All photos are original to myself, copywrite, Nichole Peacher. Feel free to share and use, with credit off course. NAMASTE
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Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity. This sādhanā (practice) is known in Sanskrit as japa. Malas are typically made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads. In Tibetan Buddhism, malas of 108 beads are used.
Hold your mala in your right hand, draped between your middle and index fingers. Starting at the guru bead, use your thumb to count each smaller bead, pulling it toward you as you recite your mantra. Do this 108 times, traveling around the mala, until you once again reach the guru bead. There are many theories behind the significance of the number 108, which has long been considered a sacred number in Hinduism. In my research and learnings, I have been taught that the number 1 stands for God, the universe or your own highest truth; 0 stands for emptiness and humility in spiritual practice; and 8 stands for infinity and timelessness. How do I choose the right Male for my journey? I think the most important element in choosing your mala is connecting it to the intention(s) that you are looking to manifest. Your intention is personal to your journey and only you can decide the goals you are working to accomplish. You may be looking to attract more abundance, find a soul mate or live a more calm and balanced life. Ask yourself questions like: What do I want to create in my life? What am I working on professionally, emotionally or spiritually? What am I struggling with or challenged by? If you aren’t clear on your intention, these questions should help guide you. You can choose a Mala based on the gemstones and their special meanings. Mala beads are made with semi-precious gemstones and crystals that each have their own individual vibrations. So if your intention is to find more love, that aligns to an energy of a specific gemstone, you would choose a Rose quartz and Green Aventurine Mala. There are so many possibilities with intentions and gemstones. When this energy aligns with your intention it amplifies and supports you in manifesting your desires! Can I wear my Mala? YES!!!! There is real power in physically wearing your intention. It makes your goal(s) feel tangible at every moment. Each time you catch a glimpse of your mala, feel its weight on your chest, or absentmindedly play with it, you are reminded to stay focused on your chosen path and connect with your intention. My Mala is made with Andradite Garnet (keeping my grounded as I work at becoming my truest self)) and African Turquoise which I choose because they govern my intuition and foresight, My Third Eye Chakra
BODY
Yoga Reduces Pain Reduces Heart Risks Boosts Immune System Lowers Blood Pressure Eases Inflammation MIND Increases Grey Matter Cultivates Will Power Builds Focus and Concentration Boosts Cognitive Function Builds Self Knowledge Helps Relationship Satisfaction Increases Compassion and Empathy BODY&MIND Improves Depression Physically Changes the Brain MIND & SPIRIT Reduces Loneliness Cuts emotional Reactivity BODY & SPIRIT Fosters a Positive Self Image BODY, MIND & SPIRIT Eases Stress and Anxiety Promotes Better Sleep When our Root Chakra is UNBALANCED we are ungrounded and unfocused. We feel insecure, unsafe and unpredictable. We may feel angry, and are quick to react negatively. We may feel disconnected with friends, family or lovers. Fear and anxiety may rule the day! This unbalancing may manifest itself in lower back pain and/or an unhealthy body image. In addition, an overabundance of this Chakra, living egotistically, being too confident, having excess energy may lead to an unbalance as well. It may also lead to overeating, food addictions and cravings. (You can also be underweight when this Chakra is unbalanced). It is important to work on this Chakra first as it is here that the basic survival needs are being met; food, shelter, physical and emotional safety. So what can we do when our ROOT CHAKRA is out of wack? 1. The Root Chakra is represented with the color red, so wearing or focusing on RED will bring your mind back to its awareness. Every time you see the color, take a deep breath, and imagine this red ball of energy rotating at the base of your spine, flowing down your legs to your feet, grounding you to the EARTH. 2. Get back to nature and take a walk, being mindful of your breath, your breathing. Sit in the Lotus position and meditate. Reset to nothingness and just be. Gently push all thoughts away and think about breathing, and think about grounding yourself to the EARTH, the element of the ROOT CHAKRA. 3. Becoming less "Reactive" takes a lot of practice. Before you do this it is important to understand and accept where your negative emotions come from, and from when they occurred. Practice being proactive instead of reactive. Practice listening to "listen" and not to react. 4. Sex, a base biological need, will help reset your Root Chakra. Your body is seeking an outlet for excess sexual energy. Any kind of physical activity will do...Yoga, Asanas. Try the yoga pose legs up the wall or any other grounding yoga pose like mountain, elephant, downward dog, warrior I and II, and standing wide-leg forward bend. Exercise in any form will also help create that positive body image you need to be balanced in this Chakra. 5. Try earthy Essential Oils like patchouli, cedarwood, sandalwood, thieves, and/or frankincense to heal and balance your root chakra. 6. Play in the dirt and plant a garden. Or eat your root veggies. These include berries, red peppers beans, potatoes, rainbow chard, beets. 7. Don't forget your ROOT CHAKRA AFFIRMATIONS, previously posted on this blog! Once you have BALANCED your Root Chakra you will feel safe and secure. You will feel grounded and act with confidence. You will feel positive and have good energy. Your anxiety and fear abate and your mood stabalizes. You will trust more in the decisions you have to make as well as the relationships you are building with others. Caring for your body is paramount in this Chakra to provide a positive self image, as doing so will help you balance the other Chakras. NAMASTE I am deeply rooted
I am here and I matter I trust in myself and others I am connected to my body I love and trust in my body's ability to heal and support me I am strong and grounded I am supported I am safe and secure I am abundant I am connected to the Earth I am exactly where I belong I always have what I need I am grateful for everything I release fear I love life The first thing to keep in mind is that the results of a tattoo are variable depending upon your individual skin chemistry and the quality of the henna you are using. However there are several guidelines you can follow: 1. Location of tattoo. Here's how henna basically works: There is a dye molecule in the leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis). When you apply the paste, the dye molecule migrate from the henna plant mixture to the top layers of your skin (which all happen to be layers of dead skin cells). Your skin composition is different across your body, so if you want your tattoo to last longer, choose areas that have thicker skin such as the palms of your hand and soles of your feet. Tattoos on other places such as arms, legs, stomach, back will fade faster because the skin is thinner. 2. Tattoo duration. As a rule of thumb: the longer you leave on the henna paste, the longer your tattoo will last. You will generally be advised to leave it on overnight. HOWEVER, not only is that inconvenient it also varies based on the quality of henna. 3. Magic Mixtures. Once you have applied the henna paste, you want to wait until it is dry at least 90% and "crackly" looking. At that point you have 2 options: Sugar Water or Lemon Juice. Get yourself one of these liquids in a bowl (you don't need both*) and gently dab (don't wipe) it onto your paste tattoo with a cotton ball. Then wait until dry. You can do several applications if you want. I personally find that the more I apply the mixture, the darker the tattoo becomes and the longer it stays. *I actually do use both. 4. Avoid Water like the Plague. Once your paste tattoo is finally dry and you are ready to take it off - DO NOT WASH OFF THE PASTE WITH WATER. Water stops the dyeing/reddening process and your tattoo will fade sooner. Instead crumble it off with the assistance of a napkin or rougher object . Also, after removal, try to avoid getting water on the tattoo area for as long as possible (at least a couple hours). The chemical reaction is occurring even after you take off the paste. 5. Coconut Oil. Once you've removed the paste, rub some coconut oil on the tattoo area. The moisturizing will help. 6. No Exfoliating & NO Hot Water. You'll want to avoid it wherever on your body your tattoo is. Since the dye of the tattoo resides in dead skin cells and exfoliating removes dead skin cells, exfoliating = you rubbing off your beautiful tattoo. Also try to avoid prolonged exposure of your tattoo to hot water. 7. I use terp! What is a terp? Terp is a slang term, used by henna artists to refer to the terpenes in an essential oil that help to boost henna's staining ability. The oils that appear to have the most effect are Tea Tree and Franincense. Oils like Rosemary, Geranium and Lavender have lesser effect, but also help make the fragrance really enjoyable. I have been using Eucalyptus Oil, but have been experimenting with Tea Tree and Lavender. Want to learn yoga?If you have been inspired to take up yoga you are not alone. There are hundreds of blogs, pins, articles and videos about yoga. But which one is right for you? Let's look at 5 of the most popular. Hatha YogaHatha is a Sanskrit word that means force. It usually includes the physical aspects of the practice. It is the mother of all the yoga practices. All the other subgroups fall under this category. The Hatha Yoga class is usually a slow-paced one and does not follow a flow. This class is perfect for beginners as it gently introduces you to yoga. This class is all about basics. It teaches you how to breathe; it teaches you the postures, meditation and relaxation techniques as well. If you are new to yoga, you should probably enroll yourself in a Hatha Yoga class to begin with. Vinyasa YogaThis style of yoga requires you to coordinate your breath with movement, and emphasizes on creating a flow of postures, with smooth transitions from one to the next. Vinyasa literally means connection. In this yoga you connect your movements with an inhale, or an exhale. This class is based on the teacher’s creativity, and it does not have a hard and fast structure. Sometimes, spirituality is incorporated in these practices, with a dash of meditation and chanting. Other instructors believe in keeping it athletic. You can pick whatever interests you when you enroll yourselves in this class. This category can be slow and gentle or fast and intense, depending on your level. As a beginner, you should look for a slower class initially, and then graduate to a fast-paced one. Kundalini YogaThis form of yoga finds its roots in the Chakras. It focuses on core work and breath, i.e. pranayama. It aims at opening up the mind and making you more aware of your mind and body. Chanting, meditation, mudras, and breathing form the core of this style of yoga. This class tends to be physically demanding. It is also mentally challenging. But once you get into the groove, Kundalini Yoga is sure to change your life. Bikram YogaThis style of yoga is Hot-Hot-Hot! If you try this, you are sure to sweat it out. Bikram Yoga is usually one in a room that is heated to 40 degrees centigrade (104 F), with 40% humidity. The idea is to sweat it out. It branches out from the Vinyasa style. So, in a Bikram Yoga class, you will essentially practice the asana in coordination with your breath. The founder, Bikram Choudhury, formulated a sequence of 26 postures, with the belief that it systematically challenges each and every part of the body, be it the muscles, veins, ligaments, or the organs. Anusara YogaThis style of yoga is extremely upbeat and is the most spiritual of all the yoga techniques. It is epitomized by “the celebration of the heart.” It is a relatively new form of yoga, started in 1997 by John Friend. It focuses on seeking the light within yourself.
If you are new to yoga and are up for some real soul-searching, this is something you must try. This style uses breathing and alignment, and to get them right, you will also use a whole lot of props. |
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