I’m an Empath – Now What?
January 27, 2012 | 
Author Has anyone ever said “you have a trusting face?” Do you find yourself listening with ease to other people’s problems? Do strangers easily share intimate secrets? If so, you probably have gone through life being more affected by other peoples’ energies than you realize.
As an empath, you are someone who has been hard-wired, from birth, to perceive and experience the thoughts, emotions, physical sensitivities, and spiritual urges of other persons. It is much more than being a highly sensitive person, and not limited to just emotions. For you, it can be like living an episode of Star Trek! You don’t even have to try and you just know the motivations and intentions of other people.
You cannot change the fact that you are an empath. It is akin to your eye color. You either are or you’re not. Being an empath is not teachable; it’s not something to learn. However, you can learn to become a skilled empath and manage your empath nature. Hopefully you have, or will now, make it your intention to modify the intensity of the empath experience through adaptive means (meditation, movement, grounding, wearing protective stones). However, it is quite common for empaths to modify the feelings through not-so-adaptive means (alcohol, drugs, addictions). If you fall into that category, it is completely understandable and you are not alone! Almost every empath whom I have encountered has, at one point or another, sought to alter their mood through addictions.
The definition of being an empath means you are always “on,” constantly available to process other people’s feelings and energy. As an empath, you have a gift, or in many cases, what may feel like a serious curse! For now, let’s set aside any notions of judgement. Even if it feels like an overwhelming burden, which it certainly is at times, our responsibility as an empath is to ourselves first, others second. So with that in mind, let’s focus on how we can take responsibility for managing our energetic sensitivity.
Beware, though. Identifying and recognizing yourself as an empath may give you a charge. It may cause lingering sensations of relief, bordering on giddyness. You will come to understand that as an empath you are not alone.
So with that in mind, let’s talk about what I have found are 5 of the most helpful methods of keeping yourself clean, strong, and healthy as an empath, free of the negative energetic influences of others.
1. REFRAME YOUR MENTAL OUTLOOK
Being an empath is indeed a burden at times. To be maximally effective, we must do what counselors call reframing, that is, changing our mental outlook so there is no room for blame. We can do very little to change our currently inherited genetic characteristics (although I believe that prayer from a sincere heart can change the past, present, and future. But that’s a whole other story for another book!).
Somewhere along the line, it is my belief, and my personal belief only, that empaths have agreed to help come to the Earth in this time of tremendous social, political, and environmental transition to be the “vacuum cleaners.” Empaths are the ones whose task it is to clean up the suffering that we individually and collectively created in the past. This is a personal outlook that serves to help put my gifts in perspective. It also helps to promote what I believe to be my serious responsibility to myself and others. And whether or not you choose to view your empathic nature in these terms is ultimately up to you.
As empaths, It is helpful to take a close look at our personal narrative. What are the stories that we tell ourselves as we wash dishes or peel potatoes? If we believe in a story that we need protection from evil spirits or negative energy, then we more likely set ourselves up for the manifesting of that scenario. As empaths, we understand what’s it’s like to be knocked around by other people’s energy. However, I don’t think that it’s maximally effective to focus on just protection. If we focus instead on how to maintain a strong healthy aura, any negative energies will be naturally and automatically dispelled. Negative energy cannot exist in the presence of light. To use a sports or political metaphor, it’s a question of whether you want to be on offense or defense. Focusing on promoting positive strengths is almost always more effective than a mental outlook that’s designed to protect your empath energy from invasion. That said, it is absolutely true that empaths need protection – we just don’t want to overdo it.
2. USE PROTECTING STONES AND WEAR A MEDICINE KIT
Stones have been known for their healing and protective properties for thousands of years. Stones are the oldest material on the earth, they are living creatures who offer their medicine to us if we will use it. Stones can be worn by carrying a medicine pouch around your neck or by wearing stone jewelry. I have found that the three best repellants for negative energy are Tourmaline, Onyx and Obsidian. Just like you, your stones must be cleaned regularly. I clean my stones usually every few days, depending on the intensity of my daily empath interactions. Give your stones at least 2-3 hours of direct sunlight in a crystal or glass bowl filled with sea salt and water. If you can’t get access to sunlight, run them under some tap water. It does almost as good a job.
3. USE NEW TECHNOLOGY
The first products that deserve mention are far infrared lightwave (heat) producing mats that penetrate deep into the body. I own a massage-table size product called the Amethyst BioMat that I have found indispensable in cleaning out energy. I lay on it every day when I feel energy accumulation. It uses far infrared heat, coupled with negative ions and the healing power of Amethyst, to increase blood circulation, thus producing an artificial fever in which the body‘s immune system is stimulated. As you relax on top of the warm Amethyst, toxins are scrubbed away in as little as 30 minutes a day.
The second set of empath products worth looking into are the Electromagnetic field (EMF) protectors now on the market. It has been my experience that finding the right EMF protector for one’s unique energetic makeup can be hit or miss. I tried several products without success before finding the EarthCalm pendant. It’s a scalar resonance electric circuit which grounds one to the Earth’s energy field. I could feel the energy swirling in my field the moment I put it on. It is really crucial to understand that everyone’s energy system is different. Some products, including the Earthcalm, may actually do the opposite of what they are intended to do and make your sensitivity even more pronounced. The Q-Link pendant is another option that many empaths have reported successful. I do not sell any of these products. I list them simply because I have found them to be helpful in my own experience and that of my clients.
4. MOVE!
Exercise and movement in any form are great ways for empaths to move out old energy and pull in fresh energy. Martial arts and yoga are two of the best methods for an empath. Even a simple movement of one’s arm might be enough, or even a simple acknowledgment that your wrist hurts. The body responds to our focused attention in-kind.
If you are intimidated by the concept of martial arts, then try yoga, Tai Chi, or a user-friendly practice such as Nia, which is now emerging worldwide. I certainly wouldn’t be as effective without my daily Nia practice. Nia is a practice that re-trains the nervous system by combining a series of intentional, healing body postures with the power of dance and yoga. I find it to be the most joyful and playful experience of every day.
