I attended a funeral a few weeks ago and a family friend sang a song. He's a pastor, from a family of pastors who each have immense musical talent with no ambition whatsoever to make it "big." As he sang it occurred to me that his voice was as powerful some of the most famous voices of our time.

THE MUSIC MONOPOLY 
​I got to thinking of all of the talent amongst the "ordinary" people that I'll never hear.  Then around that same week I created a playlist of some of my friends who make the most beautiful music on the planet . . . because recently I got clear that there are only three major music labels in the world but they provide 80% of the music we hear in the mainstream, so I figured I'd step out from under their umbrella and explore the people in my own orbit as well as those who are outside of the spotlight.
​
7500 APPLES 
Did you know that there are over 7500 varieties of apples grown around the world, but when you go to the grocery store there are what, about six to choose from: red delicious, granny smith, gala, fuji, braeburn, pink lady. Right? What about the others? I'd like an opportunity to see if there are other apples I might like better or as well. 

MUSIC REBEL
Do we really need to be spoon fed what we listen to by record labels that may have hidden agendas which aren't the best for us personally, relationally and even globally. We have the power to create our own life soundtrack, flow and rhythm from independent artists, the hidden and unsung gems who are sprinkled throughout our planet. I can't remember when I've enjoyed discovering new music so much in my life.

Click the shuffle button and explore this playlist today while you're making dinner, cleaning your house, getting ready to go out. I've opened the comment section below for you to SUGGEST any INDEPENDENT ARTISTS that WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF. 

HIGHLIGHTS
Warning: I have very diverse appreciation of music so you'll find a wide range of music (jazz, folk, acoustic guitar, progressive rock, reggae, hip hop, world, etc.) Some tracks I know you'll love, others not so much. Below are a highlight of some of my favorite artists as well as new discoveries and the tracks to keep an ear out for.

The first song on this list was a song recommended to me by my daughter:
"Down The Road"  by C2C years ago and still love it.
 
Northern Californian artist, Fantastic Negrito "An Honest Man" & "In The Pines"

Brooklyn-based Suede Jenkins: Hlduk Hey Love Donchu K/PackforWintervrsnow

St. Lucian Taj Weekes: "Angry Language" & "Little Fire" are a couple of my favs.

Folksy, Jamaican-born Sparlha Swa's musical audiobook "Moongazing Story" is a wonderful bedtime listen.

Kelan Phil Cohran & The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble's "Cuernavaca" & "Gagut"

Donna McAfee's got a Minnie Riperton range: "After The Rain"

Dude sounds just like Jay-Z: Christopher LeMark with a more mindful and positive message.

Nahko Bear and Medicine For The People's "Aloha ke Akua"

My Venice Beach Crew includes: Little Panda with her angelic voice accompanied by acoustic guitar "Safe," The Makepeace Brothers' "What A Day"  and husband/wife duo Avasa & Matty Love's "What If."

Lhasa de Sela "Love Came Here" I became obsessed with this song from my friend's first dance at their wedding.

Martin Luther's version of "Heart-Shaped Box"

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 21 of 10/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

 . . . ever see "The Matrix?" 
If you're in MY tribe and orbit I'm sure you have: Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, The Oracle, Agent Smith. When I first saw the film I found it fascinating that The Oracle, "THE prophet who helps free the humans with her foresight and wisdom" was located deep in "the hood." The Black Divine Feminine leading people back to themselves, their source of power is nothing new, but is in Maat (order). It's like going home to Mama to restore yourself. 

All things come from God (good), all things are destined to return to God (good), and there are many paths to God (good). In the METAMOORPHOSE community, we utilize the healing beauty arts as a gateway for those who seek personal transformation. The caterpillar was never the destiny of the butterfly. As human being is not our destiny, but the Hero within us. We are the restoration of the Beloved Community.

HEALING WISDOM OF AFRICA
What I learned from Malidoma Some in his book "The Healing Wisdom of Africa," is that people in the West suffer because they don't have four things: 1) who they are 2) why they are here 3) a community to affirm those gifts and 4) a community with with to share those gifts. If every human being had those four things in place, as well as nourishment from high vibe food, we would experience a whole different kind of reality. I know because it's been done before and it exists even today.

GIVE
On the last New Moon I received an oracle to "GIVE," and so I am going to obey Spirit and have begun to follow that direction by opening up my private beauty bungalow and wellness temple to the community with regular hours. I've been looking at properties to purchase with land but I felt let's just get started where we are and just build from there. After years of serving our community through various programs and courses, we now have a physical location where METAMOORPHOSE community and invited guests are welcome to restore, heal and amp up with our next level practitioners, artists and mystics. Sip tea and take beauty shots while shopping to restock your beauty and medicine bag. Yesterday was the first day open to the community. Most of you reading ARE outside of Chicago, so we'll be hosting LIVE streaming courses and events so don't feel left out.

CONNECT WITH US
To check the hours, the activities and receive notification FOLLOW our Facebook page and stop by: CLICK TO GET UPDATES

Not on Facebook? Neither is my mom and a whole bunch of my elder aunties so just text 312.566.7506 or email: [email protected] for updates.

The caterpillar was never the destiny of the butterfly. As human being is not our destiny, but the Hero within us. We are the restoration of the Beloved Community. Come home to the hood and get restored Beautiful. We are waiting for you. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 20 of 10/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

BACK FAT
Over the last four years I put on about fifteen to twenty pounds. Until then I'd been pretty much the same size since high school. In the last couple of months I've released ten to fifteen pounds, 2.5 inches off my hips and waist, and my back fat is gone!  I knew something had to give. I didn't recognize myself.  I NEVER had back fat until the holidays last year. That had to go! People have always said how small I am, then it stopped. I just recently heard it again. Thank goodness.

DRUGS & COMFORT
I figured that the weight gain had a great deal to do with comforting myself during these years of major transition (empty nest, moving, career transformation, etc.). Walking into the unknown without family close by and the feeling of isolation drove me to reach out for yummy comfort in the form of food. I don't drink coffee or alcohol, smoke cannabis, or otherwise do any kind of drugs. Those things have no appeal to me whatsoever, never have really . . . but have you met Lola Yum Yum, my alter ego? "What ever Lola wants, Lola gets." [Sara Vaughn]

FOOD: MY LOVER
Speaking of harmful drugs, when I descend into my junky food craving, my pantheon of lovers are diverse: that plain donut, crispy bacon, a properly made pizza and why did my formerly veggie sister take me to Uncle J's BBQ over the holidays last year? Although I've never proclaimed myself to be a vegan or vegetarian, I eat a pretty life-honoring, plant-based menu and went about sixteen years without eating chicken, beef or pork. Just because I felt better eating this way, but "Yo! . . . " months later, I'm STILL thinking about how damn good those ribs were and I'm not even a rib girl. Did I mention how good they were?

TA-TA BACK FAT!
So how did I release those inches off my body and melt that back fat?
I MOVED MY ASS. Yup! Every day for about thirty minutes to two hours for twenty-eight days, give or take a few days because I got sick (detox symptoms). 

I knew that just cleansing wasn't going to melt and sculpt my body the way I desired so I followed a fitness regimen by Tracy Anderson who I respect because she has revolutionized body transformation for women by focusing on the accessory muscles. This was the first time in my life I worked out at this level of intensity and regularity. Initially I slept a lot and it was time consuming but the results are so worth it. I'm back in clothes I couldn't get over my hips. I feel like myself again. WHOO HOO!!!

A combination of cardio and muscle strengthening was the key. Cardio melts the fat while muscle strengthening sculpts your body. You require BOTH to get a toned and slim look. I ended up taking a month break due to illness i.e. healing and a million other things (thank goodness I maintained my weight release and size). I'm Day Two into starting up again to finish powerfully and to get back on the beautiful rhythm I was on. I'm an inch away from reaching my goal. 

