Natural Woman Magazine by Natural Woman Magazine

Thank you for making Natural Woman Magazine a success. We have made it through our first year and our future has never looked so good!!! Thank you for being a Loyal Friend Natural Woman Magazine is a Media Corporative Copyright ÂŠ 2013

Contributors Azizah Nubia Editor-In-Chief Tammarah Overton Chief of Beauty & Fashion Roy L. Hall Jr. Advertising Manager Cherise Charleswell Contributor Isis Swink Contributor Zephanie Garrett Contributor

Shanell Bowels Russell Creative Designer Jeyone Sabir Photography Gidget Hunter Allen Photography

To become a contributor and or advertiser please visit us at www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com 3

Dear Sweet Wilma Jean, thank you for supporting us every step of the way. You will be missed but never forgotten we love you so much RIP

Contents Words from the Editor…..7 Trick or Treat: Role Play…...10 Earth Star Mama…….16 Return of the Ancient Future with Charis Melina……...18 Good Eats……21 Soul Food Junkie with Makeda Voletta…….27 Inside the Body with Consir Thot…...31 Return of the Queens with Ayida Honor…..39 Azizah’s Cupboard…..43 Natural Hair Pics…...49 A Success State of Mind with Djheuty Ma’at Ra…...54 Economic Liberty with Isis Brantley….62 Fashion Tips…...66 Recap of Natural Hair parade 2013….70 Cover Photography by Jeyone Sabir Model: Jo Marie

Natural hair Tips...74 Building Pan Afrikan Wardrobe...77 My Natural Hair Story...80 5

Wow, I cannot believe it has been a year! And what a year it has been, since starting this journey of Natural Woman Magazine my life has changed completely. The universe has shown me if you want to do something big you have to be torn apart and built back up just to see if you have what it takes to achieve great heights. We have gone through so many changes some good and some pretty rough, but through it all Natural Woman is still here. Some of my darkness moments when I felt like giving up Natural Woman was the very thing that encouraged me to stay in the game. Natural Woman has been my anchor and I know if she has been my life line while creating her, I can just imagine how she has been a blessing to all you who read our pages. This issue is dedicated to the Ancient Ones, the ones who have come before us, who walk with us, and who will come after us. We live in such an amazing world were everything we do affects everything around us. We affect reality, we are the co-creators of our world and we can be and do anything our heart desires. This issue is filled with so many great jewels of information that will inspire you to live better, live higher, and never give up on your dreams because you can make anything happen. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your divine right as a being on this planet. I have enjoyed this journey and I look forward to discovering all awesomeness that is in store. NWM has made it through our first year what an honor; I thank you all for helping our dreams come true. Each reader, the beautiful people who have allowed us to share their stories, our advertisers and sponsors, all of you are a part of this success and I am forever grateful you. I pray that my ancestor continue to guide me as I fulfill my destiny and bring back the powerful energy of the goddess. Peace to You!

Azizah Nubia 7

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Send your questions to Natural Woman !!

Natural Woman how can I get better

use out of my yoga mat? I have a busy schedule with 2 toddlers, homeschool, and running my home business. I need more creative ways to get my physical exercise in. Narkisha S. Atlanta GA

“Everyone is busy, especially mothers. Lack of time is probably the most cited excuse for not exercising enough; however, you can fit yoga into your schedule. I’ve been successful at exercising regularly (yoga is my main method) while juggling mom, life, and work duties, though not without diligence and hard work. Here are some tips that may help you balance things: “    

Plan your yoga routine on a weekly basis, rather than daily. Be flexible about your practice. Recalibrate yoga to fit you, as a woman and mother. Get your toddlers involved 9

By: Zephanie Garrett Role Play Its the month of tricks and treats, ladies we have experienced many in our past some we have given or received. Now it's time to focus on taking pleasure of those tricks and treats of life in your relationship. Especially, focusing on my married couples. Open your mind and heart to enjoy and savor something out of the ordinary to celebrate. Make a night or a full weekend out to honor your mate and the growth you've made together. Make him the King of your castle as he should be. Make him feel special and appreciated by romancing him. You could take him to dinner and a movie. Recreate your first date or the first time you both met. Only this time with a twist! I want you to Role Play. Yes, that's what I said. Role Play. Treat: I want you to tell your husband that you planned a special night for you both. Let him know ahead of time so there will be no distractions or interrup-

tions from the night's events. Don't tell him where. Only the date and time. Treats: That day, send him a message of the location and directions if necessary. Trick: Inform him that tonight you will both be acting like you've never met before. Say you'll be waiting for him at location and describe what color dress or outfit you'll be wearing. Ask him to find you. Side note: The key is to make this night memorable. So, change your appearance wear something you normally wouldn't. If you have a short hair style shop for a long wig to wear or vice versa. Also add some pretty colored eye contacts. Do your make-up to bring out your seductive intentions, and most importantly dress like your trying to instantly make his heart race when you make eye contact. I'm certain if you both follow the guidelines. You are going to have a very fun and passionate evening. The anticipation alone should get you both excited. What will he 10

say to get your attention or will you be the one this time to take the lead. Anything can go, you and you partner will create where this night ends. This is a night for seduction and intrigue. Be bold! If he is usually the more forward one. Tease and seduce him back to "your place". Optional: Another suggestion instead of going home you could go to a nice hotel or resort. If you go that route, pay it in advance or wait until you get there together. But, if you choose either home or hotel. Make sure you have your bag of goodies full of tricks and treats with you to have some more fun. This night is all about remembering how and why you both fell in love with each other to begin with. Which will release that passion you formed and that instant attraction. Recently, I had a couple who tried out Role Play Night. This is what happened. Dian and Darryl, were high school sweethearts and have been mar-

ried since 2008. They have two beautiful twin boys together. They both have busy lifestyles taking care of their family, but still manage to go out on date nights. Dian said the first time she mentioned role play night to her husband he wasn't sure about it. She explained that it would be different from the normal routine of their date nights. They normally talk about their kids, work, or something else this night would be to focus on them and he agreed to try it. Acting like they didn't know each other was interesting and fun. Darryl, picked up his wife like they were going on their first date to a nice restaurant. He got out of the car and opened her door. "I really liked that. Dian said, he acted like a gentleman opening doors for the rest of the night. The funniest and most enjoyable experience was the flirtation in acting like strangers." They gave each other many compliments during the night, and Dian made sure to

dress even more pleasing to Darryl's eye. She wore a more seductive scent of perfume. He had dressed to impress as well. The effort was made on both parties. "He was very surprised and loved that I was making moves on him. He usually makes them", Dian said as she laughs. All the events that led up to coming home the flirtation, getting to know each other like before, laughing, and smiling more made their night more special. Dian gave Darryl a trick and a treat that night when they got home she revealed a sexy set of lingerie. Not the normal under garments see wears from day to day. "Let's just say its always good, but it was even more intense for us", she said. Dian and Darryl are planning to do role play night again. Next time, recreating their first date in the actual location they had it.

Try out these tips and send us your role play night stories to post on the NWM website Visit www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm#mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to remain aware of how you’re feeling right now, your “moment-to-moment” experience—both internal and external. Thinking about the past—blaming and judging yourself—or worrying about the future can often lead to a degree of stress that is overwhelming. But by staying calm and focused in the present moment, you can bring your nervous system back into balance. Mindfulness can be applied to activities such as walking, exercising, eating, or meditation. Meditations that cultivate mindfulness have long been used to reduce overwhelming stress. Some of these meditations bring you into the present by focusing your attention on a single repetitive action, such as your breathing, a few repeated words, or flickering light from a candle. Other forms of mindfulness meditation

encourage you to follow and then release internal thoughts or sensations. Practicing mindfulness meditation Key points in mindfulness mediation are:

A quiet environment. Choose a secluded place in your home, office, garden, place of worship, or in the great outdoors where you can relax without distractions or interruptions.  A comfortable position. Get comfortable, but avoid lying down as this may lead to you falling asleep. Sit up with your spine straight, either in a chair or on the floor. You can also try a cross-legged or lotus position.  A point of focus. This point can be internal – a feeling or imaginary scene – or something external a flame or meaningful word or phrase that you repeat it throughout your session. You may meditate with eyes open or closed. Also choose to focus on an object in your surroundings to enhance your concentration, or alternately, you can close your eyes.  An observant, noncritical attitude. Don’t worry about distracting thoughts that go through your mind or about how well you’re doing. If thoughts intrude during your relaxation session, don’t fight them. Instead, gently turn your attention back to your point of focus. 

By: Isis Swink As I sit here coughing as I have been doing for the last 3 weeks, I ran across this easy remedy for making your own cough syrup. It only has 3 ingredients and I have them all in my pantry. I am also a singer so having a cough or cold is never on time !!! Try this simple recipe and lets get our lungs clear!! Olive Oil: Making a homemade cough syrup using olive oil will help you combat your cough as well as reduce inflammation in the throat. Honey: Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey. In a study of 110 children, a single dose of buckwheat honey was just as effective as a single dose of dextromethorphan in relieving nocturnal cough and allowing proper sleep. You can use any type of honey you have on hand though. Lemon: Because everyone knows that lemon & honey is the one of the best throat soother combinations.

  

3/4 cup raw organic honey 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 lemons – juiced

Instructions Add all ingredients to a small pot over medium heat until steaming. Remove from the heat & let it cool. Place it into a mason jar or other container with a tight fitting lid. Store it in the fridge for 3 months, or on the countertop for 1.5 months. Use by the teaspoon or tablespoon, as needed.

Stir & warm before using Use as soon as you feel a cold coming on. Also great for allergies

Tip: You can also add Ginger or Cayenne for that warming feeling…also helps to get the congestion out of your head and chest

By: Azizah Nubia What is a spiritual awakening? What does it mean? In my opinion based off of my awakening experience in 2008 I would say awakening is becoming aware that there is something much deeper going on in our world. Awakening to the fact that we create our realities and the way we have been living is just an illusion. Since I have been on my journey of discovering the deepest parts of myself I have come in contact with so many great spirits who have helped me along the way. One of those beings is the beautiful Charis Melina Brown. Charis is a starseed, intuitive healer, author, lecturer

and many more titles could be added to her list of specialties. You may also know Charis by her YouTube Channel, which is where I connected to her energy. YouTube surfing one night I came across her channel and watched about 20 of her videos. Her purpose is clear and her message brings a special energy that truly heals. I am so pleased to have her in NWM. The world is not what we have been taught to think it is, we live in a multi-dimensional universe filled with infinite possibilities. Charis is an ambassador to realms of existence that our modern Western culture has 18

denied the existence of in recent centuries. Azizah: Tell me about you and this awesomeness quest you bring. Charis: I had a series of spiritual dreams 10 years ago, at first I thought I was schizophrenic or had a multiple personality disorder. Until I realized they were coming true, so I began researching shamanism something I did not believe in at the time. And what I have learned is generally when people first begin to awake up, they just see whatever is around them. Most empaths and people who are spiritually powerful, are in â&#x20AC;&#x153;culturally taughtâ&#x20AC;? denial. When they begin to awaken they will see dark energy and entities. This is because people who are spiritually powerful, but raised in our Western culture, they do not remain in that power because they are taught to give their power

away. They are also taught they are imagining things when in reality they are not, so they may have negative entities around them that feed off of their insecurities and fears. Usually this process is kind of like rites of passage. That is how it starts, when you get past that you begin to realize they have no hold on you and as long as you maintain yourself and center, you can transform into new things. This is where the awesomeness comes from, the whole paradigm on this planet is the good vs. evil this is what we have been working towards the whole time. The whole point of earth is to have duality project to learn how to master duality, because duality is what makes up physical form. Light and dark, good and evil, destruction and creation, but we can master that and when we do its no longer creating good

“NothiNg is real but the present momeNt “

vs. evil but we create based off good vs. even better. There is nothing really bad because everything is just an experience. Our culture and the world is in this phase, but the next level is good or beyond your perception of what awesomeness is possible. That’s the awesomeness quest, anchoring in the new grids of just having it rather than striving to get away from pain. Striving to get towards the best feeling thing you can get to at any giving time and creating an entire world by resonating with that frequency then you begin to meet other people who are doing the same thing then you team up and cocreate an even bigger things until it grows and grows into this new world. That’s the awesomeness.

of light workers. And the important thing is to know that the only thing that is actually real is what comes into your 3D reality. The things we find being put out through the air waves through the television or radio are not real, it does not matter to you because it is not in your 3D reality. Things only become real when we give them energy to be real.

Azizah Nubia: I absolutely agree with that, it is a much better way to live. I guess that is where the work of light workers is so important. Right?

To learn more about Charis and her books and services please visit her website at www.charismelina.com. Check out her YouTube channel.

Azizah: I like that. So how can people step over into the new paradigm? Charis: I think you have to surrender. A lot times during a major paradigm shift it can be as simple as the old being replace with the new, or the old can be completely ripped away leaving you in a state of” oh sh@!” for a little while and then the new can come in. So just surrender.

Charis: Yes there are so many different kinds 20

If your like me, eating the same kind of meals can be a bit boring. I love searching and trying out savory, healthy meals for my big family. Try some of these new dishes and see how you can add a new twist to your taste buds.

Ingredients:  1 tbsp oil  1-3 cloves garlic, minced  2 bell peppers, chopped  1 sweet onion, chopped  3 carrots, chopped  1 tbsp cumin  3 tbsp chili powder  pinch sea salt  pinch cayenne  1 can each: black beans, white kidney beans, red kidney beans (rinsed) (I used 1 large mixed can)  1 can diced tomatoes with juice  2 tsp oregano  1 can organic mushrooms, drained  1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder  juice of 1 lime (optional, I didn’t include)  Secret Ingredient –> 2 tbsp CHIA SEEDS (it thickens up the sauce soooo much!) Directions: In a large pot, add the EVOO and heat over medium. Add garlic, peppers, onion, carrot and sauté until everything is soft, approximately 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, cover, and cook for about 30-40 minutes on low to medium heat. Read more: http://ohsheglows.com/2010/05/09/delicious-vegan-chili/ #ixzz2ia5aadHf

Ingredients 2/3 c. sweet potato puree 2 tbsp. ground flax seed 1/4 c. almond milk 1/3 c. canola oil 1/2 c. maple syrup 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 c. spelt flour 1 c. whole-wheat pastry flour 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 3/4 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 2 c. rolled oats 3/4 c. toasted pecans, chopped 1 c. dried cranberries Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix together sweet potato puree, groundflax seed and almond milk. Add the remaining wet ingredients (oil, syrup and vanilla) and mix well. Sift in spelt flour, wholewheat pastry flour, spices, soda and salt and stir until full incorporated. Fold in the oats, pecans and dried cranberries. Using a 1/4 c. measuring cup, scoop cookie dough and drop on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave 2" of space between each cookie. Press down the scoops to form a flat patty. Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies are a light golden brown http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-recipes/10-healthy-cookie-recipes-fall/slide/8

Ingredients for Nigerian Fresh Fish Stew - 1kg Fresh Tomatoes or tinned tomato puree (the watery type) - 100g Tinned tomato paste( the smallest De Rica brand thick tomato paste (optional) - 1 liter Vegetable Oil (read recipe to see how to re-use the oil) - 3oog Fresh fish (any fresh fish will do) - 2 OR 3 medium bulbs Onions - 5 Habanero Pepper (atarodo) - 2 stock cubes - Thyme and curry (1 teaspoon each) - Salt to taste

Cooking directions * First blend the tomatoes, peppers and onions. If you are making use of the thick tomato paste, simply dilute it a bit in little water and set aside. * Pour the blended tomatoes into a pot and let it boil until the consistency is thicker and the excess water is dried up. *In another pot, add the cleaned cut fresh fish ,add a little water, 24

thyme, curry ,1 stock cube and salt to taste. Parboil for 2 minutes , this helps to toughen the skin of the fish and get the fish tasty. You can also marinate the fish with these spices overnight or for about 1 hour, if you'll rather not parboil the fish. After 2 minutes, take out the fish from the pot and reserve the liquid (fish stock). * Now, heat up the vegetable oil, add some onions (optional, because the blended tomatoes already has onions). Add the dried tomatoes and fry for about 25 minutes or until the tomato loses it's sour taste. Stir constantly to prevent burning at the bottom. *Add the fish stock and cook for 10 minutes. *Next, add the parboiled fish, stock cube and salt to taste. Cover and leave to simmer until the fish is properly cooked. Now the Nigerian Fish Stew is ready. Enjoy. http://www.nigerianfoodtv.com/2013/04/nigerian-fresh-fish-stew-obe-eja-tutu.html

What are you cooking? Send Natural Woman your delicious recipes and they may be in the next issue visit www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com

Ingredients 6-8 nice size purple potatoes

4tbs dried lavender or 3tbs of fresh Lavender Sea Salt to taste 3tbs vegan butter Pinch of garlic powder Directions: Boil potatoes and lavender in a pot of water. Cook until potatoes are soft, Drain water and mash potatoes with a masher or blender. Add salt, garlic powder and butter sit and serve. Enjoy

By Makeda Voletta thebodyscientist.blogspot.com

The first reported heart attack in the United States was in 1912, and has steadily increased in the past 100 years. By 1950, about 30% of American Deaths were due to Coronary Heart Disease and it had become the number one cause of death. And the numbers have skyrocketed since then. The cancer rates are very similar. Cancer is now tied with Heart Disease as the number one killer of all Americans. Some estimations say that Cancer deaths are 1 in 3 Americans. These are very high rates, and despite what some may try to argue, it was NOT always like this. So, is Black American Soul food really to blame? People were not this sick 100 years ago and they certainly were not eating Raisin Bran and Skim Milk, Almond Milk or Rice Milk. They surely were not eating turkey bacon and skinless, boneless chicken breasts and microwaved food. And they certainly weren't drinking soda or kale juice. So, let's really take a closer look at the nutritional and culinary properties of Afro American

Soul Food and the "Soul Food" from other parts of the Black World.

