Quest For Love

Have you felt the flame of love ignite and burn? Did you give yourself, surrender your entire being, all that you have? And, did you fall into the fire of your soul mate? Or did you settle for something less, fearing being consumed by passion, losing yourself in something beyond your control?

What is the Mind?

Now you know that my life has followed traditional thought, at least up to a few years ago. As a paramedic I lived and breathed according to scientific discoveries and practices. Then a sheltie came into my life. Through him, I discovered Reiki and all my comfortable beliefs were shaken. I began to ask myself some very tough questions that didn't have easy answers. Like, "Where do my thoughts come from?" Science is still working on that. The short video below will take you on a journey that delves into this question; the answers are hard to comprehend.

You'll need to be wide awake to follow this talk on consciousness. It ends up talking about people who have had near death experiences. Enjoy.

Sunday Meditation

My favorite meditation.


Treat yourself to a few minutes of meditation. The benefits are surprisingly vast, starting with reducing your physical body's stress. Below is a comprehensive list of the physiological benefits.

Physiological benefits:
1- It lowers oxygen consumption.
2- It decreases respiratory rate.
3- It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
4- Increases exercise tolerance.
5- Leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation.
6- Good for people with high blood pressure.
7- Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
8- Decreases muscle tension
9- Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc.
10- Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms.
11- Helps in post-operative healing.
12- Enhances the immune system.
13- Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress
14- Enhances energy, strength and vigour.
15- Helps with weight loss
16- Reduction of free radicals, less tissue damage
17- Higher skin resistance
18- Drop in cholesterol levels, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease.
19- Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing.
20- Decreases the aging process.
21- Higher levels of DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
22- prevented, slowed or controlled pain of chronic diseases
23- Makes you sweat less
24- Cure headaches & migraines
25- Greater Orderliness of Brain Functioning
26- Reduced Need for Medical Care
27- Less energy wasted
28- More inclined to sports, activities
29- Significant relief from asthma
30- improved performance in athletic events
31- Normalizes to your ideal weight
32- harmonizes our endocrine system
33- relaxes our nervous system
34- produce lasting beneficial changes in brain electrical activity
35- Cure infertility (the stresses of infertility can interfere with the release of hormones that regulate ovulation).

Love and Intimacy

Magic of Laughter - Plus a Giveaway

Photo: Peetoo, our Budgie, was a character. Talkative and friendly, he always participated in family activities. He preferred walking to flying so we had to be careful where we stepped. He learned several words and phrases including, "What a pretty bird," and "Turkey Buzzard." His intelligence became crystal clear when he began to combine his vocabulary. One day he loudly pronounced, "What a pretty, pretty turkey buzzard." We nearly died laughing. Peetoo always joined us for meals. The photo above is of my brother, Robert, and Peetoo who suddenly claimed the sandwich. One supper Peetoo took a shortcut through my brother's stew, which everyone thought was hilarious, except for David.

Laughter is good for your health

Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart.

Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

If you know of any excellent, clean, non-harmful jokes, I always appreciate a good laugh. I'm also always watching for jokes that can lighten our way to higher consciousness. Please send any my way so I can share them.

Giveaway of ebook: In the next 24 hours, I will send an ebook to everyone who posts a truly hilarious joke (non-harmful, clean) or story.

Love and Health

Feather: There are infinite sources of receiving love, and therefore receive healing. Typically we think of being loving or loved in terms of another person, a human, that one special partner who makes us feel 'complete'. However, over the years I have also felt that deep sense of love in connection with animals that have been an integral part of my life. I have also felt that profound oneness when walking in an old forest, or sitting on a bolder watching the ocean waves crash against a cliff, or listening to the wind in the trees. These places always have had the power to heal, to transform my thoughts to emotions of peace and joy, to connect me with the infinite.

Where have you experienced that sense of oneness, the deep connection with someone or something and experienced healing?

Calming Exercises

Here are 5 simple ways to bring calm to your days:(provided from Daily Challenge’s Mindful Living and Stress Relief Tracks)

1. Try yoga's child's pose for a moment of relaxation. It can bring a sense of calm to your body through concentrated breathing and clearing of the mind.

2. Take a short walk and focus on your breathing as you do it. Adding a meditative quality to a walk can create body awareness, which can help promote feelings of calm and centeredness.

3. Use a touchstone, such as a ring or watch, to bring your thoughts to the present moment. Having a tactile reminder to keep you aware and in the present helps make your daily moments more meaningful and focused. It can also keep you from letting yourself get bogged down in worrisome or stressful thoughts.

4. Take three belly breaths. Mindful breathing can be a useful tool for addressing stress, assisting with sleep issues, and enhancing your overall mind-body connection.

5. Follow your nose. Inhaling calming essential oils, like lemon, have shown measurable changes in brain activity. Why lemon oil? It has calming properties that assist in aiding concentration and lessening feelings of stress and fatigue.

Can small actions like these really have an impact on our health? According to John M. Grohol, PsyD, founder and editor-in-chief of PsychCentral.com, “It takes small changes and small efforts — every day — to enable change.” And these small changes – made through the addition of little stress-busting actions to your day – can not only lead to a better way to cope with a hectic schedule, it can also increase your happiness.A less stressed, happier you in a less stressed, happier world sounds pretty good, don’t you think?

