Yunnan-Style Breakfast Noodle Soup (Mi Xian)
This popular breakfast in China's Yunnan Province starts with fresh rice noodles and ground meat in a bare-bones pork broth, then gets customized with as many as a dozen condiments. Yunnan mi xian noodles (round and spaghettilike) or mi gan (flat and wide) are traditional, but any size rice noodle works, and dried varieties are fine in a pinch. Find fresh rice noodles in the refrigerated section at most Asian markets.
For the broth
5 lb. pork bones
1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
Black vinegar, for serving
Chile oil, for serving
Chile paste, such as samba oelek, for serving
Fresh mint leaves, for serving
Garlic chives (Chinese chives), chopped, for serving
Pickled mustard greens, chopped, for serving
Pickled red chiles, thinly sliced, for serving
Scallions, thinly sliced, for serving
Sesame seeds, for serving
Kosher salt, for serving
MSG, for serving
For the meat and noodles
Kosher salt
3 1⁄2 oz. pork shoulder, thinly sliced
Fermented chile bean paste (doubanjiang), to taste
1⁄2 lb. ground pork
16 oz. fresh rice noodles
Instructions
Make the broth: Fill a large stockpot halfway with water and bring to a rapid boil over high heat. Carefully add the pork bones and cook, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. Remove the bones using a slotted spoon and reserve. Discard the liquid. Clean out the pot and place back on the stove. Add the bones and fill with enough water to cover (about 18 cups). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, undisturbed, until the broth is flavorful and reduced, 3 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids (you should have 8 cups broth). Use broth immediately, or let cool, then chill up to 2 days.
When ready to serve, reheat the broth over medium-high heat until any fat has been melted. Add 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt and up to 1 cup water to dilute and stretch the broth slightly.
Make the pork: Meanwhile, fill a medium saucepan with 2 inches water and bring to a boil. Season with 2 pinches of salt and add the pork shoulder. Cook until tender and no longer pink, 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pork to a bowl (reserve the cooking water). Stir in the fermented chile bean paste, and cover the bowl with foil.
Bring the cooking water back to a boil and add the ground pork. Cook, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove the ground pork to a separate small bowl and cover with foil.
Make the noodles: Add enough additional warm water to the pot to cook the noodles in. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then add the rice noodles and cook until tender, about 30 seconds.
Using tongs, divide the noodles between 4 soup bowls. Divide the broth between the bowls to cover the noodles. Garnish with mint.
Serve with the chopped and ground pork, black vinegar, chile oil, chile paste, mint, garlic chives, pickled mustard greens, pickled chiles, scallions, sesame seeds, salt, and MSG for topping.
Japanese sashimi and rice
Making sushi at home can be a challenge fraught with angst. That's where chirashi comes in. It's a rice bowl covered in colorful slices of fish, glistening balls of orange roe, and a rainbow of other garnishes from sesame seeds to seaweed promising all the architectural potential we lust for in a well-made sushi platter—but with far less effort.
For the vinegar mixture
1⁄4 cup rice vinegar
3 tbsp. (1 1⁄2 oz.) granulated sugar
1 tbsp. mirin
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. 1⁄2 oz. Kosher salt
For the sushi rice and toppings
10 oz. short-grain sushi rice
1 1⁄4 cups water
1⁄2 cup cup mixed, chilled, sliced seafood such as raw tuna, raw salmon, raw yellowtail, and chilled poached squid, left out at room temperature for 10 minutes
3 tbsp. salmon roe (ikura)
1⁄2 oz. each thinly sliced chilled vegetables such as cucumber, avocado, and poached asparagus
1⁄2 oz. chopped tamago (sushi omelet)
Instructions
To make the vinegar mixture, in a medium bowl, combine the vinegar, sugar, mirin and salt; set aside.
To make the sushi rice, in a large bowl, add the rice and cover with lots of water. Gently stir with your hands, then drain and repeat several times until the water is clear. Let dry for 15 minutes.
Transfer rice to rice cooker and add the water. Cook rice according to manufacturer’s directions. (Alternatively, add the rice and water to a medium nonstick pot; cook over high heat for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to low and cook just until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes more. Turn off the heat and let rest for 10 minutes.)
Transfer the rice to a shallow mixing bowl (not metal). Spread out the rice across the bottom of the bowl and, using a wooden spatula or wooden paddle to disperse it, quickly but evenly pour the vinegar mixture into the rice. Mix the rice to distribute. Let the rice cool.
Layer 1 ½ cups rice into the bottom of a serving bowl (reserve any remaining rice for another use). Distribute the toppings over the rice as desired, and serve immediately.
