Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Your Period During the Equinox and the Solstice

Some women think that their moon cycle is determined strictly by the full moon, however this is truly not the case. The lunar cycle is a twenty eight day cycle that balances the energy of a woman's reproductive health. Every twenty eight days a women's body prepares for conception and bringing forth divine life, which is what she is designed to do. This cycle is evident in the flow of her sacred menstrual bloods that can normally be calculated to the day of when the menstrual cycle will begin.

The woman's body also has a seasonal cycle that most women are unaware of, and this is how the menstrual cycle also relates to the four time shifts of every year that maintains the balance of the seasons on the earth. These are known as the equinox and the solstice. During the two equinox seasons of spring and fall, the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length. During the two solstice seasons of summer and winter is when the sun reaches its highest (winter) or lowest (summer) point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest (summer) and shortest (winter) days.

For women who use their moon cycle as a part of their techniques for spiritual, emotional and mental balance know that during the full moon is a good time to access positive energy and the new moon is a good time for new beginnings and growth. If a woman is healthy and in alignment with the natural rhythms of the earth, during the equinox her menstrual cycle will be in sync with the full moon. Again if she is healthy, during the solstice her menstrual cycle will be in sync with the new moon. If you have kept track of your cycle over the past year and you eat natural seasonal foods, hydrate properly, avoid medications, get the proper rest and have a system of living that eliminates excessive stress, drama and trauma, you will find this pattern to be true for your body.

Now let's look at the connection with the moon, the seasons and reproduction. The beauty in the creation of the woman's body goes far beyond her physical. As a divine feminine her ability to sustain life on the planet through conception and birthing is hands down one of her most beautiful features. Ideally the period only happens when conception is not achieved. Then the woman's body is then given a time to cleanse and rejuvenate over the next twenty eight days of each month. If the menstrual cycle comes forth during the full moon and the equinox it creates the venue for the woman to spiritually and physically enhance her nurturing skills, cultivate her creativity and a greater expanse of time to pamper herself with the extended days over a three month time frame. If the menstrual cycle comes forth during the new moon and the solstice, the seasons create the venue for the woman to mentally and emotionally reorganize her life, easily make positive plans for the future, change destructive habits, and move in and out of relationships that no longer serve her highest good. Take notice: you have probably had the courage to leave the most unhealthy relationships during the summer and winter and around your menstrual cycle time. ;-)

The power of the feminine divine is immeasurable and the creator designed these cycles of nurturing self for the care and protection of the world. Your menstrual cycle is a natural part of you and never let anyone tell you that it does not serve you well. Which leads me to my next point, apparently there some old men and some young men, I won't name names that have been perpetrating a farce about the menstrual cycle being unnatural, well I have a few words to say about that on in my next blog. We'll elevate from that level of stupidity and set the record straight. Stayed tuned.

Dr. Akua Gray
May 17, 2016
Houston, Texas

Learn more about the divine feminine in my latest book
Holistic Sexuality: A Practical Guide to Sexual Healing

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The World Vegan Tour 2016

It's a fact in today's busy world that most people are going to eat out more than they have time to stay home and prepare delicious home cooked meals, and those of us who choose a vegan eating lifestyle, often find ourselves with slim choices when it comes to eating out. We still have to compromise sometimes by dining at a restaurant that is not exclusively vegan and hope that they get your order right. No flesh, no dairy, no animal broth and no butter is hard for many non-vegan cooks and chefs to understand, so they think they are doing you a favor by adding some gravy! Ok let's stop there...


Now the one thing more that I like other than eating, is eating vegan and I'll be sharing with you some of my favorite vegan spots around the world this summer and fall. Dr. Chenu and I will be hitting the road and taking to the air to find some new exclusively vegan spots to share with you. So get ready to expand your vegan outreach with a personal review from us on the look, feel and taste of plant based eateries from the continents, countries and cities of the world!

Let's get started with the #1 city on the globe New York, NY! We had been hearing about this new place near Central Park from a group of colleagues that are big on vegan in the Big Apple and it just so happens that it is a stone's throw, which is a really short walk from our apartment in Harlem. After a Sunday morning walk in Central Park we decided to find this new spot for brunch. This cozy little boutique styled restaurant was very warm, inviting and dazzling. I love window seating so we picked a table front and center that gave us the best view from 55 St. Nicholas Avenue.



 If flavor was the point, Seasoned Vegan got it right! We started off with a really yummy vegan chicken salad in these lovely crispy shells and then moved on to real brunch dishes of grits, vegan fried fish with mixed veggies. Our second entree was smothered vegan chicken, with macaroni and vegan cheese and another assortment of mixed vegetables. Dr. Chenu and I always split our dishes to sample more varieties of the menus, and this was a hard split for me! My taste buds wanted every morsel.

As we neared the end of our meal, I went to introduce myself to the owner Ms. B and she was so thrilled that we enjoyed our meal that she offered us a dessert on the house and a sample of one her signature dishes, Vegan Crawfish made from fresh burdock root. I was so surprised by the taste, one, because I had never eaten fresh burdock and two, because in all honesty you cannot tell the difference between this vegan dish and real crawfish! I was even a little skeptical at first because although I have not eaten crawfish in more than 20 years the taste buds never forget and this dish was just too real in flavor and texture.

Seasoned Vegan gets 4 stars from me. I love the southern flavor, being from the South it is always nice to revisit those flavors I grew up with.  Although I"m ok with soy and TVP products it is good to use these in moderation. I plan to swing by Seasoned Vegan every time I'm visiting Harlem to get a taste of some of their non-soy/TVP selections as well.

Harlem has a treasure in it's midst and I highly recommend this be a must eat there spot for you!
Remember we'll be coming to you live as we make our way to some of the Top Vegan Restaurants in the world! Stay tuned.

Dr. Akua Gray
Houston, TX
May 10, 2016