Wednesday Wisdom

Oh soul,
you worry too much.
You have seen your own strength.
You have seen your own beauty.
You have seen your golden wings.
Of anything less,
why do you worry?
You are in truth
the soul, of the soul, of the soul. ♥
~ Rumi ~

 

 

Reflections on Mother's Day 2013

We all came from our Mother.  What an amazing gift of life they gave us!  As I reflect back on becoming a mother 14 years ago, I remember the look of awe I had from a photo in the delivery room when my son joined our world.  I was so fulfilled and complete after that moment.  I recollect my short stay in the hospital with baby gone and I could still feel him kicking.  He was such a part of me for 34 weeks (he was a little premature) I was not used to his absence.  I could now see him, touch him, hold him and gaze into his eyes.  Wonderment is how I would describe it!
I am always so excited for a new mother as I know the joy their own bundle will bring.  We are changed forever with the miracle of creation.  Thank you, God.  Your deeds do not go unnoticed.  Your gifts are recognized.  Your love radiates from our children's faces and laughter.
My favorite gift to share is a book I enjoyed while pregnant called Nurturing Your Baby's Soul by Elizabeth Prophet.  There are many prayers and it allows you to connect with your unborn child in utero.  I suffered the unfortunate sadness of two miscarriages before my first born child and it brought comfort and peace to my own heart.        
My daughter's father and I feel strongly that our second child was one of our lost souls that came back to us.  She allowed her brother to be born first and they are truly blessed with an eternal relationship that far exceeds that of other siblings. With my two children and now two step-children, I am blessed beyond words.  I kneel down in gratitude and humility to our Lord for the precious gifts he has bestowed upon me and could not ask for anything more than their love.
So this weekend, let us all reflect on the beautiful children we created and the women they came from.  Through tears, joy, pain and even sickness we remember our reason for living and set aside all ego and pride to embrace the greatest virtue.....love.

Protect our National Forests!

Protect our National Forests!

Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) With Patchouli Essential Oil

For those that get to enjoy (or maybe not enjoy) winter and snow, the cool days and grey skies can play a big part of our mood.  Acquiring a positive mindset in the winter takes a strong individual with a strong spirit.  Just the other day someone close to me said "let's hope we see the sun today!" and I said, "it's always there, you just have to be looking!".  It truly is, peeking out of the clouds when you least expect or when you aren't looking so you need to keep checking if you need that reassurance that that beautiful, warm, energizing sphere still exists. Others, however, know it is always there, perhaps like a Higher Power and they don't let the grey day get them down.  They look to other shining moments in a smile, a kind gesture, or maybe in nature. 

But, if all else fails and hope is lost, there is Patchouli.  Patchouli has traditionally been used to provide mood support and may help to reduce anxiety caused by the winter blues.  It has a very rich and very herbaceous scent, and can easily be blended with other oils to create a pleasant aroma.  Try blending with bergamot, cinnamon, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemongrass, myrrh, sandalwood, wild orange, and ylang ylang.

SAD may be experienced by 6 out of every 100 people in the United States, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. It is also estimated that another 10-20% may experience some mild form of SAD.

Try patchouli instead of creating more anxiety by trying to find money to get away to somewhere warm.  doTERRA's oils are certified pure therapeutic grade, the purest form an oil can be.  Other uses for patchouli include use as a diuretic, mosquito repellent, fever reducer as well as toning the skin and treating colds.  Each essential oil has multiple uses; enjoy their many benefits and start living a life of wellness the natural way!

Purchase Patchouli and other CPTG oils at: www.mydoterra.com/marianneladuke

Mandala, Mantra and Mala: A New Cycle for a Special Season

Whether you are on the yogi path or not, you may have come across one of these three words: mantra, mandala and mala.  Last Wednesday some of us began a new mandala, or cycle of prayer, for many different reasons.  Perhaps you have sacrificed something special, increased alms giving or community service. I felt compelled to share the meaning of these important words to perhaps stimulate your own meditation or 40-day journey during this time of preparation (some refer to it as Lent). 

Should you choose to begin a new prayer cycle, or mandala, next week or at anytime, you can use a mantra (the prayer/intention) and mala beads. So, you see, they all work together in tandem to create peace, balance and even cleanse the body and mind from impure thoughts, toxins, anxiety/stress and more!

