Astral Projection Feeling better now is within your power. Please take some time to read through the free e-books to learn more about maximizing your wellness naturally. Astral Projection Description Astral projection is a frequently used term. I define astral projection as the movement of subtle energy to another plane or physical Earth location. Astral projection occurs on an involuntary basis as well as voluntarily. Voluntary astral projection is the directed movement of subtle energy elsewhere to gain increased understanding of our beings. This type of astral projection can be dangerous to your energy if done incorrectly or done for inappropriate reasons. Both a poor technique and poor attitude leave your aura open to lowly evolved energy taking your energy. This energy loss can lead to any number of symptoms in your physical body. Involuntary astral projection is the subtle energy movement without your directed intent. It can occur without a readily apparent reason (such as previous karmic ties to another soul causing linked energy in the physical plane).Or it can occur when one is highly desirous of another person, place, or thing. This projection can cause much many health problems including: fatigue; hypometabolism; hypermetabolism; depression; etc. Treatment of the problem of derranged astral energy should be preventative by using good technique and proper attitude in working with astral projection. Additionally, you might work to avoid being highly desirous of any person, place, or thing. More comments on astral projection. Although the theories about the process differ, essentially what this refers to is the following. In astral projection an amount of the traveler's subtle energy moves to another area of the physical earth plane or to another plane of existence. In my experience I would state that the majority of astral projection is involuntary. Involuntary astral projection means that the traveler has sent some portion of his or hers subtle energy without conscious and directed effort. This form of travel is very dangerous in that the traveler is at high risk for leaving some or all of the subtle energy behind.This can result in any form of illness or a sense of extreme fatigue. Restoring this lost bit of subtle energy can be a long-term task. Involuntary astral projection most often occurs when the person has a strong desire about something. Hence, the encouragement by many major religions to avoid desire. The other type of astral projection is voluntary. With this form the traveler has conscious awareness of the travel and usually has worked in some fashion to make the journey. Voluntary projection carries the same risks as involuntary. So it is a form of travel or occult practice that is an advanced technique and should only be done with caution. Astral Projection Technique This is a basic yet effective technique. Allow yourself 20 -30 minutes for this exercise. Please practice the breathing process described in step #2. It is more helpful to master the breathing before attempting the full astral projection technique. If you do this, then you will be less scattered in your attempts and be far more successful. Place yourself in a comfortable position with your spinal column as straight as possible. Do rounds of deep breathing in sets of 3. Your inhalation should be equal to the exhalation. As you become more adept, attempt to hold your breath before inhalation and before exhalation. Please check with your healthcare provider before attempting, if you have any history of heart disease or stroke. Be very gentle in practicing this. You do not want to raise your internal pressure(causing a Valsalva maneuver). You want to work on this breath holding technique as it can help you balance you physically(hold on inhalation-full chalice) and psychically(hold on exhalation-empty chalice).You want to work toward the following ratio: 2 count inhalation:1 count hold with full breath in lungs(full chalice):2 count exhalation: 1 count hold with empty lungs(empty chalice). Envision your astral destination. As your rounds of deep breathing continue, you will note a whitish,ovoid body rising from your physical body. Continue to envision your destination. With each round of deep breathing,your astral body will move toward the destination. When you are wanting to come out of the session, tell your astral body to return intact(!) to your physical body. You may even visualize yourself literally reeling in your astral body via the silver cord which joins the astral body to the physical body. After your astral body returns, do several rounds of deep breathing to assure yourself of complete re-integration of the subtle energies. Blessings. More on involuntary astral projection. How do I visit or make contact with other entities or those in different dimensions? As a practitioner I frequently get asked this question. Please remember that contacting others who are primarily vibrating in other dimensions is not without risk. There is the possibility of involuntary subtle essence exchange. This means that you and/or the other leave some of one with the other. This can leave you weak from leaving vital essence or sick from carrying unbalanced vital essence. So before you attempt this type of work, please consider that you want to be doing this for a healthy purpose, that you