I think my personality suits a Mediterranean time-table.  For whatever reason, I really do find that taking a siesta in the afternoon is a very civilized way in which to progress through ones day!  I know that some people find it simply doesn’t suit them to have a short snooze during the day; they wake [...]

“What’s the difference between Transcendental Meditation and mindfulness meditation?” This frequently asked question rises out of the growing popularity of these two mainstream meditation practices. Due to requirements of time and tuition for learning the Transcendental Meditation technique, some people may wonder, “Aren’t all meditations basically the same?” Mindfulness practices can be easily learned from [...]

Do or Die This is a do or die situation for all of us. If we do, we do not die; if we do not do, we die! Yes, one day or the other, all of us are to give up the body—this is what is normally called death. But, if we understand that mere [...]

“Meditation is a vital component of the practice of Zen Buddhism.”Including many different exercises and techniques to promote the ongoing development of the awareness of our essential nature. Two aspects of Zen Buddhist practice, each with it’s own techniques, observation and cessation.  Between each of these extremes there is a balance that needs to found.  [...]

At the end of the 19th century, Canadian physician Richard Bucke described a level of human development he called “cosmic consciousness.” Dr. Bucke wrote about a state of “enlightenment or illumination,” an experience of “eternal life” paired with “an indescribable feeling of elevation, elation, and joyousness.” In Bucke’s day, the main obstacle to researching Cosmic [...]

Hypnosis to me is a way of recreating my life story from this moment forward. I believe when we are born we are from birth imposed upon with a set of predetermined ideas, thoughts, beliefs, or as I like to refer to them-tapes. We are in a sense hypnotized to live, think, behave, and believe [...]

Many would say yes – meditation is a waste of time! Time is one of the few commodities we cannot save or store. Everyone is allotted 24 hours in a day and most of us have busy lifestyles with little time to lose. It would appear spending ½ to one hour sitting perfectly still doing [...]

There are many forms of meditation, practiced for various reasons—for example, to simply chill or relax, to promote a sense of compassion, or to become more “mindful” of oneself or surroundings. Most of these practices can be learned either for free or very cheaply, from a friend who learned in her yoga class, from a [...]

Meditation, in contrast to popular belief, is not deep concentration or the tuning out of external stimulus for the sake of transcending daily life. Meditation, rather, is a return to reality. There is indeed a place within the broad definition of the term for the image of Buddha under the Bo tree, or a monk [...]

A massage is a wonderful way to relax, relieve tension, and get some relief from sore aches and pains. An important part of a massage session is the use of lotions, cream, and oils. These types of products are an important element of an enjoyable massage. There are many types of products that are designed [...]

Choosing natural insomnia remedies over prescription drugs can prove to be a wise decision for many reasons. Drugs for insomnia can be powerful, yet along with their punch come many challenging side effects . The top problem would be physical dependency. Some drugs are more prone to create dependency than others and should be used [...]

The following are three types of meditations I do almost every morning. If you have limited time in the morning you can do just one, or try to move through them quickly. I find that by doing them consistently I require less time to do them. But if I let a few days go by [...]

Reading aura colors can teach you a lot about a person or even about yourself, and can clue you into how someone is feeling, what they are doing, or what kind of person they are. The mistake that most people make when learning to read auras is thinking that color definitions are cut and dried. [...]

Standing meditation is a tai chi technique that focuses your mind, relaxes tension, and cleanses your entire body. Because of unhealthy lifestyles our bodies have become polluted with impurities that block the internal energy flow inside of our body. For the internal parts of your body to function properly energy and oxygen needs to be [...]

Each of us will approach this issue differently. For some of us, the particular place where we mediate daily is very important. Some people decorate the place where they meditate to resemble a special place, a holy place, or a retreat. If you choose to create a meditation space, it must be free from clutter. [...]