New Moon on December 1

The next New Moon forms at 10º Sagittarius on December 1st at 7:01 AM PST.
The Sagittarian Archer aims for the heavens, for understanding the big picture; the Centaur seeks to reunite Heaven and Earth, man and nature, intellect and instinct. Following Scorpio, Sagittarius strives to rise above the deep waters of the unconscious and realize the meaning of life.

Jupiter, the ruling planet of Sagittarius, is now in Scorpio, exaggerating and enlightening what has been held in the dark. Jupiter is forming a waning semi-square to Pluto in Sagittarius, signaling the closing of a major cycle and way of life. Jupiter and Pluto will be in mutual reception (transiting each other¹s associated signs) for the next year, instigating a double dose of disenchantment but also liberation from lies and limited perspectives.

Both Jupiter in Scorpio and Pluto in Sagittarius offer peace and wholeness, if we¹re willing to face our shadow and reclaim our power. Mercury is in Scorpio also, exposing new information and new conclusions as he nears the end of his retrograde phase, which began on November 13th and ends on December 3rd.

Mars at 9º Taurus will be opposite Jupiter on December 4th; contradictions intensify and priorities shift as the God of War approaches the close of his ten-week retrograde (exact on December 9th). We¹ve been re-evaluating our bottom lines since Mars stationed retrograde on October 1st. The ongoing Grand Cross formed by Mars's opposition to Jupiter and square to Saturn in Leo and Neptune in Aquarius compels us to question our most fundamental assumptions of reality. What if peace and abundance were our birthright?

What if we all knew we were immortal, infinite Spirit, always safe and supported? What we believe, we experience. By Jove, (the Roman name for
Jupiter) knowledge is power, and this Grand Cross pushes us to find the real answers to our problems--our assumptions and beliefs about life and ourselves.

We are trained from birth to see "the way things are"--the borders of reality defined by our parental, cultural, and religious conditioning. We've been intensively programmed; the movie The Matrix vividly illustrates this metaphysical truth. We are being offered "the red pill" or "the blue", the choice to see the truth, or remain in the illusion.

"Everyone must decide whether he wants the uncompromising truth or a counterfeit version of truth." Real wisdom consists of recommending the truth to yourself at every opportunity." --

Vernon Howard



Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
http://www.ecoastrology.com

astrology

Einstein on Music

When asked about his theory of relativity:"It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition.

My discovery was the result of musical perception." -

Albert Einstein


I wonder what the music was?

Rumi for Today

O love, O pure deep love,
be here, be nowBe all;
worlds dissolve into your stainless endless radiance,
Frail living leaves burn with you brighter than cold stars:
Make me your servant, your breath, your core.



Christopher Stewart
Medical Intuitive
http://www.clairvoyantguide.com

Positive Energy: The Second Prescription

Positive Energy: The Second Prescription
Find a Nurturing Spiritual Path
© Dr. Judith Orloff MD
Adapted from Positive Energy Harmony Books, April, 2004

Imagine an unlimited supply of energy at your fingertips. A powerhouse that never wanes. It's an experience I want you to get used to having. A spiritual practice makes it real in an ingeniously simple way. How? You tap into love, the most irrepressible source of positive energy in the universe. Untainted by guilt, conditions, or fear it's pure power we can wield as individuals and collectively. Even the biggest baddest demons within or without ultimately shrivel in the face of it. Love is our destination. It is waiting just for you.

http://healthy.net/scr/column.asp?id=605

Christopher Stewart
Medical Intutitive
http://www.clairvoyantguide.com

Calm, Cool and Cortisol-less

There are many factors that can influence the levels of cortisol in the body; chronic stress being the primary cause. The body varies in its normal secretion of cortisol throughout the day, with highest levels at about 6:00am-8:00 a.m. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced and secreted by the adrenal glands and is released when the body experiences stressed or agitated states such as physical stress, illness, trauma, extreme temperature changes, or psychological stress.

Following a stressful moment or event, the other hormones that are released (epinephrine and norepinephrine) return to their normal levels, while cortisol levels can remain elevated over a longer time period. In fact, cortisol levels can remain persistently elevated in the body for a prolonged period of time especially if an individual is exposed to chronic stress.

When cortisol is secreted, it causes a breakdown of muscle protein, leading to the release of amino acids into the bloodstream. These amino acids are then used by the liver to synthesize glucose for energy, in a process called gluconeogenesis.

