Thursday, November 14, 2019

Psychic Protection for Pets


As strange as it might sound, animals need psychic protection as well. 

It is widely accepted that animals are much more sensitive than we are to unseen forces. Dogs and cats are very sensitive to people's intentions. It’s not uncommon that they give warning by growling or bristling their hair before a bad situation arises. 

We often see animals looking at and reacting to things that we can’t readily perceive. 

Sometimes it even seems like cats have astral playmates that they chase and paw at. 

Recall a time when you noticed your cat staring tensely towards a seemingly empty space or spending a suspicious amount of time around one particular spot in the house. It's likely that your cat is sensitive to a concentrated amount of negative energy and is attempting to protect you and your home from possible infiltration by evil spirits and ghosts. 

It is possible that this negative energy remains left over from some traumatic experience in the past before you came to live in the home, or the entity could come from outside the home and try to force its way in. 

Russians used to allow a cat to enter a house first before they moved in due to its extraordinarily powers.

This is just one, of many reasons why pets need constant cleansing and psychic protection like us. 

If somebody is trying to harm you with magick, it usually will hit your pet(s) first because they also act like shields. 

Psychic attacks are also very common. 

What is a psychic attack? It is the assault upon your aura, without your conscious permission, by another person, group, or spirits. Read more here: The threat of Psychic Attacks

Why would anyone want to attack an animal? The most common reason would be to cause the owner of the pet to suffer. Many people, myself included, cherish their animal companions and make their happiness the top priority in life. It can upset our whole lives when our animal falls into a mysterious illness, a moody depression, or an energy-less state. 

If you are actively involved in the occult, someone may assume that your pet is your familiar and that attacking your pet psychically will indirectly harm you. 

How do we know if an animal is having troubles caused by psychic energy? 

They can’t simply tell us that they are feeling strangely so we have to watch for symptoms. The usual telltale signs are when the animal suddenly falls sick, doesn't eat, is listless, or moody. By moody I mean the animal not only doesn’t want to engage in their usually activities, but they also reject companionship with growls or hisses. The may also develop sudden phobias or flinch when touched by those they normally trust.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Any veterinarian would take the list of symptoms above and name off dozens of physical problems that could cause the very same reactions. It is very important not to put an animal’s health into danger by assuming that any of these symptoms are solely the work a psychic attack. No matter how strong your gut feeling is on the matter, play it safe and get a medical opinion first and foremost. If you spend even a day trying psychic techniques before you take the animal to the vet, you could be wasting crucial time that is needed to save your animal's life. 

Easy method to protect your pets
  • First off, in most cases it is best to break off all contact with the attacker if you know the person
  • Cleanse your home and pet(s) often
  • Visualize and create an energy shield around your pet(s)
  • Pet protection spell 
  • Use protective mantra or prayer on them 
  • Ask your deities, spirits, or ancestors to protect them. Hekate is a great protector of dogs, and Freya of cats.
  • Create a protective sigil for them
  • You can attach protective imagery/jewelry/crystals to their collars. Be careful here, some crystals can be toxic to them. Do your research first. 
  • Include them in your meditations
  • Do energy work (or reiki) on them.
  • Let them get some sunshine, and moonlight
  • Let them roam in nature or grass, if possible. They need grounding as well.
On October 4th, a procession of animals, everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony called the Blessing of Pets. This custom is conducted in remembrance of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. If this is your path, go for it.

What's your favorite method?


Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Oraculum, Napoleon Book Of Fate


The Oraculum had been originally discovered in one of the Royal tombs of Egypt during a French military expedition of 1801, and at Napoleon’s request was translated by a famous German scholar and antiquarian. Apparently consulting it “before every important occasion”, the book became one of the emperor’s most treasured possessions. It was found among his personal possessions after the defeat of his army at Leipzig in 1813 and translated into English in 1822.

Method to Consult Napoleon's Oracle

1. There are 16 questions covering almost everything one wishes to know about. Read the questions and select the one which expreses best your interest in the future.

 1.  Shall I obtain my wish?
 2.  Success in my undertakings?
 3.  Shall I gain or lose my cause?
 4.  Shall I live in foreign parts?
 5.  Will the stranger return?
 6.  Shall I recover my property?
 7.  Will my friend be true?
 8.  Shall I have to travel?
 9.  Does the person love me?
10.  Will the marriage be happy?
11.  What sort of a wife or husband?
12.  Will I have a son or daughter?
13.  Will the patient recover?
14.  Shall I speculate?
15.  Will I be lucky?
16.  What does my dream signify?

