July A Issue
SIMRIT KAUR
Log On Our Website and Learn more in how to Live a Conscious Lifestyle: OMTimes.com
CONTENTS • OMTIMES
28
Table of Contents 44
50
66 28
Simrit Kaur Imagine if the Aurora Borealis Could Sing by Liane Buck
44 50 54
The AntiInflammatory Power of Reishi Mushrooms
92
By Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
Do Animals Have Souls - and Afterlives? By Robyn M Fritz
Creating the Energy of Peace
54
By Judi Lynch
62
Consciousness is Everything - Literally. By Monica Berg
JuLy A EDITION
CONTENTS • OMTIMES
68
Become a Spiritual Life Coach
70
Love is EVERYWHERE - Do You See It?
80
Victor Fuhrman - Going Beyond
86
How to Upgrade your Akashic Records
Table of Content
90
96
01110
102
118 02
86
128
86
102 OMTIMES.COM • +571.266.8463 • @OMTIMES.MAGAZINE
122
62
Table of Contents 92 96 102 110 118 122 118 136 138
How to Contact Your Departed Loved Ones How to Approach Animal Communication Does Your Zodiac Sign Give You Psychic Abilities Pet Horoscope: Discover the Personality of your Pet The Alchemy of Being Authentic Opening the Heart: From Grief to Gratitude Can We Build Non-Sexist and Non-Racist Cities? Gita: A Timeless Guide For Our Times Gita: The Inner Journeys
OMTIMES | JULY A
SIMRIT Â Imagine if the Aurora Borealis could Sing
OMTIMES July A Edition
JULY A EDITION
Being Simrit By Liane Buck
The Vocalist and songwriter Simrit, born in Athens, Greece, adopted and raised in the American South, is one of these artists. Her music and artistry, which have attracted fans such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go’s, is known for its depth, haunting beauty, edge, and psychedelic atmosphere. Drawing on the harmonic beauty and melodic sensibilities of the ancient Byzantine, Greek Orthodox chants she grew up with, adding the pulse of the West African drum traditions she studied, and fused with her training in piano and vocals from different traditions, Simrit and her band tease out distinct facets of mystical poetry and the intimate ardors of the spirit.
OMTIMES
Over the last several years they have created waves with packed theaters and concert halls, chart-topping albums, and raving fans that have powered a palpable musical movement. She is a Renaissance woman who is the CEO of her independent record label, SIMRIT KAUR MUSIC, and she has topped World Music Charts including iTunes at #1 for consecutive weeks at a time, many times over, and Billboard Music’s top 5 and 10 with her last four consecutive releases.
OMTIMES
|
JULY A
These days people consider their animals to be family members, which deepens the humananimal bond and raises mind, body, spirit issues in their multispecies families, including what happens to animals when they die. Do animals have souls? Do they reincarnate? Do you live with animals— and think of them as family
Omtimes.com
members? If so, you’re well aware of the emotional roller coaster of multi-species family life, from the delight of welcoming a new animal into the family to the heartbreak of saying goodbye. As we dread the possible loss of our beloved animals, we’re also curious about what happens to them when they die. Do animals have souls—and afterlives? Do they reincarnate? What does that mean, for them and us? In this first of a two-part series, we’ll explore how souls work. In Part 2 we’ll explore animal reincarnation and families. Metaphysical Traditions and Soul Experiences Religious and cultural traditions throughout history have all believed that humans are the highest of all beings, souls included, leading metaphysical thinkers to conclude that if nonhumans have souls, there must be levels of souls, all inferior to human ones. Some traditions assert that souls in animal bodies are evolving and may someday become human,
or they are being punished for some transgression when they were humans, and have to “earn” their way to “salvation.” However, the theory is not reality: my personal and professional experiences tell a different story. That includes the multi-species families I know and work with, including my own; my mediumship practice; and my soul regression hypnotherapy practice, which explores our souls’ past lives, including lifetimes in nonhuman bodies. My conclusion? All beings have souls, and all souls are equal. Bodies, human or not, are the unique hardware that makes us visible in the world, the container that holds us ‘in.’ Souls are the underlying operating system, the invisible, eternal part of us that contains our consciousness, including the memories of previous lifetimes. Yes, there are other theories about consciousness, but they’re inadequate if they ignore the soul. Our intuitive abilities and experienced (and openOmtimes.com
Creating the Energy of Peace by Judi Lynch
We have to keep the belief alive that we can evolve into higher intelligence with integrity and respect for each other. When one person or a group of people forget to connect to that truth, The Energy of Peace
Omtimes.com
