Leadership: The Art Of Manifesting Your Genius

By Christopher Moon
In Vision Mountain

Here's a quick quiz:

1. Is your day filled with activities that consist of doing what you love to do?

2. Does what you do enrich the life of at least one other person?

3. Are you well supported financially to do what you love?

If you answered these questions with a resounding yes, you are one of the few people in the world that is fully manifesting your genius. As such you are a true leader and we are blessed to have your brilliant example in this world. As sincere and well-meaning as many of us are, human beings are often so hampered by lives filled with compromise, misplaced loyalties, insecurity, and false beliefs, that the idea of fully expressing our genius is little more than a wistful fantasy.

Why is it so scary for us to simply do what our hearts want us to do? Why do we feel that we will not be supported emotionally and financially if we were to express what is really great about us? What blocks us from considering that the sole purpose for our existence on this planet is to manifest the power, beauty, and magnificence of who we are in essence? Could it be that we are simply afraid? If that is the case, then all of our explanations, rationalisations, and justifications for not doing what we love would be mere excuses created from that fear. Working through all those excuses would likely take more time than a human being has in his or her life span - even if s/he eliminated sleep!

But what if we were to deal directly with the fear itself? Then we would be called to confront the two basic fears in every human being: fear of failure, and fear of success. In this article I would like to focus on our fear of failure. When we are afraid to fail, we are also afraid to make mistakes. When we are afraid to make mistakes, we cannot learn. If we can't learn, we remain ignorant, and thus in the firm grip of fear for the rest of our lives. I discovered that to break through this conspiracy of fear, three commitments are required: the commitments to honesty, accountability, and humility.

The reason these commitments are so important is because of the five traps that you might fall into if you fear failure - they are the traps of:

> Lying (I didn't do anything. Don't tell anybody - they'll just get upset).
> Denying (That's not a mistake; No problem, I just need more money to recoup my losses; I don't know why that happened -it has nothing to do with me).
> Justifying (I've just been so busy, I didn't have time to meet those deadlines; I didn't know what I was getting into when I made those promises to you, otherwise I would never have made them).
> Blaming (It's because of the bloody tax laws! They're not fair; You never pay attention to me, so I had to find someone else who really cared!).
> Quitting (What's the use - I'll never make it).

Typically, you would fall into one or more of these traps due to a belief that you will be punished for making a mistake or failing. The practice of honesty, accountability, and humility is an incredible risk in almost any culture in the world, most of which practice dishonesty, crying "victim", and holding on to righteousness. We assume our country's leaders will lie in their campaign speeches and press releases. We pity the victim in ourselves and others, keeping it weak, bitter, and unaccountable. And we tend to believe that our point of view, our religious philosophy, and our way of life is the right way, thereby making all others wrong, or inferior, and filling ourselves with an inauthentic power of the judge and jury. Without those three commitments our genius remains trapped in the isolation our fear has created.

Let's imagine that you stated the intention to manifest your leadership in this world, and honour the three commitments in the process. This means that you would choose to express the very best qualities in yourself, thereby enriching this world, and that you would also choose to receive material support in order to fulfil this purpose. If, in the process of fulfilling this intention, you experienced serious failures and made costly mistakes, you would face them honestly. You would not lie to or deceive others, but acknowledge your fallibility defencelessly, even if others became angry or critical. You would endure the guilt and bring as much compassion and acceptance to your humanness as you could.

Let's imagine that you stated the intention to manifest your leadership in this world, and honour the three commitments in the process. This means that you would choose to express the very best qualities in yourself, thereby enriching this world, and that you would also choose to receive material support in order to fulfil this purpose. If, in the process of fulfilling this intention, you experienced serious failures and made costly mistakes, you would face them honestly. You would not lie to or deceive others, but acknowledge your fallibility defencelessly, even if others became angry or critical. You would endure the guilt and bring as much compassion and acceptance to your humanness as you could.

Through those three commitments I have experienced actual miracles of transformation in my relationship, parenting efforts, work, financial status, and creative projects. Of course, I have much more to learn and am still experiencing more failures than successes, but I have reached a point where I am seeing the seed of success in every failure, and learning to trust the process of "failing forward." Gradually my genius is emerging. I do not know how many people will benefit from it, but I have seen the positive effects on my children, and on a few of the people close to me. On top of that, I can perceive and appreciate the genius in others more and more, and this fills me with hope.

I believe that first and foremost, a leader must be a living example of what is truly possible for every human being, while also expressing the foibles and frailties of what it is to be human. When you express the very best aspects of yourself - your gifts, talents and treasures - and are truly doing what you love with all your heart, you are shining the light of possibility for all people to see. And when you fall on your face, pick yourself up with humility and good humour, and courageously take the next step forward, you are also shining that light. You remind us all that there is no mistake so great that it cannot be forgiven and thereby become a part of what is truly great about you.

What we have called leadership up until now is largely a fear-based notion of a position of power over us. We see the leader standing at the top, or in the forefront, assuring us that he or she knows what we do not know, and can lead us to a better place. This leader is expected to have attributes of moral purity, superior abilities, wisdom, maturity, and infallibility. This kind of leader cannot help but disappoint us sooner or later. But a person who is dedicated to bringing out his or her highest qualities, and encouraging others to do the same without presuming to tell anybody how that process of emergence is supposed to look, is a true leader in this world.

Christopher Moon is an international speaker, life coach and trainer with more than twenty years experience in personal coaching and group facilitation. His work has gained recognition in Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, the U.S. and Canada. The thousands of people who have experienced his workshops and trainings appreciate his compassionate and humorous approach.

On A Lighter Side: What Women Must Know About Love, Sex & Relationships

Published in The Tide Online: A Commitment To Truth

Many women are suffering today for making wrong choices in their relationships. Some get involved in a relationship believing they know their partners only to find out shortly after the relationship started that they know nothing about their men.

Many women learn about men, love, sex and relationships the hard way. They walk down the highly traveled, worn out part of emotional scars, broken hearts, abuse, confusion, anger and sleepless nights. Such women certainly have bitter stories to tell.

This ugly situation made some relationship experts on how to make women suffer less. After some thorough research they came up with some advice on how to obtain information about men, love, sex and relationships in a less complicated way.

These nuggests of wisdom and sage advice will help you on the right path of finding and experiencing true love.

There are two types of males: Dishonourable males and honourable men. Don’t date or marry until you know how to tell the difference between the two!

Honourable men are protectors. They will guard your heart, protect your emotions, defend your honour and stand as champions for your spiritual, mental and physical well-being. Choose an honourable man and choose life.

You are not a car: If you meet a man who wants to test drive your physical body, emotions and feelings, point him to a car dealership, bid him adieu and don’t look back.

This is a true saying: “The soul of a woman is fragile”. Please note: dishonourable males refuse to respect this crucial truth. They will toy with a woman’s emotions without any semblance of concern or compassion. Therefore, you must guard your heart from these cold-hearted males with all diligence.

Dishonourable males treat sex as a sport, females as trophies and children as wastepaper. Never allow yourself to become their next score, mantle piece or sperm repository.

Choose the wrong mate and you might as well have laid next to a boa constrictor or grabbed the ears of a raging mad pit bull. A smart woman learns how to choose her mate wisely!

Heed the sage advice of some caring brothers and honourable men. If he doesn’t fit – don’t force him, just relax and let him go. Destiny is on your side. True love will find you!

Mamma’s boys belong to only one type of woman; their moms! Ladies, these mothers and their sons will never cut their grotesque umbilical cord. Therefore, for your sake, leave them alone and just let them trot home to their mommies.

Self-love: If you don’t have it, pull yourself off the market. Make no mistake about it, if you don’t love yourself, no man can ever love you, no matter how great a man is.

Don’t even delude yourself! You beauty, fine body, sexual prowess, cooking skills, feminity and vibrant personality will never be enough to change a man.

If your potential male does such things as: promise to call you but doesn’t, makes dates and breaks them, shows up late or plays games with your emotions, take note ladies... those are clear cut warning signs that he does not value you, he does not love you and he does not care about you.

Angry, bitter, hostile, combative, unforgiving single women, become angry, bitter, hostile, combative, unforgiving wives.

A fundamental understanding and respect of the male ego is a must for all women who want a vibrant and healthy home.

All men are not dogs! Don’t believe, repeat or perpetuate that rampant lie! You will hamper your ability to see and discern the good men who cross your path.

Some males like to hit women. It gives them a sense of power and control. If you give yourself to one of these abusive males, most assuredly, you will become a punching bag and a floor mat. It is crucial that you learn to detect and avoid these cretins.

What is Tantra and Tantric sex?

By Jonti Searll
In Health24.com

Tantra is one of the modern sexual buzzwords that many people are talking about. It's the topic of many books, some are very simple and others show complex positions and breathing techniques, in fact almost every book written about sex today has a chapter on Tantra or refers to Tantra in some way. However, there is not much clarity on what Tantra or Tantric sex is all about.

The word 'Tantra' is Sanskrit in origin and has a few different meanings. One of these is 'weaving the web'. This refers to the web of life, of being fully involved in all aspects of life and participating in the world.

Another meaning is that of a tool for growth and enlightenment. This refers to the Tantric practices and their deeper meaning, which we will talk more of later on.

The origins of many Tantric practices and philosophy are lost in mystery, but have been known to its devotees for thousands of years. The early Tantric texts are very esoteric and need much deciphering before they make sense. Tantra covers aspects of health, of belief and philosophy, in fact all of life.

In the West we have been drawn to the sexual side of Tantra, this is generally what Tantra is known for, but remember that Tantra has many facets and offers information and guidance on the totality of life and living.

Principles of Tantric sex

Let's look then at some of the principles of Tantric sex and what they have to offer us. A good starting point is the fact that Tantric sex is about consciousness.

So much of what we do is out of habit, eating, drinking, the places we go, the activities we are involved in without really thinking about what we do. Sexually we are no different.

We have become creatures of habit, this means that we make love in the same way, the same positions, and the same days and for most people sex has become a goal-oriented activity, the goal being the orgasm.

We get so lost in the rush to get there that we lose out on the pleasure of the journey. Imagine if we took the orgasm out of the equation, if we stopped being so concerned and hung-up with that end goal.

Then we could really get involved with our partner, we could be fully present and the pleasure we can get from that is so much greater, the intimacy so much deeper. How intimate can you be when you're having sex with the lights off, or your eyes are closed and you're lost in some fantasy? How connected to your partner are you in those moments?

Tantra does not suggest that you don't have orgasms, not at all. The idea is simply to be present with your partner, to acknowledge each other and the love you share. Looking into each other's eyes during lovemaking forces you to be there WITH your partner.

It has often been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, looking into somebody's eyes and them looking into yours gives you both the opportunity to share a soul connection, to go beyond the physical into something deep and special.

Vulnerability

This shows us that another aspect of Tantric sex is vulnerability. Both partners being willing to show their real selves, their strengths and weaknesses. This is often difficult for men, who are brought up with the 'cowboys don't cry' mentality.

Of course men have emotions, although there are women who believe they don't because many men often equate emotions with vulnerability and weakness.

Tantra is also about balance. This includes the balance between the masculine and feminine within all of us, the balance between the inner and outer, between the light and the dark. No other aspect of human life is filled with such contrast and extremes as sex. No other act expresses the lowest and highest of who we are. Nothing else can be so loving and at other times, so ugly. By creating a space that allows us to acknowledge and touch the darkest parts of ourselves, we are able to bring balance to those desires that otherwise may seem perverse. We diffuse them and take their power away.

Non-judgemental

This brings us to another vital aspect of Tantra, that is that Tantra is non-judgemental. Whether you are gay or straight or bisexual, whether you are monogamous, single or a swinger nothing is considered taboo or perverse.

We need to examine that idea carefully because it definitely does not mean that acts of sexual violence, incest and child molestation are acceptable.

One of the prime ideas that Tantra holds is that we are an expression of the God & Goddess in the world. When we make love we are celebrating the energy of the Divine.

I come together with my partner as a physical manifestation of the highest joy there can be. This means we are absolutely open and honest, no games, no manipulation. And nobody does anything that is not 100% okay for themselves; nobody is forced into anything unacceptable, there is only respect and love.

Tantra is about how you do, not what you do

Unlike many philosophies and religions, Tantra celebrates pleasure and acknowledges the beauty of the body. In our world we have made our genitals dirty and a separate part of ourselves.

My nose is always my nose, there may be times when I don't like it, and I might think it's too big, but it's always my nose.

But my genitals are different, we call them 'private parts', or 'down there'. We hide them away and only let them out under very strict circumstances, often with great embarrassment.

Tantric ritual and practice accepts the beauty of our genitals as part of a beautiful body, designed to give and receive, to share pleasure.

Tantra also encourages lust, not only in a sexual sense, but lust for life, for the full enjoyment of sensual living and feeling. This includes the wonderful taste of food and drink, exploring flavours and textures. Music, flowers and exercise.

Friends and family, emotions, even our fears and our tears, all are part of being human. To deny any part of ourselves - physical, mental, emotional or spiritual - is to deprive us of our humanness and our joy.

To go back to the principle of lust for a moment it's important to understand that Tantra is not about free sex with many partners. That's more a lifestyle choice than anything else, but because Tantra emphasises intimacy it's generally possible to have the deep connections we yearn for and the truly fulfilling experiences only with one partner.

