Here And There - Part 2 of 3: Mediumistic Communication

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Dealing with death and its aftermath is something as old as the human race itself, for death is an inevitable part of physical existence. Even the most "primitive" of tribes have some sort of funerary rite in order to commemorate the passing of a tribe member. Just as the earliest humans had to come to terms with death, the concept of the invisible worlds and the afterlife were also appreciated, perhaps even more so than in the modern world.

The medicine men and shamans of these tribes not only held the roles of doctor and counselor, they were also responsible for the spiritual well-being of the tribe. This responsibility extended both to the physical tribe members and the deceased. These wise men typically protected the tribe from malefic spirits and influences and were also the connecting link to the tribe's ancestors, who were often seen as the tribe's invisible guardians. Implied in these customs is the belief that the afterlife and the invisible worlds play as important a role in the conduct of life as physical existence itself.

There are many reasons why people would want to converse with spirits and learn more about the spirit world. Some people do it to find out the fate of their departed loved ones. Others simply want to reassure themselves of the reality of the invisible worlds. Yet others seek an advantage in terms of knowledge or guidance on what to do.

For people who do not have enough psychic talent or skill to communicate with spirits, they will have to employ the services of a medium. A medium is exactly what the term implies, a go-between that allows you to communicate with an incorporeal entity. Mediums can be found in almost any corner of the world. It could be the shaman of the tribe or even your next door neighbor.

Powerful people have always been fascinated with the paranormal, since it holds the promise of gaining an advantage over adversaries. As such, even mediums of humble birth have rubbed elbows with nobility. For example, with the kingdom of Israel in crisis, King Saul consulted the shade of the prophet Samuel through the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28). John Dee, an astrologer and occultist in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, used the services of the medium Edward Kelley in seeking contact with angels. Their collaboration resulted in the introduction of angel evocation and the Enochian language (supposedly the language of angels).

The Victorian Era saw an upsurge in mainstream interest in the esoteric and the occult. It was during this period that esoteric organizations such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Theosophical Society were born. In the United States, this era also saw the development of the New Thought movement, which carried on into the early 20th century with authors such as Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich), Charles Haanel (The Master Key System) and Wallace D. Wattles (The Science of Getting Rich) publishing books that reflected the principles of New Thought.

It was into this tableau that a Frenchman named Allan Kardec took an interest in spirit tapping, an activity that was already popular in his time. His subsequent investigations led to the publication of The Spirits' Book as well as four other titles that formed the basis of organized Spiritism. Allan Kardec's work had important consequences because it transformed spiritism into a systematized undertaking. This helped spiritism achieve a measure of credibility in a field of practice littered with charlatans and half-skilled practitioners.

According to a lecture given by one of the spiritist groups still active in the Philippines, systematized mediumship reached the shores of the Philippines when the Union Espiritista Christiana, Inc. was established in 1901. Most of the early mediums were from the province of Bulacan, although the practice slowly spread throughout the country as several lunduyans (spiritist centers) were set up in various locations. The training for mediumship is quite rigorous, requiring no small amount of discipline and courage. Suffice to say, it's not for the faint of heart. There is a reason why various occultists warned against the dangers of mediumship.

Still, one can really learn a lot through these mediums. According to one such medium I talked to, they were able to learn a lot about the spirit world through their sessions. They were also given certain oracions (incantations) for various uses such as protection, healing, etc. But in most cases they would facilitate communication between living people and their deceased loved ones. Another important service they performed were space clearing sessions for areas haunted by various spirits. Again, it's really quite interesting as long as you can stand the idea of coming face to face (sometimes literally) with the paranormal.

If you'd like to know more about mediumship in the Philippines, I highly recommend the book Mediumship by Claudette Rosal, although I'm not sure if you can still find it in bookstores. It was a book that stemmed out of her thesis and in the course of her investigations she briefly became a medium herself. We had the fortune of meeting her one time and she has many amazing stories to tell, some of them not found in the book.

At this point I'd like to devote some attention to some of the information that one may get from mediums. Even if we remove charlatans from the equation, mediums sometimes give widely varying accounts of the spirit world, its workings and its environs. This has led some people to doubt the veracity of the methods employed by mediums. But really, this variety of information really shouldn't be surprising. Supposing an alien who has never been to Earth nor seen it were to interview several humans about the places they lived in, it would also get many replies. An Arab would say he lived in a hot desert environment, an Eskimo would say his land is full of snow and ice, while a Vietnamese would say his place is full of jungles and mountains. Same thing with the spiritual realms, spirits experience varying conditions depending on their vibration and level of spiritual evolution.

