All Posts - Blogs - The City of Shamballa Social Network

11-11-11: Source Code Activation

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 31, 2011 at 6:50pm

11-11-11: Source Code ActivationPosted by Lauren on Thursday, October 27, 2011“We would open with this: Congratulations! You are officially on the runway to new earth.”- The Pleiadian High CouncilThe AnticipationSo here we are…on the cusp of the long-awaited completion of the Mayan Calendar, the ancient and accurate “time”-keeper of 16.4 billion years of evolutionary consciousness. There is so much going on all over the planet to support the emergence of a new evolutionary cycle, but the event that is really blowing my mind is the ceremonial pilgrimage of the Mayan Elders who will carry the Thirteen Crystal Skulls from one US coast to the other and culminate in a (highly sacred) Mayan Crystal Skull Ceremony (The journey will begin in Manhattan tomorrow, 10/27/11and will conclude in Los Angeles on 11/11/11) Details HERE.For those unfamiliar with the significance of the Crystal Skulls, Cal Garrison says:“…these ancient relics are said to contain information about the history of our planet and the future of mankind. Carved out of pure quartz crystal, and other crystals such as jade, the Skulls generate an energy field that activates human consciousness in a way that expands our perceptions of reality. Ultimately they are the manifestation of Spirit in a form that is now helping to shift the magnetic frequency of Mother Earth. When the Spirits of the Skulls are ceremonially awakened, ancient wisdom, wisdom that has been preserved in a crystalline matrix for eons, enters the unified field and fills the collective consciousness with all the knowledge of everything that has happened on the planet in the last 26,000 years, and perhaps beyond.”To think that all that sacred energy is coalescing less than 60 miles from me is pretty trippy…so much that if I tune into it, it rattles every cell in my body with a visceral excitement that I can hardly contain. Which is odd considering I barely understand the ramifications of it all.And if you’re wondering what this will mean for us…well, the Pleiadians say it will take about 2 weeks to integrate more clarity about what this means for those way-showers who are about to step fully into their divine roles and purposes in the “active duty” phase…and about a century or seven to digest what this leap in evolution means for the planet as a whole. Overall, the time between now and the 11:11 gateway is alive with potential and our conscious participation with this sacred passageway is very powerful, and can be felt in a very real way thru prayer, meditation, visualization… or really, just by thinking about it.One thing we already know…well, two things: 1) our physical bodies still haven’t caught wind that we need them now to move into position…and 2) the energy of what’s to come is pulsating so vibrantly that we can literally feel our supports about to birth thru the veil. Our new/true lives are so close to us now that it’s tantalizing. If you tune in, it literally feels like Christmas eve…only, it may be that Christmas eve you spent as a kid with the flu : ((We have some idea what our gifts may be, but we don’t REALLY know for sure…and that’s the excitement of it all. We definitely made our wish lists…likely, many times over .. but the unseens say that even our wishes pale in comparison to what’s in store.“We, like you, can feel the pulsing energies of convergence building around your sphere and we are just so delighted at what each of you, the new earth guardians, are about to experience in yourselves, and witness in each other.” -PHCAside from the fact that we are finally climbing out of the deep void we were stuck in for the last several weeks, nothing much has changed on the outside yet…we are still needing to nurture ourselves and to remain centered in our heart-space while we continue to allow the full birth of our multidimensional selves to take form. Those who are ready are priming to become the official new-earth guardians & overseers, the protectors of all of creation and masters of the material world here to lead humanity into the full breadth of love by virtuous example.11/11/11“The moment that each of you have been waiting for, the moment that we have termed “inception” is approaching. This is heralded by the massive energies precipitated by the opening of the 11:11 stargate portal on 11/11/11. What this means for the way-showers is monumental, for it is this group who will be physically laying the template on earth for all other inhabitants to follow.” -PHCLast month, on 9/10/11, our bio-circuitry was apparently rebooted. We had undergone an immense (read: grueling) upgrade during the summer months from that obnoxious triple eclipse sandwich that shook every one of us to the core…and then in September, Mother-Father God pushed the divine-human reset button to start-up our new operating system. Most likely you slept thru this the way we slept thru most of September…actually, now that I think about it, you may not even remember September.Well, whatever… definitely not the first month we’ve slept away… tho prayerfully our last? Either way, now that we have been upgraded & rebooted we are reorienting ourselves aaaagain and that always means the usual cellular changes (read: fatigue), most of which this time relates to our newly downloaded programming that includes the integrated understanding that every cell has intelligence. (more on this coming soon)Our bio-circuitry is adjusting to incorporate and adapt to the new codes we are already receiving from the upcoming 11:11 stargate portal. The emanations sent forth by the great central sun are encoding our biology with new mandates, new directives and the Pleiadian High Council would like for us to know that the new human apparatus is well-equipped to handle these changes, however, it may be of benefit for those of who are experiencing great difficulty to embrace the many modalities available to us to assist in easing the transition on our bods, as well as to give a much-needed boost to our emotional and mental well-being.I am hearing some folks are having trouble assimilating to these new frequencies and for those heavily in the embodiment process, this is just a reminder that we don’t have to suffer thru these changes alone…that help is available should you need it. The PHC say that there are many people here specifically to support us thru these changing times, and that if we don’t utilize these gifts and offerings that we may be robbing ourselves of a great opportunity to not only survive these changes, but to thrive in them. The physical body needs care and nurturing as it is being resurrected into a body of light, but the incoming frequencies do not need to bombard our system in the ways we are accustomed to experiencing them if we open up to the opportunity to be supported.Overall, I am hearing that the 11:11 will bring in some robust energies that, depending on where we are on our journey, will either catapult us to freedom, or bring up a new layer of goo….or both.In all cases it will be the next level of our personal evolutionary development and this means the biological aspects will need to be addressed…whether we are ascending into an angelic-human or not. Experience has taught us that any energy blast or major portal opening will mean more rest, relaxation and downtime is required.No one looks forward to that but at least we are so beat up by now that its nearly impossible to resist any more. I guess we have that going for us…which is nice.On Becoming Self-ContainedThe PHC are talking a lot about our recent release from our final and deepest karmic patterns and that we are already beginning to witness this in the way that we are no longer bound by the emotional strings of attachment to others, to places, or to events that once defined or confined us. We are now able and ready to live our lives according to the principle of the ONE. This means that we have integrated the mental & emotional understanding of what it means to be freed from the repetitive cycles of the karmic wheel and reconnected to our true Source of power within.We are beginning to witness this freedom in ourselves and in our personal relationships where we are refacing old issues, old wounds that once crippled us, but now these same situations feel empowering…empowering in the sense that we are able to see the value in these dynamics, to feel a sense of appreciation for their teachings, and to honor those lessons of growth that are truly ours, while releasing all feelings of responsibility to that which is NOT ours.We are becoming self-contained, self-responsible beings of mastery and those emotional entanglements which have been projected onto us by others are now VERY clear, which means they can be severed. This also means that once we have unhooked ourselves from these remaining cords of attachment, we will begin to live from the space of true independence, self-sustainability, and freedom, which will enable us to know our authentic selves in ways we never have.“This time in your life is one that will astound you…you will find strengths, and gifts, and talents emerge that you never knew existed. In some cases, you will come to know yourself in a way that elicits a sense of self-love and respect that you thought was only possible to see or feel in others. Though in truth, we say this…that those things that you have so respected in others were really only self-reflections of those unintegrated aspects of YOU…until now that is.”-PHCThe unseens bring this information to us so that we can feel the connection to the fact that we are no longer bound by the trappings of untruth, of illusion, or the polar opposite of that which they call, self-aggrandizement….for our new reality will be that we are much, much more than we ever realized, and the gifts of remembering this have been well-earned. They also mention that as we unveil the truth about our true capabilities as masters of the material world, so too do we unveil these truths for others…which is, in part, the purpose of becoming a christed avatar on earth…to share our radiance with all who beckon, to teach by example and to bestow upon others the universal love that flows within our body and cells.“Moreover, we are proud to be part of, and witness to, the unfolding of the most momentous “time” in history. We are representatives of your galactic origin and so we too have much invested in your BEcoming. Through this gateway, you are centering yourselves in universal abundance and grace and this means that each of you who don robes of honor are becoming a universe unto yourselves. We know that this may seem out of reach to you now, but know this: as the sun shines forth on the last day of the last day, a sincerely new day dawns.” – PHCOn Becoming MultidimensionalWe are soon to experience life as multidimensional beings, which the PHC say is one of exquisite undertaking…a way of living life through the perception of simultaneous realization & with the ability to focus through the incorporation of many dimensions of awareness…at once. This is not something that we have context for, so the Pleiadians would like to offer..to the best of their ability…a small frame of reference for those who will be entering this new landscape.“You are the first group of souls who will be utilizing your full human potential and christed-monadic capabilities. This means that those of you who are entering leadership, or earth stewardship roles, are those of you who have undergone a full 12 strand DNA activation and have enabled the extensions of your over-soul to do the same.This is the beginning of the new multidimensional human race, the seeding that will begin the long evolutionary journey home for humanity.” – PHCUnfortunately, my work is always a little ahead of me so I don’t have a complete understanding of what all that means yet, but what I do get is that those who resonate with this truth…that is to say, those who feel this to be true…will embed this reality within the matrix of man, thereby allowing the distortions of our human genetics to be returned to its original design. This, they say, is what biological ascension assures us, the propagation of a new-human race and apparently there are many of us here to exploit this divine opportunity.For those who are called into guardianship, stewardship or leadership roles, the 11-11-11 gateway is offering us the ability to not only anchor into multidimensionality, but to open the doorway to the christed heart within… that which commands usage of the sacred adamantine particle (the base-level particles that create all physical manifestations of LOVE). This opening will prepare us to utilize the laws of magnetic resonance…the universal design for creation in the new earth.A Call to the Order of MelchizedekThe new field matrix that has been set up by the dedicated light-weavers on this planet is pulsing at its portals with unprecedented potential for change, but access to these portals can only be activated by those with the “keys to the universe”. These key codes are embedded in the DNA of the new-human matrix and, by their very existence, unlock the codes required for the next level of our planetary ascension.Those who will be opening these portals are those who have completed their first level missions of service, and are preparing to receive new directives. These directives will be released thru the activation of what the PHC refer to as The Source Code in our DNA, which apparently is T H E entry code required to access and enable our full multidimensional participation with the crystalline grid which includes our new-earth mission or “next level of divine service” on this planet.“What we would like to make clear is the fact that those who are activating to this level of service are those who will employ the missions required to prepare humanity to ascend into multidimensional consciousness. This means that each of you who are encoded with the new-human prototype will be embarking upon a new journey together as a soul group of cosmic initiates thru the Order of Melchizedek.This Order is of the highest… a soul collective here on earth at this time with a mission to awaken the codes within humanity for the resurrection of the christed-template and the template of sacred co-creation. For those who have contracted to serve in this way, it is by the Order of Melchizedek that you will now be called forth and under your new-level directive.” -PHCFor all those who find resonance with this information and/or the Order of Melchizedek, it will be you who seeds humanity with the cosmic intelligence required to make the shift into 2012.“We are in awe of your dedication and resolute ability to stand in personal integrity and honor as human-galactic overseers of this planetary body. Hold your heads high, for you are about to step into the most supreme form of embodied existence. We watch from our headquarters as you take the final steps into greatness, your true galactic heritage and home of the stars.” -PHCSee you on the other side…Happy trails!LaurenThinkWithYourHeart.netDid u enjoy this post? Now U can thank me with a DONATION!Copyright © 2008-11. Permission is granted to copy and redistribute this transmission on the condition that the content remains complete and in tact, full credit is given to the author(s), and that it is distributed freely.

