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)

 

What is Kwanzaa?

www.tauheedahmichelle.michelebarard.com

What is Kwanzaa? A lot of people, mostly African Americans ask this question. Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community, and culture.... African American culture. There are seven Kwanzaa Principles, or Nguzo Saba. The first principle is Umoja, which means Unity. Under this principle we come together and celebrate the importance of family, community, our black nation and race. The second principle is Kujichagulia, or Self Determination. We as a people define who and what we are for ourselves. The third principle is Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility. The goal is to build and maintain our community together and be our brothers and sisters keeper, and solve our problems together. The fourth Kwanzaa principle is Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics. We build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and  profit from them together. The fifth principle is Nia, or Purpose. Under this principle we learn and exercise the importance of applying ourselves to a higher purpose, and to build and develop our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. The sixth principle is Kuumba, Creativity. We focus on bringing beauty and ideas into fruition. The goal is to manifest and leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Last but not least, is Imani. Imani means Faith. We have faith in ourselves, our parents and elders, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. I started celebrating Kwanzaa a couple of years ago. The more I learn, the more I grow and the better the celebration. As an author I always give my children and grandchildren books. Even when I celebrated Christmas books were a gift that I gave to them. Kwanzaa encourages giving books and handmade purposeful gifts. Kwanzaa celebrations are growing amongst black people. More people are waking up and realizing the commercialism and paganism of Christmas. Kwanzaa teaches us to honor who we are and think for ourselves. We don't need other groups to define us and tell us who to be. We are to determine these things for ourselves. Kwanzaa is a cultural experience. During the seven days of Kwanzaa we are charged to remember, reflect, and recommit to our highest values as individuals and as a people. Let's turn inward and prepare ourselves and families for the coming year. 

We Are More Than Enough

I didn't have to go to school to become a relationship EXpert. All I had to do was live and EXperience them. I write poetry books and relationship books about my own life experiences. I choose to write about what I know. I have experienced love and loss, and most of the time I've experienced both from the same person. I have been in a physically abusive marriage, and I've been in an emotionally abusive marriage. I have come in contact with soulmates, and I finally physically met my twin flame. In the twin flame union I've experienced immense love and passion, but also great pain. Throughout the most significant relationships in my life, even those with family members I began to lose part of myself. I wanted to make everyone happy at the expense of my own happiness. As a Leo I'm a very giving person and sometimes I give too much of myself. In the past I have changed myself to conform with other people's idea or image of me.

A couple of years ago I did some soul searching and some soul work to find ME, and what really makes me happy. I found that I AM: a healer, an empath, spiritual, and I AM MORE THAN ENOUGH!. I'm more than enough just the way I am, love me or leave me. Today I don't change to make others happy, I change and work on for me. I AM beautiful in all of my Godly glory. I found God on the inside of me(something religion never taught me). I've started eating more plant based meals, exercising, yoga, sage smudging, and meditating. I use essential oils and herbs instead of medicine for healing. I LOVE ME! I KNOW that I AM more than enough for whatever relationship, job, person. We are enough!