#Mini Tech Detox

[nakiahsuniverse]

💖 Self-Love Rituals Based on Your Zodiac Sign 💖

Because taking care of your soul is cosmic work too. 🌌💫

♈ Aries – Move your body. Dance, walk, stretch, or hit the gym. Channel that fire into passion and presence. 🔥👟

♉ Taurus – Indulge your senses. Think warm baths, soft blankets, luxury skincare, and your fave snacks. 🌷🛁

♊ Gemini – Journal your thoughts, read something new, or have a heart-to-heart convo. Mental clarity = peace 🧠📚

♋ Cancer – Create a cozy night in. Light candles, cook comfort food, and cuddle up with nostalgia. 🌙🍲

♌ Leo – Mirror affirmations + glam time. Remind yourself who tf you are while you shine bright. 💅👑

♍ Virgo – Clean your space + clear your mind. Organizing is your love language. Then rest. You deserve it. 🧼🕊️

♎ Libra – Curate beauty. Make a moodboard, dress up, or rearrange your space to feel balanced + soft 💗🎨

♏ Scorpio – Deep dive into your emotions. Meditate, cry it out, write poetry. Then rise like the phoenix 🔮🖤

♐ Sagittarius – Go on a mini adventure. Take a day trip, try something new, or explore your inner world 🌍🏞️

♑ Capricorn – Celebrate your progress. Make a list of your wins, set intentions, then unplug and rest 🌑📝

♒ Aquarius – Do something unconventional. Creative projects, spiritual research, or a tech detox 🧪🌈

♓ Pisces – Immerse yourself in fantasy. Music, art, dream journaling, or a long soak in a rose petal bath 🎶🫧

✨ Reblog if you're prioritizing your cosmic well-being 🌙 Tag your sign + your fave ritual

[anuharhome1]

Top 5 Amenities Homebuyers Seek in Apartments in Manikonda

When you hear Manikonda, you don’t just think of a locality anymore; you think of an emerging hub, a sweet spot that perfectly balances urban buzz and everyday peace. Nestled near IT corridors like Gachibowli and Hitec City and peppered with schools, cafes, hospitals, and top-tier residential projects, apartments in Manikonda have become one of the hottest picks in Hyderabad’s property scene.

But here’s the catch: today’s buyers are picky. And rightfully so. With so many options at their fingertips, they want more than square footage; they want features that match their lifestyle. Especially when you’re investing in a 2 BHK flat for sale in Manikonda, you’re not just buying walls; you’re buying experiences. So, what makes a project stand out?

We break down the top 5 amenities that homebuyers are actively searching for in 2025 and how a project like Anuhar Towers delivers every single one.

Here are the Top 5 Amenities

1. Clubhouses That Go Beyond a Room with Chairs

Let’s face it. No one’s impressed by a “clubhouse” that’s just an empty party hall anymore. Today’s homebuyers are looking for multifunctional social hubs. The kind where you can co-work in the morning, meet neighbors over tea in the evening, or host a birthday bash over the weekend.

Anuhar Towers takes it to the next level with a lavish 6-level clubhouse. Yep, six levels. Whether you’re into board games, brainstorming, or Bollywood dance nights, there’s a corner made for you.

In 2025, people don’t just want to live in homes; they want to feel part of a connected community. And that’s exactly what the clubhouse at Anuhar helps build.

2. Wellness Amenities That Prioritize Mind + Body

Work from home, work out from home, and unwind at home. That’s the lifestyle blueprint we’re all living now. And that’s why wellness zones are non-negotiable. At Anuhar, you get access to:

A modern gymnasium

Indoor games for rainy days and chill weekends

A meditation hall to reset

A yoga center that feels like a mini retreat

This wellness suite offers a stress-free lifestyle, especially important if you’re a professional eyeing an apartment for sale in Manikonda close to your workplace. No more “snoozing” fitness plans — everything you need is just an elevator ride away.

3. A Terrace Pool That Feels Like a Rooftop Escape

Let’s be honest , a pool is not just an amenity anymore; it’s a lifestyle statement. And the terrace swimming pool at Anuhar Towers is exactly that. Imagine finishing a long day of work and floating under the open sky. No traffic, no gym crowd, no fuss.

In a fast-moving city like Hyderabad, this kind of luxury convenience turns a flat into a forever home. And if you’re someone comparing multiple 2 BHK flats for sale in Manikonda, this single amenity could be the tie-breaker.

Bonus: it’s an Instagrammable view you won’t get tired of. 

4. Green Spaces & Outdoor Zones That Feel Like a Daily Detox

This is the one buyers don’t always list but always feel: open-air spaces. In a post-pandemic world, green zones are healing zones.

Anuhar Towers is designed to give you that from landscaped gardens where your morning walk actually feels refreshing to a jogging track that winds through serene surroundings. Add to that:

Children’s play areas

Family sit-outs

Basketball, badminton & tennis courts

Even an open-air barbeque and amphitheatre

These are the details that transform a regular Saturday into family time, playtime, or community hangout time.

5. Tech-Enabled Convenience and Smart Security

And finally, a major 2025 must-have: safety and smart living features.

Anuhar Towers is future-ready with:

CCTV surveillance and 24/7 security

EV charging points to support sustainable living

A dedicated car wash area, because it’s the small conveniences that make life easier

So, if you’re narrowing down your list of apartments in Manikonda, these details matter more than you think. They’re not just about comfort; they’re about making sure your lifestyle keeps up with your aspirations.

So, Why Should You Care?

Because you’re not just buying a house, you’re investing in your daily life. From morning coffee to evening walks, from fitness goals to weekend parties, your apartment’s amenities shape the way you live.

And when a project like Anuhar Towers wraps up these top-tier amenities in a well-connected, thoughtfully located address, you know you’re not just checking boxes; you’re making the right move.

Whether you’re a young couple, a growing family, or a savvy investor, exploring a 2 BHK flat for sale in Manikonda like Anuhar Towers could mean saying yes to more than just a home; it’s saying yes to the life you’ve been planning for.

Final Word

Apartments in Manikonda are booming, but not all projects are created equal. Keep an eye out for communities that understand your lifestyle, offer future-ready amenities, and deliver not just value but everyday joy.

To explore floor plans, configurations, and more about Anuhar Towers, visit their official site: Anuhar Towers – Official Page

Your ideal apartment for sale in Manikonda could be just one visit away.

[relationstatus]

How to Maintain a Healthy Relationship While Prioritizing Your Career

Balancing a demanding career with a thriving relationship isn't just a modern-day challenge—it's a reality many couples face. With professional goals pulling people in one direction and emotional needs tugging in another, it can feel like a constant juggling act. However, with intentional effort, mutual understanding, and a few practical strategies, it's possible to grow both your career and your connection. Whether you're in a long-term commitment or exploring types of relationships, the balance is achievable.

Time is one of the biggest challenges couples face today. Between meetings, deadlines, and business trips, it's easy for partners to become distant. That’s where healthy relationship tips come into play. Prioritizing quality time over quantity, setting boundaries between work and personal life, and showing up consistently for each other are essential elements of a successful partnership. Learning how social media affects relationships also sheds light on how digital distractions can erode intimacy if not managed wisely.

One inspiring approach is to learn from famous couples who have navigated similar challenges. From Michelle and Barack Obama to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, many celebrity pairs show that love can thrive alongside ambition. They often credit communication, support, and shared goals as keys to their success. Their journeys are frequently featured in celebrity relationship news, providing insight into how they maintain balance.

Strong communication is another pillar of lasting love. Especially in high-pressure careers, it’s easy to assume your partner knows what you’re going through. However, verbalizing your needs, feelings, and challenges can prevent misunderstandings. It's just like what you read in love and dating blogs: honesty and empathy go a long way. Couples who talk openly tend to navigate life's ups and downs with more resilience.

Incorporating elements of your personal life into your professional goals can also strengthen your bond. For instance, traveling for work? Invite your partner to join you if possible. It turns a business trip into a mini-getaway, adding value to both career and connection. If you follow Travel Tips & Tricks, you’ll find that shared experiences while on the road can enhance intimacy and understanding.

Digital distractions are another modern relationship hurdle. Understanding how social media affects relationships is crucial in this era of constant notifications. While social platforms can keep us connected, they can also create unrealistic comparisons and misunderstandings. Setting tech boundaries, such as device-free dinners or social media detox weekends, can help bring partners closer together.

It’s not just long-term couples facing these challenges. Young adults and students are navigating the balance of academics and affection, especially in college dating tips columns. From managing study schedules to making time for dates, these lessons early on can shape a healthier relationship foundation for years to come.

Modern romance is also evolving with online dating success stories showcasing how career-driven individuals find compatible partners without compromising their ambitions. Apps and websites have made it easier to meet like-minded people who value both personal and professional growth.

What makes this topic even more fascinating is observing Bollywood relationship dynamics. Indian celebrities often face intense public scrutiny, yet many manage to nurture loving partnerships while juggling fame and demanding film careers. The media's coverage of latest celebrity breakups and reconciliations also reveals the pressures and lessons that can be applied to ordinary relationships.

When it comes to work-life-love balance, no couple is perfect. It’s a constant process of learning, adapting, and growing. Remember, even the happiest relationships require effort. Incorporating hookah lifestyle into leisure time, for example, can become a shared ritual that encourages relaxation and bonding. Some couples even explore hookah benefits together, turning it into a moment of calm after a long day at work.

Understanding the value of emotional support is vital. Whether you're celebrating a big promotion or dealing with a stressful deadline, having a partner who listens and cheers you on can make a world of difference. Mutual appreciation fosters a stronger emotional bond and sets a solid foundation for both your careers and connection to flourish.

By applying these strategies and staying mindful of each other's evolving needs, couples can indeed enjoy both a fulfilling career and a satisfying love life. It's not about choosing one over the other—it's about choosing each other every day, even in the midst of chaos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a relationship survive if both partners have demanding careers?

A: Absolutely. It requires strong communication, quality time, and mutual respect. Many famous couples prove it's possible to thrive in both love and work.

Q: How does social media impact modern relationships?

A: Social media affects relationships by creating distractions and unrealistic comparisons. Setting boundaries can help maintain trust and intimacy.

Q: Are college relationships worth pursuing while focusing on studies?

A: Yes, with balance and time management. Many college dating tips emphasize communication and setting priorities to maintain both academic and emotional health.

Q: How do celebrity relationships influence public perspectives on love?

A: Through celebrity relationship news, people often draw inspiration or caution from high-profile breakups and success stories.

Q: Is there a fun way to de-stress as a couple after work?

A: Yes! Exploring the hookah lifestyle together can offer relaxation and an opportunity to connect.

How do you and your partner manage the balance between work and your relationship? Share your experiences in the comments below!

[bondedbyus]

🎉 A Fresh Start: Creative Ways to Welcome New Year 2025 with Joy and Gifting Magic 🎁

🌟 Introduction: Embracing 2025 with Excitement

The new year is not just a date on the calendar; it’s a fresh chapter brimming with possibilities, dreams, and opportunities. New Year 2025 is here, offering us the chance to reflect, celebrate, and step into a brighter future. But how can we make it truly memorable? Let’s dive into a world of innovative ideas, heartfelt gifting, and vibrant celebrations to start the year on the right note! 🎇

🕛 Countdown to Creativity: Unique Celebration Ideas

✨ Midnight Stargazing Party

Gather your loved ones under the starry sky to bid farewell to 2024. A telescope, cozy blankets, and a cup of hot cocoa can turn this into a magical night.