Seven billionth person on earth born today

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 31, 2011 at 6:47pm

Seven billionth person on earth born todayToday, the world's seven billionth person has been born. It is impossible to say exactly where the seven billionth person on the planet has been born or who they are.So the United Nations have chosen several newborn babies across the world to symbolically represent the global population milestone, including two baby girls Nargis and Danica who were born in India and the Philippines, respectively.However, the stark reality is that if a baby girl is born in the developing world, her future is set to be far from rosy.According to a recent report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) there is a widening gap between boys and girls in these regions of the world.While they receive the same care and opportunities during early childhood, as they reach adolescence the anomalies in terms of health or education become marked.“While there is little difference between boys and girls in early childhood with respect to nutrition, health, education and other basic indicators, differences by gender appear increasingly more pronounced during adolescence and young adulthood,” said UNICEF deputy executive director Geeta Rao Gupta.If the seven billionth child born was a girl in the developed world, for instance in Europe, Japan or the United States, once she becomes a teenager she is likely to receive many of the same opportunities as her male peers.Her education, health and career prospects may even exceed those of her male counterparts.But if she is born in a region defined as ‘developing’ she is significantly more likely to be married as a child, less likely to be literate than young men in her country and, shockingly, should she be born in sub-Saharan Africa, is as many as four times more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than boys her age.A World Bank working paper examined the real economic impact of excluding girls from learning or work opportunities.For instance, just one teenage mother in India can lose $100,000 (£62,052) in potential income over her lifetime, while a single girl in Ethiopia who has dropped out of school can expect to lose the equivalent of two months’ average pay per year.The financial impacts on the national economies is bigger still: the cost to India of the 3.8 million girls having children at the ages of 15 to 19 is $7.6 billion a year (£4.7 billion) – enough to fill every single car in the US with a full tank of petrol 100 times.The denial of education to 4.5 million girls in Ethiopia costs the country $582 million (£361 million) a year.So beyond the headlines about the seven billionth birth – which will come 12 years after the six billionth, a baby boy in Sarajevo – UNICEF chiefs are urging developing countries to improve the education prospects of their female citizens.Increasing the availability of good and long-term schooling for girls will have a ‘ripple effect’ and help to break the cycle of poverty in those regions.“Closing gender gaps in all stages of childhood and eliminating gender discrimination – whether against girls or boys – are fundamental to inclusive and sustained progress for countries around the world,” said Rao Gupta.“In addition to the harmful and often tragic effects of gender inequalities on children themselves, the kinds of persistent inequalities that we continue to see… are major barriers to the efforts of many nations to move out of long-term poverty and achieve their development aspirations.”

Have a great Halloween sweet Friends, Blessings. Melodie

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 30, 2011 at 9:45am

Have a great Halloween sweet Friends, Blessings. MelodieMichael Jackson Ghost HD Halloween Thriller Special Edition This Is It Song http://youtu.be/ZGEz5wDfqUMWhodini - Freaks come out at Night (original) http://youtu.be/JLYC7ltxOrk

Empowerment's channeled by Aditya

Posted by Aditya Narain Mulla on October 29, 2011 at 3:08am

Dear Friends,

Here are some of the Empowerment's channelled by me and available to all.

http://www.4shared.com/document/s37_C1gk/Empowerments__Channeled_by_Adi.html

Some other systems channelled by other masters but which I can offer are :

Gaia-now,Harmonization Universal,Magic Reiki, Karmic Reiki, Salvation Path and a large number of other such systems.

Though the Manual is still not ready because of demand by several members in my group I may offer the subramaniyar Murugar aka Skanda or Kartikeya Empowerment in the form of Skanda Shakti on Monday 31st Oct. Skanda Shashti here also.

Love & Blessings

Aditya

A musical celebration of the concept of Time, by scienceandnonduality

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:20pm

A musical celebration of the concept of Time, by scienceandnonduality., produced by Symphony of Science."Our Place in the Cosmos", the third video from the Symphony of Science, was crafted using samples from Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Richard Dawkins' Genius of Charles Darwin series, Dawkins' TED Talk, Stephen Hawking's Universe series, Michio Kaku's interview on Physics and aliens, plus added visuals from Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi, History Channel's Universe series, and IMAX Cosmic Voyage.The themes present in this song are intended to explore our understanding of our origins within the universe, and to challenge the commonplace notion that humans have a superior or privleged position, both on our home planet and in the universe itself.RIP Dr. Sagan and Dr. Jastrow!Symphony of Science - 'Our Place in the Cosmos' (ft. Sagan, Dawkins, Kaku, Jastrow) http://youtu.be/vioZf4TjoUImp3: http://bit.ly/oRYyiV A musical investigation into the nature of atoms and subatomic particles, the jiggly things that make up everything we see. Featuring Morgan Freeman, Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku, Brian Cox, Richard Feynman, and Frank Close."The Quantum World" is the eleventh installment in the ongoing Symphony of Science music video series. Materials used in the creation of this video are from:http://symphonyofscience.com for downloads & more videos!Symphony of Science - the Quantum World! http://youtu.be/DZGINaRUEkUThey have also produced other videos like Symphony of Science – “Children of Africa” (The Story of Us): “A musical celebration of humanity, its origins, and achievements, contrasted with a somber look at our environmentally destructive tendencies and deep similarities with other primates.”http://symphonyofscience.com A musical celebration of humanity, its origins, and achievements, contrasted with a somber look at our environmentally destructive tendencies and deep similarities with other primates. Featuring Jacob Bronowski, Alice Roberts, Carolyn Porco, Jane Goodall, Robert Sapolsky, Neil deGrasse Tyson and David Attenborough."Children of Africa" is the tenth installment in the ongoing Symphony of Science music video series. Materials used in the creation of this video are from:BBC Incredible Human JourneyBBC Ascent of ManBBC Life of MammalsBBC Human PlanetBBC Walking With CavemenCarolyn Porco: HollywoodQuest for FireHubblecast 29AWhat Makes Us Human (Leakey Foundation)What Separates Us from Chimps (Sapolsky)ChimpanzeeNeil Tyson - Human IntelligenceGemini Observatory Time-lapsemp3: http://symphonyofscience.comSymphony of Science - "Children of Africa" (The Story of Us) http://youtu.be/f0vlrTVC2tQA musical celebration of the concept of Time. http://www.scienceandnonduality.com/The Symphony of Time http://youtu.be/6AuQPqJPSKEMP3 available at http://www.symphonyofscience.com."We Are All Connected" was made from sampling Carl Sagan's Cosmos, The History Channel's Universe series, Richard Feynman's 1983 interviews, Neil deGrasse Tyson's cosmic sermon, and Bill Nye's Eyes of Nye Series, plus added visuals from The Elegant Universe (NOVA), Stephen Hawking's Universe, Cosmos, the Powers of 10, and more. It is a tribute to great minds of science, intended to spread scientific knowledge and philosophy through the medium of music.Check out "A Glorious Dawn" by Carl Sagan, another Symphony of Science project!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbcSymphony of Science - 'We Are All Connected' (ft. Sagan, Feynman, deGrasse Tyson & Bill Nye) http://youtu.be/XGK84Poeynk

We Are the Rainforest Action Network

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:17pm

We Are the Rainforest Action NetworkRainforest Action Network envisions a world where each generation sustains increasingly healthy forests, where the rights of all communities are respected, and where corporate profits never come at the expense of people or the planet. http://youtu.be/v6HO3BzPmV0

Birth Poem, My Hero

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:16pm

Birth Poems, My HeroPosted: 17 Oct 2011Dedicated to Karleigh, My daughter.. Born 25 weeks and weighed 1 lb 11.5 ozMy Hero©JaimieHero,I go into the hospitalto make sure you're growing and strong,The Doctor says "This isn't right,You're 2 centimeters long"The Doctors tells me Calm down, Don't cryYou have to be strong,I don't understand why this is happeningDid I do something wrong?Only 5 months along and scared to deathWhat am I to do?They rush me to another hospitalWhy? I have no clue.They take me in a roomwhere I will have to stay,Please let everything be OKfor hours to God I'd pray.Days turn into weeks asI lay in the hospital bed,The time has come, You're ready to go,The Doctor soon had said.As I'm in the operating roomScared to death I lie,Chances slim, fear all around,It could be a good or bad day.I hear you cry a wonderful soundEyes opened wide,They say that your here, room full of joy,Thank Heaven that you tried.I felt like your HEROBut would you be OK?Questions, concerns, tears and fears,Would you be here to stay?They rush you off to the ICUYou're too small to breath on your own,Doctors amazed, Nurses in shock,If we would have only known.So much love we gave to you,So much love you gave us back.You'd be coming home when you get well,Your bags we soon would pack.So fragile and smallChances were closest to Zero,You made it through everythingAnd now you're MY HERO!

