The Dbottino Weblog

The tropical paradise of Fiji is an archipelago of 332 islands flung like rice at a wedding across 230,000 square kilometers of the southwest Pacific. The enchanting and amiable natives of this sun-kissed Eden have two favorite expressions: “Bula”, an all-purpose greeting which encompasses everything from “How are you?” to “Have a nice day”, and “Mataka”, which roughly translated means “later”. Fijians boast that when “Mataka” is compared with the Mexican “Manana”, the latter rings with a note of urgency.

Historically the Fijians were
fierce warriors - today they are exceptional rugby players - but their usual
demeanor is relaxed, sweet-tempered and very “Mataka”. This is often attributed
to their fondness for Kava Kava, a drink made by pounding or chewing the roots
of the Kava Kava vine and then soaking the mash in cold water. Heat destroys
the active ingredients.

Several years ago I was sitting
cross-legged in a jungle clearing in Fiji, in a circle of laughing young
Fijians. They were passing around a coconut shell filled with a brownish green
liquid that looked like muddy water. I had heard about Kava and its alleged
relaxing properties and had always assumed that it was alcoholic. Not so. When
the shell was passed to me I took a sip and tasted a slightly bitter, but
generally insipid liquid. Urged to drink more, I felt a slight tingling
numbness in my lips and within minutes a serene glow was suffusing my body as
quickly as butter melting in a hot pan. When the shell reached the last person
in the group, he took a large mouthful and spat the contents on the ground. I
learned later that this was an offering to the gods for a rich harvest.

Kava has long been considered a
libation to the gods in the South Pacific. The spiritual healers of Fiji, known
as Dauvaguna, use the herb to help
them communicate with Vu, a spirit
force, who helps them foretell the future and directs them to apply the correct
herbal remedies for their patients. Kava is believed to cure illnesses, remove
curses and foster friendship. It has a pivotal role in the ratification of
agreements and the settling of disputes. It is drunk to ensure safety prior to
long trips, especially sea voyages, and to celebrate marriages, births and even
deaths. Mostly it is the South Pacific equivalent of the evening cocktail,
being consumed every sundown as a relaxant.

Kava is a perennial shrub
belonging to the pepper family, Piperaceae.
It was given its botanical name, Piper
methysticum, or intoxicating pepper, in 1777 by the explorer and botanist,
Johann Georg Forster.

Research shows that the main
active ingredients in the root of Kava are a group of resinous compounds called
kava lactones. These have a depressant effect on the central nervous system and
are sedative and antispasmodic. Kava is a very effective muscle relaxant. Kava
lactones also have an antiseptic and anesthetic effect on the urinary tract and
bladder and kava has been used successfully to treat urinary tract infections.
The herb is a strong diuretic and this cleansing effect along with its analgesic
properties make it a useful herb in combating arthritic and rheumatic problems
including gout.

But it is Kava’s ability to
deliver a delicious combination of calmness and alertness that has put it on
the list of top selling herbs to combat the major disease of industrialized
society: anxiety. German clinical studies published in 1990 revealed that
kawain, one of the kava lactones, is as effective in relieving anxiety as
benzodiazepene. In large doses Kava produces a type of euphoria and for this
reason it is still touted as an aphrodisiac in the South Pacific.

Until recently, Kava was illegal
in Canada. The Health Protection Branch of Health Canada had some concerns
about the intoxicating properties of the herb. However, bowing to pressure from
herbalists and the public, Kava is now available on the shelves of Costco.

Kava
has proven itself to be a very effective herb to combat stress and anxiety
without the addictive qualities and negative side effects of drugs such as
Valium. However, some cautions should be noted. People taking anti-depressant
or anti-anxiety medications should never use kava. It should not be combined
with alcohol or other recreational drugs. Pregnant or nursing women should not
use it. Although Kava has minimal side effects, long-term use may result in
dry, scaly skin with a yellow pigment. Should this occur users should
discontinue taking the herb immediately. Also, a single, large dose of Kava can
cause intoxication and drowsiness so it is advisable not to drive a car or
operate heavy machinery after taking the herb. The drowsiness that follows
Kava’s initial rush of calm alertness can be a great sleep inducer and some
people find the herb a more effective sleep aid than valerian and certainly a
better option than sleeping pills.

According to Astrology, the exact location of the moon during the time of your birth determines your emotional reaction to the world around you. While the astrological sun colors your outwardly aggressive actions, the moon dictates your inner, passive or receptive urges. The moon is your “female energy” - she represents the type of nurturing energy you project, and/or the type of mothering you received as a child. Today we will discuss the Moon in Scorpio.

The Scorpio Moon: Joy and Pain

The Moon is literally in its fall, or denouement, in this sign. For this reason, Scorpio Moon folks are known to grapple with themselves on the inside. They typically experience all emotions extremely, deeply and totally - ecstasy, sorrow, elation… and yes, their tempers, when provoked, can be explosive. To complicate matters, Scorpio Moon people regard their own emotions as a source of vulnerability and therefore try to keep their true feelings under wraps. So, it’s not surprising that while many Scorpio Moons are traveling this earth feeling everything very intensely, they’re also wearing this kind of detached look. After all, if they were to be found out, there would be very grave consequences indeed. What those consequences might be is anybody’s guess… but if the Scorpio Moon is the one doing the imagining, it’s sure to be quite catastrophic.