The development of the medium should also be taken into account. The more highly developed the medium, the more highly developed the spirit beings he/she can come into contact with. Lower vibration entities have a limited range of knowledge and are more prone to give deceptive information.

Still, mediums perform an important function for those people who are desperate to contact their departed loved ones just one more time, or for those people who would like to know more about what lies beyond the veil but are unable to investigate for themselves. But just like any information you encounter for the first time, you first need to take it with a grain of salt. Verification is of course a big challenge when you yourself don't have the tools to do it, but there are still some things that one can do:

1. Investigate the background of the medium. Is he/she well-trained and recommended by people you trust?

2. Higher vibration beings do not incite one to negative deeds or feelings. And be careful if a spirit requires one to perform a certain ritual first before giving any information. That's one way to unwittingly enter into a pact with a negative entity.

3. Do not immediately act on whatever information that is given. If possible, go through several mediums or if the information is about the status of objects or people in the physical realm, try to verify through your own mundane sources.

Going by the above guidelines, it seems like it's so much trouble to interact with mediums. But again, there is a reason that the role of medium has endured throughout history even unto today's materialistic-minded environment. When bereaved family members feel a sense of peace that their deceased loved ones are doing well, or when one is able to assist earthbound spirits to "find the light" and ascend to higher realms of existence, then the medium's place in society is more easily understood.

The point is, we're all headed to the spirit world, and the only question is when. Hopefully you don't need to find yourself on the other end of the communication line between a medium and the loved ones you left behind. But if ever you do, perhaps you'll be thankful that such sincere people do exist.

One other tip if ever you decide to avail the services of a medium. If you decide to contact your deceased loved one, once should be enough. Spirits also have their own roles in the spirit world and they still undergo spiritual development. Constant contact also disturbs them. T. Lobsang Rampa compares this situation with receiving several phone calls from home while trying to work in the office. You'd hardly get any work done if your phone rings every few minutes.

In any case, as I mentioned in a previous article, truth has to be experienced. The accounts of spirits already on the other side can serve as a guide, but there's nothing like experiencing and validating it for yourself before you're dead. For ordinary people who have had near death experiences that's exactly what they did, though one need not barely escape death in order to do so. I will discuss these things on the third part of this series.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Here And There - Part 1 of 3: The Science Of Death

Credit: Alex Grey, alexgrey.com

Benjamin Franklin once wrote the following in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy in 1789:

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

While many may evade the latter, no one escapes the former. Death is a subject that most people would rather not think about, and why not? Death is so final. If a loved one decided to relocate to the most remote place on Earth, without modern communications, there is still comfort in the chance (no matter how small) that you would see or hear from each other again. But if one of you dies, that's it. Anything left unsaid, any unfinished business will have to wait until both of you have crossed the Great Divide (or, until your next incarnation).

While death may be a morbid topic, its inevitability means it deserves something more than just a casual glance on our part. Death comes to anyone, young or old, healthy or sick, strong or weak, rich or poor. It is a painful parting for some, a welcome release for others. It can come unexpectedly, as quick as the snap of a finger, or as a long expected and drawn out curtain call. Despite the seemingly capricious nature of death, I think what people fear more is not the fact of death itself, but what to expect after it happens.

To start off, let's begin with the analogy of migrating to another country. Before you migrate, you want to gather as much information as you can about your destination. You start with the available literature, authoritative guides made by people considered experts on the subject. And then you also try to consult with people who have been there. And, if you have enough money you'd probably visit that country yourself as a tourist and try to get a feel for the place. Suitably equipped with such knowledge, you can expect a smooth transition once you actually migrate. Contrast this with the person who, with barely any preparation, finds himself forced to live in a foreign country without any idea about its language, its culture or its people. He would definitely find his transition very disturbing. Understanding death and the beyond follows the same general principles described above. It pays to know what to expect in advance.

There are three main sources of information about death and what happens afterward. The first is in the mystical literature encoded in many ancient texts and enshrined in the teachings of esoteric spiritual systems. The second are the various mediums who channel communications from the unseen realms. The third are the testimonies of ordinary people who have suffered the near death experience. They have the advantage of briefly experiencing the afterlife and coming back to tell others about it. Throughout the course of this series I will discuss each of the three sources of information. Even so, I will only be scratching the surface of this vast subject.

Hard as it may be to believe, there is a science to death and dying. The first aspect of this science can be found in astrology. Everyone is destined to pass from this world one day. It would oversimplify the matter to say that we have an expiry date, just like the food we find in store shelves, but that's essentially how it is. Therefore, no death is really "random." A very skilled astrologer can calculate the most likely times that one could die, as well as the absolute death date. There are certain exceptions of course, but this only seems to apply to spiritually advanced disciples who have specific spiritual missions to accomplish in this world.

Perhaps the clearest example of this aspect of astrology is my own experience a few years ago. The mother of one of my friends is an astrologer. One night he, I and another friend were starting on our way home together after a late dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. A few minutes away from the restaurant we almost got into a potentially serious accident. While making a turn at an intersection, a speeding 10-wheeler truck almost rammed the side of the car we were on. I was driving at the time and it was only by quickly jamming my foot on the accelerator that we were able to barely escape being hit.

Further down the road, my friend decided to check his cellphone and he noticed that his mom had texted him while we were still in the restaurant. The gist of the text stated: "Avoid being on the road between 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. tonight." The time of our almost accident? 12:30 a.m., well within the "danger period" his mom warned him about.

If anything, this example shows that astrologers can identify certain dangerous or auspicious periods BUT the result is not predetermined. Could this have been coincidence? Certainly. But based on the track record of my friend's mom, I doubt it.

If you want to read more about how much a skilled astrologer can extrapolate even based on sparse information, I suggest you read the book Zodiac & Swastika by Wilhelm Wulff (read it at Scribd). Wulff was an artist who took up an interest in astrology after studying Leonardo da Vinci's works and collections in a museum in Milan in 1912.

Over the years, he honed his craft to the point that he was able to help investigators solve or clear up a few difficult cases. One instance was the case of a girl's disappearance that he accurately determined was a double suicide. Another case was the theft of jewelry from a rich estate. By casting the appropriate horoscope, he accurately determined that the jewels were still within the estate, the approximate location where the jewels were buried, and the likely perpetrator. Acting on this information, the police raid resulted in the jewels being found and one of the maids being arrested for the theft. Perhaps Wulff's most famous contribution was determining where Mussolini was being held after his ouster and arrest in 1943. This information eventually helped the Germans launch that infamous raid led by Otto Skorzeny that resulted in Mussolini's rescue.

It is worth noting that Wulff was just one example of the contradictory conditions that esoteric practitioners faced in Nazi Germany. Initially persecuted and sent to a concentration camp early in the war because of his astrological skills, Wulff was eventually released and pressed into the service of the SS High Command (under constant threat of death) as the war started to turn out badly for Germany.

Going back to topic, supposing that one has already reached the moment of death. Certain esoteric traditions have detailed guidelines on what to do at the moment of death. For example, the Bardo Thodol (Tibetan Book of the Dead) is a funerary text that is supposed to assist the soul in managing death and the conditions immediately afterwards. It's essentially a guide for the soul of the dying person so that he/she may successfully navigate the bardo (the plane the soul immediately finds itself in after death) and hopefully avoid being drawn back to the web of samsara (the wheel of birth and rebirth). The book describes what bodily position the dying person is supposed to be in and what the lama (priest) should be reading aloud before, during and after the moment of death.

Tibetan Buddhists consider the Bardo Thodol as a terma (treasure) teaching, because it gives the soul a chance to achieve spiritual liberation. Terma were supposedly left by Guru Rinpoche (Buddha Padmasambhava), founder of Tibetan Buddhism, all across Tibet to be discovered when the time of their teaching becomes ripe. Terma can either be in the form of physical artifacts (like the Bardo Thodol) or bits of teaching embedded in the consciousness of advanced disciples, to be taught once the disciple discovers it.

Another example of a funerary text is the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Forget what you watched in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. The Egyptian Book of the Dead has a similar purpose as that of the Bardo Thodol.

However, one need not study the Bardo Thodol or the Egyptian Book of the Dead to be able to assist people who are about to pass on. There are just two very simple guidelines that both the dying person and the person's loved ones need to keep in mind:

1. For the person about to pass on, let go of any earthly attachments. Don't think about things such as who will inherit your money, or that one of your pesky relatives might make a try for some of your possessions after you're gone. Instead, simply make peace and forgive, because earthly attachments and concerns are mental and emotional chains that will make it difficult for the soul to ascend to higher realms. At its worst, it will keep the soul earthbound. It's very difficult to give up a lifetime of mental and emotional entanglements in a very short time (as anyone who has tried to kick a long-standing bad habit would understand). This is why in Buddhism there is so much emphasis on practicing detachment as an integral part of one's life.

2. For the loved ones of the dying person, DO NOT wail, cry or otherwise argue about the inheritance or similar matters around the deathbed. Maintain a solemn silence because even immediately after death the soul can still hear sounds. That's why in the Bardo Thodol, the lama still reads instructions meant for the dead person. Loud and disturbing sounds such as crying or arguments only distract the soul from concentrating on the transition from this life into the next.

In his book Achieving Oneness with the Higher Soul, Master Choa Kok Sui describes an intense white light that will envelop the person at the moment of death. If the soul is able to focus and merge with this white light, the soul immediately achieves liberation. It is a priceless opportunity offered to everyone who dies. The important thing is for the soul to be aware that it will happen and to be undisturbed when it does.

If there are only two things that you can pick up from this article, let it be the two guidelines I outlined above. They are very simple, yet quite priceless for the soul.

In Part 2, I will describe how mediums work and how they contribute to the knowledge of the after realms.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Beyond The Brain

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Do we determine how we act, or is our behavior just a result of our brain telling us what to do? After all, the human brain is an amazing biological computer. For instance, scientists believe that the brain can store at least 1,000 terabytes of information. Considering that the 900-year old National Archives of Britain has accumulated "only" an estimated 70 terabytes worth of information throughout its history, the brain's storage power is indeed impressive. Not only can the brain sort out all the different memories and knowledge we've accumulated, it also simultaneously manages the different bodily processes that keep us alive. Heart beat, respiration, blood distribution, waste removal, all of these things happen while we engage in other conscious tasks such as eating, talking or watching TV. Talk about parallel computing and multi-tasking!

However, the brain, and consequently the body, is also influenced by the many chemical secretions and hormones produced by the endocrine glands. For example, Human Growth Hormone (HGH), produced by the pituitary gland, is also called the fountain of youth. It is also responsible for giving the mind an increased sense of well being and contributes to an increased sexual drive. Melatonin, produced by the pineal gland, influences our circadian rhythms and allows us to adjust for seasonal changes.

By extension, one may say that simply by changing the mix of these different chemicals, one can influence the actions, memories and experiences of people. For instance, DMT is also said to be produced by the pineal gland at one's birth, at one's death, or during deeply spiritual states. DMT can also be synthetically reproduced or extracted from plants. Some South American cultures use the DMT extracted from certain plants and mushrooms in order to induce altered states of consciousness. Of course, looking at our actions and experiences as simply by-products of complex chemical reactions relegates the idea of human consciousness to the confines of a purely biological construct.

But are we really just a reflection of the chemical soup being cooked up inside us? Pure materialists would say yes, but I would say that it's both yes and no. Yes, probably most people are susceptible to hormone-induced behavior. Just ask anyone who has been on the receiving end of a woman with PMS, or anyone who instinctively grabs for food at the first sign of hunger.

However, many also forget such a thing called willpower. Willpower is an attribute that not enough people have a balance of. For example, one may religiously go to the gym but have no control over what one eats, or be quite industrious at work but be unable to summon the discipline to exercise regularly. But willpower is the one thing that allows us to overcome our hormones.

We do not need to look far to find examples of this. Whenever I watch documentaries about special forces around the world, I notice that the one thing that the selection process is trying to test is the mental toughness of the trainees. This is why it's not always the fittest, the strongest or the most intelligent that make the cut. The previous attributes are all important, but it's mental toughness that truly identifies one as special forces material. As one training sergeant said, just when you think your body can't give any more, you can actually force it to perform when circumstances demand it.

