1. COCONUT WATER 
2. LEAFY GREENS for salad
3. RAW UNSALTED ALMONDS
4. PITTED DATES
5. NOURISH SUPERfoods & Sprouts multivitamin
6. SPIRULINA
7. SEA MOSS
8. ENTOURAGE: Eight Phytocannabinoids

 2020 : I envision this post finds you and your family well.
As a follow-up to my last post: "Building A #SuperHero Immune System,"
I was recently asked "What are you doing to support your immune system?"

This post is an answer to that question including a shopping list!
🛍🛒
This year I upped my health and wellness game when this so-called global pandemic swept the land. So no more cheap products for the sake of saving money. I'm not playing games with this trying to save a few dollars when my life is at stake.

There is NOTHING more valuable to me than my health and sound mind so I'm committed to only consuming the best, most potent, most pure, raw, living and pristine foods and ​bio-available medicinals. Don't skimp on quality: The Best for the Best.

For full transparency, many of the items included on this list are from our own "black"-woman owned wellness market: an addition to our apotheca and cosmetic brand.

If you would like a FREE membership (30 second set-up/no credit card needed)
for a 20% discount on all orders (or even to begin your own wellness market) 
CLICK THIS LINK.

If you find something you like and are a bit cash flow challenged I can gift you a $25 Gift Card. There are also sample sizes of many of the items as well.
Just let me know in the comments. I will respond quickly.
🌍 🌎 🌏
Everything on this list is THE BEST I'VE FOUND ON THE PLANET⁺:
Most Pure, Most Potent, Best Price. 

R E S T
​• neck pillow
• cotton sheets (no polyester, acrylic or synthetic fibers)

​H Y D R A T E
 • Spring Water (Crystal Geyser, 365 from Whole Foods, Mountain Valley)
• Ingestible ​Peppermint Essential Oil (add to water if you don't like the taste of water)
• Fresh Young Coconut Water or Harmless Harvest Coconut Water (best tasting on the market)

B R E A T H E 
• Ingestible BREATHE Essential Oil (use when doing deep-breathing exercises.
Scroll down to the bottom for an education in essential oils)
​
E A T  🌿 L I F E
A.M.
• Fresh limes & lemons to alkalinize your water
• Pink Himalayan salt to structure your water
• Silver BioMineral daily to add to water or take sublingually
• Zinc BioMineral every other day sublingually
• Magnesium BioMineral daily sublingually
• Chromium BioMineral daily sublingually
• Potassium BioMineral daily sublingually
• Country Life High Potency Vitamin D3 600 IU or more

• Phytocannabinoids: 
3000 mg. Black Seed Oil Nigella Sativa (one dropper full daily) or
Entourage Eight Phytocannabinoid Blend (black seed, cbd/hemp, copaiba, hops,
helichrysum, turmeric, black pepper and peppermint oils)

• Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil (1 TBSP. daily) I have a huge jar from Walmart.

• Herbal Results Olive Leaf Extract 
(a capful once a day. Contains ionospheres for iron absorption)

• Herb Pharm Cayenne Extract
(add to a pitcher of lime water & drink throughout the day)

LATE MORNING
SuperImmunity Drink/Shake Recipe
• Unsweetened fresh or store-bought Almond Milk (I like Aldi's brand) or Oat Milk or Coconut Milk (I love fresh or Aldi's brand) 8 oz.
• 1 tsp. Nourish  Superfoods & Sprouts Wholefood Multivitamin
​(this has all your vitamin & mineral requirements)
• MoringaLantro 1 tsp.
• Healing Trilogy: 1 tsp. Mind Ayurvedic Brain Superfood, 1 tsp. Body Ayurvedic Cardio Superfood, 1 tsp. Soul  Ayurvedic pH Superfood
(comment below for a sample sizes)
• Spirulina Protein 1 tsp. (BEST known source of protein on the planet. I buy in bulk.)
• Maca Root Powder 1 tsp. (I buy in bulk)
• Collagen Hydrosolate from Trader Joe's  1 tsp. 
• 4 raw unsalted almonds
• BlackStrap Molasses 1 tsp. 
• 1 pitted date ("A date is a pharmacy")
• Organic ground Cinnamon sprinkle

• Herbal or Root Tea:
Rose Hips (most rich source of Vit. C)
Green Matcha Tea (contains ionospheres for iron absorption)
Green Tea (contains ionospheres for iron absorption)

MID-DAY
• FULL-Spectrum (better than broad-spectrum) CBD/Hemp Oil
(500 mg to 2400 mg sublingually for calm/anxiety)

• Green Leafy Salad with fresh sage, basil, oregano, spring greens, cilantro, parsley
• Your choice of protein: Wild-Harvested Salmon baked/grilled/pan-fried, boiled eggs, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, avocadoes
• Pretty & Peaceful i.e. Mental Health Salad Dressing

P.M.
Charla's Sea Moss Drink [Irish Moss Drink] Recipe
100 g. Sea Moss
6 c. warm distilled water
2 TBSP. flaxseeds i.e. linseeds
1 c. almond milk or coconut milk
coconut condensed milk (optional to taste)
1/4 c. sweetener (coconut nectar, agave nectar, maple syrup)
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla

CLICK for instructions to make

BEFORE BED
Lately I've been drinking Tadin's Seven Blossoms Tea or Aloe Vera & Cactus Tea. 
It changes often. 


A N O I N T
Essential oils cross the blood/brain barrier and enter into the blood stream faster than if you were to eat it. Simply massage and/or rub ingestible a drop or two essential oils with a nickel-size of carrier oil like grapeseed on the bottom of feet, ear lobes, throat for enhanced immunity or where you are experiencing a health crisis for best results.

A BIT OF EDUCATION on Essential Oils
There are many subpar extracted essential oils labeled pure, natural and even therapeutic but very cheaply extracted. It's important to use French Medicinal Quality Essential Oil that are ingestible whenever possible. This is very rare and the brand I use is the best on the planet. The formulator Alexandria Brighton gets the first pick of crops worldwide before any other company and has been behind the most successful essential oil empires. Now she only formulates for ONE company and that is the we affiliate with now.
The game has been upgraded. 👑
 
• Ingestible "I'm Immune" Super Anti-Viral Blend or
• Ingestible Protector Essential Oil Blend or
• Ingestible TriRemedy Essential Oil Blend or
• Ingestible Ravintsara French Medicinal Quality Essential Oil or 
• Ingestible Frankincense French Medicinal Quality Essential Oil

[TELL ME] If you are interested in learning more about how to use Essential Oils
comment below and I will offer it. 

O R T H O M O L E C U L A R  N U T R I T I O N :
Orthomolecular nutrition was a part of my naturopathic doctor curriculum.
Upon taking the final exam, I scored a 99% on my test and wrote in to challenge the two questions that were marked incorrect. The administrator agreed that the answers I chose could also be considered correct. I firmly believe every person should all learn about exactly what their bodies require for optimal well-being, performance and longevity.

[TELL ME] If you are interested in learning about Orthomolecular Nutrition 101,
comment below and I will offer it. 

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

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!"

​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

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™

Amharic: conjo
Arabic: al' Jamal جمال
Cherokee: uwodu
Chinese (simplified): 美女
Croation: ljepota
Czech: krása
Danish: skønhed
Dutch: schoon
Estonian: ilu
Farsi (Persian): زیبایی
Finnish: kauneus
French: beauté
German: die Schönheit
Greek: ομορφιά
Hebrew: yoffi  יוֹפִי
Hindi:  sundarata​  सुंदरता
Hungarian: szépség
Icelandic: fegurð
Indonesian: kecantikan
Igbo: Mma
Italian: bellezza
​Japanese: bi, Utsukushi-sa 美しさ
Kemetic: nefer
Korean: aleumdaum 아름다움
Latvian: skatistums
Lithuanian: grožis 
Norwegian: skjønnhet
Polish: piȩkno, uroda
Portugese: beleza
Romanian: frumuseţe
Russian: kpacota
Slovak: krása
Slovenian: lepota
Spanish: belleza
Swedish: skönhet
Tagalog: ganda
Twi: fƐ
Welsh: prydferthwch

Did I miss any?
If so, ADD below.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 27 of 13/13 Moons 
Waning Crescent

 21 Insights In 4 Nights
During the Winter Solstice I got quiet for four days and four nights and emerged with twenty-one insights; some were reminders, some were epiphanies, others were ideas.
​Insight #6 . . .
It's been ten years since I received about ten boxes containing the first edition of SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic.  I was enchanted by a vision after spending a day with porn stars, strippers, video vixens and 50 cent on a music video over a decade ago. I was crystal clear that when transformed little girls become women who choose suitable mates they will raise children in healthy, loving households and we'll experience transformation in our communities, world, planet. This book project was my love letter to my daughters and yours. My protective stand for the children of the post-gangsta rap generation, seeing the misogyny as a red flag of more degeneration to come.

WHAT IS YOUR PASSIONATE CAUSE THAT YOU WOULD FIGHT FOR?

Although, I never had a sense of urgency to hurry and get this book out, I figured I would be promoting and sharing it with people for the rest of my life, while at the same time felt that somehow one day the concepts in this book would become irrelevant. It felt like with the interest in natural hair and natural beauty becoming more and more mainstream especially in the "African-American" community I'd be singing to the choir. I really felt the day would come that women and girls would get the memo that as "The Golden Goose Of The Universe," our innate power and magic supercedes the colonized, misogynized, superficial and exploited fragments of female we had become on display for all to see. I, you, we're not quite there yet, we're getting there though.

DID YOU KNOW YOU ARE THE GOLDEN GOOSE SIS?

Although many would repeat Dicken's mantra that this is the BEST of times and the WORST of times, there are planetary influences, that will trump a great deal of the degeneration and nonsense we've witnessed in this last era. So this book is even MORE RELEVANT now than ever, but I'm not at all worried because I can see a beautiful victory ahead.

DON'T BE STINGY WITH YOUR GOODIES.
In this book, I talk about being "stingy with your goodies." Well, my blood sister teases me that I haven't really done all I can to make sure that people can easily get this book into their hands by virtue of the fact I've seen a remixed boot-leg copy in Atlanta while doing makeup on a music video with Usher and R. Kelly (Yes, I know. Dont' judge. The work of healers are needed everywhere. Jesus taught us that.) and that I've seen it sold on Amazon for over $258. She had to make me see that it wasn't as much a compliment but that there was a feeling of scarcity for the book. There are only fifteen-hundred copies on the planet. Not a good thing. This is a message, not a piece of artwork. As an artist, I had to shift my mindset and go for the masses because this is about the generations to come. So the scarcity of the book is going to change. We've been chanting #blackgirlmagic and that #blackgirlsrock for a while now so . . . in honor of the ten-year anniversary:

• I will PRINT a commemorative edition of SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES: Workin' Your Power & Magic Book One with a commentary of my views ten years later on what I wrote back in 2005.
• I will have this available on Kindle, etc.
• HOST book circle dinners, workshops, events in Chicago, LA, NYC and selected cities

• FEATURE our readers over the next year. 

I'm really looking forward to connecting with some of our readers as well as introducing this work to new readers. 

DO YOU HAVE THIS BOOK? CLICK this link to connect with me.
DO YOU DESIRE TO HAVE THIS BOOK? CLICK this link to grab one or two or three . . .

What have you created, accomplished and built that needs to be commemorated and celebrated?
commemorate.
Thanks for reading.
Looking forward to meet you soon during this year of celebrating ten years of S & G!

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

Day 13 of 13/13 Moon
Waxing Gibbous
 

It looks like Rahyma capturing attention with her "drool inducing fashion marvels" may lead her to fulfilling her ultimate vision. Here's what was revealed in my chat with Rahyma about her secret for success . . . ​​​

RAHYMA: Everybody would say hard work, but it depends on your level of hard work. Your hard work may not be the same as my hard work. I don't know if it would work for everybody, it's probably telling on me as you can see but I work hard too much. To the point that when I have an idea I cannot sleep. That's how bad it is. 
AKUA: It's like a Spirit. 
RAHYMA: Yeah because I'll be thinking, "Wow this much opportunity? How am I gonna get it? This person is getting it? That means that I can get it. What am I not doing? What do I have to do. It doesn't make me sleep. I need to know how I can get to that level. 
AKUA: So is it curiosity?
RAHYMA: No it's just, it inspires me to get to the next level because I see somebody's doing it so I know I can do it. If you see everybody failing around you it just makes you feel maybe can...you also...ok everybody's failing anyway. You know what I mean? Like ok...
AKUA: It's contagious. 
RAHYMA: I'm getting one dollar and everybody's getting one dollar so it's ok. It's just like you sitting her now and you saying I'm happy I can hear these people talk, I can see what they're doing, I can actually see... Really, they're getting something out of what they're doing. It's making you feel like you I have to now execute. That's how it is for every, that's how it should be for everybody.  So that's really my big drive. I look at a lot of things that are bigger than me and work hard to get to that big place. 
AKUA: That's brilliant. Love it.
RAHYMA: ...and I'm very calculated. I can see...and think, think, think just so that I don't make a mistake. However at the back of mind I still leave room for mistakes. Because I know it can never be all perfect. But would I just leave myself to fail? No! I always don't won't to feel guilty when something goes wrong. And that's why I work so hard. So I know, ok I work so hard, but I don't feel guilty because I didn't do my best. So what is next? Just like yesterday, even before I came to the pop-up, I'm already thinking here: "What's next?" Because this is gone.
AKUA: Yea. It's a new day. Clean slate. 
RAHYMA: I have to start thinking of what is next? What am I going to do? I'm going back home, what is the next project, what am I putting together? There's always a drive. 
AKUA: When did you start your business?
RAHYMA: I'm gonna say 2010 because that's when I finished school, fashion school. So I went straight into...I wanted to wait but I just went straight into business because I had the demand and since then I've not stopped. My goal is to be in the big malls. 
AKUA: I can totally see that. So I was going to ask you what your big picture is, what's your big goal? So it's to be in the malls.
RAHYMA: To be in the big malls, not just the small malls.
AKUA: Like Neiman-Marcus, Barney's New York? . . .
RAHYMA: Thank you. So if I'm not working hard, I'm not gonna get there. So everything that I'm doing right now, is to get me to that place where I wanna go.
AKUA: And what do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far that you're very proud of? 
RAHYMA: The amount of growth of the business in a very short period of time because I'm gonna say that everything really started this year. 
AKUA: So you put in six years before it really . . .
RAHYMA: I put in a lot of years and the thing...like...it's really nothing. So I could say I started five or six years ago, but nothing was really happening in the first years. Nothing was really coming out of it. It was just here and there. People loving the stuff, just to validate what I was doing. People saying "Oh my God!" but nothing really coming out of it. But really that's how you know that if you continue things forward, it's going to be something big.
AKUA:  Just keep going. 
RAHYMA: ...cuz those same people that are validating your stuff in the long run if you work hard, you play your game well it will turn around into...(she's make a gesture with her hand)
AKUA: Moolah!
RAHYMA: You just have to continue pushing forward. Never give up. Never let anything...you know your downtime, never let it really bring you down. Let it be something...your ingredient to go up!
AKUA: Right! Look for an adjustment.
RAHYMA: Yes. Always, always, when you fall down, just always think of: "How do I get up?" Immediately! Don't give yourself time to sulk, cry and say "oh God...."Even when you lose because I've lost before. I went for a show and that show cost me...I spent about five thousand dollars and it was scanty. There were no people there.  I said to another jewelry designer who was so mad, "Don't be mad, you're meeting a lot of people, sometimes if you don't take the chance you wouldn't know, you may have missed out on something."  He was very upset but I was over it. The first day I didn't see anything happening I was like "What next? What next? What next?
AKUA: You just gotta keep it movin'.
RAHYMA: Yea. You gotta keep it movin'.

Company: RAHYMA pronounced "RA-HEE-MA"

Product: Scarves, Tops, Jumpsuits, Dresses, Separates in 100% Cotton Ankara Cloth

Description: ​Luxury African Print Fashion: "Drool Inducing Fashion Marvels"

Collection Pieces: Dashiki Trench Coat Dress, Maxi Skirt, Dashiki Harem Jumpsuit or Skirt 

Made In: Proudly Nigerian

Price Range: 19.99 - 169.99

Owner: Rahyma Momodu-Awanife

Business Started: 2010

Website: rahyma.com

R A H Y M A
Proudly Nigerian

B E S I D A
made in nigeria

B E S I D A
​bombay skirt

Company: BESIDA

Meaning: Besida is a female name from the Itsekiri tribe meaning "destiny determines all."

Product: Tops, Jumpsuits, Dresses, Separates in 100% Cotton Ankara Cloth

Description: ​Hand-made, Stylish, Affordable

Collection Pieces: AfriKimono, Fan Maxi Dress, Gidi Crop Top, Bombay Skirt

Made In: Edo, Nigeria

Price Range: 29.99 - 114.99

Owner: Sophia Danner-Okotie aka Sophia O.

Business Started: August 2015

Website: BesidaOnline.com

A Chat With Sophia O. . . . "My Secret For Success" 
While traveling to LA on assignment I had an opportunity to visit with my multi-genius Renaissance Woman friend Fanta Celah while she was on Zuvaa's Multi-city Pop-Up Tour along with fellow entrepreneur designers Sophia Danner-Okotie and Rahyma.

Each designer is a success in her own beautiful right. Ever on the alert for superwomengoddess power and magic, I was curious about what each woman attributed to her success in business. Here's what was revealed in my chat with 24-year old native Nigerian, Sophia O. . . . 
​ 
What Is Your Secret For Success?
"It may be cliche and perhaps the most obvious secret to success is prayer."
​
"Anytime that I feel like I'm in lack or need strength or feel like I'm about to worry about something. I say: "God I'm not going to worry because I know you're gonna work." It says: "In your time of weakness, that's when I'm strong."

"In a way, you can bask in your weakness because you know that's when God is most powerful. He has all the energy and he just wants to surprise you. There's so many instances where I felt like that was it for the week where I wasn't going to make enough to match my bills or pay my workers and he just does something at the last minute when I would get on my knees and pray "I need your help and I know you're gonna make it happen." That's the secret. 

I build a wall of defense around me that whatever the enemy has in store for me is going back to turn around in my favor." 

NEWS REPORTER TURNED ENTREPRENEUR
"I was working as a news reporter on TV. Everyone thinks that because I was on TV that I made it. I didn't feel that was my purpose. I quit my job four months ago so I could focus on this to take it to the next level and that's where it's going. 

God told me it was time for me to turn in my two weeks notice. I had the letter written out and said "Lord if it's time, you will show me a sign." I wrote the letter and put it on the table. And that day my boss called me in and she said: "Hey I just wanted to know if you were still thinking about staying?" I said: "Today is the day that I give my two weeks." I already had the letter written. Isn't that crazy?"

Greatest Success So Far:
"Seeing how much people appreciate the clothes, appreciate where it's made. I advertise my clothes are made in Nigeria. If I could change my clothing line to "Made In Nigeria" I would. The idea that these are made by the people [is the most powerful aspect to this whole vision].

It's so difficult communicating here, there and then getting what I need here, but it's so worth it.  Because I've seen my tailors expand. I'm hiring more tailors, I hired a supervisor there now. So I'm giving jobs, you're adding to the economy. That is the reason I started the company, not because I love clothes necessary because I want more jobs in Nigeria. And I want to inspire people to go back to Nigeria and start. They could do bags, they could do jewelry, it's just the perception that they're African, what really can they do?"

What Is The Big Vision For Your Company?
"Getting more designers to go to Nigeria to make their clothes. When you see "Made in Italy" you assume it's going to be of quality. Let's see if we can get Louis Vuitton in Nigeria to make a collection there, the production. And to change the connotation of that Africans make mediocre, but that Africans make supreme quality." 

Thanks for reading. :o)

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 17 of 11/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

It's occurred to me that some people may wonder what's the deal with all the interest in the moon. For me? It's my way to be grounded in the rhythm of nature instead of a man-made rhythm of hustle and bustle. Being connected to my internal lunar rhythm as well as the external lunar cycle in the sky assists me with mastering the illusion of time and to just BE present. 

Tonight get out of your house to gaze, honor and conjure the desires of your heart with this Full SuperMoon in Taurus. The moon hasn't been this close to the Earth since 1948 and won't be this close again until 2034. Walk to the waters, charge your crystals, kiss your love and celebrate all of the beauty and blessings in your life - now and forever. 

Need some Full Moon Rituals & Observance ideas? CLICK HERE

I launched Auset's Notebook two months ago on my birthday as a "mostly daily" place to share a bit of my personal holistic beauty culture - which is heavily based on habits and mindset.  Like my mother, your mother probably would affirm that "Pretty is as pretty does."  True. True. True.

99.9% of the 40 notes have been "inspired."  I awoke with the message and compelled to write about it. 

Here were your TOP THREE FAVORITE Notes:
#1: No. 28: Get Off Your A$$ Gorgeous                     CLICK TO READ AGAIN
#2: No. 34: ...Before You Call YourSelf A Witch     CLICK TO READ AGAIN
#3: No. 3: Villains, Angels & Beauty Secrets          CLICK TO READ AGAIN

So it could be YOU or it could be ME but here are the posts you TOTALLY slept on.
WTH?!? Let's try this again:

Here were the TOP THREE Notes That Got Crickets:
#1: No.33: Your Daily Beauty Ritual       CLICK THIS TO READ
#2: No. 27: Stingy With The Goodies      CLICK THIS TO READ

#3 was tied with the following notes:
 No. 6: The Goddess's Collard Greens  CLICK THIS TO READ
 No.  21: The Excellence of Love            CLICK THIS TO READ
 No. 31: You Must Set The Standard      CLICK THIS TO READ
 No. 39: It's Time To Express Your Multi-Genius  CLICK THIS TO READ

[FAVOR] Please do me a solid and tell me WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN and I'll see if I can provide inspired notes about those topics. I've opened up the comments sections and look forward to your input as well as feedback on the notes that got crickets. I LOVE feedback and don't get sensitive when I receive it so give it to me! ;o)

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 15 of 11/13 Moons 
Full SUPER Moon in Taurus

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