consciouslifenews--2020-03-23--Solidarity in a Time of Social Distancing

As we move deeper into the unmapped realms brought forth by this inconceivable viral crisis , it can be helpful to consider lessons from other disaster situations for guidance .
While nothing before precisely matches this moment , we might at least derive some solace from the fact that people have navigated incredibly challenging events , individually and collectively , and further recall that times of crisis can bring forth acts of great courage and compassion when people realize they 're in it together or not at all .
The standard premise about what transpires “ when the grid goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a so-called “ natural disaster ” ) or more figuratively ( as with the current crisis , in which usual norms are rapidly eroded ) —is that people will revert to a Hobbesian “ state of nature ” in the absence of the social contract .
In this view , the default setting of human nature is one of fear , aggression , a war of each against all , and ultimately a life that is ( infamously termed ) “ solitary , poor , nasty , brutish , and short.
” Putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we might at least seek an agreement that at most this represents only half of our potential selves and that the other half ( or more ) is equally crucial to our survival .
This is the cooperative , prosocial , compassionate , collaborative , empathetic , altruistic , open-minded part of us , representing on its own terms a more appealing version of humanity and ( considered to some degree with the other side of the ledger ) a sense of power balanced equally with responsibility .
Which version will manifest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic ?
In the short-term people may act quasi-voluntarily to “ flatten the curve , ” but what ensues if this lingers ?
Official policies generally will tend toward anticipating ( and thus eliciting ) the worst of humankind , focusing on bans , lockdowns , cordons , and consequences .
In the acute moments of the crisis , calls for “ social distancing ” can solidify the sense of individualism , potentially exacerbating a wide stance of self-interest and positing others as a potential threat to one 's safety and wellbeing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ If previous disasters can serve as any sort of a ready guide , case studies indicate that people have a remarkable capacity to work together rather than tearing each other apart .
While the media might replay loops of individuals looting or focus on the ways that a crisis like a coronavirus “ risks bringing out the worst in humanity , ” more in-depth works like the 2011 book Community Resilience in Natural Disasters teach us that values of volunteerism , acts of courage , and other forms of selflessness are often palpable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title A Paradise Built in Hell observes that in a profound crisis , most people will care for themselves and others , including both strangers and friends , and that “ the image of the selfish , panicky , or regressively savage human being in times of disaster has little truth to it ” ( p.2 ) .
A 2018 New York Times article on preparing communities for a disaster quotes a New York commissioner who similarly asserts that “ people are hard-wired to come together as a community after disasters.
” These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a context where shared conditions have gotten very bad , but people are still able to meet directly , work together , and avail themselves of social bonds .
The question for us now is how to maintain our bearings in a time of physical distance , especially as the reins of control inevitably tighten further in an attempt to stem the viral trajectory by imposing greater restraints on movements and interpersonal associations .
Can we have distance and solidarity at once ?
In recent years , people have gotten a lot savvier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can serve as extensions of our personae as well as forming a basis for new sorts of communities .
There 's much to critique about such a move to virtual personhood , but it is an emerging capacity that could be utilized constructively in the present situation by alleviating isolation , sharing information , coordinating efforts , staying productive , and retaining diversions .
We 've built up a capacity to construct robust virtual bonds .
Nevertheless , if the present crisis lingers and the footprint of most peoples ' lives grows more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor substitute for in-person ones to maintain strong community ties .
We can run meetings or hold classes using teleconferencing tools , but these modes will be hard-pressed to replicate the dynamic nature of face-to-face gatherings .
Indeed , studies indicate that durable friendships require direct contact , while online communities can cultivate bonds of empathy only in some instances .
This will be an open question to monitor as this crisis progresses , and in particular , if it deepens and continues over a significant period of time .
Some simple things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have n't already ) include checking-in with our immediate neighbors , forging clear methods of familial communication , and helping with specific problems in your community as they emerge .
These sorts of connections can be activated even with the social distance , respecting others ' boundaries while stoking the fires of solidarity .
As well , there are a host of ways to leverage our digital presence toward actions for the social good : share your expertise and creativity widely , reconnect with friends and family , be available to others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ halcyon mindset about all of this .
The larger lessons of disasters are more often consonant with “ shock doctrine ” techniques of expanding social control , testing capacities to manage behavior en masse , uniting militaristic and corporatist platforms , consolidating centralized powers , retrenching the social safety net , and eroding individual rights in ways that often outlive the acute crisis .
A city can be rebuilt and contagion can dissipate , but the shock can linger indefinitely .
Still , the story of this moment is being written by all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unbounded .
In a time of social upheaval , even small expressions of solidarity can serve as a wedge against complete acquiescence to imposed isolation and its individualistic overtones .
The unexpected flowering of community in the midst of panic can serve to remind us of our other capacities and instincts , the ones that have never really fit with the master narrative but make life worth living in the first place .
In addition to being well and staying strong , the challenge now is to not let social distancing undo @ @

As we move deeper into the unmapped realms brought forth by this inconceivable viral crisis, it can be helpful to consider lessons from other disaster situations for guidance. While nothing before precisely matches this moment, we might at least derive some solace from the fact that people have navigated incredibly challenging events, individually and collectively, and further recall that times of crisis can bring forth acts of great courage and compassion when people realize they're in it together or not at all.
The standard premise about what transpires “when the grid goes down”—either literally (as with a so-called “natural disaster”) or more figuratively (as with the current crisis, in which usual norms are rapidly eroded)—is that people will revert to a Hobbesian “state of nature” in the absence of the social contract. In this view, the default setting of human nature is one of fear, aggression, a war of each against all, and ultimately a life that is (infamously termed) “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
Putting aside a longer critique of Hobbesian thinking, we might at least seek an agreement that at most this represents only half of our potential selves and that the other half (or more) is equally crucial to our survival. This is the cooperative, prosocial, compassionate, collaborative, empathetic, altruistic, open-minded part of us, representing on its own terms a more appealing version of humanity and (considered to some degree with the other side of the ledger) a sense of power balanced equally with responsibility.
Which version will manifest in the uncharted waters of the coronavirus pandemic? In the short-term people may act quasi-voluntarily to “flatten the curve,” but what ensues if this lingers? Official policies generally will tend toward anticipating (and thus eliciting) the worst of humankind, focusing on bans, lockdowns, cordons, and consequences. In the acute moments of the crisis, calls for “social distancing” can solidify the sense of individualism, potentially exacerbating a wide stance of self-interest and positing others as a potential threat to one's safety and wellbeing. How then might we overcome this?
If previous disasters can serve as any sort of a ready guide, case studies indicate that people have a remarkable capacity to work together rather than tearing each other apart. While the media might replay loops of individuals looting or focus on the ways that a crisis like a coronavirus “risks bringing out the worst in humanity,” more in-depth works like the 2011 book Community Resilience in Natural Disasters teach us that values of volunteerism, acts of courage, and other forms of selflessness are often palpable.
Likewise, Rebecca Solnit's 2010 title A Paradise Built in Hell observes that in a profound crisis, most people will care for themselves and others, including both strangers and friends, and that “the image of the selfish, panicky, or regressively savage human being in times of disaster has little truth to it” (p.2). A 2018 New York Times article on preparing communities for a disaster quotes a New York commissioner who similarly asserts that “people are hard-wired to come together as a community after disasters.”
These and other such treatments generally operate in a context where shared conditions have gotten very bad, but people are still able to meet directly, work together, and avail themselves of social bonds. The question for us now is how to maintain our bearings in a time of physical distance, especially as the reins of control inevitably tighten further in an attempt to stem the viral trajectory by imposing greater restraints on movements and interpersonal associations. Can we have distance and solidarity at once?
In recent years, people have gotten a lot savvier about technology and how our virtual selves can serve as extensions of our personae as well as forming a basis for new sorts of communities. There's much to critique about such a move to virtual personhood, but it is an emerging capacity that could be utilized constructively in the present situation by alleviating isolation, sharing information, coordinating efforts, staying productive, and retaining diversions. We've built up a capacity to construct robust virtual bonds.
Nevertheless, if the present crisis lingers and the footprint of most peoples' lives grows more insular, online interactions may be a poor substitute for in-person ones to maintain strong community ties. We can run meetings or hold classes using teleconferencing tools, but these modes will be hard-pressed to replicate the dynamic nature of face-to-face gatherings. Indeed, studies indicate that durable friendships require direct contact, while online communities can cultivate bonds of empathy only in some instances.
This will be an open question to monitor as this crisis progresses, and in particular, if it deepens and continues over a significant period of time. Some simple things we can start doing (if we haven't already) include checking-in with our immediate neighbors, forging clear methods of familial communication, and helping with specific problems in your community as they emerge. These sorts of connections can be activated even with the social distance, respecting others' boundaries while stoking the fires of solidarity. As well, there are a host of ways to leverage our digital presence toward actions for the social good: share your expertise and creativity widely, reconnect with friends and family, be available to others.
But let's not present a deceptively halcyon mindset about all of this. The larger lessons of disasters are more often consonant with “shock doctrine” techniques of expanding social control, testing capacities to manage behavior en masse, uniting militaristic and corporatist platforms, consolidating centralized powers, retrenching the social safety net, and eroding individual rights in ways that often outlive the acute crisis. A city can be rebuilt and contagion can dissipate, but the shock can linger indefinitely. Still, the story of this moment is being written by all of us, and the potential reverberations are unbounded.
In a time of social upheaval, even small expressions of solidarity can serve as a wedge against complete acquiescence to imposed isolation and its individualistic overtones. The unexpected flowering of community in the midst of panic can serve to remind us of our other capacities and instincts, the ones that have never really fit with the master narrative but make life worth living in the first place. In addition to being well and staying strong, the challenge now is to not let social distancing undo this.


consciouslifenews--2020-03-23--Your Horoscope and Astrology Overview for March 23-29, 2020

The above video contains an astrological overview for the week of 23rd March 2020 .
To get this week 's video horoscope for your specific zodiac sign , click on the link corresponding to your sign : The week begins with the Sun forging a stabilising Sextile to Saturn .
This is an excellent combination because the Sun in Aries is about new initiatives , energy and drive , and Saturn in Aquarius about how we 're going to plan in the longer term , in order to make these come to fruition .
Tuesday sees the potent Aries New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the healing vibes of Chiron .
With Saturn still in the mix , we have an opportunity to rebuild , and plan in a more enlightened way , but Chiron may be saying to us , some of the things that we have taken for granted in modern society , are things that can also cause some issues .
So in particular relation to Covid 19 , changes to the environment and global warming , have likely had a factor as much as more traditional foods which are part of the culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is saying to us , is how can we heal this , because the 1st Zodiac sign , Aries , is very much about the body , but also about our identities .
The emotional impact of the way that we move forwards is going to be very important to this , and the Square that this New Moon and Chiron forge to the North Node in Cancer , is very much about our emotional direction of travel , and our own personal space and environment may be inhibited by some new initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thwart the spread of the virus .
With Jupiter Mars and Pluto are all conjunct this week , the potential for this top-down more authoritative instruction and control is obvious .
There could also be rather big activity on stock markets .
Saturn in the sign of Aquarius is very much about the group , so therefore humanity , but some people will obviously resist acting in a more collective way , and this shows itself through the guise of Uranus in the sign of Taurus , and the two clash , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of restrictions .
For more information on how this will pan or your zodiac sign or to watch your zodiac sign Weekly Video forecast or join me at Free Daily , Weekly and Monthly Horoscopes Conscious Life News Astrologer Patrick Arundell has been a professional Astrologer since 1993 .
Patrick has a real passion for astrology and sees it as a tool which can help any person to gain greater personal awareness , to better guide their life moves .
Patrick is a member of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magazines and newspapers , globally .
Enjoy Patrick ’ s forecasts every day on CLN .
Learn more about Patrick http : //www.patrickarundell.com or order one of his Personal Horoscope Reports based on your Time , if known , Date and Place of Birth here https : //www.patrickarundell.com/personal-horoscope-reports/

By Patrick Arundell | PatrickArundell.com
The above video contains an astrological overview for the week of 23rd March 2020.
To get this week's video horoscope for your specific zodiac sign, click on the link corresponding to your sign:
The week begins with the Sun forging a stabilising Sextile to Saturn. This is an excellent combination because the Sun in Aries is about new initiatives, energy and drive, and Saturn in Aquarius about how we're going to plan in the longer term, in order to make these come to fruition.
Tuesday sees the potent Aries New Moon, which also combines this year with the healing vibes of Chiron. With Saturn still in the mix, we have an opportunity to rebuild, and plan in a more enlightened way, but Chiron may be saying to us, some of the things that we have taken for granted in modern society, are things that can also cause some issues.
So in particular relation to Covid 19, changes to the environment and global warming, have likely had a factor as much as more traditional foods which are part of the culture in the Far East. What Chiron is saying to us, is how can we heal this, because the 1st Zodiac sign, Aries, is very much about the body, but also about our identities.
The emotional impact of the way that we move forwards is going to be very important to this, and the Square that this New Moon and Chiron forge to the North Node in Cancer, is very much about our emotional direction of travel, and our own personal space and environment may be inhibited by some new initiatives that will be imposed in order to thwart the spread of the virus. With Jupiter Mars and Pluto are all conjunct this week, the potential for this top-down more authoritative instruction and control is obvious. There could also be rather big activity on stock markets. Saturn in the sign of Aquarius is very much about the group, so therefore humanity, but some people will obviously resist acting in a more collective way, and this shows itself through the guise of Uranus in the sign of Taurus, and the two clash, so there will be some push-back against any kind of restrictions. For more information on how this will pan or your zodiac sign or to watch your zodiac sign Weekly Video forecast or join me at Free Daily, Weekly and Monthly Horoscopes
Conscious Life News Astrologer Patrick Arundell has been a professional Astrologer since 1993. Patrick has a real passion for astrology and sees it as a tool which can help any person to gain greater personal awareness, to better guide their life moves. Patrick is a member of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and his work appears on websites and in magazines and newspapers, globally. Enjoy Patrick’s forecasts every day on CLN. Learn more about Patrick http://www.patrickarundell.com or order one of his Personal Horoscope Reports based on your Time, if known, Date and Place of Birth here https://www.patrickarundell.com/personal-horoscope-reports/


consciouslifenews--2020-03-23--Morning Inspiration: Aim For The Top Everytime (Motivational Video)

A part of becoming the best version of yourself is to push yourself to create the best in everything you @ @ @ @ @ to manifest your true potential .
Work hard and achieve the best .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ , it means I do n't believe in it .
In this I believe very @ @ @ @ @ not give up until I 'm top of the world .
That 's the way @ @ @ @ @ for the top , you do n't aim for the second .
Second place is @ @ @ @ @ last ones .
That 's not my target.
” Tags : `` featured , aiming @ @ @ @ @ , how achieve your true potential , how to achieve the best , How to @ @ @ @ @ to become the best version of yourself

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consciouslifenews--2020-03-24--6 Signs Overwhelm Is Taking Over and How to Reclaim Your Inner Calm

