Sunday Inspiration

From the Tao Te Ching (translated by Stephen Mitchell)

When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.

Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.

Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn’t possess,
acts but doesn’t expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.

– Lao Tzu

What is Intuition?

Chakra Centers, Spirituality, Starseed Corner

Intuition is a term given to a very natural, though commonly ignored and suppressed method of accessing sensory information. Intuition is no less natural than the five senses commonly accepted by modern-day humans, although sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing are more openly spoken of and utilized to gather information about the world around us. For the past several hundred years, intuition has been sitting decidedly below the radar of the majority of humanity’s conscious awareness.

Intuition is not a sense that is unique to humankind. In actuality, most of Earth’s other beings can access intuitive information much more easily than most humans alive today can. If you have ever owned pets, especially pets of varying species, such as cats and dogs, then you have probably seen them interact with one another intuitively, or telepathically. If you think about your own interactions with a pet or a newborn baby, it is likely that you will be able to remember communicating in a way that had nothing to do with sound, sight, or touch – this was your intuition. The plant kingdom also uses intuition to communicate. Some inter-plant communication can be explained by events such as the chemicals that plants release during various stages of their life cycles, but much of the ways in which singular organisms making up eco systems communicate information with one another (as well as in groups) defies what we commonly see as “logical” knowledge.

Because humans have a more developed neocortex than most other beings alive on our planet, and because we utilize verbal language to communicate much of the time, intuition is likely to feel different for us than it does in the natural world…at least to our perception. However, intuition can be seen as very similar, if not identical, to what we call “instinct” in animals and plants. Butterflies spend multiple generations’ lifetimes in one yearly migration, and birds naturally know when to fly to more comfortable climates at various points throughout the year. Other animals know instinctively when to hunt, mate, and hibernate. Why wouldn’t we, as humans, be able to access this inherent knowledge? We are of this planet too. And yet, we are also fundamentally different from much of the animal kingdom on our world. The way that we can bridge these similarities, as well as these differences, is in identifying and understanding our intuitive capabilities.

Besides communicating with pets or babies, you have probably felt intuition bring you information in other ways over the course of your life. You have likely felt an excited feeling before receiving good news, or a foreboding feeling before receiving bad news. You might have thought of a friend that you haven’t communicated with in quite some time, only to have that friend contact you suddenly within the next few days. You may also have experienced dreams that predicted future events, or in which you are interacting with spirit guides, angels, deceased relatives, or living loved ones that are giving you information that you have no “logical” way of knowing that is later proven correct. All of these experiences are made possible through perfectly natural intuition.

Like many aspects of human experience, intuition is readily accepted by children. Most children are highly intuitive, although they may not speak of their intuitive awareness because they do not hear others speak of it. It is also likely that conversations about intuition may not happen with or between children because it feels so natural to them that they have no need to discuss it. When is the last time you heard a child speak about the nature of sight or the sense of touch? It probably hasn’t happened often, if at all. This is because children take their intuitive awareness for granted as another natural sense – that is, until they learn that this is something that is not accepted as a topic of conversation.
I have a foggy memory of being a little girl about four years old, and realizing quite consciously that I had to choose between interacting with the non-physical beings that I could easily perceive and being socially ostracized. I realized through comments made by my playmates that greeting and otherwise speaking with multidimensional friends made me seem weird or crazy, and so I chose to stop seeing my guides. I could not see them and ignore them, so I forced my mind to deny their very existence – and this is a sense that I’ve worked for years to get back.

The choice to not see multidimensional beings is not only one that comes from difficult social choices, however. A very gifted intuitive healer and friend of mine named Kimberly Cochrane had a beautiful baby girl not long ago. When Seraphina was a few months old, Kimberly noticed that she was often laughing, smiling, and happily playing with beings that Kimberly couldn’t see. Kimberly also noticed that often when an adult would lean over Seraphina, speaking to her, she would not look into the eyes of the person there, but she would look and seemingly communicate with someone invisible just above and/or behind whomever was speaking to her. Kim assumed that these were angels, or spirit guides, speaking to and playing with Seraphina in the same way that embodied humans do.

When Seraphina was about six months old, Kimberly noticed that the baby no longer interacted with beings that Kimberly could not see. We had a conversation about this shift, and we realized that although the adults around Seraphina in no way doubted the validity of her experience, she had still noticed and learned that these beings were ignored by everyone around her. So Seraphina began to ignore the beings as well, most of the time.

Seeing otherworldly beings can be likened to looking through a window at the world outside. When you focus on objects through the glass, the window pane seems perfectly transparent. However, once you notice the reflection of your own face or other objects on your side of the window shining back against the glass, the focus of your eyes shifts and you can easily see the reflection. Multidimensional beings, such as angels, guides, and ghosts (which are ordinarily either friendly or completely benign, minding their own business) are similar to the reflection on your side of that window – you must adjust your focus to see them, but once you do, they are relatively easy to perceive.

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Although angels and ghosts take up much of the topic of otherworldly awareness in stories and media, intuition is more than just communicating with multidimensional beings. Intuition can be utilized in gleaning valuable information about the world around us, much like hearing a traffic report, checking the weather forecast for the day, or receiving an itinerary for a trip. Intuition gives us another perspective on the events of our lives, gifting us with a greater sense of efficacy, fluidity, and conscious involvement with our experiences. Ancient cultures often not only believed in intuition, but utilized it fully, having men and women in the community who specialized in gleaning and interpreting intuitive information. These people where often called shaman or medicine men or women.

Developing intuition is not a difficult process, although it takes a good deal of mental and emotional focus in the beginning. Because intuition is a natural human sense, it does not need to be activated or gained. Instead, the blockages to perception that most of us have adopted over the course of our lives need to be cleared in order for us to fully identify and understand our own personal intuitive language. The first big hurdle to using intuition is in believing that intuition is “real” at all. This paradigm shift can be sped up by doing research on intuitive information that has been accepted by the modern world, such as the power of prayer and miracles recorded by religious institutions that the researcher respects. The second hurdle is in noticing one’s own intuition. Like the window’s reflection, intuition is often ignored or assumed to be imagination or a wandering mind. Keeping a journal of intuitive thoughts, feelings, and dreams especially help toward this effort. The journal should be reviewed every so often (perhaps each week or so) to see what intuitive awareness can be confirmed. After a substantial record has developed of your own intuitive “hits,” it becomes much easier to identify and accept the intuitive information that you are perceiving quite often, just below your conscious awareness.

Accessing and utilizing intuition is often a rewarding and fun exercise. Because intuition is a natural human sense, it can assist us in every area – relationships, businesses, hobbies, talents, and more. We are living in a time where people are noticing their intuition more than they have in hundreds, possibly thousands of years. At one time, people would have been persecuted harshly if they utilized their intuitive potential very much. These days, the application of intuitive abilities can range from career choices to party tricks, but like any sense, why would we choose not to use it?

Charis Melina Brown serves as an ambassador to realms of existence that our modern Western culture has denied the existence of in recent centuries.

She carries an MA in Transpersonal Psychology, and is the author of two books, Journal of a Starseed: Discovering the Real World, and Instruction of a Starseed. She is a regular contributor for our Starseed corner at Chakra Center.

Charis has a beautiful website and YouTube channel, sharing all things blissful and metaphysical. Check her out at the following links:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/charisbrownmalloy

Website: http://www.charismelina.com/

Gluten and its Harmful Ways

Food, Health Products, The Root Chakra

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’ve had quite the battle with my thyroid and food sensitivities. Going 100% raw only seemed to exacerbate my thyroid issues (as many raw foods prevent the utilization of iodine), while even the vegan route — though the most appealing to my conscience — caused weight gain.

In the spiritual community being vegan has become synonymous with “enlightenment.” And while I understand the importance of lifestyle choices that are best for the environment/planet, I feel that it is almost taboo to talk about health problems faced on the vegan journey and how to overcome them.

While I’m still on my own path of discovering what the best diet is for my body, one thing I have discovered for certain is the many harmful affects of gluten on overall health (and thyroid).

For those of you struggling with thyroid issues who haven’t considered looking into the gluten aspect, I suggest this article from The Natural Thyroid Diet website. I know it’s not the whole piece, but an important one to consider.

What is a gluten free diet?

The hottest diet craze among Hollywood celebrities is a gluten free diet. Is this just a fad or could eliminating gluten help end the bloat, brain fog, nagging indigestion, and even turn your thyroid health around?

Gluten is the main structural protein found naturally in a variety of grains including wheat, rye, spelt, barley, oats and triticale which is a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten is also used as a single ingredient in many processed foods as it makes an ideal binder or thickener. This means you could be consuming additional gluten without knowing it.

A gluten free diet defined

A gluten free diet strictly excludes all grains and packaged foods containing gluten. This means cutting the common gluten containing foods such as bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, desserts and biscuits from the daily diet. But this may not be as restrictive as it first appears as health food stores and supermarkets offer gluten free alternatives. In addition, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, fresh fish and lean organic animal protein are all naturally gluten free.

However for most people changing to a gluten free diet plan is a big step and takes some getting used to. The restrictions can even make you feel downright deprived. But the upside is that excluding these gluten based foods often results in weight loss, especially around the middle.

The modern problem with wheat

These days highly refined wheat is the most common source of gluten as it is used in a wide variety of foods found in supermarkets. To meet ongoing demand wheat is grown on an industrial scale. Along with the development of modern agricultural methods there has also been selective breeding of wheat. Wheat crops now yield a much higher ratio of gluten. This is not good news for those who are gluten sensitive or have diagnosed gluten-related disorders.

And not only that, there is evidence the newer high yield wheat strains are less nutritious and lack important nutrients such as zinc, iron, copper and magnesium.

Gluten sensitivity can result in a broad range of symptoms

Gluten can easily irritate the lining of the digestive system. Once this happen the body launches a swift immune response as it reacts to gluten as something foreign. This creates inflammation that spreads like wildfire throughout the whole body. Gluten sensitivity symptoms can therefore be linked to specific digestive problems as well as broader health issues. There is little doubt emotional stress plays a significant role in intensifying these symptoms.

Could you be gluten intolerant?

Gluten sensitivity can result in a broad range of symptoms. The major symptoms include:

Weight loss or weight gain, especially abdominal weight gain
Fatigue or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten
Digestive problems: bloating, pain, gas + diarrhoea
Weak + cracked fingernails
Fat in the stools due to poor breakdown of dietary fat
Joint + muscle pain
Mood swings + depression
Poor memory + concentration
Skin rashes including dermatitis herpetiformis
Osteoporosis due to lowered mineral absorption
Migraine headaches

The best way to discover if gluten is a problem and to what degree is by strictly excluding gluten from your diet for at least 4 weeks as it takes this long to clear gluten the negative effects of gluten from your system. If you feel far better when you exclude gluten, or feel worse when you reintroduce gluten then it’s likely a problem for you.

Minor symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, brain fog and indigestion can disappear fairly quickly when gluten is excluded from the diet. Improvements in chronic health problems made worse by gluten sensitivity such as arthritis, eczema and autoimmune diseases including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis may take longer. Many people report their thyroid symptoms improve once they eliminate gluten from their diet.

The gluten-thyroid connection

A gluten intolerance markedly reduces the absorption of a wide range of nutrients. This is not good news for thyroid health as the thyroid is particularly sensitive to a decline in micronutrient intake. For example; iodine, zinc and selenium as three minerals critical to aid ongoing thyroid hormone activity.

Gluten sensitivity contributes to a wide range of autoimmune responses including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Studies have shown individuals with low selenium intake or poor absorption of selenium are also more likely to develop Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. There are two factors:

A selenium deficiency results in lower activity of the selenium dependent enzymes vital to assist ongoing activity of the thyroid hormones, including activation of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). Low T3 is associated with the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Selenium plays a role in protecting the thyroid gland itself as this mineral boosts glutathione activity. Glutathione is naturally produced by the body using selenium and a combination of three amino acids sourced from dietary protein – cysteine, glycine and glutamine. Glutathione acts as a potent antioxidant and is highly active within the thyroid to help protect this important gland.

Coeliac disease

For people with Coeliac disease avoiding gluten is a very serious issue and a gluten free diet is advocated to treat this chronic digestive problem. Individuals with Coeliac disease are so sensitive to they must avoid all foods containing gluten as even a minute amount will prompt a noticeable immune reaction.

If a person is unaware they have Ceoliac disease and continue to consume gluten the inflammation damages the small bowel. This leads to low intake of essential nutrients. Over time their poor health is linked to malnutrition.

Gluten sensitivity contributes to a wide range of autoimmune responses including autoimmune thyroid disorders. Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are frequently diagnosed along with Coeliac disease and vice versa. Coeliac disease is associated with selenium malabsorption which is considered a key factor linking this digestive problem with thyroid health decline.

Coeliac disease is commonly considered to be a genetic disorder however it can be set off later in life by a stressful event, such as an infection, injury or surgery. A specific diagnostic test is used to confirm Coeliac disease.

Gluten free shopping

A gluten free diet excludes all types of grains that contain gluten. Here are some gluten free alternatives to common grain based products:

Breads: rice, buckwheat + ‘wheat free’ varieties.
Breakfast cereals: organic corn flakes, rice bubbles, Amaranth, puffed buckwheat + gluten free muesli.
Flours: 100% buckwheat, rice, Besan (chickpea), Lupin, coconut.
Noodles: rice + 100% buckwheat.
Pasta: vegetable + rice varieties.
Porridge: Quinoa, rice + Polenta porridge.
Rice: brown rice + white rice varieties.

It is important to read food labels carefully as gluten is often a hidden ingredient in packaged foods. Examples include; baking powder, flavourings and hydrolysed vegetable protein. Beer may contain varying amounts of gluten as it is produced by the alcoholic fermentation of germinated cereals, usually barley.

Cross contamination of gluten free foods can occur during the manufacturing process when these foods come into contact with foods that contain gluten. For example, if the same equipment is used to make a variety of snack foods some gluten free items may become contaminated. Food labels often include a ‘may contain gluten’ statement if this is the case.

Foods labelled ‘gluten free’ are not always healthy

Just because it is a ‘gluten free’ food product, doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthy for your thyroid. Food manufacturers regard corn (maize) and soy ingredients as cost effective substitutes for gluten containing grains. Corn and soy are common food allergens and in turn can also initiate symptoms of a food intolerance. These ingredients should be avoided when you have an under active thyroid problem. This includes soy oil which is often labelled as ‘vegetable oil’. If you are not sure check to see if the label states the product contains soy.

Activating your gluten free grains

All grains including gluten free varieties have naturally occurring enzyme inhibitors that make them difficult to digest and also lower absorption of important minerals. Eating large quantities of grains and using flours that have not been soaked, sprouted or fermented can lead to mineral deficiencies and long term bone loss. This means even gluten free flours and whole grains should be activated with these traditional methods to release their full nutritional potential.

Strawberry & Lemon Tart

Recipes, The Root Chakra, Tuesday's Tasty Treats

This dessert is perfect for the warmer weather. It’s refreshing, fruity and lighter than most nut based treats. Plus it’s:

▪ Gluten Free

▪ Dairy Free

▪ Cacao Free

I came up with this recipe whilst trying to create something different to the usual chocolate based healthy dessert for a dinner party.

To be honest anything lemony is good with me!

This recipe makes x 4 tarts.

Ingredients:

Base

▪ 1 1/2 cups of macadamia nuts

▪ 1/2 cup of medjool dates

▪ pinch of sea salt

Blend ingredients until a dough is formed, press into the coconut oil greased tart tins.

Filling

▪ 2 cups of cashews

▪ 1/2 cup of lemon juice

▪ 1 tbsp of honey

▪ 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

▪ pinch of vanilla

Blend all ingredients together until a smooth cream. Pour into the tart tins on the base. Place in the freezer for 30 mins to firm.

Topping

▪ 2 cups of strawberries, chopped

▪ 3/4 cup of medjool dates.

Blend into a strawberry jam, pour in the cream filling and place in the freezer to set for about an hour.

These are delicious when totally defrosted or still slightly frozen. I like how when they are frozen you can eat them by hand! They’re like an ice-cream biscuit and oh so yummy!

What are some of your favorite summer vegan treats? Let us know in the comment section below!

Tuesday’s Tasty Treats is a weekly column bringing you the best, most delicious and easy raw food recipes to help maintain and support a healthy lifestyle. Brought to you by Chakra Center’s own raw food goddess, Sarah Hook.

Tuesday’s Tasty Treats: Lemon & Avocado Mousse

Recipes, The Root Chakra

Lemon desserts are one of my favorites! I pretty much love all fruit based desserts, like eton mess, apple crumble, apple pie, lemon meringue, and so on! Nowadays I don’t eat sugar laden desserts but have found a way to make my own versions of them with healthy ingredients instead. Guilt free desserts and no groggy feelings the day after are important to me.

The combination of the creaminess of the avocado and the astringent lemon is to die for!

My Lemon & Avocado Mousse is

Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Sugar Free
Cacao Free
Vegan

This makes mousse for 2.

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado
1 lemon, the flesh, no rind
1 cup of cashews, soaked.
1 dropperful of stevia
1/3rd cup melted coconut oil

Blend the avocado with the lemon,
Add in the cashews and stevia, blend again,
Finally add the coconut oil. You will probably need to stir a few times between blends, once the mixture is smooth and a perfect mousse consistency it’s ready.
Serve straight away, or chill for an hour in the fridge.

You can also freeze this and eat frozen like an ice-cream/sorbet.

Enjoy!

Food & Wine Travel Writing: How to Travel the World, Drink Wine, and Get Paid for it

Online Classes/Retreats, The Solar Plexus Chakra

Who doesn’t want to eat and drink their way through Europe and get paid for it?!

As a sommelier and freelance writer who has worked in the wine industry for nearly 10 years, I developed a lot of wine contacts around the world. After college I decided to put my two skills to the test and spend a year living eating/drinking my way around Europe as a writer.

People always ask me how I was able to live in Italy, tour the best wineries and restaurants, and get paid for it! Trying to answer this question in a 10 min video proved to be difficult – I was only scratching the surface of the details that come along with the “how-tos” of travel writing.

In order to effectively help all you aspiring travel/wine writers get your foot in the door (and avoid all the mistakes I made along the way), I’ve developed a two week crash course on how to live in Europe, tour the wineries and restaurants, and get paid doing it!

This is a dynamic, face paced, class where you will receive in-depth info and stellar insider tips on:

*How to obtain a press release to major wine events (like Vino 100).

*How to acquire freelance writing gigs with newspapers and magazines.

*How to write a compelling query letter.

*How to sell your story, properly invoice, and tips on scheduling writing gigs to manage cash-flow.

*Wine 101 basics (how to read wine labels in Europe, basic tasting tips and techniques, and an overview of all major grape varietals/wineries in Western Europe).

*Travel writing basics (top 10 mistakes to avoid, how to be current, edgy, and develop a niche for yourself).

*And many more travel writing details!

*As a special bonus, I will give my personal European wine contact list to the first 5 people who register!

This is a crash course on all things to know about travel writing with a wine emphasis, and I am confident you will leave the class feeling ready to conquer the world of wine and traveling!

All for only $33!

Space is limited. I’ve had a lot of requests for this class but have to cap it at 40 people to make sure everyone gets enough of my time/attention. Register early to ensure a seat. This may be the only time I offer this!

Dates May 13th – May 26th

The entirety of the class will be held in a private Facebook forum. I will post daily info/videos/wine quizzes, etc., as well as be available to answer any questions you may have.

Click here to register.

Amanda Flaker is a freelance writer, teacher/tutor, editor, and creator of Chakra Center. She carries a BA in English Literature & Creative Writing, and heads-up the website’s online writing classes (Writing to Connect with the Elves and Discover your Bliss, Writing to Heal, and Writing to Develop your Intuitive Gifts). She lived and worked in Florence, Italy for a year as a freelance writer and has traveled extensively around Western Europe. In Portland, OR., she worked as a wine sommelier and wine buyer, dabbling in wines from all over the world.

Writing to Heal Online Class

The Heart Chakra

We are still receiving emails/questions about the next “Writing to Heal” online class. For more information, check-out the video below where Amanda talks about why she created the class, how writing can be beneficial for healing, and what you can expect from the this powerfully restorative journey into your heart:

Next Class: Monday, May 6th – Sunday, May 26th

Writing to Heal Workshop
I am so excited to be offering my “Writing to Heal” for the second time (back by popular demand). This is a powerfully restorative class,

Her Healing Heart 1

where you will learn to tap into the wealth of healing and love within you. In this class you will use writing and various spiritual exercises to:

*Unlock your unique healing abilities

*Channel healing energy from higher realms

*Release blocking energy in your mental, physical, and spiritual bodies

*Understand and embrace your Shadow

*Create your reality with a whole, restored perception of who and what you truly are

*Learn Energy healing techniques (heal through focus)

*Participate in healing workshops as a class to perform distance healing energy to each other

*Gain a greater perception and appreciation for your personal power

Week One: You are a Healer (and you are not broken). Perfect emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health exists within you at all times, you need only line-up with that version of yourself.

The key to healing is to realize you are well. You are not broken. You are infinitely powerfully, and you have everything you could ever possibly need to do anything to come into alignment with who and what you truly are. Many religions and even cultural “norms” start with the basic premise that humanity is broken. While living out of alignment with Source (or believing the Ego is the true Self) can certainly make us feel we are separate, broken, and need to be “fixed,” true health and wholeness come from knowing that the Source of All Life exists within you at all times, and is always available to you. You are never alone. You are never separate.

The version of you that is full of radiant health and emotional peace already exists – it exists within the part of you that is always connected to Life – the Source of All Things. It is impossible for you to be separate from that Source unless you ceased to exist (in this dimension and all others). The feeling of being alone and all the dis-ease that goes along with it ultimately comes from the illusion of being cut-off from Source, and living within that illusion.

The first week of the class is dedicated to helping get to the root of the beliefs that led you to develop a blockage in either your emotional or physical health that caused you to create a feeling of separateness. It’s about getting to the root of the issue.

Week Two: Spiritual Bypassing and Facing the Shadow

The second week we address one of the biggest misconceptions of the “Love and Light” movement: spiritual bypassing. True healing and alignment does not come from ignoring or running from the emotions that we have deemed “bad” or “negative.” It’s about validating, feeling, and transmuting ALL emotions. Facing the shadow self is key to being free from the fear of its looming presence. It helps us to understand there are no “bad” or “good” emotions; from a higher perspective, they are one in the same: both the blissful and the “ouchy” feelings are our teachers and serve to assist us in our expansion. Bypassing negative or uncomfortable emotions only prolongs the lessons we are to learn from them.

Week Three: Seeking first the Kingdom of God/ Love is the Solution for Everything

Week three is all about finding the peaceful paradise that exist within you and bringing it forth into your physical reality. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said “If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.” The Kingdom within you is meant to be brought forth; your expression and co-reation of this Kingdom is uniquely yours – it is the way you express God. The world longs for your Truth to be revealed. Your expression of God heals, restores, balances, and expands the Universe.

Consciousness is Life Itself and where there is life, there is freedom. True life and true freedom is found within your heart – within alignment with your Higher Self. If you allow yourself to breathe deeply and look within, you will find a kingdom there, waiting for your active participation.

During week three we will not only tap into this unique part of you, but learn to use this part of ourselves to sending healing energy to each other.

Power of Love (both for Self and Others). Love is the MOST powerful energy in all existence. We will be learning about the very real and measureable energy of love (both within quantum physics and from our personal experiences), what it is, and how it can transform us.

It is only through Love that we find true health, love, and wholeness. Love restores us to Who and What we are, because Love created us. Without love, there is separation, and true healing cannot occur without restoration. Love is the answer to everything.

*Love always sees the best

*Love always believes

*Love never fails

This three week online workshop is only $22!

Space is limited so sign-up today!

Much love and healing to you!

You will receive daily feedback/interaction with Amanda on our online private Facebook forum as you embark on your unique, restorative journey of accessing the realms of Healing Love.

All workshops are conducted online, giving you the flexibility to participate on your own schedule.

Disclaimer: Writing to Heal is not a substitute for medical care or an alternative healing modality. It exists simply to help you access and understand your energetic and emotional bodies and the subtle energies therein.

Click here to register.

Tuesday’s Tasty Treats: Third Eye Chakra Juice

Recipes, The Root Chakra, Tuesday's Tasty Treats, Uncategorized

This juice is delicious, refreshing and cleansing. It’s great for boosting immunity and aiding the liver cleanse.

Ingredients:

Beetroot
Apple
Ginger
Cucumber
Celery
Coconut water

Juice all of the ingredients and add coconut water to taste.

Enjoy!

What is an Intuitive Reading?

Meditation, Spirituality

Many of our contributors here at Chakra Center do some form ofintuitive work. Whether it’s energy work, Reiki, individual intuitive readings, or meditation elixirs, we have a lot of beautiful people using their gifts to help people heal, activate, and overcome.

Because I’ve received many questions about what an intuitive reading actually is, I thought I would give a general overview. Please note that intuitive readings vary depending on the person giving the reading, and the person who is having the reading. That being said, here are some basic things for you to know:

Intuitive readings are different for everyone. Depending on the person conducting the reading, the focus can be on anything from releasing blocking energy and past trauma, tapping into past lives, working through a current hardship, or helping a client to activate their highest potential and life work. As the name implies, the sessions are usually led intuitively, and any professional reader will tell you each of their sessions are unique and highly individual.

psi-ball

Typically, during an intuitive reading there is a lot processing, releasing, and transmuting of energies in the mental, emotional, and physical energy bodies. For some, intuitive readings can feel like a “talk therapy” session. For others (especially those who are highly sensitive to energies) it can feel like having physic surgery. It all depends on what the client and intuitive reader intend for the session.