BLAST YOUR ARSE OFF THE COUCH!
Since people love tips, tricks and hacks ;o), here are some of the things that help me to get moving again after being kidnapped by the couch.

1. CREATE A "FYAH!" PLAYLIST: Think about all the songs that when you're at a club or in the car make you break out into dance without thinking about it. The more aggressive, "making-you-feel-badass," the better. I couldn't believe some of the vulgar songs on my playlist, they make me blush every time I listen, but somehow the grit makes me move harder. Create two or three playlists that you can rotate so you don't get bored with your playlists.  Make them at least forty minutes in length so you have enough music to last your longest dance session.  
2. POST YOUR MUSE: I have this picture of Naomi Campbell's legs that inspired me when I first started my 30-Day program, but when I saw Kanye's "Fade" video featuring Teyana Taylor, I was really inspired. We have similar bodies so it felt within the realm of possibility. I found that having that video playing as I worked out, kept me movin'.  
3. JUST DANCE: Yup! It's like what an appetizer is to a meal. Just put on that "FYAH" playlist and move your arse Beautiful. Go for AT LEAST five, ten or fifteen minutes and continue to build until you get to forty-five minutes a day which is a boot-camp level of activity. You should be wet with sweat before you stop. The sweat is the big deal because you're detoxing and releasing at that point. The key is to dance non-stop so dance classes aren't the best because it tends to be stop and start. Get moving by dancing and you'll activate those addictive pleasure-feeling hormones within. 
4. DRINK & EAT GREEN: Somehow when I start working out I crave healthy foods, green foods. My body goes into high performance, high vibe mode and it's intelligence calls forth LIFE-GIVING FOOD, LIVING food, food with the God principle. Funny, I have no taste for junk when I begin moving my body. 
5. WORK + PREPARE FOR AN EVENT: Perhaps the MOST important driving force of your success is to have an upcoming event or happening that will give you a sense of urgency. Whether you're preparing for a hot date, a reunion, a vacation, a party, a birthday, etc. Having a date that you're working toward is a very powerful pull.

These five actions are JUST to get you off the couch, to put down the bag of chips and signal to your body something different is going down. Once you finally get your body moving again, I highly recommend checking out Tracy Anderson's work. You can sample her a bit through YouTube but I would go ahead and invest in her book The 30-Day Method. I'll be incorporating her fitness program with my Organic Beauty Detox this fall throughout my annual Winter Solstice Observance and the 2017 New Year. If you're interested in joining us reach out to me on Facebook or email me: [email protected]. We'll be meeting weekly at my Wellness Temple (which I'll tell you about tomorrow) and yes we'll be LIVE STREAMING for those of you not in Chicago. 

Progress Photos: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3. I'll post the final progress photo soon.       

Send me a message if you're down for your most powerful transformation. We're going to reach your body, beauty, health and wellness goals - TOGETHER. Remember this is the time when the sleeping giants awaken and the metaphysician, superwoman and goddess RISE.  

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 18 of 10/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

Are you being stingy with your goodies?  Tell the truth. 
After being homeless three times in my life, the greatest lesson that I learned from those experiences is that when I share I will always have. Every time poverty has visited me it was because I was being stingy with my gifts and goodies. Whether it was me feeling not good enough or that my ego wouldn't allow me to do certain work with my background and experience.  No one likes to think of themselves as stingy. After all, if we witnessed an adorable baby animal or child in need we'd most definitely step up to take care of them to the best of our ability. Yes, we are all essentially compassionate beings.

I'm convinced that when you wake up clear about what your gift is, your zone of genius, knowing what your life's work, purpose, mission is, life becomes a great adventure. The Sun seems brighter, music sounds more melodic, human beings are more delightful and food tastes better than ever.

I shared in my book SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic Book One that my mentor years earlier proclaimed that there were basically two types of people in the world: pimps and hoes. What?!  I still shudder at that idea because it's a judgment that violates the sacredness of who I know us to really be.

The Pareto Principle states that when everything is leveled out equally 20% of the whole will do 80% of the work or acquire 80% of the wealth every time. It's also been said that 85% of the masses follow the 1% blindly. 

While I was at the farmer's market this weekend I ran into a couple of people who had mentioned one of my Facebook posts. "Facebook post? What Facebook post?" I forgot we were even Facebook friends because I never hear a peep from them but then somehow they knew all about what was going with me. It made me wonder why they didn't comment or send me any indication that they were watching, especially since they both got such a kick out of the post enough to mention it. Didn't it at least earn a response? Years and not a peep from either of these people. Weird.   

It's like going to a concert and you're enjoying the music but just sit in your seat without dancing, clapping or otherwise engaging. Artists feed off of the energy of the audience very much in the way our African ancestors engaged in a "call and response" interaction when someone was expressing their gifts, message, blessing to the community.

For this particular topic, I see that there are two types of people: 

1. Voyeurs/Consumers
2. Participants/Creators

Both are necessary. And hopefully we can play the part of each at a given moment.
The world will feel more balanced when everyone takes a turn to create, shine as well as champion others to continue to shine by participating in the beauty of their expression.

Be generous will your goodies, shine, serve, give your time, share your wisdom and vision.
As well, participate and connect to those that have warmth, beauty and wisdom to share. Leave a good tip for good service, give a standing ovation and applaud, click like or comment, attend the event people organize, support the enterprise and businesses of your community, tell someone "yes, they can do this!" Be generous Dearheart and make your presence known otherwise the heart-to-heart connections in our society dissolve. What does that look like? Robots and zombies? 

If you don't have (wealth, love, health, etc.), perhaps it's because you're being stingy with your Light. You wonder? What will they think of me? What if they think "Who does she think she is?" or "Who does he think he is?" "What if I look stupid, silly, needy, etc.?

​Who cares?
Shine like the Sun on SUNday Beautiful because you are the Source and the Light. In every instance, let your presence bring the warmth, vitality and goodness. If your shine is too bright for "them" they can put on sunglasses.
 
Starry nights are so magical. It's a wonder to behold . . . billions of stars, a supanova of light makes it clear to me that we can all be generous with our shine, our light, our goodness, our goodies and never fear running out of room to do so. Even with this being so, we must face the fact that even though the Sun sustains life itself on planet Earth, people will still complain about and hate on the Sun, the Light of the World. Ah well. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 17 of 10/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

Happy Full Moon in Aries. It is the tenth of thirteen Full Moons this year.
​Aries represents the "I AM" energy, a childlike worldview that anything is possible. 
The Full Moon phase is the moon in it's full and brightest illumination; the harvest of a seed planted. Combine these two forces and you've got a SUPER powerful MOON.

The observance for this phase of the moon focuses on gratitude and celebration for the manifestation of your New Moon intentions or a general feeling of gratitude and celebration for every blessing in your life.

Here are ten ways to observe the Full Moon:

• Acknowledge your blessings and prosperity.
• Celebrate those blessings and prosperity.
• Charge your crystals/precious stones in the Full Moon light by setting them out under Moon.
• Take a Full Moon bath in a spirit of celebration.
• Dedicate this day to celebratory and self-loving beauty rituals.
• Enjoy a meal of celebration and gratitude with your loved ones.
• Moongaze outside twirling your feet in water or sinking them into the Earth's soil.
• Listen to Sparlha Swa's "Moongazing" album with a cup of tea.
• Salute the Moon by doing yoga postures under the Moonlight.
• Join me at 11:11 am for our Beloved Community Declaration (set your alert at 11:08 am).
   I'll be LIVE today on Facebook in our SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES community.

SHARE OR TWEET some of your Full Moon observances or which of the above observances will you engage today.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 16 of 10/13 Moons 
Full Moon in Aries

If you could have your life, your world, our world the way you chose how would it be? Because it is possible, entirely possible. 

