The Sacred City of Itza

I recently returned from an awesome vacation to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Besides great weather, great food and great friends, the highlight of my trip was visiting the Mayan Ruins in Chichen Itza. This archaeological site is rated among the most important of the Maya culture. The day that I toured the ruins it was 98 degrees with 100% humidity. In spite of the sweat literally rolling down my body, the most astounding site was Kukulkan's pyramid. This pyramid stands 75 feet tall. Years ago you were able to climb to the top of it. Unfortunately, due to peoples disregard for property this is now no longer possible.

This pyramid was built for astrological purposes and during the vernal equinox in March and the autumnal equinox in September, at around 3pm the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramids main stairway, causing the seven isosceles triangles to form the body of a serpent. This serpent is 37 yards long and creeps downward until it joins with the serpents head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. What is fascinating about the Pyramid of Kukulkan is that is was constructed circa 1050 and was used as a calendar; four stairways each with 91 steps and a platform at the top, making a total of 365, which is equivalent to the number of days in a calendar year.

Among their accomplishments the ancient Mayans invented a calendar with remarkable accuracy and complexity. I have been fascinated with the Mayan calendar for many years and yet many of us truly don't understand what it means and how it works. Yes the calendar does end on December 21, 2012, but what does that mean? How does it come to that? What is their calendar based off of?

The Mayans had a very precise understanding of our solar system's cycles and believed that these cycles coincided with our spiritual and collective consciousness. The most significant of which has much to do with the 2012 prophecies. The Mayans prophesied that from 1999 we have 13 years to realize the changes in our conscious attitude to stray from the path of self-destruction and instead move onto a path that opens our consciousness to integrate us with all that exists.

As individulas we have to make decisions that affect all of us. We are living today in the cusp of the Mayan end times. We all need to become conscious and realize that we are all one and we need to respect each other and be grateful to our planet before we can move into the Golden Age. It is up to us as to what will happen in this time of change. Just stop for a moment and note the events of our planet as evidence that the Mayan prophecies are worth listening to.

Let's all move towards a better future where we can all thrive in a new era of positivity. It has never been as important as it is now.

Author Interview

I was recently interviewed by Carma's Word. Click on the link below to read the interview.
Thanks everyone for all of your support!

http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com/2008/05/author-interview-shayn-cutino.html

Hypnotherapy Tax Credits on April 15th

Since today is the big TAX DAY, I decided to do some research to see if I could locate any information on people receiving some type of tax credit for their hypnosis sessions to stop smoking and lose weight. Low and behold I found an article written by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD. in 2006, entitled: I.R.S. Tax Credit: 100% Reimbursement for Weight Loss and/or Smoking Cessation Hypnotherapy Programs. Thank you Dorothy for this wonderful information!

Tax laws passed in 2003 onwards allows a tax credit that reimburses 100% for money paid for smoking cessation programs. If you are advised by a physician to lose weight, you can also be reimbursed 100% for weight loss hypnosis.This is a tax credit - not a tax deduction, so that means 100% credit on your taxes!The information below is presented as a courtesy from Academy of NLP & Hypnosis and is quoted from pages 12 and 15 of IRS Publication 502 year 2003.

Stop-Smoking Programs:You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for a program to stop smoking. However, you cannot include in medical expenses amounts you pay for drugs that do not require a prescription, such as nicotine gum or patches that are designed to help stop smoking.

Weight-Loss Programs:You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to lose weight if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes or heart disease). This includes fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group and attendance at periodic meetings. You cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa as medical expenses, but you can include separate fees charged there for weight loss activities.

How to Report:To claim the credit, complete Form 8885, Health Coverage Tax Credit, and attach it to your Form 1040 or Form 1040NR. Report the credit on Form 1040, line 67, or Form 1040NR, line 62, and check box c. You cannot claim the credit on Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ.You need to attach invoices and proof of payment for any amounts you include on line 2 of Form 8885 for which you did not receive an advance payment. If you file your return electronically, attach the invoices and proof of payment to your Form 8453. Proof of payment may include a pay stub if insurance is through a spouse's employment, a bank check, or bank statement for premiums that are automatically deducted from your account.If you claim this credit, you cannot take the same expenses that you use to figure your health coverage tax credit into account in determining your:
• Medical and dental expenses on Schedule A (Form 1040),
• Self-employed health insurance deduction,
• Archer Medical Savings Account (MSA) distributions.

Jill Bolte Taylor's Powerful Stroke of Insight

Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor studied her own stroke as it happened -- and has become a powerful voice for brain recovery.

Here's why you should listen to her:
One morning, a blood vessel in Jill Bolte Taylor's brain exploded. As a brain scientist, she realized she had a ringside seat to her own stroke. She watched as her brain functions shut down one by one: motion, speech, memory, self-awareness ...

Amazed to find herself alive, Taylor spent eight years recovering her ability to think, walk and talk. She has become a spokesperson for stroke recovery and for the possibility of coming back from brain injury stronger than before. In her case, although the stroke damaged the left side of her brain, her recovery unleashed a torrent of creative energy from her right. From her home base in Indiana, she now travels the country on behalf of the Harvard Brain Bank as the "Singin' Scientist."

"How many brain scientists have been able to study the brain from the inside out? I've gotten as much out of this experience of losing my left mind as I have in my entire academic career."Jill Bolte Taylor

This is an amazing account of what this brain scientist experienced during and after a stroke, how she could distinguish between R and L hemisphere functioning and how it has changed her life. She has completely recovered after 8 years.
 If you want to watch the video:
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

Read more about Jill Bolte Taylor on TED.com

Shayn Cutino's Interview by Mohamed Tohami

I recently had the good fortune to be interviewed by the famed author of "The Lost Emotion" Mohamed Tohami, who is also known as "The Success Pharaoh".

In the interview I discuss how I started on my search for success and where this quest has taken me. I outline the major challenges I have faced along my journey as well as the most important success lessons that I have learned throughout my lifetime.

Don't miss the single piece of advice that can help you create your own everlasting success.

Click on the player right now to listen to these jewels of wisdom!

http://anjawellness.com/AboutMe.html#Interview

The Universal Human Experience

Exactly what is the universal human experience I am talking about? It is the phenomenon of hypnosis. It is something that we all experience on a daily basis. In a 24 hour period we all drift in and out of hypnosis. If we were to compare our minds to the likes of our computers, the subconscious part of the mind would be similar to our hard drives. Every event and every corresponding emotion associated with that event is stored in the subconscious mind.

The conscious mind is similar to the ram power on our computer. This is essentially 5% of the computers drive. Jung often referred to the conscious mind as a cork floating in the ocean of the subconscious.

Hypnosis per se, is not a therapy. Hypnotherapy is the use of the hypnotic state to achieve simple or profound healing. There are over 800 therapeutic applications for hypnotherapy.

As a successful hypnotherapist, I listen and lead clients to their own success. Questions and pre- talk are keys to success. People know how to fix themselves because all of the required information is inside of their subconscious. I just help them locate that information.

Unfortunately pop culture has made hypnosis appear in the form of either a clucking chicken or barking dog. Most people either think that they can't be hypnotized or they don't believe in it. Let me ask you this: Your family and friends may not believe in chocolate but does that stop them from eating it?

Hum..........................

We've Moved!

I have been busy these last few months moving my hypnotherapy practice - all the way across town. January is such a busy time for hypnotherapists because so many people are making their New Year Resolutions that I have been crazy busy. Sorry I haven't been writing........

But now........

I have found some time and I will see you again real soon.