Natural Woman Magazine

Natural Woman Magazine Awaken the Goddess in U

Holiday Alternatives

November 2012

Top Toxic Offenders

Declutter Your Life Healing our Wombs

Meet the Women Behind Natural Woman

The Natural Woman Webstore

Opening January 2013 Awaken the Goddess in U! Learn how to get YOUR product in our store Www.asknaturalwoman.web.com

Natural Woman is dedicated to bringing the most resourceful, entertaining, and empowering news, that will help each and every woman awaken to her Goddess self.

Natural Woman Staff AZIZAH NUBIA Editor-in-chief TAMMARAH OVERTON Chief of Beauty & Fashion Isis Swink Photography/Staff Writer Trazana Staples Staff Writer

Awaken the Goddess in U

Become a contributor or to advertise contact Natural Woman at asknaturalwoman@gmail.com Natural Woman Magazine is Media Cooperative Copyright Š 2012

Contents: Natural Celebs

8

De~clutter Your Life Fueng Shui Tips

11

Vegan Holiday Meals Alternative 15 Winterize Your Summer Gear 17 Top Toxic Offender: Know whats in your products.

Healing our Wombs

22

Tips for Transitioning Hair: 25 Meet the Women behind Natural Woman Magazine

19 26

Expressions of opinion, claims and statement of supposed fact do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, staff, and online publishing thereof accept any responsibility for the validity of claims made in articles or advertising Opinion expressed within are not to be considered official expressions of Natural Woman magazine or asknaturalwoman.webs.com. The publisher will not assume any responsibility for error and omissions appearing within.

Awaken the Goddess In Every Issue...

Wordz from the Editor Green Living Sacred Kitchen Great Reads Earth Star Mama Azizah's Cupboard Ask Natural Woman

Please send all articles ideas or to submit questions for Natural Woman send to aksnaturalwoman@gmail.com

1st Annual Red Dress Affair Successful & Living Performing Live STAR MURPHY

Get Tickets in Advance at www.diamondlife.webs.com General Admission :$10 VIP: $20

WORDZ FROM THE EDITOR

By Azizah Nubia Putting together this months issue has been so much fun, I love doing what I do.

One of main reasons Tammarah and I ventured together to create Natural Woman was to help other woman tap into their inner Goddess so they to can begin creating to their highest good.

With all of that being said I want to share a very special experience me and my Natural Woman team experienced this past week.

I was riding in my car with my family listening to one of my favorite albums 'Distant Relatives' by Nas & Damian Marely when all of the sudden my brother mention to me that Nas would be in town on Saturday.

I thought to myself “ wow I would love to have Nas in our magazine” As a student of the universal laws I decided to put the Law of Attraction to work for me, I made it my goal to meet Nas and get a picture of him for our magazine.

Days leading up to the “big night” I made hundreds of phone calls trying to get a lead on the event Nas would be attending, I had no luck.

The day before the event I contemplated not even going, but apart of me was determined to get what a wanted and I really wanted to see if I could make it happen.

The big night finally came and the Natural Woman crew was on the scene we were looking O' so fabulous. With one goal on our mind- Getting a picture with Nas. Thus the Adventure began....

Our first attempt to get close to Nas started with us trying to get into the party, what a bust! We could not get in, my ego was really deflated, I guess I needed that reality check. I thought to myself” this is going to be a job”.

Our 2nd attempt was to find someone who could get us, no luck.

By now we have been in the blistering cold for about a hour and no picture, just cold bones. Finally we decided when Nas tour bus pulls up we can get a picture of him before he walks in the club, then we can leave.

Photo taken by: Azizah Nubia

When the tour bus finally pulled up, the bus was directed to pull to the side door to let him in the building. We saw him get off the bus surrounded by security I yelled his name, he waved and walked right into the club...

STILL NO PICTURE. I knew then that this was a test for sure, I was tested to see how far I would go to get what I want.

By now its been close to three hours my crew was tired and cold so decisions had to be made, I knew I was not leaving without my picture. So Tammarah and I decided to stay and the rest of our team went home, our wonderful photographer Isis left us her camera and it was on.

We waited 1 hour for Nas to come out of the club, while waiting we met his road team, they are really some great people very nice and approachable.

Finally Nas comes out and we ask him can we get a picture for our Magazine and his words were “ Lets do it”.

Yes we got the picture .

Whats the moral of the story? It's simple never give up on what you want, you may have to work for it, but in the end if you hang in there you always get what you want and more.

And for all my Nas fans he is really a cool dude I thank him so much for his kindness, make sure you catch him on tour.

Natural Woman Magazine 6

Natural Celebs..

Did you know that some of the most successful Black celebrities in the Industry today are vegan or vegetarian, hmmmm could their be a possible link to their healthy diet and their success? You be the judge.

Angela Bassett Lives a vegetarian lifestyle, but enjoys vegan and raw food.

She shared with the LA Times that these food choices often help her get in shape for her roles. At 53, Bassett looks amazing.

Natural Woman Magazine 8

Russell Simmons He writes on Ellen Degeneres’ website, “Up until [starting yoga in NY], a hamburger was something stuck between two buns — not a cow, a wing was something you dipped in BBQ sauce — not a chicken, and milk was something you drank as a human, never realizing it was only meant for a calf.”Kinda make ya wonder?

Erykah Badu She told VegNews Magazine, “Vegan food is soul food in its truest form.

Soul food means to feed the soul. And to me, your soul is your intent. If your intent is pure, you are pure.”

Keep those lips chapped Chapped lips are actually caused by dehydration .Even though it might seem like the right thing to do, licking your lips only makes the problem worse. Saliva evaporates quickly, making the lips even drier. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of good quality water every few hours.

Use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the atmosphere. Refrain from smoking, which will cause the natural oils in your lips to evaporate.

Breathe through your nose and not your mouth. Breathing through your mouth can cause your lips to dry out.

Using lip balms that contain shea butter or beeswax will add a protective layer that will lock in moisture.

Natural Woman Webstore Opening January 2012

Azizah's Cupboard Benefits of Lavender Anxiety and depression- The essential oil of lavender has a calming, sedative, and anti-convulsive effect. It can also increase the effectiveness of other relaxants.

Insomnia- A study conducted at the University of Leicester in England showed that the use of lavender essential oil is just as effective in promoting sound sleep as traditional medication. In fact, many British hospitals offer their patients lavender pillows to help with sleeplessness.

Scrapes and wounds- Lavender essential oil has very powerful antiseptic properties. Applying it to wounds can not only increase cell growth causing the wound to heal faster, but it also decreases the appearance of scars. The oils anti-microbial action protects scrapes and wounds from infection, while allowing them heal.

Digestive problems- Lavender has also been endorsed by Germany's Commission E to treat all sorts of stomach and digestive disorders. It soothes the lining of the digestive tract and promotes the secretion of bile, which helps the body digest fats. In addition to this, lavender can also relieve gas pressure and constipation.

Headaches- Massaging lavender oil onto the temples, neck and forehead can relieve neck and head tension and promote relaxation, thus relieving a variety of headaches. Those included are general headaches, gastric headaches, nervous headaches, sinus and tension headaches.

Skin problems- By massaging lavender oil into the skin, it can be used to treat a number of skin problems such as acne, burns, dry skin, eczema, itchy skin, sunburn, seborrhea, and skin inflammation.

Women's health problems- For pregnancy, lavender can help sooth and relieve flatulence and indigestion. It can diminish the look of stretch marks and scars. It can relieve cramps, edema, exhaustion, infection, breast abscesses, and post-natal depression. A study of lavender by British researchers suggests that using lavender oil during pregnancy and childbirth can help ease delivery pain and promote a speedy recovery Source:http://tmeetz.hubpages.com/hub/lavender

Natural Woman Magazine 10

DeClutter Your Life

Fueng Shui Tips

By: Azizah Nubia

By Azizah Nubia

Our homes are a big extension of who we are; everything in our life is someway a reflection of who we are. On my journey to discovering my highest potential I realized how much our homes say about us. In a way this can be a good thing, sometimes it can be hard to see the areas in your life that need improving, we literally fail to see it. But by paying close attention to your home and your environment you can see what needs to be improved.

For example your bedroom is your private sanctuary, it is where you go to rejuvenate, rest and even make love.

Now if this is a area in your home that is cluttered, messy, or lacks your attention and care I guarantee that your personal life and love relationships can reflect this.

The bedroom is a reflection of our inner self, our sacral & heart chakras show themselves here. How do you feel when you enter this space? What thoughts come to mind here? Is it a place of tranquility and peace?

Natural Woman Magazine 11

The kitchen and dining area in my opinion is closely related to your your solar, sacral, & root chakras it represents health, nourishment and love. Depending on how much clutter is in the kitchen will tell you if you should be taking better care of your health . The kitchen is the place of nourishment and love, it is a place were we go to re-charge and share with our loved ones. What do you store here? Is it filled with junk food, dirty dishes, dis-organization?

A cluttered office can represent confusion and blockage of the brow chakra. If this is a area in disarray in your home or work place I guarantee you have lack of focus and a lost sense of direction in life especially when it is career related.

Here are some ways to help you evaluate what areas in your home reflect your personal life. continue

Rooms and living spaces that typically represent the major chakras are: Crown Chakra: Attic, Roof, Rain Gutters Brow Chakra: Den, Home Office, Windows Throat Chakra: Living Room, Family Room Heart Chakra: Kitchen, Dining Areas Solar Plexus Chakra: Bathrooms, Personal Spaces Sacral Chakra: Master Bedroom Root Chakra: Basement, Crawl Spaces Aura: Porches, Decks, Landscaping, Garages

The Art of Clearing Ways you can bring back the peace and harmony is to first DE-CLUTTER. Get rid of anything that reminds you of anything unpleasant, dust, sweep, wash, ect.

Smudge your home to push out any negative energy that may linger in your home you can do this by, burning white sage, burning bay leaves, frankincense, or cedar wood. While you do this clear your mind and focus on purification, and any positive intentions you have for your home.

Learn the art of Feng Shui to create a clear path of "Chi" inside your home.

Below are some helpful tips that I used to help me create balance at home · Make herbal sachets to hang in your home · Decorate with healing crystals and art work · Clean your home with natural cleansing products · Shop for healthy and nourishing foods · Use candles, incense, anything that brings you tranquility and peace.

Once you pin point the areas in your home that need attention simply declutter, let go and reorganize….

But wait there is more, remember your home is a reflection of you so just cleaning one time is not going to do the job, and you don't want to be over obsessive about how your home looks. We want our homes to reflect us, but if you fell to do the real inner work on yourself the task of cleaning your home will turn into a unhappy chore. "Whats felt on the inside will reflect on the outside" is my motto.

We're all here to experience the best life and reach our highest potential as evolving spirits on this planet. We have to start somewhere and for some of us getting help is not so easy. Your home is great start into understanding where you are now and if you pay close attention you can begin creating where you want to be.

Magickal Herbs

Explore the wonderful world of Herbal Magick Learn how you can use herbs to enhance your life to bring you closer to who you truly are and your desires.

Live online webinar November 17, 2012 register www.returntobalance.webs.com

Ask Natural Woman

Q A

“what is the best product really out there for natural hair right now i use paul mitchell leave in conditioner and ginger root shampoo there products are for all women of color and i love them i want to grow my afro back so can you help my hair is part straight and part curly�.

There are a lot of great products for woman of color on the market today, especially products that are natural and eco-friendly . Some of the brands that Natural Woman recommends is Carol's Daughter natural hair products. This line offers products with natural ingredients that promote strong, shiny, healthy hair for women of color with a large variety Carol's Daughter has something for every type of hair.

I hope this helps in your quest to having strong healthy Natural hair Peace & Love Natural Woman

To submit a question for Natural Woman visit our website at www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com

Great Reads Ecoprenuership 10 Steps in Creating your Green Business Trazana Staples, Community Organizer and Founder of Another Avenue Cultural Resource Center has presented to the world a step by step blue-print that will guide you into making or creating a green business.

“Applying the steps presented in this book will lead you to live your greatest dream of becoming an ecopreneur.

Although I am yet still an aspiring ecopreneur, speaker, community activist, song writer, mother, grandmother, and visionary, life was not always easy for me.

Through my journey I have learned to use my creativity and gifts to sustain my lifestyle, care for the planet and give back to the world.

It took years for me to discover my passion, but once I figured it out, I began to live and enjoy life. What I have learned is it does not need to take a lifetime to discover, all it takes is being shown your path. It is my hopes that this booklet will lead someone to their path of ecopreneurship.”

“I designed this booklet of resources to be used as a tool to give information to be an ecopreneur. It is my hopes that the information and resources in this booklet will help lead those who inspire to be an ecopreneur in the right direction to discover their passion that will lead to their

Another Avenue Cultural Resource Center provides healthy living education and sustainability and contribution to the earth." resources to address critical health issues such Purchase your copy of Ecoprenuership: 10 as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension P.O.Box steps into creating your Green Business visit: 280221 Nashville,Tennessee 37228 www.anotheravenue.blogspotculturalresourcecenter.com (615) 852-6203 Natural Woman Magazine 14

Healthy Holiday Alternatives The holiday season is just around the corner, and Natural Woman has the scoop on how you can make the most delicious holiday classics into great healthy dishes.

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Ingredients: 2 heaping cup of cooked or canned pumpkin 1 to 1 1/4 cups agave nectar 1 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground dry ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoons nutmeg 1 pie crust

Preparation: Mix spices, nectar, and pumpkin in a bowl and mix until all ingredients are mixed well. Place mixed batter into the pie crust shell and bake in the oven for 20 minutes in 375 degree heat.

Once baking is done place pie on a cooling rack and let cool for 15 minutes, cut & serve.

Veggie Dressing Ingredients 1 Tbs. olive oil 1 Tbs. toasted sesame oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 c. fresh mushrooms, chopped 1 cup celery and tops, chopped 3/4 lb. bread or cornbread cubes (or both) 1 ½ c. vegetable broth ½ tsp. each of sage, thyme, and savory 1 Tbs. fresh parsley, chopped salt and pepper (to taste)

Preparation Sauté the onion, mushrooms, and celery in a large pan with olive oil until softened; add some broth if necessary to keep from sticking.

Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients, and mix well (bread should be moist).

Grease a casserole dish with sesame oil, pack in the stuffing, and brush with more oil.

Cover with foil and bake at 325-375 degrees for about 1 hour.

Vegan Cranberry Sauce 4 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries 1 cup filtered water 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup dried cherries 4 Tbsp agave nectar or more to taste 1 Tbsp orange zest 1 tsp fresh ginger juice (grate fresh ginger and squeeze out the juice) or more to taste Bring the raisins, cherries, cranberries, orange 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon depending on taste juice and water to the boil.

Simmer for about ten minutes or until some of the cranberries start to burst open. Some will burst open and some will not. This gives a great texture.

Now add in the agave nectar, ginger juice, orange zest and cinnamon and simmer for a few more minutes just to allow the flavors to infuse.

Vegan Turkey Substitute Remove from the heat and allow to cool Courtesy of PETA completely.

Chill in the fridge for at least a few hours to allow the sauce to thicken and the flavors to infuse.

Great idea's for all your Vegan Guest!

No holiday meal would be complete without a veggie turkey. Try these Not sure how to prepare the faux tasty turkey-friendly alternatives this holiday season for a meal that turkey? Our chefs put together a everyone can celebrate: few tips for dressing the already··Gardein: There are many holiday centerpiece options available from Gardein. It has seasonal items as well as year-round favorites. Gardein is tasty veggie turkeys: available at select health food stores and Whole Foods Markets nationwide. Always follow the package ··Tofurky Roast: This roast comes stuffed with a savory herb dressing and directions for cooking.

For wheat- and soy-based veggie is available as just the roast or as part of an entire feast—with gravy, turkeys, try basting them in dumplings, wild rice stuffing, and “wishstix”—for a complete holiday vegetable broth while they’re meal. cooking. ··Celebration Roast: This is an artisan-made vegan grain meat with a sausage-style stuffing made from butternut squash, apples, and mushrooms.

Available at select Whole Foods Markets.

Try our Southwestern Glaze for a spicy-sweet twist on your holiday meal. Cook the veggie turkey according to the package directions, but baste it with the glaze during the last 45 minutes of cooking time: 2 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/4 tsp. allspice 1/4 tsp. cumin Sea salt, to taste Cayenne pepper, to taste 2 Tbsp. agave nectar or maple syrup 1 Tbsp. water

Sacred Kitchen Make your own Shampoo That's right you can make your own shampoo, this is a easy economical way to have healthy hair and save some extra dollars with these simple ingredients you can find right in your kitchen.

You can mix and match herbs from the following lists to develop an individualized combination that is best for your hair HERBAL SHAMPOOS Choose herbs for your shampoo that will enhance your hair color and texture, and that address any special needs you may have.

You can mix and match herbs from the following lists to develop an individualized combination that is best for your hair.

Dry: Comfrey root, avocado, elder flowers, orange blossoms.

Normal: Dandelion, horsetail, clover.

Oily: Watercress, strawberry leaf, white willow bark, lemon grass.

Ethnic: Comfrey, nettle, cherry bark, olive oil.

Shine: Vegan Egg ( Flax Seed juice), raspberry, nettle, vinegar, quassia.

Manageability: Coconut or Soy Yogurt, cherry bark, vegan beer.

Softness: Cherry bark, burdock root, olive oil, marjoram.

Dandruff: White willow bark, birch bark, comfrey, nettle, peppermint, vinegar.

Growth: St. John’s wort, nettle, sage, basil, rosemary, onion juice.

Natural Woman Magazine 176

Many consumers are completely unaware that animal by-products such as placenta and crushed animal parts such as horns and hooves (good sources for keratin, a protein contained in finger and toenails as well as hair) are used in their favorite shampoos and conditioners.

BASIC SHAMPOO FORMULA Wha’Cha NEED 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap 1 cup spring water¼ cup fresh herbs (2 tablespoons dried) 1 teaspoon almond or apricot kernel oil 2 drops essential oil Wha’ Cha DO 1. Place herbs in a clean 10-ounce glass jar with a lid.

2. Boil the spring water and pour over the herbs.

3. Cover and let steep for 10 to 20 minutes.

4. Strain the liquid from the herbs into a bowl.

5. Add the liquid castile soap and almond or apricot kernel oil and mix thoroughly.

6. Scent with essential oil and mix again.

7. Bottle in a plastic container with a spout or a clean recycled shampoo bottle.

Yield: Approximately 24 shampoos NOW that is Very “Sexy”

To learn more recipes like this visit www.chefmayrakitchen.com

Natural Woman Top Hair Style of the Month This unique hairstyle was submitted by one of our readers.

To have your Natural Hair Style Creations in Natural Woman visit www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com

Natural Woman Magazine 18

Top 10 Toxic Offenders Retinyl Pamitate- composed of palmitic acid and retinol, this chemical breaks down and produces toxic free redicals when exposed to light, and damages your DNA Parabens- a family of preservatives that mimic estrogen when it enters your body and the environment; a potential endocrine (hormone) system disruptor.

Oxybenzone- found in sunscreens and lotions, this chemical causes photoallergic reaction and is found in 97% of American bodies according to the CDC.

Synthetic vs.

The Real

BHA- classified as probable human carcinogen based on animal testing by the Nat'l Institute for health.

Formaldehyde- a carcinogenic impurity released b many preservatives including quaternium- 15 and DMDM hydantion.

Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfates- SLS's are sufactant often contaminated with dioxane. After it absorbs through the skin, it mimics estrogen hormones.

1, 4 Dioxane- reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on animals studies it is found in 46% of cosmetic ingredients in th U.S.; identifiable by the designation “peg”, “-oxynol”, and “-eth”-, it is a byproduct of processing Triclosan/Triclocarban and Bezylkonium chlorideoverused anti-microbial pesticides and biocides; reproductive hormone disruption while B.C. Is a respiratory allergies Phthalates- in cosmetics and plastics, phthalates quickly absorb in the body and are linked to hormone disruption, “feminization” of male infants, and cause proliferation of the breast tumor cells.

Fragances and Heavy Metals- both are linked to hormone disrupters; fragance contaminates much of the worlds marine life and humans, while heavy metals build up quickly and can be immune and respiratory allergies.

This list has been compiled by the Coalition for Healthy Aging Natural Woman Magazine 19

Miss Too's Fashion Tips Winterize your summer wardrobe Summer has passed and fall is slowly making her exit. It is finally time to pull back out the coats, hats, gloves and boots.

If your anything like me you will miss your summer gear, but there are many ways to turn your Summer gear into winter gear with a few easy tips

Tip #1 Tun your summer dress into a winter dress by adding matching tights or leggies

Tip #2 One of the simplest ways to take a summer dress into winter is by simply layering it over a fitted turtleneck. Smart and stylish!

Tip #3 A dress will read like a skirt if you top it with a pretty jacket that you can wear indoors. Layer your dress over a longsleeve tee for extra warmth since no one will see the hidden top anyway.

Earth Star Mama Tips, tricks, advice and laughs for the 21st Century Moms !!

By : Isis Swink Its getting colder outside so now is the perfect time to bring out the winter remedies to have a safe and sniffle free winter. The first thing we need to do is make sure we have our humidifiers clean and ready to go. It is important to keep the air moist in the winter because circulated heat dries and can cause everything from nosebleeds to dry skin. Another great thing in the winter is Eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus is an amazing oil and is used in cough drops as well as vaporized chest rub. You can add this wonderful oil to a pot of boiling water to bring relief for stuffy noses and congested chests or just to ward off any winter time ailments. You can make your own chest rub by adding the oil to Shea Butter and coconut oil.

To make this concoction you would slowly melt the shea butter and coconut oil down,remove from heat and add several drops of the eucalyptus while whipping the mixture to a soft consistency. Now you will have something that is effective, but gentle enough to use on a baby. This is an amazing and effective leaf that is easy to use and very versatile.

Earth Star Mama was created by Motivational/ Singer Isis Swink to learn more about Earth Mama Star please visit http://earthstarmama.wordpress.com/

Return to Balance Radio Show “Love Life Enough to Love Yourself�

Week Nights at 11:00p.m. CT Www.blogtalkradio.com/azizah

Healing our Wombs When I see so many women in the world today who have had many complications with their reproductive organs or who cannot produce children , or continue to trash the sacred womb with toxic foods and drugs. It lets me know that the feminine essences is in dire need of healing.

Not just healing on a physical level but healing on a deep spiritual level, all of these reproductive issue all point to the need to love Oneself, to not be ashamed of our sexuality like we have been programmed to be, we must embrace it.

Embrace who you are, do not fear your ability to be a woman pure and sweet.

You have never been told how beautiful you are, or how special you are, or how important you are to humanity because you have not looked inside you to see how great you are. You have been looking to find yourself in television, religion, the industry but all of these sources you look to only capitalize off of your most prized possession and that is your womb.

When we are in the process of healing with reproductive challenges we must first understand that all physical manifestations of illness start on a spiritual level first, then mental, emotional and the ending result is the physical manifestation of the illness.

Dealing with Reproductive challenges in women on all levels Spiritual Level: Woman denying true divine feminine self (accepting the “outer worlds” perception of who she is instead of believing who she truly is.)

Thought Level: at this level she has accepted and now believes the outer worlds perception of who she is and now she create negative thoughts about herself.

You see this so vividly now as young sistar call themselves bitches, hoes, sluts, etc.

They think they are not good enough, they think they are dirty, they think they are “sinners” if they engage in sexual union without marriage due to religious programming.

These embedded thoughts continue to create negative emotions about self and with this combination (based on universal law) they will begin to manifest experiences that make them feel they way they think (bad relationships, abusive relationships, dis-eases, etc).

Emotional Level: Since this is the energy center of creative, sexual, and emotional expression.

When these emotions are not expressed (due to the self prison of negative thinking), the energy that moves through this center becomes blocked. The negative emotion associated with this is Guilt.

Physical Level: At this level dis-ease manifest it self as a number of reproductive dis-eases: fibroid, PMDD, herpes, ovarian cyst, and a number of reproductive cancers.

Each one of these dis-ease vary depending on the thought pattern of the woman.

How can healing begin?

To heal from this the woman must return back to her true divine self.

By re-establishing a natural diet, a positive thought pattern, healthy emotional expression and accepting her sexuality, being creative any physical reproductive illness can be healed.

Natural Woman Magazine 22

Green Living : Green Holidays By: Trazana Staples Another Avenue Cultural Resource Center So many suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) this time of season, and my guess is, if you were to ask them why they are depressed , chances are they do not know. I suggest it is because the Sun hides HIS majestic light due to the orbiting as He revolve around Mother Earth as He serenades Her beauty (I don't know for sure if the Mother Earth revolves around the Sun, but you get the picture) Anyway, during this time commercialized holidays take place full of delightful indulgences and gift giving. At this season, unsuspecting animals are slaughtered for human consumption, mountains of processed foods that are full of sugar, MSG, and high fructose corn syrup adorn the dinner tables.

With gift giving, we have people purchasing items to see smiles on their loved ones faces during Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. Most of who cannot afford the price tags on the gifts being purchased. Lest we forget, this is the generous time of year, everyone is in the spirit of giving.

All of the above mentioned contributes to SAD in some kind of way and I suggest making this season a GREEN Holiday season to minimize or eliminate depression. This will require some creativity and less money to spend. Do not forget, bills continue throughout the year regardless of the season. So let us ‘Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce” and BE Happy!

Cleaning Clean your living space with citrus. Add fresh squeezed lemons, oranges, limes, or even grapefruit in your cleaning water. Boil some cinnamon and ginger to fill your home with a warming fragrance (people who enter will actually think you are baking some gingerbread!

Gifts Use this time to be creative in gift giving. See what you have that has been tucked away in a box. Recreate something that you are not using. Make some jewelry, a picture, a pretty card with those old items you are no longer using. The best gifts are those from your heart!

Food Processed foods have extremely large amounts of sugar, salt, baking soda, and MSG in them. So we suggest using less process foods and adopting a more natural lifestyle as a gift and antidepressant for yourself.

Instead of using sugar use: Organic Agave Nectar, Raw Maple Syrup or Raw organic wildflower honey.

Instead of table salt use: Sea salt, Pink Himalayan Salt, Braggs Liquid Aminos. This is also a great way to experiment with some herbs in your food; oregano, thyme, garlic, ginger root, sweet marjoram, basil. (This is a fabulous opportunity to grow your own herbs, or give as a gift, an herb box Herbs grow well indoors and need very little maintenance. ) Instead of meat Use: Add more fresh vegetable recipes to your diet: Squash, greens, carrots red or yellow potatoes , sweet potatoes, yams or yarrows, apples, oranges, cranberries, pears, almonds, cashews, brown, black, or wild rice, walnuts, and pecans, Boca Veggie Crumbles. (Utilize your local Famer’s Market or local growers who do not use harmful pesticides in growing their crops).

Fillers: use whole wheat unbleached flour, stone ground unbleached cornmeal (Hodgson Mill is my favorite) Extra virgin Olive oil, Non-animal buttery spread such as ‘Earth Balance Natural Buttery spread’, almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk Please do not forget to drink plenty of water with all your holiday beverages. Enjoy life! Live and be happy!!

Hollywood Naturals Natural Hair Rocks Solange' Knowles

Brandy Natural Woman Magazine 24

Viola Davis

Jill Scott

Prince

Tips for Transitioning Hair By: Azizah Nubia

I know how tough the transition from relaxed hair to our natural state of hair can be. Been there done that... twice, I have gone from weaves and hair glue to afros and braids to locks back to weave and right back to locks.

I hear a lot of women who want to go natural but dred the big chop and they use this as a excuse to continue with the “creamy crack”, but no more. You can still grow out your natural hair without the big chop you will just need a little extra maintenance to maintain your mane.

Below are some tips to maintain your Natural Hair: Cleanse – You’ll want to shampoo your hair at least once every 7-14 days. Steer clear of shampoos containing sulfates as these can be harsh and drying to the hair. Look for products with natural ingredients.

Conditioner -is the peanut butter to shampoo’s jelly. They go hand in hand.

Moisturize We can’t stress this enough. Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! You should also be using a light oil or moisturizer to help lock in the moisture. You can also use this oil for hot oil treatments as well every three week or once a month.

Trimming Although you’re going to eventually cut off the relaxed ends, it’s important to keep your hair trimmed.

It will make sure it stays healthy, has a nice shape, and prevents split ends. When transitioning, it’s a good idea to get your ends trimmed every 6-8 weeks.

During your transitioning phase, you’re going to want to wear protective hairstyles such as two-strand twists, flat braids and bantu knots and braid outs. These styles are important to the future of your hair because it will aid in locking in moisture and help to minimize any breakage. You also don’t want to stick to any one kind of style. Versatility is essential here as well. due to added stress your hair will receive if you stick with just one protective style method. Natural hair is stronger than permed hair.

However, while transitioning, it can still be very fragile, so keep that in mind when doing your hair.

Source:http://thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/going-natural-transitioning-from-relaxed-hair-without-cutting/

The Women Behind Natural Woman

Photography by Isis Swink

November 2003 was when these two special woman met for the first time. They have been best friends ever since, now they have collaborated together to create Natural Woman Magazine hoping that they can inspire women to live their highest dream and transform their lives from within.

Lets meet the real Natural Women Azizah & Tammarah How did you two meet?

Azizah: In 2003,” it was my first day in biology class I started school late. So I walked in the class room and stood against the wall and I heard this voice say “ you can sit here if you want”. It was Tammarah. We've been friends ever since” So Tammarah what was it like when you met Azizah?

Well she was Erica before she was Azizah, when I first met her I knew we were going to be friends right off, but I never knew how much our friendship would grow.

Natural Woman Magazine 26

What made you guys start Natural Woman?

Azizah: “It was 2009 I was in Cincinnati and Tammarah was in Nashville, we were on the phone and I remember us talking about starting our own Magazine, we talked about it I don't think we really thought we could do it at the time, but last year our lives changed and In away it pushed us to make that conversation in 2009 a reality.”

Tammarah what do you want to accomplish with Natural Woman?

Tammarah: I want to help other women be inspired to live their life.

Okay so based off your life experience how can you help other women to be inspired?

Tammarah: Through all my heart ache and pain from experiencing the recent death of my father, and enduring a life of being talked about because of my weight I can relate to a lot of women who have gone through the motions and felt like they could never accomplish anything. I felt like giving up

But I have learned that no matter what you have gone through there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

You just have to be grounded and prayed up and having faith that it will get better.

Azizah same question: Azizah: I have been through a lot in my life from being a teenage mother, to being in abusive relationships, from welfare, from in and out of college, over weight and unhappy. Now I am a mother of 6 , a wife, business entrepreneur , Reverend and spiritual teacher and through it all I had to learned how to love myself because once I understood what that meant I found power and I was able to change my life. Its not about where you come from that makes you who you are it about changing into the woman you want to be.

How has your friendship help you overcome difficult times in your life?

Azizah: Tammrah was there for me at time when I did not love myself at all, I was in a abusive relationship and it came down to me choosing my life over his (exboyfriend) and through it all Tammarah was always there to listen to me and give me advice even when I didn't listen. She never judge me she has always been a true friend.

Tammarah same question?

Tammarah: Azizah was there during l my issues from my relationships, low self-esteem and even my darkest moment when my father passed. She was there to encourage me to stay strong and to always see the positive.

What do you ladies hope to accomplish with Natural Woman when its said and done?

Tammarah: Spreading positive energy throughout the world, and reaching women to help them become confident. Natural Woman Magazine will change the world.

Azizah: We just want to be the change we see in the world. We want to empower women to dream big and never give up on their dreams. As women we have a responsibility to steer the human race into the golden age and in order for that to happen we as women must heal and tap into the powerful source that lies within each and everyone of us. Natural Woman will bring this out of every woman who reads our pages.

1st Annual Red Dress Affair Successful & Living Performing Live STAR MURPHY

Get Tickets in Advance at www.diamondlife.webs.com General Admission :$10 VIP: $20

Karma Free Food Specializing in Raw, Vegan & Traditional Foods

Visit Our Website for all your Healthy Food Tips, Recipes Books & More www.itsafac.webs.com