Studies conducted on mice demonstrated that fluoxetine effectively lowered bacterial levels, increased anti-inflammatory molecules, and prevented dangerous immune overreactions. Notably, these protective effects occurred independently of serotonin, the neurotransmitter primarily targeted by the drug in its traditional role as an antidepressant.

Key Findings:

• Dual Protection: Fluoxetine not only kills bacteria but also helps regulate the immune response.
• Sepsis Defense: Mice treated with fluoxetine exhibited lower bacterial loads and a greater likelihood of survival.
• Serotonin Independence: The drug’s immune-modulating effects function separately from its influence on serotonin.

Expanding the Understanding of SSRIs in Disease Management

Beyond its well-established use in mental health treatment, fluoxetine may hold promise in combating severe infections. Scientists at the Salk Institute have explored how this drug interacts with the immune system, findings that could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for infectious diseases. This discovery comes at a critical time when innovative treatments are needed to enhance preparedness for future pandemics.

Additional studies have indicated that individuals taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac experienced less severe COVID-19 infections and a reduced risk of developing long COVID. In another study, fluoxetine was found to protect mice from sepsis—a condition where an excessive immune response to infection can result in organ failure or death.

By uncovering the mechanisms behind fluoxetine’s unexpected immune-boosting properties, researchers have paved the way for potential clinical trials exploring its use in infection and immune disorder treatments. These findings were published in Science Advances on February 14, 2025.

“When treating an infection, the optimal treatment strategy would be one that kills the bacteria or virus while also protecting our tissues and organs,” explains Professor Janelle Ayres, holder of the Salk Institute Legacy Chair and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

“Most medications we have in our toolbox kill pathogens, but we were thrilled to find that fluoxetine can protect tissues and organs, too. It’s essentially playing offense and defense, which is ideal, and especially exciting to see in a drug that we already know is safe to use in humans.”

Addressing the Dangers of Sepsis

The immune system serves as the body’s primary defense against infections, but in conditions such as sepsis, it can become overactive, causing widespread inflammation and damaging the body’s own tissues. Severe COVID-19 cases have shown similar immune overreactions, further highlighting the need for treatments that balance immune responses without compromising the body’s ability to fight infections.

While suppressing inflammation might seem like a solution, doing so can leave patients vulnerable to infections. Immunosuppressive drugs must be carefully timed, as they are most effective before significant tissue damage occurs. Ideally, an effective treatment would manage immune response intensity while simultaneously targeting the infection itself.

How Fluoxetine May Help

To better understand fluoxetine’s potential in this regard, researchers studied two groups of mice infected with bacteria—one group pretreated with fluoxetine and the other left untreated.

Mice that received fluoxetine showed significantly lower bacterial levels within eight hours of infection, suggesting that the drug possesses antimicrobial properties that inhibit bacterial growth. Additionally, higher levels of the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10 were detected in these mice, which played a crucial role in preventing sepsis-induced metabolic disturbances and protecting vital organs.

By distinguishing fluoxetine’s antimicrobial action from its immune-regulating effects, the researchers demonstrated that the drug offers a dual benefit—actively combating pathogens while also reducing immune-related damage.

Fluoxetine’s Effects Beyond Serotonin

To determine whether fluoxetine’s protective effects were linked to serotonin, researchers examined two additional groups of mice: both were pretreated with fluoxetine, but only one retained normal serotonin levels.

Surprisingly, fluoxetine provided the same infection-fighting benefits regardless of serotonin presence, confirming that its positive effects stemmed from a separate mechanism.

“That was really unexpected, but also really exciting,” says Robert Gallant, the study’s first author and a former graduate student researcher in Ayres’ lab.

“Knowing fluoxetine can regulate the immune response, protect the body from infection, and have an antimicrobial effect—all entirely independent from circulating serotonin—is a huge step toward developing new solutions for life-threatening infections and illnesses. It also really goes to show how much more there is to learn about SSRIs.”

Looking Toward the Future

Building on these promising findings, researchers now aim to determine appropriate fluoxetine dosages for treating sepsis in humans. Additionally, they plan to investigate whether other SSRIs exhibit similar protective effects.

“Fluoxetine, one of the most prescribed drugs in the United States, is promoting cooperation between host and pathogen to defend against infection-induced disease and mortality,” says Ayres. “Finding dual protective and defensive effects in a repurposed drug is really exciting.”

Research and Funding

This study was conducted with contributions from Karina Sanchez, Emeline Joulia, and Christian Metallo of the Salk Institute, along with Jessica Snyder of the University of Washington.

The research was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (DPI AI144249, R01 AI14929, F31 AI169988, T32 GM007240-43, T32 GM133351, NCI CCSG: P30CA014195) and the NOMIS Foundation.

As investigations continue, fluoxetine’s unexpected benefits may redefine how infections and immune disorders are treated, offering new hope for patients worldwide.

Recently, Bindi revealed her struggle with a condition that affects millions of women. This courageous step not only exposed the reality of her own experience but also opened up critical discussions about a topic that often remains misunderstood.

As she continues her journey to recovery, Bindi’s story has become one of hope and resilience. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of raising awareness and advocating for those who suffer in silence. So, what has this journey been like for her, and how has it shaped the person she is today?

Bindi’s Ten-Year Battle for Diagnosis

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For over a decade, Bindi Irwin quietly endured overwhelming pain, fatigue, and nausea, all without knowing the real cause. Like many women, her symptoms were brushed off by doctors, with some telling her that the pain was just “part of being a woman.” One doctor even told her to simply “deal with it.” These dismissals left her struggling not just physically but emotionally, as she was left without answers and continued suffering.

Bindi didn’t give up, though. She underwent numerous tests for everything from tropical diseases to cancer, but nothing explained her pain. It wasn’t until a close friend encouraged her to see a specialist that she finally found some clarity. In 2022, after another intense episode of pain left her curled up in a fetal position, Bindi had a laparoscopy—an important procedure that allows doctors to get a clearer look inside the abdomen. What they found was shocking: 37 lesions, some deeply embedded, and a “chocolate cyst” on one of her ovaries.

Hearing her doctor say, “How did you manage to live with this much pain?” was a moment of validation. Finally, she had the answers she had been seeking for so long. Sadly, Bindi’s story isn’t unique—many women with endometriosis face years of being ignored or misdiagnosed before getting proper help.

How Endometriosis Affected Bindi’s Life and Career

Bindi Irwin’s battle with endometriosis didn’t just cause physical pain—it impacted every aspect of her life. For more than ten years, she dealt with exhaustion, constant discomfort, and nausea. Despite these struggles, she continued her work as a conservationist, public figure, and a new mom to her daughter, Grace. But behind the scenes, things were far more difficult than most people knew. As Bindi once said, “Every part of my life was being torn apart because of the pain.”

The symptoms of endometriosis—like severe pelvic pain, painful periods, and fatigue—were always present, making it hard for her to keep up with her busy career. Her days at Australia Zoo, where she works alongside her family, became more challenging as she struggled to manage both her work and her health. Even simple social events had to be put on hold, as she funneled every bit of energy into just getting through each day. This invisible battle made it difficult for others to truly understand how much she was suffering.

Beyond the physical toll, the emotional burden was just as heavy. Like many women with chronic conditions, Bindi often felt isolated and frustrated by the lack of understanding from the medical community. One doctor even told her to “just deal with it,” a common experience for women whose pain is often dismissed.

Bindi’s story mirrors the experiences of many women dealing with endometriosis—struggling in silence while trying to maintain their personal and professional lives. It’s not just a physical condition; it affects your entire world.

Speaking Up: Turning Pain Into Purpose

After years of silently struggling, Bindi Irwin made the courageous choice to open up about her experience with endometriosis. In March 2023, just after her surgery, she shared her story on social media, letting the world in on her personal battle. Her message was heartfelt and honest, connecting deeply with women who had faced similar challenges. “There’s a stigma around this awful disease,” Bindi wrote. “I’m sharing my story for anyone who’s quietly dealing with pain and still searching for answers.”

By speaking out, Bindi didn’t just shed light on her own pain—she highlighted an issue that affects millions of women but often goes unnoticed. Endometriosis is more than just bad cramps; it’s a condition that can take over your life. Bindi’s openness helped start important conversations about how we need better education, awareness, and support for those dealing with this condition.

When Bindi received the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s Blossom Award, she made her mission clear: “I’ll spend the rest of my life raising awareness and helping others who are fighting this same battle.” Her willingness to speak up has given a voice to so many who feel overlooked or misunderstood.

Bindi’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, sharing your pain can help others find their own strength. She’s not just fighting for herself—she’s fighting for every woman who’s been told her pain doesn’t matter.

Coping with Endometriosis

Dealing with endometriosis is tough, but there are little things you can do to make life more manageable. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a break to breathe deeply or stretch. Even a few minutes of calm can help ease stress, which often makes the pain worse. Writing down how you feel each day can also be helpful—it lets you spot patterns and helps your doctor find better ways to treat your symptoms.

Moving your body, even if it’s just taking a short walk or doing some light stretching, can help a lot. It gets your blood flowing and can make you feel a bit better. Eating more fresh foods—like fruits, veggies, and whole grains—may also lower inflammation, which could ease some of the symptoms. And on those really rough days, using a heating pad or soaking in a warm bath can bring quick relief.

But above all, don’t go through this alone. Talk to someone—a friend, a family member, or even a support group. Just having people around who understand what you’re going through can make a huge difference when things get hard.

Bindi’s Journey of Healing and Advocacy

Bindi Irwin’s journey with endometriosis is a story of strength and determination. After years of quietly enduring pain, she’s now using her experience to help others. By opening up about what she’s been through, Bindi is giving a voice to so many women who’ve felt ignored or brushed aside. Her message is clear: your pain is real, and it deserves to be taken seriously.

Bindi’s honesty is already making a difference. She’s sparking conversations that are much needed, shining a light on how often women’s health issues get overlooked. And she’s showing that speaking up can lead to real change—not just for herself, but for so many others.

As Bindi moves forward, she’s balancing her life as a mom, a conservationist, and now, an advocate for women’s health. Her story is a reminder that, even when things seem impossible, there’s always hope. By sharing her journey, she’s letting others know they’re not alone and that better days are ahead. No matter how tough the fight, Bindi’s courage shows us that healing is possible, and there’s always hope on the horizon.

Agent Orange was discovered in the year 1943 by American botanist Arthur Galston. Between the years of 1962 and 1971, the US army “showered” the deadly chemical over Southern Vietnam as part of the military operation “Ranch Hand”, or “Trail Dust.” In total, more than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange was used. Sadly, Agent Orange did more than contribute to the deforestation of vast areas of land. It also contaminated air, water, and food sources.

History Rundown reports that in high concentrations, dioxin can trigger severe inflammation of the skin, lungs and mucous tissues. Sometimes, the toxicity can result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary edema, and even death. The highly effective carcinogen is also known to affect the eyes, liver, and kidneys, and to cause laryngeal and lung cancer.

As a result of using Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, more than 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and at least 500,000 children were born with mild to severe birth defects. Additionally, 5 million acres of forests and millions more of farmland were destroyed. Agent Orange is said to have killed 10 times more people than all chemical weapons combined.

Because the United States didn’t “technically” violate international laws, as it signed defense treaties with Southern Vietnam’s government and its actions (for the most part) were in line with the defense treaties, there was no reprimand for using Agent Orange as a chemical weapon during the war. That doesn’t mean hundreds of thousands didn’t suffer — or continue to today.

Today, many Agent Orange victims live in Peace Villages, communities where workers care for them and try to give them a normal life. However, “normal” will never truly be possible for most, as mutations caused by Agent Orange still affect the people and the children of Vietnam.

As AllThatIsInteresting reports, those who can live in Peace Village are luckier than some of their siblings. Reportedly, some victims of the chemical agent are too deformed to even survive childbirth.

“There is a room at the hospital which contains the preserved bodies of about 150 hideously deformed babies, born dead to their mothers,” one charity worker said. “Some have two heads; some have unbelievably deformed bodies and twisted limbs. They are kept as a record of the terrible consequences of chemical weaponry.”

Veterans who served in the Vietnam war, as well, returned to US soil reporting unusually high rates of lymphoma, leukemia, and cancer. The rates were highest among those who worked with Agent Orange directly.

Following are 24 haunting images from the war crime the US got away with:

1) Three planes fly over Vietnam releasing chemicals.

2) Le Van O., a 14-year-old boy who was born without eyes because of the effects of Agent Orange.

3) An aerial photograph showing the effects of Agent Orange. The land on the left hasn’t been sprayed while the land on the right has.

4) Not all of the chemicals were sprayed from above. These soldiers are spraying crops from atop a vehicle, getting up close and personal with the dangerous chemicals.

5) A ten-year-old girl born without arms writes in her schoolbook.

6) A five-year-old boy, born blind and mute because of Agent Orange poisoning, sits at the barred window of an orphanage.

7) Soldiers down below help spray Agent Orange on the jungle, getting a dangerous dose of the chemicals all over their skins in the process.

8) 55-year-old Kan Lay holds her 14-year-old son, born with severe physical disabilities because of Agent Orange.

9) Tran Thi Nghien bathes her handicapped daughter, an Agent Orange victim who is incapable of bathing herself.

10) Hoang Duc Mui, a Vietnamese veteran, speaks to American veterans during a visit to Friendship Village, Hanoi’s shelter for Agent Orange victims.

11) A soldier, after spraying the land with Agent Orange, tries to wash himself clean in some of the very waters that he had helped pollute.

12) An American veteran shows the long rashes across his arms that he developed from working with Agent Orange. Under his clothes, the rashes cover half of his body.

13) A helicopter sprays Agent Orange.

14) Lt. Kathleen Glover comforts an orphaned Vietnamese child.

15) A man begs for money outside of a cathedral. He was born with a deformed arm because of Agent Orange, and it makes it nearly impossible for him to find work.

16) A group of American planes fly over top of the jungles and release chemicals meant to kill the trees underneath

17) A child born without eyes lies in bed at an orphanage that takes care of 125 children, all born with disabilities because of Agent Orange.

18) A helicopter sprays Agent Orange on Vietnamese farmland.

19) Nguyen Xuan Minh, a four-year child born with severe deformities because of Agent Orange.

20) A massive stack of 55-gallon drums full of Agent Orange waits to be poured over the people of Vietnam.

21) Nguyen The Hong Van, a 13-year-old girl who was born with skin disorders and a mental handicap. She grew up near a site where the army stored Agent Orange.

22) Military personnel demonstrate how to handle an Agent Orange leak, apparently growing increasingly aware of how dangerous the chemical they’d been using really is.

23) Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong poses for a photo with the handicapped children under her care. Every one of them was born with a defect caused by Agent Orange.

24) The third-generation child of an Agent Orange victim. Despite the generations between him and the Vietnam War, this boy still feels the effects and lives in a special village for Agent Orange victims.

“Meditation is a subtle, barely perceptible stream, in which you will experience a radical shift of the center of gravity. The manifestation, limited in time and space, thick and heavy, that you have formerly regarded as yourself, changes into a weightless but ubiquitous point without limits and dimensions. The massive creature, bound to the earth that used to be you, is now free from its bonds and begins to soar.” Frank M. Wanderer

An Effective Remedy for the Overburdened Mind

Our Mind is one of the most sophisticated, most complicated instruments in the world. In this modern, rushing world, however, the Mind is bombarded with information to the extent that it virtually overflows. On those occasions the amounts of unprocessed information whirl in the Mind so fast that we are sometimes afraid of going mad. All the unprocessed information demands our attention, naturally, every single idea may appear to be very important for us. Our body reacts to the rushing stream of our thoughts, and sometime we fall ill because of the stress caused by our overburdened Mind. Is there anything that we may do to alleviate the burden of our Mind, is there a medicine to treat the problem?

Naturally, the remedy exists, and its name is meditation. A good night’s sleep in itself has long been insufficient for our Mind to rest. At night our body sleeps, but the our Mind continues to rush. The enormous amounts of information absorbed during the day are processed by our Mind at night. It is done with the help of dreaming. Thus, by the time our Mind has finished processing the information, our body is awake again, and a new day, full of stimuli begins. Our Mind therefore does not have its due share of rest, and it is soon overburdened. All this leads to a stressful life, and our body may eventually become ill.

We have to consciously find the time for our Mind to have some relaxation and to have an opportunity to shake out all that useless information. We must therefore find the place for meditation in our daily timetable. During meditation, the Mind rearranges itself, it is refreshed and revitalized and rejuvenated.

Active Meditation vs. True Meditation

In your present, isolated state of Consciousness, based upon your identification with your illusionary self, spatial consciousness is not present in your life, so you are unable to experience Consciousness free of forms.

But you have read a lot about this subject, so you wish to bring things beyond forms and shapes under the control of your Ego, in order to stabilize the Ego and make it permanent. You have read or heard somewhere that meditation is the best method to that end, so you have began to meditate diligently.

The Active Meditation

But you are approaching meditation the way you do with other objects of the outside world. You believe that meditation is also an activity of the mind, a concentration on an objects (e. g. a burning candle), or your own respiration or a mantra.

Meditation is therefore something that you perform yourself. Through active meditation you wish to reach a higher state of the Mind, which is expected to give you happiness, satisfaction and enlightenment.

You start to practice meditation as an individual self, as an Ego. You make efforts to tranquilize your mind. This activity may be successful up to a certain level, when you suppress your thoughts and emotions with your willpower, reaching transitory peace in you. That state will be lost immediately, when you stop concentrating, meditating, and no longer sustain the effort, as your mind returns to its usual activities, the old pre-conditioned patterns.

Meditation therefore has not brought you the lasting peace you had been longing for and you had read so much about, the peace independent of your mind that reinforces your existence in the world.

Your personal identity is rooted in your actions and the results of those actions. Your personal history is the chronicle of your actions and achievements.

The idea of being active is therefore a product of your conditioned mind, your Ego. Ambitions to acquire, to achieve something all work as motivations for action in the Ego-dominated mind. The desire to control, to manage are also powerful urges to act.

As you have seen, these very same forces are the ones that spur you to meditate. It is, nevertheless, not a bad phenomenon, as active meditation is the first step towards real meditation. Active meditation consolidates the outermost dimension of Alertness, that, is attention, in you.

The True Meditation

Your attempts at meditation are futile because real meditation is, by nature, effortless. It does not create an artificial quiet, but allows the deeper dimensions of Alertness to surface. This is the deep internal Silence that constitutes the real core of man.

The spatial awareness thus acquired remains with you after meditation, for longer and longer periods of time. You will eventually no longer need meditation, as the deeper dimensions of Alertness are there with you, so every moment in your life will be meditative.

Real meditation is always without object and is never the result of an activity, but Presence in the space of Consciousness. This natural, effortless Presence is meditation itself.

The deeper dimensions of Alertness, the awakened Consciousness, the world of Silence, are beyond the mind. This Silence is not forced upon us by some concentration technique, but the indescribable but experienceable of living emptiness. Conscious existence in the space of Consciousness.

A Simple and Powerful Meditation Technique

Let us take a closer look at that, how are the deeper dimensions of Alertness increase their presence in you, and how are you able to get from the state of consciousness meaning ”I am this and that” to the state ”I am,” how can you replace active meditation with real meditation?

Let us start by observing that in every waking moment you experience that you exist, you are. This experience is, however, so common and familiar that you do not dwell on it too long. Instead, you are preoccupied by “who are you” and “what are you.”

That is how your entire life story is born: ”What was I, what will I be, what I want to become”. The Ego-dominated mind keeps revolving around these questions, creating the psychological categories of time, the past and the future.

The fact that you exist means that you are alert. The fact that you are conscious and alert is the result of the pure Consciousness in you! In the following we wish to experience that pure Consciousness, we want to enable that Consciousness to awaken to its own existence in and through us.

Once you are able to keep your attention on the object of your meditation, now try to divert your attention from it to the space in which the object of your attention appears.

Then a new dimension of Alertness opens up in you. The space thus opening and the Presence appearing in it are now there for you to observe, your attention is able to grab them. You experience that you are Consciousness, sensing the work of the mind.

Now shift our attention to that contemplating Consciusness, to the “I exist,” to the pure Presence. Try to find the core of the Consciousness, the idea of ”I am,” and who the person who has done the meditations before really is.

Submerged into the Quiet of ”I am”

Submerge completely in the feeling of ”I am,” allow it to remain in itself, prevent it from being connected to thoughts and ideas, to the works of mind. Try to find the silence, the quiet of ”I am,” and stay within that.

In the meanwhile, try to locate Consciousness itself. Do not only watch what you are looking at, but also from where and with what intensity you are looking at it? In what quality are you watching? Who are you in the process of observation?

Be in the state from which recognition emerges, be at the source of recognition, where you are able to see recognition itself. Be in Sight itself.

Do not worry about the operations of your mind, just stay in the sensation of ”I am.” Do not qualify, do not interpret! Stay in the sensation of ”I am.”

Whenever your attention wanders away, trying to get into contact with thoughts, trying to be manifested in some story, bring it back to the state of ”I am,” and keep it there.

~From the book:Frank M. Wanderer: The Flames of Alertness: Discover the Power of Consciousness! (This books presents the path from active meditation to true meditation)

Read more articles from Frank M. Wanderer

In fact, in the US about 8% of adults and 1.6% of children have tried it already.

This is because the health benefits of mindfulness meditation are incredibly impressive… and supported by scientific studies.

This article explores the health conditions and diseases it may help with.

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

Meditation is the ancient practice of connecting the body and mind to become more self-aware and present (1).

There is a range of different meditation styles, but the most popular are:

• Focused Attention (Vipassana)
• Transcendental
• Mindfulness.

Most techniques emerged from a religious or spiritual context, but most now practice outside of these traditional settings.

Mindfulness is a specific approach that can be used alone or with other meditation techniques.

It’s most commonly defined as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”

Mindfulness meditation is the most well-studied in health research. Scientific literature may also refer to it as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which are types of mindfulness training.

I’ll refer to it as mindfulness in this article from here on.

Summary: Mindfulness is a form of meditation that is the most well-studied in health literature. It’s an ancient practice that emphasizes presence of mind and focus.

Reducing Stress is the Secret Sauce

Mindfulness appears helpful in a wide spectrum of health conditions.

It’s not understood why, but stress reduction appears to be the common link.

Stress is associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, thought to be problematic. Mindfulness allows for conscious thinking in the prefrontal cortex, which may reverse this pattern of brain activity under stress (2).

Under high stress there are high levels of catecholamine release in brain, which weaken prefrontal cortex function. Click to enlarge. Image source.

It makes sense then that those who regularly practice mindfulness tend to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. At least, that’s what early research indicates (3, 4).

For these reasons most experts suspect the ability of mindfulness to reduce stress is the key reason to its benefits.

Summary: Mindfulness appears to reduce stress and markers of stress. This is important as many health conditions are worsened by stress.

Mindfulness Meditation For Anxiety and Depression

Mindfulness has a direct effect on mental health.

Evidence is strongest for anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder) and depression, two of the most common mental health conditions worldwide.

Anxiety

Anxiety causes chronic, excessive, and often uncontrollable worry.

Unfortunately up to 60% of patients do not improve with conventional treatment, such as medications and psychotherapy(5).

Studies show mindfulness can help.

In one clinical trial of 89 patients with anxiety, one group undertook an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR), while the other group received 8 weeks of stress management education.

Members of both groups who participated in just one or more sessions showed symptom improvement, assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.

However, the MBSR group showed much greater improvement than the stress management group when additional anxiety symptom scales were used (5).

Change in symptom scores for three anxiety measures after Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. The lower the number the better. Click to enlarge.

Other studies have found similar benefits, particularly when mindfulness is used alongside anxiety medication (6).

Depression

Clinical depression is complex disorder characterized by low mood and avoidance of usual activities.

Conventional care includes medication and psychotherapy. Unfortunately, many patients relapse with this protocol or are do not comply with medication regimens (7).

Research suggests that mindfulness can help prevent relapse for those who do not wish to use maintenance antidepressants.

In one study (7):

• One group of 28 patients with major depressive disorder in remission received maintenance antidepressants
• The second group of 26 patients gradually discontinued antidepressants while receiving an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program
• The third group of 30 patients gradually discontinued medications while receiving placebo pills under clinical supervision.

Compared to the placebo group, the mindfulness and antidepressant groups showed equally reduced likelihood of relapse. Keep in mind the mindfulness group were weaned off antidepressants.

Proportion of unstable remitters who survived without relapse during maintenance/follow up. M-ADM = maintenance antidepressant pharamacotherapy, MBCT = taper + Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and PLA+CLIN = taper + pill placebo and clinical management. Click to enlarge.

Data from several studies suggests mindfulness and antidepressants are comparable for treating mild to moderate symptoms of depression (8).

This certainly does not suggest those with depression should discontinue medications. However, mindfulness does show promise as an alternative, and certainly as therapy alongside antidepressants.

Summary: Studies indicate it’s useful for managing anxiety compared to conventional stress management practices. It may also be an effective alternative to antidepressants for those at risk of depression relapse.

Mindfulness Meditation and Weight Loss

Obesity rates worldwide have more than doubled in the past 36 years.

Research is now heavily focused on prevention and treatment strategies.

Mindfulness is promising as it has been shown to help limit stress and stress-related overeating (10, 11).

It can also increase awareness of hunger and satiety cues, a concept known as mindful eating (12).

A very large observational study showed a relationship between mindfulness and reduced risk of being overweight or obese. Although it was not able to prove that mindfulness causes lower body weight (13).

Results from smaller clinical trials are promising, but we can’t make solid conclusions yet (14, 15).

Average weight change by group condition among overweight versus obese participants. Mindfulness dramatically reduced cortisol awakening response in obese but not overweight subjects. Click to enlarge.

It makes sense that mindful eating is beneficial for weight loss given our modern, fast-paced, fast food lifestyles.

Summary: Research has shown a link between mindfulness and healthy body weight, but more research is needed.

Mindfulness Meditation and Metabolic Risk Factors

Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms that raise risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

You are considered to have metabolic syndrome if you have three or more of the following symptoms:

• A waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 inches) in men and greater than 88 cm (35 inches) in women.
• High triglycerides
• Low HDL cholesterol
• Elevated fasting glucose (sugar)
• High blood pressure.

Observational studies have shown that metabolic syndrome is less common among those who use mind-body practices, including mindfulness (16).

Smaller clinical studies have explored the cause-effect relationships between mindfulness and metabolic risk. Interestingly, improvements to metabolic risk were seen in studies that showed no significant reduction in body weight (15).

In one study of 194 obese adults, the first group received diet and exercise advice, and the second received that same advice plus an all-day mindfulness retreat.

Compared to the first group, the mindfulness group showed significantly improved cholesterol and triglycerides after 12 months, and better fasting glucose levels after 18 months (15).

Changes in weight, fasting glucose, and triglyceride/HDL ratio for mindfulness and control groups from baseline to 18 months. Lower values are better for all 3 measures. Click to enlarge.

Other studies have shown mindfulness may improve blood pressure in those with hypertension, as well as exercise capacity and heart rate in those with heart disease (17, 18).

The mechanism for these changes is still unknown, but it’s suspected that mindfulness can alter the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate (17).

Summary: Mindfulness appears to improve certain metabolic risk factors, even without weight loss. In particular triglycerides, cholesterol ratios, blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

Mindfulness Meditation and the Gut Microbiome

The human body is full of bacteria.

These bacteria make up the human microbiome, mostly located in the large intestine or “gut”.

Alterations and imbalances in the microbiome may contribute to inflammation, weakened immunity, and maybe even weight gain(19).

Very small, early studies on humans have shown a correlation between psychological stress, stress hormones, and changes in microbial composition (20).

In theory then, mindfulness based stress reduction could be a way to help prevent negative changes in the microbiome.

This has so far been tested in rodent studies designed to place mice in stressful situations (19, 21).

Increased stress seems to dramatically alter the types of bacteria in a mouse’s gut, which has been observed multiple times.

Interestingly, this shift in bacteria does indeed increase inflammatory marker levels in the blood, which has huge implications for many common health conditions.

Summary: Research has linked psychological stress to changes in the microbiome, which could theoretically contribute to illness. But more human studies are needed to determine if mindfulness can help maintain a healthy microbiome.

Mindfulness Meditation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common health problem, affecting 7-10% of the world population (22).

The exact causes of IBS are unknown, but it’s likely multifactorial. Gut microbiome imbalance, stress and other psychological issues are suspected triggers (19, 23, 24, 25).

Considering the potential benefits of mindfulness on each of those triggers, it makes sense it helps with IBS management.

In one study of 43 IBS patients, the group who received mindfulness training showed significantly greater reductions in IBS symptoms than the group who received standard medical care (26).

These benefits were still noticeable after 6-months.

Other small studies have shown 30 minutes of mindfulness activity per day to help with IBS symptoms, although these weren’t well-designed (27, 28).

Summary: Small studies indicate that mindfulness may help relieve IBS symptoms. This makes sense given the suspected triggers of IBS are stress and psychological-related.

Mindfulness Meditation and Pregnancy

Stress during pregnancy has been associated with negative health outcomes, including preeclampsia, hypertension, and low birth weight (29, 30, 31).

Small studies have shown that mindfulness may lessen pregnancy-related stress.

In one study of 74 pregnant Indian women, participants who received twice-weekly mindfulness sessions for 5 weeks showed significantly reduced perceived stress than the control group (32).

This suggests mindfulness could very well be beneficial in reducing day-to-day perceived stress during pregnancy, but much more research is needed.

Summary: A small study shows that mindfulness reduces perceived stress in pregnant moms at 12 weeks gestation. More research is needed though.

Mindfulness Meditation and Cancer

In 2012, there were 14.1 million new cases of cancer worldwide.

The number of new cases per year is expected to increase 68% by 2030.

Mindfulness has been shown to significantly improve symptoms and side effects from cancer and its treatment. This includes stress, anxiety, depression, vitality, fatigue, and sleep levels (33, 34, 35, 36, 37).

Newer studies suspect that mindfulness may also help to treat cancer progression in the first place. In particular, markers of cancer activity in breast cancer.

The mechanism for this is still under investigation, but stress reduction appears to play a key role (38, 39).

In one study of 128 stage I to III breast cancer patients who had completed standard medical treatment:

• One group of 53 patients attended eight, 90-minute mindfulness-based educational sessions, plus a 6-hour mindfulness retreat.
• The second group of 49 patients attended a 90-minute group supportive-expressive therapy (SET) sessions once a week for 12 weeks.
• The third control group of 26 patients attended single 6-hour stress management session.

Compared to the mindfulness and SET groups, the control group had significantly shorter telomeres following the intervention.

Telomeres protect the structure of DNA. Shorter telomeres have been linked to disease progression and mortality in breast cancer and leukemia (39, 40).

Although it could have exciting implications for cancer treatment, it’s important to remember this is an emerging area of research. Mindfulness should not replace standard cancer care, but instead be used alongside it.

Summary: There is potential that mindfulness can positively influence cancer progression, or at least breast cancer. At a minimum, mindfulness appears to improve certain cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.

Mindfulness Meditation For Beginners

The potential health benefits of mindfulness meditation are very impressive.

It’s a harmless practice that can only be good for us.

If you are a beginner looking to explore the benefits of mindfulness, many free resources are available online.

I personally use Headspace, which is a guided meditation app for beginners available on iphone and android. It’s free for 10 sessions, and is a great way to understand what it’s all about.

Featured image credit: Medscape

Article submitted and used here with permission from the author at DietvsDisease.org.

Let’s say you set up a still life on your table. Maybe some fruit or a nice bouquet of flowers and a charming old-fashioned oil lamp. You can take that subject and look at it from many different angles and see many different things. Each angle or perspective would be different though no less correct. What each individual perspective has in common other than the subject matter itself is that it’s an incomplete view of the subject at hand. You can approach the subject from one angle and it will look totally different when you zoom in from a different direction. We can apply this idea to our own lives by simply remembering that we can’t always see the full picture when it comes to a person, a thing, or a situation.

