21 Insights In 4 Nights
During the Winter Solstice I got quiet for four days and four nights and emerged with twenty-one insights; some were reminders, some were epiphanies, others were ideas.

One afternoon, I was having a moment where I was just daydreaming in gratitude thinking about the things I appreciated about someone and poof! I got a phone call from that person as I was daydreaming about them in gratitude.
​Insight #1 . . .
came as a reminder that whatever you desire more of, daydream in gratitude about it. Speak in appreciation about it and you will find that you experience more of the same. Many of us get into the complain game and because like Kendrick Lamar says, "Life ain't nothing but a fat vagina," we get EXACTLY what we profess. The electromagnetic Universe in it's "YES" state is always listening to our directives and then pregnant gives birth to what we've uttered from the heart, without judgment, for better or for worse. 
gratitude multiplies.
Thanks for reading.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua
 ​
Day 2 of 13/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

S a v e   T h e   D a t e  
U P C O M I N G    E V E N T S ​

Miss me?
I missed you.
Waking in the twilight hours to LISTEN, be in gratitude and then write a note here has become part of my morning ritual; my daily ministry to share the juicy magic that comes through for you, for me, for we. (Day Three Kwanzaa: UJIMA)

The Sun was in a standstill, so I (along with over 100 other people in our solstice observance community) went into a standstill for the most magical time of the year. Instead of creating shallow, ineffective New Year's resolutions, I/we put aside my/our agenda (s) and just LISTENED to "the Will of THY Will." I/we got into magi mode (crown chakra) instead of magician mode (root chakra).

Well mission-accomplished!
​I came out of four days and four nights with twenty-one insights.
Some were reminders, some were epiphanies, others were ideas and to top it off, experienced a-bit-o-magic.
 
Did you participate with us, get still and listen too?
What did you hear? What did you see?  What did you feel?
TELL US below in the comments if you feel inspired to (I don't normally have the comment section open so go for it!)

Every year I have a theme and I also got clear on what the theme of my year will be as well.
Over the next three weeks, I'm going to share the "Twenty-One Insights That Came In Four Nights."

​I'll share it right here in the notebook for you. 
Many of you have subscribed to this notebook. In about a week, I'll begin to send weekly emails so that you don't miss a single note.

The Winter Solstice begins tomorrow : Wednesday, 21 December, 2016 at 5:44 AM EST. I wrote about this in detail in the note: "Cultivating Love & Genius." CLICK TO READ
​
​In observance of this powerful time of darkness and the activation of heightened consciousness, it's best to occupy these days with nourishing and receptive activities like: reflection, clean eating, quiet, peace and order, focused on restorative, inspirational and uplifting activities/study.

Love Has Spoken is one of my favorite songs, by my friend Chicago singer & songwriter Khari Lemuel. This is a perfect song to add to your meditation playlist, while you await the insights, epiphanies and messages of this season.

INjoy this magical time where miracles abound.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 20 of 12/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

Love Has Spoken
by Khari Lemuel

Stop walkin' 'round here unprepared
Stop being scared
Stop doing all the crazy things you do.
That ain't you.
Stop wasting precious time you have complaining 'bout your circumstance
Believing that you're what you're going through
that ain't you.

Don't you remember who you are
Don't you remember
and even after all this time
please tell me why you don't know what you're here to do.

Did you know that when I made you are pure love
Did you know that when I made you, you were whole
Did you know that you a part of pure divinity
a true mystery to unfold.

Fill your heart with love, let go of hate.
Focus your mind and concentrate.
Create yourself and start your life anew
And I guarantee the moment that you do, you'll introduce yourself to you.

Did you know that when I made you are pure love
Did you know that when I made you, you were whole
Did you know that you a part of pure divinity
a true mystery to unfold.

Share your world and don't you hesitate
Focus your mind and meditate
Don't be afraid to let the light shine through
​and I guarantee the moment that you do,
you'll introduce yourself to you.

Written by: Khari Lemuel
Album: Morning Music
2009

In America, from California to Chicago, the temperatures have dropped and while I'm most definitely cold weather averse, the upside of this climate condition is being warmed from the inside out with delicious soul-warming soups. There's something about drinking soup that feels like mama's hug, so I'm pretty excited to fully indulge in a soup odyssey throughout this winter season.  This simple recipe that I free-styled is an original. I put it together and just hoped it would be yummy. Well, mission accomplished. 

