ayurveda insomnia

Insomnia No More

by Energy HealingEnergy MedicineFeatured

Sleep. You’re always getting too little of it. Or even if you’re getting enough, chances are, it’s not the right quality. Or if it’s the right quality, it’s the wrong type. There are even different types of insomnia.1 With all these different variables, does anyone have the solution to perfect sleep? At first glance, it would appear the answer is “no.” The CDC reports that 1/3 of American adults don’t get enough sleep and even when we go on vacation, 63% of us still struggle with sleep.2 3

Arianna Huffington recently wrote a book about sleep where she explores how sleep can impact multiple areas of your life: physical, mental, psychological, professional, social, and even sexual. Arianna was inspired to write The Sleep Revolution after she collapsed from sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and burnout in 2007 due to a high-stress lifestyle; her fall was so hard, that she broke her cheekbone.

Most people (luckily) won’t suffer from a catastrophic breakdown like Arianna; rather, they’ll find they fall into bad sleep habits, such as “catching up” on sleep during the weekend after getting too few zzz’s during the work week. Or, they may struggle to get their bodies and minds back on a good sleep schedule when we “fall back” or “spring forward” for Daylight Savings. Regardless of the cause, addressing sleep issues will help you live a more balanced and healthier life. Moreover, if you are currently on a healing journey, restorative sleep is a crucial component to your long-term success.

In American culture, we look for a quick fix for anything that ails us – including sleep. As of 2014, there were over nine million Americans using prescription meds to get a good night’s rest. While this is certainly concerning, the alarming statistic is around emergency-room visits related to those prescriptions: in a four-year period, there were twice as many people hospitalized because they had “overmedicated.” This study, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration, did not even address the fact that sleeping pills, like Ambien, are dangerously addictive; they also interfere with your meditation and daytime clarity as well.4

So, what can you do get a better night’s rest? Take a page out of your energy healing handbook.

Ayurveda for sleep

Ayurveda is the world’s oldest healing system and literally means “the science of life.” Originating in India, Ayurveda considers sleep one of the three essential parts of good health (the other two are proper diet and balanced sexuality). In fact, sleep is so central to optimal health in Ayurveda that the word for “natural sleep” is Bhutadhatri – a combination of the Sanskrit word Bhuta (your physical body) and Dhatri (mother). Bhutadhatri nourishes one’s body like a mother nurtures her child.

Below are three Ayurvedic sleep remedies to help you achieve health physiologically, psychologically, and neurologically:

1. Indulge in a cup of warm spiced milk

Turns out, the old wives’ tale of drinking warm milk to fall asleep has merit. Take that warm milk one step further by adding a spice like cardamom, cinnamon, or nutmeg, and you will have a good night’s sleep in a warm mug.

This Ayurvedic sleep remedy is based around the mother-nurturing concept: milk is the first thing that we consume after birth, and drinking warm spiced milk as a part of your bedtime routine will have a nurturing effect on our body and mind. Science has also shown that there are components in milk that support the quieting of the nervous system, which in turn promotes restful sleep.5

2. Just breathe

Before you head to bed, practicing your breathing exercise can have a powerful effect on your energy – and your ability to fall or stay asleep.

Pranayama is the control and extension of the breath that activates your Prana (your life force energy). To begin your Pranayama breathing exercise, start by focusing on and connecting to your heart. Once you have made a connection, inhale deeply and chant “om” on your exhale. The “o” sound should be three times as long as the “m” sound. Repeat until you feel nourished and ready to fall asleep.

3. Go to bed no later than 9 or 10 PM (and wake between 4 and 6 AM)

Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Who knew Ben Franklin was a follower of Ayurveda?

When you sleep from 9 or 10 PM to 4 to 6 AM, you are giving yourself a natural boost of sattva to start your day (sattva is Sanskrit for optimism/clarity). An important part of Ayurveda psychology, sattva is best described as the amazing happiness you feel just from being alive, which children so easily embody.

And be sure that one of the first things you do in the morning is step outside for a moment and take in the early morning light. Daylight sets you up to be more awake during the day. (Note: if you live in the north where daylight hours are limited in the winter months, invest in a quality light box that you use upon waking to simulate daylight.)

As a part of your early to rise routine, get your physical exercise in before noon. It’s better to wake up early enough to go to the gym before work rather than going in the evening if you are over the age of 25.

Drinking warm spiced milk and practicing Pranayama is often the easy part of a natural sleep remedy. It’s the going to sleep at 9 or 10 PM (and waking at 4 to 6AM) that most people struggle with…after all, life today, with all of it’s online distractions, has no such schedule.

So, what else can you do to get a good night’s rest?

Work with nature, not against it

While we are all special flowers in our own right, nature is rather impersonal and plays by the physical laws of the universe (and not your night owl tendencies). Your body is part of nature and there’s no sense in fighting against your innate programming (spoiler alert: you’re not going to win this round).

You are programmed to go to bed when it gets dark and wake when it’s light. Your biological rhythms – controlled by your internal body clock – affects everything from body temperature and appetite to hormones and sleep timing. These biological rhythms tie back into the three pillars of Ayurvedic health: sleep, proper diet, and balanced sexuality; if one area of your health is off, the others will suffer as well.

So, the secret to getting your zzz’s isn’t a magic pill or potion; once again, ancient energy healing wisdom, combined with being in touch with your body and Mother Nature, and getting to bed at a decent hour, delivers a sleep solution that will put you on the path to living your best life.

So, here’s to restful sleep!

American Indian beliefs earth

We Are the Land

by ChakrasEnvironmentalFeatured

One of the concepts central to Native American beliefs is the principle that “we are the land.” Woven tightly into many aspects of Native American life and spirituality, this fundamental idea goes beyond being close to nature or seeing the world through an environmental lens. The American Indian dogma of “we are the land” centers around the belief that the Earth is the mind of the people and the people are the mind of the earth. It is impossible to separate the two and our destiny can’t be isolated because the Earth is a part of our being and a reflection of ourselves.

“We are the land” is not a romantic analogy meant to convey that one is a “nature lover” or “close to nature;” rather, it means that we are literally the same being, composed of the same connections and consciousness that ties the roots of the Earth to the roots of human bodies and minds. Just like the base chakra, if these roots are not grounded, it is impossible to create connections with the world around you. Because we are one and the same, everything is sacred and must be honored, loved, and respected. From mountains and oceans to honeybees and flowers, all living things are made up of the same five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space.

Wakan Tanka

Native American Indians see nothing standing between them and Wakan Tanka, which can be loosely translated as the “Big Holy.” Wakan Tanka is not a god of punishment, but the ruling power of Good.

At the time of creation, the Creator to the Native People gave these sacred instructions:

  • Do nothing to pollute our Mother, rise up with wisdom to defend her.
  • Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world, and the animal world.
  • Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother.
  • Take full responsibility for your actions.
  • Be truthful and honest at all times.
  • Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
  • Look after the well being of mind and body.
  • Do what you know to be right.
  • Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
  • Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
  • Show great respect for your fellow beings.
  • Remain close to the Great Spirit.
  • Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

 

Everything is a part of us, and we are a part of everything – complete unity. Indigenous oral traditions passed down through generations preach the need to be humble in the face of Mother Nature, a wise mindset indeed. In fact, it would do “modern” society good to take a page out of the “we are the land” guidebook; by completely ignoring its directives, we continue to treat the Earth as an owned asset in a capitalist race to the bank. So far, we have polluted the air with harmful industrial emissions, poisoned the land with pesticides, and contaminated the water with chemicals. We have unleashed the destructive power of uranium by mining it and making bombs that are capable of complete annihilation.

By living close to the land, the First People understood the natural laws that govern the elements and knew it was wrong to dig up powerful substances buried deep within the Earth. Today, we live in a state of constant disconnect – from the Earth, our bodies, the beating heart of the All – and are finally being forced to face the consequences of years of disrespect to the laws of nature: massive superstorms and extreme climate changes unleash wind, fire, and flooding on an unprecedented scale.

Possibly the most important lesson we can learn from Native elders is the idea of harmony, that is, living in relation to the earth, the sky, the animals, the spirits. When you are dedicated to maintaining harmony – both within yourself and in your outside world – you are walking on what the Native traditions call the “path of beauty.”