The Scorpio Moon, in a nutshell: intensity. Intense likes, intense dislikes, intense fascination, intense disgust… and yes, in keeping with the general Scorpio reputation, intense love affairs. This is a very black-and-white, all-or-nothing moon with extremely fixed notions about things. If you’re loved by a Scorpio Moon then you are loved fiercely, totally and completely; but if you’re despised by a Scorpio Moon, then you may as well not exist. And it’s quite possible in dealing with this turbulent moon native that both emotions may be directed at you at different points in this lifetime. If a Scorpio Moon perceives that you have slighted them in some way… better make good immediately, or run and hide until the mood passes, because in all likelihood, revenge is being plotted against YOUR head!

The Scorpio Moon: Offsetting the Drama With Private Relaxation

Scorpio Moon people tend to go through life acting on hunches, “reading between the lines” - picking up subtle nonverbal cues, moods, intentions, underlying messages and such. Indeed, someone with this moon placement may get a very different meaning from the same conversation heard by someone with a more literal and pragmatic mind. This is not only quite distracting to the moon native, but when they react to these perceptions it often leads to undesired consequences and drama. Thus, the irony of the Scorpio Moon; being consumed by the very internal composition one despises in himself, and attracting drama-infused situations as a direct result of trying to avoid them.

A troubled Scorpion Moon person should allow herself some distance from time to time… a private sanctuary where she can sort out her emotions, get a healthy perspective and then emerge from the “cocoon” with renewed inner peace and a higher purpose in mind. Indeed, reflection and meditation feels quite natural to this introspective moon native and is encouraged as a way to take the edge off and temper the extreme moods. A deeply sensitive soul, capable of great courage and strength… there is much room for psychological growth and wisdom to be gained with this lunar positioning.

The Scorpio Moon: A Powerful Force for Good OR Evil

As with any sign, there are both positives and negatives to the Scorpio Moon placement. The sign of Scorpio has been assigned two symbols- the Scorpion and the Eagle. The former, a covert creature who stealths along the ground; and the latter, a symbol of power and might, soaring into the high heavens. Lows and highs… the Scorpio Moon is quite familiar with both states of consciousness… more than most, in fact.

Spiritually evolved Scorpio Moon souls can (and should) harness the gift of their emotional intensity and move proverbial mountains with it. If a Scorpio Moon person is intrinsically good, then that goodness of spirit can manifest itself in divine ways… extreme compassion and generosity toward fellow man, great and unshakeable integrity, impeccably honest conduct in business and personal affairs, and a permanent seat on the side of righteousness and justice. An enlightened Scorpio Moon will pledge his whole self to any and every cause he deems important; profess his undying faith to his family, home, country; and even make the ultimate sacrifice in a lifelong promise to serve God. Yes, this moon placement is often found in religious leaders, as the spiritual aspect is heavily emphasized here.

Less evolved Scorpio moons, on the other hand, are not averse to using abject means to get what they want. The concentration of power in this sign placement has led many a wayward Scorpio lunar native down a dark and devious path of corruption. In direct contrast to their enlightened counterparts; illicit affairs, illegal and underhanded dealings, petty and deceitful behavior, psychological turmoil, and loyalty to no one but themselves are trademark signs of the afflicted Scorpio Moon. Again, this is all due to the fact that Scorpio is in the moon’s fall, thus making emotions feel uncomfortable, unnatural and all-encompassing. With the all-or-nothing theme at work, indeed this placement will produce some extreme results.

The Scorpio Moon and Sex

It has been said that sexual impulses drive the Scorpio Moon native moreso than other moon signs, perhaps because they radiate such passion and intensity that they’re forever in need of release. The Scorpio Moon is equated with transcendental lovemaking or “soul sex” in which the participants experience an exalted state of consciousness by way of the physical sex act itself. Clearly, while “sexual nirvana” is hardly a day-to-day occurrence, this moon person has been labeled as having an extra potential for such achievements. At the very least, this moon person admits to having a high sex drive, even allowing sex to affect his or her decisions at certain points in life.

The Scorpio Moon as a Nurturer

The Scorpio Moon Nurturer is fiercely protective and psychologically all-consuming. Scorpio Moon Mothers, or “Smothers” as they are sometimes known, must learn to temper their intensity. If the Scorpio lover is possessive in her affairs, the Scorpio mother is equally possessive of her children. It will be her ongoing challenge to “let go.” These moon natives must get a reign on that fretfulness that leads to strings of sleepless nights, and interfere less in the daily trials and tribulations of their young sons and daughters. Scorpio Moon Mothers must generally permit themselves to chill out, cool down and back off. An earth-sign or earth moon-sign partner can lend a comforting and grounding effect for the Scorpio nurturer who has let the worrying get out of hand yet again.

Other signature themes and preoccupations of the Scorpio Moon: secrets, mysteries, severity, psychology, power, control, passion, revenge, obsession, loyalty, sex, depth of feeling, ethics, spirituality, solitude, death. No, the Scorpio moon is surely not made of green cheese, but rather some of the most powerful facets of human existence. This lunar native must learn to embrace the reality of his or her own emotions as opposed to running or hiding from them. If the Scorpio Moon person can navigate his or her own spirit to a higher and more exalted place, he will recognize the potential for complete and total happines that lies within himself… and the transformation will be powerful for certain.

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more details.

Eastern philosophy and medicine, originating in ancient India and China, have traditionally regarded body structures and the life processes occurring within as inseparable. Their terminology resides halfway between structure and function and identifies certain entities in the human body, representing the flow of life energy and, in some sense, conduits for that flow that do not correspond to anatomical structures recognized by Western science and medicine. The chakras are the energy centers in a person’s biological field and are responsible for his or her physiological and psychological condition as well as certain groups of organs. All vital functions of the human body are determined by energy that spins in the chakras. These can be defined as “whirlpools referred,” and in Indian, they are considered “energy bursts” or “wheels.”

The process of energy transformation happens exactly in these centers. Vital energy, along with blood, circulates around the meridians in the chakras and fuels all organs and systems in the human body. When the circulation in these meridians stagnates, the human body becomes susceptible to various disorders. An excellent preventative method, designed explicitly to battle such stagnation is Chi Gun, an ancient Chinese method for self-healing which activates the energy centers. Chi Gun teaches people to release the energy themselves by massaging specific areas corresponding to the different chakras.

There are 49 chakras mentioned in the Vedic Canons, seven of which are basic; 21 are in the second circle, and 21 in the third circle. According to the Vedis, there are multiple energy channels leading to different locations from the chakras. Three of these channels are basic. The first one, called “shushumna,” is hollow and is concentrated in the spine. The other two energy pathways, “ida” and “pingala”, are located on either side of the spine. These two channels are the most active in most people, while “shushumna” remains stagnant.

The seven basic chakras spin at high speeds in the body of healthy individuals but slow down in times of sickness or with advancing age. When the body is in a harmonious balance, the chakras remain partially open. Closed chakras are unable to receive energy, leading to various disorders.

The first basic chakra, “Muladhara,” is located at the base of the spine in the tailbone area. Life energy, which is at the core of a strong and healthy immune system, is stored in this chakra. It is impossible for a person to become sick, old or even to die, before exhausting his or her reserves of this vital energy. The very will for life is controlled by Muladhara. It is also in charge of the bones and joints, the teeth, the nails, the urinogenital system and the large intestine. The first symptoms of a malfunctioning Muladhara are unreasonable fear, faintness, lack of security or faith in the future, leg and foot problems, and intestinal disorders.

The interrupted activity of the Muladhara chakra causes lack of energy, digestive problems, diseases of the bones and spine, and nervous tension among others.
The second chakra, “Svadhistana,” is located at the level of the sacrum, three or four fingers below the belly button. This chakra regulates the pelvis, the kidneys and sexual functions. We also feel other peoples’ emotions through this chakra. Symptoms of a malfunctioning “Svadhistana” are kidney problems, cystitis and arthritis.

The third chakra, “Manipura,” is found in the solar plexus area. This chakra is the center for storing and distributing energy produced by digestion and breathing. It is responsible for vision, the gastrointestinal system, the liver, the gall bladder, the pancreas and nervous system. Symptoms of a stagnant “Manipura” are as follows: increased and constant worrying, as well as stomach, liver and nervous disorders.

The fourth chakra, “Anahata,” also called the heart chakra, is located in the chest area. We generate and receive love through this chakra. It is in charge of the heart, the lungs, the bronchi, the hands and the arms. Symptoms of stagnation include depression and cardiovascular imbalances.

The fifth chakra, “Vishudha,” is located at the throat level and is the center of analytical skills and logic. This chakra sustains the skin, organs of hearing, along with the trachea and lungs. Symptoms include a lack of emotional stability, discomfort in the cervical spine, soar throats, difficulties communicating, and esophagus and thyroid ailments.

The sixth chakra, “Adjna,” is located between the eyebrows and is called the “third eye.” Here is the throne for the human brain. “Adjna” circulates energy to the head and pituitary gland and is also responsible for determining our harmonious development. If a person’s “third eye” ceases to function properly, one might notice a decrease in intellectual ability, headaches and migraines, earaches, olfactory illnesses, and psychological disorders.

The seventh chakra, “Sahasrara,” is found at the very top of the head and represents the apex where an individual’s energy vibrates with the highest frequency. It is considered a spiritual center and the entrance to the body for cosmic energy. A stagnant “Sahasrara” can result in a decrease in or lack of inner wisdom, as well as a lack of basic intuition.

With this basic knowledge of the first seven chakras, we can address the question: “How do we use this information to locate the causes of our troubles and problems, and with the help of Eastern Medicine, learn to control the functions of the chakras ourselves?”.

