Purpose: It’s what gives Life meaning. WHAT IS YOUR WHY?
Month: February 2015
Daily Affirmation
I may not understand the good in this situation yet, but it is there.
Jim Carrey and Oprah Winfrey: The Power Of Intention and Visualization
In this video, Oprah sits down with comedian and actor Jim Carrey to discuss the power of the mind in shaping your reality. What you put out is what you get back. An amazing testimony to the power of the mind.
Hau’oli la Po’aha
Aloha kakahiaka ‘Ohana a me na hoaloha. Hau’oli la Po’aha. I lā āwaiwa nou oukou.
Good morning, family and friends. Happy Thursday! Have a fantastic day everyone.
Just For Today
Every problem has two solutions:
1 – run away, or
2 – participate.
The choice is yours.
Seeds for Meditation
Every place, every individual and every moment has the divine potential encased within. Unfolding it is the purpose of living.
She could have placed street lamps along all the pathways of Wisdom, but then there would be no journey.
Who would discover the secret passages, the hidden treasures, if all of us took the king’s highway?
Recipe ~ Sweet Potato Quinoa Patties
{makes roughly 12 patties)
INGREDIENTS:
– 2 cups baked sweet potato, skins removed & mashed (approximately 2 medium sweet potatoes)
– 2 cups cooked quinoa
– medium yellow onion, diced
– 3 cloves of crushed garlic
– 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme (more to garnish)
– 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
– sea salt
– fresh cracked pepper
– earth balance vegan butter or coconut oil for cooking
METHOD:
– Prepare quinoa according to package instructions (I cook 1 heaping cup with a scant 2 cups of water in my rice cooker).
– Preheat oven to 400 degrees, pierce sweet potatoes with fork and bake for 45 minutes or until soft. Remove skins, mash with a fork to remove all chunks and place in large mixing bowl.
– In a sauté pan combine onions, olive oil, a hearty pinch of sea salt and cook over medium-low heat until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook an additional minute, stirring continually to prevent the garlic from burning. Add thyme at the very end and mix well.
– Add onions, quinoa, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (more to taste), a bit of fresh cracked pepper to large mixing bowl with sweet potatoes and stir until well combined.
– Form mixture into golf ball size ball, flatten into a patty, and cook in earth balance vegan butter on a non stick pan for approximately 2 minutes on each side (you want them to brown up and crisp!). Repeat to make as many as you’d like. Enjoy with a generous sprinkling of fresh thyme leaves and some finishing salt! Save any leftovers in the refrigerator to make later.
Paradigm Shift ~ Spiritual Intelligence
by William Frank Diedrich –
What is Spiritual Intelligence and Why Should You Care?
The English word “spirit” comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning “breath”. Spirit is both the breather and the breath, the underlying nonphysical substance of all life. Intelligence comes from the Latin, intellegentia. Intellegentia comes from: inter-“between” plus legere-“choose, pick out, read” inter-lege-nt-ia. It literally means “choosing between”.
Spiritual Intelligence means to choose between the ego and the Higher Self or Spirit at any given moment. That is, we choose to live, to behave and to speak from a higher perspective. Scripturally this means: “Not my will, but thy will”.
In a more generic and modern sense, it is to live from one’s intuition and from inspiration, to listen to and follow the Inner Voice. It is the willingness and the will to tap into the One Mind which many call “God”, “Spirit”, “Oneness” or other names and to follow that guidance. This may come in the form of a hunch, an “Aha” moment, a compelling urge to do or say something constructive or a feeling.
How do I know if my Inner Voice is from my spirit or from my ego?
Spirit is a mindset of abundance, love, and well-beingness. The Inner Voice is compelling but not threatening or judgmental. It is gentle but firm. It is sure of Itself. This Inner Voice seeks the highest good for all concerned and does not seek to do harm.
In a spiritual perspective, rather than judge the behaviors of others, we use discernment. We discern if we will spend time with another person, or not. We discern if someone is a healthy or an unhealthy presence in our organization.
