Community, Healthy Living Tr1be global Community, Healthy Living Tr1be global

Conscious Community

Conscious community … this bond between friends feeds our need for connection and belonging, offers comfort and creates a feeling of invincibility – there is comfort in knowing that no matter what comes your way, your people have your back.

The beauty of being part of a true Conscious Community is that it raises the bar for how you move through the world.

by Virginia Eaton

You know that feeling when you’re with those friends who are your tribe? The laughter flows and conversation is in shorthand because of the breadth of your shared experiences. Most people have had this experience at some point: sometimes it’s family, sometimes it’s co-workers, but often it is a random collection of people with whom your soul jives. This bond between friends feeds our need for connection and belonging, offers comfort and creates a feeling of invincibility – there is comfort in knowing that no matter what comes your way, your people have your back.  Chick flicks like Book Club, Me Before You, and 50-First Dates all have this tribal quality, and sense of connection that is one reason this story genre tends to draw viewers.

When you take that strong connection among a group of people then elevate it, you give it a focus that embodies the sentiment “Be the Change You Want to See in the World.” You’ve then created a potentially magical experience - a Conscious Community.  A conscious community has a little more structure than a tight group of friends and has an explicit raison d’etre. There are often spoken and unspoken expectations that maintain the community’s integrity. Regardless of the purpose, the community as a whole will always be operating from a heart-centered place. Sometimes the rules are around the food that is eaten, or the type of clothes worn. Sometimes it’s just an agreement that when we are together the cell phones go away, we don’t waste time on gossip, and every member actively supports what is best for the other.

The beauty of being part of a true Conscious Community is that it raises the bar for how you move through the world. It embodies the Eleanor Roosevelt quote, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” When traveling, dining or socializing members operating on this principle pull random people into their orbit in a “I’ll have what she’s having” sort of way. I’ve been to countless restaurants, high end as well as casual, and as the conversation develops with excitement and enthusiasm, I’ve seen people leaning in as they tried to figure out what the hullabaloo was about. On more than one occasion, people stopped by the table not really sure why, they only knew they felt a pull, a desire for connection. That’s when you know the group is on the right track- that elevated vibe attracts those looking for something more.

Relating from the heart center does not preclude disagreements, however. A mature conscious community understands that disagreements between members or from external sources are natural and necessary to refine the community’s identity and, when guided correctly, allow each member to contribute to clarifying the group’s uniqueness, increase ownership, and solidify purpose. When a community is operating well, the group reminds individuals that having our buttons pushed offers a growth opportunity. It is a chance to understand lifetime patterns that keep us operating in reaction mode rather than proactive mode and support moving through to a higher plane.

You know you are part of a conscious community when:

  • Cell phones and other technology play a very small part in how you relate to each other.

  • There is a need among the members to make the world a better place.

  • When you gather, the talk is about ideas of creation not destruction.

  • In every experience there is the attempt to find the joy that exists next to the sadness, and to see lessons or opportunities for growth even when it feels like the world is tumbling to ruins.

  • Gatherings often include creative expressions—cooking, art, music, etc.

  • The experiences the group chooses require mindfulness and a fully present state of mind rather than being distracted by what to make for dinner or, “Did the DVR record my show?”

  • The group has a holistic approach to health: the food that is eaten, the water that is consumed and the role electronic media plays in our life.

  • Their approach to wellness vs illness is expanded to understand that there are many ways to address the state of body, mind and spirit, and standard medical care, while appropriate in some situations, is not a panacea.

If you are looking for a conscious community look around, one exists. We often are not aware of these things until we become ready to be involved.  One Tribe Global is a conscious community that is connecting conscious people and ideas and opportunities to enhance the mountain community and far beyond. Come join us!

Concious Community


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Community, Poems and Musings Tr1be global Community, Poems and Musings Tr1be global

How the Light Comes

A Poem by Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

I cannot tell you
how the light comes.

