The ability to astral project is an innate ability that each and every person is born with. The difference between those that astral project on a regular basis and those that do not know they are doing it is simply practice. Astral projecting is an ancient practice that should be treated with the respect that it deserves, much like meditation or yoga. There are a variety of types and names that it is known by. There are also different ways to astral project.

The first type of astral projecting that should be talked about is lucid dreaming. We all know what lucid dreaming is, it is when you are consciously dreaming. One form of this conscious dreaming is astral projecting. You can do this rather simply. What you need to do is when you are dreaming is realize that you are dreaming and say to yourself in the dream I am dreaming.

You can do anything you want once you wake up in your dream. This may be a little too random for beginners to be successful enough to astral project.

You need to believe that astral projection does work and is a reality. You have already experienced it but you do not realize it. Have you ever remembered a dream vividly upon awakening? The memory is so vivid that it feels as though you actually experienced it. This indicates you had an astral projection.

It is very important to have confidence that you can astral project. This will ensure you have a better chance of being successful at having an astral projection experience.

Learn some good meditation and relaxation techniques; these will make it easier for you to astral project. Meditation will get your mind and body ready for the experience of astral projection. Start practicing relaxation and meditation routines you like to get prepared.

Find a quite place to relax, a comfortable chair or lie down, making sure you will not be interrupted. Clear your mind of all thoughts, picture a blank screen. Pay attention to your breathing, take slow deep breathes. Imagine all your troubles leaving your body when you breathe out. This will put you in a deeply relaxed state that will enable you to astral project.

The next step is to go into an altered conscious state. Keep focusing on your breathing, your problems are gone, your mind is blank. Breathe slow and deep, in through the nose and out the mouth, becoming more relaxed with each breath. It is time now to get your body relaxed as you breathe slower and deeper.

Begin with your toes and move on up your body telling each part to relax. When you breathe out, tell each part of your body to relax. You can also tense the muscles up first and then relax them, whichever works best for you.

The best way to describe what you are going to feel is heavy it is going to feel as though all of the energy and tension is slipping away from each part of your body. You will know it when it happens. Once you have relaxed each part of your body it is time for you to move to the next step that is going to help you astral project.

You may feel like sleeping at this time, you need to avoid this. Many recommend repeating a command such as’I can fly, I can fly.’ You can say anything you want, just try to come up with something that will keep you from slipping into sleep.

The mind tends to get bored when it is not doing anything, which can mean that it will drift and find something else to focus on. You dont want that to happen. If the mind wanders then you need to quit the session. To help bring the mind back repeat your phrase.

Now, there are a couple of methods that can be employed to reach altered consciousness. You can use your repetitive statement to reach the altered state of consciousness. You can also use the body of light method, which is where you envision a body of light that you are going to see yourself transform into.

You will experience three separate feelings when your astral body is projecting. You will have the sensation that you are moving. You will see lights and colors before your eyes even though they are closed. At this point, your astral body is going into the astral world. You will hear voices. These voices will warn you to stop or tell you to go ahead. You will know you have been successful in astral projection when you get to this stage.

We are all born with the ability to astral project. Practice is the only reason some astral project and some do not. It is an ancient art and has been practiced for centuries deserving the same respect as yoga or meditation. Astral projection is known by different names and types. There are many different techniques to achieve astral projection.

Lucid dreaming is a form of astral projection. Lucid dreaming refers to the state of being aware that you are dreaming. Once you are aware that you are dreaming you can do anything you want in the dream. It is very easy to astral project when you are lucid dreaming. As soon as you realize you are dreaming you need to consciously say to yourself’I am dreaming.’

If you keep doing this, you will become conditioned to being aware when you are dreaming. It may be hard for a beginner to astral project with this random practice.

You need to know that astral projection is real. You should also know that you have astral projected already, you simply were not aware that is what had happened. Have you ever woken up from a dream either in the middle of the night or in the morning and remembered a dream that you had the night before really well. As if you had lived it. That was an astral projection.

The key to success in astral projection is to believe you can do it. Any doubts or fears you have will only hold you back and make it harder for you to astral project.

Learning to relax and meditation is another helpful tool when learning to astral project. Your mind and body needs to be prepared to achieve astral projection. Meditation is a great preparation for the experience. Find a meditation you like and practice it.

Find a quite place to relax, a comfortable chair or lie down, making sure you will not be interrupted. Clear your mind of all thoughts, picture a blank screen. Pay attention to your breathing, take slow deep breathes. Imagine all your troubles leaving your body when you breathe out. This will put you in a deeply relaxed state that will enable you to astral project.

You then have to be reach an altered state of consciousness. You can simply continue to work on your breathing, your focus now is not going to be to get rid of the stresses, it is to truly focus on the way you are breathing, your head is clear. The breaths that you are taking should be deep, coming in through the nose and going out of the mouth. As your breathing is slowing and deepening you need to focus on your relaxing on your body.

Begin with your toes and move on up your body telling each part to relax. When you breathe out, tell each part of your body to relax. You can also tense the muscles up first and then relax them, whichever works best for you.

The best way to describe what you are going to feel is heavy it is going to feel as though all of the energy and tension is slipping away from each part of your body. You will know it when it happens. Once you have relaxed each part of your body it is time for you to move to the next step that is going to help you astral project.

By now your mind and body are ready for sleep, you need to stay alert. To do this many practitioners recommend that you come up with a line that you can repeat to yourself such as I fly, I fly, I fly, you decide what you are going to say as there isnt a right or wrong thing.

Your mind may want to drift off and cause thoughts to start flowing through it. You do not want this to happen. You need to keep your focus on a phrase to keep these thoughts out. You will have to end the session and start over if you lose your focus.

Now, there are a couple of methods that can be employed to reach altered consciousness. You can use your repetitive statement to reach the altered state of consciousness. You can also use the body of light method, which is where you envision a body of light that you are going to see yourself transform into.

There are three feelings you are going to experience that will help you know that your astral body is going. First you are going to feel as though you are moving, then you are going to see lights and colors infront of your eyes (remember that your eyes are closed) this is simply the astral body moving into the astral world. Finally, you will hear voices that are going to be telling you to either stop what you are doing or encouraging you to continue. When you get to that third part you have successfully astral projected.

What exactly is inspiration? We often talk about being inspired-inspired to do something, a feeling of inspiration: “I felt inspired.” We speak about inspiring people: “She’s an inspiring speaker.”

The word inspire comes from the word spirit, the Latin spritus, meaning breath, which was derived from the verb sprre ‘breathe’. In the Augustan period, it gradually began to take over as the word for soul.

For me, inspiration is something that touches me deep within my soul. I feel it. It’s a connection with something bigger than myself. And I like it. Most people do. Is it possible to be inspired all the time-to stay in touch with something higher than ourselves, to be motivated, enthusiastic-connected? I believe it is.

Inspiring People An important key to being inspired is to associate with people who are inspiring. They’re the kind of people you just feel better being around. You feel more stimulated-more alive. An inspiring person is someone who helps us see and believe in our highest good-someone who helps draw out the very best that’s within us. Conversely, we also want to stay away from people who bring us down.

An inspirational person empowers us to stay motivated and excited about our dreams. They’re someone with a vision for a better world. They challenge us to dig deep and encourage us through the tough times.

Inspiring people are good role models. They model excellence and give us something to which to aspire. They share themselves. They’re authentic.

Stimulating Ideas and Reminders In addition to people, good books, tapes and movies can provide impetus for our inspiration. They stimulate our thinking. What we read isn’t as important as what the reading causes us to think. We feed our bodies every day-hopefully with good fuel. We need to feed our minds every day as well. Anything that reminds us of who we are and what we’re capable of becoming is a valuable tool indeed.

Staying focused on our dreams and our commitment to them is key to staying inspired. Affirmations can be very helpful here.

Music Music can touch us at a vibratory level in ways that can stimulate and tap the imagination. Music can get us out of our head and more into our heart. Find the music that moves your soul and play it-often.

Our Environment Where we live, work and play can have a significant influence upon our level of inspiration. The visual, auditory, kinesthetic and even olfactory effect of our surroundings can dramatically impact our ability to operate at our best. It’s hard to be inspired when our personal environment is depressing. Clean up and spruce up your personal space and see what a difference it makes.

Solitude Time alone is critical to tapping into our divinity. Most of us are human doings instead of human beings. Too much emphasis is placed on doing things and not enough on pondering the metaphysical mustiness-to tapping into divine ideas.

It matters not what you call it-meditation, prayer or solitude-communing with our Higher Power is essential to bringing out our full potential.

I wish for you to realize your full and divine potential. I wish for you to live a life of excellence-a life of excitement and joy. I wish for you to be inspired and inspiring.

Cosmic ordering has become more and more in prominence lately and the idea has been endorsed by many celebrities. Just place your order with the universe and after a short wait, it will be yours!

Check out all the people in the world who are getting what they really want. You already know, though that it doesn’t work for everyone. What are celebrities and other successful people doing that the rest of us not? Does the cosmic ordering service really exist?

If you’ve ever grumbled when you saw someone else win a great prize or get a promotion, then without realizing it, you placed an order to your cosmic ordering service. Envy and distain at another’s success reinforces the fact that you believe you’ll never have that success and invites the ordering service to bring you more misery and poverty for your lunch.

Would you get upset if you sat down to order a meal and noticed someone had a delicious looking dinner in front of them? No, you’d order the same thing they had. You’d be excited and hoped they loved their dinner because you knew yours would be the same.

Think about it in that regard. Find joy in other people’s success and take delight in their pleasure. Remember that when you get the same that it will be just as sweet. Don’t be angry, disappointed or bitter, or believe that there is not enough to go around. That means that you are placing an order for failure.

Lots of religions tell us that prayer and thought can bring us anything we want, but they don’t tell us there is a catch. Belief is something that needs to be a part of this equation. More and more scientists have found that if you apply the principals of quantum physics to belief, it comes out quite the same. Many tenets of religious dogma show up to be quite true indeed!

It is the application of the mind’s energy that makes it happen. This doesn’t take away from the religious doctrine but enhances it with proof.

There are many things that block a person from achieving their dreams if they just use positive affirmations. Past beliefs negate all the phrases you say and eliminate most of the good that the affirmation creates. Some affirmations manage to stick, but it takes time if you allow the old beliefs to remain.

So what are the cosmic ordering secrets? You need to do a thorough housecleaning of your brain before you start any program to attain your life’s desires. You need to start with a clean slate and realize it’s okay to accept all the great wealth the Universe has to offer.

Lots of things can help you get rid of the old. Would you use a vacuum on a dirty carpet or a small tooth brush? There are lots of scientific designs out there that can help you make your mind more open to what it is you want.

Self-hypnosis, subliminal affirmations and binaural frequency waves help to do just that. They allow you to find and eliminate all the old negative thinking that you have in your subconscious mind. All that the cosmic ordering secrets really are is understanding that your own subconscious mind wants to sabotage your efforts to get whatever you desire.

Remember that we as people hate change. Your mind will fight to stay right where it is, and unless you are going to believe that you already have what you want, it will fight you tooth and nail. This is something the cosmic ordering system can help you avoid. It can even help you become less used to the state that you are in now, because it believes that you are different!

You can have anything you want from the cosmic ordering system. Make sure that your order is what you really want and help it to come to reality with your belief.

Today many individuals have no clue to the significant existence of the spiritual being and physical being since modern science reduces this fact from their own minds.

Contrary to this are the thoughts of life by the Hindu that the flame of spiritual healing still burns vividly along with the advancement of technology and science.

The word Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning Wheel of Light. Our bodies include seven primary Chakras and a multitude of secondary chakras. These Chakras stay in a constant state of vibrating rotations inside a healthy body.

Therefore, any type of imbalance in the movements of chakras will result in an overall imbalance of a healthy functioning body. Chakra balancing then is essential for having a healthy mind, body, and soul.

Chakras are the centers of activity that receives, integrates and expresses life-force energy. They are the Entry Gates to the human Aura. They are located along the midline of the body from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. The seven main Chakras absorb and transmit energies back and forth into the universe, nature, celestial entities, and from other individuals.

What alters Chakra Balancing?

When one or more chakras suffer a blockage, there is no harmonious flow of energy. Such blockages will cause the chakras to suffer imbalance and in turn, these imbalances will begin to make themselves known in various areas of our lives.

Many factors such as illness, toxic exposure, stress, an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise as well as childhood traumas, emotional injuries, an inability to express emotions, beliefs incongruent with Truth, cultural conditioning, and so on can alter the harmonious functioning of the Chakras.

Chakra Balancing is Essential to Happiness and Health

Although, it is admirable to consider that chakras can function naturally in harmony, however it is impractical. In order to correct any dysfunctions, many people do try to correct this by achieving a fine balance of the chakras. One theory, which finds its foundation in chakra balancing, is that of self-healing.

The condition of our Chakras does influence our thoughts, behaviors, our glandular processes, body shape and any chronic physical ailments. Chakra balancing makes certain that these all boundaries work towards the goal of a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

Chakra Balancing Benefits include:

* Realization of the True Self

* Physical health and energy

* A compassionate loving heart

* A loving and compassionate heart

* Being consciously in touch with ones body

* Accelerating development of spiritual growth

* Sexually content life without the influence of lust

* Enhancing the ability to attract and express love

* Enhancing the ability to attract and express love in ones life

* Immeasurable levels of confidence, however not being overly confident

* Spiritual healing through higher patterns of awareness, consciousness and acceptance

How to achieve Chakra Balancing

When you attempt to achieve chakra balancing, you may choose from an assortment of methods and techniques. You may find some of these methods and techniques to be very beneficial when you are striving to achieve harmony within the proper functioning of the body and chakra system.

* The use of Aromatherapy

* Use Touch Therapy

* Always Think Positively

* Participate In Physical exercise

* Color and Light Therapy

* Crystals and Gemstones

* Listen To Binaural Sound Frequencies

* Reiki Healing Therapy

* Balancing using Pendulums and using Hands

* Positive Affirmations, and self Hypnosis

* Breathing Exercises used in Meditation and Yoga

Being a container of energy, our bodies continually release and dispose of all spent energy through the various organs of our bodies and then stocks up on new supplies of energy.

Chakra balancing ensures that new energy generates and then makes it available for optimal use within all the cells and vital organs of the body, making sure that all have their fair share of this new supply of energy.

While in such a great and desirable state, there is a natural flowing of health, happiness as well as inner peace. Bringing the chakras back into their natural state of frequencies and vibrations is what chakra balancing is all about.

Chakras are the foci within our bodies where the energy which makes up our life force is generated. Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel; a good representation of the spherical energy field the word refers to.

There are six Chakras which are located along the spine and a seventh one above these, removed from the physical element of your body.

We think of these Chakras as being composed of energy; but it is very important to realize that the Chakras are closely related to and have influence over your physical body.

A proper alignment of the seven Chakras helps you to maintain your body in physical, mental and spiritual health; this is why it is important to know more about each Chakra and how it affects you.

Muladhara

The Muladhara is the Chakra of your lower body. This Chakra is responsible for your survival instinct and other related primal behaviors. Located in the perineum, the Muladhara relates to the potentiality of human life.

The chakra is said to relate to the adrenal glands inside the body – and is responsible for the flight or fight decisions a person must make during their life. Therefore, this chakra is in charge of your own fight or flight, and of those basic, human emotions.

Swadhisthana

The Swadhisthana is the chakra that contains the reproductive parts. The chakra is located in the area known as the sacrum. It relates to emotions such as sexuality and creativity. The chakra corresponds to the sexual organs, and produces the sexual hormones that guide our lives.

This chakra can also be responsible for the mood swings that might dominate lives at one point or another. It is symbolized by a six petal lotus. This chakra is in charge of the moods that you might have and the basic sexual and creative flows that exist in your body.

Manipura

The Manipura is the navel. It is considered to be the solar plexus chakra. This chakra deals with the transitions that are found between base emotions and complex emotions. The chakra itself is in charge of base emotions and complex emotions, and dictates the way that they flow into each other. It deals with the flow of energy, the flow of digestion, and can be compared to the way that the pancreas functions in the body.

The Manipura is important in converting food to energy. It’s symbol is a ten petal lotus.

Anahata

The Anahata is the heart. It is responsible for complex emotions like love and also controls your equilibrium and overall well being. This Chakra corresponds to the thymus gland, located in the chest. It also corresponds to the immune system in the physical body.

This symbol of this Chakra is a twelve petal lotus

Vishuddha

The Vishudda is the throat. This Chakra is responsible for your faculties of communication. This Chakra corresponds to the thyroid gland in the physical body. This Chakra is symbolized by a sixteen petal lotus.

The growth is a form of expression, so the Vishudda is in charge of expressions. Communication is a very important part of your every day life, and therefore this chakra is in charge of it.

Ajna

The Anja is your eyebrow or forehead. This Chakra is the third eye. Ajna is responsible for your ability to visaualize and is the Chakra related to light, time and awareness.

It is symbolized by a two petal lotus, and is in charge of regulating sleep and awakening. These are very important functions within the body, and therefore this chakra is very important.

Sahasrara

Symbolized by a one thousand petal lotus, the Sahasrara is the seventh and final chakra. It is the chakra of consciousness. It communicates with the rest of the body in the same manner that the pituitary gland does. The Sahsrara is connected to all of the body systems, and is the key player in consciousness.

When we say an individual is ‘telepathic’ what is it that we really mean by this? The idea is usually considered science fiction or mysticism and is just dismissed by most people. But think of what science has made possible. Everyday we live with cell phones, computers and use of invisible radio and micro waves which retrieve the information we need. Hundreds of jets (controlled by computers) take off and land everyday world wide.

Is has been said that a sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. The human race has used science and technology to learn things about the natural world we never knew. We’ve done things that were considered impossible flights of fancy just a hundred years ago. We’ve had men walk on the bottoms of the oceans and on the surface of the moon (and we did it with technology that, by today’s standards, seems primitive). We can gather energy from the sun, the wind, and the water. And anyone can have a small device in their pocket that allows them to talk to anyone anywhere in the world. But this isn’t magic, its science right?

Is it really too much to believe in the possibility of a telepathic individual? Surely it is possible for someone to simply develop mental properties which others don’t have, even if we don’t understand how they do it.

The scientific investigation of Telepathic people falls under the area of paraphysics or parapsychology. The people who investigate it, paraphysicists or parapsychologists, try hard to use experiments and the scientific method to answer questions about telepathy, whether or not they like the answers they find.

Some experiments on people with Telepathic powers have produced tantalizing results. In order to consider something scientifically provable, however, the test results must be measurable, consistent, and repeatable. This is where the scientific investigation of telepathy falls short. The test results are inconsistent and can’t always be duplicated. Some say this proves people can’t really be Telepathic. Others say this only proves that we don’t understand how it works yet, and haven’t developed the proper tests to measure it.

How is it possible there are individuals who are Telepathic? How do they communicate with only their minds without using all their other senses? Obviously it is by a means not understood completely. One that doesnt involve hearing, taste, smell or touch, but nevertheless exists. Think what can be done using our advanced communication technology. You can’t see, feel, smell or touch radio waves, but we all know they exist.

There is a new concept being discussed which is the idea of ‘Thought waves’. These are defined as an electrical and magnetic fiend generated by the brain and these have been proven to exist. This is the keystone that scientific Telepathic studies rest on. We’ll try to explain it in layman’s terms, but it may get a little complicated, so just bear with us.

The human thought process is biochemical. It involves the nervous impulses being bounced from one neuron to another neuron. These transfers of impulses create electrical currents which can be measure even though they are very, very small. This small magnetic field generated by these currents produce, in the brain, thousands of synapses firing.

Can this bio-electric and bio-magnetic field be used by humans to communicate mind-to-mind? Do these electrical and magnetic waves carry content, or just the brain equivalent of meaningless static? Can people use mental training to control these brain waves? Can techniques like meditation or controlled thought be used to shape these brain waves into meaningful communication?

Does it mean telepathy exists if we call an individual ‘telepathic’? Most people do not believe this to be true. They simply do not believe it to be real and dismiss the idea as science fiction or mysticism. We live everyday with computers (all kinds) and cell phones. These items all use invisible waves, in the air, to function and people travel daily, thousands of people, in computer controlled jets.

Is there any way the electrical and magnetic fields of the human brain can be boosted? Perhaps. Sometimes for example, during a heightened emotional state (such as pain, shock, fear, or feeling endangered), more neural synapses fire simultaneously, temporarily creating a spike in bio-electrical and bio-magnetic brain waves.

Researchers of parapsychology have documented brief instances of Telepathic communication during such moments. A mother knowing instantly that their child has been hurt, for example, even though they are miles away. Is there a link between such brain chemistry activity spikes and instances of telepathic communication? Does the fact that the two people are genetically related play a role? Or is it all just a coincidence?

Too little scientific evidence exists to prove, without a doubt, telepathy is factual. However, this is gradually changing. More and more studies are being conducted and show humans are telepathic and with proper instruction and training can develop this ability.

In the world today, there are many more individuals who believe in reincarnation, than there are individuals who do not. For many it may be part of their religious beliefs, such as for Buddhists and Hindus, while for many others, it just makes sense to them or perhaps some may be simply curious. Whether they are searching for answers about that particular something that stands out in their minds that follows they all their lives or they are merely curious to find out, many individuals do their best to find out more concerning their past lives. There are various ways to discover the explanations, when you find yourself curious about past lives.

Keep a Journal

Did you know that keeping a journal is one of the best ways to begin exploring your past lives? Even recording trivial experiences along with the rest of your experiences can be very helpful. Since your emotional reactions provide you with the strongest clues when considering a past life, you should include your emotional reactions to events in your journal. This will be a record that you can refer to later, when assembling all your clues.

Try looking at your present life for clues. Make a list of things that you like and dislike for everything from fashion, childhood and food to architecture, cultures, climates and historical time periods. Include everything you can think of like talents, occupations, times you felt dj vu, animals, personality traits, phobias, scars and birth marks.

Write about your dreams. Sometimes past lives come through very clearly when we dream. At other times we get little hints. Past and present and combine in a dream and give us symbols that may have meaning for you in both the past and the present. Before you fall asleep, give yourself the suggestion that you want to learn about your past lives. Write down anything and everything you can remember.

Past Life Regression Therapy

Visiting a professional past life regression therapist can be beneficial, since they are trained and certified to guide you through a regression and then help you to interpret the information that may come through. The International Association of Past Life Therapists and the International Association for Regression and Research and Therapies both train and certify professional therapists. There may be a local area to find a therapist in your geographical location.

Meditation

You can explore your past lives while using the various methods of meditation. Meditation is a very private means of finding out more about your past lives. Although, many individuals may have a hard time trusting any incoming information, you should do your best to trust your instincts and feelings.

At times meditation may seem like daydreaming, when the images are coming to you and then leaving again, however, you may come across some very important information. You should write these down to ponder over later. Since our minds are so very suggestible, it can retrieve the information you ask it too. Keep in mind that if you tell yourself that you cannot do it, you will not be able to do so, because of the negative thought you have planted.

Some individuals find that having a visual or audio stimulus, such as the flame of a candle or a sound is useful for meditation. You may be interested in using a pre-recorded guided meditation session from your therapist or listening to music or specific sounds such a Tibetan bells or the repeated sound of “om”.

There have also been great advances recently in audio technology with a process called binaural beats. Here sound waves of slightly different frequencies are played in each ear which has the result of instantly relaxing you to a state only normally achieved by Zen monks who have practiced meditation for years!

No matter which form of meditation technique you may use, be sure that it is somewhere peacefully comfortable while allowing no disturbances while meditating for the best results.

Before meditation, you should be in a receptive and positive state of mind and either lie down or sit in a comfortable position. Quiet your mind, while focusing on the relaxation of your muscles. If you experience any unwanted thoughts, simply acknowledge then and then let them flow away. This does take a bit of practice. You should not expect anything but to become relaxed, while focusing on your heart. If you have questions, simply ask them and then let them go. Rest assured that more than likely, the answers will come when you least expect them.

The images you receive will help you resolve something in your life, and that is what is important whatever your belief in reincarnation. It may not always be possible to prove that these images really are from a previous life, although many people do get enough information to actually research and verify names, places and events.

Interestingly, many individuals, do find that the people they love presently were with them in a previous lifetime, however, their relationship status may be very different. For instance, your brother may have been your father of husband in a previous lifetime.

No matter the initial belief of some individuals, concerning past lives or reincarnation, many individuals who do try regression may find that the information they receive can be extremely interesting and helpful.

Every year in the USA the American Cancer Society organizes an annual event to raise awareness of this disease. The event which takes place overnight in various communities across the USA is known as “Relay for Life”. The event itself is held in various community areas such as parks, fairgrounds or the local high school sports field or gymnasium.

Those who participate in this event do so in teams and will take it in turns to walk a lap or laps around the area selected to do so. These people are all sponsored by others either as individuals or as a team for each lap that is completed by them and the money raised is then used to help further fight this disease. The funds they also raise help with further making people aware of it and also to help fund research to find ways of preventing it.

However, before the actual “Relay for Life” event begins a Luminaria Ceremony is held. At the commencement of this candles or glow sticks are lit and held up to remember those who have lost their battle against this particular disease. Following the lighting of the candles or the raising of glow sticks then some prayers will be said followed by a minutes silence to help those remember those they have lost.

As this is an overnight event those participate will set up campsites close to where they will walk or run. They also have the opportunity to place lighted candles in bags outside their tents if they wish. But because of safety issues more and more people are preferring to place yellow glow sticks in theirs. Plus if they wish they can also carry the candles or glow sticks with them as they walk or run their laps during the relay.

Many of the campsites will be awash with the light of the candles and the yellow glow sticks even before the Luminaria Ceremony starts. Most participants will choose to light theirs as dusk falls in order to create the right sort of mood for such an important event.

The great thing about using glow sticks in place of candles is that they won’t be affected by the weather should it turn a little inclement. Plus they can also be used to write out words that mean something to those taking part such as “Cure” or “Hope”.

Along with participants using glow sticks and candles at this event many will also be wearing Hope bracelets. This again helps to show others how important they feel fighting this cause is and will not only be worn during “Relay for Life” but also on a daily basis. They come in many different colors but are often the pink colored ones which are associated with the fight against cancer.

It is through “Relay for Life”, the wearing of these hope bracelets that more and more people have become aware of the effect that cancer has on people’s lives. Today the amount of money raised to carry out research that can help to treat and prevent this disease is great and has reduced the number of people dying from this disease each year.

You pray day and night with deep faith, but God does not seem to hear you. You remain jobless, your friend remains seriously ill and the man of your dreams is nowhere in sight. What should you do?

Waiting in prayer and doing nothing, you believe God will see your faith and take action. God may be teaching the virtue of patience while you ponder God’s silence with a stoic resignation and a belief that the prayers have not been heard.

You continue to pray longer and harder hoping that God will eventually answer your prayers. Jesus implied persistence in the parable of the man who kept knocking on his neighbor’s door in the middle of the night asking for bread, until the neighbor got up and gave him the bread to make him go away (Luke 11: 5-8). His persistent action produced the desired response. In the parable about the widow, she kept returning to an unjust judge begging for justice. She wore away at him until he relented and granted justice (Luke 18: 2-5).

Sometimes praying seems like you are nagging God. You hope he will eventually answer and grant your heart’s desire. Pray persistently and you will get what you want. But is that really what Jesus was saying? Will God grant your request just to get rid of you therefore allowing him to attend to countless others who are demanding His attention?

Surely, you know God is not like that. Just remember Jesus who personifies the character of God in the flesh. The Bible shows various accounts of Him always ready to help the needy, hearing their cries and showing compassion. The truth is God always hears and answers prayers. At times, He immediately responds to a prayer with a resounding ‘Yes’ but there are also times when He responds differently in spite of persistent praying.

Have no doubt. God wants you to pray continually with faith. Why? The life of the apostle Paul is an example of faith. Paul was believed to have “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). There is no description but readers believe the “thorn” was a chronic and debilitating health issue that kept him from doing his work. He prayed many times asking for God to take the ‘thorn’ away and waited in patience and faith for an answer. Yet, his prayer was not granted.

Paul got something better. Paul prayed persistently with faith and heard God’s voice. Paul learned God’s will in his life. God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”(2 Corinthians: 9) Paul realized that his ‘thorn in the flesh’ prevented him from being conceited. Paul had many wonderful spiritual experiences and developed great preaching prowess and it was difficult not to brag. The ‘thorn’ kept him humble. Paul was aware of his weaknesses and knew that his achievements were gifts from God and not of his own making.

Returning to God in prayer keeps the lines of communication open. It allows God the opportunity to communicate with you. The silence of prayer provides the opportunity for you to hear God speak. Many times it is after praying that the words no longer come. This is the time, when you stop talking, that you will hear God in the silence.

Persistent prayer provides God the opportunity to give you the solutions you’re looking for. You may have your own idea of what the solution should be, which guides you as you continue to pray. However, what you think as the solution may not be God’s. There are times when God bends your will and allows the broken spirit to shine. It is in prayer that you realize that letting go is the answer that lets God work miracles in your life. God will reshape your desires and show the right resolution.

Pray persistently because you know the communications lines are open and God is listening. Actively speaking with God opens the way for resolution. Do not lose heart. Keep praying. Hold on to the greatest opportunity by allowing God to work through you, in you and with you.

Pray for the right reasons and experience His presence, experience His goodness, experience His mercy and experience His power in your life!