Astrological Gemstones – Sun Sign Crystals + What they Mean

As humans, we feel the need to understand + evaluate ourselves and each other on a daily basis. Our self awareness is what sets us apart from so many other beings in this world, and we are fascinated by it. I have long been interested in the Zodiac signs and their amazing ability to discern personalities and events based solely on birth dates. Recently, I have seen more and more people like me have started connecting with the universe and wanting to find out as much information as possible.

After thorough research, I learned that each of our Sun Sign’s have specific power gemstones that lend to our unique traits. Below is what I was able to gather. Remember, although these are suggestions on how you can better harness the power of your Sun Sign, gemstones + crystals often choose us before we choose them. Don’t discard a gemstone that you feel a connection with just because it is not listed with your sun sign. We all have our own paths.

Aries Power Gemstones:

With your ruling planet being Mars, you have a spark + fire that is uniquely distinguishable from the other signs. You are a pioneer and find excitement in competition. Although you do not quake at the idea of being assertive, you take great pride in your integrity—especially when it comes to your passions. As an Aries, you are independent, fearless, courageous, and a natural leader. Moreover, you are proud to have these qualities, and because of this it is important for you to de-stress and relax so that you can prominently be at your best. You find that you have a tendency to put an enormous amount of pressure on yourself, and it is easy to get caught in that if you do not take the time to pause and recharge.

To make the most of these impressive traits for yourself and for your presence in a crowd, we suggest you turn to your power gemstones for enhancement. The three best stones for Aries are Carnelian, Citrine, and Garnet. Carnelian is a reddish-orange stone is gives off a strong presence and lends to your intuition. Citrine is a yellow stone and has long been used for power in manifesting dreams and desires by connecting with your intentions. Garnet is deep red in color and ensures you reach your maximum potential by enhancing your personal and professional performance. Tiny Devotions has several mala beads and adornments that are perfectly suited for the Aries manifester.

Pisces Power Gemstones:

Neptune is your ruling planet, which correlates to your selfless, empathetic, and compassionate personality. By nature, you want to take care of others and often put yourself on the line to do so. Despite some people’s tendency to exploit your desire to help, you persevere and rarely ask for things in return. Often, you are creative and innovative. In the circumstances that you are not you have a unique ingenuity to make up for it. Unfortunately, as an empath, you are sometimes vulnerable to others negative energy or outlooks. They may drain you or effect a situation you are in significantly.

To protect yourself from this and to heighten your innovative traits, we suggest for you to find a way to connect with your Pisces Birthstone, Aquamarine. This gemstone can counter negativity + can deepen your own insights without being influenced by others. Aquamarine can also thin the veil between you and any resentments you may have harbored towards others or yourself, leading you down a road of forgiveness and a healthier mind. Another strong gemstone for Pisces is Amethyst. This purple and clear crystal can strengthen your spirituality, calm your anxiety, and bring you mental peace when used regularly.

 

Aquarius Power Gemstones:

As an Aquarius, those close to you know that you are a true original. You engage with the company around you in a way that makes them feel at ease and listened to. Since you tend to self-reflect and evaluate, you are sometimes uncertain how others perceive you. You don’t have anything to worry about though. The people that are lucky enough to be in your circle appreciate your energy, thoughtfulness, and (sometimes) bizarre humor. You are independent and your uniqueness is nearly rebellious. You are a free-spirit and do not conform to the norm.

With these incredible traits in mind, there is some stubbornness to you as well. You have a clear of idea of how you want things to go which sometimes conflicts with other strong personalities. We recommend you keep your power gemstones with you to ease these times. Aquamarine resonates with you highly due to its alluring light blue color and water qualities. This gemstone can be used to help you connect with your community and family values. It can also be used to call upon your forgiveness As an Aquarius, sometimes you find that you feel hurt or betrayed, and it hits you harder than most. Jasper is also very useful to you in this sense, as it is known to help you cope with old wounds that may still haunt you. Your Aquarius birthstone, amethyst, is also incredibly effective in the healing process. Amethyst is a favorite for many and can be used for an abundance of spiritual needs. Claim this beautiful birthstone and use it to balance your body + spirit, while looking gorgeous doing so.

 

Capricorn Power Gemstones:

Your traits are true to your sign, the goat: Ambitious, driven, practical, and helpful. The people that know you would say that they have the most appreciation for your strength, stability, and your unwavering support. You have many desirable traits, which sometimes makes others jealous of you. Although you typically react to this modestly, sometimes you are angered by others behavior.

The best way to enhance your already heavenly attributes would be with your power gemstone, Azurite. This stone has been known to stimulate your own divinity. To practice this, find a way to carry this gemstone with you and enter a situation that would normally make you uncomfortable. You will find that your heart is more open than usual, and it is easier to accept others. Garnet is also a fantastic gemstone for you. As a Capricorn, Garnet is your birthstone, and you find yourself naturally drawn to this deep red stone. When worn, it will rejuvenate your chakras, your spirit, and is the most likely to manifest the blessings you have been wishing for.

 

Sagittarius Power Gemstones:

As a Sagittarius, you are well known for your consistent enthusiasm, optimism, and your honesty. Highly praised for these traits, they can also hinder your own personal happiness while you are feeding off your desire to bring happiness to whoever you are with. You find yourself sometimes restless and anxious. This is caused by your naturally high energy vibrations, but you do not let it impact you for long. People may often tell you that they are inspired by your free spirit and your fearlessness when introduced to an opportunity. Though this may be true, you find that you are always looking for a new adventure, which can feel like discontentment at times.

