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Feeling stuffed up? Sick, low on energy or even quitting smoking? I just made this concoction for my partner who just quit smoking like a boss. It's great just to drink, even if you don't need any extra healing.
There are plenty of pills to take for the same reason – yet there's something special about natural ingredients that actually work.
When we're congested, we have trouble breaking down and loosening the mucus in our throat and lungs, and it starts to build up. Especially for people who smoke, this recipe is a life saver.
There are specific amounts to use if you want a desired taste, they will be listed at the bottom.
You can make this as a tea or a syrup that you take a spoonful of. It all depends on what you're feeling! I made this into a tea because I like drinking it over a period of time.
Bring a pot of water to a simmer. When there are little bubbles floating to the top, add pieces of ginger either straight in or minced. The intensity of this drink is determined by the amount of ginger and cayenne you put in.
Let the ginger soak in the water for a minute, then add a splash of cayenne pepper. Stir until the pepper is blended nicely in the water. As it starts to boil, squeeze in some lemon juice.
Add a dash of apple cider vinegar and then a table spoon of honey. Taste it and add more honey if desired.
Keep tasting and adding what you like until it feels good to drink. I make mine extra spicy and drink it slowly in small sips.
It completely heats up your entire stomach and provides a lovely easing feeling. If you can't handle a lot of spice, dilute the mixture with some water.
The exact measurements are:
- ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger
- 3 tablespoons of all natural organic honey
- 1/4 cup of lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
Do you remember the movie Men in Black, where the aliens are rolling around marbles and when the alien picks one up, you see that there are millions of galaxies inside each one?
Hold onto that thought.
In 1901, Richard Maurice Bucke released a book titled Cosmic Consciousness and in it he explained that everything is composed of an all-encompassing immanent God.
Meaning that the universe itself, is a living organism and each planetary body has its own consciousness that is linked to the cosmic consciousness of the all.
Throughout his work, you are opened up to the patterns. Once you see the pattern you begin to understand where you are in existence.
It starts with the Golden Ratio that you would find in flowers, pine cones, and sea shells and moves on to roots of trees, thunderbolts of lightning, and tornadoes.
This understanding can be applied to the microcosm and macrocosm for you science minded folks as it signifies seeing the same patterns reproduced on all levels of the cosmos. From the largest scale to the smallest scale, the macrocosm represents the universe and the microcosm represents the small sub atomic at even metaphysical levels.
Let's think on that for a bit and move on.
Just as each and everyone one of us are a conscious living breathing ecosystem, so is the earth.
If each planet has its own consciousness (granted it would much larger than ours) we can begin to understand ancient mythology.
Planets themselves have been worshipped for centuries just as the sun and moon are worshipped in many religions.
There have been many names given for these planets throughout time but for simplicity we will give the Greek Mythology of the planetary bodies.
Saturn known as Kronos—The father
Jupiter known as Zeus
Neptune known as Poseidon
Pluto known as Hades
Uranus ancient Roman Deity (earliest supreme God)
Venus known as Aphrodite
Mars known as Ares the Ancient God of War
Mercury known as Hermes
When we dig deeper into these accounts we find many depictions of the wars of the Gods and Titans and there is even a story of Saturn attempting to swallow his children whole, for fear of being overthrown from his reign.
The state of Israel itself is named after Is-Ra-El meaning Isis, Ra and Elohim the ancient Gods of old and from the Kaballistic view point, the Tree of Life depicts each chakra on its system as being associated to one of the planets in our solar system.
If you think of each solar system alike to a chakra system then you can see how each grouping has a solar plexus, represented by its sun like the system of a solar body.
You can recognize each God head in the solar system by its sun. The next closest sun is Sirius and the god head is unknown.
Now we arrive at, mother earth– our home. Earth is commonly known as Gaia and she too following this model, would have her own consciousness.
So the question we need to ask is, is she aware of us? Is she tuned in and does she feel her inhabitants?
We can answer these questions by asking ourselves– are you aware of the consciousness of your heart? How about your lungs? Your reproductive system? Are you aware of every single one of the millions of cells that make up your body?
Welcome to Ascension!
As mother earth ascends, sweeping waves of heightened awareness flows into her heart through her chakra system and into every cell of her being—us, you and me!
As this happens, you too become aware of your physical being, the consciousness of your entire body and the cells that inhabit you. You essentially are a walking living breathing planetary system and as above so below the chakras on your body can viewed as to galaxies, on the body of God.
Are you wondering yet how this links to the Davinci Code?
Leonardo Davinci drew much more than just proportions of the human anatomy in his famous drawing Vitruvian Man. He depicted the physical and spiritual self, represented by the two sets of arms and legs. The physical self, encompassed by a square, and the spiritual- metaphysical self, encompassed by the circle or dome of the earth.
What we understand now is what he has truly drawn is a cell. The nucleus of a cell made in the image of his creator. The interior being the protoplasm and the Atom changed throughout the ages to arrive at "Adam".
