THE 13 INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS

WOMEN ELDERS OFFER THEIR VISION FOR OUR PLANET

I have been a massage therapist for 14 years. One of the things that I advise my clients to do is to soak in an Epsom Salt bath afterward. It draws out the lactic acid & is very detoxifying to the body. The response is almost always the same. "My grandmother always did that" or said to do that. Then they go on to say that they just didn't give it any credence. Whether it was just an old wives tale...or just simply outdated & no longer useful. As if all the pills & quick fixes & technology are.

We are a society that is bereft of what holds heart & meaning for us. We are disconnected, fragmented & shut down, as evidenced by our economic crash. We are more concerned about our economy than what is happening in our homes. We are more concerned about what is in our retirement account, than what our child just said to us 5 minutes ago. We are more concerned about what our house is worth, than what is going on inside of our homes. I believe this is what The 13 Indigenous Grandmothers speak to.

Last month, the Grandmothers held their 7th Council Gathering in Sedona. I had the privilege to go with 2 friends of mine. It was one of the most powerful experiences in my life. I have been unable to write about it until now. How do you put into words an experience that goes so far beyond words? How do you begin to convey a message that is not of the mind, but one so deeply embedded in the heart & the soul?

There were around 500 there. From all walks of life. One woman had traveled from Spain. Another woman that I met, had driven from Georgia down to Florida to pick up a friend. They then drove across country to Sedona. And I believe she was in her 70's. This is what a draw these powerful women bring.

The Grandmothers are from all across the world. They are from Africa, Tibet, Nepal, 2 from Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico, 2 from South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, Alaska & Arizona. They meet twice a year in each others homeland & hold Council. They found it deeply important to travel to each homeland, to experience each woman right where they live. To experience their people & their traditions. That was mind boggling to me. Especially because they each live without much money to speak of. Yet they deemed it of utmost importance to learn about each other & their cultures. That spoke to me on such a deep level.

Each of them come from such different ways of life. Different beliefs. Different traditions. Yet their curiosity & respect reach past those differences. I watched as each woman held the Council Fire in Sedona. We watch to see if there is something that we can connect to. Dismissing something if we don't understand or get it. They sat there in reverence for each prayer uttered. Many many tears for the degradation of the sacred way of life.

They are of the Earth. They are of the Sky. There are of the Waters. Each of their traditions are based on this. All of our Relations. They spoke so much of that. Our relations to each other, & in how we walk on this Earth. How we honor the trees & the water & the creatures. 

One day was devoted to the Water. They spoke of what Phoenix is doing to the Colorado River. And we just turn on our faucets. We are robbing the Earth for our own benefit. With no regard to how it will affect the next 7 generations. We take & take & take from the Earth. We poo poo the environmentalists if we are wanting something they are fighting against. We mine the minerals. And on & on & on.

Then there are the children. To see the Grandmothers & the children in the same room just filled my heart. Observing how their eyes lit up when they spoke of the children. Their devotion to teaching them. And also learning from them. Watching them guide them in learning the rituals & sacred traditions. The deep respect for the elders & the young alike. Stopping. Taking notice. Just being with them. Nurturing. Yet in our culture, so many times our children are so far removed from their grandparents that they never get this opportunity.

Our culture is SO technology driven. Technology isn't a bad thing within itself. Yet it has gone way out of control. Oprah has even had shows where families are texting each other when they are just in the next room. She just now had a show about the dangers of texting in cars. How many people have died because of that. AND we think this is the thing that we want to take to other countries. Our technology. Our way of life. I think we have done enough of that. Can we not see what it has done to our own lives? To our families? One Native American spoke to this at the Council. He said he didn't even know his own native language until his 40's.

They speak of Honor & Deep Respect. Prophecy. And of vision. From Jyoti, who had a recurrent vision of an international circle of women elders. To the 16 letters sent out. 13 responded. Then in the 1st Council Gathering, Grandmother Rita came forth with 13 stones & 13 eagle feathers that her grandmother had given her when she was 9. Telling her that one day she would be on a council of 13 Grandmothers. And that she was to gift them with these eagle feathers & stones.

So I wonder...what part of the prophecy are you meant to bring forward??

CARROT SOUP WITH DUNGENESS CRAB

Serve this lively soup, a fine showcase for Dungeness crab, to brighten up a winter day.
Prep and Cook Time: about 50 minutes.

Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: Makes 4 servings

• 2 1/2  tablespoons  butter
• 1  medium chopped onion
• 1  pound  sliced carrots
• 1  large bay leaf (or 2 small)
• 2  tablespoons  white rice
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2  teaspoon  lemon zest
• 6  ounces  shelled cooked Dungeness crab (from a 1 1/2 lb. crab)
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• 1  tablespoon  minced chives, plus chopped chives for garnishing

Preparation

1. In a 5-qt. pot over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onion, carrots, bay leaf, white rice, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring, until onions are light golden, about 6 minutes. Add 5 cups water and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
2. Working in batches, purée soup in a blender until smooth. Return soup to pot, stir in lemon zest, and keep warm. In a small bowl, toss crab with lemon juice and minced chives. Put an equal mound of crab mixture in the center of each of 4 soup bowls, then ladle soup around crab. Garnish with chopped chives.

Sunset, JANUARY 2008

INSOMNIA

I have struggled with insomnia for most of my life. Waking up several times a night. Sometimes not being able to go back to sleep. Or not being able to go to sleep in the first place. I finally resorted to taking a Tylenol PM to help me sleep. And ended up doing that for the last 5 or so years. 

I believe that insomnia can be an indication of a toxic overload in our bodies. Yes there can be many other factors also. But the first thing I always look at is diet & nutrition. Or the lack there of. I have a healthier diet than most. And yet still a good detox is always in order when my body is out of whack.

I have been off of coffee for 3 weeks now. And my last PM was almost 2 weeks ago. I am sleeping thru the night & am able to go to sleep easily.

In one of my juicing books 'Juicing For Life'  she outlines the nutrients needed & the vegetables that contain those nutrients.

Niacin~cofactor in the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan into the sleep-inducing chemical serotonin (Broccoli, Tomato, Carrot)

Vit B6~also cofactor in the conversion (Spinach, Carrot, Pea)

Magnesium~also cofactor in the conversion (Parsley, Collard Greens, Blackberry)

Calcium~aids in muscle relaxation (Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli)

Folate~may help restless leg syndrome (Asparagus, Spinach, Kale)

Lettuce & celery are traditional remedies for insomnia.

Juicing Recipes~~

TRADITIONAL SLEEP POTION                     

3-4 Lettuce Leaves

1 Stalk Celery

Juice. Drink 30 minutes before bedtime

TRADITIONAL NERVE SOOTHER

1 Stalk Celery

3-4 Carrots

Drink 1 hr before bedtime

SWEET MAGNESIUM SMOOTHIE

1 pint Blackberries

1 ripe Banana

2 oz Silken Tofu

1 Tbsp Brewer's Yeast

Juice Blackberries. Combine with other ingredients in blender or a food processor & blend until smooth. Garnish with Blackberries. Drink 1 hr before bedtime

The Master Cleanse

 

For over 20 years now I have been using this drink when I detox from caffeine. It always works wonderfully. I can't even find the book where I first read about it. 

Then about 2 1/2 years ago, when I went for my first Vision Quest with Angeles Arrien, that was part of our time there. That is when I first discovered it had a name. The Master Cleanse. Today as I went to write about it, I decided to look it up online. Wow! I had no idea that people went on 10 (or sometimes as much as 30) day fasts with it. I always hesitate about that. 95% of the time when I begin juicing etc., I eat. Even the first couple of days off of caffeine I allow myself *whatever* I want to eat. No energy for planning or anything. 

What was further amazing is that many, including famous people like Beyonce have used it as a weight-loss miracle plan. I had no idea *my* drink was so popular :) 

As I read I began to wonder if I should try the fast. Not for the weight loss. But more because of the debilitating fatigue that I have dealt with for the last few months. I have always experienced such energy when I drink it. Yet during this cleanse, since the beginning of January, I haven't drank as much of it & have been drinking more vegetable juices. I have been much more tired & had just attributed it to the fatigue. And that it was going to take awhile. 

I have decided to try it for 3 days & may go on to the 10 day. I need to get whatever is dragging me down out of my system. I read that it is one of the most powerful ways to cleanse heavy metals & candida from the body. I know that it helps purify the blood. And is also a wonderful detox for the liver. Along with many other benefits. 

The reason I was going to share about it, was to share with you about a great way to get off of caffeine. Even the last few weeks of being off of it, my body really begins to feel SO much better. My mental clarity is returning. My SKIN feels SO much different. My eyes are brighter. I sleep more soundly. It truly is amazing how much better I feel when I am able to give myself the time to detox off of caffeine. And I was down to drinking only 2 cups of coffee in the morning. I am not suggesting to anyone to fast with it. To do it purely as a weight-loss diet is crazy. I have had success with it while eating food.  

THE MASTER CLEANSE

2 Tbsp of Fresh squeezed Lemon (great for cleansing the liver & for energy)  

2 Tbsp of REAL Maple Syrup Grade B (Grade B has better mineral content)  

1/0 tsp Cayenne (great blood cleanser) (you may need to start with a dash & build up)

 8 oz pure water (warmed may be better) 

I love the cayenne. I realize many people don't. But you can't leave it out. It is such an integral part of the cleansing recipe. I would love to hear if you try it. Or if you have had any experiences in the past. I have helped several people detox from caffeine with it. Enjoy!

WHY JUICE?

I love this time of year because there is always a wealth of information on healing, detoxing, exercising....everything we need for a healthy, more vibrant life. I don't look at it in regards to weight loss or New Year's resolutions, but more about lifestyle choices that support our well-being. Whenever I share that I am juicing, I get the rolled eyes or some point of concern. I wanted to share with you what Cherie Calbom wrote in 'Juicing For Life'~ 
 
"The juice of fresh fruits & vegetables is the richest available food source of vitamins, minerals & enzymes. Usually, you just can't get enough raw fruits & vegetables in a day to nourish your body properly. While this has probably always been true, it is especially true today, when you need extra nutrients to help your body detoxify a large amount of environmental toxins. 

Juice enables your body to easily assimilate the many valuable nutrients found in food. Enzymes are organic catalysts that increase the rate at which foods are broken down & absorbed by the body. Found in plant foods such as fruits & vegetables, enzymes are destroyed when these foods are cooked. This is why raw produce should constitute at least half of your diet. The quick & easy digestion of these food, made possible by the enzymes, will give you greater energy & health. 

Raw fruits & vegetables are nature's way of giving us life...In fact, once you begin drinking juices on a regular basis, you may not need vitamin & mineral supplements. I like to call these drinks 'vitamin & mineral cocktails'... 

Sickness or health-the choice is yours. The physical condition you have tomorrow starts with what you do for your body today. It's up to you! I encourage you to choose vibrant health. Eat fiber-rich foods like fruit & vegetable salads, whole grains, & legume dishes made with beans, lentils or split peas. Drink 2-4 glasses of fresh juice daily...Don't give up on eating healthfully even if you don't get immediate results. You can & will feel healthier, with more energy & greater resistance to disease, when you start juicing for life! 

Between 50 & 75% of our diet should be raw food if we are to enjoy optimal health & abundant energy. Leslie & Susannah Kenton, authors of the book 'Raw Energy', state that a "vast quantity of evidence...exists showing that the high-raw diet...can not only reverse the bodily degeneration which accompanies long term illness, but retard the rate at which you age, bring you seemingly boundless energy & even make you feel better emotionally" 
 
I love her book! The thing I enjoy the most about it, is that she lists 65 disorders from Acne, Allergies, Fatigue, Insomnia, Menopause, Memory Loss, & whole myriad of others. She explains the disorder in a way that you can understand.Then she lists the nutrients that are helpful & the vegetables that contain them. She then follows with some wonderful Juicing Recipes. I have been juicing for 23 years. And it is just now that I am moving into a more raw diet. It hasn't been something I considered before. I realize most people will probably never consider it. 

I share this so that you may decide to change just one thing. Like eliminating junk food or coffee or ice cream. I'm not an advocate for drastic change. If we change one small thing a week, pretty soon our life will be changed...