Tis the time of year to make New Years resolutions. And financial resolutions are popular every year. Most people say they want to save more, spend less or pay off debts. But rather than make a general resolution thats easy to lose track of, think about a specific goal. A financial goal should always have an amount and a time-frame attached to it. See how you can make a worthwhile resolution even better.

Better Resolution: Starting with the first 2016 payday, I will save $50 (or other amount) per paycheck in KPERS 457, my employers retirement savings plan or another savings vehicle.

Tip: Make savings automatic with payroll deduction.

Better Resolution: Increase my retirement savings by 1 percent (or more) starting in January.

Tip: Save a percentage instead of a dollar amount, your savings will get a raise whenever your pay increases.

Better Resolution: Cut $50 per month off my food spending.

Tip: Clipping coupons, buying store-brand or shopping in bulk for nonperishables can help chop your grocery bill. By planning meals ahead, you may find yourself eating out less.

Better Resolution: I will find a budget-tracking tool that works for me, and use it to track my spending each month.

Tip: See our Budgeting Techniques article on page 2.

Better Resolution: Pay off $100 (or other amount) of debt each paycheck or each month.

Tip: A vague goal to pay off debt may not get you far. Instead, make an achievable, realistic goal with a specific amount. Over the year, youll knock a big chunk out of your debt.

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OSAGE CITY, KS All Active Retirement Communities and Homes

California, United States (707) 869-2381 mysteryranch@prodigy.net http://www.wayfinderastrology.com

Judith Dides M.A. (Hamida) was exposed to astrology as a child when her mother and aunts talked about the Sun signs of family members which piqued her curiosity in the stars and their influence. She first connected with Evolutionary Astrology after reading Jeff Greens books in the mid-80s. It was there she found a form of astrology that made sense of her life and experience. Her own search for meaning and purpose took her down academic and spiritual paths leading to degrees in Anthropology and Linguistics. Later, Hamida was ordained as a minister of the Universal Worship, a Sufi interfaith service. Her astrology practice was set on fire after attending the EAN conference Astrology, Reincarnation and the Soul, Denver 2010 and the DMP level 1 training with Patricia Walsh. These two events propelled Judith forward and added new depth to her readings. Judith Dides, also known as Hamida, is also an herbalist and flower essence practitioner. She calls upon the plant kingdom to support her clients on their souls journey with custom made potions as enhancements to her counseling.

Dallas, Texas, United States (214) 912-3126 zee2@airmail.net http://www.terrizee.com/

Terri Zee holds a B. A. degree in Theater graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her life-long interest in astrology took a major leap forward when she discovered Evolutionary Astrology and, after twenty years in the Texas film industry, she devoted her time and interest to her studies with Kim Marie and committed to her career as a full time Evolutionary Astrologer. She writes The Astrology Corner, focusing on the New Moon, for Our Amazing Norwaya publication in that country. In addition to her counseling work and writing, Terri is on the staff of Lightworkers Sanctuary, a center for spiritual development in the Dallas area where she serves as the resident Evolutionary Astrologer. Terri firmly believes that in order to grow one must continuously surrender to what one thinks one knows and be willing to learn something new. She lives on a pond, tucked away from the metropolis of Dallas with her husband and their three Jack Russell Terriers.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (801) 259-9645 ltrettis@yahoo.com http://www.soulastro.com

Lydia Trettis is a graduate of the Jeffrey Wolf Green School of Astrology. She has been studying and practicing astrology and tarot for over 20 years. Her journey with Evolutionary Astrology began when she attended Mark Jones UK Pluto School in 2003. While living at the Findhorn Foundation in Northern Scotland, her love and dedication to the spirit of the land deepened. Lydia was ordained as a Minister and Spiritual Counselor by the London Interfaith Seminary. She studied tarot while living in New York City and finds that doing tarot readings with an astrological bent yields especially powerful and insightful readings. Lydia is now grateful to live in the stunning and powerful beauty of Utahs Wasatch Mountains and works regularly with clients worldwide.

Vancouver, British Columbia jinny_sacred_stone_astrology@yahoo.ca

Jinny has been studying and practicing astrology and tarot for more than 20 years. She worked in community development for non-profit organizations for more than 10 years and has been a student of Evolutionary Astrology for as long. In 2006, upon completion of the Usui Reiki Master level with Barb Weston, she was inspired to develop a method of incorporating Reiki with Evolutionary Astrology that she has named, Chakra-Based Planetary Energy Balancing. In 2007, she completed Level 1 of Roger Woolgers Deep Memory Process training with Patricia Walsh. Astounded by Patricias brilliant research in practice, Jinny went on to study with Jeffrey Wolf Green, Rose Marcus, Maurice Fernandez, Kim Marie as well as private tutoring from Mark Jones while completing the homework requirements. Jinny has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. and is currently enhancing her astrology practice with counseling skills studies. She is passionate about facilitating the understanding of astrologys possibilities in ways that are accessible for all.

Copenhagen, Denmark +45 39643265 mermaidsreality@yahoo.com

Hanne Albrechtsen is a scientist and practicing Evolutionary Astrologer. She graduated from the Jeffrey Wolf Green School of Evolutionary Astrology in 2001 and founded her own research business, (the Institute of Knowledge Sharing), in 2005. As an Evolutionary Astrologer, Hanne focuses on vocational and personal evolution issues with clients and mentors younger and adult academics who wish to work as independent consultants and scientists within their respective counseling fields. She also hosts and teaches general EA seminars and workshops in the Copenhagen area.

Michigan, United States astro.jojo@yahoo.com

JoAnn is a graduate of the Learning Center for Astrological Studies Certification (LCAS) Program and Segment 1 from the Kim Maries Evolutionary Astrology Network via the Jeffrey Wolf Green method. JoAnn lectures on relationship astrology and currently teaches Introduction to Astrology classes for the LCAS. In addition, to her counseling work and writing she gives lectures on relationship astrology and the year ahead. JoAnn has a Certificate of Small Business Management at LCC and is currently enhancing her astrology practice with counseling skills and working towards her Segment 2 Relationships, Sexuality, Synastry & Composite through the Evolutionary Astrology Network. Her facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/astro.jo.3

Sooke, B.C., Canada (250) 642-2441 mark@plutoastrology.com http://www.plutoastrology.com

Mark began studying astrology in 1973 while living in the ashram of Swami Muktananda, in India, while also integrating various Buddhist and Hindu techniques. He met Jeffrey Wolf Green in 1984 as a Pluto School disciple and soon recognized that he found an inspired astrology teacher and a real spiritual guide. Marks astrological inclinations focused in the direction of shamanism, or native spiritual teachings, and his practice became more earth-based reflecting the wisdom of the medicine wheel .This correlates to the house system and the real meaning of planet Earth in Evolutionary Astrology. Mark has published his memoirs in a book called The Broken Heart of God (Trafford Publications).

United States (303) 725-5817 http://www.risingsunastrology.com

Michelle became a student of Evolutionary Astrology in 1992, after receiving her first astrological reading during a challenging Saturn return when she discovered Pluto, The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul and its author Jeffrey Wolf Green. She went on to attend two Pluto schools and studied many years with Jeffrey. Michelles evolution continued as student of Kim Marie and Maurice Fernandez. Michelle feels blessed to continue her studies alongside many remarkably gifted evolutionary astrologers, writers, lecturers, and teachers. She intends profound healing and spiritual development for herself and clients as she blends a unique astrological perspective and her Kundalini yoga practice to facilitate Soul opening and expansion.