To walk the Earth in harmony, in balance both within yourself and externally in the environment, requires purification to correct any discordance or “dis-ease.” You need to heal wherever you have not followed the natural order of life on Earth.

The Navajo “blessingway” teachings lay out this natural order in the four cardinal directions:

  1. East is the sunrise, the season of spring and new growth, when a child learns spiritual and moral standards.
  2. South is noon, the season of summer, when a youth receives an education and starts to work.
  3. West is sunset, the season of autumn and harvest, when the parent maintains the family and home, and becomes the storyteller and conducts ceremonies.
  4. North is midnight, the season of winter and endings, when the grandparent reflects on the Self, and teaches reverence for the natural order and how to restore resources and maintain the right relationship to the elements.

In the Center of the natural order is the hearth, informing all the directions through the central position of spirit and love.

Our modern tradition is radically different, comprised of competition, plunder, and despair. When you walk in harmony with all of the creation, you feel your connection to everything and everyone around you. You don’t plunder the resources of Earth or rape her for your own pleasure. You don’t strive to be or have more than anyone else. You live in the love of harmony and community, not the despair of failure, separation, isolation.

Walking in Beauty is the closing prayer from the Navajo Blessingway Ceremony, the main healing ceremony that is designed to bring forth positive blessings and prevent bad things from happening.

Walking in Beauty

With beauty before me I walk
With beauty behind me I walk
With beauty above me I walk
With beauty around me I walk
It has become beauty again
Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.
In beauty all day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons, may I walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With dew about my feet, may I walk.
With beauty before me may I walk.
With beauty behind me may I walk.
With beauty below me may I walk.
With beauty above me may I walk.
With beauty all around me may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.
My words will be beautiful…

Heal and Live in Harmony

Today we fail to invoke the sacred. We seem to be counting on technology to fix the problems we have created: a machine to collect all of the plastic littering our oceans; better detection systems to warn when hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, and tsunamis are approaching; slightly less harmful pesticides and herbicides; a way to inject the CO2 we have emitted into the atmosphere back into the ground. Compare these short-term solutions to what the elders are trying to teach us: new scientific discoveries will not necessarily be the change that leads to the betterment of all living beings.

What is needed is a change in attitude – a change in awareness.

It is only when we understand and live the true meaning of unity that we will bring our inner lives into harmony and heal our “dis-ease.” When we learn humility and stop treating our Mother Earth like a personal treasure chest to fund our every whim and desire, will we recognize a change in attitude. Coming into balance with all living beings and respecting their right to be here as much as our own will reflect a change in awareness. When we stop thinking we are safe and secure from the consequences of our own actions, then, and only then, will we be getting down to the root cause rather than simply treating the symptoms. Then, and only then, will we too walk in beauty.

hollywood sexual assault scandal

Me Too

by FeaturedHuffington PostWomen

Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood movie mogul and star-maker, has been accused of sexual intimidation and abuse by over 40 women, including big names like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, and Ashley Judd. His behavior was a well-known secret in Tinseltown, but his easy ride is over. And it’s because of the power of women to speak up, to speak out and tell their truth.

Powerful, seemingly untouchable, and arrogant men are getting a huge wake-up call these days. The “code of silence” is in a death spiral. Men like Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Bill O’Reilly, other offenders, and now Weinstein, have discovered that their wealth, fame, and industry clout are no longer enough to protect them from the consequences of their rampant mistreatment of women.

But getting rid of one offender or another isn’t going to change the general cultural acceptance of patriarchy and entitlement. Nina Jacobson, the female producer of the “Hunger Games,” said “We want to get to a place where the cost of silence is greater than the cost of speaking out. We want to shift the shame to the bully and away from the victims.”

Read entire article on HuffPo
Worldwide Healing Day

Worldwide Healing Day

by Energy HealingEventsFeaturedHeal Yourself—Heal the World

Mother Earth is ill, and she is approaching a breaking point. She has been extremely kind, nurturing, and merciful to her inhabitants: she has given us nutrition through her fertile grounds, quenched our thirst with cool water from her rivers and springs, and provided shelter in her forests and caves. Somewhere along the way, we lost the vision of her benevolence and began to treat her as our prey rather than as our respected and honored parent.

First came the dig economy: the reckless extraction of resources from the earth, which enabled a small number of countries, corporations, and c-suite executives to amass great wealth while leaving the majority of earth’s inhabitants in poverty and causing permanent damage to the environment.1 After years of abuse, Mother Earth is simply doing what she must to survive, which is to remove our ever-expanding population from the equation.

Just as we greedily take raw materials from the earth without considering the impact on future generations, we also apply the same philosophy to the gig economy: paying workers as little as possible with little or no benefits, and when the inevitable happens, cutting them loose and moving on to the next warm body. Is it really any surprise that violence, hate, and fear permeate every aspect of our society? And fear begets terrorism—from the mass shootings in the United States to the brutal killings by ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

For too long we have been treating the earth and all living beings as resources that can be thrown away once their purpose is served. Right now, we have the opportunity to join together and make a vital decision about our collective future: change our greed-based ways or be changed by the consequences: floods, caused by rising sea levels and extreme weather, sweep away entire cities; storms of epic size and strength decimate entire regions; uncontrollable fires leave behind ashes and death; and droughts make water, the basis of life, hard to come by.

Religions around the world have shown how integral water is to us: Native American oral traditions reference a flood that cleansed the Earth and re-purified it, just like the account of Noah and the Ark in the Christian Bible. Ritual washing for purification is used in all three Abrahamic religions, as well as in the dharmic traditions of the East and in the Pagan and Earth religions.

When I began to think about Worldwide Healing Day, over three years ago, the world was on a very different trajectory. Yes, we were leaning towards the edge, but we still had hope: major emission offenders were beginning to be held accountable; science provided facts about climate change that were not ignored or disbelieved; immigrants worked openly and embraced the American Dream; when catastrophe struck, communities banded together and governments provided aid. Fast forward three years and we are living in frightening times; it has become impossible to detangle one crisis from the next. Climate and cultural crises have overwhelmed our empathic ability to give and receive compassion and love.

There is a silver lining—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build anew a society based on caring for the health and well-being of the planet and one another. When we integrate our knowledge of what must be done with what we are experiencing in these ongoing natural disasters, wisdom emerges. When you share your wisdom in conversation with others, it acts as a catalyst for them to go out into the world and become part of the solution.

Mother Teresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” So many movements have been built around the concept that global change must start locally, with each one of us. If you are feeling lost and alone, Worldwide Healing Day will help you resolve your personal turmoil and find your way again. If you’re already involved in the process of healing and have started to absorb the spiritual teaching of “heal yourself/heal the world,” join us for Worldwide Healing Day. Connect your bright light to that of others to create a superstorm of healing and love.

Sign up for Worldwide Healing Day >>

About Worldwide Healing Day

Worldwide Healing Day is an annual event led by NY Times best-seller and Spiritual Teacher Deborah King. Every year on October 21st, people from around the globe will unite as one to collectively focus their intentions and create a unified field of healing energy. Each individual healing thought is magnified by the thousands of other simultaneous intentions, creating a vortex of love and compassion that helps us heal ourselves and the world.

Heal Yourself – Heal the World

Deborah conceptualized Worldwide Healing Day while writing her fourth book, Heal Yourself—Heal the World and she dedicates an entire chapter to this special day. Go on an energy journey of a lifetime withHeal Yourself—Heal the World and embracing your inner healing powers. Deborah explains how your energy shifts and expresses itself through your chakras and shows you that you really do have the power to heal. Filled with meditations and profound techniques, it’s a do-it-yourself guide to healing yourself and to sharing your newfound skills with others, including your pets. Along the way, you’ll meet your spiritual guides, learn about meditation and mind/body types (a handy tool indeed), and understand how to stay healthy and in love with your life. Get your copy >>

Citations:

  1. The concept of “Gig and Dig Economies” is from a speech by Naomi Klein, a Canadian author, social activist, and filmmaker. Her 2014 book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, was a NY Times best-seller.
California fires

Up in Smoke

by EnvironmentalFeaturedHuffington Post

Three hundred square miles of California is burning. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never seen a fire like this one, with over 3,500 homes destroyed and dozens of lives lost. I know what it feels like to have to evacuate, to get away from the smoke that fills your lungs and chokes you, to wonder if you will have a home to return to. Imagine losing everything—every “thing” you possess: your clothes, your photos, your electronics, your furniture, everything from your toothbrush to your car gone up in smoke. It can happen not only from fire gone wild, but also from water and wind, as in Puerto Rico, or Texas, or Florida. And you don’t need much of an imagination to understand that these superstorms are no longer rarities, but are what we can expect to happen with more frequency and ferocity.

