Understanding The Chakra System

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Lance Bauer

The human body consists of seven major chakras and many less-important small ones. The chakras are centers of energy, points of flow of energy and behave like energy joint in the body. Every aspect of our emotional, bodily, spiritual life and mental life is possible because of the energetic operations in these chakras. Each of the seven major chakras corresponds to a unique aspect of our being and has its own character.

The chakra system is the center for central processing of the aspect of our being. Any kind of energetic dysfunction in the chakras generally may give rise to disorders in the spirit, body or mind. If there is defect in the flow of energy caused due to any given chakra this results in an imperfection in the energy offered to some parts of the physical body. All this is due to simple reason that field of energy is a holistic being and every part of it influences every other part.

Chakras are not objects which are situated in the precise locations of the body. To practice healing or to carry out healing process we place the hands on these chakras. Out of the seven chakras, five chakras are situated along the spine and two are on the head.

There is an intrinsic color of each chakra. This intrinsic color is the true color of the visible light spectrum. There are two components of each chakra – a front component and a rear component. These components are closely connected.

The first chakra extends forward from the bottom of the spine and downwards and the angle of this chakra is about at 45 degree angle. The seventh chakra extends erect upwards on top of the head. The other 5 chakras are spaced between the first and the seventh chakra.

When energy channelization takes place the energy healer receives the energy throughout from all around the Earth and from his own chakra system which also acts as a conductor. Energy circulates in the entire universe which gets conducted through the atmosphere and Earth and into the healer’s body. When you do healing a greater quantity of energy is received in order for it to be passed on through your hands to the patient.

During the initial phases of healing extra energy is derived from first and seventh chakras. As practice grows one receives equal energy amounts from all the chakras.

There is also an upward flow of energy in the body which is from the lower to higher energy centers. Simpler functioning ones are the lower chakras but with upward ascend a more sophisticated and spiritual functioning happens.

With practice you gain proficiency and channelization of energy increases. You gain awareness of some sense of the unique nature of each chakra and in the condition of each chakra in your patients. More advanced techniques are learnt at later stages which are at levels of Chios healing. You do this for expansion of your awareness, to gain understanding of condition of the patient and for treating the chakra system of the patient.

The author Lance Bauer is one of the team of experts who writes for the popular chakra-balance.com site. To learn how knowledge of chakras in human body can enhance your whole life and receive twenty nine Free chakra system brainwave training balancing and healing Audios.

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What We Think Matters

Posted on August 16, 2010 by William Pulos

Ever hear the old saying: “You are what you eat”? If: every day you eat sugar, spice and everything nice, then chances are you’re not going to be any of those things; you are going to wind up over weight!

When it comes to the way we think, It really does matter what we dwell on the most. If always find ourselves thinking about sorrow then we are rarely going to be happy.

If we give too much thought about how hard it is to refrain from being agitated by someone in our lives who is a pest, then chances are we are going to be annoyed even more with normal actions by this person.

A bit of common sense is in order when focusing on optimism. If we believe it everything is always great we can be setting ourselves up for failure. The basic idea here is that we need to have a good reason for optimism and not just a willy nilly totally care free attitude.

Proper thinking:

The thing I am trying to illustrate is that people often get lost in thought thinking about whimsical concerns or giving undue hype to other things. Neither of these focuses are going to produce any lasting positive effect.

Let’s take a moment and think properly. I probably got you there and you are most likely now asking “what ?” it’s not total rocket science but it takes some deep meditation to get the answers straight.

Just one focus for consideration:

Our work is important to us, the better we do the more money we make and that can be an urgent thing if we are having problems paying all of our bills. The truth for a lot of us is that this is not the case because as we acquire more income we also acquire more expenses.

A person will think that now they got a promotion that they can buy that great new 3D TV or something of the like, and be able to do so on payments, but fail to consider when unexpected expenses may arise. Worse than that, the item they are still paying for may become outdated or lose its attraction to them before it is even paid for.

