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

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

​BASIC LOVE BATH RITUAL
You'll need:

A BATHTUB
SAGE WAND or DRAGON'S BLOOD RESIN

​BODY SCRUB 
sugar, salt, or pre-made

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

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

BODY OIL, BUTTER, BALM, LOTION
Holy Butter™

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enter Beyoncé's Lemonade album.

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

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

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

Inspired.
Proud.
Moved.
Relieved.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soothes Dry Itchy Skin
Perfect during the cold winter months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How To Prepare Jamaican Sorrel Tea

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

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

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

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 5 of 1/12 Moons 
Waxing Crescent  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 4 of 1/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent  

Are you fascinated by heist films like: The Italian Job, The Thomas Crown Affair, Flawless, Ocean's Eleven, Entrapment, Now You See Me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, ?

ORDER + PLANNING + STRATEGY
What makes the thief successful is their excellence in organization, planning and strategy. Perhaps the faithless leave nothing to chance so organization, planning, and strategy insure success. Perhaps the faithful leave too much up to chance expecting it all to just work out. What if the "righteous" utilized this level of science in carrying out their visions instead of leaving much to faith, hope and their very best wishes?

Ever wonder how the popularity of the mini-Cooper got it started in America? When The Italian Job film came out I started to see more people driving mini-Coopers. If you haven't watched The Italian Job (2003) check it and witness the level of flawless teamwork of talented thieves and technicians coming together to steal thirty million dollars in gold without a gun but using:  precision timing (to the second), flawless planning and strategy.

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

For years I've said that I'm the safest woman for your husband to be around because if I know that a man is in a relationship or married I'm NOT interested. Mainly, because I need to be the priority and I'm clear that I have no desire to share a mate. I know many are involved in polygamous, open, polyamorous relationships and such but at the end of the day . . . not interested. 

True story . . .
When a man who finds you on Facebook says:

Man: "Akua you may remember me from last night. This world is so small as it appears we are connected by associations and friends. I hope you and your mom made it home safely."

Akua: "Yes. I remember you. You found me. Thank you for that . We did. Thank you for taking care of my mom."

After a bit of casual back and forth . . .

Man: xxx-xxx-xxxx best between 7-4

There are so many things I take issue with this in addition to meanwhile I've expressed no interest in him. "best between 7 to 4?"

Is that pm to am, or am to pm?
Those are odd hours. My intuition tells me it's fishy. 
So I Google him to find that he's been married for 19 years. 
Meanwhile, I'm friends with his daughter on Facebook.
So I respond . . .

Akua: "Not sure why I am calling. Aren't you married? 7 am to 4 pm? or 7 pm to 4 am? tisk tisk shame on you."

. . . BUT HE'S A SUPERSTAR
Years ago one of my dear divorced friends was being heavily pursued by a very married A-list celebrity. She was having a bit of a dilemma because this man is a very desirable superstar.  I encouraged her saying: "If you ever want to be happily married to YOUR guy, don't even think about this. There will be a price to pay." As far as I know she didn't and she has been happily married to her best friend for years now. Do until others as you would have them do unto you.

WHAT IS FOR YOU, IS FOR YOU
New-thought author and founder of Hay House, Louise Hay has a bit to say about being dishonest as well as stealing. "Whatever you give out in life comes back to you, always. And if you take from life, it will take from you. It is that simple." She says it's like saying to the Universe: "I don't really deserve the good in my life, I have to sneak around and take it." 
 
CLEAR, CLEAN, FEARLESS
Sometimes we attract these experiences to give us an opportunity to exhibit integrity and clear, fearless communication. Social media and the internet can be a beautiful place for connection as well as a place where serial creeps lurk to find a way into your life. Listen to your intuition, be fearless and clear in your communication. At the end of the day, it's our responsibility to keep things clean, honest and honorable. Sure it doesn't seem fair because it "takes two to tango" but if women will be the Maatian compass of their queendoms, then there will be integrity, order and balance in our relationships, community. And we will attract what is ours by divine consciousness. Be clear, honest and honorable and you will attract what is for you and only for you.

OPEN, POLYGAMOUS, POLYAMOROUS, ETC.
I'm aware that many people intentionally participate in open relationships, polygamy, polyamory, etc. Yet there are still honorable modes of connecting with potential mates. In everything there must be order or there will be chaos.

Most men in relationships are honest and honorable and not lurking around on social media to engage with you. More often than not, men will do the right thing even if they feel an attraction to someone other than their beloved/beloveds. It's natural and normal to feel attraction to more than one person in your lifetime. Human beings are not naturally monogamous (mating once in a lifetime), so there's that. Women are the guides of society. Being magnetic, where we go, men follow. Let's not abuse our power. If we will be a stand for keeping things clean, honest and honorable in interactions with men who are in committed relationships, there's less of an opportunity for things get to the point-of-no-return.

So today, contemplate the question:
"Are you husband/boyfriend safe?"

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 23 of 13/13 Moons 
Waning Crescent

The DEATH Train 
We can't even pretend not to notice all the death around us in the world. It's like there's a big party happening in another realm and people are quickly making their exit to get there. 

As a little girl, my relationship with death was knowing that when people died they would be buried underground in a casket. What a scary thought in my young mind. Surely nothing I'd have to deal with anytime soon.  But it created an uncomfortable feeling about dying until recently . . .

DEATH? NAH
The idea of death isn't what it used to be to me as a young girl, it's nothing to run from or be afraid of when you see life metaphysically; that we are co-creators of our experience here and "there" and that we have freewill to power that experience. I'm not leaving this physical realm until I choose to. (Yup. You did indeed hear my "black" woman sass.) When I hear that someone has "died," if they were close to me or influential in my life, it's more that I will miss their physical presence in this Earth realm. 

I don't see it as some tragic thing unless it was through tragic or painful means that they left this realm. On some level I believe that we approve the experiences that we have because perhaps the soul, the God force within desires to experience the human contrast from it's omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent being of nothingness. Make sense?

Our attachment to life kind of goes away when we discover that EVERY thing is life, there's no such thing as death just the transformation of form. We are but particles of energy and energy is not created nor destroyed it just transforms it's expression. Hmmm . . .

. . . just my theory inspired by much experience, observation and clues given by others. Abraham (the non-physical consortium channeled through Esther Hicks) offers that physical death can be one's desire to re-emerge into life freshly or to express in the non-physical realm. I've wondered if the soul that was Bob Marley has re-emerged and what he's up to. Could it be we never truly die, we just transform form, like relationships?

MY DEMON. MY ANGEL.
We come together. We part company. But our presence in that person's life and their presence in ours never goes away. They become part of our beautiful soul ecology, even if the experience or their presence brought pain or dishonored you. The gift of your co-mingling is the wisdom you gained or the contrast of what you desire to have you desire and manifest another experience. Our apparent demons become our unlikely angels. 

Like King Alobar in the novel "Jitterbug Perfume" going through extensive lengths to discover the secret of longevity or August Wilson's film character Troy in "Fences" in a duel with death, people fear it, avoid it and run away from it. Seems though the faster you run from death, aging, anything for that matter, it will chases you down until you get to see that it was all an illusion because there is only life and the transformation of it.

Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 
Luke: 17:33

GIVE ME A REASON TO LIVE
I've noticed often, but not always, partners who have been together a long, long time will pass away shortly after their departed beloved. I've also read that many die shortly after they retire from their life's work. ("Just The Way You Are" is playing now....love that song.)

Realizing this, when my mother retired from forty-seven years of being an educator in the area of Life Skills for young people, I was focused on inspiring her to create a future that she was excited to live into. 

The origins of this note was inspired by a dear si"star" who is part of our SUPERWOMEN & GODDESSES Facebook community. She messaged me that she was in the hospital in a life or death situation.  Of course, I honor her choice to be here with us or to graduate to another realm, however I wanted to encourage her to focus on an exciting future that she could live into. 

A FUTURE TO LIVE INTO
While being present is the key, I'm CLEAR on the necessity of having a future to live into. Having something you look forward to, something you're excited and passionate about that has you pop out of the bed each morning. Something that becomes Your Greatest Love Affair.  "When you give up your dream, you die." says Nick, Alex's love interest in "Flashdance."  
Yeah, like that. 

Having a future to live into builds our WILL to live. That fire in our belly that keeps us in action and powering through. Every one of us, desires to feel that our existence matters and is necessary to someone or something. When that is missing, perhaps we get overly wrapped up in the propaganda and distractions of the world, believing their REAL. (shaking my head) We really believe the hype sometimes.  It's "Just An Illusion" (by Imagination.) 

SERVE + CONNECT
I'm CLEAR that when we have a purpose through service and connection to people and the beauty of this world THIS is what creates LONGEVITY or LIFE. It's not about avoiding or fearing death but to LIVE, really LIVE, with passion, with intimacy, with brazen honesty ('cuz that people pleasing, ego-stroking really doesn't attract the best that life has to offer for us).