5. PROGRAM YOUR BRAIN WITH AFFIRMATIONS AND PRAYER.
Actual physical voicing of particular words and sounds produce a powerful effect in our empath energy fields. In the coaching work that I do with empaths, this is known as neuro-linguistic programming. The brain and body are programmed to produce good feelings with the repeating of certain mantras, words, or phrases. The process is designed to stimulate the empath nervous system into intentionally producing the actual energetic vibrations and feelings of peace, happiness, joy, and tranquility. I have a CD/mp3 album called The Empath Experience available on Amazon if you are interested further in this topic.
When you become a conscious empath, you will dramatically reduce your stress and anxiety, improve your mental outlook, improve relationships, and lead to a freedom and liberation previously unknown. You will be able to create joy where none was before present. In situations where you previously felt trapped, you now can bring in positive energy to change situations. You’ll begin to light up other people’s lives in a new way, and fulfill your destiny as an empath to help others. All of these skills take practice. With time, they will come more naturally. At some point, you will reach a tipping point; a critical point where your awareness exceeds your unconsciousness. It takes work on yourself to get to this place. Some empaths go all their lives and never reach it, but only for lack of will. If your will is strong enough, you will reach a place of emotional maturity and become a skilled empath.
From a Nurse-Using Coconut Oil as a Treatment For Eczema
Sometimes one has to resort to alternative, natural eczema treatment methods to get the best cure or results for their eczema problem. And often it’s a better choice, due to less exposure to drugs and chemical-laden products.
It should always be the first treatment to consider when you want to take the best care of your skin.
First of all, eczema and dermatitis are often referring to the same thing in the medical world. They cover a variety of inflammations of the most outer portion of the skin. There are three different, broad types of eczema.
The type of eczema depends on the cause and where it occurs on the body. The types are basically, allergies, rashes, and nutritional deficiencies. The eczemas include atopic, dyshidrotic and nummular eczema.
Naturally you’ll want to eliminate any internal cause of eczema as in non-contact allergies, rashes, and nutritional deficiencies.
For local causes of eczema such as contact dermatitis, you want to avoid having your skin come into contact with the offending item.
It could be jewelry, perfumes, chemicals in any cosmetics, shellac in mascara, lipstick, nickel, lotions, soaps, fabric softener sheets, pesticides from contact around the mouth, latex gloves, etc.
I’m assuming here that you already have a diagnosis of eczema.
The best thing I’ve found to heal eczema is extra virgin coconut oil. It works better than eczema creams, which are usually chemical-laden products, whether for babies, teens or adults.
Make sure you’re working on eliminating the cause of your eczema, whether internal or external, which we won’t go into here.
Extra virgin coconut oil has helped many I know to help heal the skin. Ultimately, of course, the immune system and body do the healing if you were to do nothing, but coconut oil can speed up the process.
If you also have acne it’ll treat acne too and is better than most chemical acne products.
You want to make sure you get the extra virgin type that is not refined, bleached or deodorized. You can order it online.
Whole food-type markets are carrying more coconut oil, in pint and quart jars and especially the extra virgin coconut oil. Get the organic kind if you can.
Coconut oil cures many other skin conditions and skin disorders too, besides making the skin soft and smooth. I use it for everything including as a make-up remover and under my foundation. My skin is always soft, silky, smooth, and free of rashes, bumps, blemishes, blisters, etc.
It stops itching and flaking too.
Coconut oil is very inexpensive therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Keep it around to treat any other skin problem. It’s actually healthy to eat too. It’s a plant saturated fat, not an animal saturated fat.
I add two big tablespoons to my smoothies, to help my skin from the inside out too, and have been doing so for many years.
Although we refer to it as coconut oil, it isn’t actually oil until the temperature climbs above 77 degrees. It can be applied when it is in the oil-state or non-oil state.
To apply the extra virgin coconut oil, massage it deep into the affected area. You can heat it if you like but you don’t have to. Depending on how severe the eczema is, apply it three or four times a day or more and especially at bedtime.
It’s important to keep the area moist with the oil. You may have to apply a loose bandage to your skin, soaked with the oil. If the eczema is on your hands, you’ll have to apply it even more often.
Also you can expose the area to direct sunlight for 20 minutes or so each day. You’ll get your daily dose of vitamin D that way too.
Many have used coconut oil as a treatment to cure or heal their eczema or their baby’s eczema.
It just takes motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times each day and at bedtime.
And your eczema and its symptoms, providing you’ve removed the cause, should go away. Continue using coconut oil and good clear skin will be your reward.
Why Is Body By Vi Better Than Other Diets?
For those of you who have been looking to lose weight fast, you have probably tried every weight loss plan out there. There are many out there and while there are some that allow you to lose weight, there are some that are just a scam. From pills to cookies, you have tied them all and have failed or have not gotten the results you wanted. The newest weight loss trend to hit the market is called the Body By Vi 90 day challenge. This diet plan is a great new way to lose weight.
There are many of you who are wondering what makes the Body By Vi weight loss plan different that all the other plans out there that promise you will lose weight? There are a few things that make this diet plan different from the rest.
This weight loss plan was designed to help you achieve results rather quickly. This is why most people on this plan remain motivated. You lose weight both safely and steadily each and every week. The main component to this diet is the Vi Shape Shake along with the other products found with this diet plan. The ingredients that are found in the shake are very hard to get in plain foods. If you compared all the nutrients found in these shakes it would equal to well over $100 worth of groceries.
Another thing these shakes contain are nutrients to help with other health benefits. Heart health is promoted as well as joint health, digestive health, energy is increased, and your appetite is curbed as well as nutrient absorption. There are many more things these Body By Vi shakes can do for your body. This makes it different from other dietary plans. Not all dietary plans can do all of this. Moist of them leave you tired and feeling hungry in a short period of time of eating.