From the perspective of Eastern Medicine, our health depends on the distribution of our energy-consciousness informational field. A shortage of energy inevitably causes ailments. According to Tibetan Medicine, the only difference between youth and old age, and between a sick and healthy individual, is the difference in the rotating speed of the whirlpool energy centers of the chakras. If these different speeds are balanced, old people will rejuvenate and sick people will heal. Therefore, the best way to preserve and keep our health, youth and vitality is to restore and maintain a balanced movement of the energy centers.

The easiest way to keep the chakras balanced is through a set of physical exercises. Yannis called these not simply exercises, but rituals. These rituals allow the human body to mold its energy centers to an ideal level of function. The seven rituals, one for each chakra, must be performed together every morning and when not possible, in the evening. Skipping rituals unbalances energy distribution, and so for the best results, no more than one day per week should be missed. The daily chakra rituals are necessary not only for revitalizing the body, but also for achieving success in every facet of life. “Once you learn how to transform your energy, you will also become happier,” concluded Yannis.

For learning these rituals (which have transformed many peoples’ lives throughout the world), seeing them in action is much more effective than trying to follow written descriptions or diagrams. A DVD, available from Helix 7, Inc. (www.FeelingOfHappiness.com), includes actual demonstrations of these rituals.

Another method of keeping the chakras balanced and in their optimal half-open state is meditation. Meditative methods are universal to the human experience; they have accumulated over the ages through many different cultures and have proven their value in attaining peace, clarity, equanimity and in transcending despair. People who meditate on a regular basis are usually calmer, more secure, more joyful and more productive human beings. They are more effective in their everyday lives because they use their mental and physical potential, abilities and skills to their fullest extent. All too often, we humans fail to realize the great latent powers which are, as yet, unawakened in our bodies. We must learn how to revive and utilize them. This can only be achieved through meditation. Eastern men of wisdom, who believed meditation to be a vital necessity, stumbled on this discovery more than 1000 years ago. They learned to influence their inner organs and control their metabolism with the power of their minds. Meditation is to the mind what exercise is to the body; mental strength can be built up just like physical strength. Just as in athletics, it is important for an individual to train his or her body, it is important for an individual to train his or her mind through meditation.

The best time for meditation is early morning, preferably at dawn. Do not meditate when you are sad, aggravated, desperate or sick, because these intense emotional and physiological distractions make an enlightened state of mind impossible. For an effective meditation session, it is preferable to arrange for the undistracted silence of a quiet, clean room with flowers, or the soothing sounds of Mother Nature - near a lake, river, waterfall, woods or fields. Many different mental practices, having their origin in historical traditions, fall under the general heading of “meditation.” These paths of mental development can involve emotional and intellectual facets and may also be coordinated with specific movements. Meditation can be structured or unstructured, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer writes in his book Real Magic, “The process of meditation is nothing more than quietly going within and discovering that higher component of yourself … Learning to meditate is learning how to live rather than talking about it…”

World Renown author, Dick Derrick, has 20 years practical
experiance combining centuries-old Eastern philosophy and
healing with modern scientific findings to inspire and
encourage you to achieve happiness and harmony in your life.
www.FeelingOfHappiness.com/

A Taurus is a special kind of person with very unique characteristics. You may not have known that the Taurus likes to be the center of attention just like the counterpart in the animal kingdom. In fact, many people who are a Taurus tend to be very bullish or stubborn when it comes to interacting with other people.

This can tend to be both a positive and a negative in certain ways. Positively, it can lead to a good sense of purpose and following through on projects and ideas. However, in some instances it may have the person seeing red when it comes to being able to handle any kind of criticism of what they may firmly believe in their mind.

A Taurus will in many cases have a very big, boisterous personality which some people may say is abrasive while others would call it lighting up the room. They usually don’t tend to shy away from the limelight and instead crave that kind of attention and opportunity to lead a group.

On a purely intellectual level, the Taurus may not be a superstar, instead prefering to get things accomplished with brute strength or a proven strategy which may have worked well in the past. It would be good for a Taurus to learn to try new and better ways of doing things.

Now you know more about the Taurus and what kinds of traits they can exhibit.

Julie Hopkins is an independant consultant for access now.

September of last year, I had a blonde woman about 30 years old, with long straight hair show up in my bedroom, sit on my bed and just look at me for a while. For lack of a better name for her, I named her Len, like the name of the alternative rock band that sings one of the cutest songs. She was visible, but you could kind of see through her, she was nice though, I could feel a lightness around her, but without her even ever having to speak, I knew what she was there for. I could feel vibrations from her and sensed what was happening. She was a temporary guide of mine. She stuck around…

Guides can be temporary or permanent, as well as they can be there to tell you about a past life or about something they want you to do career-wise. She literally inhabited my body in order to tell me what she had to say. She was very insistent about what she was telling me and since I had already been told what she was trying to tell me, I was reluctant to listen, because I had heard it when I was 20 and thought it was silly, so I blew it off.

She stuck around for days repeating herself and I realized I was hearing her from inside my own head, but it was a different voice, other than my own, and she repeated what she had to say until I acknowledged what she was saying. A few days of that, I acknowledged it. It was information about my own past life, my very first one, should I say. I was not into past life readings, before this, so it was kind of a surprise for me that she would repeat what I had already heard once before. I listened and she cleared out, satisfied that I had finally gotten the message.

A few days later, she returned… with a new message for me. A single word, “Kundalini, kundalini, kundalini, kundalini, kundalini…” and on and on and on and on. I looked through every single book I had in my possession. A channeling book was the only one that I had, in years of a collection of books and studying, that even briefly mentioned this kundalini thing. With reluctance to make her mad and have a need to come back and repeat it to me even more than she already had, I acknowledged that I heard what she was telling me with the intention of looking it up. She was satisfied and went away again.

Kundalini is serpent energy that is stored at the base of your spine, in your root chakra. A Kundalini rising occurs when the energy shoots up your spine out of your crown chakra. It can be painful with some really nasty side effects and it can take years to completely have your Kundalini rise up if it is not done properly. However, Kundalini rising leads to some very interesting psychic activity and awareness and something called Kundalini fire, which is a factor to healing. I learned to do those kundalini awakenings, to heal, either through distant, remote or hands-on method and to teach others to heal or teach. Only someone that has had their Kundalini rising can pass this on to others. With it, you can heal injuries and you can heal situations, provided that there are not blockages from unknown issues or problems that aren’t being dealt with, at the time. You can even heal those situations that stem from something in the past with Kundalini Reiki.

Tachyon Reiki is my favorite, though. Tachyon is zero-point energy, or equivalent to holy ghost or holy spirit energy, that when applied to any chaotic or disharmonized situation, zooms into and targets that disharmony and restores balance and harmony to it. It can be used for healing any situation under the sun. It is completely safe to our bodies. You can tachyonize water and drink it for better health.

I have had remarkable results in peoples’ situations with Tachyon. Even one from a criminal case where I was trying to work in the background. In this case, literally everything that could go wrong, did. It was unbelievable how ridiculously this case had been handled. It was stressing me and draining me because local authorities were just not hearing what I was telling them about it. I couldn’t get to the client to lay hands on them or directly apply the tachyon healing method to them, so I wrote this client letters and tachyonized the letters. I can literally go beyond prison bars, if I need to, to help someone, now. With months of Tachyon applied to the situation, the case is about to go back to court for an appeal. This case was one of the most challenging things I have ever dealt with in my life and my career. It’s going well, now, because I learned what Len was telling me. I can also help abused women and kids, being a survivor of it myself.

Malina Havard is the owner of A Mystical Creation, http://www.amysticalcreation.com, a site that offers psychic & magical intervention, protection, as well as psychic readings and other things at affordable rates. She is a Reiki Master and has studied independently for many years. Her first reading was performed without any divination tools when she was in high school and she has many spirit guides & animal guides as well as fairy folk and other beings around her. Malina knows that it is in her nature to help people, to heal and to teach. She is now offering people the chance to become psychic, through her guidance.

Meditation is often misunderstood by those who do not practice it. Very often, I hear meditation referred to as, “altered states of consciousness.” That sounds more like intoxicants, rather than bringing clarity to a cluttered mind. Without going too deep into what meditation is, or is not, let’s focus on one of the many things a daily meditation practice can do for you.

Meditation is commonly seen in many Yoga classes, but it has been practiced by a variety of cultures, including Roman Catholic priests, as well as Japanese Samurai, who practiced a form of Zen meditation. I mention this so you can see the full spectrum of meditation and its many facets.

There are many varieties and types of meditation, but the easiest form to learn is, “breath awareness meditation.” Compared to many other meditation techniques, this will enable anyone to experience the benefits of meditation in much less time.

At this point, let’s consider that meditation and Yoga teachers often compare the mind to a monkey. Many thoughts are running through your brain, at the same time, and it is hard to control all of your impulses - let alone, sit still and meditate. So why go through all this trouble?

Meditation has many rewards, and we will now consider one of extreme value. Through daily practice of meditation, you will release the unlimited potential of your mind. The ability to change, or alter the universe, starts as a single thought within your mind.

One human decided to harness the power of fire, and did he/she foresee the global warming effect? How could he/she imagine where we are now? This is just one of many thousands of examples of Karma - the law of cause and effect. Therefore, one seemingly small change, of any kind, will have a ripple effect on the universe.

Some of the seeds to change the universe, rests locked up in your mind, but you have the ability to shape the future by any small changes that you make. Let’s say you have a friend, family member, or associate, who cares for you deeply, but, up to now, you have always taken it for granted. Can you imagine what would happen if you take the time to groom that relationship? The answer is you would have a loyal ally and all you had to show was kindness or appreciation.

You have the ability to alter your own personality and affect the world around you. Hopefully, your personality will always continue to change for the better; if so, this will alter everyone around you for the best.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

I have always rather envied those people who have a
burning vocation; they knew the career they wanted to follow
and went for it. If, like me, you have never really known what
you want to do, the years fly past and you still have to earn a
living. But doing what?

I did well at school and it was assumed that I’d go onto
university. I wasn’t happy at home and being keen to move
out I end up leaving school after 5th year to study for a
degree in Hotel and Catering Management at Strathclyde
Uni. Well my heart was never really in it and I dropped out
after 1st year, against all advice.

