By: Barbara Sinclair / Source: Conscious Life News

Happy 2014! What do you say? Are you ready to give Ayurveda a try in 2014 after reading all the articles I wrote last year? It really did revolutionize my life, so I thought I would throw the idea out there to all of you.

Many healthy tips we hear nowadays have their roots in Ayurveda, dating back thousands of years. So while you might think that scraping the tongue, detoxifying the body or practicing mind/body medicine are newfangled ideas, they are not. They have withstood the test of time. Handed down for ages by word of mouth, the wisdom of Ayurveda was eventually written down in the ancient Hindu texts known as the Vedas. Even Chinese Medicine originated from Ayurveda.

I have compiled ten of Ayurveda’s best principles/practices. Some are simple, some a little more complex. Pick one. Or two. Or as many as you want. The point is, focusing on even one of these valuable gems might be a game changer and put you on a path to a better quality of life. To happiness–as the sidewalk above recently pointed me towards. Remember that Ayurveda is about striving for balance, not perfection. Try not to think of these as New Year’s resolutions that can set you up for failure. That will take all the fun out of it! Just about every day I fall short of living the Ayurvedic life I strive for. But it’s always in my consciousness and I know that I feel so much better when I do practice these principles.

1. Good digestion is key to a healthy mind and body. Our gut is often referred to as our second brain and it is where roughly 95% of our serotonin (the happy hormone!) is produced. Most Ayurvedic practitioners look to digestion first when treating any condition as they believe that poor digestion is the root cause of every illness/disease. Start paying attention to how you feel after you eat. You don’t need to obsess–just be aware. Gas, bloating, burping, acid reflux, foul breath, etc. are all red flags that you are not properly digesting the food you are eating. It could be the type of food, how it was prepared, or the manner in which you are eating (stressed, rushing, etc.) that causes the distress.

2. Keep a regular routine, as much as possible. The body loves routine, especially when it comes to eating and sleeping. It’s the mind that craves excitement and variety–especially for Vata types. Strive for getting out of bed before 7:00 a.m. and in bed between 9:30-10:00 p.m. Eat a light breakfast by 8:00 a.m., lunch around 12:30 p.m. (biggest meal) and a light dinner between 5:30-6:30 p.m. This seems to be one of the biggest challenges for many of us in our busy modern world and yet mastering it can have profound healing effects. I work hard on this every single day. Remember, baby steps are better than no steps at all!

3. Meditate to nurture the mind/body/spirit connection. The best times of day for meditation are during the Vata times of day which are 2:00-6:00 a.m. and 2:00-6:00 p.m. If you find yourself waking in the wee hours of the morning and can’t get back to sleep, try meditating. You will likely fall back into a delicious deep sleep after just twenty minutes of meditation.

4. Scrape your tongue gently from back to front about 10 times after brushing your teeth to remove excess ama (toxins) so that it doesn’t get reabsorbed into the body. I like this simple tongue scraper.

5. Drink a big glass of warm lemon or lime water after brushing your teeth each morning. You can add a little bit of raw honey if you can’t bear the tartness. This will help activate peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract to get things moving, and will also aid in removing ama from the digestive tract. If you haven’t eaten since dinner at 6:00 p.m. the night before, your body will thank you for an easy twelve hour detox/cleanse!

6. Eat seasonal foods that help balance your particular prakruti (constitution) and cook accordingly to pacify the doshas. Not sure of your constitution? Click HERE. Become familiar with the gunas and how these properties in nature such as dry, cold, heavy, hot, oily, pungent, liquid, etc. influence our digestion–both in mind and body. Learn which foods are easy to digest and those that are difficult to digest.

7. Exercise according to your constitution. Exercise is not one-size-fits-all. You might just as well be exercising too much as well as too little, especially if you have a lot of Vata in your constitution. All Exercise is Not Created Equal.

