Free Your Mind: Helpful Tips for Mental Clarity

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Over-worked? Stressed? Anxiety-ridden? Despite what you may think, or feel right in this moment of distress, it doesn’t have to be this way. Take a deep breath and try these helpful tips for mental clarity.

Sage Away

Sage is used in many different ways. When dried sage bundles are tied together and lit, a purifying smoke is produced. The lit sage bundles can be waved around to purge negativity and fill the space with a clean, sacred aura. Not only that, but sage actually stimulates the nervous system.

Sage is also a popular essential oil applied to the skin in small amounts or put into a vaporizer.

Three basic types of sage are used for aromatherapy purposes: common sage, Spanish sage and clary sage. Common sage is full of natural antioxidants and helps to relieve anxiety and menopausal symptoms. Spanish sage helps to balance hormones and boost the immune system. It is used in aromatherapy blends to relieve anxiety and treat nervous disorders. Last but not least, clary sage oil acts as an anti-depressant. It helps to lift a bad mood and works well for people feeling nervous or anxious. Clary sage oil aids in alleviating stress and exhaustion, as well as boosting confidence and self-esteem. Another well-known benefit of clary sage is that it acts as an aphrodisiac, boosting sexual libidos in both men and women . . . Ooh la la!

Healing Gemstones

Certain stones can offer a great deal of spiritual clarity. Here are a few to keep handy:

• Green Fuchsite: A radiant stone that helps stimulate your mind by intensifying inspiration and developing intuition. It aids in the ability to step back and evaluate situations without emotional attachment.
• Rose Quartz: A calming stone that promotes harmony and love.
• Black Tourmaline: A powerful gem that helps to relieve fear, anxiety, and stress. It also helps to dispel negative energy, and strengthens the body and spirit. Try rubbing between your fingers to reduce worrying thoughts.
• Garnet: A stone of passion that balances emotional states and calms anger. It is particularly helpful to have around during times of high emotional drama.
• Citrine: An invigorating stone used for mental clarity. It reduces anxiety, and increases confidence, motivation, and optimism.

Burn Incense

Since ancient times, herbal incense has been used to promote consciousness and a positive state of mind. The smoke purifies a room and rids the surrounding area of negativity. However, buyers beware: if you’re buying incense from a head shop, make sure it is true incense… not one with a misleading label that says, “herbal incense blend.” This could be a synthetic legal intoxicating drug (SLID) that is sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids intended for people to smoke. Reports have found SLIDs to create serious adverse side effects and dangerous medical consequences. Know your incense… buy for the calming aroma, not for the high!

Rake a Zen Sand Garden

Zen is essentially an attitude of living in the now. If you’re like many people struggling with this concept, try investing in a small Japanese Zen garden. Zen gardens are helpful in bringing peace and mental clarity to your present state of mind. Even the rote act of the raking itself helps clear the mind of unhealthy chatter. The sand in a Japanese Zen garden creates the illusion of rippling water and represents the changes of the ocean. Raking and re-raking the sand reminds us not to get too attached to things; just like water, life is continually changing. There is an ebb and flow to life, with constant fluctuations of increases and declines. Once this becomes clear, it will become easier to simply let go. So . . . Rake away and surrender to tranquility.

Cited Sources

“Crystals, Healing Crystals, Healing Properties of Crystals, Gemstones, Crystals and Minerals, Charms and Crystals at Peacefulmind.com.” Crystals, Healing Crystals, Healing Properties of Crystals, Gemstones, Crystals and Minerals, Charms and Crystals at Peacefulmind.com. PeacefulMind.com, 2011. Web. 17 June 2012.

“Interesting Facts & Information: Tourism, Travel, Culture, Language, Business, People. Blog Archive Japanese Zen Garden.” Interesting Facts & Information: Tourism, Travel, Culture, Language, Business, People.  Blog Archive Japanese Zen Garden. N.p., 29 Mar. 2010. Web. 20 June 2012.

James, Knoll M. “”Bath Salts” and “Herbal Incense“: Legal Highs, Medical Lows.” Psychiatric Times. N.p., 25 May 2012. Web. 18 June 2012.

“List of Essential Oils.” List of Essential Oils. Organic Information Services, 2012. Web. 20 June 2012. https://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/list-of-essential-oils.html.