The controversial art of Michelangelo

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:13pm

The controversial art of MichelangeloMichelangelo destroyed many of his drawings and sketches later in life, thinking that only the perfect ones should survive him. This is partly the reason why the attribution of his work is quite controversial.Art historians believe there are about 600 drawings by Michelangelo. Swiss expert Alexander Perrig says only about 100 are authentic. (SF Kulturplatz/swissinfo.ch) http://youtu.be/j92Tsi0bVDY

A Secret Scrolls #74 to #79

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:12pm

A Secret Scrolls #74A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret and The PowerFrom The Secret Daily TeachingsYou are receiving thousands of messages from the Universe every single day. Learn to become aware of this communication from the Universe, who is speaking to you and guiding you in every moment. There are no accidents and no coincidences. Every sign you notice, every word you hear spoken, every color, every scent, every sound, every event and situation is the Universe speaking to you, and you are the only one who knows their relevance to you, and what the communication is saying.Use your eyes to see! Use your ears to listen! Use all of your senses, because you are receiving communication through them all!May the joy be with you,Rhonda ByrneThe Secret... bringing joy to billionsA Secret Scrolls #75A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret and The PowerFrom The Secret Daily TeachingsYou can limit yourself by the story you have created about you. Here are some simple examples of how the story we have created about ourselves can limit us:I am no good at math. I have never been able to dance. I am not a very good writer. I am very stubborn. I don't sleep well. I am very moody. I struggle with my weight. My English is not good. I am always late. I am not a very good driver. I can't see without my glasses. It is hard for me to make friends. Money seems to slip through my fingers.The moment you become aware of what you are saying, you can delete these things and rewrite your story!May the joy be with you,Rhonda ByrneThe Secret... bringing joy to billionsA Secret Scrolls #76A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret and The PowerFrom The Secret Daily TeachingsThere is no past or future for the law of attraction, only the present, so stop referring to your life in the past as very difficult, or full of hardship and pain, or in any other negative way.Remember that the law only operates in the present, so when you speak of your past life negatively the law is receiving your words and sending those things back to you NOW.May the joy be with you,Rhonda ByrneThe Secret... bringing joy to billionsA Secret Scrolls #77A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret and The PowerFrom The Secret Daily TeachingsThe process of creation is the same for all things, whether you want to bring something to you or remove something negative from your life.If you have a habit you wish to break, or anything negative you wish to remove from your life, you must focus on what you want. That means you visualize and imagine yourself in that negative-free state right now. Imagine yourself in as many scenes as you possibly can where the negative situation is completely absent. Imagine yourself happy and free. Eliminate any picture from your mind of you with the negative situation. Just imagine yourself in the state you want to be in, and feel that you are that, right now.May the joy be with you,Rhonda ByrneThe Secret... bringing joy to billionsA Secret Scrolls #78A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret and The PowerFrom The Secret Daily TeachingsMost people only think to ask for health when they don't have it, but you can intend great health at any time. Use the power of your intention every single day and see yourself healthy and well.Intend health for you and intend health for others.May the joy be with you,Rhonda ByrneThe Secret... bringing joy to billionsA Secret Scrolls #79A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret and The PowerFrom The Secret Daily TeachingsTo understand the power and the magic of gratitude, you have to experience it for yourself. So why not begin by deciding to find 100 things a day to be grateful for?If you practice gratitude every day it won't take long before gratitude is your natural state of being, and when that happens you will have unlocked one of the greatest secrets to life.May the joy be with you,Rhonda ByrneThe Secret... bringing joy to billions

Avocado and Mango Salsa Recipe

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:04pm

Take a Trip to the Islands Without Leaving HomeBrighten up a dreary winter day with a splash of island sunshine. This delicious Caribbean-inspired salsa is the perfect accompaniment to fresh fish or poultry.Alternatively, pile atop baby spinach greens for an unexpected light lunch. The creamy avocado provides heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and the sweet mango offers vitamins A and C. Jicama, which has a similar consistency to crisp water chestnuts, adds crunch while providing additional vitamin C and fiber.Avocado and Mango SalsaIngredients:1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced1 cup chopped ripe mango1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped1/2 cup chopped jicamaJuice of 1 lime, about 2 Tbsp.2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oilSea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped(As always, for the very healthiest recipe choose organic products as much as possible)Instructions:In a mixing bowl, combine the avocado, mango, jalapeño, jicama, lime juice and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Gently toss the ingredients together, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.Top with cilantro before serving.Makes 12 servings (1/4 cup each).Per serving: 60 calories, 5 g total fat (<1 g saturated fat),5 g carbohydrate, 0 g protein, 2 g dietary fiber, 50 mg sodium

The dark side of energy drinks - trading tomorrow's health for today's temporary stimulation

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 5:03pm

The dark side of energy drinks - trading tomorrow's health for today's temporary stimulationby Tony Isaacs(The Best Years in Life) Energy drinks were first introduced over 20 years ago. Though their use grew slowly for the first several years, today they have become a modern day phenomenon with tens of millions now being consumed daily. Energy drinks are the number one growth market for beverages and annual sales are forecast to top $9 billion for 2011. Around one-third of teenagers and young adults report drinking one or more energy drink daily, and in many instances consumers drink several energy drinks each day.What's not to like about having more energy and alertness - particularly if it comes from beverages which often tout herbal and other "natural" ingredients as the secret to their success? As it turns out, there is a very great deal not to like – and many of the millions of energy drink consumers may find one day find that the temporary boost they are getting today comes at the expense of health problems tomorrow.Some of the more common unwelcome side effects reported for energy drinks include elevated heart rates, hypertension, anxiety, headaches and interrupted sleep patterns. Due to a combination of ingredients commonly found in energy drinks which cause elevated heart rate and blood pressure, energy drinks may end up putting added stress on the heart. Such stress may lead to hypertension and ultimately heart and other cardiovascular problems.It is also believed that the combination of ingredients in energy drinks, including sodium benzoate, may lead to extra risk of various forms of cancer. Some energy drinks may also contain ingredients which stress the pancreas and could lead to diabetes. The effects and side effects of energy drinks are elevated when combined with coffee and other caffeinated drinks and the combination of alcohol and energy drinks, a growing practice among younger drinkers, may be particularly dangerous.Until recently, energy drinks and their side effects have been lightly studied, as a report earlier this year in the medical journal Pediatrics noted when it described energy drinks as overused and understudied. After examining data from the government and interest groups, scientific literature, case reports and articles in popular and trade media, the reports authors warned against energy drinks and cited potential harms which included heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death.Dr. Marcie Schneider, an adolescent medicine specialist in Greenwich, Connecticut, and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics nutrition committee, praised the recent report and stated that ""These drinks have no benefit, no place in the diet of kids."Late last year, poison control centers started tracking energy drink overdoses and side effects nationwide. 677 cases occurred from October through December. The chart's list of reported energy drink-related symptoms included seizures, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, chest pain, high blood pressure and irritability.Two of the most common ingredients found in energy drinks are sugar and caffeine, both of which provide temporary stimulation (as opposed to actual energy) and both of which may have serious side effects when regularly consumed in large amounts. Notably, both sugar and caffeine, as well as other ingredients in energy drinks, stress the adrenal glands. Adrenal fatigue is considered to be the number one cause of lack of energy. Thus energy drinks create their own catch-22 of causing long term tiredness and lack of energy at the same time they give their temporary boosts.Just one of a huge number of health risks caused by processed sugar is the risk of diabetes – which has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. Very large amounts of sugar can ultimately overwhelm the pancreas, the organ which generates insulin to offset sugar intake. If your pancreas is "worn out" by being overworked from too much sugar, diabetes can begin.Some energy drinks containing up to 7 times the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. While small amounts of caffeine are not generally considered dangerous, too much caffeine can over stimulate the central nervous system and can dangerously elevate blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine is also addictive and withdrawal symptoms include headaches and irritability. Caffeine also causes a loss in valuable B vitamins which are needed for "normal" energy creation.When sugar is not used, dangerous artificial sweeteners are employed. Perhaps the most dangerous is aspartame, though increasingly, the sugar substitute of choice has become sucralose. Sucralose is a chlorinated organic compound, a chemical group which includes several compounds known to be harmful to animals and plants and which has been linked to birth defects and other prenatal conditions. The body does not recognize artificial sweeteners like sucralose as food, but instead essentially processes them as toxins.Other potentially dangerous ingredients commonly found in energy drinks include:*Sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate is widely used as a preservative in energy drinks as well as other beverages and foods. Last year a study conducted by an expert in molecular biology and biotechnology linked sodium benzoate to cell damage and an increase in the production of free radicals.Even more concerning is the fact that sodium benzoate in combination with vitamin C can result in the formation of the potent carcinogen benzene. Many energy drinks contain vitamin C, especially the fruity energy drinks.As noted health authority Chris Gupta reports, "This is not a small thing, although the so-called experts will try to tell you that there's no harm at these benzene levels. But there is no safe level of benzene. And no one is talking about how it reacts with other carcinogens in your body, which could be a serious problem. We already know it reacts with healthy substances like vitamin C.""There is a solution", Gupta added. "Eliminate all processed foods and unnatural drinks. All processed foods have chemicals in them for preservation. And many of these preservatives can damage your health."*Phenylalanine. Though an essential amino acid, phenylalanine is also a neurotoxin and is one of the three main ingredients which make up aspartame. Too much can excite the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death.*Guarana. Guarana (or guaranine) comes from the seeds of the guarana plant, which contain up to 3 to 4 times the caffeine as coffee beans. Thus the amount of actual caffeine for many energy drinks which also contain guarana may be even more than is reported.*Ephedra. Ephedra has been described as a drug that increases heart rate and blood pressure at low doses and strokes, seizures, and possibly even death at high doses.Despite their potential dangers, energy drinks have become a very large part of today's beverage industry. As we have seen time and again, once any product or group of products and the ingredients they contain become hugely profitable and popular, it may take many years – if ever – before they are curtailed despite evidence of danger. Aspartame is a prime example and such may well end up being the case with the multi-billion dollar energy drink market.However, the good news is that there are far safer natural options for achieving greater energy than energy drinks - such as super foods powders, juiced vegetables and whole-foods derived multi-vitamin products for example. The very best long term option for achieving greater energy is an active lifestyle combined with adequate sleep, avoidance of energy robbing toxins and stress and a healthy nutrient-dense diet.Sources included:http://www.livestrong.com/article/24642-main-ingredients-energy-drinks/http://www.jonbarron.org/diabetes/nl100726/natural-health-newsletter-adrenal-fatigue http://www.livestrong.com/article/92043-hour-energy-drink-ingredients/http://www.sweetpoison.com/phenylalanine.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/354447/what_are_the_dangerous_ingredients?cat=5 http://docakilah.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/energy-drinks-dont-energize-they-stimulize-and-can-kill-you/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41577256/ns/today-today_health/t/energy-drinks-can-be-dangerous-teens-report-says/http://benjimester.hubpages.com/hub/Sucralose-Dangers http://www.energydrinktruth.com/dangersofpreservatives.html http://yourbodygodstemple.blogspot.com/2010/08/dangers-of-sodium-benzoate-fox-news.html

