The Palm Oil Controversy

I have been creating my soap with organic palm oil. I have just found out about the "The Palm Oil" controversy and my thoughts... Over the past few years, "bio-diesel" has created a huge demand for oil... palm oil. Palm oil is only harvested significantly in tropical (rain forest) regions and thus... the problem. More demand for "crude palm oil" means more deforestation. When I became aware of this issue, I switched to "organic palm oil" which is a renewable resource. Organic palm will not contribute to the "palm thirsty" industry which ultimately demands more deforestation. So, rest assured, with the use of organic palm you will not be a contributor to deforestation of tropical regions.

The power of Intention and how to use it.

A working definition for intention is: “to have in mind a purpose or plan, to direct the mind, to aim.” Lacking intention, we sometimes stray without meaning or direction. But with it, all the forces of the universe can align to make even the most impossible, possible.

If you want to achieve a goal you’ve set, the most crucial part is to DECIDE to manifest it. It’s time to change the way we think and speak about our dreams. Transforming a conversation, just like manifesting a dream, begins by setting an intention. Your intentions will enable you in taking greater control of your life.

Given the unknowns and sometimes craziness of life, there’s never been a more important time to dream and setting your intention is the first step. You could set an intention every day. It can be specific and about something in particular or more like a quality, such as to be more relaxed or involved with life.

People set intentions on all kinds of dreams; to get married or have children, to get a job or make a career change, to write a book, lose weight, or move to a foreign country. When you set an intention and then act on it to demonstrate your commitment, amazing things occur. Intention can also give us fortitude for dealing with tough times.

Many people sabotage their own goals because they do not understand the power of intention.

EVERY thought is truly an intention. Every thought. So most people manifest a cluttered collection of conflict in their lives because their thoughts are in conflict. They simultaneously set a goal and then unset it. For example If you go on a diet and exercise like crazy, while all the while thinking, “I’m fat. This is hopeless. This is taking too long,” then your higher level intentions will override your actions, and negative or contrasting results will follow. You should clear out all the “hopefully” and “maybe” and “can’t” nonsense from your consciousness. You cannot allow yourself the luxury of a negative thought, and that is an intention to manifest what you don’t want. Not believing in yourself simply means you’re using your own power against yourself.

It blows my mind that people think that something else has to come before the decision. People waste months trying to figure out, “Is this goal possible?” And this makes a lot of sense to do so if you’re at a certain level of consciousness. But all you’re really doing is creating delay, and you’ll simply manifest evidence to suggest that the goal is both possible and not possible. You think doubt in your head, you find doubt in the world.

First Steps:

1. Get clear about something you want and write it down. Do not ruminate, ponder or ask around and see whether or not you can do it. Then decide to make it so. Allow your intention to manifest in such a manner that is for the greatest good of all. This is very important, as intentions that are created out of fear or a sense of lack will backfire. You may get what you want, but it will yield a bitter aftertaste. Or you may get the exact opposite of what you want. But intentions that are genuinely made for your own good and the greatest good of all will tend to manifest in a positive way.

2. Share your intention with someone in a way that will support you and hold you accountable to taking action. People are far more likely to support and help a committed person because they can tell that you are eventually going to succeed, and they want to be part of that success.

3. Demonstrate your commitment to your intention. Take a step that would led you to fulfilling your intention. If you loosen up a bit on the “how” and just learn to allow the manifestation to occur in its own perfect way, achievement is much easier.

4. Acknowledge that you did what you said you would.


It takes practice to develop your consciousness to the level where you can apply it and especially to learn to trust it.

Thanks!

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude. I am grateful for so many things. I am sure as many of us are. Were do I begin... Lets see I am grateful for my life with my husband, children, family and friends. I am grateful for my health and my ability to help others. I also feel blessed for all that I learned and will continue to be grateful for all that I will learn.

So many of us forget to say thank you. I myself at times neglect this little step.. Ah but is it such a little step? It has been a hard year. The year is almost complete and that I was able to be graceful and loving through it although at times I felt like I was going to blow! For this alone I am so grateful.

I have put all the gardens to sleep for the winter. My clients were pleased this year. Yeah!!! I have planted the tulips and daffodils for next spring. I hope they rest well and bloom well in the spring. My clients so love them. Their smiling faces in the cold days of spring. Bring that much needed boost of energy!

I have been getting back to making soap. So any of you that want to order your own custom soap. Which I am offering this year at a great price. I am selling them in whole forms(10-11 bars) for $30.00. Just tell me what you want need or desire from your bathing experience. Be it for your health or your spirit! Just putting it out there. You can also buy my Intentional Soap. Makes a great gift for you or your loved ones. Attract the intention you desire to your life! Yeah!!! Check out my web site at www.withseedsofintention.com and click on the natural soap page!

Fall is here ready or not !

I have been making some wild cherry cough syrup this week. I am making it for a swap I am included in. It is a wonderful idea. I love seeing other peoples products. Especially these woman. Such amazing talent. I am honored to be included. Did I mention I can hardly wait to see the products! It gives me inspiration!
I have been very busy this month putting things in order for the winter. Yeah right! The truth is that I went to Sage mountain to study with Rosemary and Amy and have not gotten back into the groove. You can understand that right?
I had a wonderful time as usual and I was blessed once again to meet some of the most amazing woman in the United States. Rosemary Gladstar provides a loving and supportive atmosphere to learn in. I am hoping that I will stay in touch with them all.
I am thinking of doing a work study to help me pay for the Woman's Herbal Conference next year. So I am keeping my fingers crossed. I so want to see my friends Gale and Melissa give their classes. Yeah ladies for being asked to represent! You will do us all justice!
I learned a new craft when I was there. It is called needle felting. What a nice idea. I am thinking of making little wool fairies that sit in there own flower blossom for my grandbabies. I am waiting for the Wool and Sheep festival held in Rhinebeck sometime mid month. I am so impatient and can hardly wait to start felting!! My hubby just sighs with a beautiful radiant smile as I gather more craft supplies. He is so sweet and I do love him so.
It has been a weird year for my gardening business and am feeling like it is time to slow it down. The economy has been an indicator of this for me. I have not taken on any more clients in the last 2 years. I look forward to this part of my life closing. It has been a wondrous ride and I have learned so much. I am grateful and honor all that I have learned. I do really look forward to new adventures.

A dear friend of mine in undergoing treatment and I am asking everyone to send positive thoughts and healing energy to her. She is a beautiful strong woman and I have known her for a while now. She is a fighter and a profound artist. Hopefully I will be able to help her as she walks this path. I so love her, she has been such a good friend to me. I am going to make some minestrone soup for her today. Hopefully she will like it.

Summer...Is it really almost over?

I can hardly believe that the summer is almost over. It seems impossible. I have tried to harvest as many herbs as I could this year. It was a learning experience for me. Last year I put in over 100 herbs on to my small plot of land. Almost all returned this year. I spent my time in learning how they grow and tried to keep track of their habits and special needs. This year I spent the time pruning and harvesting and learning what they are used for. I sometimes think I will never be a true herbalist and at times feel overwhelmed with all the knowledge. But it is slowly finding the space to occupy in my brain. Lodging itself into the vacant nooks and crannies.
I have been blessed to have a friend who has been an herbalist for many years. She has been great helping me out and pushing me forward. Her favorite line is "I love new herbalist their desire to learn and eagerness to create renews my spirit in herbalism and stirs the same fire with in me." She has been a great friend and teacher. Thanks! My lovely friend Joan!
This has been a busy summer for me. My gardens are doing well and to my surprise they have not become over run with weeds. My clients seem pleased this year with my work. I am truly grateful. I promised myself that I would try to do my best work this year for them. The economy has put such a damper on their businesses. I refuse to let their businesses look like they are suffering. I have given a lot of my time for free or bartered in some way. Do not get me wrong there is no money tree in my back yard. I too am suffering the effects of the economy but I REFUSE TO LET IT GET ME DOWN.
In honor of my Sweet Friend's beloved animal companion Sage, I dedicate this post. He passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was a great dog! My White sage that is growing this year and will be harvested in dedication to him. I placed sprigs of it in the bouquet, that I hand gathered only the most exquisite specimens from my garden for him, to be dried and burned in his honor.

A Piece of a letter by Susanne Marshal to a friend of ours.

This text was taken from a letter from my fiend Susanne to another friend of ours. I feel she writes beautifully. I share the same thoughts!

I definitely believe that illness/disease is caused by sorrow, a preoccupation with tomorrow, and living a life that is not our passion or even working at a job that is just not us. Of course, you may have to work to pay the bills and are in a vocation that is just not you and you don't really fit in. It is a challenge to your body, mind, soul and does take a toil on the person. It may not be evident but in my case, I developed arthritis. It was my body and soul way of telling me, it was a shock but a wake up call that this is not the vocation for me. I was trying to fit myself into what society wanted for me or what I thought I wanted - money and status. It is easy to get caught up in the day to day grind of just trying to survive. I have learned that you just got to take a step out, learn new things, and the universe will guide us. Just breath and take a few minutes for yourself each day and slow down and just look at the beauty in simple things. I just finished reading a book called eating the sun by Oliver Morton and it has had a profound effect on me. We take life for granted such as breathing oxygen, changing seasons, a star in the sky is just extraordinarily beautiful and rare. Just take photosynthesis, it transforms ceaseless sunlight into the essence of earths life supporting system. I have taken a total paradigm shift in the way that I think about my life on this earth, its impacts, what I take for granted, and what is important. I have definitely moved away from the consumer driven, instant gratification society. I want simplicity. It sounds that you are searching and yearning to find the simple life. It is definitely a challenge to recapture that when you are doing the daily grind and not on that special mountain.

I am studying taoism and have been meditating on the following:
Seeing the smallest mystery reveals the grandest mystery. What I believe is being said here is to be attentive to the smallest parts of your life, and you will cultivate the desire for clarity.
The other verse that I am meditating on is - all under heaven have a common beginning. This beginning is the Mother of the world. this has created a state of awe and discovery about my existence and place on this earth.

Madison Jane Orr

Born June 5, 2009
she weighed 8lb 9oz
length 20 1/2 inches
Brianna and Brian did an amazing job. I am so proud of them both! Mom and baby are beautiful and healthy. Dad is very supportive,proud and protective.
Here's to there new life together. What an adventure!