Where Energy Flows

Himalayan Salt Lamps have been used for years to improve the quality of the air in the home. I purchased my first one over a decade ago and it continues to work beautifully clearing the air. Since they operate on a nightlight bulb, their operation is inexpensive and they are easy to maintain. Over the years, I have added many more to there being one in nearly every room in my house, quietly doing their amazing work.

Although some people remain skeptic, further scientific research is revealing that the lamps can really change your physical well-being, especially related to breathing problems like allergies, asthma and second-hand smoke. New studies now reveal that they can also improve your mental health as well. We all want to lead calmer, happier lives so read on.

The conveniences we surround ourselves with in our every day world: cars, radios, televisions, computers, tobacco, microwaves, the list grows, output positive ions at a much higher rate than the environment can balance them. Scientists are beginning to realize that this is a red flag for your mental health. Himalayan salt lamps give off an overabundance of negative ions, which can help to counteract the positive ions given off in your home that lower healthy air quality.

Since negative ions are found in large numbers at the beach or mountains, away from the cities we generally live in, our brains associate negative ions with happiness and energy. Doctors are now beginning to study the connection between negative ions and the release from depression, as negative ions also have a positive affect on the serotonin levels in the brain.

Many of my clients report significant calming effects from their salt lamps. Most likely this is due to the negative ion output into the air. They report feeling of greater peace, tranquility and happiness. They find their stress levels reducing and enjoying greater levels of calm. Stress is a major catalyst to more serious health problems, an indication that salt lamps might help you discover a healthier, happier life. Several of my clients have salt lamps in the bathroom. They report noticeably lower levels of stress from the feeling of spending time at the beach - while day-dreaming in the tub. Logically the salt lamp is imitating the wonderful negative ion filled air that is created by the ocean water condensing and the salt drifting on the breeze.

Other clients find that having a small salt lamp in their office at work helps their day go faster and their stress level greatly reduced.

Salt lamps can be purchased from many sources. Metaphysical stores often carry them. Several health food stores in my area have them. They can be ordered online. Make sure you purchase them from a reliable source and that they are genuine Himalayan Salt Lamps.

Peace and Harmony - enjoying negative ions….

© Roberta Binder, 2008. All rights reserved.

Although many people are happy to have Himalayan slat lamps for health, spiritual and mental benefits, there is an even deeper set of benefits. Before you purchase a salt lamp, it is a good idea to learn a bit more about how they really work. It begins with ions. Learning the intricacies of how negative ions are created from salt lamps sounds involved and scientific, but once you understand a few basics, it is not too difficult to grasp. The basic concept with Himalayan salt lamps is that the air around us is electrically charged. The particles in the air are called “ions.” Ions can be either negatively or positively charged. In a natural environment, all living and non-living things change the quality of the electricity in the air.

However with the plethora of electronics, automobiles, computers, cooling systems and other luxuries of our modern world, these conveniences are putting out more positive ions than they use. Add to that smog from factories, cell phones, heating systems (just a few of the things that output a large percentage ions), that put out negative ions. Soon the mix becomes an imbalance within nature. Science has found that rock salt crystals are actually one of the best natural emitters of negative ions in the world. That means that a rock salt lamp can help to equalize the positive ions in you house, especially in home offices, television rooms and kitchens.

You probably won’t consciously notice this difference, but your senses will on a subtle level. Just like the feeling in nature at the beach, after a lightening storm, or in the mountains near a waterfall. The air is refreshing, easy to breathe and healthy. Most people associate these negatively-charged air situations with calmness, peace and relaxation. In these natural health places, there are about 4000 negative ions in a cubic centimeter of air. However, in a city during rush hour, that number drops to more like 100 negative ions per cubic centimeter. So you can really see how this big difference affects the stress level in your body. This is what a Himalayan salt lamp does in your home.

Salt lamps have been found to help with allergies, asthma and other breathing problems. The negative ions help clear the air of pollen, dust, smoke, pet dander, odors, mold, dust mites and other forms of pollution.

And, of course, when you purchase a Himalayan Salt Lamp, make sure that you are getting one from the true source. Other lamps may look beautiful, but they will not be as effective. Know your source and always purchase a genuine Himalayan Salt Lamp.

Himalayan Salt Lamps not only affect your physical health, they are also beneficial for your mental health, and we’ll look at that next.

…to be continued.

© Roberta Binder, 2008. All rights reserved.

As a teacher and practitioner of Interior Alignment^TM, Interior Alignment Website I often use a technique called Synchro-Alignment with my clients. Synchro-Alignment is a guided meditation process that guides one to quiet the active mind and enter a deep state of relaxation. When the mind is quiet, such as the theta brain wave state, an individual has better access to deep inner knowing. The purpose of doing Synchro-Alignment with a client (which is uniquely associated with Interior Alignment^TM) is to become aware of what is best in a specific situation. Here’s an example of my own experience.

