Embrace the Idea About Learning - Shouldn't You Be Studying the Bible Regularly?

Most Christians own at least one Bible, but the idea of studying it on a regular basis, is normally considered a difficult task for those to perform. If you really want to call yourself a Christian, shouldn't you at least understand, a few things in the Bible?

Maybe something about Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, or what about that guy, what's his name, I think he died for our sins and wasn't he the son of God, what was his name... You might think I'm kidding, but very few Christians, know very little about the Bible.

How do we get Christians to embrace the idea that studying the Bible could benefit them or change their views entirely about their religion? I've always had problems with those who consider themselves practicing Christians, while trying to convert others to Christianity with a limited knowledge about the religion itself.

If you go to church every Sunday, there's a good chance that you will have to touch the holy book of scriptures, at least once. You might even pick it up and turn some of the pages while listening to the sermon. Is this the only time during the week that you will pick up the Bible? And does this bother you?

What about those who read the Bible regularly and don't take the time to interpret it literally. Read the Bible, word for word in order to get a simple understanding of each Bible verse. Don't try to read anything into it or look for hidden messages.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to answer simple questions or understand what your church leaders are talking about? When they mention Paul or Isaiah, are you thinking about your cousin and his friend? Spend a little more time learning about your religion and you will reap the rewards that education has to offer.

There Are Plenty of Problems with the Bible and If You Need More Help, Click on This Link Understanding the Bible

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Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Click Here If You're a Positive Christian Person.

My Message From God - Christian Spirituality

This is a special article to me and I would like to share it with you. It seems like, every one that I have ever met, who refers to themselves as Christians, have received a special message from God.

I would like to share my message from God with every person in the world.

Why would God go out of his way to create evil people? To create people that wouldn't convert to his religion. To understand the true meaning of the one true religion. To have the ability to comprehend the truth and wisdom of Christianity.

I have been listening to Christians for years, talk about evil, the influence of the Bible on Christians, gifts from God, questioning their beliefs, lacking understanding for things that God doesn't give them or things that he takes away from them and excluding sinners from their lives.

I've been listening to Christians talk about love and caring, but excluding sinners, homosexuals and women from their church. Not allowing women to hold decision of authority or allowing them to perform certain tasks, inside of the Church.

I've been listening to Christians, quote from the Bible, with limited knowledge of the origins of that individual Bible verse, let alone the origins of their church or how Christianity was formed.

I've listened to them judge me for my beliefs and condemn others for theirs, while they are telling me about decision's they are making within their own lives, that don't support Christianity.

Just because you go to church, read the Bible or simply believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, doesn't make you an educated Christian. It only makes you a Christian.

My message from God is simple. Learn more about Christianity and this will allow you to do one of two things. Either you will become a stronger Christian or you will relinquish your beliefs in Christianity.

Either way you will have learned more about Christianity and could consider yourself an educated Christian or simply an educated person.

Advanced Bible Study

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Click here if you're a Spiritual Chrsitian.

When Do We Get to Meet God's Parents?

If God is the creator of the universe, who is the creator of God? When I was born, I had a mother and a father and supposedly the two of them together had created me. One could not have created me without the other and therefore I am a product of my parents. I know who my parents are and I even know who their parents are but who is God's parents and were we made in the images of our parents or creators.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth but before that, we know very little about God. Did he have brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents and even God parents. If he did have brothers and sisters, did they create worlds like he did or she did, we don't know whether God is a man or a woman, transvestite, homosexual or a combination of all of these. We really don't know what God is, even though Michelangelo painted him on the Sistine Chapel.

In the book of revelations it mentions, Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." God says that he is the first and the last, does this mean that there was no one or no entity before him. It goes back to the chicken and the egg, what was first the chicken or the egg, no one knows. Well god knows doesn't he. I don't know why I keep referring to God as a he but bear with me on this one.

I wonder if God was disciplined as a child or even if he was a child. Maybe God was born a full grown person or even a mysterious entity in the form of a smoky cloud. That couldn't be, because God made us in his image and I'm sure that his mother and father look like us. Well, hopefully they look better than us, maybe someone like Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston. I hope that he wasn't an ugly person or entity. That would be discouraging.

I guess that's enough of the humor, I rarely hear anyone talk about, who created God. If God formed out of nothingness, why couldn't our earth have formed from nothingness, without God. If God did have parents, brothers and sisters, have they created other universes and what is the purpose of their creations. Are we just one big experiment, part of a big science project?

Anyone interested in using this article to make a movie, feel free to use this information at no charge, I would love to see the movie, when it's done.

Good Christian News

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

If you're really seeking the kingdom of heaven, the glory of God and the true vision that Jesus had, check out some great Christian articles. These articles are designed to teach and educate Christians.

5 Books to Read on the Quest For a Better Life

When I was thinking about writing on this subject, I thought about how subjective this actually is. Anyone who is on the quest for a better life most likely has their bookshelves overflowing with "self-help" or "personal growth" books. And if you're just beginning the journey on your quest for a better life, then you may be looking for someone to help you find the best books out of the thousands that shout down at you from the bookshelves in the personal growth section of your local bookstore.

You may also have gotten recommendations from friends and associates claiming, "You've got to read this book. It's changed my life!"So either you said, "I'm so happy for you," and ignored their request, or you ran to the bookstore or Amazon.com, bought the book, only to leave it languishing on your already full bookshelf. Or you read it and said, "What's the big deal? I don't get it."

Therefore, choosing a reading list for you is a difficult task. The books we read are a very personal choice. We listen to recommendations, yet, what affects others may not affect us in the same way. Additionally, your quest might be to improve your physical well-being, your wealth, your relationships, your business, or your mental or emotional health. Whatever your focus is on, will ultimately determine the books that will have the greatest impact on you.

That said, the ones I have chosen are classics, so millions of people have endorsed them. Still that doesn't mean they will change your life, but they may have some impact on you, at least to get you thinking and reading, and maybe lead you to other books that will support your quest for a better life.

So here is my list. With these 5 books, you can't go wrong. They may become some of your top favorites as well.

You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay
Written in 1984, this book on using your thoughts and feelings to affect your health not only is a classic in its genre, but launched the powerful Hay House empire that's published millions of life-changing books. Originally printed as a small booklet, Hay created a list of physical maladies, their probable psychological cause, and a new thought pattern to shift it. For example, most pain in the feet has to do with obstacles in mobility and direction. The new thought is "I move forward easily in life." These thoughts also launched the explosion of the use of affirmations to shift thoughts. The expanded version goes deeper into why we think what we do and how we can heal all areas of our life by changing our thoughts.

Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill
Few people in the personal growth movement, or even in business for that matter, have not read Hill's 1937 classic on the use of the mind to improve our financial state. Just the term "think and grow rich" has spawned numerous clones like write and grow rich, speak and grow rich, and meet and grow rich. Hill spent a lifetime researching millionaires and distilled his findings into philosophies and formulas that led the great men he studied to success. He encourages readers that they too can reach the same levels of achievement through the power of thought.

The Power of Intention, Dr. Wayne Dyer
This book may not be on everyone's list of classics in the personal growth field, but Dyer is one of the most prolific authors in this field. His PBS appearances have vaulted him into an almost cult status. His authenticity captures his audiences wherever he appears and jumps off the pages of his many books. I like this book because it takes goal setting to another level. Dyer's definition of intention is: "intention is a force in the universe and everything and everyone is connected to this invisible force." From that place he guides people to allow their dreams to come to them rather that go after them with drive and hard work.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey
Another classic, published in 1989, this book put Covey on the map as a powerful leader in personal change and effectiveness. His groundbreaking book launched memorable buzz words and phrases like "begin with the end in mind," "think win/win," and "seek first to understand, then to be understood." You can't be anything but more effective if you follow the sound, practical guidelines Covey presents.

The Aladdin Factor, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Six years before their Chicken Soup fame, Canfield and Hansen collaborated on this brilliant, yet simple book on how to ask for anything. They teach the reader how to ask, who to ask, and what to ask for. They show you how to ask at home, ask at school, ask at work, ask at the world, ask yourself, and ask a higher power. That about covers it. If you know how to ask, who to ask, and what to ask for in your life, there's virtually nothing you can't have or do. It's a very powerful book you must add to your collection.

All of these books are available at your local library or at www.Amazon.com.

Lifestyle Mentor, Personal Coach, Author, Educator, and Entrepreneur, David B. Bohl is the creator of Slow Down FAST. To learn more about this step-by-step strategy for Living YOUR Life YOUR way, and to sign up for his 9 FREE Tips for Finding Happiness in a Fast-Paced World, free teleseminars, free Special Report, free bi-monthly ezine and more, go to: http://www.SlowDownFAST.com

Time Management in the Workplace - Slow Down and Still Get More Done

Do you know what an overworked machine looks like? It functions at its optimum level right before it finally breaks down.

Does this seem like you?

Has your life turned into one big race to beat the clock? Does it feel like no matter what you do, you can never seem to catch up? Has this pressure to catch up caused you to go into overdrive - working faster and harder - fearing that one day you too might just break down?

Being on overdrive leads us to belief that we are being more productive. However, the reality is, it can be the quite opposite. When you are on overdrive, you are in a "do, do, do!" mode, without being able to slow down and step back.

As a Result, Time Management in the Workplace Suffers.

Instead, step back and slow down. Doing this can be very beneficial to your overall productivity in the workplace. Slowing down allows you to plan so you can do more with less effort and time. It also allows you to think more clearly and strategize better as you are less stressed and have more energy.

So, if you seem to be caught running on all cylinders, yet can't seem to get anything accomplished, it's time to step on the brakes and slow down.

Listed below are useful strategies for time management in the workplace, which you can use to ease yourself out of overdrive, yet still be as productive as you want to be.

Time Management Strategy #1 - Learn to delegate tasks. Whenever possible, delegate less important errands, especially repetitive tasks that can be done by a lower level staff member or assistant. Assigning minor tasks to others gives you extra time to take care of the more important projects and assignments, especially those that are critical for decision making and those that impact the bottom line.

Delegation not only saves you time, but money as well. The less time you waste on petty errands, the more time and money you can save by focusing on the bigger goals. Of course, there will always be tasks that require your attention and personal touch, so focus on those tasks yourself.

Time Management Strategy #2 - Brainstorm. Hold meetings with your staff to brainstorm better time management in the workplace techniques. They may have fantastic ideas that they have not voiced because they were never given the opportunity. Their specific skills and experience puts them in a good position to make thoughtful recommendations on use of time, ease of work, and improving job efficiency. This will encourage your staff to work together as a group to become a more effective, time efficient unit.

Remember, heed smart ideas and give credit where it is due. Otherwise employees will be unwilling to share their ideas in the future.

Time Management Strategy #3 - Go for a Walk. Slowing down means clearing your mind from the cluttering effects of your office. The best way to do this is go outside, walk around, and get some fresh air. This may sound like a waste of time, but it is very effective in de-stressing which plays a big part in easing you out of overdrive.

Also, talking a nice relaxing walk helps you remove all the ancillary worries from your mind that can get in the way of important obligations you have to focus on. By eliminating these distractions, your mind can be freed to better focus on these obligations, be more creative, and hence, be more productive.

In the workplace, it is easy to find ourselves falling into a fast track routine. However, the fast track might not be the right track. Meaning, it might not be the best pace for you to do the things you need to get done. Instead of the fast track, focus on the smart track.

The smart track is to slow down, relax, and plan ahead on ways you can save time. Doing so will allow you to do more without burning out like our overworked machine we mentioned in the first paragraph.

To learn more time management in the workplace strategies and how to achieve a work life balance, visit http://www.selfmadeeasy.com, a self help and personal development company.

Essential Tips For Grandparents

It is often said that the relationship between a grandparent and grandchild is totally unique to the general parent/child relationship. As a grandparent, you have all of the benefits of life with a child without the constant day-to-day need to be a disciplinarian, making the relationship one of the most treasured there is. If you wish to further this relationship or improve problems, try the following tips.

Do not just talk.

While the saying may claim it is good to talk, with children this is not always the case. If your interaction with your grandchild is based on you asking questions about their life, this may satisfy your need for knowledge but may actually have an adverse effect on the child. They can feel as if they are being interviewed, and shy away. Instead, get essential answers - such as doctors' results and school reports - from the parents, and make your relationship with the child more fun.

Physical stimulus is the key. Even if you can not run around playing with balls, there is still a lot you can do that will engage the child. For example, if they have a skateboard, a simple request to be shown their latest trick will light the child up totally. Just watching and complimenting is the best way to establish a rapport between you and allow for continuation, and perhaps even develop into a hobby.

Make time for just the two of you.

Many grandparents only spend time with their grandchildren with the child's parents present, for example at family meals and functions. To develop a deeper connection, suggest spending time on your own with the child. Choose an activity or outing you know they will enjoy and do it together. Children often act differently when away from their parents and you may get more out of them by spending time with them alone.

Have something / something that is just for you.

Grandparents can often been seen as just as extension of their parents by children, which is an image you do not want to encourage. It is important to establish yourself as a separate entity, without infringing on the parents general rules and regulations. The most effective way to do this is to establish something that only you and your grandchild do together without parental involvement. If there is a particular hobby or activity that your grandchild wants to try but their parents have not the time or inclination to do, make it "your" thing. This guarantees that whenever the child is reminded of the activity, they will think of you and begin to associate you separately from their parents. Popular activity choices include things that working parents often do not have time for, such as making model aircraft, scrap booking or painting. The feeling of involvement and exclusivity strengthens a grandparent / grandchild relationship tremendously.

All of these issues, while different, address a similar kind of theme - spending time with the child doing what they enjoy. If you try, particularly with younger people, to involve them in your hobbies, their interest may be hard to capture and therefore your relationship suffers. Play with them on their own terms and within a few months you could be closer than ever before.

Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular childrens toy boxes) and classic toys. Visit http://www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!

What Type of Appetizers Are There?

Appetizers are small biting of foods served before or in between a main course.

Usually making of any appetizer varies on the need of the occasion, the time you are wiling to devote. When deciding which appetizers to serve prior or between a meal. You should have your meal menu ready, so as to choose foods which blend well, but differ on flavour and taste.

There are many such different types of appetizers to choose from

Cold appetizers - these are made by combining different spreads onto crackers. Or by adding different vegetable stuffing's in pita's, breads etc. Almost instant to make and with a few hours of refrigeration, they are ready to be served.

Hot Appetizers - these warm tempting morsels are enjoyed by one and all. You can savour a large variety from lightly spiced vegetable kebabs, to cheesy tarts, steamed fritters and fried and creamy bites of potatoes etc.

Dips and Spreads - simple mixtures which can be made ahead of time and served both hot and cold. These can be eaten as a dipping sauce with a variety of raw vegetables like carrots, cucumbers or served surrounded with chips, pita, tortillas etc. Some interesting cold dips are salsa, guacamole, chutneys. Some hot ones are fondue, queso.

Serving Appetizers

When serving appetizers in a small informal gathering, one should begin with a mix of nibbles, dips and a few simple appetizers, offered with small plates, forks, and napkins to the guests. As it is easy for each one to help themselves because of the close seating arrangement.

Whereas, if you are organising a large event, than a combination of cold appetizers and some hot ones, preferably finger foods is best suited. Because in a big crowd people cannot always make their way easily to the buffet table. Therefore the food is usually passed around in trays. And secondly placing nibbles in bowls around the drinks corner or other different corners of the room, making it easy for the guests to move around freely and pop in whatever they wish. It is best to count about 5 appetizers per person.

Tempting Appetizer recipes at Simply Vegetarian Recipes.

Chinese Zodiac Signs For Love Compatibility Analysis

You have read about using Indian Numerology and Western Astrology to analyse love compatibility.Today you will learn how to analyse love compatibility using the 12 animals of the chinese zodiac and how accurate this method is.

Before I start on the steps on analysing love compatibility through the chinese zodiac signs,let me tell you the story of how the 12 animals came about...

A long time ago,the Jade Emperor in Heaven wanted to find 12 animals to represent each year.He started a race among all the animals.The first 12 that reached heaven will get to rule each year.When the animals knew about this race,all of them started to make their way to heaven.

The Cat and the Rat used to be good friends.The Cat asked the Rat to wake him up the next day,so that they can set off together.The Rat woke up early,feeling very excited,he forgot to wake up the Cat.

On his way to heaven,the Rat met the Ox.Knowing that he could leverage on the Ox,he asked the Ox for a ride.In exchange,he would help the Ox keep a lookout for any dangers during the long journey.The Ox,being an agreeable and easygoing fellow agreed to the Rat's request.

After reaching heaven,the Rat jumped down from the head of the Ox and became the first animal of the Chinese Zodiac.Although this was very unfair for the Ox,he did not hold it against the Rat.In fact,he was happy for the Rat for being number 1.

The Ox became number 2.(This probably explains why Rat and Ox people get along very well).One by one,the other animals came in one by one.Until the Pig,who is the 12th and the last animal.

At this moment...the Cat woke up.When he found out that the Rat left without him,he was furious.To make matters worse,the Rat was number 1.The Cat swore that he'll skin the Rat alive if he ever saw the Rat.Which explains why Cats catch Rats in this present day.

Now,how does all this relate to the present?

Each of the 12 animals rule a year.For example if you are born in 2007,you are born in the year of Pig.You will have a lot of characteristics of the Pig.Next,I will list out all the 12 animals and their order.
1st is the Rat.

2nd is the Ox.

3rd is the Tiger.

4th is the Rabbit.

5th is the Dragon.

6th is the Snake.

7th is the Horse.

8th is the Goat.

9th is the Monkey.

10th is the Rooster.

11th is the Dog.

12th is the Pig.

Basing on your date of birth,you can determine what is your chinese zodiac sign and which animal are you born under.If you have difficulty finding out which animal sign you are born under,you can check out from the internet.There are some sites which let you key in your birth date and returns with your chinese zodiac sign.

Next,you will learn about the affinities between each zodiac sign...There are 2 types of affinities,the first is the affinity group and the second is the affinity pair.

The affinity group consist of 3 animals.There are 4 groups altogether.Here they are...
1st group:Rat,Dragon and Monkey.

2nd group:Ox,Snake and Rooster.

3rd group:Tiger,Horse and Dog.

4th group:Rabbit,Goat and Pig.

As for the affinity pair,there are 6 pairs.Here they are...
1.Rat and Ox.

2.Tiger and Pig.

3.Rabbit and Dog.

4.Dragon and Rooster.

5.Snake and Monkey.

6.Horse and Goat.

You should always choose a partner from the affinity group.Your second choice is from the affinity pair.For example...

If you are born in the year of Rat,you should look for a partner born either in Dragon year or Monkey year.If not,someone born in Ox year is also good for you.

That is for the compatible signs.Now you will learn about the incompatible signs.Incompatible signs are also called clashing signs.They are opposite each other.Here they are...
1.Rat clashes with Horse.

2.Ox clashes with Goat.

3.Tiger clashes with Monkey.

4.Rabbit clashes with Rooster.

5.Dragon clashes with Dog.

6.Snake clashes with Pig.

Basing on the information above,you should not look for a partner born under a sign that clashes with yours.

This method of analysing love compatibility is quite general.You are probably wondering...how about those signs which neither clash nor in affinity,how to gauge their compatibility?A way to do that is to compare both signs' personality then analyse from there.But it's not accurate.

It is also not true to say that couples with clashing signs will not have a lasting relationship.I have came across a number of them who have clashing signs.But they are still very loving.This method only has a 65% accuracy.

But all is not lost.You can still use this knowledge to entertain new friends you meet at social gatherings.

Marco Chong is a practitioner of Indian Numerology, Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui. He has 15 years of experience behind him. His strong points are analysing compatibility using Indian Numerology and Analysing Birth Charts using Chinese Astrology.

For more information visit http://www.determineyourloverbynumbers.com

Learn How to Create Harmony & Tranquility in Your Home & Office - Feng Shui Can Transform Your Life

3 Steps of Feng Shui:

Feng Shui is the Chinese art of detecting Chi, the energy in and around our physical world that affects our well being, sense of comfort and peace of mind. The spaces you live and work in are powerful forces in your life. Home is where you physically manifest your beliefs about the world, and it affects you just as you affect it. You can shift its energy to restore balance and encourage growth by integrating feng shui into your design choices on many different levels, depending on what resonates with you. Each design choice has a physical aspect, a psychological/emotional aspect, and a cultural aspect.

Step 1: Ready your space by clearing it of negative energy. Most experts agree space clearing will improve the quality of our lives more effectively than any other feng shui technique.

- Thoroughly clean and organize the space as much as possible.
- Focus your mind on your intention to clear and energize your space.
- Light a sage wand or incense and walk through the entire space, saturating the atmosphere with the cleansing smoke.
- Ring bells at a slow steady rhythm while moving around the space.
- Refocus your attention to what your intention is for that space.

Step 2: Consider how Chi flows. Some physical aspects should be considered at the outset.

- Doorways and windows that are directly across from one another allow Chi to flow straight through the space. Redirect the energy back into the room with screens, plants, crystals, etc.
- Long hallways that dead end may block the flow of Chi. Move the energy back out of an enclosed space through mirrors, chimes, and/or crystals.
- Rearrange the placement of furniture that blocks walking through a space.
- Arrange rugs to direct movement through the space.
- Soften sharp corners with plants, crystals, chimes.
- If there are any unused doors, place a folding screen in front of it.

Step 3: Locate the areas in your space that relate to the areas of your life you wish to enhance. Begin with laying out the space in relationship to the Baqua Map.

- Sketch a floor plan of your space
- Sketch the areas of the Bagua Map over the plan
- Place the main entrance to your space in line with the bottom of the map.
- Small sections may extend beyond or intrude into the map
- Determine what specific life aspect(s) you wish to enhance.
- Place objects that have meaning and reflect those aspects so your intention for enhancing that area of your life is personally significant

An important note: Only use those feng shui adjustments that make sense to you and reflect your intentions. Placing something in your home that you don't like just because it is "good feng shui" will not enhance your home or support your personal growth.

Owner : EnerChi Living Spaces & Gallery. We are a unique Home & Garden decor store. Specializing in Feng Shui design and consultation. We offer one-of-a-kind gifts and personalized ideas for decorating your home, garden and office. We offer workshops in Feng Shui decorating, meditation, journal writting, and manifesting your dreams. We support our local artists and musicians with shows and vignettes. Our merchandise is selected from all over the world with an emphasis on Asian Western design. The store exhibits a unique blend of products in a tranquil peaceful setting. We have just launched a home staging service for our local market. We have just completed an expansion to over 2,000 square ft. and our new website is under construction. http://www.enerchilivingspaces.com

Chinese Astrology

There is a belief amongst the Chinese community that those who are born four years apart are more compatible than those who are born six year apart. And those that are born 6 years apart are likely to be less compatible. Do you know why?

In the 12 Animals Zodiac system of astrology, our character is influenced by our year of birth. For example those born in the year of the rat are intelligent and suspicious while those born in the year of the horse are generous and loves freedom. Based on our year of birth we are imbued with certain characteristics that make us more of less compatible with each other.

According to the ancient Chinese, the Monkey, Rat and Dragon form a compatible set. They have characteristics that make them more compatible with each other. The other compatible sets are the Snake, Rooster and Ox; the Pig, Rabbit and Goat and the Tiger, Horse and Dog. If you check the year of birth you notice that they are four years apart. For example those born in 1964 are Rats, 1968 are Dragons and 1972 are Monkeys!

The Rat on the other hand is supposedly less compatible than the Horse. They form an incompatible set. The other incompatible sets are between Ox and Goat, Tiger and Monkey, Rabbit and Rooster, Dragon and Dog and between the Snake and Pig. If you check the year of birth you will notice that they are six year apart!

The Chinese astrology compatibility tools that you find on the Internet are largely based on the above mentioned principles of combination and clash. Most will also include more combinations and clashes that I have not mentioned above but I hope you get the idea.

What if you and your spouse form an incompatible set? Do not panic. Did you notice that I used the word supposedly many times? In practice our character is also heavily influenced by the month, day and hour of birth which is not taken into consideration in the above examples. Therefore it is entirely possible for a Rat person to display characteristics of other animals (influences from the month, day and hour of birth)!

In my practice, I have seen many supposedly incompatible sets of husbands and wives. They are still together after many years of marriage and some of them quite happily! Perhaps love plays a part too.

Henry Fong
Feng Shui Absolutely

Grandparenting and Technology

Many children grow up and move away from their parents and have children of their own leaving the grand parents to become long-distance grandparents. Grand parenting long-distance can be a struggle at first but as you become more agreeable with the idea of bonding with your grandchildren through other means, it will become easier on both you and the grandchildren. Best of all, the experience can still be absolutely wonderful.

With today's technology grandparents can video conference with their grandchildren, asking them how their day was, who they play with and what is going on in their lives - where in the old days it was a letter once a week that took another week to return. There are also instant photographs through the Internet so that grandma or grandpa can see exactly how big their grandchildren are growing on a daily basis. Even small children can benefit from videoconferencing with grandma and grandpa, that way when they come to visit, the child will know who they are and remember them from the videoconferencing. Videoconferencing over the internet is practically free - with just minimal equipment costs.

It's important for grandparents to have a bond with their grandchildren early on especially when they live far away from one another. The exchanging of pictures through the Internet, e-mails and phone calls all help to strengthen the bonds of grandparents and grandchildren. As the children get older they will be able to e-mail or make phone calls on their own to their grandparents.

A parent doesn't have to get a child their own computer or cell phone in order to allow them to keep them in touch with their grandparents. The family computer or the regular phone will do for all the children. Yet, a few basic pieces of computer equipment like: an internet connected PC and a basic web camera on the part of the grandparents and the kids will keep everyone seamlessly in touch.

Brad Percival is a consultant, author and family trends expert. He recommends this great site for grandparenting information as it has helped countless grandparents understand their roles in our modern society. Percival blogs regularly at the Bigger Buzz.

Can Holistic Therapies Help Re-Tune Your Karma?

Alternative Paths to Healing Body, Mind and Soul

It's easy to lose ourselves in this day in age where one does not have the time or space often to shut down long enough to listen to the voice inside that guides us towards kindness, love, hopes and dreams. We get lost in the demands of life, lose touch with ourselves and over time we find ourselves in a place we did not choose to be. We become agitated easier, get angry faster and have less patience or clarity to deal with many situations that we are presented to us. When we ignore or push away feelings inside our souls, we choose to go thoughtlessly through life until we are often unhappy and even depressed. This is often due to the milti-tasking, fast pace in our society often leaving us without time to stop and relax long enough to bring our bodies and minds back to a relaxed and normal state.

So many of us have lost the ability to relax and be "still" and "quiet". Sometimes we need a little help in achieving this.

There are Holistic, non-invasive treatments that can help us to reconnect with ourselves and bring peace, joy and love back into our lives, heart and soul. Holistic treatments that create deep relaxation and healing effects, often will result in a much happier existence, one will feel more relaxed, and we achieve reduced stressed space within ourselves. One will feel recharged and better able to think clearly to deal more effectively with all of life's challenges.

Reiki:

Reiki is a gentle Japanese holistic therapy that can be administered with or without touch. The client remains fully dressed throughout the treatment while the Reiki therapist uses an "hands on" approach either on or just above the body. The therapist never touches "private areas" of the body and the client may find that it is most beneficial and enjoyable in a recline position. It is an energy based modality used to support and ground the body. It is through the bodies natural energy system that Reiki enhances and accelerated the body's innate healing ability. The receiver draws healing energy from the Reiki Therapist who works as a conduit to the Universal Life Energy. Benefits of Reiki include balance, a more grounded feeling, reduced stress, create a deep state of relaxation, feelings of vitality, feelings of euphoria, reduce pain and create better, restful sleep. During a treatment the client may also experience feelings of heat, cold, tingling, pulsating or deep relaxation sometimes to the point of a meditative state. The effects and results of Reiki is capturing experts interest in the Medical Community as an excellent aid to patients in the physical and mental healing process. Studies have shown that Medical treatment along with Reiki often bring on accelerated healing effects along with reduced pain and anxiety. It has shown to be beneficial to those that suffer from depression.

Reflexology:

Reflexology is often performed on the feet but can also be administered to the hands. The client remains fully clothed during the process of this therapy and can choose to sit, semi-recline or fully recline. Through manipulation, pressure points and specialized techniques administered to the feet, it works with the body's natural electrical energy along with the nervous system to clear blockages, break up deposits and bring the body back to a homeostatic state. The benefits of this therapy is it enhances the bodies circulation, helps in detoxifying the body, assists the body to normalize metabolism, creates relaxation, removes stress and can be used with other healing modalities. It is recognized in the Medical community, often offered as a method of treatment to many patients as a helpful treatment aid.

Indian Head Massage:

IHM is an excellent alternative to a full body massage. The client remains fully clothed in a seated position where the therapist can have access to the upper back, head and face. It is a wonderful deeply relaxation technique that improves blood circulation, increases the oxygen supply to the brain, calms, revitalizes, uplifts the spirit, can create a more balanced feeling, drains away toxins while stimulating blood circulation, improves lymphatic drainage, gives the hair a more lustrous shine, improves skin, releases endorphins creating an almost euphoric sensation, promotes hair growth and helps to dissipate mental tiredness, stress, depression and increases concentration for clearer thinking. It can help those that suffer from tension headaches, migraines, ear aches, jaw ache, sinus congestion and insomnia.

Ear Coning:

Ear Coning is a safe, non-invasive holistic process where by the debris in the ear canal is removed gently and painlessly. It involves a specialized cone shaped candle being placed into the ear canal and the opposite end is ignited. As the candle burns, it creates an warm comforting sensation guiding debris upward in a spiraling vacuum that draws away the impurities from the ear canal. This is also a helpful treatment in clearing beyond the ear canal affecting the sinuses, and lymphatic vessels of the neck.

When you find you need a Tune Up to bring yourself back to an inner space that you recognize; take care of yourself and love yourself enough to receive a Holistic Treatment. Often after just one treatment you will feel much more relaxed and de-stressed. You will wonder how you lived without it!

When we feel better, we also take better care of how we treat others. The more positive the energy we put out into the world, the better the energy that is drawn to you, the better the Karma that follows.

Take good care of yourself and bring yourself back to a state of calm, balance and clarity.

2007 Silvana Rosati-Capizzano

Silvana is a well respected Interior Decorator, International Feng Shui Expert and the Principal of the Award Winning Home & Life Design Firm: Blue Avalon. Along with her years of study in Home Decor and Feng Shui, she has the unique ability of being able create luxurious interiors with balance and optimum energy flow thus creating a beautiful environment of positive energy, balance and harmony. She also devotes her time to her Holistic Practise at the Dove Spa, Canada. She is well respected in the field of energy work Certified as a Reiki Master, Registered in Reflexology, Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Candling. Her passion in the field of energy encompasses environmental and personal in Mind, Body and Soul.

Blue Avalon specializes in Interior Decorating, Feng Shui and Abundant Living. Blue Avalon is the publisher of The Blue Avalon Journal; a monthly e-zine packed with ideas, tips and insider secrets! To subscribe, log onto our website today at http://www.blueavalon.com and you will receive a bonus book, The Number One Feng Shui Secret That Will Transform Your Life!

Blue Avalon - "Harmony for your home...Balance for your life http://www.blueavalon.com.

Cost Effective Stair Building

What is the most cost effective way of building stairs? Why do the tract homes use on site methods of construction? When you think of a factory assembling a product on a assembly line you think why not a home. Why do they still build homes on lots or residential home sites?

If homes could be built in a factory cheaper than on site that is exactly what every home builder would be doing. They just haven't quite figured it out yet. When dealing with the large amounts of materials required to build a house and of course the expense of shipping. It is not cost effective to build a conventional home in a factory and ship it over long distances.

This is the biggest problem with cost effective stair construction. Most prefabricated stairs you will notice are spiral stairs. These stairs are smaller than most stairs that are used for multi level construction.

Spiral stairs are hard for your average carpenter to build. These stairs can be purchased from a factory easily and quite inexpensive.

The stairs in your average two story house are going to weigh about 3 times the amount of a spiral set of stairs that could be shipped in a cost effective way. Spiral stairs are not going to be the main stairway in a home and normally go up to a loft or an attic. Most spiral stairs don't meet the minimum building requirements for the main stairway in your home.

When building tract homes the lumber is shipped in bulk directly to the house site where it will be assembled. The lumber and other building materials will be shipped once. If it went to a factory and then assembled it would also have to be sent to the site on which the house was to be built. This added expense in shipping the materials twice is the problem for such a large and heavy item such as a set of stairs.

There are other prefabricated types of stairs that are built locally and the shipping usually is not a major expense. If you are building a stairway that is not to difficult to build for the average carpenter it will normally be cost effective to build the stairs on site. This would require having the carpenter build the stairs as part of the rough framing and then after drywall have the finish carpenter build the stair handrail system.

Visit us now for easy Home Constuction Help

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

When Do We Get To Meet God

Mentoring Children

All parents hope that their children will grow up healthy, happy, and productive. They aspire to have children who have the skills to contribute to their own well-being and to the well-being of their families and community. There is no magic bullet for developing these capacities in children. Literally thousands of programs have been developed to support families in their efforts to help children to become competent, confident, caring young people who have positive social connections and good characters.

Children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. However, not all children get the support they need to thrive. By all estimates, an astounding 17.6 million young people - nearly half the population between 10 and 18 years of age - live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential. Without immediate intervention by caring adults, they could make choices that undermine their futures. The presence of caring adults offering support, advice, friendship, reinforcement and constructive examples has proved to be powerful tools for helping young people fulfill their potential.

Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee. A mentor is an adult who, along with the parents, help young people bring out strengths that are already there. They are good listeners, compassionate and teach children how to live an honorable life. A mentor is not a foster parent, therapist, parole officer, or cool peer. The role of a mentor is not to "fix" young people but rather to help them achieve their full potential. Enforcing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution to self and society, help develop a child into a productive and respectful adult in later years.

A mentor's main purpose is to help a young person define individual goals and find ways to achieve them. Since the expectations of each child will vary, the mentor's job is to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that responds to the young person's needs. Using influence and resources as a decision maker, adults can bring new hope to young lives through the power of mentoring. A mentor encourages positive choices, promotes high self-esteem, teaches respect for oneself and family, supports academic achievement, and introduces the young person to new ideas. Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking alcohol (Public/Private Ventures study of Big Brothers Big Sisters). About 40% of teenager's waking hours are spent without any companionship or supervision. Mentors provide children and teens with a valuable place to spend free time. Children learn to make thoughtful choices, fulfill their commitments, acknowledge their mistakes and account for their actions. By taking control of their lives, children realize they can achieve more than they ever dreamed possible.

I encourage you to think of the mentors in your own life-a coach, teacher, or another caring adult, and take a few minutes to consider all the contributions they made in your life during your developing years. I know throughout my own adult life and business career, I have been greatly rewarded by years of mentoring children and young adults into productive, happy individuals that are successful in life. Children need someone to believe in them. Often times, children lack the attention needed to reinforce morals, values and self esteem on a daily basis. It makes all the difference in the world during times of indecision in their lives to have that reinforcement. Mentoring develops children into young adults who have confidence, determination and self-awareness.

Mentoring is recognized throughout the US as an important part of a child's life and some states have already proposed legislation to the Senate. The Coalition of State Mentoring Partnerships has worked closely with Capitol Hill staff and Senators to advocate this legislation. The Mentoring for All Act 2008 (S. 3200) is one of the most significant legislation actions to benefit mentoring. Please call; send emails or letters to your Senators urging support for the bill.

Denise Dema is a Business and Life Management Coach with over 20 years experience empowering individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners to attain self-defined success in their professional & personal lives. To learn more about the author and her practice please visit http://www.denisedema.com

What Does a GFI Do? - Electrical Problems

In your bathroom you should have a GFI electrical outlet. Most new homes or newly remodeled homes require you to have GFI electrical outlets in the kitchen. Most older kitchens do not have GFI electrical outlets. GFI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter.

Why not call it a GFCI instead of a GFI electrical outlet? Well it is called a GFCI in some instances. GFI is short and is the most common name used by most electricians and builders for this type of outlet.

GFI 's come in 15 amp and 20 amperage outlets. GFI outlets must be wired properly. Make sure you're using the proper wire size when hooking up the GFI outlet.

How do I know which size wire to use? This all depends on how far away you are running it from the electrical panel. There are charts you can use to figure this out. If you are not running the electrical wire more than 80 feet from the electrical panel you can use 12 gauge electrical wires for a 20 amp GFI. This is a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

If you're going to be using a 15 amp GFI and you are going to be less than 80 feet away from the electrical panel you can use 14 gauge electrical wires. Again this is just a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

A GFI is a light duty electrical plug used in bathrooms, kitchens and the exterior of your house. The sole purpose of the GFI is to shut the breaker off faster if there is any moisture or light load problems.

Let's say for instance you have your hair dryer plugged into the GFI outlet. The hair dryer somehow falls into the sink while it is on or plugged in. The GFI outlet will instantly shut off because of the sensitivity of the breaker inside of the plug it self.

The GFI plug has a test button and a reset button on it. If you are continually resetting the GFI you will wear it out eventually. I have had GFI plugs after resetting the button about 10 times break and no longer able to use them.

The GFI electrical plug is a great idea and if you don't have them in your bathroom or outside of your home it would be a great idea to have an electrician install them for you.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Home Building Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

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Feng Shui and Symbols - What You Have in Your House Says a Lot About You

What does a broken statue of a rooster have to do with Feng Shui? Feng Shui teaches us that everything in our house is a reflection of what is in our mind. Symbolically speaking, your house and the things in it reflects your thoughts, feelings, and spirit.

So let's get back to that rooster. One of my clients had recently separated from her husband. I noticed that a statue of a large bird was directly facing her bed, so it was probably the first thing she saw when getting up in the morning. Upon closer examination, I noticed two things; first, one of the legs had previously been broken and was wrapped in what appeared to be a cast. Second, I realized that it was not a chicken; it was a rooster. Unfortunately, the coxcomb on the top of the head had broken off, probably in the same fall that broke the leg of the statue.

I examined this unfortunate art piece for a moment and then said to my client, "Do you realize that the first thing you see in the morning is a broken cock?"

After I picked her up from the floor (she was laughing so much she just collapsed), she gasped out, "You have no idea of how perfect that observation is." Not wanting to really know much more, I suggested we send out the broken rooster for repair. We then talked about what she really wanted to see first thing in the morning; it was her flute and music and a picture of her daughter.

Another client was having a hard time keeping relationships with men going. Visiting her apartment was like seeing a shrine to her daughter. Everywhere was a mother/daughter photograph. It felt like she was already in a relationship and there was no room for any other one to grow.

Everything that you choose to surround yourself with has symbolic meaning and reflects something about your life. Whether intentional or not, all those objects, pictures, photographs, and pieces of furniture resonate with information about you. Take a look around at your house. What is the first thing you see when you enter your home? When you get up in the morning? When you sit down to eat? Do those objects support you in living your best life? Observe what you have around you and then experiment. See how you feel swapping out the images that surround you for other ones that are a better reflection of who you are and where you want to go. I've seen this simple action do amazing things to improve people's lives.

Interested in learning more about Feng Shui and ways to improve the energy in your home or office? Get great tips and motivating messages by subscribing to the Empty Your Nest newsletter at http://www.emptyyournest.com

The Bible's Power Over One Child

I mentioned Sean in another one of my articles, the story of a young foster boy that we were taking care of. Sean's father was my ex-wife's uncle, and they were going through some tough times for a while and their three children ended up as wards of the state. We eventually ended up taking the oldest child because he was the hardest one to place and another home. His brother and sister ended up with a family that wanted to adopt them and eventually Sean went to live with them and I believe all three of them were adopted by this family. I don't know this for a fact though.

Sean was a emotionally damaged child. His parents would punish him with some strange and bizarre punishments. They weren't really physical punishments but seemed to leave the emotional scars on him and I often think about where he is and what he is doing.

We watched him for about a year and I learned quite a bit from this young man. He was in the third grade but was still at the first grade level for reading and math. I would spend a couple of hours each night during the week helping him with his schoolwork, I seem to have created some sort of allusion that I would be able to bring him up to the third grade level within a short period of time. Wrong. He must've had learning disabilities and of course I don't think I was that good teacher.

Sean was easy going, polite and extremely obedient. He would do anything to avoid getting in trouble and often blamed others for his mistakes. His punishments must have been more than he could bear before he arrived at our home. I think you're getting the picture about what kind of a child Sean was.

One day I found myself in a dilemma with Sean, I couldn't get him to tell me the truth, even though I knew he was lying. I forget what the problem was but I remember a hollow look in his face. It was almost like he wasn't really there. It was almost like he was just doing time, sitting on the bed, listening to me asking the same question over and over again, "Sean are you lying", but he wasn't even paying attention.

I normally would not punish my children for accidents, and never tolerated lying. I was trying to explain to him that he wasn't going to get in trouble, I just wanted to know the truth. He wasn't budging at all and stuck to his story. I remembered that his mother and father were Catholics and feared the church, almost as much as they loved it.

That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.

I told Sean that I was going to bring the Holy Bible in, and if he could swear on the Bible that he was telling the truth, I would accept that and this would be the end of our conversation. I couldn't believe my eyes, as he started crying and screaming, frantically and excitedly as a yelled out, I did it, I did it, don't bring the Bible in, I won't do it again.

I couldn't believe that was all it took to get information from him. I have always been a pretty good interrogator and found myself gathering information from those people easily, but this was amazing. His fear of the Holy Bible got me thinking about how powerful this book actually is to some people. I remember when I looked upon this book, pretty much the same as Sean did.

It's just a book, like any other book. It's not made at a holy factory or a secret monastery in the Swiss Alps somewhere, it's made from paper and ink and can be damaged and destroyed like other books. I would be surprised if I threw the Bible into the fire, that it wouldn't burn. I would be even more surprised, if I seen three men standing in the fire, wait a minute that's another story in the Bible.

Is it possible for this book to actually control the lives of people. It seemed to control Sean, I wonder if I, could have actually been driving a nail home that his parents started. Could I have added to his belief, that the Bible is a book from God the creator of everything.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Simple Words Create Powerful Beliefs.

Another Crappy Rule In The Bible

Is Only 24 Hours in a Day - Time Management Tips

We only have 24 hours in each day, if we're working 12 hours each day, six days a week, planning the time required to create a habit will be a little more difficult, than someone who works four hours a day three days each week.

If you're one of those overachievers and can't seem to rest or sit down for even five minutes a day. This tells me, we need to change this habit first. Most people that tell you, they just don't have any time during the day, for anything. These people usually have a lot more time than others.

Their time is normally unstructured and they often find themselves running around like a chicken with its head cut off. They are not organized or very efficient at most things that they do. Keep in mind that there are some extremely successful people that only work four hours each day and some of these people take vacations every other month.

Structuring your time will allow you the extra time you need during the day.

If you have a daytime organizer, use this to figure out, if there is any wasted time during the day. Pay strict attention to any wasted time and make a list you can evaluate at the end of the day. Do this for one week and at the end of the week evaluate your weekly activities.

If you don't have a daytime organizer, carrying around a scrap piece of paper to keep track of your daily activities. If you don't have a daytime organizer or if this is too much work for you, simply pay attention to any time you might feel, has been wasted during the day.

If we can create better time management habits, it won't be long before we have more time than we ever imagined.

Have you ever thought about Getting up Earlier.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, I get calls from people, that have no idea what they want or how much anything is going to cost. Here's some simple tips that can be very helpful when planning a bathroom remodel budget.

Bathroom Remodeling Investment

In 2008, the average mid-range bathroom cost around $16,000 and you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment upon the sale of your home. According to a popular remodeling magazine, larger bathrooms using expensive fixtures, tile, bathtubs, woodworking, toilets and showers had an average of $52,000. Upon the sale of a home, you could recoup around $36,000 of your original investment.

Finding out How Much Things Cost

My first suggestion, would be to visit your local home improvement center, lumber yard or plumbing supply warehouse. Larger stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, seemed to provide you with value pricing but don't have a large selection. While doing some research on the Internet I noticed that some of their pricing is outrageously, outrageous. Some plumbing supply warehouses can provide value but beware others won't.

Create a List of Bathroom Remodeling Parts

You can get a good idea of your bathroom remodel costs for your budget by making a list of bathroom parts with pricing and then adding them up for a grand total. If you're a total bathroom remodel budget is $15,000 and you have a $6,000 bathtub with $4000 worth of tile, you could have a budget problem.

Figuring out the Labor

You will have to contact a contractor to get an actual cost for the labor. Sometimes you can double the cost of your bathroom remodeling parts to get a rough idea. If you have a list or a couple of lists and a few pictures of some sample bathrooms, this will make the contractor's job easier and often they can give you a labor price within a few days.

Give Yourself a Cushion

I would suggest leaving yourself a small financial cushion for any additional remodeling items. For example, you could see a different toilet, or instead of painting the walls, you now choose to wallpaper, you could incur additional expenses that you haven't planned for. If you know exactly what you want and stick to the original bathroom remodeling plan, you shouldn't need the cushion.

Financial problems often transfer into construction problems, so spend some time figuring out, how much money you want to spend on the bathroom remodel and try not to go overboard on the budget. I hate to see homeowners struggling with home improvement loan payments. Try to create a bathroom remodeling budget that is realistic and will not create a financial burden upon you or your family.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.

Personal Development

Higher Self

Sometimes you might allow your emotional input to dictate your choices, which could be an indication that you are acting compulsively. The best way to make a distinction between intellect and emotion is to engage with your higher self to hear the wisdom of your spirit.

Your higher self (a.k.a. subconscious or collective unconscious) is connected to the universe, and also has access to your thoughts and feelings. Consider your higher self (subconscious/collective unconscious) as having a helicopter view of your actions, reactions and goings on in your life. It has the ability to weigh all the factors from a neutral place of peace. Even before a sudden impulse can be triggered, you can go within the space of your higher self by taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly-quieting your mind-to access the wisdom within. Meditation or yoga are also highly effective in helping to connect with the higher self.

When you practice connecting to the wisdom within regularly, you will learn to discern quickly which voice is advising you. When you notice it is the ego mind or an emotional aspect, you can stop it in mid-stream.

To learn which aspect is in control you can look back to learn from previous choices and recall what your inner guidance was advising you-albeit you might not have followed it. You will learn when you have listened and when you have gone against its direction, and this information is helpful for your learning and growth. Every choice you make is an opportunity to learn about life and about yourself as you co-create with the universe.

There is no right or wrong, only choices that take you closer or farther away from your goals. Growth is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately 'works.'

When you use your higher self you know you have your best interest at heart, you can listen and trust you will be on the right track. The answers to life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Dr. Dorothy has the unique gift of connecting people with a broad range of profound principles that resonate in the deepest part of their being. She brings awareness to concepts not typically obvious to one's daily thoughts and feelings. http://www.drdorothy.net