Cool weather has finally arrived down South and it’s amazing how it uplifts everyone’s mood.  Is it simply the brisker air?  Or is it because we are able to open our windows, and breathe in all those negative ions which makes us feel more energetic and alive?  Negative ions are invisible molecules that, when we inhale them, produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress and boost our energy. 

High levels of negative ions are found in all the places that we find exhilarating: the beach, the mountains, the country, waterfalls, and pine forests.  The level of fresh country air is between 2,000 to 4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter.  Yet the normal ion count on Los Angeles freeways during rush hour is far below 100.  At Yosemite Falls the count is reported to be over 100,000.  Tunica Falls, where you’ll find over 50 waterfalls, is only a 20 minute drive from St. Francisville and definitely worth a trip!

New, Healthy Air-Freshening Remedies

We still have much to learn about atmospheric ions, but researchers believe that these magic bits of electricity, under artificial control, will soon be helping millions to healthier, happier, more productive lives.  Though the growing problem of toxic air in urban environments has come to light in our country fairly recently, ionization of the air is mandatory in many European and Russian hospitals and work environments. Fortunately, manufacturers here in the U.S. have caught on and are designing new systems that increase negative ionization.  RCA, Westinghouse, General Electric and Carrier all have such products under development.

In the meantime, there are other, natural tools you can use to increase the negative ions in your living spaces.  Bionaire (www.bionaire.com) has an “Everfresh Air Exchange System” which can be easily inserted into your window, much like a window unit air conditioner, only much smaller.  It ushers in fresh outdoor air while keeping heated air in your home without increasing energy costs. One of the natural tools I’m really excited about is not new at all. In fact, it’s ancient. Salt.

Himalayan sea salt crystals that come from oceans millions of years old when they were free of man made contaminants are great for ionizing and purifying the home environment.  Himalayan natural rock salt is actually ancient sea salt containing the same 84 trace elements that make up our bodies.  Some companies are creating Salt Crystal Lamps and Candles because when heated, the salt crystal creates a higher surface temperature than the surrounding air.  This attracts the water molecules in the cooler surrounding air, causing a natural ionization that creates a pure natural energy vibration.

The rose-orange-red colors of the salt crystals also add to the therapeutic effect because their wavelengths are closer to the resonance frequency of heavy cell tissue.  One of my favorite ways to use the salt crystals is in a bath with lavender essential oil. What a treat! You’ll soon be able to order all of these Himalayan sea salt products and more from our website!

What Color is Your Energy?

I recently attended a seminar taught by Deborah Burnett on creating environments that take into effect how our bodies feel in a space as opposed to simply making them stylish spaces.  I learned an immeasurable amount at this seminar including many new things with regard to lighting, sound, our connection to nature & the earth, and especially color! And I was thrilled that she had the latest scientific data to back up so much of what I have long known intuitively.  I was especially interested to hear that scientists at Harvard and MIT have been measuring life force energy—something I talked about in my last newsletter.  Deborah even showed a photograph of a friend’s aura! 

In my last newsletter, I wrote about the colorful electromagnetic energy fields of our bodies called “auras,” but I did not show my aura photos.  Emboldened by Deborah’s presentation, I’ll share two photos that were taken of my aura by a Kirlean camera as an experiment.  The photo on the left was taken with me sitting in my natural state.  The next day, I went back and asked the photographer to give me a couple of minutes before snapping the photo so that I could imagine myself radiating light, a healing technique I had recently learned. 

What do you think?  I think the difference in these photos provides further proof that just because we can’t see something with our ordinary vision doesn’t mean it’s not real!

When I spoke with Deborah after the seminar, she recommended the book, Let the Standing Stones Speak:  Messages from the Archangels Revealed, by Natasha Hoffman.  I’m reading it now.  Here’s an interesting quote that practically jumped off the page:

“Too much reliance is placed upon the limited capacity of logic and reasoning to give any accurate picture of the many faces of reality.  This overemphasis upon detail and “proof” has diminished your own ability to feel joy and ecstasy, by destroying trust in your own sensitivity, instincts, and feelings.”

Although Deborah Burnett is the National Residential Spokesperson for the American Society of Interior Designers and the group in this seminar consisted of mostly designers and architects; I was thrilled that she focused more on the non-physical aspects of creating a space as opposed to the more material.  By the way, if you ever get a chance to hear Deborah, don’t miss her!  She is an incredibly dynamic speaker and teacher and often appears on HGTV’s Decorating with Style, Our Place and Smart Solutions.  She can be booked for speaking engagements by calling Lisa Gupton in her office:  800-265-2992.  Be sure to visit her website (www.deborahburnett.com) and read her newsletters. They contain a wealth of information.

The Healing Powers of Color and Light

As I said previously, much of Deborah Burnett’s seminar was about the energies of color and light.  (Remember, color is light and light is color.)  We not only receive light waves visually, we absorb light, which affects our whole being.  We are heliotropic, reacting to light, and phototropic, responding to light.

 
The amount, duration, quality and timing of light has profound effects.   It affects our circadian rhythms, hormone production, digestion, reproduction and sleep-wake cycles.   For instance, I was interested to learn that blue based lights trigger the body to wake up, so we should consider installing pink or yellow tone lights (the color of sunsets) in or on the way to the bathroom for those middle of the night bathroom trips.

I knew each color in the rainbow light spectrum is connected to various areas of our body and will affect us differently emotionally, physically and mentally, but what I didn’t know is that the actual colors of our internal organs and body parts correlate as well!  This gives even more credence to the power of chromotherapy.

By learning how each color influences us, we can effectively use color to give us an extra boost of energy when we need it.  If you feel tired and lack energy, wear or meditate on a physically energizing color, like red, which is the color of our blood and muscles.  If you need to prepare for a business meeting or need to retain what you are reading, use a mental color, like yellow, which stimulates the intellect and creativity.  Yellow also increases neuromuscular tone, purifies blood and helps digestion.  It has a cleansing effect. 

Green regulates the pituitary gland, fights depression and other psychosomatic conditions affecting the gastric system.  It’s useful in calming the nervous system, fights irritability and insomnia. Blue is also calming, stimulating the parasympathetic system, reducing blood pressure and calms both breathing and heart-rate.  It has an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxing effect and fights both physical and mental tension and is used to assist relaxation.

Since we absorb color, use it in your clothing, bedding and of course, paint your rooms to encourage the activities that they will be used for!  Personally, I prefer pale blue sheets and wear blue PJs because it counteracts insomnia, something I’ve been challenged with at times. For more information on which colors affect various activities and emotions, visit the “Colors and Suggested Uses” pages of our website.

Wishing you a wonderful, colorful new season!           

AUTUMN 2005 LIVING WELL (Uplifting Sources)

SUMMER 2005 LIVING WELL (Tips on Exterior House Painting)

SPRING 2005 LIVING WELL (Happy Land)

WINTER 2005 LIVING WELL (Company News)

SUMMER 2004 LIVING WELL (Color Consultants)

SPRING 2004 LIVING WELL (Consciousness of Water)

WINTER 2004 LIVING WELL (Editing Your Possessions)

AUTUMN 2003 LIVING WELL (Magnetic Colors)

SUMMER 2003 LIVING WELL (Living in the Moment)

SPRING 2003 LIVING WELL (Creating a Cocoon)

WINTER 2003 LIVING WELL (Creating a Synchronistic Lifestyle)

AUTUMN 2002 LIVING WELL (Using Healing Energies)

SUMMER 2002 LIVING WELL (Creating a Sanctuary)

SPRING 2002 LIVING WELL (Working with Color & Light)

WINTER 2001 LIVING WELL (More Color Therapy, What Color are You?)

AUTUMN 2001 LIVING WELL (Color Therapy)

SUMMER 2001 LIVING WELL (Create Healing with Nature's Colors)