8 Steps to a Higher Vibration

"What lies behind us 

and what lies before us 

are tiny matters compared to 

what lies within us." 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson 

We all have times where life isn't clear and we feel like we're walking through mud. Here are a few tips to help us find more happiness and fulfillment, and make it through the ups and downs!

1. Sleep

Now for those of us who aren't mentally on top of our game, sleep (too much or the inability to sleep at all) may be a nightly battle. A few tips to more restful sleep:

•  Spend time earthing every day. This means getting your bare feet in contact with the ground. The earth's energy is very healing and there is a lot of evidence that when we connect with the earth our circadian rhythm becomes more normalized, thus helping us sleep and wake up at healthy times. You can even make or buy grounding pads to sleep on to maximize the benefits of earthing. 
• Create a good sleep environment. Cool and dark works best for most people. Try to keep your room as free of electronics as possible. There is evidence that EMF's can be a cause of insomnia and sleeping disorders. Turn your phone on airplane mode and leave your computer in another room or away from the bed. Be aware of walls with lots of hidden wires, or smart meters on the outside wall of your bedroom. 
• Before you go to sleep, write down everything that is on your mind. List the things that are bothering you or that you're worried about or just the thoughts that won't leave you alone. A 'brain dump' so to speak, that you can leave on your nightstand to think about tomorrow. 

2. Spend time outside

It is easy to hide away indoors when we are feeling 'off' but going outside and spending time in nature can be soothing and very healing. Whether it's going for a walk, playing an outdoor sport, or simply splattering yourself out on the lawn (my personal favorite,) reconnect with mother earth to find inner peace.

3. Hang out with the right people

"You become like the 5 people you spend the most time with."

Even on my lowest days, my husband always manages to poke through my walls and make me laugh. His ability to love me on any kind of day gives me safety and support that is priceless.

We are deeply entangled with the people around us. It is so important to spend our time with people who bring balance and don't constantly drain our energy or fill us with negativity. Sometimes this means letting go of someone. Spend your time with those who lift you up, love you, and encourage you to be your true self.

4. Get in this MOMENT

"The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new" ~Socrates

In his book 'The Screwtape Letters' C.S. Lewis tells of letters written from a senior Demon Screwtape to his nephew Woodworm, a junior 'tempter.' Woodworm is responsible for the undoing or damnation of a certain human referred to as 'The Patient.'

One of the demons' tactics is to keep The Patient focusing constantly on the past or future. They know that if they successfully keep him from thinking about the moment, if he is consistently stuck on things in past or future, he will never be able to accomplish what is important in the now.

Do what it takes to let go of the past. Who you are today is more important than anything you have been, and will determine who you will be. Learn how to pull yourself back into the present.

5. Be honest

A lot of anxiety and sadness comes when we lie to ourselves or those around us. This also applies to
times when we 'hide' from those we love out of fear. The truth is, people who truly love us will keep loving us no matter what. It is easier in the end to be honest and upfront with those close to us than to bury ourselves behind a good face.

I heard once that we all have three selves: who we are when we're alone, who we are when we're with close friends/family, and who we are when we're in the general public. The closer these three selves come together, the happier and more content we will be. We need to learn to to be true to ourselves, to be free, and to give others the same privilege.

6. Find your confidence 

When depression sets in, when anxiety wrings you dry, when you're in a fog and just aren't sure of anything anymore...breathe. Remember that you are a piece of the universe. You are one with the stars and the galaxies and the birds above your rain clouds. Look deep inside and find that connection with God or the Universe or Mother Earth, and know that you are not alone. This moment of dark won't last. Feel what needs to be felt and then hold your chin up and face your demons with power. This life is yours. Though your mind and ego may seem to hold the reins, in reality they belong to you and you are the master. 

