Ten Alternative Cold and Flu Remedies to Try – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

handful-herbs

Homeopathic medicine has great potential when used in conjunction with conventional medicine. Here are ten simple remedies you can try to help stop colds and flu symptoms in their tracks.

lemon-essential-oil1. Lemon

Even though lemons taste acidic, their juice helps to alkalinize the body. Lemons are loaded with vitamin C, which is known to support the body’s immune system. Lemon, as well as lime, is reported to decrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body and reduce phlegm.

How to use: Drink the juice of a lemon, or a few drops of lemon essential oil, squeezed into a cup of water or tea every few hours to build resistance or speed up healing.

garlic-for-cold2. Garlic

Garlic is great in treating sore throats and infections. Garlic contains the immune-boosting compound allicin, also known to relieve cold and flu symptoms.

How to use: Crush five cloves and mix with half a cup of honey.  Let it sit for a couple of hours and the mixture will become runny and thin. Take a teaspoonful at a time, as needed. If you’re worried about a severe odor or taste, crush a couple of cloves of garlic and “steep” them in hot water. Drink it like a mug of tea.

cinnamon-stick-powder-1309093. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is known as a natural antibiotic, is a powerful antioxidant.

How to use: A teaspoon of raw honey and a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon can knock out a cold within a day or two.

turmeric4. Turmeric

Turmeric contains an anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin, which has a strong cold and flu-fighting properties. Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and turmeric tea has been used for extensively worldwide for colds, congestion, headache, and sore throats.

How to use: Stir a teaspoon into a glass of water or use it in your cooking. In addition, the combination of honey with turmeric powder is an excellent remedy for a cough.

cayenne-pepper-metabolism_15. Cayenne pepper

Peppers are a heart-healthy food with the potential to protect against cancer, as well as common cold and flu viruses. Cayenne pepper is a natural remedy for a sore throat that can often precede a cold or flu.

How to use: A mixture of hot red chili powder and orange juice is an effective remedy for sore throats and congestion. Or take a teaspoon of pepper in a glass of water immediately when you feel a cold or a sore throat coming on. Its strong stimulatory effect can be enough to knock a cold out in the early stages.

oregano-herb6. Oregano

Oregano is one of the best herbs for a cold. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory that contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, and color compounds that increase resistance and boosts immunity. Oregano is known for its antibacterial, antivirus, anti-fungus, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and anti-parasitic properties.

How to use: Oil of oregano is even more potent, and traditional healers since ancient times have used oregano extract to treat respiratory issues such as coughs, colds, flu, sore throats, and bronchitis. Add three to 10 drops of oil to a glass of water twice a day and continue until symptoms subside.

ginger-essence7. Ginger

Ginger is a stimulant that will also warm you if you’re feeling chilled with your cold. It’s best used fresh rather than as a powder.

How to use: Peel and grate a small piece of ginger root and place in a cup of boiling water. Allowed it to steep for five minutes, sweeten with honey if desired, and sip whenever needed to soothe a scratchy throat or a cough.

peppermint-oil8. Peppermint

Peppermint can clear blocked noses and sinuses. It can also help the body fight off illnesses.

How to use: Enjoy it as a stimulating tea or add some peppermint teabags of it to your bath. A few drops of peppermint essential oil in a glass of water, or diffused, can also work wonders.

apple cider vinegar9. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can fight off infection, ease digestion, reduce inflammation, kill fungus, regulate pH balance, and wash toxins from the body. It’s also known to restore alkaline acid balance.

How to use: Add a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to a tablespoon of honey and a cup of hot water to create an elixir to help ward off cold and flu symptoms.

honey-lemon-tea-a-800-dm10. Honey

A daily dose of honey can help you to feel energetic and stay healthy. It also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, so, if you do develop a sore or scratchy throat, honey will soothe and help heal. Research shows that children who take a spoonful of honey before bed, cough less and sleep better than those who take over-the-counter products for coughs and colds.

How to use: Adding a little lemon to the honey will increase its anti-microbial effect. Honey and lemon can also be combined with hot water to make a soothing tea.

Source: Ten Alternative Cold and Flu Remedies to Try – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

The Ugly Duckling

 

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The Ugly Duckling is a beautiful story. Most people look at this story and think it’s about someone who just wants to fit in.  A story of someone who looks and acts different, so everyone makes fun of them.  That is the story for the masses, as you will see this is a story of enlightenment.

The original version of The Ugly Duckling was written by Hans Christian Andersen. He has stories where it is easy to see the moral like The Emperor’s New Clothes. Then he has other stories like this one where you need to be in on the secrets. Andersen was in on the secrets. He wrote “The Little Mermaid” which is full of occult history and symbolism(See Mermaid). I see him kinda like the Brothers Grimm. He wrote these stories to get some secrets out to ordinary folks like me and you. Writing all of these stories right under the nose of the establishment. If they were smart enough to have caught him they would not have burned him at the stake, but they would have found  a way to ruin him. Sometimes I wonder if it was because of him that the Wachowskis gave Neo the name Mr. Anderson. Calling him Mr. Grimm would have been a bit obvious.

Source: The Ugly Duckling

From the Gutter, the Stars Shine Brilliant — Spiritual Awakening

Oscar Wilde wrote, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

While literary critics have pondered the meaning of that provocative line, anyone pursuing spirituality in recovery knows immediately – and with great personal empathy – exactly what Wilde was saying: Even in the roughest storm of life, we can see the startling beauty of the heavens.

