Water has long been a sacred element, known for its healing, transformative and relaxing properties. From the ancient Romans who held baths to find relaxation, to Ayurveda Indian medicine that looks to water to balance and harmonize the body, water is a common denominator among traditional healing practices.

To this date, water continues to be a source of clarity, peacefulness, and unity. Everyone can relate to the all­ encompassing calmness and self ­reflection that occurs near or around the water.

As human beings, whether we’re conscious of it or not, it is an innate desire to seek out these moments.

Often times, the mental and physical benefits of being near the water are overlooked. However, it is consistently proven that the benefits you reap by being around the water are not only impressive, they’re real.

Countless research studies have proven the positive correlation between health and coastal living, verifying that there is scientific validity to water’s importance age ­old traditions and customs.

Water Encourages a Meditative State

While we may not be conscious of it, water induces a mildly meditative state of calmness, mindfulness, and awareness. By simply sitting near the water or gazing off into the ocean meeting the horizon, our brains enter a state of fascination, taking in external sensory inputs but not distracted or overwhelmed by them. Continue reading →

You may have not realized that simple everyday objects you see and use everyday can have specific symbolic meanings. Something as ordinary as a knife sitting in a loaf of bread to the fluttering of a blue curtain can hold incredible meaning and significance.

Generations ago, in a society run by a limited number of literate individuals, symbolic imagery was vital in enlightening the masses. Byzantine, Gothic and Early Renaissance paintings are rich in philosophical and Christian symbolism regarding common household objects.

Take a look at the 22 examples below, then take a look around your own home. Which ones pop out to you? Do you see their meaning now?

Religion:

1. A knife in a loaf of bread: Represents holy communion.

2. A club: Symbolizes death. Saint Jude, one of the apostles, was beaten to death with a club.

3. A glowing candle: A symbolic reminder of Christ’s Passion.

4. Glass prayer beads: Symbolic representation of the all­seeing wisdom of God.

5. Coins on top of a Bible: Symbolizes the triumph of the material world over the devout and holy.

6. A red pillow: Symbolizes self­indulgence and corruption of the soul.

7. Nails: The Crucifixion of Christ Continue reading →

The cat world is one that humans have tried to understand for as long as the cat has been domesticated. Their behaviours are typically seen as hostile compared to that of the exuberant and outwardly affectionate dog. Dogs, we know, see humans as the best thing on planet Earth, but cats are a little more resistant to that notion.

To understand how cats see us, we first have to understand how cats think, and more importantly, how cats behave in social situations. Most people assume that cats are solitary animals simply because they seem more aloof, independent than dogs. But, cats are actually not solitary at all. They’re a pack animal.

John Bradshaw, the author of Cat Sense, believes the difficulty in studying social cat behavior is that the cat’s wild ancestor, the northernmost populations of the African Wildcat, basically don’t exist anymore. African Wildcats are so thoroughly interbred with domestic cats that Bradshaw says it’s likely impossible to find a purebred African Wildcat. Feral Colonies: This is when you turn to feral cat populations.

Feral cat colonies are comprised of cats who were born and exist without direct human intervention. By comparing feral cat behaviors to that of the domestic house cat, we can kind of get an idea of how cats perceive their owners.

Continue reading →