Gifting Tip: Present guests with personalized star maps or glow-in-the-dark constellations as keepsakes. 🌌

🎭 Themed Costume Bash

Dress up as your future self or your favorite character! A themed party brings laughter, creativity, and memories to cherish forever.

Gifting Tip: Give out quirky accessories or mini props matching the theme.

🕯️ Gratitude Bonfire

Write down memories or challenges from 2024 and toss them into a bonfire as a symbolic goodbye. Then, pen your aspirations for 2025 and seal them in a jar.

Gifting Tip: Provide decorative jars or gratitude journals to all attendees.

🎁 Gifting Ideas: Spreading Smiles This New Year

Gifts are a universal language of love and appreciation. Here’s a curated list of New Year gifting ideas to suit every personality and preference.

💎 Personalized Keepsakes

Custom name pendants, engraved photo frames, or monogrammed diaries bring a personal touch to your wishes.

🌿 Eco-Friendly Gifts

Potted plants, bamboo utensils, or reusable shopping bags make thoughtful, sustainable presents for environmentally conscious friends. 🌱

📚 Books for the Soul

Inspire and uplift loved ones with books tailored to their interests – from motivational reads to thrilling fiction.

🎨 Creative Kits

Unleash creativity with DIY kits for painting, candle-making, or terrariums. Perfect for fostering hobbies in the new year! 🖌️

🍫 Gourmet Hampers

Assemble baskets filled with artisanal chocolates, exotic teas, and handmade cookies to delight food lovers. 🍪

🌍 Global Festivities: How Cultures Celebrate New Year’s Eve

🧧 China: Lantern Lighting and Red Envelopes

The Chinese New Year is vibrant with fireworks, dragon dances, and the giving of red envelopes for luck. Consider gifting red-themed presents symbolizing prosperity.

🎭 Brazil: Ocean Offerings

Brazilians wear white and make offerings to the sea goddess Yemanjá. A beach-themed gift set can capture this essence.

🎉 Scotland: Hogmanay Traditions

Scots celebrate with torches and hearty feasts. A bottle of premium Scotch whiskey makes a fitting tribute to their traditions.

💡 Unique Resolutions for 2025: Stepping Into a Better You

🌟 Spread Kindness

Dedicate each month to a random act of kindness. Small gestures make big differences.

📵 Digital Detox Days

Schedule tech-free days to reconnect with nature, friends, and family.

🚴‍♂️ Explore New Horizons

Try a new hobby or travel to an unexplored destination every quarter. Life is all about experiences! 🗺️

Add charm to invitation cards 🎀.

Highlight your excitement in texts and social media posts.

Create games like “Guess the Emoji” for your party.

🎆 The Perfect Year-Start Playlists

Music sets the mood. Here are some genres to suit every celebration:

🎶 Party Anthems: Dance to the beats of energetic pop hits.

🧘‍♀️ Soothing Tunes: Begin the year with calm and mindfulness.

🎸 Rock Classics: Relive timeless hits with your friends.

🌟 A Year Full of Love and Laughter

New Year 2025 is more than just a date; it’s a promise of hope, joy, and togetherness. From heartfelt celebrations to thoughtful gifts, let’s make it an unforgettable journey filled with love and positivity. Wishing you all a magical 2025! 🥂

[windingriverherbals]

Creative Organic Green

Creative Organic Green ~ Mini Tech Detox

OUR BODIES PHYSIOLOGICALLY DEPEND ON ELECTRICAL CURRENTS—our nervous and cardiac systems being the core systems of course that rely on tiny electrical impulses. Even though you can’t feel it, our modern world is increasingly exposing us to larger and larger volumes of electromagnetic fields (EMF), emitted through the use of electricity and particularly…

[elektrantchios]

be enough? | h.a

pairing: haymitch abernathy x gn!reader

summary: Reader watches Haymitch propo

word count: 500 ish

warnings: mentions of what happens to desirable victors, death (what happened to haymitch’s family), swearing, angst and fluff

a/n: written in 3rd person, wanted to try something new 😅 hunger games trending has me really thinking of new fics @nebulablakemurphy haymitch fic also a big inspiration (finnick mini series maybe 👀 been playing with an idea for awhile too) Everyone needs to read it.

Very unsure how to feel about this, feedback is highly appreciated

I saw this prompt and thought it was very haymitch

In the control room they watched the screen nervously, the capital was seeing the same thing but would no doubt they would be watching with interest. That had always been how they viewed the tributes and victors, like they all were animals in a zoo.

Finnick had just finished his propo when Haymitch took stage, with a frown the other district 12 victor looked to a guy working the computer. “He agreed to this?”.

The tech guy gave a shrug, “up top said he had something to say”.

Still worried they looked back to the screen, Haymitch had been sober since reaching 13, it was hard at first for both, having to watch him almost broke their heart. But he had risen through the detox and became an almost new man.

“You’ve already heard what Snow did with the wanted Victors, but what you don’t know is what he does when you say no” Haymitch said. He went on to say how everyone he had loved was taken from him. The small details had been known to them, how the way he had won the games cost him his whole family.

By the time Snow was done he was no one to threaten Haymitch with, so he became an example. This is what will happen if you don’t agree.

His jaw tightened. Something was happening in his head, choosing what words to use. He laughed dryly. For a moment they thought he was having a breakdown live for everyone to see.

“For the last 15 years I have been in love with my fellow mentor” the room fell into a hush, all eyes found them, standing still. “The rebels will win and you will not need to live in fear, stand up and join us”.

Something else played but they couldn’t say what, was he even telling the truth? It wouldn’t be the first time he had come up with a lie to move a crowd. Even themselves weren’t a stranger to lying.

Someone called their name as they turned and ran from the room. They ran up all the stairs until what they guessed was half way when they ran straight into Haymitch. He caught them before they fell.

“Watch it sweetheart,” he laughed.

Eyes wide they stepped back, “was it real or not real?” They asked.

Haymitch nodded, watching them.

Their chest shook. “Why did you never tell me?”.

“It was a personal issue,” he shrugged.

“You being in love with me kind of also involves me." They exhaled. They looked down the never ending stairs, then back to Haymitch. “I wouldn’t have expected anything. Not kissing me, not touching me. Fuck we wouldn’t even have to live together. Just you”.

“What kind of love would that be?” he mumbled, his blue eyes shining.

In return they grabbed his jacket and held up close, “enough. I would have you and that’s all I’d ever need. Wouldn’t that have been enough for you?”. His reply didn’t come come, the tears were slowly starting to fall now. “No don’t answer” you shook your head, “this isn’t easy, i know that I do”.

You brushed away a tear from his face.

“When they war is over and we have nothing to fear, i’ll tell you those three words and eight letters and we’ll go from there, okay?”.

“Okay”

[crybabykiko]

hiatus updates & lil announcements

Hi babies! 😌💖 I’m finally back home from my mini vacation and though I miss it already I’m excited to be back! I feel more creative and less burnt out since I haven’t been writing as much. I’m stuck inside for like 2 weeks now tho (California mandatory self isolation- gotta love pandemics)- so I wanna take that time to take a bit more time to myself. With that being said 👀 :

I will be taking a full tech detox next week! I won’t be online at all, with the exception of discord 😌 I’ll be spending the weekend working on my queue so it doesn’t look like I’ve died. I’ll be online ALL weekend until midnight on 12/6- I’ll be back 12/13 😘

Also- announcement as for when I DO come back: I’m finally going to start writing for bnha! I’ve wanted to for a REALLY long time, but I finally feel good enough with characterization to ACTUALLY start. You can submit requests while I’m gone but I won’t actually start writing anything bnha until I’m back!

Anyway that’s all for now! Thanks for sticking with me! Hope you’re all safe and well and feeling festive 🎄❤️

[trenttrendspotter]

Beauty Brands Can Star at Sundance

There were a variety of exciting programs at Sundance this year, each with their own special activations. I truly believe Sundance has huge potential for beauty marketers because the event draws very influential change agents, storytellers, celebrities, and the people behind the scenes from attorneys and accountants to makeup artists and photographers. Participants come from around the world for nonstop meetings, screenings, skiing and partying in a picturesque, yet relatively cold and high altitude environment, all of which require beauty support.

Although no beauty brands were official sponsors of this year's Sundance, some managed to get in on the action and I had the pleasure of experiencing what they had to offer. These companies provided unique and luxurious treatments, services and products for those who needed relief from the stressful hustle and bustle at the festival, especially for celebrities who needed to recuperate and look their best. For them, Sundance became a beauty and wellness retreat and there was something for everyone.

HigherDOSE, a leading brand in biohacking inside-out wellness and beauty offered a pop-in spa at The Wrap photo lounge during opening weekend. They offered mini detox, “recover and glow-up sessions featuring their best-selling hero technology: the infrared pemf mat, infrared sauna blanket and red light face mask.  

Fiona Hillery, head of brand experience at HigherDOSE, says, “We were thrilled to be a part of Sundance for the first time. Makeup artists were very willing to post about our award-winning technology. We have a passionate fan base in the community who use infrared and red light for red carpet. We helped the people that needed it most to be sustained throughout the Sundance Sprint.”

Several celebs loved the facial so much that they went home with the signature masks to rejuvenate again on the way home. Others requested infrared blankets to be sent to their homes for detox.

Brandon Wright of Roth Ivy who hosted the Wrap during the Sundance Film Festival says, "We are always trying to instruct our clients to give swag they would use. For instance, we like to gift luggage or a bag, high end cosmetics, functional apparel or functional tech. Most companies miss the boat on gift giving.”

It’s important to ask oneself, what would you want? What will you remember? What do you talk about? Keep in mind it’s best if the gift is personal, less is more. You can absolutely create relationships through gifts. Products sell themselves if they are good.

Wright said, “What would you rave about? Everything, even the most mundane, if presented the right way has that potential.  For instance you can give away light bulbs or create the most amazing light installation which becomes an everlasting memory. Marketers have to be creative and assess what will realistically make it into a carry-on suitcase.”  

Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment invited “selected filmmakers, true entertainment professionals and tastemakers” to a day of stories and conversations with Indie filmmakers and musicians along with a night of performances by award winning R&B artists.

They were given many products, one being Ra.D8 Collagen Sparkling Tea. Ra.D8 skin soda supports glowing and healthy skin with a sparkling infusion of synergistic clinically proven ingredients to fight UV damage.  Gifting also supported brands such as House of Broadnax Beauty, MediTEAtions Manifest LOVE, Detox blends and more. With its beautifully built-out space dripping in art deco elegance featuring chandeliers, candles, furs, fragrant florals, white leather furniture, shag carpets, gold statement pieces, and beyond, the experience won’t be forgotten.

One of the gems of Park City is the bVital Spa which has many ahead of the curve technologies. They had a suite at the tip of Sundance where Crystal Tones Bowls were played, and guests could make appointments for soundbaths. While I got acupuncture from a bVital practitioner, they did a private concert for me that they said made the needles even more powerful.  

Lifewave patches were given to VIPs. I experienced its IceWave patches to relieve back pain.

The experiences were ones to never forget. These brands are paving a new road to recovery in the health and wellness sphere with their wonderful and impactful products and services. I’m really looking forward to what Sundance and these brands have in store next year.

Nancy Trent (http://www.trentandfcompany.com/; mailto:nancy@trentandcompany) is a writer and speaker, a lifelong wellness activist, a globe-trotting trend watcher, and the founder and president of Trent & Company, the leading wellness PR firm. Trent & Company, which launched many health and beauty brands, grew out of Nancy's personal and passionate commitment to helping people live longer and healthier lives. A former journalist for New York magazine, Nancy has written seven books on healthy lifestyles, serves on the editorial boards of several magazines and travels around the world speaking at conferences and trade shows on trends in the marketplace. She is a recognized expert in PR with more than 30 years of experience creating and managing highly successful campaigns.

[thehealingkind]

8 Steps for Creating Technology Boundaries in Your Life.

No matter the weather, there needs to be more time for this. Wide open spaces, freedom, stillness and some quality one on one time with Wilson.

You may have read my post last week about my obligatory 48 hour technology detox - the result of a flagging immune system and a particularly unhappy body that has been pushed to the brim (and beyond) for way too many months. This is unfortunately the 'fall out'. I have finally found a career that has me feeling so incredibly excited and passionate about what I do that the boundaries between 'work' and 'play' have disappeared and technology has encroached into the majority of  waking hours - the consequence of living much of my life online. So the detox has come and gone and there is no question that it left me feeling rejuvenated. Yet that was momentary. There is without question a real need for some structure around my working week that allows for far less 'blurring'. As much as I love what I do, my rest time has become more pertinent than ever as I feel myself slipping into 'million mile an hour' Type A habits.

Today I would like  to share  with you some steps that have been recommended by my dear followers, who have had many a wise word to impart (and I am ever so grateful). I intend on incorporating these into my life and hope that this list will benefit others trying to find a happier technology/technology free 'medium'.

The first five come from the delightful Buffy-Ellen Gill of Be Good Organics in New Zealand.

1.  Upon waking, do NOT check your iPhone. I don't even have it in the room. We have a "screen free bedroom" rule now (trust me, this has other positive flow ons). I use a traditional alarm to wake, and in the morning the first hour or two is completely mine. I have a hot lemon water, go to yoga or for a walk, have a coffee and breakfast out (my daily ritual treat), shower and prepare for the day. THEN I check my phone, emails, IG, FB etc. Trust me, the emails and comments do wait til then (~9am for me).

2.  I try to switch the work day off at 6pm. That’s what normal people do! Let's just say I'm not very good at this one, it often creeps to 7/8, BUT the intention is there, every day, and I'm slowly getting better at it. I allow myself to check IG once after dinner ~7.30pm (although I'm working towards removing this also), then phone gets switched OFF. That��s right, off. Switched back on the next morning at 9am. Honestly it’s the most generous and giving thing you can do for yourself (and your clients).

3.  Weekend's to be as tech-free as possible. You can actually schedule FB posts ahead of time, so my goal is to do that on the Friday if I want to post over the weekend (not required though), and therefore leave FB all weekend. IG is a little tougher, but intention will eventually be for it to be a Mon-Fri show only.

4.  In general during the work day I’m aiming towards a twice a day checking/posting schedule. That's emails/FB/IG once in the morning (all posts and reponses), and once in the late afternoon. You actually become so much more productive during the day and can focus on particular tasks. When you’re present, not only are you more productive, you also enjoy what you’re doing so much more – try it! Check this link out, it's a cute wee footer you can add to your email signature block to remind people of that intention (or just hold the intention in your heart).

5.  My partner and I are in the process of booking a 3 week trip to Italy in September. Is my business crazy busy and i don’t think i can afford to take the time off? Of course. Am I not sure how I’m going to cover things while I'm gone? Yes absolutely. But we're booking it anyway, those things will figure themselves out. How could you say no to Puglia?!!

6.  The lovely Kate James from Total Balance, recommends this: I make sure every Sunday is my own now and often spend the afternoon lying on the couch with a book and we have a mini-break every couple of months where we get out of town and disconnect from technology. These small things make such a difference. I'm always more creative and more focused afterwards.

Sundays need to look and feel just like this. Say hello to Wilson. Clearly there isn't a care in the world (or an iPhone in sight).

Julie Green of juliegreenart.com makes this pertinent comment about why it's important to create space:

7.  What is more important for me and my life is to live it outside of the screen and to CREATE more writing and photography instead of reading everyone’s blogs and spending too much time at the screen (although I still am). And even if I don’t get posts or pictures out as quickly or as in-depth or as regularly as I want to, there are other things on my plate, and balance and acceptance are key, I think

8.  Erin from bookgirloz shares: I completely agree ... in that technology (and tweeting/blogging/etc) sometimes becomes such as big part of our lives that we forget to live the life that we want to blog about. My family made a pact to put away all of our phones/ipads/computers each Sunday.

Do you think you could adopt some (or all) of these practices?

[ontarioyoga]

What Is Vipassana Meditation Experience

New Post has been published on https://www.ontarioyoga.net/what-is-vipassana-meditation-experience/

What Is Vipassana Meditation Experience

The Back Story: How I First Learned Of Vipassana And Why I Put It Off For Years

Years ago our friend Jennie mentioned something about a silent meditation course retreat she’d taken. “It’s called Vipassana…ten days…no speaking…meditation…clear the mind…lots of traffic…it’s loud in the head…then peace.”

Those were among the tempting phrases and hooks I recall.

The term Vipassana means “to see things as they really are.” It’s a meditation method discovered by Gautama Siddhartha over 2,500 years ago.

S.N. Goenka, a Burmese man of Indian descent who one might say reintroduced Vipassana to the world in the 1970s, opened the first centers. Today, there are more than 190 Vipassana centers around the world. His instructions and lessons are played during the course, the structure of which is identical regardless of the location: 10 days of silence, meditation from 4:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. with breaks for meals and rest in between.

Audrey and I were both sold on the idea, but I felt I had some physical impediments to overcome, including an inability to properly sit cross-legged. I could not fold my right leg in; I always sat leaning to the right or with my right leg kicked out. Whenever I visited a Buddhist temple during my travels, I was invariably whose feet pointed in transgression at the Buddha, the altar, or the monks.

I never characterized myself as someone with chronic pain. When you have it, chronic pain is something you just learn to live with.

If I waited until I felt “ready” I’d never go.

Yes, this.

It was time.

Wait What Is The Purpose Of A Silent Meditation Retreat And Why Should I Do One

No speaking, no distractions, and a very uncomfortable living situation. Why would anyone do a 10 day meditation course under these conditions? The point of all this is to create an environment that is conducive to introspection and that will test your limits. And don’t worry, you don’t have to sleep on a straw mattress like I did.

A meditation retreat for beginners is the perfect way to kickstart your regular meditation practice. You will have the opportunity to learn a meditation technique in depth and have direct insight on how to overcome common obstacles. In any case, I recommend you get started BEFORE your retreat and start meditating at home.

Can I Take The Vipassana Course With A Spouse Partner Boyfriend Or Girlfriend

The intent of the course is to focus on oneself, so the idea that you are taking the course with someone else or you have “company” becomes irrelevant once the course begins. In fact, it may be distracting.

Ideally, you and your partner set off at the same time and attend different centers and return together with a comparable, yet personal and differentiated experience. And most importantly, a new, shared vocabulary.

What Should You Take Into Account When Choosing A Silent Meditation Retreat

A good resource to find a Vipassana meditation course near you is the dhamma.org website. Keep reading for all my tips for finding good Vipassana meditation retreats:

Don’t overthink it, if you want to do a retreat, you found one that you resonate with, and the timing is right, go for it! It will be hard in any case and will bring you way outside your comfort zone, but you won’t regret it.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my Vipassana review and mindfulness meditation course and I motivated you to do a meditation retreat! Have you done a retreat before? How did you pick it? Share your meditation retreat experience!

You can follow me on and connect with me.

Before you go, don’t forget to get the meditation mini-course!

My Exhausting Meditation Retreat: 10 Days Of Vipassana Silence And Spiders

I went to New Zealand to break my brain and put it back together, without ever having meditated before. I had no idea what I was in for

Last modified on Wed 20 Sep 2017 19.28 BST

I signed up for a Vipassana course in a moment of quiet desperation. I was coming up on close to a year of insomnia. I found myself exhausted by the anxiety of not sleeping, yet unable to find any meaningful rest. For the first time in my life I was having panic attacks. Nightly, they were triggered by the dawning realization that sleep would elude me yet again.

I was also dealing with chronic pain. A bad accident as a kid followed by a series of rib fractures and back injuries over the years generated a state of permanent hurt made worse with the lack of sleep and an excess of cortisol.

I chose this specific course, which took place in New Zealand, because despite the trendiness of meditation classes and apps, Vipassana seemed to be about equanimity, discipline and hard work – right up my alley. I am not the most woo woo of humans, and the idea of a giant drum circle of positive thinkers made me want to run away screaming.

I told my friend I wanted to break my brain and put it back together again

While descended from Buddhism, the modern-day courses are secular in nature. The father of these retreats is the late , who was raised in Myanmar and learned Vipassana from monks there.

She disagreed.

“No, it’s like running a marathon having never run before. Jodi are you doing to yourself?”

Where I Took My Course: The Dhamma Malaya Vipassana Center In Malaysia

I’m going to resist keeping this place a secret, all to myself. I thought the center and its facilities were excellent. I had my own room, for which I was grateful.

Having said all that, the center is not luxurious, nor is it supposed to be. It’s not a spa. It’s basic. Your ten days are to be lived simply.

For me, taking the course in the hot season was great. I could pack very light . Additionally, all that I achieved physically was helped along greatly by the stretching I’d done, which I find becomes much easier in the heat.

So Sober Its Psychedelic My Vipassana Meditation Retreat Experience Dec 30, 2019

I can’t remember the first time I decided I wanted to sit in a room and meditate silently for ten days. I only remember meeting people again and again who I respected and admired who spoke highly of their experiences.

Like any self-development junkie, I was eager to sample all the different strains of self work. Vipassana was attractive to me because it offered the purest base level of the human experience.

No mantras, no words, no coaches, no incantations, no self talk or weird breathing — just you and your breath and your body, silent and still for ten days.

My justification boiled down to “I’m gonna be stuck in a room with myself for the rest of my life, so I might as well see what that’s like without anyone else in it.”

The trouble was finding the time — ten days is a long time in the modern world of scant vacation days and cheap international flights. I had signed up twice in years past only to cancel a few weeks later after other plans arose.

This August, I managed to stick to my reservation during a period of unemployment which coincided with the week of Burning Man, when half my social circles were already offline anyways.

I remember reading their packing list and uneasily noticing all the things I normally packed for trips that weren’t coming this time: sunscreen, fun clothing, Kindle, computer, snacks, toys, the list went on.

