Study Shows Meditation Changes Brain Structure in Just 8 Weeks - Family... Written by Suzannah Moss - FHG Senior Writer Participants in an 8 week mindfulness meditation class experienced structural brain changes including increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection. This is the first research to document meditation-produced changes in the brain. Previous research has identified differences in brain activity and structure between practised meditators and non-meditators. Researchers noted that long-term meditation alters brain-wave patterns, with greater activity in brain circuits involved in attention. The current study is the first to document that these structural changes are in fact produced by meditation. During the study MR images of participants' brain structure were taken two weeks prior to and immediately following an eight week mindfulness based stress reduction programme. Further health benefits of meditation References:
Magick Without Tears -- Contents Table of Contents Note: This hypertext edition of Magick Without Tears is based on a plaintext edition entered in 1988 by Bill Heidrick from the 1954 first edition, with a foreword by the original editor Karl J. Germer. Footnotes indicated by *, †, ‡, etc. by either Crowley or Germer. In the interests of readability, when converting the plaintext to HTML I made no attempt to retain the line breaks and pagination from the paper edition. Magic without Tears November 13, 1988 e.v. key entry and first proof by Bill Heidrick T.G. Key entry by Bill Heidrick, (415) 454-5176 P.O. Aleister Crowley MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS Complete and Unabridged, edited with a Foreword by Karl J. HTML coding by Frater T.S. for Nu Isis Working Group. Additional work and design by John Griogair Bell of The Hermetic Library at Hermetic.com with additional proofing by Pralixus Magick Without Tears
The benefits of meditation Studies have shown that meditating regularly can help relieve symptoms in people who suffer from chronic pain, but the neural mechanisms underlying the relief were unclear. Now, MIT and Harvard researchers have found a possible explanation for this phenomenon. In a study published online April 21 in the journal Brain Research Bulletin, the researchers found that people trained to meditate over an eight-week period were better able to control a specific type of brain waves called alpha rhythms. “These activity patterns are thought to minimize distractions, to diminish the likelihood stimuli will grab your attention,” says Christopher Moore, an MIT neuroscientist and senior author of the paper. There are several different types of brain waves that help regulate the flow of information between brain cells, similar to the way that radio stations broadcast at specific frequencies. For this study, the researchers recruited 12 subjects who had never meditated before.
Alternate Sleep Cycles Most people only think that there is one way to sleep: Go to sleep at night for 6-8 hours, wake up in the morning, stay awake for 16-18 hours and then repeat. Actually, that is called a monophasic sleep cycle, which is only 1 of 5 major sleep cycles that have been used successfully throughout history. The other 4 are considered polyphasic sleep cycles due to the multiple number of naps they require each day. Well the most important of every sleep cycle is the Stage 4 REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which has been shown to provide the benefits of sleep to the brain above all other stages of sleep. This way, you still get the benefits of 8 hours of sleep without wasting all of the time it takes to get to REM cycles, resulting in a much more efficient sleep cycle. Uberman Cycle: 20 to 30 minute naps every 4 hours, resulting in 6 naps each day. Everyman Cycle: One longer “core” nap that is supplemented with several 20-30 minute naps. Dymaxion Cycle: Biphasic/Siesta Cycle: – Hang in there.
"One Good Thing" by Jillee: Wash Your Face With Oil....I Dare You! Let’s try this again…shall we? Despite being distracted by the couch-burning episode yesterday…I’m still excited to talk about Washing Your Face With Oil. (I have moved all couches out of the vicinity…just in case!) So let’s see where were we? Oh yes…washing your face with oil. For example: when my chef friend Heather told me to run my store-bought sourdough baguette under the kitchen faucet before putting it in the oven to warm up...I thought maybe she’d been sampling the cooking sherry. ;-) But sure enough…it came out perfectly. So when I first heard about this “Oil Cleansing Method” I tried to keep an open mind. But despite my disgust over the high price of all the so-called skin “care” stuff we spend billions on annually on as a country…the more I read about this…the less hostile I felt and the more amazed I was. I’ll try to save you all the research I did on the topic and attempt to put it in Reader’s Digest version: Your skin NATURALLY produces oil for a reason. From acne.org:
50 Life Secrets and Tips Memorize something everyday.Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.Develop an endless curiosity about this world.Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss.This book will give you the knowledge and instruction to be happy at all times regardless of the circumstances.