When we talk about our aura and our auric field, we can relate this to the protoplasm of a cell. The energy that resides between you and the cell wall of your being.
Your third eye chakra transmits and receives information like a light projector from the back of your skull to the front of your forehead to create your own reality; that you perceive as it rebounds information from your cell wall back through your eyes to your mind. This is what we would call the Ether, the unknown 5th element.
The Big Bang Theory
Known as the leading explanation of the origin of the universe, this theory states that the universe began from a point of singularity that has expanded over billions of years.
Scientists are using atom smashing to try and ignite the same effect as the big bang.
So imagine this: two "atoms" coming together and they create all of existence, the entire universe, this would mean that two beings (of incomprehensible size and consciousness) came together and birthed the universe as we know it.
Here is what science is missing– each and every time two people come together and make a child, it is to the same effect, yet on a much smaller scale. We are in fact witnessing and a part of the birth of creation of the big bang every single day and in every single moment.
If you follow any of Michio Kaku's work, take notice that recent scientific exploration is pointing to planets being born. Yes, planets are being birthed like a baby and they are looking for proof of the umbilical cord.
If you doubt this understanding, then try asking yourself, what does it look like when two cells under a microscope merge and multiply to produce a third?
Connecting to source gives the understanding that you are God because you are a part of God, made in the image of your creator. In fact a single cell, or Atom that exists inside of the mind and body of god. Plants, animals, and insects can then be viewed as extensions of yourself.
We understand that we are a part of everything, and everything is one. Yes we are only a small cell in the grand scale of the systems and galaxies, but we are a reflection of the larger the cosmic consciousness.
So let's get back to Men in Black
As we know, the definition of chakras is a spinning wheel or vortex of energy and so the chakras on your body can be viewed as to galaxies on the body of the All.
The limitless of everything in existence we simply cannot fathom and the depiction given by the aliens and the marbles is the closest to the truth that we can imagine especially as we know now, that each planet just in our system has its own body of consciousness.
So if you can imagine the hugest human body in cosmic proportion than you can begin to see, how God encompasses the entire universe, expressed by planets, moons, suns and galaxies.
The awakening is understanding that you are a part of God like a single cell on your body that finally sees it is a part of you.
Intense people. They are the radicals of society, the misanthropes of the world, and the killjoys of polite and amicable conversations.
If you're frequently impassioned, incensed, fervent, frenzied, vehement and agonizingly ardent ... you're probably an intense person.
20 Signs Of The Excruciatingly Intense Person
We cry on the shoulder's of strangers, share our deepest woes with unwitting coworkers and spend hours writing sonnets to unsuspecting Facebook friends ... who later end up blocking us.
The truth is, people just don't understand us intense people. And here's why ...
1. We don't take a long time to open up. Think 2 minutes at the most.
2. We cogitate on thoughts for hours. And hours. And hours.
3. Sometimes we plan to do or say something weeks in advance. Sometimes months. Obsessively.
4. We care about everything and everyone, constantly. To the point of mental relapse.
5. We look at people without blinking (often mistaken for psychopathy).
6. We speak about everything with conviction. Going to the shops isn't just "I need to go to the shops." It's, "I need to go to the SHOPS!!???"
7. We want to help everyone and everything. For instance, if we saw a snail crawling across a footpath, we would stop to help it cross. If someone stepped on it we would cringe, shriek, or melancholically stare at its remains for 10 minutes.
8. We use intense language. We wouldn't just say "you're being mean." We would say "why are you hurting my feelings, you petty barbarian, you uncivilized rogue, you insufferable reprobate!?!"
9. We prefer private messaging. Usually we end up writing 500+ word messages (to the horror of the recipient).
10. We pay undivided attention to each person we talk to. No half-assing, ever.
11. We bring up uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing topics into normal conversations. Think divorce, sex lives, religion, politics, mental illness, hemorrhoids ...
12. We're moody and changeable. One day we'll open our souls up to you. The next day we'll completely and utterly ignore the hell out of you.
13. We're earnest and sincere in everything we say, almost to the point of mental blood clots.
14. We brood a lot. It's unintentionally intimidating to onlookers.
15. We're known to be "clingy" in relationships. We like to call it extremely emotionally expressive (EEE).
16. We want to spend all day, every day, with our best friend. "Space" isn't even a concept to us.
17. We don't like having big social networks – they dilute our intensity too much.
18. We're die-hard romantic idealists. Lord Byron and Catherine from Wuthering Heights are our paradigms of romantic partner perfection.
19. We easily become emotionally bonded to characters in books, TV shows and movies. When Jack died in Titanic, and when Dobby died in Harry Potter ... we cried our eyes out. For days.
20. We crave meaningful conversations. There is no such thing as "small talk" or "frivolous banter" to us.
If you can relate to more than half of the 20 signs above, you're probably an excruciatingly intense person. If your heart lamented reading this post ... please ... I implore you, share your stories and experiences below.
