Entering the Temple: Reverence, Purity & Kindness

We've all been there before, this tropical space of weightlessness in our spirits. Warm heat resonates inside...I picture my rib cage glowing, the tips of embers orange and burgundy red, carrying the secrets of light and dark, of lies and truth. Deep within their tiny, fire-rocket anatomy, the embers spin without end.

In the eyes of my imagination, I am transcending through layers and places of consciousnesses to arrive at the center of TRUTH. I've embarked on a water fast and my mind does not know when my spirit and my body will feel complete in their processes of purification.

It feels like I am inside a cloud - still on earth, just high above, looking down, curiously.

Some visions that have swayed across my mental movie reel: reverence, purity and kindness in the temple; this temple that I see is my physical body.

You wouldn't bring McDonald's, High Fructose Corn Syrup and Yellow Food Coloring #6 into temple.

It would be blasphemy. You would feel disgraceful, dirty, the perfect webbing in between your fingers would stick together with greed. You'd smell gasoline in your own lungs.

You come into temple with your feet washed, your wrists and nape of neck clean, then massaged with the scent of peaches, or perhaps vanilla and sandalwood.

You are inside temple. Everyone imprinted into your subconscious is there wanting -- needing to feel the royal, mercy-filled god in themselves by worshiping the gods around us. By worshiping one another.

There are bright white stars in the temple, held up by a satin black, formless abyss.

And there we lay.

And there we submit.

In your body you feel that light and dark need each other to exist. And when they co-exist, they make life profound and complete.

Among this humble-spiritual-glamour, we pirouette for the god in us.

What am getting at? I am striving to define, engrave and give us this TRUTH: it is necessary to apply REVERENCE in that which  we do.

We must revere the temple walking by day and by night.

Herein lies our liberation.

This water fast has inundated the skies of my violet imagination with images of silence, quality and peace, elongated moments...slow minutes of rhythmic peace.

We must train ourselves to possess reverence for the gift of eating; to deeply respect that which we consume.

Eat with reverence, eat with quality and care. Be kind to the temple that is your strong, and sentient mortal body.

In essence, to revisit my primary thought: "You do not bring McDonald's to temple...it would simply be blasphemy."

IN PEACE & REVERENCE,

Shebah Saturn

That Hypnotizing Sweet Tooth -- Top 10 Reasons To Pause With The Sugar Kid!

 

If you have a sweet-tooth like me, it's far too easy to be allured by the promise of palate-pleasing desserts packed with the evil-goodness of white sugar! Ahaha!

For real though, on a more sobering note, I have family members who honestly struggle with their addiction to food and white sugar on a moment-by-moment, day-to-day basis. If you're honest with yourself, you'd see that addiction to white sugar is very common, and not something to judge, or laugh at! 

I have seen first-hand how compulsively eating sugar can affect one's happiness: it can limit your mobility, cause chronic joint pain, limit your emotional resilience (a.k.a. your ability to deal with the natural ups and downs of life with a reasonable degree of clarity, keeping the "bigger picture" beyond that moment in mind) cause depression and anger, impact your sex-drive, and drastically reduce your confidence.

With all the research available, and the serious addictive qualities of sugar, it's still a challenge to stay away from that "otha white powda," especially since here in the states, it is deceptively pumped into everything! The best way to keep yourself on track is to come up with a personal strategy that keeps you motivated to make life-energizing choices. 

One strategy that I want to share with you all is keeping a list such as the one below. I tend to be motivated by logic and science, because it gives me no wiggle-room to bend the truth of the matter; hence, this list is more fact-based than touchy-feely! ;0)

If you're reading this post because you, too, struggle with consistently remembering why white sugar/fructose/high-fructose corn syrup is a no-go, I encourage you to print this list below and read it aloud once daily. If you'd prefer a list with a different vibe filled with different reasons to motivate you, create your own Top 10 Reasons and share them with us if you're feeling it!

Top 10 Reasons To Pause With The Sugar Kid!

To download this list as a printable PDF, click here

1. We now know — because it has been scientifically proven — that sugar is more powerfully addictive than alcohol, cocaine or even heroin. And if you’re thinking about going for diet soda instead, take note: Artificial sweeteners may be more addictive than regular sugar.

2. Sugar is stressful, and blood sugar spikes can promote inflammation. Sugars trigger the release of inflammatory messengers called cytokine.

3. White flour products are sugar, too (breads, rolls, crackers) white rice, white potatoes (instant mashed potatoes, or french fries) and many cereals are refined carbohydrates. According to Scientific American, processed carbohydrates may trump fats as the main driver of escalating rates of obesity and other chronic conditions. These high-glycemic index foods fuel the production of advanced glycation end (AGE) products that stimulate inflammation.

4. Because sugar causes a large release of dopamine in the brain, it can cause addiction in a lot of people.

5. The problem with sugar and many junk foods is that they can cause massive dopamine release…much more than we were ever exposed to from foods found in nature.

6. Fructose doesn’t cause satiety in the brain or lower the hunger hormone ghrelin nearly as much as glucose.

7. In addition, the metabolic problems associated with sugar consumption are a known driver of INFLAMMATION, another potential cause of cancer.

8. When repeatedly eating large amounts of sugar, this process can lead to fatty liver and all sorts of serious problems. Keep in mind that all of this does NOT apply to fruit. It is almost impossible to overeat fructose by eating fruit.

9. Indeed, a recent study at the University of Cambridge suggests sugar doesn't help with energy at all - in fact, it makes you sleepy. Scientists found that sugar blocks the action of orexins, a type of brain cell responsible for feelings of wakefulness (orexins are also involved in telling the body to burn calories).

10. Some evidence suggests that continuously high blood sugar levels might lead to aging of the brain that's associated with dementia. In a study published in the journal of Neurology last year, researchers took brain scans of 249 people aged from 60 to 64 with blood sugar levels in the normal range. After four years, those whose blood sugar levels were at the highest end of the normal range were more likely to have shrinkage in the hippocampus and the amygdala - areas of the brain associated with memory and cognitive function.

Related Links

1. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2524962/From-dementia-liver-damage-real-toll-sugar-diet.html

2. http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/white-poison-danger-sugar-beat-article-1.1605232

3. http://authoritynutrition.com/9-reasons-to-avoid-sugar/

Ahimsa, The Bible, The Illusion of Separateness & Embracing Being Human

I've always loved searching for the universally applicable message within ancient codes. I was reading the bible* this morning and I read this:

Romans, Chapter 8:5-6 reads:

"For those who live according to the flesh 
Set their minds on the things of the flesh
But those who live according to Spirit
The things of the Spirit
For to be carnally minded is death
But to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace."

Sometimes the truth is so simple that it is easy to pass over without giving it appropriate regard, or letting our mind and body connect, and feel its deeper meaning. This passage is communicating that whatever concepts, ideas or thoughts we operate from, we eventually become. If we walk our path as someone overly concerned with "the flesh," the people, abundance and events in our lives will reflect this "fleshiness." 

There is nothing to judge here. We are all human beings; we are Spirit and yet, we too, are of the flesh. This reality is unavoidable. No need to try and transcend beyond our humanness; it is a part of who we are! I say, let us embrace both sides; let our Spirit dance in our very own fleshiness and let our fleshiness submit to our pure Spirit. Let us co-exist, giving into the needs of both.

When it is written "For to be carnally minded is death," I interpret this as denying your spiritual self entirely. It can mean being so entrenched in your carnal desires that you neglect or suppress your inherent connection with the mystery that is Creation, with the principle of Oneness that unites all seemingly opposing natures/things.

To add to this, everyone's purpose is different (we see this time and time again in the Occult Sciences)! More recently, I've wanted to diffuse my anger, and I have been asking my spirit-self to remind my human consciousness to relax and BE peace. I have found that it really can be that easy; closing your eyes, breathing and reminding yourself "BE peace."

This is where Ahmisa comes in. The word literally means without harm (A- absence of, and himsa- pain or harm). It is part of a set of ethical principles from the Yoga Sutra that offers precepts for peaceful** living.

Ahimsa means "doing our best not to harm ourselves or others (including sentient beings); not harming the environment; tolerance even for that which we dislike, and not speaking that which, though truthful, would injure others." 

Practicing Ahimsa has made me less angry, and more aware of the illusion of being separate from others. When we fully accept our own humanness (flesh), we are more able to offer compassion/Ahimsa (Spirit)to ourselves and those around us!

In Full Fleshiness & Spirit ;0)

Shebah Saturn


---

* - We don't have access to biblical scripture in its "purest form," nevertheless, I feel it is possible to extract wisdom from its pages, keeping in mind that the scripture has been understandably tainted through humanity's lust for greed, control, pursuit of power, and the like.

**- Due to the socio-political climate of our time, I do not endorse passivity or non-violence as an effective method for change in all circumstances.

Working with Yourself as the Vessel: Intuition, Instinct, Grace & Style

"We must be who we are, yet never compromise our emotional or intellectual grace."- S.S.

