Michele Knight's Blog, page 221

Your weekly Astrology with Michele Knight and Kiki 20 Aug 2012

Thank you so much for your prayers and healing to my beloved Kiki. She swallowed a peach stone which then got tangled with a lot of grass and so she had to have a major operation and at the vets for three nights! She is home and back to her usual bouncy self. These astrology videos were filmed in advance. Kiki sends her love :)

Scientists Use Lucid Dreaming to Uncover Consciousness

When we’re awake we’re always aware of who we are and how we are perceiving our world. In other words we are what would be called ‘conscious’. But this changes when we’re dreaming. The exception of this has been lucid dreamers – people who are aware they are dreaming and can even ‘direct’ the course of their dreams. You may have even read our article here on MK about using lucid dreaming techniques to problem solve. Now scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich and researchers at the Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have been able to locate the seat of ‘meta-consciousness’ in the brain using magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) on lucid dreamers, providing us with the most exciting insights to date as to where ‘consciousness’ is located in the human brain.

Our ability for self-awareness and perception and the part of the brain which may govern this has been one of the great unsolved mysteries of neuroscience despite modern imaging techniques. When our brains move from a conscious to an unconscious state and back again, it has been difficult to map the areas of the brain involved in self-perception due to the global changes that occur in the brain at the same time. However, by mapping the brains of lucid dreamers with brain activity involved in a normal (unconscious) dream, scientists were able to identify the area of our brain involved in awareness. As Dr. Martin Dresler from the Max Planck Institute explains: “In a normal dream, we have a very basal consciousness. We experience perceptions and emotions but we are not aware that we are only dreaming. It’s only in a lucid dream that the dreamer gets a meta-insight into his or her state.”

Head of the same research group Dr. Micheal Czisch says: “The general basic activity of the brain is similar in a normal dream and in a lucid dream. In a lucid state, however, the activity in certain areas of the cerebral cortex increases markedly within seconds.”  The findings also verify previous studies and have made the neural networks of a conscious mental state visible to us for the very first time.

Scientists at Max Planck have also carried out extensive research into what our brains are doing when we are having normal dreams revealing that our brain reacts in a similar way during our dreams as it does when we commit the same actions in waking life. Using near-infrared spectroscopy, the researchers discovered that if we are walking around in our dream then there will be increased activity in the region of our brain that plays a role in planning our movements. “Our dreams are therefore not a ‘sleep cinema’ in which we merely observe an event passively, but involve activity in the regions of the brain that are relevant to the dream content,” explains Michael Czisch.

Tbis discovery is to neuroscience the equivalent og the Higgs boson to quantum physics. By understanding the areas of our brains that govern our perception of being ‘self-aware’ we can better understand the bigger questions of consciousness, individuality and ultimately, spiritual awareness. The answers after all, may lie in our dreams.

Your Weekly Astrology Video With Michele Knight And Kiki

This weeks astrology is quite intense with Mars and Saturn pushing and pulling. A mystic rectangle also brings a bit of magic and a New Moon creates a new cycle.

Love SOS: What To Do When Things Cool Down

You’ve recently met someone special. You ‘clicked’ from the very first moment you met and there seemed to be a terrific soul connection between you. Since then you’ve been spending almost every spare moment together. Perhaps they’ve already told you they love you and have even mentioned plans for the future on a couple of occasions. Everything seemed to be unfolding beautifully but now, six to eight weeks along something’s changed. Perhaps they’re not returning your texts or calls like they used to – or you’re just not spending as much time together and they seem a little distant when you do. Or maybe they’ve told you they feel you need to ‘cool’ it for a bit even though they care about you. What’s going on and what should you do?

First of all, let go of the idea you’ve done something wrong. Psychologists now know that the six to eight week mark in a new relationship is a crucial period for the relationship’s evolution. It’s the time when serious soul ties are made – the relationship now has to evolve to a deeper level – or not. The other aspect to consider is that if you’ve just been dating for a couple of months and things have moved very fast there is a tendency to ‘future project’. After all, if you’ve been spending every spare moment in each other’s company during the past few weeks where will you be in another six weeks’ time? Living together? Married with a mortgage? Sometimes one or both partners can panic and pull back because things just seem to be moving too fast.

If this all sounds familiar what can you do?

Don’t - panic. And above all, if your new partner is acting a little distant don’t bombard them with emails, texts or phone calls asking if they are okay or worse, gifts to ‘win’ back their interest. You’ll come over as needy or desperate – not a good look.

Do – get busy. And if you partner suggests you see each other a little less, agree. Tell them  that you love being with them but that your family and friends must think you’ve been kidnapped! If your partner sees that you acknowledge the situation this takes the pressure off both of you. Now call your friends and get back to your interests. Relationships need variety and balance in which to thrive ad chances are when your partner realises they have space within your relationship they will get closer again.

Don’t – agree to being just ‘friends’ or ‘friends with benefits’ if you’re looking for a long-term relationship.

Do – explain calmly that just ‘friends’ did not appear to be what you were and that as you are looking for something more serious and long-term, it appears you both want different things. This is a hard one especially if you’ve developed serious feelings for someone. But you have to understand that if they are suggesting you radically change the deal that appears to be on the table, they will not change their minds later. They could be emotionally unavailable on some level. By stating what you want and being firm on this you stand a better chance of getting what you need – and you emerge with your self-respect intact. If your partner doesn’t agree then chances are they would never be able to give you what you needed in the long term anyway – so better to find out sooner rather than later.

So what is the soul-growth opportunity here? When we enter into a relationship with another we are not only getting to know them but discovering a new facet of ourselves. We are changed as we discover this. If your new love wants some space, see this as an opportunity to integrate what you’ve learned about how you are in relationships – and that includes the ones you may have been neglecting! It also serves to remind you how you are in the one relationship that lasts a lifetime – the one you have with yourself. The people we fall in love with are just reflections of the love we have inside ourselves all the time. So be the lover you want to be in love with and chances are, your outer love will reflect just that back at you.

The Brain Trust – Do You and Your Partner Share a Consciousness?

The Extended Mind is an idea that has recently emerged in both cognitive science and also quantum physics. An extension of you like of Jung’s collective unconscious -except this is more like an inter-personal consciousness – a shared brain or memory centre that we build with partners or people close to us that both parties can tap into and access. Your ‘other half’ may also be another half of a brain both of you can share! This is known as transactive memory.

Studies conducted by Dr Daniel Wegner of the University of Virginia, Ralph Erber of DePaul University and Paula Raymond of New York University uncovered the ability of couples or those in close relationships to access a collective storage of memories and retrieve them. Think of this as an intimate version of Google! In their study the team used romantic couples and also strangers assigned as couples to memorise lists of words either freely (i.e., the couples memorized words as they wished) or systematically (i.e., each person was assigned a specific categories of words to memorize). What they found has interesting as when memorising the words systematically, the random strangers recalled more words than romantic couples. However, when memorizing words freely, romantic couples recalled more words than the strangers.

What separated the couples of romantic partners from the couples of strangers was the closeness, or ‘self-other overlap’, which they shared. This closeness allowed romantic partners to form a transactive memory system, or a “shared brain.” Each partner has implicit access to the “shared brain,” and contributes his or her expertise to the entire system. Still, this may not be an excuse to bring your other half into your next exam or presentation with you!

Of course, this all leads back to the question of where our consciousness may be located which we’ve discussed in previous articles. It may well be that this ‘shared brain’ that evolves between two people in a close relationship is located within the quantum ‘unified’ field as described by Michael Talbot in The Holographic Universe. Because two people who are in a close relationship share a very similar energy vibration, both are therefore able to access it. So, when it comes to someone close to you, your hearts may beat in sync and you may also think alike simply because you share access to one ‘consciousness’ that the two of you have created.

Get Happy! The Good News on Getting Older

Feeling older? Dismayed by the wrinkles in the mirror? Here’s the good news on aging – new studies reveal that as we get older we actually get happier!

A new study conducted by Professor Derek Isaacowitz of Northeastern University reveals that the older we get the more likely we are to display positive emotions and to escape from negative emotional states faster than when we are younger. This seems to fly against everything we thought about aging – given that our bodies may not be in the same shape as they were in our 20’s! Shouldn’t we be worrying about those wrinkles, health concerns, that spreading waistline, the fact you can’t remember where you put your keys? What Professor Isaacowitz found was that the older we get the better we get at regulating our emotions. We ‘choose’ to focus away from the negative or toward positive material. Added to this of course is pure life experience. Something that has the power to faze you in your 20’s or 30’s may not upset you so much in your 40’s or 50’s due to the fact you have by then dealt with similar situations and you have more confidence in your problem-solving skills.

Another study also conducted by Prof. Isaacowitz and late fellow-researcher Fredda Blanchard-Fields of the Georgia Institute of Technology also found that as we get older we tend to focus more on positive events and dwell less on negative ones – thus ‘re-framing’ key periods in our lives. When older participants in the study were shown photographs they recalled happier events and times rather than negative ones and also showed a greater aptitude for letting go of loss and unachieved goals which in turn lead to a greater sense of wellbeing.

We know that spiritually our thoughts create our experience. While we can’t always avoid negative people and experiences in our life we can always choose how we react to them. And as for goals we fail to achieve – as we grow some goals may lose their meaning for us and new ones will take their place. Letting go of these and setting new ones for ourselves serve our spiritual and personal growth.

So, don’t think of yourself as getting older – think of yourself as gaining in experience that allows you to shift your perceptions. We’re all enjoying increasing life expectancy. Isn’t it good to know that as we do we’ll live happier as well? Happiness may be a choice we can all make after all.

This Weeks Astrology Video With Michele And KiKi 6 August 2012

In this weeks Astrology Mercury goes direct and we are shown how to celebrate life in the moment!

LAST CHANCE -If you love my Video’s and website it would be fabulous and very kind of you to vote for us in the Soul and Spirit awards. We have come first two years running and last year we came second by a whisker! You also win the chance of winning a place on a psychic retreat. Kiki sends you a grateful kiss!

http://www.soulandspiritmagazine.com/soul-spirit-awards-2012/

If you love Astrology don’t forget to visit my dedicated Astrology site with tons more free astrology ASTROLOGY KNIGHT

What’s Your Calling? Finding Your Soul Path

For many of us finding our ‘calling’ – the job we truly love, is a big part of not just leading a vibrant and abundant life but also holds the key to discovering who we are and what we are capable of being. Discovering our true path can bring joy and meaning to our lives. Plus there is also the undeniable fact that we spend a huge part of our lives working so we may as well be doing something that we love. But for many people, their ‘calling’ remains elusive. Perhaps they try several career options without success. Others may feel that due to lack of opportunities they are stuck in a dead-end job and with today’s economic challenges many find themselves facing long-term unemployment. So what can you do to find your way onto your soul path? Here’s some soul-searching tips for discovering the calling within you.

First of all – let go of the myth that we only have one ‘calling’. This is right up there with we only have one soul mate! The message here is ‘miss out and you’re destined for unhappiness’. There are very few people out there who have one true calling that they spend decades of their life pursuing – Mother Theresa being a notable exception. We can stress ourselves out searching for this ultimate ‘calling’. Instead embrace the idea that you will receive many soul paths to explore during the course of your life and that you will explore the one that is right for you now. All you are looking for is a spark inside that ignites something in you that says: ‘Yes! This work is mine to do.’

Second, instead of asking the question: ‘What is my soul path?’ instead re-frame it. Say ‘What soul path am I being invited to explore right now?’. Remember, the path doesn’t necessarily have to be related to your work. It could be about volunteering for a charity, starting a creative project or picking up a hobby or pastime you’ve let lapse. What is ‘calling’ to you right now?

Third, follow your energy. When you think about following a particular path does it fill you with passion and excitement? Do you feel more energised doing it? Remember, you don’t have to be out saving the world. This is your unique soul path, not someone else’s. Don’t dismiss something as ‘trivial’ because it’s not rocket science. If you feel your energy levels come up when you’re doing it you’re on the right track. If it drains you however, you’re off-course. To find your calling, always go where the energy flows.

