Cosmic Lady

Archive for July, 2009

Acupuncture comes from two Latin words namely “acus” which means needle in English and “pungere” which means prick. Its history originated in China more than years ago and has evolved into various forms.

Some of the techniques of acupuncture do not even use needles anymore. Vibrating objects, ultrasound and even the fingers of the practitioner have taken some of the work to make the person feel better.

The history of acupuncture is first discussed in an ancient Chinese medical text called the “Huang Di Nei Jing” or The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.

But there have been a few who are skeptic as archaeologists have found a , year old mummy in the Alps with similar acupuncture points in the body. This gives some people the idea that it was used even before the Chinese did but sine there is no written text to prove that, no one is certain and credit to this ancient practice goes back to the Chinese.

In the th century, this knowledge moved to Japan. In the th century, a man by the name of Waichi Sugiyama wanted to make this procedure painless for the patient so he developed the insertion tube, a small cylindrical tube through which the needle is inserted. Believe it or not, this technique is still being used today.

But acupuncture only reached the US in the early ’s with the establishment of a regulatory board called the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. As a result, various schools have been built and those who want to become licensed acupuncturists are now able to practice their profession.

Despite that, there were a lot of people who are not yet convinced on the positive effects of alternative forms of medication. It was only in that the US Food and Drug Administration decided to classify the needles used for acupuncture as medical instruments and assured the public that they are both safe and effective.

To further promote acupuncture, the NIH or National Institute of Health in has stated that this technique is very useful in treating various health conditions. These include ear, nose, throat, respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye, nervous system and muscular disorders. In some cases, acupuncture is able to prevent some of them from happening.

This was further strengthened by the fact that the side effects of acupuncture are much less than that of conventional drugs that are being sold by pharmaceutical companies.

So that people can avail of acupuncture, another recommendation by the NIH is for US companies to provide full coverage for certain conditions. If you do not quality, perhaps there is partial coverage which you should look up in your policy.

But despite that, more research needs to be done to see its effects on other health related problems. Some examples of these include addictions, autism, chronic low back pain, migraines and osteoarthritis of the knee.

If you look at the history of acupuncture, not much has changed since the needle technique used back then is still being used today. Even if various forms have developed through the years, one thing for sure is that it works.

In order for you to see how effective it is, you have to see a specialist who is not only qualified to treat your condition but also one is well trained.

With the growing acceptance of alternative medicine in Western cultures, acupuncture is quickly becoming a popular practice. More and more people today are choosing acupuncture over western medicine to treat bodily pains, relieve stress, or to promote overall health. If you are thinking about trying acupuncture but are wondering if it is safe or if it’s the right treatment for you, the following information may aid you in making a more informed decision.

Description and Origin

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine needles into specific points in the body for therapeutic purposes. According to theory, these specific points called “acupuncture points” lie along pathways of the body along which one’s vital energy is said to flow. The needles are used to promote free-flow of energy in areas of the body that circulation may have stagnated. Although acupuncture is practiced in many Asian cultures such as Japan, Tibet, and Korea the practice is commonly known to have originated in China.

Acupuncture in the Western World

One of the most debated issues between the East and the West is the use of acupuncture as a western means of medical treatment. Even though this form of medicine has been used as an effective method for over five thousand years in China, there is no concrete evidence from scientific research studies that have proven the healing properties of acupuncture.

Skeptics shrug off the positive effects of acupuncture as merely placebo effects. Believers in acupuncture, however, say that the benefits have simply not yet been proven. Believers promote that the treatment is harmless and can be used as a complement to western medicine.

Unfortunately, standards of acupuncture have not been fully approved by the FDA due to many unregulated practices that still exist such as the re-use of needles. Furthermore, acupuncture certification today is mostly a sham, used to make money on desperate patients who have not benefited from western medical treatments. The National Council Against Health Fraud has even declared acupuncture as an unproven means of treatment whose concepts of healing are primitive and false.

Should You Try It

One thing that Western science can agree upon is that there are no proven harmful effects of acupuncture. Many doctors agree that as long as a medication is not detrimental to one’s health, then there is no reason why it should not be used if there are noticeable benefits. Most scientists would also state that it is simply due to a lack of research that the therapeutic properties of acupuncture have not yet been proven.

Although many forms Chinese medication remain debated concepts in Western society, there is a growing interest in these medications and perhaps as the acceptance of the practice grows, so will the discoveries about its medical properties.

More Information on Acupuncture

You can find more information about acupuncture at an acupuncture center close to you. You can easily locate nearby centers or practitioners by searching online. An appointment may be necessary as acupuncture centers are usually busy with long wait lists.

So if western medicine is not working for you and you are looking for an alternative, give some thought acupuncture. More and more people are discovering the therapeutic benefits of this ancient medicine. Acupuncture is safe and harmless, and therefore you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It’s hard to say when in our lives each of us become aware of this thing called “astronomy”. But it is safe to say that at some point on our lives, each and every one of us has that moment when we are suddenly stunned when we come face to face with the enormity of the universe that we see in the night sky. For many of us who are city dwellers, we don’t really notice that sky up there on a routine basis. The lights of the city do a good job of disguising the amazing display that is above all of our heads all of the time.

So it might be that once a year vacation to a camping spot or a trip to a relative’s house out in the country that we find ourselves outside when the spender of the night sky suddenly decides to put on it’s spectacular show. If you have had that kind of moment when you were literally struck breathless by the spender the night sky can show to us, you can probably remember that exact moment when you could say little else but “wow” at what you saw.

That “Wow” moment is what astrology is all about. For some, that wow moment becomes a passion that leads to a career studying the stars. For a lucky few, that wow moment because an all consuming obsession that leads to them traveling to the stars in the space shuttle or on one of our early space missions. But for most of us astrology may become a pastime or a regular hobby. But we carry that wow moment with us for the rest of our lives and begin looking for ways to look deeper and learn more about the spectacular universe we see in the millions of stars above us each night.

To get started in learning how to observe the stars much better, there are some basic things we might need to look deeper, beyond just what we can see with the naked eye and begin to study the stars as well as enjoy them. The first thing you need isn’t equipment at all but literature. A good star map will show you the major constellations, the location of the key stars we use to navigate the sky and the planets that will appear larger than stars. And if you add to that map some well done introductory materials into the hobby of astronomy, you are well on your way.

The next thing we naturally want to get is a good telescope. You may have seen a hobbyist who is well along in their study setting up those really cool looking telescopes on a hill somewhere. That excites the amateur astronomer in you because that must be the logical next step in the growth of your hobby. But how to buy a good telescope can be downright confusing and intimidating.

Before you go to that big expense, it might be a better next step from the naked eye to invest in a good set of binoculars. There are even binoculars that are suited for star gazing that will do just as good a job at giving you that extra vision you want to see just a little better the wonders of the universe. A well designed set of binoculars also gives you much more mobility and ability to keep your “enhanced vision” at your fingertips when that amazing view just presents itself to you.

None of this precludes you from moving forward with your plans to put together an awesome telescope system. Just be sure you get quality advice and training on how to configure your telescope to meet your needs. Using these guidelines, you will enjoy hours of enjoyment stargazing at the phenomenal sights in the night sky that are beyond the naked eye.

It’s a scientifically proven fact that mankind uses
only about % of our brains. Albert Einstein
supposedly used % of his. That leaves an awful lot
of untapped brain power.

Consider what we’ve accomplished with the little bit
of brain power we’ve been using since the dawn of man.
Is it so hard then to consider the possibilities of
what we could achieve?

The Law of Attraction, positive thinking or whatever
you want to call it, works on the premise that we’re
capable of determining what we have and how we live
with the power of our psychic energy.

The idea is that we’re able to direct our mental
abilities, our thoughts toward our goals and desires
and obtain them.

Granted this ability isn’t something that’s easily
obtained. Most people have spent their lives under the
impression that the world affects them. Not the other
way around.

It’s a generally held belief that if fate is
determined by us, it’s through our actions and not our
thoughts. But aren’t our thoughts the basis of our
actions?

