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Let’s cook


What to cook? What about pasta, onions, and mashed sweet potatoes, sprinkled with spices, salt, pepper, and olive oil or coconut oil?

First the planning: This dish easily lends itself to an increase or decrease of ingredients, it depends on your tastes. As long as the penne is dressed with enough cayenne pepper, Celtic salt (or another good quality salt), pepper, organic spices, a good quality olive oil or coconut oil, it should be a delicious meal.

The  ingredients:

1 lb. organic Penne

2 or 3 large sweet potatoes

1 T. diced ginger

2 or 3 large organic onions, halved lengthwise, then sliced

1 T. garlic, chopped

cayenne pepper

turmeric, cumin, cardamon

olive oil, or coconut oil

Boil enough water for penne.

Put the thinly-sliced sweet potatoes in a medium-sized pot and cover the bottom with water. Add chopped ginger and gently simmer until soft. Check on them a few times. Stir during the cooking, also check that there’s enough water. When cooked mash them in the pot along with the ginger. Set aside.

In the meantime, add penne to the boiled water, and boil according to directions.

Heat at least two tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil, and saute the two sliced large onions slowly. When transparent add the chopped garlic and a few shakes, or more, depending on taste, of turmeric, cumin, and cardamon, continue to cook until nicely browned. Then add a few shakes of salt and pepper. Mix the onion mixture with the penne, cayenne pepper, and olive oil or coconut oil. Then add the mashed sweet potatoes, along with a few shakes of salt and pepper, more or less depending on taste, and mix very well.

Serve and enjoy.

Last week I prepared this in Richmond for Alicia and Michael. They liked it, and asked if I would please prepare it again the next evening. I said, “Why not?”

Have an extraordinary day!

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hybrid foods


When I go into Whole Foods and see the words, “seedless strawberries” and “seedless grapes” and “seedless watermelons” and “seedless raisins” etc. I wonder what exactly is going on with the altering of our food. Those “hybrid foods” are full of unnatural sugars, chemicals, and pesticides. They have no nutritional worth. The people who have taken it upon themselves to alter our foods are, shall we say (it’s important here to use the right words), a greedy bunch. The Creator made these perfect foods to nourish living creatures. Those who are mindlessly tampering with Earth’s bounty to make themselves rich are serving no one, not even themselves. Eventually, the greedy ones will have to pay the piper for thinking that the Earth is theirs to do with as they please.

This morning I picked up the book, Agartha by Meredith Lady Young and read the passage:
“While the use of chemicals has forced larger production, it is hollow production, for there is no integrity in this kind of bloom or grain. It exists without the permission of the plant. The plant is forced to produce-not allowed to produce-and herein lies the difference. Because violation of plants by this force-feeding method actually shortens its life cycle and eliminates any joy in the production process. Nature’s usefulness as a continuing food source is becoming diminished. The food which is produced is filled with the artificial, negative aspects of creation and lacks the overriding positive energy infused in the natural growing cycle. Even the water is becoming so acidic and filled with pollutants that basic water replenishment is no longer possible. How can health be produced from plants which are prevented from having a proper relationship with the essential elements which provide for joyful and complete growth? How is man to know that the planet suffers if he is deaf to any perceptual interchange?”

Agartha was published in 1984. I can only imagine what the greedy ones have done with our food since then.

Is there anyone who understands how the greedy ones can put money before living beings? Life is short, living at the expense of others is risky. Maybe they don’t believe in an afterlife, or in karma. Maybe they’re wrong. Maybe we need to find a way to set them straight so that Planet Earth will thrive once again. Does anyone have any ideas?

* * * * * * *

Greediness, an excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one’s proper share.
www.dictionary.com

www.livingfoodsinstitute.com/resources_articles_3.php

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alan cohen

Have you read a book, any book, by Alan Cohen? If not, I’m thinking that this coming weekend is as good a time as any to acquaint yourself with him, and the often lighthearted and interesting way he has of writing. Let’s see, The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, A Deep Breath of Life, and How Good Can It Get? are just three of the wonderful choices available.

I think his writings have a touch of grace, and that what he wants to impart to the reader is done seemingly without effort, and oftentimes with humor. Although, after all is said and done, it’s obvious that the humor allows for the thoughts to seep into the readers mind and slowly hit home without us being aware that that’s what’s happening.


Are you going away this weekend? If so, you might want to tuck an Alan Cohen book into your suitcase. Staying put this weekend? Take it to a cafe or a park. Working this weekend? Yours would be a nice soothing break if you could relax and read a few pages from one of his books – whichever one calls to you.
www.alancohen.com

May tomorrow be an extraordinary day for you.

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contact has begun – a true story with james gilliland. . .a message that will change your world. . . .


The above DVD has quite a full title. Are you interested?

Every so often I pick up a book or a DVD about UFOs. I feel that since we’re part of the Universe, it makes sense to know what’s going on, as much as we possibly can. There are many people who are giving considerable time to the study of UFOs, and in the process are finding out much more. It’s just about impossible now to leave this topic on the back burner. “. . . The Times CNN poll stated that 80% of people believe that UFOs are real and that there’s a government cover-up.” This was noted on the DVD which came out in 2007. Since that time, it’s been reported that there have been numerous UFO sightings by many people in different areas of the world. And so I watched and listened attentively to CONTACT HAS BEGUN A True Story with James Gilliland . . . A MESSAGE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR WORLD, knowing that it was written and produced by people who care deeply about the Universe, particularly what’s happening to Planet Earth, and who also care about our role as evolving human beings.

Watching and listening to the people who had a part in the documentary was easy and exciting, especially since years ago Hollywood movies and the powers that be put fear into anyone wanting to know more about UFOs. And I began to realize while viewing the above-mentioned DVD that our past knowledge about UFOs hardly holds true.

What should be of interest to all of us is what it has to tell us about: the human race, consciousness, other dimensions, Planet Earth’s distress, UFOs, climate change, ancient civilizations, spiritual awakening, technology, our connection to everything, “the funding of Hollywood,” the military, earth changes, the messages we are being given, etc. I can only imagine what has happened since this film came to market in 2007.

Somewhere in the watching and listening it becomes evident that we need to make necessary changes in order to move forward and to evolve as we’re meant to do. To rescue Planet Earth, the consciousness of every one of us needs to be brought to a higher frequency so that we can work harmoniously together. It would seem that in order to do this we can’t live passively, or in fear, or allow negative thoughts to rule us. It’s been said that when our thoughts are negative we keep ourselves and Planet Earth at a very low frequency.

Also, it seems to be to our advantage to put away some of the “toys” we depend on for entertainment. So much time goes to entertaining ourselves with things that, in the end, leave us dissatisfied and keep us from knowing things about ourselves that, to put it frankly, are awesome. It’s been said that daily allowing for private time and journal keeping in order to ask ourselves questions and be willing to hear the answers about ourselves can restore us to a higher frequency, and when that happens, we can expect, well, I think you know what. And then we can begin to eliminate fear, and start to do the things that in our deep-down private moments we know we’re capable of doing.

From what I understand, as long as we’re not hurting anyone, the way we want to live life is absolutely our choice, and the choices are unlimited. It’s everyone’s birthright to dig deeper and deeper into the how-to of living a life of joy, peace, wisdom, beauty, loving-kindness, and abundance. It seems though that fear keeps most of us from living extraordinary lives.

The Universe is wonderfully fascinating and we all have to dare to expand our relationship to all that is, and who we are, and where we’re going. Living in kindness, harmony, compassion unconditional love, beauty, forgiveness will align us to a higher frequency, and together we’ll restore Planet Earth to the dignity it once had, and in the process, we’ll realize that we’re so much more than we imagine ourselves to be.

I’m glad I had the chance to watch and listen to:

James Gilliland
www.eceti.org
Dr. Brooks Agnew
www.arkofmillionsofyears.com
Dr. Miceal Ledwith
www.hamburgeruniverse.com
Dr. Michael Salta
www.exopolitics.org
Neil Freer
www.neilfreer.com

If you opt to view CONTACT HAS BEGUN . . . , or another DVD of that ilk, sit, watch, and listen carefully til the very end. You just might be glad you did.

I hope the day is an absolutely lovely one for you.

* * * * * * *

We arrive at truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart. – Blaine Pascal

I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small my mind would comprehend it. -Pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick

Don’t play for safety – it’s the most dangerous game in the world. – Hugh Walpole

The greatest gift you can give the world
is your own growth into the full consciousness
of your own possibilities – and ultimately
the evolutionary possibilities of the
whole human species. – Alan Watts

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ron teeguarden and dragon herbs


Ron Teeguarden’s Dragon Herbs Elixir Bar in Los Angeles seems like a powerful way to add energy to a day, it also looks like a place of beauty. Let’s pretend that we’re at the Elixir Bar and we’re toasting to all the ways there are in the world of keeping body, mind, and emotions healthy.

Ron Teeguarden is widely recognized as one of the foremost herbalists in America. His classic book Chinese Tonic Herbs was written in 1984, and his website says that it “remains the best selling book on Chinese tonic herbalism to date in America” and that his wife Yanlin “is responsible for the beautiful ‘look’ associated with the Dragon Herbs stores, literature and packaging.” The website: www.dragonherbs.com tells of a remarkable story, and along with that, it has a lot of information.

I’ve requested a catalog, though after two attempts of offering name and address on the website, it’s not forthcoming. I just might have to take a Red Eye flight to visit the Elixir Bar; perhaps I’ll find a Dragon Herbs catalog there (oh, how inconvenient).

Lastly, I ask: What about opening an Elixir Bar in dear old Philadelphia? I can imagine that 😀

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frog in the lotus position, and agartha by meredith lady young


I bought a gift for a special someone having a November birthday. It’s a statue of a frog (about 6 inches tall) sitting in a lotus position, and it’s on a table waiting for creative wrapping with paper and pretty ribbon. Every time I look at it it cracks me up, and I think it should be mine; but no, it was bought for another. Though now I’m sensing that it should be sent to another special someone who was also born in November; somehow it seems the perfect gift for that person and not for the one originally in mind. Hmm! What to do? These feelings that come from no where are usually on target and should be honored because experience tells me that when they are it all works out.


Earlier today I took the book Agartha A JOURNEY TO THE STARS by Meredith Lady Young from its shelf, and began reading a familiar passage about brain and mind. I think many more people are comfortable with the idea of channeling (yes, channeling) than when the book was first published. It says that the brain is matter and controls “physiological function, adjustment and adaptation.” And that mind “. . . is cut free to assimilate and analyze in a totally unique manner. . . .” if we don’t recognize, learn about, tap into, and work with all that is a part of us (both the known and unknown), then all that can expand our lives will be dormant. When we listen to, ask questions of, and use all the parts of our being, taking steps in small matters to build confidence, we’ll eventually be able to utilize all that we are in all matters, having prepared ourselves for expansion.

With that said, frog in the lotus position will be sent to the birthday person it wasn’t intended for, but whose face comes to mind when I look at frog in the lotus position. Now that was easy; time to wrap and send, and run out to buy another gift for the one who won’t be receiving frog in the lotus position.

The sun is still trying to shine today. Do you feel a chill in the air? Keep warm. And let’s all of us have an exceptional day

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onions and garlic

I received the following email from a friend in Malta. Lilian and her friends research and have a knack for gathering unusual information about food. And so, I’m passing this one along to you. I think it makes a lot of sense. After reading it, I see onions in an entirely new way.

Is it all true? What do you think?

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don’t know how true this is but just an FYI…..”MUST READ”
ONIONS ~ MAYONNAISE
PLEASE READ TO THE END: IMPORTANT

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn’t believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder. I don’t know about the farmers story.. but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia and needless to say I was very ill.. I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put it into an empty jar…placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs.. sure enough it happened just like that.. the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

This is the other note.

Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don’t know what to blame. Maybe it’s the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria is the reason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu’s and is the very reason we shouldn’t eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.

LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of
mayonnaise.. Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters in the
Mullins family. My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO.

Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist.

The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed. He’s one of the brothers Ed is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He’s even developed sauce formula for McDonald’s.

Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed’s answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially- made Mayo is completely safe.

“It doesn’t even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it’s not really necessary.” He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the quaint essential picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that! when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the ‘victim’ last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it’s not the mayonnaise (as long as it’s not homemade Mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It’s probably the onions, and if not the onions, it’s the POTATOES.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He says it’s not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

It’s already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!)

Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you’ll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you’re asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cook the next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

Please pass this on to all you love and care.

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The Wilen Sisters

A few years ago I subscribed to a book written by Joan and Lydia Wilen called Bottom Line’s Secret Food Cures & Doctor-Approved Folk Remedies. All I can say about this book is that if you want to be entertained while trying to find relief via a natural cure for an ailment you or someone else has, you might want to consider getting the book. As you peruse it you’ll catch yourself smiling and saying “really?” every so often. The Wilen sisters are witty and have a treasure chest of information, plus, the calmness in the words they use make spending time looking for a cure absolutely delightful. It’s easy to get side-tracked when reading the book, and possible to forget the reason for reaching for it in the first place.

The natural cures are from different areas of the world, and the cures have passed the test of time, thereby making them worthy of consideration. As an example let’s find out what the Wilen sisters have to say about anxiety (which is the previous posting on this blog).

On page 175-178 under Tension and Anxiety are these: for sweaty palms, indigestion, stiff neck, hyperventilation, an ulcer, dry mouth, a tic, even a canker sore unwind with a relaxing hobby, e.g. sailing, gardening, etc. The natural remedies suggested are: take away caffeine from your life and also chocolate (I don’t want to hear that), don’t paint your kitchen yellow, use acupressure, take cayenne pepper, take a raw onion and make two poultices, a hop pillow for sleeping, a fish tank. and chia seed tea. In the back of the book are six pages of “Amazing, Super-Duper Facts and Advice,” four pages of “Sources,” a list of “Health Resources,” a “Recommended Reading List,” and a “Recipe Index.”

Now to find out why, where, and how, you’ll need the book ~ I really think you’ll like it.
www.bottomlinepublications.com and do a search for the Wilen sisters.

May you enjoy Secret Food Cures & Doctor-Approved Folk Remedies as much as I do.

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anxiety, “distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune”

www.dictionary.com has this to say about the word anxiety:
1. distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune: He felt anxiety about the possible loss of his job.
2. earnest but tense desire, eagerness: He has a keen anxiety to succeed in his work.
3. Psychiatry, a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder.

The antonyms are: 1. certainty, serenity, tranquillity

So, how exactly do we manage to reduce anxiety, and restore a healthier mind and body? Well, we seem to have many choices. We just have to be willing to do the homework. The thing is we’ve gathered many beliefs and opinions, and a question to think about is: are all those beliefs and opinions our own or were they passed down to us from here, there, and everywhere, and collected by us? Since we tend to largely base our choices on them, we need to know if they make any sense, and do we want to continue to keep them.

Most of the time we’re unaware of the daily choices we make, and if that’s the case we could be unaware of the way they’re affecting us and causing anxiety. In order to assess the why of anxiety in our life, we have to set aside some time to look deeply at what’s causing it and so we meditate. The answer will come when we give enough time and sincerity in finding the why of the anxiety.

The meaning of the word anxiety seems to indicate a need for a trust in Life, and to reduce anxiety we can begin by establishing a deep trust that there’s a grand reason for our being here. Doubts that say otherwise will come, and we have to let them go. They have power right now or there wouldn’t be any anxiety, as soon as trust in Life is rooted in us the power of our doubts will diminish.


So, how exactly do we establish a trust in Life? As in many situations, what works for one may not work for another. We have a list of choices: Books are wonderful guides; the right book in our hands is a great teacher and will guide us. We simply have to agree to set aside time to learn from them, to find those particular passages that connect to our spirit, and read them over and over until they’re absorbed and become a part of us, or read many books, each one advancing us in our pursuit of trust in Life. We have retreats galore to choose from the world over. We have to agree to go, and if necessary, go again and again. We have to agree with ourselves to not listen to stories – whether they be via tv, a family member, a friend, a newspaper, a movie – that cause anxiety. We find like-minded people who uplift us to hang out with. We choose our friends wisely. We find a way to spiritually unfold, a way that works for us.

Finally they’ll be that day when anxiety slips away and a trust in Life replaces it. If doubts surface once in a while, that’s okay. We can smile now, the doubts are harmless; we’re anchored in trust. Finally we’ve stepped away from the 24/7 three-ring circus we’ve been a part of for so long. We smile again knowing that the journey to rid ourselves of the stagnant beliefs and opinions of the world, and to capture and anchor trust in Life and in ourself offered many benefits. Now we can take a delightfully deep breath; we’re in an A-ha! moment.

* * * * * * *

“. . . It is a process of diverting one’s scattered forces into one powerful channel. Just as a useless marsh may be converted into a field of golden corn or a fruitful garden by draining and directing the scattered and harmful streams into one well-cut channel, so, he who acquires calmness, and subdues and directs the thought currents within himself, saves his soul, and fructifies his heart and life.”
-James Allen

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the good news at ode magazine is . . .


Ode* has come up with another marvelous idea, and it’s this: us giving as much attention to, or better yet, replacing the negative nightly news by clicking on their new website in which the editorial staff takes a “look at the most authoritative news sources for stories that focus on solutions rather than problems.” Hence, “a balanced media diet.”
odewire.com

How can the negative nightly news uplift the human spirit? It doesn’t; it can’t. This from Ode: “Research suggests a positive news diet supports your health in this challenging world.”

Ode’s editorial staff wants to remind us that, “Our automated semantic filter is not perfect. Judging values is hard for a machine.” And so they welcome suggestions to “improve the technology” by sending comments to: editor@odemagazine.com

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! -an “around the clock and around the world” news of what’s working in our world.

I hope you’re all enjoying a beautiful day.

*Ode changed its name to The Intelligent Optimist.

* * * * * * *

And the day came when the risk it took to remain closed in a bud became more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
– Anais Nin