Formula for Happiness

Purpose in Life

The Law of Dharma or Purpose in Life The Law of Dharma: Everyone has a purpose in life . . . a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.

I will put the Law of Dharma into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

Today I will lovingly nurture the god or goddess in embryo that lies deep within my soul. I will pay attention to the spirit within me that animates both my body and my mind. I will awaken myself to this deep stillness within my heart. I will carry the consciousness of timeless, eternal Being in the midst of time-bound experience.

I will make a list of my unique talents. Then I will list all the things that I love to do while expressing my unique talents. When I express my unique talents and use them in the service of humanity, I lose track of time and create abundance in my life as well as in the lives of others.

I will ask myself daily,"How can I serve?" and "How can I help?" The answers to these questions will allow me to help and serve my fellow human beings with love.

Effects of Happiness

Daily Inspiration
"If you could only keep quiet, clear of memories and expectations, you would be able to discern the beautiful pattern of events. It is your restlessness that causes chaos. " -- Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Where is your focus?

Fill up your tank

“How do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed: an ability to appreciate the positives in our life – and a commitment to action. Every day, it’s important to ask and answer these questions: ‘What’s good in my life?’ and ‘What needs to be done?’”

-- Nathaniel Branden

I have found there’s a very different quality to my action when it springs from a sense of abundance as opposed to a feeling of being impoverished.

When I sense I’m not good enough or that I don’t have enough, I feel driven to be better and to have more. Whatever I do takes effort – there’s an element of struggle involved. And this makes sense because there’s no fuel – I’m working on an empty tank.

When I’m feeling abundant, I act out of my own inspiration. I’m rich and full and so the energy flows naturally. This action at times feels almost effortless.

It's important to remember that we don't need money to be abundant. All we need is appreciation of all that we have.

“ ...what I focus on in life is what I get. And if I concentrate on how bad I am or how wrong I am or how inadequate I am, if I concentrate on what I can’t do and how there’s not enough time in which to do it, isn’t that what I get every time? And when I think about how powerful I am, and when I think about what I have left to contribute, and when I think about the difference I can make on this planet, then that’s what I get. You see, I recognize that it’s not what happens to you; it’s what you do about it.”

--W. Mitchell

The 12 Keys of Spritual Activism

Inspired by:  http://humanityhealing.net/guiding-principles/the-12-keys-of-spiritual-activism/

Tweets for the Soul

Inspirational Tweets for the Soul - Chapter 3

View another webinar from Foundation for Well Being

Being Grateful

What Do You Focus On?

My intention is to focus on that which supports my entire being in wholeness. It's simplicity, truth, harmony and acceptance. It is seeing the Light where ever I am in the moment.

Inspirational Tweets for the Soul - Chapter 3

View another webinar from Foundation for Well Being

Buying the Book You Can't Put Down

I have a question for all readers. What is your method in selecting a book at the book store or library - the book you can't put down and make dinner?

Do you go straight for your favorite author? Or do you go to the shelves that contain your favorite genre? Or do you gravitate to the one perched on the "#1 best sellers" shelf in the drug store?

When I'm on a mission to buy a book, I'll check out two or three genres in the book store, depending on my mood. I may be bored and looking for a thriller. If affection and romance has been in sort supply, you know were to find me.

Often I'll buy several books in one shopping trip to the book store. If one book has got me in its grip, I'll look for more by the same author. I can be very fickle, though. I move from one author to another on every book buying trip.

The book's cover is meant to get your attention and make you want to know more about the book. However, what will make me take a closer look is the book's title. If its got my curiosity stirred, I'll look at the back cover and read the synopsis. Most often that's when I'll put it back on the shelf. Either it's similar to what I've just read, or the plot just doesn't 'bite me'.

However, if my interest has received a dose of the reading narcotic, I'll read the first paragraph, then a page or two in the mid section. My first criteria is that it is well written, not genre. I'll enjoy any book if the characters are interesting and the author is skilled in bringing the scenes to life. Whether the book is fiction or non fiction, it must grab me on the first page.

Do you look at the cover's design? Do you read the synopsis? Do you read a few pages like I do? Or are you strictly a genre reader and zero in on the latest release in your favorite subject?

Thoughts About Awakening

Inspirational Tweets for the Soul-Chapter One

View another webinar from Foundation for Well Being

You're Awesome!

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

What You Want Most

My husband asks every morning, "What's on the agenda today?" He knows that I have a never ending of list of projects, obligations, wishes and deadlines. I found that if I try to do it all, I accomplish nothing.

Follow the 80/20 rule“Nothing can add more power to your life than concentrating all your energies on a limited set of targets.” -- Nido Quben

The 80/20 rule says that on a list of 10 tasks, only 2 of those tasks will return 80% of the value of the entire list. Look at your ‘to do’ list for today. Which tasks are directly related to what you most want in life? Find the 2 high value items on your list and tackle them first. These tasks are the ones that really move us forward.

Many of us actively avoid the top 2 priorities because they are more challenging than the rest. If they are to lead us to worthy goals, they are undoubtedly asking us to move into new territory in thinking and acting, and this can be scary. But this is also REWARDING!

“Don’t kid yourself: it’s because you’re doing all those C’s (low priorities) and NOT because you haven’t any time, that you don’t get to do your A’s.” -- Alan Lakein

Excerpt from "Higher Awareness" website http://www.higherawareness.com/index2012.html