The SHN #48: Qigong, The Daemon, and Oral Health

Welcome back to The Synergetic Health Newsletter! 

In this edition, we’ll talk about my Qigong practice and explore a fascinating theory proposed by Anthony Peake.

After that, a look into oral health and how regular dentists are behind the curve.

Then comes some links to things I’ve found particularly interesting recently.

Joe Burt

☯ Heavenly Essence Qigong

I recently completed the Level 1 Course of Heavenly Essence Qigong, an energy cultivation program coming from China. It was eight weekly sessions around 2.5-3 hours with daily practice of 1.5-2 hours, so a lot!

“The aim (of the courses) is to foster health, well-being, cognitive and spiritual development. Known for delivering significant results swiftly, this method stands out for its simplicity, safety, and adaptability, making it easy to incorporate into the daily lives of individuals of all ages.”

My teacher, Master Li, taught the class through an interpreter and our small group of five students all made dramatic progress in a short period of time. While I’ve done countless hours of meditation and more intellectual methods of “spiritual” work, this was my first extended effort at doing the physical energetic practices I discussed in my e-book.

Check out the link above if this interests you at all and you can let me know if you want to attend one of the free introductory sessions that Master Li offers to people interested in these practices.

👥 The Daemon

In his 2010 book "The Daemon: A Guide to Your Extraordinary Secret Self," Anthony Peake introduces a theory that challenges our understanding of consciousness and the nature of existence. Peake proposes that our consciousness is divided into two distinct entities: the Daemon and the Eidolon.

According to Peake, the Daemon is our higher self, situated in the non-dominant hemisphere of our brain. It possesses a complete memory of our current life, which we live on repeat. The Eidolon, residing in the dominant hemisphere, is our everyday conscious self, unaware that it has experienced this life before and perceiving each iteration as if it were the first time.

He argues that the concept of a dual consciousness is not new, and has been present in various esoteric traditions for millennia. From the ancient Chinese concepts of hun and p'o to the Zoroastrian beliefs in urvan and daena, the notion of a higher and lower self has been a recurring theme in spiritual and philosophical thought.

One aspect of Peake's theory is the potential for communication between the Daemon and the Eidolon. He suggests that the Daemon can impart its knowledge to the Eidolon through various means, such as dreams, intuition, and even hypnosis. This idea provides a new perspective on the significance of dream interpretation and the practice of accessing one's subconscious mind.

Peake also explores the phenomenon of precognition, proposing that the Daemon's memory of the current life allows it to anticipate potential future events. This could explain the remarkable accuracy of some fictional stories that seem to predict real-life occurrences, as well as the sense of déjà vu that many of us encounter.

What are the practical implications of Peake's theory? For one, it encourages us to pay closer attention to our dreams, intuitions, and seemingly inexplicable feelings. By cultivating a connection with our Daemon, we may be able to access knowledge and guidance that can help us navigate life's challenges more effectively.

Moreover, the concept of the Daemon-Eidolon Dyad invites us to reframe our understanding of life and its purpose. Rather than viewing each life as a one-time event, Peake's theory suggests that we are reliving the same life repeatedly, with our higher self (the Daemon) learning and growing through each iteration.

While his ideas are undoubtedly speculative and may not align with everyone's beliefs, they offer a thought-provoking perspective on the mysteries of consciousness and the nature of existence. By exploring the possibility of a hidden, guiding presence within us, we may gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the human mind.

As Peake himself acknowledges, "The Daemon" is just the beginning of a larger conversation. His theory has already garnered interest among researchers and thinkers in various fields, from psychology to spirituality. As more people engage with these ideas, we may uncover new insights and applications that can enrich our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.

Examples of The Daemon making its presence known:

The Case of Jean Vitalis: Vitalis, a French sailor, had a vivid dream in which he saw his own tombstone with the date "August 14, 1937." Disturbed by the dream, he shared it with his crew. Tragically, on August 14, 1937, Vitalis fell overboard and drowned. Peake suggests that Vitalis's Daemon, aware of his impending death, may have used the dream as a warning.

The Story of Byron Biggs: Biggs, a railway worker, had a sudden urge to stop his train, despite no apparent reason. He applied the brakes just in time to avoid colliding with a stalled vehicle on the tracks. Peake proposes that Biggs's Daemon, possessing knowledge of the potential accident, may have influenced his decision to stop the train, thus altering the course of events.

Listen to Peake discuss his theories on the Next Level Soul Podcast and on the Buddha at the Gas Pump Podcast.

Learn more about him on his personal website and keep an eye out for his upcoming book “The Immortal Mind”, which discusses the evidence for the continuity of consciousness after physical death.

*”Groundhog Day” is basically real, according to Peake

🦷 Oral Care and Primal Life Organics

Trina Felber is the founder of Primal Life Organics and is known as “the mother of the clean beauty movement.” In a recent podcast interview with Jay Campbell, the two wellness thought-leaders talk about the importance of oral health and its connection to overall well-being.

Felber explains that the mouth is a mirror of internal health, and poor oral hygiene can lead to inflammation, bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. She emphasizes the connection between leaky gum syndrome and leaky gut, as harmful bacteria and toxins can enter the bloodstream through inflamed gum tissue, causing systemic inflammation and health issues.

They discuss the lack of progress in the dental industry, with many dentists still adhering to outdated practices and using harmful substances like fluoride and mercury fillings.

Felber highlights the three essential components of effective dental products: alkalinity to neutralize acid and plaque, minerals to remineralize teeth, and detoxification to promote tissue healing. She also warns about the dangers of using peroxide-based products, especially for those with mercury fillings, as it can cause the toxic metal to vaporize and be inhaled or swallowed.

The conversation touches on the importance of nitric oxide production, with 50% of it occurring in the mouth. Felber explains that antibacterial mouthwashes and commercial dental products can destroy the oral microbiome, hindering nitric oxide production and leading to various health issues, including autoimmune disorders.

Campbell and Felber discuss the widespread use of harmful chemicals in everyday products, from dental care to deodorants, and how they can negatively impact hormonal health, fertility, and even cognitive function.

Felber also introduces her teeth whitening system, which uses red and blue LED light therapy to target harmful bacteria, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production in the gum tissue. She explains how this peroxide-free system works and recommends a 16-minute treatment protocol for optimal results.

Fluoride

A lengthy part of the discussion was on the dangers of fluoride. Felber explains that fluoride is a toxic substance that should not be present in the human body, yet it is often found in babies due to maternal exposure. She highlights the impact of fluoride on testosterone levels and fertility, stating that it can decrease testosterone in both men and women, leading to issues like lower sperm count and impaired ovulation.

Felber also mentions that many dentists are not fully aware of the harmful effects of fluoride. Campbell shares his own experience of interviewing multiple dentists about fluoride and being surprised by their lack of knowledge about its dangers. The conversation emphasizes the need for increased awareness about the detrimental effects of fluoride and the importance of seeking out alternative, natural dental care products.

𝕏 Thread of the Week

📱Banning Smartphones in Schools Led to Better Mental Health in Students: A recent study from Norway has found that banning smartphones in schools led to significant improvements in student well-being and academic performance. The research revealed that the ban resulted in a notable decrease in doctor visits for psychological symptoms and diseases among girls, as well as reduced bullying among both genders.

Girls' GPAs and attendance rates improved following the smartphone ban. The study found that the largest effect sizes were observed among the poorest students, highlighting the potential for such interventions to help bridge socioeconomic gaps in educational outcomes.

🧬 The Truth About Human Longevity: Chris Masterjohn does a great job dispelling the myth that ancient civilizations had short lifespans. The best-documented hunter-gatherer lifespans, from the church records of the Inuit and Aleuts during the early Russian missions, show that while there was high mortality from physical injuries, people lived into their 90s. Archaeology cannot provide definitive evidence of lifespans due to the "osteological paradox," but there is no reason to believe that any ancient societies only lived until their 30s.

The high infant mortality rates of the 1700s, which were driven by crowding, smog, and consumption of rotten, unrefrigerated milk from cows kept in poor conditions, were actually caused by science during the Industrial Revolution. The standard treatment for sick infants at the time was to send them to the countryside, where fresh air, open outdoor life, and the sun (a source of vitamin D) were the standard medical solutions.

The notion of a 30-year lifespan for humans can only be deduced through "extreme statistical incompetence, by averaging together long-lived older people with the lifespans of infants who died of infections and other people who died of physical injuries."

💦 Drinking Too Much Water Can Be an Issue: Danny Roddy writes how low pulse and temperature (poor thyroid function/low metabolic rate) can cause water, sodium, and calcium to move from blood to tissues, making them "hypotonic." Drinking water when not thirsty may worsen this in people with slower metabolism, raising prolactin, lowering core temperature, and potentially causing erectile dysfunction in some men. Milk, coffee, juices, or adding salt to water can help meet water needs without these issues.

🔗 One Hitters

📖 Read “Accelerated SELF-Development” and the accompanying "Resources”

📚 Read my highlights from the book “Feel-Good Productivity” by Ali Abdaal

📱 Don’t use your devices plugged in (Tweet)

📚 Five books that challenge your beliefs surrounding health and disease (List)

📅 My Scheduling Page: Go here to book a 15-minute free call to chat about whatever you want.

✔️ That will do it for this time! Hopefully you got some value out of it. If you have any questions/comments/things you’d like to learn more about please don’t hesitate to reach out.

🔗 If you know anyone who loves learning about these types of topics, send them this link!

📰 To read all past newsletters, go here.