Feb 18: National Battery Day
The curious link between the Capital siege, frog legs, and life energy.
🕊️ Would you mind doing me a favor and helping me spread the word about The Spiritual Almanac? I appreciate it!
Feb 18: Alessandro Volta's Birthday Anniversary &
National Battery Day
You know that tremendous feeling of power
when your phone is fully charged?
That’s what [meditation] is.
—Jerry Seinfeld
I wasn’t aware of the January 21, 2021, Capital attack until a client told me what was happening. I immediately clicked on a live feed and sat transfixed for an excessive amount of time.
Fear gripped me, sorrow dripping from my heart for our country’s pain. I used every ounce of energy watching those live events, which eventually depleted me of all hope.
We were ruined, destined for anarchy and despair.
I felt heavy, burdened by things I had no control over, which spilled over into my personal life. I was irritable, snapping at family members, impatient with clients all because of what I filled my mind with.
Energy Follows Thought
We allow the energy of thoughts, the “e-motions,” to run rampant, often without questioning their validity or origin. These thoughts, unchecked and unchallenged, can lead to feelings of discontent, anxiety, and depression.
We all have an internal battery that is charged through our minds. What your mind focuses on is the voltage your battery receives.
When you focus on a negative situation, your mind receives a weak connection that depletes your internal battery. That’s why when you allow your mind to absorb the news, gossip, or engage in negative self-talk, you feel exhausted, have no energy, and are easily irritable.
When your energy feels low, consider what you primarily focused on that day. Did a negative situation occur, and you couldn’t get your mind off it?
Maybe you ruminated throughout the day, like a cow chewing her cud, switching scenarios in your head, trying to determine how things should have played out.
Watch Your Mind
That’s why it’s so important to watch your mind.
Watching your mind doesn’t mean ignoring what is happening. Watching your mind means not allowing it to become consumed with circumstances you have no control over. Why did I decide to watch the Capital siege for hours? What was my motive, my goal?
Instead of generating positive energy, I generated fear, which I shared with those around me. And that which is shared comes back to you, just as you have put it out because that’s how energy flows.
Galvanized Beliefs
In the 18th century, Luigi Galvani, the Italian physician, physicist, biologist, and philosopher, believed animals produced electricity within their bodies. While conducting an electrical experiment, he observed a dissected frog’s leg move after a scalpel touched it on a metal mount.
After further experiments, he theorized living bodies contain a nervous fluid called “animal electricity” or “spirits.”
His friend and fellow physicist Alessandro Volta debunked Galvani’s theory, believing the frog merely conducted a current flowing between the two metals.
Volt believed the universe was full of energy and that all living things were simply conductors of this energy.
In 1792, he placed disks of different metals on his tongue to detect the faint flow of electricity. He named this phenomenon the Voltaic pile or battery, which we celebrate on National Battery Day (Volta’s birthday anniversary).
Life Energy
Despite the heated argument between Galvani and Volta, both scientists contributed significantly to life energy as 19th-century Indian yogi and spiritual teacher Paramahansa Yogananda described it.
Yogananda believed that all living beings were not only conductors of energy but also could harness and manipulate it through meditation and spiritual practices. He taught that by controlling our thoughts and emotions, we could tap into this universal life energy and use it to improve our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
But we use our energy to focus on negative mental patterns—those energy-draining vampires of fear, anger, and worry. These patterns not only zap our life energy but also create blockages in our bodies, leading to illness, stress, and unhappiness.
On National Battery Day, consider how you use life energy. Do you drain it by dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions? Or channel it into positive actions and practices that help you grow and thrive?
As you awaken, your energy level increases. You understand the infinite power, an underlying energy Nikola Tesla said was “… ever and ever integrally present.”
Peace Pilgrim, the silver-haired woman who walked 25,000 miles for peace from 1953 to 1981, described an endless energy supply no matter how far she walked or when her last meal was. She defined it as walking “… on the endless energy of inner peace that never runs out.”
Focus on your internal battery and feed it the correct amount of voltage that supplies you with endless energy, known as prana or chi. Don’t fall into traps like I did, getting absorbed in world events you have no control over.
Be mindful of your thoughts and where you direct your energy, and watch your life spark into an endless energy of love, inner peace, and joy.
This Week’s Inspiration: Battery Awareness
Batteries play a massive role in the modern world by being an immediate electric power source for everything from hearing aids, smartphones, cars, laptops, and computer centers. They provide our connection to each other, supply information, and even contribute to our health.
However, with the convenience of batteries comes responsibility.
Have you ever tossed a battery in the trash because you didn’t know what else to do? Or have you left your phone plugged in overnight, causing an unnecessary strain on the battery’s lifespan?
These are just a few examples of taking batteries for granted and overlooking their impact on our environment and safety.
That’s why it’s crucial to be more battery-aware.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to increase battery responsibility and create a positive impact.
Question: Where do you keep unused batteries in your home? Are they thrown in a junk drawer mixed with paper clips, old keys, and bits of string?
Problem: Loose batteries in contact with metal items such as coins, keys, or steel wool can lead to a short circuit, generating enough heat to start a fire. 9-volt batteries are especially dangerous because the positive and negative posts are so close together. If a metal object, like a penny, touches the two posts of the battery, it can cause a short circuit, making enough heat to start a fire.
Solution: Instead of keeping loose batteries in a junk drawer, keep them in a designated storage container. Keep batteries in their original packaging until they are ready to use. Keep the posts covered with masking, duct, or electrical tape if loose to prevent contact with metal objects.
Question: How do you dispose of your old batteries? Do you throw them in the trash like most people do?
Problem: Batteries contain chemicals that can harm the environment if not disposed of properly. When thrown in the regular trash, these chemicals leak into the soil and water, causing pollution and hurting plants and animals.
Solution: Look for local recycling centers or drop-off locations where you can safely dispose of your old batteries. Many hardware and electronics stores also offer battery recycling services. You can also check with your local waste management company for guidelines on safely disposing of batteries.
Question: Do you use rechargeable batteries?
Problem: Most people are unaware of the environmental benefits of rechargeable batteries. Instead, they continue to rely on single-use batteries, which end up in landfills after use.
Solution: Consider switching to rechargeable batteries for your electronic devices. You can use them multiple times, and they do not need to be disposed of as frequently as single-use batteries. Using rechargeable batteries helps reduce the amount of battery waste in landfills and saves you money in the long run.
What are your thoughts on the idea that our minds can act as a battery, absorbing and emitting energy based on our focus? Have you noticed any patterns where your energy levels correlate with your thoughts or emotions? Share your experiences and insights below.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this piece, please let me know. Hearing your thoughts and connecting with you is what it's all about. And clicking the heart button is like a virtual hug!
The energy of the mind is the essence of life. —Aristotle