Say It Like You Mean It!

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30 day challenge, 30 day prayer, energy, God, Goddess, good podcasts, i am blessed, i am prosperous, i am stron, i have faith, joel osteen, podcasts, Prayer, say it like you mean it, say so prayer, say so sermon, source, spirituality, tools for spirituality

If you are into podcasts, and spirituality, maybe you’ve heard of Joel Osteen. I’m sure there’s politics around him. He is a white male with money and success. Honestly though, I don’t want to google that today. It’s so easy to find fault with everyone on the internet, probably even Mother Teresa, that I am choosing to bring only positivity into this post.

I just happened to stumble upon his podcast one day, and truly he is a wonderful speaker.  I got hooked. If you want to feel good, and need a little spiritual restoration, and want to uplift yourself, try him out. There is somethig about him that reaches into you, digs deep, connects and doesn’t want to let go… and you want to keep listening. Even if you are a “liberal latina spiritual lesbian” like me (which is not who I truly am…but that’s another post on human existentialism I won’t go into today).

In the episode/sermon “Say So” he speaks about the importance of saying things out loud, and he finishes the sermon with a blessing. This morning I typed it down, and adapted it a little bit for myself. I have printed it out and hung it in my room, where I will committ to recite it outloud every morning along with my meditation practice.

The blessing is a follows:

Say it like you mean it: 

I am blessed.

I am prosperous.

I am strong.

I am healthy.

I am talented.

I am creative.

I am competent.

I am secure.

I am disciplined.

I am focused.

I am attractive.

I am well liked.

I have a good personality.

The right people are in my future.

The right opportunities are headed my way.

I will accomplish my dreams.

I will overcome every obstacle.

2019 is my year.

Things have shifted in my favor.

God is about to show me something that I’ve never seen.

It’s going to be

bigger,

better,

greater

than I ever imagined.

I am safe in the hands of God.

I am present today.

I am here now.

I have faith.

 Amen

Do it too. Print it out. Put it up in your wall, in your bathroom, in your notebook, next to your desk, your bed, your altar. Just make it happen. Try it out with me for the next 30 days. This is another step I am taking for myself to live more in the moment, to fill me, and to truly just be.

Hope this fills you up too.

Much love,

Mensa

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Viva Menstruation!

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blood, connection, female, Feminism, God, Goddess, magic, menstruation, moon cycles, new moon, period, spirituality, taboo, teal swan, women

Cheers to those 3,500 days of our lives that we bleed!

 

In honor of the upcoming new moon on Thursday, here is a little love from Teal Swan.

And in honor of all the women that have this magic energy inside us.

We have it, so let’s tap it and lets make miracles with our blood!

Much love,

Mensa

 

The Peaceful Atom is a Bomb

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atomic bombs, bumper stickers, Cara Reynolds, Communists, Flatbush, hydrogen bombs, make love not war, Mushpa + Mensa, nuclear bombs, outrider.org, peace, The Peaceful Atom is a Bomb, VW Bus, What would happen if a nuclear bomb went off here?

Flatbush!!!!

“The Peaceful Atom is a Bomb”, was a bumper stick on the VW Bus parked across the street from me growing up. I thought they were the coolest. It was the late 80’s and most hippies had joined the corporate 9-5 jobs by then. Nuclear bombs equaled world domination, which was in. People wanted more bombs as the Communists were just around the corner.

Now people know nuclear bombs aren’t cool, but don’t really think about how they are out there, quietly ready to annihilate. The reality is we are barely skirting our own destruction with this Tr*mp and J*ng debacle,

Here is a visual tool to remind us that this is serious business. We are the guardians of our world.

What would happen if a nuclear bomb went off here?

After you test out where you live, your parents live, and your ex that broke your heart, then go here to see what you can do to put and end to this global threat!

Make love not war!

– Mushpa

Get Up Get Down

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Amelia Meath, Bob Boilen, Cara Reynolds, Colin Marshall, Come Down, Dine Alone, Electropop, Emma Breg, Flock of Dimes, H.S.K.T., Happiness, Hey Mami, indie pop, Kevin Wait, Loma Vista, Made of Oak, Maggie Starbar, Maggie Starbard, Megafaun, Morgan McCloy, Morgan McCloy/NPR, Mountain Man, Mushpa + Mensa, Mushpa Y Mensa, music video, Nick Sanborn, NPR, NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Partisan, Sylvan Esso, tiny desk, Trekky

Today’s music brought to you by Sylvan Esso.

Hey Mami…

They are a local band from Durham, NC who made it big! :] North Carolina has so many great things! Watch out NYC, we have nerdy hillbilly coolness AND nature! We’ll call ourselves the Big Tobacco, the City that Sometimes Sleeps. Okay, that’s not so cool.

-Mushpa

 

 

The Four Agreements: Personal Growth Tips

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books to read, deepak chopra, don miguel ruiz, God, how to be happy, how to improve your life, inspiration, magic, Mushpa + Mensa, new york times best seller list, personal growth, self care, self help, self love, source, the four agreements, tips for self care, toltec tradition, turth, universe, wayne dyer, wisdom book

A few years ago, my father gave me this little book called The Four Agreements. It is a type of “self help” book, although self help sounds so…clinical? I like to refer to books of this nature as food for the soul, brain food, and also good advice for life. Some of these writers in this genre that I like include Dr Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and author of The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz.

Essentially this book gives you four different “rules” that you should live by. In return, he argues, you will gain insight and live a more peaceful and happy life. These rules are nothing extraordinary, and have been said one way or another by many people before him. The nice thing about his presentation though, is that these agreements are useful to check back in with yourself…. “Am I following this agreement? Or am I acting in a way that doesn’t align with these agreements?”.

I highly recommend you READ THIS BOOK. He talks about concepts based on ancient Toltec wisdom that give you a Toltec perspective of the story of life, the Source of all, and where it is our souls stand against everything else.

But I would like to just give you the bullet points of the four agreements as even just that can give you a boost of understanding everyday.

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First Agreement:

“Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”

Your words are powerful, and the thoughts behind those words are even more powerful. When we express ourselves we should speak from the heart and only truth. For me, being impeccable with my words means being honest with myself, God/the Universe, and speaking truth and beauty only. Everything else is static.

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Second Agreement:

“Don’t take anything personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

It’s true. What others say it is just a reflection of their reality, and my reality in the end is what affects me. Others perspectives and options are their own. If i judge myself on others perspectives, I am not being honest and true to my perspective. I try to assess what others say, absorb it, and apply my own experience instead. This one is very hard for me, but I have seen the difference it makes when I do not take things personally. I am honestly happier.

---

Third Agreement:

“Don’t make assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.”

You know how the saying goes…When you assume, you make and ass out of you and me. It is a universal truth. We are not Vulcans last time I checked, so we cannot read each other’s minds, and thinking that “we know” certain truths can get us in a lot of trouble. Yes, sometimes gut feelings are on point, but communicating avoids the drama on every point…I should know!

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Fourth Agreement:

“Always do your best: Your  best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.”

This seems like something your teacher tells you in grade school…But what happens when we don’t? I personally end up feeling gloomy, disappointed and even physically drained. My best today, is not the same as my best tomorrow. We are ever-evolving beings. As long as we work hard towards our dreams, our reality will reflect the results of our very best. When I try my best, my life feels like the best!

---

 

There it is then! The Four Agreements. Simple but true. Write them in a notebook, or on a piece of paper and stick them on your wall. They have helped me get a better grip on my feelings, my happiness and my reality.

I hope sharing these with you will do the same!

Happy day to you,

-Mensa

What to Read Next: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

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ancient births, ancient history, ancient menstruation, ancient women, anita diamant, bible births, bible literature, bible story, birth, blood, book about ancient women, book about periods, Feminism, genesis 34, herstory, jacobs daughter, leas daughter, literature, love, magic, midwifery, moon cycles, novel, periods, rape of dinah, the red tent, women cycles, women literature, women of the bible

I must admit I do not devour books. Reading was not something I grew up with as a child, but I have learned to become a better reader over time. Every time I finish a book, I find some sort of peace. I seek out knowledge through books, and I try to read a little every day. Sometimes though, a book captures me in such a way, that I become obsessed with the world inside it. I live it, I dream about it, think about it and it consumes me. The Red Tent was one of these books.

The subject matter? Women of ancient times. Specifically one woman: Dinah, mentioned only once in the Bible in the Book of Genesis. Her story comes to life. Her youth, her traditions, and the red tent. A place where women of ancient civilizations used to gather during the new moon, to observe their menses, and bring ritual and in some cases honor the life bearing blood that fills wombs every month.

