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ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY: PIVOTAL TOOLS FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, THERAPISTS, AND HEALERS

Nov 3rd, 2008 by Jessika

“Energy psychology is applicable to a wide range of areas including psychotherapy, counseling, education, vocational guidance, physical health, pain management, sports and peak performance.” - Fred P. Gallo, PhD.

While traditional psychotherapy is wonderful for bringing us awareness about our behaviors, emotions, and our thinking, sometimes it falls short in actually releasing us from a pattern we are stuck in. Sometimes becoming aware of our issue and where it originated is enough to shift us out of it, yet with other issues we can become aware but still feel and act the same. This is because there is a connection between the energy systems of the body and our behaviors, emotions, and our thinking.

Our bodies and brains contain complex electrical activities and operate electromagnetically, which can be seen in the study of our hearts, nervous systems, and brains, as well as in the anatomy of the energetic body that consists of meridians, chakras, biofields, and much more. We can become cognizant of why we are acting or feeling a certain way, but unless we actually clear the emotional charge from the energy system of the body, it remains as a blockage, keeping us stuck in the same pattern.

For example: A client is addressing her over-eating issues with her therapist. She comes to discover that she is an emotional eater and comforts herself with food. She digs deeper to discover this is related to a feeling of not getting enough love and not being “seen” in her family. She realizes that as she eats, she becomes larger - and, literally, she is being seen more because there is more of her to see. And on a core level, she even comes to see that it is a feeling of anxiety about not being loved and seen that drives her to this behavior. She has made all these fabulous connections and has even learned some other tools to self-soothe without food. However, the anxiety still surfaces when something triggers her childhood feelings. Is there a way to disconnect her emotional charge around feeling unloved and unseen, thereby eliminating the anxiety?

Yes. With the techniques available to us through the field of Energy Psychology, we can facilitate clients to clear the emotional charge connected with a memory or trauma. There are many modalities within the field of Energy Psychology (also known as Energy Therapies). Many can work well together and certain ones seem to be more effective in specific areas than others. To give you a basic generalized overview of how many of these modalities function, let me break down the basic parts of Energy Psychology. Most modalities begin by an assessment of the issue (many include Applied Kinesiology, or Muscle Testing) to determine either the actual core issue or a measurement of the level of distress the issue is causing, or both. Once that is established, the protocol of that particular modality is followed until the subject has cleared the issue. The subject is then re-assessed and tested to see if the body has completely cleared the issue from the energy system. Sometimes this is followed with the instillation of a new and positive belief into the energy system.

“Quantum physics has found that there is no empty space in the human cell, but it is a teeming, electric-magnetic field of possibility or potential.” - Dr. Deepak Chopra

One of the benefits of working with Energy Psychology is that a practitioner can help clear the emotional charge and suffering that a client is experiencing without having to even know the reason for the client’s issue. In other words, the client does not necessary need to relive their trauma or put it into words. They do not need to spend years processing ‘what happened’, they can instead simply release the energetic block that is keeping them locked in the trauma. Although sometimes many beneficial realizations and self-awareness can be gained through self exploration of our past, it is also in other cases not beneficial and in such cases (like patients who do not have the ego strength to handle it) then Energy Psychology can be the perfect tool.

There are many modalities in the field of Energy Psychology such as: Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT), Seemorg Matrix, etc. The Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy is the only school nationwide to offer a 60 Hour Certification in The Healing Art of Energy Therapies. This course gives students training in a wide range of these modalities and prepares them to being applying them immediately into their practice and in their own lives.

Upcoming Training in San Diego
The Healing Art of Energy Therapies
60 Hour Certification
at the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy
www.SDHypnosisTraining.com

Friday through Saturday: November 7, 8, & 9
Friday through Saturday: November 14, 15, & 16
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. all days

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Choosing Positive Thought Amidst Unstable Sociopolitical Landscapes

Nov 3rd, 2008 by Jessika

“Uplift everybody and uplift yourself.” Words of advice I got from a recent tea bag. At first glance I thought: how trite, how one-dimensional. But then the word ‘uplift’, probably since it was repeated twice, rang out to me. The word implies movement, both physically and emotionally. This was definitely an excuse to visit one of my favorite websites, dictionary.com (yes, I read tea bag sayings and the dictionary), which provided more insight on the verb ‘uplift’: “to exalt emotionally or spiritually.”