Korean Scallion Pancakes (Pajeon)
These crispy fried scallion pancakes from chef Hooni Kim, traditionally paired with a refreshing makgeolli, or Korean rice beer, can be a vehicle for any number of ingredients. Instead of, or in addition to, the scallions, you can fill pajeon with garlic chives, ramps, chrysanthemum leaves, small squid, shrimp, thin slices of Korean chile, or julienned carrots. To get the pancakes as crispy as possible, make sure the batter is very cold and the pan smoking hot and slicked with plenty of oil.
For the pancakes
2 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄2 cup cornstarch
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. minced fresh garlic (from about 3 cloves)
1 tbsp. doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste)
2 large egg yolks, beaten
2 cups ice-cold club soda
3 bunches thin scallions, green and white parts cut into 2-inch batons (7 cups)
1 cup grapeseed or canola oil, for frying
For the dipping sauce
4 1⁄2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. mirin
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. rice vinegar
1⁄2 tsp. sesame oil
Instructions
Make the pancakes: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, sugar, salt, and pepper; stir to blend.
In a separate small bowl, add the soy sauce, garlic, doenjang, and egg yolks; whisk to combine. Add this mixture and the club soda into the dry ingredients. Whisk about 10 times, then transfer to the freezer and let rest 10 minutes (this will help any remaining clumps incorporate).
Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk the soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside.
Retrieve the batter and fold in the scallion pieces. If the batter is too thick, add more club soda, 1⁄4 cup at a time, and mix well.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels, and set it next to the stove.
In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1⁄2 cup of the oil over high heat. Once shimmering, carefully add 1 cup of the batter to the center of the pan. Using a spatula, spread to form a 7-inch pancake; avoid letting the batter touch the sides if possible (to prevent the edges from burning before the center is cooked through). Lower the heat to medium and cook until the bottom of the pancake has set, 2–3 minutes. Gently slide a spatula under the edge of the pancake and lift it, tilting the pan so some of the hot oil runs underneath the pancake. Cook until the bottom is crispy and deep golden brown, 2–3 minutes more. Carefully flip the pancake, being careful not to let the oil splash, and cook on the remaining side until golden brown and cooked through, 3–4 minutes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, letting the paper towels absorb any excess oil.
Place the pan back over high heat, and add 2–3 tablespoons more oil if needed. Repeat the process until all the batter is used. To keep the finished pancakes warm and crispy, set them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in a low (200°) oven. Cut each pancake into pieces and serve with the dipping sauce on the side.
Vietnamese coffee ice cream
Sweetened condensed milk and a touch of spice set this caffeinated treat apart from other coffee ice creams.
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
1⁄2 cup coarsely ground dark roast coffee beans
1⁄2 tsp. salt
6 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 pinch cinnamon
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
4 egg yolks
Instructions
Combine cream, coffee, salt, cardamom, and cinnamon in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and remove from heat; let steep 20 minutes. Strain cream mixture into saucepan and return to medium-high heat until heated through. Beat sweetened condensed milk and yolks in a medium bowl until smooth. Slowly whisk in hot cream mixture until smooth; cover with plastic wrap, pressing it against the surface of the custard. Chill custard completely.
Pour custard into an ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions until churned and thick. Transfer to an airtight storage container; freeze until set, at least 4 hours.
Source: www.saveur.com
New research is finding that gut health could play a primary role in the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists at California Institute of Technology found a link between gut health and the nervous system disorder. The study examined mice with Parkinson’s disease and found that symptoms were alleviated using treatments to improve gut health. Healthy gut microbes seem to cooperate with specific genes to help reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder affecting motor functioning. It comes on gradually, often beginning with barely noticeable tremors, stiffness and the slowing of movement. However, as it progresses, tremors get worse and motor skills become increasingly impaired.
Gut health: A potential paradigm shift in Parkinson’s disease treatment
The study was published in the journal Cell and is raising awareness about the benefits of probiotics and prebiotic therapies. Parkinson’s disease is currently the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the U.S. It affects around one million people and 1 percent of persons 60 years old or older.
The findings run counter to the previous belief that Parkinson’s causes are localized in the brain and nervous system. Gut microbes and the benefits of probiotics have already received quite a bit of publicity lately, and these findings are sure to accelerate discussions about the benefits of probiotics.
Treating Parkinson’s disease at the level of the gut represents a true paradigm shift in how the progressive nervous system disorder is seen and treated, say researchers. New possibilities are now available for what was once seen as an irreversible condition.