need to be as balanced and calm as possible. Method 1 Contact while you are sleeping. This is most easily possible due to the fact that your protective qi/prana is not protecting you while you sleep[it goes inside you] and so you can exit more easily. Ask to contact the entity before you go to sleep. Sounds simple but surprisingly effective. Entity contact: most likely to be a vision in a dream. Termination method: Upon awakening ask to be gently separated so that you both are whole. Method 2 Obtain a quiet, comfortable position. Breathe deeply and regularly then gently ask to contact the entity. Entity contact: most likely to be a tactile approach, sensation of tickling/butterfly kiss on face or lips/gentle light numbness on body usually upper trunk. Termination method: Do some gentle energy work. Method 3 Do some form of energy work. Have an acupuncture, energy healing session. Before the practitioner begins or you do the session, ask for gentle healty contact. Entity contact:Similar to method 2 but more likely to be whole body contact. Termination method: Built in as you are already doing the energy work. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Auras What is an aura? It refers to the energy field beyond the skin of the body. This energy field is somewhat subtle. Because we are busy and stressed, it is not a feature we generally notice. However, this layer of subtle energy has texture, color, and temperature. Experiments throughout the years have proven this concept. Kirlian photography provides a visual record of the aura. Why do we want to bother being aware of the aura? Sensing the characteristics of the aura helps us to better understand our personal challenges. Being aware of other’s auras helps us to be better informed of how the other person needs to be approached. How to sense an aura: For those who wear glasses or contacts, remove them. Gently focus your gaze on another person or your own body. Let the fuzziness settle. For clear-sighted folk, as you focus your gaze on another person or your own body, breathe deeply and slowly. As the minutes tick by, you will begin to perceive an ovoid shape extending out from the body(usually about 6-36 inches). You may note the general hue. It may take several practice sessions for some while others may already be perceiving holes, clouds, etc. in the aura. With subsequent features we will explore the qualities of the aura and other aspects of this very helpful layer of the human anatomy. Peace. Auras and subtle anatomy Auras, as do other aspects of human anatomy, contain layers of different vibrations. Have you in your aura sensing practice(link to aura feature please-can I do this or do you as editor have to so this) noticed irregularities of the energy field? These differences are changes of one or another layer. References conflict about the composition and function of the various layers of auras(after all, researchers today are still determining the structure and function of human gross anatomy). Some references combine the aura with the chakra system. As an introduction, I have delineated the layers into 4 sections: physical health aura; mental aura; astral aura; spiritual aura. The physical health aura is the aura layer closest to the skin. It is a silvery haze extending a few inches beyond the skin. As a practitioner, I sense a fine fuzzy texture when it is in good balance. The physical health aura will usually show changes before the physical body becomes symptomatic. This layer is most directly tied to the chakra system. This layer is most important in draining and absorbing prana/qi/vital energy. Next in proximity is the mental aura. This layer reflects the person’s thoughts. It also is described as having direct access to universal knowledge(one use of this aura would be to access it if you have not studied for a test as tapping into this aura is one way of getting those answers). The astral layer indicates the person’s feelings( the astral plane of existence is often described as a feeling� plane and has been compared to the Christian heaven and hell). This layer reflects strong ties to past and future lives(thus, giving one information on some of one’s present life lessons). Additionally, I would state that this layer is the closest tie to other present Earth plane incarnations(also giving one information on one’s present life lessons). Finally, the outer layer is the spiritual layer. Most of us have a very thin layer. We are too preoccupied with our present daily activities to develop this layer. This layer of the ovoid aura is the well-developed portion of true spiritual leaders. These leaders are figures who have total auras extending 26 inches, the vast majority of which is this spiritual aura. Being informed about auric subtle anatomy facilitates your personal forward development. Perceiving others’ auric anatomy helps you stay well-balanced and as needed helps you guide another on his or her journey. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Bach Flower Essences The Bach Flower Essence wellness modalit , a subset of homeopathy, is a simple, safe, effective wellness modality founded by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930's. He started his career as a general practice allopathic physician with consulting rooms on the prestigious Harley St. in London. His research included work with homeopathic theory development. With his practice, however, he became dissatisfied with the traditional Western medicine emphasis on disease and illness rather than the person. In 1930 he left his practice on Harley street and his Western medical theory base. His new research and treatment approach became introspective and intuitive. He evaluated the health status by looking at the emotional response and how it impacted the health of himself or his patient. In the Spring and Summer he was in the field selecting his herbal remedies. In the Fall and Winter he developed the remedies from the flowers and treated himself and patients. His diagnostic focus was on evaluating the emotional and feeling state. His treatment focus was the use of a particular flower essence to heal that emotion which then allowed the corresponding body symptoms to resolve. The present 38 Bach Flower Essences are from his work. Of course, you should always allow yourself all the possible choices, so please investigate your treatment options with your traditional health care provider. Once you have done your health care choices research, these Bach Flower Essences are a very reasonable, easy to use, non-invasive, easy to combine with other wellness routines. You evaluate your dominant emotion and select the corresponding essence. It is often necessary to combine the remedies to meet all your needs. The theory base suggests that you combine no more than 6 agents. So you should select the 1-6 most appropriate essences and work with those on a daily basis for a period of time. The remedies are liquids with a small amount of alcohol(as part of the processing of the flower) that are taken by mouth. Sometimes it is appropriate to place the remedy on the skin. There are no absolute contraindications to using the essences. Here is a list of the Bach Flower Remedies and the associated assessment or key emotion. Agrimony-severe depression behind a happy mask(the sad clown) Aspen-severe terror of the unknown like night terrors in children Beech-irritable emotional rigidity/bigotry Centaury-co-dependence or poor personal boundary maintainer-always giving without regard to your own health Cerato-lack of faith in your own decisions Cherry Plum-fear of mental breakdown Chestnut Bud-inability to learn from mistakes or recognize unhealthy patterns Chicory-selfish, domineering love Clematis-lack of grounding in the present while dreaming of the future Crab Apple-obsessive-complusive behavior, self-loathing Elm- too much responsibility Gentian-overwhelmed by setbacks Gorse- without hope Heather-shyness,over-evolved sense of vulnerability Holly-possessiveness,greed,hate Honeysuckle-thinking only of the past Hornbeam-putting off tasks whenever possible, work list is fatiguing to even look at Impatiens-lack of patience Larch-poor confidence Mimulus-fear of the known, anxiety about surroundings and duties Mustard-severe depression without triggering factors as in classic depression Oak-for one who pushes beyond abilities Olive- the sense of exhaustion after mind or body efforts Pine- guiltiness Red Chestnut-overly concerned about how loved ones are doing Rock Rose-primal terror Rock Water- repression, over self-denial Scleranthus-indecision Star of Bethlehem-severe stress or collapse Sweet Chestnut-severe mental torture, the feeling of being backed into a corner Vervain-too positive Vine-over-domineering with extreme rigidity Walnut-changes are debilitating Water Violet-over-detachment White Chestnut-pervasive thoughts-schizophrenia might fit here Wild Oat-confusion over personal and professional direction Willow-pity over your own position Rescue Remedy-combination of agents for immediate shock and stress Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Digestive Health What is the Colon and What Are its Functions? The colon is also known as the large intestine. It is approximately 1.5 to 1.8 meters in length (about 5 feet) and approximately 7.5 centimeters (about 3 inches) in diameter. The significant role of the large intestine is to dry out the indigestible food particles through the reabsorption of water and essential electrolytes (salts) back into the body and to eliminate the dehydrated particles as feces. The large intestine can be broken down into five main sections known as cecum, the appendix, the colon, the rectum and the anal canal. The colon is seen as four main sections known as the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon. These sections form a long tube which provides a framework around the small intestine. The ascending colon begins in the lower right area of the abdominal cavity and ascends up to the area near the top of the abdominal cavity, just below the natural waistline. At the lowest part of the ascending colon, just below where the small intestine and large intestine are joined is the cecum, a small saclike section which has a small appendage called the vermiform appendix, where, due to the twisted structure, can be a prime are for infections caused by bacteria accumulating. Adjoined to the cecum is a tube called the ileum which is linked to the large intestine by a small valve called the ileocecal valve that acts to prevent the back flowing of waste materials into the small intestine, similar to the manner in which the backflow valve in your homes