this week's quote

"The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong. To be alienated from this community is to become destitute in all that makes us human. " ~ Thomas Berry

Synchronicity

A few days ago, I was in the shower thinking about my eating habits and how I'm slipping back into bad ones, and I thought to myself "I am going to try to make better food choices."  Then I remembered some advice I was given a year or so ago that really helped me.  A quote actually, from that wise person, Yoda.  Today, we had lunch at the Chinese restaurant.  And what do you think my fortune advice cookie said?  Yep.

From Misc pics

How weird is that??

* * *

Last year St. Joseph's Indian School sent me a dreamcatcher key ring and assorted other paper goods while asking for donations. I kept that key ring hung up in my bathroom, until I bought a bigger one in Virginia. A couple of weeks ago I started using the key ring as an actual key ring.  Last week (Friday I think) I lost it!  It just disappeared.  I had a nice surprise when I got home tonight. In the mail was a packet from the school, and in it a new keyring!! Awesomeness.

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Anybody need a kitten??

Stubbette's latest crop of kittens has finally arrived, or at least made their way down here. They cannot stay! But they are cute. One is a miniature Eb (her older kitten)

From Cats

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I probably shouldn't have left all those Kroger bags by the front door

Stubby didn't do this (he was in bed with me and was surprised to see them when we got up). Most likely it was Roscoe.  But Stubby did think they made a nice bed.

From Cats

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Reiki Principles/Ideals

"The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth

Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder , Usui Mikao"

http://www.reiki.org/FAQ/WhatIsReiki.html

There are several versions of the reiki ideals I find online.  It drives me crazy that I can't find any consensus as to what is the correct translation. I know it doesn't really matter, it's just my perfectionism or wanting everything to be black and white LOL. The above seems to be one of the more complete translations. Others are more simple, like this (as I was taught):

"Just for today do not anger
Just for today do not worry
Honor your teachers and elders
Earn your living honestly
Show gratitude to every living thing."

I also like this version from the book we got:

"Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings.
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing."

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A few cat pictures

Stubby - and underneath, his evil twin Stubbette. Well they're not twins, but don't they look alike?? They are probably half siblings. Stubbette actually has a tail though.




Roscoe the Big Orange Cat


Snoop


Hoppy the Three-Legged Cat


Rascal and his Momma, Miss Bobbi


Miss Bobbi having a drink


Why does she put her paw in the water and lick beside it???


Rascal

Crows make monkeys out of chimps in mental test

"Crows seem to be able to use causal reasoning to solve a problem, a feat previously undocumented in any other non-human animal, including chimps.

Alex Taylor at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and his team presented six New Caledonian crows with a series of "trap-tube" tests.

A choice morsel of food was placed in a horizontal Perspex tube, which also featured two round holes in the underside, with Perspex traps below.

For most of the tests, one of the holes was sealed, so the food could be dragged across it with a stick and out of the tube to be eaten. The other hole was left open, trapping the food if the crows moved it the wrong way.

Three of the crows solved the task consistently, even after the team modified the appearance of the equipment. This suggested that these crows weren't using arbitrary features – such as the colour of the rim of a hole – to guide their behaviour. Instead they seemed to understand that if they dragged food across a hole, they would lose it.

Not-so great apes

To investigate further, the team presented the crows with a wooden table, divided into two compartments. A treat was at the end of each compartment, but in one, it was positioned behind a rectangular trap hole. To get the snack, the crow had to consistently choose to retrieve food from the compartment without the hole.

A recent study of great apes found they could not transfer success at the trap-tube to success at the trap-table. The three crows could, however.

"They seem to have some kind of concept of a hole that isn't tied to purely visual features, and they can use this concept to figure out the novel problem," Taylor says. "This is the most conclusive evidence to date for causal reasoning in an animal."

Three of the crows did fail at both tasks, however. The team plans further work to investigate why."

Journal reference: Proceedings of the Royal Society B (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1107)

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14745-crows-make-monkeys-out-of-chimps-in-mental-test.html?DCMP=ILC-arttsrhcol&nsref=specrt10_bar

Using Reiki in Everyday Life

"One of the things that sets Reiki apart from other healing methods is that it can be used for a number of other purposes. Reiki can be utilized in all aspects of daily life! ... [Y]ou may be amazed to learn that Reiki can also be used on inanimate objects as well! Try it the next time you have a problem with your computer! Everything in the universe is created from energy; in giving Reiki, you are directing energy where there is a lack or an imbalance.

Reiki for Animals: You will find that animals seem to like receiving Reiki and can sense that something very special is being given to them by human hands, and they tend to become quiet and relaxed. Animals will usually let you know where to apply the energy by the way they position their bodies. Most dogs and cats will remain lying down until they have had enough Reiki, and then stand up or scurry off. ... Animals are more instinctive than humans, and therefore are able to judge better how much Reiki they need. When giving Reiki to animals, follow the same basic guidelines as when treating people, and pay attention to any areas that seem to draw more energy.

Reiki for Plants: Universal Life Force Energy is manifested in plants the same as in humans and animals, and respond very positively to Reiki. When treating household plants begin at the roots, by placing your hands around the pot. When you feel that the roots have drawn enough energy, move up and direct Reiki to the main body of the plant by holding your hands about 1 inch from the leaves. You can also give Reiki to seeds before planting them in your garden, by cupping them in your hands, and Reiki to trees by placing your hands on the trunk of the tree. If you have attained Second Degree Reiki, you can administer Reiki to plants and trees using the absentee, or long distance method.

Reiki for Food & Drink: Reiki energy can also be used to enrich you food and drink, and increase it's nutritional value. While food is cooking you can hold your hands above the pan. Once food is on the plate you can either hold your hands above the plate, or at either side of the plate with your palms facing in. As you can see, the second method would work very well when eating in a restaurant. Use the same principle for liquids. Hold the glass, bottle, cup, or container in your hands for a few minutes, giving it Reiki. Try it with a glass of water and see if you notice a difference! You can also do this with hot liquids.

Other Uses: There are so many uses for Reiki on a daily basis:

Before giving a present, spend a few minutes treating it with Reiki. You've just given a double gift!

Cleanse and charge rooms in your house, or even hotel rooms by using the first symbol in the corners of the room, or by holding your hands on the walls for a few minutes.

Visualize the first symbol in front of you to "protect" yourself from negative energies when in crowded locations.

Use Reiki for malfunctioning appliances, jammed locks, computers, car batteries jewelry, and for treating crystals and stones!"

http://hallsofreiki.com/reikinlife.html

Watch Your Thoughts

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."

— Lao-Tze

Reiki

I finally took a reiki class and I'm now officially a First Degree Reiki Practitioner! The class was AWESOME and so was the teacher (Kathleen Hall). I am planning on taking Reiki II from her as well. The class was held at Wildflowers, which is a great shop.

We received a handout and a book, The Reiki Handbook. We spent part of the day learning about reiki (history, principles, etc.), hand positions, chakras, the 21 day clearing process, etc. We also had an attunement. We had hands on experience working on each other (there was only one other student in the class, very nice). We also learned how to do self treatment, which I have been doing daily. Now I just need to find some people to practice on!

I've been wanting to post about it since Saturday. I have other things to post too. I need to sleep less or something.

Mantras

"The word mantra has two components to it: Man, which is the root sound of the word mind, and tra, which is the root sound of the word instrument, So, the word mantra literally means an instrument of the mind. The ancient wisdom tradition of Vedanta examined the various sounds produced in nature, the fundamental vibrations of the world around us. According to Vedanta, these sounds are an expression of the infinite or cosmic mind, and provide the basis for every human language. ...

These sounds also contain the same vibrations that animals make. And if you listen carefully, you'll notice that these sounds are everywhere in nature. These are the sounds of the wind, of fire crackling, of thunder, of the river rushing by, of ocean waves crashing on the shore. Nature is vibration. The infinite being vibrates, and that vibration is rhythmic, musical, and primordial. Vibration is the means through which infinite potential expresses itself as the manifest universe.
...
We know that the manifest universe–which appears to be made up of solid objects–is actually made up of vibrations, with different objects vibrating at different frequencies.
...
Mantra is just a word that describes this quality of the universe. The ancient seers are said to have heard these vibrations of the universe when they were in deep meditation. We can all hear these same vibrations any time. It is very simple. If you quiet your mind and sit silently, you will hear vibrations. You can try it any time you want. Even when you cover your ears, you'll hear them. Your body is also constantly vibrating, but the sounds are so subtle that you usually don't hear them. But if you sit quietly when there is no noise around you, you'll hear a background hum in the air. And if you start paying attention to that background hum, with practice you'll actually end up hearing all the mantras that have been recorded in the Vedic literature.
...
The Vedas also maintain that if you recite a mantra out loud, its special pattern of vibrations creates its own effects, and can create events in our current physical realm. Reciting the mantra mentally creates a mental vibration, which then becomes more abstract. Ultimately it takes you into the field of pure consciousness or spirit from where the vibration arose. So a mantra is a very good way to transcend and go back to the source of thought, which is pure consciousness. This is why specific mantras are
recommended because of the specific vibrations they induce.

The mantra I use, and that I recommend for achieving synchrodestiny, is the simple mantra "so-hum." This is the mantra of the breath; if you observe your breathing you'll hear "so-hum" as air moves in and out of your lungs. As you inhale, the sound of that vibration is "so." And as you exhale the sound becomes "hum."
...
One of the techniques of meditation is, in fact, simply focusing on where your breath comes from. With your eyes closed, inhale and think the word; on the exhale, think the word "hum." Gradually both the breath and the sound will become quieter and quieter and quieter, and the breath becomes so quiet that it almost seems to stop. By quieting your breath, you quiet your mind. When you transcend, the mantra "so-hum" entirely disappears, and your breath pauses momentarily. Time itself comes to a top and you're in the field of pure consciousness, the non-local domain, spirit, the ground of being.

The mantra, then, is a way to experience non-local consciousness. Aborigines, Indians, Native Americans, and many other traditional cultures have used it for thousands of years. In every tradition mantras involve chanting to create special vibrations, sounds of the universe that create something from nothingness, that move energy from the unmanifest into the manifest.

Adapted from The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra, Three River Press, 2003."

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/sound-expression-of-the-infinite-or-cosmic-mind.html

"Smiling Buddha" mudra

"In the yogic tradition, mudras are hand postures that direct the subtle flow of energy or prana throughout the body. Joining the hands and fingers in various configurations creates a circuit that allows energy to flow to different parts of the body and brain. Each mudra has a specific purpose, such as healing, deepening awareness, or rejuvenation.

To form Kapitthaka Mudra or "Smiling Buddha" mudra, sit comfortably in a chair or with crossed legs. Tuck your ring and pinky fingers inside your palms. Rest your thumbs over the tucked fingers. Keep the index and middle fingers next to each other and extended. Hold your elbows in toward your body, keeping about a 30 degree angle between upper arms and forearms. Breathe deeply and relax.

Kapitthaka mudra is said to open the flow of energy to the heart, release emotional toxicity, and promote emotional well-being."

http://chopra.com/namaste/freedom

"When you get to the end of all the light that you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly."

 

- Edward Teller

Quantum Wellness: Kathy Freston's 8 Pillars of Wellness

1. Meditation: "It's really just getting quiet, going inside and connecting to that inner light. For some people, it's religious and spiritual, connecting to that higher power. For other people, it's just a matter of becoming present."


2. Conscious Eating: "The mother of all pillars is conscious eating. It doesn't only make a difference to our own personal health and well-being, but conscious eating means you stay aware of where your food comes from, how the animals are treated and how the environment is affected by the foods that you eat. You take in the energy of whatever went into creating that food."


3. Exercise: 3-6 times a week for 30 minutes a day. "It's good for your body, mind and spirit, especially when you're outside."


4. Visualization. "It's like creating a blueprint for the way I want to become and setting down the intention. I journal in my notebook, and I think about where I want to go, who I want to be. Then, I just need to close my eyes and see the breakthrough happening."


5. Spiritual Practice "I have [a statue of Kuan Yin, a Chinese diety for compassion] in my bedroom because I always want to be reminded that it's not just about me. So as much as I can, [I try] to be aware of the suffering that's all around and to be compassionate. I think that's the best spiritual practice anyone can have."


6. Self Work: "What I do is I read all the time, whether it's on nutrition or spirituality or emotional well-being."


7. Service: "When I was feeling depressed and like life wasn't going my way, I started volunteering and doing service, and things had a way of just turning around. I felt like I didn't get fixated on my own self-centered fear, and I felt like there was an abundance in the universe that I was participating in. And that made me feel really good."


8. Fun Activities: "Doing something fun just kind of loosens up your energy, makes you feel grateful for everything, and you have levity in your life, which is important. Once a day, I do something fun, whether just rocking out to music or painting."

http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20080520_tows_kathyfreston

Gemstone beads for sale

I'm liquidating some of my bead inventory to help pay for a class I'm taking. I have several types of gemstone beads and also some wooden beads and goldstone (which is not really a stone at all). Types of beads include moonstone, several types of jasper, peridot, citrine, sodalite, garnet, magnetic hematite and more.

The prices are in the photo captions. Add $3 flat fee shipping to the total. is preferred, but if I know you, I'll accept a personal check.

First come, first served. Email me at jamieannharman @ gmail.com or comment if interested.

Here are a few photo teasers. The rest are in the album link at the end.



ALBUM LINK: http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/GemstoneBeadsForSale#

NOTE TO LOCAL READERS: If you have a jewelry business, I also have some display items available such as earring holders and black velvet trays. I also have a little portable luggage type thing on wheels made particularly for jewelry. Email me for more info - must be local because I won't ship these things.

"It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you going."

- Brian Tracy