Cassadaga

Your home can become a sanctuary. The process is simple and effortless. All you need do is find only what you love and fill your space with it. It need not be much, just pure and basic things, but beloved. I had the pleasure of visiting Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp this past weekend and found some really treasured gems to enhance not only my home space but my inner-spirit space, as well. Cassadaga is a spiritual sanctuary where one can receive spiritual guidance and counseling, commune with nature and relish in the heightened vibration of this place that Native American healers named, "water beneath the rocks."

The community harkens back to an earlier time when neighbors were friends and the walkable village was an extension of home. I felt so elated moving about in this little town and the pure simplicity of it all was a balm to my soul.

The gems I discovered and took home were blessed by the spirit of the place and I feel joy as I add them to my sanctuary. This Buddha holding a rose represents such serenity and beauty to me.

As I love blue and I love candle light, this stellar topaz candle spoke volumes to me and so I brought it to sanctify my home as well.

I recently read that most U.S. flowers come from central american countries were pesticides banned here are permitted. These flowers are dipped in and sprayed with so many chemicals, that the workers are suffering from a bevy of diseases and disorders. Hence, I am a happy to have found these organic roses.

And I fell in love with this tiny winged fairy/angel wearing a turquoise dress and an apron full of berries.

Simple things chosen with love can bring so much joy and light into your home. Like water beneath rocks, the essence at the foundation of your possessions holds the true glory.

Spirulina Smoothie

 This morning, I was inspired by a friend to create a smoothie using Hawaiian Spirulina.

I can't tell you how delicious and invigorating this concoction was. I absolutely loved every drop! If you think you need a big breakfast with toast, eggs and milk. Think again. A smoothie, like this one, made with organic frozen bananas, green grapes, fresh mango, lemon juice, Spirulina and some filtered water is all your body could ever want to starts it's new day.

My visit to the The Hippocrates Institute inspired me to make my own salads at home because nothing beats fresh and organic produce for summer meals. Spice them up with some nuts and seeds and you have nutritious, delicious and simple to prepare feasts. I joined Homegrown Cooperative in Orlando,

And twice a week, I get a box of organic goodies straight from the farm. Each time it's a surprise and this week my box was full of Spanish onions, zucchini and yellow squash, avocados, tomatoes, mangos and hydroponic lettuce. Here are some highlights.

I blended some Brazil nuts with basil, garlic, tomatoes, cayenne and Braggs Liquid Aminos and made this rich and spicy dressing for the leftover vegetables the next day.

After being inspired, yet again, this time by a friend's Facebook photo of Efa and pounded yam- a Nigerian specialty- I made a Trinidadian dish with similar essence. Callaloo! with purple okra, onions and a few rock shrimp. Steamed for just a few minutes. Sooo good!

The fresh greens in the top picture are actually Sorrel. I was so excited to do the Callaloo, that I forgot to photograph them. The rock shrimp were a rare and special treat given to me by a good friend and blessed with love and gratitude. Okay, now back to the salads. In this next bountiful delight, I embraced olives, onions, avocados, basil, tomatoes and zucchini sliced like pasta. How lovely it all came together and the flavors, mmmmm...

With extra Spanish onions...

For snack last night, I made a mini salad with alfalfa sprouts, radish, cilantro and heirloom tomatoes as the wonderful focus.

And a little Goddess Dressing to add the divine taste of tahini and lemon.

My secret must-have ingredient for all these delicious vegetable combinations is hot pepper sauce. I make my own using organic jalapenos, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice and olive or hemp oil.

Living Foods

I love raw food restaurants! And culinary gems where you can enjoy a plethora of live food entrees and desserts are sprouting up all over. Lately, I have had the opportunity to try out quite a few. With the bounty of local and organic summer produce, the healthy treats at these establishments couldn't be more delectable. Come with me as I revisit these eco-businesses and reminisce on some truly outstanding meals.

The Hippocrates Institute in West Palm Beach, FL, is a healing retreat where you can take day, week or month long journeys to heal your body, mind and soul. Within an hour of entering this beautiful sanctuary, I was blessed with this serving of sprouted salad fresh from the garden. It includes several different types of spouted beans, seaweed, hot peppers, radish, red cabbage kim-chi and a house dressing made with organic nuts and seeds. Heaven.

There is also an Oasis Spa on the grounds where you can experience therapeutic massages and holistic body treatments.

After my body wrap and tropical rainfall therapy, I picked up an Immune Support tincture from the on-site health food store. It includes zinc and selenium which are essential vitamins often depleted in our bodies.

If you are looking for a place to come and detoxify, cleanse and rejuvenate, the Life Change program here is out of this world. Staying in the serene Emerald Villa Suites and taking part in the classes, spa services and healthful dining is very much a priceless healing experience.

 
While in Miami, I was awestruck by the profound healing food and drink combinations served up at LifeFood Gourmet.

Here you can sign up for a healing cleanse which includes raw drinks like Wild Milk made of organic nuts or raw meals made of super fresh high powered super foods. I enjoyed this rich and decadent Mediteranean Hummous meal complete with pita chips and falafel-like bits. From the looks of it, you would never guess that nothing in it has been cooked!

Heating foods above 118 degrees is considered destructive to its nutrients, enzymes and vitamins and Cafe 118 in Orlando, has made it clear in it's name that all the selections on the menu are full of life!

I had the Pad Thai and it was scrumptious.

Afterwards, I felt as full of energy as the vital veggies that were in my meal. And for dessert! An unbelievable rich and delicious raw chocolate bar.

This is a great way to eat if you're lagging or feeling drained. All those active enzymes will give you a natural boost and the pure flavors will enliven you instantly. Promise.

With my extra energy, I redesigned my bike, a yard sale find. Using duct tape on the frame, a drab red was enlivened to a sea blue. I love blue and now when I go on my daily ride, filled with living food power, I can relish in the aqua hue.

Carnival of Healing #239 Heal Love Now

There are a lot of wonderful blogs out there that deal with healing, natural living and spirituality. I have had the pleasure of exploring many of these through about.com's Carnival of Healing page. http://healing.about.com/od/community/a/carnival.htm

Basically, it is a forum for all things holistic health and each month a different blogger highlights the work of their holistic-minded peers in a fun, virtual carnival of sorts. Last month host was Rosanna at MeanderingPathstoSpirituality.com  Check it out here http://healing.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=healing&cdn=religion&tm=43&f=11&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//melisma-rosanna.blogspot.com/2011/06/carnival-of-healing-238.html

And it is fitting that this month of my birth, I am being gifted with the opportunity to lead the Carnival! I found some interesting bits of information on aromatic waters, thanks to Linda over at naturalhealthezine.com

I love using essential oils and floral waters and have several different types that I mist with, sprinkle around the house and spray in the car.

 

It is an incredible uplift to breathe in these aromas and I would recommend it as a daily ritual above and beyond the use of any synthetic perfume. According to Linda, "aromatic waters, such as rose and lavender, have been used in skin care and perfumery for centuries. Today, there are a wide range of aromatic waters available for use." Go for the purest and most natural essences and you will surely be delighted by the allure of the scent as well as the healing affects. Learn more at http://naturalhealthezine.com/the-use-of-aromatic-waters-for-your-health/

 
I can be sensitive to strong chemicals and exhaust fumes and whenever I encounter a disagreeable smell, I put a few drops of Peppermint Essential Oil on a cotton cloth and inhale the aroma. I like to sprinkle Eucalyptus Oil around the house as a repellant to creepy crawlers and Sweet Orange Oil is great for mood enhancement. I use the Chamomile Essence on my daughter's pillow for a good night sleep and the Clove Oil is wonderful sprinkled in the car during a long drive.

In doing this, I create my own little flower-scented world! For the allergy sufferers out there, you can find several good tips on how to naturally prevent allergic reactions at http://www.nativeremedies.com/blog/how-to-stay-clear-of-summer-allergies/
Here are a few to consider:

• Take your shoes off when entering your home to keep pollen at the door.
• Keep your air conditioning on a controlled setting even when you are away from home to prevent humidity from reaching levels that could encourage mold growth.
• Limit exposure to barbeque grill smoke, especially the charcoal-burning kind. Also be wary of bonfires and campfires, which can give off heavy smoke and aggravate the throat, nose, and eyes.

One practice that I have been doing for years is removing my shoes when I step inside my door. This is an Asian-inspired practice and I find that it not only keeps things cleaner but it really upgrades the vibration in my space.

Speaking of vibrations, Karin Stanley in an article titled Self Hypnosis and Abundance, discusses the value of the hypnotic trance state in altering the frequency of our brain activity. Read more at http://intuitive-connections.net/2011/self-hypnosis_abundance.html 

I love to make mind manifestation movies and find that watching them puts me in a sort of trance and I can feel all the images, ideas and affirmations in the movie seeping into my subconscious and without a doubt, playing out in my life. Mind movies are like moving and dynamic vision boards with pictures of your most beloved ideals, goals and visions. For those of you who prefer a more practical approach to creating your life, go to http://simplelifehabits.com/life-habits/the-smart-goals-acronym-defined  Here John Milligan talks about a very straightforward way to move forward in creating your ideal life. He explains the SMART goals system, which stands for, "specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. As you set your goals...take the time to walk each goal through this process so that you can get very clear on both the why and how to what you are going to do. For more go to: http://healing.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=healing&cdn=religion&tm=108&f=11&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//mind-mart.com/

With these myriad ways of bringing more health, vitality and abundance into your life, I leave you to create your own carnival of healing right here and right now in your very own sacred space.

Stay tuned next month. I am passing the healing torch on to Clara Myers at MindMart.com

Namaste