What I know
is that it is more ancient
than imagining.

That it travels
across an astounding expanse
to reach us.

That it loves
searching out
what is hidden
what is lost
what is forgotten
or in peril
or in pain.

That it has a fondness
for the body
for finding its way
toward flesh
for tracing the edges
of form
for shining forth
through the eye,
the hand,
the heart.

I cannot tell you
how the light comes,
but that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way
into the deepest dark
that enfolds you,
though it may seem
long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape
you did not foresee.

And so
may we this day
turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces
to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies
to follow the arc it makes.
May we open
and open more
and open still

to the blessed light
that comes.

© Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons


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Healthy Living Tr1be global Healthy Living Tr1be global

Mosquito Season Is Here: Guard Against Zika And West Nile

Preparation can allow you to still enjoy your outdoor time.

by Virginia Eaton

Everyone I know has been breathing a sigh of relief for the rain that has once again filled our wells and reservoirs, while bracing for the impact of summer sunshine on the landscape. If you haven’t already lined someone up to take care of the weed whacking, you may want to get that on your “to do” list.

And while you’re working on that list, think about ways to cut down on your exposure to mosquitoes, or theirs to you. While I don’t want to sound like a doomsayer, mosquitoes are already making an appearance and they’re not just annoying. Sometimes, they can be deadly.

If you’ve taken a walk near wetlands or streams in the last few days, you may have experienced the mosquitoes’ already-prodigious presence. It’s hard to hike anywhere near water without being swarmed and standing water is still abundant.

Mosquitoes require standing water in which to hatch the eggs that develop into blood-sucking creatures that make hiking around water so annoying. However, the annoying part of swarming mosquitoes is benign compared to the diseases they can pass along to humans, such as the Zika virus and West Nile virus.

The Zika virus showed up in California in 2011 and can cause flu-like symptoms in some people, while many who are exposed to the virus never experience symptoms. Pregnant women need to be particularly careful to avoid exposure because the virus may cause birth defects. More information about the Zika virus.

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The other mosquito borne virus to be concerned about this season is the West Nile virus. When you’ve been exposed West Nile, you are much more likely to experience flu-like symptoms than with the Zika virus. Sometimes, those symptoms can drag on for weeks. More information on the West Nile virus.

At this time, there is no vaccine for either virus. Treatment is focused on controlling the symptoms you experience. For most people, exposure to Zika or West Nile will cause minimal symptoms, except in those who are pregnant or have chronic health concerns such as diabetes or heart disease or other serious issues.

If you believe you’ve been exposed and have contracted one of these viruses, you need to see a doctor immediately.

Mosquitoes are active throughout daylight hours and into the evening. The Center for Disease Control recommends that mosquito repellent be used to prevent being bitten. Repellents that contain DEET are the most effective, they say, but DEET can cause problems when sprayed directly on the skin or inhaled.

You may want to weigh your risk of exposure to the virus with your risk of exposure to the chemicals found in traditional repellents. There are other ways to minimize your chance of mosquitoes that don’t involve harsh chemicals:

Remove standing water from around your yard, including birdbaths, flower pots, buckets and trash cans.

Wear clothing that covers your full body and limbs. Athletic wear with a tight weave in a light color may be more resistant to mosquitoes than cotton or linen and darker colors.

When you are enjoying the backyard, think about having a fan nearby. Mosquitoes cannot fly in wind, so an oscillating fan set on low will keep them away without being too intrusive.

Citronella candles don’t work well unless you’re sitting right next to them. Better to consider landscaping with mosquito-repelling plants in your outdoor entertaining area. This could include lemon balm, catnip, peppermint, lavender and basil, which all have strong scents that mosquitoes don’t like.

Electronic wristbands, DEET wristbands, ultrasonic devices and other high-tech gear designed to keep mosquitoes away seem to be ineffective, so don’t waste your money.

With a little preparation you can still enjoy your outdoor time with low risk of mosquito bites and the viruses they carry.

Here is a possible natural yard spray to use to keep mosquitoes and other bugs away. Mix this up and give it a try:

Big bottle of blue minty mouthwash (cheap stuff is just fine, must be mint)

3 cups of Epsom salts (plain, no other oils or smells)

3 stale / flat 12 oz. beers (no carbonation left when you mix it)

Mix all three until the salt dissolves

Spray anywhere you sit just before you spend time outside.

Mixture should last 30 days, depending on use.

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Healthy Eating, Healthy Living Tr1be global Healthy Eating, Healthy Living Tr1be global

On Sugar

Avoiding sugar isn’t as easy as one would think. Given all the guises of sugar, you won’t know how much or what type sugar you’re consuming unless you know the how sugar is being disguised.

by Virginia Eaton

Unless you’ve been living completely off the grid, you know that sugar is the new dietary villain, almost as vile as cigarettes — and for good reason. Sugar is addicting and adding on the pounds isn’t the only way that sugar harms the body. Insulin levels are disrupted by sugar, your mood is altered by sugar, and depending on the type of sugar, your liver can be damaged in the same way as over consuming alcohol.

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Unfortunately, avoiding sugar isn’t as easy as one would think! Reading labels doesn’t always reveal ‘sugar’ because manufactures hide it with a host of names.

Given all the guises of sugar, even when the label declares, “No Added Sugar”, that doesn’t mean that sugar has not been added.  There are lots of ways to sweeten up processed and manufactured food and just because it’s with fruit juice or evaporated cane syrup doesn’t mean your body hasn’t been given a big dose of the sweet-stuff!

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Here is a list of sugar found in food in spite of, “No Added Sugar” being in bold lettering on the label:

  • Agave nectar

  • Barley malt

  • Beet sugar

  • Blackstrap molasses

  • Brown rice syrup

  • Buttered syrup

  • Cane juice crystals

  • Cane sugar

  • Caramel

  • Carob syrup

  • Castor sugar

  • Corn syrup

  • Crystalline fructose

  • Date sugar

  • Dextran

  • Dextrose

  • Diastatic malt

  • Diatase

  • Ethyl maltol

  • Evaporated cane juice

  • Florida crystals

  • Fructose

  • Fruit juice

  • Fruit juice concentrate

  • Galactose

  • Glucose

  • Glucose solids

  • Golden syrup

  • Grape sugar

  • High-fructose corn syrup

  • Honey

  • Lactose

  • Malt syrup

  • Maltose

  • Maple syrup

  • Molasses

  • Muscovado sugar

  • Organic raw sugar

  • Raw sugar

  • Refiner’s syrup

  • Rice syrup

  • Sorghum syrup

  • Sucrose

  • Treacle

All of the above items are sugar in disguise. Many of these forms of sugar contain fructose, which should be avoided when not consumed in its natural habitat—fruit. When removed from fruit, fructose is often unintentionally consumed in large quantities (think super-size sodas and slushy-type drinks) and can be detrimental to the body in the same way as alcohol.

Fructose is not processed in the blood using insulin like glucose; it has to travel to the liver to be broken down for use or storage. When you consume large amounts of fructose on a regular basis your liver can become stressed to the point of developing fatty liver disease, which is the non-alcoholic version of cirrhosis of the liver, from which alcoholics eventually suffer.

Manufactured foods that often contain fructose are:

  • Soda

  • Fruit juice

  • Energy drinks

  • Fancy coffee drinks

  • Sweetened teas

  • Breakfast cereals

  • Candy bars

  • Condiments such as catsup, salad dressing and BBQ sauce

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Reading labels is a good habit but, unfortunately, food companies have been given such latitude on how they label their ingredients that you won’t know how much or what type sugar you’re consuming unless you know the how sugar is being disguised.

Be smart, don’t just look at the front of a food package where the marketing is taking place; turning your wrist and interpreting the ingredient label on the other side could save your waistline and maybe even your life.

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Use of Herbs, Recipes Tr1be global Use of Herbs, Recipes Tr1be global

The Magic Potential of Peppercorns

Discover some possible benefits and healing properties of black pepper

by Virginia Eaton

I owe my ex-husband an apology. He loves black pepper and tops every savory dish placed in front of him with a substantial amount of ground peppercorn. He said that, aside from the spice and flavor black pepper adds, he really liked the crunch of coarsely ground peppercorns.

It bothered me to no end that, before even tasting the dish that I had cooked, he was spicing it up with pepper. He rarely added salt. I even asked that he at least taste the dish before adding more seasoning. Eventually, it became the family joke and the pepper grinder lived next to his place at the dinner table. The reason I owe him an apology is because, as I was researching foods for the class I gave in Utah on eating with celiac disease, I came across compelling information about the health benefits of black pepper.

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The hard science on the subject is slim and relates mostly to isolated molecules found in black pepper, rather than black pepper as a whole food. However, the tradition of using black pepper as a home remedy for a myriad of conditions is long standing. It’s noted for maladies including fever, congestion, arthritis, and stomach issues.

It is thought of as an antimicrobial agent, killing bacteria and fungi, that increases the bio-availability of certain foods. This means that black pepper can unlock certain nutrients, making it easier for our body to absorb them.

For instance, everyone seems to be talking about the health properties of turmeric as an anti-inflammatory, however unless you’re combining your turmeric with black pepper, you probably won’t see any benefit. If you take a bottled turmeric preparation, read the label: most likely, black pepper will be on there.

One of the most surprising healing properties of black pepper is in reducing symptoms of heartburn and other stomach issues. Many of the drugs used to treat heartburn have been discovered to be problematic when used long term  so I was thrilled to have a new way of approaching this condition.

Using a variation of a recipe from my favorite herb book, (Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee De La Foret) I create little pepper bombs, offering them to everyone before a large meal, or to anyone who tends towards heartburn.

The recipe is simple — equal amounts of black pepper, long pepper (a type of black pepper) and dried ginger that are ground in my coffee grinder and then bound with just enough honey to hold the spices together. If you add too much honey and the spices won’t hold together simply add more of the spices until it is the consistency of bread dough.

I typically use one tablespoon of each of the spices and about a half to one tablespoon of honey, added a teaspoon at a time. Rolling these into little balls about the size of a pea, I then coat them in dried fennel powder. You can swallow these whole if you don’t like the flavor or chew them up before a hefty meal to prepare the stomach for what is to come!

My mother says they have the unfortunate appearance of something at the bottom of a rabbit hutch, which may be true. They are tasty, nonetheless. The effects of these little pepper balls have pleasantly surprised everyone who has partaken, and the antacids have been returned to the medicine cabinet.

A word of caution: since black pepper increases the bio-availability of certain substances, if you take prescription medications, please check with your doctor before increasing the amount of black pepper in your diet.

Note: The long pepper is a variety of pepper that with complex flavor unlike black peppercorns and can be ordered online.



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Recipes Tr1be global Recipes Tr1be global

Chickpea-Avo Dip

A healthy summer dip that is quick to throw together and contains no dairy, and only healthy fats!

Chickpea-Avo Dip

A healthy summer dip that is quick to throw together and contains no dairy, and only healthy fats!

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2 cans chickpeas* (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed.
2 Avocados
1-2 Cloves of garlic, minced

1-2 T. Sour cream
Dash of onion powder

Juice from half a lemon (or more to taste)
1⁄2 teaspoon Salt (more or less to taste)
 

Place chickpeas in a food processorand process it’s the consistency of chunky peanut butter.

Add the rest of the ingredients and process until incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Serve on toast, with veggies, or crackers.  

Will last a week in the refrigerator.

*Both chickpeas and avocados are full of fiber, minerals and other important nutrients.

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