Month: April 2015

7 Amazing Uses For Activated Charcoal

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Get the details here!
Get the details here!

Here’s a health secret I learned first-hand from my grandparents: Activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is an almost “miracle” ingredient that really could save your life one day! And failing that it will at least give you a sparkling set of teeth!

Natural Living Ideas describes 7 of the most amazing uses for activated charcoal, including air and water purification, as a poison antidote, to whiten teeth and more.

Commonly referred to as Active Carbon or simply Carbon, Activated Charcoal is produced from organic materials such as coconut fiber, nutshells, peat, wood, or pitch through one of several processes involving the use of oxygen and high temperatures to open millions of micro-pores within its atomic structure. Because of this highly-porous structure, Activated Charcoal is extremely absorptive making it ideal for a variety of medical, beauty and household uses.

If you want to hear more about the wonders of activated charcoal, click on the image above for the link to the full article.

Recipe ~ DIY Coconut Oil Pulling Chews with Essential Oils

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Get the details here!
Get the details here!

Oil pulling is so simple and easy to incorporate into any daily routine, but it just got even easier with these little homemade chews perfect for busy people.

Not only do these simple to make chews contain all the goodness of coconut oil, but also have the added bonus of some carefully selected essential oils. Simply keep these little beauties in the fridge and grab one daily to do your oil pulling!

To find out exactly how to make these chews, then head over to Wellnessmama.com …

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8 Delicious Country Wine Recipes

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Click here for the recipes!
Click here for the recipes!

If you are a budding chef, a curious crafter or just like keeping busy with exciting projects, then you must try making your own wine.

There are hundreds of brilliant recipes out there, just waiting for you to unleash them. From Elderberry to rose petal, there is a taste and flavor to suite every household…

Take a look at Naturallivingideas.com’s list of 8 fantastic recipes here …

NOT WITH TOIL

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Yoga_cliff

Not by toil, nor by struggle did the world come into being. Creator spoke and it was, a world created by words.

Not by toil, nor by struggle is the world sustained. We speak words of wisdom and of kindness and the world endures.

If so, what is the effort Creator demands from us?

That we invest our very essence in those words, as Creator’s very essence was invested within this world’s making.

21-Day Technology Challenge: Day 10 ~ Reconnect In-Person With Someone

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reconnectionRelationships are built on small, consistent deposits of time.  –Andy Stanley
Reconnect In Person With Someone: The jury is still out– and will be for a long time– on whether constant, instant connectivity is a net gain or loss for society. But on a personal level, most of us have had our share of online insults, whether intentionally or accidentally. How many of us still regret that slip of the finger that led to hitting ‘send’ instead of ‘save’ on an email? If you’ve developed etiquette for such incidents, do share. :)) Yet perhaps the greatest cause of e-pain is omission, not commission. That is, being inattentive or missing in action from those around us. Today, think of 3 people who are really close to you. Do a silent inventory to see if you have short-changed any of them of the pleasure of your company. Reach out to at least one of them today to schedule quality time together. On the flip-side, step-it-up by inviting those who have e-dropped out of your life to reconnect. Their absence from you was probably no more intentional than your absence from them.

Daily Words of the Buddha for April 29, 2015

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Outlander 2014

Paradukkhūpadhānena,
attano sukhamicchati
verasaṃsaggasaṃsaṭṭho,
verā so na parimuccati.

Entangled by the bonds of hate,
one who seeks one’s own happiness
by inflicting pain on others,
is never delivered from hatred.
Dhammapada 21.291

The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

The River Up

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Iguacu Falls National Park, Argentina, Brazil

When the Divine Light began its awesome descent—a journey of world to lower world for endless worlds, condensing its unbounded state again and again into finite packages until focused to a fine, crystallized resolution—it did so with purpose: to bring forth a world of continuous ascent.

Since that beginning, not a day has passed that does not transcend its yesterday.

Like a mighty river rushing to reach its ocean, no dam can hold it back, no creature can struggle against its current. If we appear to fall backward, to take a wrong turn, to lose a day in failure—it is only an illusion, for we have no map to know its way. We see from within, but the river knows its path from Above. And to that place Above all is drawn.

We are not masters of that river— not of our ultimate destiny, nor of the stops along the way, not even of the direction of our travel. We did not create the river—its flow creates us. It is the blood and soul of our world, its pulse and its warmth.

Yet of one thing we have been given mastery: Not of the journey, but of our role within it.

How soon will we arrive? How complete? How fulfilled? Will we be the spectators? Or simply the props?

Or will we be the heroes?

Ayurvedic Foot Massage

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Read full article here
Read full article here

Ayurveda treatments and therapies are something you should include into your lifestyle habits. Your daily routines include brushing your teeth, taking a shower, exercising and eating. According to Ayurveda, you should also do certain activities each day.

Read more by clicking on the diagram!

Recipe ~ Boxty Cakes

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brigid_oatcakes

Boxty Cakes

½ lb hot cooked potatoes
½ lb grated raw potatoes
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1½ cups buttermilk
butter for frying
salt and pepper

 

Instructions:

Drain, peel and mash the hot potatoes.

Stir in the raw potatoes, flour and baking soda. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Mix well with enough buttermilk to make a stiff batter.

Shape into 3 inch patties about ¼ inch thick and fry on hot greased griddle until crispy and golden on both sides.

Yield 12 cakes

Recipe ~ Beltane Oatcakes

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brigid5_oatcakes
Oatcakes are part of the Beltane ceremony. Their roundness is symbolic of the life-giving sun whose return is marked by this festive sabbat. During Beltane a huge bonfire is kept going all night long. Pieces of the cake are thrown into the fire as an offering to the protective deities.

Participate in this ancient custom by casting the oatcakes into an outside bonfire or even your fireplace. Begin by blessing these cakes. Say a prayer of gratitude, giving thanks to the Goddess and God for their abundance. Pass around the cake in a clockwise direction. Invite each of your guests to take a piece of the cake. Say:

We are each a part of the joyous circle of love.
As we cast the bread into the fire,
We fuse together into the One Being,
That always was and always will be.

Recommend to your guests that they remember the joy in their hearts
as they experience the gaiety of the season.


Beltane Oatcakes

2 TB vegetable shortening
1/3 cup boiling water
3 cups medium rolled oats
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). In a small pan, heat the shortening and water, until the shortening has melted. remove from heat and let cool.

Mix the oats, sage, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Mix the cooled liquid and the oat mixture, adding water,if necessary, to maintain a dough-like consistency.

Pat the dough into a circle, about 8 inches in diameter. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 40 minutes.

Cut into 8 wedges, then leave to cool on a wire rack.

21-Day Technology Challenge: Day 9 ~ Dig Deeper Into Artificial Intelligence

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Artificial-Intelligence01_Web

The story of evolution unfolds with increasing levels of abstraction. –Ray Kurzweil

Dig Deeper Into Artificial Intelligence — Artificial Intelligence (AI) was once a far-fetched figment of our collective imagination. But technology has come a long way since then, and now we have devices that can answer questions about everything from where to eat dinner, and how to get to the nearest gas station, to what books we should read. As our technology grows more refined the line between artificial and real continues to blur. In January 2015, experts in the field signed an open letter to protect mankind from machines, reminding humanity to tread lightly while developing really smart machines. Today, read up on artificial intelligence. Learn about the exciting possibilities and the sobering edges around them. Share your findings with others, and keep an eye out for developments in the coming years. The more informed we are, the more we can collectively make thoughtful decisions on the direction of intelligent machines for a long time to come.

“The Way of Walking Alone: 21 Life Principles”, by Miyamoto Musashi

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manga_Mirumoto_Kei_by_raynkazuya

The following passage, The Way of Walking Alone, was written a week before Musashi died in 1645.  This personal manifesto expresses a stringent, honest, and ascetic view of life in 21 powerful principles:

 

Accept everything just the way it is.

Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.

Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

Be detached from desire your whole life.

Do not regret what you have done.

Never be jealous.

Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.

Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.

Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.

In all things, have no preferences.

Be indifferent to where you live.

Do not pursue the taste of good food. [Do not overindulge.]

Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.

Do not act following customary beliefs.

Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.

Do not fear death.

Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.

Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help. [Respect the belief systems of others.]

You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.

Never stray from the way.

 

Daily Words of the Buddha for April 28, 2015

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Bruce-Lee-Quote-Wallpaper-HD

Mattāsukhapariccāgā
passe ce vipulaṃ sukhaṃ,
caje mattāsukhaṃ dhīro,
sampassaṃ vipulaṃ sukhaṃ.

If by renouncing a lesser happiness
one may realize a greater happiness,
let the wise one renounce the lesser,
having regard for the greater.
Dhammapada 21.290

The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Paradigm Shift ~ “What Is Infant Circumcision?”

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What is infant circumcision? Why is the practice common in U.S. hospitals and not in other countries? What does it remove and how does that affect the child? Does scientific data suggest that circumcision has benefits? What are the potential complications? How does it affect sexuality? Is it a medical procedure or a social surgery? If it’s unnecessary surgery, what about contemporary bioethics principles?

Through both a review of scientific literature and a discussion of the human cost of the procedure, this presentation explores these questions from the perspectives of the child, the adult survivor, the parent, and the practitioner.

Ryan is a parent, a biophysicist, an Assistant Professor of Physics and Oncology at Georgetown University, and also a volunteer who supports parents and families. Over the last 10 years he has been studying the medicalization of childbirth in U.S. hospitals.

– Ryan McAllister, PhD

Food ~ 22 Delicious High-Fiber Foods

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Click on image for article
Click on image for article

Fiber is incredibly important.

It escapes digestion in the stomach and ends up reaching the gut.

There, it feeds the friendly gut bacteria, leading to all sorts of health benefits.

Fiber also promotes weight loss, lowers blood sugar levels and fights constipation.

Not surprisingly, studies show that people who eat the most fiber tend to be the healthiest.

For example, they have a lower risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes, and also tend to live longer.

The recommended daily intake is 25 grams for women, and 38 grams for men.

However, most people are only eating around half of that, or 15-17 grams of fiber per day.

Fortunately, increasing your fiber intake is relatively simple, and some foods that are high in fiber are also incredibly delicious and easy to incorporate into the diet.

Here are 22 high-fiber foods that are both healthy and super satisfying.

 

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21-Day Technology Challenge: Day 8 – Prioritize Your Time Online

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leaser_power-of-prioritizing_meme

“It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.” –Bruce Lee

Prioritize Your Online Time — A signal-to-noise ratio is the power ratio between a signal of meaningful information and the background noise of useless information. That’s the technical definition. On a day-to-day basis, it can also refer to the ratio of really profound content to really unnecessary cat videos on Facebook. Today, pay attention to meaningful pieces of communication, and filter out all other background noise and distractions. Delete the promotional ads in your inbox, and unsubscribe from newsletters or magazines that distract you from what’s really important. Refrain from participating in idle gossip, and aimless browsing online. By prioritizing what streams of information to focus on, you are de-cluttering your mind space, which ultimately leverages your energy to address what really matters.

Life’s Roots

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matrix treeWe are trees, living two lives at once.

One life breaking through the soil into this world. Where, with all our might, we struggle to rise above it, grapple for its sun and its dew, desperate not to be torn away by the fury of its storms or consumed by its fires.

Then there are our roots, deep under the ground, unmoving and serene. They are our ancient mothers and fathers, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rivkah, Yaakov, Leah and Rachel.

They lie deep within us, at our very core. For them, there is no storm, no struggle. There is only the One, the Infinite, for Whom all the cosmos with all its challenges are nothing more than a fantasy renewed every moment from the void.

Our strength is from our bond with them, and with their nurture we will conquer the storm. We will bring beauty to the world we were planted within.

D.H. Lawrence ~ “The Hummingbird”

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hummingbird_green

I can imagine, in some otherworld

Primeval-dumb, far back

In that most awful stillness, that only gasped and hummed,

Humming-birds raced down the avenues.

Before anything had a soul,

While life was a heave of Matter, half inanimate,

This little bit chipped off in brilliance

And went whizzing through the slow, vast, succulent stems.

I believe there were no flowers, then,

In the world where the humming-bird flashed ahead of creation.

I believe he pierced the slow vegetable veins with his long beak.

Probably he was big

As mosses, and little lizards, they say were once big.

Probably he was a jabbing, terrifying monster.

We look at him through the wrong end of the long telescope of Time,

Luckily for us.

~ D.H. Lawrence

William Blake ~ “The Tiger”

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white_tiger-t2

THE TIGER

Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water’d heaven with their tears,

Did He smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

~ William Blake

Recipe ~ Rosemary and Garlic Sweet Potato Oven Fries

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Recipe write-up here!
Recipe write-up here!

Need something to satisfy your late night french fry craving? Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes may be your new favorite late night treat.  I love making sweet potato fries with a chipotle dipping sauce but, late at night I don’t feel like doing all that prep so I came up with something a little simpler. I cut sweet potatoes into wedges instead of a french fry cut and roast them with rosemary and garlic. They ended up having so much flavor so they didn’t even need a dipping sauce. The edges became golden brown and caramelized along with the fresh fresh garlic giving them an incredible flavor that will really satisfy you late at night.

Click on above image to continue reading …

35 SURPRISING USES FOR ESSENTIAL OILS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

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Essential oils have so many uses it’s impossible to know them all! From natural spider repellents to dandruff busting shampoos, there really is no end to their possibilities.

35-Surprising-Uses-For-Essential-Oils-Everyone-Should-Know
Read full article here

 

There are literally hundreds, maybe even thousands, of ways to use essential oils, and those of us who love them and use them find new applications everyday!

 

Double Yod Key and other patterns of late April and early May of 2015

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Grandtrines

The days from April 26th through May 1st of 2015 are pattern rich.  We will likely also discuss more patterns that will occur in early May in another post that covers patterns after May 1st.

We begin with the Double Yod Key (DYK) that starts April 26th and continues through May 1st. This is one of the “longer acting” patterns of this period (we are looking at primarily April 28th through May 1st with some patterns extending on each side of that range).  It colors all of the other patterns we will subsequently discuss.

DYK 2015-04-26 to 05-01

[Click Image to Enlarge]

That pattern tells us that, once again, we are in a pattern of making important decisions. However, as we will note momentarily, this period is about more than decisions. This period is also about action.

A Hele is in play from April 27th to April 29th, and that tells us that people…

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Recipe ~ Hummingbird Cake (wheat-free, dairy-free)

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HummingbirdCake-850x567

Choosing to eat sugar- and additive free-is all very well and good when you’re in the comfort of your own home, but what about when you’re required to bake for work or family celebrations? This tried and tested Hummingbird Cake recipe has been a winner with even the fussiest of eaters and is my ‘go to’ celebration cake recipe.

Hummingbird Cake is a delicious blend of coconut, pineapple and banana, just like a Pina Colada, which means that no added sugars or flavors are required with this sensation of flavours!

 

Hummingbird Cake

  • 1 cup Medjool dates
  • 250 grams Gluten Free Self-Raising flour
  • 2 ripe bananas mashed
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple diced
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 50 grams shredded coconut
  • 1 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds (soaked in 1 tablespoon water) or use 2 eggs if you prefer

 

Preparation

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit
  2. In a food processor blend together the dates, chia seeds (or eggs), honey and coconut oil. Add this mixture to all of the other ingredients and stir gently. Pour into a round cake pan that has been oiled and lined with grease proof paper. Bake for 30-45 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack. This is a very dense cake which will not rise a lot.
  3. To ice this I use 1 cup of labneh (yoghurt that has been drained to make cream cheese) and 2 tablespoons honey mixed together, then decorated with pineapple slices and shredded coconut.

Crepes

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Cook Plant Meditate

6-12 017

Mmmmm…crepes! This thin, French cousin to other delicious things such as frittata and pancakes can be enjoyed sweet, savory or just plain.

6-12 026

Crepes
1 3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon rum, cognac or vanilla extract
Two eggs +2 egg yolks
2/3 cup flour
2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Whisk together milk eggs, egg yolks, sugar, salt and rum/cognac/vanilla. Sift flour into the wet mixture. Whisk until smooth then whisk in melted, unsalted butter.

Pre-heat a skillet or comal to medium heat. Pour a little bit of the batter onto the comal or pan and distribute batter evenly by swirling pan around. Cook on one side for around a minute to a minute and a half or until the under side begins to brown. Carefully flip crepe over and cook for another minute to minute and a half.

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7-7-12 2127-7-12 213 6-12 0166-12 025

At this point let your imagination guide…

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Conquest

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Rumi_pain

Show a mighty emperor the world and ask him where he most desires to conquer. He will spin the globe to the furthest peninsula of the most far-flung land, stab his finger upon it and declare, “This! When I have this, then I shall have greatness!”

So too, the Infinite Light. In those places most finite, where the light of day barely trickles in, there is found His greatest glory.

Daily Words of the Buddha for April 27, 2015

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2 pathsYogā ve jāyatī bhūri,
ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo.
Etaṃ dvedhāpathaṃ ñatvā bhavāya vibhavāya ca,
tathāttānaṃ niveseyya yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.

Wisdom springs from meditation;
without meditation wisdom wanes.
Having known these two paths of progress and decline,
let one so conduct oneself that one’s wisdom may increase.

Dhammapada 20.282

The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita