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astral projection

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Hypnosis has been treading the line between quackery and therapy since around the 18th century, but recently it has been picking up steam as an alternative treatment for many disorders. What is hypnosis, does it work, and if so, how? We investigate.

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Is hypnosis real? If so, what does it actually do? Since the 18th century, hypnosis has been surrounded by an aura of mystery.

The term "hypnosis" is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "sleep" ("hypnos").

Research suggests it was first coined in the early 19th century by Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers, a Frenchman interested in the role of suggestion on the mind, and the mental and behavioral processes that took place when someone fell into a hypnotic trance. Other sources suggest that it was Scottish surgeon Dr. James Braid who coined the term.

However, the concept of the hypnotic trance was born earlier, in the 18th century, with the notorious German physican Franz Mesmer. Mesmer claimed that he could showcase the existence of something he called "animal magnetism," which is an invisible fluid that "flows" between people, animals, plants, and things, and which can be manipulated to influence people's behavior.

Mesmer's sham practices gave hypnosis a bad start, but interest for its potential persisted in the medical sphere. In the 20th and 21st centuries, hypnosis continued to be explored, and specialists have gained a better understanding of what it is and how it can sometimes be harnessed to bring health benefits.

A recent published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews has defined hypnosis as a kind of top-down regulation of conscious awareness, a process in which "mental representations [...] override physiology, perception, and behavior."

As the authors explain, hypnosis involves two main elements: induction and suggestions. Hypnotic induction is the first suggestion delivered during the process of hypnosis, though what it should consist of is still a matter of debate.

Suggestions are typically expressed as implications that elicit seemingly involuntary responses from the participants, who do not believe they have much, or any, control (or agency) over the situation.

Some people are also more "suggestible" than others, and researchers have found that highly suggestible people are likelier to have a reduced sense of agency while under hypnosis.

Hypnotic suggestibility has been defined as "the ability to experience suggested alterations in physiology, sensations, emotions, thoughts, or behaviour."

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Some areas of the brain activated during hypnosis include the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and parietal networks.

Neuroimaging techniques have shown that highly suggestible people exhibit higher activity levels in the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and parietal networks of the brain during different phases of hypnosis.

These are areas of the brain involved in a range of complex functions, including memory and perception, processing emotions, and task learning. However, the specific brain mechanisms involved in hypnosis are still unclear, though scientists are beginning to piece together the neurocognitive profile of this process.

Hypnosis and cognition

Many studies link hypnosis specifically to cognitive processes and describe it as "a phenomenon involving attentive receptive concentration." Some evidence points to the role of hypnosis in controlling selective attention.

The relationship between hypnosis and states of attention is reinforced by the results of past experiments, in which hypnotic suggestion was used to alter different kinds of perception.

For instance, suggestion has been used to induce agnosia, which is a state wherein the brain can perceive but is unable to recognize various external stimuli. Other experiments have employed suggestions to manipulate visuospatial processing, which is the ability of the brain to identify objects in space, and to recognize shapes.

Such effects have often made hypnosis a showbiz attraction, and, when treated as a magician's trick, it elicits laughter and thrilled gasps. However, the practice of hypnosis has occasionally attracted a different kind of attention, when the stunts of amateur "hypnotists" have appeared to have tragic outcomes.

One person at the receiving end of one such questionable experiment described his mishaps and sense of anxiety in the aftermath.

"I was in this trance. I was told I wouldn't be able to find my [hotel] room because all the room numbers would be changed to Chinese. I was lost for about 20 to 25 minutes walking around. I was seeing the Chinese lettering, the weird lines and all."

Another fraught use of hypnosis is that of hypnotic regression. "Therapeutic regression," which is a method that claims to uncover a person's repressed memories - often of early abuse and trauma - has sometimes been used in hypnoanalysis, which is a form of psychoanalysis integrating hypnosis techniques.

Some even claim that hypnosis can help to achieve past life regression, unearthing memories from previous lives.

Existing research suggests that hypnotic suggestion can be effective in inducing false memories and convincing individuals of the truthfulness of these fictitious recollections. Such findings throw a negative light on claims of past regression and on the memories thus regained.

However, there are also that bring evidence in favor of the claim that hypnosis can improve memory, yet the level of improvement may be dependent on individual expectations.

The potential held by hypnosis for modifying perception is also what makes it particularly fitting as a complementary medicine approach.

Hypnotherapy is currently used, both in the United States and in Europe, to relieve several medical conditions and to help people let go of negative habits that can have a serious impact on their health.

Some cases in which hypnotherapy has been found useful include:

People undergo hypnotherapy to seek help in managing many different conditions, such as IBS and insomnia.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Studies have suggested that hypnosis can relieve IBS symptoms in the short-term, though long-term effectiveness has not yet been conclusively tested.

Insomnia and sleep disorders. Hypnosis can help to manage insomnia, nightmares, and sleep terrors (which tend to affect children between the ages of 7 and 12), as well as some more unusual sleep disorders, such as sleepwalking. Relaxation and self-control suggestions are used to address these conditions.

. Some research suggests that hypnosis can be effective in treating migraines and tension headaches, and it might be a desirable alternative treatment thanks to the lack of side effects.

Clinical pain control. Hypnosis can have analgesic effects in the case of acute clinical pain, which usually means pain resulting from surgical procedures. Some studies also indicate that hypnosis may help women to manage childbirth pain, though supporting evidence is mixed.

Quitting smoking. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health detail studies suggesting that hypnotherapy may help people who want to give up smoking, especially if paired with other means of treatment. But in this case, too, supporting evidence is mixed.

Home uses of hypnotherapy techniques

Increasingly, self-hypnosis and techniques of hypnotic suggestion have picked up steam as "life hacks." Hypnotherapists and media outlets often list self-hypnosis techniques as a shortcut for achieving relaxation and boosting self-confidence.

Researchers suggest that for these simple techniques to be effective, high levels of suggestibility are unnecessary, and sometimes they advise putting them into practice as a way of supplementing specialist therapies at home.

Some surprising avenues wherein hypnotic suggestion has been used are children's books. One book, conceived by a writer with extensive knowledge of psychology, employs suggestion techniques to get young children to fall asleep without the extra fuss.

Nowadays, even some children's books use suggestion techniques to help the little ones to fall asleep.

Various links between hypnosis and meditation techniques are also drawn by some researchers. Certain suggest that meditation and hypnosis are closely related, as they both play a role in mind-body regulation.

However, other researchers claim that hypnosis and meditation are entirely separate processes, as they rely on distinct mechanisms. Hypnosis, they argue, is essentially a process through which subjects "trick" their own perception, whereas meditation is a means of enhancing, rather than deceiving, awareness.

Despite the fact that the practice of hypnosis has been around for more than 200 years, many of its mechanisms remain mysterious. Its effects may appear to border on the supernatural, yet the brain - as is often the case - holds the key. There may still be some way to go, however, until we fully understand this intriguing instrument called "hypnosis."

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Hypnosis has been treading the line between quackery and therapy since around the 18th century, but recently it has been picking up steam as an alternative treatment for many disorders. What is hypnosis, does it work, and if so, how? We investigate. The term "hypnosis" is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "sleep" ("hypnos").

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Is Hypnosis Real? Here's What Science Says

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Does hypnosis work? There's evidence backing it up for weight loss, addiction and more. But legitimate hypnosis defies pop culture clichés.

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Hypnosis can be seen as 'a waking state of awareness, (or consciousness), in which a person's attention is detached from his or her immediate environment and is absorbed by inner experiences such as feelings, cognition and imagery'. Hypnotic induction involves focusing of attention and imaginative involvement to the point where what is being imagined feels real. By the use and acceptance of suggestions, the clinician and patient construct a hypnotic reality.

Everyday 'trance' states are part of our common human experience, such as getting lost in a good book, driving down a familiar stretch of road with no conscious recollection, when in prayer or meditation, or when undertaking a monotonous or a creative activity. Our conscious awareness of our surroundings versus an inner awareness is on a continuum, so that, when in these states, one's focus is predominantly internal, but one does not necessarily lose all outer awareness.

Hypnosis could be seen as a meditative state, which one can learn to access consciously and deliberately, for a therapeutic purpose. Suggestions are then given either verbally or using imagery, directed at the desired outcome. This might be to allay anxiety by accessing calmness and relaxation, help manage side effects of medications, or help ease pain or other symptoms. Depending on the suggestions given, hypnosis is usually a relaxing experience, which can be very useful with a patient who is tense or anxious. However, the main usefulness of the hypnotic state is the increased effectiveness of suggestion and access to mind/body links or unconscious processing. Hypnosis can not only be used to reduce emotional distress but also may have a direct effect on the patient's experience of pain.

Hypnosis in itself is not a therapy, but it can be a tool that facilitates the delivery of therapy in the same way as a syringe delivers drugs. Hypnosis does not make the impossible possible, but can help patients believe and experience what might be possible for them to achieve.

Hypnotic states have been used for healing since humankind has existed, but because hypnosis can be misused for so-called entertainment and has been portrayed in the media as something mysterious and magical, supposedly out of the hypnotic subject's control, it has been viewed with distrust and scepticism by many health professionals. However, recent advances in neuroscience have enabled us to begin to understand what might be happening when someone enters a hypnotic state, and evidence is building for the use of hypnosis as a useful tool to help patients and health professionals manage a variety of conditions, especially anxiety and pain.

Landry and colleagues and Jensen and Patterson give good and comprehensive information on recent research into the neural correlates of hypnosis. The study of hypnosis is complex and many factors such as context, expectation and personality affect hypnotic response as well as the suggestions used.

As clinicians, we know that simply knowing something cognitively does not necessarily translate into being able to control emotions such as fear and anxiety. A simple 'model' that can be used to help patients understand that this is quite a usual response is that of right/left brain, which can also correlate with conscious/unconscious and intellectual/emotional processing.

From the diagram, it can be seen that to communicate effectively to both types of our processing, we need more than words; we need to use words that evoke imagery. It is no surprise, therefore, that all the greatest teachers use metaphor, parable and story to convey their teachings.

The brain has two cerebral hemispheres, and while in our normal waking state, the left brain tends to be more dominant and could be likened to our 'conscious mind'. This communicates verbally and is the more intellectual, conscious and rational part of ourselves. When we relax or become deeply involved in some activity, our right brain becomes more dominant. The right brain could be seen to be the more emotional, creative part of ourselves that communicates with symbols and images, and could be seen as our 'unconscious mind'. There is always a difficulty in telling ourselves not to be upset or anxious because words are not the language of the right brain. But one can paint a word picture using guided imagery or metaphor.

While this description may oversimplify the neural processing of the left and right hemispheres, it is a useful way to explain hypnosis to patients.

Neuroimaging research has demonstrated that subjective changes in response to suggestion are associated with corresponding changes in brain regions related to the specific psychological function in question. When someone imagines something in hypnosis (colour, sound, physical activity and pain), recent neuroscience findings show us that similar areas of the brain are activated as when the person has that experience in reality. Derbyshire and colleagues showed that both physically induced and hypnotically induced pain are accompanied by activations in areas associated with the classic 'pain matrix'. Similar findings have been shown with visual and auditory suggestions.

When patients are highly anxious, they are operating at an emotional, rather than cognitive level, and one can engage and direct their creative imagination towards what is useful for them. Anxious patients are using their imagination to create possible catastrophic scenarios, which generates even more anxiety and hence more adrenaline, which can then spiral into panic.

Patients may feel that they are being overwhelmed by their emotions, but if the health professionals can engage their attention, direct their imagination to feeling calm or to re-experience some positive past experience or activity and give positive suggestions, then the patients will start to feel calmer and more able to cope.

To enter hypnosis, one needs to focus attention (this is done during a hypnotic induction), and there are many ways to achieve this. A candle flame or a computer screen could be a visual focus. An auditory focus could be music, chanting or using mantras. Induction could be mainly kinaesthetic, such as in progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) or could use 'involuntary' (or ideomotor) movement. One of the simplest methods is to engage the patient's imagination using revivification (or re-experiencing) of an experience, a daydream or fantasy. Hypnosis can be used formally in a therapeutic session or informally in conversation by directing the patient's focus and engaging their imagination.

Patients can then be taught self-hypnosis, which means they can enter this state deliberately at will, to utilise imagery and suggestion to help themselves. In the clinical setting, the health professional wants to avoid dependence and save time and money, and studies have shown that hypnotic interventions can be very cost-effective. Montgomery and colleagues randomised control trial of 200 breast cancer patients using a 15-min session of hypnosis or structured attention to control side effects after surgery also showed reduced medical costs with the hypnosis intervention.

There is a strong case for more research in the field of hypnosis in palliative care, where mind-body interventions are increasingly accepted as part of comprehensive excellent cancer care (even in large cancer centres that once focused only on drug trials).

Hypnosis research takes place in laboratory conditions and usually compares results between 'highs' and 'lows'; in other words, those who are highly hypnotisable and those who are not. It has been shown that hypnotisability is a genetic trait and follows a Gaussian or bell-shaped distribution, so most research into hypnotic responding focuses on 10% of the population. In the clinical context, we have to work with everyone, and even if hypnosis is not used in a formal way, it can inform one's approach to the patient and the language used. For experimental purposes, the procedure must be standardised and all variables controlled as much as possible. In the clinical context, hypnosis is tailored to the individual patient and their responses, and the motivation is very different from the laboratory situation.

Although there is increasing evidence for the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of using hypnosis in a wide variety of conditions, it is difficult to get funding for hypnosis because of a shortage of randomised control trial support (the gold standard so beloved of Trusts, CCGs, research funders and all clinical trialists). In a Catch-22 situation, one of the major difficulties in undertaking any hypnosis research in the United Kingdom is lack of funding. One major factor in this is the World Health Organization classification of hypnosis as a 'Complementary Therapy'. This puts hypnosis in the same category as various other approaches of dubious scientific credibility and effectively bars researchers into hypnosis obtaining funding. Also, much hypnosis is done by individual clinicians in a private practice, a community setting or as an individual in a department.

There is no statutory regulation of hypnosis training or practice in the United Kingdom, and many organisations offer training, which may be of varying quality.

There are three professional bodies in the United Kingdom, the Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, the British Society of Medical & Dental Hypnosis (Scotland) for doctors and dentists and the British Society of Clinical & Academic Hypnosis (BSCAH), which consist entirely of qualified health professionals [mostly working within the National Health Service (NHS)]. The British Society of Clinical & Academic Hypnosis ( www.bscah.com) runs training courses in hypnosis for health professionals that range from 1-day introductory workshops for different specialties, through a 6-day foundation training, which equips one to utilise hypnotic techniques within one's field of expertise, to a fully accredited University Diploma with City of Birmingham University.

BSMDH (Scotland) and BSCAH are also constituent members of the European and International Societies of Hypnosis. The European Society of Hypnosis ( www.esh-hypnosis.eu) consists of 41 Constituent Societies in 20 countries throughout Europe, with over 14,800 members from the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology and allied health care professions. The International Society for Hypnosis (ISH; www.ishhypnosis.org) is the world headquarters for researchers and clinicians interested in hypnosis. ISH serves as the umbrella and meeting place for its members and 33 (still growing) Constituent Societies from around the world.

If, as clinicians, we want to prove the effectiveness of hypnosis, then we need to show that the degree of improvement and speed of achieving this is enhanced by hypnosis. We need practice-based evidence. One way of doing this is to compare results obtained by those using hypnosis with those of people who do not use hypnosis. If large numbers of us were to use a simple questionnaire, both at the start and end of our work, and pool our results centrally, then this would provide a large amount of data that could go some way to resolving this. The proposed questionnaire would be MYMOP (Measure Your Own Medical Outcome Protocol: http://www.bris.ac.uk/primaryhealthcare/resources/mymop/).

The BSCAH is trying to facilitate and support this project; so, if you are interested please contact us at www.bscah.com. For any technical queries, you can contact Dr Peter Naish at ku.ca.nepo@hsian.p.

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Hypnosis can be seen as 'a waking state of awareness, (or consciousness), in which a person's attention is detached from his or her immediate environment and is absorbed by inner experiences such as feelings, cognition and imagery'. Hypnotic induction involves focusing of attention and imaginative involvement to the point where what is being imagined feels real.

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The first task for many psychologists who use hypnosis is telling patients what hypnosis is and what it isn't.

"If you watch hypnosis on TV, the subject always ends up clucking like a chicken, being naked or assassinating a president," says Eric Willmarth, PhD, founder of Michigan Behavioral Consultants and past president of APA Div. 30 (Society of Psychological Hypnosis).

Even though stage hypnotists and TV shows have damaged the public image of hypnosis, a growing body of scientific research supports its benefits in treating a wide range of conditions, including pain, depression, anxiety and phobias.

"Hypnosis works and the empirical support is unequivocal in that regard. It really does help people," says Michael Yapko, PhD, a psychologist and fellow of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. "But hypnosis isn't a therapy in and of itself. Most people wouldn't regard it that way."

Hypnosis can create a highly relaxed state of inner concentration and focused attention for patients, and the technique can be tailored to different treatment methods, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Patients also can become more empowered by learning to hypnotize themselves at home to reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, or alleviate some symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Hypnosis has been used for centuries for pain control, including during the Civil War when Army surgeons hypnotized injured soldiers before amputations. Recent studies have confirmed its effectiveness as a tool to reduce pain. Among the leading researchers in the field is Guy H. Montgomery, PhD, a psychologist who has conducted extensive research on hypnosis and pain management at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he is director of the Integrative Behavioral Medicine Program.

In one study, Montgomery and colleagues tested the effectiveness of a 15-minute pre-surgery hypnosis session versus an empathic listening session in a clinical trial with 200 breast cancer patients. In a 2007 article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Vol. 99, No. 17), the team reported that patients who received hypnosis reported less post-surgical pain, nausea, fatigue and discomfort. The study also found that the hospital saved $772 per patient in the hypnosis group, mainly due to reduced surgical time. Patients who were hypnotized required less of the analgesic lidocaine and the sedative propofol during surgery.

"Hypnosis helps patients to reduce their distress and have positive expectations about the outcomes of surgery," Montgomery says. "I don't think there is any magic or mind control."

In a 2009 article in Health Psychology (Vol. 28, No. 3), Montgomery and colleagues reported on another study, which found that a combination of hypnosis and cognitive-behavioral therapy could reduce fatigue for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Research has also shown the benefits of hypnosis for burn victims. In a 2007 report in Rehabilitation Psychology (Vol. 52, No. 3), Shelley Wiechman Askay, PhD, David R. Patterson, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Washington Medical School found that hypnosis before wound debridements significantly reduced pain reported by patients on one pain rating questionnaire.

No cure-all

People vary widely in their ability to respond to hypnotic suggestions, a trait which can be measured by standardized scales. But it isn't well understood what causes the varying levels of "hypnotizability" or their significance.

Yapko says few clinicians use hypnotizability scales because responses to a structured test don't predict how a patient will respond to hypnosis in treatment. He served as guest editor for a recent special issue of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (Vol. 58, No. 2) that examined research on hypnosis and depression. In an editorial, Yapko urged more research and a rejection of outdated views that hypnosis can precipitate suicide or psychosis in depressed patients. Other articles examined how hypnosis can be integrated with cognitive-behavioral therapy or used with depressed patients and their families.

Willmarth says he doesn't always use hypnotizibility scales with his patients, but will try a hypnosis session and measure the patient's response to see if it is effective. "You have to be a little bit willing to fail in order to do it often enough to succeed," he says.

Hypnosis may not succeed in all cases and can actually be detrimental in some instances, especially in the realm of retrieving memories.

Joseph P. Green, PhD, a psychology professor at Ohio State University at Lima, has researched how hypnotic suggestions can produce distorted or false memories. He also found that people may believe hypnotically induced memories are more reliable, mirroring a mistaken cultural belief that hypnosis acts like a truth serum. Hypnosis is "on thin ice" when used to recover memories, as is the case with most other memory retrieval techniques, Green says.

Hypnosis got a bad name in the 1990s when some therapists convinced patients they had been molested or abused as children because of hypnotically induced memories, which often had no evidence to support them. As a result, many innocent people were wrongly accused of abuse in hundreds of court cases, Yapko says.

"People didn't really understand the suggestibility of memory," he says. "That whole issue has pretty much fallen by the wayside now" because of advances in research.

In a 2007 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada established a precedent that post-hypnosis evidence is inadmissible in court because of its unreliability. In R. v. Trochym, the court overturned a murder conviction after a witness changed her timeline of events following a hypnosis session that was requested by detectives. The jury wasn't told that the witness had been hypnotized or that she had changed her recollection.

"In sum, while it is not generally accepted that hypnosis always produces unreliable memories, neither is it clear when hypnosis results in pseudo-memories or how a witness, scientist or trier of fact might distinguish between fabricated and accurate memories," the decision stated.

Up in smoke

Smokers also should be wary of the plethora of hypnosis programs and tapes peddled online with guarantees of instant success. "Despite the widespread use, the science warranting that popularity is suspect," Green says.

Green began studying hypnosis and smoking cessation more than 25 years ago after seeing overblown claims from itinerant hypnotists who held weekend sessions in hotels before moving on to the next town. In a January article in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis (Vol. 52, No. 3), Green and Binghamton University psychology professor Steven Jay Lynn, PhD, wrote about the body of research on hypnosis and smoking cessation and found mixed results.

In a literature review published in 2000 ( International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Vol. 48, No. 2), Green and Lynn analyzed 59 studies on hypnosis and smoking cessation. While hypnosis was more successful than no treatment, it was generally equivalent to other smoking-cessation methods. However, many studies had combined hypnosis with cognitive-behavioral therapy or other treatment methods, so it was impossible to determine the effectiveness of hypnosis alone. Green says hypnosis may help smokers quit, but more research needs to be done. In a 2008 report published by the Cochrane Library, Neil C. Abbot, operations director for ME Research UK, and colleagues examined nine randomized trials and also found insufficient evidence to recommend hypnosis as a specific treatment for smoking cessation.

Learning the ropes

While more research is being conducted on the benefits of hypnosis, graduate schools are lagging behind in incorporating hypnosis training into psychology programs, say Yapko, Willmarth and Montgomery. "The universities have really dropped the ball by thinking hypnosis is a sideshow rather than being relevant to effective psychotherapy," Yapko says.

Some graduate schools may not be convinced of the effectiveness of hypnosis or the research supporting its use, but other schools have developed clinical hypnosis classes, including Saybrook University's Graduate College of Mind-Body Medicine in San Francisco, where Willmarth teaches a hypnosis course. At Washington State University, psychology professor Arreed Barabasz, PhD, directs the hypnosis laboratory and teaches graduate-level hypnosis courses and research seminars. He also is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.

Since many psychologists have never taken a hypnosis class as part of their education, they often seek training later in their careers. It can be bewildering to find a class, though, since a search for "hypnosis training" generates more than 600,000 hits on Google.

"You can go anyplace on the weekend and get a hypnosis certification," Willmarth says. "You have thousands of lay hypnosis schools that are willing to train anyone who will pay the tuition."

To make sure psychologists don't end up with charlatan teachers, Willmarth recommends courses approved by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. ASCH also offers a certification in clinical hypnosis for licensed health-care professionals with at least a master's degree. Certification requires at least 40 hours of ASCH-approved workshop training, 20 hours of individualized training and two years of independent practice using clinical hypnosis.

Willmarth says interest in clinical hypnosis is growing and more psychologists are learning how hypnosis can help their patients.

"It goes in waves," he says. "Right now, we're on an upswing."
Brendan L. Smith is a writer in Washington, D.C.

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The first task for many psychologists who use hypnosis is telling patients what hypnosis is and what it isn't. "If you watch hypnosis on TV, the subject always ends up clucking like a chicken, being naked or assassinating a president," says Eric Willmarth, PhD, founder of Michigan Behavioral Consultants and past president of APA Div.

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dont know how to flip the pages

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dont noe how to flip pages

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Lauren's FINAL SPREADS (front/back cover + articles)

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Lauren's FINAL SPREADS (front/back cover + articles)

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Page numbers just need to be added

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All Spreads: Zodiac, Aroma, Chakra (Lauren)

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All Spreads: Zodiac, Aroma, Chakra (Lauren)

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Flipsnack is a digital catalog maker that makes it easy to create, publish and share html5 flipbooks. Upload a PDF or design from scratch flyers, magazines, books and more.

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When we think of having an "out-of-body" experience, we might think of near-death encounters or occurrences that are so surreal, they seem to take you out of your current reality. But the mystical practice of astral projection actually allows people to have spiritual, out-of-body experiences intentionally. You've probably heard the term in passing before, and perhaps are even familiar with the idea of meditating to the point of leaving your body - which sounds kind of supernatural. But turns out the meaning of astral projection is a lot more than that.

The concept of astral projection hinges on the belief that in addition to our physical bodies, humans also have an "astral body," which is sometimes referred to as an etheric body, subtle body, or light body. This might also be thought of as your "soul." In many esoteric practices, there is also something called an "astral plane" - and it's through this plane that people can explore during astral projections. The astral plane is considered to be the home of not only souls finding their way to their their next life or final resting place, but also angels and spirits. Accounts of astral traveling are found in cultures from all around the globe and throughout history, and it's also commonly practiced today in modern-day mystic and spiritual practices.

"Astral projection or astral traveling is the ability to allow your light body (or what I call our 'traveling' selves), to venture beyond the physical body and project itself to a specific place, and even particular sites in time," ascension guide and quantum shaman Laura Brown tells Bustle. "I have worked with astral projection to witness ancient civilizations and other sacred spaces on the earth, and have also used it to connect with further realms to gain insight for my [spiritual work]." This practice allows our astral body to travel beyond the material world around us using our minds. According to believers, we can then venture into etheric realms that transcend time and space - sort of like having a dream, except you're awake and aware of what's happening.

How Does Astral Projection Work?

Before you write it off for being too supernatural-sounding, consider that some practitioners liken astral projection to simply entering a dreamlike state while conscious - similar to the practice of lucid dreaming while you're asleep. During this conscious and lucid dream-like state, the goal is to transcend your physical being through your mind. Your physical body stays put through the astral projection process, and the adventure takes place entirely in your mind.

Astral projection isn't considered a science, since it involves esoteric matters such as the etheric body and the astral plane. But just as we can enter different states of consciousness through things like dreaming or meditation, it makes sense that some people are able to achieve this through astral projection, too. This theory is explored in a paper published in the Frontiers of Human Neuroscience, in which researchers observed a subject's brain using an MRI while she claimed to be in a state of astral projection. They were able to successfully identify unique parts of the brain that were active during her journey, which helped shine some light on what's happening in one's head during such a spiritual journey. While science may not be able to prove that your soul is out on an adventure, it's clear that there's some interesting brain activity happening that points to an altered state of experience.

How Can I Astral Project?

Astral projection is an advanced technique, although anyone can master it through practice. If you want to give it a try, it's helpful to have some experience with meditation, lucid dreaming, or self-hypnosis, all of which give you more control over your state of consciousness. Start your practice there - begin with a daily meditation practice or do some lucid dream work, then work your way up to using guided astral projection meditations. You'll need to know how to put yourself into a deeply meditative trance to reach a hypnotic state, and then trust yourself to explore the etheric realm. Of course, what works for one person might not work for another.

