tag:sonicyogi.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=2Blog2022-03-18T00:53:28-04:00Sonic Yogifalsetag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/69242572022-03-18T00:53:28-04:002023-10-16T10:53:03-04:00Return to the Garden (The "core" wound)<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/0d424ae530343e7fa1ac064e1a0cd0bd8bbf2653/original/adobestock-290760486.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpeg" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We are stardust <br>Billion year old carbon <br>We are golden <br>Caught in the devil's bargain <br>And we've got to get ourselves <br>back to the Garden </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">-Joni Mitchell</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The story of the garden of Eden is an "origin" story. My view is that within this "origin story" we may be seeing clues about the origins of the structure of the psyche, how those structures came into being, and also how they are manifest in the outer world. This inner and outer structure then become a feedback loop, and perpetuate the other's existence. By looking at the manifestation of these patterns and foundational "motifs" in the outer world in terms of behaviors, interpersonal group dynamics, societal structure and more we can see major clues about these psychological underpinnings and the inner "motif" which shapes our perceptions as well.</p>
<p><i>(Side note: A "motif" is a foundational pattern. In music school we learned to analyze compositions in order to understand the nature of their construction. A motif is one very basic building block. The most famous motif is perhaps Beethoven's 5th Symphony (listen below). Beginning with a few simple notes, Beethoven then builds a complex symphony. The seed of all of that complexity is this one simple idea that appears at the beginning of the composition, and a few other key spots.</i></p>
<p><i>The analogy, here, is that the "core wound" that is explored in the blog also functions as a sort of "psychological motif", and from that seed, or motif, exposition and development occur in an understandable sequence of cause and effect.)</i></p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/238464353&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe></p><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;">
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/epiphanic-serendipity" title="Classical Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Classical Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/epiphanic-serendipity/symphony-no-5-beethoven" title="Symphony No. 5 - Beethoven" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Symphony No. 5 - Beethoven</a>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;">
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/gentur-tok" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Gentur Tok">Gentur Tok</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/gentur-tok/beethovens-5th-symphony" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Beethoven's 5th Symphony">Beethoven's 5th Symphony</a>
</div>
<p>The ancient nature of the story is also a clue that this has been the state of being in humanity, and may be a key in understanding our deepest nature.</p>
<p>In modern times, there are more and more explorations into the nature of the mind, and even what we might consider "enlightenment". Neuroscience, Psychology and new psychedelic research is delving deeper into how the mind processes reality, and what is the cause of mental suffering? So, there are physiological, psychological and philosophical threads that all may point to the same understanding.</p>
<p>One common view is that this "enlightenment" is perhaps some "higher spiritual nature" that seems to be some enhancement, or some type of "adding on", or "achievement". However, viewing the same "spiritual nature" or state thru the lens of this "Garden" story, I am considering here that it is a returning to our original state of being.</p>
<p>So, now let's look at the story of the "Garden of Eden" and explore how it may hold a clue to these origins, and perhaps how our perceptions are shaped.</p>
<p>I should also say that this particular "insight" came about mainly by noticing the dynamics in a couple of pretty normal day to day interactions. (I did have an insight around this years ago, but it wasn't fully formed.) The first interaction I'll mention here, was during a situation in which I felt myself being slightly triggered by someone's behavior, I noticed in our discussions that they were subtly invalidating. </p>
<p>Instead of reacting to this invalidation, I asked myself, why would a person be invalidating? Not only in this particular case, but in any case. What is their need? What is motivating this behavior? And as I thought about this, I realized that their need was to feel that they "mattered". So this subconscious need "to matter" was causing them to, try to create a hierarchy, so to speak. In this case the invalidation, of one choice over the other, was in essence a subconscious way of creating the hierarchy in which, they were "right" and by default had more "value".</p>
<p>As I thought through the situation and realized this dynamic, then I had more compassion for them. I thought "okay, well, they're suffering because they essentially are carrying this feeling that they need be subtly manipulative in order to establish their sense of "value". So, this particular situation spurred me to start to think about this energy of "you matter" as a driver of behavior. As I considered this, it seemed that we all have this basic desire to "matter", or feel that we have some "value" and that it may drive many of actions or behaviors subconsciously. </p>
<p>Another personal scenario also came up for me around this time. It happened when I had texted somebody that was important (to me) and I really wanted to hear from them in hopes that they had similar feelings about our growing relationship. As I waited on their reply over the next few hours which turned into longer, my mind started, like, going through my own bit of neurosis or "monkey mind". So, as I waited I noticed that attachment and expectation grew, and I began to be a little more expectant than I would be for just a general reply from someone where this "expectation" wasn't present. As I was observing this thought process and expectation, I thought, "why are you having this sort of anxiety around this?" And, again, as I looked into the layers of my own thought process, I realized that at the root of it was that I wanted to "matter" to that person. But really, it was an impulse within me to feel that I had value. I wanted the person I valued to also value me. So, there was this energy again, this time manifesting in my own behavior. I simply wanted to feel like "I matter". </p>
<p>So then I began to think about this ancient story of the Garden of Eden and consider an analogy or parallel to these situations.</p>
<p>So, I assume we all know the story of the Garden of Eden, basically. In any case, I'm just I'm going to talk through the basic story.</p>
<p>So "the Garden" represents, in my view, <strong>intimacy, abundance and unconditional love. </strong>I am viewing this as also an archetypal origin story. It functions as a representational story of "us".</p>
<p>And so in the Garden there was Adam and Eve, and they were the representation of the divine masculine and feminine. Adam and Eve had this perfect relationship with the Creator. In this relationship there was no sense of separation. We were in perfect union. (Union is also what the word "yoga"means.) In this state of Divine union, all of our needs were met by the Creator, there was an abundance of food, there was intimacy and there was a complete and unconditional love. There was only one stipulation that the Creator had given Adam and Eve, and that was -- don't eat of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil".</p>
<p>My feeling is that in order for love to be real there must be a sense of equality and of choice. Without choice, it would have just been a very nice prison. So, the instruction was, just don't eat of this one tree, which is the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"Love is that which enables choice. Love is always stronger than Fear. Always choose on the basis of Love."</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>-Forest Landry</em></p>
<p>As the story progresses along comes a snake. And the snake said, "Hey, the Creator really just doesn't want you to eat the fruit of this tree because he doesn't want you to be on par with him." In my view, the snake represents the voice of "shame". Why? Because it was basically saying to them, "Telling you not to eat the fruit is a trick to keep you from your potential." What the snake was saying was: "<strong>You're not good enough</strong>. <strong>You don't really matter yet,</strong> but if you eat this fruit...you will". So the snake was like the first manipulator using <a contents="triangulation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMT6nWakW8w" target="_blank">triangulation</a> to deceive them.</p>
<p>Then, they ate of the fruit and as soon as they did they immediately felt this <strong>separation.</strong> The intimacy, abundance and unconditional love that they previously felt was gone. So by eating of the fruit, they then experienced this <strong>fall in consciousness</strong> or or fall from grace. As they felt that "fall", they felt <strong>shame</strong>, and they then put the leaves on their body because they realized they were naked. </p>
<p>So "the fall" after they ate of this tree, signifies <strong>the first shame</strong> from the perception of the <strong>loss of unconditional love</strong>. </p>
<p>So, now I'm going to make the parallel of that archetypical story to our own everyday lives.</p>
<p>My parallel analogy is that when we were born, we come from pure love. For most of us, for the first year of our life, we're just doted upon, we're held in our mother's arms, and our father's arms. Whoever is around "goo goo's and ga ga's" over us. Basically, at that point all of this <strong>love and attention</strong> we are receiving is <strong>totally unconditional</strong> and there's intimacy and abundance. We are not required to "do" anything to receive this love, and care, which seems to come from every direction.</p>
<p><em>(Side note: I realize everyone is not born into a loving situation. The main point here is that in our infancy we are not expected to behave in a certain way, nor do we calculate our behaviors. We simply receive care from our care givers.)</em></p>
<p>Eventually, as we grow and begin our path of childhood development, we we start to be able to do things in the world and have agency. As we explore this agency or autonomy, there is a time where we cross a boundary or cause some problem. We might get disciplined or scolded, or we just start to notice in some instance that we're no longer loved unconditionally. </p>
<p>From that point forward we realize now that things are <strong>conditional</strong>. We now perceive that we have to do some "thing", to meet expectations and receive positive feedback. Before this positive feedback just came freely. When we first experience this "fall from grace" as little beings we often also experience some sense of <strong>shame</strong>. So, the shame that Adam and Eve felt from eating the fruit is <strong>parallel to</strong> the shame from the loss of unconditional love. They crossed a boundary that was there for their benefit. When we perceive the loss of unconditional love, now we perceive that there's a "condition" to acceptance.</p>
<p>And so that condition brings up the thought of <strong>acceptability and unacceptability.</strong> </p>
<p>As "acceptability and unacceptability" arise, this is also the birth of <strong>duality</strong>. There is now the calculation within the mind of cause and effect as it relates to our perceived value. As soon the <strong>birth of duality </strong>arises, then we're aware that we want to return to "the Garden". We want to return to the place of <strong>unconditional love</strong>. And so we go from a state of simply <strong>"being"</strong>, to a state of <strong>"becoming"</strong>. Now we have to become "something" to recapture that sense of "acceptability". This sense of needing to "become" is the "fruit" of the tree of duality - "Good" and "Evil". The subconscious now begins to accumulate, as we look beyond the present and into the future to calculate cause and effect, in a world of opposites.</p>
<p>From the state of mind that arises we now perceive that there is a future moment of "becoming" that promises our return to the state where love is. The ability to enjoy presence is lost as the subconscious seeking for what has been lost, begins. This state of "becoming" is now our path to return to the Garden". Now we seek to navigate the duality of "unacceptability" and "acceptability" on our way to "becoming" that which is worthy of "love". Before this love simply came by "being" and without any conditions. The perception of future, and past arise to mark progress in this quest to re-capture a love that has been perceived as lost.</p>
<p>Remember, that the name of the tree was the "Tree of the knowledge of Good and evil", which are two poles, or two opposites. So it's the tree of <strong>duality</strong>. Consider that when we we ate of this tree of duality, and it caused our fall in consciousness by the growing necessity to calculate duality in the context of acceptability and shame. Now we have stepped on to the path of the knowledge of duality. The knowledge of good and evil. </p>
<p>Now in the state of <strong>becoming</strong> "mind" arises. By "mind", I mean the conceptual mind. Why does this conceptual mind arise? This mode of mind arises because now we have to calculate <strong>acceptability and unacceptability</strong>. Now what comes into motion is the "egoic perspective", or calculated "self" and so this is also the birth of the ruminating and ever calculating monkey mind. </p>
<p>This series of events accounts for the genesis of the "egoic" perspective. The dualistic nature of self perception has now been born from the <strong>perception of the loss of unconditional Love</strong>, which is experienced as <strong>shame</strong>. This is also the arising of craving and aversion, and attachment and expectation. These perceptions, which become stressors on the nervous system, are subconsciously driven by shame. This is a natural sequence of cause and effect.</p>
<p>You may remember craving, aversion and attachment and expectation as core to the teachings of Buddha. Buddha saw these as the drivers of stress and mental suffering, and taught his students to abide in "equanimity", which is the state of balance between these poles.</p>
<p>So continuing on the logical path of this reactive structure of consciousness. One might ask, what is it that the mind conditioned to duality wants? It wants control and power. And why does it want control and power? It wants control and power so that it can dictate the new reality. It is this new reality where it will seek to create another "Garden" a new world of intimacy, abundance and "love"... that it can control. The new reality is the reality where it gets love for being <strong>something</strong> or becoming <strong>some thing </strong>(other than its authentic and true self, flaws and all). All of this however, is simply an attempt to return to that place of abundance, intimacy and unconditional love (for who we are). This in turn becomes an unconscious driver of behavior, and perceptions.</p>
<p>Why am I calling this a <strong>"core wound"</strong>? I'm calling it that because its at the very core of our subconscious, and in many ways is the event that begins the need for the subconscious to exist at all. </p>
<p>This "core wound" drives a lot of other behaviors that we're not conscious of, because we lost the awareness of its "genesis" when we were little babies. We simply forgot why the perceptions and resulting actions were initiated. And the whole inertia of the resulting behaviors, is this energy of "do I matter" or "do I have value in the social order", "am I acceptable?", "Am I good enough?".</p>
<p>So, it naturally follows that when we lost that perception of unconditional love, we also lost the sense of <strong>intrinsic value</strong>. As we can easily observe in our world, there's a hierarchy of value. In this hierarchy people are "rich" or "poor", or "sexy " or "successful", or "losers" or whatever kind of comparison of value that is created. However, all of that's an illusion to convince the players in the play that they can reach the state of "mattering" again. All of this is an illusion that is created subconsciously in an effort to return to the "Garden", to return to the place of <strong>unconditional love</strong> (in our own <strong>origin story</strong>).</p>
<p>In essence, that's what a spiritual awakening is. It is seeing thru this illusion, and returning to the full awareness of your<strong> intrinsic value </strong>and also seeing that in others. Self-realization, or being "born again" is (in part) waking up to the illusion of the self that is seeking to "become", and returning to the core Self which is content in simply "being", knowing that you are the "I Am" in the Garden. Your value is intrinsic to simply "being", you are not "greater than" or "less than".</p>
<p>So, I invite you to begin to observe your thoughts, notice their nature. What are the drivers? As you peel back the layers where does it lead? What is the impetus behind them? Does it lead back to questioning your value?</p>
<p>Also, begin to notice any triggers, any need for judgment or comparison. Also, notice the layers that lead to these conscious thoughts. What are their subconscious drivers? Is the motivation to "matter", for "acceptance", for "validation"?</p>
<p>The key exploration is: Are these inner subconscious drivers that arise from these "needs" leading to mental suffering for self or others which could include - judgment, criticism, blame, dishonesty, manipulation, jealousy, envy.. etc..</p>
<p>"Be still and know" (Be Still. Observe. Know) --- This is our most basic instruction pointing us back to our origin, to self knowledge. and out of forgetfulness.</p>
<p>You may notice, as the layers in the mind are explored, that it often comes back to this basic feeling of "Do I Matter" (to the other). With practice, you get used to "dispelling" that energy because it is understood that at the root of perception there is an illusion, and the monkey mind gradually begins to let go. The mind is like, "well, then... I'm not going to have these thoughts". Being able to just identify the core motivator begins to bring clarity. Knowing that it's about "mattering" and the illusion of "hierarchical value" enables the mental "motif" to begin to dissolve bit by bit. The mind is like, okay, "now that I see it, we don't need try so hard then to satisfy this illusion." The mind naturally tends to "quiet". There simply is not as much processing to do.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i><strong>Side note:</strong> In my experience, there is an energetic and physiological process that begins to occur as mind adjusts. As the mind adjusts the body adjusts. Understanding and navigating this process is the goal of mind-body practices like yoga, meditation, breath work, sound therapy and so on. These practices help us begin to relieve the physiological tension that is the result of an incorrect perspective.</i></p>
<p><strong>Compassion, grace and patience</strong> naturally arise from seeing that it's just such a basic human <strong>need</strong>. I mean, like, why do we want to have success? Why do we want control? Why do we want to be sexually attractive? Why do we want anything? It's just that we want to "matter" and feel "loved", and <strong>by extension have our needs met</strong>. We seek to achieve this "mattering" by setting out to meet the conditions and circumstances that we perceive will get us there.</p>
<p><strong>Desire </strong>itself arises to convince us that we are worthy, if we can only "obtain" some external thing. The underlying message in the pursuit is that "you will matter", or "you will have value" by obtaining that which is prized.</p>
<p>The sad part of the egoic perspective is that even if you're good at "mattering", or you can do something to get people's attention and validation, you'll never believe in that love and attention anyway. While it will be enjoyed for a season, eventually it will be perceived as inauthentic, and hollow.</p>
<p>So the egoic perspective never will never be able to know love. It will forever be lost in a world of craving, aversion, and manipulation.</p>
<p>As the famous quote goes "What does it profit anyone to gain the world, but lose their own soul?"</p>
<p>Ultimately, I think what we want from any spiritual experience, or life for that matter... is intimacy, abundance and unconditional Love. Right? Because who cares about the spiritual experience if it doesn't lead us to something valuable?</p>
<p>The good news is we can begin to receive what we never lost and begin to give it to each other.</p>
<p>"The Garden" is here and now, within each of us.</p>
<p>In future posts, I plan to explore the physiological and psychological challenges in our quest to return. There's definitely more to unpack here and I hope what I am attempting to communicate will have even more clarity with subsequent posts.</p>
<p>Recap:</p>
<p>So, to quickly recap. The "core wound" being explored here is the <strong>perception of the loss of unconditional love</strong>. This wound leads to <strong>shame</strong>. The shame leads to a desire for <strong>acceptance</strong>. Acceptance <strong>manifests as "I/You Matter" (energy)</strong>, or the desire to matter (to a partner, family, loved ones, society, etc). This becomes a "motif" or foundational pattern and ultimately leads in the psyche to "duality", and the ever ruminating mind. Of course, we all want to matter, and be valued, and feel love and acceptance. They key here is that once we see that, we can also see how that impulse may also manifest in ways that perpetuate the feeling of separation, and mental suffering. The hope is that by understanding and being conscious of these core drivers of behavior, it is possible to move again towards behaviors that lead to intimacy, abundance and unconditional love -- In other words: Union, and Unity and Peace.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/c85595477707d27a332c67be4b0aa7cd6f227cd8/original/screen-shot-2022-04-07-at-12-55-10-pm.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_orig justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>--------------------</p>
<p>Quotes:</p>
<p>"The problem is you’re afraid to acknowledge your own beauty. You’re too busy holding onto your unworthiness. You’d rather be a schmuck sitting before some great man, that fits in more with who you think you are. Well, enough already. I sit before you because I see your beauty, even if you don’t." --Ram Dass</p>
<p>"The Kingdom of Heaven (also the Garden?) is within You" - Yeshua</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="52" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" src="https://odesli.co/embed/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falbum.link%2F98kfdscpzsxcb&theme=light" width="100%"></iframe></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/68761112022-01-21T13:46:05-05:002022-04-08T17:30:26-04:00Breath into Being album <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/087c9c3bc31cba75084dbfdb5f6d8a56bfa69d51/original/red-cover-sonicyogi-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>This new album offering is based on many of the "live" online meditations that I offered in 2021 on the Insight Timer meditation app and Youtube. </p>
<p>The intention of the album is combine a cross section of musical art and meditative practice. Music and Sound, have a direct impact on our nervous system and can also be great teachers to bring us back home to a calm and centered place in the nervous system. </p>
<p>The rhythmic based tracks, can also be used as breath practices. For example, the listener, could inhale for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 6. This type of practice can help begin to move our nervous system to a place of relaxation and calm. By slowing the breaths per minute, and extending the exhale the practitioner is also sending a signal to the nervous system to begin to relax and release. This is how I begin online (and live) meditation sessions and the music, gradually leads into less rhythmic meditative spaces with the singing bowls, flutes and chanting. </p>
<p>Of course you can also simply enjoy the sounds! </p>
<p>Instruments on the album include Guitars, Charango, Native American and Bamboo Flutes, as well as Crystal and Himalayan Singing Bowls. Jeannine Scarpino is the guest vocalist on the opening track (a yoga teacher), who I was grateful to have met after a chance meeting and opportunity to accompany her yoga class. (She is also accompanying vocalist on track 6.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu </strong>(VOCALS) </p>
<p>Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu roughly translates to "May all beings be happy and free". When we free others we free ourselves. Freedom, in our our consciousness is essential to allowing our nervous system to be free as well. The repetitive mantra invites focus on the words and melody as we begin to prepare for relaxation and release. </p>
<p><strong>2. Breath into Being </strong>(MOSTLY INSTRUMENTAL/No words) </p>
<p>All of the tracks with any percussion on this album were created as part of live "sound meditation sessions" that I offered on the Insight Timer app in 2021. Each session began with a rhythmic track in which we counted the breath. Beginning with 4 counts on the inhale and 6 on the exhale. As the practice progresses each person can adjust their breath cont accordingly. Extending the exhale slows the number of breaths. This longer exhale also sends a signal to the nervous system that it is time to relax. This can set the stage for deeper meditation, and into a "being" state of consciousness. </p>
<p>"Breath into Being" the song was one of these first "breath accompaniments". Breath along as the music guides towards meditation. </p>
<p><strong>3. Om Mani Padme Hum </strong>(VOCALS - later in track) </p>
<p>This version of "Om Mani Padme Hum" is based on a drone, and gradually progresses into the chant. </p>
<p>According to the Dalai Lama, Om Mani Padme Hum has the power to: “transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech and mind of a Buddha.” (from Yogapedia) </p>
<p>I like to interpret this as similar to Yeshua's teaching "The Kingdom of Heaven is within", and that within the lotus of our inner being resides the jewel of stillness and self-understanding. The lotus arises from the sometimes muddy objects within consciousness of suffering, stress, or inaccurate self-definition.</p>
<p>This track is also for use as a "breath accompaniment" or guide. </p>
<p><strong>4. Alone in Me, Together in Me </strong>(INSTRUMENTAL) </p>
<p>We are sovereign within. Each perception an interpretation. Always together and always alone. </p>
<p><strong>5. A Gentle Insight </strong>(INSTRUMENTAL) </p>
<p>We can choose to learn by suffering, or insight. Even insights can be jarring when a deeper lesson is realized. Choosing love, and compassion help us navigate our path of understanding and self-knowledge with grace. </p>
<p><strong>6. Dilo sin Palabras</strong> (translation: Say it without words) — (MOSTLY INSTRUMENTAL/No words) </p>
<p>"Actions speak louder than words". Words may be nice at times, but in the end we remember actions of respect, kindness and integrity. Words without seeing the truth of them reflected in action, are ultimately meaningless and empty. This track is also for use as a "breath accompaniment" or guide. </p>
<p><strong>7. Grounding in Intention</strong> (INSTRUMENTAL) </p>
<p>Outcomes do not always meet expectations. While we are unable to direct circumstances, it is possible to take actions from a place of intention, and care to see that our actions are coming from that sense of intention and purpose. </p>
<p><strong>8. Om Shanti (Releasing)</strong> — (VOCALS - later in track) </p>
<p>Shanti means peace. This track represents a journey of release as it builds into a chant. Also based on a drone the piece expresses some dissonance and harmony as the process of "release" is explored. This track is also for use as a "breath accompaniment" or guide. </p>
<p><strong>9. Choose Love in each moment </strong>(INSTRUMENTAL) </p>
<p>Choose Love in each moment was one of the rosetta stones in my own journey. I was reminded to choose love, and not fear. I was reminded that in each moment I could choose. By exercising this power of choice, I could choose love (relaxation) instead of fear (stress, anxiety etc). By keeping this in mind I also realized NOW was the only place I could exercise this power of choice. if I allowed my mind to drift into the imagination of future, or past my nervous system inevitably following along, and triggered stress responses. However by allowing my mind to rest in the now, I was choosing love and releasing stress. </p>
<p><strong>10. I Am: Letting Go </strong>(VOCALS) </p>
<p>I realized what I was searching for was not about becoming something I was not, but letting go of the things that were not me. </p>
<p>I am not my name. </p>
<p>I am not my job. </p>
<p>I am not the type of car I drive. </p>
<p>I am not where I live. </p>
<p>I am not what my partner thinks of me. </p>
<p>I am not what my family thinks of me. </p>
<p>I am not what my friends think of me. </p>
<p>I am not my opinion of me. </p>
<p>I am not my race, or religion </p>
<p>I am not my fears. </p>
<p>I am not my nationality. </p>
<p>I am not the amount of money I have. </p>
<p>I am not the size of clothes that I wear. </p>
<p>I am not the defined by the things I own. </p>
<p>I am not my future. </p>
<p>I am not the vacation I took last year. </p>
<p>I am not all of the great things I've done. </p>
<p>I am not the the things that I am not proud of. </p>
<p>I am not my past. </p>
<p>I am not my emotions. </p>
<p>I am not my gender. </p>
<p>I am not my sexuality </p>
<p>I am not my body. </p>
<p>I am not a political party, or issue. </p>
<p>I am not my desires. </p>
<p>I am not my circumstances. </p>
<p>I am not my thoughts. </p>
<p>I am not my thoughts. </p>
<p>I am not my thoughts. </p>
<p>I simply AM. </p>
<p>I AM. </p>
<p>Sat. Chit. Ananda. </p>
<p>Truth. Consciousness. Bliss. </p>
<p><strong>11. Singing Bowl Improv </strong>(INSTRUMENTAL) </p>
<p>A relaxing set of singing bowls, this singing bowl improv functions as a sort of sonic savasana at the end of the set.</p>
<p>----------------------</p>
<p>The full release of the album will be on February 11, 2022, and can be streamed from <strong>Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon</strong> and of course here on SonicYogi.com.</p>
<p>Subscribers also have access to full albums and releases in advance.</p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://odesli.co/embed/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falbum.link%2F98kfdscpzsxcb&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write"></iframe>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/67642082021-10-02T13:04:32-04:002022-04-08T17:30:43-04:00Two "modes" of the Mind<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/e8ab3662253746d5855e4f737a3b4bb2c67ecedc/original/zen-434526-1920.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50LnNpdGV6b29nbGUuY29tIn0=/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>When I say “silence” or “stillness” I am essentially talking about the same thing — which is the “quieting” of the ruminating mind. In other words the cessation of the “ruminative” thoughts. This mode of thought is useful at times, but it can also become an unconscious habit. The platform for this manner of thought is the “awareness” or “stillness” that is always there. So, as an analogy we could think of the mind as having two “modes” of thought.</p>
<ul> <li>The “ruminative” mind — (takes energy) - calculating, labeling, categorizing, predicting</li> <li>The “still” mind — (allows energy to flow)</li>
</ul>
<p>The ruminative mind thinks about various circumstances, event, relationships and so on. It models the outer world within it’s own self-created inner world. This helps us to model “cause” and “effect’ without having to play it out in the real world. This is a useful function but, by its nature this realm is “illusory”.</p>
<p>In my view, “traumas” also skew these perceptions.</p>
<p>Why would we need this capacity? Well, for survival. So, as an evolutionary asset this ability helped us survive. So, by being able to project outcomes in the future, we learned to avoid or cultivate certain situations. This predictive ability gave a certain sense of “control” over future outcomes. For example as a purely survival instinct an early human might have learned not to go to the watering hole at a certain time, because it learned that the Lion would be there then. That makes sense. This projected outcome also gave this person a sense of safety. So, the human began to believe in the projected outcomes of the mind because it imparted a sense of safety. By default this mode of the mind is integrated into the nervous system.</p>
<p>However because we are social and we also conflate our social status with “safety”. We also begin to “project” outcomes related to social situations. We may also begin to model what we think others think. We do this by ascribing meaning or interpretation to the behaviors we observe in others, and assign what it means to our “identity”. Some of this may be accurate, some may not be. Therein is the conundrum and the achilles heel of this mode. This mode of the mind often an author of confusion.</p>
<p>The “still” mind is simply undivided. Whereas the job of the ruminating mind IS to divide, label and categorize in order to experiment with these objects in the laboratory of the “thinking” mind.</p>
<p>Based on perceptions. This mode is constantly triggering the nervous system. This mode is wedded to the future and past in order to mine data in order determine “cause” and “effect” and to “predict and control” future events.. Again, this is done in order to determine what is safe, and also in essence, is an attempt to determine what is “real”. It is from this sense of predictability and control that it derives its sense of safety. It is by default always in the state of “attachment” and “expectation”. However, because what it has created to model future outcomes is a sort of “virtual reality” it is always disconnected from “actual reality”, which can only be realized in the mode of “the still mind”.</p>
<p>The ruminative mind is by default connect to the “identity” it seeks to “serve”. The fuel of this “identity” is thought. Stop ruminative thought, stop the fuel, free the mind. Peace that passes “understanding” arises.</p>
<p>My friend Gracelight said: “Sometimes I feel like we wait to go on vacation or to get away to rest and relax. But with some effort we can have mini vacations every day.”</p>
<p>Interestingly, the day before I was talking with my friend Bill about a similar concept. Bill recently quit his corporate job, and was looking for something new in life. He had some choices related to travel, but was unsure which way he wanted to go. Maybe get an RV and travel, or instead use that money to go to Europe, or the Latin America, Caribbean etc..</p>
<p>As we discussed it there were various logistical considerations, and also considerations based on what would bring the most joy. As we discussed these various considerations at length, it became clear that the important factor in all of these were: “How will this make me feel?” Which of course the realistic answer is, neither choice will satisfy the feeling that is being sought.</p>
<p>I asked how will you feel when you are on the beach, watching that sunset? As we explored the possible feelings: peace, content, safety, fulfillment. It became apparent that the “place” could not provide any of these things. Sure, it could contribute, but it couldn’t completely fulfill those things. The feelings produced still come from within.</p>
<p>There are two truths:</p>
<ul> <li> You can’t escape the present moment - It is always now</li> <li> There won’t be peace (contentment) until the nervous system relaxes</li>
</ul>
<p>I remember Bill telling a story about visiting Spain a few years prior. I asked Bill, how did you feel a few months before going to Spain. He said, he was excited and filled with purpose and a sense of pleasure looking forward to it. Spain was the last stop in this particular vacation. Then he recounted how when he was there he actually became bored… and a bit lonely. He didn’t actually like the town where he was, etc.. Ultimately, he cut the trip short and came home a few days early. So, I asked, what was better? The idea of the vacation, or the vacation itself? He said, the idea.</p>
<p>So this demonstrates in a way that we have all probably experienced many times the difference between the two modes of the mind. The “idea” of what we will gain, is often much better (for the “thinking” mind) than the reality.</p>
<p>So, as we explored this idea further I asked when you get to the beach will your mind be thinking about the next thing, or will it be still. Well, of course the ideal is that the mind would be still, and content. We also asked will the nervous system be at rest and relaxation or stressed. Of course, the ideal is for the system to be in relaxation. So, it is also clear that what we are seeking is not a place or a circumstance (although those can be nice). What we are seeking, or the “objective” of the “vacation” is:</p>
<ul> <li>A calm, “still” contentment in the mind</li> <li>A relaxed calm nervous system</li>
</ul>
<p>However regardless of where we may go, those are only states of the mind and nervous system. As the old saying goes “wherever you go', there you are”. The mind might also ask which comes first? The chicken or the egg? The fundamental fact remains though, the change sought is within.</p>
<p>So, the “cause and effect” mind (ego/identity) employs the tools it has to achieve those things. Namely, seeking to effect circumstances. However, what it actually seeks is a vacation from itself (ruminative mode), and to enter the space of the “still mind”. Where there is peace in the moment and release of stress from the nervous system.</p>
<p>The “still” mind is the only capable of love. It is love without conditions, because this mode does not calculate conditions. The ruminative mode (ego/identity) seeks to create circumstances, where it can find love, or an identity to “get” love, but it can never reach that goal.</p>
<p>This is perhaps an overly simplified version, but I hope is useful for consideration. As we have discussed, there may also be a need to rebalance the nervous system, and allow the habit patterns of the ruminative mind (body) to begin to release.</p>
<p><strong>Quotes:</strong></p>
<p><em>"Yoga (Union) is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind" -Patanjali</em></p>
<p><em>"Questioner: Is there a way to perceive reality directly and immediately?</em></p>
<p><em>Answer: Stop making use of your mind and see what happens. Do this one thing thoroughly. That is all. -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj "</em></p>
<p><em>"To remain without thinking is (atma) Self" -Ramana Maharshi</em></p>
<p><em>"A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet." -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj</em></p>
<p><em>"Be still and know" -Psalm 46:10</em></p>
<p><em>“Turn off your mind, Relax and float down stream, It is not dying, It is not dying... Lay down all thoughts, Surrender to the void, It is shining It is shining... That you may see, The meaning of within, It is being, It is being”</em></p>
<p><em>Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles</em></p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://odesli.co/embed/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falbum.link%2F98kfdscpzsxcb&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write"></iframe>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/66817952021-07-07T22:23:47-04:002021-07-07T22:26:10-04:00Sacral Chakra Meditation (Releasing control, Finding Clarity)<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/b5e7730c17727b6f44aff93766a5bd2354f28f61/original/sunflower-3790834-1920.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Note to Self: </p>
<p>I will now speak (Write) from a perspective, that perspective intended to water the seed of a knowing that is ancient within you, and also familiar. There is nothing special you need to do. Simply listen and be. Release the judging consciousness, just for now. </p>
<p>We think of the Solar Plexus, the seat of will, we might also think of attachment and expectation … hope.. what are these? </p>
<p>these are in the imagined future, and in engaging the mind in this way, one missing the present moment. For what? for an imagined enhanced version of now…. have you ever experienced an enhanced version of now? there was now with different circumstances, but the fundamental quality of the now itself has never changed. </p>
<p>Please take a second to notice this. </p>
<p>When we do this future faking with attachment or expectation, we substitute the present self, for an imagined accomplished and better self. Subconsciously, this is saying the present self is inadequate to have our needs met. </p>
<p>Now is that which is always here, there is no seeking or striving to get here. Here is always here, and Now is always Now. Now is always here and, when I am here it is also always now. There is nothing to be done about it. Simply drop the idea that something else needs to be achieved or occur to make this moment more complete… </p>
<p>and what happens? (the nervous system releases and relaxes) we live and let live and start to just chill and vibe. </p>
<p>Chill and vibe. Feels good right? </p>
<p>Allow life to be empty and without assigned meaning, and the irony is that it then becomes full. </p>
<p>Allow yourself to give up Hoping and the irony is that life then becomes filled with hope, Here and Now. </p>
<p>Does this mean take no action?… No.. do or don’t do. Create with out expectations. </p>
<p>Remember, there are no mental doings that will lead you back to non-doing. </p>
<p>non-doing with the mind is pure awareness. </p>
<p>We have been socialized that non doing in life is laziness, poor character. </p>
<p>and yet..What the seeker is seeking is non doing with the mind. </p>
<p>non-doing with the mind is pure awareness. </p>
<p>want nothing, have everything </p>
<p>expect nothing, have everything </p>
<p>Let go of seeking for an enlightenment and you will find it. Let go of grasping for oneness and you will obtain it.. it is here and now, it is right here with us, when we drop the concepts of the mind. </p>
<p>leave consuming one moment after the next in order a goal…. just leave it..look around now and see it was nothing. </p>
<p>Enjoy the process of life, and release the goal. </p>
<p>Meditation moves us in the right direction, but it still up to the meditator to drop it, and let it go. The practice points towards the non-doing stillness. </p>
<p>the so called future and the past are not real or ever 100% accurate. Fundamentally, the future and past are imaginings, and many times delusions. Realize that the future and past are creations arising within the mind within the present moment. </p>
<p>It is never not now. the minds resistance is persistent but futile. </p>
<p>this created self concept resists to exist. and its this resistance that has become subconscious. </p>
<p>The minds stories, beliefs and history exist, in order to support the self created identity… they r are futile and powerless against the now. </p>
<p>It is never not now. It can never be any other time than now. </p>
<p>There is no self in the now. Check and see. </p>
<p>This mind created self seeks existence through these imaginings and stories. This is the authoring of confusion. This is why the mind created self fears the now. There are no thoughts there, no fuel, supply or counterpoint for the mind’s existence. </p>
<p>This internal silence offer peace, but also destruction. ..but only destruction of what was not real. Allow the energy of this illusion to leave. This too will pass. Once the illusion has died you will find that you can fully Live. </p>
<p>Zooming out on the earth in time and space, we see a ball of life. A sea of Life arising, returning, waves of life, arising returning. arising returning to the earth. Your are that life, becoming conscious… you are the earth, the universe, becoming conscious not as a separate “me” with a name and goals and maybe that even seeks enlightenment… but as life itself, you as life itself are a wave in this ocean of life. Honor Life, Support Life, respect life, you are life. </p>
<p>Is there enlightenment? or awakening? The question and the words themselves are paradox. </p>
<p>There is only enlightenment from the “me” not for the me. </p>
<p>There is only awakening from the “me” not for the me. </p>
<p>There is no “me”. </p>
<p>The illusion was the “me”, that was imagined. The “me” relating to this or that, or this person or that person. this relationship or that relationship.. </p>
<p>Those are all stories of the self-created identity… which arises in the now as the memory of a history, and timeline… this forms a memory which is not raw, but filled with meaning and possible misperceptions. </p>
<p>all of these memory, history and stories serve the purpose for that SENSE of identity to exist, which it can’t… because it doesn’t… Just drop it. </p>
<p>You are that raw and pure awareness </p>
<p>Awareness looks and there is seeing. </p>
<p>Look around now. Look around the room, or wherever you are </p>
<p>No seer simply seeing </p>
<p>No hearer simply hearing. </p>
<p>No perceiver, simply perceiving </p>
<p>Drop the perceiver, just perceive </p>
<p>Try it… look around… just perceive. </p>
<p>Meditation occurs when the meditator is dropped. </p>
<p>Are you starting to see that this sense of a self is like an optical illusion of the mind. </p>
<p>Language is part of the trap. It was created to describe and label, which is to separate...and this inherently also creates a separator and controller, which is perceived as an imagined you. </p>
<p>Language is an inherently flawed medium for this message. Paradox may arise. However some releasing of concepts, beliefs and constructs is communicated. </p>
<p>The rest is vibrational. Everything is vibrational. </p>
<p>Remember, you are pure life with awareness, not as a separate sub-consciously defined self named “your name here”.. </p>
<p>Let’s take a moment to focus on the breath. </p>
<p>So Hum </p>
<p>I am </p>
<p>I am that </p>
<p>I am that… I am that I.. I am that I am… I am that I am that I am </p>
<p>there’s no other. </p>
<p>It’s a mirror into infinity. that is us. Children of the infinite. </p>
<p>Release this separation by the mind, that was ironically created for later sense of connection. See that it’s another paradox or fallacy of the so called ego. </p>
<p>Remember the subconsciously defined, and self-created sense of a self, needs to be created, and defended...constantly. created, and defended… created, and defended…. That takes a lot of energy, and produces a lot of thoughts… </p>
<p>notice when this impulse to create and defend arises… each time you notice, you create more space. </p>
<p>Remember, the so-called ego is not a separate entity either, it’s just a word that represents a misuse of the mind. </p>
<p>This again demonstrates the fundamental flaw of language in communicating these understandings. </p>
<p>release concepts and what arises is LOVE, Let go of preconceptions and what arises is LOVE. Let go of self, and what arises is LOVE. </p>
<p>This is letting go is not weakness, or giving up, it is strength and courage to say goodbye to an ILLUSION. </p>
<p>In truth there is no spirituality, or religion, no mysticism, no isms at all…. there is only truth and untruth. reality, or unreality. </p>
<p>the miracle is happening right now. </p>
<p>Put your hand over your heart, feel this rhythm that beats... it beats within each one of us here. Are you beating it? No, it’s being done. You are not doing it…it is being done. This rhythm connects us all. It’s origin and source remains a mystery… </p>
<p>the mystery is the actual answer. </p>
<p>the “i don’t know” is the answer. Allow “I don’t know” to arise. Allow “I don’t know” to free the sense of self, from the false knowing and stories that, that self requires. </p>
<p>Saying and accepting “I don’t know” is the destroyer of internal stories, and beliefs. </p>
<p>The ruminating internal storyteller seeks to fill in the gaps of not knowing with knowing what cannot be known. It does this with all manners of stories and beliefs. This ruminating storyteller creates meanings, and relationships in relation to the created sense of self. </p>
<p>This doesn’t mean to not seek knowledge, it means don’t fill in the gaps with false knowledge </p>
<p>Drop it the false knowledge. </p>
<p>Drop the created sense of self. which is habitually and subconsciously created over and over in the present moment. Drop the created sense of self. </p>
<p>This dropping IS the letting go. </p>
<p>Do you have trouble letting go of a movie or tv show that isn’t real? Of course not...you just drop it. </p>
<p>In this moment now, choose gratitude for this moment… </p>
<p>In this moment now be Love by being no one. </p>
<p>In this moment — now — be —— nothing. </p>
<p>Be </p>
<p>nothing </p>
<p>In </p>
<p>This </p>
<p>Perceive as nothing. Perceive as no one. Drop the imagination of being a some one. Everybody else has imagined another someone in your place anyway. None of that is you… None of it is real. </p>
<p>Allow the mind to drop the persistent creation of illusion. You are probably starting to notice it, and catch it already. The seed is being watered. It will grow in the space created with meditation. </p>
<p>The illusion will be seen and caught more and more and more, and as it is there will be more space. Now what you seek, will be less of unreality. Simply notice the unreal that is created by the mind, and subtract it. </p>
<p>If what is the seeker is seeking is the silent mind, drop meaning, drop filling in the gaps of not knowing... drop knowing what is unknowable. </p>
<p>Remember, The mind substitutes false knowledge in the place of not knowing. </p>
<p>simply drop it. by being here, now. </p>
<p>this... here… this now… is home, there was never any where else to arrive, there was never anyone else to become. </p>
<p>You are whole, and complete… as you always are… and as you always were. </p>
<p>this communication is a reminder for the created self-concept to return to reality of being nothing… nothing but pure awareness. </p>
<p>Remember, the created self only exists with the fuel of suffering and self righteousness </p>
<p>Now, be free… you already are</p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/63005902020-04-30T21:07:40-04:002022-05-24T10:29:09-04:00How to get into Theta State<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/60a33632e03ddf153eaab49f59a3e0a0c0059f8b/original/face-4776910-1920.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<h1>How to get into Theta State?</h1>
<p><a contents="Sound therapy" data-link-label="About Sound Therapy" data-link-type="page" href="/about-sound-therapy">Sound therapy</a> offers one possible solution for changing brainwave states. <a contents="Sound therapy" data-link-label="About Sound Therapy" data-link-type="page" href="/about-sound-therapy">Sound therapy</a> uses repetitive oscillations, or rhythms to entrain (synchronize) brainwaves into the desired state. Instruments such as Himalayan (Tibetan) singing bowls, and Crystal singing bowls produce these oscillations naturally. The theory is that over time our brainwaves, entrain or synchronize with the sound waves. This occurs via sympathetic entrainment. The human mind also have a natural tendency to follow frequencies and rhythms. This basic tendency has been used for thousands of years in indigenous music for shamanic ceremony, and more. Many forms of music may have the ability to entrain brainwaves to some degree.</p>
<p>Our basic brainwave states are below the range of human hearing. The basic ranges are:</p>
<ul> <li>Beta - above 12 Hz -- Normal waking consciousness </li> <li>Alpha - 8-12 Hz -- associated with deep relaxation, light meditation, or a twilight daydream state.</li> <li>Theta - 4-8 Hz -- associated with deep meditation, or a dream state.</li> <li>Delta - 0.1 to 3.5 Hz -- associated with deep dreamless sleep</li>
</ul>
<p>There is a also a Gamma state. A dominant Gamma state is rare. Meditation has been shown to enhance Gamma activity.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/e6f1879ec477d059e4be4bd5c2be470bca7e0b9c/original/sound-therapy-talk-003.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h3>How to get into Alpha State? </h3>
<p>Alpha State is the first range below Beta. Beta is the range we are most commonly in, during waking hours. Beta is associated with problem solving and engaging in basic day to day tasks. </p>
<p>Alpha range can be achieved with light meditation or breathwork. Because brainwaves are also related to breath rates, we can use the breath to move towards an Alpha State. </p>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/607608186&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>A simple exercise to move towards an Alpha State:</p>
<ul> <li>Inhale, counting to <strong>four </strong>seconds. Exhale, counting to <strong>five</strong> seconds (track above is this rhythm). Repeat for several minutes. as desired. To move a little deeper try inhaling for 5 seconds, and exhaling for 7 seconds.</li> <li>Inhale, counting to <strong>four</strong> seconds. Exhale, counting to <strong>six</strong> seconds. Repeat for several minutes. as desired. To move a little deeper try inhaling for 5 seconds, and exhaling for 7 seconds. </li>
</ul>
<p>I feel it's best for beginners to start with just a few minutes and gradually increase, day by day.</p>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/785539159&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="color:#9b59b6;"><span class="font_large"><strong><a contents="Try the synchronized breath practices and sounds&nbsp;in the free course: &nbsp;Sonic Relaxation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/frequency-based-relaxation">Try the synchronized breath practices and sounds in the free course: Sonic Relaxation</a> </strong></span></span></p>
<p>Besides meditation, other references for when the alpha state may be experienced are:</p>
<ul> <li>When drinking Matcha Green Tea. Matcha Tea is high in the amino acid L-theanine, which has been shown to move the brainwaves toward Alpha. The downside is that matcha tea may also contain higher than normal levels of fluoride, which may negatively affect the pineal gland (which produces melatonin). L-theanine can also be obtained as a standalone supplement where vitamins are sold.</li> <li>When having a glass of wine. A glass of wine can move one towards a relaxed alpha state. The downside is that alcohol can later disrupt the brainwaves, and also stimulate the release of cortisol (a stress hormone).</li> <li>When engaged in cardio activity. The "runners high" in addition to the natural feel good endorphins produced is also associated experiencing more alpha waves. Also meditative exercises like Tai Chi and Qi Gong, and Yoga are known to boost alpha waves.</li> <li>When listening to sound therapy, like <a contents="Binaural or Monaural Beats" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/1282601/f-tibetan-singing-bowls-heart-chakra-with-binaural-beat-6hz">Binaural or Monaural Beats</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How to get into Theta State?</h3>
<p>First let's take a look at the quality of Theta State. Theta state is also associated with "opening" (or becoming more aware of) our subconscious programs. It's like being on the border between our subconscious, and conscious minds and is normally experienced just before we are sleeping or even in a dream state. By engaging in a practice to encourage this Theta state from a more conscious place, a new practitioner may also experience an awareness of subconscious thought patterns. It is believed that we may also store repressed emotions, or fears in the subconscious. </p>
<p>I like to remember these <strong>anchors</strong>:</p>
<ul> <li>It is always NOW</li> <li>Choose Love, not fear</li> <li>Do no harm </li> <li>Observe (emotions and thoughts), but remember there is no need to "react".</li> <li>You always have choice regarding your responses, or actions</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/786869377&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>A simple practice to move towards a Theta State:</p>
<ul> <li>For Theta Inhale, counting to six seconds internally. Exhale, counting to nine seconds internally. Repeat. as desired. To move a little deeper try inhaling for 8 seconds, and exhaling for 12 seconds. Use the time counter on the track above for the breath beat. Sound therapy may help to move the brainwaves towards Theta State. If the breathing rhythm is uncomfortable take your own pace.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Theta: The Waking Dream State</h3>
<p>Bringing the mind to theta state is a bit more challenging. While it may be fairly easy to get into alpha state, theta state may require more time and practice. Why is this? We frequently enter Alpha state during our conscious, waking states and so our mind is used to navigating that territory during conscious states. Theta, however, is normally only fully experienced in a dream state while we are asleep. So, as one drifts towards this state the natural tendency is to also drift into sleep. </p>
<p>This "waking dream state" is associated with a more conscious experiencing of subconscious states. These are more common in "mystical", "hypnotic", or "meditative" states. It is helpful to have guidance when navigating these subconscious states, especially in that case that one has experienced trauma. I recommend discussing this with a trained therapist or doctor qualified to offer direction. </p>
<p>Children are also more commonly in a theta state in the earlier years of growth. This is a time when our minds our like a sponge and open to suggestion. Studies have show that our memories are state dependent. Entering theta state may also bring up childhood memories.</p>
<p>In the article below the study describes some of these <a contents='"waking dream"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/icl-acc111819.php" target="_blank">"waking dream"</a> brainwave states during the use of Ayahuasca, and Ketamine.</p>
<p>Theta brainwaves has also been shown to be increased when using Ayahuasca, or Ketamine. Here is an excerpt from a study conducted by <a contents="Erik Hoffman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://maps.org/news-letters/v11n1/11125hof.html" target="_blank">Erik Hoffman</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<em>"Ayahuasca is thought by indigenous people to give the individual access to unconscious, spiritual and transpersonal realms of experience. The psychological state induced by ayahuasca can be compared to other altered states of heightened unconscious activity such as meditation, hypnosis, etc. <strong>A number of studies have shown that the presence of theta waves in the EEG reflects subconscious activity, and people with increased EEG theta levels usually have better access to their subconscious feelings, imagery and memories</strong> (Green E. & Green A., 1977; Budzynski, T.H., 1986; Cowan, J., 1993; White, N.E., 1999). <strong>During states of increased awareness of subconscious activity</strong> (e.g. meditation, hypnotic trance, hypnagogic imagery) <strong>theta activity usually increases considerably.</strong> The presence of alpha waves in these states is important since they reflect conscious attention. If alpha amplitudes drop down it is a sign that the individual is losing consciousness. This is what happens when a person falls asleep. </em>
<p><em>Budzynski (1986) says <strong>"In contrast to the waking or deep sleep states, there is a very special state of light sleep. Identified by an EEG pattern of theta frequencies (4-7Hz), this transitory condition has been referred to as the reverie state, the fringe of consciousness, the pre-conscious, and the twilight stateÉ. During this rather brief period people often experience emergent, hallucinatory, dreamlike experiences that are more disjointed and brief than those dreams associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep</strong> A number of illustrious individuals from the fields of science, music, literature and art have credited the imagery produced during the twilight state for creative solutions or inspiring thoughts." (Budzynski, 1986, pp. 429-30). </em></p>
<p><em><strong>Ayahuasca seems to induce and expand the hypnagogic or twilight state</strong> (correlated with an increase of theta) and at the same time keeps the individual awake and conscious (correlated with an increase of alpha). <strong>These EEG changes are exactly the same as during deep meditation</strong> (Hoffmann, E. 1998). Thus, in some respects the <strong>ayahuasca-altered state is comparable to meditation and it is quite conceivable that ayahuasca facilitates meditation. </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>In an altered state of increased EEG theta and alpha activity the individual exhibits greater susceptibility and better conscious access to his unconscious realms of experience without interference from his critical, analytical mind which is silenced.</strong> This is exactly what happens in hypnosis and, we believe, during the altered state of consciousness induced by ayahuasca. However, in this latter state the individual is his own hypnotist and therapist. He may have new profound insights into his own behavior patterns and may learn to integrate previously unconscious material at a higher level of consciousness. In neurological terms the individual learns to raise, for example, emotional conflicts from a limbic to a neocortical level where the problems can be processed, understood and integrated. </em></p>
<p><em>These speculations are supported by extensive studies of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy done in Russia. Ketamine is an anaesthetic used in surgery which in small doses induces a profound psychedelic experience lasting for about an hour. Krupitsky and Grinenko (1998) reported a 3-4 fold increase of theta activity in all regions of the cortex following the ingestion of ketamine. These authors suggest that their findings of increased theta are "...evidence of limbic system activation during ketamine sessions, as well as evidence for the reinforcement of the limbic-cortex interaction. This fact can also be considered to a certain extent to be indirect evidence for the strengthening of the interactions between the conscious and subconscious levels of the mind during the KPT (Ketamine Psychedelic Therapy)", (Ibid. p. 60). </em></p>
<p><em>Our data do not support previous findings of cortical activation with decreased alpha and increased beta activity caused by psychedelics such as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin (Wikler A, 1954; Itil TM, 1968; Fink M, 1978). Neither can the hyperfrontality hypothesis with increased frontocortical activation (Vollenweider F.X., 1998) in psychedelic states be supported. The only significant EEG change we found in the frontal lobes was an increase of theta waves reflecting a state of deep relaxation and reverie. Thus, ayahuasca seems to have different effects on brain functions than the traditional psychedelics (LSD, mescaline, psilocybin). Our findings rather point to a similarity between the altered states produced by ayahuasca and marihuana which both appear to stimulate the brain to produce more alpha waves (Fink M, 1976, Lukas et al., 1995). </em></p>
<p><em>Ayahuasca has a long history of use for healing and spiritual purposes in shamanistic rituals in South America (Metzner, R., 1999). Psychological long-term effects of ayahuasca have been investigated recently by Grob et al., (1996) who compared a group of 15 long-term users with 15 controls with no prior use of ayahuasca. The assessment included psychiatric diagnostic interviews, personality and neuropsychological testing. The study reported considerable remission from certain psychopathology and substance abuse among the long-term users with no evidence of personality or cognitive disturbances. Overall assessment revealed a high functional status of ayahuasca users with no safety issues (Grob, C.S. et al., 1996; Grob C.S., 1999). If further studies support the notion that ayahuasca opens up people to their unconscious feelings and memories and gives them an opportunity to explore new psychological insights, ayahuasca might be used as a valuable adjunct to psychotherapy."</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>----</em></p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2FvzzcgS2sJmH6K&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="zoogle-track-widget" data-height="510" data-style="border: 1px solid #9E9E9E; max-width: 510px;" data-width="100%" href="https://bandzoogle.com/albums/259779/1545149309/1571037.html">Embed for Sonic Relaxation Mini Course</a><script src="https://bandzoogle.com/albums/259779/1545149309/1571037.js"></script></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/61526342020-01-23T11:32:16-05:002021-06-28T11:20:47-04:00Are Chakras Real or Conceptual?<p>Is there any scientific proof for the Chakras? Are Chakras real of conceptual? Chakras are not recognized by science. However, the idea of the chakras serves as a framework from which we can describe the mind/body connection. Chakras literally means spinning wheels. Which serves as a description of the different energy centers in our body. Language is imperfect, and to top it off sometimes we speak imperfectly, which leaves room for confusion. While the mind can be deceptive, the body usually doesn't lie. We may learn over time to mask, or mute our physical sensations, however part of "awakening" is learning to feel our physical sensations again, and process what they are telling us. </p>
<h3>The Concept of the Chakras </h3>
<p>The idea of the chakras comes from the East, and the idea is many thousands of years old. Sometimes, in Western culture today, we have different sayings for the “energy” we feel in our bodies. These might be things like: “I have butterflies in my stomach”, or ‘my heart is heavy”. Of course, if in a thousand years from now, someone read this, they might say that sounds ignorant and superstitious and “they thought that they literally had butterflies in their stomach” when they were nervous, or that “their heart literally got heavier” when they felt sadness. Of course, these are just descriptions of feelings that we all have, but find hard to put into language. So, in a way we might consider looking at the language of the Chakras in the same way. </p>
<p>The chakras represent gradations of energy from more dense to more subtle. This is represented by colors (of the rainbow) which go from denser (red) to more subtle (violet). These are literally lower to higher frequencies. The same pattern holds in the musical scale which goes from a "root" note, through a scale and finally to its octave before the pattern of frequencies repeats. These are also a series of lower to higher frequencies. These are also in series of seven. Seven colors in the rainbow. Seven notes in a musical scale. Seven major Chakras. The idea of matching colors of musical notes to the chakras is a way of representing the gradations of energy, both physically and psychologically. We can see throughout nature that energy expresses itself in these same gradations from dense to subtle. There are also mantras said to relate / resonate to the chakras called the Bija mantras, as well as nature sounds that relate to the chakras. </p>
<p>Psychologically, the lower frequencies (in the framework of the chakras) relate to the having our material needs met, creation, exercise of will. The higher frequencies relate to Love, power to manifest, clarity and connection to the Divine (the Ultimate Truth). So, this covers pretty much all of the areas of our human lives from material concerns to (spiritual) connection. </p>
<p>Part of the goal of meditation, and many mind body practices is to begin the process of tuning our awareness into these finer levels of perception and perhaps also re-defining what we think we already know. </p>
<h3>Chakras and the Endocrine System </h3>
<p>The closest medical or scientific correspondence to the idea of the chakras that we have is the endocrine and digestive systems, and so for most of the “chakras” there is corresponding physical component. </p>
<p>They are: </p>
<ul> <li>Root - Adrenal glands </li> <li>Sacral - Sexual glands </li> <li>Solar Plexus - Gut </li> <li>Heart - (Thymus) and heart </li> <li>Throat - Thyroid </li> <li>Third Eye - Pineal, Pituitary </li>
</ul>
<p>There are also common Emotions and feelings (physical sensations) associated with these: </p>
<ul> <li>Root: Common emotion / feeling = fear and unease, tingling at base of spine OR "groundedness" and feeling of safety, belonging </li> <li>Sacral: Common emotion / feeling = sexual arousal, acceptance, creation OR no arousal, repulsion, rejection </li> <li>Solar Plexus: Common emotion / feeling = solid center, clarity of purpose and will OR butterflies, tingling in gut, apprehension </li> <li>Heart: Common emotion / feeling = Love, feeling heart/chest expanding OR grief, guilt, pressure, sinking feeling in chest </li> <li>Throat: Common emotion / feeling = ease in communication OR hard to formulate ideas, words, communicate. tightness in throat </li> <li>Third Eye: Common emotion / feeling = Clarity, ability to understand. gentle tingling, or pressure between brow OR paranoia, delusion </li>
</ul>
<p>The ideas of the chakras can be a very useful framework for bringing awareness to this mind body system and beginning to illuminate the sometimes unconscious cause and effect relationship that we have within our own bodies. Once we begin to understand this cause and effect relationship between the thoughts we have, and the feeling within the body, it can begin to serve as a roadmap to a greater understanding of self. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/69ffce0f810444317b2c3eb6bfdffe4814d72e48/original/spiritualism-4552237-640.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h3>Sound Frequency and Chakras</h3>
<p>Scientifically speaking, we do know that sound can be felt in the body. We do know that different frequencies may have different effects on the body. We know that sound can affect brainwaves, and heart beat and may affect neurotransmitters and perhaps other chemicals in the body. We do know that sounds can be a valuable tool for relaxation, and that sounds and targeted frequencies are also even beginning to be used as a medical tool. </p>
<p>On a purely anecdotal note. One of the things I began to notice after a time of awakening, was that I had greater access to the physical sensations in my body. I noticed that I was more able feel subtle sounds in my body, and that I also could feel emotions/thoughts in different areas of my body. I do also experience physical responses in certain “chakras” (areas of the body) to certain sounds. It is this personal experience that led me to choose many of the tones (and instruments) that I use in what I create. </p>
<p>Sounds (frequency) are also energy, and is a valuable tool for physical and mental relaxation. The external vibrations can sooth, and how our mind is affected can sooth from within. Sound as therapy has helped me, in times of stress, to “get out of my head”, and back into my body where I can reconnect to the feelings that were once “shut down”. As I learn to relax, I can begin to see things more closely “as they are” and not only how they relate to the mind created “identity”. Sounds can work physically and mentally. </p>
<p>We are the producer and experiencer of our own stress, and how we react to our thoughts can create stress or relaxation. Understanding this dynamic is key to understanding the mind body connection. Understanding the concept and framework of the energetic system of the chakras can be useful and helpful for understanding where that energy is likely to manifest in the body. Read more from these previous blogs. </p>
<p><a contents="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">https://sonicyogi.com/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress</span></a><span style="color:#8e44ad;"> </span></p>
<p><a contents="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/producer-experiencer-part-2" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/producer-experiencer-part-2"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/producer-experiencer-part-2</span></a><span style="color:#8e44ad;"> </span></p>
<p>In my opinion the main idea is to look at this existing framework of the chakras as a way of beginning to understand our mind/ body connection and begin to understand the the origins of our stress and where it might manifest in the body. By understanding the relationship of the body and mind, and through practice, I feel it’s possible for anyone and everyone to find freedom from this unconscious and repetitive stress. That has been my personal experience and is what inspires me to share and create. </p>
<h2>Finding Balance </h2>
<p>Ultimately, “balancing our chakras” is an inside job, and each person has to do the work of refining perceptions and subconscious reactions. The first step is to just begin to tune back in to our feelings. </p>
<p>Sound and frequency as a relaxing therapy can be a valuable tool in this work of finding balance, relaxing the mind and body, and getting out of the "thinking mind" and returning to "feeling" within the body. </p>
<p>There is more information on chakras and sound in the course <a contents='"Healing through Sound and Frequency"' data-link-label="Course" data-link-type="page" href="/course"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">"Healing through Sound and Frequency"</span></a><span style="color:#8e44ad;">. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Also, click <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="Listen" data-link-type="page" href="/listen" target="_blank">HERE</a> to find <span style="color:#8e44ad;"><a contents='Chakra Based Tibetan recordings here, on the "listen" page' data-link-label="Listen" data-link-type="page" href="/listen">Chakra Based Tibetan recordings</a>.</span></span></p>
<p>Namaste </p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="52" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2FvzzcgS2sJmH6K&theme=light" width="100%"></iframe></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/60480182019-12-27T13:01:55-05:002021-04-22T10:20:47-04:00Be the Love you Seek (New Album)<p>Here are some notes for each track of the album <a contents='"Be the Love you Seek"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/1379560/be-the-love-you-seek"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">"Be the Love you Seek"</span></a><span style="color:#8e44ad;"> </span> (release date: Jan. 2020).</p>
<p>Album notes: </p>
<p><a contents="Be the Love you Seek" data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/1379560/be-the-love-you-seek"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">Be the Love you Seek</span></a> is a fusion of musical expression with elements of sound therapy to assist in guiding the listener towards relaxation. Instruments include Classical Guitar, Tibetan (Himalayan) Singing Bowls, Gong, Percussion and Native American Flute. (432hz and 936hz tunings) </p>
<p>Tracks 1 - 7 are musically based featuring classical guitar and Tibetan Singing Bowls. Tracks 3, 4, 5, and 7 share the same tonal center (B) in the tuning of 936hz (third eye chakra). Tracks 8 - 11 move towards a sound therapy based approach, culminating with a guided meditation in the final track. </p>
<p>I originally envisioned Tracks 3, 4, 5, and 7 as a sort of “suite”. I decided on separating some of them for the pacing of the CD. These are in the tuning of 936hz which I have found to be stimulating for the Ajna (Third Eye) Chakra. </p>
<p>Credits: Instruments performed, recorded and mixed by Jonathan Adams. Vocals by Jonathan Adams and Octavia Nasr (Om Shanti mantra). </p>
<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/b03c09d08f8114fb4deb1904977d20305ae836c1/original/albumcover.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">Click <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://album.link/i/1495435272" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see other platforms you can stream this album.</span></span></p>
<p>Track Titles: </p>
<p>1. <a contents="Montana Skies" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2102766/montana-skies">Montana Skies</a> (432hz) 4:14 </p>
<p>Montana Skies was written in the early 2000’s. It is about the beauty of Montana. I first visited Montana when I was 19 to study guitar at Montana State University with Christopher Parkening. It was an amazing time both artistically, and to be in the natural beauty of Montana. I have realized in the years since that the joy I felt was not only because of these circumstances, but from within me. Later, I would often think of these times and feel that joy again and again. Montana Skies is a reminder, that all I seek is inside of me already. </p>
<p>2. <a contents="December Sun" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2102783/december-sun">December Sun</a> (432hz) 4:58 </p>
<p>December Sun is an instrumental that was originally named "December Mourning". Now, this feels more like a reflection on the winter sun. The Sun being source of life on our planet, and a cause for contemplation on it’s power and the grace it shines down on us all. </p>
<p>3. <a contents="Dharmalodic" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2102786/dharmalodic">Dharmalodic</a> 6:49 </p>
<p>Dharmalodic is a an improvisation on a groove. “Dharmalodic” being a fusion of the words Dharma (truth), and melodic (for music). For me, meaning that music and frequency is a reminder of the truth of vibration, a subtle energy of the physical world. While the "realm of words” can be filled with untruths, and crafted confusion. The physical world of vibration speaks truth directly to our hearts and minds. This is accompanied by a bowl in 936 tuning (234 is the actual fundamental of the bowl, with many overtones above that.) </p>
<p>4. <a contents="Ajna (Classical Guitar Meditation)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2102789/ajna-meditation-for-classical-guitar-brainwave-entrainment-mix">Ajna (Classical Guitar Meditation)</a> 9:20 </p>
<p>This is an improvisation on a looped phrase. This is also accompanied by a bowl in 936 tuning (234). The repetitive nature of the accompaniment supports the improvisatory melody. Ajna is the sanskrit name for the third eye Chakra. The third eye chakra is considered by some to be the pineal gland. The pineal regulates our circadian rhythms and produces melatonin, as well as other chemicals. It is theorized that the pineal may also produce the psychedelic chemical “DMT”, which may be responsible for mystical states, and which is found in the Amazonian psychedelic brew “Ayahuasca”. Studies have shown that music therapy can also stimulate melatonin production. </p>
<p>5. <a contents="Om Shanti Mantra:" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2102956/om-shanti-mantra-prayer-for-peace-featuring-octavia-nasr">Om Shanti Mantra:</a> Prayer for Peace (feat. Octavia Nasr) 7:37 </p>
<p>Another in the 936 series, this chant is by Octavia Nasr (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Nasr) who I frequently accompany for yoga practices, or perform together. The Chant (in Sanskrit) is: </p>
<p>Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya | <br>Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya | <br>Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya | <br>Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih </p>
<p>The prayer for Peace at the end is derived from the chant itself. </p>
<p>Here is a general interpretation of the chant: </p>
<p>Om, (O Lord) Keep me not in (the Phenomenal World of) Unreality, but make me go towards the Reality (of Eternal Self), <br>Keep me not in (the Ignorant State of) Darkness, but make me go towards the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge), <br>Keep me not in (the World of) Mortality, but make me go towards the World of Immortality (of Self-Realization), </p>
<p>6.<a contents=" Introspection: Yoga is Union" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2102978/introspection-yoga-is-union"> Introspection: Yoga is Union</a> 4:20 </p>
<p>This instrumental contemplation, is in the key of Am, and features guitar, percussion and voice. </p>
<p>7. <a contents="Finding Theta" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2103360/finding-theta">Finding Theta</a> 7:26 </p>
<p>This piece contains repetitive layers of melodies that are repeating, and also changing. This is also accompanied by a bowl in 936 tuning (234). As the name suggests, these repeated coming around and around again is about finding Theta state (brainwave state).A sort of musical analogy of a meditation practice. The nature sounds I recorded in various places, the bugs and crickets are from Ohio and the Southeast. The Ocean waves are from Akumal Beach in Mexico. I feel that nature is the original "sound therapy”. I like to think of the sounds of nature as a beautiful accompaniment (pad) to the music… much like the droning accompaniment of a tamboura in Indian music. </p>
<p>8. <a contents="Awakening in the Dream (Note to Self)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2103396/awakening-in-the-dream-note-to-self">Awakening in the Dream (Note to Self)</a> 6:51 </p>
<p>This piece begins the “sound therapy” portion of the album. This poem came to me one night after a dream, and I spoke it into my iPhone. The dream was about running from fear. Here is a post from my blog about the poem: </p>
<p>A few months ago I had a dream that woke me up around 5am. The dream, which I still remember vividly, was me in a ballroom, dancing around with characters. These characters were cartoonish, almost like characters from Alice in Wonderland. There were giant teapots, clowns and entities that really had no shape or form. We were in a ballroom, and there was light coming in from windows and a garden. In the dream I knew that these entities, and characters were all fears. I remember dancing for a while in the ballroom, knowing that I could control them with my mind, just by not interacting with them, and that there really was nothing to fear from them. They were immaterial, just caricatures created by my mind, representatives in my psyche. Then I got tired of being there and decided to run. There was a staircase in the corner of the room, and I ran for it. The staircase lead me down away from the ballroom and away from the light of the windows. As I went down the winding staircase, I felt relief at being away from these characters, these "fears" were behind me. As I ran down the staircase the light became dimmer as I descended into the darkness of the winding stairwell. The walls were also closing in gradually, inch by inch with each flight of stairs. The walls were made of egg crate foam. Eventually, I could hear these entities, these "fears" running down the stairs after me. The walls were very close now and the egg crate foam on the walls was squeezing in on both sides. It was very dark now and I couldn't run any more. I would have to turn and run back up. I would also have to fight these fears on the way back up. I sensed they had grown in strength and could hear them laughing as they descended. It would be an uphill battle going back up. I knew I could do it though, I had done it before. I had learned to dance in the presence of those fears like they weren't there. It was only when I ran, that they gained in power. </p>
<p>In real life, I faced many overwhelming fears in the heart of my anxiety and awakening process and occasionally still do. I faced fears of my own perceived inadequacies. I faced fears of letting down other people. I faced fear of my own selfishness and desires and the guilt and shame that went with that. Fear that just being me was not enough to be loved. Fear that showing the real me would result in rejection. Many times facing these fears was horrifying and felt very real. I gradually learned though that when I faced my fears they lost power, they disappeared or shrank. Gradually, I began to be more empowered to just be ME and not allow these fears to control me. By facing my fears I could change my behavior and be comfortable outside of my comfort zone (this box that framed my perceived identity and reality.) There truly is nothing to fear, but fear itself. It's a daily process and a daily realization, for me, to Choose Love and not fear in every moment. </p>
<p>As I laid there in bed thinking about this dream, this poem came to me. I spoke it out into my iphone so that I would remember it. — </p>
<p>9. <a contents="Third Eye Flute Interlude" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2103436/third-eye-flute-interlude">Third Eye Flute Interlude</a> 3:40 </p>
<p>This flute interlude was recording in a tunnel between the Big Sky ski lodge and parking late one night. I thought the long concrete tunnel had an excellent natural reverb and stayed in there for hours enjoying the sound. This is a snippet of that improvisation. The cedar flute is also in 936 hz tuning and was made by Lee Nix of Farpoint flutes. </p>
<p>10. <a contents="Gong Bath Zen (Sound Therapy)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2103438/gong-bath-zen-sound-therapy">Gong Bath Zen (Sound Therapy)</a> 7:30 — </p>
<p>This is a “gong bath”. A therapeutic soak in the frequencies of the gong. While gongs contain almost too many tones to keep track of, this also hovers around the 936hz tuning. The waters were recorded by the shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. </p>
<p>11. <a contents="Guided Chakra Meditation (Be the Love you Seek)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="track" href="/track/2103474/guided-chakra-meditation-be-the-love-you-seek">Guided Chakra Meditation (Be the Love you Seek)</a> 8:00 </p>
<p>This guided Chakra meditation was originally published as part of the course “Heal with the power of sound and frequency” for the Insight Timer meditation app. The set of singing bowls in the background are from a “Chakra Set” of bowls that I began collecting around 2012. The root bowl is around the tone of C# (the tone for the earth 136.1) and the rest of the chakra tones are building on that in a scale. The affirmations for each chakra are based around the concept/energy of Love. Love, being the rosetta stone of all self-understanding in my opinion, and something that is continually unfolding. Be the Love you seek”, is one of the affirmation here, and is one that I wrote down for myself during my earlier experience with anxiety. The idea being that I realized in my lifelong search for love outside of myself (from others) that it was only found within, and when I practiced what I desired to receive (kindness, respect, integrity compassion), that it naturally showed up more and more in my life. </p>
<p>—— </p>
<p>My hope is that some might enjoy some of the songs individually, but also as a relaxing program that may also be enjoyed from start to finish in a relaxing session. </p>
<p>Total time 1 hour 11 minutes </p>
<p>(1:10:44)</p>
<p>Reviews:</p>
<p>Dick Metcalf of Contemporary Fusion Reviews</p>
<p><a contents="https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/beautiful-sound-therapy/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/beautiful-sound-therapy/" target="_blank">https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/beautiful-sound-therapy/</a></p>
<p>Diane Garris, Zone Music reporter</p>
<p><a contents="http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrdcmmt=16703" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrdcmmt=16703" target="_blank">http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrdcmmt=16703</a></p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">Click </span><a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/1379560/be-the-love-you-seek" target="_blank"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">HERE</span></a><span style="color:#8e44ad;"> to buy Album</span></span></strong></p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Falbum.link%2FwmS6KhCVjKZ4H&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/59247122019-10-13T11:35:23-04:002022-05-11T05:00:14-04:00Healing Frequencies List<h3><strong>Can frequencies heal? </strong></h3>
<p>In my view, there are two ways to approach, or interpret, the term "sound healing”. In a broad sense “healing” might refer to any therapy that can help one to feel whole and complete again. When one is stressed the mind and body can feel fractured. Sounds and frequencies can be a great help in returning to a state of relaxation and wholeness.</p>
<p>In a more specific sense, the word “healing” might refer something that is curative, for a very specific ailment. </p>
<p>I like to consider sound and frequency as a healing modality from each of these perspectives. </p>
<p>My primary focus is in creating relaxing music to calm the mind and the body. There is also beginning to be a resurgence by medical practitioners of using ultrasound and <a contents="healing frequencies" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3845545/">healing frequencies</a> in specific ways for healing acute medical conditions. (See more video - <a contents="Curing with sound" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbDZzBcMd5E&t=495s" target="_blank">Curing with sound</a>) </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/73b248746917233d16e29efc782645622e4ac4cc/original/screen-shot-2019-10-13-at-11-49-13-am.png" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<h3>What does 432 hertz refer to? Is this a healing frequency?</h3>
<p>432hz is the pitch of A in a tuning that is also called Pythagorean Tuning. In music there is generally a standard pitch that musicians tune to. This allows musicians to always know what tuning to take, so that they can play in tune to each other. The standard tuning today is generally at 440hz or 440 cycles per second. 440hz is the note of A. </p>
<p>432 is the note of A (just like 440hz), but is 8hz lower that the standard that we are used to hearing. While this is a very close and may be hardly noticeable, some interesting numerical patterns begin to emerge at this tuning. First in the tuning of 432 many of the various notes are numerically even. Meaning they don’t contain decimals. So, the A 432 tuning is generally referred to as being more harmonic. There is a lot debate about 432 being more harmonic or having a different effect on the listener than 440, but this is still interesting to note. </p>
<p>When I play guitar I generally tune in 432, and I also play Native American flutes tuned in 432. I also like experiment with other tunings and frequencies to see what might resonate with me. </p>
<h3>Healing Frequencies and Pythagoras: </h3>
<p>So, back to 432 and Pythagorean tuning. Pythagoras, more widely known as the father of geometry could also be credited as pioneer in music as well. Pythagoras was the first to discover that changing the length of a vibrating string also altered its pitch, and that various ratios of those string lengths created harmonic, relationships. For example, Pythagoras noticed that when a string was halved it produced a tone an octave higher than the original length. So the different string lengths or ratios give us the intervals in music that we are used to hearing everyday. We attribute this discovery to Pythagoras. </p>
<p><strong>Pythagoras also believed that sounds could heal.</strong> Pythagoras taught students about divine harmony, and the harmony of the planets. Pythagoras believed that sounds and certain intervals could heal the soul, and that music could purify the mind. Pythagoras life and discoveries are fascinating and I will explore more in another post. </p>
<h4>About the frequencies listed: </h4>
<p>The chart above is a frequency chart of in Pythagorean Tuning. A healing frequencies list of Pythagorean tuning. The grid is created starting at 1 and creating a row across in 3’s and a column created vertically by doubling by 2’s. The grid that is formed that contains the frequencies of various pitches C G D A etc. This cycle of notes is know as the <a contents="circle of fifths" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_fifths">circle of fifths</a>. In this grid, 432 is the pitch for A that naturally emerges. A is commonly used as a reference pitch for tuning. This “A” note is what the term 432 tuning refers to, as you can see in the frequency chart above. </p>
<p>In the A column of this grid there are also other interesting numbers that emerge. Like the number 108 which occurs frequently in yogic practice. You’ve probably heard of the practice of completing 108 Sun salutations. 108 is also the number of Mala beads on a meditation necklace. The wrist bands usually have 27 beads, which is also another octave of A, and I believe that the rosary has 54 beads. It is also interesting that every octave of A in the 432 tuning adds up to equal 9. </p>
<p><strong>In fact, every number on this grid is a factor of 9! </strong></p>
<p>In this same grid there other numbers emerge like 144 which appears in many sacred texts (that is a D note), and also 186644 which is very close to the speed of light. That is an F# note.. </p>
<p>There are also some interesting videos on youtube, which I will create links to. As a small disclaimer, I will say that don’t necessarily agree with all of the content of these, but they are great for spurring thought and further research into some of these connections. </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="FY74AFQl2qQ" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/FY74AFQl2qQ/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FY74AFQl2qQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="-3gLxPdamK8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/-3gLxPdamK8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-3gLxPdamK8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<h3>A list of other healing frequencies for the body:</h3>
<p><strong>40hz frequency for healing</strong></p>
<p>In the video below Dr. Lee Bartel explores the frequencies for healing. Dr. Bartel discovered that the 40hz frequency seems to stimulate greater harmony and signaling in the brain. His research shows improvements in Parkinsons, Alzheimers and Fibromyalgia. Dr. Bartel has decades of experience and research exploring the healing potential of sound. He has served as Professor Emeritus of Music and Health and Music Education and at the University of Toronto.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="wDZgzsQh0Dw" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/wDZgzsQh0Dw/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wDZgzsQh0Dw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Article: The Effect of 40-Hz Light Therapy on Amyloid Load in Patients with Prodromal and Clinical Alzheimer’s Disease</p>
<p><a contents="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijad/2018/6852303/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijad/2018/6852303/" target="_blank">https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijad/2018/6852303/</a></p>
<p><strong>Alpha and Theta Brainwave frequencies</strong></p>
<p>Alpha brainwaves are produced when one is in a relaxed state. Alpha Brainwaves signal the parasympathetic nervous system that all is well and it is time to relax. In this relaxed state the body can repair and rejuvenate. The range for Alpha and Theta Brainwaves is between 5 and 12hz.</p>
<p>Studies also show that increasing Alpha brainwaves are effective for treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder. </p>
<p>Article: Effects of Increase in Amplitude of Occipital Alpha & Theta Brain Waves on Global Functioning Level of Patients with GAD</p>
<p><a contents="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4741268/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4741268/" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4741268/</a></p>
<p>Article: Alpha Brain Waves boost creativity and reduce depression</p>
<p><a contents="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201504/alpha-brain-waves-boost-creativity-and-reduce-depression" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201504/alpha-brain-waves-boost-creativity-and-reduce-depression" target="_blank">https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201504/alpha-brain-waves-boost-creativity-and-reduce-depression</a></p>
<p><strong>Rife Frequencies</strong></p>
<p>Royal Rife was an American Doctor and Inventor. Rife invented a device which created vibration intended to destroy pathogenic cells. He claimed to have found frequencies in which these pathogenic cells were destroyed. <a contents="Lists of Rife's healing frequencies" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://rifevideos.com/dr_rifes_true_original_frequencies.html" target="_blank">Lists of Rife's healing frequencies</a> can be found widely online.</p>
<p>These lists show the frequency at which the pathogen is destroyed by the vibration. This works similar to the way a wine glass can be <a contents="shattered by the resonant" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w0_kazbb_U" target="_blank">shattered by the resonant</a> frequencies of an opera singer.</p>
