First Yoga Chakras - The Muladhara Chakra, Root Chakra

Yoga Chakra name – Muladhara chakra, root chakra, foundation chakra, adhara chakra, brahma padma chakra, bhumi chakra, chaturdala chakra, chatuhpatra chakra, mooladhara chakra, mula chakra, mula padma chakra

Yoga Chakra meaning – Root

Yoga Chakra element – Earth

Yoga Chakra syllable for chanting – Lam

Yoga Chakra incense herb – Cedar, rosemary

Yoga Chakra location – Base of spine

Yoga Chakra action – Excretion, movement

Yoga Chakra related glands – Adrenal glands

Yoga Chakra related body parts – Anus, nose, spinal column, kidneys, legs, feet, immune system

Yoga Chakra sense – Smell

Yoga Chakra related food – Horseradish, hot paprika, chives, cayenne, pepper, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, beets, eggs, meats, beans, tofu, soy products, peanut butter, onions, garlic

Yoga Chakra related animals – Mole, elephant

Yoga Chakra planets – Pluto, mars

Yoga Chakra verb associated – I have

Yoga Chakra color – Red

Yoga Chakra gemstone – Hematite, black tourmaline, onyx

Yoga Chakra metal – Lead

Yoga Chakra out of balance – Lower back pain, sciatica,varicose veins, rectal tumors, depression, immune related disorders

Yoga Chakra asana – Setu bandhasana (bridge)

The muladhara chakra or root chakra acts as a grounding force which also helps us become connected to our planet earth. The Hindus expressed the Muladhara chakra or root chakra as four petals that has a square in the middle. The four petals are depicting the four directions on earth. The square is meant to represent grounding or a foundation in the physical world. In the middle of the square is a seed. The Muladhara chakra or root chakra is positioned halfway between the anus and sex organs. The lower Muladhara chakra or root chakra is considered to have the most dense energy. It is critical that the Muladhara chakra or root chakra become balanced prior to moving on to the other chakras so we will have the stability needed for the long term. (Info c/o Hypnosis Quarterly)

In These Arms, A Song for All Beings-Jennifer Berezan

Wonderful meditative clip worth checking out!

8 Ways Meditation Can Change Your Life | Care2 Healthy Living

8 Ways Meditation Can Change Your Life | Care2 Healthy Living An excellent article on the benefits of meditation. Just click on the blue link to read.

The Compassionate Animal | Greater Good

The Compassionate Animal | Greater Good

Our relationships with nonhuman animals range all over the place. They’re complicated, frustrating, awkward, loving, and challenging. Around the world we gawk at animals in wonder, experiment on them, eat them, wear them, write about them, draw and paint them, make decisions for them, and move them from here to there as we “redecorate nature.” Yet we often ignore who they are and what they want.

In truth, science has discovered a lot about the inner lives of diverse species, more than we often give ourselves credit for. Indeed, animals’ lives aren’t all that private, hidden, or secret; a flurry of research has offered insight into the emotional lives of animals. We now know that animals have a point of view and that they experience deep feelings.

Two recent discoveries speak to the emotional lives of vastly different species, mice and whales.

In 2006, a Canadian team of neuroscientists showed that mice are empathic beings that feel the pain and suffering of other mice. McGill University’s Dale Langford and colleagues injected acetic acid into the paws of one or both members of a pair of adult mice, causing a painful burning sensation. Mice who watched their cage-mates in pain became more sensitive to the same painful stimuli, indicating that they had a notion of what the others were experiencing. A mouse injected with acid writhed more violently if his or her partner had also been injected and was writhing in pain.

Of course, it’s ironic that painful experiments like that one are used to uncover animal emotions, when observations of these rodents and many other animals clearly show that they experience empathy and other feelings. These scientific facts haven’t yet entered into discussions about the well-being of mice.

Anyone who has worked with whales intuitively knows they’re extremely emotional, but only in the past few years have researchers uncovered biological evidence for this fact. They’ve found that many types of whales have specialized “spindle cells”—cells important in processing emotion and developing intelligent behavior—in brain regions linked to social organization, empathy, intuition about the feelings of others, and rapid gut reactions. Humans have spindle cells in the same brain regions, and previously these cells were thought to exist only in humans and other great apes.

The presence of these spindle cells suggests that whales have advanced abilities to experience emotion, and we can find plenty of real-world evidence to back this up. In December of 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on a 50-foot, 50-ton female humpback whale who had been caught in a net near the Farallon Islands, off the California coast. After rescuers untangled her, the humpback swam up to each of them and winked before swimming off.

According to the story, the rescuers all agreed that she was expressing gratitude.

These discoveries surely make us rethink how we treat animals. But cruelty to animals has serious implications for humans as well.

Studies by Frank Ascione, Phil Arkow, Barbara Boat, and many others show that children who are cruel to animals are significantly more likely to commit violence against humans later in life—the absence of empathy for one indicates lack of empathy for the other. Indeed, studies of prison inmates reveal that as many as 75 percent of violent offenders had early records of animal cruelty.

When we link these studies in cruelty with new discoveries about the inner lives of animals, our relationships with animals take on greater importance: It becomes clear that compassionate relationships with animals are integral to a more compassionate world.

There are two main steps we can take toward fostering these compassionate relationships. First, we must recognize that animals have active minds and deep feelings. Second, we must “mind” them as their caretakers in a human-dominated world, where their interests are continually trumped in deference to ours.

Many programs have tried to make this ideal of minding animals a reality. I serve as a roving ambassador for Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Program, which helps kids learn how to care for animals, the earth, and people. The Humane Society of the United States has a program, called “First Strike,” devoted to learning more about the connection between cruelty to animals and to humans. The Society & Animals Forum and the Human/Animal Violence Education Network have also launched similar programs that deserve our support.

Ultimately, I believe compassion for animals will make for more compassion among people, weaving more empathy, respect, dignity, and love into all our lives. Animals and future generations of humans will surely thank us for our efforts. Article care of - http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_compassionate_animal/

Vedic Astrology Forecast - VIRGO

2011 overall, should be a good year for Virgos. There will be personal challenges for you at various avenues, but you would come out with flying colors, due to your hard work & dedication. (This Vedic Forecast is provided courtesy of Moonslipper.)

Opportunities would be present on many occasions. You will find success in joint projects, partnerships and entrepreneur efforts.

Despite quite a few opportunities, you could feel pressured at times this year. You will go through a contradictory period, since on the surface people would find you very successful & positive, while you could go through a very trying and difficult time. Hard work, dedication & tolerance would help you cross this period successfully. The period till early May would be very different than rest of the year. You will continue with the hangover of the last year and its effect during this phase.

Hurdles & issues could rise after the 31st August 2011. It would be useful to be low profile and avoid unnecessary controversy during this. Pressures & hurdles which could have been bothering you, will improve after the 25th December 2011.

Positive & gainful trends will operate between 9th October 2011 to 29th October 2011.

Virgo Horoscope predicts some unknown fear & stress between 30th October 2011 till the end of the year. There are period to pass with caution & maturity.

Your general temperament & career decisions should be controlled between 25th November to 13th December. If you do not focus during this time, some errors of judgment could occur.

2011 Virgo Horoscope for Marriage/ Love

Your outlook towards relationships could turn unsteady and somewhat negative after the 31st August 2011 & would remain so till 25th December 2011. It is a period of introspection for you during this time.
Pressures & negativity in love matters would be better after 15th November 2011.

Love life would be good during September & December 2011.
Challenges & hurdles would be higher during April, July & August 2011.

2011 Virgo Horoscope for Career

Despite all the pressures, a certain amount of clarity would emerge at work as well as to find what your true calling or Karma is between May and 15th November. It is a period where you will find aggression and will to develop new areas in life. Promotional work would be well rewarded.


2011 Virgo Horoscope for Health

Hunger and overeating could result between May & 15th November. If you are not cautious, chances of putting on weight exist. Avoidable stress should also not let you bother you as it could cause health issues. If some chronic health problems were bothering you, there will be significant improvement after 25th December 2011 too.


2011 Virgo Horoscope for Family

You will however remain disciplined and regimented in your approach till the 15th November 2011. This approach will help you progress as well as cope up with the pressures. Mental pressures could rise during this period. There would be many occasions when you could feel hurdles, mostly on account of pressures and your inability to handle stress. This period will see a rise in sexual desires and might seek gratification without adequate patience. You need to remain discrete and discerning during this period.

Between May to 15th November, you will socialize more than usual & make some new friends now. It is an aggressive & progressive period overall. New spiritual & religious pursuits possible. If you follow this aspect, deep satisfaction & success is assured. Some pilgrimage possible too.

From 16th November 2011 to 31st December 2011 an improvement in your personal mindset occurs. There would be significant unburdening of your mind. Focus would turn on hard work & gains due to your creative work. Some pressures might come up in family life due to a sudden rise in work pressures. Speak carefully, since some controversy could come up unnecessarily.


2011 Virgo Horoscope for Finances

Later in the year, you will find a rise in energy in work environment. You will find support from superiors and some rise in dynamism which could help you progress faster.


Virgo September Horoscope: The month would begin with low activity and some amount of pressures and sluggishness which would remain till the 14th September 2011. Improvements in outlook, followed by rise in activity would come from the 15th September 2011. You should be careful about being egoistic and over aggression. You will experience leadership abilities now.


Virgo October Horoscope: Hard work and aggression would be high. Ego will remain an integral part of thinking as well as attitude. Ego related issues would remain internal and sub conscious till the 15th October 2011, while 16th October 2011 onwards, Ego could be apparent in speech. Finances would remain active and on your mind in the second half of the month. Family matters would be in the focus too.


Virgo November Horoscope: Creative work would bring in growth in finances till the 15th November 2011. Be humble in speech and communications this month. 16th November 2011, onwards your position will rise and growth would come due to your dynamic attitude as well as networking skills. Growth oriented period overall. Possibility of travel.

Virgo December Horoscope: Positive period till 16th December 2011. You will experience growth and rise in repute. You will feel a higher level of energy & creative ability too. 17th December 2011 onwards a gradual distance from family & relatives could be felt. There could be some changes in property as well as domestic matters. As long as you are positive, there would be abundant energy to work out matters.

Rolling Stones - She's a rainbow

A joyful classic song which I hope brings you your own rainbow today!

Animal rescue: the 'other' Japan quake victims - Local News - News - General - Peninsula Weekly

Animal rescue: the 'other' Japan quake victims - Local News - News - General - Peninsula Weekly

My wonderful friend Katrina in the news!! Saving animals in Japan after the earthquake and nuclear incident (ongoing)! If you want to help the animals that need to be saved,fed and rehoused, check out the JEARS (Japanese Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support) facebook group. (There are still animals left in the exclusion zone that are starving and need to be rescued - any help or contribution to their efforts will be gladly accepted!)

Vedic Astrology Forecast - LEO

This LEO Vedic Astrological Forecast for the remainder of 2011 has been contributed by Moonslipper.

Until the 15th November a major turn around is likely to come in your life and your general outlook will change. Thinking & confidence will undergo significant alterations. On one hand you will experience a much higher level of clarity in your thinking and positivism, while on the other hand luck will rise and confidence would be bolstered.

Travel will be beneficial. Rise in spirituality would come easily to you. You might not get the support at home and so would have to take a hard stand to pursue your thoughts. 31st August onwards, you will enter into a phase of higher activity. Travel would rise and so would the opportunities which would bring in progress and better luck.

Children will remain a source of happiness now.

The Leo Horoscope also predicts that money matters will see high outflows and contractions in the area, due to extremely high commitments now. Some amount of debt is possible to. It would be useful to remain judicial in your spending. Investments made now, under pressure would be good.

Some distances with family are inevitable; however, 15th November onwards a bright & positive period would result. Growth in career & personal life possible.

Confidence, happiness & general success would be high between 16th July 2011 & 16th October 2011 & 15th November 2011.
Broadly, the Leo Horoscope defines the trends during the year broken up between the following periods:

2011 Leo Horoscope for Marriage/ Love

Love life will be positive during September & November.
Some hurdles & issues could come up during December.

2011 Leo Horoscope for Career

Between mid-year to 15th November, you could be tempted on many occasions to bring about a major change in career. It could be due to your insecurity of the past or some sudden ideas from within or suggested by people around you. Despite all the temptation, it would be useful to remain persistent in your activities and not change course at all.

Between 16th November 2011 and 31st December 2011, you will see growth and new avenues open up in front of you. Luck will continue to favor you and all your new endeavors would be rewarded well. The irrational level of activity will fall after the 25th December 2011, paving the way for better and more organized life style.

2011 Leo Horoscope for Family

Till early part of May family matters may remain challenging. Speech and verbal aggression towards family, friends & siblings should be controlled between 3rd August to 26th August & 25th November to 13th December.

2011 Leo Horoscope for Finances
After mid-year you can safely commence new projects and increase the level of activity. You should remain conservative in money matters throughout & ensure you plan your family & work in a manner that beyond 15th November you can get into a higher phase of activity & expansion.

Between 16th November 2011 and 31st December 2011, domestic discontent could grow as the level bonding, due to high activity would fall. You need to invest in family time; else problems will build up a couple of years down the line.

Liquidity in money matters would be affected too during 3rd August to 26th August & 25th November to 13th December, therefore, commitments should be made carefully.

Leo August Horoscope: The month would begin with low activity and some amount of pressures and sluggishness which would remain till the 14th August 2011. Improvements in outlook, followed by rise in activity would come from the 15th August 2011. You should be careful about being egoistic and over aggression. You will experience leadership abilities now.

Leo September Horoscope: Hard work and aggression would be high. Ego will remain an integral part of thinking as well as attitude. Ego related issues would remain internal and sub conscious till the 15th September 2011, while 16th September 2011 onwards, Ego could be apparent in speech. Finances would remain active and on your mind in the second half of the month. Family matters would be in the focus too.

Leo October Horoscope: Creative work would bring in growth in finances till the 15th October 2011. Be humble in speech and communications this month. 16th October 2011, onwards your position will rise and growth would come due to your dynamic attitude as well as networking skills. Growth oriented period overall. Possibility of travel.

Leo November Horoscope: Positive period till 16th November 2011. You will experience growth and rise in repute. You will feel a higher level of energy & creative ability too. 17th November 2011 onwards a gradual distance from family & relatives could be felt. There could be some changes in property as well as domestic matters. As long as you are positive, there would be abundant energy to work out matters.

Leo December Horoscope: Active period in work as well as domestic matters till the 16th December 2011. Some amount of resentment could build up against family members during this time. Avoid conflict. 17th December 2011 onwards, creative energies would be high and you will remain more self centered than usual. Children related matters could remain strained now.

Free Book Giveaway, Discounts & Special Offers

Free Book Giveaway, Discounts & Special Offers

Well, here it is! July's Special Offer and Discount Newsletter! Includes a free book giveaway, healing column, inspirational quotes, information on symbols and lots more! Just click on the above blue link to view the newsletter. To receive the special discounts, you need to become a newsletter subscriber. To subscribe, simply click on the relevant link while viewing the newsletter.

Cancer - Vedic Astrological Forecasts!