Christmas and Holiday Party Fashion Tips
Have you given any thought to what you are going to wear to the holiday parties this year?
An invitation to a special Christmas or New Year’s Eve party can strike fear in the hearts of the most fashion-conscious among us – to say nothing of the fashion-impaired.
Finding the perfect outfit should not cause a grown woman to cry – even though socially the decision ranks right up there with what to wear to an ex’s wedding or the prom.
There are several big mistakes that women make most often:
1. Trying to impress with the latest style even if the style is not meant for someone their age/body shape/personality – they often succeed only in looking foolish or as if they are desparately clinging to their youth.
2. Overkill – wearing all of your jewelry at once or wearing your lowest-cut dress with your nosebleed-high heels.
3. Dressing too sexy to be appropriate for the occasion – office holiday parties are not the place to try out that plunging neckline or up-to-here skirt.
4. Making no effort at all – wearing picnic casual to a black and white New Year’s Eve ball.
When choosing attire for a party try to pick something your will feel comfortable in, something that will get you compliments for your taste in color, style or fabric. When you try your outfit on try to imagine the color photos making the e-mail rounds next week.
One great option is to pick a fairly plain dress in basic black or holiday red and let your accessories do the hard work. Add one show-stopping piece of jewelry like a gorgeous long strand of pearls or a sparkly Christmas-themed brooch. Carry a beautiful beaded handbag or wear a contrasting festive scarf or cape-like coat.
Pay special attention to your lingerie – a little undercover help can also totally change an outfit. Try a minimizer bra if you are too well endowed or a push-up or padded bra if you need a LITTLE cleavage to accent your dress. Almost any body shape can benefit from a smoothing undergarment just to straighten out lines and bulges and give a polished look to your outfit.
Don’t forget your make-up. This is a great time to pamper yourself at a department store beauty counter on the afternoon of the party for a make-over or splurge at a local spa. Professionally applied make-up can light up your face and people will remember your feeling and glow of self-confidence and beauty.
A party is a perfect place to try a little bit of a new style but do not go overboard – after all, you hope you were invited for your sparkling conversation and contribution to the group, not as window dressing.
Selling Gold Jewelry Tips – Tips to Get the Most Money For Your Gold
When I first started looking for selling gold jewelry tips, I came across a lot of confusing information, and quite frankly, I found a lot of garbage out there. My goal is to help you identify the resources that will help you get the most money for your gold jewelry if you are deciding to sell your jewelry for extra cash during these very difficult economic times. These are not tips to help you get the most money if you are looking to pawn your precious items. These tips will help you navigate some of the different options that you have when looking for the best place to sell your gold.
Tip Number 1
Think twice before selling your unwanted gold to pawn shops. Why, because this type of gold buyer is simply a middle-man that is making a profit off of your gold. The pawn shop will make the lowest offer possible for your gold so his profits will be maximized when the gold is resold to a refinery. I have absolutely nothing against pawn shops. Finding great buys in local pawn shops has been a hobby of mine for many years. If you want to find a great used home theater system, bicycle or lawnmower, go to a pawn shop and I am most certain that you will find a great buy for items like these. But if you are wanting to sell your gold and actually make a real profit, consider other options before selling your gold items to a pawn shop.
Tip Number 2
Hesitate before you run to your local jeweler to sell your unwanted gold. If you have a very nice piece of gold jewelry that is well made and has a lot of value as being a crafted piece of precious metal, then a jewelry store may be your best option. But if you have broken gold earrings or unwanted various gold items, local jewelry stores simply have no real interest in re-selling those types items. They may be willing to buy your scrap gold, but they are just not going to offer you very much money.
Tip Number 3
Think about finding an online gold buyer. If you have not heard of this type of gold buyer, let me fill you in on how they work. Typically you will navigate to their website where you will enter your information to receive a free mailing kit so you can send them your unwanted gold by mail. The different online gold buyers call it different things and describe it in different ways, but they basically offer the same service. Their overheads are low and many of them actually don’t advertise a whole lot. Since their advertising costs and other overheads are low, they typically offer a higher cash payout for your gold than pawn shops or jewelry stores. Yep, it’s as simple as that.
Objects That Are Blessed, Objects That Are Cursed – Do You Own Things That Are Harming You?
Has life been more difficult since you brought back that painting from the garage sale? Is your family bickering more since you inherited your aunt’s silverware? Are you having problems sleeping since placing that antique dresser in your bedroom? Is it harder to concentrate at your desk since bringing that souvenir from the Far East to your office? If you find yourself having unexplained moodiness, depression, inability to concentrate, anger or are having unusual thoughts come into your head that are not your own, you may own something that is triggering it.
Can objects really influence how a person feels or acts? Yes, it happens dozens of times a day in your life now – and discernment is needed to differentiate between an outside influence on an object, and what is simply your own emotion about it. What does this mean? It means we need to be careful about what we imply to an object, and what is actually emanating out from it by itself. For example, when you open a photo album and see a picture of your previous husband, you may feel betrayal or loss. That’s your own feelings and memories stimulated by the trigger of looking at the photo – there is nothing actually coming from the picture trying to influence you to think that way. However, you are now adding your own energy and emotion to the photo for future times that it is seen again. What?! Yes, without even knowing it we influence objects around us every day, with positive or negative overlays.
There are two different kinds of influences on objects – energy dustings and persuaded influences. Energy dustings are on everything, and we contribute to them every moment of our lives. We can choose to make these participations joyful, happy and peaceful, thus raising the light and love we feel in our surroundings. This is truly the meaning of making a house a home, and our neighborhood a beloved home town. Or, we can carry a storm cloud over our head and dust everything around us with that. Remember these dustings not only affect places, but people and animals too. Have you ever walked into a room where an argument has just occurred? The tension in the air may feel so thick you could cut it with a knife; you may also get a headache, or feel anxious. How strong a person may feel these dustings depends on their own sensitivities. Some people may have to stop and really focus to decipher what they are feeling, while others and small children are naturally built for receiving input, whether it feels good or bad.
