Full Moon November 17 2013

photo from www.updays.com

The moon becomes full at 10:16am on Nov. 17. 

Here in Louisville CO. the wind is whipping clouds over the face of the moon and leaves are swirling in the darkness. It feels very alive!

During meditation tonight I got in touch with the crone or powerful old woman. In my vision she carried a big stick and walked through the frozen woods vital and alive!

This painting is by Atanur Dogan)

The American Indian names for this moon are: 

Moon When the Rivers begin to Freeze-Lakota 
Moon of the Brown Leaves-Cheyenne

The Farmers Almanac calls this moon the Beaver Moon. One explanation is that the this is the time the trappers wanted to set their traps for the winter. Also, the beavers build their winters dams now.

Go out into the night and embrace  the aliveness of the moon, darkness and stars! 

Warmly,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht, CMT 
www.healingmeditations.net
 healingmeditations1@gmail.com

Intuitions and Levels of Reality

We are multi dimensional beings living in a multi dimensional universe. Intuition as information comes to us in different forms, depending on what level of reality we are paying attention to and listening to. The different levels of reality that we can receive intuitive information from are:
1. Personal Subconscious  The sum of all our individual  experiences/knowledge from present and past lives
2. Collective subconscious The sum of all sentient personal subconsciousness.
3. The Field - The field of information that holds past, present, future that is brought into manifestation by our thoughts and attention, individual and collective.
4. . Inter-dimensional Consciousness knowledge, information and experiences that flows into our personal and collective  subconscious from angels, spirit guides, ancestors and other energetic beings.

First, lets talk about the Personal Subconscious......
Anything that we know how to do really well, and have done many, many times, is to some degree, automated and unconscious. Malcom Gladwell in his book "Blink" describes the personal subconscious as Rapid Cognition.
When you meet someone for the first time, or walk into a house you are thinking of buying, or read the first few sentences of a book, your mind takes about two seconds to jump to a series of conclusions. These conclusions are drawn from the great storehouse of all our knowledge and experience from our present life and past lives. This is Rapid Cognition!

Our subconscious minds process information much faster than our conscious minds and take in much more detail. The subconscious  processes this information all at once in global fashion. That is how you suddenly just "know" the answer to a problem, or feel something about your environment. This type often flows to us through the kinesthetic channel, i.e.,We just feel the answer in our bodies.

I have been yoga instructor for many years. I can watch someone move in class, and feel the way their body is put together as I adjust them in a yoga posture, and intuitively know what sport they have engaged in the present or the past. I make it a game and will say in a lighthearted way, "You feel like a swimmer." Or.. "I bet you used to wrestle in high school."I am very often right! This may appear as if I am psychic, but I don't think so. I think my personal subconscious is processing many discrete bits of sensory information simultaneously so I just "know" the sport the person has engaged in. I am also a massage therapist and very often my hands will "just go"  to the place that hurts. I think my personal subconscious senses from many details and impressions where the person is hurting and I feel a resonance in my body when I encounter someone else's pain.

We live in a society dedicated to the idea that we're always better off gathering as much information and spending as much time as possible in deliberation. This is Not always true when:
Fast decision making is required
Facts are not available
Assessing people, places
Emotional Situations or Issues
Gladwell talks about the efficiency and accuracy of "thin slicing".

Thin slicing is the ability of the personal subconscious to make decisions and come to conclusions on a very small bit of information. He talks about a Roman Artifact that was purchased by a well known museum in Europe that was scientifically tested as being authentic, but ultimately was found to be forged. All the scientific tests showed the artifact to be real. But when a group of Art historians and archaeologists looked at the artifact, without doing any testing at all, they came to the conclusion that the artifact was fake. The said things like, "It just doesn't look right. " and "Something is just wrong about it. It was the huge array of details and information their minds were processing below the verbal level that led them to the correct conclusion. Later, after more testing, the artifact was indeed, proved to be fake.

Our personal subconscious can often be a warning system for us. One of the main jobs of our personal subconscious is to keep us safe from harm. We may walk into a room, or meet a new person, and just "know" something isn't right. We often feel this warning in our solar plexus which is the center of our survival intuition. Our subconscious minds may have noticed some disturbing detail our conscious minds haven't picked up on. If I get a strong feeling of unease in a situation or place I will immediately leave if possible!
 
There is a down side to using the personal subconscious as your guidance system. It can be easily swayed by the stereotypes you hold. We all are familiar with the term "profiling." Profiling is a misuse of  "thin slicing." We reach an erroneous conclusion based on a very small amount of information that may have personal importance to us. Because we knew a long haired man that smoked pot, we assume all long haired men indulge. Projection is another faulty use of the subconscious. If we have aspects of ourselves we are unaware of we will project those qualities onto others. For instance, if were are unaware of our anger we may see and experience others as angry.

Beware of any quick perceptions of others that involve alot of judgement or negative emotions! This is a sign you are not using your subconscious in an accurate manner.
It is very important to understand the stereotypes and projections you are operating under!

Here are some tips to developing and using your personal subconscious
-Our personal subconscious can be relied upon! It should be trusted. When you have a hunch about something, especially something you know alot about, listen to it and try to verify if you can like I do with my yoga students.
-Listen and feel your body. All intuition is a sudden knowing that is usually accompanied by a physical sensation:
A constriction in the gut or solar plexus-This is most common in personal subconscious when a warning is being communicated.
•An explicable feeling of relaxation and warmth in the body
•A feeling of tingling excitement
•A feeling of strength in the belly
It can be any physical feeling! Get to know what your particular intuitive  sign may be.
-When you meet someone new, notice your immediate perceptions. As you talk to the person and get to know them, see what perceptions were accurate and which were not. Notice if any of your inaccurate perceptions were based on stereotypes or projections.
Next week we'll explore the Collective Unconscious! I hope you will join me. Would love to hear any stories you may have about using your Intuition.
Warmly,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht., CMT
www.healingmeditations.net
healingmeditations1@gmail.com

Develop Your Intuition as Your Guidance System

All of us have intuition! I think it is less common that people actually use their intuition as guidance system. I am going to be posting a series on intuition, what it is and how to use it as your guidance system.. But first .....what is intuition ?

Intuition is a sixth sense we all posses. It is an inner knowing that is arrived at without evident rational thought. This knowing is beyond time and space and comes to us in various forms:

• Clairaudience-Hearing
• Clairvoyance-Seeing
• Clairsentience-Knowing, feeling

Clairaudience is that soft, quiet voice that inspires, give us helpful information and sometimes warns us.

Clarivoyance is the information we receive in dreams and inner/outer vision. It can be just a flash of a mental image.

Clair sententience is a "gut feeling" and physical knowing about a person or situation or place.

What form does you intuition come to you as? It may be all three forms or you might have a special channel. All the clairs can be developed and refined. 

Intuition

It is very important to know that all intuition is helpful, positive, loving and life enhancing. If you are getting information that would harm yourself or others this is NOT intuition and should not be acted upon.

There are many benefits to developing your intuition. Here are just a few:

Reduce stress and stop unecessary energy gains
-Increase your effectiveness at work
-Boost your creativity
-Enhance your communication with others
-Develop intuitive self guidance
-Facilitate the  decision making process
-Improve your health
-Improve your connection to Self and other and helping energies such as angels and spirit guides

I am hoping you will join me on this journey to explore intuition!

Next post we will delve further into intuition and begin to learn how we can use it daily.

One of the most important first steps is to really listen to your impressions, inner voice and feelings. You can keep a journal if you like.

Remember Spirit is always talking to each and everyone of you!!

Peace,

Sue Schmidt C.hT, CMT

mindpowersue@gmail.com
www.healingmeditations.net

Floating on The River

Hi All,
Sorry for the silence. I've been busy creating a new mp3 White Light Meditation

White Light Meditation
Followers click on link above for a free copy
Follow my blog for a free copy

and also was out of town on a river trip on a portion of the Colorado River.

My husband and I were married on the Colorado River in 2009 and now every year do the same float trip to celebrate. It is time of renewed connection, love and deep appreciation of nature.

Rattle Snake Camp

The world of nature is imbued with energy. When we are living closing to nature,  we feel  this energy more clearly. Our emotional bodies are soothed by the rhythms of sun, moon, wind, water and earth. Our minds are quieted by the empty expanses of luminous skies.

Paddling on the river there are times where the current takes me effortlessly exactly in the direction I want to go. At times, I have to make a few strokes to catch just the right stream. And sometime I have to really hustle and work to paddle against the wind or avoid that rock that suddenly appeared. It is a metaphor for life. This is a time to float, to work with the flow and sometimes work like hell when we have to.

More coming soon. I am teaching  a course the Art and Science of Happiness and will be blogging about related topics.

Be well and enjoy your life. It is yours and the only one you have.

Row row row your boat 
merrily down the stream
Merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream

Sue Schmidt C.Ht, CMT
healingmeditations1@gmail.com
www.healingmeditations.net

Using Technology to Help You Meditate

We live in a fast paced, information rich world. Our brains are plastic meaning that they change on a structural level according to what we think about, the activities we engage in and how we use our minds every day. We are expected to process vast amounts of information quickly, and to multi task efficiently. This has its positive aspects to be sure. We are evolving collectively in terms of what we know, can think about and the amount information we can process and access.
I do think that the diverse and multi layered attentional style most of us have adopted changes our brains to actually crave and need alot of stimuli. This can make meditation challenging!

When we are in our in our conscious minds focusing on objective reality, processing information, planning and problem solving we are in a brain wave state known as Beta. Many people find it difficult to shift out of Beta as this is state so valued and practiced in our society. A healthy brain is one in which all the brain wave states can be experienced, allowing us to move into meditative relaxed states at will.

The brain waves we are producing in Beta are oscillating at a frequency of  13-40 Hz . Of course, our brains produce all the brain waves all the time. But the predominate brain wave frequency we are experiencing determines our state of consciousness.

The state of consciousness that you are experiencing right now is a result of your brain wave activity! That means when you change your brain wave frequency, your change your state of consciousness, which results in a specific feeling and state of mind! This is Meditation.

Every thought we think is a bio chemical and electro magnetic event that causes neurons to fire. The speed at which these neurons fire creates a frequency that can be seen on an EEG machine as waves. Our brains constantly produce five brain wave frequencies: Gamma, Beta, Alpha,Theta and Delta. . Brain wave therapy helps you to have a flexible brain!
The chart below gives you a graphic representation of brain waves and their corresponding states of consciousness.

Brainwave	Consciousness
Gamma +40Hz	Manifestation Consciousness Binding Perception
Beta 13-40Hz	Concentration Attention Waking Consciousness Analytical Thinking ADD/ADHD Therapy Focus
Alpha 8-12Hz	Relaxation Right brain thinking Creativity Light Meditation Creative Visualization Creative Problem Solving
Theta 4-8Hz	Super Learning Changing Behaviors Healing Addictions Healing Trauma Deep Meditation Resolving Fears, Phobias Lucid Dreaming
Delta 0.2-4Hz	Sleep Physical Healing Recovery From Surgery Treatment for Insomnia Deep Relaxation

 So how do we change our brain waves to a state conducive for Meditation?  

We can change our brain waves through a process known as Entrainment. When we listen to any repetitive, rhythmic sound such as computer generated beats  our brain waves automatically become synchronized with the sounds we are hearing.

Pulse of Sound

Brain Wave Response

   
There are frequencies embedded in the audio programs  in Healing Meditations known as binaural beats. A beat oscillating at one frequency is played into the right ear (when wearing headphones) and a different frequency is played into the left ear. The brain automatically averages these frequencies. So if you play 12 Hz in one ear and 4 Hz in the other ear, the brain "hears" 8Hz which is at the  Alpha range. As you listen to these pulses of sounds, your own brain waves began to oscillate at the same at the same frequency. As you move into a Alpha brain wave state, you begin to feel more relaxed. Vivid, rich images begin flowing through your mind. You are connecting to the Creative Unconscious where new solutions to old problems effortlessly arise.

You can use binaural beats to create a meditation experience! Once you  know how it feels to go deep into a meditative state with the help of technology, it becomes easier and easier to get there on your own. You can use brain wave therapy as your "North Star" to guide you to the state you want to be in.

I use a program called Gnaural to produce binaural beats. Its fun and easy to use. Give it a try!

All the guided meditations from Healing Meditations  include binaural beats. I've recently created two new programs which are ambient music with binaural beats without any spoken word. Very relaxing. The Tropical Dream can be used as a sleep aid.
Tropical Dream-Theta
Forest Relaxation-Alpha

I know that the binaural beats, and beautiful ambient music  will easily guide you to a state of deep meditation, happiness and peace. Please feel free to comment and ask questions!

Wishing you Good Meditations,
Sue Schmidt C.Ht
www.healingmeditations.net
www.facebook.com/healingmeditations1
healingmeditations1@gmail.com

Sue Schmidt Certified Hypnotherapist

Hot Springs Birthday Meditation

I turned 58 on Aug. 14. Its been a tradition of mine to spend my birthdays at a hot springs in the San Luis Valley in Colorado. The hot springs perch on the flanks of the Sangre De Cristos mountains overlooking the valley. The vista is huge--you can see the sun sink behind the mountains with the moon following. Bats flutter through the purple dusk skimming just over the top of your head. Fireflies blink in the grass and trees bright points of light in the darkness. The hot pools are fragrant, soothing and relaxing. It is a magical place where I feel nurtured and peaceful.
Getting older doesn't bother me. I think that is because the older I get, the happier I am. I told a friend the other day, "I'd rather be happy than young."
I also enjoy birthdays, mine and others. Its a good excuse to celebrate! I like the attention and gifts.