This process raises the blood sugar level so the brain will have more glucose for energy. At the same time the other tissues of the body decrease their use of glucose as fuel. This contributes to loss of muscle tissue because lean tissue is being converted into glucose. Chronic elevated cortisol also causes a decrease in insulin sensitivity.

Other serious health conditions caused by prolonged cortisol levels:

memory disturbance

increased appetite and obesity

toxic fat deposited in the belly region

depression

chronic vulvovaginal candida (yeast infections) in women

decrease in bone mass and increased risk of osteoporosis

increased risk of stroke and other heart related conditions

cancer

accelerated physical aging, i.e. brain, hormone secretions, bones, skin and vital bodily organs

Cushing Syndrome

But just how do we keep our cortisol levels at bay? The best ways are by exercise and massage. Researchers have found that massage therapy not only lowers cortisol levels, but also increases dopamine and serotonin. Phosphytidal Serine has also been shown to keep cortisol levels at bay.

References:
Anderson R., “Psychoneuroimmunoendrocrinology Review and Commentary”, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June 2005.

Nakayama Y, Takahashi T, Radford MH. ”Cortisol levels and prospective and retrospective memory in humans.” Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Oct 30;26(5).

Ehrstrom SM, Kornfeld D, Thuresson J, Rylander E.”Signs of chronic stress in women with recurrent candida vulvovaginitis.”, Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Oct;193(4):1376-81.

Eric R. Braverman, MD

http://www.pathmed.com/p/1.html

stress

Dalai Lama Gives Talk on Science and Spirit

In an unusual marrying of science and spirituality, the Dalai Lama addressed thousands of the world's top neuroscientists yesterday, telling them that society is falling behind in its efforts to make sense of their groundbreaking research.

Speaking sometimes in Tibetan and sometimes in halting English to a receptive audience at the 35th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, the Tibetan spiritual and political leader said scientists and moral leaders need each other.

"It is all too evident that our moral thinking simply has not been able to keep pace with such rapid progress in our acquisition of knowledge and power," he said in a prepared text.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/12/AR2005111201080.html?sub=AR

neuroscience

tibet

Full Moon for November

The Ascension, the Great Awakening, the evolutionary journey of humanity continues. This coming week brings several important shifts.

Mercury begins his third and final retrograde period of the year on November 13th at 11º Sagittarius, advising us to question our assumptions, revamp what is not working, and reorganize our priorities. Retrogrades are times to reassess and realign. Mercury, the mythic Messenger of the Gods, turns direct on December 3rd.

A very powerful full moon peaks on November 15th at 5 PM PST. The Sun at 24º Scorpio shines light on the facts and fears we need to face. The Moon at 24º Taurus illuminates our core values and what we need to uphold. Uranus ends his five-month retrograde phase just as the full moon peaks, catalyzing revelations and quantum shifts. Uranus, a.k.a. The Awakener, urges us to ³think different² and trust our intuition.

November 18th, Mars squares Saturn, frustrating imprudence but rewarding discipline and practicality. Mars at 11º Taurus is part of an ongoing Fixed Grand Cross, opposing Jupiter at 5º Scorpio and squaring Neptune at 14º Aquarius as he receives the reality check energy of Saturn at 11º Leo.

Longstanding patterns and priorities shift as we align more closely with our dharma, our divine nature and purpose.

November 22nd, Saturn takes his yearly turn retrograde on at 11º Leo, initiating a four-month review of our commitments and limits, especially in regard to our creativity and personal power. The Reaper will be retrograde until April 5, 2006, promoting greater authenticity, integrity, and expression of who we really are.

This week watch for edginess and impulsiveness. Go for progress, not just a change. Stay centered and take extra good care of your body so you can hold the higher vibrations and messages these alignments offer. Spend some time in nature and schedule extra time for journaling and healing activities.

Purge old beliefs and belongings. At every choice and challenge remember:

"There is no god higher than truth." --Mahatma Gandhi


Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
Http://www.ecoastrology.com

astrology

Meditation Thickens Parts of the Brain

Buddhist Tradition Thickens Parts of the Brain

Meditation alters brain patterns in ways that are likely permanent, scientists have known. But a new study shows key parts of the brain actually get thicker through the practice.
Brain imaging of regular working folks who meditate regularly revealed increased thickness in cortical regions related to sensory, auditory and visual perception, as well as internal perception -- the automatic monitoring of heart rate or breathing, for example.

The study also indicates that regular meditation may slow age-related thinning of the frontal cortex.

"What is most fascinating to me is the suggestion that meditation practice can change anyone's gray matter," said study team member Jeremy Gray, an assistant professor of psychology at Yale. "The study participants were people with jobs and families. They just meditated on average 40 minutes each day, you don't have to be a monk."

The research was led by Sara Lazar, assistant in psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital. It is detailed in the November issue of the journal NeuroReport.
The study involved a small number of people, just 20. All had extensive training in Buddhist Insight meditation. But the researchers say the results are significant.

Most of the brain regions identified to be changed through meditation were found in the right hemisphere, which is essential for sustaining attention. And attention is the focus of the meditation.

Other forms of yoga and meditation likely have a similar impact on brain structure, the researchers speculate, but each tradition probably has a slightly different pattern of cortical thickening based on the specific mental exercises involved.

http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/051111_medidate.html

meditation

Human Hands Emit Light

Human hands glow, but fingernails release the most light, according to a recent study that found all parts of the hand emit detectable levels of light.

The findings support prior research that suggested most living things, including plants, release light. Since disease and illness appear to affect the strength and pattern of the glow, the discovery might lead to less-invasive ways of diagnosing patients.

Mitsuo Hiramatsu, a scientist at the Central Research Laboratory at Hamamatsu Photonics in Japan, who led the research, told Discovery News that the hands are not the only parts of the body that shine light by releasing photons, or tiny, energized increments of light.

"Not only the hands, but also the forehead and bottoms of our feet emit photons," Hiramatsu said, and added that in terms of hands "the presence of photons means that our hands are producing light all of the time."

The light is invisible to the naked eye, so Hiramatsu and his team used a powerful photon counter to "see"it.

The detector found that fingernails release 60 photons, fingers release 40 and the palms are the dimmest of all, with 20 photons measured.

The findings are published in the current Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology.

Hiramatsu is not certain why fingernails light up more than the other parts of the hand, but he said, "It may be because of the optical window property of fingernails," meaning that the fingernail works somewhat like a prism to scatter light.

To find out what might be creating the light in the first place, he and colleague Kimitsugu Nakamura had test subjects hold plastic bottles full of hot or cold water before their hand photons were measured. The researchers also pumped nitrogen or oxygen gas into the dark box where the individuals placed their hands as they were being analyzed.

Warm temperatures increased the release of photons, as did the introduction of oxygen. Rubbing mineral oil over the hands also heightened light levels.

Based on those results, the scientists theorize the light "is a kind of chemiluminescence," a luminescence based on chemical reactions, such as those that make fireflies glow. The researchers believe 40 percent of the light results from the chemical reaction that constantly occurs as our hand skin reacts with oxygen.

Since mineral oil, which permeates into the skin, heightens the light, they also now think 60 percent of the glow may result from chemical reactions that take place inside the skin.
Fritz-Albert Popp, a leading world expert on biologically related photons at The International Institute of Biophysics in Germany, agrees with the findings and was not surprised by them.
Popp told Discovery News, "One may find clear correlations to kind and degree (type and severity) of diseases."

Popp and his team believe the light from the forehead and the hands pulses out with the same basic rhythms, but that these pulses become irregular in unhealthy people. A study he conducted on a muscular sclerosis patient seemed to validate the theory.
Both he and Hiramatsu hope future studies will reveal more about human photon emissions, which could lead to medical diagnosis applications.


By Jennifer Viegas
Discovery News
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20050905/handlight_print.html



Christopher Stewart
Medical Intuitive
http://www.clairvoyantguide.com

Hafiz & Rumi

I love this poem by Hafiz. Very Tantric...

Young lovers wisely say, "Let's try it from this angle, Maybe something marvelous will happen,

Maybe three suns and two moons Will roll out From a hiding place in the body Our passion has yet to ignite."

Old lovers say, "We can do it one more time, How about this longitude And latitude

Swinging from a rope tied to the ceiling,

Maybe a part of God Is still hiding in a corner of your heart Our devotion has yet to reveal."

Bottom line: Do not stop playing These beutiful Love Games.


Hafiz The Gift


Bitter is made sweet through love;copper becomes gold through love.Through love dregs become clear;love heals all pain.Through love the king becomes slave;love brings the dead to life.-


Rumi, "Mathnawi"

/spiritual

hafiz

Carnival of Healing #15: Spiritual Healing

Healing has always been a part of living. Since the Paleolithic era we have evidence of healing. The practice of spiritual healing, that is, 'healing that looks into the spiritual causes of illness or disease' was the earliest form of healing. Spiritual healing was part of all mystery schools and traditions in the ancient world. Temples of healing were active in Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome, as well as Asia, and the Americas.

As allopathic or conventional medicine developed, the practice of spiritual healing was set aside, though it never really died out.

Now in the early years of the 21st century, spiritual healing is increasingly being used. Now it is woven together with the best in other healing modalities from the east and west, conventional and alternative.

Spiritual healing practice flows through all spiritual traditions, known and unknown. It works whether a person has religious faith or not.

Carnival of Healing #15: Spiritual Healing

As this is the 15th carnival of healing, I was wondering what the number 15 would symbolize. It's been frequent in my life, as I have lived in 5 places that all had the number 15, either as an apartment number or as a street number.

Numerologist, Darlene Chadbourne has posted a very interesting look at the number 15 on her blog Native Paths Numerology.

In this carnival of healing, I am taking the position that all healing arises from a place of unity. This is shown in an excellent article on the Bahai view of illness and healing. Unity being of such importance in the Bahai faith, illness is understood, here, as disunity within the person or between the person and the world.

Spiritual healing works with the energy body of the person being healed. There are 7 body energy centers called Chakras which is a Sanskrit word that means wheel. The blog Life "It's a kinda magic" has a chart which shows these energy centers and the body areas they are connected with.

Also, these articles at About.com will provide a good knowledge of the human energy system and individual chakras.

The blog Space for Health Smile Peace carries a very interesting article that explores the need in the world for those with what the author Alex Lee calls HSP, a state where the brain recovers its initial function which is a state of health, happiness and peace.

It's interesting, that during my time at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing she made many references to HSP. This was the High Sense Perception of intuition and psychic seeing.

Human relationships are central to any practice of spiritual healing. The Pathwork, a series of practical spiritual teachings state that, "We all yearn for deeper, more loving relationships, and we all want more physical pleasure, vitality, and abundance. Ultimately, we want a sense of purpose for our lives that only comes with intimate contact with God. The Pathwork is a collection of teachings that helps us see and understand ourselves, enabling us to gradually remove the obstacles that keep us separate from others, separate from the source of our creativity and life energy, from our divine core."

The blog What's in Your Mind, has excerpts from the Pathwork paper "The Spiritual Significance of Human Relationships ."

In Judaism, spiritual healing has a long history, never quite dying off even in the Holocaust or in modern times. One of the great healers of Judaism was the Ba'al Shem Tov who lived in the 1700's in Eastern Europe. His teachings and healing centered on knowing the heart, that all beings are sparks of the light of the divine. The blog REW has a fine portrait of this unique teacher and healer.

The Buddhist tradition of spiritual healing is diverse due to the various schools of Buddhist practice and thought. A beautiful traditional Buddhist blessing and healing chant appears on the one tiny voice blog.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in his teachings on the medicine Buddha has said:

"The Medicine Buddha is a Healer of Outer and Inner Sickness. The Medicine Buddha is an enlightened being who has unbiased compassion for all living beings. He protects living beings from physical and mental sickness and other dangers and obstacles, and helps them to eradicate the three poisons: attachment, hatred, and ignorance, which are the source of all sickness and danger. He is a Buddha Doctor."

Here is a beautiful look at the Medicine Buddha as healer.

"If you listen to the sighing of the wind, you will hear the message of truth. If you send your message on the wind, then sooner or later someone will be attentive enough to pick it up. You cannot necessarily know who will hear." Hamid, a Sufi Dervish (from the book THE LAST BARRIER by Reshad Feild)

So it is with spiritual healing, the energies that flow from one person to another during spiritual healing, also flow to all those around. Like a pebble dropped into a pool of water, the ripples go across to all sides.

The Sufi path is a process of remembrance and realization. Its spiritual healing tradition is strong and is used by many world wide. One of the unique methods of healing and realization is that of humor. Stories that allow the laughter of the soul to come forth and also be understood on a variety of levels. The Mulla Nasruddin stories are beloved for their humor and insight.

The blog Running Photography Biking offers a page of stories from Mulla Nasruddin and others. And this blog offers a unique look at teaching and learning from Mulla Nasruddin.

