. Memories she seemed to have from the time of her birth made more sense to her after her aunt’s revelations.
Her aunt told her that hers was an emergency birth at home. She was lifeless when she came out of the womb. Her aunt put her little body in another room, thinking she was dead. The midwife arrived and was thankfully able to revive the baby.
What Joelle remembers is: “being in a place indescribable. It’s peaceful there, quiet, other people are with me. They are one. We are one. Not male, not female—I can see it in my mind’s eye but I can’t describe it. There are no voices, but I hear words. Someone says, ‘There’s a body, the person who had it felt it was too difficult a life and changed their mind.’ If I want it I have to go now, now. I hesitate, I hear a voice near me say, ‘No, it’s too soon, too soon, wait a while,’ but I can’t wait. I must go back. Someone says, ‘Decide now.’”
‘That’s the lady who took care of me before I was born!’
The following story was shared on Reddit: “My coworker told me a story about his 4-year-old daughter. He and his wife took her to an old mission in town that’s a bit of a tourist attraction and has a statue of the virgin Mary near the entrance. His daughter immediately points to the statue and exclaims, ‘Daddy, I know her! That’s the lady who took care of me before I was born!’”
A Reassuring Voice
Linda Parrino shared her story on an About.com forum about pre-birth experiences: “I remember floating on a cloud. There were pink and blue clouds as far as I could see. I was at peace, I heard a voice that sounded like a woman but I did not see her. She spoke softly and the communication was more like speaking with the mind. I remember her telling me it was my time to go to Earth and be … born. I responded that I wanted to stay there, where I was safe. She said you have to go now, don’t worry you will be fine. I have had this memory as far back as I can remember and it has been a comfort to me all of my life.”
Follow @TaraMacIsaac on Twitter, visit the Epoch Times Beyond Science page on Facebook, and subscribe to the Beyond Science newsletter to continue exploring the new frontiers of science!
*Image of a fetus via Shutterstock
Hau’oli la Po’aono
Aloha kakahiaka oukou a ma Hau’oli la Po’aono. Mahalo Ke Akua no keia la.
Good morning and Happy Saturday, everyone. Thank God for this Life!
8 Ancient Beliefs Now Backed By Modern Science ~ by Alena Hall
The Earth may not be flat nor is it the center of the universe, but that doesn’t mean old-world intellectuals got everything wrong. In fact, in recent years, modern science has validated a number of teachings and beliefs rooted in ancient wisdom that, up until now, had been trusted but unproven empirically.
Here are eight ancient beliefs and practices that have been confirmed by modern science.
On Deck ~ Chinese New Year of the Sheep 2015
The Year 2015 is the 4712th Chinese year. The 2015 Chinese New Year Day is on February 19, 2015 in China’s time zone. This day is a new moon day, and is the first day of the first Chinese lunar month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system.
According to Chinese Astrology, the Year 2015 is the Green Wood Sheep year. The first day of the Sheep year is on February 4, 2015. This day is different from Chinese New Year Day, because Chinese Astrology calendar is not a simple Chinese Lunar calendar.
In the Chinese New Year of Sheep, Chinese always mention San-Yang-Kai-Tai 
, which means “Three Goats Start Fortune”. Actually the term is from 
, which means “Three Yang Start Fortune”. Chinese replace 
by 
. Both and are pronounced as Yang. is Sheep. is Male and is the word from 
Yin Yang.
Pāli Word a Day for December 26, 2014
ātāpī — ardent
Christmas: A Time To Celebrate Our Humanity
For some, Christmas can be a massive headache. All the queuing, crowds and spending can really get a person down. Add to that the rabid indulgence demanded by roast potatoes and Christmas cakes and you have a recipe for some very stern New Years’ resolutions.
But forget the commercialism of the festive season for a second…
Most people get to spend time with their families over the Christmas holidays. The pressures of work ease off and one can genuinely reflect on the past year. Sit still long enough, and one might even consider the fact that people of all creeds value the same things: family, security and a chance at the lasting contentment of being valued for who they are.
Ostensibly, Jesus the son of the Christian God was born to Mary the virgin on the 25th of December. This event has been derided by rabid atheists and other worshippers of logic, denied or marginalized by the other monotheistic religions and explained away by researchers into ancient astrological practices. In fact, if you don’t profess to be a Christian, you probably feel compelled to laugh at the patent absurdity of the whole scenario.
That is, if you feel it’s actually the event itself you’re supposed to be celebrating. This humble blog post proposes that you look at it from another perspective.
Huffington Post ~ If You Still Think Pot Should Be Illegal, You Are an A**hole
This is Mainstream Media telling you folks now: “… if you think cannabis should remain a Schedule I drug, one for which there is no accepted medical use, then you are scientifically illiterate.” Now, are you seriously gonna try to keep up your anti-MMJ arguments with the likes of Arianna Huffington??
Daily Affirmation
I walk with determination and confidence.
Hau’oli la Po’alima
Aloha awakea a ma Hau’oli la Po’alima oukou … Mahalo Ke Akua no koʻu hoaloha a me na Ohana!
Good morning and Happy Friday, everyone … Thank God for my friends and family!
4 WAYS TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY
There’s no denying that the world is speeding up and it’s starting to take its toll. Being constantly plugged in means we never have much time to ourselves. Our attention is relentlessly pulled in multiple directions. It’s impossible not to be overwhelmed and this inevitably leads to increased levels of anxiety. Prolonged periods of anxiety and stress compromise our entire system and in extreme cases, can lead to mental and physical illness. The bottom line is that this is no way to live full-time and cultivating strategies to combat anxiety should be a priority. Here are four tips to begin to point you in the right direction.
Include a calming activity in your morning ritual
It doesn’t matter what it is. Find what works for you. It could be physical exercise, a few breathing exercises, a few gentle yoga stretches or a meditational practice. Set aside at least half an hour for this practice. The energy you’ll get back will make waking up half an hour earlier worth it. Starting your day right should be your highest priority. Without setting this time aside you are bound to be less focused and productive and yes, much more anxious which only further hinders your ability to get through the day effectively. In the beginning this may require some discipline, but over time you’ll get so used to the feeling of calm your practice evokes that you’ll crave it if you miss it. It will become as natural as brushing your teeth, and the payoff is so great you’ll never look back.
Reconnect with nature
Most of us live in concrete jungles, moving from an office to an apartment and back again. (If this isn’t your life, you’re one of the lucky few). We’re not designed to live in such segregation with nature. Find a way to reconnect with the natural world. This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to relieve anxiety and stress. Visit a park and walk bare feet on the grass. Introduce some pot plants to your balcony, soaking up the fresh feeling of dipping your fingers into the soil. We feel closer to ourselves when we interact with nature and when we are more aligned with our true natures, we are less anxious.
Get it out! Process your emotional input
We’re so used to putting our brave and capable faces on that we bottle up our emotions. We suppress and suppress until the emotions eventually boil over, catching us ill-prepared. It’s important to find a way to get our emotions out. Talking is always good. Some people prefer writing in a diary or drawing. Find what works for you and make it a priority to digest your life experiences at least once a week. Making this commitment means taking responsibility for your emotional world and learning not to project it onto others. When we take the time to process, we are much less likely to carry unconscious, festering baggage around with us and that is the stuff that ultimately increases anxiety levels.
Be kind to yourself
When we’re persistently pushed to perform and be better, we tend to get very hard on ourselves. We live in a society that wants us to believe that we are never good enough so that way we keep buying things to improve ourselves. So we get caught in cycles of desire and self-deprecation. Constantly knocking yourself over the head because you feel you need to be better creates massive anxiety. We burn ourselves out trying to live up to impossible standards. The old cliché is true. If you can’t be kind to yourself, you can’t be kind to others.
Just For Today
Ask a child what is beautiful to them. Tell them what is beautiful to you, too.
We’ve let ourselves get caught up in the pace of our lives and we’ve become distracted from the important issues that we all need to work on together. This is not an excuse for our actions. It is what it is.
If you wrote an open letter to the children of the world, would you apologize to them?
“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.” ~ Maria Montessori
Mele Kalikimaka oukou!
Mele Kalikimaka a ma Hau’oli Makahiki Hou nani na kanaka! Ho’oli i Ka Ao!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, beautiful people! Joy to the World!
Astrology for Christmas Day 2014
Christmas Day is RELATIVELY quiet this year. No heavy duty patterns are in play, or the one or two that arguably remain are breaking up. Even so, let’s identify the issues we can find. The first is the ongoing battle of trust versus betrayal (probably in family settings) with Jupiter (the leader of the gods; the party god and sometimes philanderer) and Juno (Jupiter’s sometimes betrayed wife) near each other in Leo and effectively opposed by Mars (anger, war) and the Moon (our deepest innermost desires and emotions):
[Click Image to Enlarge]
We note that Moon / Mars can represent older children OR another couple (or both) in the drama that unfolds.
We see a secondary set of issues involving Hygeia (health and healthcare) in opposition to Vesta (traditions) and Pluto (death, secrets, and radical change). Christmas squabbles seem to be the routine for many families; this year will not…
View original post 425 more words
Health ~ 9 Toxic Chemicals Found In Furniture
In the article, “Twelve Highly Toxic Chemicals to Banish from Your Home,” Natural News reports on chemicals commonly found around the house that could cause health problems. In particular, several of the chemicals listed there may easily be inside or end up on your furniture where you (as well as your children, friends, and family members) are most likely to ingest them.
Solar-Powered Distiller: Turns Salt Water Into Drinking Water
The world is rapidly reaching global water crisis mode with nearly one billion people lacking access to clean potable water. But a new solar-powered invention can turn seawater into drinking water – and may turn this dire situation around in a hurry.
In the underdeveloped nations of the world, native women travel for miles to local rivers and transport clean water back to their villages in baskets on their heads. The lack of potable water is the cause of typhoid fever and other dreaded maladies stemming from environmental neglect and abject poverty.
How To Know If You’re An Indigo, Crystal Or Rainbow Child
There’s a lot of discussion surrounding the ideas of what a ‘Star Child’ is.
Are you one of them?
If you’re reading this or have an interest in the world’s collective evolution, then you probably are!
These titles or categories of ‘Star People’ hold a different meaning to each person.
To me, this essentially means your purpose in life is to help break down the existing paradigms to really start the shift into our next stages of evolution.
Everyone has bits and pieces of the traits that come with being a Star Person, it’s how you act out your intentions that would make you resonate more with a specific category.
Health ~ Ladies, Are Your Makeup and Body Products Toxic?
Labels on cosmetics and body care products are a tough code to crack. The industry is so shockingly unregulated that it’s usually impossible to trust the claims that manufacturers place on their products. A word such as “natural” can be used by anyone for anything. Even “organic” is misleading. Companies are supposed to use an organic label only if all ingredients are certified-organic, but they can also say it’s “made with organic” if it contains a minimum of 70 percent certified-organic ingredients. Regardless, 30 percent still leaves a lot of room for toxins.
The whole industry has a “innocent-till-proven-guilty” approach to ingredients. Unless a chemical used in beauty products is proven to cause harm to human health, it is classified as GRAS, or “generally recognized as safe.” This classification is upheld by the U.S. FDA and hardly has the best interests of consumers at heart.
The best thing we consumers can do is read ingredient lists carefully in order to avoid chemicals that are known to be harmful, even though they continue to be widely used.
Health ~ Does Your New Year’s Resolution Include Losing Weight?
Before you splurge on some “no-need-to-exercise-to-lose-weight” scheme, like popping diet pills or eating candy lollipops, read up on what the Federal Trade Commission has to say on the matter: The FTC recommends against the use of such diet products marketed with exaggerated claims.
Federal Trade Commision Weighing The Claims In Diet Ads
Claims of Appetite Suppression Using Hoodia Gordonii
CAVEAT EMPTOR … there is no published scientific evidence that indicates hoodia is an appetite suppressant in humans. Meaning? There is NO CLINICAL RESEARCH or scientific studies verifying all the fantastic claims. If there were verifiable results, why isn’t the formula patented and CLINICALLY PROVEN to be effective? Because hoodia gordonii (popularly promoted as “diet lollipops”) is sold as a dietary supplement, hoodia proponants escape the level of scrutiny the FDA gives prescription drugs and medications sold over the counter!!
These are important things to consider when spending your hard-earned cash on items that are more like deceptive hype, rather than true medicine. Don’t be fooled by the loosely tossed around term “organic”!!!! Be smarter in 2015, folks.
WebMD ~ Hoodia: Lots of Hoopla, Little Science
That notion of diet candy has been the scam since the ’60s, it’s not a revolutionary approach, nor has it ever been scientifically-researched … remember the Ayds diet toffees our mothers used? Diet candies didn’t work then, and they don’t work now. Behavior modification and adopting more sensible eating habits that cut out junk foods (high fructose corn syrup candy is junk, hello?) are the keys to achieving true weight loss.
Health ~ Cannabis Shrinks Brain Tumors Associated With Highly Aggressive Forms of Cancer
A tandem approach to shrinking brain tumors with two of marijuana’s key ingredients — tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol — has proven successful, according to the result of a newly published study.
Cannabis has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the United States as of late. Recreational use was recently approved in Oregon and Washington, D.C., and many more states are currently onboard for its letting people use it as medicine. This boom coincides with greater research into the ways in which cannabis acts on the brain’s cannabinoid receptors, alleviating pain, restoring appetite, and, now, shrinking tumors.
Hau’oli aloha Po’akolu
Aloha awakea a ma Hau’oli aloha Po’akolu. Mahalo Ke Akua no keia ola.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Wednesday. Thank you God for this life.
Health ~ 4 Common Mascara Ingredients That Can Harm Your Health
Ladies will attest to the fact that having thick, long eyelashes is a beauty must in order to achieve a classic and dramatic look. Mascara, one of the 10 must-have items in a woman’s makeup bag, is an easy way to go from plain Jane to a pin up queen in seconds, says Discovery Health. The eyelash enhancing product has seen a boost in sales in the global market with an estimated figure of around one billion units sold annually, reports Premiumbeautynews.com. In the United States, mascara is ranked as the second most used every day cosmetic by 65 percent of women, while lip gloss and lip stick is ranked as the most used every day product by 75 percent of women. The rise in daily makeup usage by American women is attributed to the fact that nearly half of the women surveyed by The Beauty Company believe wearing makeup gives them an advantage at work and makes them feel more in control. While a mascara wand can provide self-confidence by throughg longer and voluminous lashes, the toxic ingredients found in this beauty product can be absorbed into the body and potentially have a negative impact on your health.
Daily Affirmation
Everything that is happening now is happening for my ultimate good.
Just for Today
Think about and create a balance between Life and Work …
Often times we can feel overwhelmed by what we see as competing values: how can I be a good family member, a loving spouse, a supportive friend, pursue my hobbies and interests and maintain my career? For many of us, integrating all of these elements into a fulfilling and rewarding personal life and career is difficult.
Here’s an idea: Think about a person who you feel brings together all the parts of their life in a way that makes them successful. Identify three traits they have or values they embody that makes them successful and figure out how you can better integrate these characteristics into your own life.
Not only is it possible to create a greater sense of harmony among the different parts of your life while achieving greatness, it is necessary.
Hau’oli Aloha Po’alua
Aloha Kakahiaka a ma Aloha nani Poʻalua. I lā hoʻokamahaʻo nou a me ʻOhana e na hoaloha.
Good morning and Hello beautiful Tuesday! Relax, have a wonderful day with family and friends.