If you're ill, focus on healing and loving on your Self as well as what will be your next adventure in expressing your purpose through service. If you haven't discovered your purpose, just serve, provide a solution to someone's problem and you'll figure it out. Don't be stingy with the goodies. And you've got a lot of goodies mama/man. 

The Death Train that soul's have been hopping on lately I feel is actually a RE-BIRTHING of humanity. "Exiting Through The Gift Shop" to enter the front door of a Golden Age in this Aquarian Age.  Perhaps by providing a mirror of death, we're being presented with an apparent contrast inspiring us to REALLY live. 

We can cheat death, because death doesn't REALLY exist. It only exist in language as everything does (a Landmark Education distinction). While we slip in and out of realms, domains and galaxies, we are eternal.

Focus on contributing to others, serving others and adding value to others on such a level that you're missed when you choose to slip out of this party into another.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate you. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 20 of 13/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous
  

Do you know what time it is?

There's a time to be still. 
There's a time to proceed.
There's a time to retreat. 

Is your response at this time appropriate to what you desire in the depths of your heart?
Love. Money. Family. Health. Legacy.

What is the true motivation behind your lack of response at this time?
Time for Reflection?  Needed Rest?  Paralyzing Fear?  Pure Laziness?

As one who's done a great deal of work on my Self as well as in the area of leadership, I really get that many of us can't fathom how powerful our presence is when we do choose to show up. We sign-up for courses, initiate projects, pay for coaches, receive invitations, etc. 

If you have raised your hand and said, "Yes. I am down. I'm in. I desire to do this. I'm ready."
Then . . . you don't reply to the email, answer the call, respond to the text, show up to the appointment, etc. WTH?

Ok crazy, you've prayed, you've pleaded and asked for the good life, the upgrade, the breakthrough, you get it and then you  . . .
Don't respond.
You do nothing. 

I remember a very close friend once said to me, "It's easy to be successful in life because the average person just bumbles through life in mediocrity so those of us who just do the bare minimum, the basics, we tend to stand out."  What he said has stuck with me through the years. And I've seen that there is some truth to this. 

Lack of response falls into one of three mindsets:
1.  FEAR: you're afraid of saying "no," you're afraid you won't be able to . . . , etc. fear. 
2. INVISIBILITY: feeling that your presence has no consequence, they won't miss me.
3. PASSIVE: the answer is really no, so "no response" is your response

We both know that none of these behaviors REALLY work if you're playing the game of greatness. 

1.  FEAR: The best things in life occur with a bit of risk and moving beyond our comfort zone.

2. INVISIBLE: Do you know what it took for you to be conceived, survive pregnancy, child birth, your infancy, childhood, teen years and you're still standing here as an adult? You're the product of a million miracles and escaped death a billion times. There's is no one on this planet that is unnecessary or insignificant. You are a winner in the truest since of the word. You won the blessing of life, you have something profound to offer, if you would just respond and show up!

3. PASSIVE: Ok, you're just being a lazy coward. Rude. Inconsiderate. You'll get yours. Trust.

Here's a bit of metaphysical truth: At the end of the day, your interaction isn't really with the individual you're having this experience with but Universal Law itself. Every action creates an equal or greater reaction. Your fear, your playing invisible and small, lack of clarity breeds more of the same in your life and most likely from people, experiences and areas of your life you don't want to have that show up. 

Be generous, Be clear, Be courageous. 
Why? Because wealth, abundance and prosperity is created through the dance of giving and receiving. Kind of like the act of sex, the friction of polarity creates life. Your response ignites possibility and opens up worlds and adventures to you that embody the desires of your heart.
Tell me "Yes." Tell me "No." Tell me now.

Isn't it time to stop BEing stingy, cowardly & vague. We're better than our lack of response.
Commit less. Then respond.

Today share this note and declare who, what you're going to respond to today.
Yep, I'm talking to you. So . . . respond.
I'm going to leave the comments open to see who is being generous, clear and courageous today. ;o)

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 19 of 13/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous
 



​

I'm taking a quick break from the #21insights4nights to insert another #iAmHer360 feature. The timing is right as the Obama's prepare to leave the White House after eight years of service as Commander-In-Chief and First Lady.
​
​# iAmHer360 speaks to seeing other women as yourself and the celebration of every way that any woman chooses to express herself.  If you've missed any of them click this link for the playlist: #iAmHer360.

The first time I ever heard Michelle Obama speak in an interview, something stuck with me; that she got up every morning at four am to workout and to see to HER needs first before it was time to take care of everyone else. Being someone who rises before the sunrise myself, I was impressed and sensed a next level solidity to her that I respected. She also happens to remind me of my own mother . . . so there's that too.

In this feature, I share some my favorite of the first lady's many inspirational ideas over the years.

Think, Feel & Act Like A First Lady

M  R  S .     O  B  A  M  A '  S     G  E  M   S 
​
To Young Girls About Boys: Cute, Interesting & Otherwise
"There's no boy at this age that is cute enough or
interesting enough to stop you from getting your education.
If I had worried about who liked me and who was cute when I was your age
I wouldn't be married to the President of The United States." 

. : .
"Words matter." 
. : .

On Enduring Insults & Slights
"All of this used to really get to me.
Eventually I realized that if I wanted to keep my sanity and not let others define me,
there was only one thing I could do and that was to have faith in God's plan for me.
I had to ignore all the noise and be true to myself and the rest would work itself out." 

. : .
On Modeling What You Want
"If we want maturity, we have to be mature.
If we want a nation that's hopeful, we have to speak in hopeful terms.
We have to show love and empathy,
If we want smart leaders we have to be smart voters.
We cannot vote from a place of fear, but from a place of openness.
We have to model what we want."

. : .
On Your Challenges, Disadvantages & Disappointments
"Never view your challenges as a disadvantage,
this experience of overcoming is one of your
biggest advantages. You'll be equipped to deal with
further disappointments and discouragement.
You'll have the maturity and wisdom
to keep moving forward." 

. : .
On Authenticity . . .
"There are no surprises, no tricks up our sleeve.
We are authentic, came in that way and will leave that way.
The office amplifies who you are. It doesn't change who you are, it reveals who you are.
I follow my own moral compass. That's the only thing I have to live up to."

. : .
On Being Complacent
"The work always continues. We're never done.
Never be complacent thinking you've arrived.
We've seen how quickly things can be taken away if we aren't vigilant,
if you don't know your history. What are you gonna do?
How are you going to be better?
What are you going to change in your family dynamic?
We can't afford to be ignorant or complacent. 
Continue to do the work. 
 
. : .
On Balance & Having It All
"Don't beat yourself up about not being able to have it all. 
No one gets everything. You don't always get your way all the time. 
You learn that when you're a child. It's about managing expectations.
You're living your life through phases. You're compromising for certain phases, then later you may have more of what you thought you wanted. If you're not having it all right now, you're not failing.
Take care of yourself so you'll live long enough to make it happen later. 

. : .

On Mastering Your Schedule
"If I'm going to leave my house and leave my girls
I need to know how is this going to have an impact."

. : .

A Word To The Men
"Be better.
Be better at everything. 
Fathers, who love your daughters and are providing a solid example,
that is the greatest gift the men in my life gave me. 
I've never experienced abuse by the hands of any man in my life.

Be a better husband. Be part of your family's life. 
Don't babysit your children. Be engaged.

Be a better employer. Diversify.

. : .
On Service & Happiness
"I left the practice of law and went into public service for selfish reasons.
It makes me happy and feel good every single day. 
​I wanted to wake up and be inspired to do something greater than myself. 
That's what serving and giving means to so many.
Get out of the isolation and looking down at your phones. 
That's not enough, you need people in your lives that you're connecting with and helping. 
There's nothing better than knowing you're helping to change people's lives.
The haters and the doubters?  None of that matters because
you're getting so much out of the work you're doing. 

. : .
On Bravery
"Tips on bravery? I don't know if I ever view it as bravery. 
I just viewed it as I'm not going to be taken advantage of.
I knew my value. And that goes back to knowing who you are. 
As women and young girls, we have to invest that time
into getting to understanding and liking who we are. 
But you've gotta work to get to that place and if you're going out into the world
as a professional not knowing who you are, don't know what you want and 
you don't know how much you're worth then you have to be brave.
Then you have to count on the kindness and goodness of others to bestow it upon you." 

. : .
On Living Without Apology
"I"m going work so hard that my actions speak and I don't have to say anything. 
Let me live my life outloud so people can then see and judge for themselves.
Don't dial it back, don't dilute it. Don't apologize for it, it speaks for itself." 

. : .
On Knowing Yourself & Owning Your Space. 
"Stand inside yourself and own your space.
Our first job in life as women is to get to know ourselves 
and a lot of times we spend our time pleasing, satisfying and 
looking out into the world to define who we are. 

It takes taking the time to know who you are to be able to deal 
with the negative onslaught of the messages you're bound to get. 
I came into this with a pretty clear sense of self. 
And some of this comes with age, experience, being fortunate 
enough to be raised by a loving strong, focused mother and father who loved me dearly.
So I fortunately came into this situation with a really clear sense of who I was, 
It was easy to brush that stuff off because I know who I am." 
​

 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
 

Ever feel like that gold you be droppin' is going over their heads?
No shade but . . .
​​
"Do not give what is holy to dogs,
and do not throw pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet,
                 and turn and tear you to pieces."                
Matthew 7 : 6

In Love, In Work, In Financial Matters, etc. 

Speaking of pearls, did you know the most expensive i.e. valuable piece of jewelry in the world is a 55 million dollar necklace by Mouawad Jewelry. It's an "internally flawless diamond."

SPARE SOME CHANGE?
So you know that apparently homeless guy in the subway asking for change? What do you think would happen if you offered this necklace to him? Do you think he would appreciate the value of the diamond or find it useful in his predicament? Do you think he would have the knowledge to even understand how this piece of jewelry could completely alter his reality, as well as those whose lives he could touch? Most likely and sadly . . .  not.

Still hypothetically speaking, his considerations are most likely focused on survival and would question why on Earth you were offering him a necklace when all he was looking for was a sandwich, some whiskey or his next hit.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS
So why is it, us who have done the work on ourselves, our craft, built our wealth to be flawless, extremely rare and beautiful, attempt to share our heart, work, money with individuals who have no frame of reference or appreciation for our value? 

Oftentimes, when asked "Who is your customer?" The aspiring entrepreneur will say, "women."
As of 2014, there are 3.52 billion on Planet Earth, so WHICH women? Who are they, where are they, what are their challenges, what do they dream of, what do they read, etc.? If you're a business owner, freelance maker, man or woman in an intimate relationship, when are you going to get CLEAR on who that 1% is that can truly value, appreciate and cherish what you have to offer? 
 
1000 TRUE FANS
I love when Kevin Kelley came up with the concept of "1000 True Fans." He says, if you can develop 1000 true fans who will travel to see you, buy any project you launch, product you offer, you will do well in your work. In relationship, most of us only require ONE man or ONE woman out of billions so don't you think it's okay to be super picky and desire more than a pretty girl or a man with a job? Which investments are worthy of your cash and will bring in the highest return?

Several notes ago I spoke about the Pareto Principle i.e. the 20/80 rule. Continuing with that perspective, doesn't it make sense to focus our energy, time and resources on the 1% who appreciate, value and are actually looking for what we have to offer them. 

extremely rare. beautiful. flawless.
Only the 1% top earners in this world can afford to acquire one of the most expensive jewelry pieces in the world. With 11 to 55 million dollar price tags, these highly sought after and precious pieces by Cartier, Bulgari, Garrard, Chopard, Harry Winston, etc. are perceived value. What is extremely rare, beautiful and flawless is precious, sought after and valued; only appreciated by those who understand or perceive the value.

If you're a Cartier-level woman or man/maker/entrepreneur, how could you expect a dollar-store level consumer to not only "afford," but appreciate the value of and maintain the Cartier? It makes sense to continue to cultivate a relationship with the 1% who are looking for and will be jubilant to actually find that extremely rare, beautiful and flawless gem that you are.

In relationships, enterprise, you don't require or really want everybody's attention. Keep it clean and simple.  Jill Scott said it best, "Everything ain't for everybody."

focus on the 1%
What 1% are you going to invest your focus, time, energy and resources on this year?

More on this topic in this Sunday's Workshop "Love. Beauty. Wealth. You Set The Standard."

Thanks for reading.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua
 ​
Day 8 of 13/13 Moons 
First Quarter Moon

​Source :http://www.wonderslist.com/10-most-expensive-jewellery-pieces-in-the-world/

Insight #3 . . .
Years ago me and my eldest daughter attended T. Harv Eker's paradigm shifting weekend experience "The Millionaire Mind" where he introduced what he called "the world's easiest and most effective money management system."  It's a system my girls still use to this day and they are really good with money.  The system was to have six or seven jars in which you by percentage distributed or allocated your money.

