BuddhaRocks ® Wellness

Open up your Facebook feed or turn on the television and it’s obvious that essential oils are having a moment. Chances are, you know several people who swear by their benefits (and maybe even someone who sells them). But is it just another fad or are essential oils here to stay? And more importantly, what exactly do people claim they do? First of all, essential oils haven’t just hit the mainstream; they’ve actually been around for thousands of years as a way to increase emotional, physical and spiritual wellness. Aromatic diffusion, topical application and dietary consumption are the three main ways people can reap benefits. “I started using essential oils three years ago after one of my co-workers told me about using them for her daughter’s GI issues,” said Jennifer McGraw, a distributor for Young Living Essential Oils and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee nursing student living in Whitefish Bay. “I thought, ‘Where have these been all my life?’ I’ve seen huge improvements ...

Boho Beautiful: A Wellness Collaboration Combining Love, Positivity And Health Boho Beautiful focuses on creating content to help make people and the world a better place. This is a Bohemian inspired collaboration and thrives on individuality,  growth and personal evolution. Boho Beautiful believe that you can be a better version of yourself, by finding your own balance and learning to love ourselves and each other more through fitness, yoga, meditation, health, lifestyle blogs, inspirational ideas and videos. This program will optimise your health, mind and body. Boho Beautiful: What Is Their Story? This wellness collaboration was started by two people from different walks of life. Juliana is a fitness, Pilates and yoga instructor whilst Mark is a former musician who now a fitness instructor alongside Juliana for Boho Beautiful. The concept is inspired by their Bohemian lifestyle, described as the gypsy and the wanderer. Juliana and Mark say this can apply to anyone who...

When the unexpected happens, you always have your inner core strength which cannot be taken from you. In life, we are always setting goals for ourselves and working to make them happen. This gives us focus and ensures that we use our time and energy efficiently and effectively. It also provides us with a sense of purpose and direction. We know where we are going and what we want to do. But quite often, due to forces outside our control, things do not go as we had planned—the flat tire on the way to the wedding, the unforeseen flu virus—and we have to adjust to a postponement or create a whole new set of circumstances. Even positive turns of fortune — an unexpected influx of cash or falling in love — require us to be flexible and to reconsider our plans and priorities, sometimes in the blink of an eye. This is what happens when life throws you a curve ball. The ability to accept what is happening and let go of your original expectations is key when dealing with these unexpected ...

The use of a talking stick during counsel assures every voice is heard fully without interruption. When we sit in a circle together and share our thoughts and feelings, we participate in a powerful, unifying practice whose origins stem from the very beginning of human time. All early cultures practiced some form of this ritual, which gives each individual in the group a voice, and at the same time reveals the one voice, and the ultimate unity, of the group. This profound and simple way of talking and listening has experienced a modern rebirth in counseling, social work, and spirituality. Most circles benefit from the presence of a leader who opens the circle by calling in angels, spirit guides, and ancestors—beings of light who will be present with those taking counsel. The leader may announce a theme for the circle, or one may simply evolve from the unstructured expressions of each participant. The circle continues for as long as feels right, at which point the leader may summ...

Being aware of the connection between all things can help you in terms of the broader effect you may be creating. There are times when we may feel disconnected from the world. Our actions can seem like they are of no major consequence, and we may feel like we exist in our own vacuum. Yet, the truth is that our simplest thought or action – the decisions we make each day, and how we see and relate to the world – can be incredibly significant and have a profound impact on the lives of those around us, as well as the world at large. The earth and everything on it is bound by an invisible connection between people, animals, plants, the air, the water, and the soil. Insignificant actions on your part, whether positive or negative, can have an impact on people and the environment that seem entirely separate from your personal realm of existence. Staying conscious of the interconnection between all things can help you think of your choices and your life in terms of the broader effect you...

The following is an excerpt from the "Stop Being a Victim, Become a Creator" on-line course. If you would like to enroll in the course,  click here . Living In The Present Moment We've all heard it, but how often do we actually do it? Present moment awareness is fundamental if we wish to evolve as human beings, for the present is the only place where we can truly connect with ourselves, with the inner experience of peace and fulfillment that I call "Love-Consciousness". Love-consciousness is the most natural thing in the world. It is the unconditional love within all beings, an experience that keeps expanding when we dive deep within ourselves. It is not a strange or ethereal experience but something very concrete and natural; you have probably experienced it before in moments of your life — maybe while spending time with a baby, expressing yourself creatively, watching the sun set, or meditating. Love-consciousness lives in the present moment, so st...

Hello and good morning.  This is Dr. Rob.  It is another awesome and amazing day in the universe.  I'm here to share some thoughts, they're only thoughts, either good, neutral, or bad thoughts.  The good thoughts are the joy and happiness of everything around you.  The good thoughts are knowing that everything around you is created by the thoughts within you.  The bad thoughts come from the same place within.  Pure love is the key and the way to be.  Somehow to see the good, the bad, and the neutral as all God's way of creating life, of shifting, changing, and evolving.  The graciousness of every day is to love.  Yes, that old instinctual being of jealousy, regret, guilt, fear, and worry is that old instinctual button that you control within with the practice of joy and love. When Jesus says, "Love thy enemy," he knew what hating your enemy did to you.  He knew that loving your enemy would soothe every cell in your body and vibrate the joy and happiness with...

This year I received one of the best holiday gifts ever! My husband, Cary, bought me the Kindle version of The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer. I'm about halfway through the book and find myself reading it very slowly, savoring every lesson learned, as well as highlighting and re-reading sections that really resonate with me. Chapter 2 is titled Your Inner Roommate , there are definitely some powerful lessons in that one. I love the way the author really helps you to recognize the thoughts and incessant chatter that go on inside your head each and every day. He suggests that the key to letting go of these thoughts is by taking a step back, removing yourself from your own melodrama, and watching what's going on in your head. You aren't your thoughts and your thoughts aren't you, treat them like your inner roommate that you are merely witnessing. Don't become attached to the thoughts, just let them come into your head and go ou...

If you feel abandoned or cut off from Spirit, know that it is always there for you waiting for you to plug back in. There may be times when we feel like our connection to the universe is closed. Maybe things don't seem to be going well in our day, or our lives, or we may feel out of our element. The truth is, the universe is always there for us. We know that we create our experience with our thoughts, and this is another way we need to make a conscious decision about how we want to experience life. It is up to us to do the work of making the connection, because nobody can do it for us, though sometimes the universe may send us wake-up calls. You can think of it as getting some fresh air. We are always breathing and the air is always around us, surrounding us, moving through us. But we may need to step outside of where we are in the moment—physically, mentally, or emotionally—and make the conscious choice to take a deep breath in order to feel the air coming in and going out...

Make all decisions from pure love and the world will change. Love is often presented as the opposite of fear, but true love is not opposite anything. True love is far more powerful than any negative emotions, as it is the environment in which all things arise. Negative emotions are like sharks swimming in the ocean of love. All things beautiful and fearful, ugly and kind, powerful and small, come into existence, do their thing, and disappear within the context of this great ocean. At the same time, they are made of the very love in which they swim and can never be separated. We are made of this love and live our whole lives at one with it, whether we know it or not. It is only the illusion that we are separate from this great love that causes us to believe that choosing anything other than love makes sense or is even possible. In the relative, dualistic world of positive and negative, darkness and light, male and female, we make choices and we learn from them. This is exactly w...

From The Best Year of Your Life On-Line Course  by  Debbie Ford , reprinted with permission from DailyOM.com. The following is an excerpt from the "The Best Year of Your Life" on-line course. If you would like to take the entire course,  click here . Welcome to the best year of your life! This program is a recipe for falling deeply and passionately in love – with yourself. You may wonder what loving yourself has to do with creating your best life. Well, in a word, everything! Having coached and trained hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, I can tell you that loving yourself is the most essential prerequisite to living your best life. When you feel great about who you are, you radiate an undeniable magnetic energy that attracts all the things you desire to you. People you've been meaning to call "magically" show up in your life. Ideas and next actions for your projects come easily. Your relationships with others – even those with whom you've ...

All too often our lives can be spread too thin and it becomes important to gather our thoughts and center ourselves to become whole again. When our thoughts are scattered in several directions at once and we are no longer conscious of what we are doing or why, it is time to center ourselves. When we center ourselves, we begin by acknowledging that we have become spread too thin and we are no longer unified inside. Our thoughts might be out of sync with our feelings, and our actions may be out of sync with both. The main signs that we need to center ourselves are scattered thoughts and a feeling of disconnection or numbness, as if we are no longer able to take anything in. In addition, we may feel unfocused and not present in our bodies. Centering ourselves is a way of coming to terms with all the different energies within us and drawing them back into ourselves. Centering yourself means that you are working from or being aware of the core of your being in the solar plexus area ...

Our gratitude deepens when we begin to be thankful for being alive during this time and living the life we are living. Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive, and when we feel it, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part and parcel of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life. It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, giv...

The following is an excerpt from the "Letting Go with Forgiveness" on-line course. If you would like to take the entire course,  click here . Welcome to Letting Go with Forgiveness Forgiveness is a very tender subject. It brings up lots of memories, emotions and desire in most of us. I'm glad you've chosen to explore forgiveness as a healing tool in your life, for it is a sacred journey. Forgiveness is the most powerful medicine I've found to heal the human heart. As your teacher and guide for the next 8 weeks, I'd like to introduce myself. Most people know me as a professional forgiveness counselor, certified Radical Forgiveness coach, mediator and author. I'm also the mother of two unbelievably amazing children (I know I'm biased, but it's actually true!). I've spent over 20 years learning and teaching about human psychology, spirituality, conflict and peace. I work with lots of people in all sorts of places and circumstances, inclu...