I went to live with my aunt in north London and found a job in
the newsagent’s kiosk in the Strand Palace Hotel. I was
very keen to visit Greece. I’d a very romantic notion of it.
None of my friends were interested so it was either go
alone or not at all. I saved up from my meagre wages and
booked an open return on the coach to Athens in June
1978. I think it cost £25 return.

I planned to travel down through the Peloponese and then
do some island hopping. I was not impressed by Athens
but had already paid for a 3-night hotel stay in there. The
train journey down to Kalamata in the Peloponese was
wonderful, a narrow gauge railway, the carriages had
wooden slated seats. I was the only tourist on the train. I
then visited Crete, Rhodes, Kos, and Kalmynos. It was in
my next port of call, Samos, that I met my husband. He was
doing his 2-year military service. Although I did think that I’d
fallen in love, I thought be sensible you have heard all these
stories about holidays romances. Suffice to stay I was back
in Samos a few months later. He finished his national
service just before Christmas 1979 and we were married in
Glasgow in February 1980.

We had been so intent on just being together that we hadn’t
really thought through how we were going to live. My
husband had studied at a naval college before his national
service but we didn’t want him to go and work in the
merchant navy. He couldn’t even work when he first came
over to the UK, until his work permit was sorted out.

We decided that the best way to save up the money for the
deposit for our own home was for me to do a “live-in” job as
a housekeeper. We would be provided with a small flat to
live in and have virtually no expenses. We managed to
stand that for a year and had saved £5000, enough for a
deposit on a place of our own. My husband now had a
steady job at the Hyde Park Hotel, so we could apply for a
mortgage.

I continued with a succession of menial temporary jobs. By
1982, I was getting fed up, so enrolled in a secretarial
course at a private college. This paid off; I found a job as
PA/secretary in a publisher’s office. Little did I know but this
would be the high point of my career to the present day. I
worked a 32 and a half hour week, was reasonably paid, I
had an office junior to do the routine tasks and work was
great fun. The company published 2 magazines, one was a
naturist magazine, Health and Efficiency, and the other a
bodybuilding magazine.

However we were living in a one bedroom flat with no
garden in East London. We couldn’t afford to buy
something bigger or in a more salubrious area. We were
thinking about having a family, so when my husband saw
Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire advertising for staff, we
though why not move to Scotland, housing would certainly
be a lot cheaper. My husband got the job at Gleneagles and
he moved up, leaving me to sell our flat in London. He lived
in staff accommodation at Gleneagles and started house
hunting.

He found a house in Muthill, near Crieff. It was quite large
so I decided to try my hand at bed and breakfast and we
registered with an agency that sent German kids over to the
UK to stay with a family and receive English lessons. That
wasn’t exactly a roaring success. In 1986 I saw an advert
for market research interviewers and decided to apply. I did
my first survey in Pitlochry. It was quite hard at first but I did
quite enjoy being out and about and chatting to loads of
different people.

However I discovered I was pregnant in the Autumn of 1986
and when I went for my scan was informed that it was
twins! My husband was in his 2nd year as a mature student
at Stirling University. We thought it would be better if we
could move nearer Stirling, as he needed the car to get to
university and I would be pretty stuck in the village with twin
babies. Our house in Muthill took ages to sell but we
moved to Tullibody, in February 1988.

In the spring I went back to work as a market research
interviewer. It fitted in well with family life, as I would go out
to work evenings and weekends and we didn’t need to pay
for any childcare. As the boys grew up and had a nursery
place when they were 4, I thought I should be doing
something better than trailing around asking a whole load
of questions. I saw places funded by the European Social
Fund for women to study for an HNC in Admin at the local
college. They were even offering free creche places. I had
been thinking about going back to university and was
advised that it would be easier to gain admission if I could
provide evidence of recent study.

The year at college was harder work than I had envisaged,
then the 4 years at university, studying for a business
studies degree, were even harder, and I was still doing
market research most weekends. Now I hardly thought I
was going to be headhunted into a top management
position when I completed my studies but I did think I’d be
able to find a semi-decent job.

After looking around a bit for a job, I decided that I would try
to start my own business. I wanted to work locally
weekdays during the day. I knew that there was a strong
demand locally for domestic cleaners and thought I would
try setting up a domestic cleaning service. Sure enough my
research was correct there was demand and after a few
leaflet drops locally and a few personal recommendations, I
started to advertise for staff. After a year and a half I had 7
part time staff. However things were not going smoothly, I
was doing cleaning every day myself and there always
seemed to be at least one staff member off. The quality
began to drop if I was always on hand to crack the whip. I
was hardly making any profit and was spending around 30
hours a week just cleaning, never mind wages. weekly
rotas, leaflet drops. I realised that I would have to expand to
be profitable but couldn’t find reliable staff to maintain
quality. I’d been doing quite a lot of work cleaning rented
staff accommodation, between lets for a company that was
relocating to the Stirling area. They were having a new office
custom built for them. The office manager verbally assured
me that I would have the contract to clean the new office. I
thought that this would be the salvation of the business, as I
could easily supervise employees while on one site. The
logistics of the domestic cleaning were very complicated.
However the contract never came to fruition. The office
manager told me that my business was too small to take on
the contract and her deputy told me that they were legally
bound to take on the cleaning contractor that the whole
business park used. Who knows what the truth was but
basically I was left in the lurch. I decided to give up the
business.

