Thursday, October 31, 2019
SAMHAIN
Halloween was originally a three-day Celtic festival, commencing on "All Hallows," the eve of November, signifying an autumn transition between light and dark, day and night, life and death.
The Celtic new year begins with what the Celts (and Wiccans) call Samhain (Gaelic, pronounced "sow-win").
It was (still is, for some), a time to celebrate the dead, remember them, respect them, and hold close all that links you, the sum of your ancestors, to those who delivered you.
Christians viewed the Celts as pagans and threw up a smokescreen by adopting pagan holy days as their own, which is why Christianity has All Saints Day on November 1st and celebrates Christ's birthday (a fabricated date) to coincide with celebrations of Celtic Winter Solstice.
Once all the pageantry and trick-or-treating is done, build a fire in an outdoor hearth (the Celts would gather around bonfires) and follow an ancient Samhain ritual: using pen and paper, write down bad situations and relationships.
Scrunch up the list.
Toss it in the fire.
And those bad situations and relationships are toast.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Monday, October 28, 2019
NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY
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Cocoa Beans, pastel, Sean Kirkpatrick |
1. Not unlike St.
John’s Wort, dark chocolate is one of nature’s gifts for mood enhancement.
2. Chocolate triggers
the release of endorphins (natural opiates) into your brain, causing a decrease
in pain and stress while inducing euphoria.
3. Chocolate contains
serotonin, a mood-altering antidepressant, and it also contains tryptophan,
which ensures the release of serotonin
into your bloodstream and brain.
4. Chocolate contains
phenyl ethylamine, known as chocolate
amphetamine because it induces excitement and alertness.
5. Another compound
found in chocolate is anandamide, similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the
salient ingredient in marijuana, which produces dopamine, leading to a feeling
of wellbeing and happiness; it is no accident that its name derives from ananda, Sanskrit for bliss.
6. Yet another compound
found in chocolate: theobromine, which
affects the nervous system, causing mental and physical relaxation while heightening
alertness; the Greek word theobroma
translates to food of the gods.
7. Chocolate also
contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system.
8. Dark chocolate
lowers bad cholesterol and reduces blood pressure, thereby increasing arterial blood
flow.
9. To enjoy the
mood-enhancing effects of dark chocolate, avoid commercial brands, which dilute
the all-important cocoa bean with other ingredients that negate its benefits; search
out gourmet brands that offer at least 60 percent cocoa content.
10. One ounce of dark chocolate daily is enough to enjoy the
full spectrum of its benefits.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Friday, October 25, 2019
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
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