We make decisions that benefit the highest good for all concerned. We discern if our help will be utilized or if our help is futile. This discernment is not based on fear but on wisdom and understanding.
The voice of the ego is fear based and comes from a mindset of scarcity.
Scarcity means that either there isn’t enough or I am not enough so I had better manipulate, fight or flee this situation.
The ego is about separating people–the good from the bad, the saved from the damned, those who know from those who do not. The ego always sees itself as better than or less than others. This kind of separation is a way of justifying one’s positions and behaviors. The ego likes to be special.
Leader; Old English from German laedan–‘to guide’, ‘to conduct’, ‘to take.’We are always leaders because our respective ways of being and our behaviors influence others. We each lead by example every minute of our lives.
The question is:
“What example am I setting at this moment?”
“What example am I setting at this moment?”
If I hold a leadership position, my example is magnified due to my positional influence. If I am a Senior Executive, my words, my tone and my body language have a stronger effect on an employee because I am in a position of authority. If I am a parent, every word I use and every action I take is watched and learned by my children.
Why should you care?
Ask yourself:
- Are you leading from your ego or are you leading from your Higher Self (your Spirit)?
- Is your leadership based on fear and conflict and getting the upper hand or is it based on appreciation, discernment and being an example?
- Are you living from your highest values and vision, or are you battling with others to get control? Which do you prefer?
- Which is most effective?
Spiritual Intelligence is developed by asking these questions of ourselves.
We are able to “choose between” by stepping outside ourselves and seeing who we are being in this situation. Am I being the person I want to be? If I am a Christian, I may ask “What would Jesus do?” As a Buddhist, I may ask “What would Buddha do?” If I am not strongly affiliated with a religion: “What would my Higher Self do?” or “What would I do if I were at my very best? (strong, confident, loving, at peace)”
Reflection, prayer, meditation, contemplation and maintaining an awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions are some of the means by which we practice and develop our spiritual intelligence.
Spiritual Intelligence does not require all the trappings of religion.
At a minimum, it requires that you have a sense that there is something greater than just your personality. Have you ever had a flash of brilliance burst into your mind, a moment when you knew something but you didn’t know how you knew? If you are a person who, at times, intutitively knows what to say or do, then you are practicing your spiritual intelligence. It could be as simple as feeling the urge to praise someone or to listen to someone.
Spiritual intelligence grows when you both listen to intuitive thoughts that flow into your mind and you respond.
For example, you find yourself in a conflict. You step outside yourself briefly, and you do not like the person you are being. In that brief moment that you stepped outside of your drama, an intuitive thought says, “Just listen. Understand.” So, you follow that thought and stop pushing your point of view. You focus on the other person and their needs. Suddenly you get it. You understand where they are coming from and you know what you need to do.
Today you get to choose.
Who or what will run your life? Will it be your fearful and insecure ego that wants to control people and situations? Or, will it be your Higher Self, that wants what is highest and best for all concerned?
Will it be your ego, focused mostly on your own needs to the exclusion of others? Or, will it be your Higher Self, who feels confident, wise, and strong living and leading from your vision and values and from your identity as a spiritual being?
The ego is not the enemy. It is more like a fearful child who wants what it wants. It loses power over you as you give it less attention and focus instead on living and leading from the inside out. If you chose poorly just a minute ago, choose once again right now.
The choice, the opportunity is always right now.
Meditation ~ DNA Recoding, with Judy Satori
The first DNA recoding energy transmission comes from the Elohim. It is taking us BEYOND HEALING, to activate a series of critical synapses within the brain that will
instill an expanded ability to think and create. All you need do is listen.
instill an expanded ability to think and create. All you need do is listen.
There are two audio tracks…the first is the DNA recoding,
the second is to ground and recalibrate.
the second is to ground and recalibrate.
What You Will Experience
When you listen to this energy transmission you may experience an altered sense of self, a feeling of being very far away, or of floating in space. People have reported feeling a greater sense of peace and oneness with all life. You may feel vibration or pulsing. The energy opens a series of DNA time locks, like dominoes rolling or cascading. This transmission begins a process of DNA change and is its foundation.
Information About the Human Thought Process
Brain cells communicate with each other through an electro-chemical process. Every time we think, learn or communicate a brain cell or neuron sends an electro-magnetic biochemical message or nerve impulse down its axon. An axon is like a conduction channel between one brain cell and another. Each brain cell makes many thousands of connections with other brain cells during the thought process. When a brain cell (neuron) activates or fires it activates other neurons. A cascade communication effect takes place, creating a multiple domino-like firing process. This process creates neural pathways in the brain. The same thoughts repeated strengthen these neural pathways and make repetitive thoughts more dominant. This is why repetitive listening to these audio tracks from Spirit enhances expected outcomes.
Hau’oli la Po’akolu
Aloha kakahiaka oukou a me Hau’oli la Po’akolu. I lā maikaʻi nou a me maluhia a me aloha mau loa no hoaloha.
Good morning, everyone, and Happy Wednesday. Have a nice day and peace and aloha be with you always, my friends.
Ten Natural Wonders To Add To Your Diet To Make You The Healthiest You’ve Ever Been
Give your health a boost without the need for synthetic supplements by getting more of these ten all natural, health giving wonders…
Acidophilus
Acidophilus is a great supplement for those prone to stomach issues or yeast infections. Acidophilus is actually a type of good-for-you bacteria that occurs naturally in your intestines along with many other beneficial and harmful strains. The beneficial bacteria in your system can start to die off when it’s exposed to antibiotics, stress, alcohol, animal fats (from meat and dairy), pollution and poisons (like herbicides and pesticides found in non-organic foods). Taking an acidophilus supplement will help the bacteria in your gut find a healthy balance.
Recommended: Nature’s Bounty Probiotic Acidophilus
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera Juice has been recommended by traditional medicine practitioners for thousands of years, especially to alleviate constipation and treat inflammatory diseases, such as heartburn and ulcers. Many natural health experts swear by Aloe Vera juice and claim it can help lower cholesterol and strengthen the immune system. An Ayurvedic physician once told me to make sure to always drink the juice made from the inner fillet, as it would help ‘cool overly-active digestive fire.’ Aloe Vera juice isn’t so tasty on its own, so add 2 tablespoons to a tall glass of orange or carrot juice to mask the flavor.
Recommended: Lily of the Desert Organic Aloe Vera Juice
Garlic
Garlic is an essential supplement for cardiac health. It has been used for thousands of years to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure and several varieties of heart disease. Recent studies have shown that it also may be effective in preventing some of the most dangerous types of cancer, including: breast, prostate, lung, colon and stomach cancer. It is also used for fighting stress, maintaining healthy liver function, supporting the immune system and treating bacterial and fungal infections. With all these benefits, plus its ability to make almost anything delicious – never skimp on the garlic. Garlic supplements are great for you when taken regularly, but nothing beats fresh garlic, right out of the ground, the way Mother Nature intended.
Bee Pollen
Bee Pollen was used in Ancient Egypt, China and Greece as both a medicine and a natural supplement. It is used worldwide by athletes who use it to increase their energy and endurance. It is loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids; it’s particularly rich in antioxidants and B vitamins. If your body needs it, Bee Pollen likely provides it – plus it has reported to help with improving the immune system, weight loss and even cancer prevention.
Propolis
Propolis is another “super food” provided by honey bees. Propoplis is actually the resin that bees use to seal up their hives, but when humans eat it (or rub it on their skin) it has been shown to soothe inflammation and fight infections. It is also a great supplement for cleansing the blood. It is high in antioxidants and helps eliminate free radicals in the blood stream; it also helps to balance out the oxygen content of your blood, which is essential for healthy blood flow and fighting disease.
Recommended (for #s 4 & 5): A Triple Bee Complex Vitamin, containing Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis like this YS Eco Bee Farms Version.
Milk Thistle Extract
Milk Thistle Extract is recommended by natural health experts because of its amazing ability to help the liver heal itself. The liver is your body’s natural filtering system. With all of the abuse it suffers on a daily basis – think pollution, coffee, alcohol, meat and dairy, processed foods, etc. – your liver needs all the support it can get. The active compound in Milk Thistle is called Silymarin, and it has been tested in hundreds of clinical studies that have shown its ability to improve liver function in people with Hepatitis C, HIV and liver disease.
Recommended: Spring Valley Milk Thistle Extract
All-Natural Thyroid Support
All-Natural Thyroid Support isn’t just for people with thyroid problems. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating several hormones within your body, in fact there are very few bodily functions that aren’t affected in some way by thyroid function. Having a healthy, well-functioning thyroid gland can aide your immune system, improve your metabolism and increase your overall sense of well-being.
Recommended: Dr. Christopher’s Original Thyroid Maintenance Formula
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit Seed Extract is actually made from the seeds, skin and pulp of the grapefruit and has amazing antipathogenic properties. This means that it is a powerhouse of disease prevention! It has been proven effective in fighting infectious diseases and viruses. The extract is also recommended by professionals for people who are embarking on a detox program, as it aids in cleaning out the blood. If you are taking prescription medication, be sure to speak to your doctor about taking this (or any) supplement. Grapefruits or their extract can have interactions with antibiotics and other medications.
Recommended: Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract
CoQ10 (or Coenzyme Q10)
CoQ10 (or Coenzyme Q10) is so important for health that it should probably be considered an essential vitamin, not a supplement. It occurs naturally in our bodies, but it can be damaged or slowed down by toxins in our food and environment – so supplementation is a good idea for everyone. CoQ10 has been proven to help with cardiac issues (especially high blood pressure), and studies suggest that it can be beneficial in fighting gum disease, migraines, kidney problems and diabetes. There is growing evidence that this micronutrient is also great for neurological function, including in the prevention and/or treatment of serious disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
Recommended: Melaleuca‘s CoQ10+™ Cellular Energy Support
Omega Fatty Acids
Omega Fatty Acids are important for the healthy function of all of the systems in your body. They have been proven to help your brain, organs, skin, blood and respiratory system function at their best. Most people have heard of Omega-3, found in fatty fist like Salmon and Green Leafy Vegetables, but often forgotten are its cousins Omega-6 and Omega-9. For optimum health, you need all three essential fatty acids in the right proportions.
Recommended: Melaleuca‘s CardioOmega EPA ™ formula
How Meditation Changes The Brain
There is an increasing number of studies which are showing that meditation has tangible and measurable effects on the brain. A study led by Sarah Lazar, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard University, found that learning to observe your breath without judgement in fact changes the physical wiring of the brain.
Lazar has conducted a series of studies on yoga and meditation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and found that the effects extended far beyond stress relief. In fact, mediation can change the way in which the brain functions, having much longer-lasting effects. This comes down to the science of neuroplasticity, which explains the way in which the brain reshapes itself in order to grow. Lazar has shown that meditation is not a passive activity. On the contrary, it is highly active practice which can radically alter parts of the brain associated with stress, well-being and “fluid” intelligence. Lazar defines “fluid intelligence” as the neuron-based process that allows different regions of the brain to communicate with one another, which aids our problem-solving abilities. In other words, this is the ability of the different hemispheres of the brain to effectively communicate with each other to overcome complex obstacles.
So how did this study work? Initially Lazar tried to determine whether or not there were differences in the brains of people who had been meditating for a long time and people who didn’t meditate at all. She used MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imagining) and saw that long time meditators were thicker in parts of the cerebral cortex. The thick areas were linked to the brain functions of decision-making, memory and attention. While these studies showed a possible link between meditation and brain functioning, this couldn’t be proved to a certainty.
She went on to improve her experiment by trying to see whether meditation would alter the brains of those who had never meditated before. She used the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme and chose participants who reported feeling stressed, but who did not suffer from anxiety or depression. They were all in relatively good health and were not on any sort of medication which could effect the brain. The participants had to complete a questionnaire designed to assess their stress levels and general sense of well-being. The questionnaires showed that the participants were all feeling less stressed after the programme, but more interestingly, their brain scans displayed an emotional shift. Their reports of lower stress levels correlated with a reduction in the amygdala which is the brain’s centre of fear and anxiety. It is a well-known fact that the amygdala fluctuates in size, growing smaller with less exposure to stress hormones. There was also a growth in the participant’s brain stem, which is the centre where dopamine and serotonin are produced.
