Thinking about Assata, Thinking about love, freedom and collective work and responsability

Love is contraband in Hell,
cause love is a acid
that eats away bars.
But you, me, and tomorrow
hold hands and make vows
that struggle will multiply.
The hacksaw has two blades.
The shotgun has two barrels.
We are pregnant with freedom.
We are a conspiracy.
It is our duty to fight for our freedom
It is our duty to win
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.

Assata Shakur / To My People / July 4, 1973

"Another World is Possible", Celebrating 23 Years of Healing Circles

Pictures by Amy Ponce, Enjoy
http://web.me.com/amyponcephoto/Celebrating_23_Years/Photos.html web.me.com

ENJOY!

Delicious Fall Cleansing Recipes by Delia Quigley

After a summer of expansive foods including sugar, dairy, flour, and alcohol, your body may begin to show signs of strain with lung and sinus congestion, aching limbs, fatigue, insomnia, constipation and/or diarrhea, chronic nasal drip, bloating, gas, and consistent acid reflux. Time to clean out and tune-up the body.

According to the Chinese Five Element system autumn is the season of Metal element, governed by Lung/Large Intestine. This sets up the conditions for flu or head cold, which comes from an internal deepening as your body throws off excess mucus, toxins, and inferior oils. Foods with a sour taste help with this elimination, apple cider vinegar, lemons, limes, grapes, sauerkraut, pickles, and sourdough breads. Dairy can be in the form of goat or sheep’s yogurt, but in moderation and eaten with other foods.

Pungent foods such as spices, ginger, and black pepper support the Metal element. These stimulate the appetite and help with the assimilation of food. Include pungent taste with seasonal fall foods such as apples, grapes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, grapes, kale, pears, persimmons, pumpkins, winter squash, and yams.

Here are a few recipes to help get you started.

Edamame Tempeh Salad
Serves 4
3 small heads broccoli cut into florets
1 8-ounce package tempeh, cut into small cubes
½ cup arame sea vegetable, soaked in water
½ cup frozen corn
2 cups frozen edamame soybeans

Dressing: 3 tablespoons tamari soy sauce * 3 tablespoons sesame seed oil * 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil * 2 tablespoons brown rice vinegar * 1 tablespoon Mirin rice wine * 1 teaspoon Ume Plum vinegar.

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the broccoli.
2. Return the water to boil and add the tempeh.
3. Return to boil and add the arame.
4. Return to boil and add the corn,
5. Return to boil and add the Edamame.
6. Return to boil and simmer another 6 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and strain, then run cool water over the ingredients to stop the cooking.
8. Meanwhile, whisk together the dressing and pour over the salad tossing to combine. Set aside to absorb the dressing, tossing another time before serving.

Kale Shitake Sweet Potato Soup
Yield: 6 servings

3 dried shitake mushrooms, broken into pieces
1 small sweet potato, peeled, chopped
1/2 bunch fresh kale
4 cups water or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon Mellow white miso, per cup

1. In a saucepan combine the water/broth, shitake mushrooms and sweet potato and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, wash and chop the kale into bite size pieces and add to the soup.
4. Cook until tender, another 8 minutes.
5. Dissolve a teaspoon of light miso in a bowl with a small amount of broth.
6. Ladle in the soup and serve with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

1 medium spaghetti squash
1 jar roasted red peppers, rinsed
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt to taste
Handful pine nuts, toasted

1. Set up a large, saucepan or stockpot with a steamer basket and one inch of water.
2. Halve the squash, lengthwise, then in half again.
3. Place the four pieces on the steamer basket, cover, bring to a boil and steam until tender, about 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, rinse the roasted red peppers with water and place in a blender with the garlic, oil and sea salt.
5. Puree until smooth.

ENJOY!
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/time-for-a-tune-up.html?page=2#ixzz10MJ1jkpz

Sisters in Healing

First World Women of Color Self Healing Circles

Celebrating 23yrs of Healing Circles
Brecht Forum 9-10

In photo lift to Right: Tati, Eugenia, Myrna, Lourdes. Haydee, Esperanza, Rosita, Akousa, Sandy, Lillian, Mina,

The Beginning Spring 1987

Urban Atabex

Painting by
Ana Maria
Hoffman

Fasting Joy

The fast has been just wonderful, it's been a week already, coming off it slowly, sending lots of love, take good care of your selves, it's all good!