Mother Earth is not happy with what we have done to her and isn’t going to take it lightly any longer. We have heated the planet, changed the ecology, poisoned her component elements of sea and sky and land, destroyed her biodiversity, and set ourselves on a catastrophic course of destruction. What can you do about it?

Passing through an area in northern California, on one side of the road I saw the smoldering remains of a forest fire; on the other side I could smell the smoke from another fire, mostly homes, that was still not contained. Californians know all about the autumnal “fire season.” But these aren’t the usual wildfires, so common at this time of year. My home state is in flames, with over 21 fires burning and the wind coming up again today. The fear is that these fires will merge into major infernos that cannot be contained.

The Atlas Fire is still scorching Napa Valley’s cherished wine country, and the huge Tubbs Fire has taken out whole neighborhoods in Santa Rosa. Entire towns are potentially in the path of walls of fire and are being evacuated. Tens of thousands of people have had to flee the flames that are hungrily gobbling up thousands of homes and businesses, forests, and the lives of at least 23 people (with numbers sure to rise). GoFundMe appeals are already online to help families who have lost literally everything. The Diablo winds (known as the Santa Ana winds in southern California) are fiercer than ever, hampering efforts of thousands of weary firefighters as the winds blow fiery embers flying over a mile. These hot dry winds, which pick up at night, can reach almost hurricane-type strength; Sonoma County recorded winds at 79 m.p.h.

We are seeing this new breed of unnatural “natural” disaster everywhere. Floods in Texas. Hurricanes in Florida and the Caribbean islands. Fires in the West of the US. No matter how many “deniers” there are out there, scientists agree: climate change is a major factor. We were warned that climate change would produce superstorms, and here they are. The pictures of California after the fires look like the ones from Puerto Rico – total devastation. And who knows what kind of mayhem the next winter will bring?

California has some of the most potentially dangerous severe fire weather in the U.S. Wildfires are fed by dry air, high winds, and low humidity. This past summer broke the records for heat. More exceptional heatwaves and more severe droughts set the stage for more intense fires. Even those heavy summer rains couldn’t alleviate the effects of five years of drought and provided lots of new growth for kindling. In Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean, hotter gulf and ocean waters made for bigger and more severe hurricanes.

A 2012 study1 published in the journal of the Ecological Society of America, found that climate change will produce “as much as a fourfold increase” in wildfires as the Northern Hemisphere warms, with fire even reaching the Arctic, which will grow more plants capable of burning as the frozen northlands thaw. And the Gulf jet stream, also affected by climate change, isn’t delivering enough moist air and rain from the Gulf of Mexico north into the U.S. mainland. Forests absorb some of the carbon dioxide that comes from burning fossil fuels, which then leads to more warming and therefore more wildfires. More intense winds from storms (witness this year’s hurricanes) knock down “slash fuel,” the fallen branches that provide kindling to forest fires; chaparral scrublands contribute to deadly crown fires.

And the size, severity, and frequency of these fires are increasing over the years. The “wildland-urban interface” (WUI), as the U.S. Forest Service calls the places where homes have been built in what used to be wilderness, directly impacts wildfires and requires more resources to fight them. As of a 2010 study 2, almost 44 million houses were in the WUI, especially in California, Texas, and Florida. Houses are encroaching on once pristine natural landscapes, and lives are in danger. The fires that are still raging can shift direction at any time, giving people barely moments to escape the onslaught and the sheer terror of being burned alive.

What does the future hold? When will the consequences of ignoring climate change be acknowledged and acted upon?

As a spiritual teacher, I have to speak out. The time has come when we all have to take action. Especially since we are in the grips of a government intent on destroying what small efforts we have made toward protecting our environment.

Are you passionate about saving the environment—the air, water, soil, plants, animals, and people that make up life on earth? What can you do? You can offset your carbon footprint. You can power your home with green energy. You can support any of the more than 170 organizations in USCAN, the U.S. Climate Network. You can drive an electric or hybrid car. You can eat less meat (which uses the most resources to produce). You can light your house with LED light bulbs that use 80% less energy. You can follow the U.N. guidelines for climate action. Most of all, you can speak up. Learn the facts about climate change and share them on social media. Call your elected local, state, and federal representatives to get them moving in the direction of tackling this huge problem before it’s too late.

This article was originally published on the Huffington Post.

TV Violence Huffington Post

TV Violence: Enough is Enough

by FeaturedHuffington PostSocial ActivismTrauma and Violence

This article originally appeared on The Huffington Post. You can read the entire article here.

When you wake up to the news that 59 people have been murdered and over 527 more injured in Las Vegas, many of them in critical condition, and realize that one man—one!—did this to 600 people in 9 minutes, you have to wonder: why do we live in such a violent country? In the U.S., more than 30,000 Americans are killed each year with guns.1

So what did the killer do as a child? My bet is he was affected by violent shows, just like the recent Washington high school shooter, Caleb Sharpe, who was enamored of TV shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Game of Thrones,” and movies like “American Psycho.” 2

Read Entire Article
earth root chakra

Take a Knee Together for Mother Earth

by ChakrasEnergy HealingFeatured

Okay, I admit I’m not a fan of football but I tip my metaphorical hat to the NFL players and team owners who are kneeling, locking arms, or not going out on the field during the National Anthem, the traditional start of the game. There’s a political protest behind that decision, but that’s not what I’m interested in at the moment. It’s the fact that the players are not allowing themselves to be divided—by race, by fear of consequences, by anything. They are firmly stating: we are a team, we support each other, we are united in our actions. It’s a powerful message for us all, without regard to political stance.

You can feel the solidarity, the sheer strength in forming a unit. Books standing shoulder to shoulder on a bookcase shelf have an intrinsic stability, rather than having the same books scattered chaotically over the floor. When you feel like you are stable and supported, the energy center at the base of your spine—known as the root chakra—is open and your energy flows easily throughout your body. The root chakra is the energetic foundation of your life. When it is in balance, you feel grounded, safe, secure. Your basic needs are being met. You are comfortable in your body. You will survive and flourish. It’s like a tree, which stands tall because its root system deep in the earth supports and balances its height that towers above.

When your root chakra is not in balance, you’re just trying to survive. You’re not grounded—physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. You may be tripping over things, wondering how you’ll pay the rent, or stuck in an eating disorder or on anxiety meds or sleeping pills. Your feet, knees, or legs may hurt and you can’t seem to get rid of that ever-present cold. It’s no fun.

All living things have chakras, places where the energy coalesces in certain basic ways and forms vortices of energy. Just like the energy in you travels up the spine from the base chakra to the seventh chakra at the top of the head (and into higher dimensions), so too does the earth rotate energy throughout the planet. When the earth’s root chakra is out of alignment, like it is at the present time, Mother Nature herself gets unhinged. Major hurricanes destroy whole islands; earthquakes topple buildings; fires roar through forests and threaten homes while the smoke infiltrates the lungs of all in its path; volcanoes erupt, floods sweep away houses, cars, and people. The earth protests our indignities against it with an explosive ring of fire. We are currently witnessing the earth coming unhinged at its base chakra, apparently readying to throw itself (and us) into space.

For you to balance your own root chakra, you can get more grounded by shutting off your phone and computer and going outside. You can sit under a tree, like the Buddha did while getting enlightened, or do a physical practice like Pilates, yoga, or tai chi to connect to your body. You can do a meditation practice to keep yourself stress-free and in balance. Most importantly, you can change your response to change.