2. Make a series of marks like this * in four lines. You should do this without thinking about it. Let the pen be your guide. Add as many marks as desired in each line. When you finish this, your end result should look something like this:

************
*************
**************
***************

3. Now add up the number of marks made. In this example:

************         (12 marks)
*************        (13 marks)
**************      (14 marks)
***************     (15 marks)

4.  When the number of marks in any of the four lines exceeds 9, then only the extra marks are taken into account. So:

************         (12 marks become 3)
*************        (13 marks become 4)
**************      (14 marks become 5)
***************     (15 marks become 6)

5. A symbol is now obtained from the marks. This is done by marking the line containing an odd number with a single star ( * ) and a line containing an even number is marked with two stars ( ** ). Taking the above example, the symbol obtained from the marks is this:

************        (12 marks = 3) odd number             *
*************       (13 marks = 4)  even number         **
**************     (14 marks = 5)  odd number            *
***************    (15 marks = 6) even number          **

6. Now you are ready to consult the Oraculum. Look up the corresponding combination of dots, or symbol, on the top of Oraculum Table to find what letter corresponds with the number of the question asked. Once you got your letter you need to find that page and read the answer. 




Important:

a. It is forbidden to ask a question twice on the same day.
b. Again, do not ask the same question in a month.

The following are unlucky days, on which none of the questions should be asked, or any adventure undertaken: January 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 20; February 1, 17, 18; March 14, 16; April 10, 17, 18; May 7, 8; June 17; July 17, 21; August 20, 21; September 10, 18; October 6; November 6, 10; December 6, 11, 15.

You can find an online version by clicking (here). 
Or even better, you can get a nice copy of this book and take it everywhere, find it on the right bar of our site.

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Ancient Art of Hand Reading



“God caused signs or seals on the hands of all the sons of men, that the sons of men might know their works.” - Book of Job 

Palmistry, also called chiromancy or chirosophy, is the art or practice of telling fortunes and interpreting character from the lines and configurations of the palm of a person's hand.

The scholars of palmistry claim that the destiny of a person can be read very clearly from the lines of palm. Palmistry in that way can prove to be a mirror of the story of the life of an individual. 

It revolves around the study of various "lines" ("heart line", "life line", etc.), mounts, shape of palm, thumb and fingers. In some traditions, readers also examine characteristics of the fingerprints and palmar skin patterns (dermatoglyphics), skin texture and color, shape of the palm, and flexibility of the hand.

The basic framework for "Classical" palmistry (the most widely taught and practiced tradition) is rooted in Greek mythology. Each area of the palm and fingers is related to a god or goddess, and the features of that area indicate the nature of the corresponding aspect of the subject. For example, the ring finger is associated with the Greek god Apollo; characteristics of the ring finger are tied to the subject's dealings with art, music, aesthetics, fame, wealth, and harmony.

The origins of palmistry are uncertain. Some claim that the art of  palmistry originated in China or India.

The chiromantic art has been known in India, Nepal, China, Tibet, Persia, Sumeria, Babilonia, Palestine and Egypt, and it underwent significant development in ancient Greece.

Aristotle, in his “De Historia Animalium” described the practice and outlined his belief in the fact that the lines of the palm reflected aspects of the persons soul along with some observations on what the lines meant. This knowledge was passed to Alexander the Great who took the knowledge on board both in military and diplomatic fields.

During the Middle Ages the art of palmistry was actively suppressed by the Catholic Church as pagan superstition. In Renaissance magic, palmistry was classified as one of the seven "forbidden arts", along with necromancy, geomancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, hydromancy, and spatulamancy (scapulimancy).

While palmistry remained a little-known underground belief in Western Europe it continued to flourish further East, particularly among the Romany of Romania, Bulgaria and surrounding areas which were firstly under Byzantine rule and then Ottoman.

The practice of chiromancy is generally regarded as a pseudoscience. It should be noted that the information outlined below is briefly representative of modern palmistry; there are many, often conflicting, interpretations of various lines and palmar features across various "schools" of palmistry.

Although there is no scientific support for the contention that the physical features observed in palmistry have psychic or occult predictive meaning, the human hand does show evidence of the person’s health, cleanliness, and occupational and nervous habits (e.g., as evidenced by calluses or nail-biting). Hands are routinely examined in medical diagnosis and provide clues with which the palmist may often astound the unsophisticated.

Find our recommended book and kit on palmistry on the right bar of our blog.


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Thursday, October 24, 2019

Jinn: The Arab Spirits


Jinn: The Arab spirits who can eat, sleep, have sex, and die.

Arab poet Kuthayyir ‘Azzah of the Umayyad period (661–750) once described how he became a poet:

One day [...] a man on horseback came toward me until he was next to me. I looked at him. He was bizarre, a man made out of brass […]. He said to me, “Recite some poetry!” Then he recited poetry to me. I said: “Who are you?” He said, “I am your double from the jinn!”

That is how I started reciting poetry.

Jinn (often al-jinn or djinn) are shape-shifting spirits made of fire and air with origins in pre-Islamic Arabia. They are the inspiration for Aladdin’s genie, and have held space in Arab culture for almost as long as Arab culture itself. And yet, having transcended both religion and the physical world, so little is understood about the spirits.

Neither inherently good nor bad, Jinn are amorphous entities, able to take the shape of humans and animals alike. Their role in society, too, has been malleable: Jinn have served as a source of inspiration for both the most esteemed classical Arab poets in the first millenium and Disney in 1992 (jinni—aka genie—is the singular of jinn). Both before and after Islam’s introduction—which included mentions of jinn in the Qur’an—jinn have remained an inexplicable entity. “The orthodox scholars say you can’t understand jinn,” Arabic literature researcher Suneela Mubayi tells Broadly. Still, despite their mysterious nature, there are some things historians, Islamic scholars, and believers of jinn have come to discern about the spirits.

According to El-Zein, pagan Arabs (big believers in the occult) worshipped jinn long before Islam was introduced in the seventh century, believing that the spirits were masters of certain crafts and elements of nature who had the power to turn plots of land fertile. Jinn are believed to both interact with humans in our reality and lead their own lives in a separate realm. “As spiritual entities, the jinn are considered dual dimensional, with the ability to live and operate in both manifest and invisible domains,” El-Zein writes.

Jinn’s influence has been widespread both religiously and culturally in pre- and post-Islamic Arabia. They can talk or otherwise communicate with people, though some, like poets, are more likely than others to be hit up by a jinni. Ancient Arabs, known for their affinity for poetry, even coined the term sha’ir, meaning an Arabic literature poet who was “supernaturally inspired” by jinn, to designate poets like Kuthayyir ‘Azzah. “Poets in pre-Islamic Arabia often said they had a special jinni that was their companion,” says Mubayi. “Sometimes they would attribute their verses to the jinn."

In the early seventh century, when the Islamic Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) began spreading the word of the Qur’an, he shared multiple surahs, or verses, that mentioned jinn, including one named entirely after the spirits. 

Still, in both the past and present, stories of those possessed by jinn are not hard to find. Exorcisms, which can involve reciting the Qur’an over a person or, more rarely, physically beating the jinn out of them, are performed in some circles on those thought to be possessed by jinn (despite being condemned by mainstream Muslims). People who partake in the latter believe that the pain is not felt by the person who the jinni occupies, but the jinni themself. And while reading the Qur’an is a popular exorcism method, Jinn’s links to possession predate Islam. “The Arabs of pre-Islam invented a whole set of exorcism procedures to protect themselves from the evil actions of the jinn on their bodies and minds, such as the use of beads, incense, bones, salt, and charms written in Arabic, Hebrew, and Syriac, or the hanging around their necks of a dead animal’s teeth such as a fox or a cat to frighten the jinn, and keep them away,” writes El-Zein. In Arabic, the word majnun—meaning possessed, mad, or insane—literally means “to be possessed by a jinni.”

Despite stories of possession, Jinn are remarkable in their propensity towards neither good or evil. In Christianity, demons and evil spirits appear as entities carrying out Satan’s maleficent wishes, but neutral spirits like the jinn have no place. El-Zain believes that jinn have been robbed of the scholarly devotion they deserve, in part because they complicate the narrative of monotheism, what it means to believe in “the existence of intelligent spiritual entities without necessarily demonizing them.” Jinn—different than both angels and the devil—oscillate between good and evil, making them all the more relatable. They can be pious, they can help us, or they can hurt us, as shown in folktales from One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known in English as Arabian Nights). In one of these tales, “The Fisherman and the Jinni”—the inspiration for Disney’s Aladdin—a fisherman pulls a bottle out of the sea. When he opens it, a jinni appears. Angry to have been trapped in the bottle for centuries, the jinni tells the fisherman their plan to kill him. But after the two exchange stories, the jinni changes their mind, instead bestowing the fisherman with a life of good fortune.

Fluid in form and interpretation, jinn not only possess and converse with us, but they can also fall in love (or in bed) with humans. Pre-Islamic poet Ta’abbata Sharran once wrote about sleeping with a jinniyah (feminine form of jinn) in a poem called “How I Met the Ghul”.

According to El-Zein, the ability or desire to have sex isn’t all jinn have in common with humans. Like us, “jinn eat, drink, sleep, procreate and die,” she says, though their mortal lives can extend for thousands of years. And yet, while we can relate to the spirits on many levels, the consensus remains that we cannot fully comprehend jinn—though we can try.

