From The Inside Out Mag.
For Personal Healing, Spiritual Growth & Development

By   Thu, Apr 01, 2010

 

 by Ernie Reynolds

Each of mankind's great contributions to the world began as a thought in someone's mind. Nothing happens by itself. Concepts are formed, plans are made, and action is taken.

Thoughts become things. Thoughts take on a life of their own. Thoughts make things happen.

We are all capable of using thoughts in this manner. Everyone who is of sane mind creates their own reality by either direct or indirect manipulation of their mental processes. It's the way of the world.

Some people set themselves up for success and happiness, while others, whether they realize it or not, create for themselves a life of lack and misery.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Since everyone has thoughts, everyone has the potential to turn those thoughts into a life of success and higher living. Life doesn't have to be one disappoint and struggle after another.

Turning your life around can be accomplished using the positive powers of the mind. Life can truly be wonderful, if we believe and make the mental effort to make it so.

Pay close attention to your thoughts. The next time you are in a bad mood or are experiencing negativity, mentally step back and observe what is really happening in your mind. Question whether these feelings are really necessary of are they merely a habitual reaction to outside stimulus.

You can actually observe your thoughts by mentally moving your center of being slightly out of the body and peering into the mind. If you look closely, you will find that the mind automatically creates these thoughts and feelings of negativity and bad feelings. This can be changed.

How can we overcome this negative state of mind?

Keep your mind only on what you want and drop any thoughts of what you don't want. Consciously retrain your mind to focus exclusively on the good things. This ability won't happen overnight but it can be developed if you give it a try.

 

One of the keys to this is to keep your focus on the big picture and disregard the little nagging thoughts that arise. Imagine great things for yourself and family. See the good in everyday occurrences instead of dwelling on the negative. Always try to picture a positive outcome to whatever you encounter.

It will also help to remove the negative influences from your life. Skip watching the nightly news shows on TV - they focus on the negative. Avoid negative people if possible - they will bring you down. Give up worrying about the future - it won't help a bit.

Make a list of positive goals and be sure to read and concentrate on it daily. Make the effort to control your thoughts until it becomes an automatic habit to think positive. Read uplifting and joyous articles and books instead of trash and malicious gossip.

As you take over your mind in these ways you will begin to feel the difference in your life. The future looks brighter. People begin to notice your improved disposition. Positive coincidences start to happen. Opportunities begin to open up.

You CAN improve your quality of living by using the power of your mind to change your thoughts. Good luck in your efforts.

 

Ernie Reynolds is the webmaster of Mental Well-Being.com, a website dedicated to your health and happiness. Come pay him a visit and get information and advice on hypnosis, meditation, spirituality, financial well-being, health, self improvement, weight loss, and other topics of interest. Be sure to visit the Mental Well-Being Blog as well for more inspiring and helpful articles and information.

By Goddess Shamayim Shu   Fri, Apr 09, 2010

  Vibrations Brothers and Sisters!

Please come out and share our excitement at our Open House!  Please pass this invite along to other brothers and sisters who may want to support and celebrate the opening of The Moon Ministry House, a 501c3 organization, and our continue service and love to the community!  Thank you so much!

Lunar Love,
Minister Goddess Shu
Founder and Directress

Highland Park Clean Up Day

Qunicy University  Students and the Mayor Hubert Yopp of Highland Park

By   Thu, Apr 01, 2010

Kevin Hensey

“Do not disturb.” This sign is often times seen on doorknobs of hotel rooms. Obviously, the person on the other side of the door wants some peace and quiet. This kind of peace is superficial, one that is obvious and literal.

There’s another kind of peace most people aspire for. It’s peace of mind. Some people have peace of mind only when they are asleep. Perhaps this is possible only when they are physically tired or exhausted, and the urge to sleep is stronger than the need to have peace of mind.

However, having a disturbed mind will keep you awake night after night. Your entire well-being will be adversely affected. Your physical health will deteriorate. The longer this persists, the more extensive the damages will become. Don’t wait until the damage becomes irreversible.

Find the cause of your troubled mind. Trouble lies in the mind. Ask yourself what is disturbing you. Part of it is probably made up of fear, self-pity, insecurity, and failures, to name a few. All of these are products of negative thinking that pollutes the mind unnecessarily. Face your troubles with courage by casting out the negative feelings of fear and insecurity. Empty your mind of all these negative habits. Don’t leave your mind empty for long to prevent it from leaning back to the negative side.

Keep on casting out all negative thoughts by emptying them from your mind, and refill with positive and inspiring thoughts. Do this process as often as necessary - every time you think you need to. By repeating this process, you are practicing good habits aimed at keeping your mind free of negative thoughts and full of positive vibrations to achieve peace of mind. Ultimately, this habit will become part of your daily activities until you get used to it. Once you do, you will find everything you do to be positive based in an effortless manner.

You may ask, “Just how do you unload negative thoughts and load in positive ones?” One of the best ways to do this is by visualization. Picture peaceful scenes in your mind, for instance, you can initially picture in your mind a rainforest being battered by stormy weather. Branches of trees are vigorously swinging in all directions. Everything seems to be chaotic, just like a troubled mind. But storms don’t last. They move on. When they leave, sunshine or good weather comes in.

A troubled mind is like a storm in your mind. Once the problem is gone, you will have peace of mind. Try to build a strong foundation of positive attitudes so that when another storm hits your mind, you’re prepared to face it. This is similar to practicing positive attitudes. Going back to the rainforest on a beautiful weather, doesn’t it look and feel peaceful? This is how your state of mind should be - peaceful so that it can be harnessed to obtain an enjoyable life.

There are many other ways to generate a peaceful mind. Think of words that suggest a calm mind - words like tranquil (a tranquil sea), serene, harmony and stillness. Read poems, phrases, and excerpts that suggest a peaceful mind. You can also join group talks where the discussion is centered on how to achieve a mind harmonious with peace, love, and happiness. If you prefer to be on your own, moments of silence can make you obtain peace of mind. The library is a suitable place to be in. Pick up a book that suggests peace of mind and you may be able to find other means to obtain your objective.    

If you like what you read here you can follow the magazine there are two ways – either using our RSS  feed or you can get updates by adding your email address to the Subscribe Here at the top of the home page or Join in our conversation on facebook group.

Kevin Hensey speaks at business clubs and prisons on personal growth. He has written articles regarding personal development.
His website is: www-powerbooks.com
http://subconsciousprogramming.pan100.net/?e=kevin121554@yahoo.com

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

by Tom Ball

Why is the Buddha smiling? Because it's finally happened:  meditation is mainstream.  

Mindfulness, Zen, the Transcendental Meditation technique and many other practices have become household words. Hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific research studies have demonstrated the efficacy of meditation for improving health, preventing disease, accelerating personal growth and even reversal of aging.

But with so many different methods of meditation available, how does one choose a suitable, effective meditation technique for oneself or one's family? Here are some timesaving tips from a longtime meditator and 35-year meditation teacher to help you evaluate which meditation might be best for you.

 Meditation techniques are not all the same!

The first step is to recognize that not all meditation techniques are the same. The various meditation practices engage the mind in different ways. Vipassna, also commonly (and perhaps loosely) known as mindfulness meditation, emphasizes dispassionate observation and, in its more philosophical form, the contemplation of impermanence, sometimes focusing on the interconnection between mind and body. Zen Buddhist practices are likely to use concentration, whether directed at one's breath or at trying to grasp a Zen koan. The Transcendental Meditation technique uses effortless attention to experience subtle states of thought and 'transcend' by use of a specialized mantra. Christian Centering Prayer uses a word of worship to stimulate receptiveness to God. And this is only a small sampling of the variety of practices commonly lumped together as ‘meditation.’

Different techniques have different aims, employ a variety of procedures and naturally produce different results. In determining which technique among this wide variety of practices might best suit your purposes, start by asking yourself what you want out of meditation, and how much time you're willing to give it. Some meditation programs emphasize regular or twice-daily practice over time to gain maximum benefit and evolve to higher stages of personal growth, while other practices are intended for an occasional inspirational boost or to chill when you're stressed.

