I want to do a deep dive into the meaning of each tarot card. The Rider Waite system is simply that: a system. Tarot is a tool to create a connection to our subconscious. You know more than you can imagine. I want to help you become a better tarot reader. You don’t have to do readings for anyone else but yourself. That’s mostly what I do currently, I read for myself to facilitate journaling and dealing with emotions. I only do a handful of emailed tarot readings a week. Let’s increase your knowledge of the Cards right now! Lets start with the court cards!
First up this week are KINGS!
Kings are considered to be the most mature of the Court Cards. On my first deck I designed I put my father on the King of Cups card. In Painted Tarot I have him sitting on a sofa looking out soberly. My childhood could have been better, and if you know me, you may know more deeply of some of my trauma. But growing up I definitely wanted to be a fathers girl. I loved to cuddle with my dad on the sofa, while he watched his sci fi movies. My dad worked alot so I always viewed him as this mysterious figure that would sometimes come around with candy and a hug.
I think it’s a helpful remembering device to think of the kings as the Daddy cards! They are sort of the parents for the court cards. They have traveled through life successfully and are now at the pinnacle of experience and understanding. You can learn much from the kings. Thus, the Kings represent the fully developed personalities of each of the Suits. As people, Kings have full control over the feelings, emotions, thoughts and actions that form part of his personality. As such, they are stable and solid, and are highly capable of directing the flow of their energy to achieve their visions and goals.
The kings definitely have their shit together. They like to manage, direct and stabilise the energy associated with their Suit. Kings like to be seen as the providers, taking responsibility for others’ well-being. Kings want to make a difference and have an impact on the world. They draw upon the various elements of their personalities to make their mark. On a physical level, Kings often represent older males aged 40 and above. While not all Kings have to be male, these Court Cards do represent dominant masculine energy – someone who controls and directs and who wants to be in command.
Pages conceive ideas, Knights act upon ideas, Queens nurture ideas and now Kings develop those ideas to an established and stable state. Thus, as an event, Kings signify the growth and maturity of an idea or concept right through until reaches completion.
I like the king cards. They are the heroes of the sory. We think of kings as being the winners. “Zeus,” Museum of Olympia, Greece. In Greek mythology, Zeus (Jupiter in Roman mythology) was the king of heaven and Earth and of all the Olympian gods. … He was also known as the god of justice. He was named king of the gods in the special meeting that followed his overthrow of the god Cronus and the Titans.
King Of Cups
Be logical but stay compassionate and kiind! The King of Cups, like all the court cards in the suit of Cups, represents emotion, creativity, and the unconscious. Cups are filled with love, overflowing with abundance! The king of the cups is calm. He is a master of his own feelings, and remains in control of his emotions. Not to say that he represses those feelings and sentiments. On the contrary, the King of Cups represents the balance between the emotions and the intellect. Calm and collected, empathetic yet calculated. He is a master of compassion and kindness and his card often indicates strong bonds in a relationship based on temperance and understanding.
As an event, the King of Cups indicates a situation where you feel very emotionally balanced and in control. You have a very deep understanding of your feelings and emotions, and are able to connect with this when necessary. As you deal with some of the scenarios that life throws at you, draw on this deep emotional maturity to help you navigate these challenges. Also, know that this is an incredible gift you have and be open to sharing your emotional stability and calm approach with others. I think I made my father this card because it is everything I wish he was. I actually have never emotionally connected with my father and we don’t speak often. I love the idea of the King of cups being the perfect father. Masculine yet emotionally sensitive.
King Of Pentacles
The King of coins is the ultimate provider!! The King of Pentacles represents abundance, security, ambition, power, stability, discipline, trustworthiness and control. He is a fatherly figure who likes to take care of others through providing advice, guidance and wisdom, as well as more material aspects such as financial support and wealth. He is a true provider and generates a lot of his self-worth from what he has accumulated and what he can share with others. Think generous big daddy warbucks. As an event, the King of Pentacles often indicates the final fulfilment of a creative task, business venture, or investment. Through diligence, responsibility and attention to detail you have achieved great things and can finally say that you have completed your task or attained your goal. You can now enjoy all that you have accomplished and the successes you have created. You have created a richness of life, not just financially but also spiritually, which will set you up very well for the future. The reverse of this card are the dangers of greed.
King Of Swords
The logic of the swords makes the king a respected leader but also often feared. Violence can be logical and a tool. The King of Swords is a symbol of intellectual power and authority, and has the courage and intellect to accomplish all that he desires. He represents judgement, command, and rulership. His character indicates the stern leadership of a judge, lawyer, or military commander whose emotions must be kept in check under the pressure of battle. When you encounter this card think of how the sword has two sides, good and bad. The King of Swords asks you to remain detached and objective in a specific situation, in order to ascertain the truth and seek out only the facts. You need to use your intellect to prove your point and succeed. Your education and experience are important but so are your day-to-day observations and thoughts. You can also solve problems by using history, rules, laws and diplomacy. Don;t let your emotions run away with you, sometimes you must put your feelings aside and let logic guide you to the correct solution.
King Of Wands
This card is the charismatic leader who unites people and gets shit done! The King of Wands represents pure fire energy. Unlike the other Wands court cards, he is not so interesting in actual creation and creativity, or in dreaming up ideas and implementing them himself. Instead, he is more inclined to take an idea and change the world to match his vision. As such he is a natural-born leader of all kinds of people, and he is very visionary. Once he sets himself a goal, he sticks to it and ensures that he can make it happen with the support of those around him. People naturally gravitate towards this King as they know he will get things done and will do it very well. He is a master, too, at being able to get other people to do his work for him, and keep them on-side throughout the process. The wands are all about action and hard work. The appearance of the King of Wands also suggests that an opportunity is presenting itself to you, and you now have the power to accept the opportunity and take on the challenge. You are the determining factor in this situation, and circumstances will navigate in the direction you steer them. Indecision or doubt will not be appropriate responses when clarity and confidence are required. However, as you progress in this new role, it will begin to feel more comfortable. I often feel energies from the emperor in this card.
What do you think? Do you like the big daddy cards?
No really I am not trying to be mean. What excuse do you have for why you don’t complete projects ideas, dreams, etc. Will you face it with me? Maybe after you face it too?
Here’s how I hold myself back:
I hold myself back, by listening to other people.
I hold myself back by adding too many things.
I hold myself back by procrastinating.
Fear?
I am going to make a blog post on each of these topics. Why? Because we can old get better when we face our flaws. And we can only really find self love if we forgive ourselves.
Why is it when we tell a friend an idea the first instinct is to cut it down?
Why in society is it just common knowledge not to tell everyone what you’re working on because they will doubt you and thus it will make you doubt yourself.
I am guilty of this, there are so many projects I put down because I talked to someone about it and they made me feel like it wasn’t worth the effort. So many times people made me feel like I couldn’t finish some thing.
Recently I have started to just turn everyone’s volume off, but also to not talk about what I am working on. I have forcibly stopped listening to people when they give advice and when people ask what I am working on I divert away. I have a handful of pretty close friendships, but I also have an even bigger handful of aquatencies and for the most part I would say social media skews things. I have some friends very active on social media so I get a swash of their life and I probably wouldnt interact with them except on social media. I have other people that i have to check in on because they dont have social media. So I think this environment brings us into the exposure to people that we disagree with. It’s almost like facebook knows certain concepts get me upset, and when i am upset on facebook I interact more. So i Feel like facebook shows me more and more content that upsets me so I am going to comment and stay on the app longer. I think this makes people bitter and untrusting of others.
We are constantly mad at those around us. When we feel close to someone, we might almost tell them not to do something out of protection. I see that project failing and that disappointment will hurt. But why do we fear that failure.
Also disclaimer I am trying to be vague but every time I talk of my experiences I offend someone. So with the assumption that its you, you’re the offended one. Hey look I am sorry but this blog post isn’t about you. Its about how others make you feel, not me though I am the analyst here. if you’re my close friend, let’s say you are. You are reading my blog, thats pretty close. you know me. I am a care bear. I am overly sensitive, I am quite emotional, and I am filled with insecurity. Those factors usually lead me to be kinda mousy. I feel like part of getting older is simply learning to not take things personally and we are all at varying degrees of that. Let’s move up together and stop taking things personal.
I want to feel confident enough in my projects so that I can share them with others? I mean yes I need more confidence. The sexiest thing, right. I do want the confidence. But also really, really what I want is for people to feel secure enough in their own shoes that my success does not threaten them. Success is abundance. We can all have it. My success doesnt stop you from being successful. In face we can all get better together. This isn’t only the CEO can be rich, not throw it away, lets all be CEOs we make our world this is a lie, the lie of scarcity. Nothing is scarce. Love is endless.
I know that I can get overly ambitious. I know that sometimes when I am listing my projects people tell me it’s a lot… but WAIT full stop. Is it a lot? I guess to some peoples standards, but why do I have to shrink myself for other opinions of time? Why do I feel too big for those around me? Maybe they just feel small. But I am not responsible for anyone else but myself and I am allowing myself to feel small by others standards. Maybe I need to stretch out my timeline, maybe I need to finish projects before I start new ones. Sure ok. But Why does everyone feel the need to give me the reasons why I will fail. I already know them, i have thought about them, lost sleep over them. I have probably already cried about it. I understand we shouldn’t be blind support. I get people have my best interests at heart. My issue is that We fear success of others because we are too scared to believe in the success of ourselves.
What’s holding you back? Is it your own limiting beliefs what project are you wanting to complete but haven’t had the guts to start yet. What have finished hobby is collecting dust? Go do a little of the thing. Forgive yourself, make a plan, believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
I believe in you.
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I want to dive deeper into why I have decided to be a more vocal vegan advocate. Previously I was a pretty quiet vegan, not wanting to bother anyone and wanting to make my own food choices without bothering others. I have found the lack of information and the misinformation people have about vegans is alarming. So I am creating a list of resources on my blog so that you can have everything you need for the vegan journey!
Since deciding to really focus my energy on not only being a better vegan but also spreading more information about being vegan, I have had seriously mixed reviews. My boyfriends was so supportive, he thinks it’s great I have passion and willing to eat anything I cook. I have had close friends tell me they are proud of me for standing up for my convictions. I have also had people point out every single time I have slipped up on my vegan journey, as a way to say I am not a “Real” vegan or to shame me? Why point out moments months ago when I wasn’t a vegan as an argument that somehow I shouldn’t be taken seriously as a vegan? From a friend, how is that supportive? From a not friend, does attacking my short comings help distract from your own moral inconsistencies about food?
Lets be honest. Being Vegan is alot like being the only one in th group who doesn’t drink. I am currently taking a break from alcohol and when I go out with friends I get the reactions:
Oh just have one drink.
Well I personally don’t have a drinking problem, let me tell you 4 ways I have cut back drinking
IS it ok if I drink around you?
Telling people you’re vegan is pretty similar.
Well you’re not like a real annoying vegan right, like if I make you food with milk in it you’ll still eat it right?
Well I personally don’t eat that much meat, I only eat meat for these reason and let me justify why it’s ok for me to sometimes support animals getting murdered
Are you going to be offended if I eat meat around you?
I am being a little bit of a drama queen, but why does everyone tell me they don’t eat that much meat. IF it was true for every person who tells me they dont eat that much meat, I swear there would be a lot more vegan options. Why do people have this need to justify their life choices to me as if my actions are somehow a judgement on them.
I think it is morally wrong to kill and eat animals. I am not judging you necessarily but I am grossed out and disappointed in out society. I understand we are all a host of walking contradictions. Now, you might argue that you don’t kill the animals yourself, but the reality is that if you’re eating them, you’re indirectly contributing to their death. In other words, to kill them with your own hands or to let someone else kill them for you is in essence one and the same thing. I admit, I used to be like that too. I would eat animals and their byproducts for almost every single day of my life, without really caring about the consequences of my eating habits. However, at some point I realized how much suffering was inflicted upon animals because of my dietary choices.
One of the funny things about avoiding meat or eating vegan is that you learn more about nutrition than you probably ever really cared to know. For some reason, this particular dietary choice is put up against constantly.
EVERY Argument I have gotten against being Vegan and a Response
6 Week Vegan Challenge (coming January 17th)
List of what people have said to be to try to convince me Veganism was bad
Here is my rational and reasoning for all the arguments that have been leveled against me by non vegans. I Love animals. Why would I kill them? That’s a question most people don’t seem to ever contemplate on.
Now, you might argue that you don’t kill the animals yourself, but the reality is that if you’re eating them, you’re indirectly contributing to their death. In other words, to kill them with your own hands or to let someone else kill them for you is in essence one and the same thing. I admit, I used to be like that too. I would eat animals and their byproducts for almost every single day of my life, without really caring about the consequences of my eating habits. However, at some point I realized how much suffering was inflicted upon animals because of my dietary choices.
You don’t get enough protein on a vegan diet
Most americans eat too much protein! Also more people don’t know enough about Nutrition to have such extreme opinions about nutrition! Are you tracking your macros? Do you know how many grams of protein youre supposed to eat a day?
According to the Dietary Reference Intake report for macronutrients, a sedentary adult should consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. That means that the average sedentary man should eat about 56 grams of protein per day, and the average woman should eat about 46 grams.
There is plenty of protein in plant foods, especially beans, legumes, pulses, grains, nuts, seeds, and some vegetables. Make sure you have a quality plant protein powder or blend to help you get enough protein in your diet. Space your meals out every 3-4 hours to ensure you get regular protein feedings
Plants make all the nutrients we need, all the essential amino acids and precursors our body uses to make essential nutrients from. Legumes provide lots of protein, greens have calcium, seeds offer nice doses of iron, and so on.One single exception would be vitamin B12 – which is made by bacteria, not animals. The reason why omnivores aren’t very often deficient in this nutrient is that the animals they eat have been getting vitamin B12 supplements with their feed.
I have been a vegetarian since I was 10. I have not died from lack of meat.
Truth is, if you follow the evolutionary biological theory of ‘meat made us human’ (which has some gaps!) then you must also follow the evolutionary theory that people are what they needed to accomplish their purpose, which in the days of ‘becoming homo sapiens’ was simple: don’t get killed or die before you procreate. (Also, its protein that made the hanged in our brain chemistry, not meat specifically.) It’s just that animals were the easy way of getting tons of protein all at once, rather than having to spend all day gathering enough nuts, seeds and veg. But we don;t like in the eat quick or die phase of ourexistence anymore. ALSO we have developed food and calories on a scale never before emagined. We have a whole host of food sources with higher numbers of calories then we have ever been exposed to before (thus the growing obesity all over the world) Not only do not NEED meat. We really don’t need the calories.
First Pig is not good for you. Especially bacon. According to the World Health Organization, processed meat like ham, bacon and sausage causes cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer actually classifies processed meat as a carcinogen, something that causes cancer. Researchers found that consuming 50 grams of processed meat each day raises your risk of colorectal cancer by a very significant 18 percent. There are reasons that the meat of the pig becomes more saturated with toxins than many of its counterpart farm animals. The first reason has to do with the digestive system of a pig. A pig digests whatever it eats rather quickly, in up to about four hours. On the other hand, a cow takes a good 24 hours to digest what it’s eaten. During the digestive process, animals (including humans) get rid of excess toxins as well as other components of the food eaten that could be dangerous to health. Since the pig’s digestive system operates rather basically, many of these toxins remain in its system to be stored in its more than adequate fatty tissues ready for our consumption.
This comment usually comes directly after a combative stranger finds out I’m vegan. Believe it or not, I haven’t tried to convert them, nor pulled out my picket sign for a protest. Usually, I don’t even say a word. Sure, I could argue this point effectively, but what’s the use? This comment isn’t meant to be a dialogue; it’s meant to shame me into admitting my dietary inadequacies.
Second pigs are like dogs with DNA super close to humans. Not only can pigs learn to play computer gaems, they can learn more tricks then dogs! The mirror test – an experiment developed in 1970 by psychologist Gordon Gallup Jr to measure self-recognition – has been passed by very few non-human animals. Even children are not capable of passing the mirror test until they are about two years old. Dogs and cats never have and probably never will be able to pass. Great apes, bottlenose dolphins, elephants, and magpies, however, show their capacity for self-awareness by passing the mirror test. But what about the pig? A study done at the University of Cambridge seems to show that pigs are capable of understanding that it is not a foreign pig they are looking at in the mirror – something most animals are not capable of moving beyond. Generally, non-human animals who see themselves in a mirror will react to their reflection as if it is an animal they have never seen before. Pigs also show an understanding of how mirrors work by using the reflected images to search their surroundings to find food. What clever pigs!
Pigs can develop deep friendships. pigs are capable of forming lasting bonds with both pigs as well as other species. Pigs are known to constantly communicate with each other and mother pigs even sing to their young while nursing. And as for humans, maybe pigs should be man’s new best friend! There are countless stories of pigs saving their guardians lives in various situations, from heart attacks to house fires. But don’t give up your dogs just yet. Pigs and dogs are actually capable of getting along quite well!
So you would take an animal who has a life span of 20 years, kill it after 7 months so you can enjoy your Bacon. Ok but you’re awful tho.
Chickens lay eggs anyway
Yes but the problem is using an animal as a commodity!
Chickens do not produce eggs for humans to eat, they produce them as part of their natural reproductive cycle. To take eggs from chickens for profit or sustenance is exploitation, which is not permissible for those following a vegan lifestyle.
breeding chickens for eggs is ethically akin to breeding humans in order to harvest their fingernails. Sure, we don’t really need our fingernails, but we can agree breeding a person just for their fingernails would be exceptionally lame — almost as lame as the conditions would probably be in the hypothetical factory farms full of millions of fingernail-growing humans.
For some vegans, it’s the conditions in heavily industrialized egg farms that makes our consumption of eggs unethical, but even smaller farms are problematic by the standards of most: Even hens who live on small, outdoor, ‘humane’ farms are usually killed after two to five years, as their egg production naturally goes down as they age, It is a simple fact that farmers, whose bottom line is profit, won’t continue to spend money feeding birds who are not producing a large number of eggs for them to sell.
Cows make milk anyway
Besides humans (and companion animals who are fed by humans), no species drinks milk beyond their natural age of weaning or drinks the milk of another species. Cow’s milk is suited to the nutritional needs of calves, who have four stomachs and gain hundreds of pounds in a matter of months—sometimes weighing more than 1,000 pounds before they’re 2 years old. Cow’s milk does not suit the nutritional needs of humans, so it’s no wonder that consuming it and its derivatives causes us so many problems.
In order to keep producing milk for humans, dairy cows have to become pregnant and have calves. This is done forcibly, typically through artificial insemination. Calves are generally taken away from their mothers within 24 hours of birth, causing immense distress for both mother and calf. Both have been seen to cry out for each other as they are separated. The mother has to endure this happening 4 or 5 times before she is considered ‘spent’. Males, who are of little use to the dairy industry, are either killed shortly after birth or sent away to be reared for veal, while females follow the fate of their mothers – milked continually throughout their lives. The unnaturally high production of milk leaves dairy cows susceptible to mastitis , a painful udder infection. In severe cases of the infection, the cows are killed. This happens in great numbers, as mastitis is the most common cause for ‘premature culling’ according to AHDB Dairy. Meanwhile, many suffer lameness due to their unnatural surroundings. They are generally kept indoors for at least half of the year. Life expectancy of a dairy cow is less than a quarter of its natural lifespan; dairy cows are considered spent between 7 -8 years at which age they are slaughtered. If allowed to exist free of exploitation and slaughter, however, dairy cows can live 25 years or more. Farms exist for profit, not to make sure the wants and needs of cattle are met. Even when welfare standards are higher than normal, cows and calves still have to endure eventual separation, are used and not respected, and they all die long before their time. Veganism is about neither using nor abusing non-humans, who all have a right to life and freedom. These animals cannot consent to being raised for milk and meat. Whatever conditions we keep them in, farming them is always an abuse of power.
I understand this argument. And if you’re going to eat meat, it better come from small local farmers and animals not being fed grain and soy and corn. Your’e still killing an animal for a meal. A dairy cow that can live for 20 years, we kill it and eat its meat after 8 months so you can have 20 minuets of enjoyment, you deprive that cow of 19 years of living? Dairy cows live roughly 5 years. Pigs live over 20 years but we kill and eat them at 7 months. Chickens live up to 15 years but most factory farms only keep laying chickens alive for 20 months.
Soy milk is a popular dairy replacement, soy sauce is a staple in Asian cuisine, and tofu is common in most healthy diets. It has become an additive in breakfast foods, protein products, and breads. It is a common meat substitute for burgers and hot dogs in the vegetarian community. Proven research supports its benefits, while new studies may show the dangers of soy. So, what is real? Japan and China are countries that have always been known for their high soy consumption. Their populations have lower rates of heart disease and various cancers than Western countries. The average daily soy intake in these Asian countries is 9 to 10 grams. But the controversy began in the 1940s with a study recorded in the Australian Veterinary Journal. Soy was found to contain isoflavones; naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that may cause negative effects. The study indicated that sheep who grazed on isoflavone-rich clovers experienced fertility issues and breeding problems. Current scientists are also exploring the possibility of isoflavones stimulating the growth of breast cancer cells. The fact that 90% of all the soy produced is a GMO (genetically modified organism) may be problematic. Some GMO soy products have been found to contain residue from glyphosate, a globally used herbicide, which detracts from its nutritional profile. With soy being present in popular health-conscious items like cereals, smoothies, and energy bars, researchers worry that too much soy might be dangerous. Continued research hopes to provide a more accurate insight into the benefits and side effects of this contentious Asian bean.
Soy is a unique food that is widely studied for its estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects on the body. Studies may seem to present conflicting conclusions about soy, but this is largely due to the wide variation in how soy is studied. Results of recent population studies suggest that soy has either a beneficial or neutral effect on various health conditions. Soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week, and is likely to provide health benefits—especially when eaten as an alternative to red and processed meat.
You can hate soy, and maybe you have an allergy or it affect you personally different, there are plenty of ways to avoid soy and be still be vegan.
We are hardly built like a lion or wolf. Anatomically, our digestive systems much more closely resemble herbivores’. However, that’s beside the point. Biologically, humans aren’t meant to fly, swim underwater for forty-five minutes, or sit in chairs for hours a day. Furthermore, considering dairy products, admittedly different but probably applicable, in no way are we “meant” to nurse from another species or as adults. However, I find it’s just easier to note that animals weren’t meant to be domesticated, bred into unnatural oddities, and raised as they are now.
