 for safety as well as nutritional and
toxicological reasons— but at least stay a safe distance away if you do use one.
• Be careful of battery-powered wristwatches, a subtle but constant EMF
exposure.
• Replace your computer monitor and television with flat panel display units, so
as to eliminate the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the cathode ray tubes
in regular TVs and monitors.
Of course, some people are more susceptible to EMFs than others (biochemical
individuality at work). For example, people who are under stress seem to be more
susceptible to damage by EMFs. In general, do whatever is possible to reduce EMF
exposure—starting with the simple knowledge that these fields exist, realizing
where they are and why they should be avoided.
Microwaves Zap More Than Food
Mobile phones produce a special kind of radiation called microwaves. Millions of
us expose ourselves to a stream of microwaves every time we use our mobile phone
for however long we talk. Cell phone microwaves are capable of damaging cellular
DNA, thus contributing to cancer and other diseases. This damage can even be
passed on to future generations. Research clearly shows that the microwaves
produced by cell phones alter cell chemistry and function.
A Swedish study completed in 2001 by Professors Lennart Hardell and Kjell
Hansson found that people who used cell phones for up to ten years had a 26 percent
higher risk of brain cancer than a control sample who did not use cell phones.
Mobile phone frequencies can cause a dramatic reduction in certain brain cell
proteins and permanently damage brain cells; the cell phone antenna is right next to
your brain.
Mast cells (cells involved with inflammatory responses such as those in asthma)
were shown to be irreversibly damaged by exposure to mobile phone frequencies,
with just ten minutes of exposure per day for seven days. Many people use their cell
phones far more than that! To make matters worse, digital phones emit a series of
pulses, and pulsed microwaves are known to be more biologically active than the
continuous-wave radiation (analog phones) used in the experiments above. Cell
phones can also interfere with melatonin production, thus interfering with sleeppatterns and possibly promoting cancer. Since little research on the long-term
effects of low-level microwave exposure has been done, the best course of action is
to avoid cell phone use. When use is necessary, at least limit the number and
duration of your calls.
The Threat of Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation, as I have mentioned, is a serious kind of radiation that is fairly
well known. This type of radiation, which includes gamma rays and X rays, is known
to have harmful effects on human tissue. We call this type of radiation “ionizing”
because it results in the formation of chemically reactive elements or molecules
called ions, which alter the electrical charge in atoms and molecules within our
cells. Ionizing radiation causes damage to DNA, cells, tissues and also causes
cancer. Therefore, no level of exposure to radiation can be considered safe.
Research on ionizing radiation has uncovered many problems, from both natural
and man-made sources. In 1983, residents of Montclair, New Jersey, began
complaining of headaches and allergies. Their homes had been constructed on a
landfill from a U.S. radium plant that closed in the 1930s. Their homes were found
to be contaminated by “dangerously high” levels of radiation, which seemed to be
related to the reported health problems. Similarly, in Kerela, India, which
experiences the highest levels of natural environmental radiation in the world, a high
prevalence of Down’s syndrome and other forms of mental retardation are found
among residents. Radiation damage is also evident in Japan’s Hiroshima and
Nagasaki victims and in the health records of former employees of government
atomic facilities.
We have no control over about half of the ionizing radiation we are exposed to in
our lives, because it comes from natural sources such as radioactive elements in our
soil, water and atmosphere. Research the level of radiation in the ground and water
where you live. If your local ambient radiation is particularly high, you might want
to consider a different home. At least avoid drinking contaminated water and use
ventilation to remove radioactive gas from your basement.
We do have control over the other half of the ionizing radiation we are exposed to
—that which comes from manmade sources, primarily medical X rays. Seemingly
“benign” dental X rays, mammograms and other radiological procedures can subject
the body to significant physical harm. Given that the overwhelming majority of
diagnostic X rays are not medically necessary, we should consider them as a health
risk and carefully evaluate their value (risks versus benefits). Whether or not to have
an X ray is your choice, not your doctor’s, and the decision should be made by you.
As noted, this decision should not be taken lightly because ionizing radiation from
medical X rays and radiation treatment can cause cancer, genetic defects and tissue
injury.In the medical and scientific communities, much disagreement exists about the
health effects of low-level exposure to ionizing radiation in diagnostic procedures.
Many have assumed that low-level exposure is not a health threat, but modern
research is beginning to cast doubts. A study of the health records of thirty-five
thousand workers at a government bomb plant in Washington state concluded that
even small doses of ionizing radiation are four to eight times more likely to cause
cancer than previously believed. This study, financed by the Three Mile Island
Public Health Fund and carried out by Alice Stewart, M.D., concluded that
radiation
delivered in small doses over time (as we are exposed to today through common
medical X rays) may carry a higher risk of cancer than the same total radiation
delivered in a single dose.
Edward Radford, past chairman of the National Academy of Sciences committee
on ionizing radiation, says the cancer risk of low-level radiation may be ten times
worse than is generally accepted. Higher radiation doses may kill off damaged cells,
thus preventing their proliferation, whereas weak exposures damage cellular DNA
but still allow damaged cells to replicate; thus, cells are able to reproduce and
proliferate cancerous mutations. This conclusion is the opposite of what our dentists
and physicians teach us; the medical community has always maintained that X rays
are safe because small doses over time give the body time to repair itself and are
therefore less damaging. However, instead of repairing, the body’s cells appear to
suffer damage and then replicate that damage, enabling the problem to spread.
The bottom line: Avoid radiation whenever possible. Because some radiation
exists in the natural world, we must focus on reducing our exposure to the radiation
we create, especially from medical X rays.
Optimizing Your Physical Pathway
This chapter began with a comparison between your body and your car. Your car
will provide better service and last longer if you take good care of it. Even an old,
beat-up car can be restored to good function with tender loving care. The same is
true of your body. To move yourself in the right direction on the physical pathway,
maintain your body—with good nutrition, exercise, sleep, proper breathing and
natural sunlight— and protect your body from physical harm, including loud noises,
sunburn and radiation. Making even minor adjustments to your physical pathway can
make a big difference. As always, the choice is yours.9
T
HE
F
ENETIC
P
ATHWAY
“Genetics may load the gun, but environment pulls the
trigger.”
Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H.
Fight Fat After Forty
O
ne of the most manipulated terms in conversations about health is the word
“genetic.” Almost weekly in the news, genetic discoveries are announced,
proclaiming the genetic origins of a myriad of problems—from cancer to
compulsive shopping. Scientists usually describe a gene as being associated with a
particular disease (rather than directly causing it), but the details become distorted
and misinterpreted. Many are confused about what genes are and how they work.
We
end up being misled into believing that genes control health directly—which is not
accurate, because the environment we create for our cells controls the expression of
our genes.
While true genetic diseases do exist, they affect less than 5 percent of the
population. Heredity is trumped by environment, and you control your environment.
You have control over the rate at which you age and the diseases that you will (or
will not) develop. Turn the right genes on, and keep the wrong genes off. Health is
not about genes; it is about cells. Once again, we are in charge. Use the six pathways
to optimize the health of your cells, and you control the expression of your genes.
Will the Weakest Link Fail?
What about the genetic predisposition to disease we hear so much about? What
about health problems that “run in the family”?
Think of a genetic predisposition to disease as a weak link in a chain—a weak link
with the potential to break, but only if excessively stressed. In the right environment,
the weak link will function just fine. If the chain does break (if sickness does occur),
it is not accurate to say that the weak link (the “bad” gene) is the sole trigger of the
problem. Excess biological stress is the trigger, and this we can control.
By enhancing the function of cells, genetic predispositions can remain potential
problems, rather than becoming real problems, regardless of what “runs in the
family.” Unfortunately, people often give up to their genetic predispositions,
rel


 copper pollution in our environment and intakes
are often too high, causing insufﬁciency of zinc. High levels of copper overstimulate the brain. A study in the United States found that
every home with high copper levels in drinking water had at least one family member with psychiatric problems. Copper pipes and hot
water boilers are the main sources of excess copper in drinking water.
Mental diseases and symptoms linked to high copper levels are low-h istamine schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, depression,
senility, autism and hyperactivity. Paranoia and hallucinations are prevalent in younger schizophrenics and depression in older ones.
However, excess of copper does not necessarily show up in the blood. In an evaluation of 30 patients with normal serum and urine
levels but unusually high hair copper levels the following symptoms were present: apprehension, poor concentration, severe10/30/24, 4:13 PM Health-Science-Spirit - Mental Illness
https://health-science-spirit.com/Diseases/Mental-Illness.html 5/13depression, insomnia, irritability, memory lack and profound mental fatigue, in addition also somatic (bodily) problems. Removal of
the excess copper by chelation usually led to rapid improvement.
Copper levels in the blood rise when zinc levels drop as for instance with raising oestrogen levels in females the week before period
time and when on contraceptive pills and in both sexes when consuming sugar. However, copper blood levels are also high with
inﬂammatory condition and degenerative diseases with an underlying inﬂammatory basis, even if tissue copper levels are low.
Therefore, with all inﬂammatory conditions copper is beneﬁcial.
Vanadium is a heavy metal, which in trace amounts seems to be essential for us. However, in manic-depressives it is frequently
elevated in blood and hair. Also blood vanadium levels have been found  to be higher during active states of the disease than during
inactive phases or remissions.
A double blind study of 23 patients had manic as well as depressed individuals improved on a low vanadium diet with an additional
heavy metal chelating agent (EDT A). Generally, however, studies show that depressed patients respond better to lower vanadium
levels than manic conditions.
Two case reports may demonstrate this point. A patient with a regular 10-week cycle of mania and depression skipped her depressive
phase on a low vanadium diet and supplements of ascorbic acid and EDTA. Another patient with the same treatment changed from a
severe bipolar condition to a mild hypomanic state with no depressiv e phase. However, ﬁve days after the supplements were
withdrawn she became severely depressed and returned to the hypomanic condition only after resumption of supplementation.
The beneﬁcial effect of ascorbic acid supplementation appears to be due to a reduction of the vanadium ion to a more inactive form
(from vanadate to vanadyl). In addition there may be an increased excretion of vanadium. Methylene blue has been used as an
effective alternative reducing agent (200 - 400 mg per day) while EDTA (1 g per meal) chelates vanadium from dietary sources in the
gut but will also prevent the absorption of beneﬁcial minerals. V anadium is relatively high in milk, egg white, gelatine and shellﬁsh.
The adverse effect of vanadium results from its inhibition of the active transport of sodium across cell membranes. This means the
sodium content inside the cells becomes too high and cells cannot build up the full electric potential for proper functioning. Lithium, on
the other hand, which is a mineral often used with mental disorders, improves this sodium transport.
Aluminium is mainly implicated with dementia and in particular with Alzheimer ’s disease. The aluminium content in the brain of such
patients is greatly elevated as compared to normal controls. Aluminium exposure in animal experiments causes nerve ﬁbres to
become tangled up (neuroﬁbrilar tangles).