(Thank you to Moonslipper for contributing this forecast.)

2011 would be a landmark year for Cancer. You will feel empowered, smart and in control of things this year. An expansion in all you do and influence will remain the underlying strength of this year.

Health & care about blood related disorders should be high on your priority from 30th October 2011 till end of the year.

Speech and verbal aggression towards coworkers should be controlled between 3rd August to 26th August & 25th November to 13th December. Impulsive purchases and new expenses should be avoided during the above periods too.

Cancer July Horoscope:

The month would begin with low activity and some amount of pressures and sluggishness which would remain till the 14th July 2011. Improvements in outlook, followed by rise in activity would come from the 15th July 2011. You should be careful about being egoistic and over aggression. You will experience leadership abilities now.

Cancer August Horoscope:
Pressures and activity at work could suddenly escalate after the 31st August. For workaholics, it would be a great and fulfilling period. Expansion in work, financial position and increase in your contact base would come easily for you. A positive period, but with its share of pressures & hurdles.

Hard work and aggression would be high. Ego will remain an integral part of thinking as well as attitude. Ego related issues would remain internal and sub conscious till the 15th August 2011, while 16th August 2011 onwards, Ego could be apparent in speech. Finances would remain active and on your mind in the second half of the month. Family matters would be in the focus too.

Cancer September Horoscope:

Creative work would bring in growth in finances till the 15th September 2011. Be humble in speech and communications this month. 16th September 2011, onwards your position will rise and growth would come due to your dynamic attitude as well as networking skills. Growth oriented period overall. Possibility of travel.

Cancer October Horoscope:

Positive period till 16th October 2011. You will experience growth and rise in repute. You will feel a higher level of energy & creative ability too. 17th October onwards a gradual distance from family & relatives could be felt. There could be some changes in property as well as domestic matters. As long as you are positive, there would be abundant energy to work out matters.

Cancer November Horoscope:

Active period in work as well as domestic matters till the 16th November 2011. Some amount of resentment could build up against family members during this time. Avoid conflict. 17th November 2011 onwards, creative energies would be high and you will remain more self centered than usual. Children related matters could remain strained now.

Cancer Horoscope until 15th November 2011 would see s slide in comfort as well as ease with which you had been running your life. You will feel the activity in career, suddenly jump up. There would be growth in position but even the responsibilities would rise and therefore you will become over worked now. The high activity phase will turn more rational now, comparatively, after the 12th June. You can take up new projects now. You will now, however, be careful about how you look at your life and plans in general. A certain amount of negativity could set in. Pessimism could knock on your psyche too. You need to keep your chin up and believe in yourself, no matter, what the odds.

Cancer Horoscope between 16th November 2011 and 31st December 2011, would be a difficult period, as the strength & support of the previous few months would go down. Domestic matters, could be challenging now. Opposition to ideas could cause hurdles and negative thinking.

Cancer December Horoscope:

Mind could be over active and some amount of ego could run your thought patterns till the 15th December 2011. Issues with children could crop up too. Beyond 16th December 2011, you will find a rise in energy in work environment. You will find support from superiors and some rise in dynamism which could help you progress faster. Pressures in career and stability in thoughts would come after the 25th December. You should avoid new projects or changes in personal life now. Investments & speculations in stocks should not be planned during this period.

Free E-Book on Mysticism "The Greatest Achievement in Life - Five Traditions of Mysticism" by R.D. Krumpos

g.a.i.l.11.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Read this fascinating book online or download this pdf document to your computer (virus and spy-ware free). "The Greatest Achievement in Life - Five Traditions of Mysticism" by R.D. Krumpos covers the mystic traditions and ideas of five spiritual belief systems including Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. Containing vital excerpts, essays and quotes, if you are a student of self-awareness, mysticism and spiritual development, you are likely to find this indepth book an essential read. Just click on the blue link provided above to download your very own copy of this comprehensive book on Mysticism.