Another question to ask yourself: do you want a meditation practice that comes with a religion, philosophy or way of life? Many practices, such as Buddhist and Taoist practices, are interwoven into a conceptual world view that's an intricate part of the practice—whether it's an approach that contemplates the cosmos and human mind as inseparable elements of a single order, or a world view that strives to get beyond all dogma and see the world as it truly is, it's still another mentally conceived world view. Other practices, such as the form of mindfulness meditation now popular in the West, or the Transcendental Meditation technique, are secular in nature and can be practiced without embracing any particular philosophy, religion or way of life.

Are you seeking to achieve inspiration and insights during the meditation experience? Meditations that fall into this category are contemplative techniques. They promise greater depth of understanding about the topic being contemplated and help the intellect fathom various avenues of thought. These types of meditations can be pleasant and emotionally uplifting, especially if there is no straining or mind control involved. Often these practices are performed with the guidance of a CD, instructor or derived from a book.

A scientific approach:

Are you looking for a certain health benefit, such as decreased anxiety or lower blood pressure? Though proponents of most meditation practices claim health benefits, frequently these claims of benefit cite scientific research that was actually conducted on other forms of meditation, and not on the practice being promoted. Yet research has clearly shown that not all meditations give the same results.[1] If you're choosing a meditation for a specific health benefit, check the research being used and verify that a particular benefit was actually done on that specific meditation technique and not on some other practice. While you are looking into the research, be sure the study was peer-reviewed and published in a reputable scientific or academic journal. If a study showing a specific benefit—such as deep relaxation or reduced anxiety—was replicated by several other research studies on that same practice, then the science is more compelling. 

When it comes to reducing stress and anxiety, scientists have again found that all meditation practices are not equally effective. Practices that employ concentration have been found to actually increase anxiety, and the same meta-study found that most meditation techniques are no more effective than a placebo at reducing anxiety.[2]

Need meditation to lower your blood pressure? The Transcendental Meditation technique is the only mind/body practice that has been shown both in independent clinical trials and meta-analyses to significantly lower high blood pressure in hypertensive patients.[3] To determine if a particular form of meditation has scientific evidence supporting a specific benefit, you can do a search at PubMed or through Google's academic search engine, Google Scholar. There are over a thousand peer-reviewed studies on the various forms of meditation, with the Transcendental Meditation technique and mindfulness meditation being the most extensively researched practices, respectively.

How much time do you have?

Another consideration is how much time it takes to master a particular meditation technique. Some meditation practices require many years to master and to achieve their stated purpose—or even get a glimpse of the goal—while other practices may take only a few months or even a few minutes to produce intended results. For example, relaxation CDs can have an immediate, soothing effect—it may not be nirvana, but in some cases relaxation is all that's promised. If you don't have the patience to persist in a practice that takes many years to attain success, it makes sense to choose a technique that requires less or no effort. 

Along these lines, does the meditation practice you're considering require the ability to concentrate? If you have a hard time focusing for prolonged periods, or suffer from ADHD, you may find it frustrating to attempt a concentration type of meditation. Remember, scientific findings actually indicate that concentration techniques, though they may improve focus in some cases, can actually increase stress and anxiety.[4]

Meditation and the brain:

Want to meditate to enhance brain functioning? There are several types of meditation CDs marketed on the Internet as "scientific technologies" for improving your brain. If you look past the marketing slogans ("Meditate deep as a Zen monk—instantly!") to see if there are any peer-reviewed scientific research studies verifying such claims, don't be surprised if you don't find any. This doesn't mean the CDs will not improve your brain—perhaps they will—but I hesitate to recommend such unproven methods, especially if they feign to be scientific when they are not. 

Speaking of meditating deep as a Zen monk, brain researchers have reported EEG alpha coherence in the frontal brain area during Zen meditation—as well as during the Transcendental Meditation technique (which shows EEG coherence throughout the entire brain). Neuroscientists theorize this to be a positive effect, because the prefrontal cortex (PFC) "oversees" the whole brain, and having a more coherently functioning PFC should improve overall brain performance. Thus there's evidence from neuroscience that certain meditation practices may be good for your brain. If the barrage of meditation CDs on the market that claim improved brain functioning were to show such prefrontal EEG alpha coherence, that might lend some credibility to their promises of improved brain function. Advances in neuroscience in recent years, and an influx of new scientific data on brain patterns during meditation, may soon expose claims of brain enhancement as true or false, based on what's happening in the brain during meditation. 

Meditate for Relaxation:

If it’s relaxation you want, research shows that the body’s relaxation response can be induced in many ways—even by just sitting with your eyes closed and listening to soothing music. Because of the intimate connection between mind and body, the deeper you go in meditation and the more settled your mind becomes, the deeper is the state of rest for the body. Contemplation practices—one of the major categories of meditation techniques—like concentration practices, have their own particular and distinct effects on mind and body. Because contemplation and concentration practices keep the mind busy—engaged in a particular activity or mental task—they are not most conducive to the mind’s settling inward, and thus will not bring the deepest rest and rejuvenation to the body. Some methods, such as the Relaxation Response, Christian Centering Prayer, or relaxation CDs often employ a mixture of both contemplation and concentration, depending on how one approaches the practice. Beware: there’s no evidence that contemplation or concentration practices such as these will actually lower high blood pressure or significantly reduce anxiety. Easy listening meditation CDs that don’t require much active engagement on the part of the mind—especially ones that do not use guided voice instructions that keep the mind engaged in the realm of meaning and contemplation—may be your best bet if you want some mild relaxation and a little emotional upliftment.

I say “mild relaxation” because meta-studies of all available research on levels of rest during mind-body practices shows that most meditation practices, including the Relaxation Response technique, do not provide physiological relaxation any deeper than simple eyes-closed rest.[6]

If you want really deep relaxation, you need a meditation practice that takes you to the deepest, most transcendental level of your Self.

Secular or non-secular:

Certain meditation practices may conflict with your religion or beliefs. The practice of meditation, though found in almost every religion, has been predominantly associated with traditions of the East. Some of these practices require adherence to beliefs of Eastern philosophy, while others are merely mechanical practices (like watching your breath) extracted from those cultures and applicable to anyone. Granted, the East has much to offer the West—and vice versa—and most people find it possible to incorporate an Eastern-derived meditation practice from an age-old tradition without sacrificing their own personal belief system.

I could never sit like that!

A practical consideration: do you need to sit in a prescribed position to do a particular meditation practice? The popular image of a meditator in leotards sitting cross-legged in full lotus position may have you thinking, "I could never do that." Don't be discouraged. Even if you are unable to sit like a pretzel or for an extended period without back support, there are meditation practices that do not require any particular position and are best practiced in your most comfortable easy chair. Some forms of Zen and mindfulness are even practiced while walking!

Selecting a teacher:

Do you need a meditation instructor or guru? That may depend on the depth—or height—to which you aspire. The higher meditative states are not so readily achieved by instruction techniques learned from a book or CD. The very act of reading and self-instructing can interfere with your innocence and ability to get beyond the active, surface levels of the mind. This requirement for innocence during meditation is beautifully underscored in the classic little book entitled, “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind,” by Shunryu Suzuki. It can be a challenge to be innocent when you’re simultaneously playing the roles of expert teacher and diligent student.

And then the question arises: how do I know I'm doing it right? Without the expert guidance of an experienced teacher, howcan you know? In the great traditions of enlightenment, such as Buddhism, Taoism and the Vedic tradition, meditation was learned from sages who passed it on only to students who preformed sufficient austerities and showed receptivity and aptitude for learning. The act of "initiation" was considered sacred and the student showed great reverence for the teaching. Kings would give half their kingdoms or more to charity, just to earn the honor of studying with a master teacher of meditation—hoping thereby to gain liberation or enlightenment, full awakening to the true nature of life. Such was the regard for meditation in ancient times. These days, though many people may profess to be meditation teachers, they may not have the expertise you are looking for if you are serious about practicing meditation and committed to gaining higher consciousness and enlightenment. Check the teacher's credentials and degree of training. Does the instructor represent a venerated tradition of meditation? Is the teacher upholding the purity and effectiveness of tested and proven procedures? Is the teacher directly connected to the lineage of a great, enlightened master who passed on to them the correct instructions for effective practice? 

How much should I pay?

