Archive for March, 2008

Promotional Marketing - Effective Promotion vs A Cheap Giveaway

Monday, March 31st, 2008

By Michael Merrick Crooks My friend Ken, the toy poodle breeder, called the other day asking about imprinted pens to give away at dog shows to promote his kennel. From previous conversations I remembered something about height restrictions. “Ken, isnt there a rule that when a toy poodle gets to a certain height, you cant show it any more?” I asked. “Sure,” he replied. “Ten inches. Then the owner needs to get another poodle.” “So give your prospects a ruler imprinted with your kennel name, “Breeder of Champion Poodles”, phone number and a line that says, Call Me When Your Dog Gets Too Tall.” “Now thats a great idea,” he exclaimed. Developing great promotional ideas that are relevant to your audience isnt that hard. It simply takes a subtle shift in mindset and an understanding of what you really want to accomplish. The shift in mindset comes when you understand the difference between a giveaway and a promotion. A giveaway is a one-way street. All too often, business owners give away some cheap doo-dad thinking it will create goodwill and effectively promote their business. They are mindless of the fact that the item is irrelevant to their business or the prospect’s need such as a breeder giving away an imprinted pen. The recipient takes the item home and: 1) puts it in a drawer, 2) gives it to the kids, 3) throws it away. 4) perhaps uses the item with no real intention of doing business with the advertiser. With a giveaway, you cannot measure your return on investment. You gain practically nothing meaningful certainly nothing you can actively follow up on. And, as far as building business? Few will say, “Wow! They have me a cheap piece of junk with their name on it! Ive really got to do business with them.”A promotion is a two-way street. You determine what your want your target to do, then you figure out a way to get them to do it. Trade shows are a good example. As I said, most companies give away something cheap to everyone who stops or walks by. But as a business owner/marketer, you dont care about everyone at least you shouldnt. You should care only about those who are interested in your product or service and can afford to pay for it. Being a smart promotional marketer, you should offer something of value to those who first fill out a short need-assessment or questionnaire providing you with their name, contact information and an idea of their interest level or purchasing time frame. This is how you qualify your prospects and obtain meaningful, actionable data. And because you’re not giving something to everybody, you can afford to offer promotional product that costs a bit more and will give your prospect a reason to remember you. For instance, a Financial Planner thats giving pens to everyone, would do better to offer an imprinted booklet about managing finances ONLY to those who fill out the short questionnaire. Sure, the booklet costs more than the pens. But, the Financial Planner obtains information on which he/she can effectively follow up. The added bonus is the fact that the return on investment is measurable, and, the prospect has a meaningful item that is relevant to their interest. Cheap giveaways have their place when donating to goody bags or as prizes for contests or token thank-you gifts. However, when your goal is to promote your business, secure qualified leads or increase traffic an effective promotion beats a cheap giveaway. Michael Merrick Crooks is a 23-year advertising veteran, copywriter and founder of Crooks Advertising Alliance. His firm, based near Lansing, Michigan (USA) is a creative strike-force that provides advertising, creative problem-solving and promotional marketing services to a diverse client base. His thinking is fresh and based on his diverse personal life experiences that provide unique insight into the realities of what people do and how they live their lives. From logo development and brochure writing, design and production to targeted, promotional concepts, Crooks has an uncanny ability to look at the same thing everyone else does and see something different. For more thought-provoking marketing articles and insights visit http://www.crooksadvertising.com or http://www.waterlesstattoos.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Merrick_Crooks http://EzineArticles.com/?Promotional-Marketing—Effective-Promotion-vs-A-Cheap-Giveaway&id=504155 ambien or lunestarozerem best ativan withdrawal symptoms finasteride ambien ambien insomnia

American Family Foundation

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

By Kadence Buchanan Among the dozens of different groups that have sprouted over the years clamoring for various family-related issues, the American Family Foundation (AFA) has to be one of the most highly-visible and controversial of the lot. The groups has come a long way since being established as a wholly conservative, Christian non-profit organization in 1977 by Rev. Donald Wildmon. At that time, the group was known as the National Federation for Decency and it was based in Tupelo, Mississippi. One of the areas where the AFA is visible is through the articles that it publishes regularly promoting traditional nuclear family values and the main tenets of Christianity. The group is known for its strong support for Christian missionaries and its intense hatred and opposition against abortion, homosexuality and pornography. They are also known for their role in promoting “clean entertainment” and for preaching the values of thrift and railing against excessive debt. As an activist group, the AFA is one of the best-organized in the country, especially when it comes to launching boycotts and letter writing campaigns that promote traditional values that they hold dear. Among the more prominent boycotts that the group has undertaken are those against fashion company Abercrombie & Fitch (on the grounds that it uses “softcore pornography in company catalogs”), film distributor Movie Gallery (which it refers to as a “distributor of pornographic videos”), convenience store chain Kmart (for its role in the “Sale of adult-rated music CDs”) and athletic brand Nike (for “promoting a back door move to legalize homosexual marriage”). Its track record of activism also includes major boycotts against popular TV shows, movies and businesses that it perceived to be promoting indecency. They have also set out on crusades against some well known and highly regarded consumer brands such as Crest, Volkswagen, Tide, Clorox, Pampers, MTV, Burger King, the Carl’s Jr., Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old Navy, NutriSystem, and American Airlines. There is no cause that is too small for the AFA. In fact, in 2004, the AFA launched an attack against the cartoon film Shark Tale on the grounds that the animated flick was brainwashing children into accepting gay rights. Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Family, Society, and Consumer Information Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan http://EzineArticles.com/?American-Family-Foundation&id=346687 uses of ativan mixing citalopram and ativan is there a generic form of ambien ambien cr free offer

Tips for Organic Farming

Friday, March 28th, 2008

By Morgan Hamilton I really surprised myself by becoming involved with organic farming just if you are short years ago, and boy am I glad that I did. I was going through some tough times in my little home. I live in a small ranch style house in the California country, attempting to make a living as a handyman. Work turned out to be a little more scarce than I first had anticipated and times call for a little belt tightening to say the least. I got a book on organic farming, figuring that if I grew my own food, it would help things along for me. My feeling was that I would use up some of my increasingly abundant free time, save some money on food, and perhaps best of all, began eating more healthy diet. Once more, it would give me a sense of pride. Having something to do keep your mind sound and your spirits from sinking. I actually have been consuming organic farming for for quite some time, but never really gave it much thought. I guess that I still don’t in some ways. I was doing it in such a small scale that I had no idea how huge in industry organic farming really had become. The large corporate farming interests have to find ways to grow huge fields of the same crop, and they can afford expensive measures to control pests without using any unnatural pesticides. I was again a little different in this respect in that I did not have the expertise or resources to fight the little varmints, so I had to get clever so that my organic farming would not be compromised. The first thing I had to deal with or slug. Did you realize that peer works great for getting rid of slugs? They are attracted to the liquid itself but are then ironically drowned in it. What you might not realize until you try organic farming, is that there are always more slugs out to ravage your crops. You wouldn’t believe how much of the pain in the butt these little fellas are. But I found that they weren’t even the worst of it. Little bunny rabbits or a huge threat to my organic farming venture. You see, unlike my neighbors, I never have sprayed my lawn, so I have always had a family of cute little bunnies living in my yard. But there are two things bunnies are known for, and the lesser known one is equally impressive. You wouldn’t believe the voracious appetites on these little guys and gals. As for carrots, it’s not fiction, they really do love them. Organic farming is wonderful but you had better be prepared to roll up your sleeves and put in the work. Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding gardening. You can get interesting and informative information here at Organic Farming Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-Organic-Farming&id=261407 oralichenplanus vs ambien cr inexpensive zolpidem ativan dosage lyrica & ativan

Move Fast With Bad Credit Tenant Car Loan

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eva_Baldwyn]Eva Baldwyn Owning a car has become a necessity these days rather than a status symbol. Yet buying a car is a costly affair for many of the UK residents. Most of the people drop their idea of having a new car just because they dont have enough funds with them. They think of getting a loan but their bad credit history and lack of collateral with them doesnt allow them to get a good loan deal. But now there is an answer to such financial problem, and the answer is bad credit tenant car loans. Bad credit tenant car loan is a form of unsecured loans for buying car for people with bad credit. Earlier it is said if you are a tenant and you fall under bad credit you cant get a loan. Though, it is a valid reason for lender to deny the borrower from taking the loan. The reason is that in case of an unsecured loan the credit score of the borrower is the only thing that assures the lender that he is going to get back his money in form of repayment. But with a bad credit tenant car loan you can get the loan approved without offering any collateral to the lender. The only thing which is affected by your credit score is the interest rate which you may get. Better the score, lesser the rate. Talking about you credit score, it is a 3 digit figure calculated by financial agencies such as Experian, Equifax and Transunion. You can get the score along with your credit report for the financial year at some charge from these agencies. You can also get help from these agencies regarding how to make your credit score better faster. As it is not so easy to improve your score it definitely takes time. But you cant wait that long, this makes bad credit tenant car loan the best option for you to apply for. Following are the people, which lie under bad credit and can easily apply for a bad credit tenant loan in UK: Defaulters (non-payments or late payment makers) A person with CCJs and IVAs taken in the past. Arrears People with large number of debts with them. People frequently changing place of resident. Bankrupts While applying for a bad credit tenant car loan it should be taken into consideration that these loans carry a little higher rate of interest. The lender will ask for your employment status and monthly earnings while processing your loan application. Once he is satisfied with your application he himself will contact you for rest of the formalities. So see your wish of driving your own car into reality with a bad credit tenant car loan in UK. Eva Baldwyn aims to inform common men and women of the several issues involved in personal loans and mortgages through her articles. An MSc in Economics & Finance from the Warwick Business School is proof enough of the knowledge that she possesses in the field of finance. To find online car loan, Personal car loan, [http://www.carloaninuk.co.uk/uk-bad-credit-car-loan.html]Bad Credit Tenant Car Loan visit http://www.carloaninuk.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eva_Baldwyn http://EzineArticles.com/?Move-Fast-With-Bad-Credit-Tenant-Car-Loan&id=220513 ambien india no script ambien and breastfeeding bitter taste ambien ambien and product liability

When Things Go Wrong At Weddings

Monday, March 24th, 2008

By John Kunkle Usually at most weddings, something in the plans goes wrong. At our wedding, the limousine didnt show up. My wife insisted that she go to our house to get dressed for the wedding. This is a Russian custom. During that time, all of her relatives called the house and offered congratulations. Her Maid of Honor drove her thirty miles from the hairdresser to our house to get dressed. The limo driver was supposed to pick her up at the house and bring her to the church, forty miles away. He never showed up. Luckily the photographer was at the house taking pictures of her getting dressed. The photographer, his son, the Maid of Honor, and my wife squeezed into his small Japanese car and headed to the church. Her wedding dress got crushed squeezing into his compact car. Her Maid of Honor talked her into coming to the wedding. My wife cried all the way to the church. At the end of the reception, we drove home together. My wife grabbed a bottle of champagne before our drive home. The disappointments starting pouring out of her. She drank the entire bottle during the one-hour trip home and proceeded to dress me down about what a lousy job I did planning the wedding and the reception. This went on for the next several hours, during which time, she called her parents, her friends, and even her old boyfriend to tell them what a bum I was. I dont know exactly what she said in Russian, but the tone of her voice was such that the subject matter was unmistakable. John has been successfully married to a Belarussian wife for over five years. He has traveled extensively through Russia and other CIS countries. He will tell you why you should consider Russian women, how to meet them, how to bring your special woman home, and how to survive married life.http://www.russian-luv.com/yourattitude.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Kunkle http://EzineArticles.com/?When-Things-Go-Wrong-At-Weddings&id=349512 get prescription for ambien online ambien facts ambien plasma concentrations zolpidem with out a prescription

Are You Being Dumped?

