Astrology -Zodiac Elements

There are 12 zodiac signs, and each sign has its own strengths and weaknesses, its own specific traits, desires and attitude towards life and people. By analyzing the projection of the position of planets, and the Sun and the Moon on the Ecliptic at the moment of birth. Astrology can give us a glimpse of a person's basic characteristics, preferences, flaws and fears.
These four elements help describe the unique personality types associated with astrological signs. The four zodiac elements exhibit profound influence on basic character traits, emotions, behavior and thinking.


Water Signs

Water signs are exceptionally emotional and ultra-sensitive. They are highly intuitive and they can be as mysterious as the ocean itself. Water signs love profound conversations and intimacy. They rarely do anything openly and are always there to support their loved ones. The Water Signs are: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

Fire Signs

Fire signs tend to be passionate, dynamic, and temperamental. They get angry quickly, but they also forgive easily. They are adventurers with immense energy. They are physically very strong and are a source of inspiration for others. Fire signs are intelligent, self-aware, creative and idealistic people, always ready for action. The Fire Signs are: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Earth Signs

Earth signs are “grounded” and the ones that bring us down to earth. They are mostly conservative and realistic, but they can also be very emotional. They are connected to our material reality and can be turned to material goods. They are practical, loyal and stable and they stick by their people through hard times. The Earth Signs are: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Air Signs

Air signs are rational, social, and love communication and relationships with other people. They are thinkers, friendly, intellectual, communicative and analytical. They love philosophical discussions, social gatherings and good books. They enjoy giving advice, but they can also be very superficial. The Air Signs are: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

Astrology -Zodiac signs

There are 12 zodiac signs, and each sign has its own strengths and weaknesses, its own specific traits, desires and attitude towards life and people. By analyzing the projection of the position of planets, and the Sun and the Moon on the Ecliptic at the moment of birth. Astrology can give us a glimpse of a person's basic characteristics, preferences, flaws and fears.

Each of the 12 horoscope signs belongs to one of the four elements – Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These elements represent an essential type of energy that acts in each of us. Astrology aims to help us focus these energies on the positive aspects and to gain a better understanding of our potential and our positive traits and deal with negative ones.

These four elements help describe the unique personality types associated with astrological signs. The four zodiac elements exhibit profound influence on basic character traits, emotions, behavior and thinking

Astrology : Predictions

 

Have you often wondered during some period of time in our life ,  why certain things in our life go very effortlessly , without any hurdle , things taking  the right path as desired with least efforts? Also, you might have come across some circumstances where you might have literally burned all your energy  ..I mean to say that you might have worked so hard day and night and see things moving inch by inch .It’s such a frustrating situation .

 

Can astrology or horoscope study, predict the good time and bad times of the individual? Yes, it can predict !

Astrology : Date, Time and Place of birth

The date , time  and place of birth of a person is used to predict a lot about his/her identity, nature , physique of the person,  characteristic and personality. You need these three information which is often considered  as the key to all the answers you are ever going to need. The birth date is used by the astrologers for selecting an appropriate name based on the positions of stars and planets on the respective time of birth of the person. The date and time of birth when combined with place of birth give us the horoscope(Natal Chart) of the person.

I will be sharing more information on this topic.

Importance of Astrology

The importance of astrology is still well known to many cultures. The people of India and China put great stock in astrology even today. They practice the art of astrology in their daily lives, and base major decisions on the science.

But many people do not understand that astrology in its truest form is actually of the utmost importance. Astrology is quite simply the study of the planets and stars and their influence on our lives. These influences are quite real.

Have you ever noticed that around the time of the new moon you have difficulty making decisions? The phases of the moon actually affect our minds and emotions much more than many people realize. This is only a small part of the importance of astrology.

Perhaps you have noticed that your moods change drastically during stretches of time that seem to have no pattern at all. A study of the planetary movements or alignments during those times might reveal that a pattern actually does exist. The position of the planets in your astrological chart at any given time can be viewed in relation to their position in your birth chart. These comparisons can show reasons for changes in mood and daily reactions to events.

Astrology: Meaning of Astrology

The study of the motions and relative positions of the planets, sun, and moon, interpreted in terms of human characteristics and activities

The primitive study of celestial bodies, which formed the basis of astronomy .

Jyotisha (or Jyotishyam from Sanskrit jyotiṣa, from jyótis- "light, heavenly body") is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology, and more recently Vedic astrology. The term Hindu astrology has been in use as the English equivalent of Jyotiṣa since the early 19th century, whereas Vedic astrology is a relatively recent term, entering common usage in the 1980s with self-help publications on Āyurveda or Yoga. Vedanga Jyotisha is one of the earliest texts about astronomy within the Vedas. However, historical documentation shows that horoscopic astrology in the Indian subcontinent came from Hellenistic influences, post-dating the Vedic period.

Astrological houses

Astrological houses describe a specific field of experience in the native's real life. They indicate how the person functions, whether in his interactions with other people, his work, or his love affairs, etc. As with the 12 zodiacal signs, there are 12 astrological houses, and each house is in analogy with one of the signs. However, contrarily to signs, which spread invariably over 30 degrees of the zodiacal circle, house sizes may greatly vary from one house to the other. House calculations are based on the exact birth time.
The cutting of the chart into 12 houses, referred to as "House system", varies from one astrologer to another. There are several methods: Placidus - the most ancient one, dating back to the 17th century - equal houses (with variants), Koch, Regiomontanus, Campanus, Alcabitius, Topocentric, Morinus, etc.

Changing from the Inside Out

We need to remind ourselves, and every individual on this planet, that we can and must change the world from the inside out. We have overwhelming proof that the outside-in approach does not work.

The long-term solution to poverty, lack and limitation lies in our ability to turn our inner potential into reality. The only way we can truly heal the world is to heal ourselves first. This is not a new message, but I think we need to remind ourselves of who we are and what we are capable of. We need to take responsibility for everything that has happened to us. Through the law of attraction, we attract either consciously or unconsciously everything that happens to us. Whatever anyone has done to us, we have participated in it, and are at some level, responsible. In essence, there are no victims, only volunteers. This is a hard pill to swallow, but unless we accept it we cannot change things for the better.

Increase your performance - positive self-talk

We have to learn to cease attacking our self-image at those times when our performance does not live up to our expectations because our negative self-talk will only increase poor performance. So

how do we correct this? The first thing we need to say to ourselves when we are engaged in negative self-talk is, "Stop it!" Then follow up with a statement such as "That’s not like me." The next phase is the key phrase. Say to yourself, "The next time I will….”Then make an affirmation of how you are going to do it next time. Shut off the old picture. Shut off the negative movement. Don't tolerate poor performance from yourself or others, but don't put yourself or others down by focusing on what is wrong. Just say, "The next time…I will do it this way." If we are working with others we can say, "The next time I want you to approach the client this way," or "The next time you will do it like this." What you are doing with these statements is giving positive and immediate feedback to your subconscious. Instead of recording the negative picture, you trigger the picture of the performance you want. The key to reinforcing an already existing positive self-image or modifying your self-image for the better is to visualize what you want your performance to look like the next time and to stop picturing, thinking about and talking about what you are trying to avoid.

When your performance pleases you and you feel good about it, you should use positive self-talk to reinforce the positive picture. Affirm to yourself, "That's the way I am." "That's like me." Positive self-talk statements are the best way to maintain or build your own self-esteem. They deliberately cancel out the negative put-downs we apply to ourselves or to the opinions other people try to make us accept about ourselves.

 

Starting Point of Success

 

The aim of all great teachers since the beginning of time was to awaken us to the fact that we create our own reality. More importantly, that we are responsible for everything that happens in our lives. This includes the good, the bad and the ugly.

 

If we believe that someone or something outside of ourselves is the cause of our problem we will always look outside of ourselves for the solution. In order to find the true answers to our problems, we must begin by looking at ourselves in a new way, which will cause us to see people and events in a new way. The outer world is in many ways a reproduction of our inner world. You must realize this. How many troubled people do you know who have not given the slightest attention to this fact? No amount of determination, no amount of willpower, inspiration or motivation will solve our problems if we look outside of ourselves for the answer.

 

 

Create Your Own Happiness

Many of us manufacture our own unhappiness. Of course not all unhappiness is self-created, for social conditions are responsible for not a few of our woes. Yet, to a large extent, by our thoughts and attitudes we distill out of the ingredients of life either happiness or unhappiness for ourselves. Anyone who desires it, who wills it and who learns and applies the right formula may become a happy person.

If happiness is determined by our thoughts, it is necessary to drive off the thoughts which make for depression and discouragement.

The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.

As you read these words you may say, “There is nothing new in that.” Indeed, there is something new in it if you have never tried it. When you start to practice it you will find it the most astonishing method of happy and successful living you have ever used.

Peaceful Mind - source of power

A primary method for gaining a mind full of peace is to practice emptying the mind. At least twice a day, empty your mind of fears, hates, insecurities, regrets and guilt feelings. To prevent unhappy thoughts from sneaking in again, immediately fill your mind with cre­ative and healthy thoughts. At intervals during the day practice thinking a carefully selected series of peace­ful thoughts. Let mental pictures of the most peaceful scenes you have ever witnessed pass across your mind. Such peaceful thought images will work upon your mind as a healing medicine.

 

Repeat audibly some peaceful words. Words have profound suggestive power, and there is healing in the very saying of them.

 

There are other practical ways by which you can develop serenity and quiet attitudes.

 

One way is through your conversation. In a group when the conversation takes a trend that is upsetting, try injecting peaceful ideas into the talk. To have peace of mind, fill your personal and group conversations with positive, happy, optimistic, satisfying expressions.

Another effective technique in developing a peace­ful mind is the daily practice of silence.

 

Go alone into the quietest place available to you and sit or lie down for 15 minutes and practice the art of silence. Do not write or read. Think as little as possible. Throw your mind into neutral. When you have attained a quiescent state, listen for the deeper sounds of harmony and beauty and of God that are to be found in the essence of silence.

Saturate your thoughts with peaceful experiences, peaceful words and ideas, and ultimately you will have a storehouse of peace-producing experiences to which you may turn for refreshment and renewal of your spirit. It will be a vast source of power.

Believe In Yourself!

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. But with self-confidence you can succeed. A sense of inadequacy interferes with the attainment of your hopes, but self-confidence leads to self-realization and achievement. An appalling number of people are made miserable by an inferiority complex. But you need not suffer from this trouble. You can develop faith in yourself. To build up feelings of self-confidence, practice sug­gesting confidence concepts to your mind. It is possible, even in the midst of your daily work, to drive confident thoughts into consciousness. The greatest secret for eliminating the inferiority complex, which is another term for profound self-doubt, is to fill your mind with faith.

Instead of thinking thoughts of defeat and ineffectiveness,  think about  thoughts of faith and courage.

Break The Worry Habit

1. Say to yourself, “Worry is just a very bad mental habit. And I can change any habit with God’s help.”

2. First thing every morning before you arise say out loud, “I believe,” three times.

3. Pray, using this formula: “I place this day, my life, my loved ones, my work in the Lord’s hands. Whatever happens, whatever results, if I am in the Lord’s hands, it is the Lord’s will and it is good.”

4. Practice saying something positive concerning every­thing about which you have been talking negatively. Don’t say, “I’ll never be able to do that.” Instead, af­firm, “With God’s help I will do that.”

5. Never participate in a worry conversation.

7. Cultivate friendships with hopeful people. Surround yourself with friends who think positive, faith-produc­ing thoughts and who contribute to a creative atmo­sphere. This will keep you re-stimulated with faith attitudes.

8. See how many people you can help to cure their own worry habit. In helping another to overcome worry you get greater power over it within yourself.

 

Don’t Believe In Defeat

There is no difficulty you cannot overcome.

 

An effective method for making your mind positive in character is to eliminate certain expressions of thought and speech, which we may call the “little negatives.” These negatives clutter up the average person’s conver­sation, and while each one is seemingly unimportant in itself, the total effect is to condition the mind negatively.

 

These are “little negatives” to be sure, and a big thought is of course more powerful than a little one. But it must never be forgotten that “mighty oaks from little acorns grow,” and if many “little negatives” clutter up your conversation, they are bound to seep into your mind. It is surprising how they accumulate in force, and before you know it, they will grow into “big negatives.” The  best way to eliminate them was deliberately to say a positive word about everything. When you keep asserting that things are going to work out well, good results do occur.

 

So to overcome your obstacles and live the “I don’t believe in defeat” philosophy, cultivate a positive-idea pattern. What we do with obstacles is directly deter­mined by our mental attitude. Most of our obstacles are mental in character.

 

What you think about your obstacles largely determines what you do about them. Form the mental attitude that you cannot remove an obstacle and you will not remove it. But when your mind becomes convinced that you can do something about difficulties, astonishing results will begin to happen. All of a sudden you discover that you have the power you would never acknowledge.

What Is Mental Health?

          
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems

Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.

Early Warning Signs

Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

Beat the Heat with Tender Coconut

So much in so little shell: Coconut water is the juice of young tender coconuts. It is naturally sweet and ingratiating. It promotes proper digestion, and naturally helps clearing the urinary paths and thus lubricating the body systems. The major constituents of coconut water are sugar and minerals along with some fat and nitrogenous substance. The water of a single coconut contains sufficient vitamin C to meet the daily requirements of body.

Coconut water is a natural energy drink. It is delicious, refreshing and very nutritious and has tremendous health benefits. The water of young tender coconut technically is the liquid endosperm. It is one of the purest, most nutritious wholesome waters and beverages which nature has provide us. The people in tropical regions and countries have been enjoying this drink for centuries to fight the sultry weather. They have used the all-natural coconut water to refresh, refuel, re-hydrate, feed and maintain the proper nourishment and fluid levels in their bodies. Hence, the benefits of coconut water are endless and any healthy diet.

Numerous health benefits: Coconut water is naturally sterilized mineral water. It acts as an anti-dote to the side-effects of medicines. It is completely safe for babies. Tender coconut juice is a well-supplied medicine chest that comes in its own container. It is used in healing a number of ailments: relieving fevers, headaches, diarrhea and dysentery. The tender coconut juice is also given to strengthen the heart and restore energy in patients. Pregnant women drink tender coconut juice as it will give their babies strength and vitality.

Green Tea-Health Benefits

Green tea is known to provide 10-40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of spinach, broccoli, carrots, or strawberries

Studies show that green tea contains antioxidants, polyphenols, theanine, as well as a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Green tea is definitely good for your body.

Enhances Health

Tea is known for its incredible power to prolong life. In recent research into green tea, results show its power in preventing disease as well.

Prevents Cancer

The death rate from cancer is known to be significantly lower for both women & men in Japan. Why is this you may ask? As much as 5-6 cups daily are consumed in areas that produce green tea, making it the main beverage to drink. This suggests that the main ingredients of green tea (tannin, catechin); in sufficient amounts lower the standard mortality rates for stomach cancer.