Some people claim that because meditation is a spiritual practice, it should be given out for free, and in many cases it is. You can pick up a meditative technique as part of many yoga classes, from a library book or a friend's CD. But many meditation courses require a course fee. Some teachers charging for meditation offer a structured course that includes follow-up and personal support—thus there is overhead and educational expenses. Remember the wise adage: you get what you pay for. If you are looking for regularly scheduled group meetings at a meditation center and ongoing follow-up, you may need to pay for that amenity. There is nothing unspiritual about paying for a service that directly benefits your health and wellbeing. In the West, where materialism dominates, it is new to think of paying for something we cannot hold in our hands. If you find cost a stumbling block to learning meditation, look at the cost effectiveness of the practice and what it will bring in terms of healthcare savings and increased efficiency and quality of life. And look into what the organization does with the money; the organization may be a legitimate non-profit supporting a humanitarian cause that you agree with, such as promoting world peace.

Deliberate—and Jump within!

The bottom line: assess your personal needs and strength of intention to incorporate meditation into your life. Be realistic about your abilities and the requirements of the practice. Do your homework—most meditation programs have a Website. And if you know someone practicing a type of meditation that interests you, ask for a personal testimonial. Evaluate the claims and the scientific proof behind those claims if there is any. Check the track record of the teacher and the organization. Then join the millions who are turning within to change themselves and the world.

Tom Ball earned a BA in Western Philosophy from Maharishi
University of Management, an MFA in Creative Writing from ColumbiaUniversity, and a PhD in Peace Studies from Maharishi European Research University. He has enjoyed a rich career of lecturing and teaching meditation across the US and around the world, and is a writer for The David Lynch
Foundation.Doctors on Meditation

By Lady Joy   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

Goals provide direction and focus to our lives. We need to know who we are and where we want to go. But the adventure itself, the steps we travel, offer us daily satisfaction moment by moment, continual fulfillment. Too often we keep our sights on the goal’s completion rather than the process.

 April brings with it the energies of the number Seven (the reduced single-digit sum total of April=month # 4 and, when added to 2010= 2014, becomes 2+0+1+4). The symbolic meaning of Seven deals with taking charge of matters for completion, for the greater good.

 Seven has always been evident in mythology, mysticism, ceremony, and superstition. Its appeal endures in religion, nursery rhymes, and folk sayings, from the reverent “seven angels before the throne” to the colloquial “seven-year itch.”In a tarot forecast, when Card VII appears, it’s like discovering that a herd of Cyldesdale horses has taken up residence in your backyard. If you don’t control the beasts, they will destroy what’s yours. However, with discipline and patience, you can make them move mountains.

 As the horse is arcanum VII’s historical symbol, travel and vacationing goes well at this time, as well as car purchase or repair. In the upcoming Kitchen Tarot (pre-order $5 off at amazon.com), the horse is replaced with a rolling pin, a reminder to keep both hands on the steering wheel, and stay in the driver’s seat—not in the path of the galloping horses! 7-luck arrives when you master opposing emotions or conflicting desires, and—like a baker—roll them together into a unified treat.

 April’s 7-vibration favors breaking from routine, remodeling and relocating, and is also associated with legal issues and government. Provided that you read all the small print, the numbers and stars are on your side this month regarding contracts negotiations, loans, and improving your credentials.

Roll over opposition with confidence! Get rid of damaged goods. Don’t let idealism cloud reason at this time.

 Under the Seven, each experience we have this month plays its part in total picture of our lives. The steps we have taken, the path we travel today, and our direction tomorrow are not by chance. There is a pattern. We each have a destiny. None of us is traveling alone.

“Measure seven times before you cut.” --Carpenter’s saying

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

By Peri Enkin

When I was young I realized that I looked at the world from a different perspective. Early on this caused me trouble and for a period of time I kept quiet about what I saw and denied my own understanding. I kept my ideas to myself and wrote my observations in a private diary rather than speaking them out loud to many people.

Then I began meeting people who wanted to hear my view on things. And pretty soon there were quite a few people asking for my perspective. Over the years I have gotten bolder and braver. I have stopped being concerned about what others think of me and instead really enjoy watching the lights go on when I offer my passionate perspective in a way that helps and uplifts others.

Here is the thing. Most of us dream big and think small. The two are not a very effective combination. Especially for those of us who are serious about really living our dreams not just having fantasies about them. Big vision and constricted thinking creates frustration and tension. And since our behaviors are motivated by the good or bad feelings we generate within ourselves we would be wise to get familiar with our thoughts, weed out the ones that restrict us and choose self-empowering ones
that encourage us instead. If we really want to bring our greatest desires into realities we need to develop flexibility and agility in our minds instead of holding out in our solid and locked positions. Thinking small inhibits passionate living.

Our big dreams are magnificent. They propel us forward to have adventures, to take on challenges and to attract opportunities that we might never have imagined. But in order to enjoy what we encounter we need to hold our dreams in a broader context. We need to stretch wide open those places inside of us that are shut or closed up. Why? Because expanding our perspective liberates all sorts of energy. It gives us access to many positive qualities that belong to us and enrich our day-to-
day experiences. We are, in essence, so much more than even our biggest dreams hint of. Here is a list of twelve of those natural qualities and quick ways to connect with them.

The energy of Freedom comes when we stop restricting ourselves.

The energy of Clarity comes when we tell ourselves the truth about what we
are really wanting.

The energy of Peace comes when we stop fighting what is and instead get
curious to see what kinds of learning opportunities are in front of us.

The energy of Love comes when we release our judgments and instead decide
to extend positive feelings.

The energy of Health comes when we accept ourselves exactly as we are right
now and choose to do good and pleasurable things for our selves.

The energy of Balance comes when we recognize the bigger picture and take
all factors into account when making our decisions.

The energy of Creativity comes when we take responsibility for our choices

The energy of Joy comes when we value happiness over suffering.

The energy of Abundance comes when we appreciate what we have right now
and trust that there is an ongoing flow of goodness available for us.

The energy of Wisdom comes when we recognize and acknowledge our own
link to higher intelligence and are willing to ask and receive guidance.

The energy of Power comes when take responsibility for our thoughts, feelings
and actions.

The energy of our own Magnificence comes when we acknowledge our
uniqueness and decide to live authentically.

Sound simple? Yes, and it takes practice. We have learned the value of

 physical exercise. Now we know there are internal creative muscles that have a lot to offer us if they are exercised also.

If you like what you read here you can follow the magazine in two ways – either using our RSS  feed or you can get updates by adding your email address to the Subscribe Here at the top of the home page

Peri is the Founder of Creators Choice - Online School for Whole Life Fulfillment and supports clients worldwide to experience freedom in love and to claim their own power. Visit http://www.creatorschoice.com for free gifts to enjoy right now.

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

Diet changes are the cornerstone to treating type 2 diabetes. Current diet recommendations require restricting portion sizes, measuring and weighing foods, and limiting the total amount of carbohydrate. However, evidence suggests that a different dietary approach may be more effective and easier to follow.

Part of the value of a low-fat, plant-based diet is that it is very low in saturated fat—that is, the kind of fat that is found especially in meats, dairy products, and tropical oils (coconut, palm, or palm kernel oil). To cut fat effectively, you’ll want to do two things: avoid animal-derived products and avoid added vegetable oils. Although oils are often thought of as healthier than animal fats, they are just as high in calories.

The way of eating explained below does not require weighing or measuring, and you will never go hungry.

1. A Vegan Diet: Avoiding Animal Products
Animal products contain fat, especially saturated fat, which is linked to heart disease, insulin resistance, and certain forms of cancer. These products also contain cholesterol, something never found in foods from plants. And, of course, animal products contain animal protein. It may surprise you to learn that diets high in animal protein can aggravate kidney problems and calcium losses. Animal products never provide fiber or healthful complex carbohydrate. 
A vegan diet is one that contains no animal products at all. So, to be specific, here are the foods you’ll want to avoid: red meat, poultry and fish, dairy products, and eggs.

2. Avoiding Added Vegetable Oils and Other High-Fat Foods
Although most vegetable oils are in some ways healthier than animal fats, you will still want to keep them to a minimum. All fats and oils are highly concentrated in calories. A gram of any fat or oil contains nine calories, compared with only four calories for a gram of carbohydrate.
You’ll also want to avoid foods fried in oil, oily toppings, and olives, avocados, and peanut butter.

3. Low Glycemic Index
The glycemic index identifies foods that increase blood sugar rapidly and allows you to favor foods that have much less effect on blood sugar. High-glycemic-index foods include sugar itself, white potatoes, most wheat flour products, and most cold cereals.

