es·o·ter·ic

/ˌesəˈterik/

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adjective

1. intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

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                                                                      HYGHER THOUGHTS

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We are all students of life and the universe is our teacher. Do you believe this? Have you ever wanted to break free from the traditional ways of thinking? Do you have an unquenchable desire to become more in-tune with the infinite? Then we are literally on the same page. Below I share a few esoteric concepts that inspired me to become more inquisitive about life.

 

 

 

Sun Gazing- For hundreds of years many cultures have participated in sun worshipping or sun gazing for the believed healing benefits of solar energy. Sun gazing is a form of meditation which involves gazing at the sun. Individuals who sun gaze stare directly into the sun during sunrise and/or sunset, to connect with and absorb the suns energy. You are to stand barefoot with your feet touching the earth. 

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From my personal experience, after sun gazing for just under 30 seconds I immediately felt more energized than before I began. There was also a brief feeling of synergy with the sun and an overwhelming appreciation for life. If you are interested in sun gazing there are steps, precautions, and risks that involved. The medical community states that looking directly at the sun can be damaging to the eyes, potentially causing permanent retinal damage and loss of vision. If you would like to practice sun gazing, be sure to follow the precautions and guidelines to reduce your risk of retinal damage.

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• Find a suitable outdoor space to meditate.

• Don’t wear glasses or contact lenses.

• Don’t gaze through glass or plastic, like a window or greenhouse.

• Practice barefoot if possible.

• It's best to start with 10 seconds a day, gradually increasing the time you watch the sun by 10 seconds each day until you reach 45 minutes (which takes 9 months to reach this number). Upon reaching 45 minutes you can revert back to doing sun gazing for 15 minutes a day to keep the benefits.

• While sun gazing keep your eyes open and looking directly into the sun.

• If looking directly at the sun feels uncomfortable, focus on the sun’s “halo,” or the area surrounding it.

• Focus on your breathing, relaxing your body while allowing the sunlight to radiate onto you.

• As a beginner start by watching the sun during safe hours (sunset and sunrise) which is when the UV index is 0 or 1. The UV index is generally 0 or 1 within the first 60 minutes after sunrise and within the last 60 minutes before sunset.

• Absolute beginners should limit sun gazing to the first 5 minutes after sun rise and/or last five minutes before sunset.

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The 4 Noble Truths & The 8 Fold Path- Many years ago, I received a book as a gift that taught me about the Buddha, his 4 Noble Truths and the Noble 8 Fold Path. This book ignited my already free spirit! Here, I will provide a quick overview of Buddha's teachings along with a link that provides the full teachings.

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THE 4 NOBLE TRUTHS

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1. Suffering

Life always involves suffering, in obvious and subtle forms. Even when things seem good, we always feel an undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty inside.

2. The Cause of Suffering

The cause of suffering is craving and fundamental ignorance. We suffer because of our mistaken belief that we are a separate, independent, solid “I.” The painful and futile struggle to maintain this delusion of ego is known as "samsara", or "cyclic existence".

3. The End of Suffering

The good news is that our obscurations are temporary. They are like passing clouds that obscure the sun of our enlightened nature, which is always present. Therefore, suffering can end because our obscurations can be purified and an awakened mind is always available to us.

4. The Path

By living ethically, practicing meditation, and developing wisdom, we can take exactly the same journey to enlightenment and freedom from suffering that the buddhas do. We too can wake up.

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THE NOBLE 8 FOLD PATH

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Right Understanding

Right Intent

Right Speech

Right Action

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Concentration

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To learn more about the 4 Noble Truths and the Noble 8 Fold Path please click here.

 

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Ganesha- The Hindu god Ganesha (also spelled Ganesh) is worshipped as the "remover of all obstacles" and is also known as the Hindu "god of beginnings". At first glance the image of Ganesha can be a bit intimidating and even frightening to some. But once you are able to open your mind you will immediately see that he is simply a gentle, peaceful, potbellied figure who's full of powerfully deep meaning and empowering symbolism. Click here to see a full breakdown and the meaning of each element of Ganesha.

 

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Think Arete: The Manifesto - "What we can be, we MUST be, period! Some of the world's greatest philosophers said that if you want happiness you better live with Arete'. The word Arete' means virtue or excellence, but it goes even deeper. In essence it means existing at your highest potential moment to moment to moment. Arete' is one of the highest ideals of Greek culture. We feel most alive when we are being our highest selves. This is why it is important to think Arete'. 

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I first came across this concept about 15 years ago when I was on the bus listening to some self-improvement podcast. I was in my early twenties on a serious quest for deeper meaning and knowledge. Thinking Arete' turned my observations on life inwardly as opposed to always looking for answers to the problems on the outside. I began to think higher and reflect deeper on how much the power that I possess internally can eradicate external "problems". Our happiness is something that we much continuously work for moment to moment. This is where thinking Arete' impacted my life the most. Once you are able to elevate your thinking in realtime, the quality of your thoughts will also improve and minuscule or insignificant things can't exist on a plane of higher thought. 

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42 Laws (Ideals) of Ma'at - Hotep (the ancient Egypytian word for Peace)! The 42 Laws of the Goddess Ma'at  is said to be where the 10 Commandment came from. Ma’at is the ancient Egyptian (Kemet) goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance. The ideals of Ma'at were used as a moral code for the living and the standard that the dead would be judged by. The Kemetans believed that when one died, their soul would be weighed against these principles. See the 42 Laws (Ideals) by clicking here.

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Fasting and the Deeper Benefits- Fasting has a tons of health benefits and there are many different types of fasts. However, when you are fasting for more than weight loss, it's less about what you put in your stomach and more about what you put in your soul. When you do a fast, whether 4 days or 40 days this is the perfect time to get closer to your Hygher Power. 

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Fasting is spiritual because our bodies are connected to our minds, we are one powerfully magnificent system. As a result, the act of fasting does not happen in isolation. There is a power in denying your body something that it desires and has relied on for its entire life. Asceticism, which derives from a greem term meaning "training" or "exercise" is severe self-discipline and the avoidance of all forms of indulgence. It is a belief that the action of purifying the body will also help to purify the soul, thus obtaining a greater connection with your Hygher power and finding inner peace.

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Forest Bathing- Also known as "shinrin yoko" (which means forest bath) is said to have gained popularity back in the 1950's. It is the practice of bathing in the atmosphere of the forest. 

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One way forest bathing works is through our sense of smell. Think of your favorite fragrance or of the way you might dab on a little essential oil for some aromatherapy. We know instinctively that natural smells interact with our brains to produce an increased sense of well-being. So as we breathe in the forest air, we're breathing in benefits on a deeper level than we realize — all the way down to a cellular level. To learn more I will share with you a link to the book that introduced me to the practice of forest bathing. If you are interested in learning more please click here and pick you up a copy.

 

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The Prophet (Khalil Gibran)- Khalil writes some of the most beautiful, mind-stretching, spiritually poetic fables that I have ever read. These are paradigm shifting pieces of writing. If you have never read any of Khalil's work, click here.