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YOLO a term used often these days, and while I get the sentiment its trying to get across, I still say: Says who?

What would your life be like or how would it change if you knew for sure that you would reincarnate into another intelligent being whether on this planet or another?

Reincarnation is an argued topic and for an understandable reason, how can we know FOR SURE materialistically whether or not its true? We dont have undeniable proof, yet but we do have intriguing anecdotal accounts that could certainly cause anyone to question whether or not reincarnation is possible.

University of Virginia psychiatrist Jim Tucker is arguably the worlds leading researcher on the topic of reincarnation. In 2008, he published a review of cases that were suggestive of reincarnation in the journalExplore.

Jim describes a typical reincarnation case as something where the subject reports having a past life experience. Interestingly,100 percent of subjects who report that they remember a past life are children and on average begin recallingtheir past life at around 35 months. The children can recall descriptions of events and experiences from theirpast life with remarkable detail. Tucker has pointed out that these children show very strong emotional involvement when they speak about their experiences; some actually cry and beg their parents to be taken to what they say is their previous family.

According to Tucker:

The subjects usually stop making their past-life statements by the age of six to seven, and most seem to lose the purportedmemories. This is the age when children start school and begin having more experiences in their current life, as well as when they tend to lose their early childhood memories.

You can read more about 6 extraordinary cases of reincarnation here.

Going back to the early question in this article about how life would be if we all knew reincarnation was real, I want us to truly think about how our lives and world would be different. Would we take small things that cause so much suffering as seriously? Is it the fact we think this is our only life that causes some of us to take things so seriously? Or is it something else? I ask because this question helps us to discover the root of so much of the self imposed suffering that we place upon ourselves in life.

I think this is important to reflect on because I ultimately believe that we have the power to live our lives in a state of peace. Maybe not 100% of the time in our current world, but most of the time. I believe it is our lack of understanding of ourselves, our thoughts, and our ego that stops us from moving beyond suffering. The stories we tell ourselves about why we do the things we do play a huge role as well.

I ultimately feel that if we knew we reincarnated we could still make the most of our experience here. It ultimately comes down to how aligned we are with our souls purpose, as opposed to what our minds are programmed to do. So often we chase things or do things based on what our minds are convinced to do from societal pressures, parental conditions, ideas built from wanting material things etc. When we dont get aligned with who we truly are and what we are here to do we often dont feel great within. This causes us to struggle a lot, make different choices, and ultimately not feel fulfilled. This is where the lack of purpose, what we call laziness and so forth, comes from. The very thing we might fear would happen to us if we all knew reincarnation existed and suddenly wed all sit around and do nothing.

I feel this is important to reflect on. Alignment and self awareness key.

Probably one of the most powerful thoughts Watts drops in this video is this: We live in a culture where it has been rubbed into us in every conceivable way that to die is a terrible thing. And that is a tremendous disease from which our culture in particular suffers.

Your life path number can tell you A LOT about you.

With the ancient science of Numerology you can find out accurate and revealing information just from your name and birth date.

Get your free numerology reading and learn more about how you can use numerology in your life to find out more about your path and journey. Get Your free reading.

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Alan Watts Powerful Insight Will Change Your View ...

Sri Aurobindo (Aurobindo Ghose) (Bengali: Sri robindo) (15 August 1872 5 December 1950) was an Indian nationalist and freedom fighter, major Indian English poet, philosopher, and yogi.He joined the movement for India's freedom from British rule and for a duration (1905 10), became one of its most important leaders,before turning to developing his own vision and philosophy of human progress and spiritual evolution. The central theme of Sri Aurobindo's vision is the evolution of life into a "life divine". In his own words: "Man is a transitional being. He is not final. The step from man to superman is the next approaching achievement in the earth evolution. It is inevitable because it is at once the intention of the inner spirit and the logic of Nature's process". The principal writings of Sri Aurobindo include, in prose, The Life Divine, considered his single great work of metaphysics,The Synthesis of Yoga, Secrets of the Vedas, Essays on the Gita, The Human Cycle, The Ideal of Human Unity, Renaissance in India and other essays, Supramental Manifestation upon Earth, The Future Poetry, Thoughts and Aphorisms and several volumes of letters. In poetry, his principal work is Savitri - a Legend and a Symbol in blank verse.

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The Life Divine: Sri Aurobindo: 9788170588443: Amazon.com ...

Really liked the title, got it from a sign on the wall of The Bernard Shaw out the back by the Big Blue Bus about a year ago. The rest utter fiction, obviously,

'Music is The Brandy For The Damned'

The person with the mind set on Go, can you please settle these senses and amount - to something rather worthy indeed

We tend to realise that this is quite full speed ahead and then some...

