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September 2014
Newsletter
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Raw Fig, Cherry, Lavender and Honey Cake
Fills an 8 inch cake pan
Ingredients:
Base:
2 cups macadamia nuts
1 cup desiccated coconut
¼ cup date paste
2 pinches Himalayan rock salt
½ teaspoon vanilla paste
Filling:
1½ cups cashews, soaked overnight
1½ cups young coconut meat (this will be about two coconut's worth)
¾ cup nut milk
½ cup raw honey
½ cup coconut oil
Juice of one lemon (or ¼ cup)
1 tablespoon organic dried lavender
1 tablespoon vanilla paste
2 pinches Himalayan rock salt
2 tablespoons psyllium husk*
Additional water to assist the blending if needed (perhaps a few tablespoons)
1 cup red cherries, pitted
3 large plump, fresh figs
Methods/Steps
Base:
1) Process everything until a nice dough forms
2) Pat firmly into the base of a 7½ inch cake pan lined with baking paper
3) Set aside while you make the filling
Filling:
1) Blend the cashews, coconut meat, milk, honey, coconut oil, lemon juice, lavender , salt and vanilla paste until smooth. You may like to do this in two batches, for ease of blending
2) Now add the psyllium husk and blend again. Transfer to a large mixing bowl
3) In a food processor, quickly blitz the cherries and figs, then fold this through the rest of the filling
4) Pour the filling over the base of the cake and set in the freezer
5) Transfer to the fridge to soften a little before serving.
*Psyllium husk is the husk of a seed and is an insoluble fiber. In liquid, it becomes gelatinous and swells, and acts a binder in the cake. If you cannot find any, you can simply either use a couple of tablespoons of lecithin or extra coconut oil.
Recipe from www.rawguru.com
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The Libra New Moon The Lunation of "The Other Me"
If only you were you
and I were simply me how much easier life would be!
Unfortunately, "you"
are the other
mirrored me. Libra is the mirror man. The opposite of me is what I see when I look into that mirror. This is what is called "the shadow" in psychology. The spiritual challenge of Libra is to "own" whatever is "out there." Whoever is "out there." Whatever everyone else is doing out there, especially if we don't like it. Because it's all happening in the mirror, and all of it is ... us.
Us? How easy it is to hide behind plural pronouns: us, we, ours. Particularly when we're "one with" this Libra Moon. But the spiritual challenge is to own it all. To be able to humbly say, "It's me. It's mine." And mean it. |
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WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT UMS
" My consciousness has most definitely been raised by reading the course materials and doing the meditations and exercises. I am a much more peaceful and positive person knowing that I am one with the Universe. I no longer try to force things, but instead I go with the flow and let Universal consciousness show me the way. Knowing that everything happens for a reason helps me to be more accepting of situations that in the past would have caused a bad reaction. And I no longer get overwhelmed all the time now that I primarily live in the present moment."
- Whitney Gordon-Mead
"The meditations in the coursework have really helped me to calm down. I, earlier just wasn't able to sit down to meditate with thoughts exploding in from every direction. But slowly and surely I have come to terms with that and now it is very easy for me to meditate for about an hour daily."
-Aditya Dugar
"The History lessons have given me a better understanding. I feel more confident and grounded. The whole experience has proven to be very fruitful for me. The education makes me a better conduit to share my light with others and to focus on the importance of being here now."
-Shari Clarke
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Check out our founder, Christine Breese's
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Do you have a submission for our monthly newsletter?
Ideas? Comments? Feedback? Questions?
We publish our school newsletter every month around the new moon, and are super excited about this publication as a way of sharing thoughts and inspiration from our students, and keeping our network aware of our goals and happenings. Please feel free to submit any work you feel might be appropriate (such as poetry, artwork or articles) to the email address, newsletter@umsonline.org.
We look forward to receiving your submissions and integrating the knowledge and creativity of students into ourpublication.
Thank you so much, and happy creative process to you all!
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Autumn Abundance
by Alecia Rostad
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I love orange! Even as a child, I felt a deep yearning in my soul to be immersed in this color. Its sends ripples of joy throughout my entire body and uplifts my spirit. It quenches an inner thirst that is intensely satisfying. I love to wear orange clothes, scarves, and jewelry. I love to eat oranges. I love to inhale orange essential oil. I love the orange leaves when they fall in autumn. Orange magnetizes me.
This weekend I went to a women's gathering and had the opportunity to participate in a give-away. We were asked to bring something that we love to give away. Imagine the possibilities! I took the invitation to assess each object that I love and to imagine what it would be like to surrender fully and give it away. I was unsure of which object was the one.
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During meditation the answer came to me. I have a green crown made of ribbons that I bought before the very first women's gathering that I went to, seven years ago. This crown has helped me to connect with my inner goddess and the magic of the faeries. When I wear it, I feel radiant and truly embody my highest self. I realized that I have received the abundance this crown has to offer me, and even when I'm not wearing it, I feel its presence within my heart and reflect the lessons it has taught me. I was ready to give my crown away and anxious to see what gift I would receive in return.
That evening at the gathering, I saw the alter where everyone had placed the items they were ready to give away. There were crystals, seeds, plants, jewelry, chocolates, and an assortment of other treasures. And there it was, the orange necklace, calling to me. My heart fluttered with excitement. I wondered when we would do the exchange and how it would all unfold and also convinced myself to let go of my wanting and to await the Divine unfolding of this ritual. I gave thanks for all of the love that had gone into each item and the blessing of them all being together charging up through the night on the altar. I said a prayer that I would receive the item that would help me to manifest the intentions that I had set for this new moon equinox.
The next day, we all gathered in the grass outside with our items in the center. We each spoke of what we had chosen to give away and then if we were feeling a certain item was meant for someone, we shared that as well. My friend said that she felt that the orange necklace was for me, and I agreed that the necklace had called to me and that I resonated with its energy. We each took our turn to give and to receive. This ritual was such a beautiful reflection of the energy of the equinox season; to give and to receive in perfect balance, to celebrate the abundance in our lives and to joyfully accept the fruits of the season.
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Navratri: A Celebration of the Divine Mother
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In India, the Divine Mother is honored, invoked, and celebrated during the festival of 9 nights, or Navratri. In 2014, this festival begins on Septmeber 25th. The Feminine aspect of God is known in Hinduism as Shakti, the supreme creative energy. Traditions vary slightly depending on the lineage of the area, but commonly the Divine Mother is celebrated in her three forms, for three days each. The first aspect is Durga, the purifier, who helps us return to a pure state in our minds, hearts, and bodies. The second 3 days honor Lakshmi, giver of spiritual and material wealth. The final 3 days are devoted to Sarasvati, the Goddess of wisdom and understanding.
Navratri is celebrated all over India, and people come from many parts of the world to honor the Feminine principle of the Divine, the Great Mother. We can honor her in our lives as well during this time, and join in this powerful devotional energy that is being generated for the next 9 days. Light candles and incense, decorate your altar, hearth, or whole house in honor of the Divine Feminine, especially her creative form. Dance, sing, fast or feast, pray, meditate, make art and love, and give gifts, in form or formless, to those you love. Honor the nurturing energies that live in all beings, and celebrate the unconditional love and joy that is at the core of our true nature. Happy Navratri!
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Featured Student Project- September 2014
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Need some inspiration? Check out this beautiful artwork by one of our amazing students! 
Title: Finding Your Purpose
by Margarita Gorohovsky
"One needs to take the time to find the purpose of their life. There are more questions than answers. Allowing yourself the time to be alone, to be still, to search, to ask questions and to wait for the answers. Being too busy with your life is the usual excuse that prevents us to find our higher purpose. The payback of finding your true purpose is priceless. Don't allow anyone to stop you from searching and finding, as your life will change forever..."
"It took me 1 year to paint this project. Going through the classes of the Bachelor's program, growing spiritually, learning about myself, my unlimited abilities, expanding my horizons - lead me to the painting classes to get an idea of the painting techniques. I always wanted to paint, but never really put any effort into it. It was a long journey of growing spiritually through developing of new skills, letting the fears of "not knowing how" go, allowing myself to melt into the painting, into the colors, into its beauty, into its message."
-Margarita Gorohovsky
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Changing the World One Choice at a Time
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~Elizabeth Erenberger |
Here at the UMS main office, our office manager Judy has been seeking out self care tools that will continue to benefit our staff and resonate out into our interactions with our vast student body.
Our latest adventure is one which stems from a popular modern book titled, "A Complaint Free World," by Will Bowen. We now wear the purple bracelets as a memento of our greater vision. Positivity Abounding!
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The challenge is to go twenty-one days without criticizing, complaining, or gossiping. Oh, the awareness we have already found just by putting out the intention! Most of us find it much easier to honor this commitment at work than in our home environments. Oh, the irony!
We all feel so blessed to be a part of UMS, and to have a place in this unique planetary time of heightened awareness and compassion for global concern. We hope that you will be inspired by our little quest for self-mastery, and that you will find challenges that will continue to support your growth and unfolding.
My personal thoughts are, any challenge is more fun when you have a few friends along for the ride. So, why not get your family or community involved? It might be fun!
To Check out more on this subject go to A Complaint Free World website.
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Student Writing-
Poems by Keith Murphy
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Inner Matters-
Some time ago I met a man,
who doubted his full val-ue.
My very nature begged opportune,
To challenge and construe.
You need not know him well or long,
All he is, is what he will render.
Beneath steely rough exterior,
Lies his heart, loyal and tender.
I honor him as one of few,
advanced in my mind's eye,
turned his life complete around,
when others choose to die.
Finding joy with simple ease,
many never will they master.
Only hearts opened up enough,
treasure artistry in laughter.
Personality will not recall,
what eternal soul has chosen.
And in this lifetime he now lives,
ignorant see him as broken.
I do not understand it how,
society could label,
a man infinitely more,
than differently able-ed.
Our unending identity,
Determines value in kind.
More than what the wealth call rich,
Is his inner life and mind.
If he could perceive all that I do,
deeply contemplate these things,
he'll see he soars to heights anew,
on his wheelchair made of wings.
We are so thankful for the outpouring of support and submissions we have received from students. We need your input to keep our newsletter fresh and inspiring! Please keep the submissions coming. By sharing your art with the world, there is so much to be gained. -Blessings and Gratitude, Elizabeth
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I AM the Pieces
I AM a scattered mystery
Resonating one frequency
Solid matter in physicality
In the unending real of reality
I AM eternal consciousness
And need not form to feel bliss
I AM
Omnificent
Omnipresent
Omnipotent
I find myself in pieces
And when I find them all, I will be whole.
If You Knew-
If you knew why she was cold,
would you choose then not to scold?
Soften your gaze, so you can see
How soft behind the ice is she.
Would you choose to hurt her still
now that you know she's had her fill?
Pain from long ago suppressed,
leaking out always a test.
Pain, yours or hers, one in the same
No point in fingering the blame.
Pain leaking out and springing forth
from damaged vessel this of course.
Try to perceive a different way,
a chance to heal present today,
now that you are privy to,
the knowing that it is not you.
Dig deep into your heart if need,
You'll benefit, as well indeed.
Offer the generosity of space,
she needs to try again in grace.
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Changes on the Horizon at Our UMS Office
-Elizabeth Erenberger
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We, the staff at the University of Metaphysical Sciences main office, have been updating the efficiency of our office space, and online procedures, hoping to provide the best possible educational experience for our students around the globe.
We have recently made some major shifts in the layout of our office, creating exciting changes in the way of feng-shui and energetic flow. Positive energy is flowing!
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What Animals Can Teach Us (If we choose to listen)-
by Sonia Bennett, UMS Student
Froggy Blessings-
I have some Native American in my culture and live by the ways as much as I can. There are times when I feel the need to be in nature or to pray. I always wear my native ceremony dress that I only wear in prayer and dance. Wearing this puts me in that complete mindset of prayer and ceremony as I am dressing up. Everything starts in prayer and when I head to the lake I will bring my hoop, fan, drum and rattle. I do not have a set prayer or dance or what I am going to do but what moves me in spirit is what I do. Sometimes I dance on the shore utilizing whatever I brought with me or sometimes I enter into the water in dance.
One of my most favorite things was that I was sitting in the water on a rock that popped out of the water on the top, and I sat there with my drum one day just beating on it and I felt something on my foot repeatedly. When I looked down I had about 100 frogs floating in the water around me just listening in. It wasn't just the frogs but I also had fish! Imagine that, obviously they loved the vibrations that the drum was sending out. I gave my thanks and appreciated this moment so.
I realize that when the mind is quiet and you let go and just do whatever compels you amazing things always happen! I have learned from this and believe me it took me awhile to not let my mind take control. It is so easy for the human self to want to take control along with ego sort of speak.
Permission to Bee-
Give yourself permission to just be! My friend Joy has bees all over her house and from pictures, stuffed animals, figurines. I asked her one day why she had them everywhere. What she told me changed my life and I use this for myself also. I also use it when giving a gift to someone to include a bee of some sort. The bee reminds us...are you ready for this....smiles....to just bee! Bee in the moment! Bee in the now! Bee grateful! Bee who you truly are! How amazing!
So my daily ritual is to wake up and turn my head and see the little bee figurine on my nightstand to remind me...to just be!
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Gaia Sagrada Shamanic Retreat December 6-17, 2014
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As you know, UMS has opened a shamanic retreat center near Cuenca in Ecuador for Ayahuasca ceremonies, San Pedro ceremonies and meeting Ecuadorian shamans who practice traditional medicine ceremonies.
We have another 12 day retreat coming up, December 6-17, 2014 (November is already full), and we invite you to come and join us! As always, UMS operates as a non-profit organization, and so does Gaia Sagrada Eco-Community & Retreat Center in Ecuador. Prices are as low as they can be to cover expenses as our motivation is about awakening humanity. Come visit our Gaia Sagrada website at gaiasagrada.com.
"I cannot express the level of gratitude and love I feel for Christine and Bruce as well as all the others that I had the pleasure of having these experiences with. The shamans, Miguel and Santiago were inspiring and uplifting. The experiences I had there will travel with me the rest of my life. The lessons I learned have given me more knowledge to draw from. The experience was invaluable to my personal growth and the way I interact with the people that I come in contact with on a daily basis." -David F. Coons, Gaia Sagrada Participant
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