Sunday, November 30, 2014



 
Bi-Weekly Tarot Reading:  11-30-14 through 12-13-14
 AND
 Blog #31:  The Amazing Dolphins
 
LEGACY OF THE DIVINE TAROT
  

4 OF COINS:  Be frugal with your finances and resources for the next two weeks. Spend for what you need, not for what you want.  This will bring a feeling of security and stability, and it will allow you to have the freedom to enjoy other aspects of life other than just what money can buy.  The message is to focus more on the spiritual rather than the material.

4 OF SWORDS:  Do not allow the hectic nature of this time of year to wear you down.  It is important for you to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep and rest, by eating foods that nurture your body rather than deplete it, and by getting at least a little exercise.  We cannot take care of others, and we cannot experience joy and happiness, unless we take care of ourselves.

KNIGHT OF SWORDS:  A time for communicating clearly with others so that you get your points across easily. Use the Swords energy to cut through all the excess words that only distort your message.  The Knight energy will help you move forward in this area, by expressing your truth in a straightforward manner.

BI-MONTHLY THEME:  Spend wisely during the upcoming weeks, being grateful for what you have.  It is good to share with others by giving gifts, but there are other presents that can be given that are not of the material world.  A small gift given with love and kindness will go a long way.  Take care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Be kind to yourself first, and this will allow you to spread unconditional love to all those you meet.  Be aware of the importance of communicating positive, clear messages that focus on your truth and are uplifting in some way.
 
Blog #31:  The Amazing Dolphins


There seems to be a natural attraction between dolphins and humans that has been going on for a long time, as far back as ancient Greece.  Other civilizations with myths and folklore related to dolphins include India, ancient Sumeria, the Dogon tribe from West Africa, and many Native American cultures.

Some dolphin physical traits

Perhaps this is why there are spiritual qualities associated with dolphins—not just through the stories and myths in which dolphins figure prominently, but also because of their unique physical attributes.  Here are just a few of the wonderful characteristics of dolphins:

Ø  Dolphins are marine mammals who in their natural environment often impart to humans a sense of calmness, peace, and acceptance.  Marine biologists have found that “there is something about the vibrational energy of a dolphin and its sonar that has an effect on our biomolecular structure. . Dolphins can break up negative energy.  Even just listening to them can help boost your relaxation response and endorphin levels.” (http://www.psychicsuniverse.com/articles/spirituality/living-spiritual-life/dolphins-spiritual)

Ø  Community and social interaction are very important to dolphins.  If one is injured or hurt, others will come to its aid by circling around him and protecting him.  During the birth process, pod (group) members will protect the mother and baby calf by shielding them from predators.  They will even help those who are sick or injured by lifting them up to the surface so they can breathe.
 
Ø  Dolphins are good at communicating with one another. They speak by moving their bodies in certain ways and by emitting sounds such as clicks and whistles.  Each dolphin has its own unique characteristic signal or whistle.

Ø  Dolphins are very playful and curious, and they live in total harmony with their environment and one another. Their countenance seems quite happy to us, because of their “built-in smile”.  They live in large groups (called pods) of up to 100.

ØDolphins have large brains and are very intelligent, and have even been observed teaching their young how to use tools, such as covering their snouts with sponges for protection while looking for food. (http://www.onekind.org/be_inspired/animals_a_z/dolphin/

Ø  Their blowhole is used for both breathing and sound production. They breathe about every 30 seconds but can stay underwater for up to eight minutes.  They must stay conscious at all times, so they don’t sleep like we do.  They rest by letting half of their brain go to sleep while the other half stays alert and takes care of breathing.

Ø  Although they do not have a sense of smell, they do have a highly developed sense of hearing, capable of hearing a wide range of frequencies.  Underwater, they use echolocation or biosonar to find food by emitting bursts of high frequency sounds that bounce off objects and return to them as echoes.

Some dolphin spiritual messages

Because of their unique characteristics, dolphins are considered to be very spiritual animals that bring us many messages.  Here are just a few:

Ø  Peace and harmony:  Dolphins live peacefully with each other and other species, including humans.  They like to swim and play around boats and people swimming. 

Ø  Protection:  There have been cases of dolphins saving people from drowning and chasing sharks away from people in the ocean.  There is even an incident in which a pod of dolphins herded back out to sea a group of whales who had beached themselves in New Zealand. (http://www.spiritanimal.info/dolphin-spirit-animal/

Ø  Sense of humor and playfulness:  Dolphins with their “smiles” and playfulness remind us to not take ourselves so seriously.

Ø  Resurrection:  The ancient Greeks believed that dolphins carried the souls of the dead to the afterlife, so people who have an affinity for dolphins may be in the midst of their own rebirth or awakening.

Ø  The power of breath and emotional release:   As author Ina Woolcott states:

“When we learn to breathe deeply we can learn to feel deeply, in turn letting go of stifled feelings.  One way of doing this is to copy the dolphin’s pattern of breathing, a superb tension reliever!  Dolphin breathes deeply, holds his breath underwater, then breathes out forcefully.” (http://www.shamanicjourney.com/article/5993/dolphin-power-animal-symbol-of-breath-of-life-love-balance-and-community)

Ø  Nurturing and healing: The previous examples of how dolphins have been known to protect each other, members of other species, and humans all demonstrate that these gentle animals are truly supportive and caring animals.

Ø  Communication:  Just as each dolphin creates its own unique sound or signature click, so too can we learn from them the importance of speaking our own truth, expressing our own individuality.

In conclusion, If you have a strong affection for dolphins, it could be that the dolphin is one of your animal totems or guides. But even if they are not connected to us in this way, we can still learn so much from these wonderful, amazing marine mammals.

Sources





Sunday, November 16, 2014


 
 
Bi-Weekly Tarot Reading:  11-16-14 through 11-29-14
 AND
 Blog #30:  What Are the Benefits of Coconut Oil?
 
LEGACY OF THE DIVINE TAROT
 
 
PAGE OF COINS:  You have the ability to get what you want, and being more child-like will help. Live in the present, don't take things so seriously, and have the confidence that if you set your mind to achieving something, you can be successful.
ACE OF SWORDS:  This is a time to nurture new ideas and thoughts, and stimulate your mind so that you get yourself out of the box of stale thinking.  This could be a new beginning for you, especially if you are looking for something different to do. Brainstorm, and you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.
ACE OF WANDS: If you have been procrastinating about starting a new project or venture, now would be a good time to move things forward.  The Wands energy is helping you during the next two weeks to ignite a fire of motivation, so get started now to see positive results.
BI-WEEKLY THEME: A feeling of self-confidence will be evident, so use this to best advantage as you start thinking of new ways of doing things.  New thoughts will be coming to you, as well as a renewed desire to make progress on things you may have allowed to fall by the wayside. With the double Ace energies working for you, the next two weeks will be a prime time to start making a positive difference in your life.

 
Blog #30--What Are the Benefits of Coconut Oil?


Retrieved from www.ayresbeauty.com

The many benefits of coconut oil are being publicized more than ever before, even though there are not many research studies that have proven the positive effects.  Nevertheless, there must be some good reasons for the rise in its popularity.  So what are they?

Coconut oil is used quite a bit in tropical countries, but in western countries, its benefits have not been very well-known.  Although it was quite popular in the past in the west, in the 1970’s it was denigrated for its high saturated fat content, as publicized by the corn oil and soy oil industries.

Although it is true that coconut oil contains much saturated fat, surprisingly it is beneficial for the heart, because it contains about 50% lauric acid.  This is a fatty acid contained in coconut oil that is a type of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), and it is what makes coconut oil so different from other types of oils.  It is also what gives coconut oil its health-producing benefits. 