Aluminium is known to inhibit and reduce an important co-factor in the synthesis of many neurotransmitters and it is also reduced in
the brains of patients with Alzheimer's dementia. In one controlled experiment Alzheimer patients received injections of aluminium-
chelating agents for 4 - 24 months. While controls continued to deteriorate at the normal rate, the treated patients had either slower
deterioration or even improved in some cases. Aluminium also promotes acute psychotic conditions by making the blood-brain barrier
more permeable to ingested neurotoxins.
Our aluminium intake comes mainly from aluminium cooking utensils, antacids based on aluminium, public drinking water; some
types of baking powder and especially aerosol sprays. It has been shown that the aluminium silicates from such sprays can be
directly transported through nerve connections from the nose into the brain and deposited in the most sensitive areas.
In a psychiatric study on 31 patients with elevated lead levels 17 had one or more of the following symptoms: depression, fatigue,
headache and irritability. The main complaint was severe depression. We absorb lead from tinned food (lead soldering), car exhaust
fumes, old paints and lead water pipes.
Symptoms reported from exposure to mercury include anxiety, apathy, drowsiness, depression, fatigue, irritability, poor concentration
and memory loss. The main sources of mercury pollution are dental amalgam ﬁllings and in some areas coastal seafood.
Cadmium from reﬁned foods, plated containers and leached from plastics causes problems mainly as a zinc antagonist. While salt
normally causes problems with degenerative diseases, if blood pressure is very low a salt-free diet can produce apathy, memory
impairment, social withdrawal and even illusions and hallucinations.
Essential Fatty Acid Studies
Recent studies have found a strong connection between mental disorders and an abnormal metabolism of essential fatty acids.
There are two groups of essential fatty acids, the omega-6 series based on linoleic acid common in oil seeds, and the omega-3
series based on alpha linolenic acid from linseed. The most prominent higher omega-6 fatty acid is arachidonic acid, which is
abundant in meat, while the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids are the ﬁsh oils (EP A and DHA).
Both groups form different kinds of tissue hormones or prostaglandins. Linoleic acid may form either series 1 or 2 prostaglandins or
PGE1 or PGE2, while omega-3 fatty acids lead to the 3 series or PGE3. Generally, there is an overproduction of the PGE2 series and
a lack of PGE1.
This situation can be improved by restricting the intake of arachidonic acid and greatly increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids,
especially alpha linolenic acid. An excess of linolenic acid restricts the formation of PGE2 while the additionally formed PGL3 have
similar ef fects to the PGE1 series.
Further nutrients, which are required for PGE1 production are the vitamins C, B6 and niacin as well as manganese, zinc and insulin.
Increased PGE1 and PGE3 production is especially beneﬁcial with low-histamine schizophrenics as well as depressed and
agoraphobic individuals. Schizophrenic patients then have a greatly lowered ﬂush threshold with niacin but more easily develop
neurotoxic symptoms with high doses of vitamin B6 in the absence of sufﬁcient zinc.10/30/24, 4:13 PM Health-Science-Spirit - Mental Illness
https://health-science-spirit.com/Diseases/Mental-Illness.html 6/13In manic conditions, however, there is an overproduction of PGE1. This may possibly be improved by greatly restricting all omega-6
fatty acids and use predominantly ornega-3 fatty acids.
Lithium, a mineral related to sodium  and potassium, is often used as a drug with mental diseases, especially in manic-depressive
conditions. Lithium seems to have a normalising inﬂuence on PGE1 production, which is most effective with manic conditions, but
with depression PGE1 levels may fall to a very low level, and this causes toxic side effects. These can usually be overcome by
providing evening primrose oil together with the lithium to stimulate PGE1 production.
In an interesting study 12 patients were taking 2 - 6 tablespoons of linseed oil in divided doses with meals. 8 patients showed
impressive improvements within 2 - 12 weeks, 2 of these were schizophrenic, 3 manic-depressive and 3 agoraphobic. 3
schizophrenics and 1 agoraphobic patient failed to improve. It is possible that linseed oil has less effect on high-histamine
schizophrenics and none on pyrolurics (vitamin B6 and zinc deﬁcient).
In the manic-depressives the amount of linseed oil had to be carefully balanced as too high a dose induced hypomanic episodes or
rapid oscillations between the manic and the depressed condition. The name bipolar disorder has been given because of this,
normally slow, alternation between the two opposite conditions. However, ﬁsh oils now appear to be the functional form of omega-3
fatty acids, and it is generally better to use several grams of ﬁsh oils instead of linseed oil.
It is conceivable that a hidden allergy or chemical sensitivity causes an over-stimulation of the PGE1 production resulting in a manic
phase until the hormone and enzyme systems responsible for this overproduction become temporarily exhausted. This leads to a rest
period with little PGE1


 mer, Negative  emotions: w orry, sympathy  pity. Positive
emotions:  fairness,  com passion,  centeri ng, music-making. Parts
of the  body: neck.  Senses:  mouth-taste,  appetite.
(6) Triple  Warmer (Circulation  Sex)
    There  is no  element,  season  or emotion  associated  with the
Triple Warmer. The Triple W armer refers  to the three  energ y centers
of the  body:
- 168  -Chapter  VI
   The upper  level:  brain,  heart,  lungs.  Property : hot.
   The mi ddle level: liver  kidney s, stomach, pancreas,  spleen.
Property : warm.
   The lo wer level:  large  and small intestines,  bladde r sexual
organs.  Property : cool.
   The ma in goal  of the organs’  orgasm is to  strengthe n, satisf y
and restore  the organs  to their  natural  state in order  to gener ate
good  virtue  and healing  for ourselves  and others.
B. Organs’ Orgasm Practice  Step-By-S tep
    Once  you have  practiced  the steps  above  and have  beco me
successful  in mo ving the arous ed sexual Chi  in the  Microcosmic
Orbit,  you can begin  to mo ve this  orgas m ener gy into the organs.
Remember as  you follo w the steps  below, always move the  Chi in
the Microcosmic Orbit  first before  continuin g.
    (1)  Once  the sexual  energy  is arous ed, inhale  and pull up the
left and  right  anus  to dra w the energy  to the  left and  right  ovaries.
Circulate  the energ y in the  Microcosmic Orbit,  and then  drop the
sexual  Chi into  the ovaries.
    (2)  When you begin  to feel the  sexual  energ y in the  ovaries,
move it to the left  and right  kidney s. Wrap the  orgasm ic energy :
now highl y refined  by all of the  organs  and glands,  with all of the
combined  virtues  of those  organs  into com passion  energ y. Feel
the kidney s bathe  in this  healing,  creative  and revitalizing  energy.
The actual  sensation  of a kidney s’ orgas m is differe nt from any thing
else. In fact,  as y ou bring  the com passion  energ y to each  orga n,
each  will have  a different  type of orgasmic feeling  that is be yond
words. It is greate r than  anything you have  ever  experienc ed. The
organs’  orgasms have  a longer- lasting  orgas mic feeling,  bringing
good  health,  fulfill ment, joy  and happiness.  This kind  of joy and
fulfillment com es onl y from  the sexual,  creative,  and generative
qualities  of the com passion  ener gy that fills the  organs.
    Every  time you move the  orgasmic energ y in the  Microc osmic
Orbit,  pull it up  to the ovaries,  then  to the left  and right  kidney s, and
proceed,  moving the  energ y up to:
    (3)  the spleen  (on the left) and the liver  (on the right):
    (4)  the left and right  lungs:  and
    (5)  the left and right  sides of  the brain.
    (6)  When you have  beco me proficient  in the Microcosmic Orbit
- 169  -Orgasmic Upward Draw
and moving the  energ y to the  left and right  organs,  contract  the
middle anus  to bring  the sexual  energy  to the cervix:
    (7)  the aorta  and venacava:
    (8)  the pancre as: and
    (9)  the heart.  Be very  careful  moving the  energ y to the  heart
because  problems can be  created  here.  Be careful  in the  beginni ng
not to dra w too much sexual  Chi into  the heart.
    (10)  Next take  the ener gy to the thymus  gland.  This is very
important  for wome n because  when this center  is re juvenat ed, the
sexual  energy  will be able  to increase  a great  deal  with the
assistance  of that gland,  thereb y increasing  the assistance  of the
other  glands.
    (11)  Next bring  the energ y to the  thyroid and parathy roid glands:
    (12)  then to the  pituitar y gland:
    (13)  to the  pineal  gland;  and
    (14)  up to  the crow n.
    (15)  A final  refinement  to reme mber is that  the lower contraction
is not  centered  In the  stom ach or abdominal  region.  You must not
tighten  your stomach m uscles during  the Orgas mic Dra w as this
will draw Chi away from  the Micr ocosmic Orbit.  We must
concentrat e on the front  of the undertru nk, i.e., the vagina,  perine um,
and urogenit al diaphr agm. Our  goal  is to so  train  these  muscles
that by using  them  we can flood  the body with restorative  energy.
Directing  power from  the lo wer trunk  toward the center  of the bod y
pours  energ y into the navel region.  Since  ovary  and egg energ y,
like the  blood,  tend  to follow  the Chi energy, the navel,  in effect,
grips  the ovary  and egg energ y and pulls it up  into the body  through
the spine.  Therefo re, if yo u contract  the urogenit al diaphr agm as if
you were holding  in a bladderf ul of urine,  you will lock the passages
so tightl y that no internal  urge  can burst  through  the sealing  rings
of mu scle. M ake sure  that there  is no  infection  in the  urinar y tract
which can cause  infection  in the  bladder  when you stop  the urine.
C. Daily Practice
    Nothing  will com e of nothing.  You must spend  time in practice
to reap  the benefits.  An ounce  of practice  is wo rth a ton  of theor y.
Modem life, it seem s, affords  little tim e for anything but acquirin g
and spending.  You must be  willing to surrend er some ti me to
advance.  The practice  must become part  of your daily  routine. You
will make some progress  if yo u do the  exercise  more often  than
- 170  -Chapter  VI
not. If, ho wever you practice  as regula rly as getting  out of bed  in
the morning,  progress  will be swift, Chi will begin  to build  in your
upper  body, and you will be able  to collect  it at your navel.
    Once  you have  mastered  this techniq ue, it requires  only  a few
minutes each  day to bring  the sexual  Chi to all  the orga ns and
glands  with simply a few Orgas mic Dra ws. After a wh ile when you
do the Orgasmic Draw  a few times yo u will feel,  all at  once,  the
sexual  energy  filling  the organs  and glands  quickly.
    If y ou can,  practice  six or  nine  complete  contractions  of the
Orgas mic Dra w, with each  com plete  draw consisting  of nine  hard
contractions.  If possible,  practice  both  in the mo rning  and at night,
and you will progr ess quickl y. Once  you have  mastered  the
technique,  eighteen  to thirty -six repetiti ons performed morning and
night  should  not be unduly  strenuo us. If you become extremely
aroused,  do fewer repetitions.  With such  intensity  of training, you
will easil y develop  the muscle tone  require d within a mo nth or two.
How quickly  you progr ess is not  important:  what is essential  is that
you progress  steadily. Rock bottom m inimum should  be one round
per day; just to maintain the  practice.
    The prefe rred times for  these  exercises  are from  eleven  a.m.
until one  pm., and eleven  pm. until one a.m. During  these  periods
the tide of  Yin energ y changes  to Yang, and vice versa.  At these
times the po wer flows very  well. If it is im possible  to practice  during
these  hours,  do not be discourag


you	to	be	left	could	come	from	a	family	divorce,	a	parent
withdrawing	from	you	because	you	weren’t	what	they	wanted	you	to	be,	or	a
death	in	the	family.
To	change	the	pattern,	you	need	to	forgive	your	parent	AND	understand
that	you	don’t	have	to	repeat	this	old	behavior.	You	free	them	and	yourself.
For	every	habit	or	pattern	we	repeat	over	and	over	again,	there	is	a	NEED
WITHIN	US	for	such	repetition.	The	need	corresponds	to	some	belief	that	we
have.	If	there	was	no	need,	we	would	not	have	to	have	it,	do	it,	or	be	it.	Self-
criticism	does	not	break	the	pattern:	letting	go	of	the	need	does.
MIRROR	WORK
Using	your	mirror,	look	into	your	eyes,	breathe,	and	say:	“I	am	willing	to
release	the	need	for	relationships	that	do	not	nourish	and	support	me.”
Say	this	five	times	in	the	mirror;	each	time	you	say	it,	give	it	more
meaning.	Think	of	some	of	your	relationships	as	you	say	it.EXERCISE:
Your	Relationships
In	the	space	below,	answer	the	following	questions	as	best
	you
can.
1.	What	did	you	learn	about	love	as	a	child?
2.	Did	you	ever	have	a	boss	who	was	“just	like”	one	of	your	parents?
How?
3.	Is	your	partner/spouse	like	one	of	your	parents?	How?
4.	How	were	they	alike?
5.	What	would	you	have	to	forgive	in	order	to	change	this	pattern?
6.	From	your	new	understanding,	what	would	you	like	your	relationship
to	be	like?
Your	old	thoughts	and	beliefs	continue	to	form	your	experiences	until	you
let	them	go.	Your	future	thoughts	have	not	been	formed,	and	you	do	not	know
what	they	will	be.	Your	current	thought,	the	one	you	are	thinking	right	now,	is
totally	under	your	control.
We	are	the	only	ones	who	choose	our	thoughts.	We	may	habitually	think
the	same	thought	over	and	over	so	that	it	does	not	seem	as	if	we	are	choosing
the	thought.	But,	we	did	make	the	original	choice.	We	can	refuse	to	think
certain	thoughts.	How	often	have	you	refused	to	think	a	positive	thought
about	yourself?	You	can	also	refuse	to	think	a	negative	thought	about
yourself.	It	just	takes	practice.
EXERCISE:
Love	and	Intimacy
Let’s	examine	these	beliefs.	Answer	each	of	the	questions	below.	After
each	answer	write	a	positive	affirmation
	(in
the	present	tense)	to	replace	the
old	belief
1.	Do	I	feel	worthy	to	have	an	intimate	relationship?
Example:
No.	Another	person	would	run	if	they	really	knew	me.
YOUR	EXAMPLE:
Sample	Affirmation:
I	am	lovable	and	worth	knowing.YOUR	AFFIRMATION:
2.	Am	I	afraid	to	love?
Example:
Yes-I’m	afraid	that	they	won’t	be	faithful.
YOUR	EXAMPLE:
Sample	Affirmation:
I	am	always	secure	in	love.
YOUR	AFFIRMATION:
3.	What	am	I	“getting”	from	this	belief?
Example:
I	don’t	let	romance	in	my	life.
YOUR	EXAMPLE:
Sample	Affirmation:
It	is	safe	for	me	to	open	my	heart	to	let	love	in.
YOUR	AFFIRMATION:
4.	What	do	I	fear	would	happen	if	I	let	go	of	this	belief?
Example:
I	would	be	taken	advantage	of	and	be	hurt.
YOUR	EXAMPLE:
Sample	Affirmation:
It	is	safe	for	me	to	share	my	innermost	self	with	others.
YOUR	AFFIRMATION:
EXERCISE:
Your	Critical	Self
Criticism	breaks	down	the	inner	spirit,	and	never	changes	a	thing.	Praise
builds	up	the	spirit	and	can	bring	positive	changes.	Write	down	two	ways	in
which	you	criticize	yourself	in	the	area	of	love	and	intimacy.	Perhaps	you
are	not	able	to	tell	people	how	you	feel,
	or
what	you	need.	Maybe	you	have
an	fear	of	relationships,
	or
attract	partners	that	will	hurt	you.
Then,	think	of	a	way	in	which	you
	have	not
been	acting	out	thisbehavior.
Examples:
I	criticize	myself	for:

choosing	people	who	are	not	able	to	give	me	what	I
need.
I	praise	myself	for:

telling	someone	that	I	liked	them.	It	scared	me,	yet	I
did	it	anyway.
1.	I	criticize	myself	for:
I	praise	myself	for:
2.	I	criticize	myself	for:
I	praise	myself	for:
Congratulations!	You	have	just	begun	to	break	another	old	habit!	You	are
learning	to	praise	yourself-in	this	moment.	And	the	point	of	power	is	always
in	the	present	moment.Review	the	checklist	of	negative	beliefs	on	the	next	page,	taken	from	page
145,	and	find	the	corresponding	affirmations	next	to	them.	Make	these
affirmations	part	of	your	daily	routine.	Say	them	often	in	the	car,	at	work,	or
any	time	you	feel	your	negative	beliefs	surfacing.If	You	Believe:
Your	Affirmation	Is:
I	am	afraid	of	rejection.
I	love	and	accept	myself	and	I	am
safe.
Love	never	lasts	for	me.
Love	is	eternal.
I	feel	trapped.
Love	makes	me	feel	free.
Love	scares	me.
It	is	safe	for	me	to	be	in	love.
I	have	to	do	everything
their
	way
We	are	always	equal	partners.
If	I	take	care	of	myself,	they	will
leave	me.
We	each	take	care	of	ourselves.
I	can’t	be	myself.
People	love	me	when	I	am	myself.
I’m	not	good	enough.
I	am	worthy	of	love.
I	don’t	want	a	marriage	like	my
parents	had.
I	go	beyond	my	parents’	limitations.
I	don’t	know	how	to	love.
Loving	myself	and	others	gets	easier
every	day.
I’ll	get	hurt.
The	more	I	love,	the	safer	I	am.
I	can’t	say	no	to	someone	I	love.
My	partner	and	I	respect	each	other’s
decisions.
Everybody	leaves	me.
I	now	create	a	long-lasting,	loving
relationship.
“I	give	myself	permission	to	experience	intimate	love.”POWER	POINTS
1.	We	are	each	responsible	for	our	experiences.
2.	Every	thought	we	think	is	creating	our	future.
3.	Everyone	is	dealing	with	the	damaging	patterns	of
resentment,	criticism,	guilt,	and	self-hatred.
4.	These	are	only	thoughts	and	thoughts	can	be	changed.
5.	We	need	to	release	the	past	and	forgive	everyone,	including
ourselves.
6.	Self-approval	and	self-acceptance	in	the	“now”	are	the	keys
to	positive	changes.
7.	The	point	of	power	is	always	in	the	present	moment.PART	III
YOUR
	NEW
LIFE15
YOUR	NEW	PICTURE
“I	see	myself	in	a	new	light.”
W
ith	your	nondominant	hand	(the	hand	you	don’t	usually	use)	draw	a	new
picture	of	yourself.	Either	use	crayons	or	pens.	Sit	quietly.	Close	your	eyes.
Breathe.	Center	yourself.
Who	are	you?
Why	are	you	here?
What	have	you	come	here	to	learn?
What	have	you	come	here	to	teach?
What	has


: Old mice regained youthful
vigor, and their coats resume d their former sleek and glossy texture;
incipient cancers, whether naturally occurring or induced by artificial
means, disappeared; obese animals returned to normal weight; immune
response increased; and animals with diabetes improved drastically. The
race to patent a version of the DHEA molecule began, although, as with all
hormones, the risk of serious side effects was worrisome and taking DHEA
orally was of little use, since it gets broken down in the digestive tract.
But Glaser felt, as I do, that DHE A is a marker for the body’ s exposure to
stress. We know that with accelerated stress glucocorticoids increase,
lowering the reservoir of DHEA  at the same time. On the other hand, high
DHEA levels are associated with reduced incidence of coronary artery
disease, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. This makes sense because all these
disorders of aging could be associated with excessive stress response.
Higher DHEA is also associate d with longer survival and decreased death
from all diseases in older men.
As further evidence in the case, it was also found that cortisol levels go
up markedly in patients awaiting surgery; it stays up the day after surgery,
with a slight elevation in DHEA. Two weeks later, cortisol is still up, but
DHEA has fallen, supporting the theory that the DHEA reservoir was
depleted by stress.
The logical conc lusion from this evidence is that if someone can keep up
his DHEA levels, his body must be resisting stress, and with fewer stress
reactions, aging  should be retarded. Was that a clue as to why meditators
showed less biological aging? Apparently so—Glaser took 328 experienced
meditators and compared their levels of DHEA to those of 1,462
nonmeditators (to be precise, he looked at the closely related DHEAS, or
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate).
His subjects were divided by age and sex. In all the women’ s groups, the
levels of DHEA were higher among meditators; the same was true for eightout of the eleve n men’ s groups. Since higher DHEA appears  in younger
people, Glaser took this as proof that biological aging was decreased as a
result of meditation. Interestingl y, the biggest differences showed up in the
older subjects. The meditating men over the age of 45 had 23 percent more
DHEA, the women 47 percent more. This impressive result was
independent of factors such as diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, and
weight. Overall,  Glaser estimated that the meditators’ DHEA levels were
equivalent to those of people five to ten years younger.
Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit
Whether DHEA  turns out to be as significant as it now appears, this
connection between antiaging and meditation is very importa nt. But the
implications go even deeper. Meditation is a spiritual practice. That is its
purpose in India and throughout the East. Millions of Westerners wrongly
assume that this makes meditat ion nonphysical, something you do in your
head. In truth, nothing is just in the head or just in the body. When I first
met His Holines s Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought TM to the West, he
made a deep impression on me with one overriding point: Spirituality is not
meant to be separate from the body. Sickness and aging represent the body’ s
inability to reach its natural goal, which is to join the mind in perfection and
fulfillment.
At every  stage of spiritual growth, the greatest ally you have is your
body. Is this statement surprising to you? Most of us assume that body and
spirit stand at opposite ends of the spectrum. When we feel sensations that
are body-centere d, such as hung er and thirst, pain and pleasure, we do not
regard them as spiritual experiences. Sensuousness, which encompasses the
whole range of physical delight, is often considered low comp ared to the
heights the soul can reach. But spirituality must also be sensuous, because a
spiritual person is one who lives fully in the present moment, which means
living fully in the body. Maharishi inspired me to see that using meditation
as a way to defeat aging was a legitimate spiritual goal.Unfortunately, our culture has made the mistake of deciding that the
human body is a machine, an inert lump of matter that works without any
intelligence of its own. This misconception led to a second mistake—that
the most spiritu al people must be those who renounce the body, deny its
passions, or at the very least attempt to control its desires.
This kind of prejudice against the body runs contrary to the way that
Nature fashione d us. Nature balanced mind, body, and spirit as co-creators
of our personal reality. You cann ot do a single thing, from falling in love to
uttering a prayer to metabolizing a molecule of sucrose, without affecting
everything that you are. The body is the platform that allows any experience
to emer ge and see the light of day; it is a 3-D projection of billions of
separate processes going on at any moment, including a process as
profound as coming to know the reality of God.
In our society people suffer from a sense that spirit is basically  separate
from them. Our bodies process food, air, and water perfectly well without
spirit; our minds effectively think about a million things witho ut touching
upon spirit. We find it easy to set aside spiritual life, waiting for the day
when some as-yet-impossible leap takes us out of everyday life into a more
exalted realm.
Every aspect of reality is one piece of a mystery, a facet of overarching
wholeness, the totality of what is. Atoms, molecules, rocks, stars, and the
human body are material expressions of what is. Pain and pleasure are
psychological expressions of what is. Compassion and love are spiritual
expressions of what is. When the material, psychological, and spiritual
dimensions are brought into balance, life becomes whole, and this union
brings feelings of comfort and security. Only if you feel sure of your place
in the universe can you begin to face the fact that you are surrounded by
creation and destruction as they constantly play themselves out. You cannot
defeat entropy as a physical force, but you can rise to a level of realization
that is not touched by entropy. At the deepest level, intelligence is immune
to decay. Your cells come and go, yet your body’ s knowledge  of how to
make a cell survives and gets passed on generation after generation. The
evolutionary intelligence that DNA embodies has many levels, and our task
as humans is to experience every level and make each a part of ourselves.In the midst of change, there are five realizations that entrop y cannot
touch. They are expressed in every spiritual tradition and form the core of
personal evolution age after age:
  1.  I am Spirit.
  2.  This moment is as it should be.
  3.  Uncertainty is part of the overall order of things.
  4.  Change is infused with non-change.
  5.  Entropy holds no threat because it is under the control of infinite
organizing power.
These realizations are crucial because they allow a person to rise above the
world of duality, which is inevitably caught up in the battle of creation and
destruction. There is a perspective that the New Testament calls “seeing
with one eye,” a state of unity in which all events, however painful or
distressing at the moment, serve one end, which is intelligent, loving, and
well ordered. This unified perspective cannot be forced on anyo ne until his
or her consciousness is prepared  to accept it. If you are caught up in your
own pain and convinced by your own life drama, that is your perspective,
and you have a right to it. But everyone wants an end to pain and suffering,
and at a certain point in your personal evolution these five realizations will
form the trail that leads the mind out of suffering. Let me translate each
point in terms of the new paradigm.
1. I am Spirit.
Although my physical existence is confined to space and time, my
awareness is not limited to that. I am aware of the whole field as a play of
creation and destruction. Matter and energy come and go, flickering in and
out of existence  like fireflies, yet all events are held together and made
orderly by the deep intelligence that runs through all things. I am one aspect
of that intelligence. I am the field unfolding itself in local event s. My spirit
is experiencing the material world through the lens of perceptio n, but even
if I see and hear nothing, I am still myself, an eternal presence of
awareness.In pract ical terms, this realization becomes real when no outside event
can shake your sense of self. A person who knows himself as spirit never
loses sight of the experiencer in the midst of experience. His inner truth
says, “I carry the consciousness of immortality in the midst of mortality.”
2. This moment is as it should be.
This present moment is a space- time event within the eternal continuum.
Since that continuum is me, nothing that can happen is outside myself;
therefore, every thing is acceptable as part of my larger identity. Just as
every cell reflects


roat.
INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA Ledumpalustre(Led.)•107
Betterforswallowingsolids.
Worseforheat;ontheleftside;forpressure;fortouch;
forswallowingliquidsorsaliva.
Thissorethroatisverypainfulandhastheunusual
symptomofbeingbetterforswallowinghardfoods,
suchastoast,becausethishardpressurehelps,and
lightpressureortouchaggravates.Emptyswallowing
(ofsaliva)andswallowingdrinks,especiallywarm
ones,isverysore.Thepatienthasaconstantdesireto
swallowbecause itfeelsasifthereisalumpinthe
throat,andswallowinghelpsthisfeeling,butonly
temporarilv Itmayfeelasiftherewerebreadcrumbs
inthethroatandthisisrelievedbyhawking.The
patientfeelsasenseofconstrictionaroundtheneck
andcannotbeartobetouchedthere.
Toothache
SymptomsCheeksswollen.Painsthrobbing.
Worseforbrushingteeth;forcolddrinks;hotdrinks
food;duringmenstrualperiod;inthespring.
Causesgettingwet.
Theteetharesensitivetocoldwater,tobeingtouched
andtowarmthingeneral.
LEDUMPALUSTRE(Led.)
Familyname:Ericaceae
Othernames:marshtea;wildrosemaryThisevergreenshrubgrowsinmarshesandbogsin
thenorthofEurope,NorthAmericaandCanada. It
flowersfromApriltoJulyandsmellsstronglyofhops
whencrushed.Theleavesresemblethoseoftheherb
rosemary,andrust-coloureddowncoversthesoft,
greenupperbranches.Thesewoollyhairsprobably
gavethenameLedumtothisplant,forledosisthe
Greekfor'woollyrobe'.
Theflowerscontainanoilthatsmellsstronglyof
antiseptic;this,andtheplant'sbittertaste,protectit
frombeingeatenbyanimals.Ledumhasinfactserved
wellasan'antiseptic':theSwedesusedittowashtheir
oxeninordertokilllice,andtheLappsandFinnsused
ittoprotecttheirgrainfromvermin.Ithasalsobeen
usedasateasubstitute,andtoreplacehopsinthe
manufactureofbeer,thoughthiscausesanun-
pleasantsortofdrunkennessaccompaniedbvan
obstinateheadacheanddizziness.
Thehomeopathicremedyismadefromthewhole
plantwhichisdriedandpowderedthenmixedwith
alcoholandleftforeightdays;theclearliquoristhen
decantedandsuccussed.
GENERALSYMPTOMS
Painswandering.
Betterforcoldbathing.
Worseforheat;formovement;fortouch;forwalking;
forwine.
Ledumiseffectiveintreatingacuterheumaticand
goutyafflictionsofthejoints,aswellaspreventing
sepsisdevelopinginaparticulartypeofinjury.The
injuredorpainfulpartpuffsup,becomesnumbandis
sensitivetobeingtouched. Itmaylookmottledor
bluish,orcanbecomepale.AlthoughLedumtypesare
chilly,andalthoughthepainfulpartmayfeelcold
(bothinternallyandexternally),thepainsareactually
relievedbycoldcompressesorbybeingbathedincold
(andevenicy-cold)water.Thepainsaregenerally
worseformovementandwarmthandtherewillbea
generalaggravationafterdrinkingwine.
Therearenomarkedemotional/mental symptoms.
PHYSICALCOMPLAINTS
Bites/stings
Betterforcold.
Worseforheat.
Causesinsects/animals.
Ledumpreventsasepticstatesettinginandshould
alwaysberoutinelyadministered afterapersonhas
beenbittenbyanyanimal,poisonousornot.Givealso
foranyinsectbiteorstingunlessanotherremedyis
stronglyindicated,andusetheappropriateexternal
remedyatthesametime.
108•Lycopodium(Lye.) INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA
Bruises/blackeye
SymptomsBlackeye.Withdiscolouration*.
Causesinjury.
IfArnicahasbeengivenbutthebruisingcomesout,
thengiveLedum.
Eyeinjury
SymptomsWithbruising;discolouration.
Betterforcold.
Injuries
SymptomsCutswounds:lacerated;punctured;to
palmofhandsoleoffoot.
Betterforcoldcompresses.
Worseforheat.
Causessplinter;nails.
Ifprescribedearly,Ledumwillpreventsepsisfrom
developinginwoundswheretheskinispuncturedby
asharp,pointedinstrumentsuchasaknife,nail,
splinterorneedle,orbyaninsectstingoranimalbite.
Theforeignobjectmayhavepenetrateddeeplyinto
theflesh,sopressgentlyaroundthewoundtoencour-
agebleedingandtoexpelit.'Ledumwounds'feelcold
internallybutaremadeworsebywarmth-theyare
actuallyimprovedbvcoldcompresses.
Hypericum isabetterchoiceofremedyifthewound
isinanerve-richarea;ifthewoundisinanarea
aroundajoint,thenRutamaybebetterindicated.
Jointpain
SymptomsJoints:hot;icycold;stiff.Pains:inhands
andfeet;inrighthip;inleftshoulder.
Betterafteracommoncold;forbeinguncovered;cold
compresses;coldbathing.
Worseformovement;forheat;forwarmthofbed;at
night;forwine.
Painsmaystartinthelowerlimbs,especiallyinthe
smalljoints,andmoveupwards,forexamplefrom
thefeettothehands.Althoughthepatientsfeelcold,
thewarmthofbedisunendurable.
LYCOPODIUM (Lye.)
Familyname:Lycopodiaceae
Othernames:wolf'sclaw;clubmoss;staghorn;witch
meal;vegetablesulphur;muscusterrestrisrepens
Lycopodium isanevergreentrailingplantfoundon
heaths,moors,pasturesandinwoodsthroughout
GreatBritain,northernEuropeandNorthAmerica.
Theplant'srootsresembleawolf'sfoot-henceits
name.Theusefulpartoftheplantisthespores,or,more
specifically,thepollencollectedfromthespores.This
fine,odourlessandtasteless,paleyellowpowderhas
beenusedinternallysincetheseventeenthcenturyin
treatingdiarrhoea,dysentery,rheumatism,andexter-
nallyforwoundsanddiseasesoftheskinsuchas
eczema.Beforethattimethewholeplantwasused
mainlyasaherbalremedyforkidneycomplaints.The
powder'spowertorepulsewaterissostrongthatifthe
handiscoveredwiththepowderitcanbedippedin
waterwithoutbecomingwet;ithasbeenusedasa
coveringforpillsinordertopreventthemstickingto
oneanotherinthebox.Thepollenishighlyinflam-
mable,anditwasatonetimeusedtoproducefalse
lightningintheatresaswellasinthemanufactureof
fireworks.
Thepowderorsporesaregatheredtowardstheend
ofsummerandarepotentisedbytrituration.
GENERALSYMPTOMS
Dischargesyellow.Facepale;sickly.Expression
confused.Likes:sweets;chocolate.Painsinglands.
Sweat:cold;profuse;clammy;smelly;sour;from
slightestphysicalexertion;betterforuncovering.
Taste:mouthtastessour.Symptoms:right-sided;
startsrightsideandmovestoleft.
Betterforfreshair;forwarmthofbed.
Worsearound4-8p.m.;duringtheafternoon;during
theevening;forpressure;instuffyrooms;fortight
INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA Lycopodium(Lye.)•109
clothes;wind;foronions;forflatulentfood(beans;
cabbage,etc.).
AdultLycopodiumtypesarebrightintellectuallybut
tiredandweakphysically:theclassicprofessorwho
livesasedentary life.Theirhairgreysearlyandthey
maylookolderthantheiryears,withadeeplyfur-
rowedforeheadandapale,sicklycomplexionwith
darkringsaroundtheireyes.Thesetypeshavealotof
troublewithfood;theyeitherfeelfullupanddis-
tendedaftereatingverylittleortheyhavenoappetite
atalluntilthevstarteating,andthentheybecome
ravenous(andinthiscasethefeelingofemptinesswill
notbehelpedbveating).Thesearebigsweetcravers,
ofteneatingseveralbarsofchocolateaday.Theymay
feelsleepyaftereating.Theyarebloatedwithgas,
withacidityandsournessandfeelw


 directly) and through the
power of repeating God’s name, whether through chanting, prayer,
or mantra repetition.” And with steadfast practice, as the great
teachers tell us, we will be free of everything that keeps us from living
constantly in the awareness that “all this is God, all this is God.”
(Darshan Magazine, September 1994, p. 3.)
Opening the third eye is an inner exercise of putting your attention
at the third eye, or mind chakra, and projecting through it, feeling the
joy that is associated with the sound. You experience it leaving the
limits of your physical body and embracing that which you want to
manifest and bringing it back to you. It is tuning into the vibration of
creation by leaving the constraints of your body/mind and opening up
the channel between your procreation center and your manifestation
center. With this passageway cleared of obstacles, you are immersed
in the grace of soul-nourishing bliss with the daily repetition of the
aaah meditation.
Implement this sound meditation in your morning practice. You
will be harmonizing with a sound of peace and joy, as well as partici-
pating in the idea that you and God are one in the universal sense.
The sound brings you to that awareness since it is not a word that the
mind can then take and distort into an ego-dominated blueprint. It is
a sound that transcends the rational workings of the mind.
I have created a cassette tape and a compact disc called Meditations
for Manifesting, which guides you through this morning meditation
using my voice to help you stay focused on the sound. In addition,
this recording guides you through the second meditation, which
takes place in the evening and also places the emphasis on the third
eye chakra. However, the emphasis of the evening meditation for
manifesting is different. Here you put your attention on gratitude for
all that has manifested into your life. This is also the subject matter of
the ninth and final principle.
121
WAYNE W. DYER
THE SOUND OF THAT WHICH IS MANIFESTED
There is a second sound that reflects the vibrational frequency of
manifestations in the physical plane. This sound is om. If you reduced
anything that you can observe on the physical plane to its ultimate
sound vibration, you would hear the sound of om. This is the sound
that women of ancient times meditated to while bringing their babies
into the world. Whereas aaah is the sound of creation, om is the
sound of that which is already created. Om expresses gratitude for all
that has manifested.
There is a basic relationship between our level of awareness and
the vibrations of the universe. Being aware of this makes it possible
to tune these vibrations to the state of mind that you desire. This is
why I include the om meditation in the manifestation process.
Repeating the om sound in the evening tunes you to a higher state of
awareness and to gratitude for all that has manifested into your life.
You will then be in sync with your immediate surroundings.
Repeating this sound as a mantra of gratitude is one of the most
joyous feelings you will ever experience, causing you to be in har-
mony with your environment rather than in opposition to it in any
way. You will feel strongly connected to your life rather than experi-
encing the ego-based feeling of controlling your environment.
Using the om sound is a way of bonding to all that manifests for
you, in whatever form it shows up. It creates a peaceful space and
contributes to your identifying with the manifesting principle. You
feel as if you and God are finally on the same team rather than in a
boss-employee relationship. Your ability to do this om meditation
regularly will help you to value what you are manifesting, and to feel
spiritually connected.
The sound of om while meditating is also centered at the third
eye chakra. Project the energy of thanksgiving from this chakra and
you will feel an opening at the third eye. Then extend your etheric
122
Manifest Your Destiny
energy vibrating to the sound of all that is in the physical world
through the imaginary opening in the area of the third eye. As you
make this sound and become familiar with it, you will coalesce with
the joy that is associated with it. You will feel lighter, more
refreshed and more connected to all that is in your world and all
that has manifested for you. On the tape and compact disc I have
included affirmations of gratitude that I repeat while you are medi-
tating.
At this point I hope you are aware of the importance of, and the
need for, using the om meditation in the evening and the aaah mani-
festing meditation in the morning. These two sounds, used on a daily
basis, preferably in the morning and the evening, form the basis for
your becoming adept at connecting with what you desire, and under-
standing totally the message of this book, which is that you indeed
manifest your own desires and destiny.
I would not even consider sitting down to write without first sit-
ting in quiet meditation for twenty to thirty minutes of doing the
aaah meditation. It is in this space that I gather the energy of creation
by repeating continuously the aaah sound of joyous creation. Then,
in the evening, when I have completed my writing for the day, I do
the meditation of gratitude, employing the om sound, which is the
sound of all that I have created on my typewriter that day.
This simple ritual puts me in a state of grace, and provides me
with an inner knowing that I am in relationship with the creative
God force of the universe, and that I am exceedingly grateful for such
a divine relationship. It is what I call the sacred relationship. Without
it I would be unable to manifest this or any other book.
Once you understand these two sounds, and you know the power
of these vibrations, you will want to put this awareness into practice.
You will find a detailed account of precisely how to do these mani-
festing meditations on a daily basis in the next section.
123
WAYNE W. DYER
THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATING FOR MANIFESTING
Manifesting and meditating cannot be separated. They are like the
crest and the trough of the wave, separate and distinct from each
other, but always together. You cannot become adept at manifesting
the desires of your heart if you are unwilling to devote time to the
practice of meditation.
Meditation is simply the act of being quiet with yourself and shut-
ting down the constant monologue that fills the inner space of your
being. It is stopping the constant bombardment of thoughts and the.
seemingly endless chatter filling your inner world. That inner noise is
a shield preventing you from knowing the highest self.
Engaging in sound meditation is a useful way of accomplishing
inner silence and removing the influences of the constant chatter that
is largely produced by the ego. The attention of the mind is diverted
from the millions of scattered thoughts and is brought back to the
awareness of the sound itself. The sound serves as a mantra, keeping
you centered and silencing the chatter.
The best times for meditating using this manifesting technique of
repetitive sounds are at sunrise and sunset. If you are unaccustomed
to arising at or before sunrise, make an effort to establish this disci-
pline for a trial period of ninety days. If this is impossible, then use
whatever your time of awakening is for the aaah meditation.
However, I would encourage you to challenge any preset, condi-
tioned belief you may have concerning your ability to get up before
sunrise for the manifesting meditation. Your beliefs about requiring a
certain number of hours of sleep, or not being able to get out of bed,
or treasuring sleep more than anything and similar reasons are the
result of your conditioning and often represent nothing more than
excuses.
What you want to do is to establish yourself as a disciplined per-
son. Early morning, particularly prior to sunrise, is the best time of
124
Manifest Your Destiny
day to awaken. The silence allows you to feel close to God. It is the
time when your mind and heart are the clearest and least distracted.
You can feel the energy of healing and solutions in the silence of the
early morning, particularly between the hours of three and six A.M.
Use specific acts of personal courage to awaken during these hours,
knowing that the time spent in a manifesting meditation will provide
you with far more rest than the remaining hours of your scheduled
sleep.
The sun is a gigantic source of energy for our planet and every-
thing that grows on it. When the sun first begins to show itself in the
morning, the energy of the sun breaking out of the darkness is most
intense. This is the ideal time to begin your manifesting meditation. I
recommend that you find a comfortable place to sit, without regard
for a particular posture or position. What makes you feel most
relaxed and at peace is the perfect posture. If at all possible, it is
advisable to do this outdoors; however, this is by no means a require-
ment. Gently place your forefinger and thumb together on each
hand. Close your eyes and allow yourself approximately twenty min-
utes for this morning practice.
Take in a few long, deep breaths and exhale, becoming aware of
the pattern of your breathing and the feeling of filling your lungs.
Then place your


 In a Chinese trial, 30 patients with
tuberculosis were given huang lian, and all of them
showed marked improvement in their symptoms.
 QCautions  Use only under professional
supervision. Do not take during pregnancy.
Coptis trifolia  (Ranunculaceae)
Goldthread
Description  Perennial growing to 6 in (15 cm).
Has a slender golden root, 3-lobed leaves, and single
small white flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation  Native to eastern
North America from Labrador to Tennessee,
this herb prefers damp sites. The rhizome is dug
up in autumn.
Part Used  Rhizome.
Constituents  Goldthread contains isoquiniline
alkaloids (including berberine and coptisine).
History & Folklore  Though little used in
herbal medicine today, goldthread was once highly
valued. In a book recounting his travels in North
America, published in 1779, Jonathan Carver states
that the plant “was greatly esteemed both by the
Indians and the colonists as a remedy for any
soreness in the mouth.” The Montagnais used
a decoction of the root for problems associated
with the mouth, lips, and eyes. The Menominee
used the plant as a gargle for children’s throat problems and also to treat ulcers and tumors
in the mouth.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  A strongly bitter
tonic, goldthread has been prescribed in the North
American tradition principally for indigestion and
stomach weakness, though it has also come under
consideration as a treatment for peptic ulcers, and
has been applied as a wash for vaginal yeast
infection. Goldthread has been used as a
mouthwash, gargle, or lotion for mouth ulcers,
sore lips, and throats. The herb’s constituents (and
to some degree its actions) are similar to those of
goldenseal ( Hydrastis canadensis, p. 105) and it has
been used as a substitute for this herb.
Related Species  Huang lian (C. chinensis,
preceding entry)  is a close relative that has
similar actions.
 QCautions  Use only under professional
supervision. Do not take during pregnancy.
Coriander  was used as a digestive aid and a treatment for
measles in 6th-century China.
Habitat & Cultivation  Native to southern
Europe and western Asia, the herb is cultivated
throughout the world. The seeds are gathered
ripe in late summer.
Parts Used  Seeds, essential oil, leaves.
Constituents  Coriander contains up to
1.5% volatile oil, consisting mainly of delta-linalool
(at around 70%), alpha-pinene and terpinine. It
also contains flavonoids, coumarins, phthalides,
and phenolic acids.Coriandrum sativum  (Apiaceae)
Coriander,
Cilantro
Description  Strongly aromatic annual growing
to 20 in (50 cm). Has finely cut upper leaves
(known as cilantro), small white or pink flowers,
and rounded seeds (coriander) in beige seed coats. Copaifera spp. (Fabaceae)
Copaiba
Description  Evergreen trees growing to
59 ft (18 m). Have compound leaves and small
yellow flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation  Copaiba is native to
tropical South America, and also found in southern
Africa. Oleoresin, a blend of volatile oil and resin
often also referred to as copaiba, is obtained by
drilling holes in the trunk.
