Anti-Virals : What I'm Doing To Build My #SuperHero Immune System
 
I envision you and yours are well.

There is great concern about viruses so although 
I will not allow myself to become alarmed or fearful,
it's always a good idea to have a strong immune system. 
 
Here's what I'm doing: 
 
I've been popping Sweet Wormwood "Artemisia" caps (extract under the tongue is even better), 
spoonfuls of cold-pressed Coconut Oil (anti-viral) which is a good idea daily anyway.
Olive Leaf Extract from Herbal Results is excellent for a variety of things.
Black seed oil is a good anti-viral/anti-bacterial.
 
Healthy doses of sage, basil and oregano are antiviral as well. 
Echinacea (no longer than two weeks.)
 
I prefer extracts (under the tongue) and essential oils (a drop or two) 
where applicable as they are the most concentrated.
 
 Sleep.
 Stay hydrated with Spring Water and/or Coconut Water.
 Sweat. Steam.
 Eat Local, Pesticide/Herbicide-free Green, Leafies.
 Laugh. Be Happy.
 10 min. Cuddling and/or 10 Hugs
 Cleanliness
 
❌ NO WHITE SUGAR: It suppresses our immune systems for six hours.
 
 The greatest protection is: Peace. Have no fear.
 
#DontBelieveTheHype
#NoFear
#5GIsTheRealConcern
#PassportReady?
[TELL ME] What are you doing to keep your immune system strong?

If you're generous, SHARE.
In the Spirit of Superwomen & Goddesses, 

​♡ ☆ ♀
Ms. Akua Auset
Day 63 of 1/12 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous

I envision this post finds you and yours well.
This post is dedicated to our daughters and our grandchildren.
Our eldest daughter grew up eating Jollof, Kele Wele, Egusi and other African dishes out of our kitchen so she rang me the other day to get recipes.  
 
First I'd like to acknowledge my extended Ghanaian family: Araba Ansah (Fante) & Agnes (Ashanti).
These two Ghanaian-born women (one who is of Fante culture and one who is of Asante culture) took me into their kitchens and shared with me how they prepared several Akan dishes. 

At the time, our family was on a primarily plant-based menu eating fish on occasion, so I created veggie and fish versions of the dishes. These recipes are remixed versions of what I was taught.

Akua's Kele Wele (Spicy Plantains) Remix*
*Plantains will need to marinate overnight so plan accordingly.
 
Makes about 4 servings
 4 ripe sweet plantains (1 for each person) (see the photo)

MARINADE 
1 - 2 " piece of ginger root juice or 2 tsp of ground ginger
1 tsp of cayenne or preferred pepper  
1 tsp pink Himalayan Salt 
1 c. coconut milk 

3/4 c. peanut oil (without trans fat)
pink Himalayan Salt

Equipment: bowl for plantains to marinate, skillet

1. CUT
Cut off about 1/2 inch off either end of the plantain.
Then cut the plantain in 1/2 horizontally. (see photos)

2. SLICE
Vertically slice the peel from the top to the middle, then remove the peel.

3. DIAGONALLY SLICE
The plantains in 1/2" diagonal slices (or your choice of shape).

4, MARINATE
Blend: ginger, cayenne pepper, salt and coconut milk  
Place plantains in a deep bowl large enough to allow plantains to be completely covered. 
Pour marinade mixture over plantains. 
Cover the plantains and place in refrigerator overnight.

5. WARM OIL
Warm peanut oil on medium heat in a skillet.
Sprinkle a few drops of water into oil and once it cracks the
temperature of the oil is ready to fry the plantain. 

5. SLOWLY COOK + SALT
Slowly fry the plantains, turning over often until evenly golden brown.
Salt both sides of the plantains to taste.

6. BLOT
Place fried plantains on paper towel or absorbent cotton cloth to blot excess oil.  

"IN"JOY & SHARE!​

Akua's Veggie Jollof Remix
Makes about 10 cups of Jollof
Preparation & Cooking Time: 3 to 4 hours

1/2 c. palm oil
1/2 c. coconut oil
5 large garlic cloves
1 jalapeno
4 large onions (sweet onion, red onion, white onion, spanish onion)
3 scallions
1/2  or 1 TBSP cayenne pepper
4 1/2" ginger root with peel on
12 regular size roma/plum tomatoes
12 oz. tomato paste
5 c. basmati or your preferred rice
32 oz. broth (your preferred: veggie, chicken, beef)
1 1/2 TBSP pink Himalayan Salt


Equipment: Dutch oven, paring knife, Chef's knife, cutting board,
food processor or blender, oven, deep pan or pans, measuring cup 

1
PREPARE BASIC GRAVY
Dice onions, slice jalapeno, cut scallions (white + green)

2
WARM OIL
On low to medium temperature melt palm and coconut oil in Dutch oven. 

3
PLACE IN PROCESSOR OR BLENDER
Place onions, jalapeno, garlic, scallions and blend too mush. 
You may need to do in three batches to fit them all in. 

4
TRANSFER VEGGIES
Transfer blended/processed veggies into the Dutch oven with the oil. 
5
ADD
1/2 TBSP (for mild heat) cayenne pepper (1 TBSP for medium heat) to the basic gravy in the Dutch oven.

6
2nd BLEND/PROCESS
Process the ginger root to a pulp, then process tomatoes to a pulp
or blend tomatoes and tomatoes to a pulp.

7
ADD
ginger and tomato pulp to the basic gravy in Dutch oven. 

8
ADD
12 oz of tomato paste to basic gravy in Dutch oven. 

9
SIMMER
on medium heat consistently stirring until moisture evaporates (45 to 60 minutes).

10
PREHEAT
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. It will take about 8 minutes.

11
ADD
5 cups of rice to one large deep pan or 2 1/2 c. of rice to two smaller deep pans.

12
ADD
32 oz of broth to 5 c. of rice in the pan or
16 oz. of broth to 2 1/2 c. of rice in the two pans.

13
ADD
3 TBSP to 5 c. rice or 1 1/2 TBSP of pink Himalayan Salt to 2 1/2 c. of rice.

14
ADD
All of the basic gravy to the 5 c. of rice or 1 quart plus 8 oz
of the basic gravy to each of the 2 1/2 c. rice pans. 
 
15
STIR
the rice, broth and basic gravy thoroughly until every grain of rice is saturated with the gravy.

16
COVER
the plan snuggly with aluminum foil.

17
OVEN
Place the pan or pans into the oven checking on rice at 30, 45, 60 minutes and finally another 15 minutes. 

EAT, SHARE & BE HAPPY

No matter how awesome or awful our childhood was, I would venture to say that each one of us has healing and wounds to tend to. Hurt and wounds interacting with the hurt and wounds of others create more hurt and wounds for all of those that come in contact with you intimately so it's up to each one of us to be responsible for our own Healing, Discernment and Boundaries. If we don't make the proper self-love and care choices for ourselves and our family it carries generational implications.
 
As a woman the more I mature, the more tools I have acquired to discern if the man that stands before me is a Protector, Provider, Adorer or a User, Abuser, Predator. It is a matter of life and death for our girls and sisters to learn the difference and choose properly. I'd like to offer a few resources and tools for you to explore. 

1. There's a personal series that I did several years ago on YouTube called: Letting Go Of Insecurity: 21-Day Experience. If you are currently dealing with a domestic violence situation or are healing from having experienced such, I am happy to share this course with you for a donation instead of the $199.95 that we normally have it available for. 

2. Is He Healthy? Chapter 5 of Man Leads . . . Woman Follows. Everyone Wins by Ro Elori Cutno. This chapter will give you a list of the fifteen things to look for in a male/man to see if he will be a suitable husband. For men it will give you a list of eight things to look for in a female/woman to see if she will be a suitable wife. 

3. SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic Book by Akua Auset
    " Reading this book Superwomen & Goddesses is saving my life right now!"

"If you were to split open my imagination what would come out of it?" 
- Taylor Swift

I hope this post finds you and yours well. I wanted to share this with you.
Whether you're reading this post independently of our ONE day "Nine 4 Nine" challenge or this is the day after your participation in the challenge, this post will be of great value to you if you require a bit of guidance when it comes to meditation.

When I was about twenty-years I met a beautiful Creole woman who introduced me to tarot cards and the world of the mystic. She continuously advised that I needed to meditate. At that time for me meditation was just sitting and having no thoughts. For someone like me with such an active mind  (Virgo Sun, Aquarius Rising), to this day I have not yet mastered sitting with no thought.

However I do achieve a state of meditation/trance/receptivity the first moments after awaking, as well as through different activities like yoga, cleaning, riding my bike. Meditation is the consciousness between [medi = middle] sleeping and being awake. I find that when I am doing a repetitive activity I can induce myself into that space. I'd like to share with you a guided meditation remix I created this morning for checking off this one of nine habits for the day.

Guided meditations have always been a favorite of mine ever since I joined a meditation group one evening (1998) in Toluca Lake, CA where the facilitator mentally guided through forests then down a group of stairs deep down into the Earth. I'll never forget how magical it felt to ignite my imagination in this way. The guided mediation is a simple 5-min Magic & Miracles Meditation with the goal of developing your imagination.

1. DOWNLOAD   2. PUT ON HEADPHONES    3.  MEDITATE

​Please SHARE in the comments below your meditation habit or practice.
​
Congratulations on reading and listening. 
If you're generous, SHARE.
In the Spirit of Superwomen & Goddesses, 

​♡ ☆ ♀
Ms. Akua Auset

Day 48 of 1/12 Moons 
Last Quarter Moon

"I have reached for the stars and caught some." 
- Belinda Cusic RN, MS, ND

N I N E  4  N I N E
I hope this post finds you and yours well. I wanted to share this with you.

M E D I T A T I O N
5 min.

W A T E R 
1/2 your body's weight in ounces

T E A 
3 cups

M O V E  +  M U S I C  M O T I V A T I O N 
6 songs

L A U G H 
7 min.

C O L O R S  O N  Y O U R   P L A T E 
4

R E A D  |  S L E E P 
9 pages  +  6 - 8 hrs.

Want to win all day?
This is a slight variation on my daily ritual flow, but on the days that I perform
each one of these activities, at the end of the day I feel like I won the day. 
I rest better, I feel more certain, alive and happy. 

Having proclaimed this the Year of The Royal UPGRADE, creating these habits provide an air of winning in my life. And what I observed and learned from working with basketball legend Michael Jordan for over twenty years is that every win feeds your confidence on to the next and the next and the next - 
then you have created a CULTURE OF WINNING in your life.

Can you?
Will you?
JOIN ME tomorrow for JUST ONE DAY of these 9 habits?
🌸

[COMMENT BELOW] 
1. Yes I will. 
2. No I won't.
3. Offer a counter offer.

Simply right click DOWNLOAD + PRINT + POST the image above.
 
Congratulations on reading. 
If you're generous, SHARE.
In the Spirit of Superwomen & Goddesses, 

​♡ ☆ ♀
Ms. Akua Auset

🐝
It's been awhile since we've connected and I wanted to check on you and
make sure you're tending to your Self?
🌸   
I declared 2020 as The Year of The Royal UPGRADE.
It means next leveling EVERY aspect of my life and my Self in the next 366 days (yes it's a Leap Year).
As I write this, we're 43 days in.
👑 
If YOU were to "royal upgrade" your life what would that look like?
I really would like to know.   What would a "royal upgrade" look like in YOUR life Lovely?

 Congratulations on reading. 
If you're generous, SHARE.
In the Spirit of Superwomen & Goddesses, 

​♡ ☆ ♀
Ms. Akua Auset

​Day 23 of 10/12 Moons 
Last Quarter Moon

It's been seven (7), yes SEVEN months since I last posted a note in this "mostly" daily notebook and oddly enough the last note was on a Last Quarter Moon like today as well as Day 23 of the current moon phase. Interesting. EXACTLY seven months. Signs & Symbols abound. 

Well the reason for the pause was BLESSINGS GALORE.
It turns out that our daily rituals, protocols and practices manifested blessings that overwhelmed my ability to maintain this "mostly" daily practice. I got a new house, a new car . . . well "new" to ME. I've been preparing an environment to host our community as well as supporting my fellow entrepreneur friends in the launching of their dreams because "No burden is heavy when everyone lifts." 

Did I catch you at AfroPunk in Brooklyn this summer at Fanta Celah's Healing Crystal Jewelry booth?
Did I run into you at Majani Vegan Restaurant in Chicago's South Shore community on a Wednesday or Thursday?

I am surrounded by friends who have become millionaires, global superstars, renowned healers, so in 2018 as a community, we'll be focused on CULTIVATING WEALTH & GENIUS. Self-Reliance as a family and community has never been more relevant than in these times. 

This Saturday at 11:11 AM/PM on 11.11 we'll declare "The Oath of Manifestation" as a kick-off for our Annual Winter Solstice Observance (since 2012). November (11) the 11th is the most auspicious time to declare your "resolutions," because by the time New Year's Day arrives it's rather . . .  "late and loud."

Join us TOMORROW Saturday, 11 November (11.11) at 11:11 AM Central LIVE on our Facebook event page/YouTube channel as we begin a new cycle of prosperity for 2018 and beyond. SET YOUR ALERT for your time zone.

CLICK THIS LINK to Sign-Up for a copy of "The Oath of Manifestation" and #2017WinterSol updates. 

Thank you for reading. I missed you.
​If you feel generous, SHARE.

​♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

For where two or three gather in my name,
there am I with them."
Matthew 18:20
NIV

PICK UP YOUR WAND
Profound levels of manifestation can occur when you partner with your twin, Si"star" Moon. Observing the moon phases within and without (in the sky and in your womb) is utilizing a super power of manifestation. Doing this incorporates at least two universal laws: The Law of Correspondence (above and below) and The Law of Rhythm (cycles). It's like an heir not cashing the check, forfeiting their inheritance. Females have been given a great gift for creating and manifesting in the world. Cash the check sis!

JOIN US
Here's my Last Quarter Moon Ritual I'm facilitating with my SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES Facebook Community today at 11:11 am and/or pm (your time zone). Set your phone alert for 10:59 and rendezvous with your si"stars."

​Thank you for reading. If you feel generous, SHARE.

​♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 23 of 3/12 Moons 
Last Quarter Moon

Whew! Sharing daily notes on my personal culture of beauty "mostly daily" has been a challenge lately. Mama's been busy, productive and whirling all sort and form of power and magic offline.  

NEW MOON
The third New Moon of 2017 is tonight at 9:57 PM Central Standard Time in the sign of Aries and we're still in a Venus Retrograde. This is the "purrr"fect time to get clear on who we are and how we express love and beauty in our lives and in the world. This is an auspicious time to tap into your Divine Voice and declare your intention for manifestation for the next twenty-eight moon cycle.

ARIES = "I AM"
Aries energy is all about the expression of ''I AM" energy so beautifully exemplified by Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin. The freedom of being, doing, and having whatever the *%*# you desire and giving zero flips about what others think about it. On Planet Aries "Everything is possible." The true superwoman energy.

INVITATION: TONIGHT WITH ME
Take advantage of this profound opportunity to manifest M & Ms (magic and miracles) with a New Moon Ritual. This evening our SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES Facebook Community will engage in a "Manifesting Magic & Miracles" SHIMMY CIRCLE at 9 PM Central.

In preparation for our session I'm going to give you a bit of a hook-up.

"NO BURDEN IS HEAVY WHEN EVERYONE LIFTS."
Since the beginning of 2017, I guide a secret community of women who are the rebels, mavericks, creators, and humanitarians of our society to manifest their goals and visions in the area of beauty, health . . . LIFE! Ever wish someone would ask you about that goal you made to make sure you got it done? Well, we do that with a lot of other goodies, like impromptu oracle readings, monthly beauty dossiers, etc.

So, we're on the tail-end of a month-long "Loving My Beautiful Bodacious Body" series in which members have gotten twelve out of sixteen tutorials about how to integrate beauty movement rituals in their day-to-day. Moving your body takes energy and produces energy. Energy begets energy. If you've had stagnation in your cash, love and creativity flow then perhaps it's time to "Shake Your Honey Pot" beautiful. From your pocketbook (both of them) to your magnetism (Ms. Honey Pot drawin' in those bees) this tutorial, if done as intended will attract cash your way and lubricate your ability to manifest the desires of your heart.
​100% Guarantee.

Let's put it to the test.
This North African dance move commonly referred to as  "Belly Dance" is beneficial for your "lady parts," "yoniverse," "celestial garden" and every term that refers to your female reproductive system. With regular (a day or two a week) belly dancing you'll not only ease discomfort and the length of days on your menstrual "moon" time, but also amplify your magnetism. 

How do you say "bees to honey?" Yup! You'll be stirring up that feminine sweetness within. 
Make sure to hydrate after your session because if you do it right, you will break a bit of a sweat.  This is a private video. The password is: shimmy
​IN joy!

​So come on and work that power and magic like the Child of Possibility, Aries. Don't be stingy with the SHINE. The Universe and Heavens are ours. What are you manifesting in this moon cycle?
​
Thank you for reading. If you feel generous, SHARE.

​♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 30 of 2/12 Moons 
Waning Crescent

It's been a very busy and productive week over here at the A U S E T headquarters but I had to stop to address a question that was posted in our SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES Facebook Community. It is as follows . . . 

BRENDA: Ask. 

AKUA: I'm not sure I've reached mastery, but I do know it's a dance. Tango dancing is a great illustration of this concept. Having the Spirit of vulnerability and surrender = femininity. Femininity calls forth the masculine in a masculine man, which is more rare than you would think.

SAMANTHA: I really don't understand what this means. What exactly is the spirit of vulnerability?

I have a feeling that Lynn and Samantha's questions are questions that many, many, many women have. They are great questions, important questions. The world and our culture doesn't seem to be a safe place for the Spirit of vulnerability to be expressed. Just months from the largest women's march in history, we're in a climate where the passing patriarchal era of consciousness is bumping heads with a more feminine and integrated era of consciousness. Our grandmothers, mothers, and daughters have very different experiences in the dance of the feminine/masculine dynamic; within themselves first, let alone interaction with their male counterparts. With slogans like, "The Future Is Female." we've got to be careful not to just replace male-expressed supremacy with a semblance of the same supremacy by females, because it still doesn't represent integration or balance. That's a whole 'nother topic so let's continue with this one.

When I think of vulnerability I think of the most magnetic and endearing beings on the planet: babies. Baby mammals of all kinds. My mother's heart-warming and beloved furry baby i.e. dog Lola for instance has no shame in how she expresses her desire for attention, affection, or any need she may have. She will roll over on her back with legs WIDE open, belly exposed and look you dead in your eye waiting to be rubbed. There's not one bit of coyness or passive-aggressiveness. She is clear about what she wants from you. It makes sense that people create deep connection, intimacy and loyalty with their pets.

Southern California, home of the oh-so-isolating Hollywood, a not so vulnerable-friendly town is also a big dog town. When I lived in Venice Beach, California, I'm pretty certain one out of every three people had a furry baby. 

When I think of vulnerability, I think of children who are quick to display their feelings, ask for what they desire up front and to quickly move on from hurt once the moment is over. Could it be that those who are the most "susceptible to harm" are the most endearing? Small, delicate, fragile, open. Look at the puppy and kitten sleeping above. Anything could happen to them and yet they sleep so peacefully. Vulnerable is defined as: "susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm." 

When we interface with another in relationship we are susceptible to physical, emotional, financial, etc. attack, harm, rejection and ruin. Scary stuff for most of us. 

I recently took an IQ test and noticed that a great deal of the questions had to do with seeing patterns. I've recognized a bit of a pattern with how easy it is for certain sun/moon signs to be vulnerable while others have a very difficult time with it. 

Quadraplicities are groups of four by mode of zodiac influence when one feels stimuli or somehow put under tension. It's how they get their elemental (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual) needs satisfied. Those groups are as follows: 

Fixed
Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus
resistant, unchanging, steadfast, determined, self-reliant, stubborn, passive-aggressive. 

​Cardinal
Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn 
initiator, enterprise, active, quick, ambitious, driven, domineering, sets the tone, dynamic

Mutable 
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
adaptable, assimilating, go with the flow, chameleon, flexibility, resourceful, diplomatic 
----
Each characteristic can be beneficial as well as self-defeating depending upon how the mode is implemented or expressed. It would take a professor of social work born under the sign of Scorpio to teach on the topic "The POWER of Vulnerability," in her famous TED talk. Born 18 November, Brene Brown became a household name through her alliance with Oprah on the subject of vulnerability. Scorpio, the most unlikely to be vulnerable. It's funny how we teach what we seek to master, as the way of the fixed Scorpio is not that of being vulnerable but of being in control, unreceptive and resistant. 

So, what is the answer to Lynn's question of "how to be soft while fierce at the same time?"
First things first, any and everyone doesn't deserve your vulnerability. It's a casting pearls before swine type of thing. We wouldn't leave our precious children or puppies around anyone who's questionable. Once you've determined that it's a safe environment, open yourself up to the dance of giving and receiving. A dance that ignites a spark, connection and intimacy that creates something electric. Give yourself over to an openness and honesty that is bigger than your learned political, manipulative agenda - be unrefined, like a child before it learns to alter his/her essential Self to get a predetermined outcome.
Open your heart, expose your belly, be wide open and willing to be
susceptible to the thing that you fear.
Be vulnerable. 

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE VULNERABLE TODAY?

Thank you for reading. If you feel generous, SHARE.

​♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 20 of 2/12 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

Someone said that there are Seven Wonders Of The World, well me and Stevie (Wonder that is who sang "Ebony Eyes") don't agree. Every single baby girl is born a "Wonder Of The World" . . . until the world tells her otherwise.  

Today International Women's Day is observed around the world. Over a hundred years ago, it began as an outcry for women being treated like second-class citizens. The mission of this observance is defined as "the struggle for women's rights."

I believe that my mouth speaks things into existence so perhaps it's time to let go of "The Struggle" for anything. We see a hundred years later from the inception, struggling for anything leads to more struggle. It just doesn't work metaphysically speaking. I say that we speak of and into the Victory that this world works for EVERYone. And that work begins in our hearts, our consciousness and then shows up in our own relationships and households.

My feeling is that babies, girls or boys, aren't born with a drive to oppress, exploit and abuse. "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation." Mothers have a responsibility to raise sons that honor, protect and provide for women and children.

The day will come that women under, over and "inner"stand that allowing your sons to take on oppressive, exploitive, abusive and supremacist ideologies based on differences, that those same sons will grow to oppress, exploit, abuse and stand over in superiority to you and your daughters. It's time for women once and for all to be concerned not only with the "me" but with the "we"; no matter how different your sister looks, prays and expresses her feminine power. It's always been about the "we."  When can take clues from nature in that when we share energetic space our menstrual rhythm syncs with each other. 

The boys and men are watching us.
We teach our men and sons how to treat us as they are watching how our relationships with each other women express and unfold. So:

Mothers (that includes Aunties because they're all our daughters) cultivate and encourage the beauty, magic, power and majesty of your daughters.

Daughters (and nieces because they're all our mothers) honor, respect and give tribute to your mothers, for without her you wouldn't BE.

Sisters, desire more for your sister than you would desire for yourself because one day you may need her to pull you up or along. 

So I'll say again, it's up to us to tap into our divine and feminine power because after all we birthed those that oppress us. We see that when we teach our sons to oppress, exploit and abuse others based on differences, we cultivate a world in which you yourself are oppressed, exploited and abused. Your zenophobic seeds will harvest and that chicken will come home to roost.

If we desire first-class treatment, it begins with how we treat ourselves, our si"stars" and all those souls who come to this planet that happen to be different from us. 

I'm very optimistic we are upon a Golden Age of Consciousnes and the circle of huemanity will again become complete. It's simple. The solution is at hand. We struggle no more. We now flow. 

Happy International Women's Day to my fellow Wonders of The World.

Please SHARE this message. Please LIVE this message. 
Thank you for reading. 

​♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 11 of 2/12 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous

Normally I speak of possibility and maintain a worldview of "YES."  My daily commitment is to focus on gratitude, appreciation, abundance and plenty of this life. Based on what I have observed in my time in this physical realm, I find a few things worrisome to the ultimate vision that this world works for "every One." I can't help but to perceive an agenda underneath the propaganda in which we are bombarded with. The last few days I have been turning the following questions over in my head:

What if .  .  .
The resources on planet Earth were not enough to sustain the entire "consuming" population?

What if . . . 
It was determined that the Earth's "consuming" population needed to be reduced so that its resources would not be depleted?

​What if . . . 
The dominating global superpower concocted a plan to reduce the "consuming" population of the Earth?

How would that be determined?
What would be the determining factors for one's annihilation or survival in this effort?
Who would be the most favorable individuals to remain on Planet Earth?
Who would be the least desirable individuals to remain on Planet Earth?

Have you ever asked yourself:

"Why am I valuable?" 

"Do I add value?"

"What do I produce?"

"Does my existence add or take away from the lives of others?"

"Am I primarily a producer or a consumer?"

"Am I primarily a giver or taker?"

Yes, it's the era of all sort and form of slayage and fleekdom, but at the end of the day are you necessary? 

Thank you for reading.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 9 of 2/12 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous

"Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up."
Galatians 6:9

​
​Apparently the richest and most influential people on the planet are in the
business of war, drugs and sex trafficking using any means necessary.

​Let Us Not Become Weary While Doing Good
Somehow our gifts, talents, abilities, life's work, purpose and/or calling are
the things that bring us alive, put us in the flow, the zone, vibes us up . . .
If you're truly occupying your day with the things that invigorate, exhilarate,
and refresh you then it's a wise deduction that you'll never tire of it.

The goodness in you must be expressed, it cannot be denied.
If you keep focusing on the LOVE for what you do then the
results and rewards become a non-issue.

For At The Proper Time We Will Reap A Harvest
As one who is certified in Urban Sustainable Horticulture as well as coming
from a family of farmers and gardeners, on a DNA level I'm clear that 
manifestation, birthing, and sowing a harvest has a natural rhythm and cycle.

MAKE sure the seed is viable.
ANALYZE the soil for suitability to seed.
​TILL the soil.
PLANT the seed at the appropriate time and environment.
WATER the seed and soil.
FEED the seed and soil.
EXPOSE the seed to light.
PRUNE i.e. get rid of any weeds.
REAP your harvest when the time is right.

If We Do Not Give Up
So as you see there are proper steps to the sowing of a harvest.  
There is also a proper cycle to this process.
If you give up or quit before the process is complete,
no matter how long it takes you will not bring to life the very thing you've been called to do.
And if it was an IN-SPIRED (Spirit) action then it's your responsibility to see it through. 

I know it seems that the rich get richer, the bad people get away with murder
and the good guy/girl never wins but . . .
this isn't always true.

Be encouraged that if you utilize the laws of the Universe to manifest, the Universe has no judgment. If you follow the recipe to a "T" you get what you set out to get. It's like baking a cake, if you follow a great recipe, you'll get a great cake. It doesn't matter if you're an evil "arsehole" or a holy saint. You must follow the directions.