The last couple of days we have detoxed our minds, blessed our heads and now it's time to declare and manifest. Everything comes from God, from The Creator, The Most High and everything will return to God or good. We are an embodiment of that divinity and can create from nothingness.

In Genesis 1:3 it says "The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light": and there was light. God saw that the light was good."

POWER TO MANIFEST
As above, so below. As within, as without is a universal law.  We have the power to declare and manifest from our highest consciousness.

POWERFUL PORTAL
Do you ever look at the clock at exactly 11:11? Do you see 11s throughout your life? Coincidence or phenomena? It's been said that it's a message from your spirit guides of their presence in your life. Intuitive counselor Kari Samuels says "11:11 is an incredible gateway of light and Divine connection directly with Source that allows you to manifest very quickly."

INSTANT + MIRACULOUS
What makes 11:11 a powerful portal for manifesting?
It's all based on ancient wisdom of sacred geometry. The number 1 is a vertical line connecting the Earthly to the Cosmic. When 1 is doubled then it becomes powerfully electric. 11:11 added up equals 4 which in numerology indicates the material, physical, earthly.

MEET ME AT 11:11 ​
In this Age of Aquarius we have the ability and destiny to proclaim the next renaissance of hueman being on Earth. The Aquarian Age is now about HUEMANITY + KNOWING + TRUTH.

Matthew 18:20 says "Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them."  There is power in community, so I'd like to invite you to set your alert on your phone, clock or otherwise and join me at 11:11 am wherever you are for 60 seconds DAILY to declare and manifest the desire of our hearts as well as the healing, restoration and rebirth of huemanity, the Beloved Community.​

Rub your hands together until they feel warm, put your left hand on your heart, your right hand on your left, take a deep breath and declare: 

11:11
Most High about me
Most High within me
I AM THAT I AM.
I AM
an embodiment of 
love, goodness, power, peace, vitality, beauty and prosperity.
I now release anything that is not me, right now.
I will keep my eye on the queendom/kingdom of good within
I declare perfect order and goodness within and without, above and below.
I declare that as I stand in a circle of The Beloved Community
we rise, rise, rise! 
​
I AM The Light. We Are The Light.
We stand in an impenetrable force field of light and love
while all death, destruction and darkness is gone from within, without forever.
I give thanks that it is so right now.
Amen
Ashe.
Aho.
Allelujah.

​11:11

The declaration takes about 40 seconds . . . continue to breath and be present for at least 15 seconds after you have completed the declaration.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 14 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous Moon

Yesterday in part 1 of my "Mind Detox" note, we began perhaps one of the most powerful protocols you can ever perform and that's the detoxification your mind/consciousness to reveal a clear and open space for the possibility and fulfillment of your destiny (could that be very simply to return to God/Good?).

Although every cell in our body embodies an intelligence, apparently we have major three brains i.e. carbon-concentrated central consciousness centers that gives us gateways to our genius and supernatural powers.

Being distracted by the nonsense, noise and minutiae of this world can keep us from ever activating those organic powers; our inner genius that raises us from the very basic survival activities of what it is to be a human being. 

​UPON RISING, BEFORE SPEAKING TO ANYONE
​
1. DIP two fingers from both hands into the water.
2. PLACE fingers from middle of forehead back to the nape of your neck and declare:
"I bless the Spirit of my head."

3. DIP your fingers into the water again.
PLACE fingers at the center of your head (the crown) down to the ears. Right hand to right ear, Left hand to left ear and declare:
"I bless the spiritual energy of my head."

4. DIP your fingers into the water again.
DRAW fingers from center of forehead ("third" eye) out to each side and declare:
"I bless my spiritual vision that I may see my way clearly."

5. DIP your fingers into the water again.
STROKE each eye gently outward. Right hand, right eye, left hand, left eye simultaneously and declare:
"I bless my eyes that I may see truth in my life."

6. DIP your fingers into the water again.
STROKE each nostril from top to bottom and declare:
"I bless my breath, enabling my life may be sustained by my Spirit."

7. DIP your fingers into the water again.
STROKE each ear with fingertips and declare:
"I bless my ears that I may recognize and follow the guidance my Spirit."

8. DIP your fingers into the water again.
STROKE lips from center outward and declare:
"I bless my ability to speak the truth of Spirit,
to affirm the guidance of Spirit;
to give thanks for the blessings of Spirit."

9. DIP your fingers into the water again.
STROKE the circular outline of your face from the
center of the forehead around to your chin and declare:
"I bless my unique identity as an expression of the Creator,
making me an expression of divinity."

10. DIP your fingers into the water again.
BLESS your head again from center front and back and declare:
"I bless the Spirit of my head to guide me throughout this day."

11. DIP your fingers into the water again.
BLESS your head from center top to either side and declare:
"I bless the Spirit of my head to protect me through this day."

Amen.
Ashe.
Aho.
Allelujah.
And so it is.

Thanks to my friend Tez Rhaq for his advanced knowledge
​on the Isese traditions and technology

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 13 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous Moon

"The biggest challenge we face is shifting human consciousness, not saving the planet.
​The planet doesn't need saving, we do."  
- Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, 14 year old Indigenous Environmental Activist (Earth Guardians) and Hiphop Artist

Ever feel it's necessary to just stop everything and reclaim your peace of mind? When the riddles, noise and nonsense outside get too loud, it's time to get back to basics and seek the queendom/kingdom within. How does one stop, get off and clear the negative chatter in their mind?

Sometimes our body will get sick so that we are FORCED to take that time out for ourselves; time to be still and cleanse the crap out of our bodies. Getting sick is unnecessary and preventable if you'll just be a good lover to her. So let's get mentally still and detox before nature dominates our situation.

Here's what I do: 

1. BREATHE: Deep-controlled breathing is a powerful tool you have for immediately shifting out of anxiety, stress i.e. "fight or flight mode," harnessing your focus and concentration. It's an often overlooked superpower. Here's a really old video I produced eight plus years ago featuring Kemetic Yoga Master Yirser Ra Hotep teaching deep-controlled breathing:  CLICK HERE TO VIEW NOW
2. MENTALLY FAST NIGHTLY (OR LONGER): Every night you're going on a mini-fast from the time you retire for the evening 'til you arise in the morning. Honor this time as a sacred fast to be in stillness, restoration and receptive to Divine messages. Turn off your phone. Refrain from watching any TV, film, social media, conversation, music (only relaxing instrumental music if you must or a guided meditation.), etc. Refrain from speaking and engage in silence. 
3. DE-RADIATE: Remove your computer and any electronics from the bedroom as they are creating EMR (electromagnetic radiation)/EMFs (electronic magnetic frequencies) which can disturb our brain function/nervous system, heart function and digestion. I keep black tourmaline and sodalite around me to absorb these frequencies. I've got shungite on my list to add to these crystals as well. The Russians apparently use it strategically for illness and harmful radiation. Shower before bed in filtered lukewarm water (get a shower head) to neutralize positive ions from your body. Sticking your feet in soil accomplishes this as well (neutralizing positive ions). 
4. CLEANSE + DETOX MY BODY: The number one flush and solvent on the planet is water. Keep a glass and pitcher of spring or glacial water by your bed so that soon after waking up you will drink a glass of water. Adding lemon and/or lime will alkalinize and neutralize the toxins within. My Organic Beauty Detox "program" has been known to clarify thinking, bring a feeling of general well-being, peace and heighten intuition. 
5. GREEN UP! Make a habit of drinking at least one green juice a day (organic, non-GMO parsley, cucumber, celery, cilantro, etc.) as well as one big green leafy salad and you can top it with my yummy B-vitamin rich "mental health salad dressing." CLICK FOR THE RECIPE NOW
6. MEDIA DETOX: I'll always remember a sermon where my pastor said to be careful of what you allow your eyes to see because your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference and it is forever stored in your subconscious mind. Carolyn Myss reminds us of what our Ancestors knew and that all disease begins in the Spirit. Feed your Spirit & mind goodness through the media/conversation you consume. Detox from media/conversation which implants the vibration of: vanity, lust, greed, anger, laziness, jealousy and gluttony into your consciousness. Look for themes that celebrate the virtues of humility, kindness, patience, diligence, charity, temperance, and chastity. Chastity? Yes. There is a time and place for everything. 

