How to Cleanse Your Energy Field with a Sage Smudge Stick

How to Cleanse Your Energy Field with a Sage Smudge Stick



Sage is an aromatic plant that has been used for centuries to bless, heal and cleanse people, objects and space. The aromatic smoke of a burning bundle of sage, called a smudge stick, can be used to "wash" outside energies from the energy field that surrounds ones physical body. This can be done before a special event or when entering a sacred space, such as home. Learn here how to work with a smudge stick effectively.







Things You'll Need:





Sage smudge stick, any variety




Large Feather (optional)




Lighter or matches




Bowl or other container to catch ashes and to extinguish sage







Cleansing yourself with sage smoke




1


Take a few deep breaths and focus yourself. Light the end of the stick over a bowl or container, holding the flame until the leaves catch fire. Gently blow out the flames. The stick should be smoking now.





2


Using a feather or your hand, begin to direct the smoke around your body. There is no "right" way to do this, so just follow your inner guidance, or start from the bottom up. Direct the smoke to your feet and then move up towards your heart.





3


Say a prayer, state an intention or call in any spirit guides or helpers, asking them to help "clear" you. Continue directing the smoke around the front, back and sides of your body.





4


Take your time. When you are cleansing your upper body, circle the sage stick around your head. Direct the smoke over the top over your crown.





5


When you feel complete, extinguish the sage stick by gently pushing the end of the stick into a burn-proof container. You can use sand in the container to help snuff the stick out.








Tips & Warnings










Cleansing with sage is a ceremony. Make it special. Be in a quiet space or turn soft music on - do whatever is special to you. This time is for you!








Be sure to use the container to catch smoldering embers, to protect carpet and other surfaces.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2302185_cleanse-energy-field-sage-smudge.html

How to Cleanse With a Raw Food Diet

How to Cleanse With a Raw Food Diet



A raw food diet, unlike other forms of cleansing, can be performed for a single day or for an entire lifetime. Raw foods are full of living enzymes that help your body in digestion, elimination and absorption, ensuring a thorough cleansing of your entire body as well as a supply of all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. A few tips can get you started.









1


Dive right in. Unlike other cleansing diets which require that you take a few days beforehand to eliminate meats, fats, sugars and other foods, a raw food diet can be started today with no problems. A raw food diet may be mentally difficult, as you will miss cooked foods; however, detox is gentle and does not require preparation.





2


Choose fresh, organic produce to aid in cleansing. The fruits and vegetables that you eat are only as good as the soil they are grown in, and pesticides and fertilizers destroy the vitamin and mineral nutrients in the soil. Additionally, waxes and other chemicals defeat the purpose of your raw food diet by introducing harmful chemicals into your body.





3


Make sure that you get plenty of fat and protein in your diet. Healthy fats can be found in avocados, nuts, seeds and vegetables oils. The best raw food sources of protein include nutritional yeast, sprouted beans, grains and seeds and raw nuts and nut butters.





4


Get creative with your raw food recipes, creating a variety of salads, dressings and desserts. There are many great resources online which offer simple recipes and gourmet entrees.





5


Select a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and raw grains to ensure that you get a balance of all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. This is a great time to try items you have never dared to try before, such as jicama or agave.





6


Leave the peel on whenever possible, as the majority of nutrients in fruits and veggies are found near the surface. Most items, such as cucumber, carrot and jicama can simply be scrubbed and eaten.





7


Warm things up if you begin to crave hot foods. You can make raw soups, heating in a double boiler; however, do not heat foods higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit or they will no longer be raw. Additionally, you might try a food dehydrator to make breads, crackers and even pizza to liven up your cleansing diet.








Tips & Warnings










If you choose a cleansing raw food diet for longer than two weeks, take a B vitamin complex as well as B12 in a sublingual form, as B vitamins are most commonly found in meats and animal products.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2273749_do-raw-food-cleansing-diet.html

How to Cleanse to Stop Sugar Cravings

How to Cleanse to Stop Sugar Cravings



Because of the amount of sugar and processed foods in the typical American diet, it's easy to become addicted to the taste of sugar and the feeling it gives you. You can stop your sugar cravings, though, with a full-body cleanse. The longer you avoid sugar, the less intense your cravings are.







Before Your Cleanse




1


Determine why you crave sugar. The best way to do this is through observation. Before you try to eliminate your cravings with a cleanse, carry a notebook with you for at least a week. Whenever a craving strikes, record the time, how you feel, what you're doing and exactly what you crave. If you give in to your craving, record the emotional and physical sensations.





2


Review your notes at the end of the week for more insight into your sugar cravings. Categorize your cravings as motivated primarily by emotions, the physical effect of sugar or primarily hunger.





3


Realize that if you crave sugar to satisfy emotional cravings, you need to replace eating sugary foods with a positive activity. Without this, even a cleanse can't make your sugar cravings go away.





4


Understand that you must replace the physical effect of sugar with another physical boost to your body after your cleanse. Sugar raises serotonin levels-something that exercise can do as well and with a more sustained effect.





5


Plan to choose healthier options or eat small amounts more often if you turn to sugar to satisfy hunger. Eating four to six meals a day after your cleanse can keep your hunger in check so you don't give in to sugar cravings.





6


Rid yourself of all sugary products before you start your cleanse, and let everyone in your household know that you won't be eating sugar during the cleanse. If they must have sugary foods, ask them to keep the foods out of sight.



Cleanse to Stop Your Cravings




1


Choose a whole-body cleanse rather than one that's specific to a certain organ. Sugar cravings are systemic, so you want to treat your entire body to rid yourself of them.





2


Consider whether you should follow a cleanse that includes sugars. The Master Cleanse, for example, is an excellent whole-body cleanse that can stop your sugar cravings. However, on this cleanse, you mix lemon juice, cayenne and maple syrup to drink a few times each day. If you're afraid that you won't be able to control your use of the syrup, you shouldn't choose this cleanse.





3


Go on a juice fast to cleanse your body and give your digestion a break. If you choose a juice fast, stick with vegetable juices rather than fruit juices. Fruit juices contain much more sugar then vegetable juices and may support your sugar cravings rather than stop them.





4


Use a detoxifying diet as the basis of your cleanse. A cleanse doesn't have to be restrictive. Instead, it can be a time for you to develop good eating habits that can carry you through the rest of your life. Cut out meat, dairy and processed foods and fill up on complex carbohydrates and whole foods.





5


Stay on your cleanse for at least 3 days and up to a month, depending upon the method you choose, for the best results.








Tips & Warnings










Although sugary, processed foods probably won't appeal to you as much after your cleanse, stay away from sugars and fruit juices on the days after your cleanse. If your sugar cravings are habit, it can be easy to fall back into them.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2239470_cleanse-stop-sugar-cravings.html

How to Give an Upper Body Massage

How to Give an Upper Body Massage



A trained massage therapist usually gives a massage, but with the right environment, some oil and a comfortable place to stretch out, you can learn to give a basic massage to a friend. Use these steps to guide you through the most common hand techniques and the sequence of movements for an upper body massage. Read on to learn more.







Back Upper Body




1


Ask your friend to lie face down with the back exposed to the waist. Always start a massage by warming the oil in your hands before touching the skin. Place your hands flat against the lower back, one on each side of the spine, and your fingers pointing towards the neck. Slowly and softly, start to spread the oil up the back, without massaging the spine itself. Continue with your hands flat and gently effleurage going up to the neck, out to the shoulders and down the sides. Repeat this sequence three times to warm the muscles up.





2


Place both hands at the lower back, on either side of the spine, and start to make small circles using only your thumbs. Work your way up the back, continuing to avoid the bony prominence of the spine. Using a little more pressure with this technique is a good way to work out tension knots in the back, but shouldn't be painful at any time. Repeat this step several times.





3


Knead the muscles of the neck with gentle pressure. Use both hands that are well oiled, and then alternately squeeze and roll the area. The process is much like kneading bread. Pay attention to the neck area because this is where you may find a lot of tension.





4


Put one hand on top of the other and place them at the top of the neck. Using a figure-eight motion and the weight of your body, circle one shoulder, move across to the other shoulder, return to the center, then back to the first shoulder. Repeat this several times to relieve tension in the back.





5


Position yourself at your friend's head and place a hand on each side of the spine, with your fingers towards the back. Using the weight of your body, make a long full stoke down the back. As you reach the base of spine, begin to move your hands across the top of the buttocks, along the sides and back to the shoulders. Repeat this step three times, decreasing the pressure each time.





6


Start again at the base of the spine and perform effleurage along the full length of the back and up to the neck. Repeat three times, to cool the muscles down, decreasing the pressure each time until it's almost nonexistent.



Front Upper Body




1


Have your friend lie on her back, having the neck and shoulder area exposed. Warm the oil in your hands and start with a hand on either side of the upper chest. Use long, firm movements and stroke down to the center of the chest and out towards the sides.





2


Continue to take the long continuous stroke under the shoulders, back to the neck and pull the muscles gently as you move your hands along.





3


Beginning below the collarbone, use your thumbs to work across the upper chest and move out and away from the center, moving down slowly. Repeat this several times.





4


Lay your hands on the upper chest and point the fingertips down. Move your hands, gently across the upper chest, over the arms, up across the shoulders and then back to the chest. This is the last step of your massage and should be done gently and slowly to relax and cool down the muscles.








Tips & Warnings










Effleurage is a massage stroke used to warm the muscles at the beginning of the massage and cool them down at the end. Open your hands and with gentle pressure, allowing them to mold to the shape of the underlying muscle, move them slowly and continuously over the massage area. The general idea is to push as you effleurage up the body and pull as you come back down with gentle, long strokes.








Don't give a massage to someone with a heart condition, infections of the skin, varicose veins or swollen arthritic joints.








The spine itself should never be massaged.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2092146_give-upper-body-massage.html

How to Give a Scandinavian Massage

How to Give a Scandinavian Massage



Scandinavian massage is a therapeutic treatment that can alleviate stress and provide relaxation to the entire body. With warmed muscles, this type of massage provides varied levels of pressure all over the body.







Things You'll Need:





Herbal oils or lotions




Shower, bathtub or sauna




Flat surface









1


Allow the recipient to heat his or her body beginning with a shower, bath or some time in the sauna.





2


Use oil with herbal scents to penetrate the skin and provide lubrication.
Lavender
and citrus work well, though other scents are pleasurable to many. Always ask the recipient if they are allergic to any of the products or scents you use.





3


Start on the back side of the body. Use long, even strokes, starting at the top of the back and gradually working your way down to the feet. Always position strokes in the direction of the heart. Ask the recipient if the pressure you're using is too light or too strong, and adjust accordingly.





4


Give attention to the upper and lower back, shoulders and neck, arms, buttocks, upper and lower legs, ankles and feet.





5


Ask the person to flip over onto their back. Use the same process on the front side, avoiding certain areas. Focus on the shoulders, the arms, upper and lower legs. Avoid the chest, abdomen and torso.





6


Give a deeper massage to enhance the treatment, or repeat the entire sequence using deeper pressure for a longer-lasting massage. Some Scandinavian massages can last up to two hours.





7


Tell the client when you are finished and allow them to dress.





8


Offer water to the person once the massage is complete. Maintaining hydration is essential once the muscles are loosened through massage.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2072009_give-scandinavian-massage.html

How to Give a Scalp Massage

How to Give a Scalp Massage



With so many nerve endings covering the scalp area, the head and scalp are a great location to practice massage. Massaging this area can also help to relieve tension in the face and neck, making the experience even more beneficial. Give a scalp massage to induce relaxation.









1


Sit or stand at the head of the face-up receiver, who is reclined or lying flat, or stand behind the seated receiver.





2


Make sure hair is not wet. You may prefer to use lotion or oil during the massage. Always ask the recipient if this is okay first, as some may not want to dirty their hair.





3


Begin the massage by slowly, gently running figures through the hair and over the face.





4


Stroke your fingertips along the scalp from the forehead to the back of the head, using a repetitive motion. Repeat this step, this time from the sides of the head to the top.





5


Place your thumbs near the top or back of the head. Massage using your fingertips in small circles as they move across the scalp.





6


Use light chopping motions along the shoulders, from the left to right. Use the same motions along the scalp, from the middle of the head to the front hairline, and then down the sides toward the ears.





7


Use both thumbs to rub in alternate vertical directions along the back of the neck, placing each thumb on one side of the spine. Alter pressure from light to medium.





8


Finish by running fingers through the length of the hair, starting at the nape and working toward the top of the head.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2072008_give-scalp-massage.html

How to Give a Leg Massage

How to Give a Leg Massage



The whole body can benefit from a good leg massage. It can relieve stress, improve circulation and lymph flow and may help alleviate back pain. Use these steps to guide you through the most common sequence of hand movements for a basic leg massage.







Massage the Front Leg




1


Have your friend lie on her back with one leg exposed from the hip down. Kneel beside the ankle, oil your hands and warm them up. Start at the shin, using the index finger and thumb to massage lightly. This area is sensitive and requires very little pressure.





2


Work your way up the leg with effleurage, increasing pressure slightly over larger muscles. As you reach the top of the leg, circle your palms around the hips, bring them back down the side of the leg, and out through the toes. This is one fluid motion in which you are essentially pushing as you go up the leg and pulling as you come down. Repeat this sequence 3 times to warm the muscles and distribute the oil.





3


Begin the kneading movement of petrissage at the thigh. Avoid the kneecap during a basic massage because it's a sensitive area and uncomfortable to some people. Work on the inner thigh, then continue over the top to the outer thigh.





4


Finish your front leg massage with effleurage and repeat it three times. Now you are using effleurage to cool down and relax the muscles. Cover the leg you have just finished and expose the other leg for massage.



Massage the Back Leg




1


Let your friend turn over and lie face down with one leg exposed from the hip down. Kneel beside the ankle and warm some oil in your hands to begin a light massage, using the index and middle finger. Remember the ankle is a sensitive area, so use very little pressure here.





2


Use effleurage starting at the calf and work your way up to the bottom of the buttocks. Increase the pressure as you reach the larger thigh muscle and the buttocks area. Continue up the thigh, circle your palms around the hips and pull down as you go back down the side of the leg and out through the toes.





3


Starting at the calf muscle, avoiding the back of the knee, begin to use petrissage up through the thigh. Use effleurage when transitioning from a sensitive area to a larger muscle so you don't lose the fluidity of the movements. Continue with petrissage as you work your way back down the leg.





4


Repeat effleurage three times to relax and cool down the muscles.





5


Cover the leg that was just massaged and expose the other leg for massage. When you have finished with both legs, cover your friend and allow her to completely relax her body.








Tips & Warnings










Use only enough oil to lubricate the skin and prevent friction. If the skin is dry or hairy, you may require more oil.








Avoid massaging anyone with varicose veins, heart problems or any type of skin infections.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2092145_give-leg-massage.html