Vipassana Meditation : A Candid Review Of What To Expect By Ankita S

What does the 10-days Vipassana Meditation feel like? Here’s a candid experience of what to expect from this profound spiritual retreat.

The secrets of the universe and its working has amazed me since childhood! And somehow, my gut instinct always asked me to get into meditation, though I ignored its whisper. However, I was forced to listen to it once I had some severe health complications. This finally led me to explore the hidden world of Vipassana meditation. And here’s my experience.

I don’t know why I expected some magic to see once I started meditating. Though there were moments of peace, and calm, I was looking for something else, something more maybe! And that led me to explore Vipassana through a retreat.

Do You Have To Stay Silent For 10 Days During A Meditation Retreat

Yes, you can’t speak during a silent meditation retreat, but I felt this was the best part of it! When was the last time you didn’t speak for a full day? If you can’t remember, that’s normal, we are always speaking. Afraid you won’t be able to wait to share your stories and experience during your retreat? There are often regular “office hours” with teachers and a time to share at the end. You’ll also make a LOT of eye contact with other participants.

But silent means also silent from distractions to create space for self-discovery and awareness. So no phones, computers, books, writing… Yes, no Instagram for 10 days.

I had done yoga retreats, and spent tech-free time in nature before, but never to such an extent. There are so many distractions in our everyday lives and it feels so good to have no way of checking in with the outside world. This was the perfect digital detox experience for me and since then, most of my notifications are off and I am more aware of my tech usage.

What Is Vipassana Meditation A Beginners Guide To Getting Started

A lot of people have major misconceptions about what meditation is and how it can be practiced in a way that makes you happy. I’m not talking about sitting on the floor with your legs crossed, chanting “Ommm.” I’m talking about Vipassana meditation which has been practiced for thousands of years in the Buddhist tradition.

The word “Vipassana” literally means “to see things as they truly are.” It’s a form of meditation that involves sitting cross-legged, focusing on your breath, and silencing all other distractions – no technology or reading allowed! Read more to learn about how this practice can change your life.

Ultimately Vipassana Meditation Technique Is About Seeing Reality

To see reality, we practice paccakkha, which means “perceptible to the senses”. In other words, we see things as their sensory experience. 

I personally like the explanation given by Henepola Gunaratana. He said that Vipassana is about “Looking into something with clarity and precision, seeing each component as distinct and separate”.

Think about it like this. At any given time, you have different thoughts, sensations, and feelings flowing through your mind. However, most of the time, you are likely too distracted to perceive these thoughts clearly. And so, they go on while you are largely unconscious of them.

Vipassana meditation enables us to see thoughts, sensations, and feelings for what they are, for their sensory experiences. This gives us power over them, so we are less reactive, less emotional, and more in control.

The method is currently in vogue, riding on the back of the mindfulness movement. And that’s a good thing because it is one of the best Buddhist meditations.

 Although it is a serious method, beginners can practice vipassana at home.

Are You Allowed To Exercise Or Do Yoga During A Vipassana Course

Simply put, no. We were advised not to do any other form of exercise during the course. I thought this would be difficult for me, as I am used to doing some kind of physical exercise daily. After a few days, I was fine with it. I didn’t have the energy to do anything else but walk to and from my room to the meditation hall to the dining hall. During the breaks, we were allowed to walk around the center grounds, which were actually very beautiful and peaceful. The center that I went to in Triebel, Germany had small areas blocked off where we could wander in the woods and in a small field with a pond. It was nice and refreshing to be out in nature and truly made me realize how much I was missing out on in my daily life by just blocking out all the sensations of sight and sound by wearing headphones on my way to work and other appointments. You just stop noticing everything and block out the noise, replacing it with other noise.

What Is Vipassana Meditation Top 4 Benefits + How To Practice It

February 9, 2020

Health Benefits

When it comes to meditation, there are many ways to do it. What is the Vipassana meditation technique , and how does it differ from other types?

Vipassana means “to see things as they really are.” This practice, described as an “art of living,” dates back at least 2,500 years to ancient India.

Similar to mindfulness meditation, it involves training one’s mind through completion of certain exercises in order to increase awareness of one’s own experiences.

Although this form of meditation has been practiced in the U.S. since the 1960s, in recent years the popularity of Vipassana meditation retreats and courses has skyrocketed. Thousands of people attend Vipassana classes each year in hopes of “seeing the true nature of existence,” better managing stress, and improving their focus, productivity, relationships and health.

How Were Your First And Second Course Different From One Another

Facility comparison

My first time was at Dhamma Bhumi in NSW, Australia which is an official centre and the second time in Markopoulo was a non-centre and so having one meditation room that is used exclusively for Vipassana meditation 365 days a year holds a much more powerful and supportive/ inspiring energy than a centre that is used for other activities/ purposes for most of the year.

Official centres tend to have better facilities too but in Australia, for example, there is a pagoda facility for old students to meditate in, with small individual dark rooms. Because they own the land, more can be invested in the centre and indeed, it often is.

Humble living: you will be living like a monk/ nun— on the charity of others. These ‘free’ retreats are not like your lavish 2000$ vacation retreats, you are here to live humbly, and do the work. Materialism ain’t no thing here, so leave your ego at the door and find deep gratitude for how purely this organization is run.

Food comparison

It was great at both centers, but the Aussie location .

Water comparison

We drank tap water in Australia and it tasted so bad that I could only drink tea to mask the taste. I would fill my glass water bottle with tea and drink that throughout the day hot or cold because the taste of chlorine, etc, made me yelped for joy when they announced it.

New student vs. old student: a few differences between being a new .

Are You Allowed To Write Or Journal During Vipassana Meditation

I was hoping the answer to this question would be yes, but again, it was a no. I’m still not sure why, but I think it’s mainly because you’re supposed to keep all the ideas, thoughts, and emotions in your own head. If you write them down on paper, they escape you, and it prevents you from really confronting anything. This was also difficult for me at the start, as I tend to journal pretty regularly. The adjectives I can remember now off the top of my head are pain, discomfort, progress, bliss, boredom, anger, determination, and calm.

Vipassana Meditation Technique Is All About Cultivating Insight

When you practice Vipassana meditation you are creating insight into true reality. Specifically, insight into anicca , which are the “three marks of existence” in Theravada Buddhism. Also, sunyata, which is “emptiness” in Mahayana Buddhism.

Let me explain the “three marks of existence”:

Dukkha : We all feel Dukkha. It is the idea that life doesn’t give us what we want and that everything is always changing. Because we never experience complete satisfaction, we always feel Dukkha.  

Anatta : This is the idea that there is no fixed soul, no fixed sense of self. We are always changing.  

Anicca : This is simply the observation that everything is always changing.  

What Is Vipassana The Technique The Retreats And The Philosophy

July 21, 2021

Vipassana, or insight meditation as the practice is also known, has enjoyed widespread popularity in recent years, with many people attending the gruelling ten-day courses that are available across the globe.

Like many of the popular techniques of meditation that have found their way to the west, Vipassana is a traditional Buddhist practise that has been taught in India for thousands of years, possibly since the time of Buddha.

The Vipassana technique aims to teach the meditator about the true nature of reality through direct experience of the body, feelings and mind.

Did I Have Any Magical Experiences During My Vipassana Retreat

Before I decided to book my Vipassana, I had read many blogs on it, and people talked about how they healed from backache, migraine in just 10 days.

While I did not expect my health issue to get resolved in just 10 days, I did expect ‘something’, a little magic maybe. And that happened on the third day!

In the afternoon when I was concentrating on my breath, I felt my right hand shaking. It’s easy to distinguish between a shaking due to weakness, and shaking due to something more powerful.

As I saw it, I was scared from the meditation experience. I guess fear was not needed at that moment. Because the moment I was afraid, the experience stopped! I kept feeling magical for the next many minutes.

And I can assure you that it was the latter. I experienced that ‘something more powerful’ in my right hand. When I l opened my eyes to look at what’s happening, it was still shaking, and nothing was not in my control.

When I told my teacher about that experience, she said, ‘Observe it!’

Well, her reply did not make me happy at that time, but now that I see it, that’s what Vipassana is all about. Observing.

Was it easy?? No, it was not!

Along with the few magical moments I had, there were a few painful moments too. Like on the seventh day, I could feel the heat inside my body. My stomach and lung area had some fire as if it would burn me from inside.

Why You Should Practice Vipassana Meditation Technique At Home

Many people make a huge mistake when meditating: They practise at retreats.

You are far better off learning how to do Vipassana meditation technique at home.

Why?  Because most of the stimuli that affect you are at home.

Loud voices

If you’re in the city, the constant noise

Vipassana meditation technique teaches us to be less reactive to those stimuli. But to train the mind effectively, we must meditate where those things occur.

Buddha did not isolate himself in a beautiful hall where there were no distractions and no unpleasantness. He sat in the forest, in the village, even around death. Only by exploring his mind in these everyday environments could he liberate himself.

Today we want to be free from the negative aspects of home, work, and, you know, life. If you want to truly liberate your mind, meditate in your everyday life.  

Day 0: Arriving At The Center And Meeting My Fellow Meditators

For day 0, participants were told to arrive for check-in between 2pm and 5pm before a dinner would be served at 6pm.

On my way to the meditation center, I met my first co-meditator. To my surprise, he was a completely normal guy – no long beard, no hippie glasses, no sandals, no flower necklace, no peace tattoo.

I was positively surprised and we hit it off right away. He was about my age, a serial entrepreneur, an avid reader, and an overall cool dude.

Even better, he had very little previous experience with meditation and was simply there because a friend had recommended it to him. “Phew,” I thought, “there’s no way this guy is better prepared than I am. What a relief! I won’t be the only one struggling.”

Upon arrival at the center, we were told to fill out some required paperwork and to hand in our smartphones and other non-allowed items. After that, I made my way to the room I got assigned for the next ten days. One of my three roommates was already there as I entered – another down-to-earth, intelligent, and cool dude. One roommate after the other arrived and we had a great chat before heading for the dining hall for our last dinner in ten days.

These first meetings with my co-meditators really quenched my nerves and boosted my optimism for the coming ten days. These were normal people just like me. They had no idea what to expect either. And they were just as excited/anxious as I was.

This Is What Happened After 100 Hours Of Meditation In 10 Days

Imagine, for a moment, being whisked away to a large, nondescript building amongst the rolling hills of the British countryside. Upon arrival, you are stripped of your belongings. No phone, no books, no pen, no paper. You are left with nothing but your clothes and toiletries. Then, for the next 10 days, you wake up at 4:30 a.m. and complete 10 hours of meditation, every day. You’re not allowed to talk to anyone other than your teacher, and there’s no eye contact or bodily contact allowed. 

What I’ve just described may sound like a literal hell to some, but for me, it was a welcomed escape from the hyperstimulation of my day-to-day activities. I finally had time to go completely inwards and work on overcoming the cravings and aversions of my mind. Surprisingly, tens of thousands of people across the world, from all walks of life, sign up for these 10-day vipassana meditation courses every year.

The most recent course I attended ran over the New Year’s holiday period, which, for most people, is a time when they reflect on the past year and make “resolutions” for changing their habits or behaviour during the coming year. But I feel that without going inwards, it’s pretty tricky to actually figure out what has been draining your energy and holding you back, making it impossible to know what you really need to change about yourself. This is why I went back to attend my second course. You learn more about yourself every single time. 

What Happens During A Vipassana Meditation Retreat:internally

Although the structure of the course is a set structure, what goes on is a whole other story. You are going to have your own experience, but I’ll share a few of mine because from what I hear— many people have similar experiences.

FYI this is where sesame seeds come from .

Crazy ass thoughts: Honestly I brought myself to tears of silent laughter at some of the thoughts that came up while in meditation. Things like where do sesame seeds come from? Or wondering what my arm hair looks like and how weird it is women shave their legs but not their arms. Also why does leg/arm/ eyebrow hair only grow to a certain length but hair on the head grows indefinitely? May times I imagined myself singing along to the chanting in my head and imaging myself perform in a full blown bollywood music video. Like total madness. The key is that when you catch yourself going down one of these rabbit holes, go back to your breath . It’s impossible to completely eradicate your monkey brain, but when you catch yourself don’t continue to indulge, and get back to work.

Understanding The Physical Requirements Of A Vipassana Course

If the thought of sitting cross-legged seems physically daunting and too painful to bear, there’s the possibility of using back rests or even a chair. In other words, your perceived physical limitations should not deter you from taking the course.

And know this: I did it. Sure, I was athletic and ran road races and climbed mountains. But I could barely touch my knees, let alone my toes. And you already know about my fusilli pasta spine.

Despite that, I’m glad I toughed it out on the ground on my meditation cushion, for I’m almost certain I wouldn’t have achieved the results — physical, mental, or emotional — had I done otherwise. During the course, you have 10 days to experiment and plumb the depths of what you can withstand and achieve.

What Is Vipassana Meditation Also Known As Insight Meditation

Before we get into the details of vipassana meditation, some important background about how this practice ties into the story of Headspace: In his early twenties, co-founder Andy Puddicombe left his Sports Science studies and became a Buddhist monk. For over 10 years, he studied meditation in Nepal, India, Burma, Thailand, Australia, and Russia.

After leaving the monastery with a desire to make meditation more mainstream, Andy arrived in London, which is where Headspace was first born, delivering meditations and teachings rooted in both the Burmese and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, while remaining true to the lineage that first inspired the app.

All Headspace meditation techniques incorporate elements of both “Samatha” meditation, though some of the technique names have changed from their original translation to help make them more accessible. The guided meditations in the Headspace app make meditation easy to understand and follow, even if you are completely new to the practice. Additionally, all Headspace meditations and exercises have an altruistic intention at their core, ensuring that both awareness and compassion are being trained at the same time.

You do not need to know and understand the background of Vipassana or Buddhist meditation in order to use the Headspace app to meditate. However, if you are interested in learning more about Vipassana meditation, read on.

Start your free trial

The Benefits of Vipassana aka Insight Meditation

Vipassana Meditation Technique: Everything You Need To Know

In this guide, we will look at how to do Vipassana meditation technique at home. We’ll cover the Vipassana meditation script and its benefits.  

As a meditation teacher, I personally use this method for twenty minutes every single day. And it is also one of the main methods I teach in my online meditation lessons. Spiritually speaking, it is a vital method on the pathway to enlightenment. 

From my personal experience and my experience teaching this method, I can say that it seriously helps with health and happiness. Because it gives insight into the mind, it helps us control thoughts and feelings.  

Many people learn Vipassana meditation at retreats. However, in my experience, it is better to do Vipassana at home. When you practise Vipassana meditation at home you gain insight into your mind in your day-to-day life. 

Let me show you how to do Vipassana at home. And you might like to read my awesome guide to Buddhist Meditations.

Vipassana Meditation: An Experience Of The Power Of Silence

Our world is a very noisy place, both externally and internally. Externally, the sounds of various machines, technologies, and gadgets are all around us, such as cars, radios, blenders, TVs, smartphone notifications, and you name it. Internally, our minds are in constant states of chaotic thinking and ruminating that prevent us from experiencing true peace and silence.

Noise does not need to be a negative thing, but it can be when there is no silence to balance it out. So what if we were to step away from some of this noise, if only for a bit? Would we act differently? Think differently? Experience life differently? Would we perhaps allow a deeper clarity into our life? Deeper insight? A deeper knowing?

Moving away from the noise and into more silence, which normally births more mindful thinking and awareness can be highly transformational. In our Western world, we normally think of meditation when we wish to experience such states of being. However, in other cultures periods of silence and mindful awareness are a natural part of each day that help to balance out our mind, body, and spirit.

#5 Start Meditating At Home Before You Go For The Retreat

If you are new to meditation, and you want to start by going to this retreat, you are doomed. It will be very tough, and most probably you will leave the course in between.

Until and unless you haven’t practiced any kind of meditation at home previously, I won’t advise you to go for this intense practice.

Maybe you can start practicing at home 3-6 months prior to registration. This way sitting one hour continuously for a session won’t be tough. Here are to get you started with your home practice.

A Little Reflection Vipassana Meditation: Was It Worth It

In the months and years since I took a ten-day Vipassana Meditation course in Nepal,  friends and readers have asked me to share my thoughts, now that I have distance from the experience. I jotted a few sparse notes during the course, and journaled on Day Eleven to chronicle my ten-days in a Vipassana course. Those entries shared the raw thoughts and feelings as I processed each day of meditation and course teachings. During the course, I was deep in the middle of the pain and difficulty. There was little room for reflection.

How to Apply to a Vipassana Course:

An Arachnophobe Walks Into A Vipassana Meditation Course

When I was two, a family member took me to see Raiders of the Lost Ark. I had nightmares about spiders for years, waking up screaming in the middle of the night. My arachnophobia has never waned, and I am ashamed to admit that it has dictated some of my travel plans.

Before the meditation course began I worried about the long days of silence. I did not worry about spiders. This was a mistake. The course was on a bird sanctuary outside Auckland, and I arrived only to find that spiders carpeted the wooden buildings, inside and out.

When you take a Vipassana course, you agree to abide by five precepts: no killing, no stealing, no lying, no sexual misconduct and no intoxicants. No writing, no talking, no eye contact, no communicating.

At the end of day one, I noticed a daddy longlegs struggling on the carpet but heading toward the door. I reached for the course schedule, only to realize I was about to kill something with a document that says you won’t kill anything.

Instead, I took a deep breath, skirted around the creature, and opened my door. I stood there silently cheering its departure from my room.

In the meditation hall, daddy longlegs dropped from the ceiling, feeding my anxiety. Huge black spiders dotted the corner of the room where we picked up our pillows, watching over us as we shuffled into yet another meditation session.

I fantasized about flinging off my pillows and running through the hall, screaming like a banshee

It was progress.

Day 6 To 9 Equanimity And Determination Put To The Test

On the 6th day, I woke up sick. My throat hurt, my head throbbed painfully and my nose was clogged. I had a cold and couldn’t distract myself from it. I had to meditate through it.

The meditations were very hard and paying to my sensations made them seem a worse. I had no trouble feeling sensations every part of my body, but I couldn’t maintain equanimity. My cold bothered me, especially when coughing during the group meditations. I barely managed to stay still for more than about 15 minutes during the “meditations of strong determination”.

I slowly made it through the day, but my condition wasn’t improving. I made it clear to myself that I wasn’t leaving the Vipassana course. Unpleasant sensations were not going to win!

On day 7, I was feeling even worse. Despite this, I was strangely enthusiastic at the idea of meditating through my bad feelings and saw the cold more as a challenge and opportunity than an enemy.

“Okay, I know I have a cold and stuff, but if I’m able to meditate through it without judging it, I’ll be able to go through a lot of other things, so I have to do it!”

“These are only sensations, these are only sensations…”

*Watches sensations, start perceiving them in an objective way*

“YEAH! I’m doing it, %?/* YOU, COLD!”

*Loses peace of mind, sensations become overwhelming*

“Ah, crap. Back to square one!”

When I woke up the next morning, there was absolutely no trace of my cold.

What Is Vipassana Meditation And How Can You Practice It

Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You might have ever heard of  meditation. It’s a kind of meditation practice that’s often talked about amongst meditation practitioners and gaining popularity in the world.

More and more people are interested in vipassana meditation and eager to learn and try it out. That’s one of the reasons for its gaining popularity. Nowadays, vipassana retreats are conducted regularly around the world.

What is vipassana meditation? What’s so unique about it?

Those are the questions I get asked a lot.

My first vipassana retreat was back in 2009. Since then, I’ve attended several more. I’m a big fan of it. And, I’ve been practicing daily ever since.

So, in this post, I’ll share with you what I’ve been learning so far to answer those questions as best as I can, what vipassana meditation is, and how you can practice it.

Vipassana is a term often translated as insight or clear-seeing.

It is deeply rooted in the Buddhist tradition.

But, because of its universal essence, its practitioners come from many different spiritual and religious backgrounds. That’s the fact I always found in retreats I attended. A lot of the participants I met are not Buddhist.

You don’t need to be a Buddhist to practice vipassana.

We practice not clinging to and not rejecting any object.

Difference Between Vipassana & Other Forms Of Meditation

The Buddhist Meditation practices are mainly of two forms – and . While Vipassana is based on insight or clear awareness, Samatha includes concentration or mental focus.

Vipassana is insight meditation whereas Samatha is a meditation of tranquility.

The most common types of meditation are based on Samatha. In this form, the meditator will focus on types of meditative objects of meditation such as – images, chants, particular items, prayers, or a candle flame to clear the mind.

To master Vipassana it takes years of practice. The meditator achieves a state in which he is not perturbed by any external influences.

Studies have shown both of these forms help the meditator to quiet their minds and improve their mental capacity. The ultimate goal for all forms of meditation is liberation. It is the stage when the spiritual transformation is complete.

What Is It Like On The Other Side Of A Vipassana Course

The course kicked my ass. Raw feelings bubbled up throughout the intense ten days. I started the course cautious and fearful of what it would be like. Then I had anger and resentment during the middle. By the final day, I swelled with well-being and happiness.

I feel proud that I was able to complete the course. This was one of the hardest obstacles in my life to complete. Growing up I was a dilettante. And while usually that’s one of the cornerstones of being a child—experimenting, learning, and discovering new interests—changing interests so frequently impacted my personal self-views. I have always considered myself a quitter.

Back in the day, I loved synchronized swimming. I even won state and national awards. Then I quit that and moved onto tap dancing. Tap wasn’t as fun as jazz, which then gave way to pottery. Then there was that brief stint in ballet, then Irish dance, followed by several years of piano lessons. I dabbled in art, more styles of dance, and went back to competitive Irish dance in high school. All that took a backseat to theatre—the only thing I stuck with. Until I didn’t; I left my LA acting career to travel the world.

And in staying, I proved to myself that I was strong enough to honor my commitment.

Many have wondered if I kept Vipassana as a part of my life. Do I still practice the technique, which requires two hours a day of silent meditation?

Vipassana: My Experience With Serene Meditation Retreat

Jun 1, 2020·4 min read

Vipassana meditation retreat was a transformative experience of my life. In the midst of life’s struggles and personal crisis, I found this gift of meditation.

Vipassana has brought equilibrium and serenity to my cluttered mind. It has been more than a year I have been practicing meditation regularly and attended three courses so far.

Although nothing in my life has changed miraculously since I started Vipassana, I have control over the level of stress and no signs of anxiety. I struggled with migraines for a few years until I started meditating religiously. Vipassana has made migraines a rare occurrence which troubled me often before last year.

Vipassana has healed my mind and made life better. And with more meditation practice, I look for a meaningful journey ahead. It is worth emphasizing that meditation is a personal experience, and the outcomes can be unique and relative if not similar for every practitioner.

The ten day course

At Vipassana meditation center, the day starts with a wake-up bell ringing at 4 AM, and meditation begins at 4:30 AM. The day ends around 9 PM after approximately ten hours of meditation and discourse by the guru in the evening.

Anapana and Vipassana

Mind is constantly wandering in the past and future than focusing on the present. Living in the present and observing the breath is the first step to calm the mind for Vipassana. The ten-day course starts with meditation, and starts fourth day onwards.

Meditate and be happy

Why Did I Immerse Myself Into An Environment Of Silence

People attend Vipassana courses for many different reasons. I met people who looked for ways to overcome their addictions, others longed to solve their sleeping disorders. For me, I was eager to get a deeper understanding of meditation and learn more about myself. As someone who is always looking for new challenges and opportunities for growth, this seemed like the perfect environment to spend my Christmas break.

Over time, I had come across a number of people who shared their Vipassana experience with me, inspiring me to find out for myself what it is all about. So eventually, I felt the call to embark on this journey and signed up for a women’s-only retreat that took place over the Christmas period in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. While I already had some experience in meditation, I didn’t really know what to expect in the upcoming 10 days, far away from civilisation.

Disclaimer: Nothing You Read Here Will Do This Justice

Both the Buddha and Goenka stress the importance of direct experience, which is a welcome change from other gurus preaching their truth as the only true way. They explicitly say “Take this and try it on and see if it works for you — but don’t believe it until you’ve lived it yourself.” There are even 3 different types of wisdom in Buddhism to relate to these — known, believed, and lived.

Vipassana and Buddhism are all about living truly present in the moment, without cravings, aversions, ignorance, memories, expectations, or future plans. So remember that everything you read here may make your meditation that much harder in the moment: “Wait, I’m not experiencing what Corey experienced!”.

If you’re anything like me though, you’ll read on anyways, as I did all the blog posts of those who came before me, and I still had a great time. So let’s go!

Did You Microdose While There Or Take Any Psychedelics

I considered it, but no, I did not and I will not. It’s a rule not to take any drugs, and although I don’t consider it a “drug” — psilocybin alter your state of consciousness. The reason I wanted to microdose while there was to lower my sensory gate perception, because mushrooms do that, and a key part of Vipassana is the ability to feel subtle sensations on the body. It no doubt help, but the more important part of Vipassana is observing life as it it, not as you wish it were. So, in weighing the pros and cons, it was quickly clear to me that using any external ‘aids’ to achieve deeper states of meditation was actually completely against the purpose and would set me back. You want to honour where you’re at in that moment, and watch your success come from doing the work.

Learn more about microdosing

Registering For The Course An Unexpected First Hurdle

I expected registration for a course to be a quick and hassle-free process. I was wrong. In the end, it took approximately 7 months from decision to do a course until actually enrolling and participating in one.

You see, Vipassana courses are popular. Much more popular than I thought. Registration to 10-day courses usually opens three months before the course starts and it’s not uncommon that courses fill up within a few days of opening up registration.

And it’s not like these courses take place 3x per month. It’s more like one course every 4-6 weeks. Long story short, I missed out on courses a couple of times until I finally managed to register on time and get accepted for the course from sep-19 to sep-30.

Why Did I Choose To Participate In A Vipassana Course

Before we get to my detailed experience of the ten-day retreat, I want to give you an understanding of why I chose to go through this in the first place. People go on such retreats for numerous different reasons. For me, the main reason was the proven scientific track record of meditation.

And by track record I mean the science-backed benefits of meditation. According to books and articles I’ve read on the topic, some of those benefits include:

Improved immune function, decreased inflammation, many other improved health markers

Decreased anxiety, depression, stress

Increased positive emotions, decreased negative emotions, more happiness

Improved relationships, increases in social connection, less feelings of loneliness

Improved focus and attention, memory, creative thinking

Improved self-control, emotion regulation, concentration, introspection

Meditation has been shown in multiple studies to physically alter the structures of your brain, increasing grey matter, growing cortical thickness, and increasing volume in areas related to self-control, emotion regulation, positive emotions, and paying attention.

If you’re interested in living a healthy, happy, successful, and fulfilling life, there’s hardly a better use of your time than meditation. I’ve said on numerous occasions that mindfulness is the #1 skill anyone can learn in life – and mindfulness is best cultivated through the practice of meditation.

Spiritual Benefits Of Vipassana Meditation Technique

Vipassana meditation has significant spiritual benefits. In fact, it is the best meditation for gaining insight into the true nature of reality. 

When we practise Vipassana meditation technique daily we gradually awaken.  

Plus, when you learn how to do Vipassana meditation , you will notice what’s going on inside your mind while you’re living your everyday life. In fact, doing Vipassana at home is better than doing it at a retreat.  When you practise at a retreat you only see what’s going on in your mind when you’re at the retreat. That’s not very useful! Contrastingly, gaining insight into your mind in your everyday life is invaluable. And that is why you’re smart for learning how to do Vipassana meditation at home.

Part 3 Of 3:overcoming Distractions While Meditating

“smallUrl”:”https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Perform-Insight-Meditation-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Perform-Insight-Meditation-Step-9.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Perform-Insight-Meditation-Step-9.jpg\/aid6822382-v4-728px-Perform-Insight-Meditation-Step-9.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=\”mw-parser-output\”><p>License: <a target=\”_blank\” rel=\”nofollow noreferrer noopener\” class=\”external text\” href=\”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\”>Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>”1Focus briefly on distractions. Whenever there is an outside noise, any sort of disturbance, you should consciously and immediately focus awareness towards that sound. Just as you labeled the rising and falling of the abdomen, label the exterior sound in your mind.XResearch source

The process can be free of thought, just allowing the mind to focus on the surroundings. If you’re distracted, refocus on your breathing until you can establish a calm understanding of smaller sounds around you.

Tips On Getting Started With Vipassana Meditation:

To get started with Vipassana Meditation, you can work with me or you can begin to practice on your own, below are some tips to get you started.

– Choose a time when you’ll be able to practice consistently

– Prepare your space. Find a room in your house that can be designated for meditation only, and keep it free of distractions such as TV’s, computers, or phones

– Set a timer for 20 minutes and start!

– Sit with your legs crossed if possible. Palms one on top of the other in your lap. If you cannot sit with your legs crossed then find a position that you can sit comfortably, don’t create or further physical ailments in this process. how you sit is not as important as you might think.

– Focus on your breath or teach the abdomen, and allow yourself to be. Note the thoughts and emotions as they arise for what they are “Noting” is acknowledging what truly is within and allowing it to be recognized, this is a game-changer as your practice grows. When the thought, emotion, or feeling has passed return to the breath or the rising and falling of the abdomen.

Can You Bring Your Own Food/ Make Dietary Requests

No to bringing your own food, and to making dietary requests. Understand that if everyone did this, the courses could not exist. Distinguish between dietary requirements and dietary preferences. Do I eat gluten in real life: no. Am I allergic to gluten: also no. There are often options, and you can navigate the meals to avoid certain things, but unless you’re allergic: don’t make requests. Doing so will absolutely harm your practice, because living like a monk/ nun means living on the charity of others. If you want to truly surrender to the experience, you need to let go of your daily life neuroses. Beggars can’t be choosers, and when you accept the free food prepared by love by volunteers who are serving you selflessly and preparing food made with love, the alchemy is incredible and you will feel wonderful, I promise.

How Is It Different From Other Types Of Meditation

People often wonder what difference there is between Vipassana meditation and transcendental meditation or even mindfulness. And while some may think they are very similar, there are clear distinctions in all of them.

Vipassana meditation is about becoming insightful through self observation and enquiries of the self and life.

Transcendental meditation, on the other hand, uses a mantra to help you transcend to the source of thought.

Mindfulness meditation is about being mindful of your thoughts and feelings without interfering, mentally, and living in the present moment.

Ten Day Vipassana Meditation Course: My Experience

You can find a slightly shorter version of this post  in case you don’t want all the detail, though I’d recommend reading the full version if you have the time. If you’re thinking about taking the course, might be helpful to read too. 

I just came back from a 10-day Vipassana course. It was a unique and tough experience full of ups and downs, and very different from what I expected.

I’d been interested in meditation for a few years,  but hadn’t had the discipline to put it into practice. I chose this course because it’s a 10-day immersive course with no communication throughout. No phones, no talking to the other meditators. Not even any eye contact or gestures. I liked the idea of the lack of distraction. Other than that I have to admit I didn’t know too much about this specific course before I went, and that became apparent as soon as I got there!

Upon arrival, we made a vow to live by a number of rules, most of them not too taxing: no killing, stealing, lying, or intoxicants, and complete sexual abstinence. We also agreed not to leave before the end of the course.

Each day of the course started with a gong at 4 AM and finished with a talk at 9:30 PM, with around 11 hours of meditation in between. The rest of the time was made up of meal and rest breaks.

Ok so far. I can swallow that.

Hmm, ok. A little far fetched, but just maybe there’s a meaningful analogy there.

Some things I’ve noticed since leaving the course yesterday:

To be continued…

How Much Does A Vipassana Meditation Retreat Cost

Vipassana is technically free, in that you don’t pay anything to attend. There are many reasons for this, one of which is that it allows you to develop the P?ram? and even the teachers volunteer their time, because Dhamma is too important to set a financial restriction on

Donations are pure and are only accepted by old students, who have completed at least one 10 day Vipassana. They are based on means which is one of the fundamental pillars on which enlightenment is founded.

No Speaking For 10 Days Wtf Do You Lose Your Mind

Haha, kind of, but it’s amazing. When you live your day-to-day life constantly thinking and communicating, its near impossible to realize the madness going on in your head. We have so much stimulus that our thoughts actually jump from one thing to another without ever taking a breath. This is apparent during the first 2 days of the retreat. As you quietly observe your breath, the mind is running at 100 miles per hour like a total spas.

When we speak, we automatically start telling ourselves stories, about how we feel, what other people are doing and saying and our assumptions on their intentions and what they might be thinking. It’s an added layer of information that just crams into our internal dialogue and generates information overload. Not speaking for 10 days is so relaxing and regenerative. It allows you to focus on observing your mind as opposed to multitasking between that and navigating the outside world. It really gives you a chance to go inwards.

What Is The Cost Of A Vipassana Meditation Course

On principle, no fee for the Vipassana course is charged. Centers are instead maintained by the donations of those who have completed a meditation course. You may donate only once you have completed a course and you are free to choose the amount you wish to donate.

those who came before you support your course while your donation supports future participants. So you pay it forward.

