Water Thoughts

Benefits of Clapping

Way back in the 6th century BC, lawmaker Kleisthénes of Athens made it so that audiences would have to clap in approval of their leader, since there were too many people to meet individually. 

Through this came the “applause”, the unified voices of all these people in the form of clapping together in admiration.

But let’s look a little closer, what is clapping all about?

Health Benefits

Clapping is known to improve the overall heart health and improve blood pressure. 

Blood circulation to various organs is also improved by regular clapping. 

Clapping also helps improve asthma related problems by promoting function of nerve endings that connect these organs.

The activity of clapping your hands can be done early in the morning to receive a number of benefits. 

It is a powerful mental and physical stimulant, as it activates your energy chakras, and improves blood circulation in the body. 

Moreover, it acts as a positive affirmation and also engages your body.

Here are 5 benefits of clapping your hands

1. It activates your energy chakras

The human body contains several energy points or centers, and clapping can help stimulate them.

“If you spend 10 to 15 minutes clapping your hands, you will be able to feel the energy passing through the seven chakras. This will activate these centers,” shares yoga expert, Grand Master Akshar with HealthShots.

2. Clapping can help in mental and physical stimulation

It is important for the mind and body to be strong, and clapping can be a very useful and effective way to strengthen the mind and the body. 

When you stimulate the physical and mental aspects through the activity of clapping early in the morning, it keeps you in a positive and upbeat mood throughout the day.

“This is an easy activity that can be done by anybody regardless of age and fitness level. 

Therefore, it is recommended to practice clapping your hands as part of your exercise routine,” says Grand Master Akshar.

Psychological and Behavioral Science International Journal also ratifies the mental health benefits of clapping. 

It suggests that ailments like stomach issues, neck, and lower pain, kidney, and lungs problems, etc. can also be relieved with the help of clapping.

3. It improves blood circulation

You can practice clapping your hands in seated positions such as vajrasana or sukhasana. 

It is advisable to perform this activity early in the morning; it can also be done by those who are overweight or suffering from chronic conditions, as they may not be able to involve themselves in any other form of physical exercise. 

So by clapping their hands, they can improve the blood circulation and thus be able to manage issues such as hypertension or hypotension.

4. It brings in positivity

“Across many cultures, clapping of the hands is considered to be a symbol and gesture for celebration, acknowledgment, praise, encouragement, and recognition. 

Even during the time of worship, there are certain people who practice singing hymns to the lord, and this is accompanied by clapping of the hands, which indicates a positive environment uplifting one’s energies and vibrations. 

Whether it comes to playing a sport or watching a performance, clapping is used to denote positive response,” explains Grand Master Akshar.

5. It engages your entire body

If you notice the act of clapping, it doesn’t just involve the hands. 

The entire body’s energy is expended during the process of clapping and it automatically improves the mood and elevates one’s energy.

Many believe sound and vibration of clapping removes negative energy from you and around you. 

It’s the quickest, most powerful way of clearing negative energy.

We know Pagans that clap every morning. 

They clap holding a sacred space of gratitude, joy and happiness.

We are told that they start clapping loudly, then all around themselves, then walk around the house continuing to clap loudly. 

In a few moments they say they have changed the energy and vibrations, cleared the space around them and their house, all negative energy has been dissipated. 

This is how they start their day, with mind and body vibrating at a high frequency.

The Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric, a bright yellow of the spice that has powerful health benefits.

The Chinese and Indian healers have used Turmeric throughout history, as we use it now as an anti-inflammatory agent, flatulence, jaundice, menstrual issues, bloody urine, hemorrhage and toothache.

Turmeric contains a substance known as lipopolysaccharide, which helps stimulate the body’s immune system. 

Its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents also help strengthen the immune system. 

Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent and can be used as an effective disinfectant. 

If you have a cut or burn, you can sprinkle turmeric powder on the injury to speed up the healing process. 

Turmeric also helps repair damaged skin and may be used to treat psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric is also a natural liver detoxifier. 

The liver detoxifies the blood through the production of enzymes and turmeric increases production of these enzymes. 

These enzymes break down and reduce toxins in the body. 

Turmeric also is believed to invigorate and improve blood circulation supporting good liver health.

We know people have used this wonderful spice for back pain because it's a potent anti-inflammatory.

These anti-inflammatory properties in turmeric are great for treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well.

In addition, turmeric’s antioxidant property destroys free radicals in the body that damage body cells. 

Studies have shown that those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who take turmeric on a regular basis experience much relief from joint pains as well as joint inflammation.

We aren't doctors, but we know what works for us and what's effective for others.

The bottom line is…turmeric has been amazing.

All we are saying, with the health benefits of turmeric, adding this powerful herb to your diet is one of the best things you can do to improve the quality of your life. 

You can add turmeric in powder form to curries, stir fried dishes, smoothies, warm milk and even to spicy salad dressings. 

Turmeric can be taken in pill form also. 

We aren't suggesting a dosage, but we take 800mg daily in capsule form, but that's us, everyone is different.

Do your research and decide what dosage is best for you.

Archaeologists discover a series of 2,000-year-old magic spells in Serbia

Researchers in eastern Serbia have discovered a series of magic spells on tiny rolls of gold and silver, buried alongside the remains of humans who died almost 2,000 years ago.

The incantations seem to invoke divine powers to do good or evil, but the researchers are still trying to translate exactly what was written, and what they were used for.

"The alphabet is Greek, that much we know. The language is Aramaic - it's a Middle Eastern mystery to us," chief researcher Miomir Korac, from the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade said.

The burial site is near the modern-day city of Kostolac, which was the site of the Roman city Viminacium between the 1st and 6th century AD. It's estimated that the latest remains - and the spells - were buried around the 4th century AD.

But while this is the first time archaeologists have discovered something like this in Serbia, they've seen similar tablets of 'binding magic' in other countries.

Binding spells were usually written to benefit or curse the living, but people would bury them with the deceased in the hopes that they would carry them either to angels or demons in the afterlife, and force them to do finish the job.

"They were often love charms, ordering someone to fall in love, but there were also dark, malignant curses, to the tune of: 'May your body turn dead, as cold and heavy as this lead,"

These charms were usually buried with people who had suffered a violent death, because it was believed that "souls of such people took longer to find rest and had a better chance of finding demons and deities and pass the wishes to them so they could do their magic". 

What these incantations reveal, are the details about the beliefs and faith of the residents of Viminacium at the time.

"This is a very important archaeological discovery because it shows how much hope they had in the 'curse tablets' so that they used precious metals," Korac said.

"According to my knowledge, such tablets have never been found inscribed in gold anywhere. According to the Roman customs, gold was never put into graves."

There's also evidence that the Roman city was in the middle of a religious shift during the 4th century, seeing as both Christian and pagan gods are called upon.

"Opposing deities appear on these tablets, as if invoking both Christ and the Antichrist today, or Christ and pagan gods, and that is weird. This shows us that the process of converting to Christianity was slow." 

The team is still in the middle of excavating the site, so until they've finished digging and the proper analysis of these remains begins, we're not going to know much more about the mysterious find.

But it just goes to show that there's always so much more left to learn about the societies that came before us.