ASMR: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

This was my college art teaching stock-in-trade. I further amped up the "low-grade euphoria" by suggesting caffeinated drinks and shameless flattery.

"'Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR)' is an experience characterized by a 'static-like or tingling sensation' on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine. It has been compared with 'auditory-tactile synesthesia.'

ASMR signifies the subjective experience of 'low-grade euphoria' characterized by 'a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin.' It is most commonly triggered by 'specific auditory or visual stimuli,' and less commonly by intentional attention control.

The subjective experience, sensation, and perceptual phenomenon now widely identified by the term 'Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response' is described by some of those susceptible to it as 'akin to a mild electrical current -- or the carbonated bubbles in a glass of champagne'.

Triggers

ASMR is usually precipitated by stimuli referred to as 'triggers'. ASMR triggers, which are most commonly auditory and visual, may be encountered through the interpersonal interactions of daily life. Additionally, ASMR is often triggered by exposure to specific audio and video. Such media may be specially made with the specific purpose of triggering ASMR or originally created for other purposes and later discovered to be effective as a trigger of the experience.

Stimuli that can trigger ASMR, as reported by those who experience it, include the following:

Listening to a softly spoken or whispering voice.

Listening to quiet, repetitive sounds resulting from someone engaging in a mundane task such as turning the pages of a book.

Watching somebody attentively execute a mundane task such as preparing food.

Loudly chewing, crunching, slurping or biting foods, drinks, or gum.

Receiving altruistic tender personal attention.

Initiating the stimulus through conscious manipulation without the need for external video or audio triggers.

Listening to a person explain a concept, describe an object or system.

Watching and listening to an audiovisual recording of a person performing or simulating the above actions and producing their consequent and accompanying sounds is sufficient to trigger ASMR for the majority of those who report susceptibility to the experience."

Infographics: More on Breathing and Relaxation

In the Blogs: Five Quick and Easy Meditations That Anyone Can Do

By Dougall Fraser 

Don't have time to sit in the lotus position for 45 minutes? Don't throw your spiritual journey out the window just because you can't keep up with the Dalai Lama's dedication to mental stillness.

Our brains multitask all day. During meditation, we switch our intention by focusing on one particular act or ritual, in order to achieve a state of mental stillness. Here are five easy meditations to keep you connected in the midst of any chaotic schedule.

1. Walk away your worries:

If you struggle with the idea of sitting still, you may enjoy a walking meditation. Zen Buddhists' version of this is known as Kinhin, which involves taking a full breath in between every step. While that might seem like an incredibly long walk, the overall idea here is to use your body to become fully present in the moment.

To perform your walking meditation, go at a comfortable pace (preferably outside), and focus on the feeling of each foot as you take steps. Notice your heel touching the ground first, followed by the sole and finally your toes. As you walk, you might notice yourself getting distracted by outside thoughts. Simply bring your mind's attention back to your steps, and this will help center your meditation.

The beauty of this meditation is that it can be done anywhere, and is especially effective for a relaxing 15 minute work break.

2. Chant Yourself Calm:

Various religions and spiritual practices include chanting, which is the repetitive singing or humming of a melody. Gregorian monks use chanting to achieve a state of divine piousness, while Hindus reach enlightenment by chanting the word "Om" repeatedly.

You may not have access to a Gregorian church or Ashram, but this meditation can easily be performed wherever you are. The traditional way is to pick a calming word or sound, and repeat it over and over slowly ("peace" is a popular word to use).

A less traditional method is to pick any song that makes you feel really good, and then hum the melody or sing the words to yourself for a few minutes. Ideally this should be a slower, more relaxing song. While this may seem unusual, I have seen it work just as well as traditional chanting. You are simply focusing on the melody as a way to quiet your mind.

3. Drive yourself to Nirvana

You can meditate with your eyes open. If you are the kind of person who enjoys the feeling of being on the road, driving meditation can be a perfect environment to find stillness. Turn off your phone and radio, and allow your center to be the actual art of driving. Make it your intention to be completely focused on this relaxing joyride. As your mind is assigned the task of getting you from one place to another, the rest of your consciousness is granted a few moments of stillness.

4. Let coffee be your mantra:

You can easily incorporate your morning ritual with a sense of meditative spirituality. Our minds require something to focus on in order to become still. As you make yourself a cup of tea, coffee or even your morning smoothie, infuse this ritual with spirituality. Focus on the steps that you are taking to prepare your beverage, and keep mindful of the intention that this is "me" time you are enjoying. After it is prepared, select a comfortable space to sit and enjoy it. The length and duration of your meditation is reflected in finishing your cup.

5. Wash your aura

Bathing allows you to cleanse your physical body, and is a great time to bring your attention to your spiritual body. As the water splashes down on you, imagine that it is washing away all heaviness and dross from your spiritual body. Watch the soap and water disappear down the drain along with your cares and worries.

Hypno-Don

I would like you to make yourself comfortable... put your feet on the floor, rest your hands on your thighs... and half-close your eyes.

I would like you to be aware of your breathing... notice the shallow and uneven way you are breathing. I wonder if you can consciously make your breathing slower, and deeper?

So take a deep breath in, and let it out... you will notice that with each breath you take, your body is relaxing... inhale... exhale... take a deep breath, in and out. Let your body relax... and while you are breathing, you may notice that all the tension is going out of your body, and you are feeling more and more relaxed, comfortable, and at ease.

And as you continue to pay attention to your breathing... I would like you to imagine that you are hovering over an ocean. I would like you look down at the beautiful water... to look down at this vast boundless ocean... notice its color... pay attention to the emotions you feel when you look at it.

And as you continue to look at this ocean of stillness... allow your awareness to expand indefinitely... until it too becomes like a vast, deep ocean of calmness.

And I wonder if you can consciously allow this boundless ocean of calmness to expand even further. Knowing that every feeling thought and body sensation will allow you to go even deeper into a boundless and unlimited calmness. Knowing that every noise outside of this room, and inside of this room, will help you to relax even further.

Knowing that every noise is just a signal for you to relax.

Imagine that you at the very bottom of this vast, infinite ocean... and your every thought, feeling and body sensation drift on the surface... passing by unaware of your presence underneath.

And as you stay deep down, relaxed, you may become aware of how your body is comfortable and mind calm... how all the tension has gone... how your breathing becomes slower.

And in a few seconds time, I'm going to post another blog... but before I do, I'd like you to remember that you can bring back this feeling of relaxation any time you want. I would like you to know that these feelings of calmness and peace and love will stay with you for the rest of the day... and for all the days and nights that follow.

Every day, you will become more focused on whatever you are doing... consequently your memory will improve... allowing you to remember all the information you need to remember... so every day you will feel more confident... more confident about your knowledge... more confident about your ability to cope..........

Trippy Trance/Meditation Video

396 Hz Frequency Liberating Guilt and Fear Youtube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm7ZL-PrYd8&feature=related

Luminita Daniela Saviuc Blog: Seven Ways To Release Negative Emotions

Do you get easily angered, stressed, frustrated? How often do you get caught up in other people's drama or your own drama? Are there any toxic emotions present in your body right now?

Whether there is any negativity in your life right now or not, it is wise to know what would be the best way to release the toxic emotions from your life when they arise, because in the end we are all human and we will all experience negative emotions at one point or another.

1. Awareness

Firstly, we need to understand that the first person who will get hurt by holding on to the toxic emotions is us and not so much the person, event or situation who triggered the toxic emotions in us.

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. -- James Thurber

2. Take Responsibility

Even though it may not always be easy, it is very important to stop blaming others for how we feel and to take 100 percent responsibly for our own thoughts, emotions, action or inaction, to take 100 percent responsibility for our life, and by doing so we will claim back our own power.
When you blame some outside forces for whatever you are feeling, you give away any power you may have to change the negative situation and your feelings about it, and you allow yourself to be the victim.

Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame. -- Erica Jong

3. Don't Believe Everything You Think

The next wise thing to do is question your own thoughts. Don't believe everything you think, especially if your thoughts are creating even more stress, anxiety, frustration, anger and all kind of other negative emotions in your life.

The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. -- Albert Einstein

4. Acceptance vs. Resistance

Don't resist the pain these toxic emotions are causing you, for resistance would only make things even worse. What you want to do is to act as if whatever you are feeling right now is there because you chose to. Accept it and allow the pain to just be and by doing so you will help release and heal the pain.

Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune. -- William James

5. Let Go

Let go of the need to blame others for your anger, let go of the need to put yourself down for feeling the way you are feeling and let go of all the toxic emotions you are holding on to. It is as easy as holding tightly a rotten apple -- toxic emotions -- and then letting that apple go. It's that simple.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. -- Buddha

6. Shift From Negative To Positive

If you focus too much on what seems to be wrong, you will not be able to release the negative emotions. Shift your focus from negative to positive, focus on the things you want to attract in your life and the feelings you want to feel and not on what you don't want -- very important! By doing so, you will allow the dark clouds to pass and the sun to shine through.

I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act. The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness. -- Abraham Harold Maslow

7. Show Gratitude

Now that you released all the toxicity from your body, why not express your gratitude for all the amazing things you have learned along the way? Express your gratitude toward all those people/events that triggered all kind of negative emotions in you, and thank them for helping you become a happier, wiser and confident person.

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strangely, I am ungrateful to those teachers. -- Khalil Gibran

Candice Pert Ph.D.'s "Psychosomatic Wellness" CD: A Review

by Timothy Wilken, MD

I began using healing mediation to help my patients in the late 1970s. I created individual tapes for each patient, my scripts were based on a blend of breathing techniques, progressive muscular relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery, and self-hypnosis. These tapes proved to be powerful tools for helping my patients heal both emotional and physical injuries.

In 2007, when I was personally challenged with a serious illness, I reached for them to help me heal myself. Since then I make it my practice to personally use healing meditation daily. While I have memorized many scripts, I am constantly searching for new healing meditations.
It was my great delight to discover Candace Pert’s Psychosomatic Wellness. She has wonderful meditations on this CD album. I try to listen to them daily. I keep them on my iPod so they are handy. There are five “songs” on the album.

The first “song” is Introduction, it explains the science behind her approach, you only need to listen to that once.

The second “song” is the healing meditation called Adaptation of Niels Bohr. I try to listen to this at least once a day. It is 25 minutes long.

The third one is also very good. It uses a series of powerful affirmations to program the subconscious with positive and healthy beliefs.  It is called Affirmations inspired by Belleruth Naperstek.  I listen to it whenever I have time. It's 16 minutes long.

The fourth “song” is a Musical Reprise. Very pleasant. It provides the perfect background for imagining your cells working to repair and heal your body. It is 7 minutes long.

The fifth and last “song” is a song. It is called Honor Who You Are. Very wise and very pleasant. It lasts 3 or 4 minutes.

I haven’t listened to any healing meditations that I like better than these. I have always known that meditating was good for me, but with practicing medicine 40 hours a week, and publishing three websites, I always had a bit of difficulty finding the time. Now, I actually look forward to listening to these. I awoke this morning at 5:30AM with need to start my day the right way. I listened to all four “songs” this morning, They were wonderful.

I am currently recommending the CD to all my patients. Take a listen, I promise that it will be good for you.