8. Experiment with spices and herbs–they can be a great aid for digestion, calming the nervous system, stimulating metabolism, and helping with numerous health problems. Remember that everyone’s body is unique with different levels of tolerance. Many Vata types are particularly sensitive and should not overload themselves (which we habitually tend to do), especially with herbs. Start out slowly. Generally speaking, I don’t take an herb for more than three months at a time. You should know by then whether or not it’s working for you. My favorite source for quality organic Ayurvedic herbs is Banyan Botanicals.

9. Begin the practice of daily warm oil self-massage. Called abhyanga in Ayurveda, this simple practice of applying warmed dosha-specific oils on a daily basis can have a profound healing effect on the mind and the body. Two good sources for massage oils are Banyan Botanicals and Pratima Spa. I have yet to find a Vata body oil that smells as divine as Pratima’s! You can also use plain sesame, almond, coconut, olive or sunflower oil. Just be sure that it’s organic and preferably unrefined. Here’s a video to inspire you.

10. Incorporate daily sadhanas (spiritual practices) through the use of food, breath and sound. They will bring you back to your center, connect you to your Source and bring great calm and clarity into your life.

Source: Psychics Universe

Sometimes all we need are a few little statements that lift our spirit first thing in the morning and set a positive tone throughout the day. Deep sentences that when read or written down can refresh our thinking and shift our focus to what’s important.

Here are the five reiki principles that when read can bring you closer to a more inspiring way of thinking:

1. “Just For Today, I Will Not Be Angry.”

Anger towards the others, towards oneself or towards the whole world is one of the most complex inner enemies, creating blockages in one’s energy flow. These blockages accumulate into your body over years and cause disease and organ dysfunctions.

Look yourself in the mirror and observe your thinking when you’re angry, observe how your breath and your heart accelerate, feel your blood pressure growing up and admit how harmful and toxic this is for you.

Reiki can help you remain calm in any situation, stay in control, of your emotions and enjoy the best of every situation. Instead of being angry, remember how silly you look when you’re angry and how harmful this is for your heart, for your breath, for your blood pressure and ask yourself if your body deserves to receive a dose of this pure poison of anger.

“Letting go of Anger brings Peace into the Mind.”

2. “Just For Today, I Will Not Worry.”

It is always healthier not to worry, but if this is causing you blockages then you definitely should do something about it. Some people are excessively dwelling upon an unreasonable amount of worries and concerns, which is just sabotaging their own actions.

They block themselves into a passive-worried mode, becoming unable to make a decision because of all the aggravation. Try to enjoy your day without worrying about anything. Just for today.

“Letting go of Worry brings Healing into the Body.”

(Related: Learn The Power To Heal Your Family and Friends With Reiki Learning Technique)

3. “Just For Today, I Will Be Grateful.”

Instead of focusing on everything that you don’t have, put your attention on all the blessings in your life and just be grateful about it. More than 50% of the population is living in miserable conditions, suffers from hunger and diseases.

There are still so many areas in the world without current water, electricity, not to mention the luxury of the internet and other things that we take for granted every day. Take a minute and be grateful for all that you have, enjoy every little thing, every word, every smile, your slices of bread with peanut butter and say “Thank you” to all the people in your life that make you feel good.

“Being Thankful brings Joy into the Spirit.”

4. “Just For Today, I Will Do My Work Honestly.“

As a response to the Universe’s gift for you, manifest your gratitude by taking responsibility for the work that has been given to you. Even if you might find that your job is so much below your full potential, just for today, try to do the best you can and be proud of yourself.

Take responsibility for every task that you’re given and be a perfectionist in every little thing you do. Everything that you do with honesty will bring you tremendous satisfaction and self-appreciation.

“Working honestly brings Abundance into the Soul.”

5. “Just For Today, I Will Be Kind To Every Living Thing.”

Honor your parents, your teachers, your beloved, your friends, your children and all the living beings by being kind with all of them.

“Being Kind brings Love into the Will.”