If we desire to cross the finish line and experience the
desires of our hearts we must follow the rhythm and cycle of harvesting.

It's time to get your hands "dirty" so get to it. 

​Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 5 of 2/12 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

​Be careful and clear about what you ask for. I declared 2017 as a year of M & Ms. That is Magic & Miracles. No matter how often I experience magic and miracles I don't think it will ever get old or lose it's "wow" value.

Today I'm going to share a story about a rose quartz crystal and intention and how my irregular heartbeat became regular.



ISRAEL
​In the founding story of Israel, the author of the book of Exodus in the "Holy" Bible writes about the precise and mindful construction of priestly garments using "precious stones." I like to call "the precious stones" crystals.

INDIGENOUS AMERICA
My Cherokee ancestors honored the power and energy of the "Stone People," knowing the wisdom, knowing and gifts of these ancient formations. In the ritual of Sweat Lodge, stones are placed on fire and heated for hours. At the proper time the "Stone People" are introduced and honored within the Sweat Lodge then doused with water. In partnership with "The Stone People, the steam rises and encompasses the enclosed "lodge." We energetically release and cleanse ourselves. 

EARTH'S TREASURES
Minerals, stones and meteorites that have formed over time inside the Earth embody gifts, talents and abilities like people. These are products of stardust that formed our Solar System billions of years ago. Imagine that the intelligence of these ancient "precious stones" have a story to tell, wisdom to share, metaphysical and healing powers to deliver.

ROSE QUARTZ
About thirty years ago, I designed a wedding dress for a friend of mine who was marrying a Native American man. I used rose quartz as part of the Aztec design knowing that the energy of the the beads carried the energy of love. Rose quartz has been part of my life for awhile so the other night when I was over-exposed to the EMFs from my computer, tablet, cell phone, I was feeling a bit loopy, high-strung and noticed a bit of heart palpitation as I laid my body down to rest. 

Years ago when I first acquired my stethoscope I listened to my heartbeat and detected a slight irregular beat and grew accustomed to it just being that way. I just figured it illustrated that I truly walk to beat of my own drum.

Well a couple evenings ago, the heart palpitations were a bit worrisome so I closed my eyes, relaxed my body and began deep-controlled breathing. My inner oracle said, "listen to your heart." So I grabbed my stethoscope and began to listen to my heartbeat. Then she said, "hold the rose quartz to your heart." I did and as I held this crystal in my left hand (feminine and receptive) giving thanks for it's gifts that it was sharing with me. For about five minutes I just breathed, held the crystal  and listened to my heartbeat until it began to beat regularly. I was amazed that it not only happened, but in such a short amount of time.  Something told me to Google "rose quartz, irregular heartbeat." Low and behold it was revealed that rose quartz is actually used for regulating an irregular heartbeat. This was just confirmation again to LISTEN. Listen to your inner oracle. Like these precious stones, our relation, there are eons of wisdom within us, if we'd only LISTEN

It's been five days, this morning I checked and my heartbeat is still beating "regular." 

Do you have rose quartz in your crystal collection?
This is one of the essential crystals to have in your beauty medicine bag.
To order a rose quartz CLICK HERE.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 3 of 2/12 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

. :  s u p e r w o m a n g o d d e s s    s t y l e  : .
​
Speak your genius superwomangoddess, because what you
have to say is important. When they listen closely, watching
every word come out of those beautiful lips make sure:

1. You stay HYDRATED so your lips remain smooth and supple.

2. EXFOLIATE the ridges of your lips so lip color doesn't feather.

3. To use a LIP BRUSH when wearing high-contrast hues for a perfectly shaped pucker, 

4. To BUILD up color layer by layer.

5. To make an "O" with your lips, then take your index finger
and twist inside the "O" to capture color on the inner
lips so you don't end up with lip color on your teeth.

6. Say a PRAYER: "May my lips speak words that heal and inspire."

7. Leave your love "MARK" on your favorite sweetheart.

On Bianca's Lips: Untitled Red by A U S E T : B E A U T Y
edible. lead-free. pristine.

#ausetbeauty
#iAmHer360

How many relationships have been destroyed or never initiated by the lack of communication?
Parents? Sisters? Brothers? Children? Girlfriends? Boyfriends? Mates? Mentors? Bosses? Employees? Business Partners?

Communication is the gateway to all of the most beautiful things in life. We occupy our time on enhancing our looks, our homes, our education, our financial picture but if you don't know how to communicate with people one-on-one, all those things are pretty meaningless because nobody will want to be around ["yo' *ss"]. LOL. (I literally laughed out loud.)

LOVE DORSEY
Which brings me to my next statement: LOVE DORSEY.
She's everything I never wanted to be: loud, hood, potty mouth.
Well? I kinda love her because she speaks the truth and I respect that. 

Being someone who is from Kentucky, raised on the southside of Chicago as well as the suburbs and lived all over Los Angeles as an adult, I have a bit of a love affair with the "hood." Some of my favorite aunties have the heart of "Cookie," brotha friends that have the enterprising spirit of Jay-Z and then some are actual real-life superstars. The thing I love the most about the "hood" is the REALNESS: unrefined, unvarnished, RAW.  
Yup! I like a little hood with my boujee boho. 

I discovered this young woman on Facebook. Someone posted a video about leveling up your friendships which when I first watched it had about a 200K views and at the time of writing this it's over a million views. So apparently the si"star" resonates with many of us. 

Last night I listened to an hour-long "rant" about COMMUNICATION entitled "Majority of conflicts are caused by . . ." [I'm not able to link the original video so search for her on Facebook]. She has a Youtube channel but this one isn't there.]

She goes on to talk about key elements in conflicts caused by poor communication with friends, mates, children and at work.

Key Points:

• Don't ASSume someone knows what you're saying, thinking, doing, etc. 
• ASSuming someone already knows what you want, who you are, etc.
• Be PRESENT and LISTEN instead of waiting to say what you have to say
• LISTEN for understanding
• SPEAK to be understood
• Don't ASSume people know when you're upset
• Don't ASSume people are thinking about what you have to do
• "Open Your Brain. Slow Your Thoughts. Then Communicate."
• ASK QUESTIONS and Seek to understand before things pile up
• DISCUSS things in private, one-on-one.
• DEAL with children at their age level
• PAY ATTENTION to your children. They are communicating even if they don't speak.
• Don't offend people you need in your life. 
• Be blunt and get to the bottom of it. 
• LEARN about your self and get in touch with your feelings.

Brilliant. Right?

A closed mouth doesn't get fed.
Very few people can actually read your mind.
Just learn yourself, speak your truth with your heart, seek to be understood while you seek to understand.

My friend Nadia Khalil and one of our master teachers on the 2012: Love & Beauty Journey reminds us that Love is Truth. When you speak and live in truth love is present and possible. Yes that can be scary when you are attached to people, situations, etc. That brings us to another topic: VULNERABILITY. The freedom to be, express, live with "Zero Fs." Very much like the freedom of children.

Communicating what's truth for you with vulnerability is what creates intimacy and connection. There's no way around it. It just resonates. 

So stop being fake. Stop ASSuming. Because assuming makes an ASS out of U and ME. 
Just Ask. Tell. Request.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 27 of 1/12 Moons 
Waning Crescent

I don't know about you but I don't like to cook in a dirty kitchen or create art in a messy studio. There's something about an environment of order and simplicity that elevates and invites in creative expression. I'm going to share with you how I invite my genius, muse, whisper of the Divine in for a rendezvous.

This morning I awoke with the voice again. My creative genius within. 
My genie.
My muse.

It had been quiet for awhile . . .
Oprah describes them as whispers. It's true. It feels like that. It's like you're hearing a voice from a headset while you're on stage performing.  A great deal of creative people like painters and musicians rely on drugs to tap in to this other world. It's not the only way to rendezvous with The Muse. Earth, Wind & Fire proved this by living a clean eating, holistic lifestyle. I often say if people breathed, did yoga and ate properly why on Earth would you need to do drugs to get that feeling of ascension?

During the Winter Solstice I was rendezvousing with my creative genius throughout the day. The whispers were rampant. About a month ago or more, a knee injury kept me from moving my body and training for a dance competition that's been in the works for awhile. And for whatever reason, lately I've been eating junk food; granted mixed in with my high-vibe foods but eating garbage none-the-less. I've noticed the rendezvous with the whispers have been scarce ever since.

I'm very sensitive so I can tell when a food is high vibe quality or toxic and insane.  I feel it's effects in my body, in my head. Unfortunately, some of my favorite foods are not beneficial but toxic to my body, like an allergy. Depending on what's happening in my life I'll eat those "offensive-to-my-body" food, or shall I say "Lola Yum Yum" eats them anyway. That's why I have no judgment of alcoholics or any other substance abuser because if I eat a donut knowing what it's going to do to me what's the difference really?

So Sunday evening I stopped this road to nowhere in its tracks. I got tired of feeling sluggish, emotional in ways that was unproductive and just not good in my body. It's been three days of clearing out while feeling bad, but this morning I could tell that my genie is back. Maybe it didn't go anywhere, perhaps the voice was just muffled by all the nonsense inhabiting space. Yup, The Voice was just drowned out by uncouth visitors.

Everything is energy. Never created nor destroyed just transferred, transformed and transmuted. The spirit, intention and vibe that our food is created with accompanies it's flavor, texture, and nutrition. Ever wonder the essence of a Cheeto?

Cheetos? I know, I know better but then what we eat isn't always logical is it? 
Sometimes in this big world the little girl who grew up without a daddy within feels vulnerable and foods from her childhood make her feel comforted. 

Turns out genies don't like dirty kitchens. If you desire that muse, genius, whisper of the Divine to speak clearly, concisely and with resonance to you: clean out, clear out, and vibe up!

The New Moon is in a few days and Spring is coming this way within the month.
I have an intimate community of women who are preparing for a Spring Beauty Detox & Cleaning kick-off this weekend. I'll be showing you how to discover your personal holy hour of creativity. Would you like to join us?

​CLICK TO EMAIL ME

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 26 of 1/12 Moons 
Waning Crescent

F R E E D O M  •  P E R S P E C T I V E  •  P O W E R  •  D E S T I N Y  •  M O V E M E N T 

Have you ever had a dream where you're trying to run but
your legs felt so heavy you couldn't move?

Have you been feeling sluggish lately?
Do you feel disorganized, overwhelmed in confusion?
Has discouragement replaced your passion and motivation
for something you once were excited about?

Are you feeling like you desire more but there's so
much stuff preventing you from moving forward?
Where to start?

What if the plane you boarded had no weight restriction?
Would you feel comfortable flying across the country at thirty thousand feet in the air?

How can you soar like an eagle when you're weighed down with unnecessary stuff?
If you're ready to soar and live, it's time to lighten your load. 
If it's not contributing to the quality of your flight, get rid of it.
NOW.

This is the most beneficial time to do a bit of releasing as we're in the Last Quarter of the Moon (18 Feb to 25 Feb.). Let go and cleanse what is no longer contributing quality to your life. 

In the midst of feeling sluggish, disorganized, overwhelmed . . . where to begin?
Begin with the basics. Look at what is no longer contributing to you
spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically?

Scour your life and look to release, let go and cleanse
what is weighing you down unnecessarily.

Look at every relationship, your body and it's organ systems
(digestive, lymphatic, liver, blood, etc. ),  your physical environment
(home [bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, etc.] , office, car),
your clients, work projects, organizations, debts, etc. 

The second New Moon of 2017 will be 26 February and the perfect time to create anew.
If it's not contributing quality to your life, give thanks for what
​it's provided in the past and let that "shite" go. NOW.

How else will you get unstock, feel light as a feather and be able to soar at the speed of light?
You've got to clean it up, clear it out, let that "shite" go!

IN THE WOMB
​As hueman beings, we developed and formed in our mother's "waters" so returning to the waters daily to cleanse and restore is a powerful ritual that leaves you feeling reborn every time. There's an actual scientific process that occurs when you immerse yourself in water. During the day being exposed to positive ions through contact with EMFs (electromagnetic frequency) like computers, wi-fi, electronics we build up positive ions and once immersed in water those ions are neutralized. 

BATHED IN LOVE
You can take the restorative practice of bathing a step further by imbuing your bathing water with intention. You can keep it as simple as you'd like or go full board. The New Moon and Full Moon phase of the moon makes this ritual even more effective.

​BASIC LOVE BATH RITUAL
You'll need:

A BATHTUB
SAGE WAND or DRAGON'S BLOOD RESIN

​BODY SCRUB 
sugar, salt, or pre-made

WATER 
warm and filtered (get a shower filter and fill your tub with the shower head.
It's softening to the skin.)
​
SALT
coarse sea salt (also softening to the skin)
be careful if you have open wounds or irritated skin, it will burn
​
CRYSTALS: ROSE QUARTZ, RHODONITE, QUARTZ
(one or all)

ESSENTIAL OILS
Rose, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine
(one or all)

BODY OIL, BUTTER, BALM, LOTION
Holy Butter™

S O C I A L   M E D I A   C O M M E N T A R Y

"Oshun. Bey. I got my life."
•
                        "Everyone can go home now​ because Beyoncé just slayed the 2017 Grammys."
•
"Divine Beyoncé performing while expecting twins, beautiful tribute to women/mothers!"
•
"WTF? Although I didn't expect anything less from the high priestess of the illuminati!"
•
"Beyoncé is a woman in touch with her African ancestry. I love how she channeled the orishas Osun and Ibeji in her performance. There is nothing satanic, demonic or illuminati about this."
•
"As if she couldn't be more annoying  . . . making profit out of her pregnancy.
Next a video with her umbilical cord?"
•
"So..am I the only Lucumi/Ifa practitioner that is not impressed by Beyoncé's recent Oshun
representations? I feel that her displays support the simplification of Oshun and disregard her many beautiful and complex layers."
•

E M O T I O N
We are emotional beings.
Even with being presented rock-solid facts, clear-cut logic, our emotions will often be the final word on a choice to be made. So what touches our emotions? 

Images, Music, Words, Scents, Touch, Taste. 
Experiences through our senses activate our emotions. 
I spoke about messages and programming being slipped in through our trance state in SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic Book One. That's why it's important that we always stand guard of our minds and the things we consume. 

In 2002, when I began production of the yet-released documentary film "Searchin' For M'Sistahz" there was no mantra or hashtag of #blackgirlmagic.

When I set pen to paper to write SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic Book One in 2005 beginning with the piece "Can A Sista Get At Least 50 Cent?" the talk about goddess or superwoman anything was so underground that I couldn't even find the word in my dictionary at the time.

Fifteen years later, #magic, #goddess, #superwomen and all things #feminine, #powerful and #magical are bristling with a resurrected effervescence. It's like the Spirit of our grandmothers have returned to get this thing right for us.  

Enter Beyoncé's Lemonade album.

I don't own a TV, so I missed the Grammy's last night but thank goodness to Mr. Zuckerberg and friends, with social media we won't skip a beat. So within moments of opening up my Facebook feed I see a picture of Tina Beyincé-Lawson, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy that read: "Oshun. Bey. I got my life."

Ok. So I typed in the Facebook search box: Beyonce Grammys 2017 and found a nine-minute video entitled "Snatched." [VIDEO BELOW] and watched it. 

Deep breath.
As a woman of color, strongly aligned with my West African and Indigenous American heritage folded into a consciousness that I am/you are/we are embodiments of divinity, the pre-show images of the trio: daughter, mother and grandmother then the performance left me . . .

Inspired.
Proud.
Moved.
Relieved.

Inspired.
In fact, inspired and tingling.
With the name of the most ancient goddess in recorded history [AUSET] and a Venus in Leo, love, beauty and magic are full-time preoccupations for me and Beyoncé's Grammy performance was dripping with divine beauty and symbolism that I my consciousness effortlessly decoded. Looking like an Ethiopian painting, every woman in this on-stage drama wore a halo indicating illuminated consciousness (Heru = hero).

The imagery was ÜBER-feminine and deliciously maternal as Bey moved her pregnant with twins body in a tribe of diaphanous sistren. What a breath of fresh air.

Behind closed doors I've mentioned to my family members (because I don't believe in disparaging another's creative work. When you create, you "under"stand what it takes to materialize your visions so there's a level of respect I don't violate.) an element I found lacking in the Black Girl's Rock awards from year-to-year. Although we look soooo beautiful and put together, the celebration is mainly of women achieving in their masculine energy outside of the home with very little emphasis on the maternal aspect (nurturer/protector and not completely in the feminine domain but a balance of the both like the hemispheres of our brain working together) of who we are. The very essence of femininity expresses itself inside, within, the hidden. This was something I really respected and appreciate Martha Stewart for and that was bringing a spotlight and encouraging the art of creating home. If you are a female you embody three hundred and sixty degrees of femininity (#superwomenandgoddesses) so why be limited?

We are at a time in history where we're finding our footing within a shifting patriarchal to matriarchal reality in America. Growing pains if you will. So finding our balance and footing may take awhile but we WILL get there. It's the Age of Aquarius after all.  Sometimes it takes a moment to balance and find a happy medium while at the same time there should be no question about the CIVIL RIGHT to choose our experiences and destiny in this life while being compensated equally. 
 ​
Proud.
First aware of Beyoncé through Destiny's Child in '98, it's been interesting to witness Beyoncé's very human-in-front-of-the-world growth and evolution as an artist, woman, daughter and mother.

Those close to me know that although I was jammin' to Destiny's Child like everyone else ("Bills, Bills, Bills", "Bugaboo," "Say My Name"). I began to wince a bit at Destiny's Child's proclamation of being "independent women" with a "F you, I don't need you because I got my own." message because by this time (2001) my commitment to the partnership, alliance and union of men and women was taking a deep root within. In the meantime, I saw a rise in the conversation of "black" women not able to find mates of their same culture, while many men were opting to couple with women outside of their own culture (which is fine but then leaves a bit of a void for the women who desire men of their same culture).

Union of man and woman as interdependent and complementary was a concept I was cultivating in myself in my own process of chipping away at the adverse American European/Christian mindset I was raised in for an exploration of who I was indigenously. I had an Ifa priest who taught me about the orishas and a Sioux shaman that provided an authentic Native American sweat lodge experience complete with making tobacco ties.

War and division of the sexes is not part of most of our pre-colonial heritage. Our most ancient African i.e. pre-colonized mindset was always matriarchal (the Jews/Hyksos/Shepherd Kings adopted this part of ancient African culture in their occupation of Egypt), which to be clear was not the opposite of patriarchy but the idea that where there is a god there is also a goddess. Matriarchy is the recognition of balance, yin and yang, male and female, masculine and feminine, husband and wife, heaven and earth, etc. Patriarchy and matriarchy were never in competition. I go more into this in the book. So at that time I didn't feel preaching about independence (a European concept of "rugged individualism" or "me") was the answer but interdependence (which is about "we" which is distinctly pre-colonial African worldview, as well as many cultures who live close to the earth and in sync with Nature.)

We never know what's happening in someone's household but to hear Beyoncé's message of letting the circle be unbroken between, daughters and mothers, grandmothers and grand-daughters, sisters, husband and wife is refreshing and inspiring. 

Moved.
In 2002, I declared that BET was one of the banes of my existence. As the law of attraction would have it, I later became friends with the head of programming and his wife at the time. I hated BET's misogynistic music videos back in the 90s because I felt it was ruining our already delicate relationship with our men as well as how "black" women we're viewed globally.

My passion for the elevation of the divine black feminine was deepened after working alongside Madonna's makeup artist on a string of 50 Cent music videos. I was inspired to DO something because I personally didn't feel represented in this media, nor any of the magical women I knew. My daughters were watching this culture unfold so I set out to change the perception of "black women" in America so began production of "Searchin' For M'Sistahz" a documentary highlighting the beauty, power and magic of "black" women. Pretty much, my own PR campaign for us, to save our families. 

I realized this weekend that the images, music and media that I dreamt of creating and viewing for myself and daughters I was now watching, I now see in social media, in TV commercials, in films, yes there's still a great deal of nonsense and insanity offered on the buffet, but all I ever desired was to have a choice. Ghandi has been quoted often to "Be The Change You Wish To See In The World."  I have begun to see that writing, publishing and creating a life's work around superwomen, goddesses, who work power, magic, holistic beauty has manifested in the culture that I live, participate and can now consume. I feel fed and represented somewhere out there.  

Relieved.
My chant has been that I'd like to see women: all of us, of all hues, cultures, etc. get back in touch with the most powerful aspect of ourselves and that is the mysterious, internal, still, magnetic aspect of the multi-faceted spectrum of what it is to be female. If Queen Bey, the biggest entertainer in the world at this time is at the 2017 Grammy's inspiring and moving people with images of family, lineage, motherhood, sisterhood, femininity, love, beauty and magic I don't care of she's illuminati (LOL.), or if it's all a marketing gimmick or anything else. The mission is accomplished. The images have been embedded, the culture, the girls, the boys have been elevated and the possibility of the balance of masculine/feminine within/without manifest in our families is alive.

I saw the film "Daughters of the Dust" decades ago and it changed my life. Media IS POWERFUL. So similar to what I feel about President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, if they did NOTHING in eight years politically: quite simply the image of them as an elegant, intelligent, bonded family​ is an image that taps into our emotion/aspiration that is more powerful than any speech will ever have. 

Although I don't see myself as joining your beehive anytime soon because I have my own, thank you Mrs. Beyonce Knowles Carter for properly representing the three hundred and sixty degrees of what it is to be female for all the superwomen and goddesses before, here and after who work power and whirl magic. As Marimba Ani has written: Let the circle be unbroken.

Respect from your Virgo si"star": Daughter of Obatala and Priestess of Auset.
​Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 17 of 1/12 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous in Virgo

After spending a refreshing and expansive weekend in DC with my family . . . 
​

I was left with this question that I posted on my Facebook post yesterday. 

Over the New Moon/Chinese New Year weekend I had some of my superhero friends over for dinner. Mastermind vegan Chef Tsadakeeyah of Majani Catering and his partner Naysa not only brought soulful black-eye pea fritters and hummus but a vat of gorgeous purple hibiscus tea. Yummm...

So as I write this, I'm sipping on a glass of purple hibiscus like wine this morning. I haven't had a cup of sorrel in a while and am reminded of the laundry list of über-beauty and health benefits (gorgeous skin, hair growth, weight release, boosted energy) of this powerful plant used in various ways: tea, paste, dried herb, blossoms in salads. Check it.

Great Source of Potassium + Great For The Heart
Potassium is an essential mineral as a vasodilator.

A Diuretic + Beneficial For The Kidneys 
a bit of a kidney flush as your urine takes toxins, fats, salts, water with it.

Soothes Dry Itchy Skin
Perfect during the cold winter months.

Vitamin C-Rich Immune System & Collagen-Building
Vitamin C is a vital molecule for skin health.

High Iron i.e. Energy + Hair Grower
If you suffer from anemia, iron's been known to resuscitate the oxygen in your blood as well as boost your energy and hair growth.

High Antioxidant + Anti-Cancer Properties
Skin protecting and regenerating while known to kick the butt of those cancerous mutant cells.

Rich in The Beauty Vitamin: A
A godsend for keeping the eyes healthy and the skin beautiful. 

Calcium-Rich and Bone-Fortifying
Strong bones, teeth and joint health anyone?

Weight-Release Inspiring & Fiberous
If you know me, I always speak of keeping that colon clean for beautiful skin. This fiber-rich flower will keep it movin'.

DON'T OVER-DO-IT WARNING: Consume in moderation, sorrel/hibiscus contains the toxin, oxalic acid. I would use in conjunction with a cleanse every now and then. 

How To Prepare Jamaican Sorrel Tea

• Bring water to a boil.
• Place sorrel, ginger and cloves into boiled water.
• Boil for 2 minutes, turn heat off.
• Cover and allow to steep for 12 to 24 hours.
• Strain and sweeten to taste.
• Add rum or wine if desired.
• Serve cold, on ice.

​
There's so much to learn and so many recipes to be had. Enjoy researching yourself. Here are a few links to get started with:
Loop Jamaica
Organic Facts
Wikipedia

Thanks for reading. Here's to our über-beauty and health! 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 5 of 1/12 Moons 
Waxing Crescent  

  
​What was your mother or father's greatest advice they ever gave you?

Mine?
"Just be yourself."
 
I first heard, "People prefer the devil they know over the angel they don't." on the show "Touched By An Angel" a bunch of years ago.

That quote is designed to speak of our resistance to change even if that change would represent something beneficial to us.  This quote popped into my head this  morning in regard to this topic - Just Be Yourself. We've seen clearly in our political climate that a great deal of people would rather deal with a "flawed" human being that was clear about who they are, plain and simple than the vague and untrustworthy.

It was third grade and I was uncomfortable in my new class. My mother said: "Just be yourself."​
At such a young age, I didn't have a clue about what she meant or who I was. Decades later, it's the most brilliant advice I've ever received. 

If we desire RESPECT, LOVE, AFFINITY with others we must be TRUE to ourselves.
There can be no respect, love or real affinity without us presenting our raw, unfiltered, true selves (over time, not in one sitting). After all, respect, love and affinity are developed from TRUTH. Without truth there is no integrity, nothing to stand on. Truth doesn't mean you have to be mean or unkind, it just means that you honor who you are, what you require and desire. Even if you experience kick-back from others, they will subconsciously admire, feel safe with and desire your presence in their lives because you feel SOLID - you have integrity.

People pleasers feel warm and fuzzy serving a purpose in the hospitality industry but in real life, in real one-on-one connections TRUTH is the glue, TRUTH is the magnet, TRUTH is the flow, the rhythm, TRUTH is home. 

How can you FEEL someone or something if the truth of them/it isn't there? They are just saying and doing what they think you want to hear and do. Even though we may enjoy the experience, in the background, in our heart, something will just not resonate .  .  . because we sense something's not quite right, or true.

If you're an *sshole, be an *sshole.
If you don't like something, say so.
If you don't want to do something, you don't have to do it.
Speak with kindness, yet clear, concise and straightforward. 
We tend to feel secure when we know EXACTLY what is what, while ambiguity makes us feel uncertain and insecure. 

If you're playing nicey-nice, being a doormat, a people pleaser, a brown-noser, a politician, you're being an imposter, you're living a lie and no one is loyal, would die for or would knowingly dedicate their life to a liar.

I had some tough times in third grade and I ultimately had to neutralize some bullies that teased and taunted me. When this nice, pretty little girl showed her other side in an after-school fight, it was all smiles and respect from that moment on.  

Take the time to get to know who you are, what you like and don't like, what you require and desire. Be unapologetically you, then and only then will you find your true tribe, your true fans and it will be worth all those that took offense because you honored your truth and self first.

Yes, we may complain, protest, kick and scream all the way but we stick with the "devil" that we KNOW.

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 4 of 1/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent