Mabon is the time when many practitioners of Nature celebrate the second part of the harvest. This Sabbat is about the balance between light and dark, with equal amounts of day and night. 

The Science of the Equinox:
Two days a year, the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight. Not only that, each receives the same amount of light as they do dark -- this is because the earth is tilted at a right angle to the sun, and the sun is directly over the equator. In Latin, the word equinox translates to "equal night." The autumn equinox, or Mabon, takes place on or near September 21, and its spring counterpart falls around March 21. If you're in the Northern hemisphere, the days will begin getting shorter after the autumn equinox and the nights will grow longer -- in the Southern hemisphere, the reverse is true. 
Read More About Mabon Here:http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/a/AllAboutMabon.htm


Global Traditions:
The idea of a harvest festival is nothing new. In fact, people have celebrated it for millennia, all around the world. In ancient Greece, Oschophoria was a festival held in the fall to celebrate the harvesting of grapes for wine. In the 1700's, the Bavarians came up with Oktoberfest, which actually begins in the last week of September, and it was a time of great feasting and merriment, still in existence today. China's Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated on the night of the Harvest Moon, and is a festival of honoring family unity.


Colors of the Season For Your Altar:
The leaves have begun to change, so reflect the colors of autumn in your altar decorations. Use yellows, oranges, reds and browns. Cover your altar with cloths that symbolize the harvest season, or go a step further and put brightly colored fallen leaves upon your work surface. Use candles in deep, rich colors -- reds, golds, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.

Symbols of the Harvest:
Mabon is the time of the second harvest, and the dying of the fields. Use corn, sheaves of wheat, squash and root vegetables on your altar. Add some tools of agriculture if you have them - scythes, sickles, and baskets.

A Time of Balance:
Remember, the equinoxes are the two nights of the year when the amount of light and darkness are equal. Decorate your altar to symbolize the aspect of the season. Try a small set of scales, a yin-yang symbol, a white candle paired up with a black one -- all are things which represent the concept of balance.

Other Symbols of Mabon:

• Wine, vines and grapes
• Apples, cider, and apple juice
• Pomegranates
• Ears of corn
• Pumpkins
• Gods' Eyes
• Corn dolls
• Mid-autumn vegetables, like squashes and gourds
• Seeds, seed pods, nuts in their shells
• Baskets, symbolizing the gathering of crops
• Statuary of deities symbolizing the changing seasons

Here's a little book I have NOT been without for many, many, many years! 
I guarantee you will not leave home without this lil gem!
Weave a little witch-inspired magic into your life with a bestselling calendar that has been enchanting Wiccans and Pagans for over fifteen years. Honor your personal connection to the Earth and the gods and goddesses with magical spells, correspondences, planting and harvesting dates, invocations, and an abundance of folkloric wisdom. Original art by Kathleen Edwards and enchanting essays, spells, and rituals by your favorite authors capture the essence of each month of the year. Additionally, the calendar features a lunar gardening table, a wealth of resources for syncing life choices with moon signs, and correspondence tables for working magic with favorable outcomes. 

Offerings
The idea of right or appropriate honoring of deity/deities is not about someone telling you what's "right or wrong." It is simply the concept that you should take the time to do things; do something - including prayers, meditation, dance and offerings - in a way that is conducive to the demands and needs of the god or goddess in question.
When you honor the
Divine/Ancestors/Goddess, take the time to put some thought into it. Ask yourself what it is you hope to obtain by making the offering -- are you trying to gain something, or merely show your appreciation and gratitude to the Divine? Learn about the types of deities you're about to honor, and study the specific gods and goddesses of your tradition, so that when you do make an offering or present a ritual in their name, you can do so in a way that truly does them honor.

My 3 Day LiQUID FAST
As I mentioned above, as of today I'll be doing all liquide throughout this weekend til Monday! We went shopping yesterday for more fruits and veggies to get me through this weekend. I didn't plan this earlier at the onset of this autumn fast. Last night I got an inkling that I needed to go deeper...I'll be replacing solid food with liquid food for a bit and you are welcome to switch it into high gear and join me...or keep doing what feels good for your lifestyle. You do not want to shock your body or throw it into panic or super craving mode. Assess your overall health and see if you are able to handle this sort of thing.
I've already initiated with herbal teas and water. I'll continue on by replacing each meal with a juice based meal and work up from there...feel free to add things to your juice like flax seed, coconut oil, green veggie powders, Moringa, etc to boost your energies. Finally, remember this.  A liquid fast helps to improve your entire quality of life.  The nutrients you will receive from the foods are delivered quicker into your system and will be used right away. Your body might experience a major detox as the acid from the fruit attacks bad cells (free radicals), which will make you more likely to fight off chronic dis-eases