To Be Continued . . . 

SHARE or TWEET how you're going to begin your mind detox today.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 12 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous Moon

SISTAR: If you are free, may I ask you a quick question?

AKUA: Sure. Can you type it?

SISTAR: Thank you . . . yes.
I have your book "Super women and Goddesses." In addition to it, can you suggest one or two good books that I can read and study? I have several already and although my journey has been long, I realize that I have a long way to go...

AKUA: What are you seeking now in your life?

SISTAR: Consistent authenticity . . . to walk in my goddess-hood . . . Hope that makes sense.

AKUA: I have three books that I feel are required reading. 

1. The Game of Life & How To Play It   by Florence Scovel Shinn
2. The Spirit of Intimacy   by Sobonfu Somé
3. The Auto-Biography of Malcolm X   by Alex Haley and Malcolm X

SISTAR: Yes! I have that one... I remember you mentioning it on your YouTube channel. I don't have The Spirit of Intimacy.

AKUA: 

1. #1     teaches metaphysyics
2. #2    the blueprint for any relationship
3. #3     a bit of de-programming of white supremacy and the power of witnessing the transformation of a mind.

SISTAR: Yes.  

AKUA: There are more but those are a great place to continue. Thanks for the question. 

SISTAR: Thanks so much. I will order the spirit of intimacy and start reading it.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 11 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous Moon

Two of my very dear friends celebrated their union in a cross-cultural Hindu/Celtic wedding and celebration this past Saturday. He arrived with a Celtic/Indian musical procession surrounded by a community of family and friends on a horse. The unfolding of their love story trumps even the beloved film "The Notebook."   There was a moment in the ceremony where the minister read I Corinthians 13. Every time I this hear or read this scripture, it calls me further up and forth into the consciousness of love.

Love, not true love because if it's not true it's not love. Not unconditional love because if there are conditions then it's not love. It's simply L.O.V.E.  We water down the power of the word using this word for everything that we find temporarily pleasing to our senses. The priest said something my mother has said repeatedly when I was growing up, don't use the word love for inanimate objects, etc. She was committed that I didn't use the word without regard for its power. On this beautiful Moon ruled Monday, the following passage is a great way to tap into the heart of things and begin this week in the high consciousness of love.  After all, love begets love and it is who we truly are.

THE EXCELLENCE OF LOVE
13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [b]to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13: The Bible

SHARE & TWEET what most inspired and touched your heart from I Corinthians 13. 
​
♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 10 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous Moon

 Just over a week ago, I was really ill. My Spirit ached for my mother - not necessary my own mother but mama energy: soul-caressing, spirit-calming, heart-restoring softness and healing. A nurturing femininity that feels like the melody of a Minnie Riperton album, like sipping warm cinnamon sassafras tea with almond milk, like the poetry of India Ame'ye, like the warmth of the Sun on your breasts, like the enchanting beauty of peonies, like the fragrance of Egyptian geranium, like a moist kiss on the forehead while being rocked, like forgiveness when you've erred. . .  

FREE TO EXPRESS, DEVELOP, EXPLORE
When I was a teenager, my mother said "these are the best years of your life." What I now gather from her wisdom was that at that age I was free to express, develop, explore life and the world without concern for paying bills, children depending on me, navigating relationship with injured adults or any of the nonsense and minutiae of the world's domesticated human illusion. 
A gentle response diverts anger . . .
On this Venus-ruled Friday, I'm vibing on the sweetness and softness of life. I'm honored to be able to contribute my monetary harvest to the enterprise of my landlord, watch my children grow and witness their expression of beauty in world fighting its way out of weariness, heal the traumatized and inspire the lost with the warmth of love, beauty and wisdom. 

Life is sweet, magical, miraculous and full of wonder which if one is not careful can be obscured by the race of the rat. I awoke with this scripture in my heart. It is a scripture most likely inspired by a more ancient text. The author of Proverbs 15:1 has a wise insight that "a gentle response diverts anger, but a harsh statement incites fury."   A harsh tongue is all too easy to express, a harsh response for harshness. Gentleness in the face of the disrespectful, brutal, and fearful is masterful because we are ever alchemists, magicians and magi. Anger is resistant and what you resist persists. So remember above anyone else, be first gentle with yourself dearheart. 

As there is a time and place for everything, today gentleness . . . softness . . . sweetness will be my meditation . . . stay soft, stay free Beauty.
 
Written while listening to Minnie Riperton's album "Perfect Angel."

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 7 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent Moon
​

Did you know that the word "evil" is simply "live" backwards? The opposite of life and growth is death and destruction. I'm gonna ask that you stay with me, I may lose some of you here.

Being a metaphysician I can see the fingerprints of truth throughout all religions and holy books no matter the tampering or politics involved in the propaganda therein. There is a scripture (Romans 6:23) that reads "the wages of sin is death." The seven deadly sins according to the Christian church are: pride or vanity, envy, anger, laziness, greed, gluttony, and lust. Sin is being defined essentially as "missing the mark" i.e. violating the laws of God in other words Good or Maat which is the goddess embodying justice, Divine order, cosmic harmony and balance.

Still with me? Good. Stay with me. It'll be worth it.
It goes on to say: "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Knowing the background of this scripture I know that Christ is another way to address our "highest consciousness."  Jesus refers to the Savior or the Hero (who before the Christians, the Greeks referred to as Horus and before the Greeks, the most Ancient Egyptians referred to as Heru, the original immaculately conceived "Anointed One.") and our Lord translated means "our Law." The scripture translated to me reads "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Highest Consciousness Heru our Law."

Huh? Right. Ok. Just let that process for a bit.
I was talking to my si"star" friend Aphrodite after she'd watched the film "Vampire of Brooklyn" starring Eddie Murphy and derived the message that if there is even just a small opening for evil, a person is easy prey.

In the film "The Devil's Advocate" Al Pacino's character, who played John Milton who was actually the devil said: "I only set the stage, I don't do anything but I don't make it easy for you."

Herein, the greatest power that we embody is our power of choice and freewill.  Our greatest shield of protection from being overcome by evil is righteousness - not self-righteousness but living in Maat which means Divine order, cosmic harmony and balance. My immunity to evil becomes impenetrable through discipline. 

I'll be updating this as needed, but here is my working method for Construction Of My Spiritual Armor.  

1. KNOW who you are. 
Remember that all things come from God or Good and you are an embodiment of this Divinity and benevolence made manifest. No matter how dark, malevolent and chaotic you feel or express yourself to be, you were created by Good/God and are destined to return to that.

2. DETOX, HEAL + BALANCE your Spirit, Body, Heart and Mind of its wounds and imbalances. Daily address any offenses to your Spirit, Body, Heart and Mind so as not to accumulate a high level of toxicity within. Our Ancestors knew that disease begins in the Spirit so allowing this load over time can create a compromised immune system and eventually manifest in your body.  

Ideas of not being good enough, pretty enough, rich enough, not popular or successful enough, feeling jealous, helpless, poor, etc.  can give birth to the pursuit and/or addiction to celebrity, money, power, physical beauty, or sex. Those that are most victimized or conned are those that grew up having been abused, exploited or neglected from an early age. Emotional, mental and spiritual violations or voids that exist within can create a crack exposing an entryway for evil and destruction to enter.

In this state the wonderful world of illusion and pleasure becomes an easy out. Any form of media can become a powerful vehicle for the seven deadly sins to run rampant. Pride and Vanity, like a natural opiate is the enemy's favorite sin. (The Devil's Advocate)

There's a line in the Autobiography of Malcolm X that I never forgot. He said he found women to be vain based on the ability to soften up even the "hardest-looking, meanest-acting woman" by looking her in the eye and telling her "she's beautiful" daily. Be a woman who is so fulfilled and solid in her sense of self that a compliment doesn't have you handing over the keys to your queendom and strung out like a crack addict. 

3.  LISTEN to your highest consciousness . . .  
. . . your inner oracle, your own wisdom, your first mind, your gut, your heart. Most people don't realize that our heart is our most powerful brain. So when someone says to "follow your heart," people confuse that with following your feelings or emotions which are temporary. Because your emotions are temporary you most definitely don't want to give them the last word.  When I say your heart I mean "the voice" of God or good, who speaks simply.  You know those moments that you ignore "the voice" and in hindsight you say "I had a feeling." Put nothing above the voice of God/good within.

4. BE self-contained, whole and complete. 
This isn't to suggest that man or woman should be an island, however let the focus be on cultivating yourself to be a flame, a light that only becomes greater and brighter in concert with others. Be self-contained and fulfilled through simplicity and balance, never extremes. I'll never forget a line from the film "Hurricane," a story about Rubin Carter who was asked how he survived in his circumstances. He replied, "I've trained myself not to need anything." 

5. RESTORE ORDER in your life. 
Put your life in order, top to bottom. Your health, your home, your relationships, your business, etc. 

6. EAT life.
Eat life by mouth, by eye, by ear. Keep in mind you're consuming at every moment. The food you eat, the propaganda and programming you watch on your TV, in the movie theatre, on social media and the radio, music, people you listen to. You are a sponge so be aware that your subconscious does not know the difference between real or Memorex (look up the popular commercial if you're too young to catch this reference) i.e. artificial, fact v. fiction. Keep your life force and your vibes high. Tune into the love i.e. life, light, good, God frequency to ward off pests, after all you can't get too close to the Sun. So eat life and shine bright.

7. SURROUND yourself with people of light.
Birds of a feather flock together. It's been said and almost cliche that you are the sum total of the five people you surround yourself with. They are not only your greatest influencers but your greatest reflection.

8. KNOW, RESPECT & ABIDE by the laws of the universe and nature. When you violate universal or natural law it creates disorder, disease and destruction. Respect the "laws"  and rules of your household, community, city, state, etc.. Learn, know and abide by them. There's even a law for freedom i.e. the freedom to will. Freewill is a law of nature and when you violate this law, your way will be shown back to freedom. Ever notice how when you say you will "never" do a thing that you are proven wrong? When you say what you will never do, that is a violation of your freewill very much like making vows forever. Making a vow for forever violates your own freewill. 

9. UNDERSTAND your enemy and the evil within.
Darkness, breakdowns and pain may look like a bad thing, but as it turns out are a wonderful catalyst for expansion, growth and clarity on what you do require and desire. Ask those who were laid off and started a successful enterprise or someone who divorced and ended up connecting with the greatest love of their life. What evil meant for bad, love meant for good.

"For they intended evil against thee; they imagined a wicked device, but they did not prevail."  - Psalm 21:11 

At the end of the day, the story of Harry Potter was the fight between Good and Evil. He had to surrender to the death of the evil within himself. We are our own worst enemy and the people, places, things, experiences, politicians that show up in our lives are a reflection of our own insecurities, fears and attempts to con ourselves into taking shortcuts. The shortcut becomes the long way. The cheap becomes the expensive. There are no shortcuts, hacks, tricks to our ascension, there's just staying the course back home to yourSelf. 

SHARE & TWEET: I am Whole, Perfect & Complete because I AM whole, perfect and complete. If you don't feel like you're quite there, it's a great goal to have.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 5 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent Moon

If  happy girls are the prettiest girls (Audrey Hepburn) and taking care of myself is the ultimate cosmetic (Akua Auset) then achieving a state of peace and wellness must be my foremost beauty regimen. 

MALNOURISHED
It's nothing new that people suffer silently with depression, anxiety and panic, addictions, anger, schizophrenia, all sort and form of mental illness. Since peace is our natural state that must become the standard for living if we are ever to be happy and well. When you violate the laws of nature and the laws of our biology things go awry. As a beauty naturopath I have studied, researched and personally found it to be true that often emotional, mental imbalances can occur when we are malnourished. Malnourished in America? Yes. But I am a thick girl. Yes and still you can be malnourished.

People can eat, eat and eat while at the same time remaining malnourished. If the food you're consuming has no nutritional value, then the substances you're eating just becomes a form of your entertainment, not your sustenance, vitality or longevity. If we desire quality of life, we must eat life to live. Food with living enzymes, elemental and mineral value.

MENTAL HEALTH 
I've eaten nutritional yeast for years and it began with my desire to get a vegan source of the B-complex which is a necessary component of our mental health and wellness. Every part of the coconut is basically God's gift to hueman being. A tablespoon of the once vilified coconut oil daily has been known to reverse symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. Eating anti-depressing leafy greens daily provides complex carbs, fats, proteins, and minerals and I know for myself if I've got a yummy dressing in the wings, my desire to eat a salad goes way up! Here's such a recipe.

INjoy! 

PP (Pretty + Peaceful) Dressing i.e. Mental Health Dressing
1/2 c. bragg's nutritional yeast
1/4 c. raw coconut oil
1/2 c. tamari, liquid aminos or *coconut liquid aminos (it will be less salty and a bit sweet)
1/2 c. organic apple cider vinegar
2 to 3 cloves of garlic (2 if large, 3 if small/medium)
1 1/4 c. cold-pressed sunflower or extra virgin olive oil (try both to see which taste you prefer)
cayenne pepper to taste
* 1/4 tsp. pink himalayan or sea salt


PUT everything in the blender except the oil.
BLEND and slowly add the oil.
STORE in refrigerator.

DOSAGE: 1 - 2 TBSP. daily on a big green salad. 

SHARE + TWEET "I'm having mental health dressing for dinner tonight!" far and wide for the mental health, peace and progress of ourselves, family, friends, community and world. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 4 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent Moon

Feeling alone, unsupported, overwhelmed?
Is cash flow a bit stagnant? 
If you've been "stingy with your goodies" read on. 

In the book SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic, I shared that the times in my life that I was without, it was because I was "being stingy with my goodies." Being an artist who's a bit introspective I can just nestle up in my wonderful home nearing the verge of reclusion.  Ever see that film "About Schmidt" with Jack Nicholson about a recently retired man who ponders if and how he's made a difference in his life and the transforming force that giving made in his life? It's a very touching film about the power of giving. While giving is indeed transformative, I must add a slight disclaimer, by reminding those who are already robust givers to make sure that you give to yourself FIRST. The goal is to give from your abundance and fullness.

GIVE
It's time to give.
This may be an item, it may be a smile or a hug or a letter/email the list is endless, there is always something we can give to people.  The more we allow ourselves to give more to others, the more love is shared.  

Remember the last time someone gave you something, how did you feel?
Let us share more of this. Remember one of the best gifts you can ever give anyone is your time. 

ACTION TO TAKE: Give generously, be it your time, a gift, an item, the list is endles.

POWERFUL AFFIRMATION:
"I give with so much love, and in doing so, this lifts me even higher and also lifts those who are receiving too."

This card is from the Divine Reminder Oracle Deck by Jolene Setterfield. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 3 of 10/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent Moon

photo credit: goddessrising.org

It's a new dawn , it's a new day, it's a new life . . . 
- Nina Simone, "Feelin' Good"

Time to read: 3:46 min.

What do you desire Beloved? From the center of your heart, what is it?
Take a deep breath and bring to mind the greatest thing that concerns you, scares you, makes you angry, sad, discouraged, disillusioned. Before getting into the real emotion of it, stop and give thanks for it. Give thanks for it? Yup! Give thanks for it. 

Great things always come out of a problem solved so give thanks for that great thing because on the other side of this feeling or experience is the yearning or true desire of your heart.

Ok, bring that to mind and feel it, immerse yourself in what it would be like to experience that reality and hold that vision and feeling for at least seventy seconds.
Then declare: And so it is. Thank you. 

​Perhaps the greatest song ever written of this age was "Don't Believe The Hype" written by Public Enemy. We get caught up on the hype of what was designed to be a catalyst for our rebirth. The caterpillar was never the destiny of the butterfly. The pain of the hueman being is not our destiny. We were born to create to be free, to be beautiful and to love.

NEW MOONS & BUTTERFLIES
Today is a New Moon and the perfect time to activate your imagination, to entertain your fantasies, envision your dreams and launch your desires. The pain that is being paraded across our TVs, computer screens from various communities around the world is only the pre-cursor to of an era of lovers, creators and beauty unless . . . the butterfly believes the caterpillar stage of its life was its destiny.

What is it gonna take for us as a collective to experience a golden age in huemanity, a renaissance?  To pass this test that we're being given as a collective? 

STAND IN OUR IDENTITY AS LOVERS & CREATORS.
We must be aware of what is so while also keeping our focus on what is working, what's right, good, what's possible and engage in the business of amplifying that daily, as a practice. If you don't feel it, how do you get there?

Well GENERATE the feeling. Move your body, listen to music, drink and eat green foods. But just get there! Because one person vibin' on love, beauty, and possibility is more powerful than a thousand who are not. It's always the 1% that make things happen anyway, that participate, that follow-through, that act, that make history, that become legend. When has there never been a case when light didn't overcome darkness, literally. Think about it, a match or a lighter creates the ability to see in a once pitch dark environment.

So plant your seed in this New Moon energy and be that point of light, that creator, our lover.  

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 1 of 10/13 Moons 
New Moon

Oh Happy Day!
I awoke with Madonna's lyrics "I made it through the wilderness. Somehow I made it through."
The last week and throughout September I'd been feeling uncharacteristically ill and was a bit scary as a healer having done all that I knew to do in regard to remedies.  It's clear that it was a clearing of energy that just had to go. Author of "Anatomy of Spirit" Caroline Myss echoes our Ancestors that all illness and disease begins in our Spirit. 

My second message this morning was "Thank God I don't get everything I desire." Sometimes we really think we "want" a thing and are shown had we gotten it, it would have been our undoing.

I was invited to participate in a pop-up exhibition to present my healing beauty rituals collection​ A U S E T : B E A U T Y and wasn't sure days before if I'd be well enough to attend. I was feeling better but then ninety minutes before I started feeling bad again. I smudged, declared, got in the tub with love crystals, declared, cleansed and got back up renewed and strong. It was an energetic releasing of darkness i.e. grief, shame, fear from my body.  Then I had the desire to hear Jill Scott's "Slowly Surely."

I was able to go to the event and share my work like a minister shares the gospel. The triumph was in being there, not how much product I sold but like a farmer planting seeds into fertile soil with love everyday.
  
NEW CHAPTER OF CREATION
Today on this Jupiter-ruled Thursday just a day before this New Moon in Libra bringing in a new chapter of creation, my heart is full of "Thank you." Today won't you wear out these words to the people and experiences guiding us home to ourselves like a loving mama standing at the door illuminating our steps with light and love?

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 29 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Crescent 

We come into the world eating and drinking from the body of our own mother.
Sweet. Buttery. Salty.
It's very difficult on a fundamental level to believe that something
as natural as eating could lead us straight to the grave. 
How we eat can determine how we live and how long we live.
We can't afford to get this wrong. ​
What?  How?  When?
It's not so much that the consumption of food that is dangerous but
what we eat, how it's prepared, when we eat it and if we assimilate
the nutrition and release the waste by-products. 
Before developing The Organic Beauty Detox, I complained "Why aren't
we taught the 101 course on nutrition and how to take care of our bodies in school?"
Fresh. Local.
Eating has never been as complicated as it is today with the corporate interests.
Once upon a time we ate fresh food from our farms and local grocers.
Today if you live with a food allergy, diabetes, eating disorder
and happen to be living in an average American city it could feel the
way I'd imagine a thirsty alcoholic surrounded by liquor stores feels
when he/she just wants a glass of fresh spring water.
Gone Too Soon.
Yesterday I attended the life celebration of a childhood friend
who passed away from diabetes, leg amputated and all.
I always feel a profound injustice for deaths that occur from preventable circumstances.
What drives someone to continue to eat in a way that is threatening their very life?
 My masseuse shared with me that when he's missing his mother,  
he craves McDonald's cheeseburgers because it brings a sort of comfort.  
As someone who personally deals with food allergy activated illness from
time-to-time, I know all too well the deeply emotional pull to
certain foods regardless of the toll those foods may take my our health.
Months ago after being in bed ill for a week, a clear voice spoke to me saying: 
"If you want to be immortal you can't eat like the mortals."
There's a lot for each of us to consider to achieve this end:  
Emotional voids
Food deserts.
Lack of knowledge.
Lack of cash.

So what is the solution? 
Like preparing to go to war, it's going to take:
1. a tactical approach  
2. daily preparation  
​3.  a support team  
4. mental + emotional strengthening

I know personally, that you're not ready until you're ready.
If you are ready to really go in on this, which of the four steps will you commit to this week?
Me? #3. I'm going to call my friends Gabrielle Darvassy + Ron Brigel of B'Gab's Goodies
to get my vegan/soy-free/gluten-free/peanut-free back-up goodies in position!

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 28 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Crescent 

 And still I rise. 
                          - Maya Angelou

This note is dedicated to all of the elders, teachers, ancestors, pioneers, mavericks, trailblazers who have come before and left clues, maps, sacred texts so that we may continue the work of the Light Ones.
- - - -
How does one harvest an apple?
First, plant the seed. Furthermore, I know that when I plant an apple seed, it is impossible to harvest a watermelon. What I sow is what I reap, this is the universal law of cause and effect at work. 

Author, Comedian, Health Activist Dick Gregory reminds us that the greatest and most powerful law of our lives, this land, planet, universe is Universal Law. We've learned that when we violate the laws of nature there is a price to be paid; again cause and effect. Case and point, our bodies are made mostly of water, like 85 - 95%. When I don't drink water, I dehydrate my body then all sort and form of malfunction begins to occur: lack of energy, lack of concentration, inability to breathe, perhaps even death. 

As "hue"manity experiences its growing pains, what Charles Dickens said comes to mind, "this is the best of times, this is the worst of times." It's easy to get distracted and take on a Neptunian style of living when you look at your life, your community, our world and have no clue of where to begin with solving the human dilemmas - so you seek escape from it all. "It's so much, it's too much. Wonder what's on Netflix?"

Consider that the solutions we seek have nothing to do with worldly things but in our ability to create - to be the metaphysicians we were born to be. We are multi-dimensional beings, with intellect and yet also creativity, literally the ability to CREATE. As the author of SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic almost ten years ago now, I suggested that "without knowing it, we have created a great deal of painful and pleasurable experiences not overstanding our power as goddesses and superwomen."

It is only in feeling powerless that we disconnect from our innate power of being creators. The beauty of seeing, feeling and otherwise experiencing what we don't enjoy is that it creates a desire for something else, a dream or vision. From there we can begin to create differently, consciously - even otherworldly. My consciousness, thought, feeling and actions precede the manifestation of things and conditions.