<p>Examples from a list of Rife's healing frequencies include:</p>
<p><strong>E. Coli - 8020hz</strong></p>
<p><strong>Staph - 7270 hz</strong></p>
<p><strong>Strep - 8450 hz</strong></p>
<p><strong>Typhoid Fever - 1,445,000hz</strong></p>
<p>Rife's worked was dismissed as fraudulent by the AMA. Interestingly, now many years after Rife's passing there are treatments that work using similar concepts and implementation. For example, <a contents="Ultrasonic Cavitation" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEDRckHrGqE" target="_blank">Ultrasonic Cavitation</a>, is now a widely available service using sound frequencies to destroy and remove fat cells from the body.</p>
<p>To learn more about Rife's work visit <a contents="RifeVideos.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://RifeVideos.com" target="_blank">RifeVideos.com</a></p>
<p>Also similar to Rife's basic concept, this new technology uses Ultrasound to mechanically destroy targeted cells.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="GKh2XFmsUx4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/GKh2XFmsUx4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKh2XFmsUx4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Are healing frequencies lists, pseudoscience?</strong></p>
<p>There are various lists of "healing frequencies" you might find around the internet. There are many of these sites that do not seem interested in providing legitimate information. There are many that are completely bogus, claiming to offer frequencies for the things like "Liver detox" or "B12 deficiency". In some cases I have even had my sounds used without permission and labeled as such. Many of these types of sites are simply seem interested in monetizing youtube plays, or some other monetization scheme.</p>
<p>This can create confusion, and it is unfortunate, as there is beginning to be more and more legitimate scientific research into the healing power of sound and frequency. </p>
<p>While here are great strides that are beginning to be made in the area of sound, frequency and medicine, a degree of skepticism is certainly warranted when coming across sites that offer a prescriptive list of healing frequencies. Check with your Doctor or wellness practitioner to verify any claims, or proposed treatments. I have no doubt that at some point in the future, specific frequencies will be applied to specific issues. However there is much more progress to be made in this area. </p>
<p>Sound and frequency however, are well proven for their ability to help the mind and body enter states of deeper relaxation and meditation. It is also well known that these relaxed states may be healing for the mind and body. I imagine that in the near future the potential of sound will meet with the more and more validation from researchers and wellness practitioners.</p>
<p><strong>Final Note</strong></p>
<p>While It is interesting to understand these numerical and frequency relationships, in my opinion, it is very beneficial to general wellness to simply stay focused on refining awareness through meditation. Ultimately, knowledge comes from awareness. With awareness of our own mind and body connection we can grow in understanding of how we react to things and how our perceptions affect the nervous system. Understanding this mind body connection can help one to manage internal states of stress. This level of understanding can lead to compassion, and caring for ourselves and others. Therapeutic sounds and can be an excellent tool for relaxation and meditation.</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong><a contents='Stream, or download sounds for relaxation and meditation here on the "Listen" page.' data-link-label="Listen" data-link-type="page" href="/listen" target="_blank"><span style="color:#8e44ad;">Click HERE to stream or download sounds for relaxation and meditation.</span></a></strong></span></p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2FvzzcgS2sJmH6K&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577122018-06-08T09:27:00-04:002021-01-11T15:42:18-05:00Every thing comes, and goes<p>Everything that comes also goes. </p>
<p>Thoughts come and go. </p>
<p>Possessions come and go. </p>
<p>Desires come and go. </p>
<p>Even personality goes thru changes, and yet there is a part of you that has never changed. There is the unchanging part of you. Focus on that. </p>
<p>Focus not on the changing thoughts, but the breath. Put your attention there..breathing in... breathing out.. During all of these changes, the breath has been your ceaseless companion. Who is it that focuses? </p>
<p>So, are the thoughts that arise in your mind just a sort of resistance to being in the present moment? Do these thoughts need the "future" and the "past" in order to exist? Are they just storehouses in some corner of the mind, for unresolved issues, or unmet needs? ...."I will confront that problem someday.. or I will apologize for that wrong from the past."Someday I will have what I need". </p>
<p>Release your resistance. Do not strive, or try.. </p>
<p>Beyond the identity that fuels this resistance is.. is I AM. </p>
<p>Find the flow. Tune in again.. </p>
<p>Do not waste your time, looking for something better here or there. </p>
<p>Desire is resistance to the present moment. The fuel of desire is a sense of lack, deficiency. </p>
<p>Being present right here and now is the only place Love can be...and it's truly the only place you CAN ever BE. </p>
<p>Invest your attention in this moment NOW, and what your Heart truly desires will be yours. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/system/b69b5a6787e1b0d7add65864c2683b809749cd83/original/misc-11.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2Fs%2F6UMbwL9wgdaGxzI5IePQKL&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
<p><em><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></em></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577132016-09-26T11:24:00-04:002021-01-11T15:42:41-05:00Forgive Yourself, Accept Yourself<p><span style="font-size: default;">Forgive yourself for the big things... but also the little things...</span><br><br><span style="font-size: default;">Don't beat yourself up for things you can't control... or even things that you could have. What's done is done and you gotta let it go.. people beat themselves up way too much.. some people do it out loud.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: default;">Notice all the times you beat yourself up during the day.. notice when those self critical thoughts come and say "you shoulda done this, or that..or said this or that...you big dummy." Would you say half these things to others? ..or be so critical of them in the first place? </span><br><br><span style="font-size: default;"><b>Realize that the perspective that is taken, is creating a relationship with yourself. This relationship is remembered, and becomes the template for your Self identity.</b> It is this perspective will shape interactions with others and yourself. It is up to each of us to change that relationship from negative to positive, no one else can do it for you.</span></p>
<p><br><span style="font-size: default;">Always do your best, and begin treating yourself with kindness, in each and every moment. Catch the negative dialogue before it begins, and change it to one of acceptance, love and kindness. </span></p>
<p>Become your own best advocate and partner.<br><br><span style="font-size: default;">This is also the only way to truly be kind to others.</span><br><br><br>PS> if you are around someone that is constantly critical and negative, notice that they can only do it with your permission. Many times they do this to control you, and also to have a punching bag for their own self-developed sense of inadequacy. Start accepting yourself anyway, and notice what happens. Odds are that they will either change, or leave.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPziXKiiAkU/V-k9iVDRjHI/AAAAAAAAAbg/jBc_jvveSLUn_smw17OKAY_sF48kNnmSwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-09-26%2Bat%2B11.23.30%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPziXKiiAkU/V-k9iVDRjHI/AAAAAAAAAbg/jBc_jvveSLUn_smw17OKAY_sF48kNnmSwCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-09-26%2Bat%2B11.23.30%2BAM.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2Fs%2F6UMbwL9wgdaGxzI5IePQKL&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
<p> </p>
<p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577142016-07-30T21:18:00-04:002021-01-11T15:43:37-05:00Are you giving away your power?<div class="p1">
<p><span class="font_regular">What external things are you giving your power (over your own nervous system) to? What are you giving your power away to? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Ultimately, most mental stress is caused by giving power to something outside of you (that is not you...) over YOU (and your nervous system). </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">In nearly all cases, the stress is caused by fear. Nearly all of the time, the issue itself is not "real", in the strictest sense of its ability to "make" you feel stress. However, the reaction in your nervous system that is caused by a mental attachment to the issue IS certainly real. The resulting stress IS absolutely real. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">----------------------- </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Looking back, I can see many of the things that I used to unconsciously give control of my nervous system to, and by default also my overall sense of well being. Many of these things I reflexively and unconsciously gave my control and power over to... although I didn't realize that I had a choice. Many of those mental transactions occurred on a completely subconscious level. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Here are a few common examples: (ps..there are thousands, and thousands of these... the key, I think, is in tuning into our own awareness to flow in the present moment... not trying to teach the intellect to constantly be on the look out for these types of things. Having said that..here goes--) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">In the current political season we can look and see that what fear mongering politicians are really asking for is control of our nervous system. On the one hand they sell fear.. fear of the other guy, fear of various enemies, fear of finances..deficits..losing personal freedoms.. etc etc.. this fear causes stress inside your body. The stress builds within, and of course you want it to go away.. On the other hand, they promise that when they are in control all of that stress (that they partially helped to create) will all go away. Of course, they don't have absolute control over most of those circumstances that they offer to control for you anyway, and so it is all a bit of a con. We are sold on the unspoken idea that there will be some relief when we finally put them in power. What we are really doing though, unconsciously, is giving them control over our own sense of well being. (This is also one of the hallmarks of an abusive relationship) The most important leader in your life of course, always has been and always will be, you. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">With money it is the same. Most of us have been raised with it having been deeply ingrained in our psyche that money will bring us happiness, and is partially responsible for our sense of well being. While we all have bills to pay, and money may also bring some temporary pleasures, ultimately the pleasure (or stress) that is attributed to the money, is all created and felt within your own nervous system. The real truth is that the money didn't make you feel anything, YOU DID. Your body did. You can be a billionaire and be miserable, you can also have no money and feel euphorically joyous.. The money in neither case has any direct affect on your nervous system...none, zero, zip.. and it never will.. ever. There are many many stories of people who "got it all" only to later become miserable. Why is this? I think it is because the satisfaction of getting something externally is only temporary...the realization that the external cannot satisfy the internal is always going to be close behind. Going after external happiness is just a trick we play on our own nervous system. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The chief deceiver in this game is the Ego. It is an author of confusion and stress. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Ego says you must succeed at this or that, and fulfill a sense of self and identity… and get the proverbial cheese in order to be happy. However, that attachment is a path that always leads to stress, and is its own sort of mental prison. Following that path of the ego is a practice of placing your sense of well being outside of you, onto things that are not in your control. This is a recipe for suffering. (and even when you get those things, the realization may eventually come that that was never what you were after...) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Your True Self, or authentic Self, understands that "letting go" of this attachment and expectation of external circumstances, and material things is also the path to allowing our own body to do what it was designed to do... to release stress, to relax, to be at ease, and to flow in bliss. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">In another scenario, maybe it's a relationship that's causing you stress? Isn't forgiveness about letting go of that stress (that is self imposed) and returning to a sense of balance and peace in the physical (and mental) system? In the end, the stress, was caused by a giving up of control of the nervous system to that person or issue. In truth, no one can "get on your nerves" or "make you" feel bad. You are in control of your own nerves. You are just subconsciously being triggered by the other person, or giving them the power to trigger your own issues. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Sometimes we are even unconsciously attached to an outcome that might be perceived as "good", but it is actually causing stress. For instance you may want to achieve some admirable goal that no one would possibly say is "bad". Yet, if that goal and it's pursuit (and attachment to the outcome) is causing stress and suffering within your body, is it really worth it? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Looking back before I had a concept of these ideas, I can see that I had become disconnected from the basic awareness of what was "real" and what was not (in terms of what was directly affecting my nervous system). This is by definition a state of delusion, and yet isn't this the state of being that many people seem to make their default mode of being? Isn't this state of attachment to the external also what a materialistic society encourages, and continually sells the "solution" to? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Ignorance of this whole process (and the resulting stress and fear) is the only enemy... and yet to make the fear an enemy is to invite more fear itself (and stress). The only way to "win" is to realize that there is no enemy. (After all, Love always wins.) Developing this awareness IS the path to peace. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">"Enlightenment" and "spiritual growth" is not about gaining control of your circumstances.. that is the game of the ego… </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">"Enlightenment" is about realizing your own sovereignty over your own nervous system, and by doing so, creating a cycle of well being and less stress. Ultimately this is beginning a healthy relationship with yourself and learning to live in the present moment (and trust a higher power to handle the things that are out of your control). (This also may even to lead to better circumstances.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">To be "enlightened" literally means to be lighter…right? In other words, to release the burdens of mental stress... to "let go". So, why do people hold onto mental stress? I think, if they are like I was, it's because probably because somewhere in their mind they think it will help them solve the problem that the stresses are about… Somewhere in the mind, unconsciously, we believe the stress will save us, and that it is our responsibility to hold onto the stresses (and issues) in order to save ourselves from destruction. In fact, the opposite is true. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">"Looking inward" is a way of always being aware of our body's reactions to our own mental states, and then looking deeply into those mental states to understand the core of our reaction. Ultimately, this is the path of knowing our Self. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">We all have the fundamental ability to relax deeply… and experience the resulting bliss. Unfortunately, for most, in our forgetfulness of our own nervous system, we have hidden the awareness of this ability from ourselves by the attachment to our own illusions... In many cases we even allow our goals and dreams create stress. So, if even those goals or dreams are leading you to create stress, consider letting go. Even if your goal and dream is for all people to be happy and fulfilled, that is great, but in no case does your body want you to... or need you to, experience stress on that path. (Note: you can "let go", with out losing anything...in fact you may gain everything instead.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Choosing Love, and not fear.. you always have choice to abide in the Presence. The Presence, is in the "present moment" the place of peace and shelter from the stress of the always active mind. We all have access to this place of peace. For me, my path has been to learn "how" to focus my own consciousness into this place. When I am focused here, I can clearly notice the resulting shift in my body and mind. In my view, pointing us to this place "within" is also the goal of "spiritual" teaching. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Here's an exercise: start to notice.. notice the fears.. notice your thoughts and when they cause stress. which thoughts are their origin? Are there some you are unwilling to let go of? thoughts of ambition, grandiosity, or defending a sense of self? Can you let these go? can you let go of "beliefs" that cause stress? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Conversely, notice the stress. Notice physical tension. Do you know what's causing it? Maybe..maybe not. Ask yourself what may be causing this tension? If you don't know perhaps just focus on practices to help the body relax. The answer to what is causing the tension will probably eventually rise. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The fundamental paradigm shift is to start looking inside at your own physical reactions to perceived stresses, and then let go of the behavior patterns and perceptions that are leading to the creation of stress in your body. Holding on to these patterns and perceptions is not in your best interest. For me, this is what it means to look within for the source of your happiness. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Realize that it is not the vacation, or the new house, or new car, or "trophy" spouse, or career etc. etc. that creates the sense of well being. It is you. It is not the "thing" that you actually wanted, it is the feeling within you that you wanted. (Note: this may wreck your previous ambitions, but you may also find a new well of desire for creating a better world for all, from a place of pure intention..) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The power is always with you. The barrier is simply "awareness". The mental noise of the "monkey mind" has blocked the ability to accurately perceive this "inward awareness", and so the body experiences ongoing stress. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">The good news is the awareness can be cultivated with practice. </span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/ee055f86e9140f62a5ed4d933a6f1fefbbdc64ce/original/vivekananda.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
</div>
<p class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br><span class="font_large"><a contents="CLICK HERE FOR FREE SONIC SAMPLER" data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/783472/sonic-sampler"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FREE SONIC SAMPLER</strong></span></a></span></p>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2Fs%2F6UMbwL9wgdaGxzI5IePQKL&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
<p><span class="font_regular">Earlier I did a blog post about the <a contents="producer and the experiencer" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress">producer and the experiencer</a> of stress. This is a bit of reprise on that theme. I think it bears repeating and looking at from various angles though because it is ultimately one of the fundamental issues..if not THE fundamental of our mind-body awareness.</span><br> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577152016-04-04T13:43:00-04:002021-01-11T15:44:20-05:00The Methylation Connection<p><span style="default">I had never heard of methylation (or at least I didn't pay much attention) until last summer. It seems I have found a key piece in the puzzle..of my experience, and hopefully something helpful to share with you too..</span></p>
<div style="default">
<div style="default">I became aware of the process of methylation for myself, when I decided to switch to egg white protein powder in my smoothies. I just wanted to try a switch from the other protein powder I was using.. I had also read that egg white protein powder also had a high tryptophan content, which would also help to boost serotonin levels, so I thought that was a nice bonus. After a couple of weeks using this powder I started to noticed a new level of detox in my body. I was having similar cleansing symptoms as when I first started Candida cleansing years ago. I didn't connect it to the egg white protein right away, but it was the only thing different in my diet. As I researched, I found that egg white not only contains high tryptophan levels, but also is one of the highest food sources of sulfur. Sulfur, I soon found out, is key in the methylation process. The methylation process is also key in helping the body to detox.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">I also discovered that Sulfur in and of itself, is also key in helping to cleanse fungus and bad bacteria. I realized this a couple of weeks later, while traveling in Washington State while having a conversation with the farmer I was staying with. While we were walking and he was showing me his apple orchards, he mentioned that they would be spraying in couple of weeks. I asked what they would spray on the trees and he said Sulfur, which is to kill fungus that would affect the fruit otherwise. </div>
<div default="" style="default</div>
<div style=">
<a href="http://www.sentinelsource.com/contributed_news/roots-of-health-longevity-root-methylation-part-one/article_f3eb11fa-8b28-11e1-835b-001a4bcf887a.html">Sulfur</a> as it turns out is key in helping the body to detox, and also in the methylation process.</div>
<div style="default">
<br>You can also <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/03/03/msm-benefits.aspx">supplement with MSM</a>, for more sulfur. Also, here's a <a href="http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/list-foods-contain-sulfur-5102.html">list of foods</a> high in sulfur content. Also, methionine and cysteine are the two sulfur containing amino acids.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 2rem; margin-top: 2rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="default">What is methylation?</span><br><span style="default"><a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18245/methylation-why-it-matters-for-your-immunity-inflammation-more.html" style="color: #515151; line-height: 28px;">This article</a><span style="default"> from Mind, Body Green describes it as</span></span>:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 2rem; margin-top: 2rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #515151; line-height: 28px;"><span style="default">(..methylation is) the addition of a single carbon and three hydrogen atoms (called a methyl group) to another molecule. The removal of a methyl group is called de-methylation. Think of billions of little on/off switches inside your body that control everything from your stress response and how your body makes energy from food, to your brain chemistry and detoxification. That's methylation and de-methylation.</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 2rem; margin-top: 2rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="default">Methyl groups control:</span><span style="default"> </span>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 2rem; margin-top: 2rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="fdefault">The stress (fight-or-flight) response</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="default">The production and recycling of glutathione — the body's master antioxidant</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="default">The detoxification of hormones, chemicals and heavy metals</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="default">The inflammation response</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'>Genetic expression and the repair of DNA</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="default">Neurotransmitters and the balancing of brain chemistry</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="default">Energy production</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="default">The repair of cells damaged by free radicals</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #515151; line-height: 28px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.1rem; padding: 0px;"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="default">The immune response, controlling T-cell production, fighting infections and viruses and regulating the immune response</span><span style="default">----</span>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="default;">The Methylation process is also key in creating Glutathione, an important antioxidant. Here are some other key things I have learned.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">-methylation is a key metabolic process<br> </div>
<div style="default">-people can be "over-methylators" or "under-methylators" (this can be based on genetics, or digestive or other issues)<br> </div>
<div style="default">-the amino acid methionine helps to support the methylation process<br> </div>
<div style="cdefault">-methylation is key in creating serotonin<br> </div>
<div style="default">-methylation is key in detoxing the body<br> </div>
<div style="default">-candida toxin can cause under-methylation<br> </div>
<div style="default">-under-methylation can cause high histamine levels<br> </div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">..and so much more!!<br> </div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">So after reading all of this and based on my own signs and symptoms, I guessed that I am an "under-methylator". This occured either due to genetic predisposition or my methylation process was slowed by various factors (including Candida and bacteria overgrowth). I also feel this lowered methylation would have made me more likely to have an overgrowth of candida, and also lower serotonin levels. <i>(It's best to get a doctors opinion and it is also possible to get a histamine test, or getting genetic test which can turn up genetic markers that predispose a person to being and "under" or "over" methylator.) (testing at <a href="http://23andme.com/">http://23andme.com</a> )</i>
</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Under-methylators can enhance the methylation process using supplements. I started by taking "Sam E" and Methyl-cobalamin (b12). I started with low doses by breaking the pills in half and worked my way up. I am also now rotating in MSM occasionally. When I first started the Sam E I detoxed a LOT. I thought this was unusual as I had already been working on cleansing with probiotics and better diet for a few years. I learned that the Sam E also helped to cleanse the liver and improve joint function. I think these two must be connected because as my body adjusted my knee joints also ached terribly. The knee pain lasted for several weeks, but finally cleared with the other detox symptoms. I have since learned that probiotics and digestive health are also key in supporting the methylation process, as Candida's toxin byproducts can inhibit the methylation process.</div>
<div default="" style="default> </div>
<div style=">Here are some additional links to check out---</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">
<div style="default">Methylation and mental health:</div>
<div style="default"><a href="http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/21/undermethylation-vs-overmethylation-causes-symptoms-treatments/">http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/03/21/undermethylation-vs-overmethylation-causes-symptoms-treatments/</a></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Methylation and Candida:</div>
<div style="default"><a href="http://mthfr.net/methylation-inhibited-by-candidas-toxin/2012/09/08/">http://mthfr.net/methylation-inhibited-by-candidas-toxin/2012/09/08/</a></div>
<div style="cdefault"> </div>
<div style="default">Methylation and Reflux:</div>
<div style="default"><a href="http://www.drkaslow.com/html/histadelia.html">http://www.drkaslow.com/html/histadelia.html</a></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Niacin soaks up methyl donors -- ie the antidote for "overmethylation"</div>
<div style="default"><a href="http://mthfr.net/overmethylation-and-undermethylation-case-study/2012/06/27/">http://mthfr.net/overmethylation-and-undermethylation-case-study/2012/06/27/</a></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Methylation (over and under) symptoms list:</div>
<div style="default"><a href="http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/symptom-list-of-both-over-and-under-methylation.21571/">http://forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/symptom-list-of-both-over-and-under-methylation.21571/</a></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Undermethylation and high histamine:</div>
<div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://naturalhealthmedicine.com.au/elevated-histamine-levels-cause-undermethylation/">https://naturalhealthmedicine.com.au/elevated-histamine-levels-cause-undermethylation/</a></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<span style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><a href="http://www.enzymestuff.com/methylation.htm">http://www.enzymestuff.com/methylation.htm</a></span><br><br> <div style="default;"><span style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><b>Other key connections:</b></span></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default"><span style="default">Methylation affects Serotonin levels</span></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default"><span style="default">Serotonin not only affects moods, but is <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12543924">ALSO</a> anti-fungal (against candida and other pathogenic bacteria and fungus)</span></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default"><span style="default">Increased methylation can also help lower histamine levels.</span></div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Stress and emotional abuse can also cause lowered methylation. (see videos below)</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><a href="https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13606">Melatonin</a> (a powerful anti-oxidant) affects methylation. In turn, Meditation, and other factors such as <a href="http://www.gratisoa.org/journals/index.php/GJCT/article/view/35">lighting</a>, can also <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14976457">stimulate the production</a> of more melatonin.</span><br><br><span style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'>..these are just a few of many interdependent actions..</span>
</div>
<div style="default">---------------</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Here's a series of videos on youtube that help to understand this whole methylation process more simply.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4uqEDK6BvM</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o4uqEDK6BvM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o4uqEDK6BvM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZXKNYSXBCs</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kZXKNYSXBCs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZXKNYSXBCs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhclZ-8XxnQ</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hhclZ-8XxnQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hhclZ-8XxnQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh1ea-q8nu8</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Eh1ea-q8nu8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eh1ea-q8nu8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div default="" style="default> </div></div></div>
<div style="> </div>
<div style="default">----------</div>
<div style="default">So just a brief bit about how this might be related to my "awakening" experience---</div>
<div style="default">the weeks before, I was eating a ton of garlic (which also has a high sulfur content, is anti-fungal and contains methyl donors) and also eating kefir grains. I feel that the awakening and the detox of candida were linked.. So, my guess is that I was speeding up the methylation process by eating the garlic and kefir grains, and then the methylation process was getting even more of a boost in methylation as the candida was dying off. My serotonin levels were starting to increase too as my body was adjusting..</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">So, serotonin is produced in the body by the amino acid tryptophan.. and the Methylation process is supported by methionine.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Then the whole awakening process was kicked off by the meditation in the height of all of this.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">When a person meditates the pineal gland is stimulated and the pineal then creates the following chemicals in a chain of events:</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">(from Serotonin-->)Melatonin-->Pinoline-->(<span style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">5-MeO-DMT</span>---->DMT) (<a href="http://www.acutcmdetox.com/tryptophan2.html">http://www.acutcmdetox.com/tryptophan2.html</a>)</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">DMT = (Di-<u>Methyl-Tryptamine</u>)</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">(I put brackets around the last two in the sequence above because I don't believe scientists have definitely proven that both of these are produced by the human pineal yet.)</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default;"> </div>
<h1 style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 1.231em; line-height: 1.125em; margin: 0.375em 0px;">LC/MS/MS analysis of the endogenous dimethyltryptamine (DMT) hallucinogens, their precursors, and major metabolites in rat pineal gland microdialysate</h1>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23881860">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23881860</a><br><br><br> <h1 class="post-title" style="default">NEW: DMT Found in the Pineal Gland of Live Rats</h1>
<a href="https://www.cottonwoodresearch.org/dmt-pineal-2013/">https://www.cottonwoodresearch.org/dmt-pineal-2013/</a><br> </div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">
<div style="default">
<span style="default"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24650558">5-MeO-DMT</a> is what is produced by the Amazonian psychedelic brew called Ayahuasca. </span>From everything I have read about ayahuasca experiences they are very similar to what I experienced spontaneously.. Ayahuasca is basically plant based DMT too.. so I feel that it's possible that in my experience I produced a sort of DMT experience in my own body thru meditation), and that by supporting the body's naturally balanced chemical processes we can support the awakening of higher perspectives and awareness through meditation.</div>
<div style="default">
<br>I also think that it is biologically advantageous for the mind and body to raise this awareness, and shed the ego-based identity, as this is hardwired into the reptilian brain and triggers ongoing stress responses.</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">Am I on the right track??? (I think I am and will present more evidence to support this theory as I go..)</div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<span style="default"><span style="line-height: 19px;">I have a basic understanding about these things, but am by no means an expert... I am always interested to hear other perspectives.</span></span>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default"> </div>
<div style="default">(the methylation cycle)</div>
</div>
<div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SsDpx2K9pV8/VwKoHe4TskI/AAAAAAAAAaw/Z1kKdwVbpyAbjrGpN4GqDqn2T28_vxQ4Q/s1600/Methylation-Pathways.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SsDpx2K9pV8/VwKoHe4TskI/AAAAAAAAAaw/Z1kKdwVbpyAbjrGpN4GqDqn2T28_vxQ4Q/s640/Methylation-Pathways.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<iframe width="100%" height="52" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2Fs%2F6UMbwL9wgdaGxzI5IePQKL&theme=light" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe>
<p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i><br><br> </p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577162016-03-30T21:37:00-04:002019-09-04T18:25:05-04:00Cut the Bullshit<p><span style="font-size: large;">When shit gets real (or hits the fan), we cut the bullshit.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">When the bullshit is cut, you can say what you mean.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">When you say what you really mean, you can come to an authentic understanding. A heart to heart. True communication. Communion. There is no more separation between the inner mind and outer representation.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">When you don't say what you mean, you fall "asleep" and can even start believing your own bullshit. It's the shit that you think lets you hide from conflict or embarrassment. Instead it creates confusion and separation.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">In some cases other people believe this shit. ..but mostly people are hip to it.. even if they can't put their finger on it...they can probably feel it on some level. (just like you do with them)</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">A major part of awakening was awakening to the fact that, I too, was full of shit. I had hidden behind stock answers and people pleasing for too long, and The real me was living behind a mask, but I wasn't aware of it.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">It's not pleasant to own up to your shit. It's embarrassing, and scary. Then later...liberating. </span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">I realized I couldn't change this (the embarrassment), so I set out to begin cutting the shit as best as I could and forgave myself along the way. </span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">When I was growing up, I perceived "religious spirituality" as avoiding and suppressing the bullshit, I've realized that nothing is more truly spiritual and practical than owning up to, and cutting my own bullshit. (..and not "playing along" with other peoples.)</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">At some point, you realize that complete and total honesty is the only way. Complete and total honesty.. it might not please everyone at first.. or you. It's the only path to where you really want to go.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">-----Although we all hold it as an essential value, it can be hard to truly understand honesty, because the ego (false self) is always trying to calculate the best scenario...the path of least resistance... Unfortunately, it's the practice of self dishonesty that leads to the unconscious ego in the first place.</span><br><br><span style="font-size: large;">Be honest.. and cut the bullshit.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pETNGhCegak/VIZVoaXZinI/AAAAAAAAAWE/rfGdNfPPybA/s1600/courage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pETNGhCegak/VIZVoaXZinI/AAAAAAAAAWE/rfGdNfPPybA/s1600/courage.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></p>
<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577172016-03-15T15:10:00-04:002022-05-08T10:28:02-04:00What if God was One of Us?<p>"What if God was one of us?... just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home" -Joan Osborne </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7K1hckf1C3I" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>What is the word "God" anyway? G-d first and foremost, is a word that seems to have been created as a placeholder for what humans can't quite understand. It is a word for something that is beyond words and beyond our capacity for thought. </p>
<p>(Can what empowers the speaker, and the words, really be spoken?) </p>
<p>What if God lived in you, as you, but you didn't know it? What if God was seeing you, as you, from beyond who you think you are? </p>
<p>What if every single person came to this deep realization and knowing, within themselves, that every interaction was with God.... within themselves, and within others too.. and all of Life around them was precious (as theirs was to them)? </p>
<p>How would my world change over night if I treated people as though every one I came into contact with was me? </p>
<p>Wouldn't wars cease? Wouldn't the illusion of lack disappear? Wouldn't abuse cease? Wouldn't violence cease? Wouldn't the desire to control and profit seem silly? Wouldn't the desire to be "better" than anyone seem ridiculous? Could religion really be used in the name of God, to destroy God!? Could we really tolerate any more "collateral damage"? Would we really need religion anymore to tell "us" how to connect to an external God? </p>
<p>Wouldn't products and services be that much more useful, if we made them as though they were for God? </p>
<p>Wouldn't life turn into an instant miracle!? Knowing that every time you made eye contact with another, you were peering into the eyes of God? </p>
<p>What an amazing new opportunity with every interaction! So, it's an interesting question to ask, <a contents="who is God" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UXek5dvGI8" target="_blank">who is God</a>?</p>
<p>Perhaps the more overlooked, but also interesting question is: </p>
<p>Who are you? </p>
<p><strong>Quotes: </strong></p>
<p>Realization is not acquisition of anything new nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of all camouflage -Sri Ramana Maharshi </p>
<p>Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="2UXek5dvGI8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2UXek5dvGI8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2UXek5dvGI8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><br><span class="font_small"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577182016-03-06T18:58:00-05:002019-09-15T22:57:50-04:00The ONE who looks<p>Meditation is one way of cultivating our sometimes forgotten ability as humans to look inwards to remember who we really are. </p>
<p>The irony of looking outside of yourself for pleasure, satisfaction. etc.. is that the one who looks is what you/we are looking for. So, the irony is that what you are seeking is the one who seeks. And so, that is why "loving yourself" is the great shortcut to "self-realization", because when you quit looking outside of yourself to fulfill that "sense of self"....you have arrived! </p>
<p>What do I mean by fulfilling "sense of self"? Think about it, pretty much all of the messages and pursuits of the world that we are told everyday... (You know.. get the car you want, the house you want, the lover you want, the validation you want, the vacation you want... etc..) When we get those things we think might will bring some level of fulfillment, long term. But they don't. There is nothing wrong with "things" when they aren't obtained to help you feel a certain way about yourself. When you accept yourself you don't really need all of those outside things to feel good about yourself. The search is over. You are the one. Not the egotistical one who has been chasing it all, of course, but the one within who is unshakeable, the one within you who has always been the same through all of life's changes. </p>
<p>Peeling back the layers of our pursuits, it's easy to see that what we're looking for most of the time is love,.. but instead of looking to "find love", instead I have found I can BE love. So, BE love first and all those other things (feelings of self worth) will be yours. Ironically, I don't think material things (or external relationships) will have the same meaning because you'll realize that they don't, and won't, define you.. and, because of that, I think they can be enjoyed more, with true gratitude, and appreciation. You will know full well their temporary nature. They will come... and they will go... but you will enjoy them more fully in the moment because of that. </p>
<p>When we hide away in the ego, and seek fulfillment outside of ourselves ..it's like the human version of chasing our tail... (but we do it with our minds and bodies). It is a physiological and mental hamster wheel, that seems to be all too common (yet widely encouraged) in the human experience. </p>
<p>What do I mean? </p>
<p>Imagine the dog who is chasing his tail. He's running and running and running after his tail.. and he has a look of excitement.. and this excitement is intermittently peppered with a little bewilderment and despair as he frantically chases faster and faster, and then occasionally he stops all exasperated, panting and exhausted and looks up at you..as if to say, "did you SEE how fast that thing is!!!" Somewhere in his face is also the distant hint that he may know that what he's chasing is something he'll never catch...and that it's all just a game.. but he doesn't mind, he doesn't seem to realize, or at least want to admit that what he's running after is himself.. what he's running after IS part of him... not only will he never catch it, but it WAS him the whole time. </p>
<p>It's hard not to watch it all and not feel a little sorry for the dog, and at the same time to feel amused at the comedy of the whole scene, and sort of laugh at it's silliness. In this analogy, the dog is really just a sort of a mirror of our own mental image of ourselves as humans, chasing satisfaction outside of ourselves. </p>
<p>The messages of "the world", or maybe you could call it the "the collective ego", encourage us to keep this up... The marketers, and messagers of the world say "hey look over here, look over there.. look what you can buy, look what you ingest, look what you can desire, look what you can fear, chase this, chase that..." basically they are all saying the same thing..which is.. LOOK OUT!! (..and look outwards) All of that "looking outwards" becomes shell game of the ego, distracting us from the real truth. The real truth is that the place to look, and focus on is within ourselves. Those outer things only trigger our body's pleasure responses and chemicals from within. The idea that the thing outside of us is the source of pleasure is just an illusion. We have the opportunity here and now to be conscious in directing our attention towards the only place that really matters.. (looking in). In other words begin to become inwardly aware... of the body's response to thoughts (and to no-thoughts at all). </p>
<p>I hope it makes sense that this isn't just some abstract "spiritual" analogy. We now know that there is a physiological basis for all of this.. when we seek reward outside of ourselves, we get a dopamine hit, and that feels good until it wears off and then we need another, and another.. and another..and another.. I am reminded of the statement that it's easier for the rich man to go through the eye of the needle than to enter the kingdom of heaven... my interpretation is that this statement wasn't some kind of judgement against people who happen to be wealthy.. but is simply because the rich have the resources to continue this mental tail chasing game to the end...on and on and on.. </p>
<p><a contents="Studies" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11958969" target="_blank">Studies</a> have now shown us that meditation raises and balances these <a contents="dopamine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/04/17/how-to-increase-dopamine-levels/">dopamine</a> and neurotransmitter levels (serotonin, oxytocin, anandamide etc). So, the kingdom of heaven truly is within...and it won't cost you a dime. I'm not saying that it's only about brain chemicals, but they do give us a new level of understanding of our mind and body, and spirit connection </p>
<p>I realize too, that it may be a little scary to let go of the chase for things outside.. the chase keeps us occupied, the chase keeps us feeling safe, gives us a sense of purpose. The chase helps us to feel like what we desire is just around the corner. This gives a temporary hit of satisfaction, but the truth is what you desire has been within you all along. What will satisfy you is already with you. There is no chase. </p>
<p>So quit. Quit chasing your dreams, and instead let them catch up. Rumi said, "what you seek is seeking you.." and I'll paraphrase and tweak it a bit to say "..what you seek IS the one who is seeking..." ..or maybe you could also say "the one who is observing". </p>
<p>So, experience Love and bliss now. Try this. Close your eyes and focus on cultivating those feelings of Love. Love and accept yourself exactly as you are. Don't expect it from someone else. Imagine these feelings of love, and watch them come into to being in your physiology. (Now, see this same desire for Love, that you have, in others too.) Want to feel blissful, focus on bliss. Remember a time of blissfulness, and feel it grow again within your body. Want to feel high? Focus on feeling high. Want "abundance", notice the abundance you already have. Want to feel sexually awakened? Focus on healthy feelings of sexual fulfillment from a place of mutual respect...trust...admiration... let them flow..., and so on. </p>
<p>Try this as a mantra in your meditation: </p>
<p>I AM Love, I AM Peace, I AM Joy, I AM abundance etc.. (shorten or lengthen as it works for you) </p>
<p>Make this a practice and observe what happens next, you will begin to be freed from the mental prison of "lack", and these things will naturally be able to come your way. As you begin to take responsibility for supplying some of these needs from within, the energy, of "neediness" (attachment and expectation) will begin to dissipate and in general others will actually find THAT more attractive. Why? Because people subconsciously are uncomfortable and avoid the energy of "attachment and expectation". Because while they may feel empathetic or sorry about it in some cases, they don't actually know how to fulfill those needs for you (and truthfully, they can't, right?). Now, think about how you feel when you get the sense that someone wants something from you (psychologically or energetically) that you can't really provide. The natural and subconscious reflex is usually to just shy away from the person, or situation, altogether. Conversely, who is it easiest to be around? The person that needs nothing from you!! Then, you are free to enjoy each other fully. So, when we find this Love within ourselves we are always free to give it away, because it is an unending and eternal supply. </p>
<p>..and I know when I am awake to this because I can see this Love already present in others, and sometimes their eyes are like diamonds. </p>
<p>Discover in every moment who you are, and Love the one who is looking. </p>
<p><br><span class="font_small"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577192016-01-05T14:56:00-05:002019-09-15T22:49:41-04:00Make Feeling Good the Goal<div class="p1">
<p>1. You may have things in your life that you want to change, or see happen.. however, instead of becoming stressed about these things make feeling good (internally/mentally) the goal... for now. </p>
<p>2. It's always now. </p>
<p>Examine your thoughts in real time are they making you feel good (physically)? If not, why feed them with your attention? Feeling aggravated or annoyed at someone or a situation? Let it go! ..or face the issue head on (then let it go). Be willing to let go of stressful feelings and mental patterns, right here, right now... (and experience the magic that begins to happen within you, moment by moment.) <br>---------------------------- </p>
<p>After my worst anxiety, I had a new awareness. I became aware that the only person that could possibly be responsible for triggering my own physical responses was me. No one could "make me mad", no one could "make me annoyed", "make me feel guilty..or ashamed" etc. I was now aware of being responsible for creating my own inner reactions. So, I made "feeling good" the goal. I knew that triggering fearful or anxious responses physically would put me back in that negative space and maybe trigger anxiety all over again. I also felt that the energy I put out was coming right back to me, so I wanted to be especially conscious of putting out good vibes, and creating them within myself. The more I focused on creating good vibes, and having a good attitude and appropriate responses to each situation, it seemed the more that others (perhaps unaware) now had the opportunity to reflect that back to me. When they didn't, I had learned from my own experience that it most likely had nothing to do with me, but with their own inner world..and from that awareness it was much easier to "let things go", or be compassionate about their situation. I felt a new awareness within myself that perhaps the universe was listening to each of my responses and actions in the moment. I began to ask, was I really enjoying this experience (that I was creating)? Was I being true to myself in each interaction? Was I operating authentically, and without shoving things down and suppressing them just to be socially acceptable? </p>
<p>I also wanted to avoid the anger I previously had, that had scared me. That anger was fed by incorrect assumptions and judgements. All of those assumptions, judgements, suppressions, and mental stresses triggered physiological responses that ultimately hurt no one but me. </p>
<p>So, I've made it my mission to be aware of these responses and to avoid them. Not avoid them in the sense of suppressing them, but avoid them in the sense of being aware of what it was about a situation that was triggering them. What was it about me, that triggered these things in ME? Seeking "understanding" in these things helped me to bypass the fear and stress of the trigger. This also helped in many cases to diffuse it permanently. </p>
<p>So, I made it my practice to first focus on feeling good. Which, for me, meant not triggering the physiological responses to mental states. Yoga and conscious breathing practices were great for that. When a situation arose I would remind myself to take deep breaths or clear the energy if I felt tension building up somewhere in the body. Sometimes I did this by flexing various muscles and then letting them relax. That, in combination with consciously breathing deeply and slowly, helped me to work through the stress spots and then return myself to feeling good (what I called "high"). This new space of "being high" became new space of balance and inner awareness. Watching my inner responses and how I respond to stress in this way, has helped me to stay "open" mentally and physically. </p>
<p>In order to continue to do this I found that I also needed to drastically alter my "stock" perceptions (my subconscious) and seek a new understanding in each unique situation so that I could see the truth in the moment...not the "stock" view of my subconscious. Each moment and situation became a new learning experience. </p>
<p>Although the awakening I experienced in and of itself was radically transformative, I was (and am) continuing to learn and transform my mind in each moment. The energy of feeling either stress, or "feeling good" has become my guide. The awareness of this energy is a guide returning me to being aware of what I really FEEL. The goal, I think, is to be able to stay present and aware of choosing the energy of either Love, or fear in each moment. </p>
<p>Things to ask: </p>
<p>Is your judgement of a person or situation making you feel better (physically)? Is there something to learn or change? </p>
<p>Is your self judgment (or self loathing) making you feel better? (If there is a lesson to learn, learn it...then forgive yourself and drop the judgement) </p>
<p>Is the fear or anxiety you are feeling helping you to perform better? </p>
<p>Where are the feelings manifesting in your body? What does that feeling tell you, about you? </p>
<p>Really paying attention to these answers has helped me to gradually become more aware and continue let go of stressful reactions and behaviors. </p>
<p> <br>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</p>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577202015-12-10T12:26:00-05:002019-09-16T09:11:07-04:00Random thoughts on religion and spirituality<p>There is no such thing as spirituality, mysticism or religion... there is only reality or un-reality, clarity or confusion... understanding or misunderstanding. While we sometimes employ these words to describe what is unseen and not readily perceived, the fact that these "spiritual" philosophies exist as competing views of reality (that some argue and become violent over) only serve as evidence as to how clueless we human beings can be...and how deeply we can deceive ourselves. (..and how much we still don't know.) </p>
<p>----------------------------------------- </p>
<p>The goal in sharing any thoughts or ideas about the possibility of expanding awareness is to help people out of suffering. In my opinion, the goal is also to begin unravelling the fallacies of the human mind, and these stories it can fabricate that we call "the ego". In order to do that, I think that it's important to speak in clear ways that are understandable...not debate philosophies that may (or may not) be irrelevant. Many times these lofty "concepts" whether they be religious dogma, or spiritually inspired fantasies can become just another tool of the mind to insure it's existence. The concepts themselves can then become tools of the ego. In my view, what the ego wants above all is to exist (and be in control), and will leverage any philosophy or context to do so. (Note: The mind can't understand intellectually what it is to transcend itself.) </p>
<p>Does this mean that I don't believe that the originators of the world religions were trying to tell us something valuable? No. I think they were. In fact, I think that message is fundamental and essential, when it is about Love. Unfortunately, that message has inevitably been twisted by the interpretation of the ego to create "Identity", and that turns into a source of suffering. </p>
<p>So, what is "spiritual"? It is a word that mean different things to different people. It is a word, I think, that attempts to describe the ineffable and invisible inner universe that we all have inside of us. It describes the inner world that we all experience, that world that is unseen, but influences everything. Many times words like spiritual or mystical can also be associated with thoughts and philosophies that are largely unprovable or not self evident. In my opinion, "the ego/mind/identity" will just use these unproven thoughts (beliefs/fantasies) as another distraction to divert the ego from it's existential crises.. or to create another "us and them" scenario. History shows us this over and over. The ego says, "perhaps when I get another hit of this idealized reality, I can finally confirm that I exist and then I can also confirm that everything is OK and exactly as I imagined." </p>
<p>Bullshit. </p>
<p>Meditation should guide you towards logic, reason and understanding. Understanding is the path to Love. Isn't Love the highest goal of any spiritual pursuit? Fairy tales will not change your life, a clear view of reality will. For me, "waking up" was/is finding the space to question my own mind. Most everyone has created a false reality to some extent. The achilles heel of our human creativity and imagination is that we can imagine false scenarios that later become the beliefs that rule our minds.. Meditation is a way to open the mind and drop the walls of that box that has been slowly created over time (by the ego-mind-identity). </p>
<p>For me this process was "psychological". The process of working though my own psychological traumas was forefront in my experience and where most of the healing occurred for me (and still occurs). Are there deeper metaphysical implications? Yes, I think there may be, but I can't claim to know what I can't prove.. These insights and intuitions do give rise to interesting questions though, and asking interesting questions is ultimately how we learn and grow. Even in this day and age of advancing technology, life is still full of mysteries, and collectively we are still seeking to expand our view of reality (through the pursuits of science). However, it's also important, I think to analyze and cross check anything the mind produces for ourselves. Always asking, Is this thought accurate? Is it true? </p>
<p>To be honest, I was drawn to a more "spiritual" communities after my awakening. Why? For me I think it was the fact that in general the people are A. more open minded ..and B. for the most part, they seem to be committed to being open to Love. I needed and desired that. Most of the people that I have met in "spiritual" communities have experienced wounding on some level. Many of the people I have met have experienced a loss or personal pain that has opened them up to the fact that our inner world is as important as the outer world. Many are compassionate and giving. </p>
<p>The problem that I see is that because of the open mindedness there is also a lot of latitude for adult escapist fantasies. (Note: <a contents="Escapist fantasies" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/geek-pride/201501/what-fantasy-can-teach-us-about-trauma" target="_blank">Escapist fantasies</a> are also a known, but poor, <a contents="mechanism" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanisms" target="_blank">mechanism</a> for dealing with emotional trauma.) In my view, this can only serve to create more confusion. Meditation and mind body practices are a valuable tool for healing, but that healing must come as a result of looking closely at the truth. "The truth" being the process of opening to the reality of the thought patterns, core beliefs and subconscious patterns that are currently shaping your life. The only way to truly change, and realize freedom from repeating mental patterns and actions (aka. karma) is to awaken to these unconscious patterns enough to change them. After all, I cannot be aware of what I'm not aware of. Right? </p>
<p>(Fantasies, religion, fundamentalism, etc.. can be (and many times are) sophisticated ways of avoiding emotions, pain of abuse (or masking the abuser), and deeper personal psychological issues. Indulging in fantasies (of any kind), only erode your ability to be objective. This erosion has the potential to keep someone locked in the indecision and confusion of the mind that will make it nearly impossible to create the positive change that is desired. In my opinion, it's better to say "<a contents="I don't know" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/post//i-dont-know.html" target="_blank">I don't know</a>", rather than to fabricate the illusion of knowledge. </p>
<p>"Waking up" from emotional or psychological abuse can be mind bending and jarring enough. Many times people have spent years within an emotionally abusive situation only to suddenly "wake up" and realize that they are in an unhealthy situation. "Finding reality", and then learning the kind of treatment and behavior that you should accept can be difficult to process mentally. It takes time, and there are layers of understanding. Growing up in a situation where patterns of abuse are present only makes it that much harder to see this as an adult. So, in my opinion, adding some of the fantastical ideas that commonly populate the "spiritual path" (..as "sold in stores"), is probably not going to be helpful. Endeavor to base all ideas on a foundation of Love, not division or fear. </p>
<p>Sometimes, when we heal these psychological patterns it sort of frees one up to see deeper insights and patterns, that may be relevant beyond our own psyche. That happened for me and some of these "insights" seemed pretty far out and hard to process all at once. While some advance guidance can be helpful, to go looking for things that are "far out" is not really necessary. If I were giving advice to myself I'd just say, seek to know yourself, and deeper insights will find you. </p>
<p>"Spiritually minded" communities can sometimes be a great place for support and social interaction, but be aware that they can also be a breeding ground for predators. You don't have to look too far to see this.. Be aware that there are, of course, "spiritual" people that will prey on another person's vulnerability. Because these communities are ripe with people healing from mental wounds, there are, unfortunately, also those who will seek to exploit these wounds. This can be hard to see while you are working through, and healing your own mental issues. </p>
<p>So, I would encourage anyone to find a community with some solid and grounded practices based in common sense psychological principles. If it feels weird or "off" to you, well then, it probably is.. learn to trust your instincts, and learn to examine things as objectively as possible. Remember, you don't have to know why...if a situation doesn't feel right.. or if a person's behavior doesn't feel right.. it probably isn't. </p>
<p>Keep it real. When all the glossy spiritual bullshit has faded, when you can't quite be inspired by the latest "guru du jour", what your left with is reality. Your life. Your issues. YOUR decisions about what to do. </p>
<p>Reminders: </p>
<p>Let love or fear be your barometer..does what you are hearing encourage Love..or fear? </p>
<p>Remember that the most spiritual thing you can be is YourSelf! </p>
<p>Seek to Know yourself, and the rest will become apparent. </p>
<p>The most important leader in the world is YOU. </p>
<p>Believe nothing on face value that doesn't make sense to you. Ask relevant questions, seek clear answers.. </p>
<p>Treat others how you'd like to be treated...and expect the same. </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwac6Uk-zyk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwac6Uk-zyk</a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Iwac6Uk-zyk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Iwac6Uk-zyk?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wVG_H5olyQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wVG_H5olyQ</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_wVG_H5olyQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_wVG_H5olyQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/">https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>
<div>
<p><span class="font_small">(disclaimer: for any of the videos I post, it doesn't mean I necessarily agree with everything that person has to say... just that the video posted has interesting concepts to be considered.) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577212015-12-08T11:49:00-05:002019-09-16T09:17:49-04:00The Teachings are not the Energy<p>The ENERGY is how it's working... </p>
<p>...SCIENCE attempts to explain how it works. </p>
<p>...and the TEACHINGS are how to work it!! </p>
<p>I don't see the "energy" as a philosophy or a dogma or religion. Rather, I see it as both a vital and transformative energy. People can live without a philosophy or dogma. No one can live without the energy of Life, that flows through us and animates our being. So, to me the teachings are not the energy in the way that an electricians schematic is not electricity. </p>
<p>If you are driving a race car at 150mph, it's much less important to know how it works mechanically than it is to know how to "work it"! Drive!!! </p>
<p>For anyone on the path of raising their awareness (aka. expanding consciousness, raising energy/vibration...seeking LIFE.) I think it's important to make clear that following energy cultivating practices has the potential to raise ALL of the energy in the psyche (good and bad), so I feel it's important to begin to notice and let go of those things in the psyche that may be destructive patterns. Learning to choose Love instead of fear. Most spiritual teachings, help to guide that energy towards Love and away from self destruction. </p>
<p>If the teachings (via words) were the energy, we would all be enlightened already!! Right? For literally thousands of years we have had the instructions of great teachers like Jesus, Moses and Buddha, etc.. it's clear that they were trying to tell us something that we can't quite comprehend via language. So in my opinion and, I feel, my personal experience, tells me that a "direct experience" must be the path to awakening to this Truth for each person. By default, language as a medium, works best at communicating things which are a common experience to both speaker and listener. So, it's very difficult if not impossible to communicate something that is outside of the realm of another's experience. </p>
<p>That is why I feel the mind-body practices like yoga, meditation and sound therapy, diet etc.. are so important in preparing for this. They can lead us towards experience. </p>
<p>The teachings mainly do at least two things: </p>
<p>1. point out the fallacies, delusions of the mind (future-past, desire, greed, anger, fear etc..) </p>
<p>2. point us back to the present moment (Love, Gratitude, joy--- The energy resides in the present.) </p>
<p><a contents="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress">https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress</a></p>
<p>In my opinion, opening the subconscious and freeing the mind to be unified from the constraints of the ego/identity allows this energy to flow more freely. This also amplifies all of the patterns in the mind/psyche. The Ego by it's nature, creates suppression. This suppression happens by default in order to adhere to societal norms. This suppression also restricts the flow of life energy in our own being. </p>
<p>Our modern day approach to mental health demonstrates the difference. With psychiatry mental well being is approached from the angle of chemistry. Various drugs are prescribed to alter brain chemicals, which in turns alters brain function and the perception of well being. </p>
<p>Psychology on the other hand focuses on awareness, analyzation and introspection of mental patterns in hopes of also changing perception and achieving mental well being. </p>
<p>These approaches both demonstrate that at a basic level consciousness affects chemicals and physical functioning, and vice versa. </p>
<p>----------------------------------------------- </p>
<p>some more thoughts: </p>
<p>I have been talking some here in the blog about the "shadow" and other parts of the psyche.. although words are a drastically incomplete way to communicate these things it's what we have to work with.. My desire is to create some understanding of these basic concepts before a person might experience an amplification of this life energy (like I did). </p>
<p>What is the energy? I can't say for sure... but basically I think it is the energy of LIFE. None of us know exactly what is animating us. In fact, no one really does, not scientists, doctors.. NO ONE.. Think about that for a second..... This life force that is ubiquitous, abundant and in every living thing you see or contact... well, no one can really explain what it is. That, I think is a mystery for each of us to discover within our own experience. </p>
<p>So, to the best of my knowledge, the energy of life is what I am referring to as "the energy".. In various Eastern cultures, it also known as Chi or Prana.. So, in my experience, as the energy flowed through me everything was amplified. All of the parts of my psyche were amplified. However, I could quickly see that the thought patterns and behavior patterns that were not good were also amplified. These patterns and thoughts were no longer benign abstractions of my hidden inner world... they were now amplified beyond the point of suppression. I was going to need to learn to surf this wave of energy properly...and change many of my thought patterns.. and quickly! </p>
<p>The teachings... teachings of love, compassion, kindness etc.. (psychological reminders) are not the energy. There is a lot of effort spent on spiritual teachings and it is all good, but we have spent centuries on the teachings without really affecting our world as a whole. Why? </p>
<p>I think for the simple fact that the teachings are not the energy. The teachings are the words that describe the energy. They are just pointers. </p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, I think the teachings are necessary. The teachings will help the energy to flow. Otherwise, the energy will find resistance, and that resistance will ultimately either shut things down or create problems. In my case, the energy felt like it blasted every part of me (psychologically) apart. The darkness, selfishness, anger etc.. were brought to the surface to be seen and dealt with. It was not pleasant for me. As they came up they were intense and overwhelming no longer neatly tucked away, to boost my self righteous ego. These monsters were coming out of the cage I had built for them in my subconscious and I was terrified to see what I had created. I struggled to reconcile these emotions from the place of my consciousness as the Observer of my thoughts. As these thoughts swirled in my mind like hurricane waiting to be unleashed, I found a tenuous comfort in the peace at the eye of the storm, as the Observer. From that space I knew that these mental patterns were not me, although I had fed them for years. They raged like monsters barely out of reach and threatening to take my body along for the ride. I instinctively knew that from the space of the Observer, that I could choose love and not fear. I would not feed these thoughts with action. My body begged for my action as it dumped adrenaline into my veins with the fight or flight response. Now I would have to let them go and defeat these mental patterns through understanding them. Could I defeat them? It was a moment by moment resolve...for many days and sleepless nights. I could diffuse them by seeing them for what they were.. mental distortions manifest by my own perception of weakness. It was the most difficult battle I could imagine.. As these mental patterns died, it felt like part of me did to.. This was the death of my Ego. At the time I had no way to distinguish between my Ego and "me", so this was a very real and excruciating mental death. </p>
<p>In retrospect, I felt like I was being spanked by the Spirit of Truth. Without the intensity of it, though, I don't know that I would have learned as clearly. The energy in me raised the mental issues that I had locked away in my subconscious to the forefront of my awareness. There was no ignoring them or shrugging them off, or dealing with it another day. The importance and urgency of dealing with negative thought patterns was made real through the excruciating look I was being shown of myself. </p>
<p>The truth is, I STILL work on these things everyday, but the energy that came through me did a lot to clean house all at that one time. I don't know that it has to be that way for everyone. The reason I say this, is because NO ONE would want to go through what I did. Sure, the end result was amazing and transformative for me, but convincing me on the frontside of it all would have been hard.. </p>
<p>What is the energy? To the best of my experience, I believe it is the energy of the Holy Spirit, Kundalini, the evolutionary energy of mankind.. a rebirth of the energy of all life. </p>
<p>As I began to research I started to see this described by yogi's and mystics for centuries.. I think it's actually happening all of the time for all of us and manifests in different ways. I feel it's a natural and normal human process. I believe we can learn to open latent parts of ourselves,.. open new perceptions, awareness and power. That energy is powered and guided by Love though, otherwise, it will meet resistance and create difficulty.. at least that was my experience. </p>
<p>By default it's language that we use to communicate. The inherent flaw in language however is that it can only communicate that which two people already understand or have each experienced on some level. Language is also bound by conceptual thought, ideas. Whereas heart knowledge is based in non-conceptual thoughts. Concepts like Love, compassion etc.. </p>
<p>I was no stranger to spiritual teachings before my experience. However, nothing even remotely prepared me for the energy of this awakening. No philosophy or dogma could have prepared me or come anywhere close to comparing to this. </p>
<p>What I experienced was beyond the level of intellectual understanding or the exercise of fleshing out the moral implications of Love or right doing..etc... What I experienced was at the level of energy.. The best I can describe it is like tuning into a radio frequency that is a carrier not only of feeling, but also knowledge. Once experienced, things that were previously murky shrouded in confusion or unknown, then became crystal clear... The clarity of right doing and right thinking become apparent in the presence of this energy as it also becomes clear that the amplification of thought patterns of the ego (as I described above) will quickly lead to self destruction. I think that's important too say here too, that for me it was an amplification.. so the bad thought patterns were amplified too. I think that's where the teachings really come in (to help guide). </p>
<p>"The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." -Jesus </p>
<p>I felt (and still feel) that if everyone could tap into this experiential "frequency" I think there would be no need for laws or wars, or money or any of what we largely call "society".. the need for it would all vanish in an instant in the clarity of true experiential understanding. I believe that each of us can be "transformed". </p>
<p>On some level, everyone knows what they need to know... It's a matter of remembering (I think) the essence of that knowing ...and experiencing again the energy and palpable experience of the magic of who we truly are. </p>
<p>I think the best way we can raise this energy is to honor Life. To honor ourselves though meditation, yoga, nourishing food and healthy relationships (especially our inner relationship to the light of Life within each of us). </p>
<p>Philosophies happen at the level of the mind and thoughts. The mind is in and of itself intwined with the "identity" and the nervous system, and the survival instinct. So what I see missing from various teachings, attempts to share "enlightenment" through philosophies and language is that by the very nature of it, they are speaking to the listeners "mind".. Instead, I think that some level of nervous system re-balancing must occur, in order to encourage the birth of this experience. From there, the mind will have some of the basic info., so that it can also process the experience, without revolting and triggering stress and other fight or flight responses in the body. </p>
<p>---------- </p>
<p>The moment truth is asserted it becomes false. There is no way to communicate truth. But language has to be used; there is no other way. So we always have to use the language with the condition that it cannot be adequate to the experience. Hence I say “the day I achieved my enlightenment.” It is neither an achievement nor mine. -Lao Tzu </p>
<p>"The underlying, primary psychic reality is so inconceivably complex that it can be grasped only at the farthest reach of intuition, and then but very dimly. That is why it needs symbols." – Carl Jung </p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>
<div> </div>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577222015-11-01T21:39:00-05:002019-09-17T14:46:50-04:00Awakening the Subconscious<p>So how does a person open the subconscious? Does this require some deep study, or esoteric ritual? </p>
<p>I don't think so. In fact, it's something we do every night. </p>
<p>My working theory is that opening the subconscious is something we do everyday when we go to sleep. This basically what I think also happens when I experience deeper levels of meditation. While I think all meditation is beneficial, even if it's just relaxing. My experience tells me that there are benefits far beyond simply relaxing and relieving stress. </p>
<p>Most of us have an innate fear of "losing consciousness". It is generally not seen as preferable to pass out during the day.. (ha). Yet, every night we WANT to pass out on cue, and if we can't it can be a source of stress. </p>
<p>So every night when I go to sleep, I go through the same basic process. </p>
<p>I lay down </p>
<p>My body begins to relax and I release muscle tension </p>
<p>I breathe deeper </p>
<p>My <a contents="brainwavescycle" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/posts/stress-brainwaves-and-sound">brainwavescycle</a> down (Beta--Alpha--Theta--Delta) </p>
<p>Gradually I drift into twilight and off into sleep </p>
<p>My subconscious opens and I begin to dream </p>
<p>So with meditation, I think that this is also pretty much the same process with one major difference. I stay awake the whole time. </p>
<p>I sit down </p>
<p>I relax and release muscle tension </p>
<p>I breathe deeper </p>
<p>brainwaves cycle down (Beta--Alpha--Theta--Delta) </p>
<p>gradually I drift back and become an observer of the thinking or conscious mind </p>
<p>the subconscious opens and I begin to awaken to deeper thought patterns shaping my views of reality </p>
<p>When a person becomes conscious in the dream state it is called "lucid dreaming". Conversely, becoming conscious of the subconscious while in meditation can be like "lucid waking" (or "awakening"). </p>
<p>For me this was very much like waking into a dream. I realized that my life was very much like a dream of my own creation. I could see how unconscious thought patterns, core beliefs, etc. had shaped my actions and created my "reality". From that vantage point it can be easier to see that much of life can be lived unconsciously, as in a dream. </p>
<p>I have noticed that lot of meditation practices and trainings suggest meditating for 20 minutes a day...which is a good daily goal. However, I think in order to really open into the subconscious state it will probably take more time to allow the body to relax into gradually deeper levels of release. Based on my personal experience, (and other things I have read) this probably requires committing a few hours to the process. My rough estimate is around 3 hours. I also think preparing the body for relaxation through yoga and maybe using certain herbs can help too. Yoga prepares the body by releasing somatic (muscular) stress and setting deep breathing patterns. Various herbs can also help to alter brainwaves and create relaxation. </p>
<p>By default, changing reality (expanding awareness) means altering (or even losing) the old view of reality. The "old view" of reality was, by default, a set of neural pathways I had built over the course of my life. These pathways formed biases and perceptions I wasn't even aware of. "Losing reality" is something we, as a society, seem to have an innate fear of. Mental Illness, is something that has been stigmatized, in general, by society. No one wants to be seen as insane and so we cling to the same well worn and "safe" behavior patterns. It's easy, however to look into history and see that we humans have engaged in some quite insane behaviors (that were socially acceptable at the time). However, despite our confident view of reality, collectively we are continually trying to determine the nature of it. Science exists for just that reason. In fact, some of the most famous advances in science and our collective view of reality have been met with resistance, and in some cases even <a contents="violent persecution" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/scientists-persecuted-turing">violent persecution</a>. (my personal ego did the same) However in order to expand consciousness, it's most likely necessary to let go of the patterns and views from our previously "programmed" consciousness, and embrace a new view. Also by default, during the process of transforming the mind there may be (probably will be) some times when it's hard to feel centered, have bearings, or to know which way is up. At least this was my experience. This may even manifest temporarily in the form of psychosis, or other passing phases that can resemble mental illness. (<a contents="Neuro-plasticity" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity" target="_blank">Neuro-plasticity</a>, describes the minds ability to adapt and change thought patterns, and neural patterns.) Part of the reason that I consistently repeat the phrase "Choose Love, not fear" is that this is the phrase and intention that I clung to as my "grounding force" in these un-centered phases. Sometimes, I didn't know what the hell was happening! My mind wanted to trigger every fight or flight response I had in order to try to "hold on" to "reality". (The "mind" wanted to use fear to stay in control.) During that process I knew that I my stronger intention and motivation was to follow the path of love (and I hoped greater understanding), even if it meant diving into the murky waters of the unknown. I eventually realized that as I followed the path of Love (ie..not reacting to the mind, and staying in the <a contents="present moment" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress">present moment</a>), that this was also the path of sanity. Although, I thought I was "normal" enough before, I realized I was going sane. </p>
<p>Our so called <a contents="reptilian brain" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triune_brain" target="_blank">reptilian brain</a>, is tasked with our survival instincts and keeps us in a state of vigilance. To this degree we are resistant of "letting go" of the well worn patterns of the conscious mind. This is also partially responsible for the minds ability to create stress where none needs to exist. So, in my view raising conscious awareness and relaxation are two sides of the same coin. At some level, deep relaxation can open the doors to a richer, and more accurate conscious experience. </p>
<p>I feel that encouraging harmony in the body is also necessary for a deep level of relaxation. Stressing the body with food choices (sugars, processed foods..etc.. -- can cause the body to be less efficient, and feed bacteria that can <a contents="cloud consciousness" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clouding_of_consciousness" target="_blank">cloud consciousness</a>) and may also hold up the process of deep relaxation. Also, in my case, I experienced a physical detox as my mind opened. I am still not totally sure whether the detox was from the foods I had been eating (home made water and milk kefirs, and other anti-fungals) or from the deep meditation I had. I have learned that the pineal gland produces some very powerful anti-oxidants (melatonin and pinolene) as well as possible psychoactive chemicals (<a contents="5-meo-DMT and DMT" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-Dimethyltryptamine">5-meo-DMT and DMT</a>). I am guessing that the release of these anti-oxidants may also have a cleansing effect. So, if I was giving my past-self advice I would also advise a cleaner diet and cleansing in preparation for any journey towards higher awareness. Fundamentally, our body and brain chemicals are all part of the process, and so I think all of that has to be taken into account. (Since I am starting to discuss some of the psychedelic chemicals here I want to say, I, personally, don't want to seem to endorse using externally produced psychedelic chemicals. There is still a lot of study being done about how these substances work in the body and are best used. While many of these chemicals are produced in our body, I think nature has created system of balance for a reason. Bringing our system into balance slowly through diet, yoga, meditation etc.. seems to me to be the best path to gradually prepare the body and mind.) </p>
<p>Probiotics, can also help create a foundation for expanded awareness. Why? Because 90% of our serotonin is <a contents="produced in the gut" data-link-label="Gut Bacteria and Neurotransmitters" data-link-type="file" href="/files/297678/Gut%20Bacteria%20and%20Neurotransmitters" target="_blank">produced in the gut</a>. Probiotics can create a healthy ecosystem in the gut for producing the vital neurotransmitters and brain chemicals that support the process that meditation initiates. Serotonin is the fuel for the pineal gland, which seems to be vital in this process. Serotonin also promotes <a contents="neurogenesis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurogenesis">neurogenesis</a> in the brain, which can have a role in a variety of ways, from regulating stress to relieving depression. Also, the serotonin pathways are key in the active process of many of the "psychedelic" substances (mushrooms, ayahuasca..etc), as well as most anti-depressants. The chemical components psychedelics are known as the <a contents="tryptamines" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25877327">tryptamines</a>. Our body naturally produces many of these substances, and I suspect that they also play an important role in experiencing "reality" from another vantage point. </p>
<p>(...the last three paragraphs could be book of their own, and I hope to share more about what I have learned in these areas soon.) </p>
<p>So, sharing a process of opening into the subconscious, I think, is one of the most important things I have wanted to share in this blog. I hope this is a first step at putting it into words. The words here are insufficient of course, as it is something each person must experience and remember for themselves. I see the subconscious as synonymous with our "heart". I believe this can be a window into connecting to the deepest part of our nature... </p>
<p><strong>Here's an idea of what I might do for an extended meditation session: </strong></p>
<p>30 minutes of toning or chanting </p>
<p><a contents="30 Minutes of brainwave entrainment" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi/5hz-isochronic-tone-with-chords-heart-chakra">30 Minutes of brainwave entrainment</a> while in meditation </p>
<p>1 hour or more of meditation with the <a contents="Tibetan Bowls" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi/sets/singing-bowls">Tibetan Bowls</a>. </p>
<p>1 hour or more of meditation in silence (just watching breathing, or with a mantra) </p>
<p>PDF:<a contents="&nbsp;Meditation Ideas" data-link-label="Meditation Ideas" data-link-type="file" href="/files/298524/Meditation%20Ideas"> Meditation Ideas</a> </p>
<p>ps>>>practicing yoga before hand is even better! </p>
<p>Do I have psychedelic/subconscious opening experiences every time? No... </p>
<p>..but I do always seem to feel quite "high", shift perspectives, have deep insights about issues I want to understand, and find a simpler, more joyful and child-like version of myself. Also, experiencing a "silent mind", without the ever present narration of the ego mind is a beautiful thing. </p>
<p>Maybe, the most profound truth is simply that we are here to have fun, and enjoy each other :) </p>
<p>----------------------------- </p>
<p>It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. </p>
<p>-Krishnamurti </p>
<p>And be not conformed to (the behavior patterns of) this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -Romans 12:2 </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbSbU1t9EOY/VjayBvzS2xI/AAAAAAAAAaE/AQHv7eDf_G4/s1600/lost%2Bmind-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbSbU1t9EOY/VjayBvzS2xI/AAAAAAAAAaE/AQHv7eDf_G4/s320/lost%2Bmind-heart.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTX-Fcu2bWY/VjayGJ5dHnI/AAAAAAAAAaM/qmh-Xk0Ditk/s1600/change-your-mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTX-Fcu2bWY/VjayGJ5dHnI/AAAAAAAAAaM/qmh-Xk0Ditk/s320/change-your-mind.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<p><br><span class="font_small"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577232015-10-30T18:05:00-04:002019-09-17T21:26:16-04:00Energy Healing For Mental Health<div class="p1">This guest post is by therapist and energy medicine practitioner, Diane Chrestman. Diane and I met a little over a year ago, and I have enjoyed sharing sound therapy with a group class that Diane leads for her patients. If you are in Georgia, and are in need of counseling services, give Diane a call! (Update: 2019 Diane recently released her new book "Zenergy Mindfulness: The Intersection of Buddhist and Energy Psychology For Mental Health And Wellness". See the book <a contents="here on Amazon" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Zenergy-Mindfulness-Intersection-Buddhist-Psychology/dp/1641112301/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5N784T924IZI&keywords=diane+chrestman&qid=1568759772&s=gateway&sprefix=diane+chrestman%2Caps%2C268&sr=8-1" target="_blank">here on Amazon</a>.</div>
<div class="p1"> </div>
<div class="p4"><b>Holistic Healing For Mental Health</b></div>
<div class="p4"> </div>
<div class="p4">Holistic and <a href="http://zenergyhealth.com/services/"><span class="s5">natural remedies for mental health disorders</span></a> have become increasingly popular, and continue to be in demand by consumers. Currently the “go-to” treatment for many people is medication, an approach that chemically alters the body/brain. Often many people who take psycho-tropic medication cannot tolerate the side effects. The side-effects (which should be accurately referred to as simply <i>effects) </i> range from mild to life-threatening. It should come as no surprise that many people are seeking alternative and holistic treatments when suffering from mental health problems or conditions.</div>
<div class="p4"> </div>
<div class="p4"><b>Energy Healing For Mental Health</b></div>
<div class="p4"> </div>
<div class="p4">A holistic healing option for <a href="http://zenergyhealth.com/"><span class="s5">mental health problems</span></a> is energy healing. Mental, cognitive, emotional and behavioral functions have an energetic component. Therefore, altering the energy that keeps these conditions in place alters the condition itself. For example, a person with depression typically does not have positive thinking patterns and the energy linked to positive thoughts is weak. A good therapeutic treatment would be to increase the energy around positive thoughts. A viable therapeutic goal used in traditional psychotherapy might attempt to increase feelings of hopefulness by replacing negative self talk with positive self talk. A positive thought such as “At least one good thing will probably happen to me today” would be appropriate. Energy healing uses the techniques of positive self-talk, but deepens the effectiveness of the cognitive restructuring by including tapping as the positive statements are verbalized. Tapping involves stimulating acupuncture points on the body that correspond with the subtle energy system known as meridians. So while naming, claiming and identifying the reasons one has to be hopeful, the subtle energy system of the body would be accessed simultaneously. The intensity of the belief which you are trying to instill ie “At least one good thing will happen to me today” is greatly increased. We believe the positive belief that we are trying to instill with a greater intensity when the subtle energy of the bodies are aligned with the belief. While the client attunes to the positive thought, the energetic marker of the positive belief, which is expressed in the electromagnetic field, or photo-electric impulse of the brain, is altered.</div>
<div class="p4"> </div>
<div class="p4">
<p><b>Why Energy Healing Is Important</b></p>
<p>Mental Health problems such as <a href="http://zenergyhealth.com/we-need-energy-medicine-in-mental-health/"><span class="s5">Depression</span></a>, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bi-Polar and Autism have reached unprecedented numbers. According to Robert Whitaker, the author of the Anatomy of An Epidemic, in 1955 major depression and Bi-Polar only accounted for 50,937 patients in mental hospitals. In 1990 an estimated 1.4 million people suffer from depression and bi-polar with such severity, they are deemed disabled, unfit to work and subsequently receive Social Security Disability benefits. It seems that mental health disorders are a modern day epidemic. People who suffer obviously search for help, solutions and effective treatment. Because of the epidemic of mental health conditions, and the side effects of medication, it is important for individuals to have options, and be able to make an informed decision about possible treatments. </p>
<p>Be in Peace - Diane </p>