Saturn Enters Sagittarius (December 2014)
Here is the chart for the entry of Saturn into Sagittarius:
[Click to Image to Enlarge]
We note that Saturn is in the same “Septile T” configuration that we mentioned previously:
[Click Image to Enlarge]
Given the involvement of Chiron and Juno (healing and trust issues), and that Saturn has now entered Sagittarius (courts and the legal system, among others), we can expect to see some important events in the legal system. This is potentiated by a Thor’s Hammer that is also in play:
[Click Image to Enlarge]
Juno (trust and betrayal), the Sun, and Astraea (law and the legal system) compose the Thor’s Hammer and emphasize, again, the legal system.
Here is the U.S. Map:
[Click to Image to Enlarge]
We note line crossings in (1) Northern Alabama (NASA has an important center there) and (2) San Francisco. Here is the chart relocated to San Francisco:
[Click Image to…
View original post 69 more words
Health ~ Top 9 Herbs To Cleanse The Lungs
Every day we inhale things that cause damage to our lungs. Whether it’s from the toxins we use to clean the house and car, the fumes at the gas station, or the air pollution that’s in the air, our lungs sure take a beating. Also, if you are one of the many people who already suffer from a respiratory condition such as COPD or asthma, this only complicates matters further.
Asthma affects millions of Americans and COPD causes thousands of deaths every year. You can help manage respiratory conditions naturally by consuming herbs that Mother Nature provides us with to support and cleanse the lungs and will help you to breathe easier.
Hau’oli Aloha Po’akahi
Aloha kakahika e ma Hau’oli Aloha Po’akahi oukou. Mahalo Ke Akua no keia la.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Monday, everyone. Thank God for this day.
‘Ike ‘ia no ka loea i ke kuahu … An expert is recognized by the altar he builds.
— ‘Olelo No’eau Hawai’i (Hawaiian Proverb)
What one does and how well one does it is what demonstrates knowledge, skill and expertise.
Just for Today
What does life mean to you? Bring a taste of life to a hospice-bound and/or elderly friend or acquaintance this week by accompanying them in some way for a short time. Counteract their boredom, loneliness and helplessness by infusing in life to bring back a level of quality to Life. Cats, dogs, birds and green plants in every room, and visiting children after school, triggers unexpected transformations.
“Where there’s life, there’s hope.” ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
Daily Words of the Buddha ~ December 21, 2014
Yo ca mettaṃ bhāvayati
Appamāṇaṃ paṭissato
Tanū saṃyojanā honti,
Passato upadhikkhayaṃ.
For one who mindfully develops
Boundless loving-kindness
Seeing the destruction of clinging,
The fetters are worn away.
Itivuttaka 1.27
The Udāna and the Itivuttaka,
trans. John D. Ireland
I Ching ~ Week of December 22, 2014
Above: Dui — Responsive, free, penetration
Below: Qian/Gan — Enduring Spirit power
The Wisdom:
Breakthrough;
No compromise.
As you part from the past
You are in a time of creative transformation.
Your struggle against negativity is ending, and you and your projects are now favored. Resist the temptation to take the path of retribution to what or who has been getting in the way of completion or joy, all the while remembering that guides and teachers often come in strange disguises, shapes, and forms. Though it may feel satisfying in the short term to strike out with words or actions against who or what has been holding back your progress, know that what you do now and how you behave is setting the pattern for your personal and our collective future. If you were to respond with spite or negativity, this would reinforce an old pattern pattern that would once again take you to the very same of darkness that has been the obstacle that has been rooted in doubt and frustration.
The decision to part from the past must be resolute, with no doubts and no compromise. You must shift frequencies. If there are a few bad cells left behind after a cancer has been excised, the cancer will come back and secretly grow with the vengeance of a defeated enemy that has found strength in retreat and kill you, your spirit and obliterate your mission.
This is the time to speak from your heart to your tribe and loved ones, letting them know in no uncertain terms that you have decided that you will no longer allow any obstacles to block the way toward the greater good—for you, for the ones you care for and love, and for all of us. Take the role of service to this ideal as a Samurai warrior defending the enlightened master; in this case the master is you. State your intention and then calmly and dispassionately act on it. Write your intention on a piece of paper and keep it in your pocket, take it out read it often during your day. State it upon arising, state it as you prepare to sleep. By speaking out, you will be garnering strength from the universe and from Spirit. By speaking your truth, the laws of attraction say you will become the attractor. Spirit will be pleased at your resoluteness in this situation, and this signaling will bring immense, clarifying energy to you.
Speak and demonstrate in your relationships that you have decided to overcome all obstacles that do not allow love and harmony to flourish. With the intention to love with an open heart, you will find great strength; this will allow you to love and be loved without the restrictions of ego, judgment or jealousy. This will also eviscerate any notions that you are not good enough or deserving of the love you envision and deserve. With calmness and clear direction, make your plans and execute them. That is what is called for now by the arrival of this hexagram.
The planet is in a mode of great change; more energy for transmutation is available than ever before. If you were to act from ego and attempt to use this energy blast to assume control or bring injustice or harm to another, this harm would come back to you to a mathematical power that will be destructive. It will poison the well and wreak harm to yourself for sure, but you would also do harm to the delicate flowering of a new age that is opening before us. We are moving toward a golden age of the highest and brightest potential humans have ever known. Our individual thoughts and actions are now magnified and reverberate throughout the global cosmic matrix that is being activated at this time. Listen to and read the astrologers at this time and you will see the planetary alignments are telling us this, now.
You can dance in the dark no longer, nor can you form secret pacts with yourself or others to promote or be of service to greed or personal gain. If you do make a decision or choice in this direction, it will backfire on you, and all that you have manifested thus far will be tainted and toxic; you will be made powerless. At this time, negative actions will reverberate through a lifetime—this lifetime and future ones; that is how powerful these times and these energies are. So be cautious and stay awake!
With this breakthrough, you now have renewed strength and a window of opportunity to set things straight, whether in business, love, or on your personal path of spiritual evolution. The way you handle this arriving success and the abundance it brings will set the tone for the future. This is a time to express your resolve and manifest your greatest strength, which is your compassion, kindness, and generosity.
Stand firm now and act decisively; you have the strength to make battles short and focused. Keep your emotions out of it. Know that any retribution will weaken you and rob you of your ability to enjoy and sustain your success. Stay out of others’ business and don’t fall to the level of gossip or disrespect in your triumphs. Do not disparage your opponents in their defeat. Forgive them; they know not what they do. And fully and most importantly, forgive yourself for any part you may have played in the negative actions of the past. In this way you truly leave the past behind.
Be dignified and compassionate as you do the work to leave old, negative habits and patterns behind. It is with these actions that you will rise to new heights of self-love and self-respect. From that pinnacle you will find and attract love and abundance in ways you have desired and have previously held only in your imagination. This is a time of creative transformation, and with intention from your loving heart you will manifest in calmness and with grace. In this way your transformation will, in itself, be without effort.
Take note that Guai comes with a caveat: even in times of enlightenment, darkness, in the form of the ego’s desire for control hides just around the corner to tempt you; don’t go for it! As you move forward, do not compromise your beliefs. This would disempower you on your journey toward the resurrection and building of your dreams and plans that previously may have hit a wall of obstruction. The benefit now is to intone to the Spirit Helpers what your dreams are….if you don’t have a dream, how will you have a dream come true
Your intuitive forces are now in their most available light and can be accessed and trusted, as it is you and only you that can bring about the global change we are all envisioning. Speak openly of a new paradigm. Take these coming days to celebrate life and the shift of the ages that is happening now. Do consider being of service now—find joy in serving others with whatever you have at hand. In this way you can lift your tribe up into the light you are seeing and feeling now. By empowering others, you are, with pure intention, empowering yourself.
Be of love these days. Smile to others at work, in your community, in class, on the street, as you drive past them on life’s highway, the highway of love and of a life well lived.
Be love, teach peach,
Make Christmas you personal resurrection and
make love, not war !
Peace and blessings,
BobbyK
Hau’oli Aloha Lapule
Aloha awakea a ma Hau’oli Aloha Lapule. I lā āwaiwa nou oukou.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Sunday. Have a fantastic day everyone!
