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)

 

Midlife Crisis or True Awakening?

Last month I crossed the half a century mark. Yes, I turned 50 years old on August 5th. About 3-4 years before my 50th birthday I began to feel unfulfilled and lost. I was seeking for answers in church and the Bible but found no solution to my problem. I started to seek within myself for answers instead.

During this 3-4 year time period I learned a lot about myself. I learned who I am, and who I was born to be. I am now at a point in my life where my focus is to make me happy. Others can be happy in the process, but my focus is now on me. My children are grown, I'm divorced and don't have a husband to cater to. I live life on my terms and do what pleases my soul. I think I look pretty good for my age. I wear what accentuates my body. Some people may feel that some of the things I wear are not appropriate for someone my age but I give no fu@ks.

I recently made the decision to finally live alone, without my children. At the end of this month I will be moving out of the apartment with the now 5 of my 6 children and moving to a 2 bedroom house. I have been looking forward to this for quite some time. It's not so much about getting away from my children as it is about getting away to me. Since I began evolving I don't wear clothes when I'm home, and I don't wear pajamas or a nightgown when I go to bed. I walk around my bedroom in just my panties. I want to walk around my house the same way. I have a vision for this new place of residence. It will be a home of serenity. I'm putting a plant in each room; plants like the spider plant, snake plant, and lavender. There will also be crystals in each room, and a fountain in the living room. I'm looking forward to enjoying the place I call home and pay rent and bills for.

There is so much to live for at 50 and beyond. I'm happy with who I am and who I'm becoming. This new life is about freedom and liberation. It's about finding and being your true, authentic self. I don't care what people think about me and I don't need anyone's approval to do anything. I'm ready to take trips, start more businesses, have awesome sex, and live Unapologetically Ever After. Fifty is the new thirty!

Journey Within

http://www.amazon.com/author/tauheedahmichelle

When I started on the journey to find myself about 4 years ago; I was looking for me. I was on a journey to find out what makes Michelle who she is and what she's becoming. As I have grown on this journey I have learned about my lineage and why I might have gone through some of the things that I experienced.

I learned that on my father's side of the family we share a bloodline to people who are indigenous to this land. A friend of mine has always said that he is indigenous to this country, and his family didn't derive from Africa. My dad has great grandparents who were Cherokee Indians. I agree with my friend that maybe we're not all descendents of Africans or slaves. Some of us are direct descendents of American Indians.

I created a personal alter to manifest the peace and other things I need in my home. I use crystal for healing and different manifestations. There are candles(Chakra), Native Soul Sage and Lavender incense, and a sage bundle. The thing that really topped it off was the photo of my dad's great grandparents that I was able to print from our family page on Facebook. This way I am able to honor my ancestors and their legacy.

I most definitely do not deny my African heritage. I'm sure on either side that somewhere down the line I have ancestors who came from Africa. I proudly wear the titles: queen, goddess, empress. I have learned to channel my inner Egyptian Empress. Khamit (modern day Kemet) is the way of Egypt that means, "Land of black people". I wear the label, "black"; because I am black, I come from the land of black, and black is the beautifulist thing I have ever seen! It's an honor to be black. It's an honor to be indigenous to this land as a black native.

When I began the journey within I was on a spiritual journey to find self. I got a lot more than I bargained for. I learned about my ancestors and why I look the way I do. I am cognizant of the fact that some generational curses could have derived from either side of my family. I am more mindful of how these things play a part in my life and my kid's lives. I understand me better and the choices I make. I overstand that this journey isn't just about me, but being the Black Sheep means I am here to break those generational curses and help create generational wealth.