Our "Happy Chemical" Serotonin and How to Raise it Naturally (and with jade!)

Yesterday I went to Honeybaked Ham store to pick up an order I made for New Year's Day dinner.  Traffic was amazingly light and I got there about 10 minutes before it opened. It was already 80+ degrees so I got out of the car and walked around the stores in the complex.  The only one open was a Starbucks two stores away from Honeybaked.  When I got back to Honeybaked, a small, furry white dog that was outside Starbucks with its owner started yipping and barking at me, wagging its tail like I was a long lost friend.  When it started howling, the woman brought it over to me, telling me the dog wanted me to pat it.  It was my pleasure, as it rolled around and panted, almost like it was humming or singing.  It didn't want to leave.

I was smiling.  I had white fur all over my gray jeans, and drool on my hands.

I love dogs, but can't have one.  I walk for at least 30 minutes right at sunset.  And I always hope to see dogs out walking too, and pat them.

Why do dogs make us feel so good?  Dogs are companions, sometimes assistant helpers, often get brought into hospitals, nursing homes to cheer up the patients.  Some people will not fly on a plane unless they have their medical assistance dog with them.

Earlier in the morning, I read an article in the newspaper about science proving that touch,  human or animal, causes our serotonin  levels to rise.  Serotonin is our "happy chemical".  Not only does it make us happy, but is essential in treating cardiac problems, including a study that shows higher serotonin levels improve heart valves, especially the mitral valve.  Doctors look for a way to raise serotonin levels, and all they need to do is hug, touch, or find a dog to pat for the patient.  Well, I don't know if science can cure prolapsed mitral valves that way, but they are experimenting with it.

Patting dogs, getting a hug, improve serotonin levels.  How does jade fit in here?

When you are wearing a jade bangle bracelet, you probably touch it during the day.  The bangle edges touch your skin, acupoints during the day.  When you touch your jade bangle bracelet, move it around on your wrist, you are getting pleasure, therefore raising your serotonin levels.  And getting acupressure on major points in your wrist.

Another reason to not only wear a jade bangle bracelet all the time, but also get the one that fits closest to your wrist.

NJ2363 small Chinese jade bangle bracelet

Happy Holidays: Why Can't I Feel Happy? Why do I Feel Depressed About Holidays?

One of my Facebook friends posted yesterday that she took all her Christmas decorations out of storage, unpacked them all, then sat down in her living room and cried until she thought her heart would break.  But it's the holidays!  We're supposed to be happy!

This past year two family members died.  This would be her first Christmas season without them.

Last year she was hit by a car leaving her street and so injured she was in a nursing home for months. 

The year before that, her husband was killed while riding his motorcycle to work.

All of her holiday decorations had memories attached to them.  She needed to talk about her grief and loss.  But some of her friends told her to just forget about the past, have a good time, come to a party where there will be lots of alcohol and drugs to help her feel better. 

She's still sad today, and now she doesn't want to be social because of the response of her friends.

The older we get, the more loss we have to remember on holidays and special occasions. 

My father died on New Years Eve six years ago.  I have trouble being happy at New Year's Eve parties even though six years have passed.  And his birthday was around Thanksgiving, so when we had our family Thanksgiving dinners, I always brought his favorite chocolate cake for a birthday cake.  And I have always made a chocolate cake for Thanksgiving dinner, which I prepare for several friends. And when I serve dessert, instead of feeling like I'm honoring him, I feel sad.  This year was the first year I didn't make the cake, because one of my girlfriends offered to bring dessert.  She knows how that chocolate cake, which they all love, has such a sad effect on me. 

A few years ago, my husband and I noticed that people who grew up with, went to school with, their names were showing in obituaries in the hometown newspaper we read online. 

I used to call my mother every Sunday morning at 10 AM when she got home from church.  Now she is in assisted living, and when she first moved there, I called at 10AM on Sundays.  But I told her I was going to call her at different times and on different days.  That's my way of planning for the future when she's no longer here, so I won't be depressed on Sunday mornings. 

When someone you love dies, they always remain in your heart.  You can move through the grief process, but that sadness and loss will still be there at times. 

My friend felt better when she was able to talk about her memories.  She had some anger that she vented, and I listened without judging, and hugged her when she needed it. 

On New Year's Eve, the people I'm with will give me a hug and know I'm thinking about my father.  It's OK to feel loss and grief.  It's even more OK when you have someone who will listen to you.

Calm Spirit

 

Tai Chi, Yoga, Feng Shui and a Messy Room

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and I cooked a big dinner, had friends over.  It was late when everyone left, I was happy but my firbromyalgia was raging through my body.  We cleaned up before we went to bed so the feng shui atmosphere here at home felt better.

This morning I was very sore, and started my tai chi and yoga because even though it starts out painful, I feel much better when I complete my final "om". 

I start with a few yoga poses to warm up, then do some qigong,  tai chi form, and end with several yoga poses.  I was glad I cleaned up the area I use last night because I need all the space for the tai chi, including the kicks.  But as I started the tai chi, I noticed a drawer that wasn't closed completely, and knew it would take just a small push to close it while my hand was going by it doing tai chi.  But I didn't want to break my form.  Then when I was bending,  I noticed a ball of lint on the floor and wanted to pick it up as part of the form, but didn't want to break the good qi movement I had going.  And both those things were difficult to get out of my head, and it probably affected the qi / spiritual / energy benefits of the tai chi.  Then I did some yoga, put the mat away, and forgot about the drawer and the lint. 

I have been doing tai chi for at least 20 years, and fall into the good energy qi state of mind as soon as I start the first movements.  I didn't realize how balancing it was until I started becoming so aware of the "things" that were out of order in my space, the feng shui of the space.  And it's been several years since I realized that, and still have trouble "detaching" from the out-of-order things like drawers and lint. 

Most of us live in a busy, noisy world.  My "space' opens to a screened outdoor room and I like to let nature in and open the door even on very cool days.  Then I hear cars, lawn mowers, barking dogs.  I can detach from sounds, but not the room feng shui.

Sometimes I wonder what I can add to my tai chi form after doing the same thing for 20 years.  And by being mindful, I always find something.  Now, it's about the feng shui.  Even though I think everything in the space is in order,  I don't notice that it's not until tai chi. 
So I have to detach, yet stay mindful. 

Dao Bagua Yin Yang Jadeite Pendant - Root of Feng Shui

How to Stop Hating Someone: If Trump or Clinton Win, I'm Leaving the Country

Our nation has been through many emotions during the presidential election this year.
Postings on Facebook, news interviews, political debates brought out strong feelings, with hate being one of the strongest.  And the emotional turmoil will continue, with some people vowing to leave the country since Donald Trumps election to the presidency.

Protests in communities started after the election results were announced.  Most of these protests are started by hate mongers, which haven't resolved the problems of hate.

When you feel hate of being surrounded by haters, or have the hate feeling inside yourself, if you are honest with yourself, you probably don't feel well, physically, mentally and spiritually.

I woke up at 3 AM when the election results were announced, and could feel so much conflicting feeling and energy in the world.  My distress was very strong the morning of November 9, 2016.  I had strong feeling inside myself about what was going to happen to all of us not only in USA but throughout the world with a Donald Trump as president.  And I meditated.  It occurred to me that Donald Trump has been relatively successful in his life and if his behavior was what we saw during the pre-election period, he would not have become as successful as he is now.  He's also an actor who had a television show.

Now we Americans have to accept him as president, whether or not we voted for him.  If we were against him, how could we feel good about having President Trump lead our country?

Then I watched the meeting Mr. Trump had with President Obama.  I first noticed both of their body languages.  I expected to see President Obama "just getting through it" because Trump made statements so much against him.  But Obama's body language was open, accepting, and he was very peaceful, assertive and not aggressive.  And so was Mr. Trump in body language and his speech.  Looking back, I think President Obama's behavior has had a tremendous impact on Mr. Trump starting out his presidency.  If Obama had been scolding and finger pointing, Trump would have been defensive and accusing.  During that time together, Obama did what was best for the nation.

But how did he let go of the hate he probably felt toward Trump who accused him of birthing issues, threatened to cancel Obamacare as soon as he was in office?  Obama has probably learned that nothing positive can be accomplished when you are full of hate.  So you have to find a way to stop hating.

Consider: Is it the person you hate or is it the behavior of the person that you hate?

If you pray, and you pray for the person you hate, it sends good blessings their way and those good blessings come back to you to soothe your hate and help you feel better.

If you are an energy practitioner, you may spend time each day doing distance healing and sending Love and Light, energy around to people, places, things. If you practice qigong or tai chi, you know that energy is real when you feel that ball of qi energy you move around during practice.  Reiki practitioners send distance healing to those who need it.

Try this:  Pose yourself in a meditation so you will be comfortable for at least 20 minutes.  Feel the energy inside yourself, and feel it flow freely through yourself.  Focus on the person whose behavior you hate.  Without judgment, send Energy to the person.  Feel the Energy surround the person.  Move the energy around the person to inside the person.  Feel the Light envelope the person.  Never judge, just let it "be".   Do this practice daily for awhile. You will probably feel better after doing it several days.  You are opening your own heart, letting go of hate, taking some of that Hate out of the world.

Hate doesn't help you or anyone.  Hating someone is hurting yourself.

Peace and Light to you who need it.

 Your comments are welcome.  Please note comments will now show immediately as they are moderated to avoid SPAM

Ying Yu Jade Roller Sale - Best Jade Roller for Face and Body and What Jade Roller is Best to Use

Earlier this month I had a nagging thought to purchase additional jade rollers for inventory.  I had enough for the holiday season, and planned to order more prior to Chinese New Year.  But I gave in to the nagging, and purchased almost as many jade rollers as are in inventory, small, medium and jade rollers with two sizes one on each end.

Ying Yu Jade Rollers

As soon as they arrived, I was surprised to get 2-3 times more orders for jade rollers than usual.  A fashion magazine had post a page about jade rollers being a natural and "miracle worker" for face and wrinkles. The jade roller that was featured was a jade roller that our jade carver supplied to their company, but the price was twice what Ying Yu Jade web site charges when it is full price. 