If you're reading this note in real-time and participating in our 2016 Winter Solstice Observance community on Facebook, this is a part of our soup and salad cleanse/detox menu.

It's vegan.
It's creamy.
It's body and soul medicinal.
​It's soooooo flavorful.
Make it and let me know how it turns out for you.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 16 of 12/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

Two Designers + An Energy Healer +  A Biz Coach + A Celebrity Makeup Artist + A Perfumier
​
​I hope you had a chance to delve into the precious gems and gold of these women featured in my #iAmHer360 series. If you've missed any of them click this link for the playlist: #iAmHer360.

"I take life as it's given to me and I think that
​has made me a really happy person." 
​S H A R M I L A   V A R A D A R A J A N

#iAmHer360 speaks to seeing other women as yourself and the celebration of every way that any woman chooses to express herself. Today we continue with another chat in the #iAmHer360: SuperWomen & Goddesses Series with Indian-born Sharmila Varadarajan. Across the seas from Chicago to India while she's on holiday.

After an arranged marriage by her parents in her homeland, Sharmila came to America twenty years ago with an education in Cardiac Rehabilitation & Exercise Science. Although she looks twenty-five, she's actually been happily married to her perfect man for twenty-five years.
I'm suspecting she may be a vampire. ;o)

We met at a mutual friend's women's luncheon where pretty much all the women in attendance were married . . . happily for decades.  I was inspired and excited that this was even possible in this day and age. Like-minded women who come together on a regular basis to bond.

Love . . . Indian Style

T  H  E     C  H  A  T     H  I  G  H  L  I  G  H  T  S 
​
On Life's Rough Patches
"Life is just beautiful. It's taken such a nice path...
it's given me a lot of mental strength, even though certain patches were rough I think that gave strength. 
​So I took the strength instead of the negativity from that."

No Children but . . .
"I accept that this is how my life is so I'm going to take it as it's given to me and I think that has made me a really happy person." 

On Getting Outside Your Circle
"I try to read, try to listen to people, see the world and their outlook.
This has changed me quite a bit. I see if you only stay in a circle you only know that, but if you move outside or travel and see the world, the people out there, you learn so much.
There's so much out there which we hardly know. We just know a bit of it."

Her Motto On Caring For Self First
"I take care of myself first. The "inner me" is what I think the beauty for every woman is and we need to take care of that part. If that's taken care of I think the outside beauty comes automatically and I truly believe in that. It's inside first. Working in cardiac rehabilitation, I believe in prevention. Whatever is in store for us, that will be there, whatever God has given us. But our duty is to take care of this body. We need to cherish that first and everything else will just follow.

Her Advice For Women To Be In Relationships Where They Feel Cherished & Appreciated
"First of all any marriage at the beginning needs a lot of work,
understanding, love, care - all that has to be done.

"You just have to stand up for each other's likings or give respect, space. I truly, truly believe in that. If my husband wants to do something I don't discourage him, I say "Please go for it!" 
That way, he has his space and I have my space. I believe that's truly the success of the marriage.
I have not stopped him and then we have our time. There's his time, my time and our time. It can't just be our time, all the time. It's just not possible. I think everybody needs a space where you have to think how do you evolve as a person all along and not be there in the person's face all the time.
I think that's one of the best things I've found in our relationship which has worked just magically.
I tell my husband to "go enjoy and then you can come back and we'll be together. Whatever you want to do, go for it!"  He gives me my space and I give him his space and then we do a lot of things together. We travel a lot, we talk about everything pretty much, our day-today things. That's probably what has kept our marriage going from my end, but if you ask my husband he would probably say a different thing."

On Resolving Conflicts, Confrontations, Confusion
"If there is anything that bothers us, we would talk and settle it right then and there that night and not carry it over and spoil the next day because today is today and tomorrow is tomorrow. If in this moment it didn't work, clarify it and get it over with, like today, not carry it over tomorrow and feel bad for it, argue about it, fight about it, nag about it. I just can't do that."

On The Benefits Of Arranged Marriage
"The difference about our gathering of friends is that it is a group of culturally like-minded
women coming together. The roots of it are important, that's where we all come from, where
the roots are much more stronger. That's probably where we're all coming from. We're all educated. It was an arranged marriage for us, as it was with my parents and grandparents.  
You kind of accept the person completely, there's no choice after all. You have to adjust, forgive...that's what we've been taught. It goes both ways. We all have good men in our life
and that is a blessing. It's all give and take, that's what they taught us.
We are happy with what we have and we try to make what we have  better all the time." 

On Respect, Support & Hardship
"There's a lot of closeness because we are away from home and we like to hang onto each other because it's the only family you've got. When you're away from home you kind of understand the person more because you've gone through hardship a lot more without anybody's support. Because you're away from home the only support you have is your husband, or your wife. So you start building respect for each other over a period of time is what I've found. We've encouraged each other during hardships. We've seen in and out of each other without anybody else being there so I think that creates a very strong bond." 

​Thanks for reading and listening. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 8 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous

s m e l l .
What do you love to smell?

Of all of our senses, smell is the most profound of them all.
A scent can instantly take us back to a moment in time with all of the feelings
and sensations of the experience. Scent can arouse hunger, sensuality, happiness, disdain . . . 
I have a vision of planting a jasmine and lily garden around my house so that
when the wind blows my house will be engulfed in the scent of jasmine and lilies.

As a woman with earthy astrology, scent is that much more profound for me,
so the very first aspect of my morning ritual involves scent.
I even named one of my daughters after a flower I've been enchanted
by from the first moment I smelled it - Jasmine.

MY LUXURIOUS DAILY MORNING RITUAL
I have an oil diffuser scheduled to turn on in the morning just before I normally
awake to diffuse my fragrant, uplifting plant-based oil into the air where I sleep. 
When I awake smelling such a delicious scent in my bedroom I feel
bliss and gratitude for the beauty of the moment. 

Want to integrate this ritual into your daily routine?
1. CHOOSE how you want to feel.
Here are some ideas for you: 
Citrus notes - uplifting
Floral notes- heart opening
Woodsy notes - rejuvenating
Resinous notes - sensual

2. PURCHASE essential oils above fragrance oils. 
The difference is that the fragrance oils are synthetic and man-made chemicals
(which I don't want to breathe in.) Even when the essential oils are "pure" and "natural" the processes and quality of the essential plant-based oil is far-ranging. Because I'm breathing in the molecules I will most definitely be mindful of the fact that it's natural v. synthetic but this is where I feel it's ok to use a less expensive quality oil, as long as it is plant-based.

3. PURCHASE an oil diffuser. They come electric or the ceramic tea lite powered version.
​
PLAN to integrate this ritual into your morning and/or evening.

​Over the years, I've created compositions depending on how I feel or desire to feel.
Need a morning diffuse kit, LET ME KNOW. 
I'll put one together for you.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 7 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

I was just thinking about Kanye West yesterday morning hoping that whatever he's going through that he gets better. Although I've never met the brotha, he IS my HOMEboy because he was raised in "the Chi" by an educator/teacher just like me.

America, a culture which is highly influenced by the all-powerful British monarchy carries a bit of a self-deprecating way of interacting with others. People seem to be really turned off by unapologetic braggards, so when West publicly AFFIRMS himSelf, the public is taken aback and even loathe the audacity of his expression. Not to psychoanalyze the brother, but for those of us who grew up with an engaged/involved father, we most likely received the message that as a girl "you are delightful" and for boys "you have what it takes."  In the documentary "Absent," Justin Hunt explores the effects of the "The Father Wound" which are so profound, it's effected global culture itself. So if your daddy wasn't around to affirm that you indeed have what it takes, then who else will or should other than us?

I actually ADMIRE and am entertained by Kanye's bravado, perceived arrogance and freedom to BE his innovative, creative, artistic self. The key here is "the freedom to BE."

Kanye's personality reminds me of Aries-born Jack Johson (1878-1946), an American boxer during the height of the Jim Crow-era in America who was the first African-American world heavyweight champion. A celebrity athelete, audacious, brazen and unapologetic, Johnson lived life on HIS terms without concern for other people's ideas about how he should live his life. "Johnson constantly flouted conventions regarding the social and economic "place" of blacks in American society"...while breaking taboos in his relationships with white women, sometimes on the young side.

Traveling in one of the most expensive cars of the time (early 1900s), Johnson is famously known for being "pulled over for a $50 speeding ticket, he gave the officer a $100 bill; when the officer protested that he couldn't make change for that much, Johnson told him to keep the change, as he was going to make his return trip at the same speed."

Yes. During the Jim Crow era.

Capricorn-born Muhammad Ali chanted "I am the greatest!" with plenty of the world rolling of their eyes, until now we refer to him as the G.O.A.T.  

Ali's former wife Veronica Porsche said: "He took control of his destiny by making himself accountable with things like this predictions. Where he would say what round and then pretty much live into his future and be more pressured or accountable to do what he said he would do. So he pretty much, I think mastered life in that way."

If we were each to speak of ourselves through the eyes of the Creator that gave us life, how would we speak of our Beloved Selves then?

In our SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES Facebook community, I think I'm going to create a Jack/Ali/Kanye day or even hour of the day (High Noon) called #ShineLikeJackMoment, #ShineLikeAliMoment, #ShineLikeKanyeMoment. Hahahaha!

There's humility and then there's just playing small to make others feel comfortable or because you're afraid of being rejected. Lying about who we REALLY are and living a life other than the one where we feel free to be doesn't serve ANY. BODY. Not a one person.

So SHINE my loves like it's SUNday and if the light's too bright they can put on sunglasses.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 6 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent


Jack Johnson Historical Reference:  Wikipedia and the documentary "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise & Fall of Jack Johnson"

You meet your Beloved. They are supportive, wealthy, adventurous and you feel as if all in the world is possible in their midst. Prior to them entering your life, you'd been solo for awhile, but started to just settle in to what was and simply appreciate everything in your life. You became quite content with the abundant blessings in your life. And then THEY showed up!

YOUR HONEY
In this new chapter of your life, your time together is simply...magic!  Your new mate is generous, attentive, and you're oh so appreciative...

until over time, you become accustomed to the magic as your new normal. So as hueman beings tend to do, we begin to take for granted not only the grand but even the simple blessings that show up in our lives. What you once experienced as magical, miraculous and amazing is now just another day in the life. You stop saying "Thank you, I appreciate you." and over time the support, generosity and adventure that once existed from your Beloved wanes. 

You both get wrapped up in your separate lives, drift apart and now you've got your eye on someone else, looking for some magic. What changed it all? Nothing changed about this person other than your feeling of appreciation, gratitude and thanksgiving for the presence of this person in your life.

YOUR MONEY
I've found that prosperity, wealth and cash flow can be like the Beloved you got bored with. Although, there is so much prosperity in our lives, sometimes we tend to overlook that abundance and begin to think, feel and speak poverty, limitation and scarcity. It is only through the neglect and care of our blessings and improper perception that our wealth wanes and poverty is on our heels like a virus. It's been said, "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." There's a reason for that. 

THE RITUAL OF GRATITUDE
Being in the Spirit of gratitude, appreciation and thanksgiving is being in the Spirit of the Divine. Being in appreciation is instantly being in the vibration, frequency or energy of God (good), the omnipotent, omnipowerful, omniscient. The first thing that I do when I open my eyes every (ok, most) morning is to give thanks for waking up and a litany of things I am grateful for...from my beating heart to my healthy mother to the cash in my purse.

As a metaphysician, I am clear that what I appreciate literally appreciates. The dictionary defines the verb "appreciate" a few ways:

1. recognize the full worth of,
2. understand fully and
3. rise in value or price.

So in essence "when we recognize the full worth of something it rises in value." 

CELEBRATE
your blessings and blissings. Everything big and small. Mama Maya [Angelou] said:
"In EVERYTHING give thanks."  


So at the top of a new week, a new day, a new hour, "What are you loving in your life? 
What is beautiful in your life? What are you saying "THANK YOU. More Please." for?  
Acknowledge it and watch it multiply.

SHARE this note and what you're thankful, grateful or appreciative of and watch the magic, adventure, miracles return to your life like a Beloved that has returned home.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 5 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

Ever experience such flow, beauty and benevolence in your life that you begin to get nervous and feel cautious, even anxious in your heart? ...like you stole something...looking over your shoulder, ready to run for cover in the moment you realize that it was all too good to be true. After all, you've been done so wrong in the past, right?

YOU TUNED OUT THO...
To be fair, your inner voice said "nah, not this one." The red flags were waving but you ignored them because in the moment it felt soooo good. So sometimes yes, that is indeed the case, "it's TOO good to be true."

. . . but you were warned.

REAPING & SOWING
But then there IS a point where you're rewarded for all of the good you've ever done. Like the moon becoming full, like the seeds you planted finally blossoming, like an enterprise that finally turns a profit. Of course, yes, we've all done our dirt and been unkind, but if ESSENTIALLY you've only meant good, intended love then the only thing keeping you from your ultimate reward is YOU. Your THINKING, MINDSET & CONSCIOUSNESS that you don't somehow deserve the good that shows up at your door will stop the flow of blessings to you. 

WHAT WILL YOU BE HAVING?
After all the Universe is an obedient waiter/waitress, standing awaiting your directive, "order"...listening to your consciousness, heart and declarations. The laws YOU create for yourself by simply declaring your view of the world and your life. If you say it's too good to be true when it really wasn't then purely by universal law it has to morph into your directive.  

Conversely if you've done your dirt but on some level still feel you deserve goodness and the beauty of life, the Universe is also listening to that "order" [directive]. That's why sometimes the most dastardly of folks seem to get away with murder. Man may create his court rooms, statutes and ordinances but the ULTIMATE COURT ROOM is Universal Law, the true law which is insoluble. When you violate the laws of nature...of the Universe, you WILL pay a price. Life may not be fair, but it is just. When you follow the laws of the Universe and nature you are rendered the spoils of that also.

HELL YEAH! I DESERVE IT
So I say YES, I DESERVE THE GOOD IN MY LIFE and it's NOT TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE because I'm listening to my inner oracle, I've planted innumerable good cosmic seeds and have handed my life over to the expression of love, power and beauty in the world and those things render only more love, power, beauty and all sort and form of miraculous magic in my life.

If you're having a tough time feeling like you deserve the good that has shown up at your door, grab some paper and pen, then muse on the beauty you've contributed to the world. Give yourself some credit. Remember George Bailey's ephiphany in the film "It's A Wonderful Life?" Imagine that if you'd never been born, how many lives and things in our world would be ENTIRELY different? Every choice each of us makes changes, molds, transforms the ALL.

Yes you ARE that powerful. You never know if your friendly greeting to a stranger passing by gave them the will to go on another day and then perhaps their existence created something in the world that also altered the paths of many others in a profound way. Just like that. One smile.

THE GOODNESS ACCOUNT
In every moment you're building up an account of goodness in the world. Fix your mind and be clear about the good and beauty you contribute to the world. Universal law says that if you are receptive and in alignment with that goodness you will be in awe of the blessings that are waiting to overwhelm you. 

Yes it is good and it IS true.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 3 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

 Last night I had in mind to write about an entirely different topic,
but when I awoke this morning with a little feeling of overwhelm a voice said:

"Go back to the basics."

Did you have a health regimen that worked really well for you and it somehow dropped off?
Ever discover an amazing beauty product and somehow stopped using it?
Do you have a sea of unread books in your library and continue to buy new ones?
A dish that you once loved to eat, but stopped eating?
Have you ever bought something only to realize that you already have it?
...once so ecstatic about this magical new person in your life who you now take for granted?

Why is it that we find something that works for us, love it
and somehow we look up and it's/they've fallen to the wayside?

I'll tell you why.
We're dazzled by the shiny new sh*t
(or perhaps even in some cases the old sh*t that never worked.)

We haven't yet mastered or fully explored to the deepest levels the thing that we found that worked, that we loved, that we were ecstatic about and proselitized it like a new Christian.

Any successful business man, champion athlete or artistic genius knows
to maintain their winning formula with 
F O C U S  &  C O N S I S T E N C Y.

So note what works for you, work it into your ethos,
keep doing it with focus and consistency and try not
​to be so dazzled by all the shiny new sh*t.

That's all.
Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 2 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent