Words From the Editor
Knowing your worth is probably the most powerful thing a woman can do to empower herself. This is one of the reasons why this publication was started in the first place, to be the voice of that empowered woman and to uplift those women who need empowering. Know your worth, is a saying we have all heard plenty of times, but do you really understand your worth? We have been so conditioned in this world to harbor negative feeling and ideas about who we are and this kind of thinking cripples our self esteem and diminishes our value. How you feel about yourself is very important because your thoughts create your reality and if you live your life feeling un worthy of good things and pleasurable experiences you are going to attract situations, people and circumstances in your life that will continue to create your experience of worthlessness. Each and everyone of us are born with a destiny to fulfill. You were given the authority to be your greatest self because that is what is expected from you. With this new issue of NWM we want to encourage all of our readers to be the Queen in the game we call life. Own your board and use your pieces wisely and remember you are the Queen the most powerful piece of the game. Know your worth and live up to your greatness. Enjoy this issue!
~AZ
Follow Me on FB: Azizah Nubia IG: @AzizahNubia Twitter: @AzizahNubia1
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Natural Woman Magazine Azizah Nubia EDITOR IN CHIEF AZ8 MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHY TINA HERNANDEZ ADVERTISING L.G. MARKETING SADIE TAYLOR COVER PHOTGRAPHY GLAMOROUS FACES CREATIVE DESIGN WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS CAROLYN BROWN KIM AMANI PANDIT RAJMANI TIGUNAIT AZ8 MEDIA MARKETING & PROMOTION
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Table of Contents Natural Woman on the Scene... 10 Health....14 Recipes....20 Eco News.....24 Beyonce’s Lemonade....26 Be the Queen....28 Entreprenuer Spotlight....35 Relationships & Sexuality.... 38 Natural Hair....43
Natural Product Review
Rihanna Launches Global Scholarship Program
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Rihanna announced her new Global Scholarship Program, which will assist students from various countries in attaining a college education in the U.S. Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation will offer scholarships to residents of Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica who are eligible to attend school in the U.S. and have been accepted into an accredited four-year college or university. Through the need-based scholarship, they will have the opportunity to receive an award between $5,000 and $50,000 to go toward their tuition. “I don’t think it’s fair that children carry the burden of financial limitations at such a young age,” Rihanna stated. “To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor. Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.”
Chloe and Halle Bailey: Beyonce’s Proteges 16- and 17-year-old sisters Halle and Chloe Bailey are superstars in the making. Revolutionizing what true natural beauty and talent is for our younger generations. Just two years ago, at ages 13 and 15, the sisters posted a heartfelt piano-and-voice YouTube rendition of Beyoncé’s “Pretty Hurts” that went viral. Now they’re one of three young female acts signed to her Parkwood Entertainment label — with a contract, for up to six albums, reportedly worth up to $1 million — the duo has already released their first five-song EP, and made cameo debuts in Beyonce’s Lemonade Visual Album.
Remembering a Legend
The unexpected death of Prince shook up the world. Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, died Thursday at age 57. He was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park, his home and recording studio, in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Paramedics tried to perform CPR but were unable to revive him, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m., less than 30 minutes after sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical call at the scene. Prince’s body was released to his family and cremated. Prince was the very definition of inventive, inspiring, and unique. He constantly redefined himself and his work while remaining soulful, cool, and full of life. To put it simply, he will be missed terribly.
Prince
Did You Know? Prince worked with many charities and poured much of his time and money into helping others, though most of this was done out of the public eye? Prince helped create ‘Yes We Code’ which now has 15 major technology companies working with kids in the ‘hood, getting them ready to have jobs in Silicon Valley. Prince paid for solar panels on houses in Oakland, California, and residents don’t even know that Prince paid for it.
50 Cent Effen Vodka Tour Turns Sour in Cincy
Natural Woman Magazine was on the scene at the Effen Vodka Bottle signing at the East Gate Jungle Jim’s in with 50 Cent in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before getting into major trouble with the Autistic community after posting an instgram picture of an autistic airport worker 50Cent accused of being high. Hopefully his $100,000 contribution for the Autism
Viola Davis & Kerry Washington are Creating Production Companies Black Girl Magic is taking over Hollywood and not just on the screen. Viola Davis and Kerry Washington partnered with ABC studios to start their own separate production companies to create projects for digital, streaming, broadcast and cable content.
2nd Time Around
Adult Prom Cincinnati
Natural Woman Magazine was on the scene at the first Second Time Around Adult Prom, hosted by the Mic Drop Experience, The event was held in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Contemporary Arts Center on April 23, 2016. The theme for this year’s show was, “Hollywood: The Awards Show,”t the event included a red carpet, live music, DJ, food, dancing, and a special tribute to Prince by the local band Deuces. Party host and creator of the Adult Prom Mic Drop (picture at the bottom) was inspired to create this event after viewing some of his friends children’s prom photos from last year, he was asked to create a prom experience for adults who may have missed their prom as teenagers or those adults who never had the chance to experience their prom. After 1 year of planning and booking the and Time Around Adult Prom was born. The event was such a huge success that we are pretty sure the 2nd Time Around Adult Prom will be coming around yearly, do not miss it next year.
This is a P Order onli 7 Things You Didn’t Know Will Happen When You Stop Eating Meat www.asknatura As more awareness on optimum health and well being grows the idea of becoming vegan is becoming ever so popular. A lifestyle that use to be portrayed as a diet for spiritual gurus and animal lovers is now being proven scientifically and medically a healthier option for great overall health. While many of you are still pondering the idea of veganism I want to share with you 7 things that will happen to your body when you decide to stop eating meat.
1. You’ll reduce inflammation in your body.
Eating foods like meats, cheeses, and highly processed foods, creates elevated levels of inflammation in your body. Chronic inflammation has been linked to the development of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, among other conditions. 2. Your blood cholesterol levels will plummet. Elevated blood cholesterol is a key risk factor for heart disease and strokes, two of the leading killers in the United States. The saturated fats primarily found in meat, poultry, cheese, and other animal products—is a major driver of our blood cholesterol levels.
3. You’ll give your microbiome a makeover. The trillions of microorganisms living in our bodies are collectively called the microbiome. These microorganisms are recognized as crucial to our overall health: not only do they help us digest our food, but they produce critical nutrients, train our immune systems, turn genes on and off, keep our gut tissue healthy, and help protect us from cancer. Studies have also shown they play a role in obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver disease. 4. You’ll change how your genes work. Scientists have made the remarkable discovery that envi-
ronmental and lifestyle factors can turn genes on and off. For example, the antioxidants and other nutrients we eat in whole plant foods can change gene expression to optimize how our cells repair damaged DNA. Research has also shown that lifestyle changes, including a plant-based diet, can decrease the expression of cancer genes in men with low-risk prostate cancer. We’ve even seen that a plant-based diet, along with other lifestyle changes, can lengthen our telomeres—the caps at the end of our chromosomes that help keep our DNA stable. This might mean that our cells and tissues age more slowly, since shortened telomeres are associated with aging and earlier death.
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5. You’ll dramatically reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. An estimated 38% of Americans have prediabetes—a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Animal protein, especially red and processed meat, has been shown in study after study to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. In the Adventist population, omnivores have double the rate of diabetes compared with vegans, even accounting for differences in body weight. In fact, in this population, eating meat once a week or more over a 17-year period increased the risk of diabetes by 74%! Similarly, in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and Nurses Health Study, increasing red meat intake by more than just half a serving per day was associated with a 48% increased risk in diabetes over 4 years. 6. You’ll get the right amount—and the right type— of protein. The average omnivore in the US gets more than 1.5 times the optimal amount of protein, most of it from animal sources. Contrary to popular perception, this excess protein does not make us stronger or leaner. Excess protein is stored as fat or turned into waste, and animal protein is a major cause of weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, and cancer. 7. You’ll make a huge impact on the health of our planet and its inhabitants. Animal agriculture is
extremely destructive to the planet. It is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and is a leading cause of land and water use, deforestation, wildlife destruction, and species extinction. About 2,000 gallons of water are needed to produce just one pound of beef in the U.S. Our oceans are rapidly becoming depleted of fish; by some estimates, oceans may be fishless by 2048. The current food system, based on meat and dairy production, also contributes to world hunger—the majority of crops grown worldwide go toward feeding livestock, not feeding people.
Benefits of Lavender Bug Repellent: The smell of lavender essential oil is potent for many types of bugs like mosquitoes, midges, and moths. Apply some of the lavender oil on the exposed skin when outside to prevent these irritating bites. Sleep: Lavender essential oil induces sleep which has made it a common recommendation for an alternative treatment of insomnia. It has such a relaxing impact on people that it can often replace modern medicine for sleep issues.
The health benefits of lavender essential oil include its ability to eliminate nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect the scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems. Traditionally, lavender essential oil has also been used in making perfumes. The oil is very useful in aromatherapy and many aromatic preparations and combinations are made using lavender oil.
Nervous system: Lavender essential oil has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and anxiety issues. Therefore, it can also be helpful in treating migraines, headaches, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. Pain relief: Lavender essential oil is known as an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore and tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and lumbago. Immunity: Regular use of lavender essential oil provides resistance to a variety of diseases. It is well-known that lavender has antibacterial and antiviral qualities that make it perfect for defending the body against rare diseases like TB, typhoid, and diphtheria, according to early research in the 20th century.
