Creative Sacred Living ISSUE 02 /June 2014
MAGAZINE You Are
Creative Wounded Mother Lost Daughter Homage To The Dark with Deborah Milton
LETTING GO
Featured Artist
Gabriel Tamaya
Yoga as a Spiritual Exercise for Health & Mind
SACRED LIVING - CREATIVE CRYSTALS SIMPLE ORGANIC GARDEN TIPS FOR BEGINNERS THE TOTEM OF THE FROG AS A SYMBOL OF REJUVENATION
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IN THIS ISSUE Pg 4
Letter From The Editor
Pg. 33 Featured Artist Gabriel Tamaya
COLUMNISTS: Pg 8
In Her Shoes with Deborah Milton
Pg. 12 Sacred Living with Theresa Brower Pg. 16 Sacred Nature with Matthew J. George Pg. 26 Renee's Thoughts Worth Catching Pg. 42 Crones Corner with Joanne Parker
CONTRIBUTORS: Pg. 21 Yoga as a Spiritual Excersise for Health & Mind Pg 24 Easy Aloe Skin Care Recipes Pg. 27 You Are Creative with Whitney Freya Pg. 44 God Gave Me the Gift of a Miracle Today Pg 48 5 Simple Organic Garden Tips Pg 50 Organic and Natural Pet Food
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR "Your whole era, your whole Earth is geared to that at this moment and that is one of the changes of this New Age. It is called the arising of the Goddess. It is not just in woman, it is also in man." ~ P'taah... Transformation of the Species At the beginning of every major turning point in human history, a new energy washes
over our planet to bring about change. We are now leaving the age of Pisces, which has lasted some 2,160 years. The New Age of Aquarius will take its place for the same period of time. The spiritual power and wisdom of women are needed in our world today more than ever before. We need to come together to reclaim, honor, and celebrate what is sacred to us, and to explore how our wisdom can influence the way we all live, work, and care for each other, for our communities, and for the Earth. Over the past 50 years or so there has been an unmistakable resurgence of the feminine energy on this planet. It is all around us to wonder about, behold, appreciate, and bring into our way of being. It has been suppressed in women and men for thousands of years. The days of suppression are over. I encourage both women and men to get in touch with their feminine energies, to honor the power of the feminine and to trust themselves and the ways of knowing, including the wisdom of the intuition and the unconscious. The old reality has been ruled by the masculine energies for many ages. The time of the new reality is the time of the feminine. A time for healing, for reclaiming the old wisdom, a time for evolving as a whole on every level!
G
reetings and a warm welcome to the second issue of Creative Sacred Living Magazine!
We couldn’t be more excited to have made it to this point. Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine. You will notice that this is more than just a magazine, it is also an interactive, multimedia presentation. Keep an eye out for clickable links! You can peruse the articles on the "In this Issue" page to choose which to read first (Just click them and you are taken directly to that page). Just as with a paper magazine, you may want to sit and read the whole thing at once, or come back to this issue several times to digest the articles more slowly. When we set out to create an on-line magazine that would promote Creative and Sacred living, one thing I was adamant about was to steer away from the glossy images of the too perfect, product-driven magazines that we all sometimes read. What you will find in the pages of Creative Sacred Living is a collection of inspired and authentic articles written by real, honest, down-to-earth folks who work hard to live deliberately, but who are not afraid to admit the struggles we sometimes face. All sponsor ads in the magazine are from authentic and empowering businesses that I personally recommend and have experienced. I am honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people. Please feel free to send feedback on the articles, to share your thoughts or ask the author a question. Each author has their contact information listed in their bios. We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader! Creative Sacred Living Magazine.com With warmest thanks,
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JUNE 21ST SOLSTICE MASS WORLD TRANSMISSION Free public event 8pm across all time zones JOIN US IN ACTIVATING HUMANITY’S PROSPERITY CODE! For more info www.childrenofthesun.org CHILDREN OF THE SUN FOUNDATION
In Her Shoes
with Deborah J. Milton Homage To The Dark Wherever we are on the planet, solstices call for celebration of the longest days and nights. Here in the northern hemisphere where I live, summer solstice means celebrating the longest hours of sunlight because that means the return of the dark. We joyfully dance and sing: The dark is returning, the dark is returning. Oh hurray for the magic of night, the mystery of the dark. Hurray, hurray, the days are getting shorter! Yeah right! That’s NOT how it really plays out here, is it? Winter solstice in the north always makes me sad. Here we go again saying good-bye to the dark when I never had a chance to say, “Welcome back.” At the same time the southern hemispherians (I hope that’s a legitimate word because I like it!) are celebrating winter’s return of the light, we could be celebrating summer’s return of the dark. But we aren’t and I wonder why we don’t I love night’s mysterious beauty. With longer hours of dark, I can see the day blind stars before I fall asleep. With the return of the early dark, I can experience the northern lights ripping awe from my throat, the moon sparkling diamonds on the snow, the breath of the forest slowing down as trees slumber. I literally feel safer in the dark, reveling in the protective cocoon of blackness. My creative juice quickens in the winter as I turn inward. I love that shift in focus - possible only for those of us lucky enough to be able to adjust our frenetic schedules to account for seasonal changes. Like hot house plants, we modern urban two-leggeds are forced by indoor heat and artificial light to live summers all year long, producing, producing, and producing. No wonder we have a new disease called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I doubt we would feel so sad if we considered it normal to slow down in winter. We forget that for most of human history, we routinely lived in the dark. As Bill Bryson writes in At Home - a Short History of Private Life, “We forget just how… dim the world was before electricity. A candle - a good candle - provides a hundredth of the illumination of a single 100-watt light bulb. Open your refrigerator door and you summon forth more light than the total amount enjoyed by most households in the eighteenth century. The world at night for much of history was a very dark
place indeed.” Apparently, though, our eyes could see more in those days of dim lighting. Bryson shares a drawing by John Harden of four family members sitting “companionably at a table sewing and reading by the light of a single candle, and there was no sense of hardship or deprivation...” They didn’t go to bed when the sun set as many of us suppose. People in the 17 and 1800’s were night owls, often eating dinner after 10 pm, dancing and conversing long after midnight. Urban light pollution has literally dimmed our ability to see in the dark. I learned that from an astronomer on top of Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. He told us that it takes at least twenty minutes for our eyes to adjust to nighttime vision. A simple flashlight beam can demolish that acuity. We can see more stars and they seem to glow brighter the longer we’re outside in unadulterated darkness. We had a chance to experience that phenomenon before the astronomer rigged up his telescope and showed us a dying star 14,000 light years away. As if that enormity wasn’t enough, he turned his telescope to a bursting star cluster 250,000 light years away. Neither was visible with the naked eye but through the telescope they both appeared to be multiple tiers of sparkling fireworks. One woman sighed as she turned away from the ‘scope,’ and said to no one in particular, since we were all faceless figures in the dark, “Now THAT was a religious experience.” We lose more than night vision from light pollution. We lose perspective. I met an educated business man from a big city on the east coast who’d never heard of the Big Dipper, let alone seen it. Think of the millions like him. What happens to mythos, to wonder, to imagination and the psyche when light restricts our awareness only to that which we can see? Who are we humans without awareness of the unfathomable made visible in the dark?
Deborah Jane Milton, PhD
LIVING IN MONTANA FOR THIRTY
YEARS RIPPED ME OPEN TO THE JUICY, RISK-TAKING ADVENTURER AND SPIRITUAL BEING I TRULY AM. FOR A DECADE, I SERVED AS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST BEFORE TAKING MY OWN ADVICE TO “FOLLOW YOUR BELLY’S WISDOM.” SPENDING TWO MONTHS IN SOLITUDE, I RECLAIMED MY CHILDHOOD DREAM OF BEING AN ARTIST. NOW INTUITIVE PAINTING AND HEALING SKILLS HELP ME INSPIRE OTHERS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE LIVES WE’RE LIVING ON THIS PRECIOUS PLANET. YOU CAN FOLLOW MY UNFOLDING JOURNEY AT: WWW.AWAKENINGSTORYLINES.COM WWW.DEBORAHMILTONARTIST.COM
The Amazing Biz and Life Academy is a divinely-guided, wildly-affordable and deeply-powerful success library that’s just a fraction of the cost you see elsewehere. It’s one of the most generous, powerful, inspired, best-priced + transformational training resources you’ll find anywhere in the world. It’s a training library jampacked with programs, meditations + kits to transform your business + life to Level Amazing. And it’s access to an incredible mastermind of almost 3000 women (just like you) who can help you with much needed brainstorming, support + guidance. The Academy is a divinely guided, heart-centered success library to help you and your business reach the levels of joy, abundance, creativity + prosperity that you were born to have. One part business + marketing training field + one part inspirational mastermind + one part soulcentered wisdom to make every part of your life glow, the Academy is the premier resource for women wishing to create amazing lives and businesses. The Academy is more than just one single program – it gives you access to a huge range of Leonie Dawson’s proven and powerful products and programs to help you transform + shine in every single area of your life and business. As a member of the Academy, you’ll receive powerful business + marketing training to help you start + grow your dream business rapidly & happily. You’ll receive audio meditations to soothe your soul. Illustrated workbooks to create clarity & intention around difficult decisions. E-courses to supercharge your creativity, become a marketing maven & wrangle your fears. Tips to get your house decluttered & in your inner world order. Cleanses to bring your body into health & radiance. Everything you need to live, work, play & create like the amazing woman you were born to be.
Fierce Wildness. Soulful Energy. Uplifting Sisterhood. The Wild Sisterhood is an online community created especially for women who want to love themselves, follow their bliss + change the world. I created it to provide a safe + welcoming place where women can meet + support each other as they discover themselves + carve their own path in life. Why? Because when I decided to choose happiness + start designing my life, I felt completely overwhelmed, alone + had no idea where to begin. I wanted a place where I could go to explore this new side of myself, find resources to keep me inspired + motivated to go after my dreams, + connect with like-minded women. .
Creative Crystals The Creative Process: During the creative process, set the tone. Light candles, charge your crystals and place them around your work. Place your hands on top of the blank page. Imprint your soul and spirit into your work. Close your eyes, take deep breaths and call forth your Angel and Spirit Guides. Create an inspiring creative space that fits your needs: gather healing tools that resonate with you. Sage cleanse your area, light incense, play soft music and meditate before starting your work.
To develop a strong connection with creative expression, Citrine is the crystal for success and connecting with freedom of expression. Garnet - garnet is the go-to stone for artists and writers. It is a powerful healing devotion stone towards your purpose and goals. The garnet can be used for your base chakra and a way to manifest your dreams. Ametrine - many believe that this stone is a combination of amethyst and citrine. It is a great money stone and relieves depression. It’s a great stone for spiritual awareness and an amazing stone to work within creativity. Sodalite Pyramid - this stone is used for clarity, concentration and focus. Sodalite releases self-doubt and helps to see the good side of situations. Although, crystals have their own meaning for every situation, chakra and healing aspect, you can use any crystal that resonates with you.
Crystals have become the go-to source for therapy and healing. They are powerful healing tools that have their own vibrational energy and meaning. Crystals can be carried or worn on a person and used for protection. They are often used as a form of therapy as healers use them to balance their clients chakras and aura. I love to use crystals and stones during the creative process. I collect crystals that have powerful meanings that resonate with what I am going through at the time. For the most part, they are crystals that I need to use over and over again for situations that I tend to face often. When I am writing and creating, I use my Rose Quartz. I charge the crystals with Reiki and will literally place the crystal on my work. Using crystals while creating helps with the creative process: this is a great way to add positive energy into your work. Crystals that enhance creativity are: Citrine - it is the prosperity stone and enhances abundance. It is the Solar Plexus stone that resonates with personal power, self-worth, personal identity and freedom of choice.
Garnet - garnet is the go-to stone for artists and Choose your favorite crystal that you work with often: writers. It is a powerful healing devotion stone a healing stone that protects you and gives you peace towards your purpose and goals. The garnet can be of mind. used for your base chakra
SACRED LIVING WITH TERESA BROUWER used for your base chakra and a way to manifest your dreams. Ametrine - many believe that this stone is a combination of amethyst and citrine. It is a great money stone and relieves depression. It’s a great stone for spiritual awareness and an amazing stone to work within creativity. Sodalite Pyramid - this stone is used for clarity, concentration and focus. Sodalite releases selfdoubt and helps to see the good side of situations. Although, crystals have their own meaning for every situation, chakra and healing aspect, you can use any crystal that resonates with you. Choose your favorite crystal that you work with often: a healing stone that protects you and gives you peace of mind. The Creative Process: During the creative process, set the tone. Light candles, charge your crystals and place them around your work. Place your hands on top of the blank page. Imprint your soul and spirit into your work. Close your eyes, take deep breaths and call forth your Angel and Spirit Guides. Create an inspiring creative space that fits your needs: gather healing tools that resonate with you. Sage cleanse your area, light incense, play soft music and meditate before starting your work.
Teresa Brouwer Creative Living Coach and Intuitive
"I use creativity and healing as coaching tools towards helping others lead a creative abundant life in body, mind and spirit. I love to inspire others to turn their everyday lives into a a personal playground filled with love, joy, happiness and creative play"
tery@creativesacredliving.com Facebook @moondreamcatch www.teresabrouwer.com
Why is the ‘Red tent’ such a phenomenon?
Every cycling woman knows the deep yearning for quietude during her Flow time. Every ounce of our body and soul calls for rest, while our culture calls us to keep going, no matter what.
The ‘Red Tent,’ ‘Moon Hut,’ or ‘Moon Lodge,’
as they were known in indigenous cultures around the world, was a place of respite for women of old. We recognize that having a place to go to when we flow, monthly, will make our lives different in profound ways, as well as change the lives of those around us, and ultimately the world! Does your Soul remember the circles of Maidens, Mothers, Grandmothers, and Ancestors? This is a place where women are allowed to Be rather than continually Do… The time is Now, and the Red Tent Consciousness is spreading like sunrise all over the world! Be part of the New Paradigm It’s about You, it’s about Us,
Join US!
Together We Can Change The World!
The Totem of the Frog As a Symbol of Rejuvenation particularly stubborn about releasing us from his dreams. Many of us had cabin fever and were suffering from the effects of a lack of Sunlight, Fresh air or any sign of the Vernal Equinox was more than welcome.
During Spring on one of the few days when Wood and Leopard Frogs were mating in a pond at the bottom of a Kettle in Wisconsin's Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest, I was privileged enough to witness a glimpse of the sacred pattern of life. This area is always redolent with all the things I am seeking; it is almost as if this one spot was made for me and the ones I love. Yet again I was blessed with the opportunity to use photography as a tool to capture my vision of the sacred nature of this event and share a bit of it. While not all of the images here are of that day, I attempt to show the variety and beauty of the Frogs in this area of Wisconsin. For those of you that do not know this area of the World, the Kettle Moraine was formed when the Green Bay lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet collided with the Lake Michigan Lobe of the glacier, depositing sediment. The Moraine is dotted with Kettles or bowl-like depressions formed when glacial ice that calved off the terminus of the ice sheet was buried by sediment and subsequently melted, forming those depressions that later became kettle shaped ponds and lakes.
The snows were mostly melted and it was a balmy 45 degrees with clear blue skies and a slight breeze the day I decided to see if there were any signs of rejuvenation and renewal by visiting this area I have become so intimate with over the years, knowing that soon I would be able to confirm the seasons were changing. What struck me first walking up the Moraine surrounding the Kettle was the cacophony of sound coming from the pond; the sound of thousands of mating calls echoing through the woods, a primal heartbeat. hardwoods.
After the frigid Polar Vortex we suffered through in the Mid-West this year it seemed as if Old Man Winter was being Photography (c) Matthew J. George. All Rights Reserved
SACRED NATURE WITH MATTHEW J. GEORGE Topping the ridge, the first tentative blossoms of Hepatica, Spring Beauty and Bloodroot were showing speckles of pale purple, Spring green and pure white contrasted against black earth and leafless hardwoods. The sight was almost surreal to the eye after 6 months of steel gray Winter. There was a slight breeze that brought the smell of fresh Earth and clean water. Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Canadian Geese, Robins and Sand hill Cranes were just a few of those filling the air with their songs. I experienced the innocence and wonder many of us had as children when a pattern was revealed to us, something we had not been able to sense before but knew to be the truth in our hearts. It felt good and it felt balanced and once again it was confirmed that we, as Humans being part of this Earth are indeed made from the same star stuff as the animals, plants, water and rock around us. We are connected, even if in this day and age of restless and stress filled cities we are unable or limited in our abilities to feel that connection, or experience it firsthand.
How does all this relate to the Frog Totem? Why was the Frog chosen as a potent Totemic symbol over the Millennia by so many Aboriginal and Native societies? To do this we must first understand some of
the basic Mythology of the Frog as a symbol of water, metamorphosis and transformation in Shamanic societies. In the Americas, Totems were not just fancy or flight or the ignorant symbolism of what is now often referred to as primitive cultures, but a way of teaching those peoples so intimately linked to the patterns of Nature around them. It taught that clean water is essential not just to our health, but to the health of all we are connected to and depend on. The Frog as a symbol of rebirth, fertility and renewal are encapsulated in their belief systems, obviously due to their direct experience of spring over the millennia. Spring is the time to seek a Mate, to rear your young and plant crops. Frogs are also thought to represent ancient wisdom and cleansing of the spirit. This wisdom is passed on through the use of Totems, they were, and are a teaching tool essential to the culture that uses them.
Photography (c) Matthew J. George. All Rights Reserved
Teaching the future generation this way enriched the lives of all the members of that society, using storytelling and symbolism to engage the young. They are also an essential tool that teaches creative thinking, self reflection, empathy and writing (symbolism).
thoughts and ideas into sound in order to communicate them. Sound can and does transform our mood in the form of Music. The sounds of that day are music to my ears and renewed my faith. Ancient Wisdom was imparted upon me once again this Spring that in order to transform and cleanse that cabin fever after a long, hard Winter, in order to rejuvenate my soul and let my thoughts undergo a metamorphosis I had to get out to hear and feel the sounds of Spring. I needed to feel the temperature of the water rise as the Sun fed its energy to it, I had to see the dormant living things around me reborn. Spring is a celebration, an affirmation of the continuity of life through Metamorphosis. The Frog of any species is a good reminder of that. By going on a journey to explore and discover, I maintained my connection to the source of our lives. I wanted to affirm that wisdom of the sacred pattern by experiencing, photographing and sharing all these beautiful, wonderful things.
Water transforms the land around us and nurtures the plants that transform sunlight into calories. So too does water transform the Frog. They freeze in winter and are awakened when it melts. Scientists are studying how the cell walls of certain Amphibians can freeze without being destroyed and how this can benefit us. The sperm shaped polliwog will not metamorphosis into a frog without the ponds, lakes and rivers it needs in order to feed and breathe. The Frog as a Totemic symbol can be seen as transformation through sound, they cannot mate without their calls, and they transform sound into new life. In our lives in this day and age, sound is everywhere, from the streets and devices around us, and it transforms our state of mind. Our voices transform our Photography (c) Matthew J. George. All Rights Reserved
Make the time in your own family's life for a little storytelling and adventure to illustrate this crucial wisdom and go explore some natural areas, get out for a walk, even if it just in the local park. Get down on your belly and feel the Earth, smell the Roses, splash through puddles or streams barefoot, watch all the amazing forms of life we share this planet with and allow their lives to open your heart once again to the wonder of life. Let the experiences you have with all you encounter renew your faith in beauty and truth. Find a green space that cleanses you and imparts some wisdom, study the symbolism of the animals you encounter, even if it is as simple as a frog and perhaps learn something new. Totems can teach your children, transform your life and inspire your Art. The wisdom they are meant to share is based in truth and the idea that we are but one piece of the puzzle of life on Earth.