I drifted back into market research telling myself that I would
just do the more interesting social survey work. I started
with a company who only did social surveys and was told
there was plenty of work available. I think I had about 3 jobs
from them over 6 months. When I was doing a sex survey
for them in Perth I bumped into another interviewer. She
told me that the company she worked for were about to start
a big social survey where the same families would be
interviewed every year for the next 3 years. I phoned the
area manager the next day, we hit it off and things seemed
to be going well. After a few months the area manager
asked me to apply for the position of deputy. Believe it or
not, as deputy manager I was still paid by the hour. I
actually had more hassle, made less money and had less
flexibility than working as an interviewer. I still had to go out
interviewing and would get home in the evening to a pile of
faxes and phone messages, when I just wanted to relax.

I lasted around 6 months as deputy. I rationalised that I had
tried studying, tried a promoted post, I wasn’t that ambitious
and no employer seemed prepared to offer me a decent
job, so I would have to be realistic and just plod on as an
interviewer. Well that lasted for around a year then the area
manger was forced to retire at 65 and the new manager
wanted to greatly reduce my work on the annual social
survey and force me to do all other sorts of surveys I wasn’t
interested in.

I was wracking my brain about what on earth I was going to
do to earn a crust. I had started thinking that I would like to
start a travel business. It was a growth market, I wouldn’t
need any employees, and I could work from home. The
Internet was really catching on (this was 2002) and I thought
that it would allow me, to gain some market exposure, even
as a small fish. I also thought it would be wonderful to work
in a field in which I had a great personal interest. I signed
up with a flight supplier as a travel broker in August 2002.

That was almost two years ago. I am still working as a
market research interviewer and the business is slowly
growing. It’s been an ongoing dilemma to me, whether to
give up the interviewing and just concentrate on the
business. At some points I have been doing market
research six days a week, so really have not had much time
or energy to devote to the business. However I have been
loathed to give up the steady income. By the same token if I
don’t focus on the business then it will never really take off.

My initial business was Europe a la Carte. I thought that
there was a niche in the market to assist people who were
looking for something different to the traditional package
holiday, put together a tailor made trip to Europe. It is
possible to do this yourself on the Internet but it’s pretty time
consuming. I reckoned that there was a significant minority
of people who would value some assistance with planning
and booking their trip.

From enquiries I received I began to realise that there was
demand for cultural and activity holidays in Europe. The
sister site, European Cultural & Activity Tours, was started in
January 2003. May aim was to build up a good selection of
holidays offered by small specialist suppliers throughout
Europe.

I have to say that I am extremely lucky that one of my sons is
really good on the computer. He has designed my sites
and databases. My other son has also helped me with
newsletters and photos.

I have begun to get more bookings and last week I had my
first repeat customer. I have learnt a lot in the last two years
about IT, the Internet and marketing. I have tried my hand at
writing articles for the websites.

I have had some interesting trips to meet up with suppliers
and visits to the areas that I promote. I have worked really
hard but I haven’t really minded that as I have, on the whole,
enjoyed the work. I am working toward my dream of having
a profitable business in a field I find fascinating. I believe
that I have found what I want to do now that I am grown up!

Karen is a travel consultant and writer specialising in travel
to Europe. She has two websites:
http://www.europealacarte.co.uk
http://www.europe-culture-activity-tours.com

“Use every man after his desert, and who shall ’scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty.” - Hamlet, William Shakespeare

When was the last time someone made your day - or you made theirs? In the national bestselling book, FISH!, by Stephen C. Lundin Ph.D., Harry Paul, and John Christensen, the fishmongers at the world famous Pike Place Fish Company in Seattle do it daily. They do it by throwing fish and joking with their loyal customer-fans, and by just having fun.

I made a point recently to look for people I could “treat” this way, and it was really fun. I think I felt better than they did. I realized that when you make someone’s day, it bounces back on you. It’s a great feeling to witness the joy and surprise on their faces.

It can be little things, like:
• Smiling
• Saying “Good morning”
• Offering your place in line to a harried fellow shopper
• Bringing a cup of coffee to your office mate
• Doing a task for a coworker
• Over-tipping at your favorite restaurant
• Taking time with someone who needs it
• Being a fully present listener

It doesn’t take much to create a joyful moment. Look around, and you’ll find there are more openings than you think. They’re everywhere!

© 2005 Judy Ringer, Power & Presence Training

About the Author: Judy Ringer is Founder of Power & Presence Training, specializing in unique workshops on conflict, communication, and creating a more positive work environment. Judy is also a black belt in aikido, and is writing her first book on the connection between aikido, conflict, and living a more purposeful life. To sign up for more free tips and articles like these, visit www.JudyRinger.com

Note: You’re welcome to reprint this article as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the ‘about the author’ info at the end).

