WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER

While maintaining a healthy diet and keeping your body properly hydrated you must drink water.  Lot's of water!  Since I am really bad about keeping my body hydrated during the day at work I have set little reminders on my computer calendar to pop up and tell me to take a Break!  The Que to drink water and to get up and stretch.  These little reminders pop up every hour.

There are all kinds of water to choose from.  So here is a list of water types and what's in them.  The choice is yours:

Artesian Water - From a well that's fed by an underground aquifer.  Example:  Fiji Natural Artesian Water.

Enhanced Water - Fortified with vitamins, minerals, and herbal ingredients, as well as added flavor.  Example:  Glaceau Vitamin water.

Fitness Water - With added electrolytes and flavoring or sugar.  Somme containe caffeine or herbal stimulants, such as taurine and guarana.  Example:  Hansens E20 Energy Water.

Mineral Water -  From an underground source that contains naturally accurring dissolved solids, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.  Example:  Callistoga Sparkling Mineral Water.

Purified Water -  Usually tap water that has been treated to remove contaminants.  Example:  Sam's Choice Purified Drinking Water.

Sparkling Water:  With natural or artificial effervescence.  Examples:  Schweppes Club Soda.

Spring Water:  From an underground source that flows to the earth's surface naturally.  Example:  Evian Natural Spring Water.

I personally drink Smart Water while I am at work.  Smart Water contains electrolytes.  It does not have added flavoring or sugar.  While I am at home we drink distilled water that we purchase at The Water Store in Ventura.

To add some flavor to your water try adding some squeezed Citrus Juice.

Time Saver!  Squeeze Citrus Juice Now, Use Later.  If you have leftover lemons and limes from a cocktail party, aqueeze them and freeze the juice in an ice-cube tray.  Once they're frozen, store the cubes in zippered plastic bags and use them for recipes that call for fresh lemon or lime juice.  (One cube equals about one tablespoon of juice.)

MANTRAS

A mantra is a word or phrase that is spoken or chanted over and over again, either mentally or aloud.  They can be hard to translate, but it is not absolutely necessary to understand exactly what they mean.

Word Games:  Mantras are words of power.  Their effectiveness lies in the vibration of the sound.  When they are vibrated correctly the sound strikes a certain frequency, which resonates within the subtle body, stimulating the psychic energy centers and releasing blockages in the energy flow.

The best known mantra is "Om."  This is said to be the primal sound, the sound which, going forth at the beginning of time, brought the whole universe into being.  Om is a "seed mantra," one from which other mantras are formed.  A much-loved mantra is "Om mani padme hum."  Approximately translated, this means "hail to the jewel in the lotus," the jewel being the divine spirit and enlightenment hidden within the lotus of our being.

Make Your Own Mantra:  In the East, mantras are chosen for a pupil by a teacher.  However, you can choose your own.  This can be very simple.  A single word such as "love" or "harmony" will suffice, or a phrase such as "peace to the world."  You can use the name of a spiritual master or even your own name.

There are also plenty of ancient mantras springing from various spiritual traditions.  If you have a specific religious belief, then try using part of a prayer, hymn, or saying as a mantra.

MEDITATION IN THE EAST

The religions of the East have long used meditation as a means to connect with a deep level of spiritual enlightenment.  Many of the techniques used in these traditions are highly practical and effective.

Koans:  One of the various ancient meditation schools, Zen Buddhism, uses koans.  A koan is a riddle that defies logic.

Probably the most famous koan is:  "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"  The Zen master chooses a koan for the pupil and tells him or her to go away and meditate on it with single-minded devotion.  This might take the pupil days, weeks, or even years.  When the conscious mind finally gives up the impossible task of solving the elusive conundrum, the anser suddenly arises intuitively from the higher consciousness.  This is an iimportant lesson in the process of understanding.

Mandalas:  Another ancient method, used particularly in Tibetan Buddhism, is the mandala.  This is a symbolic picture incorporating geometrical shapes, especially the square and the circle.  Typically, a mandala is divided into four outer sections representing the outer world and a round inner section symbolizing the self.  Through contemplating its elaborate imager, the meditator is led from his or her outer to the inner being, where balance and wholeness are found.

I actually enjoy coloring mandalas.  I have two sets of mandalas.  I small set of round cards that I sometimes take to work with him.  It is a great way to decompress during a 30 minute lunch.  The second set is larger and each one requires more time than 30 minutes.  My children also enjoy coloring them.

Eight-fold path:  A major tenet of eastern meditation is the Buddhist eight-fold path.  This embraces right thought, right action, right speech, and right understanding.  It is a philosopy of compassion, respecting all beings and harming none.  Meditation is viewed as the means of discovering our Buddha nature, which in non-Buddhist circles we might call the true light within.

MINDFULNESS

As I have mentioned in previous blogs; part of being healthy is taking time to take care of ourselves.  Meditation is a great way to destress and to get balanced.

In eastern monasteries, the monks and nuns spend much of their time carrying out menial tasks like raking the paths.  How do they meditate then?  In fact, any activity can be used to meditate by being "mindful."  For me, my most meditative state is when I play the piano.  There are other ways to find that focus and balance to get you centered again.

Attention:

Meditation doesn't always mean sitting still with your eyes closed.  Whatever you are doing, whether it is eating, working on the computer; or washing the automobile, do it with your undivided attention.  This practice is called "mindfulness."  It sounds much easier than it is.  See how long you can hold your attention before your thoughts wander.  Mindfulness helps you to be fully present in every moment of the day, without regrets about the past or anxiety for the future.  It is a way of bringing meditation into every day chores.

Walking Meditation:

1)  walk slowly, keeping your body relaxed and your eyes open.  Turn your attention to the actions of your body rather than just your breath.
2)  Be fully conscious of every move you make.  Be aware of lifing one foot and putting it in front of the other, as well as your breathing.
3)  Feel how your arms are moving.  Being conscious of your body as it propels you forward, the blood flowing carrying oxygen to your muscles.
4)  Concentrate wholly on the present moment, performing every action with your whole attention.  You can try this out at intervals during the day.

CREATIVITY

Children are naturally creative.  They play, dance, sing, and paint with no inhibitions, for the sheer joy of expressing themselves.  Creativity is an essential part of human behavior that we shouldn't dismiss.

ART CLASS - As we grow up, we learn to suppress this natural spontaneity.  We dismiss our imagination as childish fantasy.

Meditation puts you in touch once more with your inner child and renews your sense of the joy and wonder of life.  Many writers, artists, musicians, and people engaged in creative pursuits find inspiration through this means.  It enables them to tap into a spring that constantly flows with fresh thoughts and ideas.

Try exploring your creative potential by having a supply of paper and coloring pencils on your table when you meditate.  After a period of stillness, allow yourself to draw or color.  Don't worry about whether you have any artistic skill.  Just go with the flow, letting your imagination be free and fully expressive.

Once you learn to link with your inner child iin this way, you will find that you become more creative in all areas of your life.  Gardening, cooking, writing a letter to a friend, or writing a report become opportunities for self-expression.  You might surprise yourself with your hidden talents.

CREATIVE KIT

Just a few pencils and

scraps of paper are enough to help you

express your creativity.  Many of us grow

up believing that we are not creative - in

fact all of us have a creative aspect.

LOOSE REINS

When you start to express

your creativity, just let your mind be free

to follow whatever path it chooses.  Don't

worry about making sense - you're just

exercising your creative muscles.



PROBLEM SOLVING

Meditation will not make your life plain sailing or remove all your

problems, but it will help you to deal with them.  Meditation can

help us to gain perspective and to make good decisions.

Practical Spirituality - Through meditation, you become more sensative and more able to empathize with others in their troubles.  This gives you a better understanding of how they think and feel, enabling you to be less judgmental and more tolerant.

When you have a problem, begin your meditation session by stating the difficulty clearly to yourself.  It may help to get things clear in your mind if you write them down.  Then go into your meditation in the usual way.  However, it is very important that you do not focus on the problem whil you are meditating, it will only become more firmly embedded in your mind.  Simply go within, seeking to find that still point of balance.

As you do this, insights may arise spontaneously.  Suddenly you might see a way out of the difficulty or realize how you can handle the situation better.  Even if this doesn't happen while you are actually meditating, don't be disappointed.  Often the answer will drop into your mind a day or two later; when you are relaxed and not thinking of anything in particular.  It might also come in a dream.

Meditation helps you to connect with your own source of wisdom and inner intuition, which contains all the answers you need to cope with life's challenges.

GOOD RELATIONS

Meditation helps us

to become more understanding of other

people.  We can then use this knowledge

in a loving and beneficial way.

INNER RESOURCES

Problems and worries

always benefit from meditation.  Write the

problem down if this helps to clarify it

for you.  Meditation as normal, without

focusing on the problem.  Even if

you don't get an answer,

meditation will help you put

the problem in perspective.

AID TO MEDITATION

There are many aids you can use to make your mediation easier and more enjoyable.  While these cannot do the work for you, they can help to create the right atmosphere for calm, focused meditation.

Sacred Smells:  Incense has been valued for thousands of years for religious and spiritual ritual, cleansing, and bringing about altered states of consciousness.  You can buy incense or joss sticks from any New Age shop, as well as many mainstream outlets.  Incense also comes in small cones.  My favorite place to get incense is PartyLite.  It may be a little pricey, however, the quality of the product is one of the best that I have purchased.

Ambient Aromas:  Aromatherapy oils, too, are an excellent aid.  Frankincense, jasmine and sandalwood are particularly suitable, either individually or in combination, but you can make up your own blends and experiment.  I love lavendar and violet essential oils - I use these fragrances most every day for the house.  I keep a curio cabinet in my bedroom with some of my favorite oils.

Heavenly Sounds:  Good music, playing softly in the background is relaxing.  There are many New Age CDs and tapes designed specifically for use as meditation aids.  Some people find that classical music, especially Mozart, raises the mind to a more spiritual level.  I have very large collection of music and I choose the music  based on my current mood and needs.

Subconsious Way:  Subliminal tapes work by bypassing the conscious level of mind which often acts as a barrier to deeper mental levels.  They are programmed with instructions which are too quiet for the conscious mind to hear; but which are received and acted upon by the subconscious.  Subliminal video tapes are particularly powerful because they combine spoken suggestions with visual images.

Flowers on the Brain:  Flower essences are increasinly being used by meditators.  In addition to the popular Bach flower remedies, there are numerous other adequate ranges now available.  These operate on a subtle level, increasing spiritual awareness.

Keys to Remember:

ATMOSPHERE - Oils, incense sticks, and

flower essences can all be used to create

a perfectly relaxing and yet stimulating

atmosphere for meditation.

HELPING HANDS - Meditation aids can

 help you to focus, but they are not a

replacement for simple will power and

persistence.  You still have to do the work.