Restricts Blood Cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol, one is "bad" cholesterol (LDL), and heavy accumulation of these in tissues can lead to atherosclerosis. The other is good cholesterol (HDL) that prevents accumulation of excessive "bad" cholesterol. It has been proven and demonstrated that green tea catechin restricts the excessive buildup of cholesterol.

Controls High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a serious burden on the vascular system and is known to cause heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Green tea is known for lowering blood pressure.

Lowers Blood Sugar

Green teas given to diabetes patients cause a decrease in the blood glucose levels. Green Tea has the capability of lowering blood sugar. The sugars and carbohydrates in our food are digested mainly in the duodenum, where it is converted to glucose and then absorbed into the blood stream.

The agent that regulates the intake of blood sugar into tissues is insulin. Diabetes is characterized by lack of insulin or not the body not using insulin properly, which does not allow proper absorption of glucose into tissues and leads to a high blood sugar level that must eventually be excreted into urine. If this high concentration of blood sugar continues for a long period, it will affect the vascular system and cause serious diseases including arteriosclerosis and retinal hemorrhages.

Suppresses Aging

Oxygen plays a key role in metabolism, but can also be an unhealthful agent. As a free radical, oxygen in the body can corrode cell membranes, which will damage DNA and the fats. This then leads to diseases such as cancer, cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. Lipid peroxide created by fats combined with oxygen tends to build up in the body and create aging.

Consumption of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C promises longer life, and we already know that green teas are rich in those two vitamins.

Refreshes the Body

Green tea caffeine taken in proper quantity stimulates every organ in the body and clears your mind. The small amount of caffeine (about 9 mgs of caffeine) present in a normal serving of green tea can stimulate the skeletal muscles and smooth the progress of muscular contraction.

Deters Food Poisoning

It has long been known that green tea has the ability to kill bacteria and is known to deter food poisoning. Treating diarrhea with consumption of strong green tea. Green tea is a powerful sterilizing instrument for all sorts of bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Prevents and Treats Skin Disease

Soaking in green tea has been successful as a treatment for athlete's foot. Bedsores and skin disease can be prevented or healed by using a green tea bath.

Stops Cavities

Green tea contains natural fluorine and is thought to aid in the reduction of cavities in schoolchildren. It has been known for some time that small amounts of fluorine can strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities.

Fights Viruses

Green tea catechin and theaflavin, which are both present in black tea, have a strong effect on the flu virus. It is also thought that the anti viral capability of green tea catechin may have some beneficial effect on the AIDS virus.

I would like to share ..: Banana - health benefits

I would like to share ..: Banana - health benefits: Bananas are good for bowel regularity and satiety. Adding a banana to your daily diet has an array of benefits in your body. Banan...

Banana - health benefits

Bananas are good for bowel regularity and satiety.

Adding a banana to your daily diet has an array of benefits in your body. Bananas help you reach your weight-loss goals, keep your bowels healthy, provide nutrients that regulate heart rhythm and have vitamin compounds for eye health. Keep a bunch of bananas on your desk at work and replenish your stock each week. You'll be more likely to reach for a healthy banana -- instead of heading to the vending machine -- if you have a bunch sitting in front of you.

Weight Loss

Finding foods to fit into your weight-loss diet can be challenging, but bananas make a perfect fit. Bananas are naturally sweet and can help curb your sweet tooth if you get that afternoon sugar craving. A 6-inch banana has a minimal 90 calories, about one-fourth of the calories you would get from a chocolate candy bar. Additionally, about half of the fiber content in bananas is soluble. When soluble fiber reaches your digestive tract, it absorbs water and slows digestion. Food is forced to sit in your stomach for a while, making you feel full. If you have a banana before lunch, you'll be less likely to overeat when your food comes to the table.

Regularity

Enjoying a banana each day aids in keeping you regular. One 6-inch banana has more than 2.5 grams of total fiber, about half of which are insoluble. As insoluble fiber travels through your digestive tract, it sweeps up waste and helps push it out. You'll have more regular bowel movements that are soft and easy to pass. Keep your bowels healthy by getting 14 grams of fiber in your diet for every 1,000 calories you consume, reports Colorado State University Extension. For example, if you tend to stick to an 1,800-calorie diet, you need about 25 grams of total fiber. You get nearly 10 percent of your daily fiber needs -- for this number of calories -- from one 6-inch banana.

Normal Heart Function

Having a banana at breakfast every day adds a nutrient to your body to support normal heart function. Bananas are rich in a mineral electrolyte called potassium. When potassium enters your body, it absorbs directly into your bloodstream through intestinal walls. Potassium travels around to cells all over your body and dissolves in fluid inside of cells. It travels across cell membranes if needed to keep fluid balanced in and around cells. This process keeps electricity flowing throughout your system, which is required to make your heart beat. In cases of severe potassium deficiency, your heart rhythm may become irregular, which can be deadly. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, you need 4,700 milligrams of potassium on a daily basis. Bananas provide more than 360 milligrams per 6-inch piece of fruit.

Eye Health

Adding a banana to your diet also helps keep your eyes healthy. Bananas have a small amount of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is vital for protecting your eyes and normal vision. The term "vitamin A" refers to a series of compounds, including beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. These compounds preserve the membranes that surround your eyes and are a component of one of the proteins that brings light into your cornea. Adequate daily vitamin A intake also lessens your risk of night blindness and is essential for everyday vision. Women require 700 micrograms of daily vitamin A, and men need 900 micrograms, explains the Office of Dietary Supplements. One 6-inch banana has nearly 10 micrograms of vitamin A. Bananas also contain alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, which convert to vitamin A to further keep your eyes healthy.

Exercises to Help You Combat Negative Thinking:

• Embrace Meditation – Meditation can be an excellent outlet for stress and negativity. When most people think of meditation they picture Buddhist Monks sitting silently for hours on end, this form of meditation takes amazing discipline and is not realistic for most lifestyles. Meditation does not have to take up a large amount of time, and can usually be accomplished in any place and adjusted to fit every schedule. The basis purpose of meditation is to relax your mind and body, and allow positivity into your life. For the purpose of this exercise I suggest simply finding a quiet place that is free of distractions and focusing on your breathing. Clear your mind of all thoughts and allow your body to relax. Once you feel relaxed and your mind is clear begin to think about positive things that make you feel good. Perhaps you can think about all the things you are grateful for, goals you hope to achieve or things you like about yourself. The main goal is to get your mind relax and tuned into the positive aspects of life so it can stay in that state for more extended periods. There are many forms of meditation and you can find excellent resources online, experiment and explore the different options to find what works best for you. There is no wrong way to meditate, as long as you accomplish relaxation you are on the right track. How do you meditate? What have you found works best for you?
• Utilize Affirmations – The popularity of positive affirmations has greatly increased since the release of the book “The Secret” and the proven results of this exercise are extraordinary. The use of affirmations is a basic concept that can have a huge impact on your overall well-being. To utilize this tool you simply choose (there are thousands of positive affirmations available online) or create a positive statement (the key is that this statement is set in the “now” and promotes a positive goal/outlook) and repeat it daily until you feel the effects. You don’t need to sit and chant this phrase over and over, simply stating it at the start of your day, or writing it down and positing it where you will see it can often be sufficient. Some examples of useful affirmations are: “I rejoice in the love I encounter everyday.” “I choose to make positive healthy choices for myself.” “I am my own unique self – special, creative and wonderful.” You get the idea, state whatever it is as being true right now. You can create affirmations that remind you of how wonderful you are, or that push you to achieve a certain goal, the options are endless and the sky is the limit. If you can imagine it in a positive way you can use it as an affirmation. What positive affirmations do you use? How do you work affirmations into your daily routine? Consider starting a collection of affirmations that ‘speak’ to you so you can refer back to them and utilize them as needed.
• Get Creative – You can easily use your natural creativity to harness the power of positive thinking. One of my favorite projects to promote positivity in my life is through creating a vision board. Get yourself a large piece of paper, or a picture frame, and begin gathering words, pictures and items that inspire positive thoughts for you. Take these items and arrange them in this frame or on the piece of paper in a sort of collage. The outcome does not need to make sense to anyone but you so don’t worry about pattern or style, the aim is to create a collection of things that make you feel good. You can use this craft as a simple reminder of positive thinking or as a way to focus on your goals. There is a huge database of vision board ideas online that may be useful, or simply do what feels ‘right’ to you. Once you have completed this exercise hang the finished product somewhere you will see it everyday such as, your bedroom, kitchen or by the front door. It will serve as a reminder of all the things that make you happy and will promote positivity each day. Have you ever created a vision board? How did you do it? What was the result?
• Make a List – Lists are a fantastic way of emphasizing things that are important to you. You can create lists of anything, things you are grateful for, things you want to achieve, your favorite songs, inspiring quotes or positive affirmations. Always be sure that you make a list positive, never list the things that you don’t want or you run the risk of drawing attention to those things and bringing more of them into your life. For example: If you are hoping to find a mate create a list of all the attributes you do want in a partner not a list of the things you don’t. By listing positive things you are calling attention to them and thus inviting them into your life. Make lists of anything that makes you feel good, or reminds you of the positive aspects of life. What kind of positive things can you list?
• Let It Out – Another excellent way to rid yourself of negativity is to journal. Using a journal will allow you to release your negative thoughts without consequence. Get yourself a notebook or start a file on your computer where you can freely write your thoughts down. Vent, complain or share your dreams here without holding back. The only thing you should aim for when using your journal is to end each entry with a positive thought as not to hold on to your negative feelings. If you have written an entry complaining about your job end it with a positive thought such as, something you are looking forward to this weekend, a great co-worker that made you feel good or even a quote that makes you smile. Never close your book with negativity lurking in your mind or you could end up staying focused on that negative thought throughout the rest of your day and cause more unintentionally. Do you journal? How does it help you?
• Wake-up Aware – One of the easiest and most effective ways to bring positivity into your life is to start your day off on a positive note. One way of accomplishing this is to take a moment when you first wake-up to think of something be thankful for that day or something positive that you hope to accomplish. Every morning I wake-up and think of something that I can be thankful for that day e.g. my health, my family, etc. and something that I hope to accomplish that day e.g. Today I will spend some quality time with my children. It starts my day on a positive note and helps me get motivated for the tasks ahead. You may choose to do this simply by thinking about the things you have to be thankful for, or by taking a moment to write them down. You may also choose to think/list other things such as, things you like about yourself, a positive affirmation, a happy thought for the day, etc. This is also a great exercise for the evening before you lay down to sleep. What is your morning routine? Does it promote positive thinking? How can you bring more positivity to the start of your day?

Ridding your life of negative thinking is difficult to achieve and takes a great deal of personal effort, but the rewards are worth the time and energy it takes. Positivity is contagious and attracts more positive people, thoughts and things into your life. Seek out ways to allow positive energy into your mind and pay close attention to the thoughts you are thinking throughout the day. Turn around negativity when you notice it, and aim to infuse positivity on a regular basis to override the negative thoughts you are not aware of. The more positive thoughts you think consciously, the less negative thoughts your mind will create over time. The goal of living a happier, more positive life is a life-long journey, but paying attention to your thoughts, feelings and reactions is a huge step in the right direction. Seek out ways to feel good and find things that make you happy.

Thanksgiving’s Ancient Origins

   

Although the American concept of Thanksgiving developed in the colonies of New England, its roots can be traced back to the other side of the Atlantic. Both the Separatists who came over on the Mayflower and the Puritans who arrived soon after brought with them a tradition of providential holidays—days of fasting during difficult or pivotal moments and days of feasting and celebration to thank God in times of plenty.
As an annual celebration of the harvest and its bounty, moreover, Thanksgiving falls under a category of festivals that spans cultures, continents and millennia. In ancient times, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans feasted and paid tribute to their gods after the fall harvest. Thanksgiving also bears a resemblance to the ancient Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. Finally, historians have noted that Native Americans had a rich tradition of commemorating the fall harvest with feasting and merrymaking long before Europeans set foot on their shores.

What's in fruit juice?

Aside from vitamin C and calcium, fruit juice contains:

• Calories - 250ml glass of unsweetened orange juice typically contains around 100 calories, compared to the 60 calories in an actual orange
• Fructose (a form of sugar) - half a pint of fruit juice contains more sugar than the World Health Organisation recommends ideally having in a day (30g of sugar for men, 24g for women)
• A lack of fibre - juice always contains less fibre than whole fruit and highly processed juices may not contain any fiber

Is fruit juice all bad for people with diabetes?

Fruit juice has some benefits for people with diabetes. Despite the high sugar content, it is a good source of nutrients such as vitamin C.


A recent study on sugary drink consumption and premature cell aging discovered a link between fruit juice and longer telomeres. Telomeres are protective DNA on the end of cell chromosomes.
Longer telomeres are often associated with longer cell lifespan, whereas short telomeres have been linked to insulin resistance and diabetes.


The relatively high GI and high sugar content of fruit juice makes it useful for raising blood sugar levels, in case of hyperglycemia.

Interesting obesity facts

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2.8 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese
• In 2008, over 40 million preschool children were overweight worldwide
• Latest findings from the NHS suggest that more than 1 in 4 (26%) of adults in the UK are obese (has a BMI of 30 or more).
• The UK is the fattest country in western Europe and second fattest in the whole of Europe, with only Hungary having a larger obese population.
• Glasgow is officially the UK's most overweight city
• Studies into obesity prevention have shown that giving up watching television for a week reduces a child's waist size by an average 2.3cm (just under 1 inch)  

Preventing obesity

The links between obesity and type 2 diabetes are firmly established - without the intervention of a healthy diet and appropriate exercise, obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes over a relatively short period of time.

The good news is that reducing your body weight, by even a small amount, can help improve your body's insulin sensitivity and lower your risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and types of cancer.
According to the NHS, a 5% reduction in body weight followed up by regular moderate intensity exercise could reduce your type 2 diabetes risk by more than 50%.

Does drinking fruit juice increase the risk of diabetes?

A study  suggested that drinking three portions of fruit juice a week was associated with an eight per cent increase in diabetes risk. 

Conversely, eating blueberries, grapes, apples and pears reduces the risk. The researchers found that replacing fruit juices with three helpings of certain whole fruits a week would lower the risk by seven per cent.
Some whole fruits reduced the risk more than others. For grapefruits and bananas, there was a five per cent decrease, whereas blueberries reduced the risk by 26 per cent.

Meditation posture

When we practise meditation we need to have a comfortable seat and a good posture. The most important feature of the posture is to keep our back straight. To help us do this, if we are sitting on a cushion we make sure that the back of the cushion is slightly higher than the front, inclining our pelvis slightly forward. It is not necessary at first to sit cross-legged, but it is a good idea to become accustomed to sitting in the posture of Buddha Vairochana. If we cannot hold this posture we should sit in one which is as close to this as possible while remaining comfortable.

The seven features of Vairochana’s posture are:

1. The legs are crossed in the vajra posture. This helps to reduce thoughts and feelings of desirous attachment.
2. The right hand is placed in the left hand, palms upwards, with the tips of the thumbs slightly raised and gently touching. The hands are held about four fingers’ width below the navel. This helps us to develop good concentration. The right hand symbolizes method and the left hand symbolizes wisdom – the two together symbolize the union of method and wisdom. The two thumbs at the level of the navel symbolize the blazing of inner fire.
3. The back is straight but not tense. This helps us to develop and maintain a clear mind, and it allows the subtle energy winds to flow freely.
4. The lips and teeth are held as usual, but the tongue touches against the back of the upper teeth. This prevents excessive salivation while also preventing our mouth from becoming too dry.
5. The head is tipped a little forward with the chin slightly tucked in so that the eyes are cast down. This helps prevent mental excitement.
6. The eyes are neither wide open nor completely closed, but remain half open and gaze down along the line of the nose. If the eyes are wide open we are likely to develop mental excitement and if they are closed we are likely to develop mental sinking.
7. The shoulders are level and the elbows are held slightly away from the sides to let air circulate.
   If we want to colour our mind with a virtuous motivation we need to clear away all our negative thoughts and distractions.
   A further feature of Vairochana’s posture is the preliminary breathing meditation, which prepares our mind for developing a good motivation. When we sit down to meditate our mind is usually full of disturbing thoughts, and we cannot immediately convert such a state of mind into the virtuous one we need as our motivation. A negative, disturbed state of mind is like pitch-black cloth. We cannot dye pitch-black cloth any other colour unless we first remove all the black dye and make the cloth white again. In the same way, if we want to colour our mind with a virtuous motivation we need to clear away all our negative thoughts and distractions. We can accomplish this temporarily by practising breathing meditation.

Breathing Meditation

When we have settled down comfortably on our meditation seat we begin by becoming aware of the thoughts and distractions that are arising in our mind. Then we gently turn our attention to our breath, letting its rhythm remain normal. As we breathe out we imagine that we are breathing away all disturbing thoughts and distractions in the form of black smoke that vanishes in space. As we breathe in we imagine that we are breathing in all the blessings and inspiration of the holy beings in the form of white light that enters our body and absorbs into our heart. We maintain this visualization single-pointedly with each inhalation and exhalation for twenty-one rounds, or until our mind has become peaceful and alert. If we concentrate on our breathing in this way, negative thoughts and distractions will temporarily disappear because we cannot concentrate on more than one object at a time. At the conclusion of our breathing meditation we should think `Now I have received the blessings and inspiration of all the holy beings.’ At this stage our mind is like a clean white cloth which we can now colour with a virtuous motivation such as compassion or bodhichitta.

Breathing meditations

Generally, the purpose of breathing meditation is to calm the mind and develop inner peace. We can use breathing meditations alone or as a preliminary practice to reduce our distractions before engaging in a Lamrim meditation

A Simple Breathing Meditation

The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid. This can be accomplished by practising a simple breathing meditation. We choose a quiet place to meditate and sit in a comfortable position. We can sit in the traditional cross-legged posture or in any other position that is comfortable. If we wish, we can sit in a chair. The most important thing is to keep our back straight to prevent our mind from becoming sluggish or sleepy.

The first stage of meditation is to stop distractions and make our mind clearer and more lucid.

We sit with our eyes partially closed and turn our attention to our breathing. We breathe naturally, preferably through the nostrils, without attempting to control our breath, and we try to become aware of the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. This sensation is our object of meditation. We should try to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.

At first, our mind will be very busy, and we might even feel that the meditation is making our mind busier; but in reality we are just becoming more aware of how busy our mind actually is. There will be a great temptation to follow the different thoughts as they arise, but we should resist this and remain focused single-pointedly on the sensation of the breath. If we discover that our mind has wandered and is following our thoughts, we should immediately return it to the breath. We should repeat this as many times as necessary until the mind settles on the breath.

Benefits of Meditation

If we practise patiently in this way, gradually our distracting thoughts will subside and we will experience a sense of inner peace and relaxation. Our mind will feel lucid and spacious and we will feel refreshed. When the sea is rough, sediment is churned up and the water becomes murky, but when the wind dies down the mud gradually settles and the water becomes clear. In a similar way, when the otherwise incessant flow of our distracting thoughts is calmed through concentrating on the breath, our mind becomes unusually lucid and clear. We should stay with this state of mental calm for a while.

Even though breathing meditation is only a preliminary stage of meditation, it can be quite powerful. We can see from this practice that it is possible to experience inner peace and contentment just by controlling the mind, without having to depend at all upon external conditions.

So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind

When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subsides and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. This feeling of contentment and well-being helps us to cope with the busyness and difficulties of daily life. So much of the stress and tension we normally experience comes from our mind, and many of the problems we experience, including ill health, are caused or aggravated by this stress.

Just by doing breathing meditation for ten or fifteen minutes each day, we will be able to reduce this stress. We will experience a calm, spacious feeling in the mind, and many of our usual problems will fall away. Difficult situations will become easier to deal with, we will naturally feel warm and well disposed towards other people, and our relationships with others will gradually improve.

Loving kindness meditation

The mere fact that we are alive today is a testimony to the great kindness of others.

The five stages of the meditation:

1. Preparation
2. Contemplation
3. Meditation
4. Dedication
5. Subsequent Practice
   1. Preparation
   We sit in the meditation posture as explained above and prepare our mind for meditation with breathing meditation. If we like we can also engage in the preparatory prayers.
   2. Contemplation
   All living beings deserve to be cherished because of the tremendous kindness they have shown us. All our temporary and ultimate happiness arises through their kindness. Even our body is the result of the kindness of others. We did not bring it with us from our previous life – it developed from the union of our father’s sperm and mother’s ovum. Once we had been conceived our mother kindly allowed us to stay in her womb, nourishing our body with her blood and warmth, putting up with great discomfort, and finally going through the painful ordeal of childbirth for our sake. We came into this world naked and empty-handed and were immediately given a home, food, clothes, and everything else we needed. While we were a helpless baby our mother protected us from danger, fed us, cleaned us, and loved us. Without her kindness we would not be alive today.
   Everyone who contributes in any way towards our happiness and well-being is deserving of our gratitude.
   Through receiving a constant supply of food, drink, and care, our body gradually grew from that of a tiny helpless baby to the body we have now. All this nourishment was directly or indirectly provided by countless living beings. Every cell of our body is therefore the result of others’ kindness. Even those who have never known their mother have received nourishment and loving care from other people. The mere fact that we are alive today is a testimony to the great kindness of others.
   It is because we have this present body with human faculties that we are able to enjoy all the pleasures and opportunities of human life. Even simple pleasures such as going for a walk or watching a beautiful sunset can be seen to be a result of the kindness of innumerable living beings. Our skills and abilities all come from the kindness of others; we had to be taught how to eat, how to walk, how to talk, and how to read and write. Even the language we speak is not our own invention but the product of many generations. Without it we could not communicate with others nor share their ideas. We could not read this book, learn Dharma, nor even think clearly. All the facilities we take for granted, such as houses, cars, roads, shops, schools, hospitals, and cinemas, are produced solely through others’ kindness. When we travel by bus or car we take the roads for granted, but many people worked very hard to build them and make them safe for us to use.
   The fact that some of the people who help us may have no intention of doing so is irrelevant. We receive benefit from their actions, so from our point of view this is a kindness. Rather than focusing on their motivation, which in any case we do not know, we should focus on the practical benefit we receive. Everyone who contributes in any way towards our happiness and well-being is deserving of our gratitude and respect. If we had to give back everything that others have given us, we would have nothing left at all.
   We might argue that we are not given things freely but have to work for them. When we go shopping we have to pay, and when we eat in a restaurant we have to pay. We may have the use of a car, but we had to buy the car, and now we have to pay for petrol, tax, and insurance. No one gives us anything for free. But from where do we get this money? It is true that generally we have to work for our money, but it is others who employ us or buy our goods, and so indirectly it is they who provide us with money. Moreover, the reason we are able to do a particular job is that we have received the necessary training or education from other people. Wherever we look, we find only the kindness of others. We are all interconnected in a web of kindness from which it is impossible to separate ourself. Everything we have and everything we enjoy, including our very life, is due to the kindness of others. In fact, every happiness there is in the world arises as a result of others’ kindness.
   Our spiritual development and the pure happiness of full enlightenment also depend upon the kindness of living beings.
   Our spiritual development and the pure happiness of full enlightenment also depend upon the kindness of living beings. Buddhist centres, Dharma books, and meditation courses do not arise out of thin air but are the result of the hard work and dedication of many people. Our opportunity to read, contemplate, and meditate on Buddha’s teachings depends entirely upon the kindness of others. Moreover, as explained later, without living beings to give to, to test our patience, or to develop compassion for, we could never develop the virtuous qualities needed to attain enlightenment.
   In short, we need others for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Without others we are nothing. Our sense that we are an island, an independent, self-sufficient individual, bears no relation to reality. It is closer to the truth to picture ourself as a cell in the vast body of life, distinct yet intimately bound up with all living beings. We cannot exist without others, and they in turn are affected by everything we do. The idea that it is possible to secure our own welfare whilst neglecting that of others, or even at the expense of others, is completely unrealistic.
   3. Meditation
   Contemplating the innumerable ways in which others help us, we should make a firm decision: `I must cherish all living beings because they are so kind to me.’ Based on this determination we develop a feeling of cherishing – a sense that all living beings are important and that their happiness matters. We try to mix our mind single-pointedly with this feeling and maintain it for as long as we can without forgetting it.
   4. Dedication
   We dedicate all the virtues we have created in this meditation practice to the welfare of all living beings by reciting the dedication prayers.
   5. Subsequent Practice
   When we arise from meditation we try to maintain this mind of love, so that whenever we meet or remember someone we naturally think: `This person is important, this person’s happiness matters.’ In this way we can make cherishing living beings our main practice.