Changing Direction and Vibrating Higher

My publishing company, Purple Poet Publishing LLC recently published an anthology entitled, "Changing Direction and Vibrating Higher: Telling Our Stories, Evolving, Becoming". In this epic book seven ladies whom I know personally, all tell their stories of life and loss but also stories of purpose and life altering experiences. I woke up one summer morning in July with the title and concept for the book in my head. I had a vision during the night to gather nine ladies at the time to write this awesome book. Two of the young ladies had to bow out of the project gracefully because they had prior responsibilities.

Each lady's story is unique, but they all have a common thread that unites them. Each queen saw her life spiraling out of control and she decided to make a change, or changes to vibrate on a higher frequency. Every living thing emits a vibration, but life and stress can lower our vibrations and we're left feeling sluggish, fatigued, and depressed. With this book I wanted to capture REAL, RAW emotion. The authors of this book hold nothing back. They are transparent as they allow a peak into their struggles, and ultimately their success.

The dictionary defines direction as: a course along which someone or something moves, the course which must be taken in order to reach a destination, a general way in which someone or something develops, and general aim or purpose. Sometimes we may feel like our lives have no direction and we're wandering around aimlessly, lost. There is purpose for your pain! You have the power inside of you to change the course of your life. Meditate, take spiritual baths, get a massage, open up your mind and unlock all of the potential you hold inside.

If you want to read some amazing stories of worth, change, growth, evolving, and becoming then this is the book for you! These ladies don't sugar-coat anything, they tell it like it is. Spirit chose these ladies for such a time as this to tell their stories and yours. Some of you may be living their stories right now. Each experience is idiosyncratic and distinctive to each queen. You may find parts of yourself in each chapter. Let's celebrate life, womanhood, queendom, telling our stories, evolving, and becoming!

Beginning the Vegan Lifestyle

(Wild rice, mock scallops made from King oyster mushrooms)

I began the journey to a vegan lifestyle over 3 years ago. In August of 2017 I stopped eating bacon, the only pork I was still eating at the time. I had given up beef and pork a couple of years prior. In 2015 I began the journey to myself. During the discovery of myself , I researched meats and what eating flesh and foods made from flesh did to the body. I also studied foods of indigenous people and African tribes. My native ancestors and our African ancestors mostly lived off of plants, herbs, berries, and seeds. There are medicine men and women in both cultures that used herbs and plants as medicine as well as food. So many people of color and some of my family members suffer form diabetes and high blood pressure, and I wanted to change the narrative for myself and future generations who spring up out of me.

Veganism isn't just about being healthy, but for me becoming vegan was more spiritual than physical. I stopped eating flesh for my health, but also because of who I was becoming. In order to vibrate at a higher frequency I had to stop eating certain foods. I had to start eating living foods that give life, not dead animals. Some people's reason for becoming vegan is to save the animals, but my reasoning goes much deeper than that. As a spiritualist certain aspects of life are not conducive to me harnessing my gifts and spiritual powers. Eating the right foods opens up your pineal gland (third eye) which allows you to see things clearly and truthfully. Eating flesh and foods made from animals calcifies the pineal gland and clouds your perspective.

Before you begin the journey to veganism it's important to explore your Why. Why do you want to become vegan? I told you my reasons, but each person's Why is different. After you've determined why you want to become vegan, you then need to decide what type of vegan you want to be. Do you want to just be a vegetarian and still eat dairy products, or do you want to become a raw vegan and eat raw uncooked veggies, fruit, nuts,and seeds? For the new vegan it's best to start out simple and explore with new fruits and vegetables. Being vegan doesn't mean you just eat salad or vegetables all of the time. Veganism includes: vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, and seeds. For vegans, vegetables are cooked without meat and vegan or non-dairy items are used in the place of eggs and cheese. Some grains that are popular among vegans are: wild rice, black rice, brown rice, yellow rice, spelt, kamut, and quinoa. Popular seeds for vegans are: chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame, and pumpkin seeds. Nuts to include in a vegan diet are: almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, pine nuts, and hazelnuts. Beans and legumes such as lentils, garbanzo beans, and black beans are great for beginning vegans.

Farmer's Markets or an actual farm are great places to shop if you're vegan. Stores like Sprout's, Whole Foods, and Aldi are excellent for purchasing veggies, fruit, and processed vegan foods. As a new vegan you want to stay away from so much processed food. Brands like Boca, Gardein, Morning Star, and Beyond Meat are okay in moderation, but any type of processed food is not good for you over time. As a new vegan you're looking for ideas and a variety of foods to add to your palette. The vegan lifestyle gives you an opportunity to explore many new foods. Farmer's Markets like Nam Dae Mun offer produce and foods from around the world; you can try new foods you've never heard of before. If you find yourself missing the texture of meat, mushrooms (oyster, portabella, shittake), eggplant, and jackfruit are great substitutions for meat.

Make the transition to veganism your own! It may be easier to slowly ween yourself off of meat by cutting out beef and pork first, followed by chicken and fish. The use of processed vegan foods may be of good use in the beginning. There are many brands of processed vegan foods in the stores; some of my favorite brands are Gardein, Yummy, and Dr. Praeger's. Sprout's brand foods are a great value and taste great too. As a new vegan research lots of foods and decide what is best for you. Tauheedah Michelle and Purple Poet Publishing LLC are launching a vegan cookbook entitled, "Empressive Eats"  to offer help for vegans who are looking for great vegan dishes. I will offer up some of my favorite vegan recipes in this unorthodox cookbook. Be on the lookout for "Empressive Eats", meanwhile I wish you Peace & Blessings on your vegan journey.

(Vegan Lasagna with Spring Salad Mix)

 

The Writer's Block

www.tauheedahmichelle.michelebarard.com
I have been writing books and poetry since I was a child in elementary school. I've even had stories and poems published in books the Atlanta Public Schools used to publish of student's writings. In fourth grade I wrote and put together my very first book, "Smart Frog and Lazy Toad". I wrote the words, drew the pictures, and constructed the book with my own two hands.

In my adulthood I have written several poems. My poem, "Designated Driver" was featured in Nia Magazine last year. I'm planning to do more writing for Nia, and add to them Light Journal and Midnight & Indigo Magazine. Sometimes I get wrapped up in things or people, and I don't write as much as I should. Other times I'm left without a muse or inspiration for writing. My biggest muse and inspiration is my friend/soulmate who has been incarcerated for almost 15 years. He has encouraged me to write and publish. He has also been my inspiration for some of my poems. In my first book, "Tales from My Life, not the Crypt" I dedicated the poem "Dedicated to Hot Chocolate" to him.

Sometimes I get writer's block and just don't have the words to write. I write poetry as the words come to me. When I'm writing a story or self help book, I have to make myself sit down and write. I lay out my points and outline, then proceed from there. It's much easier to write when someone or something is motivating me. I tell interviewers that I really don't have a writing style, I just write what I feel. Writing from experience with heartfelt emotion works best for me!

Peace and Blessings
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What are you reading?

www.tauheedahmichelle.michelebarard.com
On these cold winter nights what books are you cuddling up with? Today I purchased two books, "The Nguzo Saba and the Festival of First Fruits" and "The Essential Oils Hormone Solution: Reclaim Your Energy and Focus and Lose Weight Naturally". I have made Kwanzaa and living by the Nguzo Saba(Kwanzaa Principles) a way of life. Promoting family values and unity is high on my list of priorities. I support black businesses and I am planning to open some with my children this year.

I also purchased a copy of "The Essential Oils Hormone Solution" by Dr. Mariza Snyder. The book teaches women who are menopausal or perimenopausal to bring their hormone levels in check and lose weight using essential oils. Dr. Mariza talks about cravings and metabolism, and how to reset your hormones. I will be adding more books to my collection this year. I will also publish new authors and more of my own books.

Be on the lookout next month for "Black Poetry and Soul Consciousness". The book is a collection of poems and conscious experiences from myself and members of my Facebook group, "Black Poetry and Soul Consciousness". This summer I will debut two more books, which will include my first children's book. The other is a self help book to teach people how to write and journal about their traumatic experiences to promote healing. You can always purchase my books on my websites or Amazon.

Peace and Blessings

An Author's Life

www.tauheedahmichelle.michelebarard.com
On Facebook I manage a poetry group called "Black Poetry And Soul Consciousness". At the end of last year I announced to the group that I was preparing to publish another poetry book, but for this one I enlisted the group's assistance. I broadcast to the group that I was writing a book around the group and would like for them to submit poetry and short stories for the project. My initial purpose for creating the group was to highlight my latest book, "Poetry For Yo Soul" and my life of consciousness. The group has grown to almost 400 members in a year. There are many great poets, authors, and spiritually conscious people in the group. I am very excited about our latest project. Poets who have never been published will have a chance to be published under Purple Poet Publishing LLC. Look for the book to hit the scene in February of this year.

I am also planning the release of two more books just in time for my 50th birthday and Back To School. I'm organizing a big release/birthday party for the books. One book is a self-esteem building book for young black girls with my granddaughter as the main character. In my eyes black is beautiful, and I want to make sure the black girls in my family and my kindergarten class know that! The second book is a self-help book for men and women who have experienced trauma or distressing events. The book teaches people how to therapeutically write and journal to create healing. If you've been following me for any amount of time you know that I use writing and poetry as therapy for my life. Writing is very therapeutic and is great for healing. I am extremely ecstatic about all three books and their launching. I'm expecting these books to catapult my author career to the next level.

Peace and Blessings Kings and Queens, and Happy New Year.... Happy Reading!