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Since starting my practices some 4 years ago, I have come to realise that the left side of my body is more sensitive to energy and more relaxed than my right side. My left testicle has been tingling since starting, and the duct leading from it seems to act as a kind of antenna - picking up energy at various times and tingling immensly in doing so. The right testicle seems lifeless in comparison. I had an experience about two years ago now where I was lying in bed sleeping. I was on my back and my vertebrae were in good alignment. An experience occured that was not a dream and not what I would call a awaking experience either... A snake shot up my spine and went to the left eye, where an androgynous figure floated before me and as the snake reached my eye the figure and snake met and become one. There was much beauty and colour, and the whites of this androgenous figure's eyes were whiter than any white I have seen. Another experience I had was around this time last year. I was given a symbol after losing all knowledge of my body and being confronted with a brilliant light. The symbol was that of a trishula, and I had yet another experience within the left channel. My understanding is that I was given this symbol to tell me that I needed all three spinal channels to be clear: the left, right and centre. Also, judging from my experiences I think I may've succeeded in clearing the left to some degree. Why is my right side so lifeless in comparison? Well, something taiji has taught me is that I have trouble rooting with my right foot. Also, I hold plenty of tension in my right shoulder as well as the neck. When belly breathing the right side of my abdomen has difficulty in expanding into the hip... although, this has started to loosen dramatically of late. On top of this my right eye is also my lazy eye, and there is tension held in the muscles that control its movement. AND I regularly suffer from foot cramp... but guess what, it only happens in the right foot. One interesting consquence is that I find it very difficult to do visualisation from the centre or from the right - I always appear to be observing from the left side. So whether my visual experiences are looking within the body from within or from without it's generally the left that I see. So far I have just been focussing on my practices in the anticipation that it will one day sort itself out. I attempt to be mindful of it, and not forceful. Intuition has brought me to this forum to raise the question about practices that exercise the right channel. There are many practitioners here with vast amounts of cumulative knowledge in esoteric fields, and I would appreciate input from you all Yours in humble request, James

I've found this website very useful as a fasting resource. http://www.allaboutfasting.com/

Glad I'm not alone. I've got two translations of the texts attributed to the Desert Fathers and get so much out of them. I try to read a little every day There's a lot in it about opening the heart, living in silence, not paying much attention to the slideshow of spiritual progress, killing the ego, strengthening the will/submission to God's, emptying the mind, etc. Thank you also for the links. It has brought this to my attention http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_the_Heart. May peace be with you James

Not much truth to it in my eyes. Body temperature depends largely on metabolism, although I'm sure can be effected by diet, exercise is generally considered the main contributor. Women generally run colder than men, and most vegetarians tend to be female - perhaps this is how this information was spread? About 98% of my diet is vegetarian - have meat once a week at most. Run hot most of the time Happier and healthier too...

Nature works in cycles. As sinfest said, we may think that we are divorced from it - yet will still live by the sun and the seasons. We stare in wonder at the stars above and picnic in the shade of trees. Where to go from here? For an individual who wants to re-connect, simple things like spending more time outdoors and looking after plants are a good start. If you want to learn survival skills or how to grow plants there are plenty of courses to go to. Maybe have a look into the transition towns movement, or permaculture.

Less time spent reading and writing means more time spent living and breathing. It's been a pleasure, Cameron, although I have mostly been in the 'background' I have read much of what you have written. You've grown wiser. Long may it continue. *bow* James

The way I understand it is that karma is as simple as "you get what you give", "what comes around goes around", "every action has a reaction" etc. So if you have karma that allows you to suffer and you no longer want to suffer, then start taking others out of suffering. Give, be generous, love, sacrifice, be kind, considerate, charitable... Of course, you could carry on suffering but that is quite likely to be less pleasant. If you're really 'good' then you can escape the cycle altogether. All of the above is easier to say than to do. It requires you to investigate your habits, to understand them, to eliminate/circumvent them. As you're alive and need to spend your time doing something - perhaps this is the best possible option? Love, James

Including moderation

Best advertised here?

There are a select few muslims who have been fasting (i.e. not eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset, and consuming very moderate amount at all other times) for years without fail. Names escape me at the moment. I would imagine bodily-efficiency-through-cultivation and the quality of the food are of great importance.

Is it not the case that some demons can think of themselves as separate from 'One-ness'/God and want themselves to be worshipped or listened to? I do not think all demons are helpful as you say they are. Although I do agree that we can help them to evolve. It is reasonable to assume that they lie to their get own way, particularly so if they are in more unforgiving dimensions where hate, anger, selfishness, pain etc. are more commonplace.

I would imagine that they do exist. Perhaps not in the physical sense as the desk and computer in front of me, but certainly in the conceptual. And who knows what other realms they may appear in... My understanding is that the slaying of the dragon is a representation of overcoming one's animal nature. The slaying is usually done with a sword or spear, representing a fortified spinal column through the transmutation of sexual energies. I went to Victor Hugo's house in Guernsey a couple of years back and the whole house seemed to me to be a representation of his spiritual path. You start at the bottom, where it's dark and full of his ego's creations. To cut a long story short, as you go up the various floors the house becomes brighter, along with increased religious/spiritual adornments. The upper most room is very modest and the brightest and most open in the whole house. On the walls by the window there's two pictures: one of a knight slaying a dragon and the other of the knight being rewarded by a lady in white with a drop of glowing liquid. Interesting stuff

If my understanding is correct, by perverts you mean those who leech off others for their energy - in particular, perhaps, sexual (untransmuted) energy. Transmutation is difficult at the best of times and sexual desire is often seen as a great, yet fundamental obstacle. I would be very grateful if you could help give pointers to overcoming lust/perversion/fornication so that both I and others may benefit. With gratitude, James

googled or good ol' dropbox @

I too would side with ignorance. It's often coupled with arrogance

This exercise may also be beneficial

Black magic. One could behave as a saint and still have ego. As for how to get you out of such states, you may wish to try some karma yoga. Taking the time and energy to help others stops one from dwelling in one's self. Yours, James

I don't think there ever was a beginning. Time is held within eternity and consciousness is eternal.

We can't even predict the weather accurately, so I see where joeblast is coming from Part of the trouble is the sheer complexity of the situation - if it were simple and measurements taken consistently then there would be a more solid basis for the science on which much of it stands. I don't think anyone here would argue against resources being better spent tackling the practical implications such as "clean up soot, make cars and trucks run more cleanly." As I think it was Steve that said it's more likely to come through grassroots solutions. Throughout the last two hundred years, humanity has been creating chemicals which do not occur naturally and which were insufficiently tested. The impacts on wildlife, habitats, flora and humanity (not to mention the environment) have been well-documented and more than often ignored in favour of economic growth. Economic and environmental sustainability are as important now as it ever was - we just happened to forget about it for generations. The urgency with which we need to remember cannot be understated. Nitrogen dead-zones, plastics breaking down to mimic hormones, the pumping of sewage into the water supply, the effects of combustion fumes on air quality, the mass plantation of pine trees, fishing with trawlers, injection of hormones into livestock, monoculture farming... The list goes on. They're all unsustainable practices or results thereof. If we carry on there won't be much left, if at all Climate change is only a part of the equation.

The mercy of love should never be underestimated. All things change - even deadlines

Yep, there's a good reason why Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe in Hell!

Adj, I am very glad you were open and talked about how you felt when you see a mess. If you love someone and you want to make it work, you will have to work for it. By that I don't mean bending over backwards and doing everything your other half wants. I mean that you will need to investigate why you feel the way you do. You are responsible for your own feelings, you are not made to feel them because of someone else's actions. The same is true for the other party. You will both have to work to understand yourselves so you can communicate that understanding to the other. Love is worth struggling for

Well said, Gerard. Minor additions: Salt is a universal cleanser and can help too. You can sprinkle it around the room (particularly corners) before hoovering. Rose essential oil is fab. Drinking sage infusion on a regular basis is also beneficial. With incense, it helps to take it from room to room to clear the atmosphere. Elementals from plants can also help as long as a harmonious relationship is cultivated.