Awaken Free

Enlightened Books

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:37:00 -0700

So I’m publishing my second novel, Wake Me, soon and also starting my own publishing company, Enlightened Books. I’m accepting donations on Indiegogo. If any of you could help out, that would be sooo awesome! I’m offering giveaways including free copies of my new novel, stickers, bookmarks, etc! Check out the campaign here: www.igg.me/at/enlightenedbooks

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You can read more about the project here:

Short Summary

Hey, I’m Christina Martine, an artist, author and soon-to-be publisher!

With your help, I’m going to be self-publishing my second novel, Wake Me, soon. It’s a vampire book, but it’s also a spirituality and philosophy book. And no, my vampires don’t sparkle.

Wake Me will be the first novel to be published under my new publishing company, Enlightened Books, which will focus solely on publishing novels about spiritual evolution and enhancing consciousness.

By donating, you are helping to create a publishing company will spread important knowledge about living in enlightenment, a state that we all deserve to be living in NOW!

Where the funds Go & What You Get

The $2000 that I’m trying to raise will go toward:

-hiring a professional to create unique cover art for Wake Me

-hiring a professional to format Wake Me (paperback, e-book editions)

-business license for Enlightened Books

-printing costs

-website re-vamping

I’ve already put in $500 into this project and I’m serious about getting it out into the world, but I could really use your help! As a thank you, I’m offering some sweet giveaways including:

-free copies of the e-book version of Wake Me

-free copies of the paperback version of Wake Me

-stickers and signed bookmarks designed by me

-sincere acknowledgement on my website and inside Wake Me

-donation of Wake Me to any library of your choice

-donations to any charity of your choice

-personal book club meet and greet

*You can email me at catthevamp@live.com to confirm that I am sending you your goodies and to update your address/email, etc. *

Whether the goal of $2000 is reached or not, all donations will go toward the creation of Enlightened Books, the publication of Wake Me, and the publication of other novels, in time!

The Impact

We all know that there is something wrong with our current system. We’re destroying the planet and the very people that inhabit it. We all know that this insanity doesn’t have to occur, but we have let it become the norm. Our society is ruled by the mind, by the ego’s desires to attain power and control over others.

It’s my greatest wish to tell people that we DON’T have to live like this. By turning inward to the eternal in us, we would realize that all this insanity is actually meaningless and stopping us from real evolution.

With the company, Enlightened Books, I hope to show people that enlightenment is not only something for hippies and gurus. It’s our natural, eternal state of love, peace and bliss. A state we ALL deserve to me living in now!

Help me achieve this goal and in turn, you’ll be helping me spread this message to the world. You’ll also be helping me publish indie authors from all over the globe with something extremely important to say.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you can’t contribute, you can still help by:

-telling people to donate to this campaign

-using the Indiegogo share tools

-taking up a meditative practice to free yourself from the mind and realize your true potential!

Keep In Touch With Christina Martine

Website: www.christinamartine.com

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/christinamartineauthorpage

Email: catthevamp@live.com

Thank You so much for all your love and support!

Namaste

Choose Enlightenment Now.

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:38:00 -0700

Enlightenment is not something we must go searching for. It is not something external from us. We all can choose enlightenment now by turning inward. By allowing ourselves to be one with the moment, totally present. By choosing to let go of the endless list of “I needs” and “to dos”. By letting go of the anger, the pain, the fear. By learning from the past and letting it go. By planning for the future, but also, letting it go. By being totally in the now, surrendering everything to the moment, to your inner power.

Practice non-attachment. Stop resisting the now. Breathe. Turn inward. Feel the limitless, unconditional love inside of you. This is what you are. There is no opposite. There is only love and light. From above and below. All around us. Inside of us. Turn inward and feel that love, feel that your natural, eternal state is love. Beyond sensations and emotions that arise from thought. Love is what you are made of. Always has and always will be. Stop thinking. Let go of any pain and resistance. Surrender to the moment. Recognize that your mind and heart are tools. Know that you are beyond form. Choose to live from spirit. Trust that spirit is taking you where you need to be. Trust that you are in exactly the place you need to be in for your evolution. Surrender. Let go… and let life flow. Resistance and endless worrying and planning will make you stagnant. Let life flow. Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel your connection to your breath, to the divine. Trust that by going inward, the answers will come naturally, easily. Trust that by letting go of thought and surrendering to the moment, you are gaining more control, more clarity, more joy. The truth.

***

Sometimes I forget how beautiful life is, how simple it is to let go and choose to feel the love within me. I get so caught up in my thoughts, my anger and pain. I blame. I question. I analyze until I can no longer feel my spirit. This is ego taking over. I can feel it when it is happening, but it can be so seductive, just like the way pain can be when we feel we deserve it.

Recently I came across a situation, a person, who I found it hard to get along with. I tried to brush away my worries, but something inside of me couldn’t. I felt fear around this person, felt pain strike my chest when they were near. Felt my stomach, my 3rd chakra pang with unease when they would speak, my ego severely threatened. I understand now that the person was unaware. Not present and instead living from ego.

When you awaken, you’re still going to come into contact with very unaware people. Even more so, perhaps, because they need your help the most. But if you’re anything like me, extremely sensitive energetically, it can be hard to not take on their psychic pollution and negativity. It can be hard not to be sucked into their egoic states. These kinds of people are sick but do not know it. Completely ruled by the mind, they lash out if their egos are threatened and this can be overwhelming to sensitive people, even completely awakened ones.

So what do we do when we come into contact with these egoic psychopaths? Remain present. The worst thing to do around ego-centred people is to over analyze, get caught up in thoughts and emotions. If you do, you’re only feeding their egos and playing their game, feeding their sickness. Instead, we must turn inward. It can be hard to not want to react, but in doing so, we only create more fear, feed our own ego. We must choose our reactions and continue to light the way, even if it does illuminate others’ nasty habits.

When you can’t understand why someone is treating you cruelly, when your ego/self-image is threatened and you want to speak out, instead, stop. Breathe. Remain centred. Ground yourself. Feel love shooting up from the earth and into you from the heavens. Feel love in every part of your body. Feel stillness, feel calm and clarity. Feel the space within you. And then once you’re ready to speak from spirit instead of mind, let the truth come out. Open your heart centre. Envision green light flooding from your body and filling the room. And while you’re speaking, be aware of your presence. Be aware that you are in control of your reactions. Be aware that nothing and no one can hurt you.

Once you are awake, the learning doesn’t stop. More challenges arise. We must remain present and speak honestly to the ones around us who make us hurt. We must stop finding fault in others, for it only strengthens our own faults. We must love even our enemies for they are a part of us. We must understand that everyone is on a different journey and is doing the best that they can, given the awareness they have. We must stop judging and blaming. It’s time to take responsibility for our consciousness and for our own evolution.

Stop blaming external situations on your state of happiness. If you don’t like the situation you’re in, change it, accept it, or walk away. There is nothing else. Happiness is always an option. Joy and peace and bliss are always with you. Open your eyes and be grateful for the miracle of life. Surrender to the now.

image source:acollectionofawesome

You Can Heal Your Life

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:06:00 -0700

I finished the book You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay a while ago and I’m excited to write about it because I feel that yes, it did help heal my life. Or at least I allowed it to. Some of Louise’s main philosophies are:

-We are each responsible for all of our experiences.
-Every thought we think is creating our future.
-The point of power is always in the present moment.
-Everyone suffers from self-hatred and guilt.
-The bottom line for everyone is, “I’m not good enough.”
-It’s only a thought, and a thought can be changed.
-Resentment, criticism and guilt are the most damaging patterns.
-Releasing resentment will dissolve even cancer.
-When we really love ourselves, everything in our life works.
-We must release the past and forgive everyone.
-We must be willing to begin to learn to love ourselves.
-Self-approval and self-acceptance in the now are the key to positive changes.
-We create every so-called “illness” in out body.

I’ve always been very spiritual and have believed in things like “The Secret”… but have always questioned and doubted myself and my power… this book helped me remember my own ideas and beliefs, but also gave me a practical approach to using them to create the life I want.

The one thing really affected me was that, although this book is very spiritual and encourages positivity, love, etc, it also encourages you to think about your limiting negative beliefs and where they came from. Authority figures, parents, etc… Then she teaches you how to let go of those nasty thoughts that you have about yourself—because that’s all they really are: thoughts, not reality—and forgive the people who were cruel to you and “made” you believe those things in the first place.

I had never really sat down and thought about all the horrible things I tell myself on a daily basis… I just let them go unnoticed, choosing to focus on positivity… because that’s what every other “spiritual” book tells you to do, right? It was amazing to see that I wasn’t getting what I wanted in life because on some level, I didn’t feel I deserved it…

This book is really about self-love. Learning how to love every part of yourself and your life. Because when it comes down to it, when you love yourself, everything makes sense. Life is easy.

A simple exercise to help you get started is to go look in the mirror and tell yourself: {Name} I love and accept you for exactly who you are. Try it. See how you feel. What emotions arise inside? Are you still criticising yourself? Stop. It won’t get you anywhere.

If you’re afraid that if you stop criticising, you’ll loose control… don’t be. For example, often if I’ve “screwed up” while dieting, I’ve felt the need to punish myself, tell myself horrible things… this only creates hatred… which creates fear, which creates a need to punish yourself with overeating or undereating, etc… and the cycle continues. In essence, the criticism doesn’t put you in control… It puts your ego in control. Your false, noxious thoughts. Why not instead focusing on loving yourself?

Louise talks about health and diet and the food we eat… but she doesn’t believe in “dieting”… she believes that the best diet is a good mindset, and from personal experience, I’d have to agree. If you love yourself and your life, you’re going to want to nourish yourself with good food. You won’t feel the need to punish yourself with bad food or drugs. You’re going to want to enjoy life, be active, etc… It’s really not any more complicated than that.

Another great exercise to try if you want to start loving yourself and EVERY part of your life, is to create a “Manifesation List.” At least, that’s what I call it. Think about the life you want. Think about what you could be doing… be specific. Then write down everything… IN THE PRESENT. If you tell the universe you WANT something, you’ll always be wanting it… If you say that you HAVE it… it’s already yours.

Include your dreams, your desires, your goals for every area of your life: health, love, career, etc… and watch as your list becomes a reality. Read your list aloud to yourself every day for 6 weeks and it will sink in. Be aware of the thoughts you CHOOSE to think. Consciously create the life you want.

After creating my list, I kept adjusting things as time went on. I added new things and took away other things. I also kept realizing what areas in life I had to work on. Where I had learning to do. Where I had to let go…

Every day is exciting for me now. I honestly feel like a completely new person. I no longer get mad and blame others for my problems. When I do feel a negative response arise within me, I’m happy about it on some level, because I know that I have another area of myself to work on, another lesson to learn.

I see miracles everywhere because I believe in them. What do you believe in?

image source:simplyfreespirits

Be Patient. Stay Present. Give Love Away.

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:41:00 -0700

Relax. Go ahead. Take in a deep cleansing breath and relax. You’re in exactly the place you need to be in for your evolution. Unhappy? Stop resisting. Align yourself with the universe. Go with the flow. Remain present. Let God’s love flow forth from you. Watch your dreams manifest.

Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.

-Albert Einstein

A lot of amazing things have been happening to me. The other day I was cleaning. Cleaning a soon-to-be-open cafe all day. I wasn’t worrying, wasn’t stressing, wasn’t drifting off to the future like I usually am. I was in the moment. Letting things flow easily. Then, I found something and the first thing that popped into my head was to give it to someone else, someone who would have a better use for it. I didn’t want anything in return. I just knew I could bring someone else happiness.

Shortly after I received a call with good news. News I’ve been waiting to hear about for months on end. Then I received more good news. So, moral of the story? Once again, return to the present. Let God flow through you. And remain on the frequency of LOVE!

I realized that I was receiving all this love because I was giving it away. Even if just my thoughts were on giving love to someone else, I was still sending that out. Letting it flow forth from me. And in thanks, the universe had blessed me and presented me with amazing opportunities.

If you give what you can, you’ll make room in your life for more of what you actually need.

Anyway, I’m feeling good. I have a new job. I feel healthy and happy. Maybe it’s the beautiful weather in Vancouver, or maybe the stars have all aligned in my favour. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ve once again, remembered to let go and let the universe guide me along my infinite path.

I was so unhappy a lot of the time for months on end before now. I couldn’t understand why I was suffering so much. Why I wasn’t getting what I wanted. Now, I can look back I see that I needed that time to learn important lessons. That I needed that time to prepare.

I thought I knew what I wanted. In my mind I did, but did my subconscious know too? Sometimes, in order to get what we want, we have to train our entire being to listen to us. We’re used to ignoring some of our thoughts. So it’s important, when we really want something, to drill it into ourselves. If you want to travel, training your subconscious mind that you truly want to take a trip, can be as easy as getting a passport. Packing your suitcase. Preparing for your new reality. Trick yourself if you have to! Do whatever it takes to get on the frequency you want to be on!

In the end, if you want something, you’re going to get it. So stop choosing to suffer and get in the flow. Meditate. Watch for signs all around you. Ask your guides for help. Remember, that you’re loved and appreciated.

After all that, I still do believe in timing. Even if you want something badly and prepare and know it’s yours, sometimes you’re just not going to get it until the timing is right. A part of you that’s bigger than all of this knows it’s what you don’t need just yet. And there’s always a reason for it. And you know it!

God never gives you more than you can handle…

image source: awaken5d

Patience is key.

New Paradigm

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:22:00 -0700

I was feeling a little depressed a while ago and unloved. I felt like I wasn’t getting the respect or attention I deserved. So I sought guidance. I asked a friend for help. Yesterday I received an amazing message from a friend that suddenly made me feel hopeful about my future again. Suddenly, I remembered my power, my strength. I was glowing. I could do anything. But I then I realized that it wasn’t the message from my friend that had changed me. It was me. I had changed my thoughts about myself and my situation. And suddenly, everything was clear. There was no more worrying about the future, living in fear. There was only now and the now was good. I knew things were going to be okay.

So where did all this sudden acceptance and self-assurance come from? No, not from the outside world. Not from the message. Not from my friend, but from myself. It had been there all along. I had just forgotten what it felt like.

So I went about my day happy and carefree, not worrying about the past or future. Present. I allowed myself to be happy, even though I wasn’t where I wanted to be yet. And then it dawned on me… I had a choice: On the road to success, I could either walk miserably along, in fear, or I could skip along, going with the flow, open to new things that would come my way.

Complaining about a situation really doesn’t make any sense. You only give power to what you don’t want to happen. You send out negative vibrations that help make your unwanted reality a real one. So what should we do instead? The answer is simple: stop resisting. Entirely. Even if you’re stuck in a job that you don’t like and want to be doing something else, resisting and complaining will get you nowhere, and in fact, will keep you put! Instead, just let go. If you’ve done all you can to change your situation and don’t want to walk away, the only thing left for you to do is accept the present and let the universe do the rest. By choosing to be happy anyway, despite the fact that you’re not where you want to be in life, you’ll be sending out positive vibrations and helping your desired reality come into fruition. By choosing to love entirely, you’ll have no choice but to be in the present. And when you’re in the present, your higher self, God, whatever you want to call it, can work through you and help you realize your potential. You’ll realize your goals easier and more quickly and the road to success will be a smooth, enjoyable one. As ironic as it sounds, letting go is the key to getting everything you want. Trying to control everything and getting upset and angry when things don’t go your way is futile, not to mention, insane.

I came across an excerpt from Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth” yesterday in a magazine and it really made my revelations seem even clearer:

Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance. The fact is whatever you think the world is withholding from you, you are withholding from the world. You are withholding it because deep down you think you are small and that you have nothing to give.

Try this for a couple of weeks and see how it changes your reality: Whatever you think people are withholding from you—praise, appreciation, assistance, loving care and so on—give it to them. You don’t have it? Just act as if you had it and it will come. Then, soon after you start giving, you will start receiving. You cannot receive what you don’t give.

Outflow determines inflow. Whatever you think the world is withholding from you, you already have, but unless you allow it to flow out, you won’t even know that you have it.

I realized that all the love I felt I wasn’t receiving, I wasn’t giving to the world. When I had reached out to a friend and praised her, gave her love, and sought advice, suddenly I could feel my own love. I knew that I was full of love. That I was love and that I had nothing at all to fear.

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I’ve also been wanting to share my favourite astrologer, Tom Lescher, with you for a while:

He does a weekly astrology report for youtube and is one of the most insightful and amazing people to listen to. He obviously has studied the stars in depth, and I can appreciate that, but I truly do enjoy his sense of humour the most. He takes his work seriously, but presents it with such a beautiful lightness.

On his website: www.newpa.info he describes his type of astrology as such:

New Paradigm astrology views the birthchart as a picture of your subconscious, a blueprint of your soul. It differs from other approaches in that it takes this blueprint as a stepping off point into the deeper layers of your psychic/spiritual soul. It says that we evolve through our emotions, through feeling them, processing them and integrating them. That this evolutionary process involves quieting the mind, getting out of the head, and into the emotional and physical bodies.

In this sense, New Paradigm astrology is not predictive, we are not concerned with particular future events but with the underlying cause of all the events of our lives. We identify this underlying cause as the projection of all our suppressed feelings going back lifetimes, that appear to be coming toward us from the outside world. We view the outside world as a mirror reflection of our unconscious soul and take it as our purpose to cleanse, release, and renew ourselves, thereby tapping into the highest levels of our soul/spirit awareness. Astrology functions as the map while our desire functions as the fuel to power our physical/emotional vehicle to our next level of awareness.

Tom Lescher is so relatable. I find myself looking forward to his weekly pele report to verify everything I’m feeling and going through! He reminds me that I’m not alone in my beliefs as well and that there’s nothing to worry about.

When it comes to astrology in general, there’s a lot of phony information out there. But I do believe that some people know how to read the stars and understand that the heavens are really just a macrocosm of us. If everything really is interrelated, then obviously what’s going on up there has to have some sort of effect on us. We really just came from stars after all… the same atoms that are in the universe, are in us.

Peace

Beat Boxing

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:00 -0700

I love Dub Fx and Flower Fairy! They met while travelling in Manchester, hit it off, and decided to travel the world and busk together. Dub Fx beat boxes and sings and raps and uses Live looping to create hip hop, reggae, and drum and bass songs! Flower fairy sings sweet and catchy reggae sounding songs. It’s so clear that they love each other from watching them in videos and interviews. It’s so romantic and wonderful! :) They seem so genuine. I wish there were more artists our there like these two… making music for the love of it, not for the fame, and money.

Another beat boxer I adore is Masta Mic, from Russia. I love his youtube videos. He has such high energy and seems like he’s having the best time ever. He’s also dead sexy! ;)

Any beat boxers you guys like? Send me a message or submit! I’d love to hear more awesome music!

It’s a beautiful day today. The sun is shining. Going to do some yoga and then go for a run!

I was feeling a bit depressed a few days ago and couldn’t seem to shake it. Maybe it was because the moon was so close to the earth? Anyway, I was watching Sonia Choquette interviews, trying to make myself feel better, and I learned a good trick for simplifying your day and setting your intention:

When you get up in the morning, ask yourself what you want to focus on for that day. Just one thing. For example, you could say, I want to feel happy at work. And then do it. It will literally train your subconscious to direct you to your goal. Then, at night, ask yourself what you learned that day. It seems simple, but by setting your intention and your heart/mind on your goal, you’ll see that universe will conspire to help you. Or you’ll just feel more motivated, etc. And you’ll see that if you really want something, it’s as easy as knowing and believing that it’s yours.

Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

Wed, 09 May 2012 23:47:00 -0700

I’ve been a vegetarian for around a decade now, for not only ethical reasons, but for health reasons as well. My ideas about food have changed with time. Instead of eating things that “haven’t been killed”, etc… I look at food now in terms of energy. We are what we eat. Literally. Food provides us with the energy to function, to think, to exist. And if freedom and happiness, etc are states of mind, then eating the right foods is vastly important as they directly affect the energy of the mind.

I recently came across an article Chapter Four of Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet by Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalananda Giri) on this tumblr blog: ascensionawareness

It was basically about how everything is energy. The mind is a vibrating mass of energy. It can vibrate quickly or slowly according to what foods we eat.

Certain elements darken the mind and make it thick or heavy, vibrating very slowly–sometimes seemingly not at all. On the other hand, some elements lighten the mind, making it fluid and subtle, vibrating at a very high level. It is this latter condition that is needed for attaining the state of liberation–or rather, the state that liberates the spirit from the illusion of bondage and suffering. It is really the mind that becomes liberated, but that liberation also affects the essentially ever-free spirit and sets it free. To attain such liberation the mind must be purified and refined, vegetarian diet being one of the best and strongest means for its purification.

image source: FOOD Pornography

We (hopefully) all know that fruits, veggies and whole grains are good for us. But why? Because their full of vitamins and antioxidants and things that are helpful and useful to us! I’m at the point in my life right now where if it’s not good for me, I’m not going to put it in my mouth. Our bodies are our temples and they’re the only places we have to live, so we have to treat them right.
Plant food, particularly, raw, unprocessed, simplified plant food, is full of prana. When we consume this prana, we are able to vibrate at a high frequency. We feel more energized, light, aware, pure. This frequency is so powerful that it even pushes out lower, negative frequencies out of the body.

When we’re consuming this perfect energy and not polluting our body with toxins and chemicals, which lower our frequencies, we remain light and spacious enough to connect to the divine. When we’re eating foods filled with the wrong kind of energy, dead food that makes us vibrate at a lower frequency, it’s harder for us to connect to the source.

This seems very mystical, but when you think about it, isn’t it completely simple and logical? What we eat directly translates to our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical bodies. It determines how we function and interact with the world.

The way to connect to your higher self is through the body, so in order to feel God, you have to remain a good vessel.

So yes, I’ve adopted a vegan diet for now. I eat a lot of raw food, but I do cook grains like quinoa. I just read, however, that you can actually soak quinoa for 8 hours and then rinse it again and eat it without cooking it whatsoever! AMAZING! I’ll have to try it and see if it still tastes good! ;) Excited.

In terms of energy, I’ve been eating super healthy for over a week now, and I feel even MORE energized, MORE awake. MORE focused. I’ve been eating regular meals and snacks, just healthy ones. I’ve gotten over my sugar cravings, and in general, I’m just not as hungry for crappy food. I also feel more aware, in my daily life. It feels fantastic. I urge you to try this diet!

In a regular day, I usually consume a big bowl of oatmeal with berries and fruit and sometimes nut butter for breakfast. I try to incorporate coconut oil into my food as well, or I just eat spoonfuls of it! For lunch, I’ll have grains and veggies and more fruit. For dinner I’ll have whatever I feel like, usually more grains and some snacks, like dates, if I feel like I need some sweetness. I drink coffee with almond milk throughout the day as well and drink lots of water! This morning, I had a piece of whole grain toast with chocolate almond butter and banana slices. I mixed up my own almond butter with some raw cocoa powder. SO GOOD! And good for you!

Being healthy can be fun, creative and inspiring. And after a while, it becomes a way of life.

I wasn’t going to make this blog personal, but it’s sort of become that way… and I’m thinking that I’ll just let it happen. Go with the flow, right? So, on a particularly personal note, I’ve been realizing just how important meditation is. I know I’ve preached about it to people again and again, but it truly is. When I meditate in the morning, my entire day is easier. I’m calmer. I get less caught up in my head, and if I do, I can let go of thoughts easier. I accept the moment easier. I feel more aware of the truth of the moment. I feel like I can observe more about any situation and understand not only my perspective, but others’ around me. Ultimately though, I remember that I am a spirit here for a short time inhabiting a human body, here to enjoy life, learn at my own pace, and enhance my consciousness. I remember that things change, and that it’s important not to get too attached to situations or people. I remember to not get so attached to the DRAMA here. I approach life with a lightness of mind and heart and remember to laugh. Remember to be grateful for the gift. I’m generally just happier to be alive after I have. So yes, I urge you to meditate! It’s just as important as eating the right kind of food! They both help you vibrate on the right frequency!

Will probably post some yummy vegan recipes soon!

Happy snacking :)

Trust Your Vibes

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:54:00 -0700

I was given, by my mother, the book Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette for Christmas last year and I’ve finally gotten around to reading it. And finishing it. (I read a lot of books…)

Sonia is a world-renowned author, storyteller, vibrational healer, and six-sensory spiritual teacher.

Her novel instantly spoke to me. It encompassed a lot of my own beliefs and made them more concrete. Sonia talks about keeping the body healthy, eating the right foods, so you can feel your vibes easier. What are vibes? Messages we get from our sixth-sense. Sonia believes, as do I, that we all have a six-sense, and that with practice and care, it can be fine-tuned.

She talks about training the mind to focus on the sixth-sense. A simple saying such as, “Higher self take over, push my ego aside” will help. Basically, we can get train ourselves to get rid of the useless chatter, the confusion and fear, and let our higher selves take over.

Sonia also describes how we can listen to the body for answers. I’ve personally always done this… When I meet someone who creeps me out, I start to shiver. Or everything feels tight, etc… When I’m around good people, I feel light, warm, even fuzzy… etc.

It’s all about figuring out how to trust your intuition, not laugh off your “crazy ideas and feelings”… It takes practice, for sure, but everyone has the ability to tap into their sixth-sense. It’s good to surround yourself with other six-sensory people so you don’t have to embark on the journey alone. (I grew up in a household where the words “ghosts” and “psychic” were used often… I guess that’s why I’m so comfortable talking about this now.)

Sonia talks about creativity and how it’s interconnected with spirit. Creativity doesn’t have to be limited to art, drawing, etc… People are creative in many ways… in sports, in gardening, etc… It’s just important that we do the things that we love… the things that turn off our thoughts and connect us to our heart centres. The things that allow the universe to flow into us.

Another idea, (which I have the most trouble with) is relaxing. Sonia talks about the importance of having fun, laughing, being silly, and relaxing. Trusting that the universe is taking care of you. And the ironic thing? The more fun you have, the more fun you’re going to have. The more love you send out, the more love you receive. The more you go with the flow of life and trust that you’re being taken care of, the more synchronicities, miracles, and amazing opportunities will appear in your life. Trust that you’re loved. You are.

One idea from the book that really stuck with me was how most people go about their day meeting people and then instantly making false assumptions and judgements. Sonia suggests that instead of making judgements when we first meet people, try to look at them from the eternal place in you. Look from that place into the eternal place in them. Don’t judge, just see the truth.

I’ve been practicing this in my daily life at work. Instead of thinking things about the people I come in contact with, I really try to see into their souls, from my own. Because, in actuality, no matter what they look like, deep down, they’re the same as me.

The other day I found myself in a strange place and instantly my ego wanted to judge, compare, insult. But then I stopped. I worked through being uncomfortable. I was okay being vulnerable and then I just let life happen. I looked from my soul into another soul and realized that there was nothing to fear all along. Suddenly, I saw beauty all around me. I saw truth. I saw hope.

We’re all in the same journey, just in different places. Some of us are good at certain things and lack in other places and vise versa. I feel like I’ve let go a lot and it makes me happy. Instead of holding onto my false sense of “control”, I’ve realized that’s it so much more powerful, to just let go and be vulnerable. Be unsure. Be free.

image source: live4thesunshine

Hats and Streets

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:49:00 -0700

It was 420 yesterday, and in honour of that, I got a little blitzed. I also went shopping recently and got a really cute vintage hat… I’ve never worn hats, but I’m suddenly all about hats. Love them!

This is me:

I’ve been listening to The Streets a lot lately… so beautiful. I’m not much of a hip-hopper, but I can appreciate the language in the songs. It’s poetry to my ears.

Love this song especially. So calming…

Have a relaxing, beautiful, glorious day!

Coconut Oil and Oatmeal

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:42:00 -0700

I’m seriously obsessed with coconut oil. It’s AMAZING! I eat it daily… spoonfuls of it… and I’ve been rubbing it all over my body after the shower, even on my face. It feels so natural, healthy and luxurious on my skin! It’s a fallacy that it’ll give you pimples… just because something is oily, it doesn’t mean it’s going to clog your pores! It soaks into your skin and actually repairs your cells and keeps your skin healthy and glowing! You can also use it on your hair! Ahhh! So amazing… Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is a medium chain fatty acid. MCFAs are easy for your body to break down. YES! This fat is GOOD for you!

Anti-aging, anti-cancer… if that isn’t enough, check out 160 reasons why coconut is absolutely amazing… read this.

I’ve also recently become obsessed with oatmeal… I’ve been eating it everyday for breakfast…
I boil rolled oats, apples and raisins and then top it with almond milk, goji berries, chia seeds, cocoa nibs and cinnamon. Sometimes I add almond butter. Mmm… heavenly and healthy and full of fibre and antioxidants! Seriously, this is the best breakfast ever.

I’ll probably write another article on superfoods later. Because I’m a health nut and love spreading info on healthy YUMMY food! :)

Yum yum. Aum aum.

Buddhism

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:49:00 -0700

I’ve been interested in Buddhism for a while now. One of the major reasons why I’m so attracted to it, is because it’s not really a religion in the way most people view religions. It’s more of a philosophy, a way to live a good life and rid yourself of suffering. In Buddhism, there isn’t a God that is going to come save you. You and you alone are responsible for your happiness, for your own evolution.

I’m going to go over a few of the main tenets that most resonate with me so you can find joy in them and apply them to your life if you wish. There’s a lot of information out there on Buddhism and the different sects and it can get pretty confusing, so I’m going to try and make this article relatable and useful. I’ve quoted a lot of info from here.

In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths:

1. Life as we know it ultimately is or leads to suffering/uneasiness (dukkha) in one way or another.
2. Suffering is caused by craving. This is often expressed as a deluded clinging to a certain sense of existence, to selfhood, or to the things or phenomena that we consider the cause of happiness or unhappiness. Craving also has its negative aspect, i.e. one craves that a certain state of affairs not exist.
3. Suffering ends when craving ends. This is achieved by eliminating delusion, thereby reaching a liberated state of Enlightenment (bodhi);
4. Reaching this liberated state is achieved by following the path laid out by the Buddha.

The path laid out by the Buddha is the Noble Eightfold Path.

Prajñā is the wisdom that purifies the mind, allowing it to attain spiritual insight into the true nature of all things. It includes:
1. dṛṣṭi (ditthi): viewing reality as it is, not just as it appears to be;
2. saṃkalpa (sankappa): intention of renunciation, freedom and harmlessness.

Śīla is the ethics or morality, or abstention from unwholesome deeds. It includes:
3. vāc (vāca): speaking in a truthful and non-hurtful way;
4. karman (kammanta): acting in a non-harmful way;
5. ājīvana (ājīva): a non-harmful livelihood.

Samādhi is the mental discipline required to develop mastery over one’s own mind. This is done through the practice of various contemplative and meditative practices, and includes:
6. vyāyāma (vāyāma): making an effort to improve;
7. smṛti (sati): awareness to see things for what they are with clear consciousness, being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion;
8. samādhi (samādhi): correct meditation or concentration, explained as the first four jhānas.

Even though I don’t consider myself a Buddhist, I still try to incorporate these beliefs into my life. Anyone can see that these ideas will help you lead a happy life. I try to live as honestly as I can and see things for what they are. A lot of people tend to live in delusion, or sleepwalk through life, not seeing things for what they are, and instead letting their biases skew the truth. I know that I’ve fallen into this habit myself… making judgements about people, creating stories in my mind about them, instead of searching for the truth.

Another idea in Buddhism that I like is Karma. Karma drives saṃsāra, which is the cycle of suffering and rebirth. Good, skillful deeds (Pāli: “kusala”) and bad, unskillful (Pāli: “akusala”) actions produce “seeds” in the mind which come to fruition either in this life or in a subsequent rebirth. The avoidance of unwholesome actions and the cultivation of positive actions is called śīla (from Sanskrit: “ethical conduct”). Basically, do good and good things happen to you.

When it comes to rebirth, Buddhism rejects the concept of a permanent self or an unchanging, eternal soul. According to Buddhism there ultimately is no such thing as a self independent from the rest of the universe (the doctrine of anatta). Rebirth in subsequent existences must be understood as the continuation of a dynamic, ever-changing process of “dependent arising” (“pratītyasamutpāda”) determined by the laws of cause and effect (karma) rather than that of one being, transmigrating or incarnating from one existence to the next.

This is a bit different than Hindu believes, which focus on the existence of a soul, or true self…

In Buddhism, there is a central theme of impermanence: Everything we can experience through our senses is made up of parts, and its existence is dependent on external conditions. Everything is in constant flux, and so conditions and the thing itself are constantly changing. Things are constantly coming into being, and ceasing to be. Since nothing lasts, there is no inherent or fixed nature to any object or experience. According to the doctrine of impermanence, life embodies this flux in the aging process, the cycle of rebirth (saṃsāra), and in any experience of loss. The doctrine asserts that because things are impermanent, attachment to them is futile and leads to suffering (dukkha).

Basically, since things are always changing and you’re a “new” person with every new moment, don’t get attached to the “you” you are now. Buddhism also talks of the idea of Not-self. In essence, any concepts about “I” or “mine” are constructed by the mind. The Buddha even rejected both of the metaphysical assertions “I have a Self” and “I have no Self” as ontological views that bind one to suffering.

And if you’re wondering why Buddhists refrain from drinking, it’s because being drunk makes it harder to stay true to the Eightfold path, which makes it harder to be a good person and become enlightened… And why are a lot of Buddhists vegetarians? Because they practice compassion for all living things and practice living a non-harmful life. I’m a vegetarian myself, but after a lot of consideration, I can understand why people eat meat. If we really are all one, then we shouldn’t discriminate between animals and plants, etc. Even eating vegetables is eating life… Does one life deserve to be alive more than another? Does one thing feel more pain? Maybe we just can’t understand another life form’s pain… and that doesn’t make it any less worthy of life. So the conclusion I’ve come to is this: respect the life you consume. Only take what you need, and do what makes you send out love. For me, eating meat doesn’t make me feel love, but for others, it might, so it’s right for them. Make sense?

So what’s the moral of the story? Relax, be kind, and go with the flow. Stop worrying and let the universe guide you.

Namaste

image source: cocaineandabel

Inkspoon

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:59:00 -0700

Inkspoon is my new favourite clothing brand! They create amazing, unique silk-screen designs on comfortable yet stylish clothing.

Usually, our design series’ are based on a theme or concept, whether a cultural myth, an abstract idea, an archetype or even a type of music. Usually the content of a series reflects our current life process; what we’re reading, what we’re listening to, where we’ve travelled. In short, Inkspoon reflects our process of evolution.

I love this:

I also love how the designers met at Emily Carr… a university in my city. As an artist, it gives me hope… If you truly want to do something, there’s a way to make it happen!

Visit their website: here

I also love their mission: We have been blessed with the opportunity to design and build our own home and studio here. Our goal is to build a completely self-sustaining living building, run by solar and wind power, in an endeavour to live and make art and clothing as consciously as we possibly can.

So inspiring.

Qigong

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:26:25 -0700

Qigong is a great way to increase your vital energy. It’s so relaxing and easy to do. At any age, this ancient Chinese exercise can be practiced. Qigong, pronounced “chee-gung”, has it’s roots in Chinese medicine, martial arts and philosophy. It translates to “energy work”. It helps balance chi in the body and is thought to help awaken people to their true potentials, their true natures.

I came across this short video a while ago and gave it a go. I felt so calm and energized after, the same way I feel after doing yoga… totally aware, yet calm. I could feel my hands prickling with energy, my heart calm and steadfast.

Qigong also helps you release negative energy, and protects you from other peoples’ unwanted energy. All around, a fun easy way to stay centered and energized.

If you want to bring your dreams into reality, you need the energy to do so! A few simple ways to create more energy are:

-Breath work
-Exercise
-Sleep
-Healthy Food
-Meditation
-A good mental state

Have a beautiful day!

Fashion and Spirituality

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:09:00 -0700

Something that I’ve always struggled with is my desire for clothing. Every so often, I get really inspired by fashion and tell myself that I need a certain outfit to be happy. That once I have this outfit and people see that I truly am fashionable and have-it-together, I’ll feel okay.

image source: au-courant

I catch myself falling into egoic patterns of thought. It sounds stupid and feels stupid, but for some reason, I continue to let myself think that clothes will make me happier than I already am. Eventually, I buy something, and I get really excited for a short while. Maybe I go take pictures in my new outfit and post them online or something. And then realize, that no one actually cares. Okay, maybe they care a little. Maybe they’re inspired or intrigued, but in the grand scheme of things, they don’t like me any better. I haven’t become a more admirable person.

“And every pleasure or emotional high contains within itself the seed of pain: its inseparable opposite, which will manifest in time.”-Eckhart Tolle

So the question remains, if something makes me so happy, is it wrong to want it? Is it wrong to have desires at all? I’ve done quite a bit of thinking on this subject, and the conclusion I’ve come to is, no. I believe it’s all right to have dreams, goals, desires. It’s okay to be passionate. It’s okay to love a pair of shoes, a nice dress, etc… If it’s making you give out love, then that’s good! You’re sending out love into the world, which creates more love! But… there’s a catch. I also believe that, though it’s okay to love things, (we are living in a material world) we have to remember not to get too attached to them. We can enjoy a pair of shoes, fine, just as long as we remember that the shoes are not an enhancer of self. It’s a tricky tightrope walk, to be able to appreciate beauty, but not let it rule your life. At least, it is for me!

A new outfit might bring you joy, and that’s good! Life is meant to be enjoyed! I enjoy fashion because I look at it as an amazing expression of human creativity and beauty. But I remember that clothing won’t make me truly happy. I remember that clothes fade, wear out, rip, fall apart. I never stay tuned into fashion for long. I get really inspired and let it take over my thoughts and then I slowly remember that it doesn’t matter as much as I think it does. That I have bigger things to ponder.

The key is balance and a lightness of mind. Don’t take things so seriously. Again, enjoy without becoming attached. I find that I’m most attracted to people who are genuinely happy and grateful to be alive. People who are kind, honest, loving and open. People who live with integrity. People who do what they want because it makes them happy. People who know they’re free. People who follow their hearts and live out their dreams. People who, filled with childhood curiosity and vitality, go out on adventures to simply enjoy being alive, rather than worry what they look like while living!

It’s these people whose light emanates from their beings. We see this light in other forms and know it instantly: in a flower, in a child, in nature. This light we don’t have to label or dissect to understand and appreciate. It’s this light that we see when we notice beauty, in any shape or form. We can recognize it, without thought, just by simply observing.

So in essence, yes, I believe that beauty is important and should be appreciated. It’s a part of life. Just remember that all forms are transient. The beauty you are perceiving is really just a glimpse into the eternal.

Sisters of the Black Moon

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:19:08 -0700

I’m in love with this clothing line: Sisters of the Black Moon. They sell vintage and new stuff on their website. Their about me is wonderful:

The radiant witch’s coven that is Sisters of the Black Moon opened its pearly black gates in February 2010, when Sisters Sara Larocca-Ramm, Rachel Hunt and Alecia Marcum were on a moonlit mission to one of their favorite vintage stores somewhere on the side of the I-35 between Austin and Dallas.

As Fleetwood Mac drifted on the radio and the planets aligned, the starry-eyed ladies conceived of their “moonchild”: an online vintage store hawk(wind)ing a wicked mix of rock & roll threads, Victorian inspired antiquities, hand-crafted amulets & emblems. Like a black Nightshade-induced hallucination from a Belladonna dilated third eye, Sisters of the Black Moon cast spellbinding sartorial visions that entice and enchant.

With a unique astral aesthetic that is reminiscent of the uninhibited spirit of Frank Zappa’s GTO’s or an all-girl proto-metal band, in less than a year these ladies have transformed Sisters of The Black Moon into a veritable (dark) force of style sorcery to be reckoned with. Seducing and inducing cosmic visions from beyond the dark side of the rainbow, these ladies will have you Come to the Sabbath and dance under a full Black Moon in the most interstellar clothing imaginable.

Here are some of their beautiful editorial shots:

May your day be filled with enchantment.

Pranayama

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:36:00 -0700

Pranayama is the science of breath control.

image source: thethingsthatintrest

Prana: life force
Yama: discipline or control
Ayama: expansion, non-restraint, or extension

Thus, pranayama focuses on the control of breath. Our breathing is automatic, but if we learn how to master it, we can use it to revitalize ourselves and rid our bodies of toxins.

I recently came across a great yoga and meditation website. This is where the following information comes from. I urge you to check out the website for yourself!

Here are two great yoga breathing exercises to help you improve your oxygen levels, lose weight, and generate energy:

Bhastrika Yoga Pranayama (Bellows Breath) is a great way to generate vital energy

It also:

-Boosts your metabolic rate so your body burns fat faster promoting natural weight loss.
-Purifies your gross and subtle body by eliminating toxins and waste.
-Generates heat in your body and opens up your energy pathways.
-Builds lung capacity and helps clear and strengthen the respiratory system.
-Expands and fortifies your nervous system.
-When done forcefully, the pulsating of the diaphragm massages the internal organs, thus improving your digestive system.

To practice this breathing exercise:

-Sit up in a comfortable position.
-Elongate your spine upwards, lengthen your neck and subtly bring your chin back and in like a soldier at attention. This will align the spine with the back of your head.
-Close your eyes.
-Place your hands on your knees.
-Relax your stomach muscles.
-Now begin to breathe as forcefully as comfortable through the nose with equal emphasis on the inhalation and exhalation. The diaphragm should expand and contract in conjunction with your breathing. All the breaths should be deep and powerful and you should try to establish a steady rhythm. The pace should be about 1 second for inhalation and about the same for exhalation.
Do a round of 10 repetitions and then inhale completely, hold your breath in for 1-5 seconds and then exhale completely. This completes 1 round. Take a short break.
Work your way up to doing 5 rounds.

Kapalbhati Yoga Pranayama is another exercise that helps with a myriad of physical functions, but also helps to purge your system of negative energy.

Some of the effects are:

-Works on the Heart Center (Anahat Chakra) and associated organs and systems of that region. Thus improving respiration, lung capacity and blood circulation. Kapalbhati helps cure associated diseases of this region (asthma, bronchitis etc).
-Works on the Naval Center (Manipura Chakra) and associated organs and systems of that regions. Thus improving digestion and elimination. Cures diseases and imbalances associated with this region such as indigestion, gas, diabetes, etc.
-Practiced over time, Kapalbhati Pranayama also helps reduce abdominal fat, fight obesity, tone abdominal muscles and bestow core abdominal strength and power.
-From an emotional stand point Kapalbhati Pranayama puges the system of accumulated emotional debris such as anger, hurt, jealousy, hatred etc., thus dissolving the blockages and removing the imbalances such emotional history causes in the energetic pathways. The cleansing of the energetic pathways (nadis) increases the magnitude and flow of prana (life-force) and Kundalini Shakti (energy) throughout all regions of the body.
-From a mental stand point Kapalbhati Pranayama assists in throwing out all negative thoughts from the psyche. thus, helping to cleanse and illuminate the mind.
-From a body stand point Kapalbhati Pranayama should be used to eject any illnesses, diseases, weaknesses from the body thus allowing it grow in health, vitality and vigor.
-Generates heat in the system to help dissolve toxins and waste matter.
-Adds luster and beauty to your face.

To practice this breathing exercise:

-Elongate your spine upwards, lengthen your neck and subtly bring your chin back and in like a soldier at attention. This will align the spine with the back of your head.
-Close your eyes.
-Have your hands in Gyan Mudra. In Gyan Mudra have your thumb tips and index finger meeting, with the wrists resting gently on the knees and the palms turned slightly upwards.
-Relax your stomach muscles.
-Now expel the air as forcefully as you are comfortable with through the nose. This should cause the abdominal muscles to contract sharply and should draw the abdomen inwards towards the spine (like when you suck in your stomach). Then allow the inhalation to occur completely passively without any additional effort. To repeat, the exhalation is done using conscious sharp force, while the inhalation is just a recoil action bringing the air back into the lungs. All the breathing takes place through the nose. Right after the passive inhalation, exhale again forcefully and continue at a steady rhythm.
-Do a round of 10 repetitions.
-Work your way up to doing 5 rounds, while taking a break between each round.
-Practice Note: Unlike doing Bhastrika Yoga Pranayama you use force during both the inhalation and the exhalation, in Kapalbhati force is only to be used during the exhalation.

I usually do a pranayama exercise before my meditation to raise my vital energy or Kundalini.

I’ll leave you with a great quote I read off of anmolmehta:

Think of Kundalini as smoldering embers deep within you and think of Bhastrika as waves of prana stoking and igniting these embers. Be ready to handle the inferno!

Eckhart Tolle

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:40:00 -0700

For a long time I was a slave to my mind. I struggled with obsessive thoughts, and couldn’t separate myself from them. I tried to numb myself to make them go away, but that only exacerbated the problem. I came across Eckhart Tolle’s work and it changed my life. Or rather, I allowed it to.

image source: sanciatron

Eckhart has taken ancient spiritual knowledge and presented it in a way that is relatable and easy to understand. One of his main theories is that the mind, and the emotions that arise from thought, are separate from our beings, our true selves, so to speak.

This idea slowly took hold of me and soon I realized that I didn’t have to always listen to my thoughts.They were separate from my being. My mind was now my tool, not my master. It slowly started to sink in that I was also not the clothes I wore, the job I had, the things I’ve done. I wasn’t a label. I could lose the things I owned, but I could never lose myself. I was free.

“Identification with your mind creates an opaque screen of concepts, labels, images, words, judgments, and definitions that blocks all true relationship. It comes between you and yourself, between you and your fellow man and woman, between you and nature, between you and God. It is this screen of thought that creates the illusion of separateness, the illusion that there is you and a totally separate “other.” You then forget the essential fact that, underneath the level of physical appearances and separate forms, you are one with all that is.”

I realized that I didn’t have to assure myself all the time that I was okay. I didn’t have to look for acceptance or recognition or approval. All I had to do was turn inward, to the inner aliveness there.

Being is not only beyond but also deep within every form as its innermost invisible and indestructible essence. This means that it is accessible to you now as your own deepest self, your true nature. But don’t seek to grasp it with your mind. Don’t try to understand it. You can know it only when the mind is still. When you are present, when your attention is fully and intensely in the Now, Being can be felt, but it can never be understood mentally. To regain awareness of Being and to abide in that state of “feeling-realization” is enlightenment.

Eckhart also reminds us that we are always living in the moment. Yes, there’s time, but as we pass through it, we always remain in the moment. A lot of us spend our lives dwelling on the past or thinking of the future. We relive our mistakes over and over again and tell ourselves that we won’t be happy until we’re at this weight, or until we have that car, or until we have that boyfriend, etc… We forget that all we have to do to find truth and happiness and clarity is return to our beings, and the easiest way to do this, is through the moment. Through simply letting go of thought, of ego, succumbing to what is, and feeling the joy of being alive.

Through the moment, the universe works through us. When we are connected to our inner bodies, and thus connected to the source, everything we do is done with care and intelligence. We find joy in everything we do and let love and light flow forth from our beings and into the world. We accept our situation and are grateful for it. Life becomes a gift, not a chore.

So what happens if we can’t accept a situation? Eckhart simplifies this answer: Either find a way to accept it, change it, or walk away. There’s really nothing else you can do. Worrying won’t help a situation. So find a way to accept the situation you’re in, or else find a new one! When we live in the moment and accept it fully, the universe flows through us and our consciousness expands.

Eckhart believes that we’re here on earth to expand our consciousness. To bring love and light into this world. If we continue on in a situation we can’t accept, then the universe isn’t working through us and we’re not taking responsibility for our consciousness.

To put it simply, find joy in every moment. Allow the inner peace and love to flow from you in every situation. Watch your reactions. Finding faults in someone else enhances those faults in you.

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.”

Let go of mental restraints and let life happen. Give up control and fear and realize that you are love, you are light. There isn’t a right or wrong way to live life. There just is. Love the fact that you’re alive and go live!

When you walk through a forest that has not been tamed and interfered with by man, you will see not only abundant life all around you, but you will also encounter fallen trees and decaying trunks, rotting leaves and decomposing matter at every step. Wherever you look, you will find death as well as life.

Upon closer scrutiny, however, you will discover that the decomposing tree trunk and rotting leaves not only give birth to new life, but are full of life themselves. Microorganisms are at work. Molecules are rearranging themselves. So death isn’t to be found anywhere. There is only the metamorphosis of life forms. What can you learn from this?

Death is not the opposite of life. Life has no opposite. The opposite of death is birth. Life is eternal.

quote source

Grimes

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:48:00 -0700

I currently am a little obsessed with Grimes aka Claire Boucher. She’s so unique and cute and is really interesting to see live. I saw her open for Lykke Li a while back and was really intrigued. Her music is strange, beautiful and haunting.

image source: lifestab

She’s so funny in interviews. She’s always bubbly and talkative and seems genuinely happy to be alive. She has a strange but awesome sense of style as well. She seems like she does what she wants, regardless of what people think of her. I admire that.

She describes her work as: “the only means through which I can be fully expressive. It is both an ethereal escape from, and a violent embrace of my experience. The creative process is a quest for the ultimate sensual, mystical and cathartic experience and the vehicle for my psychic purging. Visions was conceived in a period of self-imposed cloistering during which time I did not see day-light. ”

video source: autumnandclaire

The future is now.

Healthy Snacks

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:11:00 -0700

My diet consists of lots of veggies, fruits and whole grains. I like to keep it simple. No chemicals, no preservatives, nothing highly processed or refined. Eating organic greens from the earth makes me feel so healthy and happy. I try to stay away from animal products, but do consume dairy sometimes and don’t beat myself up over it. I think one of the main keys to feeling good about any diet is to give yourself guidelines, but also give yourself a cheat day, so you don’t go crazy and binge when you taste things you’re not supposed to have.

I made kale chips the other day for the first time and ohmygod are they delicious and so easy to make! Kale is not only chock-full of vitamins, but it also contains antioxidants. I’m a big believer in food as medicine. But medicine doesn’t always have to taste yucky.

For my kale chips, I ripped off the kale leaves from the stem and put them into some olive oil and lemon juice. I added sea salt, chilli flakes and some soy sauce. (The soy sauce made the flavour really intense, so if you have more subdued taste buds then I suggest leaving it out.) You can add whatever spices you like. Garlic is another great idea. I put them on a baking pan and let them heat until they were nice and crispy. 350 for 10 minutes should do. They’re such an interesting and yummy yet healthy snack. They would make for a great conversation piece at a party.

image source: wakeupthinspiration

I’ve also been really into curry cashews.

image source: whatthehellaretheymaking

Cashews are great in general. They contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which works like an antidepressant. Much better for you, in my opinion. They make you happy, relaxed, and help to stabilize your thoughts!

Curry cashews are amazingly delicious, but be warned, they are extremely addictive! They contain a lot of fat, but good fat, that helps your heart stay healthy. The ones I got were vegan and contained turmeric. Turmeric is an insanely healthy Indian spice. It prevents cancer, detoxifies the liver, and is a natural painkiller, among other things. You can read about some more of the wonderful benefits of turmeric here.

Happy snacking!

6 Steps to a Well-Balanced Life.

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:46:00 -0700

I’ve always been interested in spirituality. I used to get really excited and tell people about my philosophies on how happiness is a choice. On how if we send out love, we’ll receive it in return. On how our external reality is a direct reflection of our inner self. But, as with most people, I would let my emotions overcome me. I would let anger consume me, and would lash out at those I loved most. I was a hypocrite.

So I made a vow to myself to actually LIVE my philosophies. I spent a while figuring out some guidelines on how to live a well-balanced life. There were no more excuses. I was the only thing stopping me from happiness and fulfillment. It was time to let go of fear and be honest with myself. If I was going to be happy with all aspects of my life, I’d have to pay attention to all aspects of my life!

I’ll be going into more detail on the subjects in my later posts, but for now, these are my guidelines, with straightforward explanations, to living well:

1. Meditate daily

I can’t stress this one enough. During these hectic times, it’s so important to take some time for yourself to find your calm, your centre. Meditation will allow you to align yourself with your purpose.

2. Eat healthy food

The body is a temple and we must respect it. The right food keeps you healthy and strong and also helps to regulate your mood. We connect to the universe through the body, so in order to be a good transmitter, we have to keep ourselves healthy.

3. Exercise at least 3x/week

Exercise is so important for maintaining strength and health. I suggest doing some intense cardio at least once a week to keep your heart in shape. If you’re not a gym rat, why not go for a swim? Walking or hiking in nature is a great way to get exercise and reconnect with the earth. Yoga is another amazing way to revitalize yourself and have fun. There are limitless ways to get in shape and feel good about yourself.

4. Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep is so important as it provides us with the necessary energy to function. If I don’t get a good night’s rest, I don’t have the energy to work out or be happy or stay true to any of my guidelines and I end up feeling horrible. If you’re having trouble sleeping, there are lots of herbal remedies that will help, such as melatonin or Valerian root. And if you work out, you’ll probably sleep easier.

5. Stay on the vibration of love

I’ve only been on this planet for 23 years now, but if there’s one thing that I’ve noticed, it’s this: We create our realities. What we put out, we receive. So if we put out good energy, we’ll receive it back. It’s as simple as that. So focus on the things you love. Talk about the things you love. Be kind to people. Be honest. Be authentic and live with integrity. Get rid of anything in your life that’s holding you back from loving fully. Get rid of shame or guilt. They’re not necessary. Stop letting fear take control. Find what makes you happy and do it!

6. Relax

Don’t get mad at yourself for not having everything that you want. Don’t dwell in the past in re-live all your mistakes. Let go of useless thoughts and remain present. Relax. Things aren’t always going to go your way. Don’t get too attached to outcomes or things. Remember, everything is transitory. This world is transitory. Remain lighthearted. Enjoy life. Laugh.

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