What do I mean by that? Well, think of what happens when you’re faced with a major change in your life—the breakdown of your family, the loss of a loved one, the end of a job, loss of faith in a functional government, or a stable and sustainable earth? You get scared, and fear, more than anything else, is what throws your base chakra out of balance. You have to decide to stop seeing change as an enemy to be feared or somehow controlled. Fear is the most destabilizing force there is. Internal fear turns into fear of the “other”—those from different cultures, different religions, different skin tones. You know, those immigrants, those white supremacists, those bleeding heart liberals, those terrorists.

So what can restore balance to our beautiful blue planet, where millions of people live in fear and that fear has infiltrated the earth itself? When whole populations are terrified of losing everything they hold dear—whether through fierce storms, unhinged shooters, or political upheaval—the fear is palpable. That’s when we need every single one of us to connect with a strong and stable base chakra and spread a ripple of calm energy out to help heal our surroundings—hearts open, emanating love to Earth and her inhabitants. Kneeling for peace, in peace, is surely a win for all.

So you can be part of the solution, rather than adding to the fear in the world, you need to stabilize your root chakra. To find out what shape your own base chakra is in, take my free chakra quiz on Facebook.

animal energy healing courses

Communicate with Your Pets through Energy Healing

by Energy HealingFeaturedHeal Yourself—Heal the World

animal energy healing coursesI love animals with all my heart, and I know many of you share this same deep passion.

At any given time, I have had a menagerie of pets at home in all sizes and shapes.

When my husband, Eric and I lived near Lake Tahoe, we eventually found our way to a great piece of ranch property in the mountains that was perfect for raising animals. The place was like Noah’s Ark, complete with llamas, a playful pig, Mr. Goat (who traipsed along freely when my beloved horse, Influence, and I went riding up the steep mountain trails), peacocks, Bessie the cow, plenty of chickens pecking their way around the barn, and even a pond of fish. These animals were some of my finest teachers; they taught me so much about how to listen to what they had to say below the level of human speech, how to lovingly treat those we live with, and how to heal with touch, and later, with intentionality.

There are no shortage of health benefits that come with pet parenthood. From elevated serotonin and dopamine levels to lower blood pressure, the medical community agrees: your pet is always actively healing you. In fact, animal therapy has become so popular that it is now regularly used in hospitals, children’s recovery centers, and long-term care facilities for the elderly.

When you open your home to an animal, be it a teacup poodle or a tortoise, you realize how receptive they are to energy. Although invisible to the naked eye, your energy field blends with the energy field of others, including that of your pet.

People that struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental health diseases understand the role that a pet can play in alleviating disabling symptoms so that healing at a deeper level can take place. Conversely, when you heal your own energy system, you are also caring for the energy field of your furbaby. In fact, clearing and balancing your own energy system positively impacts your pets. Your pet is always actively healing you. Especially your cat!  You can do the same thing for them!

As an energy healer, I spent many years studying and practicing a variety of methods and techniques specifically for animals. This helped me to be there when any of my own loving animal companions were in pain and in need of my healing hands. Below, I’d like to share a few of these methods so you can be equipped for any animal that might live with you or come through your doors as a practitioner. By the way, many of these methods can cross over into the human realm as well.

You may not be able to chat out loud with your animals, like in animated movies, but don’t underestimate an animal’s keen ability to communicate. Animals respond and connect with you in many ways, such as through body language, tone, speech, and appearance. When you listen to your pets, especially in a quiet state, you may receive subtle thoughts, feelings, or images from them. By having a positive, open, and honest state of awareness, and by noting their body language and their expressive faces, it is possible to communicate with them. After all, that’s how animals communicate with each other in nature, by sensing intuitively what is happening in their environment and with other beings. You can trust that they will be honest with you.

There are four ways you can activate your intuitive power to communicate with your pets:

1. Sending and receiving feelings (clairsentience)

One of the easiest senses to develop when communicating with an animal (or person) is called “clairsentience” (clear sensing); it is a great way of “feeling into” another living being.

To use this communication method, you will tap into the energy centers of your second, third, and fourth chakras. Next, tune into your pet and simply receive the information you need about him. As with everything related to energy, it might take a bit of practice. However, the payoff will be well worth the effort: you will be able to sense what your pet is feeling.

If an animal is in pain, you may even be able to tell where that pain is and what’s causing it. But remember, this is intuition, not an expert medical diagnosis. Always bring your pet to the vet to verify what’s going on and to be advised if medical treatment is recommended.

2. Sending and receiving through the auditory channel (clairaudience)

In the same manner that you use clairsentience, you can also send thoughts mentally to your pet – and receive them back. We call this method “clairaudience” (clear hearing) because you can hear words and phrases from your pet in your mind.

By listening and being in-tune with the vibrations of your pet, you’ll be able to hear them loud and clear.

Recently, a student of mine (Ellen) was telling me about a health scare her beloved standard poodle went through. One day, Ellen noticed that Joujou (French for “toy” and “play”…because that’s all he ever wanted to do) was a little off; he was still energetic, but she felt that Joujou was telling her something wasn’t right – because she kept hearing the words “stomach”– and she immediately took him to the vet. It’s very good she listened because Joujou had a twisted stomach (a breed-specific problem that can strike dogs with big narrow chests, like standard poodles and German shepherds) and had to have emergency surgery.

While Ellen was using clairaudience, she did not understand what drove her to act that day. She was worried her reaction was simply a freak accident…what if something like this happened again and she did not recognize it?

To demonstrate the power of clairaudience, I told her about how I would always hear my horse, Influence, tell me when he needed to stop and take a break from the hot weather on rides through the desert. Your pet is always speaking – be sure to listen!

3. Sending and receiving visual images (clairvoyance)

When you can send and receive mental pictures and images between you and your pet, this type of communication is called “clairvoyance” (clear sight). This type of communication is extremely helpful when you are physically separated from your pet and searching for them. Tune in deep within your energy field and you’ll be able to “see” the approximate area to which your pet has wandered.

Clairvoyance is also helpful if you adopted your pet and want to discover what happened to them in the past. All you have to do is establish a connection and ask this pet to show you images of previous experiences. When using clairvoyance, remember to go beyond the scope of logic as you process the information. Also, keep in mind that sometimes the images you receive are symbolic.

It’s important to remember, especially when a pet had a different owner prior to you, that the things you see may be upsetting. Sadly, just as people abuse other people, they also abuse animals. If you do discover your pet has past trauma, it is 100% within your power to help them heal. I dedicate an entire chapter to healing your pets in my book Heal Yourself – Heal the World.

4. Knowings

As your eighth and higher chakras open, you may find that you begin to receive information that is commonly referred to as “knowings.” With this ability, you can immediately receive the information you need to help your pet. However, for now, assume that this isn’t the channel you are working on, as it’s more likely that you are receiving information from a pet or a person in one of the three ways described above.

If you think you’re receiving knowings, be suspicious that the information is instead coming from your personality; if it is, that information is not coming from a place of trustworthiness and should be questioned. I often find that newer practitioners incorrectly believe they are receiving knowings, when it’s actually their personality doing the speaking.

But for future reference, when you have been initiated to above the third initiatory level (which is pretty high), you may well begin to receive knowings. This is the method that I use the most in obtaining information. In this case, the information simply flows into your mind without you even asking for it, and you are given all the information you need to help that pet or person.

Which method you start using with your pets depends on your individual intuitive power. If you’re one of the 40 percent who are kinesthetic learners and do best when you’re “hands on” and can feel or sense information, then you’ll use clairsentience. If you are one of the 20 percent who prefer processing information by hearing it, clairaudience will be the way to go. If you are one of the approximately 40 percent who learn best by seeing, you will most likely lean toward clairvoyance in your communication with your pet. Finally, if you’re in that 1 percent group of people who have knowings, you’ll get the information that way. As you work with your pets and other animals, always remember that each of these beautiful creatures wants to be understood in the same way as humans.

What better reason to develop these intuitive healing skills than to help a pet?

With all that our pets do to keep us happy and healthy, it’s important that we do the same for them whenever we can.

If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into energy healing for your pet, be sure to join me in my course Energy Healing for Pets and Animals.

Autumn equinox

Stay Healthy During the Autumn Equinox

by Astrological EventsEnergy HealingFeatured

Early September is a time of deep transition. For those of us who love the sun and enjoy the feeling of its warm light on our bodies, September is our last call; it is the time of year where we find that if we have lingered outdoors for too long in the evening, we are met with a chilly darkness that ushers us indoors faster than anticipated. Others look to ground down, embracing new beginnings and looking forward to mugs of cinnamon spice tea enjoyed with loved ones in warmly lit living rooms.

As with any type of significant change, September is a time where we are at our most fragile and susceptible to both physical and mental ailments. As we move toward the Autumn Equinox, the days become shorter and nights longer. As much as some of us want to hold on to every last bit of summer, now is the time to focus on releasing the past and clearing out negative energies and lingering emotions so you can start new.

Keep reading for different things you can do to prepare yourself for the shifting temperatures and seasonal changes that will keep your entire being healthy — all while still enjoying those last vibrations of summer. ?

Ways to stay healthy during the Autumn Equinox

Equinoxes occur two times a year in the Spring and Fall and is the moment in which the plane of the Earth’s equator passes through the center of the Sun’s disk. The result? On an equinox, the day and night are of approximately equal duration all over the planet.

We are approaching the Autumn Equinox this week: September 22, 2017.

As with any major astronomical event, you — and your environment — will experience changes and shifts in energy. It’s important that both before, during, and after, the Autumn Equinox, you focus on achieving balance.

Journaling: Fertilize your mind

We live in a world where we’re constantly on the go, and it can be difficult to find the time you need to sit down and work through a painful experience. However, dedicating time to healing yourself should always be a priority, especially during a time of year when there are so many energy changes happening all around you. It’s not surprising that people struggle with fatigue, mental fogginess, a lack of time, and achiness before and after the Autumn Equinox (if not year-round) when they don’t dedicate time to healing themselves.

When you are writing, it is easy to simply document what you see in the world (which is often disorder and chaos). Try to go a step deeper and understand how the events unfolding in the world around you are impacting your psyche when journaling. Once you understand how you are being affected, you can then work on finding a solution! Remember, it’s important to give yourself time to reflect on the changes that you want to make. Focus specifically on what you will be releasing and what will take its place, as well as how these new energies will help you at this stage in your journey.

Think about your mind as a garden (and no, your garden doesn’t have to be a perfectly manicured one…it can be a vast mountainside or even a tiny windowsill terrarium). Whatever type of garden you are growing in your mind, there is one constant: if you don’t regularly attend to it, you will quickly be overgrown with weeds, which make it difficult for flowers to grow. With a regular journal practice, you are clearing out the thoughts and emotions in your mind that stifle your creativity and happiness.

Meditation: Find balance

In addition to journaling, regular meditation is crucial to the overall healing process and it will help you find balance during this chaotic time of year.

During the Autumn Equinox, your meditation practice should focus on finding balance and letting go of negative energies from the past that you may still be holding onto. When you don’t reconcile conflicting issues, chaos and sickness will move in and take over: which is why so many people find themselves getting sick during this time of year. The Autumn Equinox will only magnify your unresolved conflicts by adding its own intense energies into the mix.

During your meditation practices, try to release any energy that you have that is no longer serving you, so you can regain harmony within yourself and move toward completion. If you feel that there is something that remains unfinished, but you can’t put your finger on it, have patience and trust that it will unfold for you in divine timing.

While it is important to listen to your inner guide for reassurance, know that anything you are removing will be replaced with something better — even if it feels chaotic at the moment. It can certainly be difficult at times, but don’t allow yourself to be pulled back down with old emotions of fear and despair; Spirit has given you all the tools you need to make it through these uncertain times and find your balance once again. You are a lightworker, and there are hundreds of others working on the other side of the veil, to help you ground and release.

If you feel that there is something that remains unfinished, but you can’t put your finger on it, have patience and trust that it will unfold for you in divine timing.

Stay grounded — go outside!

If you have been tuning into my weekly Heal Thrive Grow shows, you know that I’ve spoken recently about the urgent need for us to protect our Mother Earth. Ignoring the fact that it is our only home and we are doing irreparable damage that needs to stop, the Earth (figuratively and literally) grounds us.

With the Autumn Equinox comes very powerful energies, and many of them will stir up feelings and emotions that aren’t all flowers and sunshine: we may feel confused, like we’re in the middle of a circus act with uncontrolled chaos swirling all around us; a feeling of unfinished affairs resulting from leftover energy; or even confusion and a fear that you’ll be dropped into an unpredictable situation with no way to escape.

One of the best ways to find your footing during the Autumn Equinox is simply to go outside and spend some time with Mother Nature. If you are lucky enough to live by the ocean, a lake, or a river, take a walk along its edge and when you find a peaceful spot, take a moment and appreciate the absolutely stunning surroundings that have been gifted to you in this very moment. If you live near a more suburban area, find a nearby park or hiking trail and spend some time there one day. And even city dwellers can take a walk up onto a patio, up to a rooftop, or simply open a window and feel the breeze blow outside.

Connecting with nature, no matter where you are in the world, will help you find stability and give you that reminder that we all need from time to time, that you are part of something bigger. As unpleasant as emotional instability, exhaustion, fogginess, and anxiety can be, nature will ground you and help you let go of what no longer serves you, allowing you watch as the wind carries it beyond the horizon.

Deborah King and Louise Hay

I’ll Carry You With Me

by Energy HealingFeatured

The morning that Louise passed, I woke up off balance.

As I stood in the kitchen preparing my morning tea, I reflected on the possible cause while absentmindedly scrolling through unread items in my inbox. Any drop of sleepiness I may have still had in me instantly evaporated when I saw the subject line, “Louise Hay Transition,” and read the email telling me that my friend, Louise Hay, had peacefully transitioned of natural causes at the age of 90 just hours earlier. I’m not sure how long I sat at the kitchen table for, but when I got up to get ready, my hot tea was cold.

My mentor and close friend had died.

Meeting Louise

I first heard of Louise Hay when I spotted an early version of her book, You Can Heal Your Life, on the shelf of a health food store near the hospital where my husband, Eric, was currently in a coma after a terrible mountain climbing accident. While I somehow survived the accident physically unscathed, the doctors in the intensive care unit were using words like,”irreversible damage,” “persistent vegetative state,” and “complete loss of brain function” when briefing me on Eric’s status.

Pacing up and down those white sterile hallways outside of the ICU, I felt utterly helpless and I had no idea what to do.

I’m not sure how much time passed, but eventually, a nurse came over and led me to a set of chairs. We sat down and she said, “you need to eat and you need to rest.” She told me that I should go for a walk to get some fresh air; I had been in the hospital for too long and it’s not always the best place to be, she told me. I immediately objected saying, “Eric…what if…” and she finished my sentence, “he will be here when you get back, I promise.”

When I went to that health food store near the hospital, there was Louise’s book on the shelf. I don’t remember much else about the trip to the health food store, but I do remember holding Louise’s book in my hands while a young teenager scanned my other items and dropped them into a shopping bag. Carefully, I handed the book to him so he could ring it up for me, never letting it out of my watchful sight. As soon as the cash register chirped its confirmation that the book was added, I said him, “don’t put it in the bag, I’ll carry it with me,” as I opened my arms to take the book back.

Back at the hospital, I devoured the book. At the end, there was an advertisement for the audiotaped version of You Can Heal Your Life, which I quickly ordered and was waiting for me when I brought Eric home. Eric got stronger every day, but it was still extremely difficult for me as his primary caregiver. He couldn’t bear to have light in the room or hear the phone ring, couldn’t ride in the car, or even watch TV to pass the time. I was so stressed from his condition, from the need to make enough money to pay the hospital bills, and from flashbacks of the accident I was having, that I wasn’t sleeping. It was the sound of Louise’s voice that held me together through all those dark days and nights.

You Can Heal Your Life

I read Louise’s book so often that it fell apart, and I worked hard to put her principles into action. Back then, I was already sober, doing 12-step work and counseling others, but Louise’s affirmations, which I posted all over the house, took me to a whole new level.

I said thousands of affirmations for Eric—who did get better—much to the surprise of the doctors. My own PTSD that I had from the accident also lightened. I kept at least a dozen hard copies of her book and the audio tapes around at all times, giving them to my energy healing clients and friends.

Some years after I first discovered You Can Heal Your Life, I brought a copy for a person I was visiting in prison. When I handed it to him he said, “Oh, I know that book! Around here we call it ‘The Prisoner’s Bible.’”

Fast-forward a few years, and I became a Hay House author. For those unfamiliar with the book publishing industry, authors generally only liaise with the publishing house through their assigned editor. However, from the start Louise went out of her way to befriend me: she would send me handwritten notes and invite me to intimate gatherings she hosted (her 80th and 85th birthday celebrations are still fresh in my memory!). When at more “work-related” events where we both presented, she often used to tease me that she could now retire in good conscience; after all, according to Louise, I could simply pick up where she left off and keep healing the world.

Before I met Louise in person, I already felt a strong connection to her. Our lives had followed similar paths: we were both abused at an early age, had been diagnosed at a young age with cervical cancer, and modeled before discovering our true calling in the spiritual world. She has impacted my life and shaped my beliefs in ways that I never dreamed were possible.

When I had tripped and fallen on the path, she picked me up and carried me. And just as she carried me, it is now my turn to share her message with the world.

Louise, may you rest in the light that you dedicated your life to sharing. I am at peace, knowing that you are divinely guiding us by your loving hand.

Heal Yourself Heal the World Book

Join Me in a Movement

by Energy HealingFeatured

Heal Yourself Heal the World BookThe other day I was talking to a student about a recent setback she had at work. Jalpa is an engineer for a U.S. company devoted to cleaning up pollution that has offices in both New York City and the Silicon Valley. She has been a student in my programs for some time now, and I’m always impressed by her sheer resilience to persevere and push forward despite so many difficulties that come with living in a country not her own.

Jalpa’s family lives in Delhi and is decidedly upper-middle class; her life in India would no doubt be less stressful and easier. She is very close with her mother, grandmothers, siblings, and cousins – despite her hectic work schedule, she speaks or Skypes with them almost daily. I often wonder why Jalpa wants to be in America so badly when she is sacrificing so much…and how she can find happiness in everyday life, especially given the extremely hostile climate that immigrants, especially those who are not Caucasian, find themselves in the U.S.

So, in our last session, I asked her. And I believe her answer will resonate with you at a very personal level, which is why I’m sharing this story with you.

Jalpa quoted the Dalai Lama:

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”

Jalpa went on to explain that she felt she had an obligation to do everything she could to help make the world a less polluted place, and she knew that she could be more impactful in the U.S. office — and that having a positive impact on the environment made her happy.

Together we can heal the world

Western culture has conditioned us to believe that happiness can be obtained instantly, whether it’s through a new relationship, a career with a bigger paycheck, a new house, or the hottest new tech gadget. Consequently, it’s not surprising that so many of us find ourselves physically sicker, mentally depressed, and spiritually empty.

Turns out, true happiness doesn’t happen simply by flipping a switch. You have to work at it…and the journey will be difficult at times. But you should also know that you have the power to change the path that you are on to live the life of your dreams.

Nearly 40 years ago, I discovered energy healing and it changed my life in ways that I never dreamed were possible. And the most amazing part of energy healing is that each and every one of us – yes, even you! – innately have the power to heal. In fact, your power to heal is packed with enough punch to mend wounds from your past and enough magic to spark a healthy and amazing new life; a life where the actions you take every day bring you true happiness.

To spread the word about healing yourself and healing the world, on Saturday, October 21st, I will be celebrating the very first Worldwide Healing Day. Together, we will grow the network of healing, accelerate our own personal healing and pass these gifts on to others. I would love it if you can join me to see what it’s all about; and it’s totally free, of course!

Join Me for Worldwide Healing Day!

Once you see how the power of energy can change your own life, you begin to realize that you can use this gift for the benefit of others—your family, your friends, even your pets! It is when you start helping others to heal and guide them on their own journeys to happiness that you realize energy healing is a power that can change the world for the greater good. Hundreds of thousands of students have found this to be true and I know that it is true for you, too.

If you are currently doubting that you can drive change at a worldwide scale, keep this quote from the Dalai Lama in mind:

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”

When you take action and activate the healing energy that is lying dormant inside of you, you will discover that you have many more options for healing and changing your life. That’s what energy healing does: it takes into account your whole being and sees the interconnections between your body and mind, heart and soul.

Hope to see you at Worldwide Healing Day, where, together we can change the world!

hannah

From Scott to Hannah: An Inspiring Journey to Happiness

by FeaturedTruth Heals

The moment that I first met Scott some 10 years ago during an interview, I knew he was the one for the job. I was searching for someone to help me launch the Deborah King Center and Scott, with his ability to be both simultaneously wildly creative and precisely methodical, was excited to join me on this adventure.

In addition to the regular working hours that we spent together in the office, Scott frequently joined me and my husband Eric on book tours and at workshops and events.

A talented composer and musician, Scott was famous for treating our workshop attendees to live music throughout the program. The film crew would always marvel at his ability to wear multiple hats throughout the event: Scott managed the less glamorous (but essential) technical activities, such as coordinating the “run of show” (a minute-by-minute timeline) and audio feeds, and would then seamlessly move into the role of musician. As he sat down at the keyboard, he would silently observe and appreciate the energy in the room for a moment before he joined in with perfect harmony.

Everyone is flawless – from a distance

When Scott and I would select images for the website, he always gravitated toward photos of beautiful women. Many people would not have thought twice about this – after all, Scott was married with two children, loved his job, and appeared to be happy. While his life seemed flawless from a distance, these images of beautiful women represented perfection to Scott: for them, there was no struggle, no need to photoshop, no white lies, no need to show only a “good” side.

But deep in my heart, I knew that Scott was living a life consumed with hiding. Once, when Eric and I were walking with Scott across the grounds of a workshop, Eric looked down and exclaimed, “Scott, you’ve got pink polish on your toenails!” We all laughed … and simply continued over toward the building where I was scheduled to present.

Letting each layer fall away

“Gender dysphoria” or “transgender” is when a person’s emotional and psychological identity as a male or female is opposite of their biological sex. Like every living thing on Earth, a person’s gender identity exists on a spectrum and gender dysphoria fits well within the range of human biological variation. Research published in The Journal of Neuroscience shows that people with gender dysphoria have structural differences in their brains that are between their desired gender and their genetic sex.

Being forced to hide something so integral to who you are as a human being, out of fear of isolation from your loved ones and community, leads many transgender people to a dark place where depression quickly takes over and anxiety flourishes. The Trevor Project reports that 40% of all transgender people have attempted suicide (and 92% tried before the age of 25). As if the internal struggle was not difficult enough, when a transgender person is verbally or physically assaulted, their risk for self-harm more than doubles.1

This life is a journey – and when the time comes for you to turn a corner on your healing path, you will know. For Scott, his lifelong struggle to conform to what society told him was “normal” eventually became overwhelming: he ended his first marriage, left the Deborah King Center, and embarked on a deeply personal journey that led him to transition to Hannah. After years of hormone therapy and active leadership in the transgender community, Hannah’s healing journey has given her clear eyes and a full heart to share with the world.

And we are very excited to welcome her back to the Deborah King Center!

Healing is a lifelong process and, just like you and me, Hannah’s journey for peace and happiness will continue. For much of her life, Hannah was forced to wear a mask and act through a body that did not match her soul. By slowly letting each and every layer of herself fall away, Hannah shows us that when you love yourself and lean into faith, anything is possible.

To celebrate and honor Hannah (and hopefully bring a smile, remembering her website image preferences from many years ago), this blog post features before and after photos of Hannah –what a beautiful woman she has become. We are forever grateful that Hannah’s path led her safely home to her Soul Family.

Welcome home, Hannah!