. Go High-Fiber
Aim for 40 grams of fiber a day, but start slowly. Load up on beans, vegetables, and fruits. Choose whole grains (try barley, oats, quinoa, millet, whole wheat pasta, etc.). Aim for at least 3 grams per serving on labels and at least 10 grams per meal.

5. Volumetrics
Here is an optional step that can help with weight control. The idea is to eat foods that have fewer calories than grams per serving. Try adding lots of soups, salads, and foods cooked in water (like oatmeal) to your daily diet. These “heavy” foods will make you fill up without taking in a lot of calories.

6. Focus on the ‘New Four Food Groups’
Choose unlimited amounts of grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Small amounts of nonfat condiments, fat-free vegan cookies and crackers, alcohol, and coffee are also OK.

Protein: Plant foods have plenty of protein. The recommended amount of protein in the diet for postmenopausal women is 10 percent of calories. Most vegetables, legumes, and grains contain this amount or more. Those seeking extra protein can choose more beans, asparagus, mushrooms, and broccoli.

Calcium: Because diets rich in animal protein cause the body to lose more calcium, a person on a vegan diet needs less calcium to stay in calcium balance. Good sources of calcium include broccoli, kale, collards, mustard greens, beans, figs, fortified juices and cereals, and soy or rice milks.

Vitamin B12: Those following a diet free of animal products for more than three years (or at anytime in childhood, pregnancy, or nursing) should take a B12 supplement of 5 micrograms per day. Any common multiple vitamin will provide this amount. 

for more information visit PCRM

By   Tue, Mar 30, 2010

by Marcy Richards

Know that once you put your mind to anything - It Is Possible! This does require actually Visualizing, Focusing and Applying (ones self) on whatever you truly desire. (Otherwise, you truly don't want it or are not willing to stay focused and apply yourself). Even though you can bring about the riches you want in your life from this formless thinking substance (which runs throughout our universe), it is not always going to happen right away.

This takes practice and patience with ones self, but can be accomplished by forming a clear mental image in your minds eye and holding it with unwavering faith that it will come to fruition. Once you have that clear mental image then hold on to it and do not think or speak of it without feeling confident that it is already Yours! Remember, the thinking substance is in everything; while communicating with everything-- and able to influence everything.

Yes, we all have downward times, but these can be released by knowing that these are temporary circumstances that will change and drastically improve. There are good times ahead, so think about them! Know that whatever you focus your energy on, you will bring about in your life. You must also be in "vibrational harmony" (one of the Seven Laws of the Universe), feeling good with what you desire for that desire to manifest. Your thoughts control your vibration-- which can and will dictate what your are actively Attracting, because the Law of Attraction is Always in effect.

This will manifest in your life by acting in a certain way. This will be provided by the power of the Supreme intelligence. Remember--" It is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom". He wants you to live in abundance, that being; having all that you can or will use to live your life. He is seeking total expression through all mankind. Never feel bad for or condemn yourself for visualizing and asking largely. Your part is to focus and express these desires and by doing this you are setting it in motion into the universe.

Most people have a hard time with this, as they are retaining part of the old idea that poverty along with self-sacrifice are part of the plan; a necessity of nature. These people believe that a vast majority of humanity must stay poor because there is not enough to go around. People clutch to this idea so much that they are ashamed to ask for more than just enough to get by or to live fairly comfortably. I am here to tell you, this is not the case. But to begin receiving, you must begin with being grateful-- grateful for everything in your life. The mental attitude of gratitude pulls the mind into closer contact with the creative energies of the universe, from where the blessings come.

So start releasing all the negative thoughts, feelings, emotions and beliefs and truly start expecting your hearts desires by again, Asking for them, Visualizing them, Focusing on them, Believing in them and Applying yourself towards them because they can become YOUR reality

By   Sun, Jan 31, 2010

By   Mon, Apr 26, 2010

By Goddess Shamayim Shu   Wed, Apr 07, 2010

The New Moon
 
The New Moon is the most appropriate tome for new beginnings.  It is beneficial for you to plant the seeds of your desires and to set goals at this time.  The New Moon is a good time to initiate your plans and to start anything new. 
 
The New Moon in Aries - April 14, 2010
 
The New Moon in Aries brings us much passion and assertion!  Be a pioneer and go "head first" into new and exciting adventures.  The New Moon in Aries will bring you courage and bravery to conquer anything that is in the way of reaching your goals. Nothing quite happens soon enough with the New Moon in Aries.  During this time there may be an inherent impatience with getting what you want. Life may seem as though it is a series of emergencies.  Patience is often needed with the Aries vibration.  The New Moon in Aries is a good time to  focus on yourself,  to be more independent and  to sharpen your leadership skills.  Be aware of being to combative, disengaging, impulsive and selfish.  This may cuse others to not enjoy dealing with you.
 
This is a prime time to renew or start new project.  Make your New Moon wishes to be more risk taking, bold, straightforward, self-sufficient and self reliable and encourage others to do the same.  Blaze a new trail and take action during this high energy period.
 
The New Moon in Aries will have you moving forward without fear to whatever you feel needs to be conquered.

The Sun In Taurus - April 20, 2010
 
The Sun in Taurus vibration will bring you a sense of stability, security and the good things in life.  Utilize this energy to work hard and stay steadfast to your goals and visions.  The Taurus vibration will certainly have you complete and reep the rewards of your labor.  Delight and live through your senses and enjoy the sensual pleasures of food, a comfortable blanket, the smell of flowers or spring rain, good music, and good company. Feeling safe and content are important as a comfortable home is built and a solid foundation is laid.
 
Although hard-working, the Sun in Taurus' fixed and comfort-loving nature will sometimes make you appear lazy.  This is only because your separate work and leisure so well!  When you work, you work hard, when you relax, you relax real well!!
 
This energy is down-to-earth, soothing, stable, persevering, and dependable.  Be aware of tendencies of possessiveness and stubborness.  Loosen up and be alittle more flexible during this time.  
 
With the Taurus energy in full force, tradition and steadiness are the focal points of staying rooted and obtaining wealth and prosperity.

 
The Full Moon
 
During the Full Moon things that were rumbling in the subconscious are brought up to the surface of awareness and become illuminated and made visible. The Full Moon highlights the emotional self.  It forces us to look at our issues and what effects our reality and find ways to connect with ways that are better for our well being. The Full Moon is a time of abundance, ripening, and completeness and receiving from the seeds that were nurtured just for you.
 
The Full Moon In Scorpio - April 28, 2010 
 
The Full Moon in Scorpio is a time to look more into the emotional side of your being, really dig deep.  This is a very, very intense Moon.  The need for transformation and rebirth is great. This is a good time to self evaluate and make changes in yourself for the greater good.   Find out what old feelings and grudges are keeping you emotionally hostage.
 
The New Moon in Scorpio energy is passionate, perceptive, resourceful, focused and probing.  This energy will allow you to size up a situation or a person quickly and expertly.  The Scorpion energy can smell a rat a mile away!  But be aware of being to possessive, vindictive, negative and revengeful at this time, especially when a slight or hurt is perceived.  The Scorpion sting can sometimes be too intense, extreme and deadly for just everyday disagreements or problems.  Be careful of over-killing a thing!
 
Scorpio is represented by two symbols, the Scorpion and the Eagle.  The Scorpion, when angered, captures its victims with its claws and inflicts a disabling sting with its tail, being very cunning and revengeful.  The Eagle is regarded as a symbol of courage and power.  The Eagle represents clear vision, intelligence, and power.  It is a majestic bird and it also symbolizes freedom.  Which one are you?   The Scorpion which crawls on its belly and reacts to emotional pain in a violent and deadly way. Or the Eagle, when hurt, has the potential to see things more clearly and handle situations taking a more self-analyzing and deeper approach to what really is going on.
 
During this Full Moon in Scorpio learn optimism, instead of expecting the worst, you'll find that you will possess amazing regenerative powers - the power to heal, create, and transform yourself and others.

Remember, utilizing the energy from the heavens affords us the opportunity to work with naturally occuring cosmic vibrations, giving us the opportunity to empower our lives to maximize our potential while here on Earth!
 
