Here I sit on my 51st birthday a changed person. My life is no where near what it was like 5 years ago. This journey has been amazing. I have spent the this time reviewing books, managing a business and a Facebook Page. I have decided that, I've done enough of that. Those things no longer bring me joy. I'll still write or draw but going forward I think I'm going to just limit my time online and try to do things that connect me with the world as opposed to doing things that cause me to hide.
I'm going to be outside more and maybe even start taking photos again. I'm going to make art and enjoy making art. I'm going to love right here and right now. Instead of waiting for the next thing to happen, I'm going to go make it happen. It's time for a change, and there's no time like the present.
I created this as a way to help me learning the Four Noble Truths. For me it was easier to remember if I had just one word for each of the truths. This is the third of four blog posts related to the Four Noble Truths.
So we learned that there is suffering in life. We learned that attachment is the source of our suffering. Next we're going to look at Nirodha. Nirodha is the truth of the end of suffering. This means that yes, we all suffer but suffering can end.
I chose the word overcome here because I wanted to remind myself that I can overcome suffering. I have that power within me. We know that suffering can end. We do not have to continue to suffer. There is an end. All we need to remember is that the Third Noble Truth is that there is an end to suffering.
How do we end it? That's covered in our next section on the Four Noble Truths.
As always, your comments are welcome. Feel free to post here or continue to use the form or email to send your questions/discussions.
One of the most difficult things in my life that I have ever tried to overcome is my low self esteem. I am a people pleasure. All my life has been me trying to be everything for everyone else, while not being enough for myself. I spent so much of my time trying to be perfect. I would try to learn everything I could about a class BEFORE taking the class so I would know what the class was about before taking it. The pressure I put on myself was unbearable. It was obvious of the pain I was in just by looking at my health.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
While reading The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh, I found the following paragraph profound:
People who are not at peace with their lives tend to let their minds wander back to moments that have passed and are filled with remorse and regret. Those with self-esteem issues dwell on things that people have said to them and feel worse about themselves because they let these thoughts and actions penetrate and become more important than the actual reality.
I spent so much of my time in future worrying about things that hadn't happened yet, based on experiences I had from the past. I was already failing at a new thing because I felt I failed (which really means, it wasn't perfect) at something in the past. I think we are all hard on ourselves, but I believe I took mine to a degree of self abuse.
An example of this is my drawing. I always felt I wanted to draw but when I would draw I would berate myself. Nothing was good enough. I would compare myself to other artists even though I had only been drawing a few months. Earlier this week I took a look at one of my old drawings. I really did a great job. I love this one. So much so that I might even pick up the pencil again. I need to love myself and stop looking for approval from other people. I need to be ok, with who I am and where I am in my life.
I found a few videos that are helpful on this type of self work. The first is to stop looking for approval from other people.
The second is a mediation to learn self compassion.
Learning to love yourself is hard. It isn't something we're all born doing as second nature. For me, I am still working on this. I want to be the best I can be for me. I want to be strong, healthy and happy. Most of all, happy.
Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am identify as a magical Buddhist. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I believe in spiritually and holistic wellness. I find that we can heal the world if we just sit down and and listen to the breath. I believe that magic, science and nutritional well being are the cornerstone to a well rounded holistic life. I have recently updated my site from Confessions of a Modern Witch to my new page To Live Whole. I welcome you to come along for my journey of health, wellness and self exploration. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 438,000 views.
As you know I'll be switching over to reviewing only e-copies of books shortly. I will miss handling the books but the amount of trash that I had piling up for all the shipping was just overwhelming. I will be doing a giveaway for the remaining physical books that actually arrive as well as asking my publishers to provide giveaway copies shipped directly to my winner's homes going forward for all giveaways.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Image Source - Book
My review copy was a soft cover slightly larger than average sized book. Its a soft cover book in a journal format that requires the reader to crease the seam in order to jot down all the daily food logging that this book recommends. I should also add, that I am not a vegan. I do have a very vegan like diet. I believe that being vegan has a bit of a history around it and leads people to believe certain things about people who wear that badge. I live a mindful, compassionate life. I follow the eight fold path and practice meditation. I diet is best described as Whole Food Plant Based No Oil. Being plant based, that means that it is a type of a vegan diet, however vegan diets include things like canola oil while excluding honey. My way of eating would be opposite of that. I see tons of health benefits for honey, while oil on the other hand is quite harmful to the body. That being said, many of the suggested recipes in this book would be strictly off limits for my household, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's talk about the first part of the book before going into the recipes.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Image Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Image Source - Book
This book starts out with the author giving us an overview of the Vegan diet as a whole. She covers vitamins and minerals and includes a section on that all important question we are all asked, "Where do you get your protein??" I like the inclusion of a vegan pantry. While, I wouldn't recommend going out and purchasing all this at one time, it is a great place to find a list of all the typical things one would find in a vegan pantry. Keeping in mind that a large majority of people I am meeting in my groups are also gluten intolerant, I would skip the breads altogether in our house. And of course, no oil at all. We don't use any type of processed oils, spreads, mixes, butters or anything of that nature. I think that some of these items are great to help wean you off of the bad stuff but overall they contain just as much harmful ingredients and should really just be skipped completely. I found the vegan substitution chart to be useful in some cases and in others a tad redundant. The yogurt substitution is vegan yogurt. I think that's pretty self explanatory and seemed like just a space filler.
There are a lot of charts in this book. One on fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, meat replacements and of course vegetables. There's even a few blank pages for you to fill in with the nutritional information around your own favorite foods.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Image Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Image Source - Book
The planner section is next. It is broken down into weekly sections over twelve weeks. Each week has a recommendation for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack, with a review page to jot down what you ate, including the nutritional break down, a section for thoughts and a plate diagram to show your fruits, grains, protein, veg and even a little place to tick off your water consumption.
The very first day recommends whole grain toast with peanut butter and sugar free jam with a banana for breakfast. A veggie burger on whole grain bread with cake and baked beans for lunch and vegetable marinara with whole grain pasta for dinner with a kale and tomato salad. Not a horrible day but for me, I would have to do a lot of removing. The pasta and bread are both highly processed and have gluten so both of those would be out for me. I don't eat nut butters or jam, so both of those are out and of course that veggie burger is processed as well. Instead of this I would have something like an oat bowl for breakfast with oat milk, blueberries, raisins and strawberries. For lunch I might have a veggie stir fry *no oil* over brown rice or maybe some vegan Tom Kha soup with Soy Curls.
The book does include a recipe for every day of the week in the book. I found that the Vanilla Date Breakfast Smoothie looked really good. I use frozen bananas and dried dates for an assortment of recipes. Once you are able to cleanse, your taste buds will go back to their normal unprocessed setting and you'll find that things taste quite different that you are used to. For example, oats are naturally very sweet. Oat milk is amazing without any sweetener at all and I pour it over my oat bowl every morning. Raisins are another great sweet treat. Once off the processed sugar you'll find that so many foods are just great tasting on their own. Over the years (even documented in this blog) you'll find me posting about how much I hate onions, mushrooms and peppers. I now eat them everyday. It is quite amazing how quickly you can switch over to a healthy lifestyle if given the chance.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Image Source - Book
Overall I think this is a great book for becoming vegan. The daily entry allows you to take responsibility for your eating habits and the charts and tables provide a great deal of information. I think that going vegan is a great step in the right direction to getting back to where I believe we were naturally intended to eat.
If you think you might be interested in learning more about the whole food plant based no oil lifestyle, be sure to check out my Facebook page - Real Rations and my Facebook group Real Rations Recipes. Here my hubby and I share information on health, holistic wellness and nutrition as well as great recipes that will get you on the way. I have lost 137 pounds changing to this lifestyle and Elijah has lost 120. We welcome you to come over and check it out!
I love sharing information I have with others. I want everyone to experience the joy of changing their lives the way I have. A little over 3 years ago I realized I was quickly headed for a untimely death. I couldn't walk up stairs or even fly in a plane due to my size. I was morbidly obese. My hubby got me on the right track through reading and moving. We started with little changes here and there and slowly transformed our lives. Today I sit here writing this at 50, feeling younger than I felt in my thirties. No pills, no needles. Just real food. I want to share that with as many people as I can.
so, having a giveaway for my page over at Real Rations. I know everyone is looking forward to kicking off 2020 with a bang, so I'm going to do a little give back. I have two FitBit Inspires (gently used) and two books (again gently used) that I'm going to raffle off for the New Year! The FitBits contain the watch bands for small, medium and large and in the original packaging. The books are second hand books that I pick up at library sales and thrift stores as a way of getting information out to those who are interested in learning about the Whole Food Plant Based revolution.
I will use rafflecopter to collect the entries. The giveaway is open to the continental US only, due to shipping fees. I'll draw and post two winners on New Year's Day. Those winners will have 24 hours to reply to my email with a shipping address. If none reply, I will re-draw.
The first set includes a book that I love. It was one of the first ones I read on this style of eating. It is called Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. Dr. Fuhrman takes a very scientific approach to eating the Nutritarian way.
Here's a talk from 2019 - Dr. Fuhrman did on healthy eating.
Prize 1 - Used Copy - Eat To Live
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Remember, on the US can enter, sorry, that's just due to the cost of shipping and I will need a reply from my winners within 24 hours or I'll move on to a new name.
Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am identify as a magical Buddhist. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I believe in spiritually and holistic wellness. I find that we can heal the world if we just sit down and and listen to the breath. I believe that magic, science and nutritional well being are the cornerstone to a well rounded holistic life. I have recently updated my site from Confessions of a Modern Witch to my new page To Live Whole. I welcome you to come along for my journey of health, wellness and self exploration. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 438,000 views.
As you know I'll be switching over to reviewing only e-copies of books shortly. I will miss handling the books but the amount of trash that I had piling up for all the shipping was just overwhelming. I will be doing a giveaway for the remaining physical books that actually arrive as well as asking my publishers to provide giveaway copies shipped directly to my winner's homes going forward for all giveaways.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Today's book is a softcover medium sized but ample book. It is a good size for a backpack but not really for a purse or pocket book. The illustrations are limited but it does contain a small index and a resources section.
The book covers identifying conflicts, the skills one would need to resolve mindfully and how to apply these skills in a real life setting. The author begins by letting us know that we should only work with this inn a situation where we are not in danger of physical violence. This is extremely important. Conflict resolution is in itself something that is a challenging topic to start, even if both parties are willing. If you're in a situation where you or someone you love could be physically harmed, its imperative to remove yourself from danger first and foremost. Nothing is worth your safety, so always take the steps to protect yourself and those you love from harm.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
I like to say, you cannot pour from an empty cup. If you are not in a state of mind that you can thinking clearly and calmly, then you cannot expect to be able to resolve conflict with someone who is in the same frame of mind. It is recommended that you practice some mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing or walking meditations before beginning to attempt to work with others on this. You really need to have your ducks in a row before working with someone else to do the same.
The first sections best parts, in my opinion is the section on the layers of communication. The author tells us about content, procedure, interaction and emotion. I like this way of breaking it down so that we can see exactly what we're dealing with. By far, in my experience the majority of issues related to conflict deals directly with the emotional state of those in the discussion. While you'll have issues related to the actual content of the conversation, the majority of conflict can be traced directly back to the emotions around the conversation.
Image Source - Web
In section two the authors chapter on how to listen mindfully is superb. One quote that I paraphrase often is we should listen with the intent to understand and not respond. It is a core conflict resolution technique and something I learned many years ago. Though sometimes in the heat of the moment we tend to let it fly out the window. It is something that we should embrace. I loved the sections on the benefits of deeper listening and how to listen mindfully. The author provides insight on how we should be present at the very beginning as well as keeping an open mind throughout the process. Only by using non-judgement, curiosity and trust will we be able to get to the bottom of the issue and provide useful meaningful discussion.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Section three takes us through how to apply all the techniques we learned in the book, in real world situations. With meaningful examples related to a simple topic like household chores to something much more complex like sex and intimacy. The author furthers the pause approach by showing us we can apply this same process to friends and family as well as our business partner and co-workers.
Overall, I believe this book offers some solid techniques on getting to the bottom of a conflict using a strong mindful approach that opens up the situation for healing and learning. Being able to listen effectively and provide constructive feedback is a skill that is deeply needed in today's society and I believe this book is a great stepping stone to achieve the skills required to do just that.
For years I have been a dedicated fan of the Web. I can spend hours enveloped in video after video on YouTube. When the internet was young, Ask Jeeves was one of my favorite sites. Just this week I switched from Alexa to Google because Google's AI is stronger at answering questions.
Anytime I really want to know how to do something I go to these tools. And statistics show I'm not alone. You can see the live search statistics here.
In just 15 seconds of my screenshot below from Internet Live Stats over a million searches were completed.
Show demographics on use of tools like Google. LinkedIn learning and other teaching sites are seeing new students at a record high. By and far the number of people utilizing the internet for learning new things is at an all time high.
So then, why is it that generally speaking when white people want to learn about black people or racism they go to black people and ask them to teach them? For centuries we have been told by black people about the black experience. Instead we need to look back and see what they have been telling us for years.
"He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an America, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having doors of Opportunity closed roughing in his face." ~ W. E. B. Du Bois
We simply didn't listen. We hunkered down in the swaddling blankets of White Supremacy and told ourselves we were helping by lavishing praise on individuals that are actually thinly veiled insults.
This video shows a clip from the Color Purple, a film adaptation of the of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. In this scene a local white woman is shown using a compliment as a way to repress and show a shock for the cleanliness of the black children. The Miss Millie character has another scene which stands out to me.
While searching for a clip on the scene above I found this really great piece on it. I highly recommend it.
We fail to see how white men who threaten women are elected to office, yet black children are executed for looking at or talking to white women .
Warning: The following video contains explicit language and is NSFW
Emmett Louis Till was a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending a white woman in her family's grocery store
One was elected the president of the United States and the other was lynched. And I hear. Yeah that was years ago though:
July 2019 - Image Source WJVT.com
We as white people need to do better. We need to confront racism in our own communities. we need to address that uncle or aunt at the Thanksgiving table. We need to stop that friend with the racist joke. We need to call out casual racism around us by not using words in our speech and writings that have racist origins.
Most importantly we need to learn from the experiences of those outside our own communities We need to take that labor upon ourselves. We have asked black people, people of color and people who are in other minorities to tell us what we can do about racism.
Let me be clear, it is not their job to teach us to solve this problem. white people created this problem and white people need to solve it.
What can we, as white people do?
Glad you asked. Here's a list of 5 things you can do to become a better ally.
1. Listen to black people and people of color.
2. Be aware of your bias.
3. Research the history of those you wish to be an ally to.
4. Do the work to understand not only how you participate in a racist system, but how you benefit from it.
5. Amplify the voices of black people and people of color. You do not need to speak for them.
Finally, we need to become better at loving ourselves as a human race . We need to love our planet and the other inhabitants. Our seas, our rivers and our air. Take some time and sit with yourself in the quite and think about a flower.
The flower is made up of many things. Petals, stem, roots. It is made up of water, air and sunlight. Without each of these things, it would not exist. We are like the flower. We are one with the flower. Learn how we are interconnected with all life on this planet. If we lose a single part we are no longer whole.
Want to learn more? Talk to white people about racism. Look at our history of colonialism around the planet. We created this problem. We have to end it.
This map shows the progress of charting the rise and fall of (mostly) European empires from 1492, when the European discovery of the Americas kicked off their movement west and south, to 2008.
Up from a Slave - Booker T. Washington - Link
The Souls of Black Folks - W. E. B. Du Bois - Link
Overview of the African-America Experience - Link
PUSHOUT - The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools - Link
Today I went to Plum Village. I didn't go on a plane or a train. I didn't travel by road or rail. Today I went to Plum Village. I heard the words of a poet and our spirits were joined together in unity and compassion.
Over the past few months I've been exploring Buddhism. I have always been interested in learning more about it as many of my psychiatrists have recommended mindful mediation for treatment of my bipolar diagnosis. I find the guided meditations to be quite calming. I wanted to take a moment today and share a couple with you. Feel free to leave a link to one that you find useful in your daily, weekly or monthly practices.
Did you try one? Which did you prefer? Do you like un-guided meditations instead? Share your thoughts and feelings. I would love to hear from you!
Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an contemporary witch. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 412,000 views.
Today this book will be reviewed by Guest Reviewer Elijah Olson. He is well versed in health, wellness and nutrition, currently working towards several nutritional studies degrees and a hobbyist in permaculture, and general gardening.
Adaptogens Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief
Let's start by introducing the authors; David Winston, RH (AHG) , is a clinical herbalist and ethnobotanist with 50 years of training in Chinese, Western/Eclectic, and Southwestern herbal traditions. Steven Maimes has studied natural medicine for over 30 years. A researcher, freelance writer, and principle of SALAM Research.
The book has now been updated and expanded this year (2019) from its first edition in 2007.
The information is laid out in a comprehensive three part layout. Part one gives a good introduction of what Herbal Adaptogens are, the history, actions and health benefits. Part two starts with full color monographs on adaptogens for identification, as well as in-depth information for the well researched adaptogens.
Also covered in this section is comprehensive information on nervines, nootropics and restorative tonics.
Part three covers herbal adaptogens in use, including information on clinical use, herbs in combination and also an added chapter on adaptogens for our pets.
I really enjoyed the layout of the book, it is easy to locate what you are looking for specifically. There is both a good index and glossary for those of us that may struggle with trying to remember or get lost in every clinical or herbal term. The authors have really given us a thorough reference book for daily use.
So if you are interested in a very detailed, easy to pick up and find a tonic, tea, or food to prepare with ALL the healthy information including dosages attached...this is the book for you.
Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an contemporary witch. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts nearly 400,000 views.
As usual, I'll start with a review of the physical book. This is a small book, with a soft cover and is a great size to toss in a bag or keep in your car. I generally don't like soft covers but as I sat down and started reading this one, I could feel my hands want to roll the cover back and hold it in my hands as one would embrace a dime romance novel. The ease of the cover actually added a great deal of comfort to the book and I believe it was an enhancement over what a hard cover book may have delivered. There are no images in this book. Again, something that usually I frown upon. In this case I was able to set aside that affinity and take some time to emerge myself into the author's words. I found that I didn't miss the images and in fact quite the contrary. I believe the lack of images actually requires the reader to stay present and full digest the information presented. The book has a decent size index and makes locating exact "moments" for future use quick and easy.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
This book is loaded with over 200 five minute exercises to help bring you to bliss. In the introduction the author explains to us that bliss, is that moment of inner joy, happiness and peace. In our fast paced world so few of us take the time to bring bliss back into our lives. As I sat and read through page after page of suggestions for bringing it back, I found myself suddenly at ease. The feel of the book added to the experience and the author's "voice" came through the text like an old friend reminding me to take a moment to smell the roses. The book is divided into to four sections, giving bliss for the mind, the body, the relationship and surroundings. I was so taken with all the amazing suggestions in this book, I decided my review would be taking one of the many exercises that spoke to me and share that with my readers.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
In the section called, Experience Bliss in Your Surroundings on page 218, the author tells us to take a moment to dig out some old photo albums. As we grow, she says, we tend to forget what we were. We forget how much we've changed over the years. Taking out that old album gives us the opportunity to look at how far we've come and how much we have changed over the years. She recommends pulling out those grade school and high school photos and think about where we were at the moment of the photo. The final instruction is to take a picture of yourself right now and add it to the collection. Looking back on our life and appreciating where were are and how far we have come.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
I have changed so much over the years. As a child feeling abandoned by family and plagued by abuse, it was so apparent in my eyes. That small child sitting there, feeling sad and alone. I grew up strong but sad. I worked so hard to become what I thought others wanted me to be. I wore the clothes they asked me to wear, I spoke only when spoken to. My youth cut short, by motherhood and all the pain and joy that accompanies that. Finally my life actually beginning as I met my soul mate and we continued our life together as one. The ebb and flow of life, bringing me in and out of mindfulness, making it more and more difficult to stay present. The pain in my body as I struggled with type two diabetes looming over my shoulder while I stood gasping for air as I walked. And today, healthier and happier than I have ever been in my entire life. The world is there for my taking and I now am the master of my own destiny.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
This book encouraged me to open the door to the past and look at how much I have changed over the years. It brought back so many memories and helped me see just how successfully I have navigated this thing called life. Overall, I think this is a great book to have on the shelf, in the car or on your desk; to pick up and just read over some of these exercises. I think that this would make a fantastic house warming gift, a graduation gift or anniversary. Not my typical book to review but I'm thrilled with the results and very happy that I took the time to review it.
See more of my book reviews at confessions of a modern witch dot com.
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