More information about what it means to be a transgender person

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been unable to contain my excitement that Hannah is coming back to the Deborah King Center. In my day-to-day conversations, I’ve been struck by how often a student, colleague, or DKC team member tells me that they also have a loved one who is transgender. Last week, Sarah, who’s new on the team, told me her teenage son is transgender. She said that she and her husband knew from when he was a young age that he was a boy, even though he was born as a girl. While she and her husband have concerns about letting him start hormone therapy at such a young age (simply because the long-term effects are unknown), the family all agrees that the choice is his to make. One of her biggest fears, she told me, was around the high suicide rate among transgender people. At the end of the day, she wants her son to go on to live a happy life – just like any parent wants for their child.

If you’re wondering what it means to be transgender, here are some important key points:

  • A person’s biological sex refers to the physical differences—the chromosomes, hormones, and internal and external sex organs—that help us assign a certain sex to a newborn infant. However, this is much more of a fluid topic than is commonly known; biological sex is not always obvious.

 

  • On the other hand, a person’s gender identity is their own personal experience with their gender. For transgender people, their internal gender identity doesn’t match what it says on their birth certificate. Unlike gender expression (see below), gender identity is not visible to others. You can’t look at someone and know if they feel like a man or woman or other gender inside.

 

  • Gender identity can also refer to the role of a male or female in society. From a young age, we are socially conditioned as to how we see men and women’s roles; change to these traditional roles is usually met with a lot of resistance, such as women becoming CEOs or men being stay-at-home dads.

 

  • Gender expression is how a person manifests their gender identity: their name, clothing, the way they style their hair, the tone and pitch of their voice, and body characteristics. Different cultures at different times have had various ways of expressing masculinity or femininity. High heels, for example, were originally worn by men who had a higher social status. Pink, a color we now associate with girls, was actually reserved for boys. In the 1800s, English men wore red uniforms and boys, who were seen as small men, wore pink (a less grown-up version of red).

 

  • Sexual orientation is often confused with gender. What gender you are in your psyche and soul doesn’t determine who you will be attracted to. Transgender people can be straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Scott was attracted to women; so is Hannah, and she recently married another woman. Isn’t their wedding picture (above) fabulous!

 

  • While the word “transgender” is a new construct, courtesy of Western culture, societies around the globe have their own long-held traditions for third, fourth, fifth, or more genders. It may come as a surprise to learn that worldwide the sheer variety of gender expression is almost limitless and that gender diversity has a long history among many different cultures. PBS shared an interesting Google Map a while back that shows the many gender-diverse cultures all over the world.

Transgender people have a different gender identity and/or gender expression than one based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Some take hormones prescribed by their doctors to align their bodies with their gender identity. Some choose to undergo surgery as well. It’s important to note that transgender person’s identity is not dependent on physical appearance or medical procedures, but on their own sense of themselves. Let’s all move into a brave new world where we can each be our own unique self, divorced of any external constructs or labels.

Untitled-design-1

How to Let the Total Solar Eclipse Re-Set You

by Energy HealingFeatured

It’s coming soon to the heavens near you: next Monday, August 21, 2017, there will be a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will darken skies over the U.S. mainland in a swath 70 miles wide from Oregon to South Carolina.

This eclipse can have a powerful impact on you, no matter where you are in the world: it offers you a chance to eclipse something out of your life. You may already be able to feel the ground shifting beneath you; know that your life is in flux and be ready for change. Get ready to make a leap of faith as your previous life dissolves into a more exciting future. Don’t hesitate or try to hold on to the past or you will miss this train of change as it roars into the station. Change cannot be negotiated and the eclipse can help you make it happen.

You’ll find plenty of information online and in local news about where and when to see the eclipse, how it will look, how long it will last, and how to view the celestial phenomenon safely. Of course, you’ll need some special eye protection to view this rare astronomical event.

Whether you are in position to see the total phase of this total solar eclipse along its narrow path across the U.S., or you view the partial solar eclipse from the rest of the mainland U.S., Canada, and northern parts of Latin America, you’ll be blessed with an exciting opportunity for awakening and reflection.

Not only will it be a spectacular and moving visual experience, it’s a perfect occasion to re-align yourself with the sun and moon, which hold a powerful sway over your psyche and soul. The eclipse will speed up your soul’s karmic journey through this lifetime; it will shine a light of exactly on where and what you need to let go of in order to move forward toward your true destiny. If you’ve lost your way, it will guide you back to your path.

Looking skyward on August 21, you’ll see the moon pass between the earth and the sun, creating a period of darkness. Watching the eclipse, be present in the moment, observe, and feel the ground shift beneath you as your soul corrects its direction.

Some amazing changes will appear in the sky during the eclipse. If you are able to view the totality of the eclipse, you’ll see the sun’s atmosphere suddenly appear like a halo around its outer edges. As the sky turns dark, planets and stars that aren’t visible in normal daylight can be seen. Depending on your vantage point, you might recognize Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter.

Taking a break from what might otherwise be a routine Monday in August—whether you are home, working, going to school, or traveling—will be a time-out for your soul. If you stop, look, and listen to your inner wisdom while the moon’s shadow passes by, you can re-set your awareness.

Here are some points to ponder as the Great American Total Solar Eclipse approaches:

1. Think of the eclipse as the closing and opening of a new chapter in your life. What could you resolve to end and begin at that turning point as the light disappears and then returns?

2. Ask yourself where you have strayed off your path; what steps can you take to get back on it?

3. Think of the eclipse as a metaphor for your spirit. When have you “lost the light” temporarily and then found it again? Use your journal to record your thoughts and feelings about the coming and going of the light in your life. What have you learned about your power to re-ignite or reawaken your inner light?

Observing the eclipse can be an opportunity to feel deep appreciation and gratitude for the amazing planet we call home. Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gargarin, was the first human to see the earth from space in April, 1961. He said, “Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship, I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty, and not destroy it.” Let’s make this eclipse the day where we all begin to heal ourselves and to work together to heal the world.

Chakra_Balancing_Guide

A Guide to Chakra Balancing

by Energy HealingFeatured

Your chakras are your seven primary energy centers of your body. Each one corresponds to certain body parts, physical processes, emotional condition and spiritual traits.

When your chakras are in balance, you feel, well… balanced. No, that doesn’t mean you can walk a tightrope when your chakras are open.

(Though it doesn’t mean you can’t).

If your chakras are balanced, you may feel positively energetic, eased or comfortable in and with your surroundings. You will find yourself connecting with people harmoniously and living your life unapologetically. However, if your chakras become blocked or damaged and you ignore them, you may suffer from a range of physical, mental, and emotional ailments.

I constantly stress the importance of taking time to practice chakra-balancing exercises because keeping your energy in balance is key to living a healthy, authentic life. It’s key to living your best life.

Essential Techniques for Balancing Your Chakras 

There are plenty of ways to restore balance to your chakras. The following examples are very powerful, but what’s most important is choosing a practice that feels right to you. Experiencing the natural flow of energy is your goal, after all. Thus, feeling truly comfortable is one of the essential aspects of these exercises. It’s okay to realize that not every exercise is the right exercise for you.

Using Affirmations

Affirmations are a powerful chakra balancing tool. Repeating certain phrases while focusing on your chakras helps you tap into their natural energy. They also have the added bonus of rewiring your brain. Chronic negative thoughts can be a symptom of unbalanced chakras, but they can also add to the problem. It’s a cycle of negativity that drains you of your essential energy.

Repeating affirmations helps you more easily replace your negative thoughts with positive ones.

To use them, meditate on the chakra you want to focus on balancing, and either out loud or in your mind, repeat the words.

Root chakra: I am safe, secure, and deeply rooted to the world. I belong here.

Practicing root chakra balancing will allow you to feel protected and secure. You want to use an affirmation that conveys these feelings. After all, your first chakra relies on an instinct for survival.

Sacral chakra: I am comfortable in my body, and physically balanced.

People with poorly-balanced sacral chakras often indulge in food, sex, or drugs to compensate for all that is lacking. Emphasizing your physical comfort helps to rebalance the chakra. Your sacral chakra is about you and your attraction and desire for others; it is governed by movement so let your sacral chakra know it’s okay to let your feelings flow gracefully.