Joy and laughter

Above all else, the goal of any Tantric experience is joy, happiness and laughter. So much in our world and our lives is so serious. We even take sex so seriously, being a good lover is so important, having bigger and better breasts and penises and orgasms is so important.

No. What is important on the Tantric journey is to be open, to share and most of all, to love. For love is a choice that we make, every moment of every day.

The wonderful world of Tantra offers many possibilities on how to live, to love and of course, how to have great sex.

See Related Articles:

Spirituality & Sex

What is Metaphysics and How Epigenetic Studies Will Change Health Care Forever?

By Ian Stone
In OpEdNews.com


Metaphysics comes from two Greek words translated as “meta” meaning “after” and “physis” meaning “nature”. The term nature in Greek has two meanings, the first “the sum total of natural things” and the second “the principle or source of natural things”. Metaphysics goes back to Aristotle, who believed a better definition of “physis” was “the essence of things which have a source of movement in them.” Metaphysics is then the scientific study of the source or essence of the sum total of nature. The Source is this original Energy or Spirituality and Nature being all things, as they are in the Physical or material world. Therefore Metaphysics is the science of reality, the source of nature, transcending the interaction between the Energy or Spirituality and Physical or Material.

This understanding of Metaphysics with more discoveries to come in the more recent field of Epigenetic studies; will bring about a major break through; between the interaction of human energy or our spiritual side and the physical body. This new understanding and evidence will be the greatest advancement in Health Care and Human Consciousness ever, as it is revealed over the next 30 years.

The revealing of the reality of your spiritual and energy side, together with the advances in scientific research into all the minute details of DNA, genes and chromosomes of the physical side of human beings will inform and enlighten scientists and spiritualists alike. As they begin to understand and research this relationship between the human energy or spiritual aspects of humanity and how they alter the physical structure of our DNA, genes and chromosomes through the science of Epigenetics

Most people are aware of the amazing break through in the understanding of DNA and the mapping and recording of genes and all the minute details of how are physical bodies are made up. The combination of this has lead to great advances in medical technology mainly through the use of drugs and chemical and surgical methods of prolong life.

Why is it that a transplant from a young and healthy person has such a limited life in a recipient, whether they are young or old, compared to the normal life of the donor? Is this because the Human Energy and Life Energy Fields of the recipient are still disturbed?

Consider Life Energy Fields as the software program that creates changes to the physical body. When this program is not perfect it is creating a less than perfect physical body. With disturbed Energy Fields, an imperfect program is still running altering DNA, genes and chromosomes, hence manifesting and corrupting the physical body, even after a transplant, creating again the original problem that necessitated the transplant in the first place.

Are we solving these problems of good mental and physical, preventative, health care or are things deteriorating in our sophisticated western society?

With all the investment and research in Health Care as a species are we getting sicker or healthier and happier?

Do we have more problems with depression and mental health in our developed sophisticated societies?

When we look at the big picture with all our new knowledge and scientific break through, we have made major advances, but we are still treating the problems after they have occurred we have forgotten to look at the source of the problem and develop adequate preventative programs and Preventative Health care.

We have for almost a century gone along a chemical path forgetting totally that we have a divinity that is pure Life Energy. This divine or spiritual side of us is more important than the physical because all disease or sickness whether physical or mental first appears as a disturbance in the spiritual and life energy side of us before that is manifested in the physical body.


The study and science of these phenomena has barely begun; compared to the chemical and drug research; however research proving this relationship has been carried out in recent times. Some References of Research by Gloria Alvina and BioEnergy Fields Foundation - Dr Valerie Hunt detailed in her book Infinite Mind - Science of the Human Vibrations of Consciousness work done by Barbara Brennan School of Healing and her books Hand of Light and Light Emerging - The Journey of Personal Healing. On going developments and work by Dr. K. Korotkov - Research with instruments that reveal real time changes in Auras and other energy fields on a computer screen. Along with many other emerging studies.

History has documented millions of observations of miracles, non chemical cures and therapies; yet these are generally ignored or dismissed by the main stream medical and health industry. Do you know of a person who has recovered from a serious health problem when their Doctor gave them no hope, is something being missed by the main stream health industry?

The Metaphysical Institute studies focus on the spiritual and energy elements of human beings and how they affect the physical. By energy healing and removing the disturbances in human energy fields this begins the natural healing of the body. The most common and known energy fields of humans are the Aura and the Chakras. The lesser known and understood are the Core Star, Tan Tien, Hara Line, Soul Seat and Intentionality Point. All these affect our well being both mental and physical and how we react to others.