You have a powerful presence and can influence others. To build on this, we recommend you connect with your Birthstone, Turquoise. This attractive blue gemstone is powerful in itself and can help you as a Sagittarius is a meaningful way. This stone will enhance your natural intuition and solidify happiness with yourself. It is the perfect tool regardless of whatever adventure or challenge may be on the horizon. Bronzite can act as a catalyst for change and can aide in deciphering your true desires versus impulses. If you are hoping for change, Citrine, is an excellent choice. This light-yellow stone shows the universe that you are ready for the next phase or need help in your current circumstances. Any of your power gemstones are important for amplifying your strengths and balancing your shortcomings.

 

Scorpio Power Gemstones:

Anyone that has met you can tell that you have a powerful presence. Your energy is fierce with passion and loyalty. You are accountable, independent, and have strong opinions. As a Scorpio, you are not afraid to demonstrate these qualities in your everyday life. When you put your mind to something, nothing can stop you. Your impenetrable drive bulldozes over any obstacle! At times you feel like a perfectionist and can sometimes get carried away with your passions. Although no one can deny your proficiency in many areas of work due to these qualities.

Your Sun Sign is associates with the element water. You possess calming attributes of the sea but can also bring the force of a hurricane. Many say that you steadily flow in the middle of these two states of being. Your Scorpio crystals can assist you in many ways depending on what you are looking for. When you find yourself stuck in anger, citrine, amethyst, and malachite can bring in peace + tranquility. Citrine is an especially powerful crystal for you because it heightens feelings of joy, hopefulness, and serenity. Malachite is known to take negativity energy and create positive energy which is idea for emotional duress. Amethyst will be the most beneficial for when you need to get yourself out of hurricane mode. It will lend its power to the calm of the sea that resides within you.

 

Libra Power Gemstones:

As a Libra, you are known among your friends + family to be balanced and incredible at expressing an objective point of view in times of conflicts. Libra’s are associated with the scales which explains your desire for compromise and negotiation over conflict. This non-confrontational instinct is a prominent trait for the Libra, but associated with the element of air, you are also not afraid to stand up for what’s right. You are sociable, charming, loyal, and thoughtful. Your friends appreciate your listening ear and insight. Many say you have a way with words and your advice is highly sought after.

While these are admirable traits, you may also suffer negative effects from this strong moral and objective compass. Indecisiveness can make you feel guilty because you have a need to consider all sides of things. This leads to a delay in your decision making and can make you impatient with yourself. We suggest that you connect with your power gemstone, Lapis Lazuli to help combat this. This deep blue gemstone aides in feeling confident in commitments and decisions. Citrine can also be very helpful to the Libra as it can promote optimism and a balanced state of mind. Lastly, labradorite is excellent in clearing your mind, cleansing your aura, and lends a shield of protection.

 

Virgo Power Gemstones:

The Mermaid of the Earth, the Virgo is a connected to nature and water in a way that is unique from other Sun Signs. You are grateful for the beauty around you and are known to find appreciation in the small things that some may not see. Radiating compassion, you are selfless, kind, caring, and intelligent. Your friends + family appreciate the light you bring to any room you enter and would say that you find the good in everyone. Negative traits of this water sign include being reserved, often with your walls up when interacting with people. This does hinder you in some ways, and you wonder after a conversation how you came off to the other person. However, it also makes the people you have let beyond those walls feel special and prized. Self-preservation can be considered a negative and a positive, but mostly you feel it is the latter.

Both your nurturing, loving side and your reserved side can be helped with your power gemstones. The perfect gemstone to ground yourself with and enhance your confidence is Jasper. Kyanite brings protection which makes you feel less inclined to have your walls up so high. Jade is your true power gemstone, as it can open your heart without exposing yourself too much, and it has been said by many sources to attract abundance, prosperity, and happiness. At the same time, Jade is a wonderful tool in centering yourself and understanding your own needs while you tend to focus so much on others.

 

Leo Power Gemstones:

Leo, your sign is considered masculine among the other signs due to your strength in character and in personality. You are bold, regal, and have an enormous heart. The people lucky enough to be close to you appreciate your artistic mind, charm, and energy. Many would argue that the Leo is the most sociable of all the signs, although not always easy to get along with. Your energy vibrates high which draws people to you, but you are not often prepared to reciprocate the attraction.

Your charms and creativity make you a crowd pleaser by nature, and your power gemstones can increase this trait even more for you as well as bring you prosperity, luck, and fortune. Garnet is known to fuel the inner fire for the Leo and is a deep shade of red. Tiger’s Eye, much like the Lion, is unique, fierce, and lends to the leader you were born to be. Carnelian is also suitable for you if you are on the more creative side because it charges you own inner strengths and stimulates creativity. Enjoy the bountiful life has to offer you, Leo!

 

Cancer Power Gemstones:

Some people say that the Cancer is exactly like the crab that it represents: Hard on the outside, and goo in the middle! It is no secret that you are the most nurturing and sentimental of all the signs. However, not everyone gets to see this side of you. In fact, you keep it under very close wraps until you feel that the person is worthy of the best version of yourself. This is a strategic and intelligent move, but also leaves a lot of people that have come into your life wondering about you. You are intelligent, easy-going, adaptive, and loving. Everyone that is close to you knows it was worth the initial struggle to get to know you.

With so much going on in your mind, there are a few power gemstones that you would benefit the most from. Moonstone is connected directly to the moon and is known to lend the moon’s energy and protection to the wearer. Jasper is essential for enhancing your endurance, overcoming adversity, and sharpening the mind. Abalone shell is connected to the changing tides and emotions of the sea, which responds to your naturally empathetic personality.

