Ambrosia

In ancient mythology, Ambrosia (Greek αμβροσία, Αμβροσία ) is sometimes the food, sometimes the drink, of the gods. The word has generally been derived from Greek a- ("not") and mbrotos ("mortal"); hence the food or drink of the immortals. The classical scholar Arthur Woollgar Verrall, however, denied that there is any clear example in which the word ambrosios necessarily means immortal, and preferred to explain it as "fragrant," a sense which is always suitable. If so, the word may be derived from the Semitic MBR ("amber", compare "ambergris") to which Eastern nations attribute miraculous properties. In Europe, honey-colored amber, sometimes far from its source, was already a grave gift in Neolithic times and was still worn in the 7th century AD as a talisman by druidic Frisians, though St Eligius warned "No woman should presume to hang amber from her neck." W. H. Roscher thinks that both nectar and ambrosia were kinds of honey, in which case their power of conferring immortality would be due to the supposed healing and cleansing power of honey, and because fermented honey (mead) preceded wine as an entheogen in the Aegean world: the Great Goddess of Crete on some Minoan seals had a bee face: compare Merope and Melissa.

Kaua’i, The Island Of Wellness And Rejuvenation

On Kaua‘i, the oldest major island of Hawai‘i, the mana is inescapable. Meaning spiritual power in Hawaiian, mana is a quality felt and sometimes seen on Kaua‘i, palpable in the visual beauty of the landscape, the quality of air and ocean, and the interplay of natural elements that invigorate, relax, and rejuvenate.

In a recent study, 97 percent of visitors surveyed said their time on Kaua‘i provided rejuvenation and relaxation. No doubt this is due to the combination of environment, spa professionals, and traditions found throughout the island.


Consider the environment: There is no building higher than a coconut tree. Streams and rivers, including the only navigable rivers in Hawai‘i, contribute endless opportunities for recreation and the enjoyment of beauty. Fifty miles of white-sand shoreline offer more beaches per mile than any other major Hawaiian island. Glorious upland parks and canyons feed the body, mind, and soul. Garden, mountain, and oceanside settings create ideal conditions for nurturance at all levels.


Into this environment come luxurious resort spas and day spas offering Asian, American, European, and Polynesian treatments. And centers and facilities with well-trained professionals in everything from

HEALING THE EARTH

We are very much part of the Earth, on a physical and a subtle level, so the health of ourselves and the Earth are very connected. The work we do with the Earth Mother helps us with our own healing and with the healing of those around us. Our bodies have meridians and an auric field, and so too does the Earth. The Earth's meridians are known as leylines or energy lines. These lines pass through sacred sites and places of power - energy vortexes which resemble the acupoints and chakras within our subtle body. These lines and vortexes are patterns within the Earth's energy field, which can be compared to our own auric field.

Earth healing is not about trying to heal a being that is much vaster than ourselves. It is about healing ourselves. All of us are, along with the animals, vegetables, minerals, liquids, and gases, a collective planetary being.

We can all be a part of that healing and by doing so, help in healing the Earth Mother. All that is required is your conscious, focused attention on healing. She will respond by expanding, becoming clearer and realigning. The work we do with the Earth Mother will often cause birds to sing where they haven't before (story below), vegetation will grow more, and there will be an increase in social harmony. Through focused thought or meditation, we can also radiate positive energies outwards to help uplift the consciousness of all beings - locally and globally. We can make a difference.

Please lend your energy by simply saying a prayer or focusing your energy on the healing of the Earth in general and specific sites in particular. Your intent to help is what is important.

Quick story to illustrate how the Earth Mother and all living things react to our intent. Recently, my Cherokee language class was invited to a local audabon site to sing in Cherokee at the dedication of the new swinging bridge, and to honor the land and all its inhabitants. Before we began to sing, it was unusually quiet, no birds, no wind, nothing. Shortly after we started singing, there were birds singing all around us, and as I looked up, there were two red-tailed hawks circling above. They were happy and were honoring the ceremony. I was very moved by it, as were the others. I just wanted to share that.

Simple Tips to Cure Your Acne Naturally

Wash twice a day with acne soap - You should wash your face twice a day with a sulfur based soap designed for acne. Once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night. Be extremely gentle to your skin when washing - do not scrub or use any sort of rough cloth. Overwashing your skin will actually stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, thus increasing your acne

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Keep your hair off your face - If you have long hair or bangs, pull your hair off your face. Your hair contains oils as well, and will contribute to your breakouts. You'll also want to wash your hair everyday and after workouts

Take a potent multi-vitamin - Acne can be a sign that something is wrong on the inside. Your skin depends on nutrition. It is a vital organ that is usually neglected. If your body is not receiving the right nutrition, it will fight back. One common way it will rebel is to produce excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria (see Acne Prevention Vitamins)

Include chromium in your diet - Chromium is well known for weight loss diets. But it is also excellent for healing infections on the skin. Taking a chromium supplement once a day will help heal your pimples quickly and prevent future breakouts.

Eat carrots for beta-carotene (Vitamin A) - Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production. This vitamin is essential for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne?

Avoid wearing makeup - Leaving makeup products on your skin only contributes to clogging your pores, causing more pimples and blackheads. If you feel you must wear makeup, be sure it is water-based.

Do not pick or squeeze your blackheads and pimples - As tempting as it may be, do not squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads. Do any of these actions, actually increases the sebum production. Plus, when you squeeze, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.

Wash your pillow case every other day - Your face lays on your pillow case every day. Your pillow case absorbs the oils from your skin and reapplies the dirt and oil. Thus causing breakouts. Keep your sheets and pillow cases clean.

Eat foods rich in zinc - Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin. A diet low in zinc can actually cause acne breakouts.

Skin Healing

Over the last ten years, I have frequently consulted African Americans on a number of skin related problems such as sensitive skin, excessive oiliness, acne, spotting and tonal unevenness, ashiness, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, boils and athlete's foot.  Some people just wanted a "quick fix".  Others, still having to see themselves in the mirror each morning, were not happy about what they saw.

   Skin eruptions of any kind is nature's way of getting our attention when we're off wandering in the wilderness.  According to African holistic principles, most skin eruptions are caused by eating poor food combinations, animal meat, denatured foods, bleached flours, dairy,  white sugar and from chemicals contained in commercial cosmetics, to name a few.  All of these things create congestion and toxins in the body.

   The skin is not just a covering to hold bones and muscles together.  The skin is actually the largest elimination system that the body has and it communicates to us.  Almost everything that we see happening to us, on the surface level, is reflective of a condition going on inside.

   Through holistic health science, we know that each cell in the body has intelligence and memory.  If we stop putting the poisons in the body that are causing the problems and nutritionally-support the weakened system while it repairs itself, then most of the time we can reverse the damage that we've done.  The same principle must be applied to the skin.

   You have probably heard the age-old saying, "you are what you eat."  But we are also what we wear, what we breathe, and what we think.  The thoughts we think, etch themselves on our face because they affect our water soluble vitamins and many of our minerals very quickly.  It's hard to think or feel negative emotions without affecting your B vitamins and your potassium levels. When potassium and sodium levels are out of balance, deep lines start to appear on the ears, cheeks and forehead.

   There are basically two general types of skin diseases according to Yorubic medicine: Oshun imbalance and Ogun imbalance.  Oshun imbalance is the result of a overload of the eliminative systems especially those affecting the kidneys, colon, and liver networks throughout the Orisha modes.  This theory is also in agreement with the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine utilizing Yin and Yang polarities in the body.  If we consume too much animal protein, there will be a buildup of urea and other toxic wastes, which does not allow the kidneys to satisfactorily discharge the toxins.  If white sugar is added to the diet, it will precipitate a too active discharge resulting in skin eruptions.