Berlin, Germany +49 (30) 633 710 64 rinadelianskiea@aol.com http://www.rinadelianski.de

Rina Delianski has been a practicing astrologer for 14 years. In 1999, while living in Canada, she discovered the Pluto Vol I book by Jeffrey Wolf Green. Evolutionary Astrology provided her with the insights necessary to understand that determining force which lies beneath the surface of ones personality. Since that time, EA has become the foundation of her counselling work, which includes energetic healing based on shamanic practices. These practices were learned from healers in her home country Bulgaria, where ancient empowering rituals are still cherished and respected. Her deep reverence to Mother Earth led her to study the art of crystal healing and she is currently enrolled in Katrina Raphaells Crystal Academy. The inspirational energy of the asteroid Urania on Rinas Gemini Sun in the house of Sagittarius faithfully guides her to share the teachings of Natural Law, which are induced in ones consciousness through the study of EA. Rina also has a Masters degree in Computer Science from the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

Hawaii, United States livingsky7@gmail.com http://www.mauricefernandez.com

Maurice Fernandez, author of the book Neptune, the 12th House and Pisces and forthcoming Astrology and the Evolution of Consciousness, is currently based in Boulder, Colorado. His educational programs and reading practice have forged a reputation of depth and excellence. Maurice is a certified teacher of Kundalini Yoga and occasionally combines yoga practice with astrology workshops for a holistic body, mind, and spirit experience.

Maurice was born in Burundi and moved to Israel as a teenager. He began his astrology studies at the age of 19, and started to teach and counsel people soon after. In 1993, he met Jeffrey Green who introduced him to the concept of Evolutionary Astrology and in 1999 became the director and teacher of the School of Evolutionary Astrology in Israel.

Having developed his own unique perspective and concepts, Maurice is invited to lecture internationally, notably across the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. He hosts a very instructive free learning Forum on his website which is the place to be if one looks for fresh perspectives, penetrating insights, and some fun with fellow astro-geeks.

Spruce Pine, North Carolina, United States (828) 688-9703 joystar777@gmail.com http://www.psychicjoystar.com

Joy has a degree in physical therapy and worked in that field for 10 years during which time a growing interest in the mind-body connection led her to the personal quest of re-awakening to all things metaphysical and spiritual. Throughout the process of personal evolution, she continued to revisit astrology periodically over the years while always being attracted to books and information regarding evolution of the soul. EA has been a special gift in her life and she has great appreciation for the ways in which EA explains life behavioral patterns and the reasons for particular emotional responses to life experiences. She holds a heart-felt belief that the absolute proof of The Divine Itself can be found in the stars! Joy lives in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Her focus with EA is to allow all of her life experiences, her intuitive abilities, and soul astrology knowledge to compliment one another in such a way that she can be of highest service to the evolution those who call upon her for life guidance and insight.

Bergen, Norway chironsfriend@hotmail.com http://sol-with.com/

Sol W. Jonassen has been involved with astrology from a very young age, introduced to this ancient wisdom by her Aries father. Currently residing in Bergen, Norway, she counsels nationally and internationally while incorporating various other healing modalities. She is a teacher at Hercules School of Astrology and writes for several publications in Norway. Sol also organizes the Norwegian Astrology Conference called Polaris. She remains an avid yoga practioner.

Bristol, England +44 (0) 117 9632500 markijones@gmail.com http://www.plutoschool.com

Mark Jones is a Psychosynthesis Therapist and Astrologer working in Bristol, England. A graduate of Noel Tyls Masters Astrology program and the Evolutionary Astrology School of Jeffrey Wolf Green, Mark is the main teacher of the U.K. Pluto Schools. Mark is also an Alchemical Hypnotherapist and has begun to synthesize regression work within his therapy practice. Mark has recently begun to share (in phone classes, and as a regular speaker at the Norwac Astrology conference in Seattle) an ongoing synthesis of his Astrological work together with an in-depth therapeutic approach that can be built upon such a depth of understanding as the natal chart can bring to the client. The therapeutic potential is then to go beyond merely an intellectual understanding of the core issues found in the chart, towards an experiential process of synthesizing such an understanding into a working model of healing and wholeness within peoples lives. In order to find out more information as to classes Mark is offering resources in the form of written materials or DVDs and CDs of past classes and lectures, please visit his Web site.

Oxfordshire, England +44 (0) 1189 470804 knkennard@hotmail.com

Kitty has been practicing astrology since 1993. She introduced Jeffrey and Evolutionary Astrology to the United Kingdom in 1997, and has subsequently organized and directed the UK EA Schools. She has a BSc in Human Nutrition, and was a University lecturer in Oxford. She has extensively studied traditional and modern medical astrology both in the UK and USA. She has given workshops and lectured at numerous international astrological conferences, including the first three EA conferences. In these she has integrated with Evolutionary Astrology the principles of health and past life dynamics. She is also a graduate of Woolger Training International, is a certified Deep Memory Process practitioner and has co-taught a workshop on past life regression for astrologers. Further training includes qualifications in massage therapy, Reiki, Radionics, herbal medicine, Ayurveda. Flower essences and shamanic work are incorporated into her healing practice. Kitty resides in both the UK and South Africa, and maintains an international client base. A passion for travel keeps her exploring the globe, and she enjoys yoga, dance, reading, cooking, hiking and scuba diving.

Seattle, Washington, United States andy.kessler@gmail.com http://www.daimonionarts.com

Andrew Kessler is a counseling astrologer in the Pacific Northwest with an abiding interest in metaphysics. At present, he is pursuing the study of traditional forms of astrology concurrently with his astrological practice.

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (306) 591-0515 shawn@scorpio-moon.com http://www.scorpio-moon.com

Shawn has studied astrology since the late 1970s after meeting Jeffrey Wolf Green, who encouraged her to commit to Evolutionary Astrology. She made a true commitment to finish her education and practice professionally in 2002. In 2006 she left a computer programming career in Illinois to establish a practice as a professional astrologer. For Shawn, Evolutionary Astrology addresses the core issues that people have in their lives in a clear, concise and succinct manner. In addition to providing astrological services to a clientele in Canada and the U.S., she also is a bio-resonance therapist supporting health and wellness using sound vibration technology. For more of the story, visit her website.

Sedona, Arizona, United States (707) 508-6020 aquariuslm@yahoo.com

Lesleys spiritual orientation influences every astrological Reading and her faith is rooted in Buddhist, Taoist and Sufi teachings. Evolutionary Astrology has been the foundation of her work for ten years and she feels a natural desire to blend the principles and the wisdom of Ayurveda (Indias ancient system of natural healing for body, mind, and Soul) with her work in Evolutionary Astrology. Lesley is currently adding a Health Educator certification from the American Institute of Vedic Studies. Ms. Mahlers work has been published in Dell Horoscope magazine.

North Vancouver, B.C., Canada (604) 988-1299 rose_marcus@shaw.ca http://www.rosemarcus.com

Evolutionary Astrologer Rose Marcus maintains a busy international private practice and is well known for her heartfelt passion, sensitive counseling skills and dedication to helping others. Since her first conference appearance in Denver in 1998 (at Astro 2000), Rose has continued to be a popular lecturer at various conferences in Canada and the US. She has written for numerous projects and publication over the years and is currently the forecast columnist for The Mountain Astrologer, US SELF Magazine, NY, and Shared Vision Magazine, Vancouver, B.C. From her base in North Vancouver, Canada, Rose teaches the Canadian School of Evolutionary Astrology based on the Jeffrey Wolf Green method which is a one year intensive program leading to certification for those interested in becoming a professional Evolutionary Astrologer. This course is taught both in a weekly evening class format and as an intensive daytime program. School 6, beginning in September of 2008, will be offered as a teleconference course. In addition to astrology, Rose also offers clairvoyant and tarot readings. For information on Roses classes (astrology & tarot), workshops, appearances, and private consultations, please contact Rose via email or visit her website.

Rapid City, South Dakota, United States (877) 348-5111 kimmarie@evolutionaryastrology.net http://www.evolutionaryastrology.net

Kim Marie is the Director of the Evolutionary Astrology Network, (based upon the Jeffrey Wolf Green method). Kim Marie oversees the EANs Correspondence Course worldwide, teaches live schools in the U.S. and produces EA Conferences across North America. She has studied and practiced Evolutionary Astrology for 23 years and counsels an international clientele. Her background includes experience in alternative healing and environmental politics. She continues to explore methods of balancing patriarchal and matriarchal principles of energy. Kim Marie is also an independent Facilitator for the Energetic Matrix Church of Consciousness, LLC (EMC) a leading edge computerized spiritual technology for 24/7/365 self-healing. She resides on a beautiful piece of paradise in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband LeRoy Media Manager for EAN and EMC co-facilitator, step-son Forrest and three very loved cats.

Minneapolis,Minnesota, United States (612) 600-2927 trinesquare@gmail.com

Michael and his wife Mari been together for 34 years and have raised two fine sons. Michael is a librarian at the Central Library in Minneapolis. He works on three reference desks and is in charge of the Adaptive Technology Lab. He also participates in outreach programs for the homeless and disabled. Michael first fell in love with Astrology at age 22 when he discovered the works of Dane Rudhyar. Finding Evolutionary Astrology, and being led to the works of Paramhnansa Yogananda, as well as meeting and all of the fine people throughout the EA community, are considered to have been among the greatest blessings in his life.

Seattle, Washington, United States (206) 930-7613 laurag@astrologyetal.com http://www.astrologyetal.com

Laura is a second-generation astrologer practicing and teaching astrology since 1986. Her mother, Maggie Nalbandian, was a guiding force and Laura then moved on to study with Jeffrey Wolf Green from 1983-86. She is the premier astrology teacher in the greater Seattle area and teaches classes weekly on a variety of levels. Her focus is looking at the karmic and evolutionary patterns in the chart and helping her clients to deal with and overcome past life patterns.

Laura is also co-owner and coordinator of NORWAC, established in 1984. Laura also managed Astrology Et Al Bookstore from 1983-91. She is the past President of the WSAA and a founding board member of Kepler College. She hosted Astrology Talk from 1998-99 and was the Astrologer on MSN Live . She currently joins Kristin Fontanas Guiding Stars program on the first Wednesday of each month. She was the conference coordinator for ROMAC 2003 in Denver and UAC 2002 Orlando. She has been on the faculty of many conferences including UAC 2002 & 08

Baltimore, Maryland, United States (410) 662-4676 karinorenhoshal@aol.com http://www.visionquestastrology.com

Kari Noren-Hoshal became interested in astrology and sacred practices of indigenous cultures in her growing up years in Latin America and Egypt where she lived between the ages of 7 and 21. Kari takes an evolutionary approach to her work, having studied with EA astrologers Kim Marie and Maurice Fernandez. She is based in Baltimore, Maryland where she teaches an astrological internship program and publishes a monthly column on her website http://www.visionquestastrology.com. A regular presenter to NCGR chapters in the mid-atlantic, Kari is VP for Programming for the Baltimore Astrological Society.

Sandpoint, Idaho, United States (208) 265-2200 thestarpainter@mac.com

In the spring of 1977, Michael was introduced to the writings of Rudolf Steiner. Within weeks he launched upon an ever-expanding path of exploration and discovery. He started his study of Astrology that spring and voraciously read Dane Rudhyar, Besant, and whomever elses astrology books he could find. In a years time, he started to provide readings to those who asked. He discovered Jeffrey Wolf Greens work with his first book on Pluto in 1980. He found that Jeffreys insights and basis of thought were in alignment with his own perceptions. His methodology provided deeper insights, which went hand-in-hand with what Michael had learned and understood about karmic impulses and relationships through Anthroposophy, and his own personal experience. In 1997, Michael began the Evolutionary Astrology Correspondence Course through Jeffrey Wolf Green. He continued working with Jeffreys materials and methods during the ten years it took to get his EA certification through Kim Marie. Michaels work as a Waldorf Teacher, and as an artist took up much of his time and focus, but proved to be enhanced by his astrological work and certification. Michael is also a member of the Anthroposophical Society, a member of the First Class of Spiritual Science, and recently a member of the Western Regional Council of the Anthroposophical Society of North America.

Brooklyn, New York, United States oneradiantearth@yahoo.com

Nura Clara Sala is a graduate of the Jeffrey Wolf Green School of Evolutionary Astrology, having the honor and privilege of studying with Jeffrey in one of his last classes at Laguna Beach in 1999. She has studied astrology for over twenty years and is currently serving clients across the USA as well as in Korea, Sweden, and South Africa. She is a graduate of the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism and her practice is a synthesis of astrology and spiritual healing. She has taught workshops on Astrology for Artists, Astrology and Sexuality, as well as beginning Evolutionary Astrology classes. In addition, she presents workshops on discovering, exploring, and transforming the inner Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine for men, women and couples. These workshops are a unique blend of Sufi meditation, astrology and poetry writing. Clara is a singer and poet and performs at universities and local venues on both coasts. She is a recent recipient of a New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship in Poetry. She publishes Stars in my Pocket.

Los Angeles, California, United States please email ps@psastrology.com psastrology.com

Pam is a certified Evolutionary Astrologer and artist living and working in Los Angeles. Her life long pursuit of psychological, occult, mystical, and other creative endeavors have merged into a diverse educational and professional understanding. In researching and addressing the complexity of her own life, she has studied a wide variety of mystical and tantric practices. Pam holds a BFA and an MFA in the Visual Arts and has traveled widely. Her students have included persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness. In addition, Pam has worked with homeless teenagers. She is inspired to work with people from all walks of life who are interested in understanding deeper currents of their lives. She is delighted by the complexity and vastness of life and the cosmos.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (801) 259-9645 ltrettis@yahoo.com http://www.soulastro.com

Lydia Trettis is a graduate of the Jeffrey Wolf Green School of Astrology. She has been studying and practicing astrology and tarot for over 20 years. Her journey with Evolutionary Astrology began when she attended Mark Jones UK Pluto School in 2003. While living at the Findhorn Foundation in Northern Scotland, her love and dedication to the spirit of the land deepened. Lydia was ordained as a Minister and Spiritual Counselor by the London Interfaith Seminary. She studied tarot while living in New York City and finds that doing tarot readings with an astrological bent yields especially powerful and insightful readings. Lydia is now grateful to live in the stunning and powerful beauty of Utahs Wasatch Mountains and works regularly with clients worldwide.

Bradenton, Florida, United States (845) 255-0515 woolgertraining@aol.com http://www.HealThePast.com

Patricia discovered Pluto: Evolutionary Journey of the Soul in 1992, and said, This is the only astrology book Ill ever need! She continued her studies by attending the last live school Jeffrey Wolf Green taught personally in Boulder

West Coast, New Zealand amuhtam@gmail.com

Roland has worked for many years as an artist and vocational healer focused mainly on personal awakening and liberation. He has studied astrology for nearly twenty years and has been attracted to Evolutionary Astrology methodology for most of that time. Roland defines his role as a life-catalyst for others. This involves facilitating growth and change in a dynamic way towards becoming an authentic being as well as allowing and opening the space for others to realize more in their lives. Roland delights in helping others find inner peace via the various pathways of healing and transformation.

Roland Wegerer currently lives in New Zealand and lives a more self-reliant and environmentally sustainable way of life by embracing permaculture, soil remediation through the re-establishment of the soil food web, organic growing, healing, art and community.

Wayland, Massachusetts, United States (508) 651-2648 info@earthlit.com http://www.earthlit.com

Katharina graduated from the JWG school of Evolutionary Astrology in 2003. As a counselor, healer, teacher, and author, she focuses on emotional validation, increasing awareness, and realignment with natural processes. Katharinas work is based on energy and consciousness transformation. For more biography, please visit her website.

Rapid City, South Dakota, United States (877) 348-5111 mediamonk@evolutionaryastrology.net http://www.evolutionaryastrology.net

LeRoy Weimer earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of New Orleans. His careers have involved professional sports and sports management, oilfield services, and nine years as an investment broker for two major Wall Street firms. He considers astrological knowledge a life experience that is healing to his Soul. As a third house Pluto with the planetary rulers of the Moons nodes square those nodes in his natal chart, LeRoy considers evolving and improving the EA materials as a conscious recovery of skipped steps in his evolutionary journey. LeRoy serves as General Manager for EAN. His newest creative venture is co-producing podcasts with Kim Marie as MediaMonk on the StarLady Soul Reader Network. LeRoy also is very proud of his son, Forrest Gabriel, and is most impressed to have re-united in this lifetime with his creative life partner, Kim Marie. With Sun, Venus and Jupiter in late Virgo in the sixth house of their composite chart, LeRoy and Kim Marie also work as facilitators with EMC, a leading edge spiritual wellness company.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada christinaraiw@gmail.com

Christina Rai Wheelwright is an EA graduate living in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. She fondly refers to this place as her heartspace

Bullhead City, Arizona, United States (805) 409-4605 scott@travelerswell.com http://www.travelerswell.com

Scott Wolfram, whose work combines Evolutionary Astrology, the timeless archetypes of classic Greek myth and the Astrology of Location, has developed a reputation for both his insightful analysis and observations with clients and as a dynamic lecturer to astrology groups and conferences across the country. His practice of Evolutionary Astrology is deepened through the lens of classic Greek myth with the major and numerous minor asteroids (over 100) to weave a rich tapestry of the souls journey. Scotts specializes Astrology of Location, combining Astro*Carto*Graphy, Geodetic and Local Space to identify the important locations where lifes journey comes alive and one can consciously choose to embrace the intention of the soul and move in harmony with the Sun, Moon and stars. Scott is a certified consultant of both Astro*Carto*Graphy, as championed by Jim Lewis and Continuum, and of Evolutionary Astrology and is a past-President of NCGRs Minnesota chapter, STARS. Scott lives with his wife, Tammy, in Fairfield, Iowa and can be contacted via telephone or email.

Link:
Certified Evolutionary Astrologers - Evolutionary ...

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In The Synthesis of Yoga Sri Aurobindo unfolds his vision of an integral (also called purna or complete) yoga embracing all the powers and activities of man. He provides an overview of the main paths of yoga, their primary methodologies and the necessity for integrating them into a complete, all-embracing and all-encompassing activity. The motto All Life Is Yoga is the theme of this text.

Sri Aurobindo points out that this is not intended as a fixed methodology: The Synthesis of Yoga was not meant to give a method for all to follow. Each side of the Yoga was dealt with separately with all its possibilities, and an indication as to how they meet so that one starting from knowledge could realise Karma and Bhakti also and so with each path. (pg. 899)

The final section begins to flesh out an integrative method which Sri Aurobindo called the yoga of self-perfection. While all the details of this approach were not completed to the extent desired, Sri Aurobindo has provided ample guidelines for the seeker to understand the direction and the path.

It is our goal to take up the systematic review of The Synthesis of Yoga in the following pages. All page number citations in this review are based on the U.S. edition of The Synthesis of Yoga published by Lotus Press, EAN: 978-0-9415-2465-0 Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga

Chapter headings and organization of the material follow The Synthesis of Yoga.

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Sri Aurobindos integral yoga has enormous implications for the time we find ourselves in. As we systematically destroy the basis of life on the planet, and wall off one another through ultimate fragmentation, we are left with the stark contrast of choosing between survival and destruction, life and death, growth or decline. Sri Aurobindo recognizes the necessity of the individual within the context of the collectivity, universality and the transcendent consciousness of Oneness. The individual is the nexus or hub of the evolutionary urge, but not separate from nor at the expense of the life of the cosmic whole.

We also have a daily twitter feed on Sri Aurobindos studies at http://www.twitter.com/santoshk1

We have systematically worked our way through The Life Divine as well as The Mother , Essays on the Gita and Rebirth and Karma. The newest posts appear near the top. If you want to start at the beginning, go to the oldest post and roll forward until you reach the final posts in July 2012.

Another option is to search for the chapter you would like to study and see all posts relating to that chapter. You may have to ask for older posts once you have the search results if you are looking for one of the earlier chapters.

We have separated the posts relating to each book into their own folder as an additional organisational tool.

Similarly you can use the search box to find specific concepts, terms or issues you are interested in. The results will show all posts that address those concepts or terms. You may have to click on older posts to find all the references here as well.

The next book we are taking up is The Synthesis of Yoga by Sri Aurobindo, following a similar format to that we have utilised for The Life Divine , The Mother, Essays on the Gita and Rebirth and Karma.

You may also want to visit our information site for Sri Aurobindo at Sri-Aurobindo.Com

Sri Aurobindos major writings are published in the US by Lotus Press.

The systematic studies on this blog have also been published as self-standing books by Lotus Press and are available in both printed formats and as e-books. There are 3 volumes encompassing Readings in Sri Aurobindos The Life Divine as well as 1 volume for Readings in The Mother by Sri Aurobindo, and Readings inSri AurobindosRebirth and Karma.