 

Gemini Power Gemstones:

Gemini, you are naturally playful and have a young heart. People would say you find fun in almost every circumstance. As you know, there are two sides to you, and people better be careful not to get on the wrong one! Often gorgeous and magnetic, others find themselves envious of what you have and your high-spirited attitude. You are also known to vigilantly seek the truth and explore your curiosities. You have found that you are talented in many different ways and want to expand upon those talents whenever able.

To connect with the curious and ambitious side of you, we recommend wearing Jade. This gemstone disintegrates negativity and introduces peace, balance, and good fortune. Quartz would also be helpful because of its ability to connect with your spiritual side. Carnelian is your third power gemstone, which helps the wearer feel joyous and powerful. Any of these gemstones are sure to enrich your life, Gemini.

 

Taurus Power Gemstones:

Ah, the Taurus. You are well known for your stubbornness, patience, and determination. You are set in your ways and don’t much care for how others perceive things. You prefer a slow-paced life, where you can remain calm and level-headed in most circumstances. You are very anti-drama and could do without it all together. At the same time, you also greatly enjoy group projects and tasks. You feel a sense of accomplishment when working with like-minded individuals, which makes you a tremendous asset at your place of work. In love, you feel you are at your best, but you also don’t mind being single because you don’t have to worry about getting hurt. Your mind is strategic, and you like to have a plan in place before going into something new.

Your power gemstones and crystals can give you the power to connect with yourself in new ways and tackle any obstacle. Peridot is a lime green precious gemstone. It feeds off of positivity and can bring good things to new heights. Carnelian lends energy to you and can help you move forward from a bad situation. Pyrite is the best stone for the Taurus, as it is said to bring abundance in wealth, health, and love. With your hard work and perseverance, any of these gemstones can benefit you, Taurus.

 

For gemstones, mala beads, and crystals with your birthstone visit our sister site here.

Superbowl Vegan Recipe: Green Dream Hummus

Green Dream Hummus

No Superbowl party is complete without chips + dip! This year though, skip out on the processed dip from the store + whip up this incredibly wholesome rendition of homemade hummus. It’s as simple as making a quick smoothie and features the ultra nourishing powers of Green Dream, a detoxifying blend of organic maca, mesquite, hemp powder, chia seeds, vanilla, and spirulina—an antioxidant-rich, blue-green algae that is packed with protein, minerals, and vitamins!

Gather This: 
  • 1 can cooked chickpeas (drained)
  • 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon Green Dream Superfood + Protein Blend
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • fresh parsley or dill (for garnish)
Do This: Combine ingredients in a blender or food processor + blend until smooth. Garnish with fresh parsley and dill (we also added some turmeric for healthy color!) Enjoy with pita bread, veggies, or your favorite wholesome crackers!

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About Sophie: 
Sophie Jaffe is a Los Angeles-based health and wellness expert, who is certified as a raw food chef and yoga teacher. Sophie founded her company and wellness brand, Philosophie, with the goal of making it easier, more inspiring, and more delicious to attain optimal health and radiant wellness.

Through her holistic approach to wellbeing, Sophie has learned that total wellbeing begins with total nourishment, which is why she created her unique line of cleanses and superfood products. These healing products have helped everyone from George Clooney to Sophie’s own dad, and have become essential components in the lives of thousands more.

When Sophie isn’t crafting revolutionary products from the world’s most potent superfoods, she is sharing her insights on how to live a life full of unbounded energy, bliss, and balance on the Philosophie blog and savoring every moment with her two beautiful children and loving husband.

http://www.thephilosophie.com

Clean Quinoa Salad

tiny-devotions-mala-beadsYou know that feeling when you know you really like something (enter quinoa), but when it comes down to making it you’re overwhelmed by all of the options. Well this is me when it comes to two things, quinoa and kale. Between Google, Pinterest, and Instagram, I literally can’t choose a recipe! It gets me every time, but this week I decided to call it quits and make this Quinoa, Black Bean, and Mango Salad from The Best Mexican Recipes cookbook. I don’t know about Mexican, but I do know that this was a major win over at TheWholeTara.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1½ cups prewashed white quinoa
  • 2¼ cups water
  • Salt and pepper
  • 5 Tbsp lime juice (3 limes)
  • ½ jalapeño chile, chopped
  • ¾ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ? cup cilantro leaves
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 mango, chopped
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed
  • 2 scallion, sliced thin
  • 1 avocado, sliced
tiny-devotions-mala-beads
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Toast quinoa in large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often, until quinoa makes popping sound, around 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in water and ½ tsp salt and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until water has been mostly absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 20 minutes.
  2. Process lime juice, jalapeño, cumin, and 1 tsp salt in blender until jalapeño is finely chopped, about 15 seconds. Add oil and cilantro and process until smooth.
  3. Add bell pepper, mango, beans, scallions, and dressing to cooled quinoa and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and top with avocado.
Written by Tara Milhem. Tara has a Bachelor’s Degree in Food and Nutrition and is a board certified holistic health coach, registered yoga instructor, and published author. Tara is the creator of The Whole Tara where she shares her talents as a recipe developer, food stylist, and food photographer. She pairs her nutrition knowledge and culinary techniques to develop whole recipes that are not only a beautiful addition to the kitchen table, but will also become lifelong household staples. Follow Tara on social @TheWholeTara and visit her website here for more.