Keep in mind that it's important to do your research before you attempt astral projection. Make sure you have a clear and pure intention as some believe that astral projection is like the law of attraction for the soul - which means that whatever you reflect will come back to you during your soul journey. Safe travels my soul travelers, and may the astral odds be ever in your favor.

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What You Should Know About Literal Out-Of-Body Experiences

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When we think of having an "out-of-body" experience, we might think of near-death encounters or occurrences that are so surreal, they seem to take you out of your current reality. But the mystical practice of astral projection actually allows people to have spiritual, out-of-body experiences intentionally.

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Taoist Tea (Eastern Philosophy) - Vivian 

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Taoist Tea (Eastern Philosophy) - Vivian 

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Qigong Practice (Eastern Philosophy) *undecided on gradient background* - Vivian

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Qigong Practice (Eastern Philosophy) *undecided on gradient background* - Vivian

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Qigong Practice (Eastern Philosophy) - Vivian

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Qigong Practice (Eastern Philosophy) - Vivian

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Benefits of Taoist philosophy (Eastern Philosophy) - Vivian 

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Benefits of Taoist philosophy (Eastern Philosophy) - Vivian 

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- credit page (back page) = profile picture (put it in circles)
- have the back cover the same color scheme as the front = pull quote,
- order of topics: alphabetical (aromatheraphy, crystal healing, eastern philosophy, exercise, pilates, pharonoraml activity, yoga, zodiac)
- 1-2: content page, follow charka colour scheme

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Tone and spacing needs to be more constitant throughout

Allowing white space

Maybe stick to circle form throughout magazine

More design work from all members needed

Include openers (large text of single page to breathe) = need more volume

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Document settings:

Digital magazine - reach our teenage target audience, as its more accessible

Size 210mm*280mm

Margins top 15mm, inside 15mm, outside 20mm, bottom 30mm

4 columns

Gutters 6mm

Bleed 3mm

Baseline: 14pt

Type settings:

Headings: Dolly Pro Bold

Subheadings: Dolly Regular small caps

Body text: Calibri size 12pt, leading 14pt

Most likely have running feet, but further experimenting needed to be done

Colour theme: Pastel colour palette = flowing of energy, glow of aura

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Ella's survey about healing crystals and manifestation 

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Ella's survey about healing crystals and manifestation 

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Inner peace, reasoning

A soul driven connection with our creator

The integration of religious dogma or any doctrine into the conscious to help us face adversity

Connection

Zen

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Are Ghosts Real? — Evidence Has Not Materialized

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One difficulty in scientifically evaluating is ghost are real is the surprisingly wide variety of phenomena attributed to ghosts.

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Witches were perceived as evil beings by early Christians in Europe, inspiring the iconic Halloween figure.

Images of witches have appeared in various forms throughout history-from evil, wart-nosed women huddling over a cauldron of boiling liquid to hag-faced, cackling beings riding through the sky on brooms wearing pointy hats. In pop culture, the witch has been portrayed as a benevolent, nose-twitching suburban housewife; an awkward teenager learning to control her powers and a trio of charmed sisters battling the forces of evil. The real history of witches, however, is dark and, often for the witches, deadly.

The Origin of Witches

Early witches were people who practiced witchcraft, using magic spells and calling upon spirits for help or to bring about change. Most witches were thought to be pagans doing the Devil's work. Many, however, were simply natural healers or so-called "wise women" whose choice of profession was misunderstood.

It's unclear exactly when witches came on the historical scene, but one of the earliest records of a witch is in the Bible in the book of 1 Samuel, thought be written between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. It tells the story of when King Saul sought the Witch of Endor to summon the dead prophet Samuel's spirit to help him defeat the Philistine army.

The witch roused Samuel, who then prophesied the death of Saul and his sons. The next day, according to the Bible, Saul's sons died in battle, and Saul committed suicide.

Other Old Testament verses condemn witches, such as the oft-cited Exodus 22:18, which says, "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Additional Biblical passages caution against divination, chanting or using witches to contact the dead.

'Malleus Maleficarum'

Witch hysteria really took hold in Europe during the mid-1400s, when many accused witches confessed, often under torture, to a variety of wicked behaviors. Within a century, witch hunts were common and most of the accused were executed by burning at the stake or hanging. Single women, widows and other women on the margins of society were especially targeted.

Between the years 1500 and 1660, up to 80,000 suspected witches were put to death in Europe. Around 80 percent of them were women thought to be in cahoots with the Devil and filled with lust. Germany had the highest witchcraft execution rate, while Ireland had the lowest.

The publication of "Malleus Maleficarum"-written by two well-respected German Dominicans in 1486-likely spurred witch mania to go viral. The book, usually translated as "The Hammer of Witches," was essentially a guide on how to identify, hunt and interrogate witches.

"Malleus Maleficarum" labeled witchcraft as heresy, and quickly became the authority for Protestants and Catholics trying to flush out witches living among them. For more than 100 years, the book sold more copies of any other book in Europe except the Bible.

Salem Witch Trials

As witch hysteria decreased in Europe, it grew in the New World, which was reeling from wars between the French and British, a smallpox epidemic and the ongoing fear of attacks from neighboring native American tribes. The tense atmosphere was ripe for finding scapegoats. Probably the best-known witch trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.

The Salem witch trials began when 9-year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams began suffering from fits, body contortions and uncontrolled screaming (today, it is believed that they were poisoned by a fungus that caused spasms and delusions). As more young women began to exhibit symptoms, mass hysteria ensued, and three women were accused of witchcraft: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn and Tituba, an enslaved woman owned by Parris's father. Tituba confessed to being a witch and began accusing others of using black magic. On June 10, Bridget Bishop became the first accused witch to be put to death during the Salem Witch Trials when she was hanged at the Salem gallows. Ultimately, around 150 people were accused and 18 were put to death. Women weren't the only victims of the Salem Witch Trials; six men were also convicted and executed.

Massachusetts wasn't the first of the 13 colonies to obsess about witches, though. In Windsor, Connecticut in 1647, Alse Young was the first person in America executed for witchcraft. Before Connecticut's final witch trial took place in 1697, forty-six people were accused of witchcraft in that state and 11 were put to death for the crime.

In Virginia, people were less frantic about witches. In fact, in Lower Norfolk County in 1655, a law was passed making it a crime to falsely accuse someone of witchcraft. Still, witchcraft was a concern. About two-dozen witch trials (mostly of women) took place in Virginia between 1626 and 1730. None of the accused were executed.

Are Witches Real?

One of the most famous witches in Virginia's history is Grace Sherwood, whose neighbors alleged she killed their pigs and hexed their cotton. Other accusations followed and Sherwood was brought to trial in 1706.

The court decided to use a controversial water test to determine her guilt or innocence. Sherwood's arms and legs were bound and she was thrown into a body of water. It was thought if she sank, she was innocent; if she floated, she was guilty. Sherwood didn't sink and was convicted of being a witch. She wasn't killed but put in prison and for eight years.

A satirical article (supposedly written by Benjamin Franklin) about a witch trial in New Jersey was published in 1730 in the Pennsylvania Gazette. It brought to light the ridiculousness of some witchcraft accusations. It wasn't long before witch mania died down in the New World and laws were passed to help protect people from being wrongly accused and convicted.

Book of Shadows

Modern-day witches of the Western World still struggle to shake their historical stereotype. Most practice Wicca, an official religion in the United States and Canada.

Wiccans avoid evil and the appearance of evil at all costs. Their motto is to "harm none," and they strive to live a peaceful, tolerant and balanced life in tune with nature and humanity.

Many modern-day witches still perform witchcraft, but there's seldom anything sinister about it. Their spells and incantations are often derived from their Book of Shadows, a 20th-century collection of wisdom and witchcraft, and can be compared to the act of prayer in other religions. A modern-day witchcraft potion is more likely to be an herbal remedy for the flu instead of a hex to harm someone.

Today's witchcraft spells are usually used to stop someone from doing evil or harming themselves. Ironically, while it's probable some historical witches used witchcraft for evil purposes, many may have embraced it for healing or protection against the immorality they were accused of.

But witches-whether actual or accused-still face persecution and death. Several men and women suspected of using witchcraft have been beaten and killed in Papua New Guinea since 2010, including a young mother who was burned alive. Similar episodes of violence against people accused of being witches have occurred in Africa, South America, the Middle East and in immigrant communities in Europe and the United States.

Sources

About Wicca. The Celtic Connection.
Case Study: The European Witch Hunts, c. 1450-1750 and Witch Hunts Today. Gendercide Watch.
The Salem Witch Trials. Oxford Research Encyclopedias.
Witchcraft: Creation of the "evil other." Susan Moulton, Sonoma State University.
Witchcraft in Colonial Virginia. Encyclopedia of Virginia.
Witchcraft: The Beginnings. University of Chicago.
Witches and Witchcraft: The First Person Executed in the Colonies. State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library Services.
Demonology: The Malleus Maleficarum-Proliferating Witch Hysteria. Mount Holyoke College.
The Persecution of Witches, 21st-Century Style. The New York Times.
Women and Witches: Patterns of Analysis. The University of Chicago Press.

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Witches were perceived as evil beings by early Christians in Europe, inspiring the iconic Halloween figure.