About Aletheia Luna
I create, I share, I teach, I mentor and I write because it is what my soul tells me to do. I don't consider myself to be perfect or complete, but I do consider myself to be determined: a warrior, voyager and healer in progress. Like you I make mistakes, I feel vulnerable and fragile – but I work to accept these and hope to help you do the same, to reclaim that powerful, earthshaking wholeness deep inside
I'd be willing to bet that every one of you reading right now desires, in some way, to improve your situation or happiness levels, or perhaps even the landscape of your entire life. This is a part of your innate wiring as a goal-oriented human being and it is so important that you can align yourself with this fundamental aspect of your nature in order that you can work with it, rather than against it.
In the past 14 years of working closely with clients I've had the unique and privileged position of being able to observe many, many people at various stages on their spiritual path. I have worked with people at the very beginning stages of their inner activation and awakening all the way up to those who have been on their path of self-actualization and discovery for 20 or 30+ years – as well as with those who have been at critical moments in their journey at every point in between.
This experience has given me a solid understanding of the dynamics of the experience, how people react as they begin to notice and hone in on that deep inner restlessness or call for healing, growth, and deep meaningful life change. In addition to contributing invaluable insight and perspective to my client's understanding of themselves, connecting the dots between a client's inner and outer lives also enables me to set the energetic stage upon which the profound change they desire can begin to unravel and unfold.
Noticing and giving voice to the deep inner call is the first step towards life-change for most people, and you may already have noticed this within yourself. Next, as you begin to hone in on how that inner wisdom wants to show up, be experienced, seen, heard, and expressed, you naturally find yourself searching for new connections, information, tools, practices, and places as well as the structure, context, and support that life-coaching programs like the ones I facilitate provide.
One of the key aspects of really tuning into yourself at this stage is that your journey can feel uncertain, as if it isn't quite 'gelled,' as though you are making it up as you go along – and this is because in very real ways, you are. This is part of the vital process of getting to know and trust who you are at your spiritual core. And the reason why the magnitude and depth of your connection with your real Self is so important is that a bit later on down the road, it is this very same quality of self-trust that will serve as the key that unlocks your potentiality and unique sacred purpose and gifts.
As your journey begins to take shape it is also important to be aware that one of the biggest pitfalls you can encounter is not having a clear understanding of where you are at present, not having a clear vision of where you want to go, and lastly, of the steps you need to take that will help you get there. This can be debatable territory because your path, is just that – judgment on how it evolves can seem irrelevant and misplaced. However it takes shape, it is yours. What is not debatable however is the universal truth that you were born a natural co-creator with powerful visionary qualities and the related resources and gifts needed to bring your fullest, happiest, most meaningful and purposeful life into the world.
If you are reading this now and recognize that you have been feeling uncertain about your path and are not sure where you are or where you want to go, I want to give you a bit of context and insight that might help give you a better understanding of your situation now.
So with regards to those pitfalls I mentioned, here are 5 of the most common distractions I have noticed that can pull a person off of his/her desired spiritual path.
1. You feel desperately time-challenged
Your schedule simply doesn't allow you the time and space you need to sit, breathe, contemplate the direction your life is headed or your true wants and needs. Time, or rather, the lack of it is your worst enemy. You blame your relationship with time for the fact that you are unable to show up to your process or yourself. And you might feel completely convicted in adopting this stance too.
2. You have been putting yourself second and instead getting caught up in other people's dramas and lives
You take on the role of the 'fixer,' the 'healer,' the 'hero,' or the person who your loved ones and those around you can always rely on to get things done. You make yourself available at a moment's notice without a thought about your own feelings, commitments, and needs. You have taught people to believe that your needs, happiness, and life come with loose and very negotiable boundaries to the extent that it never occurs to them to ask what you need, how you are, or how you feel.
3. You have been feeling sorry for yourself
You step out of your power, your relationship with your real Self, focus primarily on and bemoan all the negativity and misfortune that has been happening around and to you. There is a distinct underlying message of 'poor me' in your communication with others and in such a way that you have become immersed and trapped in the feeling of being a victim in your own life.
4. The story you tell yourself keeps you feeling safe but 'stuck'
In my article What Story Do You Tell? I go into more detail around your inborn storytelling skills. In the context of being able to fully embrace and honour your sacred purpose and spiritual path these can have a limiting effect when you tell yourself a story about why you cannot change or have MORE. These can show up in the form of reasons that at first glance seem 100% plausible such as these below:
"My financial situation is what keeps me from creating and experiencing a real and lasting life change."
"My partner doesn't approve of me doing 'X' or 'Y.' " or
"I've read all the books and taken loads of courses – I don't need help or support, I have all the knowledge I need to change my life."
The example above around blaming your relationship with time is also another way in which the 'story that you tell' limits and prevents you from connecting into your TRUTH and taking empowering next steps.
5. You are waiting for the 'perfect' time
This is something I notice so commonly in folks, I know it is one of the most effective ways people unwittingly use to side-step the deep call for significant life-change. It tends to show up in a fundamental belief that things will somehow be more perfect, spacious, or aligned at some point in the future. It can sound like any one of the following statements that I have actually been told by some of my existing clients below:
"In September, my workload will have eased and I will have much more time to devote to the healing journey and life-change I want."
"I am SO excited about working with you. I am expecting a big lump sum of back-payment owed to me in the summer so will be able to pay for this program in the fall."
"Once the kids leave home I can think about myself, my feelings and needs and figure out what I want to do with this unhappy marriage and life I feel trapped in."
The common thread in each of these examples is that the person is completely missing the fact that their inner wisdom only speaks to them on the importance of things in the NOW. That is, their Spirits are interested in securing their happiness and well-being NOW, not at some vague point in the future that their minds have latched on to so they won't have to commit to serious life-change NOW.
So if you are seeing yourself in one or more of these five common examples that from one perspective can seem entirely rational and plausible and from another, completely block you from going after and enjoying the change of life circumstances you want the most, what I want to say to you is that change is possible. There IS hope.
If you are noticing any of these patterns play out in your life right now, realize that this moment for you is HUGE.
Why?
Because in this moment you are seeing and beginning to grasp on a very fundamental level, the very self-imposed limits that have been holding you back. And once you see yourself in this new way, it becomes a lot more difficult for you to lose yourself in those habits and patterns in quite the same way.
At this place it is imperative you realize that as a human being it is your tendency to stick with what you know. You naturally gravitate towards that which keeps you feeling safe – even if that something also keeps you feeling restricted and 'stuck.' This is another way of saying that as a human being inborn with primal instincts to survive, for the most part, you are wired to fear the unknown.
The deep inner call for life-change you have been feeling has been asking you to step into unknown territory and your natural response has been to stick with what you know.
And as you stand here on the cusp of the life-change you desire with every fibre of your being, here is what I know:
You will only be able to change your life when you become committed to that goal – no matter what.
It is your unwavering commitment and determination combined with a white-hot desire for a better, happier life filled with MORE in every area, that brings your process and path to you, and in such a way that you can exercise your co-creative abilities and make them your very own.
Now that you can see more clearly where you have been losing your power, are you willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim it?
How determined are you to change your life now – no matter what?
Mahatma Gandhi was a man that left man powerful messages to humanity before his time here was complete. Here is a list of 10 powerful phrases of wisdom he left to us all. One thing I wanted to add to this to help make it very practical is that for each one, try to see how it may relate to a certain instance or aspect of your life so you can truly begin incorporating this into your life. It is great to know quotes and phrases like these, but putting them into action is a big step to begin taking. Be sure to reflect on each one and see how you can make them a part of your life. Of course, share this list with others so they can do the same
1. Be the change you wish to see in the world
2. What you think, you become
3. Where there is love, there is life
4. Learn as if you'll live forever
5. Your health is your true wealth
6. Have a sense of humor
7. Your life is your message
8. Action expresses priorities
9. Our greatness is being able to remake ourselves
10. Find yourself in the service of others
Some powerful words Gandhi left for us in his time. The important thing to remember is the very first phrase on here "Be the change you wish to see in the world." If we are to truly make change here it is not about simply knowing or memorizing these phrases, we must truly live them and add them into our lives. Otherwise they are just words.
Much Love
A super healthy vegetable juice using ginger, beetroot, celery, carrots and apples. Ideal for detox, cleansing and general day to day health and wellness.
Author: Trinity Bourne
Recipe type: Juice
Serves: 1 large glass
Ingredients
1 small beetroot
8 celery stalks
3 carrots
1 heaped teaspoon fresh ginger
1 large apple
Instructions
Clean soil off any veggies and put through your juicer.Enjoy fresh, immediately after juicing for the most potent health benefits.
A super healthy vegetable juice using ginger, beetroot, celery, carrots and apples. Ideal for detox, cleansing and general day to day health and wellness.
Author: Trinity Bourne
Recipe type: Juice
Serves: 1 large glass
Ingredients
1 small beetroot
8 celery stalks
3 carrots
1 heaped teaspoon fresh ginger
1 large apple
Instructions
Clean soil off any veggies and put through your juicer.Enjoy fresh, immediately after juicing for the most potent health benefits.
"Emotional intelligence is the "something" in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions to achieve positive results."
When emotional intelligence (EQ) first appeared to the masses, it served as the missing link in a peculiar finding: people with average IQs outperform those with the highest IQs 70 per cent of the time. This anomaly threw a massive wrench into the broadly held assumption that IQ was the sole source of success.
Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as being the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack. The connection is so strong that 90 per cent of top performers have high emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence is the "something" in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions to achieve positive results.
Despite the significance of EQ, its intangible nature makes it very difficult to know how much you have and what you can do to improve if you're lacking. You can always take a scientifically validated test, such as the one that comes with the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 book.
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Unfortunately, quality (scientifically valid) EQ tests aren't free. So, I've analyzed the data from the million-plus people TalentSmart has tested in order to identify the behaviors that are the hallmarks of a high EQ. What follows are sure signs that you have a high EQ.
1. You have a robust emotional vocabulary
All people experience emotions, but it is a select few who can accurately identify them as they occur. Our research shows that only 36 per cent of people can do this, which is problematic because unlabeled emotions often go misunderstood, which leads to irrational choices and counterproductive actions.
People with high EQs master their emotions because they understand them, and they use an extensive vocabulary of feelings to do so. While many people might describe themselves as simply feeling "bad," emotionally intelligent people can pinpoint whether they feel "irritable," "frustrated," "downtrodden," or "anxious." The more specific your word choice, the better insight you have into exactly how you are feeling, what caused it, and what you should do about it.
2. You're curious about people
It doesn't matter if they're introverted or extroverted, emotionally intelligent people are curious about everyone around them. This curiosity is the product of empathy, one of the most significant gateways to a high EQ. The more you care about other people and what they're going through, the more curiosity you're going to have about them.
3. You embrace change
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Emotionally intelligent people are flexible and are constantly adapting. They know that fear of change is paralyzing and a major threat to their success and happiness. They look for change that is lurking just around the corner, and they form a plan of action should these changes occur.
4. You know your strengths and weaknesses
Emotionally intelligent people don't just understand emotions; they know what they're good at and what they're terrible at. They also know who pushes their buttons and the environments (both situations and people) that enable them to succeed. Having a high EQ means you know your strengths and you know how to lean into them and use them to your full advantage while keeping your weaknesses from holding you back.
5. You're a good judge of character
Much of emotional intelligence comes down to social awareness; the ability to read other people, know what they're about, and understand what they're going through. Over time, this skill makes you an exceptional judge of character. People are no mystery to you. You know what they're all about and understand their motivations, even those that lie hidden beneath the surface.
6. You are difficult to offend
If you have a firm grasp of whom you are, it's difficult for someone to say or do something that gets your goat. Emotionally intelligent people are self-confident and open-minded, which creates a pretty thick skin. You may even poke fun at yourself or let other people make jokes about you because you are able to mentally draw the line between humor and degradation.
7. You know how to say no (to yourself and others)
Emotional intelligence means knowing how to exert self-control. You delay gratification, and you avoid impulsive action. Research conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, shows that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. Saying no is indeed a major self-control challenge for many people. "No" is a powerful word that you should not be afraid to wield. When it's time to say no, emotionally intelligent people avoid phrases such as "I don't think I can" or "I'm not certain." Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulfill them.
8. You let go of mistakes
Emotionally intelligent people distance themselves from their mistakes, but do so without forgetting them. By keeping their mistakes at a safe distance, yet still handy enough to refer to, they are able to adapt and adjust for future success. It takes refined self-awareness to walk this tightrope between dwelling and remembering. Dwelling too long on your mistakes makes you anxious and gun shy, while forgetting about them completely makes you bound to repeat them. The key to balance lies in your ability to transform failures into nuggets of improvement. This creates the tendency to get right back up every time you fall down.
9. You give and expect nothing in return
When someone gives you something spontaneously, without expecting anything in return, this leaves a powerful impression. For example, you might have an interesting conversation with someone about a book, and when you see them again a month later, you show up with the book in hand. Emotionally intelligent people build strong relationships because they are constantly thinking about others.
10. You don't hold grudges
The negative emotions that come with holding onto a grudge are actually a stress response. Just thinking about the event sends your body into fight-or-flight mode, a survival mechanism that forces you to stand up and fight or run for the hills when faced with a threat. When the threat is imminent, this reaction is essential to your survival, but when the threat is ancient history, holding onto that stress wreaks havoc on your body and can have devastating health consequences over time. In fact, researchers at Emory University have shown that holding onto stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. Holding onto a grudge means you're holding onto stress, and emotionally intelligent people know to avoid this at all costs. Letting go of a grudge not only makes you feel better now but can also improve your health.
11. You neutralize toxic people
Dealing with difficult people is frustrating and exhausting for most. High EQ individuals control their interactions with toxic people by keeping their feelings in check. When they need to confront a toxic person, they approach the situation rationally. They identify their own emotions and don't allow anger or frustration to fuel the chaos. They also consider the difficult person's standpoint and are able to find solutions and common ground. Even when things completely derail, emotionally intelligent people are able to take the toxic person with a grain of salt to avoid letting him or her bring them down.
12. You don't seek perfection
Emotionally intelligent people won't set perfection as their target because they know that it doesn't exist. Human beings, by our very nature, are fallible. When perfection is your goal, you're always left with a nagging sense of failure that makes you want to give up or reduce your effort. You end up spending your time lamenting what you failed to accomplish and what you should have done differently instead of moving forward, excited about what you've achieved and what you will accomplish in the future.
13. You appreciate what you have
Taking time to contemplate what you're grateful for isn't merely the right thing to do; it also improves your mood because it reduces the stress hormone cortisol by 23 per cent. Research conducted at the University of California, Davis, found that people who worked daily to cultivate an attitude of gratitude experienced improved mood, energy, and physical well-being. It's likely that lower levels of cortisol played a major role in this.
14. You disconnect
Taking regular time off the grid is a sign of a high EQ because it helps you to keep your stress under control and to live in the moment. When you make yourself available to your work 24/7, you expose yourself to a constant barrage of stressors. Forcing yourself offline and even–gulp!–turning off your phone gives your body and mind a break. Studies have shown that something as simple as an e-mail break can lower stress levels. Technology enables constant communication and the expectation that you should be available 24/7. It is extremely difficult to enjoy a stress-free moment outside of work when an e-mail that will change your train of thought and get you thinking (read: stressing) about work can drop onto your phone at any moment.
15. You limit your caffeine intake
Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline, and adrenaline is the source of the fight-or-flight response. The fight-or-flight mechanism sidesteps rational thinking in favor of a faster response to ensure survival. This is great when a bear is chasing you, but not so great when you're responding to a curt e-mail. When caffeine puts your brain and body into this hyper-aroused state of stress, your emotions overrun your behavior. Caffeine's long half-life ensures you stay this way as it takes its sweet time working its way out of your body. High-EQ individuals know that caffeine is trouble, and they don't let it get the better of them.
16. You get enough sleep
It's difficult to overstate the importance of sleep to increasing your emotional intelligence and managing your stress levels. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, shuffling through the day's memories and storing or discarding them (which causes dreams) so that you wake up alert and clearheaded. High-EQ individuals know that their self-control, attention, and memory are all reduced when they don't get enough–or the right kind–of sleep. So, they make sleep a top priority.
17. You stop negative self-talk in its tracks
The more you ruminate on negative thoughts, the more power you give them. Most of our negative thoughts are just that–thoughts, not facts. When it feels like something always or never happens, this is just your brain's natural tendency to perceive threats (inflating the frequency or severity of an event). Emotionally intelligent people separate their thoughts from the facts in order to escape the cycle of negativity and move toward a positive, new outlook.
18. You won't let anyone limit your joy
When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from the opinions of other people, you are no longer the master of your own happiness. When emotionally intelligent people feel good about something that they've done, they won't let anyone's opinions or snide remarks take that away from them. While it's impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don't have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people's opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within.
About the Author
Travis Bradberry is an award-winning co-author of the best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, and the co-founder of TalentSmart – a consultancy that serves more than 75 per cent of Fortune 500 companies and is a leading provider of emotional intelligence tests, training and certification.
We all want to be free and feel free, but what does this really look like? Most people imagine it looks like something along the lines of being your own boss, not living by the alarm clock, or leaving the ratrace. The truth is, freedom is more of a mental state than anything else, and you can be working a 9-5 job and be absolutely free. You can also be your own boss and be totally enslaved.
It all comes down to your intentions, your desires, and your level of attachment to particular outcomes. Are you resisting your heart and resisting life, or are you flowing with them both and embracing each moment? For the last year and a half, I have been my own boss. I have also been more of a slave than ever before up until recently, not because of my lifestyle, but because of my mentality.
Here are 5 attachments we need to let go of to experience true freedom in life:
1) Societies expectations
Your dad wants you to get a good education. Your mom wants you to find a nice girl or guy to marry. Your teachers want to see you land a 9-5 job. The media forces down your throat what the "ideal" life is and wants you to spend your life chasing after the "American dream". All of these outside influences keep you trapped in a state of mind that is plagued by the constant need to impress someone or live up to expectations that have nothing to do with what YOU really want to do as a person.
Maybe you want to drop out of school and start your own business. Maybe you want to be single, and you are content without having very much money or material items. The world around you is constantly trying to make you into someone you are not by imposing their expectations on to your life. This creates a program in your psychology that keeps you constantly trying fulfill these expectations to feel like you are "successful", when in reality you are spending your energy trying to make a mark in someone else's consciousness to gain their approval. To be free is to live for yourself.
2) Your past
Your past doesn't define who you are. Contrary to what people around you may tell you, you are not defined by your sins, achievements, mistakes, successes, or failures. Anything you have done in your past, whether it is good or bad, will prevent you from evolving if you are attached to it. If it is bad and you are attached to it, you are going to cause yourself depression and self-hate over something that no longer even exists. If it is good and you are attached to it, you are projecting yourself out of the present moment and into a memory-stream.
Your past is meant to act as a guide and a compass to serve you, but we are told by the world that we are the sum of our history. When we apply for a job, we are expected to provide a resume. We are also expected to provide a kind of resume to the world when we are discussing who we are as a person. When we see an old friend we haven't seen in a while, the first thing that often comes up is "What have you been up to?".
This translates into "What have you done or accomplished within your recent past?", which keeps us attached to the past and reliant on it for our sense of identity and worth in the world. Whatever you have or haven't done in your past, it doesn't matter and it doesn't define you. The only thing that matters is what you choose to do with this moment moving forward.
3) The need to impress others
The need to impress others ultimately comes from our egos, which are products of millions of years of evolution. It has created a spirit of competition within us that keeps us enslaved to the constant need to outshine other members of our species. The species that are fastest, strongest, and most adaptable are the ones that carry over into the next generation and reproduce, and this is the purpose the ego has served us in our past.
This is not needed in a modern society of rational human beings, but the sense of needing to compete with one another ultimately stems from an archaic part of our brains that is still wired through millions of years of evolution. This translates into competing for "likes" with other people on Facebook, comparing cars, bank accounts, or physical fitness levels. It manifests in the need to be recognized, the instinct to compare ourselves with others, the need to make impressions on others, and so forth.
Being free from your ego is the key to being free from feeling like you have to outshine other people. Live for yourself, and be true to what you want in life. A lot of people work at jobs they hate to buy things they can't afford to impress people they don't even know, and this all boils down to being identified with the ego.
4) Fear of the future
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Fear of the future stems from us projecting our attention away from the present moment and into an undesirable hypothetical moment that doesn't even exist. Because our attention is consumed with that undesirable hypothetical moment, emotions begin to generate within our energy field that correspond to those thoughts.
There is nothing scary about the future. The future is only scary of we anticipate failure and pain, and we would only anticipate failure of pain if we lack confidence or self-esteem in the present moment. The key to overcoming fear of the future comes in two parts. First, we have to keep our mind and attention concentrated on what is happening within the present moment. Secondly, we have to overcome any feelings of disbelief we have in ourselves.
The future is nothing to fear. It is just another present moment just like this one. If we can learn how to tap into the present moment and make it as awesome as possible, our future is guaranteed to be as awesome as possible since the future is just an extension of the present moment.
5) Relationships that aren't worth it
Relationships come in all shapes and sizes. Romantic partnerships, friends, family members, co-workers. Sometimes, we remain in relationships we know we don't want to be in simply because we don't want to hurt another person. In other words, we maintain relationships and friendships with people out of a feeling a guilt.
If you are staying in a relationship that isn't worth it because of guilt, then you are attaching yourself to an unhealthy situation out of fear. So many people put up with unhappy marriages and relationships out of fear, forgetting that life is too short to do anything but follow your heart. Let go of fear and give yourself permission to follow your heart. Being free means being free to expressive yourself, say what you mean, and feel what you feel, even if it means it may make someone else unhappy.
You are not free in life until you are free from all attachment. You can still work hard, be ambitious, and be in relationships without being attached and dependent upon a particular outcome to rectify your existence. Just as much as we pursue money, education, and health we should pursue freedom. Am I following my heart? Am I living for myself or for my parents? Am I being true to what I feel each moment?
Hope this helps!
Steven Bancarz,
In many ways Shamanism is the same as Alchemy.
They both approach spiritual development through a psychic involvement with matter. But while European alchemy became entrapped in an obsession with metals and purified elements, shamanism fixated its attention in the living energies of plants, animals and spirits.
It is perhaps because of this reason that alchemy became synonymous with gaining wealth and immortality. For those who confused the metaphors of the original alchemy with reality, the practice became a pseudo-science of transforming lead into gold. For others, however, alchemy remained the secret science of illumination and inner liberation.
The Science of Transformation
Aurum Nostrum Non Est Aurum Vulgi: Our gold is not common gold. ~ Alchemist saying
Whether you understand Alchemy as a science or as a psycho-spiritual instrument, alchemy is ultimately concerned with transformation and change.
While physical alchemy is concerned with altering and transforming the properties within matter, spiritual alchemy is concerned with freeing your spiritual self which is trapped within you by the unrefined parts of yourself (e.g. your fears, personal beliefs, self-loathing, etc.). Spiritual alchemy is vastly more multi-faceted.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of spiritual alchemy is its objective: to free you from your core wounds, core beliefs, soul loss and other self-destructive personality structures in order for you to live freely and unobstructed. Existing in "pure being," or soulful awareness is the ultimate state of transformation – the gold – of spiritual alchemy. It attempts to restructure your personality and the various levels of attachment, avoidance and identification you possess.
These days, we can thank famous psychologist C. G. Jung for the continued interest in alchemy. Much of his theory is heavily steeped in the rich symbolism of alchemy, creating a colorful and sophisticated road map by which we can learn to get ourselves "out of our own way," stop being our own enemies, and allow our fullest potential to unfold.
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"Materia Prima," Gold and the Philosopher's Stone
Jung is commonly recognized as the main advocate and promoter of alchemy. He argued that he had noticed many of the symbols found in alchemy texts mysteriously showing up in the dreams of his patients – most of whom had no prior knowledge of Alchemy.
He concluded that alchemy was a superb expression of the universal symbols of life, and was therefore a highly effective tool for psychological insight. Materia Prima, The Philosophers Stone and Gold are the most commonly known symbols relating to Alchemy.
Materia Prima (or "first matter"), is an Alchemic symbol that reflects the notion that all the universe originated from a primitive, formless base. The idea of a "Materia Prima" can be traced back to Aristotle who understood that there is a force that holds all other forms in existence together but is itself invisible – these days, we call it "Spirit." This invisible womb or unseen force is a field of pure potential that can only come into existence when it is embodied into a "form."