Despite his considerable literary talent, Wilde died an impoverished alcoholic at 46, in exile from England and mostly estranged from his family. He was imprisoned for two years for homosexuality, and for the rest of his life he was barred from seeing his two children from an earlier marriage.

In the darkness of the gutter, the stars can shine incredibly bright.

In a recent song by the metal band, Disturbed, they say, “Sometimes darkness can show you the light.”

The contrast between the dank despair of human decent and the eye-burning shine of spiritual revelation is shocking – sometimes it’s shock enough to lift us up to the world of the living. Other times, it’s merely the faint call of a promising world on the other side of death.

The light-filled world of connection and hope is a blink away. It’s right here in your breath. The path to this warm earthly home is visible through the stars that we see from the gutter. Even in the sour sink of fear, we are always strong enough to climb through. Yet many will die tonight for the lack of seeing that path. Their time will come again and again even so.

via From the Gutter, the Stars Shine Brilliant — Spiritual Awakening

Thunderbolt Goddess

Been up close and personal with lightning.

Signs You’re Waking Up …

Well written article explaining a lot of the stuff that happens while we’re working on re-writing our programming.

I did had to chuckle  while reading through some of these as I’ve always called my hot flashes power surges. Makes me wonder how much of menopause is hormonal and how much is moving into the Crone/Sage/Elder phase of our lives.

Guest Writer: Symptoms Of Spiritual Awakening

Sunfell’s Note: In my own spiritual transition to the Awakened state, I suffered and endured many of these changes. Annarita has thoroughly documented many of the symptoms and changes inherent in both the Awakening and the transition into the Octarine stage of Indigo life. Your mileage may vary. And if you find yourself really feeling out of whack, go see your doctor. It is better that you find you’re basically OK than to permit a possible major disease like diabetes or heart disease to develop under your nose. As always, common sense, good grounding and a good sense of humor are your best tools for coping. See you on the Other Side!

Symptoms of Spiritual Awakening

by Annarita

  1. Changing sleep patterns: restlessness, hot feet, waking up two or three times a night. Feeling tired after you wake up and sleepy off and on during the day. There is something called the Triad Sleep Pattern that occurs for many: you sleep for about 2-3 hours, wake up, go back to sleep for another couple of hours, wake again, and go back to sleep again. For others, the sleep requirements have changed. You can get by on less sleep. Lately I have been experiencing huge waves of energy running into my body from the crown. It feels good, but it keeps me awake for a long time, then subsides. Advice: Get used to it. Make peace with it and don’t worry about getting enough sleep (which often causes more insomnia). You will be able to make it through the day if you hold thoughts of getting just what you need. You can also request your Higher Power to give you a break now and then and give you a good, deep night’s sleep. If you can’t go back to sleep right away, use the waking moments to meditate, read poetry, write in your journal or look at the moon. Your body will adjust to the new pattern.
  2. Activity at the crown of the head: Tingling, itching, prickly, crawling sensations along the scalp and/or down the spine. A sense of energy vibrating on top of the head, as if energy is erupting from the head in a shower. Also the sensation of energy pouring in through the crown, described as “sprinkles”. This may also be experienced as pressure on the crown, as if someone is pushing his/her finger into the center of your head. As I mentioned in #1, I have been experiencing huge downloads of energy through the crown. In the past, I have felt more generalized pressure, as if my head is in a gentle vise. One man related that his hair stood on end and his body was covered with goosebumps. Advice: This is nothing to be alarmed about. What you are experiencing is an opening of the crown chakra. The sensations mean that you are opening up to receive divine energy.
  3. Sudden waves of emotion. Crying at the drop of a hat. Feeling suddenly angry or sad with little provocation. Or inexplicably depressed. Then very happy. Emotional roller coaster. There is often a pressure or sense of emotions congested in the heart chakra (the middle of the chest). This is not to be confused with the heart, which is located to the left of the heart chakra. Advice: Accept your feelings as they come up and let them go. Go directly to your heart chakra and feel the emotion. Expand it outward to your all your fields and breathe deeply from the belly all the way up to your upper chest. Just feel the feeling and let it evaporate on its own. Don’t direct the emotions at anyone. You are cleaning out your past. If you want some help with this, say out loud that you intend to release all these old issues and ask your Higher Power to help you. You can also ask Grace Elohim to help you release with ease and gentleness. Be grateful that your body is releasing these emotions and not holding onto them inside where they can do harm. One source suggests that depression is linked to letting go of relationships to people, work, etc. that no longer match us and our frequencies. When we feel guilty about letting go of these relationships, depression helps us medicate that pain.
  4. Old “stuff” seems to be coming up, as described above, and the people with whom you need to work it out (or their clones) appear in your life. Completion issues. Or perhaps you need to work through issues of self-worth, abundance, creativity, addictions, etc. The resources or people you need to help you move through these issues start to appear. Advice: Same as #3. Additionally, don’t get too involved in analyzing these issues. Examining them too much will simply cycle you back through them over and over again at deeper and deeper levels. Get professional help if you need to and walk through it. Do not try to avoid them or disassociate yourself from them. Embrace whatever comes up and thank it for helping you move ahead. Thank your Higher Power for giving you the opportunity to release these issues. Remember, you don’t want these issues to stay stuck in your body.
  5. Changes in weight. The weight gain in the US population is phenomenal. Other people may be losing weight. We often gain weight because many fears we have suppressed are now coming up to the surface to be healed. We react by building up a defense. We also attempt to ground ourselves or provide bulk against increasing frequencies in our bodies. Advice: Don’t freak out, but just accept it as a symptom of where you are right now. You will release/gain the weight when all your fears have been integrated. Release your anxiety about this. Then you might find it easier to lose/gain the weight eventually. Exercise. Before eating, try this: Sit at the table with an attractive place setting. Light a candle. Enjoy how the food looks. Place your dominant hand over your heart and bless the food. Tell your body that you are going to use the food to richly nourish it, but that you are not going to use the food to fulfill your emotional hungers. Then pass your hand from left to right over the food and bless it. You may notice that the food feels warm to your hand even if the food is cold– I like to think that the food is good for me when it feels warm and nourishing to my hand. I have also noticed that when I practice blessing the food, I don’t eat as much. It is important not to let yourself off the hook when you forget to bless the food before you eat. If I’ve forgotten and I’ve nearly finished eating, I bless the food anyway. That way I don’t slip out of the habit. Another thing you can do is to stay present while eating — don’t watch TV or read. Heartily enjoy what blessings are before you.
  6. Changes in eating habits: Strange cravings and odd food choices. Some find they are not as hungry as they used to be. Or hungrier. Advice: Don’t deny what your body tells you it needs. If you are not sure, you might try muscle-testing before you chose a food to see if it’s what your body wants. Also try blessing the food as described in #5.
  7. Food intolerances, allergies you never had before: As you grow more spiritual, you are more sensitive to everything around you. Your body will tell you what it can no longer tolerate, as if it, too, is sloughing off what doesn’t serve it anymore. You might be cleansing yourself of toxins. Some people find they often have a white residue in their mouth, much like that of runners at the end of a race. Advice: An acupuncturist told me that this film can be removed by sloshing 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes (don’t swallow, whatever you do), then spitting it out into the toilet — not the sink, for you just removed toxins from your body and don’t want them in the sink. Brush your teeth and do the same. Then clean your brush. (Sorry this is yukky, but it works.)
  8. Amplification of the senses. Increased sensitivity. 8a. Sight: Blurry vision, shimmering objects, seeing glittery particles, auras around people, plants, animals, and objects. Some report seeing formerly opaque objects as transparent. When you close your eyes, you no longer see darkness, but redness. You may also see geometric shapes or brilliant colors and pictures when eyes are closed. Colors appear more vivid — the sky might look teal or the grass an amazing green. Often I see grids running across the ground. As you become more sensitive, you may see shapes or outlines in the air, especially when the room is almost dark. When your eyes are open or closed, you may see white shapes in your peripheral vision (these are your guides). Advice: Your vision is changing in many ways — you are experiencing new ways of seeing. Be patient. Whatever you do, do not be afraid. Hazy vision maybe relieved by yawning. 8b. Hearing: Increased or decreased hearing. I once thought I would have to pull off the road because of the painfully amplified sound of my tires on the freeway. Other symptoms are hearing white noise in the head, beeps, tones, music or electronic patterns. Some hear water rushing, bees buzzing, whooshing, roaring or ringing. Others have what is called audio dyslexia– you can’t always make out what people are saying, as if you can no longer translate your own language. Some hear strange voices in their dreams, as if someone is hovering near them. You can either ask the presence(s) to leave or ask Archangel Michael to take care of the situation. Again, there is nothing to fear. Advice: Surrender to it. Let it come through. Listen. Your ears are adjusting to new frequencies. 8c. Enhanced senses of smell, touch, and/or taste. I notice I can now smell and taste chemical additives in some foods in a rather unpleasant manner. Other food may taste absolutely wonderful. For some people, these enhancements are both delightful and distracting. You might even smell the fragrance of flowers now and then. Many of the mystics did. Enjoy it.
  9. Skin eruptions: Rashes, bumps, acne, hives, and shingles. Anger produces outbreaks around the mouth and chin. I had a dermatitis on my extremities for several months that accompanied healing an episode from my past. When I had worked through most of the issue, the condition was released. Advice: You may be sloughing off toxins and bringing emotions to the surface. When there is an issue to be released and you are trying to repress it, your skin will express the issue for you until you process the emotions. Work through your “stuff”.
  10. Episodes of intense energy which make you want to leap out of bed and into action. Followed by periods of lethargy and fatigue. The fatigue usually follows great shifts. This is a time of integration, so give into it. Advice: Roll with the nature of the energy. Don’t fight it. Be gentle with yourself. Take naps if you are tired. Write your novel if you are too energized to sleep. Take advantage of the type of energy.
  11. Changes in prayer or meditation. Not feeling the same sensations as before. Not having the same experience of being in contact with Spirit. Difficulty in focusing. Advice: You may be in more instant and constant communion with Spirit now and the sensation may therefore be altered. You will adapt to this new feeling. You are actually thinking and acting in partnership with Spirit most of the time now. You may find your meditation periods shorter.
  12. Power surges: All of a sudden you are heated from head to toe. It is a momentary sensation, but uncomfortable. In contrast, some people have felt inexplicably cold. I have experienced both. More recently I experience waves or currents of energy rolling through me. Sometimes the energy seems so intense when it first comes into my body that I feel a little nauseated. But if I think of the energy as divine and let go of fear, I feel wonderful and enjoy the sensation. If you are an energy worker, you may have noticed that the heat running through your hands has increased tremendously. This is good. Advice: If you are uncomfortable, ask your Higher Power, that if it be for your best and highest good, to turn down/up the temperature a bit.
  13. A range of physical manifestations: Headaches, backaches, neck pains, flu-like symptoms (this is called vibrational flu), digestive problems, muscular spasms or cramps, racing heartbeat, chest pains, changes in sexual desire, numbness or pain in the limbs, and involuntary vocalizations or bodily movements. Some of us have even had old conditions from childhood reappear briefly for healing. Advice: Remember what I said about seeking medical help if you need it! If you have determined that this is not a medical condition, relax in the realization that it is only temporary.
  14. Looking younger. Yippee! As you clear emotional issues and release limiting beliefs and heavy baggage from the past, you are actually lighter. Your frequency is higher. You love yourself and life more. You begin to resemble the perfect you that you really are.
  15. Vivid dreams. Sometimes the dreams are so real that you wake up confused. You may even have lucid dreams in which you are in control. Many dreams may be mystical or carry messages for you. And in some dreams, you just know that you are not “dreaming” — that what is happening is somehow real. Advice: You will remember what is important for you to remember. Don’t force anything. Above all, stay out of fear.
  16. Events that completely alter your life: death, divorce, change in job status, loss of home, illness, and/or other catastrophes — sometimes several at once! Forces that cause you to slow down, simplify, change, re-examine who you are and what your life means to you. Forces that you cannot ignore. Forces that cause you release your attachments. Forces that awaken your sense of love and compassion for all.
  17. A desire to break free from restrictive patterns, life-draining jobs consumptive lifestyles, and toxic people or situations. You feel a compelling need to “find yourself” and your life purpose — now! You want to be creative and free to be who you really are. You might find yourself drawn to the arts and nature. You want to unclutter yourself from things and people that no longer serve you. Advice: Do it!
  18. Emotional and mental confusion: A feeling that you need to get your life straightened out–it feels like a mess. But at the same time you feel chaotic and unable to focus. See #45. Advice: Put your ear to your heart and your own discernment will follow.
  19. Introspection, solitude and loss of interest in more extroverted activities: This stage has come as a surprise to many extraverts who formerly saw themselves as outgoing and involved. They say, “I don’t know why, but I don’t like to go out as much as before.”
  20. Creativity bursts: Receiving images, ideas, music, and other creative inspirations at an often overwhelming rate. Advice: At least record these inspirations, for Spirit is speaking to you about how you might fulfill your purpose and contribute to the healing of the planet.
  21. A perception that time is accelerating. It seems that way because you have had so many changes introduced into your life at an unprecedented rate. The number of changes seems to be growing. Advice: Breaking your day up into appointments and time segments increases the sense of acceleration .You can slow time down by relaxing into the present moment and paying attention to what’s at hand, not anticipating what’s ahead. Slow down and tell yourself that you have plenty of time. Ask your Higher Power to help you. Keep your focus on the present. Try to flow from one activity to the next. Stay tuned to your inner guidance. You can also warp time by asking for it. Next time you feel rushed, say, “Time warp, please. I need some more time to —–.” Then relax.
  22. A sense of impendingness. There is a feeling that something is about to happen. This can create anxiety. Advice: There is nothing to worry about. Things are definitely happening, but anxiety only creates more problems for you. All your thoughts — positive or negative– are prayers. There is nothing to fear.
  23. Impatience. You know better, but sometimes you can’t help it. You want to get on with what seems to be coming your way. Uncertainty is not comfortable. Advice: Learn to live with the uncertainty, knowing that nothing comes to you until you are ready. Impatience is really a lack of trust, especially trust in your Higher Power. When you focus on the present, you will experience miracles — yes, even in traffic.
  24. A deep yearning for meaning, purpose, spiritual connection, and revelation. Perhaps an interest in the spiritual for the first time in your life. “Constant craving”, as k.d. lang says. The material world cannot fulfill this longing. Advice: Follow your heart and the way will open up for you.
  25. A feeling that you are somehow different. A disquieting sense that everything in your life feels new and altered, that you have left your old self behind. You have. You are much greater than you can possibly imagine. There is more to come.
  26. “Teachers” appear everywhere with perfect timing to help you on your spiritual journey: people, books, movies, events, Mother Nature, etc. Teachers may appear to be negative or positive when you are trapped in polarity thinking, but, from a transcendent perspective, they are always perfect. Just what you need to learn from and move on. By the way, we never get more than we are ready to master. Each challenge presents us with an opportunity to show our mastery in passing through it.
  27. You find a spiritual track that makes sense to you and “speaks to you” at the most profound levels. Suddenly you are gaining a perspective that you would never have considered before. You hunger to know more. You read, share with others, ask questions, and go inside to discover more about who you are and why you are here
  28. You are moving through learning and personal issues at a rapid pace. You sense that you are “getting it” quite readily. Advice: Keep remembering that things will come to you when they are ready to be healed. Not sooner. Deal with whatever comes up with courage and you will move through the issues rapidly.
  29. Invisible presences. Here is the woo-woo stuff. Some people report feeling surrounded by beings at night or having the sensation of being touched or talked to. Often they will wake with a start. Some also feel their body orbed vibrate. The vibrations are caused by energetic changes after emotional clearing has taken place. Advice: This is a sensitive topic, but you may feel better blessing your bed and space around it before you sleep. I rest assured that I am surrounded only by the most magnificent spiritual entities and am always safe in God’s care. Sometimes, however, the fear gets to me, and I call in Archangel Michael and/or Archangel Uriel. I don’t beat myself up for being afraid sometimes. I forgive myself for not always sovereign at 3:00 a.m.
  30. Portents, visions, “illusions”, numbers, and symbols: Seeing things that have spiritual importance for you. Noticing how numbers appear synchronistically in your awareness. Everything has a message if you take the time to look. I enjoy the experience of “getting the messages.” What fun!
  31. Increased integrity: You realize that it is time for you to seek and speak your truth. It suddenly seems important for you to become more authentic, more yourself. You may have to say “no” to people whom you have tried to please in the past. You may find it intolerable to stay in a marriage or job or place that doesn’t support who you are. You may also find there is nowhere to hide, no secrets to keep anymore. Honesty becomes important in all your relationships. Advice: Listen to your heart. If your guidance tells you not to do something, speak up and take action. Say “no”. Likewise, you must also say “yes” to that which compels you. You must risk displeasing others without guilt in order to attain spiritual sovereignty.
  32. Harmony with seasons and cycles: You are becoming more tuned to the seasons, the phases of the moon and natural cycles. More awareness of your place in the natural world. A stronger connection to the earth.
  1. Electrical and mechanical malfunctions: When you are around, lightbulbs flicker, the computer locks up, or the radio goes haywire. Advice: Call on your angels, guides, or Grace Elohim to fix it or put up a field of protection of light around the machine. Surround your car with bluelight. Laugh.
  2. Increased synchronicity and many small miracles. Look for more of these. Advice: Synchronistic events tell you if you are heading in the right direction or making the correct choices. Honor these clues and you cannot go astray. Spirit uses synchronicity to communicate to you. That’s when you begin to experience daily miracles. See #30.
  1. Increased intuitive abilities and altered states of consciousness: Thinking of someone and immediately hearing from them. More synchronicities. Having sudden insights about patterns or events from the past. Clairvoyance, out-of-body experiences, and other psychic phenomena. Intensified sensitivity and knowing. Awareness of one’s essence and that of others. Channeling angelic and Christ-consciousness energies.
  2. Communication with Spirit. Contact with angels, spirit guides, and other divine entities. Channeling. More and more people seem to be given this opportunity. Feeling inspiration and downloading information that takes form as writing, painting, ideas, communications, dance, etc.
  3. A sense of Oneness with all. A direct experience of this Wholeness. Transcendent awareness. Being flooded with compassion and love for all life. Compassionate detachment or unconditional love for all is what lifts us up to higher levels of consciousness and joy.
  4. Moments of joy and bliss. A deep abiding sense of peace and knowing that you are never alone.
  5. Integration: You become emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually stronger and clearer. You feel as if you are in alignment with your Higher Self.
  6. Living your purpose: You know you are finally doing what you came to earth for. New skills and gifts are emerging, especially healing ones. Your life/work experiences are now converging and starting to make sense. You are finally going to use them all. Advice: Listen to your heart. Your passion leads you to where you must go. Go within and ask your Higher Power, “What is it you would have me do?” Watch for synchronicities. Listen.
  7. Feeling closer to animals and plants. To some people, animals now seem to be more “human” in their behavior. Wild animals are less afraid. Plants respond to your love and attention more than ever. Some may even have messages for you.
  8. Seeing beings of other dimensions. The veil between dimensions is thinner, so it is not surprising. Just stay in your sovereignty. You are more powerful than you can ever imagine, so do not entertain fear. Ask your guides for help if you slip into fear.
  9. Seeing a person’s true form or seeing loved ones with a different face — past life or parallel life.
  10. Physically manifesting thoughts and desires more quickly and efficiently. Advice: Monitor your thoughts. All thoughts are prayers. Be careful what you ask for.
  11. Left -brain fogginess. Your psychic abilities, your intuitive knowing, your feeling and compassion, your ability to experience your body, your visioning, your expressiveness all emanate from the right brain. In order for this side of the brain to develop more fully, the left brain must shut down a little bit. Normally the left-hemisphere’s capacity for order, organization, structure, linear sequencing, analysis, evaluation, precision, focus, problem-solving, and mathematics dominate our often less-valued right brain. What results are memory lapses, placing words in the wrong sequence, inability or no desire to read for very long, inability to focus; forgetting what you are just about to say; impatience with linear forms of communication (audio or written formats); a feeling of spaciness, being scattered; losing interesting research or complex information; feeling bombarded with words and talk and information; and a reluctance to write. Sometimes you feel dull and have no interest in analysis, lively intellectual discussion, or investigation. On the other hand, you might find yourself drawn to the sensate: videos, magazines with photos, beautiful artwork, movies, music, sculpting, painting, being with people, dancing, gardening, walking, and other kinesthetic forms of expression. You may search for spiritual content, even science fiction. Advice: You may discover that if you allow your heart and your right brain to lead you, the left will then be activated appropriately to support you. And someday we will be well-balanced, using both hemispheres with mastery.
  12. Dizziness. This occurs when you are ungrounded. Perhaps you have just cleared a big emotional issue and your body is adjusting to your “lighter” state. Advice: Ground yourself by eating protein. Sometimes “comfort food” feels right. Don’t make any food right or wrong for you. Use your guidance to know what you need at any given moment. Take your shoes off and put your feet in the grass for a couple of minutes.
  13. Falling, having accidents, breaking bones. Your body is not grounded or perhaps your life is out of balance. Or your body may be telling you to slow down, examine certain aspects of your life, or heal certain issues. There is always a message. When I recently broke my ankle, I understand that my ankle was taking on what I myself refused to deal with. And that was all of the above. Advice: Stay grounded by taking your shoes off and putting your feet in the grass; even better, lie down on the grass without a blanket under you. Feel the earth beneath you. Get out in nature. Slow down and pay attention. Be mindful about what you are doing. Feel your feelings when they come up. Stay in the present. Surround yourself with blue light when you are feeling shaky.
  14. Heart palpitations. A racing heart usually accompanies a heart opening. It only lasts for a few moments and means that the heart is re-balancing itself after an emotional release. I had one episode that terrified me: I woke up in the middle of the night, my heart pounding. I thought it was going to come right out of my chest. It only happened once and was, I understand, a huge heart-chakra opening. But I did check it out. There is nothing wrong with my heart. Advice: Remember what I said about getting medical attention when needed. Consult your doctor about any conditions you are not comfortable with.
  15. Faster hair and nail growth. More protein is being used in the body. Too bad we can’t tell the body where to grow the hair and where not to grow it. (Or can we? Hmmm.)
  16. A desire to find your soulmate or twin flame. More than ever before, the idea that we can have a relationship that matches who we are seems more desirable. Advice: The truth is, we have to be the kind of person we want to attract. We have to love ourselves and where we are right now before we can attract a more “perfect” mate. The work begins at home. Here is how I think it works: Hold the desire for this person in your heart, but without attachment. Expect that someday you will meet someone who is more suited to you, but let go of any expectations as to who this will be and how it will happen. Focus instead on cleaning up your own life and being the kind of person you want to be. Be happy now. Enjoy your life. Then you may see…..
  17. Memories surface. Body memories, suppressed memories, images of past lives and/or parallel lives. We are healing and integrating all our “selves”, so expect to have some of these experiences. Advice. Keep in mind that it is best to recall what only what comes to mind, leave the rest alone, don’t analyze everything to death (because you will be stuck in the tape loop of infinite issues to process), and feel your feelings as they come up. Ask for help from your guides.

Note: This document may be shared, but please send it in its entirety. Thanks. Love and hugs, Annarita

Sunfell Article

Elder Mountain Women’s Artist Residency

Photo post.

Source: | Elder Mountain Women’s Artist Residency on WordPress.com

Miami Ifa Forecast 2013 With Lukumi Oba Oriate Ernesto Pichardo

Oba After Dark Pl

Friday, January 4, 2013, at 8pm est, Oba Oriate Ernesto Pichardo will be a guest on After Dark.

Miss Paula of KDCL Media and Dia Nunez of The H20 Network welcome the co-founder of the Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye and Lukumi Elder, Oba Oriate  Ernesto Pichardo.

Oba Pichardo will be discussing the annual IFA forecast from MIAMI for 2013.

Oba will decode the many layers of the letter of the year and how it has the potential to effect us individually, our spiritual communities, and HUMANITY as a whole. Join us! YOU CAN ALSO CALL-IN TO LISTEN at 917-889-7526.

NOTE: WE WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS, BUT YOU CAN LISTEN THROUGH THE PHONE LINES.

Our networks are creating and changing reality.

The H20 Network on FB

KDCL Media on FB

CLBA on FB

Letter Of The Year 2012

Each person should go to their respective Godfathers (Babalawos) seeking clarity in regards to the foregoing.

Our Commission is grateful to the great institutions of Communications that make possible that these predictions reach every corner of the World.

The Organizing Commission for the Sign of the Year
“Miguel Febles Padrón”
wishes you a Happy and Prosperous 2012 Year.


Following a tradition of twenty six years, the Organizing Commission of the Reading of the Year gathered on the 31st of December 2011 in the House-Temple situated on Avenida 10 de Octubre #1509, between Josefina and Gertrudis, Vibora, Municipality of 10 de Octubre, City of Havana, Cuba.

This ceremony was chaired by the Ifá Priest, Guillermo Diago Molina “Ogbe Weñe” and supported by Ifá priests respresenting all of Cuba’s Ifá families and their descendants in the rest of the World. The youngest Ifá priest took out the sign.

Reigning SignBABÁ IRETE MEYI (“The shadow of the son of short life”; sign ends lives quickly).
Prophetic orientationOsobo Ikú Otonowá.
Orula Onire: Adimú (obi, omí tutu, itaná meyi).
Onishé ará: PARALDO with a hen (Umbeboro Oyá and the rest of the ingredients).
Onishé Omó (children): Ebbó Misi. Otán.
EBBÓ: 1 hen, white cloth, red cloth, and black cloth; arrow, trap, 1 egg, meat with bone, 1 fresh small fish, and the rest of the ingredients.

Reigning DeityOYÁ: Divinity of storms and gentle breezes. She is identified with the spirit of the ancestors. She is the goddess of the River Niger (Odó Oyá), which received its name from her. It is believed that she was the first and favorite wife of the Orisha Shangó. Tradition tells us that the river was originally formed from the copious tears that she shed on the day her husband died.

Accompanying DeityOGGÚN. He is the patrón of blacksmiths and soldiers and is worshiped in the city of Iré and Iyesá in western Nigeria.

The Flag of the Year: Wine Red with Black Borders.

The distribution of this document is free and the Commission is not responsable for its sale by unscrupulous people animated by money.

ILLNESSES TO WATCH OUT FOR

      MOBILITY DISORDERS (BE CAREFUL OF FALLS AND ACCIDENTS).
HERNIATED DISKS.
LOWER WOMB DISORDERS (MENSTRUALES, MISCARRIAGES).
INFERTILITY.
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS.
INCREASE IN INFANT MORTALITY.
EPIDEMICS AND SKIN ILLINESSES (LEPROSY, SCABIES, ABCESSES, BOILS).

Events of Social Concern

  1. This is a sign of war and confrontation.
  2. This is a sign of transition, and social, political, and economic change.
  3. Loss through old age (aging population).
  4. Increase in seismic movement.
  5. You should pay attention to all household issues.
  6. Serious marital problems.
  7. Seek nimble solutions to any existing problem.
  8. Dangerous increase in temperature.

 

Recommendations

  1. Improve hygiene in hospitals.
  2. Improve apprenticeship in the manual trades.
  3. Special attention to agriculture and the organized distribution of products.
  4. Attention to your children.
  5. Grant consideration to women in every aspect.
  6. Better the organization of public economic management.
  7. Use music as social therapy.
  8. Organize a campaign of general sanitation against environmental contamination in order to avoid epidemics.
  9. Make offerings to ASOJUANO.
  10. Take advantage of the properties of the following plants for their respective uses: albahaca (basil), hierba de la sangre (blood plant), caisimón, quita maldición (remove curse), ciruela (plum), algodón (cotton) and bledo blanco.
  11. Control the increase in promiscuity.
  12. Preserve the environment.
  13. Avoid false accusations and defamations.
  14. Change and revise penal laws, bringing them up to date.

An Essay By Obalorun Ala Aganju

Alafia all,

At the request of a member of the forum am going to reprise a couple of essays from years passed in the hope that they will be of interest to the forum members.

Be well,

Obalorun Ala Aganju

Aborisa, a religion with clear and strong ethics and morals

“The basic difference between the African priests and the Santero is that the latter practices his magic in the asphalt jungles of big cities instead of in the African wilderness. Santeria is simply jungle magic adapted to city

living. Its ritual practices are based on sympathetic magic. That is, they are natural magic based on the laws of similarity and contact”.

The quote sited above came from, Santeria : African Magic in Latin America by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler.

It is statements like these found in books by writers like Gonzalez-Wippler, Lydia Cabrera and others that promote and foster the very mistaken idea that the Lukumi/Yoruba peoples were nothing more than a bunch of half naked Jungle Bunnies who were snatched from ” the African wilderness.”

” The African wilderness,” Where they passed their days living solely off of the wild produce of the land, when they weren’t casting spells upon each other.

Writers like Gonzalez-Wippler, Lydia Cabrera and others have worked very hard to promote and foster the very mistaken idea that the religion of Lukumi/Yoruba peoples was and is nothing more than a hodge podge of OOOGA BOOGA Mumbo jumbo, superstitions and foolishness.

Writers like Gonzalez-Wippler, Lydia Cabrera and others have worked very hard to promote and foster the very mistaken idea that the Orisa and the priests who serve they have nothing better to do than to lay about waiting for clients to show up looking to buy spells, potions and petty evil.

Writers like Gonzalez-Wippler, Lydia Cabrera and others have worked very hard to promote and foster the very mistaken idea that the religion that I have been involved in since I was 18 years old and that I have served as an Olorisa since I was 28 years old has neither morals nor ethical underpinnings.

Writers like Gonzalez-Wippler, Lydia Cabrera and others have worked very hard to promote and foster the very mistaken idea that the religion that I have been involved in since I was 18 years old and that I have served as an Olorisa since I was 28 years old is a religion is one where the power and blessings of God are for sale, and that the Orisa and Olorisa who serve them are the marketing agents for this celestial huckster who doles out blessings for a price.

Writers like Gonzalez-Wippler, Lydia Cabrera and others have worked very hard to promote and foster the very mistaken idea that the religion that I have been involved in since I was 18 years old and that I have served as an Olorisa since I was 28 years old is where any and everyone can come to God ask for what they would be ashamed to ask for in any other religion.

The captive Lukumi/Yoruba peoples who established Aborisa in the Cuban Diaspora were anything but a bunch of half naked Jungle Bunnies who were snatched from ” the African wilderness.”

For the most part the Lukumi/Yoruba peoples were city dwellers, even those who were farmers lived “in town” and traveled to their farms to work. As for the Olorisa who came to Cuba as captives they were stewards and teachers of a very sophisticated religion.

A religion deserving of the very same respect that is accorded the “Major world regions,” a religion with clear and strong ethics and morals.

Ethics, a system of moral principles. The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.

Morals, of, or pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong.

Character, the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

Character, Qualities of honesty, courage, integrity.

Integrity, adherence to moral and ethical principals, soundness of moral character, honesty.

Iwa, conduct, behavior, disposition, nature, character.

Ethics= Iwa

Morals= Iwa

Integrity= Otito inu, iwa tito,

Otito = truth Otito = honesty

Otito inu= inner truth. iwa tito= truthful character, honest character.

Character, the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

“Concede to each person or thing their own particular character (Iwa).” (Mo iwa fun oniwa)

Another person’s character (Iwa) may or may not be like unto yours or to your liking, but it is his/her Iwa and you must live with it as they bring it to you. Those with hard character (Iwa Lile) lack all of the requisites necessary to accommodate and appreciate the character (Iwa) of others. This does not imply that you must tolerate abuse at the hands of another. Since you cannot change someone’s character (Iwa) you must change your relationship to it.

As I have been taught it, there are two types of Iwa, character one can develop in one’s life, Iwa lile that is hard or difficult character and Iwapele or Iware.

Iware can be translated to mean “good character” and Iwapele can be translated to mean gentle character, dignity, and humility.

The development of Iwapele/ Iware, “good character” gentle character, dignity, and humility is a goal without equal in life.

There is a proverb, which says “Iwa l’ewa, Character (Iwa), is beauty (Ewa), Gentle character, (Iwapele), imparts inner beauty, (Ewa Inu).”

Iwapele/ Iware, “good character” gentle character, dignity, and humility are developed through the acquisition and use of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, caution, stability, dignity, maturity, patience, caring and thoughtfulness. There is a proverb, which says “Iwa l’ewa, Character (Iwa), is beauty (Ewa), Gentle character, (Iwapele), imparts inner beauty, (Ewa Inu).”

Character, honesty and truth were cornerstone principles in Ile Lukumi before the incursions of both Islam and Christianity.

There is no concept of “Original Sin,” nor is there a need for salvation in Aborisa, Orisa worship. Aborisa, Orisa worship, does not teach that humankind is lost from God nor is God lost from humankind. While there is no concept of absolute “good” or absolute “evil,” in Aborisa and it is taught that all things have constructive and destructive aspects to them.

It must be made clear that we are not free to act as we please as though there are no consequences.

Odu Ogbeate teaches us:

Even if the beginning of wrongdoing is pleasant, the end of wickedness will not be good. We cannot use evil to secure goods and expect them to be anchored firmly. These are the teachings of Ifa for the upright one, the offspring of the initiated one who treads the Earth in humbleness.

Olodumare is the lord of the land.

Olodumare is owner of judgement.

Retribution belongs to Olodumare.

The wisdom of Odu Ofun Meji counsels:

Ifa says we should not break a commitment to a friend, lest we die an unexpected death. If we discuss something with a person and that person wants to break a promise to us, the Ancestors will judge them. The king of the world will reward everyone precisely according to the work of his or her hands. What Aborisa, Orisa Worship, does teach is that we must develop our character:

Odu Ogbe Iwori teaches:

Bad conduct is what is attributed to youth.

Bad character is what is attributed to elders

Ogbe Ogunda says:

Character is all that is required. Character is all that is required. There is no Ori that needs to be unfortunate in the city of Ife; Character is all that is required.

Ogbe Tura advises:

If we have money and do not have character,

The money belongs to someone else.

Character, iwa, is what we are looking for, character.

If we have children and do not have character,

The children belong to someone else.

Character, iwa, is what we are looking for, character.

If we have a house and do not have character,

The house belongs to someone else.

Character, iwa, is what we are looking for, character.

If we have clothes and do not have character,

The clothes belong to someone else.

Character, iwa, is what we are looking for, character.

All the good things we have, if we do not have character,

These good things belong to someone else.

And so, it’s character, iwa, we are looking for, character.

Ofun Iwonrin advises:

Ofun, the Giving One, gives to them so that they might nurture.

Ofun, the Giving One, gives to them so that they might care for others.

This is the teaching of Ifa for Oduduwa who was doing good all over the world.

He said, “doing good worldwide is the best expression of character.”

They said a part of the world would not thank him for his kindness.

And others would not even recognize its value.

But he said “a father cannot help but give good things to his children

And a mother cannot help but give good things to her son or daughter.”

They said that Orunmila should sacrifice

So that all the good things which he gave to people, if they were wasted in the world

They would return to him in good order.

He heard and sacrificed.

“Sacrifice means nothing if you do not have good character. . .”

Irete Oyeku:

Orifusi, father of Elu, was searching for way to avoid death before it was his time. So that death would kill him his children and his wives before it was their time. He if you want to avoid death you must sacrifice and following the teachings of Ifa. Ifa will teach you the conduct and character, which will enable you to avoid death before you time. They said, when you sacrifice you should begin doing good from his day on more than ever before. Because your sacrifice means nothing if you do not have good character. Therefore you should take the sacrificial pigeons and chicken home. You should release them; you should not kill them. You should feed birds that come to your house. And you must not kill anything from this day on. For one who wants death not to kill them should not kill anything either.

Ethics= Iwa

Morals= Iwa

Integrity= Otito inu, iwa tito,

Otito = truth Otito = honesty

Otito inu= inner truth. iwa tito= truthful character, honest character.

Morals, ethics, Character, honesty and truth were cornerstone principles in Ile Lukumi before the incursions of both Islam and Christianity. If these core concepts were in truth imposed from the outside by invader cultures then we need to give thanks that such a thing has occurred! And we need to be working 24-7 to see to it that all we come in contact with are inculcated and yes even indoctrinated with these concepts!

The proverb from Odu Obara Meji tells us, “He who knows doesn’t die like doesn’t know.”

Odu Ogbe Irosun teaches us:

If we would listen to the teachings of Ifa, we would last like our ancestors lasted.

If we would follow the teachings of Ope Orunmila, we would grow old like the ancient ones.

Be well and may we all ever and always “Strive to increase good in the world and not let any good be lost.”

Obalorun Ala Aganju moderator of the Santeria list.