There was a time in my life that I used to put myself down. I found fault with everything on the inside, everything on the outside, and every area where I was just not good enough.

This time period lasted most of my life. I would venture to say that I am not alone in this, and that perhaps there might be a time that you also put yourself down.

Did it ever do you any good? Did it help you, or help you to overcome your challenges? Did putting yourself down and finding fault with yourself ever lead you to feel that you are, in fact, a worthy human being who is equally worthy along with the rest of the human race?

I would venture to say that your answer would be no.

Playing small is not doing anyone a favor. Playing larger than others is also not much of a pure contribution to our world. What about playing fairly? How about being fair with yourself?

It’s true that none of us are perfect. We are not machines, and even machines at times could use a tune up.

When you put yourself down, it is like you are destroying the goodness that you really are. It’s wonderful to feel modest, and it’s wonderful to feel that you are just as valuable as any other human being. When you cur yourself down either within your own mind, or out loud to others, nothing valuable is truly being expressed.

If you put yourself down, it is time that a spring cleaning begins within your mind. Here are some suggestions that you might find useful.

Notice when you are thinking about yourself in a degrading way.
Become consciously aware of the thoughts that are swirling through your mind.
Then, rather than allow them to swirl, and allow them to be verbalized, stop yourself for just one moment.

Ask yourself if there is a kinder comment you could be saying about yourself. Perhaps you are caring, or loving. Perhaps you have a great sense of humor. Perhaps there is nothing truly wrong with you other than what you might have been led to believe by others. Perhaps, if you truly think about it, you are not as bad as you might make yourself out to be.
Anyone can have a rough day, lose patience, or simply lose sight of their true essence. All of the goodness inside of your heart is who you truly are.

Your goodness is your value and worth as a human being, equal to all other human beings. What you look like, own, drive, achieve, succeed or fail at has absolutely nothing to do with the goodness inside of your heart. THAT is who you really are.

Imagine making the conscious choice to stop all self degrading comments. Imagine applying the old saying “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all” to yourself. What if you applied this to yourself? You would speak about the truth that is not based on anything outside of the goodness inside of your heart.

Imagine that you brought out all of the goodness you truly have within you, and replaced that with the negative comments. Then, you would be doing both yourself any many others a nice favor. You would set an example of being good enough simply by sharing and expressing the goodness you have within your heart and this example would touch the lives of others in a positive way.

Imagine if everyone only expressed their goodness, because this is what they were focusing on instead of the no good, degrading, destructive negative commentary. Can you imagine how much better people would feel? Can you imagine how much better you would feel?

Give it a try. Cease all negative self talk, and instead, speak about what is good, both on the inside and on the outside. Focus on what you value within you, especially the qualities you have. Then, bring them out in some form of expression from your heart simply because it would bring you joy to do this.

What are your natural talents? What are your natural states of being that cause you to feel alive? Did you ever have an experience when you felt vibrant and alive, even for just a few minutes? What were you doing? What qualities were you expressing? This is what would do you a world of good to both remember, as well as get in touch with again.

Being hard on yourself is not doing yourself any sort of favor, and it is certainly not truly helping anyone else either. So, why bother? Be kind to yourself instead. Start to take personal responsibility to catch the negative mind banter, and replace it with positive truth.

Start to bring that truth out as an example of being a human being with a good nature, and expressing that good nature to yourself and all others. Then you would truly be doing both yourself and others a bigger favor than you may realize. You can set a modest and pure example of being someone who is good enough simply by being. Every person deserves to feel this basic and pure worth. None of it is truly outside of you, although it can be expressed in many kind ways. Its expression can only come out from within you when you get in touch with all of the good you really are.

Remember this the next time you put yourself down. Remember to speak about the truth instead of the lies you may still believe. When all is said and done, after conscious effort, this will be the new way that you view yourself, and this view will naturally spread to how you view others; with compassion instead of judgment.

Rather than playing small, play from the goodness inside of your heart. You will always go right, and can never fail. You will feel better, and the people around you will feel better in your presence. As you get in touch with all of your goodness something wonderful happens; it’s all you truly express.

© Copyright by Barbara Rose, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.

Barbara Rose, PhD. most widely known as “Born To Inspire” is the best selling author of “Know Yourself“, “If God Hears Me, I Want an Answer!“, “Stop Being the String Along“, “If God Was Like Man” and Individual Power. She is an internationally recognized expert in personal transformation, relationships and spiritual awakening. Barbara is a pioneering force in incorporating Higher Self Communication, the study and integration of humanity’s God-Nature into modern personal growth and spiritual evolution. Her highly acclaimed books, public speaking events, tele-seminars, internationally published articles, and intensives have transformed the lives of thousands across the globe. She is the founder of IHSC -Institute of Higher Self Communication, inspire! Magazine and Rose Humanitarian Alliance. Barbara holds a Ph.D. in Metaphysics and works in cooperation with some of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time, to uplift the spiritual consciousness of humanity. Visit her website http://www.borntoinspire.com