Monday, February 29, 2016




 
Tarot Reading for March 2016
 
 AND
 Blog #54: A Few Types of Meditation
 
Legacy of the Divine Tarot
 
 
10 OF COINS:  March is shaping up to be a month of abundance, with good things happening.  See the results of your work and efforts start flowing to you as you enjoy the bounty that is on the way.  You may experience abundance not just in finances, but in any area related to the physical world—job/career, health, home, and/or sense of stability and security.  Start out the month by visualizing what you want and do the work that is needed to make it happen.  If you have already put forth the energy, be patient as you see what unfolds.
JUDGEMENT:  This month would be a good time to evaluate where you would like to see yourself in the next several months or a year.  Feel rejuvenated and inspired to do something different that can help propel you forward.  Perhaps you are ready for a change or just want to focus on something new. Take stock of where you are and ask yourself questions such as “Am I happy with my life right now?” “Is there anything I can be doing besides my same routine?” “Am I ready for a change?” “Should I take a risk and see where it leads?”  Remember that there are unlimited possibilities waiting for you if you will just give yourself a chance to explore them.
QUEEN OF SWORDS:  Do your best to stand in your own truth and let your authentic self shine through. Take action based on what your intuition is telling you to do rather than accepting what others want you to do.  Listen to your heart, for it is the source of who you truly are.  Do not give away your power to others by letting them make decisions for you, nor allow them to sway your thinking despite doubts that their way may not be best.  Listen to your own inner self and go with your gut instinct.
9 OF CUPS: Satisfaction and fulfillment can be yours this month, because good things are in the works.  Look forward to positive outcomes that will bring you joy and delight.  As with the 10 of Coins, success is on the horizon, and this is another indication that you are on the right track.  Whatever you have done up to this point has been part of your divine path, so give yourself credit for all the positive actions you have taken.  Sit back for a while and enjoy the abundance that you so richly deserve.  Be grateful for all that you have accomplished and all that you will do in the future.
TRENDS FOR THE MONTH:  What a beautiful month March is shaping up to be!  Both the 10 of Coins and 9 of Cups bode well for you enjoying the results of the work and effort you have expended.  Look for abundance not only in major things such as financial gain or a job upgrade, but in the everyday little things that can bring enjoyment and satisfaction on a smaller but equally important level.  The other two cards, Judgement and Queen of Swords, encourage you to look objectively at yourself and ask honest questions. While in this feeling-good space of things going well, take time to look deeply within to get to the core of your authentic self and recognize the truth of how you want to live your life.  Then you will be able to bask in continued joy and contentment.
                                                                                                                  
Blog #54:  A Few Types of Meditation

 
When people think of meditation, the most obvious picture that comes to mind is someone sitting on the floor with legs crossed and eyes closed.  Many people, of course, do practice meditation this way, but it is by no means the only way.

First of all, you can meditate in any position you like—sitting on the floor, sitting in a chair, standing, lying down, walking.  Your eyes can be open or closed, or you can focus on an object, such as the flame of a candle.  Even yoga and qigong are considered forms of meditation.  You can meditate alone or in a group. 

Some teachers say that meditation is a state of mind related to awareness and acceptance. If this is so, then you can meditate any time in the middle of any activity. (See “mindfulness” meditation below.)

The purpose of this short article is to give a few types of others kinds of meditation that can be practiced.  Perhaps you will find one that works for you, or maybe you have been meditating all along in your own way that felt right to you, but didn’t know that it was “meditation”.

There are many more kinds of meditation than those listed below, but this is a good place to start if you want just a quick summary.

Concentration: This type of meditation is what it implies—you train your mind to focus on an object, your breath, a mantra (a meaningful word or phrase) or nothing at all, so that all distractions are removed.  This lets the mind be calm and still, which has a positive effect on the body by removing stress and tension.  It is recommended that beginners start with the simplest thing to focus on—your breath.

Several types of concentration meditation are: transcendental meditation (TM), om, and chakra.

Open Awareness: The idea here is to open your mind to whatever is happening around you without focusing on anything specifically.  For example, you could focus on the blue sky with clouds floating by, or a river that is moving swiftly in a current, or the stars that you see on a clear night.  The idea is to be present with whatever arises.

