Category Archives: Inspirational

Inspirational, Spirituality, Thoughts

10 Inspiring Quotes From The Tao Te Ching

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The Tao Te Ching, was written by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu in the 6th century BC. It is a collection of thoughts, guidelines and perceptions following the religion of Tao. A precursor to many Eastern religions this text continues to stay relevant to modern times. Heavily concentrated on perceptions of self, ways to attain peace and stop others from negatively effecting you. If you haven’t read it, I’d strongly recommend it. It is easy to read and written in a way that is accessible to everyone. These selected quotes may be enough to tempt you into picking up a copy. If you’ve already read it here are some choice reminders.

The Great Tao flows everywhere, to the left and to the right, all things depend on it to exist, and it does not abandon them. To its accomplishments it lays no claims. It loves and nourished all things, but does not lord it over them.

Tao is a form of philosophy with many similarities to Buddhism. In this quote Tzu is saying that following this code of living shouldn’t be a burden or pedestal to lord over others. The understanding gained from the Tao are inherent in all things.

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.

Intelligence and wisdom are frequently confused for one another. Intelligence is understanding a process or idea. Wisdom is knowing how and when to apply certain ideas and processes.

Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

We are all one entity, we are just distinctive expressions of the infinite. If you want to understand others and their truths and motives, you need to understand your own first. You are best equipped to access the infinite through your personal connection. Explore it.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Probably one of his more famous quotes, he is saying that to go anywhere or doing anything dreaming and visualizing aren’t enough. You need to start somewhere. Even if your not sure its the ‘perfect’ step, you need to just start doing it.

A man with outward courage dares to die. A man with inward courage dares to live.

Taking a strong stance on what you believe in and expressing it in the form of grand expressions is one thing. To consistently stand for what you believe in and always be working towards that expression is another. There is more power in many smaller actions than in one grand one.

The mark of a moderate man
is freedom from his own ideas.
Tolerant like the sky,
all-pervading like sunlight,
firm like a mountain,
supple like a tree in the wind,
he has no destination in view
and makes use of anything life happens to bring his way.

To seek balance and moderation in all things is the best way to maximize your resources and time. Don’t waste your energy chasing after extremes. Let your life and external forces take their own route and path.

Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.

Everything is as it is supposed to be, and everything is always changing. Be happy that you have the awareness to see things as they are and posses the knowledge of impermanence. While something may seem to be not as you would like, re-evaluate how you are observing the aspect. Have faith in the knowledge that everything is due to change.

When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.

The contentment that comes with thorough perceptions of the world around is one of the most powerful attributes of mindfulness.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

Same as a great adventure starts with the step outside of your house, the greatest accomplishments were made in steps. Trying to accomplish great change in a single act is not feasible, and the attempt is unproductive.

To attain knowledge, add things everyday.
To attain wisdom, remove things every day.

Knowledge is knowing facts, wisdom is knowing when to use that knowledge. Knowledge is a tool, wisdom is a way of life.

I let go of who I am, I become what I might be.

Don’t try to be what you aren’t. You have within you every possible combination of personalities and solutions. As soon as you start acknowledging and expressing your true self, greatness will come your way.

Inspirational, News

5 Ways to Find Yourself When You Feel Like You Lost Your Way

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“We only lose what we cling to”- Buddha

Feeling stuck? Don’t sweat it. Sometimes getting lost, is exactly how we find ourselves. In one moment, you may feel clear and concise about your goals in life and the next, you have done a complete 180 degree turn and are set out on a new path. Change is never easy but it is always necessary. Like energy, if things never changed, life would become stagnant, and the more we are able to adapt and flow in a state of non-attachment, the easier we can make it for ourselves.

So, when the wings of change come sailing through, leaving you feeling lost, confused and without a clear direction. Always remember.

5. “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

travel-alone-1There is no finish line and there isn’t a destination. “We do not dance and aim at certain spot in the room because that is where we ought to arrive at, the whole point of the dancing is the dance”- Alan Watts.

Every day we learn something, and learning is the most soul satisfying endeavor we can indulge in. The soul loves growth by experience, otherwise…. we wouldn’t be here. So stay cool, calm yourself, you don’t have anywhere to be but where you are.

4. Trust yourself

You are the only one who knows what you are looking for, take your time, go inside and find out what gets your heart pumping and your juices flowing. When change comes it is always needed. Although it may feel like a catastrophe and something you never wanted to happen, in time you’ll see why it had to happen. Continue reading →

Inspirational, News, Relationships, Spirituality

12 Signs You Aren’t Following Your Inner Truth & How to Find it Again

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“How people  treat other people is a direct reflection how they feel about themselves” – Paulo Coehlo

Every relationship we have, can be viewed as a reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves and setting the tone for the right relationships, lies heavily upon us.

By trusting ourselves, listening to our own thoughts, feelings and emotions, we become more authentic and this gives us the wonderful opportunity to become comfortable in our own skin. Yet, when we are not comfortable with who we are, we project onto others, what we cannot accept of ourselves.

