Monday, 11 May 2015

Dreams: A Secret Key To Wellness



Are you a vivid dreamer?  Do you recall your dreams often? Do you even have dreams?
The truth is that everyone dreams, even if you do not remember them upon wakening.  Scientific research and experimentation have proven that we need to dream.  Dreams are essential.
Dreams occur during the active part of sleep, when REM occurs.  REM is an indication that a dream is occurring.  During REM the eyes are moving, fingers and other muscles twitch and the brain burns just as much energy as it does during waking life.  The reason that the body does not act out more than simple eye movement and body twitches during a dream is because of natural sleep paralysis is induced in the body during sleep.  REM occurs approximately every ninety minutes during the night, with more REMs closer together, even a half hour apart, closer to morning.
Lack of dreaming, through sleep deprivation during REM sleep  (the period that we dream), leads to psychotic behavior.  Dreams are a healthy part of our psychology.  If a person is kept from dreaming, their personality will begin to change.  A single night without dreaming will cause nervousness and irritability.  The longer a person goes without dreaming the more irritable they will become.  If dreams are prevented for a few days, definite psychological changes in behavior occur.  Waking life depletes the brains’ supply of some very critical chemicals and during REM sleep, these chemicals are replenished, which brings about emotional stability, increased memory and learning functions.
To understand your feelings and yourself more deeply, pay attention to your dreams.  They are the keys to the doorways within.  Dreams also serve as a world that is limitless … a place of amusement, where you can enjoy yourself.  The healthiest people are said to be those who are happy, so why not enjoy dreaming … record your dreams, have fun with them.  Let them amuse you.  Maybe even learn how to lucid dream, which means you are aware you are dreaming and can control them.  One of the greatest antidotes against illness is happiness.  Many dreams can even put you in a good mood that lasts throughout the day, affecting psychological structure and leading toward all sorts of positive encounters.
Dreams are a valuable resource that are available to everyone who desires to decode their symbolism.  Dreams are a place where you can learn about yourself.  Some say that dreams are more honest than our waking consciousness and that in our dreams we reveal our true feelings, especially about the most important issues in our life.  Finding the meaning of your dreams is very personal.  Once you can understand how your own associations work,  you will have the ability to better able to interpret your dreams.  It is often stated that dreams have multiple levels of meaning woven into a single dream.  It is not uncommon to have dreams that get your attention about an illness in the body.  Sickness can certainly have a somatic influence on dreams.
Only you, the dreamer can know for sure what your dreams mean.  Dream dictionaries may help a little and therapist can certainly help you figure out your dreams for yourself, but only you will make the final decision to their meaning.  If you are interested in decoding your dreams, consider making your own dream journal and dream dictionary.  Everyone has their own associations and symbols that the individual mind thinks and communicates through dreams.  In your dream journal, record your dreams.  Keep it by your bed with a pen, so that you can write them down immediately upon waking up.  The dream dictionary will be much like the dream meaning dictionaries that you can get in a store, only it will be you that gives the dream symbols meaning according to your own associations.  Be sure to have plenty of room to add to your interpretations over time.
Whether you get to know your dreams more intimately through understanding the messages that come from the subconscious to the conscious mind, or not, dreams are an important part of your being, that contribute greatly to health and happiness.