As mentioned, the mandala is a cycle, more specifically, the natural cycle of the body.  It is also defined in Sanskrit as a healing circle.  Circles suggest wholeness, unity, the womb, completion and eternity. The awareness (meditation) of the Mandala can stimulate creative thinking, concentration and center us to the point where it is quiet and still. One can position a mandala image where it can be viewed while repeating a mantra (described below).  Some even create alters for their mandala.

Coloring mandalas can be most beneficial for children to calm their minds and slow down their thought process.  Carl Jung even used this in therapy with children to help them express themselves when words escape them.

In a meditation cycle the mandala can help bring awareness and focus toward a mantra, a prayer or intention. It can be repeated or used just once and verbalized or chanted internally.  Mantras are sounds — words or phrases — that are used as an object of concentration. Common Sanskrit mantras are: Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Om peace peace peace), Om Mani Padme Hum (difficult to translate but pertains to the jewel of the lotus), or Sat Nam (the vibration of truth).  Should you be more apt to choose a prayer or intention but cannot focus on something specific, try one of these:

Focus on gratitude ~ give up complaining
Become an optimist ~ give up pessimism
Think of kind thoughts (towards yourself or others) ~ give up harsh judgments
Trust Divine Providence ~ give up worry
Be full of hope ~ give up discouragement
Turn to forgiveness ~ give up bitterness
Return good for evil ~ give up hatred
Be positive ~ give up negativism
Be more patient ~ give up anger
Become mature ~ give up pettiness
Enjoy beauty, that which surrounds you ~ give up gloom
Pray for trust ~ give up jealousy
Turn to virtue ~ give up gossiping
Hang in there! ~ give up giving up!

Lastly, mala beads are used to keep track of the number of mantras/prayers said during a mandala/meditation cycle.  Just like a rosary, the beads are used to keep track of the number of prayers so you can concentrate on the prayer and just move your fingers from bead to bead without losing count. Mala beads have 108 beads.

Before getting started, consider using Sandalwood essential oil in your practice.  Sandalwood assists with all kinds of prayer, meditation and spiritual worship.  It teaches reverence and respect for Deity.  It has been used since ancient times for its powerful ability to calm the mind, still the heart and prepare the spirit to commune with God. Sandalwood teaches of spiritual devotion and spiritual sacrifice.  It invites us to place all material attachments on the altar of sacrifice so that we may truly progress spiritually.  It also asks us where our hearts are and challenges us to reorder our priorities to be in alignment with the Divine will. Sandalwood assists us in quieting our minds so that we may hear the subtle voice of the Spirit.  It raises individuals into higher levels of consciousness.  It assists us in reaching beyond our current confines and belief systems.  For those who are ready to leave behind fame, wealth and the need for acceptance, Sandalwood teaches  true humility, devotion and love for the Divine. Place a drop over the brow area.  Inhale before meditation, study or prayer.

I suggest using doTERRA CPTG Sandalwood, which can be purchased at my oil website.

Use these simple steps to begin your new cycle:

1. Find a quiet place.
2. Select soft music and light candle(s) to create peace and serenity. (optional)
3. Display your mandala.
4. Come to a seated asana (position/pose) cross legged or lotus.
5. Close your eyes and begin to bring awareness to the breath.
6. Tibetan tradition shows us the outer rings of the mandala represent fire that will purify an individual as they ready the journey of entering into the mandala itself. This is the point of entry for your meditation. The path will lead you inward to the center. Concentrate and focus on the shapes and colors and let the design and beauty sink into your being. Follow each circle inward and if you run into a dead end, just remember that not only do you want to reach the center but the meditation is also about the travel to enlightenment.
7. Begin to repeat your mantra and use mala beads to keep count. (eyes can be open to view mandala or closed)
8. Enjoy the many benefits of meditation and the new path you are creating.

Pendulums: How to Choose Before You Use

Let's begin with what a pendulum is...simply stated, a pendulum is a weight hanging from a fixed point.  When pulled and released, the force of gravity and inertia create movement.  However, when no force is inflicted on the weight something begins to happen naturally, energy moves the weight with a little help from the unconscious mind.
In Chakra Balancing, the pendulum is held over one of the seven major Chakras (wheel or disk) and the energy from this source.  The energy level will reveal balance, a block or imbalance by the way the pendulum is moving.
Choosing a pendulum is a very personal thing.  You can make your own, but if you are new to dowsing I suggest you purchase one from your local metaphysical store.  There are many on line, but you cannot test them. Because the energy of your mind is also utilized, you need to be able to clear your mind to choose and use.
When we were young we were "in tune" with life, but now that we are in the adult world, that intuition has diminished and we have allowed negative energy and programming to consume us.  We have lost the ability to connect with the Higher Self.
The pendulum, as an extension of the person using it,  may be influenced both consciously and subconsciously making the responses accurate as well as inaccurate. Wishful thinking or a preconceived outcome, however slight, can be magnified making the use of the pendulum in that instance ineffective. The user  must take steps to prevent this through training the mind.
So even before you use a pendulum you need to clear your mind to choose one.  Allow yourself the chance to be drawn to one should there be too many to choose.  Don't touch at first, just look.  Look at the shapes and colors.  Some are made of wood, metal or crystals.  I find crystals work best for me, but the choice is solely yours and yours alone.  Which one are you drawn to?  Pick it up.  Hold the string/cord/chain between your thumb and forefinger.  Ask the pendulum "show me yes".  Wait for it to move and note the direction.  After it has stopped, ask it "show me no". Note the direction of movement.  Now you can ask it "Is this the right pendulum for me?". Note the direction.  If there is no movement at all, it clearly is not the pendulum for you even if you like the way it looks. As in life, we cannot judge by looks alone.  We need to feel good about it from our heart and in this case, mind.
Continue to test pendulums until you find one with a positive feel and answer.  After getting your pendulum home, be sure to rinse it in water until you feel any negative energy has been removed.  Allow it to soak up pure sunlight for any amount of time until you feel it is recharged.  Keep your pendulum safe and perhaps in a pouch or box where no one else can touch it so as not to collect other energy than your own.
Trust your pendulum and the ability to clear your mind when asking questions.  Your mind can play heavily on responses so you must be neutral when asking and be sure not to ask questions that elevate your own energy field.
Enjoy your pendulum and see the Bhakti Wellness website for more information on Chakra Balancing.  You may find that the pendulum you chose was a result of your own energy center(s) and their need for balance. There are many characteristics to each Chakra and two are color and crystals....

Don't Let the Flu Get You Down!

On Guard is a protective essential oil blend, consisting of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. It is specifically formulated blend to help support you and your family’s healthy immune system.

On Guard’s spicy and citrus aroma makes it one of the most versatile blends, and it can be used aromatically, topically, and internally. It is safe to use on counter tops, as a non-toxic way to clean surfaces, or to purify the atmosphere by diffusing.



Tips on how you can use On Guard essential oil:

• Diffuse 2-4 drops of On Guard in home or office.
• Take internally by putting a couple of drops in a capsule 2-3 times a day.
• Put 6 drops per 24 oz. water in spray bottle to use to disinfect counter tops.
• Massage on feet, back, neck and shoulders with a carrier oil to offer immune support.
• Sanitize your toothbrush by mixing 2 Tbps water with 5 drops of On Guard in a small glass. Set toothbrush in glass and leave overnight

On Guard^® Foaming Hand Wash contains dōTERRA’s proprietary CPTG^® essential oil blend and is a gentle, healthy alternative to harsh antibacterial soaps made with synthetic ingredients that may dry and irritate sensitive skin.
In a study done at Oklahoma University, research was conducted by using On Guard Protective Blend to see it’s effectiveness on influenza virus infections. The results were staggering. Despite antibiotics not being able to treat  the influenza virus, results showed that On Guard Protective Blend reduced this virus by up to 90%. The researchers concluded that On Guard plays an important role in keeping families well without harsh side effects.
Placing On Guard Foaming Dispensers at every sink around the home and office provides those in your home and workplace with On Guard protection throughout the day, while also providing subtle style to sinks.

Purchase doTERRA On Guard products at:  http://www.mydoterra.com/marianneladuke

Win your very own bottle by sharing which doTERRA oil is your favorite and how you use it on our Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/bhaktiwellness

Winner will be selected January 31, 2013.  doTERRA IPC's not eligible, shipped only in USA.