Intro To Lucid Dreaming

- Siggy Leslie.

I had two dreams that showed me holding on to elderly people that were completing their end of life journey. These dreams came to me when I needed answers about my life's purpose. I realized these dreams were leading me down a path in nursing and it is one of the reasons I am so passionate about end of life care and spirituality.

Dreams are a tool to connect us with our conscious selves and our spiritual selves. They also act as a guidance system to connect us with our goals or to give us insight into things that may not be easily seen or understood in the physical world. Mostly, dreams attempt to enlighten our understanding of the world where we physically exists by helping us find answers to the the things that are burdening us. 

I dream every night about things that have meaning, and things that don't seem to have relevance to my presence in the physical world. Dreams are subjective and can be tricky to interpret if we don't see obvious meanings or connections to ourselves and others. Don't let this distract you from trying to understand the meaning of your own dreams. Not only can you learn to interpret your dreams, you can also learn how to gain control in some of your dreams. 

What is Lucid Dreaming?
Lucid dreaming is a journey into the depths of our psyche. It is our awareness of dreaming while in the midst of a dream. Everyone has the ability to lucid dream but it might take some practice. 

The history of lucid dreaming was first recorded in a letter by Saint Augustine in 415. Even as early as the 18th century A.D, Tibetan Buddhists pursued the cultivation of dream lucidity and lucid dreaming was considered a prerequisite to seeking enlightenment. 
 
The term "lucid dream" was coined by Dutch psychiatrist Frederik Willem van Eeden. He described his dreams as being fully asleep yet, he had the ability to fully recollect his daily life and he could act voluntarily within his dreams. 

What is the purpose of lucid dreams? 
Lucid dreams can be used in a therapeutic setting particularly for individuals suffering from nightmares, phobias, trauma, and post traumatic stress disorder. Or, they can be used as a means to gain insight into our own psyches. 

How Do I Lucid Dream?
Meditation is one of the most effective ways to induce lucid dreaming as we tend to have cluttered and busy minds. A clear mind encourages new ideas and thoughts to emerge. 

Journals are necessary and are encouraged even if you aren't practicing lucid dreaming. It is useful to track dreams nightly to see if patterns emerge. Start with a journal on your night stand ready to record anything and everything you remember from your dreams.  

Next, you want to plant the seed. Throughout the course of the day, look at your hands and remind yourself "this is just a dream". Do this often and always look at your hands. When you induce lucid dreams, you will subconsciously look at your hands which will be a reminder that "this is just a dream". 

In time, a lucid dream will occur and then you can start your journey of taking control of your own dreams. Good Luck! 

4 Steps to become an Alternative Health Care Practitioner



1-First, you need to find an area of study that interests you. More and more people are looking for cost friendly and alternative ways to facilitate the healing process. The demand for alternative healers is starting to rise and finding an area of study to practice, can be very rewarding. For example, you may be drawn to nature and plant life, so herbalist would be a good focus of study. Or, perhaps you feel that you want to work directly with a client/patient through touch, so massage therapy or Reiki may work for you. Other types of alternative practice includes: Acupuncture, Nutritionist, Naturopathy, and Qigong, to name a few.

2- You may need to invest in the alternative practice you are seeking. Before you pull out your credit card and pay thousands of dollars for online courses, go to your local used book store and find books related to your topic of interest. Also, be sure to check out your local commercialized bookstore as they may have a wider variety of material related to your topic. Learn all you can by reading and practicing what your read (always be SAFE when practicing ). Online resources are in abundance but be warned, not all online material is up-to-date and accurate. Be sure to cross reference all learned material with reputable sites. In Ontario, a good guide for identification of herbs is: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/12-033.htm

3- Seek out a local practitioner, online program, or degree program through a College or University. I started by google searching local practitioners in my area then, I compared prices. Some were well-priced and others were exceptionally over-priced. A word of advice: Sometimes, it can be confusing to try and figure out the best path to invest in your study. Unfortunately, some practitioners are not serious in their healing role and will take advantage of potential students. Be sure to compare prices and services offered, with online programs as well. The Ontario's Herbalist Association, is a good guide for finding local and reputable herbalists in Ontario: http://herbalists.on.ca/

4- Practice what you study. Once you have learned and received certificates and degrees that pertain to your area of study, don't be afraid to start your own practice. Always research home business requirements for your local area, before offering services to the public. Or, seek an established business that is looking for alternative practitioners such as, a spa.


* Good luck with your future as an Alternative Health Care Practitioner*

“Let each man take the path according to his capacity, understanding and temperament. His true guru will meet him along that path.” 
― Sivananda Saraswati

Native American Feminist

An essay I wrote previously....
Essay also published as an article- http://sensiblereason.com/native-american-feminists-influence-european-ideology/

The author has chosen to discuss the relationship between female activism and its influence on

gender discrimination within a Native American community. She chose to discuss these topics as she

identifies as a Native American woman, as well as a feminist. She also wanted to bring awareness to

the mindset of the Aboriginals and how the influence of European colonialism has changed the

Aboriginal culture. The author poses the question, “Are Native American women who identify as

feminists, assimilating to a colonial ideology and is feminism within Native American communities

despised because it sheds light on sexual assault against Aboriginal women?”

Prior to European invasion, Native American women were a part of an egalitarian system where

women held equal positions to men.

“There was no universal standard regarding the status of Native American women; the role of each woman was unique to her own tribe. In general, prior to settler colonialism, women's power and status were based on their relative control over land, horticultural production, and nomination of chiefs, as well as on their participation in village and tribal decision making. Women's political power was the ability to influence who held office, not the more direct ability to hold office.” (Lajimodiere, 2011).

In European culture, women were regarded as inferior to men in a system known as patriarchal

colonialism. This Eurocentric thinking style followed over when European settlers merged with

the Aboriginals in the times of first contact. It is believed that the feminist concept was first

created by Western women who demanded equality for gender rights. These women fought for

their rights in a patriarchal society, but they did not include the rights of other minorities such as

Aboriginal women. “Therefore, Native American women perceived this early feminism as a

reaction to an existing patriarchal sociopolitical system not concerned with the racialized

oppression – as a result of Euro-American racism- of other marginalized women and subcultural

groups of “ethnic minorities”, such as Native Americans as tribal peoples, or with the impact of

U.S colonialism on their traditional ways of life” (Guerrero, 2003)

To better understand how feminism relates to Aboriginal women, it is best to have an idea of

what it means to be a feminist. Western society is based on a Patriarchal model. This model

reflects male perspective and interactions within social, political, and authoritative roles within

the society. Feminism, is a different type of perspective that focuses on the elimination of

oppression, the concept of interconnectedness, and the advocacy of the rights for all people,

equally. (Gary, and Campbell, 1998).

Being that Native American communities were mostly based on an egalitarian system,

this idea of feminism, was a foreign concept. Most Aboriginal communities did not designate

roles for women to follow, nor did they make Aboriginal women less superior to their male

counterparts. Feminism, was a European concept and many Aboriginal women were not

comfortable with the title of Feminist. According to Annette Jaime’s (Guerrero): “Native women

activists, except those who are “assimilated”, do not consider themselves feminists. Feminism,

according to Jaime’s, is an imperial project that assumes the givenness of U.S colonial

stranglehold on indigenous nations. Thus, to support sovereignty Native women activists reject

feminist politics” (Smith, 2005).

“As a result of U.S colonialism and patriarchal structure, the traditional authority of

Native American women, has been systematically disempowered up to the present time. Native

Americans, on the other hand, see themselves as “a People” and refer to themselves as such in

their respective indigenous languages through the group names for themselves” (Guerrero,

2003).

To further illustrate this notion of oneness within Aboriginal cultures, Lorelie Decora Means, the 

founder of WARN (Women Of All Red Nations) states: “We are American Indian women in that 

order. We are oppressed first and foremost as American Indians, as peoples colonized by the United 

States, not as women. As Indians we can forget that. Our survival, the survival of every one of us-

man, woman and child- as Indians depends on it. Decolonization is the agenda, the whole agenda, 

until it is accomplished” (Ramirez, 2007).

Prior to the invasion of the Europeans, Native Americans acted as a unit. They did not designate 

roles based on being male and female and no sex was superior or inferior to the other. When 

European colonialism occurred, the breakdown in Aboriginal communities also occurred as they 

were forced to assimilate to these Eurocentric ways of thinking. As feminism began to rise within the 

developed Patriarchal society, Native American women found themselves in an uncomfortable 

position. Their equally with men was disregarded and they soon followed suit with the average 

European middle/upper class Caucasian woman. Aboriginal women were now being oppressed 

based on their culture and sex.

With colonization, came sexual exploitation and acts of violence and rape towards Aboriginal 

women. Interestingly enough, sexual assault towards Aboriginal women, usually came from 

outsiders. According to the US department of justice: “What else can we say when one out of every 

three Native American women report they have been raped, or that an attempt has been made to 

sexually brutalize them? That is more than 2.5 times the national average. And if you think those 

numbers are staggering, consider who is carrying out these attacks: at least 86% of sexual assaults 

are reportedly being perpetrated by non-Native men” (Wolfe and Chief Elk, 2012)

Prior to European invasion, sexual assault and domestic violence did not exist in Aboriginal 

communities. These acts of violence and assault, are still a common occurrence “Women of color 

have for too long been presented with the choices of either prioritizing racial justice or gender 

justice. This dualistic analysis fails to recognize that it is precisely through sexism and gender 

violence that colonialism and white supremacy have been successful” ( Smith, 2005)

In conclusion, Aboriginal women have been doomed from the time the Europeans landed. They were 

sexualized and treated as inferior to men. A common stereotype that was attached to an Aboriginal 

woman, was “squaw”, or “Indian princess” in the case of Pocahontas. These terms were designated 

to Aboriginal women, by male, European colonizers (Steckley and Letts, 2013). Feminism is a 

European concept that many Aboriginal women resent. In todays, Western society, Kachuck 

explains that Feminist liberalism “identifies women as a class entitled to rights as women”(Steckley 

and Letts, 2013). Yet, this does not always apply to Native American women who’s culture sees 

them as “a People” and not as a woman. This concept leaves Aboriginal women in a tricky position. 

She has to decide if she will advocate for female rights and by doing so, she is admitting to being 

assimilated, or she chooses to say nothing and allows herself to be sexualized and discriminated 

against by non-native men. A very popular Native American saying states “A nation is not defeated 

until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it's finished. No matter how brave its warriors, 

or how strong its weapons.” This saying may be read in different ways, but the message is always the 

same. If women are defeated, a nation is defeated. Unfortunately, this seems to be the way our future 

is headed.

References

How did feminism evolve? - Curiosity. (n.d.). Curiosity. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-did-feminism-start-evolve

Lajimodiere, D. K. (n.d.). A History of Native Women's Roles. Project MUSE. Retrieved November 23, 2013 from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/wicazo_sa_review/summary/v026/26.2.lajimodiere.html

Ramirez, R. (2007). Race Tribal Nation, and Gender: A Native feminist approach to belonging.

Guerrero, J. (2003). Patriarchal Colonialism and Indigenism: Implications for Native Feminist Spirituality and Native Womanism. Hypatia, 18, 59-68

Smith, A. (2013). Native American Feminism, Sovereignty, and Social Change. Feminist Studies , 31, 1-6

Steckley, J., & Letts, G. K. (2013).Elements of sociology: a critical Canadian introduction. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press.

Wolfe, L. (n.d.). Sexual violence is tearing Native American communities apart. the Guardian. Retrieved November 26, 2013, from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/08/sexual-violence-native-american-communities

Preventive Medicine

Why Preventive Medicine?

Do you eat a healthy diet, exercise frequently, have great stress coping mechanisms, and get a good night's sleep, every night? The answer to one or more of these questions is most likely going to be, no.

We live in a busy society, especially in the Western part of the world. We are consumed by convenience which likely stems from our obsession with time. We are always on the go, trying to balance families, careers and education. We are constantly working towards the next big thing (a house, a car, a new boat), while we work many hours to pay for these things that we cherish. 

We are stressed out by deadlines, not having enough money for the lifestyles we believe we deserve, health issues, and numerous other issues that may or may not be important. 

We are starting to become overweight and obese as we place our own health needs, on the back burner. Sooner or later, our health starts to decline and we start to develop health problems like, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. When we look back, we realize that we were the cause for much of our own health's decline. 

This is where preventive medicine comes in. We can achieve optimal health even after a decline in health if we focus on the prevention of future illness, instead of just focusing on the treatment of the illness in the moment. 

Why wait until we find out that we have type II Diabetes, before we make a change in our diets and increase physical activity? 

We are responsible for our own health. We need to be alert to changes and ask ourselves questions such as, am I experiencing more fatigue than normal? Am I experiencing pain? (Pain is not normal and is often an indicator of an underlying problem, even in the elderly). Have I ate a balanced diet and am I active?

Preventive medicine focuses on achieving optimal health (balance of mind, body, spirit, community) within ourselves. We can achieve this balance by focusing on a healthy diet, exercise, good mental health and, community or networked support systems. 

Preventive medicine is essential in preventing the occurrence of disease, and can also be used to maintain or cope with a disease that is already present. In some instances, preventive medicine may even reverse illness.  

The beauty about this healing practice is that it costs little money to maintain. A healthy diet can be maintained on a tight budget (as I am doing it). Instead of thinking about food in terms of quantity, think about in terms of quality. A bag of chips will be cheaper than a bag of apples. In Ontario, you can buy 3 cheap bags of potato chips to one bag of apples. While you may think that the chips are a better option because you can get more for the same price, you would be incorrect. Their is no nutritional value in a bag of chips. Your energy will not be sustained for any length of time, and you would be increasing your risk for future illness like, cancer. These are things we need to consider when purchasing food, Remember, Quality over quantity. Most times, we are eating way more than a suggested serving size.

Preventive medicine is our responsibility. We cannot blame our declined health on a health system if we are the cause of our own illness. We need to be aware of our bodies and give it the nutritional content it deserves. We need to focus on eliminating stress by prioritizing the more important things in life. We need to increase our levels of physical activity and maintain a healthy weight.

By making these simple changes, we will safeguard our own health.