Inner-View With Trina Roach:

Join me Lillian Ogbogoh as i have a conversation with Trina E Roach, an executive coach, leadership and presentation skills trainer,and HRD consultant. With her company,Creating Tomorrow: The Leadership Consultancy, she supports business professionals on both sides of the Atlantic in identifying their "Me Factor", because true leadership begins when you take charge of your own life. Trina began working as a coach,trainer and consultant after working for 15 years as a marketing consultant and Head of Human Resources Development for an international advertising network, and 10 years in management training and development. While based in Germany, she has worked throughout Europe,and considers strong intercultural acumen and visionary diversity management integral parts of business leadership today. Trina has lived in Germany since 1975, is the mother of two adult children (and two wayward dachshunds), and partner to a semi-retired management consultant who is a chess and sudoku fanatic. She is passionate about her family and friends, literature and trying her hand at growing heirloom tomatoes. Join us on Waking Passions as We will be talking about Putting your Down 'S' Don't turn help into a four letter word.

Inner-View: Kesha Bruce

Inner-View With Artist

Kesha Bruce

Exploring her inspiring art, creqtive lifestyle and living in France:

An inspirational quote or affirmation that inspires you in your work:

I don’t have a quote, but I have a word: Surrender. This year instead of making a New Year’s resolution I chose one word that would be my theme or purpose. I chose: Surrender. As a natural-born over achiever I try to micro-manage nearly everything that crosses my path. I’m constantly reminding myself that I there is so much that I cannot control. Sometimes if we just surrender, the reward is that we gain both better understanding and bigger opportunities than we ever could have thought possible.

Please share your artistic background and what inspired you to become an artist:

Like most people I’ve loved art-making since I was a child, the main difference is that I just decided, at about age 16 or 17, that I wanted to make art-making my career. I had no idea exactly how to do it at the time, but I was lucky enough to have some great mentors along the way.

What inspires you most in your work?

Well much of my work is really about story-telling. Most of the imagery that I use comes from my fascination with folktales and superstition. I use collage and layering, so that each new work becomes a collection of memories, re-told stories, and in a way, newly created personal mythologies.

Please share your current creative projects and what you are working on for the future:

Well My most recent photographic project is called (Re)calling and (Re)telling, which is a series of Mixed-Media digital photographs. In 2005, my Grandfather, gave me an old collection of large format negatives he had taken while he was a young soldier in the Korean War.

I was immediately fascinated by these people and places and frantically went about gathering as much information as possible about the people in the photographs. I eventually decided to incorporate these images into my work.

Even though the names, dates, and exact details of each image couldn’t be found, I developed an intimate visual relationship with the women in these photographs and I had already begun to create stories about these women in my mind well before I had ever decided to tell their stories in my work. So essentially the narratives I’ve constructing in (Re)calling and (Re)telling are part fiction, part history, part homage.

What do you like and dislike about living in France?

That’s such a tough question because what I like and what I dislike changes almost every day. But I can say confidently that I love the food. I love the language eventhough I find it very challenging. I also have a real appreciation for the slower pace of life and the way that the French really take time to enjoy the things that matter. Finding and admiring beauty is just part of the culture.

Things I don’t like: The dreadful winter weather, the strikes, the usual cultural differences. But anyplace is what you make of it. Now that I’ve been here for 6 years, I don’t think I’d ever go back to living in the US. Home is where you make it. I choose to be home here.

Are there any particular spots that you like to visit in France regularly for a creative buzz? Which art galleries or creative spaces would you recommend to visit while in Paris?

The Pompidou is a fantastic museum and I visit it whenever I’m in Paris. Other than that, I try to hit a few art galleries in the Marais, but to be honest I really just enjoy just sitting in a café and watching people pass by. I create better when I’m calm, well rested, and relaxed, so that’s how I spend my time in Paris.

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to move to France?

France isn’t the easiest place to move to. Examine why you really want to move here. Make sure you are separating fact from fantasy. Many people have their illusions smashed once they hit the reality of lower salaries, rental apartment shortages, and the difficulty of getting a work Visa. If all that doesn’t scare you away, then good! Learn the language, jump on a plane and start your adventure. Just know what you’re getting into so that when you do arrive you’ll really be prepared and have a chance to enjoy your adventure.

What words of wisdom would you have for anyone who is thinking about starting a business and making a living with their creative talent?

Sometimes creative people have a hard time running the business end of things. Creativity is one thing, but marketing it and turning it into a career can be a real challenge. If you want to have a career instead of a very expensive hobby, you need to learn some real business sense up front.

Set concrete measurable goals, work towards them in baby-steps, and celebrate your smallest accomplishments. Work hard. Really hard. But learn to take time off too. Find successful people in your field that inspire you. See what they’re doing and how they run their creative business, then, if it fits what you want, follow their lead.

Please share your natural hair routine and journey - why did you go natural and what do you love about it?

My natural hair journey began partly by accident. One too many chemical treatments and my hair had just become like straw. I had been thinking about going natural for years, so I seized the opportunity and never looked back. I’ve hadmy “New Hair” for almost 2 years now. I love that it defies gravity and that it’s beautiful everyday. I almost never have bad hair days. I guess this goes back to the first question really. I surrendered. I stopped fighting my hair and trying to make it be something it wasn’t. Now I have the hair I’ve always wanted.

Back + Exploring Lunar Energy

Greetings everyone!

Wow, time flies. I've been on a blogger break to catch up on a few things and new projects but I'm back and feeling good!

Just yesterday, I was admiring the beautiful moon over a misty London's skies and found this link posted by a friend which was super enlighteneing! Enjoy!

Intuition

Hey everyone!

How has your Summer been? This year has passed by so fast... they say time flies when you're having a good time so I'm taking this as a positive sign that this year has brought up some very wonderful lessons on my journey.

One topic that has been re-occurring a lot lately has been the topic of intuition... what it is and how to truly be connected to it. I will be going to a talk this weekend that explores this topic. I also found these interviews to be very interesting...

(See other parts of this interview too)

 Making intuitive decisions:

Liquid Gold: Argan Oil For Hair & Body

I have been on a mission to find a new oil that would work for my locs and skin. I have tried many and often find that I can only really use oils in the really cold months, otherwise it becomes far too thick for me. So when a friend sent me an email with this oil information, I became very curious!

I have been using it on my face and locs for 2 weeks and it is wonderful! A little expensive but the good news is that a little goes a LONG way! I have combination skin with oily areas so I was unsure if applying oil in this area would be a good idea but it surprisingly has made these areas soft, with less shine.

Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world. It is produced by using the kernels of the argan tree, a protected tree found in Morocco, valued for its nutritive, medicinal and cosmetic properties.

Argan is mainly recognised for its anti-aging and skin restructuring properties due to the essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E that are naturally present. Although argan oil is mainly known for its therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, it can also be eaten in salads, cooked with or used as a dip (although the oil we sell should not be used for this purpose).

Traditionally argan oil is used by the Berber women in Morocco, who use it to protect and nourish their hair, skin and nails from the Moroccan climate. Recently, however, argan oil has become popular world-wide.

To name but a few of its benefits for cosmetic use:

It boosts the skins regenerating capabilities due to the content of essential fatty acids and vitamin E.

It can help repair and protect the skin from external aggressions and premature aging.

It can help restore dry damaged hair and reduce breakage (rub a small amount into your hair starting at the ends. For dry scalps massage the oil into the roots, leave for half an hour and shampoo out).

It acts as an antioxidant.

It can help protect muscles from age related degeneration.

It softens dry skin, rehydrates and revitalises tired and wrinkled skin to help give skin a youthful glow.

It can aid relief for burns and scars.

It strengthens nails and stops both fingernails and toenails from becoming dry.

It can help reduce psoriasis and the look of stretch-marks.

When To Chop Locs?!?

...I had that dream again last night... The one where I realise that my locs are no longer there and I have a full head of loose napptural hair. Sometimes I feel devastated, sometimes I find myself feeling confused and sometimes I'm just SO glad my locs are no longer there...

I won't lie, there are times when I see a BAA or a cute TWA and wonder What If???? After having locs for all of these years, there are many things that keep me enjoying my locs as they are... and there are also times were I feel that my locs sometimes mean more to other people than to my Self... There is also the topic of attachment. Just how attached am I to my locs as a definition of who I am? After doing an inner-view a while back in this blog, the topic of attachment came up and it did make me think...

When I first started locing, I swore that I would never cut them off but now I can never say never. The beauty of natural hair is that it is beautiful in ALL forms! Letting go of old mind-sets and expectations (my own and by others) is one of the most freeing experience of the natural hair journey!

Expectations (even from other nappturals...) while locing: Assumptions that you want your locs to be butt-length long, that locing is always about you being a spiritual person, that locing should be the final stage of the napptural journey, that cutting locs will remove your inner-power...

While the above statements might be true for some locers (there are no rights/wrongs in a personal experience), I'm glad that locing and natural hair offers a wide range of choices and meanings!

So, when is the right time to chop your locs?
Many locers that I followed and who inspired me during the early years of my loc journey have gone back to loose hair. Some of the reasons that I hear are:

- When locs no longer provide excitement
- When there is a Self change and it is time to let go of old energy
- When the temptation to re-learn about loose hair is overwhelming
- A way of marking a new stage or time in one's life (like new motherhood etc)

I think for me, when the time comes that I feel the same strong(er) urge as I did when I started locs will be the time I let go.

MIMI Magazine: A Voice For African Women

MIMI Online Magazine
A magazine that celebrates African women all around the world and has featured many famous faces over the years... don't forget to have a look through the archive for past issues and inspiring material! Enjoy ;o)

Emmanuel Jal: Activism & African Hip Hop

Supporting African artists and creativity, Emmanuel Jal especially hits home to me as a fellow Sudanese... by raising awareness of the issues and sharing his life story. I first heard his music on an ER episode in Darfur and wandered who it was... through myspace and Sudanese community websites, I found out more about his work and have followed him through the years...

UK Natural Hair Shop: Curl Harmony

While reading the above article in the UK Precious Magazine , I came across a link to an online website that sells products for kinky-curly hair: Curl Harmony

Most UK nappturals would probably agree that it used to be the case that when we wanted products for our hair, we would have to order from abroad to get the kind of products that are always mentioned (and celebrated) on hair care forums. So it's refreshig to see that there are a growing number UK shops that are catering for natural afro hair - yay lol!

Has anyone tried this line of products? Do tell ;o)

NEW! Goapele - Milk & Honey

Over the years this lady has provied so much talent, inspiration and style! Here is her latest video... For a limited time, the single is available to download for free (that's right free) from her website: goapele.com. I can't wait to hear her new album!

Milk and Honey - Goapele from goapele on Vimeo.

Fashion Fix: Desigual - New Autumn/Winter Collection

I ((heart)) Desigual



About Desigual
Desigual is already something of a household name in Europe and its logo is a familiar sight. Positive attitude, happiness, unconventional, lack of inhibitions, emotion and involvement are the key brand values.

Offering a directional range of men and women’s casual wear, as well as childrenswear and accessories, Desigual, Regent Street has something for everyone.

The brainchild of Thomas Meyer, Desigual began in 1984 with the objective to create a fun and differentiated clothing range at accessible prices. The decor of the store is perhaps testament to Meyer's style, with the white walls decorated with graffiti that passers by might write on a wall at a party.

The first slogan for the brand was 'Desigual is not the same', and this continues to be the driving force behind the label over twenty years on.

Cree Summer In "Free Lunch"

Happy August!!! 2009 keeps flying by...

I found this cute and funny clip with the lovely Cree Summer. I just LOVE her hair!

My Loc Inspiration! Thick Loc Talk

Long before I had locs, I was following this journal: Natural Freedom Journey

At the time, around 2001, there weren't as many blogs and websites that had information on locing. There were only a few (which I can count on one hand) that really inspired me to get started on my journey! And one of the biggest online loc inspiration was from this lady here! She gave me the idea to start my locs with braids, as all other methods just fell apart after 1-2 days. I finally found a technique to start, on my own, that worked for me (thanks to her info)! And over the years of locing, especially in the first few years, her website grew and inspired me further to hang in there!

This is a common question I get a lot about starting locs with braids: Will my locs get thick like yours?

Below, I have posted her answer to it which I pretty much relate to. I had skinny braids at first and with time, they plumped up as the budding began and the braids puffed outwards. It was only when I started combining them (due to thinning roots) that my locs started to get thicker. I was not so concerned at the time about the thickness as I was with the root strength.

Loc Tip: My advice to anyone starting locs is that if you want thicker locs, you can always combine them later so no stress on size! It's much harder to thin out locs than to thicken them up along the way. Start with the size that feels rght for you!

Oyin....Oh-YUM!

As many nappturals know, Oyin handmade has been a great source of inspiration and natural products for some time now... First it was the podcasts that made me smile and now these clips...

Great Loc Up-Do!

I am a loc-up-do addict and yet again, this lovely locer delivers another fantastic youtube clip that is simple to do and looks very elegant - as well as keeps locs off the face!

Age Issues + Hair Talk...

One year away from hitting 30. I can't wait!!! All the talk over the past few years of the quarter-life crisis , seeing it happen to many around me and getting to grips with really exploring what I want in my life (the highs/lows) has been very enlightening, but tough I admit! Although I'm not in a rush to get older, I certainly do admire the confidence and strength that older woman have...

Observations: Is it just me or has growing natural hair knocked off the years in how you look? After reading this blog, I do wonder if this has something to do with it?!?

I'm throwing these Q's out to you:

What has your 20's brought you? And what did you learn about your Self?
If you are above 30, what advice would you give to younger women nowadays?
What is your secret to keeping young?
Has your natural hair and/or lifestyle made you feel younger and more youthful?

Dear Life Japan!

One of the many countries on my list of travel is Japan. I can't wait to finally get the chance to get out there, I'm working on it! So, I'm so glad to have come across Alafia and her youtube clips on life out there!

Check out her many videos with great insights on life in Japan!

1st Black Miss England

Read: First Black Miss England

Freeform Roots Pics!

I had an email recently asking me to show my roots as they thought my locs looked too "neat" to be freeform... and they wanted to know how my root hairs looked like! OK, so here they are!

A shot of the top of my head... Fly-away root hairs... And MORE FUZZY-ness ...

I LOVE fuzziness and feeling my loose hair! I know its not for everyone, but I chose it to do its own thing and my root hairs have been pretty good at (eventually) attaching their own self to my locs without too much pulling and loc-popping.

Freeform loc tips:
On those days that I do want my root hair to stay down and be calmer, I brush my hair at night after a good spritz and then I tie a scarf around it. In the morning, my root hairs seem a lot tamer. Another way to do it is to gently braid the locs together at the roots and untie them before going out and the root hairs seem to be more defined to the locs, without twisting etc.

Love Rituals: Meditation For Couples

There are so many ways to celebrate ritual in a relationship... In the fast pace of today's life, it can sometimes be a challenge for couples to really have time alone to celebrate love rituals and each other's company/energy, without other factors coming into play (money talk, what happened at work, housework etc).

A couple of years ago, I wrote an article for a magazine on a meditation that can be done by couples...

This meditation is an opportunity to really share your Self growth with your partner and let them be part of your journey... it's a beautiful way of relaxing too - Something that both of you can share and enjoy!

Be sure to keep this space for only you and your partner only, leave the outside world behind. Take time to work on the mood of the space before the meditation (lighting, candles, scents etc) and enjoy!

And be sure to do it regularly to keep energetically in-tune with each other's energy system.

White Light Bubble

The white light symbolises ultimate healing and bringing good health.

Follow these steps:

1. Both members should face each other and link hands to form a little circle within the two of you.

2. Now imagine that from above a bright and warm white light is falling on each member, starting from the head and travelling down the spine.

3. Take your time to let this white light travel down your spine and gradually feel it cleansing all the chakras as it travels down.

4. Keep your eye contact focused on your partner and watch the reaction of your partner as they too imagine this white light cleansing their charka system.

5. Focus on your breath while using eye contact. Watch and feel the breath go in and out of the body. Listen as your partner breathes.

6. When you are both at the point where you are focusing on the white light at the bottom of your spine, then it is time to imagine that this white light is starting to circle both members, enclosing the two members in a bubble.

7. Keep your hands locked together.

8. Enjoy the sensation of being in this white light with your partner. Feel the warmth and feel the connection between the two of you.

9. Simply observe your thoughts. Both members should not feel that there is a need to be a result through the process. Like a scientist performing an experiment, simply observe how the body and mind reacts.

10. Stay in this position for as long as you want to.

11. Finally, focus on the breath and imagine that the white light is entering the body with each breath. This will make you feel more connected with the white light.
s
12. When you both feel completely cleansed, end the exercise with a prayer of gratitude. You may each say this prayer in your silence or share one, speaking the words loudly and slowly.

Reflections: "Why Won't You Change Me?"

Interesting thoughts on expectations, improvement, responsibility, attachment, intentions and the whole Self growth journey... I found this clip to be a powerful reminder!

Black Girls Rock! Shingai Shoniwa - The Noisettes

Shingai Shoniwa - The Noisettes
"Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa (first name pronounced Shin-guy) born in 1981, of English and Zimbabwean descent is the vocalist and bassist for the UK indie rock band Noisettes. Her first name, Shingai means ‘perseverance’ in the Southern African Shona language."
Today's inspirational beauty bite is on this incredible woman, the lead singer of Noisettes. I was introduced to their music a few years back and fell in LOVE with her voice, style and music! It's great to see such creativity and original energy going out in the mainstream music scene...

Inner-views:

RASTAFARI In The White House! Obama & Family + Ziggy & Rita Marley

OM! Tools: The 5 Year Plan!

One thing I love about the YMIB network is the useful tools that are always online to guide through the soul journey... this article particularly reflected my thoughts over the last few weeks as I hit my Earth day...

5 Years: where will you be?

Looking back, I can't help but feel that over the 10 years, even though I had many changes and challenges, the pattern of events were exactly as I had subconsciously planned it when I was 18 (which was a point in my life where I reflected my future seriously). Of course, life threw a few blows along the way and maybe there were times were things were delayed... but what I reflected on, wanted or had planned eventually came. It's funny saying that now because I can honestly say that 99.9% of the time, I was unaware that the choices I made had been a decision or visualisation from when I was 18... and not from just the positive goals, but also from some of the fears I had at that point in my life.

It made me wonder how powerful our memory is and how much our subconscious mind holds on to thoughts that we declare to our Self and collect from the past... Some Q's that came to mind for reflection: How much of our future are we really in control of? If our subconscious mind attracts and sends out energy to bring events/people/situations, what about the bad times that come forward? Are they just a reflection or manifestation of our subconscious mind/energy which was programmed by us? How flexible should we be with our goals?

A personal favourite and one of my oldest books from when I was 16 years old, is this one: Step-By-Step Miracles: A Practical Guide to Achieving Your Dreams by Shira Block. Many books before and after this time had explored the concepts of LOA (Law of attraction), but this book to me has a much more practical and direct approach than the others. And one of the things she did explain was that when planning, seek essence first before anything specific. In that way, there is more room for greater things to come. For example: Instead of specifically affirming that "I will receive $1000 for my financial security", look at the essence and source of this affirmation (what does money mean to me? Why do I need financial stability? etc) and go wider by affirming "I have complete financial freedom to explore my Self journey". There also many online tools to keep track of the Self progress...

Here are 2 connecting websites that I will be using to map out the next 5 years:

43 Things
43 Places

...A great online community of people from around the world who are tracking their Self progress and sharing their journeys! Just browsing it makes me feel positive and gives me new ideas of what to aim for! Oooooooooh the possibilities... Hmmmmmmmm lol.

Euronap Blog: My So-Called Life In France!

I have always been curious about life in France... As I love reading blogs, I was pleasantly surprised to find this blog of a beautiful napptural American woman (who I think looks SO much like Jill Scott! What'ya think?!?) living her dream as an artist in France... the honest ups 'n downs, mixed in with great life photos and a huge dose of humour, napptural hair talk and creativity! A great insight of life in France as an expat and following her Self journey since 2005...

I LOVE this blog!

Enjoy ;o)

Ancient Egyptian Recipe: Protien Packed Ful Medames

Ful Medames (Egyptian fava beans) is an ancient traditional Egyptian recipe with origins dating back to the time of the pharaohs and now eaten as a regular dish by almost everyone in Egypt and neighbouring countries. It makes for a delicious protein packed vegie breakfast and can be served with pitta bread and/or a fried egg. While I was growing up, this was a regular take-away dish from the local food shops and we used to eat it using large pitta bread slices to "scoop" and our hands only. I feel eating with hands only is such a spiritual experience and way of being connected to food!

I have been looking for new recipes to top-up my level of proteins, so I was glad to find this recipe online...

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs of dried fava beans or broad beans
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin

(My tip: You can also add other herbs/spices to your taste - such as parsley, cayenne, red chili pepper etc. Sliced onions and tomatoes can be added for extra flavour too)

Preparation:
Soak beans overnight in water.

Drain, and cover with fresh water in large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until beans are tender. Drain and place in medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Beans and remaining ingredients can be mashed together, or the beans can be left whole and gently mixed with remaining ingredients. It is more commonly served mashed together.

Serve hot with a fried egg and pita bread.

Don't have time to make ful yourself? Ful is sold as a canned good in Middle Eastern and North African grocers.

Fitness Focus: Yogalates

I am a yoga fan and have tried pilates several times. This is a unique blend of the 2 and offers both benefits of relaxation and toming, with a leaner body result. I have often found that other forms of exercise produce more bulk muscle, whereas yoga and pilates stretch and energise - a fantastic combination workout. Invigorating, yet gentle enough for beginners to use... even my 56 year old mother loves it!

Yogalates: A Blend of Exercises
Any way you spell it, yoga and Pilates benefit body and soul.
By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDYogalates. Yogilates. Yoga lattes? Don't let the name confuse you. There's a new trend out there, and it's not on the Starbucks menu.

However you spell it, yoga and Pilates are now joined at the hip. The trend is edging its way into health clubs and studios across America.

Yogilates was created in 1997 by certified Pilates instructor and personal trainer Jonathan Urla. This year, Louise Solomon published her own version, called Yogalates.

Everyone has an opinion about this new trend, pro or con. Besides the books, there are videotapes, DVDs, and classes cropping up. To figure out what's up, WebMD caught up with several fitness experts.

Ahead of the Curve
Yoga is an eastern Indian tradition that focuses on strength, flexibility, and spirituality. Pilates was created by German-born Joseph Pilates nearly a century ago. Pilates focuses on building strength in the deep muscles of the abdominal region, the body's core.

Both practices involve attaining specific postures. Both emphasize correct breathing. Both emphasize meditative mindfulness.

Despite the hybrid name, Yogalates "is not gimmicky -- it's built on very tried and true, historically proven forms of exercise," explains Cherryl Leone, a certified yoga instructor at Gentle Strength Yoga in Denver.

Like many who teach it, Leone has developed her own blend of yoga and Pilates. It's become so popular, she says she may transform a couple of yoga classes to Yogalates. "I've had such positive, positive feedback on Yogalates," she tells WebMD.

"There's so much synergy between the two," Leone explains. "The philosophies of both make blending the two very natural. You're not mindlessly on a treadmill or exercise machine. The mind is very focused on the body, on breathing techniques. When I teach Yogalates, I want students to feel their entire body was exercised in an integrated way."

Read more...

My DVD choice: Solomon Yogalates - Total Body Toner

Workouts:
1 - Abdominals
Targeting the stomach muscles and tightening the waist, promoting a flatter stomach.

Workout 2 - Upper Body
Working the arms and the chest to give greater definition to the upper body.

Workout 3 - Lower Body
These exercises will tighten and tone the bottom as well as sculpting the legs.

Workout 4 - Total Body Toner
A combination of the first three workouts for the advance student.

I love that there is no background music in this DVD... a great time to tune into favourite tunes or new music finds while working out!

Kinky, Curly And Wavy Hair Testimonials

Songs O' Strength: Speech - Like Marvin Said...

This tune takes me waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back... a firm favourite on my player.

Happy JULY!!!

See Video here.

For fellow Cancerians:
"Your July Forecast: There are some experiences that we have no option other than to repeat. Breakfast, for example, is very much a ritual. Same tea, same toast, same time of day. A hundred other factors will arise, today, much as they did yesterday or the day before. This is not just a tolerable state of affairs, it's a desirable one. When, though, we find ourselves acting out the same drama, over and over again, something HAS to change. Doesn't it? Mercury in your sign, this July, brings the insight with which to break a bad habit. All you require is the willingness to innovate and the courage to embrace change. It's going to be an amazing month..."

(From Cainer.com)

African Inspired Style - WeWe Clothing

Nothing says Summer more to me than a floaty dress... And this clothing line offers a fantastic African inspired range of beautiful dresses and other clothing items for the whole family to enjoy Summer in style! Something I'm adding to my wish-list of upcoming buys ;o)

"Wewe, pronounced (weh-weh) means “little ones” in Yoruba, the language and culture of one of the three main tribes in Nigeria, West Africa. Wewe Clothing was born of our deep love for kids and the inspiration they provide. Wewe also aims to fill a void; over the years, we have rarely found fun, ethnic boho pieces for our own children. We hope Wewe will be a great guide for our children, aka “the wewe’s” of the world, to learn about all the different, exciting cultures this world has to offer.

A great deal of our fabrics, trims, and other materials are imported directly from Nigeria. Wewe’s founder and chief designer, Folake Kuye Huntoon, who has been a designer and stylist to celebrities, editorial/fashion magazines, and commercials for years, is a Nigerian based in Beverly Hills, California."

Enter WeWe Shop

Yum! Simple Spinach Pie

Spinach is sooooo yummy! As well as being super healthy, it can be used in so many ways. While seeking for recipes to use, I found this simple recipe that can easily be customised with more ingredients to suit your tastes.... I love added red kidney beans and red peppers in mine!

See full recipe instructions here.

Brushing Locs: Everything You Need To Know!

When I first started growing locs, I was SO glad to get rid of all my combs and brushes... If only I knew that I would soon return to using a brush and brushing even more than when I had loose hair lol!

Here are a few questions that locers usually ask:

Why brush locs?
- It stimulates circulation to the scalp when brushing in this area, making my scalp feel de-stressed and tingly (it's amazing how much tension/stress our scalp holds daily!)
- It keeps lint and other bits off your locs.
- It makes locs feel more alive, fluffy and moisturised.
- It feels SO good and relaxing lol!
- It's a great thing to do for your partner/family/friend too

When is the best time in the locing process to start brushing?
I think that when your locs reach the stage when they stop unravelling is a good time. Every locer reaches this stage at different points in the locing process. Test this on your locs around the 8 month mark.

So what do you need to start brushing locs?
Most people choose a soft bristle brush (like the one in the picture above). This is sold in most hair shops. There are also brushes available to use on children that are soft for locs. The key is to get a brush that is soft for your locs and doesn't harm them. A trick: Test the brushes in the shop before buying by stroking the back of your hand. When doing this, ask: Does it feel soft or brittle?

You might find that locs are better to brush with moisture - so a spritz bottle will come in handy.

How do I brush my locs?
Add moisture to your locs first by spritzing your locs. This can also be done when your locs are still damp from washing/rinsing. Depending on how long your locs are, its good to use soft brush strokes from the direction of root to tip.

Please note: Brushing at the roots causes frizzy roots. If you are a freeformer, it probably won't bother you. If you like your roots to be twisted or with minimum frizz, brush 1-2 inch from the roots to the tip of your locs. If you do freeform, I have found that brushing is a great thing for loose fly away hairs at the root and it has helped attach loose hairs to locs, while keeping my mini-fro-roots tame and soft.

Hoe often should I brush?
This is a personal thing for each locer to decide. First thing in the morning is a good way to start a routine. It can be done at anytime during the day, when you feel your locs need it!

;o)

Loc Care: Summer Spritz Oils And Health

In Summer, the need for extra moisture in loc care increases and this is especially the time when I carry around a little spritz bottle in my bag to use when needed. It's so much fun experimenting with different recipes - I usually like to keep it simple with water and a couple of drops of an essential oil and maybe a little aloevera if I feel like it. This is also the time of year where I love using fruity and uplifting essential oils for my spritz bottle, whereas in Winter I tend to go for essential oils that have a much "deeper" note to them (like Sandalwood, Frankincense, etc). As well as smelling good, a lot of the time I tend to forget how beneficial and powerful essential oils can be in affecting our moods and in enhancing our health with their many properties. (Read about essential oils and aromatherapy, including the safety aspects of using them here).

Here are a list of yummy essential oils that I use in Spring/Summer...

Lemongrass Essential Oil - My happy oil!
I love how cheerful this oil makes me feel. For anytime and any place!
Properties: Analgesic, anti depressant, anti microbial, anti pyretic, anti septic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, galactogogue, insecticidal, nervine, sedative, tonic.
Health Benefits: Reduces pain, fights depression, inhibits microbial growth, reduces high fever, protects wounds from being septic, strengthens gums and hair and stops haemorrhage, kills bacteria, removes gases, drives away body odour, promotes urination, reduces fever, stops fungal infections, increases milk, kills insects, strengthens nerves, sedates inflammations and nervous disturbances, tones up whole body.

Vanilla Essential Oil - Sensual, sexy Goddess power!
This oil feels ooooooh so feminine and delicious.
Properties: Anti oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti carcinogenic, febrifuge, anti depressant, sedative, tranquilizing, relaxing
Health Benefits: Neutralizes effects of free radicals & oxidants and repairs damages due to oxidation, enhances libido & promotes arousal, inhibits growth of cancerous cells, reduces fever, fights depression & uplifts mood, sedates inflammation & nervous afflictions, promotes sleep, gives relief from anxiety & stress.

Peppermint Essential Oil - Fresh and ready to take on anything in my day!
I am NOT a morning person, but this oil gets me feeling confident and ready set to be progressive in my day.
Properties: Analgesic, anesthetic, anti septic, anti galactogogue, anti phlogistic, anti spasmodic, astringent, carminative, cephalic, cholagogue, cordial, decongestant, emenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, hepatic, nervine, stimulant, stomachic, sudorific, vasoconstrictor and vermifuge
Health Benefits: Pain relief, induce numbness, protects from septic, reduces milk flow, reduces discharges, relaxes spasm, strengthens gums, stops hair fall, lifts skin, induce firmness in muscles, stops haemorrhage, removes gas, good for brain & memory, promotes bile discharge, warming, clears congestion & eases breathing, opens obstructed menstruations, expells phlegm & catarrh, reduces fever, good for liver, good for nerves, stimulates, good for stomach, promotes perspiration, contracts blood vessels, kills worms.

Orange Essential Oil - Bringing out my creative chakra energy!
Fruity and inspiring, this oil makes me feel super creative and bold.
Properties: Anti inflammatory, anti depressant, anti spasmodic, anti septic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diuretic, tonic, sedative and cholagogue
Health Benefits: Soothes inflammations, fights depressions & uplifts mood, protects against septic, enhances libido & cures sexual disorders, gives relief from gas, increases urination and removes toxins, tones up health & immune system, sedates emotional & nervous disturbances, increases discharges & secretions from glands

Meditation & Reflection: Detachment

Detachment and Being Detached
By Remez Sasson
Website:Meaning of Detachment and Being Detached

Detachment is an inner state of calmness and being uninvolved on the emotional and mental planes. It is definitely not indifference. People who are indifferent do not care about anything, and are not active and initiative. On the other hand, people who possess emotional and mental detachment can be very active and caring, though they accept calmly whatever happens. Such people accept the good and the bad equally, because they enjoy inner balance and peace.

If they cannot do or change something, it does not disturb their peace of mind. If they are convinced of the importance of some action, they will pursue it whole-heartedly, and can ignore distractions easily. If they succeed with what they do, that is fine, and if they don't, they will either try again or forget the matter and move to something else.

Count the number of times you got emotionally involved in something against your will and better judgment. How many times have you got angry, frustrated or disappointed? How many times have your moods swung high and low? Each time you tell yourself that next time you will stay cool and calm, and yet each time you forget what you said.

When it comes to personal affairs, it is hard to stay emotionally uninvolved. You get involved, and this is quite natural, otherwise life would have been boring. Involvement makes life ticking and active. Yet, it advisable to develop at least some detachment, as this will help you in many situations.

Detachment is important in daily life, in the pursuit of ambitions and on the spiritual path. It is of great importance to everyone, whether pursuing spirituality or material success. Every spiritual tradition speaks about detachment, but detachment cannot be confined only to spirituality.

Let me give you some examples of detachment. Suppose you meditate, but thoughts keep coming into your mind. You get emotionally involved with your thoughts, follow them and forget about your meditation and concentration. If you were able to manifest detachment it would have been easier to ignore the disturbing thoughts. Detachment would have helped you to stay collected and concentrated.

What happens when somebody says to you something that you do not like? You will probably become angry, unhappy or insulted. Why is this so? Because you value other's people words and opinions more than you value your own thoughts and opinions of yourself. You let other's people thoughts, words and actions influence your happiness, actions and reactions. Your happiness and actions depend on them.

On the other hand, if you are able to stay detached, you will not be disturbed. You will stay calm. You will even be able to benefit from what they say. You will not waste hours thinking about their words.

Have you ever thought how much time and energy is wasted every day brooding on useless thoughts and feelings because of the lack of detachment? Much of the anger, frustration, unhappiness, disappointments and fights are due to lack of detachment.

One of the ways to develop detachment is through meditation. It is a gradual and automatic process. In meditation one endeavors not to follow the thoughts and feelings that rise. It is a time of a mental and emotional vacation. Meditating day after day develops the habit of staying cool and calm, not only during meditation, but also in all daily life.

If you practice any kind of meditation, sooner or later you will start to experience detachment. You will find that you feel and behave in a different way under circumstances that previously raised anger or agitation. You will find that you handle your daily affairs of life in a calm and relaxed way.

Real detachment means inner strength, and the ability to function calmly and with full inner control under all circumstances. A detached person is not harassed and hurried, and can do everything with concentration and attention, thus insuring a successful outcome of his actions.

Reflections From The Weekend:My Meditation For Detachment

This weekend has been a great success and I love how positive I am feeling about new plans of action in my life! One of the things I did practice a lot of was this meditation for detachment...

After settling down to focus on my breath and relax, I imagined each person or situation in my life that I felt I was strongly attached to in a negative way - both from the past and present, people/situations, fears or other... I placed each one in a bubble and I imagined that each bubble was connected to me by an emotional branch that grew from my heart center.

After observing my feelings and emotions for each bubble of attachment, I slowly broke the connecting branch and continued to observe how I was feeling as each bubble was released. Eventually, when all the branches are broken, I imagined these bubble to be released as balloons floating into the sky and disappearing into the Universe (You-In-Verse)...

It feels GREAT!

Ballet Black Returns! 2 July 2009

Upcoming Events: Ballet Black

(more info...)

Ballet Black returns and will be showing at the Hackney Empire

((smile))

Updated - Weekend Plan: Summer Solstice Fast!

Summer Solstice 2009

I was reading several websites for ideas on what to do for this weekend's Summer Solstice and came across this web page:

"The focus of the 2009 Summer Solstice Fast is fasting from an emotion to effect a significant change on your emotional body.

For many of us our emotions run us. We are emotion addicts and don't realize this fact. We seek situations that will cause us to experience a particular emotion.

Think about that one problematic emotion that, when you are honest, you actually feel good after experiencing it though most would describe that emotion as negative. Can I get a witness from my Anger Addicts or even my Victim Junkies? Any Fear-Heads in da house!?

I was startled when I first learned that I was an emotion addict. Yep, I was addicted to anger and to feeling like a victim. Awareness was key to me moving past these emotions.

My greatest success came not from suppressing these emotions but from raising my consciousness and my understanding of these emotions.

First of all I had to learn that emotions are choices. So just because I feel an emotion arise does not mean that I have to act on it.

Once I realized this truth about emotions then I began to employ a technique that is brilliant in my mind: I simply ignored all problematic emotions.

We will talk about this more during the fast. But this is key. Ignore the emotions. Get into observation mode, feel that the emotion is there and then just ignore it."

(click above link to read full page)

...This made me wonder about any emotional addictions I have in my own life and how I may use this weekend as a time to meditate on them. I am an emotional junkie sometimes lol! Empath.

So this weekend is set to be a special one! I can't wait... Meditations, yogathon, fasting, emotional cleansing and dusting off a few books to be inspired with. Affirmations. No TV or Internet. Bliss!

FRI-SAT: 24 hour fast on water. Solo day for me. Affirmations. Start my yogathon with simple sequences and ending with a meditation, to be done every 2-3 hours. Journal nearby for reflections.

SUN: SO and I eating only fruit, mangoes and a huge watermelon spring to mind - yum! Ending my weekend with another mini yogathon and meditation.

Please share: What does this time of year mean to you? What will you be doing? And what does this weekend symbolize in your spiritual calendar? All welcome!

Julie Dexter - Peace Of Mind Energy!

Julie Dexter
(See website)
Continuing the topic of celebrating UK music for this month's Black British Music Month, this lady comes in my top 10 list of artists that I cherish!



Bio:

"Born and raised in Birmingham, England, of Jamaican parents, Julie Dexter is a world-renowned singer / songwriter who has won numerous international awards.

A classically trained musician who writes, arranges, composes and produces, Julie is considered by many to be one of the most important female vocalists of her generation. Deeply influenced by legends such as Abbey Lincoln, Billie Holiday and Nancy Wilson, as well as popular icons such as Omar and Sade, Julie takes classic soul to the heart of artistry.

Julie Dexter's myriad musical manifestations have astounded fans and critics across the globe. Over the past seven years Julie's career has taken her through the circles of jazz, broken-beat, bossa-nova, and soul.

The dynamic voice of Julie Dexter was first heard in 1997 on Dune Records' release of J-Life, a UK group led by Jason Yarde, that sought to invigorate the public concept of Jazz as a dying tradition. While this debut recording showcased original instrumental compositions and stirring renditions of jazz standards, it also contained a swinging cover of Loose Ends' hit song "Gonna Make You Mine," which amply featured the soulful croon of Julie Dexter.

Julie gained her “chops” for cutting her vocals on this record by touring several continents with jazz wunderkind Courtney Pine as a lead vocalist of his ensemble. This musical school of tough-love learning would also give her the confidence to begin to perform and record as a solo artist, garnering the seven song EP, Peace of Mind (2000) and then later the full-length recording, Dexterity (2002), both of which were independently released on her own label, Ketch A Vibe.

These two recordings gained international acclaim for Julie's talents in addition to her collaborations with broken-beat innovator IG Culture ("The Plan" & "Free As") Da Lata founder Chris Franck ("Burning") and bossa nova composer Thomas Naim ("Like Ours").

For the past four years Julie Dexter has spent the millennium sharing the stage with this generation's cutting-edge soul artists, including Jill Scott, Bilal, Amel Larrieux, Donnie, Omar, Jaguar, Rachelle Ferrell, and Fertile Ground, to name a few.

While Julie Dexter is more than able to hold up against her peers, her music has also been praised by them. In time the world will hold Julie Dexter in the same regards as those stellar artists who regard her well."

UK Music: Jazz & Insights With Soweto Kinch

Soweto Kinch
(See main website and myspace)

I'll let these clips radiate the energy... Enjoy!!!

A Poet Called Benjamin Zephaniah

The British
by Benjamin Zephaniah

Take some Picts, Celts and Silures
And let them settle,
Then overrun them with Roman conquerors.

Remove the Romans after approximately 400 years
Add lots of Norman French to some
Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, then stir vigorously.

Mix some hot Chileans, cool Jamaicans, Dominicans,
Trinidadians and Bajans with some Ethiopians, Chinese,
Vietnamese and Sudanese.

Then take a blend of Somalians, Sri Lankans, Nigerians
And Pakistanis,
Combine with some Guyanese
And turn up the heat.

Sprinkle some fresh Indians, Malaysians, Bosnians,
Iraqis and Bangladeshis together with some
Afghans, Spanish, Turkish, Kurdish, Japanese
And Palestinians
Then add to the melting pot.

Leave the ingredients to simmer.

As they mix and blend allow their languages to flourish
Binding them together with English.

Allow time to be cool.

Add some unity, understanding, and respect for the future,
Serve with justice
And enjoy.

Note: All the ingredients are equally important.
Treating one ingredient better than another will leave a bitter unpleasant taste.

Warning: An unequal spread of justice will damage the people and cause pain.
Give justice and equality to all.

About Benjamin Zephaniah
(See website)

Activist. Vegan. Poet. Writer. And More! One of my first influences of poetry and the power of words in the UK came from him and he is among one of the well-known UK creatives in Black British culture. Here are a few clips of a long inner-view...

... See all parts of the interview

"Birmingham's dreadlocked bard Benjamin Zephaniah is blessed with a verbal musicality inspired by his Caribbean heritage. His work addresses global issues such as racism, animal cruelty and the need for greater social justice, shot through with a rich humour, drawing on rap and dub rhythms, that make his poetry accessible to children and perennially popular in schools.

Born in Birmingham in 1958, Zephaniah divided his early years between the district of Handsworth and the tropics of Jamaica. He left school aged 13 unable to read or write, but within two years his lyrical commentaries won him a strong following and, in 1979, he moved to London. His first collection Pen Rhythm was published in 1980 by a small co-operative publisher. He attracted wider public interest through performances at political gatherings and his many television appearances throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Zephaniah has branched out in to other literary forms, including plays and novels such as Refugee Boy (2001). He was the first to perform with The Wailers following Bob Marley's death, and at Nelson Mandela's request, Zephaniah hosted the President's Two Nations concert at the Royal Albert Hall in July 1996.

In 2003 Zephaniah famously refused an OBE for his contribution to literature with the words "OBE me? Up yours", at the time telling to The Guardian (read article) that he feels "profoundly anti-empire".

British Black Music Month! Tuning Into Adisa "The Verbalizer"

Celebrating British Black Music Month!
There is such a wonderful raw creative energy in the UK, especially at this time... I will be posting up more artists from the UK this month... stay tuned!


Here is a spoken word artist I came across a few years ago while tuning into Colourful Radio online station when I heard "Poetry Revolution". I feel a lot of what he says reflects positivity and reality...


Visit Adisa's MySpace Page for more inspirational words!