Channeling: An Ancient Art



The ancient metaphysical science of channeling has been practiced long before it was given such a name.  A channel is a conduit through which something flows or passes and being a channel for spirit is allowing spirit to flow or pass through you.  To be a channeler is to be an open vessel for spirit.  Channeling can be a valuable source of information that answers many questions, even the mysteries of life, although it is different than psychic skills and clairvoyance.  Channeling comes from the seventh chakra, the crown chakra, as psychic abilities come from the sixth chakra, the third eye.
Some well-known channelers include Edgar Cayce (known as the sleeping prophet), Christine Breese (the founder of UMS), Sanaya Roman, Esther Hicks and Barbara Brennan.  A significant amount wisdom has been gathered by these channelers for the benefit of all humanity.  Spirit guides, or in some cases, groups of spirit guides worked with these channelers and speaking through them, they were able to share their messages and teachings with all the world.
Artists, musicians and writers have all experienced the flow, as through a channel, in which great inspiration comes from a higher source rather than the self.  When they fall into a trance, which is a deep meditative state, they begin to channel.  When this occurs the music creates itself, the book writes itself and the illustration illustrates itself.  You get the idea.  Effortlessness is the essence because the work is not entirely their own.
Two types of channeling exist.  The first type is conscious channeling, in which the channeler remains conscious of the experience.  A conscious channeler is an active participant in the channeling process.  The second type is unconscious channeling, in which the channeler “goes to sleep” and has no recollection of what happened during the channeling session.  There are good points about each of these types of channeling.
Each channeler has their own unique signal that let’s them know that they are ready to channel and connect with their guide.  It is important that they work with only high-level guides, who are beings that are kind, benevolent and have their well-being in mind.  The channeler always has the choice of who or what they want to channel, just like they have the choice of who they want as friends or business associates. High-level guides have a deep love for humanity and a desire to assist in raising the consciousness of the planet.  The emotional response that the channeler has to the guides will be a big indication of whether or not they are working with a high-level guide or not.  High-level guides feel good to be around.  High-level guides are attracted to those who have integrity themselves, living a life of balance and purity with a benevolent nature.  High-level guides make others feel lifted in vibration and supported.  Low-level guides may frighten the channeler.  Low-level guides speak negatively, stroke ego’s and want the channeler to follow their advice blindly without question.
If you are serious about channeling or are simply curious and want to know more, it is advised that you study and do much more research than this article can provide.  Channeling can be dangerous.  Not all guides are kind.  The University of Metaphysical Sciences has a great course on channeling to get you started.

Pranayama: Breath Of Life



There are many things that you do without much thought and breathing is most likely one of them.  However, did you know that the breath holds the key to numerous physical, emotional and spiritual benefits?  An ancient yogic practice known as pranayama has the ability to increase stamina, stimulate weight loss, create oxygenation within the cells, put an end to asthma, purify the blood, create balance between logic and creativity, prepare your mind for meditation and inner exploration, help you experience deep levels of relaxation, take you to altered states of reality, create emotional calm and mental clarity.
At birth our life begins with our first breath and it ends with our last breath.  We are all connected by the cosmic breath, just as we are connected to all of life.  Learning to breathe in a way that benefits an individual will always benefit the whole, as we are all one, here together in this experience called life.
We take approximately 18,000 to 20,000 breaths a day. That is a lot of breathing.  Most if not all breathing is done through the nose, and with good cause.  Breathing though the nose provides many benefits including filtering the air, as well as warming it and keeping it moist. Air then arrives to the lungs in the best condition to provide efficient transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Pranayama, a Sanskrit word, is the art and science of breathing.  A series of breathing practices that are a part of the yogic traditions in India, pranayama has endless healing potentials.  The breath is a vital process of life, often overlooked in regards to health and wellness.  We influence our bodies on each level and within every cell through our breathing.
The ancients long ago recognized that working with the breath yielded impressive results.  Through pranayama practices, the infinite, raw energy of the universe known as prana, can be utilized for your benefit.  You can gain greater control over universal energies, as well as learn to control your emotions and body.  By controlling the breath, you also control the nerves and the mind.  If you can control your mind, you can utilize it as the tool that it is, creating all sorts of good fortune for yourself and others.
Pranayama is the expansion and manifestation of prana, the life energy.  Prana can be cultivated and channeled through the different pranayama breathing exercises.  Pranayama has been proven an effective method for improving health, in addition to prevention and management of diseases.  According to yogic philosophy, disease is the result of blocks and imbalances in the flow of prana.
In the body, energy is being continuously consumed, produced and exerted.  The shifting of energy, creates of flow of energy within the body.  There are many breathing techniques for controlling prana through the breath and different ways of breathing create different flows of energy within the body.  For example, faster breathing creates shorter waves of energy, or bursts of energy and slower breathing creates longer waves, or steady slow, frequencies of energy.
Three types of breathing exist: thoracic breathing (mid chest), clavicular breathing (upper chest) and diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing).  Diaphragmatic breathing is the ideal way of breathing.  This is what babies and children do naturally.  Take a look at your abdomen.  Do you see your belly move up and down as you breath?  If you do, this means you are diaphragmatic breathing.
Pranayama can have tremendous value in your life.  For more information on this ancient secret of youth and longevity, please visit the University of Metaphysical Sciences.  They have an excellent class on the subject, as well as many supportive teachers to help you along the way.

