Dennys Guest Bloggers: Travels to India: Experience of The Walking Meditation

Dennys Guest Bloggers: Travels to India: Experience of The Walking Meditation: From Denny: Check out this post of a woman's travel back to her ancestors' homeland in India. She and her husband decided to practice the meditation known as Vipassana. The concept is that by focusing upon every action in the moment you end up clearing your mind of clutter and worries.

It also can be quite tiring as you learn to focus that deeply for long periods of time. Trust me; you do get better at it. It's like exercising a muscle; the more you exercise the stronger you get.

This writer, Chaya Parmessur, recounts her new experience with good humor as she travels on her spiritual path.

Louisiana Summer Sigh

Louisiana Summer Sigh: "Writing exercise in the form of a “simile smile” and an original poem about us and summer changing into the next season of life."

By Denny Lyon @ HubPages

From Denny: I've been writing this summer poem in my head for weeks now and am so glad it's finally on paper! :) Found some awesome images from my flickr friends to illustrate it too.

Thanks for visiting me at HubPages too! Have a great weekend!

Photo by OakleyOriginals @ flickr


summer, summer poem, denny lyon, hubpages, poetry, Writing Exercises, simile

Poem titled "First Impressions"

Image by jcolman via Flickr

Poem titled "First Impressions"

By Peggy W @ HubPages (a friend)

From Denny: This is a lovely short six line poem that you will enjoy!

Totally Ridiculous Comedy: Jacks Nightclub

Totally Ridiculous Comedy: Jacks Nightclub

By Denny Lyon @ HubPages

From Denny: "I like nonsense - it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope... and that enables you to laugh at all of life's realities." - Dr. Seuss

Wrote this recently as a raucous fast-paced ridiculous short story. It's really a bit long to post here and when that happens I park those writes over at HubPages. Take a look and you will be amused! Thanks for visiting!

Here's an excerpt from my world of the ridiculous:

"Jack jumped over the electric blue fox - who was hunting down the orange cat - who was preying upon the stupid cockroach that was having an identity crisis - and believed he was a popular dragonfly down at the local Irish pub - because he sang Irish songs everyone loved and wrote some damn good poetry.

The orange cat circled back to chase the identity crisis cockroach - who just knew he was really Irish in a former life - while the blue fox preened and bathed in the fast-paced lights of the nightclub – this fox enthusiastically embraced blue as the new fashion neutral - it was Jack who was looking for the weird alien orange cat that kept eluding him - who was stalking the brave Irish-singing cockroach determined to make it to Broadway.

The powerful-singing cockroach drowned out the elegant Irish pub-singing dragonfly - and soon the people customers complained about the strange odd noises blaring from the rising platform – it was two ants standing on a leaf singing opera - and more ants joined them from the audience singing 49 Bottles of Guinness Beer on the Wall and Get Down Tonight! – and soon the nightclub was jumping and bumping - and the people were dancing and squishing and splatting the friendly ants - who got the place hopping on a Saturday night in the first place."

For the rest of the story just click on the title link!

Organic Coffee That Burns Fat!

Image via Wikipedia

Organic Coffee That Burns Fat!: "Bskinny Coffee aka Skinny Coffee is a Thermogenic Fat Burning Coffee that helps you lose weight while enjoying a great cup of coffee.

The combination of Coffee and Weight Loss could be a huge winner since Coffee is the second most consumed beverage on the planet and weight loss is a 35 Billion Dollar industry. Together this could make Bskinny a household name, not to mention make Boresha an absolute fortune."

By bskinny @ HubPages

From Denny: Here's a short article about coffee from a new writer over at HubPages who is, of course, promoting their coffee company. This weight loss idea is a new one on me, fascinating read! Especially nice that the proceeds from this coffee company she writes about go to help children in Africa caught up in the civil wars and participating as soldiers.

Is There a Link Between Nutritional Deficiencies and Mental Illness?

Neuroimaging sheds light on the seat of suffering Image via Wikipedia

Is There a Link Between Nutritional Deficiencies and Mental Illness?

"To receive a diagnosis for yourself or a loved one, of a form of mental illness, often causes severe shock and can be extremely bewildering. Feelings range from complete denial that it could even be possible, to actual relief that after so long there is finally an explanation and a name for such suffering.

Regardless of where in this spectrum one seems to fit, the journey is never easy. Most patients feel they are at the mercy of their doctor, pleading for both relief and help. The diagnosis can seem so completely overwhelming, leaving one with a feeling of little or no ability to know where to begin, how to proceed, or what to do. “Doctor, what do we do now?” is perhaps one of the first questions asked. Usually the doctor prescribes one or more prescriptions. Transitions to acclimate the body to these substances often produce new forms of suffering and discomfort."

By Daniel Carter @ HubPages

From Denny: Now this impressive article is seriously in-depth with lots of videos and interesting ideas to consider in coordination with your doctor. Fascinating read!

Foods That Fight Stress

Image by xeeliz via Flickr

Foods That Fight Stress: "“You are what you eat”, a saying usually applied to the physical effects of the foods we eat, is also applicable to how food affects our emotional well being. Recent studies have shed light on the connection between what we eat and how we feel, particularly how we deal with stress. While stress management often involves psychological counseling, and pharmaceutical therapy, lifestyle changes involving nutrition and exercise can be very beneficial in developing a long-term strategy to handle stress."

By Ron Montgomery @ HubPages

From Denny: Always an excellent reminder to go for the long haul carbos instead of the cookies. Talks about stress and intake of lots of B vitamins, includes a chart too. Worth the read!

A Guide to Chakra Healing

A Guide to Chakra Healing:

"Chakras, or wheels or discs, are the center of activity within the body, the gateway to the aura, absorbing and transmitting energy back into the environment around us. This continual flow of energy affects one's physical and mental well being and can be absorbed from absolutely everything within our environment.

According to ancient writings on the subject, there are a total of 88,000 different chakras that cover the entire body, with the majority of them being miniscule as well as insignificant. However, there are forty chakras that do have a significant purpose and are located within the hands, fingertips, feet, and shoulder areas.

The most important chakras of all are the seven main ones located along the body's central line, or the top of the head to the base of the spine. All of the chakras are in constant motion, vibrating and rotating in response to energy."

By TheresaAnn @ HubPages

From Denny: More in-depth article about chakras, more details, fascinating! Most articles about chakras either give descriptions of each chakra or discuss how to meditate upon each one. This article takes it a step further and describes the healing benefit from those meditations. Just click on the title link to take you to the rest of the article.

Meditations for the Chakras

Meditations for the Chakras

By KimmySF @ HubPages

From Denny: This article gets straight to the point showing exactly how to do each simple meditation! Short descriptions of how to meditate for the benefit of each chakra level. Easy to understand for the beginner, clearly written, easy to remember too! Just click on the title link to take you to the rest of the article.

Chakras and their meanings

Chakras and their meanings:

"As a Reiki Practitioner using Chakras as a guide to healing is really important. Chakras are best described as wheels or vortex's and they refer to the seven energy centres of which our energy system, our consciousness is composed.

These Chakras function like valves that regulate the flow of energy through our energy system. The functioning of the Chakras reflects the decisions we make regarding how we choose to respond to conditions in our lives. We open and close these valves when we decide what to feel, and what to think which through our own perceptual filter we choose to experience the world around us.

Chakras are not physical, they are probably best described as aspects of consciousness in the same way as aura's are. Chakras are more dense than auras. They interact and communicate with our body through two major vehicles, the endocrine system and the nervous system.

All of our senses, all of our perceptions, all of our possible states of awareness, everything it is possible for us to experience, can be divided into seven categories. Each one can be associated with a particular Chakra!"

By Chopsticks @ HubPages

From Denny: Excellent overview of the chakra system, clearly written, easy to understand, useful information! Just click on the title link to take you to the rest of the article.

Chi Energy Meditation Exercise

Chi Energy Meditation Exercise:

"Ki, chi or chakra energy is the energy of the universe. This energy is everywhere and is like the earths energy it surrounds us its there when we wake up and we are all one because of this energy that binds us all together.

This earth energy can be very powerful and there are chi masters out there that use it for chi healing and other who use chi energy for martial arts (Tai chi). Chi or Ki in our daily lives can provide many benefits for example chi’s ability to help you deal with and defend against sickness."

By expectus @ HubPages

From Denny: I've always found Tai Chi to be practical and easy meditations. I'll be providing more on meditation from many systems and styles. Just click on the title link to take you to the rest of the article.

Consciousness, Thoughts and the Brain

Another friend of mine over at flickr who is awesome! Image by alicepopkorn via Flickr

Consciousness, Thoughts and the Brain: "This is a cyber conversation I had with a friend that was thought provoking and stimulating. I wanted to share it with you, perhaps it will tweek your own thoughtforms."

By Jewels @ HubPages

From Denny: Sometimes you can suddenly happen upon some of the most interesting conversations! Thanks, Jewels, for sharing this one with us. Many people have questions as they study meditation on a deeper level; the idea of what thoughts are comes up often. You will enjoy this read and the comments below it!

Relaxation - It's an Art

From one of my personal friends over at flickr! - Image by Denis Collette...!!! via Flickr

Relaxation - It's an Art: "We hold many layers of stress in our bodies. Be observant next time you go for coffee. Watch people walk around. Can you find the relaxed ones? The rigid walker will do the same while vertical as horizontal. Lay him on a sun lounge and he will have no idea how to relax. Cardboard man is a good name for he who is stiff, stressed and in need of a good 200 hour massage! Massages are good, they will help the process of relaxation markedly."

By Jewels @ HubPages

From Denny: This is a very interesting discussion about what we perceive is real relaxation and how to achieve it. Take a look at what this wonderful writer has to say!

Creative Inspiration for Writers and Artists

Photo by tanakawho @ flickr

Creative Inspiration for Writers and Artists - "Where do you find your energy? Is it from nature, work, friends, prayer, routine, discord, arguments, love, money? Where is your joy? If you feel stuck in a dead-end job or a dead-end relationship, look beyond.

Our lives are lived for tiny moments of recognition. We may recognize the story of our life from a photograph, a movie, a novel, a poem, a song, a symphony, a painting, or a child. Allow this recognition to connect you for a short time to your story on this blue and green rock.

We will not make an impression beyond our small window of existence. We will not change the relentless path of destruction and creation that is our nature. We will not see the far corners of our rock beyond our cubicle and kitchen. Our story will remain."

By Cailin Gallagher @ HubPages

From Denny: This article on finding inspiration for your creativity is a completely different take. This writer encourages you to dig deeper and "pull from within."

Get Inspired: How and Where to Find Inspiration

Get Inspired: How and Where to Find Inspiration: "Inspiration helps us dream to reach our goals. Whether it be getting a new career, creating a piece of music or art, or learning to help others, inspiration helps us with our endeavors. Inspiration encourages us to act."

By Julie A. Johnson @ HubPages

From Denny: My cats like to help out on the research...

Health Tourism Guide

Health Tourism Guide: "For many Americans, saddled with no health insurance and faced with potentially devastating healthcare costs, health tourism is rapidly becoming a viable alternative. Many countries boast top-class medical infrastructures, and healthcare is available at a fraction of the cost of similar treatment in the US."

By Sufidreamer
Photo by sxc.hu

From Denny: This is an eye-opener for my fellow Americans! It's sad how our infrastructure on every level has been ignored for the past decade that now it is broken. These are going to be some very expensive repairs.

Meanwhile, there are people in deep need of affordable health care. It's looks like many Americans have the choice of doing without like we have in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina hit several years ago closing many hospitals that have never reopened. The other choice? Go out of the country for serious and too expensive operations. Neither choice is a good one.

Let's hope Obama can get the ball rolling on health care reform so that within a decade we see real improvement here in America!

Love Is a Wonderful Thing

Love Is a Wonderful Thing: "There is nothing greater then Love. This world exists just because of Love. Love is life. Nothing can exists without love. But still love seems to be the greatest mystery of life."

By Happy World
Photo by HaPe Gera @ flickr

From Denny: What wonderful sentiments here!

Songs Sure To Put A Smile On Your Face

Songs Sure To Put A Smile On Your Face -
Do you ever have those days where you just need a song to pick you up? Sometime there's only one thing that has the ability to put a smile on your face and that thing is music. Here are some songs that are sure to do the trick, no matter what genre of music you're into... I've got some for everyone!

By dana825
Photo by snuzzy @ flickr

From Denny: A light-hearted hubpages article sure to put a smile on your face when you are feeling stressed - most of the article is made of various videos - of many music genres - to view!

Familiarity Breeds Contempt - Or does it?

Familiarity Breeds Contempt - Or does it?: "When I wrote the Self-Improvement hub entitled, 'Change Your Beliefs,' about how your beliefs control your life, I gave an example of how your beliefs can change.

You see, how you live your life is based on your beliefs. You can change your beliefs, and by changing your beliefs you change your life. So, if you want a better life, ypu must develop better beliefs!

One of the problems, though, is recognizing a disempowering belief that needs changing."

By Frederick Pearce
Photo by grittycitygirl @ flickr

From Denny: Here's part two in the ongoing conversation of developing your self-esteem. It's an interesting angle to talk about how something can be so familiar that you don't realize it could be hindering you from achieving your goals.

The Amazing Healing Power of Shea Butter

The Amazing Healing Power of Shea Butter

By BkCreative
Photo by Carnaval King 08 @ flickr

From Denny: I learned some more good things from this writer about the benefits of shea butter! Direct, to the point, very useful information for your everyday life - and it's cost effective for a wide variety of issues too!