Not just a brain and nervous system disorder
Parkinson’s disease is caused by an accumulation of abnormally shaped proteins in the brain’s neurons. This in turn causes toxic effects in the cells responsible for releasing dopamine in brain regions associated with movement and motor control. Patients begin to experience tremors, muscle stiffness, and impaired movement that gets worse over time.
Current Parkinson’s treatments have focused on increasing dopamine levels in the brain. However, these treatments tend to lose effectiveness over time and can also cause a range of unpleasant side effects.
Patients afflicted with Parkinson’s disease have been found to have an altered gut microbiome. They can also have resultant gastrointestinal problems that may precede or accompany the more common Parkinson’s symptoms.
Benefits of probiotics now include lowered risk of Parkinson’s disease
Healthy gut microbe levels are already linked with positive neuronal development and healthy cognitive abilities. By contrast, gut health problems have been connected with brain and mood issues including depression, anxiety and autism. This recent research is shining a light on the role of the gut microbiome in avoiding neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
While more research must be done to identify the specific metabolites associated with Parkinson’s disease, taking steps to improve gut health is a good idea regardless. The list of benefits of probiotics keeps growing longer, and a lowered risk of Parkinson’s is highly compelling.
Some of the best food sources of probiotics include yogurt and fermented foods like pickles, sauerkraut, miso soup, kefir, kombucha, tempeh and kimchi. And, finally, eating plenty of organic, raw fruits and vegetables is critical for gut health.
Source: naturalhealth365.com
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Cavities, loose fillings, a cracked tooth, an abscess (a pocket of infection at the gum line), or a sinus condition can all bring on the dreaded toothache pain. Until you can see the dentist, these home remedies can provide toothache relief.
Clove oil
Cloves are a traditional remedy for numbing nerves; the primary chemical compound of this spice is eugenol, a natural anesthetic. But clove oil needs to be used carefully. Pouring the oil on the aching area can actually worsen the pain if you get it on sensitive gum tissue or on your tongue. Instead, put two drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and place it against the tooth itself until the pain recedes. In a pinch, use a bit of powdered clove or place a whole clove on the tooth. Chew the whole clove a little to release its oil and keep it in place up to half an hour or until the pain subsides.
Ginger-cayenne paste
Mix equal parts of these two heat-packing spices with enough water to make a paste. Roll a small ball of cotton into enough paste to saturate it, then place it on your tooth while avoiding your gums and tongue. Leave it until the pain fades—or as long as you can stand it (the concoction is likely to burn). You can also try these spices separately, as both are potent painkillers. The main chemical component of cayenne—capsaicin—has been found to help block pain messages from reaching the brain.
Swish some salt water
A teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of boiling water makes a pain-killing mouthwash (bonus: this can relieve a sore throat as well), which will clean away irritating debris and help reduce swelling. Swish it around for about 30 seconds before spitting it out. Salt water cleanses the area around the tooth and draws out some of the fluid that causes swelling. Repeat this treatment as often as needed.
Soothe with tea
Peppermint tea has a nice flavor and some numbing power. Put 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup boiling water and steep for 20 minutes. After the tea cools, swish it around in your mouth, then spit it out or swallow. (Love the smell of peppermint? The oil is a known headache remedy.) Also, the astringent tannins in strong black tea may help quell pain by reducing swelling. For this folk remedy place a warm, wet tea bag against the affected tooth for temporary relief.
Rinse with hydrogen peroxide
To help kill bacteria and relieve some discomfort, swish with a mouthful of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. This can provide temporary relief if the toothache is accompanied by fever and a foul taste in the mouth (both are signs of infection), but like other toothache remedies, it’s only a stopgap measure until you see your dentist and get the source of infection cleared up. A hydrogen peroxide solution is only for rinsing. Spit it out, then rinse several times with plain water.
Ice it
Place a small ice cube in a plastic bag, wrap a thin cloth around the bag, and apply it to the aching tooth for about 15 minutes to numb the nerves. Alternatively, that ice pack can go on your cheek, over the painful tooth. Also, according to folklore, if you massage your hand with an ice cube, you can help relieve a toothache. When nerves in your fingers send "cold" signals to your brain, they may override the pain signals coming from your tooth. Just wrap up an ice cube in a thin cloth and massage it in the fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger.
Wash it with myrrh
You can also rinse with a tincture of myrrh. The astringent effects help with inflammation, and myrrh offers the added benefit of killing bacteria. Simmer 1 teaspoon of powdered myrrh in 2 cups water for 30 minutes. Strain and let cool. Rinse with 1 teaspoon of the solution in a half-cup water five to six times a day.