7. Balance your chakras 

A lot of instability emotionally comes from your energy being unbalanced. This can happen for many reasons, and is often subconscious until you pay specific attention. Balancing your chakras is an excellent way to meditate, clear muddy energy, process emotions that are stuck, and become more in tune with yourself. Here is a simple method I've found effective:

1. You can do this anywhere anytime but I've found it is easiest if you are somewhere comfortable where you can relax. Lay down or lean back in your chair.Take some deep breathes and try to let go of external distractions. Focus on your breathing and on feeling your body. 
2. Let yourself focus on your energy. It surrounds you, runs through you, and is in constant motion. It is connected with the earth and the universe and everything that is in you. 
3. Start at the bottom and either physically or in your mind hold your hand over the chakra, and move it clock-wise motion with the flow of energy. This is more about feeling than thinking. Focus on the flow and whether or not it feels fluid and clear. If not, focus on the imbalance. Is there physical discomfort? Thoughts or images that come up? Accept, process, and continue in motion with the energy until it is clear. 
4. Move up to the next chakra and repeat. Continue until you've gone through each chakra individually. 

For more specifics about the chakras, please see here.

8. Spend some time with an animal 

Who doesn't feel better after cuddling a puppy? Or having a kitten on their lap? Or even getting to hold a big reptile? For me, almost nothing compares to being with horses. Their beauty and power have always touched a deep place inside of me. Animals, because they accept and love us so easily, have great ability to help us accept ourselves and experience healing. Go play with a pet! 

Here's to all of us and our journey and the growth that comes with it. May we find in ourselves our greatest potential and happiness!

References:

Dr Ghaly's study on earthing and cortisol: Ghaly M and Teplitz D "The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2004

EMFs and sleep disturbance
The Screwtape Letters Synopsis 

Earthing- The secret energy beneath our feet- Part Two

This is a continuation from the previous article on earthing! If you didn't get a chance to read that one and you're not familiar with earthing, please see it here.

"The moment your foot touches the Earth, or you connect to the Earth through a wire, your physiology changes, An immediate normalization begins. And an anti-inflammatory switch is turned on. People stay inflamed because they never connect with the Earth, the source of free electrons, which can neutralize the free radicals in the body that cause disease and cellular destruction." 

~James Oschman   

Clinton Ober was an entrepreneur in the cable industry in Colorado. In 1972 he started his own business specializing in developing, marketing, and installing cable television systems that eventually became one of the largest of its kind in the country.  

In 1993 he developed a serious abscess in his liver from a root canal procedure. He had a major portion of the liver removed and was in recovery for several months. One day during the long healing process he had a realization that changed his life; He was living in a way where most of his energy was spent taking care of his 'stuff.' He decided to free himself from his possessions and pursue something more meaningful. 

This journey is what eventually lead him to his discoveries about the earth and its connection to the human body. 

Along with struggles from the abscess in his liver, Clinton also had back pain from previous surgeries which led to needing pain and sleep medication daily. It was because of these problems that he took particular interest in health.

Being in the television industry, Clinton understood how important it is for cable systems to be 'grounded.' Lots of electronic devices need to be connected with the earth in order to work effectively and safely. Grounding is connecting a device's electrical flow to the earth. It protects the system from static electricity and interference from other frequencies, and also prevents user contact if something has particularly dangerous voltage. Grounding can be accomplished by plugging something into a three-pronged outlet. The big half-circle spot on most of your outlets is connected to the ground. It can also be done by simply connecting a device to a conductive rod driven into the earth.

One day Clinton was watching the people walking around him and he thought about how in the industrialized world, most people have little or no connection with the ground. We live in insulated non-conductive housing. We drive cars everywhere. We wear synthetic soled shoes the moment we step outside. Electricity doesn't conduct through rubber, wood, asphalt, or plastic, and thus has the ability to separate us from the natural energy of the earth. Clinton started to wonder: 

Could this disconnection be affecting our health?

Soon after this thought, he took a voltage meter and connected a wire to it, the other end he attached to a rod in the ground. He was then able to measure the electrical charges being created on his body as he was insulated from the ground in his home. He could measure the differences in static electricity with every step he took. When he would step towards any electrical device (lamps, TV, etc) the voltage would go up. Except when in front of his refrigerator and computer tower, which were both grounded.

His bedroom was where the highest electrical voltage was created on his body. Where he slept was next to a wall full of hidden wires. He began wondering what type of effects this had on his sleep.

Curiosity peaked, he began constructing a 'grounding pad.' Using metallized duct tape, an alligator clip, and wire strung out through the window to a ground rod, he made a grid to lay on while he slept. When he laid on this grid, the volt meter showed nearly zero. It was equivalent to laying out on the ground. The earth's energy was free to flow through his body. He was brought to the same electric potential as the earth.

He lay there pondering the implications and the next thing he knew it was morning, and the volt meter was laying on his chest. It was the first night he'd slept without medicine in a long time. 

Clinton found that earthing had tremendous influence on his health and well being! Not only did he begin sleeping better and waking up more rested, but he was able to go off pain medication as his chronic pain had reduced significantly. He began making grounding pads for his close friends. Surprisingly the same friends began coming back to him reporting less arthritic pain and better sleep.

Clinton wasn't a biologist. His discoveries were hardly given an ear in the professional world for a long time. But eventually he was able to connect with Dr. Ghaly, a retired anesthesiologist who was interested in electric field research. He agreed to organize a pilot study where he would measure the circadian secretion of cortisol (the hormone released in response to stress) of people before and after they slept grounded. His main motivation was to prove Clinton wrong. 

Though the study was small, the results were impressive. Out of 12 participants, all but 1 developed more natural cortisol rhythms.

Many of the patients:

• Fell asleep faster
• Woke fewer times in the night
• Felt less fatigued upon waking
• Felt reductions in their emotional stress 
• Had improvements of gastrointestinal symptoms 
• Experienced PMS symptom improvement 
• Experienced less pain

More studies followed! Some that I found particularly interesting were ones monitored using Thermography. These photos are FACINATING and I was lucky enough to find them online so that I could share them with you now! This is scientific EVIDENCE of how grounding affects us physiologically.

Photo 1. Through infrared imaging we can see inflammation in the legs. Red=inflammation. These pictures were taken 30 minutes apart, before and after grounding. They show a rapid resolution of inflammation as a result of connecting to the earth.

Photo 2. These are pictures of the back of an 85-year old man who had intense lower back and shoulder pain. The second picture was taken after 2 nights of sleeping grounded. After four weeks the patient reported TOTAL RESOLUTION of back and shoulder pain and only some stiffness,

Photo 3.
These are the feet of a 52 year old woman before and after 30 minutes of grounding. The right foot and ankle had pretty significant inflammation, while the left foot is barely seen because of poor circulation. Look how grounding helped both!



It doesn't end there. I've been reading story after story of people who have started turning around their health by taking off their shoes and reconnecting with our beautiful planet.

So what does this mean for you?

..Kick off those shoes! This actually works. Go try this out for yourself and let me know what you find. When I started to think about it, I realized how little my feet actually touch the ground. Now, while it is still warm, I go out on the lawn during my lunch breaks and try to spend at least 30 minutes in contact with the ground. Figure out what works for you. If you're interested in grounding products, or want to make your own, please see the links below.

References
Earthing- The most important health discovery ever? Authors Ober, Sinatra and Zucker.

Dr Ghaly's study on earthing and cortisol: Ghaly M and Teplitz D "The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2004

Thermography Earthing studies done by William Amalu, D.C. president of the International Academy of Clinical Thermography.

Ground (Electricity)
Grounded Electrical Outlets
Earthing equiptment
DIY Earthing Pad

The best ENERGY drink of your life!

I had the urge to write about this daily habit that takes 10 minutes or less, but can have an incredible influence on you and your family's health!  Don't be intimidated by all the green that follows!

Right now in our world there are a lot of people who would love to feel better about their bodies. Studies show that a good portion of both men and women are unsatisfied with themselves or struggle with self-confidence. This is no secret, and it is apparent that as a society we are searching for better answers than painful dieting and hours in the gym. 

I was first introduced to the idea of green smoothies by Robyn Openshaw when I was a teenager.  I struggled a lot with body image during adolescence, and more than wanting to feel beautiful I also wanted to feel healthy. So I was always looking for the secrets to having a body I felt confident walking around in!

The idea is you find the right blend of fruits, veggies, and greens to throw into a blender that make a delicious smoothie and a powerhouse nutrient-rich boost for your body! The possible and proven benefits to drinking a green drink on a daily basis are awesome!

• Weight loss
• Mood enhancement 
• Natural detox and cleanse 
• Immune support/boost 
• Huge percentage of daily need for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants 
• ENERGY increase that lasts
• Fiber that you don't get from juice
• You feel 'light' verses 'heavy' 
• Happy cells!! 

Green smoothies are great at anytime during the day, but are particularly excellent for breakfast. Our body goes through natural cycles  throughout a day where it focuses respectively on these three processes: Elimination, Appropriation, and Assimilation. In the morning we are typically in elimination mode and our body is focusing on releasing toxins and cleansing. 

Eating a heavy breakfast that is cooked can often be counter-productive to this cycle. Think of how it feels if you're trying to clean the kitchen and before you're done someone comes in and starts pulling out  food to make a big meal.  It would definitely slow you down or maybe even stop you from cleaning completely. Our body is the same way.

Our body responds the best to living and easily digestible foods in the morning. Living food means it is raw (uncooked) and is thus still full of enzymes and nutrients that aid digestion and fuel your body.

Convinced to give smoothies a try? Let's address some common hesitations for those that need a push!

Tastes nasty? 

The first time I made a green smoothie it was disgusting. I didn't blend it well so it was chunky and I was a little too ambitious on the percentage of greens that I added.  In general we are used to overly-sweet food, and starting off your smoothie habit with too many veggies can cause you (and your family victims) to tank before finishing the first glass. Luckily our taste buds adapt over time. Try starting with 20% veggies and 80% fruit. Then slowly change it until you're eventually drinking 50/50. Baby steps!

Can't get over looks and texture?

I would recommend getting a good blender. Someday my dream is to get a Blendtec. They are FANTASTIC. Your smoothies will feel like Jamba Juice. But let's be real, a good portion of us don't have that kind of money to throw around, so just do the best you can. Putting the veggies in and blending them for a bit first can help to get rid of chunks. 

Bored?

Now that I've got a spouse to please, I've put a lot more energy into VARIETY. Don't get stuck on one recipe. Try new things! Mix new colors! If you make your family drink something that tastes too weedy one day, make a really delicious one the next day. Find your favorites and have fun getting creative. 

SOME OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES:

#1

1/2 Cucumber

1 whole lemon (just cut end nubs off)

1 handful of spinach

1 banana

2 tbsp of green super-food powder

1 tbsp of organic flax power

1 cup of frozen pineapple

2 scoops of organic yogurt

Coconut milk/Water

#2

A few handfuls of spinach and kale

1 Banana

1-2 cups of frozen berries 

1 whole lemon (just cut end nubs off)

2 tbsp of organic chia seeds

Water

#3

1 cup of carrots

2 tbsp of organic flax powder

1 tsp of bee pollen 

1 whole lemon (just cut end nubs off)

2 oranges 

1 banana

A few slices of grapefruit or 3 drops of grapefruit oil

2 scoops of organic yogurt

Water/Coconut milk

#4

1 mango

1 cup of carrots

1 apple

1 banana

Water/Coconut milk

Just not sure it is for you?

Maybe smoothies just aren't and will never be your thing. That's fine! As with everything, don't take my word for it. Give it a good shot. If it is a good thing your body will let you know!

To see some of my references, and for more yummy recipes and information on green smoothies:
Simply Real Health
Green Smoothie Girl
Veg Kitchen
Better Raw (Body Cycles)

Studies:
Men
Women

Earthing- The secret energy beneath our feet- Part One

Earthing: 
The process of absorbing earth's free flowing electrons from its surface through the souls of ones feet.

My blog started off with a bang only to be blatantly ignored for the past few months. But I think I have a good excuse.

Celebrating three weeks being married!! That thought fills me up inside like drinking a cup of hot chocolate. Being married to my best friend is infinitely more amazing than being single! I highly recommend it! 

As newlyweds we are pretty obsessed with frugality, but also with pursuing amazing health. Both of us are anxious to prevent disease and set up our lives to be full of energy and vitality. And yet sometimes (okay maybe a lot of the time) I find myself coming home from work and wanting to do little more than lay around and cuddle with my new hubby.

I don't see this as a problem, but I am definitely first in line when it comes to wanting more energy to spend on all the things that make me happy. Not to mention school and study and family obligations and laundry and dishes and painting that wall and...well you get the point.

Yesterday my husband and I had returned from our jobs and were trying to muster up the motivation to continue being productive. We were both feeling about as energetic as a bag of rocks. We decided to leave our shoes behind and go for a nice walk to reconnect with each other and mother earth. Maybe we're a little weird. But after only a few minutes we already felt refreshed and considerably less lethargic. And it didn't cost us a cent!

I am studying a book about how reconnecting with the earth may be one of the most important health discoveries ever. It is creatively called, “Earthing- The most important health discovery ever?” It is fascinating! We all know that being outside is good for our well-being. Who knew there was actually a truck load of science behind it!

We are electrical beings. According to Google, we all have about seven billion, billion, BILLION atoms that make up our 100 trillion cells. Our atoms are made up of positively charged protons, negatively charged electrons, and neurons. The flow of electrons from one atom to another is what we refer to as electricity. Our body also creates electrical charges via electrolytes (charged ions) which enable us to be conductors of energy. Have you ever seen those light bulbs that you can make glow in your hand by simply generating static electricity? You can drag your socked feet around the carpet and the bulb in your hand will flicker. This is because free, or mobile, electrons are able to move through your body. 

Our cells, organs, and the different systems in our body communicate using electricity. There is increasing evidence that this communication happens through small light particles called bio photons. Thinking about this made me think that this is one of the reasons we need so much water! When we are hydrated it is the easiest for the electricity to conduct from one place to another. 

The flow and balance of our electrical system is vital to our well-being. In order to maintain homeostasis, our cells must have a resting potential (charge) that is slightly negative. Thus having the right amount of electrons is vital to live at optimum health. 

Now to mother earth! She is in reality a six sextillion metric ton battery that is continually being replenished by solar radiation, lightning, and heat from her core. Her surface is alive with pulsating frequencies that are vital to the biological machinery of global life. This energy acts like a battery in a car, and literally influences every living thing on the planet. It is stunning to think that the ground under your feet is full of energy that connects to everyone and everything.

 The earth naturally maintains a negative electrical potential. Negative-charged free electrons are abundantly present on the earth's surface. When we are in contact with the earth, meaning our skin is either touching the ground or we are not standing or wearing something electrically inhibiting (wood, rubber, plastic, etc.), the earth's electrons are conducted to our body. We then are brought to the same electric potential as the earth. This is also referred to as grounding. 

In my next posts about earthing I will go into detailed stories about how this habit has specifically helped people. For now I will simply list some of the things earthing has proved to do!

• Defuses the cause of inflammation and inflammation related disorders.
• Reduces stress and promotes calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous system and stress hormones. 
• Improves sleep. 
• Strengthens the body against damage from electromagnetic fields (EMF's) like dirty electricity.
• Lessens menstrual symptoms and issues associated with hormonal imbalance.  
• Speeds the body's natural healing processes. 
• Soothe headaches and muscle tension.
• Increases energy.
• Improves chronic fatigue. 
• Normalizes the body's biological rhythms. 

The list goes on! What I love is that this is something everyone can do, no cost required. Earthing is simple, natural, and powerful. We all have the power and the time to step outside and let ourselves experience nature's healing energy. I am by no means saying that earthing is a 'cure' for any specific illness or disorder. What earthing will do is restore your body's natural internal electrical stability, which is vital for normal functioning of the systems in the body including the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and immune systems. It helps give your body what it needs to self heal. 

Don't just take my word for it! Put mother nature to the test, and commit to getting outside every day. It only takes a few minutes. Take off your shoes and feel the grass under your feet and let yourself soak it up! 

If you have questions or things you'd like me to address in the next post, please comment or send me an email. I am anxious to hear about other people's experiences with this! I've also attached my main references and would encourage anyone to go read through them.

References: 

Earthing- The most important health discovery ever? Book by Clint Ober, Stephen T. Sinatra M.D., Martin Zucker 

Dr. Mercola on Earting

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/04/why-does-walking-barefoot-on-the-earth-make-you-feel-better.aspx

Specifics on atoms and their electric potential 
http://faculty.stcc.edu/AandP/AP/AP1pages/nervssys/unit10/resting.htm