This idea helps us to be more tolerant toward others, and it helps us maintain our own sense of peace when we feel life is treating us unfairly. Remember when considering the subject of yourself, the most important perspective you should be concerned with is your own; because you have the most complete picture of yourself as a person. You alone have access to your thoughts and all the myriad of variables and circumstances that cause you to make the decisions you do. Everyone else just has pieces of the puzzle, you have the full picture and it’s up to you to decide how you want to look at it. Just remember, good or bad you are the one who has to live in your head. On that note, I should add that consistency will go a long way toward preserving your sanity and peace of mind. While the side of ourselves we present to different people might differ in some ways if we can keep our facts somewhat consistent we’ll keep our lives simpler in the long run.

In the art world, we understand that not only does our perspective alter the image we see, so too does the lighting. Generally speaking, the brighter something is the more positively we view it.  We all know a room that is lit up is generally a lot less frightening and imposing as the thought of something hiding in the darkness. We can take this idea of lighting and compare it with gratitude. Gratitude is like the light we shine into the darkness that chases away the shadows of our fears and reveals to us the blessings we truly have. The more we shine the light of gratitude, the more we are able to see those blessings that were once hidden from us.

If we were to go back to the still-life analogy, we can start off by striking a match or sparking a lighter in a darkened room. We have a small amount of light that allows us to find a bowl of fruit or flowers to paint then we notice a lantern we can turn on. The lantern gives us a better view of the room and from there we’ve illuminated the door which we can pass through to see a beautiful sunset for us to paint ablaze with all the beauty and splendor nature possesses.

I should also add that what you put in is key. If you had ignored the fact you had a match or a flashlight and just focused on the darkness and wandered in said darkness you probably would have stubbed your toe or bumped your shin. Next, you might have stumbled around the room cursing and knocked over the table or stepped on the cat and gotten clawed.

The law of Karma or the law of Attraction is real; you get what you give. If you are an angry bitter person you’ll have an angry bitter life. If you are peaceful and loving, chances are your life will be peaceful and loving as well. Think of it as making a sandwich. If you put good healthy ingredients into the sandwich you’ll have a wholesome tasty lunch. If you squeeze a bunch of hate and angst and anger between a couple of slices of apathy you’re bound to get a s**t sandwich. Just simple logic.

Now most of our power comes from within, from the perspective we choose to look at things, and from the light we choose to shine; our power comes from how we choose to ACT in situations (thoughtfully, mindfully, aware, as opposed to reacting blindly or emotionally).

We can choose to paint a happy scene and happy places, or we can choose to paint a scary terrifying scene of our own personal hell and focus on that for half of forever. It’s up to us what kind of subject matter we want to focus on… You are the god of your own universe as am I, but we’re also co-creating with all the other gods and goddesses around us, it’s important to honor that and our ability to choose, and how necessary that ability is sometimes.

Think about all the different perspectives that are out there and surround yourself with the people who build and empower you to become the kind of person you want to be. Keep the healthy mirrors around you; cherish the people who will believe in you and lift you up. They will give you strength when you are feeling weak. They will make you smile when you want to cry.

Surround yourself with people who reinforce your perspective of good in yourself and the world. When you encounter negative people who try and cut you down or make you feel small remember they are coming from their own small perspective. Try and see them in another light and hold space for the beauty that’s inherent within, while respecting that sometimes the best way to do that is with space.

Finally, remember the words of Bob Ross while you are painting your life,

“This is your world, you can make it however you want.”

Written by Rebecca River

Sources-

Shared with permission from original author.

Featured Image credit: banashreepalit.files.wordpress.com

In Celtic cultures, the tree of life has many symbols of connection including the old ‘as above, so below’ idea.  This may represent the symbolic nature of what happens on a small scale will ripple out affecting life on a larger scale as well.  

According to the Gnostic view, the tree of life has a strong connection to the serpent or kundalini awaking which they call the nass or “moist essence of the universe”.  Whatever you call it essentially there is an energy coiled up at the base of the spine that will travel up the spine toward the brain igniting all of the energy pathways or chakras of the body on its way.

This process fully awakens your soul connecting your physical reality to the metaphysical existence and on an evolutionary level pulls us up into higher dimensions of perception, unlocks our intuitive psychic abilities and increases our level of awareness.

The tree of life is the structured symbolic path that one must travel through in order to pass through the 3 worlds talked about in Shamanic practice on your way to eternal life and heaven on earth.  The pathway is designed to create a powerful connection between the physical and the non-physical realm as well as connecting the lower dimensions with the higher dimensions.  

If you are a seeker of truth and curious about the path of life I recommend that you explore this concept from many different angles and follow the one that resonates most with your soul.  

The Coptic Gospel of Thomas

There are some lost and discarded books in history that were omitted or hidden during the writing of our modern bible. Whether or not you believe in the bible some of these teachings are interesting and valuable in our world today.  

For example, the Coptic Gospel of Thomas contain the secret teaching of Jesus (Yeshua) and were only found a little over a century ago int he deserts of Egypt.  According to that text Jesus told his disciples:

“For you have five trees in Paradise which do not change, either in summer or in winter, and their leaves do not fall. He who knows them shall not taste of death”

So Jesus referred to 5 trees in Paradise that if you came to know them then you wouldn’t taste of death.  He also had other teachings that may help shine a light on what we need to do to know these trees better.

“Blessed is he who was before he came into being,”

This kind of statement may sound a bit confusing, but it is actually very similar to many teachings from various cultures and refers to the benefit of being self-aware. When you know your true nature before the ego is even developed you are more able to travel the symbolic path that Jesus and other spiritual leaders spoke of.  

When we are clouded by our ego and lacking in awareness we distort the teachings and end up confused or frustrated.  Many ancient teachers spoke at a higher level of awareness and in a symbolic nature that can be confusing to many. 

“If you…listen…, these stones will minister to you,”

For example, this statement may mean ‘listening’ to your true self which would allow you to observe the internal and external connections we have to the physical reality around us.

The word tree is a creative and manifesting symbol in the Christian and Jewish sacred texts and often refer to taking or producing fruits.  Fruit is a very symbolic way to describe the end product or passing forward of nourishment, knowledge, and seeds to carry on the next generation.  

5 Parts of the Mind

It is possible that Jesus was talking about mastering the 5 sides of our mind.  In the 27th chapter of the Acts of Thomas during a special anointing ceremony, Thomas says “Come, elder of the five members of mind, communicate with these young men;” and according to Theodore bar Khoni the 5 minds are the equivalent to mad’a (reason), hauna (sanity), re’yana (mindfulness), tar’itha (intention), and mahshebhatha (imagination). 

These 5 minds are said to help you manifest the Father of Greatness which may help us see more into what the 5 trees represent. They would show us 5 ways to perceive the real reality.  

Marvin Meyer writes that:

“The ‘five trees in paradise’ are mentioned frequently in gnostic texts, ordinarily without explanation or elaboration. In Manichaean Psalm Book 161,17-29, it is said that various features of life and faith are put together in groups of five. This section opens with the statement, ‘For [five] are the trees that are in paradise [. . .] in summer and winter.’ On the trees in paradise according to Genesis, see Genesis 2:9.” (The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus, pp. 77–78)

5 Senses Meaning

Another possible interpretation is that the 5 trees are connected with our 5 senses.  In mindfulness, which Jesus mentions above, to increase your awareness you need to become present in your 5 senses and experience the real reality.   

According to the Naassenes, the paradise spoken of is the human head.  They suggest that the ‘5 trees’ may be referring to our 5 senses which help us create a perceivable inner world.  This inner world creates the basis for our belief system and perception of reality.  This knowledge would be what we need in order to find enlightenment and return to unity/paradise.

The only block to this theory is that the 5 senses are often connected with the lower levels of egoism and can lead to misinterpretation.  When we aren’t reading our senses right we can get lost in our emotions and create a bigger wedge between ourselves and the divine.  

Hindu Parallel 

Hindu culture also talks about 5 trees in their tradition too.  They are known as Mandara, Parikata, Samtanaka, Haricandana and Kalpa vrksa.  

There is a theory that is related to in The Gospel of Thomas that talks about Jesus traveling to India during the “missing years” of his life between the ages of 12 and 30 7 where he studied and learned the enlightened ways of meditation.  This may be the 5 trees he was referring to.  

Kabbalah Teachings

In the Jewish tradition, the 5 trees could be interpreted as the Five Worlds known as Asiyah, Yetzirah, Beriah, Atzilut & Adam Kadmon.  These 5 worlds refer to 5-dimensional levels of the soul’s progress towards unity, oneness, and the creator.

According to the secret Science of Kabbalah how to accomplish this is up to each person’s ‘desire to receive’.  If you wish to reach a state of unity with pure altruism you will then become the pure creator and experience the divine.  

Another teaching that is related to this concept is the “reality as a mirror of desire”.  This may be referring to the ego mirror that we bump into on our way to true awareness.  In this case, the pure desire equals perfect results in manifesting divinity, whereas impure desire would equal negative results.  They also refer to the tree as a symbol of a “productive” paradise. 

When you combine the Judaico-Biblical concepts most similar to the 5 tree and 5 world concept you end up with the five Partsufim also known as 5 soul levels: Nefesh, Ruah, Neshama, Haya and Yehida.

All of the teachings seem to point to one profound concept which is where the soul or mind uses the 5 senses to travel through the 5 worlds, minds or dimensional levels towards the same goal: divine unity of consciousness. 

What you need to know about the 5 Tree Path. 

1.The Tree of Life (The World Tree)

Often this tree is represented as a large bodhi, oak or ash tree that is found at the center of the earth’s 3 worlds.  This tree is used as a passageway between 3 dimensions or consciousness levels that are on earth.  

The tree of the world symbolizes the first of the 5 senses, vision, to those walking the path.  This stage is accompanied by visions, and prophetic dreams of the future.  

2. The Second Tree of Life

This tree is often expressed as a large pink coral where the bottom of the tree is copper or brass.  The tree is used as a portal into the 5th dimension.  People from our dimension see this as an open pathway or portal opening with no door.

This level of the 5th dimension is the where the soul traveler attains the ability of higher hearing and will have bouts of telepathic communication. 

3. The Third Tree of Life 

The 3rd tree is for the re-connecting and clearing of the nervous system.  It is often symbolically represented as a large flowing tree like a weeping willow.  It represents your memories of life before this incarnation and pushes you forward in you path of consciousness.

The third tree is symbolically connected with the sense of smell and is often accompanied by the smell of flowers in a walking state with no apparent source.   

4. The Fourth Tree of Life

Once a soul traveler reaches the 4th tree the seeker will experience what is known as the elixir or life or immortality.  This is also referred to as the nectar of the gods or Ambrosia.  It is often described as a sweet tasting honey like substance that is produced in the third eye and drips down the back of the throat.

This drip gives the person a sense of timelessness while restoring physical health.  Often times this drip is related to the bodies own ability to produce DMT and this leaves the person in a state where they don’t seem to need food or rest as well.

As you may have guessed already this tree is connected with the sense of taste.

5. The Fifth Tree of Life

This tree is often only considered a legend or a myth because this tree of life is the piercing connection where the traveler becomes connected metaphysically and physically to the “gods above”.

The 5th tree is connected with the sense of touch and the rest of the effects are with unknown or impossible to describe in the form of written word.

Each tree symbolizes a part of our alchemical journey physically and mentally as we get closer to our true self, oneness, or the divine source of the universe.  There are many theories out there that talk about how this reality is a dream and perhaps the path of the 5 trees is the secret we have been looking for to completely wake up.

Other Sources-

the-open-mind.com

en.wikipedia.org

salagram.net

It seems that no one wants to talk about self-deception these days.  I believe that one of the reasons for this is that we feel embarrassed when we are wrong especially when we find out that we have been lying to ourself.

When we lie to ourselves and we decide that we want to grow beyond the lie we have to look into life’s mirror metaphorically and face the truth behind our lies.  This type of truth seeking can leave us feeling naked, vulnerable and a bit scared of what we are going to find.

Owning your Creation

Self-transparency is taught in many different spiritual circles today.  They talk about owning your own creation.  What they often mean is that if you feel that your life is bad, then that is your fault.  Conversely, if you feel that your life is good then that may also be your fault.

Though a lot of our reality is determined by an optimistic or pessimistic perception it is good to learn how to accept our reality and find peace in the present moment.  The truth of the matter is, there are many things that appear to be outside of our physical control.

For example other people’s thoughts and actions.  Those are elements that can add insight into our world, but we cannot and should not control others.  But enough about consciousness, we can dig into the realms of thought and self-mastery at a later time.  What about Hans Christian Andersen?

Was Hans Christian Andersen awake?

Hans Christian Anderson lived between 1805-1875 and wrote many different stories, poems, and fairy tales that have shaped our thought more than we probably realize.  He wrote many different classic stories such as  “The Little Mermaid“, “The Snow Queen“, “The Nightingale“, “The Ugly Duckling“, and “The Emperor’s New Clothes“. 

If you want to influence people in a way that doesn’t offend them, and often will plant important thoughts into their subconscious then try what many of these great people did and tell stories.  Metaphors, symbolism, and stories allow us to observe or experience an idea without our emotional bias getting in the way.  This keeps self-deception at bay.

If you haven’t had a chance already, take a moment to read the profound short story from Andersen and see if any of the concepts remind you of modern society or the news media today.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Many years ago there lived an emperor who loved beautiful new clothes so much that he spent all his money on being finely dressed. His only interest was in going to the theater or in riding about in his carriage where he could show off his new clothes. He had a different costume for every hour of the day. Indeed, where it was said of other kings that they were at court, it could only be said of him that he was in his dressing room!

One day two swindlers came to the emperor’s city. They said that they were weavers, claiming that they knew how to make the finest cloth imaginable. Not only were the colors and the patterns extraordinarily beautiful, but in addition, this material had the amazing property that it was to be invisible to anyone who was incompetent or stupid.

“It would be wonderful to have clothes made from that cloth,” thought the emperor. “Then I would know which of my men are unfit for their positions, and I’d also be able to tell clever people from stupid ones.” So he immediately gave the two swindlers a great sum of money to weave their cloth for him.

They set up their looms and pretended to go to work, although there was nothing at all on the looms. They asked for the finest silk and the purest gold, all of which they hid away, continuing to work on the empty looms, often late into the night.

“I would really like to know how they are coming with the cloth!” thought the emperor, but he was a bit uneasy when he recalled that anyone who was unfit for his position or stupid would not be able to see the material. Of course, he himself had nothing to fear, but still he decided to send someone else to see how the work was progressing.

“I’ll send my honest old minister to the weavers,” thought the emperor. He’s the best one to see how the material is coming. He is very sensible, and no one is more worthy of his position than he.

So the good old minister went into the hall where the two swindlers sat working at their empty looms. “Goodness!” thought the old minister, opening his eyes wide. “I cannot see a thing!” But he did not say so.

The two swindlers invited him to step closer, asking him if it wasn’t a beautiful design and if the colors weren’t magnificent. They pointed to the empty loom, and the poor old minister opened his eyes wider and wider. He still could see nothing, for nothing was there. “Gracious” he thought. “Is it possible that I am stupid? I have never thought so. Am I unfit for my position? No one must know this. No, it will never do for me to say that I was unable to see the material.”

“You aren’t saying anything!” said one of the weavers.

“Oh, it is magnificent! The very best!” said the old minister, peering through his glasses. “This pattern and these colors! Yes, I’ll tell the emperor that I am very satisfied with it!”

“That makes us happy!” said the two weavers, and they called the colors and the unusual pattern by name. The old minister listened closely so that he would be able to say the same things when he reported back to the emperor, and that is exactly what he did.

The swindlers now asked for more money, more silk, and more gold, all of which they hid away. Then they continued to weave away as before on the empty looms.

The emperor sent other officials as well to observe the weavers’ progress. They too were startled when they saw nothing, and they too reported back to him how wonderful the material was, advising him to have it made into clothes that he could wear in a grand procession. The entire city was alive in praise of the cloth. “Magnifique! Nysseligt! Excellent!” they said, in all languages. The emperor awarded the swindlers with medals of honor, bestowing on each of them the title Lord Weaver.

The swindlers stayed up the entire night before the procession was to take place, burning more than sixteen candles. Everyone could see that they were in a great rush to finish the emperor’s new clothes. They pretended to take the material from the looms. They cut in the air with large scissors. They sewed with needles but without any thread. Finally they announced, “Behold! The clothes are finished!”

The emperor came to them with his most distinguished cavaliers. The two swindlers raised their arms as though they were holding something and said, “Just look at these trousers! Here is the jacket! This is the cloak!” and so forth. “They are as light as spider webs! You might think that you didn’t have a thing on, but that is the good thing about them.”

“Yes,” said the cavaliers, but they couldn’t see a thing, for nothing was there.

“Would his imperial majesty, if it please his grace, kindly remove his clothes.” said the swindlers. “Then we will fit you with the new ones, here in front of the large mirror.”

The emperor took off all his clothes, and the swindlers pretended to dress him, piece by piece, with the new ones that were to be fitted. They took hold of his waist and pretended to tie something about him. It was the train. Then the emperor turned and looked into the mirror.

“Goodness, they suit you well! What a wonderful fit!” they all said. “What a pattern! What colors! Such luxurious clothes!”

“The canopy to be carried above your majesty awaits outside,” said the grandmaster of ceremonies.

“Yes, I am ready!” said the emperor. “Don’t they fit well?” He turned once again toward the mirror, because it had to appear as though he were admiring himself in all his glory.

The chamberlains who were to carry the train held their hands just above the floor as if they were picking up the train. As they walked they pretended to hold the train high, for they could not let anyone notice that they could see nothing.

The emperor walked beneath the beautiful canopy in the procession, and all the people in the street and in their windows said, “Goodness, the emperor’s new clothes are incomparable! What a beautiful train on his jacket. What a perfect fit!” No one wanted it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for then it would be said that he was unfit for his position or that he was stupid. None of the emperor’s clothes had ever before received such praise.

“But he doesn’t have anything on!” said a small child.

“Good Lord, let us hear the voice of an innocent child!” said the father, and whispered to another what the child had said.

“A small child said that he doesn’t have anything on!”

Finally everyone was saying, “He doesn’t have anything on!”

The emperor shuddered, for he knew that they were right, but he thought, “The procession must go on!” He carried himself even more proudly, and the chamberlains walked along behind carrying the train that wasn’t there.

———-

Have you ever caught yourself agreeing with somone because it feels easier or safer than speaking your mind?

Just like in the story above I feel that often times when someone is expressing an opinion it becomes easier to just nod and agree then it is to calmly state that we do not see it the same way.  When we do this we aren’t allowing others the oprotunity to grow or ourselves the ability to express our ideas about the topic.

We are a new generation of truth seekers that will not rest until we understand what is really going on with the government, wars, media, big energy companies, technology and consciouness.

Do you see people you know pulled into the fear games of the news media?  Do you ever wonder what they are being disctracted from?

Perhaps the distraction is just as simple as keeping us focused on the past or in fear of the future instead of rooted in the present moment.

“Root yourself in this present moment now. Sight, sound, smell. What do you feel?” -Will Smith in After Earth

If we are being distracted, fooled, and continue to allow self-decpetion to rule then we loose and give away all of our power.  Our power to act is where it has always been, in the present moment.

From the Mouth of a Child

Children are great at pointing out the flaws of society.  They are new to the earth, have a fresh set of eyes and are often bold in their observations.  Just like in the story above it was the child that shined a light on the kingdom’s self-deception.

We can learn a lot from the bold actions of children.  We are a new generation, a conscious generation and it is our time to find our voice and shine the light of truth in this world.

What do you think about the lessons behind The Emperor’s New Clothes and how it relates to our modern world?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Sources–

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type1620.html#andersen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Clothes

Image source: patheos.com