plumbing system works. As the ascending colon reaches the top of the abdominal cavity it turns left at the hepatic flexure (also known as the right colic flexure) and becomes the section known as the transverse colon which reaches across the top of the abdominal cavity. This section can become clogged with the waste materials of the digestive process and may become prolapsed, or begin to droop downward, due to the weight of the waste material that has not been eliminate. This can occur due to problems such as chronic constipation or over-use of harsh laxatives which weaken the natural peristalsis or involuntary muscular contraction mechanism of the colon over time as it becomes dependant on the laxatives to do the work of forcing the waste materials along the journey to the descending colon and out of the body. When this happens surgical intervention may be necessary. At the upper left area of the abdominal cavity the large intestine take a downward turn at the splenic flexure (also known as the left colic flexure) and this section is known as the descending colon. The descending colon continues down into the pelvic area. This section carries the waste materials along the final journey to expulsion from the body through the smaller “S” shaped section known as the sigmoid colon and then the muscular tube known as the rectum and anal canal which all lay in the pelvic area at the bottom of the abdominal cavity. The rectum leads to the anal canal which has an external voluntary sphincter (also known as the external anal sphincter) composed of skeletal muscle and an internal involuntary sphincter formed of smooth muscle. The sphincter valves help to keep the anus closed except during elimination. When we consume foods and fluids, within between two to five hours after a meal, they pass through the stomach which serves as a holding tank, into the small intestine where most of our absorption of nutrients occurs. The small intestine is a long coiled tube of approximately seven meters (about 23 feet) in length with three sections known as the duodenum, the jejunum and the longest section called the ileum. Here the digestive fluids and enzymes are secreted and combined with enzymes from the liver and pancreas, then the process of breaking down the foods and fluids consumed into usable materials such as simple sugars, fatty acids, triglycerides, and amino acids occurs. The sugars and amino acids are absorbed into the blood and delivered to the liver for use. The triglycerides and fatty acids are carried away by the lymph fluids. The watery mass of undigested foods passes through the colon which reabsorbs much of the water. The remaining waste materials dehydrate and form the feces which then pass into the rectum for elimination. Moira Khouri, NC, MH, HHP, CCP Moira Khouri is a holistic health educator and writer living in Vancouver Canada. A certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant, Master Herbalist, Holistic Health Practitioner, Reflexologist, Reiki Master and Life Coach, she is also on the faculty of The Global College of Natural Medicine in Santa Cruz, California. (www.gcnm.com) Phone: 604-346-1471; E-mail: moirakhouri@telus.net; web: www.cyrstalclearholistic.com Homeopathy-Like Cures Like Homeopathy has a long history. Some of the documented uses of the homeopathic approach to wellness can be found in the works of Hippocrates(5th century BC). Many of his remedies included the homeopathic idea of like cures like(for allopathic aficionados, please consider the concept of vaccines in evaluating this homeopathic approach). The founder of the specific homeopathic system of medicine was Samuel Christian Hahnemann(1755-1843). While working as a physician, he wrote articles and books on medicine and chemistry. He, like Florence Nightingale, advocated improved public hygiene. In the late 1700's he gave up conventional medical work while continuing his writing career. In working on translations he came across remedies which were based on the like can cure like theory base. He became intrigued with this concept and experimented with various substances. As he continued his research, he felt he had discovered a system of medicine whereby the disease and remedy bring about similar symptoms which work to cancel out each other( similia similibus curentur). In A New Principle for Ascertaining the Curative Powers of Drugs and Some Examination of Previous Principles(1796), Hahnemann described his new medical approach calling it "homeopathy"(homeo=similar and pathos=suffering) Generally, remedies can be divided into acute episodic(short bout of an illness) or constitutional(preventive based on body type or treatment of chronic illness). The method of prescription and the pattern of formulation of remedies are still under debate. Hahnemann began organized homeopathic remedy formulation. Because some of the healing substances found in nature were poisonous in an undiluted form, he experimented with methods of changing the potency to decrease the lethality. Surprisingly, he found the more dilute solutions had more effectiveness while having fewer side effects. He focused his remedies primarily on acute episodic treatments. As homeopathy gained in popularity, other providers developed additions to his theory. Dr. Constantine Hering(1800-1880), Dr. James Tyler Kent(1849-1916) and Dr. Richard Hughes(1836-1902) were three important figures in the area of theory development. Dr. Constantine Hering developed an order to the homeopathic pathophysiology with his Three Basic Laws of Cure. These laws state that: symptoms move from the top of the body downward; the symptoms move from the inside of the body outward; and disease moves from the most important organs to the least important organs. He also felt that the client experiences a cure in the reverse order of development of the symptoms. Dr. James Tyler Kent made the link between body type(with the temperament) and a proclivity toward certain disease developments. So he developed the concept of diagnosing a constitutional body type which then would require certain remedies for health maintenance. Dr. Richard Hughes focused his research on the potencies of the remedies. He emphasized treatment of only the physical symptoms and felt that lower potency remedies were much more effective and more easily tolerated by the body. Although the theories of homeopathy provide debate and different approaches to client treatment, homeopathy is a safe and effective energy wellness technique for many people and many symptoms. If you are considering using homeopathic remedies for the first time, please consult an experienced provider or do a fair amount of research as the remedy selection can be a complex process. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Karma/Determinism These terms describe the general tendency/pattern for a person, family, country, etc. The film Sliding Doors illustrates this idea. In the movie the protagonist’s life unfolds in two directions based on whether or not she catches a certain tube. The two lives have different developments based in part on the subtle change in timing. The underlying karmic or deterministic thread weaves itself through each lifetime as shown by the important events of each lifetime. For example in both lives, she has an unfaithful boyfriend, a great love, and a trauma induced miscarriage. However, other entities’ karma, and free will interact in each life to bring about different manifestations of the karmic or deterministic thread. In one lifetime she finds rather immediate professional success, great love, and a pregnancy with the new lover ,but an early death. In the other lifetime, she hangs out with the cheating boyfriend, becomes pregnant with his baby, and survives a trauma induced miscarriage, meeting the great love upon discharge from the hospital. The karmic thread involves similar events with changes due to the factors of other entity karma, personal karma(past,present,and future), and free will. More information about determinism and karma can be gleaned from the "Bhagavad Gita." The issue of karma/determinism is dealt with throughout this epic poem. However, one chapter,12 in the version translated by Goswami Kriyananda, deals specifically with karma. This karma chapter indicates that your reincarnated lifetimes are manifestations of our personal history,group history, and the eternal rhythm(this could represent a higher power, total unification of sentient beings,elimination of scattering dissention,old soul existence,etc.). As we become more aware of the rhythm our karma eases and our lifetimes become more similiar or attuned to the balanced existence. Free will is an aspect of karma. The term describes our decision-making ability. In Sliding Doors the cleanest example of this is her termination of the cheating boyfriend. In one lifetime she catches him cheating, She lets go rather quickly and cleanly(had she done it even more solidly ,she might not have had the confusion fire in her life that caused her death). Her life is short but fulfilled in that she had professional success, a great love, a pregnancy that was evidence of a loving union. In another lifetime she is not as true to herself,perhaps, and does not as cleanly cut things. Here she has more suffering but the life is longer and there is the promise of the other lover helping her to manifest happiness. The ’Gita’ distinctly states that our decisions move us closer to or farther from the ultimate balanced lifetime. It is reasonable to infer that a balanced attempt at a free will decision moves up forward on the Earth plane as well as spiritually. Summary As Sliding Doors and the “Gita” indicate each of us is generally regulated by an overall tendency toward certain events. This tendency is guided by our personal and group actions(past,present future). But free will can adjust this karmic/deterministic tendency to bring about different aspects and timing of the main events. And finally, earnest attempts at softening karma are respected by the basic rhythm. So, a loving, honest attitude alone can work to soften the edges of our lives. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Reincarnation An introduction Reincarnation, as a general concept, refers to the cycle of lifetimes each human experiences. Overall, reincarnation is the process of each human becoming physically present in this physical Earth plane repeatedly. Most cultures and religions incorporate reincarnation into their belief system(even Christianity-for a description of varying planes of existence from a Christian perspective see Mystic Christianity(1907) by Yogi Ramacharaka).Each person has the free will to determine the timing, the placement, and the character of each lifetime. Some philosophies indicate that a person can elect to occupy more than one physical body at one time. Reincarnation ties each person to his or her family/community in that frequently entities choose to continue to work on their lessons together. However, usually these roles differ from lifetime to lifetime. For example, a spouse may have been your sibling or parent in a previous lifetime(does this explain idiosyncrasies of your relationships?). As each relationship provides unique lessons, it is helpful for the spiritual journey to alternate these roles. A significant purpose of reincarnation is the development of knowledge. In this way each of us (or each sentient being) can break free of desires and karmic scars to move to perfect balance. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Soulmates Basic definition The term, "soulmate" brings to most of us the idea of halves being brought together. The definition is often similar to the following. A soulmate is one of 2 persons who provides for the other a sense of instant understanding or unification. The individual is not complete until he or she is united with this other individual. Once this unification takes place, all things are possible. Yogic perspective Those who we feel are soulmates are those soul entities with whom we have much unfinished work. They are reincarnations of family members or close friends who have been taken away abruptly in past lives. So, yes, there is work to do ,but you can move forward in this life without these "soulmates" as your lifetime romantic partners. The affinity between the soul energies is high, so the tendency to repeat the karmic patterns, both easeful and difficult, is strong. When you encounter this energy it usually helps you to move forward and cleanse difficult karma, if you can take time to meditate and strengthen your chakric energy. Then you and the soulmate energy entity can move most easily forward, whether or not that means romantic pairing in this Earth plane lifetime. Summary The meeting of the soulmate and the sense of instant understanding is an opportunity for karmic advancement, not your only chance for romantic happiness. The soulmate meeting allows you to move forward spiritually but also has a high risk of creating more karmic scarring due to the ease of simply repeating last lifetime rhythms. You do not have one soulmate as your only possibility for romantic fulfillment. Your chances for romantic happiness are endless and are maximized by your sense of being complete within yourself. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Souls-Young, Old, and Middle-aged Entities Souls are often grouped according to an approximation of the number of lived lifetimes(number of times around the wheel as you may see it).The rationale for the groupings is complex and, perhaps contradictory. This feature will introduce the characteristics of young, old, and middle-aged entities. Young souls incarnate as involved, excited, and interested persons. All is a wonder to them. They are similar to entities who are in their first incarnation of an ascendancy cycle. With this excitement, comes the capacity to be easily scattered(their energy fields are very friable). The sense of amazement can easily turn to a sense of being overwhelmed with a then probable dissipation of function. Any roles which require curiosity are very suitable(scientist, technologist, artist) are very suitable. Physically, they usually have smooth finger and toe joints. They age either very prematurely or not at all. Old souls have traveled the Earth plane extensively. Understandably the role of the old soul is leader. Often, they lead in quiet ways(writers, artist,etc.), as the public leadership roles contain too much attachment to be tolerable for the old soul. The main problem area for the old soul is boredom that then can lead to impatience and irritability. Generally, because the old soul has begun to let go of desire, the lifetime of an old soul is fairly even(although it may not appear so, outwardly).Physically, the old soul will have knotty fingers and toes. They also age either very prematurely or not at all. Middle-aged souls ideally strike a balance between curiosity and the old soul’s wisdom to help us all forward on our journey. This group presently comprises the bulk of our Earth population. They are our workers. They are our public leaders. They experience extremes of emotion because they have the strongest attachment to desire. They are the most flexible. Any job experience is appropriate for this group. Souls take the longest time to move out of this category, because the entities are so busy on the Earth plane that focused spiritual forward movement is difficult. This category does not have any special physical characteristics. Determining the soul category of yourself and others works to provide perspectives, which can help you increase tolerance of different approaches. With this greater understanding we can then more easily move forward on our journeys. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture, Acupressure, Herbs, Magnets, Moxa, Qi gong TCM incorporates energy flow as a method to diagnose and treat symptomatology. TCM uses the concept of energy distribution among energy organs and pathways. When the energy gets blocked, deficient, excessive, symptoms will result. The etiology of this energy change can be a myriad of causes including: genetic constitution; diet; inappropriate exercise; stress. TCM practitioners will recommend lifestyle changes such as diet changes, exercise changes,etc. Important aspects which I will describe in this feature are: acupuncture; acupressure; Chinese herbs; magnets; moxibustion; qi gong Chinese herbs are used as an internal method to change the body's energy or qi. Chinese herbs are recommended based on the client's energy pattern(in contrast to Western herbs that are indicated by the presenting symptom). The practitioner assesses: the general client character; the tongue; the pulse; the quality of the energy pathways or meridians(arm/leg/abdominal palpation). Then the practitioner determines the diagnosis and herb regimen. These herbs may be whole(usually requiring tea preparation), capsules, liquids, and tablets. Herbs are generally taken several times per day for several weeks. Since some herbs can affect the blood pressure and other conditions, it is best to see a trained TCM practitioner for recommendations. Herbs can work to rebalance any condition and have few side effects. Qi gong is an external/internal wellness technique. It is an energy exchange modality similar in nature to Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, pranic healing. It can be performed by a provider or by oneself. Diagnosis is usually intuitive utilizing both TCM energy patterns and chakra physiology. Most methods of self qi gong have forms to follow which are much like those of tai chi/hatha yoga. Numerous videotapes are available for you to view to get more of an idea of how you would like it. Of course most areas also have classes in this form. I classify it as an external tchnique when the provider performs the exchange for you. It is internal when you perform the routine yourself. Qi gong is an effective, safe technique appropriate for any energy imbalance. Please do your research, since some forms are applicable for some conditions and not for others. Acupuncture(sterile needle insertion along designated meridians based on a TCM diagnosis), acupressure, magnets, and moxibustion(external application of artemesia vulgaris above or on specific acupuncture points) are external TCM wellness methods. Like Chinese herbology These methods use TCM diagnosis and treatment style. The use of acupuncture and moxibustion require a consultation with a trained TCM provider. Acupressure and magnet care can be self-applied. A useful reference site is http://acuxo.com/. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Visiting other lifetimes as a means for rebalancing One answer to the question, Why bother with the study of reincarnation? is to help you feel better in this lifetime. Each lifetime has learning objectives. We choose at one level our present situations to expose ourselves to different experiences. It seems reasonable that understanding our various lifetimes would assist us in improving our present lifetime. At the very least the energy action of visiting the lifetime changes to a degree the karmic pattern, thereby changing our present experiences. If you work thoughtfully to visit these lifetimes, you can accomplish great things for the present lifetime. Dr. Bruce Goldberg in his book, Past Lives Future Lives(1982), New York: Ballantine Books) presents hypnotherapeutic case histories which present evidence for this idea. Yogini Dharmananda Shiprock Institute Wellness - General Maximize Wellness A healthy lifestyle can be maintained through optimal nutrition, herbs, and a balanced mind, body, and spirit. Avoiding and eliminating toxins, adequate hydration, an exceptional diet, vitamin and herbal supplements, and exercise are vital to maximize wellness. It is impossible to avoid all toxins as they are prevalent in the air, water, and food we are exposed to. It is possible to make a conscious effort to avoid toxins such as alcohol, cigarette smoke, and drugs, whether OTC or recreational. Avoid drinking tap water as it contains harmful toxins such as chlorine and fluoride. Drinking at least 6-8 eight ounce glasses of pure, spring water daily is ideal. Adequate hydration is crucial for optimum health and disease prevention. Choose organic foods to avoid pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals. Avoid refined sugar, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, white flour products, processed foods, genetically engineered foods, dairy products, soft drinks, margarine, caffeine, and table salt. They contribute to illnesses such as cancer, obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, and kidney stones. Do not use a microwave as it damages the nutrients in food and could cause deterioration in the human system. Avoid red meat and fast food because they contain toxins and saturated fats. Do not use chemical cleaning products such as ammonia or bleach as they contain toxins which are hazardous to our health. It is possible to assist the body in eliminating the unavoidable toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. One excellent way is to follow a colon cleanse such as Colonix by Dr. Natura: www.drnatura.com. It can help get rid of any parasites that we might be hosting in our bodies. It is extremely important for people to cleanse their colons at least once a year. Dry skin brushing for just two minutes per day can help remove toxins from the lymphatic system. The "Complete Cleanse Schedule" and the "Easy Cleanse Schedule" can be found in the book, The Complete Cancer Cleanse, and is not just for cancer patients. These cleanses can. To maximize wellness, an exceptional diet, not just a proper diet, should be followed. At least 51% should be raw so that our bodies do not think we are consuming toxins and initiate a defensive response. Whole foods that have not had any of their elements removed by processing and do not have ingredients such as additives, preservatives, or colorings are necessary. We need at least two to three servings of fresh, organic fruit such as apples, pears, raspberries, and blueberries which are high in fiber and antioxidants. Three to five servings of fresh, organic vegetables, especially cruciferous such as broccoli and cauliflower, are ideal to prevent cancer. A great way to consume enough fruits and vegetables is to use a juicer in addition to eating whole foods. Juice is an excellent supplement to a whole foods diet that includes insoluble fiber and a good way to cleanse and heal the body. Do not drink too much fruit juice because of the sugar content and acid. Many fantastic tasting recipes by Cherie Calbom, "The Juice Lady," can be found in The Complete Cancer Cleanse. Juices contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes helpful for digestion. Complex carbohydrates in the form of organic oats, millet, brown rice, whole grains, and quinoa are the best. A few servings of tofu and legumes and a handful of nuts and seeds such as raw almonds and pumpkin seeds each day provide optimal intake of protein. A tablespoon of organic, ground flax seeds provide Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids. Stevia is an excellent substitute for sugar and artificial sweeteners. Organic, decaffeinated green tea has antioxidants and contains polyphenols which may protect against certain cancers by inhibiting chemical carcinogens. Light gray Celtic Sea Salt contains minerals and is much healthier than table salt. Vitamin and herbal supplements are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Most of us could benefit by taking a Stress Formula such as the one recommended by David Rowland, PhD in his manual, Listen to Your Body, It Can Tell You What You Need: Vitamin A 12,000 IU Vitamin D 800 IU Vitamin E 600 IU Vitamin C 2,200 IU Vitamin B-1 100 mg Vitamin B-2 100 mg Niacinamide 100 mg Pantothenic Acid 1,330 mg Vitamin B-6 100 mg Folic Acid 1.2 mg Vitamin B-12 600 mcg Biotin 220 mcg Choline 220 mg Inositol 100 mg Calcium 800 mg Magnesium 500 mg Potassium 400 mg Iron 22 mg Manganese 22 mg Zinc 33 mg Silicon 22 mg Iodine 1.2 mg Chromium 330 mcg Selenium 220 mcg Molybdenum 22 mcg Vanadium 12 mcg Adrenal concentrate 188 mg Lemon Bioflanonoids 100 mg Betaine Hydrochloride 44 mg In addition, Saw Palmetto may help prevent prostate cancer in men. Dr. Weil recommends 160 mg twice daily. He also suggests 500 mg of Evening Primrose Oil, an Essential Fatty Acid, twice daily for women to help balance hormones. Exercise doesn’t have to be grueling trips to the gym wearing tight, spandex pants and dripping sweat over the Stairmaster. Dr. Weil recommends walking as the best form of exercise alternated with light weight lifting a few times per week. Try to get outside and walk in nature every day. Try using five to eight pound free weights and do light weight lifting a few times per week. Dr. Weil believes that this may assist with weight loss and prevent osteoporosis. Regular yoga practice can help balance body, mind, and spirit. Yoga is a system of psychophysical exercises designed to integrate the physical, mental, and spiritual energies that enhance health and well being. In summary, do your best to avoid and eliminate toxins, drink lots of pure water, enjoy an exceptional diet, take your vitamins and herbal supplements, and exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle and maximize wellness. REFERENCES: Calbom, Cherie, John Calbom, and Michael Mahaffey. The Complete Cancer Cleanse. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2006. Colquhoun, James and Laurentine ten Bosch. Foodmatters DVD Permacology Productions Pty Ltd., 2008. Global College of Natural Medicine. GCNM Course Material. Santa Cruz, CA 2006. Rowland, David. Listen to Your Body, It Can Tell You What You Need. Parry Sound, ON: Rowland Publications, 2006. Weil, Andrew. Dr. Andrew Weil’s Guide to Optimum Health DVD. Watertown, MA: Thorne Communications, Inc., 2002. Jen Embody, HHP NC RM Jen Embody is an Instructor at GCNM where she earned her Holistic Health Practitioner Diploma and Nutritional Consultant Certificate. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Government from CSU, Sacramento and is working toward her Masters of Science Degree in Holistic Health. Jen earned her Reiki I & II initiation in Ubud, Bali and her Reiki Master certification from Lightwork Seminars, Intl. in San Francisco, CA. She enjoys helping individuals heal themselves in her private practice and teaching workshops. Jen is a member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants and is registered with the Canadian Reiki Association.