Part Used  Oleoresin.
Constituents  The oleoresin contains a volatile
oil (30–90%), which in turn contains alpha- and beta-
caryophyllene, sesquiterpenes, resins, and
terpenic acids.
History & Folklore  Copaiba was used by
native Brazilians long before the arrival of
Europeans. In 1625, the Portuguese monk Manoel
Tristaon observed that it was employed to heal
wounds and remove scars.
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Antiseptic,
diuretic, and stimulant, copaiba is still used
extensively in Brazil. Chiefly employed to counter
mucus in the chest and genitourinary system, it
irritates the mucous membranes and promotes
the coughing up of mucus. A solution or tincture
of copaiba may be taken for bronchitis, chronic
cystitis, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. Eczema
and other skin diseases reportedly benefit
from its application.
Related Species  Several of the 40 Copaifera
species yield a medicinal oleoresin.
 QCaution  Copaiba is toxic in overdose. Use
only under professional supervision.
US_180-201_Brassica_dictamnus.indd   195 26/02/16   12:47 pm
196History & Folklore  Coriander has been used
throughout Asia, northern Africa, and Europe for
well over 2,000 years. It is listed in the Ebers papyrus (dating to about 1500 bce), and apparently was much employed in ancient Egypt. The herb reached China during the Han Dynasty (202 bce–220 ce). Pliny (23–79 ce) describes its use “for spreading sores … diseased testes, burns, carbuncles, and sore ears, fluxes of the eyes, too, if woman’s milk be added.”
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Coriander is
more often used as a spice than as a medicine.
Nevertheless, an infusion of the herb is a gentle remedy for flatulence, bloating, and cramps. It settles spasms within the gut and counters the effects of nervous tension. Coriander is also chewed to sweeten the breath, especially after consumption of garlic (Allium sativum, p. 59). Coriander seed has been used as an expectorant to treat coughs and bronchitis, and in traditional Middle Eastern medicine it is taken to calm  anxiety and aid sleep. The ground seed is  applied externally as a rub for rheumatic pain.  In Europe, it has traditionally been thought  to possess aphrodisiac properties.
Caution  Do not take coriander essential
oil internally.Cornus offiC inalisother medicinal plantsand the bark of common dogwood (C. sanguinea)
are used as astringents and to relieve fever. The American boxwood (C. florida) was used by
Native Americans as a fever remedy.
Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae)Croton spp. (Euphorbiacea)
Dragon’s Blood,
Sangre de Drago
Description  Fast-growing tree reaching 49 ft
(15 m) in height. It has large, heart-shaped leaves
and greenish-white flowers.
Habitat & Cultivation  Dragon’s blood
is a rainforest tree native to northwestern Amazonia (from Bolivia to Colombia), preferring riverbanks and sites with disturbed soil. It is cultivated by the indigenous peoples there as  an environmentally sustainable crop.
Parts Used  Latex, sap, resin (fresh or dried), bark.
Constituents  Key constituents within dragon’s
blood include proanthocyanidins, mono- and diterpenes, an alkaloid (taspine), and a lignan (dimethylcedrusine). Many constituents, notably taspine and dimethyldedrusine, have potent  anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. T aspine also has cancer-fighting and antiviral activity.
History & Folklore  Dragon’s blood derives its
name from the deep red sap or latex that oozes from the tree when the bark is cut. A prized rainforest medicine, the latex is applied to wounds, fractures, skin infections, and insect bites. Internally,
it is taken to treat diarrhea and dysentery,
stomach ulcers, viral infections, and as a vaginal bath before and following childbirth. The first
written record of its use was in 1653 (Bernabe
Cobo, Historia del Nuevo Mundo).
Medicinal Actions & Uses  Dragon’s blood is
a first-rate wound healer and has been described as a “liquid bandage.” Tissue healing and repair is strongly stimulated, while the chances of infection developing in open wounds and sores is minimized due to the marked antiseptic action of the latex and its ability to seal off the wound from the open air. The latex (fresh or dried) is a key remedy for herpes, including shingles and genital herpes, and fungal skin infections. T aken internally, it helps to treat and prevent gastrointestinal infection and peptic ulcers, and to control diarrhea in conditions such as ulcerative colitis. A patent U.S. medicine (Crofelemer) derived from dragon’s blood is licensed for the treatment of chronic diarrhea, typically in patients with HIV.
Related Species  C. lecheri is most commonly
used to make dragon’s blood, although similar Croton species grow in Central America. C. flavens (Y ellow balsam), a traditional Mayan and Aztec remedy, is used for fever and infections, and as a wound salve. Dragon trees, such as the Socotra dragon tree (Dracaena cinnabari), are desert trees and unrelated to dragon’s blood, though some also produce a red latex.
Ca


-castus ) 151, 315
chuang xiong  (Ligusticum wallachii ) 117, 315
cotton ( Gossypium herbaceum ) 217–18
dong quai ( Angelica sinensis ) 63, 315
greater burnet ( Sanguisorba officinalis ) 266
ji xue teng  (Milletta reticulata ) 235
motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca ) 227, 315
nettle ( Urtica dioica ) 146, 315
rehmannia ( Rehmannia glutinosa ) 125, 315
shepherd’s purse ( Capsella bursa-
pastoris ) 183, 315
squaw vine ( Mitchella repens ) 235–36
white deadnettle ( Lamium album ) 226
white peony ( Paeonia lactiflora ) 117, 315
Pleurisy
da ji (Euphorbia pekinensis ) 209
marshmallow ( Althaea officinalis ) 165
milkwort ( Polygala vulgaris ) 252
pleurisy root ( Asclepias tuberosa ) 173–74
Polyps,  arborvitae ( Thuja occidentale ) 276
Premenstrual syndrome
linden ( Tilia spp.) 277, 315
rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) 128, 315
valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) 148, 315
vervain ( Verbena officinalis ) 149, 315
Prostate, enlarged
couch grass ( Agropyron repens ) 162
garlic ( Allium sativum ) 59
gravel root ( Eupatorium purpureum ) 309
nettle ( Urtica dioca ) 146
pumpkin ( Curcubita pepo ) 197
pygeum ( Pygeum africanum ) 260
saw palmetto ( Serenoa repens ) 136
sea holly ( Eryngium maritimum ) 206
R
Rashes  see Diaper rash; Skin disorders
Raynaud’s disease,  northern prickly ash
(Zanthoxylum americanum ) 153
Respiratory problems
beleric myrobalan ( Terminalia belerica ) 275
bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis ) 266
elecampane ( Inula helenium ) 107
ground ivy ( Glechoma hederacea ) 216–17
holy basil ( Ocimum tenuiflorum ) 116
hyssop ( Hyssopus officinalis ) 222
levant storax ( Liquidambar orientalis ) 229
lobelia ( Lobelia inflata ) 110
mouse-ear hawkweed ( Hieracium
pilosella ) 220
soapwort ( Saponaria officinalis ) 267
thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) 143, 301, 310
yerba santa ( Eriodictyon californicum ) 205
see also Allergic rhinitis & hay fever;
Asthma; Bronchitis; Congestion & sinus
problems; Colds & flu; Coughs
Rheumatism
cayenne ( Capsicum frutescens ) 74
devil’s claw ( Harpagophytum
procumbens ) 103, 311
gotu kola ( Centella asiatica ) 76
henbane ( Hyoscyamus niger ) 221–22
lignum vitae ( Guaiacum officinale ) 219
northern prickly ash ( Zanthoxylum
americanum ) 153
nutmeg ( Myristica fragrans ) 115
quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) 255Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) 249
star anise ( Illicium verum ) 222–3
wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens ) 215
see also Arthritis & gout
Ringworm, Ceylon leadwort ( Plumbago
zeylanica ) 251
S
Scabies,  Ceylon leadwort ( Plumbago
zeylanica ) 251
Sex drive, low
damiana ( Turnera difusa ) 144
gokulakanta ( Hygrophila spinosa ) 221
schisandra ( Schisandra chinensis ) 133,
316
shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus ) 174, 315
Shingles  see Cold sores, chicken pox,
& shingles
Sinus problems  see Allergic rhinitis & hay
fever; Congestion & sinus problems
Skin disorders
aloe vera ( Aloe vera ) 60, 303
avocado ( Persea americana ) 121
bittersweet ( Solanum dulcamara ) 270
burdock ( Arctium lappa ) 65, 303
calendula ( Calendula officinalis ) 73, 303,
304
chickweed ( Stellaria media ) 272, 303
clove ( Eugenia caryophyllata ) 97, 304
comfrey ( Symphytum officinale ) 138,
303, 304
dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) 141, 303
garlic ( Allium sativum ) 59, 304
gotu kola ( Centella asiatica ) 76, 300
houseleek ( Sempervivum tectorum ) 269
nettle ( Urtica dioca ) 146, 303
tea tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia ) 112, 304
thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) 143, 304
witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ) 102,
303
yellow dock ( Rumex crispus ) 264, 303
see also Acne & boils; Burns & scalds;
Cold sores, chicken pox, & shingles;
Diaper rash; Stings, bites, & swellings;
warts
Sore throats
bistort ( Polygonum bistorta ) 253
blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus ) 264
blackcurrant ( Ribes nigrum ) 262
cayenne ( Capsicum frutescens ) 74
echinacea ( Echinacea spp.) 92, 311
henna ( Lawsonia inernis ) 227
lemon ( Citrus limon ) 82, 311
lesser periwinkle ( Vinca minor ) 281–82
myrrh (Commiphora molmo l) 85, 311
rhatany ( Krameria triandra ) 225
rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) 128, 311
sage ( Salvia officinalis ) 131, 311
silverweed ( Potentilla anserina ) 255–56
tamarind ( Tamarindus indica ) 274, 311
Sprains & fractures
arnica ( Arnica montana ) 172, 312
comfrey ( Symphytum officinale ) 138, 312
Stings, bites, & swellings
aloe vera ( Aloe vera ) 60, 303
calendula ( Calendula officinalis ) 73, 303
echinacea ( Echinacea spp.) 92, 303
German chamomile ( Chamomilla
recutita ) 77, 303
holy basil ( Ocimum tenuiflorum ) 116, 303
lavender ( Lavandula officinalis ) 108, 303
lemon ( Citrus limon ) 82, 303
nettle ( Urtica dioca ) 146, 303
sage ( Salvia officinalis ) 131, 303St. John’s wort ( Hypericum perforatum )
106, 303
sweet basil ( Ocimum tenuiflorum ) 241, 303
thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) 143, 303
Stomach spasm
angelica ( Angelica archangelica ) 168, 305
anise ( Pimpinella anisum ) 248, 305
crampbark ( Viburnum opulus ) 150, 305
fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare ) 212, 305
German chamomile ( Chamomilla
recutita ) 77, 305
lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ) 113, 305
mint ( Mentha spp.) 234–5, 305
see also Digestive problems
Stones (bladder, gall, & kidney)
carrot ( Daucus carota ) 201
couch grass ( Agropyron repens ) 162
gravel root ( Eupatorium purpureum ) 309
heather ( Calluna vulgaris ) 181
pellitory-of-the-wall ( Parietaria officinalis )
245
sea holly ( Eryngium maritimum ) 206
spiny restharrow ( Ononis spinosa ) 242
varuna ( Crataeva nurvula ) 88
visnaga ( Ammi visnaga


 foods, we continue to
create toxicity in our body.
W e ar e no long er just what we eat but also what we digest and what we
don’t eliminate. Thr ough digestion we r ecr eate our body. A sluggish,
weakened digestion means a sluggish, weakened body!
Food is a causative factor in every single illness on the planet and for that
reason it’ s one of the first areas I address with clients when they come to mewith a health issue. This is one of the areas where we can take the reins of
our health in our own hands, rather than toss them into the ha nds of food
corporations, an d we can shift into that position of strength easily and
skillfully.
Food is at the center of life and  it is our ultimate health insurance. In fact,
food is a metaphor for life: how we do one thing is how we do everything!
If we close our eyes to all that f ood can of fer us as a tool for healing, then
we are closing our eyes to everything else.
Simple, pure and fresh foods go a long way towards creating better health.
W e don’ t need to know or under stand everything when it comes to food and
nutrition; we can turn the simplest of meals into that which is health-giving.
When w e can go back to what w e already know, pay attention to a few key
areas and use a lot of common sense: even the simplest of foods will go a
long way towards enhancing our health. In fact, cooking for our health is
not abou t creating the most co mplicated and exotic meals possible, it is
about us ing our  wisdom and ou r intelligence to create the dish es that will
nurture and nourish us.
Peggy came to me due to many health issues, most of them  r elated to
chr onic pain and inflammation. She did not own a stove and lived primarily
on fr oze n meals. She had a micr owave and a r efrigerator. Sh e knew that
food would be o ne ar ea wher e s he could make an impr ovement in her life,
but s he d id not know how. She n ever bought normal gr oceries as she did not
have the  means to cook them, and she r eally did not know how to cook
anything. I suggested that she g et a slow cooker and that her shopping list
should c onsist o f buying good q uality canned soups and beans. I told her
that she must w alk out of her gr ocery stor e with at least two leafy gr een
vegetables of her choice.
I made her a spice mix that she was to use in her cooking. She was able to
use the slow coo ker to sauté the  spice mix, then add canned soup or beans,
plus the leafy gr een vegetables she had bought. She felt like she was
cooking fr esh food each time she made a meal. She liked her meals so much
that she bought a small slow cooker for her work as well. She was no
longer e ating fr o zen meals. She incr eased the variety of the vegetables she
used; her menu expanded and she became cr eative. Using anti-inflammatory spices and foods r educed her pain. She felt mor e  ener gy and
she was  very happy with the pr ogr ess she was making; she also lost some
weight.
It really can be this simple. W e can begin where we are and move towards
health one step at a time. It is never too late to be healthy. W e a re meant to
heal and live ou r best life. Start today! Figure out what your firs t step might
be, and begin.
Making your own meals for the sake of your health will make you feel
engaged in your own life and when we are engaged we are present and
enjoy ou rselves; this makes us m ore ef fective, thus saving time. It is when
we d isengage that we feel anxious, bored, out of sorts, and un happy. Start
paying a ttention to this area of your life and it will change your health. The
solutions to our illnesses are in our kitchen, not in the doctor ’ s of fice. And
the mos t reliable  way to get the nutrition you need is to prepare your own
meals. W ith so many kitchen gadgets available to help us, cooking is now
far easier than it ever used to be. In fact, the act of preparing your own meal
is a digestive aid, as the anticip ation of eating a meal prepares our body to
digest it.
Mental stress and anxiety about food also contribute to a weakened
digestive system. What we eat af fects our emotions, as we discussed
previously. Emotions af fect our ability to transform the food we eat into the
fuel we  need. Stress causes toxicity, even when we consum e the most
perfect food possible. On the other hand, food eaten with joy and happiness
is far more positioned to give us the ener gy we need, even if it is not the
most perfect food. When we are upset or angry, our digestion naturally
shuts do wn to allow us to spend  our ener gy digesting and meta bolizing our
emotions. It is best to delay eating if you find yourself upset because you
might be inclined to overeat in o rder to suppress unpleasant emotions. This
can start a cycle  of emotional e ating, which is not good for anybody. It’ s
better to just sip  some hot tea or sit quietly—your body needs ti me to digest
your emotions. Nothing happens if we skip a meal, and it actually might
give your body a much-needed break.
One of the easiest and most pot ent ways to begin to improve our digestion
is to add ginger to our diet. It is a must-have staple in my kitche n and it sitsright in my fruit bowl. Ginger is Pungent, and it heats the diges tive system.
More than a great digestive aid, it settles the stomach and, it’ s great for
colds and flu in  the W inter sea son, it’ s terrific for aller gies in any season
and it is a detoxifier in the Spring season. It is highly versatile and it will
serve yo u to make friends with  it. Ginger is a medicinal herb that can be
used fresh, dried, powdered or a s a juice. It has powerful anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant ef fects. It can also reduce muscle pain and soreness.
Soaking your feet in water that has been boiled with a few slices of ginger
or even adding ginger to your bath, is a great way to get relief from achy
feet and an achy body.
Include ginger powder in the s pices that you add to your meals. I have
added it to the suggested spice mix in this book (the recipe is  in Chapter
16 ). Fresh ginger r oot can be shred ded and sautéed in oil or ghee with your
vegetables, and added to soups and stews. Sipping on ginger tea (made with
three or four long slices of ginger root and hot water) is a wonderful
digestive aid before, during, an d after your meals. T o add variety to your
ginger te a, you can add some f ennel seeds (½ teaspoon per cup of water)
and/or a pinch of licorice root. Another great way to improve di gestion is to
eat a  couple of slices of ginger pickle before meals. This can be made by
just placing some slices of ginge r in apple cider vinegar and storing them in
a gl ass jar in the refrigerator. Or you can make fresh ginger pickle by
simply s licing a  few thin slices  of ginger, sprinkling some salt  and lemon
juice on  them, and enjoying them right before meals to stoke yo ur digestive
fire.
T H E  A M A Z I N G  G I N G E RGinger T ea
Cut up fresh slices of ginger and add hot water.
Steep for 5 minutes and enjoy.
Ginger pickle
Cut thin slices of ginger and add to apple cider vinegar. Refrigerate and
have a couple of slices with meals.
There ar e many factors that af fe ct our ability to digest. The choice of food,
the timin g of meals, the food combinations, and the environmen t where we
eat are all contributing factors. Let’ s discuss them in detail below.
W H A T  T O  E A T?When it comes to food, purity and freshness matter. Choosing fresh,
or ganic, non-GM O food and food in the purest form possible saves our
digestive system from being overloaded with foreign substances that it
can’ t recognize.  Spending a little extra now to save your future health
is the greatest health insurance you can purchase.
Food left over f rom a previous meal is okay once in a while but if
eaten regularly it can overwhelm your digestive system, as the food is
no longer fresh or pure and it accumulates toxins.
Eat mos tly vegetarian and warm, cooked meals. Our bodies do not
have the enzymes necessary for breaking down cellulose, which is the
major constituent of the outside surfaces of most fruits and vegetables,
and cook ing makes them digestible. Raw food becomes roughage that
lines our intestinal walls, blocking the absorption of vital nutrients.
Eat the foods that are most suitable for your dosha (constitution),
adjusting it according


 S C I O U S N E S S
he title of this c hapter encom passes a new creation story. It
begins by positing that a new story is needed. The old story has
sunk in deeply. Schoolchildre n have heard of the big bang, which
was conceived of in their grandparents’ day—the British
astronomer Fred Hoyle coine d the term in 1949, while the concept
of an expanding universe that began with a bang goes back to the
Belgian astronomer Georges Lemaître in 1931. Strange as it seems,
the whole quantum revolution basically had no creation story.
Einstein and the other famous names in his generation accepted
that the universe is, was, and always had been.
Behind the workings of genius devoted to the radical notions of
general relativity and the quantum, the “steady state” universe, as
it was known, hadn’t advanced since the days of the ancient
Greeks. The Book of Genesis, if viewed a certain way, had one up
on modern physics—Genesis and the world’s other creation myths
were ba sed on the belief that everything in the cosmos had to have
a be ginning. The big bang a llowed physics to fall into li ne with
that co mmonsense idea, and the current estimate of a universe13.8 billion years old could be verified, in place of biblical time
(which Sir Isaac Newton, a devout fundamentalist Christian, spent
years trying to calculate, so that he would establish a s cientific
date for the Garden of Eden).
A universe that began with a  bang satisfied the commonsense
mind, but it’s a wobbly story once you ask where the big bang
came fr om. An enormous problem blocks the way to finding an
answer: logic breaks down w hen you ask what preceded t ime and
space, s ince no thing can come “before” time or “outside” space.
The inability to talk about a d omain outside time and space, which
nonetheless m ade the decision to create time and space, forced
physics to retreat into arcane mathematics that doesn’t depend on
being a ble to form pictures or logical statements in the mind. As
sci-fi fa ns know, if you go back in time and kill your gran dfather
before h e got married, suddenly logic collapses in that i nstance,
too. Yo u cannot be alive (as a result of your grandfather having
children) and dead (as a re sult of your grandfather not having
children) at the same time.
A new creation story must g et around this enormous, messy
collapse of logic. Either it mu st describe a rock-solid ground zero
when creation began, as Genesis does, or it must substitute
something that doesn’t need  a beginning. The second path is the
one I’ve  been taking by grounding the universe in conscio usness.
Of all the ca ndidates for an eternal something that has no
beginning or end, consciousness is the most viable. In the new
creation story,  there are no gods or God, no wind-up universe
running like a finely tuned watch, and no birth pangs in the big
bang. Without  them, there isn’t even a story in the usual sense.
There is only consciousness doing its thing while Homo sapiens
generates creation stories that attempt to grasp what is
ungraspable, to conceive of what is inconceivable. If God created
the world, who created God?  If the big bang gave rise to time and
space, this implies a state of no-time and no-space, which is
ungraspable. You can’t logically ask what happened before time
began, since “before” only ha s meaning within the framework of
time. C reation wouldn’t exist if we had to explain it with c ommon
sense first.But the re is a w ay to get ther e. Two people can disagree a bout
everything in the world. One can dislike what the other likes. One
can beli eve in God and the ot her be a confirmed atheist. B ut even
if person A dedicated his life to contradicting everything person B
said, ev en if he could get inside person B’s mind and co ntradict
every thought he had, on o ne thing the two antagonists would
have to agree: They are conscious beings. If intelligent life from
another solar system made co ntact with Earth, no matter w hat the
creatures looke d like physically—mutant humans, walking squid,
amoeba-like blobs—they would have to be conscious, too.
The deepest mystery about alien intelligence won’t be the
technology it has developed. No doubt an interstellar spac eship or
teleportation device or time machine will be mind-bending in
scientific terms. There’s a good chance that Earthlings could learn
amazing things from alien technology. But the deepest mystery
will remain unsolved. We w ill never know what it is like to be
them, because their species of consciousness will be impenetrable.
Little green aliens might feel physical pain from touching water;
they might inform us that photons are delicious or that gravity is
having a bad day.
Even th ose strange statements assume a lot. Little green a liens
might not possess any of our five senses. As long as t hey are
conscious bein gs, the reality they inhabit can take an y form,
because consciousness takes any form already. The most common
butterfly on Earth is the pai nted lady, whose wings are brightly
patched with orange and whose genealogy is delightfully poetic:
the painted lady belongs to the group of Cynthia  butterflies, a
subgenus of Vanessa  butterflies, which are part of the family
Nymphalidae. If these names evoke a kind of ethereal mythology,
populated by fairy folk, the  painted lady’s sense organs are as
mind-bending as any alien’s.
Painted ladies can taste the leaf they are standing on with the
tips of their le gs. They smell the air through their anten nae and
view the world through eyes that possess thirty thousand lenses.
They hear with their wings. Looking from the outside, we’d say
that evolution has created a  reality for the painted lady that we
barely c omprehend. If you want to believe in aliens among us,believe in butterflies. As with visiting aliens, we’ll never experience
their consciousness.
But life is impossible without consciousness, which is another
thing in  favor of the new creation story. Fritjof Capr a is an
Austrian-born American physicist who gained fame with his 1975
book, The Tao  of Physics. It was a landmark in the “new physics”
because Capra connected science to ancient wisdom traditions like
Taoism. Evide nce from the subjective world, long con sidered
useless in science, suddenly became relevant.
Capra h as connected life and mind far beyond what biolo gists
currently understand. A biologist would call the painted lady
butterfly min dless. To the contrary, Capra asserts, “The
interactions of  a living organism—plant, animal or huma n—with
its environment are cognitive interactions. Thus life and cognition
are inseparably connected.” In everyday language, there cannot be
life without mind. The pain ted lady’s sense organs are strange
from th e human standpoint, but it is a conscious creature. There is
no o ther alternative explana tion. Capra goes on to say as much:
“The process of cognition—o r, if you wish, of mind—is immanent
in matt er at all levels of life. F or the first time, we have a s cientific
theory that unifies mind, matter, and life.”
This sounds exactly like a metahuman declaration. It is human
to believe that only Homo sapiens  is conscious, with a small
proviso added to include higher primates like gorillas and
chimpanzees (maybe). It is metahuman to be aware that
consciousness is universal. If this insight doesn’t cause mental
overload, that means its implications haven’t fully sunk in.
Consciousness can be desc ribed in three words: everything,
always, and everywhere. On  their own, each word is mentally
unmanageable. If children took seriously that Santa Claus is
everywhere, wa tching each boy and girl in the world to se e if they
were naughty or nice, the idea would be as thorny as a medieval
theologian tryi ng to grasp Go d keeping tabs on every sinner in the
world, down to each person’s secret thoughts.
There a re reassuring ways to get around the dilemma and any
possible anxiet y. For every id ea a human being has ever had, there
are infinite ideas yet to come. When I realize this, I feel optimistic
—vistas of unlimited creativi ty open up in my mind’s eye. But Iknow I am only using an ima ge; I am not looking at the r eality of
consciousness directly. There’s a haunting passage in T. S. Eliot’s
poem “Burnt Norton” in whic h a bird summons us to run through
a garde n gate into “our first world,” only to have the bird warn us
back: “Go, go, go, said the bird: human kind / Cannot bear very
much reality.”
It’s a sweeping  and gloomy n otion that humans cannot endure
a full blast of reality, as if some kind of overload would b low our
fuses. I don’t agree


meric,	which	has	cleansing	properties,	to	your	soups
and	when	cooking	veggies.
•
Sip	warm	herbal	teas	during	the	day	to	help	keep	the	microcirculatory
channels	flowing	and	free	of	toxins.
•
Drink	coconut	water,	which	is	cooling.
•
Incorporate	lots	of	raw	greens	into	your	diet,	since	raw	greens	are	considered
cooling.
•
Eat	sweet,	watery	fruits	such	as	pineapples	and	mangoes	to	help	balance	the
internal	“fire.”•
Avoid	full	body	saunas	and	spa	treatments	that	saturate	your	face	in	heat.
The	half	infrared	sauna	is	a	great	option	(see	Kimberly’s	website	for
recommendations	at
kimberlysnyder.
com
).
•
Avoid	fragrances,	dyes,	and	acids,	which	can	all	be	irritating	to	the	skin.
Here	are	a	few	great	skin-care	ingredients	to	incorporate	for	red,	patchy	skin:
•
Chamomile	and	aloe	are	soothing	ingredients	for	your	skin.
•
Green	tea	acts	as	a	natural	anti-inflammatory	and	helps	neutralize	aging	and
irritating	free	radicals.
RADICAL	SOOTHER	MASK
Cucumber,	green	tea,	and	chamomile	are	all	cooling,	anti-inflammatory	ingredients	that	are	fantastic
for	soothing	inflamed	skin.	You	do	not	necessarily	have	to	peel	an	organic	cuke,	as	there	is	lots	of
zinc
and	other	minerals	in	the	skin.	As	with	all	recipes	in	this	book	and	in	general,	use	organic	products	as
much	as	possible.
2	tablespoons	cucumber,	peeled	and	seeded
1	teaspoon	brewed	and	cooled	green	tea	(preferably
loose	leaf)
1	teaspoon	brewed	and	cooled	chamomile	tea
(preferably	loose	leaf)
1	tablespoon	aloe	vera	gel
1	tablespoon	arrowroot	flour	(also	known	as	starch)
Blend	the	cucumber,	green	tea,	and	chamomile	tea	together	(if	you	have	trouble	blending	such	a	small
amount,	just	mash	the	cucumber	in	a	mortar	and	pestle	with	the	teas).	Mix	in	the	aloe	vera	gel	and
arrowroot	flour	until	the	mixture	starts	to	thicken.	Place	in	the	refrigerator	for	about	30	minutes	to
cool.	Spread	over	face	and	neck	in	an	even	layer	and	relax	for	about	20	minutes	before	rinsing	it	off.
Spider	Veins
You	can	blame	your	grandmother	for	these	beauties.	Poor	Granny	is	sweet	and
innocent,	and	you	sure	do	love	that	great	lady,	but	the	fact	is	that	vein	issues	are
largely	linked	to	heredity.	Most	of	us	never	think	about	our	veins	and	take
them	completely	for	granted.	That	is,	until	they	start	rearing	their	bluish,
unwanted	heads	up	to	the	surface!	There	are	two	main	types	of	cosmetically
unfortunate	vein	issues.	The	first	is	varicose	veins,	which	can	be	a	more	serious
form	of	venous	insufficiency.	These	can	lead	to	pain	and	soreness,	as	well	as
restless	legs.	If	these	issues	have	become	a	problem	for	you,	get	them	checked
out	by	your	doctor.On	the	other	hand,	telangiectasia,	commonly	known	as	spider	veins,	can
indicate	a	much	more	mild	form	of	venous	insufficiency.	They	are	cosmetically
a	doozy,	but	are	not	health-	or	life-threatening.	So	what	causes	these
unfortunate	blue	malfunctions?	Broken-down	valves	in	the	veins	cause	venous
insufficiency.
These	malfunctioning	valves	prevent	blood	flow	back	to	the
arteries,	which	can	cause	blood	to	accumulate	and	pool	up.	Such	vein	issues	can
become	more	pronounced	if	one	is	sedentary	or	has	reduced	circulation,	and
they	can	even	be	aggravated	by	hormonal	issues	like	hormone	replacement
therapy,	pregnancy,	or	birth	control.
4
	Here	are	some	things	you	can	do	about
them:
•
Walk	around	often	to	keep	circulation	flowing.
•
If	you	stand	still	often,	look	into	compression	hose	to	help	with	support.
Some	are	more	visually	appealing	than	others,	and	you	might	not	want	to
wear	some	of	them	on	your	bare	legs	(at	least	out	in	public),	but	you	can
certainly	wear	them	under	a	long	skirt	or	pants.
•
When	showering,	massage	the	area	around	the	broken	veins	first	in	a	gentle
circular	motion	and	then	in	an	upward	motion	to	help	improve	circulation.
(Avoid	this	with	painful	varicose	veins.)
•
Dry	brush	your	skin,	as	discussed	earlier	on
this	page
,	which	helps	stimulate
the	growth	and	repair	of	the	tissues	and	underlying	veins	by	increasing
blood	flow	to	the	area.	It	also	helps	remove	the	blood	that	has	leaked	out	of
the	capillaries	by	diffusing	it	into	the	interstitial	fluids	for	removal.
Brushing	the	spider	veins	very	gently	in	a	circular	motion	then	upward
toward	the	heart	several	times	per	day	can	improve	their	appearance.
•
Vitamins	A,	B	complex,	C,	D,	and	E	are	all	great	nutrients	to	help	with
tissue	repair,	optimal	circulation,	and	strong	veins.	Great	sources	include
carrots,	nutritional	yeast,	mushrooms,	almonds,	lemons,	and	bell	peppers.
•
Avoid	inflammatory	vegetable	oils,	especially	when	cooked,	which	can
become	rancid	in	your	body	and	increase	free	radicals	and	cellular	damage.
•
Make	sure	you	eat	the	right	beauty
fats,	such	as	avocados,	coconut	oil,	and
olive	oil	(best	taken	raw	and	lightly	on	certain	dishes	such	as	salads).	This
can	help	you	build	nice	strong	cell	walls.
•
Eat
pineapple!	It	contains	a	dietary	enzyme	called	bromelain,	which	can
improve	overall	circulation	by	reducing	the	buildup	of	fibrin	along	the	walls
of	the	blood	vessels.
•
Spider	veins	are	often	associated	with	the	use	of	hormone	replacementtherapy	(HRT)	and	birth	control	pills.	High	levels	of	estrogen	from	these
medications	seem	to	aggravate	venous	insufficiency.	If	you	are	using	birth
control	pills,	you	may	want	to	ask	your	doctor	for	a	lower-estrogen-dose
formula.	If	you	are	on	HRT,	you	may	want	to	consider	switching	to	a	lower
dose,	adding	progesterone,	or	using	a	weaker	formula,	such	as	an	estrone
cream.
•
Try	to	elevate	your	legs	to	hip	level	for	a	few	minutes	several	times	a	day.
Frequency	is	more	important	than	the	amount	of	time	in	this	case.	Get	out
of	the	habit	of	crossing	your	legs,	knees,	and	ankles	when	seated.	If	you	have
a	desk	job,	try	to	spend	a	few	minutes	walking	around	every	hour.	If	you
have	a	job	that	requires	standing	for	hours	on	end,	try	to	sit	and	elevate	your
feet	to	hip	level	once	every	hour.
CIRCULATION	AND	REJUVENATION	MASK
Chickpea	flour	has	been	used	in	some
Ayurvedic	recipe	preparations	for	the	skin	and	is	believed	to