In ancient legends, gemstones and the months have been connected. According to the Bible, the high-priest Aaron wore a breastplate with twelve stones, each correlating to a different personality. This concept stands through time. Its accuracy may frighten you.

January: Garnet

The garnet in old text is referred to as ‘the guiding light.’ Similarly, they were worn by many explorers to protect themselves from danger.

If you were born in January, your birthstone says you are an ambitious and compassionate leader.

You value your relationships with others and know your self-worth. Remember not to overthink things, and use your stubbornness to achieve your goals.

February: Amethyst

Legend says that whoever wears this stone is protected from darkness and seduction. Continue reading →

It is widely believed that humans only use 10% of their brains. While some have debunked this myth, one man has proven the notion to be very possible.

When a 44-year-old French man walked into a doctor’s office back in 2007 complaining about a weakness in his left leg, he was stunned to learn that he had been living without the majority of his brain for most of his life.

Brain scans revealed that a build-up of fluid had caused most of the inner part of his brain to erode away. This condition is called: hydrocephalus also known as “water in the brain“.

Here is an image of his brain scan:

The Center of the Chain

It goes without saying that the brain is an integral part of the body. It is responsible for many of the inner and outer workings of the body, such as: Continue reading →

“We shall never know all the good a simple smile can do”

~ Mother Teresa

What’s in a smile? The general idea is that our emotions affect our behavior, but what if simple changes in our behaviors or body movements could affect how we actually feel? It turns out, our body works in more interesting ways than we previously knew, and the simple act of consciously choosing to smile can in itself make us feel happier.

I’m not one to tout happiness down anyone’s throat, though I genuinely do wish for everyone to live a fulfilling life. It’s what I want for myself too, but I admit it’s not always easy.

In life, matters aren’t always clear-cut, we may often not find the answers we’re looking for, and constant change is central to the nature of life. We go through hardships, through challenges, struggles, loss, and our sense of reality as well as self can, and often does, change. Continue reading →

How can we tell the difference between intuition speaking and fear speaking?  As I try to navigate major transitions in my life and make decisions, I find this question constantly at the back of my head. In a time when rationality and logic are seen as the ultimate criteria to judge anything and everything, how can we get back in touch with, and make sense of, our intuitive abilities in a way that serves us and our world?

You may have already come across this intriguing article on the three types of intuition by Emily Price.  She tells us about the three main types of intuition, and how to identify our strongest type. This is a helpful starting point in thinking about intuition and how to identify its presence.  

What if you don’t feel so in tune with your intuition? How do you identify the voice of your intuition? What is intuition?

According to Merriam-Webster, one definition of intuition is “the power or faculty of attaining direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and interference”.  Cool. So how do we really identify it? Continue reading →

 For thousands of years humans have been trying to form an understanding of one concept that affects each of us, yet still eludes us all. Billions and billions of people around the world and throughout history, have all experienced this one same thing, but each will talk about it in a beautifully unique way. This concept is love.

Cultural Understanding

From the Roman god of love, Cupid, to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there are certain figures in the realm of popular culture that have become almost synonymous with love. The concept has been captured in literature, paintings, and movies time and again – its essence always captured in the briefest flashes.

Yet the manifestation of love in each story – the couple’s unique dynamic, or the relationship’s development from infatuation to decades long marriage –  is rather varied, even if the very concept at the heart of the matter is the same.

Every character in popular culture, every person reading the books or watching the movies, will have their own interpretations of what it means to love and be loved. This is why love is so hard to pin down, with each new interpretation, comes a new understanding and expression of it.

The Languages of Love

This is the very concept behind relationship counselor Dr Gary Chapman’s ‘5 Languages of Love.’ He identified the different ways in which people communicate their love and explained the importance of learning these languages in order to better empathize with those around you. This isn’t just with romantic partners, but with family, friends, and work colleagues too. Continue reading →

Connecting with another person on a deep, profound and emotional level is one of the true joys in life. Yet many of us fall victim to the traps that sabotage the quality of our relationships. Many of which can be bettered, if not solved, by saying one of these key phrases. Not only will these intensify the connection with your loved one but also lay the foundation for an introspective evaluation of how we treat those treasure in our lives.

Relationships demand energy and effort in order to thrive and grow. Start with these seven things your loved ones need to hear you say:

1.     I Love You

This might sound obvious. But we’d all be surprised how rare we utter these three important words and how instrumental it is a committed, intimate and long-lasting relationship. Psychologically, saying “I love you” on a daily basis helps us maintain our feelings of love toward our loved one and in return, helps them feel affirmed and secure. Rain or shine, never underestimate the power these words have to strengthen your bond.

Continue reading →