I had the gift of spending time in Assisi many years back. The tomb of St. Francis, where his relics are kept, is in a crypt below the basilica. The reliquary is located in the central portion, above the two grilles in the picture.
The atmosphere of peace and spiritual stillness in the crypt is something very special. I pray that you'll find some of that peace this year end.
My 18 year-old female Jack Russell, Candy, went to the big kennel in the sky at 10 a.m. on Thursday 21st June. This is a pic of her when I 'inherited' her. She was still vibrant - although already (in human years) twelve. Grand old age saw her blind, deaf, unable to smell, slightly tottery and eventually becoming very anxious as a result. So I had to play God, which I absolutely hate doing, and with the vet's gentle, compassionate and empathic assistance, let her drift off into permanent anaesthetic-assisted sleep.
She was an idiosyncratic little lady. Feisty, with no concept that she was a mere 10% of the weight of my Alpha female Rottweiler. They didn't get on, but lived in a kinda strained truce - basically ignoring each other. A canine 'girl thing' if you will.
We miss you Candy. Thanks for giving us so much time with you. Hamba kahle and give my love to the rest of the pack.
Hiya! Had this article run in the Health News supplement of Business Day today. If you have an interest in how you might use brainwaves and get 'em to work to your advantage, then read on. Or print the article out. Just added a plain text version of the article at the bottom in case it's easier for you to handle!
Had a brainwave?
Alpha may be the most commonly-known brainwave, but the correct order from fast to slow is Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta. Here’s an analogy: Think of two little girls rotating a long skipping rope for their friends. If the rope’s spinning very fast, the circle (or wave ‘frequency’) will be too narrow for play. As the rotation slows down and the circle it describes gets bigger, so they can skip and play inside of it.
At the ‘busiest’ level is Gamma. Typically from 30 Hertz (Hz or cycles per second) upward. It’s an exciting bandwidth which is the subject of ongoing research. The Brazilian healer, Joao de Deo (John of God), who featured on South African TV a few years back, is found to operate at the 40 Hz frequency of Gamma when in his healing ‘trance state’. There’s anecdotal evidence that this state is associate with higher levels of consciousness.
In Beta (13-30 Hz) there’s no skipping possible! It’s typically the brainwave pattern of actively functioning, busy, sometimes agitated, multi-tasking people. It’s a pattern from which it’s impossible to rest or fall asleep.
In Alpha (8-12 Hz) the skipping rope is rotating slower and in a bigger circle. Alpha is acknowledged as a restful, restorative and creative state. Intuitive (non-rote) public speakers, writers and artists may spend significant time in Alpha. It’s going to allow you to come up with great ideas, solutions and creative leaps in your private life or business. It’s typically the wave pattern produced in a state of contemplation, prayer or Transcendental Meditation - TM - (as taught by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, guru to the Beatles). Note: Meditation is not necessarily a religious activity.
If you’re able to sit or lie down and get your brain into Alpha or below, you can take a 10-20 minute relaxation ‘dive’ that will leave you refreshed and invigorated. Watching beautiful scenery, listening to gentle music or the sound of waves across shells, an aromatherapy treatment – these and many other activities will produce Alpha. All states of light restfulness and even ‘daydreaming’ can pop you into Alpha. You’ll typically go into Alpha before you go to sleep at night and (if you’re not woken by a shrieking alarm clock) you may well ‘surface’ through it on awakening. Both Alpha and the next level – Theta – are great states for intuitive insights and creative processing.
Theta (4-8 Hz) is a deeper state still. The skipping rope is circling wide and slow. At the upper end of Theta you can still be driving or mulling ideas etc. But the lower end of Theta is typically what you’d be producing as you doze or drift off to sleep.
Early Delta (below 4 Hz) is when we’re asleep but in that very light state known as REM or Rapid Eye Movement sleep. In this phase of sleep you may see your partner, child, baby or animal’s eyes moving behind the eyelids as they ‘follow the action’ in their dream. The deeper part of Delta (below 3 on down to 0.1 Hz) is when we’re in the deep sleep cycle. Beyond that depth would be cessation of measurable brainwaves and you’d be clinically ‘brain dead’. I’m convinced that I run across people on a daily basis who’re in this state! Kidding, but you get my drift.
What’s the easiest way of getting the brain rhythm to slow down into a more restful state? Simple. Just monitor your breathing. As you become aware of (or listen to) your breathing, so the brainwaves slow down, because you start to contemplate or concentrate and eventually even, perhaps meditate. (Although few people genuinely do get into a deep meditation state). This cycle of observing or listening to breath and slowing down the brainwaves is something you can practise and learn, on your own, very easily. Breath and brain activity are inextricably interlinked. Just watch where your breathing’s at when you’re in a hectic Beta rhythm! It’ll typically be shallow little upper-chest gasps. The opposite occurs as we relax, rest and contemplate.
What’s the purpose and benefit of having an understanding of these brain wave states? Quite simply, it means you’re going to manage them rather than have them drive you. You’ll also save energy (the brain uses 40% of the oxygen in your body) and your focus and clarity of thought and function will be dramatically enhanced. Try it – you’ll like it!
Was chatting with Mike Stopforth yesterday and got to show him the 'character portrait' of me, crafted by the multi-talented Roy Blumenthal. He of French berets and pashmina shawls in cold weather. Eccentric, acerbic, voice artist, writer, entrepreneur. Too many capabilities squeezed into one small body. He also drives his Mazda Miata sports car on rugged, rustic game reserve roads. I understand the rhinos are in therapy as a result. Thought I'd share the portrait with you. He creates
'em on his PDA. Stylus power! The ladies hate it when their 'character' include some botox-proof wrinkles. Roy's got an uncanny insight into the 'real' person.
Me interpreted via the neurons of the talented Mr. Blumenthal
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