Most intuitive readings provide in-depth information about aperson’s soul journey and life path. They do this by tapping into different dimensions of consciousness, reading subtle energy, and even accessing the Akashic Records (a term used in theosophy to describe a “library” of mystical knowledge supposedly encoded in a non-physical realm of existence). For many, intuitive readings help provide clarity on life purpose or karmic cycles.

Intuitive readings are different from physic readings. Most intuitive readers do not read the future, but rather read a person’s individual energy (a subtle distinction). Everyone is intuitive and everyone has the ability to read energy, but some people posses more pronounced strengths in using their intuitive gifts to access extra-sensory information.

A good intuitive reader will always point a client to their own intuitive powers and help them access their own inner-knowing. When areader fosters a dependence on their “special gifts” and services, it is usually always unhealthy for both parties. A successful intuitive reading should leave the client feeling empowered and more knowledgeable about their own gifts and abilities, rather than feeling a need for the reader to “fix” them.

vetruvian-mans-energy

When searching for an intuitive reader it is important to listen to your own feelings about a person. If their website or presence feels disempowering, their methods most likely result similarly. Look at testi

*For more information about services offered by Chakra Center’scontributors, click here. monials on their page and pay attention to how people felt after their session. Did they feel empowered and more in touch with themselves, or are they simply describing the “amazing” gifts of the reader? Look for readers who put the focus on the client rather than themselves. And most importantly, trust your feelings.

Twin Souls

Spirituality

Today’s guest blog is from http://www.jeshua.net/

Twin Souls

“I would like to say something about the concept of twin souls, probably familiar to all of you. The idea of twin souls exerts a deep attraction for you. However it is potentially quite dangerous, because it can be interpreted in such a way that it reinforces the primal birthing pain and emotional dependence in each of you, rather than resolving it. This happens when you conceive of the concept of twin souls in such a way that there is another person who perfectly suits you and makes you whole. This is the concept of the twin soul as your other half. You then assume that the oneness and safety you are missing so deeply will be found in someone else who is the perfect match for you.

According to this immature notion of twin souls, the souls are considered to be two halves who together make up a unity. Usually the two halves are respectively male and female. So this notion not only suggests that you are incomplete unto yourself but also that you are essentially male or female. You can probably see that this notion of twin souls is not healthy or healing from a spiritual point of view. It makes you dependent on something outside of you. It denies the divine origin which implies that you are everything, male and female, and that you are whole and complete unto yourself. It creates all kinds of illusions which bring you far away from home. And by home I mean your own self, the divinity of your I-ness. No soul is meant to be someone elses other half.

Twin souls do exist and they literally are what the word implies: they are twins. They are souls with the same feeling tone or vibration, or you could say with the same birthing time, as is the case with biological twins. The particular time of birth, this unique moment in time and place, makes for a uniquely charged feeling tone inside the souls that come to life. They are not dependent upon each other in any way. They are neither male nor female. But they are certainly tuned into each other as kindred spirits.

What is the reason for the creation of twin souls? Why do they exist? You often think that the “raison dętre” for something is the learning process it effects. But this is not the case with twin souls. The reason for the existence of twin souls is not to learn something. The aim is simply joy and creativity. Twin souls have no function within duality. You will meet your twin soul when you are transcending duality, when you identify yourself again with the God inside yourself who is whole and undivided and who is able to take any form or appearance. Twin souls meet again on their journey back Home.

Let us go back for a moment to the beginning of the journey. The moment you leave the state of oneness and become an individual, you enter duality. Suddenly there is dark and light, great and small, sick and healthy, etc. Reality is split. You have no frame of reference anymore for who you really are. At first you took your identity from being-part-of-a-whole. Now you are a single part torn loose from the whole. But without your conscious knowing, someone accompanies you who is equal to you, who resembles you as closely as anything could. You took up the same space in the blanket of oneness, so near to each other that you didn’t know you were two until you were born. What connects the two of you is something beyond duality, something that antedates the history of duality. This is hard to put into words properly, because it defies your usual definitions of identity in which you are either one or two and cannot be both at the same time.

Now you were both setting out on a journey, a long journey throughout many experiences. Both of you have experienced the extremes of duality, to discover gradually that your essence does not lie in duality but outside of it, in something which underlies it. As soon as you become deeply aware of this underlying oneness, your journey back begins. Little by little you feel less attached to external things such as power, fame, money or prestige. You understand more and more that the key is not what you experience but how you experience it. You create your own happiness or misery by your state of awareness. You are discovering the power of your own consciousness.

Once you have gone through all the highs and lows of duality there will be a moment when you meet your twin soul. In the energy and appearance of your twin soul, you will recognize a very deep part of yourself, your essence beyond duality, and by this very recognition you will start to understand yourself better and become aware of who you really are. Your twin is a frame of reference for you that carries you outside of the limited beliefs about yourself that you took in during your life and lifetimes before. You liberate yourself by seeing this reflection of you in your twin; it is like a reminder and it has nothing to do with emotional dependence. Meeting each other helps each of you to be stronger and more self-aware individuals, expressing your creativity and love on earth. It accelerates your return journey as it helps you step up to a higher level of oneness while fully retaining and expressing your I-ness, your unique individuality.

Ultimately we are all one. We are supported by an energy which is universal in all of us. But at the same time there is individuality in all of us. The twin soul is to some extent the link between individuality and oneness. It is like a stepping stone to oneness. If you connect with your twin soul consciously and materially, you will bring about the creation of something new: a third energy that is born out of their combined action. That energy always helps to enhance unity awareness on a larger scale than just the two of them. Because they are on their way Home, twin souls feel inspired to anchor the energies of love and oneness on earth and they do so in a way that accords with their own unique talents and skills. In this manner the twin soul love builds a stepping stone between being one and being One.

There is a deep inner bond between twin souls but that does not alter the fact that they are complete unities unto themselves. Their joining together brings about love and joy and their meeting enhances creativity and self-realization. They support each other without falling into the pitfalls of emotional dependence or addiction. The love between twin souls is not meant to make each other whole, but to create something new: instead of the two becoming one, the two shall become three.”

The Gospel of Thomas: Kingdom Mentality

Spirituality, The Crown Chakra

3. Jesus said, “If those who lead you say, ‘See, the Kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fish will precede you. Rather, the Kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty.”

4. Jesus said, “The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same.”

5. Jesus said, “Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.”

6. His disciples questioned Him and said to Him, “Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?” Jesus said, “Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered.”

Gospel of Thomas, book one

Discover Your Extrasensory World!

Online Classes/Retreats

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

-Albert Einstein

Have you ever had a dream that came true? Do you ever just “know” what somebody is going to say before they say it? Have you ever been thinking of a friend right before they call you? These are all examples of how your extrasensory abilities function on a daily basis. We experience these types of perceptions all of the time, but usually write them off as coincidence.

After the so-called “Age of Enlightenment” the Church and Science split off in two different directions. In attempt to keep-up the reign of “rationalism” promoted by Science (and therefore, the focus exclusively on only the material world), the Church decided to abandon all “superstition.” Though there were undoubtedly good reasons for this overhaul, serious shifts in Consciousness occurred as a result. Not only did the Church throw-out all things deemed “superstitious,” — they abandoned Conscious all together.

No longer were people taught to use their instincts, their intuition, or their inner knowing. The only acceptable form of knowledge was that which the Church supplied. Only their translation of truth was considered reality. If you didn’t like what the Church had to say, turn to Science for answers. The concept of any truth existing “within” was lost.

Fortunately, we are now in the “information age” (or the “New Age” as many call it). One of the beautiful repercussions about having access to alternative forms of knowledge is three-fold:

*We realized there is MUCH MORE out there than we’ve ever been told

*We begin seeking

*We discover (often through being overwhelmed by the amount of information available) that the only genuine option we have is to go within. We start trusting our own inner-knowing again.

“Writing to Connect to Your Multidimensional Self“
is just that. It is an opportunity to turn-off all the external noise and chatter of the world’s opinions, path, religion, and “way” and discover your own internal guidance system. It’s an opportunity to explore the rich and unending Universe within you. It’s a time to give your extrasensory perceptions a chance to function the way they were designed to. We have them for a reason!

This online class begins Monday, Feb. 4th!

Here’s a lil’ taste of the magic:

Week One: What are Extrasensory Abilities?

In week one we explore the plethora of extrasensory ways to perceive, see, and navigate the world around and within us. We explore the function and purpose of each of these abilities, and discuss how they can be helpful in expanding our spiritual journey.

We also explore the downside of relying too heavily on extrasensory perceptions, the manipulation of psychic abilities, and clarify their purpose and their danger (having psychic abilities does not equate spirituality or even “power.”)

One of the most important topics we cover in week one is intuition. Using intuition as the foundation for all other extrasensory perceptions, we will explore:

Why our intuition and emotions are the MOST IMPORTANT and powerful extrasensory gift we have
How not trusting intuition can make us vulnerable to psychic/emotional/and mental manipulation
What our emotions/intuition are, and how they they function as our compass

We also address the misconception of trusting our feelings vs. understanding the message of our emotions.Though we can easily be led astray by not understanding what our emotions are trying to tell us, they are ALWAYS there to guide us, not to mislead us.Emotions are our most precious gift in this physical realm.

Week Two: Discovering Your Extrasensory Strengths

We all have unique ways we see and take-in information. Some people are more “visual” than others; some take-in and process information audibly, some need facts, logic, numbers, and most of use a little bit of everything. These are all foundational forms of understanding our extrasensory abilities and each point to our individual strengths.

In week two we will use writing and other techniques/tools to:

Discover our individual extrasensory strengths
Practice dream incubation
Increase our sensitivities to subtle energies and our own internal guidance system
Practice using our extrasensory perceptions to expand our Consciousness and Awareness.
Connect to our Higher Self and Guides
Explore OBEs and Astral Projection

Week Three: Grounding Energies and Releasing the Kingdom Within

The last week of class will be devoted to grounding the energies of our expanded awareness and using meditation/writing techniques to:

Connect our heart/mind/soul to the Kingdom of God within us, our Higher Selves, and Highest Intentions for this life
Allow the Kingdom within us to come forth — to bring our inner world to our external realities
Explore how our gifts can be used to help others

There’s still time to sign-up! Click here to register! It’s going to be epic!

Check-out this video for more info:

Indulge in the Magic and Bliss of Tuscany!

Aromatherapy, Body Work, Chakra Centers, Features, Food, Online Classes/Retreats, Spirituality, The Crown Chakra, The Heart Chakra, The Root Chakra, The Sacral Chakra, The Solar Plexus Chakra, The Third Eye Chakra

Tuscany, Italy — October 4th – 11th 2013:

Get ready to lavish in luxury, learn about wine from the experts, experience traditional Tuscan cuisine prepared by Italians (raw and vegan style), steep in the magic of aromatherapy, healing massage, and energy work, connect with like minds, and experience your internal world through complete indulgence in your senses. This will be an exclusive,once-in-a-lifetime, full immersion retreat in the heart of Tuscany.

So often in the “spiritual community” we are taught to deny our selves. We make a conscious effort to fully activate and engage our upper chakras through meditation, prayer, out of body experiences, and fasting, but we neglect our lower chakras – we discount the purpose and power of our physical experiences.

We came into life in this physical dimension to experience it, learn from it, and expand. Denying the importance and role of our physical expression cuts off a major aspect of our purpose here, and rather than “setting us free” it often leads to repressed and blocked energy in the body.

It’s all about balance. We don’t want to over-indulge the physical, but often we need to create moments and experiences where we can fully allow our lower chakras a place to take center stage. When we activate and allow our lower chakras to do what they were designed to do, we can create bliss that is unparallel in any other dimension – we experience the merging of the physical and non-physical aspects of ourselves which – when fully charged – can allow the flow of energy through our bodies to cause a kundalini experience throughout our entire energetic and physical fields.

Activating bliss through our five senses is a total allowance of our physical and spiritual selves to come together in complete harmony in this 3^rd dimension – to give us permission to create and experience beauty; the bliss of such moments is often called “orgasmic” for a reason. It’s the closest we come to experiencing the fullness of our WHOLE selves in this dimension, and it is through our physical senses that these moments of creative and sensual pleasure are made possible.

Italy is a country where beauty reigns. It’s a place where culturally time is arranged to experience the poetry and magic of “la vita bella.” It’s an experience you don’t just live; you enter directly into the music of life. You allow the beauty of the physical world to seep into every cell of your body. It’s about indulgence. It’s about creation. It’s about experiencing the bounty and harvest of our energetic and spiritual work that has been transmuted into physical attributes: Wine, chocolate, living organic foods, music, aromatherapy, massage, and all things blissful. Italy is truly an immersion in the aesthetics of creation.

This retreat provides an experience, an opportunity to allow yourself to let go and fully surrender to the beauty within and
around you, filling your senses, your body, and your spirit with the majesty and magic of what it means to truly live, love, and luxuriate in bliss of being in a body of flesh and blood. It’s about losing yourself in present moment awareness and fully experiencing the gift of our physical world.

Here’s a lil’ taste of the magic we’re weaving together for you:

Five-star service and accommodation at a private Renaissance-style Tuscan Villa where wine can be sipped on the terrace over-looking the rustic vineyard hills of Chianti.
Exclusive winemaker’s dinner featuring world-renowned winemaker, Count Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia Vineyards.

Luxurious intuitive bliss massage and energy healing to ground the magic into your physical body.
Hand-crafted, world-class wine from some of the greatest producers in Tuscany.
Private wine tour/tasting excursion to one of Tuscany’s most well-respected, bio-diverse organic wineries.
Tantalizing cacao ceremonies (Italian style!) to experience the bliss and gentle mind-altering/multi-dimensional affects of this magical and alchemical bean.
Traditional Tuscan cuisine prepared raw and vegan style by Italy’s most well-known and respected raw food chef and educator, Vito Cortese.
Sensual aromatherapy infused in every room of the house and custom blended for this exclusive retreat by certified, intuitive aroma therapist, Athena Ziegler.
Classes on how aromatherapy can assist you both spiritually and energetically.
Two fully serviced four course dinner parties at the Villa with food/wine pairing and live classical guitar (yes, you will have a professional waiter for these dinners!)
Wine 101 classes (including wine and food pairing, wine etiquette, and wine basics).
Raw food classes on classic Italian dishes taught by Vito Cortese using the freshest and most local ingredients birthed from the rustic soil of Tuscany.
Excursions in the medieval city of Florence.
Plenty of time to relax, soak in the magic, drink wine, eat amazing food, and enjoy the beauty of Tuscany.

Join us for an entire week full of world-class wine, living/organic Tuscan foods and luxurious self-pampering woven-in the intricate and alchemical magic of aromatherapy, energy healing, love, and unapologetic bliss. Our intention is to create a five-star experience of magic and pleasure that is deeply grounded in and experienced through your physical senses. It will be an otherworldly creation. Your only job is to show-up and surrender to the beauty. We’ll take care of the rest.

Pricing and registration will open Thursday, Jan. 31st. As this is the only exclusive, alchemical, luxury, five star retreat of its kind, registration is likely to go fast. Space is extremely limited. First come, first serve. If you are planning to come with a partner or spouse, or if you wish to have your own room, there is a limited number suites available with a queen size bed. All other rooms will be shared with single beds, so register soon to receive your preference.

We can’t wait to create magic and sip wine with you under the Tuscan sun!

Ci vediamo!

What is your View on Christianity? How does Writing Help Us Connect to Other Dimensions? FAQ

FAQ, Features, Spirituality, The Crown Chakra, The Heart Chakra

I am in the process of answering a series of frequently asked questions at Chakra Center. I will be posting both audio and regular videos in attempt to answer the questions I receive. Here are my first two:

“Are you a Christian?”

“How does Writing Help You Connect to Your Higher Self?”