Newer Energy Healing developments and systems like the Emotional Freedom Techniques, HEART Energy Healing System, Human Energy Assessment Release Treatments, Qui Gong, and Theta Healing to name a few, can dramatically improve your physical and mental health by removing disturbances and restoring and balancing your Life & Human Energy Fields.

Healing and restoring of Human & Life Energy Fields in many cases can prevent a disease or illness from manifesting in the physical body. In the past the research to demonstrate this has been difficult to prove, however with advances in instrument technology and computer software that can measure and display physical changes as Life Energy fields are restored will bring to the scientific community proof of the truth of these statements.

This technology will open the way to more research on the affect of changes to Life Energy Fields and how they change blood, tissue and even DNA, genes and chromosomes. Once this is widely accepted the World Heath focus will progressively move to prevention and treatments that find and remove the original cause.

The Healing Powers of Music & Sound

By John Sherman
In BCLocalNews.com


We have all heard sounds that jar the bones and pleasant sounds that soothe deep into our souls.

Sound affects our senses beyond anything you could imagine.

Sound is used for healing and alternatively it is used for torture.

From a quantum physics point of view, we are all just vibration.

Sound is a disturbance of mechanical energy that propagates through matter as a wave.

Sound is characterized by the properties of sound waves, which are frequency, wavelength, period, amplitude and velocity or speed.

In physics, resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate with high amplitude when excited by energy at a certain frequency.

This frequency is known as the system’s natural frequency of vibration or resonant frequency.

Now, imagine a time in the past when you may have been stressed, sad, anxious or even afraid. A song comes on the radio and all of a sudden, your mood shifts.

Music and sound on its own could possibly be one of the most powerful healing tools we have. In an instant, an emotional state can be transformed with sound; nothing else can do this.

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there is a growing field of health care known as music therapy, which uses music to heal.

Some people claim that if something is not tangible, meaning, they cannot hold it in their hands or swallow it as a pill it cannot be any good as a medicine; nothing, however, is further from the truth.

Music and sound is powerful enough to help Alzheimer’s patients remember with clarity the events of the most recent past.

Music can be used to stimulate an individual’s thought patterns when working on math problems. Music can help with relaxation and so many other areas of an individual’s life.

The point of all this is to illustrate that unseen forces can in fact be more powerful than forces that are in plain view.

Sound does not need to be heard to be beneficial.

Because of the universality of music, music therapy becomes an aid that can help people with impairments in vision and hearing.

The vibrations emitted from all types of sound are the healing force. All healing interventions must influence the body by somehow altering its frequency resonance

Picture this: A song from your past comes on the radio and instantly you are back at that point in time—maybe it was the song you played continuously in the summer of 1981 or was it the song that was playing when you met your first sweetheart.

What are those feelings and emotions that are stirred?

Whether we realize it or even choose to believe it, there are many things that affect our health. Still, the number one factor that will determine your ongoing level of health is your emotional state. Music, however, may be the great healer. In the field of “energy medicine,” it is well known that our universe is created through patterns of frequency. Science is now documenting what mystics of many traditions have known forever. Everything that exists in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms exists on a vibratory basis.

This is obvious if you consider that electrons are always moving and vibrating.

Take some time during your day and consciously play some music—whatever type of music that makes you feel good.

Should a President be Religious or Spiritual?

By Anthony Stevens-Arroyo
In Washington Post


In one sense, I think spirituality is more desirable in a president than religion alone, although I hasten to add that both of them together would be the best of all possible worlds.

Evaluating religion and the presidency tempts a contrast of the hardly-ever-in-church Ronald Reagan with the very religious Jimmy Carter. Clearly, Reagan had the “successful” presidency and Carter did not. However, thinking people would recognize that events – not faith – explain most of the differences in popularity of both men than faith. After all, the inflation and hostage-taking that tarnished Carter’s four years are not linked to his Baptist religion I think a more fruitful approach is to examine the dynamics of spirituality and religion. How does a president 'interiorize' commitments? (= spirituality). Does the president actively belong to a community of believers? (= religion).

It’s easy to forget the differences between spirituality and religion. For example, Abraham Lincoln gets credit for speeches that exude biblical cadence and trust in God. Yet Honest Abe in real life would be classified today as a “freethinker,” who, like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, had serious doubts about organized religion. In fact, Lincoln’s “spirituality” is linked historically with his wife’s invitation to Spiritualist séances in the White House. (Such cultivation of non-Christian religion was repeated when Nancy Reagan consulted with an astrologer about how to set up her husband’s daily schedule.)

In one sense, I think spirituality is more desirable in a president than religion alone, although I hasten to add that both of them together would be the best of all possible worlds. The virtue produced by this match is defined with the Latin word, “pius.” This term ought not to be translated as “pious” – a better sense of its meaning is “loyal.” I would not claim that such a person is a saint: only that they are trying to be a saint.

Loyalty to religious tenets predicts the candidate’s likely priorities when in office and prevents spirituality from detachment from reality. This explains for me why President George W. Bush’s expressed religious commitments have been so disastrous to the country. While professing to be “spiritual,” he has wandered far from the teachings of the Methodist faith in terms of the war in Iraq and social welfare programs. In another case, Senator Obama resigned from Trinity Church in Chicago, because he said in effect that his spirituality did not allow him to remain loyal to the preaching in that faith community.

From my Catholic perspective, a pius Catholic politician would promise to preserve the “seamless web of life” -- a difficult standard for partisan politics. As a Catholic voter, I am somewhat relieved that in 2008 none of the major presidential candidates is a Catholic. My electoral decision will evaluate the candidates on the issue of who is pius as defined above. Right now, I would consider Methodist Hillary Clinton to best fit that description. My own Catholicism has not prevented me from admiring the inner core of the Methodist faith as one both organized and disciplined (hence the name akin to “methodical”). Methodists have a long and enviable history in the U.S. for social justice ministry. Clearly, Senator Hillary Clinton has been “loyal” to those precepts in ways that George W. Bush has not. Methodism has shaped her commitments in public life. I would add that she bears the imprint of Methodist spirituality as well. She becomes the model for the type of president who would profess a spirituality grounded in religious faith. Now, as she leaves the race for the White House to Senators Obama and McCain, I would hope that one of them would pick up the mantle of “pius.”

Mindful Eating

By Christine Gonzalez, Pharm D
In Vision Magazine

Turn off the Distractions

How many times have you found yourself mindlessly eating while watching your favorite TV show, checking your E-mail, or driving around town? I am even guilty of finishing up my breakfast as I blow-dry my hair. While technology imparts convenience, it can actually be viewed as a double-edged sword because it creates huge distractions to our ability to connect with our body and mind. One result is the lost ritual of mindful eating. You are probably familiar with the old saying, “you are what you eat.” But have you ever considered that “you are how you eat?” Eating can transcend a basic biological necessity. The intentions we establish during the act of eating provide an opportunity to nourish ourselves on multiple levels. By minimizing distractions, slowing down, and chewing our food thoroughly, we can enhance both the nutritive and spiritual value of the food we eat.

As Americans, we are famous for our instant gratification lifestyle. This is facilitated by the abundance of fast food, drive-thrus, and prepackaged convenience food that provide quick and portable meals for our busy lives. Coupled with an intense work ethic (time is money), no wonder we don’t want to stop for a moment to eat. Now with the ease of availability of technology, there really isn’t a reason to ever stop working. In fact, it is almost impossible not to. Cell phones, laptops, and remote access encourage this mindset. We have forgotten that mealtime is an independent activity.

So the challenge then becomes discipline. When you foster the discipline to separate from work and commit to your mealtime, you are in fact being self-nurturing. It would not be surprising to see this as enhancing productivity in the long run. Many European countries have time built into their schedules to sit down and enjoy their meals. The social experience of eating also creates more community. These cultures clearly appreciate the benefits of slowing down. Could this be part of the secret of the French paradox?

Slowing down is supported by mindfully chewing our food well. According to macrobiotic theory, we are the culmination of our environment. This includes the food that we eat. Therefore, chewing food thoroughly is a core principle when following a macrobiotic diet. This theory advocates chewing each mouthful at least fifty times as a method to enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Chewing releases flavors and aromas, which contributes to the sensory appeal of a delicious meal. By savoring each bite and letting our senses experience the delight, we get more satisfaction from the food. This nourishes us beyond the physical level. The various tastes and textures can evoke pleasant memories and associations. The simple act of chewing can help to relax us.

Chewing also enhances our body’s ability to digest and assimilate food. In fact, digestion starts in the mouth. Salivary amylase begins the process of carbohydrate digestion. The more we chew our food, the more surface area becomes available for this digestive enzyme to do its thing. This makes nutrients more available for absorption and utilization by the body. We may feel full sooner because this process gives our body the time to register that it is being fed. By reconnecting with our body’s own inner wisdom, we allow it to tell us gently when it is full. This is a great strategy for minimizing overeating—a common result of eating too fast.

