by Sarah Gulland, Collective Evolution

Mindfulness is defined as an attention training which can benefit health and general well-being. There is a lot scientific research confirming it. It usually takes weeks to practice Mindfulness before experiencing noticeable benefits. In this article I will present you the other type of attention training called Open Focus. I believe, combining these two approaches may help to understand attention training better and to experience its benefits faster.

What Is Mindfulness?

In its most basic form, Mindfulness means to pay attention to what’s happening, on purpose, in the present moment, and to do so without judgement. Originally from Buddhist roots, it was introduced into the West by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zin and the University of Massachusetts. Since its appearance in the West around twenty years ago, many people have participated in the Mindfulness based stress reduction course and similar programs. Research shows that participants may experience profound benefits such as reduced stress, a greater sense of well-being, increased clarity and focus, and improved sleeping patterns.

by Alanna Ketler, Collective Evolution

Nearly 70% of all antibiotics manufactured and sold in the U.S. are used in animal agriculture — a staggering amount, by any reckoning. Not only do these antibiotics end up in the meat we consume, but their necessity, and in such volume, leads to the obvious conclusion that the animals providing our meat are being raised in deplorable conditions.

Fortunately, people are becoming more aware of the potential dangers of consuming too many antibiotics, whether from meat and animal products or otherwise. The more that people opt out of consuming these types of meats and other animal products, the more manufacturers will be forced to change their practices, ideally to the point where antibiotics are not needed so routinely.

by Carmen Di Luccio, Collective Evolution

We are having a Full Moon in Virgo on March 12th, however, for those in the Western part of the world it will appear the fullest on the night of March 11th. Full Moons are the peak of the Moon cycle when both the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs, with this case being Virgo and Pisces.

The opposition between the two signs can bring up situations in which we need to learn to work with both sides of the polarity, and in many situations it can be in a challenging or emotionally charged way. In this case, however, the South Node is in Pisces (where we also had the last solar eclipse) and the North Node is in Virgo, which started in November 2015 and will finish in May.

by Alexa Erickson, Collective Evolution

There’s no doubt that humans have made quite an impact on Planet Earth, especially due to global development. Now, scientists have identified an explosion of newly formed minerals created as a direct result of our influence on the chemical makeup of the planet.

What’s most intriguing about this is that never before has a species defined their existence by creating new, naturally forming minerals.

“This is a spike of mineral novelty that is so rapid – most of it in the last 200 years, compared to the 4.5bn year history of Earth. There is nothing like it in Earth’s history,” study team member Robert Hazen from the Carnegie Institution for Science told The Guardian. “This is a blink of an eye, it is just a surge and of course we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.”

by Alanna Ketler, Collective Evolution

I think it’s safe to say that most teenagers have tried and/or abused alcohol or illegal drugs, yet teen substance abuse rarely gets the attention it needs. Drugs and alcohol have a more detrimental effect on the underdeveloped brain, particularly since teens lack the ability to adequately assess risk, making them more likely to overindulge in substances. It’s this same lack that explains why people tend to be braver and more open to trying new experiences as teens than as adults. But this courage comes at a cost, as teens cannot adequately assess the risks of the substances they are taking. And schools aren’t doing nearly enough to educate them.