Different types of spirit guide references

Good question! There are 2 very different types of spirit guide references, although at "heart", they are both different sides of the same coin.

The first common reference is the ethereal guide that many spiritual mediums use to help them get information during a reading. Some of the most famous mediums claimed that they got much of their information from those living in spirit, but who had once lived on earth (although not all mediums use spirit guides, certainly some of the most famous do and have).

The other common spirit guide reference is the idea of an "invisible helper" that each of us has around us at all times, whether we know it, or even believe it, or not. Most people who study the afterlife, and psychic abilities believe that our loved ones are ALWAYS close, and that those in spirit DO get involved in helping give our lives here a bit of direction and purpose when they can.

Are spirit guides "all knowing" or are they just like us...only on the other side?

This is actually a great question, and one that comes up quite frequently. The truth is, in my own experience, spirit guides are just like us, only they've crossed over to the other side and have gained or garnered some additional knowledge as a result of having their awareness expanded (of course, just knowing that death is NOT the end allows you to be more "enlightened" than we are here).

That said, I truly believe that there are many, many levels of learning and that just because someone has crossed over, and is "in spirit", it doesn't mean they know everything, or have access to all of the answers (much the way as we age here..we simply know more, and have more experience, but that doesn't mean we know everything by a LONG shot).

How can I access my own spirit guides?

Easy. First acknowledge that they are out there.

Next, be proactive. Meditation and visualization can be very powerful. Asking for a sign or symbol can be a very powerful as well...and when it comes, it can be a shock, too! (but in a good way).

Speaking to psychics and mediums who have the gift is a great way of getting validation that you have spirit guides on the other side, identifying who they are (often this can surprise you!) and getting first hand evidence and proof that they really ARE "out there" and watching you grow.

Remember...

Listening to your own intuition is one of the most powerful ways to tap into the abundant energy that exists in the Universe around us at ALL time...even if we aren't aware that it is. As a matter of fact, it's rare that a spirit guide or guardian angel will appear in your life, unless you proactively open yourself UP to the possibility.

Like everything else in life, discovering the truth about spirit is about opening yourself up to the magic and the mystery...and then seeking out experiences that give you the first hand PROOF that they are real. No amount of articles like this one can substitute for ONE empirical experience with a genuine psychic or medium, and that's the most important lesson of them all.

Tips for Removing an Unwanted Tree

Having a yard and garden you can be proud of and enjoy with family, neighbors and friends is one of life's simple pleasures. Unfortunately, the process of creating a garden is not always so simple. Aside from the usual concerns about watering, lawn feeding and pest control, you may occasionally find that you have to remove a tree from the landscape. The process of removing a tree requires careful planning and preparation.

Controlling the Fall

Think before you cut a single branch. You want to know exactly where each limb will fall when you cut it. It is particularly crucial to know where the tree trunk is going to fall. To bring down the truck, make a wedge cut inward almost to the center from the direction you want the tree to fall. Then make a higher cut on the opposite side. You should be able to drop the tree within a few feet of where you want it. No one should stand anywhere near the spot the tree to fall.

Incremental Removal

For large or even medium sized trees, you should avoid simply cutting them whole thing down at once. It is much safer to slowly trim away smaller branches first, and then tree limbs. After that, you should cut sections from the top until you get close enough to the ground to safely drop the rest of the tree.

General Safety

Anyone involved in the process of cutting down trees should take all necessary precautions'. They should wear a protective helmet, goggles, and gloves. Steel-toed boots are also a smart idea to protect your feet from crushing injuries. Since you will almost certainly be using chainsaws, you should also wear ear protection.

Other Equipment

You will need a chainsaw for this process, since axes can be far more dangerous for those who do not know how to use them, as well as more exhausting. If it is a small tree, you may need only the saw, but for larger trees, you may have to rent a crane to lift you into position for the higher branches and the top of the tree. Using straps and boot spikes to climb a tree the cut the top branches is inadvisable unless you have a great deal of experience and are in decent shape.

Disposal

There are several ways to get rid of the remnants of your tree. One is to cut part of it as firewood for you or others if the wood is a type that will burn well. For the smaller pieces, a rented wood chipper will let you turn it into mountains of mulch for your garden.

You May Not Have Known about Dolphin Facts

Taking dolphin tours can be a life-affirming experience, as well as an educational one. We know almost as little about the underwater world as we do about outer space, and spending time watching, swimming with, or learning about dolphins is an opportunity to discover more about a hidden world. Read on for some dolphin facts to whet your appetite.

