by atmara | Oct 23, 2014 | Creativity, Inspiration, TED Talks, Video
According to ted.com: “Modern buildings with floor-to-ceiling windows give spectacular views, but they require a lot of energy to cool. Doris Kim Sung works with thermo-bimetals, smart materials that act more like human skin, dynamically and responsively, and can shade a room from sun and self-ventilate.”
“Architect Doris Kim Sung asks: Why can’t building materials be more adaptable? Why can’t they function more like clothing, or even human skin? Having studied biology at Princeton University intending to go to medical school, Sung applies principles of biology to her work as an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Southern California. She explores architecture as an extension of the body, challenging the notion that buildings ought to be static and climate-controlled. Rather, they should be able to adapt to their environment through self-ventilation. In November 2011, Sung exhibited her art installation “Bloom” in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. The installation is 20 feet tall and made with 14,000 completely unique pieces of thermo-bimetal, a smart material made of two different metals laminated together. This metal is dynamic and responsive, curling as air temperatures rise, resulting in a beautiful sculpture that breathes.”
Enjoy these “out of the box” ideas.
For those of you not familiar with TED Talks here is a brief summery from www.ted.com: “TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK each summer — TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and Open TV Project, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize”
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I look forward to your thoughts and comments!
by atmara | Oct 20, 2014 | Healing, Mandala Monday, Mandalas
Svadhistthana Mandala
The second chakra is also called the sacral chakra or the spleen chakra. It is located approximately two inches behind and below the navel. In Sanskrit it is depicted as the Svadhistthana mandala, meaning “one’s own place.” Its element is water and it is symbolized by a fish.
The sacral chakra also governs our emotional body, our passions, our sensuality, and our sex drive. It influences our ability to cooperate, compromise, be open-minded, and be amicable when we disagree with others. The lower abdomen, spleen, liver, bladder, kidneys, sexual organs, and fertility are influenced by the second chakra.
If this chakra is out of balance, our physical health will suffer from liver toxicity, kidney disease, bladder infections, fertility problems, and diseases related to the sexual organs. Frigidity and impotence are common. We may become addicted to sex, food, alcohol, or drugs because of our obsession with pleasure and emotional escapism. Denial to unconscious emotional trauma reinforces these addictions. Stubbornness, arrogance, ruthlessness, paranoia, jealousy, distrust, and obsessiveness may consume us when this chakra is blocked.
Where the root chakra governs the ego, the sacral chakra rules the ego’s shadow, and so when it is imbalanced, we will be in deep denial of this hidden part of ourselves. Secret addictions and fantasies need to be addressed. Projections of judgment, criticism, blame, and condemnation onto others is common amongst those who need to have this chakra balanced.
When this chakra is healthy, however, we tend to open up to life, open to opportunities, open to relationships, and open to whatever happens in the Now. We are present and are willing to accept unconditionally whatever the universe brings to us, no matter how “bad” it may seem on the surface. We don’t resist, react, or rebel against what life is trying to teach us. Because we are open to life, doors open for us and everything we touch seems to turn to gold.
Seeking out advice from a spiritual counselor can help you to unblock and balance the sacral plexus chakra. Some spices recommended to heal the sacral chakra are: cinnamon, vanilla, carob, sweet paprika, sesame seeds, and caraway seeds. For an herbal tea, the following herbs are recommended: orange peel, rosehips, annatto seed, cloves, allspice, organic peppermint and organic lemon grass. The crystals and gems recommended for healing are: gold, citrine, amber, golden topaz agate, chrysoprase, lithium, smokey quartz, turquoise, malachite, tigers eye, yellow calcite.
About the Author:
Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a Wellness Coach and Spiritual Life Coach who founded Sunlighten and co-founded Sunlight Day Spa; two holistic wellness companies dedicated to infrared radiant heat therapy, sound therapy, and massage therapy. His Wellness Coaching and Spiritual Life Coaching practice embraces infrared sauna purification, upper cervical care, and adhering to an alkaline-forming, nutrient-dense, anti-oxidant rich, ketogenic diet.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
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I look forward to your thoughts and comments!
by atmara | Oct 16, 2014 | Creativity, Inspiration, Sustainability, TED Talks, Video
According to ted.com: “What should a community do with its unused land? Plant food, of course. With energy and humor, Pam Warhurst tells at the TEDSalon the story of how she and a growing team of volunteers came together to turn plots of unused land into communal vegetable gardens, and to change the narrative of food in their community.”
“Pam Warhurst is the Chair of the Board of the Forestry Commission, which advises on and implements forestry policy in Great Britain. She also cofounded Incredible Edible Todmorden, a local food partnership that encourages community engagement through local growing. Incredible Edible started small, with the planting of a few community herb gardens in Todmorden, and today has spin-offs in the U.S. and Japan. The community has started projects like Every Egg Matters, which educates people on keeping chickens and encourages them to sell eggs to neighbors, and uses a ‘Chicken Map’ to connect consumers and farmers. Incredible Edible Todmorden empowers ordinary people to take control of their communities through active civic engagement.”
Enjoy this entertaining woman and her “yummy” project!
For those of you not familiar with TED Talks here is a brief summery from www.ted.com: “TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences — the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK each summer — TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and Open TV Project, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize”
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I look forward to your thoughts and comments!