12. You are “judgy”.

“Life is a mirror and will reflect back to thinker what he thinks into it” – Ernest Holmesshutterstock_267450737

Remember that each time you lash out against someone, whether it is behind their back or to their face, you are meeting an aspect of your own shadow. So turn those words back around, because what you just said, is exactly what you need to heal, accept and alchemize within you.

Tongue lashing someone with crude remarks is a sure sign that you’re not comfortable in your own skin; you’re too hard on yourself and you lack self-acceptance.

When we judge others, not only are we bringing forward an aspect of ourselves, we are unknowingly hurting someone else, based on our own perception of the world in how we see others.

11. You seek validation from others.

We seek attention and validation from others when there is something missing. A void that needs to be filled, and without the proper tools and the introspection to understand and alleviate the cause, we search for an external reaction.

You are the cause and the reaction. What you seek in the world is already within you, you already know the answer because you asked the question. Measure yourself by your own standards and set the bar high because you’re worth it.

10. You put yourself last.

Doing things for others can bring us joy and satisfaction, but there is a sacred selfishness that we can’t afford to ignore. When we over-indulge in giving our time, our energy and our good nature, we may think that there’s no harm but be warned, like a car we can’t run on empty and we all need a refill.  Continue reading →

Inspirational, News, Spirituality

9 Interesting & Unexpected Ways Ancient People Got High

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People have always enjoyed getting intoxicated. A chemically induced euphoria, guaranteed to provide a good mood? Or the ability to temporarily experience a different version of reality?

Drugs are not only simply fun and enjoyable, they can provide deep insight and understanding to our lives ad problems. Modern social and judicial trends point an ill deserved finger at many intoxicants, the general understanding is that in recreational drug use is unnecessarily vilified.

Our ancestors did not share our hang ups with drug use. In fact they had some crazily unique ways to get high. They did it for many of the same reasons we do now: it’s fun, helps you grow and think differently and specifically triggers spiritual growth. They alos did it for religious, prophetic and social ceremonies, like the coming of age.

Anadenanthera: The DMT Bean

This bean is found in the grasslands of Latin America. When dried and crushed into into a powder it is snorted through the nose. It has properties similar to that of of Ayahuasca.

Henbane

Known as ‘Black Henbane’, this plant can grow just about anywhere through out Asia, Europe, North Africa and has migrated to North America. Considered to be poisonous to humans and animals, the plant is part of the nightshade family. A strong sedative that was primarily served orally as a drink, it can be absorbed through just about any membrane.

It is easily spotted and grows in many terrains. If you find some, be careful as the plant is poisonous and can lead to death. There is a theory that henbane was the poison that was poured into Hamlet’s father’s ear, killing him.

Belladonna

A witch’s ointment, it got it’s name from one of the main ingredients: the plant belladonna or ‘deadly nightshade’. It is poisonous in high doses but in moderation and topically applied it was a very effective localized painkiller.

LSA & The Eleusinian Mysteries

Every year a cult of the Gods Demeter and Persephone held secretive initiations wee call the Eleusinian Mysteries. One of the more historically famous cults, its roots can be traced to the Mycenean Period (1600-1100BC). The ceremony represented Persephone being kidnapped by Hades in a particular cycle, the descent (loss), the search (trails), and the ascent (enlightenment).

The ‘secret initiations’ were kept a well guarded secret. It is believed that the initiated believed they would be rewarded in the afterlife. They would drink an elixer that contained a powerfully hallucinogenic fungus. The active ingredient, D-lysergic acid amide (LSA) is very similar to LSD.

Betel Nut

Also known as areca seeds, people can be seen chewing on them through out Asia. The nut is used similarly to chewing tobacco. Tucked in a lip, it acts like a low grade stimulant. A very popular recreational drug it is the cause for the region’s unusually high rate of oral cancer.

Khat

Found in the Horn of Africa,  the leaves are harvested and chewed. The active ingredient is Cathinone, is a stimulant and provides the user energy and feelings of euphoria. Cathonine is used as an ingredient for bath salts. Khat is publicly used and there is no strong stigma attached. The British tried to ban khat in the 20’s but Somalian immigrants brought is back into use.

Ibogaine

This drug is found in a shrub, Tabernanthe Iboga, indigenous to West Africa. It is a stimulant similar to khat but much stronger. It has been used for centuries as a spiritual tool in many rituals and practices. It is referred to as ‘Africa’s Ayahuasca’.

Peyote

Found in North America, this bitter cactus was eaten and served as a drink by many native people. It has been used in spiritual practices for at least 5,500 years. Used for medicinal and spiritual reasons the powerful hallucination is now more commonly used in recreation, though it still has a place in certain rituals.

Check this out!, Discoveries, Inspirational, Science

These Bees Were Taught How To Make Honey Out Off Marijuana

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A 39 year old Frenchman beekeeper has made a break through in bee training. He has been training his bees for the last 20 years, to make  honey out of anything.

“I have trained bees to do several things, such as collect sugar from fruits, instead of using flowers,” he explains.