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

By Tonja Weimer Does the one you want act like they don’t want you? Is it real or are you imagining it? When people tell me about the behavior patterns of their partner, and then ask if I think they are trying to leave, I am amazed at the signs they refuse to see. Here are seven signs that your love interest may be dumping you: * Shorter phone calls. Does your love want to end your phone calls sooner than usual? Is it happening more and more? When someone knows they want to end a relationship but haven’t yet done it, they will not stay on the phone. * Distance. Does he or she go away to visit other people or places more than they used to? Or have they “gone away” by not listening to you as much as they once did? When someone no longer asks questions and puts distance between you…emotional and physical…this indicates they want to leave. * No future talk. If he or she no longer wants to make plans for the future, including what you might be doing for the weekend, they are not planning a “future” with you in mind. * Needing space. When someone says, “I need my space,” these are more than just words. * Not knowing where they are. If you are often wondering where your love interest is and how they are spending their time, and you have to ask them, they obviously are avoiding you. * The direction of their toes. Body language speaks louder than words. If your love is talking to you but not facing you; if their toes and heart are pointing in another direction other than towards you, pay attention. * Non-communicative. If your partner used to share and now they don’t; if they used to be interested in your day and now they don’t call you to find out how you are or how it went; and if their answers are so brief, you can’t feel a part of their life, they want out. If the above seven signs exist in your relationship, it is time to have the hard conversation with your love. Ask them what they want in your relationship. If they turn that question into, “Well, what do you want?” they are waiting for you to do the breaking up. Tell them it doesn’t work for you anymore. But most of all, remind yourself that you deserve a real relationship, not an illusion. And then, get some help to discover all the good and great things about you that you might have forgotten or may have never known. You aren’t being dumped. You are being given a wakeup call that there is something more for you out there. Visit http://www.tonjaweimer.com or http://www.singlesdatingtips.com for more tips, skills, and insight on dating, relationships, singles, and love. Subscribe to our F*ree Savvy Dating Newsletter from master single’s coach, life coach, and syndicated columnist, Tonja Weimer. Copyright 2006, Tonja Weimer. (Please note source if reprinting this article.) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tonja_Weimer http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-You-Being-Dumped?&id=104499 ambien 90 zolpidem ambien better sleeping pills other than ambien interaction between ambien and celexa

How To Take Amazing Digital Photos Of Your Kids (Or Anyone Else)

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

By Ravi Jayagopal Children and a Camera - probably the most difficult, but creatively satisfying way of archiving your life’s wonderful moments. Shooting pictures of children can be more difficult than getting a shot of that awesome dunk or the spectacular home-run hit, because a sports moment is probably more predictable than the expression of a child. It’s almost like trying to hit a moving target, except you don’t know when your target will show up, and which way it will move! But rest easy - amazing advancements in digital photography, both in terms of technology and lower prices, have made it possible for your special moments to be captured with far better accuracy and detail than ever before. Newer cameras with improved photo resolution and shutter speed, with the help of spectacular low-cost lenses, help to make it easier for both professional and novice photographers to take excellent pictures. When these features alone cannot help take the picture you want, fancy software that comes for free with the digital cameras lets your alter the pictures to do full justice to the moments they capture. Many believe that great cameras take great pictures. Well, there’s both good and bad news for you - the good news is that you don’t need a $2000 camera and a $3000 lens in order to take an amazing picture; the bad news is that you - the photographer - are the one who can single-handedly make or break an amazing photo - all by yourself, just with your “eye” for photography (or the lack of it). Any photographer worth her salt will tell you that when it comes to taking good photos, timing is everything. There is a very small window of opportunity to capture a truly great shot, and whether you’re after that exhilarating sunset, or trying to capture that all fleeting expression on your child’s face, your fingers must have precision, timing and an intuitive sense of when to click. It is tougher than it looks, and that’s why photography is an art. Similar to the famous saying, beautiful pictures lie in the eye of the photographer, and not in the camera. Famous photographers charge thousands of dollars to take a picture. It is not because they have better cameras or expensive lenses (even though that does matter, but not as much as you probably think), but because they know what to focus on, and when to click. Most of us only come close to getting the ideal shot, never fully realizing it in the end. More often than not, our pictures have most of the elements, but fall short in a few key areas: Perhaps you frame your subject well, but the lighting is just a little bit off; or perhaps the lighting is good but you forgot to include a flash or use red-eye reduction. This is where modern digital photography becomes a necessary component in taking the perfect photo. Within minutes, just about any picture can be edited to reach its full potential when it is created with a digital camera. Automatic color enhancement, red-eye reduction, and zoom and crop features that go along with taking digital photos are just a few of the many awesome features that digital photos have to offer. With these tools in easy reach, taking beautiful pictures has become easier than ever. It is then a no-brainer that you should be buying a digital camera, and not a film-based camera, for obvious reasons: you can shoot as many pictures as you want, repeatedly, till you get that perfect picture, without having to worry about burning through tens if not hundreds of dollars worth of film rolls, development and printing costs. Plus when shot using popular formats like RAW, the things you can do to your pictures before you print or publish them, are mind boggling. All you need is to find the right camera. You want a camera that offers great pictures as well as easy options for downloading to your printer or computer. You can edit your pictures as you like with commercial programs like Photoshop or Corel, or with software that comes with the camera, like Canon’s EasyBrowser. Technology has advanced so much and there is so much competition amongst camera makers, that the prices are now so attractive which makes it very hard to mention money as an excuse. The hardest choice then becomes what ‘type’ of camera to buy:- a Point-and-click (that has a built-in, permanent lens), or- a SLR (Single Lens Reflex - whose lenses can be removed and changed). Point-and-click cameras are meant for the average person, who doesn’t want to be bothered with too many options or choices - someone who wants to just point at the target, and click, and be done with it. The average auto-focus camera comes with an in-built zoom lens, has a little flash bulb, has a little screen behind the camera where you can see the full frame of what you are about to shoot, as well as a preview of the photo after you’ve shot it. They take great pictures, no doubt. But they can, in no way, be compared to the pictures taken by the slightly more expensive SLR cameras. An SLR camera comes with the ability to switch lenses, so that you can choose the right lens for that super-close up picture of that bee pollinating a flower, or the perfect wide-angle lens to capture the entire view of the Grand Canyon from where you stand. Other features that make a SLR a much better choice for taking great pictures that last a lifetime, are: * Built for speed - Super fast start-up speed so that you never have to miss that perfect moment because it took your camera 20 seconds to get to ready-to-shoot state. * Accurate “what you see is what you get” picture when you compose your shots through the view finder instead of the LCD display. In fact, the LCD display on an SLR will not show you a preview of your current composition, but will only show you the photo after you’ve shot it. * A wide choices of lenses: You’re not stuck with just one lens like you would with a point-and-click camera. You have the option of buying and using a variety of lenses to match just what you are about to shoot. * Better pictures in low light - Due to the ability to vary aperture, a SLR lens can open the aperture long enough to let in more light in low-light situations, or click faster in a very-bright situation (like a bright overhead sun). When you are ready to buy your digital camera, you need to take the price into consideration, but it is more important to think about the features of the camera that you buy. It is the features that will help you to make the most of your pictures. You will not need an feature filled camera if you are only using it for recreational purposes. However if you plan to do a lot with your photos, you will want a camera that offers the right features for you. Even though I own a Canon Rebel XTi myself and cannot recommend it highly enough, here are some digital SLR cameras to consider: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi: http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000I1ZWRW/nosim-20This is what I own - a 10.1 MP (Mega-pixel) camera that takes phenomenal pictures, and offers a great combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It comes with a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, a integrated cleaning system featuring a self-cleaning sensor that vibrates the sensor to shake-off dust, all of this in a very light, ergonomic body. Nikon D80: http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000HGIWN4/nosim-20This is a 10.2 Megapixel camera with instant 0.18 sec. start-up, and fast 80ms shutter response. Allows continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per second and up to 100 consecutive JPEG images. Takes about 2,700 images per battery charge as per Nikon. Has a similar 2.5″ LCD color monitor with 170-degree, wide-angle viewing. A little more expensive than the Canon Rebel XTi. Sony A100: http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000DZH60O/nosim-20A 10 Megapixel CCD, that has quite similar features to the Canon and Nikon, like Anti-Dust system, 2.5″ LCD amd 9-point autofocus. The distinguishing feature of the Sony A100 is the Super SteadyShot image stabilization feature that moves the CCD to compensate for camera shake. This will come in handy especially when shooting in low-light situations, where the aperture opens more to let in more light, which means it could take a lot longer for the “click” than in normal-light conditions, and both the photographer (you) and the targets (your kids, friends or family) have a greater tendency to not stay still for that few precious seconds. Canon and Nikon overcome this by incorporating image stabilization features into the lens, instead of into the camera itself like Sony does. This leads to slightly more expensive lenses, but some believe that lenses do a better job of handling “shake” rather than the cameras themselves. So, this is one more thing for you to consider while making the choice between say, a Canon and a Sony. Finally, the bottom line is cameras can only enhance a great picture - they cannot create it from scratch. You are the one who has the ability to elevate an ordinary shot into an extraordinary one with your sense of timing, angle, and composition. So, depending on your own internal “brand” preference, any of the above cameras would make a great choice. To see how others have shot pictures of their little ones, check out the world’s cutest baby pictures at http://www.BabyNamesIndia.com. After that, head over to Amazon.com, read the reviews, do your research, and take your time in deciding which digital SLR is right for you. If you are thinking that deciding which camera to buy is a difficult task, wait till you have that beautiful camera in your hand, and you wait for your little one to come up with that same expression that he had on his/her face last week, when you missed taking a photo because you had a slow and tedious point-and-shoot camera in hand! Take amazing pictures that last a life time. Get a digital SLR. Ravi Jayagopal is a Software Architect and eBusiness Consultant from Westchester, New York, helping web site publishers with their Programming, SEO and Internet marketing needs. Read his blog at http://www.RavisRants.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ravi_Jayagopal http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Take-Amazing-Digital-Photos-Of-Your-Kids-(Or-Anyone-Else)&id=407418 ambien over dose ambien cause hallucinations ambien prescription ambien usage

Aromatherapy - Part III: Esoteric & Spiritual applications

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

By Danny Siegenthaler The Way Essential Oils Effect the Etheric Body or Psycho-spiritual Level The historical use of aromatic oils and resins goes back many thousands of years in human history and traverses many cultures and civilizations on our planet. In China, incense was burned to purify the atmosphere and rid the environment of evil spirits, in India, incense was and is used in all temples of all persuasions to sanctify the devotions; in Mexico, incenses were used in rituals to induce trance-like states in the participants to make them more accepting in their role of living sacrifice to the Gods; in Northern Europe the Druids used incenses which were sacred to the Earth Mother; the Greeks and Romans also used essential oils and fragrant herbs in all aspects of their daily lives, and many of their practices were learned from the Egyptians and Mesopotamians who were without doubt, the absolute masters in the Art of Aromatherapy. The first people to dispense aromatics as medicines in Ancient Egypt were the priests - they were the first Aromatherapists. As the use of aromatic substances became more common, they were also used by the physicians. At Heliopolis, the city dedicated to Ra the Sun-God, incense was burned 3 times a day: sunrise, noon, and sunset. This incense was called Kuphi or Kyphi and contained 16 ingredients including cassia, Calamus, Citronella, Cinnamon, Peppermint, Pistacia, Juniper, Acacia, Henna, Cypress, Myrrh, Raisins, Frankincense, and Morning Glory. Aromatherapy was used in the healing temples in both Egypt and later in Greece, which also incorporated the use of colour healing utilizing solar light. Great glass windows of various colours were built in to the ceilings of these temples at specific points, corresponding with the journey of the sun across the sky. The patient was placed in the stream of coloured light and incense was burned or oils applied to the patient as need dictated. This form of healing is called Heliotherapy. Even as recently as the Middle Ages in Europe, fragrant herbs were known to possess special healing properties by virtue of their fragrances, and were burned in the streets to counteract the odour and ill effects of the poor hygiene of the times. During the time of the Great Plague this method was also used to antisepticise the air. Essential Oils, via their own innate LIFE FORCE ENERGY, can help change energy imbalances in our Aura (Etheric body). They can adjust the way in which we perceive, feel and think about both ourselves and our environment working from the Spiritual Level downwards. They can help us have a more positive, relaxed or energetic mood, help us to concentrate better, develop our “psychic awareness, and act as a bridge to help us access deeper or higher levels of consciousness. This function of Essential Oils overlaps with the effects oils have on the Brain, but it must be remembered that the Nervous and Hormonal Systems are the physical translators of the Etheric dimensions. The use of Aromatic plants as Incense in religious and ritual practices is based on this knowledge. Incense purifies, acts as a libation or gesture of respect to higher intelligences and gives us a “doorway” for entry into the Astral realms. It is believed that Essential Oils, when used in the form of incensing, are signals to those other dimensions where we find our Guardian Angels, Spirit Guides, Gods and Goddesses and states of pure Cosmic Consciousness and form a means whereby we can show our intention or willingness to open our consciousness to those realities. The result being that these Beings are able to communicate with us or through us more easily. By developing our sensitivity to other levels of energy/being and other levels of our own consciousness, we are better able to develop our healing powers and accelerate our own personal/spiritual growth. Because we are conditioned from birth to relate primarily to the physical plane of existence we tend to have some degree of difficulty in shifting to the spiritual levels without some assistance. Essential oils can help us with this. THE SENSE OF SMELL AND ETHERIC ENERGY From an energy point of view, the sense of smell relates to the Element called AKASHA or ETHER. This is the Universal and All-Pervading element, the Element of Spirit, and it has the ability to transform itself into anyone of the forms of Elemental Energy. It is also closely related to the Element of Air, which is related to the sense of taste. Man’s sense of smell is not as acute as that of a dog or a moth, however, it is never the less quite acute, and man is capable of distinguishing many thousands of odours. The exact way in which odour perception takes place is still quite a mystery to medical science. There is sound knowledge of the structures involved in odour perception, but the function itself still has many unanswered questions. By developing the sense of smell we are provided with a means by which we may use essences and aromatic substances to create a mood, a feeling, an atmosphere, or change our state of being to one which is more in harmony with our True Selves, and which aids the development of our higher senses. Most people think of incense in the context of ‘joss sticks’. To many people, incense is something that gives a nice fragrance to an environment and little more. But the act of burning incense is more than this, and fragrances have quite profound effects. Perfumes and aroma have a great power to influence the mind and to lift the consciousness. They can arouse memory and distant recollections, as well as soul memories (past lives).Use of incense sharpens the perception beyond the ordinary and encourages better powers of discrimination. When we decide to extend our consciousness we must first pass through the different layers of our own psychological makeup. Incense helps to ease the passage through these layers of self to the Universal light, creating a link or channel between us and the formative energies of the Universe and our own Being. When essential oils, resins or gums are burned, their substance etherealises and passes to the subtler planes opening the way for the return flow of energy. By being consciously aware of the incense or oil we are using, and by being aware of its properties, and in tune with our intention, we can work more effectively and more powerfully, whether it be in healing or meditation techniques. Essential oils form a bridge commonly used by Auric Healers to set a communication link between the physical and etheric bodies. The radiations from natural aromatic substances also nourish our natural energies and spirit. Odours are known to give off vibrations which fit into the known electromagnetic scale and are thought to vibrate in the Infra-Red end of the colour spectrum. This is also known as the “invisible colours’. Colours and odours are said to have a parallel, also odours and music, and odour and shape. The notes of the Diatonic Scale (A,G,C,B,D,F,) have been correlated to odours, and various compounds in aromatic molecules are known to have certain shapes, e.g. round molecules tend to have a camphor-like smell, disc shapes to have a floral odour, and wedge shapes to have a Peppermint fragrance. These facts present a definite argument in favour of the Vibration’ theory, and the way odours have an effect on the “Sixth Sense.Taking these correspondences a little further it is of interest to note that some essential oils are pigmented, which often relates to their therapeutic properties, for example: - Benzoin is red and is used to promote healing; - Bergamot is green and is used in the treatment of urinary tract disorders; - Lemon is yellow and is used in the treatment of the digestive system; - Chamomile is blue and is used against inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes of the body. These colours also have therapeutic applications in colour therapy, in which red is considered an energizing and warming colour, green is balancing and harmonizing, yellow stimulates the digestion, and blue is relaxing and cooling. Essential oils also have Yin and Yang properties: YIN being those characteristics of passive, contracting, inwards looking, empty, dark, cold, moist, sedating, inhaling, venous blood, parasympathetic nervous system, fear, caution, and the colour blue. YANG being those characteristics of active, outward going, expanding, opening, full, light, hot, dry, stimulating, arterial blood, sympathetic nerves, also anger, courage and the colour red. The qualities of Yin and Yang represent the forces or energies of opposites in the natural world. 1. There are 3 things to remember when using essential oils and aromatic substances in meditations and Psychic Healing: 2. Be aware of your breathing. This can be accomplished through the practice of simple breathing techniques, in which you can calm your thoughts and emotions by slowing and deepening your breathing cycle. 3. Choose oils which will enhance your experience and balance your energies. When using oils as incense, remember that the “incense” becomes charged with your personal energy. Purity of motive and purpose, and sincerity are essential requirements in the art of censing. Clearness of intention is also important. About The Author Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you. Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter its fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Siegenthaler http://EzineArticles.com/?Aromatherapy—Part-III:-Esoteric-and-Spiritual-applications&id=53452 diazepam lorazepam clonazepam ambien benefits generic ambien 5 mg fedex overnight ambien

Nokia 7373 - Fashionably Yours

Monday, March 17th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Day_Kevi]Day Kevi Fashion never runs out of time, but merely transcends into newer trends. We adapt ourselves to the emerging trends by absorbing the style that compliments our persona, and speaks our mind. Like everything else in life, mobile phones have also been ensnared by the style brigade, much to the amusement of mobile lovers. The mobile phones of the twenty-first century have come of age with stylish contours and designs to suit the taste buds of fashion conscious consumers. Laying effective stress on the need to cope up with the emerging trend, Finish mobile manufacturer Nokia has brought about the Nokia 7373 under its L’Amour collection. The phone is available in two colours the Nokia 7373 black and the Nokia 7373 pink. This swivel mobile phone is simply a splendid work of art, with beautiful ethnic patterns etched over the phone to give it a glamorous look. The unusually attractive 2 Inch QVGA screen with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels swings sideways to an angle of 180 degrees, revealing a cleverly crafted keypad that sits pretty on the phone. The 2 megapixel camera with 8 x digital zoom offers a wonderful photography experience for users. The phone features a digital music player that croons out your favourite numbers in MP3, AAC, M4A, Enhanced AAC+, and AAC+ formats. Moreover, an FM radio and a visual radio also figure in this svelte phone for users to catch up with the popular radio and news stations. The connectivity requirements of the users are taken care of by this Nokia 7373 Tri Band phone through getaways like Bluetooth, Pop Port connector, EDGE, GPRS, and HSCSD, while WAP, HTML, and XHTML browsers connect users to the Internet. The 128 MB memory of the phone is useful for users to store away their precious songs, images, and videos. The Nokia 7373 & Nokia 7373 Pink are two truly classy phones that ensures both fashion statement as well as enriched utility for users. If you want to know the best contract, pay as you go, Simfree deals on Nokia 7373, Nokia 7373 Pink, or on some latest Nokia phones like [http://www.free3gmobilephoneoffers.co.uk/Phone_Deal.asp?Ph=Nokia--N77]Nokia N77 please visit: [http://www.free3gmobilephoneoffers.co.uk]Mobile Phones. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Day_Kevi http://EzineArticles.com/?Nokia-7373—Fashionably-Yours&id=502779 zolpidem affects erowid zolpidem ambien buy meridia tell me about ambien

Online Dating For Most Dummies- Men Only

Saturday, March 15th, 2008

By Teddy Shabba Let’s face it online dating for most dummies can be a real challenge. In this article, I am going to break down everything a man needs to do in order to be successful in online dating. 1. Find a Good Online Dating Site There are several good online dating sites that are out there, unfortunately for most dummies the number of bad dating sites are in the hundreds if not thousands by comparison. Your best bet is going to be to stick with the larger dating sites at first. 2. Your Profile No matter what, a woman is going to look at your profile to determine if she will even consider talking to you. A good username is the first step in the process and what you write as well as the pictures you put up are the most important parts of your profile. 3. Emails That You Send Her Honestly, this is where most dummies get it wrong as they either send out a generic hello or more often than not an email that says nothing more than I looked at your picture and really liked it. What you want to do when you send a woman an email is show her that you relate to her in some way and/or what is attractive about it (non-physical aspects). In the end, it is important to remember what you want to get out of your online dating experience, almost all men want at the very least to meet a woman in person yet most dummies wait until she tells them to take it offline which in most cases is never. Teddy Shabba is a Dating Coach for Men who has a daily newsletter that provides you with a wealth of information on how to be more successful with women. You can sign up for the Teddy Shabba Dating Advice Newsletter for Men now. Also with over 500 articles from a variety of dating experts just for men our Dating Advice and Seduction Article Database is the perfect place for any man. To learn more about Online Dating visit our article section Online Dating Today Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teddy_Shabba http://EzineArticles.com/?Online-Dating-For-Most-Dummies–Men-Only&id=500470 ambien tartrate zolpidem drugs ambien overdose of decadron benadryl ativan ambien and the new england journal of medicine