Rum&Coke - an oddity finger role and haphazard toke/where smoke plumes feed a thousand and ten eye-candied souls

All at permitted will

She makes the upper crust difference altogether, relinquishes these ghastly fears and breathes equally amidst

Simply, radiantly satisfactory this atop scatter-ashed that

His stare is lukewarm, his fixation about to swarm so suddenly everybody hones on in

And We have an affable game wherein liquid instances curtail no such prioritised to which conversation

She and He - downright Extracurricular about to spill every way forth don'tcha know it just has to make invaluable sense again

When, where, how, why,were we waiting so very goddamn long this time...

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The Bernard Shaw - Home | Facebook

Personal Empowerment Through Horses

Author: Kit Muellner, LICSW, EAGALA Certified and CEO of H.O.P.E. Ranch Bullying isnt just about schoolkids or athletes. Its rampant in many workplaces, no matter the industry. It is said that workplace bullying has become a national epidemic. In fact, the Workplace Bullying Institute, which has been around for 20 years, conducts studies on the []

Rain or Shine, the Saturday, October 7th Rendezvous & Carnival is on! This is no problem for us at the Ranch. We have a great big arena that can hold the carnival games, silent auction, animals, crafts and more! Get the kids out of the house and into the Arena for a fun day at []

H.O.P.E. Ranch is a is a beautiful 8-acre ranch in the hills southwest of Rochester, Minnesota/ We specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional problems through traditional psychotherapy methods and equine assisted psychotherapy. Our team of EAGALA Certified Psychotherapist Horse specialists and mental health counselors have years of experience and employ methods designed to deliver positive mental health outcomes.

H.O.P.E. Ranch not only helps individuals but also Corporate teams through retreats and exercises designed to improve how your organization functions. Get out of the conference room and onto H.O.P.E. Ranch for your next corporate retreat.

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Hope Ranch Personal Empowerment Through Horses

The truth is, we know so little about life, we dont really know what the good news is and what the bad news is, Kurt Vonnegut observed in discussing Hamlet during his now-legendary lecture on the shapes of stories. But this idea was first articulated by British philosopher and writer Alan Watts (January 6, 1915November 16, 1973), who began popularizing Eastern philosophy in the West during the 1950s and 1960s. Fusing ancient wisdom with the evolving insights of modern psychology, Wattss enduring teachings addressed such concerns as how to live with presence, what makes us who we are, the difference between money and wealth, the art of timing, and how to find meaning in meaninglessness.

Although he wrote beautifully and authored a number of books, Watts was a remarkably charismatic speaker and delivered some of his most compelling ideas in lectures, the best which were eventually published as Eastern Wisdom, Modern Life: Collected Talks 19601969 (public library).

In a talk titled Swimming Headless, Watts explores the psychological dimensions of Taoist philosophy and its emphasis on cultivating the mental discipline of not categorizing everything into gain and loss. Learning to live in such a way that nothing is experienced as either an advantage or a disadvantage, Watts argues, is the source of enormous empowerment and liberation.

He illustrates this notion with an ancient Chinese parable, brought to life in this lovely animation by Steve Agnos and the Sustainable Human project:

The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and its really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.

In the book adaptation, the parable makes the same point in slightly more refined language:

Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate. The farmer said, Maybe. The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, Oh, isnt that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses! The farmer again said, Maybe. The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, Oh dear, thats too bad, and the farmer responded, Maybe. The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, Isnt that great! Again, he said, Maybe.

The farmer steadfastly refrained from thinking of things in terms of gain or loss, advantage or disadvantage, because one never knows In fact we never really know whether an event is fortune or misfortune, we only know our ever-changing reactions to ever-changing events.

Complement Eastern Wisdom, Modern Life with Watts on death, the difference between belief and faith, and what reality really is, then revisit philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti and physicist David Bohms immensely stimulating East/West dialogue on love, intelligence, and how to transcend the wall of being.

HT Open Culture

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The Yin-Yang of Fortune and Misfortune: Alan Watts on the Art ...

**Featured Practitioners** alphabetical by first name

AnnWaters

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ConnieFenty

As a physical education teacher, she organized numerous school-wide non-competitive Field Days featuring games that she designed to create respect for the Earth. She also created a peace curriculum called "Winning Solutions"to educate young children about respecting others, managing anger, and solving conflicts. Connie facilitated an annual Peace Week at her school and trained students to use the "Peace Maze," a labyrinth she painted on the school playground and used as a tool for solving disputes peacefully.

As founder of Your Nature Connection Seminars, Connie designs and facilitates workshops that remind her participants how time spent in nature can provide healing, wisdom, serenity, and wholeness. She has presented her workshops from coast to coast as well as in Europe. Whether facilitating a labyrinth walk, a retreat in nature, or leading a tour, Connie's programs are full of experiential activities and inspiring content.

