My First Broken Spell.

Guilt, what a terrible feeling. 

If we feel guilty it must mean that we did something wrong. something we are ashamed of. But also that we repent and that we are willing to set things right.

I know I should not have given him the love potion, it was an act of despair. And though he was with me, I could see his mind wasn't there... I'm not entirely sure it was my magic's doing or if it all was going to happen anyways. What I did know is that it was all I wanted but not like that. 

Midnight Snow Songs, by Leonid Afremov

So, on the solstice night, I confessed it all to my sisters. And despite them being incredulous, mad and a little shocked at me for what I did they helped me cast a counter-spell and were very supportive, I am really blessed for having them. 

And I also came clear to him about the whole potion business. He knows I am a witch but he definitely was not expecting that. He obviously got really mad and probably felt betrayed. He has been keeping his distance ever since... I miss him and I hope I can see him again soon. 

I feel sad, but I'm focusing on the little things that make me happy and relying on my family at the moment. 

At least I don't feel guilty anymore. 

Happy holidays everyone!

The Forbidden Potion.

So I did it.

I offered the love elixir, hidden in some homemade chocolates. While he consumed it I looked at him in the eye and kissed him afterwards.

This raises many questions. Was it immoral to do what I did? Would he have loved me anyways without using magic and potions? How would he react if he ever found out?

Purple Wild Flowers, by Pol Ledent.

To be completely honest I am not used to casting this type of spells. Let alone preparing love potions. Don't get me wrong as a witch I am familiar with summoning and setting the protective Circle and I am acquainted with purifying and cleansing rituals, like the ones I host for on the solstices and equinoxes or the monthly re-energizing coven ritual that we do with every full moon phase. 

But I hardly ever perform self-gain based spells. 

Well on my defense I'll say he and I are already kind of dating. Then, I started developing stronger feelings. So I decided to ask him out in a proper formal way. He refused, as he has "emotional issues", whatever that means. But said he doesn't want to lose me. However, I decided to stop seeing him for my own sake. It seemed the wisest thing to do. But he charmed his way back into my life with sweet words and indulging memories, thus arousing old fantasies of a future in common.

So I said to myself "What the hell?", we had dinner, made love and promised to see each other again. But this time I could not let his insecurities gamble with my heart, I am a witch after all, so I waited to the crescent moon, got my rose quartz ready, searched for the Venus' seal, bought the ingredients, set the ritual and blended the potion.  While I was casting the spell, my hands started burning. Not literally, but the strong feeling of heat was unmistakable. That was happening to me for the first time, but I carried on and went to bed. During the following days, I was not myself at all. I acted completely out of impulse, burst into laughter or started singing out of the blue. (Ok, the last one isn't that weird on me, but this time it was different. Trust me.) Even when I was consciously making the effort to keep up appearances, I could clearly feel the eyes of people on me. Was I going crazy? Also, I felt happy, nervous, powerful, afraid and free all at once. 

Right before tempting him with my little present I felt great. Immensely confident. Even my voice changed! And once it had touched his lips and entered his system I felt a great urge to kiss him, and so I did. After that all my previous worries banished. All that "how am I going to make him love me?" doubt disappeared and in its place, I felt peace. He didn't leave me off of his side for the rest of the evening and cuddled me up all night till we fell asleep. 

I hope his love gradually awakes as I asked for in my spell:

"With every kiss, 

with every night we spent together..."

And I really hope I did the right thing here. 

Wish me luck... He hasn't pledged his eternal love to me (yet) but regardless I feel happy. 

Confusion, Secrets and Decisions.

Oops... It looks like I've been quite absent lately, I actually intended to write and publish a post for the summer solstice, but a series of events shifted my whole world. I thought I had things under control, but it seems that I am in a moment of change. 

Bridge of Caos, by Derek K. Nielsen

The guy I was "dating" left me. 

At work, my position was made redundant, so I got fired.

I applied for a uni course, after collecting all the required documentation... it got rejected. 

I had nothing. 

I'm guessing that a normal person would have been devastated but I know that everything is interconnected and I hold the view that everything happens for a reason, so I stayed calm, receptive, decentered and open to the energies. 

Maybe it all even was beneficial, perhaps I needed some turmoil to discover my resilience, I think it's good to treasure this kind of lessons, it also built my confidence up, shortly after losing my job I got a few interviews and landed a job. It isn't my dream job but... oh well it pays the bills. 

And then, unexpectantly, I met someone... We got on like a house on fire and things immediately heated up, after just a few days I won't say I'm in love, but now he's gone and I miss him deeply. Could it be that I am hungry for a relationship? 

Anyway, I'm taking all the above as signs and I have made the choice to change my life dramatically by moving to another country. Crazy? I know, but I don't care. 

Only a few people know the truth, I'm trying to keep it to myself for as long as I can. 

Uncertainty scares me.
  

He has shown signs that he likes me, but I've no idea how our relationship will develop, if at all. 

I'm afraid there is no turning back, and I don't know if I'll adapt there...

But still, somehow, I feel cheerful and optimistic on the inside. Weird, isn't it?

Happy Birthday Lirnfi!

Happy Birthday Lirnfi!

Wow 18 already it's hard to believe how time flies! It seems as though it was yesterday that we played that cars were monsters that fed on people to be able to move and had little plush-wars. 

You were always the quiet one, so I'm very happy to see that you've come out of your shell, that you are a little bit more out-there with Julia and I wish you the best with your tattoo artist passion, and though at that age you just want to eat the world and run wild let me advice you that sometimes is a good idea to slow down, to be a bit more centered and share your feelings. 

Even myself, though I'm technically a "man" I'm still a child in many aspects. And I'm starting to think that the moment of realizing that we're not as mature as we though is when we actually start maturing. 

So keep going and believe in yourself as much as I believe in you my darling. Apart from that, I'd also like to say thank you. 

Lirnfi Tubilda. 

Thank you for being a great support like the ground, though you were quiet and sometimes went unnoticed we could really feel  when you weren't there. Every time I think of you I remember the voice of consciousness, your amazing drawings, the days that you used to be my little princess and the amazing day when we could read each other's mind with telepathy! 

You are strong, talented and perceptive. You are on my mind every time I pass by the always green succulent plants, on the red berries of the Yew tree, in the deep blue and in the Tiger's eye crystals. I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart. 

So basically, happy birthday. But most importantly... Which color do you want your lollipop to be?

Love Spell.

The secrets of Love aren't known by many.

The Love Potion, by Evelyn de Morgan.

You'll feel an eternal thirst,

you'll feel an insatiable hunger,

but you won't know that love

melts and fuses

and feeds and satiates, 

the depths of your heart. 

I'll throw it in the wind, 

and you'll smell the roses.

I'll sing it to the Moon,

and you'll hear my call.

You'll suffer in silence

thinking and wondering

in dreams and nightmares

until our lips find the other's warmth.

Look me in the eye and you'll know Love.  

  

Consequences of Owning the Witch Title.

Considering that witchcraft has this dark misconception about it would you be outspoken about it?

I am. Because only through people recognizing you as a witch, seeing and knowing what you do and who you are will allow for the world to see us as what we are: a force of nature, wise women and men. 

Some witches might be afraid of discrimination or being feared, one of my now ex-boyfriends left me when he found out about my condition. 

Even worst my sister's first boyfriend left her coldly with a letter stating that as she was a "sinful" witch he could not risk his "salvation" by dating her as the "judgement day" was near. (this was 5 years ago by the way).

Circe, by John William Waterhouse

But also good things have comed out of being honest. The owner and manager of the first company I worked at felt it was very mature of me to embrace my way of life and being straightforward about it. I helped people that were raised in closed minded and restrictive cultures / religion to question some beliefs and think for themselves and it also helped people that felt the instinctive call for the craft to ask questions and even start practicing witchcraft. 

Every action has a consequence, but to let fear lead our decisions is not a good idea. Same goes for being gay or lesbian. We might suffer discrimination sometimes as many women do, or people with different racial backgrounds other than caucasian. But you know what they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 

Maybe that's why I've always found women wiser and more reliable. 

Why do we tend to focus on our few differences when the things that unite us are much more deeper and significant? We all feel and bleed. We all share the same sky and the same ground. So basically try not to judge someone before meeting them no matter what color they eyes are, whom they love or what they wear. Love and cooperation are stronger than fear and hatred. So set an example with your actions and be true to yourself. At least that's what I believe and practice.   

The Theorem of the Elements.

As a Witch I was initiated in the understanding of life and the natural elements that make it up. To be able to do this we must leave aside preconceived ideas, beliefs and all personal prejudices. It is necessary to listen patiently, in silence and with reverence, one by one, the lessons of mother nature, which will allow to anyone that wants to, to see and know. Nature only discovers its truths to whom are receptive. Accepting the truths that it suggests and wherever they lead, we'll have in harmony with us the whole universe.

The Tubilda lineage discerns a bit from the mainstream view of the elements. Our culture comprises nine basic elements in Nature: Water, source of life and symbol of union. Earth, represented both by  any land that can serve as a home for plant organisms and in geological forces, a symbol of health and fertility. Plants, and especially trees, as they form the connection between the terrestrial world and the celestial one, symbol of balance. Metal, an element that includes not only metals for witches, but also minerals, gems and crystals. Symbol of protection. Fire, which comprises the process of combustion, as well as electricity, symbol of destruction and renewal. The Air, which comprises the atmosphere and its processes, symbol of freedom and inspiration. Light; The sun, the day and energy, symbol of wisdom. Darkness; The moon, the night time and rest, symbol of regeneration. And the Secret Element, which is all and nothing at the same time, symbol of magic and life.

Oriental Elements, by Yin Lum

In most Western pagan traditions, a rather extended model, only contemplates four Elements; Fire, Air, Water and Earth as well as a fifth Element in charge of boosting and balancing the vital energy known as Spirit or Ether. Each of them is linked to a cardinal point, a color and a part of the human being: Fire, red and east, as spirit, linked to action; Air, yellow and north, as mind, linked to thought; Water, blue and west, as emotions; And Earth, green and south, as the body. These are represented in the famous pentagram, also known as the five-pointed star.
The elements have a very important role in relation to magic and rituals, they use fire for magic that requires action, such as boosting or creating something or an invocation. The air is used for everything related to divination, that is, when magic is directed to other times and places or in those cases where we're looking for answers. Water is used in evocation spells, that is when we transform or manipulate feelings, emotions and other intangible things. And Earth in magic that seeks transformation, such as alchemy or the use of the cauldron. Many western research on the Elements concludes here, or add s attachments to "magical beings" such as salamanders-fire, sylphs-air, undines-water, and gnomes-earth. They also often include knowledge about herbalism or astrology and convey a spiritual connection to the Elements and visit natural sites, such as forests, with respect.

The Oriental tradition, however, counts five Elements; Water, Wood, Earth, Fire and Metal and use the following cycles of energy relationships to gain balance and power through age-old techniques such as Feng Shui or the I Ching:

POSITIVE CYCLE

Water nourishes plants,

Wood is used to feed Fire,

Which becomes ashes and returns to the Earth,

The Earth creates metals,

And Metal mineralizes water.

NEGATIVE CYCLE

Water extinguishes fire,

The heat of Fire melts metal,

Metals cut wood,

Plants consume the earth,

And the Earth blocks and make water muddy.

They also have their version of the Secret Element, the universal energy with the difference that they are two opposing but complementary strands rather than a single entity. Yin and Yang. These are dynamic in the sense that their energy fluctuates: when one increases, the other decreases. Energy concentration is a yin process, while the tendency for its displacement and propagation is a yang process. Western thought tends to think that yin and yang are fixed states, yet in the oriental tradition they are continually changing. In the West we give yin and yang a moral connotation; Are exclusive, or the one or the other, which isn't true under oriental standards. They are extremes of a single whole; A dynamic equilibrium in continuous change, it is only detrimental what is in imbalance.

The Powers and Abilities of Your Spirit.

The spirit, the soul, our energy... We talk about those terms frequently but... Up to what point do we actually know what they are, what they do? The spirit bursts in the deepest level of consciousness, it's the capacity to place oneself before the cosmos and  philosophize about the existential features of the human condition, aka, the meaning of life and death, the final destination of the world, why are we here, etc. 

It complements the emotional and the logical aspects of our self and it deepens experiences such as to love another person, to get immersed in a project you are passionate about, and helps to give meaning and sense to our acts.

Mother Earth, by Jaison Cianelli.

In order to get closer to our spiritual self we must understand the powers it grants us, no matter our religious beliefs. The following are a synopsis of the spiritual habilites recognized by what some philosophers, psychologists, and developmental theorists refer to as Spiritual intelligence.

Sense and meaning;

The spirit enables people to seek meaning, since it emerges from the depths of our being as a primary need. But from its experience of being unfinished, the spirit is always searching.

I believe there is an intimate relationship between happiness and meaning, because it directly affects the way of perceiving one's existence. Only a person who has the experience of living his/her everyday  life , in a meaningful way, enjoys a subjective perception of inner well-being.

I thin the fullness of a life depends on how one has used the time he/she has received as a gift.

Questioning Beyond limitations;

The spirit gives power to formulate ultimate questions of existence.

Such as why was I born? What is the point of my existence? What will happen after my death? Why do we suffer? Why do we struggle? What is worth living for? What is worth doing? How should I make sense of my existence? Etc.

The spirit wants to know the WHAT about things.

Taking perspective. Distancing;

It means to separate, to distance oneself, but still be. In doing so, one can see things in perspective, and can see itself from a distance. Only in this way is one able to think for oneself. And then you know that your center is out of this world, that you belong to no-one.

I am in my body. I control and dominate it. At the moment of taking distance, passion advances without limits, pushes fear away and expresses its inner world.

After years of trying to understand this I believe it means to live at a certain distance from the body, just and necessary to not be dominated by it while still being conscious of it and using its energies and possibilities. This power not only distances oneself from the environment, but also from ideas, convictions, beliefs and values. Allowing people to see them in perspective, to question and criticise them, and relegate some of them them if necessary.

I think that the spiritual power of taking distance is the only way to really understand something.

Self-transcendence;

Transcending means going beyond any border, not being a conformist, to keep moving forward.

The power of transcendent expresses a lack but at the same time a hope. This capacity empowers the human being to move towards the unknown. Transcend to open up to new perspectives, it is not the will to colonise or control, but the desire to overcome.

To transcend means, in some way, to shed the banal and the predictable, and to delve into the essential.

We are settled in a place, in circumstances, but at the same time, we aspire to do something that we are not yet, but we believe we can become.

Our nature as human beings evokes transition, a path or itinerary towards what is not yet. It is the motor of human life, the vital impulse that moves you to go beyond, to overcome any limit, to enter new worlds to live fully and intensely, thus enjoying reality in a more intimate way.

Love;

Love is the cause of life and what keeps it moving. Love is the sign and the justification. So love it all.

Laziness? Shake it off. Just strive, make an effort. Nothing more than this. And you will have justified your life. Empower and improve yourself, and you'll have already reformed the world.

The amusement;

It is one thing to exist, another very different thing is to be aware that one exists.

A caterpillar exists, but does it know it does, that it enjoys this wonderful possibility? I don't think it experiences the surprise of existing, nor the vertigo of temporal flow of life.

It is one thing to look, another thing is to admire reality. Which is closely linked to taking distance.

To admire and to be amused are a mental and emotional experience, they affect the corporal and physical but has its root in the spirit.

I thin it is so amazing that when you are aware that you are alive, and may not exist, then is when you recognise the ephemeral nature of one's being. You experience a surprise and you are led to love life and to enjoy it intensely, to turn your being in the world into a project.

And the world ceases to be obvious, banal and known, and we start perceiving it as it is; Deep, mysterious and enigmatic.

To be aware of oneself;

One of the spiritual powers empowers us for self-knowledge, mingling with intrapersonal intelligence; This enables "awakening" and openness. Thus I realise that not only I am and not only I live, I know of my being and my life.

Providing a double opening towards the interior (knowledge of oneself) and to the outside (the knowledge of things).

The human being inhabits a self-aware self and capable of contemplating the world, a free self that, by virtue of its freedom, can configure both its body and its soul.

Assess and value;

The spirit also serves to value. Assess and make value judgements about acts, decisions and omissions. Valuing is about identifying the assets and evils that a particular decision has generated in the past. For this it is basic to weigh, to observe the effects that it has had for oneself and for others.

Values ​​not only motivate progress in the field of knowledge. They are not merely responses of our feelings, but motives in a new sense. They demand a certain position of will.

What I decide at a given moment will determine not only the configuration of the life of that moment, but will be relevant to what I will become.

I find very curious how any decision creates a willingness to make a similar decision again. In this way that I become "( a violinist, an athlete, a doctor...)", or not, is something that is in the hands of my own freedom.

The call of values ​​comes through the spirit and this moves us to explore unknown territories and to perform amazing movements. This shows that the human being is an open work, a being that has the possibility of finishing himself.

To sense beauty;

A spiritually sensitive being finds delight in natural beauty, artistic manifestations and the simplicity of small things. It is able to detect beauty and enjoy it without pretending to possess it. It contemplates deeply the expressions of beauty that appear in reality, which allows him to enjoy more intensely the fact of owning life.

Happy Birthday Ierai and Eure!

Happy Birthday! 

Being the oldest of seven siblings I like to celebrate birthdays with a theme, before moving to the UK I got my siblings a pendant of their special crystal. This is a special post to my twin sisters, as it is their birthday today. I think I will adopt this as a new custom so you'll better start looking forward to me barging about how much I love my siblings!

I think we are pretty privileged in a way, as we are all quite close to each other but in a weird way I have kind of envied the relationship they have within the two of them. When they were little they had the most crazy fights! They would bit and punch each other in a violent rampage, yet if five minutes later somebody dared say something even slightly or reminiscently offensive, the other sister would jump to her feet and confront the offender without hesitation. 

I think we have shared some of the most special moments of our life together. We have shared our first love stories and concerns, invented games and dreamed together and spent countless hours sheltered under our sheets while we talked and giggled way past bed time. 

We always though that when we grew up we would all live together in grandma's house. Those dreams kinda got crushed by life, I mean... we all know now that the future is uncertain, but no matter where we are or what is going on in our lives I am certain, we will always remain close.

I don't want to just wish them a happy 19th birthday, but also I want so say thank you!

Ierai Tubilda

Ierai, thank you for being the fire that lights up the darkness, you have always been the mature one. Every time I think of you I remember your beautiful writing, the days we spent singing and casting love spells by the olive tree and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us! You are confident, strong, cheerful and vital. 

You are on my mind every time I walk by an Oak tree, every time I smell or use the Rosemary on my garden, you are in the turquoise stones and in the colour orange. I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart. 

Eure Tubilda

Eure, thank you for being the wind that lifts our wings, you have always been the sensible one. I love your sense of justice and how you always try to bring sense to our group, like the time when you were the only one that told me off when I though it was a good idea to venture barefoot into the streets. You are empathetic, courageous and impartial, as well as a free spirit. 

You are on my mind every time the wind blows and the willows sway, and every time the lavender plants bloom. You are in the amethysts crystals and in the colour purple. I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart. 

I am very proud of the women you're turning to. Enjoy your last year as teens girls, it doesn't get any less awkward in your twenties anyways. But still... see you very soon!

With love, Darius.  

Sacredness, Magic & Religion.

For more than 99% of the time, mankind has been closely related to Nature, which, until the present era, was always considered sacred. It was believed that the various Gods worshiped by people were part of the natural environment, while the shamanic vision used to be the raw power of Nature. As Alick Bartholomew points out: "Many religions, such as Christianity, are a mixture of pagan beliefs and modern monotheism. We have created God in our image, naive conception that dilutes our responsibility and causes division and wars. In society there has been a vacuum that has undoubtedly contributed to the moral and values ​​decomposition we observe today."

The Creation Of Adam,
by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Religion and the search for meaning are an inert form in our human spirit and nature. After the scientific revolution of the Renaissance people like to believe that there is a clear divide between rational thought and religious or magical outpourings, but things are much more complicated because the vital need from which religions arise is a very powerful instinct. So much that even the most closed religious fanaticism arises from almost anything: motherhood, football, vaccination, vegetarianism... Even an avowed atheist movement like Communism was at bottom only a modified version of the old religious dream, of the end of time, that there is an argument and a thread of human history that lead, if not to salvation, to a perfect society.

Traditionally the search for meaning has been carried out on the tribal or mass plane. Mass worship remains the norm for religious groups. However, witches are inclined towards a more mystical and spiritual search in which the "great boss" version of the "creator" or "supreme intelligence" is transcended, allowing instead a personal connection with a higher level of Consciousness, that is, we put more emphasis on contemplation and meditation than on worshipping. Although most pagan groups retain or venerate certain deities, the Tubilda tradition does not worship any particular divine being, although at the beginning of our tradition the worship of spirits of nature and the seasons was of great importance. At present we decide to adopt a neutral position, instead of revealing ourselves to the mysteries of the beyond, we prefer to be present and to live, since, indeed, there is life before death.

We could consider ourselves naturists. We seek harmony with nature and live on the basis of balance and sustainability; To learn how to live sustainably, first we must know how Nature works and accept its laws. In fact, valuing the role of the Elements in our lives is key in witchcraft as it allows us to adopt a new spiritual vision of the universe.

The feeling of belonging has a great impact on the emotions and, therefore, on one's decisions. In my adolescence, my parents decided to divorce. The situation itself was not a major trauma, but that meant growing up in three different homes. My mom's, mt dad's and grandma's. Like everything, it carries its pros and cons, and one of these was the bewilderment when it came to finding the feeling of being, as I never put down roots to a particular home. Where do I belong? To which my grandmother replied serenely: "To the world. We all share a pulse with the whole. The cells receive their pulse from the brain, this gets its pulse from the heart, and heart from the planet Earth, which in turn receives it from the solar system and the latter from the galaxy and from the whole universe." 

Later on (in the field of quantum physics) was revealed that, indeed, at the cellular level our bodies react to the electromagnetic pulse of everything that surrounds us. I now live in another country, far from my three homes and the people I grew up with, and yet if I ever feel lonely or lost, I have nothing to do but close my eyes, concentrate on the beat of my heart, the firmness of the ground beneath me and the air around me. And then I know. And then I am at home, I rediscover my home in the midst of chaos of the world.

Despite the prevailing sense of uprooting and the illusion of separation with which many live, we must rely more on our instincts. Many of us, especially children, still have a vague memory of when we were integrally part of Nature. It's in our blood. We must explain to our children that the Universe is a single unit, that Nature is a whole. In times like these, when so many people care about their savings, their safety or their work, it is very beneficial to become aware of and adopt a broader vision of what life really is. Just to contemplate the starry sky, or of the natural elements, is a way of focusing things with more objectivity, because, compared to the unity of life, our own concerns are not so many. That is what the holism of witchcraft is all about.

My Recipes: Spinach Paradise.

Do you love Spinach? I do! They are great! Their season goes from March to June. Though we can find them available in our stores all year round. And the following is one  of my favourite recipes, plus it's excellent for non-green eaters, as even them love this recipe. Though sceptical at first...   

Bon appetite!

Spinach are well known for their nutritional qualities and have always been regarded as a plant with remarkable abilities to restore energy, increase vitality and improve the quality of blood. 

There are a lot of good reasons why this lovely veg has this great proprieties, primarily the fact that it is rich in iron, which plays a central role in the function of red blood cells which help in transporting oxygen around the body, in energy production and DNA synthesis. Spinach is also an excellent source of vitamins. Specially vitamin A, C, B2 and K. Folic acid, as well as being a good source of magnesium. 

I think it is worth mentioning that vitamin K is quite rare, it is vital for maintaining bone health and it is difficult to find vegetables richer in vitamin K than spinach. Others include broccoli and kale.

INGREDIENTS

A teaspoon or two of Rapeseed Oil. 

An Onion and a half.

A couple Garlic Cloves.

200 grams of Organic Spinach.

A handful of Raisins.

Some Walnuts.

And a few seeds: (I usually use Hemp, Sunflower, Sesame and Flax seeds).

Half a Lemon.

A drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

So how do you get this baby ready?

Well simply chop the onion and the garlic while the rapeseed oil is getting heated up on a saucepan. I prefer to cut them in a similar size to the spinach leaves, but it is really up to your taste. 

Once the oil is hot-ish turn the fire down and stir fry the garlic and onion till they are golden. Next step is to add half of the spinach. Make sure you wash them thoughtfully before cooking them. You don't want them to get very soft, just cook the long enough for them to change their texture. 

While the spinach are cooking sprinkle all over them a generous amount of raisins and part of the seeds and nuts. Make sure you've crushed the seeds in a mortar or you won't get their nutritional proprieties and you'll just poop them out due to their natural protective cover.

When the leaves have gotten that softer feel to them, turn off the fire completely and add the raw half of the spinach and mix with the content of the pan.

And finish it off adding the rest of the smashed seeds, the juice from half a lemon and a drizzle of Olive Oil.

Enjoy!

Reading the Signs of Nature: Divination.

Crows by Marion Rose 

  Have you heard the phrase: Everything happens for a reason? I am not sure till what point this is true, intuition and premonition are tricky sensations as we are pushed to mistrust them by the current worldview. Nonetheless I have come to learn to trust my intuition over the years. Interpreting the signs of nature and the universe, as witches and shamans have done for generations,  has turned out to be both useful and easier than expected.
  The divination arts have always caused a great controversy, specially since charlatans and fortune tellers go around deceiving people's trust. As witches we believe that the only thing that exists is the present. So what are we predicting then? The answer is something a bit bigger than what the future holds, it's about the destiny we have created with our actions, thoughts and feelings. Basically it's an energy that has already been created but that has not yet manifested in the present. 

   Everyday life is full of examples. Have you ever found yourself thinking about an old friend that you haven't seen in a long time and then, all of a sudden, you meet them or receive a phone call?
 As far as I know the "science" behind  all divination processes lies on what Swiss physiologist Carl Jung denominates as synchronisation, term that uses in his work over the I Ching (a traditional Chinese method of divination), conducted in 1949.

  The synchronisation process becomes aware of events in time and space, revealing a sense beyond mere chance. That is, a specific inter-response between specific events. (As tossing a coin in the air to predict the future like on the I Ching to create a pattern). Synchronisation is found in the heart of all divination techniques, Whenever you lay out a tarot deck, or interpret the future using runes, wax or viscera, a pattern is created which reflects an internal condition that is already forming, or is about to.
To read the signs of nature, and divination through experiences with animals works exactly the same way, with the advantage that is more organic and intuitive than other methods. At the time of your encounter, the pattern is appreciated through the habits and characteristics of the animal, the folklore and mythology as well as the circumstances that surround your experience; the health of the animal, your feelings about the experience as well as any personal idea or association that you might have about the animal.

Intuition plays a fundamental role in divination, especially that related to animals. Socially there are certain attributes traditionally associated with a certain animal such as loyalty in the dog, power in the lion or transmutation and change in the butterfly. But we should by no means limit ourselves to these concepts. We can use them as guides, as bases to develop meaning but, above all, let your intuition guide you.

Most of the time we overlook this signs, even once we've learned how to interpret them. We don't often pay attention to them or decide to ignore them... I went on a date last summer with a lovely guy, I was quite excited and on the middle of the day I found a dead dove on the street, I didn't want to believe it and completely ignored this sign, and guess what, our relationship didn't last more than twenty-something days... The Dove, universal sign of peace and love appears in the art and folklore of numerous spiritual traditions, religions and cultures. I am not suggesting that you put an abrupt end to any relationship just because you found a dead dove. Remember to take into account the context and holism of the situation.

Here are some pointers to help you understand the meaning of your encounter:
1. Consider your initial reaction (you attract animals according to your deepest beliefs about the animal, as well as your way of seeing and understanding the world and yourself
2. When did it happened? Day or night, the hour o the day, the season you are in...
3. If the encounter was in the habitat of animal (less rare) or in a different one (more significant).
4. How did you feel? Usually the emotions are the direct link of the meaning of your encounter.
5. The person or people with whom you were at the moment of the encounter.
6. What activity where you doing?
7. Symbolism and possible meaning of the animal:
TRANSFORMATION - Butterfly, Frog and Snake.
ROMANCE, SEXUALITY and LOVE - Horse, Swan and Rabbit.
MESSAGES - Owls, Dragonfly and birds in general.
LOYALTY and FAMILY LOOSES - Dog, Elephant.
CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION - Spider and sparrow.
JOY, PEACE, FORTUNE and PROSPERITY - Dove, Hummingbird and Lady Bug.
INTUITION, MAGIC and SHAMANISM - Raven, Wolf and Fox.
SPIRITUALITY AND HEALING - Dolphin, Bee and Deer.
POWER - Bear, Lion.
INDEPENDENCE AND LONELINESS - Cat and Iguana.

Spring Wishes.

As grams says: In with the new and out with the old! Springtime is finally here which means to usher in projects, fresh starts and opportunities.

These are my wishes for the year: I want progress, more balance, and romance.

So as tradition dictates, let's take an intrapersonal look at the things I am most grateful for as well as the aspects I'd like to improve about myself. You can also do this to align your thoughts, feelings and actions with the energy of this day to aid you achieve your goals. And can use my list as an example, if you wish. 

I don't know about you,
but I am feeling 22

I love my happy vibe, especially when people tell me that I brighten up their day just by being there.

On the other hand I think I should  stop avoiding conflict all the time, and be a bit more outspoken.

I am very happy with myself because I have finally come to terms with discipline and have been able to balance my exercise, healthy eating, studies, job and personal life in a responsible manner. And though I've improved a lot, there is still a lot of room for getting more experienced and mature. 

I think it is great that I am honest, assertive and confident. Though I wish I had bitten my tongue on certain occasions. I guess I should think more before spiting words out of my mouth. 

I'm delighted that I have finally stopped falling in the dick sand (that is to forget about yourself and your priorities when any guy pays attention to you just because you don't want to be single.) I have grown a lot when it comes to love and relationships in the last year. Now I can say that I've learned to be single. And I am open to a relationship. But I am not desperate anymore, basically I will welcome love if it knocks on my door but I won't lose my mind if it doesn't. 

I've always been a pretty green person, but I do want to enhance my ecological ways even more, by consuming less processed food and bake my own bread or make my own ice cream, for example. To keep on experimenting with natural cleaning products for both my own personal care (with clay, essential oils. organic natural soaps and vegetable oils) and my housekeeping (using vinegar, bicarbonate, lemon and essential oils.) Also on my clothing, by looking carefully that they are made from natural and responsibly sourced materials.

On the professional area I am quite content with my current position, it is allowing me to save some money before I start university. I just hope I will be able to add that into my personal scheme so that I can balance my studies on top of everything else without stressing out too much.

I believe that is everything for this Spring... I hope all your wishes come true as well. I know they will (if you work for them!) ;)

The Book of Shadows.

The Books of Shadows are famous for rising numerous legends.

It is already a fact that they are a sacred object for witches as they represent something more than a family book, something more than wisdom: They symbolize a living channel where each written knowledge transcends the boundaries of time and space -almost like a way of speaking directly with those who do not yet exist as part of our essence will be impregnated forevermore in our Book of Shadows-.