The Real Point:

Everybody has needs and they are always specifically concerning us as individuals. There is no cure all elixir for every person and it the responsibility of each person to work towards their needs. The problem is that many of us don’t truly know what we need.

To really get to the core of what will cause the most beneficial change in our lives we need to reflect on what we truly yearn for. We need to go beyond frivolous desires and really unearth what motivates us.

Just put some time aside side so you can clear your mind in a peaceful setting and start allowing yourself to focus on a simple phrase: what do I want? If you can do this a few times a week and be consistent with the question, the answer that surface will most likely take you by surprise as not being frivolous at all.

If you have a hard time doing this you may want to consider learning how to meditate. It is a very effective tool for use here and will sever you in realizing how to acquire that true desire while making others around you a little happier too!

Find out more about authors Self Help Brainwave Entrainment, and Deep Meditation

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Need To Relax? Try A Cup Of Tea

Posted on August 15, 2010 by JR Holland

We are all stressed to the max nowadays. Most of us are under more stress than is good for us – day in and day out. Looking for ways to keep down your stress level? Try a cup of tea.

Making a cup of tea can be something you do without any thought at all – or it can be a pleasant ritual that brings a moment of calm and order to your hectic day. It’s all in the small details. A perfect mug or tea cup. A stovetop tea kettle whistling away as your water comes to a rolling boil. The scent of the tea bag as you place it in the cup. The sound of hot water rushing over the tea and filling the cup.The aroma of tea wafting through the air and the warmth of the cup in your hand. All of these small elements make a uncomplicated cup of tea into a soothing time to calm the spirit and body.

A perfect cup of tea starts with great tea, so find some great tea that you love. It doesn’t matter if it is an herbal blend or a rich black, green, white or chai tea, you can make this a regular time to relax and regroup – even if it is only for a moment.

Each of us needs some way to ground ourselves throughout the day. Whether it is a simple glance at the smiling photo of a loved one, a moment to look out the window in the middle of the day, or a mini-ritual like a cup of tea, these moments help us to calm and center ourselves for dealing with the rest of the world. You can even do something good for the earth by tossing your tea bags or leaves into the compost tumbler.

An electric tea kettle will make a fine cup of tea, if you must use one. You can even microwave the water if need be. But there is just something more fulfilling about making tea with a stovetop tea kettle. Perhaps it is man’s age-old fascination with fire – and the gift of being able to call forth food-cooking heat at a moment’s notice. Possibly it is just that we associate that sound of the stovetop tea kettle with the comforts of home and kitchen full of love and good food.

In any case, it is sufficient to simply sip and enjoy this rich experience for a moment before rejoining the world and it’s tumult. No matter the reason, we should embrace every opportunity to make a simple cup of tea into an experience that brings us in touch with our senses and creates some calm and peace in our lives. While a cup of tea is not quite as in-depth as meditating, there are elements of meditation in a simple tea ritual. It calms the mind while you focus on just one thought at a time: sight, sounds, sensations, scents – and just a moment of peace. Your stress relief can commence with a simple cup of tea.

Want to learn more about how tea can help reduce your stress? Visit www.stovetopteakettles.net for great information on tea and stovetop tea kettles. Free reprint avaialable from: Need To Relax? Try A Cup Of Tea.

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A Practical Start To Deep Meditation

Posted on August 14, 2010 by William Pulos

An example of meditation

Meditation can be thought of as highly focused thought but many people practice clear mind meditation which is just that, clearing your mind of all disruptive thought and concern. This is appropriate when first learning meditation and you are wise to return to this model semi regularly after you have achieved the basics and have familiarized yourself with freeing your mind from distractions and worries. You can begin practicing visualization.

Visualization is when you can see what you are thinking about. The more you practice this the more crisp the images will be. Many times I remember where I placed something by “seeing” where I put it but this is only one advantage and just the tip of the ice berg of things you can accomplish with visualization. Also this can extend to all your senses.

Asking questions of yourself!

You should begin questioning your subconscious for resolutions. When you ask acquaintances for answers to some dilemma they are not as interested in giving a worthy response as you are in attaining one.

As you begin to get more proficient with clearing your mind of external distractions you will become more able to listen to your inner mind for suggestions to specific questions you ask of it. Whether you believe it or not you remember being born and every experience you ever had and all of the situations you have ever dealt with.

This may not be on a conscious level but those memories are still there and are available for your subconscious to utilize in providing answers. It does not only draw on these memories but processes information more rapidly and efficiently than your conscious mind will allow.

Ever become oblivious to the title of an old move you once loved, and after a while it just suddenly came back to you? That was your subconscious surfacing the title for you and this is just one way information served up and provided to you from that other part of your mind.

A way to start meditating now:

Find a location without racket or other annoyances, assume a relaxed position, shut your eyes and start breathing in from your nose and exhaling from your mouth, holding your breath for a couple seconds (or whatever is a comfortable duration) between breaths, this is going to get you started in setting a rhythm and it is also providing your brain more oxygen.

Maintain breathing in this fashion continuously through the meditation. Now start to visualize a blank painting canvas, no Mona Lisa, no works by Picasso, and no one leaning over the easel with paintbrush in hand. With a little practice you should be able to keep other imagery to a minimum. Now start paying attention to the heaviness of your body and start loosening tension in your muscles.

Every time you exhale relax everything a little more. If you find you have problems relaxing your body parts, tense them for a moment, but not too much you don’t want to cause any cramping, and then release that tension while paying attention to the sensation of letting it go.

Good now you should be able to allow yourself to relax a little more with each exhale. When you feel like you are almost floating or swaying, you have reached self guided light meditation.

Now keep this up for the duration you had set aside previously (use a timer if needed, the ticking will only help with rhythm) and when you are completed you will have just had your first experience with meditation.

You should continue this several times a week for the span of a month, then begin changing your imagery. When the images become detailed you are ready to start using Deep Meditation with directed purpose.

If you begin trying to recall stuff or grasp new ideas that seem to flee from you, allow yourself some time and the solutions will materialize suddenly when you expect it the least, so long as your urge continues for a solution.

Thanks for reading I hope you found this helpful.

Find out more about authors website Music 4 Your Brain, or learn more about Deep Meditation MP3 inducing this state of mind.

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How To Create Your Own Meditation Space

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Sara Farber

If you are just starting to meditate, you’ll find it critical to have the right meditation space to help you relax. Some people signup at classes and other people design a quiet space within their home to meditate.

When you meditate, it brings about peaceful feelings and helps to develop your inner strength. Some people claim that they feel more spiritual and at peace as it frees their mind from their worries. Regular meditation relaxes the body which assists in overall health while improving brain function.

In order to be effective, meditation should be done regularly which is why it’s important to have your own meditation space. This isn’t difficult to do and shouldn’t be expensive. All that’s required is a quiet room in your home that’s very private. You can even use your own bedroom if you don’t have any other space available.

Designing your meditation room depends greatly on your own personality. You should display items that personally assist you in a feeling of tranquility and focused attention. This can be as simple as small trinkets that give you a peaceful feeling.

Since meditation involves sitting restfully, you’ll need to consider this when designing your room. If you’ll be sitting on the floor, you’ll need to support your bottom with some kind of cushion so you can sit comfortably for an extended period of time. Some people prefer to use a comfortable chair instead as they’re not able to sit on the floor due to mobility issues.

Some meditation rooms use candles and incense to help set the mood; you can also use these items if that works for you. Try out different scents to see which one is the most relaxing for you.

You can also place additional items such as tables, pictures, flowers or relaxing music in your meditation room. Experiment until you find the right items to suit your own taste. With that in mind, consider your feelings for each of the objects that you put in your room. If they make you feel relaxed, then include them.

Don’t forget, the sole purpose of your meditation space is to put you in the right mood to relax for meditation as soon as you’re in it. You’ll be rewarded with a quick transition into a meditative state each time you use your special room.