Mindfulness:  One author states that this is the most popular and widely researched meditation in the western world.  It is a combination of concentration and open awareness.  In this type of meditation, you focus on an object (breath, bodily sensations, thoughts, feelings, or sounds).  You can extend your focus to daily actions, such as eating, walking, driving, or doing housework.  The key is to pay attention to whatever you are doing, rather than simply acting like a robot and then realizing you did something without being aware of it.

Some examples of mindfulness are:  deep breathing, body scan, visualization, mindful breathing, mindful eating, seated meditation, walking meditation.

Guided meditation:  This may be the best technique for you if you find the idea of focusing on your breath to be boring.  In a guided meditation, you listen to a recording that elicits certain images, affirmations, states (such as calmness) or imagined desired experiences.  Guided imagery has been used to facilitate health and well-being, and is even used to rehearse successful outcomes of surgeries or athletic performances.

Reflective Meditation:  This is also called disciplined thinking, in which you choose a question, theme or topic to focus on.  Then you reflect on it or analyze it.  At first, your mind may wander to other topics, but you keep coming back to the topic in question.  For some people, starting out with the concentration meditation would be helpful before moving on to this type.

Examples of ideas to focus on include: Who am I? What is my life purpose? What is my role in this universe?

Heart-Centered Meditation:  This type of meditation can help you release fears and focus on loving kindness and compassion.  Another name for it is the heart chakra meditation.  In this technique, you would choose a quiet place, select the position that is most comfortable for you, and focus on the heart area.  Inhale and exhale slowly but smoothly. You can also connect with the heart of a person whom you feel is compassionate and loving.  This is also a good technique to use if you want to help change the negative energy that exists in parts of the world today.  Set an intention to spread love, kindness, and compassion to all the people in the world who are suffering.  Buddhist monks focus daily on the cultivation of compassion in their meditations.

For more in-depth information on meditation and how to do it, one good source is Meditation for Dummies by Stephan Bodian.  Of course, there are other good manuals available, as well as numerous articles, so you can go on-line to find resources that might appeal to you.

Sources


 

Monday, February 1, 2016


 
 
Tarot Reading for February 2016
 AND
 Blog #53: The Many Benefits of Flaxseed
 
Legacy of the Divine Tarot
 
 
 
8 OF SWORDS:  You may be feeling somewhat indecisive about an issue or problem that is bothering you, but now is not the time to do simply nothing.  Take a few moments to think through what might be the best course of action, even listing pros and cons of alternatives if that would be helpful.  Remember that to do nothing is making a decision, and the results could very well not be in your favor.  So instead of waffling back and forth, or just postponing what may be a difficult choice, just go ahead and do something.
4 OF WANDS: Things will start looking up this month, especially if you have felt that you were in a murky, unclear place where confusion reigned.  The good news is that you are entering a time of peace and calm, a time of replenishing yourself now that the new year is getting underway.  You will start feeling more stable and secure as you look optimistically towards the future, so use this time to evaluate your goals and see if you are headed in the right direction. Good times can be in your future, so let them happen.
TEMPERANCE: This month can be magical in a wonderful sort of way, allowing the alchemy of change to take place. You can transform a challenge into something that will bring more balance into your life, and you can allow yourself time to do this.  Patience is important right now, so there is no need to rush anything.  Moderation is also helpful, so show self-restraint when necessary. Changing ourselves may take time, but it’s worth it. So look for ways to bring in more harmony by letting two completely different things lead to the creation of something new and different—a synthesis of two elements combining and resulting in a unique way of doing or perceiving to create a better outlook.
7 OF SWORDS:  Some type of deception may be lurking about, so stay on your toes and keep your eyes open to what is going on around you.  This dishonesty or untruthfulness could be coming from others or from yourself.  So ask yourself:  Am I being above board with how I feel? Am I giving myself excuses for not doing something that would benefit me because I just don’t want to, or are scared to?  If others are the problem, be tuned in to your intuition so you can spot this negativity easily, and either confront the person or just move on.  This energy could be the instigator for something new coming into your life.
TRENDS FOR THE MONTH: This could be a month of some ups and downs, but you will have the patience and optimism to deal with whatever happens.  Make a decision about challenges and then move on, rather than vacillating back and forth and not doing anything.  Stay upbeat and hopeful, because good things are on the way.  Practice patience as you make changes, bringing visions and goals into fruition; use caution in dealing with others to detect if anything seems suspicious.  Ask yourself if you are being honest with yourself and if not, find out the source of this feeling and do something about it.
Blog #53:  The Many Benefits of Flaxseed

 
Retrieved from www.eyedoctorguide.com 
History 

Flaxseeds (or linseeds) come from flax, which is one of the oldest fiber crops in the world.  Linen and other textiles have been produced from flax for over 3,000 years.  It has been considered not only as a source of food and fabric, but also has been used to make sails for ships, bowstrings, and body armor.

Although flaxseed oil is one of the most commercial uses of flaxseed, the nutritional benefits of flaxseeds are being increasingly recognized.  Research over the past 10 years is showing that flaxseed is extremely healthy for the body.  However, even way back in the eighth century King Charlemagne was so sure of the health benefits of flaxseeds that he passed laws requiring his subjects to eat them.

Why flaxseeds are so good for us

Here is a list of what flaxseeds contain that make them so valuable for our health.
 
Ø  Lignans—Estrogen-like chemical compounds that help to remove free radicals from the body because of their antioxidant qualities.  Flaxseeds are the main source of lignans in human diets. These antioxidant benefits include anti-aging, hormone balance, cellular health, and anti-viral and antibacterial properties.

Ø  Essential fatty acids—Most of the fatty acids in flaxseeds are alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), one of three omega-3 fatty acids.  When eaten, ALA is converted into other more powerful omega-3s.  The best way to consume flaxseeds for maximum omega-3 benefit is through flaxseed oil.

Ø  Flavonoids—Compounds that lower “bad” cholesterol.

Ø  Fiber (both soluble and insoluble)--Makes up 28% of ground flaxseed and helps with digestion and cholesterol levels.

Ø  Vitamins and minerals—Includes most of the B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, iron, potassium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and selenium

 Possible health benefits

NOTE:  To get the most benefits from flaxseeds, they should be bought in ground form or ground before eating, because whole flaxseeds may not be digested when passing through the digestive tract.

Although recent research is suggesting that flaxseeds might live up to their beneficial claims, be aware that there needs to be more high quality studies done to confirm these claims.

The possible health benefits included in the literature thus far are:
 
Ø  Cancer protection—Some studies have shown that consuming flaxseed may protect against prostate, colon, and breast cancers.  These results may be related to the anti-inflammatory qualities that flaxseeds have as well as the omega-3 acids they contain.

Ø  Digestive health—The ALA omega-3 fatty acids help protect the digestive tract lining and improve the intestinal absorption of nutrients, thus maintaining the health of the gastrointestinal tract.  Also, they can help reduce inflammation of some digestive ailments.

Ø  Alleviation of post-menopausal symptoms—Flaxseed may help reduce the risk of hot flashes, thanks to the estrogenic properties of lignans.

Ø  Cardiovascular benefits—The ALA omega-3 fatty acid can help protect blood vessels from damage caused by inflammation and may help regulate blood pressure.  It also may help lower bad cholesterol. 

 How to consume flaxseed

There are a variety of ways that flaxseed can easily become a part of your regular diet:

Ø  Sprinkle ground flaxseeds onto hot or cold cereal, cooked vegetables, or soups and salads.

Ø  Add flaxseeds to muffin, cookie, or bread recipes.

Ø  Add ground flaxseeds to breakfast shakes or smoothies.

Ø  Mix one tablespoon of flaxseed into yogurt.

Ø  Add it to tomato sauces or to casseroles.

Some people do experience side effects when eating flaxseed (such as bloating, flatulence, stomach pains, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea), so if you have a sensitive digestive system, talk with your medical professional or do your own research before adding flaxseed to your diet.

There are many reasons to include flaxseed as part of your diet to become healthier, but only you can make the decision that is best for you.

Sources





http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/best-foods-for-arthritis/flaxseed.php

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/tiny-flaxseed-has-big-benefits.aspx