Especially with our children it is beneficial to make sure their surroundings are as peaceful as possible. For example, it will definitely make a difference to mood and personality if your baby is trying to sleep in a previously-owned crib used by a child who was constantly screaming because of health problems or feeling the marital problems of his parents. Whenever possible, for yourself and your children, know the history behind an object before you bring it home. And remember that bringing items into your house in its natural state from the environment carries the energy dusting of the One who created it, which will always be wonderful. This means decorating your home with pinecones, natural plants, interesting stones or driftwood, using creek water over a rock fountain, playing recorded nature sounds from birds – all these created and unadulterated items are Divinely made and will greatly raise the positive energy in a room. Be imaginative and invent a few things of your own – perhaps under your desk place a tray of sea sand for your toes to dig in while you work, or use shells as soap dishes.
The history and energy dusting behind an item may also be wonderful – and that is an object to appreciate, enjoy and pass along. Perhaps it is a piece of grandmother’s jewelry that was a beloved token of appreciation given at her 70th birthday party, which made her smile with pride and happiness each time she put it on. Or a hand-carved game board that has seen excitement and family interaction for 40 years. Not all old things are bad, and not all new things are good. What? Can a person actually buy a new thing that carries problems? Yes, both old and new objects can have influences willfully attached to them.
A persuaded influence is placed on an object on purpose, by someone for a specific intention and outcome. It is not an energy dusting that occurs just because it is in proximity, it is much different. When an object is utilized as a trigger, it can be for good or for bad. For example, in the scriptures we see blessed objects that God allowed to be used for touchstones for healing and exorcisms. “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19:11,12) These objects received a blessing because the person who carried them was blessed, and the anointing carried through to objects to help people through the persuaded influence of God himself.
Today there are many things that carry God’s blessing with a permanent anointing on them, no matter when they brought into existence, even when they are made with imperfections through the simple hands of humankind. Some of these are crosses and crucifixes, and renderings of the Holy words. Other objects may carry a blessing on them because a person of faith asks God to place one there, through answered prayer. Also, a person may be blessed, such as when they choose to step up for priestly ordination, which carries a God-anointing that allows blessings to be done for more specific outcomes, such as creating anointing oil, Holy water, blessed wine and communion. There are many positive things any of us can do, because as children of God, we all have different gifts, and with each of those gifts come additional blessings, such as healing or the gift of miracles. But a hands-on ordination is a timeless gift of special blessing that God allows for both men and women, and he blesses the office not the imperfections of the one carrying it out. On our part, it shows our heart’s motivation to step forward in the work and expand. On God’s part it gives us a different arrangement with him and the Holy Angels. Basically when we receive this blessing we acquire more Angelic heavy-hitters to help us, and our ability to hear and be heard increases. This is necessary for most deliverances, all exorcisms, most hauntings, and many specific blessings such as land and air blessings and making sacred ground. Also, many times a person may have more darkness against them than they are aware of, or their faith is not strong enough on their own; and they need an ordained person to help to break generational bondage, curses, hexes, spells, incantations, negative prayers or evil intent sent against them.
Now, knowing this, realize that some people spend a lot of time and energy dedicating objects not for blessings, but for the opposite of that. In some cases, these people have sought out dark forces, and attach themselves to unHoly Angels through demonic rites and rituals. More have dedicated themselves and selected objects through customs and traditions where they unknowingly apply for connection to these fallen Angels, and for generation after generation the negative cycle may continue to influence a family, a company, a village or even an entire region. Beyond the local area, a person anywhere around the world may be manipulated since the Internet allows us to purchase anything from anywhere and bring it straight into our homes. These objects may be large, beautiful and expensive so that a person may be more inclined to keep them and take too lightly problems associated with them. Or they may be small and easy to carry and even considered a keepsake or “good luck” charm, or a common souvenir of the area. They may be family heirlooms passed from generation to generation, especially prized in places of poverty. Individual craftsmen or family companies may have performed an opening ceremony or offered a dedication upon every item created through them, and whether knowingly or unknowingly did it in such a way to offer the unHoly Angels free reign and connection over thousands of objects. Although it only takes once for an object to be cursed or willfully dedicated for the use of the unHoly Angels, the manipulation, heartache, illness and destruction from these unHoly objects can continue on for centuries, with future owners not knowing any prior history of the item at all, and meanwhile suffering from the effects.
It is not just third world countries or certain cultures that seek to benefit themselves by negatively influencing the products they make. Some objects are willfully manipulated by people in companies who are more interested in the bottom line than anything else. And while some do seek out unHoly ways to influence their product line, most are negative energy dustings designed to make an unhealthy or unnecessary product desirable to buy, and then to break shortly after purchase or the warranty has expired so that another item must be bought to replace it. While not as detrimental as persuaded influence, these energy dustings lower the happiness in a home and can cost thousands of dollars in replacement and repair bills.
If energy dustings happen from the strong emotions that people feel, how many things in our home have a dusting? Simply everything. If you are eating carrots, how many hands has that gone through? Let’s say the people in control of the carrot company have good motives, choose to grow organically, and try to have a good relationship with all its employees. But what about the receptionist who just lost her father, or the worker in the field who is suicidal, or the truck driver who is exhausted and angry, or the grocer who is frustrated, or the hundreds of people that pass though the vegetable aisle? All these are adding their dusting to the carrots that you are going to eat and feed to your family. Think of it this way – let’s say the carrot on its own like a glass of clear water, with nothing added to it, neither sweet nor sour. Because of the original beneficial desires of the company, sweetness is added to the water, a full three tablespoons of sugar is stirred in. But because of several negative emotions along the way, several drops of vinegar have also been added, and now what is served at your table is not as healthy or tasty as what it could be. And if the vinegar content is high enough, it could even make your body and spirit ill. We started our example with a good company, but many do not add any “sugar” at all. But our original company could have done better too – a priest could have been asked to come out and do a land blessing over the company and the fields. This would promote positive energy dustings and ask for God’s guidance and blessing on the produce, which in effect adds a perfect amount of sweetness to the water, and more importantly dissipates and nullifies any interference of vinegar added along the way.
