Feel Good Guru

By Kelly Sullivan Walden, dream therapist, author & hypnotherapist

We’ve all heard about the law of attraction, affirmations, vision boards, and goal setting…yes? Well… according to the American Hypnosis Association, our conscious mind represents 12% of our mind’s power while our subconscious mind represents 88%.

Our conscious mind is where our logic, reasoning and willpower reside, while our intuition, psychic ability and access to higher guidance and knowing resides in our under-visited subconscious mind.

Don’t get me wrong; our conscious mind is amazing in all that it can accomplish (you’ve seen “The Secret”, yes?) But, wouldn’t it be an interesting “experiment” to see what would happen if you joined your conscious AND subconscious mind in a manifesting experiment? (more…)

“I did not own the land and I was feeling out of luck; all I had to grow my own food was my old gray pickup truck…” From the guys who brought us King Corn comes a homegrown, song-filled YouTube series and documentary, Truck Farm!

Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis start out by asking the question, “How do you grow your own food in a city if you ain’t got no land?” Then they set out to learn how, using green roof technology and an old Dodge Ram. They install solar power on the roof of the truck to film every little step, and with song and time lapse photography, they deliver an entertaining lesson in funky truck urban gardening. Dig it! (more…)

OOH this big fat spinach salad from “Feel Good Fast: Spring!” was so delish I wanted to share the combo with you ~ the zing from the lemon juice and spiciness from the ginger are nicely balanced with the softness of the avocado and the sweetness of the apple. The hiziki gives it a lovely subtle sea taste and the toasted pumpkin seeds add the nutty crunch.

It’s a full on mega cleansing meal loaded in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, protein and flavour! Yum yum! Dive in and cleanse on;) (more…)

Nature makes me silly happy. I love to skinnydip in a warm Canadian lake in the mountains on a hot summer afternoon after baking in mud from the Dead Sea. Or bathe in the healing waters of a hotspring in a eucalyptus forest in Northern California populated by spotted deer and soaring condors. Or sail in an ocean to Catalina, Sicilia or Mombassa, carried by soft salted winds.

Sitting by a campfire catching a purple midnight sunset on the inky Yukon River in gratitude and wonder. Lucking into dancing northern lights on a cold clear northern night, walking through an ancient rain forest entangled with millions of mosses and infused with the scent of the cycle of life, swinging from a tree in an alpine meadow breathing wafts of sage and evergreen… (more…)

All over North America, people are getting hip to the pleasures and benefits of shopping at their local farmers’ markets. Not only do you shrink your carbon footprint buying local, the food is way fresher, tastier and healthier. By foraging at the markets, you eat in season, the way nature intended, while supporting your local economy and encouraging small farmers not only to stay in business, but to find exciting new ways to serve their growing clientele.

A stroll through the vibrant Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers’ Market can be a rich sensory experience. Wherever you find yourself in the world, seek out the local markets to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, smells, secrets and the culture of the land… (more…)

I’m lost down the rabbit hole of this detailed look at chemicals and “nanoparticles” in cosmetics and body products by David Suzuki and wanted to pass on the map so you could join me;)

While we’re supporting our system from the inside with high quality foods, it’s only logical to concern ourselves with what we put on our bodies too… Now that we’ve made the leap to organics in our produce, let’s demand more transparency from cosmetics companies and vote with our dollars for products that are safe for our skin, our hair, our nails and the environment. (more…)

There’s a reason asparagus is wildly abundant at this time of year at farmers’ markets across North America. Nature knows our body is in need of a spring cleanse, and asparagus is a superb and succulent detox veg.

Asparagus is a natural diuretic, and fills our gut with friendly bacteria, aiding digestion and making it difficult for unhealthy bacteria to take up residence.

Nurture your inner beauty by scooping up as much asparagus at the market as your local farmer will let you and use it daily while it’s at its peak. You’ll help to kick start the lightening and brightening that takes place naturally as we shed the heaviness of winter from body and mind. (more…)

I’m throwin’ down some wild rice and wild mushrooms on a flame, dancing, clapping, lapping the warm Malibuian currents lofting three California condors, majestic, soaring, uniting the sacred, healing, finding our lost souls up here at Great Spirits Ranch, where every curve of mother earth contains divinity and water and free-flowing fruit fermenting in agave; where the air has an aura, a shimmer, vibrations of a billion butterflies bubbling drunk on life in a hilly magical place; or is it my vision or is it you or is it you and me and the nurturing nature of great spirits in synergy, all those who have come before and set themselves free from the great rock once adorned with wings… (more…)

Hummus, a lifesaving staple for chuppies, isn’t just for chickpeas. I like to make hummus with pinto beans, great northern beans, black beans or green lentils. For a totally raw and totally delish version of this yummy Mediterranean dip, grab a handful of organic almonds and whip up a fast batch of almond hummus. It’s easy-shmeasy.

Serve it with raw carrot sticks, endive leaflettes, corn chips or crackers, or use it as a spread on sandwiches or wraps, as a layer in terrines or raw lasagne, or as a side or accompaniment to just about anything, anytime. Here’s the easy how-to: (more…)

In many ways, springtime is really the beginning of the new year. It’s when everything in nature wakes up. The earth begins to warm, animals emerge from their winter dens and we get the urge to open the windows and doors to let the fresh air flow through. Spring is a time for activity, for planting seeds, both in the garden for nourishment throughout the year and in our life plan to sustain our happiness and well being.

More powerful than any other time of year for setting intentions, the expansive, almost explosive yang energy of spring supports our desires and actions with nearly effortless forward momentum. Perhaps even more fitting than January 1st for setting resolutions is the Easter weekend – a time for renewal, rebirth, and reconnection. (more…)