If our thoughts cause us to act, and that action
results in obtaining our goal, can we not say our
thoughts were responsible for the results? The results
of our actions are determined by our thoughts. Whether
they’re conscious or not, our thoughts do determine
what and who we are.

The Law of Attraction helps us focus our thoughts in
positive ways to everyone’s benefit.

If you think that Feng Shui is only good for your home or your office, think again. This can also be used for love and relationships. Here are some tips you should know.

. If you are married or in a relationship, hang pictures of you together with your mate.

. For married couples, place a pair of objects in the far right corner of the bedroom otherwise known as the southwest corner. A few good examples are a pair of Mandarin ducks or cranes as these are symbols of marital bliss. Another is a heart shaped figurine made from pink quartz crystal.

. You surely have mirrors in the bedroom. If they are facing the bed, relocate them because it reflects the couple on the bed. Some believe that this will cause a failure in the relationship because of the entry of a third party. Believe it or not, televisions are just as negative as mirrors do get rid of it.

. As for the bed, make sure that this is not in direct line to the door. This is because the dead take your with your feet first. It should also be accessible from three sides as this will allow you to keep your partner.

. You should always treat yourselves to fresh flowers and once they wilt, replace it. Never put these in the southwest corner of the room as this will clash with the element of romance, namely earth.

. If there are any abstract, dark or sad artworks in the bedroom, take it out. These things encourage negativity when this room should be peaceful and safe for those who sleep there. You can replace it with a painting of Peonies, love birds or silk flowers as these represents love.

. You must never work out in the bedroom because this represents hard work that is often a hindrance of romantic space.

. Should the bedroom doors squeak, fix it because it blocks romantic energy from entering the bedroom.

. For those who have toilets and unfortunately this is located on the south west corner of the room, don’t worry because you can fix it by hanging a five rod wind chime.

. The bedroom should be well ventilated so old energy moves out of the room.

. It will also be a good idea to buy yourselves a gift as this symbolizes your relationship. Put this in a prominent place in the room or the home so you are able to remember your partner.

. But what if you are still single? Well Feng Shui may also work for you. You do this by making a wish list of what qualities you want in an ideal partner and also the ideal relationship. These are two different things and when you write it, be specific. It may not happen today or tomorrow but one day, your ideal partner will show up and you can have your dream come true.

Feng Shui can help you keep the love alive in your relationship by blocking out negative things and then embracing those that are positive. This may mean relying more of Yin which symbolizes femininity more than Yang which is masculinity but it is all good as this causes a healthy balance with the opposite sex.

The benefits of meditation have been known to humans ever
since it was first practiced several millennia ago. This
article will discuss some of them in detail and will
outline the mental as well as the health benefits of this
practice.

. Reduces stress

- since meditation helps calm the mind and relax the
individual, it helps a lot in reducing stress. This is
usually achieved through the breathing exercises that form
a part of the practice.

Stress reduction is one of the main reasons why people take
up meditation.

. Various health benefits

- there are already documented cases wherein meditation was
shown to have helped in curing an illness. A landmark study
is the one done in by Australian psychiatrist Ainslie
Meares which was published in the Medical Journal of
Australia.

The study documented how a patient’s cancer regressed after
sessions of intensive meditation. Meditation is also known
to lower blood pressure levels, which is beneficial to
patients who are at risk of hypertension and other
heart-related conditions.

. Improves concentration

- one practice in meditation involves focusing on a
particular object such as a candlelight, or reciting a
mantra. Doing activities like these have been shown to
improve a person’s concentration.

. Acceptance of events

- another aspect of meditation is the ability to take
things as they are. This helps a lot in reducing a person’s
frustrations over things that he/she cannot control.

People who will surely benefit from this include those who
are undergoing anger management.

Are you a parent who has recently decided that you would like you and your family to attend church? If you have, you may be concerned with your children and how they handle this new, yet important situation. Yes, many children do not associate fun with church, but there are steps that you can take to go about helping your child develop a new love for their religion, as well as a devotion for it.

One of the many ways that you can go about getting your child interested in religion is by seeing what programs your new church has available for young children. This is typically best if you have children who are toddlers or elementary school aged children, as they may be able to take part in a Sunday school program. What that in mind, there are also programs designed for teenagers as well. Depending on your church, these programs may include fun church classes, where educational materials are used, as well as using teenage volunteers to assist with Sunday school programs.

If your child has been dreading going to church each Sunday or if they are insisting that they do not want to go, you may want to consider scheduling a meeting with your family and your local church officials, namely the pastor. This is ideal, as your child can get to know the individual who will be providing them with guidance in their future. Your pastor or other church officials also know your congregation well. They may be able to help your child develop new friendships with others church goers or they may even be able to get your child excited about upcoming activities or events.

Speaking of upcoming activities and events, you will find that most churches, possibly even yours, host a number of events, both privately and throughout the community. These events may include anything from having a sporting team, such as a softball team, to putting on a play for the community to take part in. For many teens and even younger children, these are activities that may sound appealing to them. Each time that your church sponsors a community related event or a fundraiser, you may want to think about volunteering with your child. This is a great way to help your child understand that there is more to church than simply just attending Sunday services.

In addition to helping to get your child to express interest in your religion and church by using assistance from your church congregation and attending community events, you may also want to do your own fun activities at home. This is particularly ideal if you have an elementary school aged child, a toddler, or a preschooler, as they may be more receptive to at home church or religion focused activities.

Speaking of those church related activities, there are a number of different ways that you can go about getting your child excited about joining a church congregation. One of those way involves using books and other media items, namely DVDs, to your advantage. There are religious videos and books that may be able to help your child understand their religion, but in a matter that is fun and exciting all at the same time. There are also games that you can play, which can be purchased online or you can even make your own religion focused games. In all honestly, the decision as to how you want to work on your children at home is yours to make, but you should know that you do have a number of different options.

The above mentioned approaches, are just a few of the many ways that you can go about working to get your child interested in attending church, as well as be excited about doing so. It is also important to remember that many children automatically associate change with bad things. Even if your child isn’t receptive to church right away, whether they would like to be doing something else or feel uncomfortable, it is more than likely that they will soon come around and enjoy the experience, which will hopefully last a lifetime.

Many people want to know about the Akashic Records and
what is in them. Things about their own life usually,
past as well as present.

Unfortunately not everyone is able to tap into the
Akashic Records, but there is good news. There are
people out there, Akashic consultants, who are able to
take themselves to that dimension and read the Akashic
Records.

An Akashic Record reading uplifts the one being read.
The reader perceives the potential person they are
working with and the perception is anchored into our
ordinary dimension of consciousness.

When the reader gets into the Akashic Records to do a
reading for an individual, there are many ways they
are able to do this.

Typically the best rout is through spiritual means,
such as prayer. When an Akashic reader opens an
individual’s Records, they will employ a specific
prayer usually referred to as a Pathway Prayer.

To get ready for a reading, there is some preparation
that should be done by the individual.

It is important to consider the areas of your life
that you want information about. General concerns are
usually health, work, finances, relationships and
family.

Think about the issues you wish to know more about and
think about those things in your life that are hard to
change. Places where you may need help or guidance.

Bring your questions with you to your Akashic
Consultation. The reading is a sharing of Energy of
the Records and it is important to understand that
recognizing and dealing with ordinary human challenges
are the path to higher consciousness.

It is probably the dream of any amateur astronomer to be able to be the boss of one of the great multi million dollar telescopes even if it was just for one hour or for a few shots. Sure, we can have a lot of fun with our binoculars. And as we improve our personal equipment set, we get better and better at pinpointing what we want to see in the sky.

But there is only so far we can go within the constraints of a family budget in building the perfect telescopic operation. Probably the next level then is to work together with others in your astronomy club. By pooling our resources, we can make more progress both in acquiring much more sophisticated equipment and in synchronizing our telescopic operations.

All of this is good and its fun to tweak it and play with it always finding improvements. But when we are sitting back and dreaming, it’s those big institutional size telescopes that really grab our interest. Maybe you have had a chance to visit one at Kitt Peak, Arizona, Mauna Kea, Hawaii, Palomar Mountain, California or Mt. Locke, Texas to name just a few and as you walked around jaw dropped to your shoes, you thought, maybe if I could just run it for an hour, how awesome would that be?