Perhaps this is the concept that aroused the allusion to protective spirits...

The Tubilda's Book of Shadows,
photo taken by Paula Montañes

Traditionally the witches' knowledge were transmitted orally, and passed down from generation to generation. So there was no need to record the information in a book, until the time of the persecution that is. It is believed that it was then that the first Books of Shadows were written, so called because they were born protected in the darkness, sheltered in the shadows, and because the eyes of the "uninitiated" were not to see it, nor even to know about it. 

Now, by custom, it is still called Book of Shadows although some witches prefer to call it Grimoire. Normally each lineage has a single Book of Shadows written by its members, although some also have an Initiate Book (with the basic knowledge). As for writing it there is no fixed or correct way to do it, since each lineage has its own customs.

We understand that what is a reality today it might not be true tomorrow, so we always introduce, check and update new knowledge. 

A belief only lives as long as someone believes in it, a lifestyle only exists as long as someone practices it. That is why it is so important to us to continue with the tradition, and transmit it to the next generation. Always in a tone of guidance of course, that is to explain everything from a personal point of view and sharing ideas without ever imposing them. That is why the witches of each lineage have the responsibility of writing their Book of Shadows and contribute with their own energy and creativity to develop and guide the next generation.

If you would like to write your own Book of Shadows I'll share some tips that have worked for me. You don't necessarily have to be a witch to write one. I guess we can see the Book of Shadows as a generational history book that puts emphasis on passing down knowledge, advice... It can contain anything that transmits some sort of wisdom, from an ancient tradition to a homemade recipe. It all starts with an idea. 

These books have the advantage of being open when it comes to content, structure and design.

Before beginning to write the book I recommend to have a previous idea: if it is going to be organized in chapters; If it will be ordered by categories, by degree of difficulty ... As well as content; Will it be a didactic book; Of research or, perhaps, an encyclopedic one? About what, and how many, things will you write?

 I advise the following to write your book as it is working for me!

· Make a mini-scheme where you write down the main idea that you want to transcribe. In the process of writing is much easier than it seems to get your creativity overflowing and we end up relegating the idea that we want to reflect on the background and writing about unrelated things. So I think it is better to try to keep it simple.

· It is very useful to take into account the purpose for which you write and the people who are going to read it, to suit the level of knowledge and the age of the readers. This way the communication will flow more easily.

· Finally just review the text, make sure it has the structure you want and if there is a conclusion. Check your spelling and make sure you take care of the presentation. It is completely normal to rewrite and retouch many of the things you write, in my opinion, it is best to let the writing rest a night or two before checking it. Even better if you can get someone else to read the text and see what they understand and whether they find it interesting or not.

Spring Equinox. Time of Balance and Renewal.

We are finally in March, which means the expectation and countdown for the equinox is also in the back of my mind. I love Spring. After the dark, cold winter. Days get longer and longer as they approach the spring equinox and on the special day. Both day and night have the same length. From that point on, light hours increase until reaching the longest day of them all in the summer solstice.

Irises by Vincent van Gogh

 The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator –the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator– from south to north. And indicates the first day of Spring. This happens on March the 19th, 20th, or 21st every year.

According to the Universal Coordinated Time, the March Equinox, this year, is on Monday, 20th of March 2017, at 10:29 UTC.

 Traditionally, the spring equinox, evokes renovation and rebirth of wisdom and fertility. It's a day to celebrate life and joy. Eggs, seeds and the rabbit are symbols of this day. The first two represent all the new life and the last one is one of the animals that by that time comes out of its burrow. We can see how some of this symbolism has been carried out on other cultures. As Christians use eggs and rabbits around the same time in a celebration they call Easter. While, among pagans the equinox is known as Ostara. Ostara is the name of an ancient Germanic divinity of spring, Goddess who embodied dawn and the awakening of germinative forces. It means something like "rising sun."

 The Tubilda celebrate life and use the awakening energy of spring by doing some purification rituals. We cleanse ourselves, our homes and our energies by, first of all waking up when the sun rises. And drinking a lot of water with lemon! You can do some exercise or turn on some music to bring up those good energies and, after breakfast, it is time for a deep cleaning of the hole house. Basically, everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned and we also get rid (recycle or donate) any item that we no longer need. The norm is; if you haven't used an specific item for more than a year... It is likely that you don't need it.

Spring is the epoch of beginnings and action. Night and day are practically as long at the spring equinox so it is also time for balance both exterior and interior. Renew and reborn; These are the goals of this day. So we take a closer look into the inside and we make a list of all the things we are grateful for as well as all the things we want to achieve this year. And while we meditate about that we purify our bodies, and then our home by burning the tip of some herbal cleansing sticks and use the smoke to cleanse the house, room by room.

This will energetically mop up any lingering residue within the space. This ancient technique is used to wipe away negativity and stale energy.

Smoke cleansing is a practice that has been around for a long time, though it shouldn’t be confused with smudging, a sacred ceremony performed in many indigenous communities that invites spirit to join them for their rituals. These two words are often used interchangeably, however, they are different. Smoke cleansing uses a variety of dried plants and woods to help cleanse a space energetically, removing bad vibes. The herbs we traditionally use in my family are sage, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary and bay.

To finish up the tasks of the day we do some gardening. We usually plant seeds on fertile soil, or young trees in a forested area. Or even small plants in pots in the garden or window sill.

Afterwards the day follows as any other good party would, with a reunion of friends and family, a banquet, festive mood and celebration music and decoration where flowers and water are the protagonists. 

Are you also excited for springtime?  

Beauty is Perception. Critique of Social Beauty Standards.

What do you consider beautiful? Do you feel comfortable on your body? For some reason there is this current obsession on achieving unrealistic standards that puts pressure on both woman and men, but specially on the first ones. Which just creates unbalance and increases stress and obsessive behaviors. Even fear to ageing, which is a natural process that occurs to every living being. 

Mona Kardashian, or Kim Lisa?

To undergo surgery procedures or develop an eating disorder are common things in our society. 

And I ask myself... What kind of life are we living if we are so focused on our external self that this obsession obscures anything else? How can we find peace if we are prompted to pursue an impossible, and changing, trend based on our body image? Beauty is conceptualized by each culture, and era, differently. So let's learn to love ourselves the way we are. Because we will always find someone that finds us ugly. Yes, despite all the make up we might wear or our body type.  But there will also be someone that thinks we are gorgeous. Of course, I am talking about acceptance. Not about resignation. If there is a physical aspect that you can work on like getting fitter or taking care of your skin to get rid of afflictions like acne. Then that is perfect, do all you can to feel comfortable in your skin and don't feel ashamed on your way there because there is no such thing as a standardized perfection. 

