My Daily "Brain" Shake

The Good Stuff

So if any of you are wondering what it is that makes me such a genius, I'll let you in on my little secret... Hahaha! I'm playing! If you just want to try out this awesome breakfast shake that I made up and that I think helps me function better mentally and physically, give this one a try! (I will post some of the health benefits of the ingredients that I include below)

My daily "brain" shake consists of:

1 cup Filtered Water

1/2 cup Almond, Soy or Brown Rice Milk

1 Banana

2 tbsp. Golden Flax Seed Powder

1 tbsp. Raw Cacao Powder

1 tbsp. Hemp Protein Powder

1 tsp. Gotu Kola Powder
1 tsp. Shatavari Powder

1 tsp. Black Maca Powder

1 tsp. Raw Bee Pollen
1 Splash Pure Vanilla Extract

2-3 Dashes Cinnamon Powder

2-3 Medjool Dates 

Put it all in the blender and you're good to go! Feel free to modify it in any way that you wish. I change the milk depending on what I have in the fridge, plus it's also good to rotate every so often anyway. I ran out of dates and they're kind of expensive, but I will get more because they add a delicious sweetness. Also, whenever I have berries, I'll throw those in too.

Health Benefits (all found on Google):

Golden Flax Seed Powder: source of Omega-3 Fatty acids, lignans, excellent source of B Vitamins, protein and gluten free, fights heart disease and high cholesterol, fights cancer, diabetes, constipation, helps with ADHD and memory loss, helps decrease inflammation, helps with weight loss, great for PMS and menopausal symptoms, helps depression, good for dry eyes. 

Raw Cacao Powder: full of antioxidants which promote cardiovascular health, protect from environmental and metabolic toxins, increases the levels of specific neurotransmitters in our brains to promote positive outlook, facilitates rejuvenation and simply helps us feel good, contains essential minerals like magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese, good source of essential fats.

Hemp Protein Powder: cleanses the liver by burning fat, environmentally friendly, a whole food source, has the optimal balance of the Omega 3 and Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids, very rich in fiber, complete protein and branch chain amino acids, gets absorbed faster than any other protein, easily digested, protects you against chronic diseases, has the good fat you need for your skin, hair, eyes, nails and cells in general.

Gotu Kola Powder: antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, has good chemo-preventive properties that protect the colon, rich in terpenoids which provides you dermatological benefits like facilitation of healing wounds acquired from burns, purifies the blood and it can also lower blood pressure, a memory enhancer, rich in beta-carotene, sterols, sapponins, alkaloids, flavonols, saccharides, and amino fatty acids, contains manganese, sodium, calcium, magnesium, selenium and zinc, rich in Vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and K.

Shatavari Powder: supports reproductive health by toning and nourishing the female reproductive organs, maintains healthy hormonal balance, treats PMS symptoms by relieving pain and controlling blood loss during menstruation, supports normal production of breast milk for nursing mothers, relieves menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, supports normal function of the immune and digestive system, increases libido.

Black Maca Powder: contains amino acids, complex carbohydrates, starch, glucosides, alkaloids, tannins, and vitamins B1, B12, C, and E, high in calcium and iron, used as a natural immunostimulant and to relieve stress, used to regulate the metabolism, enhance energy, stamina and endurance, used to promote mental clarity, used for the relief of chronic fatigue syndrome, menstrual disorders, and menopause symptoms, used as an herbal remedy for impotence, to enhance fertility, and as an aphrodisiac.

Raw Bee Pollen: proven to be an immune booster, a reliable source of acquiring vitamins and minerals in the body, and has a wide array of essential proteins, shown to increase sexual functions in men, as well as increase libido in women, stimulates each and every organ in the body as well as the glands, linked to a longer life span and increased longevity, rejuvenates the body including the skin, rich in antioxidants.

Pure Vanilla Extract: alleviates anxiety, reduces free radicals, stimulates sexual desire, contains vitamins including the B-complex group, contains traces of minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron and zinc, has anti-carcinogenic properties.

Cinnamon Powder: lowers the LDL cholesterol and has a regulatory effect on blood sugar, reduces the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells, has an anti-cloting effect on blood, acts as a natural preservative as it stops the growth of bacteria, helps in boosting up one's memory and improves the cognitive function, good source of manganese, fiber, iron and calcium, helps in reducing flatulence. 

Medjool Dates: rich in dietary fiber, good source of Vitamin A, rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, excellent source of iron and potassium, rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium, contains B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K.

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

Being Present

Being Present

The past is captivating. It literally has the power to capture us and hold us hostage in a time which has already gone. Our minds become trapped in ideas, moments, memories that have already passed...or have never even existed. The same is true for the future, for there is no reality in that which has not yet had a chance to be created. This is the power of our minds. Wildly creative and consistently authoring stories which our egos believe to be true at their core. Again, it is a mythological, fragmented reality which we are perceiving. 

All thoughts of the past and future are illusions, stories which we have created and to which we give form and substance. None of this can bring us to the light of the present moment. Yet making an effort in itself is futile, for it is bringing us further from the real experience of what is. How can we truly experience something as it is if we are constantly using our minds to think about it, and then to judge it?

How do we liberate ourselves from these illusions, bringing our attention to the present moment and know that NOW is all that we have? Perhaps we can begin to experience things as they are, without love or hate, just by tasting, touching, smelling, hearing, seeing, and feeling everything as it is, just for a moment. That moment will not last, but it will be real. As real as the next moment and the next. Not one of them will be separate, for life is one continuous action of moments strung together...

"Life exists only at this very moment, and in this moment it is infinite and eternal, for the present moment is infinitely small; before we can measure it, it has gone, and yet it exists forever..." - Alan Watts

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

The Social Construction Of Knowledge

Caster Semenya

Tonight I'm just sharing a journal I wrote for class last year. Enjoy...

According to Western science, what has been discovered, researched and recorded about the natural world should be regarded as factual evidence. In Western society, science is highly respected because it is thought to be information which is "value-neutral". This means that the values of those conducting the research should not interfere with the final results of the information being collected. Science is seen as something that reveals the truth about the world, something that cannot change. Culture, on the other hand, is accepted as something which shifts and changes with humans and their values, over time and around the world. In fact, like culture, science also changes as new theories are introduced, new methods are attempted, and yet Western science sees the two worlds as completely divided. 

 

For centuries, scientists have been searching for ways to prove the supposed "inherent" differences between genders through scientific research, without acknowledging the relevant social implications of the time in which the research was being conducted. This kind of research has been done not only to prove gender differences, but also the differences between "races" and sexual orientations, amongst so many other things. Much of the information which has been collected in Western science has been done by predominately White, Western men, and of course has always been subject to their opinions, values and context. This information, taken from a single worldview, is then declared "knowledge", "fact", "truth". Ultimately it is they who would benefit from this type of research as they give themselves an opportunity to prove their superiority over whom they wish. For this reason it is especially important to know the history of science. If science is meant to be regarded as truth, yet we also know that it is not nearly as "value-neutral" as it should be, then we must carefully reconsider the "truths" which have been taught to us about our natural world. Otherwise we will continue to perpetuate simplistic understandings of human beings, while we are certainly quite the opposite. 

If you know the Caster Semenya case, you'll understand the joke I posted above and how this relates to what I wrote.

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

Sóley

I think I'm obsessed...with Sóley!

I just have to write about this artist. I am totally addicted to her!!! I came across Sóley as I was browsing through artists that I've never heard before on YouTube. Once I listened to one of her songs, I wanted more and more. Her voice is sooooo beautiful and I love the eerie tone of the music and lyrics she has created. I also love her smile when she sings, her Icelandic accent, her dimples, her cute outfits, her giant glasses, the way she says "takk" (thank you)...I told you I was obsessed!

I absolutely love this live performance. I've watched it over and over again. Watch it and see if you don't feel the same way. But be warned, she's addictive! (or I'm just a total nut)

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

Freedom Is At The Beginning

Freedom is at the Beginning

I've decided to share some wise words from J. Krishnamurti since they are important and also because I've exhausted my brain power after an 11 page paper. I am now re-charging for the other 3 papers and 3 exams ahead...

Jiddu Krishnamurti - Bombay, 1st Public Talk, 4th March 1956

"I think it is important to understand that freedom is at the beginning and not at the end. We think freedom is something to be achieved, that liberation is an ideal state of mind to be gradually attained through time, through various practices; but to me, this is a totally wrong approach. Freedom is not to be achieved; liberation is not a thing to be gained. Freedom, or liberation, is that state of mind which is essential for the discovery of any truth, any reality, therefore it cannot be an ideal; it must exist right from the beginning. Without freedom at the beginning, there can be no moments of direct understanding, because all thinking is then limited, conditioned. If your mind is tethered to any conclusion, to any experience, to any form of knowledge or belief, it is not free; and such a mind cannot possibly perceive what is truth."

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

Vegan Baking

Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

So the other night I tried to bake these cookies and as usual the results were good, but nothing to rave about. I actually have a few reasons to explain this (meaning it's not entirely my fault this time). This is what I've come up with:

1. Due to some of the ingredients in the recipe (oats, egg replacer, oil), the batter didn't seem to stick together.
2. I added too many chocolate chips (I had extra so I just poured them in which is usually a no-no when it comes to baking).
3. This was my first time making this recipe and I don't bake enough.
4. I don't have the magic touch when it comes to baking.

The end result turned out to be pretty thick and dense cookies that were extremely chocolatey, but they actually tasted pretty good. I would use this recipe again and maybe add just a little less oats and definitely not put the extra chocolate chips. I think this was what made it hard for them to stick together. Anyway, here is the recipe below if you'd like to try it out for yourself. But don't be fooled...just because it's vegan doesn't mean it's healthy! 

What you need:

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• Egg replacer for three eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 cups oatmeal
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine the oil, egg replacer and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, flour, baking soda and salt. Combine with oil mixture.
4. Stir in the oatmeal and chocolate chips until well combined.
5. Drop by spoonfuls onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. 

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

Death is an illusion of separation

Death. Our bodies are destined to die. This is a fact of this Earthly life and I accept it. And yet it still continues to be hard, though less and less as I begin to understand it better...

The last 6 months have been difficult, due in great part to some of the deaths of loved ones that I have experienced. I've lost 2 great aunts, 2 long-time family friends, my brother (whom I only met once) and a close friend of mine. Though I am conditioned to say it, I know that they are not really lost since even at the instance of death, the Life force inside of us doesn't simply disappear. We are actually transformed at the atomic level into a new part of the makeup of the universe like specs of dust sparkling in the sunlight. But the awareness, the consciousness that gives form to the creations of the mind exists eternally as a part of the Divine. And so nothing will ever be lost, everything will continue to be a part of the Light. 

The last death (the close friend of mine) hit me the hardest for this woman showed me the true nature of compassion and I loved her for all of the ways that she loved other people, including myself. I watched as her body transformed from the strong, robust figure that looked like it could take on any of the numerous jobs that she worked, her 3 feisty adult daughters, her 8 young grandsons, the fairly recent loss of her beloved husband of over 30 years and the unstoppable giving which she indiscriminately poured out to every person that she knew...into a frail, delicate frame of skin and bones in just a matter of 2 months. That woman that I loved...she was always there living inside that weakened body, continuing to embody what Love is. Her lesson became a part of my lesson, teaching me that we, our Life force, is not restricted by the bodies which we think encase our spirits. Such a perfect manifestation of Love is ever present and always transcending physical form. That part of her is God.

So I thank her for that lesson and for the Love which she created in her lifetime on Earth. I won't say that I'll join her some day, for we were never really separated in her passing. We live together forever, not only in memory, but in the part of us which is Real and in this I have found Peace. As a tribute to all of the specs of dust that sparkle in the sunlight, I share this song: 

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)

Spiritual Union

Spiritual Union

The last six months have been some of the most beautiful and also some of the most challenging months of my life (including 6 deaths in 6 months). Meeting a man and building a relationship where we have gracefully risen to the heights of a beautiful spiritual union have been absolutely wonderful...and it all feels just right, thanks to God! 

He lives in New York so there is a long distance factor which poses a challenge to my physical understanding of my Self, yet knowing that I am much more than this body has been a huge comfort along the way. The physical distance, measured in miles or kilometers depending on which side of the border I'm on, is no challenge for my spirit. Our minds and our hearts are connected as we communicate regularly, which is essential  to this type of relationship. I do miss being near him sometimes, so that I can take him in with each one of my senses, but I am conscious of the eternal union of our spirits and I am never dissuaded to lose sight of this Truth. Really I am working to cultivate this sense of connection to all life on Earth, it is just easier with the ones that I love. And Love too is for everyone.

But the long distance has also been an important element in allowing me to focus on the things that I'm working on here in Toronto, like my schoolwork and my health. I tend to be someone who gets caught up in my partner's world, devoting a lot of my time and attention to them. Not losing, but recreating a sense of Self with each new partner. I don't think it's particularly strange or bad because I know we all must make accommodations when we are in a close relationship with someone. And I never, ever put my own life on hold or give up any of my own interests. It just seems like my partners open me up to a whole new world of ideas and experiences and...well actually all of this sounds pretty great now that I'm writing it. I am a fluid being and I too bring new expressions of beauty into the lives of people I meet. I guess I just feel like I have the best of both worlds - an amazing partner and a perfect opportunity to take care of my own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, while we live at a not-so-easily-accessible distance.

I was actually going to write about some of the challenges that I've had over the last six months - the many stories of death and my challenges with feeling grounded in this path that I've chosen in university - but am now feeling like I don't want to delve into those topics anymore. I'll save it for another day. Anyway, such is the nature of life really. We are like leaves blowing in the wind, pulled by a current which changes our direction at times, and surrenders us to the Earth before being swept up again on a new journey into the sky. Today my written journey will remain focused on how I have risen in love. I will end with these beautiful words from Khalil Gibran:

"And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself."

@LoveKaruna (Twitter)