Lunar Love,
Goddess Shu

By   Tue, Apr 06, 2010

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By Thanate Tan   Thu, Apr 01, 2010

Floating gardens of china and hanging gardens of Babylon are two examples of this. Scientists started this method since 1950 and countries like Germany, Australia and Holland are using this from many years. In 19th century the researchers of plant technology came to know that actually it is possible to garden without soil because the essential mineral need for a plant to grow can be found in water.

An active hydroponic system moves the nutrient solution using a pump. While the passive system works on the capillary system. Passive systems are too weak to supply enough oxygen to the root system for maximum growth. Another method of characterizing hydroponics is recovery or non-recovery. Recovery systems or re- circulating systems reuse the nutrient solution and non recovery systems don't use them. Pumps and moving parts are not used in this technique.

While the nutrient film technique is this system. In this root system is aerated and supported. The principle that applies to soil fertilizers
also applies to fertilizers. It contains all the nutrients that the soil fertilizers contain. Plants with PH range 5.8 to 6.8 can be grown hydroponically. The PH of the growing plants can be checked much easily than that of the soil.

If you want to build Hydroponic System on your own then fist of all build the system on your own. When you understand the basics of the system and when you gain some experience regarding this then start growing your own system. This will help you a lot. You will be able to use the parts of this system when you will build your own gardening system. Building own system can be rewarding but sometimes it can be very frustrating. You must be patient while doing so.

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By   Thu, Apr 01, 2010

by Jon Mercer

How does visualization and confidence work together? Well, in order to become confident you need to learn to see yourself in a different light; you need to change from thinking negatively about yourself to feeling your own confidence. One of the best and most efficient ways to change how you see yourself is through visualization.

Visualization and confidence go hand in hand because visualization is all about "seeing" something in your mind. You can use visualization to see a different you that feels good about him- or her-self and doesn't have any confidence problems.

Visualization is not difficult; it is something everybody can easily do. All you need is a little bit of quiet time and your own mind. Do you remember when you were a kid and you used to daydream? Well, that is kind of what visualization is. You take some time to quiet down, and then you turn your internal focus on to what you want.

For instance, if you have problems feeling confident in social gatherings, you can use your visualization to see yourself in a social situation where you feel completely at ease. Let the situation play out, go into detail; try to imagine the sounds and smells. Have fun with it, do things in the visualization that you would never dare to do in real life.

Visualization and confidence is all about seeing in your mind the confidence you want to have in your life. Once you have really felt it in your visualizations you will find it easier to feel confident in real life too. Visualization on a regular basis can help your subconscious mind get used to feeling confident. This in return can over time improve your actual confidence.

If you are having a hard time trying to figure out how this will actually work, and can't really see the connection between visualization and confidence, let me show you how you are already doing this with great success.

Although it is not benefiting you because this works on the negative, you are definitely getting results from using your imagination. Every time you imagine something going wrong, or every time you think of a social situation and feel insecure, you are using your imagination and visualizing. If you sometimes lay awake at night thinking about an upcoming event that you are feeling insecure about, you are using your imagination.

In fact, part of the reason why you have confidence problems is that you have been so successful in visualizing and training your subconscious to be insecure that it has become your reality. We all misuse our imagination all the time; we have no problems at all imagining things going wrong and horrible scenarios. It's when it comes down to using the power of our mind and of visualization to see something good that we have problems; both doing it and believing it.

Visualization and confidence have everything to do with each other. Your misuse of visualization is largely behind you feeling insecure today. Take the skill you have, and rather than imagining that other people are judging you, use your power to imagine that they like you very much. Take some time and visualize the confident being you want to become, and stop wasting time on imagining what you don't want.

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Learn How Visualization and Confidence Work Together to Create Success! Breakthrough "Reprogramming" System Makes it Easy to Visualize Confidence and Success!

By Rebecca Twiss   Thu, Apr 01, 2010

A friend of mine asked me the other day - How do you do it? How
do you possibly do all the things that you have to do?

She was I'm guessing refering to the fact that I am raising
four kids, running a small business, writing this column, continuing my
massage practice, and doing my best to make sure my less than beautiful
apartment is at least livable for my family.

I smiled and said, "Oh, I blow a lot of things off."

Not the most intelligent of statements, I know. But quite true
actually, and healthy for me in certain ways.

I thought about it a moment, and said, "It is very important to
maintain a balance, you see. Stress, well, almost everybody has it, and
it can be motivating. But you need to know yourself well enough to see
when stress starts to become anxiety, and that is when you need to
switch something to the front burner and pay attention to it."

Let's talk about feelings for a minute, because its relevant to
the point here. I view feelings as important and fleeting. Most often
feelings cannot, and should not, be avoided, but accepted as important,
embraced, and released, so they cannot take over my day.

Stress is just a feeling. It rolls in, it rolls out. It doesn't
need to rule you, but it is incredibly useful when seen as a wave
pushing you towards whatever goal you feel you need to reach. Stress
doesn't need to hold onto any judgement of the situation. When I am
feeling stress, it indicates to me that it is time to get a move on
about things in real life that will benefit myself and others. Then I
make a list, tackle it, and feel a whole lot better. Stress rewards
discipline by going away....and allowing me to move into a feeling of
accomplishment - ahhhh. Like a nice warm bath after a long day.

When left unmanaged, stress becomes anxiety. I don't want to
assume that I know what your anxiety feels like. Mine sneaks in quietly
at first, and puts the things I have shuffled into the back of my mind
under a microscope. A big one. It starts singing - you know this should
have been done a LONG time ago. Then this knowing that something really
needs to get done is joined by the chorus of people who are potentially
going to be let down because I haven't taken care of it. The chorus of
course includes everyone else I have ever let down calling me bad names
like incapable, a dreamer, lazy or useless. IT takes about 24 hours of
this off-key chorus singing in my head for me to get into full
down-on-myself, can't-do-anything-right, what-the-hell-am-I-good-for
panic attack.
Otherwise known as anxiety.

Ick. I don't even like to venture into the memories. But there
is a point to my long and painful description. You see...I have gotten
to KNOW my anxiety. I know the tricks it plays, and I know the below
the belt shots it will throw to bring me to my knees. It is not my
enemy, however, it just is what it is.  I know the words to the song it sings.

And I have learned that even though it seems incredibly
powerful at times, it is a feeling, like any other, and I need to
accept it as important, embrace it, and let it go.

How is anxiety important? A worthy feeling? Something you would
embrace rather than run away from?

Aha! That, my friends, is the key to getting to know yourself,
and getting to love yourself better. If I did not have anxiety, it
would not have coaxed out those negative voices in my head telling me
how "bad" I am. The voice of anxiety attracted voices like it that
contribute to my dis-ease, and dis-like of my self. When I embrace
anxiety, I embrace all those voices with love, when I release them, I
know that they have no power over me.

I do let some things get put on the back burner. I need a day
to simply create the list of tasks that need to get done! But I don't
let tasks, or stress, run my day, because a large chunk of my life is
spent being mindful, and living in the moment. Learning, and growing,
and loving.

And when I hear my friend anxiety clearing its throat and
humming the first few notes of its chaotic tune I say, Oh hello, there
you are! Tell me, what is it that is troubling you? What do you want to
do today?

And I do it. My feelings are my friends you see, if I will only
let them be.

By   Thu, Apr 01, 2010

By Sara Healy

I admit it. I am a worrier. I've decided that my worrying is due to an annoying little monster appropriately named, the Worry Monster. I have bought countless books and CDs, all of which promised to dispose of this devilish little thing. But it still pops up now and then.

Sara Healy is a life coach who helps people with life and career transitions using their strengths and values. Find out how she can help you make positive changes in your life by contacting her at: => http://www.sarahealy.com

If you like what you read here you can follow the magazine there are two ways – either using our RSS  feed or you can get updates by adding your email address to the Subscribe Here at the top of the home page or Join in our conversation on facebook group.

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

by Audrey Marlene

So you've analyzed your ambitions and have determined the life you want to have. You can envision it but something seems to get in the way. Could it be fear?

Fear has a way of injecting psychological toxins into our subconscious that acts like a handcuff, restraining our ability to achieve our goals. Although the fear may be perceived, it seems so real. This perceived fear plays games with our minds, robbing us of any rational thoughts we need to cherish in order to move ahead.

When fear is perceived, the portion of the brain involved in fear automatically reacts. It triggers behaviors such as a racing heart, anxiety, or sweaty palms. If the fear is related to doubts about your own ability, the fear will allow you to come up with an excuse why you cannot accomplish your task.

The process of fear is entirely subconscious. You are driven to think, believe, and act based upon the fear you initially perceived. If the perceived fear is funneled through unfavorable past experiences, the subconscious mind injects even more doubt and eventually you feel immobile, paralyzed, unable to make it past the first step.

Because we as humans do everything to avoid pain or discomfort in our lives, we give in to the fears we are fed by our subconscious. This fear prevents you from even attempting the first move. There may be times that your ambition pulsates within you and motivates you to get it past the first step but the discomforts and doubts created by fear can be so much more powerful than your own ambitions that you cannot follow through.

Over time, this fear eats away at your self-confidence. You begin to come up with excuses why things can't get done. You play the victim role. You feel sorry for yourself. You become depressed. Your self-esteem takes a plunge - all in the name of fear.

Fear Destroys Self Confidence

Ever notice that you have no problems coming up with great, profitable ideas? You are convinced that this is the big one, the idea of all ideas. The moment you conceive your idea, the level of excitement surges within you. You can't wait to share it with your friends and family. But as the days go by the enthusiasm tapers off.

Unfortunately, this is idea number 49. The people in your life have heard it so many times that they just listen to your hype to be polite. You begin to develop a reputation for "all talk and no action". Your self-confidence slowly becomes eroded. How many times has this happened to you? What do you think contributes to this syndrome? Could it be fear?

In order to make the bridge from ambition to achieving your plans, you must deal with the fear factor in your life. You may feel fearless in other areas of life but in this area of goal attainment there is something sabotaging you every time. That something is fear.

When fear intercepts your plan, your ability to execute is jeopardized. Your enthusiasm eventually disappears and everything is at a stand still. You once again feel disappointment in yourself, wondering what happened. You level of confidence takes a serious plunge. You withdraw for the embarrassment you feel. Your self-esteem bottoms out. You remain in hibernation until you once again feel comfortable to emerge, hoping that no one remembers to ask about your once again failed project.

Fear of Success

Once fear is allowed to erode your self-confidence it remains in control of your life, lurking within the subconscious. Each failed attempt or each time something is avoided due to fear, this fearful behavior is reinforced even more. That fear is then transferred to all areas of your life. The erosion of your self-confidence simultaneously affects your self-esteem. The self-critic dominates your thought process and self doubt inevitably moves in as one begins to experience what many term "fear of success". If the fear is not addressed it continues to sabotage your every move.

Let's examine the real meaning of fear of success.

Does any one of these apply to you? Try to examine your fears to determine if you fall into the above category.

Fear Conditioning

Fear is a normal, innate survival tool we all possess. It serves as a means of protecting us from harm. However, that same fear that protects us can also hinder us progress in life.
Let is examine what really causes fear of success or any forms of fear that tend to hold us back.

The fear many of you experience that holds you back is triggered by our culture, social structure, and values. Modern culture defines success in terms of wealth, fame, or prestige. We are compared to these norms and judged accordingly. If your level of confidence in your abilities are not sufficiently developed to feel comparatively capable a feeling of fear takes over. This results in anxiety. Here is where the conditioning begins. Over time, as this fear is experienced, this learned behavior becomes ingrained in the psyche.

This form of fear conditioning allows you to become very intimidated. It causes you to put off doing something of great importance that can benefit your life in significant ways. Each time it gets put off the fear is reinforced even more and the conditioning continues. Because fear is an automatic, physiological reaction, you find yourself doing or acting in ways that are so unlike you.

Fear conditioning destroys your self-image. It places you under enormous stress because you feel you cannot live up to your own personal expectations or even worse the increased expectations that are dictated by our culture.

Overcoming Fear, Fear Not!

You are now aware of the power fear can have over you. You may have attributed your inability to gain your success momentum to fear. You must learn to overcome fear and discard this albatross that sabotages your ability to achieve your goals. But how?

You must first make that decision for CHANGE. You must choose whether to allow your fears to ruin any plans you have for the future or to break free of them. It is a choice, yes a choice you must make. Spend some time alone to look way down into the recesses of your heart and decide what fears are holding you back. Make a list of them. You are the only one who truly knows the fear that binds you. You are the only one who can free yourself from your fear. Decide to let go of the victim role that fear has you living in and make the effort to let it disappear from your life. This is the first step towards overcoming fear.

The next step to overcoming fear is awareness. Be able to recognize when fear has control of you and assess that fear. Acknowledge it out loud and ask "what am I afraid would happen to me"? What do I have to lose for trying? What am I really afraid of? Write them down. Stop and try to imagine how your life would be if you resisted the fear. Think about how great it would feel. Think about the opportunities missed by allowing the fear to stay in control.

Now that you know what you are truly afraid of try to address the fears. If it is lack of knowledge, find ways to educate yourself about the subject matter. Take a course, do the research on the web, find a mentor, a life coach. Associate with people who will encourage and guide you. Address all the reasons why you feel fearful and diffuse the fear. As you gain more knowledge your level of confidence will grow simultaneously. High self-confidence will replace doubts and fear.

Positive self-talk is another way to reinforce confidence and diminish fear. Giving positive self-affirmations is a form of self-conditioning that replaces the doubts lodged in the subconscious. Remind yourself that "you can" achieve.

Alternative tools for dealing with the anxiety caused by fear are neurofeedback and biofeedback therapies. These modalities help to reduce the effects of fear conditioning, restore clearer objectives, and create more focus on the goals at hand. To this end the individual can progress at a faster pace.

Most importantly, take action. Don't just sit around hoping, thinking and planning forever, or waiting for the right time to act. The best time to start is today. Jump in! Figure out what you're good at and make that move right now. The best way to overcome fear is by being proactive. With each effort your level of confidence increases.

Above all, believe through faith that you can overcome your fears and achieve your goals. Believe that you can accomplish great things in your life.

Remember having fears is a normal part of what makes us human. It is an emotion just like love, happiness, or sadness. The problem arises when fear has so much control over your life that it hinders your ability to succeed at achieving your goals.

The most successful people have fears. They just NEVER let their fears hold them back. So how badly do you want to overcome your fears? That is the question of significance.

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

By Dennis Fairchild   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

Inviting Extra Income & Enjoyment Into Your April

Now the season of darkness diminishes as the season of Light increases in strength. Each flower, plant and bough bears profound witness to the power of authenticity and Personal beauty—and, inspires us to do likewise.

 The gospels proclaim it, and the songwriters second the notion: the Kingdom of Heaven is right here, on the planet. It’s your home—the only paradise you’ve got, according to the ancient philosophy of Feng Shui (pronounced fung schway). Our homes are more than address—they are directly hooked to our life. A person and their habitat are not two. This global belief proclaims that space and the placement of furniture and decor carry force, either favorable or not. Colors and shapes, location and where you toss your furniture can either add to your strength or drain it away.

 Please police your premises! Pablo Picasso once said,” If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes,” we would be amazed at the world around us. Artist Paul Klee proclaimed, “One eye sees, the other feels.” But perhaps Georgia O’Keefe expressed it best when she observed that “In a way, nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small, we haven’t the time—and to See takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” Does the front door need a fresh coat of paint? Or address numbers that shine? Is the front lawn green, or ghastly? 

 Like a business card, your front entrance connects the outside world with your own. It’s the “mouth” of your home, your public image. Its condition, color, and maintenance empower or diminish the health and happiness of everyone who lives there. When a door squeaks, the roof leaks, or basement reeks you feel poorly, too. A well-kept home affects those who dwell there, and makes waves in the neighborhood.

 Keep your sidewalk, driveway, and doorway and welcome mat clean and uncluttered to invite opportunity, freedom from limitations. Slap fresh paint on the door this month to attract new business, lubricate every spring and hinge regularly to keep you active and Mobile, and liberate you from outside restrictions. Windows, garages, walkways, doors and walls symbolize the eyes, mouth and limbs of residents. An unkempt, messy Front porch or entry way is as attractive as an unbrushed, unflossed presidential candidate is to a baby.

For home-owners, take a look at the “live green” in the front yard. In your back garden from your bedroom window Too many evergreen yews or weeping willows is thought to portend bankruptcy or marriage breakdown; an odd-numbered (usually, three or five) cluster of trees or flowering shrubs are best. Naturally healthy, unchemicalized lawns, looming flowers and Spaces where birds feed and Squirrels frolic portend good Fortune The more life on your Lawn, the more life in your home Dying plants near any entrance is Said to erode the health of elderly Family members if a shrub, tree Or limb breaks, remove it pronto. Outside obstructive vistas beget Arguments indoors

 Preparatory steps are necessary in every art. They are also necessary in life if we want To live authentically every day we are given a fresh canvas to prime, to make ready for The vision

 “The soap in the bathroom, the flowers in the garden, the book on the bedside table are All strong symbols of life in progress,” notes writer Charlotte Moss in A Passion For Detail “You look at all the details and a world unfolds.” Each day we create ourselves Anew through choice by paying attention to the details—your authentic gestures—you Give expression to the most personal of arts: making your imprint on life.

 This is the season of renewal and replenishment. Whatever you are waiting for—peace Of mind, inner awareness, contentment, grace, abundance—it will surely come this Month, but only when you are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart. And, An artful dose of Feng Shui!

“It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often

Get it.” --Somerset Maugham

By   Mon, Mar 01, 2010

Lynne Bozeman

September 28, 2010 at 10:11am Leslie-Robin Davis Just subscribed! love it!

Judy Helm Wright Hello from Montana, you are doing such a great service with your Inside Out Magazine. My best wishes and support go with you. Judy Helm Wright http://www.judyhwright.com/

Sun, April 3, 2011 9:52:48 PM

From: 3ILL 5ONIC -Love and Light Infinitely to you.
Peace 4 all~

By   Tue, Dec 07, 2010

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By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

Everyone, especially kids, love to have a party but most of these parties are just toxic attacks on our planet. There are various eco-friendly supplies using which we can enjoy our children green parties which are entertaining as well as eco-friendly. First of all, try to purchase all of your green party supplies from the nearest local store, thus this will save fuel thus reducing pollution and emissions. If you are involving candles for decoration, try to use soy based ones which do not emit toxic materials when burned. Kids green parties thrown at the time of their birthday are great for having fun and celebration. Try to use eco-friendly supplies as far as possible to throw children green parties that are not harmful for the environment. Planning for kids green parties start right from the beginning:

· Ditch the usual paper invitations, instead you can use other services like e-mails to invite your guests or if you really need to send invites to them, you should consider making use of eco-friendly supplies like home made or recycled paper for making cards for your kids green parties. This way, you will not only save money needed for postage but will also save trees and other natural resources. There are many stores that offer eco-friendly supplies of recycled cards, so make sure to shop accordingly. Some of these cards are made up of materials not provided by trees.

· As far as eco-friendly goodie bags and eco-friendly presents are concerned, you must wrap them up in recycle paper and even newspaper. After all, the actual gift is more important than the wrapping paper. You can use old-fashioned colors to brighten up your wrapping papers. In addition to that, you can mention in your invites made up of eco-friendly supplies also that your guests must bring only eco-friendly presents and wrap them up in eco-friendly supplies only keeping in mind the theme of kids green parties. While going to children green parties, try to give cash to the birthday child because this way the child will save something in his or her without harming the environment.

· While enjoying your children green parties, try to make use of eco-friendly toys to play, enjoy and have fun. These are one of the best green party supplies that a person can imagine. Explore your imagination and play with eco-friendly toys like hand-knit dolls and balls that are made up of safe and natural materials.

· Instead of accessories like paper plates and dishes, use should use green party supplies like table clothes made of linen rather than plastic and use dishes and plates that can be washed and re-used rather than use and throw ones.

· Eco-friendly goodie bags should be made up of green party supplies and you can even try to hand out healthy snacks and fruits and eco-friendly toys made up of eco-friendly products in an eco-friendly way.

At www.littlestarcreativeparties.com, you can find innovative ideas about eco-friendly goodie bags, eco friendly toys and eco friendly presents and get some of the best green party supplies in the market. The site will also teach you how to make eco friendly goodie bags and eco friendly presents.

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

One of the first renovation considerations for most homeowners is remodeling the bathroom. That salmon color scheme with sea foam green might have been a great look for the 50s, but it just might not be your cup of tea.

For the eco minded renovation, there are many sustainable options for the bathroom. From tips to save water, energy - and some precious cleaning time - here are some Green Pages eco tips for going eco in your bathroom:

Eco Home Tip # 1 - Up cycle/Recycle - Consider second hand pieces for furniture. An old dresser or buffet could make a great vanity. By visiting some great recycle shops, you may find a treasure trove to inspire the eco imagination.

Eco Home Tip # 2 - Lighting au natural - consider installing a skylight to let in natural light during the day. Many skylights can also be ventilated which will save on cleaning (see Eco Tip 5). For artificial, opt for energy efficient globes and fixtures.

Eco Home Tip # 3 - Hey you, try water saving the unique shape of the bowl is the secret behind this ingenious invention, which can save on average 35,000 liters of water a year. There's also the option of installing a waterless urinal in your home, the perfect water saving solution for a house of growing boys.

Eco Home Tip # 4 - Low flow taps and showerheads - Get your fittings measured up and put in flow restrictors or install some low flow fittings. When getting your plumbing put in, call certified Green Plumber who can answer many of our eco bathroom questions.

Eco Home Tip # 5 - Ventilation Revolution - Hate cleaning the bathroom? Here's a quick tip - by installing a fan or ceiling ventilation, you reduce the buildup of mould, mildew and foul odors. This means less cleaning, especially with that harsh bleach based chemical cleaners. (Which you should ditch for eco cleaning ideas)

Eco Home Tip # 6 - Eco IS a material change - there are eco option for practically everything, solvent free eco paint, sustainable timber or bamboo cabinetry, recycled glass tiles, screens, blinds, windows, everything you can think of. Do your research on sustainable architecture and eco home products such as those listed on the Green Pages green directory for the green home.

And don't forget, once you have eco bathroom of your dreams, stock it up with some great eco home products. Delectably scented beeswax candles, luxurious organic cotton or bathroom towels, organic hemp shower curtains and organic soaps (and of course recycled paper!) are just some great items you can use to give the your own personal eco touch.

www.thegreenpages.com.au

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

by Susan Flowers Phd MSN

I understand my current life clearly as a culmination of all my thoughts, feelings and actions I’ve had to date. Practicing the Law of Attraction is not a new concept for me. I was first introduced to God’s natural law all my life by the Bible and later reinforced by authors like Napoleon Hill, Wayne Dyer and Neal Donald Walsh. Simply put, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Whatever you focus most of your attention on in life is exactly what is manifested in your outward experience.

We are spiritual beings having physical experiences. It took me a while to understand that every thought, negative or positive, is a creation, a prayer to the Universe (God). Depending on the degree of focus we give these thoughts, certain things become beliefs, which either manifest positive things or severely limit our lives.

I am made in the “Image and likeness of God,” a perfect manifestation of Him. God’s entire plan for me is one of complete and total “Well Being.” When Well Being is being manifested in my life, I feel really good. When I am blocking my “Well Being,” life becomes, sad, depressing and very difficult. Both of these contrasting experiences are as a result of what I think and especially what I’ve come to feel and believe. As a spiritual being, I am constantly seeking my connection with Well Being by daily prayer and conversation with God, declaring what I desire from the Universe and checking in constantly with my feelings and emotions.

I have learned to create my life. We are in complete control of all our outward experiences. Whatever I desire from God and His Universe, I first of all have to declare it according to His natural law. We are all great at declaring, because our entire life experiences, including the ones we are having today, started as a conscious or subconscious thought. The next step that happens is that God not only acknowledges my intentions, they are all answered without exception. The next step is where it becomes tricky and where most of us have problems manifesting. This step is another natural law called The Law of Allowing.

We are all ‘vibrational’ beings, meaning that through our thoughts and actions, we are always communicating our needs to the Source from which everything flows (God). However, in order to experience our desires that God has already provided for us, we must ‘allow’ it to become a part of our physical experience. To do so, we must be in harmony with those desires. We must spend as much time as possible feeling exactly how we would if we were experiencing those desires in the here and now. The Universe will then begin to match those good feelings and send to us the people, places and things we need to manifest those experiences in our outward life.