Sara Farber investigated and studied meditation techniques for years before writing her book “How to Learn Meditation”. Discover more about meditation basics, meditation types and gain a better understanding of meditation itself by reading the free articles at this site.

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Overcome Anxiety Easily: How To Deal With Stress And Anxiety

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Donald Anthony

Relaxation techniques for anxiety are particularly effective for coping with daily stresses such as dealing with that impossible boss, going for a dental check up or being audited.

Your body has natural reactions when it is faced with stress that manifests in certain physiological reactions such as rapid breathing, elevated blood pressure and a sudden increase in heart rates. Stress in many forms will always exist, but we can learn how to retain greater control of our bodies through training the mind.

Quieting the Mind and Body is the name of one technique that can calm the mind by reducing negative self talk. In times of stress, we all have a tendency to get overwhelmed. This technique calls for focusing on a small object that has meaning to you. It could be something like a favorite piece of jewelry or a photo of a pet or a family member. Focus for 2 minutes. Do not let any other distractions break your concentration. Repeat until you achieve the desired inner peace.

The second method is based in mediation and is called the Grounding Technique. Sit in a comfortable position and imagine yourself as a strong, powerful oak tree. Try to slow your breathing and visualize yourself as the tree with your feet now as roots dug firmly in the earth. Imagine swaying gently with the breeze and reaching towards the sun. Nothing can shake you.

The Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique is a third kind of exercise. Lie on your back and let your arms rest. Breathe slowly. Make fists with your hands and hold the position for fifteen seconds. Then unclench them for thirty seconds. Tense your feet in the same way and then continue with the legs and stomach. This can be repeated if you feel the need.

Another kind of stress reduction is called Tension Release through Color. Assume a comfortable position and close your eyes, imagining that the color blue surrounds you. As you breathe in, imagine the color blue is entering your body from the feet up. Each time you exhale, the color blue will be exhaled from your lungs. Repeat this five times until you achieve the desired calm.

Finally, the last method is called Guided Imagery. This involves visualization again, of pleasant situations and memories such as a favorite vacation in the Caribbean. Concentrate on remembering the reactions of your senses to those enjoyable surroundings. Remember how it felt walking in the sand at the beach. Smell the salt air. Remembering seeing the palm trees and tasting the food. This is an extremely effective mediation technique for developing mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a special quality of being totally engaged in the moment without over analyzing or over thinking the situation. It is particularly effective at reducing stress, anxiety and depression. With these techniques, you can achieve a measure of control over body reactions to stressful events in your everyday life.

Relaxation techniques are often used as a way to treat and deal with stress, anxiety and depression. Some of the most effective ways use no medication and include anxiety relaxation techniques. You can overcome anxiety easily with relaxation and other natural treatments. Visit Easy Relaxation Techniques today.

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Lucid Dreams – How To Get It Right!

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Sheila Kavanagh

A lucid dreamer is a person who has the ability to consciously be aware of the fact that he is dreaming. Hence, the questions about lucid dreams, how to induce it, how to continue it or how to progress in it for that absolute dream control are some common and popular questions where this topic is concerned.

As the first question on lucid dreams, how to start the entire process is the most common. It must be noted in this regard that bringing about the required level of lucidity is all about keeping your mind conscious and awake while you travel from the realm of wakefulness to that of the dreams.

In bringing about lucid dreaming, the three main weapons in you hand are those of proper preparation, relaxation and meditation. Starting with the first point of preparation, wear loose and comfortable clothing and lie down in a calm and quiet room. Banish all negative thoughts from your mind and also remember not to have any food item that generates heat and increases the number of thoughts in an individual’s mind.

In case of entering your lucid dreams, how to relax your body is the next important factor. The best strategy is to tense up each and every muscle in your body and then concentrate on each part and gradually relax them. Moreover, indulge yourself in basic meditation practices so as to attain a deep trance condition so that your mind remains focused while your body rests.

Secondly, in case of lucid dreams, how to maintain the lucidity after it has been achieved is the third and perhaps the most important question. Many a times, as a beginner you will find the dream settings to be fading away, or yourself loosing grip on the lucidity, or it may also happen that you force to change something in your dream but it wakes you up. For avoiding all such perils, two of the best methods are those of dream spinning and verbal commands.

The term dream spinning refers to the act of standing in a single spot and turning like a top, spinning round and round like a kid. This tool comes to extensive use in case you are unable to bring on a desired dream setting of your choice or in case of loosing clarity. Moreover, verbal affirmations or the act of continuously stating to your own mind whatever it is that you want to manifest in your dream, is the second way out of any problems in your lucid dream experience.

Thirdly, for lucid dreams, how to overcome nightmares is the third frequently asked question. It must be noted here that for nightmares, there’s no better thing than the knowledge that it is only a dream. Still, if there is this monster who continuously goes on attacking you, trying something like verbally affirming that it will be friends with you this time, may actually result in it doing so and solve your nightmare issue forever.

One can conclude from the above discussion that lucid dreaming is an experience of a lifetime for which effort needs to be put in. Thus, this effort can be made less and easier by meditation on one hand which will handle all ‘pre lucid dreams, how to’ questions while the two techniques mentioned above would answer all the ‘post lucid dreaming, how to’ questions.

The author Sheila Kavanagh writes for the popular http://www.luciddreaminginfo.com site. Discover the amazing experience of lucid dreams how to and you can try it yourself when you get 29 Free lucid dreams how Audios when you visit here.

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Getting Ready For A Clairvoyance Test

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Adam R Haywood

Clairvoyance is one of the most intriguing aspects of paranormal studies. There are many people who devote themselves to studying it. There is even a clairvoyance test that is administered to people who think they might be clairvoyant.

As with other paranormal abilities, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the topic of clairvoyance. There are people on both sides, equally convinced of its reality or its lack thereof. Those who have used the ability themselves, obviously, are certain that it is a real phenomenon; and many others are curious about it, either having seen clairvoyance in action or have an inkling that they may be clairvoyant themselves.

One problem is that relatively few people genuinely understand clairvoyance. This ability is essentially an additional sense which permits those who possess it to gain knowledge of the future or past without experiencing it with their physical senses. This knowledge usually comes as a mental picture or as sounds only audible to the clairvoyant.

Some people say that people who have clairvoyance have an ability that other people don’t, but this isn’t necessarily true. It actually seems more likely that most people are born with some level of ability in this area, but it is shut down as they get older. Children in our society who show signs of being clairvoyant are usually just told to stop imagining things or that things like that don’t exist. This both frightens and confuses the child, and they ignore anything unusual that may happen. This eventually kills the ability.

With some practice, especially that imparted through a clairvoyance test program, most people can redevelop their clairvoyance. While some seem to have more natural talent for clairvoyance than do others, just about everyone can learn to use their natural abilities to some extent.

The first step to any clairvoyance test is to begin training your mind and working to activate your natural clairvoyant abilities. One of the best ways to begin bringing this latent ability to the surface is meditation.

The more you develop your abilities, the more types of clairvoyance test you may assess your progress with. You will determine the extent of your abilities to listen for information from the world around you and test whether you tend to receive this information through visual or auditory means.

While becoming a clairvoyant is something which everyone has the capacity to do, developing your abilities to this extend takes considerable effort and involves a significant amount of time. You will most likely want to use books on the subject and practice your abilities with others who are working to develop their clairvoyance. Like learning any new skill, this can be a challenge and this process is a much smoother one when you have some assistance and experienced guides.

As you work to bring your paranormal abilities to the fore, you will probably have a clairvoyance test at periodic intervals which will be given by those helping you to learn to use your natural clairvoyant talents. It is just part of the learning process and everyone who strives to develop their skills does this as a matter of course.

The author Adam R Haywood is a writer for the http://www.develop-clairvoyance.com website. Discover for yourself how easy it is to develop clairvoyance. Discover previously undisclosed information. Anyone really can learn how to use their powers of clairvoyance. Find out how by visiting here and receive thirty free clairvoyance test. audios and videos!

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Is It Possible To Develop Precognition?

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Kelsey Allan

People that know what events will happen in the future long before time comes to experience them are though to have precognition. Some of these foresights are symbolic and need to be decoded in order to understand them. Other times the visions are so clear that the person can look right into the future. The majority of people believe that time is a variation of a spiral, not linear. That is why it is possible to look right into the future at times.

One must truly understand precognition in order to understand how it all occurs. The majority of people confuse clairvoyance with precognition. Clairvoyance allows the person to see situations, people, and certain problems that are occurring in the present and precognition allows the person to see into the future. ESP (Extra Sensory perception) is used in clairvoyance and precognition is typically thought of to be more paranormal. The definition of precognition is knowing before.

Precognition is most likely to appear in a dream. Many people dream occasionally about the future but they do not have the ability to remember the dream. When someone experiences something that they have experienced in one of their unremembered dreams it is commonly referred to as dejavu. It is all because of the precognition that they experienced while they were sleeping.

Some people who are trained mystics may even be able to see the future consciously in an awakened state. However, this happens only after a lot of practice and is not as common. These kinds of seers or mystics use their conscious will to see the future.

There are even some psychics of the professional realms that make use of mirrors or crystal balls to help them with their precognition.

Precognition can be achieved by anyone. All you need to do is to sharpen your intuitive abilities. An average person does not think beyond his five senses. He does not listen to his intuition or gut feel. You need to start listening to your intuition or gut feel to enhance your precognitive abilities. Paying attention to subtle environment around you and believing in your subtle senses is an important step to develop precognition.

Many people cannot grasp that they are more than just a physical body. The energies and emotions that they have in them are very important to their make up. That is why it is so important to pay attention to how you are feeling each day so you have an insight as to what is coming and what kind of day you are in for. You can develop precognition by simply playing a guessing game. Use a normal deck of cards and see if you can guess which card will be flipped up next.

Dreams are an important instrument in the development of our precognitive abilities; Try to start recalling your dreams after you wake up. Keep a dream journal on your bedside. Record your dreams in vivid details the moment you get up. If writing is too much for you (some of us find it cumbersome), then you can try recording your dream on a small recorder immediately when you wake up. If you do this regularly, you will find that you will remember dreams which you could never remember before!

If your dream repeats then you should think hard about what the meaning is that is hidden or look for any symbols and signs in the dreams that can lead you to gaining a better understanding of what the dream means.

Instead of using dreams, you can use hypnosis or meditation to develop precognition. Meditation is the system of making your mind quiet and allowing it to open to the supreme level of consciousness in the universe. Many people believe that every person is connected by one life force that we have in common. After you have been able to remove all of the chaos from your daily life and your mind is quite then you will have the ability to make a connection with the supreme consciousness and get a glimpse of the past and the future.

Meditation has been around for many years and it has been used by millions of thinkers, seers, and sages in all parts of the world. Meditation can be done in several different ways as well. Some people prefer that they have perfect silence and solitude in order to meditate while others would prefer to have the sound of nature around them. Find a way that works best for you and know that you will have to overcome the thoughts that will interrupt your quest for calmness at first. Keep your mind focused on being still and pay attention to but do not grasp the random thoughts that may come into your mind. Eventually you will be there in the vast knowledge and information that has been locked in the consciousness of the universe.

Fear is something that detours many people from their quest to develop precognition. They are afraid of the future because it will, most likely, end with a death and a separation from the ones that they love. The fear blocks the inflow of the universal information. This is why it is so important to remove all fear from your psyche if you wish to develop precognition. It can be simple to develop precognition as long as you are consistent and are willing to give constant practice.

The author Kelsey Allan is a writer for the http://www.develop-clairvoyance.com website. Discover for yourself how easy it is to develop-precognition. Discover previously undisclosed information. Anyone really can learn everything you need to be a clairvoyant find out how by visiting here and receive twenty nine free clairvoyant audios and videos!

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Historic Use Of Mushrooms In Spiritual Ceremonies

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Dr. Markho Rafael

People have used mushrooms as spiritual tools for at least 7,000 years. Thats the age of the oldest preserved records, cave paintings left by the historic San Peoples in Tassili of southeast Algeria. Images depict what has been interpreted as masked, dancing medicine men holding mushrooms in their hand; presumably of the awareness altering variety.

Tassili is located in an area that today is an uninhabitable mountainous desert. But in ancient times, the climate was wet, allowing not only humans to live there but also cattle, and even crocodiles. The San Peoples were culturally tied to other tribes across the desert, from Chad to Egypt, maybe even Greece.

Jumping forward 3,400 years in time to Greece, 1,600 B.C., we find the Eleusinian Mysteries. Continuous for an astounding two millennia, the Eleusinian Mystery initiation was the most important spiritual ceremony of ancient Europe. Scholars believe the Mysteries involved use of consciousness-altering mushrooms. With well-known participants like Plato and Aristotle, its influence on western civilization cannot be denied.

Later Vikings are known to have consumed limited amounts of the today much feared poisonous species Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). Ironically, they appear to have used it to overcome fear through religious rituals in which they danced and ate mushrooms before fearlessly going into battle.

Of course many of us may not think highly of the Viking warrior spirituality but it was an undeniable part of their religious practices whether or not we approve. At the same time, across the Baltic Sea, Siberian shamans also used Fly agaric to achieve spiritual communion with their gods.

Fly agaric is even put forth as the source of “soma,” a juice described in ancient Vedic texts as bestowing divine qualities on the consumer, including immortality. Convincing arguments linking Fly agaric to Soma are presented by R. Gordon Wasser in his book Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality. His theory, although not proven, hasnt been disproven either.

(Please note: Fly agaric is poisonous. It can also be easily confused with other more deadly species. Consumption is strongly discouraged.)

On the other side of the ocean from Europe, the Mixtec culture likewise employed mind-altering mushrooms in their spiritual ceremonies, as recorded in the Mixtec Codex (13th-15th century). Their Gods were frequently engraved with mushrooms in hand.

Although Mixtecs themselves told white anthropologists they used spiritual mushrooms in their religious rituals, western scientists still doubted them in characteristic condescending manner.

American botanist William Safford argued that peyote buttons were mistaken for mushrooms, while other scientists insisted that the Mixtec culture really did use mind-expanding mushrooms in their religious rituals.

This debate carried on until amateur anthropologist Robert Weitlaner was invited to observe a Mixtec religious ceremony in the early 1930′s and witnessed the use of mushrooms firsthand.

In 1953, amateur mycologist R. Gordon Wasson and his wife Valentina Povlovna became the first westerners to actually participate in a Velada (mushroom ceremony), led by shaman Don Aurelio. Wasson publicized his experience in Life Magazine in 1957, which became the start of the popular awareness of spiritual mushrooms in the west.

25 species of the Psilocybe genus are known to contain the consciousness-altering chemical compounds psilocybin (stable) and psilocin (unstable). The species used by the Mixtec culture are believed to have been Psilocybin caerulescens and Psilocybin mexicana. The more common and sometimes cultivated species Psilocybin cubensis did not exist in America before the arrival of Europeans.

Today, use of consciousness-altering mushrooms is illegal in most countries of the world due to the fact that they are often misused as recreational drugs. Only in The Netherlands were fresh (not dried) Psilocybe mushrooms until recently legal.

That all changed after a French 17-year-old girl jumped off a bridge when eating Psilocybe mushrooms. The Dutch parliament responded with a ban on the sale of so called “magic mushrooms,” which took effect December 1, 2008. From Tassili to Amsterdam, the use of spiritual mushrooms is now officially history.

Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health products since 1996, today specializing in medicinal mushrooms. He does not support the use of mind-altering mushrooms. The article on this page is for entertainment only. Click reishi to visit site for more free mushroom articles, or cordyceps reishi for mycomedicinal products. Note: Absolutely no magic mushroom products, please do not inquire.

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