Meditation

June 20, 2012 by @candesscampbell

The greatest gift I have found to develop a greater intuitive experience is meditation. It was in my meditative experience one morning I was given a specific meditation I now use.

Many of you already meditate and if you do, that is wonderful! You know the value of creating this time for yourself and the incredible connection you find with your Higher Self and the Divine. For many there is also the experience of connecting and communicating with Angels or Guides.

Many people who have tried meditation and don’t continue often think they are doing it wrong. Let me clarify some of the misconceptions. In meditation, you will not stop thinking. You have a central nervous system and therefore your brain will be thinking. What happens instead is you quiet your thoughts and rather than active thinking, you have what I call passive thinking. This means thoughts will enter and go by, but you just notice and don’t actively follow them. You can then return to your quiet mind.

I have also found people have a hard time quieting their mind when they meditate in the middle of the day or in the evening. I like to meditate first thing in the morning before leaving my bed. This allows me to tap into the wisdom of my subconscious mind and my Higher Self that has guided my dreams. Meditating in the morning also allows me to become filled with the Light of the Divine first thing in the morning!

For those who have not began the practice of meditation, here is a simple way to begin. Here is the meditation I have been given.

Set a timer to begin. This will help you to lengthen the time of your meditation.

As in other meditations, sit with your spine straight. I like to place my hands on my lap with my thumb, index and middle finger touching, facing upward.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and relax and adjust your body as needed.

Image a grounding cord such as a beam of light, a waterfall or a tree trunk going down from the base of your spine to the fiery center of Mother Earth. Release all the stress, tension and foreign energy down from the top of your head, down your face, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, upper and lower back, belly, pelvic area, hips, legs, ankles, and feet down your grounding cord.

Take another breath and bring your attention to above your head, to your crown chakra. Imagine a golden white Light spiraling down through the top of your head and spiraling in your heart. This is the spark of the Divine within you! This spiraling Light will emanate Light throughout your body and a few inches outside your body all around you.

Bring your attention to your third eye, which is between your eyes and a little above. Envision a water-blue color triangle at your third eye. Focus your attention through this triangle. Above your head about eight inches envision a burning ring of fire. This is the Eternal Flame of Isis. I share more about the triangle and the burning ring of fire when I teach intuitive reading.

Now you have the Golden Light Spiral, the Blue Triangle and the Fiery Ring of Fire set, bring your attention to your eyes. With your eyes still closed, move your eyes from right to left back and forth about 12 – 20 times. The pace is about one second for each set of from right to left and back. You can adjust this later to the best pace for yourself. This movement will be like pushing your eyes (with them closed) back and forth.

What you will notice is this takes you into a deeper into a meditative state. This increases with practice. Stop the eye movement and just be. Just notice what you experience. Stay in passive thinking and just experience and notice.

If you find you are thinking and lose the meditative sense, or you begin to come out of meditation, then use the eye movements back and forth to deepen again. This brings you back into a meditative state.

You may need to use the eye movement several times to deepen your meditation and this is fine. This takes practice, but if you commit to every day for a week, with a timer, this can change your life and increase not only your intuition, but your relationship with your Self and the Divine!

An added bonus, this eye movement is also therapeutic. It can assist in healing memories and traumas because moving your eyes from one side to the other activates the two hemispheres of the brain. When you begin your meditation you can set an intention of healing a specific situation, emotion, feeling, or thought.

Originally published in LiveEncounters

Changing Your Mood!

April 30, 2012 by @candesscampbell

When in sessions with clients, it is common they share memories and situations from the past. Memories from five, ten, twenty years ago surface as if they were happening right now. I see their feelings and physiology follow their story.

Healing the feelings from the past is important, but often there is the tendency to re-play the past and then the feelings don’t heal. The feelings deepen like water that flows to form a crevice in the sand.

What’s great is that you have control over what you think and this affects your feelings! It takes practice, but you can change this habit.

When you begin to re-play something from the past that is painful or negative. STOP. Think about what was positive about the person or experience. Write it down. This does not undo what you feel they did to you, but it does help free YOU from the past. You are in control!

Try writing about the situation from the outside looking in. Then write it again from the other person’s perspective. This can be amazing!

You have more direct control over changing your thinking than your feelings, so think yourself into feeling happy, joyful and alive!

Protect your Pets from Dangerous Spring Flowers!

March 30, 2012 by @candesscampbell

Spring flowers can be dangerous to your pets. Mary Getten, an Animal Communicator, shares some tips for you in keeping your pets safe.
It’s spring and plants are popping up all over. Did you know that over 700 common plants can be poisonous to cats and dogs if ingested? For instance, Easter Lilies are very toxic to cats. It’s good to know which plants may be a problem and signs that your pet may have eaten part of one. Plant poisoning can cause a wide range of symptoms that include mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, seizures, coma, and skin rash. If you think that your animal may have ingested a poisonous substance, contact your local vet or the ASPCA 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435.

Top 10 Plants Poisonous to Pets

Dr. Justine Lee, Associate Director of Veterinary Services, explains what plants could be a potential danger to your cat or dog. Every day, Pet Poison Helpline receives dozens of phone calls from dog owners and cat owners saying “My cat ate a lily!” or “My dog ate a plant. Is it poisonous?” Some of the most poisonous plants for dogs and cats are reviewed below. While there are thousands of species of plants and flowers, only a small percentage of plants are truly dangerous and poisonous to your pet. Make sure you know which plants are most deadly to avoid your dog or cat from getting into these poisonous flowers and poisonous plants!

Autumn Crocus

There are two Crocus plants: one that blooms in the spring (Crocus species) and the other in the autumn (Colchicum autumnale). These spring plants are more common and are part of the Iridaceae family. These ingestions can cause general gastrointestinal upset including vomiting and diarrhea. These should not be mistaken for Autumn Crocus, part of the Liliaceae family, which contain colchicine. The Autumn Crocus is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and respiratory failure. If you’re not sure what plant it is, bring your pet to their veterinarian immediately for care. Signs may be seen immediately but can be delayed for days.

Azalea

In the same family as rhododendrons, azaleas can have serious effects on pets. Eating even a few leaves can result in vomiting, diarrhea and excessive drooling; without immediate veterinary attention, the pet could fall into a coma and possibly die.

Cyclamen

The roots of this seasonal flowering plant are especially dangerous to pets. If ingested, cyclamen can cause severe vomiting and even death.

Kalanchoe

This popular flowering succulent plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea and heart arrhythmias if ingested by pets.

Lilies

There are the most dangerous and benign lilies out there, and it’s important to know the difference. Peace, Peruvian, and Calla lilies contain oxalate crystals that cause minor signs, such as tissue irritation to the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and esophagus – this results in minor drooling. The more dangerous, potentially fatal lilies are true lilies, and these include Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies – all of which are highly toxic to cats! Even small ingestions (such as 2-3 petals or leaves) can result in severe kidney failure. If your cat is seen consuming any part of a lily, bring your cat (and the plant) immediately to a veterinarian for medical care. The sooner you bring in your cat, the better and more efficiently we can treat the poisoning. Decontamination (like inducing vomiting and giving binders, like activated charcoal) are imperative in the early toxic stage, while aggressive intravenous fluid therapy, kidney function monitoring tests, and supportive care can greatly improve the prognosis.

Oleander

Oleander is an outdoor shrub, popular for its evergreen qualities and delicate flowers. However, the leaves and flowers are extremely toxic if ingested and can cause severe vomiting, slow the heart rate and possibly even cause death.

Dieffenbachia

Popular in many homes and offices, dieffenbachia can cause intense oral irritation, drooling, nausea, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if ingested.

Daffodils

These flowers contain lycorine, an alkaloid with strong emetic properties (something that triggers vomiting). Ingestion of the bulb, plant or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even possible cardiac arrhythmia’s or respiratory depression. Crystals are found in the outer layer of the bulbs, similar to hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary drooling. Daffodil ingestion can result in more severe symptoms, so if an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive care.

Lily of the Valley

The Convallaria majalis plant contains cardiac glycosides which will cause symptoms similar to digitalis (foxglove) ingestion. These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmia’s, and possible seizures. Pets with any known exposure to this plant should be examined and evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.

Sago Palm

Very popular in warmer climates, this household and outdoor plant can be very harmful to pets. If ingested, the leaves and seeds can cause vomiting, bloody stools, damage to the stomach lining, severe liver failure and, in some cases, death.

Tulips and Hyacinths

Tulips contain allergenic lactones while hyacinths contain similar alkaloids. The toxic principle of these plants is very concentrated in the bulbs (versus the leaf or flower), so make sure your dog isn’t digging up the bulbs in the garden. When the plant parts or bulbs are chewed or ingested, it can result in tissue irritation to the mouth and esophagus. Typical signs include profuse drooling, vomiting, or even diarrhea, depending on the amount consumed. There’s no specific antidote, but with supportive care from the veterinarian (including rinsing the mouth, anti-vomiting medication, and possible subcutaneous fluids), animals do quite well. With large ingestion of the bulb, more severe symptoms, such as an increase in heart rate and changes in respiration can be seen and should be treated by a veterinarian. These more severe signs seen in cattle or our overzealous, chow hound Labradors.
This is only a partial list of poisonous plants. For a more complete list of plants poisonous to cats and dogs, visit our Poison List.

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items or any other questionable substance, call Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian for assistance. Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important. Having the container, package, or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.

Boundaries

March 12, 2012 by @candesscampbell

With spring approaching, the tendency is to be more active, spending time with old and new friends. Technology also has allowed for international connections on cell phones, iPads, and computers. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and dating sites such as Match.com along with blogs like this, allow for communication not previously experienced.

Spring, the time of new birth is often the time of year where singles pair up and begin new relationships. Spring tends to bloom new love. New technology can keep couples connected but also can create lack of privacy and a lack of boundaries. As a therapist, I often hear clients say they saw their boyfriend/girlfriend change their status on Facebook from single to being in relationship with . . . and they process their feelings about this change. I also hear clients say that their loved one changed their status to single. When one continually watches and checks these public Internet sites it can affect their self-esteem and make them feel crazy.

It is important to learn from past relationships; to understand your own part in how your relationship came apart. Without this self-reflection and self-inventory you will end up entering into a relationship that repeats your pattern, even though your new partner initially appears to be very different from your past partner. When you take the time to heal and forgive yourself and your partner after a relationship ends, you are able to keep your heart open.

Although, it is important to keep an open heart and create healthy boundaries, playing your relationship out on the Internet is not the best idea. Relationships go through natural stages. The first stage is the honeymoon stage when you are madly in love with your partner. You love just about everything about them. Although there may be an awareness of what may not be perfect about them, you don’t care, it doesn’t matter; your love will conquer all. You want everyone to meet your new love and you think all your friends will see them through your eyes. Songs were written for the two of you and you are ecstatic. This is when you can really over-disclose on the Internet. It would be better to express your feelings directly to the one you love or at least through a private message.

The next stage is the working stage. This is when you begin to have differences and the ‘feeling in love’ no longer solves everything. This is when you begin to practice communication and find whether or not you have the ability as a couple to find resolution. You discover whether or not you can be direct in your communication or whether there are patterns of avoidance of conflict or blaming and being critical. Power struggles are more prevalent and you begin to focus on little details that become blown out of perspective. This is where, as a therapist, I remind clients “it is never about the toilet seat.” This is when a deepening can happen in a relationship. It is also the time that some people choose divorce. At this point it is really important you use your journal if you need to express yourself and not disclose too much about yourself or your loved one online!

The next stage is when couples move into stability. There is a comfort in being together and as a couple you have worked through the independence and dependence issues and become comfortable being individuals and a couple. There are other stages, but for this blog, I will stop here as I want to talk about boundaries in relationships. At this point the relationship has moved through the ups and downs and now the information expressed on a website such as Facebook is not threatening but rather is supportive, if there is any sharing at all.

Whether you are in the beginning of a relationship or in another stage it is important to become aware of your boundaries. Assessing your boundaries will also generalize beyond your love relationship. It will help you create healthy relationships at work and with friends and family as well. Take time to reassess your boundaries.

Boundaries

Do you have rigid, collapsed or healthy boundaries? Are you likely to allow others to cross your boundaries or do you cross the boundaries of others? Do you find you get too close to people physically and see them back away? Do you find yourself alone in a corner in a group and not reaching out to others? The way you set your boundaries changes over time and also changes in different situations dependent upon how you feel at the time. This is a general guideline you can use. You may want to print this out and talk about it with your loved one or a friend.

Collapsed Boundaries can be identified by:
Sharing too much personal information too soon.
Saying yes when you want to say no for fear of rejection.
Doing anything to avoid conflict.
Having a high tolerance for abuse.

Rigid Boundaries can be identified by:
Saying no to a request if it will involve close interaction.
Staying so busy you don’t take time for intimate relationships.
Being unable to identify your own feelings, wants or needs.
Making little self-disclosure and holding people at a distance.

Healthy Boundaries can be identified by:
Having the ability to say yes and to say no.
Being able to hear no from others and seek other resources to get your needs met.
You reveal information about yourself gradually and self-disclose appropriately.
You have relationships with shared responsibility for the relationship without blaming.
Take some time to explore your boundaries with your friends, family and at work. Then take time to reassess your boundaries on the internet. This may include deleting some posts!

Happy Spring and Bless your heart!

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Alaska

February 27, 2012 by @candesscampbell

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Ireland

February 26, 2012 by @candesscampbell

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