When we talk about the concept of altering consciousness, what do we actually mean? Do we mean improving our memory? Is it increasing our IQ or improving our sleep? Are we discussing becoming psychic or clairvoyant, or reaching a deeper meditation state? Or do we simply want to be able to stop yelling at our children? Now as I see it, altering consciousness is all of this and much, much more. It is shifting the very way we think, see the world, live our lives, and exist on this planet.

I know this sounds very new-age and far-out. That's because it is.

And as I speak about ways to alter consciousness you may begin to think of manifestation, and the movie called the Secret. You may be reminded of Echart Tolle and THE POWER OF NOW or A NEW EARTH. You may think of Yoga, meditation, Buddha and karma. You may recall a life-changing course you once took called The Landmark Forum. You may think of the deepest tenets of Christianity and other world religions. Quotes may come to mind- such as "There but for The Grace of God Go I" and "Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. "

But as I personally think about this I suddenly realize... the desire to alter consciousness is not so new after all.

The human race has wanted to alter its consciousness for thousands of years. We have even had some brilliant ideas of what direction to alter it to- living on this earth in peace and harmony, for instance- or having tolerance for others, good judgment, and an abundance of love- or helping people instead of harming them. In short we have had the wonderful idea that all beings should live their lives in joy and happiness, with their needs met and a high level of satisfaction in life. They should do this-and humans have believed this almost without exception.

No my friends, these are not new ideas. But what is new here is the idea, the concept, the glimmer of a thought that we could actually do it There is an arising awareness, sweeping the planet like a brush-fire, that it is within our reach as human beings to live our lives in peace and harmony with each other, as well as with a high level of life fulfillment for all. Now notice I never said people thought this was probable, nor that it was an assured. I only said there is an awareness that it is possible. And that in itself is a huge breakthrough for mankind- as this idea has never occurred in masses of the population before.

Now here is what none of us is sure of- will kill ourselves of, or will we become this possibility of a whole new world?

If you're an optimist like me, you're trying to beat the clock. You and I will try to pull for humanity to find ways alter consciousness, and quickly. And in my articles and blogs, I will give you some good ideas of how to do this. Some are time-honored and take work and practice. Others like brain entrainment are simpler to do and may work more quickly. So stay tuned as we explore this whole new, but old, world. And with that I will say, namaste, and peace be with you.

If you're ill with a sudden bout of constipation you may instinctively grab an over-the-counter medication. However, is it really best to do this? Honestly, your suffering with constipation may be a way your body wants to tell you there is another underlying health issue you may want to see a medical professional about. Of course, it could also be that the constipation could be avoided by analyzing your diet, instead of only treating your symptoms.

Choosing not to look into the cause of constipation can make your condition worse. Over-the-counter treatment can cause your present digestive system disorder to get worse and may even destroy your gastrointestinal tract! In other words, regularly using medications to "cure" your constipation can make your digestive tract begin requiring artificial stimuli each time it needs to void.

For starters, look at what you eat each day. Do you regularly eat a healthy and balanced diet including the important proteins and carbohydrates? Are you engaging in a fad diet that is causing your nutritional intake to be off balance in the carbohydrate or protein area of your eating habits? The most common culprit of constipation is either a nutritional deficiency or a lack of fiber.

If you're a bit worried about your food intake, start reducing junk food and fast food. Then, increase your fiber intake to starve off constipation. You can naturally do this by supplementing your nutritional intake with fiber wafers and prune juice and adding vegetables to your daily meals.

You should be sure to look at your eating habits if you want to get rid of constipation. When you eat, be sure to take your time to enjoy the food leisurely, chewing it and utilizing water as a natural intestinal moisturizer. You will not being doing your body any favors in digestion if you eat quickly, while driving, while working or while drinking soft drinks.

Digestion is a process that begins in your mouth, with saliva adding digestive enzymes into your food and causing it to be prepared to enter the stomach. Food not properly prepared for nutrient intake can cause a digestive system to dysfunction. Frequent dysfunction logically leads to constipation.

Taking medications or nutritional supplements may still leave you with an ill functioning digestive system, even if you eat a perfect diet. Make sure your medications or vitamins are fresh. And, consider taking them with prune juice if you want to further stimulate your digestive system.

Stress has a profound impact on the human digestive system. While it is impossible to live stress free, learning to deal with stress in a healthy way. It is required to lessen the impact on the bodily systems in general and the gastrointestinal tract in particular. Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are great for relieving stress induced constipation.