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12 Habits That Harm Your Immune System

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habits-that-harm-immune-system-health
Avoid habits that can harm or weaken your immune system. A Shutterstock Licensed Image

What does your immune system do?

Your immune system is an expansive, complicated network of organs, tissues, and cells that work together to fight harmful germs and other invasive antigens that can make you sick. 

It’s your immune system’s job to protect you, but it can only do so effectively when it’s healthy. There are plenty of ways to protect against viruses and strengthen immune responses, such as introducing probiotics and antiviral herbs to your diet. 

We can also cause damage and weaken the body’s defense if we expose our body to unhealthy life and eating habits. Being more mindful of how we treat our bodies can lead to less sickness and increased longevity. 

So what are you currently doing that interferes with normal immune system activity? Here are some of the more common reasons our immune system might be out of balance.

1. Excessive Amounts of Sugar

We’ll start with an easy one. If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard “sugar is bad for you!” hundreds of times in your life. People are quick to point out that it can lead to diabetes and obesity, but the truth is that it can also reduce your immune system’s defense.

Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are the immune system cells that fight all kinds of foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. So it’s scary to think that your immune system could be ineffective for any amount of time–but that’s exactly what a study conducted by Loma Linda University found could happen. They found that with as little at 100 grams of sugar (roughly equivalent to a liter of soda) your immune system could be 10-50% less effective at fighting off invaders. For up to 5 hours after ingesting it! 

In that time it would be so much easier for a virus to slip by and get you sick. And to make matters worse, sugar competes with another vital component of your white blood cells–Vitamin C. 

Vitamin C in these cells are necessary for the destruction of bacteria and viruses. However, it shares a similar chemical structure with sugar, so they end up competing for space in your immune cells. More sugar means less Vitamin C, leading to a crippled immune system. 

2. Cigarettes & Marijuana

When your immune system isn’t working at its best, you’re more likely to get sick,  suffer more severe symptoms, and have longer-lasting illnesses

Smoking can throw your immune system out of balance. Along with all of the other health risks associated with smoking, nicotine is a known immunosuppressive. Just like sugar, it inhibits your body’s ability to fight off microscopic pests. It also reduces antioxidant levels in your blood.  

Marijuana alters immune cells found in your blood. The question around whether or not this change is beneficial or harmful is still being debated, but animal studies show marijuana suppresses inflammation and immune system function. If this is the same for humans, all of the issues surrounding poor immune health we discussed before could start to affect you. 

3. Caffeine

You may be surprised to find out that when consumed in moderation, caffeine helps to regulate the immune system. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent disease and cancers. 

But don’t go reaching for that guilt-free soda quite yet. 

If you drink caffeine in excess, it will have an opposite, harmful effect on your immune system. How do you know what qualifies as “too much”? According to the Mayo Clinic, 400 mg is around the safe average for healthy adults. If you need a visual to help compare, they equate it to 4 cups of coffee, two energy drinks, or 10 cans of soda. 

Straying from these levels can lead to major issues. High caffeine levels make your body release increased amounts of cortisol. This stress hormone is designed to give you physical energy to exert in times of high stress, so it dumps your body’s store of fat and sugar. Immune suppression, high blood pressure, higher cholesterol levels, skin breakouts, and weight gain. 

Excessive caffeine can also cause anxiety, insomnia, stomachache, panic attacks, nervousness, and addiction. 

If you feel like you can’t let go of your 12 daily coffee refills start by moving to drinks that naturally have less caffeine or set limits on how much you’re consuming. Try an herbal tea or another healthy alternative. You can also meditate if you’re feeling off or imbalanced to strengthen spiritual, emotional, and physical health.  

4. Red Meat

As with several other items on this list, there is a nutritional benefit to eating moderate amounts of red meat. It provides a source of proteins, vitamins, and iron. The issue arises when you eat too much of it, and over a long period of time.

Red meat has been linked to increasing cancer growth for as long as most of us probably remember. The cause is thought to be a sugar molecule found in lamb, beef, and pork skin called Neu5Gc. It isn’t produced by your body naturally, but it’s found in cancerous tissues. Red meat has incredibly high levels of the molecule while poultry, fish, fruits, and vegetables didn’t have any.  

Neu5Gc sparks a reaction from the immune system when consumed and it sends antibodies to get rid of the foreign invader. The inflammation that results from this response, if chronic, contributes to cancerous tumor growth. An animal study proved that the mice receiving Neu5Gc developed 5 times as many tumors.  

5. Not Drinking Enough Water

Drinking water flushes toxins and waste materials like sugar and salt. Otherwise the body has trouble eliminating the debris and it starts to compound, making you more susceptible to infection and sickness. 

Being dehydrated reduces energy levels too. Without energy you’re more likely to skip important exercise and experience a sluggish immune system. 

Drink more water! It’s easy to accomplish and you can set reminders throughout the day if you’re worried you’ll forget. Your body will thank you and you’ll feel so much better. 

6. Lack of Electrolytes

We routinely get all the electrolytes we need from the food and drink we consume. Which is great because these slightly charged particles play a key role in quite a few functions. They help maintain hydration levels and carry electrical impulses all around the body.

If your electrolytes get out of balance, you can experience a whole slew of nasty effects like:

  • Weakened musclesbook-live-intuitive-reading-with-paul-wagner
  • Muscle spasms, cramps, or twitches
  • Joint and bone disorders
  • Insomnia or other sleep disorders
  • Incorrect hydration levels
  • Less effective immune system
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue

An electrolyte imbalance could be a sign of underlying medical conditions, but we also need a boost after strenuous exercise or prolonged heat exposure. Our digestive systems slow as we age, which can make it more difficult for our bodies to maintain a proper balance. 

Maple, coconut, and birch water are naturally high in electrolytes, making them a healthy way to replace the missing molecules. Especially for long-term electrolyte replacement. Don’t rely too heavily on other common solutions like sports drinks because they usually contain a ton of unhealthy sugar.

7. Skipping the Workout

Regular exercise is a common health recommendation, tied to a wide range of benefits throughout the body. Heart health, lower blood pressure, weight loss, and immune system defense are just a few.  

A sedentary lifestyle interrupts this natural flow and hurts you as a result. Working out improves circulation so immune cells can travel faster and work more efficiently. If you’re sitting down for most of the day, every day, your circulation could suffer, resulting in blood having a more difficult time maneuvering around the body.

You don’t have to throw a bunch of money at a gym membership you’ll never use. Home workouts are easy to find online and include almost any topic you can think of, from yoga to dance routines. Take a stroll through a nearby park or even your neighborhood if you really don’t like exercising.  

8. Sleeping Too Little

Everyone requires different amounts of sleep to allow their body to fully recover from the day before, but 6 to 8 hours is typically recommended. Any less than this, especially over a long time, can cause negative reactions in your body. 

Sleeping too little increases the chances of getting sick and the risk of chronic diseases. It’s believed this is directly connected to the fact that not sleeping interrupts immune system functions. 

Short-term sleep deprivation makes you more likely to catch a cold or flu, increases your chance of infection, and can even slow the speed of healing. If it becomes a long-term problem, people can also find themselves at risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.

Despite what some people believe, your body can’t just “get used to” surviving on little to no sleep. In fact the continued inflammation caused from little sleep can create more issues for long-term health.

9. Skipping the Naps

Who put the idea in people’s minds that naps are only for kindergarten? So many adults find themselves fighting off the urge to nap during the day, even after a night of poor sleep. But it’s important to listen to the signals your body is sending–it needs that sleep to perform efficiently and keep you healthy. 

A short nap is a healthy way to make up for that crucial sleep you missed the night before. One study compared the levels of cytokines (inflammatory molecules) and norepinephrine (a stress hormone) between two groups. Both were limited to only two hours of sleep on the night of the study, but only one group was allowed to take 2 thirty minute naps the following day. 

Both levels are typically higher after a poor night’s sleep, but the nappers tested normal when the cytokines and norepinephrine levels as if they never lost that crucial sleep.

10. Vitamin Deficiency

Proper vitamin and nutrient levels are absolutely crucial for overall health and an efficient immune system. Nutrients like iron, folic acid, zinc, copper, selenium, and Vitamins A, B6, C, D, and E are all vital to give your body a proper defense against infections and viruses. 

A single deficiency is enough to throw off your immune system and change its response. So the risk of viral, bacterial, and infections increases for those with a poor diet and no additional supplements. 

Fresh, quality food is the best way to ensure ongoing immune health. Frozen fruits and veggies are a great substitute if there’s no fresh produce near you or you’re tired of forgetting things in the back of the fridge until they’ve rotted. Companies freeze them at their peak ripeness so they retain nearly the same amount of nutrients.

Multivitamins and supplements shouldn’t be used as a full substitute for a healthy diet, but they’re great if you’re unable to frequently eat meals that contain the nutrients your body needs. It’s important to remember that taking a supplement once isn’t going to do anything to change your vitamin levels. It’s something you have to stick with for a while to see results, just like you need to maintain a healthy diet over a period of time to notice a difference. 

Stay away from megadose supplements. They contain far more than the recommended dietary allowances which can inhibit immune system efficiency and cause other harmful side effects. 

11. 5G Technology

Some scientists say that we need stronger exposure limits in place to protect us from the effects of radio frequency radiation (RFR). Over 500 studies have found negative biological and health effects caused by RFR exposure and  long-term radiation is also possibly linked to cancer.

5G technology will be combining the older technology of microwaves with the new tech, millimeter waves. The amount of cell antennas required to maintain the service will expose people to this new millimeter wave radiation for the first time. 

There is still research being done to find the extent of risk when it comes to 5G technology, but limiting exposure will help you protect yourself and your immune system from potential harm.

12. Drinking Ice Cold Water

It’s important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, but how we consume it can be just as important. 