Just as you have taken the time to slow down and read this article, I invite you to do the same with your next meal. Turn off or put away all possible distractions and find a comfortable place to relax with your food. Allow it to become a meditation for yourself with direct, in the moment, and nonjudgmental attention. Mindfully and consciously take in the experience as more than visceral. Chew purposefully, resisting the urge to swallow too quickly. Breathe between bites and possibly even put the fork down until the next bite.

By slowing down and taking the time to enjoy your food, you begin to appreciate all the elements such as smell, taste, and texture. You can distinguish the subtle flavors of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour. This will certainly enhance satiety. While technology has provided novel advancements for our society, it has also perpetuated a frenzied pace of daily living. By tuning back into ourselves through mindful eating, we uncover the pleasure of eating one meal at a time. Believe me when I say that eating will become a much more nourishing experience.

The Spiritual Gift of Big Success

By Jim Sniechowski and Judith Sherven
In Healthy, Wealthy & Wise


To live a fabulous life means far more than just succeeding in your career, in your love life, your health and wealth.

And you know that’s true when you catch a glimpse of depression in the uneasy smile and the awkward posture of someone who isn’t comfortable in “having it all.”

It goes against everything you want to believe when the evidence of a lack of contentment seeps through the forced laughter, the anxious, driven conversation of someone who’s attained much success yet hasn’t grown into BEING successful.

That’s why, whether success has come easy to you or not, and no matter what areas of your life may be in full blossom, when it comes to your spiritual awareness and development, worldly success itselfisn’t actually the point.

The spiritual gift of success prompts you to become aware — to pay keen attention to any discomfort you may feel with being so large in the world.

** Do you wrestle with guilt that others lack what you have?

** Are you embarrassed to wear expensive clothing, or drive your fancy car?

** Are you worried that what you have makes you look like you’re showing off?

** Do you play down the rich blessings of your marriage when talking with those who struggle just to endure their legal or live-in relationships – because at the heart you know those relationships have never had the vitality, the awesome magnetism of the real love you enjoy?

If you said yes to any or all of these, you are squandering the spiritual elegance that comes with a truly fabulous life. You are guilty of playing to your shame, to your self-consciousness rather than to a hungry world bereft of role-models who embody the full success of life — who live fully alive.

As you advance in your achievements, in the true and full expression of who you really are, keep in mind that you are expressing . . . not ego, not arrogance, not better-than-thou. You are increasingly an expression of The Source.

And then your only job is to be you. Fabulous You!

The Polarization of the Chakras

An Original Article By Arathi Ma for Spiritual Village

The Ancient teachings record that long ago the human mind and body existed in a state of absolute harmony based on the knowledge of Unity Consciousness. As this reality became lost, a deep shadow was inserted into the core of humans and instead of a neutrally charged life force that maintained body and mind; a polarized current of positive and negative energies became the underlying reality for living and perceiving.

The dualistic perspective and the consequent understanding of our world resulted in the birth of criss-crossing energy currents that created wheels of spinning energies of different frequencies within the subtle energetic bodies, which we know as chakras.

True to this nature of duality, we can also find two different kinds of chakras. Among the many qualities that differentiate each centre from another, we can also find a greater difference in functional orientation: the receptive types and the active centers.

Alternating as even numbered and odd-numbered centers, which are 2-4-6 and 1-3-5, they display a unique activity that makes for very different ways of seeing and responding to life. The even-numbered centers are of the nature of being-ness. They allow us to feel connected, in communion with another human being, with our Self, and with all life in general. It is the non-active, more passive and receptive experience of life, as it is from the perspective of who we think we are. The condition of these centers makes for a particular understanding of who we are in the context of our world. They do not allow for the realization of being-ness without the context of our present reality. If these centers are in a relatively healthy and balanced condition, they act as the foundation of peace and okay-ness from which then we can act in the world and in our affairs.

Contrary to non-doing we have the active chakras of doing-ness, or the creative centers. They are the decision makers and contain a sense of volition that drives our actions.

In every human being these centers are energetically intertwined for life-energy to flow through evenly. We can say that in ordinary consciousness, we always experience the manifestations of alternating moments of being-ness and creative response, activity and rest, or at least the drive to keep those in balance. Depending on the condition of each centre they make for a multitude of varying people with their own individual active and passive responses to life.

If we watch closely we can observe that most active responses from people come from a misunderstanding of who we are. Their actions are incongruent with life itself. They make pockets of seemingly random choices that do not contribute to the whole circle of life in a life-affirming way. They often misplace words and actions that create conscious or unconscious pain.

