Global Goddess

Sparkle Cleanse Day 16 - Treat Yo Self Day 55

6 Steps to Sparkle

Inspired by Kris Carr., (2011) Crazy Sexy Diet. CT: Globe Pequot Press

1. Inspiration: Part of what you might need to shake your grove thing and live like you mean it is to travel. No fear. You can go all over tarnation with the Crazy Sexy Diet. 
2. Focus: Adventure! You're not living on an island. Nothing can stop you from sightseeing in your own backyard, across town, or across the globe.
3. Prayer: Grant me the wisdom to see beyond my boundaries
4. Affirmation: I am a global Goddess, open to the world.
5. Body Movin': Dry brush? Thirty-five minute job, walk, tumble, roll, or bound? Neti pot? How about getting your eyebrows shaped by a follicle master? Your brows are the frames that highlight your beauty. Tend to them.
6. Tip: Read about Emily Deschanel's advice about eating Crazy Sexy on the road. 

My Reflection:

      Yesterday was a huge day for me - with as much anxiety as I had about Forgiveness I greeted the day with gratitude. My support worked: added sparkle, flowers, music - it all played into creating a day that allowed me to forgive and heal.     
      As I approached today's blog and it talked about traveling, my heart wasn't fully invested of the idea of seeing the world. I wanted to stay in the peace and loveliness I had found with forgiveness. I didn't need to travel around the world to be a global Goddess. I was able to discover a new part of my spirit and it allowed me to see beyond my boundaries.
      In the spirit of travel, I've always loved traveling. Not only do the plans you make get to come alive, but you can discover new things. I will always love traveling. Last July my husband and I took a much needed and wonderful trip to South Dakota. It rejuvenated our spirit and was wonderful discovering a new place.

Forgiveness

Sparkle Cleanse Day 15 - Treat Yo Self Day 54

6 Steps to Sparkle

Inspired by Kris Carr., (2011) Crazy Sexy Diet. CT: Globe Pequot Press

1. Inspiration: "Let's be real. Sometimes forgiveness can feel like a four-letter cuss word. We all have a hard time letting go of people, memories, and situations that hurt us. But holding on to the grudges keeps us prisoner. Wanna liberate? Choose peace. It's a one-way ticket to wellness. This doesn't mean you have to invite your enemy to dinner and hug or that you should dismiss abuse or neglect. It means that your health is your first priority and anything that blocks the flow has got to go! Release the negative emotions that fester and lower your vitality. Forgive.
         Sometimes the hardest thing to forgive is your body. Perhaps you feel that it has betrayed you in some way. Try to reframe the issue. If it were a professor, what would it be trying to teach you? Become aware of the lesson.
         If you can, forgive your family, friends, enemies, cells, bones, tissues, and most importantly yourself."  
2. Focus: Write a list of people, situations, and body parts that you need to forgive.
3. Prayer: Help me to let go of the pain and forgive.
4. Affirmation: Through the power of forgiveness all emotional and physical obstacles melt away. I embrace my past and look forward to my future. Today I forgive.
5. Body Movin': Take fun seriously. Plan for it. Put it on the calendar. Fun is nonnegotiable, and fun help you to do what? Forgive! Try rebounding. Jumping on a mini-trampoline burns about 100 calories in fifteen minutes. That's nothing to sneeze at. Trampoline playtime moves trapped fat of our tissues, cells, and thighs. Blast your favorite tunes and bounce to the sky. If you can't invest in a tramp at this time, buy a jump rope and "Skip to My Lou, my darlin'."
6. Tip: Make your own trail mix. Dried fruits like goji berries are low glycemic, and because they have the same transit time they combine well with nuts. Try goji, raw macadamias or cashews, mulberries, and some raw cacao nibs. Call it Forgiveness Trail Mix and enjoy some while blessing the experiences that make you the strong person you are today.

My Reflection:

      On Sunday I was prepping for this week’s cleanse and the Treat Yo Self daily blog and this blog is by far the hardest I’ve ever had to write. Even with the various shifts and changes with food I've made; I’ve felt powerful and eager to embrace what each day brought. But the idea of forgiveness had me shaking in my high heels. Was I feeling guilty about the changes I’ve made with my parents; scared that if I forgave them it meant everything that happened in the past was ok? And what do I forgive about my body?

      So as I sat with these questions, I was lunching with my best cleanse friend on Monday and we talked about forgiveness. As the conversation continued, clarity arose: forgiveness has stages, similar to the 5 Stages of Grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. There may be some things that I am able to easily forgive fully and wholeheartedly moving through all 5 stages with ease. And then there may be other things where only a tiny, dim light will shine and will take time, love and patience.

      When I woke up this morning an overwhelming feeling rushed through my body - I knew today was the day I begin forgiving and I was scared. This by far has been my most challenging post as well as day of my entire Treat Yo Self Cleanse. Even my Big, Beautiful Confectionary Wall post was easier to write than this post.

      Today I would forgive my choices, myself, and my body. Today I would take time to forgive, to be patient and sympathetic to the journey I am on. That I am exactly where I am meant to be and that something inside of me wants to be acknowledged, loved and forgiven. Forgiveness exposes feelings - feelings which have been buried for a long time and my post about feelings gave insight to the depth in which I fought to avoid feeling. I was scared to feel my feelings, afraid to know that food, my desire for children and any guilt towards following my intuition when in comes to making choices was being looked at under a microscope.
      I needed to find support and really feel my emotions. After a few long talks with myself (yep, I talk to myself) I was able to acknowledge that I was scared and I forgave myself for being so scared. How sad that my knee-jerk reaction to my true emotions was to be scared and try to shove them down. So I forgave myself - I released this old pattern, which I no longer need and supported myself saying: "whatever you feel - is ok."
      As I selected my outfit, I made sure to put the most beautiful sparkles on and placed my dragonfly broach on my sweater. And on the ride in I listened to P!nk's 'Glitter In the Air' and it helped to ground me and my emotions. And as I walked by Bachman's, I knew I needed to buy the beautiful yellow and red sunflowers. 
      When I began my journey of Inspiring Happiness last May, I believed the only way I could be happy was to create life and have a baby. As I've journeyed with my infertility I've come to accept that while my body is unable to bring a child into the world at this time, I am able to create life - I'm doing it every day and for this I forgive my body and myself.

      This cleanse means more than changing my relationship with food; it’s about my whole being and each part wanting to be loved and nourished – even forgiven. I forgive that during a time in my life when it was too painful to process my emotions, I chose food to cover the feelings and by doing this my body increased in weight and was unhealthy. 

      In July 2011, I set very strong and important boundaries with my family and I am finally ready to release the guilt I have occasionally carried around with these choices and forgive myself. I made them because I felt unsafe and I needed time to heal. 

Support

Sparkle Cleanse Day 14 - Treat Yo Self Day 53

6 Steps to Sparkle

Inspired by Kris Carr., (2011) Crazy Sexy Diet. CT: Globe Pequot Press

1. Inspiration: Guess what? It's fasting day again. "If you're up for it, fantastic! If not, just eat light and bright today. One of the benefits of fasting is mental clarity and spiritual purification. Fasting gets rid of excess. It peels off the layers of dullness revealing a holy honey core. Some of the greatest spiritual teachers, activists, artists and philosophers used periodic fasts to connect with a deeper layer of self. Gandhi, Buddha, Jeasus, Mother Teresa, Plato, Arostotle, Abraham Lincoln, and Leonardo da Vinci are among some of the fasting hall of famers. One day tune-ups leads to enlightenment."
2. Focus: Think about other areas of excess in your life. Closests? File Cabinets? How about your Rolodex? Whoa. This may be time for a little housecleaning, and not just with the mop and broom - it's time to detox. You just don't have enough energy to tap yourself out with people who take, take, take. The people who really matter will step up to the plate. 
3. Prayer: With a loving heart, help me to release the relationships that bring me down. I bless them and send them to the light so I don't have to haul their tired patooties around in my mind. Guide me to surround myself with people who give and receive with ease.
4. Affirmation: I am a magnet of goodness and starlight. Like attracts like. The relationships in my life are nuturting and I am supported today.
5. Body Movin': Review the section on Reiki in chapter 7 and give yourself some healing energy. Take a salt or cider bath after the 35 minute move-and-shake session.
6. Tip: How are those catnaps coming? Are you training yourself to shut down and tune out? Oh, and are you getting eight hours of nightly snooze?

My Reflection:

      I’ve had many types of massages and with many different people. I tried Massage Envy when I first arrived in the cities because for their convenience (later evenings and weekends) however after having disappointing results for relaxation and physical relief, plus when someone will not massage my feet (no they weren’t stinky) I was determined to find someone new. I wanted their healing hands to really help me heal my emotional and physical pain. And then I found Sharon Madison a massage therapist that works in various applications - Swedish Massage, Acupressure and Reiki and has healing hands of love and support. I try to see her 3 times a year (although, I would LOVE to see her more).

      I fasted today, enjoying my shakes and preparing my body for the massage with Sharon Madison at Simply Grounded. I took the Sparkle Advice from Day 11 about getting a massage and today was the it! I gained insight, clarity, release and relaxation.

      Since being on the Treat Yo Self Cleanse I've begun celebrating my body and finding ways to love and support it. And what's been wonderful is the friends and family that have sent me encouraging words and support. With one of today's focuses being about those who support you I have asked for support. "With a loving heart, help me to release the relationships that bring me down." Never an easy choice, but when it comes to that choice it's about loving myself first. This may sound selfish, but being attached to something that only is filled with guilt or anger or pain doesn't work either. Which is why it is so exciting to see that the person I am - this special Care Bear Belly Badge I carry and the souls I intermingle with align with are filled and aligned with my purpose to create, inspire and find happiness.

Sharing Love

Sparkle Cleanse Day 13 - Treat Yo Self Day 52

6 Steps to Sparkle

Inspired by Kris Carr., (2011) Crazy Sexy Diet. CT: Globe Pequot Press

1. Inspiration: Making meals for yourself and others is a profound way to share love. "As you get more comfortable with your ability to make tasty cuisine, invite folks over to break (gluten-free) bread. Just because you're cleansing doesn't mean you have to isolate. Share your knowledge. The world needs you! Teach your coworkers how to juice. Make healthy lunches and share the recipe. You're the sexiest 'Prevention Is Hot' cheerleader I have ever seen - shake those pom-poms!"
2. Focus: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
3. Prayer: Allow me to help others find their core vitality. Help me share my knowledge in a way that people can understand. Though I am excited, I realize that people don't like being bashed over the head. Help me teach with patience and compassion.
4. Affirmation: I have the amazing ability to clearly communicate my wisdom to others.
5. Body Movin': Tongue scraping, anyone? Ever notice the whitish coating that sometimes collects on your tongue? That's waste products and bacteria. Help your tongue out by gently removing it. You can find a scraper at any health food or drugstore - they cost about$2. French kissing is a lot better with a clean tongue. 
6. Tip: When making meals for meat-loving carnivores, choose a heart, well-seasoned dish that will wow them - roasted veggies, a raw lasagna, tempeh Reuben, or rich grain dishes and soups. Then how about a lush dessert? Kick off the festivities with fresh juice served in pretty glasses. 

My Reflection:

      With my passion for baking and the Big, Beautiful Confectionary Wall I hit last week I wondered why I was having such a hard time with releasing sugar from my life. As I sat with this thought, I felt sadness - how will I share my love if I stop baking?

      I still love to bake and know I always will. I also know I love to bake new things - so finding new recipes that meet my dietary needs is hard. Try searching for gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and Vegan sweet treats. Fortunately, there are a few out there and thanks to Babycakes - I've been able to create things that work for me.

      As I wondered if I'd ever bake for others again - the answer is yes! My passion for baking is alive in every fiber of my being. No more sadness towards feeling that I need to give up something I love. It's an opportunity to continue creating treats using traditional ingredients, but I also can use new ingredients to create scrumptious sweets for even more family and friends. It's quite an exciting journey and I'm glad to share this with the world.

Care Bears

Sparkle Cleanse Day 12 - Treat Yo Self Day 51

6 Steps to Sparkle

Inspired by Kris Carr., (2011) Crazy Sexy Diet. CT: Globe Pequot Press

1. Inspiration: Gratitude is the attitude! Now that I know what I love, it's a delicious time to welcome gratitude into my life. Gratitude puts oneself in a position of having instead of wanting. When I take stock of my blessings, I get more blessings. When I throw bottomless "wanting" out into the universe, I get back more wanting. Life doesn't start when all the ducks are in a row; it's happening right now. Notice what I do have instead of focusing on what I don't. "If you can't think of anything, then your inner sourpuss has hijacked you. This is very serious. Immediately send a SWAT team armed with a fire hose of sunshine to your rescue."  
2. Focus: Mull this over. What if all your problems disappeared today? Would you be instantly happy? Tell the truth. My sense is that the answer would be no. Most of us build state-of-the-art infrastructure to house our ego's negative voice. We provide sturdy platforms for doubt and despair. If the source of the misery were removed, don't think for a nanosecond that the self-created support beans would vanish with it. When you stop feeding the negativity, it will collapse. 
3. Prayer: With gratitude for all that I have, remind me to take stock and be thankful for another day on earth.
4. Affirmation: My life is abundantly now; rivers of joy and health flood my inner being and fill me with stamina and strength.
5. Body Movin': Download a guided meditation or peaceful chanting CD. Take 15 minutes or more to rest and regroup.
6. Tip: Clean out the makeup bag and medicine cabinet. Be grateful that you have alternatives - and use them. Chemical moisturizers, old lipsticks and old eye shadows - gotta go.

My Reflection:

      The Care Bears were a staple of my youth. The stories and making play-doh characters of them at daycare bring back fond memories. What I loved the most about the Care Bears is that they each have their unique personality and wear it proudly as their belly badge.  

      With Birthday Bear, Cheer Bear, Friend Bear, Love-a-lot Bear and Tenderheart Bear as some of my favorites; I loved the idea of these whimsical guardian angels who guide and protect children. And their secret weapon against evil: the "Care Bear Stare", in which lights radiates from their belly badges and combine to form a ray of love and good cheer which could bring care and joy into the target's heart.
       I believe we all have our own Belly Badges - it's our spirit that shines from our core and encourages us to live. Although, somewhere in my youth, I hid my Belly Badge. There had been many experiences when I used this power and felt ramifications. And so I thought I didn't need it - after all if I used it, it only hurt. I learned very quickly that it became unsafe for me to express myself as my whole, unique wonderful self. So to survive and not feel pain, I thought I'd save my Belly Badge power for a time when I could really let it shine. So I hid it - to protect the most sacred part of myself.
      Now I'm no longer burying my emotions underneath food. I've been able to feel safe in the world - safe enough to express myself; to connect discover my own power and source of enthusiasm. It's beautiful and Sparkles with delight whenever I do what I really love. There have been so many moments when I notice it while I'm baking, crafting or writing. I'm grateful to have found my Care Bear Belly Badge.