Subsequently, as things begin to line up and we become inspired, we must take action and act on those inspirations immediately. We must not find ways and reasons to disallow our dreams. We must commit to making our desires manifest into our physical experiences as God provides them. Do not let apprehension and anxiety hold you back, God will continue to provide the way and all that you will need. Concentrate at all times on the positive end result, not the conditions that you don’t want. Energy will flow where your attention goes and the Law of Attraction will grant exactly that which you focus on and that includes the negatives. Always remain with and feel positive about the end result of what you desire in life as often as you can.

It is also very important to be grateful in life. The more we are grateful for on a daily basis, the more abundance God will supply us. Wake up every morning and before getting out of bed, give thanks with corresponding feeling for what you have. Be genuine about it. There are many things that I am grateful for…I love my life! Being grateful and happy is an inside job and no one else’s. To be happy is to be connected with God, because Well Being is your birthright. According to the author of “Conversations with God,” Neal Donald Walsh, “SATAN is Seeing Any Thing As Negative.” Therefore, make happiness your #1 priority and you will always be on the receiving end of positive God Energy.

 Dr. Susan Flowers is living her passion as a Success Coach, Freelance Writer and Motivational Speaker. She is the Founder & President of Manifesting Success Network, Intl., a network of training, consulting and support teams for the Law of Attraction, Allowance & Deliberate Intent. She can be contacted by email manifestyourlife@gmail.com or web site http://www.manifestingsuccessnetwork.com

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

by Kristien Wilkinson

At a time when organic food and sustainable farming have become the latest buzz words and people are starting to care whether the chickens they're buying are free range and beef cuts are from grass-fed cows, the idea of patronizing ocean-friendly seafood is also starting to gain popularity. Contrary to common knowledge, caring for the ocean is more than just about saving whales and dolphins. There are in fact a number of fish species commonly available in your neighborhood grocery stores and seafood restaurants which suffer from overfishing, pollution, and other ecological concerns. The United Nations says that 75 percent of the world's wild fish stocks are already depleted or are recovering from depletion.

Seafood generally has two sources: open water and fish farms. To say that one is better than the other would be oversimplifying the issue. A more accurate measure of eco-friendliness is to assess the methods of how a species is caught or raised. Using trawl nets, for instance, in open water fishing is criticized for its lack of selectivity and for causing damage to the seafloor. Trawl nets produce a lot of by-catch or species which are not meant to be caught. One estimate states that four to ten pounds of by-catch are swept up for every pound of shrimp caught in the trawling method.

Farmed salmon is also rated low on the eco-friendly scale. This species is raised in heavily populated large netted pens which leak wastes and chemicals to the ocean. Salmon could also escape from the pens and pose a threat to wild fish species since it is carnivorous. In this case, conservationists say it is much better to consume wild-caught salmon.

To make sure that you're consuming eco-friendly seafood, it is best to keep yourself informed on how your favorite fish are caught or bred. There are a lot of environmental organizations that provide summarized facts and easily digestible information on this. Some provide convenient cheat sheets and cards while others feature downloadable data that can be stored on your PDAs and mobile phones. To make it easier for consumers, species of seafood are grouped into eco-good and eco-bad or rated on a scale of eco-friendliness.

It is also important for consumers to ask the right questions when buying seafood at the fishmonger or ordering at a seafood restaurant. You should ask if the fish were wild-caught or farm-raised, what region they came from, and what methods were used in catching or raising them. You can also specifically request for seafood which were produced in eco-friendly conditions. These actions will send a message to your seafood provider that you, and hopefully other consumers as well, care about the ecological aspect of the products you're buying and it would at least get them to think about providing more eco-friendly choices.

Some seafood products already have eco-labels such as the dolphin-safe tuna which means that the fish were caught without harming dolphins in the process. Eco-labeling is still not universal though and with a loose standards on defining what is organic, an “organic” seal on your shrimp doesn't automatically mean that they were caught through eco-friendly and sustainable means. As of now, the eco-label of the Marine Stewardship Council for wild-caught species has the largest reach and meets the UN standards for eco-labeling. There are various certifications for farm-raised fish but you still have to probe beyond the labels to find out if these supposedly organic seafood are indeed eco-friendly.

Admittedly, making a choice to consume eco-friendly seafood requires a lot of effort. But as people become more aware of such concepts as sustainability and ecological balance, we could hopefully muster the political will to introduce reforms in the seafood production industry.

Kristien Wilkinson is an online writer and contributor to http://www.seafoodrestaurants.com

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

Science supports a low-fat, plant-based diet for optimal health. The American Dietetic Association (ADA), the nation’s largest organization of nutrition experts, states that "vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the lifecycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.”

The ADA's position paper on vegetarian and vegan diets, published in 2009, references more than 200 studies and papers to support its conclusions. Studies continue to show that plant-based diets can aid in reversing the symptoms of America’s most devastating diseases: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer.

People who follow a plant-based diet have a healthier heart. They reap the benefits of lower cholesterol levels than meat-eaters, and heart disease is less common in vegetarians. Plant-based meals are typically low in saturated fat, and since cholesterol is found only in animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs, it’s easy to consume a cholesterol-free diet.

Another benefit of consuming a plant-based diet is getting your blood pressure numbers down. An impressive number of studies show that vegetarians have lower blood pressure than nonvegetarians. A low-fat, plant-based diet has also shown to reverse the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. A diet based on vegetables, legumes, fruits, and whole grains, which is also low in fat and sugar, can lower blood sugar levels and often reduce or even eliminate the need for medication. Since individuals with diabetes are at high risk for heart disease, avoiding fat and cholesterol is important, and a vegetarian diet is the best way to do that.

A plant-based diet helps prevent cancer. Studies of vegetarians show that death rates from cancer are only about one-half to three-quarters of those of the general population. Breast cancer rates are dramatically lower in countries where diets are typically plant-based. When people from those countries adopt a Western, meat-based diet, their rates of breast cancer soar. Vegetarians also have significantly lower rates of colon cancer than meat-eaters. Colon cancer is more closely associated with meat consumption than any other dietary factor.

Protective against cancer, plant-based diets are lower in fat and higher in fiber than meat-based diets. They are also full of foods that have phytochemicals, cancer-fighting substances. This might help to explain why vegetarians have less lung and prostate cancer. Also, some studies have suggested that diets that avoid dairy products may reduce the risk of prostate and ovarian cancer.

People who consume plant-based diets are also less likely to form either kidney stones or gallstones. They may also be at lower risk for osteoporosis because they eat little or no animal protein. A high intake of animal protein encourages the loss of calcium from the bones. Replacing animal products with plant foods reduces the amount of calcium lost. This may help to explain why people who live in countries where the diet is typically plant-based have little osteoporosis, even when calcium intake is lower than that in the dairy-consuming countries.

Taking control of your quality of life starts with consuming a plant-based diet. Filling your plate with fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains is not only your best bet for disease prevention, it’s an easy way to reverse damage already done. Follow the Power Plate to optimal health

By   Wed, Mar 31, 2010

By   Tue, Feb 23, 2010

What is RSS?

Do you want to keep up to date with the latest issues of  From the Inside Out Magazine ?  

We have a number of ways that you can subscribe to this site and receive updates. The main one that our readers use is our RSS feed. But what is RSS?

What is RSS?

RSS is a technology that is being used by millions of web users around the world to keep track of their favorite websites.

In the ‘old days’ of the web to keep track of updates on a website you had to ‘bookmark’ websites in your browser and manually return to them on a regular basis to see what had been added.

The problems with bookmarking

• You as the web surfer had to do all the work
• It can get complicated when you are trying to track many websites at once
• You miss information when you forget to check your bookmarks
• You end up seeing the same information over and over again on sites that don’t update very often

RSS Changes Everything

What if you could tell a website to let you know every time that they update? In a sense, this is what RSS does for you.

RSS flips things around a little and is a technology that provides you with a method of getting relevant and up to date information sent to you for you to read in your own time. It saves you time and helps you to get the information you want quickly after it was published.

RSS stands for ‘Really Simple Syndication’. Many people describe it as a ‘news feed’ that you subscribe to.

I find the ’subscription’ description helpful. It’s like subscribing to a magazine that is delivered to you periodically but instead of it coming in your physical mail box each month when the magazine is published it is delivered to your ‘RSS Reader’ every time your favorite website updates.

 Or you can get updates by adding your email address to the Subscribe Here at the top of the home page.

Come back and visit often !  Thank You!

By   Thu, Oct 01, 2009

By   Fri, Oct 02, 2009

Up Coming Community Events

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