In Alchemy, the "Materia Prima" or primal material is that which is left over after we have reduced matter into its purest essence. This is a powerful psychological symbol because it describes the internal process of arriving at a "core realization," or in other words becoming aware of the root cause of a belief or trauma within us.
The 7 Stages of Spiritual Alchemy
Solve et coagula: Dissolve and coagulate. ~ Alchemist saying
The latin expression "solve et coagula" is derived from "solve," meaning to break down and separate, while "coagula" describes the process of bringing elements back together (coagulating) into a new, higher form.
Interestingly, "solve et coagula" is a wonderful psychological metaphor: by pursuing Gold (or listening to our intuitive "higher calling") we "break down" limiting parts within us that are in the way of our transformation (Philosopher's Stone) into a free and whole being (coagulation).
While there are no universal stages of alchemy due to the sheer number of different schools out there, these are some of the most widely accepted stages:
1. Calcination
Calcination is the process of heating and decomposing raw matter – or in other words, breaking down parts of ourselves that are in the way of our own happiness. Often we'd rather be right or fulfill an idea of "perfection" than be truly happy, so we continue neglecting the exploration of ourselves.
The stage of Calcination represents the stage in our lives where we begin breaking down our egos, self-doubt, stubbornness, self-sabotaging behavior, pride and arrogance, and put it aside so we can find out what is underneath.
2. Dissolution
Once we have broken down all of our personality characteristics that were in the way, we are left with the process of dissolution which is the beginning of feeling less identification with our false sense of self. Once we are free from our pride or self-doubt, we can take one step back and truly observe our positive and negative qualities.
Suddenly, our inability to take responsibility for our many faults, avoidance of traumatizing memories, and other inner tensions rise to the surface, causing us to become aware of how our behavior might be affecting others. This is the beginning of spiritual maturity. Sometimes this stage of transformation is brought about accidentally by illnesses and misfortunes in our lives that cause us to really pay attention to what we're doing, shocking us out of our avoidance patterns (such as workaholism, drugs and TV watching).
3. Separation
Separation is the stage where we make our thoughts and emotions more defined by isolating them from other thoughts and emotions. A simple example is our attempt to free our heart from resentment while trying to forgive someone.
The process of separation involves truly becoming aware of our authentic feelings for a person, or for ourselves. In this stage we honestly experience our anger, frustration or disappointment towards another or ourselves, rather than reverting back to the old habit of dutifully trying to "forgive" or "forget" because it is the "right" or comfortable thing to do. Separation is closely entwined with shadow work in that we must allow all feelings and thoughts within us to surface side by side. This helps us to isolate particular elements of our character in order to honestly see and assess them.
4. Conjunction
After the purification and clarification of the first three stages, we must properly combine the remaining elements within us through the process of "Conjunction."
While in the previous step we separated and learned to distinguish all the separate feelings and thoughts within us, Conjunction provides the inner space – the simmering – that is required for us to truly and honestly accept all the parts of our authentic self. When we experience this stage of spiritual alchemy, all of our unconscious thoughts and feelings bubble up to the surface and into the light of conscious awareness.
5. Fermentation
Fermentation is the beginning of our process of rebirth. This stage can be compared to the death of a grape, which then becomes the birth of wine. While the first four stages involved working with aspects of our old personality, in the stage of Fermentation we begin to experience moments of our more "refined" self.
Fermentation occurs in two parts: Putrefaction and Spiritization. Putrefaction is the decomposition of our former selves; the process of inner death by which the old elements of our conscious and unconscious minds are allowed to rot and decompose. (Some call this stage the dark night of the soul, as it can be followed by troublesome mental states such as depression.)
On the other hand, Spiritization is the stage by which we begin to look at the world in a new light. With the right guidance and with enough inner work, Spiritization involves letting go of all the aspects of ourselves and our lives that don't serve or contribute to our involution. This is when we taste moments of great inner peace and stillness.
6. Distillation
Once we begin our Spiritization we must find a way to continue to integrate all of these spiritual realizations into our lives in order to allow them to become permanent. Distillation is the level of further purification.
One example of Distillation is finding ways to live from a daily place of inner peace – even in the most mundane circumstances. With enough repeated practice of constantly dying and being reborn in the present moment without entering again into the habits, identifications and cycles of the mind, we experience a strong and profound inner transformation. In the East, this is what is mostly defined as "enlightenment."
7. Coagulation
Similar to the blood's ability to form clots and stop bleeding, Coagulation is the moment when we've "broken open the head," or in other words, we have become free from the mind and have allowed our consciousness or Soul, to connect with the Materia Prima: the Spirit.
The meeting point between two opposites such as the spiritual self and raw matter, heaven and hell, and life and death, is the point where existence become self-aware. This is the moment when our lives are without duality; when matter becomes spirit, or the spirit is manifested in material form.
In the stage of Coagulation, the physical universe is not separate from the mind or spiritual reality; it is a reflection of it.
Alchemy's greatest achievement is to create an interrelationship between mind and matter, between self and world.
