Lough Hyne

Yesterday in honor of the Water Festival weekend we decided to go for a walk near Lough Hyne (Baltimore) - it is an ancient place with an abundance of history and magic. We walked up the hill in the nature reserve which took us to the top called Soldiers Look Out. There were lots of steps, tight spots and overgrowth of trees - it was lovely and refreshing after our day of eating all that food!

The walk itself is very like life in general - a steady climb to the top, which can be difficult in places and pushes you to use your whits and keep your mind in a focused space most of the time. Then you will encounter a few areas where your mind can wander free and ponder the larger mysteries. While the path is mostly dark, once you near the top it will open up for the most magnificent view and bright light.

Something to look forward to on our own journeys, onwards and upwards. I have posted a few pictures below from our walk. 

Today after all the activity with the garden on the weekend etc, we are back to fasting to give our digestion a break and I am already thinking ahead to when it would be best to start my July Master Cleanse, I can hardly believe that it will be July so soon. However, such is life, carry on with this next part of my summer as I can see that this is having positive results for me.

Have a lovely day,

April

The path back down the hill 

The View from the top - you can see for miles! 

Lough Hyne 

Happy Mid Summer!

Today is a beautiful day for more Mid Summer festivities we have all been out in the garden since early this morning trying to get sorted out after such a rainy week. I love how the ground dries out nicely though. 

We just finished our Mid Summer dinner and I normally wouldn't do this - but as so many have been asking me - what do you eat during a Pagan feast - here is what we had today;

Dinner - marinated butterflied leg of lamb (marinade for 24 hours) then slow roasted at a low temp since early this morning. Carrot/turnip mashed with butter and ground pepper. Mix root veg of sweet potato, pumpkin, onion, leek steamed with fresh herbs (dill, thyme). Coleslaw of grated purple cabbage, carrot, chopped apple and pear. Fresh salad with things from the garden - rocket, cress, lettuce leaves, parsley, spring onion, dill, chives etc with a balsamic vinegar dressing. Gravy made from lamb drippings and wholegrain mustard with onion over fresh thyme bread.

It was lovely and we all had seconds, especially after our fasting it is so nice to enjoy our feast days. Now if only the weather would hold like this so that the garden could get a head start we would be all set!

Have a great day,

April

One of my dogs sitting in the sun with her hat, she is tied on because she loves to go over to visit  the neighbors!

The Pagan Diet

My new book on living, eating and fasting for weight loss, healing and health is finally ready. If you would like to know all about how I live, the way I feed myself and my family and what it means to me - this is the book that goes into detail on food, fast and feast, master cleanses, detox and healing your body. Here I discuss the many things that I have found out about myself and the world as I follow the pagan calendar and celebrate each season of the body. 

To order a copy you can contact me by email, text or phone.

087 236 1616

028 34527

info@aprildanann.com

Food, Fast & Feast

Well after 2 days of eating and enjoying lots of great foods, I am back fasting today to give my body time to digest and settle. I am feeling pretty good and sleeping well - I always find that when I do a Master Cleanse,  I am sleeping deeply afterwards for a few days.

For the past 2 days we have enjoyed cakes, home made crackers with goat's cheese, mung bean burgers, root vegetable stews, mixed rice stir-fries and many other treats. And I am stuffed full and need a break from all that eating and cooking. Such is the purpose of a feast and celebration. 

Today I am good and ready to fast again and welcome the quietness of the morning, looking forward to just taking in water and herbal teas while allowing my system to process. The days I spend fasting have been a blessing to me, the space I require to digest and understand life, food, and my part in it all.

I also woke up to a nice sunny morning (it's gone now) felt so nice as to immediately uplift the senses-  My dreams took me far away last night - I slept deeply and travelled far, dreaming of a woman with a family who was living in France - the dream was centered around her little girl who was studying music and dance. However it was taking place in the distant past- The sunny morning brought me back from there...

During my fasting days I get so much done mainly because I am not as busy cooking and digesting food, however, I think that it is a very freeing experience. Giving yourself permission to only eat what you require, enough to feed, heal and replenish the body - when the extra food is removed, less energy is required to go to function. Finally something that makes sense! 

Off to enjoy my day - fingers crossed for more sun on the garden!

April

Marigold in the garden - wishing for sun

Crime and Punishment

Today has brought with it new energy - I had every intention of fasting today but decided to switch things around and fasted yesterday instead. I just had a feeling that today would be important in other ways - that I was not aware of yet. So, we planned a little celebration of sorts and that is what we are doing - end of cleanse party.

I often find that we do not take celebration as seriously as we did at one time and especially when we were children it was very important to us. Special times of the year and special meals were all important - whereas now as adults these times can be looked at as a chore and extra work. 

Along with celebration comes ceremony - equally lost and downgraded in our society however far more important than even the celebration itself. How much has been lost inside of us the further we move away from these rituals and special times throughout the year?

What has happened in its place is a year long party where we eat, drink and abuse ourselves with poor food choices, alcohol and lack of exercise - (because we are eating the wrong foods) and generally acting, shopping and living as if it is Christmas every day. 

Just because you can go into the big supermarkets and buy any thing you want at any time - does not mean that you should or that it is the right time or even the right kind of food for your body. There is so much rubbish on the shelves, it is available ALL of the time and you are expected to buy it, eat it and then try to live a healthy life. 

This is part of the biggest lie ever perpetuated on humans on earth. You simply cannot eat this way and remain healthy, slim and in control of your life. For the most part our diets should be simple, based on local vegetables and fruit with a little meat and fish. Anything more on a regular basis (sugar, alcohol, highly processed packaged 'foods') should not enter into this equation at all. 

The operative word here is control - someone, something else controls your diet, your eating and ultimately your health. I don't know about you but I really love taking back control of my life and I do this through the way that I eat and live. 

It is that simple. Food, Fast and Feast at the appropriate times throughout the year - for my health and overall well-being. 

Something to think about. 

April