Guerrilla gardening

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guerrilla garden

Guerrilla gardening is a practice that many avid environmentalists use as a form of activism in land use. It simply the practice of planting food crops or decorative flowers/plants/or trees on land that does not belong to them. People who do it, sometimes do it in the secrecy of night, while others blatantly tend to gardens on other peoples property during the day.

The term also goes hand in hand with seed bombs or seed grenades. Seed bombs are used to throw seeds that will grow in unused or ugly land/lots. There is some land that I can think of that needs some seed bombing near my home.

If you plan to plant a guerrilla garden or if you plan to seed bomb...then using drought resistant species is important if you want better chances of your plants survival.

Please know that you possibly could get in trouble for seed bombing or guerrilla gardening. However, usually people are more welcome to the idea of nice flowers, trees, bushes, or crops being in a place where ugly barren unused land once was.

If you have before and after pictures of seed bombs or guerrilla gardens you've done, send us an email to JT [at] theEnvironmentalblog.org and we'll post em up.

Thoughts, Comments, Questions...

Green Your Morning Routine

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green routine

I am always open and willing to try new ways to green my routine and everyday living. As I was getting ready one morning it hit me how much of a process it is to get ready. For a girl it may require more steps in being fully ready and groomed in the morning but there is plenty to learn for both guys and gals here. I've compiled some of my favorite tips for saving energy, conserving water, and consuming less overall, just in getting ready for the day.

You're alarm goes off and you groggily shuffle with half opened eyes to the bathroom. You grab your tooth brush and proceed to brush those pearly whites. And then next (if you're a guy) you will usually shave. First thing you can change about this picture here is to make sure that toothpaste and shaving cream is natural since most of these products contain phenols and carcinogenic chemicals that can be ingested by the skin and absorbed by the body. Choose toothpaste without artificial dyes, SLS, silica and other harmful ingredients and try shaving cream made with almond or coconut oils. Oh and never leave the water running while brushing or shaving!

Check your thermostat - Before hopping into that shower, check the temperature on your water heater. Changing the setting from 140° to 120° can save you up to 10 percent in energy bills!

Use Less water - I think most of can admit that sitting under hot flowing water is relaxing and leaves you with the feeling that you never want to get out of the shower. Well its time to be strong and pull yourself away from being seduced by the ever so relaxing hot water. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a typical shower head uses two gallons of water per minute. If you take a 15 minute shower that's 30 gallons of water! Switching to a low flow shower head can also help in cutting down some water usage.

Let your hair air dry (for ladies mainly) - If you can manage some extra time in the morning then skip the blow drying. It is way better for your hair since blow drying sucks the moisture right out of your hair and makes it easily breakable. Towel dry your hair and then brush it straight. Run your fingers through it and give it a toss frequently. Doing this instead of blow drying will save a considerable amount of energy. Try to keep in mind to only blow dry when absolutely necessary. There are also energy efficient blow dryers and straighteners out there that use less watts than others do.

Get rid of the vinyl - A lot of us use or have used vinyl shower curtains in the past. just say goodbye to the PVC. Polyvinyl Chloride is the fancy name for vinyl and creates a nasty chemical called Dioxin during manufacturing use and disposal. Dioxin is a known carcinogen that can also disrupt hormonal systems and may cause reproductive and immune system damage. So don't bring any #3 plastic, vinyl, or PVC into your life.

Ditch the razors - 2 billion disposable plastic razors are purchased each year. Eventually they get tossed into the landfill. A more permanent razor with changeable razor heads would be a better choice to help reduce waste.

Your cup of coffee - Fair trade Organic is the way to go. Carry a stainless steel mug with you to work or school.

Thoughts, Comments, Questions...

5 Ways to Green Your Exercise Routine

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green jogger
Courtesy of Allard1 on Flickr

So many of us are trying to get in shape for the swimsuit season or just like to keep fit and healthy. Some of us dread going to the gym or going for a daily run, while others may enjoy it. Well if you make the choice to get out there and do your mind, body, and spirit some good, then brownie points for you! The next step maybe to think about greening your workout as best as possible. You don't need a gym membership so that the extreme regular gym goers can intimidate you into thinking to yourself "I can never look like that!" Forget that business! All you need is a pair of shoes. So let's get to some things you can do that will feel great and be eco friendly all at the same time. Here is our list of 5 ways to green your exercise routine:

1) Blow the dust off your bicycle and get involved with your community. If you've put it off in the past for fear of riding alone, there are many bicycle groups within communities across the nation. And if you don't own a bicycle, search the ads in your area and get one used (another way to green your routine). Riding your bike is free and helps you be one with the nature around you!

2) If you do choose to join a gym then pick one closest to your home. Then you can either walk, run, or bike there. This will cut down on carbon emissions and save you some gas money from driving, and possibly save you parking fees.

3) Lace up your shoestrings and just run. Running in the outdoors is the best form of cardio exercise (in my opinion). Actually out of all motorized pieces of fitness equipment, treadmills use the most energy. So why waste energy when there is the beautiful outdoors to enjoy? There may be some psychological perks as well. Their could be mental health benefits of exercise while working out in the fresh air. A study conducted by the City University of New York found that women who regularly exercised outdoors in parks felt that nature helped to revitalize their senses and restore their mental capacity. A similar study conducted by the University of Essex revealed that individuals exposed to images of the outdoors while exercising reported higher levels of self-esteem post-workout than those who were not. Personally I find that going for a jog on a nice day is a great way to clear your head and gather your thoughts. Being cooped up in a gym makes my mind focused only on the calories I'm burning, which sometimes leads to more stress and pressure.

4) Purchase a reusable water bottle. It's probably one of the more important things you can do. Since 38 billion plastic bottles go into landfills in the US each year. Plastic bottles take up to 1000 years to biodegrade. Also regular water bottles contain chemicals that may leak into your water...yikes! There are many reusable water bottles out there on the market that can fit whatever activity you may need it for. Besides that one time use water bottles are wasteful.

5) Eat Organically and Wear Naturally. Before your workout you will need some kind of food in your tummy, so make sure its energizing fresh and organic. Skip the artificial stuff and processed foods. Go with something light like an organic energy bar. Also if you feel like a new pair of yoga pants or biking shorts will help get you motivated to get into a green routine, then go with organic fabrics with soy and and organic cotton blends.

Don't forget to check out our tips on swimming green and tips on green summer fun.

Thoughts, Comments, Questions...

Seed Bombs

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seed bomb

Bombs Away!

How have some decided to fight back against deforestation and desertification caused by humans?

With "Seed bombs!" a person named Jin Wook and some friends came up with the idea of seed bombs and the seed bomb mission. Mission seed bomb utilizes an aircraft carrying charges full of seed capsules. The capsules are dispersed over areas where natural vegetation has died due to deforestation and desertification.

The special seed bomb capsules that are dropped over these lands simply contain soil and seeds housed in biodegradable plastic. While the soil provides nutrients and moisture the seeds grow inside the capsule that is slowly melting away. By the time the capsule has melted the new life inside is strong enough in theory to continue on it’s own. Although these seed bombs are not being dropped quite yet botanists are currently researching the kind of seeds that will best be suited for the seed bombs. Pretty Cool!

To Make Seed Bombs

  • Combine 2 parts mixed seeds with 3 parts compost. (I think organic potting soil could work too.)
  • Stir in 5 parts powdered red or brown clay.
  • Moisten with water until mixture is damp enough to mold into balls.
  • Pinch off a penny-sized piece of the clay mixture and roll it between the palms of your hands until it forms a tight ball (1 inch in diameter).
  • Set the balls on newspaper and allow to dry for 24 - 48 hours. Store in a cool, dry place until ready to sow.

    Seed bombing is also known as "Seed Grenades". A seed bomb can also be a compressed clod of soil containing live vegetation that may be thrown onto empty lots or ugly unused land. The first seed grenades were made from condoms filled with local wildflower seeds, water and fertilizer. The seed grenades were tossed over fences onto empty lots in New York City in order to make the neighborhoods look better. It was the start of the Guerrilla Gardening movement.

    Written by our contributor Steve Allen

    Thoughts, Comments, Questions...

    • Green with Envy | How to Spot an Eco-Snob | Part III

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    I am not sure if there is such a thing as being TOO GREEN, but I often find myself giving dirty looks to people in LARGE VEHICLES (especially when there is only one driver in it and they are not using it to tow cargo). I do drive a car for work like most, but I do drive a hybrid just for the purposes of work. When I come home, the car stays parked and goes not a single mile until my work week starts anew. On my days off, I happily walk, bike, and take public transportation to all my needs as I live in downtown Portland, Oregon.

    Green with Envy Series:
  • Green with Envy | Part 1
  • Green with Envy | Eco-Snob: Hybrids | Part II
  • How to Spot an Eco-Snob

    • When I go grocery shopping, I always bring my own re-usable bags (especially since their durable). When asked for paper or plastic, I often times find myself snobbishly saying "neither" with an uninviting tone. I am not proud of my eco-snobbery, but I do try to do my part. Some people claim that we never smile. That may be true during the long rainy winters in the Pacific Northwest, but we ARE happy when the sun comes out.

    I also DO think that if you are someone who claims to be "green" then you are likely to have been classified by someone else as an eco-snob. Their are some pretty obvious characteristics that make an eco-snob who they are. Most of the time it is out of their control...it just happens. They don't mean to be snobby or snarky, but often times their is a feeling of being better then the other guy because 'you' made the better choice for the environment.

    There are plenty of signs to watch out for when on the lookout for eco-snobs. Beware of their favorite hang out spots such as the local farmer's markets, any Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, or local Health Food Store (especially co-ops). They also like to hang in packs of bicycles in downtowns with flashy lights and hipster clothes. I even saw one them riding down the street with a boombox attached to the back of their bicycle with blaring indie music. Below is my unofficial list of How to Spot an Eco-Snob for yourself.

    The Environmental Blog's Unofficial List of How to Spot an Eco-Snob

  • Someone who brags about their hybrid (especially Prius owners)
  • Someone who brags about their Electric Vehicle
  • Someone who brags about not owning a vehicle at all
  • Someone who brags about their bicycle
  • Someone who thinks its cool to be vegan or vegetarian
  • Someone who distinctly enunciates the word "Organic"
  • Someone who makes obscene facial reactions in the presence of Trucks/SUV's
  • Your roommate or loved one snaps at you for not recycling properly
  • Your significant other snarks at you for not adding to the compost pile
  • Someone who brags about volunteering for Greenpeace or similar non-profits
  • Beware of homes that post signs saying "Pesticide-Free"
  • Beware of those that wear earthy clothing

    Their are plenty more out their, if you have any more ideas, please share them in the comment section...this could get fun =P

    **Note: This post is not intended to offend anyone, it is simply intended to be comical**

    • EcoLogo

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    ecologo
    For those parent's out there that are concerned about toys being hazardous or toxic with all those recalls and lead scares lately, not to worry because purchasing toys will be a worry free activity (as it should be). The EcoLogo program has kicked off its first environmental standard for toys. EcoLogo is recognized worldwide and is the largest most respected environmental standard and certification mark.

    You can be assured when buying a product with the EcoLogo that it has met strict standards and was produced to be as sustainable as possible. For the past few years many toy companies were marketing with the terms "all natural" or "earth friendly" with no proof to back it up. Can we say green washing? Over the next 12-18 months EcoLogo will be working to develop environmental standards for toys.

    So there will no more misleading labels that can make you wonder if that plastic bumble bee your baby is teething on is toxic free. Scot Case, executive director of the EcoLogo Program, said in a statement, "The new EcoLogo standard will define clear criteria that products must meet before they can claim environmental leadership." There should be a peace of mind about what toys you choose to purchase for your children, and with a non profit organization like this, finally there will be.

    Thoughts, Comments, Questions...

    First Taste of Spiritual Enlightenment

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    You’ve probably heard of the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”, a science fiction epic by Stanley Kubrick that begins with the evolution of the man-ape and ends with an acid trip in outer space. But have you heard of the book? I had it recommended to me by a friend, and reading it had some rather unforeseen consequenses. You know how many spiritual gurus talk about how we are something bigger than this body and mind we normally refer to us “me”? This “something bigger” is often called things like Higher Self, Brahman or God, and the goal of many spiritual students, including myself, is to let go of the false identification with the body/mind and realize that you are this “something bigger”.

    Well, the book goes into this big time. The ending, which is mostly a lot of colors in the movie, is among the most mind-blowing fiction I’ve ever read. Afterwards, I felt I understood so much more of what is meant by all this talk about God/Spirit/Higher Self. I also realized, or began to realize, that the only thing keeping us from the experience of God (I’m going to use the word “God” for this from now on), is the ideas, theories and thoughts we project on the world. If we would just be still and listen even for a second, we would hear the sound of God.

    It’s like a conversation between two people, where one of them is going “BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH”, and the other waits, patiently and lovingly, for his turn to speak. Spiritual Enlightenment is shutting up for a moment, and actually listening to what God has to say.

    And so that is what I did, or attempted, the night I finished “2001: A Space Odyssey”. I closed my eyes, and stared, but not for anything visual. I listened, but not for sounds. I waited. And there it was.

    Or at least a tiny glimpse, because pretty soon the mind went right back to “BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH” again, and so I kind of fell in and out of it for a minute, and then returned to the world of body/mind.

    And this is when you wait for a description of this “something bigger”, and I give you the same answer as all those spiritual gurus: it’s undescribable. It’s beyond the minds ability for comprehension. It simply is.

    So, thank you, Universe, for this first little glimpse of your greatness. I’m really looking forward to whatever follows. If you’d like to check out “2001: A Space Odyssey” for yourself, I recommend this version, but remember that this is not a complete guide to experiencing the first taste of Spiritual Enlightenment. Probably more important, was the understanding I had gathered from people like Ariel Bravy and the previous lessons learned in life. What the novel did, was tie it all together, adding the incredible imagination and storytelling of Arthur C. Clarke, to really get the point across.

    I wish you all a super-exciting 2009! :D

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    Welcome

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    Hello, and welcome to the Spiritual Enlightenment Blog. You’ve found your way here, and that means you are, in your own way, on a path to Spiritual Enlightenment. This place isn’t about any particular such path, but rather like the tavern you passed by, in which you heard a great joke that made you realize something important, or the flowers you picked, that inspired you to move on with renewed strength, or the roadsign you saw, that helped you realize a shortcut towards your goal. This is a place where you can find an inspiring thought, a beautiful song or an insightful film. It is also a place that can point you to some of the great teachers that exist out there. This is a guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, in the various forms you can find it around the internet. Take a look around, see if you find just the thing you didn’t know you were looking for.

    - Jonas

    Seeing the World

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    Hi there! Exams are over, and so is Christmas, so my posting frequency should increase again now, or so is the plan. I’ve been inspired to travel the world lately, and so, in accordance with the law of attraction, I’ve stumbled upon all kinds of related material. One of the more interesting things to emerge is this guy named Matt. Now, what is so special about Matt? Well, he gets around, and he does a funny dance. Check it out:


    All the interesting places the Earth has to offer! For a more in-depth look at some of the wonders Matt came across, check out his “About” page, which contains a video lecture he’s given on what he does, and also includes the rather inspirational story of how he got the chance to do so (more evidence to support that everything really is possible!)

    Travelling is such a great feeling of freedom when done right. You have full responsibility, which is an excellent opportunity to discover your own response-ability. I remember being on a trip with my class to Beijing, and enjoying the one day without any planned activities more than all the other days combined. I didn’t visit any tourist attractions, didn’t always end up where I wanted and didn’t have any guides to translate and tell me what stuff was. Instead, me and the friend I was with got scammed by a bicycle cab (apparently, naïve Norwegians are their favorite food), ate at the tiniest restuarant I’ve ever seen, played “Jianzi” with old chinese people and got slightly drunk on chinese beer. The point isn’t what you do, it’s the feeling of total freedom in a foreign world, an exhilaration over your ability to explore at your own pace, the excitement of talking to people with a completely different culture from your own.

    Picture from NASA (who else?)

    Another inspiring traveller is Carsten Jensen. He gets around as well, and although I’m not sure if he can dance funny, he writes about his travels with maturity, honesty and poetic beauty. His book “I Have Seen the World Begin” is a huge source of inspiration, personal lessons and cultural knowledge from distant parts of the world. Although slightly difficult to get your hands on in English, you can find the book here.

    So, I hope you’ll find some inspiration for your own travels in these sources. I might take a year off starting next autumn and see some places I’m curious about, so if you have any recommendations, I would be happy if you left a comment (click the top right link, right underneath this post’s headline). Who knows, maybe I’ll bump into you there…

    Oh, and merry Christmas! :)

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    I’m Alive!

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    Hello, everyone! I’ve been really busy with my exams in philosophy lately, and haven’t been able to post much. But is that reason enough for more than one month with no mention of anything Icelandic whatsoever? Hell no!

    Múm is an Icelandic band that makes their own brand of electronica. Their music is best described by a reviewer from All Music Guide, who stated that it sounds like “Múm is somehow able to commit the fever dreams of sickly children to tape”. Now, I realize that might not sound so nice, but it is.

    They’re amazing in concert, this is a band with lots of bubbling, playful energy and no intention to hide it behind an attempt at being cool. I particularly enjoy their first album, “Finally We Are No One”, here is a little taste of that:

    Green Grass Of Tunnel

    (I really wish I found a better sound quality for that one)

    The full album can be found here

    So anyway, I can’t wait for the exams to be over. Philosophy is a very intellectually stimulating subject, but they keep trying to solve life’s mysteries with logic and reason, which is tools I find lacking for the task.

    Bah, back to the books.

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    Open Your Eyes

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    Sometimes, we feel that we’re in a moment that is of lesser value. Maybe you’re doing the dishes, or taking the bus, or paying the bills. We feel that the moment is just a means to something else, and not a moment worth paying attention to for itself. But categorizing moments in this manner is a function of our minds, and not a feature of Reality itself. Every moment is a moment in which we are free to exist in the beauty of Creation. You may “have to” do the dishes, but you’re still free to enjoy Existence, free to feel that you are, in this very moment, alive. This state is unconditional, you can access it at all times. And when you do, and you look around, you may find that the moment you’re in was very much worth your attention, anyway.

    Image from http://www.buytaert.net

    In honor of this state, here is a song by King Crimson: Eyes Wide Open

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    Spiritual Enlightenment and Grizzly Bears

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    Imagine a guy living all alone in the wilderness of Alaska.

    Now, imagine that this guy spends most of his time hanging out with wild grizzly bears.

    Now, add to that fantasy that he has a camera, which he talks to, poses for and films his interactions with the bears with.

    If I told you this guy really existed, you might conclude that he is one of two things:

    1) Crazy

    2) Enlightened

    Timothy Treadwell was a nice mixture of both.

    The documentary Grizzly Man is made from the footage of Timothy’s own camera, together with interviews with the people that knew him. It explores the Alaskan nature and the lives of the enormous grizzly bears, but even more it explores the nature and life of a very peculiar man. Timothy had trouble with alcohol, trouble with his career and trouble with humanity in general. What saved him was the immense love he had for animals, and this was what drove him to sober up and move out into the wild.

    When we see him interacting with the animals, whether it’s a fox or a grizzly bear, we can’t help but be touched by the love, acceptance and sheer wonder this man radiates. It’s his very openness to life that inspires, his excitement of being.

    The documentary is done in a very personal way, and is a very honest portrait of a man who was far from perfect, yet able to live with a love that most can only envy him.

    You can find it here

    Timothy Treadwell died in 2003, aged 46. Eaten by a bear, of course.

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    The Lives of Others

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    How many movies have you seen where you had to pause after thirty minutes just to cry? If the answer is anything but zero, how many of those movies made you cry not because something was sad, but just because it was so outrageously beautiful? This is such a movie.

    “The Lives of Others” takes place in Germany under Soviet occupation. We meet a surveillance specialist of the Stasi police, and the couple he is ordered to keep watch over. As the man in the couple, a poet named Georg, decides to take action against the suppressing system they are under, the tension rises, and all characters involved must make difficult choices about which part they will play.

    Although a surveillance thriller on the surface, “The Lives of Others” captures not only the difficulties of being human, but also just how wonderful these little battles of ours really are. It shows the choices we make between Love and fear so clearly, and with a poetry of Shakespearian magnitude. The movie won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2007, and is the closest thing I have to a favorite movie of all time. I’m kind of enthusiastic about this, can you tell? Anyway, you can see the trailer here, and the film itself can be found here.

    To quote another reviewer, this is “137 minutes of the best entertainment imaginable”, and highly relevant not only to those seeking Spiritual Enlightenment, but to all feeling human beings. I genuinly hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

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    Aliens and Spiritual Enlightenment

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    And now for something rather strange! Channeling is a process in which a person lets himself be “taken over” by another being, channeling that being through his own body, so to speak. There are many who claim to do this, producing various, often spiritual teachings coming from the channeled being. Some of them make a little more sense than others, and Bashar is one that makes very much sense indeed. His teachings concerns topics such as Law of Attraction, Abundance and Creation, basically how to best create the life you want. These are some free talks he has given on these subjects:

    The 4 Laws of Creation

    Finding Your Highest Excitement

    Abundance and Trusting What Is

    Now, Bashar is supposedly an extra-terrestial being, channeled by Darryl Anka. If that turns you off, then focus instead on what he has to say about your world, and how it works. As for me, I choose to just be neutral to the claim. I simply don’t know. But since what he has to say about alien species sounds absolutely GREAT, I would be very happy if it is so!

    If you would like to know more about Bashar and his teachings, you can check out his official site here.

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    Free course on Conquering Anxiety

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    The National Institute of Anxiety and Stress, Inc. offers a breakthrough self-help programfor conquering anxiety and stress. It can help you address your symptoms, change your anxious thought patterns, and create a relaxing, fulfilling life. We guarantee that you'll find it a valuable tool in conquering your anxiety or your money back! Click Here to learn seven vital keys for conquering anxiety

    Manifesting Prosperity,Love manifesting,Dream Manifesting

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    I would like to tell you that I have started a new group to help people in manifesting. The main aim of the site is to manifest love, manifest peace and to manifest abundance.The key to manifesting reality in the physical world is to have lots of focus and energy . Then only the power of intention comes into force.For most of us, the manifesting energy becomes dissipated because we have so many

    Stress and Anxiety Relief Treatment

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    The Stress And Anxiety Relief Treatment Are you suffering from stress and anxiety and looking for ways to get stress and anxiety relief. A lot of people nowadays are suffering from anxiety and stress and although it sounds funny, many people are worried about their stress and anxiety attacks. What I mean is that their stress and worrying has gone to a new level and instead of worrying about some

    Stress and Anxiety Reduction with Brainwave entrainment

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    Stress and Anxiety Relief using Brainwave Entrainment CdsHi,I had told you people that I would be writing about brainwave entrainment and binaural beats . I have told you earlier and I am telling you now. Stress and Anxiety are chemical reactions in the brain. Therefore using medication gives relief ,whether you have stress or anxiety or depression, whatever.The state of your brain determines