Not only did the story of Dinah, daughter of Lea, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah bring knowledge of ancient womanhood practices, including midwifery and births, marriage, sex, and a young girls turning of age through her period. My journey with these women, made me understand the strength of the covens that formed during times where their stories, and names were barely mentioned.

This story is rooted on the Bible story of “The Rape of Dinah” in Genesis 34, where the episode of her violation by Shechem is later avenged by her brothers Simeon and Levi on the city of Hamor, father of Shechem.

The Bible is a book where the female is scantly sacred, where lineage is remembered by fathers, and where the births of sons is most honorably, and women’s honor is due for the rise of power for man and tribe. Anita Diamant transforms the stories of Laban, Rachel, Lea, Jacob and Joseph and flips it on its head. She remains true to the old written word, but delves into a world lost by time filling in the gaps of Dinah’s story.  A woman’s world where magic, wisdom, strength and faith are rooted on the spirit of the female.

I give praise to The Red Tent, for it gave me sight into a world where eyes need to go, where women ought to be honored, and most of all remembered.

If you love history, if you want knowledge of ancient womanhood, and if you want to dive deep into a story of love, magic and blood, then I invite you to open the pages of this book.

Thank you to the author, and thank you to Dinah, whatever your real story may have been, today we remember you had a story too, and we honor your story now.

With love,

-Mensa

To Dance is To Pray…To Pray is to Heal

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dance, fly, Follow your dreams, God, Humans, inspiration, learn from mistakes, love, music, Native American, no hate, poetry, Pray, Soul, Supaman, Truth, Why, World

A little food for the soul.

Enjoy.

Much love to all. May you fly, may you dance, may your soul be filled with joy.

– Mensa

Ps. I love you my mushpa!

The BEST Women’s March Speeches Breaking Down the Truth. Amen.

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action, activism, america ferrera, ashley judd, call congress, democracy, democracynow!, fired up, gloria steinem, human rights, inspiration, michael moore, Mushpa + Mensa, nasty woman, nina donovan, resistance, revolution, run for office, save america, stand united, trump, we the people, we will not step back, what can i do, women rights, Women's March

We are fired up!

This is such a special time in our American History, and I am proud to be alive in these times. The Women’s March on Washington is most likely going to go down in our history books as the start of another wave of feminism, and this time, WE WILL NOT STEP BACK.

Mushpa + Mensa were unable to hitch a ride to DC, and maybe all happened for a reason. We were meant to stay at our own city rally in Wilmington, NC. We stayed in our home town, made signs, and shouted, chanted, and participated in the Wilmington’s Sister Women’s March. What a phenomenal experience. Even more amazing was coming back home and seeing the pictures and videos of ALL THOSE WOMEN. Men and children also there supporting. Political figures, icons, celebrities, artists, and humans from all walks of life. All these little pink hats, all these powerful signs. So much to say, yet such unity in our voice. Despite the hiccups of  what it means to be part of this march (Can a pro-lifer still be a feminist? Is there space for white woman oppression?) the energy was ONE.

I am so proud of all of us. This light inside me grows. The strength in me grows, and so does the motivation. We are awake, and ready to go.

Despite not being in Washington physically, our collective energy filled every corner of the world, from Berlin, to Paris, from London to Costa Rica. This is not an American movement. This is WORLD WIDE.

The internet has united us, and I have witnessed some amazing and moving moments from the Women’s March. Here a few favorites. I hope you play them, enjoy them, and let them fill you with hope, motivation, and furious energy to fight this culture of hate, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia and darkness that has crept up to a mainstream platform.

Without further ado, press play, and may the force be with you.

-Mensa

“We too must stand united….if we fall into the trap of separating ourselves by our causes and our labels, then we will weaken our fight, and we will lose. But if we commit to what aligns us, if we stand together steadfast and determined, then we stand a chance at saving the soul of our country.” -America Ferrera

“I’m not nasty like the combo of Trump and Pence being served up to me in my voting booth. I’m nasty like the battles my grandmothers fought to get me into that voting booth…We are here to be respected. We are here to be nasty!” -Nina Donovan interpreted by Ashley Judd

“We are the people. We have people power, and we will use it…This is the upside of the downside. This is an outpouring of energy and true democracy like I have never seen in my very long life. It is wide in age, it is deep in diversity, and remember: the constitution does not begin with “I the president”, it begins with “We the People.” So do not try to divide us…” -Gloria Steinem

The 4 things we need to do according to Michael Moore:

1. Call Congress every single day (1 rep in the house, 2 senators) 202-225-3121

2.  JOIN A GROUP!

3. Form your own rapid response team: people that you will call, when we need to move fast. 10 people

4.Form regions of resistance. Blue states and cities. The country will follow your lead!

5. YOU have to RUN for OFFICE!

No More Boys Will Be Boys

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10%, Cara Reynolds, charity, dump trump, end the backlog, Feminism, Feral audio, Georgia Hardstark, Joyful Heart Foundation, Karen Kilgariff, Maria Emilia Borja, Mariska Hargitay, Mushpa + Mensa, my favorite murder, national non-profit, organic cotton, podcast, rape, rape kit backlog, rape psa, recycled, upcycled

Watch all three videos and see.

I started this Blog entry today, as we here at Mushpa + Mensa want to start backing charities we believe in. Every month we will give 10% of our income to a charity we pick each month and promote in our blog, newsletter and on our website. This is something we have wanted to do and in 2017 we are making it happen!

The first charity we are covering will be End the Backlog. It is a is a program of the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national non-profit organization founded by actress and activist Mariska Hargitay with the mission to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues. We heard about this organization as Cara (me) is obsessed with, My Favorite Murder, a podcast by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark about, you guessed it, murder. Each episode the girls tell each other their favorite tales of murder, and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans. Check your anxiety at the door, ’cause Karen & Georgia are dying to discuss death. They gave 50% of their sales or MFM products for 1 month to End the Backlog.

In Joyful Heart Foundation‘s own words End the Backlog is the cornerstone of Joyful Heart’s Policy & Advocacy work, focuses on shining a light on the rape kit backlog in the United States. Our goal is to end this injustice by conducting groundbreaking research identifying the extent of the nation’s backlog and best practices for eliminating it; expanding the national dialogue on rape kit testing through increased public awareness, engaging communities and government agencies and officials; and advocating for comprehensive rape kit reform legislation and policies at the local, state and federal levels. Ultimately, we seek to change attitudes about sexual violence and abuse, educate the public, improve systems to lessen the trauma survivors experience and ensure greater access to justice for survivors. 

With this new person, whose name I shall not speak, in office we must fight this rape culture, now more than ever. Ladies, men, children, let’s do this. Buy our organic cotton and upcycled stuff and we will work to #changetheculture. I love you ladies!

We are women, HEAR US ROAR!

-Cara aka Mushpa

Last Minute Women’s March Sign Ideas

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activism, art, Audre Lorde, Awesome Event, be brave, Cara Reynolds, Carrie Fisher, Ecuadorian, environment, Feminism, gay, God, Government, green, Happiness, Health Care, inspiration, Latina, lesbian, love, Love is Love, March, march signs, Maria Emilia Borja, NC, North Carolina, political, politics, Princess Leigh, Protest, protest march signs, protest signs, queer, recycled, resistance, revoltion signs, revolution, Sign Ideas, Star Wars, The South, Voltaire, wilmington, Woman Owned Business, Women's March, Women's March Sign Ideas, WomenAlice Walker

If you are anything like us, we can get real close to the time of whatever-it-may-be and then get what needs to be done, last minute style, done. Don’t get us wrong, we do it well under pressure. The Women’s March tomorrow is no different. We are going to wake up around 7AM to get our signs done to get out to our local Wilmington, NC Women’s March. I did some image research and quote digging and came up with 10 good sign suggestions off the World Wide Web.

1. We go high.
2. Your silence will not protect you.
3. Nasty Woman
4. “Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities, Can Make You Commit Atrocities” Voltaire
5. Hate Kills
6. “I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.” Audre Lorde
7. Woman’s place is in the resistance. (in reference to Carrie Fisher…Princess Leigh….Star Wars. You get it.)
8. I am stronger than fear.
9. Truth matters.
10. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”  Alice Walker

Get your recycled pieces of boxes, cardboard, old sheets and get to creating. We will collectively be with every human at every women’s march tomorrow. We love you.

Love trumps hate. Be brave.

Cara and Maria Emilia