can get lost in judgment and fear of another. This World is on the edge of great changes to come. Our sensitivities are on high alert listening to discern between what we believe as our truth. What we are being told to believe. So many of us are sensitive and can feel drained by our empathy. If we allow ourselves to get lost in the horrific media reports of things happening all over the Earth, we reduce our power to manifest positive action. When there are unrest and conflict, it creates an energy of fear which fuels anxieties. It affects some more than others depending on our skills and abilities in creating places of peace around us and inside of us. Peace lives in those moments of quiet solitude and still thoughts when we are alone. It lives in our hearts long after we spent
the afternoon walking and talking with a friend who makes us laugh. It lives in photographs and memories of all the times we forgot to worry about anything to just be in the moment. Peace sparkles on top of sunsparkled water in the middle of a beautiful day spent canoeing on a lake. We can train our minds to bring in these visions in times of great stress and worry. With practice and will, we learn how to process information and life challenges in ways that help to keep our emotions in check. Eventually, we learn to respond with calm insight instead of reacting in anger or fear at people and situations which break through our barriers of tolerance. Practices which help us cope with stress are unique to each of us. If we use more natural and holistic
Omtimes.com
CONSCIOUSNESS IS EVERYTHING‌ LITERALLY By Monica Berg
Contrary to popular belief, it is not outside forces that shape our reality, rather our experience of the world is entirely dependent upon everything that we think, say,
Omtimes.com
and do. Thoughts originate from our consciousness, our systems of belief, and perspectives. So often, when we want things
to change in our lives, we go about changing circumstances, never realizing that it is ourselves, and particularly our thoughts, that need to change. There is typically a myriad of changes or improvements that we all want at any given time: a better job, a happier relationship, thriving, welladjusted children, or even a better car. We tend to think of these changes in terms of material goods or other people’s behavior. All the changes we yearn for the lead back to one central desire, we want to be happier and more fulfilled. The changes that we so yearn to begin most effectively by changing ourselves, not in changing our job, partner, or car. We all have the power to change our entire lives drastically, and immediately. It all starts with our thoughts. It may not instantly change our outward circumstances, but it most definitely can change our inner world which then affects absolutely every aspect of our lives. It is the inherent power of our consciousness, our ability to choose in each moment how we wish to
perceive our lives. Think of a situation in the past that we deemed unfavorable. See the people involved, hear the words that were said, and try to relive the experience. Now, instead of ruminating on all the old reactions and feelings, try shifting perspectives. We can view the same experience differently, by choosing to see why it was good. Suddenly, the unceremonious way we were let go from the job that left us feeling worthless becomes one of the greatest days of our lives, shoving us on a path that led to a job that we love. There’s a country song with the lyrics, “God bless the broken road that led me straight to you.” Think of a relationship that ended, but later we met someone who made us feel happier than we could have ever imagined. There are as many ways to see the good as there are sad and difficult chapters in our lives. Many people with hard childhoods credit those early struggles with their ability to persevere in the face of challenges, leading them to great success Omtimes.com
Love is EVERYWHERE. Do You See It? By Jenny Lynne
Have a heart others would want to mirror. Empower others to love on a deeper level. Allow yourself to create a new pattern of love. Release matters of the heart that don’t serve a positive purpose anymore. Teach with your heart. As you casually stroll through your downtown or venture out on a vigorous hike, what are the things you notice? Do you see abstract
Omtimes.com
patterns left on the concrete after an afternoon rainstorm? Does your gaze go towards the contrasting white and blue in the sky? Or do you get so immersed in thought that you’re not seeing what you’re seeing? Being present and cognizant of your surroundings should be a perpetual habit. The saying “in silence comes clarity” is beyond truth. How else are you going to hear what that circling pattern of thoughts and dialogues are you have going on in the old noggin? The same is true for what you’re seeing or not seeing. Once you’re able to recognize your patterns and identify the thought process behind them, you’re one step closer to understanding your conscious and subconscious mind. Whoa, actually understanding your thoughts that go beyond the thin slices (the power of thinking without thinking and rapid cognition which is completely fallible as Malcolm Gladwell explains) could be frightening especially if there are years worth of unresolved matters of the heart. Now that you’re a tad bit more mindful of you being you
start putting significance and substance behind your thought process and your perceptions. Children have such an innocent way of seeing things. They can be more adept at finding shapes and patterns but they don’t have the wherewithal to associate it with a deeper meaning as we do as adults. Let me get to my point. Nature has a powerful yet beautifully subtle way of showing us, love. Have you ever seen an accidental heart that nature has put in front of, beside or above you? Hearts are everywhere! Are you seeing them? The shape of a heart is the universal symbol of love. They will appear in the most profound places and the most unfathomable materials. Open your eyes! I’m double daring you to make a concerted effort to be acutely aware of your surroundings. Each heart on display for you should evoke a different emotion. Each is as unique as a snowflake. Where are you when you see it? What is your mental state, happy, sad, stressed or content? Attach meaning to it then take an introspective moment and listen to your heart. Omtimes.com
Upgrade your Akashic Records
The Atlantis “Myth� may be the most enduring grand mystery of all time... an enigma that was famously recorded by Plato around 360 BC (and it was ancient
Omtimes.com
at that time!). Atlantis has captured the interest and imagination of countless generations; over 2,000 books have been written on this most famous “Lost Continent.” It has even been suggested that the longevity of the “myth,” and mankind’s fascination with Atlantis is due to the memory of Atlantis in our collective subconscious indelibly written into The Akashic Record. The last Golden Age of Atlantis was the most spiritual time experienced on this Earth. Atlantis’s Glory was eclipsed, but now her ancient wisdom and wonder is rebirthing in the upcoming Golden Age. Masters, old and new, have long foretold that there would arise a NEW Golden Age. Sages have linked “Golden Ages” - periods in which the Earth is bathed in harmonious energy - to the beginning of a Platonic Year Cycle. A Platonic Year is
one cycle of the equinoxes around the ecliptic lasting about 26,000 years. At the end of an old Platonic cycle, there is much discord and disruption - in the earth’s weather and geologic activity as well as in the affairs of men. The beginning of a new Platonic Year is a time of rebirth and renewal. The past Golden Age of Atlantis was the pinnacle of Spiritual attainment, ever experienced on Earth. After shining eons, Atlantis vanished, but NOW, Her Ancient Wisdom and Glory are reborn. This time is unlike any other. The catalyst for the beautiful coming age is Lightworkers, like You! It is time to unleash your ancient mastery! Many of us sense, there is a far more profound truth beyond our physical realms. We CAN open our hearts and our eyes to a new reality and change our lives as a result. We can prepare ourselves for the ultimate step. We
Omtimes.com
How to Contact Your Departed Loved Ones By John Holland
If spirits can reach out to you, then it’s fair to say that you can reach out and communicate with them. Best of all, you don’t need a medium like me to do it for you, nor do you need special abilities to make this type of loving connection on your own. There are numerous ways to communicate with passed loved ones and stay in touch every day, but you have to start with a strong mindset and a belief that it is possible. Omtimes.com
Your loved ones know when you’re reaching out to them. If you have this strong belief in place and are missing a particular loved one who recently passed, I’d like you to try the following 7 steps to invite them to your own private get-together: Find a comfortable place and safely light a small votive candle on a table. Place a picture of your loved one right in front of you. Try to find the happiest picture you have of them because, in reality, that’s how they look now! Look into their eyes in the picture for a few moments. See the light that’s coming from them and remember that beautiful image in your mind. Now, set an intention that you’re open to receiving messages or signs from your chosen loved one. By setting the intention, you’re lovingly inviting them with an open heart and mind. Close your eyes and meditate to clear your mind to make room for them. Hold the image of your loved one from the picture in your mind’s eye.
Send out a loving thought and invite them to join you. Let them know it’s okay to come to you now. Remember, they take their cues from you when connecting and will only connect when they know it’s not going to upset you. Ask a question in your mind and be patient. Try not to have any expectations. Patience is key here in making sure you’re receiving a message that didn’t come from your own imagination. You may feel your loved one draw close to you, or you might feel a breeze, a light kiss, or a gentle embrace. You may even notice a scent like a perfume or a flower. (Don’t worry if you feel you didn’t get a message or sign right away; you may get an answer when you least expect it.) Most important, trust what you’re getting and don’t try to manipulate it or make it fit some preconceived idea of what you wanted or needed to hear. Each time you talk to them in your mind, the stronger your link will become. The more you do this, the more proficient you’ll get in building the bridge to your loved one.
Omtimes.com
How to Approach Animal Communication By Lisa Shaw
Humans are a stubborn species: we often lean towards self-centeredness, which is not to be confused with selfishness. Selfcentered means putting ourselves in the center of a situation, viewing it from our perspective, usually a narrow or one-dimensional one. How does it affect me? Why is this happening to
Omtimes.com
me or in my world? When it comes to our relationships with our animals, we extend this central theme and often become species-centric. When an animal develops a behavioral problem sometimes people are unable to view it from the animal’s perspective and see it as their inconvenience which “must be stopped.” Such is the case with clients who call an animal communicator seeking a simple solution to an emotional or behavioral issue, seeing it from their isolated human perspective rather than from the animal’s. I recently had a client who approached a distance reading this way. After arranging for the consultation, the woman sent me two photos of her dog with the request, “I need her to stop attacking my other dog.” Sometimes as a communicator I forget that new clients need guidance in asking questions. It was an instruction, not a question, and it came from the owner’s frustration of living with
two animals who weren’t getting along. Before I would delve deeply into the reading, I tuned in to the dog and picked up a feeling of jealousy and resentment based her feeling “less than” the other. However, I needed more information and so responded to the owner this way: I want to redirect your question. Instead of saying “I need her to stop,” we need to ask why she is doing this. Animal communication is a dialogue between the communicator and animal..., you, the owner, would provide the list of questions you have for me to ask Shadow. In that regard, I act as a medium and relate answers back and forth between the two of you. It would help if you gave me a bit more info: when did this behavior start, who is the older dog, have they lived together a while before the attacking began? How old are they? Reading works like a consultation with a therapist, Omtimes.com
Does your Zodiac Sign give you Psychic Abilities? OMTimes Astrology
Did you know that all people are born with different degrees of psychic ability? The gift is identified by our date of birth and, more specifically, by our sun sign. Psychic powers refer
Omtimes.com
to the functioning and characteristics of our psyche, which has everything to do with our Zodiac sign. The more we work on this gift, the more we improve our lives and relationships. Each of the signs of the Zodiac has different talents and qualities, of which we are not always completely aware. There is also a collective consciousness that can bring us teachings, but it is very important to know our inner selves and to be aware of our natural abilities. What psychic ability do you have inside? If you have not yet discovered, see below the powers and gifts of each of the Zodiac signs. The Zodiac and The Psychic skills ARIES’ PSYCHIC SKILLS Clairvoyance often guides the impulsive behavior of the Aries, and it is his intuitive power. Generally, this does not happen purposefully, and the Aries does not even
notice. He ends up giving credit to his luck or thinks it is pure coincidence. However, if you Aries know how to tune your intuition, you will discover an inner “guide” that will help you to be in the right place at the right time. When this happens, by following your intuition, you will be able to do things the best way. TAURUS’ PSYCHIC SKILLS Taurus has a strong sense of boundaries and can predict when someone is about to step over them. So, it is possible that they become quite nervous or uncomfortable in some situations. Although you do not believe in your intuition much, and we believe that this is an area that you should work. It is important to know that your instincts almost always correct, so if you are troubled do not hesitate to listen to your inner self and act. GEMINI’S PSYCHIC SKILLS The Gemini’s heads are always
Omtimes.com
Pet Horoscope: Discover the Personality of your Pet By Liane Buck
Animals are sentient beings, and just like us are also susceptible to the whims of Cosmic forces and Astrology. Unlike in human horoscopes, Animal horoscopes only reach the scope of the personal planets, and all the planets beyond Mars are not considered on the making of their maps. The reason is that Astrology only accepts the development of the animal Omtimes.com
consciousness reaching only the concrete mind, and not the upper level, which is the Abstract Mind, proper of Human beings. Although these premises may be debatable for animal lovers, that is the only references we find available regarding Horoscopes of animals. Aries (March 21 to April 20) The Puppies and Aries Cats are always full of energy. They love attention, affection, and play, and they never seem to get bored. It can be difficult to keep track of these overactive animals. They are temperamental and not the type to give up a fight. They may be embarrassed easily, so do not call their attention in public. Reward good behavior with a delicious treat. Never give “food of people” to your Arian animal, the tastiest and well-seasoned rations are your favorite. The biggest difficulty you will have will be to make your Aries Pet obey you most of the time. They can be a problem when they start to
destroy things in your home. Therefore, they will need repetitive training, a lot of steadiness and patience on their part to learn the lessons. Taurus (April 21 to May 20) Taurus Pets are a quiet and passive lot and are the easiest to train. However, if they are provoked into a fight - watch out! These animals never give up; they become stubborn and restless. They are cautious when they meet new people, but when they like you, you can be sure that you will have a friend for life. They will always remember your “friendly smell.” These animals love life outdoors but prefer to sleep than play. They love to eat and may have problems with weight. They are possessive and will defend their food and toys fiercely. Gemini (May 21 to June 20) Gemini pets are curious, friendly, and full of energy. These dogs tend to be vocal and can bark a lot. If possible, get another pet playmate for Omtimes.com
The Alchemy of Being Authentic By Maryne Hachey
Times are sure changing for anyone spiritually aware or otherwise, and there is a collective awareness that humanity is tuning into. What I have noticed is how many of us are struggling with the influx of heavy energy that has moved across the planet, and if you feel cloudy or heavy, you are not alone. Omtimes.com
For some time now my Guides have been pressing me to get writing and sharing my perspective and wisdom with others as there has been an increase of people searching for answers and questioning their belief systems and authenticity. For the last few years, people we have grown to love and look to in the spiritual community have either passed on or completely changed their practices and have fallen off the axes causing many to really question their own path and direction, so I want to address this and encourage you if I may. It is amazing when someone called to service is inspired to change and share those changes, but what if their changes negate the very foundations of your own spiritual practices? Authenticity as a Spiritual Practice This is simple: Don’t follow people if you are truly following your own Path. Listen to your guides and intuition then there is no cause
for panic or worry because you are always staying true to you, and your path as your journey on this earth plane is a unique one of a kind, so don’t let another’s a change of heart take away from who you are. You are still YOU!, divinely created and have a place on this earth, so keep shining, your gifts and talents are needed and as you watch others change, and use their platforms to spread their messages be very mindful not to cast judgments or fear-based energy onto one another. You and only you can decide if their truth is also your truth. For there is a collective group, I will call the watchers that have been changing the frequencies and remotely impacting anyone who is called to be of service. Now I know it sounds scary or way out there to some people, here is how you can tell if you are experiencing this for yourself ***the following list is given to you outside of any medical conditions, and should you suffer suicidal thoughts or think you have depression Omtimes.com
Can We Build Non-Sexist and Non-Racist Cities? By MonĂŠe Fields-White
Can we redesign American cities to foster connection and a sense of community instead of prioritizing isolated, atomic family units? That’s an especially urgent question as demographics shift. Single-individual households now make up 28 percent of all households, a dramatic increase since 1965, when they were 15 percent. At the same time, Omtimes.com
loneliness is on the rise. It’s also a question that was asked almost 40 years ago when urban historian Dolores Hayden wrote “What Would a NonSexist City Be Like?” an essay that resonated through social science and urban design communities and has experienced a resurgence of interest in recent years. In introducing the concept of the non-sexist city, she exposed how architectural design, capitalism, and urban planning over centuries had isolated women physically, socially, and economically. “‘A woman’s place is in the home’ has been one of the most important principles of architectural design and urban planning in the United States for the last century,” she wrote in her essay. Since then, other academics have taken her critique farther, pointing to how urban design has also divided minorities and kept other communities disconnected. These concerns are more pressing for disadvantaged communities today. African Americans, for example, are more likely than any other ethnic group to live alone, putting people in those households more at risk for
loneliness and feeling socially isolated. Hayden “brought critical awareness to the design of cities and a new lens with which to see the built environment as an extension of western societies’ systems of oppression,” says Drea Howenstein, a professor of art education and architectural design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. That oppression in the built environment is not impossible to counteract, some experts say, but it requires civic engagement and in some cases a revolution. Material Feminists Led the Way In her book “The Grand Domestic Revolution,” Hayden introduced her readers to the material feminists — whose leaders included Melusina Fay Peirce, Mary Livermore, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. For six decades, between the end of the Civil War and the start of the Great Depression, these feminists redefined the idea of what home meant for them and their families by pushing back against the domestic servitude that they deemed isolated women. They championed for architects and Omtimes.com
GITA THE INNER JOURNEYS
O M T I M E S
| G I T A :
I N N E R
J O U R N E Y S
Chapter six of the Gita, Yoga of Meditation, discusses a method of training and calming the mind which is central to inner journey and Yoga. You begin your inner quest convinced that you are your intellect, emotions and thoughts.
Meditation opens the door for you to go beyond noisy thoughts and emotions, thereby experiencing, at least in part, the blissful quietude within – your true, Divine, Inner-Self. Meditation practice is simple, but since, as the Prince observes, the mind is wilder than the wind, it is a practice that requires patient perseverance. You initially turn to Meditation, simply to give your mind a much needed rest; like the rest Yoga gives your body.
Over time though, Meditation practice leads to a profound Wisdom transformation which changes your experience of the world, and your functioning in it.
You begin your journey seeking happiness outside; through the alchemy of Meditation, you find it where it always was, within. As this transformation settles in, you find you no longer depend on the external world for your happiness: “Having obtained it, one now knows — this treasure’s superior to all; Knowledge so certain cannot be shaken — though greatest of sorrows befall.”
Omtimes.com
OMTimes Media, Inc. PO Box 1333 Oil City, PA 16301 (571)-2OM-TIMES ©2009-2019 OMTimes Media
All Rights Reserved MMXIX
Please review the
OMTimes Reprint Policy Contact our Advertisement Team:
advertise@omtimes.com