THE REAL TRUTH BEHIND CANCER THAT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR FROM YOUR DOCTOR The scientist who discovered cancer is Dr. Otto H Warburg. He mentioned the real cause of cancer is a deficiency of oxygen. When we lack oxygen in our body we become very acidic. Since cancer cells are anaerobic, they can survive without oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, the body becomes alkaline, which kills cancer cells. Normal cells require oxygen to live. If you remove even 35% of oxygen that a healthy cell receives, it will become cancerous. The normal alkaline level of our body is 7.365. This level must be maintained to remain healthy. This maintenance is also known as pH balance. It maintains the acidic and alkaline levels of your body. These levels are maintained by the food we eat. The food that Americans eat today is mostly processed, refined and loaded with sugar. This makes our body toxic and acidic. The pH decreases. When we become too acidic our health is affected negatively and we can get diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart problems and osteoporosis. The majority of diseases that plague many people today are a result of an acidic body. If you wish to maintain good health, it is important to maintain a good pH balance Adding more natural foods like fresh organic vegetables, fruits, nuts,whole grains, and drinking plenty of water help to combat acidity and help you maintain an alkaline environment in your body.
Filter Water with Activated Charcoal
Kishu Charcoal – Activated Charcoal Water Filter for Pitchers ($15.49)
Purified water pitchers like Brita and Pur are great water filters created to give us clean prufied water. The only problem with pitchers like these are that they are made of BPA-free plastic, which makes them very difficult to recycle. Leaving consumers to just throw them out in the regular trash, which contributes to more non-biodegradable plastic refuse in the environment. The Kishu Charcoal log is a new revolutionary ancient way for us to have clean water and protect our environment at the same time. Made from a type of birch tree in Japan, Kishu Water Filters are mini “logs” of charcoal that fit into most standard sized pitchers. The binchotan kishu charcoal filtering method has actually been used for centuries in Japan and dates back to the Edo period. This type of charcoal is carbonized by the firing process and leaves microscopic cavities in the wood that act like a magnet, attracting toxins like chlorine, lead, and pesticides to itself. The process, adsorption, (not to be confused with absorption) ensures that the toxins remain attached to the wood on a microscopic level and will not leach back into the water. BUT each piece of charcoal does have a saturation point. Which is why it is recommended that you repeat the boiling process every month for sterilization purposes and that you replace the charcoal altogether every four months. Kishu Charcoal sells in four sizes, X-Large 5.5” long version for use in a gallon jug, Regular 5” for 2 quart water pitchers and a handy “to go” 4” smaller thinner size for water bottles and a wittle version for the pet bowl! This Kishu charcoal stick comes “prepared” from would a traditional water pitcher filter.
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What’s for dinner? MARINATED ZUCCHINI & TOMATO LASAGNA WITH CASHEW HERB CHEESE Veggie Style INGREDIENTS For the Lasagna 1 zucchini 5 tomatoes Olive oil, Himalayan salt, black pepper and coriander 1 cup spinach leaves For the Cashew Herb Cheese 1 cup cashews 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon dried dill 1/4 cup water (more or less, as needed) Dash of turmeric, paprika and coriander 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt 1 garlic clove
PREPARATION To marinate the zucchini and tomatoes: slice the zuke into thin strips on a mandolin, and chop the tomatoes. Rub them in oil and spices and put in the dehydrator for 1-3 hours, or in the oven at the lowest temperature. To make the cheese: blend everything until smooth and very thick. To assemble: layer slices of tomato, zucchini and spinach with cheese. Sprinkle with cilantro and coriander. Chomp.
Did you know? Zucchini is well known to reduce weight, yet still boosting the nutrient value of your diet. Moreover, it helps to promote eye health, and prevents all the diseases that occur from vitamin C deficiency like scurvy, sclerosis, and easy bruising. It helps to cure asthma and has a high content of vitamin C, carbohydrates, protein and fiber. Zucchini contains significant quantities of potassium, folate, and vitamin A, all of which are important for general good health.
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Ingredients 1 cup raw honey 12 cups pure water 1 drop lavender essential oil 6 lemons, peeled and juiced Lavender sprigs for garnish Directions Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or raw honey if needed.
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Lavender Lemonade Did you know Lavender Lemonade is a great remedy to alleviate headaches? Mix 5 to 6 drops of Lavender essential oil to your bath water if you have dry skin. Diffuse 10 to 12 drops of Lavender into the air during your workday for natural stress relief. Add 2 drops of Lavender per ounce of your favorite lightly scented, unrefined organic oil (like almond oil or olive oil) for a body oil with all the benefits of lavender for improving your skin, relaxing your mind, warding off insects or helping you sleep.
Raw Pad Thai
Ingredients 2 zucchini, ends trimmed 2 carrots 1 head red cabbage, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1/2 cup bean sprouts 3/4 cup raw almond butter 2 oranges, juiced 2 tablespoons raw honey 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root 1 tablespoon Nama Shoyu (raw soy sauce) 1 tablespoon unpasteurized miso 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Directions Slice zucchini lengthwise with a vegetable peeler to create long thin ‘noodles’. Place on individual plates. Slice carrots into long strips with vegetable peeler similar to the zucchini. Combine carrots, cabbage, red bell pepper, and bean sprouts in a large bowl. Whisk together almond butter, orange juice, honey, ginger, Nama Shoyu, miso, garlic, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Pour half of sauce into cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Top zucchini ‘noodles’ with cabbage mixture. Pour remaining sauce over each portion.
