A Special Treat!

This is more than a treat…

Having access to this is more like a blessing!

Colostrum. Nature’s First Food. I like to refer to it as, “White Gold”. Others know it as the “immune milk”.

(Image to the left is clickable!) Colostrum is the milk that is produced by a mother mammal, in the first 24 hours before and after, giving birth. Every mammal produces it, to the best of my knowledge. It is milk, but a special kind of milk. A milk that reformats your entire system. Colostrum is made twelve hours before the mother gives birth, and another twelve after birth. Once the baby is born, it must drink it’s mothers colostrum immediately because of the small window of time to ingest it, and it is what provides the nutrients, immune factors, and growth hormones, to format the child’s system.

There is always an excess of colostrum produced by the mother mammal; More than the baby can consume, itself. This extra colostrum is then free to be consumed by whoever is lucky enough to get their hands on this white gold! That the the ethical and sustainable way of harvesting colostrum. It would be wrong to harvest any of the colostrum before the baby gets its share, for that would effect its health patterns for the rest of its life. Farmers are aware of the necessity of colostrum, and know better than to harvest it early.

It contains 97 immune factors and 87 growth factors. This is why it is commonly referred to as “immune milk”, because it charges our immune system big time! Consider how a new born child needs its immune system to be in optimal condition, being born into a rough society in vulnerable condition. Of course its mothers first milk is going to be charged with these nutrients! It is our first food. I have witnessed these immune factors at work in my own body, upon consuming colostrum. When the momma cows at the local farm I visit have babies, I always pick up some fresh colostrum. Synchronistically, one day when I felt a sore throat/cold coming on, my farmer called me saying that a calf had been born and there was extra colostrum, if I wanted any. I drove right over and picked some up, chugging a half quart of it down immediately. By the end of the evening, the ill symptoms I was having were nonexistent. Talk about a powerful food! Thank you momma cows!

Colostrum is adaptogenic, meaning that it adapts to the bodies needs, regenerating and strengthening your cells and systems. The high levels of growth factors in colostrum have a profound affect on increased lean body mass, while burning fat. For me, after an extended period without animal fats, losing weight and muscle, colostrum was the first animal product I reincorporated into my diet. I saw immediate changes in my muscle mass, in that it grew rapidly and my energy levels began to sky rocket. I felt more grounded in my exercise routines and recovered from my exercise very quickly, with little soreness.

I can easily say that Colostrum is my favorite food, ever. It is nourishing, supportive, regenerative, and rebuilding. Not to mention ~ It tastes amazing! Occasionally, local farms will have fresh Colostrum around times when calves are being birthed, but the most common way to use Colostrum is freeze-dried. I get my freeze-dried Colostrum from the company SurThrival. In my opinion, they have the highest quality Colostrum on the market and are a company of trusted integrity. Their product tastes the best and I have felt the greatest changes and nourishment through the use of their Colostrum. I like to eat it by the spoonfuls (yes, it is that good!) or I make what I call, a “mash-up” with the Colostrum and some organic, local grass-fed raw butter.

The image link below leads to SurThrival’s website, where you can learn more and purchase some Colostrum of your own!

Here the recipe for my Colostrum mash-ups: I call this one “Cookies and Cream”

4-8 heaping tbsp. of Colostrum (as much as you want, really..)

2-6 tbsp. of Organic, Raw Grass-Fed Butter

1 tsp. of Vanilla

2 Chaga Mushroom Capsules from SurThrival

1 tsp. of Stevia (sweeten with whatever sweetener you prefer, to taste)

2-4 tbsp. of liquid ~ Chaga tea, Raw Cream, Raw Milk, Yogurt, etc.

Add all of the above to a bowl, grab a strong spoon, and mash everything up together! This will create a smooth, creamy substance that is spread-like. The addition of the liquid aids in the mashing up of the ingredients.

I highly suggest you add Colostrum, this supremely amazing food to your health strategy as soon as possible!

Body Patterns

Currently, I am in the final week of my training in massage therapy. Yes, I am totally stoked! The culmination of the years work is extremely gratifying, and I am excited to embark on adventures and in projects I have had waiting to greet me upon my completion of the training.

One of the main pieces of knowledge I have taken away from the program, is how strongly emotions manifest as physical ailments within our bodies. Of course, there are the times when there is an actual physical accident that takes place, leaving someone damaged ~ However, even then, our bodies identify emotions to that pain and attach to it. What emotions surfaced during that accident? How did your life change and how did it make you feel? Those feelings saturate themselves into those tissues in pain and we become immune to the equilibrium that we once maintained in that area. What I am really talking about here, is the tension we carry ~ And we all have it. Life isn’t constantly flowing perfectly, and negative emotions do come up, at times. Not only that, but we all have our own stories. Of course, plenty of beautiful stories, but also stories of pain. Painful history can contribute to uncomfortable body patterns. Where do they manifest for you?

Where we feel tightness, tension, pain ~ An emotion is related to that area of sensitivity. Many carry stress in their shoulders, with the abundance of computer usage in society’s workplace, today. Perhaps, someone may have a broken heart, or feel emotionally vulnerable ~ So, their shoulders might hunch over in a subconscious attempt to protect their heart, leading to upper back and shoulder pain.

The stress we carry in our physical bodies is more obvious for some than for others. When someone is tuned into the function of their body, and know when it is most balanced ~ That person will notice when something is awry in their physicality at a more rapid pace, whereas someone who is not in touch with their being may easily slip into an uncomfortable pattern, identify with it, and allow it to encompass them without even really noticing it.

It is great to have a trained bodyworker facilitate the healing of tension in your body for you, but you can read into the area of aggravation to a certain extent on your own. Where is a place that you carry stress? Tension? Sensitivity? Massage the area that is in pain, or feels tight. How do you feel when that area is touched? What emotions come up for you? Anger, grief, vulnerability, sickness? What story or emotional pattern in your life can you correlate with that emotion? Maybe that story has something to do with the tension pattern that has generated within you.

Bodyworkers are intuitively trained to map out these areas of tension in a persons body, so we are excellent resources of support in this process of healing. We work to release the tension with our massage techniques, and hold the space for potential emotions to spill out and evaporate into the cosmos. Those emotions are not always negative, either. Sometimes, a whole roller coaster of emotions can be stored in one area ~ Happiness, laughter, tears, sadness, joy ~ All at once.

For me, a history of emotions have been stored in my wrist in the manifestation of a (ganglion) cyst. A cyst is a calcification filled with synovial fluid (joint fluid) on a joint, and looks like a little marble under your skin. I have had this for six years, and it wasn’t until recently that I began to uncover the emotions that are attached to the pain ~ And let me tell you, it is freaking loaded with emotion. The pain became debilitating at times this year, beginning to affect my work as a massage therapist, my practice of yoga, heavy lifting, and much more. The pain frustrates me. Thus, I have embarked on a journey of healing this area of tension, slowing peeling back the layers of emotion through tears, sickness, laughter, anger, sadness (yes all of those emotions have come up in my process of healing it) ~ With each layer, learning more of the story behind it and more about my personal story. I look forward to the day I am fully healed ~ I know there will be huge revelation when that day comes.

I share this not to imply negativity, but to bring awareness to what happens in our physical bodies in relation to our emotional bodies. They is much more interconnected within us than some are conscious of. I share this information to assist in your healing process. The ability to identify your emotions with a physical body pattern is worth millions. It gets you a step ahead in the healing process every time, knowing that the pain may be emotions that have been chronically unattended to. It is a process. We all have our own baggage to work with ~ Learning how to lighten our load each day, with each connection, realization, and manifestation. Use this information toward your personal being and tap into what is going on for you. Each healing experience takes us a step forward in life ~ Bringing greater health, happiness, success, and abundance.

You are your own greatest healer.

The Four Kingdoms of Food

I wanted to share this great interview that my wonderful partner, Daniel Vitalis, did this past week on Patrick Timpone’s radio show, One Radio Network. Daniel’s teachings revolve around the Elements ~ Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. In this interview with Patrick, he shares information about the Four Kingdoms of Food ~ Animals, Plants, Fungi, and Bacteria ~ How those categories apply to our health and vitality. Daniel goes in depth with information, and strategies to implement into your personal diet to heal and thrive. This is a must listen, for sure!

Follow this link and scroll down, to find the button leading to this amazing interview with D! www.oneradionetwork.com

Visit Daniel at his personal site, www.danielvitalis.com

Fishy Goodness!

This weekend I am up in Maine visiting a few of my close friends, one of whom is a superb traditional style chef. Spring and summer up here means fresh, wild fish from right off the coast, which I am so excited about! This weekend we are going to visit a fisherman down the road to purchase some local fish, who sells fresh fish out of the back of his truck everyday! In my opinion, wild harvested fish are the most nutritionally saturated and stable of fish. Farm raised fish, such as salmon from farms in Canada, are hybridized and unnatural species. I think it is important to consume animals as close to their natural species as possible. Not to mention, it is excellent being able to purchase fish from a local source, rather than fish from the health food store that has been shipped across the U.S. or overseas.

Wild fish are a great source for omega-3 essential fats – Particularly DHA and EPA, the fats that our brain thrive on, use to stabilize and increase function for that matter. Wild fish are full of protein, vitamin A & C, calcium, and iron. The nutritional properties of fish help in protection from all sorts of degenerative diseases, help to treat inflammation, autoimmune disorders, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Not to mention, pretty much all fish are totally delicious! NICE!

Below is a video of my friend Franky, “Chef Franky G”, sharing a simple and delicious crusted wild salmon recipe! Wild salmon are one of my favorite types of fish, and foods in general! Find Franky on youtube for more wonderful video recipes which he posts almost daily, or on his website www.frankgiglio.com

Spring Regeneration

I’m feeling that spring is in full swing at this point! With a few consecutive warm and sunny days up in New England, the renewal of this season has gone into effect. With new seasons, come new chapters in life.

This state of renewal has been flowing strongly through me. Winter seems to be a time of introspection, and boy did I inspect my inner self this winter! Major physical healing, emotional shifting, realization, and over all life transformation took place, for me. With spring at our heels, I feel ready to come out of my winter shell. I having been waking up joyful, to the sun beaming through my window, excited for the adventures to come of the day… and every day certainly is an adventure, it seems! I am awake and prepared for the next phase of this experience and all it has to offer.

I learned something very important this winter, at some point along the emotional roller coaster. I see that there tends to be an image projected at times, or at least there was an image that I attached to at one time or another, promoting that a constant state of bliss, happiness, or joy is the way of life and how we should feel at all times. A kind of fantasy emotional state of being. Maybe it was the teachers whose work I was following previously, or somehow just developed the idea in my head that perpetual bliss was how I should always feel in order to have an abundant, and happy life. Of course, blissful emotion and states of simplistic joy are embraced, welcomed and one of the best feelings in the world – I am not questioning that. Nor am I promoting that a negative attitude or living in a state of anger is normal, or healthy. Really, I came to the realization, that emotions of lower spirits such as a state of melancholy or a surge of anger for whatever reason, are normal. Our emotions ebb and flow like the rolling waves, and are sensitive to the experiences that come up in life.

I somehow cultivated this way of thinking, that if I wasn’t happy all of the time, there was something wrong with me. I wasn’t living my life the way I should be. I was unhealthy. I looked around at people, and moreso teachers whom I admired that seemed to live in these blissful states all of the time. You can imagine the fight that went on between my inner critic and myself, in my head. I was happy (and am very happy, currently) but would experience sorrow, anger, dull emotion, or random gloominess and really resent myself for it. I hated the fact that I wasn’t constantly blissed out, prancing around with a smile on my face. The surges of joy would come and go, and I would always wonder where they went. Why wasn’t I always just purely overjoyed?

Maybe it was the further study of Women, our bodies, and our emotions that brought on this realization, or maybe it was beginning to follow the work of teachers who were more real and open about their emotion. I say, it was probably a combination. Not that I follow the every move of those I study from, but of course we are all influenced by those who teach us on a large scale. My studies of Women, and my experiences with my female teachers kept coming back to the same conclusion: Times of low emotion are just as beneficial as time of higher vibration emotions.

When I found peace with these emotions that I resented myself for experiencing, those surges of bliss became much more frequent and even more intense. Interesting how that works, eh? I made peace with the fact that it is completely natural to experience anger, feel uninspired, or sad. Low times are our teachers. We battle with our emotions and dig up the roots of what brought on those feelings, thus healing ourselves on a deeper level. We are warriors on a quest to heal years, past lives, and the damages done to our earth over hundreds of years. Of course feelings of grief are going to come up, sometimes! Look at what has happened to our world over the years. Our cells are imprinted with the good, and the bad history.

Now, I have learned to embrace the emotions considered to be negative, as much as I do the positive ones. Both have valuable lessons to share with us, bringing forth growth and greater happiness in the long run. The bliss is ever greater, the love ever stronger, and the life ever better!

Feeling gratitude for it all – good and “bad” feelings, and the new chapter I have begun on this path.

Sustainability in an Un-Sustainable Society

The focus of today’s post is around the topic of sustainable lifestyle. For me, it is all about self-reliability. Self-sustainability. Not out of a fear-based mentality, but because I find value in being able to take care of myself without having to rely so dependently on external sources, in any aspect of life. In this context, I am mainly referring to food sourcing and the ability to sustain myself without so many of the tools of domestication we have today. Yes – Primitive skills are important. Who knows what could happen at any moment, leaving you only the tools of nature work with! Say, the power goes out mid-winter, for example. It would come in handy to know the hand-drill method of creating fire, naturally, to heat your home. What about how to layer clothing to retain the most body heat possible? What is the best fiber to wear to retain this heat? The answer is wool, over and over, again! Do you know how to check for dehydration? Well, you can press your fingernail, causing it to whiten… If the pinkish color returns immediately, you are hydrated. If it takes a few seconds, you need hydration. You can use the same method with your skin: Pinch the skin on your hand, and it should snap back into place with elasticity. If it does not, you need water.

The same concept goes for food. I want to know where my food is coming from. Every part of my meal. Personally, I don’t want fruit shipped from Argentina in January, supplied by a farmer I do not know. In my opinion, the least impact I can have on my environment is by sourcing all of my foods locally, from Vermont or within the North East. This involves the least use of fossil fuels in transportation and the knowledge of who is producing the foods I choose to put in my body. I know they are safe, free of excessive toxins from transportation, and from right in my area. They are what my natural environment is providing me; Not an environment in another corner of the world, which I am not tuned into. Not only do I find it important to know my local source of foods, but I like to be able to forage foods on my own. This means, having the ability to identify wild edibles in nature, know how to consume them safely, how to trap animals for consumption in the wild, etc.

For me, self-sustainability is gratifying. Knowing that I can thrive, totally in-tune with my current ecosystem feels natural to me. I do not need papayas in February, flown to Vermont from Hawaii – Killing large numbers of animals in the process due to the toxicity produced by the methods used in getting the produce here. I would much rather take a ten minute drive to a farm near my home, to pick up some nourishing raw, organic milk and cream from some beautiful grass-fed Jersey cows who want to share their milk. Do you know the farmer of your produce? Luckily for Vermonters, we are blessed with an abundance of local foods year round. Winter time brings us tons of root vegetables, great for nourishing soups. Dairy and meat are definitely a staple for me during these cold months, especially. The animal products are always available in abundance. I know the farmers of my food. I play with the cows who give me their milk and see the whole process of where my meat comes from. I see them eating highly-mineralized grass which will be converted into minerals in my body in just a few minutes. A cup of Chaga tea, extracted by myself personally, from a mushroom that I found in the wild forests here in Vermont has healed me on a much deeper level than any supplement imported from China, California, or who knows where, ever has. I feel safe knowing how to build a snow-hut that I can sleep in overnight… Warmly, for that matter! Or how to make totally durable cordage from a plant like Milkweed, that grows abundantly all around the North East.

Yes, we are living in a highly domesticated society at the moment where it may seem these primitive and sustainable practices are useless because technology has replaced these natural methods. However, it is quite the opposite. Now, more than ever, we should be practicing self-sustainability if the whole mission itself, is to pursue sustainability in this lifetime and try and take care of the planet. Maybe we should take a second to consider where our food is coming from and what we would do if we had to survive in an extended power-outage. This world throws us curve balls regularly, and we don’t know what is coming next. It might be a good idea to delve into the knowledge and understanding of living self-sustainably, in honor of your being and Mother Earth.

I find deep passion in practicing these primitive skills and knowing the sources of everything I consume. It brings me the utmost joy and satisfaction to build a fire in my fireplace, completely by hand, for fun (and sometimes out of necessity) – Using two sticks to create a burning coal which I use to light a roaring fire. No matches, no lighters. Going to the farm, hanging with the farmers and cows is totally fun for me. I am anything but fearful! Really, I am excited. Excited to have come to a place in my journey where I am living a lifestyle that feels optimum for my health, happiness, and for the planet!

In January, I attended a primitive skills workshop where we learned how to make fire by hand, build snowshoes with natural materials, build live-able snow huts, create animal traps, etc! Below is a video of our class making the snow huts! I am featured in part of it, helping to build a hut called a Quinzee, that we slept in, in -8 degree weather!

They are totally amazing crew up there, and recommend all of their courses!

One more video I want to share with you, was made by my friends Camille and Frank Giglio. In the video, they share their vision of sustainability and living in harmony with your surroundings. They are on the same mission toward sustainable living as I am, and bring great awareness to the topic!

Shave it or Leave it?

The other day, a reader asked that I share my opinion on a topic that coincidentally has been on my mind frequently, as of late.

I am sure it is one that many of you consider, at least from time to time, as you see those new hairs sprouting through your external layer of skin… Body hair: Do we remove it, or leave it?

Some say, no matter the area, it is a nuisance for them. Physically uncomfortable for others… Might even feel too unconventional. Not to mention, I know there are Women out there who are embarrassed of it, while others feels hair in the armpit region draws uncomfortable attention to themselves. Some Men have corporate jobs where they are required to appear clean cut and “professional” looking. Hmm… Another demographic of people refer to the hair growth in the various regions of their body to giving them a sexy, primal feeling when they let it grow freely. Some Women I know do it because it feels natural, and feminine – Men have told me it gives them the look of age, and they enjoy that feeling. So, what do we do about this naturally occurring bodily function?

Personally, I am in controversy about this subject. I feel it to be so natural to leave it, so more commonly than not, I do let it go wild… All over. However, I can resonate with the Women out there who find that it may draw attention to our bodies, especially in the warmer months when our light clothing exposes the areas with hair, that others are used to seeing bare. With the “norm” for Women in society today, to be to shave our armpits, legs, yoni’s, etc. An image of cleanliness and femininity is associated with shaving. I guess it all depends on how much what works with our lifestyles and comfortability. I personally, am a part of a very accepting community and work scene, where visible body hair in not-so-common places is not out of the ordinary. It feels comfortable to have the natural hair present on my body… Not to mention the fact that I am way too engaged in other areas of life to worry about saving time for shaving. To be honest, I often forget it is even there… Let alone think about ridding myself of it! When I first began letting hair grow on visible areas of my body, I felt some self-consciousness come up, wondering if people wold think it was “gross” or “weird”. Those feelings passed quickly, as I moved on from caring what other people thought about me, in terms of my physicality. This past week I have contemplated the concept of peoples decisions to leave it or remove it, as I move further away from modifying my body hair. It really interests me, how others feel about it and what works and doesn’t work for them… Because as always, we are each so unique to one another!

With that being said – For all others… Do what feels best for you! I do not think there is a right or wrong when it comes to shaving. It is all about what feels most comfortable for you as a human. Traditional cultures left and removed hair from parts of their bodies. To the best of my knowledge, I think that most was kept intact, though. I would, however, like to point out that body hair IS a natural part of our physical creation as humans. This doesn’t mean that Woman or Man needs to keep it on their bodies if it doesn’t feel right to them, but no one should feel embarrassment because of it. The Creator manifested our physical beings to produce hair, all over ourselves, and in the deepest, darkest regions. It is a natural process. We all have it. I feel a twinge of pain for Women who feel they are required to get rid of armpit hair because “only Men should grow it there”. Or further, that leg hair takes away from their femininity. And for those hairy Men out there, who feel that they may be perceived as “gross” for having an excess of chest or back hair. No matter the extent, color, or location of your hairiness… It is all beautiful!

My one suggestion for those who do choose to remove body hair, wherever it may be… Please consider the process you use in taking care of the hair. Know that when you shave, you are opening up the pores on your body which you drag the shaving blade across, substantially increasing the amount your largest absorber – The skin – Is taking in. Be aware of the products you use. If you choose to use shaving cream, check the ingredients. Did you know that the Men’s shaving cream “Barbasol”, and the Women’s shaving “Skintimate”, contain propane in them? Propane, the derivative of petroleum gas, used to fuel engines, stoves, heating systems, etc. Hmm… And people are feeding that to their bodies via their major absorber? Just for clarification, ingesting propane is NOT a good a idea. Would you drink a glass of propane? I doubt it, as it would severely harm your system. Yes, there is a diluted amount in the shaving cream, but it is definitely still having a negative affect on your system. My feeling is this – If you choose to shave, try an organic, all natural cream. Coconut oil or Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap both are great natural alternatives.

If you feel compelled to share you thoughts, feelings, or own practices regarding body hair… Feel free to comment below or e-mail me personally at <strong>gaiascouts@gmail.com</strong>
I honestly would like to hear more feedback from people on this, because I think it is a suppressed topic in need of attention!

To growing and knowing…

Un-Strap and Let Go!

Hours of thought provoking, humorous reading today, along with some hilarious conversation, sparked this entry. I spent the afternoon reading a series of articles that were written and contributed to the Women’s radio website by one of my teachers, Susun Weed. Many of them covered topics as per usual of hers, such as how to prepare nourishing herbal infusions, menstruation, identifying wild edibles, etc. However, two articles in particular caught my attention. Not because they were of a different subject matter than what Susun usually covers, but the way she wrote them seemed to resonate with the theme of my day. Susun has eloquent speech, incorporating a unique sense of humor and emanating wisdom.

The two articles which I was especially intrigued by, were titled “The Vagina” and “Ancient Breasts”. The article “The Vagina” was introduced by Susun in her humorous way.

“I am the sheath of the sword. I am toothed, armed, and ready to bite. I have the power to defend, to keep women safe. I am not passive, accepting, ready to be filled. I am aware, watchful, ready to reject what I don’t want and to seize what I will.

Listen to me and I will tell you how safe we are, right now, in this moment. When we are secure, I am open and receptive, moist and inviting. When we feel threatened, I become cold and hard, hot and tight, irritated, and inflamed. If the danger goes on and on, I weep, I am overrun.

In health and joy, I am a rich and thriving ecosystem: friendly yeasts, beneficial bacteria, and a generous assortment of slippery, slidey lubricants thrive in my tangy-tasting depths.

I am stretchy. I am expansive. Fill me and I yearn for more. I am yielding; I melt, I surrender. Yet in yielding, I deliver. I am the victor. I clench my fist and grab the prize. Mine.

Do you think that I drool? I do. Do you think that I dribble, leak, and flood? I do. I am messy. I push the boundaries. I am greedy. I am slick. I am sleek.

I lie between what is shown and what is hidden. I am both public and private. I am not visible, yet I am the identity of a woman. By my name is woman named. By my power is woman empowered.”

The rest of the article was very informational, describing common issues that come up among Women and practices to maintain vaginal health. I would recommend checking it out, so if you would like to read more of the article, you can find it here.

It was the “Ancient Breasts” article which really got me thinking, in a positive and negative manner. Susun details the sacredness of a Woman’s breasts in the article. The emphasis she put on them set me on the course of pondering a topic that is familiar to me.

I frequently think about the suppression of Women. We currently live in a patriarchal society, where Women have forgotten the sacred Shakti embodiment, that we all have deep within us. Thankfully, there is a growing community of Women out there, working towards facilitating us in remembering our power and loving our bodies. Instead of worshipping their bodies, generally speaking, Women – Young and old – Cake their face with chemical based make-up, stuff themselves with tampons made of toxic chemicals to hide the blood they excrete, and ingest synthetic hormones to try and make the “monthly curse” go away. What if I told you that the “monthly curse” really wasn’t a curse at all? What if I took it further, and said that it is a holy blessing, that provides us with wisdom and guidance? What if I told you that it isn’t natural to strap your breasts down with wire-lined traps, we refer to today as “bras”? If I said your breasts were blissful, flowing with the energy of life, would you agree with me? Ever thought about opening the strapped traps and letting your breasts hang freely?

Unfortunately, Women have been confused into thinking that all of those unnatural practices are normal. Is it really normal to hide your natural beauty and suppress your feminine bodily functions? I certainly don’t think so, and I know a whole lot of Women who would agree with me. Did you know that traditional cultures worshipped Women? Not only did they worship Women, but they viewed functions like menstruation as holy. Elaborate ceremonies were held for young Women upon the beginning of their cycle, aiding in a feeling of reverence for their monthly BLESSING – In comparison to the young girls of today who usually dread it, and immediately want to pretend like it is not there through the use of tampons. The lunar cycles govern the tides and fluids of the female body and our continually shifting balance of hormones. We were created to menstruate with the New Moon and ovulate with the Full Moon every month. Of course this is far from true nowadays because there are so many external chemicals and other factors that cause irregular cycles for Women, but in the perfect world – One without xeno-estrogens and unnatural lighting – This is how the female body functioned. With each New Moon, all of the Women in the village of these ancient cultures would retreat to a sacred space to honor, embrace, and meditate with their menstrual cycle. Today, we are expected to attend work and follow the demands of every day life with no breaks, rather than retreat and meditate.

“From the very flesh and blood and from the constant cycles of filling and emptying the red vase in her belly, a woman understands physically, emotionally, and spiritually that zeniths fade and expire, and what is left is reborn in unexpected ways and inspired means, only to fall back to nothing, and yet be reconceived again in full glory.” ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Did our ancestors have tampons made of rayon and dioxin (two chemicals that have been found to cause cancer and TSS) which they would absorb their blood with? No way! They would bleed into Mother Earth, their gardens, nourishing her and their plant, making the connection for the celestial bodies of the Moon and Earth. What about bras? Were they sporting lacy, pink Victoria’s Secret bras all day everyday… Sleeping in them, for that matter?! Heck no! They were letting their bountiful mounds of bliss free and probably not even wearing clothes most of the time! What about birth control? How did they stay fertile or control pregnancy? They used whole herbs that they harvested from the wild by hand, like red clover and oatstraw to increase fertility, and wild carrot (queen anne’s lace) and neem leaf to keep from becoming pregnant.

The negative aspect of all this for me, is that there are still Women out there who are lost. Still out of touch with their birth right of power, strength, and wisdom. The beautiful and oh-so-positive aspect is, we are only moving forward and upward. There are so many Women out there spreading the message of empowerment and our community is growing. Everyday I find a new teacher to further facilitate my expansion of knowledge and discovery of my innate Goddess.

What I am getting at here, is the fact that being a Woman is a gift – As are our breasts, our yoni’s, our ability to give life, our monthly blood, and so on. We should be embracing our feminine nature and honoring our bodies as the holy temples that they are. Our curves are Mother Natures way of representing the cycles of life that we possess. We are wise and divine Goddesses. All of us.

Women rise up, for all we are worth.
~ ALisa Starkweather

I know this entry is full on, but I am simply trying to express is my passion for empowering my SiStars. Susun Weed was one of many Wise Women who set me on my path of remembering and awakening, and I feel like it is my duty to continue spreading the memories to more Women. So, instead of putting on that make-up, let your beautiful face shine with its natural light! Ditch the bra, even get rid of your panties and go dance to your favorite song – Like no one is watching! How about running outside naked, and letting the sun’s rays nourish the places that it doesn’t usually have the opportunity to? Just don’t let the neighbors see

I would like to share a few resources, for those who would like to delve into this matter further:

Websites:
www.susunweed.com
www.womensradio.com
www.alisastarkweather.com
www.natural-progesterone-advisory.com

Books:
Her Blood is Gold by Lara Owen
Women’s Rituals by Barbara G. Walker
Having Faith by Sandra Steingraber
Woman’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup

Music:
Just for Today by India Arie
Because I am a Queen by India Arie
Tell Him by Lauryn Hill
Empire State of Mind (pt. 2) by Alicia Keyes
Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin
Right to Be Wrong by Joss Stone
Wild Child by Enya
The Healer by Erykah Badu
Something On My Mind by Paula Fuga

There is a wealth of information out there, and it will come to you as you open up to it… As it probably already has for most of you! So, un-strap, open the traps, and let the Wild Woman out!