"I have been making images for nearly 35 years of various ecosystems and their flora and fauna, but more importantly of life at that moment the shutter opens and freezes time for a while. I have always viewed photography and Art as a tool used to unravel the forgotten knowledge of our ancestors, a way to express the constant yearning amongst most of us for knowledge and understanding of the natural world, it's peace, wonders and inherit divinity."
WEBSITE FACEBOOK Photography (c) Matthew J. George. All Rights Reserved
Isn't it time that we rediscovered how to operate through a balance of both masculine and feminine principles? The Feminine is the crucial missing link in our derailing world, and this campaign is for Her. TreeSisters goes where no other campaign has gone before: into the exploration of how the negation of the feminine principle is a primary cause of climate change, and how its reinstatement is crucial for our survival. Women's wisdom, gifts, creativity and courage are needed now more than ever, and this campaign is an overt attempt to elicit and tap them on behalf of the natural world, and our children who are to inherit.
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YOGA AS A SPIRITUAL
EXERCISEFORHEALTH&MIND Yoga is a spiritual exercise that tends to unite the body with the mind and the mind with the soul. The practice of yoga leads an individual to a state of eternal bliss. Through various asanas and proper breathing techniques, yoga sadhana enables an individual to attain an ultimate end of all human pursuits, that is, "Moksha". Moksha is the stage, which when reached, an individual is liberated from all bondage, insecurities, desires, limitations and inadequacy. The practice of yoga and meditation lets a practitioner attain freedom from all bindings that create a hindrance on the divine journey in life. By cleansing the conscious and sub conscious, yoga asanas prepare us for the dawning of Self-knowledge. The connection with the inner self is realized and a mental state of harmony and peace is reached. Yoga, by harmonizing one's life, awakens the latent capabilities and unites him with the cosmic
consciousness. The highest aim of yoga is realization of the true self. This realization leads to a feeling of oneness, the oneness in which a serene state, flawless insight and ethereal euphoria is experienced. Yoga asanas, breathing techniques, and relaxation methods help to re-structure the mind, body and soul. There are many forms of yoga and intense practice of each form are beneficial to a person. Yoga asanas, when coupled with soothing music, enhances the mood of the practitioner. The right kind of yoga music sets up an apt ambiance, helping a yoga aspirant to concentrate on his meditation and asanas. The different kinds of asanas activate intuitions and creativity within the individual. It awakens the latent capabilities and thus enhances mental power. Furthermore, the practice of yoga is a beneficial to many kinds of diseases.
living the yogic Life Each type of yoga is unique in their own ways and paves the path to reach the same divine goal. In Kundalini Yoga, the dormant life force lying within the body is awakened, with sets of exercises and proper breathing practice. In Ashtanga Yoga, the practitioner concentrates upon one point in order to integrate discontinuous and diffused attention. The asanas in Astanga yoga stills the mind and the meditation paves the route to self-realization. Bhakti Yoga is a discipline of devotion which involves the practice of deep meditation. Chanting of mantras is also an integral part of Bhakti yoga. Jnana Yoga is the discipline of knowledge. With this yoga type, the difference between the real and the unreal is realized. The real entity, that is, God is eternal and is the highest truth, whereas, the objects are temporary and vulnerable to time. Karma Yoga means the discipline of right action and serving good to mankind, without thought of reward and without becoming attached emotionally to the results.
perception. Nowadays, music is widely used in meditation practice as well. Meditation music creates a tone that subtly evokes a refreshing mood and take the senses to a mystic height. Many Yoga DVDs and Cds are available that may complement one's yoga sessions. Spirit Voyage offers many such music albums containing chants, mantras and hymns that will guide an individual towards a holistic path. It can be concluded that yoga practice is the blueprint of achieving a pure inner self. The process of self purification is not the work of a moment. It is about true aspiration and dedication of an individual that transfers him to a higher state of health and peacefulness of mind. With yoga asanas and meditation, the desire of being one with the Divine is fulfilled. The senses reach the pinnacle of spirituality and the body and mind experiences a timeless exuberance. Karan Khalsa writes for Spirit Voyage whi ch is engaged in offering various kinds of yoga music and meditation music. The company offers different CDs and DVDs for practicing kundalini Yoga and other yoga forms.
The spirit of yoga has enthralled every human in the world. With every passing day, yoga practice has become more and more popular. Along with it, the influence of music on yoga sessions has reached a new height. For ages, music and yoga have been two inseparable entities. Many yoga classes use soothing music in the background. Music has an ubiquitous appeal and in the field of yoga and meditation, music is widely used as an accelerator and supreme concentrator. Yoga music delves into the deeper layers of the human conscious and offers peace of mind. Music as the non-verbal mode of communication, tunes the mind of the practitioner to non-ordinary levels of
www.spiritvoyage.com
Willowing Arts
EASY ALOE SKIN CARE RECIPES Aloe vera has been used for a host of purposes since the ancient Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality.� Since then, its uses have become more targeted and medicinal, and it's one of the leading therapies for sunburns. Aloe vera is a cactus plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family. It grows in dry climates such as those found in parts of Africa and India and has been used medicinally for centuries.
Aloe Vera is commonly used in skin care products Easy Aloe Vera skin care recipes: because it offers so many benefits. It can soften, soothe, and hydrate and has the ability to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin to promote cell regeneration. Additionally it has both antiseptic and antibiotic properties which makes it highly effective in treating skin irritations such as cuts, burns, eczema, and sunburns and will also relieve the itch from poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac. The active ingredients in Aloe Vera are quite remarkable. Although the plant is 96% water, the remaining 4% contains active ingredients such as seven amino acids, minerals and vitamins (A, C, E, B, B12, Folic Acid) and enzymes. The Vitamins A, C, and E contain antioxidants, which are why they are so widely used in skin care. Another reason Aloe Vera is used so heavily in the cosmetic industry is because very few people are allergic to this wonderful plant. However, as with any new product a patch test is recommended. To do a patch test, break off a small portion of the plant and apply a small amount to the inside of wrist, wait 24 hours to see if there is any indication of an allergic reaction. Growing your own Aloe Vera is recommended. They are a hardy plant and easy to care for. In many households, they are often grown on windowsills so that the wondrous properties of the plant are always available. Store bought gels, although effective, will never compare to the effectiveness of a freshly cut leaf. This is due in fact to the time that has elapsed from harvest to the final product and display. If you decide on purchasing your Aloe Vera gel, read the label to ensure that it is 100% pure.
Aloe Vera Moisturizer Mix together 1 tablespoon olive oil, and gel from one large leaf Aloe Vera plant. Apply a light layer every evening for a deep penetrating moisturizer. Keep unused portion in refrigerator for up to three days.
Oily Skin Facial Mask 1 teaspoon green clay 1 teaspoon Aloe Vera gel 1 teaspoon Witch Hazel 1 teaspoon lemon juice Mix all ingredients to make a paste. Apply to face and let set for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water then cool water.
Softening Face Scrub 1 Tablespoon Aloe Vera gel 1 teaspoon honey 2 Tablespoon finely ground oatmeal or cornmeal Mix all ingredients and massage into skin. Rinse with warm water then cool water.
Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes For more wonderful homemade skin care recipes, Beauty tips, how to videos, and products visit COMPLETE SKIN CARE THERAPY
Renee's Thoughts Worth Catching Letting go has never been easy for me. But, really, who is it easy for? Whether it's that one person you cannot seem to move on from or an incident that shatters your world, moving forward, forgiving and letting go is where we all could use a cheerleader in our corner to give us that 'oomph' we need to implement those things. I will admit, I have a tendency to wax poetic on past events, people, places, and things. And, to a point, that is fine. But there is that line where it's just counter-productive. The goal is to live in the now, not lost in the anticipation of the future or to be constantly thinking of the past. The 'should', the 'would' and the 'could' of my mind at times becomes so great that I beg for the mercy that only I can give to myself. The absolution of my own mindset lies with me. No one else can crawl into my head and pull those thoughts out for me. The thing that I have been learning is : when the time for me is right, and life always lets me know the right time, letting go will seem easier and easier. A lot of what I hold on to is the good stuff and even that in it's own right needs to be released. That does not mean loss. It does not mean I am going to loose out on the lessons, or the emotions. It simply means that I am giving my 'now' the attention it deserves. As for the not-so-good stuff, these are the hardest for me to put down. For the longest time, especially in my twenties, I held on to so much pain and grief and lamented over the past that I was being robbed of my present. The worst part? I was the robber. There is also the instance of letting go with forgiveness – of others or of self. I have had moments that I cannot believe I did, said, felt, etc and my anxiety literally kicks in and I feel so bad about myself and my life as a whole. One of the best lessons I have learned out of this is: It's a bad moment, not a bad life. Life will let you know when it is time to release and forgive and just because it does not always happen overnight, it does not mean that I am 'bad' because of it or because I am taking too long. This Life is my journey and howI learn and live is always the right timing. When forgiveness and truly letting go of something happens, it is one of the most liberating and exquisite feelings in the world. This has happened to me recently and I felt like I was in the most clear body of water with waterfalls around me. I felt fresh, free and fantastic. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was really happening. There are times when I would say that yes, I am done and moving on, but not realy feel that. When I felt the release and the letting go and forgiveness deep in my soul and within my heart recently, I knew three things: I grew a little more and gained some amazing awareness and learned something valuable in the process. @ Renee Avard May 2014
Worth Catching Catch A Falling Star worthcatching@creativesacredliving.com
You fall into one of either two categories: “I am creative!” or “I can’t even draw a straight line.” What has absolutely taken over my life since 1996 is a deep passion to guide people over the bridge to the Land of I-Am-Creative! It is not about producing pretty pictures. It IS about living our lives as artists…artists of LIFE. And when we get to CREATE the life we truly, most authentically desire many, many wonderful things happen—including having more FUN!
This is absolutely my most favorite Facebook post right now… “You came here to be gorgeously human.” In her book Dying to Be Me, Anita Moorjani writes, “I knew that was really the only purpose of life: to be our self, live our truth, and be the love that we are.” YOU are your greatest work of art. We don’t get to living from our heART, living
our most authentic life, without creating some change. That is just an “is.” So let’s embrace our creativity, shall we? And if I am preaching to the choir here, take this as inspiration to continue to guide your friends, family and clients over the “bridge” to the Land of I-Am-Creative. Recently I was asked in an interview with Cassia Cogger, “What can people do right now if they don’t feel like they are creative?” These 3 steps came out of my mouth. I had never articulated this process before, but it felt like a gift wrapped up in divine light, so I immediately recorded this video
and now I will share it with you here. Ready? This is so super simple, easy and fun! 1st STEP: “I AM a life artist!” Now we get to let go of the paradigm that has “art” simply as product. We have been led to believe that unless you can sell your art for cash money you have no business making art. No. The ultimate art is your life. In his book, The Voice of Knowledge, Don Miguel Ruiz writes, “How do we live our life? This is our art, the art of living. With our power of creation, we express the force of life in everything we say, everything we feel, everything we do.”
