Spring Cleanse.....again!

Well, it's nearly the Equinox and that means it's time for my annual spring cleanse. Longtime readers might remember that I do this twice a year, on the spring and autumn equinox. I am very excited about doing it this year, I have had so much stress and upheaval in my life this past season that I know a cleanse is just the thing I need to restore balance to my system. As always I will be using the Master Cleanse made famous by Stanley Burroughs. I have always found, in the spring, if the weather has not warmed up sufficiently, that I will get quite chilled and find it hard to keep warm while on the cleanse. This year, I have decided to try taking my "lemonade" hot, if that happens. I know, I know, seems like a no-brainer, but for some reason I never thought to try it before. :}

Once again, I will compliment my "lemonade" with a cleansing, healing bath each night of the cleanse. I also include massage, (thanks to my hubby) and daily enemas, (I know, eeewww, but they're quite liberating). I also plan to step up my yoga routine and do some walking to help the cleanse work even better. I will begin my cleanse Friday morning. Two days and counting......

Egg Trees and Waking Mother Earth

Today was a busy day. Sophie and I decorated the egg tree that she wanted after seeing one in a neighbor's yard. She had a lot of fun.

It was hard to decide where to hang each egg, she gave it lots of thought.
Our finished egg tree, with a very happy little girl.

Also today, we had our simple ritual that I posted about yesterday to awaken Mother Earth. Sophie really got into this and enjoyed it very much. Here we are with our "staffs", last winter's gifts from the trees. Sophie ran to each point in our yard and yelled, "Wake up, Mother Earth, Spring is here!". What fun!

Spring Cleanse Day 1

Today is day one of my spring cleanse, using Stanley Burroughs' Master Cleanser. Once more, it's

2 Tbs. fresh squeezed lemon juice

1-2 Tbs. 100% pure maple syrup

1/10 tsp. cayenne pepper

8 ounces of fresh water (filtered or spring)

This is drank liberally throughout the day, as much as 12 glasses. I find that I can do very well on it, as far as actual hunger goes. Most of the problem that I have is with just being accustomed to eating, I have an oral fetish, so to speak anyway, and it is very hard for me to drink only water. Especially living with a family that loves to eat. I feel a little tired, but that is mostly due to the fact that Sophie decided that 4;30AM was a good time to start the day. I hope to catch a nap later. Already, I feel more clear, in my thinking and other than a slight headache,(can everyone say caffeine withdrawals?) I was able to get up early, do my yoga practice, entertain my parents for a couple of hours, and now work on this blog. I am feeling good about it. The times before I was very surprised about how well I did on it, because I have always been one to get the "shakes" if I don't eat on time. This is a pretty tasty drink too, with a good balance of flavors, sweet, sour and spicy. From "Staying Healthy with the Seasons", author Elson Haas says, "Lemon is a perfect liver food and a great body cleanser. High in Vitamin C, potassium, and other minerals, lemons are somewhat astringent, meaning that they contract and tighten tissues, which loosens up and clears the toxins from deep tissues and organs. Lemons are an especially good aid to arthritis sufferers, cleansing the joint spaces. The cayenne pepper helps clear the blood and eliminates toxins and mucus, as well as keeps the body warm. The ample syrup is wonderful energy (calories, too)."

I will keep you posted on my progress for the next three days.

Hot Cross Buns

On Sunday, Sophie and I made Hot Cross Buns, recipe link below. I have wanted to try these for several years, and just never got around to it. After my son, Joshua, began learning the recorder in music class, and playing "Hot Cross Buns", I decided it was time. So I found this recipe and we went for it, accompanied on the recorder by Joshua. What fun we had! Sophie helped mix the dough, which is very sticky. We did not wait overnight, as the recipe suggests, and they turned out wonderfully! I used fresh lemon rind and juice, in place of the lemon extract. It gave it a sweet/tangy lemon zing. Yum!

A little history from Fabulous Foods; " A traditional favorite on Good Friday in England, Hot Cross Buns are a spicy currant or raisin studded yeast bun, topped with a "Cross" of lemon flavored icing. While Christians have adopted the cake and the symbolism of the cross, it wasn't always so. To Pagans then as now, the cross was symbolic of the sun wheel, which symbolizes perfect balance at the time of the Spring Equinox. Hot Cross Buns were probably originally used in ceremonies and rituals and the Christian church attempted to ban the buns, although they proved too popular. Left with no alternative but defeat, the church did the next best thing and "Christianized" the bread with Queen Elizabeth I passing a law which limited the bun's consumption to proper religious ceremonies, such as Christmas, Easter or funerals."

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/breads/yeast/hotcrossbun.html

I had thought to have some left over for breakfast the next morning, but they did not last that long. Everyone loved them!

Spring Cleanse/Liver Detox 2

HELLO. Oh, hello in there! Wake up! Spring is here. It's time to cheer, and shine like the sun. Come out and play; dance your dance. This is nature's birthing season-the time of creation and development. All is restored with life at the beginning of spring. That which is found within us in winter surfaces and wants to come forth in the full bloom of spring to be later nourished by the summer sun and bring the fruits of autumn.

You may now feel a new spark and power, and be filled with inspiration and energy to act upon your ideas. This is a good time to take a look at your life and make a new plan. What do you want to clear out as the past in your environment and within yourself-and what do you wish to see happen this year? This can be a new start. Take a little time to write a new health/life plan, including goals for how you wish to feel and what you would like to do and see happen. Let those dreams blossom.

Spring is the greening season, It is the time for planting. After the rain and snow of winter, the seeds begin to sprout from the depths of the soil, trees bud, and nature awakened in her green, flowering beauty. New growth in our lives, relationships, and work is stimulated now as well. We and nature will flourish this season.

Cleansing the body means to rid it of excess waster and dis-ease. This is done via resting from foods for a period of time and drinking juices of fruits and vegetables and /or water.

We can look at cleansing our bodies in the same way as we look at maintaining our automobiles. if we never checked them, retuned them, and cleaned or replaced clogged tubes, and continued to drive them, they would often break down. So it is with our body, the most finely tuned machine on the planet. From its conception, it was designed to ruin on the pure, unpolluted, unprocessed fuel from the Mother Earth. Today with the varied and manufactured substances we eat, inbibe, and inhale, this cleansing is even more important to our vitality and health. Spring time seems to be the best time for major cleansing. (excerpted from "Staying Healthy with the Seasons" by Elson M. Haas, M.D.)

In a couple of days I will begin my spring cleansing fast. As I said in a previous post, I use Stanley Burroughs' Master Cleanser. Along with the "lemonade" I drink peppermint tea on occasion, because it helps with breath and body odors that may occur due to the release of toxins from the body. Each evening I take a catnip enema to facilitate cleansing and to clear toxins. The catnip relaxes the muscles to prevent cramping. Drinking a laxative tea is also recommended, but I have never seemed to need it. Each evening I also take a hot bath, adding the following to the water: Day 1-20 ounces of baking soda and 1/2 cup iodized salt

day 2-two cups of hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of pure essential oil of clove

day 3- to quarts apple cider vinegar and a few drops of pure essential oil of rosemary

day 4-two cups witch hazel and a few drops of pure essential oil of jasmine

day 5- one cup Epsom salts and a few drops of pure essential oil of rose

These five baths create a beautiful complexion. Take the baths in this order on five consecutive evenings. Soak for at least twenty minutes. While soaking, sip water or herbal tea. Use only a few drops of the essential oils because they have a powerfully stimulating effect. I also use a brush to dry brush my skin before the baths, to stimulate circulation and encourage the release of toxins.

Body therapy during the cleanse is a wonderful addition. Massage is a must, even if you just get a family member to do it for you, come on husbands, we do a lot. We deserve it. Saunas or hot tubs are a good choice too.

Daily exercise is important during the cleanse to help things along. Just watch your energy level. You will probably find that you have lots of time and energy to get into your creativity as well as your normal day's work and responsibilities. (If you want to try a cleanse, please get a good book on the subject, I recommend the one above, and/or research the internet for information. If you have health issues always check with a doctor first.) Happy cleansing!