Books for the SOUL! June 27, 2008

I finally got a suggestion! Thank you Natalee V. for asking for a list of some good books that are helpful in the journey of life, enlightenment, balance, harmony, happiness, et all! Here they are:

African Holistic Health by Dr. Llaila O. Afrika
Dr. Afrika gives you it all – the truth! Whether you like it or not, this book is a huge resource and gives herbal and vitamin suggestions for various physical challenges from Acne to hypertension to AIDS. It also has a huge amount of history within this book. Having been taught by Dr. Afrika, I am biased, but he is an amazing being!
Check him out: http://www.drafrika.com/

I think the first book I read that really helped me begin transformation from being unhappy and feeling helpless was this wonderful book by Rose Whaley, and the book is called The Book Without a Name: You Read It, You Name It While I read this, I truly became transformed and this sister spoke to me so clearly. This is the story of how Sister Rose Whaley transformed her life, healed herself from cancer, released herself from an abusive relationship and manifested the happy, faithful, loving being that she has always been! This is an empowering read! Check her out at: http://www.akeruradio.com/Sis_Rose_Whaley.html

I usually don’t read super mainstream books, but Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Loveis an amazing read! Follow this sister’s journey into faith, peace and happiness while observing and enjoying the world. This is the author’s personal journey to 3 different countries and the lessons she learned while in each place. I love that she is so human and writes about her challenges and accepts them and moves on. I think everyone can relate to this woman and I appreciated that so much.

My mom bought for me 2 great books for Xmas last year: Dr. Andrea D. Sullivan’s A Path to Healing and Dr. Jewel Pookrum’s Vitamins and Minerals From A-Z These are both amazing resources. Both of these sisters share truth, knowledge and wisdom in health and healing. They share their journeys as professional doctors as well as lifestyle habits that will enhance our lives. You can learn more about Dr. Sullivan at: http://www.drandreasullivan.com/ and more about Dr. Pookrum at: http://www.everlastinglife.net/people/dr_jewel_pookrum.htm

A Moment for Meditation June 26, 2008

Often when folks hear the word, “meditation”, they are scared or confused, they see it as something for monks and new age people. But meditation is so beneficial for every single human being, as it allows us to be present at the moment and sink into a deeper awareness and feel our internal beings deeper than we may on the typical basis.

Meditation is something we can do at any time. It requires only an open mind, and the ability to commit to trying to focus on being present and clearing your mind. You do not have to focus on meditating for a certain amount of time, any amount that you can give is the right amount for you. I am writing right now, and just meditated for a couple of minutes. I cannot tell you how refreshed I feel, it is as though I bathed my soul and spirit and my awareness and my mind – I feel light, and have a Buddha-esque smile on that refuses to disappear!

The beauty of meditation is that there are many techniques used by various people, but the choice is yours of how you choose to meditate – there is no wrong way to do it. I think the key is to choose a time/place/attire that you feel comfortable and safe within.

Here are some tips on setting the mood:
*Sometimes it is nice to come out of the shower, and set some time for meditation so that you may bathe away any imppurities and be able to springboard from that moment into meditation
*Tools like lit candles, incense, certain music or natural sounds often help people feel relaxed or able to be present
*Wear comfortable and light clothes so that you do not have the urge to fuss

Those are tips that may or may not work for you – the choice is yours.

Here are some tips for meditating:
*Close your eyes – this will allow you to automatically shut out the visual and physical world and allow you to dive into the non physical world
*Focus on your breath – this is a great way to clear your mind. Follow your breath, and return to your breath when you may feel distracted or your mind begins to jump around
*Naturally your mind may race or be preoccupied – NOT TO WORRY – accept the thought and continue clearing your mind and being present.
*Sometimes I like to recite affirmations in my mind as I meditate, as it helps me meditate on a certain subject. Or I like to recite words like love, harmony, peace while I breathe in symbolizing that the the breathes I take are filling me with those words, and as I exhale I think or the words fear, anger, etc leaving my body with that breath, and so the cycle continues

Perhaps you have a meditation story or skill or tip you want to share! Please comment

You Get What You Give June 25, 2008

Yesterday while practicing yoga with one of my most appreciated instructors, right before we bowed our heads to seal in our practice she spoke to our class and reminded us, “You get what you give.” She said that to remind us that we get what we give in our practice of yoga; meaning what we are willing to experience and challenge ourselves to do, we will truly receive back.

I was so happy to be reminded of this mantra, as I believe this mantra, when applied to life can help us to open up truly and really get to know ourselves. Some people call it Karma, others think of it as one of the commandments, but the idea that the way we live our life and our actions will and does reflect back on our experience and life is a common belief and idea amongst many people all over the world.

What we are willing to challenge, push, and give will come back to us in twofold. Within all of us lies peace and love, even when we are angered or feel sad or lonely, or are being violent. The challenge is to come back to this peace and love. This requires self-discipline. Discipline is an interesting topic for me, as I myself am challenged with this concept and word EVERY day of my life. Discipline by dictionary is described as being able to train one or something to obey. However when we break this word down to its Latin route, disciplina meaning “instruction”, from the root discere “to learn,” I think that is where the heart of the word actually is. Self-discipline is about trust, trusting your inner guide as a teacher and becoming close enough with your inner guide that you allow it to teach you lessons and show you your way. Some of these lessons we learn are not always pleasurable per se, some may be accompanied with mental, emotional or physical aches. However once you accept these lessons and embrace them, you begin to accept challenge with ease and be able to give and live life with ease, grace and most likely be able to get in touch with that inner love and peace that resides with us ALWAYS.

So I right this to remind you that you get what you give, and sometimes even giving what you may perceive as being a small bit – is actually a lot more than you realize, and you will receive that ALL back

The Power of Positive Affirmation June 23, 2008

The brain is a muscle, and so it must be taken care of and exercised in order to make it stronger, more durable, and keep it healthy. Similar to the muscles in arms, legs, the abdomen – it takes repetition of exercises in order to feel and see the results of the exercise. You do not walk away from a dance class, the gym, or yoga after one session and necessarily feel or see the results of your exercise. You must stay consistent in it and then after a few weeks you may notice more lean skin or extra weight having disappeared, or perhaps you will start feeling more energetic and confident about yourself. Whatever it is, it takes consistency, practice and repetition!

So what have you done to work our your brain or your emotions lately?

I believe that there is so much power in positive affirmations. Telling yourself positive things, or speaking them aloud or writing them are all ways to use positive affirmations. You can write your own, use ones from Affirmation books, or from this website or anywhere else.

Here are some ways to incorporate positive messages into your daily life:
*Listen to positive, upbeat, calming music! Take control of what you are listening to music-wise. Unfortunately there are many songs that tell and repeat over and over again the hardships of life – why not listen to some music that celebrates the beauties, peaceful moments of life?
(My personal suggestions: Zap Mama Ancestry in Progress, Jill Scott, Fania All Stars (Ray Barreto, Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz), Earth, Wind Fire, Stevie Wonder, Lupe Fiasco, Goapele)



* Wake up Every Morning and take the time to affirm to yourself the beauty of the day ahead of you before you get our of bed and into your daily grind
*Before going to Bed Write a List of everything your are thankful for
*Write affirmations you want to incorporate into you life and post the list in your bathroom mirror, so as you get ready, wash your hands, brush your teeth, you are being reminded of this positivity
*Record your affirmations and listen to them in your car, on your IPod while running errands, exercising, or at home cleaning!

Some examples of Affirmations:
for LOVE >> I attract love to me with ease, I am attracting my perfect partner to me now, Love is attracted to me and I am attracted to love
for CONFIDENCE >> I embrace myself and love myself freely, I am thankful for this perfect body, I am capable of handling anything that comes my way
for WEALTH >> I attract money with ease, I am abundant and attract abundance

Be Creative! Enjoy!

Affirmations for the Last 9 Days of June June 22, 2008

Sunday, June 22, 2008
I go for the gold in all areas of my life. I am a child of Spirit, and in this awareness I set my sights on nothing less than the riches which are always available to me.

Monday, June 23, 2008
Today I exhibit the care and nurturance of the love of Spirit. I know that Spirit is all there is and Spirit is enough. I am disci plined enough to love the process of my growth experience as it takes form through me. The world may be waiting; however, I am at peace, and Spirit is enough!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
In childlike wonder and relief, today I look to the light within and experience the kingdom of heaven.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Today I begin to grow where I am planted. I know and appreciate the reality that it is good and very good for me to be here loving, blessing, giving and receiving the life that has been given me.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Spirit is the sustaining power that I am. I rest in the place of total and complete surrender because I know in the quiet moments of life my strength, my courage, my confidence and my perseverance lives in thee.

Friday, June 27, 2008
I offer prayers of peace by surrounding others and myself in the infinite light of Spirit. I am Spirit-filled as I enter the realm of total surrender and forgiveness. Fill me with your humble presence, for I am ready to receive.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Today I am fully awake from the sleep of separateness and exclusion. I sense, feel, see and know that Spirit is all that there is in every tree, flower, bird and person.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
I take a position of introspection as I live from the centered divine consciousness within. It is from this position that I reflect Spirit’s love.

Monday, June 30, 2008
I celebrate the law of freedom as I choose wisely the methods that are best for me to use the law rightly. Today I live in the consciousness of Spirit as I experience true freedom.

*Summer Solstice 2008* and Kemet (aka Egypt) June 20, 2008

Today, Friday June 20 at 7:59pm – Saturday June 21 is the *LONGEST DAY* of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that today we have the most minutes and hours of sunlight than any other day of the year and the least amount of time at night. The word Solstice, comes from the Latin; Sol = Sun, and Stice, from the verb sistere = to stand still.

Growing up, my mother always made notes of the solstices of the year – as they are the markers of our seasons throughout the year. These markers have been used for thousands of years by our Ancestors to keep track of time, and to cycle the seasons and therefore their farming.

I have to admit that on days when the sun is covered by the clouds, I feel less energy. I am less inclined to get out of bed, less inclined to move with ease. There is a relationship between the sun and our internal clocks and organs. The sun nurtures us in so many ways:
* It provides light so we can see
* It provides heat to complement our natural body temperature
* It provides emotional food
* It provides Vitamin D nourishing our physical body

The Sun presents the element, FIRE. While ALL elements of this existence (Earth, Wind, Water, & Fire) are essential, as they complement one another and truly nurture life and sustain life. Fire is the element that is active. Fire is a do-er. Have you ever watched a fire burn? It works and spreads with ease! And it is captivating, it takes your attention. Fire is is also associated with the direction WEST for transforming and changing old patterns and habits.

In Ancient Kemet (what is today referred to Egypt, but the true name is Kemet), the Summer Solstice was the most important day of the year. When the sun was highest (this is the quality that marks the ability to allow the sun to shine for the longest amount today), it meant that the Nile River was beginning to rise as well. The rising of the Nile River represented the soon to come floods (The element WATER) which would feed and nourish the crops of the Nile Valley and feed a community. This time of the year was also marked as teh time when the solar deity, Heru (aka Horus in the English language), defeated the deity of darkness, Set. This defeat is thought to be linked to rebirth and resurrection, and with this order and fertility, hence the Nile floods come and restore life to the Nile Valley and the life of the crops bring continuous life to the Nile Valley people, and so on. This day is also the day of Ra, the embodiment of the Sun. There were also many rituals and ceremonies performed for Aset (Isis in English), the mother-goddess of the society.

So today as I write, I prepare for this Celestial gift. I already feel the energy! The Summer Solstice is a great time for:
1) Spending time outside and literally basking in the SUN
2) Spending time doing a physical activity that brings life to you (if possible outside) such as: exercise, yoga, dance, biking, hiking, tai chi, playing, capoeria
3) Taking time to reflect upon the gifts that the Sun continues to bring to our society, and the life force
4) Strengthening your life force by eating lovely fresh fruits and veggies
5) RE-birthing and RE-energizing yourself through taking a bath (releasing the old skin and allowing a new one to grow), writing your goals, removing any clutter from your home to allow for lifeforce to flow
6) Burning a candle to pay honor to the Sun and the FIRE energy it provides

Enjoy this day of Sunlight and daylight. Be present in your actions and remember the extra power that comes with this day. Your actions will resonate very strongly, so treat people with love and happiness and equality. The energy is very strong so wake up and smell the sunshine.

Mercury Direct!

I wrote about The Mercury retrograde back at the end of March. Now I write to tell you off the news of Mercury returning direct and no longer being retrograde as of today at 10:32am. So what does this mean?

Well for most of you it should mean that your load should be lightening up. Perhaps during the last few weeks you have felt that it has been challenging to move forward; contracts has been stalled, perhaps a loved one has been a challenge to communicate with, or maybe you cell phone has been buggin out and you have been missing seemingly important phone calls and texts. Well let’s just say that those are all attributes that usually accompany a Mercury Retrograde. Now that Mercury is moving direct again, it means that all aspects associated with travel, communication, electronics, email, etc should begin to chill out.

A friend of mine gave me a card that quotes from the Lotus Sutra, “NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME”.

Take that with you. Now is the right time for everything! It is the right time to begin projects, it is the right time to revisit projects, it is the right time to reach out to people you have been wanting to communicate with them and get them on the phone. Now is the right time to buy a new computer or TV. Now is the right time to send emails and get the responses that you have wanted from them. The present is indeed a gift. And from the Mercury Retrograde, hopefully we have learned:
1) To be present and accept the present as it is
2) To be patient and to understand the strength that is born through patience
3) To enjoy the moment and keep going no matter what obstacles we face

So today is a time to seize the day and the night! To push along and push fear aside and keep going and increase your speed and be confident about the outcome and being in synch with the Universe.

Full Moon Today 6/18/08 at 1:30pm EST June 18, 2008

It seems like just yesterday I was writing about the New Moon. This week there are is a lot of energy in the Universe and planets, so you may feel a lot of shifting, pulling, tugging, and letting go sometimes all at once.

Yet today I write about the Full Moon! The Full Moon is a sign that we are halfway through a moon cycle. The full moon marks the point of completion of half a cycle and of also represents the most full time of the cycle, and a time to begin to get ready to release. This month, the full moon is in Sagittarius.

Sagittarius represents idealism, faith, enthusiasm, the quest for meaning, and a generosity of spirit. Sagittarius is depicted as the archer; half man and half horse. In some ways the archer is a telling way of man’s duality in this world – the brain and nervous system of a human, yet the body and physicalness related to its animal nature. The centaur is thought to represent man’s desire to develop his/her human soul. Whenever I think of Sagittarius, I always think of my brother who was born while the Sun was in Sagittarius. I remember even when he was a little boy, my family thought he could grow up to be a philospher. The Sagittarius has a side that is fun, spontaneous, light-hearted and comical; but also co-existing has side that is seeking truth, that is observing behavior, that is determined for success and peace and humanity.

A Full Moon is a time of fulfillment and a time for all the work that you put in during the beginning of the new moon cycle to begin to reveal itself and peak out and meet you. During a full moon, it is a great time to:
1) Re-read your new moon goals
2) Revamp your goals with new action plans
3) Say a prayer or conduct a ritual of thanks for the progress and your visions
4) Be CREATIVE! The time of the full moon is a time when we are are often so full ourselves; brimming with ideas, energy, love, creativity – create something today – a painting, a photo, a written piece, a new outfit, whatever to take advantage and act in one with the Celestial Guide.

A full moon in Sagittarius represents a time when we are feeling optimistic, independent, goal-driven and fun! Later today the Moon will shift into the sign, Capricorn where we will become grounded and settled and get ready for hard work and determination. Later today the moon will enter its waning period. A waning moon is when it begins to appear smaller in the sky. This is a time for us to release. Release bad feelings, release fear, release addiction, release extra weight, release things that we hold onto that we no longer need and that are not encouraging our goals. It is also a great time to clean – clean up your home, your hair, your address book, your computer files and get organized so that the next new moon you will be a step ahead and ready for the revival.

So today during this new moon – share yourself! Share the inner Sagittarian that we all have – share love, share joy, share laughs, share happiness, share spirit, share your soul!

The Joy of Aztec Secret June 17, 2008

One day while shopping at a health good store, I came across the health and beauty section and saw a jar labeled Aztec Secret.

The packaging caught my attention as I was curious to know exactly what this secret was. I began reading the back of the jar, and realized in fact it was a healing clay. Often used for facials, the dry clay can be mixed with water, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice and honey, olive oil and whatever else to transform it into a healing facial. It can also be used as a healing pack on any part of your body (ie if you are having digestive issues you can make the clay and apply it over your belly, if you are having reproductive issues, apply it over your womb, etc).

Here is how it works: The clay has a negative electron charge, and the toxins and poisons on the skin have a positive charge, therefore when the clay is applied, it attracts the opposite charge and therefore removes the toxins and poisons.

It is a great facial to do at home, and is also a great way to clean and renew all of your skin. This is a great mask for tired feets, aching lower backs, swollen ankles, and more. I have had a jar in my house for about a year – it yields quite a bit. And it is about $8.00.

Affirmations for the Week June 16, 2008

Monday, June 16,
2008

Today I consciously participate in the life-process
of give and take. It is an experience that elevates me as I elevate
my awareness in community support.

Tuesday, June 17,
2008

Today I speak words of healing life and realize the
perfect pat tern and plan of the infinite is eternal perfection
in our lives, now and always.

Wednesday, June 18,
2008

Our Father which art in heaven, I rejoice in you. I
share in the conscious knowledge that we are one in the spiritual
family of human existence. I live in the heavenly practice of seeing Spirit everywhere. The Mother/Father expressions are my divine essence
and I go forth in the knowledge that all is well.

Thursday, June 19,
2008

I accept my spiritual accountability, realizing there
is no separa tion between The Divine and me. No one can find The Divine for
me.

Friday, June 20,
2008

Today it is my personal responsibility to choose
peace now and always. I am a universal ambassador of peace.

Saturday, June 21,
2008

Today I trust the universe to supply my every need. I
share my resources with others, knowing that the law of circulation
is in total and complete operation for all who participate in