The whole idea is to boost your spirit and sense of well-being – just for today – with these five simple sentences. The key here is to feel and know in your heart that these five principles are true and are deeply connecting you with your higher self and divine energy.

Source: Psychics Universe

Times are tough—even for those of us with steady jobs, the rising prices of gas, food, insurance, mortgage and rent are making everyone have to tighten the purse strings a little bit.

Luckily, we can do something about it. There is energy all around us; everything in the universe is made up of energies. Certain things attract certain energies, as if they were magnets.

You can bring more of what you want with the right ‘magnets’—in this case, money magnets! Try some of these techniques to draw prosperous energies into your life.

Allspice

There are a number of herbs that have been used throughout the ages to attract prosperity.

Allspice is known for drawing money through success. Just carrying it on you or putting it in the right place can be like a money magnet. For an added boost, place some allspice into a small square of aluminum foil— aluminum conducts energy. Fold up the aluminum with the allspice in it, and slip this into your wallet or your cash box at work to draw more money to it.

Chamomile

Chamomile helps deliver money through luck. If you’re going to bingo, spending an evening playing poker with your buddies, buying a lottery ticket, filling out sweepstake forms, taking in a casino or betting on the big game, make yourself a steaming, hot cup of chamomile tea beforehand. Drink the tea to fully absorb its money-drawing energies before you go to play games of chance.

Mint Infusion

Mint herbs draw prosperity to a household. Put some olive oil on the stove and warm it until it is almost, but not quite, simmering. Throw in a handful of fresh mint leaves and take it off the heat. Let it steep for about 30 minutes.

Pour the concoction in a glass bottle or jar and leave the cover off. Place it somewhere safe, such as in a cabinet or on top of a shelf. Do not cover the jar— you want to leave it open so it attracts prosperous energies to the home.

Bayberry Incense

Burning incense creates powerful vibrations that infuse a home, object or person with desired energies. Burn some bayberry stick or cone incense. Fume your home with it daily. Before you go off to earn money, fan the smoke towards yourself and let it engulf you. Breathe it in.

If you want to sell something and fetch a fair price for it, fan some bayberry smoke at it.

Patchouli Oil

Get some patchouli essential oils; be sure they are pure essential oils, and not chemically scented. The pure essential oils cost a bit more, however they have real ingredients as opposed to artificial scents.

Put some oil on your finger and dab it onto your money—anoint each bill or coin with a light dab of oil. Keep this money in your wallet or purse to draw more.

Another thing you can do with this oil is to rub it on your thresholds to welcome prosperity into the home.

Citrine Crystal

To bring abundance into your life, get some citrine crystals. Citrines are yellowish colored crystals and are relatively inexpensive, however they are powerful prosperity magnets. It’s best to get rough stones as opposed to smooth, polished stones; the roughness helps create friction for the stone to grasp the proper energies.

There are countless things you can do with your citrines. Place them around the house, keep them in your pocket or your bag, throw them in the drawers at work. Slide small citrines into your envelopes that contain your investments paperwork. If you want to sell your house, bury citrines around your property, or stash them in flower pots. If you want to sell your car, slip them under the seats or in the glove compartment.

Taking these small measures can help bring the positive energies you need to draw wealth into your life.

Source: Waking Times

A Brief Overview

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.

It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”

A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

(Related: Finally Acquire The Power Of Healing With This New Reiki Learning Technique)

An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class.

This ability is passed on during an “attunement” given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of “life force energy” to improve one’s health and enhance the quality of life.

Its use is not dependent on one’s intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not.

Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. 

While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures. During a meditation several years after developing Reiki, Dr. Usui decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki.

The Ideals came in part from the five principles of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Dr. Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki.

Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it.

Therefore, the Usui system of Reiki is more than the use of the Reiki energy. It must also include an active commitment to improve oneself in order for it to be a complete system. The ideals are both guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value.

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
~ The founder, Usui Mikao