Lately, I have been asking god to use me as a vessel for inspiration in whatever way is relevant to my destiny as an individual, that will also contribute to our progress as a unit. What can I say other than I am open to being moved, to being sculpted? If every entity around me is purposeful, then I am intensely interested in what you have to teach me. I want to learn. And more than anything, I want to shift into new rivers of allowance: imagine what it would be like to feel consistently liberated, self-responsible and free, I mean, really free...

For everyone, freedom feels and looks differently. My question to you is -- who are you? When no one is watching, and you are operating in a state of complete vulnerability, and thus, a unique human-kind-of-grace, who are you? What is it that you want to be? What do want to contribute to us -- to our world? Let down your guard, at the very least, in front of yourself, and be honest. 

The more honest we are about our desires -- about what it is that our intuition and instincts tell us we were put here to do, the happier we will be. Happiness is not about acquiring material wealth. Trust me, I've been down this road before! I have toiled and toiled to have the perfect marriage, the perfect partner, the perfect car, the perfect body, the perfect dwelling space. This grasping for greatness left me with an emptiness which at times felt distortedly valiant, and at other moments made me drawn-out, and discolored; my reality was flimsy, a surrealist absurdity that was not going to build anyone's character, especially not my own. 

De verdad, he experimentado una inseguirdad que me dejaba con un sentimiento de siendo completamente perdida -- sin cualquier onza de fe. In my past, I've lost everything that was important to me - my marriage, my car, my material possessions (laptops, savings, etc.) and in this process, I found out who I was; and just who I wasn't. It was a surprise to discover my soul devoid of the persistent consejos and whispering opinions of others (well-intentioned or otherwise).  

This is why I urge you to stir up some meaningful ruckus in your life. Be moved. Be moved by that which requires less material, and train yourself to trust in that which requires more faith. Familiarize yourself with your inborn gifts and build upon those generous, latent talents that will assist you, in being you, with consideration, yet without apology.

Remember that part; it is necessary to honor your individuality without coming off as an ass. You may be a gifted artist or scientist, but you don't know everything. Be less arrogant, and more willing to learn, in all ways. You can taste your truest desires -- whatever it is that you feel you were born to do -- I implore you to go after it with a gentle wrath that is unstoppable.

Don't concern yourself with those who don't understand your vision. They are not you, so it is not their responsibility to understand you, nor believe in you. Those who are destined to be touched by your journey, your courage, your embarrassment, your failures (because they are inevitable) and your eventual victories will be moved and inspired. 

And when you can no longer move as you once did, you will reflect upon your life and you will say, with every breath of sincerity in your bones and long-earned bravery in your heart that "I have been true to my destiny. And I have lived."

In Peace & Desire,

Shebah Saturn 

The Partnership Within: Your Sun & Your Moon

Her round edges are sweaty and full of ethereal glory. A feminine, emotive presence that pushes fantasies, fears and dreams into our material world; she is always there. She is masterful -- the intangible force behind your eventual victory. She lives beyond the limitations of the rational mind, though she dwells in that same space, occupying though rarely occupied. She is your subconscious, and astrologically, we know her as your moon-sign. The mother, the lover, and your unlikely strategist.

He is conscious and above the board. He aligns the power of self-control with the depth of his physical desires, pushing forward. He is your hand-crafted, dutifully put together personality. He is growing his awareness, and ever-commanding in pursuit of his Truth. He is your conscience, and astrologically we know him as your sun-sign. The father, the visible architect, and proud, protective vessel of your subconscious nature.

We are complex, yet profoundly simple creatures who require knowledge of self to progress along our customized path. In the esoteric sciences, we do our best to acknowledge the multifaceted layers of our psyche. Astrology is a sacred code that can give voice to the interwoven aspects of ourselves. It is an ancient language that can help us articulate and more clearly inhabit our inner-space.

There is much to understand about who we are, and when we first peer into the world of Astrology, its vastness may feel overwhelming. Since you likely know your sun-sign, begin by researching, or, reintroducing yourself to the power of your moon sign. Write down a list of keywords associated with this subconscious aspect of yourself, and walk with this information in your body.

Your conscious self will naturally begin to act as a messenger for your subconscious-mind, making connections in your waking life that are essential to sharpening an awareness of who you are, and how you interact with the world around you. Cheers to the journey!


Shebah Saturn is a writer, artist and sacred science practitioner who uses the language  of numerology, the tarot and astrology to provide clear plans for self-development and  business growth. Shebah can be booked for private sessions, seminars and the like via
shebahloves@gmail.com

This Intuitive Life: Progeny, Redemption & Rose Petals.