Not just fruits and flowers though, medical grade cannabis as well! He calls himself, Nicolas Trainerbees, and he has gotten a lot publicity on the web since figuring how to get the bees to collect this ‘canna-honey’. His passion for nature and and her remedies is fairly impressive. He trains the bees to collect the resin of the plant, since their enzymes turn nectar of sugar into honey.

The result is a unique honey with properties of wild honey, and cannabis. The cannahoney is very floral in scent, and doesn’t need to be smoked. The bees will copy the results to any strain, the process will look the same.

The bees sadly don’t get high as they lack the endocannabinoid system to process the cannabis. They see it as another food source.

Inspirational, Spirituality

9 Subjects Our Teachers Should Teach In Schools

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The amount of information and general news of the ongoing activities of humanity are growing exponentially. Schools are under more and more pressure to keep up with the intellectual volume. As we focus on teaching our children facts and statistics, we neglect methodologies that encourage common sense. While wisdom can’t be taught, it can be encouraged. There are general facts that every student should learn about the value of time and interpersonal connections. Here are some suggestions for new lines of study.

The 80/20 Rule

This rule states that eighty percent of the ‘value’ you get out of life will come from a mere twenty percent of your activities. This is known as the Pareto Principle.  This makes sense, as most of the day to day activities we preform are mundane and fulfilling.

If you start to dissect your time and diagnose what is the twenty percent that gives you happiness and fulfillment, you can start to re arrange how you spend your time. Re prioritizing the activities of your life will help you get more fulfillment out of your day to day.

Parkinson’s Law

This law talks about how the difficulty of your tasks increases depending on how long we have to find a solution. So if you are made aware of a problem and give yourself to find a week to find a solution, it will be harder to find an answer than if you gave yourself a day. So cut down the amount of time you give yourself to make a decision. this will also give you more time to implement the answer.

First Give Value, And You’ll Get Value

Today many want something for nothing. This isn’t how life works. You more you put into a relationship, your job, or your workout routine, the more gratifying the results of your labors.  With this in mind your should always try to do your best in every situation  and be genuine in your actions. This will provide the maximum yield of ‘results’.

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

If you spend your life reacting to life’s baseballs and obstacles you will never ‘move forward’ in your life. Simply reacting to life ensures that you will never progress with your growth. You will never learn to keep an eye on the events in your life. Because you are waiting for life to prompt responses, you will be waiting around a lot.

A reactive life style also means that you will be continually dependent on external forces for everything. Life is about cultivating internal resources. While it is wise to take advantage of events as they unfold, you should not rely on them.

Mistakes and Failures Are A Good Thing

If you never make mistakes this means that you are not trying anything new or pushing the limits. Mistakes are only mistakes because we frame the scenario’s success in with our intended goals. While we weren’t able to achieve that specific end, we did successfully reach many unintended goals that we weren’t aware of.

We choose to focus on what wasn’t attained. Even in this perspective, our failures reveal more about us and our abilities than success will. When we ‘fail’ at something we are more inclined to look at the scenario as a whole. We can use this experience this learn much about ourselves and grow for the better.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

We not only choose the baggage we carry with us but we are the only ones who can torment ourselves. We frequently project onto institutions and people around us. We say that this person makes us feel bad, but in reality we hand people the power to influence us in this way.

You deserve forgiveness and love, no matter what. If a choice or scenario is or has caused you discomfort and pain, how is you prostrating yourself helping your current happiness? Forgive yourself, learn and move forward. It’s one of the two choices you have in dealing with the past. This is the only productive one.

Assume Rapport

Meeting new people can be difficult and awkward, but only if you make it so. Don’t let your fears or insecurities project onto this new character in your life. While using common sense, treat everyone the same as you would an old friend.

There is common ground between everyone, and every one wants genuine encounters with others. Small talk can be stressful so avoid it, talk about real elements in one another’s lives. Assume this desire to enjoy new and sincere personalities in everyone you meet. This will speed up the ‘getting to know you’ phase and avoid embarrassing and awkward moments.

Comparative Thought Is A Trap

Comparative thought is a natural line of thought. How ever there are different ways to understand and appreciate differences in ideas and people with out comparing. If you use comparative thought to bring you happiness then you will always depend on external forces to dictate your mood. Most ‘understandings’ of other people are projections on our parts or lies that person is using to hide aspects of themselves.

While a person may explain their feelings and desires, but no matter how thorough the dissection of personal formations, it will always be incomplete.

Expectations Are Never Helpful

Expectations can provide feelings of security against the chilling unknown.  These feelings are always followed by that of disappointment  and sadness. Events never unfold exactly as we plan or hope. Even if you try to create expectations that are entirely objective, you create form these formations off limited information. We can only comprehend a limited slice of the infinite possibilities.

The inherent limitations of our imaginations and knowledge make it so we can (thankfully) not predict the future. In fact the attempt to do so closes our minds and spirits to the wild  inclinations of the known. Often the path we walk is limited only by our own perceptions. Don’t give you ego or insecurities the power of limiting the potential of your future.