Spiritual healing also takes the form of music. Music is a powerful healing tool, and music bypasses the logical mind or mental body and goes straight to the emotional body. A wide list of healing music from the blog One Inch ahead details music from Brian Eno to Bill Evans.

I have enjoyed being your guide through the blog sphere on the subject of spiritual healing. Remember, spiritual healing is natural, gentle and it works.

Be Well,
Christopher


Next week's edition will be hosted at About Holistic Healing.

In case you missed last week's edition, Intuitive Innovations hosted Carnival of Healing #14: a Share & Scare Halloween.

We are seeking new blog posts for future carnival attractions. Submit them here. Also, check the carnival archives to review past carnivals and also to check who is hosting the carnival in upcoming weeks.

If you are interested in hosting the carnival at your blog, please email: healing.guide@about.com

carnival of healing Blog Carnival spiritual healing healing healing Judaism Sufism Buddhism Bahai

Uranus Turns Direct on Nov 14

Uranus, being Uranus, turns direct at a very exciting and powerful moment. Leave it to Uranus to make the best of opportunity! Uranus makes its turn less than an hour before the potent Full Moon on November 14!

Uranus is about freedom, especially freedom to explore the worlds of ideas, to loose the bonds of this material plane. Since it is not into following Saturn’s earthly laws of predictability, Uranus can upset the applecart, and act in ways which surprise us. Uranus in spiritual Pisces is quite free, and many strange and wonderful things will appear during the next four years.

When Uranus is retrograde, this rebellion against the status quo occurs more on inner planes, and we develop further in our individuality. When it turns direct again, as now, we turn towards like-minded others, and form groups, “groups against the grain,” I call them.


When Uranus makes its station, readying to turn direct, it is right over Washington DC, beaming its power for freedom down on the corrupt body politic there. There will be a revelation which sets the wheels of freedom rolling. And with Full Moon, we will all be aware of it.

Maya Del Mar

See her additional insights on this month planetary directional changes here:

http://www.daykeeperjournal.com/retrogrades.shtml


astrology

Intuitive Timing:Using the Monthly New Moon

"There is a tide in the affairs of men,
which taken at the flood leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
is bound in shallows and in miseries."
[William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar]

It has been said many times that timing is everything. However
which timing to use can be so confusing. Many systems, many
ideas, many concepts.

One basic, simple system that I have seen work thousands of
times, is to use 2 parts of the lunar cycle.

The first is the period from the New Moon to the Full Moon, and
the second is the period from the Full Moon to the New Moon.

The Waxing Phase:

The New Moon, which is the darkest phase of the Moon, is also the
start of a two week period where the moon increases in light. New
Moons are optimal times to set new intentions. One cycle is
ending, while another cycle is beginning.

The New Moon is the first part of the lunar cycle. The New Moon
is the part of the lunar cycle to focus within to create or
“plant” your intention. This intention is your vision for what
you want to create, grow and transform during this lunar cycle.

If you take this idea and apply it into your life, the waxing
moon is the time to begin
to plant your new seeds. These are seeds of taking action that
brings a new idea into physical reality, or that begins a new
relationship, or just opening to yourself that you really want a
change. The waxing moon is a time of action.

The New Moon is a powerful time to start new projects. It is the
time to take action. First have a clear intention and take action
from that intention.

The second part of this cycle is the period of time between the
Full Moon and the New Moon- the Waning Phase.

The Waning Moon phase is when the Moon is decreasing in light.
This is a time to complete and review. It is not a good time to
begin a new project. This is due to the lessening of the energies
of the lunar cycle. Projects that are started during a Waning
Phase tend to be one’s that are not completed.

During the Waning Moon phase is a perfect time to give out and
share the knowledge, insights and any profits from your actions.
Clear your life of projects and business that has not been
completed. Clear your working space, finish all the
administrative work that you have been delaying until now. All of
these actions will allow you to benefit from the next New Moon.

If the opportunity arises for a new project or you have a great
new idea, it is best to just let it stay on the back burner until
the next New Moon. The New Moon will usually provide a very
changed perspective on ideas and projects.

The simplest way to understand both timing cycles is to use the
New Moon to Full Moon time for action, and the Full Moon to New
Moon time for reflection and planning the next action phase.

Most calendars have the New Moon and Full Moon dates listed on
them. Try this timing in your business and personal life. It will
attract great success to your work and personal life.

© 2005 Christopher Stewart
Medical Intuitive
http://www.clairvoyantguide.com



new moon

astrology