The first and MOST important jar was 10% in the FFA (Financial Freedom Account). The money in this jar was NEVER to be spent. OK, back then when I first heard this, it messed with my head. When I was a pre-teen and would get money my mother would kind of clown me about how "my money was just burnin' my pocket." I liked the experience of buying things and bringing them home. 

"DON'T KILL THE GOOSE!"
So hearing that there was money, 10% of everything you received that you put away and NEVER SPENT was something I was really uncomfortable with. He reasoned that this money was to create a "golden goose."  You were to live from the eggs that this "golden goose" created in profit, dividends, interest from placing it in an interest-bearing account. He further instructed to leave your golden goose in trust to charity, church, children, legacy as the "golden goose" that they can't spend because after all you "DON'T KILL THE GOOSE!" He explained that this money acts as a magnet for attracting more wealth.

​MAGNET FOR ATTRACTING WEALTH
When I think of women who are in their full unapologetic expression, we are magnetic and highly valuable to anyone who's life we touch. Guided by a Source greater than ourselves, it's no mistake that the most powerful men in the world have an enigmatic woman by their side. Wise men know that having a good woman in their corner, creating home (psychologically and physically), and guiding their children is his greatest asset and power that brings eternal dividends to their legacy.

I deeply believe that every masculine man is looking for a queendom or a muse to serve, protect and cultivate. This is the quality that I most appreciate about masculine men that they look to be of use and affirmed by the feminine and not quite balanced unless he is needed by his muse. You'll NEVER hear me declare that crazy mantra: "I don't need a man." Never! Yesterday as I watched two very intelligent and strong men strategize how to get a huge armoire up to my second floor, I said to them, "What on Earth would women do without men? We definitely need you."

CULTIVATE YOUR GOOSE BABY
Because of our value as women on this planet, in the home, wherever we are really is legendary, it's good to recognize that we are "his" golden goose. Even if you're not in a partnership, we are the "golden goose" of our home or wherever we have others that depend on us. As feminine women, our #1 priority needs to be in the cultivation of ourselves as "the golden goose" who produces golden eggs (empowered mates, our children, our creative works, etc. ). When we place cultivating ourselves our ability to magnetize all of things in this life that make it yummy, magic, miracles and grace in our lives will be consistent and flowing.  

More on this topic in this Sunday's Workshop "Love. Beauty. Wealth. You Set The Standard."
Details below. 

Thanks for reading.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua
 ​
Day 6 of 13/13 Moons 
Waxing 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.

There's a song from 1977 that says,
"If it don't fit, don't force it. 
Just relax and let it go.
Just cause that's how you want it
Doesn't mean it will be so."

by Kellee Patterson
​"If It Don't Fit Don't Force It"

Insight #2 . . .
Abraham, Bruce and Maya were spot on.
Abraham (Hicks) said "Go with the flow. No resistance. No struggle."
Bruce (Lee) said: "Be Like Water My Friend."
Maya (Angelou) said: "In everything give thanks."

I take them all to mean FLOW without resistance.
Because we live in an electromagnetic Universe, which is a feminine force of attraction, I, you, we get to practice working our power and magic through MAGNETISM.

Any energy, vibe, action, attention, focus becomes a "Yes!" in this Universal law of Cause and Effect i.e. Attraction. So even your "No!" is becomes a "Yes." There is no read of what you do and don't want, do or don't like only that you are giving it energy.

So giving thanks for it all, no matter what it looks like, feels like is again to be in the energy, vibe, action of allowing, no resistance, no struggle, but complete surrender and trust in the provision of the Universe, it's laws, our Spirit Allies and all of the good seeds we've planted for better. Giving thanks, being like water and going with the flow is an acknowledgment that regardless of appearances "All is well." It will turn out. It will benefit you in the long-run, even the short-run. Just flow and trust.

go with the flow.
Thanks for reading.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua
 ​
Day 5 of 13/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent 

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

J  A  N  U  A  R  Y

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

INjoy this magical time where miracles abound.

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 20 of 12/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

Love Has Spoken
by Khari Lemuel

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written by: Khari Lemuel
Album: Morning Music
2009

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

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

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

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 16 of 12/13 Moons 
Waning Gibbous

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

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

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

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

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

Love . . . Indian Style

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

​Thanks for reading and listening. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 8 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Gibbous

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 7 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent

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

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

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

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

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

Yes. During the Jim Crow era.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading. 

♡ ☆ ♀
Akua

​Day 6 of 12/13 Moons 
Waxing Crescent


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