The Empowered Lifestyle

Okay, like everyone else I am trying to get my child out of the house (and my hair) and then to a place where he can spend his energy (as opposed to my money!) wisely.

So today's MAGICALLY DELICIOUS post is going to be short but really and truly sweet.

I was going to do a whole sort of Fiesta for the Fourth but, honestly, I am just so tired of watching and hearing about death and death and more death and soaring unemployment rates and tanking stock markets and blah, blah, depressing schmepressing blah.

ORANGES!!!!!

They uplift and raise your spirits! Smelling them, eating them, drinking their juice in your Grey Goose (my surefire recipe to a happy ending!) and even bathing in them (nine pieces of peels in a tub with two cups of Epsom salts will do more to restore your Chi and your energy then any large dose of Lexipro!) Oranges are just the easiest, most natural way to bring a boost to your mood regardless the media mayhem.

And, then there's tarragon! Fights fatigue. In fact, the famous philosopher Pliny, alongside other elders, believed that tucking tarragon into their shoes would allow them insights and energy along "the" journey. Because, well, as we all know, it's never about the destination but really only about the journey. Now there's an herb we can count on to make that trip a little easier! I guess I'll crazy glue some to my four inch high flip flops.

Hence....

ORANGE-TARRAGON SALAD
Serves 6

Ingredients for the salad:
2 oranges
6 cups of fresh baby spinach leaves
1 bunch leaf lettuce
1 small cucumber thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coursely chopped fresh tarragon

Ingredients for the dressing:
2 tablespoons minced chives
2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar
2 tablespoons mayo
2 tablespoons corn oil
1 minced garlic clove
sea salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste

Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix well. You can do this in a blender or food processor as well. Refrigerate for at least three hours and keep covered.

Remove the rind from the oranges and the white parts as well. Section and chop. Wash the greens and tear into pieces. Place the lettuce in a chilled salad bowl with the oranges. Add the cucumber and garnish with salt, pepper and chopped fresh tarragon.

Not only is this FREEDOM from the kitchen due to it's easy assembling but it's really delicious and, honestly, will make you forget all about Michael and Farrah and Ed and David and Harve and Fred and, and, and........

Plus, it gives you a big boost and a ton of good energy.

Now that's a reason for some fireworks!

HAPPY FOURTH KIDS! GODSPEED, BE SAFE AND, OF COURSE, ENJOY!

Unemployment numbers released earlier this morning are disastrous. Over 9 percent of this country is out of work. That's a DEVASTATING statistic. Don't be one of them. I'm replaying some old stuff here and I'm doing it as simply as I know how so no one gets caught up in anything but JOB SHUI!

This works.

Use it.

And then you will too.

PUT A MOVING WATER FOUNTAIN IMMEDIATELY INSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR! Place an image of an arowana fish under, around, or in it.

LEAVE THE FRONT LIGHTS OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR ON FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS EVERY DAY UNTIL YOU GET A NEW GIG!

HANG A MIRROR IN YOUR FRONT ENTRYWAY. I DON'T EVEN CARE WHAT SIZE ANY OF THIS STUFF IS. JUST DO IT.

CLEAR EVERY LAST PIECE OF CLUTTER AWAY FROM THE FRONT ENTRYWAY TOO. WHILE YOU'RE AT IT TAKE ANY PLANTS AND CANDLES OUT OF THERE TOO (unless you are enacting the plant 'cure' I posted a few days/weeks (??) ago.)

PUT AN ELEPHANT ON THE FLOOR IN THE FRONT ENTRYWAY FACING IN, AS IF HE IS WALKING INTO YOUR HOUSE. PUT A CRYSTAL ON HIS BACK. If I told you that I have over 200 emails validating the efficacy of this cure, would you believe me? You should!

Lastly, before you go to sleep and AS SOON AS you wake up..every day for 49 days:

"I have a perfect work
In a perfect way,
I give a perfect service
For perfect pay."

Thanks Florence Shinn.

And Saint Joseph.

PRAYER FOR MIRACLES

I am God's Faith.
I believe in the Divine Plan for my life.
I am still and strong.
I am God's pure love.
My strength is infinite.
I AM mercy and I live my love.

And JoAnne Cornog.

Now, get off that line and go get your job! It's waiting! And I believe!

This morning during my monthly gig with BOB AND SHERI (don't we LOVE them?) we talked about using "magic" mirrors to your best advantage especially in July! We chatted over what exactly a 'magic mirror' is, how to get it to be your genie in a bottle, etc etc. I know that we've seen this information before inside these very same posts but today I'm going to get a bit more detailed and share how you can see more fulfilling fireworks in your life than ever before simply by looking in the mirror.

These secret rituals associated with the magic mirror come from Chinese classic texts where references are frequently made to using this reflective surface to make some dreams come true. HEY! This ain't no romper room! NO sireee BOB AND SHERI. Instead, why not embrace the fact that these mirrors can be used for protection, for purifying a home, for tranforming crap energies and, my personal fav, for making you more beautiful. See it's the essence of sunlight or capturing the powerful fire energy that makes this more than an everyday reflection of your existence. That fire energy activation is what makes this mirror your new bff!

But, first, you need to "open the eyes" of the mirror. You do this simply by running it under cool tap water (from the kitchen only please!) three times. Don't use any sort of soap or cleanser; all that's called for is the yang water. And your imagination, trust and belief! BELIEVE!

Now, ideally, this mirror should be round with some sort of metal attached although that last part is not mandatory. What will help your efforts will be to affix some symbol that represents your intentions/goals on the backside of the piece. For instance, if you are going to use the magic in your mirror to make yourself irresistable, you might want to find a symbol that means "beauty" and affix it to the back of the mirror once you've opened it's eyes (google.com...images...Taoist symbol for love and beauty perhaps?)

Anyway, once the mirror has awakened then it's critical to bring on the bright and activate full power by using sunlight. Hold the mirror as much as possible inside the palm of the hand that you write with and then raise that hand up high, showing the mirror to the sun. Hold the mirror in this position for exactly 9 seconds. No more/no less.

Now you're cooking with oil. Don't let anyone else see this mirror and BY ALL MEANS NEVER LET ANYONE ELSE USE IT. In fact, you need to cleanse it after each use, that's how powerful these energies are. Here are some of the different ways you can have full advantage:

To become more beautiful...charge the mirror in the sunlight and then look at yourself in it. If you use your mirror for this purpose then you must keep it aside FOR THIS PURPOSE only. Never mix and max your magical mirrors. Bet you'd never thought you'd hear me say that eh?

If you think there are frenemies in the midst who are trying to undermine you at work then take the mirror to the office and slowly walk around that space reflecting that environment, including and especially any problematic people. This act will burn all bad intentions towards you and replace them with loving energies.

If you need to clear dark or negative energies from your home (and, well, after the last few days and weeks of death and dying all around....just sayin') then take this mirror into all the rooms of your home and just hold it up to the corners. Once you have done this IMMEDIATELY take it outside and shine it up at the sun..again.

Remember not to use the same mirror for everything, in this case, the mirror DOES NOT have two phases.

Go ahead, take your mirror outside this weekend and hold it up to the sun for nine seconds. Then look into it as you focus your energies on both your inner and your outer beauty. Then, well, don't be surprised if you glow more than those illegal sparklers you've got hidden away in the closet!

Now, who's the fairest of them all? Uh huh, exactly what I was thinking too!

And HAPPY JULY! Don't forget to find out how you can use alot of other energies to make your best life evuh by signing up for the July newsletter at www.ellenwhitehurst.com! Am also just about to debut the new MAPPING YOUR BEST LIFE BLUEPRINT consultation where I marry your detailed astrology to some secret Feng Shui to bring health, happiness, love and money right to your door. You can't believe some of the testimonials I've been getting. Even I can't believe them. And I do this for a living! Call me if you're interested!

Now, go grab that mirror, and for God's sake, leave the poison apple alone!

Just as Charles Foster Kane struggled to allow the single word “rosebud” to escape from parched and penitent lips, pushed out alongside a last and gasping, dying breath, so do soft and fragrant rosebuds whisper the word “July” as they fall from pink and red and yellow halos. And as much as rosebuds and lotus blossoms might perfume some of the most perfect summer days ahead, there’s also a stinker or two in the bunch that must not have received their eviction notices early enough to let us all enjoy a full four weeks of sun and fun and frolic. Yes, July is the time where summer begins to flex her golden muscles and shows a growth spurt that allows her to stand tall among all other months. Starting with fireworks that brighten her whole demeanor, she begins to feel her strength while staring down at the rest of us trying to balance both work and play. While we do, of course, face the age old dilemma, SPF 15 or 40? Really, is there any difference? Where we will see a decided difference this month, however, is in the stock market. Or so says the Feng Shui conflict about to erupt between the metal Sheep and this year’s ruling Ox. Beware. And “be wary.” says this sheep. It’s a very bahhhhhhhhd idea to invest in equities of any kind no matter how tempted you might be. You’ll just get fleeced, says this oracle. Me? I’m just the messenger. But I’ve been saying since this same time last year, to anyone who’ll listen, that this summer (esp in August), from an astrological perspective, has a good chance of bringing the market to new lows and anxious speculators to the other knee. Why not then, simply stay out of the stock market and invest in the original renewable energy source, Feng Shui? If you do, then you’ll know that this metalsome Sheep who just can’t keep her snout out of our business also says that gold’s a good bet. Once she’s done giving Soros her sage, the appearance of this sheep is also said to strengthen the element of earth in July which, in turn, can bring extraordinarily good luck for those who cotton to same. Bring a plant inside your space and love it. Love it some more. You won’t believe the bloomin’ luck you’ll get in return. And opportunities too. Jump into them as you might the cranky neighbor’s pool after a few frosty ones but do it on the down low when at all possible. Sort of oxy-moronish, these prevalent energies that soak the sides and front and back of this month duly and truly advising u alls to fully utilize every opportunity that comes our way. The secret Shui of the Sheep says there are hidden agendas and bonuses wrapped up in every single sizzling one. But the attendant codicil comes along to tell us to also keep a low pro wherever and whenever possible. Whole month long. Low pro. Okay, I guess we’ll let the Sun be the shining star of this month and be content to sneak out of the office a bit early to go hear Louis playing Hendrix on the covered deck at Kokoamos. Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahama, Key Largo, Montego, both Louis and the Beach Boys say that’s where you’ll want to go to get away from it all. Bodies in the sand, melting drink in hand, falling in love to the music of a steel drum band. Yup, sounds like the perfect July to me. And for you too.

For more on what to expect and how to make the best of your own personal energies and opportunities in July log onto www.ellenwhitehurst.com.

JULY 1 Regardless what this month’s Shui Sheep says about buying gold, all that glitters sometimes just isn’t. Especially where love is concerned. But there is a silver lining. And it comes with a passport to imagination and intuition on this specific day. Insights are extraordinary. Magical even. Take time to tap in. Then, with a red pen, ON THIS DAY, write what your fantasy future looks like. In short story form. Forget the Carson Mccullers overtones and write down the best life you can think of. Read it every night and each morning for nine days straight. Now don’t say I never gave you anything.

JULY 4 Roll with the punches and go with the flow, and, oh yeah, don’t forget to keep a low profile. Fireworks. Enough said. With your spread fingers acting as your “comb,” brush them over your entire body as if you were clearing a spider web from all around it. Start at the head and end at your feet and don’t forget the front and the back. Breathe. Then wash your hands under cold water. Three times. Now take that Charlotte!

JULY 7 TWIN ECLIPSES! This would have been the Super Stellar Day if there wasn’t a day that was better! As if! Go ahead and expect the unexpected the same way you expect the Sun to rise or the mail to get delivered or Heidi and Spencer to make a pubic spectacle of themselves. This day, however, really expect it. Look for the surprise. Keep wondering where it is. Because when it comes, believe you me, it’s gonna be good. Good Humor Chocolate Éclair good. Four stems from a choice of three colors. FOUR florals placed in a clear or translucent vase. No thorns please. FOUR STEMS ONLY of pink or orange or purple. Peach blossom luck. Entirely unexpected ain’t it?

JULY 10 Generous, gracious, giving Jupiter conjunct the fantasy fueled Neptune. Now this is what I call a SUPER STELLAR DAY. But you’ll have to sign up for my newsletter at www.ellenwhitehurst.com to figure out how to gain all you can from these fab energies! Good luck doesn’t even begin to touch it.

JULY 11 Best day of the month to sign contracts or other important papers. Don’t forget to end your signature by slanting it slightly up and to the right. And don’t forget to sign with a red or purple pen when possible.

JULY 18 Sizzling, sexy, sensual and hot, hot, hot! Enough about me, now what about you? Date night. Put an image of the dragon and the phoenix canoodling in the back right hand corner of your bedroom. Dragon’s breath. Phoenix’s ashes. Like I said, hot, hot, hot.

JULY 21 "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Thanks Dr. Seuss, I feel better already. Just in case those who mind do matter, put a clear quartz crystal on any window ledge in the kitchen. Clarity. Crystal clear and all better now.

JULY 25 I hate the word ‘hate’ and I hate the word ‘evil.’ Both are applicable to this day. So, guess how I’m feeling about getting out of bed today? Burn frankincense incense all day long. Or wear a few drops of the essential oil as your cologne to keep you perfectly perfumed and protected. Ring a bell softly in your space to clean the crap. BIG mug of sea salt somewhere inside the house. Absorb away.

JULY 31 If you think they’re lying to you, you’re probably right. Double check the fine print and avoid signing on, literally and figuratively. You could regret it later. Negative things come in threes, hence the energies end of this month. Positive things come in pairs and smoke and sound connect to other realms. Play favorite music while burning violet incense. Archangel Jabriel is singing.

Okay, so here's the quick and the dirty. Because tomorrow is July 1 I wanted to share today what plant we should be bringing into our space this month. Especially since there are really productive energies afoot that promise powerfully wonderful results if we adopt a plant this month (see July Empowering Days when they are uploaded on the www.ellenwhitehurst.com site tomorrow!)

Anyway, lotus is the plant du July. But I know that lotus root and lotus blooms are really expensive and pretty hard to find as well. It's just funny because one of my all time fav books, THE MISTRESS OF THE SPICES talks all about using lotus root to get someone to love you. REALLY love you. And, now, I'm reading a new great book about the nine plants of desire and, yup, you guessed it, there's that lotus magic again. All about the deep desire and longing part of love. Lotus brings that.

So, easy enough so far right? I'll just post something about lotus and be done. Like, maybe, um, download an image of two lotus roots and place them somewhere in the 'ROMANCE and RELATIONSHIP' area of your bedroom (again, see the Bagua link on the home page of my site if you don't know where that is.)

But in the back of my mind, all morning, I just keep thinking of basil. Basil, you know, the herb? The one we top off a nice Caprese salad with? Yeah, that basil. But, see, here's what I know. Basil is usually ONLY used in prosperity cures and adjustments. Basil brings big money. Period. I don't think I've EVER learned anything about using basil to bring love. Even if the way to a man's heart is through a nice fresh, juicy ripe and sliced salty tomato sitting atop some freshly made and milky buffalo mozzarella.

Nevertheless I quell the basil voice and keep on with the lotus agenda. In doing so, I open one of my most trusted compendiums of plant spirit medicine and the page I just "serendipitously" open to says this (and I SWEAR that I am not making this up):

CARIBBEAN LOVE BATH ... For purifying energies and opening up to LOVE!

So, kids, here you go. Never mind trying to find that elusive lotus, this will do quite nicely instead....just love-ly!

Ingredients:

A few drops of your favorite perfume

Six sprigs of FRESH BASIL (!!!!)

A handful of rose petals

A few cuttings of fresh aloe

Five orange leaves

Steep all ingredients for an hour in hot water and when cooled add to a cold water bath , along wtih three drops of pure vanilla essence and a cupful of single cream or whole milk. Stand as if you are taking a shower and pour this water over youself while allowing the plants and essences to ivest your the energy and empowerment you need to draw in the love of your life.

When you are done with this "bath" take the plant remains outside and bury them at the base of a tree or throw them into any source of moving water such as a stream, river or lake. Whichever you choose, just be sure to leave an offering of thanks to the invisible energies or spirits of that place. Chocolate's always a safe bet. Who doesn't like chocolate?

So, there's your magic for today. Abbracadabasil!