Would I Recommend Vipassana Meditation To Others

Yes! But only when the timing is right.

A simple, non-sectarian technique for programming pervasive peace into our lives, I believe Vipassana meditation to be one of the best things I’ve ever encountered. I wouldn’t recommend rushing into a course, though. Had I attended one a year ago, I probably would have left the first day. Trying to sit still and consciously aware for ten straight days is a tremendous challenge.Sign up when you have some extra gumption to give to the experience.

Lastly, if you’ve made it this far in this lengthy article, you might be curious how much a ten-day Vipassana course cost? It’s absolutely free. The program is entirely run by volunteers and financially supported by past students .

How To Do Vipassana Meditation Technique At Home

In my opinion, it is best to do Vipassana at home because then you will gain insight into how your mind works in the place you are every day: home, which is far more valuable than doing it at a retreat.

Buddha said that it is best to do Vipassana meditation technique in a forest, sitting with the legs crossed in Lotus position. However, you can practice Vipassana meditation at home. Of course, your space should be relaxing and free of distractions. You can also do it sitting in a chair. However, do make sure you have good posture. 

When you do Vipassana at home you should be somewhere quiet and comfortable.

You can learn more about sitting positions in my guide to

My Toughest Challenge Ever Vipassana Meditation

Meditation Series – Chapter 3: Vipassana

Continuing my experiments with different forms of meditation, I had come across Vipassana around 2015. I got this sudden opportunity to join Vipassana camp. Vipassana is an old Buddhist tradition of Meditation, as was taught by Gautam Buddha himself. I had heard a lot about it and always thought of it more as an adventure than Meditation; it seemed like the toughest experience out there. Many people think that one session of Vipassana and you become a sanyasi on a yogic path like Gautam Buddha. Frankly, it is a stupid conception but about that later, first, let me elaborate on my experience with Vipassana. 

How Vipassana challenges you every minute.

Vipassana is seriously a mind-blowing experience and the toughest thing I ever did in my life. One has to dedicate oneself to the session for 10 days at a time and stay in the ashram/camp during this period. Program highlights are: Wake up every morning at 4 a.m., not talk to anyone for 10 days , and last meal at 12 noon – no dinner, only a snack in the evening… All deal breakers for me. I am not a morning person, in fact I can’t even wake up at 9 easily, forget about 4 am. The few times in life, I have been awake at 4 in the morning was when I didn’t sleep the whole night. ?

What more? Hmmm, not talking to anyone was not a deal-breaker, as I have a strange combination of chatterbox and statuesque personality. So acquiring one personality for a small period of time is not so tough.

How I Heard About Vipassana Meditation Retreats

I heard about Vipassana meditation retreats on a forum. People shared reviews of their Vipassana experiences and reported getting incredible results from the 10-day retreats offered by Vipassana centers around the world. I looked into it, fond a center close to my home in Eastern Canada and subscribed for a 10-day meditation retreat. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I read it was considered one of the most challenging meditation retreats available to westerners. I saw it as a great personal challenge and an incredible opportunity to fully focus on meditation. Besides, the retreats were free of charge; they’re solely financed by voluntary donations, so I really had nothing to lose except 10 days.

Photo credit : hckyso from flickr

In Vipassana retreats, all forms of communication with other students are forbidden . Practitioners are only allowed to bring necessities, this means nothing to read, watch, listen to or write with. Cellphones and other electronic devices are also prohibited. The rules are strict, but they are helpful and force you to fully concentrate on your meditation practice without distracting yourself when things get tough, because they will get tough, trust me.

I Keep Seeing The Word Dhamma What Does It Mean

Dhamma is part of the ‘triple gem’ which includes:

anyone who is fully enlightened

the law of nature; the teaching of an enlightened person; the way to liberation

anyone who has practiced Dhamma and has become a pure-minded, saintly person

All Pali words are explained during the course, as their relevance becomes necessary.

Schedule: A Typical Vipassana Day And Timetable

For days one through nine, participants observe a “Noble Silence” which means no talking and no charades or other non-verbal communication. You can ask the instructor questions during sessions at 12:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. Remaining silent during this time is not nearly as difficult as it sounds.

The schedule is the same at every Vipassana 10-day meditation course, no matter where it is being held in the world. You can see this at the bottom of the Vipassana FAQ page.

Wake up bell: 4:00 A.M.

Most mornings, for whatever reason, my body anticipated the waking bells at 4:00 A.M. I set an alarm for 4:10 A.M. just in case and never had to use it. Not because I wasn’t tired in some way, or even jet lagged a bit, but because it was clear I had something important that I must do.

After a quick wash and water and a stretch, I was out the door into the pre-dawn darkness for a walk from my room to the meditation hall. The touch of cool before the birds would come alive and the warmth of the Malaysia hot season would land was something I’ll never forget.

Meditate in the hall or in your room: 4:30-6:30 A.M.

I quickly realized after a brief conversation with the instructor that meditating in the hall for newcomers is an important discipline. I found I would go much further with the structure and discipline of the early morning in the hall, despite the fact that the morning sessions ended with a chant that typically drove me borderline crazy.

Breakfast and rest: 6:30-8:00 A.M.

Where Can I Find A Vipassana Meditation Retreat

Today, there are over 172 Vipassana meditation centers, and 134 non-centers scattered around the globe, all of which are under the instruction of current teacher S.N. Goenka , whose videotaped sessions guide the students along the course.

All Vipassana meditation centers operate strictly on a donation basis. So, the course and all its amenities are provided for free. Donations are only accepted from those who complete the full 10-days and are informed after completion of the minimum donation to cover their board and lodging.

All participants are expected to complete the full 10-days, however, there is no obligation and one can leave anytime.

www.dhamma.org

What Is Vipassana Meditation A Beginners Guide

We will all agree that often times we find ourselves overwhelmed by various negative thoughts and feelings. We get angry, disappointed, sad, discouraged and even feel completely out of harmony with ourselves. This makes us send off those negative energies to the other people around us and make them unhappy too.

Definitely, it is not something we do intentionally but the things we go through life may make us do it. But is there a way in which we can reduce all the negative thoughts, feelings and energy and be more on the positive side, feeling energized, motivated, peaceful, happy and having proper inner balance?

Vipassana meditation is a great practice that helps us become more peaceful, calm and have inner harmony through purifying the mind from the negative thoughts and feelings that make us suffer. It brings a sense of mental stillness and clarity that helps us live better lives.

How Does It Work The Precepts And Course Rules

So, how does a retreat work anyway? What are the rules? What does a typical day look like? That’s what we’ll cover next.

For starters, attendees of a Vipassana course must undertake five precepts for the duration of the course: 1) to abstain from killing any being; 2) to abstain from stealing; 3) to abstain from all sexual activity; 4) to abstain from telling lies; 5) to abstain from all intoxicants.

In addition to the precepts, attendees should also adhere to the following rules:

The rules may sound a bit strict and draconic in the beginning. After the course, however, I realize that most of them make total sense and are simply there to make life easier for the students.

I had no trouble following the rules, though I do some pushups and other bodyweight exercises from time to time. As long as you don’t distract your fellow meditators, I guess it’s fine.

[windingriverherbals]

Creative Organic Green ~ Mini Tech Detox

OUR BODIES PHYSIOLOGICALLY DEPEND ON ELECTRICAL CURRENTS—our nervous and cardiac systems being the core systems of course that rely on tiny electrical impulses. Even though you can’t feel it, our modern world is increasingly exposing us to larger and larger volumes of electromagnetic fields (EMF), emitted through the use of electricity and particularly from increasing dependency on “wireless”…

[samcaarter]

4 weeks? okay, now i'm ashamed! lol while i'm here, do you have any good fanfictions to share? i'm bored and i need to read something really good and well written and i've already read most of the french fanfiction so i'm trying to find some in english :)

oh, do I

Waves are Universal by openended Sam and Jack gate to an alt universe, get together, and nothing bad happens. Oh and they’re friends with their kid

The Dreams We Left Behind by Salr323 Sam marries the asshole, and she and Jack both suffer. Until they don’t. Oh and Kerry is awesome

Retrospective by Salr323 do you want to know how Sam fell in love? Oh and it’s so deliciously long

Cooking Lessons by mrspollifax Jack O’Neill can cook, maybe. Oh and Sam forgets her name when he kisses her

In doorways and dreams, I run to you by NellieOleson Sam, Jack and the rest of SG1 get stuck on a ship. Oh and… they’re connected?

Last Watch Before Dawn by mrspollifax what do they do when they finaly reunite? Oh and there’s sleepy sex

Even Better Than The Real Thing by indiefic mini otp? Oh they’re still idiots

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together by Annerb Jack definitely bullied his way onto an SG1 mission after he left for DC at least once. Oh and Sam makes the best plans

Mimesis by Annerb do you like Replicarter? Don’t she’s an ass. Oh and this totally should’ve been an episode

Serendipity by Annerb okay but where can’t Sam and Jack find adventure on their asses? Oh and the alien tech is amazing

Convergence by Annerb they sleep together before the Abydos mission. How complicated will it make “children of the gods”? Oh and Sha’re lives

Gravity Always Wins in the End by Annerb as he promised, he will always be there for her. Oh even in a different galaxy

The Lies You Feed Yourself by Annerb Sam and Jack don’t get together after “threads”. And it’s painful. Oh but there’s a happy ending

Blessed by Rachel500 this time it’s Jack who touches something he shouldn’t. Oh and Sam is his knight in shining BDUs

Let Your Demons Run by mrspollifax“entity” was a hell of an experience for both of them. Oh and they have sex

Midnight at the Oasis by bluemoonmaverickwhat if Abydos wasn’t destroyed, and Jack and Sam really did go to Skaara’s wedding? Oh and that’s the fic’s actual description

Strange Statues by dizzy Sam and Jack have a kid. Oh but they didn’t do what they needed to do to have a kid

Softening the fall by iblamethenubbins they’re stuck on another planet. Oh but this fic is just so nice

go lift your sails up (for one last swell) by geneeste the world ended, no big deal as long as they’re together. Oh and there’s shower sex

The Larks Still Bravely Singing Fly by mrspollifax Sam disappears, and Jack only holds it together because of their daughter. Oh and you’ll probably cry

Folding a Map by nanda (nandaj) Jack realizes he’s the luckiest guy on the planet. Oh and ldrs suck

Bad Universe by nanda (nandaj) Sam and Jack get together and have lots of sex. Oh yeah, nothing new there

Snowmageddon by NellieOleson SNOW! Oh and Sam’s a little shit

The Principle of Cause and Effect by mrspollifax Sam kills Jack. Sort of. Oh and Jack’s a little shit

The Fine Art of Diplomacy by mrspollifax can you order people to have dinner with you? Oh and Hayes is a little shit

Gift of the Stars by AKarswyll Jack is Sam’s favourite present. Oh and Jack will never be able to wear that tie of his

One Hot Night by amaradangeli they drink something they shouldn’t. Oh but they don’t regret it

How to Start a Fire by bluemoonmaverick Sam and Jack are together in every universe. Oh that counts the one from Teal’c’s imagination

fourteen billion years ago, expansion started…wait. by openended how much self control does Sam have? Oh but Jack has a very talented mouth

Unfinished Business by 3starJeneral the briefing room fantasy. Oh except it’s totally not a fantasy

Heavy-Handed by PepperF Sam can’t control her hand. Oh yeah exactly what it sounds like

edit

In Washington by amaradangeli AU Sam and Jack are detectives

Taking the Cure by amaradangeli, fems Sam and Jack post “The :ight”, they’re “detoxing”

He Chose Ice by amaradangeli smut, ice play, really hot though

Tidings of Comfort and Joy by amaradangeli Christmas fluff and smut

DS series by Annerb Sam and Jack post “Threads”

In Medias Res by amaradangeli captivity and close quarters

[nitintukadiya]

Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay hybrid camera announced, priced at $160 #girlswhocode #femaleintech #womenwhocode #programmer #developer #javascript #html #css #coding #softwaredeveloper #techinfluencer #tech #technology #womenintech #womeninbusiness #bossbabe #thankyouteami #womeninpower #womeninstem #girlboss #engineer #webdevelopment #empoweredwomen #steminist #femaleengineer #health #wellness #detox #focus #teamipartner https://www.instagram.com/p/BynLirtJ3_t/?igshid=1tyf11d9021p8

[fmwdotcom]

This is the calm before the storm. Not long ago you were dancing to dandiya beats, and in no time celebrationsfor the festival of lights will commence. For some reason, this is the best phase—an interim of sorts—between two festivals. The best time for a mini detox, going on that shopping spree or/and just catching up friends and family far and wide.

