Some people make us feel really good just by looking at them. This works in the opposite, of course, with people you just ‘don’t have a good feeling about.’

As experiments in the realm of our auras are conducted, we come across some truly remarkable results that also just make sense. Dr. Konstantin Korotkov has done research in this field, and found that the human aura continues to change for about three days after death.

Your Aura Can’t Be Hidden

Everything in this world that seems material is essentially energy. As such, these living beings and objects will exhibit an aura, which is a field of energy around you.

No matter what face you put on, it will show the ‘real you’ to those that know how to see it. Continue reading →

The practice of smudging dates back to prehistoric times, and is still very much in use today worldwide for cleansing everything from dwellings to human spirits. However recent research has shed light on the popularity of this activity, revealing that burning certain plant matter actually clears harmful bacteria.

All Western use of burning herbs and plants for spiritual purposes aside, the activity rests firmly in the sensibilities of ancient cultures in that, historically, smudging was believed to put forth the spirits of various ‘allies’ to provide ease and balance to an individual or group.

In this way, the practice was used to clear spiritual and emotional negativity that has built up in a body or a space.

Of course, there are skeptics who belittle the practice as unscientific and akin to magic.

The practice has a negative association to a form of cultural imperialism, where traditions of dwindling indigenous populations are co-opted by the descendants of those who more-or-less conquered them. Continue reading →

Though forests around the world vary in their flora and fauna, their tendency to inspire awe in us is one commonality. The forest is beautiful and serves to remind us of our connection to the earth.

Deep in the embrace of the trees, the forest seems to come alive, its spirit transcending time and space to bring us its wisdom and the secrets of the years. Human beings have long relied on forests for sustenance – of body and of spirit – and these ten forests are but some examples of their majesty.

Rila Mountains, Bulgaria.

Taipingshan, Taiwan.

Continue reading →

Meditation is well known for numerous health benefits. Meditation can reduce your stress levels, lower your high blood pressure, reduce the impact of anxiety, improve your immune system strength, balance your hormone levels, and increases fertility. But one Tibetan lama claims that meditation had an even more profound impact on his health.

Meditation cured his gangrene.

Lama Phakyab Rinpoche immigrated to the United States in 2003 as a 37-year-old refugee. He had diabetes and Pott’s Disease. It got so bad that his right foot and part of his leg developed gangrene. H was hospitalized and told by three doctors that they had to amputate.

Truly, it’s not health advice many would advice against, but Rinpoche wasn’t having any of it. He is a deeply spiritual man working toward the highest possible level of Tibetan Buddhist study, the Geshe degree.

He reached out to the Dalai Lama when decided whether or not the leg should be removed.

The Dalai Lama’s response: do not amputate the leg. Instead, he suggested he utilize his meditation skills and heal himself. He prescribed additional mantras said to clear obstacles.

It was a hell of a leap of faith.

“As a Buddhist, what is the worst thing that could happen if I die?” he told The Daily Beast through a translator. “I would be reborn again. But to lose a leg in one lifetime because I didn’t try to save it didn’t make sense.” Continue reading →

Forgiving yourself can be a tough one because the person who feels angry, and the person you’re angry with is the same person – YOU!  We get stuck in self-judgment.  We can’t let ourselves off the hook.  Maybe we betrayed our own integrity.  Maybe we betrayed someone we love.  We think we are bad and we don’t know how to get over it.

1) See your own innocence.  Close your eyes and imagine your childhood self.  See how innocent that child is?  If they did do something wrong – they didn’t do it on purpose!  Their intentions were pure.

They are beautiful.  Sweet.  Loveable.  In your higher self, take them in your arms and hug them.  Give them some of the love they never had.  Drink it in for a while.

2) Understand and Accept.  Close your eyes and imagine the you who did something you’re not proud of.

From your higher self, look upon that unforgivable person.  Ask yourself, “What motivated the unsavory behavior?  Did it come out of a deep wound?  Did it come out of loneliness?

Continue reading →

There’s a bit of irony that surrounds the concept of taking naps. When we’re kids, we’re made to do it even if we don’t want to. Then when we’re older we long for them, but can’t always find the time. The combination of the stress of working and raising children means that we’re busy, and while we need naps more, we aren’t getting them. This is unfortunate, as science is finding more and more that naps are necessary.

Humans are one of only 15% of mammalian species whose sleep periods consist of one large block of time (monophasic). The rest snag shorter periods of sleep throughout the day (polyphasic).

Science is not clear as to whether or not this is humans’ natural way of sleeping. However, what is known is that we’re not getting enough of it. What’s more is that insufficient sleep leads to industrial disasters, vehicle crashes, occupational errors, etc. This is where the science of napping comes into play. Continue reading →