The good news is that while these huge observatories are not going to let you come in and turn the gears of the mightiest telescopes yourself, many of them will perform specific observations for you and allow you to “see through their eyes” via the internet for that short observation. This is a powerful option for an amateur astronomer and one you want to prepare for carefully. Here is what you do…

. Begin compiling a list of the great telescopes of the world, their locations and how to contact them. Google will help you with finding lists of these observatories to contact by pointing you to specific directory sites like astro.nineplanets.org/bigeyes.html

. You can start by submitting your request to a specific observatory. Now here is where you have to do your homework. If you have a specific celestial event you wish to observe, there will be particular telescopes around the globe that will be in the best position to get those shots for you. So study up and find just the right telescope and when the perfect moment for that observation would occur. Get out ahead of this homework as you need to submit your request in plenty of time for it to go through approval and for them to get back to you and to interact with you to nail down what you are going to have them look at.

. There are two ways you can direct the operators of the telescopes. You can give them specific coordinates to focus on and a specific time frame to perform the observation. The other way is to give them a star, a planet or a particular star system to observe and let them figure out the coordinates. That might be easier because you know what you want to see.

. Now you sit back and wait for the email that the observation is done. You will not be able to watch them do the observation dynamically. That would be nice but it just isn’t possible yet. These are telescopes, not web cams. But they will post the pictures from your observation on a particular web location and email the results to you for study.

It’s pretty cool, free and customized to what you requested. And you can brag to your friends as you make color copies of your shots that you had Kitt Peak do these up for you personally. And you would not be lying.

In Feng Shui, the term arrows refer to sharp objects that bring bad luck and negative energy. In a way, like an arrow, it cuts through all the positive chi or energy within an environment. These arrows are inadvertently distributed all over the world, and if you are a budding Feng Shui enthusiast, it may be helpful to know what “arrows” in life you must watch out for.

The Arrow of Staircases

The most popular arrow is the arrow from staircases. To locate this arrow, just try to find that space underneath the staircase of your home. From just standing there, you will already feel all the heaviness, not just from footsteps, but also from the energy that is being siphoned off in that area because of the staircase arrows.

As much as possible, avoid hanging out underneath staircases or placing living rooms directly underneath staircases. In case this is unavoidable and you are cramped for space, you may have to buy some Feng Shui charms to ward off then negative effect.

The Arrow of Complex Architecture

Complex architecture may be lovely to look at but not necessarily good for business. If you are really after getting the most out of your buildings and inviting all the positive energy, avoid complex structures. By complex structures we mean architectural designs which have too many pointed edges (e.g. star-shaped buildings.). All these arrows are actually detrimental to people who will be standing directly in front of these arrows.

The Escalator Arrow in Malls

Getting the right stalls from malls may be quite tricky, but here’s a rule of thumb: Avoid the stalls which are directly in front of the bottom step of the escalator. This is because all the energy and prosperity is being drawn off and invited out of the stalls by the negative arrow of the escalator. While people may think that positioning one’s self directly to where customers can view the store as they alight the escalator, it’s bad Feng Shui and detrimental to one’s profit.

Arrows from Attics

If you have an attic, chances are, you get the irregular ceiling shapes from the walls. Try to soften the arrows from your attic ceilings by hanging chimes and other charms of Feng Shui. The arrows from attics can invite more stress and carry over negative energy from the past, especially if you are using the attic to store up old stuff.

Arrows from Irregularly Erected Walls

Irregularly erected walls or walls that lean diagonally forward may be dangerous. If at all possible, avoid placing the bed beside the region where the wall leans. This is where the arrows will hit you while you are resting.

There are other arrows in the world, and you may actually name some more based from your direct experience. Whether the exposure to arrows may bring bad luck forever or not, the practical side of Feng Shui avoids complications and wants a bright space where light can quickly come through. All the other invisible elements like the energy just follow suit.

Despite the warnings on arrows, this is not saying that we must abolish arrows in our lives. The whole key to the Feng Shui concept on arrows is consistency and ability to put the arrows in a place where it can do minimal damage.