And this is the key to removing any negative energy dusting to anything we own – blessing it. What happens when you enter a totally dark room and strike a match? Although the darkness is in volume thousands of times greater than the light, the darkness cannot put out the candle. And the more light we add, the more shadows flee from the light, because light and dark cannot be in the same place at the same time. All of us are sparks off the Divine flame – anyone can pray for a blessing, and choose to be a candle in the dark place. And the more we have chosen love over fear in our own lives and invited God in to illuminate our way, the brighter our faith and prayers are – and we become much more than a candle, but a brilliant chandelier reflecting light into every nook and crevice until darkness cannot survive anywhere.
Prayer changes things. When we pray a blessing over our food and water, it changes its qualities and any negative energy dusting on it disappears. Prayer is a gift that God gives to persuade a positive and Divine influence, and our energy expands beyond anything we could do on our own. In this way, our brilliant chandelier now reflects the rays of the magnificent sun. Ask a blessing over your medications, over any objects that you purchase or are given, over your car, over your animals, over people, over places and things you pass by – be a mobile instrument of transformation, a walking instrument of prayer. Funny thing about giving love, you receive it back even more so – including feeling more peace, contentment, confidence and joy!
How does a person ask for a blessing? Although there are specific prayers available for many things, most of the time those are only needed by priests when the deeper work is called for. What is in your heart? This is what God desires to hear; words that come from your soul, in your empathy, from your compassion, in your longing for things to be good, for light to expand, for love to win the war. And because of your free will desire to interact with God for the transformation to take place, you become an instrument in his hand for change. Even many negative persuaded influences (curses) can be broken this way by an un-ordained person of faith. If the prayer is done with respect for Jesus, no matter what religion you are your prayer has much more authority and power open to it.
At times it may be difficult to discern between a generational bondage passed down through family lines and effects from items that are owned which are cursed. Generational bondage is a problem that comes down through family lines and can be of any nature, physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. It is often attributed to genetics or family history, and is an attachment on the family members themselves and not what they own. This can start by a distant family member dabbling or involved in the black arts, or a curse placed upon them by someone who was. It can be recognized by a repetition of different things, for example; generation after generation of failed business ventures, or every man in the family having a stroke before turning 50, or mental depression passed from grandmother to mother to daughter. Although a person can say the specific prayer for breaking generational bondage for themselves, most of the time a priest is needed. There are also beautiful and powerful prayers called The Divine Decrees which are perfect words to help all of us align with Angelic guidance and protection, and are given to us just for this time of world shift. Many of these are specific for different blessings, and powerful transformations have been documented from reading them.
If the prayers have been said and instead of a cleansing the word comes back that it is best to destroy the object in question, or a feeling of uncleanness or confusion still permeates the item, then total destruction of the object must occur. Remember that the unHoly Angels are smart and can choose to lie dormant with an object for a long time, or turn off and on the problems emanating from it. It cannot be simply given away or thrown away. If it is of metal or other difficult to destroy material, it still has to be made unusable by anyone. If it is of wood or other malleable material, cut it up or burn it in a safe place. Then, no matter what it is, bury it in the ground. If you have access to Holy water, or can get it from a church, making the sign of the cross upon the ground after burial is a good idea. Blessed salt can be used for the same thing. Do not allow yourself to be doubtful, fearful or to put off destruction of the object after the item is recognized for what it is, for some are even used as objects for portals, and your troubles may multiply since the unHoly Angels now know they have been exposed and have limited time to cause harm. Sometimes odd things happen when destroying such an object, because the demons do not want to have their object harmed, and will try to cause fearful sounds or sights around the person who is destroying the object. If you do not feel you have strong enough faith to do what is required, giving the item to a priest or a person of great faith is the better choice. God simply wants to bless you, and have your family and surroundings a place of peace. He gifts people with different abilities to help him help one another, so do not feel that giving the object to another to destroy it is overall weakness – it is strength on your part to recognize it and to put into motion the end of it.
Today we live at a time of complete accessibility to items from all over the world. All of these objects are dusted by the high energy emotions of people they come into contact with. Some are contaminated by willful dedication to negative influences, and become items that wreck havoc to the lives and well being of their owners. Prayer cleanses and transforms most of these items into Godly touchstones of health, light and love. Discernment is needed to differentiate between an outside influence on an object, and what is simply a person’s own emotion about it. Discernment is also needed to identify and destroy objects that cannot be cleansed. A priest may be called upon for specific blessings that are required in some situations, while at other times a person of faith may be able to do many blessings themselves. We can choose to bless people, places and things through prayerful affection, and not pass on objects of affliction. All of us are in control of how our surroundings influence us and our family, and there are positive things we can do every day to make our house a blessed home of peace, joy and love.
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Cure For Itchy Scalp
So you’re looking for a cure for itchy scalp? Well, the good news is that, in most cases, an itchy scalp can be cured and soothed quite easily with a simple home remedy.
What Caused My Itchy Scalp?
An itchy scalp can be an irritating and annoying affliction and, without treatment, can become increasingly worse. Although there are many possible reasons for an itchy scalp, a lot of the time these days it can be due to the harsh chemicals placed in many of the off-the-shelf shampoos and conditioners on the market. These chemicals can dry out the skin, stripping it of its natural oils and thereby causing an itchy, flaky scalp. One of the worst of these chemicals is Sodium Laureth Sulphate – commonly known as SLS which is an aggressive cleaning and foaming agent commonly used as an engine degreaser. SLS has been proven to strip oils from and prematurely age your skin, damage eye membranes, retard healing, inhibit hair follicle growth and more, yet it’s added to 90% of shampoos! Silicone is another harmful chemical used as an artificial shine enhancer in many leading brand conditioners.
