WHAT EXACTLY IS COSMIC ORDERING?

WISHING ON A STAR IS ONE FORM OF COSMIC ORDERING

WHAT IS COSMIC ORDERING?

Under the laws of the Universe you can have anything you wish for providing it's not detrimental to anyone else. It's the power of positive thinking and by harnessing and creating positive thoughtforms to manifest your wish.

To Manifest or to Cosmic Order is to request a change in life, or circumstance and because of your request you will go on to experience your desires.

Do you ever find that when you expect things to go wrong, they often do? Well conversely you may believe in coincidence, the thing you appreciate when things that you may have been dreaming of actually happen, and things go right.  This is because in the Universe 'Like attracts like' Negative attracts negative, so positive thoughts manifest and create positive happenings

This is the process of Cosmic Ordering, happening to you all of the time, though you may not always realise it, and if you can learn what to do you can begin to consciously control your future.

So Cosmic Ordering is placing an order with the Universe and wait for it Manifest.

Where do I Place my orders?

In several books and recorded interviews with leading spiritual writers Dr Deepak Chopra and Dr Wayne Dyer, Manifestation is said to occur within a field of energy that they have named ‘The field of Intent’. The field of Intent is said to be an invisible dimension where our Spirit connects to the universe and returns our conscious desires.

When things happen instantaneously or in complete coincidence, you can often think back to what you were asking for at the time of the occurrence, and realise that what you requested actually happen, and normally you would put this down to coincidence. According to Chopra and Dyer coincidence, as a matter of chance, does not exist – a coincidence is actually a Cosmic Order being delivered, you have manifested your request.

How do I place my orders?

To link to the Field of Intent we use our Power of Intention, a combination of our desire and our belief to create a new situation. When we use our Power of Intention our Spirit connects to the Field of Intent and returns our request.

When we desire something we want it badly, and for this aspect of Cosmic Ordering to work we have to really want it and feel that we deserve it. Desiring something without deserving it will not work as Spiritually you experience an anomaly between what you think you want and whether you think you are worth it. However much you want something, if deep down you don’t feel that you deserve it then you will not be able to Manifest it.

Belief is a part of your psychology that influences pretty much everything you do in life. Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you are probably right. When you are in a situation where you need to push your boundaries and leave your comfort zone, your level of belief will affect whether you are successful or not. This is true for Cosmic Ordering, you must have belief that you can achieve your request, that you can make it happen, and this is probably the hardest part of the process for people who are sceptical about the process.

Making my request

When you have Desire and Belief you have Intent and by having Intent you just need to place your order. Writers present many different ways to place your Order, some methods are very involved, including going to a sacred place, wearing different outfits or being accompanied by certain artefacts to name but a few. In fact Cosmic Ordering works whatever setting feels most comfortable to you, you will know what feels right, it would preferably be somewhere you feel very comfortable and can enjoy familiarity. It is generally best to be somewhere quiet, and where you can remain quiet until you have finished.

Some reporters on the subject write their requests on paper, and review these notes at specific times. Others claim that by writing the request and wrapping it round a particular stone (that you have to pay for), you can achieve success. Many people simply recite the request several times, and then repeat it on the days following. Another method is to say it out loud and to follow this up with positive affirmations. For some the process of physically submitting your cosmic order via a website helps maintain the positive process e.g. the URL below

http://thecosmicorderingsite.com/cosmic-order-submit.htm

Cosmic ordering is the name given to a version of positive thinking that was renamed by Bärbel Mohr of Munich, Germany. She first outlined her own version in her own magazine called Sonnenwind (Solar Wind), and then expanded these ideas into a book called Cosmic Ordering Service: A Guide to Realising Your Dreams. In the Great Depression of the 1930s Napoleon Hill popularised similar ideas, and in the 1970s Reverend Ike was widely heard over radio and television stations claiming that "You can't lose with the stuff I use". This "stuff" was mind power based upon similar ideas to those promoted by Hill in his many books, and which Mohr has recently promoted in Germany. In the United Kingdom disc jockey and TV game show host Noel Edmonds has become the main media promoter of Mohr's work.

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

DIVINE TIMING (where everything happens at the "RIGHT TIME")

Recently I had a client, in fact she's been asking for a reading every week with the same question. I don't keep notes as I prefer to rely on my guides to tell me what's happening around a client, anyway as I use tarot cards to begin a reading I began laying them out and every time the same cards turn up and of course I have to give her the same answer, the situation is just the same and the answer is just the same that she will have to be patient for she will get her wish but we are bound by divine timing.

Time and time I hear from clients, when will it happen? can you give me a time? Sometimes I am lucky and I am given dates and timings but more often that not I am just told Divine Timing. It's not a cop out to give to the impatient but firstly there are no clocks nor is there a sense of time as we know it in the spirit realms and secondly it takes time to manifest the optimal times for the best result.

If you want to experience more harmony, happiness and effortless manifestation of your desires in life, you have to let go of all resistance towards whatever that comes your way. The reason why we fight against what comes is because we think that we are being kept from having our way. But the truth is whatever that happens is exactly what is meant to be, and it is all part of the process of the manifestation of our desires. Everything is happening in divine timing and we can flow if we do not limit ourselves.

Sometimes you were expecting to meet someone on a certain day but when that day comes, the person cannot meet you for some valid reason. Flow with it and meet that person on another day. The reason why you might be resisting change of events is because you have been anticipating it and thinking a lot about it. But when it doesn’t happen at the expected time, you don’t know what to do in place of it because you don’t feel like doing anything else other than that which you already had in mind.

If something doesn’t happen at the expect time in the expected way, it means it’s going to happen at a better timing in a better way. Don’t resist what is happening but instead focus on doing something else. You will discover things gone a much better way after the whole event has passed. You did something important which enhanced the meeting with the person that would not have happened otherwise. Hence it is better not to resist what is happening when it isn’t necessary, but to just go with  the flow.

Just know everything happens at the RIGHT TIME AND THE BEST POSSIBLE TIME and only spirit knows this and we have to learn to trust, they do know what is best for us because spirit love us. Spirit have the ability to know what is ahead and any complications so they decide what is the best time to manifest our wishes. If we were to rush things before the optimum conditions were reached it could prevent our wishes manifesting, this is why we need to trust and believe in Divine timing.

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

WHAT ARE SOULMATES?

Many have the concept that a soulmate relationship is an exclusive partnership based on the ideal, not so, We are attracted to one another that is true but we incarnate in soul groups for the sole reason to help support, teach and learn from one another. One of the jobs of a soulmate is to reflect back to us areas of our life that need addressing, sometimes this is not an easy time and fraught with much pain but it's for our own good the idea being to correct imperfections within ourselves,to enable us to become purer and more spiritual to help us grow

Soul mates  are incarnated in groups these may be lovers, parents, siblings, relatives, best friends and other individuals in our lives who are usually very close to us. Soul mates can be classified into four different kinds of soul mate relationships.  

"Karmic" soul mates are two individuals who have come together during a given lifetime to heal something from a past life or previous lives. Their relationship with one another can fantastic and amazing or it can deteriorate into the same negative situation that was created in a previous life. Another reason is that the karma may only be partially resolved, leaving both with more work to do during this or some future life together.

All the negative karma we’ve incurred during any of our previous lives will eventually be healed through decisions that are based upon unconditional love and forgiveness not an easy task but it has to be achieved through free will, it has to come willingly from your own spirit. You are not incarnated together as a  form of punishment but to heal negative karma.  This is what the universal law of karma is about. And we will have as many lives as we need to eventually balance all we have caused others to feel through fear, anger, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, and other ego-based choices.

The second kind of relationship we can choose to experience with a soul mate is one that involves important life lessons.  that will teach us the value of patience, forgiveness, tolerance, openness, acceptance, honour  and teach us to become more spiritually aware, this might take several lifetimes each other taking a different role. 

         

The third type of soul mate partnership between a man and woman has been generally referred to as a"companion" relationship. These are individuals who join together in a bond of deep love to work on a project together. This might involve the formation of a spiritual or healing center or even in the creation of an art gallery. Or perhaps the couple will compose music during a prolonged union. This is type of union is generally decided together prior to incarnating together

 the intent may have been for healing karma, and for experiencing life lessons that come from partnership,. 

The fourth soulmate relationship we almost always have is a close friendship or relationship with a relative. We join such individuals while in physical body simply to enjoy their love, company and energy. Not surprisingly, these individuals have been part of our previous lifetime experiences on many occasions and they have a bond they wish to continue.

It is very important to keep in mind that all soul mate relationships help us to remember who we really are, and prepare us spiritually for the eventual reunion with our twin. As such, they can be extremely valuable and should be honoured and respected for these very blessed reasons.  

Finally there is a dramatically different kind of relationship exists that is considered to be the most profound and compelling type of soulmate relationship of all. This is the twin soul or twin flame union that will eventually transcend all others. However, because it is so highly charged with energy, the two individuals must be spiritually ready for it to last any meaningful length of time. When fully prepared, this union is meant to endure for eternity, because of its relationship to the ultimate ONEness we will all seek with our source Spirit. For this type of union it can be as profoundly painful just as much as it can be profoundly amazing this is because both have to be ready if one of the pair is not ready then it can be devastating for the one in particular who is ready. Whatever does happen and if this 'oneness' is not achieved in one given lifetime it will carry on until both are ready. Neither of the pair can make the other work, it has to be of their own accord and through free will, for they have to see their flaws, faults and failings for themselves and be willing to work at it through their own volition.

The coming together of twin souls does not guarantee fulfillment any more than a soul mate relationship might bring. What increases the chance for lasting twin reunion is that the two twins must be spiritually prepared for their relationship and then constantly find ways to make it work on that basis. The key ingredient is unconditional, unselfish love and the desire to base the union on a spiritual rather than a ego-based foundation. Only spiritually mature couples can deal with the influence of the ego in relationships.    

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

THE LINK BETWEEN THE MOON AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

TO ME IF THE MOON CAN INFLUENCE THE EARTHS OCEANS AND WE ARE 70% WATER IT MAKES SENSE IT CAN HAVE SOME EFFECT OVER US

For eons, folklore has blamed the Moon for everything from lunacy to bad luck. And, for the last few centuries, scientists have scoffed. Now, according to new research they're not so sure. The Moon may not be made of cheese, but it seems to influence a lot more down on Earth than we previously thought.

According to new research, the Moon affects not only the tides of the oceans but also people, producing a range of symptoms from flare-ups of gout to bladder problems. It may even lie behind the causes of car crashes and affect people's hormonal balances.

Having carried out new research and reviewed 50 other studies, scientists suggest that doctors and the police even need to prepare for how their work rate will increase at different points in the lunar cycle. Among the findings examined by the researchers were studies that showed GP consultations go up during a full moon, according to Leeds University. Appointments rise by 3.6 per cent, which works out at around three extra patients for each surgery. The researchers did not speculate on the nature of the moon-related problems or why they happened, but said that "it does not seem to be related to anxiety and depression".

Gout and asthma attacks peak during new and full moons, according to work carried out at the Slovak Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine in Bratislava, where attacks over a 22-year period were monitored.

Data from 140,000 births in New York City showed small but systematic variations in births over a period of 29.53 days - the length of the lunar cycle - with peak fertility in the last quarter. "The timing of the fertility peak in the third quarter suggests that the period of decreasing illumination immediately after the full moon may precipitate ovulation.''

A study in Florida of murders and aggravated assaults showed clusters of attacks around the full moon. A second study of three police areas found the incidence of crimes committed on full-moon days was much higher than on all other days. And a four-year study into car accidents found that the lowest number happened during the full-moon day, while the highest number was two days before the full moon. Accidents were more frequent during the waxing than the waning phase.

Another study of some 800 patients with urinary retention admitted to hospital over a period of three years found higher retention during the new moon compared with other phases of the cycle. Interestingly, patients didn't show any other daily, monthly or seasonal rhythms in their retention problems.

Even what we eat and drink is affected by the lunar cycle, according to a study at Georgia State University. Researchers looked at lunar variations in nutrient intakes and the meal patterns of 694 adults. They concluded: "A small but significant lunar rhythm of nutrient intake was observed with an 8 per cent increase in meal size and a 26 per cent decrease in alcohol intake at the time of the full moon relative to the new moon.''

While scientists have been trying to prove for some time that the Moon does exert an effect, what has not been established is why. Scientists have until now examined the theory that the Moon triggers changes through its gravitational pull. But the latest research points to an effect on people's hormones. "The lunar cycle has an impact on human reproduction, in particular fertility, menstruation and birth rate. Other events associated with human behaviour, such as traffic accidents, crimes, and suicides, appeared to be influenced by the lunar cycle,'' said Dr Michael Zimecki of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

"Although the exact mechanism of the Moon's influence on humans and animals awaits further exploration, knowledge of this kind of biorhythm may be helpful in police surveillance and medical practice,'' he said.

The researchers also found links between the lunar cycle and the likelihood of people being admitted to hospital with heart or bladder problems and with diarrhoea. The menstrual cycle, fertility, spontaneous abortions and thyroid disease were also affected. Just how the Moon could have an effect needs further research. Dr Zimecki suggests that it may be the effect of the Moon's gravity on immune systems, hormones and steroids.

He said: "At this stage of investigation, the exact mechanism of the lunar effect on the immune response is hard to explain. The prime candidates to exert regulatory function on the immune response are melatonin and steroids, whose levels are affected by the Moon cycle.

"It is suggested that melatonin and endogenous steroids [which are naturally occurring in humans] may mediate the described cyclic alterations of physiological processes. Electromagnetic radiation and/or the gravitational pull of the Moon may trigger the release of hormones.''

Whatever the root cause of the Moon's influence over us, its hold over the imagination will endure as long as the shining sphere of rock remains in the sky.

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT

The Law of Cause & Effect: Every cause has an effect, every effect has a cause.  Reaping and sowing, law of attraction etc. It is impossible for a human to start a chain of causation. We merely choose our thoughts by freewill and the effects are returned through the principles of the governing laws. This is secondary to the law of vibration. You do reap what you sow. Your thoughts are mental seeds and through the other laws, particularly the law of vibration you bring in what is equal to the vibration sent off. The law doesn't care what you plant, it just returns what you send out as an effect. The only thing you have absolute control over is the cause, you cannot control the effect. So get your thinking and actions right and in harmony with the laws.

To put this simply its a bit like throwing a pebble into a pond, the pebble reaches the water and you see the ripples reverberate  due to this action. Your actions will affect others and that in turn will others still and its not limited to physical actions but to thoughts as well. All the Universal laws work together and if your action causes this ripple affect the law of attraction will return that action to the perpetuator magnified, just like the action of throwing a pebble created all those ripples, all those ripples will be returned to you. This is how Karma works

You cannot control your action or thought once it has left you, the only thing you can control is that first action or thought.

Remember these thoughts or actions are like seeds and they take time to grow and manifest but you can be sure when they have grown they will be returned and the result will have indeed been up to you. If you send out kindness and love you wont have anything to worry about but on the other hand if you give out hate, dislike and hurt then you can be sure at some point all of this will be returned to you magnified.

TENFOLD TOO

Untruths lies and deception will catch up with you in the end
It doesn't matter how many ways the truth you bend
For the Universe has natural orders in which to keep a balance
You may not think it matters such at first glance
For everything has cause and effect
For which a tally must be kept
The old saying is so very true "for you reap what you sow"
You may not believe and understand now but in time you will know
For one day the lies and deception that you gave
Will come to pay you back sooner or later or haunt you beyond the grave
And then you will know exactly how it feels to be deceived
So expect pay back one day to be received
And when it does I will pity you
And when it does it will be tenfold too

copyright Astrid Brown

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

NEGATIVITY, SULKS AND GRUDGES

A photograph of my Aura taken a few years ago

The Aura is an electromagnetic field that surrounds living bodies, this includes people, animals, plants and crystals and is composed of several layers that are constantly moving. For those of us who are lucky enough to see auras  above is a photo of mine. The colours are influenced by our moods and emotions and by Spirit activity, likewise our moods and emotions will influence how far our aura expands e.g. when we are happy our aura expands and when we are depressed it shrinks in on itself. Other shapes and bubbles within the aura are common. It is on the aura that psychics base their readings for the past, present and future is contained within it.

If you are negative the aura shrinks in on itself, this in turn affects how the life force circulates around the body, it affects the chakras. The word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit meaning spinning wheel. The Chakras are energy centres and there are seven major and many minor ones, they are a link between the physical body and the subtle bodies or Aura. Their function is to channel Universal Energy (life force) from the Cosmos, where it is stored and assimilated by the body. Each Chakra in your spinal column is believed to influence or even govern bodily functions near its region of the spine. 

Therefore by being negative this will affect the functioning of the areas of the body they govern so eventually this will affect our physical health, by depressing our immune systems and various endocrine glands and so on. Which leads me on to holding on to grudges.

Sulking and holding on to grudges is immature behaviour, it solves nothing. If you have a disagreement or difference of opinion about something with someone try and solve it by dialogue. Not everyone has the same opinion about situations and beliefs etc. it would be a dull world if we all thought the same way. However if it leads to an argument and one party sulks or holds a grudge how can it ever be resolved and the longer it carries on the worse it will become. Someone has to give way so be the adult and better person and step forward and begin by saying sincerely, "I'm sorry I don't want for us to fall out lets talk and see if we can resolve this". If the other person refuses and carries on well you just have to leave them to it and walk away from their negativity and think of it this way in that they will only be harming their own soul. Do not copy their negative behaviour be the better person.

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

THE BENEFITS OF VITAMIN E ON THE SKIN

I'm sharing one of my skincare secrets and I can't recommend Vitamin E highly enough. I discovered the effects Vitamin E on my skin three decades ago.

This is the brand I use

Vitamin E oil can be thick and greasy, so it’s best used before bedtime, in place of a night cream 1 to 2 drops are all that’s necessary warm it in the palms of your hands first then apply

Vitamin E oil also works to block free radicals from the body, which play a large part in the ageing process. By fighting off free radicals,  we can reduce wrinkles and keep the skin youthful-looking and it has excellent antioxidant properties and protects the skin against cell mutation in the sun and pollution. It’s also an anti-inflammatory, so it calms and hydrates sensitive skin.

Free radicals can also prevent the healing of scars, so applying vitamin E oil will help to repair and improve the appearance of the damaged tissue

Vitamin E oil may increase circulation to the scalp, it temporarily increases blood flow to the area so can help to enhance the health of the hair follicles. Vitamin E oil can also work to hydrate and moisturise dry, brittle hair.

Massaging vitamin E oil on your cuticles and lips helps preventing and soothing chapped skin.

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

CARING FOR THE SKIN, NATURAL FACE MASKS

Having good skin doesn't have to cost a fortune, you do not have spend a lot of money of products and indeed many beauty products can be found in your food cupboards and fridge. Ideally these masks should be applied over gauze as it makes it a bit easier to clean up afterwards and its easier to use gauze with the help of a friend as you can lie down and relax whilst the friend applies. You can use your fingers to apply the products and professionally you would use a mask brush however any small paint brush or pastry brush would do, but for hygiene's sake keep it specifically for this purpose. The ingredients can be combined or applied to specific areas e.g. in combination skin apply avocado to dry cheeks and lemon juice to the Tzone across the nose etc. They should be applied for 5 to 10 minutes

If any of the ingredients like any other product you use on your skin feels uncomfortable and irritated, remove at once throughly with damp cotton wool and rinse well with cool water.

Natural Masks
Natural Masks must be prepared immediately before use, as they contain no preservatives a blender/food processor is best to mash up the ingredients failing this a fork and or sieve.

Avocado
Is nourishing for dry skin owing to the high oil content of the fruit, especially suitable for mature skin and rich in Vitamin B and E

Egg White
Has a tightening effect and especially suitable for crepey skin on the neck.

Egg Yolk
Rich in B6 and nourishing for dry skin.

Honey
Has a natural antibiotic effect, it is a highly effective emollient, softening and smoothing the skin.

Banana 
This fruit is a rich source of Potassium, and is an ideal emollient, good for sensitive skin.

Cucumber
This has a cooling and soothing effect yet can gently stimulate the skin.

Strawberry
Rich in Vitamin C, i.e. Ascorbic Acid, this restores the skin’s natural acid mantle and helps fight against ‘Free Radicals’ being an anti-oxidant.

Natural Yoghurt
Restores the skin’s natural acid mantle and has a cooling soothing effect.

Wheatgerm
Rich in Vitamin E, a natural anti-oxidant that fights against the effects of ‘Free Radicals’ therefore helps lessen the effects of ageing and aids healing.

Lemon Juice
This has a refining action on oily skin, tightening and refining the pores and restoring the skin’s pH balance, due to its acidic action.

Oatmeal
Especially good for dull sluggish skin, with a build up of dead skin cells, a highly effective exfoliant (removes dead skin cells) mix with water or the other ingredients to form a paste

Milk
Being slightly acidic aids and restores the natural acid mantle.

Kiwi Fruit
Rich in vitamin C restores the skin’s natural pH balance and fights against ‘Free Radicals’. Like Strawberries suitable for younger skins or Combination, especially the oily ‘T.zone’.

Apple 
A rich Humectant and ideal for dehydrated skin. (Humectants attract water. are natural moisturisers) and also a source of salicylic acid therefore aids desquamation. (removing dead skin cells)

Pear
Like apple a good humectant, but without the same amounts of salicylic acid.

Tea Bags
Have a cooling and tightening effect, due to the effects of the anti-oxidants, biflavanoids and caffeine, fight ‘Free Radicals’ and aid in the improvement in tired puffy eyes.

Teabags or Cucumber slices can be used over the eyes 

At the end of the treatment time, the gauze should be rolled up carefully and back as this makes its quicker and easier to remove. You should use damp cotton wool pads to remove the product, then follow with your usual toner and moisturiser

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

HOW STRESS AGES THE SKIN

We all know how smoking,(with the effects of nicotine which is a vasoconstrictor) and the sun (Harmful UVA and UVB rays) damage the skin, along with a bad diet but are you aware of the damage stress does to our skin? To explain it's necessary to understand what happens in our body when we are stressed

THE SCIENCE BIT

Deep within the brain we have an area known as the Hypothalamus, its the home of our moods and emotions and a very primitive part of the brain. The Hypothalamus is also the area that maintains equilibrium in our bodies and it maintains and regulates every bit of our body's chemistry. It is the area that controls the Endocrine system, it forms part of the Autonomic Nervous System and part of the Limbic System. It is Hypothalmus  that is the key to managing stress and all its detrimental effects on our mind and body. It is directly through this area that the holistic therapy Aromatherapy works and is managed by other holistic therapies.

 Since the Hypothalamus is the home of moods and emotions anything that affects these will influence the Hypothalamus, thus will have an effect on the body's equilibrium.

Now if we are stressed and modern stressors are not the same as those stressors we had as we were evolving as humans, they still have the same effect resulting in "the fight or flight response"

The Role of the Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system.
The Pituitary gland lies beneath the Hypothalamus and it is this that controls the other endocrine glands.
The Hypothalamus receives information about the Homeostasis (balance) of the body, this is achieved by two means:

The blood circulation i.e. temperature, blood glucose levels and hormone levels
The nervous system i.e. The Autonomic Nervous system i.e. the part of the nervous system that regulates automatic functions e.g. breathing, heart rate etc. and mental and emotional states, our feelings: these influence ‘automatic responses’ e.g. ‘The fear, flight response’
The Hypothalamus responds to these changes by:

Secreting Hormones (chemical messengers) that regulate hormones to be released by the anterior lobe of the pituitary
The hypothalamus also directly releases hormones via the Posterior Lobe of the Pituitary , Vasopressin (ADH) and Oxytocin
And by stimulating a nerve response to the ‘Central Nervous System’ (Brain & spinal Cord)

SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE?

Moods/emotions affect the hypothalamus, the hypothalamus evokes a reaction on the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland produces Adrenocorticotropic hormone this in turn targets the adrenal glands causing them to secrete Cortisone, Cortisone in turn effects the kidneys causing a rise in blood pressure by causing changes in the amount of salt secreted, this hormone causes the body to retain salt. Now remember the Hypothalamus one of its jobs is to maintain the body's equilibrium, it detects a rise in salt levels in the blood so to keep balance it causes the body to retain fluid, it is this retained fluid that increases blood pressure. At the same time, the Hypothalamus being part of the Central Nervous System evokes what is known as the Sympathetic Nervous System this diverts blood away from the digestive system and to lesser important body structures such as the skin and concentrates the blood to the heart, lungs and muscles. Simultaneously this nervous response influences the adrenal glands to produce Adrenalin and Noradrenalin, it is these hormones that induces vasoconstriction (reduces the blood supply) to the skin and peripheral tissues, thus also raising blood pressure.

Now this is putting it simply there are a few other processes also going on to increase blood sugar to give the body fuel to either run off or fight, Corticotrophic hormones influence the pancreas to secrete glucagon this has the opposite effect as insulin.

When the stress is over the Parasympathetic Nervous reverses the process again it is the Hyptholamus that instigates this.

Obviously its much more complex than this and I have focused on a few key hormones as it the action of these hormones that affects our well-being, the ageing process and blood pressure.

The fight or flight response was not designed to last forever it was meant ti instigate an action to deal with an aggressor, be it a wild animal or in a fight with an attacker therein lies the problem modern stressors tends to be work, work colleagues etc. the stress becomes long acting, this kind of reaction is fine in the short term but very detrimental to the body in the long term.

Take Cortisone, it has a damaging effect on specialised cells within the dermis (the skin), fibroblasts, these cells produce collagen and elastin, it is collagen and elastin that gives our skin elasticity and support. Adrenalin reduces blood supply to the peripheral tissues, such as the skin and hair, therefore, these structures do not receive adequate nourishment from the blood. So the effect of long term stress affects the skin resulting in ageing of the skin.

We all have various stresses in our lives, we cannot avoid it but we can reduce the effect it has on us with various relaxation techniques such as meditation and other therapies, such as massage, aromatherapy and reflexology or any pastime, even walking, that helps us relax. I hear all the time from clients I haven't the time to have a massage etc but even five minutes of meditation will have beneficial effects on our health in general and not just skin ageing. You can use the most expensive skin creams (not always the best), give up smoking, keep out of the sun but if you're highly stressed and not addressing the situation your skin won't be the best it could be.

To be the best we can be, we need to take a holistic approach to our health for our spirit, mind and body all work together so don't neglect any one component of this as each influences the other i.e. a stressed mind is going to affect our physical body and the skin, the body's largest organ is sure to be affected.

copyright

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more