Whole-Grain Veggie Burrito Bowl Ingredients 1 (3.5-ounce) bag boil-in-bag brown rice (such as Uncle Ben’s) 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon ground cumin 3 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1 (15-ounce) can unsalted black beans, undrained 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chiles, canned in adobo sauce 1 cup chopped cherry or grape tomatoes 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped 1 1/3 cups very thinly sliced red cabbage 3 ounces queso fresco, crumbled (about 3/4 cup) 1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced Directions 1. Cook brown rice according to package directions. Drain. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add cumin and garlic; cook 1 1/2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in rice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. 2. Partially drain black beans. Place beans and remaining liquid in a small saucepan; stir in chipotle chiles and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring bean mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. 3. Combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon
salt, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and jalapeño; toss to combine. 4. Combine remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons juice, and cabbage; toss well. 5. Divide rice mixture evenly among 4 shallow bowls. Divide bean mixture, tomato mixture, cabbage mixture, cheese, and avocado evenly over rice.
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Leonardo DiCaprio Stands With Great Sioux Nation to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline Source: ecowatch.com
The campaign to oppose the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) continues to gain steam with Leonardo DiCaprio and actors from the upcoming Justice League film joining the cause. Dakota Access—a subsidiary of Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP—has proposed a $3.7 billion, 1,168-mile pipeline that will transfer up to 570,00 barrels of crude oil per day from the North Dakota Bakken region through South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois. The DAPL, also referred to as the Bakken pipeline, would cross the Missouri River less than a mile away from the Standing Rock Reservation that stands in North and South Dakota. The Missouri River, one of the largest water resources in the U.S., provides drinking water for millions of people.
The people of Standing Rock, often called Sioux, warn that a potential oil spill into the river would threaten the water, land and health of their reservation. In DiCaprio’s tweet, the Oscar-winning actor and clean energy advocate said he was “standing with the Great Sioux Nation to protect their water and lands,” and linked to a Change.org petition that urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
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This is Order o The Recipe to Making Life Sweet Again www.asknat Beyonce’ Lemonade By: Azizah Nubia
Once again the Queen Bey has shaken up the world with the release of her 6th studio Album titled Lemonade. She dropped the juice with an epic visual video that premiered on HBO and then later released exclusively on her husband’s music streaming site Tidal. The album shared a story of Beyonce dealing with the experience of being cheated on by her husband. And the healing process that helped bring them back together. The visual included all the songs from her album, a powerful poetry piece by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire recited by Beyonce’, guest cameo appearances from Serena Williams, Blue Ivy, Jay Z, and the mothers of the late Travon Martin and Micheal Brown and several other familiar faces.
While so much of the world wants to focus on the marital matter of the Queen and her King I have been in awe of the growth and mastery of Beyonce as an artist and the message of empowerment for black women she displayed in this album. Beyonce took us on a journey of pain, redemption, forgiveness, and love. Whether its fact or fiction Lemonade had a powerful message visually and lyrically for people of color every where. What I found most amazing was her effort to include natural beauty of black women, African spiritual deities, wiccan, and goddess visuals throughout the video. This is a sign to me that Beyonce is full of the goddess magic and has made the call for other women to follow suite.
Beyonce also used her platform to shed light on issues like the Black Lives Matter movement. She featured the mothers of slained African American boys holding up a picture of their sons. The scene also included cameos from the mothers of Eric Garner and Travon Martin — two other teenage boys killed by American police officers in recent years. McSpadden the mother of Micheal Brown stated in a recent interview on siriusX radio “I think it is a great thing when an artist at Beyonce’s level of stardom to use her platform for the empowerment of her people is a great thing.”
s a Preview onlince Visit turalwoman.com Lemonade is divided into 11 chapters with title cards describing Beyoncé’s reactions to her husband’s apparent infidelity: “Intuition,” “Denial,” “Anger,” “Apathy,” “Emptiness,” “Accountability,” “Reformation,” “Forgiveness,” “Resurrection,” “Hope,” and “Redemption.” But for many black women like Lemonade’s stunning visuals reveal and celebrate our blackness, heartache, love, injustice, empowerment, deceit, racism, sexism, black history in the south, both painful and prideful. Beyonce showed her pride in our beauty, resilience, strength, and black girl magic, we’ve triumphed, paved paths through adversity, made lemonade from lemons — both literally and figuratively “True love is the greatest weapon to end the war caused by pain... Nothing real can be threated true love brought salvation back into me...” Taking the lemons life throws at you and turning them into Lemonade was what her album was about. Something every black woman has had to do at least once in her life.