The above examples are not limited to soldiers. People who survive disasters despite all odds, or athletes who perform superbly at crunch time, all of them display this same sort of toughness, the will to survive and the will to win. It's this "digging deep" despite the pain and exhaustion that can allow one to overcome extreme adversity.

Everyone has a certain amount of willpower, it's just that people use it in different ways and with varying degrees of strength. The key to applying willpower constructively is to be aware. Instead of mindlessly grabbing that Twinkie bar when you feel hungry, stop first and think if you just didn't drink enough water. Or perhaps choose some other healthy food instead. Instead of lashing out in anger when you see someone you don't like, stop and think about how to de-escalate the situation instead.

If you look at it more closely, the constructive use of willpower is basically the same as character building. Now imagine that. So next time you're tempted to just give in to your negative impulses, try to exert some mental effort to act differently. It's never easy, and there will be many times that you may mess up, but every time you succeed is one better act you've done today than yesterday.

Are We Advancing Ourselves Backwards?

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Most of us would be familiar with the phrase made famous in the Spiderman comics: "With great power comes great responsibility." In this day and age, humankind has literally made quantum leaps as far as technological advancement is concerned. Ever since the Renaissance and so-called Enlightenment, science has allowed us to take advantage of many of nature's secrets in order to produce wonders that would astound our ancestors, such as "iron birds that can fly," "horseless carriages that can outrun the fastest horses" or "magic picture frames that allow you to view scenes from half a world away."

To our forebears, such accomplishments would seem like magic, and if there is one area that science has had greatest effect, it's in the dispelling of many of the superstitions that ruled the lives of our ancestors. The scientific drive to question and to verify has led more and more people to throw off the yoke of blind obedience (a trait used in full by the Catholic Church to control the masses). Science has given us so much that atheists frequently raise the banner of science as the answer that would finally dispel the ignorance and suffering caused by religion.

Of course, they do have a point because religious fanaticism is simply wrong. But is science alone the answer, or will we be exchanging one form of extremism for another? Consider this. If science alone is the answer, isn't it strange that despite all our so-called advancements, never in our recorded history has humanity been so close to annihilating itself? If the existence of thousands of nuclear warheads around the world is not enough, consider other technological "advancements" that are doing us harm in the long run such as GMOs, the heavy use of toxic chemicals in the food processing industry, the harmful effects of electro-magnetic frequencies (EMFs) prevalent in many household devices or the grip of pharmaceutical companies on general healthcare, to name only a few.

The Institute for the Future of Humanity, based in Oxford University, has recently come out with a paper called Existential Risk as Global Priority (click on the link for the PDF copy). In the paper, Institute Director Nick Bostrom and his team argue that paradoxically, the present rate and use of scientific advancement has brought humanity closer to the brink of extinction. Something is definitely missing if we have reached this point.

A concrete example that hits close to home on this one is what social activists call the Monsanto Protection Act. This measure is a rider to Farmer Assurance Provision, Sec. 735 and what it does is that it prevents US federal courts from stopping the planting of Monsanto GMO seeds. This Monsanto Protection Act is most likely a reaction to a 2010 case where a federal judge revoked the rights of Monsanto to plant GMO sugar beets. Try to imagine how Monsanto managed to sneak this bill through the US Congress, all the way to President Obama who signed it into law last April. If there was ever an example of a moral compass gone awry, this would be it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that science is wrong. In fact, I'm a geek and I was totally blown away by the article that detailed the 27 Science Fictions That Became Science Facts in 2012. However, if we look at the world in general, what we are seeing is a general trend from a world that was ruled by religious extremism to one where generally, the overly critical scientific mindset has lost all sense of the sacred. What I'm saying is that both science and spirituality are needed, a scientific drive to inquire and to verify, tempered by the moral obligation to use any discoveries only for the benefit and welfare of others.

A few days ago I watched this YouTube video of a homeschooled then-11-year old giving a TED talk. He basically sums up the current situation nicely and gives sound advice on how we, as individuals, can help to turn things around:



We have a left brain (analytical side) and right brain (intuitive side) for a reason. It is the physical expression of yin and yang, an example of the Law of Polarity made real. Totally giving up one for the other will lead to psychological imbalance. Just as we need both legs in order to run, we need both aspects of critical thinking and intuitive wisdom to make sure that the future we create will be a sustainable one.

Philippines, Where To Now?

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Last May 13, the Philippines had its national mid-term elections (mid-term because the elected officials come in at the midway point of the President's term). I normally refrain from writing articles about politics simply because there is such a broad spectrum of opinion that the debates could be never-ending and heated yet fruitless all the same. However, this time around I felt that I needed to say a little something because of the wide range of emotions displayed among my contacts (at least in Facebook) as the results of the elections became clear.

Even before election day, many have been decrying the strong showing of some candidates with questionable qualifications, but at the same time the various sentiments expressed a certain optimism about the country's future. However, it looked as if the elections were going to be a popularity contest rather than a choice between intelligently crafted political platforms.

For instance, in the May 7 edition of The Philippine Star, it reported that during mock polls conducted last March 2013 by the Pinoy Youth Barometer, youthful voters voted primarily on the basis of personality and name-recall rather than platform. This would be an advantage for political dynasties because of their well-established names. The mock polls turned out to be an accurate indicator for how the elections would turn out. Those who were expected to win did, and while some new names cropped up, in general political dynasties seemed to have retained their hold on traditional bailiwicks.

Soon after the results started coming in, Facebook posts quickly took on a despairing tone as people wailed about how stupid Filipino voters were and how there was no hope for the country. Several were even toying with the idea of leaving the country or, if they had already left, felt vindicated by their decision to leave after seeing the election results.

Amidst this backdrop of angst, it really would do well to reflect on the state of Philippine society. Although there were many Facebook posts about "Don't vote this candidate because..." or "I won't vote candidate XXX because..." the problem is that the majority who needed to be informed about voting wisely most likely had limited Internet access or Internet savvy. There is a reason why politicians favor the more economically deprived sectors of society, because they form the bulk of the votes and outnumber the educated voters. By educated voters, I don't necessarily mean just the rich ones. It's just that the economically challenged masses are more easily swayed by rhetoric and sass and thus prone to vote unwisely.

Given the above realities, it's easier to manage expectations when it comes to things like this. In short, we can never really expect to change the country's politics through voting alone. Before we go on, I'm not talking about revolution or anything like that. In truth, there are many baby steps to institute change even within the current system. Recently, there were proposals for an Anti-Dynasty Bill as well as a proposal to totally remove the pork barrel of congressmen (and senators, too, I believe). Although these measures did not pass for obvious reasons, the fact that these proposals gained enough traction to receive national (and some media) attention is significant because such proposals would have been unimaginable even a few years ago.

One other aspect of hope is that the educated voters more often than not also belong to the upper strata of society. Perhaps not all would be part of the top 40 richest families in the Philippines, but they are most likely in the position to hobnob with those in power. Thus the pressure for change can manifest obliquely, through subtle suggestions and gentle pressure. It won't be fast, but it can be persistent with the right people in the right places doing it. In this case it won't be quantity but quality that will be the defining factor.

I would like to share a few passages from the book Secret Politics by Dieter Ruggeberg that seem quite appropriate for this topic:

The healthy "Self" finds its harmony in a healthy self-awareness, which struggles between becoming entrenched in egoism, and disintegrating under self-sacrifice and lack of self-confidence. The same inherent laws apply to a country. Thus, a country's self-awareness supports itself on an all-embracing sovereignty, the foundation of which is healthy nationalism or patriotism. Just as the "Self" of the individual can harden in pathological egoism, the balance of a country can be threatened by exaggerated nationalism or chauvinism. On the other side lurks the danger of disintegration of the "Self" through weaknesses, cowardice, and lack of interest which can also happen to a country when it lacks a healthy self-awareness, has diseased liberalism, internationalism, lacks patriotism. Man's self-awareness is, therefore, equivalent to a country's sovereignty and its freedom to make its own decisions, and the possibility to defend itself against foreign influences and oppression. (Secret Politics, p. 17)

Since a nation is simply a large conglomeration of individuals, it makes sense to get a sense of the nation by getting a sense of the individual that makes up that nation. But based on Mr. Ruggeberg's description, doesn't the second description, that of the disintegrating Self, remind us of what ails the Philippines?

In the end, as individuals we must decide and act based on what we feel is best. Securing the future of one's children by migrating abroad is a very valid and worthy goal, the same way that the person who decides to become an activist of change in the country also pursues a very valid and worthy goal. What is important is that all of us achieve that awareness of Self so that we end up acting in a responsible manner and don't get swayed by the politics of emotion that tend to sweep not just the Philippines but anywhere else that is in crisis. This would make one an anomaly in the context of the national trend, but it would be a good anomaly. And if enough people become that anomaly, then suddenly you've turned the tables and we have a nation that is self-aware.

Here's a quote I recently saw on Facebook:

There is one person that can make the most difference in your life. You.

This captures the essence of the matter. Don't pin your hopes on politicians and don't give the power of change to others.

The power of change is already within YOU.

Ground And Sun Your Way To Better Health

natures-blessings.org

Grounding (also known as rooting) is an important part of any spiritual exercise. Prolonged meditation can lead to expansion of consciousness and feelings of bliss. While it's tempting to remain in this state, it can also leave the practitioner metaphorically floating and spaced out. In effect, one may be unable to effectively deal with the more practical side of life. Symptoms may include the inability to focus during work, impractical ideas or a constant dreamy, faraway look even when talking to other people. So make sure you ground yourself well after every spiritual exercise that you do.

In addition to its place in spiritual practice, it turns out grounding also has some scientific basis. It has to do with good old-fashioned electromagnetism. The Earth has a negative electric charge on its surface, so when one walks or stands barefoot on the ground, these electrons transfer into the body and bring positive physical effects.

Some studies indicate that the electrons that one absorbs from the Earth result in anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Improved circulation, immune responses, heart function and lessened stress responses are among the other noted effects of grounding. Since chronic inflammation is a condition associated with diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, the positive effects of grounding take on even more significance. The Earth is literally the best source of antioxidants and nothing beats the fact that it's all free and relatively easy to access.

Footwear and any type of flooring will block the transfer of electrons so in order to derive any benefits from grounding, you need to be in direct contact with the Earth. You can get a better idea of the science behind grounding through this article in Dr. Mercola's website. While you're at it, you may as well take into consideration the etheric cleanliness of the surrounding area where you plan to do your rooting. Areas in or around septic tanks, garbage dumps or cemeteries, for example, are not ideal places to do grounding. Look instead for peaceful gardens, parks or better yet, areas of natural vegetation such as mountains or farmland.

I like to combine grounding with one other activity: sunning myself. Vitamin D has many benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties, improved immune function and anti-depressant properties. The best (and cheapest) way to get Vitamin D is through sun exposure, which is why it's a perfect combo with grounding because both activities need to be done outdoors.

The length of time that one needs to remain under the sun is dependent on one's geographical location, skin pigmentation, season, ground elevation and time of day. It's all quite complicated, but you can get by with these general guidelines:

1. Sun exposure between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is considered optimal because you can get the most Vitamin D production for the shortest amount of time.

2. You can stay under the sun until your skin turns the lightest shade of pink. After that point, your body is not producing any more Vitamin D so further sun exposure is not needed.

For those concerned about getting skin cancer, the important thing is not to overexpose yourself. Some studies published in The Lancet and Medical Hypotheses indicate that proper sun exposure actually decreases your risk of skin cancer. Again, balance is the key.

Personally, I set a timer for 10 minutes so that I don't overexpose myself. If the day is particularly hot, drink a glass of water before and/or after sunning yourself to minimize the risk of heat stroke.

This daily grounding exercise has become a mini-meditation for me, sort of like a merging of Heaven and Earth meditation. I give thanks to God for the solar prana and sustenance, usually by silently chanting the Gayatri mantra, and I also give thanks to Mother Earth for the grounding and nurturing. It's certainly a great way to charge up your day.

These components of grounding and sun exposure have been part and parcel of various spiritual disciplines throughout the ages. It's good to know that these spiritual practices are also grounded (pardon the pun) in science and health.

Defining Your Sense Of Self Worth

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How does one measure the worth of a person?

One thing about society's concept of worth is that it is too often measured against financial and material accomplishments and achievements. For example, the most beautiful and masterfully crafted works of art would be empty accomplishments if the artist could not afford to send his/her children to school, or pay the rent or mortgage (after all, works of art usually gain value only after the artist dies). It would seem that the situation has reached the point that lack of accomplishment in material or financial matters is considered a form of irresponsibility. But is one's worth only what is reflected in the balance sheet?

In order to look deeper into this, we need to see what happens when things go wrong because this is when most people feel worthless (with others all too happy to sing that chorus). There is a song called Bad Day by Daniel Powter and perhaps it's better known as the song played for eliminated contestants in American Idol 5. But there are really some days when things just don't fall into place and one thing after another goes wrong. Some people have more of it than others but basically, no one is immune from a bad day.

A bad day is probably one of the few things in life that doesn't distinguish between rich or poor, powerful or weak, healthy or sick. When things go wrong, your bank account, degree, your job title or social position will not matter, only your mindset will.

So how do we deal with a bad day? How does one stop from feeling worthless? Since everyone will encounter at least one bad day in their whole lifetime, it's important to grasp at every little positive thing, no matter how trivial it seems. Literally count your blessings! You'd be surprised at just how much good you can find in yourself if you put effort into it, and then the day won't seem so bad after all.

An example of looking for something positive would be a situation that made you pissed off but where you didn't lose control and blow your top. You can either continue being pissed off that the bad situation happened at all, or you can reflect and congratulate yourself that you managed a bit of self control in not blowing your top, especially if this is an improvement over what you may have been likely to do in similar situations before.

Of course, it's important to distinguish between the truly good that you see in yourself versus having an overinflated sense of self-importance. If one has made a mistake, one should correct it. Self-honesty is the only way to avoid the trap of self-delusion. But even then, if you can be honest enough to admit your mistakes, that's one good thing about yourself and you still come out a winner.

The more you build up the list of good things you recognize about yourself, the more your self-esteem grows. The more your self-esteem grows, the more you get a sense of your true worth. When you know what you're worth, you are less likely to be defined by what others say about you or be forced to conform with what society defines as normal. More often than not, we seek acceptance and approval from others, that's why we feel the need to be worth something in the first place. So when we receive any form of criticism or attack, that sense of acceptance and approval is threatened so we feel bad and may even strike back.

Some criticisms are deserved, but other times they are done out of spite, jealousy or misunderstanding. Too much criticism can leave someone doubting one's worth and can lead into a downward spiral of depression. Coupled with some runs of "bad luck" and one can really feel as if the world is out to get them. For most people, these are temporary states that one can easily snap out of. For others, it can become a lifelong struggle to find meaning in life.

Whenever you're down is actually the best time for you to love and accept everything about yourself when no one else will. Your sense of true worth will be the innermost rock that you can grasp and use to hold yourself steady against the tide of trials that life may throw your way. It becomes easier to dust yourself off, be better and try harder. It even becomes easier to be harshly honest with yourself, because you know that no matter how bad you're going to appear under the harsh eye of self-criticism, you still know there's something good in you, you know there is something to accept, and you know there's still something to love. In short, you know your worth and there's no price tag attached to it.

The magical thing is, once you start to truly accept yourself (warts and all), then you start to appreciate what unconditional love must be like. Just imagine, it doesn't matter if you went to college, didn't get that promotion, failed the board exam, have a bum career, don't get along with people. None of it matters, you are simply loved and accepted as you are. You don't even have to do anything or prove anything in order to get it. If there are prerequisites or you need to "earn" it somehow, it wouldn't be unconditional.

The sages say that God is Love, and that His love is unconditional. We are all divine sparks and one with God. Therefore, the very root of love is found within us. We need not search for acceptance and approval from others. There is only one source of genuine acceptance and approval that we need, and we only need to recognize it in ourselves. It makes one think of what the Lord Jesus said, that heaven is within us.

With this recognition of the love within us, I am loved becomes the new mantra and affirmation. Had a bad day? I am loved. Did an irate customer shout invectives at you? I am loved. Passed over for promotion? I am loved. Feel you made the most stupid mistake in the world? I am loved. Were you humiliated in front of others? I am loved. Didn't pass that test? I am loved. Are you persecuted because of your race, creed or religion? I am loved.

Eventually, this type of attitude will not be limited to bad days alone. It will become a new outlook in life, a life that looks and feels fresher simply because you have accepted yourself and know your worth. Of course, nothing happens overnight and we will need to constantly remind ourselves of the fact that we are worth something before this attitude becomes ingrained.

This state is something that is experienced, not imagined. Yet imagination paves the way to infinite possibilities, so imagine it at the start if you must and remember that your true worth is the unconditional love of God that is already yours if you but recognize and accept it.