The Fairy Realm: Real or Make-Believe? Friend or Foe?



I have held the fascination with the fairy folk every since I was young, perhaps wanting … maybe even needing to believe in the magic of the fey.  Rather than grow up and out of such an attraction toward the fairy realm, instead it grew stronger, as my love of nature increased with every Summer that blossomed.
The fairies are laced within many cultures around the world, as well as literature throughout history.  The definitions of the fairies vary, yet most agree that they are supernatural creatures with magical powers that cannot be observed by everyone.  Hidden and invisible to most, the fairy folk are known to be both benevolent and kind, as well as mischievous and cruel.
Although the subject of the fey has always interested me immensely, as with all other forms of metaphysical and spiritual events, experience has the greatest way of reaching me directly.  For myself I have found that the best way to learn about such phenomena as the fairy realm is to explore the existence of such spirits within nature, such as in the woods, the garden, the park, etc.  Books on the subject of the fairies make a little more sense when combined with personal experience.  Yet it must be understood that although my own experiences in the fairy realm have answered some questions about them, most of the time I end up with more questions.  So, I can easily say that exploring this realm leaves me with more questions than answers, yet life itself has many curious things about it … and often I cannot help but wonder.
It is said that a love of nature opens up the door to the fairy realm.  The hidden bridge between the two worlds of human and fairy becomes visible, through love, just as the vibrations lift when true love is felt.  The five senses experience a limited amount of existence and reality, reaching only certain octaves of vibration, while other levels of vibrations still exist.  Although the sense mechanisms fail to recognize and establish relationships with the octaves of vibration out of their reach, they exist and can be experienced.  The transcendental world is as real as the physical world.  If you can tune yourself into the correct frequency, the fairy realm may just open up to you.
With the season of Spring upon us, comes new growth.  If the world of the fey fascinates you, you may want to explore nature in a new way … with love and and open heart and open mind.  Perhaps you will experience more than you expected.  You may end up with a question or two, after such mysterious events cause more curiosity than you had before.  Some say that the fairies are real, while others say they are make-believe.  Perhaps somehow both sides are correct, in their own way.  Some say that the fairies are friends of humans, while others say they are foe.  Once again, perhaps both are true.  Regardless, if you wonder … hhmmm … fairies … if you think about them … you connect to them.  If you look for them, you may find them … or not, yet as you travel down a path in search for answers, be prepared to find yourself more and more curious, with more questions than you had before.  That is to say, if you believe … or perhaps if you do not … either way, there is more that exists in this life than our five senses can interpret.
May you find the magic of nature and the magic within yourself!