Be the Queen
This is Life is like a Chess Board learn the Game and play it well Order on www.asknatu
The game of chess is believed to be one of man’s great creations, designed to stretch the human mind to its outermost limits. Chess can be looked at as a mirror of life, rich in metaphors for human experience. The queen is, without a doubt, the most powerful piece on the chessboard. She can move as many squares as she desires and in any direction, she protects the King she is one of the most valuable pieces in the game. I have been learning the game of chess for a few years now and to my surprise understanding the game of chess has
By: Azizah Nubia
helped me to become more stra- ly” we can have and be anything tegic in how I plan my life. It does we desire in this life whether it is this in several ways; common good or bad, conscious or unconstrategic and tactical themes, scious. Understanding this about memorization, imagination, ourselves and applying the skills creative risk-taking, exactitude learned through the game of chess. and mathematical calculation. to our daily lives will make you an Skills that some may say are not unstoppable Queen of the chess needed for everyday life. But for game we call life, and the cool those Natural Women out there thing is that the only opponent who are ambitious enough to go you face in the game is your own after their dreams because they thinking. know deep down inside that their The game of life can be unpredreams are leading them to the dictable, wild, and a bit chaotic who they were born to be, and for those of you who do not take that is the game we are all here to advantage of your home-field poplay in this life. By now many of sition. Whether you like it or not you should know my philosophy the outcome of your life is directly of “ Creating our realities wise- based upon the direction of your
intentions. The game of life is simple live life according to your own drum. You can never blame your circumstances for your life being unfulfilled when you are the game creator, changer, player Natural Woman you are the Queen!
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mind, your thoughts create your reality. If we were lucky enough to have a owners manual on how to use our bodies to their full potential when we were born there would be no need for this article, but since that is not the case let’s go over some tips that will help you be the master of your life and win the game. Understanding the Game of Life One of the biggest questions that we all have as human beings is, why on earth are we here? People have spent years trying to figure out that question, even with the many different religions and spiritual doctrines created by man there is still that unanswered question we are all in search for. Society has set standards that have mislead us to live our lives in default. We are not born to just graduate from high school, go to college, get a degree, get a job, get married, have children, and retire when your 60 with your 401K then die. That’s not living and if you think it is then this is not the article for you. But for those of you Queen’s who know deep down inside that you have a destiny to fulfill, a vision to set free then continue on reading. Through my spiritual journey I have come to the understanding that we are spiritual beings here experiencing human life. We have been endowed with special gifts and talents that only we can cultivate and use for the greater good of humanity or bad depending your
Queen’s strategise their moves Chess is 99% tactics and when you are in the process of making your dreams a reality you will find thats all about tactics too. For example while carrying out long-term plans, you have to constantly be on the alert for immediate dangers or opportunities that can radically change the game. This is an important skill to master in the game of life no matter how great life can be we will always be presented with opportunities that will bring us closer to our goals as well as setbacks that may push us into uncharted territories. Being tactical and strategic on how you create your life is essential to playing the game correctly. Different phases of the game require different skills. There are phases to life and every new level requires a new level from you. Most individuals like to stay consistent in their comfort, this is a big no no in this game we call life. Your brain was built to continuely grow, learn and add new data even in older age. Always continue to learn and better yourself, in the game of chess
opening the game requires a lot of experience with common strategic and tactical themes, and quite a bit of memorization. The middle game involves imagination and creative risk-taking. And the endgame demands exactitude and mathematical calculation. When you apply this to a goal or desire you wish to accomplish in life especially in the beginning of dream building the game is literally wide open and can go in a myriad of different directions, so you have to make strong, general moves that cover a wide variety of situations. At the same time, you need to study your previous experiences and others to be prepared for different responses. So keep learning and growing there are more levels to your Queendom then you know. A weakness is not a weakness unless it can be attacked.
Many of us have gone through this game of life only to find out we were the ones holding ourselves back the entire time. Queen do not hold yourself back because you think you are not smart enough, have enough money, or think you lack the confidence to live your dreams. In the game of chess you never look at your weakness as weaknesses. Another way of saying, this is that your limitations are self-imposed, and that something you perceive as a weakness on your part may be completely irrelevant in a given context. If you are focusing too much attention to your so called weaknesses it is super important that you begin working on your inner game or Inner G (Goddess) and eliminate the psychological insecurities that may be more important than addressing the weakness itself. So in closing be the master of your life create your game/life according to your rules. Remember the Queen is the most powerful piece of the game. Know your worth Queen enjoy life, play, and take your game to the next level.
Black Women Business Owners Outpace All Other Startups Six Times National Average
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Betting on black women to grow America’s economy
By: Carolyn M. Brown Article from of Black Enterprise The number of businesses owned by minority Despite such numbers, African American female women has increased from 1 in 6 in 1997 to entrepreneurs start their ventures with less fund1 in 3 in 2015, per the 2015 State of Woming then men. They also receive less money from en-Owned Businesses Report commissioned by private investors. In 2014, 36% of startups pitchAmerican Express OPEN. ing to angels were women-led and 15% of these While non-minority women-owned firms grew secured funding, while 24% of firms presenting 40% over the 18-year time period, black womwere minority-led and of these 16% received angel en-owned firms grew 322% and Latina-owned investment, according to the Center for Venture firms grew 224%. Women now own 30% of all Research at the University of New Hampshire. businesses in the U.S., accounting for some 9.4 million firms. And African American women In addition to access to capital, access to influential control 14% of these companies, or an estimatnetworks and mentors are challenges facing womed 1.3 million businesses, employing 297,500 en entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. workers and generating $52.6 billion in revenue. “One of the most remarkable entrepreneurial What’s more, studies show that women tend to trends in recent years is the phenomenal growth among black women. The number of firms skycreate home-based micro businesses and personal service based businesses, while men startrocketed. And employment and receipts are increasing too, but not nearly at the same rate. There’s ing businesses are entering construction and a lot more to this story, and we’re excited to explore contracting fields. Washington, DC and New these important questions,” stated Amanda Brown, York, New York are reportedly two cities with executive director, National Women’s Business high rates of black female entrepreneurship. Council. Black women are the fastest-growing entrepreneurs in the nation, starting businesses at six times the national average.
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Natural Woman Magazine’s
Entrepreneur Spotlight Destiny Fulfilling LLC One of coolest things about Natural Woman Magazine is our Entrepreneur Spotlights, where we highlight a natural businesses that offers great natural products. Services, and or events to our natural audience. In this issue we have an awesome company ran by a husband and wife team called Destiny Fulfilling LLC, an all natural body, hair, and skincare line. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with co owner of the company Kimberly Rice, we talked about the inspiration, motivation and obstacles behind starting her business. Destiny Fulfilling LLC was created when Kimberly started to find out how harmful mainstream cosmetics and skin care products were to our skin and bodies. In addition to learning about the dangerous ingredients in other products, Kimberly also suffered from and found it very difficult to get relief from prescribed and over the counter products. This is what led Kimberly down the road of creating her business of natural skincare, beauty and body products. Her line consist of body and hair butters, oils, shampoos and body
scrubs that are safe for the entire family to use. Family is a huge inspiration in the creation of Destiny Fulfilling LLC according to Kimberley, her sister was the first to introduce her to becoming natural which led her down the path of becoming natural too. Her husband who is also the co owner of the business uses his medical background to help his wife come up with the best natural ingredients for their products. Destiny Fulfilling was started to give customers a completely 100% all-natural alternative to skincare. All of the products are vegan and handmade free from alcohol, chemical, and sulfates. “I believe all women have their own given beauty that deserves to be nourished with what is already here on Earth. Just simple ingredients is all that our body needs to remain healthy.” Destiny fulfilling has 4 signature products that includes her natural hair and body butter, hair and body oils, seal salt scrubs, and hair and body wash shampoos. Each product has an incredible scent made from natural essential oils like cranberry, tea tree, jasmine, mango and lavender. Destiny fulfilling is safe for anyone to use even babies, Kimberly shared with me that her nephew who just turned 2 has used her product on his skin since birth with no complications. When asked how Kimberly balances being a wife, mother, and business owners she shared with me her secret. “I am a strong believer that if you know for sure that you will not be too overwhelmed, then taking a leap of faith can be exciting. Do not have any expectations, just enjoy the process. Sometimes the best thing to do is just not to think or obsess. Just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best. You can learn more about Destiny Fulfilling LLC by visiting their website at www.destinyfullfilling.com Watch Kimberly’s Live interview with Azizah Nubia Here
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Living Science of Tantra
by BY PANDIT RAJMANI TIGUNAIT The yoga of sex? Tantra is infinitely more fascinating and powerful than that. A modern teacher explains why tantra is the perfect spiritual science for the modern age.
Tantra is an ancient yet vibrant spiritual science. It is unique in that it takes the whole person into account. Other spiritual traditions ordinarily teach that desire for worldly pleasures and spiritual aspirations are mutually exclusive, setting the stage for an endless internal struggle. Although most people are drawn to spiritual beliefs and practices, they have a natural urge to fulfill their worldly desires. With no way to reconcile these two impulses, they fall prey to guilt and self-condemnation or they become hypocritical, or both. The tantric approach to life avoids this pitfall. The literal meaning of “tantra” is “to weave, to expand, to spread,” and according to tantric adepts, the fabric of life can provide true and everlasting fulfillment only when all the threads are woven according to the pattern designated by nature. When we are born, life naturally forms itself around that pattern. But as we grow, our ignorance, desire, attachment,
fear, and false images of ourselves and others tangle and tear the threads, disfiguring the fabric.
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Tantra sadhana (spiritual practice) reweaves the fabric, restoring the original pattern. No other path is as systematic and comprehensive. The profound sciences and practices pertaining to hatha yoga, pranayama, mudras, rituals, kundalini yoga, nada yoga, mantra, yantra, mandala, visualization of deities, alchemy, Ayurveda, astrology, and hundreds of esoteric practices for engendering worldly and spiritual prosperity blend perfectly in the tantric disciplines. The goal of tantra is awakening and using shakti. Long ago tantric masters discovered that to be successful externally or internally we must first awaken our latent power, for only those who are strong and blessed with great stamina reach the final goal. The key to success is shakti—the power of soul, the power of the divine force within. Although every individual possesses an infinite and
indomitable shakti, most of it remains dormant. Those whose shakti is largely unawakened have neither the capacity to be successful in the world nor the capacity to enjoy worldly pleasures. Similarly, without shakti, we can neither find spiritual illumination nor rejoice in it. Thus tantra sadhana is shakti sadhana. Awakening and using shakti is the goal of tantra. Unfortunately a large number of tantric enthusiasts in both the West and the East mistakenly identify tantra as the yoga of sex, black magic, witchcraft, seduction, and an amalgam of techniques for influencing the minds of others. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that tantra is both a spiritual path and a science. As a spiritual path it emphasizes purifying our mind and heart and cultivating a spiritually illuminating philosophy of life. As a science, it experiments with techniques whose efficacy depends on the precise application of mantra and yantra, ritual use of specific materials, and the performance of tantric mudras and accompanying mental exercises.
Amargarh in north India. For generations the palace had been attended by tantric adepts who were staunch worshipers and devotees of Shakti (the Divine Mother), and around the time I was born the palace was patronized by twenty-four pandits and tantrics, headed by my father. When a saint from the Kabira order visited the palace one day, the eldest prince and his admirers became his followers. Under the influence of this saint, the group developed feelings of animosity toward the tantrics and their practices. In time, their ill will came to center on a highly advanced tantric who worshiped the Divine Mother in a palatial Shakti temple. His practice was purely tantric and centered around the offering of wine, meat, fish (and probably sex, although my father never mentioned it). The zealous group around the eldest prince watched this adept constantly, criticizing him mercilessly. “He is creating an unclean, impure environment in the palace,” they would say. “How can anyone justify indulgence and orgies as spiritual practices? It is total nonsense. We should inform the king.”
This is a Preview onlince Visit turalwoman.com In layman’s language, such practices can be thought of as tantric formulas. They will yield a result if properly applied regardless of the character, spiritual understanding, or intention of the practitioner. When this scientific aspect of tantra falls into the hands of charlatans it is inevitably misused, giving tantra a bad name. Fortunately, however, there are still tantric masters and authentic scriptures to undercut such false and distorted notions and make it possible for us to gain a better understanding of this sublime path.
The Mystery of Tantra My own quest began when as a child I heard the story of a tantric phenomenon that had taken place in our village. My father and his forefathers before him were raja purohita, the spiritual guides to the royal family of the state of
Eventually the tantric was called to the court to explain his actions. He said, “I do not indulge in wine but worship the Divine Mother with bindu [‘the drop’], as prescribed in the scriptures and taught by my master.” Attempting to pin him down, someone asked, “Then why do you lock the door of the temple when you do your so-called worship?” “According to the tradition, the kind of practice I do must be secret,” the tantric replied. “Only initiates can participate in this worship. During the normal worship of the deity, the door is open to everyone.” The king found this explanation acceptable and the assembly was adjourned, but the zealots did not give up. They kept an eye on this adept; they knew exactly when and from where he got the wine and how he brought it into the temple. They also knew the exact time he began his worship with the wine and other ingredients which, according to Hindu belief, were
impure and therefore prohibited. Armed with this information, the prince and his followers invaded the temple one night during the secret worship and demanded to be admitted. Caught in the middle of the ritual, the adept prayed to be forgiven for concluding the practice inappropriately, adding, “Mother, I am your child. Please do as you wish.” He opened the door and the group rushed in, only to find milk in the chalices instead of wine, and vegetarian dishes instead of meat and fish. They stormed out in frustration. “The Divine Mother went out of her way to protect me,” the tantric thought when they were gone. “What good is this place in which She has to go through this unnecessary trouble?” Early the next morning the adept resigned from performing spiritual and religious services for the royal family, as did several of the other tantric pandits. Those who remained became apathetic. Before long, a series of calamities began—fatal accidents and diseases befell the royal family and disputes arose among them. Portions of the newly built palace began to collapse. Within a few years all the family’s wealth mysteriously disappeared and the section of the palace that remained standing was infested with rats and snakes and overrun by pigeons.
