Connect

Hand mudras are traditionally used in various spiritual practices as a means to direct our flow of Prana (vital energy) and connect the body, breath and mind to the divine energy source. In Ashtanga Yoga, they are used in connection with meditation practices and during puja, an act of reverence towards the divine often through song, prayer or ritual. The word “mudra” itself means “seal” or “lock” and they are distinct postures and practices used to aid in withdrawing the mind and senses.

Just because the leaves have fallen and the grass is no longer visible under inches of snow doesn't mean that the wildlife is gone–especially the best kind of wildlife. In this case, birds. While winter might not be the most colorful time of the year, many birds are still in their resplendent glory: bright red cardinals and soft pink juncos, black-capped chickadees and brilliant blue stellar jays. Attract the avian species to your winter backyard with just a few simple changes, and reap the benefits all year long.

1) Plant native species

These past couple years have been taken over by the wellness trend, with yoga, meditation, juicing and even vegetarianism becoming mainstream. With that shift comes a slew of new dieting and self-help books that are no longer seen as taboo. Instead, everyone from celebrities to world leaders has something to say about how to be “well.”

Whether your substance of choice is alcohol, nicotine, or prescription drugs, a dependency on any of these may lead to a significant impact on your emotional, mental, and physical health. For those of you on the road to recovery, or exploring ways to begin that journey, the future feels terrifyingly uncertain.

The best way to get (and stay!) clean is to explore and embrace new passions that support behavioral change.

Growing up I felt more at home in nature then in the classroom. I felt overwhelmed and anxious in groups, like there was just too much going on at once and I couldn’t keep up. Being an emotional creature, I could cry at the slightest sadness or shudder at a hint of fear. I felt raw to a world where every one else seemed numb. Then I discovered that I was not alone.

To heal this fall, just work with your hands. Here are some cool DIY ideas of bottle art.

Parties and get-togethers are great fun, but the cleaning up the morning after is so not! Chances are you have a stack of wine and beer bottles you’re wondering how to reuse. The first thought is obvious; just chuck them into the local recycling plant where old bottles can safely be turned into environmentally-conscious reusable things, or even more bottles.

To be eco-friendly, otherwise known as environment friendly, means to practice not harming the environment. To act in accordance with the natural phenomena of our living planet, rather than to rule or control it. It means having a friendly relationship between humans and nature, while taking care of our surrounding environment. Being eco-friendly is a great goal to have because you are trying to accomplish the least negative impacts on land, water and air. Here are 11 easy ways to be eco-friendlier in your day-to-day life.

Whenever I travel by air I carry with me my own herbal medicine chest complete with essential oils and other precious tools for healing. By slipping my favorite piece of smoky quartz into the bag with my herbs and oils (along with a blessing and good faith) I help ensure their protection from the effects of radiation and the negativity of those handling my wears. There is no better protector in the mineral kingdom, against harmful waves and negative vibes, than smoky quartz.

Due to the recent Zika spraying, massive use of neonicotinoid pesticides,  and other environmental factors, bees are now on the endangered species list, effective October 31, 2016. If bees go extinct, honey won't be the only thing we'll be missing: A third of the food humans eat would disappear with the bees. To put things in perspective, that means no more blueberries, apples, pumpkins, or almonds – all those plants (among others) need bees. Worried yet?

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity.  Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto).  And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tun