Karen and me sharing a little love
Watermelon Juice with Seeds

Day 2 - HEART OF WATER - World Gratitude

Welcome Beloved One-ness,

Today, let's begin within and bless all the waters in our body. You see, as our blessed Heart beats true with Love and Gratitude, waters Will begin to mirror divinity within,creating ripples of time expressing Life sublime while thoughts projecting inner reflecting's serve to create NOW.

So just imagine ...

By flooding our bodily waters with Love and Gratitude graceful waves will ripple into all of Creation, e-motionally projecting a super-charged vibration, allowing intended
manifestations to BE.

Give thanks, for it IS so!

As you feel complete within, imagine this blessed beat flowing lovingly through others, and on to all the waters of Earth.

Feel grateful knowing Yes! you are this powerful, connected, and Divine.

NOW, as a co-creator of World Gratitude, it's time t set an intention ~ one you wish to see come into being ... uniquely suited to serve your highest good, and that of others, too.

Create a vivid image of this with your imagination. Feel it's presence, hear it's gift, taste it's treasure and see it's depth and magnificence. Love this intention as it IS now.

Give thanks, in advance, for it's manifestation while allowing the Law of Attraction to deliver this intended creation with Grace, style and ease.

Perhaps you will wish to share this in the FORUM, or on Facebook, allowing others to magnify and accelerate the arrival this possibility.

You may also choose to record it in a journal, online or written. Or ... simply close your eyes and breathe in the intention, breathe out the manifestation.

Be true to what feels right for you and all Will manifest through Love and Gratitude!

***

Go Gratitude!

***

"What happens if you ... allow this charged water
(intention) to constantly evaporate (breathe) into the
atmosphere where it will interact and proliferate with all
the other water molecules? Now, people and other life
forms, would be breathing in air which, of course, contains
moisture or water molecules that have been energetically
charged with our positive concepts, which in turn would
affect all the water within their bodies and so on - thus
affecting the entire planet.

If we (are yet) to achieve the "no mind" state of being
attributed to the enlightened few, why not bypass the
whole thought process altogether and let the water do
much of this work for us, while we continue to work on
ourselves? This would allow us to work on ourselves from
both the inside out and the outside in while simultaneously
slowly influencing progress in the masses".

- The Puzzle Pieces, submitted by D. Freeman.

It is during our time, through managing our
choices, that we are invited to create an outer
world that mirrors our innermost prayers and
dreams. -- Gregg Braden, The Isaiah Effect

********************************************************

World Gratitude Gathering

~ Enlightening the World with our Gifts of Gratitude ~
Members Page * Comments/Insights * Donate * Contact

============================================

Did you receive this as a gift? Are you ready to join the gathering
at World Gratitude? Feel free to join us HERE, or pass this along
to someone (k)new! Come on in ... we're waiting for *YOU*!

============================================

World Gratitude Gathering is a project of Go Gratitude - a global
service organization dedicated to empowering Wisdom, One-ness
and a Great-full heart!

Questions, comments, inspired ideas? Contact us here.

Share freely, Love passionately, Go Gratitude!
World Gratitude Link - info@worldgratitude.com

Earth Mother

Urban Atabex

Ceramic Sculpture by Esperanza Martell

Mother Atabex

Atabex also know as Atabei, Atabey. The Earth/Water Mother Goddess Turtle Women of the Taíno people of the Caribbean. Atabex the Universal Earth Mother of the gods and spirit of the waters bares five names representing the elements’: Attabeira, Momona, Guacarapita, Iella, and Guimazoa. Goddesses of the solar cycle and all the Earth elements; she who gave birth to herself and her children, mother of the Waters, mistress of the Moon, the Tides, Fertility and Maternity. Fertilizing earth water in ponds, rivers, and lakes, Earth and Serpent Mother, protector of childbearing and lactation; mistress and driver of the wind and water on land and sea, rider of hurricanes. Amazon Woman menstruating, untamed, and indomitable. Atabex: she who heals, standing in possibility and making it so, worrier women in her full power. And so it is, Blessed Bee!

Daily OM / Summon Your Aliveness

Being Fully Present

When we are fully present, we offer our whole selves to whatever it is that we are doing. Our attention, our integrity, and our energy are all focused in the moment and on the task at hand. This is a powerful experience, and when we are in this state, we feel completely alive and invigorated. This kind of aliveness comes easily when we are absorbed in work or play that we love, but it is available to us in every moment, and we can learn to summon it regardless of what we are doing. Even tasks or jobs we don't enjoy can become infused with the light of being present. The more present we are, the more meaningful our entire lives become.

Next time you find yourself fully engaged in the moment, whether you are making art, trying to solve an interesting puzzle, or talking to your best friend, you may want to take a moment to notice how you feel. You may observe that you are not thinking about what you need to do next, your body feels like it's pleasantly humming, or your brain feels tingly. As you enjoy the feeling of being located entirely in the present moment, you can inform yourself that you may try to recall this feeling later. You might try this while driving home or getting ready for bed, allowing yourself to be just as engaged in that experience as you were in the earlier one.

The more we draw ourselves into the present moment, the more we honor the gift of our lives, and the more we honor the people around us. When we are fully present, we give and receive aliveness in equal measure. For today, try to be fully present in your daily activities and watch a new reality open for you. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/5337.html

Fasting Question form Javier

I just want to jump straight into the master cleanse on tuesday no removing stuff just jump right in ... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, is that extreme ??????????????

Yes ! This Fast is about building the self discipline and commitment it takes to fast and transform your way of being with food. To have the health results you want and learn, you need to doing it as it is designed. You can add the Master Cleanse from the beginning and do the count down also. Remember it is about Healthy Eating and a Healthy Body, Lots of love, Enjoy E

Dry brushing for Better Health

Fasting Support

Why Dry brushing:
Strengthens the immune system – reducing the duration of infection, accelerate the clearing of toxins and stimulating the lymph vessels to drain toxic mucous matter into organs of detoxification which purifies the entire system. After several days of dry brushing, sometimes you may notice a gelatinous mucous material in your stools. This is a normal sign that the intestinal tract is renewing itself and it feels invigorating!
Stimulates the hormone and oil glands -- helps all of the body systems perform at peak efficiency stimulating blood flow to the surface so that toxins can more easily escape.
Removes dead and Tightens skin-- increasing the flow of blood, which, in turn moves toxins, and the top layer of skin, allowing the clean new layer to come to the surface.
Tones the muscles -- by stimulating the nerve endings, which causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move. It also helps mobilize the distribution of fat deposits.
Stimulates circulation – by increasing circulation to the skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes. You will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that permits you to feel energized and invigorated.
Improves the function of the nervous system-- rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin.
Helps digestion -- absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health.

How to Dry Brush (Easy, Fast Instructions):
• Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions.
• Continue brushing up your legs.
• Proceed to your hands and arms.
• Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck.
• Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen.
• Lightly brush the breasts.
• Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck. Better yet, have a friend, spouse or family member brush your back.

You can do the brushing head-to-toe or toe-to-head. It really doesn’t matter as long as the entire body is brushed. Long sweeping strokes starting from the bottom of your lift foot upwards, and from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction help drain the lymph back to your heart.

What You Need To Do Dry Brushing:
To dry brush, use a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. One with a removable head with a strap for your hand is a good choice. (Available from health food stores or your local Co-op.) A loofah sponge or a rough towel can also be used.

After brushing, take a hot shower with vegetable base soap (about three minutes in duration), followed by a 10-20 second cold rinse. Repeat this procedure three times. If the hot/cold showers are too extreme, a warm shower can be used. Follow the shower with a rubdown with either a sponge or towel to remove dead skin, use olive oil as a moisturizer. Enjoy

Potassium Broth

Fasting support - Start your day with a big mug of hot potassium broth--a cleansing, alkalizing and mineral-rich drink.

Potassium Broth Recipe
• To 1 1/2 quarts of water add
• 2 large potatoes, chopped or sliced to approx. 1/2 inch slices
• 1 cup carrots, shredded or sliced
• 1 cup celery, chopped or shredded, leaves and all
• Some beet tops, turnip tops, parsley, onion or whatever you have from the garden (or whatever is in season at the store)
• Add some fresh herbs: Cilantro, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme & garlic all antibacterial and antiviral!
• I also add a touch of red pepper flakes
• Sometimes I add a teaspoon of Miso or Bragg’s Amino after straining off the liquid for some extra flavor.

Cover and cook slowly for about 1/2 hour using only stainless steel, glass or earthenware utensils. Strain the broth off and cool. Serve warm or cold. If not used immediately, keep in refrigerator and warm up before serving. Makes about 3 servings.

Taken from How To Get Well by Paavo Airola, Ph.D.

As the weather turns colder, it's important to keep the digestive fires burning, says Vukovic, who recommends hot broths made from root vegetables, winter squash and miso for autumn cleansing. For a cozy touch, add warming herbs such as ginger and garlic to a tonic soup. Try to limit the cold juices you drink during a fall cleanse, as they tend to cool the body and might give you the shivers. Enjoy!

The Traditional Master Cleanse Recipe

The Master Cleanse Lemonade

The recipes is simple to make a follow.
1 gallon 32 servings):
- 8 Lemons
- 1 Cup of Organic grade B Maple Syrup
- 1 Tsp Cayenne pepper (red pepper)
- 1 gallon of distill or purified water

There are a couple important things to remember when using these recipes. For one, the lemon juice used must be fresh squeezed. This cannot be emphasized enough. It is necessary to use fresh produce. Canned juice won't work and will erase most of the benefits of using this diet. Also, the maple syrup must be organic, Grade B maple syrup, not the sugar filled syrup that is used at the breakfast table. Before going to bad have a laxative tea (like Smooth Move tea) and or fist thing in the morning have a warm 8 oz glass of water with a ½ a teaspoon of sea salt. When you are just doing liquids drink a gallon a day. This is a wonderful Lemonade, Enjoy

Dr. Elson Hass General Tips For Staying Healthy

Staying Healthy with the Season: Ten Tips for a Fabulous Fall www.vitalitymagazine.com/oct08_pg32feat

Detoxification is the word for early Autumn. I am doing a whole month of detoxing by myself as well as a three-week detox group at this time. Doing an effective Detox Diet or avoiding sugar, wheat and dairy for a couple weeks (as I write about in The False Fat Diet) is often quite revealing and helps us to feel better – lighter and more youthful with greater energy. I often recommend taking a two to three week break from the big five – sugar, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, and dairy products. Doing this, it may be challenging, yet most people feel much better and the body can clear many problems it has. Since it’s getting cooler, we’ll also need to exercise and spend time in the sauna or steam room as a means to sweat to clear toxins. Regular sweating is important to health and longevity. Prepare for the cold season. Gather your fuel and food, breathe and exercise, as you should. In Chinese medicine, the fall season focuses on the lungs and large intestine. Overdoing it can lead to congestion and toxicity, as well as constipation and the clogging of the nose and sinuses. This leads then to upper respiratory infections as the germs grow in the mucus and then inflame the membranes. Staying clean and clear this season along with a healthy immune system will help keep you well. Try a facial steam and breathe in the herbal mist (you can use mints, rosemary, chamomile, lemon verbena, and other herbs) to help clear the sinuses.

http://www.elsonhaas.com/staying_healthy_tips.html

Fasting 101 with Esperanza

Being mindful while preparing for, during and after the fast

· See a doctor if needed before beginning your Fast
· Avoided overeating at all times, chew your food well and slowly.
· Support your digestion process, no soled food after 8pm
· Drink 8 glasses of water daily and one gallon of distilled water
during Fast.
· Drink herbal tea to warm up (peppermint, chamomile, or rose hips).
· Sip water with lemon juice and honey if you feel dizzy or chills.
· Take an herbal laxative or enema if you get a headache and or
body pain.
· Prepare the Master Cleanse, drink 3 times a day
· Prepare a Potassium Broth, drink the broth,
bland the veggies if you need to eat
· Exercise daily, less strenuous during Fast.
· Dry brush beginning with the left side of your body moving up
and then the right side
· Shower daily (hot then cold to stimulate the circulation)
use peppermint liquid soup.
· Brush your teeth at least 3 times a day.
· Rest, keep warm and sun your self every day.
· Meditate, read, write, listen to music and get a massage.
· Think positively; surround your self with beauty and
nurturing people.
· Fast a day at a time, remember why you are fasting at all times.
· Enjoy the moment

Another World is Possible: Celebrating 23 Years of Womyn of Color Healing Circles

Urban Atabex Healer's Training

At this amazing juncture of our lives, we are celebrating the fact that over a dozen sisters are creating the possibility of taking on being powerful healers. Sending them all lots of love: Stacey, Shoshana, Tania, Karen, Nathalie, Isolina, Melissa, Prita, Julie, Aniztla, Sally, Terry, Kathy & Kristy.

In Healing

A day of healing at Riverside Dr. Park in the Spring' , Mother Bless, Thank you for all the Love

More info. for your Fast

PDF]

HAAS BOOK.5

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
There are many ways to help PURIFY your body; fasting and juice .... Season with herb seasoning or dry vegetable broth seasoning. Add: Dr. ...
www.herbscancleanse.com/cleanse-detox-book.pdf

Autumn Equinox

HEALTHY EATING ELIMANATION FAST - September 7 – 23

The Autumn Equinox September 23, 2010, 3:09 am, a time when the life force energy is returning to the roots in preparation for winter. To be in harmony, in balance with the earth changes we to need to prepare and embrace the life cycle. It's time to look in the mirror, accepting self, letting go of fear of the new and opening up to possibility.

We begin our journey by asking ourselves why fast?

There are so many reasons to fast. Some people fast to give their bodies a break from food and to cleanse and purify the body. Others fast for spiritual reasons. There is something about fasting that gives a person such spiritual clarity. This type of fasting is truly powerful. One time that is optimal for fasting is during the waning moon cycle if you seek to release something during your fast. Also, fasting during your moon (menstrual) flow is a great time to eat lighter and go into a quiet space. Many fast on their personal holy day. Your personal holy day is the day of the week on which you were born. So if you were born on a Wednesday, then every Wednesday is sacred day for you. There are many spiritual practices in which you can engage of which fasting is one. Doing so brings you further in alignment with your highest purpose and can assist you in releasing limiting behaviors and thoughts. The list goes on and on but the main reasons people fast are to cleanse the body and the spirit.

Fasting a celebration of self

I encourage each participant to consider fasting from food, be it one type of food, or to do deep physical cleanse. However, I have learned that these fast sometimes have nothing to do with food. In the past I have fasted from negative emotions, watching television, talking on the phone and fear. Fasts are not always about food. What matters most is that cutting something out of lives leads us to a freer and more peaceful place.

Be part of my personal journey

Each Season Change, I invite others to fast with me. Each season represents an aspect of the Goddess and fasting helps us to align ourselves with that energy and to maximize that particular energy. So for instance, Fall is the Season of the Goddess of Transformation. I honor Medicine and Changing women and the powerful women we are. Fasting leading up to and including the first day of Fall allows us to consider radical changes that we need to make and also allows us to release toxic emotions and behaviors that have kept us from achieving our goals.

It’s up to you how you fast:

You can participate for 21 days or not. One person may refrain from just one certain type of food while another may eat only raw foods for this time. This fast is totally up to you; you fast in your own way. Search your heart and soul to determine how it will look for you. I often encourage people to try and make sure they include the 2-3 days leading up to and including the first day of the new season. I have grown to love fasting because it is a time of respite and I usually have to slow down. I encourage you to join me! Connect with the Goddess within you through fasting!

This is what my fast will look like:

Day 1 eliminate all animal produces and stimulants (sugar, coffee, soda, salt, sugar, alcohol, pot etc) Eat cooked food, grains, beans, veggies and fruit, drink lots of water and juices.

Day 2 eliminate grains and beans (Eat cooked food, veggies and fruit, drink lots of water and juices.)

Day 3 eliminate cooked food and oils (Eat raw veggies and fruit, drink lots of water and juices.)

Day 4 eliminate raw veggies (Eat fruit, drink lots of water and juices.)

Day 5 eliminate fruit (Drink lots of water and juices.)

Days 5, 6 and 7 you are on liquids (Master Cleanse, Seasonal Juicing, Water)

Day 8 and 9 - Drink lots of water and juices, add juicy Fruits (grapes, watermelon, plums etc.

Day 10 and 11 - Drink lots of water and juices, eat juicy fruits and add green leafy vegetables and seasonal veggies for a colorful salad,

Day 12 and 13 - Drink lots of water and juices, eat juicy fruits, green leafy vegetables, seasonal salad and add stemmed vegetables (Greens, Carrots etc

Day 14 and 15 - Drink lots of water and juices, eat juicy fruits, green leafy vegetables, seasonal salad, stemmed vegetables (Greens, Carrots etc) and add grains and beans.

Day 16 - Drink lots of water and juices; eat juicy fruits, green leafy vegetables, seasonal salad, stemmed vegetables (Greens, Carrots etc), grains and beans and add oils.

Next Steps:

The next few days will be the hardest as you will choose powerfully to return to un-healthy eating or continue on the path of will being and good health. If you choose to eat meat eat less and organic. Stay away from red meat, diary, fried food, sugar, coffee, alcohol and drugs. Join a group stay healthy. Make sure you keep your bowls moving during the fast. You can drink Smooth Move Tea, do enemas and or a colonic, For a Colonic you can call Vetora at (212) 368-8581. If you have health concerns make sure to talk to your primary health practitioner. Keep a journal, get a fasting buddy and read Fasting with the Seasons by Dr. Elson Hass. Good luck on your journey.

Lots of love, walking with the Earth Mother, Esperanza

Here are some readings:

http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=1996

http://www.pureinsideout.com/elson-haas-detox.html

http://bellowingbantam.blogspot.com/2008/07/detoxification-improve-your-health-by.html

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox.html