By Liz Smith | Always Well Within When I rewind back several years , I was one of many doing the juggle between raising a young family , running a business , dealing with ill health and all that life throws at you .
Amidst the daily goings on of life , there were moments when I felt that I was surely going to buckle under the pressure of it all .
As a quiet introvert , I never intended to lead a frantic life , yet somewhere between newborn babies and an ambitious brain that just wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in overwhelm .
Related Article : The Simplest Way to Create More Calm in Your Life My story is not unique , in fact , I know it ’ s a sad re-account of countless women and men everywhere , all pushing and striving just to get through the day .
When you examine the truth of it , most of us know the current pace of life is not working , yet the idea of slowing down appears more frightening than our frantic attempts to keep up .
When you live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with anxious laden thoughts , there is literally no room for anything else .
If you long to experience less overwhelm , firstly let ’ s take a look at what overwhelm may look like in your life .
1 ) Poor focus – Do you find it hard to focus on one task at a time or prioritize one task over another ?
2 ) Frequently rushing – Are you rushing through your day ?
Do you watch the clock and constantly worry about not getting everything done ?
Do you hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all or things will not get done ?
3 ) Dread and disconnection – Do you wake up with a sense of dread some mornings or a lack of enthusiasm as you move through your day ?
Related Article : 3 Steps to Inner Peace : Meditation Techniques to Quiet the Mind 4 ) You can ’ t say no – Do you find it hard to say no ?
Do you agree to tasks and activities that you know you don ’ t have time for ?
Are you worried about letting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tantrums – Are you emotional often ?
Are feelings of helplessness , stress , confusion , and frustration familiar to you ?
If someone were to ask “ are you okay ?
” do you feel like you might break down and cry ?
6 ) Indecision and inaction – Do you find it hard to make decisions and procrastinate on taking action ?
If you find yourself reading along and nodding in acknowledgment of these signs of overwhelm , I understand .
This was me a few years ago , trapped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to slow down and a body that was willing to be dragged along for the ride .
The problem is , deep down I knew my state of overwhelm was a choice .
In my heart , I wanted a life of deep , soothing , serene calm .
I craved the bush hills of my youth , the dirt beneath my feet and the stillness in which to revel in it .
It was this inner calm that my heart has been calling me towards , countless times throughout my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to teach my mind and body how to get there .
Related Article : Feeling Overwhelmed ?
Remember You Are a Servant of an Unstoppable Force READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE… Tags : `` featured , anxious thughts , featured , how to claim your inner calm , Inner Peace , overwhelm , signs of overwhelm

By Liz Smith | Always Well Within
When I rewind back several years, I was one of many doing the juggle between raising a young family, running a business, dealing with ill health and all that life throws at you. Amidst the daily goings on of life, there were moments when I felt that I was surely going to buckle under the pressure of it all. As a quiet introvert, I never intended to lead a frantic life, yet somewhere between newborn babies and an ambitious brain that just wouldn’t quit, I found myself knee deep in overwhelm.
Related Article: The Simplest Way to Create More Calm in Your Life
My story is not unique, in fact, I know it’s a sad re-account of countless women and men everywhere, all pushing and striving just to get through the day. When you examine the truth of it, most of us know the current pace of life is not working, yet the idea of slowing down appears more frightening than our frantic attempts to keep up.
Common Signs of Overwhelm
When you live in a constant state of overwhelm, consumed with anxious laden thoughts, there is literally no room for anything else. If you long to experience less overwhelm, firstly let’s take a look at what overwhelm may look like in your life.
1) Poor focus – Do you find it hard to focus on one task at a time or prioritize one task over another?
2) Frequently rushing – Are you rushing through your day? Do you watch the clock and constantly worry about not getting everything done? Do you hold a belief that you must do it all or things will not get done?
3) Dread and disconnection – Do you wake up with a sense of dread some mornings or a lack of enthusiasm as you move through your day?
Related Article: 3 Steps to Inner Peace: Meditation Techniques to Quiet the Mind
4) You can’t say no – Do you find it hard to say no? Do you agree to tasks and activities that you know you don’t have time for? Are you worried about letting others down?
5) Tears and tantrums – Are you emotional often? Are feelings of helplessness, stress, confusion, and frustration familiar to you? If someone were to ask “are you okay?” do you feel like you might break down and cry?
6) Indecision and inaction – Do you find it hard to make decisions and procrastinate on taking action?
If you find yourself reading along and nodding in acknowledgment of these signs of overwhelm, I understand. This was me a few years ago, trapped in a mind that didn’t know how to slow down and a body that was willing to be dragged along for the ride.
The problem is, deep down I knew my state of overwhelm was a choice. In my heart, I wanted a life of deep, soothing, serene calm. I craved the bush hills of my youth, the dirt beneath my feet and the stillness in which to revel in it. It was this inner calm that my heart has been calling me towards, countless times throughout my life. It turns out I just needed to teach my mind and body how to get there.
Related Article: Feeling Overwhelmed? Remember You Are a Servant of an Unstoppable Force
READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE…


consciouslifenews--2020-03-24--Karma Isn’t Punishment or Cosmic Justice: Here’s the Truth You Won’t Hear from the Mainstream

Now as a man is like this or like that , according as he acts and according as he behaves , so will he be ; a man of good acts will become good , a man of bad acts , bad ; he becomes pure by pure deeds , bad by bad deeds ; And here they say that a person consists of desires , and as is his desire , so is his will ; and as is his will , so is his deed ; and whatever deed he does , that he will reap .
Awareness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to removing karma .
If you are not aware of your actions , intentions , and feelings , you will continue to make free choices that are heavily influenced by these same feelings– > intentions– > actions .
People who are unconscious do not evolve .
They are forced to learn things the hard way in life , and the more stubborn they are the more difficult it becomes for them to break free of their karma .
Living an unconscious life , even if you get away with your choices , puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow you to be free .
For example , greed will attract the most fickle and conditional friendships and relationships in your life .
Your ego will be built on a false identity of fleeting possessions which can lead to status anxiety .
You will attract situations in your life where people make unconscious greedy decisions against your best interests .
There is a wide spectrum of less than optimal scenarios that can and likely will occur as a result of living an unconscious life .
“ No matter what happened to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your past , you are the resources and the capabilities you glean from it .
And that is the basis for all change.
” – Jordan Belfort Related Article : The Karma Trap : 3 Life-Changing Distinctions About Your Karma Again , this isn ’ t a universal punishment or a cosmic law of justice .
The universe is indifferent , and the notion of good and bad are constructed in our own minds .
The more selfless you become , the more chaotic you become to humanity .
The more selfish you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with humanity .
This person has a total lack of empathy for the situations they cause and in time they will increase the likelihood of running into situations that reflect their behavior towards them .
This is the aspect of karma where the external environment that you attract becomes your karma .
When you take from someone or harm someone , you are adding chaos and causing more disharmony in your life and in the collective .
When you are empathetic and selflessly contributing to the collective , you are more in harmony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of themselves are in a much better position than the unconscious person .
This person may still continue to make selfish , ego-based decisions , but they are far more likely to be slapped in the face by the guilt .
This guilt may even become further magnified if a psychedelic is taken .
The guilt one experiences should not become your identity , but rather a wake-up call to rise to the occasion toward becoming a more evolved person .
This is the type of karma where you ’ re feeling judged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling you that you are out of sync with your higher self .
A bad trip can be nothing more than a look in the mirror , seeing all the ugly sides of yourself that disgust you to the point where you feel very uncomfortable with yourself .
This is how psychoactive substances force us to break out of negative patterns of behavior ; they show us our shadow side , which ultimately scares the shit out of us .
You become aware of the two fighting wolves inside you , one which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad .
From this point on you know that you are responsible for the wolf that wins , which is the one that you feed .
“ Karma is real , part of it starts with how you ’ re starting to feel .
” Karma is not just about bad deeds but it is also about how you feel about yourself .
Your feelings and emotions have a lot to do with your karma .
Eckhart Tole talks about the “ Pain Body , ” which is another identification with the ego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whenever we don ’ t get what we want , feel misunderstood , or victimized .
There are legitimate times when we feel wronged , but the degree to which we wallow in sorrow and/or anger can create bad karma for ourselves , even if we truly were the victim .
Continuing to identify with these emotions will affect your perspective , adding a negative filter to your world .
You will then take actions based on this perspective , which could lead to more circumstances that caused the initial sadness/anger .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality that don ’ t even exist , all because you are identifying with your pain body all the time .
When working on your karma , everything on the radar is just a tip of the iceberg .
Karma is often a lack of awareness of how your patterns of behavior ( which often come from your emotions ) are holding you back .
This is why psychedelics are popular among some people , as they have a way of showing you the karma that you ’ re not aware of .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they filter your ability to process reality when in an emotionally charged state of mind .
Subconsciously , unresolved emotions navigate our Ego through potentially destructive terrain .
This can leave karmic imprints that create a repeat cycle of more unhappy circumstances .
Emotions that we hold onto can manifest into stress which can cause all sorts of physical symptoms .
It can even change the way the brain is hardwired .
This is what is called in Vedic and Buddhist philosophy as “ Sanskara .
Sanskara is “ mental impression , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this meaning in Hindu philosophies is a foundational element of karma theory .