We can break this cycle by ignoring it. Let's stop judging (ourselves and others) based on the external appearance. And let's create a new idea of what is beautiful.
Have you ever stopped to think of why we look like we do? Well it's all about genetics. Half of it comes from your mother, and the other half from your father. At the same time your parents are half their parents and so on. So in the end our looks are a reflection of all our ancestors. Plus the choices that compound our individuality. The things we connect with. So learn to love yourself the way you are.

Once I read that a spiritually sensitive being finds delight in natural beauty, in artistic manifestations and in the simplicity of small things.Also, that he/she is able to detect beauty, and enjoy it, without pretending to possess it. Taste deeply the expressions of beauty that appear in reality, which allows you to enjoy more intensely the fact of owning life.It is beautiful what springs from the inner psychic need. Beautiful will be what is inwardly beautiful.

Awakening on the Inside. The Benefits of Meditation.

The art of meditation isn't hard to master. This ancient relaxation technique aims to increase concentration and spiritual awareness. The regular practice of meditation helps to focus all attention on something concrete; A goal, our breath, a thought that you wish to attract ... And the experts on the subject affirm that it opens the door to both the growth and spiritual progress of our being.

Meditation is a method, which allows us to improve our lives, and like the oriental masters, we can discipline our minds, solve problems and begin to create our own reality.

The only thing necessary is the desire and the effort to achieve it.

One of the ways to dominate the mind is by silencing it. Meditation quietens the mind, helps you control your thoughts and revitalises your body.

Those facts are not just backed-up by spiritual individuals. It is also been proved that meditation reduces stress, anxiety and depression, as it raises the levels of serotonin, a powerful neurotransmitter, whose deficiency is linked to depression.

In addition, it activates brain areas related to positive emotions, relieves chronic pain and reduces the risk of suffering heart disease.

After several days practising meditation, without the need to have a great experience, the levels of antibodies raise.

Whenever I meditate I feel a rising peace coming from within, and expanding towards the outside expressed in a subtle happiness. I feel like the ancient Oak upon a cliff, like the serene lake with deep blue waters and like the birds swaying with the wind.  And yet I feel more awake, more centred, more present.   

Water Lilies by Claude Monet

Meditation technique;

For starters it is important to find a quiet place. As meditation has to be comfortable and secure, your posture should also be comfortable and firm. In fact you can choose any position as long as you keep the column straight, and if we wish; We can put relaxing music on.

We will close our eyes and concentrate on what we have chosen as the support of our attention.

Sit comfortably, relaxing your body as much as possible without collapsing or bending your spine. You can relax your tense muscles with these exercises:

1. Drop your head on your chest, Inhale and exhale deeply three times. Returns to the correct position.
2. Tilt the head back, inhale and exhale deeply three times. Returns to the correct position.
3. Tilt your head to the left. Then turn to the right and inhale and exhale deeply three times.
4. Then turn the head in a circle, three times to one side and three times in the other direction.
5. Breathe in rapidly through your nose until your lungs fill-up. Hold the air for a moment, after which and with a sound of ... Hah ... you will exhale through the mouth. Repeat three times.
6. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nostrils. Feeling swelling in the middle of the stomach, do it three times (this serves to remove all the air spent from the lungs).

Now with your body relaxed and breathing in a normal, though deep way, focus until you imagine your body wrapped in water, air or light.

Turn your attention to your toes. Make them relax, making the tension and tiredness disappear from them.

Repeat this with the whole body. Bit by bit. With every single part of your body. 

Finishing with the forehead to be able to focus directly into the third eye. Deepen your concentration more and more in the third eye, transcends the material self, because only then can you meet your inner self.

Just relax, and let flow up, toward the energies. Let yourself be carried by the magnetic impulses if you feel them. You can then pray, conjure, or visualise whatever you'd like. 

Before finishing your meditation session. Take a last deep breath and open you eyes very slowly. Do not rush, incorporate yourself slowly and stretch your muscles.

I find it very funny how time perception changes when you meditate. Sometimes what it feels like a minute turns out to be fifteen and what felt like an hour is just five minutes. Does that happen to you as well?

Siblinghood. I Carry Your Heart, I Carry it in My Heart.

Do you have any siblings? Coming from a large family I realise how the relationship I have with them is unique. 

It is almost like a silent presence that connect us, the following poem by E. E. Cummings expresses what I am trying to say in a much more beautiful way. Hope you enjoy it:

2016 Holidays 

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) I am never without it (anywhere

I go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

I fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet) I want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart(I carry it in my heart)

Nutrition. The Thing that is Keeping You Alive.

Food. If you think about it our lives revolve around food. I don't know about you, but I am always looking forward to my breakfast, and then lunch and dinner. Also all major events of our lives turn around food as well; birthdays, weddings, even funerals.

The Roman God of the Seasons,
by Giuseppe Arcimboldo 

Nowadays is very easy to get something to eat, we just comfortably walk to the nearest shop, supermarket or, even, vending machine. But in the past people had to work very hard to get a single meal. In the case of vegetables, people had to grow them, plant them, care for them and safeguard them from a variety of plagues and weather conditions, recollect the fruits and vegetables, clean them, cook them, conserve and store to use in the season in which those specific plants don't grow. 

When it comes to animal produce, they had to hunt, fish or raise the animals. And once they'd manage to find and catch them, they'd had to flay, clean and prepare the meat before even been able to cook and eat it.  

It is great that most of us are no longer restricted to those activities in order to acquire the food we need to survive, but as we've given up the responsibility to grow our own food we have also forgotten why we eat (to nourish ourselves), we have lost the sacred aspect of food as well as the knowledge of the one thing that is keeping us alive. 

For the first time in history, without considering great catastrophes such as wars or a mass disease, the life expectancy of the next generation is shorter than the one of their parents. That is just insane! The report, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, says the prevalence and severity of obesity is so great, especially in children, that the associated diseases and complications -Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, cancer- are likely to strike people at younger and younger ages.

We are slowly killing ourselves, all due to our current sedentary lifestyle and massive intake of processed denatured "food" packed with high doses of added sugar, salt, saturated fats and preservatives, that are completely absent of beneficial nutrients. This situation has gone out of hand. But the good news is that recovering that sacred knowledge is very easy. I am not a nutritional expert but after reading several books on the subject including; Food Matters by Mark Bittman, The Body Book and The Longevity Book both by Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bark and The Great Book of Healthy Living by Txumari Alfaro and Raúl de la Rosa, to name a few. I think I have got some notions, and although I am no expert I will try to explain the basics of nutrition as well as I can:

In my opinion nutrition is not just about food. Because depending on your age, your environment, if you are physically active or not, your genetics, if you have a healthy intestinal flora, your levels of stress, among other factors, will determine the levels of nutrients and calories your body requires. Calories are the energy that each aliment contains, the more active we are the more calories we will need. Broadly there are three main groups of nutrients. 

• The ones that we need in larger amounts (named Macro-Nutrients) composed of Carbohydrates,  Proteins, and Fats.
• The ones that are needed in a less greater amount, but are still essential, (known as Micro-Nutrients) which are Vitamins and Minerals.
• And a third group is Water, and though not really a nutrient, but that also has a direct effect on them, we find Fibre.  

Let's get some more specific details of each of them, shall we?

CARBOHYDRATES 

These are the main source of energy to our body and our brain. Carbohydrates are turned into glucose, a type of sugar, by our bodies and used to provide energy in a cellular level.

Plants make them trough a process called photosynthesis; by mixing the energy of the Sun, water and carbon dioxide from the air. 

Though glucose is a type of sugar, refined sugars that we find on biscuits, cakes, fizzy drinks, and other processed foods, are not nutritious, that type of processed sugar is known as Sucrose.
There are many types of sugar but the following three are te more common: Glucose, Fructose and Sucrose. Glucose is practically everywhere and fuels out bodies, Fructose is the sugar found on Fruits, that is healthy because fruits are also packed with fiber that slows down the abortion of those sugars. Sucrose, on the other hand, adds empty calories to our meals and studies have shown that sucrose sugar bypasses the hormones that tell you're full which means you can overeat without realizing it. Even worst, in order to be processed trough our bodies it consumes B type vitamins, so it is not just empty, it is also stealing valuable vitamins!

Good sources of carbohydrates are whole grains, such as brown-rice, oats or quinoa. Vegetables like sweet potatoes, beetroot, kale and spinach. Fruits, for example, apples and grapefruit. And legumes like chickpeas, beans and lentils.

PROTEINS 

Proteins are strength. They are broken down into amino acids by our bodies in order to repair and build muscle. Protein are essential components of body cells and are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

All the tissues of the body (bones, skin, muscles, organs...) have a group of proteins to perform their functions. Proteins contribute to cell building, growth and repair. The body needs protein to grow and regenerate.

The best sources are low-saturated fat foods like fish, legumes, eggs, poultry, seeds and nuts. If you opt for a vegetarian or vegan diet take into consideration that protein obtained from almost all plants lack one or several essential amino acids, plant sources must be combined with a complementary vegetable to form complex proteins.

FATS

Healthy fats are essential. Fats belong to the group of lipids, are composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. They form a fundamental part of the cell membrane and their role is primordial in the absorption of some vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Also, fats help balance our body temperature.

There is this widespread belief that fats are unhealthy and undesirable, so lets re-friend fats, they don't deserve to be treated that way! There are three types of Fats: Saturated (the one we should avoid), Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

A diet rich in monounsaturated fats, present in vegetable oils (the best is olive), avocados, peanuts and walnuts, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
There are two types of polyunsaturated fats: the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oils. They regulate blood pressure, coagulation and enhance immune responses, as well as keeping a healthy functioning brain, retina and spine. And omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in sunflower, rapeseed and corn oils. Essential for growth, cell structure and maintenance of a healthy immune system. 

Saturated fats, on the other hand are present in coconut and palm oils, although they are more abundant from animal origin derived from red meat and dairy products such as sausages, whole milk, cream or ice cream.
The ingestion of these fatty acids should be limited as they increase the danger of cardiovascular disease.

VITAMINS & MINERALS

Unlike macro-nutrients, vitamins and minerals do not provide energy and are only required in small amounts, but their role is crucial in the normal functioning of the body and in the digestion process. Vitamins are organic, as opposed to minerals which are inorganic substances.

There are many types of vitamins and minerals, with a variety of functions. like keeping your skin, and hair smooth and healthy, Others help you not to be tired and to think clearly.

The main source of them are fresh fruits and vegetables. Make sure you eat a variety of them! And avoid "vitamin drinks" as they are artificially added, the body cannot absorb them and are usually packed with sucrose.
Calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous and magnesium are used to build bones.
Iron, copper, folate and vitamin B12 are the blood formers
Vitamins C, A and E, selenium and beta-carotene are antioxidants.
Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B6 keep you from tiredness as thy help transform carbs into glucose.
Sodium, potassium and chloride are the hydraters.    

FIBRE, 

It is actually a type of carbohydrate, but humans cannot digest it, but it is great at aiding our digestive track exercise. It balances cholesterol in our blood and aids with weight loss. Nullifies constipation and prevents diabetes as it regulate sugar levels, and even helps prevent colon cancer.

There are two types of fibre; Insoluble, known as cellulose, and soluble. The first one helps move food and waste down your digestive system. The second one is absorbed in the body and slows digestion to ensure maximum nutrient absorption.

Fiber is found in whole grains like oats, wheat or barley, vegetables like broccoli, carrots and cucumbers, seeds and nuts, fruits like oranges and grapes and legumes like beans or lentils.    

WATER

The truth is that we owe our existence to water because it explains to the cells of the body how to distribute energy to make it balanced and productive. In fact water performs so many functions that it is consider it to be life in its most intimate essence; Invigorates, nourishes, transports, lubricates, reacts, stabilises, signals, divides, structures and communicates.

The body needs around two litres of water a day to stay hydrated. Make sure to check your thirst. Being thirsty means you have been needing water for a while. Signs of dehydration include: Dry mouth and skin, a blurry mind, headaches, confusion, fast heartbeat and weakness.

Make sure you drink a lot of water right after you wake up, since the body hasn't got any for, at least, 8 hours, drinking it will revitalize your hole body, it is a great morning ritual!. Remember, the best source of water is water. Not energy drinks, lemonade, coffee, tea, alcohol nor fizzy drinks!