<p><a contents="http://zenergyhealth.com/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://zenergyhealth.com/" target="_blank">http://zenergyhealth.com/</a></p>
</div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577242015-10-26T14:00:00-04:002020-01-09T20:06:26-05:00Meditation ... am I doing this right? (Part 2: How To...)<p> </p>
<p>There are a lot of how to guide's to meditation out there, but I'd like to share some of my personal experiences here. Unlike, teaching an instrument (for example), where you can demonstrate things physically, the hardest thing about "teaching" anything about meditation is that it's subjective and most of it happens internally. The most that can happen is to point in the right direction and hopefully that is helpful. The rest is up to each individual to put into practice. I do however think that "increasing awareness" has a biological advantage in that it is ultimately advantageous to us physically, in terms of functioning with more ease (less stress). So, for most people, I think, there may be a natural momentum in that direction. After all, we all want to feel good and have less stress. </p>
<p>I have never studied meditation formally. Like most people, I had heard of it all my life, but never really gave it much thought. I first tried meditation in a time in my life where everything suddenly seemed to be falling apart. My mind was on overdrive and I had the distinct feeling needed a vacation from "myself". My levels of mental and physical stress were off the chart. So, the first time I tried meditation it felt to me like it was on pure instinct...and a bit of desperation! </p>
<p>I couldn't sleep, so I got up and went to the end of my bed and sat cross legged. I needed peace. My mind was out of control. My thoughts were consumed with worries and fears about what I perceived my life was, and who I was.. without painting too grim of a picture, I'll just say it wasn't positive.. I was determined to try "meditation" and see what I would find. </p>
<p>Here's what I did: </p>
<p>I ended up meditating for a few hours... </p>
<p>At first, as I sat cross legged I just tried to concentrate on my mind. I wrestled with some of the negative thoughts for a while. I tried to focus on more positive things as I sat with my eyes closed. It didn't work. </p>
<p>I stayed with it though, I was determined and I was going to sit here until I found some peace from these thoughts. </p>
<p>Next, I just focused on my breathing. As I focused on my breathing I began to find a space in my mind where I was free from the thoughts. In small bits, I began to be able to find these "spaces" of calm. It was just a little break here and there. </p>
<p>Next, I focused on the "energy" and feelings in my body. </p>
<p>I realize energy is an amorphous term that gets thrown around a lot. So, what do I mean by "energy"? Well, the best way to explain something I think we all feel as "energy", but rarely talk about is through the common experience of sexual energy. When we feel an attraction or resonance, that sexual energy just happens. It doesn't require thought or conscious direction. It just requires an openness and connection and boom there it is. The body triggers the hormones, blood flow etc.. and zingo ...sexual energy has been born! I think it's also important to realize and notice that it all starts in the mind, or "consciousness".. and somehow the body just knows what to do automatically. </p>
<p>So I was feeling a physical energy and as I began to "meditate" I began to allow these energies to grow. I was feeling a gentle pressure in my forehead and a tingling around the top of my head and and sort of pressure growing up from the base of my spine. As I breathed in and out, I allowed my mind to begin focusing on these "energies" as they came more into focus as I continued to breathe in and out. </p>
<p>I imagined this energy growing up my spine and out of the top of my head. As I could feel it.. I imagined sort of wisps of energy, almost like the smoke of dry ice floating up to the sky from the top of my head. I began to allow these physical feelings to guide my visualization. As I was visualizing these energies flowing up and through me and out into space, I imagined too, that my awareness would follow them up and out into space and I would be free of all my perceived problems... Well, that never happened, (hah) but something much more amazing did. </p>
<p>As I mentioned I meditated a long time that night. Occasionally, I took breaks, for a few minutes. Sometimes I would sit, and open my eyes or stretch my legs long from the cross legged position and return to my "thinking mind" and just contemplate what I was experiencing. Negative thoughts kept intruding so I would end my break and return to focusing on my breathing and the physical feelings in the meditation. Each time I returned to meditation after these breaks, I slipped easier and deeper into this space beyond my thinking mind. </p>
<p>My breathing naturally began to fall into a rhythm. Deeply and gently my breath ebbed in and out. Although, it was deep and gentle there was also a power behind it I hadn't noticed before. My breathing began to feel like it was on autopilot and kicking into a gear of it's own. Instead of me breathing, it was like I was being breathed. I could feel the cool air passing the tip of my nose with the in breath. I could feel the strength in my breath as the coolness intensified. I focused on that for a while. </p>
<p>After a couple of hours I guess, my mind began to slip into a calm, deeper space. I began to all myself to "step back" in my mind. I stepped back deeper behind my eyes and behind my thoughts. I began to notice that even though I still had negative thoughts, or just random stuff still pass through my mind I was in a much calmer space observing it all. Still, I was ready to let go, and release as much tension as possible. I was ready to let go of the stress of my life and I was ready to let go of "me". </p>
<p>I remembered a scripture from my childhood, "be still and know that I am God". Since, I was "being still" I thought, that seemed like something good to focus on. I said it over and over as I flowed into the rhythmic stream of my breath. From a deep space in my soul I reached out something greater. "If there is a God"..I thought..."please bring me your peace!" I continued to focus on the scripture and repeated it over and over. </p>
<p>Be still and know that I am God </p>
<p>Be still and know that I am God </p>
<p>As the rhythm settled in, I began to emphasize different words... </p>
<p>Be STILL and know that I am God </p>
<p>Be still and KNOW that I am God </p>
<p>BE still and know that I am God </p>
<p>Be still and know that I AM God </p>
<p>As I continued I could feel "me" stepping back further and further into my mind. I had asked God for peace and I was ready to find out what was in these depths... Under normal, circumstances I think I might been apprehensive at this stage, I mean this was definitely going into places of my mind I had never been before, but I was ready to just go with it. What did I have to lose? I mean I felt like I was such a loser, I was ready to let go of the stress. I was ready to let go of "me". I could also feel my mind or "me", disconnecting from my breath. My breath was strong and steady as my mind hovered effortlessly above. </p>
<p>Then, I started to break up my silent mantra into bits.... </p>
<p>Be still and know </p>
<p>Be Still....be still...be still... </p>
<p>Be still and know.. be still and know.. </p>
<p>................... that I am God </p>
<p>Be Still and know... that I AM </p>
<p>Be Still and know </p>
<p>----------------that I AM God </p>
<p>....I AM </p>
<p>Then in an instant, I lost "me". In a flash, I came to a deep realization about myself. I won't share it here mainly because it's really hard, if not impossible to put into words. I did however realize in an instant, that I was not the "Jon" I had created myself to be in my mind. I realized that Jon was a collection of stories I had created. I realized that, that "Jon" never really existed. In a moment I experienced the deepest peace I had ever known. I was everything, and nothing.. </p>
<p>What followed however, in the next week was not exactly peaceful, as I have said before meditation is not straight shot to peace. It opened up parts of my psyche that had been suppressed for a long time. My subconscious mind began to surface. So what followed for me was a battle with my self. While my experience may have been rougher than others might be, I always have to be clear that there may be (probably will be) a mental detox process. That included for me, re-examining old beliefs and behaviors and creating new ones. For me it was (and is) a process of making the subconscious, conscious. </p>
<p>While that is an drastic over simplification of the process I went through, it would be too long to describe for what I want to share here, which is hopefully an insight into the physical mechanics of meditation. I do however think that some "basic training", in understanding the parts of human consciousness would be good to know. I meditated for hours that first time, but it might be a better idea start small and add time slowly. This is especially true if you have experienced a severe emotional trauma, or PTSD. </p>
<p>So, looking back at my experience, I noticed a few key things that I have since incorporated into my practice. Because I am sharing from my own inner experience, I have no idea if this will make any sense for other people. I hope it will. </p>
<p>Some of the things I have noticed: </p>
<p>1. Be willing to let go. Let go of daily worries, stress. Let go of relationship concerns. Let go of the idea of "you". </p>
<p>2. Allow the energy to rise. -- I have noticed that my body is in a different mode in true meditation. Just like the body is in a different mode for having sex. There are different sensations, endocrine function, blood flow etc.. Learn to tune into this mode. Learn the sensations..in the crown of your head, your forehead, face, spine. Learn to release physical tension and resistance to the sensations. I think I learned to stuff down these sensations throughout my life, in order to forge ahead and "work hard" in order to "be successful". Part of this process, I think, is learning to reconnect with our own innate natural instincts in the body. </p>
<p>3. Step Back in your consciousness. As you get into the meditation mode, allow yourself to drop back "behind your eyes", beyond the "thinking mind". There can be many layers to this...keep going. </p>
<p>4. Breathe Rhythmically. Allow yourself to settle into a rhythm and flow with it. This will also help to change the brainwaves and the heart rate. </p>
<p>5. Use an object of focus.. Mantra, Breath, Toning. Allow the mind to focus on one thing. Eventually, this focus will shift naturally, but a focus helps to begin to center away from the busy world of thoughts. </p>
<p>6. Allow yourself to let go of all of the above and BE connected. In the deepest space of meditation there is really no more thought of any of this.. I recently heard someone say, "You don't do meditation..meditation does you." I like that statement, and I feel that true meditation is like connecting in to a rhythm of Life beyond "me". </p>
<p>7. The more consistently you do it, the easier it is to get to #6. It is a "practice", just like playing a musical instrument. You'll get better as you learn You. Eventually, it expands beyond meditation and into all of life. </p>
<p>8. This is really a post meditation suggestion, but when you have "realizations" about yourself, or patterns in your life, write them down! Begin a journal. These are nuggets of truth that can help begin to create a picture of understanding. It may not all come at once. Love (and peace) is born of understanding. Fear and stress, is born of confusion. I have found that choosing Love always leads towards understanding...but it helps to write it down, before it gets lost in the mind again. </p>
<p>So here are so daily practices that I like to alternate between. </p>
<p>1. Observing the breath. This one is about as simple as it gets. Sit still and breathe... The key is to observe the breath. Notice the resistance of the mind on the in breath and out breath. Notice how the mind is connected to the breath. Allow them to separate. Allow the breathing to fall into a rhythm, but don't force anything just let it flow. Don't try to do anything, just let it happen.. Sometimes I use a sound therapy track with an isochronic tone or binaural beat. </p>
<p>2. Toning - The variation in this one includes, creating a tone on the out breath. I usually just do an "ohmm" or "ahhhh". The idea is to allow the tone to direct the flow of the mind, and become one with the tone. I like to imagine that my thoughts are like the clouds in the sky (of my mind). When I begin to create the tone on the out breath, I imagine that it is like a strong wind pushing the clouds out of the sky. That usually works great for me to clear my mind and then on the in-breath, I allow my mind to maintain that focus. I find that the mind wants to re-engage sometimes on the in-breath and begin to produce more thoughts. I allow my mind to separate from the breath and maintain the stillness, that I just experienced with the tone. Then I repeat it all again. </p>
<p>3. Rhythmic Breathing - Similar to number one, for this one I use a sound therapy track to breathe in time to the rhythm. This helps to synchronize my breathing and brain waves and little quicker. </p>
<p>4. Combo of #2 and #3 - I also use <a contents="sound therapy" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi" target="_blank">sound therapy</a> tracks for these, and use them to lock in to a predetermined brainwave state. Here are some tracks I use. </p>
<p>The idea of all of these is to sync into a lower brainwave state...generally an alpha or theta state. In these states it's easier to open the subconscious mind and then have access to core perspectives, beliefs and thoughts patterns. After the meditation you may want to write down your thoughts, and decide whether these thoughts are true or useful. From there, you have the freedom to change the thoughts that aren't really serving you, which can help you to create the life (relationships, situations, etc) you want. </p>
<p><strong>Terms and Technique</strong></p>
<p>Terms: I am attempting here to create some terms that I hope will help explain some of the internal process that I go through during meditation. </p>
<p><strong>Stepping Back </strong></p>
<p>When I first sit down to meditate I close my eyes. as I close my eyes I am aware of being just behind my eyes looking out. My thoughts are still very present and I am still very engaged with the world just outside of my eyes.. gradually as I meditate and relax I am more aware of stepping back into my consciousness. In this process, I feel I am stepping backwards "in my head" and putting more distance between my mind and my eyes (and thoughts). This "stepping back" helps me to eventually rest into the space of being an observer of my thoughts, while not being actively engaged in them. During this I also start to become aware of what I call "down cycling". </p>
<p><strong>Down Cycling </strong></p>
<p>What I call "down cycling" is letting go of the mind/consciousness.. It is the process of going from the "stepping back" from thoughts to letting go of thoughts and separation from them. Every night we unconsciously "down cycle" into sleep. As I drift to sleep, with each out breath, I let go. As I am headed into sleep I am letting go of muscle tension and also letting go of the conscious mind and thoughts until I am eventually drifted off into sleep and unconsciousness. With meditation too, I have discovered that this same basic process helps get into the deepest state of meditation, (which opens into the subconscious). So, in my view, there is no mysterious or esoteric practice needed. Everyone is doing this everyday, just without awareness. </p>
<p>For myself, with each down cycling of the out breath I am releasing tension.. I can also feel myself going deeper (stepping back) each time.. with each breath I let go into a deeper layer. </p>
<p>So, for example, there is a spectrum we have between the mind we are in when we get in bed, to the mind we are in when we sleep, right? This is a mostly unconscious process, however, try being more conscious of this process as you go to sleep. Obviously, you can't be conscious of the whole thing because you ultimately lose consciousness and go to sleep, but begin to be aware of this process. This general awareness,I think, can help in understanding this process as it occurs during meditation...and noticing the body sensations in you as the "stepping back" and "down-cycling" begin to occur. </p>
<p>I also notice the energy awakening in my head/brain. sometimes a gentle pressure in my forehead around the third eye (front of forehead). Sometimes, I notice more energy, an almost electrical energy in front part of my brain (frontal cortex). </p>
<p>It is estimated that we use about 5-10% of the conscious mind. </p>
<p>Here is an article to consider: <strong>95 percent of brain activity is beyond our conscious awareness</strong>: <a contents="http://www.simplifyinginterfaces.com/2008/08/01/95-percent-of-brain-activity-is-beyond-our-conscious-awareness/&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.simplifyinginterfaces.com/2008/08/01/95-percent-of-brain-activity-is-beyond-our-conscious-awareness/" target="_blank">http://www.simplifyinginterfaces.com/2008/08/01/95-percent-of-brain-activity-is-beyond-our-conscious-awareness/ </a></p>
<p>In my opinion, opening to the subconscious realm allows the mind and heart (conscious and subconscious) to become more fully integrated. In other words, in that state I can become more aware of subconscious core beliefs, perspectives and behavior patterns that are shaping my everyday actions and ultimately my life. </p>
<p>A few more thoughts: </p>
<p><strong>Implementation</strong> - Relax with each breath and let go. Tune in to the absence of trying. Simply allow the mind to sleep, and to for the subconscious to awaken. As you have probably experienced, insomnia and sleeplessness happen when you are "trying" to sleep. So, don't try, just let go and allow yourself to drift towards this space naturally. Later, as you become familiar with the "feel" of this space the easier it will be to direct the mind towards that consciously. </p>
<p><strong>Detach the mind - </strong>allow the mind to ride on the breath. The breath is the horse and the mind is the rider. </p>
<p><strong>Fear </strong>- sometimes I have noticed in meditation (my own) and from talking to others that there is a fear of letting go. There is a fear of altering our consciousness, or losing touch with it. This concept is not as intimidating when we realize that we "let go" everyday when we go to sleep. I think this "letting go" becomes easier with practice. </p>
<p>Also, <strong>spiritual/psychological teachings</strong> can give us the training to understand what we might encounter as the subconscious mind opens into the conscious. This training is key in making sense of what a person may encounter. Nothing can prepare you for this fully, but being willing to do some advance psychological study, of issues that you may be facing, can be very helpful. Also, working with a counselor, if for nothing else than to "vent" can also be helpful. </p>
<p>Please, do not be fearful, but also do not to take this lightly. This can be intense psychological work...but totally worth it. Go easy on yourself! </p>
<p><strong> Choose Love, not fear.</strong></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577252015-10-22T17:06:00-04:002019-09-19T09:12:55-04:00The Producer and Experiencer of Stress - part 2<p>Following up on the <a contents="last blog" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/you-are-the-producer-and-experiencer-of-stress">last blog</a>, I'd say the other key point was that I realized that my <a contents="perceived identity" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/identity-ego-and-the-shadow">perceived identity</a> is really the source of most mental stress. I realized that in my experience I was either defending identity or stressed about my own existence, etc. But with the practices of meditation, yoga, sound therapy and really just pure relaxation, I found that I could settle into the present moment. I was not then in a space of needing to be x, y , or z, but just to be who I AM. I found that when I rest in that I AM space, in the present moment, I noticed a freedom from the stress of "identity". By "identity" I basically mean needing to live up to any version of myself in order to please anyone else. In the present moment, I am free from identity (or ego) because when I'm truly in that moment, I am just pure awareness. When I'm truly in the present moment, the mind is not even able to calculate a future and a past, have thoughts...think of how I want to be seen by others...or anything else.. There really is not time for that type of mental calculation in the NOW, there is just a pure awareness of "what is". In the purity of that moment, I found that I was no longer experiencing life through the lens of my mind. </p>
<p>In the "now" moment, I feel I am also connected to pure Love. Why? Because I am totally content and present in the moment. Isn't that what falling in love is like?.. Totally present, and totally content, when you're with that someone who sees your value (and you theirs), you don't want to be anywhere else. What we're really doing, I believe, is connecting to the love within ourself. In that moment, it's easy to feel that you are being loved and that someone else can see you for who you are...because they're fully present with you and not wrapped up in their own story lines and dramas of their identity...and you are fully present with them. </p>
<p>In a way this "presence" is what it's like when we're experiencing love with another person. When we're experiencing that special someone for the first time, we're experiencing pure contentment in the present moment. We're not thinking about anything else, but just being with them, and experiencing them and feeling their openness and joy to experience us too. In that experience, we're able to find that peace in the present moment through another person's view.. or, at least, our view of their view, and our admiration of them. In fact, I think the Love we feel IS "presence". We can feel that within ourselves, or share with anyone else. </p>
<p>Truly, though, the love that is felt is all happening within each of us, so rather than getting attached and dependent on another person outside of us, I think we can learn to cultivate and focus on that source of Love from within.. and then share it.. freely. </p>
<p>What do I mean when I say the Love is all occurring within me? (each person). Well, we interpret things through our nervous system. We interpret facial expressions, touch, voice patterns etc, and then we assign value to those based on what we think they mean and then create a corresponding physiological response. Now, I know that's not very sexy or romantic, but the truth is we are creating it all within our own body. So, in a very real way all of those perceptions and corresponding physical responses are based on my own inner world....my relationship to myself. So, if I truly Love myself as I am, then I am much more free to interpret things accurately, and not see the reactions of others as reflecting on "me". </p>
<p>So, in my the path to changing my perceptions, I have realized that I have had to both look inward and outward. It's important for me to look inward to notice my mental perceptions and then to notice the physiological sensations of my outward perceptions that correspond with those. </p>
<p>Then, I ask myself: </p>
<p>How do I need to alter my mental perceptions in order to change my physiological reactions? </p>
<p>(and sometimes it's my actions or the situation that needs to change) </p>
<p>If I notice that my view of a person or a situation is causing stress or tension, then I have to notice the stress and then notice how changing my mental state can change the stress. </p>
<p>It really is up to me, individually to do an inventory of my perceptions and reactions (in each moment), to navigate a space of greater ease and allow the life force to flow. Also, trying to not to create tension by creating mental blocks and tension through the body. I have noticed it's important to open those blocks of tension and stress and allow the life force to flow. That unobstructed "flow" happens by removing suppression and really raising awareness and allowing myself to be fully integrated, conscious and subconscious. (completely in the NOW).</p>
<p>(..more on the "how" of opening and exploring the subconscious, releasing suppression etc.. next.) </p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577262015-10-21T13:34:00-04:002019-09-18T07:23:00-04:00You are the Producer and Experiencer of Stress<p>Physiologically speaking, stress is generated within each of us. </p>
<p>So that means that, physiologically (within our body), we are both the producer and the experiencer of stress. </p>
<p>So that means, then, that my thoughts have the ability to produce a physiological reaction, and then that reaction can manifest as stress in the body. The opposite is also true. Physiologically speaking that I'm also both the producer and the experiencer of joy, and bliss, and euphoria. </p>
<p>So, that seems basic enough, right?. We create physical responses to mental states. Of course, none of us want to experience stress and yet everyday most people do. </p>
<p>So, then, it seems that if someone is suffering from stress there's a key element missing that they're not aware of. That element seems to be the awareness of producing their own stress and also whether or not the situation warrants a heightened stress response. Obviously, no person in their right mind would purposefully choose to create and experience their own stress unnecessarily,right? So then, it seems that people are experiencing stress as they react to their thoughts but they're not aware of being both the "producer" and "experiencer" of the stress. In that case, there is a separation or a lack of awareness between those two aspects of themselves (the "producer self" and the "experiencer self"). There is a split or a veil between these two. This becomes a duality that is always at conflict...which creates stress. So, then, in that state of being, there is a general lack of awareness between that producer aspect and the experiencer aspect of themselves. The result of that "split" or lack of awareness, is that the person then experiences stress, (anxiety, depression, and suffering) based on reacting to their own thoughts. This "mind-body process" all happens inside of us, and so the thoughts happen within us (mental) and also the reaction to the thought (physical). </p>
<p>So, in my view the "producer", is the subconscious mind, and the "experiencer" is the conscious mind. </p>
<p>So, the key would seem to be in making the subconscious more conscious. Doing so would help to unify the split in the awareness of Self...which would also relieve stress. </p>
<p>So there's two aspects at play. There's the "teaching" or intellectual aspect...which is to say that intellectually anyone can understand these things as they are explained. The concepts themselves are pretty basic, but there is also another aspect. There's also the "perceptual" or "experience" aspect. </p>
<p>So, in order to truly understand the "teaching", in my view, there has to also be a perception shift. Why? I think because there's not enough brain power to intellectually analyze every single thing (and thought) that occurs in life, and then cross check with the "teachings" you have heard, read or otherwise absorbed with the conscious mind. It's like learning a new language. All of that is a process of the mind. The "teaching" is a way to prepare the conscious mind for the "experience", which ultimately I feel is the experience of transcending the intellect or conscious mind. Life happens fast. When life happens, we don't tend to reflect on our latest "spiritual teaching", no, we process through the lens of reality we have already created in our own subconscious mind...it's an instantaneous and unconscious process. So, in order to Unify the "perceiver" (subconscious) and the "experiencer" (conscious), my personal experience tells me that there has to be a perception shift. This perception shift allows a person the ability to stay in the "flow" in real time. My experience also tells me that the "teachings" are all contained in the energy of this "flow", or frequency. The teachings are already within you. This perception shift or "flow", enables the experiencing of the subconscious, and conscious mind, as a Unified whole. </p>
<p>What is the perception shift? </p>
<p>In my opinion it's going from the space of "mind", which is always thinking, calculating, interpreting.. and never in the now....to transcending the mind which is always in NOW, and views without interpretation through the lens of past experience.</p>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-xcFLNW9Ck/VhM41H8rC8I/AAAAAAAAAXo/bNRpJO9VuuQ/s1600/jimi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-xcFLNW9Ck/VhM41H8rC8I/AAAAAAAAAXo/bNRpJO9VuuQ/s320/jimi.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
<p>So in some ways the teachings are the "what"...but the perception shift is the "how"? </p>
<p>So how can everyone experience this perception shift? </p>
<p>Well, that's what I'm exploring in this blog by examining my own experience in retrospect. What was I doing at the time, and how did it possibly affect me? I am hoping that exploring these questions will be useful for everyone. I am hoping to answer that question as I go. </p>
<p>So, in a general way I have talked about working on some of these practices... like meditation, maybe using certain herbs, yoga, and other mind-body practices. Many of these things release stress, promote neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, and transform our mind and our perspective from a perspective that causes stress to a new perspective, that can lead to a deeper understanding of how the mind actually works, which also ultimately releases stress and leads to peace. </p>
<p>So what we want to do ideally is to be aware of the teachings of various spiritual traditions (psychological reminders) which help change our perceptions, so that we can flow in harmony and peace and encourage our body to produce good chemicals that will help us to be more relaxed and healthier, and experience peace. After all, it's a basic understanding of all medical study, that less stress is a good thing. </p>
<p>I think the teachings also help to guide the process of this perception shift. (Perhaps the simplest teaching, which embodies all others in my opinion, is to Choose Love, not fear.)</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kf3LP3Flu-4/VhM_VzUc34I/AAAAAAAAAYA/kcZ90EMWQAY/s1600/perception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kf3LP3Flu-4/VhM_VzUc34I/AAAAAAAAAYA/kcZ90EMWQAY/s640/perception.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<p>Notice that the second list of things encourage being in the "now". The mind isn't simultaneously here, but fixated on something else. The second list of thought patterns facilitate a sort of letting go, that leads one towards "presence". </p>
<p>So, these thought patterns both point towards the energy of presence. But also notice that these beneficial qualities also arise as "by products" from this presence... so these universally positive qualities flow from the energy of "Nowness" or "presence". So, that is what I mean when I say the teachings are contained in the energy. They are already within you. </p>
<p>In neuroscience, there is a saying that the "neurons that fire together wire together", meaning that our brain creates well worn habits and patterns. It takes practice and consistency to change these. </p>
<p>Of course "meditation", or perceptual engineering is the time tested way of beginning to change these brain patterns. </p>
<p>(..more on these ideas, in another post....) </p>
<p><strong>Energetic Flowchart:</strong></p>
<div style="margin: 0px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--oiulRyzV4M/Vifr53_OMOI/AAAAAAAAAZc/QARKrUZa_oc/s1600/Love-Fear-Presence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--oiulRyzV4M/Vifr53_OMOI/AAAAAAAAAZc/QARKrUZa_oc/s640/Love-Fear-Presence.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<br> </div>
<p><i><b><a data-link-label="Listen" data-link-type="page" href="/listen" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here.</a></b></i></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span><br><br> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577282015-06-04T22:49:00-04:002019-09-19T09:30:09-04:00Who is the enemy?<p>Consider that the real battle is not against competing ideas and identities, that we can dream up in the form of religions, race, sexuality, political ideas, economic class, favorite fashions or whatever other type of divisions our minds can manufacture... but that the real battle is within our own minds and all of these ideas that separate us and the rest of humanity from our direct connection to the Love that is already within us. I've realized in myself (the hard way) that the real victory is in conquering my own mind, so that my heart can be free. The real enemy was always "me". </p>
<p>Consider that the outer conflict is created by the ego. Consider that the outer enemy is unconsciously created to project the sins of the <a contents="shadow" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)">shadow</a> (inadequacies, shame etc..) on to. This projection, then, is a false attempt to create a sense of "self right-ness", which in turn verifies to the Ego it's "existence". The conscious identity needs the enemy to establish this sense of right - ness. The shadow unconsciously creates the conditions for the enemy to thrive. The "enemy" becomes a counterpoint to the conscious mind. The confusion is on both sides. </p>
<p>So, I have perceived in my own experiences that the shadow can not only create the perception of the "enemy". I think also that the shadow (we) sometimes manifests these conditions unconsciously in order to try to recreate the situation of a past trauma (or relationship) in order to find a resolution, or healing in the present. </p>
<p>All of these things all can create a lot of confusion and drama. The confusion is only eliminated when the mind becomes unified as One. I think that this unification can happen as I/we dig deeper, exposing the things (thoughts, desires etc..) that are hidden, but that are really dictating my actions by influencing the things I want to either encourage or avoid in life. </p>
<p>My view (and personal experience) is that this dynamic occurs in most relationships, ranging from family, friends and work relationships, to world affairs.. (This is the also the soul of <a contents="codependency." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpman_drama_triangle">codependency.</a>) </p>
<p>I have also found myself in the role of the enemy by way of another persons projection. I then found myself in a confusing world of reacting to the negative energy that was coming at me.. From a place of "guilt" or misplaced confusion, I began to lose myself in an unnecessary reaction and defense. Later, I realized that I was only confirming to that person that they were right in their projection!! In my defensiveness, I was becoming what they had projected on to me. </p>
<p>When I quit reacting, things began to get better...slowly. </p>
<p>It seems to me then that the goal (as people, society) should be not only to do our best to create a general environment of well being, but also to create the conditions to illuminate (and eliminate) confusion within the mind. </p>
<p><strong>Quotes:</strong></p>
<p>Here are some interesting quotes from ancient and not-so ancient sources: </p>
<p>According to Carl Jung: "the shadow, in being instinctive and irrational, is prone to psychological projection, in which a perceived personal inferiority is recognized as a perceived moral deficiency in someone else." Jung writes that if these projections remain hidden, "The projection-making factor (the Shadow archetype) then has a free hand and can realize its object--if it has one--or bring about some other situation characteristic of its power." These projections insulate and harm individuals by acting as a constantly thickening veil of illusion between the ego and the real world." -from Wikipedia </p>
<p>"Jesus responded: when you make the two into one, and then when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside.....then you will enter the Kingdom. </p>
<p>Therefore I say that if one is unified, one will be filled with light, but if one is divided one will be filled with darkness." -Gospel of Thomas </p>
<p>Though he should conquer a 1,000 men in battle a 1,000 times, yet he, indeed who would conquer himself is the greatest of conquerors. -Dhammapada </p>
<p>We see others not as they are, but as we are. - Nin </p>
<p>It takes one to know one! - Anon. </p>
<p><em>I am constantly learning and re-learning these lessons!</em></p>
<p><a contents="For sound downloads click here.&nbsp;" data-link-label="Listen" data-link-type="page" href="/listen">For sound therapy downloads or streams click here.</a></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>
<p><br> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577292015-05-26T23:23:00-04:002021-01-12T16:44:50-05:00Awakening from Delusions<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/259779/1d53ba1b98a71accf48c02b95ed11ce5abb54510/original/adobestock-376447878.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Note to Self: Your greatest liability is the belief that you know the truth. Question your perceptions.</p>
<p><strong>To believe without understanding is self deception. <br>To understand without belief is clarity (and freedom). </strong> </p>
<p>The mind naturally tends to fill in the cracks of things you don't know. Whether it's in personal relationships, spiritual beliefs or a view of world affairs. Using past patterns and observations it's easy fill in these cracks to give a sense of confidence.* Sometimes you may be right, sometimes though, you're not. The wrong ones can lead down the path of self deception and delusion. It's more accurate to say "I don't know" rather than to pretend you know when you don't... and to always seek to know the difference. </p>
<p>(*this also tends to favor the tendency of repeating the past over and over)</p>
<h3>Distortions of Reality:</h3>
<p>In my view: as a protection we all build ideas about ourselves and the world we live in that are distortions of reality (delusions). When we become "awakened", we become an "observer" (apart from the ego) so that we can actually see reality around us (and in us) apart from self-interest. </p>
<p>So, from the Ego's "protector state" (aka..self image, identity) we may see reality from one perspective, but from the "observer state", we can see things differently apart from our own self-interest. In the process, one may begin to notice the discrepancy between the previous view of reality and the new view via the observer state. The natural conflict between these two may feel like insanity, or a loss of self, during the "awakening" process. </p>
<h3>Personal Observation</h3>
<p>So I'd like to share here some from my personal story about working through the conflict of the observer state, and the ego: </p>
<p>The path of this awakening was through doorway of my own delusions, psychosis and insanity. Not only did I dismantle my delusions in my quest to stay sane... I decided not to stop there and also tore apart my beliefs one by one. I tore down religious beliefs, beliefs about my relationships, beliefs about who I thought myself to be, and more. (I asked myself over and over, is this absolutely true? Do I have any confirmation of this as a truth?) As I have mentioned my awakening was not all pleasant, I faced some of the darkest fears I could imagine from my subconscious. As my subconscious mind opened and began to puke out and purge some of these thoughts I had encouraged for years, I was faced with coming to a deeper understanding of these sometimes self destructive thought patterns. </p>
<p>As I faced these delusions I became aware of two parts of myself. The "thinker", or the part sold on the delusion or paranoia (old mental pattern) and, the "observer", the part of me that was impartially observing the thoughts themselves and not wrapped up in their drama. </p>
<p>Based on this experience and subsequent observations, I am pretty sure most people have these "stories" bouncing around in their heads, that we don't talk about. In this private inner world of our minds, it's easy to plant and water these seeds of self deception. It could be something as simple as "I know what they are thinking" ..or "that person doesn't like me". The mind can take a simple delusion and build complex story lines from there.. </p>
<p>In my awakening process, the mind then began to fight back with these delusions, it's almost as if it was saying "without me you can't survive.. without me these scenarios that you have been so vigilant against will overtake and destroy you". This, of course, triggers the fight or flight response and survival instinct of the <a contents="reptilian brain" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_05/d_05_cr/d_05_cr_her/d_05_cr_her.html" target="_blank">reptilian brain</a>. This pattern of thinking kept me locked in a cycle of unconscious fear and stress for years. </p>
<p>I knew on some level that the "reality" of my world was shifting. I could feel it coming like a storm on the horizon. There was a battle between within me that was brewing. My body seemed to sense it before my mind. My plumb-line, or my only guide for sane action once I was in the middle of this process (of what I am calling awakening) was to <strong>choose Love and not fear</strong>. This was not easy because my mind WANTED me to choose fear, so that it could provide me with a safe refuge..or some solution to my circumstance (based on viewing the present moment through the lens of old mental patterns). </p>
<p>However as I questioned the validity of what my mind was telling me (from the observer state) I began to see things in a different light. I began to see that there were motivations for these fears as they related to my sense of self (my ego). I began to see, that on some level I was receiving some sort of psychological payoff for the views and perspectives that I had nurtured for years. In some cases this payoff was simply to insure "my" existence. My ego was willing to create these distortions of reality in order to for "me" to exist. I began to see that it was a con. A con not born of malice, but of protection of my sense of self, and to serve me. Later, from the place of compassion and understanding for myself, I could begin to let go of some of these patterns that no longer served me..and begin to awaken to a brand new perception of the world and myself. This also required for me to trust. It required me to trust in the concept of G-d (pure Love), and to trust that no matter what happened (even if it meant the end of my existence) that I would still be connected to Love. I began to see slowly that I was going sane...the biases, judgements and fears I held for years gradually began to give way. </p>
<p>I discovered that this awakening required heresy... or at least overcoming my fear of it. I would have to destroy concepts and "beliefs" about the world (and my existence) that had kept me "safe". </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"On one level, wisdom is nothing more profound than an ability to follow ones own advice. However, there are deeper insights to be had about the nature of our minds. Unfortunately, they have been discussed entirely in the context of religion and, therefore, have been shrouded in fallacy and superstition for all of human history." -Sam Harris </em></p>
<p>As I questioned these things, I began to peel back these layers..peering deeper into my motivations for having these thoughts and story lines about myself in the first place. I needed to explain to myself why I perpetuated toxic relationships, or felt like a "loser", or couldn't quite reconcile the "storyline" of my life. What did I need it all to mean? As I dug deeper the most common element was that I needed to create a "self image" that could be loved. How could I be loved without a "self" (an Ego, an Identity)? After all our world tells us that we need an identity to be loved. In modern times, "celebrities" illustrate this concept on steroids. I learned a little later on that I couldn't truly BE love with one. </p>
<p>Here's an example of peeling back the layers, and unraveling the mind from the observer state: </p>
<p>During this experience, I had some severe bouts of paranoia. If you have ever experienced paranoia as a result of being stoned (on pot), it was like that... The bad part of it was that it wasn't going to go away in a couple of hours. No, I was going to have to either figure my mind out, or suffer. The energy of this awakening, or "high", wasn't going away. It was sink or swim. </p>
<p>So, as I worked through this paranoia, slowly I began to ask myself what is the payoff for this? </p>
<p>I realized in my case it was two main things. Number one, being paranoid that someone or something was "after me", insured my existence and that I was an important person. The truth is, that (subconsciously) I didn't really feel like I was very important and wondered silently if my life meant anything or could be useful to anyone else. (I never realized this consciously before) So, the payoff for this paranoia was that it gave me a sense of importance. </p>
<p>Number two, I realized I had leaned on others out of a sense of co-dependency or lack of will to stand up for my own ideas or position. So, I had given up personal power and control in areas that I really wasn't OK with. I realized that this gave rise to a paranoia too and a tendency to demonize others, based on my own inability or lack of will to speak my truth and take control of things that directly affect me. </p>
<p>So, I began to work on these types of behavior patterns in my future choices and behaviors... but the realization alone, was a huge stress release. </p>
<p>This is just one small example of many of things that I had to work through. There were many sleepless nights in order to come to some of these realizations about myself. It can feel pretty brutal to see yourself in a new light!! The harder the "medicine" (realization), the harder the thought pattern was to wake up to. Self forgiveness is key (and gratitude for seeing and becoming free of the pattern). In each case, though, it was worth it as I began know myself on a deeper level. </p>
<p>On some level, I think many of us have deceived ourselves at some point or another.. the thing about it is, of course, no one can figure out the deceptions but YOU. While my awakening to many of these subconscious mental patterns seemed like a descent into madness, somewhere along the lines I realized I was actually going sane. In doing so, I could also see firsthand many of the insanities around me, and how they had held me in confusion for so long. Just as I had treated myself with compassion and understanding, I knew I would need to try to approach future situations with the same commitment to seeking an inner perspective.</p>
<p><strong>Note: </strong>As an exercise, make it a game to look within your thoughts. Ask yourself what do I have to gain from this viewpoint? Peel back the layers. Some patterns can have many layers.. </p>
<p><strong>Quote:</strong></p>
<p>When you believe in things that you don't understand...then you suffer, Superstition ain't the way --- Stevie Wonder </p>
<p><a contents="For sound therapy downloads and streams click here.&nbsp;" data-link-label="Home" data-link-type="page" href="/home">For sound therapy downloads and streams click here</a>.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="52" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" src="https://embed.song.link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsong.link%2Fs%2F6UMbwL9wgdaGxzI5IePQKL&theme=light" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p><br><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577302015-05-18T13:17:00-04:002019-09-19T16:29:35-04:00Understanding the Shadow Pt. 2<p>The shadow is the part of ourselves we hide from the world. For most, the preferred view of ourselves that we'd like to be seen (by others) is out in the open (in the light), however the parts that we want to hide are behind that light, in the shadows. This "hiding" happens both consciously and subconsciously. In the shadow are the things that I didn't think would be acceptable or that just don't represent the ideal concept of the way I desire to be viewed, or maybe the thoughts that I didn't have the courage to express. In general, we want to hide these inner parts of ourself, to protect our concept of self. This concept of self, is the view we think others have of us. This projecting of the imagined view of others back onto ourselves is all somewhat pointless, though. Why? Because, no one views me the way I want to be viewed. Also, no one can ever really know what another person thinks of them fully (especially without asking), so the whole mental process of worrying about another persons view and how it relates to my own self-esteem is based on a delusion or self-deception. Everyone has their own concept of me (or you) that they have built. Their view can either be insight into my true nature or more likely, have nothing to do with me at all. Their view is built on the small sliver of me that they know about. </p>
<p>Our world functions on the concept of this same idea of self, or ego. This is most easy to see externally, with celebrities or politicians that have capitalized on the public concept of self based on a small sliver of what they are. However, this is of course an incomplete view of the reality of their being, inevitably there is a "scandal" that brings to light another part of that persons being, and the public view of that person is shattered along with their influence and power. This is, of course, stupid and cruel for us as a society to engage in, and yet almost everyone does this to greater or lesser degrees. Why do we enact this cruelty? I think it's because most are living in this same mental prison. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, every time we hide something of ourselves in the shadow (consciously or subconsciously) we are robbing ourselves of our own personal power and energy. This is also building a prison for ourselves. This is also unconsciously giving power to the darkness we are hiding. </p>
<p>So what goes in the shadow? Well, it's a bit different for each of us based on our makeup, but there are cultural elements too that are easier to look at. Most commonly, we put into the shadow our sexuality, our urges and attractions. We also put our frustrations and anger and resentment. The things is, none of these are hidden very long and they usually come back as warped expressions, or more powerful urges, anger, resentment etc.. etc.. etc. All of these are the result of one thing. Fear. </p>
<h3>Origins of the Shadow</h3>
<p>How does the shadow start? </p>
<p>The shadow is built as soon as I begin to identify with some thing, group or concept or idea. Why? Because as soon as I identify with the thing group or idea, I begin to edit out the parts of myself that do not fit into this concept. The parts that don't fit into this newly formed view of my new identification I hide or minimize, so by default many of these "edited parts" go into this "shadow". These could be concepts based on sexuality, marriage, religion or even spirituality. It really doesn't matter. </p>
<p>The energy that built the shadow in my experience was mainly. </p>
<p>The power I gave to any concept (positive or negative) in order to define myself in the view of others. </p>
<p>The truth is that each and every one of us have an inner world, and maybe we all share the same fear that we might be found out? After all, what if people knew who you really were, what went on in your inner world? Perhaps you show some of this to some groups of friends and hide it from others, maybe some is kept entirely to yourself. In some ways, our view of society dictates this inner world....our view of what we think society thinks is "acceptable". Then when we create this "shadow" it becomes a prison of fear. </p>
<p>In order to truly connect with each other, though, we have to bring this inner world out. We have to learn love ALL of ourselves. I have learned that those things that I resist will persist, but the things I bring out of the darkness will lose their power in the light. </p>
<p>I encourage you to have your own coming out party, where we say, yes, I'm human, I might have flaws, but I also have this light and gifts to share and all of these are part of who I am. I have noticed when I have the courage to do this I haven't been met with rejection that I feared, but I have found connection and commonality and acceptance. I believe that it's own our vulnerability and willingness to expose and share these parts of ourselves, and our inner world, in which we can find true strength, acceptance and the Love that we seek. </p>
<p><strong>Related Posts</strong></p>
<p><a contents="Understanding the Shadow - post 1&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/understanding-the-shadow-pt-1">Understanding the Shadow - post 1 </a></p>
<p><a contents="Identity Ego and the Shadow" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sonicyogi.com/blog/identity-ego-and-the-shadow">Identity Ego and the Shadow</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<p><strong>article: </strong></p>
<p><a contents="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201204/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-what-is-the-shadow&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201204/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-what-is-the-shadow">https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201204/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-what-is-the-shadow </a></p>
<p><span class="font_small">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</span></p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577312015-05-14T23:20:00-04:002019-09-19T16:30:17-04:00Anti-fungal Veggies + PDF<p>I recently decided to branch out (from a more paleo-ish regimen) and try to include some legumes in my diet, because I wanted the protein and also some more carb. I figured it would help with keeping my moods in a good place as both the protein and carb contribute to serotonin production. So, I tried some chickpeas.. Well, damn if I didn't notice some sort of "die off" symptoms.. At first I wasn't sure totally. So, I googled chick peas to see if they had any anti-fungal qualities..</p>
<p>I found out that chickpeas contain <b>chitinase</b>, an enzyme that can be effective against candida. Candida can exist in two forms in the body and in one form for it creates a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256049/" target="_blank">protein layer</a> or shell made of "chitin" which is like the hard shell of an insect. Because of the hard shell, it makes them hard to be impacted by other types of anti-fungals. So, chitinase breaks down this shell and can help flush it from the system.</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">I also found that lentils and mung beans also have anti-fungal qualities, in addition to some other beans. Nature is amazing!!!</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Here are some links:</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Chitin Synthesis and Fungal Pathogenesis</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923753/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923753/</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Chitinase and Mung Bean</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15766863">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15766863</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Detection of antifungal genes in chickpeas:</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://ejfa.info/index.php/ejfa/article/viewFile/5162/2633">http://ejfa.info/index.php/ejfa/article/viewFile/5162/2633</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">antifungal peptide in Red Lentil</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123664">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123664</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">I also learned that Niacin (aka. vitamin B3) is antifungal. Not only that, but by supplementing with Niacin it can also help serotonin levels because our body uses serotonin to create niacin. So, if a person is already low in serotonin there could be a deficiency in both Niacin and Serotonin.</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Niacin to treat fungal infections:</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100708141617.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100708141617.htm</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://accidentalscientist.com/2009/06/niacin-adventures-part-1-natures-prozac.html">http://accidentalscientist.com/2009/06/niacin-adventures-part-1-natures-prozac.html</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<br>Why does any of this matter? I think it matters because I feel that an imbalance of bad bacteria can negatively affect our consciousness. It can contribute to brain fog, bad moods, food cravings and more. It can also affect normal serotonin levels. There is a lot of research being released that also seems to confirm this.<br><br>Ancient teachings and practices seem to point to this too. For example, Kitchari is a common <a href="http://lifespa.com/whats-so-amazing-about-khichadi/" target="_blank">cleansing food</a> from Ayurvedic practice which consists of Mung Beans (which contain Chitinase) and Rice.<br><br>(link: <a href="http://lifespa.com/whats-so-amazing-about-khichadi/" target="_blank">What's so amazing about Kitchari? </a>)<br><br>There are even Kitchari cleanses, where a person eats only Kitchari for 30 days or so... mmmm<br><br>--</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Also, here is a link to a PDF I put together about the importance of encouraging good bacteria versus ones that encourage inflammation.. Because they also have a direct impact on our brain chemicals, I think they can also greatly affect our sense of self, and moods. <br> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">The video by Elaine Hsiao is especially interesting..<br><br>"Brain, Heart, Gut - What drives us really?"</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_fRFjteAw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_fRFjteAw</a></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"> </div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxXNt1cuwkT1cW1acEdiblVOUkE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">PDF HERE</a>.</div>
<p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i><br><br> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577322015-04-21T23:06:00-04:002018-10-06T11:58:13-04:00Meditation..am I doing this right?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>My 2 cents for those on the fence about giving meditation a shot:</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Meditation should have a kick to it.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">To tell the truth I really had no concept of what meditation was before my experience with it ...and I really didn't want to. I think that's mainly because I didn't understand it. I thought the basic gist of it was just sitting there breathing and being tranquil in a quiet space... and it is... but it's more. I think for some people (and I know this because they told me) that "meditation" seems like something you "should" do. They know it's supposed to be "good" for you....like eating lima beans. It seems that there's a growing general awareness that meditation is a good thing for health and stress. After all there's a <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=scientific+research+on+meditation&revid=1710067930&sa=X&ei=rXGCVNX7BImfNq-FhPgI&ved=0CFoQ1QIoAA" target="_blank">lot of research</a> showing how it can improve brain function and decrease stress ...but still, if it seems boring and lame are you really going to keep doing it for long?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So, what do I mean when I say "there's more"? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Relaxing? check..yes, that seems reasonable. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Stress relieving?.. another check..also sounds plausible. I mean, of course sitting still with your eyes closed would be relaxing right? ...but there's more.. a LOT more.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Just to cut to the chase, Meditation (when done well) is more than just relaxing, it gets you high, in all the best ways possible. It makes you feel good. Stoned. Blissful. Euphoric. Rejuvenated. Relaxed and ReStored (and all in way that leads to more clarity.)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">People want to FEEL GOOD and we all want to connect. Isn't this is why people drink beer.. and have sex .. and do drugs? </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">While most meditation takes the approach of sitting still, breathing and maybe focusing on a word or phrase.. I think for a lot of people this falls flat. Why? Because there is no immediate result. We live in a results oriented society and people want results fast. The fact is, if you smoke a joint you are going to feel the results fast and they won't be so subtle that you have to wonder if you "did it right", or if "anything happened"..</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When people drink beer on the weekend and watch football.. they pop open the bottle and in a few seconds they have altered their consciousness in a very noticeable way. Their body relaxes, they forget about their "to do" list, and quiet their mind enough to enjoy the game.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Most of the same people don't have the same feelings about meditation. It seems elusive, confusing or even pretentious.. Many times it is taught or talked about by guys in robes, who at first glance seem to be about as far removed as anyone could be from the realities of daily life. There are so many articles about meditation that speak about "advanced meditators" and how Buddhist Monks reached some "deep brainwave state" or even altered their heartbeat or body temperature. While these things are cool and catch our attention, reading these things makes it seems as though meditation requires some great skill or talent that must be honed in the confines of monastery. Sounds fun, huh? Nothing could be further from the truth. I think in general this type of hype can discourage people before they even get started and also brings ego into the mix. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The greatest skill you could possibly have when meditating (I think) is the ability and desire to LET GO. Isn't this what people willfully do when drinking, doing drugs ..or even having sex? They are saying for the next few hours I am going to LET GO of my problems and indulge in the beauty of NOW. I am going to let go of my thoughts and memories and the things that burden my mind and give myself a temporary vacation. I am going to use this external substance to find peace within myself and I'm going to enjoy the people I'm with.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The other reality of drinking alcohol, or doing drugs is that it put's the brainwaves into a different state immediately. The brainwaves are altered, and suddenly perception changes. You can go from being stressed in one minute and five minutes later hardly give a shit, and be laughing and joyful. Isn't this what we are after?. We want to change our perception. We want to see things in a different way.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The physical reality of drugs or alcohol is that it changes the our brainwaves and also then our brain chemicals. Alcohol, releases GABA a powerful neurotransmitter and also puts the brain into alpha state. Alpha state is a more relaxed state of brainwaves, that helps us to breathe deeper, relax our muscles and basically chill out.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So with meditation too, I think it's important to get into a different brainwave state. After all if you drank a beer and it didn't give you a buzz, you'd be like "WTF? that was useless!!" So too, with meditation if you don't feel much from it, you're probably unlikely to continue.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In fact I think "meditation" as word, is loaded with presupposed meanings by so many people in today's world. So, let's consider scrapping that word altogether... Instead of meditation, perhaps we could call it "Personal Brainwave Alteration" or "Perceptual Engineering", "Bliss Cultivation" or "Finding your Internal Buzz". Essentially, it is possible for you to find the internal switches in your own mind that can give all of the pleasures that any external source (drugs, alcohol) can give you. It's just a matter of practice.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A major part of why I started doing sound therapy was that I thought it could be a great tool, for helping people facilitate and find these states in a much quicker and more efficient way. By using sound to regulate the physiology of breathing, brainwaves and muscle relaxation, I believe it's possible to be able to find those spaces of relaxation and feeling good just like drinking alcohol or smoking weed....only it's much better.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You may be thinking,"well, why don't I just smoke weed or drink?". The main reason, IMO, is that these things are just a temporary reprieve from the stress and confusion of the mind. They can also serve to create more confusion and suffering <b>IF</b> they become crutches. Meditation or "Perceptual Engineering" on the other hand, can not only give you the same states of euphoria, but can also work to change perceptions and the essence of who you see yourself to be and your circumstances to represent. In turn this can be a positive step on the path to truly creating change in your life and liberating you from the mind (beliefs and behaviors) you want to "escape" from.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There are two caveats I see to all of this: </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A. Although there can be an immediate feeling of "high-ness" if you are guided well. It may take some daily practice to get there. The more I practice daily though, the easier it is to get into the right headspace and stay there through out the day. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">B. Unlike other things that can get you high, meditation is not to escape or mask problems and issues, rather the "high" partly comes through working through and coming to an understanding of those issues, which can release an enormous amount of stress. Unlike drugs that can suppress the subconscious mind, meditation can help bring the contents of the subconscious to the surface. This is not necessarily a joyride and can be unnerving in some cases, but working through these issues and developing understanding (choosing love instead of fear) can help in working through these suppressed thought patterns. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">In the same way that physical exercise can help you feel good, it may not always be pleasant during the process. This is especially true when you are just getting into shape.. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So, what are some tools to help you get to a deeper meditation? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Here are a couple of possibilities --</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Herbs:</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Some herbs can jump start the process of relaxing the nervous system and getting the brain into an alpha state. The ones I have listed here are fairly mild and you can find them at a health food store or Whole Foods.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Herbs I have used --</b></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/by_ingredient/34/Passionflower" target="_blank">Passion Flower</a> - Passion Flower helps to release GABA, the brain's calming neurotransmitter..</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.himalayausa.com/products/pureherbs/bacopa.htm" target="_blank">Bacopa</a> - Bacopa has compounds that are neuro-protective and can help with memory. It also boosts tryptophan levels which give a feeling of calm and focus.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/detail/683/Kava-Kava-Root-Extra-Strength" target="_blank">Kava Kava</a> - Kava is sedating without affecting mental clarity. Research shows that Kava may also boost GABA levels. There have been some rare cases where people have had liver issues when taking this though. I don't use this one very much, personally.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.bluebird-botanicals.com/" target="_blank">CBD Oil</a> - CBD is the non-psychoactive extract of the cannabis plant. It can also promote <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurogenesis" target="_blank">neurogenesis</a>, and can be relaxing for some people too. There are <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=cannabidiol%20studies" target="_blank">more studies</a> coming out every day on the role of cannabinoids in the body and mind.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">...with any of these of course, experiment to see what works for you.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Sound Therapy -- Isochronic Tones</b></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Isochronic Tones are tones that are repeated to a specific rhythm. While they may not be as alluring as binaural beats, I find them to be much more effective in helping guide me into an different brainwave state. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Here are some other tools:</b></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><u><b>Pick an Object of Focus</b></u> - An object of focus will help to keep your mind from wandering.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Objects of Focus:------</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Focus on your breath or a mantra...or a visualization. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A mental mantra could be.. Inhale Love .. Exhale fear ...Inhale Joy... Exhale Stress etc... , or "inhale" and "exhale" ...or ...."I"...."AM"...</span></span></span><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">A visualization could be a flower or a candle flame... anything really just pick something that you can focus on keep coming back to.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The idea is to keep your mind in the present moment and let go of mental chatter.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Yoga</b> - doing some gentle yoga or even just hip stretches prior to meditating can release GABA in the brain, and facilitate a deeper state of relaxation.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Toning</b> - humming or singing a vowel sound like "ahhh" on the outbreath can help to focus the mind and introduce good vibrations.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">---------</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So, just recap some key ideas I wanted to point out are:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Be open to the idea of letting go. Completely. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Changing consciousness (brainwave patterns - and brain chemicals) is part of the goal. As you notice physiological sensations and changes in your body and consciousness take time to notice, and be grateful. Remember, when you feel good, it's good for everybody in your life. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw71zanwMnY&t=161">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw71zanwMnY&t=161</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aw71zanwMnY" width="560"></iframe></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi/5hz-isochronic-tone-with-chords-heart-chakra">https://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi/5hz-isochronic-tone-with-chords-heart-chakra</a></span></span>
</div><iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/191269187&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe> <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wX0vR3aNwrw/VIY5yO14whI/AAAAAAAAAVs/lKsxseMFBDM/s1600/Let%2BGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wX0vR3aNwrw/VIY5yO14whI/AAAAAAAAAVs/lKsxseMFBDM/s1600/Let%2BGO.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWE03cGGLBA/VIY5LLWEjmI/AAAAAAAAAVk/x8YjGwDmF84/s1600/beermakesufeel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WWE03cGGLBA/VIY5LLWEjmI/AAAAAAAAAVk/x8YjGwDmF84/s1600/beermakesufeel.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577332015-02-26T00:19:00-05:002019-09-07T14:16:56-04:00Musings on Love<p>Love is what we all want. We spend our lives working, working at jobs..working to grow our talents.. working to become something...working to build our <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/01/identity-ego-and-shadow.html" target="_blank">identity</a>...working to be pretty, handsome, smart...working to make more money ...working to become worthy...working to create conditions and circumstances in which we can love...or be loved.. working to create relationships and families where we can love... and somehow at the the end of of this grand quest of "becoming" we also hope to feel worthy of love ourselves.<br><br>So, did you do it? Did you create the life and love you wanted?<br><br>It seems to me that the rub is that no action or accomplishment leads to love. No "doing" leads TO love. This is what the ego thinks.. <br><br>No one can "get" love.. We can give it. We can receive it.<br><br>From the space of the ego, trying to "get" love is to also admit the <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg" target="_blank">perception of separation</a> from it. It is also by default the space of lacking love and respect for myself. (Of course, that's not the most conducive energy for attracting positive interactions either.) In contrast, <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2015/02/choose-love-not-fear.html" target="_blank">by learning</a> to love and respect and understand myself, I have the freedom to give love and receive love freely. <br><br>Isn't to know, understand and be kind to myself a gift that only I can truly give myself? (...and isn't it only from this place that I can truly be kind to others?) <br><br>In my view, "Wrong action" sees love as an outcome.. an outcome of "doing". "Right action" is only motivated by the intention to BE an extension of love... via service. Service is "doing" where the love is already realized.<br><br>Theoretically speaking there is nothing happening, there is no <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-different-cultures-understand-time-2014-5" target="_blank">time</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_time" target="_blank">passing</a>...except that we are on a journey to realize Love. If, G-d is the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end.. and G-d is Love.. then isn't to truly realize Love, to transcend the limit of time...and all beginnings and endings? Now, then, is the time to live and Love. In my view, Love is an energy and not just a philosophical ideal or a theory. Our absence of realizing this energy within ourselves puts us on a journey of actions (karma) to reinstate the love and energy we feel we are missing or have lost. In turn, these actions become prophesy fulfilling behavior patterns that seek to satisfy our own internal conditions (emotions, and the desires of the ego) by affecting external circumstances in the physical world. <br><br>It's a zero sum game.<br><br>The trouble is love is not in the external. It doesn't exist in circumstances or in the conditions or expectations and attachments to another's behavior. Love is internal and can only be truly realized in that space by each person. Once realized, then perhaps from that space we can share our internal love, but we cannot acquire external love from another.<br><br>---<br><br>In my personal life, my pursuits in music and ultimately a career started as way to get love.. to fulfill my sense of self.. and try to find a sense of self esteem. Subconsciously, I wanted to be special. I think we all do at some level.. We forget how valuable we really are. I needed to achieve something in order to fulfill my sense of self worth. The thing is the more I achieved, it was never enough. It never felt solid. I never felt like I had reached that pinnacle. So, I wasn't really grateful. When people would compliment me for my work I couldn't believe it. (but I sure did when they were critical..ha) In my head, I would find ways to criticize myself, and beat up on myself and tell myself that I wasn't good enough. After all, how could I believe them when my view of myself and fulfilling these external circumstances didn't match? I told myself it was a way of getting better and of motivating myself..but, in reality, it was just tearing me down and feeding on the wrong energy. The energy of fear. As a result of my experience with anxiety and awakening, I have been able to let that go. I am able to see that I am here to share what I can at the level I am at... I have learned to be grateful for the opportunities I have..whether it it's playing music for two people, ten or a thousand. Self serving ambition died when I realized that fulfilling my sense of self esteem and self love can really never happen through something I "do". Now, though, I am grateful for each experience and opportunity and for music, and anything else I can do, that are hopefully a vehicle of service to share and spread love. Yes, I have to re-focus myself from time to time. Yes, it's easy for ego to creep back in. Yes, it's easy to see certain circumstances as failures that reflect on me... but ultimately I know that's not true. That's why I try to stay with <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg" target="_blank">daily practices</a> to keep my mind and heart on the right track.</p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">The illusion of time: past, present and future all exist together</span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="vrqmMoI0wks" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/vrqmMoI0wks/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vrqmMoI0wks?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></span></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-53iCQJUU7Hs/VO6kEMxxjtI/AAAAAAAAAWc/yFnF3VXasa8/s1600/Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-53iCQJUU7Hs/VO6kEMxxjtI/AAAAAAAAAWc/yFnF3VXasa8/s1600/Love.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>
<p><br>In theory there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice there is. _ Anonymous<br><br>Work is Love made visible - Kahlil Gibran<br><br><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i><br><br> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577342015-02-18T14:11:00-05:002018-10-06T11:58:14-04:00Choose Love, not Fear<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>In this moment now.. Choose, Love not fear.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">-----------------------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Of all of my epiphanies this is the one I see as the most important to me. I feel it is the rosetta stone for all of the other epiphanies I had from my experience. As the pandora's box of my subconscious thoughts descended into fear, anxiety and stress like I have never experienced. I was faced with conundrums and mental knots for why I hated myself.. why I felt the circumstances of my life reflected on "me".. all coming to light in my conscious mind... (geez, I didn't see that coming) As I sorted through these things over many sleepless nights, I tossed and turned through the night and battled these internal demons with no victory in sight. Tossing and turning, my mind couldn't find a resolution. As the fear threatened to overwhelm me, this somehow came to me... "You have to forgive yourself... forgive the others too. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Choose love, not fear.. Choose love not fear.. Choose love, not fear.. Choose the love of forgiveness, and not the fear of self-hate or anger. You have to do this for yourself first." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">For me it was like a divine intervention. I realized that my mind would torture me endlessly. There was no solution in the intellect. In fact all of these fears, self loathing thoughts and more were products of MY MIND. Yes, it was my own mind that was producing all of this pain. This illusion of future and past and of a created self-identity that I judged myself against were creating this suffering (in the now) through a false relationship with myself. Choose love... it was my only way out of this hell.. to forgive myself and to choose love for myself... not though some justification that my mind could conceive of... but just as a choice... a choice that only I could make...right here and right now.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">This moment is all that exists and in this moment I choose Love, over the fear that is produced by my mind. I choose the Love that was my intention all along, over the fear that the results of my actions sometimes didn't measure up. I choose love for myself in the here and now over these delusions of my mind... these torturous projections that I'm not worth it.. that I'm not good enough... </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Slowly I realized that my view of the past was an illusion a mental delusion based on my mind's (ego) interpretation of events. The same with my view of the future. Right now was the only moment in which I could act...and now I had the choice.. Love or Fear. Love and forgiveness of myself. ..or Fear.. fear that I wasn't good enough.. or worth anyone's love.. ..or would never live up to who I thought I should be. I realized too that all moments extend from this one. The number of opportunities and directions of my path are infinite. Will fear move me in the direction I want to go? No. Only love allows me to surf from one moment to the next with the possibility to go where I want to. Love allows me to be a co-creator in the experiences I desire...all the the while being content exactly were I am.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I realized that those thoughts of unworthiness are total bullshit.... I CAN love myself.. I CAN be Ok with me. I CAN move on from here and take actions with good intentions... even though I can't control circumstances or determine outcomes. Had I made mistakes? sure... Will I make more? maybe... probably. I AM HUMAN...I am here to learn... and it's OK, I have to move forward with my intention of being good to myself and others as my anchor.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">..and so I have set out to make this my practice.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In every moment of the day we are faced with thousands of thoughts... presented with many many situations.. From seemingly benign encounters at the checkout line, to arguments or conflict with someone in an important relationship. I made it my goal to take none of these for granted..to be completely aware.. each one was a chip in the bank of my consciousness, of my self esteem and of any possible impact that I might have on the world. I made it my goal to begin to choose Love in these moments, instead of fear... and when I failed, to forgive myself, make it right, and move on... and learn as much as I could from these failures and let it go. Stay on the path.. the path of the present moment and <u>choosing the energy of Love over fear</u>. ---Thats' it...<u><b>it's the whole thing.</b></u></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">This seems so simple, but over time I have realized that this is the underlying teaching of nearly every other spiritual or psychological teaching. Looking at almost every situation closer, it is easier to see that Love and fear are in every one. It can be hard to live up to.. after all our ego IS the product of fear. It was formed to protect us in a world that can seem cruel and to protect us and protect our hearts from seeing the injustice and suffering that we fear we feel we can do nothing about. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">..but you CAN. ...we CAN have an impact.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In small ways and big ways... and ways you will NEVER KNOW the outcome, your actions in love have an impact. The simple act of choosing love over fear (in each moment) can transform the mind, ourselves, the planet. Something as simple as a smile could change someones day. Maybe a simple act of kindness or helping someone out could change how they feel. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">This can have a ripple effect..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. No, I don't have to "save the world" ...that's just way too grandiose and stressful, and feeds right back into fear. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Mostly I have learned that choosing love over fear can change ME. While I have talked a lot about some of the scientific things that have gotten my interest here on this blog. Things like neurotransmitters and how they can affect our consciousness... and yes, they can and do. Also, how <a href="http://sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">sound therapy</a> can affect our minds and bodies. When we need these tools they are great. When we need to find our way out of the dark rabbit hole of the ego and back to the light of pure awareness, maybe herbs or other substances can help... but they are not the final solution in my view, just a kickstart to get us back on the path. The path of choosing love over fear. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I believe we can even have a profound impact on <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/09/basic-brain-nutrients.html" target="_blank">our own neuro-chemicals</a> by simply learning to choose love of fear in each moment. Don't take my word for it though. Please..try it.. Make it a moving, living meditation with the interactions of your day. How does changing your focus affect you? Focus inwards on the feeling of happiness, joy and even love. Notice them, notice the physical sensations, muscle tension etc.. Feel these energies in your body. Also, feel the energy of fear when it arises. Feel the adrenaline.. the muscle tension. What are these feelings telling you about you? Ask yourself and listen, and find understanding in the answers.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be transformed by renewing of your mind. Let love renew your mind. This will change old patterns and begin to establish new ones. Today, we know this as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity" target="_blank">neuro-plasticity</a>. Neuroscientists now know that changing our behaviors and reactions can literally change our brains..and our bodies. In the long term, I think this can be much more profound than any drug. I literally think we can learn to alter our consciousness and produce these states ourselves. We can learn to release stress and friction and function in harmony. It's an ever moving target for each person, and of course there are lessons and corrections. My feeling is that this can have an impact on not only ourselves, but the world at large. When more and more people tune in to this energy, I believe it has the power to be exponential. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">When we choose love we choose to identify with our true self. It's the part of me and you that is not individual or personal, but the part that is Universal. Its the part that we all share. Always remember, at your core, in your deepest essence..you ARE love, but fear doesn't want you to find out then it loses control. Game over.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">..and please..above all... don't take this too seriously.. (that's fear too) This realization should be a return to ease. Just relax, have fun, enjoy your life, be of service and be kind. Focus on cultivating the energy within yourself by choosing in each and every moment. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Love yourself, love people and have fun.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>In this moment, choose Love.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">----</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">reminders to myself:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">don't fear fear...look into your fear...what is it telling you about you? what is your need to build "identity" telling you.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">focus on the good...(love). focus on what you want and have (gratitude).. not what you don't want.. (fear)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577352014-12-14T23:52:00-05:002018-10-06T11:58:14-04:00Be Innocent, be open<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Be innocent, be open, like a child (not the same as naive). Be willing to ask questions and face things you don't quite understand. Release expectation and attachment. Your willingness to be vulnerable is a strength. My experience tells me that this is where our true power lies as human beings and the ability to be free internally.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">To find this freedom I first had to give up everything...especially my pride.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">----------------------------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I was recently having a phone conversation, the conversation had just started and the person had to go abruptly...they didn't say why...they didn't call back. My feelings were hurt. I told myself they thought I wasn't important. ..or that they thought that I thought they weren't important.. The truth is I had no idea what their exact circumstance was... (they never explained) but I still felt unimportant. I had expectation for what I wanted in this moment, to connect with this person... and my attachment and expectation to that was dashed. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">My first ego reaction was to start defending, to psychoanalyze the person..or judge them.. to tell myself they weren't capable of a conversation or intimacy... I jumped to these conclusions and created these "stories" in order to protect myself. I realized though that I was being sensitive, and unrealistic about what actually happened (I realized this after I quit listening to my internal stories). I realized that the process of defending and creating these internal stories was actually the process of building ego, building stress and "storytelling" (..which is basically lying to myself in order to protect myself from emotional hurt). </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">This IS falling "asleep". Maybe not in one incident... but over time they add up. It's easy to build "go to" reactions, patterns and stories to these types of hurts. It's harder sometimes..but being vulnerable in these circumstances is exactly what's required to stay "open". Instead of closing down, to speak your true feelings...or at least think though those feelings with the intent of communicating and then look at those stories that are created in your mind and ask "are they really true?" As I begin to look at these stories (that my mind creates) many times they turn out to be drastically incomplete, which, of course makes them impossible to be completely true. My ego usually fills in a story line as it relates to "me". In reality though, there are many, many possibilities. There are so many factors to consider: what is the other person is going through?, what are the stories in their own head they might be reacting to?, what are the real life logistics they might be encountering? etc.. etc... etc... </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The bottom line is all these possible factors fall into the realm of "<a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-dont-know.html?q=know" target="_blank">I don't know</a>". </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I've noticed that the longer I let these "stories" go.. the harder it is to speak the truth... or even find it again... The "stories" gain power, and create confusion.. and can ultimately take on a life of their own.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">In the process of understanding myself, I have found that it's important to stay open.. being open requires being vulnerable and speaking my truth... and looking at it. This requires courage. Sometimes A LOT. This could be embarrassing or require facing my own emotions in front of another person. This vulnerability is not weakness, this vulnerability is true strength. This willingness to be open ultimately allows me to be honest with myself..</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">---------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.” ~ Sigmund Freud</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/54577362014-11-30T21:40:00-05:002018-10-06T11:58:14-04:00Gut Brain Connection - Pt 2 connection to spirituality<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; display: block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, as I mentioned, I feel the gut bacteria had a major impact on my mental health. I also feel that it was a major factor in the "awakening" I described here too. This <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-awakening-in-nutshell.html" target="_blank">awakening</a> was like being freed from a mental prison. It was not a pleasant prison break, but the resulting freedom certainly was. I have long theorized personally that this awakening was inextricably tied to my cleansing of candida at the time. I had been on the candida diet for a couple of years, but had really kicked it up a notch during this time. I was eating lot's of anti-fungals including raw garlic cloves, coconut water kefir and also drinking my milk kefir and eating some of the grains directly occasionally. Of course, the probiotics and anti-fungals were just part of the picture for me at the time, but had I known that this might lead to such an intense experience, I might have proceeded with more caution.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have also theorized that this cleansing was closely tied to what I felt was a sort of re-balancing of my endocrine system. I associated this closely with the idea of the "chakras" too, that I was just beginning to learn about after hearing it mentioned in yoga classes and googling later for more info. Why? Because in this major cleansing/awakening process I felt these energy centers open...or became aware of them more intensely. My body began to feel as if it was becoming a bio-feedback machine. I became hypersensitive to emotions in myself and others.. I had to quit watching TV because I couldn't stand to see humans treating each other with such cruelty. It was weird.. I had never felt this sensitive before. As I would experience different psychological stimuli. anger.. sadness.. fear.. etc.. I would feel these feelings in different parts of my body. I later realized that these physical feelings also corresponded physically and psychologically with the concept of the <a href="http://artofwisdoms.blogspot.com/2013/04/chakra-healing-chart.html" target="_blank">chakras</a>. I realized that to some degree I had been living before with quite a thick shell around me, and that shell had been stripped away.. at least temporarily. How much of this had to do with the candida cleansing?... I don't know for sure. What I do have a strong feeling about is that the bacteria itself also seemed to be triggering stress responses and fear responses as I was in the cleansing process. I even remember thinking "this fear is a trick". I began to try to actively learn to "breathe" through the stresses and monitor my body's physiology the best I could and try to look inward at my physical responses rather than react to whatever circumstances seemed to be presenting themselves. So, why would fear be a trick? My theory was that the fear would trick my body into releasing adrenaline and then cortisol, which also <a href="http://dtc.ucsf.edu/types-of-diabetes/type2/understanding-type-2-diabetes/how-the-body-processes-sugar/blood-sugar-stress/" target="_blank">releases sugar</a> from the liver. As the bad bacteria in my system was slowly being starved in my system it was freaking out and my body (or the bacteria) wanted more sugars. One way to get these sugars was to create these panicky, fearful responses. I also learned that some of these bad bacteria also produce their own serotonin, so another possibility is that as these bacteria were dying, the serotonin they produced were also being diminished and creating food cravings. (I also noticed how I used to crave "comfort foods" when my moods were low. Was this just feeding the bad bacteria (candida), which would provide a rewarding hit of serotonin?) Does this sound too far out? Yes, well maybe it is and it's always hard to completely understand an experience from within it. However, with and more research being done about how bacteria affects our mind and bodies, it doesn't seem like a very far stretch.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have since talked with several people who have gone through similar experiences. A few that also said that they felt that they were even to the point of feeling that they were battling an "inner darkness", with feelings of extreme anxiety, and fear as they progressed through the cleansing and rebuilding process.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wonder if bacteria also play a role in neuro-plasticity and our ability to change and modify deeply ingrained behavior patterns and perceptions? (as in spiritual/psychological "awakening")</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found the article below especially interesting as it talks about how bacteria could possibly alter our behavior and food cravings.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gut bacteria may manipulate what we eat in order to ensure for themselves the best environment. One of the major determining factors of our intestinal environment, of course, is the food we eat. Some gut bacteria prefer to consume fat, for example, while others prefer sugar. That’s why the researchers have suggested that gut bacteria might seek to actively manipulate their environment for their own benefit. That, in turn, would mean manipulating our behavior by means of food <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">cravings, food aversions or feelings of distress that are only satisfied by eating certain foods.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">While it is unclear exactly what mechanisms bacteria would use to manipulate our behavior, there is strong theoretical support for just such a possibility. Research has confirmed a strong connection between the makeup of our gut flora and the functioning of the immune, nervous and endocrine (hormonal) systems. Some research has suggested that bacteria may release signaling molecules that affect the activity of the vagus nerve, which runs from the gut to the base of the brain.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Microbes have the capacity to manipulate behavior and mood through altering the neural signals in the vagus nerve, changing taste receptors, producing toxins to make us feel bad, and releasing chemical rewards to make us feel good,” senior author Athena Aktipis, PhD, said. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I think we can manipulate our bacteria that's manipulating us by giving them the food they need (prebiotics) and the strains of bacteria they need in cultured food. You'll feel the difference in your body and mind. If you can't beat them you might as well work with them- all 100 trillion of them.</span></blockquote>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1015207-the-second-brain-gut-bacteria-control-human-behavior-to-get-the-best-nutrients/">http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1015207-the-second-brain-gut-bacteria-control-human-behavior-to-get-the-best-nutrients/</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091202014-11-12T01:16:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:51-04:00Letting the mind settle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">A friend asked me, "How did you find that space of peace and that moment freedom in your mind?" This question was in response to a conversation we were having where I described finding this space of "no thought" and stillness in my mind (which came as an unexpected release at the tail end of a week of debilitating anxiety). I think I said something about just focusing in the moment, and realizing that that is all there IS, and forgetting the future and past, but I didn't feel like a had a good simple answer to give them. The person I was talking to was someone I've known for a long time personally and care about. I mean what kind of answer is that? ..I later thought, somewhat frustrated with my ability to communicate this clearly. Without understanding WHAT I mean, the response to "focus on the moment" may just sound trite. The "understanding" though, is exactly what needs to be understood, and I hope that something here in this blog resonates and isn't an exercise in futility. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">My entire intent of this blog is to hopefully share "the how" and give some hint of what I feel I have "understood". My prayer and hope is that everyone finds true Peace. Truth is, I'm not sure it's possible in words. My experience tells me that there IS an "energy" and "frequency" to this "Peace and understanding", and the "energy" is not the words. It's like a radio signal that carries the energy and understanding in one signal. It's something to stay tuned in to, which I practice to do everyday. Also, the truth is that although there WAS a definite singular moment of realization of this internal peace (for me). Even after that, it has taken daily attention to stay with it. I've realized that the world, people, relationships etc.. will not quit presenting opportunities for stress just because I found peace... so, for me, it's <u>still</u> a daily process of seeking and finding the balance. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Truthfully, I think finding the mental balance was equally related to finding some balance in my body too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I have mentioned many times here in this blog how much Yoga, meditation and diet and sound therapy have helped. These are like daily hygiene for me.. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Having said that:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>It takes time to let the mind settle. </b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>It takes time to allow the mind to unwind.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>It takes time for the repressed and suppressed things (that are causing stress), to bubble up.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>It takes time to process and deal with these things and to fully let them go.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>It takes time to awaken to the truth of yourself..to truly KNOW yourSELF.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>Only YOU can give yourself this gift.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><u>This will probably require a temporary retreat from the world.</u></b> If I were writing a note to my future Self with advice (which technically I am) I'd say this:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Dear Self:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">It takes faith, discipline and perhaps pure desperation to start this journey. Funny thing is.. you've always been on it ;) (...so don't put pressure on yourself, to "achieve" something.)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Now, let's get down to business... here's what I suggest:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Tune out as many distractions as you can. Log off of FaceBook. Turn off the TV. Avoid all news and media and entertainment. Avoid negative energies and conversations. Plan ahead so you can keep all "doing"...(chores etc)..to a bare minimum. Be alone. Be in Nature. Be with yourSELF. Be STILL. <u>Give yourself a couple of weeks at least.. a month (or more) if possible. </u><i>(If you can't swing that, start with a weekend or a day.)</i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The world is full of well crafted distractions.. things to keep the mind busy and occupied. These things keep us from focusing on internal issues and noticing the patterns and tactics of the ego that will only keep you feeling trapped. It will take time to let your mind settle...(like a pool in the summer after a cannonball competition). It will take time for the mind to begin to recalibrate with your heart and your whole being. Your mind will go through withdrawals.. this IS a mental detox, from the the addiction of "thinking". The world tells us this constant "thinking" is the way. It is NOT The Way.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Some things to do:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Do nothing.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Meditate.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Listen to Sound Therapy tracks. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Try fasting a few days ..or eat only living organic foods. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Take probiotics. Eat probiotic foods. You are a community. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Drink a lot of pure water. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Read things that are positive...scriptures..poetry (in small doses). </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Start a journal...write out your thoughts..it will help to let them go.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">This awakening is not necessarily all pleasant. The path of a true warrior to realize that t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">he enemy is a creation of the mind. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">It is a sort of destruction and reprogramming of the "ego". This "ego" is the "you", you most likely think you are. The battle is within. A piece of your psyche will die. This path of waking is like being in a war and convincing your enemy to destroy itself. Not easy. You will be dealing with personal demons that have been silently and patiently waiting in the shadows of your soul. So, forget about peacefully sitting cross legged by a fountain chanting ohmmmmm (that comes later :)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><u>Only you can walk this path.</u> Though you will walk through the valley of your own darkness, you will have nothing to fear but the fear itself. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">The fear may become intense. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">The voice you must continually choose on this path is the voice that chooses Love over the fear. As the mental detox progresses, the schemes and deceptions of the mind may become bogglingly complex... behind these stories, moods and feelings you are the observer. You can choose from this space. CHOOSE LOVE. CHOOSE LIFE. FORGIVE YOURSELF. LOVE YOURSELF. Know this: that the Source of all life loves you. Know that this Source sees you as worthy of love and life. This Source gave you life and breathes Love into you everyday. This Source IS you, and cares for You when even "you" can't stand yourself. The Source is around you ...and in you ...and every living thing. If G-d is for you, who can be against you? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Yes, there are moments of unworthiness and self loathing. Yes, there are moments of self destructive thoughts. Yes, there are moments of self-clarity that are embarrassing and excruciating. Yes there are moments when you just fucking hate yourself! This is natural, it is the "Old you" fighting for survival. This deceiving mind will not let go easily. Forgive yourself, love yourself in spite of it. When the old mind tries to tell you what you are...pull a "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs4Gj7JsET4" target="_blank">peewee hermann</a>" and say, "I know you are, but what am I." Your ego says "I am you"..then say again.. "I know you are, but what am I". </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">There are times you may not know what to think..so why not stop. Stop thinking. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Let go of thinking and surrender to rest (in this moment). It is not dying. It will be Life. It's only from this place of surrender that you will ever know Love. That is what we are here to learn...to remember. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">(note: I personally leaned on the selfless example and help of Jesus..Yeshua to go from the darkness of confusion.. to the light of clarity. ...Understand yourSelf. Honor your own path.)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Stay grounded. Don't get wrapped up in superstitions and stories that the mind likes to offer...even religious or spiritual ones. Science has aimed for the truth through questioning and testing. Question and <a href="http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/13-5.htm" target="_blank">test yourself</a> occasionally. This isn't a lack of faith, but may lead to deeper understanding...and understanding dispels fear and opens the door to love.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Remember that, complexity is an offering of "the mind". Simplicity is a gift of "the heart". </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">There is no goal. Nothing to strive for. Only being. Be grateful for it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If anxiety and depression come (and they probably will). Stay in this moment now. You've been avoiding them for a long time by keeping your mind busy. Remember that these moods and memories are creations of the mind. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">These moods and "memories" are mental illusions that are designed to keep you conned into identifying with your thoughts and continuing this dysfunctional relationship with yourself. You CAN exist without the thoughts. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Nevertheless, let the emotions flow. Cry. Be angry. Speak out your truth in order to diffuse the energy of anxiety or depression. Journal your thoughts.. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Remember that laughter also heals and diffuses strong energies, and above all, DO NO HARM</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As the distractions of the mind lessen and disappear, your awareness will become more acute. This may be unnerving or even feel psychedelic. Keep in mind that nothing has changed except you. Everything is still the same. You are just more aware of "what is". Take a deep breath and <u>take time to notice</u>. Sit and watch the birds. Enjoy a sunrise. Feel the warmth of the sun. Notice and enjoy the precision and beauty of it all, and be grateful.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Remember, this moment is all there will ever be. ..and in this moment Choose Love, not fear. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">In this moment choose Joy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> You are now free to create what you wish. The energy of this moment feeds the next.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">When you find Peace (and tune into it's frequency), it will be beyond the ability of your "mind" to grasp. There may be a touch and go process of staying in this balance. It's like riding a bike... You'll remember... You'll remember, that you've been here before...this feels magical, yet so familiar. You may wonder how you can go back to the world...to your job...or to re-engage in difficult relationships...or let go. Choose the path YOU feel is right. You may feel like a raw nerve, suddenly aware of the cruelty of "well meaning" people. Forgive them. You may feel a rising wellspring of emotion, sadness at the suffering you see others experience and JOY at witnessing the gift that IS all around you. You may feel a rising physical energy and rising sexual energy. There are many things to process and understand. This is natural. Experience it, don't push it away or be embarrassed. You are human, embrace it. Embrace and accept yourself. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Being yourself, IS the most spiritual thing you can BE. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">The only true morality is self respect. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">This is an ever unfolding process. Expect nothing and be surprised. Feel free to rinse and repeat.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When I see you again, you will KNOW me and I will KNOW you... </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">OK, Looking forward to connecting..</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Until then... It'll be NOW.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Love, J</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">--------------</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">A True Warrior is never at war with the world - Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-top-width: 0px; color: #505050; font: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I laughed that day because of all my stupid ridiculous efforts to attain it. I laughed on that day at myself, and I laughed on that day at the whole of humanity, because everybody is trying to achieve, everybody is trying to reach, everybody is trying to improve.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-top-width: 0px; color: #505050; font: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">To me it happened in a state of total relaxation – it always happens in that state. I had tried everything. And then, seeing the futility of all effort, I dropped… I dropped the whole project, I forgot all about it. For seven days I lived as ordinarily as possible.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-top-width: 0px; color: #505050; font: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The people I used to live with were very much surprised, because this was the first time they had seen me live just an ordinary life. Otherwise my whole life was a perfect discipline. ---OSHO</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">We wrestle not against flesh and blood - Ephesians</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">----</span>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES - RAM DASS</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ramdass.org/getting-ahead-of-ourselves/">http://www.ramdass.org/getting-ahead-of-ourselves/</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091212014-11-11T11:22:00-05:002019-09-07T14:06:08-04:00It's not just ProBiotics... It's what you eat (Gut Health and Mental Health)<p>Years ago I remember touring through Indiana with my music group and our host for the evening was a corn farmer. In the course of talking with him afterwards I learned that in order to keep weeds out of their crops they sprayed the whole field with RoundUp. The whole field, I asked? Why doesn't it kill the corn? He explained that the corn was genetically modified It was easier and more profitable to treat the whole field this way. At the time I really didn't connect how this might affect humans physically, but I instinctively felt that I didn't wan't to eat foods that had been essentially soaked in the same weed killer I had used on my lawn. I started to make a point of eating more organic foods. (PS.. I don't use RoundUp on my lawn anymore either. I <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-64-oz-Ready-to-Use-Organic-Weed-and-Grass-Killer-33122/202102033?N=5yc1vZc5ur" target="_blank">use this</a> and it's organic and works better.)<br><br>I had seen in the last few years some articles on Glyphosate and how it could be related to digestive problems. Recently however, I saw an article that also connected the chemical to not only digestive issues, but also to affecting the microbiota (bacteria) in our gut, which also potentially affects neurotransmitter chemicals and mental health, as well as our immunity, inflammation and a host of other things.</p>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"Here's the quick backstory: Since chemical companies invented genetically engineered seeds designed to withstand heavy sprayings of glyphosate (RoundUp), global use of Roundup and related weed killers has jumped to nearly 900 million pounds applied annually. Glyphosate is a <u>systemic chemical, meaning once sprayed, it travels up inside of the plants</u> that people and animals eat. As more farm fields converted to GMO crops, federal regulators quietly increased the levels of Round<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">up allowed in your food, something that could be particularly tragic for your gut.</span>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">But there's more to the glyphosate-gut conundrum "The most important piece of the story is the disruption of serotonin in the gut," says Seneff. She says glyphosate can disrupt the gut's ability to create tryptophan, the building block of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter linked to happiness and well-being. Low serotonin levels have been linked to suicide, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other ailments."</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p><br>Read the whole article here: <a href="http://www.rodalenews.com/glyphosate-research?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-1297712-_-05182013glyphosate">http://www.rodalenews.com/glyphosate-research?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-1297712-_-05182013glyphosate</a><br><br>So while it may be true that genetically modified foods may not be dangerous by virtue of the genetic modification, if they are modified so that they can have RoundUp or other pesticides sprayed on them directly there is a good chance this will affect the end product that you are eating. (Duh!)<br><br>Also, according to the video below, various bacteria prefer different foods.. Some prefer sugars, some prefer fats and some prefer fiber, whole fruits and vegetables. Not only that, but the bacteria themselves can influence our cravings, tastes and desires for certain foods. In essence they are influencing our brains and bodies in a parasite-host style of relationship. Add to that, that they influence our moods and mental states and you have all the makings of a science fiction thriller. Seems to me it's best to make friends with the bacteria that have an interest in keeping us healthy and calm.<br><br>So just to sum up, while eating probiotic foods, drinks etc. is important, I have realized too that it's equally important to eat the foods that will support the health of my internal compost heap (gut bacteria) namely...organic whole fruits and vegetables.</p>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<p><strong><span class="font_large">Sanjay Gupta MD: Gut microbes may influence food choices</span></strong></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="lKfAg_LOyUI" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/lKfAg_LOyUI/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lKfAg_LOyUI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
</div></div>
<p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></p>
<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091222014-11-10T11:25:00-05:002019-09-07T13:51:28-04:00Facing the Darkness<p>Violence (physical, verbal or emotional) is a sign of internal weakness. It's a substitution of physical (or other negative) expression for a lack of ability...or fear...to express my truest internal feelings. It is a response to feeling trapped in a situation or experience that I don't feel I have the ability to change. Sometimes it's expressed externally towards others, or internally through destructive behavior. (Maybe it's the last stage in a battle within yourself?)<br><br>---<br><br>Everyone feels justified...that they are defending a their point of view. A view..or situation that (they feel) no one understands or empathizes with. Surely, no one will forgive you for desiring something outside of the "rules"...or getting the what you feel that you "deserve"?! (The core I think we all really want is just love and respect)<br><br>I realized this when I faced the darkness myself. The darkness inside that told me I was a victim. I was a victim of anothers inability to love me. I was a victim of bad breaks in life. I was a victim of unfairness. I was a victim of my own choices. A victim of the system. These voices of victimhood grew stronger until I was confronted with the choice do something about it...or lose faith in myself. Lose faith in my very ability to get what I deserved...or to experience love...respect...acceptance. Did I really have any other options? I realized as the anger seethed and began to take over my being that I was not that victim. It scared the shit out of me. I realized in that moment of horror, the horror of seeing the darkness manifest in me, that I had been listening to the wrong voice all the time. That those thoughts were not "me" and that the viewpoint I had indulged for so long was not only NOT accurate, but there thousands more viewpoints that I could choose from that would better serve me. Many other actions I could <u>CHOOSE.</u> I realized in that moment of darkness that I was NOT my mind. I was NOT my thoughts, and I didn't have to listen to these thoughts anymore. I was not limited to what they were telling me. In fact by transcending them, I was unlimited. This involved letting go. Letting go of my attachment to the way I expected my life to go and letting go of my attachment of who I wanted to "be".<br><br>The mind tells us many things. Everyday we are inundated with images that tell us what our life should be like, and that if we don't have item x or y that we must be a loser. Advertisers have concocted an ingenious plan to keep us dissatisfied...and it's very profitable. It tells us that if we don't have certain things we must be unworthy... or the media tells us we're a victim (of the current government, or some other particular group.) We are told we won't have security if we aren't winning at the game that has been created by society. We are told that we won't have love if we can't demonstrate our worth. This is sold back to us daily with distorted, fantastical images of sexuality, violence and power.<br><br>Is this a conspiracy? Yes, I think it's a conspiracy that we have all enacted on ourselves. A conspiracy to make up on the outside for what we might lack on the inside. So, we, "society", have created a world of have's and have-nots. A world of desire, and temporary satisfactions. A world of imaginary (and very temporary) winner's and losers.<br><br>This is all bullshit. No one can sell you what is already yours. No one can sell self-respect ...or self acceptance via products and material things. No one can sell self-love (or any kind of Love). No one can sell a true intimate connection with an intimate partner ...or any other human beings. NO ONE. It can't be bought.<br><br>Who's fault is it? Let's blame someone!! <br>It's no ones. ...and everyones. <br>The good news is that I....WE, collectively and individually hold the power..<br>I alone hold the power to choose.<br><br>We all have a choice. Ultimately we all choose our actions. Ultimately we all choose to react to negative thoughts, or ignore them. Ultimately I can choose thoughts of fear, poverty or low self-worth, victimhood...or I can choose thoughts of self-love, self worth, gratitude and service. I can meet my life where it is. Ultimately we are responsible for the world, the community, the neighborhoods etc.. that we create. <br><br><b>The outer world reflects our inner world. </b><br><br>When I faced some of my deepest darkest fears, angers and more I clung to some of these quotes that helped me remember.<br><br>God (Love, The Life force of the Universe) has not given me the spirit (thoughts) of fear, but of Love, power and a sound mind.<br>2 Timothy 1:7<br><br>You have nothing to fear, but fear itself. -FDR<br><br><br>Here's a good description about facing that inner darkness.</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>Pema Chödrön - Why I Became a Buddhist</strong></span></p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="A4slnjvGjP4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/A4slnjvGjP4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A4slnjvGjP4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i><br><br> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091232014-11-08T20:02:00-05:002019-09-07T14:10:41-04:00Subjective vs. Objective -- Red Pill or Blue Pill<p><b>Science</b> looks at <b>objective reality</b>. Scientists spend a LOT of effort try to determine the nature of our physical reality. This makes our lives better and allows us to create technology with repeatable results. Occasionally, every few centuries or so, there is a large paradigm shift in how we view things, but for the most part we have a pretty good handle of how things work in the physical realm.<br><br><b>Psychology</b> (philosophy..etc..) looks at <b>subjective reality</b>. Inside each of our heads we have our own reality, our own inner world. This reality is somewhat subjective, based on our individual viewpoints and the lenses we see through. Of course we are still subject to objective reality, so that has a hard time changing based on our individual views, however, we humans still sometimes have a hard time determining the difference.<br><br><b>Spirituality</b> proposes a link between the two. A link between our subjective reality (inner world) and our objective reality (outer world). It's important to note that most of the worlds major religions also propose that practitioners, seekers and others who transcended their limited view of reality...encountered this enhanced version reality. They describe a sort of enhanced reality where the individuals subjective view of things influenced the objective reality and transcended commonly held limitations. These are generally called "miracles" as they are considered to be an aberration from the norm. <br><br>Here are a few examples from major religions:<br><br>Jesus walked on water....turned water into wine....raised the dead...healed the sick.<br><br>Moses turned a staff into a snake....parted the read sea....called down fire from the sky.<br><br>That's just Moses and Jesus. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Gautama_Buddha">Buddha</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras">Pythagoras</a> were alleged to have special powers as well, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhi">Siddhis</a> are mentioned in the yoga sutras which described advanced human abilities. <br><br>Quantum physics has also identified a link between the observer (subjective) and the observed (objective), but has not as of yet identified powers that will enable people to jump over tall buildings or change the fabric of space time :) <br><br>As humans, we seem to want more. We seem to instinctively want to bridge this link between our inner and outer worlds. <br><br>These are just a few examples, there are also countless others stories of expanding human powers though out history including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_and_levitation">saints who fly</a>, <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pythagoras/">people who can be in two places at once</a>...mind readers...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepathy">telepathy</a>... and the list goes on and on. For the most part, this is still the territory of debate between believers and skeptics...<br><br>So, regardless of where you may fall on this view... <br><br><b>There is a very substantial and quantifiable connection and benefit within our own body between subjective reality and objective reality.</b> That's where our consciousness (thoughts and how we react to them) interface with our physical body. And so, <u>WHAT I THINK</u> (my subjective experience...whether it's true or not) <u>DOES cause my physical body to react</u>. (an objective experience) This physical reaction to my mental world creates responses in the body. Hormone releases, endocrine responses, muscle tightening or loosening, change in breathing and heart rate etc.. etc.. etc... This can create a very REAL benefit when used consciously, or very real suffering (physical pain or difficulty) when unconscious. Being unconscious of these things can lead to stress. Stress, of course, can then lead to many other physical or mental difficulties. <br><br>Imagine for a moment, that you are a pilot in one the army's most advanced helicopters. This helicopter has sensors connected to your clothing and helmet, that react to your movements. You turn your head..the guns turn. You think "shoot"...the guns shoot..etc.. The helicopter is like an extension of you. <br><br>I think our body is like that too, however we are integrated so well, we forget that we are not the body itself, but are the pilot. If you are anything like me, you may have had times where you're body feels out of control. Your chest gets tight, your heart starts to race and suddenly you feel like a prisoner on a runaway freight train.<br><br>So what we need to do is to raise our awareness of our bodies internal systems..or rather change the focus of awareness (from outwards to inwards). We are generally trained to focus outwards in our daily lives, and so the focus is away from our thoughts and then how those thoughts create a reaction in the body. The mental chatter at the level of thought becomes unconscious and the reaction to those thoughts in the body is even further from consciousness. So, in some ways it's like being the pilot of that advanced helicopter in which I have forgotten how to operate the controls...or at least quit paying attention... and then the machine itself is sending me feedback to pay attention, that's then causing me actual physical distress!<br><br>So, how does a person raise awareness? LEARN TO RELAX (mind and body). Relaxation doesn't necessarily raise the awareness itself, but, I believe it can return our physical bodies and minds closer to a baseline of equilibrium. Then, from that place of equilibrium we can begin the process of noticing when and how stresses appear. What are the thoughts associated with them. etc.. Much of this is VERY SUBTLE and can take place at a subconscious level, so being tuned inwards in order to notice is KEY. From my experience, meditation...yoga...and sound therapy are just a few things that can begin to help in getting back to that baseline of relaxation. In my case, I would also include, diet exercise and probiotics. From there it is up to each person to learn to direct their consciousness (thought patterns and chosen reactions), and focus it where they are able to release stress or discomfort. Then you can begin to make connections between the thoughts and feelings and the physical responses. Simply paying attention to the body and it's reactions can begin to bring awareness and change in this area.<br><br>Raising awareness can be disconcerting and freaky at first too. This, I believe, is at least part of what happened during my anxiety and awakening experience. Once the body relaxed... my mind began to feel like it was losing control... the "thinking mind" or ego identity (which is not truly me.. or you) then began to freak out and fight for control again. This is where surrendering to "what is" becomes important. The mind can play many tricks and fear and worry are two of it's main calling cards. Many of us have a "hidden world" too in the subconscious (aka. the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)">shadow</a> as Carl Jung described it). "The Shadow" is a world of hidden desires, suppressed traumas, fears and more. Part of the process for me was also learning to become conscious of this hidden world that is within me, so that I could adjust my body's reactions accordingly.</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"If you bring forth what is within you it will save you, if you do not bring forth what is within you it will destroy you." - Jesus, Gospel of Thomas</b></i></div>
<p><br>So, this is, in my opinion, is at least a part of the link between subjective experience and objective experience in the physical body...where it relates to stress. Our body doesn't know the difference between the reality or possible distortion of our subjective mental experience. <u>Physiologically speaking, our bodies just reacts to our thoughts without stopping consider the validity of those thoughts.</u><br><br>Keep in mind also that everyday someone (or some experience) is trying to alter your view of reality..(sometimes consciously, but mostly unconsciously on their part) Whether it's your co-worker who wants to gossip and change your view of another co-worker, or the media that wants you to buy into certain concepts so it can sell you something. ..or someone that wants to tell you what you ARE...flattering or unflattering. Don't buy into it. <br><br><b>You alone have the choice to decide your point of view.</b> <br><br>(So why not choose things that make you feel good?)</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHPI5vjpsko/U5CLVksmeHI/AAAAAAAAAUw/iQX5aWfLbkE/s1600/ravishankarquote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHPI5vjpsko/U5CLVksmeHI/AAAAAAAAAUw/iQX5aWfLbkE/s1600/ravishankarquote.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i><br><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i><br><br> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091242014-10-31T20:42:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00More on the Gut - Brain Connection<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">3 years ago I had an experience that changed the way I see the world. Not only that, but changed the way I see myself. Now, that sounds kind of dramatic, I know... but the journey I thought I was on (a cleansing diet, and learning about mind-body relaxation) could have never prepared me for what I experienced. It was a spiritual/psychological/physical experience that pretty much completely altered my view of things. At the time I was doing yoga, starting a cleansing diet and taking probiotics and incorporating them into my diet. Following this "perception changing" experience I had a strong intuition that the bacteria in my system played a key role. While I don't think I can attribute all of the changes I experienced to just this, I do think it was a major part. I've even theorized that bacteria can control our brains... (or our consciousness) to some extent. While it seemed radical to me three years ago to say that bacteria could "control our brains", now it seems that there are nearly weekly news releases on researchers releasing information on this exact topic. So now, yes, I say with a fair amount confidence that bacteria can alter human consciousness, alter mood states, contribute to anxiety and depression inflammation (or combat the fungus and yeast that can cause these conditions) and more. As I mentioned, I was also doing yoga and at the time also using cannabis and also had just begun to meditate. I quit using cannabis after this experience for a few personal reasons (and because I started experiencing similar "highs" spontaneously), but I definitely think there are things to be learned about how it affected my physiology too...but that's another part of the story. I now think there must have been a synergistic effect to all this which I hope to explore more here. I have tried to look at all of these things from a grounded scientific perspective in hopes that I could share some of it in a way that's useful. Anyway, check out this video from Elaine Hsiao. She is a researcher from Cal Tech and she shares in basic terms how bacteria are vital to our health and can affect us mentally.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_fRFjteAw</span></span></b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mY_fRFjteAw" width="560"></iframe></span> </a></i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKKG869s8oo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKKG869s8oo</a><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pKKG869s8oo" width="560"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> </a></i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"></a></i><i style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091252014-10-20T12:22:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Spirulina ??<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">In the last post on smoothies, I mentioned using Spirulina. In the last couple of days I have noticed some info saying that Spirulina may not be the best thing to consume. I started to investigate after I thought I may be having some allergic sort of reactions to Spirulina like itchy eyes, sneezing..etc.. (I'm not totally sure that Spirulina was to blame) Anyway, that got me googling to see if anyone else had experienced anything similar and that search brought up some interesting articles. It seems that Spirulina can potentially contain toxins found in other water borne algae and may not be the best idea to consume. While I assume that commercially available Spirulina would be mostly free of any of these concerns, I think it's still worth being aware of. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Chlorella apparently isn't in the same class of organism and so wouldn't have the same issues. Kale powder is good too. My main goal was to consume more green things as they are alkaline and good for us in general. Here are some links to some of the Spirulina info.. I found..</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">here are several videos on the subject:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/?s=spirulina">http://nutritionfacts.org/?s=spirulina</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Do Cyanobacteria contribute to Neurodegenerative disease?</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3295368/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3295368/</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">It also appears that probiotics can remove dangerous cyanobacteria. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18639912">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18639912</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/73900/nybom_sonja.pdf?sequence=1">https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/73900/nybom_sonja.pdf?sequence=1</a></span>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091262014-10-13T14:43:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Smoothie Recipes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">So, I am on a month and a half (roughly) of drinking a smoothie for lunch and dinner and greens and eggs with cultured veggies, or a salad with hemp tofu (or some similar variation) for lunch. So, I have been staying away from carbs and sugars... I thought I was fairly well "cleansed" as my diet was already fairly strict having been on some approximation of the "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435" target="_blank">body ecology diet</a>" for a few years. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Well, beginning on this smoothie journey has introduced new layers of cleansing and detox, and I feel that it has also been encouraging good bacteria to grow. I have definitely felt positive changes..</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">How do I know I have been cleansing?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I have experienced mood shifts, anxiety and depression during cleansing phases ....and then clarity, joy just plain "feeling good" in the post cleanse phases. I have also had skin rashes and some sinus issues that I associate with this process, from my previous experiences. I have observed these things cycle progressively this time around and I also have some level of awareness about my perception of what is going on in my body based on cleansing in previous years.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I also feel this cleansing is giving the good bacteria room to grow. Why do I think this? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">As the mood shifts have evened out, I have been experiencing more spontaneously "happy" feelings. Feelings of euphoria or being "high", but with clarity (yes, just like Cannabis or Marijuana) as well as feelings of calm and clarity. I attribute the "high" feelings to increased GABA, serotonin and <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/cannabinoids-and-endocannabinoids-role.html" target="_blank">endo-cannabinoid levels</a>. This has also helped with making meditation and finding mental stillness much easier. I feel this is probably due to the good bacteria having the fuel and space to grow as the bad bacteria is cleansed. Of course, this could also be due to getting more nutrients or some level of detox as well.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">However, because I recently read that the bacteria in our gut can produce these positive feelings then I tend toward that explanation. Also, consuming probiotic drinks can also give these general feelings in the short term, right after consuming them. So, that's another factor in my guess.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Anyway, I wanted to share my smoothie recipes here, in case anyone would like to try them. I'll list the ingredients first and then some variations. I pretty much change the ingredients a little each day depending in what I'm in the mood for.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><div style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Ingredient List:</b></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">VEGA Protein powder - no sugars..and also has <u>papaya enzyme</u> which will help with cleansing and digestion</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vega-Protein-Smoothie-Tropical-Tango/dp/B007Y94Q1E"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/Vega-Protein-Smoothie-Tropical-Tango/dp/B007Y94Q1E</span></a></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Papaya enzyme powder (by itself): This stuff is powerful, and I can tell is really doing a job cleansing out my entire digestive system.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.znaturalfoods.com/Green-Papaya-Powder">http://www.znaturalfoods.com/Green-Papaya-Powder</a></span></span></div>
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I also have been using pumpkin seed powder which is high in protein and tryptophan and will help boost serotonin levels and mood.</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.nuts.com/snacks/pumpkinseeds/powder.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.nuts.com/snacks/pumpkinseeds/powder.html</span></a></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Food Grade Diatomaceous earth - help kill parasites in the gut</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.elitealchemy.com/#!product/prd2/1766768665/elite-alchemy-classic-diatomaceous-earth-3lb">http://www.elitealchemy.com/#!product/prd2/1766768665/elite-alchemy-classic-diatomaceous-earth-3lb</a></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Diatomaceous Earth I use also has high concentrations of Humic and Fulvic Acid, which are also <a href="http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/eccmid19/abstract.asp?id=75734" target="_blank">excellent for fighting Candida</a> and can increase enzyme activity.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div>
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Frozen Kale or Spinach -- about a cup worth (I use the whole foods brands, as they seem to blend better) I tried another brand, but because of the cut of the leaves it didn't blend as well.</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Frozen pineapple chunks (these have good enzymes... but I don't do too many as I want to avoid sugars..usually just a couple)</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unsweetened Coconut Milk</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-beverages/unsweetened"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-beverages/unsweetened</span></a></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Chia Seeds - A few tablespoons</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AH7OU8/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000WV0RW8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0B5T36FS0TCK5HW83HPB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009AH7OU8/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000WV0RW8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0B5T36FS0TCK5HW83HPB</span></a></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Psyllium Fiber - just a little bit</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.swansonvitamins.com/yerba-prima-psyllium-whole-husks-12-oz-pwdr?SourceCode=INTL405&CAWELAID=616715898&catargetid=530002460000104241&cadevice=c&mkwid=lWsQmtQu&pcrid=59192790007&gclid=CK6e_LbD8sACFQQT7AodK2cASg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.swansonvitamins.com/yerba-prima-psyllium-whole-husks-12-oz-pwdr?SourceCode=INTL405&CAWELAID=616715898&catargetid=530002460000104241&cadevice=c&mkwid=lWsQmtQu&pcrid=59192790007&gclid=CK6e_LbD8sACFQQT7AodK2cASg</span></a></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hemp Seeds:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/seeds/hemp/organic.html">http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/seeds/hemp/organic.html</a></span></span></div>
</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><div style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Extra Virgin Coconut Oil</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Stevia for sweetener</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kal-Pure-Stevia-Extract-Powder/dp/B000VRSR84" target="_blank">KAL brand</a> is the sweetest I've tried, so I don't have to use very much.)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kevita Probiotic Soda: I usually use either the plain coconut, or lemon-lime mint mojito. The lemon lime mint adds a really nice kick to the flavors.</span></span></div>
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">------</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>These smoothies are:</b></span></span></div>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Enyzmatic</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">+</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">Probiotic + </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">Anti-fungal + </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">Anti-parasitic + tasty</span></b></span></span><br><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Smoothie variation possibility #1</u></span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is the basic recipe for me.. I start with about a cup of greens and 3 pineapple chunks, and add a cup or so of unsweetened coconut milk.</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Blend till the greens are totally smooth.</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then I add:</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 scoop Vega Mango Tango protein powder</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 scoop or tablespoon diatomaceous earth</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon coconut oil</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3 heaping tablespoons of pumpkin seed powder</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 tablespoon of hemp and or Chia seeds</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 teaspoon of Psyllium fiber</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 quarter teaspoon of Papaya enyme powder</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">a few dashes of KAL brand Stevia</span></span></div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Top off the liquid with some Lime Mint Mojito Kevita</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Blend again. Enjoy!</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There can obviously be lot's of variations to this recipe, so mix it up and have fun.</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I:</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Add homemade Kombucha or Kefir</span></span>
</div>
<div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Add a few frozen blackberries or raspberries.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Add another flavor of Kevita</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Sometimes I mix in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Herbs-Etc-ChlorOxygen-Alcohol-Free/dp/B000Q3BZOQ" target="_blank">ChlorOxygen</a> ..or</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bikram-Balance-Vegetable-Powder-Original-Ounces/dp/B007H8D5FK" target="_blank">Bikram Balance</a>" powder.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">you could also add</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Macha Green Tea Powder</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matcha-Green-Tea-Powder-Antioxidant/dp/B00DDT116M">http://www.amazon.com/Matcha-Green-Tea-Powder-Antioxidant/dp/B00DDT116M</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Cacao Powder</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.nuts.com/nuts/cacao/organic-powder.html">http://www.nuts.com/nuts/cacao/organic-powder.html</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span>
</div>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091272014-09-22T13:47:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Basic Brain Nutrients<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I have talked a little here about brain chemicals and how those may be related to our digestive health and gut bacteria. Many of the anti-depressant medications taken today boost one or two main brain chemicals. While this can work well in the end, in most cases the drug is inhibiting re-uptake of the chemical (like dopamine or serotonin, for instance). So, my understanding is that the body isn't actually producing more of the chemical on it's own... the drug is just helping the body use more of what little it has. So, it seems that in order to truly correct an imbalance it's important to look at nutrition, digestive health and supplements that can support the body's ability to produce these mood enhancing chemicals in the first place. Otherwise the nutritional or physical imbalance will continue and the drug may eventually require higher doses to do the same thing. Here are some of the basic nutrients that everyone needs. These will provide basic support for the body to produce important brain neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, gaba and cannabinoids. I supplement with all of these and it has helped me immensely.</span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">This is a basic overview. For more info. check out this excellent book about the nutrients we need and how they work in our bodies.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>The Mood Cure.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Mood-Cure-Program-Emotions-Today/dp/0142003646">http://www.amazon.com/The-Mood-Cure-Program-Emotions-Today/dp/0142003646</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Magnesium:</b><span class="Apple-style-span"> Magnesium is needed on a daily basis. It also </span><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/284652-magnesium-serotonin/" target="_blank">supports serotonin production</a><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">From <a href="http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-and-diagnosis" target="_blank">Green Med Info</a>:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 23px;"></span></span><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Persons only slightly deficient in magnesium become irritable, highly-strung, and sensitive to noise, hyper-excitable, apprehensive and belligerent. If the deficiency is more severe or prolonged, they may develop twitching, tremors, irregular pulse, insomnia, muscle weakness, jerkiness and leg and foot cramps. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If magnesium is severely deficient, the brain is particularly affected. Clouded thinking, confusion, disorientation, marked depression and even the terrifying hallucinations of delirium tremens are largely brought on by a lack of this nutrient and remedied when magnesium is given.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Read more here: </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Deficiency Symptoms</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-and-diagnosis">http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-and-diagnosis</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Magnesium and Serotonin</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/284652-magnesium-serotonin/">http://www.livestrong.com/article/284652-magnesium-serotonin/</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>B vitamins:</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>From the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/vitamin-b12-and-depression/faq-20058077" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a></b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"></span><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"></span><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;">Low levels of a vitamin can result from eating a poor diet or not being able to absorb the vitamins you consume. Older adults, vegetarians and people with digestive disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease may have trouble getting enough B-12. Sometimes a vitamin B-12 deficiency occurs for unknown reasons. Your doctor may order a blood test to check levels of B-12 or other vitamins if a deficiency is suspected.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"></span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;">The best way to make sure you're getting enough B-12 and other vitamins is to eat a healthy diet that includes sources of essential nutrients. Vitamin B-12 is plentiful in animal products such as fish, lean meat, poultry, eggs, and low-fat and fat-free milk. Fortified breakfast cereals also are a good source of B-12 and other B vitamins.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Omega 3's and 6's:</b><span class="Apple-style-span"> Our body uses <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/02/cannabinoids-and-endocannabinoids-role.html" target="_blank">endo-cannabinoids</a> to regulate many functions from digestion to sexual activity. Cannabinoids our mostly known from their presence in Cannabis or Marijuana. As it, turns out <u>our body makes it own cannabinoids too</u>, but in order to do it we need omega 3's and 6's. These are also especially high is shelled hemp seeds and hemp oil. I also like Chia seeds, and <a href="http://livingharvest.com/hemp-tofu-2/" target="_blank">hemp tofu</a>!! </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Fish oil supplements also have the omegas. The fish get the omegas from the algae. You can also skip the middle man (the fish) and get them from omega algae supplements like <a href="http://ovega.com/" target="_blank">Ovega</a>. Get enough of your omegas and you can get that mellow vibe without the munchies :)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">article on hemp seeds:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.riseearth.com/2014/07/hemp-seed-eating-village-in-china-holds.html#.VCTfxzUYugk.facebook">http://www.riseearth.com/2014/07/hemp-seed-eating-village-in-china-holds.html#.VCTfxzUYugk.facebook</a></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Get hemp seeds here in bulk:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/seeds/hemp/organic.html">http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/seeds/hemp/organic.html</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Protein: </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Our body needs the amino acids in protein to make many of the brain chemicals we need. Protein contains the amino acid tryptophan which is the converted to serotonin. I recently read that Pumpkin seeds contain high levels of tryptophan. I am a vegetarian, so I was looking for ways to get more protein, with high levels of tryptophan. I found pumpkin seed powder here at <a href="http://nuts.com/">nuts.com</a> and I use it in my smoothies. It's also <a href="http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/11-health-benefits-of-pumpkin-seeds/" target="_blank">anti-fungal and anti-parasitic</a>. I can definitely tell a huge difference. It's also great to add to yogurt before bedtime as the tryptophan will help you get to sleep too!</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Zinc: </b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">From <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201309/zinc-antidepressant" target="_blank">Psychology Today</a>:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Zinc as an antidepressant"</span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">300 or more enzymes in our bodies use zinc as a buddy to help them do their thing, making DNA, protein synthesis, cell division, all hugely important stuff. Zinc is also critical to cell signaling (a major receptor motif, the “<a class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_finger" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">zinc finger</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span>” is as famous as the <a class="ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_protein" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">G protein</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span> in cell biology circles). The highest amount of zinc in the body is found in our brains, particularly in a part of our brains called the hippocampus. Zinc deficiency can lead to symptoms of depression, <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/adhd" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at ADHD">ADHD</a>, difficulties with learning and <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/memory" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Memory">memory</a>, seizures (<a class="ext" href="http://www.if-pan.krakow.pl/pjp/pdf/2005/6_713.pdf" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span>), aggression, and violence (<a class="ext" href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/aggression040405.cfm" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">3</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span>).</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201309/zinc-antidepressant">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201309/zinc-antidepressant</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Probiotics:</b><span class="Apple-style-span"> Probiotics not only work to maintain digestive health, but they also support mental health too. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21876150" target="_blank">L-rhamnosus</a> for example is known to relieve anxiety.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">From <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/do-probiotics-help-anxiety" target="_blank">Psychology Today</a>:</span></span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>90 percent of the cells in our bodies are the commensal bacteria who live on and within us</u></b>. Knowledge of these colonies of bacteria could lead us to <a class="ext" href="http://www.hmpdacc.org/impacts_health/impact_health.php" style="color: #236fb5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">amazing insights and new treatments</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span> for common and devastating diseases. </span> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"></span>While the <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/neuroscience" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Neuroscience">brain</a>, doubly protected from the outside by our skin and guts first, then our blood brain barrier, may seem far removed from the human microbiome, there is growing evidence that the trillions of beasties in our guts could <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/groovy-probiotics" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;">communicate with our brains</a>, and that some <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201111/will-stress-injure-your-gut" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;">psychopathology could result from disturbances in the gut microbiome</a>. </span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Also:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Lactobacillus</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Bifidobacterium</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">species are known to produce GABA. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Escherichia</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Bacillus</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">, and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Saccharomyces</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">produce norepinephrine. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Candida</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Streptococcus</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Escherichia</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">, and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Enterococcus</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">produce </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201105/sunlight-sugar-and-serotonin" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">serotonin</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Bacillus</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Serratia</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">produce</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201105/dopamine-primer" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">dopamine</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">, and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><em>Lactobacillus</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> species produce acetylcholine. That's pretty much the entire hit parade of major neurotransmitters...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">(So, our gut bacteria are supporting and producing our neurotransmitter chemicals!)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Read more:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/do-probiotics-help-anxiety" target="_blank">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/do-probiotics-help-anxiety</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/groovy-probiotics"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/groovy-probiotics</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br>Did, you read and process the underlined part in bold in the first quote above??? WE ARE 90% BACTERIA. The good bacteria can also help us to get rid of bad bacteria, which can grow out of control due to <a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/09/sugar-is-eight-times-as-addictive-as-cocaine-how-to-break-the-cycle/" target="_blank">high sugar</a> and high carb and low fiber diets. Also, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_candidiasis" target="_blank">use of antibiotics</a> may have also killed off the good bacteria which we need, allowing the bad guys to grow out of control. According to my experience, the bad bacteria (which function as parasites) can also affect our consciousness, mental clarity, food cravings and more.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Based on general diet habits and the widespread use of antibiotics, my guess is that most people have some overgrowth in bad bacteria. For more info. on changing diet habits, cleansing and reestablishing your good bacteria, I <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1A5CTSXSVBHFPEZXZRB5" target="_blank">highly recommend this book</a>. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1A5CTSXSVBHFPEZXZRB5" target="_blank">The Body Ecology Diet</a>) Here are <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/search?q=beast" target="_blank">some other posts</a> I have done on this.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Vitamin D: </b> Ideally, we'd spend more time outside and get most of our D from the Sun, but due to geography or work schedules most of us don't.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> From <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201111/psychological-consequences-vitamin-d-deficiency" target="_blank">Psychology Today</a>:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Psychological consequences of Vitamin D Deficiency"</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Regardless of cause, deficiency of vitamin D has significant medical and psychological consequences. Every tissue in the body has vitamin D receptors, including the <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/neuroscience" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Neuroscience">brain</a>, heart, muscles, and immune system, which means vitamin D is needed at every level for the body to function. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vitamin D is also the only vitamin that is a hormone. After it is consumed in the diet or absorbed (synthesized) in the skin, vitamin D is then transported to the liver and kidneys where it is converted to its active hormone form. Vitamin D as a hormone assists with the absorption of calcium, helping to build strong bones, teeth and muscles. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In addition to its well-known role in calcium absorption, vitamin D activates <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/genetics" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Genetics">genes</a> that regulate the immune system and release neurotransmitters (e.g., <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/dopamine" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Dopamine">dopamine</a>, serotonin) that affect <a class="ext" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030645220300040X" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">brain function and development</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span>. Researchers have found <a class="ext" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891061804001176" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">vitamin D receptors</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span> on a handful of cells located in regions in the brain-the same regions that are linked with <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/depression/symptoms" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Symptoms of Depression">depression</a>. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Seasonal Affective Disorder">Seasonal Affective Disorder</a> (SAD), a <a class="pt-basics-link" href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/depression" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; text-decoration: none;" title="Psychology Today looks at Depression">mood disorder</a> featuring depressive symptoms, occurs during the dark times of the year when there is relatively little sunshine, coinciding with the sudden drop in vitamin D levels in the body. Several studies have suggested that the symptoms of SAD may be due to <a class="ext" href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01705.x/abstract" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">changing levels of vitamin D3</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span>, which may affect <a class="ext" href="http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877%2807%2900240-X/abstract" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">serotonin levels in the brain</a><span class="ext" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets.sussexpublishers.netdna-cdn.com/sites/all/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 12px;"></span>.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">So, just to recap, these are some of the basic supplements for mental (and physical) health.. Add them to your grocery list :)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Magnesium</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">B Vitamins - B complex and sublingual B12</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Omega 3's and 6's - Hemp Seeds, Hemp Oil, <a href="http://ovega.com/" target="_blank">Ovega</a> or Fish Oil</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Protein - Lean Protein, there are also many <a href="http://www.nomeatathlete.com/vegetarian-protein/" target="_blank">vegetarian sources</a> of high protein.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Zinc</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Probiotics - <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/05/favorite-probiotics.html" target="_blank">Theralac and Natren</a> are my favorite brands.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Vitamin D</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091282014-08-29T15:38:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Brain Chemicals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">If you have had issues with anxiety or depression, then maybe you eventually investigated medications to alter brain chemicals. There are now scores of drugs to alter brain chemicals in various ways. I recently came across an article that breaks down the brain chemicals and the related behaviors in a very clear way. This also resonated for me because it was spot on for the imbalances I experienced. Having said that, researchers have shown that MANY things affect brain chemicals in some way (food, exercise, sunshine, meditation, yoga, brainwaves, personal relationships (positive and negative) etc. etc. etc..) In my case, I also like to think of any drug as a patch that useful to A. know where there is imbalance, and B. provide that chemical while the imbalance is balanced in other ways. I personally went on an SSRI medication for a while to boost serotonin levels and it was very helpful for me. The challenge was in getting off of it as my brain chemicals had adjusted to having the "patch" and so there was an adjustment period in phasing off while my body adjusted. For me, this took months of weening off slowly.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I think it's important to be aware of how these brain chemicals may be affecting you mentally. Observing your thoughts and where they are going may be helpful in determining the nature of your situation. Is it the brain chemical imbalances that are leading to negative thought patterns, or vice versa? I personally think it can go either way, but raising your awareness of how the thoughts and chemicals may be connected can be helpful in determining what's actually going on.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The following article give a really good overview in looking at some of those emotional and chemical connections.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">------------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">From <a href="http://www.drjoecarver.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Joe Carver's</a> site (<a href="http://www.drjoecarver.com/clients/49355/File/Chemical%20Imbalance.html" target="_blank">to read the full article click here</a>):</span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><strong>Your Neurotransmitter Levels and Emotional Health</strong></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Your emotional health is a combination of attitudes, personality, support systems, and your brain’s neurotransmitter levels. Positive attitudes and a healthy personality help us through life’s difficulties and a good support system of family and friends is also valuable during times of trouble. Despite having these resources, there are times when coping with our experiences and life events changes our neurotransmitter status. Like an overheated automobile, we begin to have difficulty operating properly. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">We are all at-risk for changes in our brain’s chemistry. Mostly commonly, we will experience depression, anxiety, or stress reactions. As our neurotransmitters change, they bring with them additional symptoms, behaviors, and sensations that add to our on-going difficulties. Recognizing these changes is an important part of treatment and returning your life to normal and reducing our stress. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">This discussion is offered to explain how the neurotransmitter system in the brain can create psychiatric conditions and mental health problems. It is hoped the discussion will provide information that will be of value to those who suspect their neurotransmitter system is creating problems. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The following is a discussion of neurotransmitters and current thoughts about how these neurochemicals are involved in psychiatric illness. Four neurotransmitters, out of over fifty, are well researched and known to be related to psychiatric conditions. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><strong>Dopamine: Parkinson’s Disease and ADHD to Smoking and Paranoia</strong></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to motor/movement disorders, ADHD, addictions, paranoia, and schizophrenia. Dopamine strongly influences both motor and thinking areas of the brain. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">One type of Dopamine works in the brain movement and motor system. As this level of dopamine decreases below the “normal range” we begin to experience more motor and gross-movement problems. Very low levels of Dopamine in the motor areas of the brain are known to produce Parkinson’s Disease with symptoms such as: </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Muscle rigidity and stiffness</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Stooped/unstable posture</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Loss of balance and coordination</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Gait (walking pattern) disturbance</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Slow movements and difficulty with voluntary movements</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Small-step gait/walking</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Aches in muscles</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Tremors and shaking</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Fixed, mask-like facial expression</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Slow, monotone speech</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Impairment of fine-motor skills</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Falling when walking</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Impairment in cognitive/intellectual ability </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Dopamine in the thinking areas of the brain might be considered the neurotransmitter of focus and attending. Low levels impair our ability to focus on our environment or to “lock on” to tasks, activities, or conversations. Low levels of Dopamine make concentration and focus very difficult with low levels also associated with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). On the other end of the Dopamine dipstick, as Dopamine levels in the brain begin to raise, we become excited/energized, then suspicious and paranoid, then finally hyperstimulated by our environment. With low levels of Dopamine, we can’t focus while with high levels of Dopamine our focus becomes narrowed and intense to the point of focusing on everything in our environment as though it were directly related to our situation. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Mild elevations in Dopamine are associated with addictions. Nicotine, cocaine, and other substances produce a feeling of excited euphoria by increasing Dopamine levels in the brain. Too much of these chemicals/substances and we feel “wired” as moderate levels of Dopamine make us hyperstimulated – paying too much attention to our environment due to being overstimulated and unable to separate what’s important and what is not. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">In an ADHD child, low levels of Dopamine don’t allow the child to focus or attend to anything in the environment, looking very physically hyperactive when running about the room or switching from activity-to-activity due to their lack of focus. As Dopamine levels increase above the normal range, our ability to focus increases to the point of being paranoid. Mild elevations make the environment overly stimulating and excited. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Moderately high Dopamine levels make us on-guard, suspicious, and prone to misinterpret experiences in the environment. Known as an “idea of reference” in psychiatry, we begin thinking unrelated experiences are suddenly directly related to us. People observed talking across the street are now talking about us. As Dopamine increases, it can become so intense that we feel the radio, television, and newspaper contain secret messages directed at us from Hollywood or elsewhere. It’s as though we are attempting to incorporate/add everything we witness into our life. Planes flying overhead are snapping pictures of us and motorists talking on cellular phones are calling in a report on us. Our mind speed increases and races in an attempt to add all we see into our life. In an attempt to make sense, we may become extremely religious, paranoid, or feel we are a very important person. Increased Dopamine also increases the perception of our senses, as though turning up the volume in all our senses – hearing, vision, taste, smell, and touch. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">As Dopamine levels increase, the noises we heard loudly suddenly become auditory hallucinations. Our inner thoughts are now being heard outside our body. These “voices” begin talking to us, known to take different forms such as derogatory (putting you down), religious topics, command (telling you to do something), or sexual content. Hallucinations (experiencing something that is not truly there in reality) will soon develop in all our senses. We may begin seeing faces in clouds, carpets, or patterns. We may sense the touch of spirits or movements inside our body. We may experience unusual smells or tastes. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">High levels of Dopamine in the brain often cause us to lose our contact with reality. As though living in a science-fiction movie, we begin to develop unusual if not bizarre ideas about what is happening to us. With our paranoia, we may experience delusions (false beliefs) of persecution or may think we have super powers (delusions of grandiosity) and can predict the future or read minds. High levels of Dopamine are found in Schizophrenia, drug intoxication, and other psychotic conditions where the ability to distinguish the inner world from the real world is impaired. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Treatment for psychiatric/medical conditions associated with Dopamine imbalance, as you might expect, involves increasing or decreasing Dopamine levels in the brain. Low-Dopamine disorders are treated with medications that increase Dopamine in the brain. For Parkinson’s Disease – L Dopa is prescribed and for ADHD, medications that are psychostimulants. Amphetamines and medications with similar action actually slow down the hyperactive (ADHD) children by increasing Dopamine – boasting their level into the normal range, allowing them to now focus and attend. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Mildly elevations in Dopamine are associated with addictions such as narcotics, speed, and nicotine/smoking. Thus, medications used in the treatment of addictions actually block or lower Dopamine production. If a medication blocks dopamine, it also blocks the effects of the addicted substance as well as blocking the craving sensation. The medication to help smokers, Zyban, is actually the antidepressant Wellbutrin that is known to block Dopamine. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Moderate to high levels of Dopamine, associated with severe psychiatric conditions such as Paranoia and Schizophrenia, are treated with medications that block or lower Dopamine in the brain. These medications, called antipsychotics, have been available for many years. Early antipsychotic medications however, lowered Dopamine throughout the brain, including the Dopamine located in the motor/movement areas. For that reason, older antipsychotic medications produced motor/movement problems that looked like Parkinson’s Disease – short-step gait, fixed facial expression, tremors, poor balance, etc. Newer medications have fewer side effects in motor areas, as they are able to specifically target one type of Dopamine. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Dopamine levels typically change very slowly. Patients who develop Paranoia and/or Schizophrenia often experience a gradual increase in Dopamine levels over several years – also experiencing an increase in the severity of symptoms over those years. A typical high school or college student may develop a sense of being on-edge or unusual feelings, gradually becoming suspicious and feeling alienated, moving into auditory hallucinations, and finally developing bizarre false beliefs (delusions) of persecution or exaggerated self-importance over the next several years. Stress can often rapidly increase Dopamine, but it still rarely happens overnight. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">When an individual becomes psychotic, paranoid, and hallucinates in only a few days, we must strongly suspect medication/drug intoxication or neurological events – something that could increase Dopamine levels dramatically and almost instantly. The prolonged use of amphetamines (speed) or steroids can produce a loss of reality and sudden paranoia. As it might happen, a construction worker taking “street” speed to increase his work productivity finds his hand or foot talking to him (auditory hallucinations) and decides to cut it off. The sudden presence of psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc.) in an individual with a history of prior normal adjustment would suggest the need for intensive medical and neurological workup. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><strong>Serotonin: From Bliss to Despair</strong></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Serotonin, first isolated in 1933, is the neurotransmitter that has been identified in multiple psychiatric disorders including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphic disorder (nose doesn’t look perfect after ten surgeries), social anxiety, phobias, etc. Serotonin is a major regulator and is involved in bodily processes such as sleep, libido (sexual interest), body temperature, and other areas. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Perhaps the best way to think of Serotonin is again with an automobile example. Most automobiles in the United States are made to cruise at 70 miles per hour, perfect for interstate highways and that summer vacation. If we place that same automobile on a racetrack and drive day-after-day at 130 mph, two things would happen. Parts would fail and we would run the engine so hot as to evaporate or burnout the oil. Serotonin is the brain’s “oil”. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Like a normal automobile on a race track, when we find ourselves living in a high stress situation for a prolonged period of time, we use more Serotonin than is normally replaced. Imagine a list of your pressures, responsibilities, difficulties and environmental issues (difficult job, bad marriage, poor housing, rough neighborhood, etc.). Prolonged exposure to such a high level of stress gradually lowers our Serotonin level. As we continue to “hang on” we develop symptoms of a severe stress-produced depression. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">An automobile can be one, two or three quarts low in oil. Using the automobile as an example, imagine that brain Serotonin can have similar stages, being low (one quart low), moderately low (two quarts low), and severely low (three quarts low). The less Serotonin available in the brain, the more severe our depression and related symptoms. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">When Serotonin is low, we experience problems with concentration and attention. We become scatterbrained and poorly organized. Routine responsibilities now seem overwhelming. It takes longer to do things because of poor planning. We lose our car keys and put odd things in the refrigerator. We call people and forget why we called or go to the grocery and forget what we needed. We tell people the same thing two or three times.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">As stress continues and our Serotonin level continues to drop, we become more depressed. At this point, moderately low or “two quarts” low, major changes occur in those bodily functions regulated by Serotonin. When Serotonin is moderately low, we have the following symptoms and behaviors: </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Chronic fatigue. Despite sleeping extra hours and naps, we remain tired. There is a sense of being “worn out”</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Sleep disturbance, typically we can’t go to sleep at night as our mind/thought is racing. Patients describe this as “My mind won’t shut up!” Early-morning awakening is also common, typically at 4:00 am, at which point returning to sleep is difficult, again due to the racing thoughts. </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Appetite disturbance is present, usually in two types. We experience a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss or a craving for sweets and carbohydrates when the brain is trying to make more Serotonin. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Total loss of sexual interest is present. In fact, there is loss of interest in everything, including those activities and interests that have been enjoyed in the past.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Social withdrawal is common – not answering the phone, rarely leaving the house/apartment, we stop calling friends and family, and we withdraw from social events.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Emotional sadness and frequent crying spells are common.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Self-esteem and self-confidence are low.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Body sensations, due to Serotonin’s role as a body regulator, include hot flushes and temperature changes, headaches, and stomach distress.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Loss of personality – a sense that our sense of humor has left and our personality has changed.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· We begin to take everything very personally. Comments, glances, and situations are viewed personally and negatively. If someone speaks to you, it irritates you. If they don’t speak, you become angry and feel ignored.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Your family will have the sense that you have “faded away”. You talk less, smile less, and sit for hours without noticing anyone.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Your behavior becomes odd. Family members may find you sitting in the dark in the kitchen at 4:00 am. </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Individuals can live many years moderately depressed. They develop compensations for the sleep and other symptoms, using sleeping medication or alcohol to get some sleep. While chronically unhappy and pessimistic, they explain their situation with “It’s just my life!” They may not fully recognize the depressive component. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Very low levels of Serotonin typically bring people to the attention of their family physician, their employer, or other sources of help. Severe Serotonin loss produces symptoms that are difficult to ignore. Not only are severe symptoms present, but also the brain’s ideation/thinking becomes very uncomfortable and even torturing. When Serotonin is severely low, you will experience some if not all of the following: </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Thinking speed will increase. You will have difficulty controlling your own thoughts. The brain will focus on torturing memories and you’ll find it difficult to stop thinking about these uncomfortable memories or images. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· You’ll become emotionally numb! You wouldn’t know how you feel about your life, marriage, job, family, future, significant other, etc. It’s as though all feelings have been turned off. Asked by others how you feel – your response might be “I don’t know!”</span> </div>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Outbursts will begin, typically two types. Crying outbursts will surface, suddenly crying without much warning. Behavioral outbursts will also surface. If you break the lead in a pencil, you throw the pencil across the room. Temper tantrums may surface. You may storm out of offices or public places. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Escape fantasies will begin. The most common – Hit the Road! The brain will suggest packing up your personal effects and leaving the family and community. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Memory torture will begin. Your brain, thinking at 100 miles an hour, will search your memories for your most traumatic or unpleasant experiences. You will suddenly become preoccupied with horrible experiences that may have happened ten, twenty, or even thirty years ago. You will relive the death of loved ones, divorce, childhood abuse – whatever the brain can find to torture you with – you’ll feel like it happened yesterday. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· You’ll have Evil Thoughts. New mothers may have thoughts about smothering their infants. Thoughts of harming or killing others may appear. You may be tortured by images/pictures in your memory. It’s as though the brain finds your most uncomfortable weak spot, then terrorizes you with it. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· With Serotonin a major bodily regulator, when Serotonin is this low your body becomes unregulated. You’ll experience changes in body temperature, aches/pains, muscle cramps, bowel/bladder problems, smothering sensations, etc. The “Evil Thoughts” then tell you those symptoms are due to a terminal disease. Depressed folks never have gas – it’s colon cancer. A bruise is leukemia. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· You’ll develop a Need-for-Change Panic. You’ll begin thinking a change in lifestyle (Midlife Crisis!), a divorce, an extramarital affair, a new job, or a Corvette will change your mood. About 70 percent of jobs are lost at this time as depressed individuals gradually fade away from their life. Most extramarital affairs occur at this time. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· As low Serotonin levels are related to obsessive-compulsive disorders, you may find yourself starting to count things, become preoccupied with germs/disease, excessively worry that appliances are turned off or doors locked, worry that televisions must be turned off on an even-numbered channel, etc. You may develop rituals involving safety and counting. One auto assembly plant worker began believing his work would curse automobiles if their serial number, when each number was added, didn’t equal an even number. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Whatever normal personality traits, quirks, or attitudes you have, they will suddenly be increased three-fold. A perfectionist will suddenly become anxiously overwhelmed by the messiness of their environment or distraught over leaves that fall each minute to land on the lawn. Penny-pinchers will suddenly become preoccupied with the electric and water consumption in the home. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· A “trigger” event may produce bizarre behavior. Already moderately low in Serotonin, an animal bite or scratch may make you suddenly preoccupied with rabies. A media story about the harmful effects of radiation may make you remember a teenage tour of the local nuclear power plant – suddenly feeling all your symptoms are now the result of exposure to radiation. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· When you reach the bottom of “severely low” Serotonin, the “garbage truck” will arrive. Everyone with severely low Serotonin is told the same thing. You will be told 1) You’re a bad spouse, parent, child, employee, etc., 2) You are a burden to those who love or depend on you, 3) You are worsening the lives of those around you, 4) Those who care about you would be better if you weren’t there, 5) You would be better if you weren’t around, and 6) You and those around you would be better off if you were totally out of the picture. At that point, you develop suicidal thoughts. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Clinical Depression is perhaps the most common mental health problem encountered in practice. One in four adults will experience clinical depression within their lifetime. Depression is the “common cold” of mental health practice – very common and much easier to treat today than in the past. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Treatment for depression, as might be expected, involves increasing levels of Serotonin in the brain. Since the mid-eighties, medications have been available that attempt to specifically target and increase Serotonin. Known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s), these medications such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil are felt to work by making more Serotonin available in the brain. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Like all neurotransmitters, we can have too much Serotonin. While elevated levels of Serotonin produce a sense of well-being, bliss, and “oneness with the universe” – too much Serotonin can produce a life-threatening condition known as Serotonin Syndrome (SS). </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Likely to occur by accident by combining two Serotonin-increasing medications or substances, Serotonin Syndrome (SS) produces violent trembling, profuse sweating, insomnia, nausea, teeth chattering, chilling, shivering, aggressiveness, over-confidence, agitation, and malignant hyperthermia. Emergency medical treatment is required, utilizing medications that neutralize or block the action of Serotonin as the treatment for Serotonin Syndrome (SS). </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Like Dopamine, Serotonin can be accidentally increased or decreased by substances. One method of birth control is known to produce severe depression as it lowers Serotonin levels. A specific medication for acne has also been linked with depression and suicidal ideation. For this reason, always inform your physicians if you are taking any medication for depression. Also avoid combining antidepressants with any herbal substances reported to be of help in Depression such as St. John’s Wort. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><strong>Norepinephrine: From Arousal to Panic</strong></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Norepinephrine (NE) is the neurotransmitter often associated with the “fight or flight” response to stress. Strongly linked to physical responses and reactions, it can increase heart rate and blood pressure as well as create a sense of panic and overwhelming fear/dread. This neurotransmitter is similar to adrenaline and is felt to set threshold levels to stimulation and arousal. Emotionally, anxiety and depression are related to norepinephrine levels in the brain, as this neurotransmitter seems to maintain the balance between agitation and depression. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Low levels of norepinephrine are associated with a loss of alertness, poor memory, and depression. Norepinephrine appears to be the neurotransmitter of “arousal” and for that reason, lower-than-normal levels of this neurotransmitter produce below-average levels of arousal and interest, a symptom found in several psychiatric conditions including depression and ADHD. It is for this reason that medications for depression and ADHD often target both dopamine and norepinephrine in an attempt to restore both to normal level. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Mild elevations in our norepinephrine levels produce heightened arousal, something known to be produced by stimulants. This arousal is considered pleasurable and several “street drugs” such as cocaine and amphetamines work by increasing the brains level of norepinephrine. This increased sense of arousal is pleasurable, linking these substances to their potential for addiction. Research tells us that some individuals using antidepressants develop a state of “hypomania” or emotional elation and physical arousal in this same manner. For that reason, individuals using modern antidepressants are often cautioned to notify their treating physician/psychiatrist if they become “too happy”. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Moderately high levels of norepinephrine create a sense of arousal that becomes uncomfortable. Remembering that this neurotransmitter is strongly involved in creating physical reactions, moderate increases create worry, anxiety, increased startle reflex, jumpiness, fears of crowds & tight places, impaired concentration, restless sleep, and physical changes. The physical symptoms may include rapid fatigue, muscle tension/cramps, irritability, and a sense of being on edge. Almost all anxiety disorders involve norepinephrine elevations. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Severe and sudden increases in norepinephrine are associated with panic attacks. Perhaps the best way to visualize a panic attack is to remember the association with the “flight or fight” response. The “flight or fight” response is a chemical reaction to a dramatic and threatening situation in which the brain produces excessive amounts of norepinephrine and adrenaline – giving us extra strength, increased energy/arousal, muscle tightness (for fighting or running), and a desperate sense that we must do something immediately. This animal response was activated in early man when a bear showed up at his cave or when faced with a tiger in the woods. In modern times, imagine your reaction if while calmly watching television, someone or something started trying to knock your front door in to attack you. In the “flight or fight” reaction, your brain and body chemistry prepare you to either run from the situation or fight to the death! </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">A panic attack is the activation of the “flight or fight” chemical reaction without a bear at the door. It’s as though the self-protection animal response is kicking-off accidentally, when no real life-threatening situation is present. Known now as panic attacks, they can surface at the grocery, at church, or when you least expect it. As norepinephrine is a fast-acting neurotransmitter, the panic attack may last less than ten minutes (feels like hours however!) but you’ll be rattled/shaken for several hours. Panic attacks are strong physical and chemical events and include the following symptoms: </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Palpitations, pounding heart or rapid heart rate</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Sweating and body temperature changes</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Trembling or shaking</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Shortness of breath of smothering sensations</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Choking sensations</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Chest pain and discomfort</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Nausea or stomach distress</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Sense of unreality, as though you are outside yourself</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Fear of losing control or going crazy</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Fear of dying</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Numbness and tingling throughout the body</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Chills and hot flushes </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">If we think about the automobile example, a panic attack is the equivalent of your dashboard warning lights coming on – your stress level is too high. Panic attacks, or surges of norepinephrine, can also occur by accident as when created by the use of certain medications. The medications for certain medical conditions can cause a panic attack or increase our level of anxiety. Medications often used for asthma, for example, can create anxiety or panic attacks. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Treating low or elevated levels of norepinephrine in the brain involve different approaches. Low levels of norepinephrine are often treated using newer antidepressants. Many new antidepressants, known as Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI’s) with brand names like Effexor and Serzone, treat depression by increasing levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Treatment for high levels of norepinephrine, as found in anxiety and panic disorders, involves decreasing neurotransmitter levels directly or using medications which increase another neurotransmitter that inhibits or decreases the action of norepinephrine. One of those inhibiting neurotransmitters is GABA, also known as Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><strong>GABA: Mania and Seizures to Relaxation and Impulse Control</strong></div></span></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that is inhibitory, that is, it decreases the ability of other neurotransmitters to work. GABA is involved in our level of excitability. Rather than encouraging communication between cells such as Dopamine, Serotonin or Norepinephrine - GABA reduces, discourages, and blocks communication. This neurotransmitter is important in brain areas involving emotion and anxiety. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">When GABA is in the normal range in the brain, we are not overly aroused or anxious. At the same time, we have appropriate reactions to situations in our environment. GABA is the communication speed controller, making sure all brain communications are operating at the right speed and with the correct intensity. Too little GABA in the brain, the communication becomes out of control, overstimulated, and chemically unstable. Too much GABA and we are overly relaxed and sedated, often to the point that normal reactions are impaired. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Low levels of GABA are associated with Bipolar Disorder, Mania. With GABA levels below average, the brain is too stimulated. We begin talking rapidly, staying up for days at a time, and develop wild and grandiose ideas. In a Manic state, we are so “high” and out of control that social problems are quick to develop, often due to hypersexuality, excessive spending, reckless decisions, risk-taking behavior, and grandiose ideas. We may feel so good that we think we are a heavenly spirit, an intellectual genius, or possessing extraordinary powers. I personally had one patient who locked himself in his mobile home and spent one week rewriting the New Testament in “hillbilly”. Another, with limited education, began purchasing books on the Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein, sensing he may be able to use the information to invent “warp drive”. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Low levels of GABA are also associated with problems of poor impulse control, including clinical conditions such as gambling, temper tantrums, and stealing. When GABA is low in the brain, impulsive behaviors are not inhibited (stopped) by logical or reasonable thinking. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Low levels of GABA are also associated with epilepsy or seizure disorders. If we imagine a seizure as a type of electrical storm, the seizure begins at one location in the brain then rushes across and through the brain like a sudden storm. Low levels of GABA make it easy for the brain to develop seizures which is why seizures are part of the withdrawal syndrome for many substances that work with GABA such as alcohol and tranquilizers (benzodiazepines – Xanax, Ativan, Librium, Valium, etc.). Substances that artificially maintain a high level of GABA, when stopped, create a dramatic drop in GABA levels, thus creating the risk for withdrawal seizures due to the chemical instability that is created.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">High levels of GABA produce more control, relaxation, and even sedation. Alcohol works by increasing GABA levels, which is why all body systems are relaxed at first – then sedated to the point of slurred speech, unsteady gait, and foggy thinking. Alcohol withdrawal, or the sudden severe drop of high GABA levels, produce a low GABA level and the possibility of seizures. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines is known to follow the same pattern. Taking forty milligrams of Valium for two years, suddenly stopping all medication, will likely produce a seizure. </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Medications for anxiety create relaxation and a decrease in anxiety by increasing GABA levels in the brain. Alcoholic beverages work in the same manner; the alcohol increasing GABA levels to produce mild euphoria, loss of social anxiety, and other symptoms of intoxication. Excessive intake of benzodiazepines and/or alcohol is extremely dangerous as the high GABA level actually smothers the communication between brain neurons – sometimes to the point of a total lack of communication between neurons – also known as death. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Medications for seizures, impulse control problems, and Bipolar Disorder, Mania all work by increasing the GABA levels without accompanying euphoria. Lithium and anti-seizure medications all increase GABA into the normal range, thus lowering the possibility of seizures and producing brain chemical stability. As GABA is the neurotransmitter policeman, changes in GABA can influence all neurotransmitters but especially norepinephrine.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><strong>Medication Treatment of the “Chemical Imbalance”</strong></div></span></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Understanding these four neurotransmitters provides a window to understanding the majority of psychiatric conditions, ranging from depression to schizophrenia. Mental health professionals use psychological testing, interviews, questionnaires, and patient history to determine first, if a change in the neurotransmitter system is present, then second, what neurotransmitters are involved. A proper clinical diagnosis then leads to proper medication treatment. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Medications are prescribed in an effort to return the brain’s neurotransmitter status to normal. Much like a physician may prescribe a medication to lower your cholesterol or increase another body chemical, mental health professionals are concerned with returning your neurotransmitter levels to normal. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Medications for mental health conditions work in several ways:</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Some imitate the neurotransmitter, triggering a response as though the original neurotransmitter were present </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Some block the neurotransmitter from being absorbed by the surrounding neurons, known as blocking the reuptake. Reuptake inhibitors block the reabsorption/reuptake of Serotonin or Norepinephrine and thus make more neurotransmitter available</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Some force the release of the neurotransmitter, causing an exaggerated effect. Cocaine does this to Norepinephrine and Dopamine while MDMA (Ecstasy – a club drug) does this to Serotonin. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Some increase neurotransmitters known to slowdown or reduce the production of other neurotransmitters.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">· Some block the release of neurotransmitters completely</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">· Some interfere with the storage of neurotransmitters, allowing them to come out of storage and lose potency </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Based on the neurotransmitter theory of psychiatric illness, we can plot clinical conditions and see how mental health professionals determine medication treatment by recognizing which neurotransmitters are involved: </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Diagnosis:<u> Stress-Produced Depression</u></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Neurotransmitter: Low Serotonin</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Medication: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Diagnosis: <u>Agitated/Anxious Depression</u></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Neurotransmitter: Low Serotonin</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Elevated Norepinephrine</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Medication: SSRI and Antianxiety Medication or</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Diagnosis: <u>Major Depression with Psychosis</u></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">(Severe depression with hallucinations/paranoia)</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Neurotransmitter: Elevated Dopamine</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Low Serotonin</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Medication: Antipsychotic medication</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">SSRI </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Diagnosis: <u>Bipolar Disorder, Mania</u></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Neurotransmitter: Low GABA</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Medication: Anticonvulsant or Lithium </div></span>
</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Diagnosis: Bipolar Disorder, Depressed</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Neurotransmitter: Low GABA</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Low Serotonin</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">Medication: Anticonvulsant or Lithium</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">SSRI</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;"></div></span>
</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">----------------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Bottom line: If you need help, GET HELP. There are many caring professionals out there that are ready to help. Not only that, but it may bring some clarity to a situation that has been cloudy and confusing for a long time. Don't be afraid to take the first step in going to see someone that is trained to help. Above all, be willing to trust yourself! Also, I encourage you to keep investigating the possible causes of your imbalance whether they are nutritional or psychological or environmental. YOU are your own best advocate and healer!!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091292014-08-21T10:49:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00The Ego: Our first Creation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The creation of the Ego is slow... it is enlightenment in reverse. For me it was putting up walls to hide myself from emotional pain. I created pain internally to feel empathy or to manufacture my own version of understanding (or empathy), and then later I would distance myself from it. For example I would see someone that is sad, and in empathy, trigger these physical feelings of sadness within myself. Does this mean I am feeling what they are feeling? No. Does this mean I really know exactly what is going on in their mind or heart? No. (but by creating an approximation of it, physiologically, within myself I would tell myself that I am being empathetic. Does this feeling that's triggered within me, help them? No. (They can't truly sense that I am feeling anything FOR them.) Gradually I forgot that I was the creator of these feelings, and then later I built a wall within myself to protect from these feelings. (I wanted to shut myself off from these feelings, that I forgot that I created in the first place!) Then by protecting myself and building these walls, I cut myself off from true compassion and true empathy and true connection. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Does this mean I shouldn't be emotional? No, but where are the emotions coming from and why are they there? Is it from true empathy?..true compassion?...true understanding? (If anything, I feel more connected to my true emotions now.) I think it means also that I should be aware of my role. How can I truly help them? What can I actually do to help others? (I believe) actions, based in love can be helpful. ..even if it is just being truly present with them, and to hear and see their emotions and feelings (without clouding the atmosphere with my manufactured ones...that are usually related to me..NOT them.) </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I see the Ego as a defense mechanism to protect me from pain or things I just don't want to face (about myself). With all the suffering I see in the world in the media it would be hard to function without ego..and yet I don't want to ever again get to a place where I am indifferent, or don't believe that the suffering I see in the world affects me (or us). </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I realized that this same defense that created a callous, incomplete view of my world also prevented me from seeing the true beauty of life. Not only had I created a wall that prevented me from feeling pain, but it also prevented me from feeling joy and happiness and connection. After all, if I was disconnected from myself, how I could I connect with anyone else?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I now see the "ego" (at least partly) as a defense of a perceived idea of self.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I know now that as soon as I <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/01/identity-ego-and-shadow.html">adopt an identity</a> I begin the process of building the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)">shadow</a>, hiding parts of myself (in defense and creation of that identity). This hides my true self and also begins the process of "ego defense". My experience with anxiety tells me that this also manifests in the body as STRESS. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">To <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/01/identity-ego-and-shadow.html">identify</a> with something outside of mySelf IS the source of stress, whether it's materialism, desire, accomplishments, religious dogma, politics, sexuality, spiritualism... etc etc etc... If I seek to define myself by something outside myself I have noticed that I will eventually experience stress. Why? because then I have put myself in a position to defend my existence by how other people feel about something outside of me, that is NOT me.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If I analyze for my self the root causes of stress, they ultimately come back to defending this Ego, self interest or sense of self in some form. I don't think anyone is immune to this.. even Guru's, preachers, Shamans, yogis, the Pope, etc.. etc.. etc.. For me, it takes consistent, daily practice and self examination to feel that I am on the right path. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ultimately, I feel it is about learning to relax consistently too, and not allowing stress to build up. By relaxing deeply, I feel that it's possible to let down these "ego defenses" (at least for a while) in order to see that I don't need them, and that they aren't really protecting me at all. In fact, they may actually be damaging the physical body with the resulting stress and blocking me from true insight.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006L7R2EI/ref=r_soa_w_d">Journey of Awakening</a> by Ram Dass:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">“Your ego is a set of thoughts that define your universe. It’s like a familiar room built of thoughts; you see the universe through its windows. You are secure in it, but to the extent that you are afraid to venture outside, it has become a prison. Your ego has you conned. You believe you need its specific thoughts to survive. The ego controls you through your fear of loss of identity. To give up these thoughts, it seems, would eliminate you, so you cling to them.” It is not as though the parts of ourselves we identify as ego are unimportant or useless. Indeed, the thoughts, feelings, and traits we call ego help us to satisfy our desires and remain safe and secure in the world. However, when we identify our complete selves as ego, we make a dangerous mistake, for ego is only a shard of our boundless nature.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">In our relationship with the world and with others, we tend to react from our ego, whose mission is to defend us from psychological threats. The ego thus views itself as “right,” and any entity that opposes it as “wrong.” This psychic polarization leads to internal and external conflict. As part of this process, which is fueled by well-intentioned lessons from our parents, teachers, and religious leaders, we “split off” parts of ourselves that society judges unacceptable. Our egos keeps us in line by repressing “unacceptable” sides of ourselves.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">------</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091302014-08-18T11:39:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Chakras<br><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A little bit into my experience with what I would describe as my <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-awakening-in-nutshell.html">awakening</a> (..and that I've also described as anxiety, because it was definitely filled with anxiety). </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started to to notice the physiological sensations in my body related to perceived stresses. My awareness and my heightened senses were so high that this became almost painful. Literally, and physically, as I would respond to my thoughts, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started to notice these physical feelings in different areas of my body. </span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would feel it in my lower spinal region, related to fear (root chakra), or butterflies in my stomach (solar plexus chakra), or tightness in my chest (heart chakra), or even pain or tightness in my throat (throat chakra). Also, sort of tingling feelings in my head, so at first I thought, it was outside forces externally affecting me. So that freaked me out, and I was kind of wrapped up in that, almost as a superstition for a while. At this point in this experience, I was basically </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">considering any and all possibilities (even paranormal ones), but as I tuned into it further to these sensations, I came to feel that what I was experiencing was my body as a biofeedback machine. </span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I feel I had tuned in to a state where I could feel my thoughts in my body. Now of course I had always done this to some degree (as we all do), but this was a much higher awareness than I had experienced. I was responding to my own psyche and my own perceptions of people or events or places I might be. I would experience that physiologically. My awareness of this mind-body connection was just so much more heightened that it was almost unnerving. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What these sensations gradually taught me to do was to become more aware of how my mind and my perceptions affect my physical body. My physical body, I came to realize, was just obeying the directions of me and my consciousness. I realized that for a long time in life, I had been going against the grain on this sort of physiological feedback system, and so I was </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">trying to stuff down these feelings, or trying to ignore them like they didn't exist... (but they were trying to tell me something important.)</span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I realized that for a long time my reaction to these physiological responses (whether they would show up as tension in an area or whatever)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> was that I would try to pretend they didn't exist and just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">keep pushing my way through the situation. I've now learned that those things are </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">important clues that tell me a LOT about my own perceptions and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">psyche at the moment. These perceptions tell me where I am with my feelings, and what those </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">feelings are telling me about my inner self and my inner direction, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">just how feelings and thoughts manifest as stress in the body.</span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have come to feel that that's one way of looking at the "chakras" because all of these feelings all went right with the chakras and my endocrine system. My feeling is that the idea of the chakras relates directly with the endocrine system, and that the balance of chemicals produced by the endocrine system, of course, affect my perceptions too. </span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, my root chakra was related to the fear I felt in my deepest anxiety. I realized that to change that, I needed to change from that fear of change into action and change my behaviors </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">into positive action and become more grounded. </span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That was one of the areas of life that I needed to grow in the most (just being grounded). That was one of those, and also my solar plexus, my will, growing my will to get those things done. For me, that also meant not always, necessarily, pleasing people that I had tried to please before. In order to be liked, I was overriding my will to be a "pleaser", and that wasn't working. So I had to learn to change those behaviors. Listening to my body I've learned is key in this process. The body has a wisdom of it's own. I've learned that it's important to listen to my body from a place of awareness and try and understand what it's telling me.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, also, with my third eye, or my connection to intuition, that became very much heightened, and I had to learn to understand those messages and listen closely that energy. </span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have also noticed that in times when I might have normally become angry or fearful (as I had in the past), I would instead feel a gentle pressure in the third eye and instead of feeling an adrenaline rush I would feel calm and more of an ability to be open to understanding the situation (or person) instead of resorting to a knee jerk reaction based on older mental patterns. Is this the "master gland" of the pituitary and pineal gland helping to regulate my chemical responses? </span></span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm still learning all the time, but the main thing I've learned is that our body is responding all the time to our consciousness and our mental states, and that that shows up in my body immediately and that I just need to be aware of that. I think there's a lot that can go on with various therapies that allow a person the space to relax and get more in touch with these feelings.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overall, I think just reaching the place of relaxation helps to let go of mentally induced tension, and then begin to become more aware of these physical sensations. From my perspective and from my experience, that seems to be the baseline...just letting go of tension, and to allowing that awareness and intuitive energy to arise. Then, to be able to have the teachings and various input from various spiritual (psychological) teachers or counselors to guide that arising energy and awareness. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The main thing is, I think, just becoming aware, and then having the willingness to change direction or my circumstances if it's not comfortable, or change my mind (my perception of the situation) and if that's not reasonable, to try and change the circumstance. Ultimately, I have come to feel that if my thoughts are not making me feel good (physically or mentally), then, really, there's no reason I should hold on to those patterns. (</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should either change my thoughts and my thought patterns, or change the situation or my relation to it.)</span>
</div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some of the sensations I associate with these Chakras and the endocrine response too.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Root Chakra (adrenals): Adrenaline and Fear. Tingling at the base of the spine and pressure in the low back.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sacral Chakra (sex glands): Sexual Arousal, not from a place of self gratification, but understanding and connection. Sexual energy is one of the primary energies of life, and the very force of creation, an amazing connective and creative and healing force. Also, from what I experienced, it seems to be the primary energy of re-awakening and opening.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Solar Plexus (gut): Butterflies in the stomach. For me this was more intense than mild butterflies and more focused and acute. The "gut" also has <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/">neurons</a> and directly influences <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/20/gut-brain-connection.aspx">brain chemicals</a>.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heart Chakra (thymus, heart, lungs): a swelling OPENING heart of compassion. The heart also has <a href="http://www.heartmath.org/templates/ihm/articles/infographic/2013/mysteries-of-the-heart/index.php">neurons</a> and produces an <a href="http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/24239537/the-smart-heart-part-1-7-amazing-facts-about-the-hearts-control-of-the-brain">electromagnetic field</a> much stronger than the brain.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throat Chakra (thyroid): Tightness in throat during communication if I am not speaking from a place of authenticity, or loose and ease when communicating my core truth.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Third Eye (pineal, pituitary gland): Gentle Pressure between the Eyebrows. For me, I notice mostly when I need to pay attention, hear the deeper truth that is being communicated by another person to bring clarity to the situation at hand.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crown Chakra (?): Tingling around my "crown". For me, signals tuning in to a space beyond my conscious thought. Letting go, and experiencing as the observer from a place of peace.</span></span><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJnxtzGim0M/U-wrbp59MhI/AAAAAAAAAVA/vZZMPrNXWjI/s1600/HealingChakra_diagram_footer-rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJnxtzGim0M/U-wrbp59MhI/AAAAAAAAAVA/vZZMPrNXWjI/s1600/HealingChakra_diagram_footer-rev.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="380" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2f6DGcAWQHM/U-wseNfNAPI/AAAAAAAAAVM/9Eo5UJF6w1E/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2f6DGcAWQHM/U-wseNfNAPI/AAAAAAAAAVM/9Eo5UJF6w1E/s1600/images.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="394" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span>
</div><br><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">for more info.. I suggest these two books:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">WHEELS OF LIFE: Users guide to the Chakra System</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Life-Chakra-System-Llewellyns/dp/0875423205">http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Life-Chakra-System-Llewellyns/dp/0875423205</a></div><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">LANGUAGE OF THE EMOTIONS - KARLA McCLAREN</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Language-Emotions-Feelings-Trying/dp/1591797691">http://www.amazon.com/The-Language-Emotions-Feelings-Trying/dp/1591797691</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br></div><br><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091312014-08-12T13:45:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Panic Attack?<br><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">I was just talking to a friend, Greg, the other day about stress and anxiety and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">panic attacks. And I was just talking about my personal experience and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">realizing that panic attacks, (even though I haven't had one in a few </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">years) they're the kind of things that usually start to build up a few days </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in advance. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, since I've spent a lot of time trying to be aware of these types of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">feelings and effects in myself, I've tried to notice these cycles in my body.. What I've noticed is </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">that if my schedule gets out of whack or I'm starting to sort of look at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the internet or FaceBook too much (which is an OCD machine for me) or obsess about things or get worried about things </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">that are out of my control that's where there's trouble. All of those things engage and encourage the "thinking" mind. I can </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">indulge in that behavior for a while, but eventually it builds up as stress, and then my mind becomes more scattered, and then </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">over a couple of days that stress builds up momentum and eventually can manifest </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">into an acute place of anxiety...or "panic attack".</span></span>
</div><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I have realized that it's actually a "building up" process to actually </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">get to those panic attacks. Also, I have realized that there is also a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"building up" process of relaxing, de-stressing too. I've noticed that really putting in that daily practice </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and daily time of adjusting my schedule, managing my flow, and doing things that balance my nervous system </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">like meditation and yoga, eating well, etc.. are not only important for avoiding stress, but that I can also can also feel "high". For me it has also been a process of realizing that working on these things actually helps me </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">stay in that place of BALANCE. When I stay on that path, it even helps build up a bank of good vibes that can lead to these states of bliss, inner joy and feeling "high" without drugs. (The opposite of an anxiety attack :)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have tried going for prescription pills, or alcohol (because they are quick, endorsed by society and available) and other ways to get out of</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> that box of stress, but I think the truth is (my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">observation anyway) is that it's actually more of a process that I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">contribute to daily. So I have to be aware of that <u>every day</u> by being aware of my schedule, my actions and watching where my own consciousness is going. (..and ask, <b>Am I leading my mind, or is my mind leading me?</b>) PS> I don't have any judgements against prescription anti-anxiety meds etc.. but for me though I think it was more of a temporary patch that was useful for a time, but not a permanent solution to the changes that I needed to make (and am still making) in myself.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I'm trying to be aware of the fact that my "thinking" mind which is </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the part of my mind that can sort of get bogged down in that mind chatter </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and those worrisome thoughts can carry me away to that stressed </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">place, and before I know it I'm lost in that mind chatter and chaotic thinking. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But if I just bring my mind into the present moment, then I'm much more </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">centered and I can break that cycle before I get into it. I think </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ultimately meditation is nothing more than concentrating the mind into the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">present and breaking that mind chatter. Ultimately, it's the "mind chatter", in my experience, that </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">contributes to all of the physiological responses that ultimately can lead to things like </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">panic attacks.</span></span><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;">For me, meditation and sound therapy has functioned essentially like resetting the nervous system. The brain, heart and breathing are all connected in the nervous system. So if you can slow down your breathing consciously, you can also slow heart rate and brainwaves..or vice versa. We live in a rhythmic universe, everything follows cycles and rhythms and we do too. Heartbeat, pulsation brainwaves..circadian rhythms etc.. and night-day, seasons, orbits etc.. we are enmeshed with the cycles. Stress is disharmony. SO, it also follows, that lack of stress is harmony with in the system of the body. The "ego" causes stress, because it is obsessed with self identification and recognizing external patterns for it's "survival" (note: this very idea of egoic survival is a self-deception). In many cases this is focused on things that aren't really essential. This creates a low level of stress that becomes a new "normal". By meditating or "resetting your rhythms" I think it's possible to reset our physical body and also unload the psychological stresses of the "ego". Yoga is also focused on controlling the breathing while the body is experiencing stress (physical exertion). Also, keeping the breathing steady when the heart rate is rapid (because of physical exertion). This gives increased control of the nervous system, and allows a new level of awareness beyond the primal, survival concerns of this false idea of self, or "ego". There is a whole science of rhythmic and metered breathing in yoga called Pranayama. Prana is the breath or "life force" (aka "chi"). Chronic stress can in general hinder the breathing (shallow, short breathing) and hinder the flow of life force. This also causes the brainwaves to increase and heart rate and can kick off things like panic attacks etc.. (I know this from experience..hah) .. Meditation, sound therapy, diet and yoga can work together to unwind the internalized stresses that the body has endured as a result of the unconscious ego. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;">The rapid unwinding of this built up stress can be unnerving, and hard to get through. (I, personally, had to go from moment to moment for weeks and remember to choose love, not fear in every second and realize the present moment is all that exists.)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 14px;">So, I think that conscious relaxation via meditation, sound therapy, yoga, contemplative prayer, drum circles...etc..etc..etc.. are a major part of this puzzle. The other part is our brain chemicals, which I believe are also related and interdependent on these things. So consciousness (the way I think and then react to those thoughts) affects brain chemicals and brain chemicals also affect consciousness. I am currently reading a book called "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0142003646/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=30390475495&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8023169275373823937&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_46enwkotvg_e">the mood cure</a>" which talks a lot more about this connection and I hope to share more from that soon..</span></span></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><br><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>
</div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091322014-07-28T10:51:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00The Narrative<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">We tell ourselves that there is a narrative to our life, a story line. We are inundated with narratives all day every day... from the news to the stories we watch constantly on TV and movies. One of the main components of <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-awakening-in-nutshell.html?q=awakening">my awakening</a> was realizing that this narrative I had created about myself didn't really exist. Even the story about who I WAS didn't really exist.. It was my self-created narrative and I could change the story. If you are anything like me you may find yourself doing this all of the time (creating stories), sometimes consciously, but mostly subconsciously. (which, of course, means that it's difficult or impossible to process this though the conscious thinking mind.)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">we tell stories about our lives</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about our relationships</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about the people we meet</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about the people we see and don't meet</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about whats going to happen next</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about the future</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about the past</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">stories about what other people think</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">etc..</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">These stories create frames for our life and our identity. These stories may give a temporary sense of comfort, but can also create tons of stress. These stories can also perpetuate traumas and fears from the past that can interfere with current relationships. How many times has a story you told yourself about a person or a situation, (based on judgements or fears) that turned out to be untrue? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">These "frames" are the box I thought I was in that can feel so constricting... it's also the box that I need to think outside of in order to change and grow, and to move past my own fears. These stories are also the lenses through which we see "reality". So why do we have them? I think that these stories and lenses also give us a sense of security and predictability. They tell us that we "know" (even when we don't), that we have some basis for what will happen next. These stories are a creation that partly form the ego in order to make pattern and form and predictability. Unfortunately, the form and predictability that are being created and experienced are coming from a place of fear. The ego will also begin to look for clues and signs to confirm the story. Once enough "evidence" is established, the story goes into the subconscious without further review to be referenced in some future situation.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Here's a basic example that I imagine everyone has probably felt on some level:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><i>You go to a social gathering. Someone else (maybe everyone!) seems richer, smarter, better looking thinner etc.. and you personally are "feeling fat" ...or... "dumb".. or "unsuccessful" on some level. Perhaps you're inner judge comes out and says "they are not so great"...or "I suck". Suddenly, you don't really want to be there. Your body begins to get tense and smiling suddenly starts to feel like a chore. You head for the bar to get some liquid relaxation. </i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The truth is many of those same people may feel just the same as you. The truth is this story of unworthiness about myself or them isn't true. It also blocks you from seeing the true person beyond the stories, and having the chance of making a connection or being of service to them in some way... even if it's just a genuine smile that says they're OK too. Through these stories and projections I have built a wall between me and them any chance of a true connection has been temporarily lost. </i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(There are probably hundreds of similar stories that can be looked at consciously like this, and many more that we process in a nanosecond at an unconscious level.)</i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The game of <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/01/identity-ego-and-shadow.html?q=identity">identity</a> is that we find comfort in those who seem most like we are, where we feel worthy to connect or be safe. The truth is we are all more alike than different. These stories are mostly based in identity. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Young children to a large extent haven't built these stories yet. Most of the happier older people I meet, seem to have quit playing this game altogether. It's easy to see in them both that it's a much happier way to view things.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Just like in the Arts (theater, TV, movies) and music there is tension and resolution in the personal narrative. I think many times we are unconsciously creating this "drama"..or stress in our lives too in order to get the payoff of "resolution".</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">----------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">some ideas:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">To protect yourself from "story-fication" ask yourself, what do I really KNOW about this person, or situation? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">How does this story make me feel? Do I feel stress? ..or Do I feel calm?</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">What are the stories that define me or that I hold to be most important? If let them go, will my reality change?</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">----------</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The box you think your in doesn't exist.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">-Tim Mole</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You can't judge a book by it's cover. -Anon.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Question Reality. -bumper sticker</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091332014-07-14T12:55:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:52-04:00Slow is the new fast<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I had accomplished so many wonderful things in my life by the time I was 40...as a musician I had traveled the country many times...performed on three continents...played more awesome gigs than I can remember...but I didn't appreciate it to the fullest and none of it filled the void that I wanted to fill. The void of my own self love. There is no way it could. I had run myself ragged in an attempt to accomplish it all. I told myself that if I just made more money, or could play the next level of prestigious gig that I would be happier. I had avoided the truth that was right in front of my face, in order to try and create my own "story line"..my own narrative. I had pursued it all in an attempt to create a "me", that I could be proud of. Instead of accepting me as I AM. But, in the middle of a breakdown, I had a breakthrough. I realized that the way I was viewing things made it all pointless and meaningless, because even as I reached those accomplishments I couldn't fully enjoy them if I didn't love myself. And, if I didn't love myself, I couldn't truly love anyone else. So, even when people gave me compliments for my music, I couldn't appreciate them. I couldn't see their feedback as a way of telling me that I had served them well. As I came to some of these personal realizations, I saw that I had overlooked so many beautiful and simple things in life. As a result, I decided to slow down, WAY down, and focus on the things I had missed for so long. I had been chasing my proverbial tail, and it was time to stop. So, I changed my behavior. I changed my schedule. And no, I didn't (and don't) always know how it will work out financially or logistically. But then again I never have...so fuck it, will stressing over it help? So, I took time to love my friends and family in ways I realized that I had overlooked. I set out to enjoy beauty with no goal in mind. I started to make music and enjoy <a href="http://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi">sounds</a> again simply for the love of it. My one simple goal was to enjoy, and be grateful in the enjoying. I knew I needed to slow things down, and I did, but to my amazement I actually began to accomplish more of the things I wanted to... the things that really mattered to me.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So....What if there was nothing for you to accomplish? ...no story line to fulfill? ...no impending deadlines? ...no money to be made? ...no debts to be paid? ...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">What then? ...What would you do?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Well, MY answer was make a point out of enjoying more. I wanted to notice the good things and all of the simple things. Now I invest more fully in the relationships in my life. I simply want to be grateful, for what IS, and to SLOW DOWN so I can enjoy it.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here are a few simple reminders to myself:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Eat slower and enjoy each bite</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Speak slower and notice your words</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Listen slower and hear the meaning</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Touch slower and enjoy the connection</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Travel slower and enjoy the journey</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Work slower and realize it is love made manifest</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Live slower and enjoy YOUR LIFE</b>.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">All of these simply remind me to be present in this very moment. Because the present is where life is lived, it's where true wealth is realized, and it's the only place where love can blossom. It is only in the present moment that I have the ability to choose (or enjoy) ANY of these things.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">On the flip side, I have changed my intention. Now, I choose to play each note of music as a way of serving whoever might be listening. I choose, to seek out ways that I can serve others through my interests and abilities and experiences. I choose to invest in serving and I have learned that the only real joy is this service.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Now <u>I choose</u> to go slow, because there is no reason to be in hurry to get to some better place and time. I am always here and it's always now (and always will be). (..and isn't being in a hurry somehow just another way to express dissatisfaction in the present moment and to presume a future outcome, or situation is preferable?) "Going slow", and not being in a rush keeps me grounded.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">So, I encourage anyone reading this, don't be afraid to unplug, log off, tune out, slow down and let go. The world WILL keep spinning. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">----</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #343434; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation.“ -Milarepa</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Vanity of vanities! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">All is vanity. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and returns to the place where it rises. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">-King David, Ecclesiastes</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJlZH3aucGE</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br></span></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IJlZH3aucGE" width="560"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span">this video is by my friend Jake, the Tao Te Ching set to music... it always inspires me.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. <br></a><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091342014-06-19T13:42:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Love is being present<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Note to Self:</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Isn't the greatest manifestation of LOVE is simply being present, in the moment, with someone? No where else to be, nothing else to do, nothing to watch on tv, no entertainment needed, no expectations. Just Being... This ability to just BE..and enjoy the "being-ness". </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Isn't this Love?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Isn't that the greatest threat to any relationship too? That loss of being able to be present. The threat of the past. Past hurts. Past failures. Lurking in every conversation. Ever present ghosts.The loss of faith that the future can be any better? And all of these things that creep into the mind and the relationship and keep you from BEING PRESENT. It becomes self perpetuating and it's hard to break the cycle. The result is that the PRESENCE that attracted you into the relationship in the first place, suddenly seems to ONLY exist outside of it. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When two can share this presence it's powerful...and when it's tasted the first time it's mysterious and amazing and addictive. The world comes alive. It's that space we share with someone, that give's us the ability to love ourselves and to see that love reflected through the eyes of another. It doesn't have to be lovers. It can be any two people with any two energies. Two friends, the Healer and Healed, Mom or Dad, Sister or Brother, two complete strangers... even these "<a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/01/identity-ego-and-shadow.html">identities</a>" are irrelevant. Any of us can be present with anyone at anytime...right? Be present, and share a smile in the grocery store. Be present, and ask someone about their day. Be present, and hear their words. Be present and feel someone's touch. Just listening without judgement is being present. Interacting without concern of how something relates to you is being present.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Is it really this simple? It seems that Love is anywhere <b>I</b> truly <b>AM</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>BE the love you seek. BE that presence you seek.</b> The hardest thing is <u>letting go</u> of the expectation that anyone other than you will BE there too...the fear that no one will show up. So instead there are checklists and conditions and.. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Let go... and BE pleasantly surprised.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091352014-06-18T10:31:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Serotonin Balance - Serotonin and Candida<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my case, I think I was basically serotonin deficient for most of my adult life. I didn't know it of course, I thought it's what "normal" was. We'll not really..it was "normal" for me, and I wondered what "normal" was like for other people that "made it look easy" to me. I now know that there really is no "normal". After my anxiety and awakening, which I believe now (in retrospect with a lot analysis and study) was a radical and sudden restructuring of many of the chemicals in my endocrine system. This radical shift also changed my moods, outlook, behavior patterns and more. After the anxiety part of the phase, I made an appointment with a psychiatrist a couple weeks later. After telling him my symptoms he put me on a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), which I took for a while. After I got off of that med, I thought maybe I should try supplementing with some over the counter supplements, which I tried. In the course of doing that I have discovered a few things.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A. Even over the counter supplements can also be powerful. They can alter serotonin balance in some cases just as dramatically and change thought patterns, moods etc.. sometimes this works great...and sometimes not for the better.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You've probably noticed that many of the psychiatric medications advertised on TV also say something to the effect of "you may experience anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide etc..." Serotonin, as I've learned is a balance.. so there is a sweet spot that has to be hit. Too much or too little serotonin can be a problem. The psychiatrist is essentially using their intuition, education and judgement to (not blood testing, in my case) A. determine what chemical a person may need to boost and B. what amount of the medicine the person may need. However, if the med overshoots the sweet spot, that person could find themselves instead of experiencing calm and peace...find themselves in a state of dread, fear, depression and worse as the serotonin levels go too far past the sweet spot. (This could also happen because of drug interactions.) I have also learned about this delicate balance by my own mistake of overshooting the sweet spot with over the counter supplements. It's not fun... (in extreme cases it can even be fatal.)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Side note: Doctors are now working to <a href="http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsArticle.aspx?articleid=1695264">develop blood tests</a> for determining brain chemicals and more that may be imbalanced.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Also, serotonin and candida also have an inverse relationship. So if a person has candida, they are also likely to have lowered serotonin. Serotonin, in turn, also <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16157477">actually fights</a> candida or inhibits it's growth. Some doctors are even beginning to investigate using SSRI drugs to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12589952">fight fungal (candida) infections</a>.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">From my experience, adding probiotics and fighting candida will also most likely improve anybody's ability to produce serotonin (90% of which is produced in the gut). So, if a person is also supplementing with serotonin boosting meds or supplements the situation should be monitored closely. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So what does <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome">serotonin syndrome</a> or serotonin excess feel like?</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As the sweet spot was overshot I started to have acid reflux (an old symptom of low serotonin), general feeling of sexual frustration (serotonin is involved in sexual function) mood changes from happy to aggravated, frustrated or depressed growing steadily worse. I also started to have insomnia, muscle twitching and lack of appetite and lowered blood pressure (dizzy when standing up). Serotonin is also involved in appetite and every meal produces more serotonin...so if a person (me, in this case) overshoots the sweet spot it's also hard to eat for a while because every meal puts a person back in the zone of "too much" serotonin</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So I was a little embarrassed after I realized what I had done..but I figure at least it was a learning experience and hopefully anybody that reads this will benefit.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here are some symptoms of serotonin excess (from wikipedia):</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><ul style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Cognitive">Cognitive effects</a></b>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headache" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Headache">headache</a>, agitation, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomania" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hypomania">hypomania</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_confusion" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Mental confusion">mental confusion</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinations" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hallucinations">hallucinations</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coma" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Coma">coma</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_nervous_system" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Autonomic nervous system">Autonomic effects</a></b>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivering" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Shivering">shivering</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweating" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Sweating">sweating</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthermia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hyperthermia">hyperthermia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hypertension">hypertension</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachycardia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Tachycardia">tachycardia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausea" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Nausea">nausea</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diarrhea" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Diarrhea">diarrhea</a>.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_nervous_system" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Somatic nervous system">Somatic effects</a></b>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myoclonus" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Myoclonus">myoclonus</a> (muscle twitching), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreflexia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hyperreflexia">hyperreflexia</a> (manifested by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonus" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Clonus">clonus</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremor" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Tremor">tremor</a>.</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In my case, my symptoms were fairly mild, but still disturbing. It took about a week to fully dissipate. The most notable part was the change in my mental outlook. For me this underscores the importance of balancing the physical body AND our brain chemicals too. While yoga and meditation, sound therapy etc.. are super helpful (and play a big role balancing brain chemicals), I have found that balancing the body is equally important. In my case, that has involved working on my digestive health using probiotics in the gut (where serotonin is made) and eliminating things that are known to aggravate digestive health like sugars and glutens.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here are some of the supplements I experimented with:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>5htp:</b> these seem to be fairly mild as far as serotonin boosting, but caused acid reflux problems for me. (serotonin in the stomach can <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20359130">stimulate acid</a> depending on the balance.)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Gabatrol: NOT RECOMMENDED </b>I got this as a sample in a health food store and it made me feel great initially. However, later my moods started to shift. After some research, I found that it contains "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenibut">phenibut</a>" (it's listed as phenyl-gaba on their label..which I assumed was like <a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-464-GABA%20(GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC%20ACID).aspx?activeIngredientId=464&activeIngredientName=GABA%20(GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC%20ACID)">GABA</a>..it's not.) It also has Kanna a powerful herb that may also act as an SSRI. For me, this supplement seemed too strong to take daily and I later learned could be potentially addictive due to the phenibut. <i>Google: <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=phenibut+withdrawal&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=phenibut+withdrawal+symptoms&revid=862650640&rls=en">phenibut withdrawal</a>.</i></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Tryptophan: </b>This is the precursor to 5htp, but works better for some. It's an amino acid.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>L-Theanine:</b> This is also an amino acid said to boost gaba and alpha waves. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17182482">L-theanine</a> is in Green Tea too.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">We also produce serotonin from protein rich foods, sunlight, exercise and thinking happy thoughts! (pretty much everything enjoyable) Our body knows how to adjust pretty well for these :) I think the main issue for me (recently) was that I really didn't <u>need</u> the supplements. So, while supplements can be helpful, for now I am ending my experiments and sticking to the basics.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">PS> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Mood-Cure-Program-Emotions-Today/dp/0142003646">This book</a> also covers more of this in depth...</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091362014-06-13T13:15:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Consciousness controls brain chemicals, Brain chemicals control consciousness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I guess that most everyone intuitively understands that we can alter our brains and our perception of consciousness with chemicals, food, herbs and more. Society has embraced drinking alcohol as a socially acceptable form of altering consciousness. Prescription depression and anxiety meds, have increased an amazing amount in the last few decades. Also, there are tons of vitamin supplements and chemical derivatives available at health stores everywhere, to improve mood. So, this business of altering human consciousness with chemicals is HUGE. Why is that? Because everyone wants to be happy and we also intuitively understand that that comes from within, so everyone is trying different chemicals and lifestyles to get there. Right? The trouble is that these are all artificial and temporary. Also, the body seeks balance so altering the bodies natural chemistry with outside chemicals will usually create a reaction and sometimes later imbalance, which can lead to addictions or dependency. The body is designed to adjust. It keeps us alive! We are all seeking happiness and balance, and that balance of the nervous system and endocrine system equals bliss. <u>I believe, this blissful balance is how we were designed to feel.</u></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>WHAT I CHOOSE TO THINK WILL ACTUALLY ALTER MY BRAIN CHEMICALS!</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The way we think, also controls brain chemicals. In other words, HOW I THINK about things, REACT to situations, CHOOSE to PERCEIVE (my limited version of reality) actually alters brain chemicals. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In large part much of this is up to each of us. <u>We each have control. We each have a much greater degree of choice with our physical reactions than we give credit for.</u> I AM the driver of my ship.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Physiologically speaking, I am both the producer and experiencer of stress <i>(cortisol, adrenaline etc...)</i></b></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Physiologically speaking, I am both the producer and experiencer of BLISS, JOY and EUPHORIA. <i>(serotonin, dopamine, anandamide..etc)</i></b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Coming out of my deepest anxiety I started to become aware of how my brain chemicals, hormones and my body reacted to my thoughts. A phrase that came to me was "wear a smile on your heart". I began to use that as a way of reminding myself to tune my brain to the good vibes within myself. Usually that also involved putting the focus on others instead of focusing on myself. For me it was like tuning into a radio station, and I could feel it when the frequency "clicked".</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It has been scientifically proven that by thinking happy thoughts people have increased their serotonin levels (the "happy" hormone). In fact, it's one of the top ways psychologists help people find balance via talk therapy. It's also common knowledge that <a href="http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/180/2/99.full">stress levels decrease serotonin</a>. By working through faulty thought patterns it's possible to release stresses, come to different realizations (about myself and others) and increase happiness. Of course, this happiness isn't just mental, it's an actual physiological response.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So how can a person find this balance with consciousness alone? Well, I personally think that meditation and yoga are key to finding a place of balance in the body. Meditation gives a space of stillness and distance to "see" our thoughts before they become reactions in the physical body, and yoga is a great way to essentially work out stresses that have built up into the physical body (and respond to future stress). There is also a lot more evidence these days that <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/use-your-mind-change-your-brain/201305/is-your-brain-meditation">meditation can actually balance brain chemicals</a>...which of course have a huge impact on the way I feel and "see" the world. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">My experiences also tell me that sound therapy also has a direct effect on brain chemicals. I have noticed reactions within myself that seem to be boosts in serotonin, and endorphins in response to sound therapy. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">All of these (yoga, meditation, and sound therapy ...<a href="https://www.moodcure.com/">and food</a>) can also RAISE AWARENESS of the link between our mind and body..and give the space to react, adjust and choose the physical reactions we desire. This awareness, really seems to be the key for me...to just raise my own level of awareness inside of myself and from there simply choose the patterns that serve me. For much of my life, I just acted on knee jerk patterns and reactions..patterns and reactions that I just thought were "me" and that I thought reflected my preferences. I can now see that wasn't exactly the case. I have learned more about this (and how I practice) that I'll share it in a future post..</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Here is part of an article about scientific testing that was done to determine the effect of thoughts on serotonin levels.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351</a> (page 4 and 5)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 30px;">The article by Perreau-Linck and colleagues<sup style="line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class=" bibr popnode tag_hotlink tag_tooltip" co-class="co-refbox" co-rid="r36-1" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/#r36-1" id="__tag_309476432" rid="r36-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f4a8b; text-decoration: none;">36</a></sup> (page 430 of this issue) provides an initial lead about one possible strategy for raising brain serotonin. Using positron emission tomography, they obtained a measure of serotonin synthesis in the brains of healthy participants who underwent positive, negative and neutral mood inductions. Reported levels of happiness were positively correlated and reported levels of sadness were negatively correlated with serotonin synthesis in the right anterior cingulate cortex. The idea that alterations in thought, either self-induced or due to psychotherapy, can alter brain metabolism is not new. Numerous studies have demonstrated changes in blood flow in such circumstances. However, reports </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 30px;">related to specific transmitters are much less common. In one recent study, meditation was reported to increase release of dopamine.<sup style="line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class=" bibr popnode tag_hotlink tag_tooltip" co-class="co-refbox" co-rid="r37-1" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/#r37-1" id="__tag_139161616" rid="r37-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f4a8b; text-decoration: none;">37</a></sup> <b>The study by Perreau-Linck and colleagues<sup style="line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class=" bibr popnode tag_hotlink tag_tooltip" co-class="co-refbox" co-rid="r36-1" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/#r36-1" id="__tag_309476434" rid="r36-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f4a8b; text-decoration: none;">36</a></sup> is the first to report that self-induced changes in mood can influence serotonin synthesis.</b> <b>This raises the possibility that the interaction between serotonin synthesis and mood may be 2-way, with serotonin influencing mood and mood influencing serotonin. </b>Obviously, more work is needed to answer questions in this area. For example, is the improvement in mood associated with psychotherapy accompanied by increases in serotonin synthesis? If more precise information is obtained about the mental states that increase serotonin synthesis, will this help to enhance therapy techniques?</span> </span></blockquote><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>As a man thinks, so is he.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>-Proverbs</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>The present moment is filled with joy and happiness, if you are attentive you will see it.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>-Thich Nhat Hanh</b></span></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091372014-06-05T01:45:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Notes to Self<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i>Reminders to myself.</i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Notes to Self:</b></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">if you're looking for the answer that fits your story, you may</span></b></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">miss the one that fits the problem.</span></b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Freedom isn't measured by what I've obtained, but by what I'm willing to let go of.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't look outside. Look inside. -- Don't analyze. Notice.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It takes a lot of work to live a fantasy. It takes no work to live reality.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The truth is self evident. There is no struggle is seeing it. The real struggle is in not seeing it.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Question your thoughts. Be especially aware of the level of </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">thought you allow without questioning.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You don't have to believe everything you think.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ask. Don't Assume.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">By the time spirituality becomes religion the path is lost. You can't learn spirituality by rote any more than you can learn about yourself by studying someone else.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Linear time is a false narrative. Self identity (ego) is a false narrative.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Creating art with the intention of economic expectation is to invite fear into the process of creation.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Choose life.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Humility is a strength. Vulnerability (and honesty) is an asset because it bypasses the ego.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A lie is a collaborative effort. Believe nothing (about yourself or the world) and the truth will come to you.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The danger of externalizing good and evil is that we seek destroy it, which is actually evil.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be honest with yourself. If you don't think you are bullshitting yourself, you may be bullshitting yourself.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The great deception of the ego mind is not that spiritual transformation or transcendence, or connection to pure love is unavailable, but that it's available any other time than now. Don't postpone joy!</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There is no need to live up to someone else's expectation of who you aren't. (Even if you are infatuated with them and want to.)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It's hard to change if you think you are right.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">To become a servant of money is to fear lack. To serve love is to invite abundance.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You will always feel the loneliness until you allow yourself to see others for who they are, not who I want them to be. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be the love you seek.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Just BE the light. Nothing to figure out. Lean not to my own understanding. Let go of the ego mind.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When I think I know, I block the flow.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Life force energy (prana, chi) and psychological blockages (issues and delusions) cannot co-habitate.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Judgement is fear. Judgement of others is fear that their issues will prevent love in a relationship with them. Most, if not all fear is rooted in a desire for love. Self judgement is fear that my issues will prevent me from accepting love, or being love-able.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Physiologically speaking the person that produces stress is the same person that experiences it.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">By seeking to define yourself (create an ego) you may also be inviting others to define me (in ways I don't like).</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't use pride to cover cowardice..or the inability to take action.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It is unrealistic that everyone should like me. If I think that, it may be that I don't like myself.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It is only from sharing about myself from a place of sincere and deep honesty that I can help anyone. It has to be for them (from a place of pure love) NOT me. For their spirit NOT my ego.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Sometimes I am the student. Sometimes I am the teacher. Wisdom is knowing the difference. (I can't do this from a place of ego.)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be honest. Be honest first with myself. Be open and honest with others.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't be discouraged if the path you're on doesn't seem to be working as planned. The thought that I know the right path is a self deception.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't complicate simplicity. (This is a function of the ego mind.) Choose Love.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There is a solution to every problem. The problem doesn't really exist. it's only my inability to see the truth.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There is no enemy. External conflict is just reacting to anothers' internal conflict. This is illogical.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Anytime you have a judgmental thought about something or someone turn it around and apply it to yourself. That is most likely the source anyway.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Your relationship to the world is your relationship to yourSelf.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There is a physical energy to transformation. Kundalini is the rising of life force energy as it cleanses out false ideas and ego concepts.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In order to make sense of chaos we attach ourselves to concepts to feel grounded. This is not reality. This is how the ego forms.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If you want to change something, then set out to change it. If you want to change everything, change yourself.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The only thing to conquer is yourself.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If it serves people it will grow, if it doesn't, let it go.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">To change your life, change yourself.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The ego believes it has a goal. it's goal is self preservation, amassing material wealth and planning for a future it believes to exist. Don't believe this, stay in the moment!!</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't complicate simplicity. (This is a function of the ego mind.) Choose Love.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There is a solution to every problem. The problem doesn't really exist. It is only my inability to see the truth.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">All fear is motivated by the fear that you won't know love.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Let go of what you are holding on to and you will find what you seek.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It's never not now. The future and the past are delusions colored by our own perception.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You always have a choice. Choose Love. Choose Joy. Choose Forgiveness.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Love yourself and forgive yourself. Compassion and love for others originates with compassion and love for yourself.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The scariest demons you will face are in your own psyche.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't be to concerned with trying to figure things out. Lean not to your own understanding. It's Ok to not know.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Help others. Be pure in motive and intention. Examine your heart (to be sure it's for them and not you.)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Put Love first and everything else will fall into place.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">See beauty in a person (or situation) - Interact with beauty. See ugliness in a person (or situation) - Interact with ugliness.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Focus on the good and the good gets better. The magic is in the moment.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Your greatest liability is the belief that you know the truth. Question your perceptions.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Do I have the courage to fail? Do I have the courage to succeed? Do I have the courage to let go of these concepts and simply BE?</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Dogma is an illusion fueled by fear. Fear is the enemy. Love always wins.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Happiest moment for the Ego: the moment just before getting what you want. Happiest moment for the Spirit. Every one, because you realize you have always had it all.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Want nothing. Have Everything.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Expecting the reactions of others to complete me, or fulfill me will always lead to disappointment.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be honest about what I'm learning (with myself). Pretending within myself that I have made some grand discovery in order to get love will just ruin my energy. Be Humble. Keep it Real!</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Do the work, but don't get attached to the outcome.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'm only hurting myself by getting upset about circumstances.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Misery loves company, but bliss is contagious. Be strong, be of good cheer!</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ways to keep your energy up: Be honest with myself and others. Acknowledge my humanity (even things I want to hide).</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be the love you seek.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It's hard to speak the truth if I don't know what that is. Only I can know my truth. Look deep inside to know what that is.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The path you're on IS the path. Your exactly where you need to be. Walk by faith.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You don't have to believe everything you think.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Talk less. Do more.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">BE happy.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Everything is Self referential. Pay attention to how things, people situations make you feel. Ask why? That seems to be how to understand myself the best.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You may not know the answers, but being mentally clear may help you ask the right questions.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't focus on the experience. Just BE the Change.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Be careful and aware that when helping others that I am not seeking to establish my "superiority". WE are all equal.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Don't seek wholeness in other relationships. It will always lead to disappointment. Your wholeness is within.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ask yourself why does this topic, conversation or situation affect me (positively or negatively) what part of my Self? (be aware of the physical response in the body)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Most of the things I react to: people, things situations - have some relation to the energy with me. Everything is internal.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Intellect in the service of ego is dangerous indeed.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Music gives voice to the soul.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Peace will only occur when humanity realizes and acknowledges that liberation is internal.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Morality IS Self respect.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The pathway to Peace is paved with self respect.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Some days I feel I am enlightened. Then I learn a valuable lesson and realize how much I don't know. I feel most enlightened after realizing how much I don't know.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Fear and uncertainty sometimes mark the path to liberation showing us the Way via our mistakes. Face Fear (and watch it disappear).</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">It is easy to be humble in the light of truth.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Anger and Violence is a sign of weakness.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Be grateful for the strength of others. Many times those I perceive as weak are strong in ways that I am not.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you...and a way for me to always remember. </i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091382014-06-03T15:35:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Beast in the Yeast: Candida controls your brain!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Sounds extreme right? Well, maybe it is...but not by much. I've posted a lot here about how probiotics and gut health affect the brain. Science is discovering new connections between these two things and I am seeing more about it every day. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I have noticed in myself the connection, between "candida cleansing phases" and mental and emotional symptoms. In fact, I am nearly convinced that a large part of the anxiety I have described in this blog was (at least in part) caused by one of these "candida cleansing phases". </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So what does one of these phases feel like? My symptoms have ranged from flu like symptoms, to rashes and allergy like symptoms. (Candida can also the culprit behind many sinus infections and common rashes and infections like athletes foot, jock itch or yeast infections.) I have also experienced sore joints and muscle spasms/twitches. Muscle knots soreness and stiffness (seems to also be connected to repressed tensions in the muscles. In one of my first candida die off phases, I experienced extremely sore knees (which I never had before). This passed after a couple of days, but i have noticed some joint soreness can come and go in these times too. <a href="http://www.tinnitusjournal.com/detalhe_artigo.asp?id=251">Tinnitus</a>.. dry eyes... Also, following a cleansing I have felt the deepest calm, the most peaceful, centered meditations and the feeling that my mind was completely clear of distracting thoughts and I was finally free just to BE. The candida also usually makes it's way out of the body when going to the bathroom. Sometimes this could be peeing out yeast, which usually stings a bit and looks a bit like peeing a beer into the toilet. In the case of intestinal candida, it also comes out in poo. It can look white and after my worst anxiety I passed a huge white mass that had stringy almost tentacle like structures coming off of it. Of course it freaked me out, but I was glad to get that out of me! (Sorry to be so graphic, but I think it's important to be honest about all the details.) There <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8376/10-signs-you-have-candida-overgrowth-what-to-do-about-it.html">are many symptoms</a> that can go with Candida, they often get worse temporarily BEFORE they get better.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">These cleansings seem to come in phases too. Sometimes it could be due to a new food regimen, or from trying a new anti-fungal treatment. Sometimes these also seem to happen seemingly randomly. I have noticed though that they also seem to occur with changes in season and with moon cycles. I also read that candida had feeding cycles related to the full moon. Could this be the link to the term "lunacy"?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/ngIAq_uwqQQ/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/ngIAq_uwqQQ&source=uds">
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/ngIAq_uwqQQ&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngIAq_uwqQQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngIAq_uwqQQ</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">In addition to the physical symptoms, I have also noticed the emotional and psychological symptoms. For me these have ranged from mild aggravation, to anger, to sadness, to fear and dread. Sometimes now I am aware enough to notice these feelings are probably related to what my physiology is going through, but there have also been times that I have been convinced that "so and so" was just being a total asshole. Later, I might have a telltale sign that this was a "candida cleansing phase" and then I was able to look at the situation a little more clearly. Of course the key is to be aware of these detox induced moods in the present moment, and to realize they aren't necessarily reality. Slowly, I have learned to try and pace myself, knowing that A. I didn't want to overdo it and experience overwhelming physical or emotional symptoms and B. that the body also cleanses at it's own pace and that consistency (not speed) is key.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Our body is a collection of cells. There are more fungal and bacterial cells in the human body than there are human cells. We are a community of balance.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Fungal cells also communicate with each other.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Paul Stamets - Ted talk on fungus</span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/XI5frPV58tY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/XI5frPV58tY&source=uds">
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/XI5frPV58tY&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Candida is a fungus. Does it communicate globally/systemically within the organism? I have noticed when I soak my feet in Kombucha I felt reactions in my nasal passages. Also, when I ate things that were anti-fungal I felt itching in my feet.. It seems that my physical reactions to candida die off are global and nearly immediate (ie.. i could eat something and then feel itching in my feet. How could it react there so fast?)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Bonnie Bassler - Bacteria talk to each other</span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/TVfmUfr8VPA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/TVfmUfr8VPA&source=uds">
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/TVfmUfr8VPA&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVfmUfr8VPA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVfmUfr8VPA</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So if the candida can control our brains, what are they telling us?</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Maybe they could be telling us to eat certain foods (usually things like starches and sugars...comfort foods).</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Maybe they could also be triggering emotional responses that stimulate chemicals in our body. Fear and stress responses generally release chemicals like cortisol, and adrenaline which also release sugars into the blood stream and also feed the candida temporarily. There are even studies that show that some people can become addicted to stress because of these chemical reactions.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Addicted to Stress?</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3025717/work-smart/do-you-have-a-neurochemical-dependence-on-stress">http://www.fastcompany.com/3025717/work-smart/do-you-have-a-neurochemical-dependence-on-stress</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mequilibrium/stress-addiction_b_3604754.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mequilibrium/stress-addiction_b_3604754.html</a></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In general I have also noticed the healing process proceeds backwards from my most recent symptoms to ones that I remembered from years earlier. The symptoms would always gets worse before they get better, as the body processes toxins and moves back towards balance.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(here's a great book about getting rid of Candida)</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The Body Ecology Diet:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435">http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091392014-05-24T09:38:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Questioning myself<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">greatest asset</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> of human consciousness is also our greatest A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">chilles heel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. The human ability to create. Unfortunately I have the ability to create story lines that are complete crap. They don't serve my life, in truth. They serve some aspect of my ego...my desires my attachment to future outcomes...or a desire to see the past in a certain light. The truth is, that we never know the absolute truth...I can never totally know the ins and outs, and inner workings of the other peoples minds that I am intertwined with on a daily basis. Everybody has their own motivating factors.. and when it's all mixed up it becomes a stew...and it can be confusing.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">-------</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I've had to work through my own delusions (and still have to), day by day. I am all ways questioning myself. There are usually several possible ways to view a situation. If I am attracted to a particular view, why? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Does it serve my ego? (does it help establish my identity) </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Does it let me off the hook? (allowing me to avoid fear of facing myself) </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Does it establish my own sense of importance? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">(even if it's falsely assuming that other people are against me). </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Does it give me a sense of purpose? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">(even if it means struggling against the world).</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Do I KNOW all of the facts? Is "my view" true?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">etc...</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Jesus, Buddha, Moses and countless other spiritual (psychological) teachers have all said basically the same things. What they all amount to is essentially this: <u>You people are crazy.</u></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><u><br></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Yes, it seems that they were essentially all telling us that the common self-centered human view of reality is incorrect. That our limited, self serving viewpoints actually can do us much more harm than good.... and that they cause stress and block us from our true potential. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Unfortunately, over time, identity can become so aligned with these delusions that in order to let go of the delusions, it can also mean letting go of identity. The very essence of my concept of self. No matter how you slice it, that is not easy. It requires self forgiveness, self love and it's really helpful to have the understanding and help of those close by too. (I needed it.)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">It can be hard to admit that a path long traveled, was incorrect. It's hard to admit that my motivations and intentions didn't match my desired outcome. Sometimes it's only by achieving the goal that I can see it wasn't really what I was after. The only path to freedom though is to burn through those delusions one by one, and with each step come closer and closer to the truth within myself. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">(Ultimately it's all for love, isn't it?)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">In my view, the future and past are to a large extent delusions... Why? Because they are colored by my viewpoint and my attachments and expectations, and story lines of a narrative that I desired. The only true clarity is in the present moment.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">We all dream and create, it's part of the beauty of life and humanity.. Now, before and during the dream...always ask the important questions: Who does this serve? What is my intention? Am I still on the path of truth (love) ...without stress?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">-----</span></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i>"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past,worry about the future, or anticipate troubles,<br>but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."<br><br><b>- Buddha</b></i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="bqQuoteLink" style="line-height: 26px;">Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.</span></i></span></span></span><br><div class="bq-aut" style="font-weight: bold; margin-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> -</i></span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jesuschris162730.html" style="text-decoration: none;" title="view quote"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><i>Jesus</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"> </span></a></span><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><span class="bqQuoteLink" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 26px;"><i>See, I have set before you <u>this day</u> life and good, death and evil... I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore <u>choose life</u>.</i></span></span><br><div class="bq-aut" style="font-weight: bold; margin-top: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>-Moses</i></span></div>
<br><br>
</div>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091402014-05-23T14:29:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Favorite Probiotics<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">There is a <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=importance+of+gut+probiotics&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">mountain of evidence</a> that probiotics and the bacteria in our systems are extremely important. We are composed of <a href="http://discovermagazine.com/galleries/zen-photo/m/microbiome">10x more bacteria</a> than <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-humans-carry-more-bacterial-cells-than-human-ones/">human cells</a>. The bacteria balance in the intestines helps regulate our <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=probiotics+immune+system&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">immune</a> system and <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=probiotics+mental+health&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">mental states</a>. I have tried a lot of different probiotic brands in the last 3 years. Some seem to be very powerful (in the way they affect me...digestively and mentally) and some I can't tell any difference at all. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here are the best ones I've tried:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">1. <a href="http://www.natren.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=N">Natren Probiotics</a> - I have tried the <a href="http://www.natren.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=N&Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=018">Healthy Start</a> probiotics and they are strong and effective. There is a definite change in my body and <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=probiotics+mental+health&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">mental well being</a>, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">when I am taking them</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">. I just discovered these a couple of months ago.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">2. <a href="http://www.theralac.com/default.aspx">Theralac</a> - Before I discovered the Natren, I took a few rounds of the <a href="http://www.theralac.com/default.aspx">Theralac</a>, these are also very strong probiotics! They suggest taking them for two weeks straight and then alternating days after that.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">3. <a href="http://www.renewlife.com/">Renew Life</a> - This is a distant third to the two above, but these are probably the most widely available. These are also much milder and I have taken them daily with no problems.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>(It's probably not a bad idea to rotate these occasionally too, since some have different strains of bacteria)</i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In addition to the pill probiotics I also like to <a href="http://www.rejuvenative.com/products/Vegi-Delite.html?gclid=CPO37-PTwr4CFXMA7Aod0lQAlQ">cultured veggies</a> and probiotic drinks like <a href="http://kevita.com/">Kevita</a>. I'd suggest monitoring your body's reaction to all of these probiotics. I have noticed that they tend to be dehydrating for me, so be sure to <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/07/hydrate-drink-water.html">drink a lot of water</a>. As the good bacteria pushes out the bad bacteria I have also noticed various <a href="http://blog.probacto.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-herxheimer-candida-die-off/">healing reactions</a>, which are usually a temporary worsening of symptoms ranging from digestive upset to skin rashes, to mood swings. After those pass though, the physical and mental improvements are always worth it!</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091412014-05-12T10:56:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Serotonin - Anxiety, Depression and Nerve regulation and how Candida, Ayahuasca and Marijuana may be related<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I made an important discovery for myself last week. I have have been getting off of an SSRI drug (paroxetine) that I had taken for anxiety. I was on a small dose (10mg) I had been weaning off of it for a few months, gradually, to lessen the effects of withdrawal. My doctor told me to do this and I also have read a lot of other people's experiences with this, in chat rooms etc. and how difficult it was getting off of these meds for many people. SSRI drugs, which are commonly prescribed for anxiety and depression, boost the levels of serotonin in the system. Serotonin is our feel good chemical. However, it works on a lot more than just the brain. Serotonin regulates nerve activity throughout the body. Here are just a few things it works to regulate:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Gastric rhythms (constipation, diarrhea)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Body Temperature (cold hands, feet)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Appetite</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Sleep Patterns</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Affects memory and learning</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">As I was getting off of the paroxetine (paxil) I had been taking, I thought it would be a good idea to supplement with some natural alternatives. Just a few weeks before I had gotten a sample from the health food store of a supplement called Gabatrol. It said on the bottle, that it was for releasing tension and relaxing and it seemed to work well. I was familiar with most of the ingredients on the bottle. It had GABA, Taurine, L-theanine... and other common amino's for brain function. It also had an herb I had never heard of called Kanna (Sceletium Tortuosum). I was curious, about Kanna and I also wanted to to research a little more before I started taking it. There wasn't much on the internet, but what I found was all positive. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Kanna Articles:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/kanna-worlds-most-powerful-antidepressant-herb-4912278.html">http://voices.yahoo.com/kanna-worlds-most-powerful-antidepressant-herb-4912278.html</a></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-mesembrine.htm">http://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-mesembrine.htm</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">It grows in South Africa (a succulent plant), and it's leaves are chewed and give a sense of wellbeing. Recent studies also suggested that it may have natural SSRI properties. It boosted the amount of serotonin in the system and had helped people in alleviating anxiety and depression. It all sounded good to me! So, I decided I also wanted to get some of the leaves themselves, not just take it as an additive to the Gabatrol. I found some on <a href="http://bouncingbearbotanicals.com/">Bouncing Bear Botanicals</a> and started taking it. Also, at the same time I had weened myself down to a quarter of a pill (of the 10mg size) of paroxetine (paxil) I had taken. Each time I had weened down I noticed some "darkness" for a few days. This "darkness" usually, came in the form of thoughts of anxiety, judgements about my life, failed relationships, financial struggles etc.. all the usual stressors for me. I had learned to just allow the thoughts to "be" to some extent, because I had encountered them so many times in my <u>candida detox</u> and while weening off of these drugs. I knew they would pass, so I tried not to take them too seriously, knowing that it was just the chemicals in my brain adjusting. Of course, even knowing all of that it is still hard to not take them as being "real" at times. So, I was also learning about some other natural supplements for boosting serotonin too. These included 5htp, L-tryptophan and St. John's Wort. As I weened off of the final bit of the paroxetine, I started taking 5htp, the Gabatrol, and adding in some of the Kanna. Each time I took the Kanna I felt great! I thought, "I'll stay on this regimen, for a while, certainly these natural supplements couldn't boost my serotonin higher than the prescription meds, could they?" Besides I figured more may be OK temporarily. Although, I had seen something about "serotonin syndrome", which is when there is too much serotonin in the body. I didn't think this could be a possibility since I had been on the lowest dose of paroxetine available. (There are prescribed doses at least 5 times as strong). I continued on this regimen for a couple more weeks feeling really good. I was also dedicated to getting back to my regular everyday yoga practice. So, I was also doing yoga everyday, followed by "toning" or "chanting" with Tibetan Bowls and then meditating for 30 minutes. For a few days I was feeling absolutely transcendent, relaxed and happy!! ...and then the "darkness" started to creep back in. "Geez", I thought, "I am doing all of the right things here (supplements + yoga + meditation), where is this darkness, anxiety and depression coming from?.. I thought this was all long behind me!" I kept on for a few days, and fluctuated between the really happy moods and the darker moods. Gradually though, my moods started to become darker. At the same time I started reading a book about all of the different brain chemicals, amino acids and how they affect our moods and thinking. (It's called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mood-Cure-Charge-Emotions-Supplements-ebook/dp/B000QCTPP8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398869052&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mood+cure">"The Mood Cure"</a>, and I highly recommend it). From reading the book I could see that I had been low in serotonin probably long before my worst anxiety experience. I still couldn't understand why I would be feeling this darkness in my psyche. My mind started to explore more remote possibilities, "Had I sinned against the universe?", "Were the planets in some weird alignment?", "Was this Karma?". Then I remembered reading an article from just a few days earlier. My friend, Mara, had posted an <u><a href="http://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/ayahuasca-drug">article from Elle magazine</a></u> about people taking Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca, is a brew made in the Amazon and consists of a certain leaf and root, which is boiled and ingested. It creates a psychedelic trip, that helps many people work through life issues and ultimately experience greater peace and realization of their selves. Incidentally, although I had never done Ayahuasca, my most intense <u><a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-awakening-in-nutshell.html">anxiety (and awakening)</a> </u>very closely resembled what I had read and seen about these Ayahuasca trips. As you may have noticed from reading this blog, I am also interested in the <u><a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/search?q=yeast">connection of our gut (digestive health)</a></u> and the brain.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> A few of the quotes from a Dr. in <a href="http://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/ayahuasca-drug">the article</a> caught my attention:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span></span><br><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">"Blood sampling of 13 longtime users (of Ayahuasca) and 10 controls found that users have elevated serotonin transporters in the brain for two to four weeks following ceremonies, which may indicate an increase in the neurotransmitter. Low levels of transporters are associated with alcoholism, depression, and anxiety disorders. “I find it fascinating that ayahuasca may actually reverse this long-term biochemistry, by affecting the brain’s bioplasticity,”</span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">and also:</span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">"Grob speculates that, in addition to acting on the central nervous system, the hallucinogen affects our so-called gut instincts—what some call our second, primal brain. “It seems to be activating neurological receptors in the gastrointestinal system, which is filled with <u><a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/innervation">serotonergic innervation</a></u>, and may be involved with very deep and primal levels of consciousness.” </span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">For those of you, like me, who have no clue what "serotonergic innervation" means, let me tell you. After a Google search I discovered that "Serotinergic Innervation" is when serotonin is used for activating nerve response in a certain area of the body. This happens in our digestive system. It also happens in our ears and could be the culprit in tinnitus (ringing in the ears)...something I experienced after heavy phases of candida detoxing. It has also been indicated even in acid reflux (something I also experienced). I thought, "Hmmm.. seems like I am seeing a pattern. I have experienced, acid reflux, IBD like digestive issues, anxiety, cold hands and feet and more...and it looks like they are all related to serotonin levels." I also though about the connection to candida and discovered that Candida, because it affects the intestines and digestion also inhibits serotonin. <u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin">90% of our serotonin is produced in the gut.</a> </u>Conversely, serotonin can ALSO fight fungal infections like Candida, and doctors are also using SSRI drugs to fight fungal infections. (This was all getting really interesting to me and I felt like I was starting to see a bigger picture).</span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">Backtrack a bit, and remember I was also still feeling this "darkness" to some extent and it had inspired me to continue reading " The Mood Cure" book, which I found fascinating. The author was talking about different nutritional sources of serotonin. Serotonin is synthesized by our bodies from the Amino Acid tryptophan. Nutritionally, tryptophan is found in high amounts in proteins. Turkey is famous for it's high amount of tryptophan, which leads to feeling really mellow after Thanksgiving dinner. It's also found in in other proteins. The author also mentioned that vegetarians can get it from nutritional yeast. As I read that I was thinking, "yahhh.. that sounds good", so I got up and decided to eat some "nootch" as I like to call it. Nuritional yeast also has high amounts of all the amino acids and other essential nutrients. Nutritionally, it's a power house. I ate a few spoonfuls enjoying the nutty, cheezy flavors melting in my mouth. First, I felt good enjoying the flavors and felt a slight euphoria...which quickly began to turn. Suddenly, I was feeling uneasy. I felt nauseous, then I had to poop. My hands and feet were cold, and I started to shiver, my heart was starting to beat faster, my blood pressure felt like it was going higher, like my head would explode. I was having a panic attack!! I hadn't felt like this in over two years!!! Shit!! Then I told myself to calm the fuck down and try to think rationally. I began to think about what I had just read about serotonin and nutritional yeast, and then about all of the serotonin boosting supplements I had been taking, and then I thought of the article on Ayahuasca and how they mentioned that probably one of the more dangerous possibilities was to experience "serotonin syndrome" which is essentially a serotonin overdose. So I Googled it. Lo and behold, there were many of the symptoms I was experiencing. So I tried to stay calm and ride it out. The only "cure" I saw for this syndrome, was to let the serotonin process through the body. So it would just take some time. (Incidentally, these are the same types of symptoms I had felt before from Marijuana induced panic attacks...Turns out marijuana affects the endocrine system too, via the pineal gland, which uses serotonin to produce melatonin...so, is it possible that this throws off the serotonin balance temporarily causing anxiety and paranoia? well..anyway, more on that in a later post). Serotonin syndrome although it's caused by too much serotonin, also mimics the same symptoms of too little serotonin. So here I was experiencing these self induced symptoms from too much serotonin, and they were the same as the symptoms I can remember experiencing throughout my life, and especially in more stressful times.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">Now, I really felt like I might be seeing a clearer picture of what might be a key in all of my previous issues with anxiety and digestive disorders. So I did a little experiment. I felt better the next day, not quite back to normal, but better. I supplemented with a little 5htp. Sure enough the panicked feelings started to come back, I took a walk tried to relax, then later I was overcome by depression and experienced many self loathing thoughts about myself and my life, and was even crying for while. These thoughts were REAL, but they were all caused by this chemical imbalance.</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">So, I quit taking everything. Over the next few days, I felt better and better. I cycled back through, some of the "brain lenses" or viewpoints of my own consciousness. These weren't based on my circumstances, but they felt like it. These also felt like lenses that I had experienced at various times and phases in my life. Going through this process made it real to me how much my brain chemicals affect my mind. It also helped me to realize how much my mind affects my brain chemicals. That my thoughts and perceptions about my life actually tell my body what chemicals to produce. Happiness comes from within, I think everybody intuitively knows that on some level and here I was getting to cycle through some of these "brain lenses" in just a couple of days. I think also in my times of unhappiness, whether it be from certain relationships, stress or career stress, I always wanted to change my circumstances, make more money etc.. when the truth is that would not change a thing about my chemical balance, if I didn't change my MIND and my thoughts first. I knew this intuitively too, as I had succeeded on many levels in life, but it always failed to fill me up the way I expected and hoped.</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">So, as I thought about all of this I theorized that I had chronically low serotonin levels from, being stressed about my own ambitions, being unaware of the origins of my thoughts and from being around stressed out people (i.e negative energy, toxic relationships). I am not saying it was their fault either, it's hard to find a way out of the spiral of negative thoughts that can then affect our brain chemicals. It's a feedback loop. It takes compassion and understanding to deal with and understand when it occurs in others. To be realistic it can take a toll not only on the person experiencing the negativity directly, but also you. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">(Being aware of your own internal systems helps in not adopting this type of sympathetic stress...easier said than done.)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">One of the other takeaways from this is that natural supplements can be extremely effective and in some cases too effective! And also that anyone taking any kind of brain chemical altering substance or drug should be aware of just how much they have the ability to change your moods and even thought patterns. (Tip: Give yourself time and space to experiment with the effects. Tell friends and family members what you are taking and how it might affect you.) </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">Ultimately, there are many factors to finding the right balance. Things like: first returning to chemical balance, giving myself the nutritional support that works and last but certainly not least, learning to react and understand thought patterns and how they can affect the endocrine system. My body is listening to all of my thoughts and reacting at light speed. Thoughts occur at the level of memory and projection. While it (the thinking mind, ego) functions many times in the disguise of "increasing awareness" about your life or situation, the truth is that to be "thinking" is to be outside of the present moment. To be "aware" however is to be absent of thought, and it's in this space of awareness that I have noticed my body breathing a sigh of relief and beginning to find balance again. It's all important to notice and be aware of.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">OK, this was a long post, but it has inspired me to write more on this... and how these things I am experiencing so far, affect our endocrine system and consciousness, the chakras, and overall balance. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;">Some other links related to this post:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 29px;"><br></span></span><a href="http://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/ayahuasca-drug"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Illegal Drugs Ayahuasca - What is Ayahuasca? - ELLE</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2011/172893/">Serotonergic Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease and Its Relevance to Disability</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"> </span></span></span>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165206/">Selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of hypersensitive esophagus</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://chriskresser.com/is-gerd-an-autoimmune-disease">Is GERD an autoimmune disease? SEROTONiN</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/How-chocolate-can-trigger-heartburn">How chocolate can trigger heartburn- Serotonin</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://sponauglewellness.com/wellness-programs/anxiety/anxiety-panic-disorder-causes/">Anxiety Disorder Causes | Serotonin Candida</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.tinnitusjournal.com/detalhe_artigo.asp?id=402">ITJ - The International Tinnitus Journal - Serotonergic Innervation of the Inner Ear: Is It Involved in the General Physiological Control of the Auditory Receptor?</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.puristat.com/braingut/serotonin.aspx">The Brain Gut Connection and the Role of Serotonin</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.remedyspot.com/content/topic/278371-serotonin-some-antidepressants-can-fight-fungus/">http://www.remedyspot.com/content/topic/278371-serotonin-some-antidepressants-can-fight-fungus/</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091422014-04-07T11:59:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Sound Therapy Interview: Brainwave synchronization & taking a vacation from the "thinking" mind.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few weeks ago I talked with Vicy Wilkinson, who is a life coach and business consultant and has created a show on blog talk radio. Her company is <a href="http://www.completelifecoaching.com/">http://www.completelifecoaching.com</a> We talked a bit about sound therapy. Click the play button below to listen to the full interview..(the transcript below starts at 8 minutes into the show.)</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="170" src="https://player.cinchcast.com/?show_id=6196171&platformId=1&assetType=single" width="200"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;"><br></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Interviewer (Vicy Wilkinson)</b>: So I'm here this evening with Jonathan Adams who is a professional musician and travels all over the country playing music. And we're talking to him tonight for the Health and Wellness Series because Jonathan's alter ego I guess you could it is, Sonic Yogi. And I met him through his sister who is a rowing instructor at Greenville Indoor Rowing and I think that Jonathan's story and his talents are amazing. And I got to experience some things just this past weekend that helped me understand a little bit more about what he does and I wanted to share that with all of you. So, Jonathan can you tell us a little bit about who you are and what your background is and your story that sort of led you to sound therapy?</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan:</b> Sure. Well as you mentioned I'm a musician and I do that for my living. And I play guitar in the group (<a href="http://montanaskiesmusic.com/">Montana Skies</a>) that I play with and I've been doing that for around 15 years I guess now. And so I've been involved in music for a long time, but in 2011 I had an experience with really intense anxiety, and I had had experiences before this with panic attacks and mild anxieties here and there but this was an overwhelming, all encompassing experience and as difficult as that was to get through, it was actually a wonderful thing because I feel that I've learned a lot about my mind and my body and how they work together and how that even influences my spirit and how I could learn to basically help myself stay balanced and learn to relax. And through that process I also discovered sound therapy, which was cool for me as a musician. I discovered that sound itself can actually help us relax and help us both physiologically relax and also mentally to relax.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I've been exploring that path for the past two years since then and using it for myself and then as I talked about this experience in our concerts as I'm traveling around I'm also realized that you know, this spirit of anxiety and stress, depression these kind of things are not isolated at all. But it seems as I travel that I'm finding there are a lot of people that are effected by this, and so I've also been enjoying the opportunity to share the music that I make and then also work with people one on one.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Interviewer (Vicy Wilkinson)</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">: Absolutely. So I would definitely concur that the experience of stress of anxiety, I am not sure if it's more pervasive than it's ever been but it just may be we're more willing to admit it, I know that among my clients both one one one coaching clients as well as business clients that learning how to manage stress in ways that are doable and practices that can bring you to a place of calm on a daily basis is something that's really crucial to do more than just survive. So what do you think has helped you the most Jonathan?</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan:</b> Well that's a good question. I think I've learned a lot from a lot of different areas. I was already doing yoga before this experience and then started meditating more after the experience and then doing sound therapy. And I've really searched for the common link between all of those things because I noticed, like for instance after a yoga practice or session, I would kinda have this feeling of deep relaxation and almost euphoria. And in talking to other people I've learned that they had this similar thing and I kind of came to dub that the "Yoga High".</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I got similar feelings from meditation and sound therapy and these things, so I feel the common link between all of those things was just helping me to relax and to let go of the stresses and I've realized since that those stresses weren't only in my mind but they were also in my body and my body was reacting to the perceptions of my mind and so I kinda had to work on it from both angles, both my mind and my body. And so I had to learn to relax my body but at the same time I had to learn to change my perceptions, change my behavior patterns, and change my physical responses to those patterns too.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So that's easy to say, right here right now.... it actually took me quite a while to learn all of these things and it was little lessons here, little lessons there.. but it helps me to come to a place of more balance and over time I've certainly learned more about my own personal inner world and how that works with my body. If I find myself sort of burning the candle at both ends or getting stressed out mentally or something, then I can feel that stress building up at least now I have the awareness to break that cycle before it turns into full blown stress or anxiety.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Interviewer (Vicy Wilkinson):</b> I think you said a key word there that I know is a word that I use with myself a lot and I also use it with clients a lot is, creating an inner awareness. Recognizing what you're own responses are to stress, right? And beginning to identify them early so that you can kinda put up a road block to that so it doesn't go any further. And instead you start moving back in the other direction toward feeling relaxed, and feeling at peace, and feeling calm in your body and in your state of being. Can you sort of explain to people what sound therapy or at least what it is in how you interpret it and how you use it?</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan:</b> Sure. Well I see sound therapy as really kind of an enhancement to meditation so when I do sound therapy I do sound therapy with Tibetan bowls, which are they look like bowls and they sound like bells and they have a lot of overtones to then and so what I end up doing when I'm doing this type of therapy is putting the bowls the around a person and they're all sort of tuned at a similar scale. And so when I play these bowls it creates a wash of sounds that's very soothing and what sound therapy does, I discovered, it actually interacts with our own brain waves so our brain waves create frequency waves and most frequency waves are measured in hertz. And, so sound waves, which I use all the time as a musician, are also measured in hertz and so when I first learned about this I wondered if there were some kind of interaction between the two and I later learned that sound waves can in fact have some effect on our brain waves and so--</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Interviewer (Vicy Wilkinson):</b> Absolutely.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan:</b>Yeah, and so when I play a certain sound wave or an oscillation that can effect the brain waves and help a person come down into a lower state of brain waves and relax. Our brain waves, and our heartbeat, and our breathing, are all connected (via the parasympathetic nervous system) and so by relaxing the brain waves patterns it helps us to release stress in our entire nervous system and so that's one aspect of it. The other aspect is stress, you know a lot of times the thinking mind is engaged throughout the day, and so that's just what I call it is the "thinking mind" and it's the part of us that always going and that mental chatter is kinda going and I think of that as being more of the left brain trait. Our left brain focuses on these patterns and we're always looking out for own survival so it's in our best interest to notice these patterns. To notice that we need to eat food in order to live and notice that we need to avoid touching hot water or, whatever it is.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni9IkGhkT_4/U0LGprw2TUI/AAAAAAAAAUg/HDkDN5U5vbM/s1600/05+TwoMinds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni9IkGhkT_4/U0LGprw2TUI/AAAAAAAAAUg/HDkDN5U5vbM/s1600/05+TwoMinds.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So we notice these patterns but there's another side of our brain, the right brain, which takes in more of the whole picture and disengages from that constant pattern calculation. And calculating those patterns all the time I think can actually lead to stress, especially if it's unnecessary. And so sound therapy, because the sounds are kinda random and flowing, there's not really a pattern to them. And so it, in my opinion, launches the person into that right brain space much more quickly. Whereas with music (in general) we're hearing the patterns and we hear the chord progressions and the scales and they can all be very beautiful and there's nothing wrong with that, but with sound therapy itself it's bypassing that whole part of the brain so I think that those two things are key in how the sound therapy works. <b>So, number one, it's just altering the brain waves and then number two, it's getting outside of that "thinking mind" and getting outside of those patterns to experience the present moment</b>.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Interviewer (Vicy Wilkinson):</b> Absolutely. So the last time that I heard you speak you mentioned the brain wave patterns, which is something that I am very familiar with, and we use a lot of different techniques to help people after we move from high beta state which is essentially a panic attack when you're in very high frequency beta and then start bringing that down and learning to induce alpha state and even theta state with a lot of experience. And I've noticed that last weekend when you were doing the sound therapy that it was very obvious to me that I was very deep in theta state because I was very aware of what was happening but at the same time had no real interaction with it. And it's interesting for me to hear you theory on sort of bypassing most of the left brain because one of the things that really resonated was my awareness of my internal state of being, which neuroscience calls, <a href="http://neurolex.org/wiki/Category:Interoception">interoception</a>, and it was really acute not only during the experience, but also afterwards for several hours.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was very super aware of the internal workings of my body like even once I was sort of, back, functioning in the world, and driving my car, and going to the grocery store and that kind of thing. And so now that you told me this other part of your theory I think that makes a lot of sense because the right brain, one of it's jobs, is to give us sort of a <a href="http://psychology.about.com/od/schoolsofthought/f/gestalt_faq.htm">Gestalt</a> view of ourselves and give us really deep access to the energy and information flow from our body into our minds into our brains. So, thank you for sharing that. That was sort of new to me in talking to you... so I'll have to do some thinking on that. Anyway very cool stuff!</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan:</b> I have noticed that myself and part of it, I think, is becoming more aware of that inner heart. I think just the way the world works and the way that we're educated and you know the jobs we might do, etcetera it's all outside of us. And so we're always looking outside for information and that's where our work happens but as a result of this experience I just, echo what you said, I can go inwards and do internal monitoring of my systems and think about how I feel and learn to react or at least just be aware of those things in real time.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Interviewer (Vicy Wilkinson):</b> Definitely. Which, and as you say, that helps you stay in the moment which is really important. So, Jonathan I would love to talk to you more so maybe we can do this again and a have a Part Two on sound therapy and what you do because I really think it's fascinating. And it's something that's really accessible it's really easy to help people get still. And I think that's one of the things. I know I get a lot of resistance from my clients when we kinda get to a point in coaching where they recognize they need to do something to get still. Have some being time, not just do time, all of the time. And the sound seem to make it a little more approachable, I think, for a lot of people. So if someone was interested in what you do, how might they find you or something about what you do.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jonathan: </b>Sure. Well I started a website called <a href="http://SonicYogi.com/">SonicYogi.com</a> and so up on that website I have music that I've created. And the downloads are actually free so people can go there and listen and stream the music there or download it. And, then I also have a link out to a blog where I have been exploring some of these ideas that we've talked about for myself if anybody's interested in reading more too. </span></span></div><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091432014-03-26T10:31:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Sound Therapy Talk<div style="text-align: center;">A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2jtMEkdh6g" target="_blank">video of a talk on sound therapy</a> that I did recently in Augusta, GA:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p2jtMEkdh6g" width="560"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span><br>
</div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I'd like to talk to you about something I've gotten intensely interested in, in the last few years, and that's sound therapy. I came to sound therapy by actually needing it myself. I found myself experiencing deep anxiety. Physiologically I was experiencing rapid heart rate, my breathing was short, my muscles were extremely tense. And to me, it literally felt like I was dying. Mentally it was equally as painful and almost psychedelic as I felt like I was really losing control of my reality...and as bad as all of that sounds, it was actually a wonderful blessing because it taught me so much about my mind, from the inside out, my body, and my spirit. And I learned about several tools that could help. Sound therapy turned out to be one of those great tools and I discovered that sound and music are not only great ways to entertain us, but that sound itself can also have many deep, therapeutic benefits for us, mentally and physically. The first thing I did following this experience was to start to read as many books as I could on neuroscience, psychology, spirituality. Basically anything that I could get my hands on that had to do with the mind. I wanted to come to a more grounded, scientific understanding of this experience, which seemed very mystical to me, and also convince myself, hopefully, that I wasn't completely insane, which I'm still working on.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y2T6AmtjWU/UzLkG7nB1DI/AAAAAAAAAUE/XyKon1jVMe0/s1600/Brainwaves&SoundwavesPIC#1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y2T6AmtjWU/UzLkG7nB1DI/AAAAAAAAAUE/XyKon1jVMe0/s1600/Brainwaves&SoundwavesPIC#1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span>
</div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The first book I read was on stress. And what caught my attention was a section that talked about our brainwave states and how they relate to our stress states, and how those brainwaves themselves are measured in hertz. Well this peaked my attention because, as a musician I use hertz as a measurement of sound all the time in my music. I use it for recording, performing, when we did a sound check here. So it's something I'm very familiar with and I found that brainwaves and sound waves are measured the exact same way. So we're literally creating frequency waves with our thoughts. We have four main brainwave states and they're Beta, which is our waking state, then into Alpha and Theta, which are more relaxed or meditative states, and then into Delta which is a deep sleep state. Each of those states has their own frequency range or frequency band and it's very similar to how the EQ on your stereo works from bass to treble, so there are ranges for each of those states. Sound therapy works because our mind has a natural response called the frequency following response and so when we hear a certain oscillation or frequency or sound that's in this frequency range, our mind naturally tends to synchronize with that state. So I found that when I was really in my really stressed out state, I was having a lot of random thoughts and it seemed out of control, and what I needed to do was bring my mind down and relax. And I found that sound therapy was a great tool for helping me do that.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWolBR4cbSQ/UzLkQbU9U-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/K8pK6KM2fZQ/s1600/BrainwaveChart-PIC#2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWolBR4cbSQ/UzLkQbU9U-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/K8pK6KM2fZQ/s1600/BrainwaveChart-PIC#2-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span>
</div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">What I found, also, was that with sound therapy, I could not only alter my brainwaves and relax more, but that when I relaxed those brainwaves, and mentally, that my body relaxed, my breathing relaxed, my heart rate relaxed, and my muscles were less tense. Stress, of course, is caused by the fight or flight response and I found for myself, that I was reacting to things in life with these stressful responses that I really didn't need to. So my body was producing chemicals like adrenalin and cortisol, and over time this was, of course, damaging health wise. Well, I discovered that our body has an opposite response which is called the relaxation response. And so by relaxing consciously, using sound therapy as one of those tools, I found that I not only started to not feel anxious, but that I started to feel better and better and better. Eventually I felt so good that when I was relaxing at night that I actually felt high or euphoric. So then I was a little concerned about this and I thought, 'I've gone too far.' So I went to the doctor to get it checked out and it turned out that everything was just fine. And then I realized that feeling good is a how I'm supposed to feel, and how we're supposed to feel!!</span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">So I had a little epiphany from this whole experience that, physiologically speaking, that I am both the producer and the experiencer of stress. But physiologically speaking, that I'm also the producer and experiencer of good feelings like joy, euphoria, bliss, and that I have a choice by choosing the thoughts that I want to engage with and then how I'm going to react to those thoughts. And that I have that choice to basically feel good and to choose either fear and stress, or love for myself and others, and all of those good feelings that go with it. So that's really what I want to share. I think at the heart of it all, it's just the ability to relax deeply and sort of let go and just be. And I found that sound therapy was a wonderful tool for me in getting there. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">So just to recap:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Sound waves can alter our brainwaves.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span>
</div><div style="color: black; line-height: normal;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>By altering our brainwaves we can find deep states of relaxation.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>By relaxing, (consciously, deliberately and regularly) we can create real and tangible benefits, physiologically and mentally. </b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>(Relaxing the mind and brainwaves can also relax the entire Parasympathetic Nervous System.) </b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b><u><br></u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b><u>PNS = Brainwaves - Heart rate - Breathing</u>. </b></span>
</div><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091442014-03-20T12:28:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:53-04:00Brain Chemicals in Anxiety, Depression and Stress<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The last post about <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-your-energy-you-are-gardener-of.html" target="_blank">tending the mental garden</a>, was one way of looking at managing (or reacting) to our internal thoughts, which also have an affect on our physiology. Specifically, what we think CAN and DOES affect our brain chemicals. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">It's estimated that <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970203503204577040431792673066?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052970203503204577040431792673066.html" target="_blank">nearly one in five americans are currently using psychiatric drugs</a>, drugs that alter brain chemistry. <u><b>The majority of these drugs directly affect serotonin levels</b>.</u> From my experience, I feel that our brain chemistry may become compromised in these ways: </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>1. Negative thought patterns (and the stress that goes with it)</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>2. Diet lacking in nutrients to support serotonin production</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>3. Balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut (which can affect brain chemicals)</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>1.</b> First off, how do thoughts affect brain chemicals? Well, to my knowledge, scientists don't quite understand this yet, but they do understand that there is a correlation. Here are some articles about how serotonin (one of the key chemicals altered by psychiatric drugs). The short version: <b>changing your thoughts CAN change your serotonin levels, and vice versa. </b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">BOOSTING YOUR SEROTONIN ACTIVITY</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201111/boosting-your-serotonin-activity">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201111/boosting-your-serotonin-activity</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">SEROTONIN TIED TO OPTIMISM</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2007/12/17/serotonin-tied-to-optimism-and-depression/1671.html">http://psychcentral.com/news/2007/12/17/serotonin-tied-to-optimism-and-depression/1671.html</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">HOW TO INCREASE SEROTONIN WITHOUT DRUGS</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Studies also show that exposure to bright light can boost serotonin. So, get outside and enjoy some sunshine!!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>2. There is also a connection between nutrition and serotonin levels:</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">SEROTONIN AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD AND MOOD</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://nutritionwonderland.com/2009/06/understanding-bodies-serotonin-connection-between-food-and-mood/">http://nutritionwonderland.com/2009/06/understanding-bodies-serotonin-connection-between-food-and-mood/</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">NUTRITION AND SEROTONIN</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/73028-nutrition-serotonin/">http://www.livestrong.com/article/73028-nutrition-serotonin/</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In addition there are also nutritional supplements that may help boost serotonin levels. These are 5-htp, SAMe, and St. John's Wort. Here's what Dr. Andrew Weill has to say about these:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">SUPPLEMENTS TO BOOST SEROTONIN</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA76842/supplement-to-boost-serotonin.html">http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA76842/supplement-to-boost-serotonin.html</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>3. Last, but certainly not least, is the connection of our GUT BACTERIA (and probiotics) to serotonin levels. </b>Why is this important?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotoninhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>:</span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Approximately 90% of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Human">human</a> body's total serotonin is located in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterochromaffin_cells" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Enterochromaffin cells">enterochromaffin cells</a> in the alimentary canal (<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_(zoology)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Gut (zoology)">gut</a>), where it is used to regulate intestinal movements.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-urlthemedicalbiochemistrypage.org_7-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin#cite_note-urlthemedicalbiochemistrypage.org-7" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[7]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pmid19630576_8-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin#cite_note-pmid19630576-8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[8]</a></sup> The remainder is synthesized in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonergic" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Serotonergic">serotonergic</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Neuron">neurons</a> of the CNS, where it has various functions. These include the regulation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_(psychology)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Mood (psychology)">mood</a>, appetite, and sleep. Serotonin also has some cognitive functions, including memory and learning. Modulation of serotonin at synapses is thought to be a major action of several classes of pharmacological antidepressants.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So, ninety percent of our serotonin is produced in the gut. This means that gut and digestive health is paramount to serotonin production...and, healthy bacterial balance IS paramount to having healthy gut function. <u>Serotonin in the gut is a two way street! Gut function affects serotonin production AND serotonin levels can affect gut function.</u></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">A GUT FULL OF PROBIOTICS FOR YOUR NEUROLOGICAL WELLBEING</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110705210737.htm">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110705210737.htm</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">PROBIOTICS: A SURPRISING WAY TO BEAT STRESS</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.more.com/health/healthy-eating/probiotics-surprising-way-beat-stress">http://www.more.com/health/healthy-eating/probiotics-surprising-way-beat-stress</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">THE ROOT CAUSE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION THAT FEW SUSPECT</span></span><br><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/03/probiotics-impact-brain-performance.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/03/probiotics-impact-brain-performance.aspx</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE GUT'S SECOND BRAIN INFLUENCES MOOD AND WELLBEING</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/</a> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">THAT GUT FEELING</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling.aspx">http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling.aspx</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">PROBIOTICS CHANGE BEHAVIOR IN MICE</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/29/from-guts-to-brains-eating-probiotic-bacteria-changes-behaviour-in-mice/#.UysRYijUMec">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/08/29/from-guts-to-brains-eating-probiotic-bacteria-changes-behaviour-in-mice/#.UysRYijUMec</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435" target="_blank">this book</a>, it has helped me immensely. Donna Gates approaches gut health through diet, killing off bad bacteria and candida fungus in the gut and adding probiotics. This was challenging for me as it required changing the way I eat from the ground up, but I can tell you it has been WORTH IT.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435">http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">and finally, here is a sound therapy track for serotonin stimulation.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALoQcp4ZX9U&noredirect=1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALoQcp4ZX9U&noredirect=1</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091452014-03-18T12:35:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00It's YOUR energy: you are the gardener of your thoughts, cultivate well<span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>Note to Self:</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>Feeling bad about yourself or harboring negative feelings about a situation will only affect YOUR energy. Nothing else. Cycling through negative energy within yourself will not change a situation. Actions will. Having negative feelings and negative talk about yourself will NOT make YOU into the person you want to BE. Negative thoughts will not benefit relationships, business decisions, or personal growth. ....EVEEEERRRRRR.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>Negative self talk can also be negative physically, sapping you of strength, drive and energy. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>Your body is listening, and responding to every thought.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'> It WILL also alter your view of yourself and eventually alter YOUR concept of yourself. Seeing yourself in a negative light moment by moment can also eventually alter your complete concept of who you are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>(yes, your very identity)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>. You may even forget who you were as this new concept takes over. Eventually others will even begin to react to you based on this negative self concept. The negative view, turns into negative vibes and small negative behaviors that are communicated in non-verbal ways that are subtle, but very real. It's sends a subconscious message to others, and then comes back to you. You begin to confirm your view of yourself through the mirror of other people and relationships. This can become a cycle and a prison that's hard to escape (but you can!). (PS..this ALSO happens in the positive direction.) This self view is constantly being built and constructed in each and every moment. So, if you want to change, start now.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Want to change?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment accept yourself exactly as you are.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment love yourself exactly as you are.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment forgive yourself exactly as you are.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment enjoy exactly who you are.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment accept others exactly as they are.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment love others exactly as they are.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment extend compassion, forgiveness and non-judgement.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><b>In each moment enjoy exactly who they ARE.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>Your energy will begin to shift...gradually and then drastically. This is a moment by moment challenge to stay aware. So, BE present!! KEEP YOUR HEAD & HEART IN THE GAME. It's easier by the moment. If you screw up? fuggghettt aboout it!!! Let it gooooo.. Forgive yourself, make it right, and move on.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>Practice:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">See someone that disgusts you? Bless them internally. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">See someone that makes you jealous? Don't tear them down in the judging voice of your mind, p</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">raise them internally for their accomplishment or good fortune. See someone that's weak? See them in your mind as strong. See someone that is sick? See them in your mind, as being well. See someone that is stronger? Admire them for their strength. See someone that is more successful? Bless them in their good fortune. See someone behave negatively towards you? See them as beginning to love themselves. (..and don't take it as confirmation that you're no good. Their behavior probably has to do with them, and NOTHING to do with you.) The list goes on... you get it. Practice at the mall, practice on Facebook, practice everywhere.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><br></span></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><u>Notice that you see others as you see yourself. See others, as YOU.</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> It's not much good to love our neighbors as ourself, if we don't love ourselves first. <b>Be good to yourself</b>.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'>Focus on the good, and the good gets better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IKyYjwNQBs8/Uyet9EgAX5I/AAAAAAAAATs/44K_uFwr2M8/s1600/focusonthegood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style='font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;'><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IKyYjwNQBs8/Uyet9EgAX5I/AAAAAAAAATs/44K_uFwr2M8/s1600/focusonthegood.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="303" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;'><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;'><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;'><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style='color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;'></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091462014-03-16T10:44:00-04:002021-05-11T06:32:19-04:00Into a dream<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">A few months ago I had a dream that woke me up around 5am. The dream, which I still remember vividly, was me in a ballroom, dancing around with characters. These characters were cartoonish, almost like characters from Alice in Wonderland. There were giant teapots, clowns and entities that really had no shape or form. We were in a ballroom, and there was light coming in from windows and a garden. In the dream I knew that these entities, and characters were all fears. I remember dancing for a while in the ballroom, knowing that I could control them with my mind, just by not interacting with them, and that there really was nothing to fear from them. They were immaterial, just caricatures created by my mind, representatives in my psyche. Then I got tired of being there and decided to run. There was a staircase in the corner of the room, and I ran for it. The staircase lead me down away from the ballroom and away from the light of the windows. As I went down the winding staircase, I felt relief at being away from these characters, these "fears" were behind me. As I ran down the staircase the light became dimmer as I descended into the darkness of the winding stairwell. The walls were also closing in gradually, inch by inch with each flight of stairs. The walls were made of egg crate foam. Eventually, I could hear these entities, these "fears" running down the stairs after me. The walls were very close now and the egg crate foam on the walls was squeezing in on both sides. It was very dark now and I couldn't run any more. I would have to turn and run back up. I would also have to fight these fears on the way back up. I sensed they had grown in strength and could hear them laughing as they descended. It would be an uphill battle going back up. I knew I could do it though, I had done it before. I had learned to dance in the presence of those fears like they weren't there. It was only when I ran, that they gained in power.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">In real life, I faced many overwhelming fears in the heart of my anxiety and awakening process and occasionally still do. I faced fears of my own perceived inadequacies. I faced fears of letting down other people. I faced fear of my own selfishness and desires and the guilt and shame that went with that. Fear that just being me was not enough to be loved. Fear that showing the real me would result in rejection. Many times facing these fears was horrifying and felt very real. I gradually learned though that when I faced my fears they lost power, they disappeared or shrank. Gradually, I began to be more empowered to just be ME and not allow these fears to control me. By facing my fears I could change my behavior and be comfortable outside of my comfort zone (this box that framed my perceived identity and reality.) <b>There truly is nothing to fear, but fear itself.</b> It's a daily process and a daily realization, for me, to <b>Choose Love and not fear in every moment</b>.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As I laid there in bed thinking about this dream, this poem came to me. I spoke it out into my iphone so that I would remember it.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Into a dream:</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Follow me dear child into sleep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">you will see this life is the dream we keep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">this dream we keep that seems so real</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">we touch and taste, think and feel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">but there is a piece we often miss and that piece goes something like this</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in our desperate quest to run from fear, so many times we draw it near</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and when we try to withdraw or run, really the inevitable has just begun</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">so stop and look, don't be afraid, the road ahead is the one you pave</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">so pave it with kindness, goodness and cheer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and remember the kingdom of heaven will always be near</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">now turn, cast your eyes upon the sun</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and let your thoughts scatter, all but one</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and in that one, hold this thought dear</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">know that love will always conquer fear</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">so far, there has been only one to make this run</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">some know his story as the Son</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">he faced his fear, love's true test</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Courage has joined the East and West</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">so once again seek stillness of mind</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and in your heart it's peace you will find</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in the depths of your soul you will find this link</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">from your weakness and vulnerability, you will find true strength</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">now see this in all of humankind</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and stay fixed on the truth </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">never again be blind.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P7LzgqpieEM/UyW2D9CwPjI/AAAAAAAAATc/eehidEEY8ME/s1600/fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P7LzgqpieEM/UyW2D9CwPjI/AAAAAAAAATc/eehidEEY8ME/s1600/fear.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="320" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091472014-02-26T13:03:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00Cannabinoids and Endocannabinoids and their role in stress and balance<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have posted here and talked publicly quite a bit about "feeling high" at times after recovering my personal experience of anxiety...which I feel was only part of a larger experience of regaining balance and growing in my psychological and spiritual awareness. Part of that experience was the fact that I was smoking cannabis occasionally before it. I didn't really like to get super high because it actually caused anxiousness in me, and what I was looking for was a way to relax. In addition to changing my diet to be healthier, working out etc.. I have spent a lot of time since researching everything from sound healing to candida diet to meditation and yoga and on and on.. because all of these things played a role for me. This regained balance and health, that I experienced was so amazingly profound, that my goal since then was to try to research the things that I was doing, so that I could hopefully share tips here that might prove useful.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">In a nutshell, I believe that the common thread was that all of these things (sound therapy, yoga, meditation, diet and possibly cannabis) is that they helped my body regain balance and equilibrium and basically let go of stress. In some cases, stress I didn't even know I had. Stress that was well below the surface (in my subconscious). Once the physical started to come into balance, I began to experience a psychological rebalancing too. Ultimately, the "me" I thought I was, had to change too. It seems the body's natural cannabanoid system plays a major role in this common thread.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Cannabis or marijuana, consists of two main constituents... THC and Cannabis. THC is the psychoactive compound, the part that makes a person "high", and CBD (cannabinoids) is the part that make a person feel mellow. THC can have benefits too other than the high, but in general can result in also feeling anxious or even in some cases contribute to psychosis. CBD, however balances this out in the plant and is actually anti-anxiety or anti-psychosis. So there is a balance. Most modern strains of Cannabis have been engineered towards having more THC, because in an era of prohibition, people wanted to get high. Now as scientists and doctors are learning more, it seems there is a LOT more to the story than Cheech and Chong lead us to believe.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Here are some basic facts I have recently learned about the role of Cannabinoids in our body.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">We have a Cannabinoid System built into our body</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Endocannabinoids regulate a variety systems throughout our body</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Endocannbinoids help us regulate stress, immune responses and inflammatory responses throughout the body.</span></span></li>
</ul><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Based on my experience, I personally think that plant based cannabindoids may also play a role in helping the body reduce or process stresses while helping a person regain a state of natural equilibrium. CBD's are not subject to prohibition and also now widely available from places like Amazon.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Here are some videos that contain more of the latest research about the system of cannabinoids in the body:</span><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wnP9y3gPg-U" width="420"></iframe><br><br><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Key Quotes from Dr. Melamede: </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">"People in general are aware that Omega 3's are good for you and they inhibit various cardiovascular problems. What most people are not aware of is that they are participatory directly in the endocannabinoid system in that they make a variety of our endocannbinoids and they are part of the bigger picture of lipid metabolism of which the endocannabinoid system is a central focal point."</span>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">"Cannabis, being now from my perspective and essential nutrient..by virtue of how it will turn down inflammatory responses and inhibit the aging process and the negative consequences of age related illnesses. Nobody dies from being old...they die from age related illnesses."</span></span>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8Jz1nQ_leWE" width="560"></iframe><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Key Quotes from Dr. Mark Ware:</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">"The cannabinoid signaling system is probably the most ubiquitous signaling system in the human body."No matter where people look they find the cannabinoid system in some kind of involvement, in modulation of some type of activity."</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">"If you think about clinical conditions when nerves are firing at times when you don't want them: Epilepsy, Neuropathic pain, muscle spasticity, one could even think of anxiety, some forms of psychosis as forms of abnormal, aberrant firing of neurons. A cannabinoid is the perfect drug to suppress that abnormal activity."</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">"Very strong evidence coming through in the role it plays in inflammation." </span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">"There are ways we can use this (endocannabinoid system) without taking any drugs at all. Running raises your endogenous cannabinoid tone. ..<b>I'm willing to put money on the table (if anyone wants to bet me) that Yoga, massage therapy, any form of complementary therapy that makes you feel that mild feeling of euphoria when you've had the treatment, is an endocannabinoid effect.</b>"</span></span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br></span></span></div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;">Here is a chart showing some of the benefits:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hAUdFvBiX8/Uw4jAXkpvKI/AAAAAAAAATM/qE18tjFUy-I/s1600/cannabinoids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hAUdFvBiX8/Uw4jAXkpvKI/AAAAAAAAATM/qE18tjFUy-I/s1600/cannabinoids.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="404" width="640" /></a></div><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It seems that understanding and utilizing plant cannabinoids may help in not only reducing stress, but also treating a variety of ailments from inflammatory and immune diseases like Crohns, MS and arthritis to things like epilepsy and chronic pain. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Could this feeling I've described of being high, feeling blissful and connected to nature, God and the universe be our most natural state? I personally think so.. Here are some more links:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I have tried these..unfortunately they are still very expensive:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hemp-Oil-Supplement-Concentrated-Powdered/dp/B00G1899KW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393437373&sr=8-1&keywords=cbd+capsules">http://www.amazon.com/Hemp-Oil-Supplement-Concentrated-Powdered/dp/B00G1899KW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393437373&sr=8-1&keywords=cbd+capsules</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>The endogenous cannabinoid system in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.nature.com/mi/journal/v4/n5/full/mi201118a.html">http://www.nature.com/mi/journal/v4/n5/full/mi201118a.html</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>The endocannabinoid system link gut microbiota to adipogenesis</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.farm.ucl.ac.be/Full-texts-FARM/Muccioli-2010-2.pdf">http://www.farm.ucl.ac.be/Full-texts-FARM/Muccioli-2010-2.pdf</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>For the Love of Fat</b>:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43634952/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/#.Uw4mtSjUMed">http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43634952/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/#.Uw4mtSjUMed</a> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Gut Feelings about the endocannabinoid system:</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01689.x/full">http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01689.x/full</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091482014-02-18T15:20:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00Beast in the Yeast: Emotional cleansing and Candida detox<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">I recently talked with Elicia Miller, who is helping people with Candida detox, she has a wonderful site </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://thedetoxadvisor.com/">http://thedetoxadvisor.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;"> and many videos on Youtube. We talked about the emotional and mental aspects of candida overgrowth. In my case, I noticed more symptoms during detox phases. Elicia also discussed how cleansing the emotional body can be part of the healing process.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><br></span></span><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134473593&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 28px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 28px;">Jon: I'm with Elicia Woodford (now Miller), who I've met via the internet. And I was searching about the emotional and psychological aspects of the candida experience for myself. And via this Google search, I found Elicia who is a detox advisor and works extensively with people with candida. And I was also really happy to find that Elicia covers this really extensively in her work. And you're really the first person that I've found that's working with people in a professional capacity that's really covered these parts of the candida process. So, I just want to ask you a couple of questions today.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 28px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 28px;">Elicia: Sure.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 28px;"><br>Jon: I guess I'm curious first how you came to discover this link between candida and the emotional and psychological parts of it for yourself.<br><br>Elicia: I think it was during my process and journey. I don't recall one time. It was sort of a reflection on being in a state of self awareness and being the observer and seeing how and when my flare-ups would happen. I guess, thinking back I would notice that when I would go into victim (mode) or doing things for money out of survival.<br><br>Jon: Right.<br><br>Elicia: Then I started to get really bloated and I would feel the candida symptoms more strongly during those times. And then when I would take my power back, and start believing in myself, and creating and getting back involved in my own creative projects and not thinking about money, then it would get better. And so, it was just a process of observing those things and also doing energy healing and emotional healing. And I was lucky to be on an island full of healers in Thailand during this process. So I think that the work that I do with clients is a result of having access to all these resources that helped me in my own journey. And I wasn't plugged into the US and the consciousness of the US. So I was able to really free myself from a lot of conditioning in that environment which helped. And I then discovered towards the end after about a year and a half of a lot of different levels of healing and modalities and cleansing that I did a retreat for the first time that didn't involve any fasting or juice fasts or physical cleansing. It was all subconscious and emotional. And I became really aware of how much I was living in fear and in the future. And I could feel how much that was playing into my whole conditioning.<br><br>Jon: Right. Exactly..<br><br>Elicia: Conditioning and condition. So, I connected to my heart deeply and I just wanted to love. And I felt so much love and self love. And I felt for the first time that I healed at that<br>moment.<br><br>Jon: Yeah, I totally hear what you're saying. I felt the same thing in myself as to just connecting to being able to be OK with me. And love myself was key. I think it's key for any healing process. So have you noticed this in your work with other people as something that comes up quite often with the emotions and just different mental aspects of their healing?<br><br>Elicia: Yeah, and so the work I do with my clients is I saw what helps and what makes the biggest impact is to be leading and guiding them through their own process. And so what helped me the most was that whole process of self awareness and doing the ego work. And I was, I had someone guiding me. But it was me doing it. And I did that for a week towards the end. So now, I work with clients for three months. And we talk every week. And so I'm able to guide them through their own process. And it involves a lot of journaling which helps them become more aware of their thoughts and what's occupying their thoughts and creating negative emotions and even guiding them into healing the past and their childhood and repressed emotions and how they feel about themselves based on what happened when they were children to re-connect with that to resolve it. And to come to peace and self love. We'll always come back to that.<br><br>Jon: Right.<br><br>Elicia: But it's really about no one else can give them love. No one else can give us love. And even when it was missing as a child or we perceived it to be missing, we are the ones that need to give it to ourselves.<br><br>Jon: Yeah, I totally agree.<br><br>Elicia: So, yeah. The process, I see my clients now. Their symptoms are going away within the first month. And it has a lot to do with the mental and emotional, the mental awareness and emotional healing. And sometimes just the shifting away from complaining about, one client was just complaining all the time about how much work she had to do and poor me, and was telling everyone about it. And then when she just stopped doing that and just went about her day with OK, I have this work and I'm doing it. Everything is fine and not complaining, and I think that's a huge piece of staying present. And, yeah there was another thought I was going to at that moment.<br><br>Jon: No worries.<br><br>Elicia: Yeah.<br><br>Jon: It will probably come back.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 28px;">Elicia: Yeah.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><br><br>Jon: Well, that's interesting to me to hear that you're working so deeply. It's almost really a twofold approach. So it's physical and a large component of it is the emotional and mental. And I think that's a wonderful thing that you've picked up on that in your own process. And you're helping other people. And I've personally found it from the other side almost by accident. I wish I had known you a few years ago. But I found that that is definitely a key in all of this for me. So, anyway, thank you very much for talking with me about that part of what you're helping people with. And it's a pleasure talking to you.<br><br>Elicia: Yeah, it's great talking to you. Thanks Jon for sharing this information.<br><br>Jon: Sure. And then also if you're either in the Atlanta area or anywhere in the world really, Elicia does Skype sessions for helping people work through, well I'll let you tell them specifically what you do.<br><br>Elicia: So, I mainly work with people with candida conditions. And empowering them to release the physical and the emotional connection to it. And everyone has a different process. Everyone's condition is different. Everyone's causes and what is contributing to it is different. So it's an individual process of, each session varies based on if they're doing an actual physical plan or if they're having questions with food and what to eat, what not to eat comes up a lot. And my main thing is to empower each person to trust their intuition and their own body's wisdom. And to listen to the body. And to change the way people are always looking for answers outside themselves. And so they know I know I shouldn't eat this but this says it in this book. And so, even that strengthens the ability to trust and listen within. And then I also will guide with journaling questions to work through emotions. And to do their own healing and self awareness work around what's causing stress in their mind. And moving forward with what their heart is calling for. So the process of healing candida really is to release what has been repressed. And that is the candida fungus itself, the emotions, and their heart's desires. And to really come more fully with releasing all of that. They connect to their power and their ability to do whatever they want to with confidence and with love.<br><br>Jon: Nice. Well, thank you for your work.<br><br>Elicia: Thank you.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091492014-02-12T11:53:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00Simplicity inspires Awareness, Awareness inspires Simplicity<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last night I was listening to singular Tibetan Bowls I just recorded. (I am making a series of tracks that can be used for meditation on these simple tones.) I was drawn in by the simplicity of the tones, letting myself fully soak in the undulating rhythms and frequencies they produced. I have heard these bowls hundreds of times, but the act of listening back to these recordings was like hearing them for first time. The simplicity of the sounds inspired a new awareness of all of the characteristics of those sounds, and a new appreciation of the components and parts that make up each sound.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I was talking to a friend last week who felt run in a million different directions. Sometimes I get that way too, and I realize now, it's up to ME to simplify. To focus my awareness on the important parts. To cut out things that are distractions...(and I have found that a lot of these distractions are actually created when MY mind is cluttered.) As much as I would like to multitask, I've noticed I can really only focus on one thing at a time. ..and I notice it's important to not only focus my efforts, but also focus my mind. Let go of the to do list in my head and to truly <u>tune into to BEING with what I'm DOING. </u></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I notice that I actually get a LOT more done this way, and feel better, more grounded, more focused, and more relaxed about it. I've also noticed the more I pay attention to the present moment </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">(and let go of my agenda)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">, the more I am open to the little gifts and synchronicities that life is trying to give to me that actually make my life easier and more balanced.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I'll post the single tibetan bowl meditations soon here:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://sonicyogi.com/">http://sonicyogi.com</a> and here: <a href="http://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi">http://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091502014-02-11T14:00:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00Speak your truth, Illuminate the shadow<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">One of the best ways I noticed to illuminate my shadow, was to quit editing myself. Quit trying to create speech to please others, or to speak with fear of offending. Of course, when I do this (type of internal editing) I realized I was just having a relationship with myself, and a delusional one at that. Why? because I have no idea what anyone else is thinking or might think about what I might say. So, gradually I started speaking my truth. Seeking to always be kind, compassionate and loving...but not necessarily always "nice". it's a practice that's constant. I also noticed that once I started to notice and get over this fear. More often than not, what I had to say was well received because it was said from place of love an authenticity, and I felt more understood. Sometimes it was surprising.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Trying to be "nice", </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">that's where I usually lost it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> To make sure I didn't offend someone. Or didn't upset their world view. Well, if their world view isn't consistent with kindness, compassion and love for all, then maybe that view should be reexamined. Maybe hearing another viewpoint is good for them. Maybe hearing another viewpoint is good for me. So I try to stay committed to speaking my truth, even when it's uncomfortable and hearing someone else's truth too... especially when it's uncomfortable.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Speaking my truth allows me to examine my views fully. To free myself from a prison of self judgment and hiding... and to change ideas I have that might not stand up in the light of examination. Part of the power of the imprisoning ego is to constantly tell me that "I know", I know the right way, or I have the right opinion, or I know what the right course of action is, or I know what politician x, or person x, should have done in a situation. Other people are doing the best they can and making the best decisions they know how, with their circumstances, and the truth is none of us will ever know all of their facts. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Truth is, I know very little (and that should always feed a thirst for knowledge and understanding and a willingness to be open to change).</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So speak the truth of your heart. It's good for you, relieves stress and opens the doorway to your truest self.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">----------------</span> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here's a great video about coming out of the closet (we all have them) and exposing the shadow, and shining the light of truth into the darkness.</span></span></span><br><br><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kSR4xuU07sc" width="560"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSR4xuU07">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSR4xuU07</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091512014-01-21T09:23:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00Identity, Ego and the Shadow<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Note to Self:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">As soon as I begin to attach to an Identity (other than my true self) I begin to build an Ego. What's an Ego? The ego is an avatar that I have created that seems (to me) worthy of love from others...and an avatar that is also something to be defended... from others. (So, ironically, the connection to others never fully occurs.) I also begin to build the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)">Shadow</a>", the part of me that is hiding from view, that fears being discovered because it conflicts with the Identity I have chosen and has desires that seem unacceptable. This <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)">shadow</a> is partly conscious, but mostly subconscious.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Most of this is ingrained into society at such a deep, ubiquitous level as to make it subconscious. When we are children, we are asked, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" What will you become? It's as if what we are isn't enough, we have to choose from a list of activities that will someday define us. It's not the activity that's the problem, it's our need to define ourselves and our need to define others. The worst examples of hate in our society come from the need to define others...or to rail against their definitions of themselves. Groups are attacked and persecuted by religion, sexuality, nationality, race etc... and yet as groups we continually seek to define ourselves and separate ourselves from others in order to maintain a sense of identity. (Jews, Muslims, Christians, Gays, Whites, Blacks, Americans, Republicans, Spouse, Preacher etc.. etc..) All the while, these classifications are enhancing separation, and identity.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In fact, we are so attached to our identity, that when life inevitably changes or the identity crumbles or changes in some way it can cause an enormous amount of stress. Why? because the identity has been falsely associated with existence.. and life itself. So, the unconscious fear underlying it all is the fear of death, this fear of non-existence. Then, when the false self crumbles, as it inevitably does..and will. (It happens, all the time.) A person loses their identity in the form of a job, career or a relationship. This can set off a cascade of stress, anxiety or depression as the psyche struggles to find a new center from the identity that was created. In extreme cases, this can even lead to suicide or violence as the false self struggles to defend itself, or regain it's sense of identity. Although, the suffering is tragic, society (as a whole) doesn't let on... then we would all have to give up our masks.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The false self (Ego) is encouraged by society. Identification (Ego) fuels the economy. In America, people largely define themselves by what they can obtain or where they can go on vacation. Fashions and products exist as ways of defining this ego, this self identity. None of us are immune. On the flip side, spiritual people can even define themselves by how "spiritual" they are. So no matter what it is, as soon as I begin to create an identity and a "rulebook" for what I am, it is then and there that I begin to create a world of stress based on a perceived self identity.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In this world of identity it seems we have created different groups (Christians, Gays, Steel workers, Musicians etc. etc..) that gain meaning, pleasure and joy from their identity, but this also causes suffering as other groups attack each other based on their perceived identity. In truth, they need each other..and so this cycle continues ad infinitum. The fear of non-existence produces the struggle. The truth is, the me I think I am, or might want to be, doesn't actually exist. It is my creation.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So, these are big examples, but each of us also have small personal examples in our own rulebook that only we know. It's important to be honest, brutally honest with yourself and start to be aware..</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Why is this all so insane? Because no one, not one soul on the planet, chose to be most of these things we are. None of us chose to be White, Black, Yellow, Male, Female.. ..most did not even choose to be a certain religion etc.. ..before we got here. So, some things are fundamental to us and others we have chosen, but NONE of them are what WE ARE. (and what are we?) Humans? yes.. but more importantly we are spirits..and we are psyches..which above all, all desire to love and be loved...