Information from David Wolfe (Testing for Breast Cancer)
You really want to ask your doctor for this test:
Three hormones: estrone, estradiole and estrole. If the levels of estradiole and estrone are elevated while the level of estrole is low, this shows that you have breast cancer 100%. You doctor knows what the levels should be.
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How and why a woman’s frame of mind changes during the normal menstrual cycle.
By Margarita Kaidun
The sunlight and moonlight influences our endocrine system. Before the invention of electricity, all women menstruated in a much more synchronized manner. Things are different now. I would like to introduce you to a little insight about our 28 day cycle and its effect on hormones, body, mood, and health transformations. I will also suggest ways to cope with it as well as myths, folk psychology, customs and traditions that are relevant to this subject.
My hope is that this information helps women everywhere to accept and be proud of who they are. Knowledge is power. For more information, please refer to our
SCHOOL OF SELF POWER.
The normal menstrual cycle ranges from 25 to 35 days, with a 28-day average. The menstrual flow itself can last two to seven days, with an average of four days. We consider the first day of menstrual bleeding as Day 1 of your cycle.
Day 1 to 3:
Beginning of the cycle (the Moontime)
Hormones: Normally during this period of time female hormones; estrogen and progesterone, vital to the health of every woman, reach their lowest levels. At this time, our uterus does not have hormonal support so vessels in the endometrium (lining) of the uterus break and blood flow begins.
How we feel at that time: Our immune system is very fragile. So we are at risk for getting colds or viruses.
Common complaints can include nausea, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, headaches, backache, irritability.
Frame of Mind: We feel gloomy and depressed at this time.
How to help our self:
Participate in Relaxing Meditation and techniques as well as Healing and Breathing meditation.
Eat a lot of fruit or if you can, fresh vegetables, whole grains (especially if you experience constipation or indigestion) and nuts.
Take vitamin C, drink water or tea (especially green tea or ginger tea), take a few sips of red wine
Take some time for yourself. Reconnect with nature, participate in artistic activities. Books can really help.
Meditate with the Moon Sisterhood circle at the Ottawa Urban Retreat.
Try not using tampons during the first two days as many women find tampons increase cramping.
Day 3 to 13:
Time from end of menstruation to ovulation
(Ovulation is the release of a single, mature egg from the ovarian follicle)
Hormones: The level of estrogen is quickly increasing.
How we feel at that time: During this time the body releases extra fluids. The pain threshold is very low too. You can start a diet during these days and you can load yourself with more physical activities.
Frame of Mind: At this time the level of the peaceful hormone progesterone is not high enough, so our level of business activities is very high. This time is good for the beginning of new projects.
How to help our self:
Drink water, or sips of red wine
Yoga and Meditation will enable you to experience positive sensations
Day 13 to 15:
Ovulation period
(The blood supply to the ovary increases and the ligaments contract, pulling the ovary closer to the Fallopian tube, allowing the egg, once released, to find its way into the tube)
Hormones: The level of estrogen is at its highest. The level of testosterone is a little bit higher.
How we feel at that time: During this time you may experience discomfort or pain in the bottom of your stomach (uterine cramping), in addition you may notice transparent excretions from your uterus.
Frame of Mind: No more aggression. This is an easy time to get stressed.
How to help our self:
Meditate with Moon Sisterhood circle at the Ottawa Urban Retreat
Stress relieve techniques and meditation
Take some alone time
Drink water
Avoid caffeine
Mint and chamomile tea
Drink a warm cup of milk with a little bit of honey before going to bed.
Day 15 to 23:
Time between Ovulation and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Hormones: After ovulation, the levels of the hormone oxytocin rise (best known for its roles in female reproduction and as the hormone responsible for attachment). Recent studies have begun to investigate oxytocin's role in various behaviours such social recognition, anxiety, and maternal behaviors. The levels of progesterone are relatively high.
How we feel at that time: Our immune system becomes more fragile. Our breasts can become very sensitive; one of the reasons being that we are retaining extra fluid.
Frame of Mind: This is a period of peace, stillness, and happiness. It is not a very good time for making strong business decisions.
How to help our self:
Healing meditation,
Forgiveness meditation
Love sending meditation for the beloved ones and for the universe. Meditation will give you the possibility to experience positive sensations such as euphoria, invigoration, creative energy, exhilaration, and an increased sex drive and more intense orgasms.
Reduce the amount of salt and fatty foods in this period of time.
Day 23 to 28:
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Hormones: During this period, the balance between estrogen and progesterone can play a significant role on our mood. If estrogen predominates, anxiety occurs. If there's more progesterone, depression may be a complaint. Normally estrogen goes to very low levels and progesterone increases just before bleeding decreases.
How we feel at that time: During this period women can experience backache, nausea, headaches, fatigability, sleeping disorders and skin rashes. There can also be exacerbation of chronic diseases such an Asthma.
Frame of Mind: We all know what PMS is. Some of us feel anxiety, irritability and mood swings. We crave sugary or comfort foods. Most whims take place at this time. Do not make any vital decisions during these days. I hope your partner will be more caring and sensitive to your needs during this time. It can really help!
How to help our self:
Vipassana meditation
Healing meditation
Forgiveness meditation
Love sending meditation
An increase in exercise as this will improve blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body, including the pelvis.
Have an orgasm
Reduce the amount of salty, fatty foods and refined sugars during this period
Do not forget about your multivitamins
Fresh fruit juice
Forget about caffeine during this time
Customs and Traditions
South Americans said that all humans were made of "moon blood" in the beginning.
The old Arabian words for ’pure’ and ’impure’ both applied to menstrual blood and to that only.
In Mesopotamia, the Great Goddess created people out of clay and infused them with her blood. She taught women to form clay dolls and smear them with menstrual blood. Adam translates as bloody clay.
In Hindu theory, as the Great Mother created the earth, solid matter coalesced into a clot with a crust. Women use this same method to produce new life.
The Greeks believed the wisdom of man or god was centered in his blood which came from his mother. In Greece it was euphemistically called the "supernatural red wine" given to the gods by Mother Hera in her virgin form, as Hebe
The Maoris stated explicitly that human souls are made of menstrual blood, which when retained in the womb assumes human form and grows into a man. Egyptian pharaohs became divine by ingesting the blood of Isis called sa. Its hieroglyphic sign was the same as the sign of the vulva, a yonic loop like the one on the ankh.
From the 8th to the 11th centuries, Christian churches refused communion to menstruating women.
In ancient societies, menstrual blood carried authority, transmitting lineage of the clan or tribe.
Among the Ashanti, female children are more prized than males because a girl is the carrier of the blood.
Chinese sages called menstrual blood the essence of Mother Earth, the yin principle giving life to all things.
Some African tribes believed that menstrual blood kept in a covered pot for nine months had the power to turn itself into a baby. They said menstrual blood is ’congealed to fashion a man’
Easter eggs, classic womb-symbols, were dyed red and laid on graves to strengthen the dead.
A born-again ceremony from Australia showed the Aborigines linked rebirth with blood of the womb.
Aristotle said the same: human life is made of ’coagulum’ of menstrual blood.
Post-menopausal women were often the wisest because they retained their "wise blood." In the 17th century these old women were constantly persecuted for witchcraft because their menstrual blood remained in their veins.
Resources:
Vander's human physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function
Eric P. Widmaier, Boston University
Hershel Raff, Medical College of Wisconsin
Kevin T. Strang, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health
Christiane Northrup
http://www.fwhc.org/
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About Meditation
By Margarita
Meditation is the art of stilling the mind and relaxation. It has been a practice for over 5,000 years, and it is a living components of every existing religion. It is remarkably straightforward technique and anyone can practice it anywhere and at any time. It is the methodology of the science of awareness.This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and results in the highest happiness of full liberation. During meditation, the brain creates endogenous opiates (endogenous opioid peptides) which rejuvinate our body and relieve stress and pain. Meditation is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body.
It does not interfere with any religion or belief.
One of the most interesting mysteries of meditation is that meditation helps us manage our brain activities. “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” Buddha. See SCHOOL OF SELF POWER to learn more.
Meditation, for me, is more a way of living or a style of life rather than a technique.
What is meditation as a state?
It is a special state of mind
It is a special state outside the mind
It is a state of no-mind
It is a state of integration and wholeness of the senses
Meditation is a state where you are harmoniously integrated with the universe.
It is a state where you are everything and everything is you.
Meditation is engrossing oneself into reality, it is the path to awakening and to freedom.
Meditation is witnessing. It is just sitting silently deep within yourself, looking at whatsoever is happening inside and outside. You are witnessing the thoughts in the head with no evaluation.
There are millions of meditation techniques and methods depending on religion and on philosophies. They also vary in levels of difficulty.
Types of meditations we use at the
Ottawa Urban Retreat:
ॐ Meditations focusing on breathing such in Yoga
ॐ Dynamic meditations (they can be dancing, running, walking and so on)
ॐ Concentrative meditation (Samprajnata Samadhi) (they can be chanting mantras meditation; or deep concentration on external object with clear mental visualizations (savitarka); or concentration to an idea of the mind; can be art activities; or writing activities or playing music, I-am-ness is transcended).
ॐ Mindless meditation (silent meditation). Meditation is witnessing. It is just sitting silently deep within yourself, looking at whatsoever is happening inside and outside. You are witnessing the thoughts in the head with no evaluation (if you are experiencing thoughts at that time).
ॐ Asamprajnata Samadhi is deep meditation without any intuitive knowledge. It is abstract meditation based on internal abstract images, thoughts, and feelings.
ॐ Praying is a stage of meditation as well
Meditation Quotes
“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)
So meditation is not really mind-effort. Real meditation is not effort at all. Real meditation is just allowing the mind to have its own way, and not interfering in any way whatsoever -- just remaining watchful, witnessing. It silences, by and by, it becomes still. One day it is gone. You are left alone.
OSHO
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Bruce Lee quotes
(American Actor and martial arts expert. Born in San Francisco, California, USA 1940-1973)
Your mind is your instrument. Learn to be its master and not its slave.
Remez Sasson
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Obligations
Say NO to obligations.
By Margarita
Say NO to: Obliged to, Have to, Must, Need, etc. Do you feel the pressure?
How many times in a day do you use these words? I had asked people to keep track and someone had counted 3 times in the span of 10 minutes.
There is a strong feeling of obligation. Whether it is obligation to society, to your children, to your parents, friends, colleagues, or your pets, these words manipulate you and bring stress into your life. When you do not follow your obligations, you feel guilt, fear, and worry.
Do you like for this to be in your life? Most of you say: NO, I hate it but what can I really do about it?
You think to yourself that this influence comes from your parents, society, religion, and the media, that is his how you were taught to live. You think that life is about sacrifices? Or is it really about choices?
What happens now? Will you teach your children to live life this way as well, with constant stress, guilt, and unhappiness?
This is a very negative way to live life. Right? Sorry, I am really sorry.
Let us try something that I am sure can help.
First let’s make a list:
Not all people may like you and not all people may understand you.
You do NOT need to prove yourself to anyone.
You do NOT need to be underhanded by anyone.
You have a right to be different and think differently.
Imagine a life where everyone liked the same food, art, and books - boring! Imagine what would happen to art, science, philosophy, and literature?
You can make your own decisions.
No one knows what you need better than you.
You are not obligated to explain your choices to anyone.
You do not need to be approved by others.
We all have a different logic and real understanding of what is going on in our life.
You are allowed to change your mind.
We change and grow every day. Heraclitus has said that you cannot step twice in the same river. I believe this to be true. Do you?
Some people expect that you understand their needs without saying anything. Normally this can happen between family members or between your superior and you.
You are not obligated to read their mind (although we can teach you!).
If someone expects something from you, you can ask for an explanation.
You are allowed to have a change of mood.
(We can help you to be mostly happy and joyful). If someone needs you to be their shoulder-to-cry-on on the same day that you need support, you have a choice and can say no.
You can choose whether or not to dive into the problems of others.
You are allowed to prioritize your needs.
Who’s to say that your priorities are less important than others?
You do not need to develop your spirituality or be vegetarian or go to self-help workshops or read self-help books unless you choose to do so.
You are probably a self-content person and live in harmony with other and yourself.
When I write about all these choices, I think that some of you may think that I am really selfish. I am not. I want you to understand that you always have a choice. I have parents, a husband, two great children, pets, a garden, coworkers, and so on. I have my school, my meditation group, and my hobbies. And I make hundreds of choices every hour. My choice is LOVE. When I do something, I always chose to do it with love. Do you remember coming home and having your child or spouse hug or kiss you with a bright genuine smile? You feel the love. This is the love I am referring to. When you are doing something for your loved ones, remember to do it with love whether you are cooking, helping with homework, or listening to them practicing the piano (in my case it is the tenor saxophone). If you chose to come to our workshops and school of Self-Power, we will be discussing the above statements and helping each other to be happier. In a nutshell, this is our goal.
I love you!
by Jessica Root, NY
It's always awesome when meditation is given a nod by science and shed of its commonly regarded view as a new-agey, inaccessible practice. In 2009 and 2010, we shared meditation's practical application to common health ailments as studied by researchers:
heart disease and
depression.
I'm not sure how I missed this third incredible find from
TIME that was issued at the tail end of last year. Could we meditators also have a leg up in the longevity factor?
According to researchers at the University of California-Davis, quite possibly.
They compared a group of 30 meditation retreat goers at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado to a control group, those who didn't attend the retreat but who were on the wait list. The meditators, who spent six hours per day for three months meditating on their breath and loving-kindness, were found to contain about 30% more activity of an enzyme called telomerase than the wait listers.
So What's Telomerase?
TIME's writer Maia Szalavitz makes its biology easy to understand explaining the enzyme telomerase as,
...Responsible for repairing telomeres, the structures located on the ends chromosomes, which, like the plastic aglets at the tips of shoelaces, prevent the chromosome from unraveling. Each time a cell reproduces, its telomeres become shorter and less effective at protecting the chromosome -- this, researchers believe, is a cause of aging. As the chromosome becomes more and more vulnerable, cell copying becomes sloppier and eventually stops when the telomeres disintegrate completely. Telomerase can mitigate -- and possibly stop -- cell aging.
Is it mediation that actually increases telomerase activity? They're not entirely certain. But when the study participants were spending six hours of the day engaging in what many find a calming, stress-reductive practice, the case for it is mighty strong. That, or there was something in the retreat center's water, diet, etc. that could have been playing a part.
Either way, the study has produced hopeful health implications and serves as a great reminder that the "mind really could contain all possibilities," as per the famous Buddhist quote. Dare I say possibly as much as that little pill mucking up our water--if not more? Bring on more meditation research, 2011!