But underlying all of this is a feeling of fragility and vulnerability I experience each year at my birthday. As a hypnotherapist and long time meditation practitioner, I have learned to recognize and appreciate the underlying currents of feeling that run beneath the surface of my outward experience. I know from talking to my  Mom that I had a difficult birth and almost died. I was not able to go home from the hospital. I have a damaged nerve in my face from  being pulled out with forceps that causes me to have a "crooked" smile. Its not something I think about alot or feel self conscious about, except occasionally  when I am being photographed. I have learned to smile "normally" in pictures.

I used to often injury myself in minor ways around my birthday.  Or I would experience a sudden very sore neck and  upper back ache on the day of my birthday. Fortunately as  I have become  more aware of the subconscious and bodily memory of my birth,  these physical manifestations have ceased.

In the last few years I have begun to practice a meditation I call the "Inner Infant Meditation". We have all been infants, so therefore we all have an inner infant that lives in our subconscious minds. So now at the time of my birthday I make it a practice to nurture myself deeply by going to the hotsprings and doing the following meditation a few times before and  on the day of my birthday. I hope you will give it a try on your birthday or anytime!

Inner Infant Meditation:

*Begin by finding a place where you feel very comfortable, safe and relaxed. You may want to cover yourself with a warm, soft blanket or relax in warm water. Hot springs or a hot tub is perfect!

*Make sure you are not hungry or tired or ill. And that you are feeling well.

*Begin to slow your breathing. Rest your hands on your belly and allow your hands to rise on the inhale and fall on the exhale. Let your awareness flow through your body noticing any areas that feel stiff or sore or tense. Notice any areas of your body that may feel numb, disconnected. Also notice where you feel good.

*Breathe into uncomfortable  areas (if there are any) gently, softly yet deeply. Feel that your breath is nourishing your body (it is.)

*Let your eyes close and remember a time when you felt very nourished and safe. This time may be in the present or long, long ago. If you can't remember a time where you felt physically safe, than you can imagine one. Or you can jus focus on the feelings of safety and well being you are experiencing now.

*Let this feeling of well being spread through out your whole body. You can see it as a gentl pink glow and/or feel it as warm honey flowing. This feeling of safety and warm well being surround you like a warm cloud.

*Now, let you mind drift back to your earliest memory as an infant. This may be a physical feeling or remember a picture you have seen of yourself as an infant. Hold this infant that is you in your arms. Cross your arms over your chest gently hugging this precious baby to you.

* Tell this inner infant, "You are welcome. I am so glad you are here. I love you. You are perfect just as your are. I am keeping you safe." You may think of other things to say to this inner infant that are welcoming, loving and comforting.

A poem I wrote some time ago expresses the feeling you are conveying to your Inner Infant

You came here  from afar,

Created from the cooling of a

Beautiful distant star,

Carried on the breath

Of a butterflies beating  wing

I am so happy you are here!

To learn and love and enjoy

Each and every thing,

May your footsteps find their way

Through tall green grass

And over steep and rocky paths

Climbing high

And swimming low

Finding wonder

wherever you go

I  welcome you to this place!

And am so happy to see

your wonderful face.

*Once you have welcomed the infant you and helped the inner infant feel calm, accepted and safe, you can visualize and feel this inner infant coming into your heart where this precious being can continue to feel safe and loved

*Continue breathing softly and gently and slowly open your eyes coming back to the present moment. Look around you. Colors may shine with new vividness, you may feel very relaxed and peaceful. You may feel safer and more connected to the world around you. 

*Carry on your day making sure to attend very closely to physical needs.  

This year I felt the comfort of the earth, the mountains and stars welcoming me into this life. I think I was able to feel that because of the Inner Infant meditation.
Peace,
Sue Schmidt  CMT,C.Ht
www.healingmediations.net
www.facebook.com/healingmeditations1
healingmeditations1@gmail.com

Full Moon August 2013 www.earthsky.org

Tonight is the full Moon! Go outside and gaze at the moon. Let your  eyes soften and let the moonlight enter your pupils and flow into  your brain. See your mind filled with a gentle, soothing, white moonlight.

According to Chi Kung, the light of the moon,especially the full moon, is good for your pituitary gland. Especially for women!

American Indian names for the full moon: Red Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon

Sue Schmidt CMT,C.Ht

www.healingmeditations.net
healingmeditations1@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/healingmeditations1
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