Reactions to perm chemicals,and hair dye allergies are also very common these days. If you’ve recently been to the hairdressers and are suffering from an itchy scalp, this could be the reason, although they should always patch test any products before applying them to your scalp.
Other possible reasons could be stress brought on by exhaustion or emotional tension, an allergic skin reaction (contact dermatitis), viral infections, such as chickenpox and shingles or a skin condition, such as acne.
A fungus like Ringworm (tinea capitis) could also be causing your itchy scalp. Ringworm is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp and is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. Ringworm of the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump, and tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. Over time, it may begin to look like a ring or a series of rings with raised, bumpy, scaly borders (the center is often clear), but not every person who’s infected develops the rings.
How Can I Cure My Itchy Scalp?
There are loads of natural cures. Here I’ll show you some of the best..
A quick cure for itchy scalp can be made at home by using a combination or Rosemary and Chamomile:
Get 3 sprigs of rosemary, chop them up and add to 3 tea bags of chamomile tea
Boil gently, let cool, and strain
Rinse your hair with this liquid for a calming anti-inflammatory effect for an inflamed, itchy or sore scalp
Fenugreek seeds are excellent for getting rid of dandruff:
Take 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and soak overnight in water
In the morning grind the soft seeds into a fine paste
Apply this paste all over scalp and leave for half an hour
Rinse off thoroughly with soap nut solution
A teaspoon of lime juice on the last rinse will work wonders
It is important to keep the hair and scalp clean so as to avoid the build up of dead cells which will only aggravate the itchy scalp problem.
I would recommend trying to replace your current shampoo with a natural one, like a Tea Tree Oil based shampoo. Tea Tree Oil is a fantastic anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory natural ingredient which will help to soothe your itchy scalp and prevent infections. Other great natural oils to look out for when choosing a shampoo or conditioner are Zinc Pyrithione and Jojoba. Zinc pyrithione is great at combating dandruff and as a cure for itchy scalp conditions.
First synthesized in the 1930′s, it is the most widely used active ingredient from a natural source. Having good anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties it’s used to treat dandruff, itchy scalp, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. Jojoba is excellent as a scalp moisturizer and helps to re-balance sebum.
The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. The most effective way to brush the hair is to bend forward from the waist with the head down towards the ground, and brush from the nape of the neck towards the top of the head. Short or shoulder-length hair can be brushed right from the roots to the ends in one stroke. In the case of long hair, two strokes would be best to avoid stretching the hair.
The scalp should also be massaged thoroughly daily, to improve circulation, remove excess dirt and dead skin cells, and encourage hair growth. For a proper massage, spread your fingers fanwise and slip them through the hair. With your thumb pressed behind your ears, press down on your scalp with your fingertips. Now rotate your fingers so that they move the scalp over the bony structure of the head. You will feel your skin move and the scalp tingle. Move up an inch at a time until you have covered the whole head. It takes only a few minutes to perform.
Reducing stress will help your body in its natural healing process, and also go some way to preventing your itchy scalp condition from returning. Prevention is better than a cure, as they say. Use some natural bath oils like Lavender or Valerian Oil to help you to relax and de-stress after a hard day.
(As with all oils, consult your doctor first if you are pregnant. It is also recommended you patch test all oils/formulas before application or addition to your shampoos).
The Language and Meaning of Flowers
Sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing
Thomas Hood poem, The Language of Flowers
Flowers and bouquets of flowers have a meaning of their own. Most of us know that a dozen red roses means, “Be mine.” But did you know, for example, that a primrose means, “I can’t live without you,” or that a purple hyacinth means, “Please forgive me,” or that a pink carnation means, “I’ll never forget you,” or that a gladiolus means, “Give me a break?”
Flower meanings have been used to convey ideas, feelings and messages for centuries. The word, floriography, has been coined for the assignment of meaning to flowers. There is a meaning to colors of flowers, to numbers of flowers, and to groups of flowers. It is a silent language that has been largely lost to us through lack of use.
In addition to the obvious choices of color and variety, the language of flowers also includes the way flowers are worn or presented. Presenting flowers upright conveys a positive meaning, but if they are presented upside down the meaning is the opposite. If a ribbon is included with the flowers and is tied to the left then the meaning of the flowers refers to the giver, but if the ribbon is tied to the right then the meaning refers to the recipient. Also, flowers can be used to answer questions. When they are presented with the right hand the answer is “yes,” but when presented with the left hand the answer is “no.”
History
The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley, wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. Europe quickly picked up on the concept.
In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under the pen name, Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote and published what seems to have been the first dictionary of the flower language entitled, Le Language des Fleurs. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject.
During the Victorian era, the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language that allowed them to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow. Tussie-mussies, a bouquet of flowers wrapped with a lace doily and tied with a satin ribbon became a popular and valued gift of the times.
In 1884 a whole book on the subject and entitled, The Language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenaway, was published in London. It became popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meaning ever since.
Selected Flower Meanings
Here are some selected flowers and their meanings, a short dictionary.
Almond flowers — Hope
Anemone — Forsaken
Aster — Symbol of love
Balm — Sympathy
Basil — Best wishes
Bay leaf — “I change but in death”
Bell flower, white — Gratitude
Bergamot — Irresistible
Bluebell — Constancy
Borage — Courage
Broom — Humility
Campanula — Gratitude
Carnation, pink — I’ll never forget you
Carnation, red — My poor heart aches for you
Carnation, striped — Refusal
China rose — Beauty always new
Chrysanthemum — Love
Clover, four leaved — “Be mine”
Coreopsis — Love at first sight
Cuckoo pint — Ardor
Daffodil — Regard
Daisy — Innocence, new-born, “I share your sentiment”
Fennel — Flattery
Fern — Sincerity
Forget-Me-Not — True love
Furze or Gorse — Enduring affection
French Marigold — Jealousy
Gardenia — Ecstasy
Gentian — Loveliness
Geranium — “You are childish”
Hare bell — Grief
Heartsease — “I am always thinking of you”
Honeysuckle — Bonds of love
Heather — Admiration
Hyacinth — I am sorry, Please forgive me
Ice Plant — “Your appearance freezes me”
Ivy — Fidelity, friendship, marriage
Jasmine — Grace
Jonquil — “I hope for return of affection”
Lavender — Luck, devotion
Lemon Balm — Sympathy
Lilac — First love
Lily — Purity, modesty
Lily of the Valley — Purity, the return of happiness
Lily, Calla — Beauty
Marigold — Health, grief or despair
Marjoram — Kindness, courtesy
Myrtle — Fidelity
Oregano — Joy
Orchid — Love, beauty, refinement
Pansy — Loving thoughts
Periwinkle — Happy memory
Phlox — Agreement
Poppy, red — Consolation
Primrose — I can’t live without you
Rose, cabbage — Ambassador of love
Rose, red — Love
Rose, pink — Grace, beauty
Rose, yellow — Friendship
Rosemary — Remembrance, constancy
Rue — Contrition
Sage — Gratitude, domestic virtue
Snowdrop — Hope
Star of Bethlehem — Purity
Sweet Pea — Departure, tender memory
Sweet William — Gallantry
Tuberose — Voluptuousness
Tulip, red — My perfect lover, Reclamation of love
Violet — Loyalty, modesty, humility
Violet, blue — Faithfulness
Wormwood — Grief
Wheat — Riches of the continuation of life
Willow, weeping — Mourning
Wallflower — Fidelity
Yew — Sorrow
The Rose
The Rose is the flower whose meaning we most understand, but here are some details of the meaning of the Rose that may be of further interest.
Rose, Black – You are my obsession
Rose, Champagne – You are tender and loving
Rose, Leonidas – Sweet love
Rose, Nicole – You are graceful and elegant, aristocratic
Rose, Orange – You are my secret love
Rose, Pink – Brilliant complexion; the glow of your smile; perfect happiness
Rose, Red – Passionate love; I love you
Rose, Single Stems – Simplicity
Rose, White – I am worthy of you; spiritual love; Innocence and Purity; Secrecy and Silence
Rose, White and Red – We are inseparable
Rose, White and Red Mixed – Unity; Flower emblem of England
Rose, White, Dried – Death is preferable to loss of virtue
Rose, Yellow – Friendship; Jealousy; I am not worthy
Rose, Bridal – Happy Love
Rose, Dark Crimson – Mourning
Rose, Hibiscus – Delicate beauty
Rose, Tea – I’ll remember always
Rose, Thornless – Love at first sight
Roses, Bouquet of Mature Blooms – Gratitude
Multiple Roses
Single bloom red Rose – Love at first sight or I still love you
Single Rose, any color – Gratitude or simplicity
2 Roses – Mutual feelings
3 Roses – I love you
7 Roses – I’m infatuated with you
9 Roses – We’ll be together forever
10 Roses – You are perfect
11 Roses – You are my treasured one
12 Roses – Be mine
13 Roses – Friends forever
15 Roses – I’m truly sorry
20 Roses – I’m truly sincere towards you
21 Roses – I’m dedicated to you
24 Roses – Forever yours
25 Roses – Congratulations
50 Roses – Unconditional love
99 Roses – I will love you all the days of my life
108 Roses – Will you marry me?
999 Roses – I love you till the end of time
What To Do
With the lists above you should be able to assemble a meaningful gift of flowers or a bouquet that conveys a complex thought. Wrap the flowers appropriately and present them in a significant manner. Then, just to be certain that your efforts are not misinterpreted, include a card that fully explains the meaning of your flowers.
After a few flower presentations you should be able to drop the explanatory notes and begin enjoying and sharing the silent language of flowers.
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Infected Ingrown Hairs – Three Advice Notes
Main ingrown hair symptoms include constant tenderness in the affected area, itching, tingling, or mild to severe pain.
In chronic cases, hard, prominent, irregular scar tissue may develop.
Trapped, ingrown hairs can cause the body to form a bump, or papule – a small, raised abnormality on the sin.
Pustules, blisters containing pus, can develop and then become infected, rupture and bleed.
Consultation with a physician may be necessary in extreme cases.
Advice Note #1
Do not pick at the area if the hair is under the skin and has caused a pimple.
Disinfect the area with alcohol or toner. Then use a clean cloth which has cooled a little after being dipped in boiling water.
Repeat the process several times until the hair is brought to the surface of the skin. Then try to tweeze it out.
Advice Note #2
In chronic cases where the area around the ingrown hair has become infected and is swelling or filled with pus, it may be wiser to make an appointment to see an aesthetician. (Check your local yellow pages)
Advice Note #3
Do not squeeze infected ingrown hairs. This can make the infection worse.
Apply an anti-bacterial balm three times a day until the redness has gone down.
Use of an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) serum after this will dissolve skin cells that may have built-up in the infected area.
Additional information: Ingrown hairs are known as Psuedofolliculitis Barbae (PFB), razor bumps, razor burn, hair bumps, shaving bumps, ingrowns.
Psuedofolliculitis Barbae refers to hair which has been cut or broken off below the skin level which then begins to grow through surrounding tissue rather than out of the follicle.
In other cases, hair curls round and starts growing back into the skin causing irritation and inflammation.
Some of the more common areas for Psuedofolliculitis Barbae are on the bikini area, legs, and even the chin or upper lip.
A bump will develop where the Psuedofolliculitis Barbae continues to circle beneath the skin.
Sometimes these bumps become infected and develop a sack of pus, similar to a pimple without a whitehead.
Effective Public Speaking Tips – The Essential Components of a Speech
Do you remember the first instructions you received when you had to give a speech in school? For most people, the advice was simply this: “Prepare a plan with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Then give your speech.” These simple instructions are often the only ones we work with, even as we become adults. They are valid, but woefully incomplete.
An effective speech contains three components, which will allow an audience to better understand it, be more interested, and react to it.
The First Component
The first component deals with the content of your speech: it is the logical component.
Your content needs to be presented in the most “natural” manner to your audience. The points should appear logical. When building your speech, you must answer a sequence of three questions:
Why? The answer to this question will determine your message. Your message is a way to summarize your speech in a single sentence. With a clear message, you will have a direction to follow when speaking to your audience. This will prevent you from going off on a tangent. Everything you tell your audience should support your message.
What? What are you going to tell your audience? What points will you cover and which ones will you leave out? To answer this question, you need to know how much time you are given to speak. Once you know, be ready to have that amount of time reduced. Often, especially when there are many speakers, a meeting’s agenda is not respected. So it is entirely possible that you will have less time than you thought.
It’s always a good idea not to overstay your welcome! Most audiences will prefer a speaker who speaks too little over a speaker who speaks too much. Your allotted time will determine the number of points you can cover. Don’t try to cover fifteen points if you only have time for four.
How? The answer to this last question will determine the order of your points. The following speech structure will distinguish you from the majority of other speakers:
Prologue: A grabber at the start of your speech that will get your audience’s attention immediately.
Introduction: This is where you tell your audience what you plan on covering during your speech.
Body: Discuss your points in this section, using a logical approach. This portion makes up most of your speech.
Conclusion: Briefly review your content but beware: this is no longer the time to add new material. If you forgot to mention something, tough luck!
Epilogue: This is the real ending of your speech where you tell the audience to act on your message.
A proper logical structure will make it easier for your audience to follow your train of thought. It also will spare you from having to face a roomful of confused faces.
The Second Component
How do you feel when a speaker speaks in a monotone voice during an entire sixty minute speech?
How do you feel when a speaker reads his notes (or PowerPoint slides) for the duration of his speech?
Both of these questions touch upon the second component of public speaking: the mechanical component.
The mechanical aspect of public speaking is the “showbiz” part of your speech. It is how your audience perceives your speech. This perception occurs by using the five senses. To increase the impact of your speech, touch on as many senses as you can.
When you change your tone of voice, when you make unexpected movements, when you use PowerPoint, you are using the mechanical part of speaking.
When speaking to clients about the mechanical component, three questions often come up:
Where should I stand? Inexperienced or insecure speakers put their notes on a lectern, stand behind it, and remain in that spot for the duration of their speech. Don’t make that mistake!
Don’t stand behind a lectern for your entire speech. It prevents you from moving around and it makes you seem rigid. The fewer obstacles exist between your audience and you, the better your contact with them. Move around!
Where should I look? Anywhere but your notes! You can use your notes if necessary, but leave them on the lectern. Take a look at them once in a while if you must, but don’t read them!
If you want to establish a good rapport with your audience, you must look them in the eye. If you are reading your notes, there is no contact and many people will just tune you out. When you look people in the eyes, don’t stare intensely at one person. Take a look around the room and try to establish eye contact with everyone while you are speaking.
What do I do with my hands? Let them do what they do most naturally. If you speak a lot with them, then let your hands speak. If you have a tendency to keep your hands still, then keep them still. If you adopt an attitude that is natural for you, you will not be conscious of your gestures and you will be more at ease in front of a group.
However, watch out for mannerisms and nervous tics. This includes such things as playing with your hair, your jewelry, change in your pockets, an object in your hand, etc. When you display these mannerisms, many people may stop listening to you and just count the number of times you repeat that gesture.
Though the mechanics of speaking are important, you don’t need to overly focus on them. As your topic becomes more important to your audience, the mechanics of your speech lose their importance. However, if you stimulate as many of the five senses as possible, the impact of the logical component will be greater.
The third component
The third component is the most important component of your speech. Even if you are lacking in structure, even if you don’t give a great show, you can still have a great impact on your audience… as long as you include this component. If you don’t include it, you are better off not addressing an audience at all. Otherwise, you are wasting your time and theirs.
The third component, is the emotional component. It is the one that gets people to act. Studies have shown that a majority of people will act on their emotions and justify their actions afterwards. The higher the emotional content of your speech, the more impact you will have.
The emotional component is also the one that prevents people from acting. It can be a source of frustration, fear, and procrastination. If you are afraid to speak in public, the area you will need to work on the most is the emotional area, not the mechanical, nor the logical.
When you speak, your goal is to bring a change in your audience. It can be a change in behavior, a change in their thinking, or a change of attitude. However, no change will occur if your audience members are not emotionally engaged when you speak.
This doesn’t mean that you need to make your audience cry! It means that your audience needs to react to what you are saying, that’s it. To react, your audience must feel an emotion. Your goal is to bring out the proper emotion.
Here are few ways to do this:
Install emotion immediately: Don’t begin your speech by saying banalities such as, “Hi, how are you? It’s great to be here! You’re a lovely audience!” Get to it immediately.
Tell a story: A story can be an example, an anecdote, or even a fairy tale. In fact, storytelling is one of the best and most useful skills you can learn as a speaker.
Use the pause: Don’t hesitate to stay silent for a moment or two in front of the audience. Give them time to really feel what you say.
Ask questions: Ask questions that require your audience to live out a situation and to think about their response. Ask questions that do not have a single, right answer. Then, use the pause to give them time to answer either out loud or for themselves.
If you speak regularly, you may already be using all three components of public speaking. If not, start doing so with your very next speech. Remember that as you try something new, do it progressively, until you feel at ease with it. Don’t try to change too many things at once.
A systematic approach to improving your speaking skills will allow you to prepare and deliver your speeches more easily, more rapidly, and with impact.
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