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A Journey into Thought & Spirit

Secrets from the Sparrows in Seville, Spain

7/31/2017

2 Comments

 
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It’s been a long road, and a road well worth the travel. One of the best decisions I’ve made has been to let myself be free, comfortable with my identity and spiritual beliefs. 
 
Freedom rules my existence and Seville reawakened my spiritually drained soul. To understand what the sparrow means in my life, we must take a journey back in time.
 
Lately, I’ve been into small birds, but specifically, a sparrow. These tiny little brown birds beg for waste grain at the European cafes. In Colmar, France, I walked into a vintage-antique shop to find 1800’s animal sketching’s. I flipped through one hundred pages, searching for the animals that called out to me. Somehow I had to find small birds that at least looked like a sparrow. Not tropical birds, not big birds and not birds of prey. Small, tiny, little birds, which is what my soul wanted.

Lately, I've really been into birds, specifically the sparrow. Found these precious 1830-1850 sketching son #colmar France all three for 10€ - love supply and demand □ #wanderlust #wanderer #traveler #travel #france #frenchie #antiques #antique #antiqueshop #vintage #vintageshop #birds #birdsofinstagram #traveling #travelstagram #artwork #art #artist #artistsoninstagram #creativeart #sketch #drawings #drawingoftheday #owl

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on Jul 1, 2017 at 9:53am PDT


I don’t know why, but right now I am attracted to small birds, which maybe because somehow I am appreciating the small things in life.  And when we appreciate the small things, we become more grateful for everything in life. 
 
Seville is a city that moves to the beat of its own drum. It’s got soul. It’s got spirit. It’s no wonder why everyone falls in love with Seville.
 
Standing next to the Seville Cathedral, I heard the trumpets and horns play in the background for Corpus Christi. I looked into the air and noticed swarms of little brown birds circle in the sky, like the circle of life. 
 
Inside the cathedral, I lost my emotions with tears streaming down my face. Big burley Spanish men wearing white carried the Mother Mary countless blocks into the Cathedral. Everyone dressed his or her best, from young and old. 
 
Endless cross statues flooded the air, which was thick with spirit. I stood next to a pillar with my sunglasses on and continuously wiped the tears that streamed down my cheek. 
 
Have I finally re-entered this realm of seeking Christ? Through 12 years of being open to spiritual experiences, I always questioned Christ, angels, or anything to do with Christianity. I think I believed in them, I just wanted scientific evidence. The more I progressed my spiritual journey, the closer I became to my ancestral roots. As an ex-Christian basher and a nature-lover and yogi, I think my soul has finally come home to the real meaning of Christianity, and rediscovering the power of Christ based on my own terms.

​This is a discussion for a separate blog post, but you really have to go to the beginning in order to understand where the corrupt separated from the authentic teachings. I keep looking at pictures of Christ and he represents this gentle, hippie soul with a Virgo nature about him - man beard, flowing long hair, Birkenstocks, white dress, cuddling a lamb - the guy resembles a west coast hippie.
 
I love old Gothic churches. Sometimes they creep me out, but nothing is more beautiful than the art and sounds from an ancient organ, or the angelic voices projected from a choir.
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Young people bent down on one knee to salute the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. No one bashed them because they were Christian. No one told them they were dumb or yelled at them to read a science book. They were left alone to practice their faith. Everyone from baby to grandma enjoyed this special holiday, dressed to the nines. 
 
I couldn’t understand why the Spaniards were so spiritual, and deeply rooted to their Catholic faith. I did not experience this while living in Germany or visiting France during holy days. Maybe its because when people struggle or don’t have much in life, they connect to their faith?  Spain’s unemployment crisis is an epidemic like obesity in America. The only thing this country survives on is olives and tourism. But the irony is that I've wanted to visit Seville for 14 years, and sometimes we must trust the divine that it has no timeline and things happen when the timing is right. 
 
I also shed a few tears at the complete horror of today’s culture. Instead of enjoying (or at least letting locals enjoy their holiday), countless selfie-sticks flooded the air, video taping and photographing every second of the ceremony, shoving their way to the front of the line. 
 
Yes, I took pictures too, but some people ran around the cathedral photographically raping every corner of the church and ounce of the ceremony. 
 
They are goddamn tech zombies. We are on a path to self-destruction but not many people are #woke to realize it. Where are we going in this material world?

 
At the Seville cafes, I sat, soaked in sweat, and threw tiny little pieces of bread on the ground. Three sparrows hopped around, while the main bird fed himself and the other two. Adorable and cute, the innocence of animals brings such wonder and joy to one’s day. They moved together. They flew together. They ate together. These birds had an inseparable bond.
 
Why am I so fascinated by sparrows? When younger, I paid attention to bigger animals – lions, bears, horses – you know the ones that get most attention in our world.
 
I love these little birds so much that I bought two small hand-painted bird statues and a shirt with blue birds on it in Seville. I wanted to find something made in Spain, which ironically is hard to do since everything is made in either India or China. Something about this trip led me to ultra-fascination with birds. 
 
I couldn’t quit figure it out, but I encountered plenty of sparrows on the streets and beaches of Mallorca.
 
In Mallorca, life was so beautiful; I couldn’t believe a place like this still exists. The surroundings were so surreal that I couldn’t believe all this dark political shit in the west exists.  
 
France and Germany are no longer the same places. Cops with machine guns roam the streets, protecting churches and keeping an eye on the locals. Nothing has the same luster and sense of freedom, specifically for women, like it did years ago or while I lived in Germany.
 
Near the end of Mallorca, sadness flooded through my spirit. Whenever I left Seattle, I used to be excited to return home. But not anymore, and that is what the lady next to me also expressed on my Southwest flight home from Oakland – who happened to be a Christian. 
 
Seattle, and America are on the verge of reaching a peak in this psychological epidemic. Europe is failing and becoming the next Roman Empire. I got sick on the international flight back to America. After a few days of being back in Seattle, I lost my voice.
 
My third chakra, blocked as fuck, is symbolic. I’ve been lost for sometime, suppressed in a sea of political correctness, hiding in fear that any criticism I share will backlash, even in the natural news segment of life. I’ve chosen to be an eagle to see things from a higher perspective rather than being a catfish and ground feeding off every crumb left on the floor. 
 
So what does this have to do with sparrows you may ask? Many things.
 
I am deeply intertwined with nature. I call on nature to share its secrets with me. Back in America, I wondered, “Why am I so fascinated with sparrows?”
 
I Googled, “spiritual meaning of sparrows.” And this is what I found.
 
“A common visitor with a love of old buildings that are a symbol of peasants and the common people. Most animal totem resources describe the sparrow as a synbol of peace and joy who denote that even a common little bird can triumph. But on the negative side, sparrows are aggressive fighters that will evict any nesting bird from a cavity to take over the site. Sparrows will tear up nests, break eggs, kill and toss out nestlings and adults and then build their nest right on top of the carnage. Therefore they can behave like little Nazi storm troopers invading neighboring territories and seizing “Lebensraum” (living space) from peaceful native inhabitants. So when you see sparrow types coming around be wary of those who may be coming to force you from your home and taking it for themselves.”
 
I also found this:
 
“It is said that the sparrow was the only bird around during the Crucifixion of Jesus and became symbolic of the triumph after a time of long suffering. This tiny little bird who seems so insignificant today was once a symbol of household divinities in Britain and in the Middle Ages was a symbol of the peasants of the lower classes in all of Europe who were in a state of helplessness under the power of the Lords over them.  These peasants loved to tell and hear stories of how a small little bird like the sparrow would triumph over enemies like a wolf, bear or eagle that symbolized the different houses of the nobility.”
 
The sparrow has told me the secret I needed to know. I believe (though I am still questioning certain things) if you ask the divine for what you want, you can receive a glimpse to an answer (though some people say that is just a coincidence.) The problem is that so many people are spiritually clogged and mentally fogged to have any sort of awareness to the answers that are given to them. (Like the doctor saying, “Hey if you keep up this lifestyle, you’ll become a diabetic. The doctor is giving you an answer to your potential future.)
 
It is time for us to quiet our minds. I share the same birthdate at Charles Dickens and other writers and spiritual nobles who saved countless lives like Desmond T. Doss. 
 
I am astrologically connected to these folks who critique and criticize society but do not lose faith in their faith and ability. 
 
My soul has bled tears for the people and peasants of western countries, especially in terms of our health in America. Sick, obese, lost and confused, many of our citizens are lost. The upper elite, establishment is transforming our country into India. I lived in India and it’s not a happy reality. In Seattle, we have a population of extreme power and wealth, meanwhile our homeless is hooked on heroin, one of the hardest drugs on the market. This extreme gap between upper and lower class, is a ramification of globalization, but most want to ignore that. 
 
Life is a battle between the light and dark. And there are many wolves hiding in sheep’s clothing. 
 
The sparrow reminded me that the right wing and left wing are a part of the same bird. In order for the bird to fly, it must use both of its wings. A bird cannot fly with one wing. What is happening today is not a battle between the right and the left. It is a battle between the people (very Age of Aquarius) and the establishment (globalists), the people who want to destroy everything we know. It will be another “war” between the natural and artificial world. The psychological, spiritual and material messes that we have today are results of the artificial world. 
 
And in order for the “establishment” to win, it must infiltrate its dark forces on both sides of the bird, and become the wolf in sheep’s clothing. They are neither right nor left. They are their own breed and they need to outbreed the other two. 
 
The Nazi concept of lebensraum still exists today. Some countries are powerful and wealthy because of natural resources. But Mother Earth is drying out in those parts of the world, and these people need a new living space, lebensraum. (This also includes wiping out the old, our heritage, to bring in the new.) The new ideology needs it’s own living room.  
 
Nature has the secrets and wisdom, but you have to be a scientist (or detective) and investigate the hypothesis. The world we once knew is no longer here. This is a new age, or millennial, that will have new problems and new battles. I hope I am wrong and that the power of the people can preserve our ancestral roots. 
 
Although I feel like a tiny little bird who will receive much criticism, I know my spiritual experiences in Seville served a purpose to strengthen and summon my soul to stand up for the people and our natural world. The peasants and the light will win. 
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Sunspiration #53: Be Authentic

7/30/2017

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In a recent blog post, Staying Authentic: Inspirations from Blogfest, I discussed thoughts about authenticity.  Not only have I re-resurrected my authentic side, but I hope to inspire people to be themselves. 

In a world dominated by brand image, it is difficult to express your voice, opinions or inner-nature. If everyone wants to be like everyone else, won't that make a less interesting and diverse world?

Being authentic takes courage and strength. It's what makes you, you and them, them. Staying authentic is what makes the world a more interesting place because you bring your gifts to the world in an authentic way. And today it seems like things are becoming less authentic.

I've seen this shift in the yoga industry. Ten years ago people were themselves, but today in order to "fit in" you have to fit the image of what everyone else looks like today and wear celestial skinny pants (or lululemon), "Namastay Everyday" tank tops,  dye your hair, drink out of a bamboo water bottle and decorate your body with tattoos and 9,000 trinkets dangling from the wrist.  

Where in the yoga sutras of Patanjali does it say to adopt the latest material trend? What will they do once this trend fades? That lifestyle may be true to some people, but for most they are trying to be someone they are not. What is the moral of this story? Be Yourself without trying to be like everyone else. 


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.

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How to Make a Vegan Nut Cheese Spread

7/26/2017

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Vegan cooking has graduated from EASY101 to a more sophisticated method of cooking. Ever since I started my vegan cooking journey in 2004, I am thrilled, and sometimes shocked, at how much the industry has changed. Back in college, at Bowling Green State University, I worked at a small vegan cafe and health food called "Squeakers." During this time, veggie burgers were innovative and every product contained soy. 

Products like cashew milk and coconut yogurt didn't exist - until now. However, sophisticated cooking doesn't have to be difficult. I preach simple living and though I cook nearly everyday, I don't have endless minutes to spend in the kitchen.  

Making a nut cheese spread is easier than one thinks. All you do is soak the nuts, blend the ingredients and wah lah - cheese spread. Use this on baked goods like crostatas or galletes, or use as a savory spread on top of bagels. The choice is yours.

​This savory recipe uses blanched almonds, but you can replace this with cashews or macadamia nuts. 
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How to Make a Nut Cheese Spread
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Prep time: 5-10 minutes

Ingredients: 
1 cup blanched almonds
1 garlic clove
1.5 tbsp. lemon juice
1.25 tbsp. olive oil
1/8 + 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp. nutritional yeast
2-3 tbsp water

Directions:
Place all of the ingredients into a food processor, except for the water and blend. While blending, gradually add the water one tablespoon at a time. Scrap the sides of the food processor and blend until your desired texture. Adjust any flavors and serve. 

From here, you can also bake the cheese. Form the cheese into a wheel and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. 

Stay tuned next week for my squash blossom crostata using this nut cheese spread. 

​
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Staying Authentic: Inspirations from Blogfest

7/25/2017

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Gratitude is one of life's most basic principles. Sadly, the word has been overused becoming as buzzy as an annoying wasp. Pretentious yoga instructors and shirtless "spiritual gurus," with mala beads dangling around their neck overuse the word gratitude. 

When anything has been overused it becomes trendy, mainstream and loses it value. And when that happens, I stop using that word. 

But, I am very thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to attend blogfest, especially at this point in my life, a time of resurrecting the authenticity in me. 
Years ago, I knew who I was, but either had a hard time showing it or showing my true, authentic self because it doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the crowd.   

I am not, and will never be, some crossfit zealot who can perform 50 box jumps and 20 one-armed pushups in 30 seconds, or a person who will motivate the crowd as a female version of Todd Durkin. 

It's not me. It's not who I am. So why do it? If I tried to replicate Durkin, it would be as noticeably fake as fake news.

You don't have to be a badass to be a good fitness instructor or an influential personal trainer. You can be strong, even with a delicate, feminine frame. I believe in developing myself internally, creating a rockhard spirit and mindset that cannot be swayed by others.

On a physiological level, I may tire quicker than these people but I am good and expert at other things, like performing a headstand or actually focusing on something else besides the physical.  
Because I love yoga, I automatically get type-casted into the woo-woo crowd, but ironically most of my career has been spent in the logical realm, helping the everyday health seeker. I was born and raised as an athlete. The competitive gene still exists within me, which gets ignited every time I enter the tennis court. But even in the realm of yoga, there is an artificial sugar-coating that tops the true, authentic teachings. 
I am rooted enough in my identity that I can get inspired while balancing thoughts in my head without automatically coming to a conclusion. And that is what blogfest taught me. 

When approaching certain brands and booths, in the matter of 10 seconds, I noticed whether or not trying to partner with someone would be a right fit. Ironically, I've heard similar stats to someone who visits a website or a manager looking at a resume - they somehow know something internally (aka intuition). 

One major takeaway from Blogfest is the need to stay authentic and to be different. Or at least that's what I got from Todd Durkin's key note address. His speeches are very motivational. He has an energy that can skyrocket to Mars fueled by one protein bar.

I sometimes think of myself as a quirky spiritual individual. I'm more neutral now than I have ever been in my life.

Why? 

​Because as a coach, trainer and a leader, balancing logic and spirit and staying neutral is what can get people to meet their goals. For example, I don't eat meat, but most of clients eat meat. It is not my right or my job to dictate an ideology. Now I can encourage one to eat more vegetables or try to eat one veggie-based meal per day, but being a dictator or enslaving people into "a must do" is not my jam. That in itself is being different. Divorcing from your own ideology to help others is a must so that people can learn, grow and heal. 

How would this person grow with a coach shoving veganism down their throat? They'd probably run to the hills and find the first cow they could milk. 

People, whether they realize it or not, love to be enslaved. They want people to TELL THEM how to live rather than making that decision for themselves. Most people yearn to be free, but subconsciously hold themselves back. Enslavement is rooted into our DNA. 

Being authentic requires one to stay grounded and to have a clear, focused mind. It's about growing thy roots so deep into the ground that when one sees the herd flocking in one direction, the mind remains strong and intact. There are too many people in this world pretending to be someone they're not. 

It is in my core to remain authentic and continue to spread the light at a time when darkness is on the rise. I've ascended beyond the physical, there are plenty of trainers for that, and now it is that time to battle for the mind, spirit and natural world. 

I'll end with the biggest lesson from the conference. "Don't be afraid to hit the publish button." I've been afraid to push that button for a long time out of a fear of judgement. 

Thank you for reading and following my journey. Stay posted as I reveal a special message from the sparrows in Seville, Spain.
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My Journey of How Getting to Blogfest Reminded Me About the Timing of Life

7/19/2017

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I woke up with tired eyes at 5:00am in Seattle. Tired. Dazed. And confused, I made way to the train station and caught a glimpse of the sun rising over Seattle's skyline. 

The morning was beautiful, filled with light, chirping birds and puffy clouds. The weather was fare and I felt it was hard to leave home. But at least I'll be able to work on my suntan at the Vegas pool. 

I boarded my Delta flight and once all the passengers boarded, the captain said, "There are thunderstorms in Las Vegas and we'll be here for at least 40 minutes." We sat on the run for 90 minutes. Impatient, I noticed on Facebook that others had the same issues. 

Delays, re-routes, I wasn't too impatient, but the irony of landing in the dessert cloudy, humid and wet was hilarious. 

Since middle school, I desired to become a writer. If you follow me, you know my quirks about Charles Dickens and I sharing the same birthdate. The stardust pushed me to become a writer. Not a novella nor a poet, but a dedicated activist to healthy living. 

I yearn for freedom and thanks to technology, blogging allows personal, unedited expression. As a love of communication, expressing my voice is important to my wellbeing. 

But will I ever be able to live full-time off blogging? That mystery to life is unknown, but I will say that the timing in life can be ironic.

Yesterday, I rummaged through my closet to find my small Sierra Club book bag. The bag was empty except for a small piece of paper. This piece of paper noted that I will be transitioning into a new line of work. . 

Though I won't ever truly leave fitness, I still hold hope for my American Dream to become a full-time writer. 

AND I've been wanting to attend a blog fest since 2012. Either the timing wasn't right, I couldn't afford the conference or had prior commitments. Just like I wanted to attend Burning Man or visit Ibiza or Seville since I was 18, it took 12-14 years for those dreams to come true. 


The divine has no timeline and for whatever reason my flight was delayed, or that I am attending blogfest in 2017, I know I must always trust the timing of my life. Sometimes things happen for a reason when it's meant to happen. 

Trust in the divine, 
​Elizabeth 
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6 Mental Fitness Exercises to Boost Creativity

7/19/2017

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Photo by Pixabay

Author: Larry Mager
Some people ooze creativity; it’s like a gift. For most people, however, creativity can be a challenge. Especially if we have too much stress, a looming deadline, or just too much to do. Sometimes being creative takes extra work, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Quite often it only takes a small effort to tap into a creative flow. But what kind of effort? It’s different for everyone, but through a few tricks and pushing your brain into exercise mode, those small efforts can pay off very quickly. Here are six methods that can help you dive back into creative mode.

1. Get Moving
Go for a walk, go for a run, hit an exercise class, do some jumping jacks. People use exercise to blow off steam and ease symptoms of stress, so the same holds true for removing a creative block. Movement and changing our surroundings can be a big factor toward zeroing in on a new idea or giving us a new perspective.

2. Brainstorm
Two heads can be better than one, so pull someone else into the conversation. Just bouncing ideas off of another personopens your mind to different options. Talking it out and writing down ideas will make a big difference in breaking down any creative blocks, and you’re likely to come away with more than one idea.

3. Time for Play
As adults, the general rule of thumb is that there isn’t time to play or that play is for children. That couldn’t be further from the truth. More and more studies point to the physical, mental, and creative benefits of play. In fact, many large companies these days incorporate play into the work environment to promote more creative thinking. And play can come in a variety of forms. It can be through painting or drawing, building a fort or having a tea party, playing cards or chess, or even playing video games. Play allows us to color outside the lines a bit, which helps to uncork all kinds of creative thoughts and ideas.
4. Start Writing
The simple act of writing your train of thought is a great tool for unlocking creativity. Start out by writing down whatever you are thinking with no rules or reasons for what you are putting to paper. You might find yourself veering off on tangents, but more than likely you will start to form more cohesive thoughts and ideas. Those thoughts can, in turn, lead to channeling more creative ideas.

5. Try Something New
The act of working outside of our comfort zone is like doing mental push ups. By challenging your brain with something different and trying something new, you are forced to change your approach. It can be something as simple as trying a new route home from work, or maybe it’s listening to a type of music you have never heard before.

6. Cut Back Your To-Do List
A busy job and a busy home life can eat away at creativity, and stress is a big factor when it comes to a creative block. It might not be easy to chuck the whole list, but cutting back significantly on the daily list of stressors in your life can help right your brain back into a creative thought process. Think of it as a form of self care, too, in that by minimizing stress levels you are opting for better mental health.

Discover more from Larry Mager at readybrain.net.


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Pineapple Mint Spritzer

7/17/2017

2 Comments

 
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How is the weather in your neck of the woods? Seattle's weather fluctuates between really hot and fall-like temperatures. But, for whatever reason the sun always feels more intense in Seattle compared to the Midwest and East coast. It's a mystery that many of us have not figured out. 

Some claim it's the latitude, but science debunks that. Even if its 75 or 80 degrees, that feels like a tropical heatwave while sitting underneath the sun for hours on end. 
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If you are in need of cooling off this summer, try this pineapple mint spritzer. This non-alcoholic version uses sparkling water. A lemon-lime soda or something bubbly like Champaign is another way to mix up this recipe. Perfect for picnics or pool parties, pineapple and mint are two natural digestive foods. 
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Today, more than ever, people suffer from stomach problems. In my ten years of training and health coaching, I honestly believe that many of our stomach problems result from chronic stress and emotional instability. 

Our mind and gut is more connected than you realize. Our enteric nervous system (ENS) is responsible for this connection via the vagus nerve. The stomach communicates to the central nervous system through the ENS. I will write more on this topic in a different blog post. Just note, that if you do not have food allergies or a pathology like Celiacs, check into your emotions to see to see if your stomach issues flare up during stress.

We cannot beat biology and eating while stressed, or being stressed all the time leads to indigestion and the inability to absorb nutrients.  

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Pineapple Mint Spritzer
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup sparkling water
8-12 mint leaves

Directions:
I find a 1:2 ratio of juice:sparkling beverage works well. However, adjust as needed. Also, mint goes far so for less minty flavor use 8 and onward up to 12 for a stronger flavor. 

Juice pineapple (or use store-shelf 100% pineapple juice) and split into two glasses. Muddle mint leaves (about 4-6 in each). From here you can leave the mint leaves in the juice or remove. Top with sparkling water. 

I also tried this by letting non-muddled mint leaves soak in the pineapple juice for several hours gave it a nice, cool refreshing taste. 

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Sunspiration #52: The Reality of Love

7/16/2017

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Flow Magazine
It's no secret that divorce rates are at an all time high and that people are settling down later in life. Lately, I have read much research in regards to how software engineers are manipulating the mind.

This led to questioning how Hollywood, erotic novels and social media influence our perceptions on love. When we meet someone, we experience a high and butterflies. And just like the honeymoon phase of newlyweds, the romance phase passes. 

This is not to say people should stop being romantic, but I wonder if our brains are addicted to so much stimulus that we get bored or weary when the exciting phases pass. We romanticize the perfect relationship filled with bubbles, champaign and strawberries dipped in chocolate, but TRUE love is about the struggles. 

It's about how two people overcome obstacles and find a way to meet halfway to make a relationship thrive. And somehow the more struggles we experience, the more our love grows. It's not perfect, but it sure is deep. 

​
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.
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Simple Stone Fruit Salad - Vegan Style

7/12/2017

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Simplicity is underrated. The more complicated life gets, the more I revert back to the basics of simple living. Simplicity may appear boring, but in my life experience, it's the most freeing experience in the world. 
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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
-Leonardo da Vinci

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I love summer nature walks. It's a time where I let my thoughts wander as I meander through the trails or city streets. Most of the time when we marvel at something in nature, we gravitate toward the big, bold and beautiful things.

Sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful □ #flowers #flower #flowerstagram #flowerstalking #flowergram #inspiration #motivation #nature #naturelover #beauty #seattle #seattlenw #seattlelife #pacnw #pnw #outdoorlife #travel #traveler #traveling #mindfulliving #lifestyle

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on Jul 12, 2017 at 7:54pm PDT

And sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful, like these sidewalk flowers. They aren't primped or groomed. They grow naturally and although small, they are bold and just as beautiful as the other flowers. 
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The simplicity of the flowers inspired me to make something simple. And since stone fruits are in season, a simple fruit salad is one of the best ways to enjoy these fruits.
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Stone fruits are interesting. My observation of them are that they are soft on the surface and hard in the center. In some ways, this is symbolic to life, or at least where we need to progress. This is misinterpreted as being a hard ass, which is not the point. 

We can still be warm and friendly, but also strong in our values and beliefs. It's about growing a backbone and not letting others influence you. We need to be strong spiritually, which is something we're lacking. We want more of everything - more money, more power, a better status, a better job title. We are literally becoming hamsters running tirelessly in a wheel. 

Coming tomorrow is a new #recipe for a stone fruit salad using @lovemysilk vanilla yogurt - mmm simple, delicious and healthy □ □ #vegan #veganfood #vegetarian #veganrecipes #veganfoodporn #veganfoodshare #f52grams #seattle #seattlefood #glutenfree #foodblogger #foodporn #foodpics #diet #nutrition #mindfuleating #mindfulliving #food #foodie #vegan #veganfoodporn #healthyeating #healthyfood #healthy #familyfood #slowfood #glutenfree #sugarfree #thenewhealthy #personaltrainerfood

A post shared by Elizabeth Kovar (@erkovar) on Jul 12, 2017 at 8:01pm PDT

For this recipe, I used Silk's vanilla yogurt. I like this yogurt as you can taste and see the vanilla bean inside. I've been loyal to Silk ever since I started working at a vegan cafe in college at Bowling Green State University. Someone once told me one of the original creators of Silk graduated from BGSU, but I am not sure if that is accurate. If it is, than hooray and long live the expansion of Silk. 
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Simple Stone Fruit Salad - Vegan Style
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 3-4

Ingredients:
2 peaches, sliced
2 plums, sliced
2 apricots, sliced 
2 nectarines, sliced (used white)
10 Rainier cherries, cut in half (or regular cherries)
1 SIlk vanilla soy yogurt (small container)
Pinch of cinnamon

Directions:
Wash and slice the fruit off the stone. Pour in the soy yogurt and the pinch of cinnamon. Mix until well-coated. Serve chilled. 
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Understanding Linear (Mundane) Consciousness and Non-Linear (Spiritual) Experiences

7/10/2017

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Today, it is apparent that there is a battle between science and spirituality. While I believe we need both (and some religions use mathematics in their art or beliefs), today, people battle between the who’s right and who’s wrong of what is going on in the unforeseen world.
 
The battle between atheism and religions (or spirituality) is seen through our political structure on how people want to see our country progress. I thought I’d share a few thoughts about my understanding of how humans think in relation to spiritual experiences.
 
Humans think logically (though a lot of people today are being led down a socially engineered path of irrational thought through the disguise of logic).  We tend to experience life in a logical progression. 

For example: You graduate highschool. You go to college. You get a job. You get married. You have a family.
This is also noticeable in one's daily routine. You wake up. You drink coffee. You drive to work. You eat lunch at noon, and so forth. Most people follow mundane consciousness because it is linear in nature. You progress through life via steps, as seen below.

A > B > C > D > E > F > G

In order to get to step G, you encounter life experiences A through F.  In terms of life events, we would view this notion as step A causes B. Step B causes step C and so forth. This is the comfortable progression for most people (aka normal life) and can use this concept on a daily routine or through our evolution in life.

Now a non-linear experience, which I call a “spiritual” experience doesn’t follow the same method of progression. 

P > B > C > D > E > F > Q

In the above sequence, P is directly and causally linked to event Q, although they appear to be unrelated in the natural progression of linear (mundane) consciousness.  

One example is a woman who is miserable at her job and feels like they’ve lost their soul. Her love life sucks and to make life worse, her boss fires her unexpectedly. She’s so depressed that she decides to go backpacking in Europe. While on this trip, she meets the man that she will marry. If the she didn’t lose her job (P), she wouldn’t have met her future husband (Q). This event came out of the blue and was not a rational or linear progression in life. It was unexpected. So this person progressed from P to Q without having to experience steps B through F. 
Another real life example is a colleague who loved fitness as a hobby. His parents were 700 pounds combined and his dad died early in life because of morbid obesity.  This inspired him to quit his job in astronomy and pursue a career in fitness. Today, he’s an award-winning fitness trainer and is one of the most respected educators in the fitness industry. His father’s death was a blessing in disguise.
The causal event (P) can be “good or bad,” and sometimes the most tragic, chaotic and heart-breaking scenarios lead us on the “right” path. The non-linear path is irrational, but uses fate or a divine intervention to progress us in life.  

Some claim events like this are chaotic and others claim it is synchronicity. Whenever life “shakes us up” from our linear path, it’s definitely chaotic and possibly exciting.
 
Even though you cannot see the unforeseen world, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist or that that there is a rational “linear” path that happens above to get us through life in a "chaotic way." 

This is why I believe we need to balance science and spirit. Many are too quick to jump in either boat, denying the other subject. Understanding both helps you see situations in the individual and collective world. 

For example, America’s 2016 Presidential election is a perfect example of an irrational experience. Clinton was a well-spoken, well-qualified and well-educated candidate. It seemed logical that America would progress from its first African-American to its first female president and that someone who spent 30 years in politics would become president. Trump was a brash, unqualified candidate who fought for traditional values.  Now I won’t get into the details of the fight between globalism (border free world) and traditionalism (sovereign nations).
 
But, who would actually vote for this guy? Why would anyone with one working brain cell vote right? 

Many Christians believed that God would choose the right candidate for the election.  They saw traditionalism as an important piece of America’s thread to avoid a future of atheistic principles. Now the logical left thinks this is completely delusional and that Christians and Republicans are brainwashed idiots. But are they really? Who’s not to say that something higher than us is guiding us on our journey in life? For better or worse, the anti-establishment party did not seem like the logical, linear progression, unless it was the peace-promoting Bernie bro team. It was a battle between logic and spirit and the presidential election DEFINITELY shook things up and has caused much chaos, specifically for those who do not have any spiritual grounding. Still to this day, they do not understand #wtf happened, not even Brexit. 

The divine has no timeline, and although we cannot fathom the current political situation, we will only know with time where this point in time leads us. Spiritual experiences and "events that occur out of thin air" challenge our mundane consciousness. It has powerful impact on our lives and makes us rethink and revalue our lives. 
 
Have you encountered spiritual experiences that shook up your world? Feel free to comment below, or state your experience and I’ll try to analyze the situation to the best of my ability.

The graph concepts are from the Metaphysical Meaning of Pi ebook. 
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    Elizabeth 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
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