The Plutonian influence of Kali (death/rebirth) during this Autumn Equinox gives us an opportunity to leave behind outmoded consciousness and create anew in a clean kitchen. A new month, new moon, new beginning is just days away and possibility is abound. 

So what if we let go of this illusion of powerlessness? What would happen if we awoke from our "mean sleep" thinking that: Celebrity, Isolation, Illness, Poverty, Violence and Prejudice are normal facts of life? Aren't they just illusions i.e. nightmares that can be undone?

Also there's so much more that can be said about each of these things I'm going to skip that inquiry and suggest that we get quiet, fast from the unnecessary, and tap into the voice of our inner oracle and activate the metaphysician that works universal law, the superwoman that powers in possibility and the goddess that inspires life in everything she touches. 

Imagine a world where the sleeping giants awoke and expressed every gift, talent and ability.  A world where there was no concept of celebrity and that each citizen of this planet was an honored member of a harmonious and honorable community, health and vitality is the status quo, each person, family and community had access to anything they required so there is no need to hoard from others, peace and cooperation amongst a diversity of cultures, traditions and expressions of hueman being with option of a dual citizenship amongst the heavens.

This vision is not so far-fetched as the standard was set before by the most ancient Kemetians (Egyptians) who famously lived in peace for thousands of years without the need for police because the goal of each citizen was to be an empowered and enlightened being. I have to agree with Carter G. Woodson, that said "When you control a man's thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions."  

Sheep are adorable in fact I was born the year of the sheep according to Chinese Astrology, however like the caterpillar transforms into the butterfly, it's the holy hour for the beloved sheep to become the metaphysician.

​Get quiet. Fast. Tap In. Dream. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 27 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Crescent

Less is more.
When you go deep you don't have to go wide.
When you have quality you don't need quantity.

We've all heard these statements and applies to so many areas of our lives. Currently we are in the last quarter of the ninth moon of 2016. The Last Quarter Moon phase is the best time to release the unnecessary and outdated. If soaring is the goal then making sure we are not overloaded with the unnecessary is key.  

POSSESSIONS
I'll never forget preparing for a 205-day adventure on the road in "Lucy The LoveShip," my vintage Oasis motorhome. I planned all that I would require in such a compact space. It was revealing to review my daily rituals and activities while creating a list of each thing I would specifically require. Once I set out on my journey, everything had it's proper place and I could move about in a clean, organized environment and focus on whatever task was at hand. Simplicity sets us free to focus without distraction or burden of excess. 

FOOD 
When you have quality you don't need quantity. I find that if I consume protein in my first meal I don't get as hungry the rest of the day. When I skip that and I'm at home I will find myself snacking all day. You can eat fast food all day, even be obese but still be hungry and malnourished because you're eating quantity with no quality i.e. true nourishment.

On the other hand, do you have a habit of buying too many fresh groceries and the food going bad before you had a chance to consume it? Going to the market as you need it is a great option if you have that option available to you. 

MEDIA
I grew up at a time where if someone called and you weren't there, they would just have to call back to reach you. If you wanted to send a note to someone in another country or state you would need to write a letter, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it, walk to the mail box and WAIT. This process alone decreased the amount of communications that you would receive in your mailbox. In fact getting a hand-written letter was an event, something to sit down and enjoy. Now we have the blessing and curse of getting instant messages from every direction at all times of the day.

FRIENDSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS
When you go deep you don't have to go wide. Did you have a best friend or a small circle of friends you hung out with everyday when you were little? Do you have a mate, best friend or circle of friends now as an adult? Do you keep up with them? Do you know what they are excited about? What their concerns are? Is there intimacy?

We have Facebook Friends, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Followers, the people we know from our work place, the organizations we participate in, our church or spiritual communities . . . so many people so little time. We can attempt to stay in touch with people through a multitude of channels but at the end of the day, the only way to really create real connection and intimacy is to be present and involved in the lives of fewer people. 

TO DO LISTS
Once upon a time people had to wash clothes, linens, etc. by hand and it took the whole day. Now we can pop a load in the washing machine and go on about our day. With so many time-saving devices in this modern-day culture, it's a wonder why we still feel we don't accomplish enough in the day, in the week, month, year. 

We all know that a plane has strict weight limitations that must be met prior to taking off to soar, it makes sense that we each take a moment to reflect on what weight limitations we have before taking off and letting go of the unnecessary, paring down, simplifying so that we can soar at heights never before experienced - so let that shite go beautiful!

Review your possessions, your eating, the media you're consuming, your relationships and to do lists to get to the essence of what is truly of value and of quality. Tweet or Share what you plan to let go of during this last quarter moon.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 26 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Crescent

COME BACK TO THE LOVE
Last night I was listening to an interview Tim Ferriss was doing with strategist, businessman, author and philanthropist Tony Robbins when he mentioned a documentary on him called "I Am Not Your Guru."  I stopped listening to the interview then opened up my Netflix account, typed the name in the search box, watch the opening credits and within five minutes of viewing I was in tears - completely moved by the apparent love that Tony Robbins brings to his work.

The morning after I'm still enchanted by the impact of his message because it so resonates with me.  From a very young age. I never had any doubt that my life would be a life where my work would be creative and was something I loved. Although there have been a few detours, I always come back to the love, no matter how much or little financially its brought me.

MOM AWAY FROM HOME
This feeling of enchantment I'm feeling was similar three years ago, the night after my mother's retirement celebration. My mother Bea Harris, an educator for middle and high schoolers in the area of Life Skills which encompassed World Cuisine and Home Economics for forty-seven years. I'll never forget her saying that she wanted to be a "mom away from home teaching them skills that they will use for life." Her students impact the world and she left her fingerprints on them. 

LOVE & CONTRIBUTION
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Robbins said "people need: certainty, variety, significance, love and connection, growth and contribution." It is clear that both Tony and my mother chose LOVE and CONTRIBUTION as their guiding force.  As I wrote in honor of my mother's retirement tribute years ago: "We are all building legacies as we pass through each moment, day, week, season, year.   The seemingly mundane becomes a body of work later to be reviewed and enjoyed.  Bea Harris discovered what she was born to do and has shared it with love: from the White House, to Seventh Avenue and the islands of the Caribbean in the most profound way through a legion of students of national diversity in whom she planted her seed of Love.  Her story is a beautiful love story that continues to unfold."

DO YOU DO IT FOR LOVE?
What would this world look like if every person who held a job was doing it for love and contribution? Your doctor, your auto mechanic, your teacher, your customer service rep, your pilot? Our policemen and women? Can you imagine it?

What is the work, mission, purpose, calling that you could do for LOVE & CONTRIBUTION?
​This weekend really think about it. Below are two films that may get you inspired while you meditate on these questions. 

 ♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 23 of 9/13 Moons 
Last Quarter Moon

 LISTEN UP.
It's a good reminder for me and us all to NEVER eat when you feel stressed, upset or otherwise peaceful.

WHY?
When you are stressed your nervous system is in "fight or flight" mode, ready to handle a crisis or physical exertion. What this means is that all of the maintenance functions of your parasympathetic nervous system: like digestion of food has been paused. So if you eat while stressed the food will not be properly digested but sit, putrefy, and ferment in your digestive tract. Not sexy, in the truest sense of the word. Undigested food can lead to a host of beauty and health issues like including problem skin, indigestion, mental imbalances. 

NOURISHMENT RITUAL
Prior to diving into your food:

• TAKE three deep-controlled breaths inhaling through the nose as your tummy expands and exhaling through the nose as your tummy contracts.
• GET PRESENT to the purpose of eating: for nourishment, community, pleasure
• GIVE THANKS for the life that has been given for you to live, the grower/preparer of the food. 
• ASK that the food be purified and blessed for the nourishment of your body. 
• EAT SLOWLY, mindfully and in gratitude being present to the sensual experience of eating: the smells, the taste, texture, heat, etc. 

