Within each of us is a hidden store of energy.
Energy we can release to compete in the marathon of life.
Within each of us is a hidden store of courage.
Courage to give us the strength to face any challenge.
Within each of us is a hidden store of determination.
Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost. ~Roger Dawson
If you have done any reading or research at all in the field of energy medicine, you have at one point come across the term “chakra.” What is a chakra? The best way to describe a chakra is an energy center. No, this is not woo-woo like you may be thinking, chakras have been proven to exist scientifically through a special form of photography and simply through life experiences and healings of individuals throughout the globe (including myself). Our entire beings are made of energy. Our cells are bundles of energy; we communicate because we exchange energy with another person (why do you think it feels the way you do when you kiss somebody? You are exchanging energy with that person), energy drives everything we do. Doesn’t it make sense that we would have energy centers” in our body, kind of like power plants, to direct, clean and balance the energy coming in and out of us on a daily basis?
We have 7 main chakras. Each one of them has a theme, so to speak, a spiritual life lesson that surrounds it and the amount of energy flowing through it dictates how well we are doing in that specific area of our development. Chakras are one of the main centers where we can heal ourselves if we understand how they work and know how to keep them balanced.
10 years ago I suffered from severe ulcerative colitis to the point where it almost took my life. At the time, I was not as aware of energy medicine as I am today but what I did learn is that the exact area where I was having physical issues pointed to the exact area emotionally and mentally that was the cause of my physical issue (the theme of that chakra).
Lately I have been coming across many people who are going through some major things in their lives emotionally, mentally and physically. All of it is related to energies moving through that are causing you (or in other words, asking you to) look at certain parts of your life. See if any of the areas below are synchronistic with what you may be experiencing lately. (I am only going to cover the lower 3 chakras here today and the rest this week, FYI):
If any of these areas of concern sounded familiar, have no fear, Chris is here! (I’ve always wanted to say that!)
Take some time today to focus on one of these areas that rang most true for you. Attached here are three sheets, one for each chakra that will help you understand what you can do to balance those areas, things such as colors to wear or surround yourself with (colors are all of a certain vibration), scents to surround yourself with, specific music to play, etc. Click on the following to view the information: First Chakra (Root), Second Chakra (Sacral), Third Chakra (Solar Plexus). All simple things to get you started.
Stay tuned for the next couple of days and we will dive deeper into how you can heal what is going on for you. We all have a lot going on in our lives. Let’s stick together, ok? 😉
Chhhhhhhaka Khan, Chaka Khan, LOL!
Chris
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook.com/ChrisSopaInternational, Twitter @ChrisSopa, LinkedIn, and Google+.
YOU Are the One You Have Been Waiting For
When I was a little girl, if I did something good, I got rewarded; if I did something bad, I was punished. This is typical parenting of a young child to teach them right from wrong. No harm done, or is there?
I find two extreme things that went wrong in our minds when this happened. (Let me clarify that I am NOT saying we should not discipline our children here, I am just trying to prove a point.)
What shows up in our lives as manifestations are not rewards for good behavior-manifestations are simply the effects of our thoughts and feelings; but we are taught the contrary. We are taught that if we do something good, we will get something good and if we do something bad, something we want (or something that we define as “good”) will be withheld from us. So, when we want something with all of our hearts and it doesn’t show up we immediately assume we must have done something “wrong.” We must have been bad. God is now punishing us for our “bad” behavior by not allowing us to have this thing we want. Fire and brimstone here we come!
Now let me clarify that I am not saying to go out today and nickname yourself “Hell on Wheels” and paint the town red. What you put out you get back. Garbage in, garbage out. But what is showing up in your life is a direct result of how you are thinking and what you are feeling,nothing else! Like attracts like-it is the simple law of attraction.
Your life is like a movie script. You write it moment by moment. You can design for yourself whatever you choose: abundance, the perfect soul mate, the perfect job-you name it! But, you constantly are limiting yourself to what you can create in your life by allowing fear to dictate your choices day in and day out. YOU are the only one that is getting in your way!
Spend some time today and this week watching your focus. Where are you beating yourself up? Are you taking responsibility for what is showing up in your life or are you blaming someone else (or blaming God)?
This coming week has a focus on relationships; relationships with others but more importantly the relationship you have with yourself. Are you constantly compromising your personal power for the sake of someone else? Are there people or situations in your life that are no longer serving you? Is it time to “clean house?”
Every relationship is a balance of power. There is giving and receiving that occurs and if the scale is tipped ever so slightly in one direction, the relationship is not balanced and it is felt by both parties.
Take an inventory, an honest one, of the relationships you currently have in your life? Are they balanced?
The only person who can change the relationships you are in is you. YOU are the one you have been waiting for, you are your “knight in shining armor.” Swoop in and save the day! Have faith in yourself and in your Divine plan. You knew what you were doing when you made it up in the heavens, trust me.
“Man is a magnet, and every line and dot and detail of his experiences come by his own attraction.” ~Elizabeth Towne
Da,da,da, da,da,da, da, da, da, da ,da (That is supposed to be a horse galloping, in case you were wondering.) 😉
Chris
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Instagram and LinkedIn.
I know I shouldn’t be eating this but…Please enjoy today’s article from Elaina Love, author of three recipe books and founder of Pure Joy Planet and Pure Joy Academy as the guest columnist every Friday in the Journey Back to Self Blog. ~ Chris
We’ve all heard it before, “chew your food until its liquid”, “don’t watch television while you eat”, and “put your fork down in between bites”; don’t eat fried foods, blah, blah, blah…
These are all well and good as far as a theory goes, but when the fork meets the fudge, what is actually going on in our heads? Stress and hurriedness is a big part of our modern life, and it is most likely here to stay. So instead of trying to resist what persists why not just go around it for a moment or two? What I mean by this is that even though life is busy and we have lots to do every day, we can still carve out a few precious moments to ourselves, and mealtime might just be one of those perfect moments.
You don’t need to start by thinking that each meal has to be the perfect mindful meal, or that you can never watch TV or read a magazine while eating, because that is just unrealistic. What you can do though is take even one part of that meal (perhaps the first 5 minutes) to check in, breathe and be grateful. For the next seven days in this 21 day journey, practice the 4 Bs of mindfulness around eating:
Bringing Pure Joy and Gourmet Bliss to the Planet,
Elaina Love
Elaina Love is the Owner/Director of PureJoyPlanet.com and is also a professional Chef, Instructor, and Detox Counselor at Pure Joy Culinary Academy. She is a Lifestyle Counselor, co-owner of Pure Joy Academy.
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook.com/ChrisSopaInternational, Twitter @ChrisSopa, LinkedIn. Feature image licensed with Pixabay.
Oh My!!!“As we must plant a seed before we reap a harvest, so we must believe before our prayers can be answered.” ~Ernest Holmes, “The Science of Mind“
Do you ever feel as if the line “Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!” from the Wizard of Oz is your life this month? There are many things happening all around us; people who are acting out of sorts, places that just do not feel the same and situations that seem to no longer fit in our lives. This is all part of the process, the process of ascension. What is ascension? Ascension is simply the process of moving your soul, your inner self, to a new level of awareness. It is happening to all of us as we speak. 2012 is not about the end of the world; 2012 if about a new way – a new consciousness. One of which we work together, we honor ourselves and our brothers and sisters, one where there is no judgment, no deceit, no lies; one where we all finally realize the true meaning of unconditional love.
August finds us all facing many realities in our lives. With two full moons, the last one being tomorrow, August 31st, we are asked to look once and for all at our lives and “clean house.” Have you noticed the turmoil this month? Have you noticed the constant bombardment of chaos, drama and upset? Although you may perceive these things as “bad” because they do not feel so great, they are blessings for you. They are coming up to show you, as they have time and time again, what you need to balance, release and work on in your life. Are there people in your life that just cause constant drama, that do not make you feel your best? Are you in situations or a job that causes you undue stress? Are you tired of not having enough money and wonder why no matter what you do money slips through your fingers and you just never have enough?
As we move through these times, we need to remember two things to cope:
1. Your feelings are the physical manifestation of guidance – Your feelings are the language of the universe. You have them for a reason – and that reason is not to make you feel miserable. If you have been feeling down this month and ready to throw in the towel (trust me, I have been there all month as well!), try to look at what is happening from a different perspective. The situations that are causing you stress and bringing up these “not so good” feelings are there to show you what needs to change in your life. The feelings are the answers to your prayers. They are the things showing you what you need to do to change for the better. The challenge is having the courage to do what you already know needs to be done. Is it pulling away from certain people in your life? Is it ending a relationship? Is it changing jobs? Is it finally kicking an addictive habit? And my all time favorite; is it changing how you think about who you are so you can finally live into the Divinity which is your birthright?
Try unconditionally loving yourself for once-it’s not so easy. You are your worst critic. If you spoke to and treated your friends the way your treat yourself, how many friends would you have? That’s what I thought!
2. Know what you need to do to keep your center – Do you know what things you like to do that make you feel good? When you are stressed beyond belief, what are some things that relieve your stress (good, healthy things – wine does not count!)? We all need to know how to cope when things just don’t seem to be going our way. I spent 4 years on the Board of Education and one of the areas I saw in our youth and that I see in adults in my Coaching practice that is the cause of most illnesses is the lack of coping skills. How do you cope? Crawling in bed and throwing the covers over your head is not coping.
Honest moment – for the last two days I have been depressed beyond belief. My trip out east to visit my “old life” was disappointing to say the least. Nothing out east had really changed, but I have changed, for the better. Any endings bring sadness and when we allow sadness in for too long its best friend is usually fear. I had every fear in history come up for me the last two days; fear of not having enough money, fear of my future, fear of success, fear for my children who are both starting new chapters in their lives, fear of being alone for the rest of my life, fear of not making it to where I want to go in my business, fear of what others were thinking of me, blah, blah, blah. I had to re-group and cope. How did I do that? I pulled back, took a walk, listened to music, read passages in books that inspire me, re-read my bucket list and surrounded myself with friends who inspire me and lift me up and I shut everything else out. I took care of me. Did I snap out of it? For the most part, but remember that your life is about the journey, not the end point. We signed up for it all; sadness and joy because that is the beauty of being human.
Why not make your “Oh my” feel good for once! 😉
“This is a kind Universe and everyone and everything in it is working in your favor. There are no tests, blocks or obstacles in your way, except your own projections of fear into your future.” ~Doreen Virtue
I like my ruby red slippers! Click, click!
Chris
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Feature Image: NBC Television Network, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
From Me to YouClick here to enjoy a visually inspiring song, My Wish ~ Enjoy!
Live an inspired life!
Chris
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Do You Know Where You Are?
You cannot get to where you want to go until you know where you are starting from.
If I got in my car and wanted to drive to “Destination B” I would need to know two things; where do I want to end up and where am I starting from. I cannot get in my car and say, “Hey, let’s drive to Boston” and get there if I do not know where I am starting my journey. How would I know whether I need to drive, fly or take a boat? How would I know if there were going to be any detours along the way? How would I know how long it would take to get there?
Many people can tell you at least vaguely at least one goal they would like to achieve in their lives. Many set these goals and never achieve them. Why? They have failed to do two things: clearly define exactly what it is they want and clearly define where they are starting from. If I have a goal to be a New York Times bestselling author (which I do!), the first thing you might say I need to do to start on that goal would be to write a book (duh!), but you need to start even more basic than that. I would need to look at my writing skills first and where I may need to brush up to make them better. I need to do my research and study other authors who have made it to the New York Times list and see what they have done. And most importantly, I would need to take a look deep within myself and define why do I want this goal? If it is so important to me, why haven’t I achieved it yet? (And you are not allowed to blame others for the answer to that one – leave the victim mentality at the door!) The only reason you have not achieved what you want in life is because of one person, YOU! Yes, there are outside circumstances that need to be in alignment for a dream to manifest, but have you been present to notice the opportunities when they arrive? Have you “given up” in your head by procrastinating and making excuses not to do what you need to do? Is F.E.A.R. stopping you? Is low self-esteem getting in your way – do you feel “unworthy” of that level of success?
Sit down with a pen and paper and answer the following questions twice. In the first round, answer the question after thinking about it for a minute…using your conscious part of your brain. In the second round, answer each question with the very first thing that comes to your mind, use your intuition. (This exercise works best if you answer the first set of questions, take a small break, then come back and answer the second set of questions.)
Do you see any patterns in the answers? If so, there is your first clue as to where you may need to do some work on yourself. When my coaching clients do this exercise, it always points to those places that are blocking them from living the life they want to live, these things are blocking them from achieving their goals.
Take one of the patterns you see, let’s say it is a fear of failure, and question your thinking? Write down the answers to these questions. What are you afraid of exactly? Can you be absolutely certain that thought is true? How do you feel when you think that thought? Who would you be, how would you feel and what would you do without that thought? Now create a different thought that makes you feel good (a thought in alignment with what you want) and whenever you catch yourself thinking the old thought, clear, cancel, delete and say the new thought to yourself. Re-frame your thinking!
Thoughts are a choice my friends. If a thought isn’t making you feel good, change it. Every thought leads to a feeling and every feeling leads to an action/behavior. If you want to change your behaviors you have to change your thoughts, that simple.
Don’t separate life from living. Your life lies underneath your life situation at the moment. You ARE living it! This IS your life! It is perfect just the way it is. If you don’t have something in your life right now that you want, all that means is you probably don’t really need it right now. If you needed it, it would be here. The Universe is a kind place and there is a Divine order in everything that occurs. Trust it! Make life the best one you can, this is not a dress rehearsal. 😉
“God is the lead dancer and the soul is the partner completely attuned to the rhythm and patterns set by the partner. She does not lead, but neither does she hang limp like a sack of potatoes.“
~Thomas Merton quoted in Listening to the Music of the Spirit by David Lonsdale
Hang in there,
Chris
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Feature image licensed from Pixabay.
Are You Blind?The Smithsonian recently published an article on “inattentional blindness,” or in other words selective attention. The article was written based on an experimental minute and a half video asking viewers to count how many times a ball is caught by the individuals in white shirts (www.smithsonian.com/gorilla). There is something amazing that over 50% of the viewers miss when watching the video.
The human mind is an amazing tool. What we give our attention to dictates the reality we see in our world. According to the Smithsonian, “we consciously see only a small subset of our visual world, and when our attention is focused on one thing, we fail to notice other, unexpected things around us, including those things we might want to see.”
I believe that every prayer is always answered and the reason many of us believe that they are not are for two reasons: Number one, we are expecting it to show up in a certain way (the way we want it to) and when it does not show up how or when we want it, we assume it went unanswered. Number two, our attention is focused on either the past or the future and never in the present. We are “in our minds” most of the time. When we give our energy (or attention) to reliving a past upset in our minds over and over again or worrying/stressing about an unknown future event, a miracle could pass right in front of our eyes and we will miss it. It happens every day. Trust me.
How many times in your life have you been so focused on one thing that a bomb can go off around you and you wouldn’t even notice? How many times have you been so bent on being right that you fail to see (are blind to) other people’s point of view? How many times have you been so focused on what is going wrong in your life that you miss the beautiful blessings that are in it?
This year has been a time of change for many of us. I have noticed what I call a “black or white” effect; people are either doing the work they need to do on themselves and are experiencing joy and dreams coming true or people are not doing the work they need to do on themselves and are experiencing turmoil, upsets and loss. There is not a middle ground anymore. The difference between these two sets of people is where they are choosing to focus their attention. Abundance or lack? Giving or receiving? Joy or sadness? Where you focus your attention is a choice. Are you choosing to focus your attention on what you have in your life or what is missing?
I just spent the last week on the East Coast after moving to Arizona in July. I decided to move to Arizona because for over a year I felt a strong pull I cannot put into words to move. I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to move but I did know it was out west somewhere. Before I moved I experienced many synchronistic events that confirmed for me that I was making the right decision; such as the owner of the house I am renting in Arizona by chance being the neighbor of my assistant Ruth who lives in Pennsylvania. It was very odd for me being on the East Coast again so soon after my move; I felt as if I was trying to fit into a life in which I no longer belonged. Old friendships were not the same, places did not feel the same and I could not shake the feeling of “wanting to go home” the entire week. I loved seeing my daughters but was haunted by old memories, sadness around changes in relationships and an overwhelming sense of joy for having the courage to follow my urgings to move. I found myself having to pay attention to what I was choosing to focus on; the things in my life that are naturally coming to an end or the new and beautiful things that are coming into my life.
Change is scary sometimes; there is no doubt about that. But one thing I have learned is that change is the only thing we can count on in life. It is how you choose to view the changes that are occurring in your life that makes all of the difference. Choose to have vision, not blindness. Choose to be present-focused so you can see your answered prayers in the form of miracles showing up in your life daily. Your life is a blessing; choose to believe it!
“The trick is what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” ~Carlos Castaneda
Where is your attention focused today?
Chris
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook.com/ChrisSopaInternational, Twitter @ChrisSopa, LinkedIn.
Overcoming Food Sensitivities with Healthy ChoicesPlease enjoy today’s article from Elaina Love, author of three recipe books and founder of Pure Joy Planet and Pure Joy Academy as the guest columnist every Friday in the Journey Back to Self Blog. ~ Chris
Food is many things to many people. It is a source of entertainment, a source of comfort, a source of energy, and something to help us get through times of stress.
Food is important to our physical, mental and emotional well being. Therefore, it affects our entire way of life when food sensitivities develop.
Sensitivities cause physical reactions to food and can be as mild as hot feet and as severe as depression or anaphylactic shock. Many times attempts are made to cover symptoms with a “band aid” such as pharmaceuticals, pills, herbs, and even surgery. This may temporarily “fix” the problem, but in the end, you can never be truly healthy unless you find out why your body is doing what it is doing.
By becoming more aware of what you eat and how it affects your body, you can find many clues to why you may be experiencing less than optimal results from your dietary choices.
Before discovering my own food allergies, I was cranky, had severe eczema, painful PMS that lasted for days, lower back pain, arthritis, gas, bloating, fatigue and depression. I thought it was just something I had to live with. I had no idea that I had the power to cure myself.
According to www.DrSears.com, some food allergy symptoms include: swelling in hands and feet, puffy eyelids, dark circles under eyes, tongue soreness and cracks, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, persistent cough, congestion, mucous, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gassiness, fatigue, migraine headaches, irritability, anxiety and sore muscles and joints.
The top seven food allergies from which 90 percent of all food allergies can be attributed to are:
To find out if you are reacting to certain foods you can either get a blood test which may be convenient but can be expensive running $500 or more, or do your own research by eliminating the foods from your diet for a week, then reintroducing one food at a time and noticing any reactions.
After I determined which foods I was allergic to, I had some decisions to make. I could either choose to keep eating those foods and live with the symptoms, or decide my health and well-being were more important to me than anything else. The offending foods for me were wheat, eggs, dairy and soy. Because I was a vegetarian who ate meat substitutes which were made with wheat, dairy or soy, my food choices appeared to be severely limited. I began making recipes from allergy free cookbooks, and I looked for prepared and packaged foods that were allergy free. While meticulously reading the labels, looking for the offending ingredients, I found that wheat, eggs and dairy are in countless numbers of packaged foods. Even soy sauce and licorice contain wheat!
During this time I discovered a book on intestinal cleansing. It contained testimonials that inspired me to try an intestinal cleanse for myself. After a month, I had an amazing increase in my energy and many of my previous symptoms were gone. The biggest surprise though, was not what I expected. I thought that after I cleansed my body and got rid of the allergies, I would go back to my “normal” life. That is not what happened. During the cleanse, I discovered raw, living foods made from a base of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. It was the answer to my prayers. Not only did these newly discovered recipes contain none of my reactive foods, they were also so satisfying that they quickly replaced the old comfort foods. I completely transformed my diet and discovered a whole new lifestyle. It is exciting to eat comforting foods that make me feel good and are highly nutritious.
After completing several cleanses and eating primarily raw, living foods, I am now able to eat foods I was previously allergic to and feel just fine. I will never go back to my previous eating habits though because grains and starches make me tired and slow me down, and dairy makes me feel bloated and stuffed-up when eaten on a regular basis. On a diet consisting of mostly raw, living foods, I have increased energy and I look and feel better than I did several years ago.
There are many wonderful resources for making changes for the better in your diet. Some of the resources are listed here.
Websites: For more information on food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances go to www.food-allergy.org, www.livingwithout.com and www.askdrsears.com. For more information on raw, living foods, go to www.purejoylivingfoods.com and www.rawfoodchef.com.
Books: Cleanse and Purify Thyself by Richard Anderson, The Food Allergy Cure by Ellen W. Cutler
Magazines: Living Without
This recipe is recommended for people with dairy sensitivities:
By Elaina Love
Almonds are packed with calcium, fiber, folic acid, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin and Vitamin E (source: The Food Lover’s Companion)
1 cup soaked almonds, sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds (1/2+ cup before soaking)
1 to 3 cups water (less for cream, more for milk)
2 -4 medium dates or 2-4 Tbsp. sweetener of choice (optional)
1 tsp.
Blend all ingredients on high until well blended.
Pour through The Amazing Nut Milk, Juice and Sprout Bag (available at www.purejoyplanet.com) or a clean nylon sock.
Squeeze the bag until all the liquid is released.
Pour the milk or cream over fresh fruit or cereal.
You may want to make extra so you have enough to last four days.
This recipe is recommended for people with wheat sensitivities:
By Elaina Love
4 cups soaked and dehydrated walnuts
3/4 cup or 9 oz. pitted dates
3/4 cup or 2.75 oz. carob powder
2 tsp. cherry extract or vanilla
1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried walnuts
1/2 cup or 4 oz. coarsely chopped dried cherries
Soak the walnuts for 8-12 hours.
Rinse them well and dry them with a towel.
Dehydrate the walnuts in a food dehydrator at 105 degrees for 12 hours. This is an optional step which will give the brownies a more cake-like texture.
Puree the nuts in a food processor until it becomes a flour.
Add the dates and continue to puree until well mixed.
Add carob powder and extract and puree again.
Mix in the cherries and chopped nuts by hand.
Press with very firm pressure into a brownie pan.
Refrigerate and slice into squares.
Double the recipe for a large pan.
These brownies will keep refrigerated for 2 weeks or more.
This recipe is not recommended for people with tree nut allergies.
This recipe is recommended for people with dairy and nut sensitivities:
By Elaina Love
Cilantro is a wonderfully fragrant herb that is high in chlorophyll and has been said to pull heavy metals from the body. Enjoy it in this rich and satisfying energy soup.
1 zucchini, chopped
1 large bunch cilantro, stems removed (about 2 cups)
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, chopped
½ apple, chopped
1 avocado, chopped (add later)
1 Tbs. tamari or Braggs Liquid Aminos
1 tsp. Celtic sea salt
½ tsp cumin (optional)
1 tsp. onion powder (optional)
1/8 tsp. cayenne
Blend all ingredients until smooth except avocado. Add the avocado and blend again. (The avocado is blended last to keep it from getting gelatinous).
Eat immediately or store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for 2 days maximum.
Optional Toppings:
Sprinkle with dulse flakes
Diced bell pepper
Fresh raw corn cut off the cob
Sunflower greens
Chopped Romaine (stir into the soup)
This recipe is recommended for people with dairy, nut and egg sensitivities:
½ cup Bariani or extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbs. lemon juice
¼-½ cup water
2 large dates or 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 Tbs. light miso
3 medium cloves garlic
¾ tsp. mustard powder or 1½ tsp. prepared Dijon mustard
2 tsp. dulse flakes
¼ tsp. Celtic sea salt
Blend all ingredients in a blender or hand mix, crushing the garlic first and using maple syrup instead of dates.
Store the dressing in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Inspired by Blessing’s Alive and Radiant foods Caesar recipe.
Elaina Love is a professional chef and instructor. You can find her books, learn about her classes and view more of her recipes by going to www.purejoyplanet.com.
Bringing pure joy and gourmet bliss to the planet,
Elaina Love
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook.com/ChrisSopaInternational, Twitter @ChrisSopa, LinkedIn, and Google+.
The Trial by Existence
“The Trial By Existence”
By Robert FrostAnd from a cliff-top is proclaimed
The gathering of the souls for birth,
The trial by existence named,
The obscuration upon earth…And the more loitering are turned
To view once more the sacrifice
Of those who for some good discerned
Will gladly give up paradise…And none are taken but who will,
Having first heard the life read out
That opens earthward, good and ill,
Beyond the shadow of a doubt…Nor is there wanting in the press
Some spirit to stand simply forth,
Heroic in its nakedness,
Against the uttermost of earth…But always God speaks at the end:
“One thought in agony of strife
The bravest would have by for friend,
The memory that he chose the life;
But the pure fate to which you go
Admits no memory of choice,
Or the woe were not earthly woe
To which you gave the assenting voice.”And so the choice must be again,
But the last choice is still the same;
And the awe passes wonder then,
And a hush falls for all acclaim.And God has taken a flower of gold
And broken it, and used therefrom
The mystic link to find and hold
Spirit to matter till death come.“Tis of the essence of life here,
Though we choose greatly, still to lack
The lasting memory at all clear,
That life has for us on the wrack
Nothing but what we somehow chose;
Thus are we wholly stripped of pride
In the pain that has but one close,
Bearing it crushed and mystified.
Chris Sopa is founder and owner of Chris Sopa International, Inc. You can learn more about her at www.ChrisSopa.com. Find her at Facebook.com/ChrisSopaInternational, Twitter @ChrisSopa, LinkedIn, and Google+.