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I asked my father, “What is tantra and how do these tantric masters become so powerful?” I was not yet born when this incident took place, but I vividly remember the run-down condition of the palace and the misery of the remaining members of the royal family. I was so intrigued by the story that on several occasions I asked my father, “What is tantra and how do these tantric masters become so powerful?” In response he would either not reply at all or answer only briefly, “Tantra means worshiping the Divine Mother. Tantrics are her blessed children. Whatever they have is but the grace of the Divine Mother.” This simple answer did not satisfy me, but it did inspire me to explore the mystery of tantra further.
The key to all successful relationships No matter how you try to spin it we are all human and we all desire love with a partner. I have read that one of the most spiritual things you can do is be in a relationship with someone. To be in a love relationship with someone requires surrender and openness, two things that many of us are uncomfortable with, but if we desire to have great relationships that are meaningful and enhancing to your life we have to start there. I read an article from the Kim Amani in her blog “Juice up your life and love” on how we can create successful relationships. The tips she shared are great foundational point to build on with your partner.
Preview nce Visit lwoman.com The mighty trust.
“There are few things more precious, essential and foundational in intimate relationships. I know you thought I would say: “Sex! It’s number one!” Except that the very best sex, the most gourmet sex, is borne of deep trust. Feeling safe is what leads to deep surrender, which is what leads to life-changing sex and orgasms. This is the super fuel of your relationship. Without trust, you have nothing.
Anais Nin has a great quote about the dissolution of relationships: Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishing. It’s a slow demise and it accumulates over time. A small misstep here or there is forgiven, but they snowball into riffs. Trust is eroded. After a while, the “spark is gone” and the “sex isn’t like it used to be.” And no one can quite put their finger on why. In my own experience, when I look back, I can pinpoint moments in time where trust was broken to some degree. And there a crack began. With each stretching and breaking of trust, the crevasse deepened. Until it got to the point where to touch each other, we’d have to reach so far, that it became a strain. In North America, we place a bizarre, fucked-up importance on white lies. Most people want to “keep the peace” more than they want to confront the truth. The deepest source of truth is being honest with yourself. You can’t be honest with someone else
if you can’t identify your own truth first. It’s the crux of everything. This self-dishonesty can be unintentional. Because we all have our blind spots. But the body doesn’t lie. Eventually, if the untruth, the haze, the obliqueness, if carried on for long enough, begins to show up in the body. Headaches. Low libido. A “growth” on a sexual organ. Sustaining a lie is exhausting. Your body registers the true cost. And of course, your libido is your oracle. So when you feel your relationship straining under the weight of avoidance, take stock: 1) Seek objective opinions. Be it a friend or a coach or a counselor, try to speak without censoring. Let someone present a mirror back to you of what you are saying. On some level, we realize our own truth and often say it out loud. But we still don’t fully absorb what we’ve just said. A good coach or friend—and let me define that
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2) As hard as it is, trust that the truth will set you free. Have that hard conversation with your partner about the things you haven’t been saying. People fear that if they say what they really feel, the relationship may end. And it might. But more importantly, your trust in the love and benevolence of the universe, and your ability to manifest even more beauty and ecstasy, needs to be bigger than all that. You have to trust that your truth will navigate you through anything. And lead you to a higher state of everything.
3) Make it a state of your relationship. Ideally, your intimate relationship has as a primary value: honesty. You help each other illuminate and call each other out on your own blind spots, with love and ruthless compassion. You have a commitment to work on this stuff collectively— to confront and eradicate all the little things each of you does to sabotage the relationship, that pull you away from the delicate, soft space of undefended love.
Preview nceTheVisit Connection between Hair Trimming and Hair Growth lwoman.com I could never understand why trimming the ends of your hair promotes hair growth. Common sense would make us think that cutting the ends of your hair will make is shorter, but contrary to popular belief, trimming your strands can serve as beneficiary for your hair’s health as well as your personal length goals in the long run. Below are 3 tips on Natural Hair trimming from certified Natural Hair Care Specialist. 1. Two strand twist method When you’re in need of a trim, usually your twists will be frizzy at the ends or knot easily. They will also feel dry, considering the ends are the oldest, making them prone to splitting or snapping. So, when you have twisted you’re hair and notice one or all of these issues listed, start with the bottom row of twists (in nape area) and snip the frizzy, fuzzy ends off. When doing so, try to snip the approximate amount from each individual
twist to keep from losing shape.
2. SEARCH & Destroy Method This method is a little more tedious as it calls for you to search out split ends or single strand knots and snip them. Some like this method, but beware that it makes for jagged, uneven ends. This method is made easy when performed on 2a-3c hair textures.
3. Blow out Method This method provides the best visibility to dry, split ends by heat stretching the hair with a blow dryer. By using medium/low heat, you can stretch out the hair, making it easier to shape and trim. This method is recommended mostly for tighter, 4b/4c textures.
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