Jade rollers truly are "miracle workers" for your face and body.  Your face skin, muscles and tissue don't get much of a workout, and stimulation is what helps improve your facial appearance.  The jade roller moves the blood, tissue and stimulates the muscles.  Jade rollers break down the fascia which gives you a smoother appearance.  And stimulating areas of wrinkles and lines helps to smooth them by supplying more blood and energy.

So what kind of jade roller is best to use?  For your face, the size of the small jade roller is perfect.  It moves easily and stimulates the small areas of the face.  The jade double roller has a small roller on one end and larger on the other end to use on your neck and body.  The jade rollers are hand made by our jade carver in China.  The metal roller holder is adjustable so you it will roll smoothly or with slightly more pressure.  The small, medium and larger jade rollers are not designed for heavy duty body work, but the acu roller and practitioners model can be used with more pressure from your had.  If the roller falls out of the metal holder, simply put it between the metal parts and squeeze lightly until it rolls the way you want.

The jade stone is genuine Chinese jade that has been used for centuries by Chinese doctors and people who use jade rollers like over-the-counter medicine for aches, pains, and general health use.  Jade is stone, stone is not "perfect" and Ying Yu Jade roller are smooth and polished.  You might see lines in the jade stone, but that's natural.  The jade rollers that have cracks or chips are listed in the Clearance Collection.

Visit the Ying Yu Jade web site for more information and a video about jade rollers and their use. 

And since I orders more inventory of jade rollers, I can offer a lower price for a limited time. Most have a sale price now.  As a Calm Spirit Blog reader, you can get an additonal 10% discount on jade rollers, even those already on sale, if your purchase is for $50 or more.  Use coupon code   ROLLER10   which will be valid while the extra inventory is available.

Ying Yu Jade Rollers - traditional jade rollers made by hand for YYJ and ship from Florida, USA so you get your purchase fast. 

Chi (Qi) Energy Expercises, Tai Chi, Qigong

More than 20 years ago I was working full time, living in a rural area of Ohio, and trying to learn yoga on my own.  I was purchasing DVD's to learn, but hadn't found "just the right one".  One day I ordered a DVD on line, but what I received was the Discovering Chi DVD.  I had heard about tai chi, but not about qigong.  Ordering online and shipping was a big hassle back then, so I kept it.  And I loved it.  I fell into the practice so naturally.  I had never experienced the kind of bliss you get from doing qi (chi) energy exercise.

Then came my China experience, and I learned qi healing, qigong and tai chi, and disovered jade and its qi energy.  But my basic routine continued to be, and still is, this form. This is a form you can learn, and continue to do without getting formal training.

Each episode of Discovering Chi introduces viewers to a facet of the ancient Chinese art of chi-gong, a form of exercise designed to regulate and focus the flow of chi energy through their bodies. In this particular episode, viewers discover how chi concepts can help the very old and very young, and learn the basic exercises of the discipline. Instructor Linda Modaro leads viewers

Discovering Chi Energy Exercises only $5 on Ying Yu Jade

Cleansing and Blessing a Home or Room with Sage Smudging

We moved into our new home about three weeks ago. It took almost two weeks to unpack boxes, find new places for things, get settled.  I was happy to have a new home, and actually be able to live in it, but I didn't feel "at home".   I think the process of moving out and going through all our belongings, donating or discarding what we didn't use or want to keep any more helped with my "attachment" issues.  Attachment is one of the of the causes of suffering in Buddhist teachings, and although I'm not Buddhist, the teachings have been very helpful to me.

After two weeks on a morning when my husband left early to golf with his group, I decided it was time to sage smudge the home.  I had purchased three 6" sage smudging sticks.  It's sage leafs tied together but not too tightly so that when you light the end with fire, the stick will smolder.

I didn't have a plan of how I would proceed.  I started in my home office, my most personal room.  The classic Reiki symbol came to mind, and I made the symbol with the smoldering sage in each corner, and verbally stated my hopes and wishes for the room and each corner.  Then I continued to all the other rooms, with the same blessing.  I was feeling quite blissful when I finished, and went through some spaces that are challenging to me, like the kitchen, my office and repeated with extra blessing.  I left the windows closed, and sat and meditated for awhile.  Then I went out to shop for home window treatments for an hour.

When I returned home, there was surprisingly no odor or smoke from the smudging.

I didn't mention the smudging blessing to my husband.  But later in the evening, he mentioned that this house was really feeling like a home to him and we both agreed that we were happy with our decision to have the old home torn down and a new one built after the storm damage.  It's been easier and more intuitive now to finish the little details in each room.

I learned about sage smudging at a Wicca retreat I accidently wandered into about 30 years ago.  I didn't even know what Wicca was, but it opened a new world to me.  My work as a psychologist and counselor opened my spirit more, and I was able to combine my cognitive-behavior techniques with more humanity and spirituality.  I have saged homes for other people, and taught them to do it themselves.   And I have some sage sticks saved for blessing the exterior: the porch, lanai, carport, storage shed when they are finished.