Solar plexus chakra: I am confident, worthy, and powerful.

The solar plexus chakra is where your sense of personal power and independence comes from. Use an affirmation that instills confidence and embodies power. Whatever your favorite attributes and qualities are assert them and then internalize them – this will be vital for this chakra’s healing.

The saying, “Trust your gut,” didn’t appear out of thin air. Trust your solar plexus chakra, it is the source of your will and purpose.

Heart chakra: I both give and receive and give love comfortably.

Although the heart chakra governs many subtle aspects of how you experience love, essentially, your goal should be to improve your own ability to both give and receive love. There are no limits on the type of love you’re able to reciprocate. Friendship, especially your, family and furry friends, are ll ready to accept the love you have to give and love you back.

Remember: “When you love fully, you can have a life of compassion.”

Throat chakra: I communicate easily and comfortably.

Balancing your chakra means being comfortable with communication, but also being comfortable with silence when necessary. Give yourself permission to express your thoughts, while also giving yourself permission to refrain from speaking when there’s nothing that needs to be said as well as speaking out when the need arises.

Don’t forget: “When you silence what’s wrong, you also silence what’s right.”

Third eye chakra: My thoughts are clear, and I trust my intuition.

Your intuition is a natural and positive reflection of your own wisdom. Use an affirmation that reflects this. Once your third eye chakra is open and balance, the possibilities of reaching your Higher Self, are limitless. Embrace affirmations as a form of chakra therapy for your third eye chakra.

Crown chakra: I experience the divine goodness of the Universe.

Understand that you are truly a soul living temporarily in a physical body rather than a body with a soul, your capacity for deep compassion and divine love begins to blossom.

Meditation for Balancing Chakras

Meditation is one of the most effective ways to balance the chakras. Begin by sitting with your eyes closed—either in the traditional lotus position, or in an alert position inon a chair—and focus on grounding yourself to the Earth via your root chakra. Feel the natural energy of the Earth radiating through your body.

One your intuition tells you that you’re sufficiently grounded, you can begin opening each chakra. Starting from the root and working your way up, visualize each chakra as a flower of the appropriate color.

(A red flower for the root chakra, and orange flower for the sacral chakra, etc.)

Visualize the flower blooming. This practice will open your chakras and help you to work through blockages and imbalances. Try to spend about 4 to 6 minute or twos visualizing each chakra. Continue your chakra balancing meditation throughout your week, or as needed. Just remember to always listen to them.

Using Energy Healing 

An energy healing practice, like Reiki, can restore the balance in the chakras. Seek out a Reiki practitioner to schedule a session, or learn Reiki yourself.

If you know how to perform Reiki, you can either perform a daily self-healing, or try the following chakra-balancing exercise: place one hand over the root chakra and another over the crown chakra. Feel the difference in energy between them. Keep your hands in those positions until both chakras appear to be operating at the same energy level. Then move your top hand to the third eye chakra, and your lower hand to the sacral chakra. Once they are in balance, move the top hand to the throat chakra and the lower hand to the solar plexus chakra. Finally, use both hands on the heart chakra.

Use Color 

If you feel you have a good idea about which chakras are out of balance, you can use color to restore that balance.

What if you’re feeling the need to overeat or indulge in another favorite vice like smoking or drinking to excess? Take a moment and get in touch with the feelings that motivate you in that direction; chances are, you’ll soon find out that you are way too stressed at home or at work, and really need a walk or a hot bath or a chat with a friend to decompress. It alsoThis probably means you need to focus on your sacral chakra, which corresponds to the color orange.

Wearing more orange clothing, incorporating orange into your home environment, and even eating foods of this color will promote a healthy, balanced chakra. This same principle can be used for any of the energy centers in your body.

Enjoying the Benefits 

You should always remember that it’s natural for your chakras to be in a state of balance. You deserve to experience the joy, confidence, and vitality that comes from practicing these exercises. As you spend more time attuning yourself to the function of your chakras, you’ll begin to develop a greater appreciation for their power in your life.

Use Meridians in Your Energy Healing Practice

by Energy HealingFeatured

The word ‘meridian’ might take you back to middle school geography class – and you wouldn’t be totally off the map. The meridians used in energy healing are actually a similar concept to the geographical coordinate system you learned about at the age of 12.

All living things are vibratory beings, each constantly sending out unique signals that generate an energy field. Your body grows out of this energy and something if shows up if your field that isn’t optimal, like a blockage or distortion, it will manifest in your physical being.

With roots in ancient Chinese and Indian healing practices, meridians are used today by energy healers of all types worldwide, from acupuncturists in New York City to yoga teachers in Rishikesh, India. Modern science is now proving what healers from thousands of years ago have always known: energy pathways are vital to your health.

What – and where – are meridians?

Just like the meridians on our globe make up an interconnected coordinate system, the meridians in your body are energy pathways through which qi (chi) and blood flows continuously.

According to meridian energy healing practice, when the qi flowing through these pathways gets blocked it can have serious consequences for your mind and body. You may find that your vitality diminishes or that your organs aren’t performing at their peak. You can even suffer from mental health issues.

The meridians in your body flow roughly along the natural lines of your arms and legs. The practice names the lungs, heart, pericardium (the membrane around your heart), triple warmer (the pathway from the arteries in your neck through the center of your heart), large intestine, small intestine, stomach, bladder, spleen, kidneys, gall bladder, and liver as the principal pathways of the meridians.

Meridians flow up the body (yang meridians) and the other flow down (yin meridians). They are also related to natural elements, and some are more active during the night than the day.

Something to take note of is that their names correspond to their biological function and not always the organs themselves. In addition, there are extra meridians – called centerline meridians – where energy is stored. The two most important centerline meridians run from the bottom of your lip down the front of your body and down the back of your spine.

As mentioned before, modern science proves that meridians exist. Research scientists at Seoul National University recently have confirmed the existence of meridians, which they call the ‘primo-vascular system’, and consider it to be related to our cardiovascular systems. To prove their hypothesis, the scientists injected dye into acupuncture points, and were able to see that the dye followed the lines of the meridians. The dye did not appear in places outside of the meridian pathways.

Ways you can use the Meridian healing system in your energy practice

One of the most interesting things about meridian healing is the inherent mind body connection.

For example, we all know that eating a diet full of processed food can make you sick and lead to a whole host of energy problems. In Western medicine, a doctor would simply recommend eating healthier and perhaps give you a prescription. However, an energy healer using meridians would focus on solving the underlying issues that cause the problem, such as mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

Since negative emotions are what are create blockages and disrupt our qi, it’s important to stay in touch with our emotions and figure out why we’re feeling the way we’re feeling. It becomes much more than simply addressing the physical symptoms of a problem, but walking back and examining the emotional reasons behind our behaviors.

Meridian healing argues that emotions will cause us to be drawn toward things that may harm us. Instead of simply saying someone should stop overeating, meridian healing would acknowledge that a person might be overeating because they’re stressed out at work or at home. By identifying the emotional mechanism behind the blockage, meridian therapy connects the mental and the physical.

Negative emotions correspond to specific meridians. Once you understand the reason behind your physical symptom, you can then identify the meridian that you should focus on healing. For example, if you’re anxious, worried, or stressed you should be focusing on your stomach meridian. If you’re feeling fight, flight, freeze, or overwhelmed, you should focus on releasing blockages in your triple warmer meridian.

Just like your meditation, incorporating meridian healing into your practice is something you do entirely on your own. While taking a transformational yoga class or getting a relaxing massage is always a good way to show yourself some self-love, meridian healing is something you can do and see results immediately.

Try giving yourself a simple meridian healing massage; all you need to do is trace your meridians using a gentle touch. You can touch your skin directly, or go over your clothes, or hover an inch above your skin. If you can’t reach a part of your body that is perfectly okay, just envision yourself continuing the line uninterrupted. Repeat this process for however long you would like. However, be sure you are moving in the right direction, because moving against the natural flow of qi can have a weakening effect on your body.

Incorporating meridians into your energy healing practices will support radiant health by facilitating the flow of energy throughout your body. When you are able to achieve balance, your physical and mental health will be enhanced – so you can live your best life.