Saturday, March 27, 2010

THE SILVER CHALICE

A sacred verse in Holy Writ, a special message brought,
“Drink of my cup for fuller lives,” the ancient Scriptures taught.
So trusted leaders spoke to folks, of high and low renown,
“This Holy Grail we all must seek, and bring it to our town.
Through force we shall retrieve this cup and let our people view.
This precious chalice must be won, and thus man be renewed.”

So every eye searched for this cup, this treasure to bestow,
But only those with hearts renewed would its pure essence know.
And as the years of search rolled on, a new age dawned to show,
The chalice was God’s gift of life, and from within comes flow.
Life’s living waters – spiritual love, kindness given free,
And doing for the “least of these,” Was the message meant to be.

The violence of the Crusades caused death and deep remorse,
By living love, peace is found, that Crusades sought through force.
And shows lives joined in veils unseen, each one a living cell,
Through loving words and kindly deeds found growth for self as well.
True joy arose within each heart as family, friends and all,
Felt renewed with bonds of love in answer to God’s call.

Happy Easter Weekend coming up on April 3rd. Have a wonderful
time with family and friends as special blessings are sent to all.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

RECAPTURE YOUR YOUTH WITH YOGA

A study of 118 people ages 60 and older with the problem of age-related curvature of the spine was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Half the group practiced certain simple yoga moves three days a week for six months, while the others attended lectures on better health.

People in the yoga study bent forward with their back flat, arms extended, and hands on the back or seat of a chair. People in the yoga group ended up with straighter spines and reported less upper back pain and better sleep. They could also rise from a chair more quickly.

While waiting for your breakfast egg to boil or the kettle to heat up, one could gently extend the arms to the back of a chair during the first week and during the second week extend the arms to the seat of the chair. This exercise relaxes the entire body and the time it takes can be tucked into any hour of the day as well.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

THE CUP OF KINDNESS

One of my earliest memories was the day of the week we heard the whistle of the CPR train which signaled the day of the week Canada Post would drop the mail off at our small country town. My father would have his team of horses ready for the ten mile drive to Orion. After stopping at the post office for the mail he would go to the small store and present a list of items mother had handed him which might include a tin of baking powder, oil for the coal oil lamp or perhaps a spool of thread. Most food items for our household were grown in Mother’s large garden. Neighbours exchanged local news at the store or while waiting in line at the post office to pick up the mail. My oldest brother hooked together the wire on the fences and the barbed wire telephone came into being. Each household was given a code of short and long ring sounds and were asked not to pick up unless it was their signal. If too many picked up just to listen the voices grew dim.

Our mail included the weekly Free Press Prairie Farmer, and once a month the Reader Digest. After the milking chores the coal oil lamp was lit and my father read the Digest throughout the night. The closest library was 65 miles away in Medicine Hat. Now we can subscribe to many magazines and books that are delivered right to our door by Canada Post. One of the magazines I enjoy is “The Open Road” from Bracebridge, Ontario. Among its inspirational items in one by Harvey Green who lives in Kailua, Hawaii, with his wife and family and writes and lectures on spiritual healing. In all walks of life he asks his readers to seize every opportunity to “Just be kind, one to another. So simple is this perspective that it may seem unworthy of the place of importance given. If it were more complex it would fail in its inherent ability to be so basic to all things. From compassion will inevitably flow the Christ life. We would often prefer life would be more complicated than this so we could justify our own neglect. This however, is not the case and in His infinite mercy, God has placed the meaning of life in the earth within easy reach of us all. In all things, above all things, just be kind, one to another. From us ‘rivers of living water’ will flow from each of us.” Wars would certainly cease and compassion be our way of life. Thanks Harvey for a small but relevant sermon. Website: http://www.spiritjournalhawaii.com/.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

QUEEN OLYMPIAS - HER PART IN THE OLYMPICS

Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.,) was born in Pella, Macedonia which is now northern Greece. He was the son of Queen Olympias and King Philip II. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, was Alexander’s teacher, and took Achilles of Homer’s Iliad as his hero. At 16, he commanded forces in military actions against the hill tribes.

When his father divorced his mother Olympias, Alexander quarreled with his father. Philip was assassinated while preparing for war with Persia. Alexander was suspected of inspiring the crime, but there was no proof and he became Alexander III. At age 20 he conquered the hill tribes and Greek city-states and backed by the powerful Macedonian army struck north trough the Balkans to the Danube River and south to Thebes. All of Thebes was destroyed except the temples and the home of the poet Pindar, whose odes Alexander admired. The city-states had been united by his father Philip and Alexander inherited a strong disciplined army as captain-general and welded his men into a strong lean-mean fighting machine. He broke the power of the Oriental monarchs and spread the Greek culture with 30,000 men and small groups of cavalry. His phalanx, an oblong mass of men protected by shields and long spears was an impregnable moving fortress.

This brilliant strategist was also an able administrator. From current news we learn Greece is having problems and wonder if history would have been different if his father had not divorced Queen Olympias all those years ago. Wars never seem to accomplish much but we can say that Greece gave us the Olympics. Today we have the way of peace explained to us through the writings in our Bible’s New Testament as the Apostle Paul, explains in Ephesians chapter 4:32, “And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in chapters 5 through 8 of Matthew says it all so well and Chapter 7:20 tells us how we have a way of knowing where we fit in: “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

Monday, March 15, 2010

BRAVE OLYMPIANS FORGE AHEAD

High on a hill a bent plum tree, Lies half prone, where it started free.
A lightening bolt or a vagrant board, Bowed it low where the damage scored.
Its neighbours proud, stately and prim, Towered above with branches trim.
Yet a special charm embraces the eye, As hopeful branches is leaves hold high.
When summer has passed its branches will tell, how a child can reach the fruit so well.
Its sturdy bole – a fine seat make, Handy to rest as its fruit we take.

What may have seemed like a mishap grim had risen to bloom with hope from within.
Spreading its beauty and service free, a special delight – like no other tree.
A message to all soft breezes will tell that its sturdy root still nourishes well.
The sun and the rain no favourites show, As hatchlings dance in the evening glow.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

BRAIN CELLS GROW WITH EXERCISE

It has been shown that old mice, equivalent in age to 70 year old humans have been found to grow new brain cells and demonstrate improved memory as a result. Research conducted at the Salt Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California are reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, examined the brain cells of young and old nice that ran two miles a day on a treadmill. In comparison to similar mice that simply sat around all day, the active mice evidenced new brain cells.

To determine whether the cells were functional, the researchers later tested all mice for their ability to remember the location of a desirable underwater object they had previously learned. The couch-potato mice flunked this test, but the runners performed perfectly.

A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Association said the study didn’t prove, but certainly suggested that the exercise might be effective against this disease, furthermore, there are already enough studies showing the value of exercise for the elderly that should convince folks to get moving. Nearly a century ago the Edgar Cayce material was already recommending the importance of regular exercise.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

FACING FEARS AND PANIC ATTACKS

When seized with fears or panic attacks
Let your built-in helper bring calmness back.
When switching to song, deep breathing abounds,
So chortle with joy to all around.

Singing can be an effective way of combating fear of panic attacks. Looking for a way to help his patients who experience panic attacks while driving, Dr. David Carbonell, director of the Anxiety Treatment Center in New York, came up with the idea of singing.

In his Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Attack (Ulysses Press), he explains that panic attacks feed on shallow, constricted breathing. Singing out loud relaxes the chest and promotes better breathing.

Humor helps too. He recommends singing this song aloud (to the tune of “Camptown Races”): “I’ll go crazy, then I’ll die … doo-dah! doo-dah!

Perhaps just another equally humourous song might do just as well.

Monday, March 8, 2010

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BRAIN HEALTH, PAGE 2

Children benefit too, as studies show that those who exercise get better grades. Research has shown, in fact, that exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells.

7) Learn from the nuns. The convent of the school sisters of Notre Dame on Good Counsel Hill in Mankato, Minnesota, has been participating in a longitudinal study to learn why their 75-to-107-year old members have such healthy brains and long lives. One researcher speculated thusly: “They do not drink or smoke, they live quietly and communally, they are spiritual and calm and they eat healthily and in moderation.” The actual research, however, may point to more specific factors. One early finding has to do with the preponderance of positive emotions these women have during their day’s routine.

8) Paying attention. A mind that wanders has a brain that can become slack. Caffeine and other drugs can enhance brain arousal but being interested and curious about your environment is also helpful. Meditation, which is practice in paying attention, is good.

9) Positive feed back. Brain function biofeedback does help brain function. Just as people can learn to control alpha waves, they can also learn to create other patterns of brain function. Research has shown using biofeedback, people can alter attentiveness, elevate mood, and eliminate undesirable impulses.

10) Cognitive-enhancement drugs are already on the market. Modafinil, originally designed to fight narcolepsy (suddenly falling asleep) helps healthy people maintain alertness for almost four days with no sleep, and to function better than those who do sleep!
For related Web links go to: www.creativespirit.net/psiresearch.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BRAIN HEALTH

Science has established that the brain is a growing thing and its health affects the way it functions. An article in New Science outlined ten different approaches to improving the health of that gray matter.

l) Food. Breakfast is especially important to brain function, as the brain needs special feeding when it wakes up. Good brain food breakfast: beans on toast. Lunch should be eggs and salad with yogurt as dessert. Have fish for dinner, with strawberries and blueberries for dessert.

2) Listen to music, or better yet, take lessons. The “Mozart effect,” the increased ability in mathematics after listening to Mozart, is even stronger if listening is accompanied by active practice. Music lessons are better than going to concerts.

3) Get a job! If not, then work puzzles. Using your mind to good purposes is helpful to the brain. Research has found that IQ is not a fixed entity, but can be increased by brainteaser workouts.

4) Improve your memory. A good memory is part technique. Training in memory enhancement methods, usually having to do with training attention and using organizational techniques, improves brain function.

5) Go to sleep. Your brain hates going without sleep and can be very sensitive about it. A day without sleep makes you perform about as well as someone legally intoxicated. Sleep is when your brain does a lot of its homework, so get plenty.

6) Go for a walk. Exercise, even quiet or mild exercise boosts the brain’s abilities. Exercise helps older folks especially, and regular walking slows the cognitive decline normally seen in elders.
(Tune in to “Staying in Touch” again tomorrow for more ideas on helping the brain to keep healthy and alert.)

Saturday, March 6, 2010

HELP FOR HAIR LOSS WITH CRUDOLEUM

This item is not available in drug stores, it is cheap, messy, and smells like crude oil, but this old fashioned remedy, given in the Edgar Cayce material has been applauded by many. Here is an excerpt in a letter written to his chiropractor. “At 17 years of age I started losing my hair in spots the size of a silver dollar. After trying several commercial preparations with no results I was finally persuaded to try a bottle of Crudoleum. To my surprise hair started growing again and the empty spots filled in.”

An enthusiastic wife writes: “Following surgery, my husband, at age 40, began losing his hair that began to fall in bunches. I convinced him to use Crudoleum, followed by an olive oil shampoo. Twice a week I gave him a five minute massage. In the 10 week period since we started we have had dramatic results with all his hair grown in and his hair has improved 100 percent. Within one week the falling hair stopped with the new hair a soft brown with a dramatic improvement in texture.”

Another experience: “Eight years ago, 50 percent of my hair fell out and the remaining hair broke off at the neckline. I applied Crudoleum for six months time and my hair has grown in much thicker, rather remarkable for me because my hair was extremely thick to begin with and I didn’t think it would be possible to get even thicker after I had lost so much of it.

Here is one person who only needed to change his brand of shampoo. “Following hospitalization I began losing my hair at an alarming rate. I had to vacuum my towel and rake the tub. The Olive oil shampoo stopped the fall out at the first use.” These old fashioned remedies may still be available at l-866-322-8209 or 1-800-269-2502. www.baar.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

THE HEART KNOWS THE WAY

After the passing of her husband, the author of this book, Fern Stewart Welch shares his decline and final passage and how she was able to change sadness into a joyful reaffirming of life. She had an active prayer and meditation time and longed for a deeper communion with God. She made a real commitment to find the insight, wisdom, guidance, and comfort to face the daily changes that her husband’s care demanded of her. Journaling was the vehicle for recording her quest.

One day she wrote, “I want to have a personal relationship with you. I don’t know how to do this, a personal relationship with God, and the Allness of the Universe?” Almost immediately she began receiving answers. The dialog Ms. Welch records in her journal would be helpful to anyone seeking a close, personal relationship with God. The questions of doubts, the concerns are ones that many of us experience. And the answers are given with love, compassion, and the patience that we all crave. They are instructive, helpful and reassuring. The remarkable result was the change in Welch’s understanding of the dying process, of how to have balance in the care-giving role, of how to take care of one’s self, and how to help the dying person make the transition, especially when the person needs to be taken from the home, or when illness changes their personality. The guidance that Welch received from her meditation, prayer and journaling helped her transform the frustration, sadness, and guilt to a discovery of wholeness, a new passion for life, a palpable sense of joy, trust in life, and enthusiasm for the future. This ordinary person’s joyous spiritual journey continues in a second book, “How to Become a Warrior of the Heart.” With so many injuries, home care and loss of life in recent earthquakes these books will be able to bring comfort to many. If they are not available in your local library they may be able to bring it in from a branch library; or call l-800-723-1112. www.arebookstore.com.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

ADD A DOZEN HEALTHY HAPPY YEARS TO YOUR LIFE

If you wonder if exercising for an hour on the treadmill each day may be required, fear not. Continuing to walk to work every day may almost be enough. Handling a kitchen tool in an up and down motion for a number of times each meal may be all the additional exercise that is required. The quality of mindfulness that we bring to our eating habits will greatly affect what we obtain from our food.

According to a study conducted at the University of Rhode Island and reported in the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, volunteer female college students ate pasta to the point of “comfortable fullness.” In one condition, the researcher instructed the women to eat as fast as possible. In the second condition, the instructions were to eat slowly, putting the fork down with each bite.

Afterwards, researchers calculated that the first group consumed an average of 646 calories in nine minutes while the second group consumed an average of 579 calories in 29 minutes. Interviews with the women an hour later indicated that the first and fast eaters showed that the fast eaters were now less satisfied and were still hungry while the slow eaters felt satisfied. Eat slowly, eat less, and enjoy it more – that is the secret.

The up and down motion of the fork or other small tool used gives the eater a sense of quiet good manners and a moment to comment on the enjoyment of the meal and the pleasure of eating together with the family.

The tummy also must be delighted with those few extra seconds to sort out this hasty arrival of food, and has to order helper cells to hurry those calories into the fat cells warehouse. This can increase more fat cells over time with an extra burden for the body to take care of and create that feeling of exhaustion throughout the entire body that may create a need for more sleep. As a little reminder create a little “fork rest” for fun.

Monday, March 1, 2010

MRIs OF BRAIN ACTIVITY EXPOSES LIARS

A perceived separation from one another permits us to sometimes lie and try to deceive others. Science has searched for ways to overcome this obstacle to truth. Studies have found that untrained observers cannot detect deceit better than at chance levels of accuracy. Training observers helps some, but still with much room for error. The war on terrorism has increased the value of being able to detect deception.

Recent research with magnetic image resonance (MRI) technology has revealed that certain areas of the brain are more active during lying. In this research, published in Biological Psychiatry, male participants were to receive a reward as part of the experiment if they could successfully lie about recent behaviours they indulged in. The MRIs indicated that while speaking deceitfully, these men’s brains showed increased activity in stress areas, in areas governing impulse control, and in the brain area active during multitasking, suggesting two lines of thought occurring simultaneously. Their words may lie, but their brains tell the truth.

Perhaps we shouldn’t try to do so much multi-tasking. We may be working the brain overtime and wearing it out faster. Does anyone care to offer an experience they have had that could cast more light on the subject of multi-tasking. For related Web links or more information go to: www.creativespirit.net/psiresearch.