LET’S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT NUTRITION
Oh dear, I hope we didn’t lose some
readers already. Many people feel that nutrition is such a BORING subject, and
yet it’s actually a Sci-Fi story. Food is an alien to your system. It has lived
outside your body, and developed its own defense mechanism against fungus,
disease and pest. Since you willingly take this alien into your body, it’s
important to understand “who’s coming to dinner” and how to make it a welcome
addition.
You are saved from my explanation
of all the food principles due to limited space. Beware trying to find this
information in diet books; diets aren’t always about nutrition. I firmly believe
if you understand the nutritional side of food and how your body uses it, diets
are not needed. Old Testament scriptures present a number of essential laws; the
best recent food publication I’ve read was The Pro Vita Plan by Jack Tips
ND, PhD. It’s a simple and logical approach to using food for health and healing
and was so well presented I used its information to augment the Nutrition
curriculum when I traveled to teach workshops a few years ago. It may be out of
print now, but Amazon can locate it in used books or contact Apple A Day Press,
Austin Texas.512-328-3996.
Lets’ consider a possibly, higher
principle of nutrition that has a profound affect on well being. Although the
quality and quantity of food we consume is extremely important, how we FEEL
about eating affects us more. Most spiritual and religious teachings instruct us
to give thanks for our food. This “attitude of gratitude”, expressed by a quiet
moment of silent communication before eating actually has a physical affect on
the stomach, pancreas and adrenal glands. It causes us to be in the “PRESENT”
moment which calms the central nervous system and allows those mentioned organs
to prepare for the work they will do digesting what is consumed.
Another benefit of taking a moment
to bless food is supported in the theories presented by the science of
Homeopathy and the recent study of information and water conducted by Japanese
scientist, Dr. Emoto. In his published work, The Message of Water , Emoto
shows photographs of the changes made in ice crystals depending on the
information applied to the water, such as classical music, heavy metal music,
the printed words of “I hate you or I love you” before freezing.
This is quite an amazing subject to
consider, but great minds have been examining these beliefs since before the
time of Hermes. It is the belief of all indigenous people that spirit lives in
everything. Most religions support the belief that the energy or spirit of
matter can be changed through blessing, which is why monks bless sand or water
for healings, priest consecrate water and communion/sacrament, homes and even
babies are blessed. It purifies the spirit by connecting to a higher source.
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“LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE
and MEDICINE BE YOUR FOOD”
Those opening words are from
Hippocrates, the father of Western Medicine. Are you surprised? Can food be that
powerful? We used to be a people who ate to live…we have now become a society
that lives to eat. Eating habits have changed so much in our country over the
last 50 – 70 years, but so has our health. We have diseases now that were
unheard of at that time.
Seventy years ago, families rarely
ate out; eating some kind of meat was not always a daily practice. Bitter green
vegetables/herbs were gathered and eaten in the spring to clean the liver, blood
and bowel after a winter of congestive food. Water was the normal beverage;
flavored drinks were special for social occasions.
Changing food and lifestyle habits
are difficult to do even when we recognize how detrimental our old habits are.
Breaking the emotional attachment to habits is like asking a toddler to give up
its security blanket; fearful. So what would happen if we looked at a little new
information over the next couple of months to see if one or two new ideas could
be incorporated into our current life style?
Minerals are probably the highest
level priority to health. These would include trace minerals as well as the
major minerals like calcium or iron. Without trace minerals, B vitamins are not
available to help digest food, and support the nervous system, wounds don’t heal
properly, hormones imbalances occur and hair may fall out. The Genesis story
says that we were created from the dust of the earth and this is where trace
minerals come from. Modern farming methods have depleted the soil of these
needed nutrients and even when fertilizer is used it is generally a chemical
substitute and does not replace necessary trace minerals. Minerals are depleted
with physical or emotional stress and high sugar diets. Supplementing with
Colloidal Minerals or another organic form would help relieve daily stress and
discomfort until the diet starts to include more dark green leafy vegetables
such as collards, chard and spinach.
In the Clayton College publication,
Holistic Times, Don Graves of the University of California has found that
Cinnamon has an insulin-like activity and also can potentiate insulin. This
could be very helpful with certain forms of diabetes, but has only been tested
on mice so far. Cinnamon made into a tea will also soothe the stomach and
intestines and stop diarrhea.