“Fatty acids consist of long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached.  In this system you have short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA).  Coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids, also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).  The vast majority of fats and oils in our diets. . .are composed of long-chain fatty acids. Some 98 to 100% of all the fatty acids you consume are LCFA.” (http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/ 

That is, the size of the fatty acid is very important, because our bodies metabolize fatty acids differently depending on their sizes.  As noted above, the saturated fatty acids in coconut oil are of the medium-chain variety, whereas the saturated and unsaturated fats found in meat, milk, eggs, and plants (i.e., almost all vegetable oils) are long-chain fatty acids.  It is the medium-sized chains that are so beneficial, such as lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.  And it is the long-sized chains that are not good for our bodies.  Also, “there are only a very few good dietary sources of MCFA.  By far the best sources are from coconut and palm kernel oils.” (http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/


Ø  Hair care—helps with healthy hair growth and makes it shiny.

Ø  Heart health—reduces incidence of injury and damage to arteries so helps prevent hardening of the arteries.

Ø  Skin care—effective moisturizer for all skin types; also helps delay the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.

Ø  Weight loss—the medium-chain fatty acids are easy to digest and helps the thyroid and endocrine systems function better; also increases body’s metabolic rate.  Dr. Oz notes that:

“One 2009 study found that women who consumed 30 milliliters (about 2 tablespoons) of coconut oil daily for 12 weeks not only did not gain more weight, but actually had lowered amounts of abdominal fat, a type of fat that is difficult to lose, and contributes to more heart problems.” (http://www.doctoroz.com/article/surprising-health-benefits-coconut-oil)

Ø  Immunity—contains various lipids and acids with antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Ø  Digestion—prevents various stomach and digestion-related problems by dealing with different bacteria, fungi, and parasites that cause indigestion.

Ø  Alzheimer’s disease—Not much research is yet available showing that coconut oil helps reverse early-onset Alzheimers, although there is one study begun in 2013 that is gathering data about this.  Also, there is anecdotal evidence that coconut oil does improve and even reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s.  As one author points out,

“Not everyone who tries coconut oil with dementia or Alzheimer’s sees the same results as reported in these testimonials.  Coconut oil does seem to be more effective in those who do not have advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and are still in the earlier stages, although we have seen a few  testimonials for late-stage Alzheimer’s as well.”  (http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/new-alzheimers-drugs-continue-to-fail-where-coconut-oil-shines/)

Ø  Improved cholesterol levels—the lauric acid mentioned earlier increases the good HDL cholesterol and can also help restore normal thyroid function, which helps with good cholesterol levels (http://www.doctoroz.com/article/surprising-health-benefits-coconut-oil)

Ø  Improved oral health—a technique called oil-pulling has helped people have whiter teeth, improve gum health, and reduce bacteria (http://wellnessmama.com/7866/oil-pulling-for-oral-health/)

A final note:  If you want to try coconut oil for some of the benefits listed above, make sure you use virgin coconut oil, which is available in grocery stores and health food stores.  Although there are not many research studies confirming all these benefits, the best thing to do is to try using coconut oil yourself, talk to others who have used it, and read on the internet some of the testimonials of people who have said it has helped them. Use discernment, and decide for yourself.

Sources





 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/coconut-oil-healthy_n_5167057.html

Sunday, November 2, 2014


 

Bi-Weekly Tarot Reading:  11-2-14 through 11-15-14
 AND
 
Blog #29:  Are GMOs Harmful?
 
LEGACY OF THE DIVINE TAROT
  
 
5 OF COINS: When we feel sorry for ourselves or refuse to ask for help, we are allowing a negative state of mind to continue. The best thing to do is to be aware of what you are thinking and then change these thoughts to more positive ones. You can replace the worry with a positive affirmation, or simply think of something enjoyable you would like to do.
8 OF CUPS: Change is happening all the time, and change within ourselves is no exception. Recognize the changes you are feeling--such as realizing that what you believed in the past is no longer serving you--and accept them.  Be grateful for your growth, and remember that when we change our inner selves, changes occur in our outer world as well.
THE CHARIOT: This is a time for moving forward on your path, because you are making progress. If you encounter forces pulling you in opposite directions, you will have the strength to deal with them.  Go with the flow, and ask for divine inspiration.
BI-WEEKLY THEME: Do not allow a negative state of mind to continue.  Rather, monitor your thoughts, and when you recognize any negativity, immediately replace it with something uplifting and inspirational. Recognize the transformations occurring within you.  Give yourself credit for moving forward, and appreciate the progress you are making.  Just let things unfold the way they are intended, rather than trying to control the outcome.

 
Blog #29—Are GMOs Harmful?


Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been in the news a lot lately because they are so controversial.   Why? Because they are hidden in many foods, despite a lack of research showing their long-term effects on our bodies. 

GMOs were introduced in 1996, and in just three years the percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses (food allergies, autism, reproductive disorders, digestive problems) increased from 7% to 13%.  Because of the scarcity of research, there is not conclusive proof that these ailments are due to GMOs, but more and more people are deciding not to ingest them.

What is a GMO?  “GMOs are created when a gene from one species is transferred to another, creating something that would not be found in nature.” (http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/eight-reasons-gmos-are-bad-for-you.html)  These plants have been physically altered in laboratories to improve desired traits, such as resistance to pesticides/herbicides, or better nutritional content.

GMOs were created so more pesticides and herbicides could be used on crops without killing them. The crops are resistant to diseases, but the problem is that as more pesticides are used, the crops become more and more resistant, so more chemicals have to be used. Because of this, genetically modified foods have a higher contamination of toxic herbicides (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs)

Many domestic crops (90% of soybeans, for example) have DNA that has been tampered with in a lab.  Other foods that may contain GMOs include rice, sugar beets, papaya, bananas, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, squash, and honey.  One of the main culprits, corn, is found in at least 60-70% of processed foods.  For example:

“Many food products such as many breakfast cereals, infant formula, salad dressing, bread, cereal, hamburgers, mayonnaise, veggie burgers, meat substitutes, soy cheese, tomato sauce, crackers, cookies, chocolate, candy, fried food, protein powder, baking powder, alcohol, vanilla, powdered sugar, peanut butter, ice cream, frozen yogurt, tofu, tamari, soy sauce, enriched flour and pasta have high levels of GMO corn. GMO corns have been related to infertility, tumors, and increase in food allergies.” (http://seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-foods/top-20-genetically-modified-foods/

It is not surprising that many people have never even heard of GMOs.  One survey found that only 52% of Americans knew that GMO foods are available in grocery stores; only 26% thought they had eaten GMO food.  The prevalence of GMOs in our food supply and the lack of knowledge about them is astounding, especially considering these numbers.  (http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat)

The U.S. government’s position is that GMOs are safe, they are better at resisting disease, and they produce more food.  Therefore, according to this reasoning, it is not even necessary to label food products so consumers know which ones contain GMOs. In fact, several states have tried to require labeling, but have been not been successful.  Some companies, such as Ben & Jerry’s, support labeling and do not use GMO ingredients.

The question, then, is: Why can’t foods be labeled? What is the harm in letting us know what we are eating? The European Union has banned GMOs altogether, as has Australia, Japan, the UK, and other countries that are concerned about the lack of long-term studies on the safety of GMOs.

One author states that:

"Most of the health and environmental risks of GMOs are ignored by governments' superficial regulations and safety assessments. The reason for this tragedy is largely political. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for example, doesn't require a single safety study, does not mandate labeling of GMOs, and allows companies to put their GM foods onto the market without even notifying the agency.” (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs)

So what can we do to protect ourselves?  For now, the best we can do is to be aware of which foods contain GMOs and avoid them.  To download a list of non-GMO products go to http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com.

When shopping, you can also look for these symbols:                       
                     


 

Sources




http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com.