Alpha Brain Waves and Healing

With our many technological advances, scientists and psychologists have made many discoveries about the human brain over the last several decades.  The activity in the brain can be measured and classified into different wave patterns.  During sleep, our brain cycles through the various wave patterns and stages. In the first two stages of sleep are brain wave activity is characterized by theta waves. If someone wakes you in this stage you will not even remember being asleep.  As you fall into a deeper sleep, Delta waves are measured.  Delta waves are the slowest and have the highest amplitude of all of the measured brain waves.  During the night your brain cycles from the theta waves and delta waves until entering into REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. REM sleep brain activity looks very similar to a person that is awake with a combination of alpha and beta waves and this is the stage were dreams take place.

So, let us take a closer look at the alpha and beta waves.  Beta waves are the highest in frequency and lowest in amplitude and are asynchronous in nature.  Literally, our brain is all over the place.  Spiking as of a result of all of the processes going on at the same time.  All of our senses are at work, and our brain works hard to process this input and organize and store the information we are receiving.  As human we have some of the highest brain function and we need beta wave activity to complete the higher cognitive functions that we carryout day to day.  Tasks like driving, cooking, surfing the Internet, playing sports are just a few examples of the brain integrating many different areas simultaneously at rapid speed to complete these tasks. We are amazing creatures if you really think about how much thought goes into driving a car--pressing the accelerator and brakes,  holding the steering wheel, putting on turn signals,  reading traffic signs, all while looking out for other cars or emergency vehicles that pose a dangerous threat.  It doesn't take long after learning to drive for us to add music, passengers, temperature control, and thanks to the large number of fast food establishments we are even able to eat and drink while operating this heavy machinery. 

Aside: Be safe while driving.  Do not text and drive. Put down your smart phones, you should not be reading this blog while driving.

Now that you understand the other wave patterns, let us talk about the alpha wave. When we finally reach our destination safely and we sit still and take a minute to relax our brain waves become slower, increase in amplitude and become more synchronous.  Even though we are awake, we are at a state of peace. Synchronous waves are those that are occurring at the same rate and frequency similar to the action of a bird flapping its wings in flight. It is in this alpha wave pattern that the body begins to slow down and recover from the stressors that are present in our environment as well as the ones that naturally occur inside the body. We are in a constant struggling for reaching a balance state in our bodies and this is defined as homeostasis. So without alpha waves, we cannot achieve this balance state of well being.

Many people use drugs and alcohol to induce alpha waves brain patterns but these substances have damaging effects on your body and are counter intuitive to achieving proper health. Television also sends your brain into a low alpha brain wave pattern, which is probably why so many people spend their evening winding down in front of the TV or even fall asleep watching TV.  But too much of this low alpha wave state is not good and can out you in a fog that makes it difficult to focus  Everything needs to be in perfect balance. Some healthier alternatives to induce alpha wave brain states are meditation, prayer,getting massages, yoga, breathing techniques, sitting in a sauna or hot tub, hypnosis (self or by a professional), laying on the beach or in a hammock, or even walking if done in a relaxed environment.  Scientists have also found more alpha brain wave activity in creative people - Musicians, Artists, Writers, and Poets often report going into an altered state to produce their work.

As a massage therapist and reflexologist I have experienced this altered state.  When I first begin a massage or reflexology session I am processing a lot of information.  In a massage session, I first notice the texture, warmth, quality of the muscles making notations of anything out of the ordinary. Then using different techniques I am able to manipulate that muscle or tissue to try to bring it back to a normal state.

I am awake and I am moving, using my hands, and my brain is definitely in a beta wave state.  But then there is a shift.  Once I relax,  I am to complete the massage session without "thinking" about the process. This allows my client to reach an alpha wave state as well which promotes healing and bringing the body back to balance.  This is why I consider myself a healing artist versus a massage therapist.  Reaching this alpha wave state is very similar to a painter standing in front of a blank canvas with a palette of colors and a brush. I hope that you found this post helping in understanding the importance of slowing down and allowing our brain to recover from its daily demands.

When is the last time you spent 20 minutes in a relaxed (alpha wave) state?  Set aside 20 minutes a day for one week and see if you notice any changes in your body? Always feel free to post your comments and share what you notice after completing this exercise.  Also, if you have any questions about this article or what to find out more about natural ways of healing, inbox me: TJthehealer@gmail.com

Light & Love
TJ






Poetic Expressions

As I mentioned in Rewriting your Life Part 1&2, writing is very important to planning, building, and achieving your goals.   But the process of writing can also be very therapeutic.  Poetry is my favorite writing form and I have been writing poems for as long as I can remember.   Good poetry expresses a message or an emotion.  When you write poetry you create a voice/tone for your reader/listener.  After experiencing your work they should have a clear image of the message or emotion you decided convey when you first picked up a pencil and paper.  The beauty of poetry is that it can evoke a myriad of emotions and responses. The best creative expression is limitless and not binded to rules and the more freedom you allow when writing the better the finished product. Below is a poem that I have written.  Can you guess which emotion I am trying to express? Is there an additional message embedded? 


After reading my poem, I encourage you to pick up a pencil and paper and spend 15 minutes writing a poem of your own.  Remember, this is not 11th grade English class, you will not be graded or judged on this work. So relax.  Just allow the spirit to come through and take over, giving you the words to say.  We all have something to say. Keep in mind that negative emotions can be expressed in the arts, but that does not make the artist a negative person.  In fact, this is one of the best ways to release those negative emotions, feelings, or thoughts from your spirit. So write whatever comes to your mind and after reviewing your work, notice the difference in how you feel - before and after writing the piece. Have fun and feel free to post comments or poems to this blog!

Light & Love,
TJ

Here's my piece:

If I look outside

If I look outside me,
Focus clearly
My eyes ache from the pains
That I feel surrounding me
Closing in on my skin

If I look outside me
Take in all that I see
-The Happenings-
My heart hurts, breaking,
Ripping at the seams
In Disbelief
At the things that people do
The words that they speak

If I look outside me,
I get so angry
Which cause a conflict in my being
For my soul is woven of
Peaceful Patterns
And stitched with Serenity
Joy lies deep inside
Sweet Purity-
This I know for sure

If I look outside me
Confusion takes over my mind space
Too many angles
Too many sides to take
Too many plans to make
A, B, C, and Ds
Striving for
Surviving for
It doesn't have to be this way
This is a mistake

If I look outside me
I fear the known and present dangers
I need to face the certain facts
That Greed, Hatred, Evil, Jealousy, and Lies
Are alive
And they thrive on me
An innocent prey
They are Here as we speak

If I look outside me
I wish that there was a way to go inside me
And lock the door and throw away the key

If I look outside me.

~TJ The Healer

Rewrite Your Life -- PART 2

Hello Friends,

If you are reading this post, then you understand the importance of writing down your vision (Part 1) and you are ready to take your evolution to the next level. I commend you for moving forward and I know that these powerful words will not be wasted.

What did you notice when you began writing things down?  Is there a general theme to your life? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?  First, give yourself credit for the things that you have created thus far. You are a wonderful and powerful being even if you have a ways to go, like I do. Smile.  We will get there. And the rest of the way will be down hill because we have already reached the summit.  The hardest part is done.  Let's go...

Negative energy or negative thinking can slow you down to the point where you feel like you are trapped and immovable.  Negative thoughts operate at a lower vibration/ frequency period.  When you are sad and depressed you barely want to get out of bed, and every step feels like you weight a ton.  You are literally "dragging" yourself around and most people get so tired they just give up moving altogether.  When you are excited and full of positive energy you feel like you are moving at lightning speed or floating on cloud nine.  You notice that your thoughts can be racing and you can barely get the words out of your mouth before the next great thought enters your brain. Your ideas and creativity flows and "light bulbs" pop up over your head, one after the next.  If you are smart you grab a pencil and paper, and your hands can barely keep up with that flow.  You are "in the spirit" or inspired to do many things at his moment. 

Just so that you have a visual image, the negative person is like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. He talks slow, walks slow, and is always losing his tail. Poor thing, he just can't catch a break. Now on the flip side, the fast moving person is like a road runner. This Looney Tunes character moves at fast pace and always avoids the traps are set for him by set for him by Wyle E Coyote.  Who knew that children's cartoon could be so philosophical and metaphysically educational?  Smile.

Of course, these are two extremes  and there is a spectrum of many characters in between.  Which of these characters do you relate? And most importantly, which one do you see accomplishing the goals that you set in Part1?

Give it a min....

        

Now, that you can see the power of positive thought over negative thought, you know that in order to change your life. you have to change your words. As you edit your words, you will change your emotions. And that will be the next step to transforming your life.  I will list some common low energy phrases that people use and then some higher vibrational alternatives.

Common Phrase #1:

"I'm broke."

Just because your bank account is low or even in the negative, does not mean that YOU are broken and that there is something to be fixed.

Instead, think of yourself as:

"I am creating cash flow right now.  I am planting seeds of wealth that will soon bear great fruits."

This statement already invokes power and implies action.  You are doing something positive and converting a situation of lacking into one of abundance.  You have made the choice to have more and you are taking the proper steps to make that happen.


Common Phrase #2:

"We are in an economic recession/depression/crisis right now.  I would be doing better if we were not suffering from a down economy."

This is a popular phrase and the news, media, and society perpetuates this belief. There are many negative situations going on in the world even more devastating than a down economy --- I won't get on a rant about  war, education systems, health care, housing or politics.   That would be sure to slow us down, and we are on to something great.

The situations in the outside world should not determine what you have or do not have:

"I live in a universe of abundance and unlimited resources are available to me. I have the ability to create my own reality."

This statement is where a lot of people get lost.  They look at the world around them through there physical eyes, not a spiritual eye.  There are possibilities there that you cannot even see because you are operating on a different level. And like a radio transmits a signal once you are tuned into the right channel, you will see  more positive things happening in your life. Miracles will become more common in your world.  And you will find yourself dodging the drama and traps that have been set all around you.

Move out of the way and like The Roadrunner would say, "Beep Beep." 

Common Phrase #3

"I'm too tired. I don't feel like doing this/that."

If you catch yourself saying this a lot, or you feel fatigued it is probably because you are out of balance or out of position with your true self. All work and no play, does not inspire you to rise early for work,  jump in your car and fight traffic, and stay a few minutes later to finished that project that is due or take that extra appointment.

A new perspective:
"Energy potential is unlimited.  When I am tapped into my source of inspiration, I can direct my energy toward things that motivate me."

If there is a purpose behind my actions and all things are a part of a bigger plan, than you will find the energy to take that extra step and bring yourself closer to reaching your goals.  You will complete these tasks without fear, but you have a blind determination to make the impossible, possible.  You have made  the choice and you are sticking with it, no matter what obstacles arise.


Common Phrase #4

"I don't have time. I am too busy."

There are 24 hours in a day. Some people do not get 30 and others 10. But how we spend our time will determine whether or not you feel like you have time or not.  The average American watches over 4 hours of TV per day. So I ask you how busy are you really?

Reevaluate your schedule.  Make the better choices:
"I will set time aside for things that are important to me.  I determine how I will spend my day."

This is another tough one.  This is difficult because most people have positioned themselves or committed themselves to a schedule that is not working for them but against then. We say that it is okay to work 8-10 hours a day, add 2-4 hours traveling to and from work, 6-8 hours sleeping, which is a total of 16-22 hours spent. These numbers do not add up in my book. You have to set aside time for yourself, your children, your significant other, your pets, your friends, and relatives. Take time for writing, prayer/meditation, painting, cooking, and spending time in nature. These activities put your brain into an alpha wave pattern which is also a state of healing.  (Topic for future Mind over Matters post)


Common Phrase #5

"I am not sure." "I have to wait and see."

Waiting and seeing if not what we need to create health, wealth, loving relationships, profitable businesses, or prosperity in any form.  People confuse patience with inactivity.  Once you have determined your goals, written them down, and activate those plans, sometimes you will reach a point where you have done all that you can and you have to patiently wait for the fruits of your labor to grow and ripen. "Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration." ~Lou Erickson

Take an active role in your life. Do not sit by and watch your life pass you by. Be empowered:

"I am comfortable making decisions that effect my life, my health, my family, my home, my finances, my business/job, and my community."

If you find yourself or the people around you falling into these words traps, be mindful.  Take notes of where you are emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Write it down. Then, rewrite, revise and renew your life.  It is with that positive energy that will allow you to navigate past obstacles with lightning speed and reach your goals in record time. 

Light & Love
TJ

Rewrite Your Life --PART 1

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The countdown is over and the questions start to fly.

What am I am doing with my life?
How do I make the changes to improve my life experience--
Get in better shape, lose weight, eat right.
Switch to a more fulfilling career, create wealth, get out of debt.
Spend more time with my family, find the love of my life, or reignite the flame of a love that is no longer burning bright.

Whatever your new year's resolutions were for this year, I ask you are these the same things you said last year and the year before that.   If the answer is yes, I encourage you to read the rest of this blog.

See, for many years I found myself battling with the same problems, issues, and conflicts. As I entered new relationships even though the faces would change, the same conflicts would arise over time.  As I embarked on new jobs, or switched to a entirely different career, the same challenges would eventually confront me.
Even though the environment would change, the same issues would remain the same. As I loss and gained friends, physically moved to new places, went back to school to study new topics, changed the foods that I ate, change my clothes, my hair, my car, my church, and the list goes on....I would eventually arrive in the same exact place once again. Time after time.

Is this is a cruel joke that the creator plays on us? Are we sent here to struggle?  Is that what the human experience is all about?  Are some people destined for success and others for failure?   These are some of the questions that I have asked myself over my 33 years on this earth. I have visited many spiritual institutions, read shelves worth of books, and spent many hours alone searching within my soul for the truth.

The truth is this-- Your life is what you make it. We are here to create own destiny.  And most people have more power than they give themselves credit.  We wake up living our days according to what other people decide for us, instead of making our own choices.  The power of choice is a beautiful thing.  We have a million choices in any given day.  And what we choose determines the places we go, the people we meet, and the opportunities that present themselves to us.  It is the map to our future. Like right now, you have the choice to continue reading this blog or moving on to something else.  It is like the "Choose-your-own Adventure" books I loved so much as a child.  Read on....

The true transformation for my life came when I realized that I had the power to write my life,  and even re-write my life. That is the first step to manifesting your goals and dreams.  We do it everyday in a way.  We write grocery lists, Things to Do list, Honey Do lists, and I would like to thank the person that invented post it notes because (S)he understood the power of writing it down.We have all gone to the grocery store without a list and come out with everything but the one thing we needed the most and the original reason that we made the trip in the first place.  So I encourage you to start writing down the things that you wish to have in your life.  This is the first step to creating and attaining your heart's desires.

Marinate on this post...That is all for now.

Love & Light

TJ