"A 10 minute vacation for the soul."
I was not familiar with this particular quote and when I saw it was attributed to the poet e.e. cummings red flags went up for me. So off I went expecting not to be able to validate the authorship. What a pleasant surprise when I found this very poem read by the poet himself. Enjoy!
“Words are windows, or they’re walls,
They sentence us, or set us free.
When I speak and when I hear,
Let the love light shine through me.”
– Ruth Bebermeyer –
It often seems everywhere you look during the holidays there is food. Unfortunately it is often not food that is friendly to those watching what we eat no matter the reason. You can go through the holidays feeling depressed and angry because of what you can no longer eat or you can come to the realization that life does not stop because what you eat has changed. Neither does the ability to celebrate. There are things you can do this holiday season to focus on other ways of celebrating.
1. Center your celebration on the lessons or stories of the holidays you celebrate.
2. Center your holiday party on an activity other than eating.
3. Go caroling.
4. Devote your time and yourself to charity and good works.
5. Go on a holiday light tour.
6. Attend local festivals and pageants.
7. Engage in your favorite outdoor activity.
8. Decorate your house.
9. Develop your own special holiday tradition.
No matter what holiday you celebrate or in what way, don’t forget the celebrating. Make the holidays a time of joy — sing, dance, celebrate light and life! Remember, it isn’t always about food!
More ideas, recipes, and ways to celebrate that do not include food may be found in my holiday book Have Yourself a Healthy Little Holiday, available at Espirational Books and the Kindle Store. For those looking for gluten free recipes, all of my recipes are naturally gluten free or include gluten free options. Remember proceeds from Espirational Books go toward keeping Espirational.com and Espirational.org up and running.
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Rogene Robbins is an artist, writer, student of positive thinking and spirituality and home cook who has been living and cooking gluten free for eight years. She focuses on the positive aspects of gluten free living and using creativity to improve quality of life. Rogene is the author of Have Yourself a Healthy Little Holiday and The Gluten Free Good Life available at Espirational Books and the Kindle Store.
… children, created in your image.
…The Silence
That still place deep within us where we meet God.
I was awakened at 2 A.M with a message from Spirit. “It’s Trump, but it’s okay.” Not the message I wanted to receive, but strangely I felt at peace. I stayed up for a little while then went back to bed only to be awakened again at 5 A.M. with another message. “Shine your light.” I know this means to continue to teach and practice love and acceptance, but as a tangible sign I was led to get out the new lighted angel I bought last month for Christmas, hang it in the window and plug it in.
Our calling now is the same as it has always been — to shine our light. When the world seems enveloped in darkness we are more than ever called to shine our light, to live the Truth and to walk in peace and love recognizing the divine light in those around us. I know I’m having trouble seeing that light in a few people right now, but it is still there.
The real enemy in this world is not Donald Trump. It’s also not immigrants, people with different beliefs or ways of living or even ISIS. The real enemy is FEAR. It’s not “someone else” who is “against us” or causing the turmoil and upheaval in our country and the world. It is us. We are doing this to ourselves. We are destroying our own country with fear.
This is spiritual warfare folks and it cannot be fought with earthly weapons so put down your guns. It must be fought in our minds, with our thoughts. Use those tools for defeating fear I mentioned earlier. I have gathered links together in a new Saying No to Fear page. Please use it.
Live what you say you believe. Walk in light, love and peace. Show the world there is another way. Continue to pray and meditate for peace and awakening for those who have forgotten the light that they are will begin to remember. Peace be with you, do not be afraid.
Love.
This rainy day here at the lake is also election day. Bob and I voted by mail so all that is left to do is wait and see how this horrible election cycle continues to play itself out. I’ve talked before about knowing my limits when it comes to world events so today I am taking a day off from the drama and trauma and just living.
I’m coming back to those things I love that feed my soul but sometimes let others make me feel are unworthy or useless. Later I will be going into the art studio but after yoga and morning meditation I started out cooking. I love to cook. I love to eat. I’m not ashamed to admit it. We all have to eat, why not enjoy it? Now I try to eat healthy but I’m not going to pretend I just really don’t eat anything.
Now I don’t love cooking so much when under pressure to get something on the table when I hadn’t planned anything. But give me a rainy day and all the time in the world and there will be some pretty terrific smells coming from my kitchen. So far chicken soup is on the stove. Cookies are cooling on the counter.
I wish those of you in the U.S. who are voting and waiting for results as well as those watching with concern around the world a good day, a peaceful day with at least a little time spent doing something that centers and grounds you and makes your heart sing.
Wait!! Did someone say cookies?? Yes, and here they are. Enjoy!
Banana Peanut Butter Crisscross Cookies
Ingredients:
2 T. flax seed meal + 6 T. hot water
1 c. mashed ripe banana
2/3 c. agave nectar
1 T. molasses
1/2 c. applesauce
1/2 c. natural peanut butter
1 t. baking soda
3 cups gluten free flour
1 t. cinnamon
Directions:
Interested in more of my gluten free recipes? My e-books, The Gluten Free Good Life and Have Yourself a Healthy Little Holiday are available at Espirational Books.
This post is linked to:
…diversity.
For the differences that add life, color and texture to what would otherwise be a rather, drab and boring world we thank you God
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