The Rio Chama Blog

Astrological influences have been studied for hundreds of years. Whether you are familiar with astrology or not, there is much to be said about 2018. This year began with optimism; yet halfway through, the desire for freedom, independence, and individuality became evident in the collective conscious, making it a time for those who are globally oppressed to rise up and demand justice in a way that can’t be ignored by the powers that be. For everyone, such conflict involves letting go of the past and preparing for the new, moving beyond the feelings of: “Change is too difficult, and I want to hold onto the familiar.” 

At the end of the previous blog, reference was made to Mother Teresa, who reminded people that peace begins with a smile. This prompted me to research information regarding the effects of smiling. Much to my delight, I learned how smiling affects the brain and the body:

Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that is used to treat a wide range of conditions. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) method is widely used in the United States. Based on the belief that a life force (qi) circulates within the body along pathways called meridians, acupuncture works to balance this flow of vital energy along the meridians at various depths. The practitioner may also gently move or twirl the needles, or apply heat or mild electrical pulses to them. Usually the needles remain in place for 10 to 20 minutes while the patient lies still and relaxes, and the energy flow rebalances. As the Mayo Clinic also points out, even Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue.

An evolution of consciousness is occurring on this planet—underlined by increasing awareness that we are not separate from our environment, and we are responsible for taking care of it. Protecting the ecosystem is a huge and multifaceted task as population grows, overconsumption occurs, and the biophysical environment is degraded, sometimes irrevocably.

Much has been explored in previous blogs about spiritual and psychological perspectives. In this blog we return to our bodies and to Christiane Northrup, who is a medical doctor and has written extensively about the physical body (Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Well-Being).She highlights some exciting findings: