Free Tea Party

Here is an interesting venue.


Guisepi~Thank you for your vision; love of life and tea! There is a great Tea Bus Map on their site. Check it out. Tick the title to be redirected there!
His bio;
Guisepi's past is hazey at most. Some say he was raised by a pack of baboons in Amazonian South America, sipping Mate while swinging from vine to vine. Others say he was born to a high lama in the highest inhabitable peaks of the Himalaya, drinking tea to beat off the cold and for meditational clarity. Recent reports, however, place his early years in Washington State, where he rarely drank any tea, other than when his mother made him when he was sick.

Regardless of his roots, his life is an evolution of the archetype of the American man - traveling the land, meeting all the characters therein, and working for a better America. Themes in his life include hobos and trains, gypsies and caravans, clowns and circuses, bards and vaudeville, cowboys and the west, tea masters and the orient, pirates and the maritime.


http://www.freeteaparty.org/FTP_Blog/Blog/Blog.html

Thier idea;

PHILOSPOPHY:
- The Free Tea Party offers an alternative to, and a balance for, self-centered philosophies often fostered by our society. This alternative is based on the "gift economy," or the idea that goods and services can be given without anything required in return. We believe that selfishness should be balanced out by selflessness.
- We also practice the principles of permaculture, nonviolent conflict resolution, and consensus decision-making.
- Although we are non-partisan, we support people, movements, and politicians who strive for positive socio-environmental change. Althought we are non-denominational, we respect core values and morals, as all religions are based upon a common ground. Although we are non-profit in the monetary sense, we see profit in the personal, social and environmental realms through our actions.

True Nature Centre Founded in New Zealand by Elysha and Sarah

There is a free ebook that is also quite interesting here called
7 Steps to Living In Your Freedom. Just wanted to share.

Please let me know what you think!

Namesta,
Allisonian

My Christmas Bracelet Therapy....

Here are some of the ways I spent the season... If you love them, as I did, or are interested in ordering one, please email me at
allisonians@gmail.com








©Allisonians
Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing before you purger (plagiarize) yourself. silly silly

And My Favorite Subjects..... Mother Nature and Eating.....AND of course~~Chickweed; oh my little stars

Why Eat Wild Herbs and Edible Plants? What Do You Get In a Weed That Money Can Not Buy?

For hundreds of years people took advantage of the medicine cabinet at their doorstep. Before the advent of processed foods and modern convenience stores, wild plants were a common dietary supplement. They were the ultimate natural multivitamin!

Often the plants we call weeds have therapeutic value. Our pharmaceutical industry bases many new medicines on the healing factors in herbs.

Why eat wild herbs?


They are power packed with phyto-nutrients, hundreds of times the vitamin and mineral density of a supermarket lettuce. Remember our common lettuce started out in the wild. Due to thousands of years of agriculture it has become rather meek and mild, compared to its ancestors.

They are free; great value nutrition.

You only need a little to reap the nutritional benefits.

Nutrient dense wild plants support all levels of health, starting at a cellular level.

What if you live in the city?
Not everyone lives in the countryside these days, with healthy spray free wild herbs at their doorstep. How can you get the benefits of wild plants without turning into a forager?


Drink herbal teas made from wild herbs, like nettle.

Eat darker leafy green vegetables whenever possible. Shop at a farmers market for the older varieties and more unusual green vegetables. These vegetables are most likely less hybridised and therefore intrinsically more powerful health wise.

Take a green powder like barley grass or Vitamineral Green. Vitamineral green contains wild plants in its nutrient dense ingredient profile.

If you do live rurally, how do you spot the good ones?
People ask us, “how do you avoid the poisonous ones?” Good question! Ask around and learn one edible variety at a time. Often community gardens have people in the know. Gather this precious knowledge slowly. Read books. You will feel more connected to your local environment and

What to do with wild herbs and dark leafy greens?


Wild herbs can be juiced (the forerunner to wheat grass juice!) with carrots and apples, made into dressings or pesto, and chopped finely into salads.

Wild Weed Pesto Recipe - This really tastes good!
Makes 2 cups
This recipe works well for many other greens if you are unfamiliar with edible weeds. Try rocket, coriander or spinach. It can also be spiced up with the addition of fresh chilli. Almost any other nuts or seeds can be substituted for the pumpkin seeds.

2 cups (packed) chickweed, puha or other mild-tasting edible weeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked overnight in water, then drained.
3 cloves garlic, chopped
4 Tab olive oil
2 Tab miso (or ½ tsp sea salt)
Juice of one lemon

1) Wash your weeds and drain well. Chop them into about 1 cm bits.
2) Place in a food processor. Blend together with all other ingredients. Adjust consistency with either olive oil (to make it thicker) or water (to make it thinner).

Conclusion on Eating Wild Weeds
So what are you going to get out of a common weed, that you won’t get out of spinach? Not less, you get more of everything! More vitamins and minerals, to feed the powerhouse in every cell exactly what it’s needs to be well. As nutrient values in common vegetables have declined, eating a few finely chopped wild herbs in your salad will top you up… for free!

Copyright Wild Health and Anna Wilde 2007

Anna Wilde works with people who want to improve their health naturally.
Get recipes and straight forward advice to stay motivated, eat well and be healthy.

Check out her ‘Healthy food made easy’ website Sign up and get free simple healthy recipes like: Bircher Muesli and articles like: The War on Fat

What people say about Wild Health:
“Fantastic quantity and quality of information.
Thanks for a lot of new healthy food ideas I wouldn’t have found anywhere else." Maria
“This changed my life. I lost weight and feel better than ever” Brian
“I am buzzing with ideas!” Sarah



This is not My advice, but I like how these people think and so does Jack Johnson..

Peace out!

Sri Yantra; Loom; Mendala; Bindu

A mandala is a plan, chart or geometric pattern which represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the universe from the human perspective. A Sri Yantra is a type of mandala with geometric patterns. Sri Yantra literally means loom, instrument or machine. In actual practice, a yantra is a symbolic representation of aspects of divinity, the creative forces of the universe. It is an interlocking matrix of geometric figures, circles, triangles and floral patterns that form fractal patterns of elegance and beauty. These visual patterns can have a powerful effect on the mind. Just as primordial sounds, or mantras, can be useful in balancing our mind and body through hearing, primordial shapes can generate increased coherence in our brains, creating a balancing and calming influence. In cultures around the world, beautiful visual patterns are used to quiet a restless mind.




Yantra Meditation

As you look at the yantra, allow your eyes to focus on its center. This dot in the center is called the Bindu, which represents the unity that underlies all the diversity of the physical world.

Now allow your eyes to see the triangle that encloses the bindu. The downward pointing triangle represents the feminine creative power, while the upward facing triangle represents male energy.

Allow your vision to expand to include the circles outside of the triangles. They represent the cycles of cosmic rhythms. The image of the circle embodies the notion that time has no beginning and no end. The farthest region of space and the innermost nucleus of an atom both pulsate with the same rhythmic energy of creation. That rhythm is within you and without you.

Bring your awareness to lotus petals outside the circle. Notice that they are pointing outwards, as if opening. They illustrate the unfolding of our understanding. The lotus also represents the heart, the seat of the Self. When the heart opens, understanding comes.

The square at the outside of the yantra represents the world of form, the material world that our senses show us, the illusion of separateness, of well defined edges and boundaries. At the periphery of the figure are four T-shaped portals, or gateways. Notice that they point toward the interior of the yantra, the inner spaces of life. They represent our earthly passage from the external and material to the internal and sacred.

Now take a moment to gaze into the yantra, letting the different shapes and patterns emerge naturally, allowing your eyes to be held loosely in focus. Gaze at the center of the yantra on the page. Without moving your eyes, gradually begin to expand your field of vision. Continue expanding your vision until you are taking in information from greater than 180 degrees. Notice that all this information was there all along, you just became aware of it. Now slowly reverse the process by re-focusing back to the center of the yantra. Now gently close your eyes. You may still see the yantra in your mind’s eye. The patterns of creativity represented by these primordial shapes express the fundamental forces of nature. They govern the world and they govern you.






http://www.chopra.com/mandalas

Learning to Crochet On My Own,~Some learnin' aint book learnin'

I made a accorn necklace and now I am making a red bead wire leaf to either adorn Nancy's package or, with luck, become a brooch. WE will see. I ordered a camera battery, so I can even take pictures one of these days.. Happy holidays!
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Hear is another Francis quote, I like this one~~~

A person who works with their hands
is a laborer,
A person who works with their hands and head,
is a craftsman,
A person who works with their hands, head, and heart
is an artisan!

St.Francis

Dr. Andrew Weil's Tip of the Day~~Click on this title to go to his website. There is a great food pyramid

4 Tips for Nutrition and Cognitive Health
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:06AM
To help preserve mental function and protect against age-related cognitive decline consider implementing these healthy lifestyle, nutrition and supplement choices:

1.Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. It helps prevent inappropriate inflammation and counters the damage from oxidative stress, which may be linked to Alzheimer's disease. Focus on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, foods rich in vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and the spices turmeric and ginger. My Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid has more information and specific recommendations.
2.Eat berries. Blueberries in particular may improve motor skills and help reverse age-related short-term memory loss, and may also protect the brain from stroke damage.
3.Use cooking methods that limit inflammation. Cook at lower temperatures to avoid the formation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products) which have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, and avoid cooking methods that require excessive fat, such as deep frying.
4.Focus on fish. Wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, herring and black cod are excellent sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, yet are relatively low in potential environmental toxins. Diets rich in fish have been shown to help alleviate depression and other mental-health issues.

Susan Weed and her Wise Woman Traditions Link

http://www.wisewomantradition.com/healingwise/
and this one
http://www.wisewomanweb.com/
and this one for grreatTTTtt bOOks!!
http://www.ashtreepublishing.com/

Lets just say that a very wise young woman I know showed me Susan's books. She has several. Look her up, she's fantastic!
Thanks LD! I can't say enough about all of the lessons and listenings you've givin' me. It was nice chatting the other morning!
Caio!
OX

Washington is the Apple State....Let's put it to use!!! Happy New Year!

Do It Yourself!!!
I love the Blogs I follow. We are an amazing People.
Now-a-days we are up against some enormous odds.
I don't know what all is true and what might be a bit of hype, but just in case....
Here is something I just tried for the first time.
It was really cool and I wanted to share.
In the distant past I found a couple of useful books in the grocery checkout lane. One in particular (of the three useful books I have bought from the checkout lane in my lifetime)
The Miracle of Garlic & Vinegar 1996, James Edmond O'Brien. I am assuming I have the right to let you know the useful information found there in. I am not reproducing this verbatim, so.....



Making Vinegar at Home
by Dr. Dian Dincin Buchman
*You need a wide mouth jar, or crock and covers.
I used a restaurant size pickle jar.
(I love the store Cash N Carry. It is like my favorite grocery store!)
*leftover apple peals, cores(I didn't use cores), bruised or soft apples that no one will eat raw.
Put the apples (cut the whole ones up just a little) in your selected jar/crock.
Cover them with cold water. Place the lid on the jar, and store in a warm place.
An amount of time was not mentioned. So, the experiment is part of the process. If this is not a pleasurable idea, let someone else do it and use your barter sense to make an exchange. Oh, I have an idea, say apples for cider vinegar?

Occasionally lift the lid and add whatever additional cores, peels and pieces you can. Strain off the froth as you go along. When you can smell the vinegar smell and it tastes right, strain out the apples and pour the liquid into a sterilized bottle and cork/seal for future use.

Aeration is the key to souring a vinegar. If you want to quicken the fermentation process, add a small amount of live yeast in a brown paper bag to your container (I did not, it is as quick of a process as anything, as is).

To aerate as farmer once did, keep two barrels with spigots. In one barrel, make the vinegar as described above. In the other barrel, keep matchstick thin sticks of birch or beech boards. After a few days, open the faucets and allow the cider to dribble through the birch or beech boards.

As soon as the second barrel fills up, pour the vinegar into the first barrel again. This process may be repeated several times.