Featured are two articles from our Journey To Earth research and magazine. We are exploring the world of health, wellness, and the best ways to increase longevity. Planet Earth holds many secrets that can forever change our lives. Join our uncharted expeditions.

4. “An exhibition that showcases the art and history of meditation, with butterflies
floating through the air and jelly fish gliding in peaceful harmony. Mark did a fantastic
job capturing the true power that meditation provides.

6. Is it possible to hack our brain wave frequencies and allow us to
access a peak mental state? Imagine unlocking your most advanced
creative and cognitive ability.
Is it possible to hack our
brain wave frequencies and
allow us to access a peak
mental state? Imagine
unlocking your most
advanced creative and
cognitive ability. Today, I
explore. Welcome to the
first article of Journey To
Earth. In this series I
research health, wellness,
and the best ways to
increase longevity. I explore
the hidden mysteries of
planet Earth through
unchartered expeditions.
I’m curious to learn how
the human brain is
influenced by meditation.
I’ll travel deep into the
mountains to connect with
Monica, a meditation
expert who is going to
share a tea meditation

7. practice with me. Lastly, I will source the origin and history of
meditation. If at the end of reading this amazing journey you want
to explore meditation with Monica, I’ll share the information so you
to can find purity of the mind.
Research suggests that spending time in the wilderness can have
almost the same effect as meditation. All it takes is twenty minutes
in the wild outdoors. Meditation and exposure to wilderness can
change how your neurons function in your brain, increase health,
wellness, and improve your overall nervous system. Before I meet
up with Monica, I want to do some exploring of mine own in the
wilderness. I need to get my headspace right. As I hike down into
the valley of the mountains, I think back to why I wanted to
research meditation. What does meditation do to the brain? To
better understand, I researched the effects of meditation by
analyzing brain scans. I reviewed one scan for a person that has
meditated for several years. The other is for a person that has never
meditated before. The findings are interesting. The scan for the
person that has meditated for several years shows they can access
sustained brain wave frequencies between 32 and 100 hertz for a
longer duration. This is important because the frequency identifies
as Gamma brain waves. Gamma waves are directly associated to
enhanced cognitive function such as problem solving, creativity,
innovation, and overall happiness. Researchers also suggest that
Gamma brain waves allow different parts of the brain to
communicate and function together. This may just be the reason for
enhanced cognitive function.

9. Monica and I have never met before today. When we introduce
ourselves, I can tell right away that she has a welcoming personality.
It feels like we have known each for years. Although snow is on the
ground, it’s a warm enough day for us to meditate outdoors. Monica
tells me that she wants to share one of her most favorite places
with me. After a short hike, we make it to the edge of the forest. A
big, beautiful tree sprawls out of the ground right in front of us. Its
almost as though nature intended for this tree to be the entry gate
into the forest. I observe Monica reach out and touch the tree. It
feels like they are communicating to one another. She places a
flower at the base of the tree. I realize that this is her way to thank
the forest for allowing us to visit. We are guests and I’m thankful to
be invited in. After a short walk we arrive at an enchanted location. I
hear the roaring of a small river that flows a few feet away. As I look
up, I find we are underneath a canopy of entangled trees. I’m in the
wilderness. Monica lays out a blanket and we take position,
preparing to meditate. I watch as she prepares a clay tea pot and
drinking bowls. Monica teaches me what we are about to do.

10. I visualize how Monica looks like an artist, painting her masterpiece.
She spreads flower pedals around the drinking bowls and blesses
this very moment. I close my eyes and listen as Monica slows the
spin of the world. My focus is shifted toward the very moment.
Deep slow breath in, hold, and slow breath out. Breath work is
something that I have practiced intimately. I know just how
powerful it is and Monica understands how to harness its full
potential. At around the fifteen-minute mark, I feel my brain waves
change. This is the pinnacle of meditation. My eye lids begin to
move rapidly, I feel absolute clarity of the mind. A sudden burst of
happiness explodes through my mind. This journey is special. Each
meditation practice is unique to the individual person. With that
being said, I will not share to many details. This is something that
you must experience yourself. After our meditation practice, Monica
pours tea. We sit in absolute silence, enjoying three rounds each. I
think about how everyone needs to experience this. If you are
interested, at the end of this article I provide information about how
you can connect with Monica. I highly recommend it. After our
practice, we sat and talked for a few minutes. On the next page are
some questions that I asked Monica.

11. Q1: How long have you been practicing meditation for and how did
you get started?
About six years. I got started when I went to yoga. I previously did
Iron Man Triathlons. I was working full time and my body started to
give way. I tore my meniscus and thought, what am I doing to my
body. All my friends started to have surgeries and I kept going.
Eventually, I slowed down. I started to go to yoga and found the
same clarity that you found. Everything started to come together. I
signed up for yoga teacher and learned to meditate right away. I
really started to resonate more with meditation, and it just clicked
with me. That’s really when I started down this path.
Q2: Why is finding connection between self and spirituality through
meditation so important to health?
I feel as though it’s the most important. If you're not connected to
yourself, I would ask who are you connected to. Most of us are
taught and told who we are from a young age. For people,
meditation is remembering who you are underneath the layers,
stories, and identifications. The world will tell you who you are if you
don’t know. Someone will happily put you in your place. It’s
important to our health because that is where fulfillment comes
from. When we are full inside, we experience it outside. In the West
we unfortunately fall into this routine where you might be married,
with a big house, children, and have a wonderful job, but you're not
happy.

12. Q4: Should children learn and practice meditation?
Yes! As soon as possible, even if they are not talking yet. I think just
exposing them to connecting to themselves. With my daughter I
would ask her to check in to her tree, which is a metaphor for her
heart. I would ask does it need anything? Does it need water, sun,
how does it look, are parts dying, and does it have fruits. I think
keeping it simple with with no expectations is important and just
make it fun.

13. The origin of meditation, much like consciousness is shrouded in
mystery. Versions vary slightly depending upon culture and religion.
We have found written records from India dating back to 1500 BCE.
The practice is known as 'Training The Mind', or in its original text,
Jhāna. The written records indicate Hindu decent. There have also
been written records sharing century old Chinese meditation
techniques dating back to the third century BC. Something that
should also be mentioned are the select few leaders (such as
Buddha) who are credited with sharing and further developing the
self-fulfilling practice. In considering the totality of everything, it's
likely that mediation directly originated around the third century BC.
Prior to that, meditation was likely indirectly practiced without
knowing it. We see the common seated meditation position that we
are familiar with today documented through wall paintings. The
creation of these paintings suggests a date of 3500 BC.
To understand how the brain works during a meditative state, we
conducted research that analyzes brain activity before, during, and
after. What has been discovered through extensive study is that
meditation positively impacts attention and emotion. The how
relates to the activity change within a person's neural pathways. Is it
possible to hack our brain frequencies and allow us to access a peak
mental state. Imagine unlocking your most advanced creative and
advanced cognitive ability. The answer is yes. To understand this
better we must look at how brainwaves influence us. Our brain has
billions of neurons, and each connects to thousands of others.
Communication occurs through a synaptic gap that produces
electrical currents. When the neurons are active, they produce
electrical pulses know as brainwaves.

14. Now this is important, because depending upon the brainwave
frequency, our brain and body will enter different states. It is
possible to influence the brainwave activity, therefore allowing us to
alter the state that we are in. There are a total of five main
brainwave types. Delta has a range between 0.5 and 4 Hz. This wave
is common during deep sleep and allows the body to repair. The
second is Theta with a frequency between 4 and 8 Hz. This is
achieved by dreaming or entering into deep meditation (deep
states). Creativity and insight is common here. The third frequency
is found within 8 and 13 Hz. This is often a time when a person is
physically and mentally relaxed. The fourth wave is beta between 13
and 32 Hz. This occurs when we are awake, active, and focused. The
last brain wave is gamma. Gamma occurs between 32 and 100 Hz.
Gamma is responsible for enhanced cognitive functions such as
perception, problem solving, creativity, and learning.
All of this is important discoveries. You now understand why
meditating can be so impactful. Meditating allows you to change
your inner brain activity. Many agree this is essential for life. If you
want to attend Monica’s Tea Meditation practice, what advice do I
have for you? Prepare to experience an unforgettable moment in
your life! Something that you will forever be able to use in all
aspects. Go into the experience with an open mind and embrace
the energy Monica shares!

15. Monica’s experience is something that you absolutely have to
experience. Meditation has changed my life both personally and
professionally. Some of my most creative projects only came to me
because of thought I received during meditation.
Meditative Tea Journey in the Mountains
www.airbnb.com/experiences/1093093

24. Vision & Mission
Author:MarkDeLuca
Do you know what you are made of? What are
you truly capable of achieving? What you may
not realize is that you are much stronger than
you think. Challenge yourself.
V
M
To be uncomfortable is comfortable. We seek to
challenge ourselves as we climb an 800 foot
vertical rock wall. Can we cross a swinging bridge
hundreds of feet in the air? Will we find what we
are really made of? Read on to find out.
Minimalist Company Profile
Interio*

25. West Virginia,USA
Location

26. ViaFerrata When you think about the big picture, how you
are hanging on to a rock at 750 feet, things can
become spicy. It’s a reminder that when you
break down the big picture into smaller pieces
and focus on the task at hand, you can
accomplish anything.

27. Ask yourself this, what are you made of?
Do you know what your limitations are? If
you found yourself in a life-or-death
situation, could you survive? This is
about more than survival though; this can
be applied to anything that you do in life.
To find answers that I seek, I set out on
an exploration with my brother Michael
DeLuca. We plan to climb dual razorback
ridgelines that rise 800 ft above the valley
floor. Connecting one ridgeline to the
next is a swing bridge. We must cross
this bridge to complete our climb.
Our journey will take us to the North Fork
Valley of West Virginia. These mountain
ranges run over 30 miles and through
more than one county. Early English,
German, and Dutch settlers arrived to the
area in the 19th century. The settlers
established homesteads
in the area. A homestead is a house that
includes the land that surrounds it. The
settlers relied on farming and living off
the land to survive. Getting to our
destination requires travelling through
some of the most remote environments
found in the United States. My Jeep
winds through forest that consists mainly
of mixed oaks and other hardwoods.
Occasional wildflowers and fern beds can
be found lining the mountain slopes.
Without much notice, the weather quickly
changes. Rain and high wind rip through
the area that I’m navigating through. I
find myself avoiding several large trees
that have fallen over from the storms. It’s
a reminder that people who live and
explore in this remote backcountry must
be self reliant. It becomes a matter of life
and death. Luckily, most of the roads I
travel are semi passable.

28. The first vertical section of the climb is relatively simple. Your excitement is almost
overwhelming. It’s at the quarter way mark that things start to get technical. Michael is
leading us up the rock face. I loose visual of him as he enters into a crevice. “This is a
little crazy over here”, I hear Michael yell. I can’t see him and have no idea where he
is. As I enter into the crevice, I realize what is happening. We are transitioning from
the left outer rock face to the inside. The only hand holds are spaced out at a good
distance. I can feel my heart rate increasing. It’s at these moments we have only two
options. We can get emotional and give up, or become calculated and place one
hand in front of the other. Think about that for a second. This relates to so many
things that we do in life. Becoming comfortable in the uncomfortable. You learn this
mindset, it’s not something you are born with. We reach the swing bridge letting us
know that we have made it to the halfway point.

30. One step at a time we make our way
onto the swinging bridge. It feels as
though everything around you slows
down and your senses become hyper
focused. Your only thought is about what
you're doing in the very moment. Mixed
with adrenaline, it’s a powerful cocktail.
Once across, you find yourself on the
other mountain ridge. We continue our
vertical ascent. After a few minutes, we
find ourselves staring down the final
section. A shear 80-foot climb to the top
remains. This is by far the most
challenging feature on the climb. At
around the ¾ mark, the rock face actually
begins to jet outward. We start our climb.
Looking around you can easily become
overwhelmed. The reality sets in that
your almost to the top and are very far
away from the ground. Taking a deep
breath, I break apart the big picture. I
focus on each
individual thing I must do in order to
reach the summit. Every action is
calculated and focused. In this very
moment, you feel alive. My hand reaches
out and grabs the top of the summit. I
pull myself up and stand on the
mountains top. The ridge width is no
more than two feet across. Michael and I
look at one another with big smiles on
our faces. A fist bump and
congratulations is well deserved. I take a
deep breath in and enjoy the view on top.