But how do we know when and what action is required, the one action that would unite us in being-ness with the rest of life and is congruent to the intelligence of evolution?

Initially we need to develop both even and uneven-numbered chakras in tandem; we must start especially with the correction of the even numbered ones. The initial healing can address number 2, the brow centre. This centre helps to seeing clearly who is thinking. The waking of self-consciousness in the mind is very necessary in the beginning and also relatively easy, if shown correctly. When this self-realization in mental freedom is stable enough, a downward drop of energy into being begins. The body begins to return to attune itself through gravity to the rhythms of nature after a long life of mental impulses that interrupted and corrupted its natural biology. General healing of all the bodies begins.

Simultaneously the fourth or heart centre must awaken. If we do not know what the ground of our being is, who we really are, all action is futile and depression sets in. No matter how genius and convincing we look, the actions brought forth through the energies from the odd-numbered centers will have no roots in essence, they have no real life and carry no reflection of truth. The whole process of polarized love needs to be mended and true loving discovered. This is a rather painstaking process as the heart is a feeling centre and we are deeply conditioned to avoid pain. A whole new understanding of life needs to be unearthed in order to even commence the act of mending the polarized rift through the centre of the heart. It is here that the true heroic journey of a human being is treaded individually and alone.

Through the continuous check of the heart chakra, all actions become pure and wrongdoings cannot be born nor be re-seeded. Harmful actions become impossible towards our community and us, as they would distort the strong energetic currents. Our consciousness, which has expanded to comprehend life more fully, would have to tighten and that would simply be too painful at his point of development.

With practice we come to know ourselves. We repair our emotions and become a healthy member within the relations of the people around us. With knowledge of the deeper part of our soul we can see and project a possible future that is in harmony with who we are and will never be out of touch with our inherent talents and potentials.

With the lengthy practice of remaining in the heart, the activity chakras bestow their blessings upon us with their powers of execution: refined, clear, and with greatest precision we go about our duties in life. Out whole life becomes smooth and beautiful. All things come to us and life has the appearance of fulfillment.

For some souls a complete merging of both polarities and a transcendence of life force will ultimately bring a complete unification of being and creativity that culminates in the life-long desire of knowing to how to do without doubt--direct action—coupled with deep inner peace and happiness of Self, the state of Full Self Realization.

Through the efforts of balancing, harmonizing, and healing and ultimately the grace of transcendence of all levels of consciousness an unveiled expression of our own true perfection can be lived from a place of effortless and ingenious being; only ONE chakra is left, instead of Seven.

Arathi Ma at Khoracle (May 25th, 2008)

The Agape Tree: 12 Lessons In Malaysia

Lessons In Understanding Unconditional Love

AGAPE is the Greek word for “unconditional love”.

Using “The Way of the Heart” (teachings of Jeshua Ben Joseph in communion with Jayem from 1995 to 1998) as the base platform, the programme, which will be held every other Saturday, takes an holistic, step-by-step, approach to understanding our journey to unconditional love, with extensive additional materials for a better overall comprehension and personal development.

The Way Of The Heart: 12 lessons (with approx 2 sessions per lesson)

The Agape Tree takes Part 1 of The Way of Mastery, “The Way of the Heart” and expands on the teachings of Jeshua so that we can understand how to bring “Heart & Soul” back into our lives and move out of the past to live in THE NOW so we can prepare for the future.

We will also explore the WHOLE BRAIN WAY that looks at how to develop the right and left sides of the brain to be more balanced.

Additional materials will include but not be limited to:

Books on Love & Happiness
Materials on Meditation and Acoustic Healing
The Interview with God
Pathways to Peace
The importance of Colours
Frequency & Communication
Quantum Physics & Quantum Mechanics
Information on Emotional Healing
EGO and what it isn’t
ETC.

Furthermore, we will also be inviting guest speakers, whenever possible, to brief the group on specific subjects and areas of expertise so allowing a more, in depth, understanding.

Introduction (at no charge) Saturday May 31, 2008 at 2pm.

For the calendar: Sessions at 2pm every other Saturday with the first session (lesson 1) on Saturday June 14, 2008

Location: Khoracle, Puchong
Cost: RM120 per 2 sessions (1 lesson) incl. all materials and snacks etc.

Contact: Letchmi +603 8060 6970 or
Brian Lindfield at brian.lindfield@gmail.com

These group sessions will be interactive and further requirements for the programme will be advised prior to the event!