I had a colleague perform a Synchro-Alignment for me. The purpose was to meet the spirit of our home. In going through the process, I discovered the front entrance to our home was metaphorically hidden. I had to struggle to find an opening to get in, and once I did, the whole house was wide open.

I was very struck by this experience for a couple of reasons. One, the home we live in has a small and narrow foyer. Our guests have to enter in a single file until arriving in the living room. Then the space opens up. The other thing that struck me is that I had a tendency to be guarded. (And I still do in certain situations.)

The light bulb went off! If I had a tendency to be guarded, then of course I’d have a difficult time finding the metaphorical opening to our home. And, yes, I would be “attracted” to a home with a narrow entrance. The next step then became very obvious to me. It was critically important that I open up the foyer visually which I did with mirrors and lightening. And it was very important that I paid attention to my tendency to be guarded. As I have experienced, being guarded disconnects me in ways that I find unpleasant. And this awareness was a huge shift for me.

So, the point of sharing this story is to encourage you to find ways to enter the theta brain wave state and uncover the hidden gems in your unconscious. Entering this state can be achieved by listening to music designed for such a purpose like Tom Kenyon’s pieces. Tom Kenyon’s Music Entering this state can also be achieved by breathing very deeply with eyes closed. The information obtained in this way goes beyond the thinking mind which often blocks access to “real” issues. Give it a whirl and see what happens!

© Catherine Hilker, All Rights Reserved.

The psychic, Edgar Cayce, famous for his intuitive studies during the earlier half of the 20th century, predicted that sound would become the medicine of the future. Sound healing, is in fact, becoming an important component in complementary healing modalities. Drumming circles, chanting concerts, toning sessions, as well as singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, etc. have all become increasingly popular. The reason is clearly because one feels good in the presence of harmonious sounds.

Sound makers, as they are called, can be but are not limited to, wind chimes, hand chimes, gongs, bells, and musical instruments of all kinds. Pleasing sounds ‘call in’ vital chi and uplift. Sound makers can draw attention to a specific bagua enhancement or lift the energy in a general way. The most important factor in using sound makers, as an enhancement, is that it pass your “I love it” test.

Pleasing sounds can stimulate stale or stagnant energy. In addition, harmonious sounds can produce a calming effect when life brings stress and tension. Sound makers can be used to activate energy, to adjust fast moving energy, to alert attention (as on a door), or to bring peace and calm to a space. When using sound makers, consider what you want to accomplish.

To activate chi in a stagnant area, consider sounds that are continuous. For example you may choose a water fountain with a constant flow or a set of chimes activated by a small fan. A popular location to call in vital energy is near the front door which is also referred to as the mouth of chi. Not only will you stimulate the energy at your entrance, your guests will be greeted with a pleasing sound.

To reduce fast moving chi, consider sounds that ‘capture’ fast moving energy and disperse it. For example, if you live on a busy road, consider installing a couple of outdoor chimes. The fast moving chi created by the traffic, can be ‘captured & dispersed’ by the hanging chimes.

To produce relaxing chi, select a sound that helps you slow down. This may be a calming music CD that you play in your car, listen to during a walk, while sitting in a chair or even at the office. To some, a soothing sound might come from a singing bowl or playing a musical instrument.

In urban areas, pleasing sound makers becomes even more important. Often, our senses are bombarded with ‘noise pollution’ that stresses and taxes the physical body. In this situation, recreating nature sounds may be appropriate.

Take a few moments to think about the sounds that inspire you. Be creative in their use and what you desire to experience from them. Play and experiment with sound and begin to enhance your life today!

© Catherine Hilker, 2008. All rights reserved.

In feng shui both the visible and non visible affect our happiness and wellbeing. Many people focus on keeping their homes well presented for guests, but their cupboards are full of half read magazines and uncompleted projects. Some even dedicate a whole room to this purpose.

My first experience of feng shui was having a consultation for my own home. The consultant said it was good that I didn’t have clutter. I remember thinking that it was lucky she wasn’t looking in the cupboards, but I knew in my heart that the clutter was impacting on my life, even though people couldn’t see it.

Hidden feng shui also relates to cures an enhancements. They work in our favour even though we can’t see them. An example of a hidden cure would be burying crystals in the garden to compensate for missing areas in a floorplan. An example of a hidden enhancement is placing red fabric over the mattress of a couple’s bed. You can’t see it under the sheet, but it helps to spice up the marriage. Hidden cures and enhancements are great if you want to maintain a particular decor or don’t want to display things that others might think are wierd.

Copyright 2007 Helen Harvey. All rights reserved.