We hosted a student from California
recently who is a gifted healer in her own right. She promotes raw eating as a
way of restoring health. One of her staples for any skin problem or muscle
reconstruction is a raw egg from a free range roaming chicken, (preferably
unrefrigerated), 1 teaspoon of raw honey, beat together in a glass of raw goat
or cow milk. I am using rice milk.
Making Ox tail soup and eating it
twice a week will restore health to connective tissue and joints. Some of these
foods maybe different than you’ve had and it can be difficult to try something
new but it’s just in how we view them. I have a Hawaiian friend who was shocked
that we would eat eggs that did not come from a grocery store…and yet she
always wants to eat the turkey tail on Thanksgiving. Isn’t it just a matter of
perspective?
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Never Too Old
[How nutrition as well as attitude
can affect aging.]
The aged or ancients have always
been revered by indigenous cultures for their years of acquired wisdom, but our
western, image-conscious society seems to link
the loss of youthful features with
the inability to be of value to a community.
The lines and wrinkles on our face
are actually the report card of our soul. The
changes that occur in our
appearance are just subtle communication from your body to indicate adjustments
that need to be made in your lifestyle and belief system. We sometimes try to
discount this information by claiming that we look like our father or mother,
but belie systems are passed down through
families.
Over a period of years we notice a
weakness in our collagen levels. Collagen is the fibrous protein found in
connective tissue, bone, cartilage and skin. It becomes most apparent to us in
skin when we start to loose the definition of our jaw line or develop a soft
sagging chin. I believe most of this loss comes from depleting our supply of
enzymes. Without spending a lot of time explaining what these little proteins
do, I'll refer you to Dr. Edward Howell's book Enzyme Nutrition. Simply stated,
every living thing contains enzymes. They are Instrumental in the building of
new cell network, plus breaking down and discarding old, dying tissue.
Enzymes are also needed for the
digestion of food. Dr. Howell explains that we are born with an enzyme potential
- an allotment that is to supply us with what we need for our lifetime. Since
all plants and animals contain their own enzymes, these can be used to aid us in
the digestion of their tissue. The flaw in this plan is that we
have become a society that eats
primarily, processed food. All processed food has been exposed to heat of 110°
or higher which destroys enzymes. Without these necessary enzymes to aid with
digestion we have to make withdrawals from our allotment. The body's highest
priority is to have energy, so it will sacrifice the making of new tissue to
help produce the energy it needs. We look to sugar for energy but it only adds
to the enzyme problem. Processed sugar depletes our body of minerals that are
necessary for enzyme activation.
The nervous system comes into play
now, because it is the super highway that carries messages through the energy
patterns of our body. Nerve endings are also like an artist's pencil, drawing
lines which allow hidden feelings to manifest in our appearance. Einstein's
theory on matter vs. energy proved that we humans are energy.
Thoughts and emotions are energy
also. All energy is in motion and that movement affects the tissue that it is
housed in. Higher positive emotions - for example, laughter, pleasure, joy -
move through our body easily due to the deep breathing associated with them.
However the lower, heavier, negative emotions become locked into organs and
glands related to the situation. This is due to the lack of breathing
experienced during trauma, such as
anger, grief, fear. Over time the vibration will weaken the organ that it has
become housed in, and that information travels along the central nervous system
and appears in facial tissue.
Chinese medicine has used this
`body' information to diagnose illness for years. Even though I do not diagnose,
using the information that people's faces, bodies and hands
presents gives tremendous insight
as to how to guide them to find the state of wellness. Weakness in the thyroid,
pancreas and liver create just a few of the subtle facial messages that we
associate with "just getting older." The poorer our nutrition and genetic
background, the earlier these signals appear. If you don't like the messages you
are receiving, remember they are not carved in granite. Soft tissue can be
changed gradually by addressing the emotional issue that is at the root of its
deterioration; nutritionally supporting the gland or organ showing weakness; and
incorporating extra enzymes into the diet. This can be done as digestive
supplements plus lots of raw fruits and vegetables to take stress off of
digestiveenzyme production. Proper food combining, such as promoted in Your
Health... Your Choice by Dr. Ted Morter, also relieves the heavy burden our
western diet places on the pancreas.
One more aspect of aging is our
state of mind. How old is `old' to you? Last year I spoke to a man of average
health, in his 70s, who was explaining that he couldn't visit an out-of-state
family member because he would be too far away from his doc or and hospital; two
months later John Glen, in his 70s, took off in a space ship. It amazes me
sometimes to hear clients speak of themselves as "aged" when they are only in
their forties. This outlook generally comes from not being happy with the
direction their lives are heading. Feelings of being trapped in a situation,
job, or relationship will often give us a feeling of being `old.' If the
situation can't be changed, we have to change our perspective of it. This is not
new information. It was written in ancient sacred scripture.
Mae West was a great example and
her words "You are never too old to start getting younger" carry a lot of truth.
Each of us will decide if we are `old' and it is up to each one of us to bring
about the changes we want in our lives. A little attention to your diet and some
nurturing of yourself can make an amazing difference in your physical appearance
in just a matter of months.
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Casting: Change the Present, Heal the
Future
Humanity is generally terrified, as well as mystified, by the unseen forces that
affect our daily lives. Written scripture teaches us not to put our faith or
importance on the physical world but our authorities throughout history (leaders
of religions, governments, houses of learning) condemn anything outside the
limited information they offer. For this reason masters holding the keys that
would unlock the doors to light withdrew with their knowledge, sharing only with
those who sought understanding. The teachings became held in secret or “occult.”
As one explores the studies of metaphysics they begin to recognize
characteristics of occult teachings in the conservative world around them. They
are performed in religious ceremonies, worn or used as sacred ornaments, and
pictured on currency or houses of government.
Among occult teachings is the ancient art of casting. It was one of the first
thresholds which allowed earthly beings an avenue to cross into the world of the
unseen. One common scriptural thread in most religions is to not place
importance on temporal things. This is in part, due to the physical elements of
this life being temporary, and not the important life experiences that perfect
the spirit. Another reason for the caution is that the physical realm is only a
small portion of the total reality. What we see may be a distortion. We view the
world through our level of experience.
The casting is similar to reading from a deck of Tarot cards. The cards have no
importance other than in their reflection of the individuals character; both the
positive aspects and the defects. So it is with casting. Many of the situations
that exist in our lives are influenced and often empowered by our emotional and
mental projections into the etheric field. Our thoughts and emotions reinforce
those events whether we like the events or not, and clarity on a situation flies
right out the window. Rather than respond, we react feeding more and more energy
into the thing we don’t want to create. Remember, “As above so below, as below
so above.”
Casting is a way to take 3 dimensional objects, which we know and understand,
and allow them to fashion an image that represents our attachment to a
particular condition. Emotions are faster than thoughts. Emotions also distort
thinking. This is why it is easier to give rational advice to an acquaintance
with a problem than to follow sane thinking when faced with our own problem; the
experience is seen differently through the distorted emotional cloud. Casting
allows us to spread the chaos of a situation along with our jumbled thoughts and
emotions out in a display before us. This process is not intended to change
someone else. What we see is a reflection of ourselves in any given situation.
After all, your neighbor doesn’t have your problem; it is your problem…therefore
you are the core. Change the core or hum of a vibration and a ripple moves out
infinitely.
Changing the display without judgment allows the issue to change. Once a new
energy of change enters the picture, the energy ripple causes everything
involved to adjust or respond to the new vibration. Put away any attachment you
may have to the outcome. Remember, you may have no authority over anyone else.
What you are creating is a feeling of peace and happiness within yourself and
allowing that ripple to have its way. Isn’t that the ideal outcome? Does it
really matter how you arrive there? You are the core.
The number of objects used can vary based on the state of affairs to be
examined. Many shaman carry a predetermined number of objects in their sacred
bundles. When I collect casting sets for others I use the number 21. There are
many reasons why, but for here let me just say that in the Major Arcana 21 is
The World card: completion, birth, endings and beginnings. What objects make up
the assortment is of no great importance. The items merely represent an abstract
reflection. Because I understand that everything has an energy vibration of its
own, I personalize the collections I design by incorporating objects from sacred
areas of the world. In the end it is only important that each object be no
larger than a silver dollar and able to withstand being tumble in a container.
The Process: Sit in front of a table or on a large firm area. Hold the gathered
items in your hands while allowing your mind to hold the image of the
circumstances you want to change. Do Not attempt to design the change, simply
see the condition as it currently appears to you. Next, close your eyes and cast
or toss the items out in front of you, within your reach. When you open your
eyes give yourself a minute or two to sit with the image you have just created
with the casting items; it is the reflection of your situation. Be aware of your
first impression.
Give your self permission to make any changes you like. You are the artist and
the spread of items is your palette. What needs to move here, needs to be turned
over or whatever to give you a sense of relaxation or wellbeing? Forget WHY you
are performing this process… just do it because it feels good. Repositioning
these 3 dimensional objects sends a ripple through the etheric field creating
change. I like to leave my casting lay out for a few hours or a day. It is a
thing of beauty I have created and I want to enjoy it. Sometimes over the course
of time I may walk past it, make a small change and then leave it again. It’s
alright to do so. It is just as alive as you are and you are changing every
moment of the day. At some point of the day, speak the words “it is done” and
place the articles back into their container. And know that it is so.
Malana Ashlie.
Click here to see a
casting bag
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~~~~~~~~~~
Following the Footsteps of the Maya
by Malana Ashlie
It’s no surprise that people ask why my husband, Ordin, and I have chosen to
move to Central America. Some believe that it is because of the current U.S.
political environment, some believe we chose it for an early and affordable
retirement; still others are sure that it was because the distance from our home
in Hawai’i to our families in the States. Even though each of the above reasons
influenced our decision, few would understand if I tried to explain the
undefined energies that have drawn me here.
It was around December of 2003 when subtle forces gave-up being subtle and
yanked the rug from beneath my feet. I had just returned from a ten day spirit
walk with Mayan Elders through their ancient ruins in Guatemala and Honduras.
The pilgrimage had been held during the Harmonic Concordance; the period where
six planets formed a Grand Sextile. I was told that this formation would create
a star gate. I had turned fifty-five that year; it seemed an auspicious time. If
a star gate was going to open in a sacred triode of Mayan places, I wanted to be
there.
The return home found me questioning what I had gleaned from the experience. The
days of riding on an overcrowded bus, being drenched from torrential rains and
my efforts of keeping pace with a seventy year old Mayan had a more marked
effect on me than any slight influence from the ethers. I may teach spiritual
principles, but as with most people, I tend to stumble over my own agenda making
me impervious to subtle forces that are building. My mound of dirty laundry and
list of clients phone calls had demanded my attention , yet the energies that
had brought me to sit with my Elders were still at work and it was important for
me to stay attuned. So, what was the best way for me to be still and listen? I
fell and tore the ligament in my left leg.
The weeks of sitting with my leg elevated was ample time to appraise the
Guatemalan experience, review my journal and meditate. Pictures and flashes of
insight visited my mind. One of the images was of a man walking down our
driveway to buy the house. Ordin and I had previously discussed the idea since
the market was high, but where would we go? Hawai’i leaves an impression that is
difficult to replace. As though the Universe anticipated our hesitation, a
bulldozer showed up within days to ravage the acre of jungle beside our home; it
was our confirmation that it was time to go.
It was about that time that Ordin came home from the weekly Hilo market filled
with stories of life south of the border. It had become very popular with
Europeans and Americans over the last few years and the buzz of discussion
amongst the market crowd. “Humm,” I thought, “The land of stone, where the eagle
meets the condor.” I had never considered moving outside the U.S. before but it
could be worth exploring. We dusted off the office globe and scanned the
multi-colored shapes to renew our knowledge of Central American geography. We
loved the warm waters of the Gulf and Caribbean so our focus went to countries
bordering those waters within easy access to the States. We hovered over the
globe, our fingers tracing the contours of Mexico and its neighbors to the
south. We had narrowed it down a bit but how would we choose? As I surfed the
net I could hear a tune in my head. It was only vaguely familiar and I could not
put words to it. As my research continued so did the faint melody. I would wake
with it in the morning and hear it swirling through my thoughts during the day.
Its grinding insistence finally brought its identity to mind. It was not a tune;
it was the rhythm for a chant that my Hawaiian kupuna had taught me. It asks for
direction from the old ones and so I gave it voice.
Ordin and I each made a list of the things we wanted our new life to include and
meditated with them. He wanted financial opportunity yet freedom from routine. I
wanted to continue studies of the mysteries of the ancients, limiting my work
times to workshops and retreats. Each of us wanted to be near the beach and have
a mortgage free home; I added a cook.
There is no one profound event that happened after that but a number of
fascinating synchronicities, such as connecting with Honduran people in the
States, finding our dream home pop up on the inter-net, and the ease in which it
all came together. I still can not tell you why I am here. Is it the earth
changes, my Elders or energies related to the star gate? I do not know. Yet I
have learned to be quiet and wait for guidance. When I feel lost and seek
direction I stand at the river behind our home, between the mountains and the
sea calling on the Mayan spirit guides of the four directions and offering them
my chant of the old ones.
Welcome
to Honduras. This site is available in spanish, espanol. We offer holistic
healing,