The first step is to embrace “I AM a life artist.” I am the artist of my life. Say it like a mantra until it rolls off your tongue. The next two steps will help you to more fully integrate this artist energy as well. 2nd STEP: Go CREATE change. Where can you create change in your life right now? It could be organizing that corner in your kitchen or office, like I mention in the video, or writing a note to a friend (shocking, in Know! Snail mail!), weeding a patch of your garden, tickling your kids—create some laughter, or bake cookies. The key is to recognize that what you are in fact doing is CREATING change. You can choose to create “this” kind of change or “that.” Right now, after you read this you get to CREATE your next step. What will the ripple effects of that step be? Don Miguel Ruiz goes on to say, “But there are two kinds of artists: the ones who create their story without awareness, and the ones who recover awareness and create their story with truth and with love.” What you are doing right now is creating awareness around how you create your “story” every second, every minute of your day. This is the same as being mindful, not mindless. Think right now, look around your space, what change are you going to CREATE next? Got it? 3rd STEP: Choose to CREATE positive energy. This is where you get to simply open up to receiving a situation in your day that involves another person where you get to choose what you create. It could be a phone or email conversation. It could be a string of comments on Facebook. But create an awareness around what THEY are creating and around your ability to CHOOSE your creative response. I love how I read about our CREATOR energy everywhere! This is from the classic book, The Law of Attraction by Abraham-Hicks,
You are here to create the world around you that you choose, while you allow the world—as others
choose it to be—to exist, also. And while their choices in no way hinder your own choices, your attention to what they are choosing does affect your vibration, and therefore your own point of attraction. One way we can lose touch of our creative power is by allowing our interaction with others to overshadow or dominate our energy. For example, you are feeling good, thinking fun thoughts, and a friend calls, comes in…and starts complaining. Do you match her complaining energy or do you CHOOSE to CREATE change? My friend Alexandra Kavanah of Mantrapreneur and I talk about this as “dumpster diving.” If a friend was in a garbage dumpster would you jump in with her? Probably not. You would pull her out, right? You can do the same thing today! YOU are the artist of your life. No one else is the artist of YOUR life. It can feel that way sometimes, but that is only when we are not flexing our creative “muscles.” Think of every situation like a color. If you were painting a painting (which I highly recommend to fully integrate this teaching) would you allow someone to come up and paint a color that you did not desire on your painting? Of course not. If you were painting an owl (which I did for two years straight!), would you allow someone else to come up and paint a big school bus (that is just what came to me!) over it? No! So if your friend comes up, in the middle of your “owl” moment and starts talking about her beat up, run down school bus, you can simply follow up her comment with, “Let me tell you about my owl!” With that, you offer her the opportunity to climb out of the dumpster and into your space, OR not. If she chooses the dumpster,
you can keep right on going without “dumpster diving.” I hope my “energetic paint brush” has come through your computer screen to paint some full color energy in your space today. What I know for sure right now in my own life is that I have a choice, in every moment, to CREATE my thoughts, my actions, and my beliefs. I have been faced with some very real and HUGE life challenges the past couple of years. I know now what it means to be faced with life lessons that can appear too daunting to learn. I have felt like giving up, giving in, succumbing to the invitation to take the path of least resistance. I have felt fear and guilt like never before. AND I have learned to lean in even harder, into my creative practice, to consciously and intentionally create change on an energetic level. I paint symbols and surround myself with images that boost my energy, reinforce my greatest desires, and fuel my passion for living my most authentic self! Life is the canvas of your soul. You are here to live as a CREATOR. How does it get any better than that!? I leave you with a poem from Hafiz. Let it illuminate for you this divine path that you chose in this lifetime and your infinite creative power that infuses each moment.
You Don’t Have to Act Crazy Anymore You don’t have to act crazy anymore— We all know you were good at that. Now retire, my dear, From all the hard work you do Of bringing pain to your sweet eyes and heart. Look in a clear mountain mirror— See the Beautiful Ancient Warrior And the Divine elements You always carry inside
That infused this Universe with sacred Life So long ago And join you Eternally With all Existence—with God!
Read more about Whitney Freya’s personal coaching HERE.
Featured Artist
Gabriel Tamaya
My spirituality is integrated into every aspect of my living, it's not separate. For a long time, I considered myself on a spiritual path, but this has evolved over time and now my spiritual path is simply me, living. That's how I express my spirituality, because it's so interwoven with everything I do, whether it's playing with my children and spending time with my family, painting, or cooking, my spirituality is something that I have grown and developed into something very practical and applicable to my life – I can apply it to everything. Shamanism is the framework that I work within, which allows my spirituality to be so practical and helpful. I've tried several different paths for extended periods of time, and they all lead me back to shamanism, the source of all spiritual practices and the earliest form of spirituality. It's about relationships - between us and our environment, our friends and family, the land, the people we work with, our ancestors, our lives and who we came here to be. It informs everything that I do in my life. Once I'd embarked on a shamanic path, I started healing the wounds that were holding me back from expressing creatively. Ultimately, I discovered one of my purposes for being here, which is to share creativity with other people, as well as to express the beauty that I see in the world through painting. I see myself on one level as a map maker, a luminous cartographer, creating signposts for others to help connect them with the sacred in their lives. My creative process depends on the situation. If I’m called to do some work with the land, then my process will involve spending time out in the wilds, walking and entering into dialogue with the landscape and it's inhabitants, and engaging with them on all levels from the energetic to the physical. I will then spend time painting and drawing on site, visually mapping these conversations, which I'll then follow up with shamanic journeys to meet the landscape in the energetic and spiritual realm, on it's own terms. Along with my creative guides and the spirit of place, we then work together in a collaboration to express part of the medicine of that place, or a teaching or a vision that they wish to share. I'm always in ceremony when I'm painting. Working in sacred space and sourcing from the vision of the journey helps me focus and maintain a living connection with what I'm bridging. Examples of this kind of painting process are the Forest God series and the River King. The Forest God series was a particular breakthrough in my way of working using this method. It was the result of working with the guardian spirit of a local woods, who helped me to map and express the energetic realm of that place. It helped me to share the vision of this spirit and the forest in it's pure energetic form. The River King was an example of being called by one of my main local land spirits, a river, and was an invitation to map my journey to them and their role in the landscape as an ongoing collaboration. Another approach I use is lead by my teachers and guides, where I'm given a journey to map a particular medicine or teaching. This will involve several journeys and then working directly from my experience of these as I translate them into paintings. An example of this kind of work is the Six Directions series, where I was shown and taught the medicine and teachings around the personal spiritual compass. This was a big piece of work for me which concluded ultimately with the painting Spirit of the Centre. This painting anchors the teaching of always being in alignment within our personal compass, and locating ourselves within the centre in order to live with clarity, purity and beauty. Having this as a painting helps me to reference from my own centre if I ever feel out of balance. And finally, another process that I use is where I pro-actively seek help or guidance about a subject. This could be about a major decision I need to make, problem solving an issue, or asking for a map to help me envision something in my physical, everyday life. An example of this process is the Sons of My Fathers painting, which came from working with my creativity teacher around the role of the Sacred Masculine as a bridge, creator and midwife to form.
There are so many maps for the feminine being creative, and I wanted a map for how I can express this kind of creativity as a man. Home Is Where The Heart Is is also another example of this kind of painting. I was seeking clarity around what freedom really means and how it relates to my sense of home and where I belong, and this painting is a map of the vision that I received. It's a great example of how having a physical painting around helps me to reference from a vision on a daily basis, as well as integrate the teaching on a deeper level. Expressing creatively in this way is fundamental to my well-being, and an essential part of who I am. It's something that we all have, whether we think we're creative or not, this need to express inner vision externally. Not sharing this, simply through fear or lack of belief that we have something to offer is such a waste of something so precious and unique that will never ever be seen again! The biggest lesson that shamanism has taught me is to trust my inner vision and remain true to it, even if it doesn't fall into the criteria of what we've been culturally taught is "art", which was the biggest obstacle for me moving from figurative work to visionary paintings. Using shamanic tools like ceremony and journeying has allowed me to really, really trust in the process of creating, which in turn has freed up my creative expression to evolve into a direct transmission of the medicines and teachings that I'm given to share in the world.
Gabriel Tamaya is a contemporary abstract and visionary artist who maps the paths, routes and byways of the liminal landscapes that reside between the known and the unknown. He lives in Suffolk, UK with his wife and their four young children (who he suspects are actually trolls in disguise!). You can find his work at gabrieltamaya.co.uk or Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Society6
Let the Power of Nature Nourish Your Skin, Restore Your Youthful Glow and Help You Save a Fortune at the Cosmetic Counter! Discover why your "beauty care" products may not be so pretty after all! From: Tera Warner, founder of Body Enlightenment Montreal, Quebec, Canada Greetings, Gorgeous! Have you ever noticed that the women wearing the most foundation and make-up also tend to have the worst skin? This is not a coincidence!!! All those powder puffs, perfumed potions, carcinogenic creams and so called "beauty" products contain a toxic soup of chemicals, waxes and petroleum products that block pores, suck moisture and cause premature aging! Here's Something You may Find Surprising: "89 percent of the ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety!" -Environmental Working Group (EWG)
CRONES CORNER Jotree's Heart & Soul Connections Lets Connect!
Wounded Mother Lost Daughter
What words do you wish had been whispered in your ear ? What path do you dream of walking? What is it that your heart tugs at? What do you choose to ignore, knowing you will not find HOME until you embrace it ? What pain embedded in your soul so deep you have forgotten? What road have you chosen? Daughter my heart breaks. The shards embedded like broken glass,a pain with no relief. Allow your sight to go within your own sweet heart, What love have you forsaken ? What door is closed that cannot be opened ? What arms encircle you?
A Mother's love awaits you. I wrote this sometime ago while I was and still do grieve the loss of my own sweet daughter. I knew at the time that it was crucial for me to begin to heal the wounded mother... a very long line in my ancestors and now had visited myself and my daughter and granddaughters... a generational pain and loss that had been passed on. As the grandmother of three my purpose for being is to change the direction of anguish to celebration... have come full Circle to understanding that the best way to do this is to integrate an old way of being...of accepting what is but re-creating life into something sacred... with the hope of redirecting that energy into something that has been apart of my story into a new story...Past generations to future generations... To live a sacred, creative life is a keep to opening this
doorway. ~ from the Crone's Corner
Jotree, crone and artist of my soul, doula of lifeskills and soul spirit, lover of life, and Queen of my heART. Holding sacred space for women who choose to integrate joy and freedom into their daily practice of living.
www.larissamorais.com
“Underneath the color of our skin, all women bleed the same, red, deep, ancient flow of life force. It is this power what makes the blood that naturally flows through a woman during her cycle seem taboo.� ~ Marjory Meijia
God gave me the gift of a miracle today. My best friend died recently…actually months ago now. Since her death, I have grown angry with God, kind of that Love Hate relationship. I know I can’t live without God, but living with God without Laurie became too painful. That’s where the anger came in. You see, Laurie and I… our whole relationship revolved around God. We were prayer partners. We would read the bible together, share devotionals and how they were speaking into our lives, we would pray together, do ministries together... we were there for each other through thick and thin. I refer to Laurie as my Spiritual Spouse. There is a huge whole in my life without her.
God gave me the gift of a miracle today. My best friend died recently…actually months ago now. Since her death, I have grown angry with God, kind of that Love Hate relationship. I know I can’t live without God, but living with God without Laurie became too painful. That’s where the anger came in. You see, Laurie and I… our whole relationship revolved around God. We were prayer partners. We would read the bible together, share devotionals and how they were speaking into our lives, we would pray together, do ministries together... we were there for each other through thick and thin. I refer to Laurie as my Spiritual Spouse. There is a huge whole in my life without her.
Anyway, I have been complaining to anyone that would listen lately how pissed off I was with God. Laurie was gone and I had no sign or intuition that she was at peace with Him and safe in His arms in heaven.
She wanted me to start glorifying God. She told me that whenever I felt lonely for her to just look at the flowers she has sent me. Then Jesus told me I needed to spend more time listening to Him as opposed to speaking at Him.
I kept asking God for signs. At first I thought he was sending me wild turkeys as a sign. Long story… but basically Laurie would have called me a turkey for even needing a sign in the first place. So this morning, I started my morning the usual way. I sat in my chair with my pile of books; devotional, bible, journal, and bible study. I always start with prayer asking God for personal requests and then leading into asking for forgiveness and a clean heart, and finally asking for God to bless the time I was about to spend with Him. I specifically ask for Him to show me exactly what He wanted me to learn and focus on for the day.
I need to clarify something at this point. I am a painter. I have until 3 weeks ago been painting strictly birds and trees. The flowers that I recently started painting just happened. There was no thought involved at all! I sat and just started seeing flowers on the canvas. My brush moved quickly outlining the different shapes… and before I knew it, I was staring at my canvas completely covered with flowers.
I started praying. Jesus interrupted me and said “Wait, I have Laurie here for you.” “You have Laurie there? She’s there? Laurie are you there?” Laurie responded with “Of course I am here! Where else would I be Goofy!” I started sobbing. She went on to tell me that she’s been sending me flowers. She said not to call the new series of paintings “The Garden Series” because they weren’t… they were “Fields of Flowers”. She said they went on and on... Laurie LOVED flowers! One of the last things we did together was walk hand in hand in her Garden admiring the flowers and enjoying the fresh air and sun on our faces... She told me to stop mourning and get myself out of the mud.
So, you’d think the story stops there, right? Well it doesn’t! I then went to my devotional and as always, I would randomly open to any page. I felt God would choose what He wanted me to read. This is what it said: “Be still and know that I am God. Your life has
been tumultuous recently- full of change and new responsibilities. You have continued to spend time alone with Me. You need to set aside time for listening to Me- blocking out distractions and reconnecting with me in the depths of your soul.” The devotion goes on, and you can read it in Sarah Young’s Jesus Today.
Now I know this has been a LONG post…. But seriously, how could I have left any part out? Today… God granted my hearts desire. Today, God gave me a miracle, and Laurie sent me Fields of Flowers!
About a week ago, a friend of mine, who also happens to be my pastor, posted some verses from Psalm 46 on Face book. I read the psalm that day. A few days ago, Psalm 46 came up in another devotional. I read again psalm 46. Today, I decided that when I read Psalm 46, I needed to read in a different version from the normal NIV version. I read it from the Message. “God is a safe place to hide, Ready to help when we need Him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, Courageous in sea storm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of the oceans, The tremors that shift the mountains. Jacob- Wrestling God fights for us, God of the Angel Armies protects us.” Laurie’s favorite song… The song that we claimed as our Victory song over her cancer was “Whom shall I Fear” (God of Angel Armies) by Chris Tomlin.
Kim Ellery kimellery@mac.com www.kimelleryart.com BLOG FACEBOOK
SIMPLE ORGANIC
e l p m i 5S ic n a g r O n Garde Tips
If you are new in organic gardening, the abundance of information may be overwhelming. Don't get hyped, though - just keep it slow and steady. Organic gardening has its own rhythm, so you don't have to do everything at once. Start out slow and learn in the process you will be successful in no time! These five simple organic garden tips will help you get started. Start with the Soil The soil is the source of life for your organic garden. One of the problems with chemical gardening is that it sterilizes the soil, stealing the life from it. Organic soil is living and has lots of living matter in it. One of the main organic garden tips regarding the soil is - use compost. Buy it until you can make it. Compost is created out of living vegetable matter. You just save all your vegetable scraps, lawn clippings and other fresh vegetable matter (green material )
GARDEN TIPS FOR BEGINNERS and mix it with dead grass and leaves (brown material) and let it decompose. You want a compost heap to generate heat, because it decomposes faster that way. It needs to be at least 3'x 3'x 3' to get good and hot. A hot compost heap that is turned frequently (so that it gets air into it) will make compost in a matter of weeks. However, if your compost pile is not that big or doesn't get very warm, it will still create good compost just in a longer period of time. Compost should be added to the soil at least twice a year. Dig it into the top six inches of soil, and you will have rich, dark, productive soil within a couple of years, even if you started out with sterile, gray, chemically treated dirt.
Biodiversity When you grow the same crop in the same soil over and over again, it depletes the soil of specific nutrients and causes serious damage to the soil. Monoculture farming also tends to gather the bugs and weeds that prey on that particular crop. Therefore, biodiversity is another organic garden tip you should follow in order to achieve best results. Biodiversity means growing
lots of different things. This protects the soil and the crops. Companion plants provide nutrients and pest protection for each other. Crop rotation keeps the soil rich and doesn't attract as many insects; besides you have a greater variety of produce for your table or for sale.
Water Carefully Indiscriminate watering practices waste water and wash soil components into the water supply. Using water carefully prevents waste and discourages weeds. Water early in the morning and use a soaker hose to keep water on the plants and nowhere else.
Control Weeds Organic gardening allows easy weed control, if you follow these organic gardening tips. Use mulch around your plants to keep weeds out and water in and to give them extra nutrients. Compost is great mulch. Using plastic barriers during growing season will help keep weeds out of your crops. Cover the entire area with plastic during the winter season to kill off weed seeds. Regular weeding doesn't let root systems develop or go to seed.
Control Pests Organic garden tips on pest control include only non- toxic intervention, so you have to be creative here. Planting wisely, i.e. using companion planting and crop rotation should discourage pests before they arrive. If pests are already there, remove them by hand, if possible. Tomato hornworms, potato bugs and other larger insects can be controlled by hand. Use barriers, like diatomaceous earth, coffee cans or netting. Insect control is one more natural way to control pests, for example, releasing ladybugs, lacewings or praying mantises into your garden. If all else fails, use an organic insecticide, such as soap. These five simple organic garden tips should be enough for you to get started. In a year of practicing organic gardening you will be an experienced gardener, and then you may want to try some different approaches. As a beginner, just follow these organic garden tips and your first year organic garden will be productive and successful.
Author, John Wishley. For more information on Organic garden tips check out www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. You'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.
Organic and Natural Pet Food Is the Raw Food Diet Right for Your Pet?
Dogs are natural hunters and carnivores. They have evolved from the wolf and their digestive system is virtually the same despite thousands of years of evolution. Dogs have very short intestinal tracts which allows for the consumption and digestion of raw foods. Considered omnivores, they eat a variety of grasses, vegetables and berries in addition to meats. The question is - Should you feed your dog a raw food diet? A raw food diet is just that - raw food. It can consist of foods such as raw chicken (bones included), raw beef bones, juiced vegetables and canned fish. The main idea is to feed your dog the food raw (uncooked). Raw bones are easily digested and the minerals and enzymes are naturally absorbed by your dog's system. It is important to transition your dog to a raw food diet slowly. Your dog may experience diarrhea or constipation at first so go slowly and monitor any significant changes in your dog's health. A recommended transition method is to combine the raw food diet with your dog's dry kibble at first. Also consider rotating the raw food used as well. If organ meat is not being used regularly then add organ meat once or twice a week. The main point is to be careful and make sure you understand the methods and process behind a raw food diet. The benefits of a raw food diet can help your dog battle common issues and aliments such as: allergies, hot spots, flea infestations, continual shedding, poor dental and gum health, immune disorders, and degenerative diseases. The benefits of a raw food diet are abundant but there are risks and pet owners should be fully aware of these risks before jumping in too quickly. Pet owners need to be very careful when introducing
a raw food diet to their pet. Do your research first and learn the proper methods and precautions of a raw food diet. Learning the facts about the proper preparation is important. Information such as: what is the proper or best method for thawing raw meat?; should a microwave oven be used for thawing?; is raw pork safe, should I avoid raw pork?; do I need to be concerned about bacteria? Before converting your dog to a raw food diet, first be an educated and informed pet owner. If you are interested in converting your dog to a raw food diet and are not sure or you have many questions then consult with your veterinarian first. Many higher-end pet stores now carry a raw food diet product line that has taken much of the risk and mystery out of the raw food diet concept. This allows you to safely take advantage of the raw food diet benefits without exposing your dog to some of the potential risks associated with the improper usage of a raw food diet. These higher-end pet stores (most are available on-line through their websites) also offer a wide range of commercial frozen and dehydrated raw foods consisting of raw meats, grains and fresh vegetables. All the proper food handling is taken care of as well as the proper food proportions for your pet. This is a great way to introduce your pet to a raw food diet without all the risks. These higher-end pet stores also specialize in a complete line of organic and natural pet food and supplements. The link provided below has several website reviews, start your research there. Dan Buchman is an Internet Marketer as well as a dog enthusiast. Given the recent issues with the dog food recalls, Dan is using his Internet Marketing interests to heighten the awareness of this issue and help with relevant research. Dan has researched and identified multiple product and supplier sources that offer natural and organic alternatives for your pet's nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Check out his reviews at www.organic-dogfood.com
Tina Keophannga was born in Norwood, Massachusetts in 1983. She works predominantly in the medium of painting, but also does collage, illustration and mixed media art. Tina is a self-taught intuitive artist, and draws inspiration from nature and society. She has had work in local galleries in Franklin, Millis and Plainville, Massachusetts. View More of Tina's work at
Art Life Designs
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