As a member of the International Labyrinth Society, Connie has been an annual presenter at conferences held all over the country. She serves on the Society's Board of Directors. Her originally designed "Common Ground Labyrinth" was selected by the Labyrinth Society to be included in its entry to the World Trade Center Memorial Competition.

Connie's latest endeavors include teaching Yoga and leading European tours. She has developed a form of gentle Yoga practice that includes reflections on inner, outer, and world peace. Her tour of England's stone circles and historical sacred sites was praised as being "life-changing."

In all of Connie's efforts to create peace, her friendliness, compassion, enthusiasm, knowledge, and organizational abilities are evident. Participants in her teaching venues claim to feel "safe," "nurtured," and "inspired."

http://www.YourNatureConnection.com

http://www.LabyrinthSociety.org

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Danielle Bellosi

Danielle Bellosi is a Certified Professional Recovery Coach CPRC, Certified Professional Coach CPC, Trained Interventionist, and has been involved in the recovery community for 5+ years. Her credentials are NAADAC National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors and SAMSHA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services approved. Danielle is dedicated and passionate about making a difference for individuals who suffer from the disease of addiction. She has experience not only working in the recovery field for 4years but also volunteering her time and participating in many different trainings and workshops. Danielle has facilitated groups, lectures, one on one coaching sessions and started a new group at the recovery center Pro-Act geared towards art therapy, she also painted a beautiful mural at the residential facility for women and children called Libertae.

We are excited to announce that Danielle will be joining our team starting this December. She will be offering support groups geared towards relapse prevention, art therapy, and healthy coping skills for men and women in early recovery. Danielle will also be offering one on one private sessions for individuals that are interested in the benefits of a recovery coach which include but are not limited to:

DanielleBellosi@lifecoachhub.com

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Donna Renzetti

Donna Renzetti is an intuitive crystal therapist whose metaphysical journey started over 22 years ago in Galisteo, NM and Sedona, AZ where she experienced past-life regression at the Light Institute with Chris Grissom and members of her staff. Although fascinated by crystals and stones from childhood, her passion and intuitive connection to crystals became increasingly fine tuned through workshops, lectures and studying with the authors of numerous crystal books (Melody, Ahsian, Simmons, etc).

Donnas love of travel has taken her to Europe, Peru, Mexico, Canada, throughout the United States and the Caribbean studying various metaphysical topics and gathering crystals. She is an ordained minister in the Order of Melchizedek, a Reiki Level II practitioner and is currently studying shamanism with a shaman in Berkeley, CA. As a co-founder of Omphalos in 1986, she holds a vision to continue a legacy inspired by her husband to help others clear space within to hold the highest vibrational frequency enabling them to come to their center.

http://www.CrystallineVisions.com

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Dorothy Welsh

Dorothy Welsh is a gifted Psychic/Medium and Spiritual Advisor whose incredible gifts were discovered at a very young age. She has developed these gifts into a professional practice for over 20 years with clients throughout the United States and around the globe.

During a reading, Dorothy connects with your angels and guides to deliver a reading that spiritually directs you along your specific path. She may also connect with loved ones that have crossed over for messages of love and healing. Dorothy provides knowledge and compassion to each individual circumstance. She not only gives you information, but allows you to see all the possible ways you can direct the outcome of your life. The tools she provides empower you with the confidence to make informed decisions about your future.

Teacher and Founder of The Psychic Development and Education Center in Bensalem, PA, Dorothy is also a Certified Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master/Energy Healer and a member of the Professional Association of Intuitive Consultants. She is the creator of the Psychic Development Series on CD, as well as Guided Mediations for relaxation and healing, Clearing your Chakras and Meeting your Angels and Guides. Her popular Healing Meditation for Chest and Lungs CD has been donated to Fox Chase Cancer Center and the University of Pennsylvania/Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for the healing of those undergoing chemotherapy treatments for chest and lung issues and is offered as a free download on her website to those in need at http://www.mymoonspirit.com.

She is dedicated to awakening the world to their psychic talents, balancing the mind/body/spirit connection, assisting others in developing their psychic and healing gifts and empowering you with knowledge to live the abundant and successful life you were meant to live.

If you have questions about your love life, finances, career, or family issues, Dorothy can help open your eyes to your unique situation and help you create possibilities for success.

http://www.MyMoonSpirit.com

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EagleSkyfire

Eagle Skyfire is a shaman with the Caney Circle who is well versed in Spiritual matters. Consultations or Readings as they are also called, are done in the Traditional Native American way as they have been done for thousands of years. No cards or candles are used, but rather a blessing is performed with a Prayer Fan. This blessing cleanses the person's aura and "pierces the veil" between this world and the next allowing the shaman to listen specifically to your Spirit Guardians & to hers. According to Native American beliefs, the Great Spirit gives us all Life Lessons to learn, but how we express them is up to us. Individuals have Power over their own lives and destiny. The consultations will focus on your Life Lessons, the different Paths ahead of you, and the Energy that surrounds you. With this knowledge, you can empower yourself & make you own best decisions.

http://www.EagleSkyfire.com

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Linda Elliott

Illumined One

Linda Elliott, known as the Illumined One, is a facilitator of Sun Source Energetics, a Quantum Life Force Energy that helps the body return to its naturalperfection. Her gift of being able to send ourSuns Energy remotely or in person to bring Balance and Harmony to your Mind, Body and Spirit. As a catalyst for these Energies, her clients accept, adopt and match these High Vibrational Frequencies which promote healing on all levels.

Clients identify the area and level of discomfort (giving a pain number 1 through 10, 10 being the most painful) andshe sends a healing transmission (typically 15 mins). That's it! Profound and simple.

Lindas gift began to open up after her daughters passing in September, 2012. She began receiving powerful activations of energy and soonafter became clear that these exquisite energies channeling through her were gifted from our Sun. She has remotely sent healing all over the world, workingwith people in South Africa, Portugal, Sweden,Canada,United kingdom, and United States.

Linda is also Founder and Creative Director of Tuesday Afternoon Outreach, helping the homeless through food and clothing drives. TuesdayAfternoonOutreach.org

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Maureen Groetsch

Maureen Groetsch, Biontologist - Biophoton Light Therapy with The Chiren

Maureen has transitioned from 35 years of accounting and finance to her true calling as a Teacher, Energy Healer and Intuitive. Most currently completing her course of study for the Chiren in May 2014.

Her interest in Energy Healing began when she was a Level Two Practitioner of Usui Reiki in the mid-1990s, and then became a Practitioner of Qwan Yin Magnified Healing. Maureen has an intense interest in Spirituality as it co-mingles with the Sciences, as well as, investigated many energy healing modalities, integrating all these into her own heart based practice. Maureen traveled to India in 2006 and studied and regularly practices Yogic Breath and Meditation. As well she has studied and traveled with Gene Ang Ph.D. She is a Nature Intuitive under the tutelage of Tracie Nichols, and has studied with Glenda Green, author of Love Without End Jesus Speaks and The Keys of Jeshua. She currently leads a Spiritual Discussion Group focusing on The Keys of Jeshua and how they apply to life now.

Maureens life work is dedicated to helping others through the Chiren - a perfect tool that embraces your light and heart wisdom supporting your being ... body, mind, spirit and soul.

For more information on Biontology and The Chiren go to http://www.biontology.com

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Rev. Robin V Schwoyer

Robin Schwoyer is an ordained Minister in the Episcopal Church. For over 15+ years she has provided pastoral and holistic care using various healing modalities and is a popular inspirational speaker. Robin is a Reiki Master Teacher, IET Master Instructor, Yoga Instructor, founder of Caring Circle, HeARTs for Autism, Pink HeARTs Wellness for Women, and Happy HeARTs Yoga.

http://www.happyheartsyoga.com

http://www.heartsforautism.org

http://www.pinkHeartsWellness.com

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Bobbylight

Bobbylight is a natural born healer. As a teen, he noticed when placing his hands on painful parts of his body, the hands would heat up and the pain would go away. In 2004 he was introduced to Usui Reiki and started helping his friends and family members feel better by channeling Reiki through the body and out his hands. He is a Usui Reiki Master Teacher and also an IET-Integrated Energy Therapy Master Teacher. During an energy session, he has many Guides and Angels that work through him. He has helped many people on their healing journey, please allow him assist you on your's.

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Sharon Stratton

Sharon Stratton is the Office Manager at STRATTON FAMILY CHIRORPACTIC WELLNESS CENTER, in Doylestown. She is a Rebirthing Breathworker for over 22 years, and Access Consciousness Practitioner & Facilitator, since July 2013. Sharon has been living in Doylestown, Pa. for 18 years, with her husband and daughter. Sharon is involved in local community activities, such as volunteering for the Doylestown Food Co-op. She participates in several Womens groups and Meditation events. Sharon graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fashion Design, from Drexel University; then received a Degree in Interior Design, from Moore College of Art, in 1990; both colleges are located in Philadelphia, PA. Visit her business Facebook page: BREATH 4 JOY

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Other Practitioners - alphabetical by first name

Ackbar

Ackbar was born Bruce Kostelecky in Tacoma, Washington. 17 years ago, Bruce began his transformation into Ackbar, a journey that still continues. He has become a Galactic Channel, Psychic Reader and World Teacher.

http://www.ackbarswebsite.com

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AdhiMoonien Two Owls

Adhi Moonien Two Owls is a traditionally trained Shaman and healer. Her formal background is in fine art painting and sculpture which she studied at the Kansas City Art Institute. Other major areas of her study include Sacred Geometry, Egyptian Biogeometry, Radiesthesia (vibrational dowsing), Medical Radiesthesia, Map Dowsing for water and minerals, Theoretical Physics, Quantum Physics, Tibetan Buddhism, meditation techniques, Qigong and Chinese Medicine. Her current research centers around expanding the human potential, in relation to the mind and the physical bodys recognition of patterns and sound.

Adhi facilitates community Shaman study groups and healing circles. Adhis vision is one of building healthy spiritual communities grounded in the practical application of spiritual principles, and living fully in this world. She lectures on the scientific aspects of dowsing/radiesthesia, Shamanism and many other esoteric practices. Adhi develops products to help people navigate the energy patterns in their lives.

Adhi offers private sessions in person as well as remotely, and teaches all over the world.

http://www.theNewGlobalShaman.com

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Adrienne Taffoni Morgado

Adrienne Morgado is retired from 34 years in the Public School System, this allowing her the time to pursue her Metaphysical interests! Adrienne has experienced the Robert Monroe Institute in Virginia, known for Remote Viewing and journeying to the many-dimensional realms and Out of Body Experiences. She has completed the three level mediumship course work that is offered by Janet Nohavec from the Journey Within Spiritualist Church in Pompton Lakes, NJ and in Lily Dale, NY.She has also trained in Mediumship with Janie Eauchus who is Doreen Virtue trained and certified. Adrienne has attended classes with Dr. Hank Wessleman, Alberto Villaldo, and Llyn Roberts at the Omega Institute in New York and is currently working with Bernardo Peixoto and his wife who are South American Shamrans, and Hannelore Christensen in Pennsylvania. She has taken Energy Dowsing and Balancing with Ahdi Moonien Two Owls (Scientific Radiesthesia). Adrienne is a Reiki/Master Teacher trained in Usui and Essential Reiki and has also completed the three levels of IET. She is an ordained Priest in the Order of Melchizedek.

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Angelo Rizzo

Angelo Rizzo is a producer, engineer, composer, and musician (guitar, bass guitar, piano, alto and soprano saxophones, didgeridoo, percussion and drums, Native American style flute).

Angelo has over 30 years experience as a professional musician. He was privately trained on a number of different instruments. His scholastic training and education was in music and also Radiation Therapy; a field he has worked in for over 20 years. He has played music professionally in many bands including Philadelphia's Changes and Unity Church, Mount Laurel, NJ. In addition, he has taught music to both children and adults and continues to give private lessons on guitar and piano. He holds a Certificate in Sound Healing from the Globe Institute, San Francisco, CA and has studied sound engineering and music production for over five years. He is co-owner of Sound Spark Productions LLC, a music production company, where he has produced CDs for other artists in addition to his own. Currently, he is doing sound healing and music performance with a group called Heart Space.

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CandyBatterton

Candy Batterton is a graduate of the Healing the Light Body School where she studied under Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D. and has traveled to Peru and worked with the great medicine men and woman. She went on a spiritual pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of Sulkantay where she received initiation rites and participated in ceremony at the sacred sites. She also has been involved with the Lakota traditions and has participated in ceremony and is a carrier of the chanupa.

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Donna Sweeney

Donna Sweeney is an Usui Reiki Master Teacher and an IntegratedEnergy Therapy (IET) Master Instructor. Working with the highest vibration of Divine healing, as well as channeling messages from the Angelic Realm, Donna is guided to assist her clients in releasing energy blocks on the physical, emotional, mental and/or Spiritual levels. The gentle release of blocked energy and channeled messages allows for discovery and deeper access to ones True Self and an increased clarity and sense of purpose and directionwith his or her unique Spiritual path.

Her personal philosophy can be summed up in a few words We are One. We are All.

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Soulutions for Daily Living - Bios - Psychics, Healers ...

Barbara Marx Hubbard (born Barbara Marx; December 22, 1929) [1] is a futurist, author and public speaker. She is credited with the concepts of The Synergy Engine[2] and the 'birthing' of humanity.[3]

A Jewish agnostic,[4] her father was toy maker Louis Marx. In her youth she attended the Dalton School in New York City. She studied at L'Ecole des Sciences Politiques at La Sorbonne in Paris during her junior year of college,[5] and received a B.A. cum laude in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College in 1951.[6]

As an author, speaker, and co-founder and president of the Foundation for Conscious Evolution, she posits that humanity now, as never before, is on the threshold of a quantum leap. If we are able to integrate newly emergent scientific, social, and spiritual capacities, we could transform ourselves to move beyond our current global crises to a magnificent future equal to our vast new potential.[citation needed]

She is the subject of a biography by author Neale Donald Walsch, The Mother of Invention: The Legacy of Barbara Marx Hubbard and the Future of "YOU."[7] Her name was placed in nomination for the vice-presidency of the United States on the Democratic ticket in 1984, and at which convention she gave a speech upon being nominated.[8]

"Its far too late and things are far too desperate for pessimism"

The rest is here:
Barbara Marx Hubbard - Wikipedia

Online Education Author: John Maxted

One of the largest problems facing online education courses has always been the lack of a classroom experience and a real college environment. In the past a lot of people were unable to overcome this flaw and simply wouldn't pursue an online education. However, there have recently been some significant improvements in the technology used to deliver these online programs. Now more than ever, online courses provide a realistic and interactive setting which is now equal to or sometimes even superior to conventional college education delivery programs.

The widespread availability of high speed broadband internet connections has greatly simplified matters. Instructors can now put large video and audio presentations online, confident that their students will be able to quickly download the class material and begin working almost immediately.

A large part of modern online classes is conducted with recorded class presentations. These have also been greatly improved, with instructors narrating a PowerPoint presentation. The end result is an experience much like that of being present in the lecture hall for the presentation.

Other instructors may choose to actually videotape their classroom lectures. This provides an even more realistic experience as you can really watch the professor speak and see what they emphasize. It also helps to reinforce a name with a face so you can connect and trust that person more.

There are now also discussion boards - these allow students to interact with each other, discuss coursework and generally act as a virtual classroom for students. Many online courses also include live chat rooms to make interaction between students even easier.

Live audio and video chats are also available, depending if your computer meets the necessary system requirements. This makes collaborating on projects with other students a snap - you can also communicate with other students via Skype and other VOIP services.

You can also use the methods that your professors use. Your instructors will often use a recorded lecture or PowerPoint presentation with voice over narration; and you can do the same with your homework! Instead of simply turning in a report in plain text, you can create your own multimedia reports - now that's sure to fetch a good grade!

Online bachelor degree courses now also feature tests. There have been a lot of advances which have allowed for the creation of online tests which can be administered accurately over the web. These tests are timed and contain multiple choice questions, essay questions and more. Just like a traditional class, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of the course material - technology may have changed a lot of things, but passing your tests is still up to you!

The latest generations of online education courses provide a classroom experience which can match that of any traditional school. With testing, student interaction and a realistic lecture experience, you can take advantage of all of the benefits an online education can offer you. Even if you don't have the time to take classes at a traditional university, you can now get the education you're looking for online. There has never been a better time!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/online-education-receives-huge-boost-from-new-online-media-technology-942385.html

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Online Education Concord NC - Business North Carolina

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North Carolina residents have dozens of in-state colleges and universities to consider when choosing where to earn their degree, and it can be helpful to have as much information as possible when making such an important decision. It may also be useful to know that community college students hoping to transfer to a university to complete a bachelor's program may have pathways that make transferring easier. (Potential transfer students should sure to check with an advisor or admissions reps at the destination school to find out whether a specific degree plan qualifies.)

We considered all of the post-secondary schools in the state and hit the data mines to help you sort out which institutions could rightly be called the best traditional and online colleges in North Carolina. Most of our data came from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. In our analysis, we treated the 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina system that grant four-year bachelor's degrees as individual schools.

Here's a quick rundown of the top ten schools in North Carolina based on our extensive ranking methodology something that covers 13 important quantitative points about affordability, student success and ease of access to essential coursework.

Methodology

1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill+

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As the oldest campus in the UNC system, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been educating students since 1795. In the more than two centuries since it first opened its doors, it's grown into one of the top universities anywhere in the world.

UNC Chapel Hill took the No. 1 spot among schools on our list for both its freshman retention rate and its graduation rate. Its proportion of non-repay financial aid awarded to students ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 5 out of the 1,600+ schools we surveyed nationwide. Students at UNC Chapel Hill graduated with an average college loan balance right around $16,000 good for the top spot on our list in that category and no other school in our top 10 reported a higher percentage of alumni who paid off their student debt within three years of graduation.

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2North Carolina State University+

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North Carolina State University came in just behind our No. 1 school in the national rankings. Both landed in the top ten overall out of the hundreds and hundreds of schools in our analysis. NC State had the largest academic catalog of any school in North Carolina, offering students 265 individual degree plans as of 2015-16, and it had the No. 2 graduation rate in the state.

NC State was also a top destination for students seeking an online bachelor's degree in North Carolina. It ranked No. 2 statewide for its array of programs available in the virtual classroom, which includes public sector leadership, agricultural business management and a 2+2 hybrid engineering program. Graduates of the Raleigh school also have access to a job market that's booming for educated workers, according to recent reports by Forbes.

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3Appalachian State University+

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This institution in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina ranked No. 3 statewide for the manageability of its graduates' post-college debt and had the fourth-highest graduation rate among schools on our list. Appalachian State University was also one of the few schools in the state that offered credit exams for life experience alongside remedial services and academic and career counseling for non-traditional students.

Only three other schools charged students less for books and essential supplies than Appalachian State. In terms of distance education, prospective students had a wide array of online degree plans to choose from. Its online catalog was the fifth-largest in the state and includes degrees in education, business administration, health care and communications.

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4University of North Carolina at Charlotte+

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The Charlotte campus of the University of North Carolina scored well across the affordability metrics of our analysis, placing third among schools on our list for its low cost of tuition and fees and ranking at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, for the average net price it charged to low-income and middle-income students. It also offered a higher percentage of institutional grant aid than all other schools in the state but one.

UNC Charlotte offered the state's sixth-largest degree catalog, and students who need flexible schedules in their on-campus programs can find study plans that only require weekend and evening courses. It also placed fifth among schools on our list for its proportion of alumni who paid off their student loans within three years of graduation.

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5East Carolina University+

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Our No. 5 school offered the largest online degree catalog in the state in 2015-16. ECU was also one of just three schools on our list to offer all of the state's ten most popular bachelor's degree programs.

In terms of distance education, East Carolina placed fourth among schools on our list for the percentage of its students taking at least some of their courses in the virtual classroom. The online bachelor's degrees available at East Carolina University are structured as degree completion programs. Students are expected to complete their first two years of course credit elsewhere, typically at a local community college, before enrolling online at ECU to complete their upper-division work.

ECU also ranked No. 4 on our list for tuition and fees affordability and had the fifth-highest graduation rate in our top ten.

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6Elizabeth City State University+

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Elizabeth City State University holds a unique distinction, not just among North Carolina schools but on the national stage as well. The average net price for both low- and middle-income students at this Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) institution ranked No. 1 for affordability in both the state and in the U.S., according to 2014-15 data from the NCES.

ECSU students looking for flexibility in their campus-based study plans can choose to take some of their coursework via distance education. In fact, many are evidently taking advantage of the online course options the Elizabeth City school ranked No. 5 in the state for its rate of distance education enrollment despite having no full degree programs available online. Weekend and evening degree programs are also available to help students fit their continued education into their work and family schedules.

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7University of North Carolina at Greensboro+

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The fifth-largest academic catalog in the state can be found at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, as well as a list of online degree programs that ranked No. 4 statewide for its size and includes such subjects of study as philosophy, public health, supply chain management and peace and conflict studies. It was also an affordable option for students in tough economic circumstances. Only four other schools in the state featured a more affordable net price for low-income students.

The city of Greensboro itself is a draw for prospective attendees of its namesake UNC campus. The medium-sized city, centrally located in North Carolina, features metropolitan amenities but maintains a small-town feel, which can be an ideal setting for students who want access to shopping and nightlife but also need quiet time to study.

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8Fayetteville State University+

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Our No. 8 school was another of the more affordable schools out there, in North Carolina as well as on a national scale. Fayetteville State University's average net price for students across the income spectrum ranked No. 2 in the state and placed among the top 11 schools nationwide for affordability. Its cost of books and supplies placed second among schools on our list and eighth in the U.S., and only one other school in the state featured a lower average cost of tuition and fees.

FSU was also a prime destination for students seeking an online bachelor's degree program in North Carolina. Only two other schools in the state reported a higher proportion of online enrollment than the nearly 51 percent posted by FSU. The selection of distance education programs at this HBCU institution includes psychology, sociology and criminal justice.

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9Piedmont International University+

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Piedmont International University features the third-lowest cost of books and supplies among schools on our list, and that's not the only measure of affordability where this Winston-Salem school shines. The private, faith-based institution also ranked No. 9 in the state for its percentage of graduates able to repay their loans within 36 months after finishing their degree program.

Distance learning is a big part of the mission at PIU, where more than 80 percent of students took at least some coursework via distance education in fall 2015. No other school in our top ten reported such a large percentage of online enrollment its student body. PIU also posted a better freshman retention rate than all other schools on our list but one.

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10University of North Carolina Wilmington+

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Our No. 10 school works hard to help students stick with their educations year after year, if the numbers are any indication. It ranked No. 3 among schools on our list for both first-year student retention rate and graduation rate, and a tuition payment plan called TealPay is available for students who want to split one of the largest bills of their semester into a series of monthly installments.

Tuition and fees at UNC Wilmington ranked No. 5 in affordability among schools in our top ten, and students tended to graduate with a manageable amount of college debt. Just five other schools in North Carolina reported a lower average loan balance for recent alumni.

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Business administration is one of the most common college majors in North Carolina, but the rest of the top choices might surprise you. Check out this list of the majors chosen by the most students statewide this past academic year.

# of schools offering this program

Associate in Business Administration and Management

62

Associate in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

61

Associate in Early Childhood Education and Teaching

60

Associate in Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

60

Associate in Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

56

Associate in Information Technology

55

Bachelor's in Business Administration and Management

52

Bachelor's in English Language and Literature

51

Studying a subject that gives you high-value skills on the job market can make it less difficult to transition out of college and into the workforce. Take a look at this breakdown of the hottest jobs in North Carolina and see if any of them line up with your major.

State-based financial aid programs can help North Carolina students defray some of the cost of their education. Here's a short list:

Provost Scholarship

More

APPLICATION DEADLINE

November 15 (Early Action admissions deadline)

RENEWAL CRITERIA

Renewable if recipient maintains a minimum 3.25 GPA and full-time status.

Moody's Mega Math Challenge

More

APPLICATION DEADLINE

February 17

Glaxo-Smithkline Opportunity Scholarship

More

APPLICATION DEADLINE

March 15

North Carolina Oratorical Contest

More

APPLICATION DEADLINE

March 18

College Foundation of North Carolina

Article Sources

Read the original here:
Online Colleges in North Carolina - Schools.com

Deciding that you want to start doing yoga is the first step. Now you need to follow through with finding the right yoga class and practicing yoga at home. See how to take the next steps and start enjoying the pleasures and benefits of yoga.

You'll see there are many types yoga classes, and some won't be the right match for your personality and physical fitness level. Take a few minutes touring anoverview of yoga styles.

For most beginners, a hatha or vinyasa class will be most appropriate, depending on whether you want a slow or fast-paced class. These are basic styles, and you can always try something fancier later.

While many great yoga books and videos are available, there is no substitute for learning directly from a good teacher in a yoga class. If you cannot get to a yoga class, start with any beginner's video, as this will give you more visuals to follow than a book.

You canfind a yoga class in your area by checking local alternative newspapers or wellness magazines for listings. If you belong to agym, many offer yoga classes. Make sure you start with a basic level class; finding a good teacher will help you stick with it. If you don't click with the first teacher you go to, keep trying until you find one you like.

On the first day, you will not need to bring much except some comfortable, breathable clothing.

Read up on basic yoga equipment you will encounter. Most studios have yoga mats that can be rented.

In a typical yoga class, the students place their mats facing the front of the room (often identifiable by a small altar or by the teacher's mat) in a loose grid. It's best not to line up your mat exactly with the one next to it because you and your neighbor will need some space in certain poses.

The students often sit in a cross-legged position waiting for class to start or do some gentle stretching.

Here is how a typical class flows:

Yoga seems to be everywhere but it still can be tough to get out a mat and to begin to put poses together. This 30-day schedule is designed to get you going by providing specific yoga routines for each day and laying out a schedule of increasingly challenging workouts. Once you start enjoying all the benefits of yoga, you'll want to keep doing it, so make this the first month of your new life as a yogi.

Tips to get started:

Yoga doesn't require too much equipment, but there are a few things you'll want to gather ahead of time. First and foremost is a yoga mat. Beginners practicing at home can also benefit from having a block, a strap, and a blanket handy.

This daily stretch routine will be the backbone of your home practice.

This sequence can be done in 10 to 15 minutes and is designed to wake up the spine, relieve minor back pain, and stretch the hamstrings. Doing these stretches in the morning is a great way to get your day going. You'll do this routine each day for the next 30 days to maintain the continuity of your practice between longer routines done three times a week.

Sun salutations will form the basis of your thrice weekly longer yoga routines. It may look confusing at first, but it will soon be second nature.

Over the course of your first week, you'll do the daily stretch routine each day. Add in sun salutations every other day. Plan on incorporating standing poses and seated stretches to make a longer workout at least three times a week. Don't forget to spend a few minutes in corpse pose at the end of each session.

Think about what time of day you plan to do your practice. It's nice to do it in the morning if you have time so that you can start your day stretched out and stress-free, but pick the time that works best for you.

Schedule for the first week:

For the remainder of your month-long introduction, you'll continue the rhythm of a daily short stretching routine while adding some variations to your longer sequences.

By completing this 30-day introduction, you'll get into the habit of doing a daily yoga practice. Continue to practice your short stretch routine daily and a longer practice three times a week and you will be well on your way to establishing a long-term yoga regime that will improve your health and physical fitness.

Use these tips to prepare for class or your practice at home:

You may feel awkward or intimidated when you start practicing yoga, but joining in a live class is the best way learn to do the poses correctly. Everyone there was once a beginner. By knowing what to expect, you can focus on learning the techniques. After you have learned the basics, you can practice at home and make progress with yoga.

Follow this link:
How to Start Doing Yoga - verywell.com