This Blog Post was inspired by Bryan Hunt's "Soul Food Junkies" documentary and I find many flaws with the accuracy of the information presented. There are many key and important points that have been missed and I know that the culprit in Soul food is not what people think it is. I hope you all find this information useful and helpful. One of the first major myths in the United States is that fat is bad for you and animal fat in particular, along with cholesterol. Jumping on the bandwagon of that myth is a prescription for all sorts of health problems as you age which very well may include serious hormonal and brain dysfunction. I do suggest taking an analytical look at the Fat, Cholesterol and Oil Facts and the Inaccuracy of the Lipid Hypothesis.

COMMON WORRIES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT SOUL FOOD: Too Much Fat One serious problem with S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) is too little consumption of the right fats. Too little consumption of Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Omega-3 fats. Most of the fats in the American diet are coming from rancid, Omega-6, industrial vegetable oils which are highly toxic and destructive. The more low fat diets have been promoted in this country, the fatter people seem to get. If you look at videos from the 70's and the 60's people were thin. You never saw obese people. Now you can travel around America and see morbidly obese people and children everywhere. However, in countries like France where they cook with lots of Duck fat, Goose fat, Lard, Butter and Beef Tallow, everyone is super lean and healthy. They do not have an epidemic of obesity, cancer, hypertension or heart disease. The fact of the matter is, we need consume fat to burn fat. And our brain is made of fat and cholesterol, mostly saturated fat and Omega-3 fat. Our hormones are made from cholesterol and that includes Testosterone, Progesterone and Estrogen. We also need cholesterol in order for our body to synthesize Vitamin D from the UV rays that hit our skin. Thus, without cholesterol in our diet the sun hitting our skin will not produce Vitamin D in the body. Also, we need fat in order to absorb fat soluble vitamins, Vitamins A, E, D and K. Thus consuming spinach sauteed in butter, creamed spinach, berries and cream, peaches and cream, yams and butter, vegetables cooked in beef tallow help us to better assimilate the nutrients from those plant foods.

Our bodies also produce cholesterol, it is produced in the liver to be precise. And it is produced and used to repair damage in the body. Cholesterol is a powerful antioxidant. Cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease and heart attack. Cholesterol repairs damage in the body, the damage is being done by something else and the body produces cholesterol to go repair the damage. It's akin to someone burning down a building and then the firemen and ambulances come and then someone comes along and blames the emergency responders for the burnt down building. When in reality the firemen and ambulances were coming to help, they were not the cause. The fats that are a problem are the ones that come from labratories and sick animals. Beef Fat from grass fed cows is highly nutritious as is lard from pasture pigs, not regular pigs from the commercial food industry. It should be noted that the Okinawa in Japan are the longest living, healthiest people in the world and the number one oil they cook with every day is LARD. In Southern Cuisine, people once baked goods in lard and fried chicken in lard and other foods in beef tallow. But once the industrial vegetable oil companies began their smear campaign of barbaric animal fats and began convincing people to use margarine instead of butter and crisco instead of lard we see a steady increase in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Too Much Salt Sodium is actually a required nutrient and must be properly balanced with other electrolytes such as potassium. However, the table salt that is widely consumed in the United 28

States today is in a highly processed, stripped down form. It is in the form of Sodium Chloride. Instead, we should be consuming unrefined sea salts. Sea salt is a wonderful form of sodium because it is accompanied by many other electrolytes and essential molecules that are critical for proper digestion. One should not worry about consuming sea salt and hypertension is shown to be more associated with chronically low potassium levels (which is also severe dehydration) and chronic stress which prevents people from breathing deep and keeps adrenaline up. When one's adrenaline is up the blood sugar of the person also goes up, but that person is not physically doing anything to utilize all of the sugar being released in the blood. Also the lack of exercise is certainly linked to hypertension. More potassium, sea salt, more exercise, deep breathing and stress reduction are the proper prescription for hypertension.

Cancer The main causes of cancer is too much sugar, which is known to feed cancer cells and create the perfect environment in the body for cancer to flourish. Sugar also pulls many essential nutrients out of the body. Also, trans fats and rancid, industrial vegetable oils such as soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, margarine, crisco and Pam are highly responsible for the rampant destruction of DNA within the human body along with chronic inflammation. The industrial vegetable oils are Omega - 6 PUFA which are known to be pro inflammatory; unlike the anti - inflammatory Omega -3 Fats of Animal Origin. The fats Omega-3 DHA and EPA can only be found in animal foods and they have the same anti inflammatory effect as NSAIDs

(Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs such as Ibuprofen), except they work slower. These fats can only be found in the liver oils of cold water fish, the liver, raw milk and egg yolks of grass fed and pasture fed animals. Epidemiological Statistics show the strong correlation and sharp increase in heart disease, cancer and diabetes and the ingestion of rancid, industrial (omega-6) vegetable oils, sugar and wheat. Think about it, how can old foods cause new diseases?

Real Soul Food Culprits The bad foods that are a part of the Soul Food Tradition today include soda, kool -aid (for some, never for my family), macaroni, biscuits and bread, pies and cakes. I have discussed above how bad sugar is, so drinking a lot of soda, juice and kool-aid every day with your meals is a huge risk factor for cancer, diabetes, obesity bone problems, auto immune diseases, increased infections and other health problems. But so is the consumption of wheat products. Back in the day, lets say 80 years ago, 70 years ago, 60 years ago...people soaked their grains before cooking them. Things like grits were soaked over night in order to deactivate a lot of the anti nutrients found in grains. The same was done with the flour used for bread and baked goods. Now it is non existent. And the grains we are currently consuming are very genetically modified and horrible for our health in every way. I suggest taking a good look at the book "Wheat Belly" by: Dr. William Davis. Also, please note that grits is a traditional Native American food and they were a very healthy people prior to colonization. They 29

were well built and lived to be well over 100 years old with all of their teeth and faculties and gave birth to healthy, strong, long living children for generations. Traditionally, people ate food out of their back yards mostly whether plant or animal foods. People hunted animals in the woods by their house or got chickens and chicken eggs from their yard. And all dairy in this country was raw prior to the nationwide, legal mandate to pasteurize and homogenize all milk. However, everyone I know who sis 60 and older who grew up in the United States, tells me that the milk man came to their door with raw milk. The cream was on top in a glass bottle. I have heard this from people who grew up down south and up north. Every one got milk with the cream on top delivered to them by the milk man. Now the milk that is consumed is coming from grain fed cows, and sometimes cows who were fed animal pars. However, not only are cows strict herbivores, but they are only designed to eat grass. A grain diet and/or a diet with animal foods will cause a cow to get sick and thus produce sick milk. And then the milk is pasteurized and homogenized which further destroys the nutritional value and chi of the milk. I speak more about the difference between commercial milk and raw milk in these videos: Raw Milk and Raw Honey Part 1, Raw Milk and Raw Honey Part 2. Like all food in America, foods from canned vegetables to canned fruit and microwaveable meals, food has become processed. So someone cooking soul food from the regular Winn Dixie, C-Town, Pathmark and Walmart foods will not be preparing a healthy meal. But even if a person is not eating Soul food

but they shop at stores like that they will still be eating old, overly processed food "products." And that is the point, it is not the Traditional Soul food when cooked with the ingredients they were prepared with 100+ years ago.

To learn more about Makeda Volatta please visit www.thebodyscientist.blogspot.com 30

Interviewed by: Azizah Nubia

Consir Thot is a great asset to our community his passion for health and wellness is beyond what we see in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world. A student of the great Dr. Afrika, Consir has developed a 30 day program called Inside the Body where he helps you to transform your body from the inside out. Unlike the typical Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers, Inside the Body has a holistic approach that will help you to be more in tuned with your body so you can lose weight, fight off dis-ease and overall live up to your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest potential. Azizah: The holiday season is approaching so that means turkey, ham, mac and cheese are coming our way in heavy doses. How can we be more mindful of our bodies during the winter seasons based on our ancestral DNA? Consir: What we first have to understand is around this time, they want to fill us up with all the turkey and ham the whole full spread. When you kill an animal within hours their cells become dead. What happens when cells die is that they let off toxins. The cells

begin to transform back into the earth, but once we start to eat dead meat those toxic cells that were released become a part of our system. We have no idea that it is poisoning our system, when we think we have colds or flu symptoms it is actually our bodies degenerating. That is why we have a shorter life span because we spend so much energy digesting the wrong foods that are not giving us any vitamins or nutrients. Natural meat eaters eat their kill fresh while it is still alive, but when we go to the grocery store the meat we eat is already passed that fresh eating time. So what they do is put dye in the meat to give it the color of blood, then we put that di-eased meat into our bodies, and we then become dis-eased. Once a

body is diseased it is easier to control, it is easier to manipulate then we start to fall for anything. Our bodies only process whole foods; our bodies can only process whole thoughts. Azizah: When you break it down like that, it makes sense. NWM have some reader who are natural meat eater, would you say that being a natural meat eater is healthier then the way we have been programmed to purchase our meats ?

Consir: Well another thing about meat is that it stays in the body too long. Natural vegan and vegetarians when they eat whole foods it is processed within 3 hours. It takes about a week for meat to be out of your system and while it is in your system it is decaying, it almost the same as leaving a pot roast out on the dinner table for week. It will decay, form bugs, and rot, it does this inside your body too. The reason why it is so hard to digest is be-

cause your stomach does not make enough hydrochloric acid to break it down. And on top of that your putting all the other side dishes in your stomach at the same time starches, proteins, fats; they all take different stomach acids levels to break them down. But when you combine all of them your stomach can only break down one, and everything else has to sit there and wait until your stomach can get to it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why you grab your stomach when your full or worse you have to go to sleep so the body can rest and digest the food because it has no more energy to do anything else. Azizah: Wow well I know there are some bodies out there that are mad at some folk. Consir: Yes, they are livid. And to break it down even further what happens when you eat all of this cooked food it goes to a portion of your body that has no vitamin or mineral content, it goes to an addiction in your body. Like people who are on alcohol or have a cocaine addiction they will be the first to tell you that it does nothing for their body, but they just need it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what cooked food 32

is, when you eat natural foods your body takes what it needs from the food and its okay, its satisfied. Now when you eat this cooked food you become addicted because it has no vitamins or nutrients the body needs causing you to eat more of it to be satisfied. You’re eating based off taste, based off of your addiction.

your feeding what we call in holistic science the second body the hollow body the addictive cells. And these cells are already into you when you come out the womb because it has been carried over from generations. Cancer does not run in the family it is the diet, it’s the choice of foods that you mother ate, your grandmother ate, the same food that you find on the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Azizah: I agree with that, there are times when we will eat fruits, veggies and nuts for This is what is causing the dis-eases we see today, it is not genetics. lunch and we would be full and satisfied. And not the full feeling you get that makes Azizah: Yes you have to make the conscious you want to sleep, but full with plenty of en- choice to change and not wait for it to be ergy to burn. late. Consir: Right your stomach is still empty and Consir: It is a conscious choice, when I talk to light but you’re satisfied and ready to run my clients they are already there. They alaround the track. When you eat cooked food ready have dis-ease and they need something

right now they do not have time. We may think just because we are up on two legs and can run and talk we are healthy, so we think we still have time. But I see every day that people are out of time and they have nothing left, so they need to make the change right now. It may seem casual until that male principle and calamity hits us, the female principle of a heart attack is a headache. The male principle of a heart attack of that crushing blow to the chest, the female principle is just a warning, you may get a tingling in your feet, but the male expression is pancreas shut down now you have diabetes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the female principle we are ignoring.

heal themselves from dis-ease to be healthier?

Consir: I am very excited about my program we are going into the fifth year, and what has been happening so far is that people are coming with different aliments and diseases. When they go to the doctor they are just treating the symptoms which end up leading to more complications and more problems. When people start waking up, they start to understand that there has to be a better way a better solution for their problems. Or better yet how did they get to the point where they even need medication, and that is where my programs comes in at. First we give you eduAzizah: How can your program be of benefit cation on how the foods youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eating are for people who want to lose weight, and affecting your body. We teach you how to put 34

the food your body need based off of your individualized program. Everyone’s body is different; the way an apple affects me may be different for you. You may need other things from that apple like more potassium, magnesium, or vitamin k. So we will give you foods specific for your body’s needs, specific for your climate, what you do on a daily basis, your energy requirements, we design it completely for your needs. After being on this program you will begin to recognize the different signs from your body, for example you may be in the mood for a banana, that’s a sign your body needs fiber. Your body is telling you, you need fiber. You will be more in tuned and more in touch with your holistic body and as a natural side affect you will lose weight. I have had clients drop 30 to 50 lbs. in 3 to 4 weeks. The hardest part of the program is the first 3 day and that is the psycho-

logical battle of getting over the addiction of the cooked food. Azizah: Wow, how can people sign up for your program? Consir: Well what you do is visit my website at www.insidebodybyconsir.com check out the site and shoot me a message or you can find me on Facebook under Heal Eye Self send me an inbox. What happens from there is we will set you up for a free consultation. This is not like the typical Weight watchers, or Jenny Craig you have to be accepted into our program. We have a 97% success rate the 3% that didn’t make it quit within the first 3 to 4 days of being in the program. We are not here for you just to lose weight there are other places that are doing that. But if you want to be healthy, learn about yourself, and learn how you can help others learn about themselves then this program is for you. The reason why everyone is not accepted is because we take out time with and regularly follow up with each member on the program.

Azizah Nubia is an ordained Reverend of the Return to Balance Universal Life Ministries. A natural born healer, psychic, and herbalist Azizah is a light-worker sent here to assist mother earth in bringing and aligning the planet to specific light codes that are needed to advance humanity to a new dimension. An Intuitive reading with Azizah will assist you in : Finding your purpose Insight into a specific situation Relationships Career & Finances Unlocking your potential & so much more!!

Other Services Include: Connecting with Your past Loved Ones Chakra Balancing & Alignment Life Purpose Readings Holistic & Herbal Education Cleansing & Detoxing Education Classes/ Workshops

Visit Here www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com (615) 598-5253

By: Azizah Nubia Ayida Honor is an extraordinary woman. Mother of 5, wife of Lenon Honor, jewelry designer, entrepreneur and vegan cook. How she has the time to do all these things? That I’m not so sure, but what I do know is that she loves her life and that makes the difference. NWM loves women like Ayida because she represents that woman who can do it all and make it look easy. There is a new class of women emerging in large numbers around the world. It is no longer the simple house wife or the powerful corporate woman, those days are over. Now women are letting the world know that we can raise our children be great wives and run empires

through the comfort of our homes. And did I mention that Ayida birthed 3 of her 5 children by herself without the help of any medical team or midwife, what’s more powerful than that. I had the chance to sit down and speak with Ayida, I was amazed at how much we have in common from being wives, raising and homeschooling our 5 children. It was a breath of fresh air to be able to connect with such an extraordinary woman. Azizah: Who is Ayida Honor? Ayida: I was born in Hawaii and raised mostly in the Caribbean, that’s where a lot of my creative influences for jewelry come 39

got so much great feedback that I said to myself “I should really start selling my jewelry”. That’s what I have been doing for the last 2 years and it has come a long way. It has been a really great experience.

from. We lived off the land a lot I grew up in Belize and graduated from St. Troy high school, that’s the short version of my childhood and upbringing. I was exposed to a lot of culture, a lot of creativity, my mother taught me to make simple jewelry when I was young. I was always allowed to partake in the creativity that was around me, and I think that was one of the major influences has allowed me to use my beadwork as a business. It hasn’t been that long since I have done jewelry designing as a business, it was mainly a hobby. I had a few close friends encourage me to make this a business, about 2 years ago I posted some of my pieces on facebook and I

Azizah: I know there are some mothers out there who are saying. How does she do it? You make this beautiful jewelry, teach these beautiful children, and cook these fabulous meals, how do you find time to manage it all? Ayida: I get that question 40

a lot. Being an entrepreneur and a home school mother, it really takes balance from both me and my husband. Starting off my husband was developing his creative skill and talents for his business. And he would say that it was my support for him that helped him to where he is today. Now it goes both ways he encouraged me to go into to business, and has helped me with the professional side of things. Along with me being able to be confident in in accepting my creativity, and feeling worthy enough of the positivity I have been receiving. It’s been an interesting journey.

cooking with your children, supervised of course, I really emphasis not using any soy meat replacements in all the recipes. The cook book illustrates ways to bring fruits and vegetables back to the main course to the dinner table. I keep two copies of the book in my kitchen, because I’m always using the recipes. Just yesterday I was cooking with my children and we used one of the recipes out of the book. My kids love the idea that they can learn science, reading, and math while having fun; it’s a wonderful time to spend and build a relationship with your children.

Azizah: Let’s get into some of the other things that come along with the package of Ayida. I hear you have a Self-worth course and a Native Style Cook book?

Azizah: We have a lot of sistar entrepreneur’s readers at NWM who would love to know how you run your business. Do you have the typical business model or do you follow the direction of your intuition in matters of business?

Aiyda: Yes my cook book the Native Style cook book is a family oriented approach to a plant based diet it is filled with raw and vegan recipes. It is a collection of recipes that I enjoy cooking with my children. When my children were younger I had a hard time finding cook books that had recipes that catered to our life style and eating habits. So I decided to create one myself, I started making recipes and trying them out with my family and friends. I got a lot of positive feedback, so I began refining my recipes making sure they will be great for people who were vegan and those who were not.

The recipes in my book are catered to

Ayida: It’s a balance. It can be an organic experience in the beginning because you’re developing your creativity. In my situation it began with me being able to develop something that people were attracted too, like my bead work. But then I had to build up the professional side to balance out that creative side. It can be intimidating at first, I know I was, but again having a support network of people who support you is very important. Another important thing is developing relationships with people who have already accomplished what you are wanting to ac41

complish. I keep myself in a circle of great professionals who I can go to for guidance and advice. Be self-motivated. Azizah: Could you give our readers 3 words or tips of advice that would assist them on their journey of fulfilling their destiny. Ayida: Of course, the 3 words are I AM WORTHY. My tips are 1. Know that you have all you need already, and seeking and searching for information that will enhance and take you to the next level will relive anxiety and help you to feel more empowered. 2. Trust your creativity, trust that universal creative source and bring that in to share with others. 3. Enjoy life do not take so seriously. To learn more about Ayida Honor please visit her website at www.ayidahonor.com Her upcoming projects are The colorful Womb and holistic cook book for expecting mothers. The Self Esteem Project online course will be available this winter.

The Benefits of Flax Seed Flax seed has so many great benefits. From relieving constipation to fighting cancer. Explore with me on the many ways flaxseed could be of benefit for you and your family.

Flaxseed is high in: Vitamins and minerals, including most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese 



Fiber, both soluble and insoluble

Phytochemicals, including many powerful antioxidants such as lignans. In fact, because it’s a plant, flaxseed is one of the best sources of lignans. 

Omega-3 fatty acids, key to fighting inflammation. Flaxseed is a mega-source of the plant version of omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Flaxseed oil is about 50 percent ALA — five times more than walnut oil or canola oil, which are the next highest sources of ALA. 

By Beth W. Orenstein Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Flaxseed Benefits Lower blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The soluble fiber in flaxseed has been shown to lower cholesterol, helping to prevent the buildup of plaque, which can clog arteries and lead to high blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack. Fiber is also believed to lower blood sugar levels, which is important for people who have type 2 diabetes.  Reduce bone loss. A study of diabetic rats showed a delay in bone loss after they were fed flaxseed, thanks to its concentration of fatty acids. Help with weight management. Flax expands when ingested, making you feel fuller. You might want to take flax 30 minutes before meals to control your appetite. 

Improve digestive health. The fiber in flaxseed can help relieve constipation and make you more regular. 

Increase immunity. ALA has been shown to decrease inflammation, which allows your immune system to function better. Preliminary research suggests that flaxseed can help relieve autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus. 

Fight cancer. Studies show that flaxseed may have a role in fighting cancer, particularly colon and breast cancer. The benefit is based on its high concentration of lignans, which are believed to inhibit tumor growth. http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/tiny-flaxseed-has-big-benefits.aspx

You can use flaxseed as a twist n’ lock for hair? Just boil the seeds in water for about 15 minutes or until the water becomes slimy. Strain off the seeds and let cool. Apply to hair and twist away!!! Just look at how Andrea’s hair turned out, isn't she adorable!!!

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www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com 49

Not all hair is the same, there are many textures to natural hair. Learning about your hair type will better assist you in caring for your natural coils.

Dhejuty Ma’at Ra spirit-prener , millionaire, celebrity herbalist, public speaker, author and many more titles can be added to his name. He is a true example that you become what you think. He has lived by this statement for the past 15 years and it has paid off big time. With one of the world’s best online herbal store and the opening of 3 physical stores, two in California and one in Virginia. Mr. Ma’at Ra has only just begun, with visions of expanding I am sure that Dhealthstore will be a household name.

he believes in. I am a regular person who discovered my natural skills and talent I incarnated with and how to use them in the area in which to use them. It’s been a magic carpet ride for the life I desire to live. For me its law, business, healing, herb ology, diet, nutrition and a few other areas, outside of that I am a married man and father of six. I’m a very basic person. Azizah Nubia: Okay, so I know you have Dhealthstore.com but I hear you have 3 locations?

Djehuty: We have 3 stores Dhealstore.com is an online business and Djehuty’s Health Store is the name of my 3 physical locations. We have one in Glendale, California, Los Angles, California and Azizah Nubia- So who is Djehuty Ma’at Ra Newport News, Virginia. We are looking to expand in London, England, Chicago, New Djehuty: Djehuty Ma’at Ra is really your regular average cat, who lives by the things York, Atlanta and Northern California. Djehuty took time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about business, and how budding “spirit-prener” can live a life of peace and prosperity.

from childhood and religious belief systems. People have to really start combating those Azizah Nubia: Wow, congratulations blocks within. You knock those blocks out by Djehuty: Thank you getting knowledge. You got to get knowledge; Azizah Nubia: So when you see the manifes- you have to know business and finances. tations of what you have created with your Azizah Nubia: Its more than just having that mind appear in your physical reality, how is idea and expecting it to work for you beit taking all of it in? cause you “thinking” your being positive. Djehuty: For me I want everyone else to You really have to do that work. have it. When you discover that life can be Djehuty: You got to, that’s the only way. A easier and that you can obtain and achieve lot of people think that having money is a what you desire, you will want it for other curse, or money is bad or it’s great to strugpeople. That becomes your drive, ambition, gling or that struggling makes you down for and motivation. Because I love people , I have the people and things of that nature. Then family members and friends who I see strugyou get a business and you wonder why gling from where I came from. I am able to things are not working for you or that you’re show them that it does not have to be like not prosperous. Its self-limiting, people are that. You don’t have to work 3 or 4 jobs, or limiting themselves. get off in network marketing or these side hustle. Some people will defile themselves by Azizah Nubia: So you have no degrees, no selling dope. Some of these women and men formal education or certifications besides high school. Everything you have built has will sell their bodies. So when you get this knowledge that you do not have to do these been solely from your knowledge of self and things its mindboggling. I want people to see cultivating you skills? that you can manifest something that’s in Djhetuty: Yes I’m autodidactic your mind and when they do it its powerful. Azizah Nubia: So how is that, do you catch a Azizah Nubia: A lot of our NWM readers are blossoming entrepreneurs who want to make a living off their unique talents and skills. What advice would you have for them?

lot of flak from people?

Djehuty: It comes with the territory, but it comes down to results. I may not have gone to college and I may be unorthodox but I generate millions. You went to school and you’re Djehuty: They have to learn business and in debt. You work for someone else, you’re in counter their poverty consciousness. A lot of debt. The results speak for itself. people suffer from mental blocks that come 55

Azizah Nubia: Tell me about your products, what’s the hottest product out? Djehuty: Our number one seller is the Full Body Detox it’s been #1 for 14 years. We also have the emerald green cell food cleanse, the total woman cleanse, total male cleanse, parasite and worm cleanse, fibroid buster cleanse, and everything we sell is hot. Azizah Nubia: What makes your products different? Djehuty: It’s the intention that’s number 1. I do my best to get organic wild harvested herbs. There is love and information beyond the herbs and I keep them affordable.

Azizah Nubia: Could you give our readers some advice that could help them fulfill their destiny and purpose. Djehuty: Get knowledge to enhance your skills and talents. You got to ground those skills and work on those other elements like professionalism, commitment, dedication, passion, motivation, ambition, there are a lot of dynamics the entrepreneur must attain and display in order to be successful. If you are not in corporate America you have to have the mind set of corporate America so you can be successful. Have knowledge, cultivate your talents and skills and you have to have a business state of mind

Azizah Nubia: I‘ve heard about the Real Men Azizah Nubia: Thank you so much for taking Tour is it still on? the time to share your light in NWM many Djehuty: Yes I am working on this right now. I blessing to you. have Lenon Honor on board, Jason ChristoTo learn more information on Djehuty Ma’at pher, Dr. Umar Johnson, Tommy Sotomayor Ra please visit the DHealthstore.com and visit and myself. We are currently locking down him on YouTube. the cities and it is going to be on and poppin’ 56

By: Tania Kotsos

Thought power is the key to creating your reality. Everything you perceive in the physical world has its origin in the invisible, inner world of your thoughts and beliefs. To become the master of your destiny, you must learn to control the nature of your dominant, habitual thoughts. By doing so, you will be able to attract into your life that which you intend to have and experience as you come to know the Truth that your thoughts create your reality.

those very circumstances, whether wanted or unwanted. By internalizing and applying this Truth, that your thoughts create your reality, you will grant yourself the power to create the changes you want to see manifest in your life. Reality creation is an inside job. Your Thought Power is Limitless: There is a single, intelligent Consciousness that pervades the entire Universe, which is all powerful, all knowing, all creative and present everywhere at the same time - the Universal Mind. Your mind is part of this One Universal Mind and since your thoughts are a product of your mind, it follows that your thought power too is limitless. Once you truly understand that your mind is one with the Single Source of All Power and that this power is within you, you will have found the only true source of infinite power for which nothing is impossible and impossible is nothing. Know that thought power comes from within. Accessing the source of All Power starts by looking inwards.

For Every Outside Effect There is an Inner Cause: Every effect you see in your outside or physical world has a specific cause which has its origin in your inner or mental world. This is the essence of thought power. Put another way, the conditions and circumstances of your life are as a result of your collective thoughts and beliefs. James Allen said it best when he said "circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him". Every aspect of your life, from the state of your finances to the state of your health and your relationships, is accurately revealing your thoughts and your Read More: http://www.mind-yourreality.com/thought_power.html#Part_2 beliefs. It's an Inside Job: Most people have it back to front, believing that they feel or think a certain way because of their circumstances, not knowing the truth that it is their thought power that is creating

By: Azizah Nubia

If you do not know the works of the powerful Isis Brantley please read the last issue of NWM. However Isis has graced our pages again for another cause that NWM fully supports her on and that is the right for economic liberty. It is our born birth right to be able to create and fulfill our destiny in this material plane, and no one can take that away from us. Isis Brantley is known for her battle against the State of Texas for her right as a natural hair braider, a natural skill that she was born and blessed with. She did not have to go learn how to braid hair it was something that naturally came to her. Like most young girls including myself ancestral braiding is something that we inherit. I remember be-

ing 5 years old braiding and twisting my cabbage patch doll hair with no known knowledge of hair braiding, it was something that I just knew how to do and the more I practiced the better I got. Isis Brantley fights for us all especially our younger generations. NWM is so blessed to stand on the front lines beside Isis as we fight for our freedom and I encourage each and every reader to do the same, because if you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t who will? Azizah: Tell our readers about your work and how it has set the foundation for the Natural Hair Movement. Isis: I am just like anyone else who grew up in the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s t that aspired and inspired to do something awesome with their life. I am a

natural hair activist and advocate who specialize in healing through the hair. I have seen over the years the damage and abuse that has been done to African hair, so it is my mission and my passion to educate the community on our beautiful hair. I am known as the matriarch and pioneer of natural hair in the state of Texas as it relates to my movement in 1979 to 1980 when I aggressively started to promote African hair styles in the community. I grew up thinking I would be an actress I would have never thought I would be an ancestral African braider, but my energy switched over to another passion which was being beautiful and making the community beautiful. I did not get permission from the government to do it, I just did it because it was a natural thing for my spirit to do. I began to share it with other women and helped them emancipate themselves from welfare to

work. I got cited in 1997, it was against the law to braid and lock hair without a cosmetology license. I was handcuffed and finger printed like I was a common criminal. I thought I had committed a terrible crime. The requirements that they were asking of me were to do 1500 hours of cosmetology school and I thought that was ridiculous because I was not a cosmetologist. In 2007 they ended the fight and grandfathered me as an African braider I wanted to be grandfathered as an instructor so I could administer license in natural hair care and African braiding. So that leads us up to this lawsuit that we launched on October 4, 2013 which is a federal lawsuit against the state of Texas. They have denied me the right to work to make an honest living for the last 25 years. When I look at all of these other hair and barber colleges I see that economic liberty did not apply to me. So

that is why it is time to set a new standard of fair laws for African people to realize that we have a right to make an honest living. Even if you do not follow a blue print like the government has for cosmetology. If you wanted to make a necklace out of ants and sell them that is your right and economic liberty applies to everyone. Azizah Nubia: What are they, and by â&#x20AC;&#x153;theyâ&#x20AC;? I mean the government, what do they want you to do? Isis: I am the only instructor in the state of Texas that is qualified to teach Natural Hair care, they have put me higher than their own instructors in the state. I can go to any other school and teach and administer license for natural hair. But they will not allow me to teach in my own business and give license. They say I can teach in my own business, but they will not allow me to administer license to the people that come to my classes. In order for me to administer licenses they want me to pay them $25,000 and to turn my shop into a 2,000 sq. ft. barber college. They want me to take 1500 hours in barber school and an additional 750 hours to become a barber instructor and I am a braider not a barber. I do not have a desire to be a barber instructor nor do I have the desire to open up a barbering school.

Azizah: What are some things the community could do to help support you in this fight for economic liberty?

Isis: I see myself as the modern day Harriet Tubman, she freed 300 people and I know it was more but that is what they tell us. But had thousands and thousands of black American known they were slaves I know she would have freed more. Black people do not galvanize around political opportunity to free themselves. They sit back and they watch leaders then decide if it is good enough or that it does not interfere with what they have going on before they decide to be on board. I started the Texas Underground Braiders Association in 1995; I had a group of 25 to 30 Black Americans involved in that movement. After things got so hot and the state was not letting up, those people 64

scattered. I do not know where they went, even those who were my right hand people I do not see them. So what I want the community to do is realize that this opportunity for us to stand together and come together is up to us to do It. It is not anyone else’s responsibility to say “hey look at that community activist fighting for the right for us to make an honest living, let’s join her”. No one has to tell you to do that, you have to have the love and passion inside of you already to say “Oh, they are locking our children up in Dallas, they put them away in alternative school in the 6th grade and once they turn 18 they become criminals”. We are not concerned about how we are called upon to work and do better in our communities. All we think about is what somebody is doing to us, and no one is doing anything to us we are doing it to ourselves. We let companies like Just for Me, Gentle Treatment, and Lo’real come and make trillions of dollars off of us. And when it starts to damage our scalps and damage our blood we do not make no announcement about it, we just sit there and take it. So I am not really into convincing people especially African Americans and poor people that it is necessary that we come together to make beautiful things happen. WE ARE THE SOURCE OF OUR PROBLEMS AND THE SOURCE OF OUR SOLUTIONS. To learn more information on Isis Brantley and the Isi project please visit her website at www.naturallyisis.com and friend her on Facebook .

Fashion

www.loveandglow.com/blog/summer-style-still-can-fall-in-for-fall.htm

As quick as Summer came, is a quick Summer is leaving us! Now the Fall is coming in, leaves are changing, the sky is getting foggy, and the cool breeze is getting stronger. So this means we have to slowly but surely start adjust our wardrobe to the new cooler season. You don’t have to necessarily put away all your favorite comfy/cute dresses or skirts that you wore this past summer. Who said that boots don’t look good with a dress? Stockings, leggings, and sequence stockings will be your best friend! Colors this fall are actually quite bright this year, so don’t feel like a complete maniac for wear a BRIGHT PINK or ORANGE dress from the summer time in the Fall/Winter timer; tone the color down with a couple of colors that goes with the season, but also looks good with your outfit. Wearing a Pink dress? Tone it down with a dark cardigan or coat, try to stay away from black if you don’t want that to be a color that you always fall back to during the cold season (unless its a neon color, which will still make your color pop out) *just a personal opinion; BLACK is a great color* try taupe’s, browns, or even dark blues. Dresses are not off limits this cold season Maxi Dresses and Skirts are still an OK in our book, have that really long comfortable maxi dress that you still want to wear? Wear it! Putting leggings underneath your dress gives you extra warmth during the cold weather, pair it up with some awesome tall boots, a warm Knit sweater or cardigan also a nice coat depending on the weather (SCARVES can be helpful also optional) and your good to go! Giving yourself the boho chic look, but still feeling super comfy and warm for the winter time! 66

Hair

By Del Sandeen Courtesy of about.com

Before relaxers became easily accessible, black people straightened their hair through a variety of means, many of which were very harsh and damaging. Although the majority of black women still prefer to wear their hair straightened, there has been a steadily growing movement toward wearing natural hair. However, there remains a lot of misinformation which prevents some people from accepting their hair as it grows from their scalp. They choose to straighten their hair because they still believe these myths about natural hair. What are the real truths?

Natural Hair Isn't Versatile

If you think Afros are the only style for natural hair, you're missing out on a ton of unique hairstyles that are beautiful and healthy for your hair and scalp.

Some of the many natural hairstyles you can wear include: Two-strand twists Bantu knots Braids Cornrows Flat twists Coils Locs Afro puffs In addition, you can combine these styles to create your own one-of-a-kind hairdos. If your hair is short, that may limit your versatility somewhat, but the longer your hair grows, the more styles you can experiment with and enjoy. 67

#2 Natural Hair Doesn't Grow Black hair in its natural state has a tendency to shrink up, preventing you from seeing its real length, leading to the popular belief that it doesn't grow long. While everyone has a predetermined hair length that's due to genetics, with proper care, you can grow your hair as long as it is destined to be and you don't need a relaxer or perm to do so! A relaxer straightens your curls so that you can see length more easily, but the chemicals in it do not promote hair growth. Hair grows an average of 1/2 inch per month, including black hair. Your hair is growing, but you may not be retaining the length due to chemical abuse, dryness, excessive heat stylingand a general lack of proper care.

# 3 Natural Hair Is Strong Natural hair looks strong, which is why so many people accidentally abuse it with rough treatment. In reality, black hair is fragile and needs to be treated with the gentlest of care in order for it to flourish. Wide tooth combs, natural ingredients and your own fingers are the best tools and products for natural hair.

#4 Natural Hair Needs Grease Many products you'll find in the ethnic hair care section of your local stores are full of ingredients that aren't the best for black hair. Ironic, but true. Petroleum and mineral oil make up a large percentage of black hair products and all they do is clog your scalp and attract dirt to your hair. You do not have to "grease" your scalp for it to be healthy. A better approach is to apply natural oils directly to your hair, paying special attention to the ends, which tend to be dry.

#5 Natural Hair Is Hard to Manage Natural, textured hair can seem hard to manage if you attempt to treat it like straight hair. If you use the same tools and expect the same results that you would on straightened hair, you're going to be disappointed. However, once you learn to treat natural hair in a way that doesn't try to change it or alter it, it can be as manageable as any other type of hair. You'll have to use different tools and different methods of styling. Your fingers, a wide tooth comb, natural boar bristle brushes and natural oils are all good ways to treat black hair. If you're used to dealing with straightened hair, learning new routines and techniques that work with your natural texture instead of against it will yield the best results. http://blackhair.about.com/od/naturalcare/tp/naturalhairmyths.htm

On September 7th, The 3rd Annual Natural Hair Parade took place in Dallas, TX. The event featured a parade lead by Erykah Badu, vendors, live music and of course Natural Hair! The Natural Hair Parade & Festival was created as a platform for community healing; developing an avenue to usher in love, peace and unification all for the purpose of cultivating the labor of love for natural hair. With three successful years behind us, the Natural Hair Parade & Festival can boast about a combined turnout of more than 3,000 attendees and participants. "Many people don’t understand the depths to which Black hair was enslaved in this country… we were once forced to cover our hair with rags! It was against the law for Blacks to be seen in public with natural hair. But change is here! Today we are able to celebrate and parade in the streets with our afros, locks, twists and kinky hair! It’s deeper than just surface; we are liberating a people from low self-esteem and self hate. We are educating, celebrating and ‘healing through the hair’; which is the Naturally Isis' mantra. With this parade and festival we are redefining, restoring, and refreshing the love and beauty standards of Black hair in America. The spirit of God nestles in our hair-- and it is our collective duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of our ancestors and to uplift African beauty aesthetic." –Isis Brantley Founder of Naturally Isis; The Institute of Ancestral

Braiding . This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parade and festival promoted black owned businesses, community development, and economic empowerment. Additionally, the primary aim of the event is to award single family parents Scholarships to attend The Institute of Ancestral Braiding, where they will learn skills that will enable them to better provide for their families.

Courtesy of www.napturallycurly.com

Whether you are transitioning or natural, caution should be taken when applying heat to your hair. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing wrong with the occasional flat iron or press, but you can overdo it and alter your curl pattern permanently. And if you are transitioning, it can accelerate breakage â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which may cut your transition shorter than you desire. Here are some tips to ensure your hair stays healthy during your heat application 1) Deep Condition First Deep conditioning strengthens the hair and should be done before any sort of major application like heat styling and even coloring the hair. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about giving your hair that strength prior to applying any heat. Let the deep conditioner sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes, and to get the maximum benefit, sit under the dryer with a plastic cap on. 2) Blow Dry on The Coolest Setting Possible When preparing to straighten your hair, blow dry on a cool to medium setting. The

cooler the better, of course.

3) Always Use a Heat Protectant Apply this to your hair before straightening to add a layer of protection on your hair. Some people use it before blow drying and flat ironing just to be safe. If you want to go the more natural route, grape seed oil is also a great protectant and can typically be found at most health food stores like Whole Foods. I would recommend buying the salon-grade protectants that you can find at Sally’s or other professional beauty supply stores. 4) Minimize Heat Exposure If you’re transitioning, heat is really the enemy, so if you must use it, try to keep it down to 1-2 times per month if you can. Heat not only makes your delicate, transitioning hair brittle, but you can dry it out and alter your natural hair pattern as well. If you’re natural, you may find that you can straighten more often, but I would still recommend limiting the amount of heat exposure as much as you can because you can get heat damage and ruin your curl pattern.

You will know when this happens because your hair will not curl up anymore. It will look straight or semi straight like processed hair. Sometimes you can nurse the curls back by shampooing and deep conditioning, but if the damage is too severe you’ll need to trim it off. How often you can flat iron/press is really up to your individual hair and how much heat you use, so just be careful. 5) Watch The Temperature 75

Never, ever buy a flat iron that does not have a temperature control. If you want to keep from altering your curl pattern, try not to exceed 350 degrees. In fact, go as low as possible. If you can straighten your hair at 300 or 325 degrees, then that’s even better. 6) Don’t Go Bone Straight Aim for a semi-straight look. No, it won’t last as long but you will protect your precious tresses.

You may want your hair as straight as possible, but going over and over the same strands with the flat iron can ruin your natural curl pattern. Press your hair in small sections and only go over it once. Avoid using repeated heat applications on the same section of hair. 7) Avoid Dominican Blowouts! I know they straighten better than anything in the hairstyling world, but I’ve heard so many horror stories about ruined curl patterns after getting one of these treatments. This is just way, way too much heat for both transitioners and naturals. Yes, there are always the exceptions and not every person has damage from these blowouts, but let’s just say I’ve heard of many more people who suffered damage than those who didn’t. Now, if you are a natural who plans to wear your hair straight all the time, then loss of curl pattern may not be a concern. However, if you want to go back and forth between curly and straight, be careful with excessive heat treatments. And always make sure a protectant is used. 8) Use Ceramic and Tourmaline-Ceramic Products Yes, these flat irons are going to cost you a little more, but they will lessen the chance of damage and work better. Look for the labels that say 100% ceramic. The coating on the cheaper flat irons will often wear off, and that’s a surefire way to damage your hair. Trust me, this is one area where you probably want to splurge.

By: Cherise Charleswell Despite being blessed with melanin-rich complexions that readily compliment the richest colors and boldest hues, or having body-types that have historically caused astonishment, wonder, and envy, enough so that garments were created to mimic our physiques, and these includes the 18th Century bustle and the modern day Booty Pop; women and men of African descent still look towards the mainstream, European-dominated fashion industry for inspiration and validation. The greatest irony is that it those very designers, like explorers and colonists of the past, who look to Africa (and now the African Diaspora) for their inspiration; whether it be the forever revamped safari designs, which first gain popularity in the 1960s with Yves St. Laurent, the Rastafarian aesthetic, which was greatly borrowed from by Pop & Ska artist

-turned-designer Gwen Stefani, for her line L.A.M.B.; along with the constant appropriation of Urban street styles. The fashion industry simply understands that people of African descent are forever in vogue and are extremely stylish. In fact, we have created various terms to describe our sense of style, steelo....swagger...and so on. Our love for material things and those that may be considered gaudy is also well noted, but also quite misunderstood and misinterpreted. In the most simplistic explanation, adornment is an important aspect of our culture as African-descend people. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of materials used for adornment and grooming in caves in Southern Africa, as early as the Middle Paleolithic Era. So, one 77

should understand that Black people have mastered “looking good’, because we have been doing this for centuries. It is in us. Encoded in our DNA. If one wanted to look for further evidence of this historical legacy of adornment, they would only have to study the paintings found within the pyramids and on ornaments of ancient Kemet. The images depict not only immaculately applied makeup, but elaborate clothing and headdresses. Thus, to say that Black people are materialistic is short-sighted, and the truth is that we always understood the importance of taking pride in our appearance and ensuring that we are presentable; and that legacy crossed the Atlantic, and manifested itself in different ways. However, despite being the architects of high fashion, Black people now find themselves marginalize in the mainstream fashion industry, and our images remain scarce in fashion magazines. The problem of exclusion has become so dire that supermodels Naomi Campbell and Iman have recently begun to call attention to this disparity, and are calling for an end to racism on the runway. Again, it seems that Black people are left to beg for acceptance and validation. Even more disrespectful are the editorials put forth by publications such as, Numero with the title of “African Queen”, but depicting no African, but instead a woman of European descent, who is often in Black face (or deeply tanned) and wearing traditional African fabrics. All of this sets the stage for what should be the obvious choice, the rejection of the notion of Eurocentric superiority 78

when it comes to beauty, fashion, and style; and embracing a Pan African aesthetic of adornment. That means incorporating Pan African elements into oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe, and proudly wearing ensembles that convey not only a cultural pride, but have great meaning. This includes waist beads, which are given to young girls to help mark the rites of passage to womanhood, and are also used by women as a symbol of their fertility and to help them maintain their figures. Other symbols of fertility include the Akuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ba, doll. Also, of great significance is the kemetic symbol, the Ankh, which pre-dates the Christian cross, and depicts the intersection of feminine and masculine and thus represents life. The symbol can be seen on T-shirts, jackets, etched on wax print fabrics and styled into skirts and dresses, or the shape may be seen on earrings, pendants, and rings. Other motifs, such as the adinkra symbols hold much importance in the Pan African design aesthetic, as well as the fabrics -- kente, ankara, bogolanfini (mudcloth).

For men, it can be as simple as adorning a kente tie, or an ankara dress shirt; and for women it may be as simple as grabbing a mudcloth bag, or wearing T-shirts with bold images of natural hair beauties, adorned with large earrings in the shape of various adinkra symbols -- Gye Nyame, Mate Masie, Fawohodie, Duafe; which symbolizes the omnipotence of God, knowledge and wisdom, independence and freedom, beauty and femininity respectively. Cherise Charleswell BYLINE: Cherise Charleswell is an accomplished poet, writer, model, and the author of Real Talk TIPS: Laugh-Out-Loud Pointers For The Morally Challenged, Socially Inept, & The People Who Love Them (www.etsy.com/shop/ EclecticLivingOnEtsy) . She is currently working on the anthology Walking In The Feminine: A Stepping Into Our Shoes Anthology and the book The Link Between Food, Culture, & Health Inequities In The African Diaspora.

Building a Pan African wardrobe involves the ready incorporation of these various symbols, motifs, fabrics, and materials.

By: Isha Metzger

The picture on the left (p. 81) was taken in 2005. One day I was randomly walking through Best Buy with my mom and a lady asked me if I was a model. I said no, but she convinced me to do one photo shoot. Being the young, optimistic girl I was, I went for it, and later decided to use the pictures as my senior pictures as I prepared to graduate from high school. Fast forward a few years, I graduated from college in 2008 and moved to Columbia, SC to attain my PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina. Determined as ever, I laid out my 5 year plan wherein I would start school and fall in love, then get my Master’s Degree and get engaged, then start my dissertation and get married, then go on internship and have a baby. Life would be perfect. My love would be perfect. My family would be perfect. Then I lost both of my remaining grandparents in a short period of time and I felt my foundation begin to crumble. The man I thought was the love of my life turned out to be the exact opposite. So I painfully decided to end it, and

on January 4th 2012, I cut all my hair off and attempted to start over. I thought I reached my lowest low and was determined to use my own resolve to build myself back up. But God wasn’t through with me yet. A previously unknown development from the relationship I had just ended led to me having to make another life-changing decision just three months later when I got an abortion on March 8th 2012. This day was truly my darkest moment. My school work began to deteriorate and I began going through life consumed with guilt, hate, self-pity, and regret. I attempted to carry on with life as usual, continuing to spend time with my friends and family, to congratulate others as they reached personal goals I previously set for myself, and to present myself as a happy, healthy woman. Instead, I constantly ate my feelings, stopped being active, cried many nights, and was wandering hopelessly from one day to the next with no goals or real relief in sight. Looking back now, I thought I was putting up the perfect façade, but my sadness was showing all over my face and 80

my body. The two pictures on the top row were taken sometime in 2012. I put on my old clothes from 2005 and was shocked at what had become of the young girl who believed in miracles, magic, God, and- most of all- the power of love. Here, you see a woman who hadn’t been hopeful, fulfilled, or passionate about anything for nearly a year. Then one day in the spring of 2013, I reopened my Bible. I realized that I hadn’t prayed, really prayed, in a long time. I said a prayer that my grandmother taught me, and I gave my life over to Jesus. I let go of the pain in my heart, and replaced it with the love of my God. I let go of guilt from decisions I’d made in my past, and replaced it with hope for my future. I let go of hatred toward those who I felt had wronged me, and replaced it with love for myself. I began to pray, to exercise, to eat right, to fast, to rely on my friends and family, to go after my passions in school, and to get the most out of every day. I’ve had setbacks, made mistakes when I’ve relied on myself and not consulted with God, and I still have moments of weakness. But I’ve grown and I’ve learned so much about myself in the process. Then one morning, on Thursday, September 19th 2013, I woke up and did my usual hour of fasted cardio on the stair master. I said my prayers, reflected on how far I’ve come, and finished my 60 minutes with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart. I returned to my room and put on the same outfit, yet again, and was surprised as the pants slipped effortlessly over my hips. The vest that I couldn’t pull down over my stomach

last year was loose. At my heaviest, I was 258 pounds. I am now 206. My goal was to get to my high school weight of 199, but now that I'm so close and going so strong, I am confident that I will surpass it in no time! I honestly have no idea what my goal should be, because I don't remember weighing any less. I'm just thankful for how far I've come. I am able to look at myself in the mirror and thank God for saving my life. My future IS big, it IS bright, and it’s going to be more wonderful than I could have ever planned or imagined. I’m more passionate about my research and my clinical work than I’ve ever been. I have focus and direction. I’m working harder than ever and it feels like heaven. The woman you see in the pictures on the bottom row is hopeful about her future. She has attained her Master's Degree and is one step away from getting her PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology. She’s happy. And she’s so thankful to God. She is excited to share her testimony with others in hopes of inspiring them to get healthy and fit, to begin loving themselves completely, and to connect with God! She is me. I'm busy in school, so I don't have a blog. But I do have an instagram page at www.instagram.com/ ishcreamsundae that I think is pretty cool (the perfect mixture of fitness, faithfulness, ratchetness, and classiness), and I am thankful that a few people have been motivated to change because of my story. I LOVE learning about myself and falling in love with myself more and more every day. I’m 81

discovering that I’m STRONG. I’m filled with optimism. And I’m still a hopeless romantic who loves musicals. I’m so thankful that God preserved the child in me and that my heart is still pure. Everything that I thought was taken from me has been returned ten times over. I’m looking forward to a new journey, a new beginning, new goals, more progress, unimagined success, and a new opportunity to give Glory to God through my testimony. As I stood before myself in the mirror, I saw Jeremiah 29:11 staring back at me: a reminder that I wrote to myself last year and never erased from the glass. “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper”.

Has going Natural changed your life? Share your story of transformation with Natural Woman Magazine. Your story may be in the next issue. Visit us at www.asknaturalwoman.webs.com