Job stressing you out? CHC professor has a solution

Posted 5/31/13

Chestnut Hill resident Ruth Hoskins holds up her new book, “For Starseeds: Healing the Heart-Pleiadian Crystal Meditations.” In the book she discusses how daily crystal meditation can help people …

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Job stressing you out? CHC professor has a solution

Posted

Chestnut Hill resident Ruth Hoskins holds up her new book, “For Starseeds: Healing the Heart-Pleiadian Crystal Meditations.” In the book she discusses how daily crystal meditation can help people relieve stress. (Photo by Sue Ann Rybak)[/caption]

by Sue Ann Rybak

Chestnut Hill resident Ruth Starseed Hoskins, PhD, 66, a licensed psychotherapist and adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College, said that according to the American Institute of Stress, 80 percent of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half of those say they need help learning how to manage stress.

In Hoskins' book, “For Starseeds: Healing the Heart-Pleiadian Crystal Meditations,” she discusses how daily crystal meditation can help people relieve stress and increase psychological health. Hoskins, who has a PhD in Holistic Health Sciences, said daily meditation “opens a person to higher consciousness.”

Hoskins said many people have the misperception that “they have to be rid of all their thoughts when they meditate, but in reality we always have thoughts; they come and go.”

“It is the nature of the mind to think – like it is the nature of the heart to beat – it is not possible to get rid of thoughts,” wrote Hoskins in her book.

The director of Relaxation International, the Chestnut Hiller also presents educational programs on stress management, healing the heart from grief and loss, spirituality, effortless meditation, crystal healing, balancing work and home life, dreams to solve problems during sleep and past-life regression.

Hoskins, who has been teaching the effortless meditation technique for over 40 years, said in order for meditation to be effective, it has to become a habit. She suggests people spend at least 10 to 15 minutes a day quietly meditating.

“When we are quiet, we can tap into our intuition or inner voice,” she insisted. “It is always directing us, but we get so busy that we override it. I was in my 20s when I started doing effortless meditation. It connected me to something greater than I am – something I could feel – whether you want to call it a presence or a higher power.”

The CHC professor said effortless meditation is a non-denominational meditation technique that allows people to achieve a deeper level of consciousness by focusing their attention inward.

“Research has shown that meditation changes the body's physiology, releasing feel-good chemicals to balance the mind and the body,” Hoskins said. “The important thing is to find a healing technique that works for you and to do it everyday.”

Hoskins said in healing circles there are many metaphysical uses for crystals and stones. She said quartz crystals are spiritual healing tools.

“Crystals are believed to influence the ‘chakras,’ a Sanskrit word for 'wheels of light,'” Hoskins said.

“The subtle body – the aura or electromagnetic shield around every person – is affected by crystals. Kirlian photography shows when a person holds or wears a quartz crystal, the aura doubles in size. Just as the mind and body are strengthened by the daily practice of meditation, the aura is less brittle and stronger by daily meditation with crystals.”

Hoskins said she selected the 28 stones and crystals in the book based on their accessibility and healing powers. “The meditations that I have provided in my book are meant to encourage people to take time for themselves and meditate, so that they have an opportunity to relax.”

For more information or to order the book, call 215-242-6106 or visit relaxationinternational.com. The book is also available at amazon.com or balboapress.com.

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