There's a reason many of us where taught to say "Grace" before eating.
Today be an example and REMIND your family and friends to EAT IN PEACE today and see how your eating experience transforms your life. 
 
 ♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 22 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

"How you got him is how you will lose him."
"Love is dead, I want to die. My heart is broken."

While another innocent man was senselessly shot by police yesterday, the newsfeed was dominated by varied sentiment on the ending of the "Brangelina" era. I have to admit that when I heard the news my heart sunk a bit too. Celebrities or not they are human beings. We root for love and project our hopes, dreams and fantasies as well as our fears, phobias and disillusionment on other people's relationships.

"The Notebook" and "Cinderella" stories seem to be the default or ideal love story in our psyche and anything outside of that looks like failure in the love life department. But is that really fair?

THE HOLY GRAIL
Years ago a gentlemen asked me if I was married and I said "no."
He further asked if I ever was and I said "yes." In fact I went on to say that I believe every intimate relationship is a marriage. He offered his apology and said "I'm sorry it failed." I said "but it didn't. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life, we are still close and I grew in such profound ways so I feel that the union was a great success."  Just because a couple chooses to redefine their relationship doesn't mean that it's a failure. Just because a couple stays together for fifty years doesn't mean that the union was "successful." Many people view a walk down the aisle as the holy grail and staying together no matter what as successful. I've asked the question "Do You Really Want A Ring On It" to explore this notion.  

GROW & EVOLVE
I agree with Jujumama's Kenya and Carl Stevens that the purpose of relationships are for growth and personal evolution and not necessarily to get love because ideally we already identify ourselves as love and are already in a love relationship with ourselves. When it comes to relationships, marriage, partnership, union there is no "one size fits all" template. Each person comes to this life unique with a specific life's purpose, mission, lesson and how we experience and express those things are one-of-a-kind. Our complexities don't neatly fit in a box. 

Whether you're celibate, single, married, divorced, widowed, it's complicated, open relationship, monogamous, polygamous, polyandrous, for seventy-two hours or seventy-two years it's perfect for YOU. So it's not really fair or accurate to believe that all people have to have "The Notebook" or "Cinderella" template to constitute success in love. 

ULTIMATE UNION
I really feel that what we're each really looking for us the ultimate union within - our perfect expression of feminine and masculine within. Two flames becoming one to create a greater flame - power couple. I realized recently that it doesn't make sense to put absolute trust in human beings because at the end of the day we are - human. And that although it looks an awful lot like it, the REAL relationship isn't with him, her, them . . . human beings. The relationship I have with another is the relationship I have with the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the Omnipowerful Creator of all things within ME.

​POWER COUPLES + THREESOMES
I am already in the ultimate power couple relationship with the Divine. God is my boo, my bae, my Beloved. I'm the first lady of the All. How do I do that? My love affair is with the expression of Good, Life, Love guided by the laws of the Universe - Maat. This union becomes polyandrous when I share the energy of this union with everyone I come in contact with including the man at my side. He becomes the beneficiary of that love, the vessel through which I rendezvous with the Divine: The ULTIMATE Threesome. It's a BIG IDEA right? Try it on. 

The only possible failure in relationship I see is coming out of any relationship the same as you went in because that means you didn't grow or evolve. If you're not growing you're dying. So I say let's dive in to every union, partnership, marriage willing to do what it takes to graduate to the next adventure whether it's with one or multiple teachers. 
♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 21 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

We run off . . .
We medicate . . . 
We do whatever it takes to cover it up and dull the sensation.
We're suppose to feel.
We're suppose to love and hate and hurt and grieve
and break and be destroyed
and rebuild ourselves to be destroyed again.
That's humanity. That's being alive. That's the point.
That's the entire point.
Don't avoid it. Don't extinguish it. 
                                                                             - Grey's Anatomy, Season 11 Episode 24

How do you escape pain, grief and avoid loss . . . boredom? 
Do you numb your pain? If so what's your drug of choice?
. . . because if you're numb to the pain you're also numb to the passion, the joy, the happiness, the pleasure and all the other delicious feelings and experience of being a human being. When you put up a wall to block one thing it blocks EVERYTHING else too.

If you can stand in the moment of discomfort knowing that the discomfort is temporary; that "this too shall pass," it becomes a holy reference point. If you take the discomfort on like a researcher or observer and use that information to dream and create what you would rather feel or experience, the contrast creates a new desire in you (Abraham Hicks).

Yes, moments of pain can then become a tool for your growth, development and expansion. Put another way, it's pain and the things you don't desire that help you to get crystal clear on what you do desire. 

So my beautiful whirler of magic, FEEL IT ALL with gratitude knowing that the spectrum of feeling and experience is what it is to be human, if you can feel, it means you're ALIVE and you can create something beautiful from this "icky" moment. Avoiding, blocking and otherwise trying to escape pain is discarding one of the most valuable resources for creating what you desire. The KEY is to not stay in the "icky," in the pain because then you're just suffering (SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES p. 18). 
​
What if you took the blockers and blinders off . . .  tore the wall down?
What if you freestyled it today, opened your heart and mind?
Today is a great day to feel all the PASSION in this life in all it forms and use it to dream, create and expand. 

You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done.
                                                                                               - Genesis 50:20

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 20 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

What's that saying that somethin' was sooooo goood it made you wanna smack your mama?
Ok, NOT that - NEVER gonna happen but I sure did call my mother on the heels of a dinner  experience last night that was on the level of ecstasy that made me blush. Lola Yum Yum was most definitely in the building. Who's Lola Yum Yum? She's my alter ego who's pleasure for eating surpasses the most sensual of acts - wink wink. ;o)

THE MEAL
fresh collard greens from my mother's garden
sliced san marzano tomatoes
two boiled eggs, sliced

I told mom that if I'd made some johnnie cakes to go with this odyssey of yum, the level of ecstasy may have taken me out of this world. For real, straight to a delicious Heaven. 

Welps, I ate my dinner so fast that I didn't think to photograph it . . . but here's the recipe:

THE GODDESS'S COLLARD GREENS
Makes about 3 cups of greens

1 bunch of collard greens (10-12 leaves), rolled and cut into thin strips
1 large sweet vidalia onion, diced
1 TBSP coconut oil
2 tsp light white miso, non-gmo, organic
1 1/2 c. spring water
1 tsp black pepper or cayenne (better on digestion)
1 tsp. pink himalayan salt
4 cloves of garlic (not too big), minced
2 TBSP nutritional yeast (not brewer's)

PREP
Cut your greens, onions and garlic
Combine spring water, miso and garlic
Boil eggs prior to making this dish so they are ready
Slice or dice your tomatoes

DIRECTIONS
1. SAUTE onions in coconut oil in a stainless steel dutch oven
(i.e. big pot) for about 3 minutes at a medium heat.
2. ADD greens to sauteed onions then lower heat a little and continue to stir for 1 minute.
3. ADD water, miso, garlic mixture to greens and continue to stir until miso has fully dissolved.
4. LOWER heat to low then sprinkle greens with pepper and salt.
5. COVER pot and allow greens to simmer until tender. Keep checking and stirring.
It's important to keep heat low so as not to burn the greens. Maybe 10 - 15 minutes.
6. Taste and season with salt or pepper to your taste.
7. TURN off the heat when you feel the greens are done. 
8. ADD the nutritional yeast and stir. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes.
9. SERVE greens in a bowl with a side plate of tomatoes and boiled eggs.
10. EAT with your eyes closed and a heart of gratitude.

Please, TWEET me or TAG me and let me know if you're going to try the recipe as
​well as how your meal turns out. (pics would be even more awesome to see) 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 19 of 9/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous