Crystal therapy is a therapeutic method of healing which enables spiritual healing and growth. Records show that it was used thousands of years ago inn Ancient Egypt, traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
It is believed that crystals resonate unique vibrations based on their mineral content, intrinsic geometry and color frequency they radiate. They are placed around or in key areas of the body to help clear and release negative energies in order to heal and restore balance. They can also be swept over the body, carried or worn.
Our bodies have an electromagnetic system also known as a vibrational energy system. Crystals on the other hand function as great electromagnetic conductors which have the capability to interrelate with our energies. They carry vibrations that can activate energy midpoints in our system, thus giving off positive effects such as restoring a person’s well-being.
During therapy, a variety of crystals or stones are used to release imminent obstructions that block the flow of energy in the body in order to reduce mental and nervous stress. Afterwards, individuals feel a profound state of calmness. It becomes easier for them to let go of negative attitudes and habits and they become more in tune with themselves and their lives.
When using crystals, it is important to cleanse them before usage because they may carry negative vibrations as well. They can be cleaned with running water or placed in direct sunlight or moonlight. The latter is considered the most powerful cleaner. Pure sound vibrations such as the sound of a bell or gong can also cleanse a crystal’s energies.
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Lifestyles have changed in the past decade. For most of us it is like living in the fast lane every day. There is so much to be done and there is so little time. As a result, we become stressed and this results in many illnesses and even death.
Studies show that stress is the common cause of anxiety. It damages our body and mind, causing panic attacks, lack of sleep, phobias and many more. Apart from these, it also triggers health diseases such as heart problems, high blood pressure, asthma, eczema, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and alopecia.
Other signs of stress include headaches, palpitations, wheezing, irritability, low energy, poor memory and increased emotions.
Stress is often caused by finance, work and relationships. Treatments vary and drug induced ones can sometimes cause more problems instead of fixing it. We must keep in mind that in the end it is up to us. Our perspective and choices lead us to the kind of life we choose.
Here are some tips to reduce stress:
Identify what causes you stress and do something about it. It may be easier said than done, but let’s face it, we only get stressed if we let it get to us.
Reduce stress by being more organized. Make a list of personal and professional priorities and make time for them. Keep an organizer, so that you won’t forget anything.
Allow yourself to be emotional at times. You are human and it is normal to laugh or cry when needed. Keeping these emotions can result to long term issues.
Learn how to value yourself. Make a list of your positive qualities and go through it whenever you feel down.
Find your passion. It may be a hobby, a sport or even volunteering for a cause. Outlets help you cope and make you feel good about yourself.
Learn to relax wherever you are. If you feel like losing control, take deep breaths until you feel better. Meditate when you can. Simply close your eyes and imagine yourself in a beautiful spot where you would want to be.
Write down how you feel. It lets you release your feelings and makes you feel better. Keep a journal. It is always nice to look back and know how you were able to cope.
Take a break. Go on a holiday whenever you can. It allows you to recharge. It also helps you learn new things and gather new experiences. Plus it gets you away from stress.
Lastly, learn how to do nothing. Keeping quiet and still helps you think clearly.
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Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system or a way of life taught by Confucius in the 5th-6th century BC. Some see it as philosophy or religion, as an “all-encompassing humanism that neither denies nor slights heaven”.
Confucianism is known to be a combination of ren also known as “benevolence or humaneness” of people within a community. It is a reflection of excellent character in accordance to li or ritual norms, yi or the moral disposition to do good, zhong which is loyalty to one’s nature, shu or reciprocity and xiao filial piety. Altogether they are seen as de or virtue. Confucius also believes that it is necessary to give up one’s life “passively or actively for the sake of upholding cardinal and moral values.
These beliefs are all characteristics of a positive view of human nature and faith that all human beings are gifted and can do wonderful things. They are all capable of improving, being taught and reaching a certain level of perfection through ‘self-cultivation and self-creation’.
Confucius saw heaven or T’ienas a personal universal force and he regarded it as positive. This belief was contrary to what people assumed that he was a skeptic or agnostic who did not believe in a higher power.
Confucianism does not have specific rituals or practices apart from its ‘ethical principles’. Most of these so called practices are a combination of Taosim, Buddhism and Chinese religion.
This way of thinking has a huge following. It has become a moral compass, even influencing political and spiritual life in China. It has even spread out to neighboring Asian countries such as Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam and Japan.
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Meditation is a state where the made goes into a deeper level of thinking or awareness. Through meditation you gain a better hold of your emotions and reactions towards things and situations. It helps you become more patient and allows you to easily let go of negative attitudes such as anger.
The first thing you should do is to make time to meditate. Set a certain time of day, preferably in the morning to meditate. Making it part of your daily routine will yield better results. A friend once told me that meditation is spiritual hygiene –a way to let go of negative feelings.
Next, find a quiet and relaxing environment that is free from noise or other distractions. It will help you calm your mind and clear your thoughts. If you have a strong sense of focus and you can meditate amidst the hustle and bustle then feel free to do so.
Sit on level ground preferably on a cushion with your back straight so that you can breathe easier. Let your arms fall freely on your sides or put them on your lap. Make sure every part of your body is relaxed. Find a better posture or position if needed.
Focus on how you breathe. Get into the rhythm and recite a mantra such as “uhm” repetitively if needed. You may say it out loud or in your mind. Visualize a relaxing place and allow yourself to be there. Calming thoughts and images make meditation easier.
Lastly silence your mind. Let thoughts and feelings flow without judgment. Send off the negative things and keep the good thoughts and feelings. Let it envelope you. Maintain the fuzzy and warm feeling from the positive energies and allow them to flow.
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Alice came to a fork in the road. “Which road do I take?” she asked.
“Where do you want to go?” responded the Cheshire cat.
“I don’t know,” Alice answered.
“Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.”
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
At one point in our lives, there comes a time when we are confused and we do not know what to do. We rethink our past and have “what ifs”, after we move forward aimlessly, just moving with no final destination. Seasons change and time pass and yet we still feel that we are in the exact same place where we started.
One thing we have to accept about life is that it is full of choices. Roadblocks are part of the package. They are there so we can pause and think about what we really want. Worse, they will appear again and again until we learn our lesson. We must continue to move forward and become better.
We must be open to change. It may seem as if we have no direction, but in reality we are learning. Each day and experience is full of new things to see or do. We just have to be open. Options will always be there. We must accept that we cannot take both roads at the same time. There are things we can and cannot do in a personal capacity, but either way it contributes to our well-being if we allow it to.
So if you don’t know where you are heading, just live. Take it easy and enjoy the ride. In the end the road you took will not matter and most likely there will be no regrets because you have probably gained so much more than what you have asked for.
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