By Jonathan Twiz | Collective Evolution
Now as a man is like this or like that,
according as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be;
a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad;
he becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds;
And here they say that a person consists of desires,
and as is his desire, so is his will;
and as is his will, so is his deed;
and whatever deed he does, that he will reap.
— Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 7th Century BC
In the West we look at Karma as a cosmic law of justice — cause and effect, what goes around comes around, etc. You may be of the large majority in the West that look at karma as the balancing scale of justice that distinguishes right from wrong. Esoterically we look at karma as something that will affect you lifetime after lifetime, as in, the actions that you make in this life will affect the way you live in the next life. I don’t have any knowledge of what is beyond the here and now; with regard to this present moment, living in the now, you and I are still here, and that is as much certainty as we can get. It is for this reason why I will not talk about karma with regard to its effects on the next life. What I will talk about is the way in which karma affects you in this lifetime.
Related Article: 9 Step Spiritual Healing Process For Dealing With Subconscious Trauma and Karma
There are a lot more subtleties and layers of the human psyche involved in the way karma plays out. Your reality is your perspective, and over time your perspective of yourself is going to change based on your memories of your past actions and intentions. This will project an identity of who you think you are, which will enhance or diminish your sense of self-worth. One thing that is for sure is that who we are at the present moment is not who we will be in the future. As we live life and collect wisdom in our library of experience, we become more conscious of ourselves. Whether we choose to use this ever-growing consciousness to guide our actions is up to us (bearing in mind the consequences if we don’t). The simple awareness of your ego, past actions, and intentions gives you the freedom to carve a new destiny that will release you from your karma.
“No matter what happened to you in your past, you are not your past, you are the resources and the capabilities you glean from it. And that is the basis for all change.” – Jordan Belfort Awareness is the first step when it comes to removing karma. If you are not aware of your actions, intentions, and feelings, you will continue to make free choices that are heavily influenced by these same feelings–>intentions–>actions. People who are unconscious do not evolve. They are forced to learn things the hard way in life, and the more stubborn they are the more difficult it becomes for them to break free of their karma. Living an unconscious life, even if you get away with your choices, puts you in situations that don’t allow you to be free. For example, greed will attract the most fickle and conditional friendships and relationships in your life. Your ego will be built on a false identity of fleeting possessions which can lead to status anxiety. You will attract situations in your life where people make unconscious greedy decisions against your best interests. There is a wide spectrum of less than optimal scenarios that can and likely will occur as a result of living an unconscious life.
Related Article: The Karma Trap: 3 Life-Changing Distinctions About Your Karma


consciouslifenews--2020-03-24--Dreaming the Virus to Heal the World – Paul Levy

Paul Levy 's brilliant insight puts the current pandemic into a larger context , showing us that it has emerged @ @ @ @ @ collective dream urging us to become whole .
http : //www.awakeninthedream .
com Tags : @ @ @ @ @ the dream , awakening to the dreamlike nature of reality , featured , nature of @ @ @ @ @ power of dreams , the power of dreams

Video Source: NewRealities
Paul Levy's brilliant insight puts the current pandemic into a larger context, showing us that it has emerged as a symbol of our collective dream urging us to become whole. http://www.awakeninthedream. com


consciouslifenews--2020-03-24--Stepping Into The Fire

Stepping Into The Fire

The refiner 's fire comes in many forms .
Sometimes you choose the fire and other times the fire chooses you .
The fire could be a yoga class , a journey , a ceremony , an illness , a divorce , a new job , a birth , or a death .
I can almost guarantee that over the course of your life , you have seen and will see this refiner ’ s fire in myriad forms .
In part , the purpose of this fire is to make you seriously uncomfortable .
Sometimes The Fatemaker makes us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay attention .
means the heat necessary for transformation .
Since time out of mind , and through many cultures and spiritual traditions , people have used heat in sacred ceremony as a way of powerfully transforming people ’ s body , mind , and spirit .
Several years ago , I needed change in my life .
I felt stuck with some deeply personal issues .
Everything I was doing to help gain clarity in my life seemed fruitless .
Then , my friend Wendy who has a deep practice in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend a sweat lodge ceremony she was hosting at her house .
She told me that a trusted medicine man she knew would be in town in a week or so and would be officiating the ceremony .
I felt that this invitation to do this ceremony was providence , that the Universe was offering me a powerful answer to my life ’ s circumstances and perhaps I could gain some clarity .
I said yes .
I decided that what I needed was to walk into the fire .
A sweat lodge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the forest to see through the trees and to illuminate the stars and see the mountains around you so you can forge a path forward .
The heat of the ceremony is a ritual , a physical action that transforms body , mind , and spirit .
Previously , I had attended and even conducted dozens of sweat lodge ceremonies .
I almost always conduct a sweat during the yoga retreats that I host a few times a year at my uncle ’ s cabin in the Uinta Mountains in Utah , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less what I was about to experience .
The day for the ceremony came and we made all the preparations .
Once we were situated inside , an officiator began to carry several red-hot stones , one-by-one , from the coals of a fir to carefully arrange them in the shallow pit located in the middle of the lodge .
As the mound of hot stones grew , I could feel their heat pressing into my legs resting crossed-legged on the bare earth a mere 18 inches away .
After the stones were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flap that served as the only door , and the lodge plunged into blackness except for the deep , red glow of the stones .
Immediately , the medicine man began to ladle water onto the hot stones making them hiss angrily like threatening rattlesnakes .
A wave of searing heat quickly smacked me in the face and I reeled feeling as though all the air inside the lodge had been suddenly sucked out .
I sat among strangers , swallowed by heat and darkness , blinking wildly as I gulped down hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inside .
Within only a minute or so , my pores had opened and my entire body shimmered with hot sweat , cascading down my back , dripping into my eyes and off the tip of my nose , hitting the earth with tapping thuds .
The medicine man began to play a drum in a fast staccato .
As if on cue , my core temperature rose and my heart began pounding in my ears , almost matching his drum .
Leonard sang in loud and feral syllables , a language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pure spirit .
After many minutes , he stopped singing and drumming and began imploring the Great Spirit , Father Sun , Mother Earth , the souls of the living and the dead , inviting the spirits of the elements , the stars , and our ancestors to join us in this ceremony of darkness and fire .
Once the medicine man had finished his long prayers , he asked each person in the circle to pray aloud in turn .
One by one , timid voices began offering their desires , hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the patient ears of the red-hot stones .
The medicine man said that all forms of prayer are accepted in this church of mud and stones .
As each person prayed , the temperature rose steadily and I felt as though time itself was melting , each minute stretching into oppressively long hours .
The unbearable heat moved my heart from open to merely patient to annoyed and then to straight-up angry .
I felt as though each person took lifetimes to say what was in their heart , while all I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pray , dammit !
” Then , after nearly four hours of wrestling with this physical and spiritual heat , I had reached my limit .
I was starting to drift into unconsciousness , causing waves of panic to rise within me .
Thoughts of , “ Oh well , I did my best ” soon eroded to , “ F–this , I am leaving !
” and I sprang to flee for my life .
I crawled in a haze , desperate to get out the door .
I was drunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to lay my bare skin on the cool grass , to get out of that heat .
I reached the door , popped open the flap , and as my body was about half way out , Leonard placed his big , calloused hand on my back in a supportive gesture and in my weakened state , the simple weight of his hand caused my arms to buckle and I collapsed onto my belly , face-down in the mud .
I was half in and half out of the lodge .
Panting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark outside though I could not guess at the hour .
I gulped in the cool , night air .
“ Brother , ” Leonard said as he began to bless me… and for several minutes I lay face-down in the mud as Leonard spoke to the spirits in and around me .
He blessed me with strengths and wisdom .
He blessed me with a special gift to see into the future and into the past .
He blessed me with the ability to see into different realms , the cosmic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to stand at the crossroads and translate to as well as direct others .
He blessed me to heal my heart .
He blessed my relationships , each a sacred ceremony in and of themselves .
He blessed me to listen .
He blessed me to speak .
After 10 or 15 minutes of prayers , I began to feel renewed in body and spirit .
A surge of courage washed over me .
My strength returned .
I pushed back up to hands and knees and felt surprised as I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite it all , I was crawling back into the heat .
As I took my seat again in the circle , the officiators shut the door , closing off the cool , night air but not before bringing in an enormous , beautiful bowl of cold , fresh raspberries .
Now something you ought to know about me is that up to this point in my life , I wasn ’ t all that partial raspberries .
Tart pebbles in my mouth .
But that night , after all that I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alert , elated , and this experience had blessed me with an unparalleled presence .
Despite the fact that I didn ’ t care for raspberries , I ’ m here to tell you that when that bowl was passed to me , I took three cold , fresh raspberries and placed them into my tongue , and at that moment I saw the face of god !
Never has anything tasted so beautiful , so sweet , so refreshing .
I went on to finish the ceremony and after another 90 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reborn .
After , as my body lay steaming on the grass , looking up into the night sky , I was given the most beautiful clarity , clarity that has shaped who I am today .
Sometimes you choose the fire .
Sometimes the fire chooses you .
Either way , you will experience the heat of refinement throughout your life and as you do , it will clarify the path that you need to take .
Now I can see the moon Scott Moore is a senior teacher of yoga and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Salt Lake City , LA ) and abroad and the author of Practical Yoga Nidra : The 10-Step Method to Reduce Stress , Improve Sleep , and Restore Your Spirit .
When he 's not teaching or conducting retreats , or traveling to teach , he also writes for Conscious Life News , Elephant Journal , Mantra Magazine , Medium , and his own .
Scott also loves to run , play the saxophone , and travel with his wife and son .
Check out his yoga retreats and trainings in places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong online Yoga Nidra Course Scott just moved back to Salt Lake City after living in Southern France with his family .

The Refiner's Fire
The refiner's fire comes in many forms. Sometimes you choose the fire and other times the fire chooses you. The fire could be a yoga class, a journey, a ceremony, an illness, a divorce, a new job, a birth, or a death. I can almost guarantee that over the course of your life, you have seen and will see this refiner’s fire in myriad forms. In part, the purpose of this fire is to make you seriously uncomfortable. Sometimes The Fatemaker makes us walk on hot coals to get us to pay attention.
In yoga philosophy the Sanskrit word tapas means the heat necessary for transformation. Since time out of mind, and through many cultures and spiritual traditions, people have used heat in sacred ceremony as a way of powerfully transforming people’s body, mind, and spirit.
Need for Change
Several years ago, I needed change in my life. I felt stuck with some deeply personal issues. Everything I was doing to help gain clarity in my life seemed fruitless. Then, my friend Wendy who has a deep practice in Native American spirituality, invited me to attend a sweat lodge ceremony she was hosting at her house. She told me that a trusted medicine man she knew would be in town in a week or so and would be officiating the ceremony. I felt that this invitation to do this ceremony was providence, that the Universe was offering me a powerful answer to my life’s circumstances and perhaps I could gain some clarity. I said yes. I decided that what I needed was to walk into the fire.
A sweat lodge ceremony is sort of like burning down the forest to see through the trees and to illuminate the stars and see the mountains around you so you can forge a path forward.
The heat of the ceremony is a ritual, a physical action that transforms body, mind, and spirit. Previously, I had attended and even conducted dozens of sweat lodge ceremonies. I almost always conduct a sweat during the yoga retreats that I host a few times a year at my uncle’s cabin in the Uinta Mountains in Utah, so I assumed that I knew more or less what I was about to experience.
I was wrong.
The Ceremony of Fire
The day for the ceremony came and we made all the preparations. Once we were situated inside, an officiator began to carry several red-hot stones, one-by-one, from the coals of a fir to carefully arrange them in the shallow pit located in the middle of the lodge. As the mound of hot stones grew, I could feel their heat pressing into my legs resting crossed-legged on the bare earth a mere 18 inches away.
After the stones were in place, the officiator closed the flap that served as the only door, and the lodge plunged into blackness except for the deep, red glow of the stones. Immediately, the medicine man began to ladle water onto the hot stones making them hiss angrily like threatening rattlesnakes. A wave of searing heat quickly smacked me in the face and I reeled feeling as though all the air inside the lodge had been suddenly sucked out.
I sat among strangers, swallowed by heat and darkness, blinking wildly as I gulped down hot air which began to boil me from the inside. Within only a minute or so, my pores had opened and my entire body shimmered with hot sweat, cascading down my back, dripping into my eyes and off the tip of my nose, hitting the earth with tapping thuds.
The medicine man began to play a drum in a fast staccato. As if on cue, my core temperature rose and my heart began pounding in my ears, almost matching his drum. Leonard sang in loud and feral syllables, a language I did not understand, one of pure spirit.
After many minutes, he stopped singing and drumming and began imploring the Great Spirit, Father Sun, Mother Earth, the souls of the living and the dead, inviting the spirits of the elements, the stars, and our ancestors to join us in this ceremony of darkness and fire. Once the medicine man had finished his long prayers, he asked each person in the circle to pray aloud in turn. One by one, timid voices began offering their desires, hopes, and sufferings to the darkness and to the patient ears of the red-hot stones. The medicine man said that all forms of prayer are accepted in this church of mud and stones. As each person prayed, the temperature rose steadily and I felt as though time itself was melting, each minute stretching into oppressively long hours. The unbearable heat moved my heart from open to merely patient to annoyed and then to straight-up angry. I felt as though each person took lifetimes to say what was in their heart, while all I could think was, “Hurry up and pray, dammit!”
New Limits
Then, after nearly four hours of wrestling with this physical and spiritual heat, I had reached my limit. I was starting to drift into unconsciousness, causing waves of panic to rise within me. Thoughts of, “Oh well, I did my best” soon eroded to, “F–this, I am leaving!” and I sprang to flee for my life. I crawled in a haze, desperate to get out the door. I was drunk with a lust to breathe fresh air, to lay my bare skin on the cool grass, to get out of that heat. I reached the door, popped open the flap, and as my body was about half way out, Leonard placed his big, calloused hand on my back in a supportive gesture and in my weakened state, the simple weight of his hand caused my arms to buckle and I collapsed onto my belly, face-down in the mud. I was half in and half out of the lodge. Panting. Head spinning. It was now dark outside though I could not guess at the hour. I gulped in the cool, night air.
“Brother,” Leonard said as he began to bless me… and for several minutes I lay face-down in the mud as Leonard spoke to the spirits in and around me. He blessed me with strengths and wisdom. He blessed me with a special gift to see into the future and into the past. He blessed me with the ability to see into different realms, the cosmic and the earthly, the masculine and feminine, to stand at the crossroads and translate to as well as direct others. He blessed me to heal my heart. He blessed my relationships, each a sacred ceremony in and of themselves. He blessed me to listen. He blessed me to speak.
After 10 or 15 minutes of prayers, I began to feel renewed in body and spirit. A surge of courage washed over me. My strength returned. I pushed back up to hands and knees and felt surprised as I felt myself crawling back inside the lodge. Despite it all, I was crawling back into the heat.
Finding Courage
As I took my seat again in the circle, the officiators shut the door, closing off the cool, night air but not before bringing in an enormous, beautiful bowl of cold, fresh raspberries. Now something you ought to know about me is that up to this point in my life, I wasn’t all that partial raspberries. Tart pebbles in my mouth. But that night, after all that I had been through, I was sharp, alert, elated, and this experience had blessed me with an unparalleled presence. Despite the fact that I didn’t care for raspberries, I’m here to tell you that when that bowl was passed to me, I took three cold, fresh raspberries and placed them into my tongue, and at that moment I saw the face of god! Never has anything tasted so beautiful, so sweet, so refreshing.
Fire Brings Clarity
I went on to finish the ceremony and after another 90 minutes, I left that sweat lodge feeling reborn. After, as my body lay steaming on the grass, looking up into the night sky, I was given the most beautiful clarity, clarity that has shaped who I am today.
Sometimes you choose the fire. Sometimes the fire chooses you. Either way, you will experience the heat of refinement throughout your life and as you do, it will clarify the path that you need to take.
Barn's burnt down.
Now I can see the moon
Mizuta Masahide
Read the full story
Scott Moore is a senior teacher of yoga and mindfulness in the US (New York, Salt Lake City, LA) and abroad and the author of Practical Yoga Nidra: The 10-Step Method to Reduce Stress, Improve Sleep, and Restore Your Spirit. When he's not teaching or conducting retreats, or traveling to teach, he also writes for Conscious Life News, Elephant Journal, Mantra Magazine, Medium, and his own blog at scottmooreyoga.com. Scott also loves to run, play the saxophone, and travel with his wife and son. Check out his yoga retreats and trainings in places like Tuscany, France, and Hong Kong , his online Yoga Nidra Course and his Yoga Teacher Mentor Program. Scott just moved back to Salt Lake City after living in Southern France with his family.


consciouslifenews--2020-03-24--Which Soap Is Best for Preventing Outbreaks?