Ok good lets be better humans and stop killing animals.
Rights are an abstract human construction to guarantee a life of justice and fairness which leads to a better legal and moral system. Animals, for obvious reasons, cannot comprehend what a right is, similar to a child. Both animals and children have moral worth deserving of their right to be safe and live life in their subjective way. We understand that we can’t hold animals morally accountable for their actions but why should that be the metric for giving it moral rights? Would we hold a 3-year-old child morally accountable if he slaps an adult? No, most of us wouldn’t, but just because children don’t have moral accountability, it doesn’t mean we can strip them of their right to safety, life, and freedom from abuse. Similarly with animals, we should not deprive them of their right to live without being subjugated to abuse. How do we decide which rights to give to animals would that be an arbitrary decision? If we decide which rights are helpful for animals based on the consequences of establishing them, it wouldn’t be arbitrary. If we give animals the right to own property, for example, what benefit would that give them? None, the animal would be indifferent to it, no benefit and no harm. What about the right to life and be free from captivity and suffering? We can evidently calculate the consequences of applying this right. As we established, animals have the capacity to suffer, hence why this right would mean that animals would be free and live their intended life without being subjugated to physical or emotional abuse, making this a clearly beneficial right.
Elitism involves promoting a perceived superiority of some sort. It involves the idea of according less moral value to the “inferior.”
As 2 seconds of thinking make clear, veganism is not elitist in any way. On the contrary. Veganism is about rejecting the idea that it’s morally acceptable to exploit sentient nonhumans because they are “inferior.”
Nonvegans believe in the “inferiority” of animals. It is they who embrace elitism.
Should a vegan believe that s/he is “better than” or “superior” to a nonvegan? No, Of course not. It’s not about judging people; it’s about evaluating the morality of conduct.
Is the vegan ethic of egalitarianism better than or superior to the position that it is morally acceptable to exploit the vulnerable? Yes, of course it is. A moral position is always better than an immoral one. A position that protects fundamental rights is always better than one that violates fundamental rights.
To say that veganism is “elitist” is like saying that thinking that all humans are equal morally is “elitist.”
The next time someone tells you that veganism is “elitist,” take that opportunity to educate that person in a creative, nonviolent way that the opposite is true.
No medical condition is known to absolutely prevent being vegan. However, conditions like herpes, kidney failure, food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, and anemia may make it much harder to be vegan. In some cases, it may be unsafe for those with autism or eating disorders to be vegan, too.
If you are arguing a slipper slope argument on anything, you have already lost. Veganism is a moral position that opposes exploiting and otherwise harming nonhuman animals. This includes what we do directly, such as hunting or fishing. It also includes what we support as consumers, which affects many more animals.
We have to draw lines somewhere and saying lets not exploit living things I think is a completely reasonable line!
What I wish I could ask all those people who send me angry anti-vegan comments, or people in my life who make back hand anti vegan jokes:
If you love animals, why do you kill them?
If my food choices make you this uncomfortable, what do you need to work on in your own actions?
Have you ever tied to actually go vegan? And why wouldn’t you?
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Yes I would sometimes get fish when I go out, mostly traveling because Vegan options can be few and far between. And I am known for getting a california roll when I am in a big hurry. When I did eat fish I would feel insanely full and get very bloated. My rational for eating fish was I could catch a fish and kill it myself. If you’re not willing to kill the animal yourself you shouldn’t be allowed to eat it, I still firmly believe this. But just because for survival I could kill a fish, doesn’t mean I have to. I am not on the brink of survival, I have options. And If traveling and food is an issue, thats on me to plan better. I can do better research before hand or have snacks handy so I am not forced into a situation like being in no where wisconsin and the only thing I can eat is like a fish fillet at mc donalds. Gross.
But here is the thing. I think I was wrong to eat fish before. And not to punish myself or something but to recognize my shitty behavior and change it is growth. I don’t think I can in good conscious eat fish anymore. If you have seen me eat fish in the past, that is who I used to be. I can’t change my past but I can change my future. I am acknowledging my inconsistent behavior and doing something about it.
Except for those living in coastal communities — or even inland if we’re talking freshwater species — for most people, eating fish is a choice, not a necessity. Some people believe that the sole purpose of fish is for us to eat them. They are seen as commodities. Yet wild fish, like wild birds, have a place in the natural ecosystem which outweighs their value as food. They’re part of the systems that make the planet function in our favor, and we should be protecting them because of their importance to the ocean. They are carbon-based units, conduits for nutrients, and critical elements in ocean food webs. If people really understood the methods being used to capture wild fish, they might think about choosing whether to eat them at all, because the methods are so destructive and wasteful. It isn’t just a matter of caring about the fish or the corals, but also about all the things that are destroyed in the process of capturing ocean wildlife.
I used to justify the eating of fish by it being this occasional thing that i did but I seriously had to ask myself: is it more important that I consume fish, or to think of them as being here for a larger purpose? Today, marine fish are being caught with methods that our predecessors could not even imagine. Our use of large-scale extraction of wildlife from the sea is profoundly detrimental to the environment. We’re using modern techniques capable of taking far more than our natural systems can replenish. Think about it — the factory ships that use enormous nets or log lines, some of which are 50- to 60-miles long, with baited hooks every few feet, they take more than can be replenished naturally, and they take indiscriminately. Worst of all are the bottom trawls that scoop up the whole ecosystem. And most of what’s taken in them is simply discarded. With respect to the ocean systems, they’re just leaving a hole. A huge space that is not going to be filled overnight. It’s not eco-conscious to eat tuna — maybe thousands of plants make a single pound of Blue Fin Tuna. It’s also difficult to replenish that species of fish, as they take years to mature. Not to mention that you’re consuming all of the toxins that the fish has consumed over the years.
Fish’s Flesh Contains Toxic Chemicals
The consumption of fish flesh is also harmful to humans. Both wild and farmed fish live in increasingly polluted waters, and their flesh rapidly accumulates high levels of dangerous toxins. The most prominent of these are polychlorinated biphenals (PCB) and mercury, which can harm the brain of anyone who eats them. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that fish can accumulate thousands of times the level of cancer-causing PCBs found in the water in which they live. And according to TheNew England Journal of Medicine, fish “are the main if not the only source of methyl mercury,” a substance that has been linked to cardiovascular disease, fetal brain damage, blindness, deafness, and problems with motor skills, language, and attention span. As if all that weren’t enough to make your stomach turn, remember that seafood is also the number one cause of food poisoning in the United States!
I wanted to address the questions I get from new clients. As a personal trainer I have met all types of people, from those who want the weekly commitment of fitness to those who need all the help. It’s ok to ask for help, in fact its the best thing you can do for your fitness! There are so many misconceptions about weight loss and nutrtion and all sorts of things. I want to help you achieve yourgoals. Andwhile I would love for you to hire me as a personal trainer ( if you want a virtual session fill out my new client form HERE)
If you are interested in joining me for this journey! Please fill out this formHERE
I have compiled a list of my most common questions from new clients,
1. How many days per week do I need to work out?
I recommend 3 days a week. When you first start on your fitness journey you are going to want to take rest days and go slow easing into a new activity level. The thing I see people often do, is get excited, work out too much and then they are too sore to continue. Listen to you body and take things slow. I always encourage active rest days. Maybe go for a 10 minute or 20 minute walk on your days “off.” Depending on your health and fitness goals, you’ll need to commit to a minimum of 3 days of exercise each week to see results. Any fewer than that and each workout will feel like you’re starting all over again each and every time. The recommended amount it 150 minutes of moderate intensity cardio, 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, or a combination of moderate and vigorous intensity exercise per week. Resistance training and flexibility training should be practiced at least twice per week.
2. What should I eat before a workout?
I recommend 20- 30 carbs a half hour before you workout. Something your body likes. For me before a long run (or sometimes during a long run if its longer than 6 miles) I like to have half a banana!
Eating an easily digested carbohydrate an hour or so before you hit the gym ensures that you’ll have enough energy in the tank to get through your program. Try fruit and soy yogurt or toast and peanut butter; not too much or you’ll feel sluggish and heavy.
If, however, you exercise first thing in the morning, eating before your workout may not be an option. Many people find that they can tolerate cardio on an empty stomach, but need fuel to get through a strength training session. Experiment with the types of food and the timing of your pre-workout meal to discover what works best for you.
I like pre workout before I lift weights, but having oat milk in your coffee can be a way to not start on an empty stomach.
3. What should I eat after a workout?
I recommend to eat 20 g or protein after a workout. Eating after a workout is important. You need to replenish your glycogen stores and ‘feed’ the muscles that you’ve just trained. Sports nutritionists suggest that you eat a small snack consisting of protein and easily digested carbohydrates within about an hour of training and then your next meal an hour or two later.
Common post-workout nutrition ‘mistakes’ include eating too much (if you burn 300 calories during your workout, you don’t want to be consuming a 500 calorie protein shake) and choosing less than healthy options (perhaps as a reward for working out…). I try to have a protein shake after a heavy lifting session.
4. What are the best exercises for getting rid of [this part of my body I don’t like].
First know that you can’t spot reduce. I understand the insistent need to “look” how we think we are supposed to look. There is nothing wrong with wanting stronger arms or a more toned stomach. But I also want you to recognize that focusing on health and fitness has so many benefits that have nothing to do with how you look. You are worthy as a person. Losing weight or getting fitter does not make you more valuable.
WE get so caught up in physical appearance preferences that we lose sight of what really matters: Your’e health and living your best life. Exercise can make you have more energy, make you sleep better, make you feel less pain and make your every day tasks easier and more enjoyable.
IF there is a specific area you want to focus on, look closely at your nutrition.. You can’t spot reduce. No exercise will target fat cells in just one part of the body. You need to target them all via exercise and proper nutrition. And if you really want to see muscle definition once the layer of subcutaneous fat is shed, make sure you’re focusing on strength training. If you have specific goals, that’s where it helps to have a personal trainer! Luckily you can ask me any questions you need! And you can always schedule a 1 on 1 with me to make sure your form is good!
5. Why can’t I just do cardio?
Often people starting off on a workout routine are super intimidated by the weight room and the machines so they simply use the elliptical, stair climber or treadmill. And while thats GREAT! You want to also hit the weights at least 2 time s a week. While cardiovascular training is great for building strong hearts and lungs, it doesn’t provide the stimulus your body needs to build bigger, stronger muscles and bones. Why? Our bodies adapt fairly quickly to the load we ask them to move; unless you’re gaining weight, your legs will always be subject to the same load and moving that load through the same, limited range of motion.
Adding strength training to your program allows you to (1) increase the load on your legs, (2) change the range of motion you move your joints through and (3) target muscles that you don’t typically use during cardiovascular training.
6. How frequently should I see a trainer?
The ideal frequency of personal training sessions varies from person to person. Just getting started with exercise and healthy eating? Need regular motivation and support to get to the gym? Have an injury that you’re working through? You’ll probably need to see a trainer once or twice each week. Many of my weekly clients reduce their frequency of personal training sessions to bi-weekly or even monthly once they’ve demonstrated the ability to consistently get to the gym and progress their exercises as recommended.
Although I miss seeing their smiling faces, I’m always pleased when clients reduce their need to see me because they’ve become self-directed exercisers.
7. How quickly will I see the results of my training?
Expect to FEEL the results of your training sooner than you SEE them. People who start a new exercise program and are consistent in getting their workouts done typically report improvements in sleep, mood and energy levels within two to three weeks. Changes in body composition often take longer to notice; the more consistent you are with your workouts and the closer you adhere to your nutrition plan, the sooner the results will become noticeable (to you and to others too!).
Try focusing on non-scale victories like how many more pushups you can now perform and how your favourite jeans fit. Also focus on loving your whole body without being so focused on losing weight instantly.
8. Why don’t my workouts ever get easier?
You’d think that as your body becomes stronger and more familiar with the exercises your workouts would start to feel easier. Indeed, many people who ‘go it alone’ in the gym report exactly this. When exercises are progressed frequently and consistently, the body never truly adapts to the workout, making each feel just as challenging as the one before.
A qualified personal trainer knows how to progress your training plan to keep your body guessing and moving forward at a reasonable pace. When my clients lament that their workouts seem to be just as challenging as they were in the beginning, I know that I’m doing my job well!
9. Which should I do first; cardio or weights?
I recommend light cardio before weights and any high intensity after weights.
Your warm up should match the workout you’re doing, you want to warm up the muscles you’re going to be using for the exercises. But light walking can be a way to warm up your body and get it ready to exercise. You might have to play around with what works best for you.
10. What’s the best diet for weight loss?
A pound of fat is 3500 calories. If you burn 3500 calories you will lose one pound. The recommendation is 1 to 2 a week for sustainability. The slower you lose weight the more likely the weight lose is to stick. The faster you lose weight the more likely you are to gain it all back. Beware of any diet that promises rapid weight loss (and expects you to consume fewer than 1000 calories per day); although you may lose a few pounds in the beginning, chances are you’ll be unable to stick to it long term. When it comes to weight loss, slow, steady and sustainable are key.
\This is an all or nothing campaign! It’s either funded at the end if we reach our goal or your card is never charged! Any little bit helps! Consider buying Stickers or even sharing this page on your social media! Thank you for the Love!
Black Cat Tarot now on Kickstarter!Black Cat Tarot features 78 unique and fun kitties!
Welcome to the CUTEST TAROT Project you have ever seen on Kickstarter! It is absolutely PURRFECT!
What’s in this Kickstarter?
Black Cat Stickers
Black Cat Enamel Pins
Black Cat Key Chain
Black Cat Tank Top / or Tshirt
Black Cat Tarot Deck
Black Cat Tarot Guidebook
You can get any one thing or everything! Love black Cats but not into Tarot? No worries, you can get all the Black Cat Merch without the deck! Or just snag a sticker pack or key chain :)Only want the deck? Thats an option!Freaking love this project and want everything? THANK YOU! This adorable project was born out of my personal obsession with Black Cats. I created my LLC, Black Cat Consulting because I have a fat black cat, whom I love dearly. Boo!
Your card will not be charged until the END of this Kickstarter. Pledge now, pay later. Kickstarts are all or nothing!
What is Tarot?
Tarot is a magical tool that connects you to your subconscious ancient knowledge.It’s a deck of cards that has been around for centuries! The Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each with its own imagery, symbolism and story. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent life’s karmic and spiritual lessons, and the 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the trials and tribulations that we experience on a daily basis. Every spiritual lesson we meet in our lives can be found in the seventy-eight Tarot cards. And when we consult the Tarot, we’ll get shown the exact lessons we need to learn and master to live an inspired life. It’s like holding up a mirror to yourself so that you can access your subconscious mind. Tarot allows us to tap into the wisdom and answers that live in us all.Tarot is perfect for self-development, making choices, manifesting goals, coaching others, planning a business, writing a book, meditating—you name it. The most powerful way to read the Tarot is to use the cards to access your intuition and your inner wisdom. The imagery in the cards give you instant access to your subconscious mind and your intuition. And from this place of inner power and wisdom, you can discover how to make positive changes now so you can manifest your goals and your dreams in the future.Believe in your own magic! And Let’s get magical. You see, we are all connected to a collective, universal wisdom and our inner wisdom. And when we read the Tarot cards—and connect with our intuition—we can tap into this universal wisdom. It’s a little like connecting in with the collective mind, not just the individual mind.What is in this Deck?This deck is 78 illustrated unique cards featuring black cats and traditional Ryder Waite symbolism. This deck features a unique black Cat on each card. Each Card has classic imagery from the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot Deck first published in 1909. This Deck includes:78 uniquely illustrated cards (no pip cards)Detailed and simple Guide Book This Deck Features the following:
The Major Arcana or trump cards, consists of 22 cards without suits:
The Minor Arcana (lesser secrets) consists of 56 cards, divided into four suits of 14 cards each;
Ten numbered cards and four court cards. The court cards are the King, Queen, Knight and Page/Jack, in each of the four tarot suits.
