We all have the power to tap into the creative source. Positive Inspirational Quote

We are all connected as one. We all have the power to tap into that creative source. We are all unique human beings but we are all connected within this wonderful world that we live upon. You are not alone and there is a unique source of power and creativity available to you if you tap into that wonderful source of energy. Free your mind and allow yourself to believe in the infinite possibilities that can be available to you. Download this free positive inspirational quote free e-card to remind you of the wonders of our natural world.

Blessings of the universe to you, AstarteAlison

Scientific evidence for the affect the moon cycles have on us: full moon and sleep.

Can the full moon affect our sleep?

I am always keeping my eye open for  new research regarding our relationship to moon cycles. Whilst I know that a lot of us are plainly influenced by the cycles of the moon and I believe that we have a lot to learn by being more in tune with these cycles and learning to live in accordance with them. Science however struggles to explain this and because science cannot offer a hard and fast explanation people dismiss what they cannot prove.

This latest study reported in the July 25th online issue of Current Biology however lends another string to the scientific bow for belief in the fact that the moon cycles do affect our daily lives. This study looked at how the full moon had an affect on the length and the quality of our sleep.

The study was conducted by Prof Christian Cajoochen and his colleagues at Basel University in Switzerland and was conducted on a study of 33 volunteers in tightly controlled laboratory conditions.

The study was conducted in 2000 and over the next three years and did not originally set out to investigate a lunar effect. The researchers had the idea of doing the lunar analysis years later. The team looked back over all their study data, which included electroencephalograms of patients’ non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and hormone secretions related to sleep, and matched it up with a lunar calendar. They were then able to factor in the nights that had a full moon. Christian Cajochen, said: "A lot of people complain about bad sleep during moon stages, or they claim that 'it was the moon', and there's a lot of myth involved. We decided to go back in our old data to see whether we could effectively quantify such an effect."

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jul/26/moon-influence-sleep-studyWhen they went back to the original data they found that the volunteers took longer to nod off and had poorer quality sleep, despite being shut in a darkened room. The volunteers were unaware of the purpose of the study and could not see the Moon from their beds in the researchers' sleep lab. They each spent two separate nights at the lab under close observation.

The brain pattern, eye movements and hormone secretion of volunteers were studied while they slept. Participants were also asked for subjective assessments of their sleep quality Findings revealed that around the full Moon, brain activity related to deep sleep dropped by nearly a third. Melatonin levels also dipped. The volunteers also took five minutes longer to fall asleep and slept for 20 minutes less when there was a full Moon. It is a phenomenon already known in other organisms as the "circalunar rhythm", but has never before been shown in humans. These findings correlated with the volunteers' own perception that sleep quality was poorer during the full moon.

It seemed therefore that the full moon had a detrimental affect on the subjects’ sleep patterns and that had no correlation to the brightness of the moon since the subjects could not even see the moon, however somehow their bodies were being influence by the moon’s cycle.

Whilst this was a small sample size the results were very comprehensive. The group have now said that they would like to conduct a similar experiment to look at the influence on the full moon on sleep on a larger sample size. Cajochen says  "What I would like to do in the future is to increase the number of subjects and then to follow up each person through the entire moon cycle."

Other scientists seem keen to find answers as to whether a human circalunar clock exists. Michael Hastings a neuroscientist at Cambridge University studying circadian rhythms says "In evolutionary terms, it sounds plausible to me at least. If you were a hunter gatherer, you'd want to be out there on a full moon, not a new moon. It might be that there's something about suppression of sleep under those circumstances because you should be out hunting.

I think at best it's intriguing. There's a biological plausibility, if we take the hunter gatherer scenario, with regard to the mechanisms … It is such a striking and unexpected finding that replication by other sleep labs is absolutely critical."

According to Jeffrey Kluger at Science Time it does indeed seem likely that we humans do indeed have a built in internal mechanism that responds to our universe and to cycles such as the moon. “Rather, the answer is simply that we, like every other species on Earth, evolved on a particular planet with a particular set of astronomical cycles—day and night, full moons and less full—and our circadian systems adapted. It’s hard to say where the internal clock is in, say, a flowering plant, but in humans, it’s likely in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, a tiny region of the brain near the optic nerve involved in the production of melatonin, certain neurotransmitters and other time-keeping chemicals, all in a rhythm consistent with both its terrestrial and cosmic surroundings. Physically, human beings may be creatures of just this world, but our brains—and our behavior—appear to belong to two.”http://science.time.com/2013/07/25/how-the-moon-messes-with-your-sleep/#ixzz2bTrRrmAm

We are so influenced and bogged down by everything else that is going on in our lives that we have forgotten how to listen to our internal mechanisms. We have these natural abilities within us, to be able to respond to nature and what nature is telling us but we have forgotten how to respond and what we should be doing with the signals    We are given. This scientific evidence for the affect that our moon has on our lives and our behaviour is great as it proves something scientifically that many of us already believe is an important part of our lives. As more of these correlations are discovered we can hopefully realise how important our earth and moon are to us and how we need to listen to those signs we are given. Our ancestors perhaps needed less sleep when they were hunting on a full moon night. We however need that sleep and will not function on a restless night's sleep so we need to be prepared for that possible lack of sleep on the full moon. So be prepared, go to bed a little earlier, do some mediation, have some chamomile tea before bed.

Full moon blessings to you, make sure you go to bed a little earlier and allow yourself a little extra time to try and get the sleep you need on those full moon nights!

Alison

Here is a summary of the report abstract for anyone who would like more of the scientific explanations! “Endogenous rhythms of circalunar periodicity (∼29.5 days) and their underlying molecular and genetic basis have been demonstrated in a number of marine species [1,2]. In contrast, there is a great deal of folklore but no consistent association of moon cycles with human physiology and behavior [3]. Here we show that subjective and objective measures of sleep vary according to lunar phase and thus may reflect circalunar rhythmicity in humans. To exclude confounders such as increased light at night or the potential bias in perception regarding a lunar influence on sleep, we retrospectively analyzed sleep structure, electroencephalographic activity during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, and secretion of the hormones melatonin and cortisol found under stringently controlled laboratory conditions in a cross-sectional setting. At no point during and after the study were volunteers or investigators aware of the a posteriori analysis relative to lunar phase. We found that around full moon, electroencephalogram (EEG) delta activity during NREM sleep, an indicator of deep sleep, decreased by 30%, time to fall asleep increased by 5 min, and EEG-assessed total sleep duration was reduced by 20 min. These changes were associated with a decrease in subjective sleep quality and diminished endogenous melatonin levels. This is the first reliable evidence that a lunar rhythm can modulate sleep structure in humans when measured under the highly controlled conditions of a circadian laboratory study protocol without time cues.”

http://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982213007549 

Perseid Meteor Shower August 2013. Spiritual significance throughout time.

The Perseids have been spotted already for some keen viewers! The spectacular Perseids meteor shower will peak, on the mornings of August 11-13. Luckily our moon will be a crescent moon in the evening sky, leaving the peak meteor-watching hours of midnight to dawn free and clear.

“As a general rule, the Perseid meteors tend to be few and far between at nightfall and early evening. Yet, if fortune smiles upon you, you could catch an earthgrazer – a looooong, slow, colorful meteor traveling horizontally across the evening sky. Earthgrazer meteors are rare but most exciting and memorable, if you happen to spot one. Perseid earthgrazers can only appear at early to mid-evening, when the radiant point of the shower is close to the horizon.

As evening deepens into late night, and the meteor shower radiant climbs higher in the sky, more and more Perseid meteors streak the nighttime. The meteors don’t really start to pick up steam until after midnight, and usually don’t bombard the sky most abundantly until the wee hours before dawn. You may see 50 or so meteors per hour in a dark sky.” http://earthsky.org/tonight

You don’t need any special equipment to see these spectacular perseid meteors, just as wide an open space as possible,  and some warm clothing. Then lie back and enjoy the wonderful spectacle! Be at one with the universe as you enjoy this amazing sight. If it is a dry night then lie right on the grass if you can, this is a wonderful time to be grounded and totally at one with nature. It helps if you know the general direction of the constellation Perseus but the key is to keep your eyes relaxed and adjusted to the dark. Meteors often come in clusters so you may not see any for ages and then a few may come along together. You may have a long wait but these Perseid meteors are certainly worth it and you will have a wonderfully spiritual experience watching them. You will fee completely relaxed and as though you and nature are in perfect harmony after this incredible grounding and spiritual perseid meteor experience.

“What’s the source of the Perseid meteor shower? Every year, from around July 17 to August 24, our planet Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, the parent of the Perseid meteor shower. Debris from this comet litters the comet’s orbit, but we don’t really get into the thick of the comet rubble until after the first week of August. The bits and pieces from Comet Swift-Tuttle slam into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at some 210,000 kilometers (130,000 miles) per hour, lighting up the nighttime with fast-moving Perseid meteors. If our planet happens to pass through an unusually dense clump of meteoroids – comet rubble – we’ll see an elevated number of meteors. We can always hope!”http://earthsky.org/tonight

 We  have always had and continue to have a very special relationship with the celestial wonders above our heads. In ancient times of course a lot les was known and therefore a lot less was taken for granted. Many ancient Egyptians prayed to the Sun God Ra that the sun would rise every morning. For there was no guarantee! So it is no surprise that a meteor shower would have been seen as a very spiritual experience of great significance.

To many people a meteorite would have seemed an amazing occurrence. A star, from the heavens, coming down towards the earth.  What a sight!  The falling star represented a bridge between man and the divine. Often cultures venerated meteor rocks as powerful magickal talisman, these were said to be sent from the sky gods to the people on earth. The ancient Greeks believed that finding one would bring you a year’s worth of good luck and a wish. It is from the Anciient Greeks that we have inherited the idea of wishing upon a star. Often temples in the ancient Mediterranean that were in possession of meteorites, held them as sacred objects.

Native American medicine men also thought meteorites had special powers and have been known to wear them as protective amulets, passing them down through generation after generation of shaman as symbols of their power.

In Roman times it was thought that the stars were candles lit by the angels with each representing a soul on earth.

In the Teutonic mythology of central Europe, it was believed that every person was represented by a star. This star was attached to the ceiling of the sky by the threads of fate. In Romania, there is a belief that the stars are candles lit by the gods  in honour of each person’s birth and that the brighter the star the greater the person. The falling star represents the soul’s final journey to the afterlife as it is being blown out and across the sky by the divine candle keepers.

In these and other cultures, falling stars and meteor showers were celebrated, they honoured the ancestors who had come before them, and in particular the newly deceased who were joining the ranks of the highly venerated generations who had come before.

So try and spend some time outside in the wonder and the magic of the Perseid meteor shower this August. Perhaps you would like to think about your ancestors as you gaze up into the universe. Or perhaps you would just like to enjoy the incredible experience and wonder at this world that we are so lucky to be a part of. However you spend it know that somehow we are all connected and are all part of this incredible universe, all sharing this same feeling of wonder and amazement that this world continues to give us.

"you must be willing to do a somersault into the unconceivable and land on your feet" Wayne Dyer positive affirmation quote

"The Wright brothers didn’t contemplate the staying on the ground of things. Alexander Graham Bell didn’t contemplate the noncommunication of things. Thomas Edison didn’t contemplate the darkness of things. In order to float an idea into your reality, you must be willing to do a somersault into the unconceivable and land on your feet, contemplating what you want instead of what you don’t have." Wayne Dyer

Reach for the stars, you can do it! You have the universe on your side, ask for nature to help you along the way and listen to any help she has to offer you.

Sparkly blessings, Alison

Don't ever lose what makes you you. Positive affirmation

Don't ever lose what makes you you.

You are wonderful and your essence is what makes you you. You are an important part of this amazing universe in which we dwell. Allow it to shine so that all can benefit from it's brilliance.

blessings to you,

Alison

Make all your friends feel there is something special in them. Christian D Larson inspirational quote

"Talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something special in them."

 Christian D Larson

"I see beauty in all things and I radiate joyful happy energy." positive affirmation

"I see beauty in all things and I radiate joyful happy energy." AstarteAlison

Mother nature, our wonderful mother Gaia is an amazing force. If we can tap into that incredible energy and listen to what she is telling us we can learn a lot from her and join in her incredible happy energy. It is no co-incidence that the pentagram, the symbol for paganism occurs time and time again in nature. The Pentagram has been a widespread sacred symbol used since ancient times. To the followers of Pythagoras it was called the Pentalpha. The pentagram demonstrates a five fold symmetry often found in life- starfish, the inside of an apple, flowers, plants and many living things even down to the molecular level.

Traditionally within Paganism the Pentagram is placed within a circle which represents unity and wholeness. This is called the Pentacle. The five points represent Spirit at the top(the all, divine) and then in a clockwise direction Water (emotion, intuition) Fire(courage, daring) Earth (stability, grounding) and Air (intelligence arts)

The Four elements are also associated with the four cardinal points on a compass, Earth- north, Air-east, Fire- south, Water- west.

The pentagram reminds us of our intrinsic need to be close to mother nature. Sometimes in our busy lives we forget to follow the rhythms of our mother earth and don't pay such close attention to the signs that she is giving us. Our ancestors were so in tune with our earth and our moon and we have lost a little of that and now it is time to try and bring some of that back. We can do that simply by paying attention to what stage our moon is at, what cycle we are in the wheel of the year, walking barefoot whenever we can, spending more time outside in the company of nature, noticing the beauty of nature that is all around us. All of this we can do whether we live in the countryside of the city. Even in the inner city there are parks and grass verges that are teaming with mother nature's abundance. Wild grasses and poppies for example pop up wherever there is a spare inch of waste ground! Mother nature cannot be held back, and the moon may be gazed upon wherever you are living.

So do try and see the beauty of nature, spend some time outdoors, preferably barefoot. Do you know what cycle of the moon we are at currently? Observe the beauty of nature, bask in her glory and radiate back that happy joyful energy. Allow your light to shine brightly so that others may enjoy your wonderful illuminated soul.

Beautiful sparkly blessings of our mother nature, Gaia, to you, Alison