The Book of THOTH - The complete guide to the Tarot, Magick and How to Meditate - Guided Meditation Techniques - Buddhist Meditations 50 Life Secrets and Tips Memorize something everyday.Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss.This book will give you the knowledge and instruction to be happy at all times regardless of the circumstances.
"One Good Thing" by Jillee: Get Rid of Armpit Stains FOR GOOD! Make Your Own Deodorant Once again…I am taking my blog inspiration from one of your comments. Karen left a comment today on my post “Whitening Whites…” saying that ever since she started making her own all-natural deodorant, she hasn’t had any problem with armpit stains! Well, that was enlightening…to me! Becca and Mrs. Karen’s recipe for all-natural deodorant is as follows: 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/4 cup baking soda 10 drops tea tree oil Shake it up real good, then just apply to clean armpits. Since I didn’t have any Tea Tree Oil on hand (I gave all mine to my daughter for our Oil Cleansing Method Challenge. Natural Deodorant 2-3 Tbsp Coconut Oil 1/8 Cup Baking Soda 1/8 Cup Arrowroot Powder or Cornstarch I actually doubled this recipe. Warm the coconut oil in the microwave for :30 seconds (or less), or just until it liquifies. Then mix the soda and the cornstarch together and slowly add the coconut oil until it forms a thick paste. I decided to just keep mine in a half pint mason jar and use in this lotion-y state.
Meditation Techniques for the Busy or Impatient If you are reading this then you probably recognize some value in meditation, in slowing down, and reducing stress. At the same time you probably struggle with fitting meditation into your daily routine. The good news is that establishing a daily meditation practice is easier than you may have thought. In order to make this work, it will be helpful to: Lower your expectations of meditation. How to Easily Incorporate Meditation into Your Day The way to do this is to transform some of the things you are already doing each day into mindful meditation. Exercise Meditation Any continuous physical activity over a period of time can work. The way to transform any of these activities into meditation is to first focus on your breath. Bathing Meditation The next time you shower or take a bath, create your own spa experience simply by flipping the switch in your mind. Let go of words and labels by expressing your good feelings through meaningless sounds such as “aum,” “mmmm,” or “ahhhhh.”
"One Good Thing" by Jillee: Fighting Acne With Oil! Sounds crazy right? Well, allow me to explain….. Just over two weeks ago I “DARED” you to wash your face with OIL and see how you liked it. I took the same dare and began my “14 Day Oil Cleansing Method Challenge”. I went and purchased the oils and mixed them up in this cute little decanter. That is why I was anxious to try this cleansing method in the first place. I finally convinced (OK…maybe bribed is a better word) her to take the 14 day challenge with me and since she was struggling with acne issues…we decided to take the advice of Briana who left this comment after the original post: While I stuck with the sunflower and castor oil mixture I’d made, I gave my daughter my bottle of Tea Tree Oil to try as well. Well, after two weeks Miss Skeptical is now a believer. Britta writes: “I’ll admit that I was pretty skeptical about the “Oil Cleansing” method. So there you have it! Now that OUR 14-day challenge has concluded…..don’t you want to try it too???
DIY Citrus Salt Scrub It’s that time of year. Where you need all the exfoliation you can get! Everyone wants fabulous beach-ready skin! And lets be real, if you’re anything like me… exfoliating just didn’t seam important when you’re all covered up in winter clothing. What you will need: 1 cup sea salt 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or olive, almond or coconut oil) 1/2 tsp lemon juice (or zest) 1/2 tsp orange zest (not necessary) photo credit: via First mix the oil and sea salt together. How to exfoliate: Clean body as normal in shower. Now I’m ready for the beach. # kristanlynn xoxo *Like what you see? Home Remedies For A Cold Using Whiskey Home remedies for colds, particularly those that hearken back several generations, often contain whiskey as a primary ingredient. The alcoholic beverage soothes sore throats, quiets coughs, clears stuffy noses and encourages sleep. Though these whiskey-based cold remedies can be helpful for adults, they are not recommended for children or teens. A hot toddy is soothing for those who are feeling achy and congested, and its warmth and alcohol content will quickly put you to sleep. Whiskey cough syrup is an old-fashioned cold remedy that contains no drugs or chemicals. This simple sore throat remedy harnesses the power of fresh citrus and whiskey to numb the burning sensation that often accompanies a cold.