To make this festive season memorable, here are five things to get all charged up for impending celebrations.

Sales here, there and everywhere

NNNow The Mighty Mister Sale

  Absolutely every other e-commerce site has a sale, and great ones. From Amazon.in’s ‘Great Indian Festival’ to Flipkart.in’s‘Festive Dhamaka Days’ and ‘up to’ sales on others (P.S. We are loving the StalkBuyLove one), we’re gunning for their steals while our closets overfill. If e-commerce is not your thing then just visit your neighborhood stores, everything is on ‘Sale’!

Tech attack

Thinking of upgrading your mobile device or then gifting one to someonespecial? Your wait is shorter. The recently released iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have been garnering rave reviews; with those sales on, you could get a good deal. If you are an Android loyalist, then worry not. One Plus is launching the 6T on October 30 in India. Go, check out the specs.

Take a chill pill

Cruise Split Air Conditioner VarioQool Inverter AC VQ5S

By now your home is redecorated and while you are adding those finishing touches, it’s time to look for cooling options. The combination of diyas and firecrackers tends to increase temperatures. So why not invest in a good AC. Added benefit is that closed windows will keep pollution at bay!

We are crushing over the Cruise Air Conditioners, and its special festive ‘Lifetime Free Service Offer’ offer with its flagship VarioQool inverter split air conditioner series makes it even sweeter. Cruise VarioQool inverter split air conditioner is an evolutionary masterpiece. Designed to evoke a response, its Smart AURASense Intelligence and Hot + Cool modes allow enhanced temperature control to suit your needs – all year round.

For the first time in in India, a door-to-door maintenance service that doesn’t require killing time on recurrent phone complaints or cost intensive monthly repairs. Hurry, this offer is valid only till November 10, 2018. Book your Cruise AC now!

Vacay mode on

Rafting at Kolad

Not everyone wants a staycation during festivals. Some prefer escaping the madness of the city and unwind instead. No wonder airlines are offering fabulous discounts to ‘Sale-ebrate’ (as IndiGo puts it). Vistara and SpiceJet too are offering some great deals for the Diwali long weekend.

How much is too much?

Café Bitty Batter

House of Lloyd

We did keep the best for the last! Every link you open, every article you read, every person you talk to has one thing in common—ways to stay fit this festive season or something on low-calorie sweets. Frankly, we have a different take on this and will not sermon you on anything. Just one piece of advice: Festivities cannot be enjoyed without indulgence, and well you have a month-and-a-half to shed those kilos until New Year.

Happy Diwali folks!

A Fashion Most Wanted Production

Story by: Esther Cabral

Five Ways To Ace The Festive Season This is the calm before the storm. Not long ago you were dancing to dandiya beats, and in no time celebrationsfor the festival of lights will commence.

[gaiatheorist]

Not-so-smart phones?

Flicking through the headlines, and generally trying to avoid anything with ‘Apocalypse’ in it, the first two I skimmed through related to mobile tech. I remember when we didn’t all have the internet in our pockets at all times, when ‘the internet’ was that one computer at school, that each class got about half an hour a month, to talk to another school. I remember when a ‘phone’ was either the house-phone, that your Mum would pick up the other extension on, and listen to your “No, you hang up...”, or various public telephone boxes, where you needed a handful of change, and to avoid the smack-head waiting to call their dealer.

The kid didn’t have a smart-phone until he went to Uni, he’d been using the same mini-brick he’d had since he was 12, topped-up with £10 credit about twice a year. He didn’t open a Fakebook account until he was 16. That’s not my CEOP-training, or my Safeguarding head, he went through the swearing-at-strangers-on-Xbox-live stage, and I think he uses Steam to chat to his mates. ‘I think’, Gods, I’m one of those dinosaur-parents, who doesn’t actually know what their child is doing. I’m not overly concerned, he leaves his laptop open, and his phone and tablet lying about, there’s no element of concealment to indicate there’s anything he wouldn’t want me to know about, so I don’t try to look.

(My head’s doing that then/now thing it does sometimes, I’m amused by the thought of time-travelling back to my teenaged self, and not being able to immediately search any given thing, instead of going to the library to look it up.)

The kid hasn’t been kept in a cupboard under the stairs, he’s sort of come-of-age during this period where the instant-internet is normal, to the extent that we both get exasperated when the connection glitches, and we can’t watch TV-from-everywhere over the broadband at the same time as we both have several devices connected to various other apps. (Look at that, ‘apps’ doesn’t flag on spell-check any more.)

Smart/stupid link on spell-check, there, and my bubbling rage when Fakebook people just let anything that isn’t underlined go. Just because it IS a word, doesn’t mean it’s the right one. That’s another rage-bubble I need to work on, because it’s able-ist, It doesn’t matter that spelling and grammar errors make me twitchy, but it does sort of loop back around to the point of this ramble. In 2003, when I started working as an SEN teaching assistant, I was assigned to a group of students who had been removed from their GCSE English class. Not a disruption-removal, they’d been removed from the bottom-set English class because they couldn’t read. Rolling back my ridiculous memory, they were all in the Moderate Learning Difficulties category on the SEN ‘register’, I had four regular ‘MLD’ students, and occasionally the SpLD lad with the ‘Specific Learning Difficulty’ of dyslexia. Oh, sometimes I had the boy with Asperger’s and ADHD as well, but only if one of the MLD boys was absent, because if you put them in the same room they fought. That was how SEN students were catered for back then, the weakest students were removed from the mainstream class, and plonked in a room with a teaching assistant (being paid thruppence ha’penny an hour to teach the curriculum.), because that was a more effective use of resources than the teacher having to spend half the lesson trying to ‘keep them on task’. (More accurately, trying to stop them masturbating under the desk, or falling off their chairs again.) 

‘Teaching’ four children who couldn’t actually read, without a degree, or a teaching qualification. I know, brilliant, isn’t it? 

Rambling. My point was that the particular learning difficulties those children had led to a LOT of pick-the-first-word-spellcheck-suggests essays. The kids had no real clue what most of the words said, and “Look it up in the dictionary.” was never an effective solution, they couldn’t ‘look it up’, BECAUSE they didn’t have enough of a grasp of spelling to even know what the word started with. English is awkward like that. (Saw one of them on a bus a few days ago, so at least one of them managed to survive to the age of nearly-30.) Back-then, they didn’t have mobile phones, and I doubt they had the internet at home. (Some of them didn’t appear to have washing machines, or parents with the ability to use one, anyway.) 

Back to the present, ALL the kids have mobiles, and it’s a rare house that doesn’t have ‘the internet’. Even the in-laws have ‘the internet’ now, although what they actually have is permission to use next door’s broadband password. (Which they probably have written in a book somewhere.) Fantastic, virtually every piece of knowledge humanity has ever acquired, at our fingertips, all the time. (So we use it to start fights, and look at pictures of cats.) The news is accused of dumbing-down to reach a wider audience, ‘exams are getting easier’, ‘university students are buying essays online’, and now, the fact-checking thing. As much as we have an element of society that will always pick the first word on spell-check, we also have an element that will believe the top-result on any given internet search. (Even when it’s a bloody advert.) The woman in whichever-African-country who thought her phone could scan her fingerprint and provide ‘the answer’ to whether she had AIDS. Scary world, people.

Even more scary is the man in Ohio, who live-streamed himself murdering a stranger. In the olden days, we wouldn’t have known about that as-it-happened, we would have had to wait for a printed newspaper to tell us about it the next day. We didn’t have 24-hour-television-news back then, an emergency broadcast was a very rare thing, but generally meant the death of a member of the royal family, not the apocalypse. Now? Now we’re so used to the ‘breaking news’ banner popping up, that it barely even registers. That desensitisation is a protective mechanism, because if we all read all of the news all of the time, we WOULD go completely insane. Our bubble-worlds, and the repeated articles about ‘digital detox’ are a strange reflection of how saturated we’ve become by the ‘connectivity’ that’s crept into our ‘normal’. 

I’m smirking at myself, the smart-phone that never leaves my side is pretty much never used as a phone. I looked at the call-time total on it a few weeks ago, and I’ve used 16 minutes. I’ve had the phone over a year, and the TOTAL talk-time on it is 16 minutes. I don’t talk, I type. My phone is a camera, to record stupid-shit-I’ve-done, and a calendar/reminder, alarms all over the place, to remind me to eat, or take medication, or put trousers on. My phone is effectively my ‘carer’, but that’s not why I have a gripping phobia of dropping it and breaking it. We ‘all’ have that, don’t we? The panic when you tap the pocket where your phone should be, and it isn’t? The Fear of Updates, battery-panic, and that subconscious thing we all do where we know where the signal-dead-spots are. We’re not scared of being eaten by a sabre-toothed tiger any more, we’re scared of being without wifi. 

There’s no real point to this one, I’m not going on a digital detox, because I barely ‘connect’ with anyone. I’m aware that two messages came to my phone last night, but I’m not breaking my neck to respond to one of them. (Fakebook fact-checking-man pointing out that I’m ��quiet’, and asking me if I’m OK, I’ll lie to him later, because my sleeping patterns are out-of-synch with most humans, and his wife HATES me, I don’t want to ‘ping’ his phone and start some sort of domestic between them.) That’s the other thought-stream on this, I’m deliberately keeping my head down on Fakebook to disengage from ‘work’. The union lady said this would happen, that the longer I was off, the less people would try to engage with me. “You’ll be able to tell which ones were your real friends, because they’ll keep in touch.” That’s a most-people rule, though, it doesn’t apply to me