While these studies are far from conclusive, they represent powerful first steps in understanding how meditation and yoga work on the brain. Lazar is currently expanding her study by looking at meditative practices like Tai Chi and more advanced forms of yoga.
As science improves, we begin to have increasingly more concrete proof of the transformational effects of meditation. And if you’re not convinced, try it for yourself. After all, your subjective experience is the only experiment that really matters.
Source: Silent Journey
Daily Affirmation
I show my family how much I love them in all the verbal and non-verbal ways I can.
Hau’oli la Po’aono
Aloha kakahiaka oukou a me hau’oli la Po’aono. I lā āwaiwa nou oukou.
Good morning to all and Happy Tuesday. Have a fantastic day everyone.
Numerology ~ Why This Valentine’s Day Love Code Will Empower You For Creation & Joy
February is a month of Love… and this year on Valentine’s Day the ultimate Love numerology code is activated!
A weeklong celebration of love kicks off on February 9 – triggering New Beginnings in Love.
In numerology, 6 and 9 are the “love numbers”.
No coincidence they make up the number 69 😉
69 has many layers of meaning. One is that 6+9 adds up to the exquisite number 15, symbolizing spiritual alchemy through Love.
What’s really beautiful about the Love Code is that we see it throughout 2015, along with 8 and 15 (wealth and spiritual alchemy) ensuring that love and wealth creation walk hand in hand.
Valentine’s Day this year is more special than ever! Here’s why:
⤞ Valentine’s Day occurs on 2.14.2015, a Universal Date that adds up to 15(2+1+4+2+0+1+5 = 15)
⤞ 2015 is the 15th year of our century.
How beautiful that in 2015, on the one day the whole world celebrates Love and Lovers, we will be immersed in the ACTUAL numerology code of Love!
When you can play and love and laugh all at once – be playful and loving with another – nothing is more sacred, more eternal.
When you are IN LOVE, you are fearless. You are drunk with joy and blissfully merged with another.
(Click on the above image to read the entire article.)
Mercury Direct Station February 11, 2015
No doubt some of you are wondering about the details of the Mercury Direct Station of February 11, 2015. We have much to say about it because a number of patterns are in play, and the maps are interesting. This will be one of our longer entries, and we will be developing it over the course of Feb 9 / 10. We start with twin yods that tell us that each of us, both collectively and individually, have TWO distinctly different decisions facing us as Mercury turns direct. Here is that chart:
[Click Image to Enlarge]
In astrology, “two” sometimes means “two or more.” So, you may have a series of important decisions. One of these focuses on trust issues, and may focus on your spouse, partner, or another important significant other (Juno at apex). The other decision involves health and healthcare (Hygeia at apex). While these two COULD be…
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Mau’itopia: Visionary Life Design, with DreamingBear Baraka Kanaan
Seeds for Meditation
Better to live One year as a Lion than a Hundred years as a Jackal.
Just For Today
OPEN A DOOR FOR ANOTHER
It is a small gesture, but it is a most powerful act. Actually, opening a door is more than a physical act. It’s about putting yourself out there, getting to know people, making them feel comfortable and making them feel welcome.
As I’ve observed the decades pass, I note that we as a society have lost something special by insisting we open our own doors. We’ve closed off the ability to make connections. And with the advent of electronic devices, we’ve disconnected, insulated, or rather isolated, ourselves in ways that are harmful. Harmful? Yes, because we are fundamentally social by nature, and the doors we’ve created separate, isolate. In our isolation, we’ve become despondent, distrustful, secretive and dark. And as the years whiz by, I’ve come to realize that doors don’t always revolve around me. Allowing another to open the door for me says much more about who I am and where my heart resonates. It’s also something more. It’s making a statement. It’s overcoming judgments, stereotypes, profiling based on appearances. It’s a declaration to the world that you are not invisible, that your presence matters in our world, that it’s okay to look into another’s eyes and acknowledge that they are present, too.
Big changes come about from a series of small moves. Just as a small pebble causes ripples when thrown into placid water, a small gesture, such as opening a door, sets into motion a ripple that can transform our world into a place we all want to be a part of. So, next time you’re out and about your business, BE present with those around you. It’s not a definitive answer to every situation, but it is a good start.
Peace be with you … have a great week. Aloha Ke Akua
Health ~ Best Morning Detox Drinks
Poor dietary habits and lifestyle choices are the root cause of toxic buildups in the organism. In this article we give you the healthiest detox drinks, and it is up to you to choose the one that works best for you.
These drinks are packed with vitamins and minerals, and they will help you lose weight naturally.
Warm Lemon Water
It is one of the best detox drinks. It tastes same as lemonade, and it will take you just a couple of minutes to make it. Juice half a lemon and add it to a glass of warm water. Drink warm lemon water every morning, before you eat or drink anything. Eat your regular meals, but carefully choose the ingredients.
Mango And Pineapple Juice
The combination of mango and pineapple juice is the best way to start your day. Its thick texture is packed with vitamins and minerals, essential for proper function of your bodily systems. These fruits stimulate the elimination of toxins in the organism, especially the digestive system, and they reduce the harmful effect of free radicals.
Watermelon Juice
It is easy to make, and its high content of nutrients will help you eliminate toxic buildups in your organism. It is super-fresh, which makes it excellent for the hot summer days. A few simple ingredients will help you improve your health and cleanse your organism. Use 2 cucumbers, a few watermelon pieces, mint leaves, and cold filtered water, and always make sure you use organic products.
Green Tea And Citrus Juice
When it is tea time, people prefer green tea, as it is considered to be the healthiest kind on the planet. It is even more powerful when combined with citrus juice. This combination is ideal for those who like having a drink or two more than they should. It will boost your metabolism and provide enough fiber and potassium, necessary for your overall health.
Source:
www.healthcareaboveall.com
Heal Yourself In Nature
Paradigm Shift ~ The Six Grand Illusions That Keep Us Enslaved to “The Matrix”
“In prison, illusions can offer comfort.” – Nelson Mandela
For a magician to fool his audience his deceit must go unseen, and to this end he crafts an illusion to avert attention from reality. While the audience is entranced, the deceptive act is committed, and for the fool, reality then becomes inexplicably built upon on a lie. That is, until the fool wakes up and recognizes the truth in the fact that he has been duped.
Maintaining the suspension of disbelief in the illusion, however, is often more comforting than acknowledging the magician’s secrets.
We live in a world of illusion. So many of the concerns that occupy the mind and the tasks that fill the calendar arise from planted impulses to become someone or something that we are not. This is no accident. As we are indoctrinated into this authoritarian-corporate-consumer culture that now dominates the human race, we are trained that certain aspects of our society are untouchable truths, and that particular ways of being and behaving are preferred.
(To read the rest of this fascinating article, click on the image, above.)
Hau’oli la Po’akahi
Aloha Kakahiaka oukou a me hau’oli la Po’akahi. Hoihoi keia nani lā.
Good morning, everyone, and happy Monday! Enjoy this beautiful day.
Hau’oli Aloha Lapule
Aloha kakahiaka a me hau’oli aloha Lapule oukou. Maluhia a me aloha mau loa no hoaloha.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Sunday, everyone. Peace and Aloha be with you always, Friends!
Hele of February 7, 2015
A Hele dominates the sky, continuing to be a polarizing influence, over the course of February 7, 8, & 9. Expect some squabbles during this time, and people becoming intractable in their positions. Here is the chart for the beginning of the Hele:
[Click Image to Enlarge]
Here is an animation of the Hele during this period (SF8 with “Horary” page):
After the Hele, on February 10th, a Square Key comes on board (the day before Mercury turns Direct):
[Click Image to Enlarge]
We expect “things” to become interesting after the Mercury Direct Station, and even more so after the New Moon of February 2015.
Recipe ~ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies!
These will send you to another planet!
INGREDIENTS:
[Brownie Layer]
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
[Cookie Dough]
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature or almost melted
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk or cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
additional miniature chocolate chips, if desired (to garnish the top)
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare the brownie layer-
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×9-inch pan with nonstick spray, then line with a strip of parchment paper so that it covers the bottom and comes up two sides of the pan. Spray the parchment with nonstick spray too.
2. In a microwave safe bowl (or in the top of a double boiler or pan set on top of a pan of simmering water), microwave in 30 second bursts to melt butter and chocolate chips together until all is melted and smooth. Whisk in the sugars, then whisk in the eggs, vanilla and salt. Sift flour into the bowl and stir that in too. Scrape the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the brownie layer is cooked through (toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean). Place the pan of brownies in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process (or cool at room temperature and add the cookie dough layer later).
Prepare the cookie dough layer:
3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter, sugars and salt until soft and creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Mix in the milk and vanilla. Sprinkle in the flour and mix in until combined. Stir in the 1 cup of chocolate chips. Scoop the cookie dough onto the top of the brownies and spread onto the brownie layer. I find that it’s easiest to do this if the brownie layer is chilled and firm. Wet your hands or spray them with nonstick spray and pat the cookie dough on top in a even layer. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top to create a nicer, visual appearance. For easy, clean cutting, chill the brownies (wrap the brownies with plastic wrap and chill until firm- 1 to 2 hours or up to 2 days).
4. Cut the brownies: Run a knife along the sides of the brownie pan and then use the parchment paper to lift the brownies from the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice the brownies with a sharp knife, wiping the knife with a paper towel between cuts. If you’d like all of your slices of brownies to look clean-cut without edges, use the knife to cut the sides of the brownies off before cutting pieces. Keep brownies slices covered and chilled until ready to serve.
Recipe ~ Vegan Popcorn Chicken
Serves: 2 cups fried popcorn “chicken”, serves 3-4
Ingredients
- – 2 cups dried soy chunks (TVP chunks work too)
- – 3 cups vegetable broth
- – 2 cloves of garlic, mashed
- – 1 tsp salt
- – 1 inch cube of ginger, grated
- – ½ cup flour
- – ¾ cup vegetable broth (use what you had soaked from the TVP)
- – ½ cup cornstarch
- – 1 cup bread crumbs
- – 1 tbsp garlic powder
- – 1 tbsp lemon pepper
- – ½ tsp salt
- – For the dip:
- – 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- – ⅓ cup sour cream (use soy sour cream to keep it vegan)
- – dash of salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine soy chunks, mashed garlic, ginger, 1 tsp salt and fill the bowl with vegetable broth until it covers the soy chunks. Soak for about 20 minutes or until the chunks are soft.
- Heat a pot with about an inch of oil on medium high heat.
- Mix together ½ cup flour and ¾ cup vegetable broth from the soaking soy chunks and whisk until no lumps remain. Divide between two bowls.
- Once the chunks are soft and soaked, gently squeeze the excess liquid from the soy chunks and coat in one of the bowls of flour mixture.
- Transfer the chunks to a ziploc bag with ½ cup cornstarch. Shake until coated, then transfer to the second bowl of flour mixture, coat, then transfer to another ziploc bag that has the garlic powder, bread crumbs, lemon pepper, and salt.
- Fry the chunks in oil in batches until golden. You may need to push them around to fry all sides because they tend to like to float in one way.
- Remove and drain on a paper towel.
- In a food processor, blend the dill, sour cream, salt and pepper to make the dip.
- Serve the fried chunks with dip and enjoy!
Mudras: The Healing Power in your Hands
“In this respect, Kundalini Yoga assumes that every area of the hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and the brain. In this way, we can consider the hands to be a mirror for our body and our mind” -Lothar Rüdiger Lütge, Kundalini yoga expert Practiced since antiquity in combination with pranayama, asanas and meditation, Mudras or Hand Gestures is a practice to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Our hands define our karma and fingers being the power points, are a link between individual Pranic force and universal cosmic energy. The subtle hand and finger movements make important connections in the nervous system and stimulate specific energy pathways or nadis. Human body is an amalgamation of 5 elements of nature – Earth, Air, Water, Space and Fire & each finger acts as a representative of one element. Yogis believed if one wants to cure any disease, they can tap into the energy of the elements and rectify the imbalance with the practice of suitable mudras. Starting from the thumb, the fingers represent Fire, Air, Space, Earth and Water, as depicted in the image. Mudras redirect the energy flow to the upper Chakras, and gradually establish a link between all the Koshas (layers) of the body. Let’s look at 7 mudras, its benefits and duration for improving our mental, spiritual and physical health.
Read more at: http://fractalenlightenment.com/33385/spirituality/mudras-the-healing-power-in-your-hands
Hau’oli Aloha Po’alima
Aloha kakahiaka a me Hau’oli Aloha Po’alima oukou. Hoihoi keia nani lā.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Friday, everyone. Enjoy this beautiful day.
Daily Words of the Buddha for February 05, 2015
Ye dhammā hetuppabhavā,
tesaṃ hetuṃ Tathāgato āha
tesañca yo nirodho;
evaṃvādī Mahāsamaṇo.
Those phenomena arising from a cause,
of these the Enlightened One has told the cause
and also their cessation;
this is the “doctrine” of the Great Recluse.
Vinaya 3.60
The Discourse Summaries by S.N. Goenka
Ghandi’s Anti-Vaccine Views Ring True A Century Later
Almost one century ago, Gandhi published a book where he deconstructed the dangers and lack of effectiveness of vaccines and the agendas surrounding them. His voice rings true now more than ever.
The internet meme below has been subject of a good bit of controversy. Not only is Gandhi taking what many today consider an extreme ‘anti-vaxxer’ stance, but some have questioned whether or not he ever made this statement, or statements like it.
The truth is that this quote only scratches the surface of Gandhi’s biting critique of the dangers, inefficacy, and malfeasance associated with the vaccination campaigns of his time. Gandhi, of course, is history’s most celebrated anti-imperialist, having almost single-handedly set into motion India’s independence from British colonial rule. He was extremely sensitive to Western forms of control and oppression, and was able to apply his intellect to the manner in which the Western medical establishment was coercing millions of Indians to succumb to the unhealthy practice of smallpox and plague vaccination.
Just For Today
Seeds for Meditation
“Student says, “I am very discouraged. What should I do?”
Master says, “Encourage others.”~ Zen Wisdom
Hau’oli Aloha Po’akahi
Aloha awakea a me Hau’oli Aloha Po’akahi oukou. Maluhia a me aloha mau loa no hoaloha.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Monday, everyone. Peace and Aloha be with you always, Friends!
Morning Meditation (9 mins.) ~ Mul Mantra, by Snatum Kaur
Ek Ong Kar
Sat Nam
Kartaa Purkh Nirbhao Nirvair
Akaal Moorat
Ajoonee, Saibhang, Gur Prasaad Jap
Aad Sach, Jugaad Sach
Hai Bhee Sach, Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach
Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach
Ek Ong Kar
Sat Nam
Kartaa Purkh Nirbhao Nirvair
Akaal Moorat
Ajoonee, Saibhang Gur Prasaad
Aad Sach, Jugaad Sach
Hai Bhee Sach, Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach
Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach
Translation:
One Creator. Truth is His name. Doer of everything. Fearless, Revengeless, Undying, Unborn, Self illumined, The Guru’s gift, Meditate! True in the beginning. True through all the ages. True even now. Oh Nanak it is forever true
More Information:
The Mul Mantra translates as the root mantra from which a spiritual foundation is built. The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is based upon the concepts of the Mul Mantra.
Yogi Bhajan says on chanting the Mul Mantra
“The Mul Mantra is a fate killer. It removes the fate and changes the destiny to complete prosperity.”
Language: Gurmukhi
Hālau 'Aha Hui Lānākila 