Both volumes of Readings in Sri Aurobindos Essays on the Gita have now been published as well.

Many of the major writings of Sri Aurobindo are now also accessible on the Amazon Kindle Platform. As of early 2015 we are actively at work to prepare editions for itunes, google play, kobo, and nook as well. We will notify when these additional platforms become available. Kindle e-book reader program is also available for PC, Laptop, iPad, Blackberry, Android, iPhone and many other platforms from Amazon without charge. You can find the current list of titles available by going to http://www.amazon.com , go to the kindle store and type in Aurobindo New titles are being added as they can be made ready. Many of the major books are already accessible by the Kindle Reader.

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The influence of the vital prana on the emotional mind overwhelms the ability to express pure, clear and undistorted emotional energy. The human being is thus dominated by the wash of conflicting emotional reactions, joy and sorrow, love and hate, anger, jealousy, as well as all kinds of hopes and dreams and aspirations. Because of the identification of the ego-personality with this array of emotions, the individual tends to treat this as an expression of his uniqueness, and of his soul.

Sri Aurobindo observes that this surface reaction is not actually the true soul in man: But the real soul, the real psychic entity which for the most part we see little of and only a small minority of mankind has developed, is an instrument of pure love, joy and the luminous reaching out to fusion and unity with God and our fellow-creatures. This psychic entity is covered up by the play of the mentalised Prana or desire-mind which we mistake for the soul; the emotional mind is unable to mirror the real soul in us, the Divine in our hearts, and is obliged instead to mirror the desire-mind.

This is an important distinction as the more deeply the individual attaches himself to this surface play of emotional reactions, the less is he able to channel the pure energy stemming from the divine standpoint and respond with an equal and radiant goodwill to all. We can see the action of the vital energy infiltrating the emotional sheath of the being as the cause of this mis-identification. This understanding can aid the seeker in eventually discovering the true soul and heeding its quiet promptings in all fields of life and action.

The ancient texts define the soul as no bigger than the thumb of a man, and residing deep in the inner heart, for the most part unseen, unheard, and unheeded in the outward rush of the senses, the vital reactions, the emotions and the mind.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 8, The Release from the Heart and the Mind, pg. 336

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Desire, a key attribute of the vital being of man, is considered by many to be necessary as the motivating force of action. We frequently hear that without desire, there would be no impetus for action and there would be no possibility of progress. Sri Aurobindo acknowledges the current role of desire, yet at the same time, takes care to point out that desire is not the only possible spur to action and in fact, it is not the true and proper guide for our human journey.

Desire is at once the motive of our actions, our lever of accomplishment and the bane of our existence. If our sense-mind, emotional mind, thought-mind could act free from the intrusions and importations of the life-energy, if that energy could be made to obey their right action instead of imposing its own yoke on our existence, all human problems would move harmoniously to their right solution.

If desire is not to interfere with the actions of mind, then we need to find an appropriate relationship between the mind and the vital being in man. The proper function of the life-energy is to do what it is bidden by the divine principle in us, to reach to and enjoy what is given to it by that indwelling Divine and not to desire at all. The proper function of the sense-mind is to lie open passively, luminously to the contacts of Life and transmit their sensations and the rasa or right taste and principle of delight in them to the higher function; but interfered with by the attractions and repulsions, the acceptances and refusals, the satisfactions and dissatisfactions, the capacities and incapacities of the life-energy in the body it is, to begin with, limited in its scope and, secondly, forced in these limits to associate itself with all these discords of the life in Matter. It becomes an instrument for pleasure and pain instead of for delight of existence.

Sri Aurobindo envisions here a vital being that, instead of making demands and coloring the scope and direction of action, actually follows the higher guidance and direction and impetus of the Divine Force carrying out its Will in the world. The impulsion to action, then, is not desire, but the channeling of the Divine intention into direct, undistorted energy in the world. The individual becomes the nexus or occasion for a specific action without biasing the action or the fruit of the action by personal gain or loss, desire or aversion.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 8, The Release from the Heart and the Mind, pp. 335-336

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Prana, the life-energy, supports the physical body as the physical prana, but it also supports the action of the mind as the psychic prana. The seeker, in order to overcome the limitations of the life-energy in its characteristic action, needs to appreciate and fully understand the action of the psychic prana.

Sri Aurobindo describes the three characteristics of the life-energy: The characteristics of Life are action and movement, a reaching out to absorb and assimilate what is external to the individual and a principle of satisfaction or dissatisfaction in what it seizes upon or what comes to it, which is associated with the all-pervading phenomenon of attraction and repulsion. These three things are everywhere in Nature because Life is everywhere in Nature. But in us mental beings they are all given a mental value according to the mind which perceives and accepts them. They take the form of action, of desire and of liking and disliking, pleasure and pain.

This vital action distorts to its own ends the understanding of the pure mental instrument, and leads to confusion and mis-direction. Desire plants a bias in our mental process. As the universal Divine Being, all-embracing and all-possessing, acts, moves, enjoys purely for the satisfaction of divine Delight, so the individual life acts, moves, enjoys and suffers predominantly for the satisfaction of desire.

The yogic process requires the seeker to leave behind the desire-mind and associate with the bliss or enjoyment of the Divine, in an equal and wide embrace of the entire existence. Understanding the way that the desire-mind embeds itself in the mental process and colors the thoughts and decisions is an important step in conquering the attachment to the life-energy which limits and retards the process of the yoga.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 8, The Release from the Heart and the Mind, pg. 335

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Yoga is very much a science of applied psychology, and a great deal of work has been done to distinguish and identify the various elements of the being in the development of the yogic science. The physical body is a framework that is inert without the action of the life energy, and thus, when the life energy, known as Prana, is withdrawn from the body, we say that the body dies. The prana provides all energy, both to the body and to the mental faculties, while taking various forms based on the action to be undertaken. The science therefore distinguishes between physical prana which operates the physical framework of the body, and psychic prana which enlivens the action of the mental being.

Sri Aurobindo emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of the Prana, because the loosening of the attachment to the body, and the rejection of its domination over the mental Purusha requires the seeker, at the same time, to reject and eliminate the impulsions of the pranic energy, which manifests as the various forms of desire, including physical drives such as hunger and thirst, and the vigor of the natural man in the forms of general health and outward drives of action, and the opposites in the form of fatigue and ill-health. The Taittiriya Upanishad has a lengthy exposition on the various sheaths that make up the life of man, starting with the gross outer physical body, the food sheath, and then the vital sheath constituted of the action of the prana, as well as further sheaths that become ever more subtle.

Practically, in drawing back from the body we draw back from the physical life-energy also, even while we distinguish the two and feel the latter nearer to us than the mere physical instrument. The entire conquest of the body comes in fact by the conquest of the physical life-energy.

Along with the attachment to the body and its works the attachment to life in the body is overcome. For when we feel the physical being to be not ourselves, but only a dress or an instrument, the repulsion to the death of the body which is so strong and vehement an instinct of the vital man must necessarily weaken and can be thrown away. Thrown away it must be and entirely. The fear of death and the aversion to bodily cessation are the stigma left by his animal origin on the human being. That brand must be utterly effaced.

At certain stages of the yogic development the seeker is directly confronted with the detachment of the consciousness from the life and body and the fear of death arises strongly at that moment. The first impulse is to shrink back from the experience that has brought this specific reaction, and if that impulse is followed, the seeker returns to the physical life of the body and does not pierce the barrier into a new realm of consciousness at that time. Eventually, this fear must be faced and overcome for the progress to continue and the evolutionary development beyond the bodily life to manifest.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 7, The Release From Subjection to the Body, pp. 333-334

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The Yoga of knowledge emphasizes the importance of withdrawal from action in order to focus the attention and achieve the necessary mental and vital stillness for the achievement of spiritual liberation. There can be no doubt that the seeker must at some point undertake this focus and the ability to withdraw from the outer worlds demands is clearly helpful, if not in fact totally necessary.

At the same time, the Yoga of knowledge has tended to treat the withdrawal or renunciation of the outer world of action as a goal unto itself, and has thus condemned the outer life as being either of lesser importance or reality, or an illusory existence from which the seeker must escape.

Sri Aurobindo observes that for the integral Yoga, which accepts the reality of the world and its spiritual purpose, a total abandonment of that world is neither necessary nor desired. The seeker of the integral state of knowledge must be free from attachment to action and equally free from attachment to inaction. He goes on to state that with the withdrawal a tendency toward inertia may arise, and this must be counteracted, as it is a rising up of tamas, and is not beneficial to the spiritual development. The ideal poise is one in which the body-life-mind act purely as instruments of the forces of Nature put to work by the will of the Purusha carrying out the spiritual intention of the Divine.

He therefore counsels, until a state of higher perfection can be realized, a course of moderation of action: When we attain to this perfection, then action and inaction become immaterial, since neither interferes with the freedom of the soul or draws it away from its urge towards the Self or its poise in the Self. But this state of perfection arrives later in the Yoga and till then the law of moderation laid down by the Gita is the best for us; too much mental or physical action then is not good since excess draws away too much energy and reacts unfavourably upon the spiritual condition; too little also is not good since defect leads to a habit of inaction and even to an incapacity which has afterwards to be surmounted with difficulty.

Still, periods of absolute calm, solitude and cessation from works are highly desirable and should be secured as often as possible for that recession of the soul into itself which is indispensable to knowledge.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 7, The Release From Subjection to the Body, pp. 332-333

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The influence of the three Gunas, the qualities of Nature, cannot be underestimated for all action that takes place in the world generally. This includes the practice of Yoga until such time as the seeker has attained the status that is beyond the three Gunas (trigunatita). It is a basic tenet of the Yoga of knowledge as practiced historically that the seeker, in order to attain the refined states that are the object of the practice, must withdraw from active life in the world as much as possible.

Sri Aurobindo observes that there is a natural tendency, when adopting the poise of the Witness Self, to back off of the frenetic activity that characterizes the normal life of humanity. At the same time, he clarifies that if this becomes an opening for the action of tamas, through indolence, lassitude, indifference and sloth, rather than an inactivity that is based on a concentrated force of light and energy through tapas, then it will not yield the desired result, and is in fact, not the recommended approach.

The true status of inaction comes about through an intensity of focused energy, not a degradation of the energy. The power to do nothing, which is quite different from indolence, incapacity or aversion to action and attachment to inaction, is a great power and a great mastery; the power to rest absolutely from action is as necessary for the Jnanayogin as the power to cease absolutely from thought, as the power to remain indefinitely in sheer solitude and silence and as the power of immovable calm. Whoever is not willing to embrace these states is not yet fit for the path that leads towards the highest knowledge; whoever is unable to draw towards them, is as yet unfit for its acquisition.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 7, The Release From Subjection to the Body, pg. 332

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We may observe that most people, including the Western scientific community, will look upon the idea of changing the historical and customary relationship between mind and body as something either impossible or imbalanced. The touchstone of Western psychology for instance is the idea of bringing people to the state of being normal, which is defined essentially as abiding by the habitual lines of understanding and action and not exceeding them.

Sri Aurobindo observes that this is contradictory to the very approach of physical science which constantly seeks to overcome the established laws of nature and find ways to exceed, develop and enhance the basic actions of nature.

Yoga seeks to apply the concept of evolutionary progress to the realm of psychology and thereby must, by definition, work toward the upsetting of the normal relations of mind and body. The result here can be seen as madness and insanity if it leads to pure fantasies, but it can also lead to a breakthrough in human psychology and understanding. Western psychological researchers have also commented on the link between genius and madness with the difference being the ability of the genius to integrate the new experiences and understanding into a consistent and effective formation, while the mad person loses that basic sense of integration.

Sri Aurobindo comments: Suffice it to say here once for all that a change of mental and physical state and of relations between the mind and body which increases the purity and freedom of the being, brings a clear joy and peace and multiplies the power of the mind over itself and over the physical functions, brings about in a word mans greater mastery of his own nature, is obviously not morbid and cannot be considered a hallucination or self-deception since its effects are patent and positive. In fact, it is simply a willed advance of Nature in her evolution of the individual, an evolution which she will carry out in any case but in which she chooses to utilise the human will as her chief agent, because her essential aim is to lead the Purusha to conscious mastery over herself.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, Part Two: The Yoga of Integral Knowledge, Chapter 7, The Release From Subjection to the Body, pp. 331-332

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Self-worth leads to Personal Empowerment

Contingencies of self-worth comprise those qualities a person believes he or she must have in order to class as a person of worth and value; proponents claim the contingencies as the core of self-esteem.

Contingencies of self-worth can motivate well, but often have great costs to relationships, learning, autonomy, self-regulation, and mental and physical health. Using their contingencies of self-worth, people attempt to validate or prove their abilities and qualities to themselves and to others.

In the field of social psychology, Jennifer Crocker has carried out major research on the topic of contingencies of self-worth. She says that her research "explores what it is that people believe they need to be or do to have value and worth as a person, and the consequences of those beliefs". She claims that people pursue self-esteem by trying to prove that they have worth and value, and this pursuit affects "the satisfaction of the fundamental human needs for learning, relationships, autonomy, self-regulation, and mental and physical health" (Crocker, 2007). Crocker argues that this pursuit of self-worth affects not only the individual, but everyone around the person as well.

According to the "Contingencies of Self-Worth model" people differ in their bases of self-esteem. Their beliefs beliefs about what they think they need to do or who they need to "be" in order to class as a person of worth form these bases. Crocker and her colleagues (2001) identified six "domains" in which people frequently derive their self-worth, including:

1. virtue 2. support of family 3. academic competence 4. physical attractiveness 5. gaining others' approval

Individuals who base their self-worth in a specific domain leave themselves much more vulnerable to having their self-esteem threatened when negative events happen to them within that domain (such as when they fail a test at school). A 2003 study by Crocker found that students who based their contingency of self-worth on academic criteria had a greater likelihood of experiencing lower-state self-esteem, greater negative affect, and negative self-evaluative thoughts when they did not perform well on academic tasks, when they received poor grades, or when graduate schools rejected them.

