My Book: Curiosity Expands Your Mind, Resource Book for Truth Seekers
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Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Why should we allow or want industrial hemp to be grown in the USA?
Industrial hemp, which contains below 0.3% THC, is not the same as the recreational/medicinal cannabis—marijuana. Marijuana contains 6 to 20% or more of THC, which is the psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant. Just to name a few areas of use, industrial hemp is used for paper, clothing/textiles, biodegradable plastics, auto industry, construction, fuel, and in the health food and beauty products industries. Hemp is a sustainable plant that may be used in place of depleting Mother Earth’s forests and other resources. Growing industrial hemp requires none to very few pesticides, and it replenishes the soils with nutrients where is it grown.
Hempseed oil, aka hemp oil, is an edible oil that contains 80% essential fatty acids (EFA) and about 20% of a highly-digestible protein. Its amino acid content is almost complete when compared to sources of protein such as meat, milk, eggs, and soy. We Americans eat way to much soy, this product should not be consumed in the quantities that we do, especially women who have not gone through menopause. Soy is a good source of natural estrogen, which is great for women who have gone through the “change” but not before, as it may raise the levels of estrogen produced by your body, and with the increased levels of estrogen causing painful periods, PMS, etc. Anyway, one tablespoon of hemp oil taken daily easily provides your daily requirement of EFAs. Hemp oil is not suitable for frying nor is olive oil. Hemp oil turns rancid within a short period of time, such as flaxseed oil, if not stored properly. Keep it stored in the refrigerator and use within six months or less within the date of purchase. Also, keep in mind, when you purchase hemp oil/hemp seeds make sure that they are refrigerated (and have been kept refrigerated) at the time of purchase, as they may be spoiled. Hemp oil is also known to improve your memory and to strengthen brain cells.
Hemp seeds are great in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, grown as sprouts, used in baking, in teas, etc. These seeds contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary for daily nutrition. Hemp seeds are also a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese. Other uses for hemp in your diet are cereals, tofu, flour, and its fresh leaves used in salads. As hemp oil and hemp seeds contain these much-needed nutrients, by consuming hemp this decreases your need to depend on manufactured supplements to get the recommended daily requirements to stay healthy.
During WWII, the US used hemp in the production of military uniforms, ropes, and other items for the war. However, our “War on Drugs,” which isn’t working anyway, caused the end of growing hemp in the US. We need to educate ourselves more about this wonderful plant, industrial hemp, and the great qualities it has and how it will be an asset to our lives as a renewable resource for textiles, biodegradable plastic, paper, fuel, auto body parts, etc., and in improving our health from its many wonderful nutritional benefits. With the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency (DOJ and DEA) micromanaging understanding of the Controlled Substances Act, their interpretation of industrial hemp is indistinguishable from marijuana. This interpretation has the US importing industrial hemp to the tune of $360 Million, or more, each year from countries where its production is legal. Just think if we were allowed to grow this wonderful plant, the benefits—economically and health-wise—would be astounding, so shame on us for not standing up to have outdated laws overturned.
However, with the help of the non-profit advocacy group Vote for Hemp many states have passed or introduced hemp legislation to change this. For more information, check out their website http://www.votehemp.com/.
Hempseed oil, aka hemp oil, is an edible oil that contains 80% essential fatty acids (EFA) and about 20% of a highly-digestible protein. Its amino acid content is almost complete when compared to sources of protein such as meat, milk, eggs, and soy. We Americans eat way to much soy, this product should not be consumed in the quantities that we do, especially women who have not gone through menopause. Soy is a good source of natural estrogen, which is great for women who have gone through the “change” but not before, as it may raise the levels of estrogen produced by your body, and with the increased levels of estrogen causing painful periods, PMS, etc. Anyway, one tablespoon of hemp oil taken daily easily provides your daily requirement of EFAs. Hemp oil is not suitable for frying nor is olive oil. Hemp oil turns rancid within a short period of time, such as flaxseed oil, if not stored properly. Keep it stored in the refrigerator and use within six months or less within the date of purchase. Also, keep in mind, when you purchase hemp oil/hemp seeds make sure that they are refrigerated (and have been kept refrigerated) at the time of purchase, as they may be spoiled. Hemp oil is also known to improve your memory and to strengthen brain cells.
Hemp seeds are great in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, grown as sprouts, used in baking, in teas, etc. These seeds contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary for daily nutrition. Hemp seeds are also a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese. Other uses for hemp in your diet are cereals, tofu, flour, and its fresh leaves used in salads. As hemp oil and hemp seeds contain these much-needed nutrients, by consuming hemp this decreases your need to depend on manufactured supplements to get the recommended daily requirements to stay healthy.
During WWII, the US used hemp in the production of military uniforms, ropes, and other items for the war. However, our “War on Drugs,” which isn’t working anyway, caused the end of growing hemp in the US. We need to educate ourselves more about this wonderful plant, industrial hemp, and the great qualities it has and how it will be an asset to our lives as a renewable resource for textiles, biodegradable plastic, paper, fuel, auto body parts, etc., and in improving our health from its many wonderful nutritional benefits. With the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency (DOJ and DEA) micromanaging understanding of the Controlled Substances Act, their interpretation of industrial hemp is indistinguishable from marijuana. This interpretation has the US importing industrial hemp to the tune of $360 Million, or more, each year from countries where its production is legal. Just think if we were allowed to grow this wonderful plant, the benefits—economically and health-wise—would be astounding, so shame on us for not standing up to have outdated laws overturned.
However, with the help of the non-profit advocacy group Vote for Hemp many states have passed or introduced hemp legislation to change this. For more information, check out their website http://www.votehemp.com/.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Candlemas/Imbolc/St. Brigid's Day, Groundhog Day - Feb 2
Candlemas, February 2, commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of Christ on December 25. Candlemas is one of the four “cross-quarters” of the year, occurring halfway between the first day of Winter (Winter Solstice) and the first day of Spring (Spring Equinox). Traditionally, it was believe that if Candlemas is sunny, the remaining six weeks of Winter would be stormy and cold. But, if it rained or snowed on Candlemas, the rest of the Winter would be mild. In the US, this is known as Groundhog Day. This day is also called “Imbolc” (pronounced “im-olk”), the end of Winter, and the beginning of Spring, a day of newborn calves and lambs, and dormant seeds begin to wake-up within the Earth (Spring has sprung!). With the arrival of these newborns, milk and cheese are once again available for consumption. The promise of the return of light and renewal of life that was made at the Winter Solstice is now starting to show, to come forth and germinate. It is the start of the new planting year, a time for new beginnings.
In the past, it was a custom to bring candles to church to be blessed by the priest on February 2. The candles were then taken home where they served as talismans and protection from all sorts of disasters. This custom was the origin for the name Candles-mass. Originally, this festival was associated with fires that were built in open places. These fires would be lit from the sacred flames (of the previous years’ celebration), in which they would be allowed to burn throughout the year. Then, eventually, the fires were built in church courtyards where people would dance around the flames or jump over them. The people would carry home some of the embers to kindle their own fires from the sacred flames. If the observance of Lent starts as early as February 4, this causes Candlemas customs to become associated with Shrove Tuesday, which is also Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Carnival. The fasting season of Lent, a time of purification, begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Fat Tuesday.
Celebration: The main element of your decorating scheme for this day is, obviously, candles. Beginning at sundown on Candlemas Eve (Feb 1), gather all the candles in your home into one room and light all of them from one central candle, or place a candle in each window of your home and allow them to continue burning until sunrise (but watch them carefully, don’t want any accidents). Or, if you have a fireplace, clean out your hearth, then light a new fire. Have your family and friends sit around the fire or candles to share their hopes for the New Year, like what you hope to accomplish, what your passions are, what you wish to plant in your new garden, etc. Write these ideas down in a journal and/or piece of paper, to make them concrete so that on August 2, the Festival of the First Harvest, Lammas, you can look back to see if, or what progress you have made. Crepes and pancakes are traditional foods for Candlemas because of their round shape and golden color, which are symbols of the sun -- the return of light.
Purification and Renewal: You may give up something frivolous or something serious for 40 days (Dec. 25 to Feb. 2), but it should be something that you will miss or notice. Folklore/wisdom says it takes six weeks to establish a new or better habit, so you may end up with a changed or whole new lifestyle.
Spring-cleaning is another act of purification, and since Candlemas is sometimes considered the beginning of Spring, this is a great time to start. This is a good time to get rid of your old things, change your air-conditioner filters, open your windows to let in fresh air, and do a good house cleaning to banish the gloom of Winter and to create a shiny new setting for Spring. A smudge ceremony in your dwelling or workspace this time of year is also a good idea.
Excerpt from Curiosity Expands Your Mind by Brenda Miller, available through http://www.trafford.com/; http://www.amazon.com/; or http://www.designsbybrenda.net/.
In the past, it was a custom to bring candles to church to be blessed by the priest on February 2. The candles were then taken home where they served as talismans and protection from all sorts of disasters. This custom was the origin for the name Candles-mass. Originally, this festival was associated with fires that were built in open places. These fires would be lit from the sacred flames (of the previous years’ celebration), in which they would be allowed to burn throughout the year. Then, eventually, the fires were built in church courtyards where people would dance around the flames or jump over them. The people would carry home some of the embers to kindle their own fires from the sacred flames. If the observance of Lent starts as early as February 4, this causes Candlemas customs to become associated with Shrove Tuesday, which is also Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Carnival. The fasting season of Lent, a time of purification, begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Fat Tuesday.
Celebration: The main element of your decorating scheme for this day is, obviously, candles. Beginning at sundown on Candlemas Eve (Feb 1), gather all the candles in your home into one room and light all of them from one central candle, or place a candle in each window of your home and allow them to continue burning until sunrise (but watch them carefully, don’t want any accidents). Or, if you have a fireplace, clean out your hearth, then light a new fire. Have your family and friends sit around the fire or candles to share their hopes for the New Year, like what you hope to accomplish, what your passions are, what you wish to plant in your new garden, etc. Write these ideas down in a journal and/or piece of paper, to make them concrete so that on August 2, the Festival of the First Harvest, Lammas, you can look back to see if, or what progress you have made. Crepes and pancakes are traditional foods for Candlemas because of their round shape and golden color, which are symbols of the sun -- the return of light.
Purification and Renewal: You may give up something frivolous or something serious for 40 days (Dec. 25 to Feb. 2), but it should be something that you will miss or notice. Folklore/wisdom says it takes six weeks to establish a new or better habit, so you may end up with a changed or whole new lifestyle.
Spring-cleaning is another act of purification, and since Candlemas is sometimes considered the beginning of Spring, this is a great time to start. This is a good time to get rid of your old things, change your air-conditioner filters, open your windows to let in fresh air, and do a good house cleaning to banish the gloom of Winter and to create a shiny new setting for Spring. A smudge ceremony in your dwelling or workspace this time of year is also a good idea.
Excerpt from Curiosity Expands Your Mind by Brenda Miller, available through http://www.trafford.com/; http://www.amazon.com/; or http://www.designsbybrenda.net/.
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