Lately, I’ve been thinking. Can the human brain really handle the stimulus and chronic impulses received from social media?
Everyday people log “on the line” to be bombarded with breaking news stories, opinions, hot takes and verbal vomit about one’s personal life, all in the matter of seconds. Back in the day, news sometimes took weeks to reach one’s community as the message was carried via horseback. Throughout human history, bad and terrible things have happened. And, tragic things will continue to happen in mankind’s existence. Until humans cease to exist, there will always be a battle between the light and the dark on an individual and collective level. This is the way we were created, and societies have evolved because of bloodshed. And to note, every culture, country and society have undergone dark time periods.
I believe we have the capacity to live in a utopia, but that can only exist if everyone is on the same page, which is why communes or communities work because it focuses on a smaller scale, attracting like minds. Trying to control the masses often leads to chaos and tension. It’s like trying to control a horse, a zebra, a lion, an elephant and a house cat on a farm to live cohesively.
It’s apparent that people are losing their shit online, specifically when it comes to differing opinions, political ideologies and the way society should be lived. Many people think this is something “new” when in fact, we are experience the same problems as our ancestors, just that our problems have new characters, weapons and propaganda messages. I believe in the Age of Aquarius. In my past blogs I discussed the energy of Aquarius. It is a highly mental sign and the “ripple-looking” zodiac image symbolizes the brain wave. The water bearer pours knowledge from the pot into the river to drain the old “establishment” ways down the river. Aquarius rules technology and the combination of this mental and social media energy are combative and affects mental health wellbeing. If negativity breeds negativity than drama thrives on drama, and most people are melodramatic (some for selfish reasons to attract attention or to have their five minutes of fame.)
The Rise of Hypersensitivity
Differing viewpoints is what makes the world go ‘round. Like the zodiac wheel, earth, air, fire and water signs see, think and do things differently. Most of the world, but specifically the American culture, has a superior ego problem. The ego drives one to be right, correct and wants their voice to be heard. Because of living abroad several times, I’ve entered into cohesive disagreeing debates with foreigners that in America I’ve seen these same conversations lead to a “break up” in friendships. The worldwide web is an ocean of different characters, egos and personalities. When you let the bull out of its cage, it’s going to go buck wild. People who decide to comment on articles or post their hot takes are bound to get people to disagree with them. That is okay. That is a part of life. Part of this “chronic” safe space culture promotes only being around people of like-minds. Although we all have our safe space in some aspect of life, most people who do not get out of their comfort zone cannot build the backbones they need to face the reality of life – that NOT EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH YOU. Today, many people follow their own herd, desiring praise and affection for their opinion without critically questioning everything that they are told. Safe spaces are nurturing, but like a baby, the child must eventually wean from the mother’s teat. People can’t be dependent on their own kind for a lifetime. Diversity of thought only exists when everyone can express his or her point of view. Like the Dalai Lama once stated, people are WAY TOO hypersensitive. Social media is dictating many areas of our life. No likes on Facebook dictates many people’s self-worth, popularity or self-esteem. It’s natural to want to be liked, and to be right, but without a firm grip on who you are as a person, people will “run into problems” mainly with their ego. The safe space college campus culture is evolving into an untamed zoo as these “kids” are being held from the learning lessons on how to be an adult. They are offended by anyone who disagrees with their propaganda-pumped mindset, and like a child learning how to ride a bike – you gotta fall a few times before you can maintain your balance and steer in a forward motion. Hypersensitivity drives the ego to win their battle in an online comment sections or forums to tell people “how ignorant they are.” Extreme ideologies have contributed to most of history’s brutality and right now people are at a mental war with each other. I experienced this in 2012 when I went head to head with some meatheads about a vegetarian-research study on LinkedIn. The research study showed that vegetarians had less risk for heart disease and were expected to live a longer life compared to their meat-eating counterparts. When I got home from work to check the replies, I realized that I spent three hours battling my viewpoint. What a waste of time. A vegetarian or vegan cannot win an argument with someone who believes meat must be a part of his or her diet. It’s an endless battle that goes round and round and round. Without a deep sense of awareness, I would’ve been caught in this cyclical argument for days. I sat back in my chair and analyzed the LinkedIn responses. All of it led to hateful responses, out of spite, because someone disagreed with their opinion. I watched the snowball get bigger and bigger and bigger. It first started with a disagreement, which led to name calling and virtual signaling, “how ignorant you are. Well at least I am not like you.” After that experience, I underwent a personal experiment. I did not reply to any LinkedIn posts for about six months, which eventually led to a year. Instead, I analyzed people’s response like a psychological experiment. It was hilarious! Mid forty to fifty year olds were going head to head in a cyber battle that no one could win. Is it possible for two people to have two different viewpoints in life and neither person is right or wrong?
Absolutely. The more attached someone is to a specific ideology, whatever it may be; the more likely the person will mentally explode if challenged. People love to make themselves feel important and social media is just the place for that. Being overly stubborn and lacking empathy contributes to the mental outbursts.
Did I miss commenting on articles? Not really. My ego missed it. I felt pressure in my head to voice my opinion, but in reality I rediscovered inner peace instead of worrying about what some bozo from Arizona thinks. One thing that helped me along my journey of ego shredding is to practice the art of detachment. I detached from my own ideologies, listened to other people’s viewpoints, and realized that a middle of the ground approach is where balance truly lives. I trained myself to see the reality of life instead of what life SHOULD or COULD be. The imagination is a blessing and a curse. Most people who are pent up with hate have a disconnect between the reality of life versus the ideal “hopeful” vision of life. The Rise of Hate Alongside with people’s thin skin, hypersensitivity ignites a self-defense response. When one feels threatened, they retreat and then attack. Like a crab hiding in its shell (safe space), eventually the crab will pop out of its shell and attack the enemy. Aggression is a part of nature, and human nature is no exception. The animal kingdom fights every day with each other and other species. Humans have a capacity that no other creature on this planet has – consciousness. Animals are biologically programmed with an innate wisdom that is beyond our human understanding. Humans have the capacity to change, but the reality is that our lives contain the same shadow aspects as nature. I believe hypersensitivity and hate are like an inter-spiraled web, similar to a DNA strand. One cannot coexist without the other (it can, but for most people their ego can’t handle the challenge). The irony is today’s complex political spectrum is that the far left anarchists screaming, “peace, love and unity” are some of the most hateful people on the planet right now. Violent protests, shutting down speeches, burning shit in the streets, it’s like the 1940’s all over again. (Astrologically, we’ve entered a similar star period as WW2, so we need to see where this plays out. I believe we have the ability to avoid WW3, but humanity must work together to find a common ground– and that is where the downfall happens – people are too rooted into their own belief systems that ends up in violent catastrophes.) Sadly, these people think their souls are developed, but are still fresh out of the womb in terms of soul development. They must deal with their shadow side and cut the umbilical cord, or lifeline, from their safe space. They are spiritually immature. Politically speaking, no one person or party is exempt from his or her shadow side. The more this purges the better humanity can ascend. Social media bombards us daily with opinions, voices and articles; I think the human brain is over flowing with information. I am not sure if the human brain can handle this digital age (we are in the early evolutional stages of this digital age.) As much as we equate our stomach to the digestion of food, our mind, body and soul must also digest the information that we read. If a person does not have a strong backbone, they will either follow the herd because “everyone’s doing it” and they want to fit into that mold, or they will trap themselves in their ego that is soon to erupt. The ego is like a campfire. When someone’s opinion differs, that is like the stream of gasoline that is about to hit the campfire. This is not to say that people should stop voicing their opinions, but know that if you are caught in this perpetual cycle of being hypersensitive, and defending or reflecting from the point with hateful responses and “fuck you’s,” it is time to look into the mirror and realize that you are also part of the problem. The biggest battle in this world is dealing with the shadow that lies within you. We must accept that people see things differently, admit when we are wrong (or when our political party is corrupt as hell) and start looking at the bigger picture. Too many people get caught up in worthless arguments because they are focusing on Bob Who and Shithead Sally. If you want to know the secret to life, study nature – everything about humanity – the good and the bad – presents itself in the natural world. Sadly, we the people, have another battle to uphold. Corporations, tech companies and the globalists have too much power, and this mind manipulation and control of the people will bring out the worst in human nature. Are you mentally ready for this? What do you think? Have people become hypersensitive?
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The tulips have come and now they are nearly gone. As beautiful as they are, the various shades of purple, yellow and orange reminded me of rainbow carrots. Their beauty inspired me to once again unite food and nature.
Carrots are naturally sweet and I decided to "spice" up these carrots with some extra sweetness. Honey roasted carrots are popular amongst non-vegans, and for us dairy-free folks, agave is honey's replacement. Agave, is a "spiritual" sweetener produced from Mother Earth. There is much controversy over this sweetener, but when used moderately it serves its purpose.
According to the carrotmusem.co.uk, "To unravel the long history of the Carrot you have to go back a very long way. Fossil pollen from the Eocene period (55 to 34 million years ago) has been identified as belonging to the Apiaceae (the carrot family). It is considered that the carrot dates back about 5,000 years ago when the root was found to be growing in the area now known as Afghanistan."
The early colonization of carrots cropped had yellow and purple skins. Some claim the first orange carrot originated in the 1500-1600's. The word carrot was first recorded in the English language in 1530, rooting from the Middle French word, "carotte."
These "rainbow," or wild carrots are known as "Queen Anne's Lace" were introduced to America by our early settlers. And since I live in Queen Anne, I celebrate carrot's health benefits through roasting them with the sweet flavors of nature and a splash of mandarin to further promote Vitamin A consumption.
Spiritually, food fascinates me and how our ancestors symbolized food and it's energetic meanings. Plants and humans are interconnected in ways that "blow" the logical mind away. Carrots, and orange-colored plants, are high in Vitamin A, which benefits eye health since the beta-carotenes restore vision.
In today's world where the darkness is on the rise, carrots are the roots and energy from the land. Consuming this can help you see the light in dark times. And this healthy and sweet side dish will do just that. Carrots. They help you see in the dark.
Roasted Agave-Mandarin Rainbow Carrots
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Tme: 25-30 minutes Ingredients: 1 lb. of rainbow carrots 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp agave nectar 1 mandarin orange, sliced Pinch of salt Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash and cut the stems off the carrots. Next, slice the mandarin orange. Place the carrots in a bowl and mix the oil , agave and salt into the carrots. Don't be afraid to use your hands. Arrange the carrots on a baking sheet. Take the two cut ends of the mandarin orange and squeeze the juice on top of the carrots. Layer the remaining slices on top of the carrots. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until your desired texture. Enjoy!
What's your favorite way to roast carrots?
Let's Connect! I believe in following your heart (and gut), but I also think that those who fly with the wind without critically thinking about their situation may set themselves up for disaster. The heart guides us to our soul's yearning, which is the driving force for many on this planet. But, the brain is our logical voice that can critique the reality. One example is a corporate employee who wants to quit his job to become an artist. The heart says, "quit the job and become the painter you dreamed of becoming." The reality is that a novice full-time artist has no income, and that soul's calling doesn't mean he'll become the next Van Gogh. Following your heart doesn't mean everything is going to work out perfectly. Challenges, barriers and hardships will occur and this is where the brain comes in. We must balance our right and left brain, which balances art and science and logic and spirit. You must look at all the scenarios or consequences so you can best walk your heart's journey. As always, inspired by the sun, Elizabeth Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration, or Sunspiration, where we analyze quotes and sweet nothings in 150 Words or Less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings.
Ranch. What do I think of ranch? I have this quirk about me. I really dislike savory white creamy things. Growing up, I despised anything and everything creamy and white - mayo, cottage cheese, dressing, cream cheese, sour cream - basically anything dairy (unless it was ice cream or whipped cream).
That same dislike even flowed over into my vegan life, but luckily I am lightening up to it because I know what I make is powered by nature. And if real ranch tastes as good as the cashew stuff, now I see why many of my clients find it difficult to switch to other dressings.
I made this dressing for my recent, Raw Collard Greens Rainbow Wrap + Cashew Ranch Dressing blog post. I chose a white-colored dip to balance out the power of the color, and since the tulips inspired this recipe, white is a part of our natural world. It's the color of purity and spirituality.
Between the tulips and the chives I found at the local U-District Farmer's Market, I knew cashew and chives would be a part of my recipe. And well, this spring I am trying new things, and ranch made the list. Pleasantly surprised, I have overcome my fear of savory white things, especially because this dressing is packed with protein and fresh herbs. Enjoy!
How to Make Cashew Ranch Dressing
Prep Time: 5 minutes Makes approximately 2/3 cup Ingredients: 1/2 cup cashews soaked (at least 2 hours) 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp almond milk 2 tsp lemon juice 1.5 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 1.5 tbsp fresh chives, chopped 1 garlic clove 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp oregano Splash of olive oil + apple cider vinegar Pinch of pepper Directions: Blend all of ingredients, except for the parsley and chives, in a food processor. While blending, wash and chop the herbs. Once the dressing meets your desired texture, pour it into a bowl and mix in the herbs. Serve with your favorite salad or wrap. This recipe compliments this wrap: Raw Collard Greens Rainbow Wrap + Cashew Ranch Dressing What's your favorite cashew-based dressing? Let's Connect! Save all your Yummly recipes to your recipe inbox, click on the yum!
Rainbows are symbolic to spring. As part of my "Inspired by nature," motto, I spent much time in nature this spring, studying the petals, the colors and the leaves to inspire my culinary creations. Seattle's springtime weather is a mixture of sun, clouds and rain. And sometimes the sun shines while it rains, creating some of the most beautiful rainbows I've ever seen.
Tulips are a significant part of our PNW culture. Every year, thousands of Seattleites visit the Mount Vernon tulip and daffodil fields. It's not as spectacular as the Netherlands, but it is a must-see while visiting Seattle in the spring.
Walking around Queen Anne, I "never" realized how intricate the color-patterning of the tulips. Various hues of warm and cool colors, some of which fuse together to paint the petals with natural beauty.
Tulips promote the rainbow. Their petals match the same color as the vegetables we eat, and this also includes white. White is the color of purity, wholeness and completion. White signifies balance of all the colors and balances the positive and the negative qualities.
The sun, considered our fuel source, contains all the colors of the prism and emits white light generated from heat. When you look into a prism, you'll notice all the different colors of the rainbow. White light contains all of the wavelengths, which is no surprise as why the color white is important in various cultures and spiritual practices. The sun, like our metabolism, is a power-being that releases heat. The fuel we eat signifies the type of heat (energy) we will burn. This is why food from nature is ever-so-powerful.
Rainbows are symbolic to ancient cultures and spiritual beliefs/practices. Rainbows represent spirituality, ascension, hope, potential, transformation, divinity, creation and expansion.
Rainbows are as majestic as they are mysterious. It is one of the most beautiful artistic creations from the divine. Many Polynesian cultures believe rainbows are messengers from God, like the rainbow goddess, Anuenne. Our very own native Americans share the story of the Rainbow Prophecy. The Norse people saw rainbows as a bridge, "bifrost" from the Gods to the earthly plane. Rainbows are also a significant part of the Bible and our seven archangels.
Some refer to the rainbow as "angel colors." From an energetic standpoint this makes sense. As a student from a lineage of yoga taught in India, the Bible and archangel perspectives of color are similar to chakra and aura theory.
According to color-meaning.com, here are the seven archangel color meanings:
Color-meaning.com states, “a rainbow is a sign from the Almighty that we are not forgotten”. It is mentioned in the story of Noah’s Ark; after God appeared before Noah following the flood, there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky signifying his Glory and Power as well as His Covenant
Spring is an extroverted time of year. It's the season where we shed our hibernation skin and expose ourselves to the world. The earth gains more light at this time of year and we feel more energized, revived and renewed. It's important to fuel our spirits with energy-gaining foods. And one way to expand your soul and transform your metabolism is through the type of food you eat.
Eating the rainbow is more than a trendy, hippie fad. In fact, I am sad that everything I loved as a kid is now a corporate sell-out fad (ahem, unicorns). You cannot be a unicorn by ingesting cups full of artificially-colored sugar coffee.
Let nature be your guide. Let nature be your teacher. Let nature be your source of fuel.
Last year, I did a raw juice blog based on the rainbow colors of the rhododendrons: 7 Easy & Affordable Detox Juices: A ROYGBIV Inspiration from Seattle’s Rhododendrons As the earth gains light, bring the light from nature into you. Secretly, plants emit light during photosynthesis, something we cannot see, but important to ingest. Rainbows signify a union between the elements: earth, air, fire and water. The sun (fire) emits rays, which pierces through dew (water) in the sky (air) and strikes the planet (earth) with its beauty. Like the seven archangels, these wraps include seven ingredients, smothered by a touch of white - an all-natural cashew ranch dip.
Raw Collard Greens Rainbow Wrap + Cashew Ranch Dressing
Prep Time: 20-30 minutes Serves: As many as you'd like Ingredients: Medium-sized collard green leaves 1 cup cherry tomatos, quarter and de-seeded 1 large carrot, grated 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced 1 avocado, thinly sliced 1 cup purple cabbage, thinly sliced 1 beet, grated Dressing: 1/2 cup cashews soaked (at least 2 hours) 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp almond milk 2 tsp lemon juice 1.5 tbsp fresh parsley 1.5 tbsp fresh chives 1 garlic clove 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp oregano Splash of olive oil + apple cider vinegar Pinch of pepper Directions: Wash and prep the vegetables. Cut the stem off of the collard greens. Use a small knife and shave off the fat part of the stem on the outside of the leaf. Load your collard greens with the vegetables in any method that suits you (don't over stuff). Roll the greens like a burrito. Fold in the short ends (stem sides) of the leaves inward. Begin rolling the large end of the flap nearest to you and roll until complete. Cut in the middle, or just slice off one end. If you need help keeping the leaves together you can use a toothpick. For the dressing, place all of the ingredients, except for the parsley and chives, into a food process. Blend until smooth. Once complete, stir in the chives and parsley. Check out our other Rainbow Inspired recipes: 7 Easy & Affordable Detox Juices: A ROYGBIV Inspiration from Seattle’s Rhododendrons Let's Connect! Save all your MBSF recipes in your Yummly recipe box! |
AuthorElizabeth Rae Kovar M.A. is Author of her memoir, Finding Om and is a Fitness Trainer, Yogi, Reiki Master, Presenter and Lover of Life. To view her portfolio please visit www.elizabethkovar.com Categories
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