Meditating near a mountain can be both powerful and grounding in a most profound way. Throughout history, humankind has stood in awe of mountains. The strength and sturdiness evident in the rocky crags and smooth slopes of peaks around the globe have from time immemorial inspired creativity and kindled courage. Mountains have been venerated by many cultures, which worshipped great summits as gods and sacred beings. In their looming presence, humanity has seen power, steadfastness, and resolve. Yet you needn't live near a mountain to tap into this vast energy of commanding grandeur. Conversely, since mountains are as unique in form as human beings, your locale may exist under the unwavering gaze of a small mountain without your knowing it. As you practice mountain meditation, the power that lurks in the heart of all mountains will flow into you while their essential beauty reminds you that you, too, are a creature of the earth. If there are mountains in your area, plan to sp...

The time to blossom is now, not sometime in the future when you believe the stars will be aligned for you. Having a vision for our future that differs from our current circumstances can be inspiring and exciting, but it can also keep us from fully committing to our present placement. We may become aware that this is happening when we notice our thoughts about the future distracting us from our participation in the moment. We may find upon searching our hearts that we are waiting for some future time or situation in order to self-actualize. This would be like a flower planted in North Dakota putting off blooming because it would prefer to do so in Illinois. There are no guarantees in this life, so when we hold back we do so at the risk of never fully blossoming. This present moment always offers us the ground in which we can take root and open our hearts now. What this means is that we live fully, wherever we are, not hesitating because conditions are not perfect, or we might en...

We cannot insist that someone else take responsibility for their actions; only they can make that choice when they are ready. As we begin to truly understand that the world outside of us is a reflection of the world inside of us, we may feel confused about who is to blame for the problems in our lives. If we had a difficult childhood, we may wonder how we can take responsibility for that, and in our current relationships, the same question arises. We all know that blaming others is the opposite of taking responsibility, but we may not understand how to take responsibility for things that we don't truly feel responsible for. We may blame our parents for our low self-esteem, and we may blame our current partner for exacerbating it with their unconscious behavior. Objectively, this seems to make sense. After all, it is not our fault if our parents were irresponsible or unkind, and we are not to blame for our partner's bad behavior. Perhaps the problem lies with the activit...

Many of us do not take the time to notice and acknowledge how beautiful we are as humans. Many of us do not take the time to notice and acknowledge how beautiful we are as humans. We may be great lovers of beauty, seeing it in the people, places, and things around us, while completely missing it in ourselves. Some of us feel that it is vain to consider our appearance too much, or we may find that when we look at ourselves, all we see are imperfections. Often we come to the mirror with expectations and preconceived notions about beauty that blind us from seeing ourselves clearly. As a result, we miss the beauty that is closest to us, the beauty we are. Sometimes we see our beauty in a shallow way, noticing how well we are conforming to social norms, but failing to see the deeper beauty that shines out from within and that will continue to shine regardless of how we measure up to society's ideal. If we can cut through all these obstacles and simply appreciate how beautiful we...

The emotional trigger than begins an argument may have little to do with your present situation, but has dug up a wound. When we find ourselves in an argument, we may feel like we are losing control of emotions that have taken on lives of their own. When we can become aware that this is happening, taking a deep breath can help us step back from the situation. Once we can separate ourselves from the heat of the moment, we may find that the emotional trigger that began the argument has little to do with the present situation, but may have brought up feelings related to something else entirely. Looking honestly at what caused our reaction allows us to consciously respond more appropriately to the situation and make the best choices. We can make an agreement with our partners and those closest to us that asking questions can help all of us discover the source of the argument. The shared awareness can result in finding simple solutions to something physical, like low blood sugar or ...

Our best friends are a warm refuge in which we feel free to be fully ourselves. By the time we reach adulthood, many of us have had the good fortune to have at least one best friend. If we have moved around or changed our life situation repeatedly, we may be lucky enough to have had several. The best friend relationship is often our earliest intimate peer relationship, and it can be a source of great warmth and connection throughout our lives. The details of best friendship change as we grow up and grow older, but the heart of it remains the same. Our best friends are a warm refuge in which we feel free to be fully ourselves, to share our deepest secrets, to rest when we are tired, to celebrate when we are happy—a place in which we feel utterly welcome to give and receive that most precious of all gifts, love. Most intimate relationships hit bumps from time to time, and one of the hallmarks of an enduring best friendship is its ability to ride out the turbulence and remain inta...