Well…When we eat devitalized foods such as sweets, white flours, bread, meat, cooked fruits,  processed drinks, and pastas and take in things like coffee, drugs and alcohol our body is stimulated by these products and produces mucous to protect our intestinal tract from the resulting toxins. The more often you ingest these substances, the harder it is on your body and the more layers of mucous are produced. This is one reason why some meals should be all fruits or all vegetables. Mixing fruits and vegetables in the same meal are hard to digest and can give you acid reflux.

One problem with multiple layers of mucous is that the pancreatic fluids which normally keep the mucoid layers stripped and digested off the gut can’t keep up. Over time (years usually) these mucous layers build up andharden making the intestines less effective at absorbing what you eat. One sign of this happening is vertical ridges on your little fingernails.

Gradually, the body weakens and our digestive processes become slower. When this happens, food starts to rot in our gut a little bit after each meal creating even more toxins and an imbalanced gut flora (and an overgrowth of yeast). Even the muscular walls of the gut weaken and lose tone creating a pot belly, prolapses, diverticuli, polyps, colitis and smelly gas problems. Eventually these disturbances may lead to cancer.

Small bowel pockets and diverticuli are more common than most health professionals realize, and should be taken into account when any low grade infection or decrease in vitality over time are present. Low back pain, menstrual irregularity, ovarian cysts, constipation, bladder problems, heart palpitations, hemorrhoids, tipped uterus, and prostate problems are often a result of a prolapsed (fallen) transverse colon. Fasting and enemas can help these greatly.

Food was meant to pass through the body within 8-18 hours. The longer it is held, the more putrefactive, toxic and gaseous it becomes. When bowel tone and condition are good, we should have a bowel movement after every meal.

Laxatives never solve the problems of poor eating habits, lack of exercise and bowel neglect. Repeated artificial stimulation of the bowels destroys their natural emptying reflex, so that they will no longer move without artificial stimulants. The laxative habit begins innocently enough with the correct belief that bowels should move every day, however, laxatives will cause the evacuation of several days’ worth of stool in a single movement. Impatient for reestablishing stool regularity, the patient takes another laxative, and the cycle begins.

Toxins are released through the skin, kidneys and liver, but the main route for toxins release is the bowels. This process needs to be assisted from time-to-time or the toxins will be reabsorbed back through the intestinal wall. Also, when doing a water or juice fast, the normal bowel movements do not take place because the gut is resting.

Enemas and Fasting:  Starting a fast with an enema seems to help with hunger pangs and solidifies the beginning of my fast, helping to shut down the digestive system so it can detoxify, repair and rejuvenate.


How to take an enema: (sourced from Google)

Note: Be sure to make sure the valve on the enema apparatus is shut tightly before filling the bag and after you release all the air from the tube. I know this may seem obvious, but boy, does it make a mess if you don’t.

Hang the filled enema bag on the shower, bathroom door handle or on the towel rack about three feet above your pelvis. Place the tip over the toilet, sink or bathtub and allow the liquid to flow until the air bubbles all come out. Hanging it higher increases the pressure of the fluid coming out. You can control the flow with the enema bag shut-off valve, so make sure it is easy to grasp. Put some lubricant on the enema tip and on the anus if necessary.

Now, get into position. There are several ways you can do this. Now, you can only go as fast as the slowest part of you feels safe to go, so experiment with what you feel comfortable with. Here are some good options:

• Bend over at the waist as you sit on the toiler to make your belly parallel to the floor if possible so the fluid will flow in without as much impedance.
• Stand up over the toilet and bend at the waist and let the fluid flow in. This is my favorite position because my abdominal muscles don’t contract as much and the flow going in is easier with greater volume.
• Lay on the floor on your right side or back and let the fluid flow in.
• Kneel on the floor with your bottom up and your head down with your head resting on a towel.

After the liquid is in (as much as you can hold without cramping or feeling uncomfortable) then massage your gut area and try to move the liquid around as you knead your abdomen. This massaging assists in releasing hardened mucus in the intestinal folds. The more you massage the colon, the more will come out. If you feel you have to release the liquid, don’t hold it in. Sit on the toilet and release that liquid, then put more into the rectum and try again until the enema bag is empty. You will know when enough is enough.

Start your massage on the lower left side of the abdomen, then massage up toward your ribcage, across the top of your abdomen then the lower right abdomen. The ileocecal valve is here at the lower right. Spend a little extra time there because this is where the small intestine and large intestine meet and lots of people have spasms of their ileocecal valve and gas in this place.

Now go to the bathroom and release your enema. If you are having trouble fully releasing your bowels, take a few deep breaths and keep massaging, then sitting on the toilet, pull your belly upwards to straighten out the sigmoid colon. This changes the pressure in the abdomen area and makes it easier for the fluid to pass through. 

Also, it is very important that you knees be pulled up towards your chest for a release from deeper into your colon...

This morning I'm having 16 ounces of water with a dash of cayenne pepper (circulation), 2 tbsp of Braggs apple cider vinegar (alkalizing), 8 ounces of lemon, ginger and echinacea juice, along with one red delicious apple (pectin). 

For lunch I'll have the same as above, along with sipping my fenugreek tea. I stay pretty occupied throughout the day and I like to stay present during my detoxing process...meaning that I acknowledge my hunger and any nausea I experience as the present, unbalanced state of affairs inside my system. I honor my disciple and my ability to stay focused and strong through any and all of my challenges.

Dinner will be more OKRAS (love). I look forward to eating steamed okras with broccoli, cauliflowers, purple onions, garlic and scallions EVERYDAY. Yes, I do eat the same, pretty much. That keeps my mind on easy, always knowing what I'm preparing. Also, my digestive system gets used to processing the same food and the same amounts...no internal stress. I plan to shop for more fresh produce this evening as the supply for the past four days is almost all gone. For me, this fast is again, about eliminating EVERYTHING that I KNOW to be unhealthy for ME. And, since I'm not a meat eater, The things/foods that I stopped intaking during this fast are: starches which ultimately break down into sugar... bread, corn chips, NUTS, soy milk, almond milk, potatoes, bananas, plantains, cous-cous, quinoa, rice, honey, store bought juices, etc....



Make A your own Amazing Detox Drink that will help your body burn fat, lose weight, fight diabetes. - Ingredients 1 glass of water (12-16 oz.) 2 Tbsp. Bragg – Apple Cider Vinegar 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 dash cayenne pepper Powder :: Blend


What are the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?
Be sure to dilute ACV before applying it to your skin or drinking. It is very acidic and can damage the tooth enamel and the tissues of your throat, mouth or skin.

• Rich in potassium, a mineral that is often times lacking in adult diets. This mineral is key for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity etc. It also helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.
• Rich in acetic acid. This acid is said to slow the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.
• Rich in ash which gives ACV its alkaline property. This aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state. (It is particularly important if you drink a lot of coffee or wine.)
• It can help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Rich in malic acid which gives ACV its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
• May help improve bowel irregularity and helps to remove toxins from the body at a faster rate.
• It can help clear up skin conditions and blemishes.
• ACV helps with weight loss by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.
• A few lab studies have found that ACV may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.

I'm anointing my body temple with my own formula...BREATHE HAPPINESS Aura Cleansing Spray today!

We are aware that essential oils vibrate at a high frequency, they not only protect us physically they can also be utilized to help lift our spirits as well. I made this blend with clear quartz crystals, lavender, lemon, mint, basil, cypress, juniper essential oils and purified moon water. Some call it an atmosphere in a little purple bottle. lol

Here's the link if you'd like the exerience: https://www.etsy.com/listing/98284581/breathe-happiness-aura-cleansing-spray?

Aura cleansing is a form of spiritual cleansing and healing to help heal, cleanse and repair damaged, dull and clouded Auras. Sometimes known as  Auric Healing. Aura cleansing can clean, brighten and heal your aura. This spray leaves you with the sense of 'turning the page.' We are born with a clear, bright, glowing and vibrant aura which attracts positive energies to us and repels negative energies. Over time our aura can get tinged and tainted with dark shadows or clouds attracting unwanted negative energies. This clouded aura can leave you feeling stressed, tired, unbalanced, unhappy and depressed. It can also attract even more negative energies, negative and strained relationships, challenging and stressful situations and basically feelings of anxiety and stress.

Sacred Gifts For The Temple

Gifts come in all shapes and sizes; from a child’s drawing, to a sunset generously sprawling across the floor in the late summer moving into autumn.' I am so very grateful for these gifts that were bestowed on The Cowrie Shell Center's Temple yesterday by a beautiful sistren. Last week this same sistren, inspiring soul that she is...suggested that I offer HEALERS HEAL MEDITATION SUNDAYS here in the temple each and every SUNDAY! WELL, ASHE' and so it is! 

I know without a doubt that this temple was and is an incredible gift to me and the people of the community. It offers spiritual refuge and spiritual solace.

Our ancient sages have taught us that our Temple customs are designed to create the maximum blessing vortex for all who visit the Temple space and for the entire Earth. From the sacred mantras, to the specific food offerings, to the rituals of inner and outer cleansing, to the beautiful images of the deities, every detail, each symbol represent a divine purpose.

You might ask, Why do we offer flowers and other items to The Creator/Creatress? Is this really necessary? Some people might think that some items are offered just for show or for decoration. Although these items do look beautiful, this is not the main reason you see them displayed. Others might feel that having these items is having too much stuff. Of course this may also true for the minimalist, but there is a deeper, spiritual reason.
Every material in Nature has its own vibrational energy. When charged with the sacred mantras of the elements; air, fire, water, earth and ether~ these sacred tools will radiate different types of cosmic energy for the purpose of our cleansing, healing and our ascension. All of the traditional offerings, like fruit, feathers, candles, water, shell, rocks, crystals, totems, plants, statues, silver, gold, money, lotuses, cinnamon, or turmeric, etc., these all help to attract and generate powerful divine energy that blesses everyone in the Temple, especially those who make the offering.

Meditate: Medi- Means To Heal

The morning sun rise blesses us as we transition into autumn in this half of the planet. It is an ideal time to sit back and reflect on what may be out of balance in our lives, then take steps to restore our equilibrium. Ancient teachings recommend seasonal cleansing, purification, and a renewal process where we eliminate whatever physical and emotional toxicities we have accumulated. 

This practice allows our mind-body-spirit to return to a natural state of balance and health (spiritual stasis). After we release the toxins (collected since our last fast, before summer started) that prevent the free flow of energy and information throughout our entire physiology, we can engage in practices of rejuvenation that nurture our spirit's vitality and physical well being.

Autumn Preparations Us For Winter 

As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is how the trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter.

During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves.

As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyll.

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this glucose into a red color.

The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.

It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful fall foliage colors we enjoy each year.

All life is in sync with the detoxification process....

 Our Autumnal Fasting Outlook At 
The Cowrie Shell Center For Holistic Wellness:

The bottom line is if your fast is done correctly, detoxification can be used to maintain good health,slow down your body's aging process and prevent certain dis-eases like high blood pressure and diabetes or it can be used to improve poor health and reverse many chronic conditions as well. Over the past twenty something years, I have successfully eliminated all seasonal and pet allergies from affecting my upper respiratory system; anemia, frequent common colds, ovarian cyst, as well as uterine fibroids from my body. A truly disciplined detox journey includes a healthy, balanced, daily regimen of liquid vitamin supplements, an organized menu of fruits/veggie juices and fruit/veggie salads, regular exercise, gallons water stress management, great sleep, colonics, enemas and steam therapy (bath house).

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING ME GUIDE YOU ON A FAST, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [email protected] TO SCHEDULE AN APPT. 
MY FEE FOR WELLNESS CONSULTATION, DIAGNOSIS AND FASTING INSTRUCTIONS: $100 per hour

Helpful resources are available upon request

I am Yendys Nefer-Atum , a certified holistic healer in private practice in Brooklyn New York at The Cowrie Shell Center. Follow me on FaceBook, Twitter  & Instagram @YendysNefer and here on 'my blog.'

Traditional Indian Jewelry World over jewelry is worn for number of reasons - adornment being the primary purpose. Jewelry is also sported as a form of symbolism and artistic display. However, some cultures, purpose of jewelry is not just adornment and display; it is also worn for curative reason. Complementary to such thought is the conventional view where the graceful form of a woman is said to epitomize the ideal beauty and mystery inherent in nature. Thus fitting each and every part of the feminine physique including the head, torso, limbs, and between the appended parts- have consistently been used to support ornaments, often in ingenious ways. Hence the stress on adornment of the women, who are but the poetry of nature. Ornamentation not only serves to please the eyes of the beholder but also fulfills an auspicious purpose. The impulse to adorn stems from a deep rooted sensibility to mark every occasion of life with auspicious symbols, designs and figures to obtain good fortune and protection from evil. Thus a fully bedecked woman evokes in the viewer a deep and ingratiating feeling of tranquil contentment, springing from an intuitive realization that evolving before him is an image of perfect beauty, symbolically conveying the richness and completeness which is but natural to nature.

 WHAT IS YONI STEAMING OR VAGINAL STEAMING  as it is most commonly referred to? It is moist heat from a steaming bowl of medicinal, magical herbs which are offer to your sacred space (vaginal opening) to open the pores of the tissues it comes into contact with. This the technique has been practiced by women from a number of regions around the world. Including ancient civilizations – East Africa, West Africa, Kusite, Khametic, the Caribbean and other indigenous places around the globe. The Yoni Purification (Vaginal steam bath or V-Steam) is a centuries-old ancient remedy which some women used after giving birth. The practice, in essence, brings the healing energy of Mother Earth to the Yoni (sacred place/divine temple of the woman). The word Yoni is the Sanskrit word for vagina (sacred space or temple).  It is also used by Mayan healers & midwives, called bajos, an ancient healing practice. Bajos (ba-hoes) is a Spanish word that translates to Vaginal Steam Bath. 

hypnotic, free flowing, misty and breezy, melodious beauty...NATURE

I reclaim my power right now.
I am listening to my body, mind and soul.
I take responsibility of my emotions.
I am aware of the energies I emulate and that which I intake.
I love myself unconditionally right now.
I am creating space to breathe.
I am the creator of my reality.
I am capable.
I am powerful.

Here's a little peek at yesterdays trip to Bridgeport Conn for the WOMEN OF POWER, INC EVENT...

Yesterday morning my sistahfriend Elsie and I took a nice ride out to Connecticut on the Metro. My other sistahfriend Rhoena (of Red Feather Wellness) invited me to present my Ancient Blends products and expand my brand at the Women Of Power, Inc event she's affiliated with. The ride wasn't bad at all, we got a chance to appreciated some Fall foliage along the route. After the train ride, we arrived at The Trumbull Marriott on Merritt Pkwy a few hours before the event was due to start. Having to travel from Bedstuy Brooklyn, with two suitcases and a shoulder tote of products is no easy task. My husband is super supportive and he usually make sure that my travel plans go as smooth as can be. As a vendor, it's always best to be arrive earlier than later. If the event offers first come pick of space to set up, that's most favorable. We checked in and had ample time to snap a few pics, sit outside and enjoy the warm afternoon sun kissing our faces. I loved the inside of the hotel, walking through the lobby reminded me of a scene in several movies I've seen and it just made me smile inside...ready to share Ancient Blends Natural Hair Care & Body Care products!

THE EVENT AND THE MISSION 
http://www.wopninc.com/
WOPN's mission is to inform, inspire and empower women and girls to address issues affecting their educational, health and wellness, financial and social well-being. We aim to develop the unique talents of public high school girls by providing academic and professional development resources, to recruit professional women to use their expertise to aid in the development of students to promote excellence for generations to come.

So excited!!! Later this room was well attended with lots of supportive people, with inspiration, warm acknowledgements, presentations and talent galore!...at Women Of Power, Inc Expo (I'll add another image of the event in full swing as it becomes avail)

Setting up my table is always different each time I present my products at an event. I simply feel the energy in the space and that gives me guidance as to which one of my products should be featured...
Yes, Ancient Blends 'Morning Glory' was a winner last night! This blend has been my personal daily moisturizer for many, many years. At every event, folks always compliment my youthful skin. I have to admit that along with using this as my morning regime, practicing healthy living and stress management is my secret.
http://www.cowrieshell.com/products

Also, I've reformatted an old tried and true product...Ancient Blends 'NEW' Herbal Hair Tea Rinse was a winner at this event as well! This is the very same formula made from the same 17 dried herbal blend I have been using as a leave-in treatment (a service in my Cowrie Shell Center salon) and offering on my etsy.com store for many years...the difference is, now I've steeped the blend and bottled it for your convenience. Since it is a NATURAL tea, IT'S BEST REFRIGERATED. It smells AMAZING too! http://www.cowrieshell.com/products