(and this is universal for every person) and ironically it's this desire that fuels the quest for identification and acceptance in the first place!</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So, the ultimate stress reduction is to surrender, and let go of all of this, and to begin to choose Love over fear. Love for yourself, accept of yourself just as you are. Let go of the fear that you (as you are) won't be acceptable to others. It's only from this place that change can truly happen.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">That is why relaxing and meditation is SO important and has been so good for me, because it allows me to transcend the EGO (this defense mechanism against the struggle of identity) and to dissolve these false perceptions in the light of the conscious understanding of who I AM, not who I want to become... beyond all of the veils, masks and false identities I might desire to create.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It seems everyone is working through this on some level. It's OK, I think it's why we're here. Remember to Forgive yourself. Love Yourself. Choose Love instead of fear and.. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Just BE.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg">see chart click here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiMmlHBg7WE/Ut3kUANraKI/AAAAAAAAAS8/W2zkmW55lHw/s1600/love+and+fear.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="494" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><br></a></i><i><br></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://sonicyogi.com/">For sound downloads click here</a></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present perspectives here that have helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091522013-11-18T14:17:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:54-04:00Beast in the Yeast (kicking Candida) pt. 3 - Gut Health and Mental Health<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm really glad to see that science is beginning to confirm what I suspected as a result of my personal experience. <b><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds">Our gut health affects our mental health. Check out this article from NPR.</a></b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I have noticed this personally as I was on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435">Body Ecology</a> (candida elimination and gut health) diet. At each stage I noticed a variety of symptoms both physically and mentally as my body adjusted to the changes in diet and adding in more probiotics.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435"><b>The Body Ecology Diet</b></a> has a few different key components:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">1. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Eliminating Sugars (which feed bad bacteria). This includes eliminating simple carbs, breads, yeasts, gluten and checking labels to avoid not only table sugar, but also sugar content. Once I started reading labels I was amazed at how much sugar is contained in even supposed "health foods".</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Actively cleaning the body of the Candida yeast and other negative bacteria, with anti-fungals. There are a number of anti-fungal foods and supplements that are readily available. Here are a few: Coconut oil, Garlic, Caprylic Acid, Olive Leaf extract, Oregano Oil, Pau D'Arco. There are many more too, just google <a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=candida+killers&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">candida yeast cleansing</a> and you'll find a ton.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Adding in probiotics to your diet. These come in different forms; capsules, fermented foods (<a href="http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=cultured+vegetables&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=cultured+vegetables+for+sale&revid=549012188&rls=en">cultured vegetables</a>) or drinks (<a href="http://kevita.com/">Kevita</a> or Kefirs).</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At each stage of this process, I have noticed some key things that I want to share here:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. During the "Candida killing" phases I noticed a definite correlation to my moods and in my case, anxiety. So, my anxiety actually got worse temporarily during these phases. With each phase though, I began to feel progressively better. Why do the symptoms get worse? Because when the dead yeast cells enter the bloodstream this causes a temporary increase in symptoms. This is called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarisch-Herxheimer_reaction">Herxheimer</a> reaction.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The process of going through these phases for me went something like this: <b>a</b>. Kick up the anti-fungals, <b>b</b>. Notice an increase in anxiety or other negative moods, <b>c</b>. feel better (experience a new level of clarity, joy etc..). The important thing to remember if you are doing this is that you can always back off on the anti-fungals to allow yourself time to physically and mentally adjust. I think it's best to look at this as a very long term process that is approached in phases. Depending on your situation, this may be a process that takes a year, or even several years. Trying to go too fast can be unpleasant.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have also found that meditation and yoga have helped immensely in learning to cope with these phases. Why? </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Meditation</b> has helped to train my mind to experience the emotions with out necessarily feeling the need to react to them. Realizing that these thoughts are not "me" is helpful in simply observing them pass (like a dark cloud across the sky) without feeling the need to react to them.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yoga</b> helps to support the meditative ideas above, but also has given me some tools for dealing with stress in the body. In short, yoga has helped me to get to know my body and the energies that flow through my physical body that are attached to my mental functioning. This helps with short circuiting the mental stress BEFORE it makes it's way into my body. Once the stress has reached the physical level in can become a feedback loop. (i.e. I am stressed mentally (anxious or depressed)--->Now I FEEL stressed physically--->this stress must be REAL---> repeat ad infinitum with growing intensity.)</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are all levels of yoga no matter where you are in your physical conditioning. It's real, it's helpful and it can <u>really help you feel good</u>!!</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some links to other articles regarding our gut health and mental health.</span></b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds</span></a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/changing-gut-bacteria-through-245617.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/changing-gut-bacteria-through-245617.aspx</span></a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23784606">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23784606</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/mental-disorders-and-the-candida-connection">http://www.examiner.com/article/mental-disorders-and-the-candida-connection</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/could-mental-illness-actually-physical-6404292.html?cat=5">http://voices.yahoo.com/could-mental-illness-actually-physical-6404292.html?cat=5</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james16.htm">http://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james16.htm</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/10.30/GeneticSecretso.html">http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/1997/10.30/GeneticSecretso.html</a></span><br><br><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21485746"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21485746</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">VIDEO:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/bonnie_bassler_on_how_bacteria_communicate.html">http://www.ted.com/talks/bonnie_bassler_on_how_bacteria_communicate.html</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">I also highly recommend getting Donna Gate's Book:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435">http://www.amazon.com/The-Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering/dp/1401935435 </a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">For my other blog articles on this topic <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/search?q=beast+in+the+yeast">click here</a>.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091532013-11-07T15:03:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Now is the only time that exists<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was a hard lesson for me to learn, but one of the most important. There I was, laying on my couch racked with anxiety, contemplating if I even had the strength to live through this. I could not forgive myself for my past and I had terrible anxiety about the future. All of the subconscious demons that had hidden from sight for so long, were now at my doorstep. If I projected my thoughts, even a few minutes into the future or past I experienced deep mental anguish in real time. Then I noticed gradually (with what I see as Divine guidance) that if I focused my mind in the exact present all of the anguish disappeared! This was amazing to me, and then I realized that the pain and prison I was in was my own creation. It was a prison of my own mind. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I realized that the future and the past are inventions of my mind.</b> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's why I think so: A state of anxiety is fueled by my concern with future outcomes. Depression is regret or a negative view of the past. Both are delusions because they are, by definition, inventions of the mind. In my mental view of the past, I see it as I did at the time it happened, which is almost always an incorrect view. Incorrect because it is colored by the lens of my perception at the time. Sometimes this coloring is even subconscious. Here's a random example of what I mean. When I was a child I viewed using a computer, differently than I do now and may even view it differently again in the future. The future, of course, has not happened yet, and so it is completely an invention of our mind based on past experiences. No one knows for sure what will happen next. However, if I view the future with expectation of an outcome, based on past experience, it is much more likely that my behavior will influence my actions in the present. Depending on the view, this could be good or bad.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The thinking mind is nearly always projecting into the past and future. The thinking mind is the internal narrator, the part that's hard to turn off at night when you are trying to sleep, the part that's always going, maybe even when you are reading this. The "thinker" is always creating a narrative, an invented story that's imbued with meaning. This "thinker" <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-ego-mind-left-brain.html">(left brain, ego)</a> is also prone to delusion...which ultimately leads to anxiety, depression and self generated stress. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Don't get me wrong, thinking is not bad, however, based on my experience I don't feel it's meant to be the default mode of being.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Being in this thinking, analyzing state is not possible when focusing in the present moment, only awareness. I realized in my case I had become completely identified with the thinker. This part of us can become fearful because it has <a href="http://sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/10/anxiety-identifying-with-things-other.html">incorrectly identified</a> with being you. However "the thinker", (the logical problem solving mode of our consciousness) while useful as a tool for carrying out tasks is not the essence of who we are, just a part of the whole. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Being locked into this problem solving mode of consciousness can also cause a lot of stress. Why? Because, by default, thinking is preoccupied with future outcomes based on past experience. This type of thought process can also trigger physiological responses in the body. For example while my mind is rolling through the imagined possibilities, the power of my imagination is so thorough that it also engages my body's physiology too. As you're probably well aware, our thoughts trigger various chemical, hormones and electrical signals in the body. This can be good or bad, but in the case of anxiety and depression the thought process is triggering a series of events that are also leading to physical and then more mental discomfort. This can become feedback loop between the mind and body and the worst part is that this type of thought process is not always even logical, sound or based in reality. While there are many, many stress management techniques, they are all temporary and they are nearly all aimed at one thing, which is to minimize "thinking" and focus on the present moment. The only way to eliminate stress completely is to minimize the constant interpretation of the present and instead cultivate a pure awareness of the present. In this mode of pure awareness there is no time for interpretation, judgement or fear. To eliminate "thinking" is to be fully present in the moment and awareness. To eliminate thinking and be in awareness is to be free of false identification, expectation and attachment. This is the state of pure joy.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">All thoughts cease in the present moment. "Meditation" is nothing more than practicing your ability to access this "present moment awareness". For me, returning to this state of awareness has been to return to freshness of a child's mind and a true feeling of youth and timelessness. Yes, it takes practice and I'm not always on it...but now I know.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The only time is NOW!</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7OgPh7nYVkE/Unvg12Hb-ZI/AAAAAAAAASk/Jd0s46LUWYE/s1600/_thinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7OgPh7nYVkE/Unvg12Hb-ZI/AAAAAAAAASk/Jd0s46LUWYE/s400/_thinker.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="297" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b> <br></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That's my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091542013-10-21T12:44:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Anxiety: identifying with things other than me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Sometime during my anxiety I realized slowly, piece by piece, that much of my anxiety was caused by focusing on things that were not me as though they were me...or that they at least represented me. I later saw that I had given power to so many things that I had no control over..things like whether a particular venture was successful in my eyes...or how I thought another person viewed me. Of course once I realized this it seemed completely ridiculous, and yet as a society we are all trained to do this all of the time to some degree or another. This is what the ego part of us does, tries to know things by looking at clues, signs or patterns about situations or other people. It's really a kind of defense mechanism. There is a place for that, however, if I don't temper this type of analysis by asking if it is really true, then there can be trouble in the form of judgement, hatred, suspicion of others and more. All of this, of course, is a result of one thing. Fear. Unknowingly, it's easy to turn this type of analysis back at ourselves, thinking that our judgements of others are accurate enough to warrant trying to live up to a similar standard for ourselves. This kind of self judgement causes anxiety, anger, depression and delusion. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Here are some of the things that I identified with...that are not me (or I've noticed in others close to me):</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Identification with income</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with house</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with car</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with clothing</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with marriage or relationship or status</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with talents</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with reputation</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with others opinion</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with a political position or party</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with football team</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with ideas or philosophies</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with race</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with nationality</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with current events</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> sexuality</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> friends</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> a group of people</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> religion or viewpoint</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with the future or outcomes</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Identification</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> with past regrets</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">etc...etc... etc...</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">You've probably noticed someone you're close to (or yourself) go through various moods related to some of these. I have certainly done it to myself to the point of exhaustion.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Later though, I realized that as long as I am OK with me and can love myself, none of these things really have power. Also, I noticed that my experience of life was infinitely better, opening me to connections and relationships I might not have made otherwise. Throughout life we are all in various stages of becoming and unbecoming. In youth, everything is about becoming and acquiring gifts, talents and sometimes things. Then we maintain. Later, we let go. This is a continuous process (in small and large cycles). Some of the things we work to become, others are just part of what we are given. Any of these phases can be stressful depending on how we view it. Of course, I realized later that my identity should always be in who I am...(not peripheral things that are always changing.) </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">The core of our being never really changes...from childhood to old age. Getting back in touch with that core was key for me. It's given me the space to love myself and others more completely. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Isn't that what this life is all about?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank"></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to share info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091552013-10-01T17:51:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Sound Therapy Basics<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may have heard of music therapy which has become more well known in the last few decades. Music therapy is now used as a common approach in mainstream hospitals and health centers throughout the world. Music therapy is used most commonly by employing musical melodies, well known songs or group musical activities to positively affect the cognitive or psychological states of the patient.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sound therapy is like music therapy's cousin. It may seem like sound therapy is a fairly recent exploration, (i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">f you are even aware of it)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> but it is actually thousands of years old and has roots in nearly every sacred musical tradition around the world. Now science is beginning to piece together how sound therapy can affect us on such a profound physical, mental and spiritual level.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>What is sound therapy?</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sound Therapy is similar to music therapy, but has a few key differences. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sound therapy </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">focuses more on the elements of sound and their physiological and neurological effects. This is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the deeper connection of sound, frequency and rhythm to our physiology. Specifically used, sound has the ability to affect us on a deeper level, by enabling us to transcend our normal, day to day, states of consciousness and find states of relaxation or even transcendence from day to day stresses. Sound therapy also focuses less on the traditional styles of music and more on sounds (specific frequencies or rhythms). Most of the time it is intentionally kept simple in order for the listener to focus less on the composition and facilitate a mental space for letting go of stress.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>How does this work?</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The whole universe is composed of moving and vibrating energy and we are too. Our bodies are rhythm based systems. We have a heartbeat, in and out breath, pulsation, digestive rhythms, circadian rhythms etc. Our brainwaves are even measured by frequency which is also a measurement of rhythm. Specific sounds, frequencies and oscillations have the ability to entrain, or synchronize our brainwaves and physical systems. This enables our body the chance to re-harmonize, balance and find deeper states of relaxation.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Thinking of our brainwave states or <a href="http://www.biocybernaut.com/about/brainwaves/alpha.htm"><b>states of being as "gears"</b></a> is one way to look at relaxation. As I have mentioned in earlier posts there are four main states of consciousness that are represented by specific frequency ranges in the brain. The brainwave states and associated hertz are:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>Beta</b> - (13-38 hertz) This is our active waking, problem solving state of being.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>Alpha</b> - (8-13 hertz) This is a relaxed and calm state or light meditation.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>Theta</b> - (4-7 hertz) This is associated with deep relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, visualization etc. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>Delta</b> - (below 4 hertz) This is associated with deep dreamless sleep. Buddhist Monks and advanced meditation practitioners have also been measured in this state during meditation. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Most of the time we are in Beta State. This is our waking, alert, problem solving state of being. When we go to sleep we briefly pass thru Alpha and Theta on our way to deep sleep in the Delta waves. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I like this <a href="http://www.biocybernaut.com/about/brainwaves/alpha.htm" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>analogy</b></a> of looking at these states like gears on a car. If you had a car with four gears, but you only drove in first and fourth, then obviously that wouldn't be very efficient. Also, this would put stress on the car. I think the same is true with our minds. We have been conditioned to think we should be in full Beta mode soon after waking up and then at the end of the day we should just switch it off and go right to sleep. Unfortunately, that doesn't really work very well. This type of conditioning results in imbalances that can lead to insomnia, anxiety and stress. Being able to understand and access the other gears in our minds is important to being able to function well.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>So how does a person learn to access these other gears?</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Sound Therapy and Brainwave Entrainment is one very effective way. Other great tools include yoga, meditation, prayer, exercise and healthy foods. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>What is entrainment?</b> </span></span></span><br><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Entrainment is when two systems come into synchronization with each other. This was first noticed by Christian Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock. He noticed that the pendulum clock in his shop would always "sync up" to each other. This phenomena was later studied and the idea of Entrainment came into being. Here is a quick video showing a group of metronomes </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">entraining to each other.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DD7YDyF6dUk" width="560"></iframe></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This type of entrainment also happens with our brainwaves. Because the brain, the heart and the breath are all connected via the parasympathetic nervous system, this helps to relax our entire body and essentially allow us the space to find a new level of harmony within the body.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With sound therapy, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">our brainwaves are entraining to an existing oscillation that is contained in the sound or musical background. Our brains do this naturally. This occurs because of a phenomenon called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_following_response" target="_blank"><b>Frequency Following Response</b></a> or FFR. The repetitive nature of these oscillations encourage our brainwaves to entrain with the oscillation, much like the metronomes in the video above. In this way we are able to access some of the "gears" in our mind states. Accessing these different gears not only give the mind a rest, but because the mind the heart and breathing are all connecting via the Parasympathetic Nervous System, they also give our body a rest. <b><a href="http://sonicyogi.bandcamp.com/album/nature-sounds-with-binaural-beats" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Binaural beats</a> <a href="http://sonicyogi.bandcamp.com/album/nature-sounds-with-binaural-beats" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">(download some here)</a></b> are sound oscillations that give our brains a window into accessing these mental states. Other instruments, like Tibetan Singing Bowls or Crystal Bowls also produce these types of oscillations.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br><b>What is an oscillation?</b> </span></span></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span>according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillation" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">wikipedia</a>: </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>"Oscillation</b> is the repetitive variation, typically in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Time">time</a>, of some measure about a central value (often a point of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_equilibrium" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Mechanical equilibrium">equilibrium</a>) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Pendulum">pendulum</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Alternating current">AC</a> power. The term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibration" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Vibration">vibration</a> is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but is sometimes used as a synonym of "oscillation". Oscillations occur not only in physical systems but also in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Ecology">biological systems</a>, from human <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Society">society</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_oscillation" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Neural oscillation">brain</a>."</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Remember, the body is a rhythm machine. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">You have a heartbeat, pulsation in your vessels, your brainwaves create frequency (another type of rhythm) and your breath expands and contracts and our digestive system even has it's own rhythm. We have circadian rhythms that regulate waking and sleep states from night to day. On the micro level even our </span><a href="http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-01/do-cells-make-noise" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>cells have their own rhythms and vibrations</b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">. It is important that these things function in concert with each other with ease. Stress is imbalance and disharmony. In order to maintain harmony and ease, we have to maintain synchronicity and harmony in the system. The best part about this is that our bodies are naturally inclined toward this state. We just have to relax, do the right things (eat well, exercise, sleep...and practice relaxing!!) and get out of the body's way. This can seem very complicated depending on your situation, but each step you take towards back towards harmony will pay big dividends and your body will thank you.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are just some of the basics of sound therapy. Some of the sounds and techniques may seem unusual or even mystical, they are grounded in very measurable scientific concepts that are universal. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the end of the day w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hether we're talking about science, religion, psychology or drugs, sex and rock'n roll it's is all about letting go of stress and feeling great...and sound therapy won't give you a hangover!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/07/sound-therapy-and-sound-massage.html"><b>For more on personal sound therapy sessions click here.</b></a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span> Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091562013-09-18T12:31:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Relaxation takes... Practice?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Yes, relaxation takes practice. Maybe not as much practice as learning to play guitar or surf, but it still takes practice. I used to think relaxing was just sitting on the couch and watching TV or surfing the internet. While that's not bad, it's not really the best way to relax. When truly relaxing it's important to give the brain (and body) a chance to find another gear. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Thinking of our brainwave states or states of being as "gears" is one way to look at relaxation. As I have mentioned in earlier posts there are four main states of consciousness that are represented by specific frequency ranges in the brain. The brainwave states and associated hertz are:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><b>Beta</b> - (13-38 hertz) This is our active waking, problem solving state of being.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Alpha</b> - (8-13 hertz) This is a relaxed and calm state or light meditation.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Theta</b> - (4-7 hertz) This is associated with deep relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, visualization etc. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>Delta</b> - (below 4 hertz) This is associated with deep dreamless sleep. Buddhist Monks and advanced meditation practitioners have also been measured in this state during meditation. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">Most of the time we are in Beta State. This is our waking, alert, problem solving state of being. When we go to sleep we briefly pass thru Alpha and Theta on our way to deep sleep in the Delta waves. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I like the <a href="http://www.biocybernaut.com/about/brainwaves/alpha.htm" target="_blank">analogy</a> of looking at these states like gears on a car. If you had a car with four gears, but you only drove in first and fourth, then obviously that wouldn't be very efficient. Also, this would put stress on the car. I think the same is true with our minds. We have been conditioned to think we should be in full Beta mode soon after waking up and then at the end of the day we should just switch it off and go right to sleep. Unfortunately, that doesn't really work very well. This type of conditioning results in imbalances that can lead to insomnia, anxiety and stress. Being able to understand and access the other gears in our minds is important to being able to function well.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">So how does a person learn to access these other gears?</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Sound Therapy and Brainwave Entrainment is one very effective way. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What is Entrainment? Entrainment is when two systems come into synchronization with each other. This was first noticed by Christian Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock. He noticed that the pendulum clock in his shop would always "sync up" to each other. This phenomena was later studied and the idea of Entrainment came into being. Here is a quick video showing a group of metronomes </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">entraining to each other.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DD7YDyF6dUk" width="560"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">With the <a href="http://sonicyogi.bandcamp.com/album/nature-sounds-with-binaural-beats" target="_blank">entrainment of Sound Therapy</a>, our brainwaves are entraining to an existing oscillation. The repetitive nature of these oscillations encourage our brainwaves to entrain with the oscillation, much like the metronomes in the video above. In this way we are able to access some of the "gears" in our mind states. Accessing these different gears not only give the mind a rest, but because the mind the heart and breathing are all connecting via the Parasympathetic Nervous System, they also give our body a rest. <a href="http://sonicyogi.bandcamp.com/album/nature-sounds-with-binaural-beats" target="_blank">Binaural beats</a> <a href="http://sonicyogi.bandcamp.com/album/nature-sounds-with-binaural-beats" target="_blank">(download some here)</a> are sound oscillations that give our brains a window into accessing these mental states. Other instruments, like Tibetan Singing Bowls or Crystal Bowls also produce these types of oscillations.</span></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What is an oscillation? according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscillation" target="_blank">wikipedia</a>: </span></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>"Oscillation</b> is the repetitive variation, typically in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Time">time</a>, of some measure about a central value (often a point of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_equilibrium" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Mechanical equilibrium">equilibrium</a>) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples include a swinging <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendulum" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Pendulum">pendulum</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Alternating current">AC</a> power. The term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibration" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Vibration">vibration</a> is sometimes used more narrowly to mean a mechanical oscillation but is sometimes used as a synonym of "oscillation". Oscillations occur not only in physical systems but also in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Ecology">biological systems</a>, from human <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Society">society</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_oscillation" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Neural oscillation">brain</a>."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Remember, the body is a rhythm machine. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">You have a heartbeat, pulsation in your vessels, your brainwaves create frequency (another type of rhythm) and your breath expands and contracts and our digestive system even has it's own rhythm. We have circadian rhythms that regulate waking and sleep states from night to day. On the micro level even our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-01/do-cells-make-noise" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">cells have their own rhythms and vibrations</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">. It is important that these things function in concert with each other with ease. Stress is imbalance and disharmony. In order to maintain harmony and ease, we have to maintain synchronicity and harmony in the system. The best part about this is that our bodies are naturally inclined toward this state. We just have to relax, do the right things (eat well, exercise, sleep...and practice relaxing!!) and get out of the body's way. This can seem very complicated depending on your situation, but each step you take towards harmony will pay big dividends and your body will thank you.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So, while there is nothing wrong with vegging out, watching TV or checking your FaceBook feed, it's not necessarily relaxing in the same sense of giving the body and mind a chance find a new gear in order to download the days stresses, recoup, re-harmonize and truly relax. Remember to take some quiet time each day just for you.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091572013-08-16T12:29:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Everybody let's get Stoned! (Feeling High Naturally)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coming out of anxiety, I noticed I began to feel better and better. Not only was I not feeling anxious, but I started to feel joyous, blissful ...happy from the inside out. This was a process for me and the pendulum seemed to swing back and forth at times sometime blissful and then later depressed or stressed out. Was I becoming manic depressive I wondered? Gradually, over the next few weeks the pendulum of emotions started to stay more firmly in the "blissful" category. I was unwinding the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/07/three-types-of-stress.html" target="_blank">physical, mental and environmental stresses</a> in my life and finding a place of balance. I eventually came to a place where I even started to feel "high", when I was relaxing. When I say high I mean I felt "marijuana high"!! At first I was a little concerned about this..could this be normal? So I later I had blood tests with my doctor to check it out. Everything turned out to be fine. There was nothing out of the ordinary with the tests. I came to realize that this was a completely natural state of being, we are supposed to feel good. But, I wanted to find out why, so I started learning more about our bodies natural systems and how they might be similar to the effects produced by Cannabis (Marijuana).</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Here is some of what I have learned:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Our bodies have a built in Cannabinoid System. What is a Cannabinoid System?</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The human body has Cannabinoid receptors that are specifically designed to receive Cannabinoids.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Cannabinoids are one of the chemical components of the Cannabis plant (Marijuana). THC is the psychoactive component.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Cannabinoids also occur and are produced naturally in our body.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Cannabinoid receptors are located mainly in the brain, liver and sex organs. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">These videos explain it in a bit more detail.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bCg9HAIB8C4" width="560"></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/l0GMar5OlaQ" width="420"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/U_lPnGbk444" width="560"></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So you can see from the videos that our bodies have this system built in! I feel that by balancing the the nervous system and reducing and eliminating stress through things like diet, meditation, yoga, and sound therapy (to name a few) that these built in systems can begin to kick into gear and you too can feel "high", naturally.</span><br><br>Am I suggesting that everyone should use Cannabis or smoke pot? No. Especially because it is still illegal in many places. It seems, though, that is changing.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I also feel that it can open parts of our psychological and spiritual being that one should be aware of.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> I think that it is powerful medicine, and just as you wouldn't drink cough syrup indiscriminately, Cannabis should also not be looked at as a frivolous recreational escape. It could also be counterproductive and actually <a href="http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2005559-1,00.html" target="_blank">cause anxiety depending on the person's current states of stress and mental well being</a>.<br><br>In my case, I feel that just being aware of what it felt like to use Cannabis, gave me the reference point for understanding what was happening in my body as these systems began to kick into gear. The bottom line, I feel, is for each of us to begin a plan of reducing stress and there are very real and blissful benefits to be had! <br><br>Here are some interesting articles:<br><br>Cannabinoids occur naturally in human breast milk.<br><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/036526_cannabinoids_breast_milk_THC.html#ixzz245sb30CO">http://www.naturalnews.com/036526_cannabinoids_breast_milk_THC.html#ixzz245sb30CO</a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Do phytocannabinoids exist outside of the Cannabis plant?</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2931553/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2931553/</a></span><br><br>Cannabinoid receptors in the brain.<br><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor</a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Cannabinoids may slow brain aging.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/29/how-cannabinoids-may-slow-brain-aging/">http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/29/how-cannabinoids-may-slow-brain-aging/</a></span><br><br><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091582013-07-29T21:53:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Hydrate! Drink more Water<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, this may sound too easy, but I found that drinking more water and making sure I'm well hydrated really helps with reducing stress and just feeling good in general. I have seen this idea echoed in a lot of different places. Now that I am aware of it, I have noticed that even being a little dehydrated can affect me in terms of feeling stressed. It can take quite a while for the body to re-hydrate fully. As part of a yoga retreat, I attended a class about a type of muscle therapy and the instructor mentioned that as he worked with a patient that he could tell if a person was dehydrated by the way their muscles responded to touch. Whether they snapped back into position or responded slower. He mentioned that it could take several weeks for the person to become fully hydrated and to experience a return of elasticity to those muscles. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How does dehydration cause stress?</b> Here are some quotes from an article on WebMD. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a direct link: <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/water-stress-reduction">http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/water-stress-reduction</a></span><br><br><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Studies have shown that being just half a liter dehydrated can increase your cortisol levels,” says Amanda Carlson, RD, director of performance nutrition at Athletes’ Performance, a trainer of world-class athletes.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Cortisol is one of those stress hormones. Staying in a good hydrated status can keep your stress levels down. When you don’t give your body the fluids it needs, you’re putting stress on it, and it’s going to respond to that,” Carlson tells WebMD.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">“You’re actually likely to get more dehydrated when you’re under stress, because your heart rate is up and you’re breathing more heavily, so you’re losing fluid,” says Renee Melton, MS, RD, LD, director of nutrition for Sensei, a developer of online and mobile weight loss and nutrition programs. “And during times of stress, you’re more likely to forget to drink and eat well. Just getting enough fluids helps to keep you at your best during times like these.”</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stress can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause stress. It’s a vicious cycle. You can break it by building more water consumption into your day. “Stress can result in many of the same responses as dehydration -- increased heart rate, nausea, fatigue, headache -- so if you can remain hydrated you can reduce the magnitude of the physiological responses we have to stress,” says Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, managing director of Baptist Sports Medicine in Nashville.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">How do you know if you’re dehydrated?</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, are you thirsty? If you are, you’re already dehydrated. </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second, take a look at the bowl the next time you go to the bathroom. If the urine is dark in color and has a pungent smell, you’re dehydrated. The darker the urine and the stronger the smell, the more dehydrated you are. </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce to an ounce of water for every pound you weigh, every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day. If you’re living in a hot climate and exercising a lot, you’d be on the higher end of that range; if you’re in a cooler climate and mostly sedentary, you’d need less.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, soft drinks, coffee, alcohol, and probiotic drinks like Kombucha or Water Kefir can contribute to dehydration. So, if you drink any of these be sure to follow up with plenty of water! </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here. </a></i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"></a></i><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091592013-07-28T23:22:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Sound Downloads<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The tracks below are of the set of tibetan singing bowls I have collected. These types of singing bowls have been used since ancient times in meditations and healing work. They are <a href="http://youtu.be/4UdEYKFflrM?t=6m30s" target="_blank">traditionally made</a> with 7 metals representing the 7 planets that the tibetan monks were aware of at the time. The bowls produce monaural beats and harmonic overtones that affect body and mind on a deep level. The bowl set here is based on the Earth tone. This is also known as "Om" and is the calculated sound signature of the Earth as it travels around the sun. In Indian music this is also called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/136.1_Hz" target="_blank">Sadja</a>. The corresponding bowls were matched according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra" target="_blank">the Chakra system</a> in Ayurvedic medicine. This also corresponds roughly with the western major scale.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><i><b>Don't listen to these while driving. They are designed to induce deep relaxation. </b></i></span></i>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i>The mp3 downloads on this page are free. <a href="http://sonicyogi.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank"><b>You can also download higher quality formats here and also choose to support this work.</b></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="370" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F4047363" width="100%"></iframe><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These tracks are nature sounds that I recorded and then added binaural beats later. I intended these as meditations without music. My idea was to create a space to just zone out and not think for a while. I also love listening to the sounds of nature. Each one is 30 minutes long and the hertz of each of the binaural beats are listed on the track. The first 3 tracks will sync to a lower more relaxed range (I like these for nightime listening before bed). Track 4 goes from 6hz to 10hz (a relaxed but active state), I like this best for listening to at the start of the day.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Note: It has helped me to listen to a track (or tracks in a similar hertz range) for at least a week, in order for my mind to get used to syncing to that range. Later, it occured faster became more automatic. Experiment to see what works for you.</span></i></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i><i><b>Don't listen to these while driving. They are designed to induce deep relaxation. </b>Also,<b> </b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401062/Beware-of-Binural-Therapy.html?print=1" target="_blank">If you have epilepsy or an irregular heart beat <b>please read</b> this before using binaural beats.</a> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><i>In the unlikely event that you experience any unusual physical or mental discomfort, immediately discontinue use.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F3188192" width="100%"></iframe> </span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TheSonicYogi" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Get updates via email.</span></b></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><b>What are binaural beats? </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats" target="_blank">Binaural Beats</a> are a way of syncing the brainwaves to a desired frequency range. For example, if I was in a stressed state and wanting to bring my brainwaves down to a more relaxed range, listening to binaural beats could help me to achieve this.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br></i></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>How do Binaural Beats (and other types of Brainwave synchronization) work? </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Our brains have a frequency following response. This means that when we are exposed to repetitive beats our brainwaves naturally attempt to sync to them. Imagine yourself listing to the repetitive sounds of a passing train or as a child sleeping to the repetitive sound in the car. Binaural Beats and other types of entrainment work in a similar way.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Binaural Beats help us achieve the lower subsonic states by using two slightly differing tones (in headphones). The brain attempts to sync to the difference of the two tones with each tone panned in each ear of the headphones. For example if your left ear heard 100hz and your right ear heard 105hz, the difference would be 5hz. Then, the brain would attempt to sync to 5hz. This basically sounds like vibrato on a stringed instrument or the "wah wah" sound of a tibetan bowl.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">For me this, has turned out to be a great tool for relaxation and meditation. Also, I feel that the more I have gotten used to the feel of different brainwave states, they are much easier to access later. Kind of like tuning in to a certain "radio station".</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">In general, binaural beats work best with headphones however, I also mixed a monaural beat and it seems to work well for me without headphones. (The monaural beat is the same frequency as the binaural beat, just mixed mono and panned to the center). I did this so it would be convenient to listen to while going to sleep (without headphones). Again, just experiment to see what works for you.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Here are basic descriptions of some of the brain states</i>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Brainwave ranges:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Beta - 30hz-13hz - your normal awake state, in higher ranges or above 30hz you may be experiencing stress. In this case, you gotta relax or you may hurt yourself!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Alpha - 13z-8hz - a relaxed and reflective state</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Theta - 8hz-4hz - a very meditative state or getting drowsy and drifting off, if your sleepy)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Delta - 4hz and below - deep sleep or a very deep meditative state. Buddhist Monk's brainwaves have also been measured in this state during meditation.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">So is this the holy grail to solve all stress problems? For me, no, but it has been a major piece of the puzzle and an extremely effective tool. Other great tools for me also include yoga, meditation and diet and exercise.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Here is an article from Wikipedia about Brainwave Entrainment:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_entrainment" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_entrainment</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The brainwave states (Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta) are listed on this page (scroll down to the table)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Binaural Beat Sets:</b></span> <iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F4552864" width="100%"></iframe></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b><b>Instrumentals</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These are based around certain frequency centers, so they don't really have chord progressions as you would normally hear in music. For me, these are more about letting go of the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/02/the-ego-mind-left-brain.html" target="_blank">left brain's</a> structured thoughts and centering.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe buying="false" frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F5605400" width="100%"></iframe></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F97577601" width="100%"></iframe>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091602013-07-20T22:02:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00A Beast in the Yeast - (Kicking Candida) pt. 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Candida is a pathogenic yeast. While it occurs in small amounts in our gut it is ideally kept in check by healthy bacteria. Use of antibiotics, or eating too many carbs and sugars can allow bad bacteria to flourish and throw can throw off this balance.</span><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the strangest things about going on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering-ebook/dp/B004X80456/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374418154&sr=1-1&keywords=body+ecology+diet+by+donna+gates" target="_blank">Candida Diet</a> for me, was that every time kicked it up a notch in terms of what killed off the Candida in my system I noticed definite mood changes. I would experience definite changes in terms of anxiety or irritability. At first I wasn't completely sure that these two events coincided, but over time I have monitored my own situation closely to see. Still in the back of my mind, I wondered if I was just creating this all in my head? I mean how could working on my digestive system seem to affect my moods so closely?</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span>Just recently, my sister brought an article to my attention that confirms just that. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><u><br></u></span><u>Our digestive system, specifically the flora in our intestinal tract influences brain function.</u></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here's a direct link to the article:</span></span></span><br><a href="http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/changing-gut-bacteria-through-245617.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/changing-gut-bacteria-through-245617.aspx</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Here are some of the high points from the article:</span></span><br><br><br><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.</span> </span></span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The discovery that changing the bacterial environment, or microbiota, in the gut can affect the brain carries significant implications for future research that could point the way toward dietary or drug interventions to improve brain function, the researchers said.</span> </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Researchers have known that the brain sends signals to the gut, which is why stress and other emotions can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms. This study shows what has been suspected but until now had been proved only in animal studies: that signals travel the opposite way as well.</span> </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Time and time again, we hear from patients that they never felt depressed or anxious until they started experiencing problems with their gut," Tillisch said. "Our study shows that the gut–brain connection is a two-way street."</span> </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the resting brain scan, the women consuming probiotics showed greater connectivity between a key brainstem region known as the periaqueductal grey and cognition-associated areas of the prefrontal cortex. The women who ate no product at all, on the other hand, showed greater connectivity of the periaqueductal grey to emotion- and sensation-related regions, while the group consuming the non-probiotic dairy product showed results in between. </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The researchers were surprised to find that the brain effects could be seen in many areas, including those involved in sensory processing and not merely those associated with emotion, Tillisch said.</span> </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The knowledge that signals are sent from the intestine to the brain and that they can be modulated by a dietary change is likely to lead to an expansion of research aimed at finding new strategies to prevent or treat digestive, mental and neurological disorders, said Dr. Emeran Mayer, a professor of medicine (digestive diseases), physiology and psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study's senior author.</span> </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, as the complexity of the gut flora and its effect on the brain is better understood, researchers may find ways to manipulate the intestinal contents to treat chronic pain conditions or other brain related diseases, including, potentially, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and autism.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-beast-in-yeast-kicking-candida-pt-1.html" target="_blank">Also, see my original post about Candida here.</a> What it is.. and some of the things you can do to kick it.</span><br><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F98465797" width="100%"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here.</a></i></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span></span></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091612013-07-16T18:23:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Why Yoga?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga has helped me immensely. It has helped me to relax, to learn to be at home in my body and in a lot of ways to grow mentally and spiritually. That sounds like a lot, right? We'll it is. I never cease to be amazed how good I feel after a yoga session.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I got into Yoga a few years ago via the Gold's Gym class. It was sort of a Yoga hybrid called Centergy. I was a little reluctant to try it at first because there weren't many other guys in the class. In fact I don't think there were any. Yes, it felt a little weird at first to be doing these swaying, bending, hip moving motions with a room full of soccer moms. To be honest though it just looked relaxing to me. I was coming through a time of stress and just trying to get myself back into shape and it seemed like a good step. Turns out, it was relaxing, but it was also extremely challenging. I was learning to use muscles I didn't know I had. I'm still finding them!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I continued on with Centergy for about a year and later heard about a class in a woman's home nearby. Her name was Debbie. Jenn had already tried her class a few times and liked it a lot. It was definitely harder than Centergy, but I was ready to try something like this. Debbie is a great teacher. Patient, and kind yet willing to push us. She also explained the poses, so my understanding of what was supposed to be happening physically was starting to grow. She talked about splitting the energy of the pose between tension and relaxation. Which muscles to focus on and about learning to breathe correctly from pose to pose. Slowly I started to understand more of what I was going for and how it was affecting my body, but it took quite a while (over a year) for this understanding to start to sink in. After classes, I sometimes felt so good it was like getting a mini high. I also started to notice in certain poses things coming up emotionally, sadness or anger etc., just out of the blue. These feelings would come and go, but I started to understand that my body, mind and spirit are deeply connected. So far, Yoga was helping to be a much more relaxed person.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is Yoga?</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More than anything I think Yoga is a science of how our body relates to our mind. I read that Yoga predates Hinduism by a few hundred years. So to lump it in solely with Hinduism is probably not entirely accurate. I have come to see Yoga as a spiritual practice though. How could anything that helps a person connect with their mind, emotions and spirit in such a definitive way NOT be considered a spiritual practice. After all, what is being spiritual about? It's about feeling good and being good to others. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what scriptures, dogmas or philosophies you have ...or if you hang with really spiritual people..if you don't feel good and respect yourself and in turn treat others with that same respect, then that's all pretty worthless. (And isn't that the trouble in the world, in a nutshell? ..people not treating themselves and each other with respect.) Yoga has also helped me to deepen my connection to the Spirit, God. Many things that I can't fully understand, but I have gotten a glimpse of. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga is also a science and a technology. Over thousands of years these Yogi's figured out what is connected to what and how it can be of benefit to us. It is like the missing owners manual for the human body and our mind-body connection. It is a very profound and useful practice.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What does Yoga do?</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga helps us to balance our nervous system. Our mind, breath and heart are intimately connected and syncing these up properly helps the body to function with greater ease. Before, I started doing Yoga I was definitely NOT functioning at an efficient level. Sometimes I experienced shorter breathing or heart palpitations and I had blood pressure that was definitely too high for my age. Because I didn't feel good overall, I would get angry or frustrated easier and sometimes found just focusing on one thing harder to do.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a typical Yoga practice (session) the Yogi (the person doing yoga) goes through a set of poses and body positions. These are called Asanas. The key is that while the Yogi is going through these physical motions they are also paying attention to their breathing rhythm. So it might be something like.."breathe in, stand up...breath out, bend over..etc...etc.." The teacher helps with keeping up with the sequence, so you hardly have to think about it after a while. Why does this help? As I mentioned the mind (brainwaves), the heartbeat, and the breath are all connected. However the only one that we can consciously control is the breathing. While going through the poses the Yogi is building up a sweat, the heart starts beating faster and they start getting a good workout. All the while, the Yogi is paying particular attention to keep the breath slow and steady. So in a way this is working against what we would normally do. Normally our breath would speed up right along with the heart rate during an exercise routine. As a musician I also see this as sort of resetting our tempo, the internal metronome. The brainwaves, heartbeat and the breath are all rhythms. Yes, our body is making music! It's a rhythm machine. By breathing consciously the Yogi is keeping the instrument in tune. This is also training the body to react differently to stress. While the Yogi is exercising they are inducing some physical stress in the form of muscle exertion and increased heartbeat. However, at the same time they are training themselves to maintain a steady and calm pace of breathing. This also naturally calms the mind. So in some ways I see this as a "stress simulation" for other areas of life. It's like learning to be calm in stress inducing situations. Eventually, I believe that this can become hardwired into our nervous system.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga also helps to unwind stresses that have gotten sort of trapped in our body. Over time people can internalize stresses (physical or emotional) in the form of muscle tension in the body. From the time we are children we are learning to react to a confusing and chaotic world. Whether a child burns their hand on the stove accidentally or is scolded by a teacher the basic response is usually to pull back, contract. Contraction IS tension. These contractions occur in our muscles and over time can become part of our muscle memory. How? As babies we are learning to deal with the world at a rapid pace. We are learning as fast as we can about the nature of cause and effect. As we learn some of these things they move on into our subconscious for later use, to be pulled up at a future time that seems relevant. These things we learn are in essence stored in our version of RAM. The trouble is that some of these traumas can also be stored at the physical level in our bodies in the form of muscle tensions or other inefficient physical functioning. Over time it is easy to forget about this and hold on to this tension unconsciously. How does this happen? Our conscious mind just moves on, it is trying to be as efficient as possible and can't rest on one problem. As I mentioned earlier, I would sometimes notice emotions or feelings while I was in certain poses or stretches. I think that this is our body unwinding stress. As the stress unwinds it also has to be revisited by the conscious mind. At least this was my experience. It can be a bit freaky as these tensions find their way out of the body, but letting these tensions go and their corresponding mental states has led me to much deeper states of relaxation and just ease in my physical body. So Yoga is not only teaching the Yogi to deal with future stresses, but also retro engineering and releasing the stress that has become part of the nervous system.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To recap:</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga helps to balance the nervous system. The breath, the heart and the mind.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga helps to release tensions that can become part of our "muscle memory" in the body.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Find a Teacher:</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yoga studios seem to be everywhere these days. You don't have to contort into pretzel shapes or be able to stand on your head. There are gentle yoga classes for beginners (or if you are just returning to exercise) and there are also strenuous Yoga classes that will challenge even the most conditioned atheletes. Find a teacher that is patient and willing to spend some time helping you to understand the poses and breathing. Just remember it takes a while for it all to sink in, so stick with it!!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Links:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Scientific basis of Yoga Therapy:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/for_teachers/2016">http://www.yogajournal.com/for_teachers/2016</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Science of Yoga</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://williamjbroad.com/the-science-of-yoga/">http://williamjbroad.com/the-science-of-yoga/</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(I haven't read this book yet, but it sounds interesting, especially the part about unremitting sexual bliss. :)</i></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091632013-07-03T00:40:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00Three Types of Stress<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stress is caused by a lack of ease. When a machine isn't functioning properly (like when a car runs out of oil) there is obviously going to be stress somewhere in the system. Eventually the system breaks down in the weakest place. There are a lot of stressors I can react to in both my mind and the outside world. The three most obvious to me, from my experience, are the ones I am mentioning below. The thing about it is this, no matter which type of stress I am experiencing or you are experiencing, the body reacts in exactly the same way. It doesn't know the difference.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Mental Stress</b> - This is probably one of the harder ones to remedy, because the root causes are hidden from us (by us) a lot of the times. One of the jobs of the ego, our concept of self, is to protect us from mental pain in our conscious mind. It creates an illusion of separation from others and the outside world. I think in the process of doing this our ego allows a lot of mental stress to go under the radar screen and into our subconscious. Because these "personal demons" are a few layers below what we might be dealing with consciously, it can be harder to pinpoint exactly what it really is that's the actual root of the problem. Most of the time if I dig deep enough I come to the same thing. Stress is usually stemming from a fear that I won't be able to either share love to the level I want to, or that I won't be able to receive love openly and without reservation. Of course, on the surface this could be the last thing from your mind. Typically mental stress can also manifest in what I have come to call <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/01/mental-feedback-loops.html" target="_blank">"mental feedback loops"</a>. These are recurrent thought patterns. In my case, I have noticed that these mental stressors are typically the same ones that come up over and over. As I dig deeper, I realize that I am still reacting to things on a daily basis that were being triggered by an original trauma or stress from years and years ago. Many times these can reside below the level of everyday conscious awareness. I was just reading a book by, clinical psychologist, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Psychology-Awakening-Psychotherapy-Transformation/dp/1570628238" target="_blank">John Welwood called "Towards a Psychology of Awakening"</a> that gives a few examples of this idea:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i>A man had developed the identity of a psychological cripple, with the story line, "I can't do it, I'm not capable," as a way of deflecting attacks from his mother, who would not allow him his own autonomy. In therapy, just as he would get close to important material, a "fog" would arise in his mind, and he would say, "I can't do this..this is beyond me." This fog arose only in moments when he was on the verge of getting in touch with something that might allow him to move beyond his cripple identity. When he finally recognized that this strategy was a highly intelligent move, designed to protect him from attack, rather than evidence of a real incompetence, the fog disappeared and allowed him to start working on this old identity more directly. His masquerade had been a brilliant one that had kept himself and everyone else fooled.</i></span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i>A woman who had developed a pervasive habit of lying had a hard time believing in herself because she felt like a fraud. She had begun to lie in childhood as a way of making herself look good and thus protecting herself from her parents' critical attacks. Since she knew herself to be good inside and could not understand why they couldn't see that, lying became her way of trying to get them to see that she WAS good.</i></span></li></ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i>A man suffered from depression because he felt that life was hopeless. Yet when he investigated this depression, he discovered a well of sadness, which was connected to growing up in a disconnected dysfunctional family. Feeling sad as a child had actually helped him feel more alive, more real than his family, and was thus a way of differentiating himself from them and finding himself. The problem was that he had come to identify with his sadness, thinking that was who he was. And this was the source of his depression. Through realizing that his sadness has merely been a doorway into soulfulness, depth and sensitivity to his life, he began to realize that he could have those qualities without having to identify himself as an outsider who was doomed to be alienated all his life.</i></span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span>As I mentioned, working through these types of issues can be tough because self deception can be hard to identify and then admit. Sometimes it takes outside help from a counselor or psychologist. This is where meditation also helps. However, it's important to learn to forgive ourselves and love ourselves in order to move past these road blocks and to change. Unloading these types of burdens can be one of the most powerful forms of stress release available. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Environmental Stress</b> - Environmental stress is happening around us all the time. In most cases our nervous system is balanced enough to be able to handle it. However, when we are compromised by either mental or physical stress, environmental stressors can seem overwhelming. Take sounds for instance. Listen closely to the sounds in your immediate surroundings. What do you hear? Right now, I am in a hotel room. I hear traffic noise outside, I hear a fan running, I hear a low hum from the refrigerator etc..etc.. I notice these types of mechanical noises more often and these can really cause a low level of stress. Just the vibrations from something like a refrigerator can have a negative impact on the bodies natural rhythms. Think about it, your body is a rhythm machine! You have a heartbeat, pulsation in your vessels, your brainwaves create frequency (another type of rhythm) and your breath expands and contracts and our digestive system even has it's own rhythm. We have circadian rhythms that regulate waking and sleep states from night to day. On the micro level even our <a href="http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-01/do-cells-make-noise" target="_blank">cells have their own rhythms and vibrations</a>. It is important that these things function in concert with each other with ease. Because we can naturally pick up on the rhythms of the environment, just like when we listen to music, it is possible for the cacophony of modern machinery to affect us too. In modern life, we have come up with a lot of great things to make our lives easier, but I think it's also important to be aware of how these things might be impacting our daily lives on another, perhaps unconscious level. Other environmental stressors, could include smells, chemicals in the air, pollution, pesticides etc.. Obviously, it's impossible to control all of these things all of the time, but it might be worth giving some thought to the ones that you have the power to change.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Physical Stresses</b> - Physical stresses can come from conditions in the physical body that are </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">already manifest</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. I think one way that physical stresses show up is as a result of mental stresses that have, over time manifested themselves into physical stresses. These could include obvious stress related health problems like high blood pressure, digestive issues, headaches.. etc.. etc.. I think it's also possible that stress could also contribute to many other physical ailments that aren't usually associated with stress. Stress is obviously caused by a lack of ease, and so over time this stress is bound to manifest physically as dis-ease. No need to fear though, because I believe that we all have the power to become less stressed and find the ease that may have become temporarily elusive. The best part is that our bodies are designed to repair themselves and are continually seeking this balance towards wholeness and ease.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Unfortunately, some of the most common ways of de-stressing that are endorsed in society can actually lead to more stress physically over the long term. Here's a couple and why they don't work, long term.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Alcohol</b> - While it can help release stress temporarily alcohol causes more physical stress later. Over time alcohol causes the body to release the stress hormone cortisol. This can create a cycle of dependence because the person drinking would experience more stress later (from the cortisol reaction) and then try to remedy the stress by drinking more. Obviously, this creates a self perpetuating cycle. I have seen this first hand in some of my closest relationships and it's not good. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_and_cortisol" target="_blank">Here's more info. from wikipedia</a><a href="http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/fall-2010/the-physiology-of-stress-cortisol-and-the-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis#.UdO_147lNIQ" target="_blank">. </a></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Ethanol">Alcohol</a> is a psychoactive drug that has numerous effects on the functioning of the human body. Specifically, alcohol largely affects the body’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_system" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Endocrine system">endocrine system</a>, resulting in changes of various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Hormone">hormone</a> levels caused by impairment of hormone-releasing glands and of target tissues. Hormonal changes may play a large role in alcohol-seeking behavior. Additionally, changes in hormonal levels may explain causation for relapse behavior in recovering alcoholics.</i></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Cortisol">Cortisol</a> is a stress hormone secreted by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_gland" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Adrenal gland">adrenal gland</a>, which makes up part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPA_axis" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="HPA axis">(HPA) axis</a>. It is typically released at periods of high stress designed to help the individual cope with stressful situations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pmid17349749_1-0" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_and_cortisol#cite_note-pmid17349749-1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup> Cortisol secretion results in increased heart rate and blood pressure and the temporary shut down of metabolic processes such as digestion, reproduction, growth, and immunity as a means of conserving energy for the stress response. Chronic release of cortisol over extended periods of time caused by long-term high stress can result in:"</i></span></span><br><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Fatigue</li></i></span></span></ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Hypertension</li></i></span></span></ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Ulcers</li></i></span></span></ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Hampered growth</li></i></span></span></ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Cancer</li></i></span></span></ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Accelerated neural degeneration during aging</li></i></span></span></ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Impaired immune system.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_and_cortisol#cite_note-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0645ad;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; white-space: nowrap;">2"</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">]</span></a></sup>
</li></i></span></span></ul>
</blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/fall-2010/the-physiology-of-stress-cortisol-and-the-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis#.UdO_147lNIQ" target="_blank">And from Dartmouth College.</a></span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Often, students decide to celebrate after a stressful episode by consuming alcohol, often in large quantities over a short time frame. Ironically, this method of releasing stress actually stimulates the HPA axis and encourages the manufacture and release of cortisol. In fact, the elevation in glucocortioid levels as a result of alcohol consumption can be greater than the elevation from stressful stimuli. Alcohol probably functions to activate the HPA axis by disinhibiting it: alcohol depresses the nerve cells responsible for HPA inhibition, thereby elevating HPA axis activity (19). As a result, the adrenal cortex secretes higher levels of cortisol. It is hardly surprising, then, that Dartmouth students and college students generally complain of the consequences of considerable anxiety and pressure: our common responses to stress, lack of sleep, caffeine intake, and alcohol consumption act in conjunction to raise the amount of cortisol in our bodies, augmenting the very stress we seek to combat."</i></span></span></blockquote><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><br></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Drugs</b> - Ok, this may be an overly general statement as "drugs" covers a huge number of things we can put into our bodies. In general though, the majority of prescription drugs are intended to mask the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause. It's important to research any drug and ask what is this doing to me physiologically? Is it masking something I might need to address from another angle? Physical? Mental? </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">As far as recreational drugs go, most of them are narcotic drugs that are also damping the nervous system or providing a means of suppression similar to alcohol. Narcotic drugs can also throw the nervous system into imbalance and create dependency and addiction, which becomes a feedback loop of physical stress on top of the mental stress that caused the person to seek refuge in drugs in the first place.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">There are many excellent (legal) medicines that can give us the space to heal both mentally and physically and I have used some that have helped me immensely. I always try to look at these things as a short term help, while I address the root problem and not just the symptoms. The important thing I try to remember is that doctors are pragmatic, they have to offer a solution that helps the most people, most effectively. Sure they can suggest lifestyle changes, but the number of variables for each patient in terms of food, exercise etc. etc. etc..are astronomical. Plus, most doctors don't (or can't) follow up closely with patients in terms of diet, exercise etc. This seems to have become the realm mostly of "alternative medicine" practitioners. Because of this, I imagine the magic of prescription drugs is the path of least resistance and most effectiveness for them in terms of alleviating symptoms. The other thing I try to remember is that pharmaceuticals are a profit making industry and as in every industry the attractiveness of profit can obscure the usefulness of a good idea and eventually become the problem. It's up to each person to decide what works for them short term and long term. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Junk Foods, Sugars - </b>Foods containing excess sugars, and sodium put a high stress on the physical body. If the physical body is stressed, eventually the mind gets stressed. High sodium and sugars can also create a cycle of dependence, just like drugs. So while you can experience a boost just after eating these foods, they can leave you hungover later and craving even more the next day. This is mostly common sense, but be sure to check the nutritional information if you eat out much, especially the sodium and sugar content. This is posted on the websites of most restaurants. If you haven't done this before, you may be shocked at what you find. I personally don't eat out much anymore because of this. Even "healthy" choices at some restaurants contain really high sodium and sugar content. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The body is a magnificent piece of equipment, and in order to function smoothly it needs the right fuel. The only one who can make the right choice is you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Sometimes this is a process, so be patient with yourself as your habits and choices change. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Above all, use common sense and begin to become aware of what YOUR body is telling YOU.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">--</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Is it coincidence that these things dampen our vital energy? Alcohol is definitely a poison, and you could easily make the argument that certain drugs and junk foods, etc. dampen our energy too. My personal theory is that as we raise life force energy in the body, any psychological / spiritual issues will have to be dealt with in order to have balance and comfort. In a heightened energetic state, I feel it is important to be a free flowing channel, otherwise unresolved issues tend come to the surface of the mind. I have noticed this in myself and have talked to several people who have experienced more mental stress or dealing with personal issues during a period of physical rejuvenation (weight loss, new exercise program, eating healthier, detox diets, fasting etc..) Is there a correlation here? I can't say for sure, but it's worth noticing and paying attention to. </span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><i><br></i></b></span></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091642013-06-17T11:39:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:55-04:00My "Awakening" in a Nutshell<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've mentioned my "awakening" a few times in this blog. So, what does this mean to me? Quite honestly, if someone had told me before this experience that I wasn't "awake". I would have thought it was a retarded idea. </span><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what does awake mean to me? For me it was a realization (which is still evolving). A realization that I am not the contents of my mind. I mean those contents are entirely useful to me, but at a previous time in my life I was being controlled by them because I thought I WAS them. It was important for me to come to the realization that I was NOT my thoughts. Also, that I did not have to believe everything I think. My psyche is composed of different parts. At the time I thought I was just one part that I called "me". I came to realize the part I thought was "me" was not the actual ME. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Say what?!? How can this be? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">This is my view of it now. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I am two main parts: My Ego, and Higher Self</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I think a great analogy is to use a computer analogy. After all, our brains are computers in some sense. In the digital world we have hardware and software. I came to see the "software" that I had constructed for my self as the true "me". That was only partly the truth, because just like my computer all of those scripts and programs are subject to change. If I change all of the programs on my computer is my computer still my computer...right? It may function slightly differently, but it's essence is still the same.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The software part of me is what I now call my <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/02/the-ego-mind-left-brain.html" target="_blank">Ego</a>. Right before this "awakening" process, I had come to a time in my life that I was really not happy with who I was, professionally or personally. All of the energy I had put into being who I wanted to be was just not quite panning out the way I felt like it should. I felt like a professional and personal failure. In fact, I hated myself and it was eating me up. My marriage was shit, and I felt like a loser financially. Although, I had achieved some wonderful things in music, I felt at a loss and none of it filled me up. I had not really come to a full realization that these were even my feelings about myself. I masked these feelings with pride, anger, judgements or the force of my will. It was a painful, unconscious way of NOT looking at myself in the full light of truth. I suffered physically because of it too. I now see that the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/06/you-are-key.html" target="_blank">stress of these</a> painful, unconscious ideas about myself were also manifesting physically as stress in my body. I had high blood pressure, digestive issues, low energy and more. I felt old and burnt out. Finally, I hit the wall. Something had to give. The process of "awakening" was not pleasant. It came about from a time of deep meditation. It opened a window into my soul which gave me a vantage point for these new realizations. As I came to some of these, it felt like I was dying. I was filled with anxiety and dread as I faced many of my personal demons face to face. I now feel this was the process of my ego dying. It was a mental and it was a physical process. (I'll go into this more in another post.) Ultimately, I had to let go of everything I thought was me and submit my will totally and completely to the will of the Universe. The death of the old me opened space for the new. </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The hardware part of me, my truest essence, is what I came to call my Higher Self, <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/04/returning-to-simplicity-of-sound.html" target="_blank">the right brain</a>. By "hardware part" I don't mean my physical body, but the essence of my consciousness. My awareness, pure and simple. i.e. ..I am here now and it is what is! No self judgements. In the space of self loathing and self conscious thoughts I now had the ability to just BE. To not worry if I didn't live up to what I thought I wanted others to think of me. I am just me and I forgive myself for my faults, knowing that my highest intention is to love others as perfectly as I can. Yes, sometimes I fail and that's not always easy. The only human I know of who stands as a pure example this was Jesus Christ (Yeshua), and it's pretty clear it wasn't easy for him! So, I try to forgive myself when I fail, accept grace and try to make it right.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Coming through the anxiety, fear and depression of this awakening was one of the hardest times of my life and I am still working with it. The other side of it was totally worth it though. I felt younger. More joyful. Happy from the inside out. Euphoric!! Grateful for the grace I had in my life and for every moment I had to share. I found a way I could love myself so that I could love others too. That's what I believe we're all here for anyway. To love each other. To give love, and to receive love and to treat others the way we want to be treated. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">I was open to a new dimension of my adult life, but in a way I felt I was just remembering the basics from an earlier more innocent time. Returning to the mind of a child. </span></span><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My goal, with sound therapy (and whatever I am doing) is to hopefully be able to help others to be in that same space within themselves. To find the space of relaxation, ease and letting it all go. I believe sound therapy can be one tool among many to let go of the stresses caused by our <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-ego-mind-left-brain.html" target="_blank">Ego, our left brain interpreter</a> and to open fully to the awareness of our Higher Self. The essence of Love. The essence of wholeness, both mentally and physically.</span><br><br> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank">For sound downloads click here.</a></i></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091652013-06-05T19:37:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00You hold the Key<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Probably one of the most profound, and yet simple, of the epiphanies that I had during my awakening was this:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Physiologically speaking, I am both the experiencer and producer of stress.</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What does this mean exactly? It means that my reaction to probably 99% of the things that I would classify as stress are completely preventable based on how I perceive and react to </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">them.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Next time you notice yourself in a stressful or even slightly uncomfortable situation, take note of your body's physical reactions. For example, say I'm about to speak in public, suddenly I notice my throat is a little clinched and my mouth becomes a bit drier, my palms are sweating a bit more. What is happening? I am reacting to my own self imposed stress based on my perception of the situation. By stopping to take a breath and take inventory of the situation, maybe I can gain a little insight into why I am producing this response. In most cases I find that I am sabotaging myself and reacting to something in my subconscious mind that really has nothing to do with the reality of the present situation. Public speaking is an easy example. I remember dreading having to get up and talk to the class in school. What are people thinking? Will I sound dumb? Have I prepared enough etc etc... The truth is I have know idea what people are thinking and as long as I believe in what I am saying, why should I care if it sounds dumb to anyone? Perhaps, if they react negatively it has nothing to do with me really and maybe they are reacting to some subconscious issue they have? Who knows? There could be a ton of varying examples along these lines. Start paying attention to the small physical sensations that you feel in your body during any type of interaction that happens in your life, especially your closest relationships. <u>They are all trying to say something.</u> (What it is it? That's for each of us to uncover.) A lot of times, I find that these thoughts and responses are responses to the "ego mind". That's the small voice that says I might not be good enough, or that there is not enough good things to go around in the world.. or that I won't find love.. etc..etc.. etc.. Don't listen. It's always asking us to choose fear over Love. Sometimes it's very subtle, sometimes it's not. <i>Let go of the ego and feel good.</i> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The point is to focus the awareness inward on our mental world and the corresponding physical sensations and to short circuit the negative cycle of stress before it starts. It might take practice, but the only one who can do this is me...(or you, in your case). Meditation has helped me a lot for creating the mental space to observe these reactions and feelings and then choose how I want to react, mentally and physically.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The flip side of this equation is that we also hold the key to happiness and bliss.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Physiologically speaking, I am both the experiencer and producer of bliss.</b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Inside of our bodies is a storehouse of chemicals as powerful than anything you could get a prescription for, and <u>they are all waiting to respond to our thoughts</u>. In fact, our bodies have an endogenous (in house) cannabinoid system that is just waiting to produce these feel good chemicals when we find equilibrium in our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. What is a cannabinoid system? Cannabinoids are found in the cannabis or marijuana plant, however they are also found in the human body and brain. We have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor" target="_blank">Cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body</a> that are specifically designed to receive these cannabinoids. Based on my experience, I think our bodies will produce cannabinoids much like the ones found in Cannabis or Marijuana, when we are able to find the right states of physical and mental equilibrium. Yes, these can make us feel "high". (In fact, I feel high right now..hahahaha :) Scientists have also isolated a chemical in recent years they have named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandamide" target="_blank">Anandamide</a> (Ananda means bliss), it is a chemical that we can produce in our bodies to create states of euphoric bliss. <b>Yes, we were designed to feel good... for free :)</b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Of course, we have to take care of our bodies mentally and physically to reap the benefits.. There are practices that have been around for thousands of years to help us do just that. Yoga, meditation, eating living foods and sound therapy to name a few.. but there are many, many more. Anything that helps the body and mind to truly find a space of relaxation can start this series of positive effects. YOU HOLD THE KEY.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span><br><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OWebTAiWza4/Ua_d530VqfI/AAAAAAAAARM/vqMrlzhszFg/s1600/945900_199288293559341_287437605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OWebTAiWza4/Ua_d530VqfI/AAAAAAAAARM/vqMrlzhszFg/s400/945900_199288293559341_287437605_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><i><br></i></b></span></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091662013-05-10T14:53:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00A Beast in the Yeast (kicking Candida) pt. 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The body is a temple and, f</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rom my experience, there is definitely a physiological link from the body to the mind and vice versa. My first introduction came when I discovered a book called the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering-Rebuilding/dp/1401935435" target="_blank">Body Ecology diet by Donna Gates</a>. I had been suffering from a few nagging, but persistent health problems for years. Acid Reflux, the beginnings of IBS symptoms, 'brain fog" and lack of clarity and sinus and allergy issues. I didn't think that that all of these issues were possibly connected, and yet that's exactly what I now feel is the case. </span></span><br><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Candida is a pathogenic yeast that can live in our gut, but it can also pass through our intestines and travel to other areas of the body. It can be responsible for a wide variety digestive issues, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, athletes foot, chronic sinus infections, mental issues and much more. Not only that, but I personally feel that it can also have a profound impact on our moods, mental clarity and consciousness.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How do we get Candida? Candida is normally present in our gut in small amounts. In fact our digestive system contains literally billions of bacteria. It's important that this ecosystem stay in balance as it affects our overall health. Candida yeast can grow out of balance when we take antibiotics (this kills the good bacteria too, leaving a weakness) or we eat too many sugary and yeasty foods, which weaken the immune system and feed bad bacteria. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are now many scientists and doctors who see the gut as another brain. The health and balance of our digestive ecosystem can have profound affects on mental states. Some brain chemicals, such as serotonin are manufactured in the gut. Here's an article about it:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=gut-second-brain"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=gut-second-brain</span></a></span>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I personally feel it is very important to keep our gut flora in balance as this can affect our moods and overall consciousness. By consciousness, I mean states of perception, psychology and our connection to Spirit. I have noticed that I not only have more joy and happiness since following this diet, but I have also experienced many health improvements including better digestion and less allergies. I used to have bad seasonal allergies with pollen and was allergic to cats. I had no pollen issues this year and I don't seem to be nearly as sensitive to cat allergies. Most I'm not allergic to at all..</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's an article from webMD about Candida:</span></div><div><a href="http://www.candidamd.com/candida/symptoms.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.candidamd.com/candida/symptoms.html</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are two books I'd recommend to learn more about it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Body Ecology Diet (Book): <p></p></span></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401935435/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0963845829&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0H9J8G5AT8G97DEQ568E" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401935435/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0963845829&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0H9J8G5AT8G97DEQ568E</a><p></p></span></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></div></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The essential gist of the book is four things:</span></p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cut out sugars --sugars feed candida</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;">Kill the Candida with things like Coconut Oil, Oregano Oil, Candex, Caprylic Acid and more..</span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Combine foods properly, so they digest well</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take probiotics, to reestablish digestive health</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have heard that this is a good book too (from an MD's perspective)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yeast-Connection-Medical-Breakthrough/dp/0394747003"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/Yeast-Connection-Medical-Breakthrough/dp/0394747003</span></a></div>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">------------------------------</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the supplements I use to kill the Candida and the replenish the probiotics are: (Most are available at Whole Foods or Vitamin Shoppe.)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Candex (helps balance yeast, I have found helps to open the pills and drink it with water.<p></p></span></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=candex&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=277721199830308198&sa=X&ei=rQNNT-GhIYeftwfu0YEs&ved=0CI4BEPICMAE#ps-sellers" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=candex&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=277721199830308198&sa=X&ei=rQNNT-GhIYeftwfu0YEs&ved=0CI4BEPICMAE#ps-sellers</a><p></p></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Theralac Probiotic:</span></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theralac.com/default.aspx" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.theralac.com/default.aspx</a><p></p></span></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This probiotic is one of the best I have tried. it is very powerful too!! I took it for two weeks straight and then went to alternating days. <p></p></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is another great probiotic I like:</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Renew Life, probiotic--</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Renew-Life-Ultimate-Critical-Billion/dp/B000CMKC5Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368209493&sr=8-2&keywords=ultimate+flora+critical+care">http://www.amazon.com/Renew-Life-Ultimate-Critical-Billion/dp/B000CMKC5Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368209493&sr=8-2&keywords=ultimate+flora+critical+care</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yeast Cleanse is also a good supplement I get from Amazon. This stuff in nuclear though!! very powerful, you might want to work into it. <p></p></span></div></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Solaray-Yeast-Cleanse-180-capsules/dp/B00014DJZI">http://www.amazon.com/Solaray-Yeast-Cleanse-180-capsules/dp/B00014DJZI</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Neem is a great systemic purifier and Candidacide:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Himalaya-Neem-60-Capsules/dp/B000N33STO">http://www.amazon.com/Himalaya-Neem-60-Capsules/dp/B000N33STO</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"></div></div>
<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Extra virgin Coconut oil (be sure to get "unrefined"). I try to eat at least 3 teaspoons a day (in food, usually hot cereal or alone) .. you can also stir it into tea or coffee..<p></p></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plain Coconut Yogurt is good too.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-------------------------</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Clearing out Candida is something that has to occur in phases. When the yeast "dies off", it can create something called the </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarisch-Herxheimer_reaction">herxheimer reaction</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span">, which is a temporary worsening of symptoms due to the toxins that are released by the dying organisms. I have been through this several times, but each time I feel so much better afterward. If the symptoms you have get temporarily worse, you'll know you are on the right track. Digesively, this can also result in the runs (or constipation) in the short term. You may also experience worsening of sore joints or skin rashes. Basically, wherever candida is manifest on your system the symptoms will become temporarily worse. Candida primarily lives in the intestines, but it also migrates out to other areas of the body and causes symptoms like jock itch, athletes foot, yeast infections, urinary infections, skin problems (eczema) chronic sinus problems and can also contribute to autoimmune diseases.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lot of our brain chemicals are also produced in the gut, and so I have noticed that in "die off" phases I have experienced depression, anxiety etc. and have wondered if this was also related to the candida. I am pretty sure it is, so it's important to be aware of.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are some interesting links to check out:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-neuroscience-of-gut">The Neuroscience of the Gut: Scientific American</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/neurophilosophy/2012/aug/19/microbes-manipulate-your-mind"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Microbes manipulate your mind | Mo Costandi | Science | guardian.co.uk</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2011/03/25/gut-bacteria-may-influence-thoughts-and-behaviour/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gut bacteria may influence thoughts and behaviour – Neurophilosophy</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That gut feeling</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120612115812.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Early gut bacteria regulate happiness</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/09/05/microbes-manipulate-your-mind.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your Gut Flora Affects Your Physical and Mental Health</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-----------------------------</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK, so you're not ready to give up sweets completely?! Well, have no fear. There are many no sugar alternatives that are just as good, if not better tasting and they're good for you!!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kal-Pure-Stevia-Extract-Powder/dp/B000VRSR84" target="_blank">KAL Brand stevia</a>. It is the sweetest Stevia I have tasted. Be careful to use just a little though as it's very concentrated. Using too much can become bitter tasting.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Here's a recipe for COCONUT COOKIES:</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I made this up, so I pretty much eyeball the amounts.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coconut Oil</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coconut Manna (aka. Coconut Butter)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">English Toffee flavored liquid Stevia</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almond Extract</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vegetable Glycerin (the usually sell this in the cosmetic section at Whole Foods.)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coconut Flakes (I like the big ones)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">--</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">optional - add Sunflower Seeds</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> & Sunflower Butter</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Use a medium size mixing bowl and add about 5 tablespoons of coconut oil. Do about two table spoons of coconut manna and heat it till it's really soft of liquidy, and add in about 5 or 6 droppers of the flavored stevia, a cap of almond extract. Then I mix that up and add it to the coconut oil. Then I throw in half a cup of vegetable glycerin and add the coconut flakes. It usually takes about a pack and a half of coconut flakes. (you can always add more) Then mix it all up. The consistency should be less gooey than you might think, so keep adding flakes until they just barely hold together. Too much goo will make the cookies harder. FInally, plop them on a cookie sheet in any shape you like and put them in the freezer for 20min. Enjoy!!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">-------------</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's a good probiotic juice that I like to make:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">buy some carrot juice or juice yourself (about a half gallon)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">add two therelac caps OR two Renew Life probiotics (the probiotic supplement listed above.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leave out for about a week at room temp.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This will make a tart and tangy veggie juice with a bit of zing. This will also be very good for adding more probiotics to your diet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">------------</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>KEFIR:</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kefir is a wonderful probiotic milk (or coconut) drink. It is a combination of probiotics and healthy yeasts that combat the negative flora. You will need to obtain a kefir culture first. these aren't available in stores, but there is probably someone near you that will be glad to share some culture with you. If you want to start making your own Kefir, you find cultures in your area via this worldwide database. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.torontoadvisors.com/suppliers">http://www.torontoadvisors.com/suppliers</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a video on how to make Kefir.</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-decoration: none;"><a class="_553k" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8inJzX-6yE&list=UUu9cHHFo90_gSm1iyWJiLtA&index=9" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8inJzX-6yE&list=UUu9cHHFo90_gSm1iyWJiLtA&index=9</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">A great article about this subject:</span></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/5-steps-to-kill-hidden-ba_b_739213.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/5-steps-to-kill-hidden-ba_b_739213.html</a></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F92860194" width="100%"></iframe></span>
</div>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091672013-04-02T16:48:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00Returning to the Simplicity of Sound<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The musician side of me likes order. After all what is music? An ordering of sounds. In many ways this can stimulate both the left brain and the right brain. The left brain, as I looked at in an earlier post, has as one of it's main functions the ordering of chaos in a seemingly chaotic world. We find this pleasing, but musically speaking we tend to also like a little chaos...some dissonance or some syncopation in music to keep us guessing. It gives us some tension, but then it feels nice when it resolves. It's like little game of musical peekaboo or a puzzle that keeps the left brain engaged. Some music therapy uses this part of the brain, <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/02/the-ego-mind-left-brain.html" target="_blank">the left brain</a>. It can be useful in triggering old memories or stimulating existing pathways of thought. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM" target="_blank">Check out this amazing video</a>) </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Another type of music therapy, which is what I am mostly interested in now, is what I call Sound Therapy. This type uses sounds to affect the body and mind on a deep level. I feel that because of the lack of structure or form this is very effective at engaging the right brain. From my experience with this, I feel that sound therapy can not only affect me on a deep subconscious level, but I also feel that being exposed to certain frequencies, overtones and vibrations affects my physical body as well.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just soaking in the random sounds of these tones without needing to focus on a musical "order" allows the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/02/the-ego-mind-left-brain.html" target="_blank">left brain (ego mind)</a> to temporarily disconnect and permits a deep state of relaxation. It's a sound massage. In a way, I feel that this is returning to our roots or the original mind of our truest self.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Growth of Complexity</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Music is a great analogy to the growth of complexity in our own consciousness, Looking at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music" target="_blank">music through the ages</a> it is also easy to see the added complexity that each stylistic era of music brought about.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The earliest music in recent recorded history (Medieval music) was mainly chant, like Gregorian chant. Harmonically, this type of music is very basic by today's standards. Later in the Renaissance music started expanding somewhat in complexity, but still kept to very basic harmonies or modes. The Baroque and classical periods produced another evolution in expanding musical form and into a more elaborate "key" structures. The Romantic period, introduced even more harmonic complexity that continued on into the the impressionist periods. In each case more notes and structures were introduced into the public consciousness that challenged the notion of what dissonance was and how harmony is interpreted. Basically, music became more complex and the collective public consciousness eventually developed a taste for that style, until it became passe, and then evolved into something else.</span></i></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Whether we realize it or not, much of the way we see the world is based on scripts or mental computer programs that shape the way we see the world. I think we naturally develop this, as we develop and mature, as a way of understanding the world. This can become more complex subconsciously as we age. This is very evident too in the way we "hear" music. We can usually make up our minds whether we like a song within a few seconds, mostly based the pre-existing biases and subconscious structures that have become part of what we like. Of course, the ones that I usually end up liking the most are the ones that take a few listens to grow on me. It's also fun for the brain to find new pathways.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think we have formed these "scripts" to help us create subtext and understanding so we can make an educated guess about the nature of a situation in which we don't have all of the facts. It's an attempt at finding order in a world that can produce the unexpected. This is how we have evolved to handle day to day life. However, it's important to realize that this is not necessarily a good thing. Most of the time these educated guesses are informed by our previous experiences, good and bad, which may not have any bearing on the present situation. They can also produce unnecessary stress. Getting outside of these preconceptions gives us a way to recalibrate the mind.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;">“We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;">―</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7190.Ana_s_Nin" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Anaïs Nin</a></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Return to Simplicity</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b>Sound Therapy (I mainly use Tibetan bowls) scraps this pre-judging consciousness altogether. Sound Therapy, helps us to return to square one, our primordial consciousness, our "baby mind", and allows the right brain to experience sounds as they are without the need to impose order or judgement on the experience. This gives the mind a much needed rest. Simultaneously, the body has the added benefit of actually feeling the vibrations and sinking into the relaxed space on a physical level as well. In my experience, being able to enter this state of relaxation and rest also raises the body's life force energy, known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi" target="_blank">Chi or Prana</a>. The pleasant side effect of this is feeling "high".</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1v5MzY_NCx8/UVx3dg_zo3I/AAAAAAAAAQs/5ykRdFRtXpY/s1600/neuro_right_left_brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1v5MzY_NCx8/UVx3dg_zo3I/AAAAAAAAAQs/5ykRdFRtXpY/s1600/neuro_right_left_brain.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finding Ease</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To sum it all up, this is all about finding ease and letting go of stress and relearning how to <u>be happy from the inside out</u>. Sometimes things like music therapy can help to find this place of ease and stillness which can sometimes seem elusive. After all, if it was easy to do with our conscious mind, there would be no stress in the world. There would be no need for drugs, alcohol, prescription relaxants etc.. So, I have found that letting go of stress via music therapy is a great way to find that ease of "just being" again, and letting go of stress, dis-ease and disharmony in the body and the mind.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's a clip of the Tibetan Bowls. Even though you can't really "feel" the vibrations, like you can live, it's still gives a taste of Sound Therapy.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F82779963" width="100%"></iframe> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091682013-03-25T11:30:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00Just Breathe - the Breath, the Heart and the Mind<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once I discovered binaural beats and being able to relax my mind by using these sounds to alter the brainwaves, I also noticed the affect it had on my overall system. I noticed that as my mind relaxes, my breathing deepens, becomes more rhythmic and my entire system breathes a sigh of relief! I have learned that my mind, my heart and breathing are intimately connected via our parasympathetic nervous system. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/01/stress-brainwaves-and-sound.html" target="_blank">Binaural Beats</a> and relaxing sounds are great, when available, but sometimes they are not. What then? Just breathe!!! In fact there is a whole system in yoga dedicated to this called Pranayama. Pranayama is essentially the practice of breathing and bringing conscious attention to something that is normally part of an unconscious system (the parasympathetic nervous system). Prana is the life force or the breath. Our breathing is also something we can consciously control. By consciously and purposefully controlling the breath, the heart and mind also follow suit. By slowing the breathing the brainwaves will literally adjust to lower ranges. Or course, the heart also follows. This has helped immensely in lowering my blood pressure too!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's a quick recap on the brainwave states:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Beta</b> - normal waking states</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Alpha</b> - relaxed and meditative</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Theta</b> - more relaxed and meditative, REM sleep</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Delta</b> - deep sleep</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As I fall asleep, most of what I described above is happening naturally. The breath slows, my mind and body become relaxed and boom, before you know it, I'm in Delta state and I'm out like a light! Of course there were times, before I learned a lot of these things that I had terrible trouble sleeping. My mind was over active and it was really not conducive to finding that stillness before sleep.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, here's a simple exercise to try, this great for reducing stress (or just relaxing) quickly:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Inhale to the count of 4:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 2 3 4</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Exhale to the count of 6:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 2 3 4 5 6</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Repeat for five to ten minutes. Breathe deeply and focus on the counting. Take a little time to do this anytime you might need a "relaxation break". Just knowing you have the ability to give your mind and body this release is relaxing and de-stressing too. You hold the power!!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amsa.org/healingthehealer/breathing.cfm" target="_blank">Here is another page</a> with lots of great info. and exercises from the American Medical Student Association.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are also some cool apps for this too. Here's one I like:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-breathing-pranayama/id435871685?mt=8" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Universal Breathing - Pranayama</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091692013-03-16T23:25:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00Sound and Water Experiment<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Another video showing the amazing power of sound and frequency. Also <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/02/sound-is-form-everything-is-energy.html" target="_blank">see the videos here</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uENITui5_jU" width="560"></iframe></span></div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091702013-03-14T23:06:00-04:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00I Don't Know<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are so many things I don't know. This can sometimes be hard to admit as an adult, but those three little words are like magic. They open the door to a thirst for understanding.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last night I had an interesting conversation with a fundamentalist who is a friend and who I love and respect. I realized that at some point during the conversation as we both explored some fairly deep existential questions, that they might be fearful to admit "I don't know". It's OK, it can be a hard pill to swallow. It seemed ironic though, because in some ways this represents a lack of faith in this present moment and the beauty of this gift of Now. Ultimately, this unwillingness to budge seemed to me, to be rooted in fear. A fear of the unknown. This isn't a judgement, but an observation and reflection of my own unwillingness to say "I don't know". Fundamentalists are easy to pick on, but at some level we're all fundamentalists when we reach the place in our minds that we refuse to admit, "I don't know". There are fundamentalists of every stripe in every field of thought. At what point do we cross the line from Self assuredness to Self deception when we refuse to acknowledge these three simple words? I don't know.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are some things I don't know:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know what you are thinking right now.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know what the temperature of the sun is at this very moment.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know why the dog is barking across the street.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know why money holds so much power over people.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know when politicians are lying.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know what will happen in the next 2 seconds.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know if everything I ever cover on this blog is provable or will work for everyone.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(...it's just my personal exploration)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The truth is that in farthest bounds of science we're still expanding on this fragile view of reality, constantly knocking at this door of unknowing.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I do know that by refusing to admit this state of unknowing, I can't embrace the beauty and the possibility of NOW or be inspired to learn. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I do know that more I endeavor to know myself, the clearer I can see the world. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I do know that I have the power to choose,</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To choose Love instead of fear.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In fact, even in my chosen field of music there are still things that I am learning every day. I used to feel threatened by not knowing, or that I might feel like an idiot if I couldn't answer someone's question. The truth is, it's OK, and this inspires me to search on and to view the world with wonder.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My hope is that I am always aware of the pride of "knowing", so that I won't become a fool... and even if I become a temporary expert, to always keep a beginner's mind. The mind of a child.</span><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091712013-02-27T17:00:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00Sound is Form, Everything is Energy<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Everything is energy. Even as you are reading this your brain is using electrical impulses to decode and interpret the squiggles on this page (known as words) into information. The information came from my thoughts and is transmitting in this medium called language. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is intuitive that sound is energy. You have probably felt the energy from the speakers at a rock concert. Even on the smallest level, the pluck of a guitar string generates physical vibrations which are transmitted as sound waves and ultimately absorbed and interpreted by the body as physical energy or emotion. In fact, we are walking energy decoders. Our eyes interpret the energy of light and our ears and skin interpret the energy of sound. The world is made of energy and so are we. There are also many other energy patterns such as radio waves, brain waves, electromagnetic waves, wifi etc...that we are not as acutely aware of. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Human hearing covers a range of roughly 20hz to 20,000hz. Hertz (hz) is the measure of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency" target="_blank">frequency</a>. (They are called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hertz" target="_blank">hertz</a> because the name was coined by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Rudolf_Hertz" target="_blank">Heinrich Hertz</a>.) Of course, just because we can't hear in the other ranges doesn't mean sounds and frequencies don't exist there. Some dogs can hear as high as 60,000hz and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_range" target="_blank">dolphins</a> can hear as high as 150,000hz! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The energy of sound also manifests as form. The science that studies this phenomenon is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymatics" target="_blank">Cymatics</a> (see videos below). For more search <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cymatics&oq=cymatics&gs_l=youtube.1.0.35i39j0l9.863.3192.0.5181.8.8.0.0.0.0.139.792.2j5.7.0...0.0...1ac.1.Xbhb1WZYzZ4" target="_blank">Cymatics on YouTube</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The study of Cymatics shows that the higher frequencies also produce more complex geometric patterns, while lower frequencies produce simpler patterns.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The videos below give a brief look at how sound manifests into form.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CsjV1gjBMbQ" width="560"></iframe></span>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KU84ckD1AcA" width="420"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span> Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091722013-02-22T21:14:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00Understanding the Shadow Pt. 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For me, meditation, yoga and music therapies were not a straight line pathway to bliss and serenity. I think that was something that really caught me off guard and led to the culmination of anxiety for me. I also think it's important for anyone embarking on this path to understand this too. There are demons to face. As real as they seem though, they are phantoms that will disappear in the light of love. Our greatest power, is the power to choose. The other important thing is that although these demons (fears, self-loathing, self judgement, anger, resentment, un-forgiveness) are largely self created. I know I created many of the demons I faced myself. In some of the heights of my anxiety I literally thought the devil was after me! Later, I started to notice, "Holy shit, this guy knows a lot about me, that I have never mentioned to anyone". It was only then that I started to understand and face my shadow. The Devil was ME!!</span><br><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So what is the Shadow?</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Carl Jung described the shadow as the part of us that we want to hide from the world. In short, it is our darkness. Our fears, desires and urges that are repressed in order to present the part of ourselves that we think the world, society and our family and friends want to see. Of course, this is all self determined and in my case I found that I was also robbing myself of the joy of being fully ME. The shadow is also largely contained in the subconscious. Many of these emotions and urges are things I didn't want to face about myself. When I started the path to awakening my mind and opened the cork of my subconscious all of these emotions and urges came rushing out like bats out of a cave. It was terrifying.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For me, this happened all at once. Like a cork being popped off of a champagne bottle, my subconscious was unleashed and all of these fears came to the forefront for me to face. At the time I had no idea what was going on. I had no knowledge of "the shadow", no knowledge of my subconscious and no knowledge of how this could affect me or my outlook on life. Even though this was extremely hard to face and terrifying at times this was like going to a Jedi bootcamp or attending virtual reality training session of "Learning about the Subconscious 101".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In retrospect, I understand more about the concept of "the shadow" via reading and talking with a counselor. Even though going through the fear was unpleasant I now realize it was the pathway to freedom and the only way to unlock the doors of the prison that I had created for myself. So what I wanted to do here was to give you some tools that I have read about to help you in facing this. The most important tool is awareness, and since you just read this...now your aware. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself" </b><b> ---Franklin D. Roosevelt</b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b>Here's an excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Human-Shadow/dp/0062548476/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358311197&sr=1-1&keywords=the+little+book+of+the+human+shadow" target="_blank">"The Little book on the Human Shadow"</a> that explains it well..</span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" class="tborder" id="post2804293" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d1d1e1; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(11, 25, 140); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(11, 25, 140); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(11, 25, 140); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(11, 25, 140); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: black; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td class="alt1" id="td_post_2804293" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f5f5ff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-right-color: rgb(209, 209, 225); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: black; font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div id="post_message_2804293"><div style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 5px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td class="alt2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #e1e4f2; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: inset; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: inset; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-style: inset; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-style: inset; border-top-width: 1px; color: black; font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Long Bag We Drag Behind Us</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By Robert Bly</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let’s talk about the personal shadow first. When we were one or two years old we had what we might visualize as a 360-degree personality. Energy radiated out from all parts of our body and all parts of our psyche. A child running is a living globe of energy. We had a ball of energy, all right; but one day we noticed that our parents didn’t like certain parts of that ball. They said things like: “Can’t you be still?” Or “It isn’t nice to try and kill your brother.” Behind us we have an invisible bag, and the part of us our parents don’t like, we, to keep our parents’ love, put in the bag. By the time we go to school our bag is quite large.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then our teachers have their say: “Good children don’t get angry over such little things.” So we take our anger and put it in the bag. By the time my brother and I were twelve in Madison, Minnesota we were known as “the nice Bly boys.” Our bags were already a mile long. Then we do a lot of bag-stuffing in high school. This time it’s no longer the evil grownups that pressure us, but people our own age. So the student’s paranoia about grownups can be misplaced. I lied all through high school automatically to try to be more like the basketball players. Any part of myself that was a little slow went into the bag.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My sons are going through the process now; I watched my daughters, who were older, experience it. I noticed with dismay how much they put into the bag, but there was nothing their mother or I could do about it. Often my daughters seemed to make their decision on the issue of fashion and collective ideas of beauty, and they suffered as much damage from other girls as they did from men.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So I maintain that out of a round globe of energy the twenty-year-old ends up with a slice.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We’ll imagine a man who has a thin slice left-the rest is in the bag-and we’ll imagine that he meets a woman; let’s say they are both twenty-four. She has a thin, elegant slice left. They join each other in a ceremony, and this union of two slices is called marriage. Even together the two do not make up one person! Marriage when the bag is large entails loneliness during the honeymoon for that very reason. Of course we all lie about it. “How is your honeymoon?” “Wonderful, how’s yours?”</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Different cultures fill the bag with different contents. In Christian culture sexuality usually goes into the bag. With it goes much spontaneity. Marie Louise von Franz warns us, on the other hand, not to sentimentalize primitive cultures by assuming that they have no bag at all. She says in effect that they have a different but sometimes even larger bag. They may put individuality into the bag, or inventiveness. What anthropologists know as “participation mystique,” or “a mysterious communal mind,” sounds lovely, but it can mean that tribal members all know exactly the same thing and no one knows anything else. It’s possible that bags for all human beings are about the same size.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We spend our life until we’re twenty deciding what parts of ourself to put into the bag, and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the next post, I'll talk a little more about my confrontation with my shadow and some of the tools I discovered that helped me. </span></div>
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div>
</div>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share my love with you. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><i><b><a href="http://sonicyogi.com/">For sound downloads click here.</a></b></i></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091732013-02-22T13:43:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00The Ego Mind - Left Brain Interpreter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had this thought while I was laying in bed this morning. I have been thinking about the roles of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter" target="_blank">left brain</a> and right brain after watching Jill Bolte Taylor's <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-stroke-of-insight.html" target="_blank">video</a>, a stroke of insight.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are born into chaos. </span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As a baby I knew nothing about the world. Nothing about language, what kind of being I was, what kind of world I was in. Nothing. In an effort to make sense of it all I began to try to establish patterns based on what I observed. Slowly, to a large extent , I learned to adapt and conform to the world that existed when I arrived here. My theory is that this is the beginning of the "Ego" mind. Is it possible that the "Ego mind" is really just an out of control left brain?</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What does the left brain do?</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The left brain decodes patterns and calculates for the future based on past experiences. This gives rise to the idea of cause and effect and perhaps also linear time. The left brain while it is useful in performing calculations, is not very adept at larger perceptions. Slowly, in order to find refuge from chaos it becomes natural to rely on this "pattern calculating response" in order to determine the nature of reality. The right brain is our connection to our higher self our moral compass, our connection to God, Infinite Wisdom and ultimately our uninhibited capacity to love. It also offers us unfiltered access to all of our perceptions. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are some interesting quotes about this from wikipedia:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><br></span><br><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychology" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Neuropsychology">neuropsychology</a> the <b>left brain interpreter</b> refers to the construction of explanations by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralization_of_brain_function" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Lateralization of brain function">left brain</a> in order to make sense of the world by reconciling new information with what was known before. The left brain interpreter attempts to rationalize, reason and generalize new information it receives in order to relate the past to the present.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Daniel_2-0" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Daniel-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup></span></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Left brain interpretation is a case of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralization_of_brain_function" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Lateralization of brain function">lateralization of brain function</a> that applies to "explanation generation" rather than other lateralized activities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gazzaniga_3-0" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Gazzaniga-3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup> Although the concept of the left brain interpreter was initially based on experiments on patients with <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_brain" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Split brain">split brains</a>, it has since been shown to apply to the everyday behavior of people at large.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gazzaniga_3-1" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Gazzaniga-3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0645ad;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; white-space: nowrap;">3</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">]</span></a></sup></span></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"></span></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">However, the facile explanations provided by the left brain interpreter may also enhance the opinion of a person about themselves and produce strong biases which prevent the person from seeing themselves in the light of reality and repeating patterns of behavior which led to past failures.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Daniel_2-4" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Daniel-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup> The explanations generated by the left brain interpreter may be balanced by right brain systems which follow the constraints of reality to a closer degree.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Daniel_2-5" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Daniel-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gazza1192_9-1" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Gazza1192-9" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[9]</a></sup></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.5em;">The checks and balances provided by the right brain hemisphere may thus avoid scenarios that eventually lead to delusion via the continued construction of biased explanations.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Daniel_2-6" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter#cite_note-Daniel-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup> In 2002 Gazzaniga stated that the three decades of research in the field had taught him that the left hemisphere is far more inventive in interpreting facts than the right hemisphere's more truthful, literal approach to information management</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;">. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_brain_interpreter" target="_blank">Read more here.</a></span></span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br></i><b><i>The birth of Fear.</i></b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The unchecked Ego mind (left brain) becomes more interested in self preservation, and pleasures and less interested in the greater good. It is working overtime trying to determine what comes next at the expense and missed pleasure of what IS and BEING in the moment. Is this is the birth of fear, anxiety? Maybe. In my case, this was not only a major source of my anxiety, but also the birth of self loathing. Although it can often be full of pride and apparent self-confidence, I don't think the ego likes itself very much, because many times it overlooks the good of others for the sake of expediency or self gratification. Most of the time this seems like very small things, just little shortcuts in life that don't really hurt anyone. On a larger collective level though these things can grow into very ugly situations that society, as a whole, has a hard time escaping. This particular analogy reminds me of HAL in the movie 2001 a space odyssey. HAL eventually took over from his task as a 'calculator' and became more interested in "his" self preservation. The Ego, just like HAL of course, doesn't really exist. It is a creation and is constantly changing and adapting to a changing environment. This constant adaption and calculation can also lead to <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2012/12/intro.html" target="_blank">stress in the physical body</a> because this constant fixation on determining what happens next is in fact STRESSFUL. True stability can only come from rooting in the thing that doesn't change, our Higher Self. LOVE. Our ability to love ourselves (with all our imperfections) and love others (with theirs) without fear. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Is the Ego, the left brain, the seed of evil or at the least the path of error and delusion? Left unchecked, I think it can be. Mainly, though, I think it is just a calculator. It has no power beyond what we choose to give it. The important thing I realized is that <b>I am not my thoughts and I don't have to believe everything I think.</b> These concepts and belief systems that I have created are not necessarily accurate. Sometimes they become the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/01/mental-feedback-loops.html" target="_blank">mental feedback loops I was talking about in a earlier post</a>.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So to check myself I have to ask: </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Are these thoughts and motivations consistent with Love or fear?</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are also times that I just need to let ALL thoughts go (with meditation) in order to clear the hard drive of my mind, so to speak, and allow the truth of just "being" to inform my choices from a better place.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The truth is that sometimes I struggle with my ego even with this blog. What will people think? Does this make sense? Am I crazy? etc. etc. etc. In the end I have to let go of all that and make sure my intention is right and that I am being honest with my self first. Not for the sake of getting love, but for the sake of giving love. Thousands of times per day we all face this choice. It is my challenge to <b>choose Love, not fear, </b>and if I fail, to forgive myself and try to make it right, and move on.</span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kkyUMmNl4hk" width="420"></iframe> </span><br><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PS> I just found this on a google search and this <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/18/free-will-debate-who-s-in-charge.html" target="_blank">looks like a good book</a> regarding the left brain right brain ideas.</span></div>
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. That is my purpose here.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><br></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091742013-02-03T22:17:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00A Stroke of Insight<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the summer 2010, my Dad had a stroke. I was on the phone with him when it happened. Of course, I didn't know it at the time and he probably didn't either. He began to repeat his words and seemed to not be able to say anything else. A few hours later he was in the hospital a getting the help he needed. Months later, after a long recovery, he ultimately recovered much of his speech. I was with Dad during much of his initial time in the hospital and recovery. One of the things that struck me the most was how he had changed after his recovery. He was more peaceful. It was as though his personality had changed temporarily as a result of this. Although much of his cognitive functioning was compromised as he recovered, this aspect of his stroke seemed like a positive change. I asked him one day what he felt in his mind regarding his memory, cognitive function and this change in his countenance. Regarding his change in countenance, his said something to the effect of... I am more content in just being.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Take a moment to watch this beautiful and emotional description by Jill Bolte Taylor, as she describes her experience of having a stroke. At the end she describes that we all have a choice to choose between right brain and left brain activity...and when. I believe this is true. Her experience is so similar to my personal experience in many ways and others I have read about. I think there must be a way we can all learn to access the positive insights that she describes. (..without having a stroke!!)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Her Book is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Stroke-Insight-Scientists-Personal/dp/0452295548" target="_blank">My Stroke of Insight</a>.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mYD7Y9CXeUw" width="560"></iframe></span></div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091752013-01-30T23:02:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00Mental Feedback Loops<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, what is the source of stress? This is something I asked myself quite a bit. The question is motivated by the fact that in my case it was sometimes dependent on an obvious situation, but other times it's not so obvious. I think the same holds true in the case of depression, because in many of the people I have talked to, the source isn't obvious at all.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Someone brilliantly pointed out to me that stress, anxiety and depression are caused by focusing on things we can't control. Sometimes this is very obvious. Sometimes however, this is buried in our subconscious and shapes the way we see things..which in turn affects actions. This can also serve to perpetuate these feelings and make us feel that these feelings and emotions are beyond our control. As an artist, I have been able to get to know people that are both poor and rich, and I have seen that this affects everyone. Money isn't the solution.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So this brings me to the main idea. Mental Feedback Loops.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>What are Mental Feedback Loops? </b>They are just like audio feedback loops, but in the mind. (This is my analogy, I hope you follow.)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Audio feedback loops in live music situations occur when a particular frequency resonates more in the spectrum than others. For instance, when a particular tone enters the microphone and then comes through the speakers and then the mic picks it up again; then it loops...again...and again...and again... This resonation starts slowly and then feeds on itself and begins to amplify, and within a few seconds produces a loud shrieking tone that causes everybody to grab their ears in pain!!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think in my case, and I am guessing others too, this also happens in our thoughts. Sometimes I noticed I would fixate on a thought. It could be about a relationship, maybe a financial problem..or anything really, but once it set's in the mind as "reality", it can often become a struggle to let go...and then the feedback occurs. When this happens, we experience stress. Of course the stress isn't just in our minds. It also manifests in our bodies in various forms. Obvious short term signs are things like raised heart beat, shorter faster breathing, sweaty palms etc... The longer term signs are things like high blood pressure, acid reflux, headaches etc. etc. etc.. If you look up nearly any physical problem it probably lists stress as one of the causes and reducing stress as one of the solutions. Well, no shit!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our brains send these feedback signals to our nervous system which sends out signals and chemicals that kick off a variety of fight or flight responses. This is where the feedback loop occurs! Once we start to notice the physical sensations of stress, the mind says "what the hell is going on?" ..and then creates more stress. In acute situations this is a panic attack. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In less acute situations, I think a person can hold on to faulty thought patterns (sometimes for years) which causes long term stress on our bodies. I think this may partly be what happened to me. The tricky part is, if these are in the subconscious mind (which colors the lens with which reality is perceived), it can be very hard to "undo" or "mute" this feedback, because you are probably completely unaware of it, because it seems like part of "you". If this becomes part of the concept of "Self", it's necessary to let that part go. This is not an easy process, but with the right support (spiritual/psychological/personal) I believe it can be done.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Many times to deal with this, we (sometimes unknowingly) self medicate:</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some use alcohol. Some use prescription drugs. Some use illegal narcotics. Some use food. Some become workaholics. etc etc etc.. <i>(please note: these are not judgements, they are just the wrong tool for the job!)</i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>All of these also produce their own feedback loops.</b> So now in these cases the person has TWO feedback loops. One mental and one physical. Ay yi yi!!! </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For example, alcohol causes our bodies to produce the the stress hormone cortisol. So if you overdo it, then day or so after drinking your physical body can actually be more stressed. In some cases a person then feels they need to drink more to reduce the stress. This can happen for any of the above situations. It's a feedback loop, a cyclical pattern and the problem is harder to determine and solve.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Basically, our nervous systems are seeking equilibrium, but with the mental feedback loops and the physical feedback loops it becomes a back and forth cycle.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The source of the problem is still the same. The mind...the soul. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The good news is any of us have the power to change this by re-patterning our minds. How do we do this?</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Short answer: <b>Learn to <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/01/the-breath-is-horse-mind-is-rider.html" target="_blank">Meditate</a>, (which helps teach us how to CHOOSE our thoughts). <i>Note: </i></b><i>You are NOT your thoughts. Many times these thoughts are just habitual patterns that need to be changed.</i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Long Answer: <b> Love yourself. Forgive Yourself. Honor Yourself. Eat well. Live in the moment and </b><b>choose Joy</b><b>. Exercise. Have Fun. Rest. Learn to say No. Listen to music. Be grateful. Serve others. Choose Love and Not fear. Throw an awesome party and invite me.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b><b> ...and also take time to Meditate.</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b><b>Why Meditate or try Meditative therapies?</b></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To continue with the "feedback" analogy, I think meditation works a bit like the EQ at soundcheck. At soundcheck before the show the levels and mix for each instrument is checked and equalized. Anything with a live microphone is normally "rung out". "Ringing out" means that the volume of the mic is slowly turned up until it starts to feedback. Once a tone starts to feedback the engineer finds the tone using a 31 band EQ and turns that frequency down. By doing this, the volume of the microphone can stay at a louder volume without feeding back. This also has the added bonus of adding clarity to the microphone and allows the natural tone of the mic to shine through. The "ringing out" process normally takes into account several frequencies. Once the first loop is adjusted, the mic volume will be boosted slightly and another tone will feedback. Once that tone is fixed another will naturally start to feedback and so on. It usually takes adjusting several feedback tones to achieve the clarity and volume, but once this is achieved everything sounds great!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If your not quite following, check out this short video...</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xBeV2BL-aRo" width="420"></iframe> </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I think meditation helps to "ring out" out mental processes a bit too. By quieting the mind we can start at the base level. The offending thought patterns or mental feedback loops are quieted. With practice, this stillness becomes more of a "normal" state, whereas before the feedback loops and mental noise may have just come to feel "normal". After meditating for while and then going back to daily activities, I started noticing negative reactions or behavior patterns more. This is kind of like the turning up of the volume. In the short run this might even cause more anxiety or stress, but in a way this just highlights the offending thought pattern that needs to be adjusted...and, since you just read this, now your aware of it. This is the same as with the audio feedback. Incidentally, <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/2013/01/stress-brainwaves-and-sound.html">brainwaves are measured in Hertz too, just like sound waves</a>. With daily practice these thought patterns can be adjusted (just like at sound check) and new levels of clarity can be reached. There is no finish line though, it's a continual process.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br></b>In my opinion, meditation gives us access into our subconscious and the opportunity to break these mental feedback loops. In modern neuroscience this is known as the principle of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity" target="_blank">neuroplasticity</a>. This may not happen instantaneously (but then again it may), but with regular practice I have noticed I am able to learn more and more about myself that was previously a mystery. I feel it also offers us a deeper connection to ourselves and our spirituality, the beauty of our common humanity and a better view of reality that is unobstructed by the lens of our subconscious fears, anxieties, self-judgements, superstitions and more. We don't need these feedback loops!!! The bonus is that this leads our <b>nervous system</b> to a place of equilibrium and balance and can help us break the cycle. <i>(note: I think this is what Bono was looking for... and is the peace that passes all understanding...or Nirvana... or Enlightenment.) </i>This is more popularly known today as BLISS...wahhhhoooooo!!!!! In fact our bodies have an entire system dedicated to this. More on that later....</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present this in a clear way based on my experience and in retrospect of this experience, trying to read as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful in some way. That is my purpose here.</span></i><br><i><br></i>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091762013-01-24T19:51:00-05:002022-05-11T08:59:07-04:00I am<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my name.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my job.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not the type of car I drive.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not where I live.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not what my spouse thinks of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not what my family thinks of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not what my friends thinks of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my opinion of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my religion.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my race.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my shoe size.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my fears.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my nationality.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not the amount of money I have.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not the defined by the things I own.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my future.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not the brand of clothes I wear. </span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my favorite sports team.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not the vacation I took last year.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not all of the great things I've done.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not the bad things I've done.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my body.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my emotions.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my gender.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my past.</span></div>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my sexual preference.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not a political party.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not a political issue.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my desires.</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my circumstances.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am not my thoughts.</span></div>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am.</span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I am you, and</span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">you are me, and</span></b><br><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br></span></b>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">we are we, and </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">we are all together.</span></b></div>
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQD4bUAd5vk/UA_0hi-5RqI/AAAAAAAABi0/5Flos7_pA2U/s1600/0_61_120408_walrus4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQD4bUAd5vk/UA_0hi-5RqI/AAAAAAAABi0/5Flos7_pA2U/s400/0_61_120408_walrus4.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br>
</div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091772013-01-21T10:54:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00The Breath is the Horse, the Mind is the Rider<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A few months ago, I read a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Sound-Healing-Practices-Obstacles/dp/1604070951" target="_blank">book by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche</a>, and he was talking about using vocal sounds to achieve a meditative state. One comment in particular seemed really relevant to me. He said a common phrase in learning meditation techniques from the master teachers is that "the breath is the horse, and the mind is the rider".</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Why is this relevant? For me, because I had discovered earlier about the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.bolgspot.com/2013/01/stress-brainwaves-and-sound.html" target="_blank">brainwave hertz</a> and how they reflected our mental states and could be altered to produce states of relaxation. Second because between the brain, the heart and the breath, the only one that any of us can control consciously is the breath. Consciously slowing down the breathing is also a common technique for coping with stress and anxiety. Also, the breath, the mind and the heart are designed to function together. So, consciously slowing down the breathing will also have an effect on the the other two, which will ultimately lead to a release of stress. Adjusting breathing will also help to adjust the brainwaves to a lower frequency and slow down the heartbeat.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have personally found that just focusing on slowing down the breath to work fairly well by itself. However, I decided to combine the recordings with the binaural beats with conscious breathing and the relaxation response technique (<a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-relaxation-response.html" target="_blank">described here</a>). For me, this has worked really well.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to try it, here's what I did:</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Pick one of the Binaural Beat recordings from the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">sounds page</a>.</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Find a comfortable upright position.</b> It's important to give the diaphragm enough room to really help the lungs to flow. Sitting on the edge of a chair works well with feet flat and back straight. <a href="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/preparing-for-meditation-sitting-still.html" target="_blank">There's more info. here, as well as alternate sitting positions.</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Focus on the breath.</b> Breathe deeply through the nose. When you breathe in let your belly expand fully, when you breathe out let your stomach contract a bit even with a gentle squeeze in the low abdomen. Eventually, I usually develop a deep, slow rhythm and can feel the air pass by my nose on the in and out breath. I feel that getting into this rhythm helps my mind to get into the zone of relaxation and my body to switch over to a sort of "autopilot" mode. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>4. When you breath out, mentally say the word "one", or any other one syllable word you choose, for example "love, grace, peace,.. etc." (This will help to train the mind to maintain a single point of focus.)</b> On the inhale allow your mind to be blank, if thoughts come in, no worries...just keep on.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a big key for eliminating stress.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I noticed in my most stressed states that my mind</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> was jumping around from thought to thought. I feel in my case that this also caused a lot of stress unconsciously in the body. I've learned that by training my mind and LEARNING to RELAX my body has benefitted too! It's a process for me though, there is no finish line.</span></i></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>4(b). </b> Another option is to sing on the exhale. Sing Ahhhhh... and let your stress and thoughts go. On the inhale allow your mind to be blank, if thoughts come in, no worries...just keep on.</span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In thirty minutes or so, you might feel like this:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>(sometimes, takes an hour or more.... </i><i>repeat daily.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://www.marijuana.com/news/wp-content/gallery/trippy-religions-1/the-dali-lama-knows.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" height="559" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="419" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091782013-01-11T22:31:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:56-04:00The Relaxation Response<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I just read the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Relaxation-Response-Herbert-Benson/dp/0380006766" target="_blank">Relaxation Response</a>. It was written decades ago (by Harvard trained cardiologist, Herbert Benson) and was one of the first books (in the West) to link psychological stress to physiological problems. After first realizing that I had suffered from chronic stress (which led to anxiety) and it had resulted in a breakdown of sorts. My second realization was that in many ways I was responsible for it. </span><br><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Relaxation Response is the opposite of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight-or-flight_response" target="_blank">Fight or Flight response</a>. Our bodies have adapted to automatically respond to fear or attack by releasing chemicals that launch in to this state of alert. The adrenals kick in to high alert, which also stimulate the release of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol" target="_blank">stress hormone, cortisol</a>. This sets off a cascade of negative physical reactions from high blood pressure, digestive issues to general nervous system imbalance etc... This is collectively known as STRESS. The problem is that, I hadn't learned to regulate this reaction to the modern realities of everyday stresses. So, everything from a simple disagreement or just negative thoughts stimulated some level of stress.</span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">An excerpt from the book defining the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Relaxation-Response-Herbert-Benson/dp/0380006766" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Relaxation Response</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span">:</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><i>"Each of us possesses a natural and innate protective mechanism against “overstress,” which allows us to turn off harmful bodily effects, to counter the effects of the fight-or-flight response. This response against “overstress” brings on bodily changes that decrease heart rate, lower metabolism, decrease the rate of breathing, and bring the body back into what is probably a healthier balance. This is the Relaxation Response".</i></span></blockquote>
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I realized later that for myself this Fight or Flight response was causing many negative reactions for me both health wise and mentally. My mind was out of control. I believed all of the things I thought. I thought that many of the negative things I thought about myself, or my life, or the world were true. It's only in retrospect that I can look at it and see that I was taken captive by my mind and wrapped up in a world of imagined stress. At the time, I believed this was the absolute reality. In essence I just needed to relax in order to find balance and see the truth and deal with the issues I was avoiding. </span></div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>So what is the Relaxation Response? </b> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For myself, it has been about learning to focus my mind (and body) into a state of relaxation. The upside is that it feels like I am high. (Yes, I mean "high"...like on marijuana...) At first I found this to be amazing and slightly troubling. I mean I had a grin from ear to ear and I just wanted to hug people. I thought, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME? ..I FEEL GOOD!!! (cue James Brown riff) Now I realize this is the most natural human state. We're not supposed to be stressed all the time or NEED chemical stimulation from alcohol or drugs to get high. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">another quote from the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Relaxation-Response-Herbert-Benson/dp/0380006766" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Relaxation Response</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span><i style="font-family: Georgia;"> </i></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><i>"In the six-month period prior to starting the practice of meditation, slightly over 1,450 participants in the study (78 percent) had used marijuana and hashish or both, and of that group 28 percent were classified as heavy users (once a day or more). After practicing Transcendental Meditation (The Relaxation Response) for about six months, only 37 percent reported they used marijuana. These figures indicate that over 40 percent discontinued their use of drugs after the intervention of Transcendental Meditation. After twenty-one months of regular practice, only 12 percent continued to use marijuana, a decrease of 66 percent".</i></span></blockquote>
</div><div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 18px;">Perhaps the regular use of the Relaxation Response can provide a nonchemical alternative to fulfill at least some of the basic motivations behind (student) drug abuse. From the questionnaire it became apparent that not only did the subjects stop using drugs, but they also dropped off in the active selling of drugs and changed their attitude to the extent of actually discouraging others from using drugs. <b>They claimed drugs interfered with the profound feelings that accompanied meditation, which they enjoyed more than the highs or lows of drugs.</b>"</span></span></i><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span>
</blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I just read an <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203503204577040431792673066.html" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">article posted on the Wall Street Journal</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">that nearly one in five Americans are on anti-depressant, anti-psychotic or anti-anxiety medication. So to say that there is an epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression is an understatement. Over the past year in casual conversations I've had with people across the country (and in my immediate family), I have been amazed by the numbers of people that have shared with me that they were dealing with similar issues.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"><br></span>
</div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>How did I learn to find this Relaxation Response for myself?</b> By accident (or a series synchronistic events) and by God's grace... However, this is so easy to begin practicing. Here is another excerpt explaining one way of inducing the relaxation response based on a meditation style of approach. I also believe brainwave synchronization via music (<a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Binaural Beats</a>) can also help to regularly achieve this state of relaxing the mind. </span><br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">from the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Relaxation-Response-Herbert-Benson/dp/0380006766" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: initial; color: #f07300; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Relaxation Response</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">:</span> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 18px;"><i>(1) A Quiet Environment - Ideally, you should choose a quiet, calm environment with as few distractions as possible. A quiet room is suitable, as is a place of worship. The quiet environment contributes to the effectiveness of the repeated word or phrase by making it easier to eliminate distracting thoughts. </i></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 18px;"><i>(2) A Mental Device - To shift the mind from logical, externally oriented thought, there should be a constant stimulus: a sound, word, or phrase repeated silently or aloud; or fixed gazing at an object. Since one of the major difficulties in the elicitation of the Relaxation Response is “mind wandering,” the repetition of the word or phrase is a way to help break the train of distracting thoughts. Your eyes are usually closed if you are using a repeated sound or word; of course, your eyes are open if you are gazing. Attention to the normal rhythm of breathing is also useful and enhances the repetition of the sound or the word. </i></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 18px;"><i>(3) A Passive Attitude - When distracting thoughts occur, they are to be disregarded and attention redirected to the repetition or gazing; you should not worry about how well you are performing the technique, because this may well prevent the Relaxation Response from occurring. Adopt a “let it happen” attitude. The passive attitude is perhaps the most important element in eliciting the Relaxation Response. Distracting thoughts will occur. Do not worry about them. When these thoughts do present themselves and you become aware of them, simply return to the repetition of the mental device. These other thoughts do not mean you are performing the technique incorrectly. They are to be expected. </i></span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><i> (4) A Comfortable Position - A comfortable posture is important so that there is no undue muscular tension. Some methods call for a sitting position. A few practitioners use the crosslegged “lotus” position of the Yogi. If you are lying down, there is a tendency to fall asleep. As we have noted previously, the various postures of kneeling, swaying, or sitting in a cross-legged position are believed to have evolved to prevent falling asleep. You should be comfortable and relaxed."</i></span></blockquote>
</div><div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> and here is a simplified version of the meditative style:</b> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><i>"Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Deeply relax all your muscles, beginning at your feet and progressing up to your face. Keep them relaxed. Breathe through your nose. Become aware of your breathing. As you breathe out, say the word, “ONE,” silently to yourself. For example, breathe IN…OUT, “ONE” IN…OUT, “ONE” etc. Breathe easily and naturally. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes."</i></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For me, this is also effective using <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">binaural beats</a>, singing bowls and other forms of music therapy. I don't think that there is necessarily one magic tool, but for me there is a magic toolbox. Here are some of the tools that I have found to work for me, but I think there are certainly many others.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Yoga</b> - Yoga has been very helpful for me. I believe I had held tension from stress and trauma in my body. Yoga is one way of releasing that stress and trauma from the body. Once the body releases, the emotions and deeper realizations are free to flow. I have talked to plenty of people that have had emotional reactions after attending a yoga class. Yoga is also really a great prelude to meditation.</span></blockquote></div><div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Meditation</b> - By focusing on simply BEING, meditation has a way of allowing me to relax deeply enough to let go of defenses. I've noticed once my defenses are down then I have the ability to recognize the deeper emotional and psychological issues that are causing me stress (most of the time these exist at a subconscious level). For me, the <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">binaural beats</a> are also like training wheels for meditation, helping to point the way to that place of stillness, and letting go. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Diet (and Exercise)</b> - The body is a temple, and taking care of it is key. In addition to physical well being, mental processes are also impacted heavily by food choices. I've learned (the hard way) to listen to my body and only eat the things that make me feel good. It's a learning process. I have also been on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Body-Ecology-Diet-Recovering-Rebuilding/dp/1401935435" target="_blank">Body Ecology Diet</a> for a few years to eliminate candida yeast. I think this yeast also had a negative impact on my body and my mind. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Sound Therapy</b> - Music can heal in multiple ways. Frequency, binaural beats and rhythms can have a deep impact on my ability to relax. The <a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Binaural Beats I have posted</a> on the sounds page I developed for my own personal therapy, and to share with friends. Listening to these daily has helped me to train my mind to go to these relaxing states more easily.</span></blockquote>
</div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These are the things that have worked for me. Volumes have been written about this stuff and I'll elaborate more on each one later and how it has specifically helped me, and hopefully this will also be useful to you.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span></div><div><br></div>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091792013-01-02T23:45:00-05:002019-06-30T09:23:57-04:00Stress, Brainwaves and ....Sound?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The first thing I wanted to do after my experience with anxiety, was to read, and try to ground myself in some concrete knowledge that could help my understand what was going on in my mind. Many of the mind states I was cycling through were downright psychedelic and I needed a healthy dose of "reality" (whatever that is...hah) One of the first books I read was called the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Stress-Answer-Conquer-Depression/dp/0670019739">"Stress Answer"</a>. One section of the book in particular really clicked. The section was talking about the different brainwave states and how stressed states could actually be measured in hertz. Well "hertz" were something I had been working with for a long time. As a musician (and sometimes sound engineer, by default) I frequently worked with the idea of hertz ranges. The hertz produced by the brain, however, are much lower than what I normally worked with in music. In stressful states the brain functions at around a range of 30 hz. More relaxed states would probably be around 12-15 hz or lower. This is far below the range of human hearing. This started me thinking about the brain waves in a different way (that related them to music) and my curiosity eventually led me to the concept of brainwave entrainment and binaural beats. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What are binaural beats? </span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Binaural Beats are a way of syncing the brainwaves to a desired frequency range. For example, if I was in a stressed state and wanting to bring my brainwaves down to a more relaxed range, listening to binaural beats could help me to achieve this. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How do Binaural Beats (and other types of Brainwave synchronization) work? </span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our brains have a frequency following response. This means that when we are exposed to repetitive beats our brainwaves naturally attempt to sync to them. Imagine yourself listing to the repetitive sounds of a passing train or as a child sleeping to the repetitive sound in the car. Binaural Beats and other types of entrainment work in a similar way.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Binaural Beats help us achieve the lower subsonic states by using two slightly differing tones (in headphones). The brain attempts to sync to the difference of the two tones with each tone panned in each ear of the headphones. For example if your left ear heard 100hz and your right ear heard 105hz, the difference would be 5hz. Then, the brain would attempt to sync to 5hz. This basically sounds like vibrato on a stringed instrument or the "wah wah" sound of a tibetan bowl. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For me this, has turned out to be a great tool for relaxation and meditation. Also, I feel that the more I have gotten used to the feel of different brainwave states, they are much easier to access later. Kind of like tuning in to a certain "radio station".</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are basic descriptions of some of the brain states.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brainwave ranges:</span></b><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beta - 30hz-13hz - your normal awake state, in higher ranges or above 30hz you may be experiencing stress. In this case, you gotta relax!</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Alpha - 13z-8hz - a relaxed and reflective state</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Theta - 8hz-4hz - a very meditative state or getting drowsy and drifting off, if your sleepy)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Delta - 4hz and below - deep sleep or a very deep meditative state. Buddhist Monk's brainwaves have also been measured in this state during meditation.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So is this the holy grail to solve all stress problems? For me, no, but it has been a major piece of the puzzle and an extremely effective tool. Other great tools for me also include yoga, meditation and diet and exercise.</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is an article from Wikipedia about Brainwave Entrainment: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_entrainment">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_entrainment</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The brainwave states (Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta) are listed on this page (scroll down to the table) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography</a></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are some Binaural Beats with nature sounds I created on SoundCloud. </span><br><a href="http://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://soundcloud.com/sonic-yogi</span></a><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Follow me on SoundCloud or join the mailing list via this blog and I'll send a notice as I add new tracks.)</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.sonicyogi.com/" target="_blank"><b>For sound downloads click here.</b></a></i></span></span>Sonic Yogitag:sonicyogi.com,2005:Post/58091802012-12-06T19:30:00-05:002022-06-02T10:46:39-04:00Learning through Anxiety<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In December of last year (2011) I experienced anxiety in one of the most powerful ways I had ever encountered. Of course, I had had worries before and anxiety about specific events (like I assume we all do) but this was different. This was an all encompassing anxiety, fear and depression. I felt I had come face to face with myself and my life and was dealing with issues that I had (unknowingly) been avoiding for a long time. In retrospect I've learned that stress isn't only work related or financially related, but some of the most intense stress can be emotional scars that can be carried for years and later manifest physically. For me, these were the hardest to notice, because I had hidden them from my conscious mind. I'm sure that my anxiety was started in part by opening up this part of my mind and dealing with these issues fact to face. (more on that later).</span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The most intense period lasted about a week and sort of lingered through over the next couple of weeks. During the first week I was hardly able to leave the house. I struggled with feelings of worthlessness, and failure as a person...and with my motivations in life. As my own perspective expanded, I came to feel that we all deal with these things at some level and in a variety of ways, have just learned to hide it from the outside world. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I now have the deepest empathy for those that are dealing with anxiety, depression and other issues. It wasn't that I was callus to these issues before, they just weren't really on my radar screen. I just had no idea of the depth of pain and almost psychedelic nature, that some of these experiences could morph into. I hope that you will find this blog helpful, whether you are dealing with anxiety or depression or ways to relax or meditate. In retrospect, this anxiety and depression turned out to be a blessing because it opened me up to new parts of myself, and a new way of adjusting my perspective in ways that I had no clue that even existed. It was as if I had discovered a new layer to my humanity, and spirituality, that I had hidden from myself. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the middle of the anxiety, I found music to be an integral part of helping me to deal with these issues. In order to understand more about what was going on with me and to prove to myself that I wasn't completely insane, I started to read more about psychology and neuroscience and spirituality and anything that related to the "inner world" that I had re-discovered. Through this I discovered the powerful value of music...frequency, sound and rhythm. In a huge way music became my healer. As a musician, I was always attracted to the mysterious nature of music and sound, but I had come to think of it as something for entertainment or to move the emotions (which I think are valuable), but now I was opened to the possibility of sound and frequency as a healing force and something that could be helpful for other people. I learned about different mental states (states of consciousness) and how sound and frequency could help access these. </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So,this is what has inspired me to start this blog, while I mostly want to focus on music there are many other subjects that overlap. Well, at some point it ALL overlaps. Sound and music are the study and artful use of frequencies, but in essence our whole world is frequency. Science acknowledges that everything is vibrating, from solid matter and our brainwaves down to the activity of the smallest particles we know of. The world we live in is a world of vibration. A world of music! </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have been working on music and sounds (mainly recording nature sounds, so far) not only for my own self therapy, but also to share with family and friends that had shared that they were also dealing with similar issues of anxiety or depression. I will post new music and sounds in the "music" section. This is still an exploration for me and I hope you'll find this helpful in your life! </span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be well, Jon </span>Sonic Yogi