This Kickstarter gives you the option to purchase one of these adorable pins!
Why Black Cats?
Black Cats are the cutest. I started my business Black Cat Consulting LLC in honor of my lap loving black Cat Boo. She has been by or on my side for the last 6 years. She has sat on my lap thru job changes and moves. The purrfect and loyal friend. She is dearer to me than any human being. She is the inspiration for everything I do. I created this deck in her honor. If you love cats or have a black cat yourself I hope you pawsitively love this deck.This deck is not bad luck. In fact this deck is super lucky! Black cats have long endured cruelty and horrible misconceptions due to myths and superstitions. Black Cats make the best companion for your tarot readings because they are so elegant! Let’s start with the absolute outward beauty of the coat. Black cats look sophisticated. If the cat is kept healthy and fed excellent quality food, the black coat should be sleek, shiny and simply gorgeous. A black cat always looks as if they are ready for a formal night out on the town. In addition to the black cat’s elegance, they also look like a little panther gracefully roaming around. It’s as if you have a little piece of the wild in your home. A black cat walking or running through the house is the picture of grace, stealth, mystery and beauty.Black Cats are luck because they are not common! One in 22. There are as many as 22 recognized breeds that can have solid black coloring but the only all-black feline is the Bombay cat. The breed was developed in the 1950s by crossing Sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs with the aim to create a cat that resembled a miniature black panther.Black Cat myth and legend has ancient as a past as the history of Tarot! Cats were often cared for and fed by poor, lonely ladies who were accused of witchery and as a result, got a bad rep. Black cats were considered especially desirable partners for witches because of their ability to remain unseen in dark places and as witch hunts grew in popularity, many superstitions about uniformly black felines started to develop. Beginning in the Middle Ages, black cats became associated with Satan, witches, and witchcraft; some people went so far as to believe that black cats were cohorts to witches or even witches who had taken on another form.
Check out how cute these cards are:
Aren’t these Cats adorable?!?!Some Coin Cards featured in this deck
Pentacles/Coins
The cats in this deck feature cat tags! It began as coins. It became pentacles when the tarot gained its magical associations so some decks call it pentacles. This deck calls it Coins. I wanted to keep the original tarot symbolism and I wanted to keep this deck simple and purposeful with each element!
Wands of this deck
Wands
When I think Wands, I immediately think of feathers. Cats love to play with feather wands, and it makes sense because wands are the suit of action! Feather wands are every kittens favorite! The feather, for example, is a powerful symbol that signifies honor and a connection between the owner, the Creator, and the bird from which the feather came. It symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom. It is an object that is deeply revered and a sign of high honor. Wands are the Tarot suit that corresponds to Clubs in an ordinary pack of cards. … Wands represent growth and inspiration, ambition, competition, and the desire for power; they often relate to business endeavors, but can also relate to endeavors in love and romance.
Cups of this Deck
Cups
Cups are associated with water and what is more Water related then fishes. Kitties love fishes.. Cups reflect the water to show our subconscious thoughts and how they are controlled by your emotions. Cups Tarot cards indicate that you are thinking with your heart rather than your head, and thus reflect your spontaneous responses and your habitual reactions to situations. Cups are also linked to creativity, romanticism, fantasy and imagination. The cups in this deck have mason jars for cups. These hipster kitties also keep finding water imagery and each kitty has a yummy fish.
Swords of this Deck
Swords
Swords are often double-edged and in this way the Suit of Swords symbolises the fine balance between intellect and power and how these two elements can be used for good or evil. As such, the Swords must be balanced by spirit (Wands) and feeling (Cups) to have the most positive effect. The Suit of Swords is associated with the element of Air. Air is intangible and unseen, but also in constant movement. Air can be still and mostly unnoticed, to becoming a breeze or a fierce wind. It is powerful yet refreshing and cleansing. Symbolically, the air element relates to knowledge, action, power, and change. It is a masculine energy that can lead by force and power, even though it remains unseen. In this deck I have made the swords into knitting needles!! According to zoologists, the reason for a cat’s strong affinity for yarn seems to be rooted in its natural hunting instincts. … Experts have also theorized that the movement that yarn has when rolling, dangling, or unwinding reminds cats of snakes, which would be one of their top competitors for prey in the wild.
This tank top is available in this kickstarter!This tank features the two of cups!This long sleeve is exactly what you need this Winter!This adorable hoodie with a fun inside hoodie is also available!
It’s Chanukah time … or Hanukkah … however, you spell it, it is a time for festivities and delicious food! Hanukkah is the holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It is a holiday of miracles, when a tiny quantity of oil that should have only lasted one day burned for eight days. To commemorate this miracle, it is traditional to eat fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (doughnuts). It’s also a time for family gatherings and dinners filled with delicious foods. I want to show how to celebrate this holiday VEGAN!
My goal with making vegan Hanukkah recipes is for everyone at the table to enjoy (and when a non-vegan goes “this is vegan?!”, it’s usually a sign that my vegan recipe was delicious!) Now I want to put a disclaimer that while I celebrated many jewish holidays growing up, I never had my bat mitzvah. And I want to show you yummy recipes that are ethical and vegan, I am not trying to offend anyone’s beliefs!
Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, takes place over eight days and eight nights. The winter holiday, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. When I was a kid though I remember the sour cream, the apple sauce and peeling SO many potatoes!!
Here’s the story of the holiday: In the second century, Seleucids ruled Israel. The rulers attempted to force the Jewish people to accept other religious beliefs, killing many who attempted to fight back to maintain their traditions. A group of poorly-armed Jewish people, led by Judah the Maccabee, fought back and against all odds, defeated the Seleucid army. When they reclaimed the Holy Temple of Jerusalem and attempted to rededicate the temple by lighting the Menorah, they only found enough olive oil to last one day. But, by a miracle, the oil lasted for eight days. And gave them time for reinforcements to come.
This is the season of miracles and of believing in the good and the light of the world!! Hanukkah is the festival of lights, and it’s also a festival of oil. For this holiday, Jews celebrate the miracle of a tiny bit of oil lasting eight long nights with family gatherings, food, and games. Observers whip up dishes such as potato pancakes and jelly donuts and play dreidel, spinning for a handful of gelt.
7 Simple Steps for the Ultimate Vegan Hanukkah Celebration
Many Hanukkah dishes are not vegan, but it’s easy to make traditional food without using any animal products. Here are seven vegan recipes to try during the festival of lights.
1. Vegan Matzo Ball Soup
Making matzo balls without eggs is easy. This ultra-comforting recipe uses quinoa flakes as a binder and they’re baked in the oven to prevent them from falling apart. It’s also packed with celery, potatoes, carrots, and fresh dill.
Packed with fruit and nuts, you’ll want this vegan challah on your dessert table. This fluffy, braided bread is traditionally enriched with eggs. But, this recipe uses dairy-free yogurt with a thick texture instead. Save the leftovers to make vegan French toast.
This traditional bread is served at Jewish ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and other holidays. It is shared and enjoyed by many people worldwide. Typically, the bread is made with eggs and honey. In my vegan challah recipe, we use aquafaba and white sugar to recreate the texture and sweetness of traditional Israeli water challah bread! Get the recipe here!
3. Vegan Sufganiyot
Nothing beats homemade donuts. These Hanukkah sufganiyot are classic yeast donuts made without eggs or dairy. They have a light, fluffy texture, are filled with delicious jam, and are topped off with orange zest.
Brisket is part of the Hanukkah tradition, and it’s easy to make it vegan. This plant-based brisket is made from a blend of chickpeas and seitan, so you’ll need a food processor or powerful blender to get the job done. It’s tender, juicy, and perfectly spiced.
Made from potatoes and sweet potatoes, these vegan latkes are crispy and easy to make. Instead of eggs, they use potato starch and chickpea flour. Serve with fresh dill and dairy-free sour cream.
It’s not Hanukkah without gelt. Vermont-based brand Lake Champlain Chocolates makes Organic Dark Chocolate Gelt. Not only is it vegan, but it’s also made from fair-trade chocolate.
7. Vegan Kugel
Looking for a vegan kugel recipe? You’ve come to the right place. This egg-free potato and carrot kugel is crispy on top, just the way it should be.
hether you grew up with Hanukkah or it’s your first time celebrating this Jewish holiday, you must know that food plays an integral role. Lighting the menorah (or chanukiah) and reciting the blessings takes precedence, but afterward, it’s time to eat. From sweet to savory and appetizers to desserts, here are the veganized Jewish dishes that should be enjoyed during any Hanukkah celebration—even if it’s a celebration of one.
VEGAN HANUKKAH RECIPES
Finding vegan Hanukkah recipes can be challenging… especially when celebrating the holiday around non-vegans. Whether you’re vegan or looking for egg-free, dairy-free or gluten-free Hanukkah recipes, serving these vegan Hanukkah recipes will please everyone & make your Bubbe proud
I think music is so healing. For me personally. It helps me push past my comfort zones on a hard run, it helps me move my hips when I am dancing to a good beat and it helps me clear emotions when I sing. I have always been so drawn to music and find so much pride in people coming up to me after a Pilates class and them telling me how much the like my playlist. I wanted to create a bomb playlist to help you love yourself a little bit more. So lets go on a journey of self love through music….
Music overall has a positive effect on stress reduction in both physiological arousal and especially psychological response. In terms of time frame, music has an immediate beneficial effect on these outcomes.
Music experienced as pleasant increases the intensity of emotional valence (feelings of happiness), which likely has a stress-reducing effect.
In addition, listening to music can provide ‘distraction’ from stress-increasing thoughts or aversive emotional states.
Music with a slow, steady rhythm may provide stress reduction by altering inherent body rhythms such as heart rate. In addition, larger effects are found listening to music with a tempo of 60–80 beats per minute (BPM), which characterizes music that progresses in a slow and soothing pace.
Positive outcomes are observed when individuals select their own music, and when researchers pre-select music for research participants. However, because music appreciation and enjoyment is highly subjective, maximal benefits are often observed when individuals select their own relaxing music. Positive effects are typically observed when individuals listen to slow and steady songs, or relaxing classical music. More info here
I included with each card a song, and created a self love playlist. Here is a list of every card in the Love Thy Self Deck along with the music video. These are all just songs I like, feel free to follow me on Spotify and comment below if you have a better song.
Be mindful of your life, notice what happens moment to moment, the easy and the difficult, and the painful and the joyful. Use your brain like a muscle to be present and awake in your life.
Affirmation: I will be mindful and aware of my body and space. All is well in this moment.
You already know the road you should take to get to where you want to go.
Affirmation: My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite. I make a difference in the world by simply existing in it.
Let Me Live Song by Major Lazor ( feat. Anne-Marie & Mr Eazi)
You can’t make your life the best ever if you are lying to yourself. Sometimes you are the bad guy. You can’t change until you face your problematic behavior.
Affirmation: I am responsible for everything in my life. I take full responsibility for my life so that I may live my dreams.
Put on your rose colored glasses. Your reality becomes what you focus on. Focus on the beautiful. Remember that there are only three things in life you can control; what you think, what you say, and what you do.
Affirmation: I put on my rose colored glasses every morning and easily focus on all the good around me. My world is what I focus on, I focus on the beautiful.
Indifference rather than avoiding- Don’t let anyone negatively influence you, stary neutral to the pulls of those vying to steal your energy Affirmation: All unnecessary thoughts are leaving my mind now, letting me experience inner peace.
Develop your self compassion and give yourself days off.
Affirmation: I accept the best and worst aspects of who I am. I release myself with forgiveness from today and move forward with self-love to tomorrow.
I believe that I am the creator of my life experience.
Having an efficient breakdown of communication between the heart and mind is the key ingredient in enhancing your cognitive behaviour.
Affirmation: My mind is clear, focused and tranquil. I am a forgiving and loving person. I am surrounded by an abundance of positive things in my life. I am at peace with who I am as a person.
This is the Alice in Wonderland Card. Accept and cherish your weird.
Affirmation: My reality is under my control. I allow my crazy and recognize my shadow and accept the consequences for my actions and decisions. I never take myself too seriously.
Parent your inner child! Reparenting is the act of giving yourself what you didn’t receive as a child.
Affirmation: I have the ability to parent my inner child and heal from my past. I am fortunate to have learned from the difficult journey of who I used to be.
I hope you enjoyed all these songs and these affirmations helped you think about yourself as the dynamic beautiful creature you are. Get this Deck on my Etsy HERE
The best way to get people to trust in vegans is to provide access to yummy food. If people could see how tasty and easy it is to go vegan, I think we’d have a lot more vegans!
I always get asked, WHAT DO YOU EAT. And here is literally a guide to a yummy enjoyable thanksgiving that is cruelty free!
If you’re wanting to go vegan this thanksgiving but planning on going to families house, don’t stress! Bring new dishes and if you’re going to a group thanksgiving bring a side that won’t be competing with someones famous recipe. In my experience, if there are two dishes that are the same, but one is vegan and the other is not, you might as well decorate your serving bowl with caution tape. A lot of people won’t be going past it. I’ve heard that children have to be introduced to a food 13 times before they try it. Sometimes I don’t think adults are that far off. People tend to gravitate towards what is familiar. If you give them the option of what they have always had or something new, most people will pick the former. If you just say, hey, it’s gravy, and there aren’t any classifications, people are more likely to just try it and like it. Also, in my experience people seem less hesitant about trying store-bought items. Maybe they already trust Trader Joe’s? Or the local take-out place already seen as legitimate? For whatever reason, I’ve found that if I bring a prepared item still in its container or takeout packaging, people are more willing to try it.
Remember you don’t have to eat everything on thanksgiving and focusing on enjoying the time with your loved ones is much more important that how much food is on your plate. Don’t feel pressured to eat meat for the sake of “tradition.”
Besides your obvious: Roasted green beans, mash potatoes, and bread. A super easy option is to bring hummus or dips and a plethora of veggies to dip! The more dips the better! There are almond butter”cheese” spreads and bean dips, as well as vegan ranch dressing. Bring veggies and vegan dips to a thanksgiving is great because everyone can enjoy them!
Sigh. Mashed potatoes. They’re as much a part of Thanksgiving dinner as pumpkin pie. You can get so many amazing Vegan potato recipes. this guide includes my favorites! An easy way to make your favorite recipe vegan is swap out half and half with a plant based option and get some vegan butter. Potatoes are so yummy and this little swap is so easy to get your thanksgiving more ethical!
Tofurkey options
Grilled Tofu! Easiest option is grill a block of Tofu!
Buy a premade Tofurkey meat in the health section of the grocery store, like $12 at Smiths! Tofurky, the brilliant brand name that revolutionized Thanksgiving and mock meats forever, makes a lot more than a tofu turkey. Or their competitor Meatless brand. From the makers of Gardein brand plant-based meats comes this seasonal product, Plant-Based Turk’y Roast, a “boneless” breaded fake turkey roll stuffed with cranberry rice dressing.
Make your own Tofurkey! A homemade turkey alternative can be a fun and healthy addition to your meatless Thanksgiving table. In just a few steps you can have a stuffed tofu “turkey” breast to impress any guest. The tofu is blended until smooth, seasoned with herbs, and pressed and chilled. Then it is stuffed with your choice of vegan stuffing, formed into a log shape, and basted with a vinegar-Dijon-soy sauce mixture while it bakes, resulting in a beautiful golden color similar to roasted turkey skin.
Focus on the stuffing, a dinner of sides is still awesome and theres going to be tons of protien in the vegetables youre eating. The Veggies with the highest protein are Spinach, Asparagus, mustard greens, collard Greens, broccoli, peas!
Beans! Make a vegan chili!
Sauté the base veggies (onion, celery, peppers) and spices to create great flavor. Try adding corn and squash, maybe even pupkin for a real fall theme)
Stir in the beans, tomatoes, and vegetable broth, then simmer until all the flavors combine. Try black beans, northern beans and pinto beans. Optional add a vegan “beef” crumble. Add green chili if you’re in New Mexico!
Top as desired ( frietos, nutritional yeast, vegan cheese), then serve and enjoy!
Mash potatoes are super easy to prepare the night before. The wonderful thing about mashed potatoes is, they can be made ahead of time, then warmed in the oven when you’re ready.
Scalloped potatoes
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
Thinly slice the potatoes into ⅛-inch rounds. (food processor, by hand, precut) I like to keep the peels on for nutrition and time-saving reasons, but you’re welcome to peel them first.
In a large pot over medium heat, melt the vegan butter. Whisk in the flour and stir until the sauce thickens and becomes a roux, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Whisk the plant-based milk and vegetable broth into the roux. Stir in the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt until the sauce thickens, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Layer half of the potatoes in the casserole dish, pour half of the sauce spreading evenly over the potatoes and allowing it to seep through the cracks. Layer the rest of the potatoes and spread the rest of the sauce over them evenly. Cover with tin foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Uncover the casserole and bake for another 35 minutes
First get a big bag of potatoes! Onions, flour, flaxseed, parsley, salt, garlic vegetable oil! First, Grate the Potatoes & Onion. Next, Strain the Grated Potato & Onions. Keep the film from the potatoes, toss only the water. Add All The Ingredients to One Bowl Take the strained grated potatoes & onions and add them to a large mixing bowl. Then, add in the rest of the ingredients including the flour, flax eggs, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic powder. At this point, you’re also going to dump out the water that was strained from the potatoes. At the bottom of the bowl, there will be a layer of potato starch.
How to fry vegan latkes:
Once the batter is ready, the second step is frying the eggless potato pancakes. Here are a few tips for frying crispy potato latkes every time!
First, use the right oil.
That means soybean oil, canola oil, or any oil with a high burning point. This is definitely not the time to use olive oil. Though I almost always go for avocado oil when roasted vegetables, I use soybean oil for frying as it is a lot less expensive.
Also, use the right pan
For frying, I always use a cast iron skillet with higher edges to help avoid oil splattering all over the place. Plus, cast iron helps to distribute heat evenly.
Make sure the oil is HOT before adding the latke batter in
To test if the oil is hot, stick in a wooden utensil. If the oil is hot, it will bubble around the wood.
Don’t make latkes too thick
Add the latke batter to the pan with hot oil and then immediately press the batter down to flatten it. If the batter is too thick, the inside won’t cook enough.
Fry the Latkes On Each Side for 2-5 minutes
It doesn’t take too much time to get a good crispy vegan latke! Each latke should be browned and crispy on the outside while cooked, but soft, in the center. The amount of time to fry each latke will depend on how hot your oil is, so make sure to watch for when the latkes get browned.
Lastly, place immediately on a plate covered with paper towels
The paper towels will soak up any of the excess oil making for latkes that are crispy and not soggy. Latkes are best enjoyed warm so leave them on the paper towels for just 1-2 minutes before serving!
Whether its a faux meat substitute or just extra vegan sides, having options available for different taste is a great idea. And if you’re going to a vegan dinner make sure to bring your favorite vegan dish!
Buy Oat milk, Vegan butter, make vegan gravy and have vegan whip cream!
Get bread you like toast it and cube it! Can be handmade or from a box!
Cook your lentils( 3/4 cup) rinse lentils in cold water, then add to a small saucepan with 1 1/2 cups veggie broth or water
low boil.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Also prepare flax egg and set aside. ( flax egg is just it mixed with water and set aside until it solutes.)
Sauté onion and celery and your other favorite veggies in the olive oil or vegan butter and season with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant and translucent – about 5 minutes. Set aside.
To the bowl of bread, pour most of the broth then add the remaining ingredients (sage, cooked veggies, flax egg, and lentils) and mix with a wooden spoon. The key is to make sure it is about the consistency of a meatloaf: Moist but not soggy. It should hold its shape if formed into a shape but liquid shouldn’t squeeze out of it. Too dry and it will be really dry after cooking. Too wet and it will be soggy and never get any crisp texture. If too dry, add more broth and mix again. If it’s gotten too wet, add more bread.
Transfer to the prepared pan and cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Then remove the top layer of foil so the top can brown. Increase heat to 400 degrees F (204 C) and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the top is well browned and crisp.
Add vegan butter slices to the top.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven, though best when fresh.
1 can of vegan cream of mushroom soup (or make your own)
A bag of fried onion salad topper – make sure it doesnt have any weird ingredients like milk fat
Thinly chopped mushrooms
A little bit of flour
Preheat oven
In a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat, add vegan butter or olive oil and shallots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add mushrooms and season with a bit more salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes more or until lightly browned.
Sprinkle in flour and whisk to stir and coat the veggies. Cook for 1 minute, then slowly add in veggie stock, whisking to incorporate.
Add almond milk next and whisk to stir again. Season with a touch more salt and pepper and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low to thicken. Cook for 5-7 minutes more, or until thick and bubbly. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Remove from heat and add 1/3 of the fried onions (1/2 cup as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and all of the cooked green beans. Toss to coat well, and top with remaining fried onions.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until warmed through and bubbly and slightly browned on top. Serve immediately (handle pan carefully).
Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to a few days.
There is a plethora of information about going vegan available. Whether its health statistics showing you how healthier it is to be vegan; or its the animal cruelty tolerated. Whatever your reason for going vegan. Let it be yours! Let’s all be more conscious and ethical in our choices! Thank you for taking the time to read about becoming more vegan! Your planet and animal friends thank you! If you want any more information or you’re ready to start your vegan journey and would like a coach to guide you through the process, I am a certified Nutrition vegan health coach and I would love to help make the best decision of your life easier!
I am trying to do just that with my Thanksgiving Vegan guide. Let me bust the misconceptions about vegans and show you how easy it is for you to make more ethical decisions with your food!
Download my FREE Thanksgivingvegan guide on my website now!
