The Lakota Way of Life by Kirby Sattler

    Praise, flattery, exaggerated manners and fine, high-sounding words were no part of Lakota politeness. Excessive manners were put down as insincere, and the constant talker was considered rude and thoughtless. Conversation was never begun at once, or in a hurried manner.

The chant of 'OM'

The word 'om' has several meanings:

• The Sound of All Sounds
• The Sound of the Universe
• The Sound of Creation
• The Beginning of Life

It contains 4 separate parts: ah-oh-mmm and silence. 

Sit comfortably with your back straight. Inhale. On the exhalation begin chanting 'om' . Pause, inhale and exhale and chant again in a regular rhythm and without strain.

The Goddess 2.0 - Karen Tate

Extract from ‘Goddess 2.0 – Advancing a New Path Forward’ by Rev. Dr. Karen Tate published by Megalithica Books, paperback 188 pages £10.99

You are not alone if you believe domination and authoritarian patriarchy are destroying countless lives and our planet. There is a more sustainable alternative and it's not new. In fact it's ancient. Exiled for a time, but making a return, the Sacred Feminine has become indelibly integrated into our lives, reminding humanity during this time of crisis that the ideals of the Great She offer a pathway to secure a more sustainable future. As people lose faith in organized religion, as the paradigm of power shifts across the globe, as climate change quickly approaches a point of no return, people are leading using their divine intelligence gleaned from Goddess teachings to find solutions and sanctuary. They're listening to their consciences, heart wisdom, and intuition to manifest a new normal. They're practicing partnership, generosity, and compassion to establish a new way of being. They're tapping into their empathy and morality as they hit the reset button. We are witnessing an awakening across the globe as people and entire cultures turn to Goddess, deity, archetype and ideal, to evolve from the malignant chaos we face. 

Person Centred Therapy

 

What is PCA? 

American, Carl Rogers (1902-1987) was the founder of this method of counselling and therapy and came from a Christian background. He researched the data in order to find out which type of therapy helped the client most. He discovered that all methods were beneficial if the counsellor portrayed three vital qualities - a non judgemental attitude, a genuine concern and had empathy for the client's problems. He did not attempt to diagnose or interpret the client, but gave patient support and considered responses to show that he understood what the client was saying on a deep and caring level. This a humanistic and existential method is often called 'Client Centred Therapy' and this caring response should be available to the client whatever method is being used. The object being to improve the client's life, so they are able to have better relationships, be able to work and enjoy their life and this state is called 'fully functioning'. From this 'student centred learning' or 'learner centred teaching'  developed. 

Psychodrama

What is psychodrama? Jacob L Moreno (1889-1974) created this technique for gaining insight into relationships that are buried in the unconscious. A New York psychiatrist, social scientist and polymath, his very early interest in theatre in Vienna led to psychodrama as a form of therapy around 1910 and it became very popular in the 1960s and 70s amongst the personal growth movement. Moreno was a pioneer and early psychotherapist. His work is profoundly interesting and reveals many aspects of the way we relate to others, especially family members. His writing is of great interest to those who follow his innovative understanding of interpersonal relationships and is well worth further study. 

Arthur Janov

Arthur Janov was a Californian psychotherapist who developed the theory of Primal Therapy. John Lennon and Yoko Ono were clients. Primal Therapy involved screamimg, crying and expressing early abuse. 

Fritz Perls and Gestalt

Fritz Perls was an innovatory humanistic practitioner whose Gestalt Therapy became very popular during the 1960s. The word 'gestalt' comes from a German word which explains foreground and background images. Perls was a rather controversial figure but his psychotherapy provides fast insight and change.

India - Karuna

What is Karuna? This is an Indian Sanskrit concept for compassion in action. It is used in Hinduism and Buddhism. Compassion for others is used to reduce pain and suffering. Karuna is experienced when a person becomes enlightened and they feel empathy for those who are needy. It is used in a type of Reiki healing. 

A Healing Meditation

 This video meditation created by Jo Barnard with text by Wendy Stokes is taken from meditations in The Lightworkers Circle Guide - A Workbook for Spiritual Groups. The meditation might cause a light trance, so do not drive a vehicle. Allow 30 minutes to fully relax without interruption. Make yourself comfortable, take a couple of deep breaths, close your eyes and exnjoy the experience.   www.wendystokes.co.uk

Chief Seattle 1854

“Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change. Today is fair. Tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds. My words are like the stars that never change. Whatever Seattle says, the great chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons. The white chief says that Big Chief at Washington sends us greetings of friendship and goodwill. This is kind of him for we know he has little need of our friendship in return. His people are many. They are like the grass that covers vast prairies. My people are few. They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain. The great, and I presume -- good, White Chief sends us word that he wishes to buy our land but is willing to allow us enough to live comfortably. This indeed appears just, even generous, for the Red Man no longer has rights that he need respect, and the offer may be wise, also, as we are no longer in need of an extensive country.

Spiral Castle - MBS Magazine Music Choice

MInd Body Spirit Magazine's Music Choice from Spiral Castle!

Artificial Reincarnation

Dr Milan Ryzl from Prague and Dr Vladimir L Raikov, two Soviet psychiatrists made an interesting discovery. They hypnotised volunteers and told them they were a reincarnation of a famous person from the past. After the hypnosis sessions, the volunteers continued to believe that they were an important person in the past. This is not very surprising, but what was of interest, is that for those who were told they were a person with a considerable talent, that the volunteer developed this talent when it had not been in evidence in their oridnary life. A woman who was told she was the Rennaisance artist, Raphael, developed very good artistic skills. Others developed music and literary abilities. The two doctors managed to cure someone of alcoholism by hypnotising him to imagine he was his mother, full of anxiety and distress to see her son ruin his life. 

Pulsing

Pulsing is a form of gentle and comfortable rocking movements which were developed in the mid 1970s by Curtis Turchin who was originally a Postural Integration therapist. He took some aspects of the Trager Approach to create a stretching and lifting style of bodywork to rock the client's body in order to release tension and stress. Rhythmic and meditative. 

Music Therapy

Music is an ancient form of self expression and communication. With modern day technology, it is possible to show how to brain reacts to music and how it can assist people who are unwell. It has been shown to make a positive impack on dementia patients and autistic patients and in brain injuries, such as stroke or brain accident. It is a valuable way in which patients can help themselves. It can also be an emotional support for those going through difficult times and can relieve anxiety and depression. Blood pressure can be reduced and stress levels decreased.

Are you Clairvoyant, Clairaudient or Clairsentient?

 

                                                  

Whirling Dervishes

     

This whirling dance of the dervishes is conducted to produce a trance state where the dancers gain meditation union with the Divine. The word 'dervish' is a 'holy man' of the Islamic faith who follows the mystic path of the Sufis. The dervish, Jalal al Din Rumi, was taught whirling by Shams of Tabriz. He was a Sufi poet from Persia was born in Northern Afghanistan in 1207 and wrote 25000 poems of great wisdom and profound spirituality, often based on love and transporting the reader to mystical states. Rashad Field travelled widely through the Himalayas and also studied Sufism in Turkey where he was initiated into the Mevlevi Order of Dervishes. He is the author of a series of esoteric books which are highly recommended for those interested in mysticism. 

Ching Tso - Chinese Meditation

The Chinese term for meditation is 'Ching Tso', which translated means 'sitting still with a peaceful mind'. Meditation is the training of the inner senses of the body and mind. It is as rigorous as the training undertaken by an athlete or an artist. By helping us to think clearly and concentrate fully, Ching Tso enables us to commune totally with our God, without distracting or artifical thoughts. The highest and most advanced goal of meditation is to gain 'enlightenment'. We want to go beyond the limitations of our knowledge and our three-dimensional view of the world. 

Chronic Fatigue

 

Myalgic Encephalomylitis is abbreviated to ME and has all the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Tiredness, muscle aches, brain fog, depression, are part of a syndrome that has baffled doctors. It has now been accepted by the medical world as being a genuine illness and not one that has been imagined by the patient. Many treatments are available, from diet, sleep treatment, physical therapies, etc. It is best to avoid medications if they can be avoided. 

Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a writer, an interfaith pioneer, a pacifist, a student of comparative religion, and campaigner for social justice. He studied at Cambridge and Columbia Universities and travelled extensively in his early life as an agnostic. In his twenties, he became a convert to Roman Catholicism and became a Trappist monk at Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. This Order is very strict, the monks live in silence and without any luxuries. During this time, Merton wrote his biography, 'The Seven Storey Mountain'. His philosophy was based on renunciation and asceticism, two pillars which are necessary for spiritual enlightenment. In all, he wrote 70 books. He is remembered as a great thinker and a peace promoter.

Tune in for Serenity

This video helps us to relax during communication with others. It's good advice when dealing with other people and suggests we remain true to ourselves and be aware of ourselves, relax and be serene. This way, we achieve more, have better relationships and feel healthier ourselves. 

How is money created?

Do you know how our money is created? Most people don’t, but it isn't complicated, says Bruce Nixon! 97% of our money is created by commercial banks when they make loans, i.e. interest bearing debt, not by the Bank of England or the Mint. Only 3% is created in the form of notes and coins. Thus the profits of creating money go to the commercial banks rather than the public purse.

Over the last 40 years commercial banks have increased the money supply at an average of 11.5% a year. And that was obviously too much, too quickly. If the increase in the money supply were say 5% a year, about £60bn a year could go to the government and reduce our taxes by that amount.

Benefits of meditation?

Meditation is an act of controlling your mind. Whatever you've heard, the objective of meditation is 100% absolute focus. What you focus on is up to you and the form of meditation you are practicing. A few of the options are:

1. your breathing--nothing more and nothing less
2. a mantra, saying or affirmation
3. an ideal such as love or gratitude
4. a problem, such as how you are consumed with desire or suffering
5. a quiet mind (opinions on what this is vary)
6. swaying or some other form of rhythmic movement
7. a repetitive sound such as a beating drum, heart, etc.

Get into Alpha!

 

Meditation is quick and easy and can be conducted anywhere! There are amazing statistics for those who meditate regularly. It is promoted as a miracle pastime, and can improve health of the body, mind and emotions.