Ignore All Organic Labels, Except This One

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:59pm

Ignore All Organic Labels, Except This OnePosted By Dr. Mercola October 20 2011Are the words written on food packaging honest?Many corporations hire lawyers to carefully craft words that are just barely on the side of being legal. The Yahoo health site has collected eight common package proclamations that are red flags of "crafty" advertising.These include:Flavored: Both artificial and natural flavors are actually made in laboratories, and natural flavors are not necessarily healthier than artificial ones.Pure: "100 percent pure" products such as orange juice can be doctored with flavor packs for aroma and taste.Nectar: While 'nectar' may sound particularly wholesome, it's really just a fancy name for "not completely juice." These "diluted juice beverages" may contain more high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners than fruit puree.Fat free: Some cooking sprays are "fat free" only if they are sprayed for a fraction of a second to produce a microscopic "serving".The Importance of Deciphering Food LabelsIt's unfortunate, but reading food labels isn't as easy as you might think. In addition to determining what ingredients are in the food, you also need to have the foundational knowledge of how to decipher certain verbiage used to describe them. The words listed above are just a few of the words that can be used to mislead you.Below, I'll review a few more label items that are often used in deceptive ways, or that may lead you to buy a product you'd otherwise avoid:1. Vitamin and mineral claims2. The "All Natural" label3. The "Organic" label4. Misleading nutritional facts5. Dangerous ingredients not required to be listed on any food labelBeware of Vitamin and Mineral ClaimsIn an effort to optimize your diet, you may reach for so-called fortified foods; products that proclaim to be more healthful due to their vitamin or mineral content.Unfortunately, foods fortified with "extra" nutrients are nearly always processed, and the nutrients added are typically synthetic; neither of which will promote your health.Likewise, most commercial vitamin supplements are synthetic vitamins that have been robbed of all of the co-factors and accessory micronutrients that they naturally associated with. In turn, just like refined foods, they can create numerous problems and imbalances in your body if taken for long periods of time. They can also act more like drugs in your body. At the very least, they won't be as beneficial as high quality food and whole food-based supplements are.When it comes to foods fortified with minerals, matters can get even worse. Be particularly wary of foods fortified with iron, such as many breakfast cereals, as some of these have been shown to contain actual iron filings, which is not the ideal way to supplement your body with iron.What Does the "All Natural" Label Really Mean?When it comes to processed food bearing this label, it means virtually nothing... This is because there's no standard definition for the term "all natural" when used on processed foods, which leaves it wide open for creative interpretation. The term is only regulated on meat and poultry, for which an item labeled "natural" may not contain any:• Artificial flavors• Colors• Chemical preservativesBut in the processed food arena, a "natural" product can be virtually anything; it can be genetically modified, full of pesticides, made with corn syrup, additives, preservatives and artificial ingredients...If You Want Organic, There's Only One Label that Can Assure itSimilar problems pester the organic label. There's really only one organic label out there that means anything as far as organic food is concerned, and that's the USDA Certified Organic label.This seal, which is governed by the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP), is your BEST assurance of organic food quality. (As a side note, it's also the international gold standard for personal care products that contain organic agricultural ingredients, because the ingredients in USDA certified beauty products are certified organic for food, adhering to much stricter standards as they are intended specifically for human consumption.)There are three "tiers" within the USDA organic label:• Products labeled "100% Organic" must contain only organically produced materials• Products labeled simply "Organic" must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients• The label "Made with organic ingredients" can contain anywhere between 70 to 95 percent organic ingredientsFarmers and growers of organic produce bearing the USDA seal have to meet the strictest standards of any organic label. USDA certified organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and cannot be given antibiotics or growth hormones. And in order to qualify as an organic crop, it must be grown and processed using organic farming methods that recycle resources and promote biodiversity.For example, crops must be grown without:• Synthetic pesticides• Bioengineered genes• Petroleum-based fertilizers• Sewage sludge-based fertilizersOrganic products also cannot be irradiated, are not allowed to contain preservatives or flavor enhancing chemicals, nor can they contain traces of heavy metals or other contaminants in excess of tolerances set by the FDA. The pesticide residue level cannot be higher than 5 percent of the maximum EPA pesticide tolerance. (For the complete National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances under the USDA organic label, see this link.) So remember, if you see anything that says it's "organic," it must specify "USDA Certified Organic" to be meaningful.What You Need to Know about Nutrition LabelsOther factors that can make labels less than helpful include the nutrition facts and the stated serving size.It's important to understand that while the FDA does check food labels, they only check to see whether or not the Nutrition Facts panel is present. They rarely ever verify that the nutrition facts are true and accurate. Furthermore, the government allows foods to contain 20 percent more diet-damaging ingredients than the label lists before taking enforcement action. So while certainly a useful and important start, reading the Nutrition Facts panels on foods may not be as reliable an indicator of a food's nutrients as you may think.The FDA also allows processed food manufacturers to use absurdly tiny serving sizes on their labels, which can lull you into a false sense of security when it comes to determining how much of each stated nutrient or toxin, like trans-fat, you're actually consuming. If the serving size is small enough then trans-fats can fall under the minimum requirement for labeling them, meaning they are left off the label entirely despite the fact they are present in the product. Needless to say, this tactic is intentionally employed, to make the product appear more healthful than it actually isIt is deceptive labeling tricks like these that can leave you eating things you would rather avoid.Another example well worth mentioning here is the lack of any requirement to label genetically modified components in packaged foods, even though this is mandated law in the entire European Union. In the US, you simply will never know if GM foods are present in your processed food, but more than likely they are—especially if the product contains soy or corn, or any derivative thereof...Fortunately, we now have a practical plan to end this disaster. By educating the public about the risks of GM foods through a massive education campaign, and launching a ballot initiative in California for 2012 that will require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods and food ingredients, the plan is to generate a tipping point of consumer rejection to make GMOs a thing of the past. To learn how you can be part of this important movement, please see The California Ballot Initiative: Taking Down Monsanto.How to Choose High-Quality Foods for Yourself and Your FamilyWhile reading labels on everything you buy is important, when it comes to food, you're far better off limiting or eliminating foods that require a listing of its ingredients in the first place. What are you left with? Fresh (preferably organic) WHOLE foods!Remember, virtually ALL processed foods contain cheap, chemical-laden ingredients that will eventually take their toll on your health. By educating yourself on what 'healthy food' really is, and how not to be led astray by label claims that toe the line in terms of being truthful, you'll be well on your way toward a healthier you.

Happy Thoughts = Good Health

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:58pm

Happy Thoughts = Good HealthWednesday, October 19, 2011By Chris WadsworthLooking back on her long life, 73-year-old Judy Rubens thinks she has always been a pretty sunny person.Losing at a game never fazed her, she consciously tried to be friendly to everyone, and she always had a bright smile on her face — both to keep her spirits up and to cheer up those around her.But that smile was tested mightily in 2008 when she underwent back surgery that left her paralyzed from her waist to her ankles. Months of grueling physical therapy left her exhausted and in pain — but where others might find good reason to give in to self-pity — Rubens reveled in the discomfort."When the pain was greatest, I knew that I was healing," the Fort Myers, Fla., resident tells Newsmax. "I would get the shooting pains down my legs and I didn’t mind it. I knew that meant that the nerves were coming back. Without that pain, I wasn’t healing."In study after study, this remarkable ability to take a negative and see it as a positive has been a hallmark of an optimistic personality. And now scientists are discovering that being optimistic can actually make you mentally and physically healthier.Check out these eye-opening benefits:• Dutch researchers studied almost 1,000 senior citizens and found that the most optimistic among them had a 55 percent lower chance of dying from all causes and a 23 percent lower risk of cardiovascular death.• A study at the University of Kentucky among 124 incoming law students found that when the students were more optimistic, their immune system got stronger.• Other research has shown high levels of optimism linked with better recovery from heart transplants and heart bypass surgery, protection from stroke risk, and even delayed onset of frailty among the elderly.• A University of Pennsylvania study found that incoming freshmen who participated in a series of workshops aimed at helping them cultivate a positive outlook lowered their risk of suffering moderate or severe depression."There is good evidence to suggest optimism is protective and that pessimism seems to be detrimental when it comes to the development of disease and future outcomes," said Laura Kubzansky, an associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, in a 2010 Washington Post article. "But what’s a little less clear is what the mechanisms are, or how that protective effect occurs."Bottom line: Pessimists and optimists see the world differently, according to Martin Seligman, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on optimistic thinking.Seligman says pessimists tend to believe they’re to blame when bad things happen and that these bad things will persist and ruin other events in their lives — an "I pigged out at a party last night because I have no willpower, and I will never lose weight" syndrome.Optimists, on the other hand, see setbacks as temporary: "I overate last night, but I was celebrating with good friends, and I can still lose weight this week if I just buckle down."Regardless of which camp a person falls into, Seligman and others assert that people can actually learn optimism. When a person constantly strives to catch themselves being negative — then stops momentarily — and changes the negative thought into a positive one, eventually this learned behavior will take over and they will find themselves being optimistic more often and more naturally.Tina Haisman is certified life coach in Chicago and works with clients on recognizing negative thoughts and attitudes and helps them begin to change this behavior."The key to happiness for all of us is in our own minds," Haisman tells Newsmax. "You have the power to make your life what you want it to be. It’s all in how you choose to look at things."Optimism is, of course, not a cure-all. There are times when it’s inappropriate and even impossible to find the bright side of something. That’s OK.Optimists have dark moments fraught with concern and worry too. But these thoughts don’t apply to everything that happens, and they don’t last. Cliché as it is, the "sun will come out tomorrow" and optimists recognize this.One of the thoughts that motivated Rubens during her recovery was the desire to travel with her husband, Len. Eleven months after her devastating surgery and paralysis, Rubens was walking well enough to take a long-awaited trip."We took a cruise into the Caribbean and it was wonderful,” Rubens said, her voice filling with emotion. "I danced with my husband. I just looked up at him and the tears rolled. I said, 'Look, just look!' and he said, ‘We are so blessed.'"

Psychological Materialism

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:47pm

Psychological Materialism
by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Even if you are against the materialism of society and you do not want to support it, refusing to work is still grasping at the wrong end of the stick. Not taking part in work and practical activity is not going to achieve anything. More than any anything else, it will simply magnify your own negativity. By not doing anything to help, you will merely feel the sense of being useless in society. If you really take this kind of nonparticipation to its logical conclusion, it means that you shouldn't eat, you shouldn't even breathe, because the air you breath also belongs to the world and society. This approach could become quite extreme. If you take it all the way, it means you shouldn't exist at all.

There's a great deal of confusion about materialism and society. Just taking care of one's business or even running a business doesn't amount to materialism. There's nothing wrong with that at all. What really produces the materialistic outlook towards society is psychological materialism. Materialism has a pervasive kind of philosophy connected with it that is passed from one person to another orally and taught to everyone through examples. One person catches it from another. However, trying to reject that contagion by purely not doing anything, not caring for anything at all, simply doesn't work.
Not doing anything takes the form of laziness, and in order to be lazy we have to develop a certain kind of intelligence. Laziness has tremendous intelligence in it, in fact. When you are lazy, as soon as you have the urge to do anything, immediately a kind of answer comes to you that you can present about why you don't have to do it. Later you can say: "I didn't do it because I didn't have time. Thus and such happened and I didn't have a chance to do it. It was because of that." This automatic answer that comes to you is very convenient. One has to be very intelligent to find these kinds of excuses. There is tremendous intelligence in laziness, but it is misused intelligence.

The best way to use our intelligence is to learn to feel what the skillful action in a situation is. To do that, we have to relate to the earth as directly as possible. Interestingly, we call this being "grounded." In this approach, we do not regard work as just a job but as a way of expressing our ourselves. It could be work in the garden or work around the house—cooking food, washing the dishes—whatever. These are not really jobs, but they are what has to be done because nature demands attention. It is very interesting that if you leave something undone or do not relate to even a small matter like, for instance, cooking with full and proper attention and clear thinking, then some kind of chaos is going to come up. This will happen because you are not relating properly; you are not expressing your love properly toward the earth. Either you are going to break a dish or you're going to spill something, or the food you're cooking is going to turn out badly, or something else will go wrong. Nature tends to react very sensitively this way. If you don't feel the relationship between the work and yourself, then chaos is going to arise.

A balanced state of mind depends on the way you do things, the way you pour a cup of tea and the way you put sugar and milk in it. It may seem like a really insignificant thing, but it means everything. You can always tell whether a person feels the activity she is engaged in as dealing with the earth or whether she feels it as just some casual thing or something she is doing because she has to. If the person is not relating to the earth, then you can always feel a certain clumsiness, even if the person's action appears to be smooth. This is very evident and easy to sense.

--Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Is Facebook Changing Your Brain?

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:46pm

Is Facebook Changing Your Brain?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Scientists have found a direct link between the number of "friends" a person has on Facebook and the size of certain brain regions, raising the possibility that using online social networks might change our brains.

The four brain areas involved are known to play a role in memory, emotional responses, and social interactions.

So far, however, it is not possible to say whether having more Facebook connections makes particular parts of the brain larger or whether some people are simply pre-disposed, or "hard-wired," to have more friends.

"The exciting question now is whether these structures change over time — this will help us answer the question of whether the Internet is changing our brains," said Ryota Kanai of University College London (UCL), one of the researchers involved in the study.

Kanai and colleagues used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the brains of 125 university students, all of them active users of social media site Facebook, and cross-checked their findings in a further group of 40 students.

They discovered a strong connection between the number of Facebook friends and the amount of "grey matter" in the amygdala, the right superior temporal sulcus, the left middle temporal gyrus, and the right entorhinal cortex. Grey matter is the layer of brain tissue where mental processing occurs.

The thickness of grey matter in the amygdala was also linked to the number of real-world friends people had, but the size of the other three regions appeared to be correlated only to online connections.

The students, on average, had around 300 Facebook friends, with the most connected having up to 1,000.

With more than 800 million active users worldwide, Facebook has become a major component of social interaction, especially among the young.

"Online social networks are massively influential, yet we understand very little about the impact they have on our brains. This has led to a lot of unsupported speculation the Internet is somehow bad for us," said Geraint Rees of UCL.

"This shows we can use some of the powerful tools in modern neuroscience to address important questions — namely, what are the effects of social networks, and online social networks in particular, on my brain."

The study results were published on Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Heidi Johansen-Berg of the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the research, said the findings were intriguing but did not mean Facebook was a shortcut to making people brainier.

"If you got yourself 100 new Facebook friends today then your brain would not be bigger tomorrow," she said. "The study cannot tell us whether using the Internet is good or bad for our brains."

Dogs help schools lick bullying problem

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:45pm

Dogs help schools lick bullying problem
Article By: Cynthia Ross Cravit

We hear about it all too often: The damaging -- and sometimes tragic -- consequences of bullying. Read how some experts are using canines to teach compassion.

Dogs can make us happier and healthier. Beyond the joy of companionship, studies have shown that dog ownership is associated with lower stress, blood pressure and cholesterol. Owning a pouch also helps to prevent illness — and when you do become ill, helps you to recover more quickly.

On top of all that, dogs can sniff out cancer and warn of heart attack, epileptic seizures and hypoglycemia.

So when it comes to the battling the bullying epidemic in our schools, who else to call in but our best friend? Dogs are already being used in the classroom to give assistance to children with autism, for instance, and to help with reading and writing programs. And now, in some North American schools, canines are being called in to teach compassion and social responsibility.

An example. In a program called “No More Bullies” volunteers accompanied by trained dogs teach kids about fairness and empathy. “The animals are the glue that helps the children stay focused and understand the message,” Jo Dean Hearn, an ex-teacher who developed the program, told USA TODAY. “Children can easily identify with an animal. And it’s easy for them to transition when we ask them to consider how an animal feels (if ill-treated) to how the kid sitting near them feels (if poorly treated).”

Pouches and peer pressure“No More Bullies” is just one of several dog-centered programs being used to help create a kinder and more supportive school climate — which, experts say, goes a long way in preventing, and stopping, bullying. Last year, for example, the Yale University School of the 21st Century and the Pet Savers Foundation launched a program called Mutt-i-grees to help kids learn how to be more kind to one another and animals.

Another program, Healing Species, uses rescue dogs to help children and teens recover from abuse and learn self-esteem, empathy, and other fundamental values. Currently, programs that use dogs to teach kindness and integrity are being used in about 900 elementary schools in the U.S.

Watch this clip on how canines can help to reduce stress in the classroom:

Why dogs reduce stress in classrooms

http://youtu.be/EAO8i7s1uWU

Every hug carries a powerful “punch”.

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:41pm

Over 100 Cities around took part in the Hugs for Peace campaign our friend Vince coordinated that took place on September 21.

Such a little thing -- a hug -- everyone can do it -- it takes no special training -- no “skill” -- no age, race, religion, or sex can do it any better then another…

It is freely available to everyone -- pretty much anytime (technically we can hug our teddy bears, our dogs, even ourselves if another person isn’t immediately available)

and every hug carries a powerful “punch”. A study by University of North Carolina researchers found that hugs increase the “bonding” hormone oxytocin and decrease the risk of heart disease.

This should be every day in the world.

FREE HUGS for WORLD PEACE - Salt of the Earth - International Day of Peace - Sept. 21
http://youtu.be/dt1r8gizEGg

Money Doesn’t Equal Happiness

Posted by Melodie Munro on October 26, 2011 at 4:40pm

Today's Daily Health TipMoney Doesn’t Equal Happinessby Baseline of Health StaffIn today’s hazardous economic times, many people are probably thinking, “If I just had some more money, all my problems would disappear.”Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is that a financial surplus does not lead to happiness. The recent World Mental Health Survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) looked at nearly 90,000 people in 18 countries to determine their mental health status, and the results may surprise you.Among the participants living in the 10 higher income nations, an average of close to 15 percent of the population had experienced a major depressive episode at some point. In those participants from low to middle income countries, however, an average of approximately 11 percent had suffered through depression.The country with the highest overall rate of depression was France, with a 21 percent frequency. The United States was second, experiencing a lifetime rate of 19.2 percent. The high-income nations with the lowest rates of depression were Japan, Germany, Italy, and Israel, where the levels fell between 7 and 10 percent.The age of onset of depression varied by country as well. China had the lowest age of all of the countries tested, with a median of 18.8. United States residents seem to be stricken with depression at a younger age too, with a median of 22.7. The countries with the latest average onset were Japan at 30.1 and Spain at 30. According to data from WHO, approximately 121 million people around the world suffer from depression. Women everywhere are twice as likely to experience episodes of depression as men. But the researchers found in general that those with depression in wealthier nations suffered from more debilitating disability resulting from the disease.And depression really can impair you, both mentally and physically. Your body is a product of your thoughts. The cells of your body have receptor sites for the various neurohormones you produce. Your immune cells, to use just one example, have receptor sites for each of those hormones. When you are happy, you produce a set of neurohormones that are picked up by the cells of your immune system. These particular neurohormones tell your immune system to jack up -- which it does. In other words, happy thoughts improve your health. However, when you are depressed, the opposite happens. The neurohormones your body produces literally shut down your immune system. In effect, negative thoughts can actually kill you. A group of medical researchers in Montreal tracked 222 post heart attack victims, both men and women. The researchers found that those who were depressed were more likely to die of another heart attack within 18 months of their first heart attack than those who were not -- 10 times more likely, in fact.Depression does not just affect our ability to enjoy each day. Among other things, scientists today are finding strong statistical evidence linking stress and depression with longevity. And, with "suicidal behavior" being a side effect of anti-depressants, it is no wonder people are scrambling to find a natural solution. The good news is that not only can nutrition impact mood, but exercise and certain herbs and nutraceuticals such as Ginkgo, Valerian root, SAMe, and Mulungu can also give a safe, healthy mental lift!

Hello again

Posted by Glenda Hughes on October 25, 2011 at 9:50am

Hi there.I think I joined Crystals & Gemstones, however, I'm not showing up as a member.I clicked the "join" link but nothing happened.I wanted to add info on this group.Are disucussions, topics and blogs the same thing? I cant see in that group how to post, just" reply" option.

˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.¸ღ¸MESSAGE FROM THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY ~ THE SIGN OF HUMANITY IS LOVE☆´˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.¸ღ¸☆

Posted by dcentralsunkid on October 23, 2011 at 2:32am

˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.¸ღ¸MESSAGE FROM THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY ~
THE SIGN OF HUMANITY IS LOVE☆´˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.¸ღ¸☆

297814_255273787852672_100001101595109_697403_5877235_s.jpg

October 23, 2011.

- Dearest Ones, We Are from the Domain of Fire and Light, of Unity of all souls and Sacred Divine Core Essence in the Andromeda Galaxy.
--- Beloved Earth Humans,
We are here again to shower your world with our Blessings with powerful waves of Light from our Galaxy.
Many of us took birth on your planet to anchor Light and Information from the Andromeda Galaxy on Earth to assist with the awakening of her humanity and the cleansing and shifting of her into higher dimensions.
We are giving you this information, dear earth humans, to assure you that you and your planet have never been – in reality – cut off from the rest of the universe. It was only a gesture of you in the past history, which laid around and upon Earth, through your own lowering of your frequency, a dense and heavy veil which did not allow much communications of higher light and information to reach you and your planet from outer space.
This self-induced isolation is now coming to an end, also because many other souls from other enlightened star systems and galaxies are at this time incarnated among you, to draw down the light and love of the stars into your reality to help you to evolve.
These beings from other star systems have taken birth in difficult situations in order to purify your dark earth history with their own awakening process, which required them to confront all the pain -- that you earth people are suffering -- in their own bodies, emotions and mental experiences.

For many, if not for most of them, this ordeal of purification of your dark history in their own system, this process has now come to an end and they are here now between you, anchoring our light and information and that of many other star systems on your earth.
They are now illuminated antennas receiving and channeling light from space through their consciousness and bodies into the core of Gaia and radiating this light and this love all over the earth. They are the ones who have done all the work directly on your planet, to support your own awakening, like one candle ignites the next one, so that also you can become like them a radiant luminary to illuminate further the path to ascension in your world.
What is required of you, Beloved Earth Humans, in your awakening process in this short remaining moment, is to open up to unconditional love, a Divine Frequency now showered upon your earth! It is the Force which drives humanity forward to her unity and elevation. It is the Force which does not know separation, and it is the Force which has been always your rightful inheritance and True Sign since eternity.
"Humanity Is Love", - this will be your sign and “trade mark” in your coming Galactic Participation, where earth will be embraced again in the midst of other star nations and illuminated planets and galaxies.
You are on your way to fully participate again in the unimpeded communication and union of the galactic network of light, which flows like liquid water through all the veins of the Divine Universe.
Once ascended you will be participating again in the currents of universal joy and love where we all rejoice In mutual friendship, love and respect.
There is only One Divinity and we are all Its Divine Expression.
Welcome, dearest earth humans, to this glorious moment in the very near future, but which is in truth already always Now.
Our Light and Our Love is in the midst of you all.
With eternal Blessings!
Message received by Ute
http://radiantlyhappy.blogspot .com/2011/10/message-from-andromeda-g...
_________________________________________________________
Copyright: Ute Posegga-Rudel, Oct 2011http://radiantlyhappy.blogspot.com/
This message has been received in a sacred space and should be treated accordingly and with respect. When sharing this message please only together with this information. If you have questions, please contact me. Thank you.

˜ƸӜƷ˜”*°•.¸ღ¸MESSAGE FROM THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY ~ *THE SIGN OF HUMANITY IS LOVE*☆´˜ƸӜƷ˜”*°•.¸ღ¸☆

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.¸ღ¸MESSAGE FROM THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY ~
THE SIGN OF HUMANITY IS LOVE☆´˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.¸ღ¸☆