Ten Ways To Live A More Spiritual Life



The spiritual journey of life is different for all.  Finding the sacred in the day-to-day will help you to stay on the spiritual path, living the most fruitful and abundant, spiritually-rich life possible.  I like to keep a list of my favorite ways to live a spiritual life someplace where I will see them everyday.  You may like to do the same.  To get you started, here is a list of my ten favorite ways to live a more spiritual life and stay connected to spirit.  There are many ways to live a more spiritual life. You already are more spiritual by having the intention to do so.
#1: Spend time with nature
Whether you take a walk at the park, meditate under a tree, bird watch, plant a garden or invest in more indoor plants, nature attunes the soul to the truth within.  Enjoy the scents and sounds around you.
#2:  See the beauty in all
Beauty surrounds you and you are beautiful too!  Do you see it?  It is there.  Some beauty is more visible then others, but I assure you that it is everywhere.  Meditate on beauty.  Look for it and you will find it.  What do you find most beautiful?  Is it a gesture, a word, a concept, a certain kind of tree or flower, someone’s voice or smile … perhaps your own?
#3:  Connect with your higher self when interacting
Your daily interactions with other people can be a great source of spirituality.  When interacting with others, connect with your higher self first.  Allow the divine to flow through you with your words, deeds and choices.
#4:  Replace negative self-talk, mind-chatter and negative thought patterns with positive affirmations
Let go of the complaining, especially the complaints that you only hear.  The power of affirmations are great, both good and bad.  Visit Affirmations: The Power of The Word.
#5:  Be honest with yourself
Allowing the grace and vibration of the divine into your heart and life takes seeing things as they are.  Start with your feelings.  Be aware of yourself and how you feel.  Feel your emotions.  They are natural and healthy.  If you try to ignore them, they do not disappear.  They will only build-up over time.
Eventually you will have the courage and the strength to be honest with those around you.  When you are strong enough to be honest with others, especially those you care about, letting go of a need to please, relationships become more fulfilling with greater emotional intimacy.
#6:  Take responsibility for your life and your happiness
Believe it or not, happiness is a choice.  Life loves you and wants you to be happy … so make the choice.  Smile and the world will smile back.  Avoid victim mentality, and be pro-active in creating an exceptional life for yourself.
#7:  Love and respect yourself
You are a child of Spirit. Self-love is necessary in order to truly love others. Take good care of yourself and life will take care of you too.  The universe will back you up.  If you feel worthy of love, the universe will agree.  Be sure to get enough rest, enough exercise, eat well and drink plenty of pure water.  Be sure to feed your mind good food too, by thinking thoughts that reflect your love for yourself.  Let your natural beauty shine and remember inner beauty is the mark of true beauty.  If you are a beautiful person it shows … in your eyes and through your heart.  People see true beauty and they feel it too.
#8:  Practice random acts of kindness
Have you ever done something nice for someone, without expecting anything in return?  Can you describe how it makes you feel?  Be sure to do something nice for someone every week.  The act should be something that the person needs and come from the heart.  Make a note of the experience you have each time you do this.  What do you gain by doing this?
#9:  Let go of the past, especially blame and mistakes
In this world, our life is a gift and this world is a classroom.  Making mistakes are part of the lessons, part of the opportunities for spiritual growth.  Never beat yourself up over something you did, rather become better by it.  An atonement can easily be achieved by doing things differently.  Allow yourself human weakness and learn from it.  As long as you choose to learn from your mistakes, rather than repeat them, then you are living spiritually.
We are all children of the higher source, all loved and all cherished, each uniquely for who we are.  Our sins are immediately forgiven, so forgive yourself, forgive others and move on.  Remember, however that to forgive certainly does not mean to condone.  If others treat you poorly, forgive them, but remember that it is your choice to be around others who treat you with the love and respect that you deserve or those who do not.
#10:  Trust in life to bring you what you need
Hardships can be great educators.  There is something good in all experiences and darkness is merely an absence of light.  Sometimes what we truly need, is a deep and penetrating life lesson.  This is the only way to bring about spiritual growth and renewal.
Life loves you and wants you to be successful and live on purpose.  Your heart’s desire, your soul’s journey will attract to you what you need to manifest great changes in your life.  Cultivate gratitude and faith and trust in life to bring you what you need.
These are some of my favorite ways of living a more spiritual life.  I would love to hear yours.  Please share your favorite ways to cultivate the spiritual in your everyday, by commenting below.
Love & Blessings!

Why Get A Doctorate Degree?



This gives your ministerial status even greater professionalism, and sets you apart from others who have not taken the time to get a degree. It also establishes you as a true professional in the field of metaphysics. This is becoming increasingly important. Very few teachers of metaphysics have more than ministerial status, if even that. Some people doubt their legitimacy as a teacher or healer, for anyone can send $5 somewhere and become a reverend or minister. However, you will have prestigious letters behind your name from a university that offers a true education, depicting that you have taken the time to get your degree. This takes commitment to your path as a spiritual aspirant or teacher. You will be perceived as a “doctor” of your subject, not just a reverend or minister because you have studied and learned about metaphysics specifically, which is a specialized area of religion.
You can obtain your ministerial status in the Master's Degree program. Ministerial Ordination is all you need to legally practice as a minister or religious counselor. The primary reason to acquire a doctoral degree is to establish a professional image of yourself as a person well educated in your chosen area of experitise, which is metaphysics. Obtaining a doctorate shows a deeper level of commitment, education, and professionalism. Most people seek out a “doctor” when looking for a counselor, not necessarily a reverend or minister, even though a reverend or minister can legally counsel people. With Doctorate credentials behind your name, you establish yourself as a “doctor” and can list yourself as such in the phone directory with other counselors, rather than as a minister or reverend only.
Your title of doctorate level in metaphysics could make the difference between failure and success. It also gives you legitimacy in your counseling practice. People tend to think of a counselor as their “doctor.” Your Doctoral Degree in Metaphysics is completely legal in every way, though it is not considered an academic, secular degree in psychology or any field other than metaphysics.

It is a doctoral degree in a specialized area of religion. This specified area of religion (metaphysics) is often what many seekers want in their counselor, so becoming a doctor in the metaphysical field can serve you in this way.
University of Metaphysical Sciences is a place to get a metaphysical education. UMS maintains a metaphysical website, web site, with many free reading articles, affirmations and other useful free resources, besides it offered curriculum leadning to a degree in metaphysical subjects and metaphysics.

Ministerial Ordination



Upon completion of the Master’s Degree, the student becomes a registered reverend or minister. The student is ordained with all the rights, powers and privileges of an ordained reverend or minister through the parent non-profit organization of the university, Wisdom of The Heart Church 501(c)3.

Many churches supplying ministerial status for only a few dollars are unstable and they are not a genuine 501(c)3 organization listed with the proper federal agencies. You could find yourself in legal trouble for practicing counseling without proper credentials. Someone may challenge you about your ministerial status, especially when you get into counseling or assuming tax advantages that are available as a minister. You will need to be backed by a church that has staying power and will not have disappeared when you need proof of your status as a minister or reverend. Wisdom of The Heart Church is a bonafide church listed with the proper federal agencies, and will be there if you should ever need proof of your ministerial legitimacy.

Ministerial ordination is part of University of Metaphysical Science's Master's curriculum. Upon completion of the Master's degree, you will receive ministerial certification. UMS offers online certification and can answer any minister ordination question you might have. Become a reverend by taking courses at UMS. The Minister and Reverend Handbook is offered as part of the curriculum so that you will be able to conduct ceremonies in a traditional sense and also learn how to construct your own. A certificate as a minister or reverend can be yours. 

Metaphysical Science in Australia



Metaphysical science is the study of the non physical elements of the reality we live in. Instead of using traditional scientific methods to gather information, draw hypotheses, conduct experiments, and come to conclusions, metaphysical scientists must be more creative in their ways of deduction. That is not to say that metaphysical science is not a reputable field, and these scientists spend their time trying to answer many important questions about the world that we live among.
Quantum physics is a major part of metaphysical science, because physical manifestations are not possible. Instead, results must be thought of in terms of probability. When there is a high probability of something occurring, scientists produce that result as their most likely conclusion.
In metaphysical science, there is a fine line between cause and effect. The same effects that are seen by humans in various parts of the world could be causes to other situations. Our mind goes through a process when we observe a cause and look at its most likely effect.
Even in the metaphysical sense, scientists are looking to establish this same connection between cause and effect. Something that cannot be explained at first may have a perfectly explainable cause. It is simply a matter of delving deep enough into the subject matter to get the right results.
The only issues arise when specific data cannot be observed and measured. How are scientists meant to draw conclusions about our universe if many of the subjects they study are so vague that they cannot be computed and studied.
Metaphysical science draws many personal connections between the scientist and the subject matter. A scientist must use their imagination, their feelings, emotions, intuition, and physic awareness to come up with hypotheses and conclusions.
Metaphysical science attempts to draw attention to those elements that we cannot see, touch, hear, smell, or sense. Just because something is not visible to us, or cannot be heard by our ears, it does not mean that subject matter does not exist or does not have a paramount importance. Creativity and "out of the box" thinking are very important to the metaphysical scientist.
A scientist must go through certain personal experiences in order to draw the right conclusions in this field. The mind and spirit must be in sync, otherwise the right blend between observation and creativity is not possible.
The scientific method is still crucial in metaphysical science, because it helps to draw boundaries and structure. However, only scientists that are willing to stretch those boundaries will be successful. There was a time when people looked down on this form of science, but people's beliefs are beginning to change. Metaphysical science is starting to get the respect that it deserves.
Skepticism towards metaphysical science ran deep in Australia, with many people believing that this branch was a fraud. The scientists who studied the metaphysical were labeled as disgraces, or those who had abandoned their field to chase a pipe dream.
However, a book written by David Armstrong, "Universals and Scientific Realism", highlighted the key elements of metaphysical science. This book drew parallels between metaphysics and the rest of science, and these parallels began to draw mainstream appreciation for metaphysical science.
Author Biography:
Nada Ljubinovic is a content writer who enjoys to share her thoughts, learnings and personal growth on various topic including new age stores, spirituality, personal development and inspirational quotes.

New Age Studies Are Older Than You Think



New Age is a catchall phrase used to describe metaphysical sciences, beliefs and teachings. It, and the practices that fall into this category, is often misunderstood and brushed under the carpet; but the truth behind the matter often surprises skeptics.
While the word “new” is used in the term New Age, don’t let this fool you. Many of the practices that fall under this broad classification rely on ancient wisdom and have scientifically proven results and benefits for users.
The term New Age first gained attention in the 1800s, but the movement itself didn’t really get off the ground on a widespread level until the 1900s. It includes many well known metaphysical sciences that have roots in ancient practices. Although seen by some as “trendy,” “hokey” or even imaginary, the metaphysical sciences that fall into the New Age movement are widespread - with many, in fact, being accepted on a broad scale.
At their very heart, most metaphysical sciences do focus on the power of the mind and the subconscious mind. They are considered “science” because it has been proven in many laboratory observations that thought can, and does, affect matter. What once was called “alchemy” is now considered viable, respected and legitimate through such “New Age” practices as:
Acupuncture and acupressure – This ancient practice dates back more than 8,000 years in Chinese history. It treats health conditions by stimulating specific points in the body, known as health points. The practices of acupuncture and acupressure fall into the New Age category, but are widely accepted as a legitimate means for treating health concerns.
Hypnosis – This practice seeks to unlock the power of the subconscious mind and is not only used in New Age practices, but also in psychology and psychiatry.
Meditation – Often used in New Age practices, this ancient art seeks to put a person on a path to enlightenment. In addition to being a major component of yoga, meditation is often recommended to help people combat the effects of stress and teach them to strike a balance in their lives.
Yoga – This ancient Indian practice focuses on the union of mind, body and spirit. In addition to affording practitioners a pathway for better physical health, its followers seek personal enlightenment.
New Age is a term that encompasses a wide variety of practices that tend to actually have rather old roots. Many of the practices that fall into the New Age classification seek to harness the power of the subconscious mind to achieve tangible and beneficial results in the physical world.
Although some still see New Age practices as unusual, the acceptance of such forms as yoga, acupuncture and hypnosis is impossible to deny. The connection between mind, body and spirit has been proven. The reality is the mind and thought can affect matter for the betterment of humanity.
New Age might have negative connotations in some circles, but, in truth, it’s difficult to argue with the reliability of many of its practices. Many, in fact, are recognized by the Western world as highly beneficial.