In a time when most of the information that comes at us via the media suggests we should be in fear (of terrorism, nuclear weapons, rising gas prices, a recession, global warming, etc.), how do we uplift ourselves and others? How do we do the opposite of what is being done to us; how do we replace fear with positivity?

We have to begin with ourselves. In taking responsibility for our own mentalities and shifting away from fear-based thinking, we can affect change in others and in the world around us. There are many methods of working with the mind to release negative thinking and one of the most powerful tools is Integrative Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy increases our choices by releasing limited thinking, as well as core beliefs and traumas. New techniques in the field of Energy Psychology allow us to remove the emotional charge from the body and energy system that is attached to a situation or trauma, instantly shifting how we feel. Suddenly we are able to see the situation that was previously disturbing us in a logical way (without being trapped in emotional upheaval) which allows us to take in the lessons and let go easily and effortlessly. This is why at the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy, we incorporate various modalities into our training and classes to benefit people on a broader, more holistic level. As you learn to apply the skills we teach to your own life and reprogram your unconscious mind for positivity, you are then able to improve your career, relationships, finances, and health on all levels.

Everyday we have a choice. We are able to choose how we feel and how we think, no matter what is going on around us. We can choose to uplift ourselves and those around us, or we can choose to bring more negativity into the world. Anne Frank is a perfect example of this. Even while she lived in confinement, a child hiding from the Nazis who eventually murdered her, she wrote in her diary, “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death…I don’t think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains.”

Take a moment to think about how you feel most of the time and what kind of energy you spread to others. There is no reason why you should not get to wake up excited about your life and your day. If upon this reflection you find that there are things you wish to change and improve within yourself, congratulations! You have just recognized that you are stuck in a pattern of thinking (most likely unconscious) that no longer serves you.

In her book, Heal Your Body A-Z, Louise L. Hay says, “Be willing to change your words and thoughts and watch your life change. The way to control your life is to control your choice of words and thoughts. No one thinks in your mind but you.” Willingness is all that is necessary to begin to improve your life.

With the cutting-edge therapies that are available now, you can quickly and easily implement change and growth. The key is finding the right approach that will work on all levels; addressing the body-mind connection through the mental, emotional, physical, and energetic pathways. At the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy, we combine basic Ericksonian and Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapy with complimentary modalities that stem from Body Mind Theory to create Integrative Hypnotherapy; a combination of Hypnotherapy, Energy Psychology, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). These techniques are proven to manifest major permanent shifts in the unconscious mind, which re-programs the way we think and see the world.

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THE NEW PARADIGM: INTEGRATIVE HYPNOTHERAPIES

May 21st, 2008 by Jessika

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” - Alan Kay

Take a deep breath and for a moment, as you read this, let go of what you have agreed in your mind to believe about what is true about reality. Let go of what you believe you ‘know’ about yourself. Suspend your judgments about what can or cannot be the truth. For this moment, allow yourself to be open to the possibility that what you have come to understand about your own life has actually been a series of decisions you have made, partially on an unconscious level. Allow yourself to be open to the possibility that your perspective can shift in a way that releases you from the limitations of your past thinking - giving you the opportunity to see life in a way that brings you everything you have ever desired.