Soap very effectively destroys most viruses , including COVID-19 .
Soap dissolves the fatty membrane that holds the virus together .
As the virus falls apart , it is rendered harmless and can easily be washed off under running water It ’ s important to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds , using soap and water .
Only when soap and water are unavailable is alcohol-based hand sanitizer recommended , as soap eliminates viruses more effectively Frequently washing your hands during the influenza season and other pandemic outbreaks is a crucial safety measure .
Habituated face-touching is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infectious diseases , and most people touch their face an average of 23 times per hour Increasing the hand-washing rate at just 10 key airports with the highest infection spread rate could reduce the risk of a pandemic by as much as 37 % Research suggests that were people to more frequently wash their hands during travel , the risk of pandemic infection could be reduced by 24 % to 69 % With the novel coronavirus COVID-19 spreading across the world at a rapid clip , health authorities are stressing the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus and your own risk of illness .
As noted in December 2019 study1 in the Risk Analysis journal , which investigated the spread patterns of flu-type viruses , intercontinental flights allow infectious pathogens to spread like wildfire .
Aside from the speed of which an infected person can travel from one country to the next , the risk of spreading pandemic disease is exacerbated when traveling by air for the simple reason that airplanes crowd large groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with scarce opportunities for proper hygiene .
Were people to more frequently wash their hands during travel , the risk of pandemic infection could be significantly reduced — by as much as 69 % according to this study — which is nothing to sneeze at .
As explained by the authors:2 The most germ-ridden surfaces frequently touched by passengers at airports and inside aircraft include self-service check-in screens , gate bench armrests , railings , water fountain buttons , door handles , seats , tray tables , and bathroom handles .
The 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate , according to this study , are : If you think your hands are clean simply because they look and feel clean , it 's time to rethink .
Viruses and bacteria are microscopic , and there 's absolutely no way to ascertain whether your hands are germ-free .
The assumption needs to be that they 're not .
Frequently washing your hands during influenza season and other pandemic outbreaks is a crucial safety measure , in part because most people touch their face an average of 23 times per hour.3 As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Control,4 habituated face-touching behavior is a vector for self-inoculation and transmission of infectious diseases .
In other words , each time you touch your face , you run the risk of introducing disease-causing pathogens into your body as they transfer from your hands to your face .
According to this study:5 The take-home message here is that mouth , nose and eye touching is a common , and largely unconscious , behavior by which infectious diseases are spread .
The remedy for this behavior is to make sure you wash your hands on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain activities , such as : • Anytime you visit a health care facility — Before entering a patient 's room and before leaving the premises , be sure to wash your hands .
An estimated 1 in 4 patients also leave the hospital with a superbug on their hands , suggesting patients also need to become more mindful about hand-washing when in a health care setting • After you 've used the restroom , and after each diaper change • Before and after caring for someone who is ill , and/or treating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , the opportunities for picking up germs on your hands are incalculable .
Door knobs , door , and cart handles , counters , railings , airport security bins — every conceivable surface has the potential for contamination .
Get Into the Habit of Cleaning Your Cellphone Too Cellphones , by the way , are another significant vector of infectious disease .
Even if you wash your hands frequently , as soon as you touch your cellphone you 've contaminated your hands again and can deposit those germs on everything you touch.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly cleaning your cellphone would be in your best interest too .
For instructions on how to safely sanitize your cellphone , see the video above .
PC Magazine suggests using alcohol-containing lens wipes , typically used for cleaning camera lenses .
Also , remember to wipe down the case of your phone , and pay attention to the back if you use a fingerprint reader to unlock your phone .
Now , even people who wash their hands on a regular basis may not do it correctly , thus missing an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To make sure you 're actually removing the germs when you wash your hands , follow these guidelines : • Work up a good lather , all the way up to your wrists , for at least 20 seconds • Make sure you cover all surfaces , including the backs of your hands , wrists , between your fingers and around and below your fingernails • Dry your hands with a clean towel or let them air dry • In public places , use a paper towel to open the door as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may harbor Why Soap Is Most Effective Against Viruses You also want to make sure you 're using the most effective products .
Contrary to popular belief , antibacterial soap is NOT ideal for killing disease-causing viruses on your hands .
Like antibiotics , antibacterial soap only affects bacteria , not viruses .
Even for bacteria , research has demonstrated that antibacterial soap provides no additional benefit over nonantibacterial soap .
As noted in a 2007 systematic review8 published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases : When it comes to viruses , regular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a series of Twitter posts9 by professor Palli Thordarson,10 who specializes in bio-mimetic , supramolecular and biophysical chemistry and nanomedicine , soap very effectively kills the COVID-19 virus , “ and indeed most viruses.
” The reason for this is because the virus is “ a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid ( fatty ) bilayer.
” Soap dissolves this fat membrane , causing the virus to fall apart , thus rendering it harmless .
Not even alcohol is as effective for inactivating viruses , although it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than your hands and body .
A soap molecule is suited for mixing oil and water as it shares qualities of each .
Soap molecules are amphipathic,11 meaning they have both polar and nonpolar properties , giving them the ability to dissolve most kinds of molecules .
As noted by Thordarson , the amphiphiles ( fat-like substances ) in soap are “ structurally very similar to the lipids in the virus membrane , ” so “ soap molecules ‘ compete ' with the lipids in the virus membrane.
” In short , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holds the virus together .
The alkalinity of soap also creates an electric charge that makes the soap hydrophilic ( water-loving ) .12 Hydrogen atoms in water molecules have a slightly positive charge , so when you wet your hands and then use soap , this molecule will readily bond with the nearest water molecule .
Hence , when you wash your hands under running water , the now deconstructed virus is easily washed away .
The New York Times explains the process this way:13 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water .
Only when soap and water are unavailable are alcohol-based hand sanitizers recommended .
As noted on the CDC website:14 As noted by Thordarson , the drawback of ethanol and other alcohols is that they can not dissolve the lipid membrane holding the virus together .
This is precisely why soap and water work best .
That said , a 2017 review15 in the Journal of Hospital Infection found 80 % ethanol solutions were “ highly effective ” against 21 different viruses within 30 seconds , although some viruses ( poliovirus type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A virus , and foot-and-mouth disease virus ) were hardier and required a 95 % solution .
According to the authors , “ The spectrum of virucidal activity of ethanol at 95 % … covers the majority of clinically relevant viruses.
” A hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60 % is also thought to eliminate the COVID-19 virus.16 Just keep in mind that frequent use of alcohol-based products is rough on your skin and can dry it out .
This could actually make things worse , as cracked skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it provides germs a perfect entryway into your body .
Another common misconception is that liquid soap is more hygienic than bar soap since many different hands might touch a single bar of soap .
The fear that bar soap may harbor germs is unfounded , however .
While occasional studies have documented environmental bacteria on bar soap , no study has demonstrated bar soap to be a source of infection.17 The first rigorous study to look into this question was published in 1965.18 Researchers intentionally contaminated their hands with nearly 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as staphylococcus and E. coli .
They then washed their hands with bar soap , after which a second person washed with the same bar of soap .
The second person 's hands were cultured and researchers found the bacteria were not transferred .
The researchers concluded:19 • Bar soaps do not support the growth of bacteria under usage conditions • Bar soaps are inherently antibacterial by their physical-chemical nature • The level of bacteria that may occur on bar soap , even under extreme usage conditions ( heavy usage or poorly designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitute a health hazard Nearly 20 years later , another study20 ( sponsored by a soap manufacturer ) confirmed these findings .
Here , they inoculated bars of soap with pathogenic bacteria ; 16 participants washed their hands with those bars .
After washing , none of the participants ' hands had detectable levels of bacteria .
According to the researchers,21 “ little hazard exists in routine hand-washing with previously used soap bars and support the frequent use of soap and water for hand-washing to prevent the spread of disease.
” Towel Dry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Many believe using an air dryer is preferable to using a towel when in a public restroom .
Surprising as it may seem , air dryers may actually spread far more germs than paper towels .
In the 2017 paper “ Cleanliness in Context : Reconciling Hygiene With a Modern Microbial Perspective , “ 22,23 microbial ecologists at the University of Oregon examine different methods of hand drying , noting that “ most research has shown that warm air dryers may increase the number of bacteria on the hands after use.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ load is thought to be due to : • Bacteria inside the dryer mechanism being blown out during use • Bacteria found in the deeper layers of skin being liberated when rubbing your hands together beneath the hot air stream • Some combination of the above Other research24 found high-speed jet dryers spray 1,300 times more viral material into the surrounding area than paper towels , dispersing the viral load up to 10 feet from the dryer.25,26 A 2012 meta-analysis in Mayo Clinic Proceedings , which looked at a dozen studies , came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take-home message here is that when using a public restroom , you may be better off forgoing the air dryers and using a paper towel instead .
Be sure to dispose of it properly , in the trash bin , and use a clean paper towel to open the door when exiting .
The drawback of paper towels is the environmental impact .
In the video below , Joe Smith of Oregon outlines how you can reduce the number of paper towels you use , while still getting your hands dry .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands to eliminate as much water as possible .
Next , fold the paper towel to increase absorbency .
Cloth towels are the least hygienic alternative during influenza season or pandemics , as they have the highest risk of cross-contamination .
According to a 2014 University of Arizona study,28 towels may be the most germ-ridden item in your home .
Tests revealed a staggering 89 % of kitchen towels and nearly 26 % of bathroom towels were contaminated with Coliform bacteria — microbes associated with food poisoning and diarrhea .
The primary reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain , which serves as a perfect breeding ground for germs .
Moist towels and rags are also hospitable places for viruses .
As noted in a 2012 study29 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology , cloth rags can easily spread viruses from one surface to another .
So , when sanitizing your home ( which is advisable when someone in the household is ill ) , it 's best to use a paper towel .
Once the immediate risk of infection has passed , you can go back to using reusable rags for @ @ @

By Dr. Joseph Mercola | mercola.com
Soap very effectively destroys most viruses, including COVID-19. Soap dissolves the fatty membrane that holds the virus together. As the virus falls apart, it is rendered harmless and can easily be washed off under running water
It’s important to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water. Only when soap and water are unavailable is alcohol-based hand sanitizer recommended, as soap eliminates viruses more effectively
Frequently washing your hands during the influenza season and other pandemic outbreaks is a crucial safety measure. Habituated face-touching is a vector for self-inoculation and transmission of infectious diseases, and most people touch their face an average of 23 times per hour
Increasing the hand-washing rate at just 10 key airports with the highest infection spread rate could reduce the risk of a pandemic by as much as 37%
Research suggests that were people to more frequently wash their hands during travel, the risk of pandemic infection could be reduced by 24% to 69%
With the novel coronavirus COVID-19 spreading across the world at a rapid clip, health authorities are stressing the importance of frequent hand-washing. Indeed, strategic hand-washing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce the spread of the virus and your own risk of illness.
Airport Hand Hygiene Can Significantly Reduce Pandemic Risks
As noted in December 2019 study1 in the Risk Analysis journal, which investigated the spread patterns of flu-type viruses, intercontinental flights allow infectious pathogens to spread like wildfire.
Aside from the speed of which an infected person can travel from one country to the next, the risk of spreading pandemic disease is exacerbated when traveling by air for the simple reason that airplanes crowd large groups of people together in a confined space with scarce opportunities for proper hygiene.
Were people to more frequently wash their hands during travel, the risk of pandemic infection could be significantly reduced — by as much as 69% according to this study — which is nothing to sneeze at. As explained by the authors:2
“Here, we use epidemiological modeling and data-driven simulations to elucidate the role of individual engagement with hand hygiene inside airports in conjunction with human travel on the global spread of epidemics.
We find that, by increasing travelers' engagement with hand hygiene at all airports, a potential pandemic can be inhibited by 24% to 69%.
In addition, we identify 10 airports at the core of a cost-optimal deployment of the hand-washing mitigation strategy. Increasing hand-washing rate at only those 10 influential locations, the risk of a pandemic could potentially drop by up to 37%.
Our results provide evidence for the effectiveness of hand hygiene in airports on the global spread of infections that could shape the way public-health policy is implemented with respect to the overall objective of mitigating potential population health crises.”
The most germ-ridden surfaces frequently touched by passengers at airports and inside aircraft include self-service check-in screens, gate bench armrests, railings, water fountain buttons, door handles, seats, tray tables, and bathroom handles. The 10 key airports with the greatest infection spread rate, according to this study, are:
LHR — London Heathrow LAX — Los Angeles International JFK — John F. Kennedy International CDG — Paris-Charles de Gaulle DXB — Dubai International FRA — Frankfurt International HKG — Hong Kong International PEK — Beijing Capital International SFO — San Francisco International AMS — Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Face-Touching Is a Vector for Disease Transmission
If you think your hands are clean simply because they look and feel clean, it's time to rethink. Viruses and bacteria are microscopic, and there's absolutely no way to ascertain whether your hands are germ-free. The assumption needs to be that they're not.
Frequently washing your hands during influenza season and other pandemic outbreaks is a crucial safety measure, in part because most people touch their face an average of 23 times per hour.3
As noted in the American Journal of Infection Control,4 habituated face-touching behavior is a vector for self-inoculation and transmission of infectious diseases. In other words, each time you touch your face, you run the risk of introducing disease-causing pathogens into your body as they transfer from your hands to your face. According to this study:5
“On average, each of the 26 observed students touched their face 23 times per hour. Of all face touches, 44% involved contact with a mucous membrane, whereas 56% of contacts involved nonmucosal areas. Of mucous membrane touches observed, 36% involved the mouth, 31% involved the nose, 27% involved the eyes, and 6% were a combination of these regions.”
The take-home message here is that mouth, nose and eye touching is a common, and largely unconscious, behavior by which infectious diseases are spread. The remedy for this behavior is to make sure you wash your hands on a regular basis, and especially after certain activities, such as:
Anytime you visit a health care facility — Before entering a patient's room and before leaving the premises, be sure to wash your hands. An estimated 1 in 4 patients also leave the hospital with a superbug on their hands, suggesting patients also need to become more mindful about hand-washing when in a health care setting 6
Directly before you eat
After you've used the restroom, and after each diaper change
Before and after caring for someone who is ill, and/or treating a cut or wound
When out in public, the opportunities for picking up germs on your hands are incalculable. Door knobs, door, and cart handles, counters, railings, airport security bins — every conceivable surface has the potential for contamination.
Get Into the Habit of Cleaning Your Cellphone Too
Cellphones, by the way, are another significant vector of infectious disease. Even if you wash your hands frequently, as soon as you touch your cellphone you've contaminated your hands again and can deposit those germs on everything you touch.7
So, getting into the habit of regularly cleaning your cellphone would be in your best interest too. For instructions on how to safely sanitize your cellphone, see the video above.
PC Magazine suggests using alcohol-containing lens wipes, typically used for cleaning camera lenses. Also, remember to wipe down the case of your phone, and pay attention to the back if you use a fingerprint reader to unlock your phone.
Proper Hand-Washing Technique
Now, even people who wash their hands on a regular basis may not do it correctly, thus missing an important opportunity to quell the spread of germs. To make sure you're actually removing the germs when you wash your hands, follow these guidelines:
Use warm water Use a mild soap Work up a good lather, all the way up to your wrists, for at least 20 seconds Make sure you cover all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and around and below your fingernails Rinse thoroughly under running water Dry your hands with a clean towel or let them air dry In public places, use a paper towel to open the door as a protection from germs that the handles may harbor
Why Soap Is Most Effective Against Viruses
You also want to make sure you're using the most effective products. Contrary to popular belief, antibacterial soap is NOT ideal for killing disease-causing viruses on your hands. Like antibiotics, antibacterial soap only affects bacteria, not viruses.
Even for bacteria, research has demonstrated that antibacterial soap provides no additional benefit over nonantibacterial soap. As noted in a 2007 systematic review8 published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases:
“The lack of an additional health benefit associated with the use of triclosan-containing consumer soaps over regular soap, coupled with laboratory data demonstrating a potential risk of selecting for drug resistance, warrants further evaluation by governmental regulators regarding antibacterial product claims and advertising.”
When it comes to viruses, regular soap works the best. As detailed in a series of Twitter posts9 by professor Palli Thordarson,10 who specializes in bio-mimetic, supramolecular and biophysical chemistry and nanomedicine, soap very effectively kills the COVID-19 virus, “and indeed most viruses.”
The reason for this is because the virus is “a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer.” Soap dissolves this fat membrane, causing the virus to fall apart, thus rendering it harmless. Not even alcohol is as effective for inactivating viruses, although it may be more practical for using surfaces other than your hands and body.
Soap Mechanics 101
A soap molecule is suited for mixing oil and water as it shares qualities of each. Soap molecules are amphipathic,11 meaning they have both polar and nonpolar properties, giving them the ability to dissolve most kinds of molecules.
As noted by Thordarson, the amphiphiles (fat-like substances) in soap are “structurally very similar to the lipids in the virus membrane,” so “soap molecules ‘compete' with the lipids in the virus membrane.” In short, the soap dissolves the “glue” that holds the virus together.
The alkalinity of soap also creates an electric charge that makes the soap hydrophilic (water-loving).12 Hydrogen atoms in water molecules have a slightly positive charge, so when you wet your hands and then use soap, this molecule will readily bond with the nearest water molecule. Hence, when you wash your hands under running water, the now deconstructed virus is easily washed away. The New York Times explains the process this way:13
“When you wash your hands with soap and water, you surround any microorganisms on your skin with soap molecules.
The hydrophobic tails of the free-floating soap molecules attempt to evade water; in the process, they wedge themselves into the lipid envelopes of certain microbes and viruses, prying them apart.
‘They act like crowbars and destabilize the whole system,' said Prof. Pall Thordarson, acting head of chemistry at the University of New South Wales. Essential proteins spill from the ruptured membranes into the surrounding water, killing the bacteria and rendering the viruses useless.”
Using Alcohol-Based Disinfectants
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands with soap and water. Only when soap and water are unavailable are alcohol-based hand sanitizers recommended. As noted on the CDC website:14
“Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Hand sanitizers without 60-95% alcohol 1) may not work equally well for many types of germs; and 2) merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them outright.
When using hand sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount) and rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands until your hands are dry.”
As noted by Thordarson, the drawback of ethanol and other alcohols is that they cannot dissolve the lipid membrane holding the virus together. This is precisely why soap and water work best.
That said, a 2017 review15 in the Journal of Hospital Infection found 80% ethanol solutions were “highly effective” against 21 different viruses within 30 seconds, although some viruses (poliovirus type 1, calicivirus, polyomavirus, hepatitis A virus, and foot-and-mouth disease virus) were hardier and required a 95% solution.
According to the authors, “The spectrum of virucidal activity of ethanol at 95% … covers the majority of clinically relevant viruses.” A hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60% is also thought to eliminate the COVID-19 virus.16
Just keep in mind that frequent use of alcohol-based products is rough on your skin and can dry it out. This could actually make things worse, as cracked skin renders you more susceptible to infection, as it provides germs a perfect entryway into your body.
Does Bar Soap Harbor Germs?
Another common misconception is that liquid soap is more hygienic than bar soap since many different hands might touch a single bar of soap. The fear that bar soap may harbor germs is unfounded, however. While occasional studies have documented environmental bacteria on bar soap, no study has demonstrated bar soap to be a source of infection.17
The first rigorous study to look into this question was published in 1965.18 Researchers intentionally contaminated their hands with nearly 5 billion bacteria, including disease-causing strains such as staphylococcus and E. coli.
They then washed their hands with bar soap, after which a second person washed with the same bar of soap. The second person's hands were cultured and researchers found the bacteria were not transferred. The researchers concluded:19
Bar soaps do not support the growth of bacteria under usage conditions
Bar soaps are inherently antibacterial by their physical-chemical nature
The level of bacteria that may occur on bar soap, even under extreme usage conditions (heavy usage or poorly designed nondrainable soap dishes), does not constitute a health hazard
Nearly 20 years later, another study20 (sponsored by a soap manufacturer) confirmed these findings. Here, they inoculated bars of soap with pathogenic bacteria; 16 participants washed their hands with those bars. After washing, none of the participants' hands had detectable levels of bacteria.
According to the researchers,21 “little hazard exists in routine hand-washing with previously used soap bars and support the frequent use of soap and water for hand-washing to prevent the spread of disease.”
Towel Dry or Air Dry — Which Is Better?
Many believe using an air dryer is preferable to using a towel when in a public restroom. Surprising as it may seem, air dryers may actually spread far more germs than paper towels.
In the 2017 paper “Cleanliness in Context: Reconciling Hygiene With a Modern Microbial Perspective, “22,23 microbial ecologists at the University of Oregon examine different methods of hand drying, noting that “most research has shown that warm air dryers may increase the number of bacteria on the hands after use.” The reason for the increase in bacterial load is thought to be due to:
Bacteria inside the dryer mechanism being blown out during use
Bacteria-enriched air being recirculated
Bacteria found in the deeper layers of skin being liberated when rubbing your hands together beneath the hot air stream
Some combination of the above
Other research24 found high-speed jet dryers spray 1,300 times more viral material into the surrounding area than paper towels, dispersing the viral load up to 10 feet from the dryer.25,26 A 2012 meta-analysis in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, which looked at a dozen studies, came to a similar conclusion, noting:27
“Most studies suggest that paper towels can dry hands efficiently … and cause less contamination of the washroom environment. From a hygiene viewpoint, paper towels are superior to electric air dryers. Paper towels should be recommended in locations where hygiene is paramount, such as hospitals and clinics.”
The take-home message here is that when using a public restroom, you may be better off forgoing the air dryers and using a paper towel instead. Be sure to dispose of it properly, in the trash bin, and use a clean paper towel to open the door when exiting.
The drawback of paper towels is the environmental impact. In the video below, Joe Smith of Oregon outlines how you can reduce the number of paper towels you use, while still getting your hands dry. Two key points: First, shake your hands to eliminate as much water as possible. Next, fold the paper towel to increase absorbency.
Avoid Cloth Towels and Rags During Pandemics
Cloth towels are the least hygienic alternative during influenza season or pandemics, as they have the highest risk of cross-contamination. According to a 2014 University of Arizona study,28 towels may be the most germ-ridden item in your home.
Tests revealed a staggering 89% of kitchen towels and nearly 26% of bathroom towels were contaminated with Coliform bacteria — microbes associated with food poisoning and diarrhea. The primary reason for this is the moisture cloth towels retain, which serves as a perfect breeding ground for germs.
Moist towels and rags are also hospitable places for viruses. As noted in a 2012 study29 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, cloth rags can easily spread viruses from one surface to another.
So, when sanitizing your home (which is advisable when someone in the household is ill), it's best to use a paper towel. Once the immediate risk of infection has passed, you can go back to using reusable rags for everyday cleaning.