Via: vice.com



Thursday, September 19, 2019

Helhest: The Three-legged Horse of Hel Queen of the Dead


It seems like everyone in Norse mythology had for themselves a type of animal that could carry them everywhere in Nine Worlds. 

The Queen of the Dead, Hel, who was also the daughter of Loki, had for herself a three-legged horse.

The horse was named as Helhest. While the horse Sleipnir of Odin had eight legs, Helhest of Hel had only three legs. “Helhest” simply means “Horse of Hel”.

One cool thing is that the horse of Hel appeared in many of the 19th Danish phrases. For example, “han gÃ¥r som en helhest” means “He walks like the horse of Hel” depicting abnormal footsteps of the man.

In the folklore, Helhest carries Hel along anywhere in Midgard to fetch the dead.

Many people might question why Helhest had only three legs. This is usually explained that he was the ghost of sacrifice from the burial grave. It was a bad luck to be the first to be buried under the grave. So people would cut off a leg of the horse so that it could not escape.


Also read: Hel, Norse Goddess of the Underworld

Thursday, September 5, 2019

“Skeleton Flowers” become transparent when it rains


Say hello to the Skeleton Flower, a white woodland blossom whose petals turn crystal clear when they make contact with water.

Diphylleia grayi, the scientific name of the transparent flower, can be found in only three parts of the world. The plant grows on moist, wooded mountainsides in colder regions of Japan, China and the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, and is instantly recognizable by the rare flowers’ large, umbrella-like leaves. 

Skeleton flowers are unique flowers which turn translucent upon exposure to water and rain. Its white petals become completely clear, then transform back to their original milky white color once dry. The fading of the color in the petals when wet happens because of a loose cell structure present in the white flowers and not due to the pigment being washed out. 

After pollination, the flowers turn into blueberries.



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Sunday, August 25, 2019

Emerald in Ancient Lore and Legend


Emerald has been a source of fascination and reverence in many cultures for over six thousand years, sold in the markets of Babylon as early as 4,000 B.C. It was a stone worshipped by the Incas, believed by the Chaldeans to contain a goddess, and was highly honored in all major religions for its spiritual power and beauty. Emerald was considered a symbol of eternal life in ancient Egypt, a gift of Thoth, the god of wisdom, and was a favorite jewel of Queen Cleopatra. The Emerald mines in Upper Egypt, rediscovered a hundred years ago, are some of the oldest in the world and were called Cleopatra’s mines for her love of the stone. Emeralds were also talismans of Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, and the moguls of India. They’ve adorned the crowns and royal jewels of many countries for centuries, and fabulous collections and stunning gems continue to be treasured and displayed by the rich and famous today.

According to Indian lore, the name Emerald was first translated from Sanskrit as Marakata, meaning “the green of growing things.” The term we use today is believed to derive from an ancient Persian word that translated to the Greek as Smaragdus, meaning “green stone,” the term used in antiquity and referred to a number of other green stones. Over time the Old French or Vulgar Latin versions, Esmeraulde, Esmaralda or Esmaraldus became the current name, Emerald. 

St. Hildegard of Bingen, the noted lithologist, declared, “All the green of nature is concentrated within the Emerald.” 

Called the “Stone of Successful Love,” Emerald opens and nurtures the heart and the Heart Chakra. Its soothing energy provides healing to all levels of the being, bringing freshness and vitality to the spirit. A stone of inspiration and infinite patience, it embodies unity, compassion and unconditional love. Emerald promotes friendship, balance between partners, and is particularly known for providing domestic bliss, contentment and loyalty. 

In ancient Rome, it was attributed to Venus.

Emerald honors he Hindu Goddess Annapurna. 

Emerald honors Astarte, the Phoenician Goddess of Fertility, Love and War. She is known in many cultures by different names and is said to be the Queen of the Stars. She helps with troubled love, and keeps lovers faithful to each other.

Emerald also honors the three Celtic Goddesses of Sovereignty - Banbha, Eriu and Fodla. They provide protection, leadership and inspiration to anyone defending their faith, their homeland, or their way of life.

Green crystals honor Persephone, the Greek Goddess of Spring. She represesents celebration and the Earth alive with new growth.

Emerald has been the constant green stone throughout the ages, representing youth in the age of man. In ancient times green was used for those who died in the flower of youth, and sometimes an Emerald was placed upon the index finger of the corpse as a sign the light of hope was spent. 


In ancient Egypt, Emeralds were considered a symbol of eternal life.  It was believed to be the gift of Thoth.

The first-century Egyptian magician, Hermes Trismegistos, was said to carve on a pure Emerald tablet words that held the key to magic: “As above, so below.” For this reason Emeralds have always been considered a magical stone, connecting cosmic and Earthly realms, and for bringing thoughts and desires into reality. 

Hermetic tradition also maintained that an emerald fell from Lucifer’s forehead during his fall. 

As a revealer of truth, Emerald also held the power to protect one from enchantments, conjurations and spells. 

It was considered a gemstone of universal sight, strengthening memory, increasing intelligence, and giving the wearer the ability to foretell the future, especially if put on the tongue or worn on the left side of the body. 

In its prophecy, according to legend, the Emerald would even hurl itself from its mounting or change hues in order to forewarn of impending danger or illness. 

During the Middle Ages it was a symbol of fidelity, reputed to reveal the truth or falsity of a lover’s oath.

Inherent in a fine Emerald is the power to assist one in becoming an eloquent speaker. Aristotle, a great fan of the gem, wrote that owning an Emerald increases the owner’s importance in presence and speech during business, gives victory in trials, and helps settle litigation. 

The Emerald of old was believed to be born white within the mines then ripen to its mature perfect meadow-green, first assuming its verdancy in the part nearest to the rising sun. However, gathering these ripened gems may have given pause. Many Emerald mines were, and are still, famously steeped in superstitions and fear, believed to be the abode of demons or wicked spirits who guard the treasures within the mines and who would resent and retaliate for any intrusion. 

Association of Emerald with sight and the eyes has been reported by many civilizations throughout time, both for its soothing quality and the belief it cured diseases of the eyes. Egyptians of the High Empire used it to enhance vision, and the Greeks and Romans stuck small Emeralds in the corners of the eyes of those nearsighted or farsighted. Light, transparent Emeralds were polished and used as a magnifying glass, and developed into the very first eyeglasses. The Emperor Nero was well-known for observing the feats of gladiators through an eyeglass of Emerald. 

In antiquity,  Emerald was considered an antidote for poison, venomous bites, and taken as an elixir, cured all fluxes, especially dysentery. 

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed Emerald to be controlled by the planet Venus, with its reproductive energies of life and nature. In the East, however, Emerald was often ascribed to Mercury, for its wisdom and eloquence. Some claimed Jupiter to be its influence. 

In Central America, the stone was associated with rain and blood and all the symbols of the lunar cycle. It was regarded as a token of fertility. The Aztecs associated the emerald with the bird quetzal, symbol of the renewal of spring, and the stone was thereby linked with the East and with everything connected with the worship of Quetzalcoatl.

In Jewish history, Emerald is listed in Exodus as the fourth stone in the Breastplate of the High Priest, though original manuscripts translate the smaragdus, Emerald, as being the Bareketh, the third stone, engraved with the tribe of Levi. Legend also relates Emerald as one of four precious stones given by God to King Solomon, endowing him with power over all creation. 

In the Apocalypse of St John, God appears surrounded by a rainbow “in sight like unto an emerald”.
  
In the Christian middle ages, certain Egyptian and Etruscan beliefs survived (such as the stone placed on the tongue enabling one to converse with evil spirits). Thus the emerald was the jewel of clairvoyance.

The emerald is also the Papal jewel. 

A text from the 1600s, the Magick of Kiram, is said to be sought after by the learned but seen by few, and kept in the Vatican in Rome, instructs one to carve upon a Smaragdus (Emerald or other precious green stone) a Bird Harpe, with a Sea Lamprey under its feet. When worn, it protects against disturbance, dreams, and stupidity, and gives rest to lunatics and those afflicted with colic. 

The famous “San Graal” of King Arthur’s time was reputed to be a miraculous chalice made of a single precious Emerald, sent from Heaven and endowed with the power of preserving chastity, prolonging life, and other wonders. This chalice was believed to have been brought directly from the hands of God by angels, and was the actual cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper. 

At the time of the Spanish Conquest, an immense Emerald the size of an ostrich egg was adored by the Peruvians in the city of Manta. This “Emerald goddess”, named Umiña, was only displayed on high feast days, when the Indians flocked to the shrine bringing gifts to the goddess. Less than scrupulous priests especially recommended donation of Emeralds, saying these were the daughters of the goddess, who would be pleased to see her offspring. The immense horde of these precious gems, however, fell into the hands of Pedro de Alvarado, Garcilasso de la Vega, and their companions during the conquest of Peru. Only the mother Emerald survived, being so cleverly concealed by the priests of the shrine that the Spaniards never succeeded in gaining possession of it.

Legend claims Herman Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, tried to return home with huge chunks of Emerald that he took from the Aztecs. However, one of his ships became shipwrecked, losing forever, rare and delicately carved Emeralds in the shape of flowers and fish, and one particularly large Emerald the size of a man’s hand. 

The Emerald is the seasonal gem of spring, traditionally given on the occasion of a 55th wedding anniversary. Today the American Gem Trade Association lists it as the stone for a 20th anniversary.


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Saturday, August 24, 2019

The dance of the serpents (kundalini)


Hermes, the messenger god on Mount Olympus, had a magic wand called a Caduceus, which was given to him by Apollo. The Caduceus is a rod or staff framed by two intertwined snakes; at the top of the staff are two wings. 
     
The Caduceus symbolizes the spinal column, the central conduit for the Psychic Force, or nerve energy, which animates all the organs and members of the body. The places where the snakes cross represent the spinal energy centers or chakras of the subtle body.

The two snakes represent the two complementary halves of the nervous system: motor and sensory, sympathetic and parasympathetic. For optimal functioning of the nervous system, these complementary halves must be balanced.

Hermes, also called Mercury by the Romans, is sometimes pictured as a hermaphrodite, or a person who is half male and half female. So it is with the nervous system; it is neither emissive/masculine/Yang, nor is it receptive/feminine/Yin, because it incorporates both principles, or polarities.

The essence of the nervous system is communication, and Hermes, or Mercury, is the god of communication, transportation, and commerce. Greek mythology also depicts Hermes as a clever trickster, sent out on missions by Zeus and other Olympian gods to do their dirty work. And so, Hermes symbolizes the Mercurial adaptability of the mind, which must survive by living by its wits and ingenuity.

Esoterically speaking, the two intertwining snakes of the Caduceus symbolize the lunar Ida and solar Pingala channels of yogic philosophy, which must be cleared and balanced in order for the kundalini energy, or serpent power, to ascend from the base of the spine to the crown, producing enlightenment. In the Western esoteric tradition, this is called the Alchemical Marriage.

Snakes also have a profound symbolic significance in science, medicine and healing. The snake, which periodically molts, or sheds its skin, is a symbol of healing, regeneration and renewal. In ancient Greece snakes, which move about without any visible means of support or locomotion, were considered to be the wisest and cleverest of all animals.

Asclepius' staff has only one snake entwined around it, which symbolizes healing, regeneration, and the consummate skill of the medical art. Hermes' Caduceus has two intertwined snakes, which, in addition to all the above, also represent the need for balance, or homeostasis, for optimum health maintenance and disease prevention.

It seems as if snakes were also solar symbols. Apollo, who gave the Caduceus to Hermes, is often pictured with snakes. And the staff of Asclepius, son of Apollo, has a snake entwined around it. The sun, as the source of all Life and energy in our universe, is deeply connected with healing and the expression of vitality and wellbeing in general.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Energy Transmutation and the Way of the Tao


In the Taoist Tradition sexuality and spirituality are bound together, as the Taoists focus on harmonizing mind, body and spirit.  Spiritual development requires a balance of physical health and mental clarity, and our sexuality plays an important role in that.

Sex is natural and we are sexual beings – women, born with hundreds of eggs, they have the capacity to generate hundreds of lives! (And man with a single ejaculation could repopulate North America!).  The Taoist believes that if we were not to use this energy to create life itself, we can use it to enhance our own life. 

In this light sexuality is beyond sex, being the most powerful energy of creation, the expression of our creativity, that can be used for pleasure, healing, to cultivate health, rejuvenation, longevity; to attain goals, to realise dreams, and ultimately, to connect with the Divine, the universal source or ‘Re-Union with the Tao.’ In other words, by using the sexual energy for spiritual development, we come by ‘the short path to enlightenment’.

Taoism is the foundation of Chinese philosophy and medicine. It is a comprehensive physical and spiritual system that helps individuals to reach their highest potentials. It is perhaps best known in this country as the basis for traditional Chinese medicine, which includes acupuncture, herbal therapy, nutrition, massage, the energetic meditation called Chi Kung, and the martial art called Tai Chi Chuan. The Universal Tao system was developed by Mantak Chia to teach Taoist meditative and exercise techniques to balance the body and increase and refine one's vital energy, or chi. The sexual practice, or Healing Love, is an essential part of this system.

"Chi," the Chinese word for life energy, is the force within our bodies and within the universe that engenders life. The word itself has many translations, such as energy, air, breath, wind, or vital essence. There are 49 cultures around the world that understand the concept of chi in one form or another; examples include Ki (Japanese), Prana (Sanskrit), Lung (Tibetan), Neyatoneyah (Lakota Sioux), Num (Kalahari Kung), and Ruach (Hebrew).

"Western culture" and allopathic medicine, often called Western or conventional medicine, is one of the few cultures that does not have a similar concept, although it recognizes the role of energy at the molecular level. Western medicine is extremely effective for treating acute disease and traumatic injuries. However, some believe that it is, in part, the absence of this concept of "life force" that limits its effectiveness in treating chronic illnesses. Western medicine is just beginning to recognize what the Taoists have known for more than 2,000 years, that directing the flow of our life force, our chi can improve our health and vitality.

You can learn to use your concentration and your breath to activate and move your energy; this practice is called Chi Kung. It involves both concentration exercises and simple movements to facilitate the flow of chi. Used throughout China and now widely practiced in the United States, Chi Kung is an ancient and effective practice for many health issues. 

Once you become aware of your chi, you'll find that it's rather easy to notice and feel it. Try this simple exercise. Briskly rub your palms together until you produce heat. Now slowly separate your palms until they are about an inch apart. You should feel a "cushion" of air between them that may feel like pressure, heat, or tingling. This sensation is the chi passing between your hands.

In all traditions meditative practices calm and focus the mind. The Healing Tao meditative practices do this by focusing on the movement of chi. The basic practice is based on circulating chi through a body circuit called the Microcosmic Orbit, which is like an energy superhighway in the body. The Microcosmic Orbit runs from your tailbone up your spine to your brain (the Back Channel) and then returns down the front of your body in the midline (the Front Channel). By using the focus of your mind, you can direct the chi up the spine as you breathe in and let it "fall" down the Front Channel to your abdomen as you breathe out.

The Taoist masters advocate for men not to ejaculate. Now, for all those men groaning out there, this doesn’t mean the end of your sex life, in fact your sex life can be greatly improved. There is no end to lovemaking when the sperm is not expelled, and you can become multi-orgasmic. This practice also ensures a blissful experience for your partner. 

This sexual kung fu takes time and practice to learn, but has a tremendous impact on your health, sexual expression and life force. 

Mantak Chia is a master practitioner, and was taught the sacred ancient Tantric practices by a Taoist Master. According to Mantak Chia, the primary purpose of conducting sexual practices is to save and transform sexual energy into more refined energy (transmuting Jing into Chi).  In the genuine Taoist thought, however, this is only possible if the sexual essence is spiritually guided and purified by the heart, only then can its virtue transform into Chi. That’s why the Taoists who want to achieve true inner cultivation only practice sexual methods with utmost care, love and respect towards their sexual partner. If you’re playing solo, you can also cultivate your sexual awareness and energy. 

The Taoist sexual practices help rejuvenate the body by managing the seed essences of sperm and the ovaries that control hormone and blood quality. this reduces loss or waste of sexual energy.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

5 Tibetan Energy Rejuvenation Rites


The five Tibetans are a unique sequence of yoga poses reputed to be the key to longevity. According to legend, the sequence was created by Tibetan monks in a Himalayan monastery and then brought into the world by British Army Colonel Bradford. The colonel was amazed by the monks' vitality and superior health. They credited their religious observances, simple diet and the five Tibetans.


1. Whirling Dervish

The first of the five Tibetans is a standing exercise. To perform this exercise, stand up straight with your arms held out to your sides at shoulder height. Spin to the right and keep looking forward. Let your vision blur as you spin. Breathe deeply into your abdomen. Slowly work up to 21 spins.

2. Tibetan leg lifts

The second of the five Tibetans is similar to an abdominal exercise called leg lifts. To begin, lie on your back with your legs straight and your arms at your sides. Touch your legs together. Inhale as you lift your legs until they are perpendicular with the floor. Raise your head off the floor at the same time, bringing your chin toward your chest. Exhale as you lower your head and legs back to the floor. Work up to 21 leg raises.

3. Moving through camel pose

The third of the five Tibetans promotes flexibility of the spine and gently stretches the back, chest, abdomen and neck. The exercise is similar to camel pose used in other styles of yoga but is a less extreme back bend.

To perform the exercise, kneel on the floor and relax your arms against your sides. Your back is straight with your hips, shoulders and knees in line. First, exhale and bend your chin toward your chest. Then, inhale as you bend your head back to look up and you gently arch your lower back. Slide your hands up to your lower back as you bend backwards. Repeat up to 21 times.

4. Staff to upward plank pose

The fourth exercise combines two popular yoga postures, the staff pose and a variation of upward plank pose. The exercise strengthens the wrists, arms, core and legs.

To begin, sit with your legs together and straight in front of you. Place your hands on the floor next to your buttocks with your fingers pointing forward and flex your feet toward your shins. This is staff pose. Inhale as you bend your knees and raise your hips off the floor. Lift up until your spine is parallel to the floor and your knees are in line with your ankles. Look at the ceiling. Exhale as you lower back into staff pose. Perform up to 21 repetitions.

5. Down dog to cobra pose

The fifth exercise moves from downward-facing dog pose to cobra. The Tibetan exercise strengthens the arms, shoulders and chest while also stretching the abdomen, shoulders and legs.