I want to tell you that I dreamnt of a ghost last night. She was lanky, tall and translucent. She represented a whimsical, not yet bogged down part of me.  She walked down the street in her own purposeful glory.

Little covered her physical body. Heart exposed, shoulders back, arms swinging in balance with a divine mixture of languidness and control. She was self-authorized; her own redeemer. And today, so am I.

I've got rose petals in the barrel of my gun. My ghosts are seedlings; my dreams, water-colored with the intelligence of progeny.

How about living a life that is soft to the touch? What about occupying yourself, your body, your guts and your silver-lined rib cage with total conviction.

What about commitment, devotion, the art of worship, deities and surrendering to every bit of who you are, and every piece of who you were made to be.

I am inside myself with no desire to peer out of my mental windows. I want to take a look around inside this inner-space. I breathe along side my own thoughts as if they are completely valid; no outer-science necessary in my here and now.

Knees together, nothing held back, whether on the concrete or in the grass. 

Energizing My Life Right Now...

The Buena Vista Social Club

Indulge! 

<3,

Shebah Saturn

@shebahsaturn

And Some Ray, Too, Of Course

Yes! 

Sin Bandera - Love Them - Music for Our Work Day...

Peace Bebe-bebes!

Here's a dope album to get you through your work day. 

It's by Sin Bandera ;) 

Enjoy <3,

Shebah Saturn

@shebahsaturn

Sincerity & The Pursuit of Self-Development

I've never felt more alive. I've never felt more sincere. Recently, more than ever, I feel comfortably look-after, cradled in between the hands of destiny's vast mystery. However nebulous, however far-reaching, I am happy to have finally arrived in this place of self-awareness. 

In my mental skies, the moon is always out. She is glowing and majestic, high in the back drop -- ever-full and ever-fertile with magic that is balanced, her roundedness sharpened by the kind of logic that makes life keenly scientific, and  thus, undeniably unlimited. 

I will be culminating my Saturn return soon, and transitioning into a more clarified phase of self-development.

My twenties were rough, yo! I mean, my goodness, the ingredients that made me who I am today were quite pungent to the palate: a bitter-sweet marriage, a budded, and now, at present, a fully bloomed consciousness of my sensuality as it relates to whom I love, a proclamation of my alliance to particular communities, philosophies, and ideas, and then, years later, a renunciation of the labels I'd taken on that once made me feel so very safe. I get it now, truly "from [the] dust we came, and to the dust we return."

The more I grow, the deeper into the formless abyss I go. I suppose this is what The Kybalion means by "The Divine Paradox". The more I sense the truth deep in my body, the further I rise above my human vessel -- and yet, curiously enough, the more I travel into the practice of letting go, the more solidified I become in my needs and desires as a human being. 

Ah, to be in search of truth; to be in wonderment of who we are -- to dare to be real about what it is we find within ourselves, that is the gift and challenge of life in the 4th dimension.

In peace, lovingness, sensuality, intellectuality, [IN JUST BEING] and all that jazz, I leave you with some Ella <3

Shebah Saturn

@shebahsaturn

Michael Brown - Light, Love & Acknowledging Sadness. Art as the Purpose Of Living

Eletricfying Morning To You My Babies!

How was your night?

Mine was emotionally rough. The Michael Brown Case in Ferguson -- the haphazard ways in which we treat each other really hurts me -- it gets right underneath my skin and makes my whole body cringe. 

I cried last night. It was a good kind of cry. The kind of cry that washes away sadness and heals you from the inside.

I wrote a song as a way to release all these potent, bottled up emotions of anger, confusion, sadness and doubtful hope. 

I moved into a place of allowance. I listened to what my body's sadness sounded like.  My voice shifted into a lower octave. Every so often, in between one note and another, small glimmers of human hope could be heard.  And this is when I knew I was okay; that I could be so sensitive and strong at the same damn time.  My shoulders fell down, surrendering to the beauty and the let down of our shared experience. 

We're gritty, us human beings, but art makes life worth living. 

I'd like to share this thought below with you...it's precisely what I have been trying to say for a couple of  weeks now. I spoke to a dear comrade of mine yesterday on our car ride home. We discussed the complex and tender reality of needing to follow what is right for you, irrespective of your cultural/societal context.

If you search within yourself, I am sure you'll know just what I mean.  

Cheers to a life --- truly lived, and truly felt. 

With Love, From Me 'N Billy

Some beauty to get you through your work day.

I know...trust me...

Work is _________________ flat-line for me today...

We're in this togetha,

Shebah Saturn
@shebahsaturn