Foolproof Breakfast: Overnight Oats

DSC_0269I’ve never been a breakfast person. Breakfast, prior to the whole gluten debate was once a highly contested subject. Over and over I’ve heard the countless arguments in favor of the meal, but still I struggled to have anything more than a coffee and a banana in the morning. And by banana I mean that I’ve frequently used one as a utensil to eat my Nutella with, but I digress. It’s always been this way. I remember in grade school our teacher used to ask us what we had for breakfast and the crunchy granola kids would always run down their balanced breakfasts, which in comparison made my Boston Cream Donut sound worrisome. But at last, I’ve found a solution to breakfast: Overnight Oats. They require very little effort, taste like a treat, and are good for you. Best of all, look like they stepped out of a Lauren Conrad Pinterest post.

DSC_0262


Ingredients:
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1 Banana
Dry Oats
Unsweetened Coconut Shavings
Cinnamon
Honey (or Agave)

 

Directions:
Literally toss all of the above into a cute mason jar and let it sit over night in the fridge. Okay fine, you don’t have to use a cute mason jar, but I know most of you will. Hashtag breakfast!

Written by Nina Sijakov.

10 Ways to Get-Over a Break-Up

If this article caught your attention, chances are you’re part of the heartbreak club (HC for short). Congratulations! We’ve all got tattoos and secret handshakes.

sad-hippie-breeze But in all seriousness, being part of the club really sucks–at first. I feel sick thinking back to that period of my life where I vacillated between feeling numb, vacant–like a shell of a human being, and feeling shattered, wounded, disbelieving that I might ever heal my physically excruciating heart. And don’t even get me started on the anxiety, anger, or suicidal thoughts (yes, that’s normal). Or the insomnia. Or the inability to do anything. Anyhow, I could go on, but given that you probably know what it’s like, here are some tips for getting over it the yogi fashionista way.

1) Find a balance between grieving and distracting 
When we experience heartbreak, we’re going through grief, and grief mimics depression. It’s natural to lose concentration and motivation, experience disruptions in sleep and appetite, and feel like you’re functioning at 20%. The only way out of grief is through, but you can’t do that 24/7. As a result, it’s important to find a balance between distracting yourself from the pain, and going through the pain.

If you distract yourself from the grief 24/7, you won’t adjust to what’s actually going on. Grieving happens naturally, so you don’t necessarily have to structure. However, sometimes having some structure can help temper the process. Here are some ideas for “actively” grieving:

  • Throw on some Adele, Whitney, or Leona and dance (or lie on the floor and cry—both work!)
  • Get a big poster board and some paint, and throw down your emotions in whatever form they take (do it for the process, not the product)
  • Write how you’re feeling: write poetry, write your story (again, process, not product)
  • Talk to a therapist, a friend, a parent
  • Pay attention to your dreams. We generally grieve through them..
  • Do yoga and breathe through the sticky spots, pain, and blockages, physically and emotionally

2) Change up your environment and make new memories
I remember a freshly heartbroken friend telling me she’d taken part in a biathalon the previous weekend. Surprised, given biathalons aren’t exactly common weekend activities, even in Canada, she said “It’s now one memory that doesn’t involve Aaron.” Transitioning out of a relationship is very challenging when every memory you have–every part of your identity–is tied to your former. If you can afford it, travel. Join a team. Take up a new hobby. Start volunteering somewhere. Start making memories that aren’t tied to them. Similarly, change up your environment if you can. If moving is totally unrealistic, change your bedroom around. Throw away reminders. If you aren’t ready to throw them away, put the pics and jewellery and whatever else into a box and ask a friend if you can store it at their place. Or store it in your closet and tape it up. That way, you can choose to look through it if you’re feeling particularly ready to take that step in the grieving process. Either way, being surrounded by reminders is not helpful for the process.

3) Find validation for your story
In the midst of my pain of the breakup of ’11, I asked everyone I met if they’d been heartbroken before. If their answer was yes, I asked them to tell me the story. I asked my friends and family members the gory details of their stories (there’s always a worse one out there…), but I didn’t stop there. Cashier at Whole Foods? Sure. Bartender? Why not? And what did I learn? Our club is pretty inclusive. Billions of people out there have been through it, survived it, and will often tell you it’s the best thing that ever happened to them. So ask people to tell you their stories and tell them yours (although maybe be more selective than me when deciding who to tell…or at least skip the Whole Foods cashier unless there’s no line).

Other ways to find validation for your story? Speak to a therapist. Listen to songs about heartbreak. Empathize with your own feelings.

4) Make friends with your emotions
I distinctly remember the morning I decided to stop telling sadness to “Eff off.” I’d just woken up, from yet another dream that I was back together with said heartbreaker, and I’d experienced that familiar sinking, sickening feeling that accompanied my sobering reality. I felt so weak. So tired of fighting my painful feelings. I sighed and actually said out loud, “Hello, Sadness.” There’s a poem called “The Guesthouse” that I often think of when I’m feeling difficult emotions. Couched in Buddhist philosophy, it suggests that we invite all our emotions in–the good, the neutral, and the bad. We don’t judge them. We serve them all tea. We let them stick around and do their thing because, realistically, telling them to leave doesn’t work anyway. Now, you might not get to a point where you actually befriend sadness, or anger, or regret, or whatever it is that you’re feeling, but do try to make space for it. Acknowledge it. Sit with it. Breathe into it. Practise self-compassion while you explore it. It will come and it will go.

5) Connect with others
When we experience the ultimate rejection that is heartbreak, our self-esteem takes a major hit. I remember one of the first things I did was make a consultation for breast implants and a nose job. Because…that was why he left me, right? It’s natural to feel underconfident, insecure, and undesirable following the big break. Even though you might not exactly feel spritely, try to go against your instinct to isolate, and surround yourself with others. It’s important for you to be reminded just how awesome, worthy, and loveable you are. Each hangout doesn’t have to be a therapy session. Just be in the company of others.

 6) Find Meaning
This is a really tough one to enact right away. You won’t be able to find meaning in your suffering until you begin to experience happiness and positivity again. Until you begin to say things like, “if Voldemort hadn’t broken up with me, this (positive thing) wouldn’t have happened/I wouldn’t have learned (enlightening knowledge). If your heartbreak is fresh, just trust that down the road, you WILL be able to find meaning. Heartbreak is one of the great (almost) universal experiences, and it’s in this suffering that we learn, grow, develop, and become more whole human beings. HC 4 lyyyfe!

7) Keep in mind nonlinear process of healing; Remember you are not your thoughts or feelings; Remember impermanence. 
This isn’t so much one tip, as a few reminders: Remind yourself that healing and grieving are nonlinear processes. It’s 2 steps forward and 1 back, or sometimes 3 back. So don’t beat yourself up if you feel like you’ve taken a “slide.” Remind yourself that you are not your thoughts, and you’re not your feelings. If you feel unloved, it doesn’t mean you are unloveable. If you feel like your life is over, it’ doesn’t mean it is. Remind yourself that emotions are impermanent and transient; they will come and go, and come and go again. Breathe through the discomfort. Give yourself permission to feel it.

 8) Keep up with basic needs/take care of yourself
It’s pretty common to forget about minor details of your life such as eating and sleeping. You might find you’re overeating or undereating, oversleeping or undersleeping, drinking too much and skipping the gym. In the moment, it might feel like those things will make you feel better, but they generally make things worse. Try to keep to a routine (write it down, put a , as grief might suppress your appetite in the moment and cause you to binge later, stay up all night and feel like a crazy person during the day, and give up on the gym because you don’t have the energy, when you could really use the endorphins right now!

9) Delete them from Social Media; delete their closest friends (at least temporarily); Delete their number out of the phone.
You might think “But when s/he sees me after I’ve lost weight/gotten my new haircut/travelled the world” s/he’s going to regret it!” Maybe. But is that possibility worth the TORTURE of seeing them with another partner, having fun, moving on? Being reminded of him every time you go on Fbook or Instagram? No way jose. Do the delete. You can always add him later if things turn around. As for their close friends who will be posting photos of them, send the friend a message and let them know why you’re unfriending. Even if they’re not part of the club, they’ll probably understand. And, as for their phone number, prevent potential drunk texting disasters by giving a friend your ex’s number for safe-keeping, and delete for now.

10) Be your biggest support
 I think this is the most important point of all. When you’re already in so much pain, the last thing you need is judgment from yourself. Practise self-compassion, try not to judge yourself (this includes judging yourself for thinking or feeling, or judging yourself for “not coping properly”). Soothe yourself. Lower your expectations for performance. Ask for help. Be patient with yourself.

Additionally, let yourself feel hope until hope is no longer serving you. Hope is necessary for some time. Some people might say it’s denial, and sure, maybe it is, but it serves a purpose. You just can’t comprehend what things would be like if this truly were over. So hope for them to come back. Hope for things to work out. It’s OK to do that… to a certain point. When you’re ready to move towards acceptance, you will. And you can go back and forth between acceptance and hope. Sometimes dozens of times a day. Be kind to yourself as you go through this process. Don’t’ beat yourself up for having the thoughts or feelings that you’re having. Say to yourself what you would say to a friend going through a similar situation.

You can’t generally speed up the process of healing heartbreak. You can slow it down by distracting yourself from the grief 24/7 and keeping your ex around (creeping them on Facebook counts), but the only way out is through. The good thing, though, is that it really does (generally) get better with time, and all you have to do is survive. So hit a Vinyasa class, surround yourself by people who make you feel loved, and take this as an opportunity to make your best relationship the one with yourself. Namaste from a fellow HC Yogi!

meganMegan Bruneau is a Registered Clinical Counsellor at a post-secondary institution in Vancouver, Canada. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Family Studies. Previously involved in personal training and yoga industries, Megan practices psychotherapy using cognitive-behavioral therapy grounded in Buddhist philosophy. 

Web: www.oneshrinksperspective.com

Twitter: @MeganBruneau

Juicing vs. Blending: A Guide for Your Inner Nutritionista

smoothieNowadays, you can’t swing a yoga tote without knocking over five juice and smoothie stands. The secret is out! Juicing and blending are all the rage but unlike most trends, these are here to stay. But to juice or to blend? Both are so delicious and so incredibly healthy – which one is best? What’s a girl to do? Before giving up on both and drowning your sorrows in a carton of coconut ice cream, let me explain why juicing and blending are both awesome and then I’ll tell you my own personal fave!

Juicing
Juicing is the process in which water and nutrients are extracted from fruits and vegetables while insoluble fiber is removed. What you have left over is like pure liquid gold – delicious naturally flavored water that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll and other phytronutrients which pass directly into the bloodstream providing instant nourishment at the cellular level! The downside is that juicing can be a bit expensive compared to blending because it requires handfuls of fruits and veggies just to get one glamorous glass and of course you lose the fiber in the process. Juicing can also cause blood sugar levels to rapidly spike, particularly if you’re juicing mostly fruits (which is why I tell my clients to juice mainly vegetables and to flavor with fruit). Try to drink a fresh glass at least every other morning and be sure to drink it right away since light and air will break down the juice’s valuable nutrients.

juiceBlending
Blending on the other hand uses up the entire fruit or vegetable—skin and all—meaning that you’re retaining all the fiber. So unlike juicing, a blended smoothie is much more filling. And that’s not a bad thing! Dietary fiber is vital to good health and optimal nutrition. The blending process even helps to mechanically break apart the fiber making it easier to digest than eating whole and sparing you of the chewing process.  This makes smoothies an excellent snack or meal replacement option, particularly since blending is typically faster than juicing. The downside however is that there’s a limit to how much you can cram into your stomach or Vitamix so fiber aside, you’re getting less nutritional bang for your buck in a single serving of smoothie compared with juice.

And the winner is…
If I had to choose a favorite between the two, it would be juicing and here’s why. By removing the fiber, we lighten our digestive load meaning our guts don’t have to work as hard to break down the food or absorb nutrients, leaving the body more time and energy to spend on repair. This is particularly helpful for those of us (like me!) with stomach diseases or disorders that inhibit the digestion of fiber (ahem, IBS). And when you consider how quickly nutrients are absorbed through juice, juicing can even replace supplementation for some, helping to save a little extra money. Plus juicing is hella hydrating! But hands down the best way to achieve vibrant health is to incorporate both juices and smoothies into your daily routine so they’re both winners in my book. I’m sure we can all raise a glass to that. Cheers!

HeadshotBeata Rydyger, BSc, RHN, is a Holistic Nutritionist, Health Writer, and Natural beauty expert. Find more of her below: 

Facebook: She Lives Clean
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How to be a raw-some beach babe: My Top 8 Tricks to Eat Raw and Shine Bright!

7a8d877e126e2c0968d1c3ac2500ea37Hey, sexy people. First of all: your body and mind are beautiful just the way they are. But if you feel like you wanna get cleaner, fitter, happier and healthier – then I’ve got some tips to help you become the best you can be. It all starts with what ya eat.

Drink water. Question: would you prefer to drink from a stagnant, slimy pond or a fresh, clear, flowing stream? Hands up for the stream! We want fresh water! The same logic applies to your body. Keep flushing out toxins and other gunk by drinking water regularly, otherwise your body has to keep re-using liquid and things quickly become un-fresh. Drinking water regularly keeps your organs hydrated and your bowels moving.  I drink about 1400 ml every day, most of this I add to my smoothies.

Soak up that sweet Vitamin D. When the sun shines, I run outside – if I’m not already there – to soak up the vitamin D that is naturally sourced from the sun. Yes, you can get vitamin D in fortified foods and supplement form but it is by far the best quality straight from the sky. Besides, tan skin makes everybody look yummy. Note: I live Vancouver, where we only get good sunshine for a few months of the year, so when it’s not summer, I do have to take a vitamin D supplement and I recommend you do the same if you’re in my cloudy boat.

Y56jLir5VK-wtm_lzC_EPYx0RxHg89GQN5XgbRoO4IoFRUIT IT UP. I eat about 2,000 calories of raw, organic fruit every day and it is the ultimate beauty product. Fruit is one of the most ultra-hydrating, cancer-fighting, longevity-enhancing, life-giving foods on the planet. We have evolved to thrive on fruit. The sugar in fruit feeds our brain, the water replenishes our cells, the fiber helps digestion, and the plethora of minerals, nutrients and vitamins basically allow us to live life to the fullest and feel amazing. Most people only have a couple of pieces of fruit a day, as a snack between meals… most people are doing it wrong. My breakfast is always a smoothie of around 10 bananas, 1 cup of frozen berries, a handful of dates, and a ton of filtered water. My lunch is similar. I go hard, and it works. Eating a diet high in fruits will help your body find its natural healthy weight. If you don’t take to sugar very well, try non-sweet fruits and more veggies!

Get sweaty. Whether it’s wild sex, dancing naked, running, bicycling, yoga, weight-lifting or chasing the dude that just grabbed your smoothie (you can’t blame him, that drink looked irresistible), sweating and panting/breathing hard for at least 20 minutes every day is a must if you wanna get lean and toned. Besides, the post-workout high is always worth it in itself. Hello, endorphins! My exercise regime? It varies every day, but the list I gave pretty much covers my faves. I love using FitnessBlender.com for workout videos.

Eat some nuts. No more than a handful a day is all you need. Nuts and seeds have a lot of important minerals that play a role in brain function as well as beautifying your hair, skin and nails. Check out my blog, ThisRawsomeVeganLife.com, for loads of dessert recipes that provide your day’s intake of nuts.

Become BFF’s with coconut oil. I use virgin, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil (whatta mouthful, I know) in all aspects of my life. The bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom… you name it. It smells freaking phenomenal, it’s full of healthy fats that give you long-lasting energy, and it is super moisturizing for your skin. Mix in some essential oils and you’ve got perfume too. I put it all over my body every day. Use it as deodorant. Use it as lube (speaking of wild sex…) Use it to heal cuts. Use it as sunscreen. Use it in stir frys. Use it in brownies. Special brownies? Why not. (Yes, I have a raw vegan special brownie recipe).

Hit up the farmers market. You will get the best quality produce in your area, and it’s grown by awesome people too. Ask the merchants what you can us their produce for, and watch yourself learn how to get creative and confident in the kitchen! The farmers market is also a great place to find like-minded cool people to share fruit bowls with who care about health, the environment, and animal rights.

Throw food on your face. Pimples got ya down? Mash a banana onto your gorgeous visage, rub it around and wash it off. Honestly, most fruits are great as face masks, and if you want an exfoliating scrub – use ground coffee beans, ground nuts, or rolled oats. My fave face mask is 1 tablespoon cacao powder, 1 tablespoon of ground coffee beans, and enough water to make a paste out of them. Spread it onto a freshly washed face and let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse it off and feel your skin be as soft as a baby’s bum.

Emily is the founder of The Rawsome Vegan Life. She is a blogger, vegan and lover of holistic living! Find more of her below:

_jmarigomen-emilyvoneuw-138 - CopyWeb: www.thisrawsomeveganlife.com
Facebook: Rawsome Vegan Life
Twitter: @rawsomevegan
Instagram: @thisrawsomevegan

What’s in Your Lunchbox? My Top 10 Favorite Packables for a Happy Belly and Heart.

1653722_449776738459427_961101199_nBrown bagging your lunch might seem old school, but it’s an awesome thing to get into the habit of doing. It will save on money and time, and it will benefit your radiate, beautiful, sparkly health.

When I was little, my dad packed my lunch for me every single day before school. He also drew pictures and wrote my name on the brown bag in vibrant Crayola colors. There was a new picture and design every day.

There was never confusion about which lunch was mine at lunch time, that’s for certain.

You can decide how you want to carry your lunch, and I’ll give you ideas about what to put in it, deal?

Here are my top 10, go-to items to make any lunch just as satisfying and yummy as giving your order to someone (and way healthier, to boot).

1_spiced-avocado1. Avocado With Spice Mix

This takes hardly any effort at all and it’s one of the tastiest things, maybe ever.

Here’s how to do it:

Place the following spices in a small container that has a lid:

2 teaspoons garlic granules (8g)

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon coriander powder (2g)

1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder (2g)

1/2 teaspoon salt (4g)

1 teaspoon onion powder (4g)

  • Place the lid on the container and shake, so that all of the ingredients get combined.

  • Pack the spice container in your lunch, along with an avocado, a knife and a spoon.

  • When you’re ready to munch, cut open the avocado, sprinkle the spice mix over it and dig in.

Even people who don’t generally like avocados will nom this up.

2_granola2. Granola

You know those times during the day when you’re not starving, but you need something in your mouth, preferably sweet? Granola is the perfect thing to snack on when you need a little somin’ somin’ sweet. There are loads of good granola recipes out there and if you haven’t made your own yet, I highly recommend it. It’s super easy to make, plus it’s cheaper and better for you. PLUS, your house will smell like a small piece of heaven while it’s baking, and the smell will woft out your windows and down your street. Let’s all make granola at the same time and sweeten up the world.

Here’s a solid granola recipe for you to try.

3. Tahini Sandwich With Banana And Sunflower Seeds

It’s a new take on the classic PB&J. This is one of my faves to throw in my pack when I go hiking.

Lightly toast two pieces of sprouted bread and then spread liberal amounts of tahini on both pieces.

Sprinkle a generous amount of sunflower seeds over the tahini and then pile on the banana slices.

Close it up and you have a tahini-licious sandwich for later.

3_curry_kale_salad4. Spiced Curry Kale Salad

This is a fantastic recipe that is nutrient dense, easy to put together and great to add to any lunch on the go.

Here’s how to do it:

Make the dressing by placing all of the following ingredients into a blender:

2 tablespoons tahini (35g)

1 tablespoon lemon juice (15ml)

1/2 teaspoon curry powder (1g)

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 teaspoon peeled and grated ginger (3g)

3 dates, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup water (59ml)

pinch of cayenne

  • Blend until the dressing is creamy and smooth and set aside for now.

  • Wash, de-stem and chop 1 bunch of kale (any variety will do, my fave is green curly for this recipe).

  • Place kale in a large bowl, pour the dressing over it and massage into the kale with your hands until the dressing has been distributed.

This will make a big batch so you can pack what you like and then nosh on the rest later.

4_chickpea_mash5. Chickpea Mash

This is a little concoction I came up with for people who are super short on time and who would rather starve  than to go through a drive-thru. You can whip this up in 10 minutes, put it on some bread as a sandwich or spread it on a kale leaf. Whatever way you do it, you can add some red bell peppers almond slices for added texture.

Here’s how to do it:

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (430g)

1/4 cup red onion, diced (35g)

1/4 cup grated carrot (30g)

2 teaspoons yellow mustard (15g)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

5 turns fresh black pepper

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

  • Place the garbanzo beans in a medium-sized bowl and mash them with a fork. You don’t have to mash them completely. If some garbanzo beans are left whole, it’s A-okay.

  • Add the red onion, carrot, yellow mustard, lemon juice, oregano, black pepper and sea salt.

  • Stir until all of the ingredients are combined.

5_apple_and_almond_butter6.  Apple with Almond Butter

I don’t know about you, but I will never grow out of this snack. It’s easy, quick, packable, tasty and it will leave your cells doing a jig. Best to pack the apple and the almond butter separately, and then cut the apple and spread the almond butter when you’re ready to eat it. This will allow for maximum freshness and yumminess.

7. Hummus, Romaine, Sauerkraut and Avocado Wrapped in a Blanched Collard Leaf

This is a doozy – check it out.

If you lightly blanch a big collard leaf or two, it makes the perfect vessel to wrap other delicious ingredients in. It’s just as good as a tortilla, only WAY more healthy and exciting to eat. It also makes the perfect thing to add to your sack lunch.

Before you blanch the collards, trim the stem down so it’s flush with the collard leaf. After you take it out of the hot water, place it in cold water (throw some ice in your water to cool it better) to stop the cooking (like you would with pasta).

Dry the collards thoroughly and then wrap, baby, wrap!

You can blanch your collards a day in advance and keep them in the fridge for when you’re ready to use them. You can fill them with whatever you want – I usually fill them with the combination above.

As a side note, these are also crazy good when you wrap a mean veggie burger in them and top it with lots of goodies. Just think of the blanched collard as the bun.

8.  Veggie Pate in Romaine Leaves Topped with Hemp Seeds

There are lots of different veggie pates that are easy to make and super nutritious.

Carrot Cashew Pate is my all time favorite veg pate. After you make the pate, spread a generous amount  in romaine leaves and sprinkle with hemp seeds. These little wraps pack a serious punch and will have you super excited about lunch.

8_white_bean_tuna9. White Bean Tuna Salad In Avocados

This will soon be one of your go-to packable lunch items. Simple, sexy and infinitely sustainable.

Here’s how you make the White Bean Tuna:

3 cups cooked white beans (300g)

2 celery stalks, diced

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped (65g)

2 teaspoons dulse powder (4g)

1 teaspoon dried dill

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (4g)

3/4 cup vegan mayo (150g)

1 tablespoon olive oil (15ml)

  • Place the white beans in a bowl or food processor and either mash, or process until semi-smooth. If there are some chunks of white bean, that is just fine.

  • Place the beans along with the rest of the ingredients into a bowl and mix to combine.

Pack some White Bean Tuna and an avocado, and when you’re ready for lunch, slice open the avocado and scoop the White Bean Tuna into the avo. You could also make this into a sandwich, or wrap it in a blanched collard (see #6 above). Any way you do it, it’s an awesome packable.

9_frittata10.  Rosemary Vegan Frittata

Make this for dinner and then pack some for your lunch the next day. It’s really good eaten warm or cold, so you don’t even have to heat it up if you don’t have time or if you’re not around a kitchen. Easy, peasy, yum.

Heres how to do it:

1 cup chickpea flour (130g)

2 cups water (475ml)

1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped (2g)

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp. olive oil (15ml)

1/2 cup red onion, diced (65g)

1 cup mushrooms, diced (80g)

1 tsp. sea salt (6g)

1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced (70g)

1 heaping cup chard, chopped (55g)

5 turns fresh black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit (175°C)

  • Put the chickpea flour and the water in a large mixing bowl and whisk until all of the lumps are gone. Add the rosemary and lemon juice, and set aside.

  • Heat the oil in a skillet and saute the onions for 2 minutes in medium heat.

  • Add the mushrooms and the sea salt and saute for 2 additional minutes.

  • Add the red peppers and cook for 1 minute.

  • Add the chard and turn off the heat.

  • Transfer the veggies to the chickpea flour/water bowl and stir until the ingredients are combined.

  • Add the black pepper and pour in a lightly oiled 9-inch round baking dish.

  • Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.

Who knew brown bagging it could be so yum? If you’re inspired to try some of these, tell us in the comments below, or tell us your favorite things to pack in your lunch.

Peace, love and yummy, clean food. Always.

Molly is a clean food guru. She helps people feel better by teaching them exactly what to eat so they can stop guessing (in a non-preachy and fun way). When she’s not in her kitchen you will find her in a yoga class, on her meditation pillow or behind her camera.

Check out her work here.


Molly PatrickMolly Patrick // Bold Vegan 

Cookbook Author
Facebook: Bold Vegan
Twitter: @boldvegan
 
 

A Green Girl’s St.Patrick’s Day Guide

PistachioShamrockSpread3

A Green Bohemian Gal always has a few tricks up her sleeve when there’s a special event to attend. We’re so excited to serve this delicious Pistachio Shamrock Spread for our St.Patricks day festivities tomorrow! If you like this appetizer or you have a great one you love, share it in the comments below!

Bohemian Ingredients:
1/2C Pistachios
1 TBSP Lime Juice
1 Large Avocado
1/2 TBSP Apple Cider or White Vinegar
1TBSP Lime Juice
5 Basil Leaves
2 Cloves of Garlic

Sea Salt to taste

Easy Steps:

1. In a food processor or high speed blender, blend the pistachios into a course texture with the lime juice and sea salt. Then place in a bowl to the side.

2. Next in the food processor puree the following ingredients:

1 Large Avocado
1/2 TBSP Apple Cider or White Vinegar
1TBSP Lime Juice
5 Basil Leaves

2 Cloves of Garlic

3. In a bowl combine the mixtures from 1 & 2. Serve with Crackers, Corn Chips, Cucumber, or Green apple Slices!

Special Thanks to Amberlea for this amazing recipe 😉

Wellness Wednesdays: DIY Skin Care

Welcome to Week 6 of our Wellness Wednesdays series with Ange of Hol:Fit !

Today Ange is sharing her favourite 3 Step DIY Healthy Skin Care approach with us! She’s showing us all of the DIY tips and tricks of how to get the at home Boho-glow, so check it out in the video below.

 

Try Ange’s DIY Recipes:

Oil Cleanser: 50% Castor Oil + 50% Avocado Oil
Mask: 50% Aztec Clay 50% water + 1 drop of doTERRA Lavender Oil
Nourishing Face Oil: 50% Jojoba + 50% Almond, doTERRA Frankensense + Cedarwood Oil

Ange Peters, the founder of Hol:Fit  is a holistic personal trainer & nutritionist, online holistic health teacher, podcaster of The Holistic Health Diary and an Ambassador for Tiny Devotions.
                                                                     
                                                               
ange head
Ange Peters
doTERRA Essential Oil IPC Educator
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