To begin, assume push-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart. Inhale and press your hips up toward the ceiling. Your arms and legs are straight. Push your heels down and align your neck with your spine. This is down dog. Exhale as you lower your hips and arch your back. Lift your chest to face forward as you tilt your head to look up. Your hips are inches from the floor and your arms are straight. Perform up to 21 reps.

Starting off the day with the five Tibetans provides energy and increases alertness. The sequence can also provide a burst of energy in the afternoon or evening, when many people's energy levels drop.


Also read: The Swimming Dragon: Qigong exercise for beauty, health, and high energy

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Best moon quotes to inspire you


“The Moon is the first milestone on the road to the stars.“
—Arthur C. Clarke

"I always look up at the moon and see it as the single most romantic place within the cosmos." 
—Tom Hanks

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon who could not be happy?" 
—Oscar Wilde

"I will never be a morning person, for the moon and I are much too in love." 
—Christopher Poindexter

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator."
― Mahatma Gandhi


"The moon puts on an elegant show, different every time in shape, colour and nuance."
―Arthur Smith

“The full moon – the mandala of the sky.”
― Tom Robbins

“I like to think that the moon is there even if I am not looking at it.“
― Albert Einstein

“The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to.“
― Carl Sandburg

“And if you’re ever feeling lonely just look at the moon.
Someone, somewhere is looking right at it too."

 "Always remember we are under the same sky, looking at the same moon." 
—Maxine Lee


"The moon looks upon many night flowers; the night flowers see but one moon."
—Jean Ingelow

"The Sun, Moon and Stars are there to guide us."
―Dennis Banks

“The moon is magic for the soul and light for the senses.”

“Under the full moon she had never felt crazy. She had only ever felt connected.” 
—C. Churchill

"I'm as old as the moon and the stars, and as young as the trees and the lakes." 
—Afrika Bambaataa

"Our great symbol for the Goddess is the moon, whose three aspects reflect the three stages in women's lives and whose cycles of waxing and waning coincide with women's menstrual cycles."
—Carol P. Christ


"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
― Buddha

"The sun watches what I do, but the moon knows all my secrets”
―J.M. Wonderland 

“She was like the moon… part of her was always hidden."

“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” 
― Mark Twain

“We are all like the bright moon, we still have our darker side.” 
― Khalil Gibran

“The moon is a reminder that no matter what phase I am in, I’m still whole"


“And if you are to love, love as the moon loves; it does not steal the night it only unveils the beauty of the dark.”
― Isra al-thibeh

"The sun loves the moon so much that he dies every night to let her breathe, and in return, she reflects his love." 
―Jeffrey Fry

"Everyone wants to be someone’s sun to light up someone’s life, but why not be someone’s moon to brighten in the darkest hour."

“Just like the moon, half of my heart will always love the dark."

And the moon said to me - my darling daughter, you do not have to be whole in order to shine.
―Nichole McElhaney


"I am a dreamer, of both beautiful and dark things. Like the moon, full of sun and beloved shadows.”
— Cassandra Martin

"She and the moon could always be found playing in the darkness." 
—A.J. Lawless

"She is lost under the spell of the moon again and doesn't want to be found”
—Daniel Mercury

— "The moon will guide you through the night with her brightness, but she will always dwell in the darkness, in order to be seen." ―Shannon L. Alder

“The moon stays bright when it doesn’t avoid the night…”
― Rumi



Also read:

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Snapdragon flower seed pod looks like a human skull


Meet the Snapdragon flower seed pod which bears the stark appearance of a human skull (or a human face screaming in agony).

The Snapdragon flower (aka Antirrhinum or dragon flower) can be found in many household gardens and gets its name from its flower which resembles a dragon’s head (squeeze the snapdragon flower and the “dragon” mouth will open and close making it “talk”). Yet once the flower has died it leaves behind a seed pod with the macabre appearance of a human head.


The Snapdragons name (Antirrhinum) comes from the Greek words “anti,” meaning like, and “rhin,” meaning nose.  Many years ago, people thought the plant possessed mystical powers and would place them around their homes to shield the house from curses and witches. In Victorian days, the flower was a symbol of deception, suspicion, and mystery. Legend has it that concealing a snapdragon in your clothes makes a person appear fascinating, gracious, and cordial.  Today they are a favorite in gardens around Europe, United States, and North Africa because, well, they look like dragon heads!

If you are itching to grow one, know that they are cold-season plants that do best in the sunlight. You can plant them right before the spring season starts. Keep them well watered for the first few weeks and after that, give them about 1 inch of water every week. When grown, they stand from 6 inches up to 3 feet tall. When dead they’ll leave behind the creepy tokens you can collect for display.