Take some time to write in your journal ‘What soul paths am I being invited to explore right now?’ over the next week or so. Experiment. Do some research into areas that interest you if necessary. Chances are you’re already on the path towards your calling without even having realised it.

Tarot Manifestation – Use the Cards to Manifest Your Dreams

Many people don’t realise that Tarot cards are not just for predicting the future. Tarot cards are rich in symbolic meaning and form a gateway between your subconscious and the creative force of the universe. So, you can use the Tarot to help manifest your goals by linking yourself to universal abundance.

We often have a Tarot reading when we’re contemplating big changes in our lives. In fact, we can say Tarot has evolved with change in mind. So, if you’re looking to create change in any area of your life – work, career, love, or if you want to lose weight for example, Tarot can be a powerful tool for transformation.

Ready to start manifesting? First, decide on your goal. Let’s say you want to draw more money to you. First of all, write down 10 things in your Tarot journal that you believe having more money will bring you in terms of abundance as opposed to actual things you would own. In other words, don’t list the house/car/designer clothes you would buy but things like ‘security’, ‘peace of mind’, ‘more time to be with the people I love/be creative’. Think of the experiences the money will bring you – not the material things. This allows the energy to flow.

Now, spread out your Tarot cards in front of you face down. Run your hands over them and following your gut feelings, choose six cards at random. Lay them out in a row and turn them over.

1st Card: Represents where you are now in terms of manifesting your goal

2nd Card: What thoughts or mindset you think you need to let go of to get to your goal

3rd Card: What you are really leaving behind when you get to your goal

4th, 5th and 6th Cards: The Three Paths ahead of you.

The ‘Choices’ is the most important part as it shows you the way to your goal is made up of different pathways. Is there one card whose image you really like or truly signifies what your goal is? If so, meditating on it will pull your goal towards you so look at it often.

Don’t forget to write down the six cards in your Tarot journal and also your interpretation of their positions.

You can vary this exercise according to what you want to manifest. For example, if you want to manifest more love in your life, write down 10 most important qualities you are seeking in a partner and then pick the six cards. If a court card turns up pay special attention.

At the very least, this exercise will bring in some synchronicities that will point you in the right direction to manifesting your goal. At the most, the results can be extraordinary helping to draw your desires to you in ways that you never thought possible. The Tarot is a powerful tool of transformation that goes beyond merely predicting the future – allowing us to create one as well.

 

Tarot in Action! Simple Exercises for Accurate Answers

If you’re just starting out to learn the Tarot or feel a little daunted at the prospect of memorising the meaning behind all 78 cards, don’t worry. There are many ways to achieve incredible insights into a question or situation that don’t require you to know all the meanings off by heart but will expand your knowledge of the Tarot as you do them.

The first method borrows from a form of divination known as ‘bibliomancy’ – where you ask a question and open a book at random to find your answer. In this instance, you can lay your cards out face down and take a card at random. If your question relates to a major life issue you might want to separate out the Major Arcana cards and again with them lying face down, choose one from them. Write down what you intuit to be the answers to your question from this card and then if you like, cross-reference this with the traditional interpretations of the card you can find on-line and in books on interpreting the Tarot. Do they contain answers to your problem and how do they measure up against your own interpretation of the card? One of the benefits of this exercise is that it encourages us to be objective.

Another really simple way to obtain an answer using this method is to literally use the bibliomancy technique with a book on Tarot reading. You can use the book that came with your Tarot deck. Think of your question and open the book at any page. The card you see will usually provide the precise advice you need at that moment.

For those who are interested in finding out what events or lessons they may be facing in a particular year using the Major Arcana cards, you can discover this simply by adding together the day and month of your birth to the year you want to know about. For example, say your birthday is the 14th August. We would have 14, plus 8 (August) plus 2012.

1+4+8+2+0+1+2 = 18.

Always reduce the number until you have one that is 22 or below. In this case card 18 in the Tarot is The Moon. You can then read about this card for insights into what may happen in the coming year as well as adding your own impressions. You can then refer back to it as the year unfolds to see how accurate it has been.

Remember, with the Tarot practice makes perfect and even simple lessons like these can provide us with amazing insights as well as boosting our intuition and overall Tarot skills.