Champion breath-holders

Though they are mammals like us, and need air to breathe, dolphins can hold their breath for an average 15 minutes; some species can reach an astonishing 30 minutes. Despite this, they usually stay close to the ocean surface so they can leap and dive, meaning that they never stay hidden from those embarking on dolphin tours for too long. They can, however, swim deep if they need to, reaching up to 260 metres beneath the surface.

Pack animals

Social groups and bonds are as important to dolphins as they are to us. Dolphins live in close-knit groups called pods, and take care of their sick or injured. They form friendships with each other, and females will form strong bonds with their calves - which means you will often see young dolphins with their mothers on dolphin tours. They are also strong communicators, using whistles and clicks almost in the way we use spoken language - individual dolphins even have unique series' of whistles which can be used to identify them, the way humans use names.

Quick and clever

The creatures you see on dolphin tours are deeply intelligent as well as beautiful. Dolphins' brains are proportionally larger, in relation to their bodies, to those of chimpanzees and gorillas, which suggests they are intelligent - and their behaviour proves it. Bottlenose dolphins have been observed using ingenious hunting techniques, such as covering their snouts with sea-sponges, which allows them to forage in the sand without being stung by any poisonous species that might be lurking there. They are also very quick learners, both in captivity where they have been known to devise their own tricks, realising that they will be rewarded, and in the wild, where calves rapidly learn how to interact and hunt by copying their mothers.

Natural radar

Dolphins are able to use sound in order to locate objects, by emitting high-frequency clicks and listening for the echoes that bounce back. This technique, similar to radar and known as echolocation, means that they can judge the size, type, and position of objects even if they can't see them, which is particularly helpful for hunting and navigation. Dolphins have a specially-developed organ for this, called the 'melon', located in their heads.

These are just a few of the many fascinating things we know about dolphins, and much more is still undiscovered. The best way to learn is from experience, so be sure to approach dolphin tours with an open mind.

Help Backyard Wild Birds Survive Summer Heat

Heat stresses all animals, including wild birds. Follow these tips to help birds cope with excessive heat.

1. Birds need to stay hydrated just as you should. So be sure there is clean water in the bird bath. When it is very hot, water evaporates quickly. A full bird bath in the morning is most likely not going to be full in the late afternoon.

Place your bird bath in a location that is shaded during the hottest part of the day, if possible. It's also a good idea to position it far enough away from your feeders so that seed hulls and/or bird droppings, feathers, etc. will not end up in your bird bath.

Discard any dirty standing water before adding clean water. Ensure there are no mosquito wigglers (larvae)! A good shot with the garden hose should get rid of them.

Or, if the bird bath has algae in it, a good scrubbing with a stiff brush using 9 parts of plain water to 1 part chlorine bleach will do the trick. Wear rubber gloves! Be sure to rinse THOROUGHLY, and let dry. Refill with clean, clear water.

2. The area beneath your bird feeders should be free of excess seed hulls. If the seed hulls are dry, I rake them into my garden area, which is close to the feeders, once a week. I use the bow rake to mix them with the soil.

If the seed hulls are wet or moldy, rake them up and discard them so they will not cause disease or parasite problems, which can accelerate in hot weather.

3. Cut back on the amount of seeds you add to your feeder each day. Try to gauge how much is actually being eaten. In other words, don't fill the feeders as you would in the wintertime. Excessive heat may cause the oils in the leftover seeds to turn rancid if left in feeders. Make sure there are enough nutritious seeds to keep your birds happy, but don't overdo it!

4. Do use the best bird seeds you can afford. Avoid 'summer' mixes packaged with 'filler' seeds that will only end up on the ground uneaten. The increased activity necessary to hunt for good food adds to birds' metabolic rate. The metabolic rate increases the heat buildup in their bodies.

So if there is a ready source of nutritious food, birds will be able to stay cooler. It's the same with humans. I would rather go to a restaurant than spend time in a hot kitchen making my own meal!

5. Consider planting a few evergreen shrubs or trees. These will add sources of shade to your yard as well as a cool retreat for the birds. An added bonus is that evergreens provide year-round shelter as well as nesting opportunities for your backyard birds.

Take time in the cooler part of the day to watch your wild birds. Listen to their songs, observe their behavior and you will naturally de-stress.

Taking good care of your feathered friends during times of stress, whether in extreme heat or cold, will ensure healthy and strong new generations. I say the more industrious and beautiful wild birds there are in our world, the better!

Many Facts About the Life of Flying Ants

1. Flying ants or ants that have wings are part of a species of ants that can fly rather than a separate species in their own right.

2. There are only particular ants that will have wings, and this will only be for departing a colony and starting a new one elsewhere.

3. They are often thought to be termites, but there are distinct differences between the two species.

4. Their colonies are established by queen ants who have got together and mated to reproduce.

5. After they have mated, they will lose their wings as they no longer have use for them and be totally grounded

6. When a queen lays its eggs, the ants that will emerge will become worker ants and will create a colony.

7. There will also be ants that will be born that will have other use but to mate and lay eggs.

8. These kinds of ants will develop wings which will be put to use in order to depart the colony and find mates.

9. After they have mated, the male ants will die quite quickly but females will last and become queen ants and will start the process over again.

10. When they leave their nests, ants with wings will gather with others and create a swarm congregating with other colonies of ants.

11. When they take off to swarm they will depart one after the other in an orderly fashion

12. When they swarm, it is so timed that the colonies will congregate and flying ants will find others to successfully mate with.

13. They will look to establish places to reproduce, often on high places in a behavior called hill-topping.

14. Some ants will have colonies in places such as under woodpiles, in dead trees or indeed in the ground where they will go unseen so as to not attract attention from deadly predators who will look to prey on them.

15. This swarm of flying ant will tend to attract many predators that will be after a good meal such as birds and dragon flies.

16. Depending on the size of the swarm, the activity of flying ants comes in bursts once it begins and can last a few hours or a few days.

17. The swarms of flying ants can vary from hundreds to as many as thousands, depending on how many colonies join to create the swarm of flying ants

Facts Most People Have In Common

Right now with the economy the way it is, most people have 5 Facts in common.

1. Most People Are Financially Challenged! There are so many families that are struggling financially and are barely making it. I'm certain that you know of a friend, family, neighbor, co-worker, or perhaps yourself that's in this situation. And you are not alone. Millions of people not just in the U.S. but around the world that are financially challenged. Are YOU financially challenged?

2. Most People Do Not Have A Secure Future! My mom worked for a company for over 30 years. She was recently laid off... with no retirement, no pension, no severance pay, not even medical or dental. How sad is that, to be at the age of 75 where you are supposed to be retired and enjoying the remainder of your life and your future suddenly collapsed. So sad that being in the wealthiest country in the world and we have too many citizens in the same situation as my mom or worse and not getting any better. We all know that the government is broke, states are broke, companies are broke or going broke. So how secure is your future?

3. Most People Do Not Like Their Job! According to the 2010 Macro Economic Report 80% of employees do not like their jobs. How unfortunate to have to get up every morning just to go to work and do something you don't like to do. Yet 80% of you are doing it right now, trading time for money. How about you? Do you like what you are currently doing? If not then you should consider doing something about it.

4. Most People Do Not Have A Plan B! With the uncertainty and unpredictable economy we are currently in, it is so critical to have a plan be. Majority of people don't even think about having a plan B until their plan A is gone. This is why most people lose everything. Once your only source of income is no longer available and you do not have a backup plan, then you are doomed for troubles. Creditors don't care whether you have a job or not, they still want to get paid. So what is your Plan B? or do you even have one?

5. Most People Do Not Have Residual Income! As a matter of fact most do not even know what Residual Income is. If you are currently employed then you have we is called Linear Income. Basically you get paid when you work. But what happens when you stop working? Whether by choice or not? Obviously you do not get paid!

Residual income gives you the ability to do something one time and get paid on that effort over and over again. In most cases Residual Income pays you for the rest of your life and even better cases Residual Income can be passed on for generation after generation. For instance, Elvis Presley have been gone for over 30 years, yet his family and estate earns over $50 million every year! How sweet is that. Another example is your electricity bill and cell phone bill. Let me ask you, will you ever pay off your cell phone bill or electric bill? Of course not! This is a form of Residual Income for the Energy company and the giant cell phone companies.

So have you ever thought about creating and building Residual Income? Would you like to learn how to solve these 5 Facts most people have in common?

Understand that no matter what the economy is doing, there's always someone else making money!!! You just have to know who and how you can participate.

There are many ways you can create Residual Income and at the same time Leveraging and creating Tax Advantages. In today's economic crisis and information age, most companies from technology, health, and anti-aging are learning to take advantage of the oldest marketing strategy, word-of-mouth. It is and always will be the best and most effective way of advertising a product, a service, or an event. So many companies are utilizing this ever growing trend. And by being a part of this trend and representing a company that uses word-of-mouth advertising you get compensated, and in case you haven't noticed, you already do this now and have been doing it all your life. The best part is you get paid based on the efforts you put into it. There is no limit and there is no ceiling. You determine your income. You work a lot and work hard you could make a lot of money. You work less you make less, and of course if you don't work, you don't get paid! It is that simple.