Research by Crocker and her colleagues also suggests that contingencies of self-worth have self-regulatory properties. Crocker et al. define successful self-regulation as the willingness to exert effort toward ones most important goals, while taking setbacks and failures as opportunities to learn, identify weaknesses and address them, and develop new strategies toward achieving those goals. Since many individuals strive for a feeling of worthiness, it makes sense that those people would experience special motivation to succeed and actively to avoid failure in the domains on which they base their own self-worth. Accordingly, successful self-regulation can prove difficult for people aiming to maintain and enhance their self-esteem, because they would have to actually embrace failure or criticism as a learning-opportunity, rather than avoid it. Instead, when a task which individuals see as fundamental to their self-worth proves difficult and failure seems probable, contingencies of self-worth lead to stress, feelings of pressure, and a loss of intrinsic motivation. In these cases, highly contingent people may withdraw from the situation. On the other hand, the positive emotional affect following success in a domain of contingency may become addictive for the highly contingent individual. Over time, these people may require even greater successes to achieve the same satisfaction or emotional high. Therefore, the goal to succeed can become a relentless quest for these individuals.

Researchers such as Crocker believe that people confuse the boosts to self-esteem resulting from successes with true human needs, such as learning, mutually supportive relationships, autonomy, and safety. Crocker claims that people do not seek "self-esteem", but basic human needs, and that the contingencies on which they base their self-esteem has more importance than the level of self-esteem itself.

Wikipedia, the free enclyclopedia © 2001-2008 Wikipedia Contributors This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License

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Definition: Personal Empowerment - SelfGrowth.com

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Presentation: Content

"The Creator gathered all of creation and said, 'I want to hide something from the humans until they are Ready for it. It is the Realization that They Create their Own Reality.' The eagle said, 'Give it to me, I will take it to the moon.' The Creator said, 'No. One day they will go there and find it.' The salmon said, 'I will hide it on the bottom of the ocean.' 'No. They will go there too.' The buffalo said, 'I will bury it on the Great Plains.' Then Grand-mother Mole, who lives in the breast of Mother Earth, and who has no physical eyes but sees with spiritual eyes, said, 'Put it Inside them.' And the creator said, 'It is done.' " Sioux Legend

What do we infer from this "Legend?"

As Rogers said while talking about mainstream educational institutions, "They have focused so intently on the cognitive and have limited themselves so completely to 'educating from the neck up' , that this narrowness is resulting in serious social consequences." (1975:40-41) .

Motivation is like food for the brain. --Peter Davies http://www.quotelady.com/subjects/motivation.html

Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner. -- Les Brown -- http://www.motivation123.com/quotations.html

Everybody needs motivation. Everybody needs to have a reason for action. It is a sad fact that most people in this world underachieve because they don't believe they are capable of fulfilling their dreams. We, teachers, need to be committed to offering students the opportunity to believe in themselves and achieve great things.

Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition consists of five main hypotheses:

1- Natural order hypothesis:

'We acquire the rules of language in a predictable order'

What we conclude then is that Affect plays a very important role in second language acquisition. It needs to be taken into consideration by L2 teachers so they make sure that the students' affective filter is low at all times in order for learning to take place. Since this presentation is only related to Motivation, it will not cover the two other variables: self-confidence and anxiety.

Before we start by defining motivation, mentioning its sources and different theories/models and their implications, we believe it is worth asking one question that seems to guide all theorists' and researchers' work: "Why do people learn a second or foreign language? In other words, what is their Goal?

1- Why Do People Learn a Second/Foreign Language?

This seems to be the key question in all kinds of research! And of course, the reasons vary from a person to another.

2- Definitions of L2

3- Good L2 Learners

Some of those strategies:

Rubin (1975) suggested that good L2 learners

4- Definitions of Motivation

Here are a few that I have found in the literature:

According to the Webster's, to motivate means to provide with a motive, a need or desire that causes a person to act.

According to Gardner (1985), motivation is concerned with the question, "Why does an organism behave as it does? Motivation involves 4 aspects:

Motivation is a desire to achieve a goal, combined with the energy to work towards that goal. Many researchers consider motivation as one of the main elements that determine success in developing a second or foreign language; it determines the extent of active, personal involvement in L2 learning. (Oxford & Shearin, 1994)

Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. --Napolean Hill --

5- Sources of Motivation

"Without knowing where the roots of motivation lie, how can teachers water those roots?" (Oxford & Shearin, 1994- p.15)

Note: Conation = inclination to act purposefully; impulse. (Webster's) "It is an intrinsic 'unrest' of the organism, almost the opposite of homeostasis. A conscious tendency to act... a conscious striving." (English & English, 1958)

Note: Vicarious learning = the acquisition of knowledge or ability through indirect experience and observation, rather than direct experience or practice. (Harcourt Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology)

6- Theories of Motivation

Since this formula states that the three factors of Expectancy, Instrumentality, and Valence or Value are to be multiplied by each other, a low value in one will result in a low value of motivation. Therefore, all three must be present in order for motivation to occur. That is, if an individual doesn't believe he or she can be successful at a task OR the individual does not see a connection between his or her activity and success OR the individual does not value the results of success, then the probability is lowered that the individual will engage in the required learning activity. From the perspective of this theory, all three variables must be high in order for motivation and the resulting behavior to be high. => An individual will act in a certain way based on the expectation that the act will be followed by a given outcome and on the attractiveness of that outcome to the individual.

In a teaching/learning environment, it is important to assist the learner to develop a self-attribution explanation of effort (internal, control). If the person has an attribution of ability (internal, no control) as soon as the individual experiences some difficulties in the learning process, he or she will decrease appropriate learning behavior. If the person has an external attribution, then nothing the person can do will help that individual in a learning situation (i.e., responsibility for demonstrating what has been learned is completely outside the person). In this case, there is nothing to be done by the individual when learning problems occur. .

According to the Webster's, cognitive dissonance is a psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously.

Cognitivists explain motivation in terms of a person's active search for meaning and satisfaction in life. Thus, motivation is internal.

D- Achievement Motivation Theories

One aspect of this theory is that individuals are motivated to either avoid failure (more often associated with performance goals) or achieve success (more often associated with mastery goals). In the former situation, the individual is more likely to select easy or difficult tasks, thereby either achieving success or having a good excuse for why failure occurred. In the latter situation, the individual is more likely to select moderately difficult tasks which will provide an interesting challenge, but still keep the high expectations for success.

According to Maslow, an individual is ready to act upon the growth needs if and only if the deficiency needs are met.

The remaining four levels (Growth Needs) are:

Maslow recognized that not all personalities followed his proposed hierarchy. While a variety of personality dimensions might be considered as related to motivational needs, one of the most often cited is that of introversion and extroversion. Reorganizing Maslow's hierarchy based on the work of Alderfer and considering the introversion/extroversion dimension of personality results in three levels, each with an introverted and extroverted component. This organization suggests there may be two aspects of each level that differentiate how people relate to each set of needs. Different personalities might relate more to one dimension than the other. For example, an introvert at the level of Other/Relatedness might be more concerned with his or her own perceptions of being included in a group, whereas an extrovert at that same level would pay more attention to how others value that membership.

A Reorganization of Maslow's and Alderfer's Hierarchies

Edward L. Deci

H- Transpersonal / Spiritual Theories

Most of the transpersonal or spiritual theories deal with the meaningfulness of our lives or ultimate meanings.

Theories of Motivation Summary

Behaviorists explain motivation in terms of external stimuli and reinforcement. The physical environment and actions of the teacher are of prime importance.

Cognitivists explain motivation in terms of person's active search for meaning and satisfaction in life. Thus motivation is internal.

Humanists stress the need for personal growth. They place a great deal of emphasis on the total person, along with the related news of personal freedom, choice and self-determination.

7- Models of Motivation

In the context of language learning, instrumental motivation refers to the learner's desire to learn a language for utilitarian purposes (such as school/university requirement, employment or travel), whereas integrative motivation refers to the desire to learn a language to integrate successfully into the target language community.

Researchers challenged the social psychological approach claiming that it does not include the cognitive aspects of learning motivation (Oxford & Shearin, 1994; Dornyei, 1994), it is not practical and does not benefit L2 learning since it is too broad to help L2 educators generate practical guidelines (Dornyei, 1990).

Questions the learner asks him/herself:

C- Schumann (1978, 1986): Acculturation Model- Schumann examined the effects of personal variables such as relative status, attitude, integration, amount of time in the culture, size of the learning group, and cohesiveness of the group on adult language learning.

Schumann suggested three strategies taken by adult learners:

Gardner (1985) describes core second language learning motivation as a construct composed of three characteristics:

According to Gardner, a highly motivated individual will

"An integratively oriented learner would likely have a stronger desire to learn the language, have more positive attitudes towards the learning situation, and be more likely to expend more effort in learning the language (Gardner, 1985).

The Gardnerian theory of SLA motivation is based on the definition of motivation as "the extent to which the individual works or strives to learn the language because of a desire to do so and the satisfaction experienced in this activity" (Gardner, 1985).

The micro level involves the cognitive processing of L2 input. At the micro level learner motivation is evidenced by the amount of attention given to the input. The classroom level includes the techniques and activities employed in the classroom. The syllabus level refers to the choice of content presented and can influence motivation by the level of curiosity and interest stimulated in the students. Finally, factors from outside the classroom involve informal interaction in the L2 and long term factors.

Crookes & Schmidt (1991) also suggested that motivation to learn a language has both internal and external features:

1- Interest in L2 (based on attitudes, experience, background knowledge) 2- Relevance (perception that personal needs --achievement, affiliation, power-- are being met by learning the L2. 3- Expectancy of success or failure. 4- Outcomes (extrinsic or intrinsic rewards felt by the learner.) .

1- Decision to choose, pay attention to, and engage in L2 learning. 2- Persistence 3- High activity level

* beliefs about self (i.e., expectancies about one's attitudes to succeed, self-efficacy, and anxiety)

* goals (perceived clarity and relevance of learning goals as reasons for learning)

* involvement (i.e., extent to which the learner actively and consciously participates in the language learning process)

* environmental support (i.e., extent of teacher and peer support, and the integration of cultural and outside-of-class support into learning experience)

* personal attributes (i.e., aptitude, age, sex, and previous language learning experience).

2. the instrumental/pragmatic dimension;

3. the macro-context-related dimension (multi-cultural/ intergroup / ethnolinguistic relations);

4. the self-concept-related dimension (generalised/ trait-like personality factors);

5. the goal-related dimension;

6. the educational context-related dimension (learning/ classroom/ school environment);

7. the significant others-related dimension (parents, family, friends).

Models of Motivation Summary

8- Factors that Affect Motivation .

9- Instruments for Motivation Assessment:

10- Implications & Strategies for L2 Learners' Motivation:

Check Matching Exercise

The greatest motivational act one person can do for another is to listen.--Roy E. Moody

Dornyei (1994) suggests

Dornyei (1998:131) suggests "Ten Commandments for Motivating Language Learners

Oxford & Shearin (1996:139) also offer Practical Suggestions for Teachers:

1. Teachers can identify why students are studying the new language.

3. Teachers can help students improve motivation by showing that L2 learning can be an exciting mental challenge, a career enhancer, a vehicle to cultural awareness and friendship and a key to world peace.

4. Teachers can make the L2 classroom a welcoming, positive place where psychological needs are met and where language anxiety is kept to a minimum.

5. Teachers can urge students to develop their own intrinsic rewards through positive self-talk, guided self-evaluation, and mastery of specific goals, rather than comparison with other students. Teachers can thus promote a sense of greater self-efficacy, increasing motivation to continue learning the L2.

Keller (1983).Hepresents an instructional design model for motivation that is based upon a number of other theories. His model suggests a design strategy that encompasses four components of motivation:

The ARCS Model identifies four essential strategy components for motivating instruction:

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Affect in Language Learning: Motivation

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Drive | Daniel H. Pink

Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) was born in Calcutta on 15 August, and educated at a christian convent in Darjeeling. At the age of seven, along with his two brothers, he was sent by his Anglophile father to England in order to receive a "British Education". Returning to his homeland at age 21, he worked for some years in the public service, while learning from scratch the languages and traditions of his own culture. He was prominent in the struggle for independence against the British, and spent a year in prison. Whilst in prison he had a vision of the Divine, which assured him that India would attain its independence and that he could leave the movement to devote himself to the spiritual task. He retreated to the French colony of Pondicherry, where he would be safe against the British, and set up an ashram. There he became an important philosopher, yogi, and teacher and developed he called Integral Yoga, the yoga of the whole being. He was joined by his co-worker and fellow Adept Mirra Alfassa, who later became known as The Mother. For the remainder of his life Sri Aurobindo worked tirelessly for the transformation of the world, the yoga of the earth. A prolific writer, he produced a total of twenty-nine volumes, including such classics of spirituality as Savitri, The Life Divine, and the Synthesis of Yoga. He spent many hours each day writing replies to letters from disciples, some of which were later collated and published.

Sri Aurobindo's teachings are interesting, indeed unique for a major Indian philosopher, in that he presents a very theosophical-anthroposophical cosmology, involving specific planes of existence, subtle psychic faculties, spiritual entities, and long processes of evolution. In a real sense he represents more the theosophical-gnostic stream in Indian guise, rather than a specifically Indian (Advaitan or Tantric) approach; the very real contributions of the latter notwithstanding. So if Western spiritual philosophy aquires an Indian-Tibetan flavour with Blavatskian Theosophy, India conversely aquires a Western (esoteric and exoteric) flavour with Aurobindo.

Of course, Theosophy itself had a strong influence on Indian politics. Madam Blavatsky's successor Annie Besant was outspoken in her struggle on behalf of Indian independence (swaraj or "self-rule") from the British; and Gandhi was chosen, educated, and primed by Theosophical people in London. And the Vegetarian Society he founded there was strongly Theosophcal.

Sri Aurobindo was not just a Realizer, he was a Divinizer. And, like all Realizers and Divinizers, his life - as he put it - was not on the surface for men to see. That is, his real work was conducted on an occult and esoteric level, of which secular modernity, and even progressive forms of modernity like postmaterialism, know nothing.

This is why academic biographies, such as Peter Heehs' study, which has caused such consternation among religious followers, can only convey the surface, empirical, historical, facts, but not the metaphysical subtle, causal, and transcendent Divine Reality of his life and life and mission.

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Sri Aurobindo - Kheper

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