We are complex beings living in a complex universe. The knowledge and understanding we have of what is truly going on inside and around us is still full of holes that we call mysteries. What we do know is that we are vast and interconnected beings. We are multi-dimensional people living in a multi-dimensional universe. Our lives are affected by so many variables: our thoughts, our bodies, our dreams, the energies inside and around us, the vibrations of the earth, the collective unconscious and what is happening in our societies, our families, and our personal lives. We are influenced by the stars and the astrology of each moment compounded by the astrological elements we were born into (in other words - our charts). We have the genetic blueprints that have been passed down to us and whatever information is written in our DNA. We have the patterns that our ancestors passed down to us and cycles that have repeated through the generations. We have the karma from our past lives and the issues we have not let go of from those lives also affecting us. With all this at work in and around us (and so much more than I have even touched on here), how do we know where to begin when we want to create change and healing in our lives?

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” - Anais Nin

Have you ever tried to think your way out of your feelings? Have you wasted time asking ‘why is this happening to me?’ Have you blamed yourself or felt like you were being punished when something went wrong in your life?

Our minds fall into these familiar traps because it is the ego’s way of keeping us stuck in our old negative beliefs. The ego likes to validate the old stories you tell yourself - stories like, ‘things like this always happens to me’ and ‘I did something to deserve this’.

These stories point to underlying core beliefs. These beliefs reside in the unconscious and operate like programs that our thinking runs on. When a particular program that no longer serves us is running in our unconscious mind, it is creating outcomes in our lives that are based on that old programming. The good news is that all of this can be shifted and cleared using Integrative Hypnotherapy!

The old paradigm of undergoing years and years of psychoanalysis on our issues is no longer necessary. Traditional “talk therapy” brings realizations through awareness and connections in the conscious mind and can be very useful. But we can also choose to shift and clear traumas and beliefs that no longer serve us without having to consciously re-live past feelings. Without suffering, we can release ourselves from these issues by making shifts on core and cellular levels by working with the unconscious mind and the energetic body.

Integrative Hypnotherapy, which incorporates Energy Psychology and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) into Hypnosis sessions, removes traumas that are stored as blocks or stuck energy. These modalities allow us to eliminate the emotional charge that is attached to situations that are affecting us and clear them from the body. Integrative Hypnotherapy combines a variety of advanced techniques that bring about change to a person’s unconscious belief system that automatically rearranges their experience of the world and their life. As old traumas, core beliefs, and stuck energies are released, a person transforms their well-being on all levels. They are free to manifest an unlimited increase in their health and happiness… and to make their dreams come true.

“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” - Charles DuBois

We begin by being willing to open our minds to the truth, which is: we truly can have anything in this life that we desire. We take an honest look at what is holding us back and take responsibility for our thinking, even whatever is going on that we are not conscious of. These issues can be easily revealed to us and healed through Integrative Hypnotherapies. Remember, this is your life and… “You are as happy as you have decided to be.” - Ingrid Coffin

For more information and sessions, please call Jessika at the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy: (619) 405 - 4226.

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Introducing the Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy

Apr 10th, 2008 by Jessika

Classes and week-long intensive trainings beginning in June 2008 in San Diego!

Hypnotherapy is one of the most powerful and effective (yet often misunderstood) methods of personal improvement and healing. Students at Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy learn effectual approaches for employing hypnosis that facilitate connection and communication between the mind, body, emotions, and energy fields. The program explores the principles and techniques of basic Ericksonian and cognitive hypnotherapy in conjunction with Body Mind Theory. Through the study of Clinical Hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Energy Psychology, students gain the skills necessary to access the subconscious mind and uncover issues, traumas, and limiting beliefs which can then be released. The modalities we teach are safe, client-centered therapies that have gained worldwide recognition for their gentle, nurturing, yet influential successes in changing non-serving beliefs and behaviors.

Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy provides you with the tools to powerfully work with the unconscious mind in creating positive dramatic results in your life and in others. While developing a solid foundation in hypnosis and hypnotherapy, you will learn how to help others while experiencing your own personal transformation.

    Personal and Professional Benefits:

maximize success in all aspects of life
manage change and conflicts
increase self-awareness and insight
develop focus, drive, motivation
acheive desired outcomes
manage pain and enhance wellness
improve emotional intelligence
integrate mind-body consciousness

The Motivational Institute of Hypnotherapy offers a 250 hour comprehensive certification in Integrative Hypnotherapy including Energy Psychology, NLP, and a Supervised Internship.

Call: Dr. Marla Brucker DCH, R.HA (858) 587 - 0422, Jessika d’Arcy BFA, HHP, CCH (619) 405 - 4226. www.motivationalinstituteofhypnotherapy.com

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Following the Moon

Feb 11th, 2008 by Jessika

Just a quick post to share a site I have been looking at for a few years now that is really beautiful:
http://www.mooncircles.com/

A great way to check in on what the moon is doing astrologically each day (and night) and how its energies may be affecting you and the planet. Enjoy!

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Venus and Jupiter - end of January 08

Jan 26th, 2008 by Jessika

Something beautiful is happening astronomically right now. In the early morning sky before the sunrise, you can see the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter (the two brightest planets) from Earth. Conjunction means that two celestial bodies appear near one another in the sky. The best time to see this will be Feb. 1st and the days around this. Shortly after Feb. 1 you will see the crescent moon with them as well.

For a simple explanation and photo:
www.earthsky.org

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UNDERSTANDING INFLAMMATION, AGING, AND DIS-EASE

Jan 21st, 2008 by Jessika

UNDERSTANDING INFLAMMATION, AGING, AND DIS-EASE

Inflammation in the body is a common problem. The suffix ‘-itis’ medically means inflammation - like bronchitis (inflammation of the of the bronchi in the lungs) or arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation). There are hundreds of diseases that are inflammatory in nature. Some scientists and doctors are now beginning to proclaim that inflammation is the cause of all degenerative disease and that inflammation on a cellular level is the cause of aging.

First of all, what is the purpose of inflammation? It is a natural bodily response that is the immune system responding to infections, bacteria, injuries, or viruses. It is characterized by swelling, redness, and heat. An inflammed area can be sensitive and painful. This is the body’s attempt to protect the area and remove whatever is harming the tissues.

Though inflammation can be part of a healing process, it can also be damaging. In the case of auto-immune related diseases (such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.), the immune system chronically attacks normal healthy tissues with an inflammatory response. Dr. Andrew Weil (well-known author and holistic doctor) writes, “We now know that inflammation also plays a causative role in heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as other age-related disorders, including cancer.” And at a recent conference, he commented, “The idea on the medical horizon is that chronic inflammation is a root cause of degenerative diseases.”

Inflammation can affect our cells and our organs creating dis-ease, but can also damage our appearance by damaging our skin cells and our tissues. Another well-known doctor who has authored many books on the subject of anti-aging and developed a skin care line around these principles, Nicholas Perricone, M.D., gives this explanation on his website, “After years of research Dr. Perricone arrived at the conclusion that cellular inflammation may be the underlying cause of wrinkles. According to Dr. Perricone, this inflammation is not the redness that is visible to the naked eye but rather microscopic irritation that takes place in your cells leading to cellular damage. He believes that this inflammation is responsible for skin-related problems like breakouts, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.”

We can also look at inflammation from the spiritual, emotional, and mental perspectives. In her book, Heal Your Body, Louise Hay writes that inflammation stems from fear, “seeing red”, or inflammed thinking. She suggests using the affirmation: “My thinking is peaceful, calm, and centered.” I have also been told through several alternative health care providers (in response to my own auto-immune disorder) that auto-immune diseases are essentially a form of self-destructive behavior manifesting in the body - in other words, the body attacking itself.

The good news is that inflammation, on all levels, can be greatly supressed through the observance of an anti-inflammatory diet. The main things you want to be aware of on this diet are having a lot of healthy fats and high omega-3 levels and foods that contain high levels of antioxidants. Because I have found most diets to be confusing and over-explained, I am simply going to list the key elements of the diet that best counteracts chronic inflammation:

Key Elements of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet:
- eat low-glycemic foods (sugar whether from sugar, fruits, or carbs that metabolize into sugar like pasta are very inflammatory)
- eat lean proteins
- eat healthy fats
- drink spring water - the proper amount is half your weight in ounces per day
- drink green tea
- high fiber from fruits and veggies
- avoid nightshade family plants (tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, etc.)
- a healthy balance of omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids (omega-3s are what we tend to not eat enough of and they are highly anti-inflammatory. They come from oily fish like salmon, walnuts, flax, hemp, etc.)
- avoid margarine, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
- limit carbohydrate foods such as bread, white potatoes, crackers, pastries, doughnuts, cookies
- experiment with cutting wheat and/or all gluten from your diet - it is a common food allergen and causes inflammation
- cut out anything with high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient
- no fast food
- limit processed foods
- eat whole grains
- choose temperate fruits over tropical fruits
- eat squashes and sweet potatoes
- eat a lot of soy foods, beans, lentils, legumes, and tofu for protein
- limit meat and poultry, but eat free-range and organic when you do have it
- get healthy fats from oily cold water fish like wild Alaska salmon, halibut, sardines, herring, anchovies, and black cod
- eat shellfish (if you are not allergic)
- get healthy fats also from nuts, seeds, and extra virgin olive oil
- add Flaxseed oil, flaxseeds, flaxseed meal, hempseed oil, hempseeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds to your foods
- enjoy avocado
- eat dark green leafy vegetables, including kale, spinach, purslane, mustard greens, collards, etc
- low fat dairy like yogurt is good - though note that some arthritis sufferers report relief when eliminating dairy from their diet completely
- try Acai - a Brazilian berry, great in smoothies

Posted in Healing Foods, Holistic Health | No Comments »

Physical Pain As A Spiritual Teacher

Sep 20th, 2007 by Jessika

PHYSICAL PAIN AS A SPIRITUAL TEACHER

“If we could learn to learn from pain
even as it grasps us…”
- Adrienne Rich

I was getting dressed to go out the other night and standing in front of the mirror in a short dress, I asked my girlfriend, “Do my knees look fat in this dress?” We both started laughing. My knees were swollen and full of fluid. Needless to say, I didn’t wear the dress and I definitely wasn’t dancing that night.

For the last eight years I have been dealing with some kind of autoimmune disease that causes my joints to swell up and my body to become stiff and full of pain. For some reason, no doctor (and trust me, I have been to A LOT of them) can tell me exactly which disease I have and I’ve been diagnosed with several different things over the years. Apparently there is a lot of mystery around autoimmune disorders. The medical world is not sure what causes them, though they seem to be brought on after something traumatic happens to the immune system. The tests that determine your diagnosis cannot always pinpoint which disease you have - like in my case I show markers that conclude I have an autoimmune disorder, but my symptoms don’t match up exactly with the disease I was diagnosed with. I find it puzzling that despite how many people are suffering from autoimmune diseases (according to The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, approximately 50 million Americans, 20 percent of the population or one in five people), there is not more information or treatment available.

“I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.” - Maya Angelou

Physical pain is something most people dread, myself included. However, since I have been struggling with the presence of pain in my body for so long, I have developed a relationship with it. It is something you cannot ignore when it comes into your life - it demands your attention. It forces you to stop what you are doing and pay attention to yourself. We may be able to ignore spiritual, emotional, and mental pains to some degree, but when the pain manifests on a physical level, it must be addressed.

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” - Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

I will never forget the first time I realized the power of physical pain and how it could move me into another level of consciousness. Lying in my bed, unable to move, the intensity of my pain rose to a level that was beyond my comprehension. It overtook my body and I began to see lights instead of my room around me. Tears came down my face, but there was also a feeling of transcendence. I felt as if I was crossing a threshold, maybe the veil between this world and the other side, and the light became brighter and I was mesmerized by it. All I could do was surrender to it. I felt safe and knew I was with the Divine (what I call the Goddess, or others call God / Spirit / etc.). And though I am not a Christian, in that moment I thought of Job.

Here is my understanding of the bible story of Job… The devil made a bet with God. He said that God’s most faithful human, a man named Job, was faithful only because God had given him a beautiful, prosperous life. The devil claimed that Job would turn away from God if his perfect life was destroyed. God felt that Job’s faith was strong and told the devil to do whatever he wanted to Job, but do not kill him. The devil then attacked Job’s life - his loved ones died, his farm collapsed, his animals became diseased, and his body became covered in painful sores. No matter what happened, Job still praised God. In the end, God returned Job’s fortune to him.

“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” - Jean-Paul Sartre

The Book of Job is one of the most analyzed books of the bible. For me, the message is that it is easy to be spiritual and have faith when things are good in our lives… but faith that is real and strong sustains when we are suffering. Do we curse the Divine or say ‘if there is a God, why do bad things happen’? My experience has taught me to move beyond these limited views. Begin to see a bigger picture. Take responsibility for how you may have created your situation - what beliefs you may have that need to be changed.

“You will not grow if you sit in a beautiful flower garden, but you will grow if you are sick, if you are in pain, if you experience losses, and if you do not put your head in the sand, but take the pain and learn to accept it, not as a curse or punishment but as a gift to you with a very, very specific purpose.” - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

We may dislike suffering, but can we also believe that it has a purpose? It is a fact that suffering exists on Earth. Entertain the idea that perhaps we chose to experience this and that is why we are here. Maybe it is something we planned to go through in this lifetime that is bringing growth to us on a soul level. Pain is humbling. Pain shows you what you believe and who you are. In the end, you can choose to hate it or you can accept it and grow from it. There is no reason to live in a state of constant suffering - even as we suffer, we can find joy, we can find something spiritual, and then we can move on.

“You don’t have to suffer continual chaos in order to grow.” - John C. Lilly

Some important information from The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (www.aarda.org):

Autoimmunity is a result of a misdirected immune system that causes one’s own immune system to attack the self. There are over eighty known autoimmune diseases; and unlike the many forms of cancer which are recognized as being part of the general term “cancer,” autoimmune diseases are recognized singularly rather than in the overall category of autoimmunity. The public in general is unaware of the autoimmune nature of these diseases. When most people hear one of these diseases referred to as an autoimmune disease, they incorrectly confuse the term autoimmune with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); or they think it is a form of cancer.

This lack of knowledge and collaborative effort results in untold suffering for persons with autoimmune diseases due to misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis which may result in damage to vital organs. The need to bring a national focus to autoimmunity as the common factor in all autoimmune diseases is vital in order to bring a collaborative effort to research, funding, early detection, and eventually, prevention and cure for all autoimmune diseases.

Some of the over 80 autoimmune diseases are lupus, type I diabetes, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, chronic active hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease, myasthenia gravis, myositis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), Sjogren’s syndrome, uveitis, polymyositis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and demyelinating neuropathies.

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  • A JOURNEY TO HOLISTIC HEALING - My Story - Part 3

    “Travel is only glamorous in retrospect.” - Paul Theroux

    It was time to leave the desert. We took an overnight train from Jodphur to Delhi and then flew to Varanasi - The Holy City, The City of Light. By the time we reached Delhi, we were both sick. I got off the train ready to throw up. I wanted to kneel down next to the train and vomit (and I should have), but I forced myself through the crowds into the bathroom. There is no pleasant way to describe the bathroom in the train station. The walls had shit on them, the floor was covered in dirt and urine. The smell was beyond awful and there was an old woman who was mostly naked who seemed to be living there. I vomited and cried into the hole in the ground that served as a toilet.

    Despite the fact that my boyfriend and I were both sick and vomiting and having diarrhea together, it would cease at times (like when there was nothing left in our bodies) and we were still able to go out into the city of Varanasi. We went to a temple called Kala Bhairogavanth and asked to be welcomed. We were asked for rupees for the blessings we received and the holy men in the temple tied black necklaces around our necks for health and rubbed ash and red tikka on our third eyes. One night we took a boat ride down The Ganges, or “Ganga” as they say in India, under a half moon and the water was brown like chocolate. We got to the Burning Ghat, where public cremations take place day and night on the river’s edge, and there by the fires we got off the boat. We saw the end of some bodies burning and some waiting to be put on the fire. I think now about how that was perceived - how would I react if some tourists showed up at one of my relative’s funerals? We walked back along the river and a sitar player welcomed us to sit outside his window so we did. My sickness was overshadowed by my sense of adventure and yet I moved in a state of shock, taking in hundreds of new experiences each day… some that traumatized me, others that enlightened me and expanded my perceptions beyond words.

    The next day we went to find an ashram to stay at. We went to the Ramakrishna Mission, but it turned out to be a hospital rather than an ashram. We did prayers at the Durga Mandir - a beautiful temple that was painted all in red. A holy man came to me, dipped his hand into a silver bowl of water with rose petals floating in it. He blessed me with the water, putting it onto my head and putting his hand to my lips to drink. The thought crossed my mind that the water was straight from Ganga… the same water I had seen people bathing in, that sometimes the dead were floated down, that people cooked in, that was brown as dirt. But I was young and idealistic (unrealistic may have been a better word) and thought ‘but the water is holy; it’s blessed therefore it’s pure’ and I drank. It was a strange blessing I drank down…. one that left me ill for the next five years and still dealing with an auto immune disorder to this day…

    (to be continued)

    GLOSSARY - definitions excerpted from wikipedia.org

    RUPEES = The Rupee (₨ or Rs.) (from Sanskrit rupyakam meaning coins of silver) is the common name for the currencies used in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.

    TIKKA = South Asian men and women sometimes wear a mark on the forehead, a dot, smudge, or lines of red, black, or ash-grey. The woman’s mark is most often called a bindi. It can be worn as a decoration, by women of any religion, or as a Hindu religious observance. The mark worn by some Hindu men is called a tikka. The most common tikka is red powder applied with the thumb, in an upward stroke.

    THIRD EYE = The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a metaphysical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. In New Age spirituality, the third eye may alternately symbolize a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply-personal spiritual or psychological significance. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to use their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.

    ASHRAM = An Ashram in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature.[1]. Today, the term ashram is usually used to refer to an intentional community formed primarily for spiritual upliftment of its members, often headed by a religious leader or mystic.


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Carnival of Healing #97

Aug 4th, 2007 by Jessika

CARNIVAL OF HEALING #97

Hello everyone! I am honored to be hosting this week’s Carnival of Healing. We have a variety of articles in this edition that address all aspects of health - everyone brings something different to the table. Very holistic! If you are interested in reading any of the articles I am mentioning here, just click on their titles. At this time, having just passed the Pagan holiday known as Lammas, I am thinking about the idea of the harvest. It is a time to contemplate what we are harvesting in our lives… in what ways do we need to protect ourselves? And as we look back… what do we regret? Of course, regret is not a word most people like to hear. We would all rather pretend we have no regrets. And perhaps regret is not the most appropriate word because it implies that we made a mistake, when in truth we did the best that we could at the time and therefore it was perfect. Perhaps we can look back on what we are harvesting now in our lives and ask, what can we do differently now to ensure more abundance next time? I think the articles in this Carnival speak to all the different pieces in us that want to grow - that are seeking. What is beautiful is that if you do seek, there is so much out there for you to find….

If you need some simple, tangible, and thoughtful advice on how to present your best self to the world on a daily basis, see How to Really Increase Your Self Confidence by Phil at philforhumanity.com. This article serves as a set of general guidelines on how to look, talk, feel, and think for a stronger self image and includes some good practices for ‘going with the flow’.

Tupelo Kenyon give us an interesting article called Don’t Take it Personally at tupelokenyon.com. This article deals with our choices on how to react to criticism and other people’s projections. It reminds us that we don’t have to take on other people’s judgments about us and is sprinkled with thought-provoking quotations.

In her article, What Would Jesus Do?, Tracee Sioux questions the Republican perspective on healthcare in the U.S. and if it is truly Christian in value. She writes about the lack of choice in healthcare today and asks interesting questions, such as, “Would Jesus defend the inhumanity involved in denying a fellow American citizen medical care based on whether or not it’s profitable for the insurance company?”

Turn Fat Into Muscle is an article from muscular-fitness.com that explains how to safely and practically adjust your diet and exercise plan to change the way your body looks and lose fat.

In Law of Vibration, from the blog universeofsuccess.com, John explains, “Your thoughts are a form of energy with their own unique frequency and as your thoughts are sent out into the universe they gather energy vibrating at the identical frequency and bring to you circumstances and people who reside on the same frequency.” The article gives useful tips on raising your vibration and how to work with universal vibrational energy.


Why You Need to do a Colon Massage is a great article by April Kerr at naturalhealthremedies.org that walks you through the reasons for doing a colon massage and how to do it.

Increase your lung capacity with the Kundalini Yoga breathing technique given in the article: Powerful 4 Part Deep Breathing Exercise for Vitality.

New research on vitamin C is explained in Research: Vitamin C Does Not Prevent Colds from realwomensfitness.com. The article weighs the cost versus the benefit of taking vitamin C and includes information specific for athletes as well.

A compassionate article called No Tragedy is Private is written with resources and soothing advice for mothers who have lost a baby during childbirth or miscarriage. This comes from a very informative blog called Baby Lune that focuses on mothering/baby care/birthing/etc and was written by Kate Baggott.

The story How To See More Clearly (Part I) is a personal account by Warren Wong on whatithinkabout.com regarding vision and his experiments to see better without using glasses or Lasik. Offers suggestions for those who want to try to improve their eyesight naturally.

If you are interesting in refocusing your beliefs to overcome the patterns that might be holding you back, check out Practicing Personal Development with Unlimited Power!
This is an article by Aaron Potts at todayisthatday.com who says, “The only thing that holds back the flood of our success is what we actually believe is possible.” The article also promotes the work/writing of Karen Lynch.

Joe Caterisano gives his input on weight loss in How to Lose Weight. This is a list of helpful suggestions for those who know that lifestyle changes and preparation are the keys to succeeding at losing weight. Practical and down-to-earth advice.

In a well-written and humorous article, Like a Kid in a Candy Store, Craig Harper ponders what it takes to feel excitement in our lives. He explains that excitement is something we have to create and dares you to generate some excitement in your own life. Posted on craigharper.com.

How To Embrace Your Personal Power and Play Big is an article that provides information on how to stop diminishing yourself to make others feel comfortable and how to start really putting yourself out there in all your glory. It is written by Lola, a Reiki Practitioner and Life Coach, at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development. She writes honestly about her own issues and shares tools on how to move past “playing small”. In another article, Law of Attraction: Make the Conscious Unconscious - part 1,, she accounts her personal process involving the Law of Attraction and other practices that she is using.

I found the article Beat Nicotine Cravings: 54 Things To Do Instead Of Smoking personally interesting because I know people who smoke simply because they don’t know what to do with themselves otherwise! Written by Chris on his blog quittingsmokingagain who writes, “This blog is part of my quit plan, and has proven to be an excellent tool in helping me quit smoking and stay quit.” Lots of good ideas.

If you feel like you need a little push, check out 5 Tips for Day to Day Motivation on myweightlossforlife.com.

Intimate Opportunities is a reflective article on what it mean to just ‘be’ with someone and really be there for someone on the blog Everyone Needs Therapy. Full of personal narrative, this story reminds us that sometimes we need to create space to be there for someone, especially young people who may be uncomfortable needing support.

If you want to contemplate the idea of ‘joy’ and also make a cherry desert… you will want to read Life is a Bowl of Cherries. This article is from INNside Innkeeping in Montana and includes 2 recipes.

Blessings - Jessika

check out: Carnival Archive Page
next week’s host: Greenwoman’s Wisdom
last week’s Carnival: Wisdom of Healing

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