Distract with vinegar and brown paper
Another country cure calls for soaking a small piece of brown paper (from a grocery or lunch bag) in vinegar, sprinkling one side with black pepper, and holding this to the cheek. The warm sensation on your cheek may distract you from your tooth pain.
Brush with the right tools
Use a toothpaste that's designated “for sensitive teeth.” If you have a problem with shrinking gums, this could relieve a lot of the pain you probably experience from hot or cold foods. When gums shrink, the dentin beneath your teeth's enamel surface is exposed, and this material is particularly sensitive. Switch to the softest-bristled brush you can find to help preserve gum tissue and prevent further shrinking.
Cover a crack with gum
If you've broken a tooth or have lost a filling, you can relieve some pain by covering the exposed area with softened chewing gum. This might work with a loose filling, too, to hold it in place until you can get to the dentist. To avoid further discomfort, avoid chewing anything with that tooth until you can have it repaired.
Apply pressure
Try an acupressure technique to stop tooth pain fast. With your thumb, press the point on the back of your other hand where the base of your thumb and your index finger meet. Apply pressure for about two minutes. This helps trigger the release of endorphins, the brain's feel-good hormones. (Off-limits...if you're pregnant.)
Source: rd.com
I consider myself a collector of sorts. I collect strange, bizarre notions and theories that warp traditional narratives about reality and existence. The following is a presentation of 10 of my favorite mind-blowing theories. There is compelling evidence for each, but you certainly don’t – and, for the sake of your sanity, probably shouldn’t – need to take them as gospel.
1. The Singularity: We will transcend biology and live as posthuman Gods
Futurists like Ray Kurzweil say in the coming decades humans will experience a technological singularity by which we will transcend biology itself. Intelligent civilizations such as ours, says Kurzweil, are destined to evolve into super-intelligent, possibly machine-based beings whose computational powers grow exponentially.
After such a singularity, we would be able to harness the power of our own sun in order to accomplish interstellar feats only dreamed of in science fiction, such as creating Dyson Spheres and literally saturating the known universe with consciousness.
Some progressive thinkers like Noam Chomsky have labeled the theory science fiction, while others question the classist undertones of the theory’s transhumanist enthusiasts.
02. Project Bluebeam: the Government Will Engineer a False Flag Supernatural Alien Invasion
Project Blue Beam is a highly controversial conspiracy theory. Originally proposed by Canadian journalist Serge Monast in 1994, it holds that the New World Order will use advanced holographic technology in order to create a false flag alien invasion and/or a worldwide religious “awakening” in order to achieve servitude by the masses and acceptance of a one world government and religion and possibly depopulation efforts as well.
There are supposedly 4 parts to the implementation of Project Blue Beam. These stages include:
~The dissolution of major religions due to archaeological discoveries disproving them.
~A holographic “space show” in which deities and aliens appear as our overlords (it is not clear how these two would coexist).
~Telepathic Electronic Two Way Communication, via ELF(Extra Low Frequency), VLF (Very Low Frequency), and LF (Low Frequency) waves, whereby people will think they are being spoken to by the new true God or extraterrestrial overlords.
~Use of worldwide microchips to fabricate horrifying supernatural events that will make people desperate for the New World Order.
03. Our handlers use Predictive Programming To Plan, Communicate, and Brainwash
Predictive programming is the idea that society embeds messages into pop culture media and other modes of transmission in order to psychologically prepare and incubate the general population for certain events. It is, of course, a conspiracy theory,
Many people maintain instances of predictive programming are simply coincidences on par with synchronicity and Déjà vu; others say they are sinister calling cards for shadow groups who communicate across media channels through coded signals.
04. Human DNA contains the signature of an alien creator
New evidence is suggesting that instead of searching the stars with telescopes, we should have been searching our DNA with microscopes. Vladimir I. shCherbak of al-Farabi Kazakh National University of Kazakhstan, and Maxim A. Makukov of the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute claim they have discovered an intelligent signal inside human DNA. In this case, “biological SETI” as it’s known, involves “arithmetical and ideographical patterns of symbolic language.”
In other words, it’s possible that an intelligent species encoded a message or signature into the very structure of our DNA.
05. Our Universe is a Computer Simulation
This theory supposes that because of the overwhelming likelihood of technological singularities occurring in the universe, it is quite likely that advanced civilizations–either us in the future, or aliens in a distant galaxy–have created or will create simulations. Since the number of these simulations would be in the billions, Bostrom submits that it’s actually quite likely we are living in some sort of a computer simulation.
Perhaps what is most odd about the Simulation Theory is that there are actually prominent scientists and physicists who not only think it’s possible, they are actively conducting experiments to prove it. A team of German physicists think that eventually we will be able to paint a better portrait of the so-called numerical simulation that is our universe. They are working to create a mini-simulation that require physical constraints in order to run. They want to see if those same constraints exist in our own universe.
Lending even more support to this mind-numbing theory, theoretical physicist S. James Gate has discovered something extraordinary in his recent String Theory research. Essentially, deep inside the equations we use to describe our universe Gate has found computer code. And not just any code, but extremely peculiar self-dual linear binary error-correcting block code. That’s right, error correcting 1s and 0s wound up tightly in the quantum core of our universe.
06. The Fermi Paradox
The Fermi Paradox is an argument originally made by physicists Enrico Fermi and Michael H. Hart, who presented an apparent contradiction between how many alien civilizations are thought to be out there and our lack of evidence for their existence.
If the Drake Equation is right and there are literally millions of intelligent species in our galaxy alone, it is puzzling that we have received no signals or messages from any of them. This is known as the Great Silence.
There have been some incredibly interesting solutions proposed over the years, one of which includes the Simulation Theory.
07. We live in a Multiverse that contains an infinite number of universes
There are a variety of parallel universe theories out there – the inflationary bubble universe, the many-worlds theory, etc. They all presuppose that there is a larger multiverse that contains our universe and many others.
One type of parallel universe envisions countless bubble universes popping up and disappearing. This would mean that the beginning of our universe, the Big Bang, was just the creation of one bubble in a vast sea of inflating universes, which will eventually pop–or whatever universes do when their bubble juice becomes too unstable. Type 2 also includes the “brane” universe, which is an evolution of string theory.
One possible implication of parallel universes is the idea that there are an infinite copies of you in an infinite number of universes carrying out every possible version of existence.
08. Nightmare Death Syndrome
The Japanese call it pok-kuri. Filipinos call it bangungot or batibat. For the Hmong people of Vietnam and Laos, it is the tsob tsuang.
Taiwanese men, some of whom wear lipstick to bed in order to deceive nocturnal ghosts, claim it is the phi am or “widow ghost,” a malevolent spirit who, much like Freddy Krueger or one of the supernatural ghouls from The Grudge, steals away the souls of young men in their sleep. All these names refer to the same thing: Nightmare Death Syndrome.
The phrase originated from an investigation in 1960, when Dr. Gonzalo Aponte was called to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam to investigate the deaths of 11 Filipino sailors, who all seemed to have died inexplicably in their sleep after days of complaining about nightmares. Though the autopsies turned up few concrete details, Aponte looked into the case further and found reports regarding Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death (SUND) dating back as far as 1917.
09. Dark Matter Creates Its Own Parallel Universe
Cosmologists are saying they may have discovered a second type of dark matter that is not diffuse and can interact with itself. The effects of this may have been detected as recently as 2012 by Christoph Weniger, a physicist at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, who detected strange levels of radiation at the center of the galaxy. He believes it is the signal of invisible dark matter becoming something visible.
Now cosmologists may be forced to adopt a strange view of something that was strange to begin with: dark matter may be just as diverse as regular matter. According to some scientists, this means there could be dark stars, orbited by dark planets that could theoretically harbor dark life, though what that would constitute is beyond comprehension with our current understanding of the universe.
10. Retroactive Precognition: future events can affect present cognition
In January of 2011, Dr. Daryl J. Bem of Cornell University wrote a controversial paper called “Feeling the Future: Experimental Evidence for Anomalous Retroactive Influences on Cognition and Affect” in which he described a series experiments he conducted seeking to prove precognition.
More specifically, Bem presented evidence that future events can affect present cognition. Working off the premise that there are “anomalous processes of information or energy transfer that are currently unexplained in terms of known physical or biological mechanisms,” Bem tested 1,000 college students for their ability to correctly intuit random information. In one study, Bem conducted a reverse memory test, having his subjects categorize random words that they would later commit to memory.
Bem’s results showed that the students were more likely to recall words in the present if they later memorized them.
This post was republished from oddee.com.
The soul is not born; it does not die; it was not produced from anyone…; Unborn, eternal, it is not slain, though the body is slain. –Katha Upanishad
I am certain that I have been here as I am now a thousand times before, and I hope to return a thousand times. – Goethe
We observe the principles of reincarnation everywhere in life: the cycles of nature, day and night, the cyclic motion of the sun, earth, moon and solar system. We also see the principles of reincarnation reflected around us each day: a plant grows, dies and releases its seeds. Its seeds burrow into the earth, begin to sprout, and new life is reborn once again.
Reincarnation, or the rebirth of energy, or life, occurs all around us in different shapes and forms every day. Perhaps this is why to many of us reincarnation is something intuitive, something that resonates the very nature, the very essence of life. We also see that our lives, and everything around us, follows a fundamental pattern; that of change, growth, transformation and evolution. We see that all of life goes through a maturing process at different rates and different velocities. Thus to many of us, the maturation process of the soul through the process of reincarnation sounds just as instinctively and fundamentally correct as any other maturing process in life.
Not only that, but some of us have experienced extraordinary feelings, memories and sensations that point to the legitimacy of such a mysterious experience. We will be exploring many different signs that you might have touched the “other side” in this article.
Past Lives and ‘Your’ Soul
Known also as “metempsychosis” and “transmigration”, Reincarnation and the concept of past lives has existed for thousands of years, spanning back to the ancient Celtic, Greek, Asian and Indian traditions. These days, about 51% of the world’s population believe in some form of an afterlife, with about 7% believing that we are ultimately reincarnated.
One of the most intrinsic beliefs of reincarnation is that most of us have lived many lives before, and sometimes we can actually remember these past lives. These past lives and past ‘selves’ we tend to identify with as extensions of ourselves and our egos.
11 Signs Your Soul Has Reincarnated
When we understand reincarnation as the maturation process, or evolution, of soulful energy, it follows that some of us have intuitively experienced different things in our lives that reflect on the age of the energy known as our souls. It is commonly believed that many of our personal characteristics, experiences and capabilities in this life reflect on whether we have lived before on earth. It is thought that the more we mature, the more gifted we are in certain areas of life and the more frequently we have ‘spiritual’ experiences.
The truth is that all of us have most likely reincarnated, however some of us have gone through this cycle more than others and therefore experience many of the following characteristics:
1. Recurring Dreams
Dreams are reflections of the unconscious mind, and while repetitive dreams may sometimes signify trauma, fear or issues that your brain is trying to process (“unfinished business”), repetitive dreams can also potentially be reflections of past life experiences. Many people claim to have experienced certain events, seen particular people or gone to specific places frequently in their dreams that feel veryfamiliar, and somehow recognizable. For example, I often have recurring dreams of a 15th century castle that I have a distinct feeling of knowing very well, yet I havenever seen or been to this castle before in waking life.
2. Out-of-place Memories
There are many recorded instances of young children who have out-of-place memories that later prove to be oddly accurate in detail. While out-of-place memories could be due to simple fantasies, misunderstandings or an incongruency in the ability to remember, there is mounting evidence that suggests out-of-place memories could reveal connections to past lives.
3. You Have a Strong Intuition
Intuition is the ability to balance the conscious and unconscious mind and to tap into our deeper wellsprings of primal wisdom and innate knowledge. It is said that the more we soulfully mature, the more we are closer to returning to the ‘source’ (known also as nirvana, eternity, oneness) from which our Souls come from, and from which the collective unconscious – a body of universal knowledge – exists.
4. Déjà vu
We’ve all experienced déjà vu before at some point in our lives. It’s that bizarre feeling that somehow we have already experienced or lived a moment in time before. Often déjà vu comes spontaneously, and is triggered by smells, sounds, sights, tastes and various other sensations. While some claim that déjà vu is a neurological dissonance, others claim that déjà vu reflects the possibility of other dimensions (i.e. parallel universes), and still others believe it is revealing of past life experience.
5. You’re an Empath
Empaths absorb the emotions, and in some instances the physical pains, of those around them literally empathizing, or directly feeling and experiencing what others experience. In this article about Empaths I go into greater depth about this unique breed of people. While identifying as an Empath and absorbing the emotions of others could be seen in some instances as a psychological form of avoidance to bypass one’s own problems and pin the blame on others, in other genuine cases it can be seen as a sign of a soul that has undergone many previous reincarnationsand has refined to the point of transcending the individual self and it’s problems, extending to others as well.
6. Precognition
Also known as ‘future sight’ or ‘second sight’, precognition is the ability to obtain information about future events that isn’t usually available. Precognition can be experienced through visions, physical sensations and feelings as well as in dreams. While considered quasi-scientific by some, to others precognition is a very real experience and could indicate the maturation of soulful energy.
7. Retrocognition
You probably guessed it! Retrocognition is the opposite of the above precognition, and refers to the ability to obtain information not usually available about past events. These past events could be in your own lifetime, or sometime in the distant past. Of course, retrocognition unlike precognition is not easy to prove or verify, however, for those who have genuinely experienced it (and have been able to honestly verify it), this ability could also be a sign of soulful reincarnation.
8. You Feel Older Than Your Age Reflects
Some people are perpetually “young at heart” even into their later lives, and in the same manner, some people just seem to have been born with “Old Souls”. The experience of feeling older than your age reflects is commonly associated with having reincarnated many times over and this is echoed in the “Soul Age” theorywhere there is a certain progression of soulful development: from Infant Souls, toAwakened Souls. For example: if you have reincarnated few times on earth, this would be reflected in the age of your energy, and in this life you will display many primitive and child-like characteristics. If, however, your soulful energy has reincarnated many times over, you will display many matured and wizened characteristics (such as the ones mentioned in this article). If you feel older than your age reflects you might be a Mature or Old Soul. You can read more about Old Souls in depth here.
9. You Have a Great Affinity for Certain Cultures/Time Periods/Environments
It is said that having a great, unexplainable attraction for certain cultures or time periods is a kind of past life “residue” reminiscent of a certain place, culture or environment that your soul may have experienced in past lives. For instance, you may have an inexplicable affinity to Asian culture, Celtic artifacts, or the 19th century.
10. Unexplainable Fears or Phobias
As touched on in the last point, many believe that certain memories or experiences can pass on or leave “residues” in our childhoods and adulthood’s from past lives. Whether this is true, or is simply a form of problem bypassing, many believe that we can experience the echoes of past traumas in our own lifetimes in the form of unexplainable fears and phobias. Examples can include: the fear of drowning, the fear of certain types of animals, the fear of certain places, the fear of particular numbers, colors, objects, and so forth.
11. You Feel as Though this Earth Is Not Your Home
The yearning to find your ‘home’ can be seen as a reflection of the desire to return back to the source (oneness, consciousness, divinity). Many people feel this yearning to be reminiscent of an athlete running a long race and longing to reach the ‘finish line’. In the same manner, Souls that have reincarnated many times over express this basic need for finally completing the cycle and returning home. Feeling that this earth is not your home is often accompanied by chronic feelings of tiredness and wariness for life on earth.
This post was republished from lonerwolf.com.
“I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed. I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live – that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life.” -Dan Millman
Studies conducted by positivity psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky point to 12 things happy people do differently to increase their levels of happiness. These are things that we can start doing today to feel the effects of more happiness in our lives.
I want to honor and discuss each of these 12 points, because no matter what part of life’s path we’re currently traveling on, these ‘happiness habits’ will always be applicable.
Express gratitude. – When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value. Kinda cool right? So basically, being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your life will bring you a deeper sense of happiness. And that’s without having to go out and buy anything. It makes sense. We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have.
Cultivate optimism. – Winners have the ability to manufacture their own optimism. No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it. She knows failure only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life. People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.
Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous. If we’re somehow ‘better’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense of superiority. Our ego inflates – KABOOM – our inner Kanye West comes out! If we’re ‘worse’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and dismiss all the progress that we’ve made. What I’ve found is that the majority of the time this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place. If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself.
Practice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain. (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful.) Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside. What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness. How extraordinary is that? Bystanders will be blessed with a release of serotonin just by watching what’s going on. A side note is that the job of most anti-depressants is to release more serotonin. Move over Pfizer, kindness is kicking ass and taking names.
Nurture social relationships. – The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships. Did you know studies show that people’s mortality rates are DOUBLED when they’re lonely? WHOA! There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from having an active circle of good friends who you can share your experiences with. We feel connected and a part of something more meaningful than our lonesome existence.
Develop strategies for coping. – How you respond to the ‘craptastic’ moments is what shapes your character. Sometimes crap happens – it’s inevitable. Forrest Gump knows the deal. It can be hard to come up with creative solutions in the moment when manure is making its way up toward the fan. It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal.
Learn to forgive. – Harboring feelings of hatred is horrible for your well-being. You see, your mind doesn’t know the difference between past and present emotion. When you ‘hate’ someone, and you’re continuously thinking about it, those negative emotions are eating away at your immune system. You put yourself in a state of suckerism (technical term) and it stays with you throughout your day.
Increase flow experiences. – Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still. It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task. Action and awareness are merged. You’re not hungry, sleepy, or emotional. You’re just completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing. Nothing is distracting you or competing for your focus.
Savor life’s joys. – Deep happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy. It’s easy in a world of wild stimuli and omnipresent movement to forget to embrace life’s enjoyable experiences. When we neglect to appreciate, we rob the moment of its magic. It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them.
Commit to your goals. – Being wholeheartedly dedicated to doing something comes fully-equipped with an ineffable force. Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere. When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing. Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.
Practice spirituality. – When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognize that life is bigger than us. We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever. It enables us to connect to the source of all creation and embrace a connectedness with everything that exists. Some of the most accomplished people I know feel that they’re here doing work they’re “called to do.”
Take care of your body. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be. If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected. Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft? Not only that, but here’s the double whammy… Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth.
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This post was republished from marcandangel.com.
Your oral health is absolutely important and it greatly affects your general wellbeing.
You can improve your oral health by strengthening and protecting your teeth with a technique known as oil pulling.
This oral health method involves you swishing a carrier oil in your mouth. By so doing you will eliminate all toxins from your oral cavity and even get rid of plaque.
Using this technique you will get rid of toxins from your gums and teeth by destroying bacteria.it will also whiten your teeth in the process.
You should make use of a good carrier oil. This method of oral treatment is cost effective and has no side effects.
The best carrier oil you should use is coconut oil. It is effective and will also protect your mouth from bacterial infections.
Here’s why you should use oil pulling:
It prevents cavities.
It is a mild acting oil.
It kills bacteria and combats gum disease.
It’s effective in fighting plaque.
It whitens your teeth.
Oil Pulling Using Coconut Oil
Before breakfast take a couple of teaspoons of coconut oil and rinse your mouth with it.
Swish the coconut oil in your mouth for about 20 minutes.
You can also carry out this procedure before and after your meals.
Leave it in your mouth for about 20 minutes.
Spit out the oil and do not swallow, remember this carrier oil contains a lot of toxins and bacteria which will be ingested if you swallow.
Rinse your mouth using warm water.
By carrying out this procedure you will strengthen your teeth and it will be white and healthy.
Source: www.healthyfoodhouse.com
I am only 24 years old, yet I have actually already chosen my last tie. It’s the one that I will wear on my funeral a few months from now. It may not match my suit, but I think it’s perfect for the occasion.
The cancer diagnosis came too late to give me at least a tenuous hope for a long life, but I realized that the most important thing about death is to ensure that you leave this world a little better than it was before you existed with your contributions . The way I’ve lived my life so far, my existence or more precisely the loss of it, will not matter because I have lived without doing anything impactful.
Before, there were so many things that occupied my mind. When I learned how much time I had left, however, it became clear which things are really important. So, I am writing to you for a selfish reason. I want to give meaning to my life by sharing with you what I have realized:
Don’t waste your time on work that you don’t enjoy. It is obvious that you cannot succeed in something that you don’t like. Patience, passion, and dedication come easily only when you love what you do.
It’s stupid to be afraid of others’ opinions. Fear weakens and paralyzes you. If you let it, it can grow worse and worse every day until there is nothing left of you, but a shell of yourself. Listen to your inner voice and go with it. Some people may call you crazy, but some may even think you‘re a legend.
Take control of your life Take full responsibility for the things that happen to you. Limit bad habits and try to lead a healthier life. Find a sport that makes you happy. Most of all, don’t procrastinate. Let your life be shaped by decisions you made, not by the ones you didn’t.
Appreciate the people around you Your friends and relatives will always be an infinite source of strength and love. That is why you shouldn’t take them for granted.
It is difficult for me to fully express my feelings about the importance of these simple realizations, but I hope that you will listen to someone who has experienced how valuable time is.
I’m not upset because I understand that the last days of my life have become meaningful. I only regret that I will not be able to see a lot of cool stuff that should happen soon like the creation of AI, or Elon Musk’s next awesome project. I also hope that the war in Syria and Ukraine will end soon.
We care so much about the health and integrity of our body that until death, we don’t notice that the body is nothing more than a box – a parcel for delivering our personality, thoughts, beliefs and intentions to this world. If there is nothing in this box that can change the world, then it doesn’t matter if it disappears. I believe that we all have potential, but it also takes a lot of courage to realize it.
You can float through a life created by circumstances, missing day after day, hour after hour. Or, you can fight for what you believe in and write the great story of your life. I hope you will make the right choice.
Leave a mark in this world. Have a meaningful life, whatever definition it has for you. Go towards it. The place we are leaving is a beautiful playground, where everything is possible. Yet, we are not here forever. Our life is a short spark in this beautiful little planet that flies with incredible speed to the endless darkness of the unknown universe. So, enjoy your time here with passion. Make it interesting. Make it count!
Thank you!
This post was republished from themindsjournal.com.
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.. Hospital window.
Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene. One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days, weeks and months passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.
‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’