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The Strange and Mysterious History of the Ouija Board

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Tool of the devil, harmless family game—or fascinating glimpse into the non-conscious mind?

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Yoga Survey

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Making digital magazines for your business can be fast, easy, and fun, but it can also be a frustrating process if you're not sure how to do it right.

Don't be afraid: we've got you covered. Just read on to learn about the best tools for creating digital magazines and some tips to remember when making stunning online magazines.

The best tools for making digital magazines

What do all the best tools have in common? They are very convenient to use and allow you to create digital magazines quickly and easily. So check out these tools for any level of skills and choose whatever suits you the best.

1. Lucidpress - an easy graphic design app that allows you to create multi-page layouts, manage all your brand materials and use them when creating your magazines step-by-step. It features a variety of magazine templates with customizable elements such as fonts, colors, and images. Look how to design a magazine in Lucidpress.

2. Canva - an easy web design app that enables you to make digital magazines without much effort. It offers you a big library of templates, and all you have to do is to choose the one you like and customize according to your needs. You can start with their complete guide on creating magazines.

3. Adobe InDesign CC - professional-level design software for PC and Mac. It's the most famous and widely used software for creating multi-page layouts, and the first choice for many marketers, designers, and publishers. If you already work in InDesign, check out a detailed tutorial on how to create a magazine.

4. Bookwright - book publishing software that offers a suite of creative functionalities for both beginners and more advanced users. It allows you to add your text or images, use high-design templates for popular magazines, journals and newspapers, or start fresh with your own layouts. Learn more on how to work in Bookwright here.

If you have ready PDFs and want to digitize them, FlippingBook Online can be a great help. It's an online service that allows you to create compelling magazines with a great reading experience, smooth page-flip effect, and comfortable viewing on any device. FlippingBook offers a gallery of ready-made professional designs, custom colors and backgrounds, and an opportunity to add your own branding, videos, and links.

Checklist for newbies - how to make engaging digital magazines

A well-designed magazine has consistent elements that are shared across the whole design, from cover to cover. Such thematic designs are the hallmark of a professional and carefully planned magazine.

So if you are not quite familiar with the process of creating digital magazines, here's a checklist to help you make your design nice-looking and consistent:

The magazine cover plays an important role in engaging readers - it works as a powerful marketing tool. Yes, magazines are really judged by the cover. So make sure your cover is compelling by using high-impact photography and an eye-catching header. A good rule of thumb is to display one main headline and no more than five sub-headlines to ensure a clean layout.

Color palette - choose one to three colors and use these consistently for headlines, texts, and backgrounds. Many effective magazine designs use color sparingly, demonstrating that simple pop of bold color can be more striking than a palette of rainbow brights.

Typography - use consistent typefaces, type weights, and sizes. Once you choose them, stick with them across the whole magazine, and the next issues, as well. It will help your readers instantly recognize you and your unique style.

Shape and graphics - use the same shapes or image borders and other graphic elements across the magazine.

Page numbering style and running headers should also be consistent.

For instance, look at the blend of light colors that help to create a nice cozy atmosphere across the pages of the magazine.
htf. magazine
Check out this bright and impactful cover with bold use of typography and illustration that instantly catch the eye.

What are the benefits of using digital magazines?

A magazine is the perfect multi-functional product for your business. It gives you many opportunities to develop your marketing activities and enhance your content distribution strategy. And once you've created it, you can use it for many different purposes:

Creating wider outreach: It's a great way for more people to learn about you and your products and services. You can share your magazines through all the channels you have, be it blog, social media, website, or newsletter. Read on about the best ideas for your newsletters parts one and two.

Building relationships: Magazines build trust between your business and your audience. Magazines offer huge value to interested customers, who can easily get info about your services, industry, and business.

Expert status: Having a quality magazine gives you a big opportunity to earn a reputation as an expert and influencer in your niche. It's more work than a blog, but if you really go for it, you'll get way more dividends.

Learn how to create an efficient social media campaign for promoting your magazine in our article.

Start creating stunning digital magazines right away

Once you've created your digital magazine, you'll have a process ready to roll for all the next issues. So making magazines will become a creative and inspiring process, without frustration and worries.

Digital magazines are really easier than physical magazines for several reasons: there's no need to worry about the logistics and expense of physically delivering the magazine, printing costs, misprints, or outdated information.

And they help you to stay competitive in the digital publishing world, become an authority in your niche, and create a mass of loyal readers. It's worth a try, right?

Do you use magazines for your marketing activities? Which format do you prefer, print or digital? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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How to Make a Digital Magazine in a Fast and Easy Way

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Making digital magazines for your business can be fast, easy, and fun, but it can also be a frustrating process if you're not sure how to do it right. Don't be afraid: we've got you covered. Just read on to learn about the best tools for creating digital magazines and some tips to remember when making stunning online magazines.

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3 topics each

magazine front cover focus on last when come up with arranged theme

Do a poll collecting of ideas around spirituality - paranormal, ouji board, calling on spirits, dark arts

delve into more abstract areas in your initial topic

3-6 pages per person on 3 of their topics

format a digital version of the magazine

Ella - crystal healing (maybe look into articles around energies, chakras, the origin of the crystals, types, and any other ideas)

Sian - yoga (history/orgin of yoga, different types, retreat programs, maybe other unique mindfulness practices)

Lauren - Zodiacs (chinese, origin, stories, predictions)

Marc - paranormal activity (ouji board, calling on spirits)

Vivian - Mindfulness and meditation (Taoism, qigong, other types of cultural meditations, origin, importances)

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Tarot Card readings

Gratitude prompts

Dreams (lucid dreaming)

Recharging crystals

Chakras

Pressure points

Witchcraft

Chinese zodiac (the race story)

Myths & Fables

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Taoism (meditation)

Go with the flow, following nature

Peaceful tea

Yin and Yang

The Tao of Pooh

George Thompson YT videos

Qi Gong exercises (energy practice)

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Read 5,796 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. The Wisdom of Pooh. Is there such thing as a Western Taoist? Benjamin Hoff says there i...

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moving parts and miscellaneous .gif files

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moving parts and miscellaneous .gif files

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The I Ching, or Book of Changes, Volume II

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The I Ching, or Book of Changes, Volume II

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Store Description

I had every intention of keeping all of these books! I've been collecting books for twenty-plus years, including autographed copies in a variety of fields (many lugged to signing events in New York), and wrote a book on collecting for a Random House imprint a decade ago. It's an interesting library, and I've been fortunate enough to live in suburban houses that could accommodate all (most) of the necessary Ikea bookcases. But my wife and I have relocated permanently to Manhattan, downsizing from a six-bedroom house to a two-bedroom apartment. So several thousand books have to go *somewhere*. Hello, ABE -- the site that helped me buy so many of them in the first place.
Visit Seller's Storefront
If I've mischaracterized a book, please let me know, and I'm happy to accept returns for refunds.

Orders usually ship within three business days. I generally pack books in boxes, with padding, and unless they're unusually bulky or heavy -- more than four pounds or so -- I won't ask for additional shipping costs. For domestic media-mail buyers, anyway. Prices for international and even priority shipping can get *insane*.
List this Seller's Books

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The I Ching, or Book of Changes, Volume II

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Available now at AbeBooks.co.uk - Hardcover - N.Y.: Bollingen Foundation/Pantheon - 1952 - Book Condition: Very Good - Good - Volume II of a two-volume set. 2nd printing. Book appears unread, with a few faint marks to leading edge of text block; unclipped DJ chipped at spine ends and top corner.

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The Egyptian PosturesDr. Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha’nish

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The Egyptian PosturesDr. Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha’nish

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The Egyptian Postures is a guide to the most advanced Mazdaznan exercises that Johannes Itten taught his students at the Bauhaus.

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The Egyptian Postures This edition of Dr. Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish's original instructions has been newly edited and illustrated by Ian Whittlesea with images of actor Ery Nzaramba demonstrating the postures and an in-depth essay by Pádraic E. Moore that explores the relationships between esoteric movements, their racial theories and early modernism's embrace and eventual dismissal of the occult, Mazdaznan and Itten. is a guide to the most advanced Mazdaznan exercises that Johannes Itten taught his students at the Bauhaus. Often performed while singing or humming the postures were intended to activate glands and re-channel internal energies, stirring the blood in ways that contributed to the perpetual evolution of humanity. They were also said to induce auto-illumination, the participant's body generating an intense light from within.
Casebound in gold cloth with red foil and red page edges

Black & white text, with twelve photographs and 31 line drawings

Printed in Europe by SYL Barcelona
From the introduction:
Published by The Everyday Press, London

My interest in Mazdaznan began with a photograph. It was widely reproduced in publications about the Bauhaus and generally titled Morning exercises on the roof of the Itten School but I had never found a satisfactory explanation of just what the young people in white coats were doing on that rooftop. After a little work, and a fortuitous purchase on eBay of a book from the 1930s, I learnt that it showed Johannes Itten and his students practicing not just any morning exercises but very specifically Mazdaznan breathing exercises. It was a discovery that inspired my book Mazdaznan Health & Breath Culture.

That book, like this, explores the intimate relationship between Johannes Itten, Mazdaznan and the Bauhaus. Itten was a renowned colour theorist, artist and teacher who was among the first faculty of the newly formed Bauhaus from 1919 until he resigned as director of the Vorkurs (preliminary course) in 1923, his position made untenable by a conflict between his mysticism and director Walter Gropius's move towards an active engagement with mass production. Itten's departure has been seen by some as the triumph of the rational, epitomised by Gropius and his machine-age aesthetic, and by others as emblematic of the rupture between modernism and its roots, with the associated dismissal of the conscious body as a denial of transcendence, sensuality and occult energy.

Itten was a devout Mazdaznan, a follower of the self-named Dr. Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish and his Chicago-based global religion. Ha'nish advocated a strict vegetarian diet, breath control, tantric sexual techniques and a form of pseudo-yoga as a means of self-realisation. Many of Itten's students converted to Mazdaznan and together they practiced the breathing exercises at the centre of Ha'nish's teachings.

My first book on Mazdaznan was based on the assumption that Itten would only have taught the simplest exercises to his students. Just after that book was published I came across a second photograph, clearly taken at the same time as the first, and titled Relaxation exercises on the roof of the Itten School. The same group of students are shown assisting each other into a variety of positions taken from the most advanced Mazdaznan exercises. These were The Egyptian Postures, a series of bending, stretching and posing movements that Ha'nish claimed to be directly descended from those used by the Pharaohs. They were often performed while singing or humming and were intended to activate glands and re-channel internal energies, stirring the blood in ways that contributed to the perpetual evolution of humanity. It was also said that the postures could result in auto-illumination, the participant's body generating light from within visible to any onlooker.

I described Mazdaznan Health & Breath Culture as 'a practical guide to performing the exercises that Itten taught at the Bauhaus and a celebration of a moment of mysticism at the heart of modernism' and while the same could be said of The Egyptian Postures, it also explores the much more difficult questions of why modernism's early adherents felt it necessary to banish the esoteric and occult from their midst. My drawings of the postures and photographs of the finger exercises are an attempt at clarity. They seek to honour Ha'nish's instructions that the postures are timeless and need no special clothes or apparatus, and to provide an alternative to the often difficult to follow illustrations that are printed in many Mazdaznan publications.

I am indebted to Pádraic E. Moore, whose essay insightfully and sensitively unpicks some of the conflicts of Itten's time at the Bauhaus and deals unflinchingly with Mazdaznan's adherence to theories of race evolution. I am also grateful to Ery Nzaramba for a brief but essential discussion of the politics of history, as well as his exemplary demonstration of The Egyptian Postures.

Ian Whittlesea

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Ian Whittlesea - Works - The Egyptian Postures

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The Egyptian Postures This edition of Dr. Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish's original instructions has been newly edited and illustrated by Ian Whittlesea with images of actor Ery Nzaramba demonstrating the postures and an in-depth essay by Pádraic E. Moore that explores the relationships between esoteric movements, their racial theories and early modernism's embrace and eventual dismissal of the occult, Mazdaznan and Itten.

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The 200 photographs in Trataka record the gradual disappearance of a candle’s physical form and the subtly changing mood of a passing day.

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Trataka by Ian WhittleseaPublished by The Everyday Press

The 200 photographs in Trataka record the gradual disappearance of a candle's physical form and the subtly changing mood of a passing day. Wax is consumed by fire and a solid object converted to light and heat. Finally, a last trace of white smoke rises as the candle gutters and dies.

Trataka is a yogic practice of concentration honed through staring at the center of a candle flame. It is said to still the mind, stimulate the pineal gland, open the third eye and promote psychic abilities.

This book may be used as an aid to daily meditation, a flick book for the impatient or as a memento mori.

-

Ian Whittlesea is an artist whose work explores the relationships between language, light, image and diagram both on the page and in the world. His translation of Yves Klein's Les Fondements du Judo was published in 2009, Mazdaznan Health & Breath Culture in 2012, Becoming Invisible in 2014, The Egyptian Postures in 2017 and On Colour... in 2019. These texts have been collectively described as 'instruction manuals for transcendental exercise'.

The Everyday Press was founded in 2007 by artist Arnaud Desjardin to publish the work of visual artists as printed matter.

Text, images, design and production by Ian Whittlesea, published by Arnaud Desjardin / The Everyday Press, printed by The Westdale Press, distributed in Europe by Antenne Books.

ISBN 978-1-912458-10-3

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Trataka by Ian WhittleseaPublished by The Everyday Press The 200 photographs in Trataka record the gradual disappearance of a candle's physical form and the subtly changing mood of a passing day. Wax is consumed by fire and a solid object converted to light and heat.

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Feedback from presentation: things to think about

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Feedback from presentation: things to think about

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What's feminie design?

How we are designing for younger audience? - energy, vibration and visual lang sources

Tone now = muted colours

Type design?

If doing digital format = GIF images

Maybe do a poll to understand about spiritual design type

Boarden and break away from spiritual designs that are already present = look at NHS infographic designs, wisdom from more cultural spirit beliefs (culutral identity/easten culture), instruction style

Use photography instead of illustration?

Think about energy and atmosphere = fantasy and abstract

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When you were born determines everything about you, including which "Based On Your Zodiac Sign" article you should read. Read on to make sure you're clicking on the right piece of clickbait.

Aries

As the first sign in the zodiac, your presence marks an energetic new beginning. Click on a "Which One Of The First Humans Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign?" to find out which one of our assertive and aggressive cavemen ancestors you would be. It might not be Grungh, like you thought.

Taurus

You're all about food and comfort-things that feel very "home-y." But you're also very stubborn! You might want to check out a " Which Fight Should You Have With Mom On Thanksgiving Based On Your Zodiac Sign? " article. You love butting heads with those closest to you, you stubborn bull!

Gemini

If we know one thing about you, Gemini (which we do, because we're astrologers), it's that your sign is "the twins." Hop on over to a "Which Pair of Celebrity Twins Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign?" article to find out exactly which star twins your star sign, the twins, says you are.

Cancer

Cancers are overly emotional and sensitive, which means you can usually find them eating the abnormally large amount of feelings that they feel. You might want to check out a " What Type Of Cookie Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign? " article before you reach for that comfort food!

Leo

Leo, you are wild! Your impulsive and attention-getting nature can often get you in trouble, so hop on over to " Which Third-Degree Felony You'll Most Likely Die In Jail For Based on Your Star Sign " to find out just how your personality will do you in!

Virgo

Logical and organized Virgos love to plan ahead. That's why you should check out a " Where You Should Spread Your Ashes Based On Your Zodiac Sign " article. It's never too soon to start thinking about what's going to happen to you after you die.

Libra

You like things fair and balanced, just like the Fox News slogan. You should probably check out a "Which Former Fox News Anchor Who Left After A Scandal Are You Based on Your Zodiac Sign?" article to find out just how fair and balanced you are. Spoiler: It's Gretchen Carlson.

Scorpio

As the most sexual sign, you definitely know your way around the bedroom! You've had more sexual partners than any other sign in the zodiac combined. You might want to get yourself checked out? That's why you should read a " What V.D. You Definitely Have Right Now Based On Your Zodiac Sign " article. And get tested. Seriously.

Sagittarius

You love to travel, and it wouldn't cause you much concern to pick up and move completely across the country. In a past life, you were probably one of the pioneers who opened up the Pacific Northwest! That's why you should check out a "Which Member Of T Donner Party Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign?" article.

Capricorn

You're no-nonsense and love business! Check out a "What Kind Of Insider Trading Should You Commit Based On Your Zodiac Sign" article. It'll appeal to your cold and calculating nature and maybe give you a few ideas!

Aquarius

Aquarius, you're one of the most intellectual signs in the zodiac. You're always full of questions, s check out a "What Question Should You Ask Based On Your Zodiac Sign?" article to know which question you should ask. It's based on your zodiac sign!

Pisces

As a water sign, you're more in tune with emotions and can easily tell when other people around you are mad or have hostile intentions. Check out a "Which Body Of Water Will You 'Accidentally' Drown In While Boating With Your Husband Based On Your Zodiac Sign?" article. It might just save your life if it wasn't already your destiny to die.

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Zodiac Sign Articles You Should Read Based On Your Zodiac Sign

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When you were born determines everything about you, including which "Based On Your Zodiac Sign" article you should read. Read on to make sure you're clicking on the right piece of clickbait. As the first sign in the zodiac, your presence marks an energetic new beginning.

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Table of Contents

This article was most recently revised and updated by

zodiac, in astronomy and astrology, a belt around the heavens extending 9° on either side of the ecliptic, the plane of Earth's orbit and of the Sun's apparent annual path. The orbits of the Moon and of the principal planets also lie entirely within the zodiac. The 12 astrological signs of the zodiac are each considered to occupy 1/12 (or 30°) of its great circle. These signs no longer correspond to the astronomical constellations in which the Sun actually appears. The constellations are irregular in size and shape, and the Sun regularly passes through one constellation ( Ophiuchus) that is not considered a member of the zodiac.

Because most of the constellations through which the ecliptic passes represent animals, the ancient Greeks called its zone zōdiakos kyklos, "circle of animals," or ta zōdia, "the little animals." The size and number of zodiacal constellations varied in antiquity and became fixed only with the development of mathematical astronomy. The list below gives the constellations of the zodiac, with the dates of the Sun's passage through them in the era when their boundaries were fixed. These dates are still used for the astrological signs, though precession of the equinoxes has shifted the constellations eastward; e.g., on January 1 the direction of the sun is now in Sagittarius instead of Capricornus. The history of the symbols is unknown; they seem to appear first in Greek manuscripts of the late Middle Ages.

♈ Aries (Ram): March 21-April 19

♉ Taurus (Bull): April 20-May 20

♊ Gemini (Twins): May 21-June 21

♋ Cancer (Crab): June 22-July 22

♌ Leo (Lion): July 23-August 22

♍ Virgo (Virgin): August 23-September 22

♎ Libra (Balance): September 23-October 23

♏ Scorpius (Scorpion): October 24-November 21

♐ Sagittarius (Archer): November 22-December 21

♑ Capricornus (Goat): December 22-January 19

♒ Aquarius (Water Bearer): January 20-February 18

♓ Pisces (Fish): February 19-March 20

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Adam Augustyn.

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Zodiac, in astronomy and astrology, a belt around the heavens extending 9 degrees on either side of the plane of the earth's orbit and of the sun's apparent annual path. The 12 astrological signs of the zodiac are each considered to occupy 30 degrees of its great circle.

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Where Do Zodiac Signs Come From? Here's the True History Behind Your Horoscope

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Astrology is not a science, but there's a real, fascinating history behind humans attaching meaning to the stars. Here's what to know.

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Vivian's 1st design layout experiment - using Dolly Regular, Bold.

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Vivian's 1st design layout experiment - using Dolly Regular, Bold.

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What are the articles about? (we will want to know)

Where have you sourced the articles from?

Within your presentation we expect you to have considered the following:

What is your magazine about

Does it have a theme?

How do you want people to feel when they read your magazine? - relaxed and zen

Does is have a particular voice? (trashy, political, quiet, glossy, reader… etc ——— the list is endless!! )

Is it for a particular group within the design school or for the student body as a whole?

Has it got a name or title yet?

Why choose the articles?

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Inhale Magazine, Kah Yen Chua, "A magazine that allows you to understand your mind and feelings". 

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Inhale Magazine, Kah Yen Chua, "A magazine that allows you to understand your mind and feelings". 

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​​​​​​​People in the urban area face more and have higher possibility to encounter mental health issues , especially ladies.

Therefore, the magazine is created to guide readers through finding different ways to understand themselves more and know they are not facing the problems alone. The magazine explains how and why come and how we can deal with them.

The magazine is named as "" because when they read, they inhale new energy to charge their mind and body.

It is designed in a clean layout to display its peacefulness and calmness.

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​​​​​​​People in the urban area face more and have higher possibility to encounter mental health issues , especially ladies. Therefore, the magazine is created to guide readers through finding different ways to understand themselves more and know they are not facing the problems alone.

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Went over ppt slides on order of who's presenting: (Lauren > Sian > Vivian > Ella > Lauren).

Intro: talk about what our magazine content is about, theme (?), target audience (students who seek to destress), tone (relaxed and educational), topics the magazine will contain (yoga, mindfullness, meditation,etc).

Each person talk about where they found their articles from, whats it's about, styles you have thought about, own experiments you have done.

Moodboard of magazine cover and article page layout ideas.

Individually experiment with own researched articles to create a single or double page spread design. Put under our own slides.

Run through ppt before presenting on 22nd Mon.

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Inspiration for wellbeing magazine and illustrative style.

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Home / Mindfulness / Teen Breathe

NEXT ISSUE INFO: Please note next issue #25 will be on sale on 9 March in the UK.

Teen Breathe is a bi-monthly magazine for ages 8-14 covering topics including mindfulness, wellbeing, creativity and health.

Subscribe to the Digital Issue

Description

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Teen Breathe magazine - Subscribe - GMC Publications - Be Inspired

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Home / Mindfulness / Teen Breathe NEXT ISSUE INFO: Please note next issue #25 will be on sale on 9 March in the UK. Teen Breathe is a bi-monthly magazine for ages 8-14 covering topics including mindfulness, wellbeing, creativity and health. Subscribe to the Digital Issue Description

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TYPORIGAMI CALENDAR 2021, Multiple Owners

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TYPORIGAMI CALENDAR 2021, Multiple Owners

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Cut out origami, consumer can make their own origami.

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This year all of us have struggled a lot with Covid-19. In many people's lives, the pandemic caused a lack of work, financial issues, physical or mental health problems, or total social isolation. We try to be optimistic but know, we should be patient in ...

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10 Best Spiritual Magazine images in 2021

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Feb 16, 2021 - Explore eorigin2009's board "Spiritual Magazine" on Pinterest.

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Margaret Thatcher ('Dot-to-Dot Puzzle no. 1: Thatcher Therapy')

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Margaret Thatcher ('Dot-to-Dot Puzzle no. 1: Thatcher Therapy')

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Maybe include something interactive like this example.

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Pelvic Tilts

The first few pelvic tilts will reveal any traces of low back pain and stiffness. Do them slowly and keep going until the movement feels fluid. After 10-20 reps notice if you feel any relief in your back.

You're simply rocking your hips towards your face, as shown, without lifting your butt off the floor. You should start off with your lower back just slightly curved, and as you perform the movement you should feel your lower back pressing into the floor.

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The first few pelvic tilts will reveal any traces of low back pain and stiffness. Do them slowly and keep going until the movement feels fluid. After 10-20 reps notice if you feel any relief in your back. You're simply rocking your hips towards your face, as shown, without lifting your butt off the floor.

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Crystallisation is a transition from chaos to perfection; the evolution of the crystal industry has been less simple. Millions of years ago liquid rock inside the earth cooled and hardened, and this is how crystals formed at the twinkling centre of the earth. Piece by piece they've been mined to become the centre, too, of an international industry that hangs on their rumoured metaphysical healing properties. But recently something else has emerged from the rocks - a darker truth. Rather than connecting with the earth, those buying crystals are damaging it, fatally.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen gifted guests black tourmaline to keep negative energies at bay

In three short years, crystals have risen from niche new age interest to valid hobby, firmly embedded in the mainstream consciousness. In 2017 crystals became a multibillion-dollar slice of the $4.2trn global wellness industry, with shamans using them to advise entrepreneurs on investment opportunities, and Gwyneth Paltrow selling them to encourage serenity and to "purify" water. Their investment status is compared to fine art. Women have been persuaded to welcome their presence in beauty products and fashion accessories, not by spiritual healers, but celebrities. At a New York Fashion Week presentation, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen gifted guests "black tourmaline to keep negative energies at bay", and "white clear quartz to promote harmony and balance". Kate Hudson "adds a little energy" to her moisturiser by storing it beside crystals; Adele blamed a bad performance at the Grammys on the fact she'd lost hers; and Kim Kardashian used them to recover from the stress of a robbery.

When Jennifer Lawrence moved into her new home there were crystals embedded in the walls. "The house was crystalled out," she told Vogue, but she didn't want visitors to think she was a "crystal person". She was advised not to treat them casually, to employ the official "crystal lady" that had installed them to remove them, too, but of course she scoffed, and got a builder to rip them out. "I just had all the crystals yanked out. Sold them," she said, before adding, pointedly, "And then my fucking house flooded." Today, even those who don't identify as "crystal people" have been persuaded of their power.

But while it's claimed crystals help people harness the energy of the earth, the more they are mined, the more that earth is suffering. Here is the dirty truth of crystals, and it's not simply that their efficacy as healing objects is unproven. It's that, as Emily Atkin at The New Republic reported last year, their origins are murky, and their environmental impact worrying. Much like diamonds, crystal mining is an industry buried in conflict. There are issues around sustainability: crystals are a non-renewable resource. There are issues around labour: most jobs are low paid, unsafe, and sometimes performed by underage workers. And there is an issue around accountability: the industry is unregulated, allowing exploitation to go unchecked.

"Mining has an environmental impact, whether it's for 'healing crystals', the copper in your phone, or the gold in your ring," explains Payal Sampat of nonprofit organisation Earthworks. The quote marks are her own. "'Healing crystals' are mined in places like Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo where mineral extraction is linked to severe human-rights violations and environmental harm." In the DRC, seven-year-old children work in the cobalt and copper mines, where covetable "healing" stones such as citrine and smoky quartz abound. International NGO Global Witness found that the Taliban earns up to $20m a year from Afghanistan's lapis mines, lapis lazuli being, as crystal websites explain, one of the best stones for activating psychic abilities. "As with most minerals," adds Sampat, "it is impossible to know for sure if your crystal was obtained via an environmental and human rights horror show."

Crystals are found on every continent, but it's difficult to find a crystal seller who will specify the origins of individual stones and even harder to find one willing to talk honestly about the effects of mining. There's no governing body requiring they do so, no regulator for an industry mired in exploitation and secrecy. Stephen Wells at Kacha Stones is one of a handful of sellers who prides himself on his ethical practices. He emails from India where he's sourcing moonstone, tourmaline and kyanite despite their rarity and his infected root canal. "If something is cheap and available in huge quantities," he writes, "the odds are it's the result of a huge commercial enterprise, often the by-product of mining entirely unrelated to crystals."

For Wells, the importance of ethical crystal mining is not solely about the impact on the planet, but also on the crystal itself - he believes the mining of a stone affects its healing properties. "Taking something by force, destructively, has an effect on any living thing. Crystals are archetypal pure frequencies, nature's perfect geometric tuning forks. Can anyone imagine the shockwaves of explosions having no impact?" At home, using a garden fork and trowel, he digs for Welsh quartz. "I don't dig indiscriminately. I fill in the small holes I make and try not to exploit myself in the process. That's as eco-friendly as mining gets, but it isn't going to make much of an impact on global trade." The more we talk, the more surprising it seems that crystal consumers, the kind of people who wouldn't eat a battery-farmed egg, let alone meat they couldn't trace, are yet to question the provenance of their crystals.

An industrial park in Watford, and rain beats down on the plastic roof of the warehouse where the Crystal Geode, a wholesale crystal supplier, stores its salt lamps, amethysts and complicated fairy ephemera. Neil Ashcroft, director of the family business, explains first the expansion of the company, and then the expansion of his mind. In 1986, when he was in his late 20s and working for the police, Ashcroft was in a motorbike accident that hospitalised him for two years. It technically killed him three times and lost him his left leg. He had "out-of-body experiences"; when he finally returned home, he was different. An ex introduced him to crystals, which helped him feel more "grounded". He never planned to make much money from selling them and still, today, spends much of his time advising customers on, "say, which stones are best for anxiety, or which are best for blood disorders."

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Hard labour: a worker grades amethysts by colour in Uruguay. Photograph: Andres Stapff/Reuters

But as celebrities began broadcasting their interest, says Ashcroft, he saw the industry explode. While sales are up, the pressure to undercut prices online is rising too, which makes it harder for Ashcroft to maintain his insistence on high-quality crystals, ethically mined. And while he attempts to work only with suppliers he trusts, he's clear there's much he'll never know: crystals are rarely the primary product that miners are looking for, but rather the shiny byproducts found alongside more valuable elements used in our phones and TVs - so mining supply chains are complicated and often shrouded in mystery.

Ashcroft releases a defeated sigh: "All I can do is ensure that at least quality and genuine crystals are coming into the market. We're buying from the best possible sources. But sometimes unethical mines are the only sources of the crystals people want. I try to stay as aware of their origins as possible, but I can be concerned about it while also feeling... impotent?" He shakes his head. "Most retailers feel they want to [be ethical], but can't implement it." As we descend from the office into aisles lined with cardboard boxes containing carved angels and jade tumble stones, he tries to elaborate - the market is so huge, the demand is so high, the internet is so vast... But his words tail off.

The truth is, many retailers have no idea where their crystals come from. Many, like tourmaline, amethyst, quartz and citrine (used to "manifest abundance and prosperity") are found in gold, copper or cobalt mines, but even publicly traded industrial mines aren't required to disclose profits from byproducts. And rather than directly from mines, or even the factories where the stones are cut and polished, retailers like the Crystal Geode buy from go-betweens, independent traders who sell at touring shows, who, even if they have documentation to prove their supply chain, are disinclined to share it, in part for fear of doing themselves out of a job.

The experience of taking a train into the suburbs, then driving through an industrial park, then picking through the boxes of a crystal retailer felt like an odd reflection of the experience of trying to understand the dark origins of crystals themselves: a step-by-step sloughing off of glamour, of magic. Their story is not dissimilar to that of cocaine, a drug that wealthy westerners buy because it makes them feel fun and interesting, choosing to ignore the fact people have almost definitely been tortured and beheaded earlier in its supply chain in order to provide their weekend buzz. Consumers buy a product they benefit from, whether through the brief bitter high of cocaine, or the compliments garnered from a £5 party dress, or the feeling of inner peace from wearing a crystal, and therefore, doesn't it make sense that we share in the moral culpability for the unethical practices that brought it to us?

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Window shopping: a display of healing crystals in a British shop. Photograph: David J Green/Alamy Stock Photo

In Notting Hill, it's easier to forget.The Financial Times's "How To Spend It" profile of the owners of Venusrox begins with a vision of wealthy wellness: "Matt and Victoria Forster are smooth-skinned, clear-eyed and radiate a happiness and harmony that most of us could spend a lifetime failing to achieve. Ask them their secret and they answer in unison: 'Passion for crystals.'" One bright morning (after they twice turned down interview requests), I visited their showroom, a gallery of stones all of which are labelled with the country they've come from, and some also labelled with the mines. There were small smooth stones (including lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and shattuckite from the DRC) for a few pounds, and large glittering rocks the size of a newborn baby for tens of thousands. It was here that the secondary ethical dilemma of the crystal industry became immediately apparent. It's one thing to market a crystal for its decorative purposes, but another with the promise it will, like amethyst, "help overcome addictions".

The appeal of crystals is two-tiered. Their infinite sparkliness has an obvious draw, but their value relies on a belief in their healing powers. Emma Lucy Knowles, author of The Power of Crystal Healing (her celebrity clients include Victoria Beckham) explains it to me like this: "We work with crystals to draw out the 'negative' and 'heighten' the positive, such as love, protection, abundance or seeking to detoxify from fear, guilt, worry. They can be used to filter that property into the energy centres, the chakras." She recommends placing quartz by photos of people you love, "to promote that vibration in their direction". "Crystals are formed under pressure, much like ourselves. The power of life force - what's not to love about that?" It's a hypothetical question.

Standing among the quartz and citrine in Notting Hill, I breathe deeply, and consider my flow. In 2001 Dr Christopher French, a psychologist at Goldsmith, set out to test the effects of crystals on 80 volunteers. Half were given a piece of quartz to meditate with, while the rest were given a piece of similar-looking plastic and told it was a crystal. They were also given a booklet explaining 10 of the sensations they might experience, which included tingling, more focused attention, improved sense of wellbeing, a rise in hand temperature and "activation of all levels of consciousness". Out of the 80, only six failed to experience at least one of these sensations. "The fact that the same effects were found with both genuine and fake crystals undermines any claims that crystals have the mysterious powers which they are claimed to have," said French. Dr Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, added: "The power of crystals is in the mind instead of in the crystals. Clearly there is an effect, but people are paying hundreds of pounds for crystals and they might as well pay just a couple of quid."

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On the rocks: a young woman at a crystal healing session. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

But who really wants to hear this? Who wants to pull back the wizard's curtain? Neil Ashcroft of the Crystal Geode is clear that crystals have helped him: "They work - whether it's a placebo effect or not, they worked for me." For most of his customers a belief in the healing power of crystals, rather than the power of placebos, is a kind of faith. An understandable choice, it could be argued, in a time when people report feeling ever more critical of experts and "facts", keen for a release from technology, disconnected from traditional systems of care and desperate for something shiny that might save them. While it might be possible to debate the efficacy of healing crystals, it is harder to argue the often murky ethics of the process that delivers them.

As the crystal market continues to grow, so does the need for an international reckoning. In 2000 campaigning from organisations such as Global Witness resulted in a United Nations resolution, and the establishment of the Kimberley Process in 2002 virtually eliminated "conflict diamonds". It's possible that the government could bring in similar regulations for crystals, but it's currently unlikely - despite the celebrity-led boom, the healing crystal industry is still nowhere near as profitable or powerful as the diamond industry. A crystal revolution would rely on a tipping of emotion. A consumer push.

"It would be a great shame," says Sophia Pickles, the campaign leader at Global Witness, "if consumers buying goods that they believe help them 'connect with the Earth' are, in fact, making purchases that are connected to grave human-rights abuses, environmental destruction, conflict and corruption. Unfortunately, this is a very real risk for products like crystals."

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Gwyneth likes them: the Goop Medicine Bag, including quartz, jasper, carnelian and citrine. Photograph: Goop Shop

Until retailers are required to prove responsible sourcing and reveal their supply chains, she says, crystal consumers must acknowledge they're participating in practices that are having devastating environmental and social impact. "The responsibility of companies to address harms to people and planet in their supply chains is gaining increasing traction. Industries selling 'wellbeing' that do not make it their business to take steps to ensure they are sourcing their materials responsibly are at risk of accusations of deep hypocrisy."

A slow change is rumbling. A petition demanding Paltrow's Goop sell only ethically sourced crystals runs at almost 17,000 names, under the line, "No amount of sage can get rid of the bad vibes that come from human exploitation and environmental destruction." The growing number of people who use crystals, whether to "detoxify", reduce anxiety, or decorate iPhones must acknowledge their healing crystals are likely to have contributed to human trauma or environmental destruction.

If more people knew this, wouldn't they begin rocking the boat? Campaigning as we have with food and fashion, people could start asking questions, demanding transparency about a crystal's origins, about the conditions of the mine, and the route it took to arrive in their warming hand. Because the power of a healing crystal is nothing compared with the power of a hundred thousand crystal buyers closing their purses. And now they know.
Email Eva at e.wiseman@observer.co.uk or follow her on Twitter@EvaWiseman Topics

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Gwyneth loves them, Adele can't sing without them and Kim Kardashian uses them to deal with stress. Many of us are lured by their beauty and promise of mystical powers, but are 'healing' crystals connecting us to the earth - or harming it? Eva Wiseman reports