Icy cold water may sound delicious, but it can slow your body’s digestion and hinder its ability to absorb nutrients. As your body tries to correct this imbalance, you can experience water loss that leads to dehydration. Chilled water too soon after finishing a meal can solidify fats from the food and make it difficult for you to break down the unwanted substances. This extra energy being exerted may have a negative impact on your immune system and make you more open to sickness.

Ancient Chinese medicine believes that mixing cold water with warm food creates an imbalance in our bodies. To combat this, room temperature water or hot beverages like tea often accompany meals.

If you’re feeling under the weather, warm drinks are also good at fighting congestion by making it easier to breathe. Cold water, on the other hand, has been found to thicken nasal mucous and makes the congestion feel worse.

You should also skip the cold water if you suffer from migraines or achalasia, as it can trigger or worsen symptoms you’re already suffering from.

Summary

These are just a few simple changes that can make a world of difference in your life. No one likes getting sick or feeling run down, and by avoiding bad habits and unhealthy substances you improve your ability to fight off viruses and bacteria.

It’s wonderful to work on your physical health, but make sure not to neglect other aspects of yourself like emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness. Finding the perfect balance can be difficult at first, but over time you’ll find that as you start to feel better these things will come more naturally to you.

Good luck on your journey to a healthier, happier you!

 

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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Health Benefits of Garlic That Can Improve Your Life

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health-benefits-of-garlic
Improve your life by adding garlic to your diet. A Shutterstock Licensed Image

Garlic is a common flavoring agent for cooking. So much so, that you may even have some in your home already. But did you know that it’s also good for improving your overall health and well-being? From boosting your immune system and heart health to its antioxidant nature, garlic seems to do a little bit of everything.

So, what makes garlic so good for you in the first place? What benefits can you expect to see? See if the following benefits convince you to overcome that garlic breath smell and elevate your health.

What Makes Garlic Medicinal?

Garlic has been used for thousands of years to heal and treat a variety of conditions. Why is it so special?

The power of garlic comes largely from compounds found in the vegetable. The whole cloves already contain the compound alliin, but the magic happens when you actually crush, slice, chew, or otherwise grind the garlic. This converts the alliin to allicin, a compound that’s responsible for garlic’s distinctive taste and smell.

It’s no surprise then that allicin is the main active ingredient in garlic.

This unstable compound transforms into other, more stable compounds that contain Sulphur. These are largely believed to be the reason behind garlic’s medicinal qualities and there are many studies that back this up.

What positive changes could garlic add to your life?

Boosting Your Immune System

Cold and flu season comes around every year so it’s important to keep your body as prepared as possible to fight back. It’s even more imperative right now with the pandemic going on to ensure your body is ready to take on these pesky viruses.

 In fact, if you’re interested in learning other ways to prepare your body for a pandemic or potential emergencies, there are a lot of ways to do just that (don’t worry, garlic is on the list!).

It’s no secret that viruses are behind the ill effects of both colds and the flu. That’s why it’s helpful to boost the number of T Cells found in your bloodstream, something that garlic can help with. T Cells are an integral piece of the immune system that fights viruses, so more T Cells means more defense.

 A study published by nutrition scientists in 2012 found that participants taking aged garlic extract not only experienced less severity when it came to cold and flu symptoms, but that those symptoms were also quicker to leave when compared to the people not using the garlic.

This superfood can also help your immune system by reducing stress levels. Whether it’s bills, work, or an unexpected mishap, life can be stressful. But constantly living under the burden of it can and will lower your ability to fight off viruses. And the last thing you want to deal with when you’re already under other stress is the idea of getting sick.

 Don’t worry though, garlic can help you here too!

It can fight off that stress and fatigued feeling by affecting your adrenal glands. It turns out that eating garlic alters your adrenal glands’ stress response. They’ll produce less stress hormones and that means you’ll start feeling less lethargic. Your immune system will be able to go back to fighting off viruses and bacteria in no time.

Anti-Cancer Properties

You read that right, garlic has even been found to have properties that aid in cancer prevention. That’s one of the reasons why it’s often included on lists of beneficial superfoods.

Garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and contains natural antioxidants. And while the role of garlic in cancer treatments is still being researched to find the scope of its effectiveness, its healing properties have already provided positive results in many studies.

For example, garlic has already proven its ability to assist in gene repair. This is especially important to note when discussing cancer, since it mutates important genes. By boosting DNA repair we’re able to combat some of that damage as it occurs.

A study as recent as 2018 shows that garlic enhanced the expression of tumor suppressor genes over the course of the experiment. It can change the cancerous cell’s behavior and lead to slowed growth and metastasis of the tumors.

Unfortunately, not all cancers will be affected by increasing your garlic intake, but you can potentially reduce your risk for:

  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Glioblastoma
  • Rectal cancer
  • Lung cancer

Heart Health

Increasing the amount of garlic in your diet also promotes a healthy heart. Research has found garlic to perform better than placebos at lowering total cholesterol levels and blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.

There’s also evidence that garlic supplements have the ability to reduce the thickness of your blood and lower platelet aggregation (a fancy way of talking about blood cells sticking together). People with hypercoagulability, a condition where a person’s blood is thicker and stickier than normal, can be prone to excess blood clots. Garlic’s capacity to both thin blood and reduce the number of sticky cells means they’ll experience lower risk for the dangerous clots.

 

 

Garlic also has a significant stabilizing effect on arrhythmias in animal studies. While it hasn’t been confirmed in humans yet, we know that there are many diseases related to irregular heartbeats that could stand to benefit from these results. Less stress on the heart can mean a longer, more fulfilling life.

Clear Skin & Combat Acne

Remember allicin, the stinky but delicious main ingredient of garlic? Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it can help fight off the bacteria that causes acne. It can also help the skin receive nutrients more easily by improving blood circulation, leading to a clear complexion. Garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the appearance of blemishes, too.

There are also other vitamins and minerals found in garlic that’s good for healthy skin, like Vitamin B-6 and C, copper, zinc, and selenium.

At this point you’re probably thinking that you don’t want smelly garlic all over your face, even if it means clear skin. The good news is that you can get a lot of the benefits just from ingesting it. But if you want to get rid of a particularly annoying pimple, there are also topical treatments that incorporate garlic.

If you do go the topical spot treatment route, make sure to test it out on a small non-obvious area first to ensure there are no adverse effects. If it starts burning or stinging, wash the area immediately.

Clear Skin & Combat Acne

As we age, some areas of the brain connected to cognitive functions like planning, learning, and memory may shrink. Narrowing arteries can lower the amount of blood flowing to the brain. Inflammation and free radical damage can also take a toll on our brain over the years.

Garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties help to increase memory and cognitive functions by tackling these problems. It can prevent or slow decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease, another well-known memory loss illness.

We’ve already looked at garlic’s cancer prevention capabilities, but it’s worth noting that a 2013 study demonstrated its ability to protect against glioblastoma—the most aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. A compound in garlic called dilly trisulfide (DATS) is not only effective at preventing tumor growth but also causes apoptosis (cell death) in active glioblastoma. As an added bonus it doesn’t have any adverse effects on liver function either, a potential side effect of other treatments.

Warning/Risks

Any time you’re looking to introduce a new supplement into your diet you should be mindful of interactions it might have with other supplements and medications you’re already taking. Consult with a doctor before adding garlic to your health regimen to make sure you’re taking proper doses and that it won’t have negative interactions with any health issues you have.

Excessive garlic consumption can cause side effects, with bad breath and body odor being the most common (good for maintaining that six feet of social distancing, but not all that great for your loved ones!). Eating raw cloves, especially on an empty stomach, can cause gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, acid reflux, and heartburn.

If you’re going into surgery, be mindful of garlic’s blood thinning properties as it may increase bleeding during the operation. Stop using the supplement at least a full week before the procedure and follow up with your doctor if you feel unsure.  

Summary

Garlic is more than just a smelly vegetable that makes food delicious. It’s been used as a medicinal supplement across the world for thousands of years. Its benefits have drawn enough attention that hundreds of studies have been done, solidifying its healing properties in science.

It contains important vitamins and minerals and provides health benefits for nearly every part of your body. Compounds inside like allicin and DATS are proven to assist and reduce the risk of many life-threatening illnesses.

The exact preparation and dose recommended differs from treatment to treatment. There’s ongoing research that is trying to discover the best way to maximize garlic’s healing properties.

Overall it’s an easy, inexpensive way to boost your physical health and defend against many viruses and diseases.

Meditation, prayer, laughing, and a good snuggle session are also great ways to heal—physically, emotionally, and spiritually!

 

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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How to Be Truly Woke: Are You Just Full Of It?

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Woke Consciousness: A Shutterstock Licensed Image

There’s a lot of crazy talk these days about being WOKE. Have no fear though. This is part of the “It’s Okay To Be A Narcissist” movement. This whole ARE YOU WOKE bullshit has become so cliché, every person with a bleeding heart or conspiracy theory is now calling themselves WOKE. This is a trend and it means nothing.

You have to ask yourself:

  • Do we become WOKE (or awakened) when we sniff-out hashtags and taglines that feed our fears?
  • Do we become WOKE when we use these fears to concoct poorly baked conspiracy theories that then define our lives?
  • Isn’t it possible that flubbed lines in audio files are just that – a mistake, rather than a masked secret to put a chip in you dick?
  • Is being WOKE all about seeing society and business as always “out to get” us?
  • Is being a WOKER about hating the government and imagining the worst of everyone in it?
  • Is it about hating factions of society that do not think like you?
  • Isn’t it possible that WOKERS are just lazy, illiterate lovers of fantasy?

Here are a few conspiracy theories for you:

WOKERS don’t have library cards because they don’t like to read.

TRUMP-PETS can’t imagine a benevolent, peaceful world because they’re not benevolent, peaceful people.

QANONers prefer their fantasy opinions, beliefs, and ideologies over thousands of collective years of training, education, and research because they’ve trained themselves to be overreactive, presumptuous, victim-minded, and fearful. This is an addiction. As you think, so you become.

All of these things are prominent in low IQ, low emotional intelligence (EQ), and non-empathic people.

Empathy is EVERYTHING.

Alas…

To be TRULY WOKE, AWAKE, or AWAKENED, it’s about understanding who you are, where you are, where you’re going, and who’s going with you. It’s about knowing your divinity and depth. It’s about stripping away the layers of assumptions and learning how to access your core, authentic nature.

Being WOKE is about responsibility, research, forgiveness, proactivity, and respecting people who are 100X more brilliant and better trained than you. 

I never tell my mechanic, “Nah, I don’t think it’s that hose. I think my car blew up because of the Republicans.”

WOKE IS:

  • Knowing that you may not have been told the truth about everything, while also acknowledging your limitations.
  • Respecting that there are many anomalies and complexities in this world, some of which are so embedded, they will be impossible to eradicate without a colossal, global, life-eradicating war.
  • Knowing that your spirit and how you relate is more important than your protests. Once peaceful and aware, then protest. Otherwise, you’re just an idiot waving a banner that you know nothing about.
  • Being able to fathom that this life of yours is a temporary metaphor meant to educate, enthuse, and enlighten.
  • Understanding that it’s all a mess because it’s supposed to be a mess. Internal and external evolution cannot happen without chaos.
  • Understanding that your pain, inability to forgive others, and refusal to have empathy for those less fortunate than you are far worse than blaming others for their invisible friends, obsessions, insanity, and lack of education.
  • ALL ABOUT forgiving everything, detaching from it all, refraining from feeding the madness.
  • ALL ABOUT bout focusing on expanding your deepest aspects and learning how to truly nurture yourself.

Being Woke is not about continuously reacting to your government and those who oppose your party of choice.

Being Woke is about being coherent enough to do research so you can defend your position using facts, rather than a contrived, manipulated, twisted ideology based on father-projection, charisma, fantasy, and fear.

Being truly AWAKE is not about falling off your bike then blaming 5G or Bill Gates.

Being Woke is about thinking clearly without influence from a religion or trending movement.

Being Woke is not about continuously complaining on social media platforms so you can self-validate your laziness and poorly researched addiction.

Hey, it’s not about posting hate against every opponent of your temporary, imagined identity and belief system. Yes, your identity and beliefs are temporary. They mean NOTHING. It’s all flawed. It’s all vapor.

The idea here would be to:

Stop fear-mongering because that’s what small-minded people do when they’re unable to imagine better outcomes. The fear gives them the illusion of control. Using fear as a response to challenges is a self-limiting habit and low-level coping mechanism for people with low IQs and devolved emotional intelligence.

Improve and evolve your ideology until it evaporates. It’s worthless to you because it’s not based on the truth. It’s based on the family, religion, and society you were born into. It’s based on contrived and self-serving ideas passed down from generations of codependent relating. 

Your ideology and belief system are mostly born from ego, media taglines, and fear.

The truth is far easier, simpler, and allowing. 

Being Woke means that you’re seeking to understand that the Eternal Consciousness includes every aspect in all of creation, which means that it will need to work itself out, even if it’s bumpy and horrible at times.

How To Be Truly Wokeprofoundly-inspirational-inuitive-reading-with-paul-wagner

If it’s part of consciousness, it’s part of you. 

Just because it’s outside of you and uglier than you, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve the space it needs to work itself out.

Unless darkness steps forward, it cannot achieve the light. So if something horrible is happening, accept it, just as you would something positive. It’s all the same. Even darkness has a womb filled with light. Being WOKE is about owning your position in life and working with reality to improve upon it, helping where and when you can.

Being WOKE is about peacefully protesting, not causing damage.

Being WOKE is loving every color and living Being in all of creation, and feeling their pain to the point of knowing it.

Being WOKE is not about guilting or shaming yourself and others, it’s about working to rid the world of these things.

Being truly awake is knowing that all of your anger is about you and your deficiencies. (Well, except when it comes to banks, insurance companies, and military spending. You can be fuck-all, crazy angry about all that!)

If you want to be awakened and truly WOKE: work on yourself, improve your attitude, become more loving, deepen your empathy for humankind and suffering, and realize that this reality is nothing but a tiny leaf twirling in the wind.

It’s here and then it’s gone. So are we.

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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How to Perfect Your Intuitive And Psychic Sessions

Tarot Readings, Psychic Sessions, Intuitive Coaching & More: A Shutterstock Licensed Image

How to Perfect Your Psychic Sessions and Intuitive Coaching

1. Take 5 minutes before each of your psychic sessions to center, call in your guides, and allow your clients to reveal themselves to you. You might chant the Om Lokaha Somastaha Sukino Bhavantu mantra 13 times to clear the space. You can also say, Shiva, Shivani, Shiva, Shivani 7 times, which will clear the energetic fabrics connecting you and your client to this moment. This will free reality to emerge and supersede the constructs at play.

2. Make note of any imagery that immediately pierces the veil and falls into your consciousness.

3. When the session begins, start with a prayer or invocation, short and sweet: Thank you Great Spirit and The Eternal Consciousness, we invite all light-beings, ancestors, and gentle souls from all the realms to join us today, in service of (client name). So it is, so it shall be.

4. Sometimes I’ll begin with a pre-reading 2-3 card pull and I’ll do a quick summary of my exploration prior to the call.

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5. I’ll then ask if they have any primary or burning questions or concerns they’d like to share before you do a full card pull and reading.

6. If they shared their questions, keep the categories and emerging imagery front-of-mind. Integrate these aspects into your interpretation of the cards.

7. Pull 3 primary cards, then 2 off to the side. Sometimes I wait to pull the additional two, allowing the energy of the in-play reading to influence the experience and electromagnetic nature of the reading and relating.

8. Remember to connect with them throughout the reading, with phrases like, is this true for you, are you feeling something around this, have your experienced something like this, etc.

9. If you feel they are energetically heavy or tense, mention that you sense this aspect emerging within them, and try to tie it into one of the cards. You might also pull additional cards along the way, especially in moments when you sense trepidation, hesitation, anger, sadness, and other emotions & states-of-mind.

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10. As you get to the 2/3 mark in the reading (usually 40 minutes for me), see if you can draw some conclusions, tying several elements from the experience together. This might provoke other questions.

11. In your closing, try to imagine ways the person can improve their feelings, perspectives, health, and conditions, especially within the situations that arose during the session. Over time, you’ll have a trove of helpful hints and suggestions.

12. During the reading, listen intently to every word they say, pay attention to the emotions you feel in them, and allow imagery to come in. It’s during the most vulnerable and tepid moments of a reading, that guides are thrusting information our way – all in service to our clients.

13. To close, tell them you wish for them light, love, peacefulness, and happiness, Tell them they are the embodiment of light and love, and they can always go within to expand themselves and find peace. Tell them you are here for them should they need you.

14. The moment you hang up, thank God, The Universe, your guides, and all the light beings throughout all the realms for their guidance and participation. Remind them that you wish to be in service To All Beings For All Time. You might chant the Om Lokaha Somastaha Sukino Bhavantu mantra 13 times as your closure.

Just remember that you are a Divining Rod and your guides are with you, always. Trust this.

If you need me, you can schedule a session HERE 🙂

GOD BLESS YOU FOR BEING IN SERVICE TO OTHERS!

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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55 Deep Dating Questions To Ask On Dating Apps For Authentic, Mindful, Spiritual Connections

 

Building authentic connections through mindful question

Whether you’re running hot on OkCupid, Tinder, Bumble, Coffee Meets Bagel, Hinge, Happen, Clover, Plenty Of Fish, Match, eHarmony, or the newly trending best dating apps or websites, it’s helpful to set a vision for your pursuit. It’s also vital that you have a game plan – especially if you are wildly sensitive, spiritually minded, super prayerful, or all of the above.

Whether you’re a healer, doctor, thinker, laborer, teacher, executive, manager, or just a downright hard worker, we all need wonderful, loving, and aware partners in our lives. Throughout the process of seeking a lover or partner, it might feel easier to place the responsibility on the other person –  but, truly, it’s up to each person to uplevel his/her/their sensibilities and awareness at the beginning of the hunt. 

The easiest way to do this is to prepare the best dating questions that inspire authentic answers. 

Chemistry is nothing. It can be contrived. It doesn’t mean what it seems to mean.

Ego is nothing. It can mislead.

Mind and mental acuity are often nothing. They can misinform.

What drives value and longevity in relationships? Sensitivity, quality communication, awareness, attention, loyalty, presence, and empathy. If you and your partner both commit to these, your lives can become uniquely loving and enjoyable.

Why You Need A Dating Game Plan When Using Dating Apps

When in pursuit of a partnership, especially a romantic one, it’s important to have a game plan ready.

Creating a vision for online dating

Create a dating vision before dating apps

Before you engage on any app, you will want to consider how you want to engage with this process as well as what questions you want to ask your potential dates. 

As a first step, consider these dating questions:

    • Which dating apps will you use and which ones will you refrain from using? Why?
    • Will you be paying for meals or will the other person be paying? Or will you split the bills? 
    • Will you pursue having meals together or only coffee at first?
    • Are you looking to just have fun or to find a truly wonderful partner?
    • How much effort every week are you willing to dedicate to this pursuit?
    • How will you work on your self-awareness and personal growth during this time? 

Remember – Your contract is not with individuals; it’s with the Universe. 

How to Create a Dating Vision for Meaningful Matches on Dating Apps & Beyond

Self-reflection before meeting someone online is an important aspect of dating intentionally.  Your Dating Vision will inform your communication with potential matches.

When forming your Dating Vision, consider these dating questions to ask yourself: 

    • How do you like to feel when with your partner?
    • What are your partner’s primary attributes?
    • How will your partner respond to confrontation, feedback, and communication challenges?
    • How will you respond to confrontation, feedback, and communication challenges?
    • How will you celebrate and allow for your differences?
    • How will you and your potential partner respond to upheaval and surprises?
    • How will you and your potential partner communicate when one or both of you is angry?
    • Are you willing to skip sex while you’re dating?
    • What do you require from sex?
    • Which potential habits will you not allow in your potential partner?
    • Which habits are you working on so that you can be the best you can be in your new relationship?
    • What areas of your life and how are you stubborn?
    • Are you truly willing to improve yourself?
    • How forgiving are you? Can you be more forgiving?
    • If your partner is not a relationship leader, can you be the leader?
    • How important will empathy and compassion be in your new relationship?
    • Will you allow yourself to have sex with potential suitors – before really knowing them?
    • Will you be cautious or revealing during the early days of exploring your new relationship?
    • Are you willing to pursue dharmic relationships (in service to truth and soul evolution) versus karmic (contractual, need-based) ones?

 How Self-Reflection Helps You Date From A Healthier Place (Getting Over Yourself)

The most important thing we can do in life is get over ourselves.

To have successful relationships with primary partners and lovers requires transparency, humility, and accepting that each of us has something to work on within ourselves. There is no “other.” 

Most often, the other person is not the problem. Mostly, we are resistant to change; we refuse to acknowledge that we can be more compassionate, and when it comes to listening, we can all be a little lazy.

The second most important skill we need to develop is forgiveness. This doesn’t mean we allow harmful people back into our lives; it means that we are able to release our anger and resentment upon most infractions.

Your ego is fiction.

Your temporary self-identity is fiction.

Release what is false and all aspects of your life will follow.

Top questions to ask on dating apps

Top 55 Deep Questions to Ask Before Meeting Your Dating Match Face‑to‑Face

When we’re using an app to find love, it’s important to use the app to its full extent. One rule that you might find helpful is to never meet anybody unless you spend 1-month texting with them via the dating app. This is important so that you don’t quickly jump into projections and allow chemistry to override your sense of reality.

When exploring a potential partner, don’t pretend to be someone else. In fact, it’s best to lay all of your aspects out in the first several exchanges with these best dating questions. This way, you and your partner can keep projection and fantasy to a dull roar. Focus on being authentic, even if it upsets the other person. Be fully yourself.

Here are 55 dating questions you can ask within your favorite dating apps BEFORE you meet for coffee to help you create mindful, authentic connections:

    • What do you find most enjoyable in life?
    • What is your definition of success?
    • How do you resolve conflicts in your life?
    • In what ways do you demonstrate love when in a relationship?
    • In what ways are you selfish in relationships?
    • How forgiving are you?
    • How do you feel when you see a child?
    • Are you affectionate?
    • How important is sex to you?
    • What does sex mean to you?
    • How often do you need to have sex – after the 2-3 year mark – in a relationship?
    • What is the wildest thing you’ve done?
    • Have you ever been arrested?
    • Have you ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol? If yes, tell me more about your recovery and current status.
    • What is your concept of God? What is your concept of The Universe?
    • What are your most self-improving habits?
    • What types of healthy food do you love to eat?
    • What types of junk food do you love to eat?
    • How do you feel about traveling
    • What is the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?
    • What is your longest relationship or marriage?
    • Do you believe that aliens from other planets and galaxies are living on our planet?
    • What is the most compassionate thing you’ve done in your life?
    • How would you describe your level of empathy?
    • How have you resolved your most traumatizing events from childhood and your younger years?
    • When something challenging happens to you, are you proactive or reactive?
    • When it comes to intentionally improving your life, are you a warrior or a victim?
    • Are you still angry or upset over a past traumatic event in your life? Have you forgiven the people involved? Are you still angry with them?
    • On a scale of 1 to 10, how positive are you in your daily life?
    • When you’re angry or grumpy, what do you do to improve your state of mind and heart?
    • How do you feel about ceremonies, rituals, and prayers?
    • Do you ever envision praying with your primary partner or lover?
    • What are you generally willing to do so that you can improve your attitudes, feelings, moods, and demeanor?
    • What are your most unique skills and talents?
    • On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you love being in nature?
    • Are you vegetarian or vegan? Do you have any dietary restrictions?
    • If you’re a meat-eater, have you ever hunted and killed your own animal food?
    • Do you like to watch birds?
    • Do you vote? Why or why not?
    • Do you have a political party affiliation? If so, are you passionate about this party?
    • What are your core beliefs (one sentence each) regarding welfare, minorities, immigration, free national health care, and military spending?
    • Have you ever traveled outside the US? If so, what are your favorite places to visit?
    • What places in the US and the world do you like to frequent?
    • How do you serve or help others who are less fortunate?
    • Do you invest money in the stock market, cryptocurrency, or anything related to your interests or passions?
    • Do you like to garden?
    • When you see a living creature flying or crawling on the ground near you, do you ever engage the little Being in conversation?
    • When you pray, who do you pray to and what do you pray for?
    • Do you believe in miracles? How so?
    • What is the most lovely event that you’ve experienced so far in life?
    • When you think about death, what comes to your mind and heart?
    • Do you know the difference between co-dependent and co-interdependent?
    • Are you willing to live co-interdependently, where each person seeks to uplift and encourage the other person to be self-sufficient?
    • Are you willing to be in a relationship where there is no blame or shame, only patience and loving encouragement?
    • Can you foresee a relationship that does not allow expectations and demands and where there are only well-communicated agreements?
    • Are you willing to commit to being peaceful and loving in all things, including yourself?

What To Say When Someone Pushes Back Against Texting Before Meeting

If you get pushback for wanting to only text for a while after exploring these dating questions, you can say this:

“We’re all prone to poor decisions because of media influences throughout our lives. We’re all vulnerable. Each one of us needs some distance from images, perfume, charisma, intimacy tactics, and projection. Texting for a while helps a lot with these things. Also, I am a very open, kind, and emotionally-minded man/woman. I love people from all walks of life. Choosing a partner for a life-long journey requires some deep exploration. It can be easy to fall into a relationship with someone for a myriad of reasons – some alignment, physical chemistry, passion, short-term connection, etc. 

With texting, we can explore some of the more pertinent dating questions, thereby accelerating the learning processes – without all the normal human distractions. Then we can determine whether it feels right to meet. These dating questions are akin to eHarmony, but without their contrived questionnaires and chemistry hooks. It’s real, it’s authentic, and it works for both parties – long term.”

You are the only person you ever interact with. There is no other.

“Don’t find fault with anyone. Not even with an insect. As you pray to God for devotion, so also pray that you may not find fault with anyone. Never think that you alone have true understanding and others are fools. One must love all, No one is a stranger. It is Hari alone who dwells in all beings. Nothing exists without Him”  – Bhagvan Sri Ramakrishna

EMBODY LOVE, SEEK LOVE, AND HUMBLY SERVE YOUR LOVER!

Q&A 

      1. Why should I write down my dating vision?
         Writing a dating vision helps clarify how you want to feel in a relationship, what traits you seek in a partner, and how you’ll navigate communication, intimacy, and shared values – setting a clear foundation before you begin dating.
      2. What is a dating game plan and why does it matter?
         A game plan defines which apps you’ll use, how much time you’ll invest weekly, whether you’ll meet for coffee or meals first, and how intentional you’ll be – ensuring purposeful and aligned dating actions.
      3. How does self‑reflection benefit my dating life?
         By recognizing your own resistance, ego, listening habits, and forgiveness capacity, self-reflection paves the way for vulnerability, humility, and healthier connection with others.
      4. Why wait a month texting before meeting in person?
         Spending a month texting helps you avoid projection, fantasy, and superficial chemistry by giving space to connect authentically and evaluate alignment before meeting face-to-face.
      5. How can the 55 questions help my dating process?
         They prompt deep dialogue on vulnerability, healing, beliefs, values, empathy, past trauma, lifestyle, and emotional intelligence – moving you beyond surface level to meaningful compatibility.




Last Updated On Aug. 25, 2025

 

If you need personalised relationship guidance or insights into your patterns and needs, you can book a private intuitive reading with me.

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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Birthstones: How the Stars, Planets, And Elements Align Upon Our Births

Birthstones
Birthstones
Gemstones are the Universe’s way of holding your hand. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

When each of us is born, elements throughout the universe are aligned in uniquely specific formations. Because every aspect of creation is connected, our birth stars and planets are positioned in ways that are meant to impact our lives, both positively and negatively. Similarly, birthstones also have a great impact on us.

Inherent in these constellations and formations is a unique set of influences and energetic attributes. We can choose to move with these constructs; as if being whisked away on mini rollercoasters throughout our lives, or we can challenge them by understanding how they function, then continuously choose to improve our responses to them. 

Therein lie two potential responses to our birth influences and the resulting karmic flows: roll with it or rise above it.

What is a Birthstone?

While the stars and planets are working with the energetic aspects within the heavens to bring you to life and then guide you through to your death, there are other players in the game: gemstones. All the stones throughout all the galaxies and universes are born with energetic infusions. This makes each stone unique in its attributes and footprint. 

Hinduism tells us that the nine gemstones connected to your specific celestial forces can help you in this life. In Sanskrit, they are known as Navaratna or The Nine Gems. By wearing some of them for specific purposes; you can protect yourself from the negative influences that were found in the heavens at the time and place of your birth. This is why birthstones can be extremely valuable to us. They can help us break karmic trends, heal ancient wounds, and escape the harshest aspects built into the fabric of our life trajectories.

What is the Origin of Birthstones?

Our birthstones were with us upon our birth, knowing who we are and who we might become. It’s in this way that our birthstones can be lucky for us. They can expedite our experiences of prior life karmas and the timelines that lead to achieving our desires. This can result in having a “lighter load” during this life.

While there is no specific destiny for the specifics of your life, there are certainly destinies related to the attributes and conditions you will attract in this life. By exploring birthstones and other gems, and with an understanding of your Vedic astrology, you can improve upon the conditions related to each category (house) in your chart. Every person’s chart is unique and every stone has a unique impact on each of those houses. Knowing your chart means knowing the details of each of your categories (houses), which also means knowing which aspects are your most palpable influencers. 

Popular Jewelry Associations

In The United States and Great Britain, jeweler societies formulated their own lists of birthstones, associating one gemstone to each month. While some of these lists seem to reference the original Vedic and zodiac lists, some of the stones they promote are merely for marketing purposes. 

This is why it’s vital to get your Vedic astrology reading from a talented, intuitive professional. Your birthstones may or may not coincide with those promoted by the gemstone industry. 

That said, the original lists for Vedic and zodiac gemstones are strong and can provide a good first step toward welcoming gemstones into your life as healing and empowering tools. 

What Is My Birthstone?

Here are three outlines noting a variety of birthstones and their meanings, as noted in the original Vedic and zodiac texts. Keep in mind that your best bet for learning how to use gemstones to enhance your life is through a traditional Vedic reading.

The Zodiac

  • Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 18): Garnet
  • Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20): Amethyst
  • Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20): Bloodstone
  • Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21): Sapphire
  • Gemini (May 22 – Jun 21): Agate
  • Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22): Emerald
  • Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22): Onyx
  • Virgo (Aug 23 – Sept 22): Carnelian
  • Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 23): Chrysolite (Peridot) and Aventurine
  • Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 21): Beryl
  • Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21): Topaz
  • Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 21): Ruby

While there are some similarities with the above list, here is the list according to Vedic astrology, with a few additional suggestions:

Vedic Astrology

purchase-the-personality-cards-oracle-tarot-deck

  • January: Garnet, Rose Quartz
  • February: Amethyst, Onyx
  • March: Bloodstone, Aquamarine, Red Jesper
  • April: Diamond, Rock Crystal
  • May: Agate, Emerald, Green Tourmaline
  • June: Pearl, Moonstones, White Topaz
  • July: Ruby, Star Ruby, Carnelian
  • August: Sapphire, Peridot, Aventurine
  • September: Moonstone, Iolite, Lapis Lazuli
  • October: Opal, Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz, Moonstone
  • November: Topaz, Yellow Sapphire, Golden Citrine, Tiger’s eye
  • December: Ruby, Turquoise, and Blue Zircon

By Planet

When you’re ready for your Vedic reading, you’ll be able to quickly reference your gemstones using this simple list:

  • Sun: Ruby, Garnet, Red Spinel, Rhodolite, Rubellite, Red Tourmaline, Rose Quartz 
  • Moon: Pearl, Moonstone, Rutilated Quartz
  • Mars: Red Coral, Carnelian, Red Jasper
  • Mercury: Emerald, Peridot, Green Agate, Jade, Green Tourmaline, Aventurine
  • Jupiter: Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Topaz, Citrine, Yellow Zircon, Yellow Tourmaline, Citrine
  • Venus: Diamond, White Sapphire, Clear or White Zircon, White Tourmaline, Clear Quartz, Phenakite
  • Saturn: Blue Sapphire, Blue Zircon, Blue Spinel, Amethyst, Blue Tourmaline, Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite
  • Rahu: Hessonite (Gomed), Garnet, Spessartite
  • Ketu: Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye, Tiger’s Eye

The Stones And Their Meanings

Here are some of the primary and most popular gemstones associated with our births. When we understand our personal attributes and negative tendencies, we have a better chance of selecting the most beneficial and supportive gemstones.

Garnet

Attributes: January, Aquarius, Protection, Faith, Love, Energizing, Boost, Consistency, Flow, Empowerment, Feeling Alive, Wanting More, Dark Red

Garnets are powerful gemstones that can help us protect ourselves and rise into our personal power. They also prevent nightmares and can provide helpful guidance when we feel as though we are meandering in darkness. The stone can increase power and energy levels, and help nervous folks feel calmer. They can also help to stabilize challenging situations and help travelers feel safer.

Amethyst

Attributes: February, Wisdom, Courage, Peacefulness, Relaxation, Royalty, Meditation, Temperance, Serenity, Tuning-in, Violet, Purple

The word amethyst comes from “amethystos,” a Greek word meaning “not drunk.” These beautiful stones can protect us, keep us calm, and guide us when we’re faced with stressful situations and other difficulties. Amethysts can encourage us to have more self-control and be more proactive in our love relationships. They can also help to steady our restless minds and inspire expanded mental and emotional well-being.

Amethysts are worn by healers to help them relax into their talents and serve others. The person being healed might also wear or hold an amethyst to help them receive light, healing, and love. Amethyst crystal clusters are used to remove negative charges from the air and add life-force to a variety of environments. 

Amethyst clusters can also be placed in sunny windows which can magnify the healing properties of the stone. heal negativity in the home. You can place Amethyst clusters, points, or several tumbled Amethysts in the moonlight for a sense of home-wide calm.

Aquamarine

Attributes: March, Serenity, Strength, Healthy, Youth, Love, Creativity, Courage, Happy, Mental Clarity, Hope, Grounded In Power, Pale Blue, Cyan

Wearing this lovely gemstone is thought to reawaken married love, build courage, and increase happiness. Aquamarine’s soothing blue color is believed to help us reduce negative energy and improve our connection to our personal strength. Aquamarine is a symbol of perception, hope, and self-expression.

Aquamarine can quiet the mind and help us with meditation. While cleaning out our chakras, this powerful stone improves our magnetism. It can also guard mothers and babies against harm. For the rest of us, aquamarine can reduce the effects of sore throats, swollen glands, and thyroid problems. It can help to regulate our hormones, alleviate our allergies, and boost our immune systems.

Diamond

Attributes: April, Eternal Love, Romance, Lightning, Divine Power, Endurance, Courage, Purity, Innocence, Amplify, Eternity, Clear

In Sanskrit, the diamond is called “vajra,” which also means lightning; while in Hindu mythology, vajra was the weapon of Indra, the king of gods. In ancient times, diamonds were believed to be the tears of the many Gods. The beauty and brilliance of a diamond are unparalleled.

The diamond can amplify our subtler attributes and give us the consistency we need to drive to the finish line. They also enhance the power of other crystals, although they might also increase the aspects found in any item in your home, both positive and negative. Be careful with diamonds! 

Diamonds block electromagnetic frequencies that cause stress and feelings of inner-disconnectedness. They can protect against 5G emanations and help us purify and detoxify our bodies. Diamonds can also help us balance our metabolism, improve stamina, and treat chronic conditions. They might also help you with dizziness, vertigo, and healing your brain.

Emerald

Attributes: May, Hope, Fertility, Feminine Power, Devotion, Rebirth, Transformation, Resurrection, Beauty, Wisdom, Personal Growth, Nobility, Patience, Venus, Medium Green, Light Green, Rich Green, Dark Green

The emerald was one of Cleopatra’s favorite gems. The might ruler used emeralds to increase the power of her magnetism and inspire devotion in her subjects. Moreover, the emerald is truly one of the most enriching gemstones. 

Emeralds can help treat disorders of the heart, lungs, spine, and muscular system. They are thought to aid in the recovery from infectious illnesses and can help soothe our sinuses and eyes. These stunningly beautiful stones have a detoxifying effect on the liver and can lessen the effects of diabetes and arthritis.

Pearl

Attributes: June, Romantic Love, Old Love, Stability, Modesty, Chastity, Children, Ancestors, Confidence, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, Joy, White

Pearl is worn to calm a restless mind and to control anger. It is believed that people who wear pearls feel more connected to their creativity and eternal muse. This glistening stone is also linked with being able to maintain a successful married life.

Pearls can be held to treat digestive disorders and heal the soft organs of the body, including the skin. They can also relieve conditions related to bloating and nausea. Pearls might also help to increase fertility and ease childbirth.

Ruby

Attributes: July, Vitality, Harmony, Kingliness, Emotional Intelligence, Empress Power, Passion, Lust, Sexuality, Enthusiasm, Success, Integrity, Loyalty, Red

Traditionally, the ruby has been regarded by ancient Hindus as the “king of gems.” It was believed to protect its wearer from darkness, shadows, and evil. It has been known to inspire the removal of negative energies from our paths. Also, it can help you overcome exhaustion and lethargy. It also imparts potency and vigor. 

The ruby detoxifies the body, blood, and lymphatic systems. It treats fevers, infectious diseases, and can improve blood flow. This sparkling gemstone will also stimulate your adrenals, kidneys, reproductive organs, and spleen.

Peridot

Attributes: August, Beauty, Mystique, Mystery, Goddess Power, Enchanting, Spells, Improvements, Uplifting, Lightness of Being, Strength, Light Green, Olive Green

Peridot is sometimes called “the evening emerald” for its light green color and resonance with the other realms. It was once believed that the green peridot crystals found in volcanic ashes were the tears of the Hawaiian Goddess of Volcanos known as Pele. Moreover, Tradition says we can ward off evil, enchant our lives, and ease depression when we wear or carry a peridot stone.

The peridot is thought to banish lethargy, apathy, and exhaustion. Also, it strengthens the immune system and metabolism. Further, it aids disorders of the heart, thymus, lungs, gallbladder, spleen, and intestinal tract. Some say that Peridot can also treat ulcers.

Sapphire

Attributes: September, Truth, Protection, Talisman, Old Religion, Ancient Rituals, Faith, Energy Cleansing, Dignity, Ancestral Wisdom, Deep Blue

book-live-intuitive-reading-with-paul-wagner

The sapphire is thought to guard against shadows, spells, evil, and poisoning. Moreover, Legend has it that venomous snakes would die if placed in vessels made from sapphire. Traditionally a favorite stone of kings, queens, priestesses, and priests, the sapphire can access the depth of our souls and natures.

Sapphires might also be beneficial against blood disorders, excessive bleeding, and weak veins. This majestic stone can also be used for cellular disorders, regulating our glands, and calming our anxieties.

Opal

Attributes: October, Faithfulness, Confidence, Consistency, Foresight, Visions, Psychic Abilities, Intuition, Empathy, Loyalty, Innocence, Healing, Pink, Green, or Multi-Color

The word opal comes from the Byzantine Greek “opalus,” meaning “precious jewel,” and in Sanskrit, “gem, stone.” However, Opal necklaces can be worn to inspire a deeper connection to others, expand psychic abilities, open the heart, and repel evil. Opals can also represent hopefulness. 

Opals strengthen memory and the will to live. Moreover, they can treat infections and fevers, cleanse the blood and kidneys, and regulate insulin. This stone eases childbirth and can alleviate the body during stressful experiences, like PMS.

Topaz

Attributes: November, Joy, Affection, Physical Connection, Sexual Expression, Strength, Intellect, Mental Strength, Serenity, Integrated Power, Dark Yellow

Yellow topaz stones are associated with strengthening the mind, heart, and overall body. Similarly, they offer protection to travelers and support good mental health.

Also, Topaz is linked to wisdom, strength, and courage. It can soothe physical pain, promote peace, and reduce our attachment to expressing our emotions with abandon. Topaz also promotes forgiveness.

Topaz aids digestion and combats eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. Also, it fortifies the nerves and stimulates metabolism.

Turquoise

Attributes: December, Friendship, Love Charm, Magic, Angels, Protection, Pursuits, Achievements, Good Fortune, Positivity, Happy Life, Divine Light, Light Blue, Turquoise

Turquoise attracts success on both the physical and spiritual planes. It is believed to relax the mind and protect its wearer from harm. Moreover, ancient practitioners believed that turquoise would actually change color when the wearer was ill or in danger.

However, The turquoise stone aids in the absorption of nutrients enhances the immune system, stimulates the regeneration of tissue, and heals the whole body. It contains anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects and can alleviate cramps and pain. Also, Turquoise purifies lungs, soothes and clears sore throats, and heals the eyes, including cataracts. This precious stone can also neutralize acidity, benefit stomach problems, and help to heal viral infections.

Which Birthstones Stand Out?

  • The most expensive birthstones: Blue Diamond, Musgravite, Jadeite, Alexandrite, Red Beryl
  • The rarest birthstones: Tanzanite, Black Opal, Larimar, Paraiba Tourmaline, Grandidierite, Alexandrite
  • The most powerful birthstones: Ruby, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Red Coral
  • The luckiest birthstones: Peridot, Pyrite, Amethyst, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Agate
  • The most peaceful birthstone: Angelite, Amethyst, Celestite/Celestine, Fluorite, Black Tourmaline, Lepidolite, Larimar
  • The most healing birthstone: Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Iron Pyrite, Raw Emerald, Hematite
  • The loveliest birthstone: Rose Quartz, Chrysocolla Cabochon, Apple Green Chrysoprase, Moonstone, Kunzite, Lapis, Rhodonite, Sapphire
  • The most enlightening birthstone: Labradorite, Blue Lace Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Blue Sapphire

Birthstones – Commonly Asked Questions

Are birthstones lucky?

Birthstones are lucky if they are aligned with your Vedic or zodiac chart. Also, they might be lucky if you feel a momentary connection to a specific stone. While the latter might be fleeting, it’s important to pay attention to the stones that you feel are aligned with you.

What happens if you wear the wrong birthstone?

There are no wrong gemstones. One stone might help you feel more peaceful, while another might help you experience expedited karma or a lightning-fast shift in consciousness. Even if there’s pain involved, your evolution might be worth it. That said, some stones can have negative impacts on us. Therefore, be careful to select the stones that are aligned with your astrological charts. Also, pay attention to how you feel when touching or wearing specific stones. Even though your chart or heart might point to a positive experience with a specific stone, it doesn’t mean you’ll have a positive experience with it.

Why do some months have two birthstones?

Some gemstones are connected to other stones. Also, there are primary birthstones for a given month or house, and there are secondary, third, and fourth stones. So, by being aware of your chart, you can improve the value that gemstones have in your life.

Use Your Birthstones To Help You!

Gemstones are powerful little amplifiers that can assist us in every area of our lives. When a gemstone is our birthstone, we receive even more power and presence from it. You might see your birthstone as your guardian angel. By inviting them into our lives, we can reap helpful benefits that we may have otherwise missed. 

I see all living Beings as a manifestation of the divine. Therefore, I talk to my house plants, vegetables in my garden, and the gemstones on my shelves and body. While they might be tiny, they are connected to the All-That-Is, as are you. Also, say hello to all the elements in your house. There is no “other.” There is only everything.

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

Posted on

The Pearl’s Magic: A Mythical, Magical Gemstone

The pearl's magic

Nature is absolutely incredible – just look at the pearl stone! WOW! A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

 

When a pearl is born, it’s the result of irritation to the soft body of its host mollusk. This irritant can be a grain of sand but is most often a parasite. Because of this unique process, pearls are the only jewels created in partnership with living creatures. They never need to be trimmed, cut, cured, or polished. They arrived perfect and ready for enjoyment. Given their illustrious beauty, pearls remain one of Earth’s most treasured gifts. 

Pearls are the birthstone for our Gemini and Cancer friends born in June. They come in several shapes: Classic round, irregular Baroque, flattened Button, and Keishi “freeform” pearls. Their colors range from white to gray, and often have overtones that include green, gold, brown, purple, bright yellow, pink, silver, blue, or black, and are sometimes infused with a mystical iridescence. Pearls are quite remarkable. 

Click to read about birthstones

The beginnings of these little wonders occur when an oyster, mussel, or clam attempts to soothe the part of its body that was invaded by a bug or granule. It does this by emanating a unique coating layer over the irritated area, known as nacre. The sea animal will add layer after layer of nacre until a beautiful, glistening pearl stone is formed. Natural and cultured pearls have similar dances, but for cultured pearls, the irritant (a bead or Mother of Pearl fragment), is surgically implanted in the mollusk. This profound process can occur in salt or seawater.

This is why pearls are considered to be the only gems born from a conscious, nurturing process, as their origin is a result of a living-Being choosing to self-nurture. It’s no surprise why pearls have a centuries-long reputation for their healing properties, especially in Asia and India. This might also be why pearls have a long list of metaphysical properties akin to crystals.

What is the Spiritual Meaning of Pearls?

Pearls have long been considered beacons of light for those who see the world through spiritual lenses. In Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism, the “flaming pearl” celebrates our wisdom and invites awareness of the divine. For healers and shamans, pearls have been known through the ages as conduits for relaxation and helpful for introspection. 

Pearls are known to have alleviated the symptoms related to lung diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. For magicians and wizards, pearls are used to negate the effects of poison and attract other-worldly protection. According to ancient and island healers, pearls can stimulate the heart chakra, reduce fevers, eradicate allergies, promote the growth of new cells, and help new mothers relax when giving birth. 

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The Chinese have long adorned their mythical dragons with pearls, who then invite wisdom, bravery, spiritual energy, and enlightenment into their lives. Native islanders have said that long ago, the wisest oysters would face the moon when adding their final layers of nacre to their creations. This is why the pearl stone is known to be representative of powerful feminine energy, a creator of life and worlds. 

Persians believed that pearls are born when the heavens thrust rainbows into the Earth’s soil. The ancient Greeks and Christians taught their children that pearls are symbols of purity and integrity. In some Hindu lineages, pearls are believed to strengthen relationships, protect lovers, and reduce the effects of karma. Japanese mythology tells us that pearls are the tears from healing spirits and mythical beasts. Many reports that pearls help them with self-acceptance and divine foresight.

As energetic magnets, pearls can deepen our connections to our core natures. When used in rituals, they can induce loving transitions, feelings of positivity, and vast earnestness in all of our relationships. While the Romans saw pearls as representative of high status, the Quran suggests that pearls can be found in paradise.

Do Pearls Have Healing Properties?

As many healers and shamans have reported, we can use pearls as we would crystals. As spiritual tools, pearls can are calming and centering, and can nurture our faith, loyalty, integrity, and purity. They also help women connect with their “inner goddesses” and men with their feminine attributes. No matter our genders, pearls can help us reach equilibrium with a vital, balanced, feminine energy. 

Perhaps most importantly, pearls embody specific frequencies and energy vibrations that can re-balance deficiencies in the human body and spirit. Just like all gemstones, pearls can be used to heal our bodies and create balance in our lives.

Pearls have been used throughout history to treat the digestive tract, muscular systems, and skin. In ancient and Egyptian culture, pearl stone powder is considered a powerful tonic for beauty. In fact, Asian royalty has used pearls for centuries to prevent the development of melanin, which causes dark skin pigmentation due to age and sun exposure. 

Pearl powder helps to fade colored blemishes, reduce wrinkling and scarring, and eliminate the occasional pimple. It’s for these reasons and more that the Chinese have relied on the healing properties of the pearl for centuries. In many Asian cultures, pearls are used to heal everything from simple eye ailments to indigestion, serious heart problems, bleeding, and fever.

Are Pearls Good for Skin?

Even though Cleopatra died from consuming the dust from her crushed pearls, these stunning gems have become the obsession of hardcore health addicts. Chalkboard Magazine raves about it, “Pearl powder will not only put you en route to flawless skin on the outside but will also build precious mineral reserves on the inside.” 

Rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, silica and amino acids, pearl powder can help maintain strong bones and teeth, prevents osteoporosis, and improve the health of our skin. But is it truly safe to consume pearl powder? Yes! Pearl stone powder has been used by the most enduring cultures and for thousands of years. Chinese Empress Wu Zetian lavishly covered her skin with pearl dust with the hope of beautifying her body from head to toe.

To this day, the Chinese use pearl powder as a skin whitener and cosmetics, as do many other cultures. In fact, the pearl is widely considered to be effective in controlling the skin conditions of rosacea and acne. For hundreds of years, pearl stone powder has been helpful as a detoxifier and anti-inflammatory, while Ayurvedic medicine has been promoting pearl dust as an anecdote for a variety of poisons. 

Some say that if you consume a small measure of pearl dust, your wrinkles will begin to fade. To add to this power-punch, the host, sea animal’s nacre is so powerful that it can heal a variety of wounds.

Are Pearls The Next Superfood?

Pearls are packed with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the virus/bacteria killer known as glutathione. The magnesium in pearls helps our bodies improve our levels of GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid. Psychologists, psychiatrists, shamans, and healers alike tout magnesium as a friendly assistant in the pursuit of extinguishing depression, anger, unreasonable fears, anxiety, mental obsessions, and insomnia. You can use pearl stone powder in capsules, smoothies, salads, and your favorite beverages. With its healthy stockade of amino acids, this unique gemstone is a powerful addition to any diet. 

While the FDA has been hesitant to comment on the validity of these claims, the latest research has proven that pearl dust assists our bodies in the creation of antioxidants. Why do we love antioxidants? They’re the best line of defense against free radicals, which are the creators of many diseases and pre-disease conditions. Pearl powder is considered safe to consume in small quantities. Are pearls a superfood? You betcha.

Balancing Chakras and Moods

Whether consumed or held, pearls can help us balance our hormones, improve our attitudes and moods, and open pathways to positivity and joy. They can help us meditate, pray, focus, and sleep. What’s more, pearl stone powder can zen you out. Known as a potent Shen (spirit) stabilizer, pearls support mood stability and soothe us in a variety of ways. They relieve our nervousness and help us reduce the stress in our lives. It’s no wonder that the pearl has earned a reputation as an etheric matrix for the benefit of all life. 

When it comes to the major 7 in the Chakra system, pearls can help invigorate and heal your Sacral (1st or root/groin) Chakra, Heart Chakra (or 3rd Chakra), and Crown Chakra (7th Chakra, which is found outside your body, just above your head. These are the most vibrant Chakras in our systems. 

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Because the Sacral Chakra is the gatekeeper for energy, lifeforce, and sexual expression, it can also be the most damaged Chakra. Given the pearl’s ability to magnetize healing, peacefulness, and earnestness, it might be the best elixir for healing a variety of social, emotional, and physical damage. 

The Heart Chakra helps us pursue love in the world. When kept clean and energized, this Chakra helps us feel nurtured and supported in our lives. It helps us love more purely and innocently. This is also the Chakra that helps us improve our primary relationships and forgive. With more forgiveness in our lives, we have room for more life-energy. With more energy, we’re often more prosperous and feel more connected to the divine.

When we want to dissolve our temporary self-identities and related illusions, pearls can be our biggest ally. They protect us when we reach out to the heavens and they preserve our innocence in the pursuit of miracles. Pearls help us pray for ourselves and others. In that light, they can advance our evolution and help us awaken.

Different Pearl Types and Benefits

Whenever we hear the word “pearl,” most of us imagine the perfectly round, luminously-white gemstone. But there are many types of pearls, each with unique properties, and attributes. When evaluating one, it’s not about shape or color, rather, it’s all about the pearl’s surface luster, its brilliance, how it reflects light to the beholder. The more brilliant and mirror-like the surface of the pearl, the higher its’ quality. A dull or chalky surface indicates an inferior pearl. 

Here’s a handful of pearls you’ll find in abundance throughout the world:

Mother Of Pearl:

These inviting pearls heighten intuition, psychic sensitivity, and imagination. When holding these pearls, you can attract prosperity, protect yourself from negative influence, and transmute negative energy. They’re also helpful in protecting children, just like their namesake suggests. And akin to a Mother’s love, these gemstones can purify environments and heal our memories and heart. Thanks, Mom!

Cultured Pearls

These human-made pearls are perfectly round and among today’s most coveted possessions. Often grown in a variety of sea and lake beds, these gems are the backbone of the pearl stone industry. Pearls farms use oysters as their mollusk hosts and can be found in China, Japan, Tahiti, Australia, and Indonesia.

There are many brands and creators of pearls, including Akoya, Keshi, Biwa, Mabe, and Chinese freshwater pearls, all born from over 350 species in hundreds of protected streams, rivers, lakes, and other beds of water. Because they produce the most colorful and shapely pearls, the mussel known as Hyriopsis cumingii has become the favored birther in Chinese pearl co-creation.

Tahitian Black Pearls:

Tahitian black pearls are quite unique in the pearl world. They not only invite wisdom, but are powerful magnets that attract wealth, prosperity, and everlasting love into our lives. When we invoke the gods of fertility, they appear to us adorned in black pearls. While black might conjure images of emotional or spiritual death, the heart of this pearl invites our rebirth and transformation. The most exotic pearls can fetch as much as $100,000 for an abundant, necklace strand.

Pink Pearls:

Pink pearls work especially well in support of the Sacral and Heart Chakras. Wear them close to your heart, as part of your Heart Chakra meditation, and in conjunction with other Heart Chakra-centric crystals for the most healing results. Pearls can help restructure and protect our Sacral Chakras, which can open pathways to our emotional and psychological growth. 

Gold Pearls

These shining stars invite successful marriages, profitable ventures, divine guidance, and protection also. They are some of the most beautiful pearls in creation. Moreover, Gold pearls can be used in rituals that invite our ancestors to support our relationships and endeavors.

Abalone Pearls:

Abalone pearls are also known as abalone shells and have beautiful colors that encourage feelings of love, beauty, gentleness, peacefulness, and joy. It feels comforting to hold an Abalone pearl or shell. You might also enjoy rubbing them just like you would a magic- or worry-stone. 

Abalone shells can reduce liver heat and symptoms that include headaches, dizziness, spasms of the limbs, and conditions of the eyes. Abalone can strengthen the heart, protect muscle tissue, and help with digestion. Nicknamed “sea ears,” the Abalone’s flattened, oval shape and iridescent interior are adored and used by Native Northwest American Indians as natural vessels for cleansing, offerings, and prayers.

Earth’s Gifts

As with all gemstones born from the Earth’s abundance, when honored and used correctly, pearls can help reconnect us with creation, inspire our healing, and attune us to beneficial frequencies and strands of energy. Like all living, light-and-sound Beings, your pearls are your friends and can protect you and keep you safe. Love your pearls with gratitude. 

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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The Hottest Tech And Practices To Counteract The Effects of 5G

The effects of 5G
The effects of 5g
Airestech.com and EarthInsoles.com – fascinating products – love them! effects of 5G- Please only use these images with links to those URLs.

Hundreds of scientists and doctors across the world have been warning us about the dangers and effects of 5G for several years. “Resolution 1815 of the Council of Europe,” says: 

5G will substantially increase exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) … and has been proven to be harmful to humans and the environment.

The key terms here are EMFs and EMRs: the electromagnetic and radioactive fields/frequencies that can damage our bodies. Many scientists claim that electromagnetic radiation can change our DNA and cause diseases like cancer. Apparently, the wireless industry isn’t just building a superhighway for movies, it’s building a massive microwave oven – with the door open!

What Can We Do To Protect Ourselves Against EMFs?

To reduce the effects that EMFs have on our minds and bodies, we can focus on our mental and emotional states, health, and diets. Eating a wide variety of superfoods can help improve your body’s vibration, including blueberries, spirulina, wheatgrass, apples, kale, spinach, and the like.

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Meditation, chanting, mantras, sutras, gratitude, and other forms of prayer can also increase the powers of your life-force. Love, emotional vulnerability, positivity, forgiveness, and intimacy help as well. You might also consider moving away from cell towers and EMF-emitting stations. 

While 5G is moving across the US like a mad virus, fret not! There are many new and emerging technologies that can help you counteract the effects of 5G and another EMF-emitting tech. 

In addition to researching the products that feel most beneficial to you, check out this wonderful selection. While this list is just a sprinkling of what’s on offer, it might inspire your passion to explore a myriad of modalities in pursuit of protecting you and your family from EMRs.

#1: The AiresTech Guardian 

American Aires has been doing R&D for its EMF products technology for over 10 years. They claim to have scientifically-proven tech that reduces the harmful effects of non-ionizing, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by computing devices. The company’s products are sturdy and beautifully designed. They’ve even won a few awards.

Their flagship product is The Aires Guardian. It reduces the harmful effects of EMR as well as 5G in a 500 sq.ft. area. This device is built with nanotechnology and features patented tech that’s been independently tested and peer-reviewed by a variety of laboratories, institutes, and universities 

While all of their products appear to be impressive (protecting everything from your personal space to exposure from all your favorite devices), The Aires Guardian is a beast. It has three next-generation, silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of EMRs in your vehicle, home, or office. If you’re using a computer or wireless router, chances are, you’re exposed to harmful EMFs. Visit https://www.airestech.com to learn more.

2: The Somavedic Medic Green Ultra

Somavedic Technologies is the creator of EMF-mitigating devices. Their small plug-in unit, The Somavedic Medic Green Ultra, includes a crystal glass corpus and a “heart” composed of precious metals (gold, platinum, palladium, and silver), non-precious stones, and natural energetic amplifiers. This unique combination of elements helps reduce the negative effects that EMF radiation and 5G has on our bodies. 

Because of the controlled release of energy from the precious stones and metals, this technology creates a coherent “bubble” with a radius of 100 feet in all directions. The resulting field helps to harmonize our bodies and environment. The unit is also beautiful! Visit https://somavedic.com to learn more.  

3: The BlocWave Hoodie

When it’s time to pick your battles outside your castle, you might want to don EMF protective armor. The makers of the BlocWave EMF Protection Hoodie state that this comfortable jacket will help to protect your body against dangerous EMFs and 5G radiation exposure. This blocking-hoodie features a wide range (57-65 dB) of protection while retaining an attractive, contemporary style. 

BlocWave hoodies are made from 50% Silver Fibre, 45% Tencel & 5% Modal. You might consider wearing a cotton shirt underneath as the addition of silver in the fabric can feel a bit scratchy. Visit Emf-protection.com to learn more.

EarthInsoles.com – I love these shoes. I put them in my sandals! Absolutely an amazing feeling!

4: Mushroom Shoes

Imagine dancing below a canopy of redwood trees while releasing endorphins and neutralizing the negatively charged ions scurrying throughout your body. A wonderful, healing image, right? Enter – Caveri Insoles. Made with a unique formula of bonded-mushroom materials, these shoe-inserts help you feel deeply connected to the earth and reduce the effects of 5G. Your vibration will increase, your body will be at peace, and your spirit will soar – even in downtown NYC!

The company promises that these sturdy add-ons can enhance blood circulation, regulate blood sugar, and lower blood pressure. Apparently, they can also positively impact or prolong life by disabling malignant cells that cause disease. Quite a profound mission statement!

These lovely inserts are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly. Simply insert them in your shoes and voila! Visit EarthInsoles.com to learn more.

5: Orgonite

Orgonite is a man-made, rock-like object that can be created by combining resin, metals, and quartz, developed by Austrian psychiatrist, Dr. Wilhelm Reich. Reich’s unique findings suggest that while organic materials attract and hold essential energies, non-organic metals simultaneously repel and attract the same energies. 

According to Reich, combining these ideas can have a powerful effect, especially against EMFs and 5G. Not only does Orgonite promise to improve your sleep, but it’s also purported to balance moods, enhance your immune system, and improve your connection to your inner-Self. They can often be found in the shape of pyramids.

Honorable Mentions

It seems we have lots of options, too. Companies like Earthcalm, Goldenwave, VortexBioShield, QuWave, DefenderShield, and QuanThor have products that either promise to block EMFs or neutralize and transform them into benign forms of energy. This can counteract the emissions coming from your laptop, tablet, desktop, computer, mobile phone, and vehicle, and drastically reduce the levels of EMFs that your body is absorbing. 

Most of these companies note that their products reduce headaches, improve sleep, and lower Free Radical levels. They all appear to be keenly focused on helping humanity counteract the effects of 5G. God bless them!

You might also consider picking-up an EMF frequency and radiation detector. These meters can help you assess your home, office, and vehicles like a pro. From there, you can hunt down the products that deliver the most benefits. 

Why do our governments approve technologies like 5G? 

If a product points to profit and leads to upticks in stock markets, it will always find favor in the sustainers and defenders of global monetary systems. If you’re feeling upset by the insanity related to the EMF-emitting stations being installed in your neighborhood, speak up! Even though many unconscious leaders and dictators are running around the world creating havoc and comprising our health and safety, we still have voices that matter. Stand up and be heard!

In the meantime, be healthy, focus on love, and improve your vibration every chance you get. May you be filled with light and positivity for all your days on Earth!

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.

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The Best Tech For Quarantine

Best Tech for business
Sometimes it’s nice to be home and wearing our underwear. A Shutterstock Licensed Image.

The Best Tech for Quarantine Life: Business and Personal

If you’ve been finding new life by reading books, making soup, cuddling, and meditating, while also watching lots of movies, you’re probably one of the millions of quarantined people living and thriving from home. If you’re looking to uplevel that hobby into a business or simply connect with friends and family not living with you, you might enjoy my take on today’s best tech. 

For any home business and home life to feel more connected to the outside world, it’s vital to be a bit gregarious, create successful workflows, and maintain hopefulness and a positive attitude. There are many apps and tech sites that can help you connect, stream, chat, organize, share, and increase productivity. Some of them are wonderful. Others, not so much. 

Best Tech for Quarantine Video/Virtual Conferencing

Here’s my magic list of decent tech, all built for living and working from home.

Join.me: A+

This super-simple video conferencing tool is owned by LogMeIn, which also owns GoToMeeting. It’s probably the easiest screen sharing & video conferencing solution for one-on-one classes, group instruction, personal connections, and business. It takes less than a minute to join, and you’re immediately given a personal link to start meetings. It’s great for team collaboration and lots more. It’s also the cutest interface of the bunch.’

Jitsi Meet: A

A fully encrypted video conferencing solution that lets you share desktop and presentations, invite users to conference via custom URL, edit documents together, trade messages and add colorful emojis. In some ways, Jitsi is the anti-corporate video conferencing app, one of the main reasons I love it.

GoToMeeting: A-

Also owned by LogMeIn, GoToMeeting is for power-users who need functionality like electronic hand-raising, HD audio, and on-demand webcasting. If you need training, they’re happy to provide in-person and live online sessions, or webinars, along with lots of documentation. GoToMeeting offers a helpful 14-day trial. 

Webex: A-

The go-to video conferencing tech tool that was popular 5 years ago is still a viable tool in the market. Its user interface is a bit clunky and outdated, but it’s a secure and multifaceted experience, with more features than GoToMeeting.

Of note: With similar pricing and features, when you’re choosing between WebEx and GoToMeeting, it will most likely come down to these two questions: 

 

  1. Do you prefer an old-school design, but with all the latest bells and whistles (Webex), or do you want something a little slicker (GoToMeeting)?
  2. Do you want to run your conferences from a window you can drag anywhere on your screens (GoToMeeting), or do you prefer a locked window (WebEx)? 
  3. Do you prefer being able to share downloadable files during your meetings (Webex), or would you prefer a free trial run for a couple of weeks (GoToMeeting)?
  4. Do you want seven simultaneous video feeds (Webex) or is six screens okay for you, but at a higher screen resolution (GoToMeeting)?

Zoom: C

Great tech, but security, Not so much. Zoom has been in the news lately because it failed to report that its privacy and security protection is akin to those of the Fourth Reich. With Zoom’s intense data absorption and residence on your computer’s hard drive, it feels a bit worse than the stealth data theft by Facebook and Google. Also, there are many reports of hackers breaking into live feeds. If you’re using live video for something private, sensitive, secret, or intimate, Zoom would not be the best choice. 

While the company has publicly stated that it’s working to improve its security and terms, that’s probably 3 years away. Drastic upgrades to code and architecture can take even longer. Zoom at your own risk.

Other Contenders

You might also check out Whereby, Starleaf, RemoteHQ, Talky, Highfive, BlueJeans, and 8X8.

Best Tech for Quarantine Chat & Teams

While some folks use Google Hangouts and Meet to drive communication in their pursuits, it has limits, the dashboard is messy, and it only allows for a few participants. It’s also a bit of a train wreck for Mac users. Here are some powerful alternatives that you, your co-workers, and your customers might enjoy more: 

Skype: A+

Purchased by the fat, clunky software maker Microsoft, Skype is simple to install and easy to use. It’s perfect for fast, desktop texting, small video chats, and screen sharing. You can build a team chat and share files all day long. Skype is a powerhouse and it never disappoints. It’s also far less complicated than all the other players in the game.

Slack: A

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Slack is a comprehensive chat room, built to become your only method of communication, including file sharing. Launch a workspace and organize communications by channels. Enjoy group discussions and private messages. Some say that Slack is a replacement for email. It also integrates with a long list of extremely helpful apps and integrates with the popular Salesforce, unlike its rising competitor, Microsoft Teams. Slack is easy to use and built with an exceptional design.

Microsoft Teams: B

Taking advantage of the booming collaboration software market, Microsoft forced its Office 365 users to become adopters of Teams, shortly after bailing out of a potential purchase of Slack. This provoked many managers to declare Teams as the primary team communication tool within their companies. It’s a computer memory hog like all Microsoft products, but it integrates with its own OneDrive, allowing easy access and edit of all of your team’s docs, without ever having to leave the app. It’s best for small groups. 

Chanty: B-

This powerful little app is the least expensive of the bunch. Functionalities include private and public conversations, audio calls, voice messages, built-in tease management, team members and integrations, file storage, screen sharing.

Best Tech for Quarantine Organizing, Project Management, and Productivity

Asana and Basecamp provide complex, high-quality environments for you and your team to manage projects. They also require some training, or at least a few hours of trial, error, and frustration. If you want to get up-and-running faster, try Trello. It’s simpler, more visual, and potentially more enjoyable to use. 

For general productivity, writing emails, and creating documents, try Zoho, which has many similar features of Google docs. 

When it comes to managing your To-Do lists, I’m a big fan of Todoist. I was an early adopter and have continued with them for years. I’ve also used all of their competitors. Try it and I’ll bet you’ll love it. 

The Best Tech for Quarantine Peacefulness and Meditation

There are also a variety of peacefulness and meditation mobile apps, including Headspace, Happify, Smiling mind, The Mindfulness App, Calm, Colorfy, Mindfulness Daily, Biddhify, Omvana, and many others. Some of these apps are truly beautiful, with outstanding designs. I’ve been using Happily for a long time, and I love it.

You will also love our Blended Soul™ App.

Luscious, extravagant personality readings with a spiritual, actionable premise.

Visit this page to scroll to the links to the Google Play and iOS app stores.

If you love any of these apps, remember that connecting with nature, absorbing the rays of the sun, and doing aa little indoor and outdoor gardening can be incredibly nutritive, especially during periods where we might be less active than usual.  During times like these, you might also consider developing an operational plan for your life, hobby, and home business. When we move our plan forward, our minds and bodies often follow. 

Remember, too, that meditation, prayer, and healing herbs can help you improve your immune system and mindset. And a little forgiveness here and there goes a long way. Let it all go, sent firm boundaries, start fresh, eat healthfully, choose love, and remain focused on the present moment. Love, light, and blessings to everyone!

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About The Author:

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Paul is a spiritual healer and coach with more than 30 years of experience. He is the founder of The Shankara Experience, and creator of The Shankara Oracle and The Personality Cards.

His work is focused on guiding seekers to inner freedom and awakening.